bloomingtide

Yeah same, lol. She is there to bring the leads closer together through her schemes and targeting Yeondoo. Especially with Taekyung's streak of protectiveness for YD lately this will escalate them growing closer, instead of tearing them apart like Wicked Delulu Witch is planning, heh.

I do think he isn't trusting her and just playing along for now, to find out what her angle is. He has seen her true colors already after all.

Cruella claiming having saved Yeondoo may momentarily slant goodwill in her favor bc he is increasingly zoning in on and worried about YD and her moods/wellbeing. But it won't last long bc his MIL will uncover the lie behind it.

You spelled Roy Kim wrong 😝

The mood swings would make for an amusing scene tho 🤭

Oh yeah I read the the symptoms of sympathy pregnancy go away in the second trimester and return for the third. And he has it now even before being in a committed relationship with YD and much up in the air between them. How much worse then will it be then for the poor guy when they are together, and he's loving her for real (most likely even legally married to her) at the point the third trimester comes around/birth is impending with him being full fledged, fussing father to be? Especially when he sees his wife being in pain then? Someone sedate this man pls 😅😂🤣

No I meant I learned about the divorce laws in SK through this show. Independent from its plot or outcome 🤭😉

Yeah i expect this to happen at the halfway mark or so.

😂 😂 😂 The poor guy.🤣 Lets hope he will be spared of the other symptoms at least. Or maybe food cravings/mood swings are next for him, who knows. The latter would be very amusing whenever dealing with joseon granny lmao.

And i love this about this drama. Found/chosen family is never not my favorite trope 🥹

https://media.tenor.com/lIeLc_mjGYoAAAAC/proud-touched.gif

https://www.pampers.com/en-us/pregnancy/pregnancy-symptoms/article/couvade-syndrome

("One area of couvade syndrome research has focused on a man’s levels of empathy and sensitivity in general. Some studies have shown that sensitive male subjects with pregnant partners experience the physiological symptoms of pregnancy as a way to deal with the psychological distress of becoming a father. This type of empathy is called “compathy,” which refers to the symbiotic sharing of feelings, and, in the case of couvade syndrome, even the physical aspects like morning sickness. Another theory is that men may develop pregnancy symptoms as part of a phenomenon called “loading.” This entails psychologically feeling and taking on the suffering of someone else—in this case the pregnant partner—and manifesting it physically. ")

We stan an emphatic king 👑🤩

It's funny how Taekyung has basically forgotten about them being a time-limited deal by now with how insistent he was about it at the beginning. Shows that he has caught or is at the cusp of catching feels for her (those loving side-glances at her sleeping in the passenger seat are pretty telling tho 🤭) And YD (always) being the rational one between those two (but tearing up a little too) reminding him, much to his dismay 😆 I love that development, it is very telling about where they are at with each other rn, emotionally.

I do wonder how the writers gonna handle the time-limit set by the leads, particularly with how their bond is progressing. As i see it there are two main possibilities for the plot:

A) Sea Witch Sejin speeds up their level of closeness through her schemes, involuntarily aids them in realizing their feelings before the three months mark is up. So they re-discuss their plans, maybe/possibly even under the light that they played along with looney bin queen and know that she knows about the 3 months date. So they void the contract and stay together in the annex until the truth about their plan/parentage etc is inadvertently revealed and all hell breaks loose. Cue separation, them fighting opposition to be together again etc

B) Same, but without them committing/confessing their feelings to themselves and/or each other. Denial denial denial and them awkwardly shuffling around each other until the time is up, and they part ways, reluctantly. A few days, maybe a week or three even pass with both going back to their old lives as if nothing happened. But it is not the same anymore. It is empty, drab without the other in it and they miss each other. Badly. So they meet up whether by choice or coincidence and tearfully reunite after/while confessing their feelings for each other. Advantage is they can sell their split as a mistake made to their families (not even a lie) and move back together, starting their relationship for real (pun intended) without faking it any longer. Until the truth comes out that is and they have to face this crisis together.

