Review: Marry My Husband - The Fangirl Verdict (2024)

THE SHORT VERDICT:

When Show is at its best, the writing feels smart, thoughtful and inspired, and Show is cracky fun to watch. When Show isn’t at its best, however, the writing feels paint-by-numbers and pretty lazy, to be brutally honest.

The good news is that Show has more good moments than not-so-good ones, in my opinion, and overall, works out to be a solid ride.

Our leads are great, and this is absolutely a worthy comeback for Park Min Young, but it’s also true that it’s our second leads, Lee Yi Kyung and Song Ha Yoon, who end up stealing very large chunks of the show.

Worth a look, with the right lens adjustments – which I’ll talk about shortly.

THE LONG VERDICT:

It’s funny how things work out, sometimes.

When this show’s trailers were coming out, none of the trailers had actually looked appealing to me; I felt like this show would be too serious in its revenge premise, and it looked like it wouldn’t be fun to watch at all.

When Show was at its best, though, I found myself thinking, This show is really fun to watch. 🤩

I slurped up episodes with glee and satisfaction, and congratulated myself on not missing out.

That said, I have to confess that Show’s final stretch did lose a good chunk of shine for me personally, but I do have some lens suggestions that might help you get through that better than I did.

Also. Your mileage may certainly vary, so you might not struggle with the bits that I struggled with, so this might end up being an all-around awesome watch for you. 😁

OST ALBUM: FOR YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE

Here’s the OST album, in case you’d like to listen to it while you read the review.

Overall, I find the OST pleasant, though I have to say that on hindsight, I feel like I barely noticed the OST, during my watch.

Meaning, I found it unobtrusive and agreeable, but not particularly memorable, for me personally.

Although none of the songs actually got under my skin, just listening to the OST now, to determine which song I find most appealing, I’d say that Track 2, From Today, has got a fun and catchy groove, and some of the chord changes are interesting to the ear, which I like.

Track 3, My All Dreams Come True, is quite nice too; it’s got a nice wistful sort of vibe.

HOW I’M APPROACHING THIS REVIEW

First I’ll talk about how to manage your expectations going into this one, and what viewing lens would be most helpful. I will also do a very quick section on whether this show is similar to Perfect Marriage Revenge.

After that, I talk about what I liked and liked less, covering both the more macro aspects of Show, before diving into selected characters and relationships.

Of course, I also spend some time talking about my thoughts on the penultimate episodes, as well as our finale episodes.

If you’re interested in my blow-by-blow reactions, &/or in all the various Patreon members’ comments during the course of our watch, you might like to check out my episode notes on Patreon here.

MANAGING EXPECTATIONS / THE VIEWING LENS

Here are a few things that I think would be helpful to keep in mind, to maximize your enjoyment of your watch:

1. Think fantasy revenge tale rather than makjang

When I started this show, I’d imagined that it would be a makjang, based on the premise, and the fact that Show sounds a lot like popular makjang Perfect Marriage Revenge (review here!).

I found that the makjang lens didn’t work for this show, for me, and it was Trent (thanks Trent!) who pointed me to the fantasy revenge tale lens, which ended up working really nicely.

So I’m passing on that bit of wisdom to you. 😉

2. There is a lot of OTT nastiness that goes on, in our story

In fact, this was what I struggled to process in episode 1, because Show makes it pretty clear that it’s not hamming it up for the camera, but is, instead, playing it very straight.

Knowing to expect this, while having that fantasy revenge tale lens handy, helps.

3. There is a morally gray element to our story

I’d kind of ignored this for a chunk of my watch, and that’s probably why I struggled with this morally gray element, when it confronted me in the later episodes of my watch.

To say more would be spoilery, so just be prepared for this vague idea of things being morally gray, in our story world. 😅

4. An overly analytical lens isn’t helpful

Show introduces an interesting concept to Ji Won’s do-over, which I won’t get into the specifics of here, because that would be spoilery.

What I will say here, is that it’s something that isn’t helpful to attempt to analyze too closely, because the idea, while interesting in concept, doesn’t hold up to close scrutiny or questioning.

Additionally, Show doesn’t really answer these questions too much either.

Being willing to just accept certain things as being part of the foundation of our story world, helps.

IS THIS THE SAME STORY AS PERFECT MARRIAGE REVENGE?

Although I don’t typically find it helpful or necessary to do comparisons between shows, I thought this was a question that would be helpful to answer, just because the two dramas sound so similar on paper, that some people might think it was the same story, made into two dramas.

Basically, there are some very similar elements at play in both story worlds, but no, they don’t tell the same story.

Each drama is its own thing, and now that I’ve watched both shows, I can vouch for the fact that they are, in fact, very different from each other, despite the similar elements at play.

Each show has its own style and approach to it story, and the way each show plays with those similar elements, is quite different as well.

For the record, they do both work out to be pretty solid watches.

STUFF I LIKED

Certain key details of our story

There are a couple of elements that I find interesting our story structure, which I thought added a nice amount of appeal to our narrative.

[SPOILER ALERT]

1. Conceptually, I find it interesting that Ji Won realizes that things that are supposed to happen, will happen – and if not to her, then to someone else.

Meaning, if she doesn’t want certain things to happen to her, she needs to get those things to happen to someone else.

This is certainly one way to keep things interesting, and create enough story for 16 episodes.

Now, like I mentioned earlier, I do think that this is something that we can’t examine too closely with an analytical lens.

Because, if we pick it apart, then we’d be questioning whether Ji Won is stealing someone else’s fate, by escaping her own, and we’d also be asking questions about how much needs to change, in order for her to qualify as having escaped her fate.

I find that this is something we have to accept as part of Show’s foundation, and just roll with it, in order to enjoy the payoff of Ji Won gaining victory over the people who have done her wrong.

2. I find it very interesting that Ji Hyuk’s a second-lifer like Ji Won; it’s something that I hadn’t been expecting, to be honest.

I also like how Show explains why Ji Hyuk would know the details of Ji Won’s life, down to what had happened at the reunion, as well as what had happened Eun Ho, back in high school.

It’s a pretty plausible explanation, that he’d overheard all of this at the funeral wake.

At the same time, I would have preferred if Show had been clearer about the conditions around Ji Hyuk’s death.

I get that the heart marking on his chest, is an indication that Ji Won’s dad had sent Ji Hyuk to her, as a gift.

However, Show doesn’t specify whether Ji Hyuk’s having a do-over on Ji Won’s account, or his own.

We can infer, from the events in episode 16, that it’s likely he’s here on his own account, but I would have preferred if Show had made this clearer, and spent some effort to flesh it out, for us – and for Ji Hyuk.

[END SPOILER]

Some moments feel extra smartly constructed

Some of Show’s moments shine extra for me, and my favorite one, which took me completely by surprise, is this example, from the end of episode 6. 🤩

[SPOILER ALERT]

E6. Just as think we’re done with the episode’s surprises, Show gives us one more, by having both Ji Won and Ji Hyuk trip up, inadvertently revealing that they both know about the future – in the way of BTS songs.

As a BTS noob, it actually took me a long second to start clueing in to what was happening on my screen, but now that it’s clear to me, I must say that this was a very neat and clever way of doing the mutual reveal.

It’s so innocuous that we as an audience would be unlikely to anticipate it, and so it lands as a surprise, but it’s also such a normal, organic thing that could happen in real life, that it feels completely believable.

Nicely done, Show. Very nicely done. *slow clap*

[END SPOILER]

Some of the reveals feel extra smart

Show sometimes does this thing, where sometimes I’m not sure of where it’s going with something – and then it’ll turn around and do the reveal, and then everything falls nicely into place, and then I just can’t help but sit here and mentally give Show a round of applause, for how clever it all feels. 🤩

My favorite point in my watch, where Show does that, is the entire chain of events in episodes 9 and 10.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E9-10. I like the fact that we haven’t been privy to the details of Ji Won’s plan.

