THE SHORT VERDICT:

Tell Me That You Love Me is an unhurried, thoughtful, very reflective sort of drama, that’s sensitively written, tenderly directed, and very gentle, in its overall touch.

Jung Woo Sung and Shin Hyun Bin are well-cast, and deliver their characters well; a task that’s no small deal, considering that they both have to use sign language, as a matter of course.

The music is melodious, unhurried and poignant, and very enjoyable – and, I think, perfectly aligns with the general mood of the show.

I personally would have liked a slightly different treatment of the ending, but that’s a small gripe in the overall scheme of things, and this still works out to be a very solid watch.

THE LONG VERDICT:

I’m finding that sometimes, second chances work out to be excellent things.

I’d originally dipped a quick toe into this show when it had first started airing, but had opted not to continue, because I just wasn’t feeling it, at the time.

Many months later, I thought I’d give it another chance, because quite a few of you had told me you thought I’d like this one – and guess what? I did. 😁

Clearly, the first time I’d dipped a toe into this show, I’d just not been in the right mood for it, because this time around, I found myself very much absorbed, and very quickly too.

In fact, by episode 4, I was already feeling wistful that I would eventually run out of episodes of this show to sink into. 🥹

Hooray for second chances indeed. 🥰

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.

I really enjoyed the OST, as a general rule. I found the various tracks very pleasant and melodious, with many of them fitting and amplifying what I thought of, as Show’s reflective, poignant sort of vibe.

If I had to pick a favorite, it’d be Track 8, 인사, which translates as “Greeting.” I really enjoyed listening to it during each episode’s opening credits, and to my ears, this song really reflects Show’s gentle yet inviting air.

Here it is 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 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 penultimate and 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. Show’s pace is very measured

..And so, pretty much everything works out to be a slow burn.

It all feels very thoughtful and organic, and this leads to my second recommendation, which is:

2. Don’t try to rush through this one

I just don’t think that this show would go down as well, if binge-watched.

In fact, I even found myself taking breaks during an episode, sometimes, not because I found it a drag and needed some distraction, but because I just felt like it was time to stop for a breather, in line with Show’s unhurried pace.

I feel like that approach actually helped to amplify my enjoyment of this show.

STUFF I LIKED

Show’s tone and vibe

Show’s got a very quiet, contemplative, gently atmospheric feel to it, that I find very appealing.

In tone and vibe, this show actually reminds me a great deal of What Comes After Love (review here!), which I also enjoyed very well.

Certainly, that story itself is completely different from What Comes After Love, so it’s all in the look and feel, where I see similarities.

Like What Comes After Love, I also feel like this show is beautifully filmed, and quite beautifully acted.

I also love our story’s premise, of two soulmates finding each other, in the midst of that quiet contemplation, despite appearing to be different in many ways, on the surface.

The regular voiceovers

Because there is a lot of quietness in our drama world, I really appreciated the decision to give us regular voiceovers from both of our leads.

I felt that the voiceovers offer us deeper insight into what they’re thinking and feeling, and that feels particularly helpful, given that both of our leads are quite reserved by nature.

Beyond the mere existence of the voiceovers, I really appreciate that the voiceovers feel so reflective and measured, like they’ve spent a long time pondering over these thoughts, and are only giving voice to them, now that the thoughts have been fully formed, over a significant period of time.

That added a layer of richness to the storytelling that I liked very much.

The thoughtful writing

One of my favorite things about this show, is how it feels like writer-nim has put deep thought and detailed consideration into crafting and fleshing out our characters, and the world in which they live.

In particular, I appreciated the detailed exploration of what it’s like to be in Jin Woo’s shoes.

Here’s an example of when I felt like, “Wow, writer-nim’s really thought about this a lot.” 🥲

[SPOILER ALERT]

E3-4. These episodes, we spend more time getting to understand Jin Woo’s (Jung Woo Sung) world and what it’s like for him, to live in it, and I have to say that the more I learn about how he lives, the more my heart goes out to him.

Like, when he talks about how he has to work extra hard, in order to not make the same mistake twice, and we see him checking every single corner of his home before leaving, just in case the neighbor’s grandson has wandered in without his knowledge.

That made me feel for him, because that’s an incident that had occurred because of his inability to hear, and that’s not his fault at all – but he’d suffered in quite a few ways because of it, from being accused of kidnapping, to being detained in the police station, to not being able to keep his appointment with Mo Eun (Shin Hyun Bin), because of it.

It also made me feel for him, to hear him say that he needs to keep a safe distance from other people, so that nobody ends up getting hurt.

Clearly, this indicates that people have gotten hurt in the past because of being close to him, and I’m guessing that this is perhaps an early reference to the Seo Kyung that gets mentioned these episodes, who seems to be part of that fire trauma that continues to haunt Jin Woo.

But also, what a burden to carry, isn’t it? I feel terrible for Jin Woo, that he sees himself this way, as a danger to others, that people should stay away from. 💔

[END SPOILER]

Show’s unhurried approach to things

Like I alluded to earlier, very few things happen fast, in this drama world, and it strongly feels like Show prefers to slowly steep our character connections, growing them bit by little bit, rather than rush into anything.

A great example of this, is the way Jin Woo and Mo Eun aren’t falling head over heels for each other, and especially not at first sight.

Instead, Show takes the time to tease out a connection that feels gradual and organic.

I liked this very much, because it felt easy to understand how and why these two people were connecting, and how they were becoming more important to each other, over time. 🥲

[SPOILER ALERT]

E5-6. When Ji Yu (Park Jin Joo) teases Mo Eun about being in a “some” kind of thing with Jin Woo, Mo Eun demurs, saying that she just thinks that he’s a nice person, and she feels comfortable with him.

That kind of slow attraction is also mirrored in the way Jin Woo responds, when Ki Hyun (Heo Jun Seok) broaches the idea of Jin Woo maybe starting something with Mo Eun.

And y’know what, I find myself enjoying this dynamic very much.

They’re each not jumping to conclusions about the other person, and are taking their time to get to know the other person – as well as their own feelings for the other person – better.

I like this mindful, unhurried approach to things. 🥲

[END SPOILER]

The way Show approaches narrative tension

I like how Show vibes thoughtful and understated.

One thing that I really appreciate about this show, is that it doesn’t amp up the drama just to get some dramatic tension.

Almost everything is handled in a down-to-earth, low-key sort of manner, even as Show peels back the layers to reveal the underlying issues that our character might be dealing with.

This is especially so in the way Show explores our OTP’s challenges, and I appreciated that a lot, since the OTP relationship really is the main anchor of this story.

Here’s an example of when a typical drama might have chosen to use an Event to amp up the narrative tension, but this show doesn’t.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E11-12. I’d happened to read the description of episode 11 before clicking on “Play” on Disney+, and was accidentally spoiled that Jin Woo gets arrested before the exhibition.

I’d groaned inwardly, because I didn’t want Jin Woo to get arrested; that felt like one arrest too many, since he’d already been detained at the police station once before.

I needn’t have worried (and also, they really shouldn’t mess with viewers’ expectations like that, with the episode synopsis!).

The arrest doesn’t take over the episode at all, and it’s not at all like the other occasion when Jin Woo had been detained.

In fact, episode 11 works out to be as unhurried and understated as the rest of the show prior, and the arrest itself feels almost like a non-event, with how little drama it elicits.

I appreciate that a lot, and I especially appreciate that the tension that we do get building, is everything to do with our OTP and the issues that are specific to them.

Meaning, these are issues that they would have to face, regardless of the external circumstances; their decision to be together, is enough to guarantee that these issues would come into play for them, at some point.

The closest thing to an external circumstance coming between Jin Woo and Mo Eun at this point, is Seo Kyung, and her lingering attachment to Jin Woo.

[END SPOILER]

SPOTLIGHT ON CHARACTERS & RELATIONSHIPS

Jung Woo Sung as Jin Woo

Jung Woo Sung is even better onscreen than I remember; it’s been a long time since I’ve watched him in anything, and he’s just wonderful as our hearing impaired male lead, Jin Woo.

His delivery is so understated, yet so graceful and on-point; I find it a pleasure just to have him on my screen, no exaggeration.

Jin Woo spends a good amount of time in our initial minutes just walking around, or taking photos, or watching his surroundings, and yet, in that alone, I feel like there’s such an aura of pensive wonder about him, that I very quickly feel drawn to him.

And then, as I got deeper into the episodes, I became very drawn to the way his hands look, when he uses sign language; there’s such an unhurried, quiet grace to the way he signs, and I find it all quite mesmerizing.

Most of all, though, I have to say that it’s Jung Woo Sung’s eye acting that I find truly arresting.

His eyes communicate so much, and with so much nuance, that you sometimes don’t even need to know what he’s signing, to understand what he’s feeling.

So brilliant, and so beautiful. 🥲🥲

I’ll talk more about Jin Woo in other upcoming sections, but for now, here’s an initial collection of thoughts around Jin Woo as a character.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E3-4. I loved that mural that Jin Woo painted, of his recently departed young friend, Yu Na (Kim Seo Hun).

