Turn to Me, Mukai-kun: A Slice of Life Japanese Drama (Spotlight)

S3 E32 / Christina from the YA Girl’s Kdrama podcasts joins me to spotlight the heartfelt slice-of-life Japanese drama, Turn to Me, Mukai-kun.  

 ⛩️ We explore the unique rhythms of Jdramas vs. Kdramas, sharing first-timer impressions, the cultural nuances of relationships, and what makes slice of life stories in both countries so universally relatable—and Christina shares how her recent trip to Japan colored her viewing.

🫶 We break down the show's memorable dating “eras,” the lovable (and awkward) characters, Mukai’s funny missteps on the way to love, friends-to-lovers done right, complicated female characters, and the bromance. 

🫥 We also touch on why the themes of stigma, stereotypes, and individuality in Turn to Me, Mukai-kun make it a good comp for Something in the Rain and One Spring Night—but lighter in tone and with a nicer mom. 

🍦🌈 Plus, we dive deep into the ice cream sundae and rainbow metaphors – IYKYK!  😉

⚠️ Warning: there isn’t a non-spoiler section. We get right into the ice cream layer. 

Currently Watching:

• Love Me
• Idol I
• Can This Love be Translated? 
• Dr. Romantic
• Rain or Shine
• Gimbap and  Onigiri

Links:

Ep 24: Slice of Life dramas with Christina

https://howimetmykdrama.buzzsprout.com/2435348/episodes/17984850-slice-of-life-kdramas-for-your-watchlist

Ep 22: YA girl’s Kdrama interview

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2435348/episodes/17814816-ya-girls-kdrama-podcast-on-favorite-dramas-tropes-and-ramyeon-scenes

YA Girl's Kdrama podcast: https://pod.link/1630700998

Transcript

Sara 0:05

This is the How I Met My K-Drama podcast, and it's all about K-drama origin stories and recommendations. I'm Sarah Rosette, and today Christina, yay, the Young Girls Podcast is here, and we're doing a spotlight on slice of life drama from Japan called Turn to Me Mookai Coon. Hi, Christina.

Christina 0:22

How are you? Good, how are you? Hi, Sarah. How's it going? Hi, guys. Thank you for having me.

Sara 0:29

Oh, you're welcome. I'm just so excited that you watched a J drama and it's a slice of life one. We can talk about it. I'm so excited.

Christina 0:38

What we have in common, we love we both love slice of life. And it's, I was really excited. And when you told me about it, you were like, oh, and it's try a jery drama. I'm like, you know what? Perfect. I have winter break coming up. I watched it during then. Great. It was so great. So I'm so glad. Thank you so much for me.

Sara 0:58

Oh, yeah. Slice of life. I thought it would work out good. So I'm glad it did. I was nervous though, because I thought she hates it, which would be totally fine to come on the podcast and talk about.

Christina 1:08

Oh yeah. I hate it. No, that's not.

Sara 1:10

But anyway, so you've been on the podcast before. We did a slice of life episode. I'll link to that. And then we had all the other pod sisters on. And I think that was episode 22, 24, something like that. So I'll link to that one as well. But tell a little bit about y'all's podcast.

Christina 1:26

All right. Hey guys, I am Christina. I'm one of the three hosts of your girls K-Drama podcast. And we talk K-dramas, we do reviews, we do midway reviews, and we also do through twos, which is we watch two episodes and then we review. And then I all we also have a segment called Chingu Chats, which is very silly, and it's just any we talk about any created Korean related items, and then we do tropes, but it's just the three of us. It's me and then it is L and Maddie. So we just we taught we love K dramas, and so we that's what we do on there. So if you enjoy K dramas, come on down. You're in for a real treat.

Sara 2:16

It's really it's a fun show, it's a lot of fun. I listen to it when I walk, it's a lot of fun. Y'all always have a great time, and it's fun to hear the different because you each have a different take on what type of K-dramas you like.

Christina 2:28

Oh, yes. And I think that's my favorite part about the three of us because we are very different. Maddie is in the middle, and I know Elle and I have very different views, like different K dramas that we absolutely love. But I think it works out because then people can see or see different recommendations, and they're like, Oh, I like what she usually watches. Okay, let me see what else is she watching. So I think it's so cool.

Sara 2:54

It's great, it's good, it's a good thing because then you can match up your taste with somebody and go, okay. Normally I agree with this, but maybe I'll avoid that one because I that's usually not my style, which sort of works out good. Yeah, let's talk about what we're currently watching. What are you watching right now?

Christina 3:08

Okay, so I'm behind on everything. I'm behind. So I'm watching Love Me. I know I don't I just finished and I need to hurry up and finish that show. I I need to watch that finish it. I'm on episode six of that one. I'm watching Can This Love Be Translated, and I started Dr. Romantic. And yeah, the first, I think there's three seasons. I won't I'm watching the first season, so I haven't watched it and I'm watching that. And then I'm plugging along and watching when I have time, I'm watching the show Rain or Shine or Between, or I think there's two. Yes, we talked about this two titles between two lovers and Rain or Shine. Same show, different titles.

Sara 3:53

Yeah. Dr. Romantic, how much medical stuff? Is it more the characters or is it more medical drama?

Christina 4:02

I think it's more characters. I'm still on only episode three. They're still setting things up of what's happening, but it is about this one. Have you seen it? No, that's what I'm asking. Because I'll let you know. It's not, I think it's gonna probably be less than hospital playlists. I know hospital playlists has a lot of that medical jargon, but for this show, you see it there because it is there, but I feel like it's more of the relationships between the three main doctors. Okay, all right, that's good. So yeah. So I'm curious, but since there's three seasons or two seasons, I don't really remember, but I just I was like, oh, I've been wanting to watch that. Let's watch this, and but we'll see. Maybe okay. Yeah, I'll wait for your assessment. Okay, good. Yeah, yeah. And because it now is on Netflix, so all of these like throwback shows, it's so much more convenient. I think it was on it's been on Vicky for a while, and I've I was started it and then I forgot about it. But then seeing it on Netflix, it's just so much easier.

Sara 5:07

It really is. I agree. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I do the same thing, and there's a whole I like it kind of when they rotate out because it does bring new things to the top, which you see stuff again, remind you because I have lots of those that I have started and then I put on pause for one reason or another, and I'm like, oh yeah, I need to finish that one. Well, let's see. I'm watching I Del Eye. I just finished that.

Christina 5:27

Oh thumbs up, loved it.

Sara 5:30

It was very satisfying. I won't say anything else, but yeah, I really liked it. I was like, I was surprised at how much I liked it. I had zero expectations going in, but I really liked it. And then I just I finished Love Me recently, and I had a weekend off, like not a lot going on, and I binged all of Canvas Love Me translated.

Christina 5:52

Oh, you're done too. Okay. Okay. See, I'm behind. I'm still. It's okay.

Sara 5:58

Up until that weekend, I was behind on a bunch of stuff, but and I was feeling a little, ah, I have too many things to watch, which is a great thing, great problem to have, right? But so I watched that and it was not at all what I thought it would be. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't what I thought it would be. And then since we're talking about J. Dramas, I started a new one that's uh come out on Netflix, and it's only like they're only releasing one show every week. So it takes 10 weeks for it to all come out. So I've watched the first two episodes. I think I may pause and then pick up like at the end when I can binge more. But it's called Gimbap and Oni Oni. Okay, let's let me see if I can say this. Oni giri.

Christina 6:39

Yeah, uni giri, oh, oni, uni, uh, unigiri. Okay, so it's the same actor as in the show. Okay, so I saw that and I my heart skipped a beat. So I'm gonna watch that after I'm gonna watch it. Do you like it?

Sara 6:55

Yeah, it's good so far. It's very quiet, very slice of life. Great, yeah. I like to binge. So if I wait at least a couple of weeks, then I can go in and finish them all.

Christina 7:04

So you would prefer it. I feel like it depend for me. I think it depends on the show. It's it's cool to see it week to week and hear what people are saying and hear the opinions, and then like that, like how it was for Dynamite Kiss. And then, but sometimes it's so great.

