171

Because This Life Is Our First: Episode 4

After facing defeat, our heroine stops to look at those around her and realizes that under the surface, everyone has their own struggles and worries. Dreams aren’t as easily achieved as she thought they would be back in high school, and maybe the future isn’t as bright as she once hoped it would be. Though the show tackles some hard questions and topics, it never loses its whimsy or charm, and in the end, hope and comfort can come from the most unlikely sources.

[geolocator_show for=”SG”]

[/geolocator_show]

 
Episode 4: “Because this is my first marriage”

Su-ji and Ho-rang sulk together over Ji-ho’s departure, but Won-seok doesn’t understand why they’re so sad since she’s only going back to her parents’ house, which is a couple of hours away. Ho-rang explains to her boyfriend that it was hard for Ji-ho to leave home because her father thought that colleges in Seoul were too expensive.

He asks them how Ji-ho came to Seoul then, and in unison, Su-ji and Ho-rang tell him that she’s crazy. He laughs at their explanation since Ji-ho is the nicest person he knows, so they tell him a little story about their high school days.

Ten years ago. Despite ranking first in all subjects but one, Ji-ho’s impressive grades weren’t good enough to get her into Seoul University’s law program. However, her dream was to become a writer, so she decided to apply for Korean literature instead. During dinner, Ji-ho cautiously brought up the topic to Dad, but he immediately flipped the table in disapproval.

Undeterred, Ji-ho registered herself to Seoul University without telling anyone, and the day before class, she ran away from home. In the end, Dad never realized the truth until she finished her first semester, as he angrily waited for her one day outside the wrong university.

In the present, just as Ji-ho’s bus pulls away, she gets off to ask Se-hee if he will marry her, and he says, “Yes.” She hurries back to the bus to get her luggage, but Se-hee calls after her, wondering if she likes him by any chance. After a pause, she shouts back, “No.”

He immediately tells her that he’ll wait inside, and once Ji-ho grabs her suitcase, they take the subway home. He mentions the instant noodle bowls she washed, complimenting her good habit, and she accepts his praise.

Nearby, a seat opens up, and Ji-ho watches a couple affectionately argue over who should get it. In contrast, when the passenger in front of her leaves, Se-hee tells her to sit, and soon after, he walks down the subway car to sit in another empty seat.

At home, Ji-ho and Se-hee go over their contract, and while he doesn’t have any changes, she has a request. Now that she’s unemployed, she asks if he can lower the rent by 50,000 won, and after contemplating for a moment, he agrees.

Se-hee suddenly asks if she isn’t overextending herself, since it might be more economical for her to go back home. Ji-ho shakes her head, telling him that she would only save on rent if she went back, and in his usual logical way, he reasons that the stress levels of going home would cost more than the rent.

However, he’s still surprised that she chose to marry him based on tenancy rather than love, so she explains how she needs his room more than love and affection for the next two years. Staring at Ji-ho, Se-hee narrates, “I decided to marry my tenant today. I know, it’s an unusual choice that an ordinary person wouldn’t make.”

Ji-ho admits to Se-hee that she wanted to try marriage at least once in her life, and then asks if he sorted the recycling this week. He gapes at her, and thinks to himself, “I met a very unusual wife.”

Ji-ho wakes up feeling refreshed in the morning, and happily notes how long it’s been since she’s slept this well. She devours a big bowl of rice for breakfast, and mentally pats herself on the back for her wise decision to get married and save money on rent.

While Ji-ho eats, Se-hee drinks a cup of coffee on the couch, and for the first time in a long while, he and Cat enjoy a peaceful weekend. He blocks his mat-seon date, and is more than satisfied to have gained this valuable serenity in exchange for 50,000 won. As he watches Ji-ho refill Cat’s bowl, he smiles and thinks, “Yes, marrying my tenant was the answer.”

Ji-ho gets a call from her parents, who are coming to Seoul today, and when she tells Se-hee that she’s going to her brother’s apartment later, he asks if he should accompany her. Ji-ho is confused by his question, so he explains that he should greet her parents if they’re getting married.

He shows her the timeline he made last night, which includes the entire (normal) wedding process, but highlights the first step—meeting the parents—as the only one they need to focus on. He thinks it would be efficient to go today, and Ji-ho agrees.

