Eleison

Yes, I agree. I think he's been thoroughly pleasant up to this point! They've made it clear he's not a narcissist or egotistical in the way he's dealt with customers and works at his own restaurant. He would be showing off if he had a fancy car without having money, like a lot of people do to look cooler than they are. I've really liked his character so far.

They already look cute. Also looking forward to hearing more about what happened to her and her first husband!

Yeah, they were so cute this episode! Loved them. :) I love that Sang Do has his flashy Lamborghini but still does grubby work in his restaurant and doesn't mind showing up places in an apron. 😅

Also, it was cute the way Gyeong Tae's mom popped in to tell Sam Dal to stay at home so she wouldn't get caught by the reporter. It seemed like she was being a gossip at first but then I realized she did it out of thoughtfulness. The haenyeo are annoyingly endearing. 😏

Also, excited to see the younger sister's love interest come into tomorrow's episode!

The way Sam Dal's friends came to her rescue without hesitation was just TOO CUTE. And it was so hilarious. Sang Do stumbling in like a dufus and then having a mic drop moment when he spills out the money from the box of tonics... and the music that started playing in the background... I was grinning and dying. 🤣

I am supposing it wasn't a problem since they already dated and nothing has come up about it? I remember it was a big deal in Reply 1988, but I think that was because it was the 80's? It's no wonder the stigma about that rule (wasn't it a law at some point? Yikes) had to go away because so many people wouldn't be able to marry each other since there are SO many people with the same last name in SK, haha. Roughly 8% has the surname Park, 14% has Lee, 20% has Kim... what an extra dating hassle if you had to avoid those with your last name!! 😅

Also, all dramas have their own version of artificial reality we decide we like or dislike as viewers which is what we call our "taste" and "preference." I agree with many that this is a well-made drama with a good script and well-acted. And I don't dislike the artificial reality of this drama, I just couldn't enter into it like I would for other dramas that are further removed from my own experience and work-sphere. The further removed it is from my experience, the easier it is for me to enter into the fantasy of the world created and the rules by which it operates. I just couldn't immerse myself in the "reality" of this drama.

Yes, she was very cute!! She and young Ki Ho stole the show for many viewers!

I appreciate you saying that. And I think it's totally valid to say you dislike a specific place based on your own experience of where you live (or have lived) there (where you live in a country has a lot to do with how you perceive it, yes?), but to paint a whole country with the same brush seems unfair and inappropriate, don't you think? That said, I so wish you could meet the people in the U.S. that I know! You haven't apparently met the really wonderful people here, and that bums me out.

When I was logging into Netflix today a still-shot promo for this drama popped up, and it had Park Seo Joon tied up in the manner you'd see in a sageuk when they're about to get tortured...

... and I got major Bridal Mask flashbacks since that drama was also set during the 1930's Japanese colonization AND had torture in it, an egregious amount of torture. Let's not repeat that many torture scenes, please? We don't need that many to understand that during the colonization, the Japanese were cruel. 🥺

You made some great points. :) I could try to respond to them (and I appreciate your investment in dialoguing, as I can tell you feel very passionate about this!), but my hunch is that we would just continue to talk past each other since we probably just see these situations differently. So, instead of venturing further into territory that I am probably already not qualified to speak about, I'll just add this: my knowledge of high school, which I'll admit is limited so I am making generalizations (and just my opinion), is that I accept this story can work in a webtoon, but this level of student violence doesn't regularly and realistically happen at a typical school in real life classrooms with people running it who care. Does it happen? I'm sure it does, as I can't speak for all schools and everyone's experience in them (I had a coworker who worked at a school with a teacher who didn't even notice a student stab another student, but that was a norotiously bad school in a very bad area and known for having a really, REALLY rough group of students who came from families with rampant substance abuse, crime, etc. (as well as some teachers who apparently couldn't be bothered to notice)), but is it a realistic way to portray a typical school? I don't think so. I know bullying happens, I know it's hard to stop, I was just pointing out that the way bullying is portrayed here at school is not super realistic to a typical school (my guess is that it's probably not true of SK, either, but maybe I'm wrong), and therefore hard to relate to, and to suspend disbelief for, while watching.

