“Love Actually” (2003) is one of those dramas that didn’t age well but I’m glad that people have finally caught up with my Bitch’s Romantic Standards. I remember leaving the movie theater, mystified by the general public’s outpouring of adoration for the screwed-up vignettes of love relationships.

I’m sorry. But Colin Firth’s handsome face couldn’t sell me on his character’s romance with his non-English-speaking housemaid. Communication is key in any relationship, and those two have a language barrier preventing them from effectively expressing their daily needs, much more their inner thoughts.

When this language barrier is compounded by the couple’s differences in economic class and educational background, and their cerebral acuity, it doesn’t take a psychic to predict this romance fizzling out in a couple of years.

But fangirls of Colin Firth mistook his character’s lust for love and swooned at his grand public declaration of love.

Colin Firth’s love story was just one out of several subplots that I viewed with repugnance. Here are the others:

Screenrant.com Love Actually Couples

Mind you, since I judge all the couples as equally bad, I don’t necessarily agree with the rankings.

That’s the reason I mentally groaned when I saw the episode’s title. I didn’t want kdrama writer to copy the toxicity of the couples in the film, and pass it off as “love, actually.”

In my opinion, the movie tried to normalize the unhealthy infatuation of the male leads for their love interest. Instead of falling in love with the woman’s personality, brains, humor, or character, most of the men in this movie fell in love with the physical beauty of the woman. Then, because the theme of movie asserted that “love is everywhere,” the audience was compelled to view the vignettes as romantic.   Regardless of the unrealistic situations or delusional state of mind of the lover, the movie wanted us to believe that it was all TRUE love.

🤮

I didn’t want our kdrama screenwriter to follow suit. And I’m glad to say that she didn’t. She reversed the tropes.

Let’s me briefly match up the couples the way I view them.

1. Colin and the American Girls

No British girl would date him (for good reason!) so he traveled to Wisconsin, USA where he thought he would be more successful bedding the women.

I say that Colin = NJ. They’re both lonely and looking for a friend.

2. The cheating husband Harry and the long-suffering wife Karen

Two standout performances were delivered by Emma Thompson, who played Karen. First was when Karen confirmed her fears that Harry was cheating on her.

She received a CD of Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” as Christmas gift from Harry. Normally, she would have loved this gift because JM was her favorite singer. But she was expecting him to give her a heart necklace that he was hiding. Unaware that his game was up, Harry quipped that the CD was, “to continue with your emotional education.” Ouch! Yes, she certainly knew both sides now but this was one lesson she didn’t need. Her crying scene was moving.

Second was when Karen let the cat out of the bag.

Karen: Tell me, if you were in my position, what would you do?
Harry: What position is that?
Karen: Imagine your husband bought a gold necklace, and come Christmas gave it to somebody else…
Harry: (realizing she knew) Oh, Karen…
Karen: Would you wait around to find out…

She was interrupted by another mother. The mother said, “Good night!” and without skipping a beat, Karen replied, “Night, night. Happy Christmas!” Then she returned to her talk with Harry.

Karen: Would you wait around to find out if it’s just a necklace, or if it’s sex and a necklace, or if, worst of all, it’s a necklace and love? Would you stay, knowing life would always be a little bit worse? Or would you cut and run?
Harry: Oh, God. I am so in the wrong. The classic fool!
Karen: (breaking up) Yes, but you’ve also made a fool out of me, and you’ve made the life I lead foolish, too!

She saw their children and she immediately put on an ecstatic face, “Darling!!” So yes, because of his actions, she’d have to clown her way through her life, pretending to have one happy family.

To me, Harry and Karen = Yeonsu and Ung back in 2016. Like Karen, Ung didn’t see their breakup coming.

But in the present time, when he had a flashback of their breakup, I thought he looked like Karen all over again. Although they were back together again, his mind would still wander to their breakup. He never understood why Yeonsu broke up with him so in odd moment or two, he’d remember it the incident.

This reminded me of Karen spotting Mia flirt with her husband at the office party. She warned her husband about it when they got home.

Karen: Mia is very pretty.
Harry: Is she?
Karen: You know she is, darling. (lifting an eyebrow) Be careful there.

