I see Queen Inhyun’s Man and I hear Flower Boy Next Door, but the feelings tell me that this is something new. That’s right, I like the drama as it is, because it’s not the same as the other two. Nine: Nine Times Time Travel. The Korean title isn’t that confusing but when translated into English, it somehow becomes complicated. Obviously a(nother) time traveling travelogue and for those who to check it out, just leave your logic outside your brain for a moment. [SPOILER ALERT!]
My version of a short summary of the drama:
“Park Sun-woo, a 37-year old reporter gets to know about a way to travel back to the past, which is by burning incense sticks from Nepal. The sticks are what his late brother tried to find but died in his quest for them. Sun-woo’s main goal is to save his father, who got killed in a fire 20 years back. The incense sticks can send the person to the same time, same place, same date and month where he is, 20 years back. Little did he know that the 10 sticks can change his own life and the people around him…”
I actually planned to start this drama later, but temptation to check it out won’t leave me and I just had to give in to my drama addict’s side. Right now, I have to be thankful to that temptation. Because of it, I’m left alone, trembling after watching four episodes of the drama.
So, what do I think about the drama?
I would like to take back my promise here because I’m all in for Nine! Four episodes in and I realize that I’ve fallen for the drama! Hmmmm…am I that easy to please?
The time travelers that we have seen in kdramas are either from the past or the present, but one thing that they don’t have is the time limit. I think this is the factor that sets Nine apart from the other time traveling dramas before this, because our time traveler Park Sun-woo (Lee Jin-wook) knows his time limit when he travels to the past. He can stay in the past as long as the incense is lit and 30 minutes per stick is what he got for him to go back to his past and do something, or nothing. Once the 30 minutes come to an end, he will just go *poof!* disappear into thin air in the past and transported back to the present. Interesting, isn’t it?
It’s just that the effect gets somehow more complicated with each of his ‘short’ visit to the past. Is it a butterfly effect?
- Stick #0: Since he got to travel three times using the this stick, which originally belonged to his late brother, the effects are – (1) no visible effect except those melting snow, (2) he got hurt by the piece of glass, and (3) he got to talk with his past self, altering his memories of the past in the process.
- Stick #1: He met his enemy Chairman Choi and got to know about his brother’s girlfriend.
- Stick #2: He altered the memory of his friend Young-hoon in order to prove to him about the time travel.
- Stick #3: He saved his brother’s girlfriend from death.
- Stick #4: He gave his mother a necklace, which appears in the present.
Sun-woo surely doesn’t put too much thought on the side effects of his action but by the end of episode 4, the effects become more visible. Things are changing, not only for him but the people around him. Crazy and illogical, but fantasy dramas and logic aren’t good buddies in this context. Aish, I can’t wait for episode 5, really!
I have to admit that the reason I’m watching is Lee Jin-wook. I’m shallow but no regret as I can enjoy the drama thanks to him! He’s a hoot here and his portrayal of Sun-woo is pretty good so far. Sun-woo is one straightforward reporter and he’s not afraid to express his thoughts. His career resume is perfect but his family is pretty much ruined with his mother’s sickness and his brother’s death, and he’s been diagnosed with malignant brain tumor.
Talk about bad lucks, but he’s somehow lucky to have the incense sticks. He intends to carry on with the mission that his late brother didn’t get to do, which is to save their family from the despair after their father’s death. He also has his own goal, that is to dig out the crime done by his family’s enemy, Choi Jin-chul (Jung Duk-hwan – I still think of him as Munjong from The Princess’ Man each time I see him in a drama).
I come to like him even more in episode 4, where he shows how much he cares for his family and his friend. He doesn’t really care about his own fate and chooses to let it flow naturally from the past. Instead, he chooses to use the chances of going back to the past to make the people around him happier. I particularly like the journey he made just to make his mother happy, shielding from the possible heartbreak she could have faced when her son stood her up. It’s a small gesture but enough to bring the smile on his mother’s face and also mine.
However, his own life is getting altered with each journey he made as an effect from the people’s lives that he has changed. Episode 4’s cliffhanger proves that the concept of ’cause and effect’ is still valid to be used this time.
The team behind the drama is the same one that did Queen Inhyun’s Man and while the setting is different, there are three things in Nine that remind me of Queen…
Fast moving split images in one frame. Some are okay with it but others think it’s just another source of headache.
Uhm Hyo-sup. Glad that he’s a kind mentor/superior over here, a role that’s the same as what he did with The Princess’ Man. Not an evil man like his role in Queen. And the fact that his character Director Oh Chul-min is using the same ringtone as Hee-jin back then….ah, the memories!
The beeper effect. Well…the logic needs to be thrown out of the window.
