Marry My Husband: from Korea to Japan, from (post)makjang to thriller
Truly another masterpiece and award-winning work from director Ahn Gil Ho, following Stranger (Secret Forest) and The Glory.
The Korean version of Marry My Husband leans toward a post-makjang revenge story. Meanwhile, the Japanese version has a suspense/thriller undertone. It perfectly fits my taste and matches my expectations of director Ahn Gil Ho.
I think this is the first East Asian drama (K-drama, C-drama, or J-drama) in 2025 that, as it reached its final episodes, I watched with such intensity that I reflexively clapped—and even empathized with the villain.
The character design for each figure is excellent; every character has a clear motive and logic. The cinematography is both beautiful and thrilling, especially in the final episode.
Why did I sympathize with the villain? Because Marry My Husband (Japan) portrays so well the story of a "neglected" child.
Just like in Stranger, director Ahn Gil Ho explicitly shows the cycle of violence and crime. Reina, who was neglected; Tomoya, who was overly pampered within a patriarchal culture; and Wataru, whose opinions were constantly dismissed by his grandfather—all are roots of destructive traits in adulthood: being manipulative, narcissistic, and lacking courage. Only Misa was raised with love & kindness.
Unlike the Korean version which focuses on revenge & punishment, Marry My Husband (Japan) is about how humans “powerplay” with fate—including the fate of which family one is born into—so that we can still live as mature adults, living well & by virtue as human being. Or we just want to blame the situation how we live, then weaponize it to justify our bad & evil behaviour. We become similar toward someone we hate: the bad family. We become reflection of bad parents/grandparents. We dont fight, we dont change, & just maintain the evil cycle. And in that situation, we lose completely to fate powerplay.
The Korean version of Marry My Husband leans toward a post-makjang revenge story. Meanwhile, the Japanese version has a suspense/thriller undertone. It perfectly fits my taste and matches my expectations of director Ahn Gil Ho.
I think this is the first East Asian drama (K-drama, C-drama, or J-drama) in 2025 that, as it reached its final episodes, I watched with such intensity that I reflexively clapped—and even empathized with the villain.
The character design for each figure is excellent; every character has a clear motive and logic. The cinematography is both beautiful and thrilling, especially in the final episode.
Why did I sympathize with the villain? Because Marry My Husband (Japan) portrays so well the story of a "neglected" child.
Just like in Stranger, director Ahn Gil Ho explicitly shows the cycle of violence and crime. Reina, who was neglected; Tomoya, who was overly pampered within a patriarchal culture; and Wataru, whose opinions were constantly dismissed by his grandfather—all are roots of destructive traits in adulthood: being manipulative, narcissistic, and lacking courage. Only Misa was raised with love & kindness.
Unlike the Korean version which focuses on revenge & punishment, Marry My Husband (Japan) is about how humans “powerplay” with fate—including the fate of which family one is born into—so that we can still live as mature adults, living well & by virtue as human being. Or we just want to blame the situation how we live, then weaponize it to justify our bad & evil behaviour. We become similar toward someone we hate: the bad family. We become reflection of bad parents/grandparents. We dont fight, we dont change, & just maintain the evil cycle. And in that situation, we lose completely to fate powerplay.
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