“See You In My 19th Life” Dodges A Messy Romantic Conflict And Reveals Questionable Priorities In Episode Three
Spoiler Alert
After initial fears that See You In My 19th Life may fall into predictable and played-out patterns of many romantic K-Dramas, episodes 3 and 4 go about familiar K-Drama storylines in a refreshing way, keeping each scene interesting and the viewer consistently and hilariously wondering, “What on earth is Ban Ji Eum going to do next?!”
Episode 3 taps into viewers’ emotions as it explores the tragedies of the characters in more depth. While some scenes may evoke tears, others will keep viewers laughing and, at times, hilariously questioning Ban Ji Eum’s often eccentric behavior.
The episode shows solid development of the main and supporting characters’ personalities, and even if a character has a limited amount of screen time, the writers and actors do a great job of bringing them to life.
There was one thing about this episode that was difficult to process. Since discovering that Yoon Cho Won (portrayed by actress Ha Yoon Kyung) is Ban Ji Eum’s younger sister from her 18th life, it’s been hard to believe that Ban Ji Eum (portrayed by Shin Hye Sun) wasn’t more interested in reconnecting with her.
Ban Ji Eum’s main priority from childhood had been reuniting with Moon Seo Ha (portrayed by Ahn Bo Hyun), leaving her younger sister to become more of an afterthought until mid-way through episode 3, when Ban Ji Eum reconnects with her over drinks.
While this currently leaves us curious about Ban Ji Eum’s questionable priorities, her complex relationships with figures from her past lives are explored more in episode 4, offering a sympathetic view into her character’s many reincarnations.
Scenes throughout episode three lead viewers to believe that Yoon Cho Won also had her eyes set on Moon Seo Ha, and it looked like the characters were heading straight for a messy love triangle, with the two sisters fighting for the same guy. It came as a huge relief when Yoon Cho Won instead confessed that she had feelings for Moon Seo Ha’s best friend and secretary, Ha Do Yoon (portrayed by Ahn Dong Goo).
It will be interesting to see the direction Ha Do Yoon’s character goes, as it’s revealed he is being used as a middleman by Moon Seo Ha’s father and the MI Hotel CEO, as they plot to remove Moon Seo Ha from his position at the hotel.
The constant question of where Ha Do Yoon’s loyalties lie is an intriguing twist that adds a needed complexity to his friendship with Moon Seo Ha.
Episode three confirms our initial suspicions that Ban Ji Eum’s accident in her 18th life was not quite an accident after she reveals she was instantly reincarnated into her 19th life, which is not normal. She shares that it usually only happens when her previous life is cut short, and she suspects that she may have been murdered. This lends an additional mystery to the storyline that will leave viewers eager to crack the case.
When revelations such as her potential murder are revealed, the show doesn’t linger on it for long. Hence, viewers need to pay close attention because there’s a lot that can be missed and many references to small moments in past episodes that shed light on the direction of the characters and plot.
As the complicated relationship between the two main characters develops, the actors’ performances continue to impress.
Shin Hye Sun effortlessly infuses charm into her quirky and peculiar character, Ban Ji Eum, making her irresistibly likable. Actor Ahn Bo Hyun shines by slowly bringing to the surface the emotions his character Moon Seo Ha has spent years repressing, which has transformed the character from closed-off in the first episode to subtly vulnerable as he spends more time with Ban Ji Eum.
The chemistry of the main leads is apparent, and it’s entertaining to watch them comedically play off each other as their characters seem to have opposite instincts in most situations.
One hilarious moment of episode 3 was the epic return of Subway product placement, which briefly became the main character with three interior shots and one lingering shot of the restaurant’s exterior. Is it really a K-Drama if there isn’t at least one scene in a Subway?
Overall, the show’s plot remains easy to follow, even as more of Ban Ji Eum’s past lives are introduced, and figures from her 18th life weave their way into her 19th.
The episode sets up conflict in a way that is easily digestible while creating intrigue, and we continue to eagerly await what happens next.
Check out the review of the show’s pilot in the article below:
“See You In My 19th Life” Is A Standout… For The First 30 Minutes, At Least
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