The final episode of MBC's Friday-Saturday drama 'Brilliant Season of You' (directed by Jung Sang-hee, Kim Young-jae/written by Jo Sung-hee), which aired on the 3rd, saw the resolution of tangled memories and misunderstandings between Song Ha-ran (played by Lee Sung-kyung) and Sun Woo-chan (played by Chae Jong-hyeop). Each character beautifully depicted love and life in their own way, bringing the story to a graceful close. The final episode recorded a nationwide household rating of 3.1% according to Nielsen Korea, leaving behind 'brilliant moments' until the very end.
In the episode, Sun Woo-chan submitted his resignation and disappeared without a trace, prompting Song Ha-ran to pursue his whereabouts in search of the truth. Through Park Man-jae (played by Kang Seok-woo), Song Ha-ran realized that Sun Woo-chan had been preparing to reveal the truth for a long time. In a moment of belated regret and longing, she confessed, "No matter what secret Sun Woo-chan hides, I can't bring myself to hate him," expressing her tender emotions.
The tension peaked as Cha Soo-jin's (played by Lee Joo-yeon) confession revealed the truth behind the Boston explosion incident seven years ago. Cha Soo-jin and Kang Hyuk-chan (played by Kwon Do-hyung), who grew close while hospitalized together, leaned on each other and developed feelings. As Kang Hyuk-chan decided to end his relationship with Song Ha-ran, Sun Woo-chan continued conversations with Ha-ran using Hyuk-chan's switched laptop, further complicating the trio's relationships.
On the day Song Ha-ran was supposed to come to Boston, Sun Woo-chan confessed to Kang Hyuk-chan that he had been talking to Song Ha-ran for a month, escalating the conflict between the two. Cha Soo-jin intervened, urging Hyuk-chan to sincerely apologize to Ha-ran, claiming it was their fault. In a moment of contemplation, Hyuk-chan accidentally dropped a lighter, causing the explosion. Kang Hyuk-chan died in the accident, and Sun Woo-chan was severely injured. Contrary to the guilt that had plagued Sun Woo-chan, the accident was due to Hyuk-chan's carelessness, and Sun Woo-chan was actually a victim.
Cha Soo-jin's confession corrected Sun Woo-chan's distorted memories and revealed the hidden truth, resolving all misunderstandings surrounding the four characters. Song Ha-ran managed to restore Sun Woo-chan's shattered drawing pad and discovered the records he left behind. She learned that she had saved Sun Woo-chan twice seven years ago and understood his long-held sincerity. Finally reaching the truth, Song Ha-ran went to Gangneung to find him and reunited with Sun Woo-chan by the sea. Embracing his guilt with the words "It's not your fault," Song Ha-ran and Sun Woo-chan, freed from distorted memories, comforted each other's wounds and reaffirmed their love.
After undergoing surgery to remove shrapnel and recovering, Sun Woo-chan proposed to Song Ha-ran with heartfelt sincerity, saying, "Will you be with me for all the seasons to come?" The couple's journey through the four seasons concluded the 'mutual salvation romance' brilliantly.
Meanwhile, Kim Na-na (played by Lee Mi-sook) and Park Man-jae celebrated their twilight romance with a wedding. Choosing to be each other's 'rest' in life, they added a gentle touch of emotion by cherishing the time they had together after surgery. Additionally, Song Ha-young (played by Han Ji-hyun) and Yeon Tae-seok (played by Kwon Hyuk) confirmed their feelings for each other amidst crisis and developed into a couple, while Song Ha-dam (played by Oh Ye-ju) and Cha Yoo-gyeom (played by Kim Tae-young) pursued their dreams and love, signaling new beginnings in their respective places.
'Brilliant Season of You' completed the 'Four Seasons of Love' by encompassing various love stories across generations, from the love of three sisters to twilight romance. The drama intricately unraveled the emotions of the characters and the hidden 'one inch of memory' centered around the incident seven years ago, enhancing its completeness. The delicate emotional performances of actors like Lee Sung-kyung and Chae Jong-hyeop, along with the sensitive direction of director Jung Sang-hee and the warm writing style of writer Jo Sung-hee, combined to establish the drama as a well-made emotional piece that left a lasting impression until the end.
Im Chae-ryung, TenAsia Reporter syjj426@tenasia.co.kr