Strangers Again (2023) - Pilot Episode Review: "Hate is also Love"

I was told many times that if you still hate someone, it's because you still love him or you love him so much that you still hate him even though it's been a long time. Making me wonder if I hated those who abandoned me or if it was because my love for them was shallow. I yearned for them, missed them, but I never hated them in my life. I have regrets and what ifs, but that is the nature of life.

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Image from Asianwiki

Before this blog becomes too personal, I'd like to share my thoughts on the pilot episode, or should I say the first two episodes, of the series "Strangers Again," which is currently airing on ENA and Genie TV and stars Kang So-Ra and Jang Seung-Jo. Every Wednesday and Thursday night, the series replaces Love is for Suckers.

Kang So-Ra plays Oh Ha-Ra, a lawyer who specializes in divorce cases and is herself a divorcee. She married Jang Seung Jo's character, Ku Eun-Beom, but after three years of marriage, they decided to divorce due to her husband's third part. Her husband was a lawyer himself, but he hit rock bottom and luck was not on his side after the divorce, but he became Oh Ha-Ras 'colleague again when one of the company's CEO accepted him.

Accepting him was not an easy task. It takes a lot of bravery, deals, and agreements before they sit in one room and discuss divorce cases as a team. They assisted their client in determining whether or not their marriage could be saved. The story's concept was good, and I believe it will make me cry. It was more of a "Go Back Couple" setup. The latter series mentioned was also excellent, and you will learn a lot from it. And I'm hoping that this series will teach us something like Go Back Couple did.

I was hoping that the two main lead characters would reunite, but I think it would be more appropriate if they didn't. I believe they can be friends, that they can try again, but that in the end they will realize that once you've ended something, there's no going back. Personally, I have always considered cheaters to be cheaters. I may have forgiven them and given them another chance, but the way you look at or treat that person will be different. It was like drinking from a broken glass even though you knew it was broken because you needed to drink. And one of you will get hurt because of trying. If you get what I'm saying.

And, once again, this was just my opinion. I'm guessing the writer won't write that they've been together for ten years, married, and her husband cheated on her, and they wish and hope for a second chance. However, I am not opposed to it. If they can prove the guys' sincerity, that's great, but I think the other way around would teach us a lot more. I want stories with sad but meaningful endings that will leave the audience in awe.

The story was humorous, heartbreaking, and had a heart that suited Kang So-Ra perfectly. I remember her in Dream High 2, where she is funny, but every time she cries, I cry. It was nice to see her in a series again. I will definitely watch it until the end for two reasons: the story and Kang So-Ra. I hope they will use Kang So-Ra's genuine eyes to make the story more heartbreaking and meaningful.

Jang Seung-Jo also had very sincere and charming eyes, though I haven't seen any of his previous work. They appear to have good chemistry. There were still many unanswered questions in this story, and if they were able to incorporate back story, the series' depth would be solid, or should I say, it would have more impact because of the solid foundation.

It was kind of cool to see Eun-Beom setting up a guy for Ha-Ra's blind date. Furthermore, If Ha-Ra fell in love with the guy and revealed that Eun-Beom was still in love with Ha-Ra, it would be the perfect revenge. Though the guy wasn't as appealing as Eun-Beom, he has his own charm, and I'm hoping that would happen because it is a way to make Eun-Beom feel sorry.

I had a lot to say about this series, including its plot, characters, and even the story or lesson it wishes to convey. That is to say, I thoroughly enjoyed this episode and eagerly await the next installment. Would I suggest it? Yes, because the first two episodes and the stories of the cases would teach us a lot about married life. If I may share, marriage is a commitment that we must not take lightly and must consider not once, twice, but many times until we are ready. We must consider all angles and, no matter what, accept it and discuss it if there are any misunderstandings or things that can be discussed.