Don't Call Me Ma'am does a phenomenal job of capturing the suffocating pressure on women to sacrifice their happiness in the face of tradition, and the entitlement that, even if wronged, one should pretend as if nothing happened is overwhelming to watch. Honestly, the message this drama sends, and I hope there is one, needs to be strong in that divorce taboos and entitled behaviours cannot and will not trump mental health and personal well-being.
My frustration with Ju Yeong seems to grow with each episode. She is desperately hanging on to a man who clearly is not interested in her, let alone conceiving a child. His selfishly indulgent obsession with dolls speaks volumes. His lack of interest in her is devastating, and frankly, I'm furious that she puts up with it. She needs to prioritize herself and get rid of him. Letting go of that baggage would be the ultimate act of self-care, and I hope she gets there soon.
How about the situation with Na Jeong? It's enraging! The fact that her cheating husband and everyone at their workplace is in on the secret, leaving her completely in the dark, is a collective cruelty. I was desperate for the big reveal in this episode, not sure if she finds out or not, but I hope she gets rid of him on the spot when she does.
I sincerely hope the takeaway from this drama is a liberating one: that it is absolutely okay for women to shed anything and anyone that weighs them down in this world, and to refuse to uphold toxic traditions just for the sake of it. Women everywhere should choose themselves first. On a separate note, some of these outfits are not work-appropriate. Who dresses like that to the office????
why’s season 3 available on Netflix Korea but not Netflix international? I thought SBS were going to release…
It basically comes down to licensing agreements. Netflix has to buy the rights to stream a show in every single country separately. Just because they paid for it in Korea doesn't mean they bought the rights for it to stream every where else. Sometimes another streaming service beat them to it, or Netflix just didn't think enough people would watch it locally to justify the cost.
None of them deserve to live. From the person who designed the trap for innocent girls and women to the hands that grabbed them, to the ones that thought it was okay to traffic human beings, what an abomination. They are all guilty. But the buyers, they are the ones fueling the engine. They are the filth of the earth. They don't deserve a trial. They deserve to be shot dead where they sit. It makes me sick to my stomach. Humans truly are the monsters. That said, I am honestly obsessed with Kasamatsu Sho right now. But beyond him, I have so much respect for the fact that this show actually cast established Japanese talent. It’s makes the whole experience so much more authentic.
Wow, three seasons in and the show is still strong, still as impactful, if not even more, than ever, and it's only the first episode. While watching the first few opening minutes, I couldn't shake the feeling that this season, or at least the opening episodes, were going to hit closer to reality than ever, especially when I think about what's happening right now in Sudan, Somalia, South Africa, and other places around the world. These aren't places I'm mentioning lightly; they're places where sexual violence and trafficking of women aren't just issues, they're ongoing emergencies. And honestly, as I watched the first episode of Taxi Driver 3 swoop in to try and save victims the world has forgotten, I found myself wishing something like that actually existed for the countries and women who need it the most. That said, can we take a moment to swoon over Kasamatsu Shō; I loved him in Tokyo Vice (highly recommend if you haven’t watched it yet); it is so good to see him here. I am here for this season all the way!!!
So you think the FL looking even younger than 35 is a gopd idea with the old looking middle aged guy
I will not engage with your personal attacks or aggressive rhetoric. It tells me everything I need to know and proves my point.
You're attempts to use the real issue of industry ageism to attack the casting decisions of two talented actors whose work should be judged on its merit, not arbitrary age calculations has no merit. Furthermore, basing your outrage on a supposed "CEO/employee" dynamic is pure speculation when the drama is built on a rivalry between a seasoned actor and a tenacious reporter.
My focus remains on the quality of the drama, the success of the actors, and the necessity of judging art by its performance, not by an outdated spreadsheet of ages. I support talented actresses over 45 getting more leading roles, and that support does not require me to tear down veteran male actors. As far as I am concerned, this conversation is over.
So you think the FL looking even younger than 35 is a gopd idea with the old looking middle aged guy
How absurd. You are using the valid issue of female age discrimination to attack a specific male actor and the drama, which is utterly counterproductive to the cause you claim to champion. The notion that I am "ignoring" the problem is absurd. I am actively supporting the idea that talent and narrative matter most for both men and women. If you genuinely cared about longevity and opportunity for older actresses, you would be advocating for more roles for them rather than attacking a veteran male actor who has earned his role.
Attacking this casting only reinforces the idea that there is an arbitrary age limit on who can work with whom, which is the very problem older actresses face. With that said, I will continue to celebrate the phenomenal acting and chemistry of Lee Jung Jae and Im Ji Yeon. Their success is a win for diverse storytelling, which is always better than clinging to small-minded age rules. Thank you!!!
I’m sure if there’s a reversal whereby the FL is old and the ML is young with the same age gap, the feminists…
I wholeheartedly agree with this observation. It perfectly highlights the double standard. If the roles were reversed, an older, established female lead paired with a younger male lead of the same age gap the same critics would be praising the show for being progressive. We have clear evidence of this with the excellent 2014 drama Witch's Romance. That show paired Uhm Jung Hwa (in her early 40s) with a much younger Park Seo Joon, and it was widely lauded for their "amazing chemistry" and for showing that communication and talent make the age gap irrelevant.
