THE SHORT VERDICT:

This little show kind of defies easy definition; it’s everything it says it is – but it’s also more than the sum of its parts.

It’s a dark comedy; it’s a story of personal journey; a story of relationships; a story of hope; a story of regrets; a story of contentment.

It’s a wild ride of a rollercoaster for both the heart and mind, managing to balance all the chaos with a deep sense of pathos, and it’s surprisingly, profoundly affecting.

Highly, deeply, absolutely recommend.

THE LONG VERDICT:

Every once in a while, Dramaland gives us a gem of a drama, one that we can say is “for the books,” because of how special it is.

Well. I do think that we have a gem right here, my friends. 🥲

Honestly, I came into this show not quite knowing what to expect, but knew enough to conclude, right from episode 1, that this show was quite different from other kdramas I’ve watched.

Now that I’ve finished my watch, I will say that, the more I think about this show, and the more time that’s passed since I’ve finished my watch of it, the deeper my appreciation becomes, for just how excellently done, and how unique and special, this show really is.

I’m going to do my best to put into words what I think and feel about this show, but I’ll say upfront, that I’m kind of afraid that my words won’t do it justice.

Yes, it is that special. 🥹

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 really enjoyed the OST. I found it fresh and quite eclectic, in terms of the musical choices, and I also felt like the music was applied in a way that really added to my watch experience.

It’s hard to pick a favorite, and I will say that Show’s use of California Dreamin’ really did get under my skin, a little bit. 🥲

That said, I do think that out of all the tracks, The Town, which, interestingly, isn’t in this OST collection, got under my skin the most.

I love the lightness of the acoustic vibe, but I also really like the lacings of angst in the vocal delivery.

The music nerd in me is also very drawn to the occasional minor chord in there, that, to me perfectly encapsulates the undercurrent of pathos in our story. And also, it’s a 6/8 rhythm, which I realize I just naturally gravitate towards, in spite of myself. 🥲

Here it is, on its own, in case you’d prefer to listen to it on repeat instead. 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 stuff I liked on a more macro level, before I give the spotlight to selected characters and relationships, in a separate section. Finally, I spend some time talking about my thoughts on the 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 some things that I think would be helpful to keep in mind, to maximize your enjoyment of your watch:

1. This is a life-affirming story

..even though our lead character Hae Jo (Woo Do Hwan) is diagnosed with a terminal illness, right off the bat.

What I’m trying to say is, don’t let the terminal diagnosis keep you away. Yes, it’s bittersweet, but this story is much more life-affirming than one might first expect.

2. This might take a while to settle

Or should I say, our story isn’t the one that might need some time to settle; rather, it might take you a little bit of time to get your bearings and get settled into the story.

If you press “play” and have no idea what’s going on and why you should care, just give it a bit of time. It’ll come together, after a while.

3. This drama world lands as a little surreal, but it’s not whitewashed

So expect to see characters smoking and cursing as a matter of course, and behaving in other flawed ways.

There’s also some violence in this, but I wouldn’t say that it’s excessive.

4. This is a wild ride

Show is a rollercoaster in just about every sense of the word, and the best advice I can give you, is to just buckle up and keep an open mind (and heart) for the ride.

I thought it was absolutely worth it, and if your drama taste is similar to mine, I’m pretty confident you’d find it worthwhile too. 🥲

STUFF I LIKED

Overall handling and execution

This is something that’s only really come together for me, after finishing the show, but I can’t help but marvel at the fact that essentially, everyone – literally everyone – got the memo, about what this story is about, at its core, and how it should be delivered to audiences.

I could only appreciate this in part, while watching, but hindsight is now 20/20 for me; this show is tenderly, carefully, meticulously crafted, from the writing, to the directing, to the acting, to the music.

It really feels like every single human who worked on this show, had the exact same  understanding and vision, and that’s why, from the big things to the little things, everything in this story world comes together so seamlessly.

Given that this is such a wild rollercoaster of a story, with so many varying tones coming together and rubbing shoulders, that is all the more remarkable.

Our story is wild and chaotic, yet the themes are consistent and poignant, and at the same time, our characters are fleshed out bit by bit, until we reach a fuller, better understanding of each of our characters.

The entire cast and crew deserves a standing ovation, no exaggeration. 🥲

The talented cast

Our entire cast is extremely talented and well-cast, from the main roles to the supporting ones.

It’s one thing to have a well-written story, but to have each and every character – from the major ones to the supporting ones – come to life in expert hands, just takes it to a whole new level.

From Hae Jo’s assistant Gi Ho being played to a T by Kim Min Seok, to Lee El playing Bong Suk, Hae Jo’s friend and landlord, to Kim Hae Sook playing Eo Heung’s commanding mother, it all works to make our story world come alive.

I cannot overstate this; it feels like a real treat to see such a complex story world brought to life with such commitment and nuance.

To my eyes, this feels like the perfect storm, in the best way possible.

The way Show balances chaos and poignance

One of the things that had me in wonderment, throughout my watch, is the way Show has so much absurdity about it, while still carrying so much pathos.

It blew my mind that Show would be able to maintain that kind of difficult balance, from episode to episode, and it really is one of my favorite things about this show, if only for how incredible it is, that Show manages it so well. 🥲

One of the things that Show tends to do quite a bit, is give us what feels like an emotionally charged moment, and then turn it on its head, so that we end up with something a lot more irreverent.

Yet, it doesn’t feel like Show is toying with us.

These moments of sharp left turn from emotionally charged to irreverent, feel appropriate for where our characters are, and I thought this was very well done.

Here are a few of my personal highlights.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E1-2. This entire story leans kind of chaotic and surrealistic on the surface, but there’s an underlying layer of pathos that works to ground everything.

On the surface, Hae Jo is glib, casually nonchalant, good-looking (and extremely buff) and plays by his own rules; he looks so comfortable and confident in insisting that he only does things for fun, that you’d almost find him annoying, for refusing to play by the rules like a normal person.

And it is annoying, in a way, that he’s the kind of person who doesn’t need a plan, but manages to pull off the things that he sets out to do, anyway.

Like the way he agrees to take up that “kidnap the bride” job from that client (cameo by Lee Da Hee!), then waltzes in without a plan – but manages to pull off a pretty spectacular kidnap, so much so that the client exclaims in glee, that she wishes she didn’t have to leave, because she’s having so much fun.

Even when he runs into trouble and his motorbike goes flying into the air before crashing, he survives, with nary a scratch to show for it.

..But that’s when he finds out that he’s got 14 enlarged and malformed blood vessels in his brain, and that his brain is now essentially a ticking time bomb, and he’s got a very limited time to live.

