On April 3, 2025, the streaming platform TVING unveiled its much-anticipated series, Way Back Love. The premiere quickly captivated audiences, igniting a deep emotional response among fans. Starring Gong Myung and Kim Min-ha, this drama navigates complex themes including love, grief, and redemption, all wrapped in a fantasy-romantic narrative.
Adapted from Seo Eun-chae’s poignant novel, the plot centers around Jung Hee-wan, a 24-year-old grappling with despair following her emotional turmoil. Her situation takes a surreal turn when she is visited by her childhood friend and former love, Kim Ram-woo, who now assumes the role of a grim reaper.
The narrative cleverly intertwines past experiences with contemporary challenges, as the duo embarks on fulfilling a bucket list. The heart-wrenching twist unfolds as Hee-wan learns she has only one week left to live. Early episodes unveil an array of bittersweet memories, unexpressed feelings, and raw emotions, leaving viewers in tears.
Many fans have resonated with the heartbreaking scenes depicting Ram-woo’s sacrifices and Hee-wan’s enduring pain. One passionate viewer, identified as @iminnha, expressed their distress, saying:
“cried a river after watching ep 3 of way back love…heewan and ramwoo traumatized me….”
Reactions across social media platforms reflect the show’s profound emotional pull. The flashbacks and regrets portrayed have positioned Way Back Love as a quintessential tearjerker.
“whats ur favorite horror movie?”idk maybe its when ramwoo was trying his best to smile after finding out that he and his friend likes the same girl but eyes can’t lie so we can still see that he was hurt and he knew that he had to sacrifice one,”a fan commented.
“NOO IM NOT OKAY… the pain, all that grief, the whole ‘what if’ life they’re stuck in, and their acting… sksk triple kill,”another person remarked.
“not me gaslighting myself into thinking that these two will finally have their happy ending and second chance at love when the truth is one’s already dead and the other one is dying,”a user added.
“Such a painful drama. But one thing they are not exaggerating the events. Spontaneous events here hurt the most,”a netizen mentioned.
Viewers humorously commented that the cast of Way Back Love owes them some therapy due to the emotional turmoil they experience.
“How can I contact minha & gongmyung so they can pay for my therapy after hurting me this way,”a fan commented.
“stop torturing me like this,”an X user wrote.
“Cried like crazy,”another person added.
Exploring the Depth of ‘Way Back Love’: The Storyline, Cast, and Future Episodes
Way Back Love masterfully juxtaposes the carefree days of high school with the sorrowful realities of adulthood, unraveling the deep emotional ties between Hee-wan and Ram-woo. The plot kicks off with a name-swapping prank that unexpectedly shapes their relationship and identities.
After a tragic accident that claimed Ram-woo’s life, Hee-wan isolated herself emotionally. His unexpected return as a grim reaper forces her to confront unresolved feelings and buried truths, igniting a captivating dynamic.
The emotional crescendo in Episode 3 left viewers profoundly impacted, especially in a scene where Ram-woo attempts to mask his heartbreak upon discovering his friend’s feelings for Hee-wan.
This poignant moment, coupled with the fact that Ram-woo had passed away before he could reveal his true feelings, heightened the emotional stakes of the series.
In addition to the lead roles, the series includes a talented supporting cast featuring Jung Gun-joo, Oh Woo-ri, Ko Chang-seok, and Seo Young-hee. Roh Deok helms the direction while Song Hyeon-ju and Jang In-jung contribute to the scriptwriting.
Way Back Love was prominently featured as one of six dramas showcased at the 29th Busan International Film Festival and will consist of six riveting episodes. New episodes are set to be released weekly on TVING, with international audiences able to enjoy the series through platforms like Viki and Viu.
Following the release of Episodes 3 and 4 on April 10, fans eagerly await the next installment scheduled for April 17, 2025.