The fact that this pairing in Nice To Not Meet You is seen as a problem only when the ML is older confirms my original point: the backlash isn't about chemistry or credibility; it's simply about clinging to outdated, gendered expectations for romantic leads. We should be celebrating all actors based on their performance not their age or how good they look.
So you think the FL looking even younger than 35 is a gopd idea with the old looking middle aged guy
Chemistry is driven by acting talent, not by an arbitrary age gap number. Lee Jung Jae and Im Ji Yeon are phenomenal actors whose performances are driving the story, which is what matters in a drama. Furthermore, the drama is built around the clash between their different life stages and careers, making the dynamic enjoyable rather than unbelievable. To insist that a talented leading man is only allowed to romance an older actress, or that a younger actress might not enjoy the role because the leading man is older, misses the point of diverse storytelling and, frankly, proves my original point.
An immediate 10/10 masterpiece. I'm already completely hooked. Lee Jung Jae looks phenomenal. I deeply appreciate his work. I didn't recognize Im Ji Yeon at first, but this look on her is stunning; it truly makes her look younger than her age. And Kim Ji Hoon is simply gorgeous!
I am giving a deliberate high rating to counter-measure against the small-mindedness I'm seeing online. Those people who are trying to trash this show/actor just because the lead isn't what they fantastically envision a main lead in a romance drama should look like deserve a reality check. The notion that older actors shouldn't lead romantic dramas is foul, outdated, and frankly, needs to end.
This is the kind of cathartic drama I've been waiting for! I genuinely hope the execution of this storyline is as powerful as the premise promises. The core concept is deeply compelling: the ultimate act of fierce, protective loyalty. It makes one truly want to believe that if facing abuse, your best friend would step and take action, if not with a literal final action, then with a commitment to fierce, unwavering defense. Here’s me hoping the drama delivers on this powerful bond
With 15 years of age difference between the actors, she is his "first love" and will "reappear in front of him…
The discourse surrounding significant age differences in loving relationships often puzzles me. When it comes to genuine connection, why is age given such disproportionate weight? To question or suggest or even question that a person in their fifties or whatever age, for that matter, cannot experience the profound, fresh wonder of falling in love for the very first time seems to indicate that there is a certain chronological timeline to one experiencing their "first love," which is ridiculous. Love, in its essence, is a connection of souls, not a calculation of years. It defies fixed rules.
3 
2 
My frustration with Ju Yeong seems to grow with each episode. She is desperately hanging on to a man who clearly is not interested in her, let alone conceiving a child. His selfishly indulgent obsession with dolls speaks volumes. His lack of interest in her is devastating, and frankly, I'm furious that she puts up with it. She needs to prioritize herself and get rid of him. Letting go of that baggage would be the ultimate act of self-care, and I hope she gets there soon.
How about the situation with Na Jeong? It's enraging! The fact that her cheating husband and everyone at their workplace is in on the secret, leaving her completely in the dark, is a collective cruelty. I was desperate for the big reveal in this episode, not sure if she finds out or not, but I hope she gets rid of him on the spot when she does.
I sincerely hope the takeaway from this drama is a liberating one: that it is absolutely okay for women to shed anything and anyone that weighs them down in this world, and to refuse to uphold toxic traditions just for the sake of it. Women everywhere should choose themselves first. On a separate note, some of these outfits are not work-appropriate. Who dresses like that to the office????
You're attempts to use the real issue of industry ageism to attack the casting decisions of two talented actors whose work should be judged on its merit, not arbitrary age calculations has no merit. Furthermore, basing your outrage on a supposed "CEO/employee" dynamic is pure speculation when the drama is built on a rivalry between a seasoned actor and a tenacious reporter.
My focus remains on the quality of the drama, the success of the actors, and the necessity of judging art by its performance, not by an outdated spreadsheet of ages. I support talented actresses over 45 getting more leading roles, and that support does not require me to tear down veteran male actors. As far as I am concerned, this conversation is over.
Attacking this casting only reinforces the idea that there is an arbitrary age limit on who can work with whom, which is the very problem older actresses face. With that said, I will continue to celebrate the phenomenal acting and chemistry of Lee Jung Jae and Im Ji Yeon. Their success is a win for diverse storytelling, which is always better than clinging to small-minded age rules. Thank you!!!
The fact that this pairing in Nice To Not Meet You is seen as a problem only when the ML is older confirms my original point: the backlash isn't about chemistry or credibility; it's simply about clinging to outdated, gendered expectations for romantic leads. We should be celebrating all actors based on their performance not their age or how good they look.
I am giving a deliberate high rating to counter-measure against the small-mindedness I'm seeing online. Those people who are trying to trash this show/actor just because the lead isn't what they fantastically envision a main lead in a romance drama should look like deserve a reality check. The notion that older actors shouldn't lead romantic dramas is foul, outdated, and frankly, needs to end.