i see sparks fly...

not much more to say about the overall quality of the drama, this drama continues to be fast-paced and engaging. seriously though, the theme songs are so good (esp saeon's theme!) and i need it like RIGHT NOW. just here to track some highlights:


[SPOILERS AHEAD]

- WHAT IS IT WITH FISH CHOPPING SCENES?? first the trunk, now when the phone rings. it's an interesting move in this drama, which has previously been romance/thiller/sprinkles of comedy. but props to the direction, production, and editing, the drama works really well rather than feeling like a frankenstein piece.

- i really appreciate that heejo's becoming presidential spokesperson signer was well-deserved. i'm tired of the romanticization of nepotism just because it's the main couple and they're pretty. saeon's interference in heejo's job interview was, in an atypical twist, an endeavor to ensure fairness rather than to grant a free pass. this scene also manages to simultaneously advance the main characters' dynamic with a monologue disguised as a test for the translation job. that's a well done scene for you.

- the section chief is blatant comedic relief but isn't annoying at all. he has some great moments: while discussing the interviewees with saeon, he asks for saeon's opinion on heejo and mentions that he likes her. saeon belatedly and resignedly responds with, "i like [her]. me, too." this is a nicely constructed moment, because the omniscient viewer can interpret it as a confession. then the comedic touch goes with the chief coming back and saying, 'come again?' and saeon's annoyed dismissal of him.

- we have confirmation of the childhood connection. i usually despise this trope, but here it (1) makes sense considering their families' ties and (2) is continuously hinted at, through saeon's attitude (specifically in that wife-swapping deal with heejo's sister) and more explicitly suggested when he says he's known heejo for 20 years.

- sae-on finding out that heejo's not actually mute. i sympathize with heejo's outburst on the rooftop, especially in light of her father's recent kidnapping in juxtaposition with being in a hostile rich people gathering. her mother's complete disregard for her father's safety only exacerbated her crumbling mental state. seeing saeon chatting away with the rich kids who demeaned just moments ago became the last straw. the phone call is basically drunk dialing an ex as someone put it, rather than a blackmail call, and we see how saeon's validation and declarations to her via the hacker phone finally break through her defense and pushes her over the edge. we can feel her anguish and heartbreak that he never showed her any affection despite his words to the ostensible kidnapper. while i appreciate the mental breakdown scene per se, i would have liked heejo to have played the cat-and-mouse game more deftly than she did. if she were better at the game, the show could have sustained the strength of the intensity from ep1, where heejo was inexperienced, but made ballsy and creative moves (ie hijacking the hacker phone and using her access to the rich people gathering and backing saeon into a corner). as it is, she's edging closer and closer to the pure and naive kdrama prototype despite her earlier offerings, and i would have preferred the opposite.

- saeon's disbelief and incredulity at heejo being able to talk is very nuanced as usual. i think he's a little angry at both heejo and himself, her for hiding it of course, and himself for not finding out sooner as well as not letting her feel like she could confide in him. there's also a little horror in his expression, too. maybe he sees the implications that heejo could be the caller, or maybe it's simply that he missed out on such an fundamental part of heejo, leading him to realize that he might scarcely know his wife at all.


[FINAL NOTES]

the preview is crazy tempting once again. i cant believe we're getting only 1 episode for two weeks that's fantastic for my mental health 👏👏👏

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