LA_Drama Fan

Just like in 3BS, a great cast was let down by sub-par writing. And SJY really got screwed over, his character got no growth at all over 100+ episodes. He was the same submissive, eager-to-please doormat as in episode 1. It really bugs me. People should not let themselves be treated this way, and yet, here we are in Primetime 5 days a week.

IF we get it, it won't be til the last episode, I'd guess.

Nobody can blame you. I'm sorry you invested so much time and emotional capital in this disaster.

EXACTLY! Having Hee be the daughter made so much sense and would unify the story arcs. Oh NO, can't have that, I'll show how smart I am and fool the audience again!

I really wonder about the message this series sends. Given the looming birth-rate crisis in SK, you'd think the govt sponsored network would send things to encourage family life? And the premise of 'family is more than bloodlines' seemed to make sense in that regard. Instead, we get THIS.

We've been YLAG-ed. No doubt about it.

(I am basing this post on the unsubbed YT clips posted this morning. Some things you don't need subs for ).

I am thinking they should change the title of the show to 'THE FF BUTTON HAS COME' as that's what i'll be using for these tk/yd/jh/sj scenes. ENOUGH ALREADY. (which would also be a good alternate title to this show). I'm tired of the writer thinking he's so smart and we're so dumb. So, I'm giving up on the main leads and will concentrate on how they resolve the youngest couple/SK+her mom/Uncle story arcs, simply out of curiosity. I can't stand to see TK tortured anymore.

Which makes me think of the title of this show. Common wisdom said it was about Baby Real coming back in episode 30-something. That seemed to obvious to me, given ho w clever this writer thinks he is. Plus, in the last 3 KBS series I've seen (IBN, 3BS, Love in Your Eyes) the title wasn't explained or mentioned until the final episode. I am sure this will be the case here too. What "the Real" refers to is anyone's guess, especially with this flake writing. I HOPE it's that it refers to TK as the REAL father (somehow) and he has come for his child.

I'm debating whether to watch it this afternoon or evening. I don't think I'm in any rush to see it. The next episode looks just as bad.

I've been quite pleased with it here in the US. The free option serves my needs as watch the show(s) I want within the 24hr window.

Unfortunately, it goes south too, but up to about Episode 37, it's one of the best I've seen. Loved the oldest couple, Shin Dong Mi is amazing and has great chemistry with Oh Min Suk.

I will be so happy when this series ends.

I just don't see a connection here with Big Dong trying to split them up. How would SJ do that? She can't demand KS to remarry her. Why would he? Her reputation kills that off. The best she can do is try to take JD from him....but what does that have to do with his love for MR? MR won't let that happen, she'll stand by KS to support him. And JD would NEVER let that happen, she wants her dad to be with MR, once she realizes whats going on. JD would be torn by what parent to be with, but I'd guess she'll eventually choose KS/MR instead of the scheming mother who dumped her.

SJ is a rogue here, out only for herself. Sure Big Dong would try to make the most of it and say "why would you bother with MR dealing with that mess of a family?" But I think the Chairman would shut that down quickly as they all know the history of KS and his wife.

I need a break from thinking of this...I'll wait to see what Monday brings. Now i have to brace myself for the other disaster in my TV life: TRHC.

But she told her g/f on the phone (while in the playground) she suspected her dad would propose, right? They should have gone to SOMEPLACE nice and he could wear his suit. I'm trying to not think of that as it's so disappointing.

So I think now we know who will tell JD about her parentage: Sun Ju.

Given the shame for HD and her family, in how SJ returns, there is no way HD can expect KS to give up MR for SJ (any dreams of hers that the family would be reunited are blown apart). And he's not legally bound to SJ at all. I think we'll be facing a custody battle for JD. Given SJ abandoned JD for 10 years, when she was still a child, would work against her. What judge would give her more than visitation rights, with a supportive family structure still intact and a potential step-mother in place? KS needs to marry MR ASAP to cement MR in that role.

