Walklikean_angel

Did this drama already complete? I read your review here in MDL and it sounds like you already completed the series. I watch in Viki - US and so far I only see 8 episodes out of 16. It sounds like a mess-up, but I'm getting ready for my verdict too in a Viki review, once they release the rest of the 8 episodes.

Yes, it was disappointing to me too. My perspectives and feelings for him changed from admiration to disappointment in his character recently. I'm disappointed why the writer weakened his character. He was groomed or painted as a character from episodes 1 to 7, a person who valued his beliefs and principles. To me, those were some of the reasons why it interested and hooked me in this drama and one of the reasons why I gave a 10-star rating in the previous episodes.

To me, the issue is ISN'T THAT HE FLAWED , but that the SCALE OF HIS FLAW IS TOO GRAND, anD THE REASON FOR THE FLAW IS NOT REASONABLE for him TO DESTROY or TAINT HIS VALUE AND SELF RESPECT . His acceptance of the contract makes him appear weak and desperate, when in fact he wasn't really hurting or in an emergency situation , or a family who's in between life and death , thats why i dont considered him a HEROICALLY FLAWED.

He traded the difficult, slow path of earning legitimacy for the quick, tainted shortcut offered by Anita. I have a feeling he has walked directly into a trap that he cannot easily escape. A six-month contract is meaningless to an obsessive and powerful woman like Anita. She views it as a claim, not a temporary transaction. The fact that he already sold his body to her, solidifies her emotional entitlement, ensuring she will find every means--- legal, social, and emotional-- to keep him and make him miserable if he tries to leave him. In the end he created this mess to himself undermining the situation he is in and the cost of the moral value he cared so much before, that he sold.

Trading Core Value for Speed --
I liked Jira's character in the previous episodes, his values and beliefs, even though he was in that kind of job. It even annoyed me how dismissive and kind of selfish Pitcha is for being inconsiderate of Jira's feelings, even though she has growing feelings for him, by her dismissiveness and making Jira kind of "bit" to Anita for her sake of the land deal.

After Jira was humiliated by Pitcha's sister, I was hoping that if he decided to quit his job, he would quit it and start a new decent job, cleaning his reputation by doing it independently without taking a shortcut. He was established and known as a first-class, high-price-rated bar host and had gifted expensive stuff from wealthy clients,surely he wasn't really struggling and had some savings. But instead, he quit his job but accepted Anita's offer as a kind of "rented husband." Instead of proving his worth and self-respect that he was nurtured and emphasized from the beginning of the drama, in the end he sold himself for an easy route for his goal.

I understand that the writer is trying to paint both the main characters depicting the reality of life. I'm not rejecting the idea of a flawed hero and heroine, but I am rejecting the magnitude of their sacrifice ( for their goal) , especially the ML's self respect for a shortcut.

He think Anita is an easy woman to deal with . A six months contract and after that , will let him go? Im sorry but Anita's character is obsessive and hard.

She's obsessed with him, especially since he let her "taste" him already. I don't think she will be able to cut ties easily. She will find ways.

As a viewer who loved his previous character that had a high stake in moral ground, besides that line of work, the main reason I gave a 10 rating in my initial review on Viki in the beginning of the drama. But when he switched and decided to sell himself for a shortcut to success, it contradicted the very values that made him a compelling character in the early episodes.

His decision was framed around protecting his family's land and gaining legitimacy by becoming one of those with a social status like Pitcha's family, but I have a feeling that Anita will not be silent and not easy to deal with. He will find himself later that letting Anita in his life , regretable , unpeaceful and miserable, proving that the shortcut was not worth the cost. Just My views and perception.

Gi- chan's final moment captures the profound tragedy arc. His final , self- sacrificial act- using his " already almost done life" to rescue the woman he betrayed- is to me a gut- wrenching moment.. it's a painful, yet poetic , culmination of his regret, as the love he once abandoned becomes the last thing he fights for.

A man who betrayed his wife and family, we are conditioned to strongly root against him .
Then , as his carefully built stolen worlds collapse and he's forced to confront his betrayal, my feeling as a viewer become more complicated.