Sara 7:19

I love also a good binge, so you can just have it on your own time and just you know, but yeah, I feel like I pick up more, I remember more if I'm looking at the watching it all at once. I can pick up on like themes better and stuff, but I think there are certain shows that it's better to kind of pace it. I think maybe Can This Love Be Translated would have been maybe a little more enjoyable if I watched it more slowly.

Christina 7:44

Yeah. It was a shock. It was a shock though, because I think for that one, it was it's so highly anticipated. Yeah. And they kept pushing back and they kept pushing back and pushing it back. And then all of a sudden it was it was like it premiered, and you're like, oh, all of the episodes.

Sara 8:02

I know I couldn't believe it. I know I couldn't believe it. I was like, okay, well, I have this weekend, I know what I'm doing. It's great when you don't have to have self-control, you can just watch the whole thing.

Christina 8:12

You could just do it. Yeah, because we need a break from day-to-day life. It's great. I love it. That's me to relax. Yeah.

Sara 8:21

Okay, let's get into Turn to Me, Mukai Koon. So I've got a summary, and then I'll have a little thing that I got from Perplexity about the endings of the names because Japanese culture uses these endings to indicate the relationship. So I'll read the description first. Mukai is a 33-year-old man who has not been in a serious romantic relationship for the last 10 years. As his peers around him start moving on with their lives by getting married and having families, Mukai starts to feel the pressure to do the same and thus begins his dating adventures. So cute. Yeah. It is a quest kind of story. Okay, from perplexity in Japanese, the endings San, Kun, and Chan are endings added to names to show respect and closeness. San is the basic polite version, similar to saying Mr. or Ms. Kun is usually used for boys or young men, and Chan is a cute affection ending, often used for children or close friends, someone you're very close to. So once I figured that out, that helped me. It's a way that they're showing relationship between the different characters in the naming. So that so Mukai Koon, his name is Mukai, but the ending is Kuhn. So he's the seen as like one of the young man, basically.

Christina 9:40

Oh, okay. I did not notice that. I did notice that was the la I thought that was just his last name. I did too.

Sara 9:47

Yeah, coming from watching K dramas. That's what I thought too. The first time I watched it.

Christina 9:51

Yes. So is Mukai. Like, do they what is their last name?

Sara 9:55

Is yeah, I would say it's just like the Korean name. It's this okay.

Christina 9:59

It's so it's his uh he had it, it was like sataro. That's probably his last. So then that would go first, and then it would be Mukai. Okay. Okay. I hope we have that right. And I love that the title was with kun on it. Uh-huh. Okay.

Sara 10:15

So, and so blanket statement to begin this episode because we both are very nervous about pronouncing these names. And we will do our best, and we apologize in advance if we get them wrong. But both of us are very interested in the culture, the differences in the culture. And we just, I enjoyed the show. I thought it was interesting, and we just want to talk about it. So we'll do our best to get the names right. Hopefully, we're close. Hopefully, we're close. I know.

Christina 10:42

And because this is my first J drama ever, yeah, it was, and I'm a big I love K drama. So it was so wonderful to see the different cultures. And recently I went to Japan, so it was really cool to see how because I was there, but I never saw a J drama. So it was really cool. I was like, oh my gosh, I remember this, and I remember seeing how they dress and how different things, but it is completely different from the current Korean dramas as well. And yeah, I really like it.

Sara 11:18

Talk about that a little bit. Like, what were some of the differences that you noticed that you thought were interesting?

Christina 11:23

Well, I know that well, with K-dramas, it's usually 12 to 16 episodes. This was 10 episodes, and they were very short. And I think sometimes in K-dramas with the storyline, they continue on and it they keep it like a situation that can drag it out for two to three episodes. And I feel like with what I've noticed just from this drama or this J drama, they had a situation, they solved it by the end of the episode, and then they moved on. And I was like, okay, wait, what is this? I'm not used to this. I'm not used to it. But I I and I do have questions as we keep going of like how the endings are, because I know sometimes there's a stigma in K dramas of sometimes they don't stick the landing and they just end it. And I feel like it was very different how they ended it, but then also I felt like, oh, and then they ended it. So I don't know, are most J dramas short and sweet like this? Okay, yeah.

Sara 12:26

Yeah, most of them I've seen are like nine to eleven episodes. I don't think I've seen many that are over that, and they're usually about 45 minutes long each episode. And so after watching a couple of these, I remember thinking, and when I went to make the notes for this, I was like, Well, there are a lot of themes, there are a lot of characters, and they explored things in depth, a lot of the things that they were focused on. And I was like, man, they got this done in 45 minute episodes, 10, and that's it. And sometimes I feel like K dramas, they wander around a little bit. They do. Episode 12 to 14. It's like, what okay, let's go. Come on. We gotta finish this thing up.

Christina 13:09

Or at like episode 13, they add a new storyline, and then it's oh wait, what is this? And then they bring something else. And I didn't notice that in a in this J drama that we just watched. So I it was very refreshing, and I was I kept wanting to watch it because yes, I really loved the storyline, but also it was fascinating to me. Really, it really was different, yeah.

Sara 13:31

Yeah, different culture, different foods, different religious practices and stuff. It's just totally different from the K dramas. And I'm fascinated with K-dramas too. So it's like just layering in another aspect of Asian culture. So anyway, okay, we're gonna dive in, we're just gonna talk about the drama because it's only 10 dramas or 10 episodes. So we're just gonna talk about it and answer all our questions and chat about things. So I'll go through and I'll read off some of the characters and the main characters and some of the other shows that they've been in. If because the main character has been in quite a few, and so you may have seen him other places.

Christina 14:08

So cute. Full disclaimer, everyone. He is very cute. He is very handsome. I was like, okay, what am I missing? Apparently, I've been missing a lot. Sweet. He's a sweetheart.

Sara 14:25

Yeah, he is. And this character he plays is very down-to-earth and very relatable, I think. I think that's part of why he's so cute and compelling. Yeah.

Christina 14:35

Just so cute.

Sara 14:36

The main character that plays Mukai is E Kaso E-E-G, I believe is how you say it. He plays Mu Kai, and he is also in Inheritance Detective, Pending Train, Hey, Since I Don't Don't You Know, and then there's the new one that I mentioned in the introduction, and then a detective show, and I'm not going to attempt to pronounce this one, but if you search for him on Netflix or click some of his stuff, you'll find all of his stuff. So he's been in quite a few, and there were others. This is just like a smattering of what he's been in. So he was a fun character. To me, the show started out very humorous in the beginning, and then it got a little more serious as it went on. And he did the goofy part and made it, and there were some really funny moments, and then he also was able to do the serious moments too. So I enjoyed his character.

Christina 15:28

He was very cute. And I was like, I need to watch all of his dramas now.

Sara 15:33

Unfortunately, there's a new one out.

Christina 15:35

You can just can't wait.

Sara 15:38

Okay, I'll just mention some of the other characters that we're going to talk about. Mukai has a sister, Mammy, or Mamin. Sometimes it sounded like mommy, which threw me off quite a bit. And then a brother-in-law, Ginky. His mom is another main character in the show. And then we have all the dating that he goes through. So when I made the outline, I said, let's do the dating eras and just talk through each one. Because for the beginning, each era was an episode. So that made it easy to break it up. Let's just talk about the first episode. So he is talking with people at work, and somebody mentions, hey, you're 33. And it's like it hits him. He's oh my goodness, I'm 33. I'm not married. A lot of his friends are married or in serious relationships or they have kids. And so they're hitting this other phase of life. And he begins to feel like he's missed out. There's a new hire at work, Nakatani, I believe is how you say her name. And he is very interested in her. And this is where a lot of the humor comes in. So talk to me about this first kind of romantic foray.

