Love (feat Marriage and Divorce) 3

Presentation

Previous reviews Seasons 1 & 2

Analysis

My Opinion (No Spoiler)

As always, watching Love (feat Marriage and Divorce) is a guilty pleasure! Season 3 has its fair share of drama and happy endings, but there are some elements that didn’t have their place in the plot, especially those related to supernatural events (ghosts).

Moreover, I sincerely hoped the drama would end with season 3, but it seems they are thinking about extending the plot. A shame in my opinion. The story is little by little losing its freshness and the twists are starting to become totally ridiculous.

The only reason I put a 9/10 is because Season 3 is an excellent and brilliant continuation of main characters’ lives, whether they’d be happy with a re-marriage, or sad with karma striking them in the face.

Analysis (Spoiler Alert)

Retribution and karma: The second season ended with some dramatic, if not tragic, events. Among them, we can quote two main ones: the death of Nam Ga Bin’s parents in an unfortunate car accident and that of A Mi’s biological father (the oriental doctor) in a horseback riding accident. On top of that, some other plot developments were pointing towards an unhappy unfolding (Song Won giving birth, Ji Ah being possessed by her grandfather’s ghost, and weird new marriages).

That being said, I loved how season 3 handled the follow-up on these various relationships and issues. Not only were the mistresses punished for their faults, but the cheating husbands were not forgiven, nor forgotten, in the retaliation plan.

Lee Si Eun, Park Hae Ryun and Nam Ga Bin: Lee Si Eun is the first out of the 3 women to get a divorce. After more than 30 years of marriage and total devotion to her family, the 50-year-old woman is outcast. Nevertheless, she manages to stay strong and to behave with grace in front of Nam Ga Bin. Though she is hurt and scarred, Si Eun would rather live for her children than drown in sorrow. She moves on, focuses on Hyang Gi and U Ram, and leaves all bad feelings behind.

The most interesting dynamic does not concern Hae Ryun and Si Eun in this season, but Hae Ryun and his mistress Nam Ga Bin. Although they wanted to get married and build a family together, Ga Bin pulled out at the last minute. Feeling that the death of her parents was a sort of retribution for her sin, she put an end to her love story. Overwhelmed by grief, she chose to stay alone.

The split between Hae Ryun and Ga Bin is actually the starting point to greater disasters for both of them (that made me so happy, I know it is cruel, but they deserved it!).
On the one side, Hae Ryun at age 50 has to learn -the hard way- how to take care of himself without the support of a wife. Hated by his children, ignored by his ex-wife and stranded by his mistress, the professor is miserable and pathetic. Yet, the end of his struggle has not come. Because of stress, he now suffers from a face paralysis. So, he can’t talk or eat properly.

To me, Hae Ryun becomes even more despicable than in previous seasons. Indeed, he tries to use his new disability as leverage to make his kids and ex-wife come back to him (now that he is alone, without a mistress). Thankfully, Lee Si Eun and Hyang Gi are unbending. They categorically refuse to let him use pathos in order to wreak havoc their newly-found stability. Despite his numerous efforts, Hae Ryun is dismissed and will continue to be, even when he threatens to get the custody of his children back, when Si Eun decides to remarry.

At the end of the drama, Hae Ryun strikes an unexpected friendship with Kim Dong Mi (Lee Hye Sook). She organizes a blind date for him with a friend of hers. That friend is none other than Nam Ga Bin, she has become close to in the past few months. Both reunite in a restaurant, but nothing more happens (for now!).

At this point, I don’t care at all if these two get back together or not. Actually, I would feel even sad if Ga Bin were to return to Hae Ryun, as he seems to consider marriage as a revenge on his wife. Ga Bin on the contrary appears to be broken, remorseful and sincere in her apologies. That discrepancy in terms of personality makes me prefer Ga Bin over Hae Ryun. She is too pitiful in my opinion and was sufficiently hurt (left at the altar, twice by the same man; death of both her parents).

