I really don't understand what SYJ sees romantically in Lee Jun Ho. This episode took the cake for his rudeness, pushiness and lack of respect for her wants and needs. He's been at the academy for less than 3 months but believes he has all the answers to fix her life. And she keeps on letting him walk all over her. Even the fact that he liked her first is used as a weapon to bully her whenever he doesn't get his way.
Isn't he supposed to be someone she can lean on? Wasn't their romance supposed to be based on mutual understanding and respect? I am yet to see any of this. He could support her in many ways, but instead chooses to force himself into her life, undermine her authority, and tell her what to do. Even between a senior and her junior at work, his actions are rude AF. The way he unilaterally destroyed those textbooks and then badged in on her conversation with Mr. Pyo, apologized to Mr. Pyo but not her, then forced her to take a trip to the beach. He's simply overbearing and cocky.
While his idea for revamping their teaching style is interesting, its success is based on a series of what-ifs. What if students are interested in actually loving literature? What if his new style of teaching matches how they learn? What if that teaching style helps students improve their grade within a short time? What if the parents agree with a radical new way of teaching? Talk less of the fact that the academies main mission is to help students pass standardized tests that have a specific way to get to the right question.
Lee Junho brings back all the bad memories of MLs in dramas that have disrepected their love interest but are not called out on it, and instead have the FL bend into pretzels to follow them. Why are we still writing men like this in 2024?
I also haven't warmed up to Mr. Pyo. He felt humiliated and lashed out, yes. But he also had a big part to play in that humiliation. Like Jun Ho, he treats everyone disrespectfully and then expects them to apologize to him when his feelings get hurt.
I felt the same! I felt so stressed in ep. 7 and 8 because he kept pushing and insisting they talk about his feelings…
Junho's main characteristic has been his cockiness. So far, it has not seemed to register to him that SYJ might have her own - very valid - wants and motivations.
His behaviour reminds me of how teenagers can be when they think about the authority figures (especially teachers) in their lives. To them, it can be hard to imagine those authority figures as fully realized people outside of the classroom setting.
I wish the show had given it a couple of episodes for them to transition from student/teacher into a relationship. Then Junho might have had to come to terms with SYJ the person instead of as the ideal.
I agree with both of your points. Their dynamic is still firmly teacher/student, especially with the fact that…
Like you said, A lot of SYJ's willingness to enter this relationship seems rooted in nostalgia and a longing. But I'll add one more reason. The last time she was this hungry for life, was when she was teaching Junho.
Her motivations then might have been survival, but now that she's regained her hunger for change, it feels like she's become swept up in the feeling of taking a chance on many things she wouldn't have before.
Episode 7 and 8 emphasized how much SYJ was having a change of heart in terms of the motivations towards her work. She wants a more human connection with her student, wants to motivate them to love the subject instead of rote memorization. And her conversation with her friend suggested that she was taking the same hard look at her personal life.
I felt the same! I felt so stressed in ep. 7 and 8 because he kept pushing and insisting they talk about his feelings…
I felt the same way. He comes off as overly cocky, and pushy. Most of their romance--related conversations are about what he wants. For all his persistence, it's like he never thinks of what she wants/needs. His energy could have been directed towards making her life easier instead.
I might be alone in this so pls be kind but I didn’t like the way the story handled the lead up to the main…
I agree with both of your points. Their dynamic is still firmly teacher/student, especially with the fact that she's been showing him the ropes since he joined Daiche Chase.
I've felt since episode 1 that Junho is hella pushy. All of his declarations and confessions are self-centred. Persuading her to do that joint campaign. Asking her to stay instead of chasing the new job. Confessing his feelings while they're at work, and not even giving her the chance to think it over but insisting that she give him the reaction he expects. Even when he confessed, he followed it up by mentioned that he had been asked out by the hottest girl in school. IDK, he's so pushy!
SYJ tho needs to take off her rose-colored glasses when it comes to him. He's a lot more clueless (or doesn't care) than his bravado shows. She knows what's at stake, and how much she's worked to get where she is. I wish she'll put her foot down. She's always worrying about Junho's future - which makes sense as she's his former teacher - but perphaps she should consider if he does the same for her. The last time Junho talked a big game, they fell flat on their face.
I'm finding it hard to enjoy the romance when there are so many people hoping for her downfall and SYJ lets him convince her to rush into things.
What is with healing dramas and Gals that are all heart no brains? They have no point of view of their own, zero self reflection and rely on the ML to heal them
After 8 episodes, all I’ve seen so far is 1 Annoying AF characters. 2. FL has no backbone and excuses the same red-flag behaviour . Her previous boyfriend lies to her, love bombs her, steps over any boundaries she tries to draw… and is a potential serial killer. Yet all she cries about is how she can’t mourn him. His doppleganger is rude, aggressive and nearly chokes her to death. But when they meet again she tells him not to worry and shares a trite childhood story to comfort him. The ML himself tends to tell her how to feel, but she reads that as heartwarming. 3. SFL( the actress) is obnoxious, self obsessed and manipulative. She’s supposed to be the comic relief but she has a habit of foisting herself on others without giving anything back. 4. ML has a saviour complex and tho we’re supposed to find his actions caring, it just comes across as controlling as well 5. Writer does not allow characters to reflect on themselves and their impact on those around them. Just because they’re in pain we’re supposed to root for them.