I mean, I knew that Ji Won was planning to engineer everything such that Min Hwan and Soo Min would end up getting married, but with the way she was keeping up appearances of being engaged to Min Hwan, I honestly had no idea how she intended to arrive at her goal.

Like, okayyy.. so you’re pretending to go along with the whole getting engaged thing with Min Hwan, and yes, I know that this will make Soo Min livid with jealousy, but.. just how will that get you UN-engaged, and how will that make Min Hwan want to marry Soo Min instead..?

Clearly, Ji Won’s much better at this chess game than I am, because her plan seems to be working perfectly, AND, it was just so much fun to watch it all unfold.

E9-10. On hindsight, it makes total sense that as Ji Won appears to lean harder into her relationship with Min Hwan, this would only trigger Soo Min to work even harder, to steal Min Hwan away.

After all, Show’s made it pretty clear that Soo Min’s all about stealing stuff from Ji Won, to make her own life better, like how she’d stolen Ji Won’s meal kit idea, in our original timeline.

It’s bizarre, yet entertaining, how Soo Min gets so audacious, in working to trap Min Hwan for herself.

I mean, waiting in his bed for sexytimes, at the company villa where everyone’s gathered for the night, where Ji Won’s bedroom is right next door.

She does understand Min Hwan very well though; the way she posits to him that it’ll be even more thrilling, because Ji Won’s bedroom is right next door, works like a charm on Min Hwan, who, clearly, doesn’t really need a whole lot of persuading, when it comes to jumping into bed with a pretty girl.

Also, there really is something rather bewitching about the way Soo Min dreamily tilts her head at Min Hwan and breathily whispers that now it’s Oppa’s turn to make her happy.

With Min Hwan’s lusty inclinations, Soo Min’s calculation, that this will get him to sleep with her, is absolutely accurate.

..Which means that Ji Won’s calculations are doubly accurate, because she had to calculate both Soo Min’s and Min Hwan’s responses, in order to orchestrate this.

I am in awe, seriously. 😅

Isn’t it quite delicious, how Ji Won manipulates Min Hwan into being willing to buy her all that stuff at the department store, because she knows that his ego is everything to him, and therefore, if she makes his ego her point of emphasis, he will definitely go along with all her shopping wants? 🤭

And how about the way Ji Won nonchalantly – but still oh-so-sweetly – gets on Min Hwan’s mother’s bad side, during that cooking class?

I kinda love how she basically ruffles Mom up – with a smile. 😁

I love-love-LOVE how Ji Won handles the entire family meeting, where she shows up late, then proceeds to smilingly agree to everything Mom says – until the point where Ji Won casually indicates that she plans to stop work after the wedding, because how else could she possibly do all the things that Mom is asking of her? 😇

And then, how coolly badass is Ji Won, when she breaks off the engagement, because Mom has the audacity to insult her father – and by the way, Ahjumma, your son isn’t all that great anyway.

Tee hee hee! So well said! 🤭

Plus, how awesome is Ji Won, the way she coolly breaks up with Min Hwan, and then, when he tries to grab her, she turns around and FLIPS him, exactly the way she learned, from Ji Hyuk.

Fwah!!! Take that, Min Hwan!! 🤩😏

And then, just when I thought things couldn’t get any more delicious, I LOVE how Ji Won knew to move away, right before this all goes down, because now, when Min Hwan shows up ranting and raving at her apartment door, who should greet him, but the new tenant, who’s a burly, muscly, intimidating bloke.

Ahaha! SO GREAT. 🥲

Even better! How about the way Ji Won breaks up with Min Hwan, at the office, right there in front of everyone?

The way she flings that pair of red lacy underwear at him, and then, when Min Hwan raises his voice at her for going through his car, the way she raises her voice right back at him, is just so badass.

I am incredibly entertained by how the grapevine at the office lights up on fire, and in particular, I am super tickled by the nickname, “Panties Park,” that gets thrown around as a result. 🤭

And then – hahaha – thanks to Schmuck Supervisor (Kim Joong Hee), who’s always had a crush on Soo Min, making a comeback and hearing this conversation between Min Hwan and Soo Min, everrrrybody gets to hear about the details of the affair, because of the fight that ensues, when Schmuck attacks Min Hwan for daring to say such terrible things to Soo Min.

It’s all rather like a circus, honestly; a very entertaining train-wreck of a circus. 🤭😅

[END SPOILER]

STUFF THAT WAS OK

The morally gray side of things

To be fair to Show, the morally gray stuff is built into our story’s very premise, so it’s not like Show sprang it on me without warning.

I guess I wasn’t prepared for just how morally gray things got, particularly in our final stretch.

Like, I’d been prepared to go only so far, with the morally ambiguous stuff, and then I’d balked, when Show demonstrated that it was prepared to go further than I was, if that makes sense. 😅

You could say I chickened out, in a manner of speaking – on the moral front.

[SPOILER ALERT]

In Show’s defense, it does frame everything quite nicely, all the way up to the point where I called “uncle.” 😅

What Show does

1. Show makes sure to demonstrate that Ji Won’s scheming mostly consists of nudging along something that would’ve happened anyway; she’s just trying to get it to happen sooner, so that it’d have a different impact on their lives.

This way, it doesn’t really feel like scheming, almost.

2. Show givesJi Won the space to feel upset and uncomfortable for her words &/or actions, like the words that she’d said to Soo Min, in setting the trap, in episodes 7-8.

We also hear Ji Hyuk point out that Ji Won’s just a really nice person, and that’s why she feels this way; it’s basically against her nature to do anything to hurt someone.

But because she’s working to save herself from her terrible fate, and also, taking revenge for the horrible and cruel things that Min Hwan and Soo Min did to her in the original timeline – including killing her – she’s doing and saying things that aren’t typical of herself.

3. We hear Ji Won explain her actions, like in episodes 9-10, where she saysthat if Min Hwan and Soo Min weren’t so incorrigibly bad, she might’ve felt a bit bad for them, with things going so wrong for them.

BUT, since they prove themselves to be incorrigibly self-serving, with no consideration for what their actions might be doing to others, that changes everything.

And, as a result, I don’t feel bad, watching them suffer.

When I called “uncle”

I’ll talk more about this in the section where I talk about the penultimate stretch, but ultimately, the point where I called “uncle,” was in episode 13, where the stakes get visibly amplified.

Essentially, for me, it’s all fun and games while Min Hwan and Soo Min are merely suffering humiliation and other difficulties; it’s a whole other ball game, when we’re talking about death.

My limit was just different than Show’s, if you will. 😬

[END SPOILER]

Cat motif

This is a smallish thing, but there’s a cat motif in our story; Ji Hyuk seems to always be associated with cats, particularly at key points in his life.

[SPOILER ALERT]

Like how he tries to save that kitten from being run over, in university.

And then, we have that other time, when he’s the driver behind the wheel, and swerves to avoid the cat (who’s got the same coloring, mind you) – and therefore dies.

[END SPOILER]

I feel like this is supposed to mean something, but I have no idea what that something is. 😅

Therefore, unless I missed something big (which, if I did, please explain it to me in the comments!), it feels like a missed opportunity, on Show’s part, to make it something more meaningful and significant.

STUFF I DIDN’T LIKE SO MUCH

When the writing feels uninspired

Your mileage may certainly vary on this one, but I was not a fan of the writing in the final stretch.

In particular, I had issues with the writing in episode 12.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E12. This is when it feels like Show’s taken a weird turn into.. Lazy Land?

The plot developments feel rather uninspired, for the most part, and to my eyes, it feels like Show’s just pulling out convenient plot devices in order to amp up the narrative tension.

I am admittedly somewhat disappointed, because Show had been so solid, and so satisfying to watch, up to this point, and now, it almost feels like writer-nim had run out of ideas, and therefore reached for some tried-and-tested makjang hacks, to get the job done. 😅

In principle, it makes sense that we get some narrative obstacles, because we still have 4 more episodes of story to tell, and so we can’t have everything be too smooth-sailing. I get that.

