THE SHORT VERDICT:

Our drama world might appear really tough, rough and gruff a lot of the time, but underneath all that loud bluster, there’s a lot of sincerity and wholesomeness.

That sincerity and wholesomeness comes through many of our characters and relationships, but none more than Jang Dong Yoon’s character, Baek Du, whom I consider to be the heart of this story.

A drama journey that I consider to be warm and worthwhile, despite the side of murder mystery.

THE LONG VERDICT:

One of the lessons that I’ve learned from dramas, is that love is often about timing – and it can also be about second chances.

Well. That certainly worked out to be true for me, with this show.

When I’d first sampled this drama when it first started airing, I’d also had Welcome to Samdalri (review here!) on my drama plate at the same time, and it all just added up to too much small-townness and too much strong saturi at the same time, than I could handle.

What a difference some time and distance makes, honestly, because this time around, I ended up liking this show a lot, and I would have been genuinely sorry to have missed it.

Second chances can make such a difference, yes? 🥲

OST ALBUM: FOR YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE

Here’s the OST album, in case you’d like to listen to it while you read the review.

Overall, I found the OST very pleasant, though I have to confess that I wasn’t paying specific attention to the music; it just felt like an intrinsic part of this drama world, to my ears, y’know?

I’d say that Track 1, Pieces of Clouds, is my favorite; there’s something so laidback about it. It feels like a musical expression of sitting by the beach, with the sea breeze in my face, and I like that a lot. 🥰

Here it is on its own as well, in case you’d prefer to listen to it on repeat. Just right-click on the video and select “Loop.”

HOW I’M APPROACHING THIS REVIEW

First I’ll talk about how to manage your expectations going into this one, and what viewing lens would be most helpful.

After that, I talk about what I liked and liked less, covering the more macro aspects of Show, and then I give the selective spotlight to characters and relationships, in a separate section.

Finally, I also spend some time talking about my thoughts on our finale episodes.

If you’re interested in my blow-by-blow reactions, &/or all the various Patreon members’ comments during the course of our watch, you might like to check out my episode notes on Patreon here.

MANAGING EXPECTATIONS / THE VIEWING LENS

Here are a few things that I think would be helpful to keep in mind, to maximize your enjoyment of your watch:

1. There’s a murder mystery in here..

..but it’s not the point. Meaning, don’t be too bothered by its existence, but also, don’t sign up for this thinking, “Oh hey! I love murder mysteries!” – because, like I said, it’s not the main point of this story. 😉

So if you sign up for this show thinking it’s primarily a murder mystery, I think you’d be disappointed.

But also, don’t be deterred by the existence of the murder mystery; it’s just there to nudge things along.

2. This is not romance-forward

There is a romance in this, but it’s handled in a pretty laidback, down-to-earth sort of manner.

If you came into this expecting big, swoony, romancey feels, I think you’re likely to be disappointed.

3. Think personal journey instead.

I honestly think that that’s the best lens for this watch experience, because for me, Baek Du, played by Jang Dong Yoon, is the heart of this story, and his journey to finding his own mojo again, is totally the thing that grabbed my heart.

4. Be prepared for small town gruffness

There’s a whole lot of small town gruffness that goes on, in our drama world, and I feel like it might be a bit much for some viewers, particularly with our characters’ apparently communal habit of slapping people sharply on the back, to get their attention, or make a point.

I’m not saying that violence is a good way of life, certainly, but it is kinda sideways charming that everyone’s good-natured enough not to truly mind, even if they reflexively complain about the pain.

Looking at it that way should help? 😅

STUFF I LIKED

Jang Dong Yoon as Baek Du

I’ve got a separate section later, where I talk about Baek Du as a character, but I just had to have this section here too, to give Jang Do Yoon props, for being absolutely phenomenal, as Baek Du.

He literally became Baek Du, from putting on the weight and muscle for the role, to speaking with a thick saturi, to channeling Baek Du’s pure heart.

As Leslie put it, he really lets it all hang out, without a shred of vanity, and I love it.

Such an endearing character, brought to such warm, palpable life, by Jang Dong Yoon. You deserve a standing ovation, sir. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

The spotlight on ssireum

I came into this show with very little knowledge of ssireum, other than the bits of it that I saw in Season 1 of Physical: 100, which saw a number of participants who were ssireum wrestlers.

I basically knew it existed, but didn’t have any particular interest in the sport, and so, I didn’t have high expectations that the ssireum part of our story would really grab me.

Ha. Watch me eat my words now, my friends, because I found myself quite gripped by the various ssireum competitions that are worked into our story.

In fact, there were points where I felt kind of disappointed, that we didn’t have more screen time dedicated to the ssireum matches. Say, what? 😁

Overall, I felt that the ssireum scenes were very well done, and choreographed in a way that allowed me to feel drawn in, as a viewer who knew very little about the sport.

Also, I’m really impressed that Jang Dong Yoon, along with our other actors, must have learned a fair bit of ssireum, for this show.

The treatment of the friends-to-lovers arc

I have a separate section later in this review, where I explore the bond between Baek Du and Du Sik (Jang Dong Yoon and Lee Joo Myung), but I just wanted to say upfront, that I really liked the way the bond between these two characters is brought to life.

