Queen of Tears: Episodes 3-4

255 March 18, 2024March 18, 2024

by Unit

With our setup out of the way, the drama begins to peel back the layers on our lead couple’s relationship. Between flashbacks and reveals of some of the memories they hold dear, we are starting to understand where they’re both coming from. The drama also adds intrigue to its humorous and emotional angles, as some of our characters unravel to be surprisingly worse villains than we might have expected.

EPISODES 3-4

The week opens with a flashback to four years ago when Hae-in visited Hyun-woo’s hometown for the first time. Hyun-woo might not have had a black card to purchase brand name items for his girl, but he sure impressed her with unlimited ice pop options from his mom’s supermarket. “Did your mom never buy you [an ice pop]?” he asked, shocked to hear that it was Hae-in’s first time eating one. This man was actually feeling sorry that her poverty stricken family couldn’t afford something as common as an ice pop, and I almost died of second-hand embarrassment watching him insist that he was okay with Hae-in’s poor background. Now I know why he quit his job and ran away after learning that her family was filthy rich. I’d have been mortified too!

Back then, Hyun-woo was ready to marry Hae-in even if her family was in debt. He sincerely promised to always be by her side, and if Hae-in wasn’t already madly in love with Hyun-woo, she sure fell for him at that moment. Perhaps, it’s why that specific memory is the last thing that came to Hae-in’s mind when she thought she was going to die in the wild boar attack. Thankfully, her husband came to save the day with a precise shot at the boar — and then swooped her away in the princess carry style after she twisted her ankle. I will always love this swoon-worthy trope!

Queen of Tears: Episodes 3-4

I loved that afterwards, Hae-in got to brag about Hyun-woo’s shooting skills to her family, and rub it in their faces like the famous Korean 7-step skincare routine. This woman will “my husband” all of us to death, and I love it for her. But what I loved the most about this hunting trip was BaekHong eventually falling victim to the “sharing one room” trope. Because unlike Queensville where they slept apart, the Hong family’s hunting villa doesn’t have that many rooms. How scandalous!

While Hyun-woo is nervous/terrified at the thought of sharing a room with his wife, Hae-in is flustered at the memory of how insanely attractive her husband was when he saved her life. Then Hyun-woo exits the shower in nothing but a white towel (reminding me of this scene in You From Another Star), and Hae-in temporarily forgets how to breathe. Not gonna lie, I did, too. “What in the world happened to his body?” Hae-in wonders. “Was he trying to seduce me?” He wasn’t trying, sis, he already did! Suddenly, a king-sized bed is too small for BaekHong to share when they did just fine cuddling in a single bed back when she visited Yongdu-ri. Tsk.

The good news is that Hae-in’s heart has started fluttering again at the sight of the “walking sexy dynamite” that is her husband. She thinks about all the things she’ll lose when she dies — the biggest of all, being Hyun-woo — and she refuses to entertain the morbid thought. Hae-in has been on the brink of death several times and she has miraculously survived each time. “Another miracle will save me,” she declares, and amen to that.

In the meantime, Hyun-woo’s siblings, BAEK HYUN-TAE (Kim Do-hyun) and BAEK MI-SEON (Jang Yoon-ju), visit Seoul to persuade Hae-in not to go through with the divorce, but she has a meeting so they can’t chat for long. The Baek siblings belatedly learn that Hyun-woo hasn’t brought up the divorce with her yet, and Hyun-woo enters panic mode when Mi-seon says she already texted Hae-in about it. Hae-in gets home drunk after her meeting, and Hyun-woo tries to delete the text from her phone before she reads it. His first deletion attempt earns him a kiss — because Hae-in has decided to try doing new things before she dies — and he is so shocked that all he can do is stand there wide-eyed like K-drama female leads of yore. Lol.

Undeterred, Hyun-woo sneaks into Hae-in’s room for attempt #2, and he succeeds in deleting Mi-seon’s text after overcoming the passcode hurdle. Phew! But to wipe off every trace of relief we feel, the drama hits us with an emotional bomb: Hyun-woo and Hae-in lost a baby in the early days of their marriage, and Hae-in’s passcode is the baby’s due date! OMG! I need a minute to process this. Hae-in thinks about her baby every single time she unlocks her phone, and Hyun-woo’s room used to be the nursery. Is this what pain feels like? Why don’t you twist the knife further into my heart, Show.

Now I see why Hyun-woo was upset and Hae-in was just numb when MOMMY and DADDY HONG (Na Young-hee and Jung Jin-young) ordered them to have a baby last week. The loss of their child has to be one of the reasons for the breakdown of their marriage, right? Knowing BaekHong, they probably grieved differently and assumed the other person didn’t care as much. Oh God, these two pitiful souls!

Queen of Tears: Episodes 3-4

Since BaekHong thrives on miscommunication, Hae-in interprets Hyun-woo’s following-her-around-to-delete-the-text gestures to mean that he really cares about her, and she becomes more relaxed around him. Lol. Erroneously or not, this is what happens when your partner believes that you’re interested in them. Meanwhile, Hyun-woo begins to see Hae-in in a different light following her surprise kiss and the passcode reveal — but he gaslights himself into believing that his heart is racing because he’s scared of her.

But all it takes is one unprovoked compliment from Hae-in, and Hyun-woo starts skipping his steps and humming to himself at work. “Have I gone crazy?” he wonders. And yes, sir, you are crazy about your wife. Crazy enough to steal glances at her through the glass walls of her office while analyzing her facial expressions and smiling like a loon. Crazy enough to buy her comfortable shoes after she slipped on the escalator, and feel very accomplished after spotting the shoes on her feet. Get a grip, Baek Hyun-woo!

Yang-gi likens the resurgence of Hyun-woo’s attraction to Hae-in to Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin’s reel to real love story (Park Ji-eun writer-nim, you cheeky woman!). But Hyun-woo, the love-struck idiot, insists that he is only paying this much attention to Hae-in because he wants her to include him in her will. If that’s the case, Mr. Baek Hyun-woo, can you please explain to the class why you find it so annoying that Eun-seong has inserted himself into Hae-in’s life under the guise of Hercyna negotiations? Hyun-woo refuses to accept that he’s jealous because jealousy is an emotion that is reserved for when you actually like someone. But okay. Let him keep denying the feelings that he clearly has for his wife — while grilling lettuce instead of meat. Pfft.

Queen of Tears: Episodes 3-4

Hae-in surprises Hyun-woo with some much needed good news — and no, she hasn’t written him into her will. But who needs a will when she has found a research lab with a 51% chance of curing her!? That’s a 51% chance that Hyun-woo might end up as a divorcée after all, rather than a widower. (By the way, I’m often thrilled when I spot some scenes in a drama that I saw in its trailer. But I would never have guessed that Hae-in’s “good news” is the reason Hyun-woo was running around and crying like a mad man in one of the Queen of Tears trailers. LMAO!).

In the event that Hae-in is cured, optimistic Yang-gi throws out the possibility that she can fall in love with Eun-seong and request a divorce from Hyun-woo herself. She would have to give him alimony in that case, and it’s a win-win for everyone involved. But if his wife has to fall for someone else, it cannot be Eun-seong because Hyun-woo doesn’t get a good vibe from the guy. And jealousy aside, he’s actually on to something.

You see, Eun-seong seems to have abandonment issues after growing up as an orphan before he was adopted abroad. But most orphans in dramaland grow up to be lonely chaebol heirs who are traumatized by the rain. They don’t go about killing — and threatening to kill — other people’s precious dogs like Eun-seong does in his misguided campaign for abandoned dogs. That is borderline sociopathic behavior, and it’s scary that this kind of human is hanging around Hae-in. Thankfully, Hae-in’s interest in Eun-seong does not exceed business reasons, and she shuts down all of his attempts to make her second guess her husband.

Queen of Tears: Episodes 3-4

Unfortunately, Eun-seong is not the only villain in this show. There’s GRACE GO (Kim Joo-ryung), the meddling matchmaker who has vowed to tear BaekHong apart because Hae-in ignored her matchmaking efforts and married for love. That’s why Grace fed Hyun-woo the “Hae-in secretly cut you out of her will before your marriage” information — which I think is false. Grace also set up the boar attack at the hunting trip, but we’re yet to find out who instructed her to do so.

Hae-in’s grandfather’s girlfriend (Lee Mi-sook) is my #1 pick as the mastermind because underneath that gentle “I don’t want anything from the chairman other than his love” facade lies a woman who, like Grace, is skilled in the art of manipulation. Unfortunately, Grandpa doesn’t listen to his daughter, HONG BEOM-JA (Kim Jung-nan), who sees past that facade. Ms. Girlfriend has no problem preventing Grandpa’s estranged first son, HONG BEOM-SEOK (Park Yoon-hee) from seeing him — and then lying when she’s asked about it. GRANDPA HONG (Kim Gab-soo) believes that Beom-seok sold him out to the prosecution and schemed to take his place as chairman of Queen’s group. Meanwhile, Beom-seok threw his father under the bus because he heard that his father was trying to pin embezzlement charges on him.

Someone definitely set up this conflict between father and son, and it’s been 20 years since they’ve been estranged — which is coincidentally the same number of years that Ms. Girlfriend has spent in the Hong family. This woman is playing the long con, and I refuse to believe otherwise. Not after that cryptic exchange of glances between her and Eun-seong — who, by the way, knows that Grace is connected to the boar attack, and is also working with her to split the Hong family in his grand plan to topple Queen’s group.

Grace lies that Hae-in is intentionally hogging Eun-seong’s attention to prevent him from investing in Soo-cheol’s resort project, and Soo-cheol’s wife, CHEON DA-HYE (Lee Joo-bin) sits up at this news. Da-hye is another interestingly suspicious character who pretends to be a docile and loving wife, but really, she finds her husband exhausting to be around. It’s almost like she has her own plans for marrying into the Hong family. Coincidentally, Da-hye is the one who informed Soo-cheol about investor Eun-seong’s arrival in Korea. And like Mommy Hong, Da-hye also wants Soo-cheol to be Grandpa’s successor.

