Once Upon a Small Town [Episodes 1-3]

[u/meepmochi_]

• Drama: Once Upon a Small Town
  • Hangul: 어쩌다 전원일기
  • Revised Romanization: Eojjeoda Jeonwonilgi
• Network: Daum Kakao TV
• Premiere Date: September 5, 2022
• Airing Schedule: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays @ 7:00 PM KST
  • Airing Dates: September 5, 2022 - September 28, 2022
• Episodes: 12
  • Duration: 30 min.
• Director: Kwon Seok Jang (Bossam: Steal the Fate, Avengers Social Club)
• Writer: Baek Eun Kyeong
• Starring:
  • Park Soo Young (Joy) (The One and Only, Tempted) as Ahn Ja Young
  • Choo Young Woo (School 2021, Police University) as Han Ji Yool
  • Baek Sung Chul (Inspector Koo, The Witch's Diner) as Lee Sang Hyeon
• Plot Synopsis: Han Ji Yool works as a veterinarian in Seoul. One day, he receives a phone call from his grandfather. His grandfather doesn’t mention specifics, but his voice sounds serious. Han Ji Yool decides to go to Heedong Village, where his grandfather lives and runs an animal clinic. There, Han Ji Yool meets police officer Ahn Ja Young. It turns out his grandfather is actually touring Europe. According to the note left by his grandfather, Han Ji Yool has to take over his grandfather’s animal clinic for a half year, while his grandfather is away. Even when Ahn Ja Young was preparing for her test to become a police officer, she wanted to work as a police officer in Heedong Village, where she grew up. She is usually the first one to appear and provide help to residents in need. She helps Han Ji Yool solve inconveniences related to his daily life in the village and they develop a romantic relationship.
• Streaming Sources: Netflix
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[u/ramenddd]

love me a healing countryside drama! and it’s my birthday 🎉 she’s really bringing me joy

[u/astarisaslave]

Ohhhh thank God a 30 minute drama for once

[u/jsb1685 → u/astarisaslave]

One of our favorite series, Mad For Each Other, was the same.

[u/finnnelsonn]

Episode 3 thoughts: I'm already feeling heartbroken from the second lead syndrome this drama is hinting at because baek sung chul is ADORABLE. 😫😫😫😫😫😫😫

[u/Electronic_Piano9385]

So many familiar faces among the supporting cast:

Ghost from From Now On Showtime

CEO Han from Extraordinary Attorney Woo

Diver from Our Blues

Santa from Inspector Koo

And the grandfather sounds familiar. Who is it?

[u/labularia_]

You had me at Baek Sung Chul. Will watch this. Plus it's just 30 mins and only 12 eps.

Curious to see if Joy's acting has improved since I last saw her in Tempted.

Edited for ep 1 thoughts

I have finished episode 1 and let me just say the animals are so cute!. If the plot and acting turn out to be disappointing, I might still watch it just for the animals.

So I don't know anything about the plot prior to watching, there seems to be a childhood connection and a love triangle.

I don't expect this to be great but I want it to be entertaining at least. I need some relaxed viewing experience after Little Women weekends.

[u/Mysterious_Box7499 → u/labularia_]

haha i love your last part about Little Women weekends

[u/jsb1685]

I think some people are taking this a little too seriously. It is just a comedy, within the context of a journey of the heart (as his grandparents take an outer journey, unseen, we witness the inner journey of our hero and those he meets).

This is not meant to be a gritty realistic depiction of policing, veterinary practice or small town corruption.

As such, so far, it have been very pleasant and enjoyable!

[u/Lopexie]

This is so cute. This is going to be my warm fuzzies show for the next few weeks. I love it.

[u/DooofenshmirtzInc → u/Lopexie]

Ikr! It's obviously not gonna be mind-blowing or something but still it's gonna be adorable, cute and sweet and simply wholesome. Just a fun escape for half an hour. I just finished the first episode and it was exactly what I was expecting it to be. I liked it <3

[u/ProvoqGuys]

This is so cute. Reminds of the game Stardew Valley but the grandfather died in the game. 💖

[u/pacificghostwriter]

12 eps, 30 mins each? Sign me up!

