Oh my. Where to start? This episode had everything. I couldn't ask for more.

So glad we finally had more insight regarding the "murder" and what actually went down. So it was Myeong-yeo driving that time. I can't imagine how much it weighed on her all these years. I want to read her novel!!

Hwi carrying her bike seat around is the cutest thing! Oppa bought it for her!! Nobody's taking this seat! Lol.

When Eun-seob and Hae-won started dating, I wondered what else the drama would do coz most of the time, that's end game or noble idiocy comes in. How silly of me. This drama just then delved into deeper water as we explore other characters without us losing interest in the leads' stories.

I'm quite confused about the Hamil story though. Anybody care to explain?

This morning I spent a couple of hours watching the two latest episodes and I am soooo glad you are recapping this show @quirkycase!
Yes the storylines are beginning to coalesce, but still Eun-seob is shy about expressing himself. Is he holding himself back by the fear she will leave in the spring?

When she said "I want to sleep with you" that short-circuited his brain, I'll admit I watched it more than once. He is just so adorable.
But the story of the aunt trying to save her older sister is very painful. Yes she seems to be punishing herself for so many years. I hope that at some point they explain to HW why things happened the way they did.

But this show brings out so many feelings in me. thank you writers, directors, actors and the whole crew!!!

So much in this episode:

First: I HOLLERED when Hae Won told Eun Seop she wanted to sleep with him, I said Yassssss. Get you some him. That entire scene was adorable, him struggling to take off his shirt was so sweet.

Second: WOOOF, Myung Joo and Soon Young. Those women have steel in their bones and my God, what bloody freaking sisterhood. Protecting your family both ways. I was crying.

Third: Hwi bloody elevates this drama. Her blackmailing of poor lovable, sweet Jang Woo. She is so great and I just love her. Also her malicious cackle at Yeong Soo was so entertaining, you could just see her thinking, I got him.

Honestly speaking, the editing left me really unnerved. They put Myeong Yeo's narration of the abuse of Hae-won's mother, as well as the fact of abuse of her friend even on her deathbed, right in between these sweet scenes of Hae-won and Eun-seob. It's clear that Eun-seob is incredibly kind and warm to Hae-won, just as her father once was to her mother - and that's why Hae-won and her mother fell in love with these men. It was a little like saying relationships, situations and people change, times change, you never know what will happen. This episode left me feeling very...unnerved.

It's terrible that Hae-won's mother got such a heavy sentence given the circumstances of the murder. Self-defence is a valid defence to homicide. If had to search for logic (and say, not for dramatic effect), it may be because she didn't cooperate as much as she otherwise would have - in order to protect her sister.

Phew~ what an episode. This drama may be slow and quiet but when it reveals, it does so in one big wave that can leave a happy camper breathless. This episode had a nice balance in getting forward the main love story and that of our other important characters.
I had the gut feeling from the previous episode where they first revealed the sisters running out and getting into the car that Myung yeo was the one in the driver's seat. It explains a lot--why Myung joo answered MY's letters, why she kept in contact with her, and why MY was very submissive to her. MJ sacrificed so much too. It's a trajedy. She probably wanted to stay for Haewon in addition to her pitying her husband.
Idk if I said this before but I'll just say it again... I love how the writer/director weaves the literature into the scenes and makes them all the more meaningful. And how they showed little by little the younger days of MY and YT. And the contrast between YT's reaction to MY and that writer. It's jarring. That and his book on "All My Firsts" make it too obvious he's still in love with her.
One more thing: I also love Haewon's directness. We have witnessed how transparent she is--even poor Gunbam the dog experienced it firsthand! I just love her. She knows what she wants and doesn't dwell on it too much. She was hurt in the city and need time for herself thus she went back home. She slowly developed feelings for him so she told him out in the open. She was clearly sulky because of his initial discomfort after the first kiss so she showed him that. She is not afraid to be vulnerable in front of him. All she has to do now is look into herself to see what she really needs--a life back in the City or a life with Eunsob down there.
Last thing I'd like to point out is that MJ, MY, and HW all have something in common--they are strong independent women battling their own scars just fine. No problem with that. I just hope they realize it's better to heal together.

