Summer binge pick, Something in the Rain: Why Son Ye-jin and Jung Hae-in’s bittersweet romance deserves a watch

Soft, moving, and deeply emotional, Something in the Rain is perfect for those who can handle a whole lot of mush and romance—seriously, a lot—all in one go. Starring Son Ye-jin and Jung Hae-in, the story is a quiet, mature tale of an older woman falling in love with her friend’s younger brother. In a society that struggles to accept such relationships, the two try to keep holding on to each in the storms that almost separate them. In a society that resists accepting their relationship, the two fight to hold on through the storms that threaten to pull them apart. At a time when K-Dramas were known for predictable tropes, Something in the Rain stands out for breaking the mould.

True, there are many, many episodes of tender romance and mush, to the point that you might want to fast-forward it. Son Ye-jin and Jung Hae-in are absolutely spectacular nevertheless, as they capture pain, heartache and suppressed rage, with one particular searing scene being where Hae-in’s Joon-hee stands in front of Ye-jin’s Jin-na, protecting her from being thrashed by her mother. There are many such moments of heaviness and exhaustion that persist in the show too, with Jin-na often wondering whether she should just sacrifice her love and let Joon-hee move on with his life. Yet, for once, this does not come across as contrived like the usual K-Dramas, and is actually handled well.

Something in the Rain is a gentle summer binge: It will hurt. It will heal. It might be cloyingly sweet too, so just be prepared. But, it’s worth your time.