AH

"Also technically the deity did not interfere with them or make them cross paths. They first met at the hospital when they bumped into each other and then again when she saw him beating up the child abuser." I partly agree. When I said the Deity sent Tak Dong Kyung to the roof "so they would meet" I should've been clearer. I didn't mean "meet for the first time" just "meet again". So I agree that she didn't make them meet for the first time. But the meeting she did engineer was significant, and the plant reviving came after that meeting, so I still feel pretty strongly that she intervened with the intention of pushing them together and I still feel like it was bad writing to then have the Deity say "I knew it. Some things are inevitable." If the Deity meant that, no matter what, Myeol Mang and Tak Dong Kyung would find each other again.

However, I'm thinking about this again and wondering if I might be misinterpreting what the Deity was referring to as being inevitable. The Deity confirmed that the plant is Myeol Mang. More specifically it seems to represent either his humanity, his feelings or (even more specifically) his feelings for Tak Dong Kyung in particular. Maybe by observing that "Some things are inevitable." she was saying that, like any good science experiment, the results of her project with Myeol Mang are repeatable. Even if she erases their memories, if Myeol Mang and Tak Dong Kyung meet again, Myeol Mang will develop his humanity or feelings again. It wasn't a fluke the first time.

"All of Tak Dong Kyung's friends and family don't remember Myeong Mang but the conversations and actions Tak Dong Kyung took, even the conversations that were tangentially about Myeong mang and the actions that involved him weren't erased." This is why I'm fairly certain the Deity didn't change the past so they didn't meet. Particularly when the other writer with cancer recalls Tak Dong Kyung being bright and loving life and Tak Seon Kyung remembers Tak Dong Kyung having another man. Those are both directly related to Myeol Mang. Given the fact that so many characters have hazy impressions in the absence of their memories of Myeol Mang (and it's not just Tak Dong Kyung), I feel like that reinforces the idea that the events happened but their memories were erased rather than the idea that the events of episodes 1 - 11 didn't happen.

I get that, in the world of sci-fi, one could speculate that maybe this is a new timeline and the old timeline exists elsewhere separately but memories from that timeline somehow bled into this timeline... but that feels like quite a stretch.

"The second theory I have is that the most the Deity was able to do was get rid of the contract because she is close to dying and no longer at full power." I like that. I don't think the writers actually intended for that to be the case (I'm a bit bitter when it comes to my expectations of them at this point) but it's a good way to explain some of the inconsistencies. I think I'll incorporate this into my theory --> The Deity erased Myeol Mang's memories of Tak Dong Kyung and the memories that Tak Dong Kyung and everyone around her had of Myeol Mang, but it wasn't a perfect erasure possibly because of the Deity's diminishing power. There were hazing impressions around the erased memories that were left behind. The Deity also tried to erase anything that Myeol Mang left in Tak Dong Kyung's life and that Tak Dong Kyung left in Myeol Mang's life (hence the blank calendar), but as her power diminished (and perhaps as Myeol Mang and Tak Dong Kyung got to know each other again and explored the gaps in their memories and those left-behind impressions) those pieces started to re-appear in their lives. Myeol Mang's contact information reappeared in Tak Dong Kyung's phone and Myeol Mang's phone re-appeared in his pocket with the photo of him and Tak Dong Kyung as his wallpaper.

It would've been such great visual story telling if the writers had actually intended for something like that to be the case and they showed us the calendar again near the end of the episode with all the marks that Myeol Mang made back in their original place. That would've been so satisfying.

Hello Monster has less romance than The Smile Has Left Your Eyes, but a happier ending. If I remember correctly, the ending is a little open ended but fairly happy / optimistic. If you're looking for a light, happy rom com, Shopping King Louie might be a better choice. Just be prepared for the fact that SIG's character in that drama (after the first episode or two) is very different from Myeol Mang.

Tak Dong Kyung is fated to die on March 2nd. As part of their agreement, Myeol Mang offered to take away Tak Dong Kyung's pain for her remaining days if she agrees to wish for the world to be destroyed before her fated death day. He also offered to grant her an additional wish. However, if Tak Dong Kyung doesn't wish for the world to be destroyed before her death day on March 2nd, then the person she loves the most at that time will die in her place as a penalty for her breaking the contract - but Tak Dong Kyung will get to live.

