Title:49일 | 49Il | 49 Days
Genre: Drama | Fantasy | Romance
Episodes: 20
Broadcast Network: SBS
Broadcast Period: March 16 to May 19, 2011
Synopsis:
For 49 Days Shin Ji-Hyun, a vibrant, kind, naive and rich young lady, who became comatose due to unforeseen accident chose to earn three tears from people who truly love her while she’s still with the living excluding family members in order not to eventually die. She thought it will be easy but as she journeys through the 49 days possessing the body of Song Yi-Kyung, she realized it isn’t so. In those 49 days she unravels secrets of people she thought loved her and what they really feel about her. She also discovered love that she didn’t know exists and friendships that will encompass the test of time.
Characters:
- Lee Yo-Won as Song Yi-Kyung | Shin Ji-Min | Shin Ji-Hyun
- Nam Gyu-Ri as Shin Ji-Hyun
- Jo Hyun-Jae as Han Kang
- Bae Soo-Bin as Kang Min-Ho
- Jung Il-Woo as Scheduler | Song Yi-Soo
- Seo Ji-Hye as Shin In-Jung
- Choi Jung-Woo as Shin Il-Shik
- Yu Ji-In as Jung Mi-Ok
- Bae Geu-Rin as Park Seo-Woo
- Son Byong-Ho as Oh Hae-Won
- Moon Hee-Kyung as Bang Hwa-Joon
- Kang Sung-Min as Noh Kyung-Bin
- Yoon Bong-Gil as Cha Jin-Young
- Kim Ho-Chang as Ki Joon-Hee
- Lee Jong-Min as Go Mi-Jin
My Review:
49 Days is one of the rare K-Dramas that doesn’t only entertains but it somehow affects you. Because you can’t help but asks questions about love, friendship, family, life and death while watching it and search within yourself what you do feel about them long after you’ve finished watching it. It begs to question the beliefs we chose to see in our lives and how it probably may not be so. The story touches the very core of the things we believe that influences us to do the things we do. Generally, unlike others who have much to say when K-Dramas are great, I, on the other hand have difficulty on expressing my thoughts and put properly into words my admiration for the people behind this form of art. Probably, the only time I had so much to say on a K-Drama that I truly love is Descendants of the Sun. But, that’s because I’ve written it in two parts, during its run and after. Like my recent previous reviews, I’ve also seen this K-Drama during its actual run in 2011. I repeated watching it again more than 5 years later because like all the rest I liked before, I can remember the feeling I had of it but I can’t remember the entire of it to make a decent review. The thing about watching again a K-Drama at a different time, years after I’ve seen it at a different maturity level (more polite way of describing my getting older), it gave me a new set of perspective on how I feel about the K-Drama or movie. Some makes me wonder why the hell I enjoyed it before while others makes me asks why the hell I didn’t watch it again sooner. I am happy to say that the wasted hours of my life to watch again 49 Days didn’t go to waste and the feeling I had about it before is still the same, so, it is definitely the latter. I know when I decided to re-watch 49 Days I will enjoy its OST because it is on my playlist. However, I also have the residual feeling of the past that I may not be satisfied with its ending, thus, I was kinda hesitant to repeat the process. The former opinion didn’t change but alas… the latter did. 49 Days was able to relay its story with firm consistency even if its genre is partly fantasy. In the end, I am certainly glad I ended re-watching it for even less than 49 Days and not regretted doing so.
So, What do I Like About this K-Drama?
(1) Jo Hyun-Jae has always been one of my favorite K-actors. Although, he doesn’t literally make me swoon like Kwon Sang-Woo or Song Joong-Ki, he played the role as Han Kang befitted to my admiration of his acting skills. Having said that, I have to give the honor of my bow to his great acting chops and brought more depth to this K-Drama to Bae Soo-Bin as Kang Min-Ho. He has moved me especially during the scene with his mother. I admire actors when they have the ability to make a villainous character not just being that but successfully drawing my feelings of empathy to understand his/her actions. And, Bae Soo-Bin certainly brought Kang Min-Ho to life as someone I can even feel sympathy for in the end.