I definitely see the reasoning you're presenting, but if this is true of even the real world, the system is broken; for instance, if these issues happen when adults aren't around, the homeroom situation where adults aren't always present is asking for trouble (teachers should be in classrooms with students at all times; that seems like a no-brainer, and if they can't, don't have a setup where students are routinely without supervision); kids should never be left in classrooms unsupervised. And I know things can happen in secluded areas or in bathrooms, but in the middle of a classroom? Also, it's one thing to bully emotionally or psychologically; I get that that would be harder to catch, but when kids are straight up getting beaten to a pulp? And they get a "slap" on the hand? Those kids should never get a chance to be near each other again, no matter who is at fault. Also, tons of kids were watching; they couldn't speak up? The bully would have no way of retaliating if enough of them spoke up. If public schools can't keep kids safe from this stuff, why exist? Also, like there were literally no adults around for huge stretches of time during the fighting scenes in the school. Seriously?!? They're children, they shouldn't have to figure it out and fend for themselves.

Now, that said, this is a drama. A drama based on a webtoon. Realism is not what they're going for. I know this, but since I work in education I just can't stomach that this could happen in the way it's presented. I also get that kids-focused stories that set up widly unrealistic situations have to leave adults out so the characters can have their growth. It makes for a good story, but for people like me who might struggle suspending disbelief about this sort of thing in order to enjoy the drama, I wanted to warn potential viewers. For those who can enter into the fantasy of this, go for it. And if it isn't fantasy, it's heartbreaking social critique, not entertainment.

I thought the same! I doubt they planned them to air so close together though... whoops.

Yes, I always get so confused by people who complain about Kdrama tropes, cliches and "formulas." What did you think you were watching? These things make Kdramas what they are. 😂

You too! :)

I wasn't talking about the 1st Episode for all shows, sorry, just this drama. I wasn't clear. :) After seeing all 12 episodes, I think the 1st set the tone for the whole drama in terms of mood/tone, characters that will be focused on and such. The themes are developed more fully later, but the sacrifice of Ki Ho is the kind of sacrifice we see other characters display at key points but in different ways, which is how the theme of sacrificing for those you love is set up from the get-go.

Yes, the good dad is a gem!

I feel like we're talking past each other at this point, haha, and that if I respond I'll say the same thing in a different way, so I'll just say I hope you enjoy the last four episodes. :) I realize everyone has their own taste!

Yeah, it was agony. 😂

And yeah, it does have some darker elements, but the first episode kind of set the tone for that, too, no? In my opinion, the 1st Episode gives you a window into the whole drama. If you still didn't vibe with the drama after that, probably not gonna like the rest. I do wish they had more than just the "Difficult Childhood" tags to tip viewers off about some of the darker elements to the plot. The main tags make it looks so happy and fluffy, haha.

And I don't know why things have gotten all heated over My Demon, either; 🤷‍♀️ I just don't engage it.

I disagree that the "entire" series is about the Kang family problems. If you look carefully, you'll notice that the story is split up pretty evenly amongst the leads' stories as they intertwine. Some episodes emphasize one lead more than the other but across all episodes combined each character is given time. But yeah, maybe decide what you think once you finish. :) Just remember that the synopsis isn't super accurate and that might have given you false expectations of what this drama would be. I came into this drama expecting pretty much what I got and not by going off of the synopsis but off of the screenwriter. I am familiar with this screenwriter's previous dramas, so I knew what I was signing up for, and didn't get disappointed.

Some of us in the comments have tried to periodically post that the synopsis is misleading. The first episode establishes the three main leads (they are listed in the cast list as the three main leads as well). I don't think the screenwriter ever intended this to be a story about someone making it in the entertainment industry. That's the framework and setting, not the point, of the drama. The point is more of a thematic emphasis, about love (not just romantic love), sacrifice and family. Also, Mok Ha's story doesn't make sense without Ki Ho, as he's an integral part of her journey and story. He also becomes a huge part of her getting the limelight she properly deserves, and she would never have had the chance she has now with Ran Joo after getting rescued if he hadn't submitted her music video when they were kids. I think his story is essential and an important part of the plot.