It's totally counterintuitive that the penalty is her only chance to live past March 2nd, but Myeol Mang confirmed that's how the penalty works in episode 3. He said she was being a pessimist for focusing on the fact that the person she loves the most will die if she breaks the contract instead of focusing on the fact that she will get to live.

So Myeol Mang can save Tak Dong Kyung by dying in her place if she loves him more than anyone else when the contract period ends and she hasn't wished for the world to end. But Tak Dong Kyung has realized that she wouldn't be able to live happily if Myeol Mang died / disappeared because of her, so she's determined to figure out a way around that outcome.

Are there a few points in particular that you're confused about, or is it basically the whole main storyline? If it's a few points, maybe other viewers can try to help clarify?

Some people interpreted the scene in episode 9 where Myeol Mang speaks with an old man in front of a dying tree to mean that Myeol Mang is dying, but I interpreted it as just the opposite?

I watched two versions of the scene that were translated with some very slight differences, but in both versions the old man makes a comment that seems to be designed to (unintentionally on the old man's part) emphasize the fact that, unlike Tak Dong Kyung and the Deity - the two people he cares about the most and who are both dying - he is *not* dying and is fated to keep on existing after everyone and everything else around him dies.

Before going to the tree, Myeol Mang has a conversation with Tak Dong Kyung where they finally address talk about the fact that: (1) Tak Dong Kyung is dying, (2) the people who love her are in pain, (3) she wants to live, and (4) no matter how much he wants to, Myeol Mang can't use his power to let her live past her destined death date - not even if she uses her wish. The unspoken 5th point is that she can only live if Myeol Mang dies in her place as a penalty for breaking the contract, but as Tak Dong Kyung said before, if that happens she won't be able to live happily after causing Myeol Mang to die / disappear.

After that painful conversation emphasizing the fact that Tak Dong Kyung is dying and that he can't use his power to change that fact, Myeol Mang approaches an old tree. An elderly human man comes up beside him and observes that the tree used to have beautiful flowers, but not any more. Myeol Mang replies that the tree is dying (the reason he was staring at the tree in the first place). The old man replies "Just like us. You and I are both dying." he continues with something along the lines of either "that's what it means to be alive" or "we're all like that, living creatures." But Myeol Mang currently is not alive / a living creature. As he said to Tak Dong Kyung on the bridge, he's not living, just existing. He's an immortal being who can't die even if he wants to.

The man comments that he thought he would always be able to see the flowers, and now that he can't it's a shame / he's disappointed. Myeol Mang recalls visiting the past to see the cherry blossoms with Tak Dong Kyung, and remembers her smile. He remembers Tak Dong Kyung asking "What do you think when you look at me?" Myeol Mang thought he could continue watching as others disappeared. He thinks about acting human with Tak Dong Kyung, and ultimately concludes that he's not afraid of disappearing (that makes sense - his plan from the beginning has been to die / disappear after Tak Dong Kyung wishes for the world to be destroyed, or to die in her place as the person she loves the most when she breaks the contract) but he *is* afraid of not seeing Tak Dong Kyung again.

Myeol Mang notes that, like a fool, he just realized he doesn't have much time left. I interpret that to mean he doesn't have much time left with Tak Dong Kyung until either: (a) she wishes for the world to end and they both die (unlikely); (b) she breaks the contract and he dies in her place (Tak Dong Kyung has already said she won't accept that outcome); or (c) circumstances unfold in a way that allows Tak Dong Kyung to not wish for the world to end without invoking the contract penalty (e.g., the Deity voiding the contract) so that Tak Dong Kyung dies per her original fate with Myeol Mang powerless to change that fate and forced to continue existing without her.

Given all the possible circumstances, Myeol Mang realizes that he doesn't have much time left before the flowers (Tak Dong Kyung) disappear and he won't be able to see them again. He knows how he feels about Tak Dong Kyung and he doesn't have any time to waste - so he runs to her and tells her that he loves her. The narrative immediately further emphasizes their limited time by showing us that there are only 50 days left until Tak Dong Kyung's death day / the end of the contract period.

