Just like all things must come to an end, our time with Family By Choice has reached its conclusion. It’s been an incredible journey, and what truly matters is that everyone finds their happy ending and closure for the past.
Our found family will surely be missed, but we can imagine them living happily together with their bond still strong as ever.
- Main Leads: Hwang In Youp | Jung Chaeyeon | Bae Hyun Sung | Choi Won-young | Choi Moo-sung
- Addictive Meter:
- Overall Rating:
- Rewatch Value:
- K-Dramas of Similar Vibe: Reply 1988 | Twinkling Watermelon
Episode Recaps: 01 & 02 | 03 & 04 | 05 & 06 | 07 & 08 | 09 & 10 | 11 & 12 | 13 & 14 |
Family By Choice Finale Week Recap
Despite being initially shocked, Dad Kim supports the idea of Ju-won and San-ha getting together. Yet it is Dad Yoon who is entirely against the idea and nothing the rest of the family does can get him to change his mind. Another one opposing this relationship is San-ha’s mother, though she doesn’t voice her opinion before San-ha since he won’t listen to her, anyway. Instead, she drops by the bakery and tells Ju-won to break up with San-ha, spewing nonsense about how San-ha will be happier with someone who doesn’t know of his past.
Hurt by San-ha’s mother’s words, Ju-won falls sick but keeps the truth from San-ha, who is smart enough to figure out what happened and goes to confront his mother. It is sad and hurtful, but I am afraid I won’t sympathize with any crocodile tears from that toxic mother after everything she put San-ha through with her selfishness. Good thing that she is moving abroad with So-hui so that San-ha can live freely.
Arriving in town, San-ha is welcomed with a big hug from Ju-won, who confesses her feelings to him. They have been inseparable since childhood, so Ju-won was worried she mistook those feelings for love. But after a chat with Dad Yoon about her late mother, Ju-won musters up the courage to follow her heart. Luckily, Dad Yoon gives them his blessing, having realized how much those two love each other.
Switching to the other two, thanks to Ju-won and San-ha stepping in to help that clueless guy, Hae-joon realizes he has feelings for Dal and asks her out. Hooray! Finally, this ship is sailing. Better yet, Hae-joon takes over a small basketball academy and becomes a trainer, doing what he enjoys instead of taking on a random job.
Now that our trio has found happiness, they wish for the dads to be happy too. As for Dad Kim, he keeps taking up random hobbies till he finds his passion. While Dad Yoon gets together with Hae-joon’s mother at long last after some nudging from Hae-joon and Ju-won. We end this beautiful drama with Dad Yoon and Hae-joon’s mother’s wedding and when we send off those beautiful characters, everyone looks happy and at peace.
Family By Choice Series Quick Recap
Two adults and three young children are brought together by coincidence. They decide to live together and become one family. However, one decade later, they are forced to part ways and are reunited after 10 years of separation.
Family By Choice Highlights and Musings
This is my first time watching a remake while being acquainted with the original version, though I find the Korean version more engaging. It might be just me, but I liked this one better. Maybe it is the shorter episode count and how the annoying parts were either removed or took a different turn. My favorite character was Dad Yoon. His scenes with Hae-joon always got me teary-eyed, yet I liked this relationship the most, the father and son who weren’t blood-related yet cared about each other the most.
I liked how our trio always had each other’s back and sustained their bond even after their separation. The addition of Dal made things sweeter, and the best part was how we got two sweet couples instead of an annoying love triangle drifting our trio apart. I guess Hae-joon can put his worries aside now that he is in a legal family with Dad Yoon and Ju-won. Still, a part of me wants to scold me for always worrying about being discarded, no matter how much the rest of the family reassures him they won’t let him go, but that is what childhood trauma is like.
If I could change anything, I would tone down San-ha’s mother or change the entire scenario for So-hui’s parents dying in an accident and San-ha moving to Seoul to take care of his sister and returning together when he becomes an adult. This way, we can spare more time for the progression of San-ha and Ju-won’s relationship as adults or this time can be spent on our trio.
All in all, Family By Choice is a light-hearted show with strengths and weaknesses. At the end of the day, I guess the good parts eclipse the annoying ones. Perhaps on a cold winter night, I will find my way back to it for a watch under my blanket. You see, what could be more heartwarming than watching five strangers form a bond stronger than a blood-related family?
Photos and Videos: JTBC Drama
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