Oppa remembered all of a sudden that we loved Soundtrack #1 and that it had a "stand-alone" sequel (or a story totally independent from the first version) that also had good reviews. I'm glad he remembered because we enjoyed this second serving too!
Plot
Just like the first part, Soundtrack #2 is also focused on music. It tells the story of ex-lovers Ji Su Ho (Noh Sang Hyun) and Do Hyeon Seo (Keum Sae Rok). When they were first together a couple of years ago, Su Ho was a struggling guy who juggled a lot of part-time jobs to make ends meet. He dreamt of being a YouTube star and was bent on finding that something that will make him viral. Hyeon Seo, on the other hand, was a budding pianist, who could not understand Su Ho's seemingly unreachable dreams. Hyeon Seo wanted to travel on the Camino de Santiago trail and Su Ho planned a trip for the two of them. However, on the day of their trip, Hyeon Seo did not show up and instead, she broke up with Su Ho. Heartbroken Su Ho was bent on living a better life as some sort of clap back at Hyeon Seo, whom he believed broke up with him because he was poor.
Fast forward to a couple of years later, Su Ho is now the rich CEO of a highly-successful company that manages digital creators. On the other hand, Hyeon Seo is a struggling piano teacher who plans on opening a tteokbokki restaurant. As fate would have it, the two cross paths again when Su Ho, diagnosed with tinnitus due to being overworked, is advised to take music lessons to alleviate his symptoms. He ends up hiring Hyeon Seo as his piano instructor.
Things get complicated, however, when Su Ho's talent, K (Sohn Jeong Hyuck), meets and befriends Hyeon Seo, and subsequently, falls for her too. While the choice was never hard for Hyeon Seo, the story takes us through how the ex-lovers handle their feelings and issues that have been carried over from their past. Will their relationship have a different ending, now that their circumstances have changed? Or will their old problems come back and haunt them again?
Keum Sae Rok as Do Hyeon Seo and Noh Sang Hyun as Ji Su Ho
Since the show only had six short episodes, I'll put characters together too to make the review short as well.
I loved Keum Sae Rok's chill and optimistic vibe as Hyeon Seo. Of course, it turns out that she actually had a lot of insecurities inside. But on the outside, she seemed so carefree, which suited her very much. I also liked how Hyeon Seo had a bit more depth compared to Sae Rok's previous roles in The Last Princess, The Interest of Love, and Youth of May.
This is our first Noh Sang Hyun drama. And initially, I found Su Ho too immature for my taste. But as I got to know his story, I somehow understood where he was coming from.
I was so confused when I first found out that Su Ho and Hyeon Seo were ex-lovers. Did Su Ho really grow rich in four years just because he was so motivated by Hyeon Seo looking down on him? And did Hyeon Seo really break up with him because he was poor?
As the story progressed, I realized that incompatibility was the main problem in Su Ho and Hyeon Seo's relationship. Su Ho was a dreamer. Hyeon Seo was grounded and wanted Su Ho to get a normal job like joining the civil service. They had different perspectives and they refused to respect each other's choices.
I felt bad for Su Ho after they broke up. After all the stuff he went through for that trip to happen. Why did Hyeon Seo have to keep her surgery a secret? And how can she be so heartless and inconsiderate, cancelling the trip on the day itself. So I somehow understood all the things that Su Ho wished would happen - for Hyeon Seo to have a hard time and cry as much as he did.
Su Ho's pettiness when they first met again was hilarious. Oh how he showed off his wealth - by reading a magazine with him on the cover, wearing a suit even it if it was hot, displaying all of his awards, filling up his cupboard, opening all of his gates to show off his cars, and revving up his car loudly to get her attention. But after all the funny stuff, I seriously wondered if he was genuinely happy to see her struggling.
And I totally disagreed with how Su Ho kept rubbing it on Hyeon Seo's face that she made the wrong choices. And accusing her of being all about money with the way she agreed to work with him. I don't think he'd win her back that way. The least he can do now that he's well-off is to be magnanimous.
Before they got back together, I was happy that they both had the chance to apologize to each other and get some sort of closure. He was honest about his resentment. And she admitted that she was wrong. And while they broke up again, I'm still good with that mini reunion because they were brave enough to give themselves another chance. (P.S. the scenes during this reunion were really nice, like when they first hugged inside Hyeon Seo's studio and they were framed by the window while it was raining outside or their kiss when they agreed to start over again where they were framed by the grand piano).
The Love Triangle
It was interesting to see the three leads collaborate on a music project. K, a budding YouTube singer/songwriter, agreed to work with Su Ho. Hyeon Seo agreed to play the piano for K's composition, as a final hurrah to music, before she focuses on her tteokbokki shop.
I was concerned that Su Ho's objectivity would be clouded by his feelings. Especially when they all lived together. But he proved me wrong. Although he was petty with that sinister laughter when he saw the video where Hyeon Seo rejected K.
Of course, I felt bad for K, who was actually more charming than Su Ho most of the time. But I liked how he was perceptive, especially about Su Ho and Hyeon Seo's past. And how he gave them space when he realized they were still very much in love with each other.
Execution
Although this was a very short drama, I liked how it gave us the real picture about music as a career. Sure, we have the lucky ones who get good breaks. But for a lot of musicians, music cannot pay their bills. Which is really, really heartbreaking if music is truly your passion and you're good at it like Hyeon Seo.
And I loved how this drama showed us the magic behind making beautiful music together. As K described it, it's moving and like speaking to one's heart.
Because the show was short, the story was really very simple, focusing on music and Hyeon Seo and Su Ho's relationship. So I'll talk about the latter more, especially after their second break up.
Who was to blame? I blame Su Ho more. He couldn't seem to grasp that she was struggling, she needed support, and she can't keep up with his lifestyle. He really crossed the line when he paid her rent without telling her. He, more than anyone else, should know that he needs to meet her where she is. He's been there before, after all. Sure, they were both busy but it just felt that Su Ho was from a different world and their different social status affected their relationship.
Of course, Hyeon Seo was not without fault. As her friend (Jeon Hye Jin) said, Hyeon Seo had to learn how to ask for help. But we have to understand where she's coming from. She does not want to take advantage of her relationship with Su Ho. And she also wanted to make it on her own. But the fact that she asked her friend for help in cleaning up her mess and she admitted that she had difficulty accepting help, which caused problems in her relationships, were already big steps.
I loved how the show gave us the real, hard talk about relationships. That things won't always be bright and rosy because there will always be inevitable difficult situations that you need to solve and talk about. I liked how Hyeon Seo realized that she needed to love herself and she should not belittle her dreams. Although understandably, life is not always kind on everyone so most people are forced to just keep grinding without the luxury of having the time to stop and smell the flowers to enjoy life.
I liked how the show ended with Hyeon Seo and Su Ho finally going to the Camino de Santiago trail together. And how Hyeon Seo allowed Su Ho to help her carry her broken bag. It signals the start of Hyeon Seo finally opening her heart to allow Su Ho to help lighten her burden.
Oppa says...4.8.
Noona says...4.7.