The way that their relationship is written and portrayed, I could really believe that these two people had known each other since they were kids, and understood each other really well, and had a way of relating to each other, that only they fully understood.

I liked that we get to see that their connection is more than about friendship or potential romance; we get to see them truly care, from a really deep, visceral sort of place, about each other’s lives, and strive to make the other person’s life better.

I found it all quite touching and profound, honestly. 🥲

The flashbacks

Show serves up flashbacks to the childhood days of our key characters, and I really enjoyed these.

Firstly, I loved the nostalgia of it, because there’s just something so pure about looking back on childhood memories through a retro lens.

Additionally, I felt that these flashbacks helped to color in our various characters and relationships, and I liked feeling like I was getting to understand them better, via these flashbacks.

Here, in this spoiler section, are some of the ones that stood out to me extra. 🥲

[SPOILER ALERT]

E3-4. I do love the little flashbacks that we get, of Baek Du and Du Sik when they were kids.

Even though Du Sik’s quick to smack him on the head when he tries to give her less ice cream, you can see that they really are happy hanging out together, like when they chomp on their ice cream while taking shelter together from the rain. 😍

E5-6. The way Baek Du aims that ball at Du Sik, which ends up hitting her hard enough to give her a nosebleed, seems so bizarre at first, because why would he hit his best friend when she’s down, right?

But in the end, that gets everyone to turn their attention away from the gossip, to Du Sik’s nosebleed, and everyone ends up rallying round her, and fussing over her, and that had turned out to be a relief for Du Sik.

I thought that was very interesting, in that.. sometimes care and love can present themselves in very unexpected forms?

I also love the other related flashback that we get, where Baek Du starts bawling, while trailing Du Sik home, and the two of them end up crying together, in that tunnel.

Aw. That is so sweetly poignant, isn’t it?

Baek Du’s all heart, and he feels so much of what Du Sik is feeling, that his heart just can’t take it anymore, and that’s when everything spills over into those heartbroken tears. 🥹

E7-8. That flashback at the top of episode 7, when Du Sik goes to visit Baek Du one last time, before her family moves away, is so poignant.

It tugged at my heartstrings when Baek Du happily nattered on, while Du Sik was leaking tears, with her back facing him, and then it tugged at my heartstrings even more, when Baek Du figured out what was going on, and ran after her family’s truck, as they were leaving.

Oof. That was so sad, that way Du Sik was ripped out of Baek Du’s life, without any real warning. 💔

[END SPOILER]

The depth of the small town relationships

During my watch, I found that the small town relationships really endeared themselves to me, over time.

I really like this idea that so many of our key characters have known one another since childhood, and have a rich history together.

It lends a depth and complexity to the relationships that may not be visible on the surface, but which definitely play into how our characters perceive their relationships in the present.

One example that really stands out to me, is the relationship between Jin Su and Baek Du, which I’ll talk about in this spoiler section.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E5-6. On the surface, Baek Du and Jin Su (Lee Jae Joon) aren’t close, and are often viewed as being at loggerheads, particularly with the recent thing, where both Jin Su and Baek Du were candidates for the coach position of the ssireum team.

These episodes, we see that Jin Su keeps coming down hard on Baek Du, and that Baek Du even hesitates to join the team when they eat at Jin Su’s mom’s restaurant.

And yet, when Jin Su’s mom (Hwang Seok Jeong) approaches Baek Du and asks him to be friends with Jin Su again, I was quite blown away by Baek Du’s answer, that they are friends, and have always been friends.

Afterwards, we also see that Jin Su is quite vehement in his statement that Baek Du is one of the most talented ssireum wrestlers he’s ever known; it’s just that Baek Du doesn’t know how to use his talent.

With that, it all becomes a clearer to me; the whole reason Jin Su’s coming down hard on Baek Du, is because he wants to push Baek Du towards a personal breakthrough, so that he can learn how to use that talent.

And through it all, Baek Du trusts Jin Su.

Whatever it is that Jin Su says or does, Baek Du has this pure, absolute trust that Jin Su has his best interests at heart.

That’s why he doesn’t complain when Jin Su orders him to run 100 laps after every training, and that’s also why he seems to take it all in stride when Jin Su tells him not to compete in the upcoming tournament.

I love that, honestly.

I am guessing that Jin Su likely knows that Baek Du understands, even without them having to talk about it, that Jin Su’s got his best interests at heart.

And I find it touching that Baek Du has such a pure trust in his friend, Jin Su. 🥲

[END SPOILER]

The glimpses of Baek Du’s family’s love for him

Because the small town way of life is so gruff, and because Baek Du is the runt of the family, who’s literally living in the shadow of champions, it feels like he mostly gets nagged or scolded or ignored, a lot of the time, when we begin our story.

However, as I alluded to earlier in my opening paragraphs, there is actually a lot of love underneath the gruffness, and I loved seeing it peek out from time to time.

Like in the way Baek Du’s brothers (Lee Yoo Joon and Yang Jae Young) fuss over him, when he’s competing, like in this screenshot above.

