@db-staff I get that it's a lot of work to do the mini-recaps weekly, and I am not asking for that again...but do you suppose there's a chance for us to get Drama Hangouts for this weekender divided into, say, 10-episode chunks?

It was so much fun talking with the weekender beanies about Live Your Own Life, despite its being a mediocre drama, but if we have only one thread for 50 episodes it'll be much more difficult to have an ongoing conversation.

I am encouraged by the way that this show has started. We are being given a real background for the story to come and considerable insight into many of the characters, not just the two leads.

Our conniving stage mom is already with us and while we can understand her desperation, we can also see that she already has formed bad habits and self-destructive behaviors- like an inability to control her temper or watch what she is saying.

But we also got to see events that will probably affect the behavior of both of our leads in the future.

We also have a yet unexplained mystery: Why did our now Chaebol birth mother need to leave her baby on her friend's doorstep?

I’m going to give this a shot. I have tried and failed most weekenders because I got so fed up with the over the top acting and horrible characters. So far this one is promising even tho it still has the fake/cheap looking filming quality

Being the huge Disney fan that I am I have to shout out to the very cleaver outfit the couple is wearing in the promo photo. Pure Beauty and the Beast reference. This would encourage me to watch haha

Yay! I’ve found the hangout! Ready for another 50 episode roller coaster. Chatting with the beanies makes it more enjoyable.

Episodes 1-2
I'm with Emma in adoring the younger incarnations of our leads. I hope there are LOTS of flashbacks coming as well as this first complete week with them.

I definitely don't blame @Mazarin at all for thinking that the young ML (Moon Sung-hyun) is played by the older ML (Ji Hyun-woo)...they really do look alike, even if it's mainly the perm fooling me!! I hope I end up as in love with "him" as "he" grows up. I'm already inordinately fond.

The young FL (Lee Seol-a) is well known to many of us and is hitting it out of the park as well. Seriously, she was in Samdal-ri, Park's Marriage Contract, Destined with You, and where I remember her most from, Stealer: The Treasure Keeper. She deserves all this work for sure.

That said, anyone else feel sorry for Seol-a's ears?? Man, was it cold as they were filming, and MAN were her ears super-red!!! Someone get that young lady some earmuffs!!!!!

The prologue was completed at the end of episode three, our main story begins with episode four. It appears that our writer has actually planned out story arcs that are far wider than the general initial description of this show. This prologue gave us something far more than a standard cliche childhood connection trope. Elements were put in place that will play a big part in the story and we learned a great deal about many of the characters as well.

After I had pretty much burnt my fingers on THE REAL HAS COME, I had actually sworn never to watch a weekender again. Nevertheless, I was won over by the synopsis for BEATY AND MR. ROMANTIC and after the first four episodes I'm pleasantly surprised. Let's see how long I can hold out this time. But so far it's helping that I'm consistently skipping all the scenes where FL or ML don't appear.

I gave it a try this weekend and will keep going for now. The ML and FL had appeal in both their past and present-day depictions. There’s enough backstory that we understand why the FL might be considered “difficult.” Try surviving with that stage mother! I’ve learned from previous weekenders to fast-forward liberally through the screeching and whining, which is a big time-saver. And I’m looking forward to the workplace scenarios as the characters work on their show together. It feels like a chance to see them interact in a variety of ways beyond the usual willful misunderstanding.

OMO. Do-ra's mom is swindling from her daughter. She didn't buy that building!!!!!

It's not that I didn't think she had it in her, it's that I didn't think her horrible two-timing would show up so quickly. OMG.

And the way our Pil-seung "gained the trust" of Do-ra. The best. He's so sweet!!!! She is actually so sweeeeeet!!! She honestly needs her rest. Her mother is the worst. OMG.

This is the best. This show is the best. I'm bought in.

I’m wondering why the ML’s character seems to have changed his name? Did I miss something?

I only have one question so far. Are they going to keep Ji Hyun Woo's hair crazy curly for the whole 50 episodes, or are they going to chop it off/straighten it as a plot point at some stage? Seems like his curly hair is part of the plot. I am fully expecting someone with curly hair, about his dad's age, to appear at some point.

I actually waited two days before watching the fourth episode, because I knew that this is where our main story begins. I wanted to gain that perspective.

Someone said that after just four episodes of this drama that it felt like we had already had more of a story than in the entirety of LYOL. It also feels that way to me.

This show has started really well. The first four episodes have been better than we have seen in a long time. I hope that it keeps it up.

At this point we have a complete introduction. There is more than enough here to develop into a complete fifty episode show.

The dos and don’ts of Weekenders are not clear to me at all as yet or perhaps ever . Sexism and occasional misogyny are ok as are mentioning that a woman put a hole in a condom to get pregnant while the family is having a meal and the grandmother was present.

IMO there are a number of boring characters in this Weekender. I hope they become more interesting otherwise it will be a slog. I still really enjoy seeing our main leads interact and wish there were many more scenes with them. Right now, they’re still setting up the characters but it would be good for the leads to have more in depth interactions. For my sake!
Poor Dora. Having worked consistently and probably not having much to show for it. When will she realise that her predatory mother has been defrauding her and gambling her earnings? Btw, where are Dora’s two brothers? When will they show up as adults? Functional or dysfunctional?

