I thought Yong Pil knew or at least suspected that his father was the reason why Sam Dal broke up with him, especially when her first question after learning he wasn't living at home was "is it because of me?".

After rewatching episode 8, which featured Yong Pil banging on his dad's locked door and asking him not to do this, I'm wondering about the sequence of events. Did the dad first threaten to kick out Yong Pil and then he told Sam Dal to break up with him because otherwise he would lose his son? But then when Sam Dal did break up with him, Yong Pil said he was gonna go after her and he wanted to marry her (then Sam Dal's mom's heart issue happened which killed that plan) In this latest episode, he (apparently) says "why are you causing another rift between me and my son?"

Also seeing that the dad pulled the same move years ago but I guess time Yong Pil didn't back down just makes me not like the dad even more. It sucks what he's putting everyone through even though he's grieving. I get it, she was the love of his life but the way he's treating her son in "honor" of her is so twisted. Like she wouldn't want her son heartbroken or having to chose between all the people he loves and cares about.

The dad is a big hurdle to overcome. There would just be so much guilt twisted up in their relationship. She would feel guilty for coming between them. Yong Pil would probably feel guilty for not being a "good" son by not going along with his father's wishes demands and leaving his father alone. I think the second biggest reason Yong Pil didn't go after Sam Dal in those 8 years is because he didn't want to leave his father alone, both in the house and socially. Yeah, we saw him briefly help the lady with her stuff but overall, he just seems to be wallowing in his grief or trying to control Yong Pil's life.

it felt good to see Eun-joo humiliated on Sam-dal’s turf. But this is not enough for me. I need to see Eun-joo crumble. —- this a hundred times

I could watch our main couple hold each other all day. When they start talking, I often tune out because 🙄, but seeing how comfortable they are in each other's arms will never get old.

I also felt that way a little bit about Dae-young and abeoji Jo, snuggled all up there together on the floor after a hard night's drinking! Give that man a son he can look after!! 😂

Ohh man, I've had a lot of thoughts and I hope I can remember them all.
- Sang-do sank even further in my esteem this week. You "let" Yong-pil have her? So apparently she's an object with zero agency or choice in the matter? Does he just want Sam-dal because Yong-pil "has" her?
- How are people watching the video of Sam-dal getting physically assaulted, not remotely fighting back, and then deciding it makes HER look bad? I don't get it.
- Why is Mi-ja hitting Sam-dal when she's mad at Sam-dal for... getting hit? At least she was nice to her afterwards.
- I've started skipping through most of Sam-dal's "comedic" scenes. She is so immature and has such poor insight, I can't handle it.
- Jin-dal and her ex are delightful but I have no idea how they're gonna get back together in the remaining eps. There seem to be a lot of obstacles and very little time left.
- Love dolphin boy. Also glad he found out that Hae-dal is the girl's mom.
- The romance is like the same few scenes over and over again: Yong-pil reaches out to Sam-dal, Sam-dal hides from Yong-pil, Yong-pil chases her, Sam-dal has some sort of meaningful interaction with him. Ep 12 was actually pretty cute and I liked how it moved the romance forward, but from the preview ep 13's gonna ruin it and show us more. of. the. same.
- Why doesn't Yong-pil just move out of his dad's place? Am I too American for this storyline? At least Mi-ja is finally gonna say "screw him" and advocate for her daughter's happiness (I hope).
- Why is Eun-joo's boyfriend (Sam-dal's ex) still with her? Sunk cost fallacy?

The assistant is just so... geez, she doesn't even have an original idea in her head. And does she even register the irony (or is it hypocrisy? Ironic hypocrisy?) of her claiming to be a victim of mistreatment and abuse of power then IMMEDIATELY commiting those exact acts? She was even showing these sides of herself when she was still an assistant herself. Seriously, how long until there's a bunch of anonymous posts about her incompetence, treatment of staff, running through staff, inferiorty complex, and theft of Sam Dal's idea(s) is published? And I'm not exactly sure why the editor boyfriend isn't calling her out more assertively when he's also being professionally affected by her actions.