Ji-ho visits Ho-rang at work to inform her friend that she’s staying, but holds back on telling her about the marriage, choosing to save it instead for another time. Ho-rang notices Ji-ho’s outfit and large bag and guesses that she’s going to an important meeting. To Ji-ho’s relief, Ho-rang incorrectly assumes that she’s meeting a new writer.

Hesitantly, Ji-ho broaches the topic of a guy meeting a girl’s parents, wanting advice about making a good impression. Ho-rang asks if she needs this information for a drama, and Ji-ho doesn’t correct her.

Sitting at the bus stop, Ji-ho spots Se-hee walking toward her, and he looks dapper in his suit while receiving a glorious slow-motion sequence. They go over their plans for this evening at a café, and his task is to mark Dad while remembering the three points she mentioned.

Just in case, Ji-ho tells him about a backup plan, and shows him a text from Ho-rang highlighting four guaranteed ways to win her Dad’s favor. As Ho-rang goes down the list of phrases about treating her like a princess or loving her forever, Se-hee’s eyes grow wide, and he firmly tells Ji-ho that he’ll make sure this backup plan never happens. Good luck with that!

Ji-ho and Se-hee walk to her old apartment, but from behind, little brother Ji-seok runs up to her. He excitedly notes all her new items, including her clothes, bag… and man.

After greeting Se-hee, Ji-seok rushes on ahead, and Se-hee tells Ji-ho that her brother isn’t as out of control as she described. Suddenly, Ji-seok screams—loud enough for their neighbors to hear—that Ji-ho brought home a man, and Se-hee realizes that he spoke too soon.

The entire family stares at Se-hee throughout dinner, making him too nervous to eat. Seeing this, Dad wonders if he doesn’t like the food, but because of his dialect, Se-hee simply stares at him until Ji-ho translates. Dad offers a drink to Se-hee, and remembering Ji-ho’s rule that the first drink must be finished in one gulp, Se-hee drinks the entire cup, thus gaining Dad’s approval.

Dad asks Se-hee about his job, and Se-hee begins to give a detailed description until he remembers Ji-ho’s second rule: always keep your answers short. He corrects his mistake and tells Dad that he works at an IT company.

His short answer pleases Dad, but he asks a follow-up question concerning the company. Ji-ho’s third rule is about using famous examples to explain things, so Se-hee says that they develop an app like KakaoTalk, and their office building is located between Samsung and LG.

Since Se-hee cleared his mission, Ji-ho brings up that they want to get married, and Ji-seok asks if she’s pregnant (like you should be talking). Se-hee is confused because of the dialect, so when Ji-ho translates his question about being pregnant, he hurriedly explains that they might live together, but that won’t happen. Oops.

Dad goes ballistic, threatening to lock Ji-ho in her room, and Se-hee throws fuel onto the fire by trying to calmly explain the misunderstanding. As Dad bends down to flip the table, Ji-ho kicks Se-hee in the legs, causing him to fall on his knees.

Kneeling before Dad, Se-hee looks back at Ji-ho, who frantically points at her phone, indicating their backup plan. Se-hee starts to stutter, and with his eyes closed, he yells, “I will never let your daughter’s hands get wet!” Bwahahahaha!

Ho-rang and her coworkers walk through the furniture store, and the saleswoman approaches their group, telling the youngest member about her purchase of the last pink sofa. Looking apologetic, the youngest member explains that she’s getting married next month, and Ho-rang acts like it’s not a big deal, though she leaves the group to go back home.

Picking up some groceries, Ho-rang calls Won-seok so that they can eat together, but he’s meeting Sang-gu right now. He offers to meet her in thirty minutes, but already in a foul mood, Ho-rang yells at him to forget it.

Sang-gu asks Won-seok if he fought again with his girlfriend, and he confides in Sang-gu that he doesn’t understand her lately. Sang-gu offers his help, and with a quick scroll through their past messages, he immediately assesses the source of their problem.

He calls Won-seok crazy for misunderstanding Ho-rang’s text, and shows him the one about the couch and her coworker getting married. Thinking that his mistake was the sofa, Won-seok thinks that Ho-rang should have just told him outright that she wanted to buy the couch, and assumes that this must be why she was talking about a newlywed home.

Sang-gu explains that women never say things directly, and gets very animated as he expounds on his ideas about women talking in circles. Won-seok calls him amazing, and Sang-gu haughtily says that his nickname is “Magical Sang-gu.”

