Early Access: Oh! Master E2

E2. I feel like Show is still finding its feet somewhat, in terms of landing on a tone and vibe that will take us through the rest of our story, but we are still clearly in set-up mode, so I'm willing to withhold judgment until I feel like we're done with the initial set-up phase.

So far, I feel like Show is leaning into funny more than I would like, in the sense that I haven't yet found myself giggling at my screen like I did while watching Mr. Queen, for example, which basically means that the humor isn't leaning all that fresh or funny for me, at the moment. That said, it's not like Show's doing a terrible job of it. I think that depending on your humor preferences, and how jaded (or not) you might be with tropey funnies, you might actually enjoy the humor in this a lot more than I currently do. But like I said, I do feel like there's still a lot of room for Show to settle, in this regard, so my feelings about this aspect of Show might evolve yet.

I do kind love the idea that Joo In is quick to learn how to manage Bi Soo, and has no qualms in doing so. The way she informs him that he's guilty of unlawful entry, and then reads him the potential headline of him being labeled her stalker, as she's politely telling him to leave, is pretty great. Bi Soo needs taking down a couple of pegs at least, with the general high-handed way he handles almost everything and everybody.

I also appreciate that Joo In is gracious enough to acknowledge that his script is good, and at the same time, cognizant enough of the worth of her dignity, as she declines to work with Bi Soo, once she realizes how high-handed and unreasonable he can be. It's true that she plays it a little naughty and petty, but my sense is that underneath the bickery tone of their interactions, she really is sincerely weighing her options.

At the same time, I appreciate that we are getting a better sense of Bi Soo this episode, and I think some credit goes to Lee Min Ki's gaze. I find that quite often, even as Bi Soo is saying things where the lines themselves do not inherently convey more than a surface prickliness and unwillingness to cooperate, there's a quality about his gaze that makes me feel like he's a mix of hapless, exasperated and perplexed, and that underneath the prickliness, he maybe even feels a bit wretched.

As an aside, I'd come across a few comments on Twitter, that Lee Min Ki is basically playing the same character that he's played in previous dramas. I haven't seen 2019's The Lies Within, so I can't comment about that, but I did watch The Beauty Inside and Because This Is My First Life, and I don't think this character is the same as either of those roles. Perhaps it's Lee Min Ki's default sardonic expression that might be giving viewers that impression. I do think that the nuances are strong enough, to set this character apart from the others.

The way Bi Soo basically gets worn down this episode, to the point where he starts apologizing to Joo In, and even considers kneeling, is even a little endearing. At least, I don't find him one- note annoying, because now I can see more clearly, that there's more to him than meets the eye.

Plus, there are the glimpses of humanity and kindness that we get from him this episode. Like how he offers to drive Joo In to the nursing home when the nurses call in a panic, and then quietly leaves so that she can have the space and privacy that she needs. This, when she's turned down his offer cum request for her to act in his drama. And then there's how he lets the little girl buy the record for her grandmother at 10% of the retail price, and makes up the difference out of his own pocket. I'm getting the idea that Bi Soo is kinder than he'd like people to know.

I also really appreciate Joo In's gentleness and kindness to her mother. Even though it must be frustrating to deal with Mom's deteriorating condition, all Joo In shows to Mom, is loving kindness and comforting hugs. Aw. I'm glad that Bi Soo gets to glimpse that side of her as well; it does seem to give him food for thought, and I think it's helping him to see her in a new light as well.

I honestly wasn't expecting the supernatural element in this show, where the man in white seems to be some kind of supernatural being. What is this about Bi Soo not having much more time to live? Wasn't this supposed to be a rom-com? Is it not a rom-com, then? I'm a little confused, I have to admit.

The way Bi Soo sneaks into Joo In's house in order to write the script is kinda crazy, and too sneaky for my taste, so I'm pleased that he gets busted, along with his assistant writer (who's  incidentally getting the most fast-tracked loveline ever, with Joo In's assistant, ha).

Even though their initial efforts at conversation don't go well, I'm glad that by the end of the episode, we have Bi Soo blurting out honestly, that he can't write anywhere else, and he really does want to write. I feel like it's that honesty that Joo In is responding to. It certainly is what I'm responding to, and I'm looking forward to more of that raw honesty, as they start to spend time in the same space.

Also, for the record again, even though the subtitles translate that Joo In's condition in the contract is that Bi Soo address her as "Master," it's not quite so cut and dry in Korean. Arguably, she's only asking him to address her in a respectful manner, by adding the "-nim" suffix to her name. As a comparison, Bi Soo could do the same, by asking her to address him as "Bi Soo-nim." It just so happens that the phrase "Joo In-nim" also sounds like "Master," is all. Can't blame a girl for wanting to establish some respect from the star writer who has a reputation for razing his actors to the ground, now, can we?