So I don't interpret that scene as indicating that Myeol Mang is dying, but rather emphasizing (1) the fact that (unlike Tak Dong Kyung) he is *not* alive and *not* dying, and (2) more importantly, that one way or another he has very limited time until he won't be able to see Tak Dong Kyung any more, so he has to make the most of the time he does have.

SIG is known for play two types of characters well: sweet and very energetic characters (Shopping King Louie / High School King of Savvy) and serious characters with cold eyes who are viewed as bad (or who view themselves as bad) but who have soft hearts (Hello Monster / The Smile Has Left Your Eyes / Doom at Your Service). If you liked him in DAYS (especially when he was embracing the darker parts of being Doom), I wouldn't recommend watching SKL next as his character is completely different from Myeol Mang. He was good in Hello Monster and incredible in The Smile Has Left Your Eyes, and his characters in those dramas are much closer to Myeol Mang. I would recommend watching one of those after this drama instead.

I wonder if the preview might be misleading. What if that scene was a possible future that the Deity showed Tak Dong Kyung? Or a dream she has? The fact that Tak Dong Kyung is right in front of Myeol Mang after her death and he can't see her makes me think that it's not actually real.

First, I feel like Myeol Mang would be able to see ghosts if ghosts were a real thing in this drama. Second, the drama has already established that reincarnation exists in the world of this drama, at least for the Deity, and Myeol Mang told the religious lady that there was no heaven / other world beyond Earth. And in episode 12 they spent so much time talking about ghosts for comedic effect without showing us any actual ghosts. Also some of the previous previews have intentionally been a bit misleading (remember when lots of viewers thought they were going to get married?). I feel like the wouldn't spoil her death if it was actually going to be a central plot point of the next episode.

For some reason all of that combined makes me think that Tak Dong Kyung won't die in the next episode / ghosts aren't going to be part of this drama, so they won't have Tak Dong Kyung become an actual ghost, even temporarily. But that's just my speculation / guesswork.

If there were parts you liked in the first 7 episodes but you had mixed feelings, I'd recommend continuing to watch if you don't mind skipping. Skip the scenes with characters / plot lines you don't care about, keep your expectations low (to avoid disappointment and to hopefully have a few moments where you're pleasantly surprised), and just focus on the parts you enjoy.

When I first watched the episodes that have aired so far, I skipped the majority of the second couple scenes. I've seen most of those scenes now as I've gone through and rewatched episodes, and tbh I don't feel like those scenes added anything for me / that I missed anything by skipping them. But some people are mainly watching for those scenes. Whatever your preference is, focus on that.

I figure a drama is worth watching if you enjoy the experience. It seems like very few viewers are enjoying every part of this drama and consider the whole package to be a great experience, but if you only like certain parts of it the drama can still enjoyable / worth watching if you focus mainly on the parts you do like.

If you watch episodes 8 and 9 with that approach and still have mixed feelings, then I'd recommend dropping this drama as episodes 10 - 12 are not better than the earlier episodes.

I agree. Disappointing and frustrating.

This drama would have been so much better if the world building around Myeol Mang and the Deity was clearer, especially in the early episodes. Or if the hints and gaps that led us all to speculate had been well thought out and developed into plot points that were clever and satisfying.

They also could've made the world building a lot richer. They still haven't really explained why the Deity created Myeol Mang, for example, or showed us what their relationship was like in the beginning when Myeol Mang was created and helped us understand why Myeol Mang was so emotional at the funeral.

Or imagine if the Deity had created several immortal beings instead of just Myeol Mang. Myeol Mang could still be the demi-god of losses and endings (including death), but they could have other demi-gods for things like decay (with their jurisdiction covering everything from crumbling infrastructure to aging to moral decay), prejudice and exclusion, and other bad things that are necessary for the existence of good things (like character growth, triumphs / gains, rebirth, new beginnings, and free will). Then Myeol Mang would have other demi-gods to talk to. Imagine how much less enjoyable Goblin would have been if the Goblin only had the Deity to talk to and not the Grim Reaper. Same thing for Hwayugi if Son Oh Gong didn't have the other demi-gods to talk to. And if there were several demi-gods but only Myeol Mang had an interest in becoming human (before resigning himself to his fate and resolving not to have feelings) I feel like that would make it feel more special and poignant.

