Whale Store XOXO Episode 9 Review: All’s Well That Ends Well

In the last episode, Mouse Mart’s inauguration sends Wan and Maewnam into overdrive to try and save Wan’s store. With Mahnmook breathing down her neck, Wan takes things into her own hands. But does that mean breaking up with Maewnam? Meanwhile, Tonnam and Chom face a roadblock in their relationship.

Whale Store XOXO Episode 9 has a runtime of 50 minutes.

The series is adapted from the novel “The Whale Store” (คุณวาฬร้านชำ The Whale Store ร้านนี้ไม่มีรักขาย) by Snow Leopard (เสือดาวหิมะ).

Whale Store XOXO Episode 9 Recap

The episode opens with a heartbroken Wan walking back home after the devastating events from the last episode. In front of the store, she meets Noey, who has come back to give her the land deed back, and she breaks down in front of her. Noey comforts her and assures her that Maewnam didn’t make any decision to hurt her. With difficulties looming over her head, Maewnam, too, goes back home and thinks back to her time with Wan.

Meanwhile, Tonnam and Chom take a new direction with their relationship, living without fear. They later meet up with Maewnam and discuss her relationship with Wan thoroughly, trying to understand where it leaves all of them. Tonnam advises her to reach out to Wan and express her feelings instead of avoiding the topic altogether, and this makes Maewnam curious. Meanwhile, Wan has a hard time at the store as more people arrive for Som, which makes her uncomfortable. As she daydreams about Maewnam, Mahnmook arrives at the store.

When Maewnam arrives, she sees the two women getting cosy, and when she hears that Mahnmook is helping her with strategies for the store, she immediately questions Wan. She mentions that Mahnmook can be a good friend, if nothing else, and a dejected Maewnam walks away. Wan is cold about the interaction when Mahnmook enquires, leaving them both uncomfortable. They eventually end up taking a video promoting the store, and it leaves Noey concerned for her friend.

That being said, Maewnam continues to reach out to Wan in her own ways, wondering whether she’s being too harsh with her. That evening, Chom talks to her mother and tries to get her to open up about what’s been bothering her. Chom breaks down and expresses disappointment about her mother’s reaction to her choices, and her mother, in turn, tells her that she’s heartbroken because she thinks that she doesn’t know her at all. It’s a vulnerable moment for them and, in the end, the two hug each other.

However, things aren’t as sunny at Wan’s as Noey and Mahnmook come face to face, and they both unleash their wrath on each other. They both accuse the other of crushing on Wan, but Noey gets the upper hand when she mentions that, being her friend, she knows exactly where to draw the line and help Wan when she’s in need instead of taking advantage of her. This leaves Mahnmook completely irate, while Wan leaves a drunk text for Maewnam.

Of course, she arrives at the store bright and early and makes Wan work for her to pay off the debts that she owes Maewnam. By the time she’s done, Wan is exhausted and can’t believe Maewnam would do this every day. She finally asks for her forgiveness, and Maewnam is happy with the end result. With an overall positive outcome, the two finally make up once more.

Whale Store XOXO Episode 9 Review

Although I love the sweetness of this series, I can’t help but wonder the point of the conflict between Maewnam and Wan in the last episode. I think all of this could’ve been solved by just asking a basic question instead of going nuclear with her reaction. It seems like overkill and an overreaction, as if Maewnam tried to sabotage Wan’s store somehow! The protagonists’ storyline has always seemed quite mature to me, so the last two episodes felt a little confusing and unnecessary.

Either way, I enjoyed Tonnam and Chom’s storyline more this week because there seemed to be more depth, and no one was having a petty fight. Som breaking down and opening up to Chompoo was quite moving. All in all, an ok episode. I think the fact that the series is quite simple is showing in the last few episodes at this point. We will see where things go from here.

Also Read: Whale Store XOXO Reviews