I also don't think that should be telling Hae-won the details of how the murder happened. Yes, talk to her about why - that the father who was so sweet to her was a horrific abuser and her mother almost died. But to now tell her about her aunt's involvement etc seems to be an unnecessary discussion. Let it die with the sisters - no good will come of bringing up the past and opening old wounds. OR SO I THOUGHT until I realised it will help Myeong Yeo start to heal and live again. She needs to share this with the people she loves most, so they can forgive her, so she can start to forgive herself.

So...I hope that discussion happens. Not for Hae-won, but for Myeong Yeo

Hae-won and Eun-seob being actual adults and talking about adult stuff? YES PLEASE

But as much as I adore Hae-won and Eun-seob's relationship, Hwyi being fabulous, and jang-woo being the cutest puppy (as always), Myeong-yeo stole this episode for me. I hope she manages to finally move on from what happened 10 years ago, and that Hae-won will patch up things with her mom and finally get to know what kind of person her father really was.

It looks like our OTP are on their way to happily ever after that I want to know more about Myung-yeo. I want to see how her story unfolds. Whether she gets back with Crybaby and starts writing again or just let down everything and forgive herself for what happened.

Jang-woo, oh, you puppy! You can do it!

This episode is so rich, the story so well depicted, my heart still hurts. Having been intimately acquainted with abuse, I understand Myung-Joo and Soon-Yeong's situaton. They were trapped in the cycle of abuse and were clearly exhibiting the battered wife syndrome. They have accepted their lot, sometimes believing that their spouses will change as promised, or worse, believing that the abuse is somehow their fault and deserve it.

Domestic violence is pervasive and not always overt, especially to children, where couples try very hard to hide it from. And yes,it can happen to all types of women, even to the strongest, most accomplished and brilliant women.

I feel Myung-yeo's frustration at her sister, and now at her friend. You feel helpless and you want to help but don't know how. And your mind reels at the stupidity of it all, especially when you witness the abuser wail like he is a paragon of a husband who lost a precious wife. You could have treated her better when she was alive!!

Myung-Yeo accidentally killing the husband and Myung-Joo taking the fall, is even more tragic because now all of them are trapped in the lie. It's another form of bondage and it's obvious all of them are suffering, even poor, unknowing Hae-Won and confused Yoon-Taek. Oh, what a tangled web they've woven.

Thankfully, there were other heartwarming and funny stories interwoven to lighten up the hour. I appreciate writer-nim for including Hwi and Jang-woo's characters as they have enriched this drama so nicely.

I love this series, but I think this is yet the best episode for me.

The pace is muted and slow and everything, even abuse and all the unspoken words and unexplained years gone bY, makes me squint at the screen because I don’t know how bad to expect what is coming. But I expect it to be worse and so I worry that there are even worse outbursts to come. Or worse abandonment, running away, disappearance. Then I stop and think maybe all those fears have already happened, and our shattered families and all the members are turning the same wide corner toward a better future...

given MJ clothing choice ...full sleeves long skirts with black socks even large shades...i would say she was actively keeping the bruises well hidden...so it is plausible that HW never saw them also i think they said the abuse wasn't frequent so it might be that it happened when HW wasn't at home like school trips or her visit to her grandma..etc..its just guesswork right now till show clarifies why HW never knew of abuse...

Thank you for the quick recap, @quirkycase!

I thought the editing was very good - switching between the romance of the OTP and the domestic abuse scenes - it gave us a necessary dose of realism.

MY and MJ both need closure. It's no wonder Yoon-taek had three divorces - he probably never got over MY. But MJ and YT were not close enough for her to tell him the truth in the first place?

I love that this drama shows the women taking the lead in all the relationships - OTP, MJ-YT, Hwi and Yeung-soo.

Oh. And I LOVE HWI.

- One of the many many things I loved about this episode was the direction, especially during the shot that revealed it was Myung-yeo who picked up the car keys. We saw it coming but that particular shot just gave me goosebumps... The abuse storyline was really well done. It's all the more horrifying to me because things like that (and worse) happen in real life, and there's only so much you can do to help them.