Ouch. That.. definitely lends a layer of pathos to Hae Jo, so much so that all the initial swagger now lands as a shield, rather than a straightforward way of life, particularly when we see that in his dreams, he’s constantly rejected by his parents.

E1-2. With Hae Jo’s desire for parental love and acceptance so deeply ingrained in his psyche, it’s not that surprising that he would decide that he needs to seek out his bio dad, before his time is up.

Again, the way he threatens the director of the fertility center, to get the information on Bio Dad, is so bizarre and surreal.

That’s just how this show tends to roll. I’m starting to get the hang of it, I think, and I do find it quite amusing, when I’m not feeling bad for the fact that Hae Jo’s dying.

It’s quite trippy, trying to balance out these two very different vibes. 😁

[END SPOILER]

Show’s sense of unpredictability

I gotta give it to Show; it manages to be unpredictable, and stay unpredictable, all the way through to the end.

Basically, every time I got to the end of an episode, I had no real idea where Show would take us next.

This, considering that I was actually watching in an attentive, mindful sort of way, and putting thought into digesting each episode, so that I could write episode notes to share on Patreon.

AND this, considering that I’ve watched dramas in a serious, dedicated fashion for.. 17 years now 😅, and therefore have had lots of drama experience to draw from.

It was a rare and precious feeling, to have no real idea of where Show would take me next, but to also have full trust in the process, because it was clear to me, that Show knew what it was doing. 🥲

Show’s sense of logic

With how our story can often feel chaotic and surrealistic, you’d be forgiven for assuming that Show probably doesn’t care about logic all that much.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that that’s not the case at all.

In fact, each time I quietly concluded to myself that Show was likely not going to explain something particularly bizarre, Show surprised me by not only providing an explanation, but one that actually made sense.

I thought this was quite impressive, honestly.

[SPOILER ALERT]

For example, shout-out to Show for actually managing to give us an explanation that makes sense, around how Chil Seong (Oh Dae Hwan) and the coast guard had managed to find our lost trio, on the deserted island.

Of course Gi Ho (Kim Min Seok) would have had a tracker on Heung’s (Oh Jung Se) phone, because of the secret deal that they’d made. Nice one, Show. 😁

[END SPOILER]

Show’s sense of humor

Humor in kdramas can be hit or miss for me, and I don’t know that I enjoyed all of Show’s comedy equally, but I have to admit that I found myself laughing out loud more than a few times, during my watch.

I think part of it has to do with how Show has the tendency to unexpectedly undercut a more serious, poignant moment with something silly and irreverent.

That unexpectedness of it all, definitely adds to the element of surprise, which in turn adds to the funny in the moment.

Here’s an example in episodes 7-8, where that was the case for me.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E7-8. I feel bad for how helpless Heung feels, in the fact of Tiger Mom’s wrath.

I feel that Heung’s helplessness is basically as great as his love for Jae Mi, which is unfortunate, because as we see, he finds that there is really nothing that he can do for Jae Mi, even though he’s worried sick about her, and would do anything if it meant that he could be with her, and protect her.

I did find it quite funny and unexpected, that Heung’s basically carried away by John Na  (Alex Landi) and that bunch of assistants, every time Heung makes an attempt to infiltrate the room where Tiger Mom’s allowed Jae Mi to recuperate.

Also, how about the way he actually gets into the room, by hiding in Mom #2’s (Kim Soo Jin) skirt??? 😂

[END SPOILER]

SPOTLIGHT ON CHARACTERS & RELATIONSHIPS

Woo Do Hwan as Hae Jo

My friends. I’m not exaggerating when I say that I was floored by Woo Do Hwan’s performance as Hae Jo.

Before this, I’d seen him in My Country and The King: Eternal Monarch (reviews here and here!), and I’d thought of him as a solid, decent enough actor, but not quite in a category that I considered special enough to shout about.

That’s changed now, you guys. 🥲

I really feel like Woo Do Hwan’s leveled up in a big way, as an actor; he blew it out of the water with his delivery of Hae Jo, in a way that I didn’t know he had the capacity to.

He gave so many nuances and layers to his delivery of Hae Jo, and made it look so natural and effortless, that it really felt like he became Hae Jo.

He just has a way of making Hae Jo look like a nonchalant cad on the outside, but a bleeding heart on the inside, that really made my heart ache.

Really, really, REALLY good. ⭐️

[SPOILER ALERT]

E3-4. Even though Hae Jo makes it a point to appear all nonchalant about everything, there are distinct glimmers of his desire for kinship and connection.

Like in the way he tries to protect Bio Dad Candidate #1 (Ahn Suk Hwan), from the scheming of his children.

Hae Jo didn’t have to get involved, but he basically couldn’t stop himself, when he thought that his father might be getting scammed by his children, and the only reason he eventually stops and walks away, is because he gets the notification, that Candidate #1 isn’t Bio Dad, after all.

It occurs to me that with Hae Jo, all he needs is a little confirmation or encouragement, and he really does go all in, in response.

Like the way he’d responded to Jae Mi, the first time she’d gone to him in the rain, when he’d run into the father who’d first raised him.

He’d sought her out, and immediately asked her to be his girlfriend.

And then there’s the way he’d responded to Bio Dad Candidate #1.

A bit of kindness from Candidate #1, and Hae Jo had been ready to take on all of #1’s scamming children, to make sure that he didn’t get unfairly treated.

I feel like a similar dynamic is at work here, after Jae Mi chooses to hide Hae Jo, instead of going with Heung, after that dual knock-out scene.

Even though Jae Mi makes it clear that she hadn’t chosen to stay with him, it’s enough for Hae Jo, to make him declare that he will agree to Jae Mi’s demand, and die, but in the meantime, she’s all his.

I’m.. really starting to see Hae Jo as a very lost soul who’s much hungrier for love and connection than he would like to admit. 💔

And there’s so much pathos there too, at his fingertips.

Like that moment when he sits in the water, all drenched, and wonders aloud, why his life is becoming such fun, just as it’s about to end. 😭

E5-6. In episode 5, we spend a chunk of time with Bio Dad Candidate #2 (Jo Han Chul), and boy, #2 had me going there for quite a while, with his easygoing nature, easy affection, and even that medical history, that seems uncannily similar to Hae Jo’s brain situation.

It’s not hard to see why Hae Jo would be so drawn in by #2’s big show of care and concern, taking him to the fish market and buying all that seafood, and making a big happy show of being proud of his son.

I mean, I was completely drawn in by it, and even wondered if Hae Jo couldn’t maintain a relationship with #2, even if the paternity test turned out to be negative.

