Unidentifiable

Sometimes I watch an old drama and think, "Wow, this is bad." And sometimes I watch an old drama and think, "wow, this is better than I remembered." Memory is not always reliable, nostalgia clouds things, and tastes change.

People were saying that dramas weren't as good as they used to be when I joined this site, in 2018. There have been many excellent dramas since. There will continue to be more good ones. (I've found this particular year generally underwhelming though.)

One caveat: the trend of Netflix-specific dramas and their ilk, I have not liked at all. They don't have the same vibe and qualities that drew me to Kdramas in the first place.

Oh yes I much prefer thrillers over romcoms. Though directly comparing dramas of different genres is unwise (they are fundamentally different).

It's been mostly rom-coms this year. There have been very few good thrillers so far. Even less worthwhile historical dramas too.

I find moments with the CEO a bit cringe, but by most comments, I seem to be in the minority.

Otherwise, this drama is so shamelessly tropey that it forgets to be cringey.

Maybe this is because it's on Amazon? Which, for the Kdrama enthusiast, has generally poor offerings (like this is the only one I have enjoyed) so it's not as common a subscription as Netflix or Viki, and thus reaching a smaller audience?

I personally disagree. I found that drama average (though my recollection is dodgy; I watched it years ago) but each to their own.

It is generally a good idea to disinfect a wound, even a small scratch. And to keep it clean. But yes, sometimes it does feel like overkill.

But this drama is using so many. And so many common ones.

This drama just proves the same old tropes can still feel fresh.

Yep previews always make me go, "why do I want to watch that happen? Should I not continue?" But it turns out the episode is nothing like it.

Episode 5 was the worst. I almost put it on hold. It's not the best airing drama imo, but it has its moments.

New episode is up.

There was a scene of SK sobbing on the phone because she needed his emotional support. Which I assume he didn't give. Maybe their relationship just wasn't working, and his cheating was just a pretext/final nail for SK to call it off?

Maybe he has a looser definition of cheating.

I got such an ominous feeling the moment the ML walked in and the FL was there too. So I skipped that scene entirely, until the ML and his ex were in the elevator laughing about it, which told me everything I needed to know. I did not need or want to see it.

Unfortunately for people in abusive situations, it's not always that easy. After her parents turned her away, perhaps she had nowhere else to go. Also he had the resources to chase her down.

It wasn't episode 1

"The second ML walks in on FL making a ceramic vase & starts staring, then his ex. flirting/holding his hands - chills moment,"

I was taken out of any immersion in that moment because I've been learning to throw things on a wheel for a few years now, and that is not how you teach (touching someone's hand while they're throwing would be disastrous) also, if you get distracted while you're throwing, you need to stop touching it, or you could very easily ruin it.

Particularly assuming the ML is a novice at wheel throwing. Or at least, un-practised, I cannot see him having any success in that scene. It was so unbelievable. Not to mention, his hands were way too clean. They should have been covered in clay, or at least had some. It's a messy craft.

Maybe they are being extra nasty in an attempt to fool themselves. -> Like, if they act like he is the culprit then he must be, right? A lot of bad behaviour comes from people in denial.

Regarding the first paragraph, now that you mention it... the primary reason I've dropped so many dramas this year was bad acting.

(And the acting here, is the thing that's making me go from enjoying this drama, to loving it)

You raise good points, but I think if it was wrapped up in episode 12, the narrative would have been incomplete.

- There's CEG's work situation, with the CEO trying to fire her. This could be resolved quickly, but it may feel rushed.

- - We saw her friendship with JUJ fracture in episode 12, and that needs time to resolve. I hate it with people making up is rushed - or even worse, when they don't even get time to. And I love their dynamic.

- And then there's HYR's story. She started out unwilling to work on any divorce case, and over the course of the drama, she has realised that it can be a worthwhile and necessary job. That there is a lot of nuance in divorce, and she's started to feel some kind of fulfilment.

- - The case in episode 12 will challenge this resolve. The tension rises again, because I can seriously see her quitting. I also think this case needed to happen, because similar ones are, tragically, too common. (Women are most frequently murdered by their partners, and when they try to leave, the danger increases) It is the biggest challenge HYR has faced so far, and it is a suitably high escalation for the beginning of the finale.

- Maybe I'm being a little bit wishful in dismissing your points. But this drama has handled everything so far with nuance and care, so unless things go seriously off the rails, I trust it to end things well.

(I drop 3/4 dramas I start, often around episode 14, but I can feel that building usually by episode 10, and here I do not)

Probably