This slice-of-life drama from 2024 is among the most beautiful and warm pieces of art in the form of drama that I recall from recent years. I’ve seen masterpieces, immersive, rollercoaster-like, magnificent, simple, riveting, soothing, emotional, and touching ones, but until now, very few can be labeled as beautiful and warm. Born to Be the One is that.

I approached it with mistrust, knowing almost nothing about it and expecting to get bored soon. God, I was wrong! I didn´t want it to end, I wanted to go on with them in their journeys.

It’s inspired by (and I would also say dedicated to) middle-class people in all shapes and forms. Perhaps now you’re thinking this is not a drama for you because life is already hard enough to immerse yourself in lives so close to your reality, but I tell you: the journey is beyond worthy. You’ll laugh, cry, reflect, enjoy, smile, get mad, feel understood, feel happy and not so — but you’ll never feel desperate, alone, or depressed. You’ll feel part of it, and part of its people.

The story is told through the lives of three couples. The main one is a family: they’re both 40 year old, have a 10-year-old daughter and an almost 1½-year-old baby. Each of this couple’s younger brothers has their own story: the female lead’s brother is in his early 30s and married, the male lead’s brother is in his late 20s and has a girlfriend. Their family backgrounds are also diverse: lonely mothers, widows, parents who live in the countryside, parents who both died in an accident. Same with their jobs, their work/career trajectories, and the different segments that exist within the middle class.

Through them, and in a very close and relatable way, the drama reflects on universal topics: the importance of choosing a partner who shares your values and of being honest about what you want in life; the struggles of women in modern society — in all shapes and forms; the idealization of the countryside and the big cities; the savage competition and stress in work environments and their consequences; the rising cost of living; family relationships; unemployment after turning 35 or 40. All possible scenarios are here.

There are so, so many scenes I’d like to highlight — again, beautifully done and acted — but I don’t wan tto spoil anything. They’re all so smoothly executed that the script deserves recognition indeed (and I usually don’t emphasize this aspect). I know the show has several nominations, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the script is among them. 

The storytelling is also of my liking. The first episodes are slow because of the setup, but then the drama tackles so many things that, without realizing it, you’ll find yourself ruminating about them while not watching. The OST is also enchanting, inspiring, touching, warm — and it follows you unconsciously.

Finally, the acting. The main couple is flawless: so realistic and natural that many times you forget you’re watching a drama and feel like you’re spying through a camera in a real home. The rest of the main cast is also very solid, even the actress I usually don’t like and doesn’t have much range - Here, the character fits her like a glove. And the same can be said for practically everyone.  Special shout out to the young actress who plays the daughter!

Although its setting is local and it addresses some local issues, humankind has no boundaries and neither does the core message of this drama: Life isn’t perfect and has its ups and downs. In the end, there isn’t one best way to live; everyone has their own, and as long as you’re not a bad person, you have to live your life in the way that suits you best and makes you happy.

It's a beautiful, warm, relatable, and truly universal drama. Hope you enjoy it too, if you give it a chance.

Born to Be the One, the beautiful song of the common people