The moment that I found most affecting, is the scene after the fight at the fish market, where #2 pats Hae Jo on the shoulder, and says, just like a father would, how Hae Jo must have gone through so much, growing up all on his own; that he’s achieved a lot, and has done well.

What a balm this must have been, for Hae Jo’s parched soul – and then, in retrospect, how awful, for Hae Jo to realize that this had all been an act; that #2 had had his sights set on the bag of money that Hae Jo had in the cupboard. 💔

But y’know, I can’t help but feel like it had been real to #2, at least in part, because some of the moments feel truly genuine.

Like when #2 asks Hae Jo how much time he has left, because he knows what it means, that Hae Jo’s taking opioids, and asks if Hae Jo’s told Jae Mi.

When Hae Jo clams up and pushes back, saying that they’re nothing more than strangers, there is a sheen of tears in #2’s eyes, and he protests that he’s worried about Hae Jo, and that’s annoying him too.

..Which kind of leads me to think that perhaps #2 had been sincere towards Hae Jo, but his greed for money, and his addiction to gambling, had simply been greater.

My heart really goes out to Hae Jo, because we can see his heart swelling with hope, in response.

First, there’s how he can’t help smiling as he brags to Jae Mi about his trip to the fish market with #2,  and then, there’s that happy dream that he dreams, of being a happy family with #2 and Jae Mi, with Jae Mi even being pregnant with his baby.

If Hae Jo hadn’t gotten his hopes up, I don’t think he would have been as disappointed to find out that #2 had made off with his money, but once your hopes and spirits have been lifted – that’s when it hurts the most, when they suddenly come crashing down.

Oof. I felt really, really bad for Hae Jo, that he would be so rudely awakened from his dream – both literally and figuratively. 💔

E7-8. I wanted to give a shout-out to that beat where Heung asks Hae Jo why he goes by Hae Jo instead of his real name, and if his parents know that he’s sick.

In that moment, there’s such a sheen of tears in Hae Jo’s eyes, as he contemplates how to respond, before he chooses to deflect it with a smile, ribbing Heung about interrogating him like he’s a potential suitor for his daughter.

That was really well delivered by Woo Do Hwan, I thought. 🥲🥲

So much hidden pain, visible to us via these small teary glimpses, and then so hastily, casually covered up by nonchalance and jokes; I honestly do feel for Hae Jo, and how much he must be holding in, on the inside. 🥹

E7-8. I appreciate the respectful way in which Hae Jo handles the handing over of the shoe.

I believe that he’s backing off, after having remembered how upset Jae Mi had been with him, and how she’d wished that he would die, so that they’d never meet again, but he still wants to give her back the shoe which she’d been so fond of, and so, he asks Heung to pass it on to her.

[END SPOILER]

Lee You Mi as Jae Mi

Lee You Mi does a great job as Jae Mi, no doubt about it.

I found her delivery very natural and unaffected; it made me think that she really was Jae Mi, which is an excellent thing indeed.

As a character, I found Jae Mi to be very simple and earnest; a quality that sometimes worked for her, and sometimes, against her.

I’ll talk more about Jae Mi in other sections, but will say for now, that in the end, I like the idea that Jae Mi learns to follow her heart, and not doubt her instincts, even if her instincts are pointing her in an unconventional direction.

Oh Jung Se as Heung

I really, really enjoyed Heung as a character, and I loved Oh Jung Se’s portrayal of him.

I love that beyond the innocence and timidity that we first see, Heung turns out to be such a loyal and determined person, who’s willing to do whatever it takes, to be reunited with his stolen bride.

I found that very endearing indeed.

More than anything, though, I love Heung for being such a pure soul, which I’ll discuss in another section. 🥲

Jae Mi and Heung [BROAD SPOILERS]

Given that we start the show with Jae Mi engaged to marry Heung, I was honestly very uncertain about what Show was planning to do with this relationship, particularly as we learn, layer by peeled back layer, that Jae Mi still cares about Hae Jo.

All in all, I do think that Show did a really nice job of wrapping up this relationship in a way that felt sensitive and respectful, while remaining true to our characters.

I found Heung’s devotion to Jae Mi very sweet and endearing, but I do think that Show does a very good job of helping us to see that he just wasn’t the right man for her.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E1-2. Jae Mi seems to genuinely like her groom, Eo Heung (pitch perfectly played by Oh Jung Se).

I mean, Eo Heung is definitely a momma’s boy and yields to Mom’s management and leadership just about all of the time, but he really is sincere and sweet towards Jae Mi, and I find myself feeling bad for him, that Jae Mi gets stolen like that, on the day of their wedding.

There’s also something endearing about how he describes himself to Jae Mi, saying that he’s not strong, but he’s persistent.

I feel like oftentimes, that quality is the thing that would make a marriage longlasting, and I honestly think that he would be a sweet and loyal husband.

I actually found it quite touching, that Jae Mi would try so desperately to get away from Hae Jo, to go back to Eo Heung; this tells me that she sincerely likes Eo Heung, and isn’t just grabbing onto him, in an effort to improve her life.

So YAY that she manages to get a message to Eo Heung, because poor dude’s been worried sick, and now, we’ve got Eo Heung embarking on his own journey, to be reunited with his lost love. 😁

E3-4. It’s clear that Heung and Jae Mi have only developed their relationship to a very pure and polite sort of level.

I’m not saying that they need to have slept with each other before their wedding; it’s more like, I’m not sure how well they truly know each other, in making this marriage commitment to each other.

I mean, Jae Mi doesn’t even feel confident in telling him that she’s going through premature menopause, and will therefore not be able to bear children like they’d planned.

Although, arguably, the reason Jae Mi can’t bring herself to tell Heung about it, is because she loves him and therefore wants to protect him; like she tells Hae Jo, she doesn’t want to be the cause of his misery.

Which.. on the one hand, I can understand as a considerate, loving sort of sentiment, but on the other hand, could also be interpreted as a form of noble idiocy.

Because, in the end, isn’t that Heung’s decision to make? Maybe he doesn’t actually care if he has descendants for the family line, if he can just spend his life being Jae Mi’s husband..?

And Heung, in the meantime, clearly has Jae Mi on a pedestal, which.. is sweet, but doesn’t bode well for regular life and all the challenges that come with it.

I found it utterly hilarious that Heung would end up stealing that police car and broadcasting his love for Jae Mi all over town while trying to chase down Hae Jo, and then I found it even funnier, when Heung ends up shooting that stun gun at himself, while trying to shoot Hae Jo.

Oh dear. Poor Heung. 🤭😅 He tries so hard, but is quite ineffectual, for all his efforts.