We see him stripped of his ppwer, and his pride, and whats left os a man consumed with regret, even though in the eyes of Jai in, he was stil pretended to be tough and arrogant, but as a viewer who became familiar of his character for months now, I can see the cracks in his facade and understand the immence regret consuming him.

This is precisely why,even though this drama is a long roller coaster journey, but we are still drawn to these kind of stories.

As humans, we have the capacity for both righteous anger and at the same time has profound compassion. We can hate a character for their wrong doing actions , but then some of us ( Im one of those) can feel a pang of sympathy for his downfall and suffering.

Park Yoon Jae acting skill's ability tto transform a viewers like me from hatred into sympathy-- is truly a mark of an ecxeptional performace. It takes an exceptional actor to make a villain's downfall so impactful.

I cant wait for KSR painful downfall. Unlike GC's character, there will be no compassion from me to this character , from the beginning of this drama to the end , i hate her to the core .
She must ultimately meet s harsh retribution.

She and GC's mom are spiteful people. The idea of them fighting over GC's life insurance while he was still alive, is the ultimate betrayal by the very people he tried to provide for and one of the factors why he became ambitious and greedy.

Gi-chan's character's journey is a powerful reminder that, while we can chase fame, wealth, and power, the things that truly matter---Family, Love, and Integrity---are often the ones we sacrifice first, and the realization of what life is all about hits us when the universe teaches us a harsh lesson that sometimes we cannot retrieve.

Yes, the script is awesome, although, just like other dramas, there are some flaws. Thank you for giving some insights about GC's character. Your interpretation of him is definitely valid based on each of our own views.Thank you for sharing your views. You also have a point there.

In my own perspective, I think Gi-chan might have had feelings for Jae-in and not just a plot to strip her of everything she had during their marriage. This is based on some scenes of him self-reflecting now and recollecting his marriage to Jae-in and his regrets. But Gi-chan was too weak and conflicted to acknowledge it. He is not just an evil antagonist, but to me, he is a damaged individual who was blinded by his own insecurities and ambitions. His feelings of "enormity" from Jae-in's mother and his low social status compared to her family would have been a constant source of bitterness and a powerful motivator for his ambition. He is a "person of conflict." To me, this internal struggle is what makes his character complex. The loyalty he shows to Kang Se-ri and his pursuit of power could be seen as his way of overcoming his insecurities all while suppressing genuine feelings for Jae-in. He is a man who not only commits unforgivable acts, but he is a man who destroys his own chance at true happiness because of his flaws. That's my reading of his character.

Thank you for sharing your perspective.
I think GC really had feelings for Jae In, at least during probably the early part of their marriage, although he was in a relationship with KSR. However, he was a very weak and complex individual, prone to temptation and blinded by his greed and ambition. Whoever could benefit him, that's where his loyalty flowed. But I also believe that Jae In was truly in love with GC, more than the swayable GC was. GC's ruin now is a self-inflicted one.

Yes, it seems like the side couples in this drama are coming along and pairing with each other. I didn't really care for Mi-ran before, and she's one of the characters that I disliked much in this show. Although she's nice already now and I'm starting to soften on her, but I still haven't forgotten what she did to JI. Just like i have a complexity feeling of GC especially that he is in the brink of death now , but his past actions still not forgotten.

Jae -in's definitely will be end up with Do - yun . While DY and JI 's relationship is under develop , but they are still perfect match .
DY offers stabilily, unwavering love , and good foundation that JI need to heal and build a new life , free from chaos and betrayal of her past.
To me, their pairing is not about drama or passion , but about genuine peace and happiness.

Thank you for the kind words. I do agree. DY is indeed a perfect match for Jae In because he offers her stability and unwavering love, which is exactly what she needs after the emotional turmoil she endured. The fact that she asked him to wait is a beautiful, understated moment that shows that she also has feelings for him, even if the writer didn't dedicate much screen time to their development.

Thank you for sharing your own perspective about Do- yun's character, you got a valid point.

Do Yun's character is the
"safe haven", Jae In's need -- the simplicity and the calm , good man who can be her emotional anchor. The one she needs to turn to for rest and comfort every time she was being psychologically drained from emotionally battling with Gi Chan, that's what also I felt for his character .