My favorite moments, though, were when we saw Mom and Dad (Jang Young Nam and Choi Moo Sung) leaking love for Baek Du. Those were the moments that got me all choked up and teary-eyed. 🥹

[SPOILER ALERT]

E3-4. I couldn’t help but get all excited to see Dad tearing up at Baek Du winning the second round, and even giving Baek Du a standing ovation.

Given how reserved and reticent Dad seems to be as a general rule, and how he hasn’t been attending Baek Du’s matches all this time, this feels like a really big deal. 🥲🥲

E9-10. One of the beats that really stood out for me in terms of emotional resonance, is the way Baek Du’s parents react, after his outburst in front of everyone.

Mom is so gutted by the realization that Baek Du’s been heartbroken all these years after Du Sik’s departure, that she gets drunk – because she feels like a failure as a mother, for not having recognized her child’s pain.

As gruff and strong and loud as Mom always appears to be, this glimpse into her mother’s heart felt soft and tender, and I found it touching, that she would be so affected by Baek Du’s words. 🥲

And then, there’s the way Dad sits down with Baek Du later, and says that back then, he didn’t have a choice; that he just tries to find the best decision in the given situation, but he doesn’t always make the right decision – and that given what had happened that day, he probably hadn’t made the right decision.

Aw. This is Dad apologizing to Baek Du, isn’t it?? 🥹

Given how Dad has been such a strong, silent type since the beginning of our story, this feels huge, coming from him.

E11-12. Seeing both Mom and Dad cheer for Baek Du, all breathless with excitement, even while stuck on that bus, was very sweet.

My favorite moment, though, is when Baek Du is announced as the champion, and Dad just stands there, stunned, with tears in his eyes, looking like he’s about to cry for real.

He doesn’t say anything, but you can just feel that his heart is just bursting with all kinds of emotions, and that he couldn’t be prouder of Baek Du, if he tried.

Heart. Burst. 😭😭🥲🥲

[END SPOILER]

The reunion of the childhood gang

It’s mildly spoilery to say that the childhood gang eventually reunites in our story, but because that’s honestly such a given, with this premise, that I’m allowing myself to say that without a spoiler alert. 😁

And, I wanted to just also add that I really liked the vibes that we got, when this reunion happens. 🥰

[SPOILER ALERT]

E9-10. I’m really glad that Mi Ran (Kim Bo Ra) comes clean with Du Sik and Baek Du, and tells them who she is, and what she knows about Choi Chil Seong’s death.

I like this communal sharing of information much better than everyone holding their cards close to their chest.

The thing that strikes me more than the sharing of information, however, is the way the bonds between our group of friends is being brought back to life, over these episodes.

With each new person who comes to know that the true identities of the new people in town, whether that’s Mi Ran or Du Sik, it feels like the bonds between these friends grows stronger.

I dunno; am I imagining this? Because that’s the effect that I get, when watching. 😅

When Baek Du and Du Sik come to know Mi Ran’s true identity, I felt a.. thickening of the bonds on my screen, I feel like.

And then later, when Jin Su spots Du Sik and Baek Du bickering, I honestly love that that just brings him back to how Du Sik and Baek Du had used to bicker, as kids, and that’s the thing that clues him in to the fact that Yu Gyeong really is Du Sik. 🥲

And then of course, there’s Seok Hui (Lee Joo Seung), who’s the last to know, heh.

But after he confronts her and asks if she’s Du Sik, and after she basically confirms, via the way she talks about the past, that she is, indeed, Du Sik, and all that chaotic chasing around the table ensues, it honestly finally feels like our group of friends has finally been properly reunited, and I do love that. ❤️

[END SPOILER]

STUFF THAT WAS OK

The murder mystery

I didn’t love the murder mystery, but I understood that it worked as a plot catalyst, because without the murder mystery, a lot of other things wouldn’t have happened.

And, as a plot catalyst, I’d say that it did what was required.

Overall, I’d say that the murder mystery was reasonably well-handled, and Show did a pretty good job of weaving the mystery into all the other developments in our story world, such that we got the various character and relationship moments that were of greater real importance.

Not bad, yes?

SPOTLIGHT ON SELECTED CHARACTERS & RELATIONSHIPS

Jang Do Yoon as Baek Du

When I’d first attempted to watch this show, back when it was airing, I’d felt rather confused and perplexed by Baek Du as a character, in our first 2 episodes; I just couldn’t quite understand him.

What a turnaround, eh, because I now count him as my favorite character in this entire story world.

Baek Du is just the purest soul, who’s all heart; who cares more for others than himself; who gives generously of himself, without calculating the cost; who’s the kindest, sweetest, most precious cinnamon roll, who should be protected at all costs. 🥲

This entire story belonged to Baek Du, and it was a pleasure and a privilege, to watch him on his journey to finding his mojo again, while infecting the people around him, with his guileless wholesomeness. 🥰🥲

[SPOILER ALERT]

E1-2. One of the main things that I recall from my first attempt at these episodes, is that I’d found it hard to get a handle on Baek Du, as a character.

I’d somehow found it hard to figure him out – and yes, I find that I don’t have the same problem, this time around.

