Every new drama is a costly investment for me: an intellectual and emotional investment as well as a time investment. To optimize my investment, I determine my next drama project by forecasting what “wisdom” I can expect to assimilate from the scriptwriter’s perspective on life. That was why I skipped the shows like “Heirs,” “Strong Woman Do Bong Soon,” “Cheese in the Trap,” “Descendants of the Sun,” “Mr. Sunshine,” and “Are You Human, Too?” Since I’m a mean bitch, I didn’t think anything new insight could be gleaned from their writers.

However, after the first 10 minutes of this romcom, I bought into the show’s concept.

Here are my reasons.

1. Clever title

The title was a good hook. I mentioned in my introductory post on this show that I don’t know what the writer meant by “Third Charm.” All I know is, for me, the charm is the third kdrama of Seo Kang Joon. His other two dramas, namely “Cheese in the Trap” and “Are You Human, Too?” failed to interest me but I wouldn’t miss this one. This third show will get my “lucky” attention. Hahaha.

Many English-speaking viewers thought the writer/director was referring to the expression, “Third time’s the charm.” Meaning, if the first two attempts failed, then perhaps success will come on the third try.

The trailer of the show certainly promoted that concept.

Girl: Today marks our first day as a couple (while riding a bus)
Boy: Spring in our 20s (Girl is running happily). Summer when we were 27.
Girl: No matter what others say (Girl kisses guy) all I need is you.
Boy: Fall and winter when we were 32 (bus stop scene). We met like that for the third time. The two of us

However, after watching the first 10 minutes, I realized that no, there could be another interpretation.

Just like in the movie, “10 Things I Hate About You,” both the leads in this drama were listing the things they hated about each other.

Joon-Young (JY) was sitting in the police car with another detective while Lee Young-Jae (YJ) was being lectured by her friend inside the club. The two different scenes were creatively edited together to give the viewers a glimpse of a four-way conversation.

YJ’s friend: On days like this someone should make your heart flutter like crazy. You should have someone you just can’t stop thinking about. I bet you have no one like that.
(Cut to the car)
JY: I do of course. A girl whom I absolute can’t forget. Someone who completely belittled my feelings and used to blow me off all the time.
Friend: My gosh, that’s charming.
JY: Charming? My goodness. You call that charming. (But it did work like a charm on him.) And she had such a bad temper. She had a short fuse and violent tendencies. She might actually have a few stars on her shoulders by now.
(Cut back to the club)
YJ: That’s not everything. He was so clumsy. He had a knack for driving others crazy about it. He can be cute, but that’s about it. I wonder if he can even support himself now.
Friend: No! Cute guys are useless. Men must be manly like this. Arggh!! They must be eager. Cute ones shouldn’t even be allowed to go out after dusk. Seriously they’re a bunch of mean jerks.
(Cut to the car again)
JY: Right? She sounds really mean, doesn’t she?
Friend: Sir, she must’ve scarred (left scars on him) you a lot.
JY: What? What are you talking about? I forgot all about her. I remember absolutely nothing.
Friend: If you don’t remember anything, how are you able to explain everything in such detail? Sir, if you come to my church, there’s a group of people that can heal you.
JY: It’s nothing like that.
Friend: You must be really hurt. Look at look. Your face is so yellow.
JY: I put on BB cream on my face.

And just like in that movie, “10 Things I Hate About You,” JY’s and YJ’s list of complaints wasn’t truly hateful. In fact, these were the “first” charm. In spite of themselves, they were captivated by the other person’s detestable qualities and quirks as if they were spellbound by a charm. The “mean” or “klutzy” behaviors the other person did were the reasons they became endearing.

Moreover, I think the second charm was displayed at the end of this episode when they kissed. Their physical attraction was another charm.

Although JY and YJ denied that the other person was their type, they were physically aware and drawn to each other. Alone with her, JY was remembering the lessons about a kiss that his friend told him. “Her eyes. The ambiance. And the lips’ subtle movements. It has to be sweet and sensual at the same time. And the vibe has to be melancholic. ‘It’s now. Right now.’” Apparently, he wasn’t the only one feeling the heat of the moment because YJ moved in to kiss him. lol. For both of them, their attraction served as the second charm.

The third charm will probably be revealed later on in the show. I’m interested to see it.

2. The music

I believe the instrumental music when they met again inside the club at the stroke of midnight was “Happy Birthday” by a group named Nu’Est. I happened to have this on my playlist so I recognized it.

Happy Birthday
by Nu’est

On a cold winter day,
God has sent an angel on earth for one person
After a long time passed,
That angel who has given so much love,
Had been hurt and shed tears
But the angel still smiled at me

After we loved and were separated for a bit
This is the angel’s first birthday
I can’t be next to you but
Happy birthday, happy birthday
I thank the one who made you be born
Once again, happy birthday

After we loved and were separated for a bit
This is the angel’s first birthday
I can’t be next to you but
Happy birthday, happy birthday
I thank the one who made you be born
Once again, happy birthday

After we loved and were separated for a bit
This is the angel’s first birthday
I can’t be next to you but
Happy birthday, happy birthday
I thank the one who made you be born
Once again, happy birthday

Happy Birthday
I love you so much

Source: kpopviral

As they stared at each other through the confetti, he was narrating, “There are two types of women in this world. A woman that you must, and a woman that you’re better off not meeting. Today, I met the third type of woman. A woman that I never should have met again. That brat.”

This conflict between the background music and his voiceover intrigues me very much.

The background music was about the birth (or existence) of an “angel.” who’d given much love but was hurt in return. The song was greeting her “happy birthday!” because she was born angelic. She was angel because she continued to smile at him although he caused her tears.

Then, just like in the song, YJ smiled at him.

However, in his mind, JY was calling her a name that’s the complete opposite of an angel. She was a brat. Instead of thanking heaven for her existence, he was regretting – or even despising this fateful night that they met again.

Relying solely on JY’s voiceover, we were left with the impression that YJ was a bitch from hell and her smile took on a maniacal aura. But since we all know that in any failed relationships, there are two sides of the story, my curiosity is now piqued. I want to know YJ’s perception of this encounter.

3. Last, the fateful meetings

Not being a great believer of fate, I’m always in search of a kdrama writer or a kdrama that would explain the role of fate in love to me in a convincing way.

I don’t believe in soulmates. I don’t want my husband sticking around for another 35 years with me because the stars aligned and dictated that we were fated couples. To me, that’s bullshit. I view married life as a personal choice and a daily commitment, not a cosmic intervention.

Based on my first impression of the two leads, they might have met by accident the first time, but they consciously searched each other out. It would be interesting to see where the writer is going with notion of fateful encounters.

So, there you go, my quick takes on this romcom. I hope you’ll join me in watching this show.