Meanwhile, Ji-ho gives Se-hee a glass of water, but it makes him remember his embarrassing declaration. Feeling guilty, Ji-ho starts to explain why she forced him to his knees, but Se-hee is bothered by the ridiculous expression, not at her.

She tells him that there were other options, but Se-hee angrily says that he chose the least offensive one (the angry cat noises are perfect). He stomps away, and later that night, Ji-ho looks over the phrases and agrees with Se-hee’s judgement. Heh.

Ho-rang texts Ji-ho to ask about her meeting and to tell her that she fought with Won-seok again. Alone in bed, Ho-rang looks at a photo of her and Won-seok, and when he arrives, she goes under the covers, pretending to be asleep.

Won-seok cuddles her, apologizing for not understanding and for making her wait so long. Turning around, she stares up at him with tears pooling in her eyes, and he says that he knows what she wants now. Ho-rang brightens at his words, thinking that he’s finally realized her feelings, and the couple quickly reconciles.

In the morning, Se-hee slides an envelope to Ji-ho, intending to split the cost of the gift she bought yesterday—though she refuses the money. After sleeping on it, Se-hee concludes that Ji-ho made a wise decision and credits yesterday’s success to her.

He plans to tell his family about their marriage today, and describes how his mom will assist him in convincing his dad. But for his plan to work, he needs a picture of them together, and they proceed to take a slew of awkward selfies.

At work, Se-hee messages his mom about getting married and sends the selfie he took in the morning. Bo-mi passes by his desk and asks if he’s having lunch, and when Se-hee tells her that he’ll eat after his call, she points out the obvious: No one’s calling him. Without taking his eyes off his phone, he says that it’ll come, and right on cue, his mom calls. His “I told you so” look to Bo-mi is brilliant.

Meanwhile, Sang-gu thanks Won-seok for the meal, and noticing how sharply dressed he is, Sang-gu correctly guesses that he made up with Ho-rang. Won-seok proudly says that he’s going to go buy it today, and Sang-gu tells him that it’s a good idea.

Sang-gu decides to teach Won-seok another trick from his book, and shows him a text message that he sent to “Cigarette Light” (aka, Su-ji). He explains to Won-seok that this is bait to infuriate her, since he’ll pretend that he accidentally sent the message once she responds.

However, unlike Sang-gu’s prediction, Su-ji takes one look at the notification and ignores it, calling him an idiot. Hahaha!

As Su-ji leaves work, her coworkers spot her, and the particularly distasteful coworker informs her of a get-together with one of their clients. She politely declines, citing an important engagement she has to attend. Looking her up and down, he assumes that she’s going on a date despite her protests, and then he has to audacity to “advise” her to go home early so she doesn’t worry her mother. Yuck.

Su-ji’s important meeting is Won-seok, and he begs her to help him buy something secretly for Ho-rang. Coincidentally, Ho-rang steps outside for a break and notices the two exiting a jewelry store together. She eyes them suspiciously and calls Won-seok, who lies about his whereabouts. Rather than be upset, Ho-rang suddenly breaks into a large grin and texts Su-ji that she saw them, correctly guessing that Won-seok bought something for her.

Su-ji tells Ho-rang to act surprised when she comes home, and Ho-rang returns to work with some pep in her step. At the apartment, Won-seok and Su-ji rest on the bed, out of breath from bringing home the item. He tells Su-ji that he made a big decision to buy it, thinking that it was the least he could do for Ho-rang. Oh no… I’m already feeling the secondhand embarrassment.

Su-ji gets another text message from Sang-gu (who she saved as “Idiot”), and then promptly blocks him without even checking the texts. Savage. I love it!

Sang-gu stares at the unread messages he sent Su-ji and sulks in the company breakroom. Se-hee walks by, telling him about an email from Su-ji’s company, but to Sang-gu’s disappointment, the sender was someone else.

Ho-rang walks home after work with the others, and they pass by the furniture store, where the pink sofa on display is gone. Ho-rang hints to the others that she’s going to buy a bigger couch since she might get married soon.

Ho-rang meets Ji-ho on the way to her place and excitedly tells her a secret: Won-seok is proposing to her today! She practices her surprised face, and Ji-ho laughs, clearly happy for her friend. She sends Ho-rang up to the apartment first though, since she has to take a call from Se-hee.

