Between The Lines

I 'm not going to judge LMX just yet, he strikes me as being as a pretty ruthless person if its to help Anle. I can't imagine he would allow his 10 year plan to be ruined by letting her leave either. I agree that he did "save" her to some degree, but did she know and understand the cost? I think its unlikely. I don't think this was a favour it was a business transaction, but did she know what she was getting into? Again I think its unlikely.

Many people would accept what LMX offered her if the alternative was death. When LMX found her she was a child, her decision's as a child would almost certainly be different as she got older. Did she have a chance to leave? Would LMX have let her? Was her bodyguard actually a spy or even her jailor? She was brought to the mountain as tool to be used in LMX plans.
I must stress, she turned into a horribly corrupted person, she doesn't get a free pass for that but i don't think it was entirely her fault. BTW thanks for your responses I've enjoyed hearing different perspectives

Revenge has a negative connotation to it, justice is more positive perhaps? ,I think the interesting dynamic will be if the characters align moving forward.

Yes, I think she's judged on her actions as an adult and the events that led her her to those choices are often ignored. She is by no means innocent, but her backstory is important before she is judged.

She is deeply flawed, and i would like to think most people would make better choices than she did, but until you've walked a mile in her shoe's can anyone really know?

Absolutely agree she isn't a good human being. But she is also a victim to some degree because of choices she didn't make. Not an excuse, but maybe there's more to it. Why did she turn out this way?

I might well be proven wrong but by the time we are done, I wouldn't surprised if at least half our main cast are directly involved in the murders or part of the cover up. I'm getting a strong vibe that Cha Young Woon will get dragged into the cover up because of his mum.

Absolutely, in an ideal world they would all be alive but when is anything ideal? . I think the reason he asked that question was much more personal - He was asking Anle to acknowledge him and maybe even to understand what this moment has cost them both. Both HY and Anle are victims for very different reasons and they are dealing with the consequences of other peoples action from 10 years ago.

Your very kind, I'm not sure my family would agree on the intelligent part! More likely, they would use contrary or stubborn! I believe that we should never take things at face value or make "hot takes" I always want to know the why.... why did they do that? why did they say that?

I really enjoy this forum as we get to share different opinions on characters, plots and drama's as a whole.

Thank you for well reasoned responses, I hope you are enjoying this drama and we can all look forward to really strong final arc to the story.

No excuse required, your reasoning is very logical. I agree with a lot of your points. Its perhaps a question of was what done to her actually better for her ? From an orphan to having plenty food and shelter is obviously better, but the lack freedom and also freewill was in part what turned her into the person she became. Its cause and effect. Maybe as she got older, grateful become resentful and then resentful became entitled.
For me she is kind of tragic even if I can't sympathise with her because of those choices she did make.
Lets hope she isn't like that in real life, can you imagine having to deal with that everyday? At least in the drama we can switch her off or hit the mute button!

That's a good point "Who am I" its like the bitterest pill to swallow is, she has been left with no sense of self. That in its self is a harsh punishment.

Exactly. I would really like to see come emotional conflict between HY & Anle now. I hope its not as simple as HY loves Anle so much he gets over his pain and just forgives her.. I'm worried they will do this though, because they have still have a lot to get through and we are running out of episodes.

For some I think they feel he's guilty by association - He's a Han. Others think because he isn't firmly on Anle side he doesn't deserve any sympathy. Anle thinks she's hurt him so who am I to argue with her! He is surrounded with bad choices, that should allow for some understanding at the very least. Personally I liked what I watched today, it's kind of how i would feel in shoes

I'm glad its not just me who likes Oh Jin Seong character. I do wonder if his loud and boisterous nature in the opening ep put people off? I've seen some posts that didn't like this portrayal. Has this impacted the rating maybe.

She is truly horrible i completely agree, she is greedy she wants to possess things they don't belong to her, but I think her circumstances prior to reaching the city make it not as straightforward as we would like it to be.

Oh Jin Seong reminds me of someone completely comfortable in his own skin, he knows himself. Echo what you said, 7.7 is too low even after 2 episodes. I've just slogged my way through another Crime K/drama that is way worse and that has 7.8 rating. Don't get it...

I think that is a different debate. Should he pay for the crimes of his family? Has HY done anything to hurt Anle? His worst offense was to want evidence before believing her. His family is another matter, they have caused unforgivable harm to her family. It would be up to Anle decide if she can separate HY from his family. Based on her reaction I think she views HY as innocent. That's my take anyway

Making a defence for Di Chengen - yes I can already hear the calls for me to be banished from MDL, but please hear me out.....

The reason I'm doing this is I read a comment along the lines of - that she should be grateful to have been put on the mountain for 10years..... so this kind of got me thinking. Is this true?
Additionally, has anyone said anything remotely positive about?

Her offences are -

Plotting to become the Crown Princess
Interfering with HY and AL relationship and generally just being unlikable
Manipulating others and thinking she's the smartest person in the room
Screentime
Excessive baths

Her defence

She was a starving orphan who likely would have died unless LMX had saved her, so whilst she should be grateful for this, her only crime at this point was being an orphan.
The mountain is a cage - it maybe a gilded cage but it is still a cage
As a child she may have agreed to live on the mountain but as she got older was she ever asked if she wanted to stay? Again she hadn't committed a crime but was forced to stay on the mountain
With her freedom from the mountain and with the chance to be the CP this was her chance to take control over her own life this is something she never experienced. Her plotting and her attempt to capture HL is her misguided method to obtain a better life. The screentime and baths I will just blame on the director and screenwriter(s)

Verdict - Mine at least - Guilty of plotting to become CP and interfering with HL & Anle - but with some mitigation.

She is completely and utterly unlikable, but she is also a victim to some degree . That doesn't mean she gets a free pass for all things she attempted to do her and behaviour on arriving in the city is awful. She shouldn't get a happy ending either but I also don't agree that anyone should be grateful to trapped on a mountain for 10 years having committed no crime.

Does anyone agree or is it truly a lost cause?

After 2 episodes OJS is loud, he can be pretty obnoxious, but he is absolutely hilarious as well. His interactions with CYW were just plain outright funny. I think it shouldn't be missed that behind the loud behaviour he is fiercely loyal to his family and smarter than people think. The loud behaviour could be a tool to get people to underestimate him.
I liked what I've seen so far.

This whole drama has been a delight from the start, the interplay between LLH and FDB has me laughing in every episode. I even like FBD taking credit for solving the cases and LLH just goes along with it. Its all done with a sense of fun.