MAI

Besides the obvious pacing issues (how the heck are they gonna tie up all these loose ends in 40 minutes?) my main issue is still that magic notebook. The show had done such a great job at keeping keeping things realistic: the time loops and Jinta were the only supernatural elements-- we hadn't seen any magical realism otherwise. And now that notebook seems to be the very key to wrapping up the season. And it just appeared out of thin air? More so, that notebook and Tin's memory-dreams now seem to play a more important role in changing Tin's feelings towards Tol than Tol's actual behavior. I thought the whole point of this new loop was for Tol to seduce Tin anew. With this notebook that seems hardly necessary. The whole thing is just too convenient.

Edit: Also, the least they could have done was give Dr. Sak a more sensible backstory. What is his reason for being such a money-hungry asshole? They could have easily spun this as the sad reality of workplace hierarchy, overwork, and ageism and, yet, we get a flat villain and his intern-spawn.

I could excuse some level of fluff and happiness since that's what you'd expect from a romance show. Most people want happy endings and, although I had personally would have wanted a different plot resolution, I am also not too bothered by the way the show wrapped things up. But I think I audibly shorted when they dared to give us that "Why did we break up? I don't even remember" dialogue. It made no sense whatsoever. You don't just break up/ghost someone for a year and then simply continue a relationship where you left it. In what world are there no consequences for having been dumped by your significant other? And what explanation did Ji Woo give Seo Joon for acting like an absolute ass? It is highly unlikely Seo Joon hasn't developed major trust issues over those months (especially since he was already coping with abandonment issues due to his family situation). Besides, both guys obviously have their own mental health challenges to work through and, with how the show ends now, those issues are hardly acknowledged. Seo Joon simply talks about the root of his fear for shattering glass and that's it? Ji Woo won't ever feel insignificant or lonely again? In the real world, love is hardly the solution for everything.

For a season so focused on emotional conflict and mental health the reconciliation between Seo Joon and Ji Woo was too quick and convenient. This was by no means a bad sequel but I just wish the plot resolution would have been more realistic. There is no way getting back together with your ex (after he has ghosted you for a year) doesn't require hard work and possible therapy.

When camp, melodrama, and 1970s spy-movies join in unholy matrimony. A true cult classic!

I'm most disappointed by Seo Joon's trauma remaining a mystery. His past could have been such an interesting plotline for the second season but they've given us nothing. Ji Woo's self-esteem issues are more understandable and visible to me than Seo Joon's past but, in my opinion, the scriptwriter really missed the mark with the way the story is unfolding. It would have made the show much more meaningful if we would actually be able to see the characters confront their traumas. What's the purpose of alluding to mental health issues if the plot will only continue to focus on ex-girlfriends and random secondary characters?

The piñata is where I lost it LOL! Now, that is main character energy!

I agree with the overall sentiment-- after all, nobody's perfect so it would be presumptuous to expect someone to have all their shit together before entering a relationship. There is also just a certain beauty about two people coming together and figuring life out together. In the case of Seo Joon and Ji Woo the whole situation worked well because they balanced each other out. Seo Joon's expressive love and gifts managed to break down Ji Woo's emotional wall and Ji Woo offered the stability and hominess that Seo Joon needed in his turbulent celebrity life. Moreover, both guys had abandonment issues and both of them were in need of a partner who was committed and loyal. They were an overall great match.

However, this sequel is set a whole entire year after Ji Woo left for the country side. He literally vanished from Seo Joon's life. I could forgive someone leaving for a few weeks maybe but an entire year? Seo Joon knows Ji Woo and he is aware of his low self esteem but, yet, he didn't deserve to be abandoned and ghosted. That is the worst thing you can do to someone who already had abandonment issues. A simple apology is not gonna fix this. If the two of them would get together now, they would need to do a WHOLE LOT of work to make things work again.

NO BUT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! I also DEFINITELY need to summon my ex from the depths of who knows where every single time I have an existential crisis!? I cannot live my life without my ex-lover (who I haven't spoken to since my early teens??) confess to me while also giving me relationship advice!