I wish “By DB staff” actually meant that. Are we dealing with an invisible DB staff member in this hangout?

Please note that the show description for this hangout- which matches the original network description for this show bears little resemblance to the much more accurate "Synopsis" which Viki now gives for this weekend drama. Form the beginning I noted that that original plot description would at best only have justified a 12 hour drama. The new description is much better and leaves room for fifty episodes of plotlines.

The mystery here is why the network posted that original plot description to begin with. It may not be totally misleading- it is possible that the fall from grace helped back on her feet by pure hearted PD will be a story arc within this show. But it is still a curiosity.

Waiting for episode 6 subtitles. A secondary couple is headed our way with the classic 'they got drunk and slept together" trope.

It is amazing how some of my initial perceptions changed from the beginning of the show. The biggest is how the show went out of its way in episode 6 to show our "Nasty Golddigging Mistress" in a very sympathetic light as having been the late Chairman's victim- and that his wife was quite sickly which exposes the 'she was killed by the stress caused by their affair' as totally nonsensical. The truth was laid out for us by the late Chairman's sister- who forced the family to acknowledge that once marriages start happening in the family that whole charade would have to cease.

Her great aunt includes the possibility that her brain damaged grandniece Ma-ri might be one of those who would marry. What an interesting possibility- which actually touches on the issues of those with disabilities. If the show does go that route, I wonder how it will be handled? The possibility of such a story line has now been foreshadowed by statements both from her great aunt and from Ma-ri herself. I do not count on that story happening, however, because our experience with our most recent weekenders strongly suggests a very strong streak of cowardice in the ranks of the KBS brass.

It looks like the primary villain of this piece is our FL's mom- who has all the hallmarks of a true sociopath.

Seonha's description of our second couple- Myung-dong and Do-sik- circling each other is undoubtedly true for the next few episodes- but there is the strong possibility that Do-sik got Myung-dong pregnant during their one-night stand so that would not last for the whole show.

We are now at the point where the stories have just begun to truly unfold. Nest week will bring more clarity.

Wow! Dora’s Mum has so many spinning plates it’s only a matter of time before they come crashing down. I’m already sad for Dora. How devastating it will be for her to learn that her mother has gambled her hard earned money away.

As a side note, it’s really weird seeing the big house used in The Real being used again.

After the time jump, I'm confused about the characters' ages...

If Dora was 12 at the beginning, she would be 27 years old in the present day...how old would her brothers be?

How old is the sister-in-law of Dae Choong's mother - I expected her to be much older after the time jump but why is she matched up with Dora's brother?

Also, how old is Ma Ri supposed to be?

I don’t know about the rest of you but I was disappointed by Pilseung badmouthing Dora again especially after that constructive and mature discussion they had. I know a weekender thrives on manufactured conflict but it wasn’t fair to Dora. I felt sorry for her. She is certainly no worse than the garlic chewing dim actor.

Episode 7
Loved it. I'm fully back on board. Heavens but 우리 Pil-seung-i is adorable. They've figured out the lighting that makes him look closer to 30 years of age than his real 40 too 😉

I'm skipping all of Do-ra's mom (and, frankly, Pil-seung's mom) still, or at least, only reading the lines at each 10 second skip. That helps.

I'm also completely fascinated that we're already at the name reveal...is Do-ra not going to believe him for a while or something?

Episode 8
OMG. I'm so old and drama-deprived. Both. That was so adorbs. When she woke up and ran to her oppa--and the potty humor was there front-and-center. I couldn't even roll my eyes because I was so taken by the setup. Loved all of the OTP scenes today.

I am also fond of the setup with our 2M-hottie-L because I can skip most of it except when he's fawning over how well he's doing "wooing" Do-ra.

Also, the set-up for the half-brother-to-half-sister marriage setup is juicy makjang weekender. Luuuurve.

Don't care at all about the lame investment bilking. But hey, maybe something interesting will come of that. Also don't care about crazy Aunt trying to get her way with a new son for our sexagenarian CEO. It's cool, I suppose, if that's something he wants?? Or, yeah, probably not.

Such fun!!! I know for sure that part of the reason is that our lead couple isn't running a laundromat, or working in a gym, or running a restaurant--so maybe I'm a weekender snob. But wasn't it even slightly amusing on the beach when they were shooting a weekender-style scene in a weekender making fun of, um, weekenders? No? Am I just THAT drama-deprived? Perhaps.

PS: I can see not being interested in our secondary couple, but the way Do-sik was like, "Actually, she's cute...but feels like an aunt...but is cute..." I mean, how wonderfully awkward and also totally reasonable is that while totally being awkward?? I am really enjoying this drama, OldLaywer "skip what you want" weekender style.

Episode 8 was actually pleasant. We have some obnoxious characters but even they are relatively toned down while our Desert Island experience has reset the relationship of our leads. The secondary couple are still circling, distantly.

Eight episodes in- it is decision time: Do I stay or drop? Answer- I am staying and feel sorry for those who dropped.

@dncingemma has given us all food for thought above.

What's going to keep our OTP apart for the next 22-or-so episodes???

Here are some of my guesses.

1. They'll put work before their affection.
2. We have to get past however CEO Jin-dan and Mother Do-rrible plans go down for making Do-ra his wife. I don't know that they'll marry, but the end game will be related to...
3. Mother Do-rrible's house of gambling cards will come crashing down and Do-ra will probably flee
4. A Call It Love-style conflict between the mothers is 100% coming, keeping them apart.
5. There's the attempt coming to pair Pil-seung and Ma-ri which will result in...
6. The reveal of Pil-seung's parentage which will be another distraction

What else do y'all see coming? @oldawyer @al118 ?

After eight episodes we have some clarity to some of the issues this drama will face. We of course have a birth secret with our ML. But age gaps will once again be front and center. This writer gave us a fourteen-year age gap in YOUNG LADY AND GENTLEMEN and it worked. That show carried the message that our fixation on such things might be small minded- in fact a form of ‘age-ism’. But in this show we are looking a little more closely at that issue of biases but also what may be appropriate and what truly is inappropriate. In our second not yet romantic pair (who have already slept together twice) we see an older woman and a younger man- who is shocked to find that he has slept with ‘Noonim'- his biases are in full force here. Yet said noonim never set out to seduce him and would normally never have done so- but alcohol consumption really can sweep away inhibitions and did. In contrast, our ML, at eighteen years of age had a fling with an eight years older ‘noona’ apparently without chemical assistance- and as the much older adult she should have been much more responsible when dealing with a child still in high school, even if he was (barely) ‘legal’. Older woman and younger man- but the two situations are not the same.

The writer has reminded us of the stakes in age differences by also providing an example of one that was truly wrong: Our now aging mistress- and the mother of Mari’s uncle- was seduced by a much older man when she was only 21. Much of her present behavior is simply the consequence of that fact. She may act badly but she is in fact a victim and we must never lose sight of that fact.

But I want to see what the writer does with a separate issue and that is Ma-ri’s diminished abilities. We were reminded again in the most recent episode that in fact she could marry. Her situation is the result of an accident, not some genetic problem: Biologically she is perfectly capable of bearing perfectly intelligent and capable children. Will the writer go there? And how would the ethical issues be addressed or at least discussed? My guess is that we will not be seeing Ma-ri in a wedding dress but that this topic might be explored at least to a limited extent.

So far I’m really liking the balance in this show. There is adequate time devoted to the OTP and their evolving relationship. The plotters don’t always get their way. Sometimes their plans are revealed — as by Ma-ri’s timely eavesdropping. It keeps the frustration factor in check.

Current prediction: At some point in this drama, after mum's money problems bankrupt the family, DC (aka PS) will let them stay in the annexe of his house. And they will have to hide from the family and pretend they are not there. And they will be discovered, of course.

Thoughts after episodes nine and ten:

Our not so secret birth secret may quickly come into play as Ma-ri’s dad has hit on the idea of our ML as a husband for Ma-ri. Oops.

Ma-ri is saved from a pervert by the timely intervention of our FL’s younger brother. Not a meet cute but definitely a ‘meet’. Clearly Ma-ri is going to have a true story line- but where it will go is anyone’s guess.

One of the more pleasant surprises of this weekender is that we have had some genuinely funny moments- particularly in the latest two episodes.

Our FL is now pursuing our ML who is running away as fast as he can. She is being pursued by the Chaebol son- who is clearly obsessed with her. Did anyone notice the symmetry here? She is unable to understand our ML’s response to her overtures even as she is subjected to and responds much the same way to those by her suitor.

Do-ra’s gambling mom is no joke- that is one serious addiction that she has, and disaster is just around the corner.

One final thought: This weekender has fewer characters than the overstuffed ones that preceded it. There is far less room for loose ends to be left hanging. Our writer will have no choice but to give us a full story with our secondary couple. It appears that this drama will have tighter writing than the previous two.

Episodes 9-10
This week I quite liked the writerly parallels between CEO Gong's (borderline psycho) "Why don't you like me" reaction to Do-ra rejecting him in the French restaurant, and Do-ra's same words (not psycho, but somewhat delusional) to Pil-seung as he rejected her advances on the set.

Seems to me that there's some relatively interesting work being done here about what it means to "deserve" someone's attention, what it means to "take advantage" of someone's attention (cf. also the frightening situation with Ma-ri and the arcade/alley), and what it means, perhaps, to "earn" it.

Now that I've typed this out, I might also argue that our second couple are also working in this narrative space, as the affection freely given by our Noonim must now be earned back for real by Do-shik if he really wants it...and not with purses!

Now that CEO Gong has been roundly rejected, how soon before he asks for the necklace back and/or the money he gave Mumzilla or the investment money? Will this be the trigger for Mumzilla’s demise?🤔