Even though Yu Na hadn’t managed to attain her dream of going to school with the other kids, Jin Woo’s managed to offer her a slice of that, with that mural of her wearing a school bag, like she’s on the way to school.

In that moment, I felt like Jin Woo’s gift of art is so much more profound that I’d first understood it to be.

At the same time, I was quite struck by Jin Woo’s voiceover, that the mundane things that most people take for granted, can be unfulfilled dreams for others.

Oof. That applies to Yu Na’s dream to go to school, but it also applies to Jin Woo, who is unable to live a normal, mundane life, because of his hearing disability. 💔

E9-10. These episodes, I found myself enjoying the burgeoning bond between Jin Woo and his new student Tae Ho (Han Hyun Jun).

I enjoyed the frank conversations that they end up having, one-on-one, when Jin Woo sits with Tae Ho, and tries to understand more about why Tae Ho wants to attend his art class.

I’m really impressed by the honesty in these conversations, actually, like in the way Jin Woo apologizes, and when Tae Ho says that he doesn’t have to, because he couldn’t hear what was going on, Jin Woo clarifies that he’d been able to see, in Tae Ho’s gaze, that something was wrong, but had pretended not to notice it, and that’s why he’s apologizing.

That’s such an unflinching, uncompromising sort of honesty, isn’t it?

I feel like when it comes to adults with younger people, in particular, this isn’t very common (I’m thinking that it’s to preserve the adult’s dignity?), and so I’m giving Jin Woo even more credit, for choosing honesty with Tae Ho, even when he didn’t really have to.

And I do like the nuggets of wisdom that they arrive at, like how it’s not always such a great thing to hear everything, because some words leave deeper scars than the ones you get from being deaf.

I also really like the little touches, that Tae Ho’s learning how to say things in sign language; it’s a great visual to show us how there’s a bridge being built between Jin Woo and Tae Ho, and that both of them, are contributing to that bridge.

Another bridge that I feel we’re seeing, is between Jin Woo and his neighbors.

I like that the kid is warm and forthcoming with Jin Woo, and happily accepts ice cream from Jin Woo, and even invites himself over to Jin Woo’s house, to see the cat.

It’s a small, almost throwaway sort of beat, but it effectively demonstrates that Jin Woo’s making connections with his surroundings, and that’s very heartwarming indeed. 🥰

[END SPOILER]

Shin Hyun Bin as Mo Eun

As many of you know by now, Shin Hyun Bin is not a favorite actress of mine, and I recently had felt quite perplexed at her outing in Cinderella at 2 AM (review here!), mostly because I felt like her efforts at cute &/or funny mostly came off as awkward.

That’s not to say that I’ve never enjoyed her in a role; I did like her very well in Confession and in Hospital Playlist Season 1 (reviews here and here!).

And – yes! – I did enjoy her very well in this show as well. 🥲

One of the big reasons is because this is a quiet melodrama rather than a fluffy, funny rom-com, and so, she’s not expected to deliver cute or funny, at least most of the time.

The other thing that I think works very well, is that her character Mo Eun is supposed to be a little awkward (just a little, not like she’s actually socially awkward or anything), and the bits of Shin Hyun Bin’s delivery that have tended to land as awkward for me in the past, just feel like they’re part of her character, in this story world.

..Which is a very roundabout way of saying that I think that she’s well-cast in this. 😅

I actually really liked Mo Eun as a character, and I very much enjoyed getting to know her, over the course of my watch.

I will talk more about Mo Eun in relation to other characters, coming up soon, but for now, here are a few thoughts about Mo Eun.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E3-4. I feel for Mo Eun, because it’s hard being in her shoes as well.

When we see how hard she works for that bit part, where she’s just one of two actors called in to be “Server 1,” and she has no control over whether her take would be used, because it all depends on the main actress’s performance during the take, I felt really bad for her.

I mean, to get repeatedly slapped and doused in fake liquor, take after take, is really hard-going, and just very discouraging overall.

E9-10. I have to give credit to Mo Eun, because she’s so sincere and open, in approaching the conversation with Mom and Dad, even though she’s clearly nervous about talking about Jin Woo with them.

She doesn’t shy away from telling them the truth, like when Mom assumes that the reason Mo Eun doesn’t know if either of Jin Woo’s parents is hearing impaired, is because she’s only just dating Jin Woo, and hasn’t talked about this with him yet.

Mo Eun could have conveniently just let that misunderstanding pass, to have one less uncomfortable thing to talk about, but she doesn’t; she quietly tells Mom and Dad the truth, that Jin Woo grew up as an orphan.

This, even though there is a stigma around orphans in Korea, and most parents would oppose their children potentially marrying an orphan.

Additionally, I do really love the heart from which Mo Eun apologizes to Mom and Dad, that she’s ended up being a bad child to them.

I love that she’s not defensive, and is quietly but firmly taking full responsibility for the choices that she’s made.

I found myself really respecting Mo Eun for that. 🥲

[END SPOILER]

Mo Eun and Jin Woo

The connection between Jin Woo and Mo Eun is THE centerpiece in this entire story.

From the time they first meet, to their burgeoning connection, to the minting of their romantic relationship, to the various challenges that they face, as a mixed abilities couple, Show explores it all, in a way that feels both detailed and sensitive.

Like I mentioned earlier, I really enjoyed the slow-burn approach to the teasing out of this OTP relationship.

With the way it’s written, I felt like I could understand why these two people would be drawn to each other, and why they would each step out of their comfort zones, in order to connect more deeply, with the other person.

Quite lovely and approachable, all in all. 🥲

[SPOILER ALERT]

E1-2. The main arc these episodes, is how Jin Woo and Mo Eun are drawn together, from the time their paths first cross, to how they form a connection, and then strengthen that connection.

I liked very well, how this was done.

From the way Jin Woo first notices Mo Eun on the beach, where she’s waiting to film her turn for her bit part in a show, with the wind blowing in her hair, and the way she first notices him, as the person who returns her flyaway scarf on the beach.

Because Jeju Island is a relatively small place, I can buy the idea that their paths would cross several more times, and that eventually, Mo Eun would clue in to the fact that he can’t hear.

I can buy the idea that she would then think to go back up to the rooftop of that cafe to get him, when everyone starts rushing out because of the fire that’s started in the kitchen; it’s the decent, humane thing to do, because clearly, he’s lost in his drawing, and can’t hear the commotion around him.

With the additional context that Mo Eun used to be cabin crew, this instinct to help him makes even more sense, since a big part of cabin crew’s responsibilities, is to look out for the passengers under their care, and make sure they’re safe.

Afterwards, upon leaving the hospital and finding that all the places serving food are closed, it makes sense that Jin Woo offer Mo Eun a meal out of his camper van, which gives rise to some proper interaction and conversation.

It’s really quite charming to watch them figure out how to communicate with each other, with a mix of gestures and lip reading, because it makes me think that a sincere heart can overcome so much.

Just because he can’t hear, and she doesn’t know sign language, doesn’t mean that they can’t connect with each other, and I like that idea a lot. 🥰

I like how she appreciate his art, and it’s really endearing how he calls her an actress, without realizing that she’s struggled to see herself as one, and has never been acknowledged as one.

Afterward, isn’t it the sweetest thing, that he draws a new picture in his sketchbook, of her by the beach, and addresses it to “Ms. Actor-nim” before leaving it at the guesthouse for her?? 🥹🥹

Such a lovely, thoughtful gesture, that shows us that depth of his heart.

He absolutely didn’t need to do that, but he went out of his way to extend this kindness and encouragement to her, even going so far as to give her his entire sketchbook of drawings, just because he could, and he wanted to.

I think this must have been the moment where Jin Woo completely captured my heart. 🥲

I was a little disappointed that they lost contact for a while, after this, but that just makes the reconnection even sweeter, when we do get it.

I love that, in the meantime, Mo Eun actually spends time learning how to say various things to Jin Woo, in sign language.

She doesn’t know if or when she’d be able to meet him again, but she puts time and effort towards learning anyway, so that when it does happen, she’d be prepared.

And that gives us such a beautiful scene at the end of episode 1, where, when they see each other across the street, she’s able to tell him, in sign language, her name, and that she’s glad to see him again.

That look in his eyes, as he drinks in the sight of her signing to him, combined with the quiet joy in his voice, as he says in voiceover, that he’d always assumed that he had to make the effort to blend in, since there are a lot more people who can hear than those who don’t, and yet, here was someone who’s come out of her way to say hi, and that she was glad to see him again; someone who, after saying what she’d prepared to say, smiled at him. 🥲

In that moment, I could feel how important and precious this was, to him. 🥹

E1-2. I enjoyed the way Show then establishes their connection in a more tangible way, with him working across from the cafe where she waits tables part-time, in the same art gallery as her friend Ji Yu (played by one of my favorites, Park Jin Joo 😍).