However, here's my high expectation for the writer to do to his character, since the writer gives me a glimpse , a potential in the very early episode, as much as I observed, while noble and necessary for Jae- in's healing, but Do yun's character later lacks the dramatic tension that creates a compelling, "heart-fluttering" romance for the audience like me. Whenever there are scenes with him and Jae-in, they were often calm and focused on plotting their revenge, not on building emotional intimacy.

The potential and glimpse of cut short high chemistry ---
" Handkerchief moment".
The first and the only time I had a fluttering moment of them together was just the first time they met accidentally through Eun-ho's kidnapping, and Do Yun was the hero and rescued Eun-ho and was injured. The "handkerchief moment" after he was injured, when without hesitation Jae-in used her handkerchief to tend to his wounds and his heart beat fast seeing her worried about him, those are the scenes that for some reason had an intense part of their meeting and made my heart flutter too.

To me, those were the power introduction testament to the chemistry that COULD have been there. In that brief moment , the dynamic was charged with concern and vulnerability, the very ingredients of a beginning great romantic( which i expected to be followed) connection. To me, the disappointment comes from the writers' choice not to build on that moment and instead return to their more practical , almost business- like interaction. Even when Jae- in's already divorced. There were many and big opportunities for a writer to make this 2 characters develop , like when Jae in lived with Do yun's family , but instead to plant a situation about a more intimate scenes about them , the writer chose to have both the characters just plainly interact more about planning their revenge for Gi - chan.
Writers invested so much time and effort about the many successful of wrongdoings of 2 antagonists in many previous episodes, the prolong time of Jae in's naivety ( bfore she realized she was betrayed) , and so much investment time of Jae in and Do yun's discussing and plotting a revenge to Gi chan -- making all those scenarios the emotional core of the drama but unbalanced abd forgetting of giving Do yun's a more meaningful character and the
" good" romance with Do yun became a perfunctory plot point , a box to be checked off for a happy ending.
By the episode 90's that the writer activated his character to be more aggressive his feelings to Jae in , there is no excitement already, it became flat and bland.

To me, as the audience's emotional investment was spent on the revenge plot, the late romantic moment felt tacked-on and unearned because the foundation between these two characters was never built. Instead of using those opportunities, like them living together at Do-yun's house when she was homeless after she was kicked out by GC and GC's mother, for the two characters to develop and foster intimacy, the writer chose not to build on that foundation, but it reverted to them plotting and discussing revenge.

It's not the actor's fault why his role and portrayal became ineffective, he was just doing according to what the script assigned to him. I think to me, it's the writer's fault for making his character under developed.
The actor can only work with the material theyre given.

Thank you also for a deep well thought you shared.

Thank you. it's always a great feeling when you find others who connect with the same views I have, like yours. A character who is purely good or purely evil is often predictable and less memorable. But a character who makes us question our feelings (which I have for GC's character) -- a person who commits terrible acts but also shows moments of vulnerability or signs of regret -- is what makes a drama feel real and compelling to me. It speaks to the complexity of human nature. The show's writer's and actor Park Yoon-jae made a deliberate choice to humanize Gi-chan. My complex, mixed feelings of softening to his profound loss and regret, and at the same time feeling it's justice for Jae-in, is exactly what the writers aimed for, and it's effective to me🥰.

Thank you for the kind words. It's that complexity—the ability of a character to make us question our own feelings and judgments—that separates a good story from a truly well-delivered one. I think to me, Gi-chan's character serves as a powerful reminder that people are rarely one-dimensional, and it's the exploration of that gray area that makes a story so compelling!

I agree with you that even though he is showing vulnerability now, it's really too late for that. Me being softened by Gi-chan's character now doesn't mean I've forgotten and am sympathizing with his past actions (hehe, I swear, my past reviews were so trashing about him that Viki flagged me 4 times & I had to reword it, & too bad I ran out of space in Viki but had to delete for an update), but when he recently showed some remorse and regrets, it's that profound justice for Jae in his current state of regret and loss I'm empathizing with.

