Edited by Young Jun Yang
Translated by Kim Hoyeun
“I want to go back 10 years with all my current memories.” It’s a thought that’s probably crossed everyone’s mind at least once. This regressional story has surged in popularity in webtoons and web novels over the past few years and has now become a staple on TV screens. tvN’s Marry My Husband faithfully follows the tropes of regressional dramas, blending various genres to deliver viewers a fresh and stimulating experience.
Kang Ji Won’s (Park Min Young) life ends in the most horrifying way imaginable. Diagnosed with terminal cancer due to extreme stress, she discovers her husband, Park Min Hwan (Lee Yi Kyung), and her only friend, Jung Su Min (Song Ha Yoon), are having an affair. She loses her life the day she catches them together. Miraculously, Ji Won finds herself not in the afterlife but back in her body from 10 years ago.
As she settles into her “second chance” at life, Ji Won begins to notice things she had previously overlooked: Min Hwan’s violence, Su Min’s gaslighting, and unfair treatment at work. Realizing how she had been mistreated in her past life, Ji Won decides to turn the table, to pass her miserable fate on to them.
So far, Marry My Husband has been a delightful mix of regressional elements and various genres. Watching Ji Won achieve what she couldn’t in her past life is predictable yet riveting. The scenes where she uses her future knowledge to accumulate wealth are a time-travel drama staple and something everyone has daydreamed about, satisfying everyone’s vicarious desires. Her meticulous (?) plan to marry Min Hwan and Su Min adds a flavor of melodrama and revenge, while the budding romance between Ji Won, Yoo Ji Hyuk (Na In Woo), and Baek Eun Ho (Lee Gi Kwang) adds a touch of freshness. Additionally, the fast-paced narrative ensures there’s never a dull moment.
The highlight of the drama is Kang Ji Won’s character development. Despite her successes in this second life, fundamental issues remain unresolved. She’s still officially a couple with Min Hwan at work, and the harassment from her incompetent boss and Su Min’s gaslighting continue to pressure her. But recalling her past where she always relied on others, Ji Won decides to overcome her challenges herself this time, even though she has Ji Hyuk, a “knight in shining armor,” by her side. Watching Ji Won grow from someone who was always timid and taken advantage of, to a person who gradually stands up for herself, provides the audience with a sense of comfort and triumph.
The cast’s performances add vitality to the drama. Park Min Young convincingly portrays both the oppressed “past life Ji Won” and the proactive “second life Ji Won,” delivering a compelling and visually striking performance. Her extreme weight loss to depict Ji Won’s terminal illness in her past life is particularly worthy of applause. Na In Woo, as Yoo Ji Hyuk, complements Park Min Young wonderfully, offering quiet support to Ji Won while harboring his own secret of regression. As for Lee Yi Kyung and Song Ha Yoon, the main villains of the series, there’s no doubt about the flawless performances they’re giving, seeing how they’re so masterfully provoking the audience’s ire.
However, the drama does have its divisive elements. While Ji Won’s eventual revenge promises catharsis, the antagonists’ actions may be off-putting for some viewers. While the show offers a variety of genre-based entertainment, including a regression theme, romance, and revenge, it sometimes falls into familiar patterns and clichés that might feel stale to seasoned viewers of these genres. Lastly, the somewhat awkward Busan dialect also presents a minor barrier to entry for some.
The 6th episode aired on the 16th, ended with Ji Won learning from Ji Hyuk that he, too, has regressed from the future. Can the two change their dreadful fate and grasp both revenge and love? One thing’s for sure: viewers are hoping for anything but an “Oh, it was all a dream” ending – a trope that has left many feeling betrayed in the past. (6/10)
Editor Yang Young Jun: There is at least one good part in every movie or TV series. A media geek who isn’t picky with genres.