Grace seals her lie with some fortune telling nonsense that Hae-in is fated to prey on her siblings all her life, and Mommy Hong is once again reminded about the grudge she nurses against Hae-in. She goes on to confront her daughter for being a “selfish bitch” who doesn’t care if everyone around her dies as long as she can save herself. Hae-in becomes dizzy at the mention of her late brother, and Hyun-woo rushes to steady his wife before giving his mother-in-law the polite “Ma’am, you need to leave” speech. This is not the grief Olympics, but it sucks that Mommy Hong only sees that she lost a son and she doesn’t see that Hae-in also lost a brother.

Hae-in rips my heart out when she reveals that she’s keeping her illness a secret from the family because her parents have already lost one child. This puts in perspective Daddy and Mommy Hong’s panicked reaction and palpable relief when they heard about Hae-in’s near-death experience during the hunting trip. And knowing that Hae-in also has first-hand experience with the pain of child loss makes her decision to shield her parents from her condition hurt even more. Sigh. Hong Hae-in, you poor thing. How are you still standing under the weight of everything you’ve been holding in?

Queen of Tears: Episodes 3-4

Just as it began, the week ends with Hae-in’s visit to Yongdu-ri. She’s here to support DADDY BAEK’s (Jeon Bae-soo) reelection as the village head, and this is a father-daughter reunion of sorts. Heh. Hae-in recalls fond memories of her first visit as she browses through Hyun-woo’s room, and she stumbles on an old music player in his drawer. But when she goes outside to listen to the music, her hallucination strikes again. By the time Hyun-woo arrives, Hae-in has already wandered off in a daze. Oh no! The frantic village boy and his bicycle go in search of his wife, but he doesn’t find her until nightfall.

Hyun-woo is so relieved to see Hae-in that he can’t jump off his bicycle any faster. He peppers her with questions on her whereabouts, and she insists that she is not a patient. Hae-in might just as well have poured cold water on her husband. A disappointed Hyun-woo turns to leave, and that’s when the streetlights come on and she sees how sweaty he is. Instantly, her walls come crashing down as she stares at the evidence of her husband’s concern and worry about her. Desperately trying to hold back her tears, Hae-in admits to having memory lapses. The last thing she remembers was standing outside Hyun-woo’s house. She has no idea how she ended up in their current location.

Under the lights, Hyun-woo takes a good look at the state his wife is in. Muddy, injured, scared. The severity of her condition finally begins to dawn on him. His quickened pace eats up the distance between them, and he pulls Hae-in into a tight embrace. He’s crying, she’s crying, and I can barely see through my own tears. Stay hydrated, people, this drama is coming for our collective tear ducts.

The epilogue gives us a flashback to Hae-in’s last day in high school before she went abroad. To drown out her classmates’ gossip that she was being admitted into a mental hospital because she went mad after her brother died, Hae-in resorted to her music player. She changes her mind at the last minute and charges back towards the building, probably to give her classmates a piece of her mind, but she trips and scrapes her knees.

A hand reaches out to help her up, and it’s Hyun-woo — who just transferred to the school. He manages to cover her scrapes with a bandaid before she storms off, leaving her music player behind in the sand. Yes, it’s the same music player Hae-in found in Hyun-woo’s room. I’m not sure Hyun-woo knows that Hae-in is the girl he met all those years ago, but isn’t it interesting that he kept the music player with him till now?

Admittedly, BaekHong’s past connection is my least favorite of all the tropes so far, but it drives home Hyun-woo’s status as Hae-in’s destined knight in shining armor. Unfortunately, a tumor isn’t a photocopier that can be fixed by pressing a few buttons; neither is it a boar that can be brought down with a single bullet. Mr. Knight had better buckle up because Hae-in’s condition is going to get worse before it gets better. It will get better, right, Show? Hae-in has lost too much to lose her life, too.

Queen of Tears: Episodes 3-4

In the midst of dramatic, villainous, and sycophantic characters, Hyun-woo’s mom continues to stand out. MUMMY BAEK (Hwang Young-hee) may not know the genesis of BaekHong’s rift, but she’s the only person outside the marriage who sees that there’s a deeper issue between the couple than meets the eye. From their wedding day till now, Mummy Baek has been invested in their happiness, and it’s nice to know that they have at least one supportive parent on their side. Speaking of support, Hae-in’s secretary is such a fun character. I live for SECRETARY NA’s (Yoon Bomi) one-liners and facial expressions, and her scenes with Hae-in are some of my favorites.

Two weeks in and Queen of Tears remains an addictive watch. How can a show be so fun, and yet so heartbreaking? I’m impressed with the pacing, the strength of the writing and direction, and the marvelous performance of all the actors. These people will break my heart, mend it, and break it again. And I am ready for this, I think. In the meantime, if you’re looking for me, I’ll be trying to get over my tears from Episode 4’s ending scene by replaying oppa’s towel scene and swooning alongside Hae-in.

255

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1 sailorgirl

March 18, 2024 at 10:17 PM

Harabeoji's girlfriend is up to no good. Calling it now! When she asked Hae-In's mom to make the tea, a part of me shuddered because when it inevitably gets out that she's been poisoning the elderly man, no one will be able to tie it to her. It's a common occurrence with her character, like when she refused to wear the hanbok, but later lied that she was hapilly putting it on. She isn't what she appears to be.

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pogo 🍉

March 18, 2024 at 10:36 PM

wouldn't be surprised if she was the one behind introducing sociopathic Eun-seong to Hae-in in the first place (pre Hyun-woo). All the reliance on shamans and fortune tellers doesn't bode well for Harabeoji's health, she is totally playing a long game and the only person who sees through her is auntie.

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emsel

March 18, 2024 at 10:44 PM

Crazy aunt keeps growing on me each episode and I now see her as spunky aunt😅😅 Her birthday crown had me chuckling.

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GySgt213

March 19, 2024 at 4:13 AM

She is my favorite. I can't wait to see what happens when she comes on the screen.

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🌸 Seeker 🌸

March 19, 2024 at 6:55 AM

Yeah! We're all nominating her to be the OTP's cupid or is it re-cupid.

🌸 Seeker 🌸

March 19, 2024 at 6:52 AM

It was such a stark contrast to Dr. Slump's tiara but dare I say more fun. 😉 Also the way she acts like a toddler in front of her father is so ... er, disconcerting ... its not eew but not awww either.

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sailorgirl

March 19, 2024 at 12:50 AM

@pogo1 I second this, they’re in cahoots! 🕵️‍♀️I think the strangest thing about her villainy is that I have to mentally switch from viewing her as the kind, gracious woman that she played in Perfect Marriage Revenge. I loved her in that drama, and it's probably a testament to the actress’s talent that all I feel now for her character is a growing sense of unease.

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pogo 🍉

March 19, 2024 at 1:06 AM

I've seen Lee Mi-sook in dramas for what feels like decades now, mostly as sweet, gentle mother figures but I loved her in Can We Get Married and Miss Korea, among others. Can't wait to see what QoT has given her to play with!

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🌸 Seeker 🌸

March 19, 2024 at 7:06 AM

^^ 💯 For me she was the mom-in-love of the FL in PMR. The "growing sense of unease" is real!!

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Dramaforever

March 19, 2024 at 6:18 AM

There was a moment in episode 4 when Eun Seong and her cross each other and they share a loaded glance. The villain team definitely has Grandpa's girl friend in it. Right now, thy have Hae in's mom covered (through the assistant), grand pa covered through the girlfriend, Hae in covered through Eun Seong and Hae In's brother covered through his wife (though I doubt if the wife is acting on her own or if she's a part of the larger villain team)

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🌸 Seeker 🌸

March 19, 2024 at 7:09 AM

Such a perfect description!! Now I'm feeling stifled on behalf of our OTP. Hopefully the FL's father and aunt will be rooting for them.

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SEDH

March 20, 2024 at 8:54 AM

Speaking of the villain team - in the scene where they are sitting around the table, drinking mimosas and plotting nefariously, who was the man with Eun Song and Grace - was he the skimming accountant?

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🌸 Seeker 🌸

March 19, 2024 at 6:49 AM

I wish you a delightful cruise! 🛳

Wonder how much the Girlfriend-in-law has siphoned off for the past 20 years ... and isn't that a bit too long even for an admittedly long con!?

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pogo 🍉

March 19, 2024 at 11:24 AM

lol thanks! We're going to have some choppy waters ahead but I am willing to go down with this ship, in it to the (hopefully not) bitter end <3

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🌸 Seeker 🌸

March 19, 2024 at 11:39 AM

Choppy waters or icebergs ... we will overcome all and hopefully "everyone" can get on that plank and swim to safety!! 👍👏

Dorotka

March 19, 2024 at 2:46 AM

Plus she also gently inserted her superiority - she is asking her sort of daughter-in-law for making the tea.

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vienibenmio

March 19, 2024 at 5:55 AM

Yup, that's why they showed that board game where she sneakily defeated him - she's outplaying them all

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pogo 🍉

March 19, 2024 at 11:40 PM

Hae-in is the only blood relative other than Auntie who's capable of seeing through Grandpa's Camilla and the only one with a shot at being taken seriously - it's just her terminal illness is (unsurprisingly) taking up most of her attention. That woman is definitely up to no good, we're getting concubine machinations here!

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🌸 Seeker 🌸

March 19, 2024 at 7:03 AM

Each of her actions seem to have an opposite reaction from her. Also I'm wary of the "promise" she's extracted from Harabeoji. 😅

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2 Lord Cobol (Kdramas, like water, flow downhill)

March 18, 2024 at 10:20 PM

The actor playing FL's grandfather is only 7 years older than his "son" 🤔 And the ML's brother is only 7 years younger than their father. #birthsecretsinkdramaland ?

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🌸 Seeker 🌸

March 19, 2024 at 7:11 AM

Wow!! Thank you for uncovering the Secret Seven Society, My Lord.

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parkchuna adores YoungWon couples Forever 🍉

March 19, 2024 at 8:18 AM

The casting for grandpa, dad, and aunty is so unreal but.. i’ve believed in stranger things from dramaland.

