As “Family by Choice” approaches its final week, every moment in the life of Yoon Ju Won (Jung Chaeyeon), Kim San Ha (Hwang In Youp), and Kang Hae Jun (Bae Hyeon Seong) turns into a rollercoaster of emotions. While the romance is blooming to the fullest, the drama isn’t falling short either. Despite being a show that revolves around the love that comes from a family—even if they aren’t related by blood or law—it also depicts the pain that sometimes comes with it. Everyone is trying their best to achieve the happiness they deserve, but before they reach the end, they must face some final struggles, some of which have left us with intense moments in last week’s episodes.
1. San Ha’s mother trying to take him back.
The main, if not the only, antagonist throughout this K-drama has been without a doubt San Ha’s mother. She has been a terrible mother since his childhood, and she is aware of this. However, she seems to be too selfish and stubborn to change or even attempt to redeem herself. San Ha has returned and is dating Ju Won, trying to keep going with his life, and leaving behind the guilt and pain he’s been carrying for so long. But his mother is determined to take him back with her. Despite him not having any reason to go with her, his resolution is shaken for a moment since she knows exactly what to say and what to do to manipulate him.
During every scene, this mother and son show us some incredibly raw feelings, making you instantly hate her and pity him. But they also subtly demonstrate how, even after all those years of struggling, San Ha is still just a little kid on the inside. He’s a young man who had to go through a lot of trauma alone and who is desperately clinging to the little affection and good memories he has of his mother. The moment he accepts this and lets his guard down is when he can finally break the chains that are tying him. And of course, the people who are beside him when this happens are none other than Ju Won, Hae Jun, and their fathers—his true family.
2. Kang Hae Jun reuniting with his mother.
When we talk about mothers, this show has plenty of drama to give. Although Hae Jun’s mother is the polar opposite of San Ha’s mother, that doesn’t mean she didn’t hurt her son in her own way. We find out why she went to prison and her reasons for staying away from Hae Jun after being released, so we know for sure she never truly wanted to leave him behind. But having good intentions and hoping for a happy and normal life for him doesn’t change the fact that she abandoned her son and thus created a bunch of insecurities in Hae Jun that ultimately shaped his self-esteem.
However, as Hae Jun has a heart of gold, once he meets her and embraces the person he longed for the most, he can let go of his resentment and fully heal his past. Admittedly, it is a little bittersweet to watch the moment where they gather and eat together for the first time. We can see what type of family they could have been if life and misfortune didn’t get in their way and made them lose almost 20 years together. Nonetheless, it is so endearing when they show us that things didn’t really change with the parallels between Hae Jun and his mother the first time they appear, and later on, when they reunite. It is impossible not to shed a tear at that moment.
3. Yoon Ju Won telling her family about her relationship with Kim San Ha.
But not everything revolves around their mothers in this K-drama. The romance between Ju Won and San Ha is still one of the most important elements in the plot. Like any other secret relationship, revealing it at the right time is key to avoiding major misunderstandings. Unfortunately for Ju Won, Hae Jun discovers her romance with San Ha at the most awkward and inconvenient moment, creating a big conflict between the brothers.
To Hae Jun, who has always seen Ju Won as a little sister, the fact that San Ha sees Ju Won as a woman makes him doubt his place in their family once again. Luckily for them, he has Park Dal (Seo Ji Hye) by his side, who helps him realize his true feelings. Despite feeling betrayed and confused at first, he quickly realizes that whatever happens between San Ha and Ju Won, they will always be his siblings. But will their parents be as understanding and supportive as him once San Ha and Ju Won announce that they are a couple? We will discover this in the last episodes of “Family by Choice”!
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Andy zar is an avid drama watcher, from K-dramas to C-dramas, she believes any weekend is a good weekend to enjoy 12 hours of binge-watching dramas. She loves romance, web comics, and K-pop. She is a declared “Subeom” and “Hyeppyending.” Her favorite groups are EXO, TWICE, and BOL4.
Currently watching: “Family by Choice”
Plans to watch: “Brewing Love“
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