A Joseon woman has her husband die on their wedding night.  While she is still in mourning, she is kidnapped and thrown into a well.  But instead of dying, the woman wakes up in a rooftop swimming pool in modern times.  And the man who saves her from drowning looks exactly like the husband she lost.  The couple end up in a contract marriage to satisfy his grandfather’s pressure to continue the family line.  And as she spends time with him, she learns that this present day version of her husband is not the same man that she married in the past.  But he is someone she could grow to love.  Now she will need to make a choice whether to try to get back to her original life or stay in present day Seoul and build a new life .

Bae In Hyuk as Kang Tae Ha

Kang Tae Ha is heir to SH Group.  His parents both died when he was young, leaving him to be raised by a jealous and overbearing stepmother and a doting grandfather.  He suffers from a heart condition, which he has hid from his family.  One day he meets a strange woman on the roof of his company’s hotel.  At first he wants nothing to do with her, but later he approaches her about a contract marriage that would keep his grandfather from pushing him into marriage with some well connected stranger.  As he gets to know the woman, he begins to believe that, no matter how impossible it seems, her story of traveling from the past seems to be true.  And as his injured heart begins to accept her as his wife and one true love, he tries to persuade her to stay with him instead of going back to Joseon Korea.  

Kang Tae Ha lived a lonely life after losing both of his parents.  His grandfather has been supportive of him, but he is also a driven business man who puts the success of his company above all else, including family.  And as Tae Ha uncovers more about his grandfather’s involvement in the death of his mother, he begins to realize that he is not the warm-hearted man he had always thought.  Bae In Hyuk portrayed this character well, although he is creating a niche for himself in playing cold, more reserved characters, without much emotional depth.  I hope that as he grows as an actor, he will be able to take on more complex roles.  

Yoo Sun Ho as Kang Tae Min

Kang Tae Min is Tae Ha’s half brother.  He is a free spirit who doesn’t really care about the family wealth or business.  Although his mother has spent his whole life grooming him to be the next Chairman of SH Group.  Tae Min develops a crush on Yun Woo, but he is quick to realize that her heart already belongs to Tae Ha.  

 ♥ Modern Day Yun Woo

While it is a bit unrealistic to think that Yun Woo adjusts so quickly to modern life, I loved how we see her as free-thinking and ahead of her time, even before she time travels.   And it is great to see her embrace the freedom she gains and really spread her wings and make her own opportunities.  I also love the way they included her clothes designing skills and used it as a way to show off some beautiful designs that incorporate traditional Korean clothing with modern day fashion.  

♥ Sa Wol and Seong Pyo

Most fans seem to agree that Sa Wol and Seong Pyo are both great side characters in their own right.  And they are even cuter as a couple.  This quirky duo provide some nice comic relief without being too heavy-handed.  And they were an easy couple to root for.  Although they didn’t get a ton of screen time, I felt like we saw a nice development of their relationship. 

Joseon Tae Ha Ending

I did like the way they gave past and present Tae Ha their own story and character.  But I really felt bad for the ending they gave our Joseon friend.  First he loses the woman he has loved since he was a kid to someone he can’t even see. When she first returns, Yun Woo avoids him all together, which must have been confusing and heartbreaking for him.  And then she just lives with him long enough to wait for him to die before returning to the man she actually loves.  I mean, what was the use of saving him on their wedding night if he was just going to die anyway?

Past and Time Travel Story

My biggest issue with this drama was all the inconsistencies in the time travel parts of the story.  First of all, if Cheon Myeong saved Yun Woo by helping her travel in time, then how did Sa Wol also end up there?  And how did just deciding to go back suddenly make it happen.  Aren’t Yun Woo and Sa Wol somehow connected through time?  Also, how are the past and present actually connected?  How does the grandfather fit into the story and what does the painting have to do with it?  And what happens when Yun Woo leaves for good this time?  Does she go back to being dead or does her family forget she ever existed?  This is just the tip of the iceburg, but let’s suffice it to say that I have a lot of questions.

I’m not really sure you can classify this ending as a happy one, but our couple does end up together, so that is good.  But first, our cast of villains each receive their own unique punishment.  Myung Soo goes to prison for trying to kill Tae Ha and Sang Mo.  Hye Suk has to step away from the business entirely, and live a quiet life.  And Sang Mo loses his memory, due to Myung Soo’s hit to the head, and lives out his life in a blissful delusion.  I’m not sure justice was entirely served, but I appreciate the variation.  Now back to our leads.  To save Tae Ha’s life, Yun Woo decides to go back to her time.  She gets some closure with her family, saves Tae Ha on their wedding night, and then stays with him until his heart finally gives out.  Although Joseon Tae Ha’s original death didn’t save present Tae Ha, this second death somehow makes it so Yun Woo can finally go back to modern day Seoul and present day Tae Ha, who has been waiting for her, spending countless time at the rooftop pool.  And right on cue, during one of his visits, the crepe myrtle tree blooms again and there is Yun Woo. She tells him that his prayers are the thing that brought her back.  The couple kiss and I’m sure they will live happily ever after.