To all the folks who speculated an open relationship or polyanomy, you called it!

Honestly, No Gain No Love continues to be impressive by the way the deal with and approach these topics. Even the way the Chairman's previous affairs and his wife's response to it is different from what I've seen in other dramas.
It is interesting to me though and I'm not sure what to think about it but back when Hae Young said she was gonna do a fake marriage for strategic reasons, Hui Seong was outraged at the idea and then fast forward when Hae Young learns of Hui Seong's relationship circumstances for practical reasons, she's outraged. I guess both were coming from a concern but it's just interesting to me. But thank goodness the folks in this drama actually have conversations and speak their minds and open minded enough to listen.

Ah, Gi Ho is Ji Uk's biggest supporter haha. I think aside from knowing about the marriage, he was disappointed he couldn't be a best man haha (are bridesmaids & groomsmen a thing in SK?)

Ahhh she closed her eyes!!! What does this mean?!?!
At the hotel, she kept her eyes open but once he left, she said how she strong for not giving into her desires so she was attracted to him then. But now, it's stronger?

Ji-wook is a natural at skinship and sweet talking and Hae-young.exe begins to malfunction...

LOL, deep tech cut, @unit! Although a glitchy executable could also describe the state of the brains of this drama's adoring audience!!

If this show sticks the landing, it's gonna be a modern classic of a rom-com.

The 3 women are the sunshine of this drama!

I'm sorry that Hae-young let her career dictating her private life. No compagny deserved it! Let be happy!

I don't like how Ji-Huyk is hidding everything from HY. I don't really like him as a character, because of how he's written and acted. He should definitely not search for dating advices on internet, you won't make your wife being not angry anymore by messing everything in her home!

Ja-Yeon and Gyu-Hyun's relationship is cute. We can see how he's sincere now. I'm not sure why they had to run the first time, they could just say she knows this orphanage too. But it's nice she will have someone to help her when her father will get back in her life.

Hee-Sung doesn't seem to know what she wants, she doesn't want a family, she's in a open relationship but doesn't seem to have someone else. But at the same time, HY should marry for love? I thought Tae-Hyung wanted marriage and kids? And why he couldn't just tell HY the truth...

I hope the brothers will team up against the father and mother!

Maybe it's just me being an airhead but I kept forgetting that people were reacting to different things. For example when Gyu Hyun was talking about his relationship with Ji Uk, I only thought about the secret community service, not about them being half brothers and that's why Ji Uk was reacting that way. Similarly, when Ja Yeon freaked out and tried to hide herself, I only thought about her hiding herself from Ha Jun since he doesn't know she's the writer and completely forgot about the fact that she realized/learned Gyu Hyun was Hae Young's boss.

I haven't been trying to see stuff or think about the spinoff because it's in the future and I just wanted to focus on their present development. The more time they're together, I *do* wonder what it would like if Ja Yeon wrote a story with Gyu Hyun as the lead. What if they *were* playing out the roles.
In the spinoff, apparently Lee Sang Yi is just gonna be playing the novel version of Hajun and it's not a new book or character. (I could be wrong)

Subway PPL is back. It is sweet that Hae Young is willing to explore with Ji Wook. My only issue is that I'm not sure when he fell for her. His confession seems abrupt to me. That being said the shenanigans are adorable. I really dislike that he is the chairman's son, but here we are. As for Ja yeon and Gyu Hyun, how adorable. It is always better when the man crushes first.

He's defintely not the *worst* guy I've seen in dramaland but man, dude is such an asshat. First he's a cheater and then has the audacity to act as if he's doing anyone a favor by wanting to be with them.

"Gotta wash out my eyes; I saw something disgusting". You wouldn't have seen anything if you weren't being a creeping pining loser.

And then primping himself because he's seeing Hae Young and asking *his wife* what tie looks better. Ugh

I get the feeling that he's gonna make some more snide comments to Ji Uk now that he knows the marriage is fake. Or maybe he's gonna be overheard talking about it and expose them.

He was so swarmy to Hae Young after he got married and then became fixated on her after she moved on. What is even his deal? I think the hotel was the second time he was drunkenly going to her. Thank goodness Ji Uk was there to be held instead.

