'About Time': fantasy romance where seeing life clocks meets timeless love, exploring identity, choice, and fate.
Why 'About Time' Captures the Beauty of Every Last Moment
Introduction
Have you ever wished you could freeze time when your world feels perfect? “About Time”, which aired on tvN from May 21 to July 10, 2018, gives life to that fantasy. The drama follows musical actress Choi Michaela, who can see people’s life clocks—and Lee Do-ha, the chaebol heir whose presence stops her time. It’s a story that unfolds like a wish: what if love could pause mortality? By the end of each episode, you’ll feel both the ache of impermanence and the triumph of choice.
Overview
Title: About Time (멈추고 싶은 순간: 어바웃타임)
Year: 2018
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Melodrama
Main Cast: Lee Sang‑yoon, Lee Sung‑kyung
Episodes: 16
Runtime: ~60 min per episode
Streaming Platform: tvN, Netflix, Viki
Overall Story
Premise centers on Choi Michaela, a musical actress with the uncanny ability to see life spans as clocks hovering over people. She discovers that when Lee Do‑ha, heir to MK Cultural Foundation, is near, her personal clock stops ticking. Their bond becomes a literal extension of time, exploring how identity and mortality are entwined.
As Michaela pursues her dream of stardom, she grapples with guilt and love—using Do‑ha’s presence to extend her life means depending on him in the most profound way. Do‑ha’s anxiety and panic episodes—portrayed with raw vulnerability—make their connection feel fragile yet real.
Family and career pressures emerge as obstacles: Do‑ha’s father, chairman of MK group, expects him to follow a planned path, while Michaela must reconcile her abilities with her independence. Their emotional contract is tested by duty versus freedom, echoing deeper questions of self-worth.
Behind the music and romance, secret tragedies unfold. Phoebe’s brother, introduced later, adds layers of grief and resilience. Each revelation threatens the delicate balance of their time-stopped love, forcing characters to confront both fate and fear.
Visually, the drama uses lighting and framing to heighten intimacy—close-ups during clock-stopping moments feel electric. Music bridges their connection, from rehearsals to hospital scenes, underscoring the themes of choice, identity, and destiny.
By the finale, “About Time” doesn’t end in fairy-tale harmony—it opens on possibility. Michaela and Do‑ha accept that life isn’t forever, but love—when chosen—can extend beyond the seconds we count.
Highlight Moments / Key Episodes
Episode 1: Michaela sees Do‑ha’s clock stop in a crowded street—an electrifying moment that awakens both love and fear.
Episode 4: An intimate rehearsal performance where Michaela’s clock accelerates, reflecting her vulnerability and pushing Do‑ha to comfort her.
Episode 8: A sudden blackout during a hospital scene intensifies Do‑ha’s anxiety, forcing them both to rely on emotional trust without magical pauses.
Episode 12: Do‑ha confronts his father about his future, symbolizing liberation from inherited duty.
Episode 16: The final stage performance becomes a declaration: love isn’t measured in time, but in moments chosen and lived.
Memorable Lines
"Time is nothing when we decide what matters." – Choi Michaela, Episode 4 Symbolic of her realization that love outweighs seconds.
"Your clock doesn't stop because of destiny—it stops because you choose me." – Lee Do‑ha, Episode 8 A declaration of agency in their emotional bond.
"I’m tired of watching your end—I want to make new beginnings." – Choi Michaela, Episode 12 A heartfelt plea to shape the future together.
"We can't control life’s clock—but we can fill its moments." – Lee Do‑ha, Episode 14 Reflecting the drama’s core theme of meaning over time.
"Maybe time isn't a curse, if it's shared." – Choi Michaela, Episode 16 A gentle closing echo of lasting connection.
Why It’s Special
“About Time” transcends conventional fantasy romance by intertwining the supernatural with deeply human emotions. The ability to see life spans is more than a gimmick—it becomes a metaphor for personal growth, emotional resilience, and identity. Director Oh Sang-won uses this premise to peel back characters’ layers, revealing what truly matters beneath the enchantment.