Sa Pi Young, Shin Yu Shin and A Mi: After a long series of discussions behind closed doors, Sa Pi Young gets her freedom back. Yu Shin (Ji Young San), who never really wanted a divorce, lost his precious wife and daughter. Stubborn and determined as she is, Pi Young stands strong and never gives in. She now lives in her mother’s apartment with Ji Ah, who doesn’t know about the divorce at first. But she eventually discovers it in the worst possible way: She sees her father, walking hand-in-hand with Ah Mi at a bookstore. Fortunately for her, she is not alone in that situation. She can relate to Hyang Gi and U Ram, who went through the same struggle.
Ji Ah is trait for trait like her mother. She is very mature for her age and upright. She doesn’t forgive her father’s missteps and doesn’t even understand the reasons behind such a behavior.

As Pi Young is about to turn a new leaf with a new man (like Si Eun), Yu Shin threatens her with Ji Ah’s custody. The argument is inefficient and Yu Shin is forced to admit that he is simply being jealous.
As we see Si Eun and Pi Young start new lives, it seems like the ex-husbands get stuck in constant crises. Karma strikes also for Yu Shin and in many different ways. First, he always has to tamper between his girlfriend A Mi and his unbearable stepmother Dong Mi. These two constantly bicker and argue over anything, making life hard for the doctor.

If that were not enough, Ji Ah is possessed by her grandfather, who attacks Dong Mi and reveals that she may have something to do with his “accidental death”. Though Yu Shin brushes it off at first, he finally learns that his beloved stepmom is the cause of his father’s death. However, it is Dong Mi, who has it worse in this season. Indeed, she went through season 1 and 2 quite unscarred, but she is slapped in the face by karma in these new 16 episodes (and also by Seo Ban, possessed by her dead husband!).
After being beaten up without apparent reasons, she flees to Singapore and disappears for a while. When she comes back, she is totally different. After a thorough exam at the hospital, the doctor informs her family that she suffers from dementia due to PTSD (naturally caused by a trauma). That psychological condition triggers her criminal confession. When Dong Mi confirms her actions to Yu Shin (that A Mi suspected already), he has no other choice but to have her committed.

Once again, I felt no sadness, no remorse towards that dysfunctional household. I was thrilled that all these evil characters were being punished, but I essentially focused my energy on Sa Pi Young and Seo Dong Ma instead.

Boo Hye Ryung, Pan Sa Hyun and Song Won: I didn’t necessarily appreciate Boo Hye Ryung in the past seasons, but her character was totally disregarded in that one. I was actually disappointed by such a plotline.

Out of the tree wives, Boo Hye Ryung is probably the one who underwent the worst betrayal. Her husband cheated on her, but also got pregnant with the mistress. On top of that, she was ousted by him and his parents. Of course, Boo Hye Ryung being the vindictive tornado that we know, she didn’t leave without dragging down some people with her. She exposed her husband’s affair to the media and divorced him with panache. This was very satisfactory! I know it is going to sound horrible, but I felt no sadness, when Song Won dies at the beginning of season 3, while giving birth. I mean, after everything that she did, she needed to be punished as well.

After Song Won’s death, Sa Hyun (Kang Shin Hyo) starts his new life with a newborn and in grief. Out of politeness or morbid curiosity, Hye Ryung presents her condolences to the family. She seems profoundly affected by the fact that the baby as no mother now (considering that she can’t conceive). That’s when Sa Hyun’s parents have the brilliant idea to get Hye Ryung and Sa Hyun back together, just so that their son has a chance to remarry and their grandson has a mother to take care of him. This type of thinking made my blood boil, as they showed no respect whatsoever towards the pain inflicted to Hye Ryung and simply treat her like a pawn.

One plot twist leading to another, Hye Ryung ends up being possessed by Song Won (she is not gone yet!), she remarries Sa Hyun and has a lovey-dovey relationship with him. Her shift in behavior naturally raises suspicion, so the old couple decides to exorcize Song Won’s spirit (otherwise it would bring bad luck). This event is followed by Hye Ryung going back to her old self and having a miscarriage. I suppose that Hye Ryung was not entirely innocent in the previous seasons, which could explain why she suffered so much in that third season. Still, her character’s evolution was rushed.

