All That We Loved (2023) ~ A Nostalgic Mini-Series About First Love

“All That We Loved” is a 2023 Korean drama, 8 episodes, categorized as Teen or Youth, Coming-Of-Age, Romance, and Comedy (Rom-Com), and it is streaming on Viki.

• Memorable Quote: “They’re so different, but they seem so similar when you look closer.”

SUMMARY: Set in 2014, the lives of two 18-year-old best friends change after a kidney transplant. The operation leads to shared memories and emotional entanglements with the same girl.

♦ Why Do I Feel More Like You?

In “All That We Loved”, the year is 2014, and the story centers on two teenage best friends in high school whose personalities couldn’t be more different, and yet complement each other perfectly.

• Go Yoo is a naturally talented basketball player with a carefree, impulsive charm.

• Go Joon-Hee is a quiet, academically gifted student whose fragile health has shaped his cautious approach to life.

Their bond is deep, loyal, and built on years of unwavering support since early childhood. But their friendship takes a dramatic turn when Go Joon-Hee’s worsening health forces both boys into a life-changing situation. Go Yoo, driven by devotion and instinct, steps up to donate a kidney. Little did they know this decision would alter the course of both their lives. After the transplant operation, Go Joon-Hee begins to experience subtle shifts in his behavior and preferences. He seems to be more like his friend. The changes lead him to wonder whether the changes are emotional, psychological, or something more mysterious.

The storyline introduces the idea of cellular memory syndrome, a phenomenon where organ recipients may adopt traits or inclinations from their donors. Whether scientific or symbolic, this concept becomes a compelling narrative thread that challenges the boys’ understanding of themselves and each other.

ENTER the Mysterious Transfer Student

As if trying to understand the mystery of the changes in feelings, emotions and personality traits isn’t complicated enough, Han So-Yeon arrives. She is a beautiful and enigmatic transfer student who keeps her distance from others. Both Go Yoo and Go Joon-Hee find themselves instantly attracted to her.

But whereas Go Yoo is open and straightforward about his interest, Go Joon-Hee’s emotions are more tangled. He’s confused by the unexplained changes he’s undergoing, and now, for the first time, he’s experiencing the pangs of “first love”. It doesn’t help that both friends like the same girl. Their shared affection for Han So-Yeon becomes the catalyst that exposes insecurities, jealousy, and the fragile balance of their once-unbreakable bond of friendship. These three teenagers, who are all inexperienced in life and love must now navigate misunderstandings, emotional boundaries, and the painful yet transformative process of growing up.

Main Characters:

• Go Yoo (played by Sehun, “The Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure”)
• Go Joon-Hee (played by Jo Joon-Young, “Spring Fever”, “A Year-End Medley”, “Crushology 101”)
• Han So-Yeon (played by Jang Yeo-Bin, “Positively Yours”)

Where to Watch: Viki and Apple TV

Viewership and Rating:

• IMDb: 7.1 out of 10 stars
• My Drama List: 7.6 out of 10 stars
• Viki viewers rated the series: 9 out of 10 stars
• Letterboxd: 3.2 out of 5 stars

My personal rating is the same as the Viki viewers.

I have been a PopGeeks contributor since 2023 and have tried to keep up. But now and then, a series or a movie slips under my radar. “All That We Loved” was released in 2023. If you’ve followed my reviews, you’ll notice that I tend to always agree with the Viki viewing audience. This K-drama is a heartfelt coming-of-age tale that examines friendship, identity, and the invisible threads that tie people together. That’s the “normal” part. If it were only that part, I could agree with the ratings of IMDb or My Drama List. However, in my opinion, “All That We Loved” deserves high marks for featuring the unique concept of cellular memory after organ transplantation.

REAL SCIENCE?? We all know that Korean dramas love to stretch scientific theories TO THE MAX! Sometimes they make the plot or storyline so believable that you scratch your head and think, “Is this true?”

For the record, cellular memory FROM TRANSPLANTS has not been scientifically proven. I hope I’m not taking the fun out of watching the show, but in case the viewers are curious (like me):

• Cellular memory (as in memories transferred through organ transplants) is UNPROVEN.
• Cellular memory (as in biological memory within cells) is REAL, but it does not involve personal memories or identity.

Whew!  You don’t know how good that makes me feel. WHY? Because I, for one, don’t want my personal and private memories transferred. Those memories are the one thing I OWN that nobody can get their hands on. Can you imagine what an evil, wicked scientist, a spawn of Satan, would do to humans if they knew they could steal OPM (other people’s memories)?

Eh! I guess that’s a plot for another K-drama. Actually, variations upon this theme have been explored in Korean dramas. Check back later, as I might publish a watch list. LOL.

LINKS OF INTEREST:

‘All That We Loved’ Review: A Shaky Callback to a Bygone Era. | NME

The Best of ‘All That We Loved.’ | Ahjummamshies

KDrama Review: All That We Loved. | K&J Reviews

TRAILER/TEASER:

Viki Global TV. “All That We Loved.” YouTube, 3 May 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU0qjCk5lFQ.

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