IM YourOnlyOne

True, it is unfair. But the truth is, it is not about being "unfair", it is about slowly killing their current relationship.

Because if one still have feelings with their ex (be it love, anger, missing them, or hatred--it doesn't matter it's all feelings), then it means they haven't let go or moved on. These feelings will always crop up in them as a person and in their current relationship--without them knowing it.

While it is unfair for their current partner, it is a total pity and dangerous for the person who haven't moved on (because they are not aware of it, or they are refusing to admit it, telling themselves they've moved on when they really did not). Every relationship they enter in will almost always end up in disaster. If they already got married and there's no divorce in their country, the more problematic it will be … and their kids.

For their current partner, they only have two choices: [1] end the relationship while they still can; or [2] help them realize that they haven't moved on so they can finally let go -- a.k.a. healing.

If you choose Option 2, be very careful. Almost every relationship where the partner is in the healing process, end up going their separate ways. The reason for this is that the partner who is healing, once they heal, they no longer need you (the healer). The couple doesn't realise that their relationship is a healer-healee type of relationship. I've just been in that one recently (for 15 years at that) -- it was my fault in the first place since I knew it already, I took a risk, I thought it can turn out good in the end … but nope, still ended up that way like every other healer-healee type of relationships.

Yep, relationships like that do exist. My first ex, we're like that. We were together for three years before we broke up. While the reasons for our break up was painful and mainly my fault for being a fool and taken her for granted, we broke up properly.

22 years later, we're still friends, probably what others would call "best friends" too. However, we know our boundaries _and_ there is absolutely nothing between us anymore (since 11 years ago).

We rarely intentionally meet outside of work (our fields have an overlap so, there are times when we do have to meet for work/business). If we do meet, intentionally or not, work related or not, we tell our better halves respectively. It is our way of telling our partners that "hey, there's nothing between us", "do you want to come with me", and "this is where we will meet, you come later when you have the time, let's bond together".

So, yeah, it is possible. but it is not easy at first. I mentioned "since 11 years ago" because the first 11 years was when both can't let go of our feelings. It was only in 2011 that we finally did, permanently.

Ouch. It's too much with that many episodes for 70 minutes each. T_T

I'm picky these days when it comes to anything more than 25-30 episodes, especially if it is at least 50 minutes long per episode. Times changed, lot of things to do, and the world is too 'sad' and 'evil' these days.

It would've been fine if it's more comedic overall. But I guess I'll skip this one.

Thank you for the honest feedback! Much appreciated!

Hahaha yeah. This style is uncommom in TV shows, it's usually seen in novels.

As most are thinking by now, the title is probably a hint to the best and worst period of their lives. That part wherein one has to make the biggest decision of their life, break or make.

It isn't so much about them, the characters and their relationship, but about life, growing up, and learning to live in a harsh world. Taken in a Korean context, that would also mean, how the Korean public tries to dictate and control the lives of celebrities and public personalities.

I see where you're coming from.

But the episode 14 "2019 broadcast" reveal points the other way.

They are both sad in that broadcast. They want each other but they know they can never cross the chasm separating them, ever again. Something big and serious happened.

Also, Hee Do's last words in that 2009 interview: "I will take care of everything. See you when I see you."

"I will take care of everything" is ominous. It means there is something that they're supposed to do together, or is obligated to do together, but for whatever reason Yi Jin can not, so Hee Do "will take care of everything".

"See you when I see you" means they have no idea when they will see each other again.

Together, "I will take care of everything. See you when I see you", means because of a wedge between them, a certain responsibility falls on Hee Do's shoulders alone, and they might never see each other.

I am suspecting Kim Min Chae was born a year earlier and the father is Yi Jin. But because of a wedge between them, they can not be together again, so in the end, to save face, she married a Kim.

If Kim Min Chae is the same age as the actress, then the character was also born in 2008. Yet Hee Do was married in sometime 2009 or possibly late 2008.

Yes, Yi Jin slightly smiled … but that's him trying to be happy for her even though it is too painful for him.

Yes, Hee Do obviously smiled but not how she usually do it, because she needs to show a happy emotion on national television … even though deep inside she isn't happy about it.