Similarly, Ung’s intuition told him that there was a lingering problem. But he brushed off those niggling worries as “useless thoughts.” In this sense, he was acting like Karen who ignored something that was bothering her in the hope that it would go away on its own.

3. The best friend Mark and the friend’s new wife Juliet

Mark and Juliet = JiUng and Yeonsu. Chaeran didn’t really have to bring it up because it was obvious.

Chaeran: I saw you two in the editing room a while ago. It reminded me of a movie.
JU: A movie?
Chaeran: “Love Actually.” The part where the guy likes his best friend’s wife.
JU: Not “Love and War.”
Chaeran: In the movie, he ends up confessing his feelings on a sketchbook. And that became the most famous scene. What’s going to be your ending?
JU: I’m not sure. I’m not in a movie. I’m in a documentary. (scoffing)

She was referring to this cue card scene from the movie. (I’ll discuss this scene in a bit.)

Both Mark and JiUng had a secret attraction for their best friends’ girls. Additionally, this secret of attraction of theirs was captured in videos they made of the girl.

In “Love Actually,” Juliet dropped in unannounced at Mark’s home. She came bringing a slice of pie. She wanted to preview her wedding video that he made for them. But Mark said he lost it.

Disbelieving him, she searched his room and found it easily on his shelf. She popped it in the VCR and marveled at his work. Meanwhile, Mark watched her reaction from behind her.

Juliet: Bingo! That’s lovely. Well-done, you. Aww. That’s gorgeous. Thank you so much Mark. This is exactly what I was hoping for…. I look quite pretty….You stayed rather close, didn’t you?….(realizing)…They’re all of me.
Mark: Yeah. Yeah. Yes.

In this episode, Yeonsu also dropped by unexpectedly at JiUng’s editing room. She invited him out for dinner. She was curious to see the footage of the documentary. She actually had a legitimate reason for viewing the film. Her client Soen needed to preapprove the clips before the documentary was released. But she also had a secret reason for wanting to watch the clips. Remember in Ep 6 when she expressed curiosity about the film? She wanted to know if Ung bad-mouthed her. I thought she just wanted to know how Ung felt about her.

Like Juliet, she was amazed by the raw clips.

Yeonsu: This is so cool. I’ve never seen stuff like this before.
JU: There’s really not much to see. I still have a lot of work on.
Yeonsu: It’s fine, I understand. What should I press?

He began playing the video and sat slightly behind her to watch his reaction. Just like Mark in the movie.

Yeonsu watched the introduction, but her eyes were trained on Ung.

Yeonsu: Ung was actually smirking back then. He’s so sly. (smiling at Ung’s face) Honestly, I was a bit worried. Maybe it’s your camera work. I look good in the video.

She sounded like Juliet here. They both praised the best friend/cameraman for showing them in a good light. JiUng smiled wryly. Of course, she would look good in the footages. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right? And in JiUng’s eyes, she was beautiful so he captured her beautiful moments.

Then, the videoclip of the Soen party showed up. Like Juliet again, Yeonsu was impressed with JiUng’s dedication to capturing every single moment.

Yeonsu: (surprised) When did you film this? I didn’t even know you were filming. (inhaling) Oooh. I’m impressed. You’re a great producer, I give you that. You didn’t miss a single moment. (smiling at JiUng) Was I really looking at Ung with that expression? (giggling)

Here are the differences between the movie and the kdrama.

a. In the movie, Juliet realized that Mark was in love with her during their video-watching.

b. In the kdrama, it was the opposite. Yeonsu was so focused on every little detail of Ung that it totally escaped her awareness that JiUng’s camera was largely trained on her.

c. More importantly, this was the moment when it hit JiUng how much Yeonsu was in love with Ung. She couldn’t stop looking at Ung, commenting about him, and smiling at her reaction to him on the screen.

That’s why JiUng ended their video session. He couldn’t stand it anymore.

JU: (standing up, lol) Yeonsu. I’m sorry, but…
Yeonsu: Yes?
JU: I should…
Yeonsu: Oh, right. You must be busy. Sorry. I took up too much of your time. Thanks. I enjoyed the video.
JU: I’ll send you the file via email later.
Yeonsu: Okay. And take good care of your health. And let’s have a meal together with Ung next time.
JU: I don’t think I’ll have time anytime soon.
Yeonsu: Should we meet near your place? At Ung’s restaurant? Or –?
JU: I…(pausing)…I think I need some time.

