I'm hating FL's mom petty attitude and childish tantrums so much. Still, gotta say that the relationship I'm enjoying the most is the camaraderie between Poong and Chil Seong. They have some powerful moments in these two episodes. I mean, Poong basically says that he's willing to step out of his comfort zone and shoot for the stars for Chil Seong. Something he would never do if Chil Seong hadn't encouraged him and kicked the doors to this golden opportunity.
Certainly doesn't help that his character is so selfless and nice. Can't help but root for him.
I'd encouraged you to give it a chance. I am at episode 19 and I think he will be paired up with someone else (unless I misread a scene), which he totally deserves. So he will probably still get a happy ending.
First, let me start by saying I'm enjoying this drama a lot. The three leads are adorable, relatable and very human.
Jung Ryeo Won (FL) nails her cute and quirky character. She feels very natural. This is my first time watching Lee Jung Ho in a drama and I have to say he's super cute. His character is also very interesting and lovable. BUT Jang Hyuk (loved him in Beautiful Mind) steals the show for me. He's giving me second lead syndrome. His character is so selfless and adorable, that I can't help rooting for him.
Now, I'm at episode 19 and I find Sae Woo's character fascinating (and very realistic). I think the writers may be using "mirroring situations" in the love triangle to help her character grow (or at least I hope so). In this occasion, by switching Sae Woo's position from rejecting to being (semi)rejected, she has the most to gain in the empathy department (which she's in dire need of, to be honest).
First situation: Chil Seong falls for Sae Woo. Sae Woo rejects him by saying "don't like me". Which, basically, is her trying to "control his feelings". In her mind, she's trying to be a good person. She thinks that by demanding Chil Seong stop her feeling for her, she can keep him from further pain. This is a natural reaction for someone inexperienced with love (which she might be, considering she does say early on that "she doesn't know men"). Yet, in truth, she's only trying to keep herself from getting hurt by becoming "the mean one" and hurting/disappointing Chil Seong.
Then we get into the second situation at ep. 19: Now Sae Woo's role is reversed. You have Seo Poong asking Sae Woo "not to like him". Though she agrees, she's clearly hurt. As she's reflecting on the whole situation, we have her coming to the same conclusion I got from the first situation.
As she thinks about how he said not to like him, her conclusion: "is he trying to control my feelings?" When she thinks about the reason he said what he did, she wonders, "does he think he's a good guy?" Even more interesting, she wonders "should I just listen to what I want?" (the part where he confesses he likes her before asking her not to like him back), which further shows emotions can't be controlled (just like Chil Seong can't stop liking her because it's convenient for her to have it so).
So, for me, the second situation echoes the first situation.
I mean, isn't that more or less the process Chil Seong went through? Shouldn't she start to reflect on how she rejected Chil Seong and how she demanded that he stopped liking her? Shouldn't she start to understand the pain she (unconsciously and without intending to) put Chil Seong through? Shouldn't she learn from this painful experience and be able to empathize with Chil Seong and, perhaps, understand that she can't control his emotions...? All she can do is appreciate the gesture and the tremendous courage it took for Chil Seong to confess, and allow him to get over his feelings at his own pace?
(Note: it would be a very different scenario if Chil Seong was forcing her to like him back via force, blackmail or other mechanisms dramas overuse --sometimes even with first leads! But in this case, Chil Seong has been very respectful and has only asked her to get to know him first before fully rejecting him).
Since I've only finished episode 19 now, I'm hoping this mirroring/echoing thing does serve to push the three main leads' character development (especially because it was so nicely woven into the narrative)! Hopefully it won't be a wasted opportunity by not giving her have a moment of self-reflection.
She kind of flat out rejected him on multiple occasions, so I'm not sure what you're talking about?
I get what you are referring to, @Laura_Roslin. I felt that way about the way she rejected him too, that she was a bit too cruel (and a little immature, though we're told she doesn't have that much experience with men so it can be expected).
Although @Shoes brings up very valid points, the part I felt was cruel was asking him "don't like me" because that's something the other party can't really control. Her saying "I don't like you" is valid, since those are her feelings, but her asking him not to like her because "it's too hard on her" makes the other party (who cannot control their feelings) feel even worst (ergo where I felt she was cruel).
I was also confused because near the beginning, when they meet in the bus stop, she says "how can a crush end so fast" instead of leaving that alone if she wasn't going to reciprocate feelings. Even if I can shelve this as just a playful comment... the scene continues, making her character a bit confusing for me (in regards to Chil Sung).
FL (I'm terrible with names, so bear with me) next shows a mature view of love when she proceeds to explains that the other party doesn't need permission to have a crush (or like someone else, I don't remember the exact words). She showed she understood that crushes (even if one sided) aren't something that can be controlled.
But when Chil Sung then decides that he would continue to like her, then her view totally changes and, in her attempt to not feel bad, ends up rejecting him in a way that causes him even more pain. Because it's not just that she's trying to control his feelings, but she's also inserting guilt.
In short, which one is crueler: 1) "I appreciate your feelings and all of what you've done for me, but I do not feel the same way about you. My wish is to remain being friends, but I understand if that would be too painful. But if you find it in you to keep seeing me despite the pain, know that my heart will always be open to you as a friend." 2) "You have to stop liking me. You can't like me. I feel bad every time I see you. What I feel for you is gratefulness, not love. Please don't make it hard on me."
Of course, I'm paraphrasing, but that was pretty much how one (or two) of her rejections felt like. There was an emphasis on "me" instead of "you". This is something that's human, mind you, and it's almost a given that if you're inexperience that's how you'd react. But saying it's not cruel because her intentions weren't bad, isn't right either. Cruel is cruel.
