John Smith

I think one of the things that annoyed me about Sun Woo was that he came across as dull. He seemed like a 2D character in a 3D world. I did not care if he was rich, arrogant, pitiful, angry, or heartbroken. Be it the writing or the acting, Sun Woo just never seemed to connect with me. Even at the end of episode 14 where he looked like a sad sack, he seemed to be addressing the viewers, instead of Lee Dam, trying to get us to believe he actually liked her. I think some of the reason why 13 and 14 were so good was that Sun Woo only had a few scenes. I just felt more comfortable watching.

Ja Sung figured out a way to find a place for Young Won to stay several times. Shin Gyeom is rich as well. He could have done more than a sleeping bag and a heater.

She was radiant in episode 14.

She is charming.

He has done a good job in his role, and has really good chemistry with Lee Hye Ri. I dare not speak for everyone, but the drama did not do a good enough job of selling him as a gumiho. He seemed to be one of the cold, young chaebol/CEO of an Asian romantic comedy's first few episodes and has sort of stayed that way until the past few episodes where he has really become more human. I feel like I might get misunderstood if I do not emphasize that it is the execution of the story, not the acting that I felt could have been better.
Any compliment towards Lee Hye Ri's acting was not at the expense or exclusion of anyone else.

Lee Hye Ri was brilliant in episode 13. She actually has been stellar the whole series. Hye Sun may be the character that allows Lee Dam and the viewer to understand Woo Yeo's actions, but Lee Dam is the star that everyone gravitates towards. She treats them all different, but the same. My only complaint about the episode would be that too much screen time was given to Sun Woo.

We can all agree that there are far, far worse things than betting money on someone. Even if we keep it in the context of a relationship, drugging her, assaulting her, stalking, blackmailing her, identity theft, or so doing any of those to people she cares about would be horrible.
Of course, we could be using different scales.

No problem. We have to do something to pass the time in those five days before the new episodes air. Well, less than 12 hours now.

When commenters cannot agree on what fair is, how can they possibly find the middle? I would like to think I watch most dramas for the story, but sometimes I watch because there is an actor or actress I like. Sometimes the story is good, but the execution is not. Sometimes the story is bland, but the cast is vibrant. The really good dramas have the story, cast, and execution all come together.

I actually try to be reasonable with my words and tempered with my criticism. While I cannot say for certain how readers will interpret my words, I do make an effort to not be really harsh. I do not like the thought of getting bombarded with a string of profanity, nor do I like the thought that my words might upset someone or even worse, might make them cry. I usually read over my words several times before I press the post button. Do I not have posts that are not real harsh as well?

Not to defend Sun Woo, but he has not really done anything horrible. Flawed, yes. Uncomfortable, yeah. Most people can relate in some part to Sun Woo, or we know someone who is like Sun Woo. I think most commenters readily admit that his words and actions have not been stellar. There are probably very few viewers who would think that Lee Dam would or should choose Sun Woo. So, it is not as much of a double standard as it is compromise and personal preference. If there was a real love triangle, then Lee Dam has made her choice. The viewer should be allowed to make their own, although they may use different standards than the lead because they are not in the drama. Viewers, especially those who love and enjoy the drama tend to blur the lines when it comes to characters and cast.

I do not understand how as of episode 6, this is 0.7 points less than My Roommate Is a Gumiho, both of which are currently airing. I think My Roommate Is a Gumiho deserves its rating (and maybe higher). There is a lot of time left for this drama, but it is on par with MRIAG, even though they are different dramas.

Someone call the authorities and find out who stole half a point from this drama's rating.

The writer is human, the actor is human, the viewers are human, the commenters are human, Woo Yeo wants to be human, and those closest to him are human. You can see why he gets judged by human standards. Surely he has changed since episode three. One thing that the drama does not make clear is what happens when a fox becomes human. Do they start thinking like a human afterwards, or is that something that happens during the process of becoming human? I guess we will find out in the final few episodes.

I do hope the writers make it a point to show us more of Sun Woo's character after the likely rejection from Lee Dam. That is what I will base his character growth on. Just like the breakup that is bound to happen between Woo Yeo and Lee Dam, so we can see how they deal with being apart, but together. At least this breakup has a legitimate reason for it. So many dramas come up with terrible excuses for a breakup, and execute them even worse.

Of course Sun Woo's feelings got hurt, but that does not mean that Lee Dam did something wrong. One of the issues with Sun Woo is that we are only told he is a playboy/player and that is never really shown. He has rarely interacted with other females throughout the drama. So the viewers are left to determine just how much of a player he is/was and what that actually means. Lee Dam did her best to rebuff his advances in the nicest way possible for as long as possible, which probably did more harm than good overall.
Actually, you did say that part of you wishes that Dam would choose him (Sun Woo). Unless the amount of wish that you have in hopes they get together is zero, you made a point to emphasize you want them together.

I think it is fair to say that the SML behavior here is better than a lot of other SMLs, which does not excuse his behavior. He reminds me of the SML in True Beauty. More on the troubled side of bad, not the evil side. I do not want to draw comparisons to the SML of True Beauty because that was another show that commenters took strong sides and quite a few cases of the so-called second lead syndrome. I feel that if Sun Woo knew everything, he would be more sympathetic of the couple like Seo Jun was.

