YTN Reporter Discusses How Thirty Nine’s Weak and Conventional Plot Makes it Feel Like a 1990’s Era K-drama and Wastes the Casting of Top Star Son Ye Jin

An entertainment reporter at YTN wrote an article today (click here) that went into depth to discuss the first two episodes of just premiered jTBC drama Thirty Nine. I noticed the same criticisms and concerns already voiced by K-netizens here and there but to have it expressed cohesively explains why Thirty Nine isn’t primed (for now) as a sure fire success despite it’s decent 4%-5% cable ratings for the first two episodes. The reporter said that Thirty Nine was one of the most anticipated dramas of 2022 due to it being top actress Son Ye Jin‘s first project since the mega hit Crash Landing on You two years ago. But once it aired the feedback is that the plot is really old fashioned (i.e. conventional) and comes off like a 1990’s era K-drama.

The three lady best friends are the same age and each has their own love lines, but it feels so random. Especially Son Ye Jin with Yeon Woo Jin‘s character, it’s just a series of random encounters one after another and rinse and repeat. There is nothing compelling about the start to this romance and in fact turns off viewers. Also old fashioned is the use of a funeral to start the drama but not tell viewers who the dead person is and then revealing it by episode 2, so why the coyness only for the quick reveal. And lasting Jeon Mi Do‘s character has an adulterous affair and terminal illness, both plot points are getting lots of lambasting from the netizens. Overall, the reporter is just disappointed this was the drama top star Son Ye Jin picked and hopes the plot and writing gets better with a good ending to make up for the less than stellar start.