This drama gave me bigger trust issues than any man has given me. Yet. I enjoyed the direction the relationship between the main couple was headed, I had high hopes, also motivated by the plenty of good reviews that this drama had received. I've been an avid and loyal K-drama consumer in the past year, but I think this one broke me.
All was well in the world of the main lead until episode 13, when suddenly Nam Se Hee’s ex shows up as the CEO of an entertainment company and gives Yoon Ji Ho a solid job opportunity, not knowing about the connection all three of them have. AND IN COMES THE BIGGEST CLICHE I'VE EVER HAD TO ENDURE. Yoon Ji Ho figures out who this CEO is, and yes, it's understandable that it makes her upset, but instead of doing the reasonable adult thing you do in a confusing situation - talking, she just decides... to end their marriage. In the last three episodes of this show, Ji Ho announces that she and See Hee are getting a divorce while declaring to everyone how much she has fallen in love with him ( instead, of course, telling him directly), and I had to agree with the CEO/ See Hee's ex when she asked the reasonable question as to - why the fuck are you breaking up then? But the moment that made me want to punch a wall was the 'miscommunication trope' - Ji Hoo and See Hee sat down to talk, See Hee to confess to her, but of course, he doesn't do it, instead he lets her speak first and she drops the bomb, that she wants to break the marriage contract. AND I WAS SCREAMING!!! (internally, because it was 4 am and I have roommates). I hate this trope in general, I have an allergic reaction to it, but so far this was the most unbearable case I've witnessed. So they just... divorce because she thinks it's one-sided, though See Hee has been, in my opinion, pretty clear in his actions, that he likes her, especially the part where they slept in the same bed, hugged, and kissed, and he was looking at her with the most loving eyes anyone could ever do... But no....it's one-sided because Ji Hoo just likes to be the victim.
So she leaves, and See Hee sells his apartment, which was really important to him, it was pointed out many times in the series because he's so heartbroken by her leaving that he can't live there anymore. He's miserable. But then, after a few months, she shoves up, because she has decided that they should start again. He's understandably really angry at her, pointing out that he even sold his apartment, but as per usual, in total disregard for his feelings and emotions, she forces a hug on him, and then, after threatening to leave him again, they kiss. Fast forward a few years, they are happily, officially married, and I see how this was supposed to be a cute ending, but not for me. In the end, she gave me a narcissistic vibe, she got what she wanted by manipulating him. Her reasoning for breaking up with See Hee was that he didn't open up to her fast enough, and INSTEAD OF TALKING TO HIM, SOWING HIM THAT SHE'S A PERSON THAT HE CAN TRUST AND OPEN UP TO, SHE BREAKS UP WITH HIM TO MAKE HIM MAD AND CONFESS HIS FEELINGS WHILE BEING ANGRY.... As any reasonable, loving person would do... The part when he was angry at her, and told her that what she did was messed up, and she just smiled and said that he finally said what he felt, gave me goosebumps. This is what in real life would be considered a toxic, manipulating relationship....
This is why King The Land is the best K - drama because there's clear communication, and any potential conflict gets resolved by TALKING!!!
The only reason why I finished watching this drama was because of Woo Soo Ji and Ma Sang Goo's relationship, that was the green flag of its drama.