This episode felt slower – there were too many flashbacks and things just weren’t progressing very much. It was still an enjoyable and meaningful episode and I can see that the episode was also doing some setting up for the next half of the series.

Things have certainly progressed significantly for our protagonists and it’s not hard to see why Bong Hee is reluctant to sacrifice her current stability and satisfaction to enter into a relationship with Ji Wook. After working so hard to keep her feelings aside, she’s settling well into her job and has built a good relationship with her fellow colleagues. More importantly, she’s reached a stage of emotional stability where she can control her feelings for Ji Wook and does not latch on to him for stability. Ji Wook’s confession throws her into a whirlwind of emotions again and makes her vulnerable once again.

I appreciate how characters in this show talk things out, confess their honest feelings for each other and move ahead, rather than avoid their emotions or worse still run away. In that respect, I really liked the conversation the next morning between Ji Wook and Bong Hee, where Ji Wook asks Bong Hee for the permission to like her, a nice reversal from what happened just a few episodes ago. He looks at her with such warm and puppy-dog sincerity that you really have to wonder how Bong Hee managed to stand firm! Then, he gives his most genuine, sweet smile after confessing his feelings that you can see he’s no longer the emotionally detached man from a few episodes ago. I loved the little touch of weakness after they separate and Ji Wook’s bravado cracks and he tries to catch his breath.

The honest conversations continue as Ji Wook and Bong Hee go on an investigation and Bong Hee shares how she’s tried so hard not to like him. I’m really loving how Ji Wook and Bong Hee’s conversations move so smoothly from heart-felt emotional to fun and teasing. Ji Wook’s feigned broad smile after that was hilarious and I enjoyed how he immediately reminded her that now that it’s work, he has the upper hand and he’s boss! After that exchange, we move swiftly into our investigations where we learn new things about our Chan-Ho and Hyun-Soo duo, including the discovery of this photo:

Who’s the third person in this photo? Those certainly look like happier days between Chan-Ho and Hyun-Soo, so what happened in between then to lead to their current tense and unbalanced relationship where Hyun Soo has the upper hand?

Related to the investigation, I’m not liking how Ji Wook and Mr Bang feel the need to hide everything from Bong Hee, especially since Ji Wook already knows that Hyun Soo has been trying to contact with her. This over-protectiveness does not seem necessary, neither does it seem helpful. Obviously, Hyun Soo beat him to it and arranges to meet Bong Hee to tell her he didn’t actually have an alibi on that day. Hyun Soo is certainly a sharp man as he already saw Mr Bang investigating earlier and therefore ups his game. It’s a risky game he is playing though because that would certainly open him up to suspicion, but one has to wonder what game he’s playing then – is he trying to gain Bong Hee’s trust? Why? What exactly is his bigger game plan and why is Bong Hee such a critical piece in this?

I appreciated too that Yoo Jung finally has a bigger purpose to play in the grand scheme of things, after being assigned by the DA to reinvestigate the death of Hee-joon. I’m still not feeling much for her because I was hoping for more ‘softening’ and growth for her character after we saw some her reach out to Eun Hyuk last week, but she still seems to be stuck and dwelling on the past. Eun Hyuk, on the other hand, continues to win me over with his sweetness and supportiveness for Bong Hee. CEO Byun is certainly a ball of fun and just cracks me up in every scene that he’s in.

With Yoo Jung now part of the investigation and the mounting tension between Hyun Soo and Chan Ho, I’m all ready for the stakes to be raised!

I’m reviewing 6 & 7 together even though both aired on different days because I watched them in one sitting and felt I had a lot to say about both and didn’t want to lump episode 8 into the mix as well.

I’ve seen the term ‘drama crack’ used a lot on dramabeans before to refer to dramas that are just so addictive and enjoyable. I’ve never really experienced that before – perhaps also because of my preference for more intense dramas and the previous lighter dramas failed to really draw me in. Those I tried to watch include Strong Woman Do Bong Soo and Jealousy Incarnate. However, I sense that Suspicious Partner may be my first experience of a ‘drama crack’.

Don’t get me wrong – it’s by no means a perfect drama. I find some of the comedic elements very overdone, especially the unnecessarily wacky sound effects – especially so because Ji Chang Wook and Nam Ji-hyun are perfectly able to convey humour through their acting without the additional embellishments. Take the scene in ep7 of her recapping the night before when the killer was in her office – Nam Ji-hyun’s portrayal of Bong Hee is able to capture that combination of fear and exhilaration so well. That was a very well done scene overall – moving from her fear and anxiety, to humour, to Ji Wook’s bewilderment at her reaction to a more sombre mood as she recounts her pain over the past two years and finally more tender, romantic tone as Ji Wook invites her to his place. The tonal shift is done really well.