Everything seems to go so well, with him receiving those concert tickets and giving them to her because he remembered her saying that this was her favorite artist, to her asking him to go to the concert with her.

But reality kicks in for us, with a look into how life isn’t so smooth or easy for Jin Woo.

There are those nightmares that he has, which are clearly related to a past incident to do with a fire, and then there’s how his new neighbor shuns him, the moment she realizes that he’s deaf.

And then there’s that whole situation, where the neighbor’s grandson innocently follows Jin Woo’s new cat into the house, and then spends hours in there without Jin Woo realizing it, because Jin Woo can’t hear him – which results in Jin Woo getting detained for possible kidnapping.

Ack. I felt so bad for Jin Woo, that he would even be subject to this, and all because of his disability.

I felt even worse, to see the mounting urgency and desperation in his eyes, and he tries to get himself out of his situation earlier, but fails, because the police insist on having an interpreter present, during his questioning.

It just makes everything worse, that Jin Woo had been taken from his home so abruptly, that he doesn’t have his phone with him and therefore has no way to contact Mo Eun to let her know why he isn’t at the concert hall like he’d promised.

I felt bad to see Mo Eun looking more and more disappointed and weary from waiting, to the point that she’d leave, but I was so relieved that she decides to come back in the end, because that’s when she finds Jin Woo sitting outside the concert hall, looking so exhausted and dejected.

She is a little reproachful, yes, but more than that, there’s a great deal of gentleness in her gaze, which must feel so immediately comforting to Jin Woo, after all that he’s been through. 🥲

It’s a good thing that she doesn’t understand enough sign language to understand that Jin Woo’s saying that he shouldn’t have made that promise with her in the first place, because that lack of understanding effectively overrides everything that he’d tried to say.

Instead, she focuses on the fact that he’s sorry for being late, and then offers to sing for him, which I thought was a very sweet gesture.

I don’t think she understands the effect that this has on him, but I’d like to think that she just instinctively knows how to connect with Jin Woo.

As Jin Woo gazes at her unwaveringly, as he watches her sing, and feels her voice through his fingers, it feels like I am witnessing his thoughts come together, to form his concluding voiceover:

“I read sound with my eyes. It means every time I blink, for a brief moment, I get disconnected from the world.

Every few seconds, during that brief moment I get disconnected and reconnect again, I could feel her singing from my fingers.

It felt as if she was telling me I could keep my eyes closed without worrying until the song ended.”

It feels like like he’s coming to realize that Mo Eun could be the connection to the world that he needs.

And that fits in so nicely with Mo Eun’s own conclusion, which she tells him, that perhaps there are many things that they can do together – which is the direct opposite of what he’d first concluded, that they can’t share many experiences.

What a hopeful, life-affirming note on which to end these episodes; I feel like going forward, we will get to witness a lot more of these two finding a stronger, deeper connection with each other, and supporting each other through the obstacles that they come up against.

E3-4. These episodes, we explore the barriers that exist between Mo Eun and Jin Woo, that keep them apart, even as I take delight in the moments that they manage to meet and connect, in spite of said barriers.

Every time they have a conversation, I feel like I can see them positively affecting each other, and bringing each other comfort.

And that feels extra sweet, given the context, that they’re working to overcome their communication barriers, in every interaction, with Mo Eun trying to use her limited sign language, and Jin Woo doing his best to read her lips, or type on his phone, the things that he’d like to say.

That alone makes me feel like they both value these conversations, because why would they make the effort otherwise, yes? 🥲

I also really like that beat, where, when Jin Woo’s phone runs out battery, he takes to writing out his answer to Mo Eun’s question, in the palm of her hand; this gives me the feeling that Jin Woo’s in a frame of mind to overcome obstacles, in order to talk to Mo Eun –  at least to a degree.

E3-4. I was bummed that Jin Woo chose to draw that line between himself and Mo Eun, but I understood why he would feel like that was the right thing to do.

Also, I really do like how thoughtful and appreciative Jin Woo is, in communicating the message, telling Mo Eun that he very much appreciates how she’d reached out to him during that fire, and that he would always be there for her, if she needed him, but that she should spend her precious time with someone else, someone who would be comfortable to be with.

Isn’t that just so earnest and sincere, even as he’s actively putting distance between them? 🥲

But also, I want Jin Woo to know that he is someone whom Mo Eun finds comfortable to be with. 🥹

With Mo Eun being the introverted, considerate sort, I can understand that she would respect Jin Woo’s request, and try to keep her distance from him.

At the same time, I’m relieved that she’s drawn enough to him, that she would take an interest in what’s happening to him, and text him to show concern, when she hears that he’s suddenly taken some days off and canceled his art classes.

E3-4. I can see why Mo Eun would decide to text Jin Woo, while feeling down and sorry for herself.

And I’m so glad that Jin Woo shows up outside her home, the moment he sees the text.

Not only is he a man of his word, that he’d be there for her, I feel like I can see that he’s sincerely concerned for her.

In fact, we see from the flashback in episode 4, that Jin Woo had thought of Mo Eun, during the few days that he spends at the orphanage. And, in thinking of her, I feel like he looks wistful, like he misses her. 🥲

I really appreciate Jin Woo for wanting to be there for Mo Eun, despite all these heavy thoughts of his own, and his own recent bereavement, of losing his friend Yu Na.

Yet, he puts it all aside, to rush over to Mo Eun, when he realizes that she’s having a hard time, and would like to lean on him.

..Which turns into quite a literal thing, with her reaching out to grab the back of his coat, and just sobbing quietly into his back, where he can’t see her.

I feel like I can see Jin Woo’s surprise, not just at the fact that she’s suddenly there, crying into his back, but also, at the fact that he, of all people, could be a source of support to her. 🥲

I’m glad that during their next serendipitous chat, which happens at the art gallery while Mo Eun’s doing that part-time guide job on the weekend, she thanks him for trying to understand her, despite her speaking fast amid the low lighting, that night.

And, I also like that she tells him that she likes talking to him even without the help of the phone; I feel like this would make Jin Woo feel like she likes talking to him for himself, and not just when the process is made easier with the help of a phone.

That, and I also really like that she tells him that she feels that he understands her so well, more than she sometimes understands herself, that she sometimes forgets that he can’t hear.

I also feel like this would help Jin Woo feel encouraged, that he’s not less than, to her, because of his disability.

Honestly, Jin Woo’s not as different from the rest of us as he thinks; the thing he says in voiceover, about how he sometimes nods and smiles even when he doesn’t understand, because he doesn’t want to be rude in asking someone to repeat themselves, is something that I do too. 😅

I need Jin Woo to know that he’s not weird for doing that; that lots of hearing-abled people do the same thing, for the same reason. 😅

But anyway. I digress.

I’m glad that Mo Eun’s gratitude for Jin Woo’s efforts to try to understand her, give him new perspective on this long-held belief that he’s had, that he’s being rude or troublesome, when trying to understand what someone else is saying. 🥲

Slowly but surely, it does feel like Jin Woo is softening the shield that he’s put up around himself – at least when it comes to Mo Eun.

I love that he starts leaking smiles around her, even if it’s because she accidentally said, in sign language, that she couldn’t confess because it was raining, and he wouldn’t be able to answer, because he was holding the umbrella.

Heh. That was quite funny, I have to admit, and I can see why Jin Woo would start to be amused by her. 😁

I just hope that Jin Woo doesn’t get the wrong idea about Johan, whom he sees picking Mo Eun up in the fancy car decked out with flowers.

E3-4. When the time for the performance comes, and Mo Eun freezes for that long moment onstage, I felt myself willing Jin Woo to appear in the audience, even though I had no idea how he would know about Mo Eun getting cast, since she’d stopped herself from texting him.

BUT HE’S RIGHT THERE, JUST LIKED I’D HOPED. Ahhh!!

And, in that moment when regular people would be limited in what they’d be able to communicate, from that distance, without the luxury of using spoken words, he’s able to tell Mo Eun exactly what she needs to hear, that she’ll do a good job, and that he believes in her.

In this moment, I feel like Jin Woo’s spoken to Mo Eun’s very soul; that’s how much she’d needed to receive those words.

In this moment, I feel like Jin Woo’s disability became his superpower, and I love that idea so very much.

I really can’t wait to see how the bond between these two people continues to grow, now that they’ve come to see, a little bit, how much they can add, to each other’s lives. 🥲

E5-6. I like that the attraction feels like it’s between souls; as Jin Woo and Mo Eun interact, it feels like it’s their souls that are being slowly drawn to each other.

Like in that moment when Mo Eun’s onstage and feeling frozen and overwhelmed, it’s Jin Woo’s presence, and his supportive, comforting words, signed across the theater to her, that give her the confidence to give her best performance.

It’s affirming and beautiful, and yet, at the same time, I can understand why there is hesitation on both sides, to nudge the connection any further.

