REVIEW: ‘Marry My Husband’ Episodes 9-10

All the seeds Kang Ji-Won (Park Min-Young) and General Manager Yoo Ji-Hyeok (Na In-Woo) have planted in previous episodes sprout in Marry My Husband Episodes 9-10. Ji-Won’s revenge against her enemies takes center stage. None of it is possible without Jung Soo-Min (Song Ha-Yoon) and Park Min-Hwan (Lee Yi-Kyung), both being incredibly awful people. The difference is Ji-Won and Ji-Hyeok lift the veil on their deceitful ways, setting up the stage for what’s to come in the future.

In the aftermath of the engagement, Soo-Min approaches Ji-Won on the boat dock. Soo-Min is desperate to ensure she still has a hold over Ji-Won which manifests itself in a truly deranged fashion. What plays out between the two is nothing short of terrifying when Soo-Min realizes Ji-Won is not interested in conversation. In a power play, she teases Ji-Won with the prospect of her suicide before jumping off the dock. Ji-Won jumps in to save her, but this proves to Soo-Min that she still has power.

The subtlety of Park Min-Young and Song Ha-Yoon’s performances captivate here. From beginning to end, when both are found soaking wet, so much is conveyed in their faces. Soo-Min is willing to do anything, even kill herself, to maintain power. It’s this hold over Ji-Won that she craves more than anything else.

Ji-Won realizes this and conveys her worries to Ji-Hyeok. But she knows that she is almost out of the woods. There are a few more steps before her plan to get Soo-Min and Min-Hwan together is complete. In Marry My Husband Episode 9, the next step is to ruin Min-Hwan financially. Previously, it has been established that Min-Hwan is only with Ji-Won because she’s financially secure and “perfect wife material.” He has many debts, and she is the only one who can help him. Ji-Won knows this and goes out of her way to spend as much of Min-Hwan’s money as possible before pulling the rug out from under him.

Ji-Won basks in her triumphs over Min-Hwan, Soo-Min, and Min-Hwan’s mom, Kim Ja-Ok (Jung Kyung-Soon). Actor Jung Kyung-Soon plays her as this atrociously unapologetic woman, making it so much easier to hate her. Up against these three horrible human beings, the final 15 minutes of Marry My Husband Episode 9 make all of Ji-Won’s efforts worth it. She endures Ja-Ok’s abusive words until the woman starts insulting her father. This is when Ji-Won lets things rip, calling off the engagement and kicking literal butt. There is no doubt right before the credits roll that Ji-Won is finally winning, and it’s only just getting started.

In Marry My Husband Episode 10, we see how far ahead Ji-Won and Ji-Hyeok have planned. Min-Hwan attempts to confront Ji-Won at her apartment, but a quick-cut scene shows that Ji-Won is living somewhere else now. She is taking proactive steps to ensure she is one step ahead of her enemies. While revenge is her focus, Episode 10 shows that Ji-Won is also slowly starting to develop feelings for Ji-Hyeok. The writing has been on the wall for these two for a while, but Ji-Hyeok moving her into his apartment building, providing a villa, and more to help her out is hard not to fall for.

But first, Ji-Won needs to ruin Min-Hwan and Soo-Min. The next day, Ji-Won outs Min-Hwan as a cheater to their entire department. Rumors swirl, and it’s not long before Soo-Min gets caught in the crossfire. Seeing Min-Hwan and Soo-Min try to get out of it is delicious. Ji-Won struck the match, but their actions, including the previous grocery store incident, are what they ultimately hang themselves with. But that doesn’t stop Soo-Min from trying to throw Ji-Won under the bus as a final act of self-preservation.

Part of why Marry My Husband Episode 10 hits so hard is because it feels earned. Without the investment of the actors’ performances and how writer Shin Yoo-dam has built and layered story points, Ji-Won’s revenge wouldn’t feel this sweet. Ji-Won, with the help of Ji-Hyeok, climbs her way out from her suffering to exact vengeance. Her hard work is not in vain, with how much Soo-Min and Min-Hwan continue to be horrible people. And now, looking at what’s to come, Soo-Min and Min-hwan are truly an awful match made in heaven.

In the aftermath of U&K’s latest office scandal, Marry My Husband Episode 10 uses the last third of the episode to recuperate. Ji-Hyeok’s grandfather sees that Ji-Won isn’t someone to dismiss and starts paying attention to her. Ji-Hyeok, still not fully investing in himself as a love interest, pushes Ji-Won out on a date with Baek Eun-Ho (Lee Gi-Kwang). While the date itself is nice, all Ji-Won can think about is Ji-Hyeok. How nice it would be to spend Christmas with him. Continued thoughts of him prompt her to let Eun-Ho down easily, but he gets it.

Marry My Husband Episode 10 ends with the confession fans have been dying for.  Ji-Hyeok waits for Ji-Won outside to come back from her date, but they take things back to his place. He hears her turn down Eun-Ho but still hasn’t figured out why. Ji-Won confesses to him, and they kiss. It feels earned, justified, and is positively flail-worthy. With their romance just barely starting, the drama is likely not over yet.

Marry My Husband Episodes 9-10 are true highlights in the series. Things have been dramatic leading up to these episodes, but things hit the fan here. Ji-Won is confident and petty, and – with the help of Ji-Hyeuk – she is finally able to coordinate and execute a successful plan of revenge. All the build-up of the plot leading up to this point justifies what happens to Min-Hwan and Soo-Min. They are truly awful people and may a pox fall upon the both of them.

Marry My Husband Episodes 9-10 also features a lot of character development. Min-Hwan and Soo-Min continue to show layers of how reprehensible they are. Min-Hwan is a misogynistic user who has been heavily influenced by his mother’s own internalized misogyny. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and it shows. But, if he’s not careful, his debts will come to haunt him.

Soo-Min is steadily mentally deteriorating. As she loses her hold over Ji-Won, the lonely girl inside comes out more. It’s also what enables us to see how Min-Hwan may take advantage of her in the future. Lured with the prospect of a family, her twisted mind takes new forms in Episode 10. 

As for Ji-Won and Ji-Hyeok, they are blossoming. Previously, Ji-Hyeok still read as too passive. In Marry My Husband Episodes 9-10, we see him be more assertive and put himself out there more. Actor Na In-Woo is a minimalist performer, but through his microexpressions, he’s able to display how Ji-Hyeok is coming out of his shell. All he needed was a mission to give him purpose, and Ji-Won’s happiness was that purpose.

Ji-Won herself levels up significantly in Episodes 9-10. Everything she’s learned over the course of the season comes to fruition here, and she becomes the strong woman she’s strived to be in her second life. It’s beautiful to behold.

That’s why it is easy to say that Marry My Husband Episodes 9-10 are the best yet. The revenge taken in both episodes is exactly what the audience has been waiting for. Nothing feels off. Everything feels earned. With only a few episodes left, there’s no telling what further drama will be in store. Either way, it’ll be exciting.

Marry My Husband Episodes 1-10 are now available on Prime Video, with new episodes premiering on Mondays and Tuesdays.