Title: 라이프 온 마스 | Laipeu On Maseu | Life on Mars
Genre: Drama | Crime | Supernatural
Episodes: 16
Broadcast Network: OCN
Broadcast Period: June 9, 2018 to August 5, 2018
Synopsis:
Han Tae Joo is a forensic investigator in the crime division of Seoul Police Department. He is known for being so righteous and because of it when the evidence shows doubt even against the prosecution of the actual criminal, he will stand on his ground for the facts given at hand. Unfortunately, an incident led him to free a criminal and he got badly hurt during an altercation to save his friend. When he woke up from the incident, he found himself back in 1988 in his hometown as a chief detective. He doesn’t know what to do as he is thrown into a situation wherein he has to work side by side with Captain Kang Dong Chul solving crimes in the year that not much technology is available to assists them in solving the crimes. As he tries to figure out how he got there and how to get back in his year, he also ended up facing his childhood trauma and solving the crime that resulted to the death of his father. In the end, he needs to choose which year he prefers to live his life, 1988 or 2018.
Characters:
- Jung Kyung Ho as Han Tae Joo
- Kim Min Ho as Younger Tae Joo
- Park Sung Woong as Kang Dong Chul
- Go Ah Sung as Yoon Na Young
- Oh Dae Hwan as Lee Yong Ki
- Noh Jong Hyun as Jo Nam Shik
- Jun Suk Ho as Han Chung Ho
- Yoo Ji Yun as Kim Mi Yun
- Moon Sook as Older Kim Mi Yun in 2018
- Kim Jae Kyung as Han Mal Sook
- Kim Ki Chun as Chief Park
- Kim Young Pil as Kim Kyung Se
- Choi Seung Yoon as Kim Min Suk in
2018 - Oh Han Kyul as Young Min Suk in 1988
- Jun Hye Bin as Jung Seo Hyun
- Kang Shin Chul as Detective Jo
- Park Il as Dr. Jang Won Jae
- Jung Ji Ahn as Lee Seung Hee
- Hong Hee Won as Kim Min Suk’s Lawyer
- Choi Bool Am as Character from Drama “The Inspector” on Episode 1
- Go Kyu Pil as Mr. Yang from Insung Store
- Jung Eun Sung as Lee Hyang Ja
- Jung Ji Ho as Reporter Bae
- Kim Ga Young as Coffee House Owner
- Bae Ho Geun as Jo Pal Bong
- Kim Dae Gon as Park Byung Doo
- Yoon Seul as Lee Jum Soon
- Hong Suk Bin as Pawnshop Manager
- Kwon Soon Joon as Jang Geun Soo
- Geum Dong Hyun as Lee Chang Gi
- Lee Bong Ryun as Yoo Soon Hee
- Oh Ah Rin as Young Joo
- Yoo Yun as Lee Sun Ja
- Bae Soo Jang as Illegal Ticket Seller
- Moon Woo Jin as Kyung Ho
- Joo Suk Tae as Lee Kang Hoon
- Han Sa Myung as Hee Chul
- Jung Min Ah as Room Salon Worker
- Kim Tae Han as Oh Jung Man
- Kwak Jung Wook as Lee Soon Ho | Kim Hyun Suk
- Choi Jin Ho as Ahn Min Shik
- Park Jung Soo as Kang Dong Chul’s Mother-in-Law
- Shin Eun Jung as Kang Dong Chul’s Wife
- Jo Woo Ri as Kang Dong Chul’s Daughter
My Review:
I watched this k-drama because of 2 things. One, I got curious with the premise that it’s kinda sound similar to “Tunnel” which I enjoyed watching. And, two, because of Jung Kyung Ho, who I like as an actor. I didn’t know that it is an adaptation of a BBC TV series of the same title and the TV series has been adapted by several countries including South Korea. I haven’t watched the original series but from the very first episode of this k-drama, it already peaked my interest and wanted to watch the rest of the episodes.
So, What do I Like About this K-Drama?
(1) Jung Kyung Ho as Han Tae Joo as usual brought his A-Game as an actor in this k-drama. It is not surprising that he gave depth and justice to the character he’s portraying. What surprises me is how much I enjoyed the performance of Park Sung Woong as Kang Dong Chul and Go Ah Sung as Yoon Na Young. Park Sung Woong made his role something more than an ordinary character. He was able to bring his character at a level that made it worthy to watch and the audience be invested in. The same as Go Ah Sung whom I’ve noticed for the first time. I’ve seen her in the movie “The Beauty Inside” but I have not appreciated her talent till now. She brought Yoon Na Young to life. She acted her character’s timid yet smart and strong personality to a T.
(2) I love that the story flow very fast with no dull moment in between. The way it was presented made me want to know what’s next and curious to what really happened to Han Tae Joo both in his past as well as his present self in the current time.
(3) I appreciate that the production took time to really make it look like it is 1988 including the nuances of what exists in terms of technology, law and medical science in those years and what doesn’t. It made me remember my life in 1988 which was actually quite memorable as it is in that year that I experienced my very first heartbreak.
(4) It is one of those rare k-dramas that is able to handle the bending of reality of time effectively. It was able play around the time element and the question whether what’s happening with Han Tae Joo a fact or a dream more acceptable in realm of possibilities.
(5) I love development of the camaraderie and bond between Han Tae Joo and 4 police officers of the 1988 Insung Western Police Department. Even the way the growth of each characters was done in a proper pacing and time like Kang Dong Chul finally realizing the value of Yoon Na Young as a police woman. This k-drama successfully gave the journey of Han Tae Joo on two worlds a good ending that will leave a smile on your face just like Han Tae Joo’s.
What I do Not Like About this K-Drama?
There’s very little I can complain about this k-drama because I have thoroughly enjoyed it. I believe this is one of the very few adaptations from a foreign work that may have level up the quality of the original series if not surpasses it. Probably my only curiosity in the 1988 world is where Han Tae Joo initially get the money for him to buy new clothes and his home seems to be so empty besides the TV that how can he literally survive like that. Other than those logistics, this k-drama is something I love from beginning to end.
Would I recommend this K-Drama? Yes, 110% percent
My Rating to this Drama
( See My Rating System: ) 5/5 Stars
OST:
01. Agnes – Patrick Joseph
02. Wherever You Are – Shin Hae Kyung
03. Always Within Me – Runy