Thirty-Nine is a Korean drama directed by Kim Sang-ho who has previously directed series like Age of Youth 2 and Ping Pong Ball. Starring Son Ye-jin as Cha Mi-jo, Jeon Mi-do as Jeong Chan-Yeong, and Kim Ji-Hyun as Jang Ju-hui.
Unfortunately for the fans, the new episode, episode 7 will air this Wednesday as scheduled. Nor will it air on Thursday. It has been shifted to March 16 altogether. The operators of the channel have decided to postpone the show from March 9 due to the broadcasting of the presidential elections.
As the drama is a Wednesday-Thursday drama, fans will also not get to see episode 8 until next Thursday. However, JTBC has decided to do a special episode of all the episodes from 1 to 6 on the 9th of March to indulge new viewers into the plot so far.
What to Know Before Watching?
Thirty-Nine is a Korean drama series following the friendship of three friends on the verge of turning 40. And if you don’t know, this is a pretty big deal for the people in Korea. So far 12 episodes have been confirmed, airing every Wednesday and Thursday but unfortunately due to some unforeseen reasons, the drama will have to go on a week of hiatus.
Mental health is a very sensitive topic in South Korea. Most of the population don’t take it seriously and so many people don’t get the help. Even in Korean dramas, mental health is portrayed in a very sensitive demeanor. But Thirty-Nine has Mi-Jo going to a therapist. Korean dramas seem to be finally including mental health as a problem.
However, the fans were quick to point out the show for glamorizing extramarital affairs in the show. Personally, I know it is wrong to have extramarital affairs but one cannot control love. If you find yourself falling in love with someone else while married. It’s okay as long as you tell the person straight up. Humans are complex and are not 100% of anything. They lie in the grey area and they make mistakes in the grey area.
In the next episode, episode 7, we see Chan Young reveal her “list” of things she wants to do before she dies. Which includes that she wants to get JooHee a boyfriend and MiJo, who was adopted, find her real Umma (mother)
The Story So Far: Till Episode 6
The three friends are thirty-nine, going on 40 and although they admit it or not, this can be a pretty stressful situation if you are not yet settled and married. Amidst feeling disheartened by the fact they are turning 40, they try their best to get their life together before the clock strikes 12 on their birthdays.
It might seem like a light-hearted plot from the synopsis but the viewers can’t stop crying as the scenes unfold. The friendship just looks very natural and the cast is amazing. They make their characters seem like real people who are really living through what they are portraying.
So far, Mi-Jo has learned that Chan Yeong is terminally ill after a very emotional exchange at a cafe. She tells this to Ju-Hui. Due to this, Mi-Jo decides not to go to the U.S as she had planned but instead spend the time that Chan Yeong has left, with her. And while they take care of Chan Yeong, Chan Yeong has other plans for the two.
Thirty-nine Story Synopsis:
Three childhood friends, Cha Mi-jo, an owner of a dermatology clinic, Jeong Chan-Yeong, an acting coach who dreamed of becoming an actor, and Jang Ju-Hui, beauty and cosmetic manager at a department store, are on the verge of turning 40. They try to get a grip on their life and settle for good as they tackle love and loss simultaneously.
Where Can You Watch Thirty-nine?
Thirty is a weekly drama with new episodes airing every Wednesday and Thursday. You can watch the new episodes on the JTBC cable network on March 16 at 3 pm GMT if you are in Korea. Or you can catch it on Netflix the same day with a monthly or yearly subscription.
It is also available on Hulu if you are a Hulu subscriber but the only downfall is that it airs a day after the release on the original sites.
Cast
Son Ye-jin as Cha Mi-jo, Jeon Mi-do as Jeong Chan-yeong, Kim Ji-hyun as Jang Ju-hui,Yeon Woo-jin as Kim Seon-u, Lee Moo-saeng as Kim Jin-seok, Lee Tae-hwan as Park Hyeon-jun, Ahn So-hee as Kim So-won and Lee Da-yeon as Jang Ju-hui.