We’ve seen some of that hesitation from Jin Woo’s side already, and a large part of it, is he feels that he’d be a burden to any person who was in his life in a significant capacity.

And on the other side, it’s natural for Mo Eun to take Jin Woo’s cue, and then try to understand and rationalize it, like in her opening voiceover, where she says that even family can suddenly feel strange and give you a hard time, and so, it must be even harder, when someone who can speak, meets someone who can’t hear – and then she decides not to text Jin Woo, even though she clearly is thinking about it.

I’m glad, though, that they manage to connect, in spite of these misgivings, and misguided tendencies to step away, in the interest of not being a burden.

Like the way Jin Woo quietly exits the theater after Mo Eun’s performance, clearly not wanting to interrupt her happy celebration with her colleagues.

I’m glad Mo Eun actively looks for him, and even leaves the theater, in order to find him, and I’m glad she manages to not only thank him for coming to her performance, but also, show him the gladness in her face; I feel like that is so much more profound, than any words that she can muster. 🥲

But she does say something really important too, and that is, that the reason she feels comforted when talking with him, is because every time she says something, he tries not to miss a single word, that it feels like he listens to her heart, and not her voice – and that she feels comfortable when she’s with him.

I love that; that is such a beautiful sentiment. 🥲

Jin Woo doesn’t say anything and just smiles a little smile in response, but I feel like I can see, in his gaze, that he feels touched, surprised and glad in one.

And honestly, I totally get what Mo Eun is saying, because I find myself very taken with the way Jin Woo listens too.

He’s so quietly intent, and he’s also patient; he doesn’t mind at all, that Mo Eun’s not fluent in sign language, and he never looks like he wishes she’d sign better or faster. He’s always patiently waiting for her to express what she would like to express, and I love that. So much. 🥹

I must say, I do love the effect that Mo Eun has on Jin Woo.

The fact that Jin Woo tells Ki Hyun that, while watching the play, he’d wished, for the first time in a long time, that he could hear, says a lot, I feel.

To me, it feels like he senses something very special there, that he feels would enrich his life, because before that, he’d said to Ki Hyun, that he’d gotten so used to not being able to hear, that it didn’t bother him that he couldn’t.

Now, here’s this spark of him actually wanting more from life, and it has to do with Mo Eun. Doesn’t that seem very meaningful? 🥲

On Mo Eun’s side of things, I can imagine that she would feel touched by how attentive Jin Woo is.

I love how he asks to see the script from the play, so that he’d be better able to appreciate the performance, and I love how carefully he reads it, even bearing in mind the changes in Mo Eun’s expressions while she’d played her character, and when the audience had applauded.

Augh. How thoughtful and attentive is he?? 🥲

Given how careful they both are, though, I can see why Ki Hyun would be needed, as an enthusiastic catalyst, to get Jin Woo and Mo Eun to spend more time together.

Even though Ki Hyun’s wife So Hee tries to stop the whole thing, I actually like that Ki Hyun basically forces that group meal at Jin Woo’s home, because this allows Mo Eun to get to know Jin Woo better.

I mean, doesn’t visiting someone’s home make you feel like you know them that much better? Plus, here, she’s getting to meet his friends too, which is nice.

And of course, it’s cute how Mo Eun and Jin Woo bond a bit, over his new cat, which is named, Name. Pfft. 🤭

It’s kind of too bad that Seo Kyung makes an appearance in our story, as the art gallery’s new director, because her presence absolutely does complicate things, for both Jin Woo and Mo Eun.

I can see why Mo Eun would feel awkward, with the way Seo Kyung makes it clear that she and Jin Woo have a long history together.

Plus, there’s the fact that Seo Kyung is able to sign that much more skillfully, and therefore, communicate that much more effectively, with Jin Woo. I’m sure that makes Mo Eun feel self-conscious as well as out of her depth.

On Jin Woo’s side of things, I can see how the complicated history that he shares with Seo Kyung, would affect him.

E5-6. I’m glad that Mo Eun thinks to reach out to ask if Jin Woo’s troubled about something, and makes that remark about how she goes to see the sea when she’s troubled, because that’s the thing that triggers Jin Woo to invite Mo Eun on that road trip, later in the episode, when he realizes that he’d missed her birthday.

(And how telling, really, that Mo Eun would want the chance to see Jin Woo on her birthday; that really is an indication that he’s important to her, yes? 🥲)

And what perfect timing it is, really, because Mo Eun really is in a frustrated sort of head space when he asks, after running into her old friend at the airport while she’d been on standby as an extra, and therefore, that trip to the beach really is exactly what she’d needed.

I love how that worked out. 🥲

And I also love how thoughtfully spontaneous Jin Woo is, going right to the bus stop where Mo Eun gets off the bus, and asking her to go to see the sea with him, right then and there.

The way they sit by the fire and chat over coffee, is so reminiscent of the time they’d shared ramyun and coffee by his truck, on Jeju Island, and it’s so nice to see that they’ve grown so much closer, in the time that has passed.

To my mind, this quite possibly how it all comes together in Mo Eun’s mind, and that’s why she feels inspired to tell him, in sign language, that she likes him.

It’s such a quiet, lovely moment, and while we don’t yet know Jin Woo’s response, I feel like I can see in his eyes, which are sheening with tears, that his heart is filling up more and more, perhaps to overflowing, as he drinks in each word that Mo Eun is signing to him, and I love that thought.

Things are certainly still complicated, but I’m hoping against hope, that Mo Eun’s sincerity is cutting through all the noise, and reaching Jin Woo’s heart loud and clear, so that he’ll give himself a chance to love and be loved. 🥹

E7-8. Even though we get the minting of the OTP relationship these episodes, I feel like I need to be concerned for how some of the issues lying undercurrent, are likely to affect our OTP.

One of the first things to come to mind, is the way Jin Woo responds, when Mo Eun confesses her feelings for him, which we revisit, at the top of episode 7.

In that moment, it’s true that Jin Woo looks moved, and is soaking up all the care, love and affection that Mo Eun’s expressing to him.

At the same time, I can’t help but notice that in his response, Jin Woo doesn’t actually tell Mo Eun that he likes her.

He tells her, instead, that he’s not sure if he can accept her feelings; that he feels bad that she has to try so hard to speak his language, but that he would like to do many good things with her.

It’s at this point, that I started to think that perhaps that’s where our drama title comes from; Mo Eun wanting to hear from Jin Woo, that he loves her – because that’s not forthcoming in these episodes. 😅

Not that he dislikes her, certainly; I believe that he does, and he expresses as much, in his voiceover at the top of episode 7, where he says that he’s not sure what he wants, but that he’s sure that the many things that he’s trying to figure out, have to do with her.

I believe that for Jin Woo, a lot of it boils down to his inability to hear, which he perceives as a burden, and as something that puts a barrier between him and Mo Eun.

That sentiment which he expresses at the top of the episode, about wanting to hide, but also, at the same time, wanting to be found, feels very insightful and profound, to me.

Sometimes, you do have conflicting feelings, and I can understand that Jin Woo would want to be successful at hiding, since that’s what he’s set out to do, but that at the same time, there’s a part of him who craves connection, love and acceptance – and that’s why he wants to be found.

It’s a great analogy for how he feels about Mo Eun.

On the one hand, he sees the obstacles and barriers inherent in any connection that they might form, and that’s why his instinct is to hide, but on the other hand, he craves connection, love and acceptance, and he can’t help but be drawn to Mo Eun – and that’s why he wants to be found, by her.

I believe it’s that exact conflicting sort of emotional state that’s in play, influencing the way Jin Woo responds to Mo Eun.

To my eyes, he’s very much moved by how she’s putting herself out there and being vulnerable with her feelings, but his reservations are holding him back from actually expressing how he feels about her.

He tells her that they’ll do things that she likes, and he tells her not to be so considerate – but ironically, isn’t this also him being borderline overly considerate?

The bottom line is, Jin Woo’s response to Mo Eun’s confession, is actually quite ambiguous.

Mo Eun believes in good faith that he means that he likes her back, but honestly, his response could also be interpreted as a nice way of being noncommittal. Like, let’s do things that you like, together – while I figure out how I really feel about you, because I’m not sure if I can accept your feelings.

Of course, I believe that Jin Woo likes Mo Eun too; it’s just that the undercurrent of potential challenges, matched with how understated everything is, from the minting of their relationship, to even their first kiss, makes me low-key uneasy. 😅

Certainly, it’s very pleasant to witness Jin Woo and Mo Eun doing coupley things together, these episodes, from watching the sunrise together and sharing their first handhold and their first kiss, to her coming over to his home, to them going to work together, and getting off work together; it’s all very low-key and sweet.

At the same time, there is a layer of careful awkwardness at play, like when Mo Eun chooses a foreign movie with subtitles for them to watch together on a date, and then realizes that if she were to appear in a local movie, Jin Woo wouldn’t be able to enjoy the movie with subtitles.