I just don’t like the way that Show introduces these narrative obstacles, particularly in the form of Ji Hyuk’s ex-fiancée, Yu Ra, who just happens to be a jealous, possessive psycho. 😅

It seems like lazy writing to me, because so many obstacles in our story, now stem from Yu Ra’s brand of crazy. How convenient, yes?

Now that we’re talking about episode 12, I’d like to say that Ji Won’s reason for breaking up with Ji Hyuk makes no sense to me.

It might take two people to start a relationship, but it really only takes one of those two people, to decide to end that relationship.

And Ji Won should know this, from first-hand experience, since she’d broken up with Min Hwan, whether he’d liked it or not.

Additionally, there’s the way Ji Won feels like all of Ji Hyuk’s explanations sounds like excuses to her.

I’d honestly believed that the trust between Ji Won and Ji Hyuk was stronger than this – and their communication too.

This is quite disappointing, honestly, because this effectively negates a lot of the good feelings that I’d had, towards this burgeoning relationship. Like, oh, it really isn’t as strong as I’d first believed. Bummer.

I get that Show wants me to think that this comes from Ji Won’s abandonment issues, with her mom leaving her dad, for another man, but honestly, this all feels very shaky to me.

Show just wanted a reason for Ji Won to back away from Ji Hyuk, and landed on this one, and I’m just not very convinced, sorry.

The key thing that everyone in this drama world seems to conveniently forget, is that Yu Ra is Ji Hyuk’s EX-fiancée, and just because she’s now changed her mind, it doesn’t make the engagement valid again.

It just.. doesn’t work that way? 😅

I do like how Ji Won isn’t intimidated when Yu Ra seeks to confront her; the way Ji Won coolly corrects Yu Ra, is pretty darn cool. 🤩

What I don’t like, is how Yu Ra determinedly wreaks havoc, going forward into our story. I didn’t like all the makjang-OTT antics that come into play.

I would’ve preferred it if Show had focused more on how the marriage between Min Hwan and Soo Min isn’t as perfect as Soo Min has imagined, because that’s really quite engaging and entertaining, I find.

[END SPOILER]

SPOTLIGHT ON CHARACTERS / RELATIONSHIPS

Park Min Young as Ji Won

It’d honestly been a hot minute since I’d last enjoyed Park Min Young in a role, as much as I enjoyed her in this one.

I thought Park Min Young did a bang-up job of fleshing out Ji Won as a character, and I really liked how well-rounded Ji Won felt, on my screen.

I credit Park Min Young for delivering Ji Won’s emotions in a believable manner, so that I receive her pain, grief, wistfulness, anger and confusion as genuine emotions that Ji Won feels.

On top of this, there were legit moments when I felt I caught glimpses of the endearing, dorky side of Park Min Young which I’ve missed, so much, since her Healer (review here!) days. 😍

Overall, I did very much enjoy watching Ji Won find the mojo that she’d thought she’d never had. I do feel like that was my favorite thing, about her arc.

It was reported that she got down to 37kg for this role, and, there’s no way around it, that translates into very thin and very fragile, for her height.

It’s true that, at points, I was quite distracted by how, uh, frail Park Min Young looks in this role. 😅

However, there were many other times when she was so charming, that I forgot about that.

Like, there’s a black and white dress that she wears in episode 5, that I think looks wonderful on her. I found it such a charming combination with her short hair, that I couldn’t stop staring.😍

[SPOILER ALERT]

E3-4. I’m really taken with watching Ji Won come into her own, bit by bit.

She’d been so timid before, in all of the pre-death scenes (including all the flashbacks we get), that it feels super gratifying to see her take steps to stand up for herself and not allow people like Soo Min to walk all over her.

Every single time she takes a step forward in this area, I cheer on the inside, particularly because Show is careful to remind us that this isn’t easy for Ji Won.

Often, we’ll see her making a stand and being firm and nonchalant – only to then look all relieved and flustered, once the moment is over, and she has some privacy to process everything that’s just happened.

I’m glad that she’s telling Soo Min to address her formally at work, and to respect her position as Assistant Manager, because it totally sounds like Soo Min’s been taking advantage of her, what with sending her on coffee runs and all.

Also, that scene at the restaurant bathroom, where we see Ji Won feel all nervous and jittery before the confrontation that she knew was coming, really endeared her to me.

Like, she is clearly nervous and kind of scared, but she doesn’t allow that to stop her, and when the time comes, she leans into the confident, glamorous persona she’s adopted, and shows those bullies what’s what, while adopting a casual, almost aloof sort of manner.

So Great. 🤩

I can imagine just how hard this is for Ji Won, because it’s not at all how she’s used to carrying herself, with other people, and so, it must feel highly unnatural for her brain to be working in this direction, particularly in the area of not backing down, when people push at her.

But she handles it with so much poise that I wouldn’t have guessed that she was feeling nervous in the first place.

I felt so proud of her for this, truly. 🥲

E5-6. One of the things that I find myself really enjoying, is the glimpses of Park Min Young’s dorkier side.

It comes out in little flashes here and there, because Ji Won is a little bit of a dork sometimes, and it reminds me of Park Min Young’s role in Healer, where I found her endlessly charming and natural – with, yes, a little bit of dork showing, from time to time.

I hadn’t realized it before, but I feel like I haven’t seen Park Min Young’s dorky side in forever, because she’s been cast in all these roles where she’s the consummate, coiffed professional.

She totally looks the part, certainly, but I realize that I’ve felt.. distanced from those characters of hers, because they’ve tended to feel rather cold and aloof, along with the professional sheen.

Here, however, we get glimpses of Park Min Young being a bit of a dork again, and I find myself feeling charmed all over again. 🥰

E5-6. It’s pretty darn great, how Ji Won decides to play a long(er) game, and uses her knowledge of Director Wang’s scandal and downfall, to achieve her goal, of flipping Shmuck Supervisor over, as she puts it.

That takedown was pretty darn satisfying to see, and I absolutely cheered on the inside. 😁

E9-10. When the tasting event thing eventually blows up, I was honestly quite appalled at the story that Soo Min spins, trying to blame everything on Ji Won.

Like, how did she think she was going to get away with that, given how things posted online can be traced to her IP address and account?

More importantly, I love how fierce Ji Won is, as she roars out Soo Min’s name in the lobby, commanding her to “STOP RIGHT THERE!”

I love how Ji Won takes charge of the situation, and exposes Soo Min’s deceit, while remaining respectful to those customers, even though the woman had slapped her just minutes before.

E11-12. I’m not surprised – though still a little disappointed – that Mom (Lee Jung Eun) turns out to be putting on an act, all in the hope of getting money from Ji Won.

I feel bad for Ji Won, but I do also applaud the way she coolly puts Mom in her place, and informs her that she just wanted to try once, what it felt like to have a mother who doted on her and on whom she doted – but that henceforth, she has no mother to speak of.

She totally gives me strong independent woman vibes here, and I like and admire that.

[END SPOILER]

Na In Woo as Ji Hyuk

So.. I know lots of viewers were very taken and very charmed by Na In Woo in this role, and I have to confess that the love bug that bit everyone else – didn’t end up biting me, with Na In Woo. 😅

I actually found him a little bland, particularly in the earlier episodes. 🙊

In fact – please don’t hate me! – I even found myself wishing that his delivery would pop a little more, to show us more nuances to Ji Hyuk’s emotional and mental landscape.

That’s not to say that I didn’t like Ji Hyuk as a character; I did like him, overall.

And, he does clean up nicely, in a suit.

I have to confess, though, that my friend Paroma said something on Twitter, that I couldn’t get out of my head; something to the effect that Ji Hyuk as a character exists only in relation to Ji Won, and he doesn’t seem to have goals or purpose, that relate purely to himself.

That’s.. actually pretty true, when I think about it, and now I can’t help but wish that writer-nim had given Ji Hyuk more dimension of his own. That would’ve definitely made him more interesting, I think.

