Short, Sweet, But Not Simple

For a show so short and sweet, it packs a punch. I loved how the narrow focus really allowed the viewer to hone in on the main messages: Living in the moment, finding happiness in the everyday, letting today's warmth carry you through tomorrow's troubles, and appreciating one well-crafted song for the OST.

It managed to thread the eye of the needle for me in the humor department. I can't stand anything that goes too cringe or slapstick. This was funny in a quirky, endearing way, which I wish I was able to find more of in K-Dramas.

Visually stunning--very vibrant with an aesthetic equal parts earthy, whimsical, and cute hip-hop. I adored the FL's modernized hanboks--traditional with a twist and stunning, they sometimes gave off a 50s vibe I was all there for.

CW: indifferent therapist (though there is some form of marginal justice for him at the end); death of minor character due to health reasons (not violence)

My main critiques/concerns include SPOILERS:

1. It was implied at first that the male bandmate was gay or bi, but they weren't totally clear on that and might have walked it back in later episodes. I crave positive LGBTQ representation! My head canon is that he is bi and you will not convince me otherwise.

2. The ending.
2a. It was very much set up as a HFN, and I don't think they satisfactorily addressed the FL's valid concerns for wanting to avoid relationships at that point in her life. This watch-through I was able to suspend disbelief enough to get the warm, fuzzy glow, but I can definitely see that ending landing a lot more on the bitter side of bitter-sweet if I were in different moods.
2b. The reveal in the last couple minutes! Such a cliffhanger! Again, it's something that could majorly effect the overall tone of the story based on your mood and how you interpret it. It makes me crave a second season, something I rarely want for K-Dramas!

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For a Quick Endorphin Boost

This is a fluffy little macaroon of a K Drama. It was endearing without ever venturing into slapstick or cringe humor, which is my personal sweet spot. While Wednesday 3:30 PM is my first K Drama that was clearly written around product placement, (sans the one exception I go into below), it was well done and didn't detract from the story.

I was on the fence the first few episodes because it had that tonal whiplash thing going on--you know, where something funny happens, and then suddenly cuts to a big catastrophe, which is then magically solved with no lasting consequences. I decided to try waiting it out, and I'm glad I did. The tone evened out as the show settled into its groove.

The general premise is simple, but no less compelling for it. The female lead (FL) gets dumped and tries to get her ex back by pretending to be in a relationship with her outgoing childhood friend. Our male lead's (ML's) there for her during a series of her roughest moments, bringing warmth back into her life.

While I liked the general story arc, I wasn't a fan of some of the specifics, namely trying to get her ex back by looking better than other women when they are collectively vulnerable. (According to a central theory in this world, women are most exhausted and unattractive on Wednesdays at 3:30 PM. The FL's and ML's idea is to go on dates then so she'll look prettier than everyone else and her ex will regret breaking up.) Even though we're not supposed to root for the couple that's broken up, introducing the idea that lasting relationships could so easily be swayed made everything else--even the couple we're supposed to root for--feel so much more tenuous. And that leaves me, the viewer, feeling insecure in a way that kills the happy buzz.

Luckily, after episode 3 the focus shifts, when the story becomes more about our couple "not" falling for each other. The product placement also becomes more about every woman feeling their best during a rough time, which felt much healthier (in a still very capitalistic, consumer-y way).

All-in-all it was very squee-worthy. I love me a sweet and thoughtful ML and a banter-filled relationship, which this delivered on. A very pleasant 3.33 hours.

CW: death of dog (ep. 4), unnecessary 1-year time jump in last episode

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A Note for Western Audiences

Here's the thing. The central points of conflict--the suffocating stigma attached to being a single parent in Korea, and the rigid sense of filial respect and duty leading to a lack of autonomy in personal decisions--has no direct translation to Western culture. (Honestly, if someone wanted to respond with an in-depth explanation of these values and how they influenced decisions, that would be helpful and so very appreciated. I'm particularly confused by characters hiding their sometimes significant difficulties from those who would support them—in other words, the noble sacrifice trope. Our main couple's more mutually supportive dynamic feels obvious to me, a Westerner, and not like the anomaly/cultural shift they're fighting for, so I'd like to learn more about what I'm missing.)

That said, to an extent it doesn't matter if you don't entirely get it. The stakes are clear and high, and the characters act consistently based on their values. Assuming you have even a basic and vague understanding of the two central societal expectations, you can understand in a broad sense how A leads to C, even if you don't understand the murky nuances of B.

The fact that OSN's main strength is exploring the murky and nuanced B is a double-edged sword. As others have noted, this story is a masterclass in realism, just with the guaranteed (and, I found, highly satisfying) HEA. While the slow, gentle pacing was essential for the story, in the long close-ups I often wished I could listen to the FL's and ML's internal monologues. So in some respects, I wonder if this wouldn't have worked better (at least for those less familiar with Korean culture) as a book. Yet maybe not being fully aware of the characters' internal life enhanced the story. Yes, it could be frustrating, but it was also true to life. We often DON'T know what others are thinking, even those we know best.

OSN has provided a lot of food for thought, and I love it for that. Few K Dramas have that level of depth to them, and seeing the way this drama was directed has provided an important counterpoint that's enabled me to better articulate my loves and frustrations with the genre as a whole.

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