Series Review: Like A Fairy tale

Official Still from KBS World

   Like A Fairy Tale tells the story of a couple throughout their 15 year relationship including their 2 break ups. Unlike most dramas, this was only 4 episodes long. KBS posted the episodes on their YouTube channel KBS World and included English subtitles. 

    I actually found the story very interesting and somewhat reflecting on real life. Kim Myung Je(Lee Chun Hee) and Baek Jang Mi(Choi Yoon Young) met in college, but at that time were in love with different people, who showed signs of interest in each other. Jang Mi was in love with her singing group member Seo Jung Woo(Kim Jung San) while Myung Je had joined the singing group for Han Seo Young(Kang Ye Sol) who was always busy whenever poor Myung Je asked her out. It's worth noting that Myung Je was known as Toad due to his acne, some called him Frog Prince. They meet again years later by chance when Myung Je has to open a bank account for his job. He recognizes her immediately and takes all the numbered tickets so he can be helped by Jang Mi. During the early stages of their relationship and even into their marriage, Myung Je is still very shy and is still getting a feel of being with her. 

    Jang Mi barely gets along with her mother and agrees to marry Myung Je earlier than her mother would like due to their strained relationship. Her mother treats her like a child, complete with curfews and such. That was her first downfall, it's obvious she loves him, but she used his marriage proposal and an out. Then we're still questioning whether she still has feelings for her first love, Jung Woo. He's very sweet and she obviously doesn't think negatively about him, even when Myung Je is upset they can't afford their honeymoon. From their wedding, it's very obvious they rushed it and Jang Mi shouldn't have used him as a scapegoat from her problems. They have issues during the honeymoon given to them by Jung Woo with Myung Je feeling like less of a man due to that and it's cut short. They're only married for about a year when Myung Je asks for a divorce, he was laid off and was afraid to tell her when he got a part time job. He says he can't make her happy and asks for them to break up. That broke my heart because you can see how hurt and upset he was over that. Here's this man seeing his marriage crumble and he feels this is the only way for her to be happy without any money issues. 

     Another year passes and they meet at Jung Woo's wedding along with others from their singing group in college. By the new year, they each decide to get back together to the dismay of her mother who says it isn't a good idea. I'm still tired of her mom because she's a grown woman and all she can do is criticize her. Needless to say, they are remarried and seem more compatible, happier. They're living with his father and all seems well, but that's only the surface. She's unhappy and stressed for some unknown reasons that she won't express. It's suspected it's his dad that's the issue, but she won't say. The couple then gets the suspicion that she's pregnant and Myung Je is on cloud 9, complete with doodling at work. She goes to the doctor and is told she isn't pregnant, but it's an imaginary pregnancy. She asks about the smell in the house that only she can smell. She's referred to a counselor. Long story short, we're shown that it's all in Jang Mi's head. She's stressing out and is unhappy despite the fact that Myung Je is much more attentive now than ever. So what does she do? She asks for a divorce saying that she's the problem. So they've divorced after 3 more years of marriage and he's devastated. 

   So far we've seen them married and divorced within a year then they remarry and are divorced within another 3 years. They're separated for I don't know how long because we're never given any actual time frame, I'm guessing it's more than 7 years before they finally see one another again. Her father has Alzheimer's and he's asking for his son-in-law. Myung Je spends time with Jang Mi's father and they become closer again. She has published a book while he's been drawing pictures of her. He tells her that it's because he missed and he tried to not forget her face. Awww! At the end they remarry..again. The End. 

    This was season 3 of KBS World's Drama Series with Season 4 starting up very soon. I think it was very good and well written. This is what an adult relationship focused show is about, real issues and not random outside forces trying to get in. We saw that they were meant for each other, but it was them that caused issues or it wasn't the right time. Lee Chun Hee and Choi Yoon Young played the characters very well. If you have any time, check it out.