Christina 16:49

Okay. So it was so fascinating though, too, because when they started it off, and it was he's the main character, it's a lot of inner dialogue. Like the whole show is all inner dialogue dialogue. And what I found refreshing too was that usually, because all I know is K dramas, usually it's the perspective of the woman. And this was all about a man and his perspective of, oh my gosh, I people are telling me that I am like behind in life and I need to keep going and I need to do this and I need to do that. And so with this girl, Nakatani, the new hire, she he they are talking, they're friendly. And he at this point, he just feels a lot of pressure. I think he knows that he's oh, she's really nice, but she is, I feel like she's being a little forward. I think she likes me. And so he was thinking, oh, because she likes me, maybe I need to pursue this. And oh, I'm noticing all the signs and I'm noticing this. So that's what we're seeing in the beginning. And it's really cute. Like the humor is really sweet, but it's all of his inner dialogue. And I'm like, oh my gosh, she's adorable. I'm like, and I think I texted you when I watched it. I was like, oh my God, she's great. I can't wait to see what happens with her.

Sara 18:07

But you know, I was like, no, don't reply, don't reply right away. Because I don't know how to not give it away. Because yeah, because the thumbnail that comes up for the show when I watched it was Mu Kai and the new hire. And so in my mind, they're the couple. And I was like, Oh, okay, this is where we're going. And so the end of episode one, I was like, Oh my goodness, we're not going there. This is gonna be interesting. I don't know, I don't know where we're going. Because he does need together with her.

Christina 18:40

It was wild because then when he was like, Oh, yeah, she totally likes me. Okay, so I but it was not, and it was wild too, because I didn't even know that if he liked her or not. Like, I feel like in the beginning he did, but then he was like, Oh, she's showing more interest in me. So, okay, the next step, if she's showing interest, okay, let's see if we can date. And so then he obviously he missed all the cues. And when he asked her, we didn't see that perspective either. So I thought that was really well done when we finally see her inner dialogue and she likes the coworker. Uh-huh. It's like a shock, isn't it? It's a shock. I was shocked.

Sara 19:20

Me too. Me too. Because they do that, they give his interactions and thoughts, and you see everything from his perspective. And then he asks her out, and she's actually takes a step back and is like, Oh no, I don't feel that way. And I think that he was feeling the pressure to be in a relationship. And he was like, Okay, look, this person's here. This is great, she seems nice. Let's see if we can make he wasn't really thinking about what he wanted, about what he was like, This is great, let's just see where this goes. And then in the last half of, I guess maybe last half, last quarter of the episode, they show her point of view, and you really do see the same things happening, but there's her internal monologue, and it there's some just funny moments like when he jumped in that taxi with them. Later, you're like, Oh my gosh, that's so embarrassing.

Christina 20:08

This is so embarrassing. Because she's trying to pursue this at the other co-worker, yeah, but we don't know that because all we know is Mu Kai's perspective, and we're like, Oh, yeah, she clearly likes him. Oh, she clearly likes him. But then we see actually what went down, and I'm like, oh, this is I was like, oh my god, is this cringy? This is oh my gosh, oh my god, stop, make it stop, make it stop.

Sara 20:32

It's very uncomfortable. Yeah. So then, so that ends, and he's basically clueless kind of back where he started from. And then in episode two, he ends up going out with the waitress from the cafe where his brother-in-law has the it's the curry restaurant. And the waitress there, her name is I believe An Anchan.

Christina 20:51

Yeah, yeah, Anchan.

Sara 20:53

Yeah, and she's a lot younger than he is, and this was one of the funniest episodes to me.

Christina 21:00

It was funny.

Sara 21:01

Because she's constantly texted him, and when he was worried about using the emojis or not, I was I so identified with that.

Christina 21:08

You're like, which one do I use? Wait, or wait, am I old? Yeah. So basically, this is when I figured out that this was a 2023 drama because I thought it was from 10 years ago. Okay. So then when I watched this scene, especially with the texting, I was like, oh, okay, so she's a Gen Zier and he's a millennial. And it was just, and it's cool how the shift was because the first, the new hire, he was totally oblivious. She was not interested at all. And then we see in episode two, this little cute waitress that is, oh my gosh, she's you can see that she's interested, and he knows that she's interested. And he's oh, this seems fun. Let's try this out. And so I think he was trying to keep up with it, but also he was like, Yeah, she was into it. And he was for a while, he was like excited about it because it was something new and someone's actually interested and he felt like they were on the same wavelength.

Sara 22:10

He wasn't misreading the signs.

Christina 22:11

He was like, I'm pretty sure I'm not misreading the signs. And he's oh, I think she likes me too much. I don't know, because I don't know if I like her that much. And so then it just was like she wanted to move really fast.

Sara 22:25

Yeah. She wanted to move really fast. And and the things that she wanted to do were going to clubs and games and sports stuff. And he was exhausted from work. And she was staying up late and texting him late at night. They did a great job showing the age difference and how that could be exhausting and not always work. And then her personality was very different from his. And she wanted different things than he did, I think.

Christina 22:49

Yeah.

Sara 22:49

She just wanted to have fun.

Christina 22:51

Yeah. And also, too, when he finally was up front with her and he was like, Hey, I just I want to take it slower. She's oh, okay. So he thought, okay, this con this is great. This is great. But then she took it like, Oh, I need to move on.

Sara 23:06

We're done, pretty much.

Christina 23:08

We're done. We're done. And we and it was, I was like, oh my gosh, what is happening? But it was so good because he is learning how to communicate because I feel like he didn't communicate at all in the beginning. And then, but I felt like also too, and I don't know if you noticed this too, but I felt like the curry restaurant that his brother-in-law has, I felt like that also was very symbolic because in the beginning he was like, I don't know if I have that many friends. And then he just got more comfortable. And because he got more comfortable, that's how he met that waitress because he was there all the time. And so he was like, Oh, this is gonna work out because she works at the she works at the curry restaurant. And like, but he tried to make it work and he's I need a nap.

Sara 23:55

He does some sleep.

unknown 23:57

Yeah.

Sara 23:57

I think one of the funniest moments in this was he ends up going to the club with her early on and he misses the text from Ginky, who's he's basically saying, Don't go with Anshan, it's a trap.

unknown 24:12

Yeah.

Sara 24:13

Ginky knew what was gonna happen. And then when he goes to the curry restaurant later, she's already dating somebody else. She has moved on and he's shocked.

Christina 24:23

He's shocked. And so then when you see her perspective, you know, the I thought the whole hug that was two minutes was so awkward.

Sara 24:32

He we see his perspective, sneaking in his look at his watch.

Christina 24:36

Just like, okay, stop it. And we didn't know her perspective. And she had her own thing. She was just like, Oh, yeah, this is we're done here.

Sara 24:43

Yeah, it's over. If that didn't pull him in, then we're done.

Christina 24:46

We're done. And she just moved on, and it wasn't not even hard feelings for her. She was just like, You weren't interested, so I'm not wasting my time. Yeah. It's like, oh no, okay. But he was hurt though. Yeah, he was.

Sara 24:59

It's like he's making progress throughout the show. He's he's learning a little bit, but it's like that one step forward, two steps back. Yeah, it just doesn't work. Okay, so episode three and four, he meets up with Chica-san, I believe is how we say him. And we find out as the show goes on that that she was a previous one-night stand. And at first it seems like they're a really good match because she's his age, they at least know each other a little bit, and she is very interested in getting married, and he's very interested in getting married. So, like on paper, it sounds like it should be great. So, what did you think of her?

Christina 25:37

There was no chemistry, obviously. I think that was the point, right? And it was hard to watch just because I know she she was very desperate for what she wanted, and and it was, but it was also relatable of oh my gosh, I'm falling behind. And he also felt that way in the beginning. So they did have that in common, and I feel like both of them were like they came to agreement like, oh yeah, we both want to have children, we both want to do this, but not like a business transaction. That's what it was.

Sara 26:11

It was a business transaction, it felt very business agenda type. Let's hit these things, and and she was pushing forward so fast because she had her mental calendar in her head, and she was going, We get married and we wait a year, and then I get pregnant, then it's gonna be two, three years before we even have children, and I'm this age, and she was feeling that pressure. And he uh was interested in moving forward, but uh I think what was missing was chemistry between them, romantic chemistry, and then just a companionship that it didn't, it wasn't there, it was just very dry.

