Family by Choice: Episodes 11-12

by starrygazer

Our two boys are starting to settle down now that they’re home, but there is still a threat from their birth mothers hanging over their heads. Will our trio be able to overcome what is thrown at them this time? It’s so easy to love these characters, and I’m sitting here rooting for them to get their happy endings from behind my screen.

 
EPISODES 11-12

It’s nice to see that Joo-won has not held onto her upset with the boys for too long. Joo-won has been thrown in the deep end by San-ha’s confession, and I am so here for her girly yet flustered response. Trying to avoid San-ha at all costs, Joo-won ends up giving the game away to Dal, much to Dal’s amusement and delight (and mine). This loveline works for me, because San-ha always made it clear they weren’t a “real” family.

The comedy is coming thick and fast this week. While at a family dinner Joo-won’s squirming and discomfort about the confession gets broken up by Hae-joon proposing to her — haha, the shock on everyone’s faces! Of course Hae-joon thinks this is the best way for them to become a real family; thankfully, it’s not because we have a dreaded love triangle trope coming our way. Phew!

Things get swoonworthy when San-ha suggests to Joo-won they wipe the slate clean and look at each other as adults now —wait for it — “because you’re my world.” *Squee* I have goosebumps, and judging by Joo-won’s response, she does too. There are lots of cute scenes where Joo-won is checking her phone constantly; she’s worried about her appearance and she cannot stop thinking about San-ha. It’s cute how much he affects her and San-ha is not oblivious to his effect on her either.

San-ha insists that Dad Yoon go for a checkup at the hospital for his aches and pains, and Joo-won gets to see his compassion for his patients which makes her swoon all over again. Not to mention, San-ha treats Joo-won’s wrist because he noticed it was bothering her – cue love stares with backlighting and more of San-ha making her flustered. This is just too cute.

In a spiral, Joo-won is trying to convince Dal (and herself) that it’s all familial love. Dal’s reactions to Joo-won are brilliant. These girls have great chemistry – I really love their friendship. This all leads Joo-won to a “date” with San-ha that includes a run in the rain, and a kiss from him. Swoon. Hwang In-yup is really stepping up to the plate as leading man in our show and it’s working for me. San-ha now knows it’s not Joo-won’s feelings that are the problem — she is worried what the dad’s and Hae-joon will say. Seeing a usually- serious San-ha so happy is a rare and superb sight. *Claps with glee*

Now that their feelings are out in the open, Joo-won wants to wait to tell people until the family knows. Another comical scene where they nearly get caught by San-ha’s work colleagues ensues, and I find it delightful. Speaking of which, Joo-won’s total overreaction to San-ha having a cold speaks volumes about her real feelings for him, and seeing them cuddled up on the sofa together makes me want to squish their cheeks with all the cuteness.

Hae-joon is still under the impression he needs to be accepted by the family, and it’s so touching when San-ha uses their relationship as an example. San-ha points out that they don’t need to be legally bound to be brothers, so why would Dad Yoon feel they need to be legally bound to be family? *Claps for San-ha making a very good point*

Joo-won also reassures Hae-joon, explaining that Dad Yoon would never let him go, and to forget about what she said about them not being family — she was just mad at Hae-joon for not coming home for ten years. This is what family is all about — acceptance and looking after each other — and I love these three musketeers together.

There seems to be romance incoming with Hae-joon and Dal, and for me this is a highlight. Dal asks Hae-joon to crash a blind date for her (that her pushy mother is making her go on), and he obliges. This is the first time Hae-joon made me swoon — and Dal, and all the other ladies in the cafe. Side note: The way Dal is dressed and her blue eyeshadow made me cry laughing. That’s one way to put off a blind date! Hae-joon is starting to seek advice and support from Dal and I’m enjoying watching their relationship blossom. More of this please show.

After their little show at the cafe, Dal and Hae-joon run into the realtor who’s trying to find Hae-joon a building to buy for Dad Yoon. After hearing Dal’s advice about whether he should ask Dad Yoon first or not, Hae-joon goes bounding to ask his permission before buying him property. I thought I would get away with not crying this week, but I was wrong. Dad Yoon and Hae-joon have it in for our tear ducts!

The first thing Dad Yoon asks is if this 800 million won is Real Dad’s money. Of course it’s not — Hae-joon’s been saving working part-time jobs, modeling gigs, and having investments. Hae-joon makes the mistake of saying it’s to pay Dad Yoon back, and Dad Yoon flips his lid. Poor Hae-joon looks broken when Dad Yoon asks him if he’s giving him the money because he’s not his real dad. And I’m in pieces all over again. *Sobs*

Luckily we return to some lightheartedness when Dad Yoon realizes it was his guilty conscious speaking, and he decides to embrace Hae-joon’s hard work. He plasters Hae-joon’s modeling shots in his restaurant and brags about how handsome his son is. This is so warm and fuzzy, and their relationship is just heartwarming.

Unfortunately for our musketeers, the two mums of the boys are still casting shadows over their lives. San-ha’s mum is either oblivious or just so much of a narcissist that she insists to Dad Kim that San-ha was only going “home” for a month. This is a shock for Dad Kim and the two dads sit down with San-ha to find out what’s going on. San-ha is very clear that his mum knows he moved hospitals and won’t be returning to Seoul.

Dad Kim loses his cool asking what San-ha’s mum has done to him this time. This breaks my heart for San-ha. What has she done to him over the last ten years? (Side note: San-ha seems to be hiding the fact he’s taking medication too — I’m assuming anxiety meds because of his witch of a mother.) Dad Kim clearly wants to protect San-ha, and so he ends up meeting San-ha’s mum to try and talk to her.

As you can imagine, this goes down like a lead balloon and San-ha’s mum just goes on about being pitied, how San-ha won’t defy her and he will go back to Seoul, and how selfish San-ha is. Is that a migraine I can feel starting from gritting my teeth listening to this ridiculous woman?

Meanwhile, Hae-joon is hurtling towards more grief. Everyone in the family incidentally finds out that Hae-joon’s mum is living close by, but she is still unwilling to see Hae-joon. Hae-joon’s mum just wants to see him from afar, and her reason really did shock me: she killed someone. The last scene this week is Joo-won, San-ha, and Dad Yoon confronting mum and her explaining what had happened. Hae-joon’s mum wanted her son to live an ordinary life, and she gets on her knees to beg them to keep it a secret that she is close by.

Hae-joon’s mum is a stark contrast to San-ha’s mum. The two mums could not be more different, and I did find it weird that Hae-joon’s mum doted on him so much as a child. Why would she go incommunicado? In contrast, anything nasty San-ha’s mum does, does not surprise me in the least. And San-ha’s mum turning up at his apartment at the end of this week’s episodes does not fill me with glee. If San-ha doesn’t go back to Seoul with her, will she move closer to him just to terrorize him some more? Just a thought.

Overall, there has been more romance and lighthearted fun this week, and I’ve really enjoyed it. It’s nice to see our musketeers finding their new normal, but with the same support system in Dal and the two dads. Will the boys’ mums be throwing some grenades next week? (And why doesn’t So-hee seem to know her brother has left for good?) One thing’s for sure — getting to their happy ending won’t be smooth sailing.

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