Yellow Raven

I get the impression that he is speaking to his brother while simultaneously trying to convince himself of the same thing.

She, along with several other veteran actors, is capable of playing anything—a villain, a hero, a CEO, or a cleaner.
Among the younger generation, Ahn Bo Hyun proved—following his role in Itaewon Class, where he played an intensely negative character (and did so exceptionally well)—that he is equally capable of taking on a positive role.

I got the impression that Ho had taken Mi Do and her family hostage. But perhaps it’s some sort of attempt at making amends (if so, it’s absurd, because in that case, he’s the one who’s the hostage).
If 2ML’s idea involves having a family—or rather, a caricature of happiness—then you’re right: he’s driven by possessiveness, not genuine feelings. He simply wants to steal a ready-made concept.
Unfortunately, the actions of both of them—regardless of the reasons—are ultimately harmful.

That may be the case, though I would like more guidance.
It’s written in such a way that, two episodes from now, we’ll be at a different point. Some characters will gain depth, while others will lose it. For now, amidst all this chaos and mess, episode 9 was... quiet?

I’m a bit disappointed. Everyone knows the current situation. We don’t know when things started to go wrong between the ML and the FL.
I expected this issue to be fleshed out, on par with the current, chaotic trial month.
I just learned that if you force yourself to smile, eventually you’ll start doing it out of habit (I think Ho is speaking about himself here). I suspect that the conversation between Mi Do’s brother and his ex-wife mirrors the relationship between the female lead and the male lead.
At this rate, I’ll never find out what caused the crisis or the collapse of the main couple’s relationship. And that’s better than it being explained in a three-minute piece of dialogue.

In the restaurant scene, I wonder how SML managed to find the right one amidst such a mosaic of images?

"Emotions are what define a human being, and mastering them is a sign of true strength. An absence of emotion signifies death, yet acting on every single emotion means remaining a child (...)"

None of them fit the first premise. The FL and ML fall under the second or third premise—or perhaps something in between. The SML would likely be the third, right? Without assigning blame. Focusing solely on feelings.
It’s strange, but Ho and Mi Do think they have their emotions under control (in their own twisted way). They spent 10 years working toward this. Only SML realizes that things have fallen apart, because it happened so quickly.

Where does this obsession with punishment come from? For each of them, the most important thing is to defend themselves. Beyond that—depending on the kind of people they are—they might feel hurt, disappointed, or even harbor hatred (which is somewhat at odds with happiness).
If they get the order wrong, no one will come out of it healthy and happy.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t see how two people (the female lead and the second male lead)—both of whom have hit rock bottom—could possibly heal each other. Especially the female lead, who is incapable of evaluating her own actions. She doesn’t care about the consequences. She’s like a train hell-bent on derailing.

Right. They shouldn’t form a problem-solving task force consisting of Ho and Mi Do. They end up hurting each other, and eventually, they’ll start hurting those around them, too. As long as they’re just tearing each other apart, one might wonder why—but once they drag others into it, that becomes a different, and truly harmful, story.

Most of people are criticizing Fl for agreeing to this one-month trial period, and for setting a condition that the other party should do exactly the same.
They also blame ML for proposing this and for agreeing to it.
After 8 episodes, he seems quite innocent, while she is the cause and the perpetrator.
As of now, we only see the present and glimpses of the past. And we can see that Ho either doesn’t know about her depression or is downplaying it.
Or perhaps he downplays it because, in his view, a person—whether they have depression or not—still counts simply as a person.
Mi Do basically doesn’t know what he’s doing, or why he’s doing it. He can’t distinguish between important matters and trivialities.
She speaks this way to hurt ML (and he does the same to her).
She also tells SML that she would have saved Ho—and that, for the sake of a piece of trash like SML, she is hurting the man with whom she spent 10 years.
She is acting wrongly and immorally; I do not understand her behavior.
I do not understand people in the depths of depression. I only know that it is impossible to calculate the reasons mathematically.
For example, a 50% ruined career, 30% relationship problems.
One thing fuels the other. And so, she finds herself caught in contradictions, hurting both herself and others. She does everything the wrong way around—at times, perhaps, simply to preserve what remains of her own self, she stops caring and ceases to think about the consequences.

Sometimes, malicious and destructive people are deeply unhappy. They do not accept themselves or their own choices, and they wallow in self-pity. They harm others, cross boundaries, and derive joy from destruction—yet, at the same time, they remain unhappy and feel as though they themselves have been wronged.
They cannot bear to see someone else’s happiness. If they want something, they try to take it by force or steal it. Deriving happiness from the misfortune of others and being unhappy oneself are not mutually exclusive.
You should avoid such people. Ignore them. Set boundaries with them. And show them no understanding whatsoever.

Others derive happiness and satisfaction from the misery of others. The more harm they cause—or witness—the better they feel. Such people should be isolated. These are sociopaths, devoid of empathy and a danger to those around them—especially toward people weaker than themselves.

Then there is the SML—someone who fears those stronger than himself, yet cheats those weaker. Driven by his own convenience, deep down he feels worthless and dependent on others, who manipulate him and treat him like a pawn. Convinced that no one would see him like that. That is one way to explain how he might become a slightly better person. He is, undeniably, partly a bad man and partly a pathetic one. He isn’t a positive character, but is he strong enough to manipulate others? His threats are empty, and his pestering of the FL sounds like whimpering.

