I’m opening this thread in case some of you want to join @GB in discussing this. I might join you later.
Note: This isn’t that Chinese drama with ShiYi and ZhouSheng Chen.
Here’s the synopsis from viki:
Pyo In Sook (Ahn Eun Jin) is an obstinate and almost emotionless woman who has just been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Although she has just months left to live, she feels nothing, even though she is about to come face-to-face with her own mortality. She is receiving care at a hospice, where she meets two other women with very different lives: The first is Seong Mi Do (Joy) is a highly popular social media influencer whose life has also been turned upside down by a terminal illness diagnosis. And the other is Kang Se Yeon (Kang Ye Won), a housewife with bags of responsibilities and who is tired of being taken for granted. She has a distinct feeling that nobody has ever given her any respect – and now she too has been told terminal illness will soon claim her life.
Into the mix comes Min Woo Cheon (Kim Kyung Nam), a meticulous, elite contract killer. Although he is one of the nation’s most deadly hitmen, he never intended to live his life this way and his cool exterior covers deep sadness. The three women have decided to end the lives of one person each who has done them wrong before their time runs out. But their friendship starts to mellow them. And when Pyo In Sook and Min Woo Cheon start developing feelings for one another, a massive rethink could be in the pipelines…
“The One and Only” is a 2021 South Korean drama series that was directed by Oh Hyun Jong.
Tissues are probably needed for this drama.
This is @GrowingBeautifully’s First Impressions on the show. Thanks, @GB!
The One and Only (2021) – a review and first impressions
With Ahn Eun Jin and Kim Kyung Nam as the leads, and a host of other good actors. This series has aired the first 12 episodes already by the 30 Jan 2022.
Briefly it revolves around young adults, once children who suffered abandonment or trauma, who come in their emptiness to discover what being alive can be in the face of death and murder. The questions of whether it can ever be okay to take a life in order to save a life, and what is the right thing to do, is constantly asked.
I didn’t expect anything from this Show, and I almost gave up during the first half of the first episode, but it got interesting. By the third episode, I was hooked by the complex plot and the leads who are anti-heroes, who may not even survive the series. Ahn Eun Jin and Kim Kyung Nam are totally riveting.
A darker, weightier show than Our Beloved Summer, but not as heart-rending as Just Between Lovers. This Show includes my catnip of traumatised children who grew up and the struggles they face. Part of the theme sounds dark, (murder, dying and hospice life) and there’s much to be sad about, but I found it not at all depressing. It brought together serious investigation, dirty police, found family, unfortunate childhoods and was able to be quirky at times and to elicit hearty chuckles at the most unexpected moments.
I liked how the tropes are used in a fresh way, the unexpected little twists, the organic romance, the well done melodrama. The writing is tight and the plot manages to bring in many complications without causing viewers to lose the thread. Since we are dealing with people who are dying, we get to think about how we are living, what being fully alive might be and get uplifted to see characters who have accepted death, living happily.
I’ve watched 6 episodes so far, and look forward to the next 10.
Gifs from junghaesin’s tumblr
Enjoy the show!
Thanks @pkml3! I’ll maybe take a leaf from your book and think about each episode’s title. This is one of those shows that actually gives titles to every episode. The SK ratings are going down, but that never bothered me.
There will definitely be some tissues needed from time to time, but not at every episode. In fact, I find myself smiling or laughing out loud more often than expected. That I can find the dire situations and the unlooked for reactions/interpretations funny, is testament to the writing being pretty darn good.
Kalispera Ladies!
@GB Unnie, I want to watch this because of the main duo.
I really like our Gom girl and Kyung Nam! I just didn’t have time before, I will try to find now that some shows I am watching are coming into an end. It is on Viki if you are interested!
My Agapimeni Cleo! What great news! I am able to get access to this Show, but I don’t have time to keep watching at the moment, since I’ve to see to our Lunar New Year preps again. I’ll try to rewatch at the same time as you start watching so we can compare notes like we love to do. When will you have time to watch Episode 1?
To EVERYONE, you are most welcomed to join us here!!
@GB Unnie,
Happy Lunar Year !
I won’t start right away. I have to catch up with “Ghost Doctor” and I have started watching “Signal”, so I am thinking to watch the first episode on Wednesday or Thursday according with what I have to do this week!
I will keep you posted of course! Enjoy your time celebrating!
Thanks @Cleo, we celebrate on and off during the 15 days of new year so I’ll have time in between to catch dramas.
Will you be just going to watch Signal for the first time? I really liked that show. It would be OK for a rewatch too. Enjoy!
@GB,
Yes I have started “Signal” yesterday and I am hooked! Another great show for Rewatch is “Beyond Evil”, but I cannot say if it is everyone’s cup of tea.
I totally understand! Take your time and we shall talk whenever you can! xo
My Agapimeni Doensaeng Cleo, I find that perhaps because of the Lunar New Year, the subbers have stopped subbing. Episode 13 and 14 are still raw. I hope that next week with the end of the series, we’ll get everything subbed, but I’m not sure, since this show is not all that popular.
I still want to watch it until the finale and I like it overall, but the last few episodes do not have the sparkle of the first half. We are in the maintenance phase, trying to keep alive, and trying not to get caught stage, before the ending (which I hope will be an interesting one) so perhaps it’s understandable. I just thought I’d let you know all this as you start or before you start watching this show.
Good news, Episodes 13 and 14 have been subbed!
I don’t imagine many reading BOD are watching this show, but I just found out that “JTBC’s “The One and Only” will be joining KBS’s “Moonshine” in changing its broadcast schedule due to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
Like “Moonshine,” “The One and Only” normally airs on Monday and Tuesday nights. Due to the Olympics, “The One and Only” will not air on Monday, February 7, and will broadcast two episodes in a row on Tuesday, February 8 instead. Episodes 15 and 16 of “The One and Only” will air from 10 p.m. KST on February 8.” – Which explains why I waited in vain even for the raw episodes.
https://www.soompi.com/article/1511503wpp/moonshine-to-air-2-episodes-in-one-night-due-to-2022-winter-olympics
It’s a lo-oo-ong wait until the episodes get subbed!!!
Thanks for the info @GB! I’ve been waiting on when Moonshine will be back. 🙂
You’re welcome @agdr03. 🙂 Is Moonshine a fun, no-stress watch? I think I only managed about 2-3 episodes and decided I had to cut off several shows to have more time and energy.
I’ll have to rewatch the last 2 episodes when they get subbed. Even when watched raw, they were pretty good. There were still unexpected twists, unexpected goodness, justice and everything sort of went the right way. It was a visceral experience, watching others grieve, but also a peaceful experience. It was realistic enough, happy as well as sad, with much to look forward to, and full of hope. I’m glad to have watched this show.
Kalimera my agapimeni @GB,
I haven’t had time to start watching it.
I want to, but I prefer to rest when I have time.
I am glad you liked it that much! Hopefully we will talk about it pretty soon!