Mr. Gu is that you? I'm going fangirling like Chang-hee did. 😍

When Chang-hee put A-Reum in her place I clapped and asked for more. 😂😂😂 I was honestly sooooo happy for Chang-hee when he drove his dream car; he deserves some happiness.

Sigh Ki-jeong...Did she really this his daughter was never going to tell her aunt? I really can't wait for her to get all the ball of emotions she has in control. I'll actively start shipping her and her boss (after he obviously sorts out whatever he has going on with that co-worker).

Mr Gu was mean to Mi-jeong but I'm happy he snapped out of it. Mafia boss Gu is a mood and I was fangirling hard when he walked in as a boss 😍

Ps: Chang-hee has definitely grown on Mr Gu😂

Ep. 9: Holy crap, Gu’s facial expressions when MJ asks why animals die belly-up. And then even more when she imitates the sound of frogs bursting when they get run over by a car! He looks at her like she’s an alien. A really disgusting alien. All the while she’s cheerfully drinking her iced coffee like she’s talking about shopping or something. City boy, meet country girl. Then there’s the fabulous juxtaposition of her telling the club counselor that she feels lovable when she says whatever comes into her head and Gu racing ahead of her like he’s running from a succubus.

Ep. 10: What the heck? Did they change writers for this episode? What show am I even watching? KJ’s behavior is so extreme, fishtailing between resilience and uncontrollable crying, that she seems to be headed for a nervous breakdown. It’s particularly difficult to reconcile CH’s juvenile fanboying behavior (jumping into Gu’s arms, seriously?) with his character in previous episodes. It’s like he’s been written as a different person suddenly. And other characters kept saying in earlier episodes that Jo Kyung-sun (Tae-hoon’s sister) is a lot, but nothing really prepared me for that vicious, vindictive attack on KJ and then the celebratory meanness in front of Tae-hoon and Yu-rim. She’s insane. Everyone’s gone insane.

I’m trying to figure out the timeline relative to New Year’s Eve 2022. Was everything that’s happened so far actually set sometime in the past? Has it all been one giant flashback? Ugh, this show that had been so wonderful just exploded into fragments flying in every direction at once, and I’m seriously worried that it’s going to be a flaming wreck before the end.

Mi-Jeong is my favorite. I found her to be quite irrational at first but no, she's a frickin legend. Instead of pleading for a guy to like her, she makes the audacious demand for a man to worship her. She didn't "earn" Gu's attention, she just was herself - straight up. This weekend's episode continued to show her persistence in a very non-intrusive way. This unconditional fondness she has for Gu is just resilient. MI-JEONG is an icon...definitely in my hall-of-fame of outstanding kdrama female leads.

Ok, who is better...Taehun or Gi-jeong's boss? Cause Gi-jeong got 2 options imo.

I'm trying to apply Chang-hee's friend's advice to him and find out the real reason I reacted in a very particular way when it comes to our leads.

I found that I could hardly relate to Ki-jung even though she was a very fascinating and entertaining character. I think it's because her journey is largely about learning how to navigate the world with a realistic perspective that's probably coming a bit too late given her age (whic would explain my initial annoyance at her). I sympathize with her struggle because few things could be as discouraging as playing catch up with the rest of the world, and I admire her for pushing herself to cross the endless mountains in front of her. She used to have this almost utopian and dystopian view on her life that sometimes made her seemed far-removed from the reality around her. But she grew from a character I felt distantly annoyed at to someone I wholeheartedly root for to keep maturing. It's now a delight to see her marveling at the small lessons she got, like being able to build a genuine friendship with the most unexpected person, and how being rejected doesn't equal feeling humiliated and unloved.

My feelings towards Chang-hee is a big mystery for quite some time. I always found him very relatable in his most absurd moment, but he still annoyed me in this inexplainable way the rest of the time. It's only this week that I found out the real reason.

Chang-hee, for better or worse, always has a real and truthful view about "monetary possession". A lot of people in the real world would agree that while we don't want to be materialistic, it's true that money influenced the way we live our lives. Ironically, when it comes to fictional world, especially one with this kind of leads, we somehow wanted these characters to be above it. To not let their lives shaped by the monetary possession they have and not. Which was quite hypocritical of us (or maybe that's just me). I'm glad though that this drama decided to be just as real as it could be, even on that front, which resulted in a lot of seemingly hilarious scenes that hit me right on the feels.