I think Sun Woo's character would have been better served having someone who was actively pursuing him or at least someone other than Lee Dam in his world for viewers to see his growth. He did sort of open up about things to his sister (shout-out to Kim Do Yeon), but just not enough time for me to see it or strong enough to feel it.

You asked a lot of questions that could merit a discussion all on their own. My responses are not meant to be complete or even factual, just what comes to my mind right now. There is nothing wrong with liking someone. Usually it is something we do not have control over. Acting on it can be problematic, but that does not stop most of us because it is like a drug that makes us say and do things we might not normally say or do. In Sun Woo's case, I think you can not like him or think his actions are bad, but still feel his disappointment and heartbreak in rejection. There are some people and characters that if you mention a good quality or feel sympathy for them, you can feel disgusted and certainly others might be disgusted with you. Sun Woo is not one of those characters (as of episode 12).

Creepy does have quite the negative connotation to it. Maybe awkward, unwanted, or unpleasant might be a better way to describe his actions. I think he dug himself such a deep hole with some viewers in the first part of the show that even if he improved, it is simply to "not as bad" instead of better or good.

I never said he lacked any growth, just that it was not a lot and entirely dependent on Lee Dam. If there is an alternate universe with a Lee Dam who is the type of person he needs, unlike the one from the drama, then that would be great.
Sun Woo's biggest lesson is to not be a SML when all the main and other major supporting cast are paired up.

There are still four episodes left. Perhaps he will learn more about Woo Yeo, and make some sort of selfless sacrifice to save one of them. Maybe he will "allow" her to seek her own happiness and we will see the tears roll down as they walk away in different directions. Maybe they will show his red string being tied to someone else, and have their "accidental" meeting towards the very end of the drama. Some of the similarities with Sun Woo and Seo Jun have me thinking it would be a great place for a cameo by Moon Ga Young. I think that is about all the Sun Woo hype train can really hope for.

Has he really shown a lot of growth? Take Lee Dam out of the drama and he is still the same person he was shown to be in the beginning. Lee Dam did not give him a taste of his own poison. From the limited interactions he has had with other females, Lee Dam has treated him much better than he has treated them. She has shown him the consideration and friendship that he has not seemed to show anyone, even Lee Dam. He has even mistaken that as some sort of subliminal message to keep pursuing her. They might make a nice couple if they became two different people, and Woo Yeo did not exist. That would be another story, and not this drama. How can anyone pair them up right now and think that the outcome would be anything positive?
It is fine if you like the actor, think he is doing a good job, and want to be supportive of his career. It is okay if you are personally attracted to his character and wish you had someone like that in your life. You should make those choices about you, not about Lee Dam. We all deserve better than to have someone force us to be with someone we do not want to be with.

I think you mean maturity and not age. It is clear that while Woo Yeo is old, he is all over the place when it comes to maturity. He as a high IQ, but relatively low EQ, especially when it involves Lee Dam. Even Hye Sun is not exempt from being immature, and she is hundreds of years old. For the rest of the cast, they are mostly university students. I would say Woo Yeo has more life experience, but Lee Dam has more experience actually living life.

I thought she keeps calling him Sir because she chose to call him that so it carries significance to her. I am not sure how long they have been/were dating, so maybe they have not gotten to the stage to change how they address each other. They have other issues to worry about before they become Honey Bun and Cutie Pie.

I agree about the imbalance of power. I think it is in Lee Dam's favor and almost from the very beginning. He needed her energy. She added her clause to the contract. She either was able to make herself remember him, or make him unable to let her forget him. (drama did not make that clear). Love is love, but she has a large, caring support system around her when things get tough. He can talk to Hye Sun, but that is not on the same level as Lee Dam's family and friends.

I do think that once you see an age/maturity gap, feel like there is an improper relationship, or just do not like the style/look of a character, it is hard to unsee it. It is more subjective than objective, but makes for some interesting discussion.

There is nothing wrong with getting emotionally invested in a drama. The really good dramas pull you in, and make you experience all kinds of emotions along the way. It also makes them feel real. I think that is why some discussions get really heated.
I really like the show and look forward to it. Why do all the good shows make the waiting seem so long, and yet the episodes fly by so quick?

She seems like a typical ML type BF.

If you think about it, she is not in a relationship with a person, so the same rules may not always apply. We see him as a person, and probably she does most of the time as well, but he is not. He is a gumiho. That is some of what brings the drama to the drama.

I do agree that those are warning (and action) signs if you are in a relationship with another person. Maybe I am wearing rose colored glasses because I see it more dancing than tiptoeing. Of course there is a lack of trust because it exists in every relationship in dramaland, but nothing compared to some dramas. i do think because they communicate and issues tend to get resolved quickly, that anything not sweet and loving gets blown out of proportion. If all relationships were written healthy, the documentary (no longer a drama), would be boring with 5 minute episodes.

I am not saying you are wrong. I have read some of the comments out there, and someone needs to remind viewers that what makes a good drama does not always make a good idea in real life. I think if you are just talking about dramas, the main couple's relationship is about as good as you can ask for while still being flawed enough to provide material for the drama.