🎬 Subtitles and Bad Decisions Presents:
Because This Is My First Life 이번 생은 처음이라
📅 South Korea • 2017
Format: Standard Series
Episodes: 16
Duration: ~1 hr 10 min
Aired: Oct 9, 2017 – Nov 28, 2017
Aired On: Monday, Tuesday
Original Network: tvN
📺 Available on:
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Netflix (Subscription)
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Viki (Free)
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Tubi (Free)
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Roku (Free)
Prime Video (Subscription)
✨ Synopsis
A house-poor man and homeless woman become housemates in a drama that examines the institution of marriage and the problems that young people face today. Nam Se Hui, a single man in his late 30s, owns his home but is tied down by mortgage debt. Yun Ji Ho, a single woman in her early 30s, envies homeowners and has given up on dating due to financial struggles. When she moves in with Se Hui, they navigate living together while developing an unexpected bond.
👥 Cast
💫 Jung So Min — Yoon Ji Ho
“Practical, stubborn, quietly emotional, and painfully relatable in that why am I like this way.”
🔥 Lee Min Ki — Nam Se Hee
“Cold, logical, emotionally repressed—and somehow the blueprint for soft domestic healing.”
💎 Esom, Park Byung Eun, Kim Ga Eun, Kim Min Seok
“Supporting cast that doesn’t just exist—each one deepens the world and sharpens the emotional impact.”
💬 Ratings
🎭 Story: 💖 — 9/10
“Cold ML perfection paired with domestic chaos that slowly melts your heart.”
💫 Acting/Cast: 🌟 — 9/10
“Every performance feels grounded, lived-in, and quietly devastating.”
🎧 Music: 🎵 — 7/10
“Pleasant, atmospheric, and supportive without stealing focus.”
🔁 Rewatch Value: 💖 — 10/10
“Absolutely. This is comfort drama with emotional depth.”
🏆 Overall: 💖 — 9/10
“Thoughtful, tender, and still one of the best takes on fake marriage turning real.”
📝 Review
(WARNING: Potential Spoilers — I'm Not Saving You from any Emotional Damage)
So this drama is perfect for that cold ML. Lee Min Ki played this role to perfection—starting out cold and aloof, then slowly warming up. This was also my first “Fake Marriage” trope experience, and it’s what led me down another rabbit hole. I’ve got so many of those now, I could probably take over all of Wonderland with the mentality of a mix between the Mad Hatter and the Cheshire Cat.
What really elevated the drama, though, was the supporting cast. These characters don’t just exist to prop up the leads—they enhance the story, adding layers of humor, heart, and chaos that make the whole experience richer. Their interactions make the world feel lived-in, and honestly, without them, some of the emotional beats wouldn’t hit nearly as hard.
Seriously though, I really did enjoy this drama. It’s smart, funny, and the little domestic chaos between the housemates is endlessly charming. The pacing and the emotional beats never felt forced, and it’s absolutely on my rewatch list (even if I haven’t gotten around to it yet).
💭 Final Mood:
“Fell for a grumpy housemate, laughed at ridiculous domestic chaos, and got pulled down a Wonderland rabbit hole — 10/10 would rewatch at 2 a.m.”
🏷️ #SubtitlesandBadDecisions #EmotionalDamageApproved #BecauseThisIsMyFirstLife #FakeMarriageFeels #WonderlandRabbitHole