I guess our Baek Du really is a little dim, and rather given to hyper-focus, at the expense of everything else, which is the thing that had thrown me previously, but at the same time, I’m finding that he’s all heart, and that is really endearing him to me, this time around.

About the hyper-focus; I thought I should clarify that I’d had trouble figuring out whether he was ignoring other people on purpose, or because he couldn’t help it.

Like that scene where he’s at the reunion, and shoveling down food, while apparently studiously ignoring all the insensitive comments that other people at the table were making.

I’d wondered if that was just his way of not letting the comments get to him.

Now, though, I see that that’s just his hyper-focus at work.

He’s so focused on thinking about why the reunion fees don’t add up right, that he likely doesn’t even register that people have been saying insensitive things to him at all.

For me, understanding that this is one of the key ways that Baek Du operates, really helps.

This is the exact same hyper-focus that goes to work, once he latches onto the possibility that the new girl in town could be Du Sik.

Before, I’d wondered why he kept at it, when she’d already emphasized that she is not at all the Du Sik of whom he speaks.

It had perplexed me, that he wouldn’t take no for an answer, and just keep going at it – but now I understand that this is just how he’s wired.

I think once he’s bitten into something, he literally doesn’t know how to let go, until his brain registers its own resolution.

E1-2. That scene on the sand, where he tells his father the truth – that he’d planned to change his mind, if someone would have persuaded him to, but no one had – is quite gutting. 💔

That silence from everyone must have been deafening for Baek Du, and my heart hurts for him, because he must feel so hopeless, in that moment, as he lies in the sand and soaks in the truth of what he’s just said out loud.

Clearly, he doesn’t actually want to give up ssireum, but feels that that’s his only option, because he hasn’t gotten anywhere with it, and the clock’s ticking on him, because he’s aging out of the optimum competition bracket.

At the same time, I do believe him, when he tells his coach, in episode 1, that it hadn’t all been drunken talk, when he’d said that he would retire if he didn’t win the next competition; that he’d just said some of his inner thoughts out loud.

I can totally believe that he would think thoughts like that, after working hard at ssireum for so long, but not getting anywhere significant with it.

It’s just that, when it really comes down to it, he also can’t quite bear to really quit, plus that deafening silence would absolutely hurt his pride as well.

Plus, there’s also the thing where he feels that he’s letting his parents down, given their family’s ssireum history.

Poor Baek Du.

E3-4. Isn’t it really endearing, that no matter how much she confuses him by switching back and forth, he goes to great lengths to help Yu Gyeong / Du Sik, when she asks for his help?

Like the way he exhausts himself coaching Beom Su (Kim Min Seok), so that he can ask Beom Su if he knows anything about why Coach Yeon might have quit so suddenly.

He’s so giving, isn’t he?? 🥲

And, isn’t it so endearing, how Baek Du gets all concerned about Du Sik being scolded by her “mother-in-law” and gets rather worked up about it?

He is really all heart, and he clearly cares a lot about Du Sik. 🥲

E3-4. I couldn’t help chuckling at how contrite Baek Du is, at the truth behind the 40,000 won; that he’d pocketed the change that Choi Chil Seong hadn’t taken, and then had been wracked with guilt for literal days after. He’s so cute! 🤭

I mean, I feel bad for Baek Du actually starting to cry, coz poor baby’s been so stressed out about this, but at the same time, he really is so adorably innocent; how could they even believe him to be a possible suspect in Choi Chil Seong’s murder?

E5-6. I am in total agreement with everyone who says that this show belongs to Baek Du; he truly is the heart of this show. 🥰

When Baek Du overhears the rest of the team gossiping about how Coach Yeon had asked Dong Seok (Kim Tae Jung) to throw the match with Baek Du, I’d assumed that Baek Du would get upset; feel insulted or something along those lines.

Instead, we see that the whole reason he tags along with Du Sik to visit Dong Seok in Seongwon, is to console him, by telling him that he’s done nothing wrong.

Aw!! Isn’t Baek Du the sweetest, most considerate angel??? How could you not love him, yes?? 🥲

I do love the idea that the whole reason Dong Seok opens up, is because he feels safe with Baek Du. 🥲

..And I love that we get the bonus afterwards, of Dong Seok acknowledging that Baek Du had actually won that day.

E9-10. At first, my reaction to everyone gossiping about Baek Du having an affair with Yu Gyeong in episode 9, was very much like Mi Ran’s reaction; that this was just a matter of time, given how much time they’ve been spending together, and how familiar they’ve acted, around each other.

When Jin Sook confronts Baek Du about the rumor that’s on everyone’s lips, however, I was once again blown away by how Baek Du’s heart works.

I was surprised, but I shouldn’t have been surprised, at his answer, because we’ve already come to know how Baek Du’s all heart.

But the way his response was all about Du Sik, and not at all about himself, even though everyone’s been gossiping about him, really hit me in the heart.

