On the cusp of entering their 40s, a life phase that is deemed a new beginning, Cha Mi-jo struggles to accept that her best friend is dying.
In the 3rd episode of Thirty Nine, Mi-jo confronts a harrowing inner turmoil. Not knowing how to break the bad news, thankfully, her reliable daddy-long-legs is showing up just when she needed someone for comfort. She is also cautious to reveal to Joo-hee about Chan-young’s condition.
abbyinhallyuland watches Thirty Nine on Netflix
Episode Recaps: 01 & 02 | 03| 04| 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | Final Episode + Series Review |
Thirty, Nine Episode 3 Key Moments
In the last episode, Mi-jo learns first of Chan-young’s medical condition. Without anyone and anything to blame, she rushes to see Jin-seok and pour out her fury at the sudden heartbreaking reality she has to confront.
“You met my friends, right? Chan-young and Joo-hee. Calling them family isn’t enough to describe them. Since I don’t know how it feels to really have a family. Anyway, those two are extremely precious to me.”
When Mi-jo’s rage subsided, she leaves Jin-seok’s office with cryptic words to save Chan-young. Seong-woo volunteers to drive Mi-jo to her destination which is Chan-young’s office. There, Mi-jo overhears Jin-seok’s wife – Sun-joo giving harsh comments on her friend.
Unable to hold her temper, she slaps Sun-joo who right away calls the police for assault. Mi-jo pulls her hair to qualify for the assault asserted by Sun-joo. Thankfully, Chan-young pleads Jin-seok to settle the situation. He warns his wife to drop the charges.
Mi-jo has to wait for another day to speak with Chan-young who visited her parents. While waiting for her, she visits Joo-hee who can sense something wrong but respects Mi-jo’s decision of not bringing it up yet. Wallowing in alcohol to the idea that Mi-jo thinks of her to be a weakling Joo-hee troubled Hyun-joon’s restaurant.
In the morning when she realized the chaos she caused, she apologizes to him. However, when Hyun-joon mistakes her age to be 42, Joo-hee’s mood inevitably gets dampened.
“We’re still in our 30s. We still have so much left to enjoy. We were only thirty-nine when we encountered this painful life and death situation, we had barely bloomed. We were only just nearing the end of our thirties.”
Mustering her courage to the moment of truth, Mi-jo goes to Chan-young’s studio. Since she is still with a student, she patiently waits and tears well in her eyes seeing Chan-young’s lively demeanor while coaching the young actress.
After the session, Chan-young offers beer, but Mi-jo responds for them to just have a tea. Putting the clues together, the reality of her numbered days hit Chan-young.
Thirty Nine Episode 3 Musings
Episode 3 of Thirty Nine reveals how deeply entrenched the friendship bond among Mi-jo, Chan-young and Joo-hee is.
Aside from sharing each other’s pain, they can be unreasonably emotional while protecting each other. The link that binds them is seemingly magical in that they can assess if something’s wrong through their moods and actions.
We were already acquainted with the poignant conflict on the horizon. However, now that we all feel to be self-proclaimed besties of the trio, the reality is also hitting us hard.
Noticing how the narrative is also heading to give Mi-jo and Joo-hee their romantic pairings ahead is a way of cushioning the inevitable heartbreak.
A change of course to Mi-jo and Joo-hee’s lives is bound to happen. Based on the next episode’s preview, we can smile but inwardly feel sad at how these three friends would try to celebrate their remaining days together.
Celebrate life, friendship and romance with Son Ye Jin, Jeon Mi Do and Kim Ji Hyun in Thirty, Nine. International fans can watch it on Netflix.
Photos: JTBC
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