Dear Hyeri – K-drama Episode 12 Recap, Review & Ending Explained

Episode 12

Episode 12 of Dear Hyeri begins with Jae-yong intercepting the truck, which ends up hitting him instead of Hyun-oh. Hyun-oh rushes to the hospital, where the team leader arrives as well. The press director asks Hyun-oh to substitute for the 9 PM news slot since Jae-yong is hospitalized, but Hyun-oh refuses, feeling that Jae-yong sacrificed himself to save him. Later, he asks Eun-ho for some space, which she grants, acknowledging his predicament.

Meanwhile, we learn that Hye-yeon has joined PPS and quickly bonds with Eun-ho, who explains Hye-ri’s situation to her. At Media N Seoul, it’s revealed that Joo-yeon’s previous comment meant he wouldn’t feel Hye-yeon’s absence since he could still reach her by phone.

Back at the office, tensions rise as Hyun-oh continues to refuse the 9 PM news slot, even though Jae-yong is reported to be doing well. Eun-ho finally convinces him to take the role so that Jae-yong will have a place to return to, and he agrees. The broadcast goes smoothly, and later, the couple spends quality time together at home.

Jae-yong visits his mother, reminding her that being alive is valuable and encouraging her to recover. We soon see Jae-yong back to his lively self and planning to return to his position, which Hyun-oh happily accepts. Joo-yeon manages to reach Hye-yeon through Eun-ho and is amused to find she’d blocked him.

Meanwhile, at her therapist’s office, Eun-ho’s disorder is officially declared resolved, and she says goodbye to her doctor. She decides to gather everyone who knew Hye-ri to say their goodbyes. At Hyun-oh’s home, those who knew Hye-ri gather for a final farewell. A budding romantic potential between Joo-yeon and Hye-yeon is hinted at, and Hyun-oh finally proposes to Eun-ho. The grandmothers are pleased to see Hyun-oh settling down for good. The show ends with Hyun-oh and Eun-ho in the meadows where Hye-ri went missing, happy and together.

The Episode Review

Cleary, the last two episodes have been a scramble for enough content to sustain the show until the finale, especially highlighted with the repetitiveness of Eun-ho’s effort to say goodbye to Hye-ri . Eun-ho’s character remains largely unchanged, except for finally letting go of Hye-ri, now that she’s back with Hyun-oh. All the characters have had extremely minor character growth, if any, which is frustrating for a show that took it so seriously since the beginning.

The plot progression has been massively disappointing. Many viewers point out that Dear Hyeri follows a typical romance melodrama formula so we need to accept it as one. But many forget that the show would have been acceptable if it hadn’t been marketed as a healing drama.

From the main poster to the theme song featuring Eun-ho and Hye-ri, the show was promoted as a journey of Eun-ho’s self-healing and her relationship with Hye-ri. When the storyline fails to deliver on this promise, it naturally frustrates passionate fans like me and many others. Overall, it’s been a predictable finale to a disappointing show.