The farmer’s assault and attempted rape basically ends on the local women re-stating their claims when his wife left 2 years ago. Everyone sides with Jeong-suk but she learns from her son to stand up for herself. The 4 ladies are slowly growing their inner circle to include more town’s women. What was the weakest part of the story in episode 7 was Dae-Geun’s. He cannot see his grandmother because he is unsuccessful? Really? He may be shy, awkward and not the brightest bulb, but he is still family. I guess the only one who sticks up for him is his sister. (I think pairing him with Ju-ri is too forced and strange.) But what bubbled to the drunken surface is a growing theme that Korean men are mostly introverted, perverted, clueless, socially awkward, inept, man-children and yet, aggressive. This theme seems to be targeted toward the growing number of current Korean women who are afraid of Korean men or find them basically useless. As such, Jong-sun appears to be at the edge of going back to a life of crime. Pharmacist Choi may be a jerk at times, but he is still a competent professional as he correctly diagnoses Young-Bok. I found another convenient “get together” when Do-Hyeon allows Jeong-suk to help him find his parents. Her note that surprised him the most was the possibility that his parents are still looking for their stolen child. He must have never thought of that . . . really, when the country has a national data base for foreign adoptees looking for their parents? (My theory is that the fires and stolen babies was part of a profitable foreign adoption business.)

Episode 8 has our obsessive detective losing concentration because of Jeong-su’s kindness and beauty. But the heart of this episode was the difference between Young-Bok and Geum-Hui’s marriages. Geum-Hui went on one blind date and laid down the law: she would be a modern woman who would not have children. In a conservative era, that was unknown. But a month later, Won-Bong comes back to propose - - he would accept her terms. But on her anniversary, Geum-Hui starts to feel regret with her decision as she is jealous of Young-Bok’s full house of children. Young-Bok’s difficult situation is all tied to her husband being an ex-convict. This is why he cannot get work. Young-Bok knows she cannot support another mouth to feed, but her husband does not want her to terminate. Later, she relents as she mends an infant’s clothes. This is why Jong-sun is desperate to provide for his family (to the point of this weekend’s cliffhanger). I thought last week Jeong-Suk would have to hit rock bottom in order to prosper, but it looks like Young-Bok will take that role.

I love this show so much!!

1. I love how all the neighbors went there to testify in JS's favor. When they were calling her in the street, I had the feeling they were calling her to comfort her, and I'm glad that I was right.

And I'm glad hardware ahjumma knew that what her husband did was wrong and felt in debt with JS. I still don't feel all that comfortable with her, since she said many nasty things about Jeong Suk, but at least we know that she isn't just hateful for fun, and she does respect JS as a person.

2. This week was more focused on the couples and I'm totally fine with it. I love them all!

2.1. I'm so happy Jeong Suk has finally started to see how supportive and thoughtful Do Hyun is, and that she's feeling more close to him.
And him swooning everytime he interacts with her, to the point dude can't even speak on the phone properly. Awwwwwww. I love them so much.

And Jeong Suk helping him, getting more nervous than him, and even crying on his behalf, and him finding comfort in her words and actions... aww, they're so wonderful. I love them.

I hated the hug tho.

2.2. Ju Ri and the pharmacy dude are fun together. I wonder if her future MIL will be happy that someone's interested in her son or if she's going to make a fuss about Ju Ri being a single mom.

And I hope he gets to see his grandma soon. No one lives forever, he should cherish her all he wants while he can. No, but, why is he listening to his mom? Just go to your grandma boy!

2.3. Omo, Cat Boss really was a Cat Boss. That's why he can't find any job. Aigoo. Too bad there is no Deer company here.

Yong Bok and Cat Boss used to be the fun and color, but this time they made me cry. A lot.
I just wish them the best.

And I'm going to ignore what happened in that final scene, because why? Like, WHY? Having a ML detective doesn't turn this into a crime show. So, why?

2.4. It was so sweet to see Geum Hee and her husband remember the day of their marriage like it was yesterday. Even though their dynamic has changed, it's clear that they have always loved each other and they always will.

And it seems like Geum Hee doesn't want to live the modern life anymore...? But that is a lie obviously. If it was a simple change of heart she wouldn't look sad, but excited.

Oh! I loved how her husband literally ran to her after getting approval from his parents. And now he's running to get her a scarf, aww.

3. Oh, the strong makeup!! They looked so fierce! Loved it!
And Jeong Suki was looking beautiful in that hanbok too!

4. I loved how Geum Hee was comforting Young Bok. And I love that she didn't even question anything about her husband.
While Young Bok was scared of losing this friendship, Geum Hee was too busy buying things for her kids. She didn't doubt YB once.

