Early Access: Our Blues E2

E2. For an omnibus style drama, I feel like our characters are sharing more cross-arc screen time than I'd first anticipated, and I am pleasantly surprised by this, not least because so many of our cast members are A-listers.

Because of this, when they pop up in scenes that largely seem unrelated to them, like when Lee Byung Hun's character shows up at the reunion even though he's not part of that class, or when Kim Woo Bin's character shows up at the carpark to drive the rest of the gang home, it gives me an extra thrill.

Like, wow, you got these stars to be around, just to make this drama world feel more interconnected and real? Naise.

Of course, we still have that slight omnibus flavor, when we dive into certain arcs and keep others at bay, but it's working out more in the vein of an omnibus movie like Love, Actually, where you just float among the various arcs, with some interwoven threads here and there, versus an omnibus book, for example, where the stories are distinct, and sit next to one another without actually having much interwoven bits.

I guess I just didn't get what Show was saying, when it marketed itself as an omnibus sort of deal. My bad.

This episode, we're introduced to a snippet of backstory between Lee Byung Hun's and Shin Min Ah's characters, listed as Dong Seok and Seon A.

Given that in the flashback, Dong Seok's driving a fancy red sports car, and in the present, is selling odds and ends out of the back of a truck, I'm very curious to know the details of what transpired in between.

Had he been a lot more successful, and then lost everything, thus explaining the sports car vs. the vendor truck? Or.. had he rented the sports car to impress Seon A, perhaps?

The situation between Dong Seok and Seon A seems rather delicate, in that he clearly likes her, and had taken her willingness to go on a long drive to the seaside with him, to be an indication that she liked him too.

How awkward, when he tries to kiss her, and she basically ups and makes to leave. Ack.

That's a good reminder for everyone, on how it's helpful to be aware of boundaries, so as not to create misunderstandings like this..?

Or, had Seon A been aware of Dong Seok's attraction to her, but chosen to pretend that she didn't notice? Some people do that. I think I've done that.

And often, you could probably get away with it - until the other party actually tries to get some confirmation, like Dong Seok does, with the kiss.

We don't get more insight into what happens between them, but this initial spark of story does pique my interest.

What we do get, this episode, is an indication of Dong Seok's temperament. As it turns out, he's hot-tempered and quick to flare up, AND he tends to hold a grudge, too. That's.. not a good combination of things.

That incident where he flips out at his customers for daring to buy from another vendor truck, thus affecting his livelihood, says a lot, as does the fact that he's not kidding, when he says he's cut off his own mother.

I wonder what caused that rift between him and his mother.. like, was it really something that serious and that huge, or had his hot temper just blown everything out of proportion for him?

On another note, I must say, I am so digging how laidback sexy Kim Woo Bin is looking, in this. Ahhh. Can't lie; I am remembering all over again why I fell so hard for him, in the first place. 😁😍

He's rocking a very nice tan in this show (which makes total sense, given his role and the setting), and he looks strong, without looking overly buff, meaning, the muscles look functional, rather than just made for magazine covers in the gym.

Layer on that lovely deep voice, and the barely hidden wistful gazes Jeong Jun's wearing in Yeong Ok's direction, and his casual efforts to be nice to her, while not overstepping his boundaries, and it really adds up to a very appealing package. 😍

And, it looks like Yeong Ok's fully aware of it too, and isn't afraid to use it a little bit, sometimes. Like when he shows up at the cafe, and when the customer tells him to leave, he asks Yeong Ok if he should - and she says no.

First of all, I love that he defers to Yeong Ok's decision; that's so respectful that it somehow lands as kinda hot. 🔥

Second of all, I'm so curious about Yeong Ok and her attitude towards men in general. Why does she only seem to be interested in casually flirting with just about everyone, and not in a deeper connection, like, at all?

Yet, she's nice enough to warn Jeong Jun not to like her, because he'll end up getting hurt.

That's interesting to me, because I imagine that most women who are just interested in flirting around, wouldn't care enough, to warn a potential suitor that he'll end up being collateral damage.

I'm really curious to know more about this arc, too.

But, that curiosity will have to wait, because this episode, we spend most of our time on Eun Hui and Han Su.

I must say, Cha Seung Won, whom I'm so used to seeing in a suave, dapper sort of space, is doing a great job of making Han Su look wan and defeated.

His gaze and his general facial expression just say "exhausted" so loudly, even when he's trying to muster a bit of cheer, in his face.

The key thing that comes to my mind this episode, is the question of whether Han Su is actually lying, when he tells Eun Hui that he's separated from his wife.

I mean, I know that the world at large sees him as married, but part of my brain wonders whether this is but a facade, where Han Su and his wife present the picture of a stable marriage to the world, when in actual fact they are separated and on the brink of divorce.

Certainly, Show leads us to believe that too, so that we immediately think that Han Su's lying in order to try to play on Eun Hui's sympathies and affections, in order to get money for his daughter's gold endeavors.

I'm just wondering, somewhat curiously, if Han Su might not be the liar that Show is making him out to be.

If he is, that would suck, though I can see why he would be so desperate, since there's no one left in his circle, who's willing or able to lend him any more money. And then here's Eun Hui, who's got lots of money and affection to spare.

I can see how this would be a tempting situation for Han Su. I guess I'm just hoping that he doesn't turn out to be a douchebag, is all. 😅

I have to admit to feeling rather confused by it all, like, when Han Su's tipsy and saying that Eun Hui was so cute back in high school, is he really tipsy and telling her this in a fit of drunken honesty, or is he not as drunk as he looks, and already putting on the emotional moves on her..?

I do believe that Han Su's genuinely wistful for his youth, and how he'd been bright and carefree then, compared to the present. That's probably why he jumps into the water, to join his imaginary past self.

At the same time, his invitation to Eun Hui to go to Mokpo with him, makes that imaginary past self pause and stop smiling; I feel like that's an indication of some sort, that Han Su's doing something that his past self wouldn't approve of.

I really, really love Eun Hui, through all of this; she's so sweet, kind and considerate towards Han Su, and I genuinely believe that she has no other intention than to be a friend to him.

So it bothers me that Han Su, and his words and actions, which are designed to cause Eun Hui to waver, are getting to her, and distracting her enough, that she'd cut herself while slicing fish.

Plus, he looks so gosh-darned guilty, as he sits there in the car, waiting for Eun Hui to arrive, so that they can take that trip to Mokpo.

I love how Eun Hui thanks Han Su for growing up well, so that she can preserve her shining memories of him from their youth, coz he'd been her first crush. I mean, that's so pure and wholesome, isn't it?

She looks so blissfully happy, as she shares that song with Han Su, while he looks more and more guilty and uncomfortable.

I have no idea how this is going to shake out. All I know is, Han Su better not end up hurting Eun Hui, or I'll have many upset words to say. 😝😅

Next episode notes will be out on: Thursday, 5 May 2022!