Giving a nudge to check if we had provided quality emotional support to our friends, Thirty, Nine reminded us to live each day to the fullest.
We can never know if fate decides to be cruel in taking a cherished friend. Thus, it’s always important to foster a genuinely friendly relationship.
In the 4th episode of the series, the three best friends wallow in sadness at the unexpected misfortune that befell them.
Jin-seok takes the news in anguish as the realization of their wasted time hits him. Meanwhile, Seon-woo’s friend comes clean to the truth about his sister’s So-won’s real job.
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 4 Key Moments
Accompanying her friend to the hospital, Mi-jo agonizingly listens to Chan-young’s conversation with the doctor.
Weighing down the doctor’s words, Chan-young decides not to take chemotherapy since only a miracle can possibly save her.
Unhappy on Chan-young’s decision, Mi-jo, fortunately, finds the comforting presence of Seon-woo who she found to be still at the office.
Unknown to them, Mi-jo’s sister saw that “comforting moment” and merrily reported it to their parents. Later, when Cha family gets huddled by Mi-jo, they were expecting romantic news, only to find out about Chan-young’s medical condition.
On their night out to celebrate Joo-hee’s winning of the lottery, the two also decide to reveal the truth. Equally sharing the harrowing truth, Chan-young inevitably becomes the recipient of her best friends’ incessant health and well-being check.
Joo-hee has also built a deeper connection with Hyun-joon after a night of sharing personal woes. They agree to have each other’s back when they face another tough time because of his girlfriend and her friend.
“Why now? Why not earlier?”
Meanwhile, Jin-seok gives an ultimatum to Sun-joo about his decision to divorce. It turns out he belatedly learned that he was tricked by her into marriage. The son he raised is in fact not his, but he wants to get custody since Sun-joo never truly cared for her son.
Wanting to bring the good news to Chan-young, he visits her office to convey his life-changing moment soon. Baffled at her vehement refusal for him to get a divorce, she finally admits her dying situation.
Continuing to showcase his “homme fatale”, Seon-woo drags Mi-jo to his home. He right away dismisses her thoughts of why he brought her there.
Setting up the game console, he helped her forget her woes even just for a bit.
“What’s done is done. So instead of looking back, let’s just do everything that we’ve always want to do. I won’t ask you to get treatment. But please do me a favor. I want you to become the world’s happiest terminal person.”
Tweaking her sabbatical, Mi-jo marches to the department store to shop and heads straight to meet her favorite girls.
The two are surprised at the shopping bags she’s carrying. Joo-hee makes an important announcement of shredding her lottery ticket with the intention of transferring her luck to Chan-young which made them all on the brink of tears.
Bringing out the things she bought, Mi-jo declares her plan has changed and she will stay to take care of Chan-young. Their goal is to make her the happiest dying person.
They soon change to the clothing Mi-jo bought to spend time dancing at the club. It is a bucket list they failed to do once because of Mi-jo.
Thirty Nine Episode 4 Musings
What makes the “dying character” plot element in Thirty Nine affecting is the integration of the devoted friendship shared by the three friends. The series has been superbly utilizing as well the flashbacks by connecting them to the present problem of the characters.
We can understand Chan-young’s reason for not opting for treatment to a losing battle. In the next episode’s preview, she seems to be doing a romantic-themed bucket list involving the two friends she will leave behind. Let’s hope the story gives her something special as well before her looming sendoff.
Mi-jo’s plan to celebrate Chan-young’s remaining days in a c’est la vie mode would most likely give us laughter mixed with tear-jerking moments in the remaining episodes.
Meanwhile, Seon-woo’s discovery of So-won’s real job would certainly put him on an emotional mess. Hopefully, Mi-jo can comfort him for him to not wallow in self-inflicted guilt. Will
Episode 4 of Thirty Nine ponders on the pure kind of friendship we should strive to have. How we can nurture a small list of valued friends, and make sure to grow the bond through constant communication and sharing of memories.
Joo-hee’s own desperate plea for a miracle to happen for Chan-young by giving the luck she recently received reflects how a pure level of friendship can make us selfless. The same way that Mi-jo opted to give the time she initially set for herself to her best friend.
Time, as we grow older, seems to run never enough to our own busy days. Placing paramount emphasis on friendship, this series also ruminates on making the most out of the time that we had to lead a happy meaningful journey with our loved ones.
Aptly choosing the age range of the late 30s to 40s to be an important phase in one’s life, this drama is a great recommendation to share not just with middle-aged people but with young adults too.
It gives a resounding message that prioritizing to care for our health and well-being is also showing how much we love the special people in our lives.
Celebrate friendship, love and life with Son Ye Jin, Jeon Mi Do and Kim Ji Hyun in Thirty Nine every Wednesday and Thursday on Netflix!
Photos/Videos: JTBC
[wpedon id=”2271″ align=”center”]