I really love how supportive and understanding they are of each other. These little moments are everything.

I love how positively chaste the romances are in this drama. Between our husband and wife couples and our cop/top manager. Their fantasies were much sexier.

Also, I knew the butcher lady wouldn't bad mouth her. The towns folk are nosy as hell, but seem to be good people.

I hope our resident househusband/catwalker didn't do it. That would be sad, the man was trying so hard.

Did any other musical fans get Carousel vibes with this episode? "You can have fun with a son but you gotta be a father to a girl"

I'm sorry, but I just don't care enough about the male lead's mysterious backstory to have kept my interest during those scenes. That hanbok was GORGEOUS though. I just don't really get scenes where they do the "wow, look at her all dressed up" reveal when it's a character who's already known to be a hottie. Like, the pretty female lead, who we know has won beauty contests in the past, looks pretty in a hanbok? Gasp!

The village seemed less terrible this episode, but early on I was thinking the four women should move. I work with sexual assault survivors and the female lead's acute response was both realistic and upsetting (I was practically yelling at the TV, "Stop avoiding! Feel your feelings! Talk to supportive people!" )

Do-hyun and Jung-sook: I love their relationship. They found each other at the good time (a good timing is so important). They both help each other in a differen way. Jung-sook sobbing in the shop was so funny. She's a pretty funny character without trying like when she was tipsy and made goings and comings to tell everything she needed to. Her honesty lets him opening to her.

Young-bok's story made things very serious between her unwanted pregnancy and her husband's past. How can they refuse to hire such a cute husband?

I was wondering why Geum-hee didn't have kids and I'm happy to know it was her decision.

These women never cease to amaze me!

I love our ladies and the way they support each other. Just watching them bond makes me happy. I was so relieved that the townspeople came to support her. They may be gossipy but have decency.

I like the added story to each husband. It makes them more relatable.

I did feel the romance kinda didn’t work for me. May be I expected a slow burn. But I can see how these two work for each other.

I would have liked a few scenes with the ex-husband doing father duties like baby sitting but he completely disappeared. I wanted the child to spend time with his father with whom he did have a good bond.

I like this show fine, the women are great characters. I realize the main point of the show is the development of the four main characters and the female bonding that’s occurring. And I’m definitely enjoying that, but two things already mentioned keep me from loving the plot.

As @welh640 already alluded to, all the male characters, not to put to fine a point on it, are just stupid dolts, whether they are nice guys or not. (I'm not going to get into whether that is accurate in real life or not.) None, zero, are worthy partners for the women. The last straw for me was the MLs behavior last episode, as I mentioned above.

2. @kafiyah-bello calls this drama "chaste." I'm going to be a little harsher. This is a drama about the selling of sex toys, and yet, probably to reassure those who might be offended, there have only been two kissing scenes, both comic--the husband suddenly turned on by his wife in a negligee, and the young pharmacy assistant drunkenly mauling the equally drunk hairdresser. There were no scenes that even hinted how customers who bought the lingerie/products might have their relationships changed, or have increased physical intimacy because of them.

Abortion was suggested, but as ALWAYS, it won't happen.

The show, therefore, somewhat ironically represents the repudiation of sexual attitudes that supposedly its characters are fighting for, and that might be linked to their rights as women. The idea that sex isn't always dirty, and in fact is perfectly fine IF non-exploitative and linked to loving relationships or marriage would seem to me to be a logical theme for a show like this. But as always in kdramas, no matter how bold the women are, the men won't cooperate, either not having entered puberty yet in their 30s, or regarding sex as something that exists only to gratify male desire, loving marriage be damned.

I really like how things are unfolding. I'm not frustrated by the plot and minor obstacles. The 90s time period definitely helps. Nice to see the drama delving into the stories of the other characters besides Jung Sook. There are bad people, but there are also good people around her. I knew the town ladies would have her back after she had that nightmare about them.

Jong Sun & Young Bok. T_T <3 These two were so cute and teasing before. Now they totally made me cry. Their separate dilemmas make their story more compelling and serious. I liked that the drama is bringing up realistic issues like the cost of childcare and living while they have low income. What options do they have including abortion.

Dae Geun's and Ju Ri's drunken making out was so real lol. Abrupt, awkward, passionate. XD I like that he hasn't gotten his haircut. I don't think she's fallen for him yet or as much as he has fallen for her.

Do Hyun looking all mesmerized by Jung Sook in her pretty wedding hanbok is one of the tropes I love! So sweet to see a hanbok version.

I adore Jung Sook. She has been consistently kind, strong, and hard-working. It was cute seeing how much she wanted to prepare and do well to help Do Hyun with his investigation.

