Tag Archives: While you were sleeping

Korean Drama Review While you were sleeping WYWS

Finished this drama about end of last year. Doing this by memory. Hope I get the details right haha. Finally have some free time to finish this up after much delay…

While you were sleeping (2017) 當你沉睡時

Genre: Fantasy, Law, Romance, Crime, Family




At first, I didnt think much of this drama as the title didnt attract me. But after seeing fantasy in the plot, I decided to try it with my sister who is a fan of Lee Jong Suk. It is interesting but I didnt chase after it as much as I thought I will as it goes. Compared to I hear your voice, this drama seems more bland haha. Fortunately, the fantasy element in this drama is sufficient to keep me going as I usually drop law/crime related dramas. It is quite a thriller, especially when they have to deal with life and death situations.

While they may be able to change certain future completely, it is interesting that there are future that just dont change no matter how hard they try or change slightly, and some become worse nightmares. Liked the clever plot twists in the drama where unforeseen circumstances can happen and one action can make a big difference. While some dreams that they dream about still come true, I liked how they can actually accept what will happen or think of ways to better respond to the event. Learnt that although some things will happen no matter what, it is our mindset and response that can change the outcomes associated. It is funny when the dreams also show daily life events instead of just serious or life and death events. For example, Hong Joo seeing Jae Chan’s daily life habits, and Jae Chan seeing Woo Tak hugging Hong Joo in his dream and run to prevent it.

Liked how the relationship between Jae Chan and Hong Joo started and developed. Jae Chan managed to prevent Hong Joo’s car (?) from hitting Woo Tak which prevented many negative consequences. The scene where Hong Joo hugs Jae Chan marks a nice start to their relationship with the nice scenery and just right atmosphere. After that, it is fun to watch Hong Joo think that Jae Chan likes her but is proved otherwise and when she tries all ways to recruit him to join her in preventing bad dreams from happening in real life. Liked the chemistry between them and how they become source of comfort and support for each other as the drama goes.

Enjoyed watching the solid characters, Jae Chan and Hong Joo, (portrayed by Lee Jong Suk and Bae Suzy) and how they respond to events. Liked how Hong Joo is headstrong and outstanding at work. It is hilarious when her capable superior is sometimes fearful of her. It is fun to watch her craziness and how her feelings are readily reflected on her face. Jae Chan, on the other hand, is less expressive, more cautious and less confident. It is fun to watch Jae Chan’s surprised, worried or flustered face. It is funny how he shows a confident self at the front but starts pulling his hair and beating himself up for what he said at the back. Admired how Jae Chan is very sure of what is right and wrong and is not wavered under pressure. Enjoyed watching how they become better at handling situations and their emotions.

Enjoyed watching how Jae Chan solves each case effectively even though he is slow and considered too careful by his colleagues and superior. Looked forward to how Jae Chan solves each difficult case in his own way. Liked how there seems to be moral lessons associated with each case. The case that left the deepest impression on me is the one that a writer’s assistant is killed by the writer. There is a moral dilemma as the writer’s assistant becomes brain-dead and can save 5(?) patients through organ transplantation but an autopsy is needed to find out the cause of his death and arrest the murderer. No matter Jae Chan choose autopsy or organ transplantation, there will be negative consequences associated and he will lose his job as a prosecutor. One of the patients that could be saved was Jae Chan’s colleague’s (a single mother) young son. Touched when she asked Jae Chan to go ahead with the autopsy while her prosecutor boyfriend violently objects, and she explains that as a parent, she would want to know the truth of her son’s death more than saving strangers.

Liked Jung Hae In’s acting in Blood and was thinking how come I didnt see him before but realised he is new haha. Happy to see him again but too bad he is the second lead. It is nice that his character, Woo Tak, chooses not to form the triangle love and prefers to just quietly be part of unrequited love. Felt that the secret Woo Tak keeps about himself is not that big after all. Expected it to be something big like his brother was the one that killed both Hong Joo and Jae Chan’s father or something that can potentially break the friendship between Hong Joo+Jae Chan and him. Fooled by all the tension haha, seems like it is not the first time this happens in drama… Liked how Jung Hae In portrayed the struggle his character faces.

Felt that Lee Sang Yeob acted well to portray the evil and selfish lawyer who is exceptionally good at finding loopholes in the law to defend his clients and telling lies. But too bad he is up against righteous, smart, and careful Jae Chan haha… Special mentions to Shin Jae Ha who acted as Jae Chan’s brother, the actors acting as Choi Dam Dong (preferred the younger him haha), the young actors acting as Jae Chan and Hong Joo, and the prosecutor team. Liked how the prosecutors all have different characteristics and I enjoyed watching their interaction with Jae Chan which includes much humour. Liked the background story of young Hong Joo and young Jae Chan, as well as the concept of family in the drama.

While you were sleeping ost ig post

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