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Wedding Impossible: Episodes 7-8

After running in plot circles, our leads have finally found forward movement. A major secret is revealed, another is confessed, and a new contract is underway: a casual accord to pause all that pesky pretending. Finally, our forbidden lovebirds find the truth will set them free — well, free to go ahead with a classic Episode-8 cliffhanger that is.

 
EPISODES 7-8

Wedding Impossible: Episodes 7-8

Oh, if only I could bottle the last ten minutes of this week’s episodes. So much heat! From crying to clasping to kissing — sort of all at the same time. It’s a bit of a slog to get through all the seconds that the leads are not on screen together. But when they are — whether arguing or opening up — the spark is worth it.

After Ji-han gave his permission last week, Ah-jung can’t stop being bothered by it. She senses he’s lying — and it takes one to know one (“Why did you act in front of an actor?” she wonders). Their tumultuous tango is the central tension, as we move from Ji-han obsessively thinking about Ah-jung, to her unable to stop dwelling on him.

Now that the wedding news has been publicly released (and the conniving Choi siblings have given away Ah-jung’s whereabouts), the press is hounding our heroine to the point that she’s forced to go stay with Do-han. But, you know, he and Ji-han live in the same house, so now we’ve got our leads sharing an abode.

And what a first night it is. Following an extended bubble bath scene (not complaining), Ji-han saunters into the living room, bare chested, toweling his hair. Ah-jung, mesmerized startled, drops her banchan and they both stare. She quickly turns away, but her eyes sneak back in his direction (lol), and he unsuccessfully tries to cover his torso with his tiny towel.

Wedding Impossible: Episodes 7-8

Cut to the next scene, where Ji-han, Ah-jung, and Do-han sit in the living room trying to quell the discomfort, and Ji-han’s got his hoodie zipped to the neck — hood up — covering himself head to toe. Ah-jung tells a story about how her eyesight is bad and she’s not wearing her glasses, which might work if Do-han didn’t ask: “Didn’t you get LASIK last year?” Ha! Her look says she might actually kill him.

To create distance, Ji-han keeps calling Ah-jung “sister-in-law,” which annoys her to no end, but makes Do-han happy. The brothers share a smile with each other and seem to be getting along better than ever before. Of course, this is a setup because things are about to go down the toilet.

To get there, we get a series of confrontations. First, when Ah-jung and Ji-han are alone at home, she asks for the truth about why he gave permission when he didn’t mean it. He tries to wrangle his way out with a vague response and starts to walk away, and there’s a nice role-reversed wrist grab, with our girl Ah-jung pulling it off like a pro. Still, they don’t resolve anything, and go their separate ways feeling sad.

In a heartbreaking conversation later, Ah-jung does her best to confess, telling Ji-han that in this whole wedding equation, he’s the variable she can’t overlook. It’s obvious that she’s trying to give him the chance to stop her from marrying his brother, but Ji-han tells her to trust her decision to marry Do-han and he’ll trust his own decision (to let her go).

The next confrontation is between Do-han and his ex, JUNG DAE-HYUN (newcomer Shin Yong-bum). So far, Dae-hyun has filled the role of an antagonist and, even if the drama is trying to give him motivations for his actions, it’s disconcerting to me that it’s not at all nuanced.

Dae-hyun has been creeping around causing problems at Do-han’s studio, and even made himself known to Ah-jung, which sets Do-han off. Dae-hyun thinks that Do-han should feel guilty about what happened between them, and vows to make himself happy by hurting Do-han. To do this, he meets with Ji-han and reveals that he and Do-han were in a relationship — giving away the secret that Do-han is desperately fighting to keep contained.

Wedding Impossible: Episodes 7-8

Ji-han reacts by saying that he doesn’t care, his hyung is his hyung no matter what. But at the same time, he thinks that Do-han is being selfish and runs out to find Ah-jung right then. She’s trying on wedding dresses, and he literally pulls her out of there and into the street, where he’s clear: “Don’t go through with this marriage.”

But Ji-han is in a bind because he thinks that Ah-jung doesn’t know that Do-han is gay, and he still wants to protect his brother, so he won’t tell her. Ah-jung doesn’t understand his sudden change of heart and so she protests — thinking he’s the one being selfish now. She goes so far as to say that she likes Do-han so much it hurts, which just makes Ji-han feel for her more. (By this point, these two are driving me nuts with all their dancing around. Make up your minds!)

But good for Ji-han because he’s not going to leave her alone this time. He goes to watch her on set, where she’s filming a long action sequence, and afterward they take a break together. They’re melancholic and confide that they’ve both been acting — though neither says about what exactly. They agree to take a short respite from pretending, just for the moment, and they’re calm and easy together for the first time.

With Ji-han’s newfound gusto, he decides he has to be honest with Do-han. He opens up, saying that Do-han is self-pitying and never thinks about how his actions affect anyone else. This leads to an all-out fist fight between brothers, where — without it being said — Do-han realizes that Ji-han knows his secret. Ji-han leaves with the advice to stop thinking about how he’ll be hurt and to think about how others could get hurt instead.

Then our hero goes directly out to find our heroine. She wants to know why he’s taking this so far and he mimics what she said earlier about Do-han: “I like you so much it hurts.” He’s done acting. He tried to make her fall for him, but he fell for her in the process.

She responds by getting angry, calling him crazy, and storming off. He’s crestfallen, but when he starts to leave, she comes back. She’s crying, but also totally enraged. She’s hitting him repeatedly, shouting, asking how he can do this to his brother. He doesn’t say anything and she just keeps crying her heart out and demanding an answer.

