From the very first episode until the very last episode, I Need Romance remained consistent for me. It was consistently different and elegantly presented. Focusing on the lives, loves, and friendship of three women in their thirties living in Korea, INR packed a lot of interesting issues to ponder into each 45-minute episode. For me, all of the characters felt real, and their reactions and relationships were relatable for me. I found myself going been-there-done-that a few times, and even situations that were never first-hand for me, I could empathesize with these fictional people because they reacted like real people would.
I wrote a first impressions review of INR, but never fully loved this drama enough to elect to recap it. The sixteen episodes were so breezy I didn’t feel like undertaking the pen-to-paper recap tedium for this drama. I would have never even written this final piece had the ending for this drama not been so divisive. I actually see both point of views, but was curious to see WHY others felt the way they do about In Young’s decision. Did you hate the ending? Found it realistic and honest? And does your opinion stem from personal experience? I would love to hear people share some thoughts on romance, marriage, cheating, reconciliation and forgiveness with me. Spoilers about the ending after the jump, so you’ve been warned.
The ending finds In Young choosing, in an honest, straightforward, and decent way (as she has been all drama long) between Seung Hyun, her new boyfriend, staying single for the time being, and in the end, giving her ten-year relationship with her ex-boyfriend Sung Soo another chance. In Young doesn’t actually choose between the two men, she looks at all her choices and says yay or nay to each individually and separately.
So she looks at Seung Hyun first, a good man who genuinely does love her as she loves him, and sees a future fraught with class struggled that might dog her every step of the way. Yes, she can work towards being accepted by Seung Hyun’s uppercrust friends and family, and but it’s still a tough uphill climb. She doesn’t want that. Between love and preserving her dignity and self-respect, she chooses the latter. She doesn’t want to take that chance with Seung Hyun. She’s a Cinderella who says no to the palace because she’ll be living in a gilded cage.
With respect to Sung Soo, who spent the beginning of the drama cheating on her, feeling bad but not really, rationalizing everything and nothing, and only in the end genuinely understanding the depth and breadth of what he lost with In Young, he comes clean with her father about his misdeeds towards In Young and begs for forgiveness. From her father. On his knees. Completely sincere and without any excuse. He explains why (he was young and immature and selfish), but he asks for the full brunt of her father’s anger towards him.
In Young hears this, sees this, and takes it into consideration. In the end, seeing Sung Soo outside her house, standing next to that very light pole where they first kissed, she runs into his arms and takes him back. Without any demands or anymore anger, she wants to take another chance with him. It might work out, or it might. But that is her choice.
Between a new love faced with the perils of class disdain and an old love faced with the possibility of retread, she goes for Sung Soo. Because she has never ever stopped loving him, even when she fell in love with Seung Hyun. In Young’s journey strikes me as so modern and real, because love is not a one-track road, and feelings have multiple avenues to flower and grow.
I don’t know how I would have chosen had I been In Young. Sung Soo cheating on her before multiple times doesn’t mean he’ll do it again. Seung Hyun having never cheated on her doesn’t mean he won’t if he’s with In Young for ten years like Sung Soo was. Both guys come with the risk it will fail in the long term for various reasons, cheating included, but also bitterness stemming from familial pressures and societal mores. I think In Young chose to take the risk with Sung Soo because he was the one she truly loved with all her heart. Since both choices have its incipient risk, Sung Soo was the one she wanted to take that risk with.
I like Seung Hyun a lot, his personality was truly sincere and charming. I found Sung Soo to be funny and endearing, full of so many flaws and weaknesses, but ultimately he felt like a real person. I don’t think relationships are ever black and white, and it’s impossible to guess the future. I think In Young went with a combination of her heart and her head. Had Seung Hyun not come with so much family and wealth baggage, she would have chosen him, because she loved him. But she didn’t love him enough to accept the weighted package. She looked back at Sung Soo and saw the man she loved for ten years and never stopped loving, and decided to take a chance with him. I’m not sure her choice is wrong, but it’s definitely the unpopular one.
What does make me totally perplexed is how the drama threw in some curve balls at the end. After Sung Soo and In Young get engaged, the drama alludes to Sung Soo once again being stirred when meeting a pretty and intriguing girl, AND it also alludes to In Young’s heart thumping for another man who might find her attractive. I’m not sure what the drama was getting at, other than trying to show that people will always be tempted. Recall that In Young was already attracted to Seung Hyun even when she was still dating Sung Soo early on in the drama, so she’s naturally going to be moved when situations arise. But she flashes her ring and says she’s taken.
So we’re left with a drama that was surprisingly winning and interesting, executed deftly with really wonderful directorial flourishes that added immense joy to watch, but ultimately the takeway felt so……limp. The ending was so practical and realistic that it didn’t deliver the drama catharsis we seek from our entertainment, the feeling of fist-pumping joy or gut-wrenching sadness. Instead, the drama seemed to say to us all “this is how life works, suckers”.
