The Happy Ending
Gwang-Nam tells Hae-Jin that she’s disappointed in the break-up, but she’s still friends with Sang-Eun. She worries about how things will change now that he’s gone. Hae-Jin is sad about the break-up, but she still has a lot of feelings for Sang-Eun.
Gwang-Nam checks up on Sang-Eun, who’s sitting in bed and not doing too well. It’s very clear that she’s in love with Ji-Ho, but finds herself constantly eating ice cream, crying… and eating even more ice cream. As for Ji-Ho, he asks Hae-Jin for help in learning how to drink, determined to try and get rid of his blues.
Yoo shows up and gives an encouraging word to Ji-Ho, admitting that Sang-Eun really does like him and she doesn’t mean to “misbehave” right now. She says, “Hurry up and go talk to her.” She then leaves. ..
Do Ji-Ho and Sang-Eun get back together?
It was a night that started out with Hae-Jin and Jung Ji-Eun. Ji-Ho naturally ended up drunk, leaving Hae-Jin and Jung to talk together. With Ji-Ho in a reflective mood, Yoo was too and she spoke to Sang-Eun that night, holding her hand and apologizing for what happened in the past between them. She encourages Sang-Eun to go for Ji-Ho and to hold onto that sense of true love, which she deduces the pair have.
Sang-Eun tells Ji-Ho that she’s been thinking about him a lot lately and she wants to be with him. Ji-Ho is hesitant at first, but then he reconsiders and decides to let her be his girlfriend.
After their differences led to a lack of progress on their wedding, the pair decide to head out on a date instead. However, they quickly realize that they don’t actually want a proper wedding, instead deciding just to live with each other and host a party for close friends and family.
Does Hae-Jin get a good ending?
Hae-Jin’s mother tells him that he needs to live his life the way he wants and make his own decisions, right off the back of an earlier chat with Sang-Eun where she encouraged Hae-Jin’s mother to let her son get back the sparkle that he’s lost.
Gwang-Nam tells his family that he is gay and that he likes men. His sisters try to keep him quiet, but he refuses to deny who he really is.
As things kick off, Gwang-Nam’s manager Yoo Jung Hwan shows up and introduces himself as the one who can resolve the conflict.
Does Ji-Ho propose to Sang-Eun?
Sang-Eun surprises everyone by proposing a wedding with a bunch of random people waving their camera phone lights around. Ji-Ho accepts!
Ji-Ho proposes marriage to his girlfriend, and she accepts. ..
How does Love in Contract end?
The episode closes out with all the characters joining together for the cosy celebrations at Ji-Ho and Sang-Eun’s place. It’s a lovely moment and eventually leads to them all having a big party. Unfortunately, when Sang-Eun and Ji-Ho awaken, hungover no doubt, they groan at the state of their place and decide to have some broth together, pointing out that this is how Sundays should be. ..
The Episode Review
Love in Contract ends on a sour note, reinforcing the typical K-drama stereotypes after a promising start. There are some outstanding elements, but Love in Contract failed to capitalize on the good work done early on. ..
The series feels like it’s over-utilizing Hae-Jin’s character and under-utilizing Gwang-Nam, who’s largely been relegated to the backburner as Sang-Eun’s buddy. That’s a shame to be honest as the series could have explored how difficult it has been for him to be taken seriously and grapple with his sexuality.
The series is formulaic and unmemorable, which is a shame because Park Min-Young should have been given more to work with.
