I remember that a lot of people were involded with the Scheduler's story (Jung Il-Woo's effect I guess) but I was most interested to watch Nam Guyri finding her 3 persons who will shed a tear for her. It's why I really hated the end. She did it, she discovered that her best friend loved her... and then "Congratulation, you will die anyway!".

I really liked Jo Hyun-Jae in this role.

This drama scarred me for life.

I remember reading the DB recaps for this long back. I think there was even another post on DB on how if they had to change the ending of a show, it'd be this one? I was warned away and never got around to watching it - it still hangs on my endless 'to watch' list. Maybe it's finally time to give it a go 🤔.

I log in just because I want to leave a comment on this. 49 Days was the drama that led to me discovering Dramabeans, following for its recaps and staying for more until now. It has also been the drama that led me to watch Kdrama religiously, knowing the broadcast schedule and understand the agonizing wait for subtitles. The last 2 episodes left me dehydrated and were a lot to process, but all in all, I'm glad I watched it and definitely appreciate writer So Hyun-kyung for sticking to her original script idea to deliver a meaningful story.

Wow. That really hits hard and it made me realize how long I've been a kdrama fan for. I love 49 Days especially with that ending! I remember people hating the show for it but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Cried my eyes out.

49 Days is a drama that I've watched multiple times. The ending is heartbreaking but this is a drama worth watching.

One of my favorite dramas.

This was my second drama and it is still one of my favorites. Not many dramas are as bold as this. I don't remember another female lead that was ever guilty of being self-involved while still being very nice to everyone. The best kdrama reaper story ever. Best of all were the philosophical messages disguised in a soap opera.

Oh I most certainly remember this show. It was the Scheduler's storyline that hit me sohard; it was like a punch to the gut, it was so heart-wrenching. To this day I am traumatized by this show! This show was one of the reasons why I said I would never live-watch a show again. (A rule I have broken and I've often been burned by breaking that rule. Anyway...) Nam Gyuri's acting wasn't that great, but Jung Il-woo and Lee Yo-won totally destroyed me. When he walked away (and for those who've seen the show, you know what scene I'm talking about), I just about died inside. It was a beautiful show about life, love, loss, and moving on, but man it was hard on the heart and tear ducts.

Wow, this drama. In some ways, I have a lot of fondness for it because it one of the first dramas I watched once I committed to Korean dramas, probably the 3rd or 4th drama I watched. I loved the makjang-ness of the show and really I was invested in everything except that 11th hour plot-twist from the last 20 minutes of the finale. I was so upset at how it came about (I prefer my plot-twists to have some hints that I can look for in the re-watch) and how it was not set up that I pretty much vowed to forget the shows existence. After 11 years, I might have healed enough to re-watch it, no guarantees lol.

I will forever be bitter.
If everything else wasn't so good, the ending wouldn't have been such a stab in the back.

I remember bits of this, but most of all a few feelings:

1. The frightening feeling of being in a nether world of not being seen but hearing everything and learning about what people really think and not being able to communicate.
2. The desolate world of Yi-kyung. That room...
3. On top of that, the frightening realisation of how hard it was to find three people who truly mourned her

It was gratifying that she grew up. Btw I don't mind people dying in dramas because it seems more realistic. It makes sense to me that in those 49 days, one would see things from a whole new perspective.

But mercy me, how could I have forgotten that it was Jung Il-woo? Banish me!!!!

Han Kang!! I fondly remember having a huge crush on Jo Hyun Jae here. Plus this js the first drama I saw and liked Jung Il Woo. I will always remember this drama with affection.
Yes the fiance and fake bestie makes my blood boil to this day. I also cried bucket of tears with the ending. Why show? Why? But I understand why it ended the way it did. * sniffles*
*runs away to look for clips of this show**

Personally on the floor because of @daebakgrits comment about burrito cookie dough. Yes, I do know what you're talking about! 🤣😂 Please, let us oversimplify the already convenient. Seriously though, this was a great rundown and summary!

The one line I have always remembered from this drama which hit me hard in the philosophical area goes along the lines of "Don't think of dying for me just because I'm dead. We don't reunite after death but rather we'll be searated even after that. That is why it's called death in that we don't get what we want" and it's the exact opposite of life. Said by the reaper. Gives a really new meaning/twist to the "We'll reunite in death" philosphy. Great drama which made me cry buckets. I felt for all the characters.

OMG THIS DRAMA

I genuinely cannot think about the ending without tears welling up in my eyes. I hated the ending so much but at the same time I get why it ended the way it did.

The only thing I really hate in retrospect was the therapist who was... highly unprofessional even for Kdrama standards.

Oh, and I also remember thinking how weird it was that the Scheduler wasted so much of his time sending his long lost girlfriend out shopping or something while he fixed up her flat? Like... dude, you were granted a cosmic gift of a few precious hours to be with her so, like... actually be with her? 😅

I loved this drama and was also satisfied with the ending - which is weird since most people hated the ending and felt betrayed by it. I guess it would have made sense too if they went with a happily ever after. Even though it sucked that Ji-hyun ultimately died and the promise to come back was betrayed, the extra days she had were ultimately a gift. She was able to prevent her bastard fiance from ruining her family, save her suicidal sister, bring her sister back to her family, bring her terrible friend back from the dark side, and resolve her relationship with her old friend/now love.

Even after the initial shock of being told that she was always destined to die, she spent the remaining time even more preciously. And she left the world with a smile escorted by Scheduler friend. I really admired Ji-hyun for her strength.

I dislike death endings, but I felt really at peace with this one even with all the crying I had to do.

My memory of this drama is hazy, it's been so many years, but still remember that ending. On reflection, I really like it - it's such poignant irony, a testament to the fact that no-one really knows what'll happen in life. Who can whether that accident Nam Gyu-ri's character was in was a good or bad thing?

I'm re-watching it now. This drama is a favorite of mine, and the Dramabeans recaps were everything. The ending tore me up though, and yes, it will make you ugly cry. Traumatized for real.

What a great review! I missed this drama when it first came out and only watched it a couple years ago when my friend recommended it to me for being a LYW fan. I had a little trouble getting into it at first, but then got completely sucked into the plot. For anyone with anything resembling narcissistic tendencies, this drama is a must-watch.

I really didn't care for the Ji Hyun character at first, but her strangely naive character flaw saved her into my good graces. She reminded me of a slightly airheaded poor little rich girl who probably would've coasted through life never knowing how the two-faced people in her life really felt about her if not for this point of the drama. I thought NGR's acting was actually spot on to what the character demanded.

LYW's acting, on the other hand, did not shine in this as much as other dramas. She's much better at playing strong FL roles, and she sort of fell flat on this one. The same intensity of her acting in strong roles did not translate well to Yi Kyung, who really would've been better played by a more feminine actress who would've really transmitted a much better defeatedness with life. As another commented about her acting seeming like "bland sulking," I actually would go so far as to say she just came across as tired and needed a little sleep. Regardless, bad casting despite my liking her in many other dramas.

Like other commenters, I was completely blown away with the overall plot. I can't remember crying so much over a drama because of the sense of utter loss I felt with the ending. While it wasn't bad due to its inevitability, the Greek tragedy-like factor of how this drama almost needed to end made it devastating. If it had ended happily, I might have thought much less of it given the emotional roller-coaster it took us on to get there.