Love this type of male lead too. One that's sweet and doesn't use gaslighting to cover up his insecurities.
I'd add to the list the following dramas (all with a honest, supportive, cute and respectful main lead): -Fight my way -Suspicious Partners -Hello monster -Lawless attorney -Heal me, Kill me -Another miss oh hae young -Because this is my first life -While you were sleeping -Pinocchio -It's okay, that's love (though in this one I didn't particularly liked the female lead).
Those were the ones that came to kind, though I am sure there's more out there.
1 
2 
Jung Ryeo Won (FL) nails her cute and quirky character. She feels very natural. This is my first time watching Lee Jung Ho in a drama and I have to say he's super cute. His character is also very interesting and lovable. BUT Jang Hyuk (loved him in Beautiful Mind) steals the show for me. He's giving me second lead syndrome. His character is so selfless and adorable, that I can't help rooting for him.
Now, I'm at episode 19 and I find Sae Woo's character fascinating (and very realistic). I think the writers may be using "mirroring situations" in the love triangle to help her character grow (or at least I hope so). In this occasion, by switching Sae Woo's position from rejecting to being (semi)rejected, she has the most to gain in the empathy department (which she's in dire need of, to be honest).
First situation:
Chil Seong falls for Sae Woo. Sae Woo rejects him by saying "don't like me". Which, basically, is her trying to "control his feelings". In her mind, she's trying to be a good person. She thinks that by demanding Chil Seong stop her feeling for her, she can keep him from further pain. This is a natural reaction for someone inexperienced with love (which she might be, considering she does say early on that "she doesn't know men"). Yet, in truth, she's only trying to keep herself from getting hurt by becoming "the mean one" and hurting/disappointing Chil Seong.
Then we get into the second situation at ep. 19:
Now Sae Woo's role is reversed. You have Seo Poong asking Sae Woo "not to like him". Though she agrees, she's clearly hurt. As she's reflecting on the whole situation, we have her coming to the same conclusion I got from the first situation.
As she thinks about how he said not to like him, her conclusion: "is he trying to control my feelings?" When she thinks about the reason he said what he did, she wonders, "does he think he's a good guy?" Even more interesting, she wonders "should I just listen to what I want?" (the part where he confesses he likes her before asking her not to like him back), which further shows emotions can't be controlled (just like Chil Seong can't stop liking her because it's convenient for her to have it so).
So, for me, the second situation echoes the first situation.
I mean, isn't that more or less the process Chil Seong went through? Shouldn't she start to reflect on how she rejected Chil Seong and how she demanded that he stopped liking her? Shouldn't she start to understand the pain she (unconsciously and without intending to) put Chil Seong through? Shouldn't she learn from this painful experience and be able to empathize with Chil Seong and, perhaps, understand that she can't control his emotions...? All she can do is appreciate the gesture and the tremendous courage it took for Chil Seong to confess, and allow him to get over his feelings at his own pace?
(Note: it would be a very different scenario if Chil Seong was forcing her to like him back via force, blackmail or other mechanisms dramas overuse --sometimes even with first leads! But in this case, Chil Seong has been very respectful and has only asked her to get to know him first before fully rejecting him).
Since I've only finished episode 19 now, I'm hoping this mirroring/echoing thing does serve to push the three main leads' character development (especially because it was so nicely woven into the narrative)! Hopefully it won't be a wasted opportunity by not giving her have a moment of self-reflection.
Although @Shoes brings up very valid points, the part I felt was cruel was asking him "don't like me" because that's something the other party can't really control. Her saying "I don't like you" is valid, since those are her feelings, but her asking him not to like her because "it's too hard on her" makes the other party (who cannot control their feelings) feel even worst (ergo where I felt she was cruel).
I was also confused because near the beginning, when they meet in the bus stop, she says "how can a crush end so fast" instead of leaving that alone if she wasn't going to reciprocate feelings. Even if I can shelve this as just a playful comment... the scene continues, making her character a bit confusing for me (in regards to Chil Sung).
FL (I'm terrible with names, so bear with me) next shows a mature view of love when she proceeds to explains that the other party doesn't need permission to have a crush (or like someone else, I don't remember the exact words). She showed she understood that crushes (even if one sided) aren't something that can be controlled.
But when Chil Sung then decides that he would continue to like her, then her view totally changes and, in her attempt to not feel bad, ends up rejecting him in a way that causes him even more pain. Because it's not just that she's trying to control his feelings, but she's also inserting guilt.
In short, which one is crueler:
1) "I appreciate your feelings and all of what you've done for me, but I do not feel the same way about you. My wish is to remain being friends, but I understand if that would be too painful. But if you find it in you to keep seeing me despite the pain, know that my heart will always be open to you as a friend."
2) "You have to stop liking me. You can't like me. I feel bad every time I see you. What I feel for you is gratefulness, not love. Please don't make it hard on me."
Of course, I'm paraphrasing, but that was pretty much how one (or two) of her rejections felt like. There was an emphasis on "me" instead of "you". This is something that's human, mind you, and it's almost a given that if you're inexperience that's how you'd react. But saying it's not cruel because her intentions weren't bad, isn't right either. Cruel is cruel.
I'd add to the list the following dramas (all with a honest, supportive, cute and respectful main lead):
-Fight my way
-Suspicious Partners
-Hello monster
-Lawless attorney
-Heal me, Kill me
-Another miss oh hae young
-Because this is my first life
-While you were sleeping
-Pinocchio
-It's okay, that's love (though in this one I didn't particularly liked the female lead).
Those were the ones that came to kind, though I am sure there's more out there.