KevinToronto

I think you might be right, as I got the feeling that the girl might be his daughter. It could explain why Dan ho did not want to explain where he had lived before.

As for the stigma against single parents, single fathers especially, the plot of One Spring Night is all about it.

This episode covered so many "issues", including some that I have noticed in other programmes. However, I have never seen an episode that "addresses" so many issues, and so well.

First, it is clear that this not just a ML and FL rom-com. The families are intertwined. It is the mothers who tie everyone together from their high school friendship. Everything that follows is a result of that friendship and social status/career success is secondary.

Second, even the fathers have created their own bonds. The two fathers having dinner and getting plastered was precious, as was the picking of the roses. Such a simple thing but a huge gesture. [It is often the simple things that make a difference.]

Third, did anyone else get the sexual harassment vibe from the interaction between Seung Hyo's mother and the new vice-minister?

Fourth, I got the sense that Seung Hyo's mother is conflicted about going overseas again. I could be wrong but my sense was that she realises that she is on the precipice of losing her family.

Fifth, was Seung Hyo's parents marriage based on love or "arrangement"? His father seems to accept that his marriage is "paper only", but I am not certain that his mother feels the same.

Sixth, sadly/tragically/depressingly, over the work career, many of us will experience that colleague who is able to transfer other people's hard work into their success because they present a good business case and "fit the mould". If you are a visible minority female (whose English skills are not perfect), then it is even worse. [Note: even I, a white male immigrant from the U.K. via Hong Kong, have had negative responses, especially about not having the necessary Canadian experience!]

Seventh, the empathy shown by Seung Hyo was amazing. Regardless of how they end up, having someone who stops, listens, and accepts is critical.

Eighth, did anyone else get the feeling that the young girl is actually the daughter of Dan Ho (the journalist?). Echoes of One Spring Night?

I am sure that more will things will come to mind but I will end here, for now.

Wow, where to start? I have watched many kdramas, like most of us here, and I am not certain that there has been a single episode that has been so impactful in its content and issues discussed, for me. I am going to put my thoughts and comments in a "spoiler" post to this.

That is a very interesting and insightful theory. Given her admission that she had no life goal during high school (except being the best and being praised) and her structured, highly-managed job, did the pressure and stress become too much?

I do not believe that the 1-year work break had anything to do with the engagement ending.

There are 13 more episodes, so the second leads will get their screentime. But for now, the task of the show is to lay the ground work for primary couple.

I had a good laugh at that scene. Having worked as a project manager for 11 years, I know the drive to plan your time.

We will not have to wait too long before finding out whether it an former colleague or here ex. The reason I thought ex is because he was supposed to be an "international" lawyer, Korean, and based in the U.S. It would be logical for a company looking to expand into Korea to hire such a lawyer for their team.

I noticed that as well. In an earlier comment, I did say that I hope it was not because she got pregnant and had a baby. I wonder if we will find out in episode 4 (reason for Seung Hyo to angry at her ex?).

I would prefer that they say she had to take time off to shoot Alchemy of Souls. 😉

I will admit to being a little disappointed that they used a car accident as the reason for his swimming career ending. It would have added to the story if his dream had been ended because of a sports injury, such as a ruptured Achilles tendon or torn ACL.

When I saw the scene, my fear was/is that the fact he was looking at the towel from Seok Ryu will be used as a reason for an argument/break-up in a later episode.

I am "old enough and ugly enough" to know that people only bicker like that with the people they truly care for.

I really enjoyed the first two episodes, but today's took it to a higher level. I loved the pathos of Seung Hyo missing out on his dream of a swimming career and Seok Ryu not having a dream for her life after high school. I hope that part of the romance side of things involves the two of them opening up and healing each other.

One thing that caught my attention was that Seok Ryu took a year off while working at Greip. Why? I sincerely hope that it was not because she became pregnant and then gave the child up for adoption. [Is the scene between Seung Hyo and her ex because the ex said something about that "year"?]

My impression was that it was her ex and that he said something rude and/or demeaning towards or about Seok Ryu.

I am going to reply to your comment here, even though you made an almost identical comment to my comment made further down the comments.

I do not disagree with the basic premise that Welcome to Samdal-ri and Love Next Door have the same basic story line: two very long-time friends finding romance together, eventually.

However, with all due respect, you should re-watch Welcome to Samdal-ri because some of your first paragraph does not fit that story.
First, both Sam-dal and Yong-pil went to Seoul, along with Kyung-tae and Eun-woo. Only Sam-dal stayed in Seoul.
Second, Sam-dal and Yong-pil started a relationship when they were in Seoul. They broke up because of Yong-pil's father, Sang-tae.
Third, both Sam-dal and Yong-pil still loved each other, so Yong-pil did not have try to win Sam-dal's love.
Four, the three sisters did not hide from their parents; although Sam-dal tried not to tell her mother the reason why she/they came back.

I am curious what exactly is the base plot you are referring to?
-- Two people who knew each other as children re-uniting as adults and finding love? [If this, then you can add Healer, Like Flowers in Sand, and When the Weather is Fine to your list.]
-- Or, two people who were in a relationship, broke up and and then re-connected after several years? [If this, Our Beloved Summer and Emergency Couple are obvious additions; even Ghost Doctor has this a plot line.

Bottom line: There are only so many base plot lines to be used in dramas. How the overall story is presented is what makes a drama fresh and unique.

I also got the impression that she quit her job. We will have to wait for the explanation (hopefully). Did she quit before or after discovering that her fiance was cheating? It would be awful enough to be in a company where you are not respected and valued, but discovering that the one person who should have your back is stabbing you in the back instead would be unbearable.

I am certain that we have not seen the last of the fiance, but I hope that it is only in flash backs. Although it might be nice to see that he gets his comeuppance through the person he cheated with. As he is supposed to be a big wig international lawyer, perhaps a major conflict of interest because the other woman is directly linked to a major client (with a connection to Seung Hyo's business?).

Completely agree. So far, the only information we have is that Seok Ryu had a fiance (presumably with the requisite intimacy) and Seung Hyo did not have a fiancee. So far, there has been no discussion of other relationships. To quote John Locke: "Absence of Evidence does not mean Evidence of Absence."

In my experience, the only recent kdrama that openly talks about a lead's prior relationships has been "Love to Hate You".

You forgot to mention that the baby will burst from her abdomen and immediately head to Antarctica to battle another alien race for galactic domination. :-)

I clearly missed something and will have to re-watch the first two episodes because I did not get the " ML's virginity is a huge issue" vibe while watching them.

From my perspective, this is about two people in their 30s( 34) who have known each other since the age of 4, and are re-uniting after roughly 10 years of not seeing each other. Yes, there will be romance and intimacy, but aside from the ex-fiance issue, I do not think that prior relationships will that significant (unlike Forecasting Love and Weather).

Mmm, how about both? Watch each weekend's 2 episodes back-to-back, and then have a recap complete binge watch when the final two episodes are broadcast.