[mslee's thoughts] Temptation 2nd Review - The Consequences of Surrendering To Se Young's Offer

One Million dollars for four days! A hundred thousand as down payment and Three Hundred Thousand on succeeding days. An offer that is very irresistible to anyone especially to Seok Hoon who is buried in debt. Se Young knows how to dangle a very tempting offer in the face of Seok Hoon. A CEO who is very confident that he would not be able to resist it even if it means staying by her side in the duration of their agreement.

This is my random thoughts so far on the drama.

What surprises me is that I assumed what is unspoken in the deal she made. I think like everyone who watched episode 2, I did not expect the unexpected, meaning there was more to the proposal than the indecent one we all thought. I assumed, but then, even though Se Young toyed with Seok Hoon's emotions by not clearly telling him what's the proposal is all about, I have a feeling that in the back of her mind, she did consider the thought [the indecent one] but was too proud to admit seeing Seok Hoon was struggling with his current situation, how he agreed to the arrangement while feeling sorry to his wife. 

There were rules involved which would tie Seok Hoon's commitment by abiding while he would let his wife alone and hurt without an easy explanation. But then, the moment he decided to stay behind is already the point where trust was broken between the husband and wife. A result which was already anticipated by Se Young who was the one who had been curious.

The moment Seok Hoon surrendered to the arrangement, he swallowed his pride and hurt his wife. Even though there was no intimacy between him and Se Young, he acted on his own decision without any care to his wife's feelings.

 I was really doubting the intimate scenes between Se Young and Seok Hoon not because I know that this is what the writer really intends to show but being a k-drama follower I know how sensitive this theme is and how few dramas compromise marriage due to illicit affair. For this drama I am a bit skeptical of the title Temptation and the connotation of the title that will be shown through the drama. And I was right. Maybe Se Young is curious, always been since she was young pertaining to the sand castles that were always blown away by waves. 

I think the idea of testing how strong the bond between husband and wife appealed to Se Young, being a skeptical one. By testing the power of love and trust, she got her answer when trust was broken between the couple. Trust is only strong until it is tested and even if love is present, a part of it has been weakened by the broken link called trust.

I think this drama will show that a marriage should have a strong foundation so as not to be defeated by doubt. Even though Seok Hoon already told Hong Joo that there was never intimacy involved, the pain of seeing a husband succumb to temptation in favor of a reward that can salvage them is killing her, especially seeing the woman who offered such a deal. Basically, Hong Joo was threatened by Se Young's beauty, wealth and power to draw people. It is a common problem every woman has, the knowledge that her man can be taken away even though she knows he loves her more will always put pressure on her self esteem, jealousy will override every logic, leaving her in misery, making her stubborn to see that nothing happened [which of course just because Se Young was the one holding the reigns]. Even if Hong Joo wants to forgive Seok Hoon, something is holding her back, the pain she suffers.

 What did  not take place between Se Young and Seok Hoon will be their temptation and it's either they fight it or succumb to it, while Hong Joo will be buried in jealousy that will make her tired of marriage. Hong Joo may seem unreasonable but being a wife of Seok Hoon she is entitled to feel threatened and I think every wife will also feel and understand her. What they lack is proper communication. After all they haven't sat down and talked seriously about the incident in Hong Kong. They should have had a real talk, opening their emotions and tried to clear every thing what happened in Hong Kong. He has not yet asked her forgiveness so every little things that will now come up to them, will pile up and will make them misunderstand each other. She has become predictably obstinate, making her own decisions and if Seok Hoon doesn't like them, she targets him with the decision he made in Hong Kong. 

The drama has just began and I am guessing that the short period of time Se Young and Seok Hoon spent inside their agreement will haunt them after they separated and resume their own lives. The awareness of each other was already formed. Between the two, I think it is Se Young who felt tempted the most.

In episode 4  it shows now that Seok Hoon and Se Young can't keep each other from communicating in secret. Seok Hoon may not know the reason why he bothers to help her or warn her about Atty. Choi but in doing that he makes Se Young feel important and this little things will turn into something even bigger than just curiosity in her side. But I feel too that Seok Hoon is the one who is getting in the middle of all these and suffering.

A lot has been divulged early on in the drama.  The son Kang Min Woo's mother longed for and in secrecy is now found out by his wife. The employer/employee relationship between Kang Min Woo and Hong Joo is turning into a comfortable friendship which makes Seok Hoon suspicious. Hong Joo's inability to bear a child, having miscarriages in the past is a subject the couple avoid talking. She longs for a child, while he keeps his feelings about it inside. He told her it is okay not to have a child.

The ending in episode 4 with Hong Joo seeing Seok Hoon with Se Young in the hospital where she waited for him brought another misunderstanding. But then, he did stood her up in their meeting choosing to do business in Se Young's place even though he is not employed by her.

Little things are arising bringing more suspicion and doubt between the couple. Seok Hoon found himself already giving priority to Se Young even knowing his wife was waiting. Temptation is slowly creeping it's way and in a subtle form. The consequences of his decision and Se Young's playing on their emotions are now catching up on them.

I. too value marriage but I am open in this kind of drama, and personally, I think it is the wife who should be stronger to hold back her husband and not give him reason to leave her. 

Temptation in this drama is not solely for being tempted to have an illicit affair or selling his body in favor of  getting money in return. Almost all characters are tempted in their own way by something that they think they got to have.

For the actors delivery of their character, I think they were great. Park Ha Sun is very convincing, Choi Ji Woo as always has captivated me, Kwon Sang Woo is showing how it is to be in love to his wife, while struggling to stay loyal and faithful, and Lee Jung Jin in his Romeo character which should be irritating but I guess his charms are working on me as well. I am curious to find out what will happen to him.

-mslee1107-