It’s a relatively small thing, and Jin Woo quickly points out that he would read the script, like he’d done with her play, but it is just one of many adjustments that they’ll need to make as a couple.

Slowly but surely, Show drips bits and pieces of information at us, that indicate that Mo Eun will have to make quite a few adjustments and sacrifices, in her relationship with Jin Woo.

For example, we learn that Mo Eun had used to love listening to music, and would listen to music every chance she got, but now, she realizes that she hasn’t done that in quite a while, and has even learned to appreciate quietness and silence.

This isn’t a huge deal, sure, but I think what Show’s demonstrating to us, is that many small things can add up.

And then there’s the thing where Mo Eun’s friends and family react not-so-positively, when they each learn that Mo Eun’s now seeing Jin Woo – and that Jin Woo is hearing impaired.

That’s a collection of obstacles right there, isn’t it, even though, these episodes, no one actually makes a fuss, not even Mo Eun’s parents (that we know of yet).

But it clearly makes Mom, Dad, Mo Dam and Johan uncomfortable, and that’s another layer of stuff that Mo Eun needs to deal with, because she’s chosen to date Jin Woo.

And there’s also how it affects Jin Woo, as well.

He tries not to show it, and smiles at Mo Eun and tells her that it’s ok, but we get to see that he does wilt and look rather down, when he’s alone at home.

I feel like they are most comfortable when hanging out with Ki Hyun and So Hee, because Ki Hyun and So Hee are also a mixed abilities couple, and they both know sign language as well, so the conversation flows really naturally, when the four of them are together.

I had mixed feelings about this.

On the one hand, it was really heartwarming to see that Jin Woo and Mo Eun can be so comfortable as a couple, with Ki Hyun and So Hee.

On the other hand, it occurs to me that this kind of easy, comfortable dynamic would only be possible with a very select group of people.

Jin Woo would not be able to have this kind of easy discourse with Mo Eun’s friends and family, and even if they put effort into learning sign language, it would be a really long time, before they’d be able to be fluent enough, to converse comfortably with Jin Woo.

That’s definitely something that gives me pause, because the inability of most of Mo Eun’s world to understand sign language, would most definitely be a barrier, when it comes to Mo Eun sharing her world with Jin Woo.

In the meantime though, it’s heartwarming to see Mo Eun and Ji Woo choose to cling to each other, in times of difficulty; it makes me feel like they want to make their love strong enough, to overcome all the difficulties that they might face. 🥲

E9-10. I do love that through it all, Mo Eun is still so tenderly caring towards Jin Woo’s feelings, and makes sure to seek him out before the night is over, if only to see for herself that he’s ok – and making sure to tell him that she misses him a lot.

She’s so loving and considerate and tenderhearted, that I can see why Jin Woo can’t help but love her, in spite of his reservations about romantic relationships in general.

These episodes, we get a really nice amount of OTP sweetness, as Jin Woo and Mo Eun continue to spend time together, and have those lovely, thoughtful, deliberate conversations that have become a hallmark of their relationship.

I love how these little dates set the overall tone for these episodes; it’s all very sweet and wholesome.

Like how we see Jin Woo thanking Mo Eun for sending the art brochure to Tae Ho, and how Mo Eun says that she hates it when people misunderstand Jin Woo, because he’s a good person.

There’s also how Jin Woo is sincerely happy for Mo Eun when she gets cast in that drama.

And of course, there’s also how Mo Eun’s earnest desire for more people to be able to see Jin Woo’s work, is the thing to convince Jin Woo to take up Seo Kyung’s offer, to host his first solo exhibition.

Not to mention the fact that when Jin Woo tells Mo Eun that Seo Kyung had been his first love, she tells him quietly that she’d already known about it, and had just been waiting for him to be ready to tell her about it.

They are genuinely supporting each other’s dreams, and nudging each other forward, and I find it all very healthy and wholesome.

One of the most touching moments between our OTP, these episodes, is the conversation that they have, after Ki Hyun hears the news about Sol possibly being hearing impaired.

I really appreciate Jin Woo’s honesty, as he tells Mo Eun why he’d hated having feelings for someone, because he hated having to impose on them, to overcome all the difficulties that would come with the fact the he can’t hear.

And, I also appreciate his vulnerability, when he tells Mo Eun that he is afraid that he’d be unable to protect her when she’s in danger.

That protector instinct is something that’s hardwired into the male psyche, which is why I feel that Jin Woo’s being very vulnerable, by opening up to Mo Eun this way.

I do love Mo Eun’s response; it’s so simple, but so true – she doesn’t want or need Jin Woo to protect her; she just wants to be with him because she loves him.

Isn’t that so sweetly touching?? 🥲🥲

E9-10. One of the things that comes up, these episodes, is Ki Hyun’s daughter Sol is discovered to have some degree of hearing impairment.

This is absolutely a concern in terms of our OTP relationship, because, as Mo Eun’s stated, we don’t know if either of Jin Woo’s parents is hearing impaired, and therefore, whether there is a possibility of a genetic predisposition to hearing impairment, for any children that Jin Woo and Mo Eun might have.

It’s true that Jin Woo only lost his hearing because of a fever, but we don’t actually know if Jin Woo had any genetic predisposition to hearing impairment, and whether that had factored into how he had lost his hearing, as a result of that fever.

Jin Woo and Mo Eun doesn’t say anything about this yet, and all of their concern is for Ki Hyun and So Hee, and how they are coping with this new development in their lives, but you can see traces of them feeling troubled, in their gazes.

I do think that this is one of the issues that’s percolating in the background, these episodes.

E9-10. I appreciate how Jin Woo’s told Mo Eun about how he’d withdrawn from the world for 7 years, and even told her that it had been freeing to him, to realize that nothing had been his in the first place, and so, losing everything and everyone, wasn’t such a big deal after all.

However, with this new piece of context that the break-up with Seo Kyung had been the reason Jin Woo had gone into the mountains in the first place, I can’t help but wonder how this might affect Mo Eun’s sense of security.

E11-12. To my eyes, Jin Woo’s drawing the line very well with Seo Kyung, and is conducting himself in a very appropriate manner too.

The only thing I kind of wish that he’d do, which he hasn’t yet done, is tell Seo Kyung that he’s already in a relationship with Mo Eun, and he has no room in his life for her anymore.

But, to give Jin Woo the benefit of the doubt, perhaps, to his mind, this is something that he doesn’t think is worth bringing up to Seo Kyung, because maybe he doesn’t care to share any details of his life with her; that’s how much he’s moved on..?

And perhaps the reason Jin Woo doesn’t talk more about this with Mo Eun, is because he truly sees it as a thing of the past, and therefore doesn’t see why they ought to spend time and effort on talking about it, in the present?

I do think that Jin Woo prefers to just focus on enjoying his time with Mo Eun, and we do see them spend some very lovely couple time together, these episodes.

In particular, I like the fact that Mo Eun’s spending time at Jin Woo’s house, to prepare for her role, while he paints.

It feels like such a homely thing, that they’d each do their own thing, side by side, and then take breaks to snuggle together.

It makes me feel like I’m seeing a snippet of what they’re life would be like, if they lived together. 🥰

It does feel like this thing with Seo Kyung is starting to seep into Mo Eun, over time, and is starting to bother her.

First, there are moments like the one at the police station, where Mo Eun sees Jin Woo talking to Seo Kyung, from a distance.

This isn’t the first time Mo Eun’s watched them talking from a distance, and each time, I feel like Mo Eun would likely feel a little intimidated by Seo Kyung’s fluency in sign language.

Like, Seo Kyung’s so much better equipped to communicate with Jin Woo. I imagine that this would niggle at Mo Eun, at least a little bit, since Mo Eun’s still working to master sign language.

Additionally, in moments like these, Mo Eun can’t help but be reminded of the fact that Jin Woo has all this history with Seo Kyung, the details of which Mo Eun doesn’t know about, but which she knows put Jin Woo into a spiral for 7 whole years.

That’s a lot of history to come up against, and I imagine that this niggles at Mo Eun too, even though she tries not to show it.

There’s enough sweetness and openness in their relationship to keep these things at bay for Mo Eun, I think, but eventually, I do think that this thing with Seo Kyung is part of the reason Mo Eun becomes troubled.

It’s that moment when she and Jin Woo are within earshot of the conversation that Seo Kyung has with Do Hun, but only Mo Eun hears what’s said, because Jin Woo is unable to hear.

Clearly, Do Hun’s question to Seo Kyung, about whether she’s trying to have another chance with Jin Woo, troubles Mo Eun; you can see that it casts a shadow over her face, for the rest of the day.

At the same time, we’re introduced to the idea that sometimes, certain secrets are better off not shared.

To Mo Eun’s credit, she seems all ready to tell Jin Woo about what she’d overheard at the art gallery, and the only reason she doesn’t, is because she feels that it would be a long conversation, and that they should have that long conversation when they’re more rested and have more time.

Personally, I do think that this would be the best approach to the situation, especially since Jin Woo is part of the situation.