I did find the scene where Jae Mi calls Heung from the payphone rather poignant, because of how tortured Jae Mi feels, as she tries to apologize to Heung.

And, I did feel sad for her too, that there’s nothing she can do to change her situation, and that’s why she feels that it’s not an option for her to go back to Heung and get married, as they’d planned.

E5-6. Thanks to Gi Ho, Heung gets information on Jae Mi’s whereabouts, and that’s how we get that hilarious scene of Heung using an acupuncture needle to immobilize Chil Seong, under threat of complete paralysis, if he were to move.

I gotta give it to Heung, he can be quite clever sometimes, yes? 😁

I feel bad for Heung, when he eventually witnesses that kiss between Hae Jo and Jae Mi; there’s such a sense of sadness and defeat about him, in that moment.

And yet, I have to give Heung props, that he doesn’t just give up on Jae Mi then and there, or withhold his love, care and concern for her.

The first chance he gets, he grabs Jae Mi in a hug, and tells her that everything’s ok, now that he’s found her.

Aw. Isn’t that very touching? Heung’s got such a pure heart, truly. 🥲

E5-6. I’m proud of Jae Mi for pressing in to tell Heung about her premature menopause, even though he keeps cutting her off, telling her he doesn’t want to know, and then I’m honestly quite touched by Heung’s response; that it doesn’t matter in the least.

How sweet, really, that he would be willing to tell his family that he’s infertile, if it means that he can spend his life with Jae Mi. 🥲🥲

E7-8. Heung realizes that quite possibly, the whole reason Jae Mi had treasured the shoe so much, was because the shoes had been a gift from Hae Jo.

The whole scene, where Heung struggles with that realization, and then quietly places the shoes, as a pair, outside Jae Mi’s room, so that she’d find them the next morning, is so poignantly, beautifully delivered.

Kudos to Oh Jung Se; I found his delivery of this scene, so quietly, powerfully emotional.

He’s letting her go, out of his love for her, because he realizes that her heart is with Hae Jo. 🥹

[END SPOILER]

Jae Mi and Hae Jo [BROAD SPOILERS]

Like I alluded to earlier, I hadn’t been sure that Hae Jo and Jae Mi were even our OTP, given the fact that we start our story with Jae Mi engaged to Heung.

However, Show does do a really good job of peeling away the layers, and revealing, fragment by fragment, that Hae Jo and Jae Mi really do love each other, and have never stopped loving each other.

Their relationship definitely has its dysfunctional parts, but I don’t think that Show is recommending that as an ideal way to love.

Rather, I see this as Show demonstrating to us, that these two very broken people do love each other to the best that they are able, in their brokenness, and through the brokenness, and it is through that love, that eventually, important healing happens. 🥲

[SPOILER ALERT]

E1-2. There’s definitely some lingering emotional history between Jae Mi and Hae Jo; she might want to marry Eo Heung, but it seems that Jae Mi does still care about Hae Jo.

At least, when she sees Hae Jo having a nightmare, she stops to watch over him, instead of taking the chance to run away, like she’d planned. I do think that that says something.

It does amuse me greatly, on the other hand, how Hae Jo understands her so well, that he can predict her every move, and that’s why she keeps failing at running away.

That scene where he waits outside the gas station bathroom window, so that he can catch her in a princess carry, is really quite cute. 🤭

E3-4. In the midst of Hae Jo’s heartbreak at running into Dad (Lee Hae Young), it’s Jae Mi who reaches through the overwhelming fog of emotion, and connects with Hae Jo, by grasping his hand, and expresses care and concern, in a moment when he feels like he literally has no one in the whole wide world.

I can see why Hae Jo would feel touched by that, and seek her out, wanting to have her in his life.

And I can also imagine that it would have been way too much pressure, for one person to be someone else’s everything; perhaps that is why Hae Jo and Jae Mi broke up, eventually?

The specific reasons for their breakup aren’t super clear at this point, but we know enough to conclude that neither of them had truly wanted the break-up, and Jae Mi had left, hoping that Hae Jo would go after her – but he hadn’t, most likely because he’d concluded that this was just one more time in his life, that he was being abandoned. 💔

I’m guessing that Hae Jo’s imprinted on his mind and heart, an association that Jae Mi is a source of acceptance and comfort, when everything else has gone to pot, and perhaps that’s why he instinctively wants to be around Jae Mi, at this time when he’s grappling with such a devastating reality, that he only has a very limited time to live. 🥹

And he’s not wrong either, in that, we can see that Jae Mi cares about Hae Jo, enough that she would give up the chance to run away when she sees that he’s having a nightmare, in order to hold his hand.

On this point, I just wanted to mention that I’ve seen other people comment about Stockholm sydrome (feelings of trust or affection felt in many cases of kidnapping or hostage-taking by a victim towards a captor) in relation to this situation, and I think it’s not quite that?

The reason I say that, is because this isn’t a straightforward case of kidnapping; this is a situation where Jae Mi and Hae Jo have an established history together, and we see that they both do still care about each other.

So I don’t think that Jae Mi’s developed affection for her kidnapper; rather, she’s never stopped caring for Hae Jo, and  she’s slowly starting to get the sense that there’s more to his situation than he’s saying.

Therefore, for what it’s worth, I don’t think that Show is actually glamorizing kidnapping, or promoting Stockholm syndrome.

I feel it’s more like Show’s exploring the fact that Hae Jo and Jae Mi still have unresolved feelings for each other.

For example, when Jae Mi thinks that Hae Jo’s leaning in to kiss her, she actually closes her eyes, like she’s decided to accept the kiss – except the kiss doesn’t happen, because Hae Jo’s just messing with her, while inching her closer to the table, where he ties her wrists to, so that she can’t run away.

E3-4. Jae Mi clearly hasn’t processed her lingering feelings for Hae Jo, and Hae Jo.. well, I don’t think he’s processed his feelings either, and it’s all complicated by the fact that he knows that he’s dying, and therefore, that would also factor into his consideration of whether or not to explore the feelings side of things with Jae Mi.

At the same time, there are little indications that Hae Jo is jealous of Heung’s connection with Jae Mi, like the way he throws her shoe onto the roof, so that Jae Mi has no choice but to switch to a different pair of footwear.

Ha. Hae Jo just didn’t want Jae Mi to wear the shoes that Heung had gotten for her – and that’s how we know that deep down, he cares – even if he won’t admit it.

E3-4. I appreciate that we get to enjoy little pockets of small happiness with Hae Jo and Jae Mi, like when they go to the market in Busan, to buy new clothes, and Jae Mi gets all happy when Hae Jo buys her that pair of cute shoes. 🥲

E3-4. I’m very touched by the fact that Hae Jo’s able to see through Jae Mi’s laughter, to the open wounds and unshed tears underneath.