Christina 26:49

It was yes, it was very dry. And with all of these girls, because now this is the third girl, they all have said at one point, like, you are so sweet, you are so nice. And even with Chica's son, her calling him saying, I just remember you were always so nice and respectful. So I wanted to see if this would work. And so it he really liked hearing that, but then you see her, and she she's intense with what she wants, which great, but all I love that you know what you want, but also I love that their end ending scene of when they talk about it and they're like by the water, and he's look, listen, you can have all of that, but you can you also deserve love and you deserve it on your own like time too. And so she's okay, so we're gonna be done here, kind of thing. And but every little thing just felt forced.

Sara 27:46

That's what I was gonna say, very forced. Theoretically, if they had pursued it, they might have been fine, it might have all worked out, but it did feel very uncomfortable to watch that too, because you knew like when he would reach for her hand, and she was just so totally oblivious, and it was just it was painful that he wanted that. And she they had moments where they could actually really communicated, but overall they just weren't on the same wavelength. And I did think it was nice at the end that she said she was going to what was it? Was she freeze her eggs? Was that what she was going to do? Something like that, yes. To take the pressure off herself, and I thought that's probably a good thing for her. So I feel like she learned something too from being in the relationship, but it was definitely not gonna work out.

Christina 28:33

They weren't attracted to each other, no, they and so there was no chemistry, but then they both agreed and they're like, We both want to have a family. So that's when and it was sweet too, because then after the fact, he was like, You did look really beautiful in that dress. I'm like, You are the sweetest, you're so sweet.

Sara 28:52

You're such a green flag, right? We're fanning ourselves, right? Okay, so before we move on, I think we should talk about Sakido-san, right? They call themselves drinking buddies, and she is popped up in each episode. She's his sounding board, and she comes to the curry restaurant and kind of I feel like she's playing the role of the girlfriend whisperer. She's okay, this is what happened to you. And after this episode, Mukai, he gets his shoes wet or something, and then she's out walking and breaks her heel. And so there's the end of the episode where they're both walking in borrowed shoes. It was so cute.

Christina 29:33

It's so cute. I and I love when we met her in the beginning, too, of because they both didn't, they weren't friends, and so they met each other, and so they weren't close in the beginning, but I loved, and this is one of my favorite parts of this drama, is the progression of them. Oh, we're actually like actually we're friends, and then later it's oh, you actually mean a lot to me. We're friends, and we don't we hang out all the time, and we because in the beginning it was just, hey, you're my drinking buddy, let me tell you about what's happening with my relationships. And she's okay, and so she's very blunt and honest. But it I love her.

Sara 30:13

I did too. I loved her character. She was, and part of it I think was that she was very honest with him from the beginning, and she would tell him, Oh, basically, you didn't have a chance with this girl. And he was painful for him to hear, but she's very honest with it.

Christina 30:28

He gets, I love him. He has this grumpy face when he doesn't like what he hears, and he's just okay, stop. And it's just like a face of disgust. It's so funny. I thought that was so funny.

Sara 30:41

I did too. So as we're going through all these things, he's going to her and saying, This is what happened, and she's telling him this is why she wasn't that into you, and letting you giving her giving him the inside story. And also, the other theme that's been running through the whole series is his girlfriend from 10 years ago. Even in the first episode, he's thinking about her and he can't figure out why they broke up. He thinks it's there's one reason, but he meets up with her again in episodes five, six, and seven in Mi Miwako, right? Say Miwako, yeah. Yeah. They meet at a reunion, the school reunion, and he hasn't seen her for 10 years. It's just very, it's one of those kind of things where it's awkward, but there they have all this history, and they end up kind of meeting each other again over the course of a couple of days several times, and they fall back into this comfortable relationship that they had before. When I think of her, I think of that scene where she's coming into the restaurant and they play that really like music that's I guess it's supposed to be sexy music, but I just you know what I'm talking about.

Christina 31:51

I don't remember that. I do notice the music though, because in K dramas they have it to a T.

Speaker 1 32:01

Yeah.

Christina 32:02

With how they're very it's uh I was like, oh, what is this? Oh, okay. This is okay, great.

Sara 32:07

Yeah, it's not quite the same as having an OSD from a K drama.

Christina 32:12

Yeah, I did notice that. Yeah, yeah.

Sara 32:14

So what did you think about her? About the ex-girlfriend.

Christina 32:18

I actually really liked her. I thought she, all the other ones, because all the other ones, I was like, no, no. Yeah, you you almost knew right away that wasn't a player, right? Yeah, no, and you just see that they had so much history, and because of those flashbacks with her and Mu Kai, you're like, okay, there's gonna be some meaning. And so you see, and she right away invites him to her apartment. I love the inner dialogue here because you you see how it's he has grown a lot because it's already we've already seen three girls, and now this is the fourth one, but he has history with her, so he was like, Oh, yeah, she's changed a lot. Oh, she's she changed into her PJs. Okay, but I'm in my regular clothes and this and that. And so it was just it was comfortable, and it was comfortable for both of them. And before we find out what ends up happening with her and her reasoning, it was I enjoyed it. I really I thought that was I just wanted him to be happy at this point, and he seemed happy, and she was really sweet, and they had that that con what was it? The I don't even know the name of the concert that they love, the band. Oh, I can't remember like the thieves or something. That's kind of reconnected, yes. Yes, and it was just sweet, and it was she had him come over and it wasn't like she didn't make it weird or anything.

Sara 33:44

When she invites him back to watch the concert that he missed or something because they both like that band. Yeah, and he she says, make yourself comfortable and goes into the bathroom. And he has that moment where he's oh my gosh, what'd she mean? He's and he's he overthinks everything, which I love about him because I do that too. So it's very I identify with that, and he's freaking out, and then she comes out of the bathroom and she's got her headband on and her glasses, and she's taking off her makeup and put on her PJs, and he's like, She's in her PJs, she's like, Okay, we're good. This is nothing romantic, which I thought that was hilarious. But they do have a really nice, comfortable rapport, like with the food, he would bring food and they would eat food, and they enjoyed a lot of the same things. And I wrote down a quote maybe you're just lonely for somebody who shares half your memories, and that's really true. If you've spent time with someone, you have a history with them, it's easy to slip back into that relationship. Yeah.

Christina 34:36

And it was comfortable, and then when we find out, because he it's he needs something and he finds like a shaver. So yeah, in our perspective, like after oh, something's off a little bit, we're like, oh, and then he's oh, who's is this? Oh, it was my ex-boyfriend. Oh, when did you break up? Three months ago. Oh, how long? We were together for five years. So then he just like puts on the brakes and he was like, Oh my god, am I rebound? What is she trying to do? What is my role here? What is my role here? Yeah. And so he and so I thought with all of that, I thought that's what was happening. She was still in love with her ex-boyfriend. But what we find out, right, is that she has always longed to just be independent. And there was a whole with her dad, too, of saying, Oh, they need this is this, you need to do this, you need to do this. And she's I want to prove him wrong. I don't want to do any of that stuff. So we see here and there during their little relationship of her admiring. I don't really remember. Maybe you remember when she was admiring some woman, a woman that was climbed a mountain.

Sara 35:45

Oh, yeah, I think that was her aunt who was not married, and she was like, I want to show my dad that you know that you don't have to be married to be happy. So all of that was wrapped up in why she didn't want to stay with Mukai and also why she broke up with her boyfriend. And then once she realized that, it's it's like, oh, because he thought it was his fault. Somehow he had done something wrong. And so it really wasn't him at all. But he had made it into such a big thing in his own mind that it had stopped him, I think, from going. And I'm wondering if maybe that's why he didn't date for so long, because he didn't know what the cause of the relationship breakup was.

Christina 36:24

And he kept thinking about her at all times as well. So he was like, I don't want to put other women in this situation as well, because he just took it personally. And then during all of this that was happening, I feel like with Sakaido, our drinking buddy, their relationship shifted too. They were getting closer during these times, Mu Kai and Sakkaido. And then this was the first time, like Sakaido was like, Oh, yeah, I can't see him as much. So I need to not respond, I need to not be at the restaurant, I need to be on the DL because women have a hard time when their boyfriends are besties with another woman. So she was she backs away. Yeah, she backs away. But I have a question. Did you think, because during that moment, I'm like, oh, I think she likes him, but she doesn't know she likes him. Or did you think that or no?

