Watching this episode made me realize how much these Korean romcoms could influence what we expect and value in our personal relationships when we’re not careful to draw the line between fantasy and reality.

Take this Episode 6 for example. The main takeaway here for me is that grand romantic gestures demonstrate true love.

From start to finish, MaSung performed heroic feats to show that he’s head-over-heels in love with GgiBeum.

First, there was that public display of affection in a society ball…because of course, nothing redeems the status of a social reject faster than a long smooch from the Most Coveted Bachelor.

Next, he would drive three-long hours just to stroll down the street with her. He had been supervising an all-important tour of his future world-class senior retirement home. She texted to arrange a meeting and vrooommm! He arrived faster than my Fed-Ex delivery guy.

Then, no expense is spared. He bought her a table by the window in a café for her private use only. (Actually, this isn’t such a bad idea. I’d love to have a window seat reserved for me at our local ice cream shack but I can already imagine how pissed off the moms with babies and toddlers would be with me! lol.)

I’m sure he even ordered the servers to call him whenever she went in.

Last, he subjected himself to a live TV variety show in order to divert viewers from GgiBbeum’s disastrous TV appearance. He deliberately tried to knock her off the top of the search list.

If a viewer isn’t critically discerning or if the viewer is emotionally unstable, this show can definitely instill a warped sense of love.

However, I do understand the appeal of the show.  Despite how unrealistic and clichéd the show is, its essential optimism doesn’t fail to hook me in. GgiBbeum represents the down-on-her-luck good girl and we can identify with her struggles. We cheer for her over-the-top hero because right now, he’s about the only good thing she has on her side to help overcome the obstacles.

That’s why the title is beginning to make sense now. I had first thought that it referred to GgiBbeum. According to her father, she was named joy for a purpose. Given the way she would torment, bedevil and plague Masung, and impinge on his memory, she was like HIS “devilish joy.”

But now, I see how the title could refer to Masung, too. In her harsh and gloomy world, he gives her happiness — but not without first messing around with her, provoking her to anger, and goading her just to see her cute side.

He is her “diabolical happiness” as well.