Gosh! Tae-min took a trajectory nosedive this week. He's gonna need a lot of work to beat him into shape once again.
Why can't they have this two compete with work? Why do they have to compete over a woman when they have a chaebol succession plot on the ground that they can milk for whatever competition there is🤦🏽‍♂️.

Okay. I take back my anger at Hyo-sung. He stepped up, meaningfully this week.

Sook-hyang's advice... Looking at it from a character and not a villain's perspective, it was a recipe for laughter. It's so absurd. The more you think of the advice, it kinda makes sense to indecisive kdrama characters whilst very unfair but at the same time leaves you befuddled and asking : "How do you think about this things Ma'am?"

The Tae-Ho/Hyo Shim scenes are still what's doing it for me. Their scenes in episode 18 had me in stitches and grinning from ear to ear, followed by swooning and wanting to give Tae-Ho a hug every time he looked dejected. He was so smooth and sincere in asking her out. So kind and gentle as she cried and wailed out her woes. So cheeky when she needed cheering up. Well played, Ha Jun. Why has nobody cast him in a romantic lead role before this? He's perfect!

Sadly, it was back to crumbs in Ep 19. 👎 Please give us more Tae-Ho/Hyo Shim scenes writers, it's what's keeping many of us watching and they are so good together.

Meanwhile, Tae Min: 🤬 which part of "no" do you not understand 🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢? He really isn't listening to a word she says nor really cares what she feels. His self-centredness is getting dangerous and nauseating now. He is really not showing himself to be the "grown up" one here now. Will he wake up to the reality of the harm he is causing Hyo Shim or will he continue to sleepwalk down his delusional path?

- I wrote dramatic comment on the previous episode highlights saying that the older brother can't pass the exam because of pressure & stress. Yeah, I was wrong. The guy is just not the brightest bulb in the box. I don't get how someone can attempt to pass an exam four times and still not know which material would be included in the exam. I also hate that not once did it occur to him to ask for an advice to his neighbor. I know the show is going there with him being an ex-director but I would have preferred had he not being a douchebag meanwhile to that nice actress.

- I don't see why both the oldest brother and the actress think it is Hyo Shin's responsibility to take care of Hyo Joon. Dude did not even once thank his sister.

- So basically, Hyo Shin's Live Your Own Life is deciding to date someone and to spend energy on a person that is not her family member. She is a 30 (?) year old woman, one would think 50 episodes should not be required for that decision.

- I don't care much about Taemin, but I did find it insulting that Hyo Shin did not take his feelings seriously. I would have been absolutely perplexed if the guy I worked with, who went to prison for a year, came back and just confessed to me out of blue. I get the initial confusion, I do, but it is episode 19. How is Hyo Shin still so out of loop on what he feels?

Thanks @quirkycase. Although I watched the raw (w/out subs) each day early in morning, I still haven't had time to sit down and re-watch with subs. Nevertheless, just from watching/listening, it's clear the writer has ditched complexity and nuance when it comes to Tae Min and Soo Kyung (TV Anchor) - I'm not sure I will bother to watch w/subs. Was also hoping for more for Hyo Jun once he learned that Mi-ran is a bona fide lawyer (looking at his phone), but they were still arguing in Ep. 19th so apparently they are still at Square One.

Meanwhile, I did some research on the bar exam in Korea. 😊

It's given only once a year - in January (first week of January, it appears). It's 4 days long.

Here's the staggering (for me) part: It doesn't matter how many people take the exam, because the admittance rate is limited to only 1500 "applicants" (test takers) each year. That # is 75% of the 2000 students admitted each year to Korean law schools. Therefor "passing" the exam isn't the real measure of success. One must be in the top 75% of test takers.

It's not clear in the drama if Hyo Jun actually "failed" the bar exam or if he simply didn't make the cut, and I imagine the complexity of the admission rules in Korea are too complicated to try and explain to viewers - it's easier to simply say he "failed".

@quirkycase, thanks for the highlights . ?
Tae-min Tae-min Tae-min Aigoo
What is this writer thinking.
Mom steals Hyo-do’s watch and like a dummy takes it to the loan Shark . Was she a thief before she was married ?
Ms Choi is a vicious little dog snapping and snarling..
I would be happy if the rest of the episodes focused on Ga On’s singing , the adults are insane.