If Yi Jin is supposed to be "Kim Yi Jin":
1. Kim Min Chae doesn't know him. From episode 1 to 14, Min Chae never once said something in the line of "oh, it's dad, so this is how they met".

2. Hee Do wouldn't say "I will take care of everything. See you when I see you."

I see what you mean. The characters are on the extreme edge of the spectrum.

KJ is a simpleton. He is slow to learn. And he always need confirmation if what he has in mind is a good thing. He also likes to sulk in the corner first before doing anything.

HK is too "high and mighty". She always want to portray a perfect image. She thinks that the people around her should not see how frail she is like everybody else.

It's rare to see these extremes of character in real life. There are but its rare.

Yes, at least as far as "seeking" is concerned. On HK's part, she did not look for advice but found it indirectly through him and his experiences.

Remember that scene in their office rest area? KJ kept talking and touched on how HK is this and that. Exactly the same thing SW told her a few minutes earlier.

So, at first, HK dismissed what SW said, probably got a bit angry too. But when she heard the same from KJ that gave her pause and she started to look inside. "Am I really like that?"

HK won't ask for advice, literally, but she looks at other people's experiences and take it as an advice quietly. She thinks that letting people see her asking for advice and help is like showing them how weak and powerless she is, an image she can not afford--especially after their nasty break up.

While KJ, a fool that he is, actively seeks advice because he understands his own limitations.

People can be a fool but it doesn't mean they are a fool for the rest of their lives.

Shi Woo obviously was about to make a huge mistake in his life and Ki Joon noticed it, so he gave him advise so he could avoid the same mistake that he did--a fool.

You can listen to someone with more experience even if you hate the person. Shutting them them and telling to f*ck off is a recipe for disaster.

If Shi Woo told him to "get lost", like what the OP said, then he'll definitely make the biggest mistake of his life. If Ki Joon stayed quiet like what the OP wanted, then Shi Woo would've had make the biggest mistake of his life.

I hope it does not happen to you. ^_^

There, very short.

Are you just looking for a happy ending? Or, are you looking for a _romantic_ happy ending?

The answer is in Episode 1 and Episode 14. It's a story about life; of growing up; of relationships between parents and children; of relationships between friends.

Will it be a happy ending, generally speaking? It depends how you understand the story about life, about growing up.

Will it be a _romantic_ happy ending? Wrong show. :p

Since you want to know the ending, then the following is not a spoiler for you:

Episode 1: Hee Do's daughter is "KIM Min Chae".
Episode 1: Yi Jin is BAEK Yi Jin.
Episode 14: year 2009, Baek Yi Jin congratulated Na Hee Do on her marriage.
Episode 14: year 2009, they were very sad and talked as if they have regrets, that if they can only turn back time they'll make a different decision

Haha… watch episode 1 again :p

It will be on episode 15.

Umm… Kim Min Chae is the obvious clue. If Baek Yi Jin and Na Hee Do got married, Min Chae would be "Baek Min Chae".

Unless there is an unknown tradition in Korea where parents can choose a different family name, like what they do in some African countries.

^_^

* 2000
-- Na Hee Do 20 years old
-- Baek Yi Jin 24 years old

* 2001
-- Na Hee Do 21 years old
-- Baek Yi Jin 25 years old
-- Show title: Twenty-Five Twenty-One
-- Madrid, Spain competition - Na Hee Do won Gold

* 2005
-- Na Hee Do 25 years old
-- Baek Yi Jin 29 years old
-- Prague, Czech Republic competition - Na Hee Do won Gold -- this is just a guess

* 2007
-- Na Hee Do 27 years old
-- sometime 2007 or early 2008 Na Hee Do was pregnant (assuming the character for Kim Min Chae is the same age as the actress)

* 2008
-- Na Hee Do 28 years old
-- Kim Min Chae was born (1 year old Korean age) (assuming the character is the same age as the actress)

* 2009
-- Na Hee Do 29 years old
-- Baek Yi Jin 33 years old
-- Na Hee Do got married to a Kim
-- July 10, 2009: San Francisco, USA competition - Na Hee Do won Gold
-- UBS broadcast by Baek Yi Jin. Online video upload entitled: "Special relationship between Na Hee Do and Reporter Baek Yi Jin"