Wedding Impossible: Episodes 7-8

Finally, he hugs her, holds her still, and says it’s not like that. She’s a puddle. She’s been trying so hard to hold back, but she can’t when he’s acting like this. She backs away, looks at him, controls her staggering breath, and pulls him in for a kiss. Afterward, she says, “I think I’ve lost it because of you.”

At that, he leans in and kisses her again — then pulls his head back to look at her and, OMG, his face. They kiss as the camera captures the long shot, and we’re left with that feeling of high until next week.

I love them. I love them together so much. Sorry, Do-han. Find another fake wife. I’ll admit that the kiss seemed a little misplaced right in the center of her hysterics (just too abrupt of a change), but by the time she said she’d lost it because of him, I was back on board. And that look of love on his face after he kissed her just sold the entire thing. We knew they had spark, since their witty repartee is what’s holding this drama together, but now they’ve got absolute sparkle.

I’m so over every story thread surrounding them that I can’t really imagine how we’re going to fill four more episodes. The meddling half-siblings are running in circles. Grandpa keeps repeating the same stuff. Ah-jung’s sister already found out about the marriage contract being a “three-year acting role” and she’s agreed to go along with it (which, thanks for sparing us that unnecessary drama). And Chae-won hardly makes a mark.

The only thing left on our plate is to sort out the truth about the mom’s death — which will hopefully resolve the issue of the heir — and for Do-han to follow our main leads footsteps and be able to stop pretending. In the interim, let’s hope for superfluous dating antics, happy flirtation, and a few more sensuous smooches to throw in the mix.

 
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AAAAAaaaaah finally! I'm so ready for their happy area now!

Do-Han needs to talk with his brother! It's sad Ji-Han had to learn his secret by a total stranger and Do-Han understood JH knew because they fought. They both have their pain but they only have each other. We could see very well JH's scar under the clavicle, I guess he got it in the car accident.

I love the meeting between the 2 secretaries. They clearly love this family and want the best for the compagny. Both of them want JH as a future CEO. At least, thanks to them, Ji-Han wasn't too lonely.

Chae-Won didn't have a lot of scenes but her honesty was refreshing and she led by example. I hope she won't be bitter.

It's funny how Ah-Jung changed her clothes so many times when Ji-Han spent almost the whole episode in jean's and blue shirt.

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Ji-han's jeans were a character in and of themselves this week. A mesmerizing one, at that. Couldn't didn't want to look away....

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totally agree!!!

his stylist needs a raise this instant with all his amazing looks! They suit him SO WELL!

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On a side-note... I would like to add 5 more names to the ever-growing list of 'MSM looks like a combination of 4 other actors' ....
Someone pointed out his height, and omg, now I cannot unsee similarities with Rowoon! There are angles where he also resembles Choi Woo Shik and Sehun ...... and then, some closeup shots of his lovesick eyes remind me of Chen Zheyuan from Hidden Love...

But more importantly, he looks EXACTLY how I imagined Moon Woo Jin (the child-actor who played the kid-version of Park Seo Joon in Secretary Kim) would look like, as an adult! 🙈 It's a shame he's 15 now, so they couldn't get him to play Ji-Han's flashback scenes! 😭

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Apropos that, I just put up this and please, someone, say that you get what I mean:
https://www.dramabeans.com/activity/p/1553644/

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Blue jeans were fine, but white jeans he wore for the date with Chae-Won (ep.7)... I was so distracted in a bad way. If this guy can't pull off those jeans, they should probably be banned. Is this opinion too controversial?

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Boy oh boy, I really appreciated Ji-han's jeans and blue shirt though Kurama😉 . I thank the costume department sincerely. Moon sang-min has great physical presence for someone so young.

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190cm help a lot for his presence :p

I liked his outfit too! With the white t-shirt under for the contratst :p. It's just in the mean time, she wore 2 different costumes for the drama shooting, one in the car to get back at home, then her pyjama, then the one for the last scene.

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I wonder though if this was intended in some way to reflect the characters. She was all over the place emotionally while he seemed to have made his decision and finally followed through because yes, that is the longest he has been in the same outfit over many scenes for the whole show.

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And, they are filming him so lovingly. The best angles, the soft-focusing, the make up which is applied really evenly and consistently.

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I have to add that it seems to me her make up is either lighter than his or the lighting makes it seems so. She also has many scenes were the focusing seems less soft than his.

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I love that she seems less "filmed through vaseline".
I find her very beautiful, but her sour demeanor fits with her way of being honest with herself, and with her great skill set and disappointment that is has been used so little.
The straightforward actress who is tired and a little angry, and the clever, soft, scheming, luxury-spoiled, love-deprived boy - it's an exciting mismatch.

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@ceciliedk: I like it too but I find it interesting how MSM’s make up always makes his face dewy and other worldly. No matter how good looking, no one looks like that in real life.

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Blue is his color! The pale blue sweater too! 💙

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Doesn't the Crown Prince in Saeguks always dress in navy blue robes? *wink wink*

I haven't watched Under the Queen's Umbrella, but it was probably there that the stylists realized he looks radiant in shades of blue! :)

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You are his color? 😁

Did you watch the promotions for the drama? On TVN insta, he was wearing a beautiful blue sweater that was looking good on him. And @attiton jean's :p

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"great physical presence for someone so young" Reminds me: When I saw Maze Runner, I was super impressed with the strong and complex presence of of this 17-year-old boy, Thomas Brody-Sangster. And then I found out the "boy" was 27. 🤣

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😘 !!! Happy dance 💃

Wow, we earned the kiss, didn’t we?? I haven’t enjoyed such delicious angst in a long while. It was lovely to see them both finally speak their feelings.

And now, how to untangle the mess!!