Sara 37:23

I didn't think that until closer to the end. Okay. I thought she was just being um a good friend. Yeah, being perceptive about what was going on. And it I think it really is true that it would be it could feel threatening, right? And then with that, you have the mirror of what was happening with Ginky and the waitress thing. We'll talk about that later. That was crazy.

Christina 37:48

What's happening?

Sara 37:51

So anyway, we'll maybe we'll come back to that. But yeah, so yeah, keep going.

Christina 37:56

Oh, but that's really that was really it with that with his ex-girlfriend and then with Sakaido, too, because he just he really liked her. And I like I liked her too.

Sara 38:11

She was very sweet. I did too. I liked her too as a character. I thought this show was very interesting. The uh almost all the characters really had a lot of depth because it would have been easy to make her like the evil ex. And she really had a heartfelt reason for what she did, and she wasn't doing it to be mean when she broke up with him. So they had a little, they have they kind of get back together, he realizes what's happening. They have a couple of maybe a couple days, a week or two where they're gonna limbo, and then he decides to break it off. And that was a little heartbreaking, you know. When he walks away and his face, he puts his hand over his mouth. I was like, oh, because it really was hard for him to break up. It was like, I remember watching that feeling, oh kind of it got me, and I didn't expect it to.

Christina 38:57

It was, yeah, I agree. Because with all the other times, he never was he would say things for the other three relationships, but this was his first time saying, you know what? I need to put an end to this, you need to focus on yourself, and I don't want this to happen like it happened before because it broke me. It was so heartbreaking to see that.

Sara 39:20

It was, it really was, and I felt like it's very true to life. Like when you break up with somebody that you know that well, and you had thought that there was a chance that it would work out, then it is very heartbreaking.

Speaker 1 39:30

Yeah.

Sara 39:30

So he breaks up with her and puts a definite period to that relationship. And then I thought it was really funny when because when he talks to Sakido, she says, Oh, you were just merely a side character for her. You weren't the maker. Yeah, he was like, Oh, gut punch.

Christina 39:49

With his grumpy face. I love when he does that face. Yeah, yeah, he's so cute. And so after that, at this point, I was like, Sakai just agree with her. It's like, let's go. And but she also had her own things happening because that co that which that actor, that man is very handsome too.

Sara 40:12

He is, but I could not get over his neck veins.

Christina 40:14

Yeah, I did yeah, that's the thing I was like his neck maids.

Sara 40:19

I was like having a hard time watching some of the dialogue because I was like, And I think he's a big deal actor. I think I've seen other dramas. I think he's been around a while. So I think it's one of those things that like you get the character and then you get the kind of the aura from their past roles, you know?

Christina 40:36

Khanda.

Sara 40:37

Kanda. Yeah, Kanda was her boss. And so as we're going along through the story, we hear about her and her boss, and she's in a relationship with him. And so Mukai hears about this, they're talking about, and he gives her some advice too, some relationship advice about that. And yeah, he the boss does not behave well, he's got some issues. He takes her to a gallery opening and introduces her as his girlfriend, and he does a whole bunch of things that are big red flags to me. So, yes, but they're big red flags to me.

Christina 41:09

But they're big red flags. So he was stringing her along the whole show. And then when we find out that he is he knows there's he's the mutual of Mukai, because he knew that was his colleague or his old boss, and so when he sees that, he run, he sees Mukai and Sakaido talking, he runs into them and they're like, Oh, and so he was like, Hey, Sakhaido, yeah, we have a meeting, and then she's okay, oh sorry, bye Mukai. And then the then Kanda goes, Oh, yeah, our meeting's still at three. So he lied, he got jealous. I know he got jealous, and he was never he didn't do anything before. He would talk about oh, that my wife and this and that. Oh, but you're divorced, and then after, yeah, what you said with the museum or the art gallery, and he was like, My girlfriend, and oh, this. And then he flat out tells Mukai, hey, back off, don't talk to her, back off. And he was like, Wait, and I loved that inner dialogue, which I wish he said something. He was like, He is he's not with her, he has no right to tell me that.

Sara 42:18

I know, and that led to a whole little awkward scene because the two workplaces do a collaboration, and there's that funny scene where Mukai is trying not to, he's trying to do the same thing that Sakaido did for him. He's trying to distance himself, but yeah, there were so many things with him that I was like there was just like him lying and then him telling him to back off, and there were just things that I was like, and apparently Sakkaido was fine with the relationship the way it was. She wasn't really looking for a long-term relationship, she didn't want a commitment from him. And when he dropped that out of the blues, this is my girlfriend. Yeah, it was there.

Christina 43:08

Oh my gosh, I was like, snaps for you. That was amazing because she was like, Okay, yeah, we called, I called it off. This we're done.

Sara 43:16

No, yeah. So then you've got both of them, their relationships end, and they go. I think that's when they go to karaoke.

Christina 43:25

Oh my gosh.

Sara 43:26

That's like my favorite scene of this whole show. Maybe second favorite scene.

Christina 43:30

Oh my gosh. I love I know it's still the early, it's early 2026, but uh, can I say that is my favorite scene of 2026? Yay. Oh my goodness. It's my oh I loved it. That was perfect.

Sara 43:46

They go to karaoke because they meet up in the street. Ginky has just closed down the curry restaurant. So he's we let's go to karaoke because it's open. So they go there. She orders this gorgeous Sunday. I've never had a Sunday like that. It's got fruit. Have you?

Christina 44:01

Yeah, no, I haven't.

Sara 44:02

So anyway, so they're sitting there. She orders the Sunday and they talk about relationships. And the Sunday is a metaphor. She's like, I like the top part of the Sunday that's beautiful. And when you get down to the vanilla, it's just mushy cornflakes and plain vanilla. And he's like, That's the whole point of the Sunday is the vanilla. And I just so cute. It was just a perfect metaphor for them because you find out that she's very worried about how people view her and tries to be perfectionist in her exterior. And he is interested in really knowing somebody, really knowing them. And she pushes people away because she doesn't want them to know her that well because she's got some insecurity. So it was just, I thought it was a great metaphor. And I just loved how they were just talking to each other and they were just themselves.

Christina 44:54

And they there was no, it just was all the walls were down. And when she talked about it, she was like, the fruit and it's perfect. I only order this part. And he's like, wait a minute, but this is why you get a Sunday. And it was so cute. And he was like, I could do away. I don't need the fruit. I buy it. The whole reason is for this stuff at the bottom. And that's yeah. And it was just, and it was so sweet. No pun intended, but love puns. No. Um, so I just that was, I'm gonna think about that for a really long time just because that was he was so endearing. It wasn't even him trying to please her. He was like, no, no, no, no, no. You get the Sunday because you get to eat the bottom.

Sara 45:43

Yeah, and it was and it was how he really felt. And in the earlier episodes, she would tell him things and he would be a little taken aback, and he maybe wouldn't argue with her. But I think at this point, he feels comfortable saying, No, this is how I feel. And they have a real dialogue, and then she falls asleep, they stay there late, and then they end up going to breakfast.

Christina 46:04

Did you notice it was like an American diner? Yeah, that was funny. Are you at Denny's? Maybe it's the only place that's open real early. Yeah. No, but that was sweet too because she Sakaido made a comment when she was over at Honda's house of I never do breakfast. I'm never over here, I'm out. And so when, and it was, I loved that scene with Mukai and Sakaido at breakfast because it was just so comfortable. They were thinking, and so she's eating, he's eating, it's just they're just hanging out and they're friends.

Sara 46:42

They're still talking about what they were talking about before and stuff. And Sakaido's thing was that was one way she kept her distance in relationships was she never spent the night. She didn't stay over, she never had breakfast. And when that scene opened, I was like, Oh my goodness, they're having breakfast.

Christina 47:00

And I was like, I know it's I know it's her. I knew I was like, Oh my god, ah, no. But then at the end, though, of that scene, she stops and she's like, Oh my gosh, I'm having breakfast. Wait, what? I'm having breakfast right now. She like she didn't even realize that she was because she's so comfortable. It's the vanilla ice cream with cornflakes. That is the vanilla ice cream with cornflakes. And and he was and he even said it and she was thinking about it. Of he goes, Yeah, but I think you're interesting interesting like this too. So you don't need to hide anything.