I don’t think I’ve met a character so cut off and as lonely as Bong Hee in the kdramas I’ve watched. She has not a single close friend within the drama, no siblings and while she is close to her mum, she lives alone and chooses not to burden her because her mum has grown disappointed in her. Her loneliness makes her strength and courage all the more admirable. I did find it rather odd though that given her will and determination to prove herself, that she didn’t do much within the 2 years time-leap to prove herself. Perhaps she was too caught up in the survival needs of life – needing to first find a job to provide for her mum. She’s ‘stalking’ and leaning onto Ji Wook now because he’s the only person who has really shown her care and protectiveness, but even so, she can’t fully get close to him because she feels so indebted to him, for causing him to lose his job to save her. Also, as he indirectly tells her in the courtroom scene, her stalking behaviour also has negative repercussions on him.

Ji Wook isn’t in very much of a better place himself after the two year leap. He carries himself with a certain limpness in his spirit, without the previous sharpness or strength. It’s evident that being an attorney has sapped his energies, because he’s someone who is a man of honour, who stands on the side of the law and stands up for righteousness. This is also because of his promise to his dad. He has spent two years just going through the motions, lost, yearning to go back to his life as a prosecutor.

While him and Bong Hee running into each other after 2 years in the courtroom is one too many coincidences even for me, I liked how it sparked off a reminder in him of what he used to stand for. Beyond just breaking the monotony of his life, her re-entry into his life brings back in him his sense of protectiveness – something that he has arguably not felt for a long time. He springs into action to protect her, because he realises that leaving her alone for 2 years has not helped. Not that Bong Hee is helpless as a person, but she’s up against much bigger forces that she can fight against. The District Attorney has made it his personal agenda to ensure she fails – the unforgiving media has ensured that her label as the woman who killed her ex-boyfriend can never be erased. Courageous and smart as she may be, she cannot overcome these forces. She may be able to save a woman from her stalker, but that means nothing in light of the bigger picture of her personal circumstances. Hearing her account of her past two years, Ji Wook decides he can’t leave her on her own anymore, that his decision to walk away has not helped and he agrees first to work together with her to find a murderer – which is arguably the first thing in two years that he’s genuinely felt convicted to do.

On his own accord, he even walks up to the District Attorney to confront him about his ‘bullying’ of Bong Hee, unafraid and uncaring about his own reputation. Once again, he puts his career on the line for Bong Hee, but not exactly for her either – more for what she represents to him. I’m liking all the little touches of Ji Wook catching Bong Hee and preventing her from falling further – especially the courtroom scene where he just firmly gripped the chair to prevent it from rolling back – such a gentlemanly, sweet and protective gesture. Her tea may not be able to solve his insomnia, but having her in his life allows him to sleep more peacefully. Perhaps his insomnia stems from a troubled soul that Bong Hee is able to calm, that she fills a void in his life that he never acknowledged or realised.

I’m liking how fast the relationship is progressing and that Ji Wook has moved past denial land and we’re getting our characters confronting their feelings, taking action about it and drawing closer. With Bong Hee moving into Ji Wook’s home, there’s now a more natural, logical setting for them to interact, without having to rely on even more coincidences. Of course in dramaland, things will never be so smooth and we know there will be more farewells between both of them, but as long as these farewells continue to bring our characters to new places, I say bring it on!

Am also loving the 2nd OST song released this week:

It’s a busy period for me now. Only had time to squeeze in the viewing of Ep 5 today, so thought I’d quickly jot down my thoughts on this first! 

This series is coming together really nicely. While I felt Episodes 1 and 2 were a little shaky in terms of tone and flimsy in terms of plot, the pieces are quickly falling in and the sources of tension are piling up to drive the story ahead meaningfully. The problem with some shows is the reliance either only on the romance or on the battle against the villain as the driving force, which results in padding because you can only keep the couple apart for so long, or much back and forth in the storyline because the villain cannot be defeated too early. This is clearly not the case for Suspicious Partner because while the romance is important, we see our leads have their own independent yet equally captivating storyline. The show is currently juggling the different plotlines very well. 

I’m getting increasingly fascinated by the character of Bong Hee. She started off rather stereotypically as the brash and energetic female character who gets rejected and falls into the arms of another man when drunk. However, her inner world has become more interesting as the show progresses. In this episode, we see that while she’s lonely, it’s almost as if she doesn’t want to connect and chooses deliberately to live by herself either because of the fear of connecting or the fear of burdening others. I was wondering why Bong Hee would return immediately to her home, which is the site of Hee Joon’s murder and makes her also an easy victim for the murderer – wouldn’t she at least want to stay with her mum for a while? However, this could reveal her desire not to burden others, even if it means making herself more vulnerable. I really liked the scene between her and Hee Joon’s dad. While I completely resented Hee Joon’s dad’s verbally and almost physically abusive behaviour (such a contrast to the calm and collected hospital director he played in Romantic Doctor), I thought Nam Ji-hyun did a marvellous job of portraying that mix of fear, respect for seniority and courage in standing up to him and refusing to be cowed into confessing to the murder. While her voice and entire being quivered, there was a clear firmness in her eyes and spirit.