Chang-hee's friend hit it on the nail with his comment on how Chang-hee would hate Ah-reum a lot less if they stood on similar ground, financially speaking. It's a shameful truth that might have hit us in real life one way or another (at least I have) and it's no less embarassing to witness a fictional character coming to the same realization that our petty jealousy and envy could define our behaviour so completely to the point of blindsiding us. Which was why his hilarious solution involving Gu's Rolls-Royce is funny in that slightly bitter way because coming from experience, I know it could work. You know, that temporary solution of placating yourself that at least you've taste what luxury feels like so that the derisive comments from the other party could lose some of its potent.

Mi-jung is always the sibling whose thoughts resonated...

Mr Gu thinks he deserves to be punished. He said misfortunes should come in small amounts but MJ prevented some of those misfortunes from happening; she inadvertently helped him avoid an attack from Mr Baek, she saved him from the thunderstorm and in the lastest turn of events she saved him from the wild dogs. Most importantly MJ will be the one to save Mr Gu from himself. He thinks preventing those misfortunes will result even worse misfortunes because he anticipates them. He's not just suffering from Survivor's Guilt, he said he was a dead man walking before, the business and relationship he was in must have been extremely toxic to suck all the life out of him.

So far we've only seen mostly "worshipping" from Mr Gu's side but I think it is through his relationship with MJ that he's able to find a purpose, a will to live again, not just exist. Of course his life in Sanpo plays a part too. Mr Gu needs to learn to let go of his guilt and allow himself to be happy. I think MJ first approached Mr Gu because she recognised that they're similar damaged people who live life without a purpose. The sight of him sitting outside in the middle of a thunderstorm, not giving a toss whether he could be struck any minute, is not too different from MJ not caring whether the world would end today. She ushered him inside from the storm and saved him because deep down she also wants to be saved. Contrary what she said she hasn't completely given up on life, she still wished to be genuinely happy. They're people who are stuck inside prisons they've built themselves and through each other they'll find to courage, will and encouragement to break free.

So happy that I am not the only one to be confused! Even after re-watching the last episode. Thanks fellow beanies for your highly interesting comments, they are really a great help.

So many extraordinary scenes - the wild dogs, Chang-hee and the Rolls Royce, another dinner date of Mi-jung and Gu without words. Waiting for the next episodes is sheer torture.

I am trying to figure out what happened in episode 10. Everyone except Mi Jong went left. Seeing Gu smiling as they frolicked through the field was legitimately unnerving, I was like what is happening? As for Chang Hee and the car, that was kind of funny, it was weird though. Ki Jung just lost the pot though, my goodness girl, gather yourself together you are almost 40.

I'm a little confused over how I feel about this show and if I even get it. I don't understand why everyone is fond of Mr Gu to begin with. I can get Dad, he finds his work ethic commendable. But to others especially Chang Hee, I don't know why he likes him this much or is it simply because of his money? Plus, I can see how and why MJ is changing, I don't get how Mr Gu is changing.

Ki Jung is probably the most clear character. She has a growth arc. Ep 10 may have been one step forward and two steps back but at least her steps towards growth are actually shown. For MJ and Gu they seem to be happening off screen, or maybe I really can't grasp how their worshipping is helping them. I also believe that they are still not romantically involved yet but they are reaching there.

I hope Ki Jung gives up on Tae hoon now. There is a deep rooted problem with his sister. Probably after their parents departed, she has known her siblings to be her only family. From her conversation with her neice, we can tell she doesn't feel good about her ex sister in law either. Her declaring that she and her sister will never get married because of Yu Rim but getting pissed off at the thought of Tae hoon seeing someone else is just signalling how she doesn't want her concept of family to break. Which is essentially she and her siblings. She probably wouldn't welcome any person in Tae hoon's life. She makes it sound that it's a big sacrifice for Yu Rim's sake but it's actually solely for her sake. She doesn't want the family she has known to fall apart after her parent's demise. This is toxic behavior but it probably wouldn't have happened had her parents been alive. So I'm not sure if she can be blamed for it, maybe if she does not intend to grow.

In the first half of this drama I thought the four main characters were great but the drama itself not so much. After this week I don't know what to think about the characters. Episode 9 was terribly slow and draggy but at least it was still logical. What happened to those people in ep 10? They seemed so out of character and strange. Well, they were always strange but not that kind of strange.

Mi-Jeong was my favorite but she has become a bit tiresome because drama did nothing with her. No backstory, we know very little about her past (or the other brothers), the conman, the family, not even how she really feels about her brothers or coworkers. Yes, we know she feels opressed, they all do, but show had plenty of time to develop that. So maybe the romance could mean something? No, they just bicker occasionally, with no real development. The sexual tension is ignored, I'm fine with that, as unrealistic as it is, but it leads nowhere, there is not even a good platonic relationship.

