I'm wondering what was the point to borrow all these lifes connected to Tae-woo to take him down with the message of the drama. I really don't understand why I needed to watch sociapath killing innocent people to understand that every individual is irreplaceable.

I found the way too cold, minimizing his struggles and pain.

The only good thing was Jang Seung-jo! He was stunning in this role!

This was a great write up @loveparka nd I am inclined to fully agree. They picked a great group of actors to show case the different bodies. However the drama never ventured solutions to the problems and as stated, since he went back in "time" essentially, will everything still happen. I did enjoy it for what is was though and I loved that Park So dam looked like she was having a blast.

Tae Woo's existence was my least favorite part of this drama. I don't understand the why, sigh, it is what it is.

I think this show didn’t even need the battle against big bad Tae-woo to tell an engaging story (even though I know that is an adaptation of a webtoon). The different lives of the bodies he inhabited (and I guess we could include our disturbed artist) were interesting enough and would have made for a compelling drama on their own.

About the ending: Did everything go back to the beginning or was Yi-jae simply allowed to relive one moment in his life? He asked for the opportunity to hug his mother one last time. I thought it could be interpreted two ways: he either got a complete do-over or his wish to see his mother for one last time has been granted. I guess manipulation of time is not beyond Death, since she did that with the eleventh life, who was the man we saw die in the first episode. So maybe she did magically undo those thirty five years?

*Side note on our eleventh incarnation: I remember thinking that the suicidal man from episode one might himself be another individual playing Death’s Game. I was waiting for there to be some reveal about his character. I guess I wasn’t too off since he was revealed to have been inhabited by Yi-jae.*

What a great ride and what a great ending! I liked the message and it was convincing to me. The pace was good. Some gory parts were too much.
I LOVED Oh Jung-se parts. Very smart and satisfying.

Yeah, the message of this one is pretty hollow. Yi-jae gets to live, but what now? The show just seemed to glide right past any deeper reflections on society that could've been made And are there still multiple serial killers around now?

I never warmed to the concept of a deity with nothing but disdain for the human character endlessly criticizing them, enacting brutal punishment and remaining stone cold in the face of their despair while pretending to teach some nebulous lesson.

I was looking forward to seeing Seo In-Guk and Park So-Dam work together but their scenes were a unique blend of repetitive and emotionally disgusting.

While I wasn't expecting a kdrama version of Bergman's The Seventh Seal I was disappointed in the character progression of Yi-Jae. In part it was because the lesson he learned best was that "you should value your mother's love." That was a whole lot of trouble, not to mention a whole lot of good looking acting talent, to teach that pretty simple lesson. The message on suicide was pretty mixed, especially he went ahead and committed suicide in one of his last lives, even presumably knowing what he should have already learned-- and then of course he committed suicide by shooting himself in the head with the magical revolver in order to come back from suicide. The show Tomorrow had a much stronger, and more effective anti-suicide message, I think.

I kept hoping that he would learn more thoroughly the lesson of the virtues of self-sacrifice rather than self-obsession, but living as his Mom who loved him beyond reason wasn't going to teach that lesson! That he'd want to go back simply so HE could hug his Mom again was not the kind of game-winning motivation that I wanted to see.

On the other hand, knowing he was going to die every time did remove any viewing tension, so that made for a more relaxing watch of brutal violence than some shows.

Enjoyable watch. I'm not sure about the message it wants to send, though.

I wished the show wouldn't go down the 2nd chance at life route (Yi-Jae already got 12!), but it did. I would rather it go the bittersweet ending with reflection and regret so as not to negate the impact of suicide and the ripples it creates.

I also don't agree with the message that suicide is cowardly. I remember a famous phychologist in my country saying that it takes courage to kill oneself. And not to romanticize suicide, but I think that's respectful of the person's struggles. Life isn't easy, and simplifying suicide as an act of cowardice belittles suffering, and shows lack of empathy and understanding.

On a lighter note, this show made me realize that only Kim Ji Hoon could make the mullet hair that seems to be the latest fad look so sexy!