On an irreverent tangent, can I just say that with how tall Ji Hyuk is, and with his hair cropped like that in the university flashbacks, he really reminds me of Trash Oppa in Reply 1994 (review here)?

I say this with affection, because I really did like Trash Oppa, in Reply 1994. 😁

[SPOILER ALERT]

E5-6. I appreciate that we get to see that taking the gentlemanly route, and backing off, is actually really hard for Ji Hyuk – but he does it anyway.

That says strength of character, to me, and I find myself liking Ji Hyuk more for it.

E7-8. One thing that I’m somewhat perplexed about, is Ji Hyuk’s conclusion that he’s basically going to die, after Ji Won tells him her findings; that the inevitable must happen, and if not to him, then to someone else.

I appreciate that Ji Hyuk’s a good person who doesn’t immediately jump into planning for someone else to take his place in death, but clearly, this piece of information, and the conclusion that he draws from it – that he has no choice but to die, then – is one of the big spanners in the works, in terms of the potential connection between Ji Hyuk and Ji Won.

Certainly, I do appreciate the narrative tension that this provides, because I suppose it wouldn’t do to have everything too easy.

I do feel a bit sorry for Ji Hyuk, though, with the way he’s so despondent that he gets all drunk at Eun Ho’s (Lee Gi Kwang) restaurant, while scoping out whether Eun Ho’s a good enough man for Ji Won to depend on.

I very much appreciate that Ji Hyuk makes a conscious choice to protect Ji Won to the maximum, even if he can’t allow himself to get emotionally close to her, because he believes that he has limited time left.

Aw. That is a selfless sort of attitude, I have to give Ji Hyuk that. 🥲

[END SPOILER]

Ji Won and Ji Hyuk

Heh. I know that this isn’t the most pretty picture of our OTP, but I picked this to headline this section, because I feel it encapsulates the foundation of their relationship very well.

Ji Won is concerned with a lot of her own issues – like figuring how to escape her fate – whileJi Hyuk only has eyes for Ji Won, and only wants to help her.

Quite perfect, yes? 😁

Overall, I’d say that my engagement with this loveline worked out to be somewhat uneven.

On the downside, there were moments in the earlier stretches when I felt rather bemused by Ji Hyuk’s behavior towards Ji Won, and my frustration with the writing in the final stretch, also dampened my enthusiasm for the OTP scenes.

On the upside, however, there was a solid stretch when I was very much taken with the burgeoning connection between our leads.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E1-2. What I appreciate about Ji Won’s character, is that she doesn’t glom onto Ji Hyuk, even though he keeps showing up and saving her, and being kind to her.

Instead of leaning into that and trying to see if he would make a willing ally (or if he likes her), she’s excusing herself from his presence, assuming that there will be nothing more than business between them, despite all the times that he’s been kind to her.

This, despite that Clark Kent-Superman moment at the restaurant, when he takes off his glasses, and suddenly, he looks so handsome in her eyes, ha.

I like that streak of independence about her.

E3-4.I have to confess that I did feel a bit uncomfortable with the way Ji Hyuk intervened, in order to put a stop to Ji Won’s reunion conversation with Eun Ho, by calling her away on the pretext of work.

That felt rather invasive and borderline creepy, to be honest. 😅

But.. I suppose all’s fair in love and war, and Ji Hyuk hadn’t exactly been stalking her or anything, and I can imagine any other love interest in his position, do a similar thing, so I guess I shouldn’t be too quick to judge? 😅

Importantly, I appreciate that there is a legit meeting that he calls her to, and he does genuinely appreciate her opinion, and encourages her to express it. That’s very nice.

I also really enjoyed the little moments of Ji Hyuk and Ji Won getting to know each other better, like when he drives her to the river for a bit of a chat, when he sees that she’s clearly trying to hide from Min Hwan and Soo Min.

It’s nice that he doesn’t push, when she declines to say more about the situation with Min Hwan, and it’s also nice that he offers to teach her self defense, when she says that she’d like to learn.

I like that they’re able to laugh together a little bit, and it’s so cute, that he actually wears contact lenses the very next day, just because Ji Won suggests that he consider them.

Ji Hyuk is definitely smitten, and I like the idea of it.

Ji Hyuk does strike me as being a little on the obsessive side, sometimes, like when he asks Ji Won, not once, but twice, why she’d come to the office dressed “like that.”

But.. I’m filing this away in my head as more dorky than disturbing, and hopefully, Ji Hyuk will prove me right, with his future actions.

E5-6. We start episode 5 with a flashback to how Ji Hyuk had first met Ji Won, and she was a drunk charming dork.

No wonder he was charmed, and no wonder he came away knowing all her secrets, pretty much, heh.

I do appreciate the fact that the only reason Ji Hyuk had gotten involved with Ji Won that night, was because he was afraid that she’d be taken advantage of, by those predator guys.

I am very entertained by the fact that because Ji Won’s super drunk, she’s drawn to the smell of alcohol coming from Ji Hyuk’s alcohol-drenched clothes, and so gets up close and personal – and then chomps down on his shoulder.

Tee hee hee!

YES. This is the kind of charming, dorky Park Min Young that I’ve missed! 😂🤩

With Ji Won’s endearing, guileless charm, coupled with her story, which would surely cause anyone with half a heart to sympathize with her, I’m not at all surprised that Ji Hyuk would be quite immediately smitten.

Plus, there’s the thing where he identifies with her sense of being a loner who doesn’t fit in anywhere.

I thought it was cute that Ji Hyuk ghost-partnered Ji Won in caring for that little kitten, when he found that they were attending the same university (although Ji Won was the upperclassman, probably because Ji Hyuk had taken time off to go to MS).

I guess Ji Hyuk was too much of a shy dork himself, to actually approach Ji Won, and therefore satisfied himself with ghost-coparenting that kitten with her?

E5-6. I do appreciate knowing the backstory that Ji Hyuk had liked Ji Won from a long time ago, way before she’d even been introduced to him at the office.

Also, this backstory confirms that Ji Hyuk really is a dork around girls, particularly Ji Won, and therefore, this is the potential love story of two dorks, and I am suddenly even more in support of this loveline, heh.

I appreciate Ji Hyuk’s grand entrance at the office, post-makeover, and I do feel quite gratified by the fact that he walks right up to Ji Won, and tells her that he does feel much better – like this was a natural continuation of an earlier conversation.

And, I love how this doesn’t go unnoticed by everyone watching – especially Min Hwan and Soo Min.

E5-6. I actually really like that Ji Hyuk’s approaching Ji Won in such a matter-of-fact way; he admits, quite sheepishly – but readily! – that he’d been concerned because Ji Won didn’t answer his call.

I also like that Ji Hyuk’s honest in telling Ji Won that he likes her a lot.

It’s just too bad that Ji Won’s under the impression that Ji Hyuk’s dating Hee Yeon, and therefore interprets his advances as being highly inappropriate.

Oops. Poor Ji Hyuk. 😅

I’m glad that Ji Hyuk clears up the misunderstanding soon enough, by making that call to Hee Yeon, but unfortunately, Ji Won’s still pushing him away.

I very much appreciate Ji Hyuk being a gentleman about it, and telling Ji Won that he won’t do anything to make her uncomfortable, and that she can trust him.

That definitely gives Ji Won pause for thought, and I’m glad for it.

E5-6. As for Shmuck Supervisor and how he basically bullies Ji Won and steals her meal kit project, I felt awful for Ji Won, of course.

And, I do like how Ji Hyuk helps her figure out how to fight, by giving her a judo lesson (which he’d promised her a while back, so he’s not overstepping now).

It’s great how this boosts Ji Won’s confidence, AND gives her a new framework through which to consider the situation with Shmuck Supervisor.

E7-8. I like that Ji Won welcomes the fact that Ji Hyuk’s a second-lifer too, and is quickly forthcoming in sharing details of her story.

Of course, I do believe that that’s also because Ji Hyuk’s proven himself to be a trustworthy ally, in how he’s been helping her and protecting her, all this time.

