5 Things We Loved About The Premiere Of "The One And Only"

With a premise of three women in hospice coming together to murder someone, “The One and Only” seemed like it was going to be an incredible drama from the start. With an all-star cast starring Ahn Eun Jin, Red Velvet’s Joy, Kang Ye Won, and Kim Kyung Nam, the premiere episodes lived up to all expectations and then some. It mixed the perfect amount of intrigue, suspense, and human connection in a nice pretty little bow. Below, we’ve curated a list of all the things we loved.

Warning: spoilers for the first two episodes below. 

LOVED: The budding relationship between Pyo In Sook, Kang Se Yeon, and Sung Mi Do

Although this is a romance drama, the standout relationship of the show is between Pyo In Sook (Ahn Eun Jin), Kang Se Yeon (Kang Ye Won), and Sung Mi Do (Joy). While Pyo In Sook and Sung Mi Do get off on the entirely wrong foot, it takes mere seconds for Sung Mi Do to step up and be supportive once it’s revealed that Pyo In Sook’s grandma Yook Sung Ja (Go Doo Shim) has been beaten badly by her neighbor who then moved on to his daughter Ha San Ah (Seo Yeon Woo). Kang Se Yeon is quick to join as well and sets the murder plot into motion by asking if it would be okay to take one person with them since they are terminally ill.

Considering that they were not getting along, it was enjoyable to see how fast they come to work together to come to the defense of Yook Sung Ja and Ha San Ah. Despite their differences, it really showed how similar their values are. Not only are they willing to defend those who were helpless, but they also seem to give each other the strength to assert themselves in ways they tended to shy away from before. They all hold back in their life — Pyo In Sook with her grandmother, Kang Se Yeon with her mother-in-law and husband, and Sung Mi Do with her shallow friends — but this time, they choose not to. Plus, what creates a stronger friendship than committing murder together?

LOVED: Min Woo Chun being a justice killer of sorts

While the drama didn’t shed much light on its mysterious assassin Min Woo Chun (Kim Kyung Nam), it certainly positioned him as someone with a strong set of justice. Admittedly, this feels weird to say as he literally kills people for a living. However, the drama makes it clear that he only takes the jobs if he believes the person is complete trash.

It was hard to know what to expect when it came to his character going into the drama. It sounded a little dramatic that he is an assassin since the show is centered around one murder that the three women commit rather than him. What would be the point of having an assassin involved? But after seeing the episodes, he definitely added some intrigue, and it’s interesting that he’s positioned as a justice killer/anti-hero. Since it is marketed as a romance drama, making him a completely immoral and ruthless assassin wouldn’t have made him someone you’d want to root for. I can’t say the drama already made me invested in the romance that’s coming, but I do appreciate that he does seem to have a strong sense of justice. And I also like that it begs the question that if he does have a strong set of morals, why does he turn to murder in the first place?

LOVED: Sung Mi Do’s intelligent and cunning personality

When it comes to the aftermath of the murder, Sung Mi Do is really set up to be the brains of the operation for better or worse. She easily crafts up an alibi for the three of them, but more strikingly, she tells Kang Se Yeon that she is the one who delivered the fatal blow after discovering that she does not remember the events due to the medication she took.

This scene was absolutely diabolical. Throughout the drama, Joy easily showcased how Sung Mi Do is a bright but lonely person, but this scene really showed off her acting chops. As a viewer, you can’t help but feel uncomfortable but also impressed at the same time. It certainly was not the morally correct thing to do in the situation, but you can’t deny that it was a smart and calculated move. I also like how it positions Sung Mi Do as a wild card. It’s clear she doesn’t want to be left behind, but it’s her defense mechanism to look out for herself. Her cunning personality could easily be an asset or a dilemma for the trio as the drama continues, and I can’t wait to see how Joy will continue to portray the complex emotions of Sung Mi Do.

LOVED: Ha San Ah reuniting with her mom

The most suspenseful scene of the drama is when Ha San Ah’s dad (Baek Hyun Jin) chases her after she foils his attempt to fatally poison her. Even though you can tell where the scene is going beat for beat, it still makes your heart pound with fear. But all of it can be put aside once he dies, and Ha San Ah gets to reunite with her mother.

This is one of the first scenes in the drama where you can actually take a moment to release a huge sigh of relief. It was nice that we got to see Ha San Ah get a new lease on life with her mother since they no longer need to be separated and run and hide.

LOVED: Pyo In Sook choosing not to forgive her father

If there’s one thing that K-dramas love, it’s the redemption of absent parents. This is not a bad thing per se, as everyone has complex relationships with their parents. You love them, but the truth is, sometimes they can hurt you in irreparable ways. However, “The One and Only” takes a different approach and allows Pyo In Sook to tell her father Pyo Kang Sun (Jang Hyun Sung) that even though she wants to love and open her heart to him, she can’t do that because of how he treated her as a child.

The idea that we must forgive our parents for all their wrongdoings simply because they are our parents is an idea that is often supported in the media. I really liked that “The One and Only” took the opposite route and allowed Pyo In Sook to hold onto her agency and validate her mixed feelings towards her father. His abandonment of her was not just swept under the rug in the name of love. The drama acknowledged it as wrong and holds him accountable for his awful actions. While that’s not to say that as the drama progresses she won’t forgive him or accept his love, allowing Pyo In Sook to fully feel and vocalize her feelings was a very poignant scene. I think this scene in particular really solidifies the drama as her story, and it is very well-written. I expect it will become even more touching as the rest of the drama unfolds.

Watch the first episodes below: 

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Hey Soompiers! Did you enjoy the premiere episodes of “The One and Only”? Let us know in the comments below!

kaityv is a freelance writer and editor. In her spare time, she enjoys watching K-dramas and listening to BTS, Red Velvet, and other super talented artists.

Currently watching: “Now We Are Breaking Up,” “The One and Only”
All-time favorite: “Strong Woman Do Bong Soon,” “Do You Like Brahms?”
Looking forward to: “Bite Sisters” with Kang Han Na