SIGH, this drama did exactly what I said I hated in dramas, adding a murderer to this drama is not only unnecessary but stupid. How incredibly onbnoxious.

I didn't think it was possible for the townspeople to get worse but, of course, they beat my already low expectations. Of course the violent alcoholic assaults our FL because that's what happens when there are zero consequences for violence against women. I hate practically everyone in this show and regret counting it as a bean.

@unit: Thank you for the weecap.
This drama is infuriating and frustrating because it has had some wonderful moments but it has frittered away its potential for a solid and consistently enjoyable drama.
My growing concern has been the reckless use of a person with cognitive disorders as a presumptive villain who isn’t really a villain but we will show him as creepy stalker prone to violence anyway. This is so irresponsible and awful as while globally, a minority of persons with cognitive disorders do commit horrific acts of violence, the absolute majority don’t and are far likely to be subject to mistreatment and violence. Given the severe stigmatisation of such disorders in Korea, this is downright irresponsible and dangerous as it likely to further indoctrinate some of the audience who do not believe in inalienable human rights. It is too bloody late in the run to try and point the finger at the real murderer as the narrative has been set. Such a waste. I am so appalled at this (and other shortcomings of this drama).
I have so much more to say but can’t be bothered. Angok should be put on a fake UN’s list for hazardous fictional towns. Avoid at all cost!

Leaving writing decisions aside..... Both Seolhyun and Shin Eunsoo acted their ass out of these episodes and i'm much much more than impressed. Idk why I've been enjoying all these questionable decisions by these characters bcs in a way.... It kinda shows their humane side? But still some of it are too much of a plot driving scenario but meh everything else was fine

Thanks @unit for the weecap. Every time I look at the gorgeous representation of a warm summer breeze cover picture for this drama and then read about the dark undertone I am so grateful I decided to follow through the weecaps only. It does not sound like the dark elements are a minor side line in this drama and I am interested to see whether they will be able to wrap things up to have the lighter storyline as the main focus after all.

Why on earth did they need to do that to what could have been a sweet show? Murdering granny was totally unnecessary.
The bean for most obnoxious townsfolk in 2022 definitely goes to the population of Angok. The FL is right to get out of there as fast as possible.

The last two episodes got me disappointed. Although Geun-ho might be really innocent, how his parents treat his condition is entirely wrong. They just hide him in the house without trying to seek professional help. Also, I am getting frustrated by Yoo-reum's noble idiocy. How on earth is granny's death and Dae-beom going to Seoul her fault? Just throwing the blame on oneself for incidents out of our control is pure stupid and won't help the situation in any way.
I wanted to see two people leaning on each other and helping each other become better and heal from their past scars but we got a mystery that we don't know how it will be solved and a stupid unnecessary love triangle with Ji-young along with a group of infuriating village residents.

There's many a thing that annoys/frustrates me about Kdramas and funny enough, I think this drama has examples of all of them (love triangles, invasiveness, accepting being hit without getting angry or hitting back, etc) but one of the most frustrating things is the "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situations that always come up.

If Yeoleum had told about the neighbor and the graffiti, I am like 95% sure she would've been criticized for it (whether it's because she's ruining the status quo or because now a member of the town has their business out in the open. No matter what, it would've been something).

All the girl wanted was to relax in a quiet town, avoiding the hustle & bustle of the city, and read books and yet these townsfolk will have you believing she's walking destruction. "Because she's here, Dae Beom had to seek out the professor and pay hospital bills!" Uh, no! If someone had done something about the alcoholic father in the first place, he wouldn't have ended up stabbing his daughter and landing her in the hospital. If people weren't trying to protect him, the hospital bill would've been significantly cheaper. If the father hadn't had a bunch of defaulted loans in grandma's name, she could've paid off the hospital bill. But the biggest thing is NO ONE FORCED ANYONE TO PAY THE BILL! Neither Dae Beom or Yeo Leum were responsible for paying that bill and yet somehow they end up on the hook for it.
"Dae Beom reached out to the professor because of Yeo Leum". If Ji Young hadn't repeatedly forced Dae Bom into situations with the professor, pretty sure he would've never even considered it. He certainly wouldn't have been sucked back into the toxic rabbit hole that was his academic career. This all just proves she is terrible for him. If they were a couple, he really would just be miserable but she would be claiming that she's just trying to push him to be his best self. Who is she to keep making his choices? I'm genuinely so annoyed with her (and the blond guy).

