Thirty Nine (서른 아홉) is a Korean drama TV series directed by Kim Sang-ho and stars Son Ye-jin, Jeon Mi-do and Kim Ji-hyun, alongside other cast members. The series has 12 episodes and Thirty Nine episode 1 is titled Thirty, Nine and has a runtime of 78 minutes.
Netflix describes the series as:
Leaning on each other through thick and thin, a trio of best friends stand together as they experience life, love and loss on the brink of turning 40.
– Thirty Nine episode 1 recap contains major spoilers –
Thirty Nine episode 1 starts being the most relatable thing in my life. Granted, I am not 39 years old (yet) but at my age, I get the tiredness and utter exhaustion of existing. Anyway, our leading ladies give us a rundown of their lives and how and why they operate the way they do. Friends from 18, these three women have been through the highs and lows of life together. It’s both funny and heartwarming to learn how their lives haven’t changed from their teens except that they go to funerals but never to marriages.
Right after all of this, we learn that Mi-jo is taking a year-long sabbatical but a nice bonding session among the three women turn into a bloodbath when a woman barges in and accuses Mi-jo of seducing her husband. The fight ends up in the police station where Mi-jo tells her bruised friends that she won’t press charges. Joo-hee then remembers the time the three of them were in a similar situation years ago. The flashback is a testament of their easy-going and heartwarming friendship.
Thanks to the police station incident, we get to know that Chan-young has a complicated relationship with Jin-seok. The next day, the three of them head to an orphanage and Mi-jo is seen spending a great time with the kids. The main attraction, however, is a handsome stranger who catches Mi-jo’s eye. Either way, the news of the sabbatical catches Mi-jo’s friends by surprise that night. However, a fight breaks out when Mi-jo tells Chang-young that she needs to break up with Jin-seok since he is happily married and they are having an affair.
Mi-jo consoles an angry Chang-young, who tells her that she knows what she is doing isn’t healthy but she reiterates that since she hasn’t slept with Jin-seok, it doesn’t count as cheating. Mi-jo is so done with Chan-young and her excuses however, the latter tells her that she will quit him and smoking soon. The two make up but before Mi-jo can go into the bar, she gets a call and eventually meets handsome English teacher Seon-u to get her watch back.
Seon-u and Mi-jo seem to share a connection though and have noodles and soju together. They share stories and understand each other better, complete with sharing peonies and doing a horrible job at lying. Meanwhile, in Thirty Nine episode 1, Joo-hee comes across a handsome stranger of her own.
As life moves on, Mi-jo and Seon-u meet by chance again and Chan-young realises just how lonely and hopeless she feels when she sees Jin-seok with his wife. Interestingly, Mi-jo’s secret meeting ends in them having a romantic time at his place. The aftermath is a bit uncomfortable with Mi-jo rushing out after putting off his offer of dating, telling him that she will be leaving Korea soon. Her giddiness, however, is short-lived when she is called to the police station.
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Chan-young apparently slapped a couple for having an affair. When asked why, she tells her that they looked filthy and asks her whether that’s how she looks with Jin-seok. These complicated feelings are well discussed in this moment. Chan-young realises that what she is doing is wrong and feels horrible about it – she realises that what she is doing is hypocritical since she thinks that when she does it, it’s love but when she sees others doing the same thing, she feels disgusted. That conversation dies down thanks to Mi-jo’s moment of romance and a very moment afterwards.
The next day, Chan-young calls Jin-seok over and asks him point-blank whether he will ever divorce his wife. She can wait till he’s 60 or more, even. However, he needs to say that he will do it. When he doesn’t reply, she says that she knows that he will never be able to leave his wife. She quit smoking already, and she will quit him too. Meanwhile, Mi-jo meets the new director who will substitute her that night as well. And who else can it be other than Seon-u. Yep, both Min-jo and I are shocked.
Final thoughts: Thirty Nine episode 1
There are very few shows who have made an impact on me and Thirty Nine is one of them! Man, I loved this first episode – it introduces all of its characters, adds humour and emotions so well to the mix that it doesn’t feel like a chore. It’s heartwarming, sweet and funny. Oh, and oh-so relatable! I really am invested in the lives of these three women already, and hopefully, it gets better from here on out!
Thirty Nine is streaming on Netflix.