Could the scriptwriter really not think of another way, LOL? Sure, you learn and grow as a person in each relationship. But they really took it too far here.

I think you're absolutely spot on in your analysis of Ji Woo's thought-patterns! And I personally don't even think that the screenwriter failed to get this point across at all (at some point in the dialogue of episode 8 Ji Woo literally states that he felt like he didn't exist on his own-- that he seemed to existed as an extension of Seo Joon). The reason people in the comment section don't seem to understand these thoughts is because they don't take into account that Ji Woo is only bad at communicating but, more importantly, that he has extremely low self esteem as well. His way of dealing with problems is to blame himself, beat himself up, and flee the scene. Moreover, it is clear in his interactions with the villagers that he believes he is not deserving of love (he ends up shedding tears when they end supporting him after the scandal). Even in Seoul, Ji Woo constantly felt undeserving of Seo Joon's love. He felt awkward about the fancy, expensive car and he believed Seo Joon was better off celebrating his birthday with celebrities than with him. Ji Woo is an emotional masochist. He feels like he deserves to suffer.

I love seeing these complex feelings play out on screen (in a miniseries no less) but I highly doubt that Ji Woo's self-esteem issues can be solved in only 2 episodes. The guy needs therapy, no relationship can fix his complex. Besides, I'm also quite disappointed that the screenwriter is using over-used tropes to explore all of this. The girlfriend only serves as a mirror: it is through talking to her that Ji Woo finally realises what he has done, and that the loneliness he felt during his relationship with Seo Joon was his own responsibility.
I find this simply boring. There are other ways for main characters to grow and have insights. Why does it always have to be the ex-girlfriend that has no significant personality or purpose to the plot otherwise?

Edit: overall, this show has done amazing in the melodramatic department. It is is phenomenal in provoking emotion, the script shows and doesn't tell, and the dialogue is great and subtle.... But, dear god, plot-wise this season has been underwhelming for me.

100% agree! But I think it's just a matter of marketing here. Calvin Klein has a modern, sexy image (carefully curated by their--often provocative--ad campaigns featuring hot, undressed men and women). Their underwear is pricey enough to be considered somewhat exclusionary but is still affordable for their target demographic: fashion conscious, upper middle class individuals. Moreover, their designs are simple. No weird or daring patterns. They are safe yet fashionable.

Thailand's wages are also considerably lower than those in many Western countries. I would not be surprised if Calvin Klein is considered much more upscale there than it is in Europe/America. International brands tend to do quite well in Asia too (as a comparison: franchises like ZARA are similarly considered quite fancy in the Philippines-- that shop is often joked to be the place where sugar daddies will take their babies).

When it comes to marketing and branding, the actual product is not always most important either. What matters is whether people will buy into the image of a brand. Calvin Klein has constructed the myth that, as long as you wear one of their boxer briefs, you too can look like an attractive-sexual-god(ess). Whether that's true... I'll leave to that to others to decide. 😜

I'm guessing Calvin Klein's market competitors are brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, and Levi's. (Maybe Björn Borg too? I remember the latter being quite popular in some European countries a few years back-- but I rarely see them anymore). None of those brands have spend that much resources on advertising their underwear alone. And none of them are ever as daring as Calvin Klein.

I can't believe I just went on a tangent discussing underwear brands. Time to go to bed. 😂


Edit: just a fun anecdote. A few weeks back, my sister proudly showed me her new, extremely low-rise jeans(which would basically have her entire butt crack on show if she'd every decide to bend over). She did not mind in the slightest--as long as she'd wear the proper Calvin Klein underwear with it at least. The underwear was part of her outfit. This simply shows how powerful that CK logo is.

