You are right about the environment. And I blame her mother more. Now I know where Su-a got her snooping talent from. Mum is class A.
I mean to be so concerned of another person's chimney popping smoke to not know about your burning house...is really telling.

The title of this episode should be "get a life" or "mind your own business we're trying to have a chicken party here".

OMG - this makes me LOL 🤣🤣🤣

The understated Chicken Night story beat was so loaded and so fraught with simmering UST (unresolved sexual tension) I could hardly breathe.

It tops the more flamboyant beats of public affection (throwing celebration parties, dinner at fancy restaurant etc.) precisely because it was SO boring, SO routine, such a tremendous non-event, eating the same chicken takeout and watching a Tiger documentary for the umpteenth time.

For a man who kept underscoring the fact that he is the "One trillion won man", he sure decided real fast that 10pm-1am on Chicken Night will become his favourite waste of time (and money). And that, is saying A LOT.

😅 "his wife"

Quick thoughts:

- I don't care one bit for SJ's mother. Or the entire SA drama. Or the teenage love triangle that doesn't even really feel fully realized considering that HY's feelings have never truly been part of the equation. The entire thing becomes even blander due to the fact that we never see HY actually tutoring the kid. This means that this relationship hasn't had room to grow since the first episode he appeared in. I also have very few feelings about HY/SJ because he's been way too passive. He seems like a good, loyal friend, but why call dibs on HY behind her back if he otherwise doesn't plan to act on the attraction?

- CCY's casual outfit was hilarious. Personally, I prefer him in his usual getup. Also, kudos to the completely unsubtle cap disguise.

- My heart broke for NHS during the meetup with CCY's blind date. Nevertheless, I think it's a waste that, so far, the show has never truly acknowledged the NHS/CCY age difference and what it could mean for NHS's potential desirability in CCY's eyes. After all, so many women think they're already "past their prime" when they're only hitting their 30s. Then again, I could see why this might be the exact reason why the show works well as the perfect ajumma wish-fulfillment fantasy.

- The timeline feels a little wonky considering that JKH plays CCY in the flashbacks from ten years ago but it's a distinctly younger actor portraying him in the flashbacks with Mom, twelve years ago. Unless I misunderstood something?

- When CCY asked HY about her childhood, I was wondering if he could maybe figure out from his contextual flashback knowledge that NHS cannot be her biological mother. I'm also waiting for him to inquire more about HY's dad and the kind of relationship NHS and he are having. Granted, CCY is probably too much of a gentleman to directly butt into a married woman's life, but I would understand him being worried for NHS if it somehow turned out that her absent husband isn't providing for their family as he should. And finally, HY's obviously shipping it, so she could welcome such questioning and subtly point him in the right direction.

- I really hope that the kisses in this drama will be worth the wait. Let's be real: I expect nothing risky but, after all the glorious pining, I need to see some actual, mature desire in the physical intimacy department. So, not just harmless 10-second pecks with absolutely no lip movement, please. These are adults, and NHS is about to discover that there is more to life than fulfilling her duty as the head of the family. Let that woman live a little. In that context, I am also really curious about how they are going to approach NHS's virginity/inexperience. And what about CCH? Surely he hasn't dated much in the past.

- Considering JKH's stellar performance, I really cannot wait for JDY as a crushing NHS. Don't get me wrong: I liked how NHS reacted with doubt and disappointment to CCY's alleged crush and how she outright questioned his motives for leaving the recital as it felt realistic and appropriate for her character. I just cannot wait to see her confront her own feelings and, with that, her identity as an adult woman with all the romantic wants and needs that adulthood might entail.

Further: Considering that, so far, their couple dynamic hasn't really seemed to follow the typical gender clichés, I'm really interested to find out in which way these two will remain atypical or not.

- The fact that the murder series remains largely unacknowledged in the show's universe, remains completely puzzling to me. And we still don't know what happened to Stalker Girl! The next few episodes should definitely center on the fact that Pride Academy staff and students are being targeted by a mysterious killer, even if Pride Academy might want to shut the news down in order to protect its brand image. Such a twist would actually manage to underscore the capitalist cutthroat nature of the education business and the fact that, to some, kids' lives are worth next to nothing if there's only enough money to be made.

- I didn't really like how CCY randomly gifted HY the learning tablet. Hopefully, it will lead to consequences of the "unfortunate implications" kind unless HY is allowed to be smart and will only use this tablet within the privacy of her home. I mean, considering that SA already went through her personal stuff once...

