Early Access: Mad For Each Other E8

E8. We get some significant developments this episode, and this pleases me.

For one thing, I'm happy to see that Min Kyung and Hwi Oh are getting over their hump of awkwardness, and being more at ease with each other again. The invitation to ramyeon turns out to be quite literal, even though Min Kyung clearly did mean for it to mess with Hwi Oh a little bit, and I'm glad that the two of them manage to laugh it off, and thus break any remaining awkward barriers between them.

Plus, I'm also glad that she's able to talk honestly about why she plans to leave for Mongolia, and he's able to be honest that he think it sucks that she'd invited him in for ramyeon, if she's planning to leave anyway. This feels startlingly healthy, for two people who are supposed to be having mental health issues.

Talking about breaking barriers, I'm glad to see that Samantha and Su Hyun are starting to hit it off, a little bit. At the very least, Su Hyun shows herself to be pretty awesome, in how she treats Samantha so matter-of-factly, and without any trace of judgment. While most people wouldn't mention the incident with the ahjummas because it's a delicate topic, I rather like that Su Hyun reminds Samantha about it, with a matter-of-fact smile. I feel like this is actually better, because now Samantha has the assurance that there isn't anything that Su Hyun's being judgmental about - including the embarrassing incident with the ahjummas. I hope that we get to see some kind of friendship develop between Samantha and Su Hyun. I like Samantha.

Min Kyung's mom charging into her apartment, and the subsequent screaming argument, was rather hard to watch. There are so many wounds that exist between these two. It's clear from the way that they toss out angry, mean words at each other, that they are both still in a lot of emotional pain, and they can't help but lash out at each other, because of it.

It's so sad, honestly, that they seem to have the complete wrong idea about each other. Mom appears to think that Min Kyung's living a terrible, irresponsible life, while Min Kyung seems to think that Mom blames her for everything that had happened with Terrible Ex.

I'm glad that Hwi Oh eventually invites Mom into his apartment, and disarms her in his signature unassuming way. It's also quite heartening to see how Mom is fiercely protective of Min Kyung, even though she and Min Kyung can't seem to have a civil conversation with each other.

What I'm most glad about, though, is how Hwi Oh gets through to Mom, and then encourages her to trust Min Kyung, and have a little bit more patience, believing that Min Kyung's going to come out of this ok. I love that he tells Mom about the various things that Min Kyung's been doing, that indicate that she's making progress in her road to recovery.

I love that Hwi Oh and Min Kyung start hanging out again, and I really enjoyed watching them take Howhi for a walk together, and I especially liked how Hwi Oh gets Min Kyung that pair of pink sunglasses, so that she'll see the world through those rosy lenses. It might seem like a small thing, but I think it will likely make a huge difference to Min Kyung, on a very practical level. Also, how cute, that Min Kyung tells Hwi Oh that he reminds her of the Hulk, then goes on to remark that the Hulk is her favorite superhero. Aw. She's saying that Hwi Oh's her favorite superhero, isn't she?

It's also pretty great to see them resume training, and I love that Hwi Oh rewards Min Kyung's progress, with a little prize of a pink whistle. It's cute AND practical for her situation. What a sweet thought.

That arc where Terrible Ex's Mom seeks out Min Kyung while pretending to be interested in Min Kyung's apartment, is pretty hard to watch. At first, Mom appears to be a pleasant lady, but once her intentions become clear, her offer is hard to reconcile, let alone swallow. Why would she think that Min Kyung would be at all interested in marrying Terrible Ex? Also, did Terrible Ex's wife divorce him for his affair with Min Kyung? That seems to be the case.

And, when Min Kyung doesn't take well to Mom's offer, the way Mom immediately drops the nice act and becomes snooty and disdainful, and starts to talk about money, is really off-putting. Ugh. I'm glad that Min Kyung remains firm, and even tells Mom that she hopes that her daughter will suffer in exactly the same way Min Kyung has. Not to wish bad things on an innocent person, but I do think that that hypothetical scenario just might open Mom's eyes a tin bit, to see what Min Kyung's been through, and have a little empathy.

I'm proud of Min Kyung for standing her ground, but I can see why it's an emotionally devastating experience, and why she'd feel the need to blow on that whistle until Hwi Oh found her. I'm also proud of Min Kyung for making the decision not to run away, but to face everything head-on, and overcome it, right here in Korea.

It feels like what she leaves unsaid, are the words, "with you," as she looks at Hwi Oh with tears in her eyes. But, it feels like Hwi Oh understands those unspoken words just fine, and I'm so happy that he wastes no time in pulling her in for a hug. Huzzah! These two quirky dorks now officially have each other, and I am very, very pleased about that.

Next episode notes will be out on: Wednesday, 18 August 2021!