Sara 47:34

Yeah, and one of the criticisms that people said about her is that she was too blunt because she would just tell it like she saw it. And he said, He loved her logic and the way she argued her points and stuff. And he basically said, You're insecure, and not in a mean way. He said, You feel insecure, but you don't have reason to be. And I think she was shocked that she had let herself get into a position where she had shown so much of they kept saying, show my true face to someone. And I thought that was an interesting way to phrase it because she was very good at hiding and only showing the perfect side, which that gives her character so much more depth than you realize in the beginning, and explained her beautiful wardrobe. What did you think of her clothes?

Christina 48:20

Okay, she's best dress of 2026. I already have two awards happening. I agree, I agree. She looked adorable, she was so classy, she looked it just so cute. And I my only thing I wish that we saw was maybe seeing her in PJs or something just casual, real casual, because I loved all those scenes and how she was put together, but it would have been wonderful too to just see her relaxed because she's so comfortable with Mu Kai.

Sara 48:53

Yeah, it would have been interesting. Yeah. So I think I I loved all of her outfits. It was interesting. I got to wear it. Each scene would come and be like, oh, what's she wearing today?

Christina 49:02

What's she wearing today? I loved the skirt that was the different fabrics. Oh beautiful. Yeah. What about you?

Sara 49:10

She wore when they went to the temple. Do you remember that? They went to the temple and she was wearing the long skirt. I think it was blue, like a really blue. Yeah, I can't remember the top, but I remember thinking it just looks so pretty and so unusual. They were all very different. Yeah, made sense. She worked in fashion. It was made sense that she would dress up, but then you add in her character and the reason that she always looked so perfect. Her jewelry always looked good. Yeah, yeah.

Christina 49:36

She was and she was my best dress too. I love, I loved her character. And it was wild to see for me. We I felt like we understand these characters, even though it was only 10 episodes. I feel like they did a really great job of letting us get to know them. And even with her, because I know we didn't hear all of her perspective, and I think they did that for a reason. Yeah. Because it was, I was hoping we would get more perspective on her side. But I think there were I think there might there had to have been a reason. But I loved how she is perceived as like confident. She's like, yep, and she's confident and she's independent and she does things her own way. And but then she's worried about the vanilla cornflake ice cream part that scares her. Yeah. But it doesn't fascinating. It's fascinating. And she wasn't, and the diner scene, the Denny's diner scene, that's the cornflakes. That's the ice cream. Yeah. And she's like, Yeah, you didn't realize, honey. You did not realize.

Sara 50:42

You got yourself into that cornflake ice cream situation without even realizing.

Christina 50:47

Now I need to get that. Yeah. Where can I order that?

unknown 50:53

Oh, yeah.

Sara 50:54

So I think it's I think it's at the end of episode eight into nine, the rainbow. Do you remember that? I thought that was such a fun reveal for him that because the other characters, Ginky and Mammy, there's this dialogue in the beginning about he would never send her a picture of a rainbow because she would say, Why are you sending me a picture of the weather? Like she doesn't want that. She's not interested in that. And Ginky realizes that and is okay with that. So Mukai sees a beautiful rainbow. He takes a picture of it, and then he starts to send it to Sakaido. And then he's like, Wait a minute, is she the kind of person who would want a rainbow or not? Which shows how much he's grown. He's thinking about the other person and what they want and everything. And then all of a sudden it hits him that he's thinking about would she like a picture of a rainbow? And it's like falls on him like a ton of bricks. Oh my gosh, why am I thinking this? What's going on? And it's from that point on that we're in the what's going to happen with these two. Because basically, they're really good friends. Are they going to go friends to lovers, or are they just going to it's the debate classic to be stay friends because you have a good friendship?

Christina 52:01

It's a very thin line because you don't want to ruin what you already have, but then you want the other person to know how you feel, and you want to be vulnerable because you're vulnerable as a friend, too. And but I loved too with the rainbow when he was all worried, but then doesn't she send it?

Sara 52:19

Yes, she sends it to him and it pops in and he realizes she's in the same place he is, and you're like, Oh my goodness, this is looking good.

Christina 52:29

I was like, Oh my god, about time. I was so excited. I was so excited. I did watch because I watched this during winter break when I had my holidays, and then I watched episode nine and 10 yesterday because I wanted it to be fresh in my mind. And I was like, Oh my gosh, I was freaking out.

Sara 52:52

I know they did such a good job. Like they're like when he turns, his footfalls are really loud, and he has this look on his face, like, I'm going after this. But then the second guessing hits him, and he spends quite a bit of time in the next couple episodes or next episode and a half going back and forth and thinking, like, if I ask her and she says no, then I've lost a friend. But if she starts dating somebody, I might lose her anyway, because men and women, they're a whole dance of not being too close to somebody who's of the opposite sex. So he's like, I'm gonna lose her anyway. Should I take the risk? And it's like he's just going around and around and he's spiraling.

Christina 53:29

Yes. And then it's cool too, because in episode one and two, when he is, I need to be in a relationship, I need to be in a relationship, I need to get my life going. He was like, Oh, but what is love? Like, do I really need that in my life? No, I don't. And so then we see him here at the end actually freaking out because he has feelings for Sakido. He, it's just, oh my gosh, my heart, and oh my gosh, she's right next to me. And oh, is she feeling this way? I don't know, and you see the whole thing, and you're just like, I told you so, buddy. You didn't think this would happen, but here we are.

Sara 54:03

Yeah, and it's it felt very natural, like it felt it was so organic. Yeah, I love that part too. And so then they do this work collaboration and they're together a lot, and he is thinking about what is marriage, and that theme has been basically throughout the whole show. I think the first time I watched it, I got a little impatient with all of the the it doesn't have to be like everybody expects because there's a lot about expectations and labels that people put on each other, and I got a little impatient with that. I think I just wanted to get to the story, and this time I was like a little more because you knew what was going on, yeah, yeah. And so they were like really exploring what is marriage, what is relationship and all that? It was interesting. I think maybe they did a little too much of it to kind of explode things down, I feel like.

Christina 54:53

Yeah, I agree. Did you also enjoy it better the second time because you knew what was going to happen? Okay, okay. I did.

Sara 55:02

I did, yeah. But it was fun to rewatch it knowing, okay, here's the moment and some things I hadn't noticed before, I noticed again. Yeah. So what do you want to talk about about the end? So he declares himself and then it gets cold feet and leaves.

Christina 55:18

Yes. Okay, so yeah, so he's about so are we talking about the last scene right now?

unknown 55:23

Yeah.

Christina 55:23

What do we do at the end? Yeah. Okay, because he I know that he does his confession and then the show ends. And so I am so proud of him because he was like almost in tears of saying and being vulnerable, saying how he feels. And he's just, I really I think about it and I need you in my life. I don't see it, it scares me if, and the same thing happens with her because when when the curry west restaurant was going to shut down, it was like, oh my gosh, what is our relationship? Are we not gonna see each other? Because that was our sole foundation was this curry restaurant. But that was also an excuse because they were hanging out outside, but I don't think they realized they were realizing. And so, but then but then when he finally confessed right outside those doors, and he was just, I didn't know if it was a cultural thing because I know when he said I liked you, or there was another scene, someone said I like you, and I think it was maybe mommy and Genki, and she said thank you. And so I and I know uh Sakai Sakhaido, she also after his confession, she said thank you, and then they ended it. Um, I he smiled so big.

Sara 56:43

I was the first time I watched, I was like, Okay, this is where we are. So, yeah, for me, I thought that I wrote down his confession. He said, for the longest time, I didn't know what I wanted or what I wanted to do, but now when I close my eyes, I envision you and I want to meet you face and I want to meet you face to face. I like you. And I was like, that's such a beautiful confession. And I think for her, it was I think she wasn't as far along in realizing that she liked him as he was. And she didn't, she went to the restaurant because she wanted to see him. She didn't want their relationship to end. It was like, I like you, but I need some time, was basically the so I to me, I felt like it was a happy ending that they were gonna that their relationship would continue. I know some people didn't like it. I saw in the comments that some people didn't like the open-endedness of it.