Instead of putting his energy into defending himself, his instinct is to relate his experience to what Du Sik must have experienced, back in the day, and I feel like what we hear is his mortified, horrified heart spilling out, as he talks about what had happened to Du Sik, his voice rising along with his emotions. 🥹

The way he exhorts everyone listening, to please just stop, because this is hurtful to people, is so frank and heartfelt, and it feels like he simply lets his heart flow, until he’s exhausted, and that’s when he turns to go.

I just feel like this is one of Baek Du’s purest moments that we’ve witnessed, thus far.

[END SPOILER]

Lee Joo Myung as Yu Gyeong / .

Du Sik

I thought Lee Joo Myung was very versatile as Yu Gyeong / Du Sik.

When she wanted to be ladylike and genteel, I fully bought it, and when she was rough and tomboyish, I fully bought that too.

Overall, I like that she’s a strong, determined character, and I also liked her flashes of wisdom and insight, which often helped Baek Du on his own journey.

My favorite Du Sik moment, is this one, in episode 2.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E2. I got such a stab of satisfaction – and a legit thrill as well – when Yu Gyeong throws that big dude who’d been giving her a hard time, while calmly explaining what he could have done better, at his last competition.

Wow. Talk about shutting the guy up; she not only knows what she’s talking about, she’s got the moves to prove it. 🤩

And it’s just so great, that Baek Du knew it without having to see it; he knew that if that guy didn’t stop ragging her, she would absolutely show him what’s what. 😁

[END SPOILER]

Baek Du and Du Sik

The more I learned about this pair, the more I loved seeing them together in the same space, and the more I rooted for them to rebuild their connection.

Honestly, I didn’t even care whether there would be a romantic loveline between them; I just wanted them to be part of each other’s lives again, because it became clear to me, that they just make each other’s lives richer and happier. 🥲

That’s the crux of this section, really; that the connection between Baek Du and Du Sik isn’t just about the romance; it’s about how they affect and impact each other in deep and profound ways.

This upcoming spoiler section will therefore span all the ways I saw them affect each other, even as they figured out the unexpected new development, that they might just have feelings for each other. 🥲

[SPOILER ALERT]

E1-2. Even though she goes by Yu Gyeong now, and insists repeatedly that she isn’t Du Sik, Baek Du just can’t let go of the thought that she is very likely Du Sik – much to her exasperation.

But isn’t it quite touching, to think that even when she’s changed so much that no one in the entire town recognizes her, Baek Du just instinctively knows that it’s her?

It’s like he doesn’t need to depend on things like outward appearance; his heart just knows her, when she’s near, and that is honestly pretty darn moving. 🥲

E1-2. For all the mystery that surrounds Yu Gyeong, I do love that when she’s exasperated enough with Baek Du’s obsession with her identity, to allow her real feelings to peek through, those real feelings are all about having rooted for Baek Du from afar, all these years.

Aw. Whatever had happened to have caused her to leave, she’s never forgotten about Baek Du. That’s quite touching, isn’t it? 🥲

It must be very disappointing for her to come back, only to find out that Baek Du has just retired.

E3-4. I do find myself enjoying the dynamic between him and Du Sik – well, Yu Gyeong – very well.

In fact, I made a mental note to mention the title of episode 3, because the English title is “Du Sik is not her name,” but the Korean title translates as “I can’t call Du Sik Du Sik” – and that feels a lot more on-point, in terms of what’s going on, in the episode. 😁

Because that’s exactly what keeps happening, over and over again.

She’ll act like Du Sik, and he’ll interact with her while treating her as Du Sik, only for her to turn around and say that she’s never said that she’s Du Sik – so he has to agree that she isn’t Du Sik, even though his gut is screaming that she is. I was quite amused by this. 🤭

I like the idea that Du Sik is so convinced that she’s Du Sik, but obediently yields to her wishes, and plays along that she isn’t Du Sik.

Poor Baek Du; he always looks so genuinely hapless whenever she switches from being Du Sik, to being Yu Gyeong. 😅

E3-4. When Hyun Wook (Yoon Jong Seok) asks Yu Gyeong why she insists on doing the investigation in Geosan, she later mutters to herself that it’s because there’s something there that bothers her.

I wonder if she’s talking about Baek Du; after all she’s talked about supporting him from afar over the years. I also wonder if she’s talking about the unpleasant event that had caused her to leave Geosan in the first place.

My gut is pointing more towards Baek Du, especially with the way she gets all worked up when she hears that he’s thinking of becoming a police officer, after quitting ssireum.

And, I do think that she’s right in stating that she can see right through Baek Du; that he’s not quitting ssireum because he hates it.

In fact, I think that she’s onto something there, in recommending Baek Du to the coach position; it’s so very true, what Baek Du’s brother says, that just because someone’s good at something, doesn’t mean that they’d necessarily be good at teaching it to someone else – and vice versa.

We’ve already seen that Baek Du’s got a heart to help others get better, like that moment in episode 1, when he’d coached Dong Seok with his secret move, before realizing that he would be up against Dong Seok in the upcoming tournament.

E3-4. Towards the end of episode 4, we see Hyun Wook broach the subject of Yu Gyeong’s connection with Baek Du, and I thought this was very nicely done.

