[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Uncontrollably Fond" Episode 2

The dark past is unveiled, at least partially, in episode number 2 of "Uncontrollably Fond" that sat prettily atop the drama ranks at 12.5%, matching the first episode's rating. No Eul and Joon-yeong in their high school years are those who have not: they lack power, money, and influence, three assets that their opponents have in abundance.

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A complex web of family relations, payoffs, deals, loans sharks, and emotional agony was woven during No Eul's and Joon-yeong's high school years. No Eul's father is fatally injured by Yoon Jeong-eun (Lim Ju-eun) in a hit-and-run whose family has the money and influence to buy Assemblyman Choi's legal support to make the incident disappear. We momentarily meet Jeong-eun, but focus more on the heavy loan shark debt, parentless home, and sadness of No Eul and her brother No Jik. Before the incident, No Eul was helpful and kindhearted unlike her current incarnation, which is pandering, ruthless, and fatigued from life.

Joon-yeong, like No Eul, is impoverished with a single-parent home. He lacks direction that he finds when he discovers that Assemblyman Choi may be his father. He wants to become a prosecutor like him, studies furiously, and drastically improves his scores. While he does this, girls and entertainment agencies fling themselves at him. It is when an apathetic No Eul approaches him that he shows interest, albeit a morbid interest. Their relationship progresses in an odd manner. It is antagonistic with an air of curiosity. Before it can develop, No Eul and her brother escape town to flee loan sharks, leaving Joon-yeong worried and empathetic. This is a trait that carries through to his present day self although it is greatly hidden by arrogance. Still, I wish the character definitions were a bit clearer. I wonder if he discovers Assembleyman Choi isn't as upright as he portrays to the public and casts of his dreams of becoming a prosecutor to become an entertainer.

The ending of the episode brings the show back to nearly the same moment in time where episode 1 found its end. Episode 2 moves a step further, but only just that. It's a great move to render intrigue, but doing it again would be repetitive and tiresome.

Bae Suzy is doing a good job in her role. The teenage attitude, the angst over death, and the determination are well-portrayed. What I worry most about is when the chemistry builds between No Eul and Joon-yeong. I also worry about the strange tonal shifts found all over the episode, although as an episode, this episode was much stronger than the first. Joon-yeong's character is hard to fathom, but Kim Woo-bin does well with making the character multi-faceted.

Until next week we wait and hope that the past and characters will clear up.

Written by: Lisa Espinosa AKA Raine from 'Raine's Dichotomy'

"Uncontrollably Fond" is directed by Park Hyeon-seok, written by Lee Kyeong-hee, and features Kim Woo-bin, Bae Suzy, Lim Ju-hwan, and Lim Ju-eun.