If the writer's intention was for the leads to end up together, then he/she has failed because rather than show…
I completely agree with you on the relationship dynamic part. No matter how caring or good your intentions, verbal abuse is never okay. The abuse is much more amplified as it came from someone has power over you! However, the writer addresses it properly in the novel. My guess is they couldn’t flesh it out properly because they had to cut so much content. In the novel, Luan Nina learnt his lesson well. He truly did love her and changed for the good. It showed him as a super supportive partner and a hands on dad (no mean feat as Asian men aren’t the most present parents)!
I am still confused about the flowers! I watched it again today and as per Netflix translation, all her three room mates denied sending her the first time she got them! So did her male roomie lie then or Netflix translation is off?
Seriously! So many people are like both are responsible for the break up. But is it really? At the end, Flora only had to face the consequences of their affair not Luke. The minimum Luke owed to her was transparency and sharing his actual assessment of her competency rather than sitting on his high horse, stewing within himself and spouting hurtful stuff when she was falling apart.
Every time Luke chooses Luke as his favourite parent, I remember a line from the novel: Exasparated Flora says ‘I have never seen a more poverty hating, riches loving dog’!
Definitely not a happily ever after ending. They'll see things, assuming things and fight again without ever communicating,…
They cut down a lot! They actually fixed their communication and LN became a very supporting husband. He was clingy but proud of her pursuits. Flora travelled a lot for her work and they were equal parents to their daughter. Those parts were beautifully written as epilogue.
If there is one useful thing to remember after following the narrative of The Early Spring, from beginning to…
If we are dissecting words, what about ‘cheap and obedient’, ‘naive and easy target’, ‘next prospect in the pipeline’? He might have done a lot, but was there any respect? Also, Flora had to pay the price of their relationship at the end. She was always worried about that. Was Mr powerful able to do anything about that? No. He should have known better with his experience and the power imbalance before them. He was the reckless one and Flora was made the scapegoat.
The breakup is badly constructed. Maybe the Luke of ep1 would have reacted like this and talked to her like this,…
Actually he tried in his own way but the ugly, disgusting remark just threw him off! He never learnt to confide in her and same goes for her. For perspective, in the book he doesn’t hug her to comfort but here he does. Also, they added the SZ angle here where he started with that remark and that possibly played a role in Flora’s spiral. They were perhaps trying to show that after all he didn’t change that much when it came to trusting her! Someone with a basic EQ wouldn’t have brought that up in such a situation.
ALLLLL of that to get an ending where they end up back together... not because they sat down and had a meaningful…
That’s the problem with 24 episodes! The book does a very good job though…not sure if Luke got a chance to explain the circumstances here around her promotion but in the book Flora knows she accused him wrongly. Still she didn’t want him back. All she wanted was a person who spoke kindly! He does mend his ways where he lets go of his pride with her and communicates openly.
K-Drama 
However, the writer addresses it properly in the novel. My guess is they couldn’t flesh it out properly because they had to cut so much content. In the novel, Luan Nina learnt his lesson well. He truly did love her and changed for the good. It showed him as a super supportive partner and a hands on dad (no mean feat as Asian men aren’t the most present parents)!
Also, Flora had to pay the price of their relationship at the end. She was always worried about that. Was Mr powerful able to do anything about that? No. He should have known better with his experience and the power imbalance before them. He was the reckless one and Flora was made the scapegoat.