I hope Do Han talks to his brother now. And Ah Yeong to tell Do Han that she fell for another man, his brother 😂

I hope the 2FL doesn’t do anything typical of kdrama 2FL. I don’t have much hope but let’s see. Ji Han needs to be honest with her, she deserves that.

And grandpa, spill the beans?? What exactly happened???

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Also, what an awesome fanboy is Ji Han?!! I can totally see them in the future where she is acting and he is a proud husband bring coffee trucks and food packages with her face plastered all over!

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He looks like the only one who really enjoys her acting and her career.

The fact she could lie to Do-Han about it showed he didn't watch her dramas...

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That confession, that kiss.💕💋 very cathartic after all the dancing around!

Another favorite scene was the take a break they did at the filming set. AJ comment about acting in real life is a team in the drama as our three trying to hide themself in some way or another. it really comes around when AJ said that she was jealous that CW had the right to be honest about her feelings. CW unintentionally helped our leads finally being honest about their feelings. I just hope she those not take up on her father comment but manage go rain herself in letting JH go.

In the end DH gonna need to be honest to himself and also accept JH and AJ. This time he can not run away from his problems.

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I agree with @dramaddictally that there were times when the story got a little frustrating in the slowness of its advance. I get why the two leads couldn't really confess directly to each other, but the lack of communication between the brothers about something so fundamental to Do-han's identity, remains something of a mystery, even as it was somewhat "explained" in their fight scene. I did like Ji-han's response to Dae-Hyun's attempt to hurt Do-han, although Dae Hyun is by far the weakest written character in the whole show. Even as a vengeful ex-lover, his "happiness" would not require extended plotting. Also, I wondered why Ji-han immediately assumed that Ah-jung didn't know that the marriage was a cover for Do-han, especially since she had been his friend since high school, and also it would have completely explained Ah-jung's clear hesitations and ambivalence, willingness to go on a date with him, etc.

But the chemistry between the two leads does make it really enjoyable to watch, and I loved the kiss scene, which I thought was really well written and acted--after all the confusing signals given by Ji-han, Ah-Jungs combination anger/tears and relinquishing herself to her true feelings made total emotional sense to me. And then there were again a couple of really well-written dialogues. Apart from those between the two leads, I thought the two sisters talking about "being greedy" when they were talking about loving someone was very effective. So overall, while there are aspects to this plot which reveal its kind of caricature, webtoon origins, I'm still really liking this romance.

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I wonder whether there will ever be a KD which rejects the tired and over-used poor communication trope in favour of genuine and at least believable simulacrum of how actual people share information or why they make the assumptions that they do.

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This is exactly why I love King the Land so much.

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I agree that KDL did that well even if I didn’t enjoy Junho’s chaebol KD adventure.

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I’ll be honest…I could care less about the company and who takes over. I am only watching for the FL and ML. This drama shines when they are one on one engaged in their verbal sparring and yes that kiss and the lead up to it was everything. The look of anguish and longing on both their faces…this is why I watch k dramas.

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I am going to spoil the mood but I can’t help it. As much as I am enjoying the chemistry between the leads, their heated up attraction has made me uneasy under the circumstances. This story has sidelined Dohan and turned him into an incidental character. I didn’t like the way the romance overshadowed the friendship and fault the writing for botching this up.

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I disagree, Emma! I think he's becoming more complex in his characterization as he shows crazy chaebol heir behavior and also real behavior as a guy realizing that he's really about to get married...and less reduced to his sexual orientation. I also happen to like his character a lot, so I'm gonna defend him :).

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I can see you’re feeling particularly feisty today.

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I agree with you Seon-ha and I think it was really important that Ji-Han called him out (no pun intended) on his selfish and self-pitying behaviour. Despite the obvious difficulties he has had to deal with growing up, he has in actual fact freely lived his life the way he has wanted to for several years, the same can not be said for Ji-Han. Do-Han runs and hides leaving a trail of hurt and abandoned people behind him. Don't get me wrong I like him very much and I believe that at heart he is a truly good person. I look forward to seeing how he evolves in the coming episodes and hope that he finds happiness and comfort living in his own skin.

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Performing my usual service to the DB community by rewriting a show so I would like it better, I would have appreciated making Dae-Hyun's relationship with Do-han less about revenge and more about being hurt, with Dae-hyun playing the similar role to Do-han as Ji-han is playing with A-jeung. Then Do-han could have slowly come to realize that he in fact loved Dae-hyun so much that he couldn't go through with the marriage contract, and there could have been parallel confession scenes--maybe even a joint wedding?

A love quadrangle, with both sides frustrated by the marriage contract made "necessary" by the need for concealment, would have given equal attention to Do-han.

But then, of course the show would probably have to be classified as a "BL" show, and there would have been even more controversies about representation, and everyone would have dropped it in a huff, except me, who would have been marveling at the brilliance of its conception!

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I would have watched the hell out of your show. Even if you started and ended your comment in your usual tongue in cheek manner, you would have given the KD community a gift! On towards that fictional world where Hacja is a KD writer but Seon-ha continues to call him ahjussi when she is irritated!😂

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In the first episode, we saw that Do-han has a new boyfriend in New York. I would like to see that guy.

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This is what we have
https://imgur.com/bYyXcja

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Yes, that's what I saw. Since I like this guy, I want to believe this is a stable relationship and they live together, but there's only a hint.

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Obviously, revenge blackmailing Ex is not a good thing, but if we were talking happy endings, a NICE ex in SK could be a beautiful thing to unite love and family and so on, know what I mean?

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@ceciliedk Yes, when we first saw the old boyfriend, I thought maybe they would reconcile and it would bring him back to Korea. I thought that because 1. ex-boyfriend was cute and 2. we had a flashback to him getting beaten up. But now it seems like he's the bad guy. Let Do-han have a good boyfriend *somewhere*, KWIM?

