[Feb 6] "Marry My Husband" Ep 12, “Love Song for Illusion” Ep 11: Ratings & Recap

The Monday-Tuesday drama slot is still dominated by “Marry My Husband”. The tvN drama maintained its top spot in ratings, even though it slightly dropped from its record high.

“Marry My Husband” episode 12 rating & recap

Nielsen Korea reported that the episode of “Marry My Husband” that aired on February 6 had an average rating of 10.5% nationwide. This is a bit lower than the 11.8% it achieved in its previous episode, which was its highest rating so far.

Ji-won learns the truth about Ji-hyuk’s ex-fiancée and Joo-ran’s cancer

Episode 12 begins with a scene from the past. Ji-won’s father leaves for a business trip and tells her he will be back late. Ji-won goes to the market to buy some food and hears some gossip about her mother who eloped. On her way back, she spots her father and decides to follow him. He leads her to a house where she sees her mother with another man, smiling and holding hands.

Ji-won is at the store later, but she can’t find her wallet. The store owner insults her mother and Ji-won feels hurt. Su-min comes to her rescue and defends her. Ji-won narrates how she was betrayed by the people she trusted because she had nothing. But now, she has a second chance and she wants to make things right.

In the present, Ji-won and Ji-hyuk are confronted by Ji-hyuk’s former fiancée, Yoo-ra. Ji-won is shocked to learn that he was engaged before. She thinks she has made another mistake. She leaves and goes to her house, where Hui-yeon calls her and tells her that Joo-ran has stomach cancer.

Yoo-ra, on the other hand, talks to Ji-hyuk’s grandfather and tells him that U&K is her family. She says she didn’t mind breaking up with Ji-hyuk, but now he has become more attractive. So, she plans to stay in Korea for some time. At her house, she has photos of Ji-won and Ji-hyuk on her table.

Ji-won takes Joo-ran to the doctor, using a car she bought for this reason. Ji-won tries to comfort Joo-ran, but she feels guilty that Joo-ran is going through what she was supposed to go through.

Meanwhile, Su-min is unhappy with her honeymoon destination. She and Min-hwan talk about their future, but they end up arguing. Min-hwan goes out and calls his friend. He tells him that he's canceling the rental apartment his mother arranged for him, but he'll pretend it was a fraud. Su-min hears him and confronts him about it.

At work, Hui-yeon and another worker face some problems. Gyeong-uk seems to enjoy it. Ji-won shows up and finds out that the chefs have backed out of the meal kit project. Hui-yeon thinks Gyeong-uk is behind it.

Ji-hyuk calls Ji-won and asks her to talk to him since she was ignoring his calls. He tells her that he ended his engagement with Yoo-ra in their previous life after Ji-won died. He realized he loved her and called it off. Ji-won, who has been hurt by her mother’s abandonment, thinks that a relationship can’t be over unless both parties agree. Ji-hyuk gives her the number of a stomach cancer expert, whom he contacted from the U.S.

Ji-hyuk had prepared a way to save Jiwon from cancer. And now he’s using that to save Juran too. Ji-hyuk, you're such a man.

Ji-won breaks up with Ji-hyuk after meeting Yoo-ra

Ji-won meets Yoo-ra, who called her. Ji-won tells her that she broke up with Ji-hyuk. Yoo-ra accuses her of chasing Ji-hyuk because he is U&K’s heir. Ji-won stands up to her and tells her that she can change her life without Ji-hyuk’s support.

Ji-hyuk returns home and sees the necklace he bought for Ji-won outside his door. At her house, Ji-won wonders what will happen to Joo-ran. Joo-ran is driving home with her husband, while her daughter is at her parents’ restaurant. Seok-jun observes everything from a distance and sees the woman who is having an affair with Joo-ran’s husband. She is Joo-ran’s friend.

Joo-ran texts Ji-won that she has an appointment for surgery and Ji-won realizes it’s thanks to Ji-hyuk’s efforts. Ji-won thinks about Su-min and we see her standing up to Min-hwan and his mother. She doesn’t let Ja-ok bully her. She tells Min-hwan in private that she had a miscarriage and blames it on Min-hwan throwing his phone at her.

Hui-yeon brings food and drinks to Ji-won, who is working overtime. She confesses that Ji-hyuk asked her to do it. She also reveals that she was the reason Ji-hyuk got engaged in the first place.

Ji-hyuk finds his grandfather and Yoo-ra at his home. He escorts Yoo-ra out and tells her to stick to their agreement to end the engagement. She claims that she hates sharing what belongs to her. Hui-yeon tells Ji-won that Yoo-ra is obsessed with keeping Ji-hyuk away from other women. A flashback shows Ji-hyuk showing Yoo-ra pictures of a woman who was severely injured by her. Ji-won isn't interested in hearing more, but Hui-yeon drops a bombshell: she is not Ji-hyuk’s real sister. 

Ji-hyuk returns to talk to his grandfather and the truth comes out. Ji-hyuk’s father had an affair with a woman named Ms. Cha, who is Hui-yeon’s mother. Ji-hyuk decided to marry Yoo-ra to avoid his father’s mistake. But he couldn’t help falling in love with Ji-won.

Ji-won’s enemies unite to destroy her happiness 

Yoo-ra decides to cause trouble by telling Min-hwan and Su-min about Ji-hyuk’s true identity. Meanwhile, Ja-ok makes Su-min clean the whole apartment. Su-min receives a mail from Yoo-ra, containing evidence of Ji-hyuk being the heir of U&K and his relationship with Ji-won.