It's amazing how TaeMin just REFUSES TO HEAR anything HyoShim says. She may scream and shout but nothing ever passes his ears. He told the anchorwoman that he wants to go back to his beloved wife every evening after work. Has that mythical beloved wife of his ever looked happy to spend time with him outside of work? His obsession is bordering on the dangerous now - that forced kiss and his refusal to apologise showed once again that for him HyoShim is HIS dream, not a person with her own agency. BTW, what are the chances someone filmed that kiss?

TaeHo refuses to accept her 'no' too, but he knows when to back off. He is creating work opportunities for them to spend more time together, and hoping to charm her in due course.

I won't question how TaeHee knew how to run an egg tart shop. I'm just happy that at least one character in the show is living up to its name. Her character growth has been the best till now. And I'm glad HyoDo lost his watch!

So Anchorwoman is gonna be plain nasty. Wish we could have got some nuance there.

The oldest brother really stepped up this week. He is looking out for everyone in his family while working a high stress job. His words about mid-life crises were relatable. Something does happen to your psyche when you hit the mid-40s.

I enjoyed that moment towards the end when TaeHo asked TaeMin if he too was rejected by HyoShim. I look forward to this conversation next week!

Taemin should be reported to police fof sexual harassment. Who does he think he is?

Tae Min just makes my blood boil. How does he not see what he did was wrong?! He basically harassed, assaulted and threatened her in 5 mins. Hyo Shim should've kicked him where it hurts for him to get the message. She should tell TM to get lost and never come near her again. I can't believe he thinks Hyo Shim is his because he likes her.
Tae Ho is better at treating Hyo Shim. I did enjoy their scenes even if Hyo Shim rejected him and told him to stop hitring on her.
Hyo Sung stepped up this week. I am glad he made his big brother rounds. I wish it is better for him with his wife and kids.
I am glad that Tae Hee is finding fulfillment with her egg business. Hopefully Mr Yeom will not do anything to mess things up for her.
Hyo Shim's mom did something for Hyo Shim but it was at the expense of her other kid. She should've found out first how much that watch cost before giving it to the loan shark.
Hyo Shim should just follow through with her threat to her Mom so she and her brothers can learn to fend for themselves.

Oldest brother was sort of awesome this week with looking after Hyo-shim and Hyo-jun and sassily calling out his wife's parents' foibles too and being hilariously petty, though he has a skewed view of his own mom.

I'm glad that Hyo-shim's terrible mother sold Hyo-do's watch. And it's karma for how Hyo-shim's savings were spent on all the times he got in trouble. I just wish the mother appraised the watch first.

Hyo-do should have stuck with Tae-hee. However, it's great that she's rid of him. A man like that would try to make his gf/wife/partner feel small because she's more successful than him.

Hyo-shim's life is just suffocating. She needs to be rid of both cousins. Tae-ho is much better than the delusional, sexual assaulter Tae-min, but he's still a burden. It's a depressing commentary how Hyo-shim was looking to get a bf so as not to be seen as some easy target. Like how single women wear rings on their ring finger to ward off unwanted attention. I'm hope we get to see her coworker's single male cousin.

Been meaning to comment on this, but I would hate to be one of the renters living in Hyo-jun and Mirim's goshiwon. Trying to study while the two shout, slam doors, and knock on walls. I did LOL at the scene of Mirim just pushing Hyo-jun's buttons and when she was running to her room to escape his wrath, her glasses went askew for a bit. Good comedic touch.

HS’s disjointed sentences as she tells TH why she is crying and TH’s expression at his tie after she’s blown her nose on it (I mean, why would he even look at it?) were precious.
I am really disappointed in the writer for the way they are shaping up the SFL. There was a lot of potential there. Sadly we have settled on the jealous and mean woman.
When Hyo Seong asks Hyo Shim to support Hyo Jun with him one last time, does he know about the 100 million won his mom stole from her? I might be missing something, but if he did, isn’t it a lot to ask of her on top of the 100 million? However I was glad to see him rebel against his wife. Hope that doesn’t change.
I am not too concerned about Hyo Do losing his expensive watch. His mom did to him what she’s been doing to Hyo Shim all along. Doesn’t redeem her in my eyes though, especially with the continued mental manipulation. “I have an insurance policy “
While TM kissing HS was really bad - cringey bad - I still cannot help feeling sorry him. I think he just feels like he should have said something a long time ago and doesn’t want to wait any more. He’s trying to tell her how she feels and see where that lands. I know no one would agree with me necessarily, and this could just be that I like the actor a lot, but this is my take on it.

At the end of episode 18 I was most upset with Tae-min. He is too smart for this. He is forcing himself on Hyo-shim- and pissing off Anchorwoman at the same time. I am also disappointed int the writer for deciding to reduce Soo-kyung to a simple caricature as an angry, entitled, jealous rich B****. I actually have the same words for her as she used to Tae-min: “That is not your style”. My words to the writer: Stop wasting the talents of a good actress.

Because every Weekender seems to need a Birth Secret I will go ahead and throw out one possibility. We are all now familiar with our Evil Aunt/Tae-min’s mother and also now know that her Sinister Minion Yeom Jin-soo is her longtime friend from her hometown. What if Tae-min is actually Jin-soo’s child instead of the child of Kang Jin-bum? It would explain his motivation for what he has done. I am not saying that this is the case- just raising a possibility.

At the end of Episode 19 Tae-ho asks Tae-min “Has Hyo-shim rejected both of us?’ (She has- firmly) At least Tae-ho seems to be catching on while Tae-min is still caught up in his dream. Meanwhile Big brother just handed middle brother some cash- just at the moment when Mi-rim desperately needs a tutoring gig.

Mom stole from her son to pay off the daughter’s debt? At least she is consistent. But if it means that the youngest son finally buys a clue maybe this is a good thing.

Ah...I finally smiled at these last episodes, and didn't even push the ff button once! Thank you writers for not wasting so much time on the landlady. I'm glad to see some changes in some of the characters' behaviors towards Hyo Shim.

Oldest brother reminds the younger brother to be better. Mom paid off Hyo Shim's debt in the only way she can, to sell off her youngest son's watch. I laughed at Mom's simple-mindedness....she saw the watch as the way to help her help Hyo Shim. And that the son should help as well...hahah...It's the mom guilt finally kicking in! I'm glad she didn't realize how expensive that watch was, otherwise she would think up of other schemes.

Tae-Min...what was it with that kiss! Blerchh...just give it up. He's being such a child..."I loved you all these years, you should love me back! I won't give up on you! I was ready to be slapped...slap me if it will make you feel better..." Whyyyy...ugh...and he's going to force himself unto Tae Ho's golfwear business to get closer to Hyo Shim...ugh!

I love Tae Ho and Hyo Shim's interactions...super cute and I can see her falling further for him. He's way more understanding and less pushy. He lets HS move on her own terms, and he apologizes when he realized she was uncomfortable. Tae Min should learn from his cousin..although I don't want him to win her over.

Anchorlady is being all coy with evil chaebol mom...they're going to cause trouble for TM and HS. I think they're going to use HS to threaten TM into marriage. And what is it with the "I can't get my man so I'm going to threaten my competition" trope. If he's not into you then he's not into you, just move on! Talking about pride...gah...grow up.

Tae Hui's doing well....I hope Hyo Do finally realizes that you got to put in the elbow grease to make money.

I am still waiting for Hyo Jun and Mi Rim to finally work together...the writers are trying to build up the tension between the two to something....study buddies? romance?

Btw I saw the child actress singing videos...she's wonderful!!

Acting without a plan is out of logic with Tae-min's character. Supposedly smart, considerate, and tactful one suddenly acts recklessly putting Hyo-shim in danger. He knows his mother and his betrothed one will find out who he loves.
Then the kissing was so wrong but I was baffled with Hyo shim just taking it. Usually, in these situations, the normal reaction would be to step back and push. And why she always runs to him every time he calls. Though she says she is a professional she still allows encounters outside of work, especially after unwanted confessions and taking the gift etc. What I mean is writers' descriptions of characters do not fit into how they are writing the story.
Still waiting for the FL to start her independent life.