[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Bubble Gum" Episode 14

I finished this episode of "Bubble Gum" at a bit of a loss. Where is this drama even going anymore? I had to blink a few times wondering, was that the end? Are we done now? Because it really doesn't seem like there's anything left to do anymore. Ri-hwan and Haeng-ah are together. Seon-yeong's dementia appears to have kind of made her accept this I think? Also I'm still not totally sure who that fourth person is that they went to the beach with and there's only two episodes left.

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As for what the drama has left in terms of conflict, it looks like we're going to be focusing on the subplots, I guess. Now that Tae-hee's attempts at trying to find a love interest aside from Ji-hoon have failed, what we're left wondering is, can Ji-hoon convince Tae-hee that maybe he's not a completely useless and pathetic drunk? Isn't that what love is, admitting you're useless and pathetic in order to get back the woman you love? I'm not really sure that's how it works but I guess I'll have to humor the idea for a bit.

Meanwhile, Se-yeong and Joon-soo run into a problem that's to be expected with a woman Se-yeong's age dating someone as young as Joon-soo. No, not the question of kids. Se-yeong is old enough and embedded enough in her career that it's pretty clear this is a choice she's already made. Instead, the conflict ends up becoming...is this a pairing worth showing off to the folks back home? Eh, that's kind of slight too although I guess it will have to do.

What about the second leads? Well, Seok-joon gets involved in bromance. I guess that works. And I-seul meets a man who is possibly not a complete jerk. Considering I-seul's horrible luck in the past I'm having difficulty believing this could possibly work out. I figure this guy must have some sort of horrible flaw that he was willing to listen to I-seul's story without at least sulking or something.

Wherever I look in "Bubble Gum" it's the same problem. There's all these plot points that are kind of sort of potentially interesting but they don't really hold up very well to closer analysis. At best this episode is sort of cute, and at worst it's pointless. I suppose the situation could be worse. Concievably "Bubble Gum" could be making a push toward being actively frustrating. As it, I'm just kind of indifferent, mainly appreciating the fact that things could definitely be worse.

Review by William Schwartz

"Bubble Gum" is directed by Kim Byeong-soo, written by Lee Mi-na-I and features Lee Dong-wook, Jung Ryeo-won, Lee Jong-hyuk, Park Hee-von, Bae Jong-ok, Lee Seung-joon and more.