Bloom C

This drama aired at a perfect time. Already I can see that it is not one that is going to be able to resonate with everyone. It's like Hometown Cha Cha Cha but focused on the elders and middle-aged people in the community therefore I am fully prepared to weep tears.

I personally love the world-building of this drama and it makes a slight sting in my heart as it reminds me of how happy I was in high school even as a child of struggling immigrants. Now that I am older I miss that girl, she was insecure and beautifully ignorant. As an adult, I can barely recognize her in myself and I hardly have time to focus too much on it because I need to keep moving and pay the bills during inflation and a pandemic.

That being said the story of the childhood first love feels dirty and uncomfortable. I feel like they tainted the feelings of nostalgia of watching the two as innocent teenagers. A friend of mine said that it's like a squid game but romance and I am inclined to agree.

All three leading couples are visibly navigating around a difficult economy, and also rather than watching strangers who do not like each other at the beginning, the story introduces people who already have relationships with each other and have been in each other's lives for years.

There is quite a lot going on at once in the world-building first two episodes so it's difficult to become attached to someone specific. It is hard to tell who is a good person and who is an awful person therefore I am looking forward to how they frame their character development.

Most importantly as I continue to mention, in times when mental health illnesses are on the rise due to the pandemic... It's nice to see people who are working and struggling like me have human-to-human moments with friends and loved ones. The Karaoke scene sincerely warmed my heart and was a healing moment to watch.

If I as an individual who is in the struggling in the disappearing U.S middle class. I can only imagine how difficult it must be for the Korean working class. This drama writes like a love song to them and I hope they feel the healing I felt in the first 2 episodes. In the happy moments that isl

I understand that the ending is supposed to be realistic but I think I am having a hard time coming to terms with it because:

1. The man that he promised he would never be happy for the rest of his life due to his father's debt told him not to keep his promise. In his heart being a father he couldn't allow another person's child to live that way. So I honestly thought this was a beautiful and impactful moment for Yi Jin and he would begin to prioritize his own happiness after having taken the responsibilities of others for so long.

2. During their first separation as long as Hee Do had Yi Jin's tapes she felt reassured and focused on her fencing career with his voice alone as encouragement. It was so powerful to see their bond and support for each other was so strong that even in the difficulty of separation each person moved forward with determination without contact.
So the fact that they lived in two separate countries and each could focus on their career but still have the convenience of technology to remain there for each other, continue to support each other, and each had succeeded to a point of having the ability to visit each other. Their second separation didn't seem as difficult as their first one. I felt that they could allow each other to grow in their respective careers for some time and then find a way to each other again.

3. One thing that war teaches is you is the importance of family and how short and fragile life is so embrace moments of happiness. I remember when 9/11 happened families hugged each other and cried with each other and the nation came together as one.
It's curious to me that Yi-Jin went the opposite way from his parents in times of adversity and Isolated himself in difficult times. Previously when he was miserable it was Hee Do who pulled him out of his misery and showed him to enjoy life. He supported her and watching her alone gave him joy and comfort because it reminded him of his happy days.
It was one of the major elements of the drama.

So his sudden gradual distance from Hee Do in hard times seemed out of character for him and I am left to wonder if he had become addicted to trauma and unhappiness. To a point where he self-inflicted it on himself?

I understand that part of growing up is that we grow apart from the people/lovers/friends who felt like such a permanent part of our lives in childhood gradually. However, the people I had friendships with at 21 years old and 25 years old remain part of my core circle even as we live in different parts of the country and others have married. It takes effort if they mean that much to you then you have to put in the work to keep them there.

Hae Ryun is a spineless sad excuse of a father and husband! Ugh, what a slimy piece of garbage. I can't believe he would gaslight his own kids just out of the bitterness of watching his ex-wife be happy. Men like that are so scary! Only cares about his own happiness while he breaks apart his own family's heart for a woman who has no love for him. Then has the nerve to be upset when they move on without him and find someone healthier and more appreciative to join the family. He is lucky he has good kids and a pleasant ex-wife. I wish Si Eun would go Hye Ryung on him.

