The drama “Marry My Husband (2024),” while heavily based on the original novel, deviates in several notable ways.
Spoiler Alert!
The drama adopts a more explicit tone compared to the novel. Original characters like Wang Heung-in and Jo Dong-seok are introduced, accompanied by new scenes like Wang’s assault on a flight attendant, absent in the novel. Yoo Ji-hyeok’s stepmother and Yoo Hee-yeon’s biological mother are entirely omitted, and Yang Joo-ran’s daughter Lee Yeon-ji is portrayed as younger, now 6 years old. Character name changes are also present among supporting roles.
The drama prioritizes the main characters, expanding their roles while reducing those of Oh Yoo-ra, Ha Ye-ji, Kim Shin-woo, and Jo Dong-seok. Yoo Han-il gains a dedicated helicopter crew observing him, and Kang Ji-won undergoes a stylistic change, sporting short hair after the regression, unlike her long-haired webtoon counterpart. The company Kang Ji-won works for sees a name change from J Pharmaceuticals to Rosenthal.
The drama deviates from the novel in certain aspects. Yoo Ji-hyeok and Kim Shin-woo run a chicken restaurant instead of the security company in the novel. Kang Ji-won’s age is adjusted to 31, four years older than her novel counterpart. The age gap between her and Yoo Ji-hyeok is reversed, with him being younger in the drama. Kang Ji-won’s glasses are changed from horn-rimmed to metal, and some anachronisms like the use of Windows 10 and Microsoft Edge appear. Jung Soo-min’s hair undergoes a transformation, going from brown and wavy to black and straight.
The regression point in the drama is shifted to 2013, four years later than the novel. Kang Ji-won experiences a hospital checkup and nightmares about her past death after the regression.
Baek Eun-ho’s profession is altered from cafe owner to chef in the drama, and he even wears a fake engagement ring. He assumes a more prominent role compared to the novel, replacing Yoo Hee-yeon. Yoo Ji-hyeok gets a feline companion, a tabby cat named Pang-i, replacing the tuxedo cat in the novel. Lee Seok-joon is a unique character, merging traits from the novel’s Oh Hyeong-woo and Lee Jun-seok. Yoo Ji-hyeok develops a talent for shooting, and Kang Ji-won endures more hardship than her novel counterpart. Notably, both Kang Ji-won and Yoo Ji-hyeok occasionally reveal future knowledge.
The drama portrays the villains, particularly Park Min-hwan and Jung Soo-min, as more intelligent and cunning than in the novel. They even exhibit signs of possible collaboration, requiring Yoo Ji-hyeok’s direct intervention to deliver their comeuppance.
Marry My Husband: Episode 1
The drama diverges from the novel in its depiction of Kang Ji-won’s death. In the novel, she dies after hitting her temple on the corner of a dressing table, but in the drama, she is pushed by Park Min-hwan and falls onto a glass coffee table, shattering it. Her head then hits the floor, killing her. This change is reflected in episode 14, where Ji-won breaks a glass table instead of a dressing table. Additionally, a candy resembling a Sarangbang candy is seen rolling on the floor.
The drama also includes references to contemporary events that coincide with the time of Ji-won’s regression. The release of the song “Gentleman” by Psy, which was released on the same day as the drama’s regression point, is mentioned, and a 2013 Hyundai Grandeur commercial is briefly shown.
The burn on Ji-won’s arm is transferred from her to Yoo Ji-hyeok in the drama. The mention of the Korean noodle soup is also moved significantly earlier in the story. In episode 7, Ji-won tells Ji-hyeok about the law that states that what happens to one person can happen to another, and she mentions that she originally received the burn herself.
The position of the injury that leads Ji-won to discover the law is changed from a burn to a knee injury.
Conclusion, “Marry My Husband” stays true to the essence of the original novel while incorporating adjustments for a television experience. These creative liberties enhance the narrative without sacrificing the core themes and characters.
I’m amazed by how many changes they’ve made in the drama adaptation of “Marry My Husband“! . Have you noticed any other significant changes? It would be interesting to compare notes and discuss what we think about them. Did they stay true to the spirit of the novel, or do you think they deviated too much?
If you have specific episodes or changes you’d like me to analyze, feel free to share them in the comments. The more details you provide, the better I can understand the differences and offer insights.
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