Christina 57:38

For me, I was a little taken aback just because I was hoping the whole time after he confessed, I wanted what we got from all the other women is their perspective of each situation. So I was hoping that would have been really cool. And even if, and I thought that she liked him when and maybe that was just me. Maybe I thought that she liked him. Like I wanted her to like him. He liked her, he rude for her. And so I was like, let's go. During the ex-girlfriend part, when he was, she was like, I miss him, and yeah, I'm not gonna, I'm gonna stand off. I thought that was also respecting him, but I also was like, maybe she has feelings for him. But I think I totally missed I draw I missed that, missed the mark on that one, and so I was hoping for when he confessed, we would see like her perspective because I was like, she has to like him more than she leads on. But then I think because the whole show is about Munkai, they ended it and they wanted it to not show her perspective, and it was just solely him and her reaction. And so I was I just I was hoping for more, but she seemed open to it, she didn't run away.

Sara 58:58

Yeah, they go in, they have curry, and I thought if they just keep doing what they're doing, they're going to continue to be closer. And I did look this up, it's been a while. The first time I watched it after it was over, I looked it up. I was like, are they making a season two of this? Because I didn't find anything that they did, but I did find it was based on, I think it was based on a web tune, and I think people said it followed it pretty closely. And the web tune, or I can't remember if it was a web tune or something else, but it had several different series. So I was like, maybe they just did the first series and maybe someday they'll do another, or we know how things like that go. So maybe they were trying to leave more story. I don't know. But for me, I was like, okay, I feel like I could see them being together in the future. I but Japanese dramas, the it's much more reserved. The relationships are much more reserved, and they're not as passionate as some K dramas when they declare their love. And yes, there's I don't think there's as many kissing scenes and stuff. So it's much more low-key and understated.

Christina 1:00:06

I feel like with from what I've seen from the show, it's very matter-of-fact. So he just said what he said, which I still thought was really sweet, but it was very matter of fact. Oh, I see you, I want to hang out with you, I want to be with you, I want to meet you face to face. Hey, I like you. So it was just like, oh, okay, thank you. And so she just said thank you, which is very sweet. So I was like thinking, like, if so, you know how in in western uh western shows, like if someone says, I love you, and then you say thank you, it's a little awkward. So maybe that's where the cultural part I get, I'm was a little confused. But seeing it a second time though, Sarah, did you like the ending a little bit more? I did.

Sara 1:00:57

Yeah, I did. And I think because I knew that was going to be the end. And so I really watched it. I was like, okay, I feel like she it was she was just not ready to have a great declaration of love. And really, he didn't say I love you, he said I like you. And I feel like that's like the first stage step. And then, yeah, and it and I feel like it they would get there, it would just take a while. And maybe someday we'll get a season two. Maybe I need to go find that webtoon.

Christina 1:01:24

Yes, and it reminds me of I don't know if you saw it, but I really there was two seasons of it, and I think it was also a webtoon. It was Yumi Cells, it has these little cartoon cells in her brain, but it reminded me of this show because she's going through life and all of the awkwardness. There is, there's all these different morals that she has, and so she is she is in a relationship on again, off again. She learns to speak up. So I feel like that it rem, I was thinking about it. I was like, that reminds me of Yumi Cells, but Moon Kai Koon, that would be great to have a season two because they did open it, it was so open-ended.

Sara 1:02:08

The other characters, I feel like the other characters were very rich as well. So you could continue on with them as well, maybe bring in some new characters to see what happens. Yeah, I would love to see more.

Christina 1:02:18

Yes. And lastly, for Moon, I love with Moon Kai with all the relationships he had. We saw his, we heard his inner dialogue the whole time. But what I found so special at the last episode and that the last scene where he confesses her his love to her, we don't hear that inner dialogue. He stops, he doesn't say anything, or we don't hear him thinking. Right. He turns around and he just says it. And I thought that was really cool that they did that.

Sara 1:02:47

Yeah, I didn't notice that. That is cool. Yeah, like maybe he's not going to think it, he's going to say it.

Christina 1:02:53

He's just gonna do it. Yeah. Because he really he feels strongly about it. You didn't have to overthink it anymore.

Sara 1:02:59

Yeah. Let's talk about real quickly, because I've been going on a long time. But Ginky and Mom mommy, tell me what you thought about these two characters.

Christina 1:03:09

They're sweet. Genki, Genki and Mommy, cute. He's cute. I feel like, yes, I know that they love each other and they're very different. Opposites attract, right? Total opposites. Yes, total opposites. But I felt that mom, I just didn't understand her thinking of everything. And I think because maybe because it was 10 episodes and they didn't focus on it, there was a lot of gray areas. So I didn't understand her shortness, her, even though it wasn't attitude, it sometimes sounded like attitude. Oh, you like me, but he's doing he was doing all the right things. He's very low-key and really just goes with the flow. And he's I do this, but I need to support my wife and this and that. And they got married, but she wanted to divorce and then they ended up together.

Sara 1:04:02

I uh I know it was the first time I watched it, I was like, I don't get this character. So when I rewatched it on the rewatch, I feel like I understood her character more. And I almost feel like it was a statement that they were trying to make. I feel like they I feel like I was getting beat over the head by the you don't have to be married to be a couple. And I feel like that was part of her thing, was she didn't like the responsibilities that came for him with being a husband because he was felt like that he needed to make enough money that they could buy a house and all this stuff. And she was like, Don't overextend yourself, don't you don't have to do these things for me, even though society expects them. And she didn't like that that was impacting their relationship. But I mean, these are all things that maybe you should talk about before you get married. Exactly.

Christina 1:04:51

That's the thing. I was like, wait, I get it, but also you should have mentioned that before.

Sara 1:04:56

Maybe covered that before, yeah. But I thought she was a very interesting character. And on the rewatch, I was like, okay, she's not as horrible as I thought in the beginning. Yeah, she's very off-hooding as a character, but I think she's maybe one of the most interesting characters I've watched in a long time because I couldn't figure her out for a while. And there was a logic there, like there was for his ex-girlfriend, and they spent so much time talking about marriage and the role of marriage and what expectations are. And there was one line about with a piece of paper, you're in this most intimate relationship. A piece of paper can make you into this most intimate relationship in your life. Yeah. And so they talked about all these different aspects of marriage and the different ways you can have relationships. But the thing that was missing to me for and this is maybe probably my cultural background, because to me, a marriage is a sacred promise, and you can't just break it, even though it's a piece of paper, it's more than that, you know.

Christina 1:05:57

So I was waiting for that in that. And it was so fast. It was so fast. I was like, wait, wait, you're done? There, there is she was like, We're divorced. I was like, Oh, okay, what? Yeah.

Sara 1:06:09

Yeah. And then along with that whole thing, you had the weird waitress, volunteer waitress story. Key, that could have been done. Like, we didn't need that. Yes. Yes. And she was just a troublemaker. I was like, why are you doing this? You're just a troublemaker. So I guess every show needs an antagonist. And they were like, let's throw her in.

Christina 1:06:26

Yeah. I was like, wait, we're good with what we have too. And yeah. I think because now that looking back, we had the mommy, the sister, her character of saying, Oh, you we don't need to be married to be in a relationship. And then we had the ex-girlfriend who was like, I can just not be in a relationship and still live my life and have a fulfilling life, right? Be satisfied, yeah. Yeah, and be satisfied and happy. And then we have the woman, the one that was the one night stand. And she was like, Okay, we need to get married, we need to do this, we need to do that. But then at the end, she realizes, oh, it could be on my time. I want all these things. I could still have those things, but I can do it later because I can still live my life. So all of those stereotypes were talked about in the show, yeah, which I really liked.

Sara 1:07:15

Yeah. And I feel like with the um When I Stan, she really wanted a child more than she wanted to be married. Yeah. I think they were showing all these different ways that you can live. And maybe that's why they didn't have them like totally get together at the end. They wanted to keep it like because he, I think really he wanted companionship and knowing someone. And that was what he really wanted. Because that question is asked over and over again what do you want? What do you really want? And if you don't know what you want and you don't know what the other person wants, then it's your relationship is gonna be difficult, right? And there's just no way around it.

