'Universe Marry Me' hinted at a time-suspending romance right from its premiere with Jung So-min's direct proposal ending.
The first episode of SBS's new Friday-Saturday drama 'Universe Marry Me' (directed by Song Hyun-wook and Hwang In-hyuk, written by Lee Ha-na), which aired on the 10th, showcased the fateful first meeting between Kim Woo-joo (played by Choi Woo-shik) and Yu Me-ri (played by Jung So-min), leading to Me-ri's unexpected proposal for Woo-joo to become her husband during their second meeting, setting the stage for a spectacular fate between Woo-joo and Me-ri that exploded viewers' dopamine levels.
The viewership rating for the first episode of 'Universe Marry Me' recorded a peak of 7.0%, 6.1% in the metropolitan area, and an average of 5.6% nationwide, achieving the number one rating in its time slot and the highest rating among all programs excluding daily dramas, marking a refreshing start. The 2049 viewership rating soared to a maximum of 2.15%, confirming the unbeatable chemistry of Choi Woo-shik and Jung So-min in romantic comedies.
The broadcast depicted Me-ri facing both a life crisis and fortune. While preparing for her wedding, Me-ri discovered her fiancé Kim Woo-joo's (played by Seo Beom-jun, hereafter referred to as (former) Woo-joo) infidelity. Despite having completed the marriage registration due to a lease loan for their newlywed home, Me-ri decided to divorce, stating, "I feel like I will divorce you someday if I live with you. If we're going to divorce anyway, I might as well do it now," and delivered a satisfying blow by splashing a drink on (former) Woo-joo.
A month later, after signing the divorce papers, Me-ri faced a life crisis before the pain of separation had even passed, getting caught up in a newlywed home lease fraud. (Former) Woo-joo coldly drew the line, saying, "We're not in any relationship anymore," igniting her anger.
The fateful first meeting between Woo-joo and Me-ri occurred when Woo-joo, who was driving slowly while trying to find his way, had a contact accident with a drunken Me-ri. To resolve the accident, Woo-joo saved his contact information in Me-ri's phone, and in her drunken state, Me-ri mistook the name 'Kim Woo-joo' for (former) Woo-joo, leading to a comical scuffle that brought laughter. After a back-and-forth tussle, Me-ri expressed her disappointment and frustration towards (former) Woo-joo. Unfortunately, she ended up sitting on a cactus pot, injuring her bottom with thorns, and Woo-joo took her to the hospital for treatment, subtly revealing his caring charm.
Amidst the crises of divorce and lease fraud, an unexpected stroke of luck came to Me-ri in the form of winning a prize for a newlywed home, captivating viewers' attention. A luxurious townhouse worth 5 billion won, prepared for the lobby of Botte Department Store, was supposed to go to the winner, but due to a manipulation failure by the department store's representative Lee Sung-woo (played by Park Yeon-woo), it ended up going to Me-ri instead. Botte Department Store's executive Baek Sang-hyun (played by Bae Na-ra) instructed a detailed review of the complicated contract clauses to cancel the win. Receiving a call about the prize for newlyweds, Me-ri realized she was still in a marital state as she had not yet submitted her divorce confirmation and submitted the documents to the department store.
Sang-hyun, who had to find a reason to cancel the win, threatened that the couple must attend the prize ceremony together. In a situation where Me-ri was at risk of having her luxurious townhouse win canceled, she attempted to contact (former) Woo-joo but couldn't reach him. At that moment, Woo-joo contacted her, and Me-ri's eyes lit up as she found hope in the name 'Kim Woo-joo,' which was the same as her fiancé's.
When Me-ri met Woo-joo, she appeared very nervous and asked, "Have you gotten married by any chance?" catching Woo-joo off guard with her sudden question. She continued, "I know it's hasty to say this after just one meeting, but you're the only one I can turn to, Mr. Kim Woo-joo," revealing her tearful eyes, and then shocked him with a surprise proposal, saying, "Will you be my husband?" Woo-joo's bewildered expression closed the episode, raising curiosity about how their relationship would change due to Me-ri's unexpected proposal in the next episode.
'Universe Marry Me' burst with heart-fluttering dopamine from the very first broadcast as Woo-joo and Me-ri's fates intertwined like a playful twist of fate, leading to a proposal. The unexpected contact accident that brought Woo-joo and Me-ri together sparked curiosity about the narrative they would build moving forward.
Actor Choi Woo-shik successfully transformed his acting by perfectly embodying the character of a flawless fourth-generation chaebol. He displayed a seemingly cold yet subtly warm charm that induced excitement. Actress Jung So-min delicately portrayed the emotional journey of Me-ri, the protagonist of a rollercoaster life filled with crises and fortunes, evoking empathy. After confirming her divorce, she swung a bat at a baseball practice field to gather her thoughts, only to crumble under the pain of separation, creating a poignant moment, while her lovely drunken acting brought laughter.
'Universe Marry Me' Episode 2 will air today (11th) at 9:50 PM.
[Yang So-young, Star Today Reporter]