There could be variables to a/b of course or something else entirely, idk. But either of those two direction seems the most likely for the plot. Looking forward to the leads' further relationship development and to see how the writer will handle that bit :D

In case of adultery his agreement for divorce is not needed. She is tasked then to bring proof for it at court of course, which, lol, won't be hard either. (watching strangers again was good for something, at least lol)

i actually feared for her life/the baby when Yeondoo was loaded into Cruella's car, ngl. And i kinda expect the banshee mom snapping at any moment. I think she will be either end up dead or in jail 😬

Ngl, from what we have seen thus far of the guy, i don't want him anywhere near the child and i think both TK/YD would agree. I don't think he would even want to ever take up that responsibility, so why bother? And i think any attempts to claim the child as his own will only be made to get back at Yeondoo and Taekyung in particular who had hurt his fragile fragile male ego in taking interest in YD/having an "affair." (fake at that time but JH's reaction to it said it all) I highly doubt he cares for the kid anything beyond revenge, so it is better if he is fully out the picture. Plus we should always *always* remember that he wanted to force her having an abortion in case the kid is his. Absolute traaaaaaaaash (https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EVpp4GFUUAUB0dJ.jpg)

Correct. From what google told me about sympathetic pregnancy is due to the guy stressing/worrying about either fatherhood and/or the wellbeing of his partner and child (especially first time dads.) As well as a sign of the man having a high level of empathy with his partner and her pregnancy/ him being sensitive to the changes she is going through. Which in Taekyung's case is also showing the deepening bond he is developing rn with YD and the child. Nothing about is about is due to genes. It is all about empathy and their bond to each other, which is a very good sign concerning their dynamic/relationship progression, actually. And we always love an empathic king 👑🤩

https://www.pampers.com/en-us/pregnancy/pregnancy-symptoms/article/couvade-syndrome

(also i agree that this out of the blue plot twist would be ass for too many reason, and defeat the whole purpose of the "choosing your family" theme in the drama)

Previews are always misleading ;)

It was an arranged marriage. He hasn't had feelings for her ever since she crushed his underneath her foot in the most cruel ways a decade or more ago (when he was in highschool)

And tbh, it is the opposite, Sea Witch serves basically to bring the leads closer together with her schemes, instead apart.

TK's fam:

Joseon Granny: Hopefully dead, getting a long overdue funeral arc? Lmao. Joke aside, I see a power shift happened to In Ok and Yeondoo, who keep challenging her more and more with fam members falling more onto their side than the bygone ruler. And it will bring the family closer together. Until the truth will uproot that again, i guess. And joseon granny will (try to) push her delulu throne heir down everyone's throat then again, TK's in particular (who, unlike in the beginning, will not sit on his hands and fight tooth and nails to be with YD instead) By then however, everyone has seen how unhinged and unreasonable the old bat is, so she will lose some or most of her control either way and her plans will fall through. May end up dying tor real to kickstart the company power struggle arc. Should she make it to the end, it is due to her having softened up a lot on Yeondoo and Taekyung. Otherwise i see a funeral arc for real, because they have lead plot armor/highest narrative importance after all, lmao.

TK's parents In Ok and Chan Sik; Will continue to be more supportive of and outspoken for the leads, which will help to unite the family, however momentarily. The truth coming will hurt them both deeply and cause a rift not only in the family but between them and their son. I see them turning into the disapproving parents trope for a bit, at least until TK/YD mend things and prove that they love each other for real now/by then. Their forgiveness will not come easy but it is earned in the end and they come around to love the child as their own grandkid too. however reluctant at first. (I think TK's acceptance and love for the kid will eventually win them over) Maybe the conflict will also serve to bring them closer together and for TK to "heal wounds of the past." If it goes off-rails in best makjang fashion, Chan Sik gonna die in a car accident or something to heat up the company power struggle. I hope he survives tho, lol.

TBC

Yeondoo's fam:

Bong Nim: Gonna get an arc involving either becoming close friends or get a romance arc with Jang Ho (SJ's dad.) Keeps working in the restaurant that may struggle to keep afloat in between but ultimately will prevail and be successful. Will be very shocked and feel betrayed by the truth, but in the end accept TK as her SIL fr, because she has come to love him a lot already. Hopefully chills out a lot when her grandkid is born, lol.