We know that this had a double meaning. He gave her the impression that he needed time because of his busy work schedule when, in truth, he needed time to get over her.

Yeonsu: Huh?
JU: (repeating) I need some time.
Yeonsu: (smiling) Ah. All right. We can meet when you’re free. I’ll get going. Bye.

I don’t what will happen next episode (Shhhhh. Don’t tell me, please! I’ll find out in due time). But for the time being, I consider JiUng a lot better than Mark. JiUng didn’t cross the line. He didn’t go to Yeonsu’s place and confess his feelings.

As for Yeonsu, she also didn’t cross any lines. She didn’t do the despicable act of kissing JiUng, like that silly Juliet in the movie. Yeah, I heard the fangirls’ defense that Juliet only kissed Mark out of gratitude for liking her.

Also, Yeonsu also made it obvious to JiUng that Ung was never far from her mind. Her behavior in the editing room here was consistent with all their previous encounters. Whenever she was with JiUng, she would invariably bring up Ung into the conversation. That’s because she only saw JiUng as Ung’s best friend. She had nothing to talk about with him except for Ung.

Now, let me move on to the cue cards.

In the movie, Mark showed up at Juliet and his best friend’s house because he just HAD TO get his feelings off his chest. Seriously, this was a jerk move. It was selfish of him to dump his feelings on her, without any regard to the impact his confession would make on his relationship with his best friend, and on Juliet’s marriage to his best friend.

He rang the doorbell. Fortunately for him, Juliet opened the door. (lol. Can you imagine if his best friend had answered the door instead?) He motioned to her to shout that Christmas carolers were at the door so her husband wouldn’t suspect anything. Then, playing “Silent Night” on his boombox, he began showing her the cue cards.

His cue cards read, “Say it’s carol singers. With any luck, by next year. I’ll be going out with one of these girls. (Pictures of sexy women) But for now, let me say. Without hope or agenda. Just because it’s Christmas. And at Christmas you tell the truth. To me, you are perfect. And my wasted heart will love you. Until you look like this. (Picture of a skeleton) Merry Christmas.

Now, this cue card scene had a corresponding scene in this episode. Can you guess where it was? Did you spot it, too?

It was this scene.

Ung was heading to Yeonsu’s place to drop off some side dishes for them. NJ’s appearance frightened him.

NJ: I was just about to ring the bell. I wasn’t just standing her, so don’t get the wrong idea.
Ung: What are you doing here?
NJ: I didn’t say what I did at the interview for you. I didn’t mean anything by it.

Meaning, he shouldn’t think much of her answer during the interview. She wasn’t at all thinking of his feelings. Of course, we knew that this was lie.

NJ: (continuing) I’m not someone who’d be considerate of others.
Ung: Did you come here to say that? You could have just texted me.
NJ: My phone is… (stopping herself. She couldn’t admit that she hid her phone) Anyway, it’s not what you think. Okay? Go inside then.

Unlike Mark, she was clear with reason for dropping by. Mark said he came without hope or agenda. She, on the other hand, had an agenda: to clarify any false impressions that Ung might have after the interview.

Ung: (showing her the side dishes) I was on my way out.
NJ: Ah. All right.
Ung: Right.
NJ: Oh. I guess I should leave.
Ung: No. You came all the way here. Let me give you some warm tea.

He realized that they’d be together alone in his home.

Ung: Ah Wait. Well. Why don’t I give you a ride. No, that’s not it either.

He couldn’t bring her home either because that was how they got into a scandal last time. He gave her a ride home. If Yeonsu heard about this, she’d get mad.

NJ: So I guess things are awkward between us now.
Ung: (doesn’t answer)
NJ: I won’t visit you randomly like this anymore. Or keep texting or calling you. I wouldn’t want to see my man with another girl either. Especially if it’s someone like me, it’d be quite stressful for her, right? (laugh)

I like how NJ was empathizing with Yeonsu’s perspective. In the movie, Mark could have done the same thing, and considered how he would’ve felt if he was in his best friend’s shoes. Would he have tolerated his best friend meeting with his wife behind his back?