First, I like the idea that Du Sik’s connection with Baek Du is so strong, that even when they’re actively trying to hide it by acting like they’re mere acquaintances, a bystander like Hyun Wook would still pick up on it, and be convinced enough about it, to act on his hunch.

Second, I love how Show overlays Hyun Wook’s words with the scene of Baek Du talking to Du Sik about his new conclusions.

He begins, “People like him can be pretty sharp. They look slow on the outside, but are actually deeply intuitive.”

..And we see Baek Du asking Du Sik if she’s a cop, and Du Sik unable to disguise her surprise, nor deny Baek Du’s conclusion, because he’s already read the meaning of her reaction in her facial expression.

And then we see Baek Du saying to Du Sik, that she’s not married either, is she?

..Which is when we hear the second part of Hyun Wook’s words, “And when they’re being intuitive, it’s impossible to fool them.”

Aw! I want to cheer for our Baek Du, for being so intuitive, that he’s cracked the secret that Du Sik’s been trying to guard, the whole time that she’s been back in Geosan.

Just like he’d known from the instant that he saw her, that she was Du Sik, regardless of her protests, he’s now convinced of the truth of her situation – and he’s not going to be persuaded otherwise.

Perhaps our Baek Du’s a better investigator than Du Sik gives him credit for? 🤭

In any case, I am pleased that Baek Du’s found out the truth, all on his own, and that from here on out, Du Sik won’t be lying to him any more – well, at least not about her identity, or the fact that she’s actually single. 😁

E5-6. Like the episode title says, Baek Du is very transparent, and it’s not hard to see right through him.

And these episodes, we see just how important Du Sik is to him, even all these years later.

As we find out from Baek Du later on, even though he truly does love ssireum, the whole reason he decides to go back to the ssireum team, is because Du Sik said that she needs him.

He doesn’t even fully understand why she needs him, but he reverses his retirement – which he’d earlier felt compelled to take, because no one had tried to dissuade him.

Now, though, with Du Sik’s request on the table, none of that humiliation matters to him anymore, and he’s just blithely announcing his return to the team like nothing ever happened.

I find that very endearing, I hafta say. 🥲

E5-6. I do feel like we’re seeing some glimmers of potentially deeper feelings simmering between Baek Du and Du Sik.

I mean, on Baek Du’s side it’s not much of a surprise, given how it’s easy to see that Du Sik had been his first love.

The way he gets all upset at Hyun Wook address Du Sik as “Honey” is a big giveaway too; our Baek Du is jealous – he just hasn’t realized it yet.

On Du Sik’s side, we’re also seeing moments of hyper-awareness, like on the bus, when she isn’t sure how to rouse Baek Du from his deep sleep on her shoulder.

If there aren’t any budding feelings there, then there wouldn’t be reason for her to hesitate, yes? 😉

Plus, there’s also how she gets all flustered when Baek Du looks deep into her eyes, while he tries to demonstrate that she can see her own reflection in his eyes, when he gets up close to her.

Tee hee hee. I though it was quite amusing how clueless Baek Du is, at the fact that he’s actually kind of discombobulating Du Sik. 🤭

Again, though, that’s Baek Du’s hyper-focus coming into play, isn’t it?

He’s so focused on trying to explain things to Du Sik, that he doesn’t actually notice that he’s having an effect on her.

And then later, when he realizes that his brother has all that footage of the competition that would be useful to Du Sik’s investigation, it doesn’t occur to him that he could just send her the video.

He’s so fixated on wanting to help her, and as quickly as possible, that he just grabs Hyung’s phone and ruuuuunnns over to Du Sik, almost losing a slipper on the way, and getting his foot grazed bloody in the process, all so that he can show it to her right away.

Aw. Baek Du’s just the sweetest, most endearing, purest soul, isn’t he? (In that way, he kinda-sorta gives me Forrest Gump vibes, if you know what I mean.)

I’m glad that Du Sik’s now here, looking out for him, because if not for Du Sik pointing Baek Du to the fact that he shouldn’t just keep giving in to Jin Su, and live the life he wants, Baek Du would have never gathered up his determination, and approached Jin Su the way he does, at the end of episode 6.

I love so much, that Baek Du begins by telling Jin Su that he’d wanted to be captain too, in the fourth grade, but had changed his mind, when Jin Su had raised his hand.

I do think that that set the context properly, that this isn’t just a one-off thing for Baek Du, but perhaps more of a complete mindset tweak, where he’s going to earnestly live for himself now – which is why he’s so determined to compete in the upcoming tournament, because he just loves ssireum that much.

Aw. I love all this passion and fire coming from Baek Du; there’s so much earnestness and raw sincerity coming forth from him. 🥲

E7-8. We get some really significant progress with Baek Du’s ssireum journey, these episodes. 🤩

It’s true that a lot of it has to do with Du Sik; she’s the one who nudges him towards actually competing, and then she’s the one who points out that all he needs to do is approach ssireum the same way he had, back when he’d been a kid.

Additionally, it’s her presence at the match, that boosts Baek Du’s confidence, and that’s what causes him to do so well, in the competition.

E7-8. One of the things that’s coming to the forefront, this set of episodes, is evolving feelings between Baek Du and Du Sik.