New beginnings: Apart from Hye Ryung going back to her ex-husband (while possessed), the other two female leads get a new chance to happiness.

Lee Si Eun and Seo Ban: Now divorced, Si Eun has plenty of time to meet someone new. However, she doesn’t have to look to far. Her colleague Seo Ban rapidly shows interest in her and confesses that she is his first love. They met in middle school. Si Eun’s kindness at that time left an indefectible print on him to the point that he never forgot her. He thought it was fate, when he met her again and they started working together.

Seo Ban is affectionate and soft towards Si Eun, which makes her give in. Their relationship is heartwarming and tender. Si Eun remains on the reserve, yet Seo Ban never pushes his way through. He patiently waits for her and her kids to get comfortable with him. He is willing to take on the role of the stepfather and has made his peace with the fact that he may never have children of his own. The only thing he wishes for is their shared happiness (and that of the children of course!).

Their wedding is revenge and a victory of love. It is proof that there is no limit to finding happiness (no matter the age) and that struggles only cloud your life for a time. After each down, there is an up. I can’t express how much this couple made me melt, either it’d be at the ski resort or living together as one big family. On top of that, Hyang Gi and U Ram are totally in. Even Seo Ban’s difficult father accepted the marriage, though he was not convinced at the beginning.

Si Eun’s encounter with Seo Ban somehow washes away the burdens of her life. She is finally appreciated for her worth, has wealth and a dedicated husband. She is supported and loved by her children and can finally let all her past hardships behind.

Sa Pi Hyung and Seo Dong Ma: If Si Eun seems to have her happy ending (for now!), it is the same for Sa Pi Young. During a visit to the doctor’s, she screams in the room. That sound is heard by Dong Ma, who is sitting in the waiting room. He immediately falls in love with her and decides to find the woman, who touched his heart. Although he was on the verge of getting married to Ga Bin, he leaves her right away to pursue Pi Young. One thing is for certain, Dong Ma knows what he wants and is ready to do whatever it takes to get it. Unlike his brother, he is a bit pushy. Yet, it is the right behavior for Pi Young, who is strong-headed.

Just like Si Eun and Seo Ban form a sweet and introverted couple, Dong Ma and Pi Young are a charismatic and assertive one.
The 40-year-old woman marries the 35-year-old man in a lavish ceremony. Pi Young’s daughter, though reluctant at first, gets to know her future stepfather and appreciate him. She also finds out that she and U Ram are about to be part of the same family, which comforts her in the idea that she has someone to lean on.

Dong Ma’s father doesn’t refuse the wedding, as he loses his wife in-between and now understands the importance of being with someone you love.

Unexpected, if not unrealistic, plot twists: Described as such, the drama appears to flow naturally and beautifully. However, Phoebe (the screenwriter) is notorious for her unexpected twists. Love (feat Marriage and Divorce) is no exception to the rule.

Season 3 is filled with realistic events that don’t quite make sense, but are relevant in the storyline, such as:
– Sa Pi Young and Lee Si Eun getting married and pregnant at the same time
– Lee Si Eun getting pregnant at 50. I agree that it is possible, but still uncanny
– Dong Ma falling in love with a scream (after love at first sight, love at first sound!)
– The housekeepers rebelling and going on a power trip at the Chairman’s house

Moreover, the drama also has a great amount of supernatural elements, that I found useless and just confusing. Some of the worst ones are:
– Ji Ah possessed by her grandfather, as well as Seo Ban, who ends up beating up Dong Mi
– Song Won possessing Hye Ryung, just to be with her child, then remarrying Sa Hyun
– Grim Reapers coming at Seo Ban and Seo Dong Ma’s house at the end, announcing an upcoming death
– And of course, the entire end!

Answering questions of Season 2, but some loose ends remain: Some questions from season 2 were definitely answered in the third one. Here is the list that I made in the previous review:

– Does Song Won give birth? Does the baby die? Or is it alive?
Answer: Yes she does, the baby is alive, but the mother dies and turns into a ghost.