Regarding the scarf, I think it belongs to someone in the assistant's life and she's desperate for that person to see that scarf in a photospread/campaign that she's taken or been a part of. Maybe that person is sick or dying. There just has to be some kind of deadline because why is she in such a rush when she can't even take photos in focus?

When the ex boyfriend grabbed Sam Dal and said "let me explain", I was genuinely curious what he could possibly have to say. There are legitimately no words that could justify or rationalize ANY of his actions. The cheating, the aiding (I'm not sure if it's considered aiding but he knew it was Sam Dal's work and he kept quiet. I think he even went along with whatever lie the assistant said) with the theft of her idea(s), the coming to her hometown.

As I’ve made way too clear, sorry for anyone who reads my comments, this show irritates the heck out of me. But I realized, upon reflection, I’m finding it funny. I rush to assure you that its not the parts the writers think are funny—for example, the 60-70 year old women fighting like biker gangs is cliched and actually kind of condescending, given the writers also want us to respect the Mother as a steely character protective of her children and her traditional occupation.

No, what I find funny are the absurd portrayals of characters that we are just supposed to accept as the way things are in the show’s “real life”, healing drama kind of way.

Here’s what I found funny this week:

When the Mom said “I’m in the sea and the sea is in me” I’ve felt like that too, when I’ve been rolled in the surf and breathe water up my nose, but I’m not inspiringly gazing off into the distance when I say it. And couldn’t that be the problem—a little too much swallowed sea water can’t be too good for the heart!

When the FL says to the villainess, “You have influence in Seoul, this town is my turf” dismissing her own 10 years of hard work and creative impact in Seoul. Why does the villain have influence in Seoul? Because she has the amazing ability to POST VIDEOS ON THE INTERNET! Clearly, the vicious big city full of modern technology is beyond the mastery of any traditional small town woman!

When the eldest sister suggests she still has feelings for her simple minded ex-husband who has no romantic appeal at all except for his money which she has already rejected.

When the youngest sister shows she is less mature and intelligent than her young daughter by saying to her daughter: “Come and playyyyy with me.”

When it became apparent that THE ONLY MALE in the entire show who acts like a mature adult is the ex-boyfriend, trying to restrain his current girlfriend from acting stupidly.

When dolphin guy, who I had great hopes would be an intelligent marine biologist, turns out also to be just a teenager who worked in the aquarium and felt sorry for dolphins. I myself feel holding dolphins and whales in aquariums, especially theme park ones, is a crime against an intelligent species. But those who anthropomorphize them like dolphin guy are also doing damage to them by ignoring their complexities as wild creatures,which includes proclivities toward rough sex, infanticide, and pulping baby seals. https://slate.com/human-interest/2009/05/the-dark-secrets-that-dolphins-don-t-want-you-to-know.html

Finally, and here I am just thinking it would be funny—what if the crazy Dad suddenly started beating up his son, who filmed it, got him arrested, and then Sang-Do broke into song with soaring high notes that were an inspiration to all! What an ending that would be!

Samdal and Yong-pil are so freaking cute together. I also love the actors' height difference which is only like a couple of inches. I feel like they can stand closer and look into each other's eyes that way.

I dreaded the return of Eun-joo, but her return allowed mom and Samdal's sister, friends, and neighborhood aunties to get all mama bear to protect their own. I'm surprised word hasn't gotten around yet about how she's really the one on a power trip.

Daeyoung is pretty endearing despite being almost frustratingly clumsy. I never thought he would have the guts to stick up for Jindal. It was touching how the JIndal's dad was upset at Dae-young ghosting the family during the divorce because he saw Dae-young as family and was worried about him.

I'm glad Dolphin guy knows Ha-yul is the daughter now. I'm sad to have learned that Dolphin Namchun tried to kill herself.

I wished mom had confronted Yong-pil's dad the night before when she had that revelation that she really needed to protect Samdal. I hope she has some vinegar saved up to douse Yong-pil's dad with.

I am so over the dad drama and just need to see Eunjoo's downfall. I also love Haedal and Hayul so much, and I hope we get to see more of the silent resentment Jindal built up over her marriage that caused her to break. Her ex seems like a bumbling idiot but sometimes naivety hurts more than malice.