(2) I love the consistency of the story and its characters. The rules and explanation of the premise of the 49 Days journey of the spirit remained constant and believable especially in bringing the thought that everything happens for a reason. What may seem a cruel twist of fate for us during the time we are experiencing it, may not actually be if we take into the equation the reason for why it needs to happen. I know it is such a cliché to say that things happen for a reason because it may sound like just a cop-out for us to think positive when shitty things happen to us but I’ve discovered personally more often than not it is actually true.
(3) I actually like certain philosophical overtones of this K-Drama. Such as the issue about forever and that we always wanted to believe that we know what other people really feels about us. It brings certain truths and realism as it entertains you. Normally, I don’t like watching dramas that reminds me of the real part of life as that’s the reason why I am wasting my time watching reel, so, I can have moments to forget the real. But, with 49 Days I didn’t really mind. In fact I appreciated it because though, it is not a happily ever-after kind of a K-Drama, it still made me feel hopeful, thus, making the ending befitting to be just that. This K-Drama’s ending reminds me of the line said by the character in the just newly ended Person of Interest TV series about understanding death, it says… Although, it is true that everyone dies alone but if you mean something to someone, if you help someone, or love someone, if even a single person remembers you, then maybe you never really die at all.
(4) I love its unique way of tackling hard issues about love, friendship, family, betrayal and death. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching it again even better the first time around. I also love the way they reveal the connections of each character for the reason of Shin Ji-Hyun’s entire 49 days journey.
(5) The OST is superb. I love it before and I love it now.
What I do Not Like About this K-Drama?
Not much I don’t like in 49 Days and the 2 things I don’t like is more petty that it can’t affect my pleasure of watching this K-Drama. However, I feel the need to mention them because it irks me somehow that these mistakes happen often enough in K-Dramas I watched. So, here it is…
(1) If there’s one thing I don’t like about K-Dramas or even in any dramas or films is when the director ignores the significance of small details. Such is the best example of the accessory particularly the bags of Song Yi-Kyung who is supposedly poor.
(2) This is another trivial dislike, but, I guess Korean men feel they look good with hair that makes them look more like a woman than a man. Jung Il-Woo looks prettier than Lee Yo-Won.
Would I recommend this K-Drama?
Definitely a K-Drama NOT to be missed. So, it is a YES.
My Rating to this Drama
( See My Rating System: ) 5/5 Stars
OST:
01. There Was Nothing – Jung Yup
Play Me:
02. Can’t Let Go – Seo Young Eun
Play Me:
03. Even If I Live Just One Day – Jo Hyun Jae
Play Me:
04. Always – Park Bo Ram
Play Me:
05. Just One Step – Jung Yup
Play Me:
06. Tears Are Falling – Shin Jae
07. Can’t It Be Me? – Tim
08. Feneste Che Luciv – Oh Hyun Ran
09. Three of the Tears – Jae Hee
10. Scarecrow – Jung Il Woo
11. The Feeling’s Coming – Navi
12. Because of You – Jung Kyu
13. My Heart Was One – J-Symphony
14. 49 Days (Title Prelude) – Various Artists
15. Though It Seems Forgotten (Piano) – Seo Young Eun
16. Tear Necklace – Leenyum
17. There Was Nothing (Piano Version) – Jung Yup
18. Even If I Live Just One Day (Piano Version) – Jo Hyun Jae
19. Soul Change – Various Artists
20. Always (Guitar Version) – Park Bo Ram
21. Silent Regrets – Various Artists
22. Tears Are Falling (Harmonica Version) – Shin Jae
23. Sweet Day (Guitar Version) – Various Artists
24. Three of the Tears (Guitar Version) – Jae Hee
25. Can’t It Be Me? (Harmonica Version) – Tim
26. Scarecrow (Guitar Version) – Jung Il Woo
27. A Demon’s Tear – Various Artists
28. Because of You (Piano Version) – Jung Kyu
29. There Was Nothing (Guitar Version) – Jung Yup
30. The Circle of Life – Various Artists
For Lyrics in English, Romanization and Hangul, CLICK HERE