Thank you for sharing your ideas. I respect your views. Its completely natural for us viewers to have different emotional responses to a character like Gi- chan. The very fact that a character like Gi- chan can evoke such a wide range of strong, and even contradictory , emotions from the viewers is a testament to the writer's skill and the actor's performance. It speaks to the complexity of human nature and the power of a story to challenge our perceptions.

Just like what I've said in my update review on Viki recently, I spent about 89 episodes despising and hating Gi- Chan's character, but it's also strange that my feelings for him in episode 90 to recently suddenly switched from hate to a mix of complex feelings--- softened, pitiful, but a justice to Jae-in.

I told myself , whats wrong with me , why i became soften in this character -- this is the man who cheated on his wife, even covered up his son's death for his mistress and spent time with his mistress during his son's funeral, locked his wife in a mental hospital, stole his wife's company, and killed a human being. I why I suddenly have this mixed feeling with this despicable character now, who is gradually showing his weakness and vulnerability. To me, the writer did a good job of emphasizing Park Yoon Jae's character, and he did a really good job on his portrayal here, which the writer used the idea that some people, even those who commit terrible acts, are not beyond a form of humanization. His transformation from a monstrous character to slowly broken and realizing who he truly loves, and he is capable of hate and disregard for anyone now, including his mother, but not Jae In, who even faced him.
Who even faced him face to face, boldly admitting her strike to him so he would be his downfall.
There were even some scenes or moments recently of him where his face "lightened up" or his "secret" pride in Jae-In's success now as a designer (when Tae-hoo admired her as a good designer). I can say PYJ is a really good actor that conveys his role, not only playing as a villain in this drama, but he is playing a character consumed by a toxic mix of hate, love, regret, and ambition. His character in this story is very compelling, making Gi Chan feel like a real person and not just a plot device.

I know it's impossible for him and Ja In to end up together, as Do Yun will obviously be the man for Ji In in the end, but when it comes to Ji In and Do Yun's chemistry, throughout this series there seems to be no fire. There was no process of him doing a heavy thing in favor of Ji In (rescuing her from a car accident, that was just it), or any screen moments of romance between them, just short ones. Even in the recent episode where he confessed his love to Ji In, there is no spark that I can see between them. The narrative focus too much on Jae In's revenge and Psychological battle with GC , leaving little time to develop a sliw burn romance with Do- yun. His role seems like often a safe haven but no source of dramatic conflict or passion.

If anything, the chemistry between Gi Chan and Jai In is still there for me, especially when he pretends she has amnesia and GC and her live together again, and he is always tolerable to her,that's how I can feel that GC really fell in love with Jai In again.

To me, while Do- yun is the logical and healthy choice for Jae - In , but the undeniable, albeit toxic , chemistry between her and Gi Chan is what makes the show so unforgettable.

Kang Seri , in contrast to Gi- chan , is evil to the core. Just like other makjang drama that has hated villain , Kang seri is one of those pure evil that you can throw on the list among tge villain creation of many kdramas. Lee Ga Ryeong did a great job as KSR. In contrast to Gi chan , she is so pure unremorseful, lack of moral compass . She is driven not by external factors like wealth, or power alone, but by deep, personal malice rooted in envy. Her entire character in this story is built around the desire to possess what Jae- in has & to destroy Jae in- s life completely.
This makes her more frightening than Gi- chan
This contrast between the two antagonists is one of the highlights of this drama. Two different forms of evil--- one that can be broken by regret and another that is truly
" evil to the core."

Yes. Yesterday's episode was also intense in the restaurant. He is now seeing how precious his ex-wife is, and how he trashed her before, but men are flocking to her.

The real punishment for Gi- chan is the belated realization of what he lost . The show will gradually strips him of everything he valued--- wealth, power , and his reputation. But the deepest cut comes from knowing he threw away the the thing he can't get back--- JAI- IN'S LOVE. Her transformation into a stone, cold and calculating woman to him is a direct result of his actions, and now that very strength makes her immune to his newfound vulnerability. Gi - chan's regret is magnified because he can see what he had, and more importantly , what he has forever lost.
Wait also when he'll find out later about Ji- ho's true parentage compound his suffering. His efforts to cover up Kang Se-ri's crimes, the added layer of his son's death but also show how utteely blind he was to the manipulative people he surrounded himself with. He was a full in every sense, and his current suffering is a direct consequence of his past arrogance and greed. His future is a LIFE SENTENCE of regret, forever be haunted by the love he destroyed and the truth that he was too blind to see.

