Early Access: A Couple's World E2 (Patreon)

E2. Kim Hee Ae's performance in this is a real tour de force. Sun Woo's in a very complicated situation, and feeling very complicated feelings, and facing complicated, mounting new information, to the point where it feels like she might break down or explode, and yet, she holds it together - even though sometimes it looks like she's just managing, barely - and all of that effort and tension and fragility and brokenness and strength is expressed in her eyes, her face, and her entire body. It's heartbreaking and breathtaking in one, and while I do not for a moment wish to be in Sun Woo's shoes, I'm definitely on her side.

While a part of me kinda wishes that Sun Woo really had plunged that pair of scissors into Tae Oh's chest, I'm realizing that that doesn't become her. She's stronger than that, and has a greater ability to think clearly than the average woman, in such world-tilting circumstances. It's awful that her husband is cheating on her, and it kills her that he's been doing it in such a systemic way. But she also realizes that she needs to think about her son, and that she needs time to think and figure things out. Even though I balked at her decision to kiss Tae Oh, when she'd actually wanted to stab him, I see the territorial claim that that kiss was meant to be. That was her statement to Da Kyung: this man is mine; I can kiss him openly; you can't.

I'm shocked that Tae Oh and Da Kyung actually hold hands - albeit surreptitiously - at the party. The gall. And right after Tae Oh had told Sun Woo in front of everyone, that he loves her. The gall of him, and the smug look on Da Kyung's face, makes me want to smash their heads together. Grr.

I'm even more appalled at how bold they are, to kiss at the party, while the rest of the group is within line of sight. It seems like anyone could have looked up and over, and seen them smooching. This brash overconfidence seems ripe for a fall. And who's this guy who's taking videos of them?

I don't know how much I believe Myung Sook's explanation that she's on Sun Woo's side, and that she was so angry with Tae Oh, and was just keeping quiet until he took care of things. Sun Woo snaps at her so sharply that I almost expect Myung Sook to start bleeding from her ear, from the lashing out, and yet, I still think Sun Woo's going easy on her. Perhaps Sun Woo's choosing to trust her, because she has no one else to trust? That's really sad though. You don't have anyone to trust, and so you choose to trust the very friend who warned your husband that you might be on to his affair. Yikes.

It's truly a mother's love that motivates Sun Woo to postpone confronting Tae Oh. Despite the emotional pain she's going through, she chooses to smile and laugh, for Joon Young's sake, and that's really heartbreaking to watch. Moms love so sacrificially. Gulp.

That scene where Da Kyung goes to the hospital and gets a consult with Sun Woo, is so charged. I admire Sun Woo's self-control. How surreal and dreadful it must have been, to examine your husband's girlfriend, and discover that she's pregnant with your husband's baby? And yet, she remains relatively calm, despite the edge to her tone. That's admirable, considering what she's dealing with.

I find it interesting that each woman feels self-conscious in front of the other. In the bathroom, Da Kyung flashes back to how successful and confident Sun Woo is, while in the consultation room, Sun Woo flashes back to how young and pretty Da Kyung is. How ironic, that both women seem to feel equally insecure while comparing themselves to each other. And what a telling statement that is, on how hard it is, to be a woman. When you're successful at work, you feel inadequate for not having baby skin and thick, long beautiful hair. And when you're young and beautiful, you feel inadequate for not being successful and poised in your career.

The way Sun Woo gets Hyun Seo out of the apartment where her boyfriend is abusing her, is so badass. She's fully in control, doesn't let him intimidate her, and doesn't allow his taunts to land with any kind of weight. I love the way she defends Hyun Seo and herself, when the abusive boyfriend tries to get violent; the way she slams the door on his arm, causing him to crumple to the floor, is so coolly, sharply badass. Wow this woman is strong. I want her to show this kind of strength to Tae Oh.

I do like the unlikely growing connection between Sun Woo and Hyun Seo. Hyun Seo lives in such a different world from Sun Woo, and yet, when it comes down to it, the two women connect on a common point: why are they reluctant to leave the men in their lives, when the men aren't being good or fair to them?

Hyun Seo's answer is that she loves him. Does Sun Woo love Tae Oh?

I really hate that Tae Oh basically gaslights Sun Woo, when she finally confronts him about having another woman. Argh. That's such an unfair, awful thing to do, to turn around and accuse her of being crazy and wasting a busy man's time, when she's literally right about him having an affair. It's no wonder Sun Woo half lays on the counter and sob-laughs in disbelief.

I am mollified, though, that she doesn't actually let it go, and only pretends to let it go. It seems like she's decided she will torment him, since he's decided to torment her. I have no idea how this is going to go, but the way she called Myung Sook and instructed her to call Tae Oh with the news of Da Kyung's pregnancy, and then positioned herself so that she could watch him take the call and clock his reaction, is cold and calculated, and quite mesmerizing to watch.

One of the things that makes this show feel so riveting, is that it moves faster and farther than I expect it to. Sun Woo discovers the truth of the affair, and the identity of the girlfriend, within our first episode. And within our second episode, we discover the girlfriend is pregnant. It feels like Show plans to travel a longer, bigger route than most of its cousins, and is confident of making the journey. I'm duly curious to see more.