Kim Young-dae is so swoony. He's such a natural at romance like you can totally believe his characters are in love with their female leads. The dialogue in this show is so well-written. I especially loved Hae-young's king and subject conversation. If Ja-yeon moves out and Ji-wook moves into Hae-young's house (cohabitation!), then his expensive, kingly bed would go to waste.

I love our main couple, but I can't get into our secondary couple. I do think that Ja-yeon and Gyu-hyun have chemistry but not the romantic kind. The Episode 51 twist was unnecessary. Ja-yeon could have fallen for Gyu-hyun through his kind gestures and naturally get over her crush. We don't even know if Ha-joon really means it. His looking down on Gyu-hyun for what he did when he was hospitalized proves that Ha-joon would never write hate comments himself. Why would she forgive Gyu-hyun when she thought he'd written the comment, yet can't forgive Ha-joon when his boss had ordered him to write the comment? Also, where is Ha-joon's transfer?

It was only a matter of time before Woo-jae found out about Hae-young's fake marriage because our dead-fish kiss still wouldn't explain why Ji-wook took their wedding photo off the living room wall to the rooftop room. At least they could've lied that his suitcase was being put into storage. I predict that Yi-rin will become a villain. I'm sad that Ji-wook is Chairman Bok's son not because it's a tired trope and will bring about noble idiocy, but because I dislike the chaebol family, especially the chairman and his nonstop yelling. Madam Sun is becoming a villain too. I ROFL when Gyu-hyun answered his phone, "Hello, writer-nim. It's the hate commenter."

Lee Sang-yi singing "Breathe" made me immediately rewatch Lee Hi's tear-jerking tribute to SHINee's Jonghyun at the 2018 Golden Disc Awards and cry my eyes out. I really wish that Gyu-hyun would've sung the last line "정말 수고했어요 (You've really worked hard)," which is the saddest line of the song.

A big thanks for your recap, @Unit!

"Lucifer."
"Mr Volunteer."
A Beat. Their gazes lock.

1. Best running gag this week: Gyu-hun in loser-code trying to score an invite to the house-warming 🤣

2. Most unexpected but deft paper-cut narrative blow:
The plot reveal that trolling was farmed out to Ha-jun - who dealt the fatal insult on *Chapter 51* (I guess the decade-long crush just nose-dived into a demise)

3. Best fake-out: dead-fish rooftop kiss-non-kiss
I knew something was up! well played, show.

4. Best Easter-egg joke (that never was)

Did you notice Woo-jae went into the convenience store, and it was a different store clerk? (not our dear Sun-jae anymore) and next thing you know -- Hae-Yeong was watching TV and Lovely Runner was on TV!

We half thought she would point to the screen and go: "Wait, he looks familiar! It's the store clerk!" 🤣

5. Gyu-hun bursting into song in that back alley! (that's a bonus track for us)

P.S. I love how mature, decisive and open their communication is. LOVE.
"I am not going to beat around the bush, I like you and I know that you like me." So refreshing.

I have some theories and possible predictions.
- I wonder if Ji Uk got the convenience store job and lived at the gosiwan to (a) be closer to the foster mom especially as she started to get sicker (b) to watch out for Hae Young. Maybe as a wish from her mom.

- I think Ji Uk is gonna leave and possibly try to divorce but I think he'll definitely leave because he doesn't want to negatively affect Hae Young's life and career. I think this will upset Hae Young because she said he was her partner and she was concerned about him.

I think either thing makes totally sense because they both have their issues with these particular things: "losing out" and "ruining" and manipulative Bok family keep using those phrases.

Personally, I think the Bok parents are deserving of a lawsuit and all the negative publicity. They are affecting people's lives according to their own whims and blatantly discriminating against single women. I wouldn't be surprised if Ji Uk is recording all the blackmail threats (if so I would love that because it's been established that he would do such things).

- which brings me to: I think Ji Uk's plan (whatever he was alluding to in the first episode if the writer really did have something in mind) will come into play. Maybe he planned on creating an app or something. I don't know but it must've been some reason he wasn't too concerned about getting a corporate job yet he was studying english for job seekers. I think he will be doing something where the Bok family can't threaten or manipulate him.

