LTNS K-Drama Season 1 Review – What is the meaning behind having an affair?

Season 1

 

 

Episode Guide

Episode 1 – | Review Score – 4/5
Episode 2 – | Review Score – 4/5
Episode 3 – | Review Score – 4/5
Episode 4 – | Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 5 – | Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 6 – | Review Score – 3.5/5

 

LTNS, also known as Long Time No Sex, is a South Korean comedy-drama series about a married couple with a non-existent sex life finding a way to make money and find some excitement in their life by blackmailing cheating spouses.

The blackmail business starts accidentally when Samuel accidentally blurts out to his wife, Woo Jin, that his best friend, Jung-soo, is cheating on his wife. Woo Jin vows to tell Jung-soo’s wife about the affair, and in an attempt to make Woo Jin keep the affair a secret, Jung-soo pays her a considerable sum of money.

Before the incident, Samuel’s taxicab had drowned in water, and they used the money to buy him an even more expensive and luxurious car. Realising how easy it can be to make money by taking advantage of people who want more than they should have, Woo Jin comes up with the idea to blackmail married couples having extramarital affairs for cash. Since she works as a receptionist in a hotel, Woo Jin comes across a fair share of cheating spouses. 

LTNS is more than just a series about blackmailing cheaters. It explores the theme of unfaithfulness in marriage beyond the cheating to the reasons behind it. Although there is never a just reason for why someone should step out of their marriage, LTNS is honest about love life and marriage.

Some people cheat just because they are jerks who are in loving relationships but want something more but meaningless. However, others find soul mates who help them out of their miserable relationships and make them feel loved, cared for, beautiful, and essential.

Consequently, LTNS delves into the theme of physical and emotional cheating. Some people find emotional support in other people and build a bond that goes deeper than physical attraction, like in the “cleaning mates” episode. 

The script of LTNS is a departure from the norm of the typical K-drama narrative and brings a refreshing look into the genre with explicit scenes, unlike the fluffy, cute love scenes we are used to. The edgy writing starts strong, becomes weak in the middle, but ends with a bang.

Regardless, we must applaud the writers’ choice to take a realistic approach to marriages, and instead of taking the melodramatic route of expression, they chose to lean on dark humour, which makes the series stand out. I especially like the realistic view of infidelity as a primary deal breaker for Samuel and Woo Jin, even though they were in a sexless marriage.

Samuel and Woo Jin’s chemistry is fascinating to watch from the beginning of this miniseries to the end. They have opposite personalities, perfectly complementing each other, making them a beautiful pair in LTNS. Woo Jin is hyperactive, angry, and vulgar and approaches everything by going overboard and exploding.

On the other hand, Samuel is calm, collected, logical, cautious, and an introvert. Their relationship takes centre stage throughout the show, but their personalities do not change.

Thanks to the writing team for finding a way for the two characters to rekindle their relationship without shifting their personalities, symbolising the need for couples to embrace each other without forcing them to change their personalities. 

Overall, LTNS is a magnificent miniseries with fantastic acting and a unique narrative pushing the limits of K-drama. If you plan to binge LTNS, be prepared for an honest representation of relatable scenarios of marriage life.

However, the series stresses the fact that there are no two sides to unfaithful relationships, either physical or emotional, which somehow moralises LTNS and gives it a deeper meaning than just cheating and blackmail.


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  • Verdict - 8/10
    8/10
8/10

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