Kang Dae Sung (uncle): Idk, really. I think he is just there for the most part, working in the restaurant and such, supporting YD when needed. Biggest thing is probably his secret child that got mentioned by mysterious lady. So my crack theory is that this is Jay. Normally cousins do not look alike THAT much, but hey this is kdramaland 😂 Maybe gets a love interest on his own still or reunite with an old lover?

Oh Dong Wook: Jobhunt will continue, as does him doing part time jobs here and there, but he will find a stable job that financially secures both him and his daughter in the end. Maybe in his BIL's company, but would love to see him successful without being a nepo-baby. He will keep running into Yoo Myeong and eventually fall in love. Is still gonna hesitate to start a relationship due to his parental duties/not to uproot/upset his daughter. Tho he will give in and date her eventually, and probably face opposition from both, gong fam and his own daughter. Will lead to heartbreak but him/them coming out of it stronger. more mature. The Jay mystery is going to be solved, with Jay being a lost cousin. Lots of potential for story then with Jay too, but dunno in detail, lol. Maybe a love triangle? That would be wild, since both characters are the same actor, lmao.

Oh Soo Gyeom: Gonna continue to be the cutest cutie pie and lovely niece to YD/TK, May struggle with her dad's new relationship and act out, leading to their breakup, but will come around in the end. Will love her new little cousin very much. Maybe will meet her real/biological mother?

Here is mine, going by character by character, because easier

First the elephants in the proverbial room:

Taekyung: Is gonna fall first for YD as his already very present care/concern for her is the ideal gateway for romantic feelings. Might panic about it/living in denial for a bit in order to "keep his way of independent living" but will recognize then it holds little appeal for him now. (Maybe when she leaves and he is on his own again?) Gonna embrace and love his role as family man and find his home and stability/place to belong with YD and her kid he will love like his own. After their lie is exposed he will put his foot down and marry YD for real, because he loves her and to shield her (maybe at the end of the drama? or before in secret, lol) Hopefully keeps working as a doc and does not get pulled into the company heir power struggle nonsense, but it could happen. Gonna be bestest Son in Law, loving her family and being loved in return, while also maybe finding peace and acceptance with his own. May turn out the biological child of his adoptive father after all. His biggest crisis is probably when the truth comes to light, the obligatory (forced) separation with YD due to it, and when the "custody battle" about the child ensues later on. Lots of emotional turmoil for him, but makes it only clearer for him where he stands in the end and that is on YD's side. And he will fight for it, and her.

Yeondoo: She is gonna struggle in the Gong household for a bit longer, but eventually finding her footing and standing. Keeps challenging joseon granny, who either comes to love or begrudgingly accepts/tolerates her in the end. She is the catalyst that leads to TK being more accepted and included into his family. SJ will fuel her jealousy more and more, and her schemes will bring her closer with TK instead to split them up. Gonna be super-bothered when TK starts to avoid her due to denial of his feelings for he and it leads to realization of her own. Will most likely leave the household when the truth is exposed and also TK in best noble idiocy fashion. But sooner or later will mend things bc she loves TK too much and wants to be and live with him. Is gonna curb-stomp her shitty ex resurfacing and fight to be with Taekyung instead, resulting in marrying him for real/love against all (possible/likely) opposition. She will go back to teaching and i think in the end rebuilt her career, and come out of it even stronger. Shady teaching dude will try to undermine her once more but ultimately will fail. Is gonna share child-rearing duty with her then for real hubby and grandparents on both sides. Is gonna live her best life with her supportive and very loving husband, a cute kid and a finally no longer so annoying, naggy family (on both sides) lol.

More about the other characters, or rather the ones i don't hyperfocus on in this drama later on😆

That is not love, not even deep down. I rather think he sees her as his possession aka his emphasis on "wife", and it hurts his ego that someone else, a much better man at that, is romantically interested in her. And ofc he is panicking now with the lies/betrayal exposed as it threatens his status, reputation and way of comfortable living. So he is going to try everything to get her back, but not because he "suddenly realizes his love for her", but to soothe his own egotism and hurt pride/inferior complex. Not once he has thought about her feelings, what she wants, it is all about him alone and to go back to that cozy life he had with her with the free labor she provided all these years. That is why he wants to get her back and keep her with him. To him, she is his prized doll and housemaid, not an equal partner/spouse.