- In my opinion, the CCY/NJW bonding was done a little overhasty. While I think it works, so far, I wish those two could have been more one-to-one interactions in the past to establish the basis for a personal connection. I'm also not sure I completely buy the nurturing side of CCY towards NHS's family that the show has shown us. Mainly because he's indirectly fulfilling the role of the provider, the so-called "man of the house", all while nobody addresses the elephant in the room: The absent husband and father figure. Let's hope that the next few episodes will deal with this very topic as well as make clear that CCY is not just helping the family out of pity.

- After watching the preview for the next episode, I felt a little meh considering that the show seems to reuse a pattern that I already criticized in previous comments. Still, I absolutely adore seeing CCY simp for NHS. As long as the show doesn't exaggerate its drama too much, I guess I will continue to happily focus on the pair's excellent chemistry.

I'm loving the romance too! I really appreciate that the writer is taking a slow approach and allowing the leads to bond and develop their relationship before they get together. And after watching this episode it made me think to myself that I need to see Jung Kyung-ho in more romance dramas because the way CCY looks at NHS makes even my heart flutter! I'm so excited for their relationship to develop even further and see him officially become apart of the Nam family. It's not just the way he cares for NHS but the way he's so protective and caring of Haeyi and Jaewoo makes me weep inside. I'm a sucker for the found family trope.

I LURVE your smear campaign idea!

I read somewhere the other title of series is "One Hit Scandal" -- honestly, let's go BIG or go HOME.

And I love it that what started off as a really brilliant act of expediency and protection by her bestie (both to shield HA from social stigma, and protect HS from unwanted rumors) is now working against their case on both counts (for the budding romance, as well as gossip fodder for impending scandal)

In trailer, there is a V/O from HA about how [SPOILER] - so there. Another reason for the drama to drag out lol

I'm also getting flashbacks, my dad was worse than SJ's mom.

I wonder if that's what the show is trying to say, "kids with chill parents get better notes". So far I have no idea where the commentary on their educational system is going. 🤔

The sleeve scene was everything!
Every single woman in that family seems to get annoyed even if the only thing JW does is breath, so I think having a bro in law like CY is going to be the best for him. They're super cute together.

I loved the chicken day and the whole Jae-woo and Chi-yeol Hyung dynamics. I didn't see it coming but that arc is far better than the helicopter mums and the mystery. I hope we get more of it and more of Jae-woo as a character.

I don't agree about the fact she doesn't show love to his brother. The woman is watching the same documentary every week for him... She bought him a waffle maker.

Yeah, he has autism but he's not a child neither a little thing. He still needs to adapt to a certain point. He's lucky, he works with her and doesn't have to work with strangers.

Agree with you. The show has that taste of sweetness we have missed for a long time. It may be old-school romance, but it makes my day and tugs at my heartstrings.

The comedy is also well done. I keep laughing without finding it random or out of place.

I know the murder arc here is better than the other dramas but still, I want it to take a backseat or even go out of the car. This weeks' episodes have been the best for me so far and I don't want either the helicopter mums or the mystery to ruin my watching experience.

If I could add one more obvious thing to your usual thoughtful comment, I really like the way intense focus of the characters blinds them to why what they are focusing on is important. This is most obvious in terms of the mothers, who are willing to sacrifice their marriages (although the husbands are jerks, so maybe no big loss) and the health and happiness of their children, because they think it will bring longterm health and happiness. But what's the point if you've damaged everything in the process?
Its a little more subtle for Chi-yeol and Haeng-sun--they haven't become totally one dimensional in their drive, but they've partially lost sight of why you'd want to be a top teacher or a successful shop-owner and family head, so their romance is leading as you say, to a really heart warming awakening.

I love how subtle she is in her nudges, in comic juxtaposition to how clueless HS is.

I love the comic timing and filter-free "the emperor has no clothes on" punchlines by JW. ("You are wearing cologne. A LOT of it).

I especially love CY's therapist in Ep 7 -- I seldom see a therapist played with such sly & cheeky subtlety towards a patient. It's great comedy

Yes! I guessed last week that Hae-yi would be the one to clear up the whole fake husband thing and I kind of still hope she will be (though who knows what will come out in the coming scandal) because she obviously doesn't hate the idea of her mom and her tutor becoming a thing. I loved their interactions so much!

I was expecting a hot acupuncture doctor cameo. But when it was an older doctor, I realized that Hae-yi was low-key shipping our OTP.

Yeah, I want one "don't say a word to her she is my woman" moment :D

I think we are getting there.
Su-a and her husband will soon be an important matter for Su-hee.
I also think Haeng-seon will do something (she is not the patient type).
Sun-jae's mum is already busy with older brother, and the other ladies will fizzle out.
I think the last quarter of the show will be about catching metal ball shooter.

Once the ML realized FL is actually the daughter of his savior, he went into overdrive to "repay the kindness", so to speak.

1) He bought over their building and halve their rent;
2) He installed AC in every room;
3) He bought them an expensive dinner in a fine-dining joint;
4) He directed business to her with group orders;
5) He bought HE a high-end learning tablet for math
6) He spent time with her Aspie brother even though he admits JW sometimes makes him uncomfortable (because HE mentioned that JW is smitten with him since the camping and possibly crave a brother figure to bond with)

I think our ML is doing well. Nubbad at all :)

Second that.
The straw that broke the camel's back for me was that ghastly flower knitted vest she wore right at the end of Ep 8 (when she injured her hand and was trying to put down the shutters of her shop). It was OMG hideous.

Her 80s-90s outfits just kill me, where are they even finding all those floral sweaters? It’s like her fashion sense is frozen at the time she had to leave the handball team and become “mom”. She went straight from team clothes to ajumma outfits.

Though I do want the “pancakes” tee that NHS’ bestie wears… any idea where to find it?

me too. if they use half of that time to focus on their family's wellbeing, they will be far better

Word.

A filmmaker gf confessed to us once that she was called a "bad mum" because she was a chill mum, and the mums' group chats are often a source of toxic stress for her lol

The funny thing about Su-ah to me is that her competitiveness (and therefore whole sense of wellbeing) is hyper-local. She gets this devastated when someone in her own local high school scores better than she does? What about all the other high schools? Why isn't she more concerned with national numbers instead of picking on this one local student she feels is threatening her position? It's honestly that part that makes her feel really petty and sad to me. If she gets into a great university, she will just be one of many hardworking students there and I'm not really sure how she'll handle it.

It will funny if love triangle between haeyi and these two boys end up with haeyi friendzone both of them.

I find Geon-hu seriously under-utilized as a character; as is Sun-Jae. Show needs to short-fuse and raise the stakes quickly here.

I am hoping to see that in the next episode on BOTH parallel fronts:
(a) the maligned mother HS -- and CY having to defend his woman here. (we already got a preview of how far he is willing to take it when he told troll teacher he would sue him to bankruptcy and make sure he can never find work in this industry ever again. This is exactly the kind of Alpha behaviour that I love in a man)

(b) the maligned daughter HE -- and either one, or both boys [SPOILER] insinuation

I'm with you on the stalker being a completely different character we've never noticed. That's what I thought it to be from the beginning until Hui-jae cast doubts and cleared and now a certain assistant is repeating the process.

I feel so bad for Sun-jae. But it's also funny how Geon-hu has so effortlessly snuck into their friends circle. And he did it by being vulnerable and just having zero shame in saying, "hey i need help! You help me!". Like does he know he's doing it? Or is he just like a super-friendly, easy-going guy?

Yes -- that banchan vs posh snacks scene was so realistic that it was emotionally painful to re-watch again. It wasn't even about the jealousy.

But a "gravity" problem is essentially unsolvable -- a competitor has shown up who is far younger than you, prettier than you, comes from a far more privileged family background than you. What can you do about that? Nothing. And that is why it hurts.

The snacks thing sort of have trouble resonating with me because I would totally be eating both. And if there are leftovers, I could then bring them home. So more food is a win.

Guess I'm not a classy person.

I was sort of annoyed at Haeng-seon's friend for putting the romance idea in her head since Haeng-seon was so hurt by the food thing.

Her anyway gives me joy. When people correct her and she doesn't
want to listen, I find myself saying it with her. Chi-yeol has picked up the habit too😂. He said it to divert attention during the whole Air con talk.

I loved 'em too! no need to hide anywhere, we all have diff tastes, and its fine!

I know Choi Chi-yeol’s dad died at the time and he was in his own head but lol the fact that a huge crash happened and Haeng-seon and others ran to to the scene off the accident made it…I’m sorry…kinda funny to me?

Yes it would’ve probably retraumatized him but wow dude really knows how to disconnect from reality

The biological mother plot will and should come back, it’ll be good for Hae-E to achieve her goals for herself instead of revenge. Which why I’m completely dumbfounded that we even have the stupid murder/stalker plot to begin with. There is so much story to be told without the need for such a silly subplot

Yes I can imagine her real mum coming back and converging into this grand furious river of plot-lines.

It's kind of reminiscent of "Where the Camellias Bloom" (yes, another rom-com with murder-mystery subplot, single mum & abandoned kid lol)

The FL's mum who abandoned her when she was a kid suddenly came back to look for her whilst a serial killer was on the loose. There was a point of classic misdirection where the audience began to wonder if the real mum who showed up in town was in fact the serial killer (she wasn't, she was always protecting her daughter on the quiet by shadowing her all these years, thus saving her from the serial killer 6 years earlier).