Once Ho-rang reaches the top of the stairs, she hears whispers inside, and the lights go out. Unable to contain her excitement, Ho-rang loudly proclaims her presence and walks into the apartment. Won-seok and Su-ji yell surprise, but the real surprise is something else: the pink sofa taking up all the space in the apartment.

Ji-ho informs Se-hee about her plans to tell her friends about their marriage today, but is worried that they might not believe her. He offers to send the selfie they took this morning to use as evidence, but looking at their stilted expressions in the picture, Ji-ho scratches her head, wondering how to use it. Heh.

However, her attention is brought back to the apartment when she hears Ho-rang scream. Upstairs, Ho-rang calls Won-seok crazy for putting a sofa in their small space, but he argues that she was the one who wanted it.

With emotions rising, Ho-rang says that this is embarrassing, and Won-seok interprets her words to mean him. She yells at him for not understanding her, but he shoots back, “Then why don’t you make it easier for me to understand? Help me understand rather than act crazy for not understanding you!”

Ho-rang grows quiet, hurt by his words, but Won-seok is through with her tears. Though she threatens to break things off if he leaves, Won-seok ignores her and walks out the door.

Drowning her sadness in alcohol, Ho-rang asks why Su-ji went to the jewelry shop with Won-seok, and she explains that she was changing her watch strap. Su-ji berates Ho-rang for her outburst, taking Won-seok’s side in their fight, but Ho-rang cries, “I thought he was going to propose to me!”

Ji-ho tells the audience that since she was 17, Ho-rang’s dream was to get married. It’s been seven years, and Ho-rang asks her friends how long she has to wait while crying over her aging womb.

That comment is the last straw for Su-ji, who doesn’t want her friend to define her self-worth with marriage, but Ho-rang twists her words, accusing her of showing off and not understanding the woes of a penniless girl like her.

Infuriated with Ho-rang’s accusations, Su-ji storms off, and Ji-ho chases after her.

Inside her car, Su-ji recounts to Ji-ho all the sacrifices she made for Ho-rang today, but rather than receive thanks, she got cursed at. She expresses her disappointment, and excuses herself when she gets a call from a client.

As Ji-ho watches her friend pander to her client, she remembers Su-ji’s dream of becoming a CEO. Returning to the car, Su-ji says that she’s going to work, and Ji-ho narrates, “Su-ji wanted to become a CEO, but now, she’s just an employee who answers to her boss.”

Returning to Ho-rang’s side, Ji-ho recalls how Ho-rang’s only dream was to be married, but even for her, it hasn’t come true. Ji-ho goes back home, thinking to herself that she’s marrying her landlord to live in Seoul, and once home, she sees that Se-hee is still awake.

He asks how her talk went with her friends, but she admits that she couldn’t bring it up yet. She asks about his friends, and he says that they’re all “normal.” Ji-ho comments on how hard it is to achieve your dreams, adding that she was just curious about how others lived.

Se-hee tells her to not ask others if she’s looking for an answer, since the world is only getting worse and needs new standards. She asks if that includes marriage, and he says that it does.

As Ji-ho gets ready for bed, she thinks to herself that the world isn’t getting better, which means her life won’t get better either. Instead of looking forward to a brighter future, she wonders if she’s just living to avoid a worse tomorrow.

Before heading to bed, Ji-ho has a question about their marriage, and says that they should skip things that incur expenses, like a wedding ceremony. Se-hee agrees with her and says that the only expense will be their family meeting.

As they lay in their separate beds, Ji-ho explains that only the rich are entitled to marry for love. She looks at Ho-rang’s changed status (“Stop Dreaming”), and turns off her lights to go to bed.

It’s a sunny day, and Ji-ho is dressed in a white dress while Se-hee is in a black suit. Both of them run to catch the bus, and then sit in the back, looking tired and confused. Ji-ho asks if they didn’t agree to not do anything, and Se-hee replies, “I think we did.”

As our contractual couple look grimly ahead, Ji-ho narrates, “To live normally, we have to do something.”

 
COMMENTS

It’s been a while since I’ve wholeheartedly rooted for a couple like I do with Ji-ho and Se-hee. As individuals, they’re both charming and quirky, but the real magic comes from their interactions as an awkward and adorable couple. They’re just so compatible and all-together perfect for each other that I seriously can’t imagine either of them finding a better partner. Also, I love how they highlight positive aspects in each other, and character traits they have that might be considered an issue by other people are almost always seen favorably by our two leads (e.g., Se-hee’s logic-driven explanations and Ji-ho’s preoccupation with cleaning).

