John Smith

Fair enough, but she was much better. She also opened up and shared some of her painful past.

I do think what you said makes sense with the SML. It is not like he had some one sided crush or weird obsession with the FL in the past. They were in a relationship that was serious enough to make the FL suffer for end of it.

Episode 19 and 20. Still Mi Gu, being Mi Gu, doing Mi Gu things. I have to say that the actress has those "Mi Gu" facial reactions down pretty good. She has to go from hopeful to apprehensive to disappointment to jealousy to sadness back to being hopeful all in span of one conversation with the SML.

Episode 19-20 is much better for the cousin. She was much milder with more interaction and explanation towards her character and past events. She actually seems likeable person who is dealing with issues from the past.

There is a difference between being responsible and being a doctor. The FL has shown a propensity to want to meddle medically. It just seemed to make sense that when the cousin was acting like a 19 on a scale of 1-10, she would have been more involved, especially when she is staying with her.

About the cousin, I tried to withhold judgement until they named her problem or just dealt with it. Her character was much better in the latest episodes (19-20) and they explained part of what happened to her in the scene with the Lieutenant. I would have felt bad calling her a spoiled brat and then hearing part of her story.

I think the decision was made by the ML to not pursue the matter because the SML is already on the radar. You have to look at the big picture and the long game when you are dealing with criminals.
The FL is a doctor and she has show her medical skills on several occasions. I did question her decision to run into the road when being chased by a car. I attribute that to the writer's decision so that the ML can "rescue" her and share a tender moment with the bandage scene.

Thanks. I try to represent the voice of reason.

She was much improved in episodes 19 and 20.

The characters all act as if it is no big deal (even the doctor that is living with her), yet she is written (or being portrayed) as having some severe problems.

I think it is toxic love (on both seconds). Infatuated, unrequited, and obsessed. I do wonder how far the writers will take her character down that road. The SML is pretty far down that road for the FL, so it is not like it is going to get any better for the SFL.

How the cousin is being portrayed is problematic in my opinion. The writers seem to want her to be a part of what is going on, yet she is written as having some severe problems. And she lives with a doctor. Why isn't she trying to get more information about what her problem is?
Whatever problem(s) the cousin has needs to be turned down a few notches. She seems to be interested in the Lieutenant, so maybe he can a positive influence.

I am not sure if the FL thought it was okay. When the ML confronted her with the facts and then his speculation about the SML, she went into defensive mode wanting to protect someone she thinks would never do something to harm her. I know she does not mean to be, but she is the catalyst that is driving the two male leads on a collision course.
I do not think the FL is stupid. I think we all have said some ridiculous things when we get emotional or defensive. Now the SFL is a different story. She seems to have a heart where her brain should be when it comes to the SML.

She is talented and beautiful, so it is not surprising that there are those who try to go negative on her from time to time. I liked her range in Dear Prince, and her screen presence in a supporting role on My Unicorn Girl.

At the end of episode 10, did Min Jung bring Nam Wook back and write herself a love interest? They showed her drawing for some sort of anniversary contest for the comic.

I wonder how she managed the plane flight. Actually I really wonder how all of the passengers and crew managed the flight with her. Are we supposed to believe that she was fine for the half day plane trip and then the very second she got off, her problems got turned up to 14. (I had said she turned them up to 11 in a previous post, but the more I think about it, the worse it seemed.)
I also wonder why she would be allowed to drive if she has problems (they do seem serious) that seem to render her unconscious or asleep.

I think that like you, some dramas do it better than others. The first episode came across as way too scripted. Even the ML was not as "cool" as he seemed to become in the next episodes. Even the SML and SFL meeting seemed like that as well.
The cohabitation trope is always the one I find most difficult to believe in dramas. Very rarely is a valid, logical reason given as to why the leads "have" to live together. Granted, if I was asked to figure out a valid, logical reason for two strangers to live together without making it look cliche, I would struggle.
I do like the action scenes, but ML/military ones seem overdone, especially when you compare it to the way they show the FL and other doctors doing their work.
Just from the previous episodes (still waiting for episode 20), it seems they are transitioning to things getting more serious with the leads. I hope they are able to balance the romance with all of the other stories going on. Nothing worse than leads getting together and the drama seems to forget they have lives outside of love.

What drama is not strung together by a kaleidoscope of tropes? In my opinion it does ease up, but not go away as the drama has progressed (waiting for episode 20). Just like a hydra, once that goes away, two more tropes will take its place.

I found him to be more bitter, jealous, manipulative, and abusive (mentally and physically). I found it hard to laugh. I would worried IH would get beaten to death by standing up to him. Although she did get hit by a truck in part because of him, so there is that.

I do not like having an impossible character redemption forced on me in the span of less than one episode, especially when it included stunting the character development of IH.
If his family did not care about him, they would not have let him chase his dreams, then when he failed, they would not have given him a company to run as he wanted for at least six years. He has psychological problems more than being a jerk or anything else. He needs to go away and get therapy. More than anything, the trio (HJ, JJ, and IH) need closure and separation.

She is way too annoying with her behaviors. It is like someone looked up all the symptoms of ADHD and told her to dial them up to 11.

It was pretty good except for the apparent redemption of JJ that they are shoving down our throats. A heart to heart with GY, finding HJ's father (something HJ could not do in years and why did JJ even suspect the lawyer), and risking his life to save IH. They tried to save a bit of face by having him get lectured by GY, still saying he hates HJ, and going to argue with IH. He was not misunderstood or even treated unfair by most people. He continually hurt those around him. I think they also messed up an opportunity for IH to be brave and make a clean cut from both JJ and HJ. She was looking tough and strong by moving out, getting out of the contract, and getting to showcase her talent, but because JJ needed to look less JJ-ish (yeah, I just made a new word), she runs into the street looking to harm herself again. I was disappointed.

Abandoned is a pretty strong word considering his family gave him a entertainment company and let him do what he wanted for at least six years. It is also a strong word when used with HJ. HJ has always been around and JJ always seems to be able to get in touch with him. IH stayed by his side for most of those six years. He also had a friendly bond with GY until he ruined it even after GY gave him a few chances. One of JJ's problems (of many) is that he was focused on unhappiness. His perceived unhappiness and doing things that made others unhappy.

The loud background music drowns out your voice, so it makes it difficult to listen to what you are saying.