In principle, I like the idea of the two of them sharing information, because that just seems like the smarter way to get things done.

E7-8. I can appreciate Ji Won’s determination to do everything on her own, with her own abilities, instead of relying on Ji Hyuk for help – because she doesn’t want to feel like she’s coasting on other people’s efforts, the way Soo Min tends to do.

I do like the favor that she asks of Ji Hyuk, though; that he allow her to confide in him and speak honestly, without holding back.

Honestly, that is quite a melty request, because she’s basically asking for a form of intimacy, isn’t she? She wants to formally make him the person that she trusts the most, in the world.

I find that very heart-wobbly stuff, and I’m surprised that Ji Hyuk is able to think straight enough, to focus on the fact that he would like her to depend on him, for help.

And, I love that in trying to convince her of his purpose, he actually reveals the heart marking on his chest, to prove that Dad had sent him to her.

That must be the most beautiful, touching, overwhelming thing for Ji Won, I think. 🥲

Fittingly, Ji Won’s response is presented in as beautiful a manner, with her saying, with tears in her eyes, that she doesn’t have to use the allowance, just because it’s given, and that she’d like her allowance to be happy – before she asks Ji Hyuk, “Does the allowance have anything that he’d like to do in his second life?”

Aw. That is so sweetly tender and gentle. 🥲 I would an incoherent puddle on the ground, in Ji Hyuk’s shoes.

As for Ji Hyuk’s eventual response to her question – given later, in the water, when he’s all emotional about her not asking for help – I personally love that his answer is a direct response to what he remembers her saying, that first night when he’d met and spent time with a drunk Ji Won: he wants to be land.

And even though he doesn’t specify it, we know that he wants to be land for her, to support her, for her to lean on, and stand on, and that is very, very heart-wobbly stuff too.

It’s just too bad that Ji Won doesn’t clue in to the context of this statement in the least, and is left wondering if she’d heard him wrong.

On that note, my Korean isn’t as good as I’d like it to be, but I’m pretty sure that the various guesses that Hee Yeon gives, about what the word might have been, instead of “land,” is very loosely translated, ie, the subber just put in words that rhyme with “land” in order to keep the intent of the moment intact.

I will say though, that it’s quite impressive, that “champ,” which is the word that Ji Hyuk finally settles on, when Ji Won asks about it, does actually work with the original dialogue, which says, “jjang.” 😁

E7-8. The way Ji Hyuk shields Ji Won’s eyes, when she witnesses Min Hwan and Soo Min making out, and then leads her to a secluded area so she can have a little cry about it, is caring and thoughtful.

It feels like he’s doing his best to respect Ji Won’s desire to do this on her own, while offering her all the support that she might need. I honestly couldn’t think of a better response from Ji Hyuk, given what Ji Won’s expressed. 🥲

It feels like a meaningful moment, when Ji Won tells Ji Hyuk that she’s glad to have him, so that she no longer feels all alone, and he replies, that his life in the past had been like a well-written book that was (I infer) too boring, and that he’s glad that he’s able to talk to her like this – and therefore feels that he should thank her instead.

All in all, it feels like a nicely positive step forward, in building the bond that they share. 🥰

E7-8. I’m glad to see Ji Hyuk and Ji Won building a closer bond, when Ji Hyuk tells Ji Won that the cat she’d been caring for, in the same cat that’s living with him.

Seeing Ji Won reconnect with the cat, whom she’d felt guilty for not having taken better care of, was really very lovely.

Although, I do wonder why Ji Hyuk hadn’t revealed this fact to her earlier, when she’d first visited.

Perhaps he’d felt awkward bringing it up, since he’d been co-parenting the kitten with her, on the sly?

E9-10.The OTP-esque moments work for me, because of the context that we’re given.

It might not be super apparent in the delivery itself, but we already know that Ji Hyuk’s struggling to keep his feelings for Ji Won in check, and that it’s really trying for him, to watch Ji Won be in close proximity with other men, whether that’s Min Hwan or Eun Ho.

It also helps that I kinda-sorta think of him as being slightly emotionally stunted, because that helps my brain to accept that apparent (relative) flatness of his delivery.

Plus, the moments of dorky honesty really help as well, like when Ji Hyuk attempts to make an excuse that he’s near Ji Won’s home because of the company warehouse in the area, but deflates quickly, and just comes clean, that he’s there because he’d missed her.

I like these bits of honesty a lot. 🥰

And then, of course, we get the moments of hyper-proximity, like when Ji Hyuk and Ji Won hide behind the pillar at the company villa – which entails him drawing her into his arms, so that they’re taking up as little space as possible, behind that pillar.

And what about little moments like the one in the elevator, where their hands are within touching distance; I found myself holding my breath, waiting for one of them to extend a finger, and close that gap between their hands which feel so close, and yet, so far apart, in this moment.

Quite nice, if I may say so. 🔥 I do enjoy a bit of hyper-proximity, with the hyper-awareness that comes with. 😁

And importantly, I still very much enjoy the open, supportive conversations that Ji Hyuk and Ji Won share, like when he takes her on that boat and tells her that this is how he tends to clear his head, also, that she shouldn’t be scared, because even though they don’t know the future, they know more than other people do.

It’s what Ji Won needs to hear, and it’s something that only he can say to her, and no one else, and therefore, through conversations like this one, I’ve been feeling more and more convinced that Ji Hyuk and Ji Won would be good together.

I do very much love that moment in the car, where Ji Hyuk and Ji Won talk about her revenge plan, and Ji Won muses that getting Min Hwan and Soo Min to marry is one thing, but she herself needs to be happy too, and meet friends whom she likes.

The way Ji Hyuk throatily asks, in a whisper, with his ears all red, if he can hold her hand, is really quite heart-wobbly stuff.

Yes to respecting boundaries and asking for consent, and yes to dorky earnest self-conscious shy red ears. ❤️🤭

Very poignant and sweet, I thought.

I also really liked that moment at the shooting range, where Ji Hyuk carefully readies Ji Won to try her hand at shooting.

The way he touches her at the various important points, is gentle, and feels respectful, and I like that a lot.

The date with Eun Ho felt like a helpful detour, in that, it basically gives Ji Won a sense of clarity, since the only person she can think about, while out on that date with Eun Ho, is Ji Hyuk.

I do love how she decides to tell Ji Hyuk this, even though she’s never done anything remotely so emotionally bold before.

I love how she is so vulnerable and sincere, as she puts her heart out there, and lets it sink in for Ji Hyuk, for a moment, before she reaches for him, and kisses him.

It’s all so brave of her, honestly, because it’s always nerve-wracking to put your heart out there, isn’t it?

The way she turns to go, and the way Ji Hyuk pulls her back, and kisses her back, is very nicely played.

There is a lot of hunger and release in this kiss, and it’s pitch perfect, I feel, because this communicates the extent to which Ji Hyuk’s been holding himself and his feelings back, all this time.

Ahhhh. So satisfying, and so delicious too. 🔥

E11-12. I did appreciate the bubble of happiness that Ji Hyuk and Ji Won have, in episode 11, because, thankfully, Ji Won doesn’t allow Ji Hyuk to push her away for too long.

With him being sick, and with her knowing the passcode to his apartment, it seems like the most natural thing, really, for her to let herself into the apartment to check on him, which then leads to the articulation of honest feelings, as Ji Hyuk’s fever-fueled delirium comes to the fore. 😁

I do like Ji Won’s stance, that it’s true that they might regret it, but if they do, then they should regret it together.

The way they come together in that affirming embrace, is quietly heartfelt, but it’s not hard to see that this means the world to them both. 🥲

The little moments of everyday happiness that we then get, of these two just being happy in the knowledge that they have each other, is really sweet.

And, Show’s hyper-focus on their hands, is very nicely done, I might add.

They just seem to like to reach out and touch hands, at every opportunity, whether they’re saying a quick goodbye in the car, or passing each other in the hallway, or spending downtime together just cuddling on the couch.

It communicates an intimate enjoyment of each other’s presence, I feel, and I thought that was quite lovely. 🥰

E11-12. I’m somewhat disappointed that Ji Hyuk pulls back, where before we’d seen him give in to his feelings for Ji Won, but I am ok with this, because it feels narratively consistent with his character.

He still believes that he will die soon, and therefore, he wants to spare Ji Won, as much as possible, from the pain of losing him.

I’m not into the whole noble idiocy of “doing this for your own good,” but I can buy that this is really what Ji Hyuk thinks and believes, and that he is sincerely holding himself back because he doesn’t want to hurt Ji Won with (what he believes will be) his untimely demise.

In principle, though, I’d much prefer that Ji Hyuk come clean with Ji Won, and just tell her what’s really going on, with him. After all, her opinion counts too, if we’re talking about them starting a relationship.

However, on hindsight, I can see why writer-nim might have chosen to approach things this way; if Ji Hyuk’s just consistently vague about why he’s holding himself back from Ji Won, then perhaps the whole breakdown of the relationship in episode 12 makes more sense?

As in, while I do think that Ji Won’s reason for turning cold on Ji Hyuk is rather weak (more on that later), at least with this vagueness from Ji Hyuk in place, I can think of this as contributing to the idea that Ji Won seems to be holding onto, that Ji Hyuk’s more involved with this ex-fiancée than he’s admitting to?

[END SPOILER]

Lee Yi Kyung as Min Hwan

I have a soft spot for Lee Yi Kyung, and was happy to have him back on my screen, but it was really only at the episode 3 or 4 mark, that I began to understand why Lee YiKyung was cast as Min Hwan.

He’s got great comic timing and his elastic reaction faces, coupled with his knack for physical comedy, really amps up the funny, when it comes to anything to do with Min Hwan.

And so, even when Min Hwan’s being selfish, or sleazy, or greedy, he lands as more entertaining than truly hateful.

Like, I found him entertainingly bad, rather than I-need-to-break-something bad 😅 – and that was helpful, to my overall watch experience.

Song Ha Yoon as Soo Min

My gosh, you guys. I love-love-love Song Ha Yoon in this role.

This is a very different role for Song Ha Yoon, in that, I’ve only ever seen her in Fight My Way (review here!), where she plays a very different sort of character.

Here, she really leans into the devious-entitled-egomaniac-hiding-behind-the-persona-of-injured-innocence and it’s really pretty great. 🤩

Song Ha Yoon’s angelic features, coupled with the affectations that Soo Min puts on, as she does her darn best to create Pretty Privilege for herself wherever she can, is exactly that kind of combination that made me want to reach into my screen and tear her hair out – which I’m sure is exactly what Show was going for.

I really like that Show gives Soo Min layers, and that Song Ha Yoon communicates those layers so well.

I found her complex and interesting, even as I loved to hate her. And yet, I sometimes felt more sorry for her, than angry with her.

Just, really really well done. 🤩

[SPOILER ALERT]

E5-6.Soo Min’s nothing if not consistent, in the way she keeps trying to worm her way through everyone and everything, in order to get what she wants.

I just love to hate her, especially when she acts all innocent and lost, right after letting slip Ji Won’s family secret – on purpose. 😑

The thing about Soo Min, is, she’s actually decently good at her scheming tricks; I think this makes her an interesting enough antagonist, because it gives Ji Won a bit of a challenge.

And she’s successful this time around too, because, even though she smooths it all over in her saccharine way, she’s managed to plant the seed, in Min Hwan’s head, that Ji Won’s likely to cheat on him.

E7-8. I’m slightly surprised, actually, that Soo Min hadn’t thought about the possibility of Min Hwan choosing to stay with Ji Won, despite sleeping with Soo Min, and I can only conclude that it’s not because Soo Min’s too stupid or blind to see the kind of slimy jerk that Min Hwan is; it’s that she’s so overconfident of her own charms, that in her eyes, it was basically a given, that Min Hwan would choose her, because.. how could he not?

E7-8. Unfortunately for Soo Min’s ego – and Ji Won’s plan – Min Hwan doesn’t choose her, and even tries to pass it all off as a beautiful memory that they should hold dear, instead of rolling it into a complicated reality.

I’m honestly surprised that Soo Min still has any interest in Min Hwan after this point, but I suppose Soo Min’s desire to crush Ji Won is greater than any sense of self-preservation she might have. 😅

E9-10. The whole pregnancy thing, which Soo Min tries to use to angle for Ji Won’s sympathy, is very much in character, I feel; Soo Min strikes me as a person who would say and do anything, as long as it would get her out of a difficult situation.

E11-12. I did also enjoy all the hijinks to do with the wedding, and the pre- and post-wedding stuff too.

I kinda love watching Soo Min manage Min Hwan’s mother, because Soo Min is much more wily and slippery than Ji Won had been, in our original timeline, and so, all of Mom’s efforts to be the snooty, controlling mother-in-law whom we love to hate, get mixed results.

I find myself very well entertained by the interactions between Mom and Soo Min, because I find that either way, whether it’s Mom or Soo Min who comes away seething with frustration, I get a shot of gratification. 🤭

E11-12. I have to say I’m pretty impressed with how Soo Min deals with the fake pregnancy, by faking a miscarriage, and making it Min Hwan’s fault, so that, 1, she doesn’t have to pretend to be pregnant anymore, and 2, Min Hwan feels super guilty, in the meantime.

She can be quite the evil genius, can’t she? 🤭

[END SPOILER]

Ji Won and Soo Min

We learn very, very quickly, in episode 1, that Soo Minis an extremely toxic so-called friend to Ji Won, and has always been toxic towards Ji Won; just less obviously so, before the affair in our original timeline.

And so, a lot of my satisfaction and glee while watching this show, came from witnessing the various victories that Ji Won has over Soo Min, both small and large.

Every time Ji Won foils Soo Min’s attempts to manipulate her, or be toxic in general, I got a stab of satisfaction.

And so, for ol’ times’ sake, here’s a sample of those moments. 😁

[SPOILER ALERT]

E1-2. I kinda love that beat when Soo Min’s putting her head on Ji Won’s lap at the office, and expecting Ji Won to stroke her hair, only to have Ji Won push her head hastily aside, when Toxic Supervisor calls for her.

Muahaha. Not at all the end result Soo Min was expecting, I’m sure. 😁

E3-4. I absolutely lapped up Ji Won’s grand entrance at the reunion, particularly the part where everybody’s jaw hits the floor, because she looks nothing like the outcast wallflower she’d been, when she’d graduated high school.

I was especially pleased to see Soo Min’s slack-jawed disappointment and shock, when she realizes that Ji Won’s wayyyy prettier and more confident, than she’d ever imagined possible. Muahaha. 😏

E7-8. Honestly, during the scene where Soo Min’s eyeing Ji Won and realizing that Ji Won’s got the #1 flag with her, I got really nervous, coz Ji Won basically looks like a sitting duck.

But then! Ji Won actually turns the tables on Soo Min really neatly, and even gets some hair-pulling in there, by pretending that Soo Min’s hair had gotten caught in her bracelet.

The way Ji Won then says pleasantly to Soo Min, that this is all just a game, so Soo Min is fine with it, right? – is quite delicious, coz it feels like Ji Won’s basically mirroring Soo Min back at herself. Nice one, Ji Won! 🤭

And then Show really had me really nervous, when Soo Min attacks Ji Won yet again, and this time, manages to rip off Ji Won’s nametag, according to the rules of the game.

Show really had me going there, thinking that Soo Min had managed to steal that #1 flag from Ji Won, thus completely scuttling Ji Won’s plan to throw Min Hwan and Soo Min together, during the night of the workshop.

BUT. As it turns out, looks like Ji Won basically had an all-out catfight with Soo Min – and then won. Yesss. 😁

That confrontation at the water taps, where Soo Min basically throws a tantrum at Ji Won for not letting her win, lately, and therefore being soooo mean to her, is just mindblowing, to me.