Did you like the ending or hated it? Care to share why? I think a person’s relationship history might strongly color what they think about this ending. For example, it would be fascinating for me to hear that a youngster hated the ending but a woman with a long relationship history may have loved it. INR is not a story about romance in the abstract, but a story about romance grounded in the frustration of the realistic. I appreciated taking the journey with In Young and her friends, but ultimately this is not a drama I’m going to have a hard time letting go.
Finally, this drama really was such a visual treat to watch, and for that, I’ll always remember it fondly. Have some screencaps from episode 16 for the road.
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love the ending..^^
I thoroughly enjoyed the finale because In Young made a choice based on logic. She found her core and knew that life with Sung Soo would be a lot smoother for her than a fairytale ending with Seung Hyun. I feel the icing on the cake was SS confessing to IY's father in the most sincere possible way and his willingness to bare the brunt of father's rath so that IY could be free to have a relationship with SH (who he didn't know was no longer an option for her by her own choice). The ending was just reality kicking in as we can be in love yet feel physically attracted to another person. One does not exclude the other.
Hello!
Oh~ Here is my place :D
I hated the ending, honestly. I wish I hadn't watch it.
I can accept that ''he cheated and wouldn't do it again'' but I couldn't accept his whole attitude about what he did.
Instead of feeling sorry from the moment he did it, instead of trying his best to be forgotten, and show her that he really deserves a second...ehm... another chance, he did what?what??????
He told her that he sees her as a little sister, he actually made a relationship with Kang Hee, then he wished for her that SH will hurt her more than he did (!!!!!!!!!!) , so she can be back to him and he ''asked'' for her to ''cheat'' twice so they can be even.
This is not how you feel truly sorry for someone.
He smirked from arrogance when her knees bent , and he did it each time IY was favoring him, or he was ''winning'' against SH.
Isn't a terrible bastard or not?
The fact that he was there for her, and act like a friend, says NOTHING to me. Of course he loved her as a human, but that doesn't mean that she should be involved romantically with him.. AGAIN!!!!
If IY couldn't end with SH *sobs* , she should - at least - stay alone from the time being...
I was really dissapointed by the end. For all the girls.
I though the whole thing is about ''maturing'' and the progress that each individual makes in their relationships and love.
SY, ended .. alone? I know that her attitude was always that way, but it was supposed to be matured through the whole series. If not, what was the reason of her role to exist? Just to sleep around with the hotties?
(Photographer, you are my dream man, you know it? *faints*)
The Ex-Virgin? Ok, she ended up with Duk-Soo. Yes, the one who SLAPPED her.
Totally agree with you!!!
I totally agree with you, just like kdcrazy before me. :)
Yes he cheating and was wrong, and I do agree that he could have showed a little bit more regret, but like he said at the end to her father, he always just assumed she would be there. And he was smirking at those times, not derisively at her but at the fact that she still loves him, like she's trying to deny it. He wish SH would hurt her more but then when he thinks she's getting hurt, he tries to help her. It was an empty wish and we see through out that he's willing to send her to another guy if that would make her happier.
And he says the cheat twice thing but never once stands by it. He says a lot of empty words in anger and you keep talking about them despite the fact that he continually contradicts them in his actions.
And by the way, SH stepped back from the relationship as well. Realizing the issues with class distinctions.
And with SY, this wasnt necessarily a show about people maturing, but about people. She was successful and sleeping around before and the same happened after, what exactly was wrong with her life by the end that she needed to mature?
And with Duk soo...can't say anything. I agree. They just played off that slap like it didnt happen. Messed up.
Once a cheater will always be a cheater!!!
I wish that the drama will take Fierce Wife (TW drama) route... or Queen of Reversal... (KR drama)
But yeah, I supposed SungSoo is the "safer choice"
bohooohooo.. I want Season 2 ! ^^
Koala, thanks for the recap. I loved this series,because it was such a great change from typical rom-coms.(and the music!) But, I saw where it was headed. Been there, done that, but married. He cheated after five years and we reconciled. When it happened at 10 years, I knew it was the end. Serial cheater, but a great date! So, I dated him after the divorce!
Thought the ending was realistic. In Young is really immature. She's all excited about getting engaged, like a 22 yr old. Her relationship with Sung Soo has not moved forward and I'm glad they didn't hit us with a wedding. (Maybe they're planning a season 2) I too loved Seung Hyun. (If In Young gets tired of Sung Soo, she can put on the ring and get on the plane.)
Thought the writing was good, cast was good, and loved their friendship. In the end, it all comes down to love and support of friends. And, oh yes "this is how life works, suckers."
Thanks for posting this... I always enjoy your point of view.
Ok... I love INR. I love it because it is very realistic. This drama is beautifully filmed. I enjoyed the way the PD uses of color and the screen capture on some important moment.. I found it interesting. I really enjoyed the cast and each and every characters.
