4 Shades Of Love Seen In Episodes 9-10 Of "Brewing Love"

Yong Ju (Kim Se Jeong) and Min Ju (Lee Jong Won) may be the main leads of “Brewing Love,” but the drama ensures viewers experience every shade and season of love it has to offer. From Ah Reum (Shin Do Hyun) and Chan Hwi’s (Baek Sung Chul’s) love that embraces the bad days to Mr. Kim (Jang Won Young) and Zhu Yen’s (Seo I Yeon’s) unconventional yet equally pure bond, here are four shades of love showcased in episodes 9-10 of “Brewing Love.”

Warning: spoilers for episode 9-10 ahead!

Yong Ju & Min Ju’s gender-defying love

From the start, Yong Ju and Min Ju’s relationship has defied societal stereotypes of gender roles. While emotional intelligence is often associated with women, Min Ju, the male lead, is an empath. Meanwhile, Yong Ju embodies more traditionally masculine traits—she served in the military, leads an all-male marketing team, and is generally rowdy.

Even though this dynamic has been established since the beginning, it’s still entertaining to see the writers use their gender-role-defying relationship for comedic moments. A standout example occurs in the latest episodes when Min Ju and Yong Ju go on a date. Min Ju notices Yong Ju’s new blush and lipstick and asks her opinion about his updated look. When she struggles to identify the difference, he announces that he trimmed his bangs—not cut them, just trimmed them. This joke, often used to portray women as impractical, becomes refreshingly funny in this reversed situation. It’s almost as if the writers are calling out the media for its outdated jokes about women.

Mr. Kim and Zhu Yen’s love with the inner beauty

Mr. Kim and Zhu Yen’s pairing is unusual for K-dramas. While real-life love transcends appearances, media rarely portrays conventionally attractive people falling for those who aren’t. When such couples are depicted, their dynamic is often treated as a joke, emphasizing the perceived absurdity of their relationship.

Initially, Mr. Kim and Zhu Yen seemed to follow this trope. Early in the show, their contrasting appearances served as comedic relief. However, this week’s episodes confirmed the depth of their love. Mr. Kim supported Zhu Yen in her time of need without expecting anything in return—not because he didn’t care for her, but because he doubted society would believe their love to be genuine. After all, why would a woman like Zhu Yen fall for a man like him?

Ultimately, their love triumphs. They decide to stop worrying about societal judgment, recognizing that even a fleeting moment with the one you love is worth more than a thousand days without them.

Min Ju’s father’s love that struggles to be expressed

Min Ju’s empathy isn’t a superpower—even he has his own biases. Early in the series, he misinterpreted his feelings for Yong Ju, assuming Kang Bum (Ryu Won Woo) was the one truly in love with her.

Similarly, this week reveals his mistaken perception of his father. Min Ju had always seen Yoon Chang Suk (Lee Ki Young) as a stoic military man who showed no grief at his wife’s funeral. The truth, however, was far different. Yoon Chang Suk’s inability to outwardly express emotions didn’t diminish the depth of his love for his late wife. And for the future, watching Min Ju embrace his empathetic nature might inspire his father to realize that loving someone isn’t enough—you also need to express those feelings. Hopefully, Yoon Chang Suk can learn to open up and show his love more freely.

Chan Hwi and Ah Reum’s love through thick and thin

Due to preview for episodes 9 and 10, the viewers worried Chan Hwi would fall into a cliché tragic backstory. However, portraying his PTSD from active military service adds depth to his character in a refreshingly non-stereotypical way.

His fear of commitment doesn’t stem from the often-used trope of growing up in a broken home. Instead, it’s rooted in his perception that he lacks the stability needed for a future with someone else. It is also endearing to see Ah Reum and Chan Hwi’s love grow to the point where they not only can laugh together but also share their deepest secrets.

One thing last week’s episodes of “Brewing Love” did well was highlight how love and its expression differ from person to person. On one hand, Ah Reum and Chan Hwi grow closer by sharing their secrets with each other. On the other hand, Yong Ju tells Min Ju that partners don’t need to know every pain their significant other has experienced to connect. While these approaches are completely opposite, both are equally valid depending on the relationship dynamic.

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Javeria is a binge-watching specialist who loves devouring entire K-dramas in one sitting. Good screenwriting, beautiful cinematography, and a lack of cliches are the way to her heart. As a music fanatic, she listens to multiple artists across different genres and stans the self-producing idol group SEVENTEEN. You can talk to her on Instagram @javeriayousufs.

Currently watching: “Brewing Love” and “Queen of Tears.”
Looking forward to:  “Squid Game Season 2” and “Reborn.”