[Nygus]

Before we begin with a cliché plot battle concerning 49 days, appreciation for execution should be considered as a deciding factor when rating a drama...which brings us back to a...battle with 49 Days?

SYNOPSIS (According to Dramawiki):
Shin Ji Hyun was enjoying absolute bliss as she was about to marry her fiancé, Kang Min Ho, but her perfect life is shattered when she gets into a car accident that leaves her in a coma. She is given a second chance at life by a reaper, but it comes with a condition: she has to find three people outside of her family who would cry genuine tears for her. In order to do this, she borrows the body of Yi Kyung, a part-time employee at a convenience store for 49 days.

REVIEW
Seriously speaking though,I haven't felt happy and content about a drama since the winter of 2010. Even before its premiere we were bombarded with still shot after still shot of promotional banter but I'm glad that it didn't pull a 'Mary stayed out all night'..an explanation concerning Mary would require tissue and wine to divulge so let's leave it at that. This tale starts ironically at a traffic jam where naive and innocent Shin Ji Hyun played by "too perfect" Nam Gyu Ri is stuck with her two best friends, Seo Woo and In Jung she in a princess like gown running a little late for her engagement ceremony to her equally perfect fiancé Min Ho. Although she makes it in time, long time friend, Han Kang doesn't.

But that is the least of their problems,in order to secure a business bid, Ji Hyun's dad convinces the kids to hasten their wedding but days before, she is involved in an accident that literally boots her soul out and keeps her body in a vegetative state. She meets the suave, guitar-playing,hippie/rocker,ever quirky 'Scheduler' who becomes her afterlife guide as she verges on her quest to secure 3 tears of true love. Yi kyung played by the beautiful and talented Lee Yo Won (Queen Seon Duk) serves as her container for the next 49 days. However, the catch is, no one must find out that she is Ji Hyun either by word,letter or emotion or the 49 days contract will POOF and she will ride the elevator to the afterlife.

I'm not kidding when I say, Nam Gyu Ri is "too perfect", she needs to refer me to her plastic surgeon..but onto her actual profession.Quite frankly she nails the crying scenes perfectly but finding a pity thread for her character was a bit difficult..well atleast for me especially since a lot had been going on around her that she should have questioned...but I guess that's what the writer wanted to portray,an airhead. The guys may beg to differ when they see her pout though which is uber adorable..I'll cut her some slack since its her second TV show and as the series reached its peak, you could see some improvement.
But thank goodness for Lee Yo Won who as Song Yi Kyung and Ji-Hyun's container helps unravel and confuse supporting characters when she isn't attending her 5 year pity party after the dearest person to her passed on tragically and suddenly. As Yi-Kyung, her daily routine is waking up at midnight, eating her cup noodles or ramyun then walking to her job at a convenience store to work the night shift since she prefers less human interaction and returning home in the morning to sleep till midnight again. Its so painful to watch someone with no will to live like that. But once Ji-Hyun sets up shop, 10 a.m till 12:00 a.m become occupied with her efforts to get the tears. Not easy for sure.... while some secrets and schemes were a tad bit predictable, there are some that blew you off course in turn hooking me to know more (admits to a 49 day marathon in 32 hours)
The supporting actors were superb though some where a bit under-used by the script writer in my opinion.But then again, there was soooo much going on among the main characters to even peer the camera in another direction. If these snippets don't woo you, then leave it up to the scheduler played by Jung Il Woo to hook you even more. He gives a stunning performance as the force who can't interfere but just has to interfere because he happened to be in charge of an 'airhead' of a soul. Really, the character Ji-Hyun is that sweet airhead who frustrates you but at the same time whom you just want to shield from the evils of the world. As a scheduler, his job is to basically usher souls into the elevator but sometimes mishaps occur and some souls are stuck on earth before their 'time'..occupational hazards,If you ask me. When these souls are found, they have a choice to get tears or take the elevator and should they choose the first, it turns into baby-sitting. In the case of the Scheduler and Ji Hyun, it was more like playful sibling banter that was an absolute delight to watch...those two sometimes made you forget that they are both technically not of this world.

OVERALL
Rating: 7.5/10
Vouch: Absolutely! For the girls, this is a nice follow up to Secret Garden and they're both SBS productions....looks like they have winning shows this time round. Not too mellow or mushy and not too frustrating either with just the right amount of cute. If you fall into the others category then watching this drama will leave you with a feeling of appreciation for life a little more with the ones who truly love you and aren't out for ulterior motives.
Without spoiling, the show is wrapped out realistically,leaving you content and not at war with your screen.
I'll leave the pros and cons for you to decide because I'm a bit biased right now (still in the 49 days high).

There is one con though..the writer pulled a last episode hat trick that should not have been there. But I'm sure a majority would beg to differ....everyone should have a happy ending except the bad guys,right? This is technically not a spoiler...just a heads up.
For more still shots of this delightful drama, click the link [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

[IndigoJuly]

This drama was an iffy. The premise meant that the viewer knew what they were getting into was bound to be depressing and gloomy with some silver lining of hope. And...well...let's just say the ending left emotions. And I did watch this after Secret Garden so I really needed something fun...which was probably why I watched Greatest Love. Though, I don't seem to recall when I watch anything.

[Nygus]

Originally Posted by IndigoJuly

This drama was an iffy. The premise meant that the viewer knew what they were getting into was bound to be depressing and gloomy with some silver lining of hope. And...well...let's just say the ending left emotions. And I did watch this after Secret Garden so I really needed something fun...which was probably why I watched Greatest Love. Though, I don't seem to recall when I watch anything.

I watched it again while i was under the weather and I dare say, this drama did leave my emotions stirred up once more. Damn you,49 Days!But I concur whole heartedly with The Greatest Love. It was definitely lighter and much more fun to watch but came much later during the summer line up when I didn't know better. Thanks for the insight,IndigoJuly