Su-min realizes that Ji-won tricked her into taking her garbage. Min-hwan arrives home and sees the chaos caused by Su-min. She shows him the photos and documents. Su-min wants to get revenge on Ji-won and plans something.

Ji-won gets a text from her mother and agrees to see her. Her mother says she left because she was young and foolish. She says she tried to see Ji-won but her father stopped her. Ji-won says her mother’s absence made her trust the wrong people.

Ji-won gives her mother another chance and meets her the next day. They have a good time together and Ji-won buys her many things. Her mother then mentions that she knows Ji-won is dating a wealthy man. Ji-won smiles, knowing this is coming.

A flashback shows that Su-min contacted Ji-won’s mother, knowing she needed money. Her mother asks Ji-won why she bought her all the clothes and jewelry. Ji-won says she wanted to have one happy day with her mother. When her mother asks for money, Ji-won leaves.

Yoo-ra finds out what happened and decides to join the fray. She meets Min-hwan in person. Ji-hyuk is doing his martial arts training. Ji-won sees him from afar but leaves before he notices her. She visits her father’s grave and cries, feeling frustrated about her life.

On her way back, another car follows her. A truck driver gets a phone call. When Ji-won stops at a signal, the truck heads straight for her. But another car intervenes - it’s Ji-hyuk! Ji-won watches in horror as the truck hits his car.

Takeaway: "Marry My Husband"’s writing and focus seem to be slipping in episode 12. The main theme of the show - that Ji-won has to escape her fate - is still there, with the twist that Ji-won accidentally endangered her own friend (Joo-ran). This was a good twist that added some spice to the story, just when we thought Su-min would take all the blame. But the rest of the episode is going off track.

There are too many new characters. Yoo-ra is not only a pointless addition that only prolongs the show but her role as the ex-fiancé is a cliché that has been done to death. By bringing in Yoo-ra, the show is losing its uniqueness and becoming more generic.

The story seems to drag on with Ji-won's mother's involvement, which adds nothing to the plot. The 12th episode also crams in the troubles of the meal kit project. The only thing that makes it relatively interesting is Su-min's discovery of Ji-won's betrayal. Maybe her vengeance will revive the story.

“Love Song for Illusion” episode 11 rating & recap

On the other hand, KBS2’s “Love Song for Illusion” also experienced a minor decline in ratings. The 11th episode of the drama scored an average of 1.7% nationwide.

The last episode ended with Sajo Yung (Hwang Hee) using his lover Yeon Wol (Hong Ye-Ji) as bait to bring out the king’s other personality, Ak-Hee. The ministers were stunned by the sudden change in Sajo Hyeong’s behavior.

Episode 11 starts with Ak-Hee in control of Sajo Hyeong’s body and finding out he has been fooled. He denies being the “evil spirit” that everyone fears. But things get worse when a rumor makes the villagers turn against him.

Is Park Ji-Hoon the cause of the plague?

In "Love Song for Illusion" episode 11, Sajo Yung is locked up after Ak-Hee conceals that he's the other personality. At the same time, a plague infects the village and his kingdom, including Prince Ga Ron of Jinhoi.

The prince is Sajo Hyeong’s guest, who bought the women of the kingdom from Sajo Yung. In the previous episode, the king and Yeon Wol tried to punish him. The relations between the two kingdoms get tense when the prince falls ill in episode 11. Yeon Wol goes to the village to look for a remedy and sees that the flu has spread everywhere. Sajo Yung’s supporters use this opportunity and spread a rumor.

The rumor claims that the “cursed king” has brought the plague to the village. People start to demand that Sajo Hyeong be dethroned. Yeon Wol reveals to her guard that Ak-Hee is not an “evil spirit” but a split personality. Meanwhile, Ak-Hee tries to convince the ministers that the plague is due to the season.

On the other side, Sajo Hyeong is immobilized and unconscious in his subconscious state while Ak-Hee defends him. To find a cure for the king, Ak-Hee and Yeon Wol look for Shaman Cheong-Ta. The split personality, who used to be Sajo Hyeong’s enemy, helps him to see his lover. He endures intense pain and allows Yeon Wol to enter his subconscious mind so that she can meet Sajo Hyeong.

Episode 11 ending: Park Ji-Hoon’s Ak-Hee is stabbed

At the end of the 11th episode, Yeon Wol and Ak-Hee locate Shaman Cheong-Ta. He tempts Ak-Hee, promising to get rid of Sajo Hyeong for good. The split personality pretends that he still despises the king.

When Cheong-Ta begins the ritual, Ak-Hee pulls out a dagger against him. Ak-Hee warns him to save Sajo Hyeong or he will kill him. Sadly, Cheong-Ta betrays him and stabs a knife into Ak-Hee’s shoulder. Sajo Hyeong, who is immobilized, sees Ak-Hee in their subconscious place with a knife in his shoulder.

The next scene shows Sajo Hyeong waking up in his room. Meanwhile, Cheong-Ta vanishes before Yeon Wol can catch him. Love Song for Illusion episode 11 also shows Queen Geum-Hwa and her father’s plan. He wants her to have the king’s child before the whole kingdom makes him abdicate the throne.

Are you following any of these dramas? Let me know what you think~

(Source: Nielsen Korea)