JLM

My sentiments exactly. Why in gods name live in the same place as your rapist, or lover, why because the son lives there? Guess we'll find out, although it was vaguely hinted that she might commit suicide. Throw in yet another miserable event.

Also re Ji Hoon, why not check the water, looked pretty shallow, which is exactly one metre from where the kid was 2 minutes before, but no for the plot WJ had to look around stupidly and speed off. Expedient writing.

Awful how JSH keeps abusing the crap out of KHJ. It's seriously so cruel and unbearable to watch, KHJ just is being beaten to a pulp by nearly everyone. Hope she ends up with CKY, but unlikely. Hard to figure out how she will come out of this nightmare.

Maybe they should all hold hands and jump into the Han River :)

Having said all that, I still think this show is well done, well acted, and it's certainly causing a lot of reaction from the viewers.

I think this drama is amazing but sooooo intense and grim. Frankly I don't know how KHJ is keeping her sanity, she is being hit with horrendous trauma on a daily basis, as is I guess NJD. If KSB is feeling so grateful to KHJ, it seems she's the only one who is kind to her, why reveal such a devastating secret, she knows all the other stuff that is happening around KHJ right now. Of course they had to meet in a grim street in the pouring rain. As for the "affair" there are so many plot twists that I'm keeping neutral till the end of ep 16. The Trolley metaphor is really interesting. It's really only become clear to me in the few eps.

Yep, I see your point. It is obviously the intent of the writer (and creative crew behind him or her) to meticulously examine the complex machinations of these introverted, reflective, complex characters, in the context of what happens in love relationships. I think also there is a cultural lens here, potentially a Sth Korean one, where relationships are more nuanced, and subtle. than perhaps in US, UK, Aus. etc. I think you did an amazing job of figuring out the characters and their behaviour, certainly you saw things I never thought of. This drama has stirred up lots of reaction it's amazing. people are really relating so much to the characters.
Kudos to the writer etc.
IRL, I think both the Mi Kyung and Soo Young would be too difficult for SS. I like him and I don't think he'd be happy with either one. But considering it's a Kdrama, let's see what happens. Congrats again on your great analysis.

Yes that's hilarious but true. Some of the Korean OST's are great, some are a bit high and screechy.

True, but after all that closure and rock throwing, she still sits in the car with him AGAIN, and throws a coin, and once again has a total meltdown, her method of getting closure and moving on is like nothing I have ever seen.

I think you're really getting this drama probably more than a lot of us, and I have been really interested to read your ideas.
However I really don't think the 2FL is "a wonderful person" there were a lot of eps where SS clearly, kindly and respectfully told her that he was deeply sorry but he just didn't love her. If you re watch those eps she's constantly ignoring him, in denial, in her own blind, narcissistic fantasy of their relationship. She repeatedly is in deep OTT distress when he tells her respectfully and sincerely apologises, she weeps and carries on but never accepts what he's saying. Which would show a mature, loving respect for him. In this behaviour she is quite like her father, which is I guess to be expected.

She thinks she can bully and emotionally manipulate him into conforming to her vision of their love. A narcissist is someone who is really only interested in their own world view, even in the beginning she was totally ott in her responses to him, buying him the car etc. he clearly didn't want all that, She did a similar thing with FL when she barged into her place and gave her clothes. Even in the first few eps, SS mother sits next to him and says she thinks he is very sensitive, and overly cautious, she really understands him.
Mi Kyung refused to see reality all along, never picked up the cues.

So therefore his weeping, etc is not that he is coming to terms with his awful behaviour towards 2FL, I think this guy is just a really kind, deeply emotional person who is horrified to have hurt someone, maybe too much so. Had Mi Kyung really loved him, she would have let him go, understanding his position, and been hurt but dignified. You just can't bully and force someone into loving you, sad but true. That's just not love. And I don't think his behaviour is "bordering evil". It's actually pretty normal to make mistakes, and I think he took the consequences really well.

Sure he has to forgive himself, and in my opinion he deserves to, and feel good about himself, and hopefully find the love he deserves.

Agree, really good analysis of story, and review, thanks!