The common reactions that I saw here and there last week after the first episode’s broadcast is the oh-so-early-but-oh-so-deep kiss Sun-woo had with Joo Min-young (Jo Yoon-hee). Heh. She’s already lucky to begin with, not to mention that his superior/senior agrees to date her. Double lucky. Though Sun-woo’s decision is mostly because of his sickness, she must have been special in his eyes for him to spend the last moments of his life with her.
I can see why he thinks spending time with her is a good idea, simply because she’s so bubbly and cheerful, enough to make him forgot his problems for a moment and grins foolishly at her antics. Or doing embarrassing things because of her.
She’s like the female version of Sun-woo with her frank attitude but she has her own charms. Just be careful and do not provoke her, because she can be pretty unpredictable!
But then…her life is also changing because of the time travels. That is something new and I never thought to have her being associated with the journey this early, but I will have to watch episode 5 first before making any judgement. I’m a nervous wreck right now, because I adore these two so much. I really do.
Another character that deserves the love simply because he’s adorable is Han Young-hoon (Lee Sung-joon). He’s such an adorkable oddball who loves his best friend Sun-woo so much. Just look at how worried he is with Sun-woo’s nonchalant attitude about his tumor. He nags like a grandma but has a heart as big as a continent.
His reaction when he’s told about the time travel is gold. Haha! I’m glad that Sun-woo decides to share the knowledge about the travels with Young-hoon instead of keeping it to himself. At least he has a loyal buddy to confirm that something has indeed changed when he go back to the past. Through them, it’s confirmed that the memory of the past will be changed if there’s any change made in the past. It seems legit, but the visible change has yet to come…and I hope Young-hoon won’t lose his mind by then.
I couldn’t remember where I saw this guy playing the teenage version of Young-hoon and when I checked the cast…oh, it’s Lee Yi-kyung from School 2013! Someone please hit my head, my memory is getting worse each day!
My verdict for the time being: it’s an awesome watch because of the mysterious element, plus the endless possibilities and ‘what if’s. If you’re a fan of time traveling dramas, then this might be another favorite in the making for you. I want to see how the writer will pull of the reasoning behind the theme this time. Give it a try. Who knows, you might end up loving Nine as much as I do!
the talking cupboard 
I’m waiting for more eps to be out to start watching this… Lee Jin-wook looks so good!!!
This drama is so underrated! It’s one of the current airing dramas but I seldom hear anyone discussing about it on the blogosphere it frustrates me so. I know Dramabeans has done recaps for the first two episodes but that’s basically the only place I get an inkling about other people’s thoughts on this show. I tried googling to check if there’s anyone else watching the show,also tried ransacking tumblr but I can’t seem to find people discussing about it!(Or maybe my stalker skills still need lots of honing HAHA) So CAN YOU EVEN IMAGINE MY JOY AND GRATEFULNESS when I saw your post appearing on my twiiter TL? It was as if Christmas came early. FINALLY SOMEONE SEES THE GEM QUALITY OF THIS DRAMA! I was intially tentative about going into this drama,I mean the trailer wasn’t particularly exciting and I’ve never seen any of the stuff done by the leads. But then I was in dire need of a good time travel drama(QIHM was hands down the best one for last year!) so I thought well,I’ve just completed FBND and it was pretty decent and since the same team behind QIHM is backing this drama it couldn’t possibly be bad,right? The first 2 episodes was okay and pacing and set up was done pretty decently although I wasn’t really taken by the female lead(it’s the bowl haircut I’m telling you!) but I was willing to see past that and just bask in the storytelling,and I was quite intrigued. I struggled a little before deciding on giving the next two episodes a try today(and largely because Lee Jin Wook is too hot to be missed-yes I’m shallow like that heh) and boy was I glad that I did! Personally for me it was the fourth episode that did it for me,that made me confirm that I do want to see through this drama until the very end(unless drama pulls a Dr.Jin on me and decides to be crappy). OUR MALE LEAD CAN SURE PLANT THEM HAWT KISSES,I was smiling to myself in front of my computer screen like a maniac ahahaha I haven’t had feels like this for a drama in awhile. So far the chemistry between our OTP is pretty good,although it’s not of the Boongdo-Heejin type but I’m willing to wait and see if it gets better. I loved how sweet and caring he was to his mum when he travelled back to see her,seriously felt like squishing him into a hug heheheh.(I’m so sorry,my LJW fetish has gotten a little out of hand here). Omo,have you saw the preview for next week’s episode? Apparently Sunwoo’s brother came back to life! O.O Mindblown. I can’t wait to see how that happened. AND AND the cliffhanger at the end of episode 4! Omigosh I was so mindblown by the fact that Minyoung was the little girl! Uhm so weird oh she ended up falling in love with the ajusshi who saved her mum’s life? SAY WHATTT? I don’t dig the tumor plot but I’ll bear with it for the time being,so far I don’t sense any makjangness seeping into this drama so I’m really pleased. Ahhh,I still cannot get over how attractive LJW is! Can’t believe that it took me so long to discover an eye candy like him! And his character doesn’t even look 37! Ooh and did you notice how nostalgic the setting 20 years old was? I’m getting the feels whenever Sunwoo travels back in time. The background music is super cool and befitting as well. So much love for this drama! AHAHAH I’m so sorry for writing such a big whole chuck of my thoughts on this drama. I’m just too excited to share my love for Nine. :3
Awwwwww dear, you make me grin reading your thoughts! HAHAHA I am really grateful that I started this drama earlier than planned and finished all the first four episodes in one day! Hehe Lee Jin-wook IS hot and I totally understand you 😉 We can be shallow together because of him, no regret!