I think that was the most satisfying comeuppence I've seen in a long time. I really liked that all the actors/lives related to Park Tae Woo make an appearance. I was so giddy seeing that sequence haha. You would not believe how giddy I was.

Going back to the start of Part 2 and the introduction of the serial killer. Holy hell, I was not expecting that in any possible way. I thought it was hard seeing his 1st death in the plane explosion and then him as a baby but ugh, the serial killer was morbid on so many levels. When he appeared, he reminded me of Brandon Lee in The Crow which then made all the gun scenes weirder and harder to watch. (Sidenote: I've been wondering if all the gun usage in korean shows is due to western influence because I thought SK didn't even allow guns except for certain services such as the police & military and even then it's heavily monitored/guarded).

I honestly don't even know what to think or feel because the serial killer was successful with those types of paintings and art. There's a market for that creepy grossness! Ugh, it gives me the creeps.

And then when serial killer meets serial killer... ugh. Just so uncomfortable, oh my god.
I didn't have to turn away or watch through my eyes and I'm not put off by the actors but that plot was a bit tough especially if I think on it too much.

I get the message the show is trying to say but as someone who has had these thoughts, one of the phrases I can't stand is "it gets better". I know it's supposed to be encouraging and supportive; maybe even realistic to some extent (because apparently there are some suicide attempt survivors who say that they regretted their decision and if only they hadn't been so hasty) but when you're in that depressed and hopeless headspace or situation, thinking about a distant future where things are better feels impossible. That and "suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem" just always seem to inadvertently minimize a person's issues and feelings.

Also, the way this show plays out, it seems like people with loved ones are the ones who definitely shouldn't make this choice.

Is this just filtered through my pessimistic lens? But that's what I instantly thought: people with loved ones are selfish and short sighted for commiting that act but those without, by default, are irrevelant in the grand scheme of things. I could definitely be wrong since the only people I remember not having loved ones are the vagrant and possibly the guy whose death kicked off the drama.

I thought all the actors were casted so well and did a good job.

The actor who played the serial killer made me think of Coffee Prince since his hair was pulled back haha. I don't think I've seen him with that look since that show.

I was a bit confused about the ending because if he got a second chance at life, that would negate ALL that he had done such as revealing the serial killer and Park Tae Woo.

Maybe he was just given a chance to meet his mom one last time before things go back to its original place.

I cried, and that's rare. (3rd time, after Another Miss Oh and Chicago Typewriter).

This drama is a collection of great performances. But Seo In Guk and Park So Dam are more pivot than leads/main roles... and I'm not frustrated only because most performances and stories were great.

One caveat though : for a show whose conclusion/message is that every person is unique and important it is paradoxical that we have no information at all on the homeless man. He does not even have a name. There are some other roles that do not have a name in the distribution, only a work title such as detective or cleaning lady. But the homeless man is one of the reincarnations, not a red shirt. He was stripped of dignity and humanity just the way homeless persons are treated IRL. Is that unappealing, good writing or a coincidence ?

I think @lovepark 's write up is pretty on point. I think I agree with about 98% of it.

I personally didn't care or need solutions or to delve deeper into the real systemic issues at play that led to certain circumstances for the characters for this story because it was never about that in the grand scheme of thing; it was about how those experiences impacted him and if that wasn't clear, the "lesson" of each body/life was kinda recapped when he met Death in that limbo.

Sic in her most disdainful voice:
“Every person is irreplaceable” but we're playing a game of plot wherein 12 people are doomed to never be true characters, never true lives; Characters and People and Lives, sacrificed by the Plot for the Male Lead’s arc of learning that... Other People Matter and Life is Sacred... Oh, the meta irony.

Also blood dries black and brown. Not red.

I enjoyed this show overall for all the different cameos of various actors and seeing how their individual stories connected.
However, I don't like that it is trying to preach/send any message about suicide, as this is such complex matter for an entertainment show and a country with an extremely high suicide rate.

This show was intense and touched on some dark themes which is a reality for most people out here.

