Kathryn_51

It will be fun - and I'm glad they gave us enough clues regarding where he was so that viewers would not be mis-led

You are correct - which is why she has never been a favorite. I anticipate that she will attempt to cause trouble and will be summarily blasted out of Seung-hyo's life - h

I agree, she will make a great ex-girlfriend. Which explains why she isn't a favorite. 😊

Ratings went up for Sunday episode! 😊

E3 2024.08.24. 4.276 (country) 4.789 (Seoul)
E4 2024.08.25. 6.581 7.233 [last Sunday/Ep. 2 it was 6.656]

Well, it's official. Seung-hyo's ex-girlfriend will appear at some point. (Seo Ji Hye - not a favorite). It's called a "special appearance" so presumably only 1 or 2 episodes.

https://www.joynews24.com/view/1756191

The body-building pics are definitely not Seung-hyo's. 😊

I know nothing about writer-nim, but we have already seen/heard small little hints of their past history together - with HUGE gaps to be completed/filled in.

Yes, I think that at one point, she developed an adolescent "crush" (No way will I ever call their feelings as "true love") on him just as he did with her. And he valued their friendship more than his crush. I bet we see the same dynamic with her - altho perhaps at a different point in the time line. Perhaps that's shy SHE "ran away" to the US?

During those scenes after his accident - when she was harassing him - he definitely did NOT have any romantic feelings for her! I think he eventually convinced himself it was a simple "crush" - moved on with his life. He DID have a girlfriend - she's appearing at some point.

I've been trying to figure out the timeline - he won the Seoul swim meet in 2007 - was that their senior year in highschool? Were they in college when he began training for the 2008 Olympics?

He DID have a significant girlfriend she's appearing at some point. Since her ex-fiancee is also Korean, I assume we will see him as well. This romance is on a very bumpy road which is one reason I'm enjoying it so much.

Seok-ryu said they were both 33 years old (international) - the same age as Jesus Christ when he was crucified.

I think ML took 3 monhts off while in college/University to go back-packing in the US? So, he visited her at that point - perhaps while she was still at Berkeley?

I've said from the first weekend - when their history (childhood, adolescence, young adult) is fully revealed, we are going to see missed opportunities, mis-communication, a handful of trauma (Seung-hyo's accident for example). I consider it a given that both ex'es will show up at some point.

I guess that makes a lot of sense. I was thinking maybe Microsoft or Facebook, but "apple" is a fruit. 😊

That was my first thought. And then. . . I thought, oh no 😟 just like Doctor Slump's 2nd couple - who never received a satisfactory build-up. Hope this drama does a better job.

The title "switch" is Quite unique and a harbinger (hopefully) of more small and charming elements of this drama.

Everything associated with the swimming pool - especially when ML leaned down to touch the water - was enchanting. But some say boring?? To each our own lol.😊😊😊

I love the direction. The swimming pool scene, for instance. Writer can write it - but it takes an incredible director and cinematographer to film an enchanting scene like that.

She also left Korea after only 1 year at Hangkuk University. Her mom said she "ran away". More revelations to come.

I have no theory on the 1-year sabbatical - could be anything. In the US, major tech companies give senior employees significant sabbaticals at the 5 year mark. Very Un-Korea-like but it's definitely a possibility for a big name US tech company.

Humans love these type of stories. From time immemorial. . . or at least since. . . .Shakespeare ("Much Ado About Nothing") or Jane Austen ("Emma"; "Persuasion"; etc.).

Squid Game may have been a ratings blockbuster, but the other dramas/novels I mentioned have been read and/or viewed by millions - yeah, millions - more.

Eventually. And we will eventually learn why she went to University in Korea (with Seung-hyo, I believe???) for only 1 year and then "ran away" (mom's words) to the US to finish her college/university education.

I know many viewers think that Seung-hyo feelings for Seok-ryu were "true love" (in highschool?? Give me an effin' break), but I hope there was more to their relationship than simply "me crush on you/cry/sob".

haha, I couldn't remember Ep.1 switch and was too lazy to look it up. thanks for reminder.

I like the way the writer/director introduces an episode with a title and then switches it at the very end. Hate/Love; Stop Line/Starting Line.

Agree. No lawyer would dress in a beige suit - especially a Korean-American lawyer!

but I think the ex will show up eventually - simply the fact that he is Korean makes it seem likely.

I believe that in the next 6 episodes we will see more and more of their childhood/adolescence before she left for the US. The scene with the kids will be hilarious - and perhaps many missed opportunities and misunderstandings during adolescence. They understand everything about the other - except what is buried deep in their hearts.

Okay, Kevin Toronto and Ivy, I re-watched the flashback scene and there is one sentence that she was no longer needed, but it's unclear with all the other critiques/Korean bashing that follows. But, for now, she is apparently lying about what happened w/regard to both job and broken engagement.

I like the idea that she came home to "reboot". I hope to God she isn't pregnant because apparently early in her marriage, Seung-hyo's mother accepted a position in Paris and then found out she was pregnant. That would ruin the drama for me, but kdrama gods like to do those parallel stories, don't they? 😟