However, I do take Mo Eun’s point, that sometimes, it’s painful to learn the truth, and sometimes it’s the more loving thing to do, to keep a secret, secret.

Like with the truth around her own birth, for example.

Mo Eun would have preferred to have never learned that Mom is not her birth mother, but her stepmother, because that knowledge has colored her ability to just be herself, around Mom.

It’s hard to argue with that, honestly, especially since we’ve seen how it’s played out in Mo Eun’s own relationship with her mother.

She doesn’t want to make things difficult or painful for Jin Woo, and that’s the reason she concludes that it’s better not to tell him about what she’d heard that day.

It does seem like this is the first time that it’s occurred to Mo Eun, that being able to hear, can be a burden too, in her relationship with Jin Woo.

I see this as likely being an early teething issue, in that I’m sure Ki Hyun and So Hee must have had a similar milestone, back when they’d first started dating, and I’m guessing that Ki Hyun must have reached his own conclusion about how much to tell So Hee, and to what extent he should tell So Hee, about the things that he hears.

I’m guessing that this is a natural part of the process of Mo Eun becoming close to Jin Woo, and that she will also find an equilibrium that works for her and Jin Woo; she’s just uncomfortable now, because she’s still looking for it.

But of course, there’s also the thing where this concerns Seo Kyung, and therefore the discomfort must therefore be amplified by a lot.

I do think it’s quite telling, that after Mo Eun articulates this burden to Ji Yu, she dreams about talking and laughing with Jin Woo, like any other couple would do. 🥲

[END SPOILER]

Heo Jun Seok as Ki Hyun

I have to say, I really like Ki Hyun, as a character.

He’s so approachable and down-to-earth, and yet, there is a lot of resilience, wisdom, kindness and generosity about him, that altogether make him very likable and appealing.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E9-10. I have a great deal of respect for Ki Hyun and So Hee (Jung Sae Byul), for how they adapt to this new development in their lives, that their daughter Sol is showing signs of hearing impairment.

It is a devastating development, certainly, because every parent wants the best for their child, and it must be a huge shock for them to learn that going forward, Sol is going to have a tougher path ahead of her than they’d first thought.

I do love what Ki Hyun says about it to Jin Woo, though; that just because you’re able to hear, doesn’t mean that only good things happen to you, and just because you’re not able to hear, doesn’t mean that only bad things happen to you.

He’s not allowing Sol’s hearing impairment to define the kind of future that he envisions for her, and I love that. 🥲

[END SPOILER]

Jin Woo and Ki Hyun

I really like the friendship that we see between Jin Woo and Ki Hyun.

It’s really great to see that they’ve remained friends through the years, and that Ki Hyun has also learned sign language, in order to better communicate with Jin Woo.

I also really appreciate that Ki Hyun’s always ready to lend Jin Woo a listening ear, and offer words of solidarity, advice and encouragement.

My favorite thing about this friendship, though, is how we see Jin Woo light up, every time he sees Ki Hyun; it’s like we’re getting a glimpse of how he’d been as a little boy, before he’d lost his hearing.

His smile is cheeky, wide and infectious, and I love that he’s playful with Ki Hyun; this makes me feel like I’m seeing the real Jin Woo, just for a little while.

The rest of Jin Woo that we see is real too, certainly, but that glimpse of cheeky Jin Woo, makes me think that this is what Jin Woo would be like a lot of the time, if he weren’t so burdened by the idea that he’s different from everyone else, and therefore should be careful to watch himself.

I liked that a great deal. 🥲

Kim Ji Hyun as Seo Kyung

What I appreciate about Show’s treatment of Seo Kyung as a character, is that she isn’t painted as a one-dimensional “villain” type; there just to add tension to the OTP relationship.

Instead, past the initial episodes where we just know vaguely of Seo Kyung as a ghost of Jin Woo’s past, Show does give us enough context for Seo Kyung, that I began to feel a measure of understanding and sympathy towards her.

Yes, I still wanted her to leave our OTP alone, but I felt like I could at least understand where she was coming from, and why she was doing the things she was doing.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E7-8. It does feel to me, that Seo Kyung’s trying to gain closure too, by going to the places where she’d previously felt were closed off to her, and visiting people even though her presence might make them uncomfortable.

To my mind, it could be the kind of thing where, once she’s “conquered” those places and people, then they no longer have any hold over her, if that makes sense?

E11-12. I can understand Seo Kyung’s regret for what she’d done, because it’s true that she’d been cruel to Jin Woo when it hadn’t been his fault, and her actions had absolutely caused Jin Woo to withdraw into himself, and spend those 7 years in the mountains.

However, I do think that Ki Hyun’s right in saying that Seo Kyung’s holding a pity party for herself, more than anything.

She says that she’s sorry to Jin Woo, but in reality, it seems like it’s all more about her, and her desire to be important to Jin Woo.

I’m with Ki Hyun on this one; it’s good that Seo Kyung’s back because this means Jin Woo has evidence that she’s doing well and can stop feeling guilty, and then hopefully the nightmares will be a thing of the past.

But that’s where it should stop, because Jin Woo clearly doesn’t want to reconcile with Seo Kyung, and he shows her so, every time it kinda-sorta comes up.

[END SPOILER]

Seo Kyung and Jin Woo [BROAD SPOILERS]

The history between Jin Woo and Seo Kyung is complicated, and when Show finally reveals the details of what had happened, I can see why they would both continue to be haunted by the past, for years afterwards.

For a good portion of the time that I was watching, I found myself either wondering about the details of what had happened, or wondering what Seo Kyung wanted from Jin Woo, after all these years.

I appreciate that Show eventually gives some proper closure to this relationship, though it does happen quite late in our story.

Just to give you a flavor of the kind of impact that this relationship had on my watch, here’s a small collection of thoughts that I had about it, during my watch.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E7-8. As we’ve seen, Jin Woo suffers from nightmares that are related to Seo Kyung, and it just feels like a very complicated piece of emotional baggage that cannot be ignored.

As far as I can tell, Jin Woo’s been ignoring it, for the last many years; compartmentalizing it in a corner of his mind, in order to carry on with life – but he hasn’t truly found any closure to this period of his life.

And so, Seo Kyung now appearing in his orbit, is something that clearly makes Jin Woo uncomfortable.

Because she makes Jin Woo uncomfortable, I instinctively want to wish Seo Kyung away, so that Jin Woo would be more comfortable, and so that Seo Kyung’s presence wouldn’t be there to add any layer of complication to Jin Woo’s budding relationship with Mo Eun.

At the same time, my rational mind does acknowledge that perhaps it’s healthier in the long run, that Seo Kyung and Jin Woo arrive at closure now, as uncomfortable as it might make Jin Woo, and that that would free Jin Woo to really enjoy his life with Mo Eun, with a cleared mind and a settled heart.

E9-10. I appreciate that Seo Kyung wants to apologize to Jin Woo for the way she’d left, all those years ago, but at the same time, I do wonder what Seo Kyung hopes for, from Jin Woo, in the present?

E11-12. Jin Woo never does give Seo Kyung any room to hope for more.

In fact, when Seo Kyung tries to lean into the past, that’s when Jin Woo gets agitated and upset.

He takes ownership of the way he’d spiraled after she’d left; he doesn’t blame her for it. But neither does he allow her the space to try to regain the closeness that they’d lost.

As long as she stays within professional boundaries, he remains polite and civil, and I really appreciate that about him.

[END SPOILER]

Mo Eun and Johan [BROAD SPOILERS]

From pretty early on in our story, Show teases that Johan has a romantic interest in Mo Eun, and it all seemed so offhanded and casual, that I wasn’t really sure what we would get out of this side arc.

However, I have to say, Show managed to make this arc pop for me, in a more affecting way than I’d originally imagined possible.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E11-12. These episodes, I also found my heart going out to Johan in a whole new way.

First, there’s that conversation with Mo Eun, where he talks about how Mo Dam must have been so careful, because the person he liked, had been such a close friend; because he must have been afraid to lose Ji Yu as a friend, if he wasn’t careful.

That landed as very poignant to my eyes, because this is absolutely what Johan is doing with Mo Eun.

He clearly has feelings for her, but feels that he can’t act on those feelings, particularly since Mo Eun’s seeing Jin Woo now, and so, he’s tiptoeing around her, to make sure that those feelings aren’t detectable to her.

And then, there’s that moment towards the end of episode 12, when he invites Mo Eun to his studio to listen to his completed song.

Credit to Lee Jae Kyoon who plays Johan; despite the lack of dialogue, I felt like I could clearly see the emotional turmoil that comes upon Johan, as he watches Mo Eun listen to his music.

I felt like, before my very eyes, Johan comes to the realization that his feelings for Mo Eun have grown so big, that he can no longer control them, in front of her – and that’s why he hastily retreats out of the room, to deal with his feelings alone.

Really well done, I thought. 🥲

This scene really added a good amount of emotional weight to Johan as a character, and I feel like I won’t be able to look at him the same casual way anymore.

[END SPOILER]

Mo Eun’s parents

I have to say, I ended up really, really loving Mo Eun’s parents; they turned out to be the opposite of what I typically expect of Dramaland parents. 🥲

[SPOILER ALERT]

E9-10. I have to confess that I’d fully expected that Mom and Dad would make some kind of a fuss, if only to express how concerned they must be, once thye realized that Mo Eun’s boyfriend is hearing impaired.

I must say, I am quite blown away, by how.. lovely Mo Eun’s parents basically are.

It’s clear to see from their hesitant gazes and their awkward body language that they are most definitely concerned, but.. they don’t kick up a fuss, and they don’t berate Mo Eun for making such a choice and disappointing them, like many other drama parents might have done.

Instead, they are measured and gentle, and you can just tell that they are doing their best to be sensitive towards Mo Eun.

This, when they’ve already had to adjust to the fact that Mo Eun had lied about studying for the civil service exam, and is actually working several part time jobs, while chasing her acting dreams.

That’s already a huge adjustment for the average Korean parent, who would mostly only crave the stability and credibility that a civil service job would give their offspring.

And now, they’re discovering that that same child, is dating a hearing impaired person, in a world that’s built for the able-bodied.

I can imagine just how worried and anxious this would make them.

And yet, Mom and Dad don’t make a fuss; they try to listen to Mo Eun’s explanation without cutting her off; they try to find out more about Jin Woo and his background by quietly asking Mo Eun questions.

One of the things that hits me the most, is how Mom is immediately sympathetic when she hears that Jin Woo had lost his hearing at the age of 7, after an illness, and wonders how heartbroken his parents must have been.

And then, when she hears from Mo Eun that Jin Woo’s never met his parents because he grew up in an orphanage, that thought sticks with her for days afterwards.

I love what a mother’s heart she has, and the thing that hit me THE most, is the way Mom cries at the bus station, after they say goodbye to Mo Eun, and even blames herself for selfishly wanting certain things for Mo Eun, for her own sake, rather than for Mo Eun’s sake.

My goodness, I really don’t think I’ve ever seen a drama mom be so vulnerable and honest, as a first reaction. I love her. So much. ❤️

Plus, how about that beat, later these episodes, when Mom offers to pack kimchi for Jin Woo, the next time she sends kimchi to Mo Eun?? She’s basically starting to adopt him in her heart, and I love that. 🥹

Dad’s a little more gruff, but honestly, I feel like his heart is basically in the same place as Mom’s. 🥲

[END SPOILER]

Mo Eun and Ji Yu

Even though this friendship doesn’t enjoy a great deal of focus, I just wanted to say that I really liked the firm friendship between Mo Eun and Ji Yu, that manages to be so solid, even though they have different aspirations and personalities.

Here are a couple of occasions when I found my heart feeling all warm and fuzzy, because of this sisterhood. 🥲

[SPOILER ALERT]

E3-4. I really like that moment when Ji Yu hears from Mo Eun, that Mo Eun’s going to play the lead in that stage production, and instinctively screams with delight, never mind that she’s at work.

Gotta love that sisterly support, yes? 🥲

E11-12. I love how Ji Yu decides to stop obsessing over things on her own, and just talk to Mo Eun, even though she feels awkward about the fact that she’s thinking of starting a relationship with Mo Eun’s brother.

I just love how easy and matter-of-fact the whole thing goes.

Mo Eun’s surprised, certainly, but she doesn’t kick up a fuss, and is basically supportive right away, and it’s honestly really lovely. 🥰

You get the strong feeling that Mo Eun isn’t judging Ji Yu for wanting to date Mo Dam, and that she’s more than happy to support this relationship, if it means that two people whom she loves, will be happy together. 🥲

Aw. We should see more of these types of supportive relationships in Dramaland. 🥲

[END SPOILER]

Ji Yu and Mo Dam [BROAD SPOILERS]

Pretty early into our story, Show starts teasing a potential loveline between Ji Yu and Mo Dam, and I found this to be a nice way for Show to include some levity, to balance out the more thoughtful vibe of our main OTP.

I rather enjoyed that the whole thing unfolds like a typical rom-com, with them disdaining each other, but ending up as trainer and client, because Ji Yu signs up for a fitness package with him, without realizing that it’s him.

It’s all quite predicable, really, but I still found it quite fun.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E9-10. I’m quite delighted that things between Ji Yu and Mo Dam are finally moving along, despite Ji Yu’s reservations.

I was quite amused at Ji Yu getting jealous at the idea that Mo Dam had used the same “be my girlfriend” line on his colleague, and even gets all drunk, after obsessing about it.

It’s really quite cute that Mo Dam drops everything to go to Ji Yu, the moment he realizes that she’s drinking alone; that really shows how important she is to him.

I love the amusement in Mo Dam’s eyes, when he hears Ji Yu drunkenly bemoan the fact that he’s Mo Eun’s little brother – I do think this is the moment that confirms for him, that Ji Yu does like him, coz everything that she’s said, has nothing to do with her not liking him.

And then how about Ji Yu’s happy-embarrassed squeals the next morning, when she recalls Mo Dam telling her that while she’d felt her relationships were really short, they were really long for him, watching from the sidelines as the person he liked dated someone else.

Ahhh! Looks like we might have a preliminary minting of our secondary OTP?? 🤭

E11-12. This week, we get a minting of the relationship between Ji Yu and Mo Dam, and it’s as cute as I’d imagined it would be, with her texting him a picture of her feet while she’s wearing the shoes that he’d given her, and him rushing over to join her, wearing the matching shoes he’d gotten himself.

Aw. They’re in couple sneakers from the get-go, how cute is that? 😁

We don’t get to see them spend a lot of time together, but I like the detail that they’re basically glued to their phones, chatting for what appears to be hours on end, about anything and everything.

It’s exactly what I would expect a newly dating couple to do.

[END SPOILER]

SPOTLIGHT ON THE PENULTIMATE EPISODES [SPOILERS]

E13-14. Typically, the penultimate stretch in dramas tend to be when the angst really sets in – to set the stage for resolutions and closure, in the finale.

Over time, I think my drama senses have conditioned me to brace for the worst, when I approach the penultimate episodes.

And.. what Show serves up, works out to be a lot less angsty than I’d been anticipating.

There is angst, to be clear, but it doesn’t feel gratuitous.

Instead, it all feels organic to the narrative pieces that we’ve been given, and also, organic to our characters, so overall, I’d say that this was very well done.

Over the course of these episodes, we finally get a proper understanding of what had happened to Seo Kyung, back in university.

I found myself suddenly feeling like I gained a fair bit of clarity, not just over the incident itself, but also, in terms of our characters.

Previously, I’d been really perplexed by Do Hun’s self-righteous anger towards Seo Kyung, while admitting outright that he’d been her stalker.

Well. Turns out that that hadn’t been the case at all.

Seo Kyung had had a stalker, but it hadn’t been Do Hun, after all.

Instead, Do Hun had been the one looking out for her, because he knew that there were things that Jin Woo couldn’t help her with due to his hearing disability – and then, because Do Hun had been spotted following Seo Kyung home, which he’d sometimes do, to ensure her safety, he’d been pegged as her stalker.

This, when he hadn’t been the one to set that fire at all, but had, in fact, been the person to save her from the fire.

With the way the gossip had raged around this, and how Do Hun must have suffered socially because of it, I can see why he’d be bitter towards Seo Kyung, and why he’d act in such a self-righteous angry manner towards her.

And, I suppose his anger towards Jin Woo is by association; Jin Woo had been mixed up in the incident too, and I’m guessing that that’s why Do Hun’s anger included Jin Woo too.

I’m guessing that Do Hun must have thoughts along the lines of, “If only Jin Woo had been able to hear, none of this would have happened to me,” which I can understand as being part of human nature, y’know?

And of course, there’s also Seo Kyung herself, coming face to face with the truth about what she’d really been feeling and thinking, when she’d broken up with Jin Woo.

It’s a little whiplashy, in the sense that in episode 13, Seo Kyung’s still going to Jin Woo and telling him that she misses him a lot, but to her credit, once she hears from Do Hun, that Jin Woo had continued to search for her in the burning building, until he’d been the last person to be saved, because he hadn’t known that she’d been rescued, she goes straight to Jin Woo, to talk with him about it.

It’s not an easy thing to say – that she’d sub-consciously been searching for a reason to break up with him, because of how she’d felt uncomfortable in their relationship, and then had deluded herself into believing that he’d been at fault, for not hearing her cries for help – but she says it anyway.

I really appreciate that her goal, in this moment, is to set Jin Woo free from the guilt that he’s been living with all these years.

To my eyes, this is the most selfless thing that I’ve seen Seo Kyung do, all series long.

Through all of this, though, we can see that Mo Eun is having a hard time, and I do feel for her.

