Why was Love Alarm 2 so infuriating to me?
Needless to say, but Spoiler Alert!
Before telling my reasons, I’m here to say that this isn’t about teams, this is going to be about why I didn’t like season 2 me very much, and yes, it’s because of the ending, but not related to Team Sun Oh o Team Hye Yeong.
So, if you, just like me, enjoyed the first season, when it comes to the relationship Sun Oh and JoJo had… then, I think I found the reason why season 2 didn’t feel right. Before explaining, I know that JoJo’s choice is the same she made in the webtoon, but I won’t go that way.
Now, leaving a side the reasons why Sun Oh decided to kiss JoJo, even knowing ? that his best friend might like her… I truly enjoyed the first season because of the chemistry between So Hyun and Song Kang. I think they both did a really good job, and that’s why I personally truly enjoyed the first season. This couple made me feel things that I haven’t felt in a lot of time… so, yeah, we were following that couple, JoJo and Sun Oh… that felt like where the story was going… but then things changed, and the second couple couldn’t reach the expectations I had. I’m not going to lie, they are cute and sweet, but that doesn’t change the relationship Sun Oh and JoJo had…
In the second season they followed the second couple, and yes, I understand it, she moved on, fell in love with Hye Yeong and the rest is history, but I didn’t move on, and neither did Sun Oh, for the obvious reasons: JoJo never came to him to tell him what was going on, so I see why the boy had a mess in his heart. Maybe he did something, maybe he didn’t, he still didn’t know, and he wanted answers. I understand him because It kinda happened to me once… So with uncertainty, and doubts we saw Sun Oh suffering a whole season, not being able to move on, how could some of us move on too?
In most romantic movies, we are presented with a couple that might have their differences, might fight and go through ups and downs… but at the end they end up together, because that’s the power of love (not actually but I hope you understand what I mean). With Love Alarm 2… that didn’t happen… call what I wanted cliche, but that’s what I was introduced to in the first season, so for some of us, it might make sense that it was what we wanted the ending to be. And that’s why it felt disappointing, thinking that after all they went through they would be together at the end.
That’s what I wanted but didn’t happen. Instead, focusing on the real ending, we got a Sun Oh that still wasn’t able to move on, and that’s what hurted me the most. I’m not quite sure, correct me if I’m wrong, but I read that in the end of the webtoon, Sun Oh made Yuk Jo’s alarm sound. And we didn’t even get that? We were left with a “yeah, maybe - just maybe - in the future I can make your alarm sound” ? The uncertainty following this character's life makes my blood boil. Why not give him the end he deserved? The end he actually had in the original work… Even Duk Gu had an ending, knowing that he would never make Gul Mi like him, and even that ending isn’t quite clear.
What I felt is that they let Sun Oh, and other characters in a tight rope. Yes, I know this suddenly became the JoJo and Hye Yeong show, but at least give me some proper goodbyes? And yes... you can say that the scene in which JoJo and Sun Oh had a last chat, it’s the ending of what they have, the ending of his doubts… but that doesn’t make the rest of the season right… he still suffered, and a “quick let me forgive you” scene doesn’t recompense what the boy went through. This suddenly feels too much, love isn’t that much, and that’s what I would think, but I’m sure that for Sun Oh it meant a lot and that’s why It hurted him so much.
Closing the idea, as “Team Sun Oh” as maybe some of you would like to paint me as, I think that Sun Oh, and even Yuk Jo deserved at least, a better ending and a better character development for that matter.
But don’t confuse me as immature, I understand very well why JoJo ended up with Hye Yeong, It Just felt like the rest of the characters were there to fill the blanks and nothing else, and that felt quite upsetting.
In terms of production, I felt the season was really long, slow and meaningless. It definitely could have been better…
Little shout out to the first season who will remain as my favourite!
If you read this whole thing, then thank you! And I hope you enjoyed it!
Let me know (without hating please) if you agree with me or not!