I wonder if Hae Young will feel mad and betrayed that Ji Uk concealed the fact that he knows her mom and he was one of her fosters or will she feel grateful that he's been looking out for her mom when she hasn't been able to. Maybe a mix?

Maybe they will subvert expectations and not have to part but it surely seems they will, even if it's temporary.

I wonder if his mom is gonna show up; taking the wind out of the threats. If she keeps calling and inviting Ji Uk to Canada, wouldn't that mean her new family or at least her husband probably knows about him?

Question: btw, what's up with Hui-seong mulling over her calendar?
She was checking and double-checking the dates - is it to deconflict her trysts with her different lovers, or checking if she is in ovulation phase, or what?

This show continues to be a delight, but there's one thing I absolutely hated this week: the kiss (technically the second one). There are certain things I absolutely hate and cannot stand in dramaland, and how that kiss plays out is one of them. See, I absolutely hate it when a ML kisses the FL, who pushes him away, only for the ML to totally ignore that and just kiss her again anyway. Am I the only one who sees a problem with this? When she pushes him away, she essentially tells him "no", but he seemingly doesn't care and just ignores it. No means no, and there are no ifs and buts about it. And the fact that she gives in when he kisses her again doesn't make it any better, because at that point it's already too late. And, yeah, I know he's a great guy and all, but then it just bugs me even more, because why did it have to play out like this? It's just a shame, because I loved everything else this week, including everything about the second leads.

Also, interestingly, apparently there really are essentially 2 versions of this drama airing: a tvN version and a spicier TVING version (this one actually shows the sex toys in the box). Weirdly, the Prime version seems like it's tvN version, but has some stuff of the TVING version (there the secretary has his boss saved in his phone as "f*ck", which apparently isn't the case in the tvN version). The differences are mostly minor, but I find this very interesting nonetheless. Was this originally a TVING drama or something? Because I keep being positively surprised at how open this show is about all of this stuff, and maybe this explains why?

How many confessions is too many? Not if you are Ji Wook!! Awww. This show is killing me with all the rom and the com in abundance. I keep rewatching and I find new things to squeal about.

I loved that Ji wook went for the kiss and tried to be a cool bad boy and failed miserably at it. Their fights are so petty and hilarious.
‘Have we made up yet? If not, Fighting!’ ROFL.

JW: Can I have the car, my wife loves it!!
SHY: This is my parking spot so whose car is it
JW: yours. (Loses car ownership in 1 day). LOL.

My favorite scene was the IKEA furniture shopping. It was absolutely domestic and full of feels. I love love how Hae Young makes him feel like he is home. It’s her warmth and thoughtfulness that makes him want to be with her. With her as a family. The way they both set up the rooftop was just so beautiful. And the way she looked at him!! Heart filled eyes!!
And JY calling him brother in law is adorbs.

Finally I am fully onboard Guy Hyun and JY ship! (The writer knew how to remove that Thorn! Was it smooth or what!!))
These two are such fine actors and their scenes together is just so lovely. Even their running was so beautiful as we saw the shift in dynamics compared to their previous runs.

p.s I wish they didn’t censor the international travel box of Dildos (we prime users only saw a red heart). If you can find the TVing version please do. The animations are too cute.

Oh man, the second couple has all my heart. If you've seen my fanwall, you already know that though. I'd been hoping that Lee Sang-yi would sing and, not only did I get my wish, it was a romantic and beautiful scene! I recently watched a romance genre YouTuber criticize the concept of "chemistry" so I'm now hesitant to say a couple has chemistry, but... those two have so much chemistry, lol.

While I think it would have been more interesting if they had kept Gyu-hyun writing the worst comment, I get why they felt they had to make the romance more palatable. I also don't think it came out of nowhere. 1) Gyu-hyun does very little for himself 2) I doubt Gyu-hyun could even conceive of a background like Ja-yeon's on his own, because he's so sheltered. I also don't love Ha-jun as much as other people, he's funny but also pretty immature. The fact that he saved Ja-yeon as "Children's Author" for his contact IMO just shows that he views her as an old classmate. Not to mention how he viewed high school so negatively when she viewed it positively due to their memories together. Not surprising and very understandable for a teenage boy, but just shows the difference in their perspectives. Additionally, IMO she came to like Ha-jun because he didn't seem to care or view her background negatively, and this comment he made shows what, deep down, he really thinks of people with her background despite what he said to her face.