In addition, we got to see more of Se-hee and hear his thoughts this episode, and he’s really shaping out to be a thoughtful person and not just a calculating landlord who calls the police on his tenant (which still cracks me up). As a husband or romantic partner, he has his faults and would make most women unhappy with his thought process, but paired with Ji-ho, his non-romantic lines that purely driven by rational-thinking become swoon-worthy moments, forcing me to cheer for our couple. Because, honestly, how could I not?

While our main couple continues to deliver wonderfully comedic hijinks, the show is still contemplative and insightful, striking the right balance between poignant moments and funny ones. In the previous episodes, we learned about Ji-ho’s dream and saw her arduous journey stop before reaching its goal—not because of her own lack of skill, but because of horrible people and circumstances that forced her to make a tough decision. This episode, we learned more about Su-ji and Ho-rang’s dream, and how they also seem to be chasing after something that seems out of their reach no matter how long and hard they strive towards it. In the end, it looks everyone is walking down a dark tunnel by themselves, but maybe they’re not as alone as they think they are—they’re just blinded by the darkness.

The relationship between the three friends is sweet, and I’m confident that the fight between Ho-rang and Su-ji won’t cause a permanent rift, because they seem to share a history and bond that’s endured hard times before. That doesn’t mean reconciliation will come easily, because the fight between them hints at deeper issues between the two friends, both in their relationship and as individuals. Ho-rang was clearly wrong for taking out her anger on Su-ji, who only helped Won-seok, and the problem on her side is that she feels inferior compared to her well-off friend. I think some of her remarks thrown at Su-ji were more for herself, and in her anger, she hurt Su-ji in the process to avoid the truth about her own frustrations.

On the other hand, Su-ji is disappointed in Ho-rang’s actions since she sacrificed her time to help her friend, but it also seems that Ho-rang’s outbursts about her womb struck a nerve with Su-ji because of the constant battles she faces in the workplace. Hearing Ho-rang describe her self-worth through her female biological attributes probably reminded Su-ji of the casual way her identity is solely tied to her being a woman, outside of any of her merits or actions. Thus, it’s only natural that Ho-rang’s words made Su-ji angry, because she struggles every day to prove herself outside of her gender identity while Ho-rang seems to passively accept it.

The fight between Ho-rang and Won-seok is more complicated, since both were in the wrong. It wasn’t necessarily the couch that caused their big blowout—it was just the final straw. While some may be more sympathetic to one side or the other, it’s clear that both contributed to the problem that formed in their relationship. Ultimately, the issue with them is communication, and in all seriousness, Sang-gu’s advice to Won-seok was utter crap. That’s not to say that he didn’t have some helpful tips, and I do think he probably understood Ho-rang’s feelings in that moment better than Won-seok did, even though he only read a few texts. My issue with Sang-gu’s advice (besides the inherent sexism in his comments) is that Won-seok can never accomplish anything with that method because his personality isn’t like Sang-gu’s.

Won-seok seems to be a straightforward person, and being observant isn’t his strong suit, which became evident when he bought a couch that barely fits their one-bedroom apartment (like really, did he actually think that was a good idea?). He needs to be upfront with Ho-rang and ask for clarification when he needs it, because he isn’t a mind reader. While it would be nice for Ho-rang to be more direct with her boyfriend, it’s also her personality to be observant and cautious with her demands. There’s a social stigma towards women initiating things in relationships, and though it’s an antiquated way of thinking, I think Ho-rang has internalized this gendered message, much to her detriment. I personally thought her message to Won-seok was obvious given her constant desire for marriage and their long courtship, but maybe that’s the real problem—they see different futures for their relationship.

As a side note, I want to send applause to whoever is in charge of the sound effects, because they are on point! The hissing cat noises when Se-hee was pissed was a nice touch, and overall, I love the sound effects so far. It makes the show just that much wackier without becoming overly tacky.

RELATED POSTS

Tags: , , ,

171

Required fields are marked *

My only quip with this episode but hopefully not the rest of the show is Ho Rang being Seol Hee 2.0 (heck they both even dated their respected partners for 7 years). Don't get me wrong, I love that being a stay at home wife is being shown as being just as good as any other career goal, but idk, must the problem with the people who chase after this dreams always be that they can't communicate their feelings (okay, granted, seol hee in fight my way is the only other character in korean drama that i know thus far that wanted to be a housewife).

