Grab your nearest pillow, plushie, pet or child and prepare for a lot of toe-curling sweetness as our duo becomes a couple. Ji-seong navigates the world of the rich with his attachment to his new life intact. Seon-goo and Ma-ri are probably in need of anxiety medication and Bok-nam's possible fate threatens with dark times ahead. Our adorable pair need all the strength they can get.
I have been hoping that we would hit Ji-seong's (Seo In-guk) recovery as a rich heir quickly enough to deal with all its related issues and having it just past the midpoint is good. There is a lot to deal with, but also plenty of time to do so. Bok-nam's (Ryoo Ee-hyeon) "death" is a major test for our couple's relationship and I expect ample eye leakage, but I also know better than to believe anything but an extended death scene in Dramaland.
Seon-goo (Kim Gyoo-cheol) and Ma-ri (Lim Se-mi) are another issue. As much as I worry when Seon-goo quietly rages to menacing music, my wish to see a less than murderous villain stands. This is a romantic show without a strong criminal side to it after all. Ma-ri continues being horrible and if the writer does have redemption in store for her, it needs to start forming now. Grandma Il-soon (Kim Yeong-ok) might have objections about our lovebirds, but this too can be handled without unnecessary drama.
Future dark patch aside, seeing Ji-seong return to his old lifestyle and shopping frequency is interesting, because it accentuates the ways in which he has changed. His spending is no longer meaningless and selfish. He does nice things for his friends and Bok-sil (Nam Ji-hyeon) and buys them items each one can appreciate and use. He thinks about how to pay everyone back, facing his responsibilities and acknowledging the inconvenience he has caused. It is nice to see this change in a natural way through these little touches.
Most importantly, I think it is sweet that the topic of money and class means next to nothing for our couple. Bok-sil has every reason to feel overwhelmed or even intimidated by Ji-seong's status, but she is a well-adjusted person. This really illustrates how little anything but our self-imposed limits and own anxieties matters in achieving personal happiness. It is a healthy message to convey through romance.
The upcoming conflict over Bok-nam's fate will of course change this, but I have faith it will be a temporary issue. Even going by real life standards, this would be a very traumatic event to cope with and a long healing process is natural. That being said, I believe Bok-nam is alive, which will make things easier. After someone properly lays down some pain on him for his actions, that is.
"Shopping King Louis" is directed by Lee Sang-yeob-I, written by Oh Ji-yeong-I and features Seo In-guk, Nam Ji-yeon, Yoon Sang-hyeon and Lim Se-mi.
Source:HanCinema
