Interesting - is this a positive change or a negative change in your view?
If she had never been married before and was engaging in casual relationships, the perception would likely depend heavily on her age and social context. If she were in her 30s or older, people might view her as an independent and modern woman — someone making her own choices with confidence.
However, if she were in her 20s, strangers might be more inclined to judge her as reckless or impulsive. Unfortunately, societal standards can be quite unfair in that regard, especially in conservative cultures where younger women exploring casual relationships are often seen as “easy” rather than just exercising personal freedom.
In both cases, people close to her — friends or supportive peers — would likely understand her choices better, while strangers may form harsher judgments based on stereotypes and outdated expectations.
Interesting - is this a positive change or a negative change in your view?
That's an interesting question. Since the SFL's character wasn’t explored in depth, it’s difficult to judge her actions with certainty. However, considering her age and past marriage experience, it’s reasonable to believe she had a clear understanding of her own choices and desires. She likely knew what she wanted and acted on her own will.
I believe her past marriage could have influenced her casual approach to relationships as a form of self-protection — a way to maintain her independence and avoid emotional vulnerability. It might be her way of living her life while ensuring she doesn’t appear weak or overly attached to a man.
While some say "the past doesn’t matter," I believe it often does. Our past experiences shape how we make decisions in the present and how we approach the future. For example, if someone trusted and was betrayed before, they may become more cautious — or even paranoid — in future relationships. It's natural to learn from past mistakes and adapt accordingly.
I was looking at it more through a lens that when a person falls in love, physically they suffer from a chemical…
Yes, I agree, and what's even more frustrating is that the theme isn’t just dysfunctional — the so-called "solution" they present is equally ridiculous. The ML resorting to math and statistics to determine the FL’s innocence is absurd. His belief in her being a witch is so strong that he's desperately trying to find evidence to disprove it — yet the whole thing is baseless trash that never required research to debunk in the first place. It's degrading to the FL that such nonsense is even entertained.
Joo Jong Hyuk's character, Im Ik Jong, shows far more courage and common sense. He maintains a normal connection with the FL without paranoia or creepy behavior — which proves that men like Im Ik Jong are braver and better than the ML. Unlike the ML, he didn’t need years of obsessive research just to muster the courage to speak to her like a decent human being.
The ML’s behavior throughout the show is infuriating, and if they try to portray the FL forgiving him or, worse, ending up in a relationship with him, that would be beyond disturbing. Just because some creepy stalker confesses his twisted version of “love” doesn’t mean the FL is obligated to reciprocate or even acknowledge him.
She didn’t need him in her life, and while she may not have been the happiest person, she was living just fine. She’s far better off finding someone who will genuinely love and cherish her without resorting to manipulative, obsessive tactics.
Honestly, imagine a delusional fanboy walking up to Jennie from BLACKPINK, claiming he's been stalking her for years because he’s “in love.” Would Jennie befriend him? Date him? Absolutely not — she'd call the police and get a restraining order. That’s the level of absurdity this drama expects us to accept.
Interesting - is this a positive change or a negative change in your view?
True empowerment comes from making choices that bring you happiness without causing harm to other living beings. It means acting based on your own thoughts and values, fully accepting the responsibility for your decisions. When someone exercises their freedom with awareness and accountability, that is positive empowerment.
In this context, if a woman makes choices independently and responsibly, without external pressure or the need to imitate modern cultural trends, her actions reflect genuine empowerment. However, the negative side of empowerment arises when women are manipulated into believing they are acting independently, while in reality, they are being influenced by societal pressures or deceptive narratives designed to exploit them.
There is a significant difference between a genuinely independent woman who consciously chooses to engage in casual relationships while taking precautions against risks such as sexually transmitted diseases or unplanned pregnancies, and a woman who feels pressured into such behavior to appear progressive or modern. The latter situation is problematic because her actions may not truly reflect her own desires but rather a misguided attempt to conform to social expectations. This false empowerment ultimately benefits men who exploit such situations without accepting any responsibility.