I really and truly don't know anything about Korean culture aside from what I've seen in dramas and variety shows but everytime I see police officers dealing with kids, I wonder if this is based in reality. Why do police officers always yell and manhandle traumatized kids? Why is that sometimes special needs people are treated as "their testamony can't be taken as valid because they're special needs/mentally impaired" and then other times it's "well, even if they are special needs, they need to take responsibility for their actions or words"?

I think this drama will have some kind of "happy" ending and yet I already feel like it's gonna be so disappointing to me. It's going to have people be forgiven who I don't think deserve to be forgiven. That's the main thing that I think will disappoint me.

Was it too much to hope that the main leads as well as Bom and Jaehoon could just flirt away their summer days, then some more, make out and get to know each other without the toxic presence of pathologically awful, violent and resentful townsfolk (the few we have seen) of Angok? That promotional pic couldn’t be any more misleading. What kind of a writerly mind would come up with sabotage of their own work? Maybe they wrote it in a few days and this is why it sucks so much? What occasionally has elevated this subpar writing has been the charm and warmth of the 4 central characters who have consistently had to try and rise above the terrible writing.

I can understand Yeo-reum wanting to leave that town. The way she’s treated is simply unacceptable. Why are sooo many women in k drama so bloody meek ? Is that still seen as a good thing in Korea ?

I hate this town so much. Run away, Yeo-reum and Dae-beom! Go to Seoul and NEVER LOOK BACK. Take Bom with you, too. One thing I will give this drama, at least it understands how small towns work in real life and doesn't romanticize them.

I also am really mad at Bom's friend. He literally pulled a John Thorpe in Northanger Abbey. I get that it was his birthday, but TELL HER THAT. COMMUNICATE. She could have hung out with you after lunch!

Btw, regarding Geun-ho, sadly the situation with the cops reminded me a lot of Brendan Dassey (Google if you aren't familiar with him).

With that slap of Yeo-reum at the wake by dead beat dad that should have led to the second time of his ass landing in jail. In front of two police officers and no consequence.
Meanwhile Dae-beom (with his new phone) is in Seoul and oblivious that a murder had been committed at his maybe girlfriend’s place. Enough already.

I had to jump ahead in the wee caps to make sure what I was seeing is the actual direction the writer has chosen to take this show. With the similar art and vibe of the opening resembling Hometown Cha Cha Cha and the first episode taking the tack it took, I was shocked by episode 4 with the dark and depressing tone this show has.

Almost every character is totally unlikeable if not downright despicable with the exception of our leads. However, portraying Yeo-Reum as being so careless and reckless was a huge mistake imo, so I jumped ahead to see if my instincts were right. Wow. What wasted story potential. You’ve got a beautiful setting, a woman desperate for happiness and peace and she picked the Village of the Damned to move to? Add in the horrible police tactics, the selfish grandmother, the acceptance of violence that is all too prevalent in kdramas and apparently in real life is SK and I’m out. I’ve seen too many shows where a family member, a fellow student, or a boss commits violence that wouldn’t be tolerated in almost any other country and my heart breaks for the people of SK. They are so shamefully behind most other developed nations in laws protecting women especially, from everyday violence it’s heartbreaking. Add in the sheer number of damaged or evil characters in this show and enough is enough for me.

As always , thanks to the exceptional recappers of Drama Beans who provide great coverage and insight.