The weecap stated majority of my thoughts so I'll just keep it brief. My gripe is that the ending would've hit harder if it ended with Yee-jae dying as his mom. I felt that the "second chance" he got wasn't fitting with the show's main story arc at all & it made the journey we went through with Yee-jae lose its meaning.
You don't get a "second chance" when you take your own life in reality and I watch my friends go through grief of losing a loved one because of it.

As a person with a faith belief, I always know that suicide is a great sin to commit. The way this drama projecting it was quite a nice ride.

Only the ending isn't really my cuppa of tea as in reality, there is no second chance in life after you commited on suicidal. As per @lovepark assessment above, it will be all moot for 12 reincanations when Yee Jae managed to live again for redemption.

Overall, the whole casting were perfect in its own role. Loved every single one of them. Yeay for my first bean for 2024 ☺️!

Yi Jae needs to make calls to the victims of that serial killer and give them a heads-up, also to the bullied boy and possibly offer encouragement and advice. I'd say that calling child protective services is necessary, but he'll probably need to make an in-person visit to get them to actually do their job, instead of letting the status and position of the baby's parents blind them to the on-going abuse.

I'd say Tae Woo's brother should also be told about his sibling's murderous intent, hindsight is 20/20.

Honestly, I don't think that there is anything "respectable" about suicide. I think in a bid to honor and sympathize with the departed, some are skewing far in the direction of romanticizing suicide. As if to say, "Yes, you're right, life is hard. Give up." Which is an attitude that I completely disagree with. We can understand the steps that led to a devastating, unchangeable decision with far-reaching, negative repercussions, without rewarding said behavior.

In my opinion, suicide is a decision people take when they are backed into a corner and feel hopeless without alternate route for escape. Either they do not see the light at the end of the tunnel, or they refuse to walk in its direction. It is not something to praise. Also, how do you know that what is waiting for you at the end of your life following suicide is better than life itself? Nobody knows. We act like this world is the worst place to be, but what if dying by your own hand leads to a worse fate? Simply because you died with those feelings and never resolved them, it's like they become a prison of their own. I think it’s better to encourage people. Yes, hear them out and understand their outlook, but know that life is not to be trifled with. There are decisions that cannot be undone.

I enjoyed the drama immensely - but only when I do think of it as a cat-and-mouse game between Yi-jae and Death and the unique challenges of each body. Looking at this show as a thesis on suicidality overall immediately makes it extremely reductive and individualist. I say this as someone who is also dealing with a mountain of unending debt, catastrophic costs of living, occasional unemployment (thankfully not now, phew), and the inherently traumatic experience that is being alive in a late-capitalist society, telling people to just "appreciate our loved ones", or to "think of the good we have" is not only not a solution, but also irresponsible and acquiescing to the sorry state of our societies. There are real, tangible solutions to our biggest societal issues and people who profit off of these issues continuing to exist. Sure, we can suffer and be miserable and push through it, but why should we? Lots to contemplate about. I feel like I could write a whole paper on this because this deals intimately with problems I've had, but I'll save y'all.

So yeah, I'll have to think of it as a fun, well-paced, brilliantly acted fantasy thriller instead of a commentary on anything. Seo In-gook is freaking back!!

In the beginning scenes of ep. 2, 3 and 4 they showed the police working around the spot where Yi-jae hit the ground after jumping off the building. They showed us a woman's shoes and her body under cloth and a teddy bear. I assumed that when he jumped, he hit and killed a pedestrian and maybe a child, and maybe that was his biggest sin. What was the purpose of those scenes? Any thoughts? Am I wrong?

Something I felt was amiss in the plot logic - killing oneself (suicide) is wrong because you hurt others. Sure, understood.

But then, murder is alright? Attempted murder, repeated murder, even serial killing? Shouldn't those people be punished far worse by death, for deeming to usurp her role and authority? How many people do they hurt?

I agree about the glimpses into societal issues which were overly simplified - if the show really wanted a conversation about why suicide is wrong, its message eludes me when these issues go quite deep.

I really liked the play with the changing identities, but that would have been been enough. Playing with time travel too spoiled the drama.

