Cinderella at 2am – K-drama Episode 8 Recap & Review

Episode 8

Episode 8 of Cinderella at 2am begins with Ju-won proposing to Yoon-seo after she calms down from her emotional breakdown. He tells her to take her time considering his proposal.

Although touched, Yoon-seo later confides in I-rae that she’s scared—she doesn’t know what she can offer Ju-won. Meanwhile, Ju-won tells his brother about the proposal and admits he’ll try to persuade their mother to accept their marriage.

While waiting for Yoon-seo’s answer, Ju-won grows restless. Meanwhile, the chairwoman learns of his marriage plans and orders him to move to Spain. Rumors about Ju-won’s transfer spread quickly, eventually reaching Yoon-seo. However, she lacks the courage to ask him to stay.

The following day, Yoon-seo visits Seong-min’s studio, where she confesses feeling like an inadequate Cinderella for her wealthy prince. Seong-min encourages her to stop thinking of herself as a Cinderella and just be herself. He reminds her of her tenacity and advises her to pursue Ju-won, as she doesn’t give up on things that matter to her.

Just then, Yoon-seo receives a message from Ju-won saying he’s leaving for Spain. Inspired by Seong-min’s words, she rushes to the airport and confesses her love for Ju-won. They hug, but Yoon-seo is later embarrassed to learn that Ju-won’s trip is a short business visit—he’s only gone for five days, not permanently.

During those five days, Yoon-seo and Ju-won rekindle their relationship, messaging and calling each other frequently.

Ju-won returns just in time for Ji-suk’s college exams, and the two head back to the office together. They plan to meet whenever they can, but various issues keep cropping up.

First, the deputy team leader is devastated when he learns he hasn’t been promoted. Then, Ji-suk—originally planning to celebrate with friends—decides to have dinner with Yoon-seo instead.

Yoon-seo leaves early after Ji-suk’s friends call him over, but on her way to meet Ju-won, she receives a call and rushes to comfort the deputy team leader.

Yoon-seo discovers his promotion was postponed because he is slated to become the next team leader after she leaves the company. Ju-won arrives to clear the air, and the couple can finally focus on their relationship.

Meanwhile, Si-won and Mi-jin have been spending more time together. Mi-jin continues taking photos of Si-won, as their previous social media post led to a spike in company stock, prompting the chairwoman to lift the social media ban on Si-won.

However, Si-won mistakenly interprets their outings as dates and feels disappointed when Mi-jin doesn’t see them the same way. He confronts her, and Mi-jin instantly changes her approach, revealing that she thought he enjoyed the posts and was trying to make him happy. Later, Si-won confesses his feelings for Mi-jin.

Back with Yoon-seo and Ju-won, they head to a park, but Ju-won soon becomes preoccupied with work. They move to his place, where Yoon-seo waits for him. She apologizes for being the cause of his recent struggles, but Ju-won responds by kissing her, and the episode ends on this note.

The Episode Review

With Episode 8, Cinderella at 2 AM returns to the lighthearted, cheerful tone we initially expected. After several drawn-out episodes, this one feels refreshing, as Yoon-seo and Ju-won finally come together, much like they were before the unnecessary twists in their relationship.

It’s evident that both Ju-won’s mother and Yoon-seo’s insecurities were weak reasons for their breakup, leaving the entire conflict feeling forced and directionless. Moreover, the lack of significant character development for either Yoon-seo or Ju-won makes their breakup seem even more futile.

Once again, Si-won and Mi-jin’s relationship steals the show. Their dynamic is much more engaging—they are honest with each other, communicate openly, and have demonstrated real growth within a short time.

Mi-jin is attentive to Si-won’s needs, while Si-won appreciates her efforts. As we move toward the finale, we’re likely to see more of the lighthearted, entertaining moments between these couples that we’ve been craving all along.