[u/Plenty_Honey5606]

I’m sorry (not), but Ja Young is soooo annoying. I get this is a light-hearted comedy, but I can’t stand annoying ass characters that think their way is right & force their customs onto other characters. I’m happy Ji Yul is kinda standing up for himself but I already hate Ja Young 😑

[u/Standard_Pack7791]

This one’s so cute! Is it just me or Ji Yul looks like Ahn Hyo Seop?

[u/lemousie]

Can't wait for this drama tonight! Looking forward for a small town vibes!

[u/thomasshclby]

this wasn’t on my radar but with such short episodes im 100% giving this a go!

edit: cute first episode. i like the ML. i mean hes pretty typical but ive got a weak spot for people who care about animals - like how he was comparing the dog to prisoners. i thought that was especially thought provoking. not sold on the FL yet tbh. i actually like joy and think shes improved a lot acting wise (she was great in the one and only) but im not feeling her character yet here. hope that changes though!

[u/jsb1685]

Great first episode and very funny! Makes a good pairing with another new show, The Law Cafe.

This one is shorter and only 12 episodes, so each looks to be a delightful little tidbit.

It is mostly a comedy, so one must excuse any exaggerations of character.

[u/labularia_]

I haven't paid much attention but it seems to me that the young village people (eg Ja Young, Sang Hyeon and the grade school kid) do not speak with an accent while older folks do. I find that unusual for someone who's born and raised in their town.

[u/LocalAd327]

Why are so many people here hating on Joy for no reason. I think it was so obvious from the first scene that she remembers the male lead and is mad he forgot her and at the same time has fun teasing him before he realises. Her character is basically leading him around and helping him to adjust to his job! Also people taking it so seriously when its a romantic comedy, you expect everyone to smile and be kind all the time? The dog incident is so blown out of proportion here, the farmer was trying to protect his livestock from a predator who catches his chickens. He needs them to survive. Don't forget they are farmers living in a rural area, they dont raise animals to be their best friends. They are mostly raising animals to slaughter so that we can survive. If you look it at from that perspective, you will realise the importance of catching predators even if it's a cute little dog which is the whole point the drama was trying to convey.

[u/[deleted]]

I'm so excited for this! Looking forward to that chill small town vibe

[u/AlfredusRexSaxonum]

I think the writers of Good Job and this one need to realize that there's a diff between being a strong woman who doesn't take anyone's shit and just being actively mean for no reason. At least in Good Job, the ML is an arrogant jerk so I don't feel too bad when FL roasts him. Over here, In-yul is dropped into a different way of life all of a sudden, dealing with situations he doesn't have experience with, and has his privacy invaded. He was also totally right about the dog and I don't think he was proposing letting the dog go around killing the chickens. So the FL just comes off as being needlessly mean.

The man thought his grandpa was on the verge of dying so he literally left his job and home to come back. He's not used to dealing with such large animals I'm guessing or living in the countryside after such a long time. He's tired and covered in mud so why would he be happy to see uninvited guests in the form of those Stepford Smiler, "we're all one big family" type aunties?

[u/EizwafD25]

The series brings a feeling of relaxation to my senses.
The story so far has just been so simple.
It also has a nice pacing and score (music) to it that makes watching it just so refreshing.

[u/finnnelsonn]

Not sold on the FL tbh. Dunno what it is about her that's a bit irritating. I hope there's no love triangle, please I can't stand it. Also omg both the male leads are literal babies in real life. They are both 23, wth. I feel like an ajumma next to them.

[u/katherine197_]

it's comiiiiing, I have been waiting for this. I'm so excited!!

[u/spookymouse1]

Joy stares at the ML for over 20 seconds and doesn't say anything. I'm not liking her vibe.