This episode was so packed with complex emotions that I truly didn't tune into the second couple's shenanigans. Was too lost in my head about Seokryu, Seunghyo and their parents. Need to rewatch
Okay so I have a lot to say. But first off, I'm not annoyed by the "sick trope" as people are calling it. Unfortunately, people do fall ill in real life. It's not a random imaginary thing. I don't see the writer as being "lazy" for including it because I am only here to hear the story they want to tell us, not what I think is "perfect. As viewers, we might have expectations regarding plots, but in my opinion, a story is much greater than a plot. A story is about exploring characters, their complex relationships, and how life circumstances and decisions shape them. So my only expectation from a story is to capture the intricacies of life and depict different perspectives realistically, and I think they're doing a great job at that.
Coming to Seokryu, I think it's abundantly clear why she felt the need to hide it from her family, given her brother had a congenital heart problem. The preferential treatment she was given at home must have felt understandable as she grew up, and she took all the burden to her head. Burden about finances, about her mom's lost potential which was also due to lack of money, of always being first at things no matter what because she had to be absolutely perfect to be successful and financially capable in the harsh world she had been exposed to. I truly understand her situation and I really feel for her. This is as real as it gets.
As for her asshole ex, he's clearly taking advantage of their shared history. He must have justified his cheating as a one-time mistake, and to him being privy to her health issues trumps all kinds of transgressions. In our worst times, we lean on any shoulder we can find. I'm sure he was helpful to her during that hard time, but that doesn't mean they're good for each other or that she owes him something. It's hard for her to untangle these things.
God, these are very real emotions. Guilt, shame, helplessness, sorrow... I've barely scratched the spectrum of emotions I'm sure Seokryu is feeling. No one talks about these hard things. Sigh. It's okay if people don't like this because they had expectations of a light romcom. But I for one truly appreciate this show for giving us Seokryu and Seunghyo as these flesh-and-blood people with real lives. I understand them in my soul.
I love love loved how the old teacher told Seunghyo to honor the past as it moves on to its new era (paraphrasing a bit, will update with the exact quote) when talking about the swimming pool, and how he obviously applied it to his relationship with Seokryu.
Thinking about Seokryu asking Seunghyo to answer her question later, but not because of her ex… I wonder what’s going on in her head. The mystery of her time in the US and what exactly happened during her break is scaring me a bit.
I have a lot of thoughts about Seung-hyo's mom so it's impossible to write them all. But let me talk about a less-mentioned aspect of her story: how hard of a profession being a diplomat can be. Every career has its challenges, but we should appreciate the people who work in far-lying areas for our respective countries, such as diplomats. It isn't easy to always be moving, not being able to give your kids a stable place to be, being away from family etc. Seung-hyo’s family’s issues seem to stem from a combination of miscommunication, misunderstandings and some genuine underlying issues. Can't wait to see how this storyline will be taken forward.
Enjoyed this episode so much! So many things are said between the lines. So many vulnerable emotions. Cannot wait…
I have to say, I was seeing tiny signs of Seokryu's feelings so that twist is a satisfying sort of surprise. If you note from the first two episodes themselves, she would sometimes not retort back to his taunts. Like that moment on the roof in episode 2 when she essentially wanted him to ask her what happened for her to return, but he said he wasn't curious. Or her overexplaining why she didn't care about her mock exam. Little things like that. Let's wait and watch where they take us.
Lastly, even more curious about what happened on her break... Trust the writers will tell that story well because they have been very subtle with it till now
Enjoyed this episode so much! So many things are said between the lines. So many vulnerable emotions. Cannot wait for the next episode. Some spoiler-ish comments in the reply:
Some good news (at least I think so) for people getting worried about her nosebleed… every week TVN releases diary entries by two characters. Last week, they had one by Dong-jin. He mentioned that his sister Seok-ryu studied for the mock exam while having nosebleeds but she bailed out on the exam day. So maybe she is just one of those people who has nosebleeds due to stress.😁 Perhaps that’s why Seung-hyo and Dong-jin weren’t too surprised by her nosebleed in episode 6.
You know what makes this situation especially hard for Seung-hyo? When you're suffering from heartache and internal conflict like he is, you need to talk about it with your friend. Seung-hyo tends to bottle up feelings because of his nature and upbringing and Seok-ryu was someone who helped him through some callous times. However, not only does she not understand what's going on this time, he can't share it too. I loved that he was able to open up a bit with Dan-ho. Their burgeoning friendship is heartwarming. You can find new friends that are willing to listen at any age if you're willing to take the leap.
