Something in the Rain (
Korean: 밥 잘 사주는 예쁜 누나) is a 2018
South Korean television series directed by
Ahn Pan-seok and written by Kim Eun. It stars
Son Ye-jin and
Jung Hae-in. The series marks Son Ye-jin's small screen comeback after a five-year break. It aired on
JTBC from March 30 to May 19, 2018, every Friday and Saturday at 23:00 (
KST).
The series explores the relationship of two people as they go from being "just acquaintances" to "a genuine couple". Jin-ah (
Son Ye-jin) is a district supervisor in her 30s at the
coffeehouse franchise Coffee Bay (an actual Korean chain) and Joon-hee (
Jung Hae-in) is an animator in his late 20s at
video game developer Smilegate Entertainment. When he returns from working abroad, he reconnects with Jin-ah — who also happens to be best friends with Joon-hee's sister since childhood. The episodes give an intimate look into how they fall in love, struggle with their age differences (considered to be taboo in some circles), and find the courage to go public with their relationship to everyone around them.
The series also contains a secondary storyline about the struggles that female employees face in the company where Jin-ah works, as they try to climb the corporate ladder amidst sexual harassment, mistreatment, discrimination, and career sabotage from their male managers – all part of an unspoken culture of sexism considered to be normal among South Korean companies.
Cast
Main
Son Ye-jin as Yoon Jin-ah, a single woman, age 35[a], who works as a store supervisor in a coffee franchise. Despite being an easygoing person, she lives a rather hollow life. After being dumped by her boyfriend, she suddenly develops romantic feelings towards her best friend's younger brother Joon-hee.[5]
Jung Hae-in as Seo Joon-hee, Kyung-seon's younger brother, age 29[a], who works as a character animation designer at a video game company. He recently returned to the country after working abroad in the USA for three years. While getting reacquainted with his older sister's best friend Jin-ah, he helps her get out of a few difficult situations and begins to fall in love with her.[6][7]
Jang So-yeon as Seo Kyung-seon, Joon-hee's older sister and Jin-ah's best friend, age 35[a], who runs a coffee shop under the same franchise where Jin-ah works.[8]
Supporting
Employees at Coffee Bay
Jung Yoo-jin as Kang Se-young, the most popular and ambitious of Jin-ah's colleagues. She requests to supervise Kyung-seon's store because she has a crush on Joon-hee.
Joo Min-kyung as Geum Bo-ra, a veteran colleague that Jin-ah can confide in.
Lee Joo-young as Lee Ye-eun, Jin-ah's youngest colleague.
Lee Hwa-ryong [
ko] as Gong Cheol-goo, a deputy chief who manages Jin-ah and other store supervisors. He is unpopular among his female subordinates due to his
behavior.
Seo Jeong-yeon as Jung Young-in, vice president and marketing director of the coffee franchise.
In August 2017, it was announced that Ahn Pan-seok was on board to direct Something in the Rain (aka Pretty Sister Who Buys Me Food).[12]
In January 2018, Son Ye-jin joined the production, marking her return to the small screen after a five-year break.[13][14] Also in the same month, it was reported that Jung Hae-in had joined the cast.[15][16]
The first script reading was held on January 25, 2018, at the JTBC building in
Sangam-dong.[17]
As a result of the drama's commercial success, a three-day vacation to Japan was awarded to the cast and crew, which was scheduled from May 29–31, 2018.[18][19]
Themes of taboos
The driving narrative within the story centers around South Korean taboos concerning relationships:
Dating Taboos: An older female dating a younger male is considered scandalous.
Familial Taboos: People who grow up without parents or have no parental figures in their lives are considered "unfit" for marriage.
Job Taboos: People should only associate with those of a certain educational background, occupational position, or wealthy class status.
Career Taboos: Women are expected to endure sexual harassment without complaint during team dinners to show they value "team unity".
Drinking Taboos: It is customary to pour your colleague's glass first before and vice versa. If you pour for yourself, it indicates a fractured relationship.
Food Taboos: Usually if an older woman frequently buys a younger male food, it indicates a brother-sister relationship.
Broadcast
JTBC announced that after the first episode's premiere at 22:45 (KST) on Friday, March 30, 2018, the rest of the series would air at 23:00 (KST) on Friday–Saturday.[20]
The on-screen chemistry between Son and Jung led to their being nicknamed "the next Song-Song couple" (reminiscent of the couple in the 2016 major hit drama series Descendants of the Sun).[21]
Something in the Rain became the most talked-about
Korean drama of 2018.[22]
In the table above, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.
This series aired on a cable channel/pay TV which normally has a relatively smaller audience compared to free-to-air TV/public broadcasters (
KBS,
SBS,
MBC and
EBS).
Remake
In February 2022, it was confirmed that Something in the Rain is set for an Indian remake.[34]
On March 3, 2022, it was announced that
iQIYI would release a Chinese remake of the series titled The Way Love Should Be, starring
Angelababy. The platform also gained the rights to exclusively air the show in China, making it the first South Korean TV show to be approved for streaming in the country since the Korean content ban.[35][36]
^Moon, Ji-yeon (January 31, 2018).
"손예진X정해인 '밥 잘 사주는 예쁜 누나' 대본리딩..케미" [Son Ye-jin X Jung Hae-in 'Pretty Sister Who Buys Me Food' Script Reading]. Naver (in Korean).
Archived from the original on January 31, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
^Yoo, Soo-kyung (May 20, 2018).
"[단독] '밥 잘 사주는 예쁜 누나', 포상휴가 간다...29일 일본행" [[Exclusive] 'Pretty Sister Who Buys Me Food' Goes on Reward Vacation...29th to Japan]. Star Hankook (in Korean). Archived from
the original on May 24, 2018. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
^Son, Hyo-jung (May 20, 2018).
"'예쁜누나' 포상휴가, 손예진 정해인도 간다…일본行[공식]" ['Pretty Sister' reward vacation, Son Ye-jin ♥ Jung Hae-in also goes… Japan [official]]. TV Report (in Korean). Archived from
the original on May 24, 2018. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
^Park, So-young (January 3, 2019).
"'예쁜누나', 2018 화제성 1위..'김비서'에 '백일의낭군님'까지 지상파 압도" ['Pretty Sister' ranked No. 1 in topicality in 2018. From 'Secretary Kim' to 'Hundred Days My Prince', it dominated terrestrial channels.]. Naver (in Korean).
Archived from the original on June 2, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
^2018코리아드라마어워즈 후보 공개. KDFO.org (in Korean). September 22, 2018. Archived from
the original on October 6, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
^Park, Pan-seok (October 13, 2018).
이병헌, '미스터 션샤인' 대상 수상..정해인 2관왕(종합)[2018 APAN] [Lee Byung-hun, 'Mr. Sunshine' Grand Prize .. Hae-in Jeong, 2nd Crown (General) [2018 APAN]]. Osen (in Korean).
Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2020 – via
Naver.
^
abcThe age stated is their
Korean age which is typically one year more than their international age. In
South Korea, people are born at age one and one year is added to their age on
New Year's Day.