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Yes, I agree. Let Do-han have a boyfriend.
And it could be a nice New Yorker, totally, but it would be really nice if the show didn't in reality ban gay love to the decadent Abroad-land but let it exist in Korea with family, even the old ones.
It would be crazy interesting if some actual prejudice came in the way of Do-han, and Chaebol Grandpa even defended his Grandchild. But that's not likely to happen.

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Do-han could have been told that "If you ever meet or communicate with that guy again, he will die" and the ex doesn't know.
But then Do-han should be panicking more about the present contact.

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A ot of us beans would have loved it, but it would have been some marginal underfinanced niche show in SK.

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"marginal". "underfinanced". "niche". I know you are right about my fantasy rewrite, but @ceciliedk, was it really necessary to describe me so personally?

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I didn't know this about you, hacja, but I know it means you (at personal cost) delivers what the world needs, but rarely gets. Thank you!

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Aside from the fact that they would not ever go into 'that' territory... I have also noticed how kdrama writers tend to make the second billed leads miserable, and almost never have a HEA ending for them with someone else T_T
But yes, I would watch the heck out of your re-written plot ❤️

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Yeah. That’s why it will be in a parallel universe where @hacja is an iconoclastic KD writer!

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"... less about revenge and more about being hurt" YES please.
I also thought that it would go well with Do-han realising that he has been hurting people around him, some character development, and well, ending up settling in SK with his now out-of-the-closet grandpa, his beloved finally-allowed-to-feel-loved brother, and his Bestie-in-Law.

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I feel the same.
It's all about how his actions keep hurting others, and how others feel about him, but it's never about him.

The show started with him coming back to Korea after five years. Everyone's reaction was to tell him what to do with his life. "Marry X", "run the business" or wtv. So he decided to get married to be able to "free", even tho he wouldn't actually be free in that type of marriage, but it's like the best option he thought he had.

And now it's all like he's some kind of villain, because he didn't trust all that people that keep pushing him into a corner to tell them the truth?

And we never hear DH's side of the story about anything. Everyone keep saying what he does wrong or wtv, but what have we actually seen him do so far? Nothing. Sometimes he gets scold by someone, other times he's preparing a wedding, and a few times he's getting stalked by a reporter or ex. That's it. Everyone gets their heart-to-heart scene or they have someone to listen to them, except for him.

And I understood the angst in the previous episodes, but in this one (8) it felt kinda off. I feel like the writer forgot AJ wasn't forced into this marriage. And that she isn't doing it just as a favor for her bestie. She was doing it for herself.
Making her insist on marrying DH when she knew she is in love with DH's brother wasn't necessary.

At the beginning of the show I was expecting two couples tbh. I thought it was going to be about the love stories of two besties. But now I even keep forgetting they're supposed to know each other for 15 years. Their scenes are kind of depressing.

I hope the next episodes are more bright.

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I am fully on board with Ji Han and Ah Jung. Their interactions are fun and have a lot of spark and heart. Their scenes are what make this show. The show is all about their relationship.
That all said, I feel that Do Han (and the older sister for that matter) is getting unfairly treated in this show. I know the show is in service of the main romance. However, from the start, I have had a soft spot for Do Han and have watched his narrative (scant and opaque as it is) carefully. He is a major plot device but isn't the 2nd lead as he shouldn't and doesn't want to get the FL--clearly, neither Ah Jung or Do Han want that as the end goal. But repeatedly, as the ML gets the most screen time (which is fine), his unreliable narration colors what actually is shown about Do Han. Do Han has always been upfront and honest to Ah Jung about this proposed marriage and even subsequent events affecting it (he told her about his stalker ex). Ah Jung had full agency in deciding to get married--she first refused then came back to accept his proposal for many of her own reasons, not just to help him out or because he coerced her, and then she even negotiated the terms of the marriage contract with Do Han. Do Han and Ah Jung's interactions actually seem caring. Ah Jung on the other hand is the one who has not been telling Do Han about her concerns (he keeps asking her if she is okay with everything) or even having the courtesy to contact him when she disappears at crucial moments with Ji Han. In their brutal fight, Ji Han accuses Do Han of being selfish for running away and not telling him about being gay; yet, Ji Han has also been selfish his whole life by wanting Do Han to be CEO of the company, something that Do Han has said that he doesn't want to be and seems not in his wheelhouse as an artist or person. Ji Han thinks he knows what is best for his brother (and then for Ah Jung) when he has not been honest with them himself. I think what Do Han owes Ji Han and what Ji Han deserves from Do Han is not necessarily what Ji Han says just because he says it and feels it. (I also think he is being not completely truthful to himself or others when he says he lives for his brother's happiness.) So while Do Han is not a saint, I don't think that him wanting to live his life elsewhere where he could be freer to be more fully himself is bad, even if that means leaving his brother. Lest we forget, and as the older sister says, they lost their mother young also. Ji Han is not the only one who was left motherless and in the care of the grandfather who let this whole dysfunctional dynamic happen. Also, the biggest impediments to the romance are Ji Han and Ah Jung themselves, and not other people.
Overall, the show is really fun and the romance is working. However, I do think the plot has some problems that make some of the supporting characters seem bad, unkind or misguided, when, in fact, they are not (at least yet). Maybe it will be solved...

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elegantly, but for now, I do think they are doing Do Han a little dirty in terms of the narrative.

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I agree. On the one hand, the brothers are poor little rich boys a million times better off than other mere mortals but looking through another critical lens, being gay has societal burdens that a straight male cannot understand unless they walk in their shoes. Jihan has not noticed much about Dohan’s life, his aversions to, avoidances of and constant need for being on guard. That fight scene spoke of straight male entitlement more than brotherly love. It was disappointing.