I'm really confused by the polyamory storyline (also, MDL is pearl clutching, lol). Sometimes she seems okay with it, and sometimes she doesn't. Also, like, can we meet her other partners?

I like the main couple but I think Ji-uk went from bickering to love a little too quickly... unless he's been in love with her all along, which wouldn't surprise me. I found their communication refreshing this episode, and all of his ways to get her to forgive him falling flat were HILARIOUS. As were Bruno and Chris (the new Samantha and Rachel!) hahaha.

Ex-boyfriend = douche (seemingly forgets he was dumped)
Ex-boyfriend's wife = clueless (fomo is a perilous path)

No Gain No Love is a simple yet touching film about balancing career and romance.
The chemistry between the leads feels natural, and both actors bring depth to their roles.
The mix of drama, humor, and heartfelt moments keeps you engaged throughout.

The soundtrack complements the story well. For more on the music in No Gain No Love and other K-dramas, check out this great resource:
https://app.ostfly.com/album/UkFJrZATiRnoIiIvSn/no-gain-no-love-ost

This show continues to be the only one that I not only anticipate watching all week, but also, watch in chunks, as I would eat a delectable candy bar, so I can savor each bite. It's so delicious!

--First, it has two heart fluttering couples comprised of flawed characters I unabashedly love. At first, I was annoyed at the rooftop fish kiss (how could this drama, so innovative on so many levels, resort to *that* kind of passionless, side mouth hedge?). But I shouldn't have doubted this show. Not only did we get a clear explanation as to why Hae-young gave him what looked like and was a staged kiss, but it was then immediately followed up with a real kiss--so good!

--I also love the way these two communicate, verbally and in letter form (Ji-wook's "I will never kiss you again" contract was so well intentioned but utterly, and charmingly, off the mark). There's real honesty there, but they're also very cautious and careful, never really denying the obvious mutual attraction and affection, but protecting themselves by always providing the other person with a credible out should they want to take it. It's interesting, too, that their differences in age and experience are obvious and acknowledged, but they never seem that significant to the story or their relationship. Even the chaebol reveal--which wasn't unexpected and is certainly not new--somehow seemed effective and interesting precisely because it was played in a low-key, matter-of-fact way.

--I was totally wrong about Other Sister's romantic path; congrats to @tabong and others who correctly called the polyamorous angle. This whole lifestyle still confuses me--dating a lot of people and committing to none is understandable and common (many would just call that "being in your twenties") but because most, if not all, humans are sexually jealous by nature, I'm not sure how two people can be in love with each other and fine with their partners being in love or very attached to others (because those secondary relationships don't seem like mere flings). But I'm intrigued to see where we're going with this.

-- Ja-yeon and Gyu-hyun are such a hot mess in all the best ways. She has PTSD, he's a neurotic product of a dysfunctional couple, and neither has any clear idea how to have a real, loving, healthy relationship. And yet . . . they're so good together. Him singing to her was one of the most pitch perfect romantic moments in a drama that I've ever seen. The way they look at each other, too, with a kind of wonderment and awe, is perfect for conveying the shift in their relationship from fear and anger to respect and affection.

--Finally, I'm very surprised to type this, but I'm interested in what happens in Woo-jae's arc. Usually I have zero patience with the cheating ex and his clueless partner, but even as he acts like a childish rat who wants only what he can't have, I feel for Woo-jae. I also feel for his wife. I'm not sure how this can be resolved, but...

It is SO exciting and satisfying when I can ship not only the main couple, but I can ship a secondary couple just as much! I really appreciate the nice, gradual development of the secondary couple's relationship.

Ja Yeon's fear was so palpable especially in the childhood flashback scene. It made her instinct to hide at the orphanage that much more heartbreaking. Gyu Hyun immediately looking out for her and protecting her secret from Ha Joon was super swoony. The heightened emotions I felt during this scene! He didn't take his eyes off of her as he was leaving.

Their running scenes were sweet and heart-fluttering. It was a good move showing the two similar yet different scenes - the first one where he tiredly fell behind and lost his grip on her hand and the second where they lost their grip but he matched her pace and held on to her hand firmly.