Gi-Jeong was my least favorite because she was too self-absorbed and immature. She got the best development because she had two chances of plot, the dating advices with her boss and the awkward relationship with Tae-Hoon, she was the one doing more to change her present situation but even more bizarre than her decision to fake amnesia was her pitiful reaction to the crazy sister act. Where is that loud woman from the first eps? Why was she crying? Did the scene end abruptly because it was too crazy?

Chang-Hee was a likable weirdo. Until he became obssessed with a key to a luxury car. It was so much better when he was just a stressed, lonely, talkative guy, trying to get a promotion and make friends with his alcoholic neighbor. Why would he care so much about driving another man's car?

I'm not even going to get into the boringness that is Gu's mafia past.

I haven't watched this week's episodes fully, but I'm just here to say I'm loving how Mi-Jeong is gradually proving herself to be weird even by Gu's standards. It was adorable seeing 'Mr. No-Expressions' freaked out at the graphic description of frog entrails scattered across the road! xD

Never was I was expecting Gu to be a gangster. I thought he was a sportsman who got mixed up with the wrong people. Or did he retire from sports and ventured into the other world? Or was he always both? Never was I expecting that he'd also give that car to Chang-hee, with an earful!

I do love the mystery around Mystery Guy. And the squeal knowing he's having a deep-rooted background, he's not a nobody- all-rounded.

Tae-hoon's apology had me back on his ship again just when I didn't want to. So that made Boss Jin-woo's stare as Ki-jung went to Tae-hoon's bar all the more heart wrenching torn to watch.

I believe what Gu told his ex is a double-edged sword. She could have drawn strength and assurance, or hopelessness from it. We see the choice she choose. But what is strange is Gu's comment about wanting to put her outta her misery.

I guess we are going to get a little more about Daddy Yeom. His backstory is one interesting arc I want to see.

Mi-jung and Gu keep remaining smitten by each other. And their eyes are just dreamy when they stare at each other.

None of them are normal in this family! Mr Gu's face had my whole attention during those episodes.

Chang-Hee : He's very professionnal and hard-working but at home, he has no boundaries. Who go to their neighbour to use their WC, without knocking at the door and waiting for an answer... But he has a way to break wall because he's genuine. From the start, we know that he has an obsession for luxurious car, so it wasn't surprising that he completely lost it when he saw the key and after the car.

Gi-Jeong : It was painful to watch. I didn't understand why she didn't even try to defend herself or to leave the discussion... She stayed and cried. She's not lucky because Tae-Hun sends very mixed messages honestly. I don't understand how he could let Gyeong-Seon shed her venom. I don't like she uses his daughter to justify her miserable life, "I'm alone but it's to be the perfect aunt..." her niece won't bear it for long. The boss is really a nice character.

Mi-Jeong : they have a thing with creepy death in this family... For her relationship with Mr Gu, I wonder if she was hurt by the fact he got in this state because of a woman. He was cleary suffering and tried to pushed her and she said something pretty mean. So I'm not sure why she was expecting something from him when she was responsible too. It's crazy like we can get a meal between them where nobody talk but I'm still swooning a lot!

Mr. Gu : We got more informations about his past! It was nice to see him talking to Mr. Baek, we are not used to hear him talking so long. He's self destructive but he's always stopped by Mi-Jeong. So the worship thing really helped him. I liked how the father tried to explain that his shop was a good business, as a futur son-in-law. He totally approved him as Mi-Jeong's boyfriend.

For the chronology, I wonder in which year they're. I read on Twitter it was 2019. So there will be a time jump.

I don't understand Korean and the way they handle alcohol. You can't save a person from alcoholism if he doesn't want. But do you really have to remind him he didn't buy alcohol? Asking why he's not drinking? Offering him free bottles?

I don´t know if the best bromance of the show is Chang Hee x Du Hwan or Chang Hee x dude Gu.

Maybe the three of them should be friends, just saying.

I've decided one of the key themes in MLN is centred on talking: that it can be empty, useless chatter or it can be truthful. At the same time, silence can be powerful.
When you think of the drama from this perspective, so much fits.
1. The silence between the father and Gu when they work and how they anticipate each other, as if, as the mother comments, they've known each other in a past life.
2. The endless empty chatter of the people in the city: the office girls in the different workplaces
3. The vicious or insensitive words of Ah-reum and also Ki-jung's workmate.
4. Mi-jung's words and her silences: asking Gu to worship her, shouting "get off" at the station. Her truth bomb that made Gu go to the city to face up to things.
5. Ki-jung's careless words that hurt the little girl so much and that led her to meet Tae-hoon.
6. Jin-woo and Ki-jung's honest discussions that allow Ki-jung to face up to her issues with courage.
7. The wordless Liberation Club who write their way towards the core issues in their lives and end up uttering their deepest truths about themselves.
8. Gu's words that resulted in the death of his ex.
9. Chang-hee's endless yapping within which surfaces golden nuggets of honesty and self realisation
10. Mi-jung's unselfconscious ramblings that have grown out of feeling lovable.