Empowerment should be about personal freedom, responsibility, and authenticity — not about meeting unrealistic social standards or allowing others to manipulate those choices.
I was looking at it more through a lens that when a person falls in love, physically they suffer from a chemical…
Drama dangerously blurs the line between love and obsession by portraying the male lead's (ML) stalking behavior as romantic. While some may argue that his actions stem from a “chemical cocktail” of love, there’s a huge difference between being overwhelmed by emotions and methodically following someone for years.
The ML’s behavior isn’t about love — it’s about control and paranoia. He spent years secretly observing her under the excuse of determining whether she’s a witch or dangerous to him. That's not love — that’s suspicion disguised as affection. Even if he eventually developed feelings for her, those feelings are built on an incredibly toxic foundation.
True love requires trust, respect, and willingness to take risks for the person you love. A man who claims to love someone but spends years stalking them just to ensure they pose no threat is acting out of fear, not love. His confession isn’t romantic — it’s manipulative. Imagine being told that someone has been tracking your life in secret for years. Would you feel loved or violated?
The drama’s attempt to romanticize this behavior is problematic. Love isn’t proven by watching someone from the shadows — it’s proven by standing beside them through hardships, openly and willingly. A man who’s too afraid to risk his life for the woman he claims to love isn’t a lover — he’s a coward hiding behind obsession.
well from the start it was not possible as ML wasn't even capable of understanding love, as he was just promising every woman same thing he could have gotten money but you can't make a deal to buy love.
I agree with this review a lot! I would add something though that bothered me in several newer dramas - and I…
I completely agree with you. This extreme weight loss trend among top actresses is deeply concerning. It’s one thing to be naturally slim, but when even already petite actresses like Park Bo-young, Jung So-min, and Park Min-young start looking visibly emaciated, it’s hard to ignore. Their earlier dramas showed them as slim but healthy, but in recent years, they appear unnaturally thin, and it’s painfully obvious that this isn’t just their natural body type anymore.
The most frustrating part is that these are highly successful women—wealthy, talented, and respected in their field—yet they are still pressured to conform to an unrealistic, almost inhuman standard of beauty. It’s one thing when malnutrition is a result of poverty, but when actresses who earn more in a month than some elites do in a year are forced to starve themselves just to fit a narrow, unhealthy beauty standard, it’s heartbreaking.
The recent situation with Zhou Lusi also comes to mind. She was already slim, but after her noticeable weight loss, fans started expressing concern. Seeing someone so young and already successful still having to go through this pressure is upsetting. People might think acting is a glamorous job, but working 8-12 hours a day under physically and emotionally demanding conditions while being severely underweight? That’s not just unhealthy—it’s dangerous.
And as you said, dramas keep portraying these fragile, underfed women as having boundless energy and strength, which is complete fiction. Anyone who has ever struggled with extreme weight loss knows that it drains you physically and mentally. It’s exhausting just to get through daily tasks, let alone work on a demanding set. It’s disturbing that this standard is becoming so normalized in the industry.
However, if she were in her 20s, strangers might be more inclined to judge her as reckless or impulsive. Unfortunately, societal standards can be quite unfair in that regard, especially in conservative cultures where younger women exploring casual relationships are often seen as “easy” rather than just exercising personal freedom.
In both cases, people close to her — friends or supportive peers — would likely understand her choices better, while strangers may form harsher judgments based on stereotypes and outdated expectations.
I believe her past marriage could have influenced her casual approach to relationships as a form of self-protection — a way to maintain her independence and avoid emotional vulnerability. It might be her way of living her life while ensuring she doesn’t appear weak or overly attached to a man.
While some say "the past doesn’t matter," I believe it often does. Our past experiences shape how we make decisions in the present and how we approach the future. For example, if someone trusted and was betrayed before, they may become more cautious — or even paranoid — in future relationships. It's natural to learn from past mistakes and adapt accordingly.
