Race was on Disney, right? They are the slowest at putting out their soundtracks. I think it was nearly 6 months before they finally released the final soundtrack for Call It Love!

I think I also have a different opinion on "OTP" than most kdramas anyway. Having lived long enough to have be in and seen some different relationships, this relationship actually felt familiar--the young pairing of two nice (and attractive and attracted to each other) people, but who are incompatible in the long run . Even if the feelings run deep and the relationship ends badly without "closure" doesn't mean a couple is meant to be forever. It doesn't even make them bad people. Also, as you say, it doesn't mean that relationship was a waste. But this is dramaland and people want entertainment and romantic fantasy, so this depiction of real life doesn't happen too often.

I don't necessarily think K is right for Hyun Seo. She doesn't seem to have any romantic feelings for him, which is a big problem. He's just nicer and more sensitive to her, which shows how Su Ho is still kinda a blockhead when it comes to Hyun Seo.

No you're defs making sense - I agree with both you and Gum Shoe on not seeing K and Hyeonseo as a feasible couple either, for exactly the reasons you've pointed out. Defs feeling the artistic muse vibe & it being more like appreciation for her passion, talent and art rather than romantic interest in her as a person. I think he's just got qualities though that perhaps are what Hyeonseo needs in a partner, specifically the attentiveness, but to cut Suho some slack they were young before and right now he's caught up in their history and his own messy feelings of 'I'm hurt I want her to hurt but also I miss her and love her still'.

I'm so curious to see how this story ends up next week! I'm wondering whether I should also check out Soundtrack #1 too - I know it's a completely different story but if it's got similar elements of production and storytelling, I think I'd vibe it!

@pynyc (hope I got it right): He is, on paper, a better 'option' for Hyun-soo with their similar personality, interests and situation in life. Which is why I hope they maintain their friendship and artistic collaboration even when (and it'll be a 'when', not 'if' because kdrama) she gets back together with Soo-ho because why restrict connection and understanding only to romantic bonds? And I'm hoping the last two eps make Soo-ho get his shit together and become a more emotionally-attuned partner because Hyun-soo deserves some comfort and a shoulder to lean on instead of more man-child antics.

@lapislazulii: K definitely has the qualities Hyun-soo needs in a partner that Soo-ho lacks - emotional maturity and sensitivity just to name two. I think that's why Soo-ho being wealthy could be a positive to their relationship (beyond, y'know, kdrama's fetishizing of wealth = attractiveness and the obvious Persuasion vibes). Part of Soo-ho's emotional unavailability came as a direct result of his dogged pursuit of success at the cost of his relationship and if that aspect is removed entirely from the list of issues, the path will be smoother sailing. Not that I agree with that approach irl, but this is a six-episode romcom and we're trying to have fun here with my chronic overthinking/overlong thought pieces lmao.
As for Soundtrack #1, I've made no secret that I disliked the writing and general ambience of that show (without even getting into how the main couple had the chemistry of cold days-old rice), but there are definitely enough similarities in the production styles that I won't discourage you checking it out. Hopefully you'll get far more from it than I did.

I know I'm replying to my own comment, but this show has brought up an aspect of mental health and relationships that I have long focused on, but rarely get to talk about outside of the mental health field. That is, the effects of mental health issues such as chronic depression and severe anxiety on the partners/loved ones of the sufferer. Both conditions are so consuming and have such strong physical symptoms that most sufferers feel alone in their experience and often assume that the effects are on them alone. Except these mental health issues are like others they force those in proximity into the experience as well. While Hyun Seo spent two years of their relationship struggling with anxiety and depression and the whole time telling Su Ho that who he is as a person is wrong. They way he plans for his future, his hopes, his outlook in life it's all wrong. She spent two years trying to change him as a person all to eventually reject him. I don't think many can understand the complete mind "F**kery" that is. In AA and other addiction recovery programs one of the "steps" of healing is accountability for the harm caused to others even as you yourself was in midst of harm or hurt. Hurt people hurt people, true, but healing people take accountability for the hurt they caused as they were hurting. I realize this show probably has no plans to address or even intended that as a plot point, but I can't help but see it. Anyway, Hyun Seo is not in that space. Her hurt is still so loud and so consuming. In conclusion I hope they don't get back together.

Do you follow Noona’s Noonchi she is a Marriage and Family Therapist and Trauma Therapist and has a soon to be released book about the healing power of K-dramas. She looks at those that show the hurt and pain of mental illness, family dynamics etc and ways they can be used in therapy to help families heal. I think I either see dramas as case examples for training and discussion in therapy or I switch off and just watch as a distraction. So it’s always interesting to hear beanies discuss issues like discrimination within and when talking about the drama characters and their lives.

