I found this to be an interesting series but a little awkward to watch. The acting was superb. Song Hye Kyo can light up a screen just by being there. She played the part well, as did the other main characters. This familiar story of two people who are not in love, living under a contract marriage is not new, and the effort to make it unique is what I found awkward. The two outside influences, one male and one female, were well placed and fit the part well. The cooking and cleaning arguments were repetitive and started wearing on my nerves. Who thinks screaming about cleaning the house contributes to the quality of a personal relationship? The amount of domestic abuse delivered reached way up on the misery index and frankly wasn’t funny. This show did have some funny moments, like Ji Eun carrying grandmother on her back, but domestic bullying wasn’t one of them. I wanted them to get divorced so bad, but I knew it wasn’t going to happen.
Can a woman who receives that much abuse fall for this repulsive character? In my opinion, Lee Yeong Jae had very few redeeming qualities. After he looked like a raving idiot for so many episodes trying to make him look even partially normal in the end was a far stretch. I found myself rooting for Min Hyuk. Setting up Ji Eun to be a doormat for this guy was just way over the top. Taking all that verbal abuse and coming back for more felt like a battered woman going to the man who abuses her. For some reason, the writers think calling somebody dense, stupid, and other names is endearing or normal. I’ll accept the unique twist of two friends selling your house, emptying your bank account, and opening credit cards in your name, but remaining friends?
I’m not trying to tear this series apart, although it may seem like it. I watched every minute and rooted for Ji Eun the whole way. I wish I could have felt good about them at the end. I somehow thought they were with the wrong partners as the car drove away. Please watch and decide for yourself.