– How would Sa Hyun and A Mi meet? How would A Mi and Sa Hyun develop feelings for each other?
Answer: This is still quite unclear and will potentially be explained in a fourth season. But considering that Song Won is dead and that Hye Ryung is back to her old self, it is not impossible that Sa Hyun cheats on her again with A Mi, who visits the baby from time to time.

– How would Sa Pi Young and Seo Dong Ma meet?
Answer: At the doctor’s. Seo Dong Ma falls in love with her scream.

– Does Lee Si Eun meet someone else?
Answer: Yes, she does and didn’t have to look too far. She gets married to Seo Ban.

– Do Hae Ryun and Ga Bin go back together? Stay broken up? Get married? Meet new people?
Answer: For now, they stay apart. But who knows what the future holds and what Phoebe has in mind.

– Does Hae Ryun reconcile with his children?
Answer: Let’s say that he doesn’t help his case, when he threatens Si Eun with custody rights if she remarries. For now, the relationship is still pending.

– Will Boo Hye Ryung find a love interest?
Answer: Her ex-husband.

– Will Boo Hye Ryung manage to have children in the end?
Answer: She conceived, but had a miscarriage in season 3.

– Does the oriental doctor die from his horse fall?
Answer: Yes, dead and buried.

– Do Yu Shin and Dong Mi end up together in the end?
Answer: Fortunately for everyone, it is a big NO.

– Will Yu Shin discover Dong Mi’s crime? What will he do, if that’s the case? Will she pay for it?
Answer: Yes, he is in shock and speechless. Considering his stepmother’s dementia, he chooses to put her in a specialized hospital. In that matter, we can say that Dong Mi paid for it.

– Do the three weddings take place at the same time? Are they even real?
Answer: One of them (Pi Young and Dong Ma) is real and occurs after Ji Ah’s possession. The two others (A Mi and Sa Hyun; Seo Ban and Song Won) are to be investigated in a 4th season.

– Will we finally have more punishment against the cheaters?
Answer: Oh yes!

Questions for a potential Season 4: Though we tied some loose ends, I still have so many questions. The cliffhanger at Episode 16 didn’t make things better, as it only made me more confused and curious. Here are the few elements that need clear answers:

– Will Lee Si Eun have a good pregnancy and safely give birth? Same for Sa Pi Young? Or will the mother(s) die just like Song Won?

– Who dies between Seo Dong Ma and Seo Ban? Is it maybe both?
Indeed, the ceiling falls on Dong Ma’s head at the end. He is transported to the hospital and wakes up, as what seems to be a ghost. Yet, Seo Ban is still showed marrying Song Won, whom we know now is a ghost.

– Has Boo Hye Ryung really become a shaman? (Remember she can see ghosts now) And how is that going to interfere with the story?
– Who is the little ghost kid that follows Sa Hyun’s mother everywhere?
– Is Sa Hyun’s father going to cheat on her mother, as suggested by Hye Ryung?
– Will Hye Ryung stay married? Have a child?
– How will A Mi and Sa Hyun meet? Is it another affair? How is Yu Shin going to react? Or are they already separated when it happens?
– What about Nam Ga Bin? Hae Ryun? They were nowhere to be found in the cliffhanger.

New faces, better acting performance? For this third season, Sung Hoon, Lee Tae Gon and Kim Bo Yeon were replaced respectively by Kang Shin Hyo, Ji Young San and Lee Hye Sook. To be honest, I was very disappointed. The previous actors were really charismatic and perfect in their roles. I could really associate the personality with the actor/actress.
Here, we had bland actors I thought, who did not correspond to the universe of the drama. The fact that they were replacing iconic characters did not help their cause. The synergy and the chemistry were also not present, which decreased the intensity of the plot.

I don’t blame the actors, they played their role properly, but they don’t have the stature of the other actors to embody these roles.

A shame, but what can we do against scheduling conflicts!

P.S.: Are you hoping for a 4th (and I am begging you, last!) season? What did you think of this third season?