NJ: (continuing) About being friends…No, I’m not going to be friends with you. I don’t make friends with men.

In contrast to Mark who hoped to date other women to forget about Juliet, NJ wasn’t going to substitute Ung in her mind by dating other guys.

NJ: (continuing) I’m the one who’s rejecting you.

On one level, NJ sounded pathetic because she was lying to herself. She knew she was the one who was rejected.

But on another level, I like her “face-saving” action rather than Mark’s really pathetic declaration that his “wasted heart” would love Juliet till death. (I don’t get why he’d love Juliet to death, either. He hardly knew her as they never talked to each other.)

NJ: (continuing) I’ll get going, then. You don’t have to see me off. (turning around) I didn’t really like you that much. Just a little bit. In fact, I may have already forgotten about it. That’s how much.

Note again the contrast between NJ’s and Mark’s confessions. Unlike Mark, NJ didn’t promise to keep Ung in her heart until he grew old and decrepit. Although she probably would remember him for a long time, she wasn’t going to let him to know that. She had pride and she didn’t want to look pathetic.

NJ: (continuing) But I’m telling you just in case. Call me if you break up again.

I like her candor here. Unlike Mark, she stated what she came for. She wasn’t wishy-washy. She’d take Ung if things didn’t work out with him and Yeonsu.

I also like how she paused at the gate, and Ung just smiled from the door.

He was happy to hear her find closure. And UNLIKE Juliet, he didn’t run after NJ to kiss her goodbye.

Now, do you see how the kdrama screenwriter juxtaposed the Mark’s cue cards and NJ’s spoken words? Brilliant, right? To me, the kdrama’s re-interpretation of the cue card scene made NJ’s confession palatable. Although NJ made her feelings known to Ung, she was mindful of Ung’s relationship with Yeonsu, and she didn’t burden him with her feelings.

4. The Coworkers Sarah and Karl

Sarah = Chaeran
But Sarah = Yeonsu

Here’s the backstory. Sarah had been crushing on Karl for a long time, but he seemed clueless about her existence till the office party. They almost hooked up but they were interrupted by a phone call from Sarah’s brother with special needs. And they never got together after that. Sarah was unable to open up with Karl about her family responsibilities.

As we can see, Sarah can be compared simultaneously with both Chaeran and Yeonsu.

If we focus on the unrequited crush, then Sarah and Chaeran were in the same boat. After all these years, JiUng didn’t suspect Chaeran’s real feelings for him. It never entered his head that Chaeran’s unfailing kindness and solicitude for him were more than collegial. In the previous episode, his boss called him a “lost cause” in exasperation.

However, if we shift our attention to how Sarah’s responsibilities were a hindrance to her romance, then it’s easy to recognize the similarities between Sarah and Yeonsu. Yeonsu took her responsibility for her grandmother seriously. They broke up because she couldn’t tell Ung of her difficulties as sole breadwinner of the family and primary guardian of her grandmother.

5. The actors John and Judy

They were the incongruous couple in the movie. They worked as body doubles in the entertainment industry, so they often met in the most awkward of moments: the sex scenes. They saw each other naked and/or in indecent poses.

This couple appealed to me because, despite their sexually-charged work environment, they comported themselves, off-camera, with great decorum and modesty. Reel vs real.

I say John and Judy = Ung and Yeonsu. Why?

Because how they presented themselves on-camera for the documentary was different from how they behaved with each other off-camera. Reel vs real.

6. Colin Firth and his housekeeper or Jamie and Aurelia

I’m sure people would say that they’re like Ung and Yeonsu. But I’ll go with another couple.

Colin Firth and Aurelia = Yeonsu’s Bestie and Ung’s Manager

The bestie treated the manager as her hired help. He turned off the lights for her. He was her errand boy. He cleaned the clams.

Bestie: What are you doing here?
Manager: See? You completely forgot.
Bestie: Did you bring them inside?
Manager: I was going to ignore the package, but I decided to be nice. You almost killed all the clams because you were preoccupied with your date.

The sight of him cleaning the clams reminded me of the scene when the housekeeper jumped into the lake to save Colin Firth’s manuscript. She grumbled that he had better produce something as good as Shakespeare’s manuscript.

