Simultaneously, the episode introduces Hye-won (Son Ye-jin), a young woman who has suffered from a weak heart since childhood. In a twist of fate, she receives a life-saving heart transplant—the heart belonging to the late Un-hae.
The climax of Episode 1 is the inevitable meeting between the two leads. In true K-drama fashion, their paths cross in a setting of natural beauty—a lush forest and a waterfall in the mountains.
Min-woo is on a trip, perhaps trying to escape the memories of his deceased girlfriend. Hye-won is also on a trip with friends. The cinematography here is stunning; the greens are vivid, and the sound of nature is immersive.
: A sudden rainstorm and a minor injury to Hye-won force the two to spend the night together in a mountain cabin. This forced proximity establishes their chemistry and highlights Min-woo’s lingering grief contrasted with Hye-won’s vibrant, renewed life. Thematic Elements Episode 1 masterfully establishes the drama's aesthetic:
introduces us to this concept not with dialogue, but with weather.