Eleison

Yeah, like many of the male chaebol heirs from dramas, Hae In strikes me as a bit socially awkward and emotionally oblivious. I see this coming through in the way she can't always pick up on cues and motivations of people around her when it comes to close interactions because she's been raised with so much angling and distance from her family. The scene between them in his room when she saw him looking up her condition is when I started to get this impression of her.

I feel like I had more questions after Episode 2, not less. 😂 I'm sure we'll get more about why they're at this place in their marriage, but I want to know what's going on ASAP; we'll probably have to wait a while to get the full picture, though. 😮‍💨

Well, we got her perspective, to even out his from Episode 1; she is now also looking quite pitiful. However, I'm hoping this is the lowest point for our ML, cause he's pretty terrible in Episode 2... I need to start seeing some pangs of guilt or this will get too painful. 🥴

That drama is quite old, though, no? The last 10-14 years have almost all been male chaebols falling in love with poor girls. It's cropped up for the 2ML loveline, though, like in Run On or The Beauty Inside.

I went to respond when I saw you already said what I was thinking. We're on the same wavelength, haha.

We rarely get to watch romances about married couples falling in love again, and if done well, it can be especially sweet to watch because they're not just coming together over their fluttery, googley-eyed feelings for each other. They will figure out how to build something sweet that lasts. THAT could be an exhilarating watch, if done well.

I think what makes it land is that most Kdrama watchers (being largely women) know EXACTLY what it feels like to be relegated to the kitchen to serve everyone, so it feels sweet to watch the men get stuck there instead.

"It kind of sucks, doesn't it, guys? Ah, poor lambs, you have it so hard." *playing my tiny violin* 🎻

Yes, if done well, it's super funny. It works best when played for laughs. One of my favorite reversed cliches was in Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo when a bus drives by, splashing water onto the sidewalk. The ML hides behind the FL instead of shielding her and she gets doused. It was a great moment. 😆

Yes, like Song Joong Ki! Curious to see when he'll pop up.

Sometimes people can be shockingly resilient, especially when others depend on them. :) There's definitely more to this timid son-in-law than meets the eye. He's not just a smart lawyer with a pretty face. Looking forward to seeing what they do with him! 😏

This comment thread is exploding. It took me forever to scroll to, and find, yesterday's comments. 😅

He does always get typecast, though. Maybe he doesn't mind! 🤷‍♀️

Pretty sure it won't last; it's just his initial response. He's currently so miserable he can't see past his own pain to really take in what this means. Don't worry, he'll come around. 😉

There was a time when Cha Eun Woo played 2MLs? I'm floored. And with Ahn Hyo Seop as the ML? Whoa, never thought that would be a thing...

I appreciate how I can instantly know that the leads don't end up together just based on the recommendations... 😆 frustratingly unexpected, sad-ending bullet, dodged.

After Mr. Sunshine I will never watch a Kdrama without having an almost certain knowledge of the type of ending I'm getting into. The aftermath was too depressing. 😆

Yes, it is! But at least they're both messed up, cause this is more how actual relationships work. It takes two to make a happy marriage. ☺️ And also, periods where both spouses loathe each other is just a phase at some point in every marriage; the really sweet times come when you push past them because every human has their blind spots and weaknesses and issues.

It also gives plenty of fodder for growth, which is fun to watch. However, I'm still a bit scared to watch this in case the end falls apart cause they run out of content or it has an ambiguous ending. This is a full-length drama with very long episodes. This model has worked with some dramas (like Reply 1988 or Rebel: Thief Who Stole The People), but it's really hard to maintain... I'm hoping our amazing screenwriter and Kim Soo Hyun's spot-on script selection (he never seems to pick flops, either because he makes them classics or because he has a good eye for ones that will land 🤷‍♀️) can be trusted! 🤞

I agree, and as to character growth and comradarie--same!! It's what endeared Kdramas to me. because when they do it, they do it WELL.

Yes, I see what you mean. Or the ML SEEMS like a bad guy but he's really just misunderstood. I think most Kdramas lean heavily into the "misunderstood" part and make the actual growth piece more subtle and slow. So yes, I get what distinction you're making; what we're seeing here is a bit different from the "flawed" shown in most mainstream Kdramas.

Yes, agree about CLOY! And while Legend Of the Blue Sea wasn't perfect, it was also super charming and cozy. Both CLOY and LOTBS I remember because of how I FELT watching them, and they gave me some of the coziest Kdrama watching experiences I can think of.

In my opinion, the best Kdramas are a variation on an established theme. 😉 This drama has already done some new things with the story and how it's framed, so you might be right that it's a recycled story from Kdramaland that gets a facelift and a fresh, new look. 😋

They've already teased this by having all the tropes of the daughter-in-law of the rich chaebol family reversed here (which has been done over and over again, but never quite like this). It holds great promise, I think!