One Absurd Day
Chan-Young is preparing for a brand new start. Mi-Jo is understandably nervous, downing a glass of water. Chan-Young tells Mi-Jo that she’s the one who should be feeling the most nervous, as she’s just starting out. Mi-Jo agrees and they both take a sip of water.
Mi-Jo and Seon-U meet after their meet and learn that Seon-U is on the verge of turning 40. It’s a nice little inclusion, and one that eventually sees the pair say their goodbyes and prepare to work at the clinic the following day.
Joo-Hee, a character who has been largely absent from the show, approaches Park Hyun-Joon, the chef and owner of the new restaurant. She points out that his closing time is 8pm, which is a stark contrast to the much later time of the previous owners. ..
Jin-Seok is reportedly depressed after learning that Chan-Young plans to give him up. He is nonchalant to his wife and son when he returns home, seeming to suspect something. ..
Mi-Jo picks up Chan-Young on the way home from work and the pair hang out, drinking beer and discussing the coincidences surrounding Seon-U. Although the pair giggle and try to keep things lighthearted, after-hours it becomes clear that Chan-Young is suffering. She stares out her window, sadly, prompting Mi-Jo to show and wrap her arms around her friend, comforting her. ..
Chan-Young is approached again by Jin-Seok, who asks her to reconsider. He also comes with a proposal for her to head off to art school but she’s quick to squash that and throw the papers in the bin. She’s not backing down but Jin-Seok is not making that easy.
The next day, Seon-U shows up at the clinic to work with the other dermatologists. He also has a chat with Mi-Hyun too, who takes a few jabs at Mi-Jo after confirming to him that she’s currently getting a full body check-up before leaving for the US. Mi-jo is not there alone though, given both Joo-hee and Chan-Young are with her.
Joo-Hee and Seon-u head to the new restaurant where they ogle over the new chef. Joo-Hee can’t help watching him, wondering how old he is and whether they’re compatible. However, a young lady shows up whom they believe is tied with the chef in some way. However, Seon-u of all people appears.
Mi-Jo tries to hide herself but her friends both smile warmly at him and encourage the guy to join them. Eventually she caves and lets him join them at the table for food and drinks. Apparently the owner of the restaurant is actually a good friend of his, hence why he’s there. However, Mi-Jo receives a call from her father and is forced to leave. She forgets her phone though, prompting Seon-u to head off and drive her there.
Mi-Jo is already there when Mi-Hyun arrives, and she’s quiet as Mi-Jo’s parents cook them dinner and prepare to hear their daughter’s concerns. Well, Mi-Hyun has actually told her that she’s been getting panic attacks and is taking a break in America for her own health. So her parents offer to come with her – which Mi-Jo is very quick to shoot down.
While on a night out with his sister So-Won, Seon-u learns that she actually ran away to Korea and is now living there.
Seon-U took the KMLE, got a job and settled down to look after his sister. After their mother died, So-Won lost her way and he felt a moral obligation to be her rock. However, she’s still having a hard time making peace with this, not wanting to be part of their family anymore.
Seon-U heads back to the dermatology clinic and speaks with Mi-Jo about his concerns. He echoes all of this, and Mi-Jo admits that she too sometimes feels this way, given that she is adopted. Her reassuring words help to cheer Seon-U up, and he thanks her graciously. ..
Mi-Jo apologizes for calling him an accident as the pair flirt a little over that night with the flowers. That night, Joo-Hee and Chan-Young are waiting for Mi-Jo at her place and tease her about Seon-U. When he rings, they both listen in as Joo-Hee ends up farting. Seon-U immediately thinks its Mi-Jo but he also comments how she didn’t use honorifics with him too.
That night, Seon-U admits to Mi-Jo that he likes her. However, this hangs over them both at work the next day as Seon-U contemplates how he broke the news to her.
Mi-Jo rushes to the hospital, where she finds out that the test results are bad.
Mi-Jo heads straight in to see Jin-Seok, calling him a jerk and promising to kill him. And as we cut forward in time, we see that same funeral again but this time with clarity over who the deceased is. It’s Chan-Young. Mi-Jo and Joo-Hee are both distraught as they mourn the loss of their friend.
The Episode Review
Thirty Nine returns with a solid follow-up, even if it does pull the trigger rather quickly in terms of revealing who the deceased is at the funeral. Personally, I would have liked to see a slight reveal with different characters arriving at the funeral over time, keeping the mystery going and adding an extra element of tension. ..
Chan-Young’s death throws a wrench into the already complicated plot of the show.
There’s not a lot of development with Joo-hee yet, while the main romance between Mi-Jo and Seon-U is still not hitting its stride. I’m trying not to be biased here, especially given how crackling Hyun-Bin and Son Ye-Jin’s chemistry was in Crash Landing, but it’s still early days and hopefully they grow into their roles over time. ..
The best scenes in this episode are those that involve the trio of ladies when they’re riffing or joking about. Their chemistry is so much more effective and enjoyable than the interactions with the men. That hug Mi-Jo gave Chan-Young at night is arguably the best moment of the whole episode.
The ending of this story leaves much to be desired, but it’s also possible that next week’s story will take a different turn.