It was awesome seeing Hae Young and Ji Wook having an adult relationship filled with desire. Not being naive or chaste. The skinship and flirty lines are so natural and fun. It cracked me up that he came back to his line that he is an angelic dog and then she said she could be charming as a chew toy! Bwahahaha.

This week is when I noticed that Yi Lin could become one of the antagonists. Her scenes with her husband were eye-opening. Even I was glad that crappy Woo Jae told her clearly not to interfere with his career.

So, I’m late to this party, but where are people watching this show?

Can I just start my comment with an homage to Kim Young Dae's hands?!! Because those elegant appendages, so beautifully showcasing the wedding band, are absolutely one of the main characters on this show for me! I mean, talk about sexy...

The show knows it too... The loving close-ups, the focus, just so hot to see a man so committed. and committed he is... So many confessions, said and unsaid, each sweeter and swoonier than the other- That clasping of hands when they kiss said more than a million words. The tight close-up of him undoing her necklace was more intimate than any overt display, it had me breathless at the chemistry. Every frame is imbued with so much sensitivity and care, one can almost feel the love jumping off the screen. The cinematographer sure knows what they're doing... kudos.

This show has shot straight up to be one of my best romances- the humour and heart that it's still not lost despite going into the home stretch- just everything I want from it- and I hope it stays this way.

Other than its impact on the final kiss scene, I love the timing of the chaebol brothers reveal. Each time the show has served up a trope, it has done so with a fun twist that simultaneously stays true to the characters — and I can’t wait to see how it addresses this messy family dynamic going forward. I’m glad it’s not going to be shoehorned into a hurried last episode. Things could be chaotic at home and in the workplace next week, but with NGNL that’s inevitably a good thing.

I like Ja-yeon and Gyu-hun so much as a couple, I wish the spin-off just focused on that ship, sans isekai. Fingers crossed that the spinoff has them date IRL too! Or not, whatever Ja-yeon is comfortable with, she's been going through a lot bc of Ha-jun and Bok You.

The Chairman is so creepy and gross the more you think about his actions, past and present. I just hope Lucifer and his hyung still manage to keep their bromance going instead of becoming adversaries in the game of chaebol politics.

Sisters having a jumping timeout to make up was so cute, they must have many rituals like this. I feel like Ja-yeon is the heart of their sisterhood.

I admit I’m not impressed by KYD’s acting either, he’s barely selling it, but I think for me it’s been negligible since the writing and directing do make up for his shortcomings. The drama as a whole works so well that I can look past it. Also his lisp is adorbs…

I thought the hearts in voice actor sister’s calendar indicated the times she spent with the boyfriend, not her period, and she was disappointed to see it was a while ago. It’s like she’s been avoiding him a lot. I really don’t see how a pregnancy scare would fit into the narrative at this moment. Onscreen text in dramas should be translated as well when it’s a vital part of the scene.

I’ve never seen an Ikea ad in a K-drama before, I think there was one in Romance in the House too? Nice that they didn’t shove the name in our eyes, it’s obvious where they’re and what they’re assembling.

I’m adding Lee Sang-yi along with Han Ji-hyun to my “watching their career with interest” cart.

Hae -young and Ji-uk (and the second lead couple for that matter!) definitely didn't get the kdrama contract couple memo, @unit 😂😂 And I also love it here. This is #couplesgoals for me. A couple who communicates directly, honestly and with care. They don't leave things hanging. They're not afraid of each other or their relationship. It's so beautiful to see. One of the reasons I adore Kdramas is how they portray intimacy. We don't even need to see naked people panting around. But I feel this writer/ show is taking it another level. The way they have been using Ji-uk's ringed finger to make my heart flutter is ridiculous and genius. Everytime I see his hands, I swoon. Everytime Hae-young has that mesmerized glint in her eyes when she looks at him, I get butterflies. The scenes are not overly done or stretched too long but I find myself wanting them to go on forever. I'm not a rom com girlie but THIS show feels like and tastes like a romcom. The writer, actors, directors, editors, sound people, EVERYONE deserves all the awards and flowers. Two more weeks! I hope we can stick the landing. Hwaiting 💛💛