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3 pogo 🍉

March 18, 2024 at 10:32 PM

I'd wondered, after week 1 (because it left me with NOTHING BUT QUESTIONS) how a relationship that started like Hae-in and Hyun-woo's - genuinely in love, no arm-twisting required to get them to marry - broke down to what we saw in episode 1, and thought there was only one possible reason but since it wasn't clear they'd ever shared a bedroom at any point during the marriage...still questions. And it turns out I was right, and she was pregnant! Knowing they aren't just an estranged couple but bereaved parents - no wonder the ep 1 'have a baby' orders from her family enraged him so much and left her so numb (did her family even know she was pregnant at one point?).
It's blindingly obvious they still love each other, it's just buried under a mountain of hurt and that's buried under their respective numbness/workaholic coping mechanisms. For all Hyun-woo's internal insistence that he does not have actual feelings for his wife, he just wants to softsoap her to change her will, he's rather transparently jealous. And for such a supposed cold, insensitive and zero-empathy ice queen, Hae-in's poker face is barely holding on (the stank eye to the kitten while she's holding an umbrella over its head while it eats the tin of cat food she obviously got it, the pleased expression she gets when she thinks Hyun-woo wanted to follow her into her bedroom or when she sees he's jealous, the whole situation with his siblings when they come to meet her and ask for her help - girl is NOT a snob about her in-laws, brain tumour-induced empathy or no), also I am just about slain by the whole shoe conversation and her subsequently actually wearing the hilariously incongruous - but actually kind of stylish in a modern way? - jewelled sneakers with her posh vintage Hercyna outfit.

(and on that note, interesting to me that the drama chose to go with showing us that Mr Herrmann the 'family man' has a mistress and it's that knowledge - obtained from Sociopath 2nd Lead - that Hae-in uses to get her store. Cynical but I love it)

also Grandpa's Camilla - stole that one from koalasplayground lol - is 100 percent up to no good with her shamans and her lying. I mean, you can't put Lee Mi-sook in a role like that and have her just playing the dutiful 'I ask for nothing' girlfriend, I love that auntie Beom-ja is on to her and also firmly on the side of our couple even if she chooses to express it via thirsting over Hyun-woo in front of Hae-in lol. Does anyone else think little bro's secretly-drinking wife with the 'Ivy league professor' father also had some of her family background faked? This family is interesting!

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emsel

March 18, 2024 at 10:51 PM

Yup, Hae In Bro's wife is going to be death knell for Hae In's mom. Kwak Dong Yeon is making the brother role enjoyable, but the character itself is a typical pampered by mom and plain stupid person. The only different take on the "mommy's boy" is he genuinely loves his wife and will get heartbroken by her.

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pogo 🍉

March 18, 2024 at 11:05 PM

yeah little bro is dumb and disrespectful to his brother-in-law (again,taking cues from his parents and especially his mother there) but he loves his faking wife. Kind of reminds me of his character in Vincenzo but married.

I would not put it past Grandpa's Camilla to have manoeuvred both little bro's wife and sociopathic Eun-sung into little bro and Hae-in's orbits years ago to try and manipulate the family via potential marriages.

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🌸 Seeker 🌸

March 19, 2024 at 7:22 AM

He is indeed set up for a hard fall ... will all the King's or in this case Queen's horses and men be able to put him together again.

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pogo 🍉

March 18, 2024 at 10:58 PM

standout bits and pieces (these are long episodes but feel shorter, they just fly by)
1. Hyun-woo's surprise on realising the passcode on Hae-in's phone really is their baby's would-have-been birthday (OUCH), combined with the lone glow-in-the-dark star still left on the ceiling of his room (the baby's would-have-been nursery) while he turns the light on and off.
2. Hae-in being the one to bring up their first visit to Yongduri and their being fine in a single bed that time, Hae-in also actually carving time out of her day (on the way to the appointment to get her Hercyna at last) to chat with her husband's siblings and show up to support her father-in-law's reelectment campaign (the meeting with the nephew lol), the whole shoe conversation (I know this is bringing it up twice but the 'I have loads of expensive and pretty shoes' 'yeah I know you have loads of gorgeous luxury shoes but they're uncomfortable and the heels are narrow' still kills me)
3. Hae-in and auntie Beom-ja being the unexpected 'Baek Hyun-woo is so cool and awesome' team while she's icing her ankle lol
4. crazy auntie being the one to attempt a reconciliation between her dad and brother, she might act daft but her heart is in the right place.

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Peoplez

March 19, 2024 at 9:06 AM

totally second all the standout bits but i'd like to add:
5. the lettuce grilling
6. the directing(?) decision to have the street lights letting them to really SEE each other, hyunwoo sees haein's wound and haein sees hyunwoo's effort, is genius, and magical to say the least
7. haein saying you're the biggest waste, along with all the expensive stuff she brought to the campaign
8. hyunwoo screaming 'be careful' across the mall and suzy flirting smile

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pogo 🍉

March 19, 2024 at 9:46 AM

5. HAHAHA the lettuce grilling, Hyun-woo is really too transparent
6. my heart is still recovering from the baby loss revelation AND this moment, I wasn't expecting to feel so emotional in just episode 4! It's so perfectly conceived, executed and acted with so much heart, the way the light hits them as they take it in...give the Kim-Kim couple a daesang already please!!
7. I love that even as she's trying to focus on material success and wealth, she can't help but go straight to Hyun-woo at the end, like he really is the biggest 'waste' because she still cares.
8. lol the way he ran for it to not be discovered showing obvious concern for her (not sure about the flirting part though?)

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Peoplez

March 19, 2024 at 2:55 PM

The flirting part is about Hyunwoo's smile when giving the shoes ><

link for reference: https://www.koreaboo.com/news/kdrama-queenoftears-kim-soohyun-suzy-meme/

pogo 🍉

March 19, 2024 at 11:29 PM

I will add standout bit 9: Hyun-woo swooping Hae-in away in the princess carry and promptly asking 'is this too much??' since she was suspicious of his OTT romantic gestures last week, and her obviously-struggling-poker-face going 'I'm injured so it's fine' with the finishing touch being Auntie Beom-ja's reaction when she sees them lol.

Another kdrama addict

March 20, 2024 at 1:06 PM

10. One compliment from his wife has him skipping happily (and he still thinks he's not in love with her...pabo😁
11. The hair "discussion" - I want you to be fair, any guy touching your hair, you sud get mad...except for your hairdresser - had me laughing so hard 🤣

sailorgirl

March 19, 2024 at 12:54 AM

@pogo1 Methinks the little brother's wife faked ALL the credentials. I'm waiting for the episode when she cracks and bursts out in Busan dialect, no cap.

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pogo 🍉

March 19, 2024 at 1:00 AM

no surprise she married the stupid sibling, you'd have to be dumb (or delusional-via-shaman, like the mother) to believe 'my Ivy League professor dad never let me speak English or read it at home' lol can't see Hae-in ever believing something like that

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🌸 Seeker 🌸

March 19, 2024 at 7:25 AM

👍🤣🤣🤣

That will be so on point!! Yay yay!!

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Kafiyah Bello

March 19, 2024 at 5:37 AM

Hae In's parents definitely knew she was pregnant, which makes their callousness worse. Since Hyun Woo's room was going to be the baby room. SMH

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vienibenmio

March 19, 2024 at 5:56 AM

He only is "okay" with her dying in an abstract sense, and I think it's because deep down he's convinced she'll survive. Whenever she's in very immediate danger, he intervenes.

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Mandy

March 19, 2024 at 7:19 AM

Yes so much to this. I’ve always been convinced from the moment he found out about her timeline that he’s yet to fully process it. Now that she’s opened up to what she’s experiencing, it’s a bucket of cold water on his head I’m sure.

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pogo 🍉

March 19, 2024 at 11:21 AM

she's in denial, he sees her walking around looking (on the surface) perfectly fine so it's not quite real to him either since her last 'glitch' happened when he was right there and saved her from the boar, but this is the first time he's seeing the actual effects of it on her and hearing her actually admit she's scared. Definitely a splash of cold water to the face for sure.

still interesting how he sees her in his mind's eye though, like in his nightmare where she's recovered and discovers the divorce papers she's more vampy and practically cackling, like that's what he needs to see her as in order to leave her with a clear conscience (imagination: unfeeling coldhearted witch. Reality: bereaved mother of their child who still carries a daily reminder of that loss as her phone passcode).

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SEDH

March 20, 2024 at 9:04 AM

I also think they are/were both very ripe for malicious interventions - she has never known love from her family; he has only known open/sincere love from his family, so it didn't take much for Hae-In's mom and gossip to plant the seeds of doubt (he just married you for your money; she is only interested in a pretty toy she can control) and since they don't know how to love each other, they misunderstand each other. She thinks his overt signs of affection are an affectation or playing the part and he thinks her coldness is all there is (or rather, isn't hiding her soft center). The Kims are doing such a remarkable acting job here - showing us so much with the subtlest of expressions and changes in gaze.

pogo 🍉

March 20, 2024 at 9:52 AM

She thinks his overt signs of affection are an affectation or playing the part

and technically, she's right - in the present day, they are because he's (in his own mind) only pretending with her. But in the flashbacks of their pre-estrangement relationship, he's sincere and she knows it - no suspicion there since she knows he has no idea who she really is.

hallyucinations

March 19, 2024 at 9:25 PM

Yep, he has not internalised what her dying will involve- the suffering she will have to go through as the disease takes hold. Each time he sees any real impact of the disease on her body or mind, he intervenes or reacts very primally. That is his first impulse.

Till now he is actually only thinking of her death as his ability to walk out unscathed from a clearly suffocating and even scary marital environment.

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pogo 🍉

March 19, 2024 at 11:35 PM

that's the thing, he needs to see her as this cold workaholic monster who forgot their baby and has no feelings, to bring himself to leave her (see also: his mind's-eye image of her discovering the divorce papers, she's practically a cartoon villain, like her grandpa but pretty)

But by now it's quite obvious she really isn't that way, and after the passcode....he knows she isn't.

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hallyucinations

March 20, 2024 at 12:13 AM

True. That they love each other is painfully obvious but their love, atleast so far, comes from some intuitive sense of care and attraction. Neither of them KNOWS the other that well. There is that scene also where he is watching her interact with her subordinates and assumes that she will invariably be mean or angry but she surprises him by smiling or appreciating.