His quiet statement, that she shouldn’t force herself to laugh, and should just cry instead, feels like the honesty and freedom that she needs, to allow herself to just be, even if that means crying her eyes out through the night.

And then how moving to see, that while Hae Jo’s patting her shoulder comfortingly, telling her that he’s just a mushroom cuddling a potato, he’s actually struggling through debilitating pain.

And yet, he doesn’t allow any of that pain to transmit through his touch, so that all Jae Mi feels, is the comforting gentle thud of his hand on her shoulder.

It makes me feel like Hae Jo would willingly allow himself to be destroyed, if it would allow him to love someone, and I’m quite floored by that sentiment, honestly.

E5-6. Honestly, with the backstory that we get, of Jae Mi’s early years at the orphanage, I can’t help thinking that at their core, Jae Mi and Hae Jo are very much alike; they both crave acceptance, love and belonging.

They just.. respond to that need differently.

Jae Mi’s instinct is to try to make her own family, since she can’t gain one by being adopted, while Hae Jo’s instinct is to push everyone away and hide, because it’s too painful to deal with the rejection that he’s taken on as part of his identity, whether his parents feel the same way or not.

Adding on the fact that Hae Jo and Jae Mi actually know and understand each other much better than just about any other person in the world, having been so close for a significant period of time, and it’s actually really interesting and poignant, watching them spend time together.

Like, they each actually know where the other person is coming from, regardless of what the other person says or shows on the surface.

That’s why Hae Jo reluctantly sings that song for Jae Mi at the top of episode 5, even though he takes it as a joke at first.

When he realizes that she’s serious, he also understands where all this emotion is coming from, and what it means to her, to hear the words, “You were created to receive the greatest love.” 🥲

When Hae Jo just looks at Jae Mi’s back, which is turned to him, there’s a look of sad wistfulness in his eyes, and I feel like that gaze is part empathy, and part solidarity; he knows what it’s like, to feel that hopeless combination, that he doesn’t belong anywhere, and yet, still wants to be loved, so badly. 💔

E5-6. It really is very telling, isn’t it, that Jae Mi’s first reaction, upon realizing that she’s home alone, is to check whether Hae Jo’s belongings are still in the cupboard, and then breathe a sigh of relief when she sees that his stuff is still there, meaning that he hasn’t left?

Yes, she catches herself right away, and berates herself for even thinking that way, and promptly works on running away, but that first instinct was, I believe, a genuine glimpse into the true state of her heart.

Not that she specifically wants to be with Hae Jo, I don’t think.

Rather, I think that it’s that when she’s with Hae Jo like this, with a mission to accomplish, she feels like she belongs somewhere, and has a purpose.

Without him, she doesn’t even know where she can go, because she’s already decided that she can’t go back to Heung, because she is unable to give him children.

At the same time, I do think that there’s a part of Jae Mi that can’t help but melt a little, in Hae Jo’s direction, when he does something nice for her.

Like the way he puts ointment on all the scratches on her face and neck, which she’d sustained in that fall in the mountains, when he thinks she’s asleep.

I don’t blame Jae Mi though; I’d be melting in her place as well, particularly given the context, that she feels unwanted and useless, to everyone in the world. 🥲

And, like we’ve seen up to this point, Jae Mi does still care about Hae Jo, and I’m sure that’s why she comes charging in to knock #2 on the head, when #2 says those extremely hurtful things to Hae Jo, about how scum like him could never dream of having such fun with a father like him.

Ugh. I felt sooo bad for Hae Jo, who looks so heartbroken, in response, like he’s had the wind knocked out of him, by #2’s cruelty. 😭

That scene where Hae Jo and Jae Mi just sit, bawling together, while rocking back and forth, is so affecting to me; it feels like all the defensive protective layers have been ripped away, and we’re gazing on their wounded, crippled hearts, as they cry. 😭😭

Afterward, the fact that Hae Jo tells Jae Mi that she should go live her life now, instead of drifting with him, shows how hurt Hae Jo is, from this experience with #2.

That, and the fact that his own condition is clearly worsening, since he’s getting those pain attacks more frequently now.

I think that these reasons combined, is why Hae Jo tells Jae Mi to leave.

I do think that Jae Mi’s pushback, that she won’t leave, has a lot to do with her wanting Hae Jo to take responsibility for dragging her into this in the first place.

As far as she knows, the search for Bio Dad isn’t over, and so she sees no reason for Hae Jo to send her away.

Plus, she doesn’t have any personal direction to speak of at the moment; I do think that that’s also factoring into her reaction.

The way Hae Jo receives it, though, is quite different.

To Hae Jo, I believe this lands as Jae Mi choosing him, when she could have chosen to leave, and that’s so touching to him, given the huge blow of rejection that he’s just endured, that he can’t help but cleave to her – which is how we get that kiss.

E7-8. These episodes, we also explore further, Hae Jo’s feelings for Jae Mi.

Before, I’d said that it likely had to do with there being a lot of solidarity, since both of them don’t have families, and have the same desire for love, acceptance and belonging.

These episodes, we see that there’s another layer at play, and that is how Jae Mi is, towards things that she perceives as abandoned.

Because she’s been abandoned herself, she feels extra sorry for things that she perceives as abandoned – like the pair of secondhand shoes that Hae Jo buys her from the market – and wants to love them extra.

I think that that hits Hae Jo right in the heart, because he sees himself as abandoned too, even though he’s the one who’d run away from home, and the fact that Jae Mi would see value in abandoned things, and want to love them extra, just speaks to him in the deepest, most profound way.

With Jae Mi, he feels valued, which, apparently, is something that he doesn’t generally feel, and that is very precious indeed.

I can see why Hae Jo would suddenly feel inspired to go to Wanju to give Jae Mi the shoe that she’d lost.

E7-8. I think Hae Jo’s immense worry for Jae Mi, combined with the futility of it all – that he has no place in her life, and he’s dying anyway – is what causes him to go into that slump, where all he does, for days on end, is just lie in bed, while holding the shoe of Jae Mi’s, that he’d picked up, on the island.

E7-8. It’s really telling, that once Jae Mi has the shoes, she does exactly what Heung had heard her say, while she’d been talking in her feverish sleep; she puts the shoes on her feet, and goes straight to Hae Jo.

..It’s just too bad that Bong Suk opens the door in a little slip, and Hae Jo comes into view all shirtless, which is how we end up with that very bizarre scene, of Jae Mi biting down hard, on Hae Jo’s nose.