I hope the rich dad won't be too against Sa Piyoung now, especially with next week's preview it looks like he could use family to surround him.
My theories on Seo Ban
(1) His mother abandoned him and dumped him at an orphanage until his father found him.
(2) She took her life or passed away and he was the one that found her as a child and has been traumatized by this.

It’s bitter sweet. In my opinion if you don’t want to end with a somber feeling at the end I would say only watch up to ep 15

100% agree

Season 1 was really good but Season 2 was straight up nonesense.

I won't be watching the last episode. I will stop at episode 15 where he called her Chagi-ya and believed they got married in the future. During this time of the pandemic where there is a 25% rise in mental health struggles globally. I can only protect my peace this way. I need some feel-good endings. not bitter sweet.

" Two people first meet when they are 22 and 18 years old and fall in love years later when they turn 25 and 21."

I think I understand what you mean but this is a drama about youth and romance so it's understandable for romance fans to be attracted to this drama and hope for a happy ending. Fan feedback is always important because they are the ones watching and contributing to its success. Also, we have MDL to come together and express our emotions in a healthy and that's the beauty of this platform.

All dramas convey different emotions to different people which is the beauty of art. It can be a masterpiece and still break our heart so at least we come together to express that emotion.

Yeah I think that's why he felt bad because he had too add all that stuff in just to seem neutral and not defending her. I have a new level of respect for athletes now because they work so hard in sports and the public feels like they owe them something.

I might be the only one who sees the nobleness in what BYJ did by reporting on KYR's matter. Remember the reporter who wanted to report on a teacher abuse case without having all full knowledge on the case?
Another reporter who didnt know KYR would have made her look greedy and money-hungry and also made her parents look irresponsible based on their debt. They probably would have harassed her family for more information and found out about the dad's accident and reported it in a bad light too. They would have done it for ratings and a juicy story which would have made KYR suffer 1000 times more.
Another reporter wouldn't know how hard KYR's parents work to the bone to support their family or how horrible the father feels about the accident that happened.

By reporting it first BYJ was able to tell the public the only facts they needed to know while protecting KYR's parents who still have to remain in the country. He also mentioned that she decided to leave in order to support her family instead of making her seem like she was just money hungry and betrayed her country for fame.

If he had reported it with emotion or without being neutral then he would have gotten in trouble. If I were him I would not want a job like that. It's better to just go into radio hosting.

I agree BYJ is 24 right now? unless his present time self had surgery there is no way he would unrecognizable from his young age to people who know him.

I think he did it because another person would have reported it even more harshly than he did and probably made her family look bad. Atleast it came from someone who loves her than a stranger who knows nothing about her.

*Sigh the drama is becoming too real now

Someone made a theory about him possibly covering a major sports even that was happening in the U.S at the time and possibly getting affected by the attack.

But honestly I really hope not. I hope HD’s really saw him like she previously said.

Okay last one but when Yurim was boasting about how Hee Do is good at everything 🥰

When she screamed not to take any further step away from her… My heart could not handle. That and the scene on the bridge when Yi Jin says “It’s Love”. Ugh this drama is ruining future dramas for me😩
The glove couple scene sent me lol

If this drama does not have a happy and fluffy ending I swear I am going to riot.

It’s also about love I’m the late 90’s and early 2000s so I think the 9/11 theory is a possibility since the drama is covering many of the important cultural events that impacted young adults of that Era.
Also the way they heavily rely on each other’s support makes it hard to believe that they would intentionally lose touch in their middle adulthood.

Personally I hope he is alive and well and is some hotshot in abroad. So they both found success in their own way.
One big theme about Yi Jin is his delayed dream and passion in music. That’s why he enjoys watching Heedo courageously go after her dreams

I looove Jia, I would want a daughter like her in the future but her parents shelter her too much. It’s understandable as parents you wanna give your child all the comfort in the world. However I am definitely worried that when she get to the real world she will face harsh realities.

He asked her if she likes her job and I don’t remember if her answer was positive or not so he told her to quit. She said she has money so she likes to keep herself busy.

If they get married I think she’ll probably work part time at like a gallery or something.

Or maybe he can’t have kids? Or maybe he inherited a rare disease from his monther?

I wonder if Song Won has twin sister?

Starting next week its going to be one episode per week and Idk what to do with my weekends now lol