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Live Up to Your Name
Country: South Korea
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Medical, Fantasy
Episodes: 16
Aired: Aug 12, 2017 to Oct 1, 2017
Network: tvN
Duration: 1 hr. 10 min.
Plot:
Heo Im is an oriental doctor, acknowledged as the best in acupuncture and moxibustion in Joseon, but his success is blocked due to his low status. One day, Heo Im (Kim Nam Gil) travels through time and finds himself in present day Seoul. He meets Choi Yeon Kyung (Kim Ah Joong), a doctor firmly believing in only modern medicine.
Cast:
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Kim Nam Gil
Heo Im
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Kim Ah Joong
Choi Yeon Kyung
Review:
by claire009 of mydramalist
"I can't find faults with this drama. I'm sure there are some there, if you dig, but damn, I don't want them to be pointed out to me because this drama took me completely by surprise and I fell head over heels in love with it.
What was I expecting? I enjoy a good time travel, especially when it mixes modern and Joseon eras, ala Queen Inhyun's Man. And I'm a sucker for romantic comedies, so I was looking for a light romp and plenty of fish out of water fun stuff etc. Well, I got that and so much more with Live Up To Your Name. Firstly, the story... the plot itself wasn't too complex, a doctor from Joseon who practices traditional oriental medicine more out of greed than empathy, is transported through time to modern day Seoul to meet a cardiothoracic surgeon who see's her patients only as the internal organs she can repair. As they start to learn more about each other and their different methodologies, so do they also begin to learn about themselves. You see, more than anything, this story is a character story, and though it might start off as a story of things and circumstances happening to our characters and making them react, it evolves into a story about choices, self-determination, and ultimately, what it is that defines them as people. They learn and grow together in such an organic way that it is beautiful to watch in action.
What I love is how the writer had such a delicate touch when dealing with heavier topics. It could have gone the route of being preachy, but I don't believe it ever veered there, and even the characters who made wrong choices were also humanized in a way that didn't make you absolutely hate them. The romance, of course, was pure gold. Whoever cast Kim Nam Gil as Heo Im and Kim Ah Joong as Choi Ahn Kyung together as the leads deserves a medal. Not only was their chemistry off the charts, but it was so natural and realistic, that I almost felt voyeuristic in some scenes and all they had to do was look at each other. Kim Nam Gil was simply amazing start to finish and has the ability to be goofy and bumbling but also serious and intense all within the span of seconds. Kim Ah Joong took me a while to warm up to, but I think part of that was due to her character's thawing out with each episodes, and by the end, I was definitely mesmerized by her skill. I'm not seen anything else with either of them in, so I'll definitely have to look out for them both.
I can't comment too much on the OST only to say that it suited the themes, wasn't overbearing, and highlighted the poignancy of the show. I'm sure I'll pay more attention on re-watch, which I most certainly plan on doing.
I also want to mention a little something about the medical aspects of this drama. Yes, it is about medicine, both modern and traditional, and yes, it does glamorize medicine in ways that aren't necessarily realistic sometimes, but I can forgive because it is a fantasy (time travel, hello?). But, if you're not into medical dramas, this might not be your thing, however, let me just say that the medicine is just a vehicle to drive the show, it's not really what this show is about. If you are a sucker for character driven stories, then give this one a try. Just close your eyes every time someone sticks a scalpel or a needle into someone else.
And lastly, the method of time travel aka the gimmick that brings Heo Im from past to future, is one of the most unique ones I've seen, and not one I would voluntarily choose. Yikes!"
Reviewer's Rating: 10.0
My Rating: 9.0
Mydramalist Rating: 8.5
Asianwiki Rating: 9.0
Viki Rating: 9.7
You can comment your own rating and justify why you gave that rating if you want :)
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