Gosh, this show can be really absurd at times, and I’d forgotten that, for a little while. 😅😅

But this is how Hae Jo’s relationship with Jae Mi comes into focus, and I’m really rather puzzled, at why Hae Jo had broken up with her, in the first place.

From all the clues that we’ve been given, in terms of Hae Jo’s wistful looks, particularly in that flashback to the day that they’d broken up, it’s clear that he does still love Jae Mi, and he’d been lying about her being not fun and not interesting to be with.

And, at the time, he hadn’t known about his blood vessel condition, so it’s not like he was letting her go because of that.

The only conclusion I can draw, given what we’ve been told so far, is that perhaps Hae Jo couldn’t see himself giving her a family like she’d wanted, and that’s why he’d let her go.

But, I do think that the way he’d let her go had been very cruel, what with her telling her that she couldn’t be a mother, because people like them who’d never received love, couldn’t give love.

I can only rationalize that, 1, Hae Jo truly is that broken, and doesn’t know how to love, like he says, and that’s how he ends up hurting Jae Mi like that, and 2, he was possibly being cruel, so that Jae Mi wouldn’t hesitate to leave him.

And we do see that it’s been Jae Mi’s habit to linger, even after he’s told her to leave, and that’s what she does in the present, even after Hae Jo’s tried to send her off in that taxi, to Wanju.

I must say, I really do hate what Hae Jo says to Jae Mi, when she comes back, clearly having told the taxi driver to turn around and bring her back.

Everything he says is a clear example of gaslighting; it’s all falsehood, but somehow, he spins it in a way that Jae Mi could actually buy as his true reason for bringing the shoe to her.

I think I have a sore spot when it comes to gaslighting, because I’ve been subject to it, with the ex-husband, and I didn’t know or understand that I’d been continuously gaslighted, until years later, on hindsight.

And so, it really bugs me extra, to see Hae Jo trying to gaslight Jae Mi into believing that he’d only brought the shoe to her, because she’d seemed to treasure it, and it didn’t mean anything more than that.

I especially hate that he tells her that she’s so desperate for affection that it makes her look pathetic.

Ugh. I am offended on Jae Mi’s behalf, for real. 😠

That said, I get that Hae Jo’s doing the thing where he’s pushing Jae Mi away for her own good – and this time, I can understand his reason for doing so; he knows that he’s dying, and doesn’t have much time left. 😥

But then there’s the thing – Jae Mi’s kind of onto him now, and that’s why she waits for him at the office, because she has a hunch that he’ll come looking for her.

And so, as much as Hae Jo understands that Jae Mi’s tendency is to linger even after he’d told her to leave, Jae Mi understands that Hae Jo’s tendency is to say hurtful things, in order to push her away – even when he doesn’t actually want her to leave.

Augh. These two. They are so broken, that they are, at the same time, perfect for each other, but also, terrible for each other. 😅

I will say though, that I was pretty touched by that moment when Hae Jo gives in to his feelings, as Jae Mi cradles his tearful face.

He’s finally putting everything else aside, and just allowing himself to love and be loved, and it’s gloriously freeing, even if it turns out to be quite fleeting. 🥲

It’s really very bittersweet watching Hae Jo and Jae Mi sink into happy couple times, because unlike Jae Mi, we know that Hae Jo’s living on borrowed time.

And so, it’s lovely and happy, but at the same time, there’s this thick layer of foreboding running undercurrent, because I keep anticipating that Hae Jo’s going to collapse, because his condition has been getting worse. 😬

[END SPOILER]

Hae Jo and Heung [BROAD SPOILERS]

Perhaps the biggest surprise of all, to me, was the kind of heartwarming, gruff brotherhood that grows, between Hae Jo and Heung.

They are the oddest of odd couples, what with Hae Jo being the kidnapper of Heung’s bride and all, but Show makes it work, and this reluctant brotherhood truly warmed my heart.

I loved that Hae Jo and Heung essentially learned to look beyond the surface, and connect on a deeper level.

It moved me a great deal, that in some of Hae Jo’s most difficult times, it’s Heung who’s there for him. 🥹

[SPOILER ALERT]

E5-6. My favorite thing about this whole deserted island thing, though, is how we get to see Heung and Hae Jo agreeing to a temporary truce, in the interest of survival.

Remember how I’d said that I would love if we could see Hae Jo, Jae Mi and Heung be friends?

I feel like our writers decided they’d like that too, but then, someone said that the only way that would happen, is if the three of them got stranded on a deserted island, and their survival depended on it, and someone else said, “No worries, I gotchu” – which is how we ended up with this episode. 🤭

It’s unfortunate that Heung feels so insecure in Hae Jo’s presence, but I honestly can’t blame him, because the way Hae Jo and Jae Mi interact, you can just tell that they have  a lot of history together, and are comfortable with each other.

Heung doesn’t have that yet, with Jae Mi, and naturally, he’d feel insecure watching Jae Mi be so comfortable with Hae Jo.

And that’s not yet taking into account how Heung feels quite out of his depth, in the face of Hae Jo’s muscular shirtlessness, which, I can sympathize with, coz it’s hard not to compare, and then it’s hard not to feel insecure, given that Hae Jo’s so well built. 😅

I do love how all of those reservations go straight out the window, the minute Heung realizes that Hae Jo’s collapsed, and is very sick.

It’s so endearing to me, how Heung works so feverishly to stabilize Hae Jo and help him get through the pain attack; he’s a good man, our Heung. 🥲

E5-6. It hits me in the gut every time, when Hae Jo has an episode, and his feverish mind keeps going back to his childhood, with his parents, when he’d been loved and happy. Oof. My heart. 🥹😭

My theory that Hae Jo’s ready to go all in with his love and commitment, with very little encouragement, gains one more piece of reinforcing evidence, with the way Hae Jo responds to Heung’s worried outburst (even though that outburst is all about how Jae Mi would be shocked by Hae Jo’s death) – by addressing Heung as “Hyung.”

Augh! Our Hae Jo wants Heung to be his Hyung. How endearing is that?? 🥲

E7-8. Honestly, I’d gotten the impression, at first, that Hae Jo’s entire intent on going to Wanju, was to seek out Jae Mi, and we even have that whole scene with Hae Jo giving himself a makeshift shower in the men’s restroom at the rest stop.

But in the end, Hae Jo seems to change his mind, and the person whom Hae Jo goes to see, is Heung.

Based on how we see Hae Jo remembering all the times that Jae Mi had railed at him tearfully, during this journey, it looks like Hae Jo comes to the sobering conclusion that Jae Mi really doesn’t want him in her life; that she’s better off without him. 🥹

I did really like the encounter that Hae Jo has with Heung instead, however.