I know some beanies dislike negativity so, warning: this comment is 100% that. Nothing productive here.

1. Typical mom thing: Did you let another woman hit you!?? Did you go to the mainland just for that? But only I can do that!! Let me give you a few punches... Did I make you feel worse? Okay, then let me act like I actually care about your feelings.

2. Typical childhood friend thing: OH! How dare my parents care about my friends' feelings! And they should've guessed I was in love with my childhood friend's girlfriend that's also my friend. They can't ask me to be nice to my friend that always have been by my side. He's actually awful, I gave up on all my dreams and hopes because of him!!!

I wanted to be school president, you know? It wasn't a fair competition! The votes don't count, what matters is ME. ME. ME. ME. ME MYSELF AND I. ME AND MY FEELINGS. I should've won because... I wanted to win. Anyway, he was school president when we were like 5, so he needs to give up on Sam Dal and give her to me. And! and... I wanted to sing too! ButI let him sing instead! And! And...

Cry me a river, Sang Do. Go buy yourself a life. And a personality, and respect for women AND friendship. If you don't have money for all of that, just buy some manners and basic human decency, thank you very much.

3. Typical ex (+childhood friend) thing: oh, you're running away? You want to be alone? Not today! Never ever!
Like it or not, I'm gonna make you date me. Yay! As if I ever respected anything you said, why would I start now?
(I skipped everything else between those two after that).

*Childhood friend does all the dumb thing from point 2* *ex reacts*

Sam Dal: what's going on?

Ex + CFriend: nothing to do with you, get out.

*Sam Dal leaves*

Ex + CFriend: GIVE UP ON SAM DAL, SHE'S MINE.

The nepotism of Dae Young is just wow. Has there been a character so completely unsuited for a company position yet forced into because it's the family business. I almost feel bad for him but I almost don't care about him enough to feel for him. He's just a goof.

Now I'm wondering if maybe he took a position in the company in exchange for being able to marry Jin Dal. I really don't understand how any of this works otherwise. He's not business savvy or stoic enough to be in his position and Jin Dal isn't the type of woman a family like his would approve. There must be something.

Sam dal and Yong Pil really "fit" each other. Although they bicker all the time, it is clearly based on affection. When they are quiet together, you see the magic. As for Eun Joo, her incompetence has come to roost, that was bound to happen.

Hae Dal and Ha Yul are the most precious mother-daughter pair. Hae dal genuinely adores her daughter and the feeling is obviously mutual. The scene of them crying at the dolphin center is very very sweet.

I will say what I have been saying. Sang Do has every right to tell Sam-dal how he feels. Also, I at least when it comes to the subtitles making it seem like Sang Do considers Sam-dal an object? Yeah that was ick but I don’t speak Korean. In Korean was he describing the situation like that or was that just the translator doing it? He has a right to be upset at his parents but they are not mind readers. I’m sure they would not have asked him to do that if they knew he had feelings.

Anyway, Sang Do has every right to confess.. just as Sam-dal has the right to reject him when she does and will do maybe next episode. If Sang Do wants to make things weird, that’s his choice. At the same time I get he may have to confess even if it makes things weird in order to move on.

I am worried about the side love stories. I love them. My worry is both are going to seem unfulfilled because of the lack of time given to them. Nobody’s fault. Not the writers. Just how it goes.

It's not funny but it's funny that at least part of the reason Sang Do exploded like that is because EVERYONE knows Yong Pil and Sam Dal are supposed to be endgame and clearly still have feelings for each other. Whenever he said he was present for something, everyone is like "read the freaking room!" Haha

I liked when Yong Pil somewhat confronted him by saying he going too far because someone needs to give Sang Do a reality check. Obviously he can have his feelings but the way he's going about things is just so... sigh. I'm wondering if he's never even dated before and if he hasn't, doesn't he seriously think his grade school/middle school approach is the best way to go about things? I'm reminded of when he was tickled and pleased with himself that he was able to share an umbrella with Sam Dal meanwhile for her, it was literally like a family member sharing an umbrella.

