The concept of Emotional Watch is introduced in the episode 3. Eun-a and Dong-man’s complex lives are explored and their slow changes are well shown.
We Are All Trying Here Episode 3 Review has a runtime of 65 minutes.
-
We Are All Trying Here Netflix Cast
Koo Kyo-hwan, Go Youn-jung, Oh Jung-se, Kang Mal-geum, Park Hae-joon, Bae Jong-ok
-
We Are All Trying Here Kdrama Director
Cha Young-hoon
-
We Are All Trying Here Series Screenwriter
Park Hae-young
-
Original Title
모두가 자신의 무가치함과 싸우고 있다, Everyone Is Fighting Against Their Own Worthlessness
We Are All Trying Here Episode 3 Review
Quick Recap
Episode 3 starts with the introduction of the Emotion Watch at the AS Group retreat, which sets the vibe for the episode. Dong-man and Eun-a drink coffee, and they bond while they exchange about each other’s emotional readings. They learn that they both process emotions in different ways. Dong-man reveals that whenever some bad events happen, he gets excited as the bad in him feels alive. Whereas Eun-a tells that she sees him as a person with a thousand doors wide open. This makes Dong-man feel seen for the first time. And his watch gives a rare positive emotional sign.
Later, we see Dong-man confronting Gyeong-se and his gang. He teases Gyeong-se’s failed project, and it triggers him. He couldn’t handle the criticism, and he feels insecure. Whereas Dong-man feels much lighter, and he even starts writing his chaotic mind voices, showing that he wishes to creatively use his dark thoughts.
Also read: Perfect Crown Episode 6 Review: Buried Secrets Come Out
On the other side, Eun-a’s life becomes clumsy. Jun-hwan’s name resurfaces, and he emotionally abuses Eun-a. This confrontation becomes intense and leaves Eun-a enduring a severe nosebleed. The episode closes on a sad yet awakening note. Dong-man witnesses another car accident near Eun-a, but this time his body doesn’t get excited, but he gets shocked and concerned. Meaning, his real self is coming out.
Performances
The actors and the way they delivered the emotional scenes are something to be applauded. This episode had so many complex scenes, but both actors pulled it off. We see Dong-man’s character going from chaotic to calm, and the balance is shown well. His being all goofy and then serious and then shocked is well established by the actor Kyo-hwan.
Eun-a’s performance is stellar. Her character is someone who drowns silently. This time, we see how much she tries to overcome the tribulations that literally give her a nosebleed, indicating that her suppressed emotions are physically showing out. Her confrontation with Jun-hwan felt raw, and it made me feel so bad for her.
Themes
Self-identity is a great theme that was explored in this episode. Dong-man sees himself as a bad person, as he feels happy when bad things happen around him. However, when Eun-a makes him feel seen, he realises he is much more than a destructive guy. Likewise, towards the end of the episode, we see how his heart stopped when the accident happened. His heart is definitely becoming softer.
On the other hand, Eun-a fighting with Jun-hwan shows that she’s trying her best to stay mentally sane. Even if her world is crumbling, her bravery is something to stand for. Her nosebleed is an indication that she’s trying her best, and her body is literally breaking from the stress.
Direction and Editing
The whole episode felt really striking to watch. The quiet moments between Eun-a and Dong-man, the chaotic moment between Dong-man and Gyeong-se and the painful scene between Eun-a and Jun-hwan show how much the director has planned to show the audience, a clear picture of mental health.
There was so much intensity in this episode, and the editing has to be appreciated. The viewers are able to absorb the scenes as the pacing felt good, and the editing didn’t cut out major scenes. The storytelling felt gradual, and the escalation of tension felt natural. The dialogue wasn’t too much but just the right amount.
What Is Missing?
This episode is definitely emotionally rich, but some dynamics felt off. A deeper exploration into Dong-man’s history is definitely needed because his confrontations are something that needs lots of flashbacks to fully comprehend. Likewise, Jun-hwan’s character could have been painted even more tightly as he plays a pivotal role when it comes to Eun-a’s mental health.
His actions are clearly problematic, but a deep move into why he’s being such a madhead might have made the conflict even more strong. Finally, while the Emotion Watch is a fascinating concept, more about it wasn’t shown. It could have really become a trend if they had used the concept and expanded it further.
Final Thoughts
Dong-man and Eun-a’s lives are really painful to watch. But the best part is, they both seem to stay beside each other. Their connection feels nice to watch as they both, though extremely different, still share one thing: weak mental health.
The episode succeeds in blending psychological depth with intense storytelling. It doesn’t offer easy answers, but it does something more valuable. Yes, the viewers learn more about how mental health can cause issues in people and how disturbing it can be.
Also read: