We Are All Trying Here Episode 5 Review: Dong-man’s Emotional Growth is Effective

In Episode 5, a conflict over creative ownership brings Eun-a face-to-face with her manipulative ex. As Dong-man steps in, the episode sharply explores growth.

We Are All Trying Here episode 5 streams for 70 minutes.

We Are All Trying Here Episode 5 Review

Quick Recap

This episode stands out as the most thought-provoking one, if you ask me! It’s quite complicated in a way that best fits the story. We see Eun-a and her problematic ex. Their storyline covers how traumatic her life has been in the past. He seems to have a terrible, manipulative behaviour. He tries to force Eun-a into accepting a development producer credit on a project despite it being unethical. What initially feels like a professional issue is soon turned into a personal one. He even starts to send threatening texts.

Dong-man plays a major role in Eun-a’s life. As he notices the ex-boyfriend’s arrogance, he interferes and confronts him. Dong-man’s personal growth can be eminently seen in this episode as he navigates her life in the calmest way despite being a hyper and chaotic person.

Also read: Perfect Crown Episode 7 Review: Buried Secrets Come Out

There are other important moments, such as Hye-jin’s frustration with Gyeong-se, which is expressed in a brief but memorable scene where she repeatedly hits the counter with a toy hammer. Meanwhile, Mi-ran gets more screen time, and her growing bond with Dong-man makes the episode wholesome.

Performances

The performances are exceptional in this episode. The way Eun-a and Dong-man’s characters are presented by the actors feels extremely authentic. Koo Kyo-hwan, as Dong-man, continues to impress us with his expressive and hyper acting. The scene where he handles Eun-a’s ex speaks volumes. His eyes alone carry the weight of the moment, making the scene more realistic than emotional.

I have to applaud Kang Mal-geum’s act as Hye-jin. That scene where she taps with the hammer conveyed the humorous pain effectively. Acting alongside someone like Oh Jung-se is a huge thing, and Mal-geum did a fantastic job.

Main Theme

The central theme is relationships. Eun-a’s ex literally copies her ideas and tries to manipulate her. This shows how much trauma she has endured with him when she was in love with him. With Dong-man on her side, handling the dispute in a much calmer way, we can see the healing aspect.

Relationships can be dynamic, but a problematic one can never be fixed. As this series explores mental health, the effects of a bad and toxic relationship are expressed in this episode. Showing Dong-man’s part, the reality of a good partner is also shown well.

Direction

The direction in this episode is subtle in a way that the story unfolds naturally and effectively. The pacing is fair as it gives enough time to understand the main conflict and also adds enough time to explore relationships.

Visually, the episode maintains a sense of realism. Dong-man’s workspace shows his personality and seems almost relatable. The small and cluttered place feels human and reflects him in a deep manner.

Cons

While Episode 5 is strong overall, there are a few areas that need improvement. The dynamics within the Eight Club, particularly the idea that Dong-man has been the reason why the other members are uplifted, feel underdeveloped. More insight about it could have been shown to make Dong-man’s character and his impact more prominent.

Additionally, Eun-a’s ex, while effective as an antagonist, lacked reason. His actions are clearly problematic, but a deeper look into his motivations might have made the conflict even more wrenching.

To Wrap Up

Episode 5 stands out for me! The performances are strong, the story feels grounded, the visuals are great, the dialogues are fun, the new characters make a lot of sense– overall, it’s getting much better.

We see how the relationship theme has been shown in a way that teaches people to choose their partners wisely. The story feels human, and many moments in this episode felt relatable.

We Are All Trying Here is streaming on Netflix.

Also read:

• We Are All Trying Here Season 1 Review
• We Are All Trying Here Episode 4 Review: When Buried Truths Erupt and Silence Finally Breaks
• Perfect Crown Episode 8 Review: Scandals Ruin Everything