- It did throw me off a little though when they showed the romantic scenes right after the flashbacks. One minute I was internally screaming in horror, then internally squealing in marshmallows, then back again! Not that I'm complaining. I love them all.

- I really love Moon Jung-hee's performance as auntie Myung-yeo. Her postures and body language, and those expressive eyebrows.

This episode was excellent. The depiction of abuse was heartbreaking but it is a very real occurrence for many women in relationships. The pain, the sadness, and fear of the victim. The rage and begging from the abuser. The helplessness and fury of those around them. In the end sadness and regret for all involved. It was almost too much for me to handle. I was so tempted to fast forward bc they portrayed this scene very well. Kudos to them. As for HW and ES. My heart... It just melts. I'm finding myself smiling uncontrollably when they are in view. I love that HW is so direct with her feelings, but please ES initiate sometimes. An unprompted "I love you" is what HW needs. She has been very brave and honest is her interactions with ES. I feel that when the time comes, he needs to be the one to ask her to stay. She has led the way since she arrived in town. I'm definitely happy that she led with the intimacy, otherwise, ES would still be trying to figure out how to take off his shirt without passing out. lol. She must have blown his mind, poor ES wanted to stare at her all night but could barely keep his eyes open. I love the combination of the two of them. This is definitely a drama that I will watch over and over again.....

I don't understand the mother. Honestly, I think she stayed with her husband because she had all the men at her feet and she chose the wrong one. She's very proud. Even when he was kind, she was annoyed. The Aunt was right, HW would know one day.

Why did she lie? Her husband tried to hit her sister with an iron, then hit the car, it was legetimate defense. At least, she could use this for her defense, but instead she said she did in cold blood and she received a severe sentence and her sister felt very guilty for that. I'm curious what she wrote in the letter for her sister, if the Aunt already knew everything about it... The Aunt left her boyfriend and the writting after that.

Then... ES's mother... A very selfish adult who remembers her son when she's sick and called in the middle of the night because she wants to see him.

Honestly, luckily that ES and HW were super cute during this episode because the flashbacks were frustrating! HW loves to tease ES, he's so cute when he's shy.

Poor Yeong-soo, Hwi won't let him talk! But he had to listen all her nonsense :D

When this show started, when I watched the first episodes, I would have never thought to be treated to such an intense, fantastic, devastating hour of television later on. The hard cut between the horrific abuse and violence, where I had to make myself continue watch it, not skip it, crying for these women, and the couple lying in bed in their bliss, was not what I would have expected. For a moment I even doubted sweet Eun Seob's nature, seeing how horrible the father was, how can love honestly exist in the same world? I don't know if the director wanted this effect, but even though it half-ruined the otherwise sweet moment between the OTP for me, at least it made me feel so many conflicting layers of emotions, and having to learn to accept that feeling of uncertainty.

On another note, I got the feeling that Hae Won read Eun Seob's mind in that scene, and out of love and realizing that she wanted this, too, this time she didn't wait for him to ask, but took the initiative. Slowly steering him to a place where he learns to say those words himself.

I wonder what intention drove Myung Yeo to send that first, perfectly dramatic sentence to Yoon Taek (she stays true to her character). Was it the aftermaths of the funeral, wanting to connect to her boyfriend of 20 years? Does she want to start a book and tell this story, to shine a light on domestic abuse, with a slither of hope that this could help other victims/change at least something? I loved the scene of them together in the car, both of them speaking their minds without any of those tactics of Myung Yeo that she usually uses to distance herself from him. This made it believable to me that they were indeed a couple for a very long time, respecting each other's opinion.

My heart broke for Myeong-yeo this episode... it was so hard to watch the scene depicting what happened on the day Hae-won’s father died. It’s so terrifying how sweet he seemed but he can also turn around to be a monster. I’m so glad this drama shed light on the cycle of violence which is so hard for victims to get out of,
my heart broke for Soon-yeong who got abused until the end :’(

Despite this episode being weighed down with Myeong-yeo’s story I’m glad there was a shed of light-heartedness with Jang-woo, Hwi, and Eun-seob & Hae-won’s relationship progressing. I love all the characters in this drama and they all deserve the world.