Like Seo Kyung with Jin Woo, there are things that make it difficult for Mo Eun to be in a relationship with Jin Woo; there is an unspoken burden that falls naturally on her shoulders, because she’s the one between them, who can hear.

Layered on top of that, is this thing with Seo Kyung, which Mo Eun feels uncomfortable with, but which she also feels like she doesn’t have any speaking rights over.

Whenever she sees Seo Kyung talking with Jin Woo, in particular about the past, it’s clear to see that Mo Eun feels like she has no place there, and I can understand that over time, this would make Mo Eun feel uncomfortable and alienated.

I do give Mo Eun props for making the effort to talk with Seo Kyung about it, even though I do think that Seo Kyung does come across as aggravatingly self-righteous, the way she “apologizes” if she’s made Mo Eun uncomfortable, but is, at the same time, so adamant, that no one could do a better job than she, in representing Jin Woo.

I don’t think Seo Kyung conducted herself with grace, in this moment, and I feel for Mo Eun, for being treated in a way that makes her feel edged out of her own relationship.

This, when we see, in flashback, that Jin Woo has actually told Seo Kyung – at the point when she’d said, all drenched from the rain, that she missed him – that he has a new love now, and wants that to be his last love as well.

Grugh. It really does rub me the wrong way, that Seo Kyung wouldn’t respect the boundaries of Jin Woo’s girlfriend, when Jin Woo’s expressly said that he treasures this relationship a lot.

I do think that Jin Woo should have done a better job of assuring Mo Eun, though.

After all, Ki Hyun even tells him, in episode 13, that Mo Eun had been to see him, and that she’d been struggling with the fact that everyone’s been talking about Jin Woo’s past relationship with Seo Kyung.

AND, Ki Hyun even urges Jin Woo to do something about it, to make sure that Mo Eun doesn’t worry.

I do feel that Jin Woo’s too passive, on this front, even though he does try to explain himself to Mo Eun.

On the upside, though, after Jin Woo’s efforts to explain himself to Mo Eun, we do get some nice scenes of OTP sweetness and stability.

I thought the scene of Mo Eun playing the guitar to Jin Woo, after placing his hand on the body of the guitar, so that he can feel the vibrations, was particularly sweet.

It’s just too bad that all this other stuff about Seo Kyung comes up to cloud everything again for Mo Eun, which I believe is why she decides to take a few days away, to clear her mind.

It’s not hard to see, though, that Mo Eun’s feelings for Jin Woo have not been weakened by these challenges.

The moment she realizes that the lady who’d cried at Jin Woo’s paintings during the exhibition could be Jin Woo’s mother, she heads straight to the address that the lady had written down for her, to check if it’s the same house as in the picture that Jin Woo has.

And of course it’s a perfect match – my drama senses were right after all!

I’m fully expecting an emotional reunion for Jin Woo and Mom, in our finale episodes, and I’m also fully expecting that Show will work to ground our OTP relationship in an even firmer manner, as we head to the finish line.

And maybe, just maybe, we’ll get to hear Jin Woo actually tell Mo Eun that he loves her. 🥲

THOUGHTS ON THE ENDING [SPOILERS]

E15-16. Sometimes, the downside of being consistently solid, is that you tend to create expectations of yourself; that you will always be that solid – at the very least, and that can sometimes lead to disappointment.

I think that’s what happened here, for me, with Show’s finale.

This worked out to be a mixed bag for me, overall, and even though I still think that Show is a worthwhile watch on balance, I do feel like Show missed some opportunities, to be better.

I’d say that I was pretty satisfied with everything that Show serves up around all our secondary characters, but felt a little.. underwhelmed with how the OTP relationship was handled.

In summary, Jin Woo and Mo Eun break up in episode 15, and eventually come back together again, by the time our ending credits roll (and yes, it’s for real and not a wistful glimpse at what could have been, coz of the hangul in the top left corner of the screen helpfully letting us know that we’re watching an epilogue), and while that’s not something that’s super unexpected, I did think that Show could have handled it better.

I will say that I was fine with how the break-up happened, because it felt realistic.

I could 100% buy the idea that the challenges of being in a mixed abilities relationship would wear on Mo Eun over time, particularly given the additional challenges of her work keeping her apart from Jin Woo for long periods of time, and her discomfort with the history between Jin Woo and Seo Kyung.

And, given Mo Eun’s considerate, long-suffering streak, I can also believe that she would hold onto the relationship regardless of the growing burden that she feels.

Which means that it makes sense to me, that it would be Jin Woo to initiate the break-up, not because he didn’t want to be with Mo Eun anymore, but because he couldn’t bear the thought of being a burden to her; he broke up with her, to set her free.

I thought the break-up scene was very beautiful and bittersweet, with Jin Woo being the most thoughtful and appreciative that a human could possibly be, while breaking up with the person he loves. 🥲

I do think that it’s telling, that while Mo Eun tells him that she didn’t understand a word of what he’d said, she doesn’t try to fight the break-up. I think that this goes to show that she really had felt spent, in their relationship, and didn’t really have it in her to keep going.

The thing is, though, I’d expected that the reunion would be treated with as much deliberate care, and that.. didn’t quite live up to my expectations.

We have Jin Woo finally returning to Korea, and his endearing students give him that ticket to Mo Eun’s play, and with their encouragement, Jin Woo does attend.

And afterwards, we get an echo of the scene from the first time he’d attended Mo Eun’s play, when she’d taken on the lead role, as a stand-in.

I liked the idea of the echo, and I also liked the idea of Jin Woo’s self-introduction, because it indicates a fresh new start.

At the same time, however, I was also left with the feeling of, “That’s it..?” 😅

In the end, I felt like Show had used one of Dramaland’s old tropes, where a time skip magically fixes everything, and that just doesn’t feel right to me, because this show has been so carefully and deliberately organic and down-to-earth about the challenges of a mixed abilities relationship.

Just because Jin Woo and Mo Eun realize that they still love each other after the time-skip, doesn’t make the relationship challenges disappear.

Unfortunately, with the way Show handles the ending, it does feel like this portion of the equation gets conveniently swept under the rug.

Like, let’s not think about that now – look at how happy they are, holding hands and walking on the tracks together! 😒

Given how Show’s been so thoughtful and careful about portraying the challenges in this relationship, this felt like a bit of a cheap shot, I’m sorry to say.

One thing that Show could have done, was time the break-up to happen earlier in the story, so that we’d have more time to explore how Mo Eun and Jin Woo would approach things differently, after their reconciliation.

That would have been nice.

Failing that, I would have also been satisfied with voiceovers from both characters, talking a little bit about it.

Like, maybe Mo Eun saying that she’d needed the time apart, to grow stronger, and now she’s ready to use that strength, to protect this relationship.

Or, maybe Mo Eun talking about the new insights and realizations that she’s arrived at, in this time apart; that she no longer feels the need for Jin Woo to be able to hear her voice, because he can hear her heart.

Just, something, to show us that things now are different now than before, and that this difference, offers a fresh new hope for the relationship, that had been absent before.

Without it, it just feels like the same old problems will eventually surface again.

Yes, it’s true that things with Seo Kyung have been sorted out, and it should therefore not add stress to an already challenging relationship situation.

But that doesn’t address the challenges that are inherent in their mixed abilities relationship, like when Mo Eun feels frustrated by Jin Woo’s inability to hear her.

That’s why, even though I like the idea of Jin Woo and Mo Eun finding each other all over again, and renewing their love, I can’t help feeling a little.. empty and disappointed, by the way Show handles that reconciliation.

In the end, though, I appreciate that Show leaves everyone in a better place than when we’d found them.

In particular, I appreciated the truces that we see forged between Do Hun and Seo Kyung, as well as Do Hun and Jin Woo.

It’s not perfect nor neat, but it’s a big step forward, that Do Hun’s not hostile any longer, and that they’re finally talking about things. I feel like that’s the best and most realistic note on which to leave the emotional baggage that exists among them.

I’m also glad to see that Johan’s tapping on his emotional journey, and making good music; it feels like he’s finally moving on from his feelings for Mo Eun, and that feels healthy.

It’s lovely to see that Ki Hyun and So Hee are expecting another baby, and of course, it’s dorky but quite endearing, to see that Ji Yu and Mo Dam are still very much in love.

And of course, it’s a good thing, that Jin Woo gets to meet his mother. 🥲

So yes, I am a little disappointed about what I didn’t get in this finale, but with the rest of these episodes managing to come in so pleasantly strong, I feel like I shouldn’t nitpick too much. 😅

And in case it wasn’t clear, I am glad that Jin Woo and Mo Eun find their way back to each other. 🥲

THE FINAL VERDICT:

Thoughtful, reflective and worthwhile.

FINAL GRADE: B+

TRAILER:

MV:

PATREON UPDATE!

The next drama I’m covering on Patreon, in place of  Tell Me That You Love Me, is Love Scout [Korea], which I’m loving right away.

You can check out my episode 1-2 notes on Love Scout 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): +Love Scout [Korea]