Kathryn_51

Thanks for responding.

I haven't finished Ep. 6 yet, but it's clear this drama is going to follow the same trajectory as prior films such as "You've Got Mail" and I'm seated for this.

Meanwhile, you are good at interpreting some of the ambiguities in dramas. What is your impression of FL's feelings for ML when she said she "loved [him] unconditionally"? A mega-fan of the famous actor (who she treats badly in person)? A major attraction to the person Hyeon-ju (that she's fighting to ignore)? In love with the dashing detective character he plays? If you have any thoughts, please share.

Thanks for explanation - I was shocked that it dropped so much.

That's because - except for the Main Couple - every other character, and I mean EVERY other character - had no independent/separate story except to either cause problems for the MC or solve problems for the MC. All of the family members - they either supported or hindered the Main Couple, and that was their role - their only role. Same for the 2FL. At the 11th hour (Ep. 11), we learned a bit of the 2ML's history but his main role was to be a thorn in. . . . the MAIN Couple's life.

I tried watching Ep. 5 last night (my time) but after an exhausting 5 days of travel, fell asleep - so didn't see anything about a rice cooker. So, it's not the AI chat - it's a rice cooker and I agree - this could be great.

I've felt all along that among Studio Dragon, CJEM(?), tvN and a boat load of terrific/well-known actors, there was a good chance this drama would end up surprising and enchanting the viewers. Crossing fingers.

I'm not sure if the AI chat partner is related to this snippet from the drama's synopsis or not. Perhaps the translation is off, but I found it intriguing:

"Although they [ML and FL] are physically close, they live in the farthest world.
And ironically, these two fight with each other when they meet in real life, but they communicate more honestly than anyone else online, without knowing each other's identities."

If the story is similar to "You've Got Mail" (1998) or "Shop Around the Corner" (1940), then it will be a winner.

Gwi-nam can't return as long as actor Yoo In-soo is in the military.

Seo Ji Hoon's character (Kim Seok Ju) intersected with almost all of the main/supporting characters - and demonstrated a different relationship with every single one. He is one of my favorites, the ONLY reason I leaped and watched a "melodrama, and he Did Not Disappoint!

Mo Tae-Rin: Curious - then in denial - then supportive - and finally patient. Perfection.
Stepbrother (Sunwoo Hae): Always - ALWAYS - supportive
"Sister" Nu-ri: Protective To The MAX
Je-yeon: "sibling" tension on steroids
His mother (Pil-do): Comforting - her one "rock" of support
Step-dad (Chan): Utter contempt
Bang Han Na (team leader): Respectful, professional
Geon No: Co-conspirator
Choi Gi Beum (driving school): Outrage

He's currently filming All of Us Are Dead 2 and then - presumably off to the military.

The drama website says he is in "his '40s". When I first watched, it was totally believable to me (didn't know anything about the actor OR his age).

But he played a very nice character in Queen of Tears😊

I've said this before, but although the Main Couple is charming and they had an actual story/plot, every other character was flat/one-dimensional whose only roles were to either stand in the way of the Main Couple or to support them. Especially frustrating for the 2nd couple because they had interesting dialogue - BUT IT ALL revolved around their individual relationship with the FL or ML. We finally learned a bit more about the 2ML in Episode 11 - WAY too late.

I started with a 10⭐rating based on first couple of episodes, but have gradually decreased and final is 7⭐ and don't intend to re-watch any of it. Sad - because I love Jung So Min. Hope her next drama is better/more unique for her talents.

Forget the stupid press conference. In what country is an accused murderer found guilty in a trial w/in days of his arrest???? (Answer: maybe NORTH Korea, but definitely not South Korea.) I will avoid this writer in the future.

Sang-hyeon grew up in an orphanage, so I've always wondered if Jin-gyeong might have gone there as a child (with her doctor father) and played the piano. Actually, I wondered if it might tie into that scene where JG was playing the piano and SH stopped dead in his tracks to watch/listen. So, if something like that is how things play out, I'd be happy - but that would take something more than a lazy writer simply throwing stuff at the wall to see what sticks.

The entire drama - every character and side story - has been one long series of plot devices to prop up the Main Couple romance. Jin-gyeong and Sang-hyeon are cardboard, one-dimensional characters whose only role is to either cause problems or solve problems for the main couple - they have never had a separate story of their own. The same for every other character - Meri's mom and sister, the marketing team, The ex and his family - we know nothing about any of them except to the extent they interact with Meri and Woo-joo. Very disappointing.

I usually have time to go back and re-watch a scene because I love to review possible clues, but not this week, lol. In fact, I haven't been able to watch Ep 9/10, so am intrigued by your spoilers. The promissory note is probably from decades ago - perhaps before GreenJuice Lady was around. It's good writer is finally giving viewers some critical info.

Re: the hospital. At the time I remember thinking that CEO may have begun to waken (eyes?) right before or when Pyo visited and Pyo was the last person to see him, so. . . . .did Pyo suffocate him??? That was my thought because I don't think there was any equipment (like we would see today) where monitors would send a signal to the nurses's station?? ML returned to the hospital and he was simply dead.

Another thought I had at the time - did Pyo's son deliberately pull ML away from his father's bedside so that Pyo could visit?

Pyo is corrupt, but the son is simply evil.

The computer parasite employee will probably save the day at some point - there's a cute little robot toy shown in the intro which I have always assumed will eventually be one of their products.

Bad??? This drama is based on interviews with Koreans who lived, suffered and thrived during the IMF crisis. It may be exaggerated, but it's grounded in real stories.

There's a major back-story to the Kim Ji Hoon character and he will be prominent. The character chart for this drama is really crazy - I might try and write one up and post it in the Topic/Discussion section.

Lots to like about this drama: (i) charming main couple; (2) intriguing 2nd couple; (3) good mix of nice/sympathetic people (marketing team, Meri's mom, even ML's cousin) and various evil-doers (murderers, ex and his crazy family); classic fun plot set-up (fake marriage).

Lots to criticize including the overabundance of miraculous coincidences, the two most glaring of which were in Ep 10: Meri's sister JUST HAPPENED to not only work for Wife#2,and she Just Happened to see uncle in the USA and because of that (not intelligence, not investigating, not following leads) they figure out that Uncle is a bad guy. And Jin-gyeong JUST HAPPENED to be at 2ML's house at the very same moment when the boss is berating 2ML out in the open and she had her window open to capture it all on the dash cam. I prefer dramas where the characters succeed because of intelligence or determination - not blind luck. Blind luck is the hallmark of lazy writing.

Finally, Meri's sister and ML's cousin will make a cute couple taking care of Henry.

Cousin and child Henry are half-brothers, so he will end up raising him together with Meri's sister and they will make a cute couple. That's my prediction.

Compare and contrast the even more ridiculous ML's insta-love on the night his parents died and immediately deciding it was the real thing at the moment - wait for it - NOT when he first met her again, but when he realized that she was The One. Insta Love!

I can't look past that one.

I'm here for Jung So Min - she's my favorite of all kdrama actresses. But I've also been spending most of my MDL time complaining about the writing and much as I love her, I FF through her scenes with the ML.

And as a fan, I can tell you that at the beginning of all of her dramas, certain haters DO come out of the woodwork and immediately criticize the drama and give it low ratings. I saw it in both Alchemy of Souls and Love Next Door.

Children gonna be children - and thus the never-ending mini feuds throughout MDL.