Mainly, I like the warmth in Hae Jo’s voice, as he talks with Heung, and tells him that he really thinks that Heung’s a good, warm person.

It’s endearing, really, that even though Heung is clearly still smarting from the fact that Hae Jo had kidnapped his bride, he still shows concern for Hae Jo, and tells him not to smoke, coz it’s bad for him.

Aw. Heung really is a good egg. And you could even see him as rising up to being the hyung that Hae Jo sees him as, in a way? 🥲

[END SPOILER]

Hae Jo and Dad [BROAD SPOILERS]

The relationship between Hae Jo and Dad is complicated and full of scars, gaping wounds and emotional baggage, and I appreciate that Show is able to help us to understand that, quite economically.

One of my hopes, all series long, was that Hae Jo would manage to reconcile with Dad in a meaningful way, and Show does deliver, which I’m glad about. 🥲

[SPOILER ALERT]

E3-4. Judging from the literal run-in that Hae Jo has with Dad at the top of episode 3, it looks like Dad has complicated feelings about Hae Jo, and understandably so, since, as we know, he’d doted on Hae Jo for eight years, and then had been told that he wasn’t actually Hae Jo’s biological father.

At the same time, it looks like it had been Hae Jo who had walked away from that relationship; that’s the sense that I get, with his parting shot to Dad, that he doesn’t take on cases about missing family members or runaways.

That very much feels like Hae Jo’s referring to himself having run away; that he’s not coming back.

It’s heartbreaking, honestly, because judging from Hae Jo’s expression, and the stray tears that we glimpse through the rain, it hurts him to push Dad away like this, and it looks like Dad does want to reconnect.

To my eyes, it seems that it’s Hae Jo who feels that he has no place in this family, given his birth mix-up, and perhaps he believes that he’s saving Dad from having to make a difficult decision – by making the decision for them all. 💔

[END SPOILER]

Kim Min Seok as Gi Ho / Kkari

I really felt that Kim Min Seok was perfectly cast as Gi Ho, affectionately known as Kkari.

To me, he brought Gi Ho to life in a way that really popped. I loved Gi Ho’s cheeky expressiveness and resilience, and how he manages to be funny, even in the most dire circumstances.

For a supporting character, he really managed to steal my heart, a little bit.

[SPOILER ALERT]

There are two key things that come to mind, when I think of Gi Ho

1, I felt so ruefully sorry for him, so much of the time, because of the physical and mental torment that he gets subjected to, when Chil Seong’s hunting down Hae Jo, and Gi Ho’s his only lead.

At the same time, Show plays it for funny, and Kim Min Seok’s comic abilities are so good, that he makes Gi Ho’s terror and desperation actually kind of funny, and I just can’t help but chuckle alongside, even though I do feel bad for Gi Ho.

It’s quite trippy, in that way. 😅

2, He’s actually fiercely loyal, and he might curse and swear at Hae Jo, but he loves the dude, and would risk everything, to protect him. 🥹

I found that very touching.

[END SPOILER]

Lee El as Bong Suk

For a good chunk of our story, Bong Suk’s more or less kept on the fringes of our story.

We know that she’s connected to Hae Jo, but we’re not clear on the context or boundaries of their relationship.

Well. Show finally sheds light on that in episode 7, and I found that backstory very touching and affecting.

Bong Suk’s so much more than she appears, truly. 🥲

[SPOILER ALERT]

E7. Show serves up the backstory around how Bong Suk and Hae Jo had met, and what kind of relationship they have, which I found unexpectedly touching and affecting.

Like, what do you mean, that everything Hae Jo’s said about Bong Suk being his parent, and savior, and landlady, had been true?? 🥹

I’m most affected by the casual way Bong Suk decides to save Hae Jo, just from seeing him rummage through the trash for food.

She doesn’t try to help him in other ways, like, take him to a police station, or engage social services.

She simply starts feeding him, by putting out food for him disguised as leftovers, and then, when she’s sure that he’s depending on her food, tells him that he can work for his keep.

..Which is how he ends up running all sorts of errands for guests at the establishment where she works, which is how he ends up having the name Hae Jo (which doesn’t just sound like “do this for me” like I’d first thought; it literally means that!), and also, how he ends up running an errand business for real.

I find it all very offhanded yet poignant, that this is how Hae Jo’s life had been shaped, after he’d run away from home. 🥲

Indeed, Bong Suk is Hae Jo’s savior, parent and family. 🥲

[END SPOILER]

Kim Hae Sook as Tiger Mom

I just had to give a shout-out to Kim Hae Sook, whom I found to be very effective, and really quite compelling, as Heung’s Tiger Mom.

I got a kick out of seeing Kim Hae Sook be so commanding and imperious all the time; a far cry from her days of always playing nice, loving moms, like in Winter Sonata (Open Threads here!). 😁

And, I did appreciate the way Tiger Mom eventually softens, as well. 🥲

THOUGHTS ON THE ENDING [SPOILERS]

E9-10. You guys. I just finished watching these finale episodes, and I feel like my heart has been buffeted a million different ways.

How does this show manage to be so chaotic and rollercoastery, all the way to the end, and yet, manage to hit you right in the heart, like it’s an MMA fighter who’s just taken a running leap, right into your chest? 🥹🥹🥹

Oooof – is what I have to say. 😅

I’m trying to grasp all the various wisps of thoughts that are flying around my brain right now, and shape them into a coherent train of thought, but it’s not such an easy task, and let me just say that I’ve got my work cut out for me.

Clearly, this show packs a punch, and I am just so impressed that it doesn’t even look or feel like it’s trying to pack that punch; it feels like it’s just being what it wants to be, and it just happens to be quirky, and chaotic, and unpredictable, and thoughtful, and deep, and profoundly affecting, all at the same time.

After Hae Jo lands in the hospital after his collapse, I honestly didn’t think that there could be anywhere else for him to go, given how sick he is.

I mean, he even goes into cardiac arrest, and needs to be resuscitated, right? So staying in hospital seems like the sensible, safe thing to do?

But no. It doesn’t take long for Show to have Jae Mi kidnapping Hae Jo out of the VIP ward, because she remembers, with a jolt of clarity, that Hae Jo’s dream is to die beneath the brilliant blue sky, and not looking up at a hospital ceiling.

As much as my logical brain protested that this could literally kill Hae Jo, I have to acknowledge Jae Mi’s instinct to honor Hae Jo’s wishes, even if it puts his health in further danger.

In the end, though, this is completely in line with Hae Jo’s wishes; once he comes to, he’s intent on doing all of the things he wants to do, in the time that he has left, and doesn’t even consider going back to the hospital.

