REVIEW: ‘Marry My Husband’ Episodes 3-4

There’s something so delicious about a person coming into their own. It’s like a spark is ignited, and we see a transformation before our eyes. This is the exact feeling achieved in Marry My Husband Episodes 3-4. A high school reunion inspires Kang Ji-Won (Park Min-Young) to redo her look completely. This gives her the strength and confidence to show her face and wipe her slate clean.

Marry My Husband Episode 3 starts where we left off when Ji-Won is screaming bloody murder at Park Min-Hwan’s (Lee Yi-Kyung) naked self. She physically loathes him. Thankfully, a conveniently timed delivery person saves her. Ji-Won uses this as an opportunity to kick him out. Knowing that he’ll flip his lid, she sends him some text messages to hold him over. It is revealed that General Manager Yoo Ji-Hyeok (Na In-Woo) arranged for the delivery person to pop in at just the right time. This is one of the many instances in Marry My Husband Episodes 3-4 where Ji-Hyeok has a hand in rescuing Ji-Won.

Part of the joy of Marry My Husband Episodes 3-4 is seeing the gradual transformation from the unsure Ji-Won to the more confident version of herself. Yoo Hee-Yeon (Choi Gyu-Ri) helps her to achieve this. Hee-Yeon is becoming a better friend to Ji-Won than Jung Soo-Min (Song Ha-Yoon). Their conversations flow naturally. It is an even exchange. And when Ji-Won expresses interest in getting a makeover, Hee-Yeon rolls out the red carpet for her. She even loans Ji-Won the real designer version of the earrings to wear rather than the knockoffs that Soo-Min gave Ji-Won.

This makeover is a real gift. This shows in Ji-Won’s face when she sees herself in the mirror for the first time. Authentic friendship is something new for her, but this gives her the boost she needs to attend her high school reunion with her head held high. She heads to the reunion, where she surprises herself. Not only does she confront her bullies and clear the air, but she also breaks open the lid on Soo-Min’s deceitful behavior.

The final nail in the coffin? The arrival of Ji-Won’s high school crush, Baek Eun-Ho (Lee Gi-Kwang). He confirms in front of everyone that he never dated Soo-Min. This shows how far Soo-Min went in high school to ruin Ji-Won’s reputation. Ji-Won, feeling overwhelmed, leaves, with Eun-Ho following not far behind. Soo-Min is left to stew in her juices as her plans continue to fall apart around her.

Speaking of love interests, it’s clear after a dinner with his grandfather that Ji-Hyeok harbors feelings for Ji-Won. He’s showing lots of interest in her that goes beyond a typical boss/employee relationship. A flashback reveals how he informs Eun-Ho about the reunion. This shows his direct influence on the inevitable outcome we see at the high school reunion. It’s a little suspicious and stalker-like, which brings up the question of how he knew to contact Eun-Ho in the first place.

Those suspicions aside, Ji-Hyeok drives to the reunion and ends up witnessing Ji-Won and Eun-Ho run out. He witnesses Eun-Ho confess his feelings for Ji-Won. What does Ji-Hyeok do about it? Jumping straight into Marry My Husband Episode 4, Ji-Hyeok breaks up the moment with a phone call. He summons Ji-Won to a hotel for an event focusing on online marketing. They both hit it off, even after a higher-up’s sexist comments try to rain on their parade.

Meanwhile, Soo-Min spirals inwardly at the reunion. We saw the cracks in her narcissistic facade breakthrough. It is a testament to Song Ha-Yoon’s acting here. There’s a subtleness to the physicality that shows the internal struggle of Soon-Min. But she’s still desperately holding onto whatever control she has.  Eventually, Soo-Min finds her way back to Ji-Won’s apartment, where she eventually runs into a drunk Min-Hwan.

Ji-Hyeok drives Ji-Won home, where some lighthearted humor shines. They converse about finding ways to identify good people versus bad, but then things get silly. Actress Park Min-Young nails down the physical comedy, particularly when Ji-Won notices Min-Hwan and Soon-Min outside of her apartment building. Sensing Ji-Won’s unease, Ji-Hyeok takes her to chill over by the river, where she discusses her ambitions and finally tells Ji-Hyeok about her meal kit plan. Thankfully, he can potentially vouch for Ji-Won if Soo-Min fully tries to sell the meal kit plan as her own.

The next day, Ji-Won goes to the office, and everyone compliments her but, more annoyingly, Min-Hwan for how pretty she now looks. He basks in the compliments, but the dangerous undercurrent of jealousy is there. This rears up when he finally gets Ji-Won alone. He points out how Ji-Hyeok clearly has a crush on her, but she doesn’t see it. This scene also highlights Min-Young’s excellent use of body language to convey her disgust for Min-Hwan. Maybe one day, he’ll get the hint.

The same can be said for Ji-Won for not picking up the change in Ji-Hyeok’s behavior. He takes her advice on switching to contacts. Ji-Hyeok also criticizes her clearly work-appropriate attire for being too much for the office. He flusters and falls over things in her presence at the office. It’s adorable, but Ji-Won can’t see what it hints at. When Ji-Hyeok pulls her aside for a conversation about her appearance again, she points out how she’s dressing for herself. Not anyone else. It does no good for her to try to emulate what is right. Instead, she wants to feel like herself through and through and suggests Ji-Hyeok do the same.

The big reveal of Marry My Husband Episode 4 is shown once Ji-Hyeok returns home from the office. A mysterious blue heart is seen on his chest, matching the bill Ji-Won showed him previously. Jokingly, Ji-Hyeok is Ji-Won’s allowance. The reason why Ji-Hyeok appears stalkerish? He’s experiencing his second chance at life, too. In a flashback, Ji-Hyeok arrives at Ji-Won’s funeral. He witnesses the arrest of Min-Hwan and Soo-Min. Ji-Hyeok sees how all of Ji-Won’s classmates realize the truth too late. Sadness weighs on him as he drives away from the funeral, and he gets into an accident before waking up in 2013.

This reveal changes things. It explains Ji-Hyeok’s behavior and why he’s opening up to Ji-Won. He hopes to save her from such a horrible fate. The thing is, Ji-Hyeok and Ji-Won both don’t realize that they are living second lives. With this knowledge, future episodes of Marry My Husband may get messy. But, in the realm of Kdrama storytelling, sometimes we like a little messy.

Marry My Husband Episodes 3-4 delights in its tropes, particularly the classic rom-com makeover trope. Seeing Ji-Won coming into her own is a worthwhile treat. Even more delightful is seeing Soo-Min suffer consequences for all the years of backstabbing. When the truth is revealed, it’s so delicious. Everyone in the high school reunion sequence, especially Song Ha-Yoon, keeps things tense and riveting. While this moment may diverge from its webtoon roots, it is well-executed.

Marry My Husband Episodes 3-4 will make you laugh, cry, rage, and wish the very best for Ji-Won and Ji-Hyeok. The reveal at the end of Episode 4 changes everything, and frankly, maybe one of the best twists I’ve seen in a long time. Exhilarating, heartwarming, and tense across the span of these episodes, Marry My Husband is still killing it.

Marry My Husband Episodes 1-4 are now available on Prime Video, with new episodes premiering on Mondays and Tuesdays.