That is quite possibly the most entitled thing I’ve ever heard. 😅

And the fact that Soo Min actually has the sense of self-righteousness to even say that out loud, says a lot about her as a person.

I’m so, SO glad that Ji Won explains calmly that she just no longer likes her, is all. HA. Take that, Entitled Princess.

And then, it’s honestly pretty darn gratifying to see Soo Min then completely fall for the bait that Ji Won dangles, by stating that she doesn’t need Soo Min anymore, because she’s going to marry Min Hwan and build a new family with him.

Which of COURSE makes Soo Min more determined than ever, to win Min Hwan for herself. 😏

E9-10. Sometimes I do feel like it helps for Show to spell stuff out for me. 😅

Like that moment in the water, when Soo Min smirks at Ji Won, refusing to let Ji Won pull her up.

I honestly didn’t know what to make of that moment, because it never occurred to me that Soo Min would willingly die, if it meant taking Ji Won with her.

That was something that I only understood, when Ji Won explained it afterwards, to Ji Hyuk.

It was only at this point that I went, “Ohhhh.. Is that was that was about..?” 🙈 I guess that just means that this kind of twisted thinking doesn’t come naturally to me..? (This is my effort to console myself that I needed to have this laid out plainly for me, heh. 😅)

E11-12. It was pretty great seeing Soo Min in that wedding dress with the huge floofy sleeves and the extremely unflattering design, because alongside the ugly dress, is Soo Min’s nervous efforts to, 1, keep up the ruse with a fake mom and a bunch of fake friends, and 2, convince herself that she really has won.

What a great contrast then, when Ji Won saunters in, all cool and collected (and glamorous!), with Ji Hyuk at her side. 🤭

The scene where Ji Won goes to see Soo Min in the bridal waiting room is also pretty delicious, because, in this moment, it really feels like Ji Won’s victory moment over Soo Min.

I did think it was a touch unnecessary, for Ji Won to gloat out loud, about Soo Min picking up her trash, but I suppose after all that Ji Won’s suffered because of Soo Min, she deserves to gloat, if she feels like it? 😅

Surprisingly, I do feel low-key sorry for Soo Min, because she seems sincerely anxious and desperate, underneath the smile that she forces herself to wear.

I’d say that’s really thanks to Song Ha Yoon’s delivery, because she makes Soo Min come across convincingly as vulnerable, despite all the terrible things that Soo Min’s done.

[END SPOILER]

Choi Gyu Ri as Hee Yeon

I wanted to give Hee Yeon a shout-out because I find her very likable.

She’s bubbly, appreciative of Ji Won’s kindness and talent, and isn’t afraid to refuse Soo Min’s Pretty Privilege requests, and flatly, at that.

Plus, our girl’s got a healthy appetite and isn’t afraid to live her best life, eating delicious foods and just being herself.

I just really love how cheerfully down-to-earth Hee Yeon comes across. 🥰

Hee Yeon and Ji Won

I love that Show gives Ji Won a friend in Hee Yeon, because after all that she’s been through, Hee Yeon feels like the exact kind of positive energy Ji Won needs in her life.

And, I really like that the appreciation flows both ways. 🥰

My favorite friendship moment between Ji Won and Hee Yeon, is in episode 3.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E3. I love the idea of our shy wallflower getting an amazing makeover and shocking everyone at the reunion into stunned silence, so I lapped up this arc with glee.

Even better is the fact that Ji Won’s makeover isn’t courtesy of Ji Hyuk, which would have been much more typical of a kdrama.

Instead, the makeover is thanks to consultation with Hee Yeon, and I love that.

Even better is the fact that the makeover comes off pretty convincingly as a spontaneous sort of thing, born of Ji Won hanging out with Hee Yeon on the weekend, for the simple reason that they said they ought to see each other outside of work, ie, be friends.

I love that.I love that as a natural extension to them becoming friends, Hee Yeon’s becoming such a ready source of help, support and, in some things, guidance, for Ji Won. 🤩

[END SPOILER]

SPOTLIGHT ON THE PENULTIMATE STRETCH [SPOILERS]

E13-14. Well. I think I can safely say that this is a pair of episodes – and a general narrative direction – that would likely be quite divisive.

I think that this could work for some people, but at the same time, I can see this making other folks uncomfortable, and it kinda reminds me of what happened with Vincenzo, in a way.

[BROAD SPOILERS FOR VINCENZO]

In Vincenzo’s finale, our protagonist exacts vengeance on the various bad characters, in very specific, grim ways.

This divided viewers, in that some viewers found it hard to get behind a protagonist who commits murder in cold blood, even if it was in the name of rogue justice, while other viewers found it perfectly acceptable, and found rogue justice well served.

[END SPOILERS FOR VINCENZO]

I feel like a somewhat similar divided response is likely, with where Show is choosing to go, with Ji Won making a clear decision, this pair of episodes, to send her fate to Soo Min – which would include Soo Min’s death, as part of the package.

Personally, I think I fall into the camp that feels uncomfortable with this.

I mean, I do understand the logic of it; that according to Show’s internal logic, someone has to die in Ji Won’s place, if Ji Won is going to live, in this timeline.

However, it still makes me uncomfortable to see Ji Won basically start scheming to lead Soo Min to her death. Instinctively, it just doesn’t feel right, somehow? 😬

Granted, we don’t know yet, at this point, whether Soo Min ends up dying, or whether anyone ends up dying, but right now, just seeing Ji Won start taking actions towards ensuring an outcome that involves Soo Min’s death, is just uncomfortable for me.

Right now, I’m going to take a guess that it’s most likely Yu Ra who’s going to end up taking on Ji Won’s fate, for the simple reason that Show is really hamming her up to be the baddest baddie that we’ve got, in this drama world.

The fact that she acts to kill off Soo Min’s dad and Ji Won’s mom with such indolent glee, convinces me that Show is most likely prepping her for the, er, chopping block. 😅

Also, there’s the convenient fact that Yu Ra has actually been sleeping with Min Hwan, and therefore technically fulfills the condition that Ji Won analyzes is in place, that Min Hwan needs to cheat on Soo Min with someone, and come to a point where he doesn’t care whether Soo Min lives or dies – or better yet, actively wants Soo Min dead.

Additionally, Show’s given us a version of Soo Min that’s three-dimensional and even a little sympathetic (if you kinda squint a little), and so, I think it would be tricky for Show to pull off killing Soo Min.

At this point, I’d also like to state for the record, that I find myself struggling to enjoy this show now. In fact, I found myself checking often, just how much more episode time was left, before I was done with these episodes.

That’s.. not great. 😅 And it’sa huge departure from when I was lapping this show up with glee.

To my eyes, it feels almost like we had a writer switch. Or like writer-nim basically hit a wall, and in a fit of burnout, just churned out whatever came to mind, to keep this story going.

To be clear, the story is still going; the plot points do still connect one to another, and make some kind of sense.

It just.. feels like a completely different creature, to me, and I don’t this version of Show so much.

That said, I think it’s actually helpful that Show reveals that Soo Min’s dad is living with Ji Won’s mom, and that Mom and Dad had actually left their respective families, back in the day, in order to be together.

At first, I was like, “Gosh, that’s so makjang! 🙄”

But then, I realized that this at least gives Soo Min some kind of reason for her obsession with sabotaging Ji Won, and wanting to steal everything that Ji Won has.

Like Ji Won says, this isn’t a good reason at all, but I can believe that someone could get consumed by this idea, which is basically what happened with Soo Min.

The biggest tonal whiplash, I felt, came from the last part of episode 14, where Ji Won hides from Min Hwan, at the office, after hours, and he starts strangling her, when he finds her.

I found this beat out of character for Ji Won, in that, her sudden fear of Min Hwan seemed like it came out of nowhere.

Earlier, she’d put him down so definitively, and on other occasions as well, she hasn’t shown any fear of him.

But now, suddenly, at the office, she’s cowering and hiding, scared that he’ll find her.