7. The performer Billy Mack and his manager Joe

Billy and Joe = Ung and his manager

This represents platonic love in the movie. Since Christmas Day was a day to spend with loved ones, Billy decided to spend it with the one person who stuck with him through thick or thin, he’s manager.

Just like Ung’s manager.

He stuck with Ung through his “dark years.” Also, if he practiced 50 times with Ung on how to throw water and salt at Yeonsu, then it probably meant that he had to play the role of Yeonsu and was on the receiving end of the water and salt many times. Lol.

That scene in the beginning when he saw Ung and Yeonsu embracing in public made me laugh. This moment alluded to the scene when Hugh Grant, playing the Prime Minister, was caught kissing a staff member behind the curtains.

The movie version:

The kdrama version:

Yeonsu: What do we do about him?
Ung: I’ll take care of it. Go to work.
Yeonsu: What will you do?
Ung: Is there a brick anywhere?
Yeonsu: Take care of this quietly so there’s no fuss.

Lol. He was joking that he’d do a gangster move. he’d knock out his manager with a brick, either killing him or giving him amnesia. And Yeonsu ordered him to resolve it quietly…like she was the gangster’s boss.

Manager: What was that?
Ung: It just happened.
Manager: “It just happened?”
Ung: Don’t overreact.
Manager: Wait, since when? How long has it been? So you didn’t let me come to your house because…No. Forget all that. Who knows about this? Does JiUng know?
Ung: (nodding head)
Manager: Then what about Soli?
Ung: She probably knows.
Manager: What about your parents?
Ung: They know. But is that important?
Manager: I’m so disappointed. I’m very disappointed. How could you not tell only me? How could you?
Ung: Are you crying?
Manager: How could you do this to me? (running away)

To me, the director and writer were poking fun at the over-the-top reaction of  spectators. The manager thought his world was collapsing just because Ung didn’t update him on his love life.

8. Stepfather Daniel and his stepson Sam

Yes, many critics of the show would rank this love relationship high on the list. Both stepfather and stepson lost the woman they loved the most in their life. Daniel became a widower while Sam became motherless. They had nobody to lean on except each other during their grieving period. Although their story wasn’t a romantic love like the other subplots, this is one of the relationships where “love, actually” existed.

Daniel and Sam = Ung and his parents

I like how Ung returned to the family’s restaurant as cashier after the documentary was finished. He really was an integral part of the restaurant business.

I also like Ung’s love-hate relationship with cabbages. Remember in Episode 1 when he dodged the task of carrying in the cabbages? In this episode, he noticed that his father ordered a lot of cabbages and was told that it was kimchi-making season. Suddenly, he was feeling under the weather and begged off work.

Ung: I should go home and rest.
Dad: Oh, all right. Get some rest. And come back tomorrow. The cabbage arrives tomorrow.

Lol. His father was onto him.

Ung: Jeez. Are you making kimchi for the entire neighborhood? It’s about time we stopped making so much. And sell some of your restaurants. If you keep going like this, you’re bound to fail.

He was a filial son. He wasn’t too worried about the business as he was about his parents’ health.

Dad: What are you talking about? Business is thriving right now.

The publicity from the documentary undoubtedly bought in more customers to the store.

Ung: What will you do with all that money? Will you take it all with you?
Dad: Like you told me to do, I’ll make a life for myself. (teasingly) Don’t worry Ung. I’ll take every single cent with me.
Ung: Mom. Do you agree? Who do you think should get the inheritance?
Mom: Well, I doubt it’ll go to you.
Ung: Huh? What? I’m the only inheritor. How can you not know?

Ung was keeping it secret that he already knew about his adoption.

Mom: I think we can trust Yeonsu to take care of our fortune though.
Dad: Right! Yeonsu will do a much better job than you.
Mom: That’s right.
Ung: You’re so harsh. You mean you like Yeonsu more than me?
Mom and Dad: Yes.
Ung: What do we do now? Yeonsu likes me.

Mom: (addressing Ung’s dad) I can’t believe what I just heard.
Dad: I heard it too. That was a close call; I nearly puked on my son’s face.