We’re only 3 (or 5, depending on how you count) episodes in, but our protagonists are now in very different states from the first episode yet that differences is ironically what makes them so similar and relatable. Both have become increasingly more isolated and cut off from the people around them. Both feel a burden to their parents; both now feel a need to prove themselves, yet both protagonists continue to portray a strong front to those around them and even to each other, only willing to admit their weaknesses when alone. 

Ji Wook now struggles between his attorney role and his constant reminder of his dad’s hopes for him. I loved the scene when he went into frenzied rage and told the rich woman’s son off. However, instead of facing the son, he turns away and it’s almost like a monologue – like that sense of righteousness takes over his being and he loses control of his behaviour. Ji Chang Wook’s manliness has often been associated  more with physical strength, athleticism and heroism in the shows I’ve watched. We’re seeing a different side of it in this show and that is in his assertiveness and moral fibre. He may not be jumping across buildings or taking down villains, but Ji Wook is certainly a man of strong character and that makes him equally admirable and heroic compared to the other more obviously heroic characters he’s played. 

This heroism is not a straightforward one and he vacillates back and forth, especially towards Bong Hee. I loved the scene where he admitted he was worried for her as a mentor but is now no longer worried – yet as he says bye to her and asks her to take care of herself, there’s such tenderness and concern that it’s so evident that he cares for her. This is something that even Hee Joon’s dad can see – that he was so charmed by her that he put his career on the line for her. I get a feeling that Ji Wook will be living in denial land for quite a while but that’s really not an issue because I am interested in seeing both characters grow. 

I continue to enjoy the direction of the show, whether it’s the deft switch of tones from romance to comedy in the scene where Ji Wook bumps into Bong Hee at the site where the knife was found, or the very dreamy glow of the scenes where Bong Hee is looking upon Ji Wook for strength. This show continues to be solid and a delight to watch! 

With a whole slew of new dramas starting this week, Suspicious Partner was the one I was looking forward to the most, because of the wacky teasers and also because I enjoyed Ji Chang Wook’s work so much in Healer and felt he was very shortchanged by how poorly written his character (Kim Je Ha) was in The K2. I was looking forward to this show as a chance for him to shine once again and for him to challenge himself by taking on a new genre. To be fair, romantic comedy isn’t exactly new for him because there were elements of that in Healer and he did well, especially as the awkward bumbling Bong Soo. From that perspective then, Suspicious Partner does a decent enough job in convincing me that Noh Ji Wook is someone whose journey I may eventually become invested and interested in. However, besides that, I did feel that the premiere was a little bland.

Premieres are where the basic world of the show is built, where we get to know the characters and their relationships and we get some insight into what will eventually drive the narrative for the series. To that end, I felt we didn’t get enough of our characters to be interested in their worlds and circumstances. In fact, most of what we learnt about our characters seem to be told to us, rather than shown. For example, we had a whole scene of Ji Wook’s colleagues talking about how he’s the worst prosecutor, but it would have been more meaningful if we had actually seen him as a prosecutor. That would actually then serve as a useful contrast to what’s coming up with him taking on that role for Bong Hee. Nam Ji-hyun’s character, Bong Hee, fares better, but even so, I felt that voiceovers were used far too much to explicitly tell us how she was isolated, cut off from the world, without us actually being drawn into her world of isolation and despair. Several comedic scenes were effective, but dragged on for too long – for example, the so-called ‘morning after’ scene where Bong Hee wakes up but is unsure of what happened the night before, same for the scenes of Bong Hee fumbling her way through dispute resolution efforts. I do like Bong Hee’s spunk and wackiness, but I feel like we’ve seen characters like her before in other dramas.

What I did enjoy about both characters though were their brief moments of connection and their awkwardness around it. At the moment, bickering and putting each other down is their way of connecting. Yet deep down, there’s a connection that Ji Wook recognises more than Bong Hee, but is unaware or perhaps even afraid to express it too explicitly. Both of them are connected by their isolation, and it is that isolation that will eventually drive them together.

While I found the premiere generally bland, there was one scene in particular that won my heart and made me decide that I will follow this show till the end, and that’s the scene where Ji Wook stands up for Bong Hee in front of Hee Joon outside the prosecutor’s office. That scene was such a perfect blend of comedy, romance and drama and there were certainly Bong-Soo vibes as Ji Wook tried to express affection for Hee Joon but couldn’t help mentioning continually that she was dirty – LOL. I loved how Bong Hee cringed and looked upon him with apprehension, yet Ji Wook still persisted in putting on his display of affection for her. What follows them with both of them sitting under the tree with falling petals is so beautifully directed that it makes me look forward to more of these scenes when they eventually get together.

While there was generally little narrative momentum for most of the first episode, the death of Hee Joon cranked up my interest a huge notch and I’m looking forward to what’s going to happen in the next episode.