That aside, the main couple bring me so much joy and i love ji ho's wonky family, lol. I'm so excited for monday!

2
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I'm glad to see the spoken thoughts of Se-Hee and Ji-Ho. They both look so comfortable with each others presence that they can communicate anything while sitting in the sofa and sipping beer (was it beer?). It's something I look forward to if I get to meet my other half. They do compliment each other and yet they still meet at one point. Communication in a relationship is an integral part and I'm seeing this in our main couple.

Thank you @lovepark for the wonderful recap. I enjoyed reading your recap even though I've seen the episode. Also reading the different comments and insights from other viewers here makes me yearn to talk more about this show.

2
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I also like the titles of the episodes, "because this is my first kiss, my first proposal, my first marriage .... " Everything seems to fit perfectly, and yet you still don't know if everything will come together, and actually it's hard to see it coming together, but I'm sure we'll enjoy the ride -- since it's our first time watching this drama :)

8
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Yep! Sooo witty! I’m lovin everything about this drama! I love our adorkable couple!

1
reply

Required fields are marked *

oh my God puppy.
He was so proud of himself for buying the sofa and then got his puppy heart broken. I really can't watch kim minsuk being sad with those eyes.

1
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I just love how this show is using the three 'couples' to show how important communication is.
Ho-Rang wants her boyfriend to marry her and have babies but instead all she says is that she wants that sofa. What I found interesting is that it isn't just the bf who misunderstands. Surely if Su-Ji had known beforehand that the sofa was just an excuse, she wouldn't have helped Won-Seok. They both thought that Ho-Rang was going to be soooo happy with their surprise.

On the other hand, you've got Sang-Gu, who wants to say to Su-Ji: I fancy you, wanna meet for a drink. Instead he sends stupid texts about other girls, because that it really going to work (not)

And then you've got Se-Hee and Ji-ho. She could have said something like: that thing we talked about yesterday, do you still wanna do that? But no. She says: do you want to marry me. I loved that so much, that she actually proposed to him, rather than accepting his proposal.

Their relationship is not based on mutual instant physical attraction and therefore there is no need to play these games. Because they are landlord and tenant - and because of their personalities - they are just open and honest with eachother.

I think the circular oblique conversation of the others is actually very understandable. It's all about the fear of being refused. If Ho-rang is honest about babies and marriage, her bf might say that they've got no money, it's to soon, or whatever. Sending these obscure messages is hoping that he's going to understand them whilst guarding herself against rejection. For Sang-Gu it's a bit the same. I think he's clearly disappointed (hurt?) that So-ji doesn't remember him. (even though I think he's probably misremembering and it wasn't her at all). So he's guarding himself against rejection too. For Se-hee and Ji-ho, that fear and worry isn't there. If the other side refuses, then that's fine too, so why not ask for what they want (be it recycling or marriage). It's the same reason why friends-to-lovers works so well: you've been friends, you know eachother's personalities through and through, there is no need to pretend you're anything that you're not.
I just love this show. See, I'm being honest about it. It's totally gonna love me back and not mess up and throw my love back in my face.

15
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I find it so funny that Sang-gu was the one saying to Won-seok, "Oh, you know WOMEN and how they don't say how they really feel" and then he proceeds to do the same in his texts with Su-ji lol.

And yes, I feel that this is a show that I can trust. The first 4 episodes prove that to me. I have no doubts about it even though I'm not 100% sure how everything will play out (which is the fun part, of course). It's so nice to tune in and not be slightly apprehensive that everything will go down the drain.

3
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thank you @lovepark for the lovely recap. Interesting insight on Ho Rang and Su ji's fight. I personally thought Ho Rang's jibe hit a nerve. I thought maybe Su ji found out early that she is reproductively challenged. Hence her apparent rejections to dating long term. Suji retorted to Ho Rang that a womb is not a woman's identification. But this could be makjang. And this could also be a reflection of my own reality.