Words can dull and even be death dealing. Alternatively they can be liberating. Silence can offer a deep understanding. Words and silence can heal and provide the soil for closeness and even love. People are exhausted by useless, meaningless words (as Gu says to Boss Baek) or they can be restored and even saved by the right words spoken at the right time.
Totally love this drama. It's all about the words (and the silences).

Mr. Gu turn out become the rich gangster ? yes this is like cliche but, I like it.
Ep 10 really good, the vibes was changed and the progress each character turn out very well.
Mr. Gu become the man who can't exist in "the real world" kekekek

Okay, the show has gone for a more soap opera turn in ep9&10 with the whole gangster/mafia storyline. It lost some of introspective, existentialist flavor that defined the first 8 episodes this week.

Gu and Mi-jeong: I was wary about a romantic relationship between them from the very beginning, and after ep9 and I am explicitly NOT onboard with their romance. I'm more worried about Gu than Mi-jeong. The guy just "got out" of a relationship with a suicidal woman that ended in the worst possible way, and now he's in a relationship with another (passively) suicidal person. The guy needs a therapist, not a girlfriend.

Gi-jeong: I felt bad for Gi-jeong bearing the brunt of her friend's attack. What Gi-jeong said in ep1 about dating single parents was not incorrect. It is not her fault her private conversation with friends was overheard by another party who took affront. I don't think any relationship with her and Tae-hoon will end well given how enmeshed he is with his sisters and his daughter. It's too much family baggage to take on and navigate.

Chang-hee: The guy is HILARIOUS. He's such a good egg. I don't think Chang-hee would be as endearing of a character if it weren't for Lee Minki's excellent acting.

Even if it was a temporary boost, I was happy for Chang Hee getting that car. It was the first time he experienced joy. He looked so dang peaceful during his ride. It was funny how he prepared himself for it. I had braced myself for his possible letdown.

Jin Woo keeps looking more smitten with Ki Jung. I was ready for their ship (still am), but then I totally forgot about all the annoying office gossip until EP 10. Don't want her to deal with that, ugh. Still, I want them to overcome it if their romance turns out to be real and mutual.

Mob boss Gu is hot. Mi-jung needn't worry about her money-grubbing ex or derisive boss when she's a gangster's wife. I can't wait to hear his underlings call her "hyungsu-nim." He was surprisingly honest with Chang-hee with his matter-of-fact "I just came back from Seoul." He is living with guilt over his ex's death, but he was helping her by telling her to get therapy, not killing her. So Mi-jung did save Gu subconsciously on the train, who is also indebted to Chang-hee since he wouldn't have gotten off if Chang-hee weren't drunk.

It was so satisfying when Chang-hee told off Ah-reum in front of the whole office, and I wish he had said loudly, "I don't want to eat with you!" But his friend was telling the truth about the reason for his hatred, so it was nice that Chang-hee was willing to humble himself and learn how to eat sashimi from hateful Ah-reum.

I, too, was confused by Gu's explanation of what happened to his girlfriend. The story he told seemed to be about him noticing she was suicidal and suggesting she go to therapy. Yet he's so racked with guilt, and her brother blames him for her death, so there must be more there. Or not. I guess he could still feel intense guilt even if he suggested she go to therapy, especially if he said it in a fit of annoyance.

I still enjoy Gu and Mi-jung's relationship--Gu's expressions during Mi-jung's frog monologue cracked me up-- but I'm not sure what the next step should be for them. Sometimes they clearly seem like two people either falling in or already in love; at other times, it seems like they're merely practicing having a certain kind of relationship with each other. At any rate, I assumed the running through the fields thing was a dream, but I guess we'll find out in the next set of episodes.

I enjoyed Chang-hee's tirade against his annoying (and she really is supremely annoying) co-worker, although I agree with his friends that his hatred of her goes beyond the normal irritation or dislike one feels for such a person. I wasn't quite sure what point the show was making about materialism in regards to Change-hee, though. There are definitely times when I struggle a bit to grasp all the themes that are being explored.

Every time Gu smiles, it feels like I'm seeing Hwang Shi-mok. Precious smiles xD

The last few minutes did confuse me for a bit but then I'm going to assume that both scenes are what Gu said to Mr. Baek. Either he does not come back to the gangster world or he does. Whichever he chooses, I want more smiles and dimples.