Against my own advice, I'm trying to work out one of the details from episode 12. In episode 11, the Deity said that she could remove Tak Dong Kung from Myeol Mang's fate and Myeol Mang from Tak Dong Kyung's fate as if they had never met.... they won't know each other and the contract will be void.

In episode 12 we see that the Deity did not rewind time so that Myeol Mang and Tak Dong Kyung didn't meet. Everything that happened between them still happened, but now Myeol Mang doesn't fully remember Tak Dong Kyung and no one in Tak Dong Kyung's life fully remembers Myeol Mang (but Tak Dong Kyung and Tak Seon Kyung both have vague feelings of forgotten memories related to Myeol Mang, and Myeol Mang similarly has some left over impressions).

However, the writers / director made such a big point of showing us Tak Dong Kyung's calendar (with the scene where Tak Dong Kyung's aunt was fussing about the expired milk) and the absence of the mark Myeol Mang left on it to indicate Tak Dong Kyung's death day. Later in the scene we can also see that the days he crossed off when he was "fear mongering" are gone too. So the Deity also undid certain things that Myeol Mang did, but not everything? Myeol Mang still has his phone and Tak Dong Kyung still has his details in her contact list. So I don't get why they focused so much on showing us the change to the calendar. It's not just a continuity error. They clearly focused on the calendar intentionally, but it doesn't add up.

The only thing I can think of is that the writers messed up a bit by thinking that Myeol Mang marked March 2nd on Tak Dong Kyung's calendar because it's the end of their contract period so the mark should disappear when the Deity voided the contract by taking away their memories. It's true that March 2nd is the end of their contract period, but that's not why Myeol Mang marked it on Tak Dong Kyung's calendar. He was very clear that he marked her calendar to show her destined death day, and he did it well before he offered to take away Tak Dong Kyung's pain for her remaining days as long as she completed her wish before dying (effectively setting the contract period). Plus Tak Dong Kyung still has her bracelet, which much more directly represents the contract and Myeol Mang's promise. So it doesn't make sense for the mark (plus the crossed off days) to disappear because the contract was voided.

(Also one other nit-picky point: when the flower starts to revive at the end of episode 12, the Deity says "I knew it. Some things are inevitable." But Myeol Mang's feelings start to return because he crossed paths with Tak Dong Kyung, and the Deity intentionally set Tak Dong Kyung to the roof so they would meet. So it wasn't inevitable - the Deity interfered!)

After actually watching episode 12... I can't believe the writers managed to make it so repetitive after taking away their memories. Doom punishing people who caused suffering / stepped into his "jurisdiction" was a repeat. Their meeting at the hospital was exactly the same. Their back-and-forth where Doom revealed his identity was almost exactly the same - the comment about electricity, the comments about coincidences, and taking her to the beach on Jejudo. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. I get that there should be some repetition as they struggle to reconcile reality with their missing memories, but even Tak Dong Kyung opening the Deity's bottle was the same! Plus they intentionally included some repeated scenes that made no sense in context. Tak Dong Kyung wishing for the world to be destroyed in the middle of her conversation with Myeol Mang on the roof? Totally out of the blue! And Doom watching Tak Dong Kyung suffer in pain for a few moments before taking her hand was repetitive enough on its own, but having him ask if him helping her was Tak Dong Kyung's wish a few times before taking her hand makes no sense without the context of their contract! At that point she doesn't have a wish that he wanted her to spend! And on top of all that he offers her almost exactly the same contract again, even though doing so did very little to move the plot forward. The only benefit of having him offer the contract again was Tak Dong Kyung's comment that she felt she would "hurt somewhere else" if she accepted the offer.

"they keep telling us there's no way to save her" - There was a way to save her though. If Tak Dong Kyung were to break the contract (i.e. if she failed to wish for doom to befall the world by the end of the 100 day contract period / before her fated death day) the penalty would be that the person she loves most in that moment would die *in her place* and Tak Dong Kyung would live. Myeol Mang confirmed it in episode 3 when Tak Dong Kyung was writing the rules of the contract down in her journal.

That's what makes her choice so tragic. Tak Dong Kyung accepted the Deity's offer to separate their fates and void the contract knowing she was giving up her only opportunity to live (Myeol Mang and the Deity have both said they can't change her fate) because she knew she wouldn't be able to be happy if she was responsible for Myeol Mang's death.

The scenes we saw in episode 3 with Myeol Mang mourning the Deity were different from the scene in the preview. In Tak Dong Kyung's dream and memory, Myeol Mang was wearing a black turtleneck. In the preview of Tak Dong Kyung's funeral, Myeol Mang is wearing a collared shirt. Plus we saw the picture of the Deity on the altar, Myeol Mang confirmed that he was crying for his "mother" and he confirmed that he saw young Tak Dong Kyung at the funeral hall. So the scenes we saw in episode 3 were not showing the future from episode 13. I also don't think it's a parallel universe. I think the writers just like the idea of creating a similar scene.

Also the contract is already void. The Deity told Tak Dong Kyung it would be void if she accepted the Deity's offer to separate Tak Dong Kyung's fate from Myeol Mang's. That was the whole point of separating their fates: making sure the world doesn't end as a result of their contract (and making sure that Myeol Mang doesn't die in Tak Dong Kyung's place).

I agree with the Cha Joo Ik point. They made him come across as so arrogant and meddlesome when he admitted he intentionally stopped Na Ji Na from meeting Lee Hyun Gyu that day on top of kissing her like that while knowing the full circumstances between her and Lee Hyun Gyu. But she hasn't properly confronted him about that. He's as responsible as Lee Hyun Gyu for her unresolved feelings. Maybe more so! And now we're supposed to believe that she has feelings for Cha Joo Ik to the point that it's super obvious to Tak Seon Kyung and Tak Dong Kyung??

I did like the awkwardness Lee Hyun Gyu though. That felt realistic. Plus I don't like him either and also don't want Na Ji Na to end up with him.

To new viewers considering watching this drama: expect repetition, pay attention when the characters discuss the basic elements of the contract to avoid confusion (certain parts of the contract are counterintuitive), accept that there are a few plot holes, and don't spend too much energy on coming up with theories or expect the hints the writers drop to turn into cool plot twists. If you adjust your expectations like that, you'll have a much better shot at enjoying the better parts of this drama.

Although it's flawed, I don't consider this a *bad* drama and I'm not planning to drop it. The main problem for me was that the A list cast and parts of the early episodes made it seem like this drama had the potential to be a 10/10. So it was quite disappointing when it didn't fully live up to that potential. But I've adjusted my expectations and am looking forward to the last four episodes.

In her dream and in her memory (after being clarified by the Deity) we see Tak Dong Kyung as her childhood self. Plus we know that Myeol Mang was actually at the funeral home at the time that Tak Dong Kyung remembers seeing him there because he confirmed that he saw young Tak Dong Kyung there, and he also confirmed that he was crying for his mother at that time. Myeol Mang is also wearing a different shirt at Tak Dong Kyung's funeral (collared) than the one he wore at the Deity's funeral (a turtleneck). So I don't think the dream or the memory clarified by the Deity were flash forwards to Tak Dong Kyung's funeral.

I've stopped expecting the hints the writers drop to turn into cool plot twists. Instead, I've come to expect the writers to create repetition. They really seem to love it. Maybe they think it's poetic. I wouldn't be at all surprised if they recreate a very similar mourning scene without an interesting twist, just for the sake of echoing the earlier scene.

But that's not what the dynamic will be if Tak Dong Kyung accepts the Deity's offer (and it looks like she will)? Based on the preview, Tak Dong Kyung and Myeol Mang won't remember each other after the Deity separates their fates. So the dynamic will be new.

All good :) Thanks for updating it!

Please mark this as a spoiler for the viewers who haven't watched this episode yet.