lilili

The one tiny moment I loved but that got lost in all the plot machinations was when Jiho went on his own to the staffer's birthday party and was able to be polite as he sat there and sipped his juice (d'aw). It represented huge character growth for Jiho and showed the positive influence Sang Eun has had on his life despite the craziness with the marriages being revealed.

It was never a love triangle regardless of how he feels. I think the writers are messing with our expectations around love triangles

I'm pissed we're not getting that and instead spending time on chaebols we don't care about

😭😭😭

I feel like I could understand her though, because she grew up so poor and unloved that in her mind financial security and social status will protect her and make up for what she lacked. But the way she's written makes her a straight a villain and I hate that.

I'm with you. Ep 11 is the first episode that I deeply disliked. 100% agree on too much unnecessary crap going on.

My favorite scene was when Jiho tried to ask Sang Eun 500 questions (lolol) and the kiss which was extremely sexy but far too short.

I've been a Hae Jin defender but wow he was terrible in this episode, immature, weak willed and unwilling to just step the hell out of Sang Eun's life like she's asked him to. And I hate that Sang Eun keeps getting manipulated because she's still emotionally immature and trained to please people instead of setting appropriate boundaries with Hae Jin (and Yoo Madame too).

One thing in particular I want to call out is Jiho's awful ex. Why make his ex a villain? She should be a sympathetic character given how she grew up and her time with Jiho when they were teenagers and instead she's doing all of this unethical crap, screwing over her client and trying to destroy Sang Eun, it's ridiculous.

I'm pretty sure she's violating multiple laws about ethical conduct and client-attorney privilege

His mother has a substance abuse problem and he spent his childhood seeing her passed out in bed after drinking and taking pills. Also he was bullied by his older brothers and they threatened to harm his mother if he fought back. So as an adult he has trauma from his experiences that manifests in insomnia, flashbacks and substance abuse (the scene where he drinks and takes pills and then his manager says you haven't done this in awhile, meaning he does this regularly). He's also still dealing with feeling unloved as shown in the scene where his mother describes him as collateral and that's why the family wants him to get married to a chaebol daughter.

I'm with you, I feel bad for him too. He has done some really crappy things but his motivations are understandable and he's obviously emotionally damaged from how he grew up just like Jiho and Sang Eun

This is a good recap of eps 9 and 10 https://www.soompi.com/article/1545118wpp/4-aggravating-moments-2-high-points-in-episodes-9-10-of-love-in-contract

"she tries not to be objectified but then she also somehow allowed it.." this is what you would see with someone who grew up in an emotionally abusive situation like she did. She's strong in some ways but she hasn't learned how to stop trying to please people when that's what she was literally trained to do.

I think he's had the appropriate amount of screen time given he's not one of the main leads but having said that he's about to get his own romance which is fantastic

You and I are watching the same drama. This in particular: "But, damn the way he treats Sang Eun. No wonder she likes him, because unlike anyone else (expect Gwang Nam of course) he puts her first." 😭😭😭 He is best boy

I agree with almost everything you said but Gwangnam is the best gay character in a mainstream k-drama I've ever seen. And the way the show depicts homophobia is really well done.

The purpose of the 2ML is to provide a contrast between the hollow fantasy of being pursued by a rich famous man versus being truly loved. I don't really think it's about just making complications for the plot, it's making a point about what really matters and how a lot of the romcom tropes are empty

I've been speculating about this for awhile because she presents like someone who's been SA.

I've quit dramas in episode 13 so I don't see why you should keep going if you hate it

I agree with everything you said, really enjoying this drama and I feel like I understand the motivations of the three leads and even the ex wife who went through hell herself even if she didn't do right by Jiho.

You're right it is about resilience, maybe that's why it's grabbed me so hard

I love the show but I don't think it's odd that people aren't enjoying it because underneath all the romcom trappings there's real pain, grief and loss. It's a deeply weird drama that doesn't meet expectations.