Common Sense Media Review
Veterinarian finds love in the countryside in Korean romcom.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Once Upon a Small Town
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
ONCE UPON A SMALL TOWN follows Han Ji-yul (Choo Young-woo), a big-city veterinarian, who suddenly leaves for the village of Huidong after hearing about an emergency with his grandpa. Upon arrival, Officer Ahn Ja-young (Park Soo-young) mistakes him for a burglar and detains him. It's revealed that Ji-yul's grandpa tricked him into coming back and taking over the animal hospital while he goes on vacation. Ji-yul begrudgingly accepts and has to get accustomed to the small town, inadequate supplies, odd neighbors, and the all-knowing eyes of Officer Ahn. How will Ji-yul adust to country life?
Is It Any Good?
This series takes a "fish out of water" premise and adds romance to the mix. Once Upon a Small Town keeps things simple and sweet. It's predictable and nothing out of the ordinary, except for the town characters who have flaws and quirks that make this a heartwarming watch. Viewers who like charming characters, simple romance, and cute animals will enjoy this romcom.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Ji-yul moves from the big city to the countryside. How are the people portrayed in the big city versus the small town? Do you think that's accurate? How does the environment affect this?
Officer Ahn has eyes all over town, but frequently slips up or appears to be too lenient at her job. How does she respond to this criticism? Do you think it's fair?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 5, 2022
- Cast : Choo Young-woo , Park Soo-young
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 21, 2022
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate