Bora! Deborah: Episodes 9-10
by Unit
Sparks fly between our dating coach and publisher this week, and neither party can shrug it off as easily anymore. But what’s a love story without trials and tribulations and pesky exes waiting in the wings to shake them up?
EPISODES 9-10
This week, our breakup show is split into two major categories: a) misconception and b) the return of the exes. But first, we get a mini category which is the aftermath of last week’s spontaneous kiss. After the kiss, Bora and Soo-hyuk individually dig holes of embarrassment to fall into, although Bora’s hole is much deeper. I mean, Soo-hyuk is a master at hiding his feelings and Bora is the expressive one. So naturally, she takes the lead in downplaying the kiss.
“Kissing is used for emergency care.” Ma’am, you mean CPR? Lol. “Are we supposed to have a reason for kissing?” “Lip service is basically kissing, no?” *Insert forced laughter*
Bora’s overcompensation is a bit embarrassing to watch, but it makes for some funny moments. Like when she called Soo-hyuk out for using lip balm in front of her, and when she got all flustered after he leaned over to help her with the seatbelt. Lol. Bora is so cute.
Championing our first major category this week is Yoo-jung, the unwitting Agent of Misconception. Yoo-jung watches Bora fall into her hole of embarrassment and assumes that it stems from Bora’s usual drunken escapades in front of Soo-hyuk. So, like every good friend, Yoo-jung tries to smoothen things over with Soo-hyuk and claims that Bora made a “mistake.” Yoo-jung goes further to plead with Soo-hyuk to pretend that nothing happened, and Soo-hyuk interprets this to mean that that Bora thinks their kiss was a mistake. Ouch! Bora is ever so slightly disappointed when Soo-hyuk in turn calls their kiss a mistake, and to clear the air, she asks if he likes her. The answer is “No.”
On another occasion, Yoo-jung tells Bora about a conversation she had with Sang-jin where he brought up Soo-hyuk’s reluctance to work with Bora and publish her book. Of course this happened ages ago, but the ladies assume it’s a recent development. To Bora (who already assumes their kiss meant nothing to Soo-hyuk), this is a double blow to her ego. And she goes on a rant that starts with “Should I show him all my [seduction] techniques?” and ends with “Making a man like him fall for me is child’s play.” Unfortunately for the mistress of seduction, Soo-hyuk overhears them, and he’s not at all pleased to be so sexually objectified.
It turns out that our resident Agent of Misconception was also the one who introduced Sang-jin to his ex-wife, Soo-jin (although she had nothing to do with their divorce), and on a night out, all the elements in the misconception equation run into each other at a club. This is one of the funnier scenes this week that starts with Sang-jin’s attempt to pick up a lady — who turns out to be Bora — and ends with the very awkward congregation of Sang-jin and Bora with their individual club buddies: Soo-hyuk, Yoo-jung, Soo-jin and Bomi. Heh.
Soo-hyuk excuses himself from the awkwardness and Bora goes after him to apologize. Honesty and a few tears help to clear the misunderstanding between them, and they bury the hatchet. With this, Bora and Soo-hyuk’s relationship grows closer and now I can get behind a romance between them. There’s something cute about the way they flirt, their awkward giddiness around each other, and casual compliments that lead to blushing and overthinking in bed. Our Heartbreak Couple are finally giving off that catching feelings/newly-in-love vibe, and it’s nice to see them enjoy each other’s company without the shadows of their breakup tales and exes hovering around.
Unfortunately, the thing about some exes is that they won’t get back together with you, but they won’t let you move on in peace. Thus, we arrive at our second major category this week: the return of the exes.
There’s nothing the chicken-brained Ju-wan could do that’d surprise me anymore, and I barely raised a brow at his “Are you asleep?” text to Bora. Her initial use of Soo-hyuk to make Ju-wan jealous was clearly a success. But now there’s no scheming involved as Bora is genuinely interested in Soo-hyuk. Even if she wasn’t, she’s totally over Ju-wan now and I loved that she just ignored his message.
On the other hand, I was quite surprised by Soo-hyuk’s ex, YU-RI (Kim Ji-an). My first thought when she gave Bora her wedding invitation was, “Wow! How long has it been since she broke up with Soo-hyuk?” Yes, she started seeing someone else after the breakup. Still, isn’t this too early? But as it turns out, the new guy was already in the picture while Yu-ri was with Soo-hyuk and this means the story she sent in to Bora’s radio show was half truth.
It’s a form of deceit to string two men along while trying to decide on the better option, and as Bora said, Yu-ri should have directly asked which one to choose rather than act like there was only one man in the scenario. But quoting a flippant remark Bora once made, Yu-ri tells Bora that, “Relationships are meant to be petty and unfair,” and she loses whatever pity I felt for her. I understand wanting closure on a previous relationship before a lifetime commitment to another one, but Yu-ri’s demand to know if Soo-hyuk really loved her felt more like an attempt to massage her ego rather than to get closure.
But this doesn’t mean that I’m now team Soo-hyuk as regards to their breakup. For someone who spent several episodes down in the dumps and still can’t bear to throw out the things Yu-ri left at his place, Soo-hyuk’s inability to verbally express how he felt about Yu-ri was so frustrating to watch! And I wanted to smack him when he practically ditched Bora by the roadside after an “I’m in front of your place and I miss you” call from Yu-ri — which is where we wrap things up for the week.
If you google “lack of self-awareness,” I’m sure the men in this show will pop up as search results — from Soo-hyuk (who had better be headed to Yu-ri for a clean break) to Sang-jin (who thinks he and Soo-jin got a divorce solely because of his parents as opposed to the other marital problems they had). And as for Jin-woo, his self-awareness meter has never even moved past zero since the beginning of the show.
It’s quite annoying how the drama brought up passiveness and overfamiliarity in marriage — which is a great topic to address — but rather than properly address it, the issue is brushed over ever so casually like it’s no big deal. I had to pick my up eyes from the back of my head after rolling them at Jin-woo’s jealous outburst when he saw Sang-jin and Yoo-jung together at the club. Was that supposed to be romantic? Tsk.
With two weeks left in the show, I still don’t know how the drama plans to resolve all the complicated relationships it has set up. But I’m nothing if not optimistic, so fingers crossed for a logical and acceptable resolution.
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Tags: Bora! Deborah, Chansung, Joo Sang-wook, Sojin, Yoo Inna, Yoon Hyun-min
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1 Elinor, Team Glasses team co-captain
May 13, 2023 at 2:31 PM
First things first: the Auschwitz comparison was an appalling misstep - it should be edited out of Netflix’s streaming version. It was a clumsy and distorted reference to an anecdote by Viktor Frankl, but without context or comprehension.
I thought the focus on communication - and lack of it - was well done: what it means to leave a text ‘Read’ but not to reply vs. not reading it at all; how to respond to a non-question that is nonetheless intended to provoke a response; the unspoken message Yu-ri wants to send Soo-hyuk with her wedding invitation vs. telling Bo-ra directly why she is inviting her; jumping to conclusions based on a few words and speaking without thinking; misunderstanding words and reaching an understanding without words. Bo-ra’s and Soo-hyuk’s reconciliation conversation is so adult in showing how to fully resolve misunderstandings. Bo-mi and Jin-ho recapitulate this theme nicely with their contrasting dates, where he makes assumptions about what she would want without just asking her and she gets it right by doing simple things and showing rather than telling him what she likes.
I want to see lots more of Bo-ra and Soo-hyuk teasing each other (“Did you imagine my body? Don’t imagine!”). And Yoon Hyun-min’s long, muscular legs in the gym scenes are a rare treat in kdramas as well as creative avoidance of a shower scene. I definitely did NOT need to see him running on a treadmill in his skivvies, but respect to YHM for being willing to do it for all the world to see.
Jin-woo is a waste of carbon.
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Blue (@mayhemf)
May 13, 2023 at 7:03 PM
I loved the gym conversation and the lip balm scene. It was the right kind of adult flirting. I wish we had more of such interactions with this couple.
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MikeyD signed up
May 13, 2023 at 10:27 PM
The Auschwitz quote was jarring but it highlights how for Bo-ra this silly little breakup had been a life-or-death struggle, to the point where her sister feared Bo-ra had killed herself in the bathroom a couple episodes ago. Vain silly Bo-ra had recently crawled out of a very dark place.
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2 Blue (@mayhemf)
May 13, 2023 at 2:41 PM
I quite liked this weeks episodes. We are making progress with our OTP. I do like their camaraderie and I am glad we are not rushing into feelings yet.
Also glad we got some screen time for Soo Hyuk relationship. Wow, his ex is quite something. I think she does like him, a lot. And his lack of reciprocation (in a way she expected) made her choose another man. But the fact that she was meeting two men at the same time is making it hard to understand her.
Finally Sang Jin and his ex story is going somewhere. I don’t know why he wore that red sweater??? What is he doing?
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Elinor, Team Glasses team co-captain
May 13, 2023 at 11:13 PM
I was bewildered by Sang-jin's handling of the weird part-timer and her weird gift, too. That girl is the reddest of red flags and he *seems* to see that and has a perfect opportunity to put the brakes on her bizarre advances to him ... and instead, he wears the damned sweater. Dude, it's a red flag, too! I don't understand that character. She's so single-minded in her pursuit of him that I keep looking for signs that she's been planted by his ex or someone else who wishes him ill to entrap him. More likely, like Jin-woo who is nothing but an avatar of 'crappy husband,' she's just a caricature instead of a three-dimensional character.
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Kurama
May 14, 2023 at 1:39 AM
Sang-Jin wants a relationship with his employees. But he's really not good at it. They all ignore him because he's the boss. So at the opposite of the others, she doesn't run away from him. I think he's just happy with this innocent relationship without thinking its potential implications.
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Blue (@mayhemf)
May 14, 2023 at 6:20 AM
He seems to be bothered by the heart and other clues. He isn’t that clueless. He knows it’s not truly innocent. That’s why it kind of bothers me. Also, not sure what ‘daddy long legs’ means here? Is it like someone she respects but doesn’t like romantically?
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Elinor, Team Glasses team co-captain
May 14, 2023 at 10:01 AM
Daddy Long Legs is a 1912 young-adult novel in which the protagonist is a young orphan girl who is aided throughout high school and college by a mysterious, anonymous benefactor whom she calls "Daddy Long Legs." Most of the novel focuses on her growing-up experiences, but toward the end, she falls for a somewhat older, wealthy man, Jervis. She is torn between him and the career and self-development goals set by her benefactor, who has also manipulated her to stay away from men other than Jervis. Of course, in the least surprising surprise twist ever, Jervis and Daddy Long Legs turn out to be the same person. So, long and problematic story short, she's saying that she casts herself in the role of ambitious young innocent, respects and appreciates Sang-jin as her benefactor, AND expects a romance to develop. 🙄
Isa is always time travelling
May 14, 2023 at 11:08 AM
@elinor I didn't know the novel, but the first time I heard that way of addressing someone was in the old anime Candy Candy (which seems very similar to the novel).
Then I heard it in other series and movies. In Hospital Playlist the anonymous benefactor of many patients is Daddy Long Legs too.
Kathryn51
May 14, 2023 at 4:26 PM
I wasn't aware of the 1912 novel that Elinor mentions (and for some reason I cannot reply to her comment), but MY (United States) knowledge of "Daddy Long Legs" is the Fred Astaire/Leslie Caron 1955 movie of the same name. I don't know how the novel ended, but in the movie, they fall in love with each other - happy ending.
I'm cringing because one reason I started this drama was because of Joo Sang Wook (Alchemy of Souls - a completely different character from Bora!) and I would like a semi-happy ending for Sang-jin.
vienibenmio
May 15, 2023 at 9:35 AM
Daddy Long Legs is a delightful novel and I love it. I think it's helpful to know it was written by a woman. There's also a stage musical adaptation of it that is quite excellent.
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️ Underpants buddies for life. 😎
May 15, 2023 at 9:46 AM
I saw a Korean version of the Daddy Long Legs film it was quite old not sure how it matched up to the original.
3 Eazal
May 13, 2023 at 3:36 PM
Where do I start?
- The reference to Auschwitz was totally out of place and had it been some reference to Japanese occupation, drama had already been cancelled. I know South Korea only cares about South Korea, but this was too much..
- The married couple. Please someone get those two a divorce. The booking a sex night as an obligation, the guy making an scene about his former brother in law being near his wife, while he has been ignoring his wife's desire to have sex with him for ages. These two have a toxic relationship. If no one wants to tell them, I will.
- Yu-Ri is trash. Hey, I was all on her side when she broke up with SuHyeok because she realised what she pictured in her future was not the future his boyfriend was looking for (after all, he only bought that ring out because he was told he would never buy one). But now I learn she's getting married to a guy she was seeing at the same time she was with SH? And she chose the guy who would marry her because the only thing she wanted was to get married, no matter who the groom was? And now she's saying she's missing SH? Toxic people everywhere.
- I like both leads, but com'on... She is unable to think before saying whatever crosses her mind, and that can be cute for a while, but in your daily life, you need the person you live with gives a thought or two before she speaks. And him? Being all stoic and cool, and he didn't even get rid of her toothbrush. Someone needs therapy.
- SangJin... what is his deal? He was so clueless about his marriage, that when his wife told him "let's get a divorce" he just said yes. And now he has a very young woman who is sending him all the signs she's in love with him, and he is unable to stop the situation. Is he clueless? Or just stupid?
- And what about JuWan? He has another couple, he's happy he broke with Bora, told her he detested her, and yet... Are you asleep? Really? Because you did whatever you wanted and now you are not happy the woman you treated so bad and that had a horrible time trying to cope with break up, is getting over you? Really? I have no words to express how much I hate anyone who would never let you go because once mine you're always mine (even if you have the face of one of my babes).
And now that I ranted enough, yes, I'm still watching and enjoying. Just as any character in the drama, I just can't say no to the story.
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Kafiyah Bello
May 13, 2023 at 3:42 PM
Like a toxic relationship, it is good when it is good, but terrible when it is bad, lol
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Kathryn51
May 13, 2023 at 4:02 PM
"I have no words to express how much I hate anyone who would never let you go because once mine you're always mine"
I enjoy the rom-coms where there are characters you love to hate. In this drama we have two - both convinced that THEY are the victim. I've been a minority of one (or no more than a handful) of viewers that hated Yu-ri from the beginning because her description of Soo Hyuk (mean, selfish, coward, a jerk) was clearly wrong/inaccurate based upon the actions he took to help Bora - even at a time that he hated her. I'm glad Bora called Yu-ri on her dishonesty.
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Eazal
May 13, 2023 at 11:48 PM
Don't get me wrong. I never liked Yuri and I never liked Bora. Both women think that their happiness depended on being married. Having a ring on their fingers was the only thing that matter to them, so when Yuri thinks her boyfriend will never propose and Bora that her boyfriend will never propose, they leave them behind (Yuri more "willingly" than Bora). None of them reflects about why they need to be married or tries to find happiness on their own.
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miso
May 13, 2023 at 4:42 PM
I've been wondering what the point of the show is. It's like the kdrama version of an r/AmITheAsshole post and you just walk away deciding ESH (Everyone Sucks Here).
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IndigoRose
May 13, 2023 at 8:14 PM
Yes! Exactly this. As I watched this week’s episodes I wondered if the characters were in some sort of race to the bottom. Each one of them needs to get some therapy.
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vienibenmio
May 15, 2023 at 9:41 AM
This is the perfect description
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Isa is always time travelling
May 14, 2023 at 2:28 AM
"She is unable to think before saying whatever crosses her mind".
Exactly. That's Bora. And that's why she makes blunders when she speaks about anything she has read in magazines. She doesn't think twice.
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4 Kafiyah Bello
May 13, 2023 at 3:40 PM
This show could have been a gem of a fabulous drama. However, it is stuck belaboring areas it should move past quickly and moving quickly past areas it should belabor. The marriage could be a gold mine of well written comedy, but it is treated as a joke. This man literally went drinking with his friend instead of having a good time with his wife, who does that. Sang Jin is just stupid and annoying. Bora and Soo Hyuk are actually getting cute, it is a pity there is so little time left, the ending will feel rushed no matter what they do.
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MikeyD signed up
May 13, 2023 at 10:05 PM
It is a gem of a fabulous drama, its just not the drama you were expecting.
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Kafiyah Bello
May 14, 2023 at 3:49 AM
We will have to disagree sirrah, 😜.
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Paroma
May 14, 2023 at 4:36 AM
Well said.
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5 Kathryn51
May 13, 2023 at 3:51 PM
Loved these two episodes for many reasons, but primarily:
1. Reinforced my impression that the kiss was spontaneous and due more to the moment/celebration than a revelation of mega romantic feelings. A bit of a surprise that Bora was beginning to turn to Soo Hyuk before he touched her shoulder.
2. The aftermath: Bora continued to be thoughtless and flippant. Soo Hyuk gave her the smack down she deserved. When she finally gave a REAL apology, it was from the heart (compare to her ex simply saying “I’m sorry, I’m sorry” (mianhae)
3. I love the way they have become a team – supporting each other and realizing that any romance (this instant) isn’t the right time. But they both hope that at some point – if the Gods of Good Timing Oblige - it will happen.
4. Yuri: I feel vindicated in my initial (like Episode 2) belief that Yu-ri is perpetual “victim” – just like Bora’s ex. I never liked her – calling Soo Hyuk mean, cowardly, selfish, a “jerk” at the break-up? She blamed Soo Hyuk for everything that she wasn’t getting w/in their relationship – while not taking any initiative (she wanted to be “cool”) to define it or try to discuss with him. Soo Hyuk is clearly a man of action (he demonstrates that he cares) and few words. He is damned lucky he dodged the “Yu-ri bullet”.
Haha, Soo-young, Agent of Misconception. Park So Jin was one of two reasons I started this drama and I love every moment she is on screen except when hubby is around. I suppose they get some sort of happy ending, but Why Does She Love That Cretin??
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Blue (@mayhemf)
May 13, 2023 at 6:52 PM
That’s why Bora and Soo Hyuk work. She doesn’t put her pride ahead of her feelings. She speaks her mind and is very vocal. I think that’s what Soo Hyuk needs. Someone who can tell him what he needs to do or tell him when he is wrong.
He does feel love and is kind but is unable to express or say the right things. He doesn’t act romantically in the way the society expects him to. But that doesn’t mean he is callous.
And Bora sees underneath his shell. She sees that he is reliable, trustworthy and has found a good friend (or something more) in him.
I found their gym conversation equally humorous and flirtatious.
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Isa is always time travelling
May 14, 2023 at 5:38 AM
I loved when Bora talked about Soo Hyuk (well, about the man who had given her the book) without knowing he was Yuri's ex-boyfriend.
She said he was a man who didn't talk much, who left messages as read... But the way she talked was very caring.
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Blue (@mayhemf)
May 14, 2023 at 6:10 AM
She said that almost like it’s his charm.
And I liked that she asked him why he left her on read. And his response was on point - it wasn’t a qn! Lol. In his defense, someone had to leave someone on read to end a chat.
And it was so funny that all her future messages were questions.
It’s moments like these I find that they both will make a great couple.
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Kathryn51
May 14, 2023 at 4:16 PM
They were all questions - and then she texted - this is not a question! So cute - and I don't casually throw around terms like "cute" or "squeee", lol.
vienibenmio
May 15, 2023 at 9:49 AM
I love them together, I just think they need more time for the romance to be believable. I mean, Soo-hyeok is still hung up on his ex.
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6 Mrs Buckwheat
May 13, 2023 at 3:59 PM
Well this show crashed and burned for me while watching episode 9 on a few levels. I love Yoo In Na but the writers have assassinated Bora's character to the point I feel she is very hard to like.
Her behaviour (sexually harassing and objectification comments) towards Soo Hyuk was terrible and her lack of self awareness disappointing. So glad Soo hyuk called her out.
The continuous quest to "get pretty" made Bora seem extremely shallow. During a gym scene, Bora was called skinny-obese by the gym worker.... this is so inappropriate and irresponsible of the show.
Lastly and most importantly, that a show could be so tone deaf to use the Auschwitz Concentration Camp in relation to appearance, or in any context, for entertainment fodder is disrespectful, highly insensitive and offensive.
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Isa is always time travelling
May 14, 2023 at 5:45 AM
Could it be that the writer is criticising some gyms or gym workers who can say these kind of things carelessly?
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Blue (@mayhemf)
May 14, 2023 at 6:12 AM
I saw it that way too. Like they were trying to shame them and convince them to take gym membership for long term.
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Mrs Buckwheat
May 14, 2023 at 3:53 PM
Some beanies have already commented that it was written that way to pressure/guilt Bora into signing up for a membership. Whatever the reason for writing this into the script, it's so problematic as it is blatantly obvious that the character is not obese and far from it.
The writing for this show is all over the place, sometimes really good and hitting all the feels and at other times it's appalling.
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7 OldLawyer
May 13, 2023 at 4:41 PM
I no longer pity Yu-ri- not one bit. The stunt at the end of episode ten really floored me.
But for the first time I actually felt some pity for Sang-jin. Yes, he was clueless but, I would point out, he took Soo-jin's remark that his parents were not the reason for the divorce seriously- enough to want to know what the real reason was and what does he get? First response was simply "You're the worst" which is not an answer. So he back again and asks again and is handed a description of the discussion which he and Soo-jin had had. He had responded to her back then by saying "I'll do whatever you want" (which objectively translates to "Tell me what I can do to fix this?"). It was Soo-jin who had chosen to translate this into a diabolical plan to make her be the one to ask for a divorce. However clueless Sang-jin may be Soo-jin is worse. How tragic that her total misreading of his response was the trigger for their divorce, when they could have actually worked on their problems instead.
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Eazal
May 13, 2023 at 11:58 PM
I agree with you about SangJin. He's clueless of what happens in his world (couldn't read his wife, can't read how his workers don't want to be around him). He is basically a good guy, I agree, but he never takes action: when SooJin said, let's get a divorce, he got a divorce; when workers avoid him and put all the umbrellas back, he didn't make his position clear.
I still wonder what is his point.
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8 Dylan [is crying bc of Umi no Hajimari]
May 13, 2023 at 5:25 PM
This drama is so weird. One minute it's so cringey/dumb and then next minute it has really mature & good writing
like, people will act like God Himself came down from Heaven to write this screenplay... And then the writers will have sis dropping in a reference to Auschwitz to describe her post breakup strategy....
AUSCHWITZ!!
on the other hand... Though i was talking shit about it before, it makes sense for Suhyeok & Bora to remain friends. It's way too soon for them to be dating, since they've just started to move on. They seem to have a lot of feelings for each other but they also genuinely have a great friendship. Besides, at this point in their journey, they just need companionship from someone who understand what they're going thru. I love how they resolved their fight and the kiss, it was wholesome and usually not seen in media.
I guess what it boils down to is, i just wish they'd done this sooner instead of focusing so much time on the breakup itself. And maybe devoted more time to Suhyeok's own healing process instead of just having Bora embarass herself in front of him a million times. They've just started to really unpack what he's been going through... now. At EP. 10. When we supposedly have only 4 more eps to go.
what I liked about ep. 10 is that for the first time she's the one comforting him instead of it always being a one way street.
It’s also cool how the writers are subverting our initial read of Suhyeok being an unemotionally available jerk. Maybe he was one, but it turns out there’s more to the story and Yuri was not an angel either. like damn, the way Yuri said relationships are meant to be petty or mean... that was ice cold 🥶🥶🥶 and some genuinely good writing.
Bora's own silly strategies got thrown in her face and now she has to save Suhyeok because of what she taught others. Maybe another aspect that could have been focused on instead of Bora embarrassing herself compilation #10.
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9 LaurenSophie
May 13, 2023 at 5:46 PM
I already vented about the Auschwitz reference, but another moment that I deeply disliked was when the gym guy told Bo-ra she's "skinny obese." I'm used to fat shaming in virtually all media but it's still painful to watch women who are probably technically underweight feeling they need to diet or work out, and solely because they're so afraid of being anything other than ultra-thin. (Just once, when we get the obligatory scene of the extremely skinny woman declaring she's fat and is now on a diet, I'd love it if just one person would tell them that not only are they not fat, but also that there's nothing wrong with being fat. But I know that's a pipe dream.)
Meanwhile, the one behavior we do know is absolutely bad for one's health is excessive drinking, and yet this show like many others before it decides "skinny obesity" (not a thing!) is the real problem.
But ok, I get that "True to Love" is supposed to be a comedy and as such, I should try and enjoy or trash it on its own merits.
I enjoyed:
--The apology scene between Bo-ra and Soo-hyuk where she sincerely explained her actions and emotions and he graciously accepted her words and forgave her. When I watch scenes like that one, it's clear that these two just fundamentally *like* each other. Even after drunken antics, a full-on breakdown, and badmouthing behind closed doors, there's real affection between them. There's also sexual tension, which is mostly handled in an adult way (except for Bo-ra shrieking over the seatbelt adjustments). These two are actually a great pair! I'd like to see them get together in a rom com, please.
--The getting carded and then sent away for being too old scene was very funny.
--I didn't love the setup for these two, but the sister and her boyfriend are much cuter now that he's admitted that he reverted to destiny talk to make himself more confident. I still think his insta-love for her strains credulity, but they're cute together.
--The twist that exposed Yu-ri as a manipulative two-timer landed well for me. I was genuinely surprised but also, it didn't seem completely implausible that she dated another man while she was with Soo-hyuk. Or that now that he appears to be moving on that she would want to try and see if she could get the kind of emotional reaction out of him that he denied her during their relationship.
I found the following to be trash:
--The whole gag about the married couple not being able to sync their schedules or libidos or read each other's signals so they never have sex is dumb. It also isn't funny. And the whole jealous husband scene at the bar/club was neither believable nor romantic. There are so few realistic portrayals of marriage in kdrama land that this terrible representation is bothering me more than it should.
--I feel deeply uncomfortable any time Sang-jin interacts with the co-worker who has a crush on him. The hearts, the sweater, the awkward and stilted conversations,...
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LaurenSophie
May 13, 2023 at 5:46 PM
I hate it all. Please make it stop.
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Blue (@mayhemf)
May 13, 2023 at 7:00 PM
The married couple arc is really frustrating. throwing a jealous tantrum after he has been ignoring his wife’s needs for years is not cool. He has been lying and deceiving her for years.
I don’t get them. I don’t think I will. It’s a waste of screen time.
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Eazal
May 14, 2023 at 12:04 AM
They need therapy or basically a divorce.
I see no point of them staying together rather than the absurd thought that being married is better than being single or divorced. He has not once shown he cares about his wife. The tantrum scene? Was awful, it was not about how much I love you, but "you are mine you can't look at other man", when he hasn't seen her as a woman for ages.
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Blue (@mayhemf)
May 14, 2023 at 6:16 AM
I think they both care for each other but are not honest in their conversations. She needs to stop trying to make the marriage work in a round about way . She needs to be vocal and honest with him. If he is not going to be honest with her and what he wants in this relationship there is no future.
The only way he will come around is when she puts her foot down. At that point it will be his choice to be honest or leave the marriage.
MikeyD signed up
May 13, 2023 at 9:58 PM
I've heard that 'skinny-obese' reference before, its a real thing (at least among people trying to sell gym memberships). He's telling her her BMI index doesn't include any significant muscle mass. In a recent interview IU joked with In-na that its unfair she has 'abs' despite not exercising, and she speculated In-na's internal organs were simply shaped like there were abs.
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OldLawyer
May 13, 2023 at 10:44 PM
IU has a deliciously wicked sense of humor.
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Kurama
May 14, 2023 at 1:50 AM
Rain had the same comment on his chek-up. The guy is just muscles and doesn't have any fat. It's completely ridiculous.
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vienibenmio
May 15, 2023 at 9:52 AM
That isn't really what the dialogue said, though. He made it sound like she has a big stomach.
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10 loveblossom🌸
May 13, 2023 at 6:21 PM
I like the girl talk and adult humor. Yoo Jung killed me with her vacuum kiss action hahaha. Her friendship with Bora looks so natural.
I should have known Soo Hyuk's ex would make a reappearance after she briefly saw him with Bora from a distance, not knowing it was him at the time. She surprised me with her pettiness. And the fact that she cheated on him too. I thought she moved on quick back then. The wedding news had also seemed quite sudden when I assumed she dated the new guy only ~2-3 months. Got no sympathy for her or Ju Wan. Nope. Why did they both have to be cheaters though.
The title of EP 10 is: Catfish Makes Way, Sardine Makes a Move. It's a weird one that caught my eye immediately. Seeing Bora in the cliffhanger made me anxious and excited. You go girl! Catfish is Soo Hyuk and Sardine is Bora. I thought it was a random pairing, but I looked up the 'Catfish Effect' (not to be confused with catfishing).
It's a strategy in workplace environments or organizations.
Soo Hyuk was also the catfish who provoked Ju Wan to send Bora that late night text.
I still like this show, thanks to the main pairing. The other stories are failing though.
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11 MikeyD signed up
May 13, 2023 at 8:26 PM
The Jin-woo / Yoo-jung storyline is an oncoming trainwreck. The overarching theme is 'forms of breakups' and I don't see that marriage surviving to the finale. They made a special point to let us know there is not one redeemable quality about the husband. Next outrage or the one after will be the last straw for Yoo-jung.
I liked how they reminded us that this isn't the usual tale of 'young love'. The ladies go to the latest hot spot only to find the age cut-off is 30 (born 1993). They handled it with dignity, though.
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Blue (@mayhemf)
May 14, 2023 at 3:32 AM
Yoo-Jung doesn’t seem to be bothered by it. In fact she gave the impression she is delighted by the proceedings.
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12 MikeyD signed up
May 13, 2023 at 8:39 PM
Bo-ra telling So-hyuk in the car after reconciling "You're my savior, sent to ruin me" was a pop culture reference. The line is lyrics from the Lee Hi single 'Savior' featuring B.I.. Lee Hi is famous for having loyally stuck by her friend B.I. during rough times, never wavering in her support. So its another 'friend' reference like Leonardo and Kate.
Lets see if I can find the song. The lyrics are worth reading for context. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDB4CkyrR4U
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Dylan [is crying bc of Umi no Hajimari]
May 13, 2023 at 10:55 PM
The unpaid heroes at Viki might have gladly explained that reference, but with Prime Video, you count yourself lucky if they even sync the subs properly.
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Paroma
May 14, 2023 at 4:48 AM
Listened to the song. I would never have caught the ref. Thanks!
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Isa is always time travelling
May 14, 2023 at 6:17 AM
Wow. Thank you very much. I didn't know that song :)
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loveblossom🌸
May 17, 2023 at 6:56 PM
Omg I had no idea. Thanks for sharing!
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13 Nefret
May 13, 2023 at 10:44 PM
Why do people always assume that their expectations are the only correct ones? Why can a partner only be the ideal partner if he constantly wears his heart on his sleeve? Don't actions count more than words?
This brings me to Yu-ri. Has she ever told Soo-hyuk what bothers her in their relationship and what she misses?
Not to mention that she had a stopgap solution ready at the end of their relationship in the form of another man, I think it's pretty lousy that she wants to see Soo-hyuk suffer. I was so glad Soo-hyuk didn't answer her question. What does she expect anyway? His heart is was broken one more time and she thinks he's going to reveal that heart to her at that moment? Especially since Soo-hyuk clearly had to fight tears in that situation.
I was (slightly) annoyed after episode 9, but episode 10 made up for it. I thought Bora's apology was perfect. It shows how important it is to talk to each other so that misunderstandings can be cleared up.
I hope that in the end not only Soo-hyuk is a bit more communicative in the relationship, but that Bora knows that with Soo-hyuk it's not the words that count, but the actions. And I'm optimistic about that, after all, she already got to know him very well at her lowest point.
The Auschwitz comparison was absolutely out of place.
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Blue (@mayhemf)
May 14, 2023 at 3:31 AM
I am fairly certain Yu Ri never clearly communicated with Soo Hyuk about their relationship. It seems like she gave the impression that she is happy with their status quo. Until the radio episode.
I don’t know what she wants. Does she want him to break down in front of her so she feels better about herself and marries the guy on the invite or does she really want to get back with him if he truly holds on to her.
I think she wants him. Wants his love and attention. He might not have said the right thing but she knew he was a genuine person who cared for her. Eg giving her cold medication during their break up.
She is totally cruel to the other guy too. She agrees to marry him without getting over Soo Hyuk.
I am glad he never gave her the ring.
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Isa is always time travelling
May 14, 2023 at 4:36 AM
Soo Hyuk dodged a bullet, fortunately. But poor of the boy who is getting married to Yuri. She seems to love Soo Hyuk yet and the other boy is just someone who she is using.
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14 hacja
May 14, 2023 at 8:20 AM
First, happy Mother’s Day to all you bad mothers, using “bad” as in baad , meaning seriously impressive.
As far as the show, I agree with both the criticism and the praise of it. I do think it is going for a little more than a light fluffy romcom, with its emphasis on breakups, male obtuseness, and women’s attempts to navigate this behavior. It’s had some missteps that commentators above have highlighted. But I also think it’s been at times pretty good in highlighting self deception in dating and romance. I hope it ends in a way that is positive for the characters and this theme
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15 sakuradaydream
May 14, 2023 at 6:31 PM
I'm glad I decided to drop this show due to other reasons but I got quite a shock when I saw snippets on twitter of the Auschwitz line used and how scary it is that no one is talking about how wrong it was.
Out of all the analogies they could've used, was this really the one they had to settle on?
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MikeyD signed up
May 14, 2023 at 6:42 PM
You missed the best show of springtime.
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16 et865
May 18, 2023 at 7:42 PM
An apology has been issued for the Auschwitz line and it's been deleted from the episode.
https://kbizoom.com/bo-ra-deborah-apologized-for-controversial-line-regarding-auschwitz-concentration-camp/
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