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I don't see how any of this is "doing Do-han dirty" so much as putting him in a completely believable position for the drama's narrative.

Unless you mean by "doing Do-han dirty" that you have a lot of empathy for the fact that no one around him has ever actually taken a minute to see him for who he actually is--except A-jeong, who he clearly cherishes (and uses to his advantage, unfortunately).

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What I mean by doing him dirty is that because the show spends a lot of time on the main couple, which I think is the charm of the show, and then leaves Do Han, his story (and backstory), and his motivations absent/missing for long periods of time. Then he often is accused of motivations ("he's selfish") and things he should or shouldn't do by both Ji Han and the audience that really isn't addressed on the show or supported by what actually is shown by the scenes he's in. I also think other than Ah Jung knowing he's gay and he and Ah Jung truly seem to like and accept each other, they don't really know each other that well. She knows nothing of his personal life in Seoul and New York, and he knows nothing of her personal life and career (she never told him about the true state of her acting career). We just don't know enough about him to make much judgment about him--he may actually had a fuller life with closer friends in New York or he may not have. The show just doesn't give us enough to go on, and the ML and FL don't really tell him anything that is going on between them for him to even reconsider the marriage contract, which for what he has been told by Ah Jung is what she wants (not just for him, even though some it definitely is because she cares for him and wants him to be happy). That is what frustrates me about what the show does to Do Han.

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Thanks for the clarification, Gum Shoe!!

Sounds like the two of us are ready for a show where Do-han's the real-live ML :). I'd totally watch that show!!!

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Someone needed to talk first between the brothers to start the needed conversation and heal their broken relationship. They both clearly feel loneliness and isolated so sharing their perspective gonna start the healing and becoming the brother they want each other to be.

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It's nice to see how all of the secrets are slowly being revealed to different siblings, like the contract marriage to A-jeong's sister, Soo-jung, and the past bad relationship situation (although how much was conveyed??) to Do-han's brother, Ji-han.

It's clear that I have been bewitched by Do-han, though, because while I agree with Ji-han's assessment that he's being nothing but selfish, I'm still on his (he's just a chaebol, folks, acting like a chaebol!!) side. He and A-jeong went into this contract with their eyes open, and yes, she was in a desperate situation, making silly K-drama choices, but he didn't hide anything from her that matters to me.

Moreover, his drunken speech about caring for her and ensuring that he'll remove all obstacles in her way was, frankly, swoony. I like that the writers did that--the narrative is all messed up right now about who feels what and why. Love, after all, is not solely made up of sexual attraction. Chef's kiss for this rom-com "complexity."

Also--not that I'm not team Ji-han in my own way--but do also note that one of A-jeong's main complaints in the hug-and-kiss-that-will-go-down-in-K-drama-history, was that he, too, was being selfish in his own way, not hiding how he felt and drawing her to him...

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I think what I don't like about Do-han is that he is being strangely non-present all the time. I don't feel him having a hard time, or a good time, or longing for anything, or feeling bad for others or feeling happy that they are doing well.
Maybe a tiny wee bit feeling good for A-jeong, but I'm not even really sure I get more than that he just smiles when she says she is doing good.

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Here, I'm afraid, I have to suggest that you're actually incorrect. In at least one scene per week we see how much Do-han cares deeply for A-jeong. I recognize that some folks think he's being insincere, but I do not.

She is his friend. She is the only one who knows the real him. He feels like she is his freedom.

He's not right about that, of course. In this K-drama universe where this wedding makes sense, all he's really doing is digging himself in deeper into his act.

But he really does care for her.

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If it's supposed to show that he is ghosting everybody, including his own self, because he is not telling the truth, then it is masterly done. But I doubt it. If he starts telling more and we get to feel an avalanche of presence from him, then I will be impressed.

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Yes. Instead of the word "ghosting," I'd use the word "acting like someone else."

After all, isn't that what this show is about?

The difference between "acting" your life and living your authentic life???

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I know ghosting means completely disappearing, but what I feel is more like he is never really present, he is acting like a ghost.

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And, now a little sweetness:
MSM’s respect and affection for and professed closeness to Kim Hyesoo is refreshing. I hope it is genuine and that her mentorship of him continues to be acknowledged.

https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2023/07/11/entertainment/television/Moon-Sangmin-Kim-Hyesoo-tvN/20230711100009389.html

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Thanks for sharing, it’s great she makes time for him. I looked up the webdrama he was in, Colours of our time and watched it on Youtube.

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I am enjoying the fact that there are many layers to this though I wonder can there be a happily ever after for our leads?
There is a lot of grey area and no one is simply right or wrong so I thank the script writers for this.
It made me think of The Interest Of Love and the contrast where that show was just simply frustrating and I felt high levels of annoyance and hostility towards it. Please don't turn out like that show.
I do think, like others have mentioned, we need to see a little bit more of Do-han on screen, especially with Ajung to buy the 15 year friendship as I feel that comes across as slightly lacking.
Ji-han's confrontation and fight with his brother, oof that was hard to watch. His realisation on how much his brother had not trusted him and how alone he must have felt in that moment...heartbreaking.
JJs acting was fabulous in the final scene, so many emotions flitting across her face. Thank goodness she was cast in this role.
I think we need to see our leads take the dog for a walk please, the golden retriever has been sadly under utilised.

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I second the dog walking scene request. Terry is chubby and that is not healthy for a dog so needs to be taken for regular walks!

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Justice for Terry 😂

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For sure. Such a sweet looking dog. A golden retriever, maybe?

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Sorry for the redundant qn! (Doh!)