Looks like their marriage happened quite quickly. They may not have had a chance to know each other before they took the plunge and may be the gap only widened given the suffocating nature of the family and their inability to communicate.

🌸 Seeker 🌸

March 24, 2024 at 11:32 PM

Your display name is just so perfect. 😍

Your observation is on point. His real actions and reactions are 180° opposite from his (presumed) joy at being out of the marriage.

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4 emsel

March 18, 2024 at 10:40 PM

@unit Hahaha...Thank you for another funny recap.

These 1.5 hour long episodes just breeze by in the blink of an eye. Absolutely loving the time they are taking to slowly reveal all the characters, especially the OTP.

Yes, Hyun Woo's jealousy was funny, but him letting Hae In be delusional about his love and sincerity rubs me wrong.
Yes, Hyun Woo's scared look and desperation for escape is funny, but his friend egging him on about money makes Hyun Woo seem materialistic.
Yes, Hyun Woo's sibling are funny, but them pleading with Hyun Woo and making him reconsider his decision was pathetic.
Yes, Hyun Woo's mom has better understanding of his feelings/marriage, but she simply siding with Hyun Woo's decision without even asking about Hae In's feelings in the matter makes her a typical MIL.

If I wasn't already on the side of Hae In, all the above points made me side with her. If the writer uses the miscarriage as the main plot point for the souring relationship of the OTP, then it would mean that none of them learnt anything from Hae In mom's terrible treatment of Hae In over a lost son.

Sung Hoon is back to being creepy and I hope the crew of the girlfriend-in-law, Eun Sung and matchmaker have better villainy up their sleeves than being one dimensional. Girlfriend-in-law turning out to be the mom of Eun Sung is way too boring for a fun drama.

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pogo 🍉

March 18, 2024 at 11:22 PM

Hyun-woo letting Hae-in believe he's being genuine to her is interesting because he believes/wants to believe he isn't, but subconsciously, he totally is even if he's deep in denial about it and going 'I'm only being nice to her so she changes her will' the same way Hae-in puts her swooning over him down to brain damage from her terminal illness. And yeah, my sympathies are with Hae-in, if week 1 hadn't made it clear how lonely she is (Hyun-woo at least has his parents and his friend Yang-gi, who for all his materialism, appears to be a genuine friend to Hyun-woo), episode 4 makes the point even harder.

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emsel

March 18, 2024 at 11:31 PM

Like unit, I too find Hae In's secretary to be funny, but her reactions are labelled on the internet as "anti-man" 🙄 Clearly people are getting worked up over the gender reversals🤣

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pogo 🍉

March 18, 2024 at 11:43 PM

I'm indifferent to Hae-in's secretary, the acting comes across a bit...ok? (for other recent dramas, My Demon wasn't even 5 percent as good as QoT but Do Do-hee/Secretary Shin had a 10/10 relationship and banter)

but..anti-man? She allowed a male acquaintance into the office to get funds for his baby's hospital fees, that's hardly 'anti-man'.

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Mandy

March 19, 2024 at 5:13 AM

Just cynical and practical. She shuddered at Hae-in’s description of Hyun-woo, but cringed just as much with Hyun-woo’s romantic gestures. She’s more of a no bullshit at work type which I respect. The opposite of Hyun-woo’s assistant who’s (harmlessly) nosy lol.

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Cindy Mahri

March 20, 2024 at 9:31 AM

I just found her fun coz she reminds me so much of her similar role in Because This is My First Life. 😆

🌸 Seeker 🌸

March 19, 2024 at 7:34 AM

Can you help me understand what it means to be "anti-man". An explanation for dummies please. 🙏😅

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ar_arguably romantic

March 19, 2024 at 7:53 PM

probably anything a woman says that makes a man feel anxious about not being the center of the world. 😅

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🌸 Seeker 🌸

March 19, 2024 at 9:29 PM

Oh! Ha ha yes, now we all know that can happen.

Thank you for taking out the time to explain it so well. 😊

🌸 Seeker 🌸

March 19, 2024 at 7:32 AM

Omo ... all that Eun-seong's talk about someone's "precious" son / dog is making me have a nightmarish thought of him being behind Hae-in's brother's accident (?).
I confess to be tickled by him being revealed as Ms. Girlfriend's son. 🤣

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5 Kathryn51

March 18, 2024 at 11:05 PM

This show has grabbed my heart. I've never watched any of the main players before but Kim Soo Hyun is the master of facial expressions, both major and micro. Kim Ji won also communicates much with very few words in the script.

So, knowing that all will be well with our couple by the end of Episode 16, I'm ready for whatever they hit us with but hoping that amongst all of their twists and turns, the comedy and love continue.

But most of all, I'm looking forward to how the writer unpeels the various secrets, conspiracies, past histories and events. Will Father Hong's threat to destroy those who betray him - including their families - become a threat to the Baek family? Who is in charge of the evil-doers - Eun Seong or Eul Seol? Methinks, no me hopes, that there will be more betrayals amongst the bad guys. And Team Good Guys is beginning to take shape as well (starting with Auntie of the lustful eyes).

Crossing my fingers that Hyun Woo gets at least one more chance to use his sniper skills against Eun Seong. Karma's a bitch.

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pogo 🍉

March 18, 2024 at 11:32 PM

Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won are so good, it's almost unbelievable. So much said with just their eyes, even for characters who are a bit bottled up (him) or reserved/outright icy (her).
They both have excellent track records as actors but QoT so far is up there with some of their best.

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🌸 Seeker 🌸

March 19, 2024 at 7:38 AM

😍👌

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Mandy

March 19, 2024 at 5:07 AM

KSH and KJW are fantastic! But everyone else is also doing such a great job. Not a single actor who’s bad and no one to throw you off and make it obvious they are “acting” lol.

Park Sung-hoon does the creepy to sweet to cunning to murderous transition a bit too well. Gives me the hives. And he’s such a sweet heart in real life too which makes it even more jarring LOL. He’s brilliant. I do wish that Kwak Dong-yeon is given a bit more to do tho? He’s just… there. He provides a bit of comic relief but Hyun-woo has that fully covered. What is Soo-chul outside of being a stupid brother and a mama’s boy? Sweet husband maybe but we hardly see much of that side of him and his wife doesn’t even like him apparently. I’d like to see just a little more depth in his character.

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Dorotka

March 19, 2024 at 5:28 AM

I think (hope) KDY's time will still come.

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Kathryn51

March 19, 2024 at 8:44 AM

Soo-cheol is considered a "main" characters (as well as his wife) so I think it's safe to say that their role will play a bigger part once we get through the early medical trauma.

Perhaps I should learn a bit more about this writer (yes, I know - CLOY - never watched), but I am expecting the ultimate battles (families and corporate) to be epic and in a major pivot, Soo-cheol will choose Team Good.

On the other hand, perhaps in a major surprise, he is the ultimate baddie and simply fooling everyone - wife, family, Eun Seong. 😂😂

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🌸 Seeker 🌸

March 24, 2024 at 11:37 PM

I like your "secret twist" for Soo-cheol. Let's see if the drama lives up to your imagination. 👏👌

Kafiyah Bello

March 19, 2024 at 5:40 AM

Park Sung Hoon is channeling Shin Sung Rok from My love from another star. Their mannerisms are very similar. It isn't at all a bad thing, but I noticed it.

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Mandy

March 19, 2024 at 7:16 AM

Definitely Jae-kyung vibes. Tbh, I enjoyed watching Min-joon thump Jae-kyung. So I don’t mind Eun-sung being psycho at all. It’s a lot better than the boring sweet guy pining for a woman he never even had a hairline chance with.

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Peoplez

March 19, 2024 at 9:10 AM

Omg I totally thought about this!! If only he has a ring to touch before he goes into the creepy mode

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🌸 Seeker 🌸

March 19, 2024 at 8:24 AM

Bingo Park Sung-hoon's Eun-seong is a little too good.

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🌸 Seeker 🌸

March 19, 2024 at 7:38 AM

Eun-seong has already "mistakenly" aimed at Hyun-woo twice. It would be nice to see him facing the barrel. Good call. I second it.

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6 fannypackage

March 18, 2024 at 11:16 PM

the eps are long but feel like 10 minutes. give me moreeeee

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🌸 Seeker 🌸

March 24, 2024 at 11:38 PM

True dat! 😂

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7 peiyeelai

March 19, 2024 at 12:01 AM

The show keeps impressing me, from the main leads to the crazy aunt and even the lighting used at the end of Episode 4. I am glad that I stick to episode 4, as the show is definitely not the normal romcom, where they just feature a couple falling in love and that's it.

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🌸 Seeker 🌸

March 24, 2024 at 11:42 PM

So well expressed. The premiere week was making me iffy but so glad I stayed. The lightning was indeed lit! Hehe.

Your observation is what we need to remember. This story starts where most dramas end. Right now it is sort of enemies to lovers (hopefully HEA) stage.

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peiyeelai

March 24, 2024 at 11:49 PM

Yeap,the four episode test works well with this drama, there are many things that meet the eyes, the main characters are so human and so complex. Thus, I am not willing to throw in the towel at two episodes, knowing how the previous works of the writer and director.

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🌸 Seeker 🌸

March 25, 2024 at 2:23 AM

💯 We are getting to understand our OTP from their respective POVs. That light not only lit up the OTP but also the viewers interest. 🤣👏

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peiyeelai

March 25, 2024 at 3:12 AM

Yes, it also said.....here is something that you guys have been waiting after four episodes

🌸 Seeker 🌸

March 25, 2024 at 4:08 AM

For some strange reason I'm not getting a notification of your replies. 🤷‍♀️

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peiyeelai

March 25, 2024 at 4:33 AM

I think it is the moderation problem on the admin side.

8 panshel

March 19, 2024 at 12:04 AM

Hae-in needs to transfer her fate and illness to her mother, à la Marry My Husband. Did she just call her daughter a "bitch (년)"? It is messed up that she blames Hae-in for the death of her son when we learned that Hae-in also lost her child. No wonder Hyun-woo was so upset about Hae-in's flippant remark for them to have a baby if her parents say so. He stays in the baby's room. I better not see any redemption for her mother by the end of this drama.

