[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Nevertheless" Episode 3

So last cliffhanger Na-bi and Jae-eon shared a successful kiss. But it wasn't a very good one. I greatly appreciated the disgusted look Na-bi gave as she turned away, less out of any enmity toward the man she kissed and more just due to her naturally being repelled at how his mouth tasted like cigarette smoke. For all her moods, Na-bi is still a college student through and through. So even when she's being perceptive, Na-bi "Nevertheless" succumbs to temptation.

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Jae-eon is truly shaping up to be a repugnant character, however much the ambience makes him out to be romantic. I'm not even referring to the scene with Seol-ah (played by Lee Yul-eum) which confirms that he does indeed have a girlfriend. Somewhat gratifyingly, the same conversation also confirms that she is unaware of his philandering, and that her cryptic references to grooming Na-bi are actually about Jae-eon's symbolic relationship with butterflies as an artist.

No, I'm referring to the scene wherein junior student Eun-han (played by Lee Jung-ha) enthusiastically tries to get Na-bi to watch "Love Guide for Dumpees" with him, and Jae-eon barges in being weirdly possessive. Jae-eon's whole aura is intimidating and unnerving to other guys. Seol-ah can't see it, but a brief reappearance by Min-sang likewise confirms that Jae-eon's entitled sense of handsome superiority frightens anyone it doesn't attract.

By the time I got to the end of the episode, I was wincing in discomfort every time Jae-eon lovingly touched Na-bi because it's entirely too easy to see just how manipulative he is now. The scene outside Na-bi's apartment was a deliberate overreaction disguised as touching concern. Then there's the fact that he refuses to leave Na-bi's apartment, but in a nice, non-threatening way. This keeps Na-bi from noticing that he's deliberately disregarding her explicitly stated wishes, just as he was in the scene with Eun-han.

I thought a lot during this episode about an old bit of advice I heard once. If a guy's nervous around you, it's because he's trying to make a good impression because he really likes you a lot. You shouldn't hold that against him. If a guy isn't nervous, it's because he's following a script. He's had a lot of practice. Watching Na-bi succumb to Jae-eon's charms is frustrating because it's quite clear at this point that she understands this truth too. "Nevertheless" Na-bi chooses to ignore the warning signs.

Review by William Schwartz

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"Nevertheless" is directed by Jang Ji-yeon, Kim Ga-ram, written by Jung Won, and features Han So-hee, Song Kang, Chae Jong-hyeop, Lee Yul-eum, Yang Hye-ji, Kim Min-gwi. Broadcasting information in Korea: 2021/06/19~Now airing, Sat 23:00 on jTBC.