Two things:

a. In this brief interaction, we can catch a glimpse of Ung and his parents’ loving relationship, just like that of the stepfather and stepson’s relationship in the movie.

b. His parents have observed the change in Ung, too. He’d become cheesy.

9. Hugh Grant aka David the Prime Minister and Natalie the secretary

I’m saving the worst for the last. Ha! Since David and Natalie’s romance was the high point of the movie, I’ve no choice but compare it with Ung and Yeonsu’s romance.

Remember what I said in the beginning about how annoyed I was about the movie’s attempt to pass off unhealthy obsession and pass them off as true love? I consider D&N’s romance wrong on several fronts:

a. He was fixated on her boobs.

b. She was fixated on her boobs. If I were his Chief of Staff, I would have told her that displaying the cleavage was strictly not part of her job description.

Compare the necklines of the female staff members. Notice anything?

She was dressed unprofessionally. How could I trust her with state secrets when she couldn’t keep her cleavage secret?

I dream of a world when women don’t have to use boobs to get a leg up. 😂

And that little red bow tie was so tacky. 🙄

c. The power dynamics was grossly skewed. He was the Prime Minister; she was his secretary.

Two words: Clinton’s Lewinsky.

d. He should have asked her to find out if the American President was harassing her, instead of summarily dismissing her. Way to be supportive of his lady love!

e. Making a public spectacle isn’t romantic; having an intimate moment is.

“Love Actually” was produced at a time when writers and viewers mistook grand gestures of love for romance. So when David and Natalie were caught kissing behind the curtains or when Natalie jumped on him at the airport to welcome him home, people swooned.

Yeonsu’s assistant drilled this into her, too.

Assistant: And lastly, keep making things romantic. Dating is all about having butterflies.

Thus, she forced a romantic interlude when she was out strolling with Ung.

Yeonsu: (looking around her) This place is practically deserted.
Ung: You’re right. It’s not even that late though.
Yeonsu: How can this place be so empty?

Then she elbowed him against a lamp post, and moved in to kiss him. For all her trouble, though, she received a well-placed smack on the forehead.

hahaha. I like this. The fish-lips and tippy-toes tropes were being made fun of.

Ung: (whacking her forehead)
Yeonsu: Why did you hit me?
Ung: What are you doing, Yeonsu?
Yeonsu: What do you mean?
Ung: What has gotten into you today? What’s this character you’re playing? You’ve been acting weird all day. What are you plotting?

Lol. Ung actually used the word “concept,” as in “what concept (or idea) do you have in mind now?” He thought that she was cosplaying a fictional character from a cartoon. It’s understandable because she dressed up in a coat with oversized collar (like a schoolgirl) then complimented him about his hands. She even apologized when HE messed up her jacket.

Yeonsu: I’m not plotting anything. I was making an effort.
Ung: What effort?
Yeonsu: I’m trying to make this relationship work out.
Ung: What?

She explained that she was making changes to stop fighting like before. It’s noteworthy that both of them were  worried about breaking up, but had different ways of coping. Ung decided to turn a blind eye while Yeonsu decided to turn herself around.

Yeonsu: Can’t you see I’m trying to change so we’ll stop fighting like before?
Ung: Why do you have to do that?
Yeonsu: So that we don’t break up. They say couples who fight and break up often have a higher chance of breaking up again. And that they know each other so well that they have no expectations.
Ung: Who says?
Yeonsu: Dr. Yoo Yeong, human relationship psychologist from Hankook University.
Ung: That person doesn’t know you.
Yeonsu: What?
Ung: There are people like you who are different each time. It feels new. Seeing you always feels new. It feels new even though we met yesterday and again today.

Other couples repeatedly fight and break up because they were committing the same mistakes. But with Yeonsu – because she was continually changing and surprising him – they weren’t fighting over the same mistakes but making NEW mistakes.

Yeonsu: (flattered) That’s not what I mean.
Ung: Look, you’re different again. You’re different from three seconds ago.

She looked adorable here. She was smiling sheepishly.

Yeonsu: Stop.
Ung: I’ve never thought that you were predictable. If that was possible, I would be the one with a Ph.D.
Yeonsu: But still it felt like I was always nagging you, and starting fights with you, so I was trying to stop that.
Ung: (holds her hands) I just like you for who you are. I like that you always have new things to nag about.
Yeonsu: Pffft.