Additionally, I also found it a big leap for Min Hwan’s character, to get to the point where he’d strangle Ji Won, and try to kill her, right there in the office.

This is the portion of these episodes that felt most like Show had turned into a makjang thriller, and I found it whiplashy enough that it took me out of the story.

At this point, unfortunately, I’ve lost a lot of my previous sense of connection with our main characters, and my interest in this story has evolved into something akin to morbid fascination.

Like, what bizarre plot point is Show going to pull out next, in order to bring us to the finish line?

I’m sticking around to find out, but with a lot less enthusiasm than I’d once had for this show, unfortunately. 😅

THOUGHTS ON THE ENDING [SPOILERS]

Let me start by saying that your experience could absolutely be very different from mine. In fact, I suspect I might be the odd duck in the corner, with my response to the finale episodes.

Personally, I found myself in this weird limbo while watching this finale, where I registered in my head, with some clarity, that Show was doing a decent job of tying threads together and pulling everything towards its finish line – but I found myself feeling weirdly disconnected from it all. 😅

I suspect that this is due in part to how I didn’t take to episodes 13 and 14, where I didn’t like Show’s narrative decisions very much.

Episodes 13 and 14 left me feeling rather bemused and disengaged, and while episodes 15 and 16 were comparatively more solid on the narrative front (at least to my eyes), I found that my emotional connection to these characters just never came back, unfortunately.

Looks like my drama-loving heart can be quite ruthless sometimes, eh? 🙈 Like, once you’ve lost me, it’s not so easy to get me back 😈..? 😅

So yes, this could very well just be a “me” thing, and you might have unreservedly loved the finale – which is great, if you did.

On the upside, one of the key things that I struggled with, in episodes 13 and 14, was the fact that Ji Won was actively working towards an outcome that involved the death of Soo Min.

Somehow, this bothered me less, in episodes 15 and 16.

Maybe I just got used to the idea; maybe Show was doing a good enough job of making Ji Won look troubled enough, while executing her plan; maybe Show was making it clear enough that Soo Min and Min Hwan basically brought everything on themselves.

Maybe it was a mix of all three.

And maybe part of it was that I just cared less overall, and therefore it bothered me less too..? 🙈

To Show’s credit, it does tie up the various threads with a sense of cohesion, and I thought the mirroring of the key moments in the original timeline and the current timeline, was a helpful touch, to help us digest how things are resolving, in the present timeline.

I honestly didn’t pay super close attention to how the various details lined up, and whether there was anything of special significance, in terms of how they lined up. (This is what happens when I check out emotionally from a show, it looks like. 😅)

And so, the way Show was presenting the moments, juxtaposed with the parallel moments from the original timeline, helped me appreciate the mirroring between timelines, even though I wasn’t keeping a mental score.

I thought it was quite fitting that it was Min Hwan who died in Ji Won’s place, since he’d contributed so much, to her misery in the original timeline.

And, from a macro standpoint, I do think that it’s more interesting to keep Soo Min alive for the final conflict, than Min Hwan.

As much as I love Lee Yi Kyung, I have to admit that Song Ha Yoon totally blows it out of the water, as Soo Min, and therefore, I feel we get more nuances and complexity, with Soo Min as the final opponent, so to speak.

Also, like I’d predicted, Yu Ra doesn’t survive our story, and brings about her own demise, with her very reckless, volatile behavior.

I kind of want to think that the way Yu Ra fires her assistant for not doing things right, was her way of setting him free from a potentially dangerous situation, but I don’t know if Yu Ra has enough dimension as a character, to support that theory. 😅

And, it feels quite fitting, that Yu Ra’s car crash mirrors the car crash that had killed Ji Hyuk in our original timeline; the idea here, that she’s dying instead of Ji Hyuk, in this timeline, is pretty clear.

Soo Min coming for Ji Won, to destroy her, because she can’t stand the idea of Ji Won being the only one who gets to be happy, feels like an apt plot point.

Like, I can believe that Soo Min wouldn’t be able to swallow this, and would take extreme measures, in order to achieve her goal, which is to destroy Ji Won.

It’s a little convenient that we see on hindsight, that Ji Won and Ji Hyuk have been preparing for exactly the kind of predicament that Ji Won finds herself in, particularly with regard to breaking out of cable ties, but I’m fine to just roll with it.

I mean, what’s a little plot convenience, in the grand scheme of things, yes? 😁

I personally don’t care so much for Ji Won emphasizing to Soo Min that this is a hell that she’s created for Soo Min, though. I would’ve preferred the emphasis to have just stayed on the fact that Soo Min brought this all upon herself.

I think I would’ve found that more, uh.. comfortable to swallow, but like I said, this could be a “me” thing; you might not have a similar problem accepting the morally gray areas of our protagonists. 😅

In the end, it feels fitting that Soo Min is jailed for her misdeeds.

Even though we see her remarking to her cellmate that she is going to get out of jail, it doesn’t seem at all likely, since she’s in for murder AND attempted murder.

It feels completely fitting, that Soo Min would basically lose her mind while in prison, because she’s that obsessed with Ji Won.

A sad fate, which Song Ha Yoon pulls off well, making Soo Min appear bitter and sad and fragile, all at the same time.

Everything and everyone else has a neatly happy ending, which I don’t begrudge Show in principle.

Of particular note is the fact that Manager Yang successfully gets a fresh start in life, with her surgery going well, and her divorce from her horrible husband getting finalized.

Her journey actually feels like a shadow-mirror of Ji Won’s own journey, as she also gets to be reborn, in a way, and start a new life, while leaving her horrible ex-husband behind.

Her connection with Suk Joon remains technically platonic, but is left open to further development, which I feel is an appropriate note on which to leave them.

In principle, I also like the idea of Hee Yeon and Eun Ho getting romantically involved, because I do think they make a cute couple.

And of course, I am in support of the idea of Ji Won and Ji Hyuk getting married, and starting a new life together, and having lotsa babies to add to the family.

The reason I keep saying “in principle,” though, is because a lot of these scenes felt like bloat to my eyes, especially in the final episode.

Like, yes, we’ve dealt with all the people who need to be dealt with, and so, here we are, filling up the rest of the screen time with an extended epilogue where we get to see what our characters are up to.

It’s great for a while, but I couldn’t help zoning out a little bit, after some time. Like, uh, what else is there to cover here, exactly, and when are we getting to the end of what feels like an unreasonably long final episode..?

To be fair, the final episode isn’t any longer than the other ones; it just felt really long to me. 😅

But, Show does choose an apt endpoint, where we end the story on the very anniversary of when the whole timeslip do-over had started, in the first place.

As Ji Won and Ji Hyuk muse together over the painting, and how the artist had been able to produce a beautiful work because of the management of the Foundation, and how this is how it should’ve been, it feels like they’re also talking about the happy lives that they’ve been able to create, thanks to the provision of this opportunity, by Ji Won’s father.

All in all, despite my quibbles with Show’s methods, I do take the sentiment that Show’s been working to offer us, that second chances can and do exist, and that we shouldn’t give up hope.

THE FINAL VERDICT:

Falters a little towards the end, but is, overall, pretty solid.

FINAL GRADE: B+

TRAILER:

MV:

PATREON UPDATE!

The next drama I’ll be covering onPatreon, in place of Marry My Husband, is Queen of Tears [Korea]. I’ve taken an initial look at Queen of Tears and I’m happy to say that I like it, so far.

You can check out my episode 1-2 notes on Queen of Tearson Patreon here.

Here’s an overview of what I’m covering on Patreon right now (Tier benefits are cumulative)!

Foundation Tier (US$1): Entertainment tidbits + the first set notes of all shows covered on Patreon (that’s 2 episodes for kdramas and 4 episodes for cdramas)

Early Access(US$5): +The Impossible Heir [Korea]

Early Access Plus(US$10): +Amidst a Snowstorm of Love [China]

VIP(US$15): +Queen of Tears [Korea]

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