I think it’s quite cute that Baek Du’s heart is ahead of his brain, when it comes to his developing feelings for Du Sik. It’s completely in character, with him being all heart though, yes? 😁

He’s so drawn to her all the time, and gets all peevish when she doesn’t respond to his texts, and he listens so well to everything that she says to him, and he’s so affected by her presence and her absence.

On top of that, she’s always top of his mind, like when the restaurant only serves sashimi, he immediately thinks of the fact that she doesn’t eat sashimi, and asks if they could serve something else, and when Du Sik walks off to the beach to take a call, it only takes two seconds for Baek Du to give up his dinner, in order to walk on the beach with her.

And, he’s also very quick to ask her to come over to his room later, for ramyun – which only earns him a smack on the forehead, for the suggestive connotation, ha.

Our Baek Du is very much smitten, and it’s quite adorable that he doesn’t actually realize it.

Those smitten feelings are also why he gets so disappointed when he realizes that Du Sik’s left the competition, and that’s why his winning streak comes to an abrupt end; he’s just that distracted and disheartened by her absence, aw.

Even after the competition is over, and he’s placed fourth, and everyone is so thrilled for him, Baek Du just can’t shake off the dejection that he feels, from the realization that Du Sik had left partway through the competition.

He may not be cognizant of it, but it’s clear to see that Du Sik is basically his whole world right now. 😁

The drunken kiss is therefore not a complete surprise – at least to us 🤭 – though poor Du Sik is properly discombobulated, and reflexively smacks him on the forehead, heh.

I do think that the very fact that Du Sik is so unsettled by this drunken kiss, and for such a long time (ie, it lingers with her for what seems like days afterwards), tells us that she’s not unaffected by Baek Du.

I feel like it’s too early to say for sure whether Du Sik actually likes Baek Du romantically, although since this is a drama, of course we as viewers are quick to pair them together.

I do think Du Sik needs a bit more time to figure out how she feels, but in the meantime, I did find it cutely adorkable, the way Baek Du literally runs outta there, as fast as he can, when he realizes that he’d kissed Du Sik, while drunk. 🤭

Hopefully these two will figure out their relationship, and whether it needs to be redefined, in our next episodes.

E9-10. It really hits home, how Baek Du had suffered acutely, in his own way, after Du Sik’s family moved away.

It’s true that Du Sik lost her entire childhood and way of life, moving away like that, with her family basically feeling forced out of the neighborhood they’d sunk roots in, because people couldn’t seem to accept that Du Sik’s father wasn’t guilty, as the court had pronounced.

At the same time, it’s also so true, that Baek Du had quietly suffered in the shadows, as his life as he’d known it, changed forever. 💔

It’s heartbreaking to realize that he’d blamed himself over and over and over again, for not having picked up earlier on what was happening with Du Sik’s family, and not running out there earlier; that if he’d just done one thing differently, perhaps he would have been able to say goodbye. 😭

And it’s also heartbreaking to realize that he’d kept all this pain to himself, and then had tried to keep the friendship alive, all on his own, by recording their heights on Du Sik’s wall, just like they’d used to do, before Du Sik had moved away.

The thing that hit me in the gut the most, is when Baek Du blurts out to Du Sik, that he’d basically lost interest in everything, after she’d left; that nothing meant anything to him anymore, neither anchovy kimbap, nor ssireum.

Oof. That’s so all-encompassing for Baek Du, isn’t it? His entire life hadn’t been the same, after Du Sik had left. Because she’d been so much a part of every part of his life, his entire life would have been changed, by her departure. 💔

I do appreciate the way Show juxtaposes the loss the Du Sik had experienced, with the loss that Du Sik had experienced.

It’s all very bittersweet for both of them, I think, to think upon their childhood, which had been so carefree and happy, but which had ended in such tragedy.

E9-10. I kind of love how Baek Du beelines straight for Du Sik, and then confesses that while the rumor might not be true for her, it’s true for him, because he really, really likes her – like, for real.

Aw. There’s something so endearing about how earnest and honest he is, about how he feels. 🥲

I’m actually quite surprised by how unabashed he is in front of Du Sik, when it comes to his feelings for her, not just when he’s confessing to her, but at every point after that, too.

Du Sik would be all evasive and vague about it, only to be met with Baek Du’s blithe statement, that he likes her.

It’s honestly quite adorable. 😁

Another thing I appreciate about all of this, is that even though Baek Du would like nothing more than for Du Sik to stay, he doesn’t try to convince her to stay.

Instead, he focuses on asking if he can help her with her case, so that they’d have a shared experience between them.

Isn’t that so very sweet of him??? Guh, Baek Du is so pure-hearted, truly. 🥲

[END SPOILER]

THOUGHTS ON THE ENDING [SPOILERS]

E11-12. I have to admit that I did feel rather wistful, coming into this finale, and thinking about it, I can say that that wistfulness is everything to do with Baek Du; he’s just too precious of a cinnamon roll, to say goodbye to, y’know? 🥲

We spend a chunk of time on digging up the truth behind the various murders in our story world, and I have to confess that while I was curious to know who the killer was, I honestly didn’t really care all that much about it either.