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I loved these two episodes, especially the yell/cry/hug lead-in to the kiss. It made the most of the height difference between the actors and allowed the characters to take turns being vulnerable. These two have earned this moment of mutual honesty and affection, even if it's sure to be short-lived. I really love their chemistry, too.

I also thought the show handled the fight between the brothers very well. I understand Ji Han's hurt and anger over his brother not trusting him with the truth, and the fact that he (mistakenly) believes that Do Han is taking advantage of Ah Jeong. The only thing I would say is that it would have been more powerful if Ji Han had clearly articulated that he understands (as best he can as a hetero guy) that his brother must be suffering a great deal to even come up with such a ridiculous plan as to marry a woman he could never love. And to acknowledge that the society in which they live is not accepting of Do Han living as he pleases. That way, the "selfish" accusation would have had more nuance.

I'm all over the place when it comes to Do Han's role in the story. On one hand, I'm thankful that he's not a caricature, or that the show isn't offering facile or trite solutions such as ignoring the reality of homophobia. At the same time, Do Han's situation is tremendously sad. All he has to do is watch 15 minutes of "Far From Heaven" or a few random clips from Oprah in the 1990s to realize that marrying someone--even someone you love in a non-romantic way--to hide your sexuality never, ever works. Even though kdramas don't often acknowledge this reality, physical and emotional intimacy are necessary for most people to lead a happy life. Whatever relief Do Han feels right now, three years without sex or romance is a recipe for longterm misery, for both him and Ah Jeong.

And what if he tells everyone the truth? Again homophobia runs so deep in the country in which he lives that realistically it would be very hard for him to freely date without the press smearing him and his family. The grandfather may very well already know Do Han is gay and feels that essentially embalming him in a platonic marriage and corporate job is the best way to keep him safe. But whatever his intentions here, the reality is that the grandfather is being naive at best, and cruel at worst. Erecting barricades between a person and their ability to express and find love as themselves is hardly a solution.

So what can Do Han actually do? Go back to living abroad, I guess, but that removes him from his brother and Ah Jeong, the two people most likely to accept him as he is. I'm not sure in the four remaining episodes this show will be able to resolve this issue in a satisfactory way while still allowing Ji Han and Ah Jeong their much deserved time as a couple.

Finally, didn't Do Han have a boyfriend in the States whose back we saw in that first episode when Do Han gets up out of bed? Or was that supposed to be the ex...

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Yes he had a man in the states. But May be not his bf but just someone he was dating casually or just having a fling. He is definitely not the reason he is going back.

Also, Do Han has repeatedly been saying that he is not anxious and he is feeling good. I wonder if it’s just his impending marriage or there is more. Like being able to be with his family and being in his home country.

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He did about that man at a point as "having a love in New York" or something like that, where the one he was talking to thought he was talking about a woman.

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I agree with most of what you said but have real qualms about the fight scene.

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I love every scene with our leads. Its just so fun and chaotic each time they're on screen together!!

This week's eps were a real treat, I could not stop giggling and screaming.
My only gripe is that I need more growth & maturity from Do-han. I'm really hoping he gets more of the spotlight in next week's eps (along with AhJi dating era!!!)

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The relationship between the brothers is one of the interesting aspects for me. I hope they both reconcile and find a way to be in a healthier relationship.

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What I think it's happening with this show (which I love) is that the main leads shine so much (✨✨✨) that everything else seems overshadowed or faded, and that includes Do-han. I already said that maybe Kim Do Wan was miscast (even though I liked him in other shows), but apart from that, it seems to me that the main couple are the best written characters by far.

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Another good couple of episodes, but I was totally distracted by JH pulling AJ out of the wedding dress shop with the dress on - umm, what happened to your security system shop??? You just let a millions of won dress walk out of your shop? And then she was running around in it, nicely messing up the hem and train with the dust of Seoul and that didn't seem to be an issue? And when DH turns up to ask where Aj is, the staff don't seem to know rather than having a carful of police round to track down their "thief"? Pulled me out of the story for a while - and I really don't like that...

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I thought of that too, but Do-han was clearly there, talking on his phone outside the try-on room, so the staff probably knew he would be paying for the dress. Also, its likely they knew the social and economic position of his family, which again would lead them to assume there would be no loss to the shop.

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Not being privy to the world of the 1%, I wonder whether an expensive boutique would ever allow someone to run out in an expensive gown down the street likely soiling the garment in a number of ways no matter who they are? Perhaps they would but it just seems so hard to imagine that the sales people wouldn’t get into trouble even if the rich person ends up buying the dress.

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I am pretty sure they would but maybe not if the *brother* of the groom came running and wrist grabbed the bride.
That was a strange scene, though the dress was beautiful and made running through the streets look tempting.
By Jolly, if I could squeeze myself into my own bride gown, I would run up and get it now, and then run through the streets. But not in the shoes I wore for the wedding, they hurt like H...

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I do not think the sales assistants did not know. If anything, they looked sheepish and awkward trying to answer Do-Han's question because it's kind of not-a-socially-accepted thing for a bride to be dragged out by another man from a dress trial, with the groom waiting right there, attending a call.

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A random observating, the dress with long sleeves looked the best on Ah-jeong.

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*observation

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For once, I agreed with Do-han; They were all beautiful on her. The PPL brand did good business here, as opposed to the shows where you see the bride and think: "OMG, what an ugly dress!" Or that ring in King the Land (ew).

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I am like you but I wanted to know where they were going to before he randomly stopped to have a conversation in the middle of nowhere.

The bit that confused me was the sitting outside scene where Dohan and Ahjung were talking outside and Jihan had come in from work in his suit and overheard the conversation so was hiding on the steps. Then she is still sitting outside and he appears in his wear at home clothes and they chat and I wondered had he walked past her a few minutes later so she knew he was home he had changed and then come over to have a conversation? For a while I thought it was an imagined conversation that’s why he was dressed differently to make it clear it was not real.

