A remake of the popular Taiwanese drama Someday or One Day, the Netflix series A Time Called You stars Jeon Yeo-bin (Glitch) and Ahn Hyo-seop (Romantic Doctor Teacher Kim 3) in a romance that transcends time. When our bereaved heroine travels back to the past via a mysterious cassette tape, she’s given a second chance to chase happiness with her beloved.
For the past year, Han Joon-hee (Jeon Yeo-bin) has been mourning the loss of her boyfriend Gu Yeon-joon (Ahn Hyo-seop), unable to move on in his absence. One day, she comes across a cassette tape labelled “Seo Ji-won 2,” with a handwritten note inside — “I hope this music takes you to your happiest moment.”
Joon-hee presses play, her mind rewinding through precious memories of the time she and Yeon-joon spent together. A simple lunch shared as they moved into their new home. A joyful drive through town. A sweet kiss in an empty classroom. A sun-kissed beach date, and a playful chase amidst a rain shower.
When Joon-hee opens her eyes, she’s back in the year of 1998, in the body of high school student Kwon Min-joo. At school, there’s a shockingly familiar face — fellow student Nam Shi-heon is the spitting image of Yeon-joon. He’s joined by his best friend Jung In-kyu — played by Kang Hoon (The Secret Romantic Guesthouse), yay! — though they’re not above engaging in fisticuffs, since In-kyu soon develops an unrequited crush on Min-joo.
Overwhelmed by the unexpected reunion-of-sorts with the doppelgänger of her lost love, a tearful Min-joo can’t help but find herself drawn to Shi-heon. Before long, the trio forge an adorable friendship, riding their scooters down a cherry blossom road and enjoying a carousel ride together.
However, it soon becomes apparent that not all is right. As the dreamy color palette grows cold and the soundtrack turns ominous, we see glimpses of tragedy. Our two leads have both been involved in traffic accidents, and it seems the magical cassette tape is at the heart of this mystery. Its music may have granted Joon-hee’s wish to return to a time with Yeon-joon in it, but will there be a price to pay?
Helmed by PD Kim Jin-won (My Country: The New Age), with scripts adapted by Choi Hyo-bi (Babysitter), A Time Called You drops on September 8 on Netflix.