Ratings for Remember have been climbing steadily since it began airing in December – it just jumped from 10.4% to 12.5% in Korea according to TNMS - and who's surprised? No one is, or at least no one who's watched it or gone on social media in the past few weeks. The 20-episode series starring Yoo Seung Ho and Park Min Young is all K-drama fans can talk about now and it's no wonder. Here's why you need to jump on the bandwagon if you haven't already:
Gripping story and plotline
Yoo Seung Ho plays Seo Jin Woo, a young lawyer fighting to save his father from being wrongfully executed for murder. Jin Woo has hyperthymesia, which allows him to remember every single day that has passed in perfect detail. He uses that to his advantage, but the odds seem firmly stacked against him when he develops Alzheimer's. How will he pull through?
While that premise alone is enough reason to get started, as you get through the series, you'll find something else: despite its relatively small number of episodes Remember's process is like cooking a delicious stew – the pertinent bits are added only when appropriate (not dumped on you all at one go) and as the plot thickens the delicious smell of suspense wafts through the air.
Breath-taking performances
Yoo Seung Ho's first TV drama gig since his discharge from the military was unlikely to disappoint and true enough, his portrayals of desperation, devastation and resolve are unforgettable. So is Park Min Young, who lives up to her signature wondergirl-in-distress image with her depiction of Seo Jin Woo's childhood friend Lee In Ah.
The character you'll likely have nightmares about is Nam Gyu Man, played by the increasingly memorable Nam Goong Min. You could say Gyu Man is the loose cannon version of Goong Min's role in The Girl Who Sees Smells, but really he's much, much more. And how about the rest of the cast? Familiar faces Park Sung Woong, Lee Won Jong and Jung Hye Seong each bring their own flavours to the table.
Well-written script that makes you ponder
With Yoon Hyeon Ho penning the script, it's no wonder that Remember is full of memorable quotes. Each episode is peppered with quips by the characters that leave us reflecting on our own lives – have a look at some examples here and look out for more when you watch the series:
"What life comes down to is not money or fame. It's probably our memories. And I won't even have that."
"It doesn't matter if it's the world or people you're beating. The strongest force of all is not this hand, but the hand that commands the law."
"Having lots of good memories will make you feel rich. … Since I married your dad, and since the day you two were born, I've had a lot of good memories. Our family is rich."