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When Jihan confessed “I like you so much it hurts.” I Swooooonnnn
I kept re-watch that scene only when love flowing from his eyes.
Arrhh .. finally they're together.

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I'm particularly miffed about Do-han's scene with Ah-jeong's father. The father was being sincere, trusting his daughter's happiness with DH, but DH, knowing he was lying to Dad, weirdly didn't show any sign of remorse. He should know that the "happiness" he promised AJ and her father is totally different from what her father had in mind, right? I guess he was just happy because he felt safe for the first time in his life, but it feels icky to me that he's so comfortable deceiving her parents like that. But I think that is his character flaw: being a bit self-absorbed. At first, I thought his negligence and lack of concern for people around him were the writer's fault for not giving him enough screen time to flesh out his character. But now I think they intentionally made this his character flaw. He's so wrapped up in his worries that he's a bit blind to others' struggles. After the whole fiasco, maybe he will have his character grow, finding strength to stand up for himself and others he cares about. To solve the mess, he has to be the one to speak up because neither JH nor AJ feel like they have the right to out him (and rightfully so), not even to each other.
 
Regarding the brother fight, I don't think JH was upset at DH for being selfish toward him. He said it as much: He's fine with how DH's been treating him because he believed he caused their parents's deaths. Which is weird, because, as an older brother, DH should have tried to convince him otherwise. The fact that JH still believes that to this day obviously means DH has never tried to lift him out of his burden. But then again, perhaps JH's stupid trauma is nothing compared to DH's struggles as a gay man in a conservative country, so I guess DH cannot afford to trouble himself with such matters. I don't know. I admit I'm a bit biased towards JH, so maybe I do not have the best eyes to judge.
 
After all, I think what they need is an honest conversation to address all their problems and to understand what the others have been going through. But alas, this is a Kdrama, and I've almost never seen Kdrama do tell-it-all conversations among characters, so I'm not holding out much hope.
 
All that aside, WI is really hitting at all my soft spots in romance. The longing, the yearning, the push and pull, the grappling with forbidden feelings, the bursting emotions that one can hardly surpress, all of it makes for a deliciously angsty romance that only Kdramas can deliver. I'm ashamed to say I almost don't care how ridiculous the plot has to be to get us there.

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Shockingly, the second ML's EQ radar is more out-of-tune than the almost-tsundere FL's. xD Again, where the show subverts expectations. You're right... DH's character flaw is that he's self-absorbed, and I reckon he'd have been like that, even if he had some other trauma instead of being closeted in a conservative society... :')

And you're right... the angst really is hitting the soft spots!!! And I think that's because we spent adequate time watching it being built up.

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Totally agreed about Do-han's "flaw." I think he really is so petrified of being his real self--in any dimension--that he's (for all intents and purposes) completely self-absorbed...and it looks, as I think Ji-han accurately states, like he is behaving like a coward. Now, it's not easy being in his position, and we're not all free to do whatever we want all the time (unfortunately) but he's really not making the best of choices. I love that about him. There's been no recent character really like him.

As for Ji-han's trauma, he's acting a life (one "all for his brother") instead of living his own life. That is, he's "hiding from himself" just like his brother...and just like A-jeong, frankly.

I am so looking forward to all of these characters stepping into their own--and it clearly started in episode 8.

Do well by our leads, Show!!

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I will love if he gradually changes so you can actually feel his presence. I want to like him. But he is not there, really.

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(Talking about Do-han).

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The writing is the problem here. It is almost as if writer-nim took out all the interesting aspects about the drama (the intertwining relationship between our quartet) and went for the same boring chaebol antics which I might have gotten behind if the Chois weren't cartoonish. Even the decent SFL we thought we would get this time turned possessive and stereotypical. There are many interesting plot points but it is thrown down the toilet.
The brothers' confrontation is my favorite scene this week, as was the scene where Do-han threatened to cut ties with Ji-han. But alas, the filler scenes keep me dozing off and fast forwarding.

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PS: the meeting between the secretaries is far more interesting than the scheming Chois.

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Why the SFL didn't make her interest known a long time ago is on her in my opinion. Now you say something when a rival shows up.

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Agreed. She seems to have liked him since Do-han went abroad. Which means she has 5 whole years to confess.
But she is mainly confessing now because of jealousy/rivalry.

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I don't agree. I think it's more the marriage with Do-Han who let her rethink her relationship with Ji-Han. But overall, when Do-Han told her that she was Ji-Han's first love. She realized the place Ji-Han already had in her life and how he makes her happy, like the sandwich scene together and when she ate alone.

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Either way, she is too late. I might have missed it, but I don't recall Ji-Han telling her that he no longer feels that way about her, and I wish he had made that clear.

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@gysgt213 Yeah, but she couldn't know before. She didn't wait for Ah-Jung. She confessed her feelings and she was very patient by waiting for his answer.

I don't think she acted wrongly for now. And I hope she will continue.

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I think she started developing feelings for Ji-han when he said he should have hit on her during her wedding. Either way, let's hope the situation gets resolved without either party getting too hurt.

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She didn't seem very passionate when she said to Do-han on the plane that she would rather marry his brother. It was just like "I'll do what I amd told, but for this business connection, I actually like your brother better. Not saying that to hurt you, we are obviously not in love, but I think he and I are a better match".

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@Kurama Oh, she didn't act wrongly; she just waited too late, whether she knew it or not.

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I meant she was too late. Not that she waited.

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The leads going through their angst was too long. I was impatient for them to be honest and talk it out. The typical EP 8 kiss was abrupt. But their acting was good. Their actions looked realistic and messy. I feel bad for Do Han. At least Ji Han knew the truth about him before kissing Ah Jung, but Do Han is clueless about their relationship.

