Work Later Drink Now 2: Episodes 11-12 (Final)

by solstices

As the saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Our girls navigate their time apart with equal parts anticipation and apprehension — but at the end of the day, home is where the heart is.

 
EPISODES 11-12 WEECAP

Following Ji-goo’s candid confession, Woo-joo invites her back to his place to dry off from the rain. Except it’s more of a makeshift studio than an apartment, filled with more half-finished art installations than actual furniture, ha.

The pair share a heart-to-heart conversation over a pot of ramyun, confiding in each other about their deepest worries. Five bottles of soju later, they end up tripping over themselves onto a beanbag, which ends in an adorably shy, sweet kiss. They’re so awkwardly cute, I’m squeeing!

Back at home, the girls settle into their separate lives. So-hee and Ji-goo finally enjoy a movie without Ji-yeon’s incessant chattering, though they can’t help but notice how empty the apartment feels now.

Meanwhile, Ji-yeon walks on her tiptoes over at Instructor Kim’s place, since Sun-kook is extremely sensitive to noise. It’s clear how much of a positive influence she is on them, and vice versa — they’re touched by the home-cooked dishes Ji-yeon prepares for them, and Ji-yeon’s learning how to be more self-aware of her volume level.

Omg yay, Sung-soo is back with even more hilarious anecdotes, complete with animated gestures and dramatic sound effects. The two of them are really birds of a feather, right down to their speech mannerisms and drinking habits, LOL. “Oh my destiny,” indeed!

For all his wisecracks, though, Sung-soo also has a nugget of wisdom to offer. Musing that Ji-yeon is like a balloon, Sung-soo remarks that she tends to float around without properly settling down. It’s a surprisingly insightful observation, and it seems to get Ji-yeon thinking.

And then, Ji-yeon returns to their shared apartment. At first, it’s just to collect a package she’d ordered before the big fight. Before long, though, Ji-yeon is regaling them with a tale as usual — this time, it’s about how her car coincidentally ended up next to her dad’s at a red light.

Of course, So-hee and Ji-goo react with disbelief. As Ji-yeon explains how she recognized her dad from his elbow, launching into a long story, the three girls naturally wind up heading back into their shared apartment. It’s as if nothing has changed, even without a single word addressing their falling-out.

With that, the trio are back together, but that doesn’t mean the storm has blown over. Each of them are still facing their fair share of troubles, involving their respective love interests. An impertinent maknae writer’s tactlessness forces So-hee to confront her feelings for Buk-goo, and despite his slovenly habits — and the fact that she could do much better than being a caretaker of a horny manchild — she can’t help but feel for him.

That sympathy grows deeper when she finds out about his father’s dementia, and though she vows not to be the “UNICEF for pitiful men” any longer, she ends up single-handedly yanking both Buk-goo and his father out of their respective ruts.

Over on Ji-yeon’s end, the antagonistic tension between the Kim siblings has finally come to a head. After a huge fight, Ji-yeon hauls them both out for a reconciliatory meal, where she plays mediator and finally gets them to spill their guts to each other.

Both siblings have been clinging on to misunderstandings and bearing grudges against each other, never considering the other person’s perspective until now. Ji-yeon chastises them for their lack of communication, though it’s a little ironic given that she certainly didn’t communicate much in her own reconciliation with So-hee and Ji-goo.

Talking about Ji-goo, her presence in Woo-joo’s life has given him a fresh burst of inspiration, finally spurring him to complete his art installation (named after Ji-goo, aww). It nets him a prize in an international contest, along with a year-long scholarship in London.

Woo-joo extends the invitation to Ji-goo — she once admitted that she doesn’t quite feel like she fits in here, but maybe she’ll find somewhere she belongs on the other side of the world. Ji-goo accepts, and that’s how our first bird leaves the nest.

Ji-yeon is the next to take flight, setting off on a solo adventure after meeting her father for a final note of closure. Left alone in their apartment, So-hee struggles to acclimate to the unfamiliar solitude, but all three girls know that it’s as good a time as any to figure out this little thing called independence.

One year later. Our trio reunites at the wedding of their favorite restaurant owner, where they catch up with one another’s lives. Ji-goo’s sporting a brand new tan — turns out she and Woo-joo spontaneously decided to go on a backpacking trip round the world instead, hee.

Needless to say, the ever-popular Ji-yeon is basking in a flourishing love life, too. Not only did she pick up two foreign suitors from her travels, but they’re also joined by Sun-kook at the table of love interests — cue shocked gasps from So-hee and Ji-goo. (“Three men?!” “Are you a polygamist?” LOL.)

Of course, no gathering is complete without a round of alcohol, not when it comes to this trio. Filling their wine glasses with soju instead, our girls party it up to their hearts’ content. That is, until So-hee breaks a heel while dancing wildly atop a podium, sending her sprawling backwards.

As So-hee falls in slow motion, the rest of our main cast gape in shock. In voiceover, So-hee declares that she’s satisfied even if this is her last day alive — she’s surrounded by her friends, and she’s enjoying the present moment as if there’s no tomorrow. What else could she possibly ask for?

And so, the finale concludes with the absurd and offbeat humor that’s characteristic of this series. The show certainly delivered countless laugh-out-loud moments throughout its entertaining run, though I’m not entirely satisfied by how certain plot points were dealt with. It felt like Ji-yeon was never properly held accountable for her actions, which had harmful consequences irrespective of her intentions.

Still, at the end of it all, the heartfelt life lessons and the hilarious antics of our trio are what truly makes this show shine. These girls’ lives are packed chock-full with the excitement of about ten rollercoasters, and I love how they tackle their challenges with a good balance of wise maturity and reckless abandon. Sometimes, all you need are two best friends who’ll have your back through thick and thin.

 
RELATED POSTS

• Premiere Watch: The Forbidden Marriage, Money Heist Korea 2, Work Later Drink Now 2, Alchemy of Souls 2
• Moving video posters tease the drinks to come in Work Later, Drink Now 2
• Toasting to a new teaser for Work Later, Drink Now 2
• Our favorite alcoholics return for TVING’s Work Later, Drink Now 2
• Lee Sun-bin
• Jung Eun-ji
• Han Sun-hwa