[mslee's thoughts] Temptation Episodes 9 and 10 Screen caps

Highlights

Hong Joo asked for divorce. Seok Hoon was dumbfounded, not really anticipating Hj's action. He tried to reason until the end if that is what she wants. He threw the rings and his wedding band as well in frustration but Hj is firm in her decision.

Se Young found out and felt guilty of her share. She nagged Seok Hoon not to give up. [ironic yes] Seok Hoon departs to Brazil. Se Young saw him at the airport before he went away, a back hug, promising to come back and she should wait. [ seems he is really liking her]

Kang Min Woo and Yoo Se Young in business fight. Hong Joo moved on with her life. Her father was angry at her after he learned of the divorce. Min Woo divorced his wife, children in his custody. The mother met Hong Joo, believing she is Min Woo's current girlfriend. Hong Joo left MW's mother. Min Woo apologized. Hong Joo told him she is not easy as many thinks just because she is a divorcee'.

Seok Hoon arrived back seeing Se Young immediately. He came back to work for her. The relationship is blooming but Seok Hoon has not acted on it to go further, despite Se Young showing her feelings. The four inevitably met at a party. Hong Joo was surprised and hurt. Min Woo gave her courage to face them and no run away. She asked Se Young in front of her wealthy friends if the rumor regarding her being the cause of a marriage break up is true and that Seok Hoon is the man in question.

mslee writes her own point of view

This drama is truly dividing the opinions of the viewers. One is blaming the wife for her weakness and shallow personality to the point of hating her and believing she caused her marriage the break up alone. People are so quick to point out her mistakes and wallowing in self pity and seemed like blaming anyone but herself. Viewers find nothing wrong in Se Young who only helped the couple with the money. They find it rational and just that Se Young appreciates Seok Hoon and her confidence is something to be proud of and applaud.

Hong Joo is clearly getting all the angst and hate of the viewers. They find everything her fault as the wife. It's ironic and laughable that people would have this reaction from this drama. It seems that the era has now changed and new perspective which is so opposite from the conventional and conservative reaction is now the trend.

While mslee stay true to my opinion that liking a married man in the first place might not be a sin but acting on it is a different story. The drama has shown continuously how Se Young did not back down on pursuing or showing her feelings for Seok Hoon. The moment she knew of the divorce, I was like in awe when she kept telling Seok Hoon he should not have given up. I wonder why she would tell him that when she herself seems not satisfy with knowing he is a married man and continue to advance their association. Guilty, yes she is only for a short while. After that, her true feelings showed. Seok Hoon distanced from her but she kept on calling him. Even teary eyed when she learned he will depart to Brazil. Yes, he is a free man, but where is the decency in all these? The ink has not yet dried on the divorce papers but there they are back hugging and promising to return and wait or one another.

One thing I like in the drama is how Hong Joo let go of Seok Hoon. Divorce is a wise decision for her. It is also right that she initiated it instead of seeing a husband falling out of love totally. Letting him go does not mean she loves him no more. It means she just got tired of the situation.

Ah! Chongmal! If I were the wife, I will do like Hong Joo did. Let go of a lying husband, Maybe he wants to prove to himself he is different from others and that he can stay inside his marriage. But at what cause? Physically present but emotionally absent. Will a wife be content with that kind of arrangement? I understand how Hong Joo's self esteem has been blown, knocked down by this confident and arrogant woman who wants her husband. A weak Hong Joo can only take so much.

The last scene in episode 10 where Hong Joo revealed the secret of Se Young to her rich friends about wrecking a marriage is not enough for revenge. People who saw it call her vindictive and poor Se Young was being put to so much shame. Huh! So, other woman must not be humiliated eh? Hong Joo jut made them taste a portion of the bitterness she has been having all these times, before and after the divorce. Of finding out with her own eyes that, right, her husband is with Se Young now. How miserable that feeling can make an ex wife be knowing that her nightmares were true after all.

Min Woo is like a beacon of strength to Hong Joo. I don't mind Min Woo being friends with her, He has his own agenda regarding Se Young and Seok Hoon and the business side. But I am liking him as someone who was supposed to be the bastard in this drama from the start to have the right understanding of what Hong Joo has been going through. He after all is a womanizer but just like he said, he prefers it if the woman likes him first before acting on it. Se Young on the other hand, tested the sanctity of marriage, played with love and fate just to prove something. Well, she proved that it can be broken, she can have the man she wants, if she wants it and say with confidence in the face of a wife how much she likes him.

How about Se Young? Did she made it easier for Seok Hoon? No. She made sure he knew she would wait how ever long. She made him know she wants him, now after the divorce. She offered the position he vacated for him alone whenever he is ready. She was there, looking for him every opportunity at the office, even in hiding her presence. Guess I should give her the go signal, after all Seok Hoon is very much single!

I like Min Woo's wife for her spunk. But I feel sorry that she has to abandon her children for custody rights. A mother, however she sinned or made mistakes as a wife will always be true and sincere when it comes to loving her children.

I am really surprised at how this drama has achieved contradicting opinions and the wife is getting the bites of the viewers. Ah, its hard to be a wife. Hong Joo has been the one betrayed in all aspects, but seems people are telling her she deserves every bit of hurt and pains she faced. Seok Hoon admitted to having changed, pertaining to his feelings, that's why Hong Joo changed. But it is okay for him to fall for the wealthy CEO. He deserves someone like her and not his pitiful wife who never did anything to salvage the marriage.

Hmmm...let me copy what I post @soompi thread.

i am just one of the few here who has opposing opinions among the majority no one can feel the pains a betrayed wife must be feeling unless she stepped on her shoes, then and only then one can say if she is a strong one who can hold on to a changed husband like SH has admitted, or be weak who can not do anything but think of her pains like HJ was seen to be. i don't think there is a woman who will stay so confidently and dismiss anything about knowing another woman wants her husband. self esteem will be damaged in the end.

For all of Hong Joo's mistakes, for all her wrong doings and not doing anything to hold on to Seok Hoon, the episode showing she can also say cruel things in the face of Se Young, I think it came in the nick of time. Hong Joo must stop feeling sorry alone. She must fight and bring back her lost dignity and confidence. I don't like a reconciliation at the end. It is already too late for redeeming one's self, especially Seok Hoon whose betrayal in wanting someone else is too much to take in by any wife for that matter. I want Hong Joo to be tough, to stand with head held high for she was the one whose marriage was torn away.

Not sure what I would want Se Young to be? Hmmm.....Maybe I don't care even if the writer put so much pity on her. Maybe even if tears fell down on her beautiful face, I won't care. lol!

screen caps

Episode 9