Yeonsu discovered this “paradox” in the previous episode. She accepted the changes in him because she liked him for who he was. Similarly, he welcomed her ever-changing self because he liked her for who she was. They didn’t mind the changes because the essential character remained unchanged.

Ung: But I don’t want you nagging about the same thing twice. Always come up with new things to nag about.
Yeonsu: You mean it? (smiling) I guess I ruined our date.
Ung: We can start over.
Yeonsu: Then we can do what you want now.
Ung: All right. Let’s go.

He chose to go to her bestie’s café and have a simple date night.

Yeonsu: Is this what you wanted to do?
Ung: Yes, I love this the most. Going to a cozy neighborhood pub in the cold weather and chatting all night over some hot stew.
Yeonsu: Me, too. I love this the most too.

There you have it, folks.  In contrast to movie “Love Actually,” this episode shows that love can be found in the mundane. Yeonsu and Ung were more relatable because they were a couple who enjoyed doing simple things together.

Confetti and applause in “Love Actually” were so unnecessary.

Bestie: If you’re going to be here all night with a single dish, at least give the owner a glance.

Lol. The bestie found it uncomfortable being the third wheel in her own restaurant.

Yeonsu: Unnie, this is kind of spicy. Ung-ie can’t eat spicy food.
Ung: Ung-ie is fine. Ung can eat them now since Yeonsu trained him.

At first, it would appear as Yeonsu and Ung were just being extra-sweet with each other. But they were actually poking fun at the “aegyo” done by couples.

Yeonsu started it off by treating him like a kid. She said that “Ung-ie” couldn’t eat spicy food, implying that he was still a “choding” (kid). In kdramas, a guy who can only tolerate bland foods is considered a “choding.” He has the taste buds of a school kid.

Yeonsu was joking that her “Ung-ie” was her cutie wittle boy. 

Then Ung quickly got into the act by doing his baby talk. Like a toddler, he called himself by his first name, “Ung-ie.”

In English, this would be equivalent to “What the hell?” 🤢

Moreover, Ung said that he was “trained” to eat spicy food, implying that Yeonsu had him “whipped.” She controlled him and he would do anything for her. lol.

Ung’s witty response showed that he could handle whatever concept or cosplay that Yeonsu imagined. Naturally, the Bestie was aghast by what she was hearing. She didn’t understand what the two were talking about.

Yeonsu: Should we get something that isn’t spicy?
Ung: Well, then…order what you want.

Here, Yeonsu and Ung reverted to their normal mode – that is, their NEW normal. They were going to be considerate of each other. This was what Ung meant earlier that she could change in three seconds.

Bestie: This is the first time my customers made me want to puke. You’re doing a good job holding it in, Sol-i. You can do it.

Four things:

One, the Bestie’s gag reflex would be repeated by Ung’s dad when Ung said, “What do we do now? Yeonsu likes me.”

His parents winced at his cheesiness. His dad found his remark vomit-inducing.

Two, the Bestie was shocked by all their public display of affection. In reality, however, this was totally a PRIVATE display of affection because only Yeonsu and Ung knew the meaning of their words. It was a private world, and it called to mind what Ung said in the beginning of the episode that dating Yeonsu brought him to an entirely different world from he was used to.

Ung: Dating is like living in a different world. Dating Yeonsu is especially a completely different world for me.

Three, this scene was poking fun at the over-the-top romantic gestures in the original movie, “Love Actually.” I can’t help remembering the proposal scene of Colin Firth to his housekeeper. He had the whole extended family of Aurelia, the whole neighborhood, and the whole café full of strangers in captive audience as he proclaimed in mangled Portuguese, “Beautiful Aurelia, I’ve come here with a view of asking you to marriage me. I know I seems an insane person – because I hardly knows you – but sometimes things are so transparency, they don’t need evidential proof. And I will inhabit here, or you can inhabit with me in England.”

While some people may find that sort of public declaration romantic, I believe that romance blooms best in the privacy of two people, far from the madding crowd.

And four, I’m satisfied with this writer’s version of love, actually.