Meanwhile Yong Pil brought her her own umbrella and accomplished the same thing of being able to spead time with her and eventually holding her in his arms (when he was comforting her).

Our main couple is cute when she doesn't act like a teenager. I wonder where is the professional photographer who doesn't let anyone walk all over her? She knows now that her employee never tried to kill herself and it was just a manipulation from her.

We could have had a mature couple in their thirties instead they gave us a teenager one, I feel scammed.

I'm not interested in the story of the sisters, their love stories are not compelling.

I guess episode 11’s theme was “families can mess up romance” with Jin-dal and Sam-dal’s relationships being torpedoed by in-laws/parents. Now, saying YP and SD’s relationship story is being “forced” is an understatement. YP is constantly on SD like a tick on a deer. He used the photo assignment to be with her all night, but instead of her filming the night sky he pushed himself beyond the reason for their breakup with another pushy kiss. The push-pull between them is not working. The OTP is too immature to be a good couple. I am just not invested in them getting back together. I think Jindal and her ex make a better couple: a better balance of personalities and goals while bluntly talking to each other.

Moving the theme park is a very dumb plot device and the old women biker gang fight was an eye-rolling “really?” Just to add another clip of YP protecting SD? Jindal’s ex making a career suicide decision for her?

The irrational behavior on the show is at least consistent. When SD was hit by the assistant’s mother, she did the right thing by not fighting back (it would have proved she was a bully). But her mom hitting her for not hitting back was primal illogic given the situation. Being brought up tough means you have to fight for respect is one thing; hitting an elder is another thing. No wonder the village people never grow up. You would think if Eun-ju had 3 sets of PDs quit on her and the clients and models find her work bad, the industry would have viewed SD in a better light or at least rumors of Eun-ju’s bad, berating personality would have hit the trade news. But then again when Eun-ju shows up in the village, the first response is violence. It is the village’s definition of “community.”

But again, the best moments of the show continue to be Haedal and Ha-yul’s compelling and thoughtful scenes. It is like their arc is a distinct story from the series.

It is interesting that several here appear to be unconvinced or dismissive of the OTP. Personally, I am enjoying what appears to be a couple who were broken apart and are now re-connecting and putting back together the threads of the relationship. And, yes, they are adults but that does not mean they will not go back to "earlier" times to re-forge their connections.

Now there are a few things that I do quibble about.

First, the Sang-do situation is verging into the ludicrous. How do his parents (and the rest of the village) not know of his undying, unrequited love? And, it would seem that the restaurant is a family business but my initial impression was that its success was purely because of him! If it is so successful, why is Samdal-ri described as a "backwater"? I refuse to comment on the yellow Lamborghini.

Second, how is it that Yong Pil's father still lives in the village with the level of resentment that he has? Everyone else has accepted Mi-Ja (despite being a mainlander) and she is leader of the haenyeos. I suspect that there is something behind the resentment that has everything to do with him, and nothing to do with Mi-Ja (or at least I hope).

Three, does Yong-Pil's father work? How does he know the boss at the meteorological centre? And well enough to go in and demand that Yong-Pil be exiled to an even more remote location?

Finally, I am actually enjoying the story arcs of the two sisters. Yes, I can see both of them in relationships at the end of the series.

I love this drama, especially the web of relationships between all the family members and the islanders. I know some viewers are disappointed because they expected a rom-com like Hometown Cha Cha Cha, but this is really a bittersweet family drama. Many of the aspects viewers are complaining about, like parental interference in relationships, have deep roots in Korean culture. I am also frustrated with Dad, but I understand how the internal conflict Sam-dal felt would lead her to break up with Yong-pil. The way Umma hits Sam-dal while asking her why she let her assistant's mom beat her reminds me so much of a scene in Crying in Hmart.

I honestly came to this drama just needing a standard drama with an OTP I could generally get behind. I am not expecting it to serve me up any surprises or novelty, and because of this I think I am really able to just enjoy this drama for what it is. I generally like it a lot, primarily because (despite some often lackluster dialogue between them), I like SHS and JCW and how they are playing their characters. I was intrigued by the idea of two people who have both known and loved each other for a long time, and while I feel like the drama is selling them short with material to work with there and would like to see this explored more, the OTP are convincing here.

Sang-do needs to either find another obsession or go work abroad. This storyline is now more boring than a one-trick magician, and it's a waste of airtime. Everyone knows he's not going to get the girl and, frankly, does anybody even care.

Sang-tae is just so sad. So sad that he let his life stop, that in his misery he is trying to drown is son, too, and doesn't even see it. This element, however, adds some actual friction to the OTP story (unlike Sang-do), so I don't mind it in that sense - but I hope they don't drag it out too much.

Jin-dal and Mr Chaebol are comic relief. If this storyline faded away, I don't think I'd notice much, but I do like that he is so unabashedly, mcdreamily in love with her - and in love with the tough, bad-ass, honesty of her. And I can understand why she would love him, because he's maybe the first person who loved all of her for exactly who she was. Even heroes need a safe place to land.

Hae-dal's story is sweet, and I like the idea of her getting a chance to raise her adored daughter with a partner who would make a good dad (as this story is seemingly setting us up for). Hae-dal may seem like the meekest of the 3 sisters, but when it comes to Ha-yul and doing what's right, she has steel in her - and that's awesome.

I'm enjoying this drama a lot. I FF through Sang-do, frankly, and some of the peripheral stuff. I would like to see more OTP action (sorry, not sorry), because we've got 2 decent kissers here, they're in their 30s, and I dig the romance. I like oemma and seeing her wrestle with and stand up for what she thinks is right. Overall, this drama is giving me what I hoped for after a long hiatus, and I'm cautiously optimistic for the last 4 eps as we wrap this up.

My favorite scene/perspective of ep 12? When Sam-dal really accepts her feelings for Yong-pil....

When Sam-dal and Yong-pil are sleeping holding hands. Mom comes in and - "Leave them be", then Sam-dal, clueless that her mom has seen them, snuggles in closer with Yong-pil enfolding her. She opens her eyes, sees him, closes her eyes, and snuggles in deeper.

I know this feeling myself and it's quite comforting.

These were my favourite and funniest episodes, there were so many moments.

From Jin Dal parents ready to throw hands the second they saw Jeon Dae Young. The Haenyeo fight was hilarious, especially the build-up best was Dae young's secretary in the background ( at 48:35 ). Yong Pil and Sang, bickering like small children and frustration in Samdal on hearing them argue.

The sweetest moments has to be the cuddling scene, it was so sweet and cute can't remember the amount of times I have rewatched the scene and Dae young crying his heart out for Jin Dal. During the Haenyeo fight, Yong Pil making sure Samdal doesn't get hurt in the fight.

The memorable moments that stuck with me were, Haedal scrolling through social media and seeing all her friends living amazing and exciting lives and feeling left out really felt for Hae dal in the moment.

Then when the video of Samdal getting abused by Bang En ju mom came out and Samdal said she felt alone to which Yong pil replied '' your not alone you have your parents, sister, friends and you also have me '' ( In a way saying when you think your alone open your eyes and realise people are supporting and rooting for you ). When Samdal said to Yong Pil in Soeul she felt surrounded and alone but now that she is back in Jeju she realises that she has support and people rooting for her. It was a really sweet moment in the episode.

When the whole town came to chase out Bang Eun ju and Cheon Chung ki when they showed up ( I think the video helped Samdal more than Bang Eun ju ). When Samdal mom throws vinegar on Eun Ju and Chung ki and Samdal tells Eun ju that this is her territory and that she should leave cause she'll regret it, the most satisfying moment in the episode.

Sidenote; How Dumb or Brazen is Bang Eun ju she posts a video of her mother abusing Samdal on the internet and then goes to her hometown the same day and expect nothing to happen, like what was her thought process?. Her picture is relatively easy so people know what she looks like, and the townspeople who grew up and helped raise Samdal, aren't going to take too kindly to the person whose mother abused her and ruined her life especially when they know that Samdal is innocent. All things considered, Bang Eun ju got off pretty lightly during her visit to Samdal Ri.