It’s likely because I’ve mostly looked upon the murder mystery more as a catalyst than anything else; I wasn’t too bothered by how that all unfolded.

Meaning, a part of my brain felt like the killer’s anger management issues and his lack of remorse made him seem conveniently unhinged, but the other parts of my brain didn’t actually care? 😅

What I did like, was our childhood gang coming together to work on the case, falling in sync with one another, like not a day had passed since their group had fallen apart. That was very heartwarming to see. 🥰

Seok Hui’s new instant brotherhood with Hyun Wook was very cute too. 😁

In fact, I just really like every little indication that Hyun Wook’s all settled in, to the point of being like one of the locals – like how he knows all the villagers by name, even though Du Sik herself doesn’t.

On another note, I did appreciate that beat, where, despite all the circumstantial evidence pointing towards Park Pil Du, Du Sik states that just because it looks like it could be him, doesn’t mean that it is him.

That’s a very apt callback to what had happened to her own father, and I just really liked the idea that she’s taken that lesson so much to heart, that she would be extra careful about forming conclusions about someone else. 🥲

Honestly, the arc that had me most invested, these episodes, was the ssireum championship (words that I’d never expected to write, heh).

I was literally on the edge of my seat, all breathless, as Baek Du competed in the various rounds of the championship, not so much because he’d told Du Sik that he wanted her to watch him win and then tell him her answer, but because I wanted Baek Du to win, for himself. 🥲

I’d half expected that Show would have Du Sik show up in the audience, thus giving Baek Du the push and inspiration that he needed, in order to win, but in the end, I’m glad that she wasn’t able to make it.

In the context of our story, I feel that it makes more meaningful sense for Baek Du to be able to win that championship without needing to have Du Sik there to cheer him on.

This way, he’s demonstrating that he’s a champion in his own right, and is well able to win the championship on his own, without any emotional crutch.

Just remembering Du Sik’s words to him, to do the kind of ssireum that’s natural to him, is enough for him, and I really did like that we get to see Baek Du win. 🥲

Ahhh. So, so well-deserved. Our Baek Du deserved that championship title; he is a champion, and has always been a champion, even when he hadn’t realized it. 🥹

And I’m glad that we also get that moment of closure between Baek Du and Jin Su, when Jin Su requests that they compete in the ring, to complete the 3-round bet that they’d agreed on, previously.

It’s great that Baek Du wins that round, but what’s even better, is that this seems to clear the air between Jin Su and Baek Du, and any lingering dissatisfaction or tension, seems to just melt away.

It seems like all Jin Su had ever wanted, was for Baek Du to show him the kind of ssireum that he’d always been capable of; like, make it an honest competition, using his real abilities. 🥲

Afterwards, I couldn’t help but notice how wholehearted Jin Su is, while cheering on Baek Du during the championship, but also, how Jin Su is quick to remind Baek Du to do the ssireum that he knows and loves – which is a great echo of Du Sik’s words.

It also feels fitting, that Baek Du’s opponent in the final round, is none other than Dong Seok, who had beat him, in our earlier episodes.

This feels like a nice way to establish that Baek Du had always been capable of beating Dong Seok, I thought.

And, importantly, I really liked the good sportsmanship that both of them show, even though they are opponents for the finals. There’s a mutual respect there that I really like, and a sincerity that flows both ways. Very, very nice. 🥲

Last but not least, we finally do get Du Sik giving Baek Du her answer, and of course her answer is that she likes him too.

The way she gets all shy about saying it out loud, is such a cute contrast to the way Baek Du himself is all loud and proud when he’s talking about his feelings for her. 🤭

We don’t get any insight into how Baek Du and Du Sik plan to manage their relationship, with her based in Seoul while he’s based on Geosan, but somehow, it doesn’t seem to matter?

I get the feeling that nothing’s going to keep them apart, since we’ve now seen that all these years that they’d spent apart, with no way to keep in contact, had done nothing to put a dent in the bond between them.

That gives me the assurance that no matter what they choose to do about the future, they’ll come out of it still deeply bonded and very much together, as they are now. 🥰

And then it feels like a very fitting touch, to end our story, with our childhood gang running around that table and playing with one another, just like how they’d used to do.

I love that Baek Du’s dream – to hang out with Du Sik and all his friends all the time – has come true, right before our eyes. 🥰

THE FINAL VERDICT:

Simple and wholesome at its heart – just like Baek Du.

FINAL GRADE: B++

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PATREON UPDATE!

The next drama I’m covering on Patreon, in place of  Like Flowers in Sand, is Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born [Korea].

You can check out my episode 1-2 notes on Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born on Patreon here.

Here’s an overview of what I’m covering on Patreon right now (Tier benefits are cumulative)!

Foundation Tier (US$1): Entertainment Drop (Sundays) + the first set notes of all shows covered on Patreon (that’s 2 episodes for kdramas and 4 episodes for cdramas)

Early Access (US$5): +The Judge From Hell [Korea]

Early Access Plus (US$10): +A Virtuous Business [Korea]

VIP (US$15): +Romance in the House [Korea]