6
3
reply

Required fields are marked *

After reading your comment i thought about it and that could be the case with Su-ji. I too had a situation when i was nineteen where the possibility of me not ever getting pregnant was floating over my head (don't know if you can say it like that but i hope you get what i mean). Such a situation makes you think about your own values in life and the importance of having children for yourself in your life. You even start to question marriage itself. The "normal way" getting married, a lovely house with garden and then having children and in conclusion having a harmonious family life, as so many girls at a young age dream about isn't possible for you anymore. So you have to change your values and ask yourself what you really want in life and if that way or the expectation that you go that way is really as important as everyone around you seems to understand it. I came to the conclusion that me being a woman on the bodily part isn't that important for me (for example if i would ever get breast cancer it wouldn't be such a big thing to lose my breasts because i don't define myself over them. If the doctor says we have to cut them off, yeah then do that, I want to live). For me the person i am, the traits i have, my personality, my wishes, the way i think, my life are far more important than the unchangeable fact that I am a woman, biologically speaking. Whenever I meet young girls in their twenties who are telling me their life plans (getting married with 25/26, getting a house after that and the first child please with 27) well i feel like they are living in a straitjacket. It's just that there is always the possibility that it won't happen that way. In fact the possibility is quite high that it won't happen that way. If you're a woman ask yourself if marriage and children are really that important for you and try to figure out how you want your life to be if you won't get married and if you won't have children. Life is so fascinating and it does have so much more up its sleave than that. For me it is alright either way. If i get children it's ok and if i don't that's alright for me too. The same goes for marriage. I'm not really eager for that. If it happens alright, if not than it shouldn't be.
And just for the record and your curiosity (I'm just very curious too^^): I can get pregnant. But the possibility for the pregnancy and the birth being harder than usual is high. The risks for me and my life are higher. The question remains if i will take on that risk for me, my life, and an unborn life in my womb. To tell you the truth I just don't know for sure^^ but my minds tendency is going more to the "no" than to the "yes".

6
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

Sending love to your comment. Finding out that I am reproductively challenged turned reality and life expectations 360 degrees for me. I found out late in my 20s. I was devastated at first, and I hated new mothers, baby photos, baby showers and people who coo at babies and children who are not cute and bratty (I was that angry early in that stage). It was quite some time later that I realised that I cannot depend my happiness on having a baby alone. Life is too full of other beautiful things to look forward to, like travel to amazing places around the world. I understand that I need a different mentality in order to care for a child, to love my child in the best possible way. To have a child seems like a selfish thing, in the horrible world that we live in today. Hence a strong and loving mentality is needed. I totally respect couples who wait to have children, or choose not to have them at all. A friend confided in me that she will only agree to a child, if she and husband got things between them figured out first. She feels incapable of raising a child if priorities and principles and learning to enjoy each other's company haven't been ironed out. Currently, the idea of having a baby is not totally out from the books, I am fine with having one if it happens naturally, at a right time, or it doesn't happen at all. Marriage (re-marriage for me) is also an optional life choice for now. I am fine if it doesn't happen as it seems like a very expensive investment in my country. I will commit only if I feel like an equal in the contract. I now choose not to believe that marriage is the only thing that will keep me from being lonely (partners can die first or leave you). For Ho Rang and her boyfriend, I agree with many who feel they need to just talk it out and see where it goes. (ps: I can get pregnant but it may just be a little more difficult. I am not in my 20s anymore so I would rather have my sleep than worry about having children. In fact, I don't envy mothers anymore. I am enjoying my non-mum/single life now. Hurrah!).

3
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I realise now that 360 degrees is nonsense. Haha

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I never thought i would get another drama like the jdrama "Nigeru wa Haji da ga Yaku ni Tatsu" so soon. I just loved that jdrama and I'm falling in love with this one. I'm sooooo happy^^ It gives off the same vibes as the jdrama (even though the craziness is a lot less) and it's just absorbing me with each episode more into it. As Lovepark said i too found myself rooting for our two main leads since the first Episode. Not just for their relationship to blossom but rather for the character growth each of them will go through (or rather i hope they will get character growth but it looks good on that front). After those first four Episodes i got invested into the side characters too. I like them really much, each one of them, and i hope that we will get a lot of character growth here too. I want to really know more about them all.

4
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

And I add this drama to the highlight of 2017 along with Circle, Chicago Typewriter.
I hope the writer won't ruin the way Se Hee cares for others. Kinda like how habaek stayed haughty till the end but matured nonetheless, I want Se Hee to feel platonic love for Ji Ho. I would hate to see an ending where our favorite Weird couple of the year gets all cuddly and loving.

