Have you ever wondered if you could go back in time to fix something that weighs on your heart, would you do it? Blue Birthday, a Korean fantasy romance thriller series based on a web drama, starring YERI of Red Velvet and Yang Hong-seok of Pentagon, will plunge you into the mystery of a first love's death left behind for 10 years.
Plot Summary (No Spoilers for the Ending)
The story of Oh Harin (YERI), a young woman still consumed by the loss of Ji Seojun (Yang Hong-seok), her first love who passed away suddenly 10 years ago. On the anniversary of his death, she decides to burn a couple photo to move on, but the photo instead takes her back in time to her 18th birthday, the same day Seojun died. She must then try to change the past to save him, while also unraveling the true mystery behind his death.
Acting and Characters
YERI convincingly portrays Oh Harin's emotions, whether it's grief, confusion, or determination. She makes the audience feel the pain of loss and the hope of fixing the past. Yang Hong-seok as Ji Seojun is charming and shows the complexity of a character facing a tragic fate. The chemistry between them is solid, making romantic and dramatic scenes feel real. Supporting characters like Cha Eunsung (Lee Sang-jun), a close friend who helps Harin, also play a crucial role in driving the story.
Direction, Cinematography, and Music
Director Park Dan-hee and the team create a mysterious and somber atmosphere well. The color-changing photos and tight editing keep the narrative engaging. The soundtrack leans towards sad and tense tones, especially the OST sung by YERI herself, which deepens the emotional connection to the series.
Editorial Analysis
The editorial team finds that Blue Birthday plays with the concept of 'time travel' interestingly. Despite some weaknesses in production scale and plot realism, what sets it apart is its emphasis on the impact of changing the past on the present. The dual timeline storytelling and hidden clues in small details keep viewers questioning throughout. However, some plot resolutions feel rushed in the second half.
Verdict
Blue Birthday is suitable for fans of time-travel romance-mystery series seeking suspense and drama. Despite production limitations, the lead actors' performances and the engaging plot make it worth watching.
Screenshots
👍 Pros
- +Solid chemistry between the lead actors
- +Unique time-travel plot with twists
- +Atmosphere and music fit the mysterious-romantic theme
👎 Cons
- −Production limitations; some scenes look unrealistic
- −Pacing in the second half feels rushed
- −Some supporting characters lack depth
Top Cast
FAQ
Blue Birthday has 16 episodes, each about 20-25 minutes long.
No spoilers, but the ending is open to interpretation and hopeful.
It stars YERI (Red Velvet) as Oh Harin and Yang Hong-seok (Pentagon) as Ji Seojun.
It is currently available on Viki and TrueID in Thailand.