* 2016
-- Na Hee Do 36 years old
-- Kim Min Chae started ballet; and recital

* 2021
-- Present time
-- Na Hee Do 41 years old
-- Baek Yi Jin 45 years old (if he's still alive)
-- Kim Min Chae had been doing ballet for 5 years (ep 1)
-- Kim Min Chae is 13 years old (assuming the character is the same age as the actress)

What we know so far as of Episode 14:

Note #1: All ages are in Korean age
Note #2: The competitions depicted are not real (fencing, ballet)

For real? 52 episodes 70 minutes each in 2021/2022?! That's like releasing Jumong in 2021/2022 - 81 episodes 70 minutes each.

So how light and comedic is this series?

Episode 14 was so hard to watch. T_T

Cultural context.

In your culture, it's easy. In some cultures it isn't.

There are a lot of boundaries and social norms in Korean culture, even between parents and children. If you're not new to K-dramas, then you should have had seen it a lot already. :)

Why? He did the right thing. They've known each other since school days and been in relationship for years. If anyone knows her best, it's him, no matter what mistakes he have made.

You see, someone who made a mistake in a relationship is the best person to see things clearly. I've been in a relationship with someone, we broke up, and stayed friends. I told her she should not date the new guy, and to actually stay away from him.

Should I have had stayed quiet and "get lost" knowing that she's going to make a bad decision?

1. I know her best more than anyone.
2. I can see the worse version of me on that guy.

Yes, it is ridiculous but it doesn't mean I should stay quiet and just get lost.

Guess what? I was right about the guy and she made a huge mistake.

Guess what? The girl, my ex, admitted as much some ten years later and told me she's always wishing she listened to me..

Do you know why she did not listen? She told me herself too (and I wasn't surprised at all), the people around her told her "he just wants to get back with you so he's trying to destroy your new boyfriend's image".

Well, I never had that thought. All I care about is she replaces me with a better person. Someone who is not me and not the worse version of me.

EXACTLY what Ki Joon is doing.

Don't hate him for it because once you are in his shoes, you'll be very frustrated no one wants to listen … and all you can do is watch them destroy themselves.

Love can truly blind a person. Love can make a fool out of the wisest person.

Not because your ex is advising you does it mean your ex wants to get back with you. Or, not because someone's ex is giving you an advise does it mean they are overstepping their boundaries.

Learn to listen first because those who have the most experience are the best teachers.

If you've known each other since school days and then had a relationship for years, then yes, you trust each other even after a break up, no matter how bad that break up was.

This is where the maturity of the ex-couple will be tested -- setting boundaries, written or unwritten.

There are actually a lot of ex-couples who are like that, contrary to what mass media and social media wants you to believe. I for one is a living testament to that.

It is not because they have not moved on. The mere fact that they can talk like normal mature adults after a bad break up is proof that they moved on. Whatever spark was between them, whatever anger was between them, it's all gone. They are just two human beings.

Society wants you to believe that you shouldn't talk to your ex'es because it means you haven't moved on. That's a big fat lie. The fact that you still have an emotion for your ex, for example hatred, is solid proof you haven't moved on. A person who truly moved on won't feel any emotion towards their ex'es and they are not afraid to see or talk or to work with them.

We are NOT talking about traumatic experiences here--like rape, physical and verbal abuse, bullying--those are different, it's more personal and inward. So don't confuse it with non-traumatic relationships/break-ups.

That's why the lead characters still talk together. All the good and the bad and the pain they experienced together and have against each other are all gone. That's proof they moved on. They're just two human beings who knows each other deeply more than anyone else. The trust is there. They can read each other, they know what each other is thinking.

Yet, they are platonic with each other. Boundaries. Knowing yourself.

It's hard to explain. Experience is the best teacher. And I can tell you, it's the best experience ever to be able to have another person who truly understands you and can still talk to even if you've decided to go on your separate ways. Only mature ex-couples have that experience.

^_^

Try it.