As for Seok-ryu, she's going about it the same way as when Seung-hyo had his accident. She will keep pushing the pressure point until things are out in the open. "A damn lunatic wielding an axe at a bear who trapped himself in a cave. That's your identity." Seung-hyo knows it damn well too. I love the consistent characterization. One thing's for sure - this show has really hammered in that good arguments are often needed to get to the other side of the river. That a seemingly calm and silent existence is not the pinnacle of relationships. Water needs to keep moving, even if it is in the form of a storm. Hopefully, we'll see the rainbow soon :) That got too cheesy in the end. XD
When Seung-hyo said "My body is bruised and battered from everything you put me through" in the first episode, the line stuck in my head for some reason. I got the feeling that he meant more than just physical bruises. Glad my sixth sense is working right. Man's heart is so bruised by the anguish of being unable to express his feelings the first time around that he can't move on. He doesn't want to be overtaken by the past but he'll come to realize that by running from it, he's still allowing it to control him.
It took a decade for him to get back into a swimming pool, so we can tell that when he feels hurt, he feels it deeply. Looking forward to how he'll break out of his patterns.
Going back to the second episode... the playground umbrella scene was one of the most touching moments I've ever seen on TV. And that was before he even acknowledged his hidden feelings for her. Gosh I love these two
Guys on watching next week's preview multiple times, I'm convinced that the scene where Seung-hyo is walking and encounters Seok-ryu with her ex is after the ex has gotten enough scoldings/beatings from everybody. The way Seung-hyo is smirking on seeing them is suspicious. What do you all think? Talking about this scene btw: https://x.com/MeeeAisha/status/1830242550663557262
When she brought him the first meal she had cooked from the cooking class, his feelings were written all over…
Stop you're making me tear up 😭 He was smiling so hard when she finally discovered her dream. He must be so happy seeing her enjoy the classes, but he couldn't show it :( And then turns out she made something for him. Oof, man is going though deep emotions. Can't wait for when he's able to say it aloud.
I definitely agree with you. In real life, when experiencing such situations, not everyone truly has that courage…
Agree on the "green flag" part, hehe. He's so thoughtful and supportive, of course I love Seung-hyo. I was more referring to the stereotypical way people talk about Kdrama male leads sometimes. Also agree on the trope part! I appreciate that they are letting their story take its own time. There are moments where we have to be uncomfortable with the characters and it makes it all the more real and affecting.
Some viewers are frustrated with Seung-hyo's recent silence towards Seokryu, but his past sheds light on his behavior.Growing…
Wow you really hit the nail on its head here! This sums up why Seung-hyo is the way he is. We all get used to handling adversity in different ways - fight, flight, freeze or fawn- and it's hard to rewire our responses. His reaction after his accident also sheds light on this, as he was unable to confront the situation until Seok-ryu helped him express his emotions. Even after that, he didn't enter a swimming pool for over a decade. Seok-ryu is kind of like that swimming pool for him.
I know people are bewildered/annoyed with Seung-hyo avoidance of Seok-ryu but to me it feels realistic. None of us can claim that we always make the most logical decisions. Everyone wants "green flag boyfriends" but I like that he is someone with his own baggage and imperfections. A painful fact of life is that we are going to hurt the very people we love. In any case, I do want to point out that he's not being some toxic asshole, he's just avoiding her.
And I think it's understandable where he's coming from. After all, he doesn't know he's in a romcom kdrama where everything works out in the end. His conversation with Dan-ho was also illuminating. "He's finally settled down now and doesn't want to go back to that time." But it's more complicated than just self-preservation. How can he confess when Seok-ryu just broke up her engagement with a guy she claims to still love? And more than that, I think he truly believes that it's an impossibility for his feelings to ever be reciprocated. So instead of messing up their relationship forever, we would rather create some distance between them.
The rudeness is an overcompensation so that his true feelings don't come out. But from the last scene, I think the fact that she claims to know everything about him but still doesn't know his feelings for her also anguishes him. All her tiny gestures of care and love also end up hurting him because they can never mean what he wants them to mean. Argh the angst is real y'all.
