This was the most unexpected, satisfying, screwed-up thing ever.
You know, I really think I get why Jae Hee is so drawn to Bong Sun and vice-versa. They are both very damaged (I want her family of callous users to DIAF - she rails and rails but is trapped by them; and we have only got tantalizing glimpses but his past looks horrific), but they are damaged in a compatible way - they both have scrappy, facile facades, are survivors, both function well behind masks and lash out at anyone who gets close to a weakness. And hid hopefulness very deep but can't get rid of it. Han Ga Eun's character is damaged too, of course, but in a rather different way (and her damage seems to be tied to Jae Hee's so I think he feels trapped almost - I get that sense, at least).
The acting continues uniformly excellent. Even Lee Ji Ah's and Han Go Eun's biggest fans (of which I am one) would not argue that they are versatile actresses. But there are certain (very different) things these actresses do well and it's as if the drama was written to their strentghs.
The scene with Bong Sun imagining Pink Chicken singing to her because she so desperately needs for at least someone be nice to her just hurt. So much. I was dreading for the fantasy to end. But of course it does, and she is left sitting there alone, repeating "I am beautiful, I am beautiful" and crying. Oh God.
The real standout (and surprise) continues to be Yoon Si Yoon, though. He plays so many layers - with the facade-yet-not-a-facade and damage and anger and guilt - he can turn on a dime from laughing to lashing-out-yet-ice-cold. I enjoyed him in Baker King as the closest a human can come to a puppy, but I never knew he had this in him. On a shallow note, I approve of cravats.
Here are two scenes I loved. One, where he's triggered about his past, and addresses it in the most dysfunctional-functional manner (this show has a major handcuff fetish btw. Mmmmmm). This actually happens right before the scene I posted yesterday, which probably contributes to his reaction in the scene I posted before.
And the kiss, precipitated not just by angry attraction between them but by her throwing his words back at him, mirroring his prickliness and issues.
Real kissing in kdramas, btw. What is the world coming to!
As I commented to
firthgal, this drama pretty much marches to the beat of its own drummer, in pacing, narrative and character arcs. So even though I love it, I can see why it has low ratings. But still, I think it's a ridiculously underrated gem.