Go Back Couple (also known as Go Back Spouses) tells the story of a husband (Son Ho Jun) and wife (Jang Na Ra) that have been beaten down by life and regret getting married. But they get a second chance at love when they are both transported back in time to their college years.

Go Back Couple was such a special drama. It offers a truly moving commentary on what love and relationships look like as well as how life doesn’t always turn out like we had imagined. It delivers a poignant story that I found both warm and heart-achingly real. At the same time, it mixed in humor, retro 90’s fun, and plenty of joy to balance things out.

Jang Na Ra plays Ma Jin Joo. In the present day, she is a housewife and mother who finds herself struggling day to day. She feels alone and like her husband isn’t there for her and doesn’t understand.

Going back to her college years allows her to rediscover her bright personality and see what a special person she really is. Jang Na Ra was absolutely perfect for this role. She’s endearing, adorable, and feisty. I love her so much!

Son Ho Jun is Jin Joo’s husband Choi Ban Do. He’s devoted his life to his job in order to take care of his family. But he is frequently looked down upon and finds himself having to do things he has no desire to do. This has left him unhappy and feeling unappreciated.

For him, going back to his college years is liberating as he finds himself free of the responsibility and shackles that were tying him down. He’s ready to live the carefree life. But he discovers that requires giving up some very important things that he didn’t realize just how much he needed.

This was my first time seeing Son Ho Jun, and I really liked him. He fit the role perfectly by being a good mixture of being a bit inconsiderate yet also being sympathetic. He was a fun character, and I loved watching him grow.

 

We have our main couple’s first loves in the mix when they go back in time. Nam Gil (Jang Ki Yong) is the handsome and popular man who has feelings for Jin Joo.

Seo Young (Go Bo Gyeol) is Ban Do’s first love who he was never able to properly confess to and date. They give Jin Joo and Ban Do the chance to explore what might have been.

 

Then there’s our wonderful group of friends: Bo Reum (Han Bo Reum), Seol (Cho Hye Jung), Jae Woo (Heo Jung Min), and Dok Jae (Lee Yi Kyung). This is a very fun and quirky group, but they are good friends to our couple, and they are an important support for them. They also offer some fun side stories as they embark on their own relationship journeys.

Go Back Couple really was such a refreshing and heartwarming drama. Unlike most romantic comedies, it starts with our couple already married. Having been together for many years, they are both very unhappy. They are disappointed with their lives and take each other for granted while being unable to see the pain their spouse is suffering. This ultimately leads to divorce.

  

That all changes when the pair suddenly wake up 18 years in their past during their college years. After getting past the initial shock, they are both quite thrilled to be young and single again. The drama then begins to really explore what love looks like.

After being with a partner for years, it’s common to take them for granted and to lose sight of what made you first fall in love. People think of what their life could have been and may even dream of first loves of long ago.

Ban Do and Jin Joo get the opportunity to go back and change things. Not wanting anything to do with each other, they each pursue relationships with their first loves. Of course, while it may be fun for a while, eventually, the life knowledge they have changes their perspective on many things.

While there’s a freedom and joy that comes from youth, there’s also a lack of understanding and knowledge of how things change throughout life. Ban Do and Jin Joo can see where certain choices will lead them and their friends. But many times there’s a wall between them and their friends who simply don’t have the same life experience.

 

And while Ban Do and Jin Joo have a lot of dislike towards each other, their trip to the past gives them each the chance to be reminded of why they first fell in love. By removing all of life’s stresses and hardships that have beaten them down, they see each other in a new light.

I truly loved seeing this couple grow throughout the drama. They had a new appreciation for life and eventually also for each other. Despite their difficult situation, these two know each other in a way that only long time partners do.

I was brought to tears so many times as I watched their relationship falling apart and then slowly getting put back together. Those moments of remembrance and appreciation that developed were so heartfelt. My heart ached with them as they struggled through disappointment and unhappiness. Then seeing that underneath all that was still an ember of love that just needed to be ignited.

And while the pair certainly needed to be reminded of what it was like to feel the freedom and excitement of youth, it was the realization that true love is more than that initial flutter of attraction that made all of the difference. It’s being a support for your partner, knowing them better than anyone else, putting their needs above yours, but at the same time being honest about your needs so they can support you.

Go Back Couple moved me on so many levels. It made me laugh and smile and also made me cry more times than I can count. It was such a beautiful examination of what love is, and that it is something we should make every effort to hold onto.

My Rating: 8.5/10

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15 responses to “Go Back Couple Korean Drama Review”

  1. raistlin0903 Avatar

    Wow. I am a bit speechless after reading this review. It really was written in a very beautiful way and gave me that feelgood feeling I usually get after watching a series like this. It truly sounds like an amazing drama to say the least. Definitely want to see this one now, but that really is because of your review! Awesome post 😊

    1. Kay Avatar

      Aww, thank you so much 🙂 The drama left me with a lot of feel good feelings and so much that I wanted to say to convey how moving it was. I’m so glad to hear that it came through in the review. I really hope you get to watch it someday 🙂

  2. […] I truly loved seeing this couple grow throughout the drama. I was brought to tears so many times as I watched their relationship falling apart and then slowly getting put back together. Those moments of remembrance and appreciation that developed were so heartfelt. Go Back Couple moved me on so many levels. Such a beautiful examination of what love is and that it is something we should make every effort to hold onto. (Go Back Couple Review) […]

  3. D Avatar
    D

    Hi Kay,

    I agree with you on this review too. This wasn’t even in my radar to watch as I was so sick of time travelling dramas but I’m really glad I checked it out. Such a gem of a drama. Absolutely loved it. 😀

    1. Kay Avatar

      Hi D! It really was a gem. I have a bit of a weakness for time travel dramas. I never get tired of them, lol. But I really liked the uniqueness of it in Go Back Couple with them both going back and the issues it explored. It just came out so perfectly. I’m so glad you loved it too 🙂

  4. libraryofthoughts Avatar

    At first, when I started this drama it really rubbed me the wrong way. My thought immediately went to “What ABOUT THE BABY!!!!”. After a while, I started to see how these two adults were still children who had a lot of growing up to do and my anger over their child, while still there, went to the back burner. I liked how they grew to understand what the other needed. As you get older it is hard to be there for your person, while growing up yourself. Plus, the loss of a parent puts a bleakness into ones life that we are not really prepared for no matter how old we get. Thank you for this review!

    1. Kay Avatar

      I thought about the baby too, but I think it settled down for me when Jin Joo thought about him pretty early on. Also, they both really seemed to think they would be going back to the present at first, so I figured it probably just didn’t really sink in for them until later. But yes, the journey of growth between the pair is what it truly beautiful in this drama. They just nailed that, and it made it so enjoyable 🙂

  5. […] I truly loved seeing this couple grow throughout the drama. I was brought to tears so many times as I watched their relationship falling apart and then slowly getting put back together. Those moments of remembrance and appreciation that developed were so heartfelt, and Go Back Couple moved me on so many levels. Such a beautiful examination of what love is and that it is something we should make every effort to hold onto. My Rating: 8.5/10 (Go Back Couple Review) […]

  6. Shrestha Sen Avatar
    Shrestha Sen

    Hey Kay,
    Damn! This review really hit the nail. Wanted to check this drama from such a long time. Glad I did now. Must say it’s been pretty enjoyable and entertaining so far and I’m looking forward to a great ending. On episode 6 right now and couldn’t help myself but laugh out loud with nostalgic and delightful memories when the DOTS scene was played. On the college festival when the soldiers came to help students cook. OMG! That scene, that same ost everything made me just reminiscence DOTS and laugh my heart out. Thanks for this wonderful review. Oh I can’t tell you how refreshing and rewarding your reviews always are. They never seem to let geniune drama-lovers down.

    Looking forward to every other review of yours!!!Keep up the great work. 😊😊😇

    Regards,
    Shrestha

    1. Kay Avatar

      Hi Shrestha! I’m thrilled to hear you decided to watch Go Back Couple and are enjoying it so far 🙂 It is one of those dramas that is so many things. It’s funny, romantic, heartbreaking, nostalgic, and just overall wonderful!

      Thank you for the lovely compliments on the reviews! I’m seriously so touched by your words 🙂 I greatly enjoyed writing this review because it moved me so much, and it touched on so many important themes. There was so much I wanted to express about my feelings towards the drama. I really hope you keep liking it, I and loved hearing your thoughts 🙂

      1. Shrestha Sen Avatar
        Shrestha Sen

        Thanks for replying. It’s always a pleasure to talk to you and hear from you.
        😇😁

        1. Kay Avatar

          You too! I look forward to hearing more of your thoughts on dramas in the future 🙂

  7. Snow Flower Avatar
    Snow Flower

    Wonderful drama!

    1. Kay Avatar

      Yay that you enjoyed it! I agree. It was wonderful 🙂

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