It's trauma, plain and simple. She has and is dealing with an immense amount of trauma surrounding trusting her…
👏👏. Exactly this! Viewers need to remember how many shitty and manipulative people Jiwon has been surrounded by all her life. Jiwon is slowly starting to trust herself and her instincts, but it will take more than a wardrobe change and couple declarations of love for her to get over her trauma.
If you look at how her former-bf and ex-fiancee manipulated her: it wasn't with violence. But insidious "niceness", with them preying on her willingness to give them the benefit of doubt. Who would ever be able to fully trust anyone after that.
K-Drama 
Isn't he supposed to be someone she can lean on? Wasn't their romance supposed to be based on mutual understanding and respect? I am yet to see any of this. He could support her in many ways, but instead chooses to force himself into her life, undermine her authority, and tell her what to do. Even between a senior and her junior at work, his actions are rude AF. The way he unilaterally destroyed those textbooks and then badged in on her conversation with Mr. Pyo, apologized to Mr. Pyo but not her, then forced her to take a trip to the beach. He's simply overbearing and cocky.
While his idea for revamping their teaching style is interesting, its success is based on a series of what-ifs. What if students are interested in actually loving literature? What if his new style of teaching matches how they learn? What if that teaching style helps students improve their grade within a short time? What if the parents agree with a radical new way of teaching? Talk less of the fact that the academies main mission is to help students pass standardized tests that have a specific way to get to the right question.
Lee Junho brings back all the bad memories of MLs in dramas that have disrepected their love interest but are not called out on it, and instead have the FL bend into pretzels to follow them. Why are we still writing men like this in 2024?
I also haven't warmed up to Mr. Pyo. He felt humiliated and lashed out, yes. But he also had a big part to play in that humiliation. Like Jun Ho, he treats everyone disrespectfully and then expects them to apologize to him when his feelings get hurt.
His behaviour reminds me of how teenagers can be when they think about the authority figures (especially teachers) in their lives. To them, it can be hard to imagine those authority figures as fully realized people outside of the classroom setting.
I wish the show had given it a couple of episodes for them to transition from student/teacher into a relationship. Then Junho might have had to come to terms with SYJ the person instead of as the ideal.
Her motivations then might have been survival, but now that she's regained her hunger for change, it feels like she's become swept up in the feeling of taking a chance on many things she wouldn't have before.
Episode 7 and 8 emphasized how much SYJ was having a change of heart in terms of the motivations towards her work. She wants a more human connection with her student, wants to motivate them to love the subject instead of rote memorization. And her conversation with her friend suggested that she was taking the same hard look at her personal life.
I've felt since episode 1 that Junho is hella pushy. All of his declarations and confessions are self-centred. Persuading her to do that joint campaign. Asking her to stay instead of chasing the new job. Confessing his feelings while they're at work, and not even giving her the chance to think it over but insisting that she give him the reaction he expects. Even when he confessed, he followed it up by mentioned that he had been asked out by the hottest girl in school. IDK, he's so pushy!
SYJ tho needs to take off her rose-colored glasses when it comes to him. He's a lot more clueless (or doesn't care) than his bravado shows. She knows what's at stake, and how much she's worked to get where she is. I wish she'll put her foot down. She's always worrying about Junho's future - which makes sense as she's his former teacher - but perphaps she should consider if he does the same for her. The last time Junho talked a big game, they fell flat on their face.
I'm finding it hard to enjoy the romance when there are so many people hoping for her downfall and SYJ lets him convince her to rush into things.
After 8 episodes, all I’ve seen so far is
1 Annoying AF characters.
2. FL has no backbone and excuses the same red-flag behaviour . Her previous boyfriend lies to her, love bombs her, steps over any boundaries she tries to draw… and is a potential serial killer. Yet all she cries about is how she can’t mourn him. His doppleganger is rude, aggressive and nearly chokes her to death. But when they meet again she tells him not to worry and shares a trite childhood story to comfort him. The ML himself tends to tell her how to feel, but she reads that as heartwarming.
3. SFL( the actress) is obnoxious, self obsessed and manipulative. She’s supposed to be the comic relief but she has a habit of foisting herself on others without giving anything back.
4. ML has a saviour complex and tho we’re supposed to find his actions caring, it just comes across as controlling as well
5. Writer does not allow characters to reflect on themselves and their impact on those around them. Just because they’re in pain we’re supposed to root for them.
If you look at how her former-bf and ex-fiancee manipulated her: it wasn't with violence. But insidious "niceness", with them preying on her willingness to give them the benefit of doubt. Who would ever be able to fully trust anyone after that.