I get the whole fake marriage is a terrible idea. I'm just dreading the fallout.

I liked that Chae Won called out Ji Han for being a coward instead of being honest. I wonder how persistent or aggressive she will be now though.

I'd rather see Seung Ah more than her brother, but her scenes were boring. Nothing new.

Ah Jung's acting scene was one of the highlights. It was nice to see Ji Han cheering her on and enjoying her acting. The brother fight scene was an excellent one too.

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I thought the show was trying to portray her as a second-rate actress who couldn't get any roles. But every time she is on set, she is too competent an actress.

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She has presence and kinetic energy even when she isn’t moving. She is too good for this drama but am still glad she is in it.

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I think being a great actor but not getting lead roles whilst others who don’t put in the commitment to their craft get parts easily is a fact. I think that’s why they showed her rival who studied with her but got a break and has never looked back so enjoys being boastful every chance she gets.

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Nice to have Korean manner legs make an appearance in Ep 8 even if it seemed to end painfully.

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Still having fun with this. I don't think the backstory/motivations/characters stand up to intense scrutiny, so I won't try- will just enjoy the ride

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I am glad I stuck with this one and didn't give up. I knew they would eventually get around to being honest with each other, but what would have made me drop this one was if the writers had stretched the lying out too long.

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I thought the final confrontation between the brothers was well done. I could feel the emotions in the scene.

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First off I am loving this show and fab recap by Dramaddictally ! However I am really conflicted and disappointed with the storyline of Do-Han's former lover outing him to Ji-Han with the implied threat that he will take it even further. This is a big no no in the LGBT+ community, it is a cardinal rule that you do not out someone under any circumstances. Is he entitled to be pissed? Yes absolutely he is!! Do-Han has handled the ending of that relationship very poorly and at some point he needs to acknowledge that, make himself accountable and make his peace. It is not clear to me whether the ex-lover is publicly out or not but regardless if he is or isn't he knows that you just don't do this. I just don't see what he ultimately hopes to gain.

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They had a flashback scene of Do-Han’s ex being beaten up. Seemed like it was because of their relationship. So, there must be someone else who knows about Do-Han’s sexuality too. I do really wish the ex was differently portrayed… I am here for couples coupling up!

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I suspect that Grandpa knows a lot more than he is willing to admit, I think that he is most likely connected to the beating (which occurred whilst Do-Han was having dinner to discuss his marriage with Chae-Won) and also the photos that were taken in New York. He has said to Do-Han more than once that if he gains power as head of the company he will become virtually untouchable which will enable him to protect his loved ones and live his life anyway he wants...just a thought.

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I am enjoying this show so much that, when I finished episode 7, I thought, "I'm grateful to the show runners and these actors for committing so thoroughly." Every time I see a drama where actors are throwing themselves into their characters, I think about You are My Spring. Remember when the actress character played by Nam Gyu-ri has her big mental health crisis? She is reading Chekhov. Later, she plays a mermaid (?) or another supernatural creature--a fairy?--who comes up through the toilet in a hotel? The seriousness of the actors and writers on some of these shows just shows something great about human beings. When the actors allow themselves to feel the real emotions they would feel in the situations of their characters, it's like a gift to the audience. It requires so much vulnerability!

At the end of episode 8, when Ah-jung cries in frustration, Jeon Jong-seo's eyes reddened and she wept messily. As much as I like the artistic tears of Moon Sang-min, I believed that she was upset. It was an expression of trust to me as a member of the audience and of support for the production in general to let her look messy.

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Ahhh, stretching out after a long Monday. Wedding Impossible ep 9, here I come!

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Not a popular opinion here for sure, but episode 7 did push my 'irk' button and made some big changes in how I view Ah-jung now. First of all, there have been way too many 'side-conversations' between these two already, where Ah-jung feels a 'need' to pin Ji-han down to clear up what he said or did, to make him admit something...and then Ji-han constantantly made excuses to keep wrangling with her about stopping the marriage. Over and over again. Nothing moved forward or was resolved because the writers lazily kept them on a spinning hamster's wheel to fill time. Which actually harmed the story for me because now I find myself distancing from them after that emotionally tangled tango they've been in... jabbing and jousting each other for truths, while hiding their own. As well, the more time I saw Ah Jung with her family I was disappointed in the way everyone cow-tows to her a bit. Clearly, even her parents back off because it seems like her word has been the law for awhile. Honestly, I've been her fan up until now, but lately the perpetual sour face, as well as her brash disinterested attitude towards most people (like grabbing Ji-han's Assistant's ID cord around his neck and jerking his head down so she could read it. Just didn't land well with me because again..she crossed a physical boundary some would hate if it was a male doing the same thing to a woman.) So at this point in the drama, her character doesn't seem as fresh as it did to me at the start. And when she was finally honest about her vulnerable feelings for Ji-han, she yelled it, more than she shared it with him....putting the blame for their 'push-me-pull-you' relationship & her resulting mixed feelings 'all' on him. Yet she did tell him to give the idea of 'stealing her away from his brother' a good try, but then also kept meeting him openly when she was engaged to be married. I questioned why I was feeling this way since she's such an open and honest character, but I'm thinking there's a difference between simple honesty where you speak your truth... versus aggressive honesty, when you use your truth as a weapon to disarm people and get the upper hand, which makes it a bit combative. And usually, our FL always seems to get the upper hand. I certainly don't dislike her, but being around her in real life would be uncomfortably and constantly confrontational. That being said, their chemistry is nicely set up since they've come clean with their feelings, and now that they'll spend a happy day together, I along with Ji-han, am open to falling in love with her again.

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