Besides, like, three characters (four including Secretary Na), I dislike the rest of the characters.
-Hae-in's reason for not telling her parents because they've already lost one child. No. Her mother deserves to lose another child. It's sad that Hyun-woo's mom knows how much her son must've suffered in that household after her conversation with his evil mother-in-law at their wedding. I hate the sycophantic matchmaker, but Imma root for her if she will lead to Hae-in's mother's downfall.
-Mama's boy Soo-chul is disrespectful and an idiot and deserves to be conned by his wife. I cackled when Eun-sung blew off his resort investment pitch. I hope Da-hye is cheating on him too.
-Grandpa hasn't really done anything to make me dislike him except offering to buy the dog, but he's also getting conned by his girlfriend, who is the ringleader behind the villain trio. Look at her and Eun-sung exchanging shifty glances at the tennis court. Aunt Beom-ja is in her fifties and still behaving like a child. How dumb was it that Grandpa didn't wait to watch the part of the CCTV where someone actually cuts the fence and scatters the feed? Why automatically assume it was the uncle?
-Hyun-woo's older sister and brother are annoying and selfish, and Hyung deserves to lose all his boxing students. The two of them almost ruined Hyun-woo's plan.

OMG, Eun-sung is our omnipresent dramaland serial killer. Kids who kill animals grow up to become serial killers. I freaked out when he threatened to shoot the dog. It makes sense why Grace didn't divulge his sociopathic childhood to Hae-in's mother because they're in cahoots. However, Eun-sung is a strong ally for Hae-in as he knows all the dirt on Mr. Hermann.

Finally, Hae-in is truthful to Hyun-woo about her memory lapses. It was so touching when he yelled that he was worried. Does she seriously think that she can get treated in Europe in secret and still do her CEO job? Cancer treatment takes a toll on your body. As for their unnecessary childhood connection, I didn't know that Hyun-woo grew up in Seoul.

The best line this week was courtesy of Yang-ki "You know how actors fall in love for real while filming romantic scenes together like Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin." LMAO My favorite scenes are the ones between Hyun-woo and Yang-ki. Yang-ki is the only person Hyun-woo can be himself with. Many thanks for your recap, @Unit!

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pogo 🍉

March 19, 2024 at 12:57 AM

in fairness, there are celebrities - including Korean ones, most recently an idol in his early 30s - who did have cancer and get treated in secret, and Hae-in is wily enough to arrange herself a long 'work assignment' abroad if she wants to. I assume she'd let her team know at some point and, between her and Hyun-woo, they'd arrange a way for her to take the time needed. And I don't think Hyun-woo grew up in Seoul, just that he spent high school there? I don't mind the teenage connection, they're not really making a big deal out of it.

the Crash Landing on You reference made me chuckle too but if I was Park Ji-eun I'd be bragging about it left and right lol

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ar_arguably romantic

March 19, 2024 at 8:00 PM

I didn't mind the teenage connection at all since it makes me suspect that maybe Hae-in liked him and arranged their reunion as adults. She could be wily enough to get him to think he was the one who fell head over heels in love with her first.

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🌸 Seeker 🌸

March 25, 2024 at 4:11 AM

Hahaha ... I like your wily idea and vivid imagination. 👌👏

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jillian

March 19, 2024 at 1:18 AM

Its was such a fun meta moment to the writer's previous lead stars! 😆

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pogo 🍉

March 19, 2024 at 2:26 AM

I hope they invited her to their wedding 😆

(yes I know they worked together on a movie before that but this is like a drama itself)

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Another kdrama addict

March 19, 2024 at 6:22 AM

I’m sure she was invited to their wedding…and inspired by it….Hyun Woo & Hae In’s wedding at the opening of Ep 1 was almost a replicate of Binjin wedding ❤️

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pogo 🍉

March 19, 2024 at 12:07 PM

!!!!!!!! holy $*@& you're right - the floral arch/decor and even the style of Hae-in's dress and Hyun-woo's suit are the exact same as from the irl BinJin wedding!!! What a fun easter egg (and a fun way for PJE to brag she hooked them up lol).

Goyangi and the Camel Crickets

March 19, 2024 at 6:20 PM

Yes I noticed that too! Looked like the same location and decor.

9 ladyjaye

March 19, 2024 at 12:24 AM

After this set of episodes, my prelims thoughts are
1. I'm not sorry, I love Hong Hae-in! what a wonderful problematic fave!

2. Kim Soo-hyun is wearing the hell out of the wedding ring, my goodness!

3. Who would have thought the crazy aunt is by far the most sensible, thoughtful, and smartest in that family, and the one with the biggest heart?!!!

4. Hyun-woo's mom is the most sensible person in this drama ❤️.

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jillian

March 19, 2024 at 1:14 AM

Hong Hae In is my favorite among the cast. She is just adorable and smart.

I also love the aunt. She is sensible despite her dramatics.

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🌸 Seeker 🌸

March 25, 2024 at 4:17 AM

Agree with all your points.

I want to know who gets to keep the Bulgari wedding rings worn by the OTP in the drama.

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10 jillian

March 19, 2024 at 1:12 AM

The 1031 reveal is so heartbreaking and made so much sense when this couple started to be estranged. It did not help that there are people around them that is actively trying to break them apart. My heart break for both of them. I sure hope that they will find a means to heal and fins love again.

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pogo 🍉

March 19, 2024 at 1:19 AM

yeah, the reveal of what that date was and his surprise that it would be her passcode, says a lot.

No wonder they're this way, I feel so bad for both of them.

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🌸 Seeker 🌸

March 25, 2024 at 4:21 AM

That single star on the roof had me in tears and I had to stop watching.

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pogo 🍉

March 25, 2024 at 8:35 AM

same, Kim Soo-hyun really makes you FEEL the pain of that grief, I was crying too.

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11 spazmo

March 19, 2024 at 1:22 AM

omo ommooomomomoooo......
after ep 4 - the tides are turning, i love this! twisty!

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12 Dorotka

March 19, 2024 at 1:57 AM

Dear @unit thank you for your wonderfully written recap, I enjoyed every word of it!
(Also, every time Haein appreciated her husband I just had to think about you and your fangirl love for Kim Soohyun. 🙂)

This show can be so funny... and then punch so hard... I'm waiting for the hug between Haein and Hyunwoo's Mom.

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pogo 🍉

March 19, 2024 at 2:23 AM

re: appreciation.....Hong Hae-in is all of us lol

the cameras on this drama absolutely revel in the beauty of both leads and I love it. Even better because it's done without taking away from their incredible skills as actors <3

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13 Nefret

March 19, 2024 at 1:59 AM

In the current two episodes, the black humour has been scaled back, which I regret a little on the one hand, but on the other hand the emotional, touching scenes were able to come more to the fore.
And there were quite a few of them. Above all, however, the last scene of episode 4 will stay with me for a long time. Superbly acted and filmed.

Despite these moments, I had to laugh out loud as Hyun-woo despaired at the 51%. Even now I'm laughing as I write this.

Right now it's the perfect mix of romance, melodrama, black humour and makjang for me.

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Mandy

March 19, 2024 at 4:59 AM

I think we’ve (unfortunately) passed the black comedy phase of the drama - unless they’ve got surprises for us! We’ll likely go into some angst before recovering for a bit. This is not an obvious drama despite it feeling like one. I haven’t a clue what conflicts will be driving the second half of the drama outside Queen’s corporate takeover.

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pogo 🍉

March 19, 2024 at 6:08 AM

I think they retain little winks at it - like having Herrmann the Family Man be a cheating husband with an entire new mistress (revealed by sociopath 2nd lead as bait for Hae-in to use to get Cheating Family Man's brand) or idiot little bro's doting wife actually being a complete facade and needing a drink to cope with the persona she's putting on. I did laugh at that part, but I never expected this to be Heard It Through the Grapevine mk. II, QoT is way more Classic Kdrama (in a good way)

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Kathryn51

March 19, 2024 at 11:00 AM

I think there is more than simply "take over Queen's".

Although some appear to be driven by greed, there are clear signs of the drive for revenge by others. the Queens Foundation Scholarship seems to be connected.

And there also seems to be some connection to "20 years ago" when various events appear to have occurred: Grandmother died, 2nd gen brother was tossed out of the family, Eun Seong went to the USA and (perhaps) the eldest grandson died in an accident.

Time to re-watch first 4 episodes with my notebook in hand because after reading the recaps and comments by others, I clearly missed a whole bunch of clues. 😊

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🌸 Seeker 🌸

March 25, 2024 at 4:44 AM

And didn't all these "20 years ago" happenings also coincided with Ms. Girlfriend's entrance into the family!?

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Kathryn51

March 25, 2024 at 10:25 AM

"Ms. Girlfriend"??? You are too polite. I call her Mistress Bitch.

She became his mistress "thirty" years ago, but moved into the home compound "twenty" years ago when the wife died. (I'm not spoiling anything from the first 4 episodes - but I have been filling up that notebook with my re-watch!)

🌸 Seeker 🌸

March 25, 2024 at 11:37 AM

Oh! I missed that 30 year part. Thanks for sharing. By any chance does your diary have a note on when this was mentioned. 🤔

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🌸 Seeker 🌸

March 25, 2024 at 4:26 AM

Black comedy not just seems to have been the usual K-drama initial setup exaggeration. I won't mind a bit more but not gallows humor please.

The OTP surely have a lot of personal and professional obstacles to overcome. Hope the villain gang all get a good trashing!!

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panshel

March 19, 2024 at 11:07 PM

Hyun-woo's incredulous "Over?! (50%)" was the funniest, but even though it was played for laughs, that one scene in his imagination of him bawling in his car as it goes through the car wash was actually really sad and hits close to home. He is so miserable in his marriage that he has to hide somewhere to cry where nobody can see him or hear him.

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Mandy

March 20, 2024 at 12:59 AM

Lol Hyun-woo’s marital struggles have been the source of some very hilarious scenes throughout the first 4 episodes that I think we sometimes forget just how genuinely tied up and frustrated he feels in this marriage. We’ve been seeing a lot of Hae-in’s perspective which is really important to ground her, but you’re completely right. The fact that Hyun-woo cries about this in the vicinity of his car, or runs to a therapist for some much needed grievance airing - it’s really sad.

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Another kdrama addict

March 20, 2024 at 12:17 PM

His struggle is real...and he is genuinely miserable and afraid of his wife and her family. He has seen how they treat loyal staff as betrayals, and even all the lawyers refuse to represent him for his divorce for fear of Hong family's wrath. As audience, we get to see Haein's POV, but he doesn't see any of that. He doesn't know she hits and warn her brother for disrespecting him. He doesn't know she's a gatekeeper of her Mom harrassing him. All he sees is the cold, aloof and bossy attitude of his wife. We see Haein proudly brags about her husband's capabilities (SNU graduate, marine specialist) but he never gets to see all that. And resentment breeds negative perspectives. The elevator scene where Haein asked Hyun Woo to accompany her clearly shows the different perspectives. He viewed her request as an order to accompany her somewhere, like he's her lackey. Of course, he was also clouded by the news from that meddling matchmaker that he's not in her will. I don't think it's the money that he really wants, but it's that feeling that he's not worthy to her. But when we see it from Haein's perspective, she has just received troubling news from the doctor and she wanted her husband to accompany her to the hospital. These 2 have serious communication problems, but it's a good thing deep down they still love each other very much. Her illness and that creep inciting jealousy will make him realise how much he's still in love with her and wants to be by her side, protecting her always. It's been awhile since I've been excitedly waiting for weekends just so that I can watch the next episodes. Weekends please come quickly!! 😁

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14 PhantomQuill

March 19, 2024 at 2:37 AM

4 episodes in and I'm so hooked.
Here's my outtakes on the recent episodes:

1. I love Hae-in very much. I hate that she's suffered and suffering a lot. (I love everything Kim Ji won so, yeah..)
2. I suspected the girlfriend from the very first time I laid my eyes on her. And now it seems like she's the leader of the villain band. ARGGHH. Can they take away Hae-In's misery, double it, then put it to them - no, triple it for GRACE, I hate her so much (she's no. 1 on my hitlist)
3. Mummy Baek is the most sensible among the characters.
4. AUNTIE is MVP.
5. MUMMY HONG - I HATE YOU THE MOST. You better crawl for Hae-in's forgiveness.

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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊

March 20, 2024 at 11:43 PM

👋🏾Welcome to the DB comments, you chose a great drama to jump in and we hope you will have fun here.

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15 PhantomQuill

March 19, 2024 at 2:39 AM

Kim Ji Won and Kim Soo Hyun deserved every DAESANG there is from Episode 4 ending scene alone. THEY ATE AND LEFT NO CRUMBS..

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🌸 Seeker 🌸

March 25, 2024 at 4:36 AM

Hear, hear!! 👏 👏 👏

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16 Easy8

March 19, 2024 at 2:55 AM

Thanks Unit, for writing quick, funny, and detailed recaps that clarify many issues.

Such joy... watching a great Kdrama, then going to Dramabeans to read the recap (all the writers are great) and then reading the comments.

Life is good!

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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊

March 20, 2024 at 11:45 PM

👋🏾Welcome to the comments, we hope you will have fun here and in other weecaps for the dramas you enjoy.

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🌸 Seeker 🌸

March 25, 2024 at 4:37 AM

The recaps and comment do help understand or appreciate so many things we might have missed.

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17 Kurama

March 19, 2024 at 3:05 AM

I watch this drama for Kim Soo-Hyun and Kim Ji-Won, I don't care about the rest of their awful families (there is too many possible villains). I love both actors in this role, they show so much emotions! I like how the POV changed from one episode to the other. Always by your side is really what she needs from him and when she will learn about the divorce, it will be very sad...

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jillian

March 19, 2024 at 3:09 AM

I dread when she will find out about the divorce. My heart already breaks for her when she does.

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vienibenmio

March 19, 2024 at 6:09 AM

I want it to happen sooner than later, otherwise it'll be like the Sword of Damocles hanging over her (and us)

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jillian

March 19, 2024 at 12:40 PM

I would love her to find out next week. This will leave Hyun Woo a lot of time to realize he was wrong and win her back.

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Kurama

March 19, 2024 at 12:53 PM

I think we need to understand how he came to this conclusion too. He wasn't happy anymore, divorce was a healthy solution.

vienibenmio

March 19, 2024 at 1:50 PM

The preview made it seem like she's gonna find out. But I don't trust previews!

bomibeans

March 19, 2024 at 2:53 PM

@kurama
“divorce was a healthy solution”

And how many people face to realize it?!

jillian

March 19, 2024 at 2:35 PM

Same. The previews have been misleading. What was shown in the last preview can be a dream or nightmare depending on whose it was

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Kathryn51

March 19, 2024 at 11:05 AM

I hope I'm wrong, but last night I was re-watching a part of Ep 2 (I think) and when she told him that she had been suspicious - until she read his laptop searches? When she walked out of the room, her smile was. . . . off to me. And I wondered - had she in fact found that piece of paper because that scene of him trying to hide it was just a bit too obvious. But perhaps, it remains hidden in her room.

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Dorotka

March 19, 2024 at 3:36 AM

I think it is actually the 같이 (together) they mention. What for me somehow has even better meaning (more equality and, yes, togetherness?)

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pogo 🍉

March 19, 2024 at 4:10 AM

it's clearly something important to Hae-in and he promised her that when he still thought she was the intern who'd never keep a job. I mean, she has literally no one else so it makes sense she'd attach a lot of meaning to it from Hyun-woo.

Poor girl is going to be devastated when she finds out he was about to go back on it, it's sweet but kind of sad to me how Yongduri actually seems to hold happy memories for her (she doesn't seem uncomfortable there either during the first visit or the present one, just interested in a new place)

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Dorotka

March 19, 2024 at 4:27 AM

She also never felt being together in her own family... or with anyone else, probably.

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bomibeans

March 19, 2024 at 11:50 AM

Who knew that out of the gazillion of characters they have in this Show, the only two I deeply care about is HongBaek couple?

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18 GySgt213

March 19, 2024 at 3:35 AM

Our couple can't confide in each other at this point, so they seek and receive the worst advice from others.

There is a fox in the hen house now, not just snakes. So, I hope the entire family notices soon.

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19 Mandy

March 19, 2024 at 4:52 AM

The miscarriage plot really floored me. I just somehow never saw that coming. A loss like that must’ve been so devastating for a young couple. The transition from Hyun-woo’s ecstatic smile in the brightness of the glow ceiling to his forlorn gaze staring at the single star in the dark? Gosh how utterly impactful that scene was. Some pain just stays with you forever and this one clearly will for the both of them. The way they dealt with the loss is most likely the biggest reason for why their relationship fell apart.

The writer is doing such a fab job of peeling layers after layers from each character. And its done in such a nuanced and thoughtful manner. Hyunwoo’s love for Haein in the past, and his subsequent hatred had to have come from a place of absolute tragedy. It adds so much more layers to the scene in the first episode where Hyunwoo confronts her asking if she even wants a baby. Her answer, his incredulous look and the subsequent outburst made sense even back then. But knowing the truth just made that remark all the more callous and painful for Hyun-woo. We all know she‘s hiding what she truly feels, but he doesn’t. Now, knowing Haein’s passcode is their unborn child’s expected date - that’s got to be a shock for him.

Hyunwoo is one of the most fascinating and complex male leads I’ve seen in a very very long time. He’s Prince Charming, yet he’s not. He can be extremely cruel, yet he’s not. He’s defensive yet protective, harsh yet sweet, manipulative yet genuine. He’s not a cold hero with a soft heart, and neither is he a sweet hero on a white knight. He’s rather the opposite - a sweet hero with shards of ice in his heart capable of hatred and love in equal measures. It’s such a fascinating mishmash of different emotions and layers interwoven together. KSH is so great at taking all these conflicting facets of Hyun-woo and putting them together to make our hero just feel human.

Also, I should point out that I think the most interesting thing about this drama is how well they’ve shown that even true love can break down without trust, respect and communication. In almost all rom coms, we end where life truly begins. Because when I think back, there are a few OTPs I’ve rooted for (hard), and yet I can’t imagine them navigating life’s challenges together… Relationships need a lot more than love to keep it thriving and this drama - amidst the sheer chaos - is giving us a very realistic portray of life.

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Mandy

March 19, 2024 at 4:54 AM

I’m definitely interested in the corporate take over Eun-sung is planning because I love me a smart villain (no matter how anger inducing he is). His character description said he’s a M&A specialist which means he knows what he’s doing right now. I’ve got zero doubts he’s related to Grandpa’s girlfriend but I don’t know how Soo-chul’s wife connects to all this. Does she even? So many moving pieces in this puzzle early on. I think we’ll know who’s on whose team half way through.

I loathe Hyun-woo’s siblings with a passion and basically hate every second they’re on screen. I genuinely hope they don’t have a huge role to play because the utter selfishness with which they addressed someone else’s marriage *behind their brother’s back* is absolutely ridiculous. The Hongs are just as bad, but somehow I’m bothered by how crappy the Baeks are because I expected Hyun-woo’s family to be warm, caring and genuine. Other than mom, they really aren’t. It’s a really interesting choice by the writer to show that sometimes, small town families aren’t the close knit, sweet, lovable bunch we assume they’ll be.

P.s. I couldn’t even swoon at ep 3’s ending kiss because I burst out laughing instead. The shocked, fish eyes, hands in the air, frozen reaction from Hyun-woo is absolute directorial genius. The way the drama pokes fun at circa 2010’s candy heroines just never gets old. Hilarious and KSH channeling his inner PSH? Nailed it 🤣

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dlrgy

March 19, 2024 at 8:02 AM

Completely agree on his family!! I recall one of the posters for this show made them look loving and close (in comparison to Hae In's) but that doesn't seem to be the reality here at all.

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Mandy

March 19, 2024 at 8:42 AM

The warm colors fooled us all lol. They’re just selfish - all of them minus mom. Even when Hyun-woo told them he’d like to get a divorce, they never once asked about his well-being. It was always what they’d lose if he leaves Hae-in. His siblings are just jerks. But even his dad is terrible - at least Hae-in’s dad cares about her as was evident in that hunting trip scare and how he treated Hyun-woo thereafter.

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dlrgy

March 19, 2024 at 9:58 AM

Agree. And therefore the intended humour doesn't work at all for me. At least I think we're supposed to find it funny. I found them going to Seoul to stop the divorce idiotic.

Mandy

March 19, 2024 at 10:50 AM

@dlrgy Genuinely don’t think it was supposed to be humorous as much as it was to build tension (leading to the kiss, the baby reveal, Hae-in’s password) + create communication between Hae-in and her in laws. Due to the whole jumbled wires situation, Hyun-woo’s siblings got Hae-in’s number and in turn, she visited Yongdu-ri to help them out. I think it was more a plot device rather than done for comedy.

pogo 🍉

March 19, 2024 at 12:16 PM

his siblings are indeed selfish and only want to save his marriage to keep him as their cash cow

but I LOVE that despite Hae-in apparently not having seen them since her wedding or having their numbers in her phone, she actually recognises her husband's siblings and takes the trouble to have their little chat (in the middle of a busy day for her) about something that completely mystifies her and then shows up in Yongduri, no questions asked, in full glam with a load of Queen's trucks for dad-in-law's re-election campaign. All this without a word to Hyun-woo (becoming a theme here, I love it but he needs to wake up to how much work she's still putting into the marriage and she needs to start letting him see it - which she sort of does, given the shoes)

Mandy

March 19, 2024 at 1:18 PM

@pogo1 oh 100% Hae-in is currently a lot more invested in this marriage than Hyun-woo is. But she also doesn’t see their current relationship to be as problematic as Hyun-woo does. It’s a mix of varying expectations and a lack of communication from both sides.

Although to be fair to Hyun-woo, he’s also a lot more invested than he was in ep 1 at least. This guy likes to lie to himself so much, he refuses to recognize the truth even if it slaps him on the face. But the shoe is a great example of the real him coming out. He impulsively (and embarrassingly lol) yelled for her to take care, yeeted himself away, bought a pair of comfy shoes, then proceeded to lie to his friend and himself that this is all a calculating chess move to get in her will 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

They both need to seriously communicate, but we’re getting there. Hae-in just needs to say one word, and Hyun-woo would be running right back to her.

bomibeans

March 19, 2024 at 2:50 PM

@pogo1
“she actually recognises her husband's siblings”

Quite a low bar to pass. 😂

pogo 🍉

March 19, 2024 at 10:09 PM

@bomibeans considering she hasn't laid eyes on them since the wedding and has zero contact, her indulging their sudden gatecrashing on her day is pretty telling.

What can I say, I've seen irl spouse-sibling-inlaw relationships chillier than that even when the married person wasn't a chaebol or even rich lol

pogo 🍉

March 19, 2024 at 10:16 PM

@Mandy - that's the thing, the drama isn't being so lazy as to feed us a straightforward 'rich parents bad, regular small-town family good' narrative' - Hae-in's dad is obviously grateful to Hyun-woo and even her daughter-blaming idiot of a mother freaks out and runs out of the room immediately on hearing she was attacked by a boar (and before that, we had the conversation between her parents that Hae-in overheard in the garden last week), meanwhile Hyun-woo's siblings are as idiotic as Soo-cheol (is stupid siblings something our couple have in common? Interesting that they both came from 3-child families) but like you said, they're just the plot device to get Hae-in down to Yongdu-ri to play white knight to Hyun-woo's dad's campaign. Literally, with the white suit, which helpfully shows up all the mud and injuries she's piled up in the course of her tumour-induced wandering.

vienibenmio

March 19, 2024 at 6:09 AM

It also explains why Hae-in acts so cold - she probably buried her emotions.

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Peoplez

March 19, 2024 at 9:19 AM

Your analysis on Hyunwoo is so beautifully put!

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pogo 🍉

March 19, 2024 at 11:09 AM

the miscarriage/pregnancy loss part absolutely floored me too and that was despite guessing at it as a possibility. God, those poor kids. And it really adds a whole other layer of pain to that 'do you even want a baby?!' part in ep 1 when you know they already lost a child, he clearly believes she just moved on without a care but her passcode and that one lone star on the ceiling clearly show they're both still carrying wounds from that loss to this day even if they move through daily life like they've forgotten about it.
I'm in love with the fact that both our leads are so layered, flawed in their own ways but essentially lovable and living with way more going on behind the facades than we (and even they themselves) know. Hyun-woo isn't some kind of standard puppy hero or 'jerk with a heart of gold' type, and Hae-in, even through presented through his (angry and hurt) pov in the first episode, isn't as easily categorised as 'ice queen with a mashmallow centre' - yes, she has a softer side and can be kind but she's aloof by nature and not 'nice'. No wonder Hyun-woo builds her up in his mind to be this unfeeling monster who doesn't care for him or their relationship because that's the only way he can justify divorcing her.

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Mandy

March 19, 2024 at 11:39 AM

Yea I definitely went back to ep1 after finding out about the baby. It added a lot more poignancy to that scene and how they both reacted to that callous remark from Hae-in’s parents. I genuinely didn’t see it coming. It never even crossed my mind.

There was an interview with the leads released today in TEO and KSH said ep5 will reveal the reason for the relationship breakdown. KJW mentioned a twist. And I’m here asking why they needed to mention that on a TUESDAY. Ugh. Live watching can be difficult sometimes lol

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Kathryn51

March 19, 2024 at 11:11 AM

Miscarriages are devastating (raises hand) but it doesn't explain what really happened. In a loving relationship, most couples rebound and try again. I think more will be revealed - perhaps she was told she would never be able carry a child to term or perhaps she lost the child due to a fall (overwork/lack of sleep). Whatever, the simple miscarriage doesn't explain what really happened to the extent that she froze him out of her bedroom. There's more to come.

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Mandy

March 19, 2024 at 11:32 AM

Sure there is. We don’t even know if it was indeed a miscarriage actually. Could’ve been a still born or any other option. What I was getting at was that their reactions to the lost baby would’ve differed tremendously. I imagine Hyun-woo being devastated and not trying to hide his pain, and Hae-in closed herself off as a defence mechanism. She may even have strived harder at getting to her career goals which in turn made Hyun-woo feel she never cared at all. There are hints of that when she was so nonchalant about a baby while he wore his heart on his sleeve regarding that issue. We don’t know the full story yet but I would imagine that their reactions to the loss of the baby was the start of their marriage breakdown.

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vienibenmio

March 20, 2024 at 6:04 AM

I always tell my patients it isn't what happens, but how you respond to that matters. Miscarriages aren't usually going to cause problems like that, but there are people who will respond maladaptively and it will impact both them and their relationship. I'm guessing that the miscarriage was the beginning of the end, because it had them fall into those unhealthy patterns. Hae-in was already pretty cold to begin with (she's the ultimate Korean version of a WASP), too.

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20 stove

March 19, 2024 at 5:02 AM

After the 4th episode I am dropping this show. I was a bit tired of too many villains and not enough likable characters. Also, I can't help thinking that the FL is miscast. She is not a bad actor it is just doesn't feel right for me. I will drop by for recaps here, thank you.

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21 Kafiyah Bello

March 19, 2024 at 5:47 AM

My goodness so many reveals. So many feels. I really have nothing to add to all the wonderful commentary from Unit and the beanies. I love this drama so!!!

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22 vienibenmio

March 19, 2024 at 6:16 AM

I really am loving this drama. I think it's interesting that they are being IN NO WAY SUBTLE with the second male lead being a bad dude (if the dog murdering wasn't enough, there's also the music and visual cues during his scenes). As most of you know, I hate second male leads as a rule so I'm completely fine with that! I feel like, at some point, he's gonna drug or kidnap Hae-in. I don't think he loves her, I think he feels like she "belongs" to him because they used to date, and how dare she attach herself to someone else.

We now know that our couple was happy for some time even after their wedding (unless they got pregnant right away). I look forward to learning more about how their relationship deteriorated.

Hae-in loves Jeong-woo, it is very obvious from how she's reacting. I think she was pretty clueless about how he perceived her before she found out she was ill, but the drama is also making it very clear that she's acting differently from before. Jeong-woo loves Hae-in, it's very obvious from his jealousy, his concern for her, and how he intervenes whenever she's in actual danger. As I've mentioned elsewhere, I think he just wants out of the marriage (or, rather, more like his in-laws) and isn't actually thinking about what it would mean for Hae-in to literally die and no longer exist. He sees her "impending" death as a no-fault divorce for him with zero repercussions, not an actual death. Also, I had thought that he didn't know about how Hae-in's mother treated her, but that scene where he witnessed it, he didn't seem shocked or anything.

Last but not least - of COURSE we have a childhood connection! Of COURSE he kept her ipod all these years and she would find it! I feel like this one's less forced than the Crash Landing on You past connection, at least.

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Mandy

March 19, 2024 at 7:13 AM

I also dislike the typical second male leads. Just genuinely never fell for any of those characters and if ever I was on the verge, I just drop the drama as a rule. So Eun-sung being evil and smart is a good thing in my books.

I remember Jae-kyung (YFAS) being the most infuriating piece of poop ever, but he was genuinely scary despite being against an alien. There’s a layer of intensity and urgency with Eun-sung that I felt with with Jae-kyung which I enjoy.

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GySgt213

March 19, 2024 at 8:04 AM

I also dislike the second ML, or FL, trope when they exist solely to disrupt the main couple for their own selfish reasons, using underhanded and deceitful tactics. I prefer a storyline with a second couple with a different dynamic in their relationship from the main couple.

Now, this guy is the pure villain, and he certainly is not after the FL's affection.

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Peoplez

March 19, 2024 at 9:25 AM

I feel like the SML likes Haein at first because he sees that she's as cold and as abandoned as him - his looks whenever haein is convinced that hyunwoo love her (in the restaurant or in the car) does not translate as jealousy for me. It's more like he's mad for her happiness.. or that he's mad that she believes in love

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Mandy

March 19, 2024 at 11:00 AM

I absolutely love this analysis of Eun-sung. It’s very plausible along with the fact that I think he admires Hae-in’s ruthlessness. When they were on the elevator, Hae-in compliments him on how he’s “changed” and there’s this throwaway comment from him on how he’s been waiting for a long time to hear that from her.

I think he wants her to respect and admire him the way he does. Because he thinks they’re similar - cold, ruthless, unemotional. So every time she veers away from that image he has of her - like the part where she was smiling at Hyun-woo getting her comfortable shoes - he’s angry and frazzled about it.

I genuinely don’t know if we are going to get a psycho but one note character (like Jae-kyung) or if he’ll be more. But PJE’s managed to make both leads very multi dimensional that I feel it would be an absolute waste to not do the same for Eun-sung. PSH definitely has the talent for it.

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pogo 🍉

March 19, 2024 at 11:53 AM

this makes a lot of sense - SML looks visibly displeased NOT when Hyun-woo acts jealous and possessive of Hae-in, but every time Hae-in defends Hyun-woo or looks happy at the mention of him even when he's not physically present (most notably with the shoes).

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Mandy

March 19, 2024 at 12:16 PM

I think it may also be because Eun-sung doesn’t find Hyun-woo to be a threat to him or his plans. He had this random throwaway comment on how the “CEOs” needed to talk and Hyun-woo wasn’t required - basically implying he’s just a director. Rolled my eyes so hard at the character but it definitely feels like he’s undermining Hyun-woo. Which will be fun when things come to a head because it’s surely Hyun-woo - being a lawyer - who’s going to bail the queens group out.

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pogo 🍉

March 19, 2024 at 12:21 PM

it certainly feels like he's basically written off Hyun-woo as a non-entity in adversary terms but it's Hae-in's continued reminders of 'my husband is better than you, cooler than you and cares for me so much' that seem to throw him off a bit or displease him.

Mandy

March 19, 2024 at 1:22 PM

@pogo1 exactly. Hyun-woo is a nobody for Eun-sung. It’s like the marriage and love is of no consequence in his mind.

P.s. I have a bad feeling I’m building up Eun-sung in my head to be this complex and interesting villain only for them to throw a Jae-kyung at us. Which… I mean I absolutely enjoyed Jae-kyung ngl, but he’s not what I want Eun-sung to be.

Kathryn51

March 19, 2024 at 11:48 AM

My take is that for some reason, Eun Seong wants revenge against "Queens". He may have begun dating her in University in order to use her (her non-friend said something like "you should have just married him" - so it wasn't a casual friendship). And he was surprised to learn she was married.

He was unhappy that she broke it off - and he's fine using her as part of her plan. His "dislike" of Hyun Woo might be because HW is clearly someone who is a danger to his overall plans.

In the opening credits, there is one more micro flashback of them apparently at college the same time - walking past each other.

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pogo 🍉

March 19, 2024 at 12:26 PM

Just something I noticed about the passcode dates - their wedding day was 2nd May, the baby's due date was 31st October (implying late January conception) and the breakdown of their marriage happened before their first anniversary given what he says in ep 2 about her snapping at him for trying to celebrate it. I'd bet everything on a first-trimester miscarriage. But episode 5 apparently contains more about how things broke down between them.

(can't wait for Saturday why does time pass so slowly when we're between episodes and so fast when we're actually watching???)

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23 🌸 Seeker 🌸

March 19, 2024 at 6:43 AM

Thank you for such a beautifully written recap. I always read it slowly to be able to savor it in all its flavors. ♥️😍

First things first.

This woman will “my husband” all of us to death, and I love it for her.

👏👏👏👏

Not that we hadn't already run to see the other shower scene or replayed that slide in front of Hae-in again and again but thank you for the link and the perfectly captured screenshots which cover all angles and planes. These are very much appreciated and viewed till ♾. Only thing not captured is perhaps uri fangirls' heartbeats while viewing such treasures.

Okay let's all take a deep breath to calm ourselves before proceeding further.

https://cdn.doyou.com/wp/2016/12/wpbreathinandout.gif

Phew!

The ice-pop love story was totally squee worthy. Now this is exactly the drama I had signed up for. 😍👌 All the OTP moments are so well done. Our hearts skip a beat in tune with Hyun-woo's skipping feet. 🕺 💓

That single smiley star on the roof of Hyun-woo's room sent me into a meltdown. It took me a more than half a day to get back and finish the episode.

The CLOY references are packed in chock-a-block aren't they. While I'm not unhappy but perhaps a lighter hand would be appreciated. Of course I'm secretly hoping for a Bin-Jin cameo and then we'll be all dead! 😍 Although I guess I'll compromise for a candle held aloft.

Apparently we've already had references to Kim Ji Won's aegyo and Suzy Bae's bunny smile.

Eun-seong's story is creepier than I imagined and he is surely hand-in-glove with Harabeoji's girlfriend in planning some secret shenanigans.

PS - What are those ponytail holders Ms. Girlfriend and where can I get them.

Yes my popcorn bucket got drowned in the titular tears but the drama is still crunchy and I can't wait to have another bite. 😋

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Another kdrama addict

March 20, 2024 at 12:53 PM

At the end of Episode 4 when Hyun Woo finally found HaeIn, I can't help but think of the light from the bicycle being CLOY's candle light....like how HaeIn was feeling lost and scared, and then she sees the light in the dark and it's her husband on the bicycle coming towards her...her savior and protector ❤️

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🌸 Seeker 🌸

March 22, 2024 at 5:53 AM

Oh! Wow. Thank you for pointing this out . I had been waiting for that to happen “literally” I guess. I didn’t catch this subtle nod. Great catch. 👏👏👏

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Goyangi and the Camel Crickets

March 24, 2024 at 1:27 PM

Great observation!

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24 john

March 19, 2024 at 7:05 AM

@unit,thanks for the recap.

I like the OTP.

The psycho Eun-seong character is the weak , possibly to drop level. Why with the psycho characters K dramaland, why ?

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bomibeans

March 19, 2024 at 12:15 PM

I only keep watching this drama for OTP. If not for it, that would be a drop for me too. After episodes 1-2, I was hoping more comedic zingers on gender role reversals but it went all the way in with chaebol politics/chaebol melodrama, unfunny sociopathy and...a long list of other tripe situations. The OTP is what keeps this Show standing on its very, very trembling legs.

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KAddicted

March 19, 2024 at 8:48 PM

The trembling legs gave way less than halfway through ep 4 for me.

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bomibeans

March 20, 2024 at 10:27 AM

Ugh. Let’s just say I was propping up the trembling Show with sheer will of steely watching eyes! 💪 But till when my own muscles give in, that’s the question?

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25 LaurenSophie

March 19, 2024 at 7:32 AM

The most challenging thing about watching this show is that I love it so much I want to savor each episode, yet because I love it so much, I want to hurry up and watch it so I can talk about it when the recap's posted. This week, savoring the episodes won out and so I've only seen three in its entirety.

Just a few thoughts:

--I'm happily suspending disbelief here, and agree that Secretary Na is hilarious, but likening being attracted to your husband after three (not 13, not 30, THREE) years of marriage to mental illness is bizarre, although not unexpected in a country that seems largely marriage-averse and with such a low birthrate.

--Speaking of depictions of marriage as where your heart and desire go to die, unless the Chairman and his wife are sincerely happy together (it's hard to tell what's up with her and he's hardly a prize), there doesn't seem to be anyone in the show in an enviable marriage. The two sets of in-laws are either existing in their own mutual annoyance society of two (Hyun-woo's sister and brother-in-law) or one side appears blissfully attached while the other is clearly obscuring her true personality and affections (Hae-in's brother and wife). And of course, we had Hyun-woo's father who declared outright that basically, love has no place in marriage. I know this is, in part, social satire, and we're only at the beginning not the end of the story arcs, but man, this is bleak.

--That said, I really like the slow (re)build-up of the leads' attraction to each other, and it's obvious that there is deep love just under the surface. This is why I don't have an issue with Hyun-woo "deceiving" Hae-in into thinking he does genuinely love her and want her to live (because he *does* genuinely love her and want her to live, whether he recognizes it or not). I know she'll likely see this as a betrayal, but it also strikes me that for this reunion to work, she also has to recognize the ways in which she alienated and yes, betrayed Hyun-woo as well by her distance and dishonesty. They're both sympathetic characters, but they have a lot to make up to each other.

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Mandy

March 19, 2024 at 8:46 AM

I’m a bit confused - have we met Hyunwoo’s brother in law? :/

I genuinely can’t remember a scene with him? I didn’t even realize his sister is married. I just know his brother is because of the son.

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Kafiyah Bello

March 19, 2024 at 9:27 AM

No we, haven't. It is very confusing, I didn't even realize until this past episode that both them were his siblings and not his brother and wife or sister and husband.

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vienibenmio

March 19, 2024 at 9:31 AM

Wait, that's his bio brother and sister? I thought it was the sister and her husband. So the brother has the kid, and the sister is married without kids?

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Kafiyah Bello

March 19, 2024 at 10:22 AM

I think so. They really haven't really clarified, but they said his siblings, instead of his hyung or noona. It is very confusing.

Mandy

March 19, 2024 at 11:24 AM

@miso2019 reminded us below. Hyun-woo’s noona has a kid abroad. The was mentioned in ep 1. Hyung has a kid who Hae-in met in ep4.

LaurenSophie

March 19, 2024 at 11:31 AM

I thought it was his bio sister and her husband, and then KDY is playing Hae-in's brother.

miso

March 19, 2024 at 10:36 AM

They mentioned her sister's son studying abroad in Ep. 1 so I'm assuming the brother-in-law is abroad too? I'm surprised reading the comments because I thought the relationships were obvious 😅.

Maybe because I can hear how Hyun-woo addresses them as hyung and noona instead of in-law terms like maehyeong and cheonam that are used between him and Soo-cheol 🤔.

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miso

March 19, 2024 at 10:37 AM

*his sister's son

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Mandy

March 19, 2024 at 11:07 AM

Right - I completely forgot about the mention of her kid being abroad. I was clear on the relationships mostly because I actually referenced the relationship chart during the first week. Hyun-woo’s hyung acts to chill in front of their parents. Plus yea, it was obvious with the way Hyun-woo told them off on ep1 that they were his siblings. If that was his brother in law (and it’s obvious they aren’t close), he would’ve hesitated to talk so freely.

But I can completely see where the confusion came from… especially when they haven’t shown Hyun-woo’s brother and sister in law but showed a kid.

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