I’m really scared for Hae-won and how she will react when she finds out the Aunt was the one who killed her father. Her development has come so far it’ll be so sad to see her close herself off again, although it is very understandable

What is the brand of the PPL car Eun Sup is driving? I have never seen that logo and couldn’t find it anywhere and I don’t know Korean so I cannot read it in the end credits.

I was wondering whether dramaland would pretend Covid wasn’t happening but in this episode the author Crybaby was eating with made a remark about servers wearing masks.

So many things happened in this episode, but the most important one is that we learn who really killed HaeWon's dad. It was such a terrible moment, and even if I suspected it could have been MyungYeo the one driving, discovering it was a shock and explained so many things (why she quitted almost everything, stopped writing, why she acts like a little girl with her sister, etc) but specially why she sent that text to YT while waiting in the police station.

Many beanies have commented how that HaeWon didn't know anything about his dad abuse, but she did. During the trial, when her mother is sentenced, the judge says the sentence is reduced considering the abuse she's suffered. Even if there was no trial and that was a court agreement, she was there to listen that his father was abusive. And even more, a schoolgirl HaeWon goes to visit her mother (who refuses to see her). At that point HaeWon knows her father was not the sweet man he's been to her, and being the smart girl she is, she would have gone back in time and realized the bruises in her mum, a tense moment between her parents. But we cannot forget that by the time it happened she was a girl and probably she could not understand the whole thing that was happening.

Also, it's clear to me that the one who prevented HaeWon's suicide was not Auntie, but EunSeob. I believe he followed her and called Auntie. It may be the reason, she told him to call her "noona" and it can also explain why JangWoo said his crush on HaeWon began that day in the train station, because he knows the story.

And finally, I'm adoring Hwi and JangWoo, together and separate. How cute that scene Hwi calling him "chingu" and him so confused. I love JangWoo because he has the ability to address to every person at their level and make them feel comfortable with him. So please, JW put yourself together and go to EunSil and just talk!!! Just talk to her!! Because the minute you just talk to her, she would fall for you!!!

Is it only me? I don't like aunt Myung-yeo in the past. She is a spoilt brat and treats the poor guy horribly.

The reveal regarding who killed the abusive husband was a surprise and both explains some of the characters' behavior and opens up opportunities for the future of the story.

Thank you for recap. This show is a gem in drama land 😁 Getting better every singel episode. I also like the balance between main leads and side stories. They are all exciting to watch. That's the only drama I watch without touching forward button😁

Hae-won mom and aunt are badass.
Hwi relationship with her crush is refreshing, a freak and a geek :D
And I really hope that Jang-woo will have a happy ending with Eun-shil, they are so cute.

I think everyone has been somehow abused in their life, most not physically not even obvious forms of verbally, but there are times in life you think this is not right, I should probably stop it from happening, but you keep on being there and letting that happen again, telling yourself maybe next time, let's enjoy this moment of happiness and again you find yourself broken into pieces left hurt and alone... it's strong and definitely stays with you for a long time, but then, a time would come - if it ever comes- that you actually walk away, like nothing matters anymore, like you were never even there, you just walk away with your pain, but you put an end to the abuse and then you feel relief. I see lots of women under domestic violence, they talk about it and laugh it off and I look at them wondering if I'll ever be able to help them reach that point of walking away, most of the time I'm just lost, with no answer

Lighter moments only:
..
*I can't wait for Hwi's (ex?) crush to see her element in the book club..Wonder how the oppa's will treat the li'l need
*Lol'd at HW's "borae" to her aunt's proclamation to die together . it's the same tone she has been using Everytime MY does MY-like things and that moment of familiar amazement totally caught me off guard after such a heavy moment.
*Apparently Muk women have been leading the skin ship women for 2 generations..
*Eun taek's tough guy routine in that first episode is becoming more and more laughable the more we see of the cry baby ET.
*Can we have atleast one mandatory Hwi-JW and 1Hwi-her crush scene/episode ,drama gods..Heck I'll even take Hwi talking to herself..that girl's magic ♥️ ...
it's not as if I am asking for a girl with a pretty smile and a healthy appetite..pretty please, show..😅

This episode got me gutted. Gendered abuse, suicide, someone dying of breast cancer. Gosh! But somehow, I loved it. This drama doesn't gloss over things, but shows them with respect, from different perspectives and without being preachy. Everybody has their struggles and they do what they can... And, more importantly, it has an undercurrent of hope, it shows that people are also capable of being good forces in other people's lives, and I really like that.