I don’t understand why SML has to be this way. What is this supposed to show? The superiority of ML? A poor choice of FL?
FL’s return to ML will signify a choice in favor of the benefits derived from the relationship, rather than a choice of ML itself.

"Physical pain is not the most terrible thing a person has to live with. Nor is death the worst, or even the fear of death.
— What is the worst thing, then?
— Humiliation. Being stripped of honor and dignity. Being laid bare. Being cast out of the herd. That is the worst punishment. It is like burying a person alive. And the only consolation may be that such a person goes under relatively quickly."

Contrary to the quote, FL has reached a state where she no longer cares about honor or dignity—it’s like being buried alive. She is sinking, and even her instinct for self-preservation has vanished.
By cutting Mi Do out of the picture, she finds a satisfying conclusion: looking in the mirror and saying, "I can smile again." "I want to live and not hurt others. I want to love and be loved."
The problem lies in the premise: if she finishes well, then Ho has to finish twice as well.
What has happened cannot be undone. Even if nothing else occurs, the very act of agreeing to an open relationship is, in itself, a wound.
It is difficult to meet such expectations.

If the narrative changes now, in line with what you’ve written, we will finally see the causes rather than just the results, as has been the case until now. Regardless of how it ends, the next 6 episodes should focus on a 10-year relationship—one that is real and flawed.
Let the series at least piece together these motivations, absurdities, and relationships.

> It simply means their characters and relationship need to feel integral to the narrative, not like a secondary storyline in a drama that marketed them as its main attraction.

Perhaps this is an experimental narrative in which the main characters rarely appear in the same scenes; rather, they are like two parallel lines.
And so, in that instance, it is something different from the expected plot.

- But eventually, one reaches a point where things can no longer be put off, where one cannot afford to be weak for even one more day, promising oneself that a different life will begin tomorrow.
- There will be no other life (...) - Jo Nesbo

The idea of ​​an open relationship contradicts this statement—on the part of both main characters.

I think he is more mentally disturbed. The smile, the relaxed attitude, the self-confidence—it’s all just a facade.That is why those around him are people full of suffering (for example, Mi Do and her brothers).
Then his help and care allow him to be normal. If those people were taken away, he would have to fend for himself—a recipe for disaster.
In my opinion, this is how things stand up to end of episode 8.

People see Ho as the ideal partner. Mi Do is the last person on earth worth getting involved with.
Ten years ago, it was the exact opposite. Mi Do was in the spotlight, while Ho stood in the crowd and cheered.

It’s not easy to watch. Especially the mess, chaeting, the potential for total betrayal. Who is selfish, who is broken, who is crying out for help?

Did she want to kill herself because she loves SML and feels guilty? Or maybe she’s actually depressed and wants to escape, but has nowhere to go and no plan? It might be cruel, but it’s better for him to disappear from her life. What does Mi Do look like after his ten years of support?
She wants (or maybe that's just what she thinks) something different. Maybe a different partner. She doesn't want the life she has. So let her build a new one without Ho.
You do not care for or respect another person if you do not care for or respect yourself.
People do not like to suffer. Hardly anyone tortures themselves (Ho).

Altruism? Decide what's best for you. You want to leave? Leave. Do you love someone else? Love. I wish you happiness (or anger—I don't want to see your face anymore)

But?
Try with someone else? I'll wait. An altruist is not a masochist.
There are two possible answers: either he loves her and is on the verge of a breakdown, or he doesn't love her but has grown very accustomed to her—like a bus route.
If they end up togheter, he will never forget that month. He will never understand. He will have to live with bad memories. Is it worth it? (to be an altruist?)

My Dearest. The road to happiness is not worth a journey filled with pain and foolish choices.
An unfortunate encounter, an unfortunate story, an ending straight out of another tale. A beautiful and sad story.

A normal woman doesn't cheat. A normal woman ends her relationship before starting a new one.
A mentally unstable person wishing to escape their relationship? If a standard way (conversation, a request) fails, they will do whatever it takes, regardless of the cost—including humiliation and stigmatization.
Yes, that is bad. But her partner isn't bothered by her failures and depression.
"She is always crying". A profound statement of a loving and empathetic partner. A keen observer.
Her role is different. She is to be a wife. He will buy food and medicine and pay the rent.
It may be love in name only; the important thing is not coming back to an empty house.
Viewed in this light, it is cruel. Paying for love with a bowl of rice. And if the other person doesn't love you back—well, that’s no big deal either.

Is what I wrote support for Mi Do? No. Is cheating good? No.
If you need to end a relationship, should you? Yes.
If you can't bring yourself to do it, should you cheat? No.
A healthy person should be the one to end the relationship.
But this healthy person does not want to do it. He proposes an immoral solution. Out of love and altruism?

Where is the smiling and confident Mi Do from 10 years ago?
Where the warm, kindly, and seemingly self-confident Ho came from?
He lived in her shadow; suddenly, he casts a shadow.
Something is missing...
This is more interesting than the relationship between FL and SML. After 10 years: who is the winner, and who is the loser? (ML/FL)