The Midnight Romance in Hagwon Episode 15

Probably my least favorite episode, but still good

I haven't had any issues with the pacing thus far in this drama, so this episode stood out to me in that it did feel a bit slow. Also, I wasn't sure how to feel about specific story choices taken in this ep, but now that I'm sitting on it, I think I understand why they were made. For example, this was a Jun Ho-centric episode, which makes sense considering how the last episode ended with Jun Ho finally breaking down. Jun Ho makes the decision to try and solve their biggest issue (aka the threat of people leaving the academy) on his own, and pretty much tells Hye Jin straight out that he's planning on doing it on his own. At first, I wondered exactly why he's choosing to leave Hye Jin in the dark, and then I realized that for Hye Jin, this is the best thing he can do. Why? It's because Hye Jin always does everything on her own. She's smart, strong and good at her job, and most importantly, has seen Jun Ho as someone who needs her guidance and care for most of their relationship. The only way Jun Ho can prove to himself and to her that he can stand on equal footing with her, is if he can take the burden of their situation off her hands. And it must feel so good for Hye Jin to be told by someone she loves that they'll handle it for her and that she doesn't have to do anything about it. It's so refreshing!! So I understand why Jun Ho did it, especially since Hye Jin also needs to see him in this independent light.

Otherwise, seeing as this is the finale and this is the last conflict, a lot of other things were drawn out that I felt didn't have to be. We got a lot of time with the other instructors that we didn't have before, which is fine, though I think we didn't need to see all of them puzzle over their indecision as to whether or not to leave.

Also, I liked Jun Ho and Vice Director Woo's confrontation, especially the aftermath when Jun Ho is clearly also rattled by how emotional and frightening it was for him, even though he was very solid in the moment. I liked that! instead of having him swoop in and say a few pithy words and teach the vice director a lesson - the story lets Jun Ho have actual emotions about it. He gets to be uncertain, frightened, afraid, and exhausted. I think a lot of romance dramas don't humanize their male leads this way, because the romance is first and foremost a fantasy for the viewers to enjoy. So I appreciate that the story made space for him to be a vulnerable human being as well.

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