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[HanCinema's Drama Review] "The Woman who Married Three Times" Episode 34

Here we see "The Woman who Married Three Times" take a vacation from itself. I really can't think of a better way to describe it. For the first time in a really, really long time, Seul-gi spends the entire episode smiling. There's no sense of fear or panic. She's just cute and happy being able to spend time with people who clearly appreciate having her around. Poor Seul-gi really needed this so bad, and it's wonderful that she's able to enjoy herself around people who aren't so pretentious and obsessed with manipulating each other.

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Like Gwang-mo. I love the way this drama has rehabilitated his character from the impulsive, generally obnoxious guy he was at the beginning to man who here is really just heavily focused on the needs of other people. I mean, just look at him in that whole couch scene, massaging Hyeon-soo's feet like it's the most natural thing in the world. He doesn't need to be told to do any of this stuff. Put him in front of a mildly truamatized child and he reacts in the exact lively spirited way she needs that moment. I have no idea whether or not he's consciously trying to pitch himself as husband material for Hyeon-soo, but either way it's working.

By contrast, our more cynical characters have pretty much given up on trying to salvage anything at this point. There's a rather cold negotiation between Eun-soo and her soon to be ex in-laws. It's a conversation that's rife with cold cynicism. Now, granted, it's not like there are any more useful emotions to discuss a family that's about to be broken up. But still. Eun-soo doesn't want that. She just has to accept it beause no better choices are available.

There's a fair amount of time here spent just reflecting on past events. Not with anything so clumsey as flashbacks. Just voiceovers, and a few looks at the scenery while we, with the characters, sit in quiet contemplation of everything that's happened, just hoping vaguely that these crises are all going to work out somehow. I'm just really glad Gwang-mo is around. These events need a guy who's capable of relaxing even when times are tough.

The comparison to Tae-won is fairly unavoidable, the difference being that Tae-won has always been hiding from fights and conflict, hoping that these matters would resolve themselves without his direct decisive interference. Now that this illusion has been shattered, and the man has acknowledged his failures as a father...well, it's hard to say where the situation will go from here. Is he going to get back together with Eun-soo? It's clear that he wants too, but as of yet, I'm not convinced this is a good idea.

Review by William Schwartz

"The Woman who Married Three Times" is directed by Son Jeong-hyeon and written by Kim Su-hyun and features Lee Ji-ah, Uhm Ji-won, Song Chang-eui and Ha Seok-jin.

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