Yes she needs to do 3 double espresso shots and then join Cirque du Soleil or do stand up comedy
however all jokes aside, I do know someone like her irl, it's tough going. She said she was going to put her feelings and happiness first, interesting to see what she does. I sort of agree with above comment @HjHof12 I feel the ending will be some time of separation then the leads will get together......phew!

Yep, luckily Mi Kyung, the queen of emotional manipulation, has plenty of dosh to ruin the Volvo, we are not all blessed with that good fortune. Lovely behaviour, here's the car I'm forcing on you Sang soo, now I'm taking it back cause you don't love me.

Gee, we're on ep 14 Mi Kyung, has finally got the message, and is now proceeding to further torture and punish Sang su, the ultra sensitive male, who can't stop crying and feeling guilty. Poor guy, now he's off to be further tortured by bipolar Soo young. In the spirit of the rest of the drama this will be slow and drawn out...and yet, I have to say it's really well acted, and I'm dying to see the end. Tbh I can't really understand what the writer is trying to do this this drama.

Me too, what a bunch of dysfunctionals, lol

yes rather than 15 minutes of staring, before each sentence, or rarely explaining anything, and speaking in metaphors...but then you don't have a drama series, which is btw addictively driving everyone nuts.

Exactly, but then again WAE not!

Agree, that first scene was looking like some great resolution to their relationship, finally.. Not understanding these initial scenes?? Like the other one where HSS and PMK look like they're married, and then it's as if these scenes are just imagination. But whose??

I agree with the people who are getting stressed by this show. I think it's good, well acted etc. but its like watching a sloth climb up a tree, it's so mind numbingly slow. Some of the responses of both leads seem endlessly protracted, as if they are being confronted by some insoluble quantum physics equation. Then there are the long shots of them just thinking and reflecting or waiting outside on the street and staring, then there are all the flashbacks.It's like Waiting for Godot, just going nowhere. I get that the lead characters are introverted and complex, but sometimes they act and talk normally, and laugh etc. Then it's back to slow mo. It's that old Kdrama trope of "I have been so traumatised that I can't function....but god forbid I should explain any of it and actually communicate, better to act weirdly and screw up my own life and every one else's as well.

Wow it's amazing to see how this series has caused so much reaction. Personally I'm really enjoying it, I really like all the characters, mainly the leads. All of the misunderstandings and screw ups and machinations such as 'the fake affair' are the driving force to push the narrative forward to a resolution, otherwise you have a bland, paint by numbers kind of story. I feel like the main leads are really endearing people who screwed up badly but they are not BAD per se. There are so many seriously warped and psycho characters in some Kdramas, these are just normal people battling along in their lives, making mistakes, trying to figure it all out. That's essentially the nub of the story to me. They are essentially kind hearted underneath all the passionate, silly misunderstandings and overreactions. I find the support characters quite funny really and I think the script is well written and witty.

I never thought of this but I think you're right. Hopefully though it will be only a plot twist
and additional drama, let's face it there are 5 eps to go, and then HSS and ASY will finally end up together phew!!!! If they don't it will be pretty depressing,

Up to this point I agree, the first 2 eps were amazing, now it's seems flat and focussed on business deals, don't know how they can revive the edge of your seat interest factor?

Great to hear the back story, I'm inspired to read the novel, only if I can find it in english lol!

Thanks for that makes sense re FZJ!! The series characterisation of the mother doesn't gel with her insane judgemental, hypocritically uber moral, self righteous behaviour, and the father for that matter, probs clearer from the novel. It's interesting though, I imagine that stuff goes on a lot, sad for those kids outside the safe protected boundaries of wealthy, connected families. Otherwise I do think it's a really good show,
Actually re your comment below re "fan control" of celebrities both in K and C dramas. I also find it really disturbing. Actors lives are SO controlled by fans and netizens opinions in a way that seems off the charts insane to me. I wonder how these celebs can handle it long term giving over their lives to agency control and fan opinion. A lot of these fans are exceptionally immature and feel they have delusional control over the celebs. Which in fact they probably do. Also Kdrama content is often very controlled and censored according to the viewers. It certainly doesn't work that way in say Europe, Us, UK etc.