Thais (as most people in Asia really) just tend to love luxury brands. Daonuea has also been sporting the Ralph Lauren look, from what I've seen so far. It just so happens that Calvin Klein has done well in the marketing department and has established itself as approachable yet sexy brand. It's the first brand people (especially men) flock to when they want to elevate their undies-game. I personally find their boxer briefs quite boring but I suppose it's the image that counts. 😂

As someone who has yet to watch the second episode this whole dick-padding convo was hilariously out of context and it has now given me the motivation to not drop this mess just yet. 😂

I almost died laughing reading your comment (managed to pull myself together just in time-- I'm not ready to join Tin in heaven just yet). It makes surprisingly much sense, tho, the theory of Tin's sister be orchestrating the whole thing for Tin to find meaning in life again. Alternative ending? 😂

The only thing I need now is to watch Tin's sister and Jinta taking turns on heaven's elliptical!

I think so too! I would just make a whole lotta sense for Tin's death to be the key to this whole mess. That way everything will be able to come full circle: the doctor saves his patient; the patient saves his doctor. From next week's preview it definitely seems like the fate of both men are connected. That means we may be seeing @anchorenomore prediction of Tol taking over the loops come to life after all!

This was by no means a bad episode but I wish it would have done more in the organ-trafficking-department. It felt a bit lackluster to see Sing and Gap escape so easily without them also discovering at least something about the organization (and than to magically show up for their shift at the hospital on time too LOL). Everyone already knew that Doi was one shady motherfucker so it's not like that came as a surprise.

I am also still waiting for Tin's sister-issues to make a comeback: they tried so hard in the first few episodes to show how he tragically lost her and now she's never spoken of again. If they really want to push the 'everything comes full circle' narrative you'd expect that Tol would play a crucial role in mending Tin's emotional wounds.

But, yeah, as I said: this episode felt like the calm before the storm. I'm suspecting the upcoming episodes will go all out (and then I'll regret every claiming that nothing much happened LOL).

Although I still enjoyed it, this was probably the episode with the least amount of substance. It felt like a filler to me since nothing distinctly new happened or was discovered. Of course, Tin is dead-- admittedly a pretty important detail LOL-- but, in terms of the overall plot progression, this episode has given us nothing. We still haven't gotten any hints about the organ trafficking and the way Tol's family is involved; we still haven't learnt anything about that sustainability group project; and even Mai's existence has been conveniently swept under the carpet. This episode seemed to mainly get us ready for the last loop and eventual plot reveal. The calm before the storm maybe?

Oh, yeah, remember watching His (the 2020 version) a few months back! I hadn't realised it had a prequel until you mentioned it, lol. It could totally work as a stand-alone.
I remember really enjoying that movie, tho! It had this quiet air of peace that I've only really seen Japanese movies pull off with that much delicacy. There's something so comforting about watching the mundanity of human life depicted on screen. Those kind of movies definitely require more emotional investment than your average fluff but they're indeed much more rewarding!

So kind, thank you! I don't think anyone's waiting to read full-length blog reviews with my thoughts, tho. MDL is enough for me now, LOL.

Or... maybe he's secretly taking revenge on Seo Joon for semi-stalking him now by feeding him pre-made pasta. There is nothing more blasphemous! A new way to cuss out your ex, LOL.

Very true! I think we may have an uprising (complete with pitchforks and torches) if this won't have a happy ending. But my masochist self can dream, LOL.

Ji Woo definitely needs to learn how to open his mouth. Most of the issues could already have been resolved if he'd just communicated his feelings. It's not uncommon for people to feel like they're losing their sense of self in relationships and Ji Woo really didn't need to ghost his boyfriend to go find it. You can work on yourself also within relationships.

While his restaurant is not doing that well, Ji Woo himself appears to have found his place on the country side. If he wanted an easier life, outside of the overwhelming attention of the capital and its paparazzi, the two of them could at least have tried partial-long distance. This season has shown that Seo Joon is more than willing to take long drives. No solution is perfect. But ghosting your long term boyfriend isn't either.

Sometimes people simply act a certain because it's the only way they've been taught to act. Ji Woo has only ever known abandonment: his parents ditched him when he was young and hist first ever girlfriend similarly ghosted him. I'm pretty sure he was aware of the hurt he was causing but he simply had no experience 'doing it the right way'. People are shaped by their experiences.