And you know what, it’s honestly touching to see how the people around him support his decision, even though they find it hard to let him go.

That scene of Gi Ho, all teary-eyed while acting cheerful, pledging himself to be Hae Jo’s lackey forever, if Hae Jo will just come back, and Hae Jo, pretending to reluctantly agree, while telling Gi Ho to tell Bong Suk that he loves her, brought a tear to my eye and a lump to my throat, no lie.

It all feels like a final goodbye, and this feeling comes up quite a lot, in these final episodes, as Hae Jo does all the things that he feels he needs to do.

The scene of him leaving Jae Mi at her mother’s house, also feels like a final goodbye, like he’s leaving her there, so that she won’t have to see him die.

Honestly, I was mad at Hae Jo for abandoning Jae Mi a second time, because how could he do that to her, knowing how much it would hurt her..? 😭

My consolation is that it seems to hurt him just as much as it hurts her, and seeing him bawl like that, and berate himself for doing that to Jae Mi, does help soothe my disappointment in him.

The other silver lining, is that I kinda love the idea, that Hae Jo calls Heung to tell him that he’s abandoning Jae Mi, and Heung comes – but for Hae Jo, not Jae Mi.

I hadn’t been expecting that.

Normally, when a male lead calls the second male lead to come, because he’s planning to leave the female lead somewhere, the second male lead shows up to take care of the female lead. Trust this show to turn that trope on its head! 🤭

I do love the bits of brotherhood that we see between them, with Heung blowing Hae Jo’s nose like a real hyung would, and talking sense to Hae Jo, by telling him that he hasn’t done a good thing, by abandoning Jae Mi, and even trying to feed him, so that he can keep his strength up.

Aw. Heung’s turning out to be such a good hyung. 🥲

Honestly, I feel like there’s so much pathos in the fact that Jae Mi chooses to keep forgiving Hae Jo for abandoning her, and even thanks him for finding out her real birthday.

I mean, the fact that she only smacks him on the side of the head, for abandoning her, says a lot, I think, about how she’s keenly aware of the fact that Hae Jo doesn’t have a lot of time left.

Like, there’s no point arguing or nitpicking, because very soon, it’s not going to matter anymore, once Hae Jo’s gone. 😭🥺

I’m glad that Jae Mi explains what she’d really said, when she’d thought she was dying; that she’d really been saying 신발 (sinbal), referring to the shoes that Hae Jo had given her, and not 씨발 (shibal), a curse word.

I feel like that assurance is so important to Hae Jo; that in a moment when she’d believed she was dying, her heart had been to follow him, wearing the shoes that he’d given her. 🥲

In our final episode, we see Hae Jo having meaningful, happy times with the people who matter to him, and that was very poignant to witness.

That scene of everyone sitting around, laughing and playing drinking games, feels so precious, especially at the part when Hae Jo stands by and just watches it all, with that thoughtful look on his face, a smile tugging at his lips, and tears sheening in his eyes.

In fact, Hae Jo wears that look a fair bit, as we get nearer to the end of our story, and I found it extremely affecting, to see this emotion leaking out from him, even as he did his best to act nonchalant.

I very much appreciate, though, that Hae Jo has that time of reconciliation with his dad; Dad might not be Bio Dad, but he really is the only dad that Hae Jo’s ever known, and it feels fitting, that Hae Jo would want to reach out and make peace, before his time was up.

I was basically clutching my heart the entire time Hae Jo and Dad are in that extended hug, where we basically see Hae Jo in the present, as well as the past, hugging Dad and crying.

AUGH. So much relief and emotional release, on both sides. 😭😭

I’m a little disappointed that Hae Jo doesn’t spend more time with Dad, but I’m comforted by the fact that Hae Jo gets to see how much Dad truly cared, over the years, and how he’d treasured his memories with Hae Jo, in the ways that he could.

And, I’m also comforted to see that Hae Jo leaves that scribble on that name card for Dad, telling Dad that he’s Dad’s son, and signs off as Chae Seung Hyeok.

Given how little time Hae Jo has, this really is the best gift that he could have given Dad; an affirmation that they are, indeed, father and son, regardless of all that’s happened in the past.

It’s an expression of connection, and forgiveness, and even affection, all in one, and it’s beautiful. 🥹

As our story winds its way towards the final closing, we hear Hae Jo dropping meaningful little nuggets that pertain to life and death, like how plankton sparkles in the water, and is so fundamental to life.

And also, how the light from stars that are already dead, continues to shine for years and years and years.

It all adds up to this really poignant picture of Hae Jo, shining so brightly in his last days, that it brings life and light to those around him.

Like the way Heung adopts Hae Jo’s mantra, of being a drifter, instead of being lost, and gains so much freedom in the way he lives his life.

(On that note, I appreciate that Tiger Mom realizes that it’s time to let Heung live the life that he wants, and it’s also pretty cute how John agrees to be her second son. 😁)

Yes, Hae Jo’s not perfect, and he has his issues and problems, but he’s brought love into the lives of those whom he cares about.

And it feels apt and meaningful for Hae Jo to spend his last days just traveling with Jae Mi, to wherever their hearts take them.

When he finally collapses on that snowy hill, bringing us back to our opening scene in episode 1, I’m relieved that Jae Mi isn’t far away, and that she manages to come to him quickly enough, that he gets to see her, one last time.

It’s completely heartrending to hear him say, in voiceover, that he wants to live; that he wants to love Jae Mi more, for longer. 😭

But it’s also utterly beautiful, that his last conscious thought, would be,

“You’re the last scene of my life. Well, then I guess I had a pretty good life. It was so much fun; thoroughly and completely. I love you.”

AUGH. My heart. ❤️‍🩹

Given the circumstances, this was the best ending that I could have hoped for, for Hae Jo.

He spent his final days with the people whom he loved, and continued to spread his unique brand of sparkle and wisdom, while he could.

And he breathed his last breath, giving and receiving love, with the love of his life.

How completely tragic, yet deeply beautiful, at the same time. 🥲

Thank you for everything, Hae Jo. Your light’s still shining bright. ⭐️🥹

THE FINAL VERDICT:

A wild ride that somehow manages to also be profoundly affecting and thought-provoking.

FINAL GRADE: A

TRAILER:

MV:

PATREON UPDATE!

The next drama I’m covering on Patreon, in place of Mr. Plankton, is Blossom [China].

You can check out my episode 1-4 notes on Blossom 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): +Blossom [China]

Early Access Plus (US$10): +When The Phone Rings [Korea]

VIP (US$15): +Tell Me That You Love Me [Korea]