What a beautifully shot episode. There were so many scenes that I could use as my wallpaper. Having freshly prepared noodles out in a verandah when it's raining after a day of hard work... that's heaven right there<3
I love that they showed Korean culture in different ways. If I hadn't known this was by the makers of Hometown Cha Cha Cha, this episode would definitely have made me google it.
The two moments when Seung-hyo had to hear Seok-ryo confess feelings for somebody else (for Brian or her ex fiance) were quite affecting. Another scene I loved was when Atelier In employees were having lunch with Seok-ryu and Seung-Hyo kept rejecting anything that referenced "going back". Him trying to run away from his feelings was quite relatable.
The ex's plot was done well I think. And the actress that plays her is stunning. Also loved the female gaze when Seok-ryu stares at Seung-hyo doing pottery. Subtle and effective.
This was a slower episode but I really liked its slice-of-life nature.
Coming to Seokryu, I think it's abundantly clear why she felt the need to hide it from her family, given her brother had a congenital heart problem. The preferential treatment she was given at home must have felt understandable as she grew up, and she took all the burden to her head. Burden about finances, about her mom's lost potential which was also due to lack of money, of always being first at things no matter what because she had to be absolutely perfect to be successful and financially capable in the harsh world she had been exposed to. I truly understand her situation and I really feel for her. This is as real as it gets.
As for her asshole ex, he's clearly taking advantage of their shared history. He must have justified his cheating as a one-time mistake, and to him being privy to her health issues trumps all kinds of transgressions. In our worst times, we lean on any shoulder we can find. I'm sure he was helpful to her during that hard time, but that doesn't mean they're good for each other or that she owes him something. It's hard for her to untangle these things.
God, these are very real emotions. Guilt, shame, helplessness, sorrow... I've barely scratched the spectrum of emotions I'm sure Seokryu is feeling. No one talks about these hard things. Sigh. It's okay if people don't like this because they had expectations of a light romcom. But I for one truly appreciate this show for giving us Seokryu and Seunghyo as these flesh-and-blood people with real lives. I understand them in my soul.
Lastly, even more curious about what happened on her break... Trust the writers will tell that story well because they have been very subtle with it till now
Some spoiler-ish comments in the reply:
As for Seok-ryu, she's going about it the same way as when Seung-hyo had his accident. She will keep pushing the pressure point until things are out in the open. "A damn lunatic wielding an axe at a bear who trapped himself in a cave. That's your identity." Seung-hyo knows it damn well too. I love the consistent characterization. One thing's for sure - this show has really hammered in that good arguments are often needed to get to the other side of the river. That a seemingly calm and silent existence is not the pinnacle of relationships. Water needs to keep moving, even if it is in the form of a storm. Hopefully, we'll see the rainbow soon :) That got too cheesy in the end. XD
It took a decade for him to get back into a swimming pool, so we can tell that when he feels hurt, he feels it deeply. Looking forward to how he'll break out of his patterns.
Also agree on the trope part! I appreciate that they are letting their story take its own time. There are moments where we have to be uncomfortable with the characters and it makes it all the more real and affecting.
And I think it's understandable where he's coming from. After all, he doesn't know he's in a romcom kdrama where everything works out in the end. His conversation with Dan-ho was also illuminating. "He's finally settled down now and doesn't want to go back to that time." But it's more complicated than just self-preservation. How can he confess when Seok-ryu just broke up her engagement with a guy she claims to still love? And more than that, I think he truly believes that it's an impossibility for his feelings to ever be reciprocated. So instead of messing up their relationship forever, we would rather create some distance between them.
The rudeness is an overcompensation so that his true feelings don't come out. But from the last scene, I think the fact that she claims to know everything about him but still doesn't know his feelings for her also anguishes him. All her tiny gestures of care and love also end up hurting him because they can never mean what he wants them to mean. Argh the angst is real y'all.
I love that they showed Korean culture in different ways. If I hadn't known this was by the makers of Hometown Cha Cha Cha, this episode would definitely have made me google it.
The two moments when Seung-hyo had to hear Seok-ryo confess feelings for somebody else (for Brian or her ex fiance) were quite affecting. Another scene I loved was when Atelier In employees were having lunch with Seok-ryu and Seung-Hyo kept rejecting anything that referenced "going back". Him trying to run away from his feelings was quite relatable.
The ex's plot was done well I think. And the actress that plays her is stunning. Also loved the female gaze when Seok-ryu stares at Seung-hyo doing pottery. Subtle and effective.
This was a slower episode but I really liked its slice-of-life nature.