So, her trump card is that KS is not even her bio father, she is the only bio parent. (Unless, as Sher has suspected, the bio dad is in hiding somewhere.) She'll use that in desperation to get JD back (for whatever reason she wants her). I'd expect that to happen as a Friday cliffhanger when she reveals the truth.

Right, that was my understanding of how it works here. He's 'single' now, since he can't be a widower. So technically, it's not more unattractive for MR's family.

Sher, what IS KS/SJ marital status now, assuming they actually DID report her as deceased after the funeral? (Which knowing them, is not necessarily a given, but we'll assume it is). She would have to reclaim her identity (however that works), but would that automatically make them married? I can't see it. I have to think the law would allow for him to move on, and he would be a single man, neither divorced and no longer a widower, and free to do as he pleases.

And finally, to the question of "why is she there?" I think it's because the writer wanted her there. He'll come up with some excuse for it. Right now, it's not important, it just for shock-value for us.

Remember, this was the whole point of the drama-side of this show: to confront the husband who finally moved on after spending years looking for his 'missing wife' with that woman who now wants something from him. The problem for us all is that this writer cannot pace a long-term series. He's had 120 episodes to flow all this together and failed. And now we get rushed episodes, scenes that make no sense, timeskips that aren't labelled, a lukewarm proposal after a months-long pursuit, characters hating and then loving KS. The SunJu story arc should have taken place now, as the climax of the show, but everything else (including KS/MR marriage) should have happened at least a month ago, to clear the decks for this. Plus, it would have been more dramatic for her to return to find her husband already remarried (think of how MR's family would have reacted to THAT).

After watching her interactions with JD a few times, Facial Surgery wouldn't be the only thing YuJin would have needed to have done. She was much more, uh, "shapely" that this woman. Seems like, uh, breast-reduction surgery would have been in order too. How much would YuJin have put up with to perpetrate this charade?
At first, I thought the sunglasses at night might have been because facial surgery tends to leave long-term bruising and "granulation" of the skin in the area between the lower eyelid and top of cheek bones, which takes weeks to wear off (sometimes months for granulation). But now, I'm sure it's to hide her identity (it's summer there, so she can't go around in scarves or collar-up jackets.

The more I think of this, the more it makes sense. She's wearing sunglasses (even at night) to avoid being recognized by anyone in the neighborhood (HD, YJ, SK, HS, HR). She's afraid of meeting her family (especially her Mother) because of how she faked her death all those years ago (does she know that the news of her death was finally found out less than a month ago?). Did the fake-death lady notify her that the family came for her possessions, and that's what triggered her return? All we know is that she's been hiding out in the US for at least a few years, eventually became a citizen and got a passport earlier this year. JD is the only one she can approach without fear of an ugly confrontation that she has no explanation for.

Well, I'm pretty sure it's the real SJ. The passport (unless it's fake) was issued 4/3/23. It's interesting how they "americanized" her name: "LEE SEONJU". This is how the names are presented on KBS AMERICA.

Couldn't tell by the brief shot of her shoes if her feet were mangled or not (LOL). There goes our romantic story for the time being (although I'm not concerned for KS/MR). This will go on well into next week, for sure. And there's CR being all nice again, like nothing happened. And yes, that was one of the most underwhelming proposals I've ever seen, especially given the build up, etc. I almost felt like the writer's heart just wasn't into it, for this episode.

I'm getting the feeling that SJ is going to be stalking JD for a while in order for her to see KS, MR, JD together having fun. At that point, her jealousy will get the better of her. But until we know something of her background for the last 10 years, everything is speculation. Unless, she's just nuts and we leave it at that. My only guess would be that something triggered her back in the US to think of her family and here she is, reaching out to JD because she can't face her mom or sis because she knows how badly that will go.

We also don't know how long she's been stalking JD, to just 'accidentally' run into her at the playground.

ugh. I just got back from the gym and am going to watch it with lunch.