Joo Jong Hyuk's character, Im Ik Jong, shows far more courage and common sense. He maintains a normal connection with the FL without paranoia or creepy behavior — which proves that men like Im Ik Jong are braver and better than the ML. Unlike the ML, he didn’t need years of obsessive research just to muster the courage to speak to her like a decent human being.
The ML’s behavior throughout the show is infuriating, and if they try to portray the FL forgiving him or, worse, ending up in a relationship with him, that would be beyond disturbing. Just because some creepy stalker confesses his twisted version of “love” doesn’t mean the FL is obligated to reciprocate or even acknowledge him.
She didn’t need him in her life, and while she may not have been the happiest person, she was living just fine. She’s far better off finding someone who will genuinely love and cherish her without resorting to manipulative, obsessive tactics.
Honestly, imagine a delusional fanboy walking up to Jennie from BLACKPINK, claiming he's been stalking her for years because he’s “in love.” Would Jennie befriend him? Date him? Absolutely not — she'd call the police and get a restraining order. That’s the level of absurdity this drama expects us to accept.
In this context, if a woman makes choices independently and responsibly, without external pressure or the need to imitate modern cultural trends, her actions reflect genuine empowerment. However, the negative side of empowerment arises when women are manipulated into believing they are acting independently, while in reality, they are being influenced by societal pressures or deceptive narratives designed to exploit them.
There is a significant difference between a genuinely independent woman who consciously chooses to engage in casual relationships while taking precautions against risks such as sexually transmitted diseases or unplanned pregnancies, and a woman who feels pressured into such behavior to appear progressive or modern. The latter situation is problematic because her actions may not truly reflect her own desires but rather a misguided attempt to conform to social expectations. This false empowerment ultimately benefits men who exploit such situations without accepting any responsibility.
Empowerment should be about personal freedom, responsibility, and authenticity — not about meeting unrealistic social standards or allowing others to manipulate those choices.
The ML’s behavior isn’t about love — it’s about control and paranoia. He spent years secretly observing her under the excuse of determining whether she’s a witch or dangerous to him. That's not love — that’s suspicion disguised as affection. Even if he eventually developed feelings for her, those feelings are built on an incredibly toxic foundation.
True love requires trust, respect, and willingness to take risks for the person you love. A man who claims to love someone but spends years stalking them just to ensure they pose no threat is acting out of fear, not love. His confession isn’t romantic — it’s manipulative. Imagine being told that someone has been tracking your life in secret for years. Would you feel loved or violated?
The drama’s attempt to romanticize this behavior is problematic. Love isn’t proven by watching someone from the shadows — it’s proven by standing beside them through hardships, openly and willingly. A man who’s too afraid to risk his life for the woman he claims to love isn’t a lover — he’s a coward hiding behind obsession.
and feminist empowerment means giving away you body to man
drama mention this 52 year lifespan in 1 EP
he could have gotten money but you can't make a deal to buy love.
Has been gathering information about her following her
He is obsessed stalker
Even in ep 6 he was called a stalker
He is a Stalker... creepy one
Stalker promotion
The most frustrating part is that these are highly successful women—wealthy, talented, and respected in their field—yet they are still pressured to conform to an unrealistic, almost inhuman standard of beauty. It’s one thing when malnutrition is a result of poverty, but when actresses who earn more in a month than some elites do in a year are forced to starve themselves just to fit a narrow, unhealthy beauty standard, it’s heartbreaking.
The recent situation with Zhou Lusi also comes to mind. She was already slim, but after her noticeable weight loss, fans started expressing concern. Seeing someone so young and already successful still having to go through this pressure is upsetting. People might think acting is a glamorous job, but working 8-12 hours a day under physically and emotionally demanding conditions while being severely underweight? That’s not just unhealthy—it’s dangerous.
And as you said, dramas keep portraying these fragile, underfed women as having boundless energy and strength, which is complete fiction. Anyone who has ever struggled with extreme weight loss knows that it drains you physically and mentally. It’s exhausting just to get through daily tasks, let alone work on a demanding set. It’s disturbing that this standard is becoming so normalized in the industry.