Has anyone figured out what the broken doll lying beside their two dead bodies represent? I thought it represented broken down go young Jung's body the face is cracked, the serial killer has a broken doll in his studio. Does anyone have another explanation for the doll in red dress?

This is my personal opinion of what I understood from the show (haven't read the manhwa/ webtoon unfortunately)...

I feel, putting Yee Jae in each body, death wanted him to feel how different people have different issues in their life, how many ways people die.. whether they like it or not.

These people will end up doing the same things that Yee Jae did while experiencing their life and they are supposed to die in the same way and Yee Jae is just experiencing their sufferings and pain to understand why committing suicide is wrong... Like the Psycho killer, he would have died after killing 15 people even if Yee Jae didn't end up in his body as he already has a tumor and he will end up meeting Tae U because of the painting he made. The painting he made with blood was before Yee Jae entered his body and some or the other day Tae U will see that and will want to meet the artist (killer) and when he does, he will end up going to his den with the killer.

So the same incidents will take place with or without Yee Jae and Yee Jae is just experiencing it. Although, he is supposed to try to prolong these lives somehow, but he doesn't understand the importance of life, so he is unable to do so till he enters his mother's body.

Someone asked how the police will get the evidence? Well I think the police office already was insulted enough so sooner or later he will end up playing a dutiful cop. As far as all the evidence is concerned, that will come to his hand in some or the other way... So Tae U will end up getting exposed and will eventually lead to the accident and end up in vegetative state...

What do you guys think about this theory?

Sorry, probably not a popular opinion: Just another "do-over" or second chance show but with violent fillers. Big stars and great acting made it watchable.

As much as I found the Death character interesting and her particular brand of "punishment" intriguing, I couldn't help wondering what her true end goal was. I couldn't be happier that the 2nd half of this drama was dedicated solely to answer that question. What was the point of her sometimes unnecessarily cruel scenarios? Especially given the fact that Yi-jae is definitely not the worst person out there to get saddled with such punishment.

I was baffled at first when the drama seemed to climb towards its climax so quickly through the most agonizing death of serial killer Gyu-cheol, then through a too-good-to-be-true chance of arresting Park Tae-woo using a senior police officer Ahn Ji-hyeong's life. At the moment, it was simply exhilarating to watch Yi-jae finally paid attention to his surroundings and used the interlinking memories from all his 8 lives to stage that final showdown. It was well-played of Yi-jae to make use of his own not-ideal situation to bring about his revenge without violating Death's strict rules about murder and suicide attempt.

Still, nothing could beat Death when it comes to serving the ludicrous irony in life. That sequence of Yi-jae stopping himself before he killed Tae-woo for real, only for that serial killer to try to turn the situation around, ONLY for his near-death to come randomly in the form of the most ironic and deserved truck-of-doom ever is just *chef's kiss*. Nothing could top this.

Which was why I thought it was clever of the writer and PD to cut the adrenaline pump early, only to leave us with uncertain numbness in the aftermath of Park Tae-woo's anticlimactic end. How it felt like life screeched to a halt in that moment, abruptly changing its tune into something more ordinary and blessedly peaceful. It's interesting how Sun-jae and we (as viewers) felt both relieved that the bloodbath stopped once for all, yet also antsy for "something" to happen in his life. The next several lives only reinforced this complicated feelings and amplified the big question about "the meaning of life" when you seemed to have no or very little contribution in the greater scheme of things.

Yi-jae's struggle and subsequent desperation over this question was palpable until Death slapped him upside the head with his 12th life, the cruelest opportunity of all. Also the one that showed it the plainest: the element of selfishness in death by suicide. Nothing said it as real as watching the grief of your loved ones processing your death. Nothing felt as piercing as facing the same possibility of watching your loved ones die.

But this final life also has one of the most important and simple lesson: the importance of keep trying, of doing your best. The realization that life in itself was a huge endless opportunities. It hits deep when you realized that life could be so ordinary and not special in any way, and still be as equally precious and important in itself.

I love the ending where there is...