I really appreciate your insights into Hyun-seo's character. While I usually think we go into relationships as imperfect beings (and remain such for our lives), it should never be to the point where we harm others as she has done/could still do. It may very well be in this case a time skip is needed for her character to work on herself, whether the lead couple gets back together and not.

Thank you for posting your insights @lynnB - I'm learning a lot from your observations & experience!!

I didn't consider the way Hyeonseo was also projecting her own issues and hurting Suho - I recognised that she was rather dismissive of him and thought the way they broke up was unfair but you've shed some light further into the issue which is also making me reflect on my own past experiences navigating mental health and relationships too - esp. on that point you made about how people who suffer from poor mental health tend to assume that the effects are on them alone. All in all, as you've all also said, the more I think about it/talk about it the more convinced I am that now is not the best time for them to get back together (if ever).

It'd be nice to have the drama address this from both sides, and show the importance of seeking professional help to heal but yeah with two episodes to go and this not being the 'core' of the story, I don't think they'll go there either. Either way though, I really appreciate the discussions it's brought out on so many very pertinent topics around relationships and mental health. As @claire2009 said below, even if the ending is what we're all anticipating, this will still be a very 'enjoyable' drama both for the story it's telling and the conversations that it has inadvertently brought up!

No don't be embarrassed!! Makes it feel like a real conversation - like those ones when you're in so deep and then you loose track at some point (I know here it wasn't you loosing track but the cursed word limit smh).

I want to give this a really proper reply because my brains going a mile a minute (in a good way) but unfortunately I just started work so don't have the luxury of time 😭 so will likely be back to say more once I get a moment to collect thoughts (sorry in advance for adding to the notifs you'll receive!)

The point about how realistic you found it that Hyeonseo knew that the relationship was over but was mulling over it for a while before pulling the plug - YES I know what you mean! Been there done that too, very realistic indeed. Sometimes a relationship is over well before a break up happens - recognising, accepting and then acting on the fact that it's 'over' for you takes so much emotional space and time.

Great point about the emotional labour of candy FLs too - I'm glad we're getting more diversity in this regard, and while we've got some work to do still in terms of the catty, 'bitchy' SFL stereotype, it's good that there's more audience recognition of these problematic characterisations.

If I could give a virtual trophy to comments here I would do so for your very apt point about the ridiculous expectation placed on artists to wallow in misery and suffering to ascribe value to their art (and conversely there's sometimes a weird take that true art or 'intellectual' art is confined to the stuff that's depressing & torturous) . The devaluation of art and artists in general is a huge topic (the amount of artists I see on social media having to defend why they can't just give their pieces away for free or explain why 'it's so expensive' is ridiculous). Not to mention people just assuming pursuing arts is not as intelligent as STEM - don't get me started on this one. But coming back to the drama, I really, really liked your point on how despite all of Hyeonseo's exhaustion and suffering - the emotional labour she's taken on within the relationship also - she's then also lambasted for not being the perfect supportive girlfriend - it is incredibly unfair, as is the double standard for anyone who's fine with giving past Suho slack but not past Hyeonso (gateway here to look at gender dynamics and how it intersects with things like class and career too). And on the note of the 'gold digger' point - damned if you do, damned if you don't apparently; if she goes back to him she's 'gold digging' but if she doesn't then potential to say she's cold/not grateful for how nice he's being. People 🤦‍♀️

I could write an another incoherent essay also on the concept of someone being nice = you owe them something. Which isn't what the drama is saying at all, I'm just going off on a tangent based on adverse viewer reactions here, but just the idea of if someone loves you and if they're nice to...

omg lol now it's my turn to be like 😭 it cut me off too and I was so energetically typing away before that I don't remember exactly how I ended it 😂

"but just the idea of if someone loves you and if they're nice to...doesn't mean. you're obliged to do the same" - something like that? Don't remember exactly what I said next, but ahhh I don't think it was much hahahaha

I haven't even heard of this Indy but your comment had me googling! Will see if I can find a way to watch because I'm curious now!!

True! He slowly seems to be getting better roles than bit parts. He was kind of the male lead in Battle of Happiness, though it was more of a supporting role. He also had a small loveline in The Golden Spoon. I am hopeful we will see him as a second lead soon 🤞🏻

Ahh. Thanks for telling me about the Battle of Happiness! Here is to him becoming a second lead and beyond soon!