Also loved that this episode was titled "Two stories". How apt! This is such a well-written drama, so full of mirroring stories. Haewon's story will surely meet Eunseob's account of that day (@eazal, I think you're right, it was probably ES who gave Auntie Myungyeo the heads-up). Soonyeong and Myungjoo both suffered abuse from apparently dedicated husbands...

And finally, Haewon and Eunseub, how sweet are they? I was giggling at Eunseob's silent meltdown, and then Haewon taking charge was soooo sexy. You go, girl! Finally, them cuddling in bed, squeee! All I want is for them not ever to leave that house, and read and cuddle and entertain booksclub meeting forever after

I am in love with the storytelling / development of this drama. It is such a beautiful way to tell a story. This and Itaewon Class, are my favourite so far. Different and unique in their own way, but really amazing. Even if the story is slow, the way they are telling us things is so poetic.
Now about the episodes: 11 was a bit messy for me, I could not follow it. I think it was because it was a heavy subject and the editing. Then episode 12 came and it normalized it again. I cant get over the aunt screaming at the funeral, how she is not in prison, but in her (head) own prison.

I have nvr seen such an honest female lead: I love Mok Hae Won! I was 😳😳 when she casually said to Eun Seop: I want to sleep with you. Like, so casually! And his reaction had me ROFL 😂😂😂. I loved it!
This hour was particularly moving with the depiction and commentary on domestic abuse. I just love the way the writer inserted it in with Myung so' story of her dying friend and her sister. It was really touching.
Special mention ofc to Hwi, this girl is something else and I love her! Her interaction with Jung Hoo wa so so funny!
I think this drama is going to be among my favorite this yr.

ES was extra adorable this ep. The poor guy could barely breathe when he was trying to take his shirt off 😅. The whole time HW was looking at him I kept hearing Toni Braxton song -I love me some him, just too cute. 😆

I don't understand how Hae Won seems quite uninterested in any other person except herself. Yes, she is involved and interested in Eun Seob but that's related to herself too. She doesn't even notice that the aunt who saved her from suicide and who must have taken care of her when her mum was in prison, had problem reading and problem with her eye. Hae Won hardly seems to stay home or help in the house or her aunt. She seems to have become self centred too, only aware of her own feelings and logic.

Minority opinion but this ep fell flat for me. It is the first one that felt like filler and felt like it lost its balance. I honestly think the abused dying friend could of been taken out of the story. It just felt like one trauma too many, this ep needed an editor.

I think that Haewon knew and I hope the writer goes with that. For children who grow up in a house with domestic abuse, this is their normal. It is all they have ever known. She could be very aware that her father beats her mother and be both scared of it and of his rage and traumatized from it and still love him and be happy with him.

Thanks for the recap.

I have a question for the Korean watchers of the drama: when Hae Won told Eun Seob she wanted to sleep with him, did it mean sex? Or was something lost in translation? Or did Hae Eon just literally mean sleep as in we'll lie together? I know ratings don't allow much skinship, but the least they could've done was have Hae Won wear Eun Seob's shirt or something after the fact. The scene broke my suspension of disbelief.

@quirkycase

LOVE LOVE LOVE .. YESSSSS!
Finally a heroine .. female main lead character who does not make me cringe even once during her scenes with her OTP other

~ "Hae-won’s directness is so refreshing! She never plays coy or lets things fester. Hae-won gets everything out in the open without being pushy or overbearing. She wanted to know how Eun-seob viewed their relationship, so she asked. She wanted to sleep with him, so she said so and made his brain short circuit. That whole sequence was great in all its awkward glory. I love how she takes charge but doesn’t do it in a way that bowls over him. She gives him space to process and doesn’t push, but she knows when to initiate. They really do work well as a team."