lovelaughter

It's different when it's cameras and a lot of stuff around. Imagine that behind the scene that we see there are so many people and also could be many takes. So the atmosphere is not as private, but more a question of art and doing that art.

whoa! He knows what suits him then

oh that was a good piece of acting! i could phisically feel how uncomfortable he was :D

I think it's more about chemistry between them, it's magnetic

100%!

Yes, finally we have less binary good/bad characters to talk about

Haha, it was a nice read! Overall I've seen so many heavy and insulting comments feeds for other dramas, that coming here after every episode has been fun. I am really enjoying more nuanced discussions and different perspectives.

Sure! That sounds healthy!

Communication is key, I agree. But it only works if two parties are able to meet each other at some vulnerability level. And I do not think that Luke is there. He comes to me as emotionally unavailable, controlling, too fast on his words, condesending in his communication. To talk to him costs a lot of mental power and a lot of knowing how to talk to people like that. So to me her way of dealing with it is to avoid it. Otherwise, she will always be in the wrong according to him. In every misstep he is way harsher than he has to be. It takes huge personal power and knowing yourself to counter it.

I am not saying what FL is doing is the correct way. For all I know, they should break up. But I get why she is doing that.

How interesting! it almost feels like they made all characters all grey.

I wish some part of the motivation was preserved, because since they showed the deal that Alex took as not very good, FL comes across as weighting options she doesn't have.

haha, true!

I feel like the comments feed has divided into team ML, team FL, team good communication, and team can not wait for good times :D

Somehow you are holding her up to a standard to which she didn't grew up yet. Literally. She is fresh graduate after college, never worked in a company. She is learning and growing as we go through the show.

Totally agree, I am so invested to see how the show his transformation.

Can you please share why she was conflicted according to the novel?

I agree that the relationship is clearly not working, that communication is key in normal relationships, and that she is self-sabotaging.

But I think there is little upside to voicing your internal conflicts to emotionally unavailable people like Luke. Yes, he cannot read minds. But he also cannot meet her in her vulnerability. By not telling him her struggles she actually preserves her agency over herself and does not give it to him. So breaking up with him in the latest episode was right.

He is her boss, which already creates an unequal footing in the relationship. If he wants to be with her, he should establish the rules and make sure she will not lose more than he does. Yet, he does no such thing and keeps pursuing her.

I feel like she had no other choice but a secret relationship (or no relationship at all) given the situation and all the signals he actually sent her (not just those that they showed us). Also, I am okay with her internal conflict. I think she is built for a different kind of relationship altogether, and she pushes herself for this relationship and company, thinking it is a 'Beijing thing.' I actually admire that she tries to get out of her comfort zone while staying vulnerable and more or less true to herself. She comes across to me as a healthier adult. And I do not think that if she had communicated all her worries, he would be able to meet her needs. And she actually knows it.

No, she isn't equipped for a secret relationship. But I like her character, kindness, willingness to get out of comfort zone and keep growing. Under a more nurturing boss and in a more nurturing relationship she would achieve so much.

I didn't read the novel, but I enjoy this complex Luke. He is not inherently bad not good, but flawed driven by control, pride, ambition and using those as self-protection. I am really looking towards how they built his character further. To me that is even more nuanced to show progress on than a character we would hate. For character we hate doing a bit better is already a lot of perceived progress and Luke has to walk way more than a bit better for us (let's say for me) to fully like him.

Complicated, but if you need a hard threshold then more toxic than not toxic for my impression. He has more power and respects only likely-minded, which creates impossible standard for FL to fill in for equal relationship. She sees that and chooses a way that would be less damaging for her carrer. So this creates toxic relationship for her. Even though she knows what she asked for, it seems to me like she is looking for a simple human validation that he can not give becase of pride and control.