Here are a few things that stood out to me from Episodes 9 - 10:
Dad is really similar to Mi Jeong - lost a lot of money just because they trust the wrong person. His Sink and Shelf business does well but he has to use the money to pay off his friend's debt. Dad and Mi Jeong are fond of Mr. Gu. They don't say much but when they say something, they make an impression on Dr. Gu. I guess Dad approves of Mr. Gu and Mi Joeng's relationship since he gave Mr. Gu the advice that the Sink and Shelf business can make some good money so Mr. Gu can continue on the business instead of going back to his gangster past.
Mr. Gu's grossed expression when Mi Jeong's talking about the frog's being killed and imitating the sounds of them being ran over, Mr. Gu's shy expression with that deep dimple (I didn't even know Son Suk Ku has dimples!) when he picks up Mi Jeong in Seoul, Mr. Gu's content/ smirk smile when he told Mi Jeong that she told her parents that they are dating. I'm falling for Son Suk Ku!!
Kang Hee's deduction that Mr. Gu was/is rich from seeing that Mr. Gu has a bidet is hilarious and relatable. But man, how can he freely come to someone's house to use the restroom before/after work is just so strange to me. I get so embarrassed when I have to use the restroom at my friend's place.
Tae-hoon’s sister is one of those people who made their decision and then blamed on other people when they end up miserable. Argg, I hate those kind of people.

Chang Hee is hilarious. Haha. On the previous episodes, I find it annoying that Chang Hee kept on barging Mr Gu's house. But on another lense, I think that what's break the ice between the. It felt as if Gu-shi is the hyung Chang Hee never had.

The poop scene OMG. And when he saw the Royce's key in the toilet. Haha. I'm glad to see Chang Hee grow to be more positive - not minding about his hate to A Reum, because it's exhausting to feel hatred all your life.

On the other note, I pity Gi Jeoung. She's 40 and have a career, but... well, I'm not in her shoes, so I can't say much. I just hope she'll eventually feel what is happiness, like Chang Hee & Mi Jeoung do.

I'm glad they reveal a bit more of Gu's past, not just a flash of here and there. Looking forward to more Mi Jeoung & Gu, and Chang Hee in between.

Can't wait for tomorrow!!

I just love Gu. Idk which sibling loves him more; Chang-hee or Mi-Jung.
Tae-hoon is still being bullied, but now he’s bullied by his sister. She needs to get a grip, and he needs to speak up. If she wants to devote her life to raising her niece to the exclusion of all else, that’s her personal choice. She can’t impose that on her brother. I realize the sisters stepped in to help when Tae-hoon’s wife left him, but circumstances change. Life is ever evolving.

Episodes 9-10 are really precious, as they open up the worlds of each of the siblings and present them as they are, not as they pretend to.
I want to concentrate on Chang Hee and Mi Jeong and her relationship with Gu and the family's linkage to money and wealth as a hidden motor behind their acts.

1. Chang Hee is a man who is deeply troubled by his lack of money. That kills his image (in his imagination); he believes his girlfriend is leaving him because he lives in the countryside; he confesses he can't even flirt with a girl because he doesn't have a car; yet he is a refreshingly straightforward and hard-working man; he believes in hard work, annoyed at A Reum's shenanigans, because she earns money by using insider information; he doesn't want to invest in bitcoins; he works so he can someday earn promotion. He is a truly great guy, and he believes that all of those troubles can be saved by money and its symbol - Rolls Royce. Once he realizes that his problems are created by his own beliefs, he calms down; he no longer hates A Reum, he is happy to sit near her, and he found a way out of his misery - by riding rich neighbor's car; which is his liberation. After 10 episodes, Chang Hee is a free man now. It doesn't matter he doesn't own Rolls Royce - as a hardworking man, he knows and believes that someday he will earn his own luxury car by working hard; the neighbor's car gives him an important break from his own mind's pressure and shows the glimpse of his own, successful future. By merely showing him and letting him drive the luxury car, Gu saves the man from his psychological pressure.

2. Mi Jeong; the most underrated, sexy, beautiful and also mysterious of all siblings. Only her father knows that she is a precious stone, a jewel on her own; but now Gu knows that as well to extent she scares him. Indeed, Mi has so many secrets, as many as Gu himself perhaps. She always acts decisively but on her own; she doesn't consult anyone but her inner herself, through that dreamy dialogue and imagination; we never see any of Mi's previous boyfriends or friends; and why they were "assholes" in her words; perhaps they actually were not? But why then Mi, knowing that the guys she chose, were assholes, did actually date them?