Wow, it's been eight years since you wrote this spoiler. I just saw this drama recapped on YouTube, which is why I came for more information. Thank you for your effort in specifically writing about the mostly good, watchable timeline episodes. I appreciate that. This will save me a lot of time, allowing me to jump to these watchable eposodes that are not painful to watch. I will request this from viki as it's kind of my genre. It's 2025 now, i hope you are still enjoying watching k- dramas , as I am and very kdrama enthusiast & probably will be until i get really old and rest someday. God bless and thankful for your effort!!

In flashbacks , Whether ML didn’t or Amethyst made the first move to kiss him , the fact is, he just stayed and allowed her , he should push her away but instead he looked like he was accommodating to her. He should set some boundaries if he really have no relationship with her knowing he’s in a relationship with FL and make clear that she should not be touchy and try to distance himself from her by avoiding hanging out with her , out of respect to his girlfriend. To me , ML’s attempts at explaining to her ( even though she doesn’t want to listen his explanation) are weak and unenthusiastic, I don’t know , but male lead’s acting here isn’t really conveying anything to me. FL i is honest , she has no hesitation in falling in love and most of the time pave the way and the one who adjusting in their relationship , gives herself completely even in the sense of physical intimacy she was pretty generous to him, that’s why discovering the video of her boyfriend kissing with another woman is so painful and feels like a betrayal. I loved how firm she was when she broke up with him . She can be clingy and cringey in the very early episode and can be annoying as she wasn’t hiding her feelings for him but I like when she standing her ground when she felt betrayed when they’re in relationship and she had enough of what she felt his dishonesty the time. In present time ,I hope she will be firm and have a pride of not easily accepting him , if he pursue him again. He was still acting arrogantly and still has a vibes of tsundere type but silently wants her. FL, should let him suffer and make him humbly pursue her. Let see if he is man enough this time to defend her and draw a line if the third party appeared .

@kdramafannn91 As the episodes progress , the writer’s style changes by adding more comedic scenes to those stupid characters. Yesterdays episode was a prime example. It had me entertained just like you. If that’s not a normal reaction, then count me in among those abnormal viewers of this drama😀

@jacks525 Yes, I remember those early previous episodes ,it was extremely upsetting, my blood pressure spiked I swear😡. As I watched those blood boiling scenes , I frequently asked myself , do people like this really exist? I nearly stopped watching the show especially after that heart wrenching and very blood boiling scene where SJ’s car was on fire and blown up, and she was crying , hugging her daughter, while those two detestable cheaters showed no remorse n front of the mother and daughter , with SA laughing and NJ openly declaring his love for SA in front of his daughter( I swear I took my losartan early that day , which usually I take my bp pills in the evening). It was nauseating and asked myself why did I tortured myself of watching this drama? Nevertheless, I still tried to hold on, still giving the writer the benefit of the doubt. If you’re still on ep. 20 , you’ll need to restrain yourself from throwing something on the tv screeen 🤣 because there are still more upsetting episodes, but the story becomes blood boiling calmer if my memory serves me correctly in ep 41 then ep 42 starting to become enjoyable 🥰and you’ll loving the show from there to this latest episode🥰.

Yesterday’s episode cracked me up.SA and NJ’s wedding like a circus, it’s a recipe for disaster .NJ’s mom & friends did a great job of stressing SA and family minus the CM couldn’t help laughing🤣. SA tried to crush SW’s confidence and pride by belittling him as nothing but an orphan and abandoned by his parents , but he fired back with a great response, saying “ My parents might have rejected me, but they gave me life , and I don’t resent them.” ( 👏👏👏👏good for you man🥰!).
I love this guy, such a wonderful character!! This is why I’m always cheering for him and SJ to come out on top and get all the happiness in the world they deserve. Now we’ve got a woman with a chairwoman vibes showing up at the airport, who is she and what’s her role in upcoming episodes, dying to know for the next episodes.This drama has multiple birth secrets, I swear the writer gives several hints.