This show was doing fine on it's own - it did not need a murder to advance the plot. sigh.

and yes, agreed 100% that all the men here are portrayed as prepubescent idiots.

I am happy Jung Seok gets to help our ML find his own birth parents. I have a feeling that we may already know who his mother is. There are a few candidates at the right age that are in town. I am leaning towards one in particular esp with the hints in the latest episode.
I hope Yeong Bok's husband will not be implicated further in that crime/murder. I would hate for him to go to jail again and be separated from the family he loves.

Love this show btw - it's so gentle and thoughtful.
And the aesthetics, colours, art direction and production design: LURVE
I look forward to watching this every week

This show has a bean from me and is fast becoming one of my favourite dramas of 2024 - the actresses playing the 4 friends AND Writer-Nim all brought their A-Game to this.

So far, this drama has pushed back against:

1. Rape culture
2. The negative prejudices against single mothers
3. Street harassment
4. Victim-blaming
5. Slut-shaming
6. Domestic violence

And it has tackled:

1. Sexism
2. Misogyny
3. Toxic masculinity
4. Abortion
5. Menopause

It has also introduced one of the best MLs of the year.

I take my hat off to you, Writer-Nim. And I hope this drama sticks the landing.

The progression of Jeong-sook and Do-hyun's relationship this week made me squeeee so much!
She finally notices him as a person! Which makes her go all in to help him. While she's yet to look at him as a man, he's already there and doesn't quite know what to do with his ballooning feelings. His stunned look and her beauty in the hanbok store were everything.

For a person who's brusque and straightforward, watching him all befuddled and avoidant is quite funny. What's even funnier is Jeong-sook's innocent deductions trying to explain his unusual behaviour.

She made me want to hug her when she kept turning back to explain how his behaviour is affecting her. His expressions then were priceless, i was eagerly waiting to him explode with a confession. But alas, the hug left me a deflated balloon.

So glad the town's ladies stood up for Jeong-suk and satisfying to see her punch the rapist in the head.

I love the idea of tickets to the latest erotic movie as a way to promote their business. And I love the idea of all these women sitting in the theater watching the movie.

Not feeling the hug at the end. Part of me feels like it was inserted just because it was episode 8. I did love how Jeong-suk got Do-hyun to consider maybe his mom was looking for him too and the whole hanbok shop scene.

Geum-hee and her husband's back-story was such a surprise. It was sweeter than I expected and I'm glad the husband decided to celebrate their "national holiday".

Part of me wishes Yeong-bok would warn her husband to stay the eff away from his shady past associate. That dude reeks of bad news.
Yeong-bok's husband's scene when he returned from drinking was so heartbreaking. I hope he gets a vasectomy in the future. They already have 4 kids and the house is at overcapacity. I'm impressed with the oldest girl who is able to study through it all.

Here in the states, I've been hiding from the world for the past couple of days, and I thank this show for helping me to do that. A few of my favorite things:

1) Cat Boss as a (sort of) normal guy. I've seen Im Cheol-su in a bunch of things and he's almost always comic relief, which he's great at, but I really enjoy seeing him as a normal (ish) person in a family with a range of real emotions. I'm hopeful, verging on confident, that he actually did nothing wrong leading up to his panicked phone call, and that it will all be resolved fairly quickly and happily. On the other hand, I was hopeful going into our elections, too, so what do I know.

2) Do-hyeon: you know what I like best about him? He's not pale. His skin is dark and has a healthy glow, like he actually spends some time in the sun. I do wish, though, he would be more friendly with his colleagues. I actually have some sympathy for the cop with the mullet. He's annoying but not a bad person. Maybe if he wasn't rebuffed at every turn he'd calm down a little.

3) All three of the friends. Can't decide who I love the most. Probably Ju-ri, as I'm a sucker for a character who isn't apologetic about who they are. But Young-bok is a close second, and Geum-hee is pretty great too. Wonderful casting!

I'm hoping we will pick up some of our dropped threads, like Heo Yeong-ha and her cheating husband. I'd love to see her stand up for herself with him instead of taking out her unhappiness on her son and the women in her orbit. Also, I agree with whichever beanie said the "affair" between Seong-su and Mi-hwa was her last-ditch effort to make a baby. Even during the scene, I was struck by the resigned, almost pained look on her face. I'd like to see some kind of tentative beginning of a thaw between her and Jeong-suk. Not that what she did is in any way okay, but I can't help feeling a little sympathy for her unhappiness.

Weird that we haven't seen Seong-su at all for a few episodes. I thought he'd be popping up every time Jeong-suk and Do-hyeon are together, throwing around suspicion and jealousy. Waiting for that scene. I hope and expect that it will be Jeong-suk, not Do-hyeon, who puts him in his place.