"See You in My 19th Life" is a Korean manhwa that primarily revolves around the drama and romance between Seo-Ha Moon and Ji-Eum Ban, the latter of whom has a special ability that allows her to retain memories from her past lives.

Basic premise aside, the manhwa is special in many regards. Be it the unique circumstances, the realistic approach to difficult topics, or even the beautiful art, this story has it all.

I'm going to go over the main aspects separately and briefly to avoid cluttering.

Story

For any piece of media, the story is the heart of it. It must resonate with people if it wishes to stand the test of time, and believe me, this series has the bases covered.

The premise, as I described, is unique and easy to get behind, even for readers new to manhwa or comics. The introduction is also the perfect length, where the impact of the big events near the start has an organic effect on you, and it doesn't feel like it has just been forced upon you.

Our main lead near the beginning, Ji-Eum Ban, is a vital reason why the disconnect between a new series and an impactful one is quite beautifully transitioned.

Her ability to retain memories of her previous lives adds that layer of intrigue that is unique to just her and no one else. This idea of retaining memories is also dealt with in a realistic manner, adding depth to the whole story.

The ending also delivers a feeling of completion as a well-crafted cap is put on the story to wind it up in its entirety. The resolution is very much realistic and leaves relatively no room for personal interpretation, which some people might see as a downside.

Overall, the story is a very strong point, and I would rate it around 9/10.

Pacing

As for the pacing, the manhwa adopts a mostly linear style of storytelling, but given the nature of Ji-Eum Ban's ability, the story can't functionally be just linear. The meticulously placed flashbacks are a testament to that.

The writer doesn't shy away from taking their time on the big parts. This wait increases anticipation for what's to come and is a very underappreciated characteristic of the series. This doesn't mean that the story is held back by these moments, as they are reserved for relatively special occasions.

The story flows at an adequate rate and always keeps you wanting to come back for more, as not all, but enough, information is given in each episode.

Overall, the pacing is good at about 8.5/10.

Art

"Art is the proper task of life."
– Friedrich Nietzsche, The Birth of Tragedy (1872)

The medium of manhwa/manga/comics is one that depends on art in one of its primitive forms. This allows room for limitless opportunities to shape it the way you like. "See You in My 19th Life" uses its art to build anticipation for every major event. It consists of many "modern" effects such as blurs, lens flares, etc. (which are common in manhwa).

The character designs are nothing to write home about, but they do have their own charm. The art of this series is another factor that makes it great for manhwa beginners like me. I have personally struggled with action manga/manhwa, as it can sometimes be overwhelming, but the subtle nature of this series makes it easy to follow through every sequence.

Overall, I'll rate it about 8/10.

Characters

The characters are the life of this show. The story takes them very seriously, allowing for a greater impact on each of their decisions. Primarily, a cast of four is presented, consisting of Ji-Eum Ban, Seo-Ha Moon, Cho-Won Yun, and Do-Yun Ha. Each character is unique and complicated. Their every decision has a definitive cause that leads to it. The way they interact, act, and react stems from their experiences. The chemistry between them is also unmatched.

The romance and drama between the characters are also unique because two romantic storylines are simultaneously followed. As a result, you never get a second to be bored. This also ensures that there is something for everybody, as both storylines are different and the characters within them interact with each other in very interesting ways.

As I mentioned earlier, Ji-Eum Ban mediates many parts of the story and is the backbone of the cast. Everyone plays off her, and her experiences from her past lives allow her to feel very real. Seo-Ha Moon and his development also play well into the plot, allowing us to feel progress in a very descriptive way. Cho-Won Yun and Do-Yun Ha each fit into the puzzle in their own unique ways. Do-Yun Ha, in particular, has a very great showing near the end and is a treat to follow.

Overall, the characters are an amazing 9.5/10.

That is all I can think of right now, but I'm sure there are many things I have not looked into enough or at all. This story is very special to me, and I have rated it objectively in my review. My subjective feelings are different in a lot of ways.

PS: This is my first ever review, and I know I have made a lot of mistakes, but I will try to improve as I review other pieces.