It turns out that writer-nim had another secret surprise for us: The son of ‘Grandma’ Bang Ggeut-Soon, the owner of Uicheon Villa, never went to America at all- and she is heartbroken. This is kind of random and I am not certain how this development fits into the rest of the story or what purpose it really serves other than filler- which we otherwise got a lot of. Perhaps the whole point of The Unfilial Son was to bring balance to the idea of living your own life: True Hyo-shim and Tae-min have been abused through the concept of filial piety but here we see the true other side of the coin- and it is really ugly. Maybe this is simply a plea for balance.

I actually disliked that it was Hyo-shim’s mom meeting out punishment to said Unfilial Son and - and at her place of business at that: This is Ggeut-Soon’s son and Ggeut-Soon’s pain.

So, Hyo-shim has located Dear Old Dad- now what? He had another woman? Is that all? If so, it makes him even lower scum than we thought.

It was good to see that our Lady MacBeth has been arrested for a lot of things- including murder. However, instead of an “Out, Out Damn Spots” speech what we did get was her telling off her Grandmother-in-Law (A scene not found in The Scottish Play- I guess she blew her lines?). The pity of it is that some of her criticism is merited but in the end Grandma is able to point out that she did not go so far as murder. Still the is some truth to the idea that the original sin was Grandmother’s- except we really know that the root cause of it all was the monster known as Grandpa.

Hyo-shim gets to marry Tae-ho and is happy about it. But I do not forget that the male counterpart to Hyo-shim is actually Tae-min- and there is no life on the horizon for him. Writer-nim should have done a far better job with the story of his marriage. Tae-min deserves far better than to be reduced to a lonely tragic figure. Memo to Writer-nim: Do not forget that it is Tae-min who is really the male lead in this story.

Next week Hyo-jun takes the Bar exam, this time following (we hope) his wife’s instructions. It was never a question of brains or even knowledge before – it as about the discipline to follow the correct approach. We will keep our fingers crossed- there is no reason he could not return to filmmaking as a lawyer (without the lawyers the industry would not work economically).

We see Hyo-do serving chicken. I guess his story is done?

At least Hyo-shim’s Oppa is not only back to work but heading for a big promotion. I will hazard a guess that he will take Mr. Yeom’s place.

This post is not related to Live Your Own Life but its predecessor - The Real Has Come.

I’m watching Wedding Impossible in which Kwak Si-yang is playing the ML’s elder brother. He plays that supporting character with gravitas and is certainly a long way from being one of the chefs in Oh My Ghost. Wonder what TRHC will be like if he didn’t drop the main role that was later offered to Ahn Jae-hyun.

Tae Min finally develops some empathy and finally broken free from his binds to his "parents", and thus his attractiveness as a person suddenly increased >100%. Would love more scenes with the two brothers together as they really complement each other.

It looks more and more like Tae Min will need a long break to recover from his trauma, to find his own direction in life and some happiness on his own terms. Not taking a break will just destroy him. Remember that Tae Ho said, "If I am serious all the time, I would die". Tae Min IS serious all the time and by now has gone through a large dose of trauma, so he deserves a nice long break to recover and find himself.

Tae Ho's proposal was very heartfelt and exactly what Hyo Shim needs: someone who will support her goals in life such as study etc. The decision to move to a small starter home is also very thoughtful, so that she does not feel totally out of place and for them to have a normal life. The herculean effort he has put into trying to gain her mom's approval and include her mum in their life, but at a healthy distance, is exactly what Hyo Shim needs as well, as deep down she cares for her and wants to get on, but she did not know how to handle her. It's a win win in the end, as he also gets the big noisy family that he never had, and coming from the outside like Mirim, can handle them a lot better without baggage.

Episode 46 starts with TM taking on the full burden of his parents death investigation because he is now the big brother martyr. He tells TM to quickly get married and move out. (Question: does HS have a say in all of this?) TH BS’ing the scarf/sympathy story to HS’ Mother was irritating as the expression on her face. (Question: does Mirim still have a job? And why is the director depicting that she has a baby bump when it hasn’t been two months (the exam date)?)

Director Park’s US telephone number is wrong (an extra digit). Again, a simple search would have found the Hollywood fake number protocol. "555" is an exchange number commonly thought to be reserved by the phone companies for use by TV and movies in order to prevent prank phone calls to real people. In fact, only 555-0100 through 555-0199 are now specifically reserved for fictional use. The lack of basic prop detail in show is very distracting. Also, Director Park does not need to come to Korea to be part of the investigation of Evil Aunt’s crimes.

The great fixer Yeom seems to be pretty stupid to leave evidence in his office/safe. Why would Tae Hee know Yeom’s old phone password? They were never close. Do you know the passcode of your friends’ or siblings’ phones? But she is smart enough to conveniently figure it out.

We thought the producers had no money to add a new character late in the run, but no, adding the Bang grandson's family to the story to fulfill an immaterial story arc is troubling because all the juggling characters issues leaves no time for HS (Uee probably has set a record for the least amount of time on screen for a weekend lead.) The shock that Bang’s entire family lives in a modern apartment building and her granddaughter is about to get married - - - hits hard the idea of “lost” families as it shows exactly why Lost Dad cut off contact with HS: overbearing parents. All Bang’s son can do is “sigh” that his 20 year lie is uncovered with the recognition of his mother being escorted out of the restaurant? The writer appears to try to weave together sympathy for the main supporting cast characters, including Bang, Yeom and HS’s mom. But some people are not redeemable.

It is a little specious of Mirim to lecture Mother about modern marriage criteria against weighing family and finances versus love being the most important when her “marriage” was created by a shotgun and not romantic dating. Another drastic character change (if true) that Mirim’s dad who injured Hyo Jun at first meeting is now ALL IN FAVOR of their marriage even if he is a loser and she is the family breadwinner. Egads, the road to a happy ending for everyone is lined with land mine pot holes. Pilip’s poem puts the adults in the place of their Mother’s lonely burden.

Mother’s conditions to TH about marriage (no negative articles in paper, not going to jail, or making HS cry, and stop seeing her because he is annoying and clingy) are spot-on reasons but TH cannot guarantee any of them...

Episode 47 opens with Director Park arriving at Taesan (from “Rean Airlines” a nod to broadcast regulations about excessive advertising) like a gunslinger arriving in a wild west town. Grandma has a sentimental look back at her rooftop home after deciding Taesan was more important than her friend’s heartbreak. Also, she never confessed to HS’ Mother who she was - - - which should have Mother having second thoughts about TH’s family of lies and deception. The loan shark blocking Grandmother’s caravan seemed out of place.

The arrest warrants are out for Chairman Kang and Madam Jang. But we are given information that Director Park was charged with embezzlement and bribery three years ago (around the car accident time and when TM went to prison?) Oh my, PPL for a perp walk!

It really did not make much sense for Choi and Park to arrive at the Kang homestead teaming with reporters. Grandma came to just tell Jang that she was “expelled” from the family. What a meaningless proclamation. She does so by shifting all the family troubles on Jang’s greed. Jang counterpunches with the fact that her FIL and MIL started the whole mess by raising their sons poorly.

Jang’s charges: solicitation of murder, kidnapping, embezzlement, dereliction of duty. stock price manipulation and bribery. Kang’s charges: embezzlement, dereliction of duty and aiding and abetting a crime (assumed murder of brother). Yeom is charged with murder, kidnapping, embezzlement, dereliction of duty and accounting fraud.

On the day his family’s company is going down in public relations flames, TH is giddy to take HS to the park after her rehearsal. It was where they first literally ran into each other. She remembers thinking he was a weirdo (correct call). His proposal was ...... boilerplate and the engagement dinner is at HD’s chicken restaurant with HS' niece and nephew an attempt to fit in.

In contrast, TM goes to the empty shoe store. He seems as despondent as his father was in the shop. This starts off a final arc of “lost” sons coming to terms with their families. Bang’s Lost Son shows up at the porridge shop. Mother’s first reaction is to throw a drink on him and berate him (as if he was her own child). Violence seems to be the only parental response in this series. But again, it makes no story sense to have Lost Son to show up the cafe instead of his mother’s house. Then after the cafe, why did he not go to her house? All of the mothers depicted in this series are overbearing, obnoxious, and overwhelmingly emotional manipulators --- enough of a reason for their children to resent and/or escape their withering orbit.

Then Hyo Jun gets an epiphany that a parent beating sense into a child is OK?! Is that the moral of this show? Hyo Jun suddenly realizes that he has been irresponsible adult while his “girlfriend’s” belly is expanding faster than a Thanksgiving Day parade balloon.

Sun Soon’s crying realization rang hollow that she took advantage of her daughter...

Thanks @unit for the highlights.
It seems there is indeed even a higher level of moochery than what we have been presented so far, poor Landlady, even if she often was an annoying character, she didn’t deserve this.
I'm just puzzled why is Unfilial Son kneeling in front of Hyoshim's Mom and not his own mom. That's where he should be.

Despite all the PPL, I liked the scene of Dragon Mom and Grandmother. Dragon Mom was right in many things... only... her deeds were her own choice... and unlike Grandma she still doesn't regret anything.

I loved all brothers' scenes, how they communicate, care and look out for each other. Taemin is such a good hyung, trying to protect his dongsaeng. I just hope the writer will give him some (at least a hint of) positive future (a postcard from TV Lady inviting him for an art exhibition in the States? 😁 ).

@unit, thanks for the highlights !
My complaint is Tae -hee worrying about Madam Jang .
“You’re the original Jang Sook-hyang”, I laughed at that line.
Dad needs a transplant. Who cares at this late episode ?
The Lawyer and Lawyer want to be Zzzzz
Poor Landlady ! I wish they had explored her evil twin angle instead.
I hope the next weekender is better !

As always, I come to promote Tae Min, the LEAD (as in Leader) of this show. Tae Ho was the romantic lead, but Tae Min was always the leader.

Just because he wasn't overly emotional like Tae Ho doesn't mean he didn't care deeply about his family and Taesan Group. A lightbulb went off in my head when he told Tae Ho that he was going to continue to the investigation on his own - in order to PROTECT Tae Ho.

And that's what he has been doing all along - it was the writer who finally put the words in recent scenes, but his actions have always been there. He has always cared about his little sis - this was demonstrated before, but never spoken. Tae Ho admitted in a recent episode that it was due to Tae Min's actions, that Taesan was "protected". Grandmother told him his duty was to "protect" Taesan. He was determined to "protect" his father while seeking facts and the truth.

Episodes 36-46 were really Tae Min's episodes. Episode 36 - he discovers Tae Hee is not in Paris, that Grandmother is alive and that Dragon mom has been lying to him for years. That was the first big blow but he didn't mope around, he took action and in quick succession: he tracks down Grandmother; orders an investigation into Jang's financial malfeasance (another blow once he learns how deep it was); learns that Jun Bum was his bio dad (biggest blow of all): rather than running away, once again rescues the company from TVLive and Dragon Mom; refuses to give up on his father and demands Grandmother hand over the evidence she has; requires additional forensics on the dash cam footage (whereas Tae Ho - as ALWAYS - is ready to mete out revenge immediately); after Yeom claims 100% responsibility, he doesn't accept it but orders an investigation into Yeom; gathers up the puzzle pieces (the last ones provided by Tae Hee and Hyo Seong); and . . . once he has the proof and evidence required for a solid case. . . .eviscerates Dragon Mom with the words that she will finally pay for her sins and that her "son" was dead.

After all of that, this man deserves the happiest end of all characters - and it appears that writer-nim will simply send him off to Paris for awhile. Very unsatisfactory to this viewer.

OKOK I have two rants notes and then I'll move on to something positive!!

1. JEEZ, could we just re-emphasize for a moment that Tae-min really beat the living crap out of Yeom!! I was like, "Stop beating up that old man, dude!!!"

2. Note to 어머니, it wasn't that you never had a chance to dress Hyo-sim in pretty clothes that made her youth difficult--it was that you were ruthlessly overbearing. Just saying! That she was a daughter, friend and husband to you is also very good to recognize, but is really creepy, and you should be telling this to HER not her future husband.

Phew! Glad that's out of the way.

Four more episodes left! Wanna take some bets?

A. How many weddings will we have?
B. How many family babies will we have, whether born and announced?
C. How many comas will we have?
D. How many deaths remain?
E. How many Tae-min smiles are ahead???

My answers:

A. 3
B. 2
C. 1
D. 0
E. ♾️

I havent seen this week's episodes yet, looking forward to it. Someone mentioned TRHC, and the hours of pain came screaming back. I definitely like this one better and hope the next one will be a slight improvement on this. I have small hopes :D

I will admit that I am glad that Tae Min is getting a positive story line. I was quite strongly against the character in the first half of the series because of his "proprietary" attitude towards Hyo Shin. Now, we are seeing him following the programme's title and starting to live his own life. I doubt it will happen but my "ending" would him flying to the U.S. to find happiness (with ex-wife?) and possibly success.

Having the two brothers "discover" each other and swap home locations would be a fitting "Live your own life" conclusion, IMO.