I watched this film twice. That's how much I loved it. If you're looking for a film about local politics that actually isn't too heavy or depressing to watch, I highly recommend "롱 리브 더 킹: 목포 영웅 (Long Live the King: Mokpo Hero)".

I love films and dramas with cold-turned-warm gangsters who were always inherently good but battled with the hardships of life, poverty and being outcasts of society. There is something about changing your old ways, shedding an old, shameful skin and "being reborn" that attracts me. Perhaps, it is a reminder that everyone and anyone can be a better person if they strive to be. This film is reminiscent of that. If you are a sucker for this trope, get onto this movie.

The only thing I would say is that the film is quite mild and predictable. The film does attempt to dissect politics, corruption and "the evils of capitalism" in the two hours it's got, but the coverage is general and only serves to frame the plot (it is really only scratching at the surface of those issues). However, given the style of the film, I don't think the film was designed to really unravel that. I think people tend to forget that it is a story of self-discovery and romance (even if the romance was subtle) so if you were looking for a thriller, this is not it.

While the film was not exactly riveting, the self-discovery and personal development that our main lead undergoes was pleasant to watch. The development did lack some depth but it was heart-felt and for me, that was all that mattered.

Lastly, I was surprised to hear the pop classic and my 십팔번, "사랑한다는 말 (The Words I Love You)" during the film and ending credits (a lovely song for a lovely film).

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If you're looking for a heart-felt and easy-going family drama, this is it! After finishing family drama "아이가 다섯 (Five Enough)" and "아버지가 이상해 (My Father is Strange)", I couldn't find a family drama I was willing to commit to until this one. Like most family dramas, the drama covers family and societal themes and issues, but with "한 번 다녀왔습니다 (Once Again)", those issues were not explored as deeply as I thought they'd be. Whether this is a pro or con depends on the viewer. I personally think unraveling those themes further (particularly, divorce) would have elevated the drama, however, I enjoyed the dramas as is anyway.

Initially, I enjoyed the set-up for the main characters, Na Hee and Gyu Jin. Over time, however, I found them to be overbearing and frankly, frustrating. I became more attracted to the supporting characters and their developmental arcs, particularly Oh Yoon Ah's character (Ga Hee) and Lee Cho Hee's character (Da Hee). While it is hard to say how things will turn out, given the drama is still airing, I find them to be much more interesting than the main characters (for now).

I am a sucker for dramas with lots of side plots and non-nuclear family structures, so this was a hit for me. The original soundtracks are also really good (check out "눈 감아도 눈을 떠도 (When I Close My Eyes)", the second soundtrack and my personal favourite)). If you guys are looking for a comedic and light-hearted 주말 드라마 and are happy to invest in a 100-episode journey, I highly recommend "Once Again".

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