Stalking = Romance?
Pi-Young is hesitant at first, but Dong-Ma insists that they should take the plunge and see if this is really what they want. She agrees to marry him, but with one condition: she wants to end their relationship once and for all. Pi-Young is hesitant at first, but Dong-Ma insists that they should take the plunge and see if this is really what they want. She agrees to marry him, but with one condition: she wants to end their relationship once and for all.
Dong-Ma tells his friend, Pi-Young, that he has broken up with Ga-Bin for her. Pi-Young encourages Dong-Ma to head on his trip to Germany, believing it’ll help refocus his mind and think clearly about what he’s saying. Instead, Dong-Ma drops the bombshell that he actually broke up with Ga-Bin for her.
Dong-Ma continues to throw analogies into his dialogue, comparing feelings to clouds and bringing up icebergs. Well, I’ll tell you what, the prospects of Dong-Ma and Pi-Young getting together into a compelling relationship is like an iceberg. The iceberg that the Titanic struck. Pi-Young immediately senses as much and throws him in the friend zone at best. Dong-Ma is relentless. He promises not to betray her and to think of this positively as they have a chance of being together. ..
This conversation goes on forever, with a good chunk of this episode uncomfortably dedicated to Dong-Ma constantly goading Pi-Young and trying to convince her to give this relationship a go. He really doesn’t take no for an answer (#metoo) and even holds her hand, much to Pi-Young’s shock. She pulls away and eventually turns the subject away from marriage… only for Dong-Ma to immediately bring up having a child with her. Dong-Ma even claims he can be the sole breadwinner and she can just stay at home when they get together.
Meanwhile, Sa-Hyeon’s parents urge their son to go back to work soon. That’s it. That’s all thee screen-time they get. At the same time, a distraught Ga-Bin starts playing the piano. Hey, maybe she should start a band with Hye-Ryung as she plays on the drums?
We’re back to the meal as it mercifully ends and Ji-A heads out with Pi-Young to the amusement park, the same one showcased in yesterday’s episode. However, while she’s there Dong-Ma stalks her from afar… in a pirate outfit. Jesus, was this episode written by an algorithm? What is going on!
Ji-A and Pi-Young are sitting together when Dong-Ma sends a picture to her of the pair and watches them from afar, eating ice-cream. But wait, what’s this? Ghost Ki-Rim is here and instead of abusing people, he lifts up into the air and waves goodbye to Ji-A, disappearing… forever? Just this episode? Who knows.
Dong-Ma visits Pi-Young back home and starts kissing her. She doesn’t pull away though and kisses him back. Who knew being a stalker and following your love interest would be so romantic for Pi-Young! ..
The Episode Review
A fun fact is that I’ve been teaching my kids how to edit scenes together on the computer with a simple video editor with them coming up with some pretty random videos, cutting from a car driving on the road to someone laughing and then over to a random bar for no reason. While doing this I felt a sense of Deja vu and now I know why. It’s literally how Love (ft. Marriage and Divorce) has been spliced together.
This show has a sort of random appeal that is completely without rhyme or reason.
The majority of the episode is taken up through Pi-Young and Dong-Ma’s pointless chatter. Okay maybe not pointless but creepy stalking and forceful behaviour, talking about marriage and kids to a woman who’s obviously flattered but very uncomfortable is projected across to the audience who are also likely to feel uncomfortable watching this. Dong-Ma’s persistence is creepy and borderline psychotic.
The show “Reply 1988” has a lot of problems. First, it romanticizes and comedically portrays themes that are completely backwards. We’re led to believe that Ki-Rim has now gone to heaven after physically abusing Dong-Mi. Did he just need to beat her to the point of almost causing her a nervous breakdown to move on? And is Dong-Ma being a creep and forcing himself on Pi-Young what we’re considering romance here? I’m not sure but the whole thing feels icky for what’s been an absolute car crash of a serious show already. ..