Christina 1:07:51

Absolutely, too. And with Moon Kai, too, after he did that confession, it it was sweet because it wasn't like he was he just he let her know his feelings, and he really hasn't done that before. And it was his first time of I like spending time with you, I like you, but uh okay, and you know what? That I just wanted to let you know that. And she was like, Okay, thanks, let's go inside. And so it was so sweet to see him be respectful and just okay, I did that.

Sara 1:08:22

Yeah, he did it. And then the other thing was he really debated telling her not just because it might end their relationship, because he said it was a burden to the other person to tell them because then it requires a response.

Christina 1:08:32

And I was like, Aw, it's grown up, yes, and it's so attractive.

unknown 1:08:37

I was like, great.

Christina 1:08:40

But then when he did that, he I think that was the whole point of the end then, because he said, We don't we don't want the other person to feel burdened, and so she said thank you, and they moved on, and it's her time to think about it, but they can still have their friendship, yeah, and still be close and everything.

Sara 1:09:01

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, yeah. So I want to read a quote. I always put down too many quotes because it helps me remember some of the things from the show. But when they were talking, when Mu Kai talks to Ginky about maybe declaring his feelings, he says he doesn't want to. And Ginky says, falling in love with your best friend is the best. It's like the latest oven microwave combo. It grills to steams and fries. I was like, it's multifunctional, it's all we want. That was so cute. It was, and I did love their relationship, brother-in-law, yeah, brother-in-law.

Christina 1:09:36

It was so fun, it was so cute.

Sara 1:09:38

Yeah, there were a lot of really fun moments between those two.

Christina 1:09:43

They were so cute, and he his brother-in-law saw him go to the restaurant, and after hearing about all the different relationships, and then seeing the food being it's so cool to see how because in K dramas, I feel like food is such a center component. Yes, and so I we saw the food, but it wasn't as big, and they had their curry, but it was cool when he did show the curry on different things, like when the Sakaido and the ex-girlfriend meet. That was really cool.

Sara 1:10:16

Of course, and then he was like, Brother-in-law, are you coming in? Brother-in-law, are you coming in the restaurant?

Christina 1:10:25

Great.

Sara 1:10:26

There were a couple of moments that in my notes I just put down worlds collide because it was like that moment when they're all in the curry place and he walks in and it's his Sakaido and his ex-girlfriend, and he's like, Oh my gosh. And then in the moment when Sakido and Mukaikun are having coffee or something, and Kondo sees them, and it's like everything is oh my gosh, all our worlds are crossing, and it's gonna be a turning point here from here on. Those are some of my favorite moments. It's so good. But anyway, okay, so that's like a long list of everything that happened. Anything else you want to talk about or anything you want to discuss?

Christina 1:11:03

No, I think we covered it all. I think we did, yeah. No, I every little part, it was as a first J drama. I'm so happy it was this one. Thank you for recommending it to me. And it was really refreshing to see, and it was quick and but also meaningful. I loved some of the quotes and seeing him battle with, you know, he's like, Oh, I feel like I'm older and I need to be in a relationship. But then with all these girls, it was completely different. And then when he sees he's with Sakido and he's like, Wait, she's the best one. I'm comfortable, I'm myself, because he was not himself in the beginning with a lot of them.

Sara 1:11:49

He just was like kind of going with yeah, going along, or he wasn't getting what he wanted from the relationship, and he was not saying anything because he didn't want it to end.

Christina 1:12:02

Yeah, and I feel like with this show, even though it was a little bit lighter, but with something in the rain and one spring night, I feel like because those shows really deal with a lot of different stereotypes and the stigma of because I remember in Something in the Rain, we have a 35-year-old living at home. You know, she is trying to live her life and try to be independent, but she doesn't know how. And then in one spring night, you see a single father as the male lead and stuff. And so it's a big thing. And so I felt like this was really cool for me to see in J drama or in the Japanese culture of them playing, like letting us know about one of the characters is not comfortable with marriage, and then another one, she wants to be independent, and then another one she wants to have kids, she wants to have everything, but she has no nobody to share her life with, and then you see Munkai trying to juggle all of it. No, and it's oh my gosh. So that I see some similarities, and just I and I love the wording. Like, my favorite was the ice cream scene with the fruit. That was beautiful, beautiful. I know because I don't know. It's like you want someone who you're comfortable with. He was like, but that's the best part. I know what you're saying. He was like, I know you're saying Sakido, but this is the best part.

Sara 1:13:28

Yeah, yeah. I just love that. And part of it was the how it all came together in the end with the Sunday and like really understanding the characters and then the rainbow and how that tied into the beginning. And the other thing I noticed that there were so many rainbows or color spectrums in his office. He they had the t-shirts that were always up. I loved it, they were all the different colors, and then he had the little book that had all the colors in it that he would look through. And I was like, This is so cool. Like you start looking for stuff like that, and you or you just noticed it, I guess.

Christina 1:13:57

Yes, I noticed that too. It was just oh so sweet. Well done. I thought it was well done. Oh, and I love when they would go to the temple together too, in different areas, and that was really loved that because I did see that when I was in Japan and how and there's different little pockets, they would have little temples and they would pay their respects and they did it together, which I thought was really sweet as friends. Yeah, they and it was cute because it was never talked about, it was just that they did it, and I thought, I'm like, oh my gosh, they're friends, they're really friends, and so it was very comfortable to see. So I just I really enjoyed it. I really did, Sarah.

Sara 1:14:40

Because I asked you to watch it and then like we didn't chat for a little bit, and I was like, Oh, I hope she likes it. I think she'll like it. You know, those things like when you invite somebody to you know, and you're like, I hope they like the food.

Christina 1:14:54

No, I got a little busy, and so you're I remember I texted you, you were like, Dot, you're like, Do you like it?

unknown 1:15:01

Like, yes.

Christina 1:15:02

Like if we just ate it, we can Yeah, we don't need to do it. No, I was I wanted to watch it and it was really refreshing. So it was really sweet to see you just root for these characters, and it was what I loved was that it was so short compared to K-dramas. It was so short that you felt like you knew the care all of them, and there is not any sides there, there's none of that in this. Do you know what I mean? Because in K dramas there's focused, yeah.

Sara 1:15:32

This is our story, we're gonna tell our story, and we're gonna get it done. And I felt like it was very satisfying, even though the ending I could have I would have liked more, but I was happy with the way it ended. I was like, okay, I feel like that they're in a good place. But yeah, I'm just so glad you watched it and enjoyed it, and we could talk about it because I watched these things and I was like, There's not as many people watching J Dramas. Does anybody watch Mookai?

Christina 1:15:55

Now you could text me and be like, Christina, watch this, and I will be like, I got you, Sarah.

Sara 1:16:01

Good to know. Same thing, same thing. All right, I guess we should wrap up because that's I think we've covered it all. Except one thing I was gonna say the mom is a standout mom in K-dramas. Sometimes the moms are like the worst, and she was one of the best moms I've seen in a long time.

Christina 1:16:18

Sweetly, she was so sweet. And I felt like with mommy, the sister, she got a lot of her personality from her. And so with mommy, you're like, oh, she's indifferent. No, she really truly cares. They just you see it differently because when the dad comes, you see the mom, she's like just there, she doesn't show affection, she's oh hi to her husband. But it was the same as mommy and Genki.

Sara 1:16:45

Did you notice that? It was, yeah. I didn't notice it, but I do I agree. And I thought with mommy, it was she was definitely an active service type person because she would always like when they were out of something, she would be bringing more milk or whatever. She would do things for people, she wasn't demonstrative, but yeah, but anyway. Okay, that's it. I think we're calling it. Time's up. Time's up. So tell everybody where they can find your podcast.

Christina 1:17:12

All right. So you can listen to your girls K Drama podcast. You can do Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. And we also have an Instagram, and that is your girl underscore kdrama pod. And we usually post once a week. So check it out if you're interested. Thank you.

Sara 1:17:30

Yeah, perfect. Yeah, I'll have those links in the show notes. And if you enjoyed this episode, please take a minute to write or review the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. That will help K Drama fans find it. And I'll see you next time. Bye.