Lee Sang-yoon and Lee Sung-kyung deliver beautifully balanced chemistry. Lee Sang-yoon portrays Lee Do-ha’s inner turmoil with tender vulnerability and silent strength, while Lee Sung-kyung brings depth to Choi Michaela’s journey from dependency to self-empowerment. Their performances transform the time-based fantasy into a story of emotional awakening.
The ensemble cast enriches the world around the leads. Supporting characters like Phoebe’s brother, family members, and stage colleagues provide grounded interactions that humanize the central premise. These relationships temper the fantasy, anchoring the narrative in real-world emotional stakes.
Visually, the series is stunning—soft lighting, intimate framing, and strategically paused scenes give the viewers space to feel each heartbeat. The camera gently lingers on time-stopped moments and musical performances, reinforcing the idea that love can suspend life’s pressures.
The soundtrack, led by lush piano and evocative string melodies, heightens emotional resonance without overshadowing the narrative. Music becomes an extension of the characters’ internal clocks—oscillating between hushed introspection and sweeping ardor.
At its core, “About Time” is a meditation on identity, choice, and mortality. It's not just about pausing time for love—it’s learning to live fully within each passing second. The drama’s philosophical heart makes it more than a romance—it is an emotional mirror.
The pacing elegantly balances enchantment with conflict—it never rushes. As each episode unfolds, the characters’ inner scars, emotional contracts, and fleeting joys feel as significant as any magical effect. The quiet moments carry as much weight as the most dramatic ones.
By the finale, the show resolves not by erasing time’s inevitabilities, but by accepting them. It invites viewers to cherish life through intentional presence, implying that true magic lies not in suspended clocks but in conscious choice.
Popularity & Reception
“About Time” aired on tvN from May to July 2018 and gained steady attention during its run, praised domestically for blending melodrama with fantasy. While it didn’t reach blockbuster cable ratings, it resonated strongly with niche audiences who appreciated its emotional sincerity.
Internationally, the show found a second life through Netflix, regularly ranking in K-drama popular lists and drawing fans who enjoyed its poetic sensibility. Social media buzz compared it to signature romantic fantasies like “The Time Traveller’s Wife” and “Prediction Romance.”
Critics highlighted its visual artistry and emotional depth, noting that it avoided being saccharine by grounding its supernatural premise in real emotion. Some reviews mentioned pacing as slow at moments but pointed out that this very pacing was the story's strength.
Fans remain fond of the series, often citing emotional catharsis in Youtube reaction videos and online forums. Key themes—embracing mortality, choosing authenticity, and pausing to live—continue to inspire discussion and personal reflections among viewers.
The soundtrack also experienced modest resurgence on Korean streaming platforms when fans created playlists titled “Live Every Moment” and “Time-Stopped Love,” highlighting how the music still moves listeners years later.
Cast & Fun Facts
Lee Sang-yoon embraced the role of Lee Do-ha by learning basic musical notation to authentically portray his character’s rehearsal scenes. This added a genuine layer to Do-ha’s struggle between fulfilling his father’s legacy and choosing his own path.
He also shared that shooting the time-freezing scenes required him to hold his breath for extended periods—an exercise of stillness that mirrored his character’s internal journey.
Lee Sung-kyung credits her theater training for capturing Choi Michaela’s expressive moments—especially during musical performances where emotion and timing intersect. She said those scenes felt like living inside a canvas.
Off-camera, Lee Sung-kyung and her real-life co-stars would improvise short musical duets between takes. This helped foster emotional connection and chemistry that shines through the finished episodes.
Phoebe’s younger brother, played by Kim Hyun-joon, brought lightness to the story. The young actor revealed he improvised the rooftop wink during Episode 5—adding charm and levity without breaking the narrative tone.
Director Oh Sang-won explained in interviews that the series drew visual inspiration from romantic period pieces and classic films like “Roman Holiday,” focusing on capturing fleeting moments of tenderness amid drama.
Conclusion / Warm Reminders
“About Time” isn’t just a tale of suspended love—it’s a gentle reminder to value each second we have. It urges us to confront mortality with grace and to choose presence over passivity. In its quiet moments, it sings of human connection and emotional bravery.
If you’re drawn to stories that invite reflection on mortality, identity, and the courage to live fully, this series offers a moving experience. It gently insists that the greatest magic happens not when time stops—but when we decide to live within it.
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