Ohhhhhh don’t even mention about the preview O.O That was a big surprise!! They did well with episode 4 and the preview, leaving me fidgeting and nervously waiting for episode 5. Oh God, I can’t get over the fact that Min-young was Shi-ah. So if Sun-woo’s brother married her mother, Sun-woo is her uncle?! Oohhhhhhhh I’m suddenly nervous for the OTP! But from the preview, Sun-woo now realizes that his actions in the past will affect his present life and it’s not impossible for him to end up never meeting Min-young, so he seems to cherish her and the time they spend together more. Argh! Suddenly I feel sad for them…
We’ll see what will happen with his tumor. Sometimes I forgot that he’s sick because I’m too focused on the time travel plot. Hehe. You’re right, the past setting is pretty and nostalgic and I especially love the colors! Not to forget that Lee Jin-wook glows when Sun-woo travels to the past. Kekeke
It’s okay! You’re welcomed to spazz with me over here 😉 I will gladly gush with you about the drama and Lee Jin-wook 😉
Finally someone ofrom the blogosphere speaks up about the awesomeness of this drama! About time 🙂 The feels!
thank you ………….
I’ve been planning to check this out, just since I love Queen In-Hyun’s Man so I have hope for the writer doing something amazing. But I was postponing it out of nervousness. Now I wants to see asap!! 😀
i so so so love this drama. So good to feel that wonderful trust in writers again.
Thank you! Will you be doing this for Nine from now on? (pretty please *bats eyelashes*)
This drama is a gem. I’m not hoping it’d be better than QIHM but I’m pretty sure it would be really good.
If you mean the commentaries, most probably yes 😀
Well…we’re still at the initial part of the plot so we can’t really say anything about the drama 😉 but one thing I’m sure is this drama is sure a feast for the eyes!
Marathoned the first six eps and loved it! So curious how it will continue. Please continue to write about it!
Regarding Lee Yi-Kyung. Saw his movie Baek Ya at the Berlinale and afterwards we had a Q&A with the director, him, and his co-star Won Tae-Hee. He is sooooo beautiful in RL. Jawdropping! As Baek Ya is a gay themed movie, the audience asked, whether it is difficult to cast actors or not. But Leesong Hee-Il said, it’s not difficult to find actors (as the actors of his No Regret are quite famous now in Korea – think Kim Nam Gil), but it’s tough to convince the family. Lee Yi-Kyung was thrown out of his house, after his parents learned about the topic the movie was dealing with. He was forced to live in a hospital for 10 days. It offered a clean bathroom, a kiosk for food and nobody noticed a waiting person. Poor guy! But determined, I guess. 😀
The first time i read this post i skipped most of it just to avoid spoilers. but it was enough to made me check this drama: Thank you so much!!!:) thanks to you i discovered this wonderful drama, i’m so hooked.
i haven’t watched Queen Inhyun’s Man so i can’t compare (QIM is on my to watch list) but i kinda marathoned the first 6 epis of nine and i love them so much!! hope to watch epis 7 and 8 tonight 🙂
so far it’s so exciting, almost all the characters are great specially Min-young and Sun-woo’s boss and Sun-woo’s friend, but my favorite is Sun-woo. it’s not only that he is extra hot!!! (he really is), but i love how he cares about his family and friends, how hardworking he is, how straight forward is his personality, he’s breaking my heart!!! i need a happy ending!!!
i have to agree with isabellealyssa it’s really frustating the lack of discussing about it on the blogosphere…
thanks for this post again and againg, hope you keep loving and blogging about this drama 🙂
Glad that another fan has tuned in! Seriously, this amazing drama needs more love, right?!
Hahahaha I know, I know! Our Sun-woo ahjusshi is so hot 😉 It’d be too much if he doesn’t get his happy ending. Ah, you’ll feel more heartbroken for him in ep 7 & 8 ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
Thank you so much for loving this 😀 Planning to do another post for eps 5-8 this weekend 🙂
hey guys,what’s the ringtone used by park sun woo?anybody know?
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