About the ending... I am ok with the ending.. I don't love it.. but I accept it. The ending is very realistic and I could see why In Young's decision at the end. As for me, I would probably do the same thing even though I love SH to pieces.. Let me talk about the men.. I love SH's character and the actor who played him.. He is sweet, handsome, rich and good nature and most importantly he truly loves IY... I can't tell you how much I enjoyed the last moment they spent together in a jazz club(?).. how he just presented the ring and the open ticket.... how he just wanted to stay close to her just for one night... he has probably already known that she would never use the ticket.. he knew that this time probably the last time they would spend together... it broke my heart... I applause Choi Jin Hyuk's effort for bring SH to live and made me love SH so much. No matter how perfect SH seems. His family demand is nothing to be desired. If I were in IY's position, I would have say 'no' to him as well... i understand in order to make a relationship works, it takes fair amount of compromising.. but totally turn into some other person.. it's just no possible. If IY would have take the big step with SH.. eventually, I don't think they would last long....
Now SS, I don't hate him... I know of tons of people has wandering eyes.. men and woman... and when a couple in a relationship for too long.. cheating is not uncommon.. It hit home for me.. not me but my sister... my sister spent her 20s dating this guy with nice background.. he is tall, decent looking and good to her. During 8 years of dating.. my sister suspected that he has been cheating... but chose to ignore it.. and get back together after he apologies etc. her reason is that.. we have been together for so long and I know he eventually wanted to be with me. she also told me that she really loves him that's why she took him back... they ended broken up because of one incident.. and my sister was heartbroken for a long time... because of my sister.. i never wanted to be with someone who cheats.. IY and SS situation is a little bit different they truly love each other.. for my sister's case, her bf had already fallen out of love..... and I do love the fact that SS told the truth about their relationship and admit his mistake in front of IY's parents. I think he redeem himself... and I have no doubt that his feeling for SS is real...
For me at the end, i would prefer IY stays single and get back to the dating pool and stay friends with SS.... they might ended up together again or not... that's what I would prefer to see... but I agree with the ending.. satisfy.. but not love... and for my SH.. I would forever has a soft spots for him.. i will take him.. but not his family.
Thanks for your post , your thoughts and the beautiful stills .
As you said , I believe that everyone reacts with his own background towards cheating men .
I liked a lot that drama since I watched the last episodes raw and I am not disappointed by the very last scenes . Why not , by the way , choosing this solution ? It was very believable , that's what matters for me .
I really liked the ending.
And when Sung Soo and In Young met the too people at the end that made their hearts stir, I took it as a small joke from the writers.
Sung Soo was flattered that the girl called him "good looking", and In Young was the same way when her childhood friend said she'd grown up nicely. But then they BOTH immediately admitted to the two people that they were seeing someone they'd been with for ten years, and apologized to the people they were meeting.
The people they were meeting both looked at them funny because they weren't insinuated any romantic interest at all. LOL.
I thought it was funny. To me it seemed like both characters learned a valuable lesson.
i had been having a looming feeling since this show started . honestly i haven't watched the ending yet because no one is subbing this ( AGDJKCDK###dhkjds ) but i never felt that In Young truly loved Seung Hyun , she was just driven by her hurt and in need of another man to make her feel good and confident about herself , i never liked the way she ALWAYS compared Seung Hyun and Sung Soo - and honestly if a man cheats on you two times and you yet get engaged to him maybe you just want to wallow in the misery and secretly enjoy the drama . I wished she had come to a conclussion where she chose to be by herself and rediscover all the good things that got lost in those ten years she wasted with Sung Soo . lol maybe because i'm not in my thirties yet i can't understand the dilemmas of thirty year old women . i wish we had more photographer guy and model woman ( who's name i can never remember . they were fun . )
go to dramafever.com for the subbed episode
i live in europe . dramafever discriminates againsts us and refuses to play . lol
This is what I do, I watch it raw on youtube and read Kaedejun.wordpress.com recaps ^^
i am a grandmother and was in a marriage for 27 years....married to a "cheater" took him back and attempted to start over but to be honest starting over is 10 times harder than you think.....TRUST.....is the issue....and unfortunately will always be the issue in a scarred relationship...sometimes its just too much of an issue....no matter how sorry he is or how much you want to believe in him it just isn't enough! My deal breaker for me was that i got breast cancer during this time of reconciliation and i decided to think about ME not anything else..for the first time in my life ..i came first.....i don't regret my decisions and am very happy with my choices ....i am a survivor!!!
More power to you!
Yes, once lost, trust is difficult to regain. I've found that it's possible to forgive, but forgetting not so. And more to the point, I've found forgiving to be much easier accomplished when I've not had to brace myself against being betrayed again.
I liked the ending and for the reasons you've mentioned already. It's an honest ending, not a fairytale. People like to think the fairytale is all there is to life but that's not true. Far from it.
As to why I feel this way? This didn't happen to me but I had front row seats to this same scenario. My sister had and went through this same issue, tho a bit different, it was ultimately a choice of her husband of 8 years (they were separated at this time) or the new man. She went back to her husband. They have a stronger relationship but not because of the cheating and whatever other issues there were. It was because they realized that they almost lost something extremely precious.
The ending was honest and she was honest to herself the entire way through. I liked the whole drama and enjoyed the ending.