1
3
reply

Required fields are marked *

buuut i want those cuddly and loving moments for our OTP. I want to see kisses and sweet hugs later in the drama of course when finally Sehee realizes he is in love with his tenant!

2
reply

Required fields are marked *

I don't want to see platonic love!!!!! I want the two of them falling in love and I think that is what we're going to get. I don't think SH will turn into a different person over night, but he's gonna be Falling in love with JH and it'll be in his own way.

3
reply

Required fields are marked *

Platonic love basically means a non sexual friendship and I really don't see the drama going that route with this couple. I think they're on their way to building a solid foundation in their relationship based on communication, mutual respect and fondness for the other.

4
reply

Required fields are marked *

Oh well. I think other drama(s) will go into my must-read list soon. This one is definitely a must-watch. #realisminescapism

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

If I wasn't sold on this drama yet before, I would've been during that dinner scene.

3
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

My concern with Ji-ho and Se-hee's relationship is that she's not quite at liberty yet to be herself. Her personality is very different with her friends and family. I'll be very happy when she feels free to be herself with Se-hee.

Also, has anyone caught on to Ji-ho's appreciation to The Graduate? I looked up the synopsis of the movie and I don't understand how it connects to Ji-ho. I'm curious to see how the writer explains it.

3
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I commented on this earlier, but my thoughts actually fit better with your comment, LookieLooWho, so I'll copy and paste them here again:

In The Graduate, Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) has just finished college and, back at his parents' house, is trying to avoid the one question everyone keeps asking: What does he want to do with his life? Maybe that's how she feels...first at home, when her family doesn't understand what she's doing, then again when she moved to the big city, because she never got the chance to truly succeed as a writer before she was squashed like a bug.

1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Something I noticed. The shots and scenes are reminiscent of old filmmaking (not really old, but in the last 50 years or so). I saw “The Graduate” in college. It’s a classic. If you’ve not seen it, you should because so many films use a lot of that cinematography and also writing cadence. It may be very purposeful they use this poster. The last scene of the last episode with both of them in the back of the bus is also from the last scene of the film. It’s iconic.

And is this show going to be the next “Liar and his lover?” It resonates so deeply with many Beanies, especially Se-Hee’s introverted, highly organized, and asocial behaviors. If he can find love in a unconventional way, it must give everyone hope that they can too.

4
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

oh man, what a pot fell on Min Ki to play a character like Se Hee. it is much easier to play a loose and energetic character where you are allowed to actually, you know, move your face. He is doing so well though, keeping everything under check.

3
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

Eh is perfect for the role! I haven’t seen him in a drama sincerity Dalja’s Spring! Gosh, my age just got revealed🤣

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

also, Jung So-Min is really center stage here. I feel like this is more HER story than the heroes´. Which is a good thing. Too often the female characters are delegated to the background. But here, her and also her friends, I feel like the story is told more from their perspective than the male characters, who are all more of a "setting" except Se Hee. Ji Ho is like a mix of Bong Soon and Wednesday Addams.

But I bet we all misunderstood and the whole drama is not about any human, miau.

2
reply

Required fields are marked *

My kdrama slums ended thanks to this!

3
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I mean, Kdrama slump! Asdfghjkl🤣

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

:D

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

By far my favorite episode! Lee Min Ki is killing it.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Can someone please enlighten me if Sang gu and Su ji, really did have a one night stand? Cause I don't remember anything about that at all. Was I drunk as well at the time? 😂

On another note, I love that this story does not rely on ridiculous premises to reach the desired set up for our characters. It was all logical and grounded on real life that it becomes relatable for everyone. I hope we get to have this kind of quality all through out the series cause I'm just loving this drama so much! 😙

1
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Yes, they did. Episode 1 they had a convo on the roof about it. How she told him he wasn’t very memorable and he usually remembers all the men she’s slept with.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I'm in love.
I liked that there was no 'jealous gf/bf' trope.
What about two years though? Why JH said that she wouldn't need love for two years?..

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Can I just say that the 3 couples are so well-matched. They are all different and yet they work perfectly together.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

The sitting in the back of the bus thing is a "quote" from the movie, The Graduate; a poster for that movie is on Ji-Ho's door, so it's an intentional quotation. I'm watching it on Netflix and they have this bad habit of blurring things that they might have to pay to use, and often dialing down the vocal tracks on karaoke songs, again because they don't want to have to pay for the rights. So annoying,

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *