Oh, My Dearest, you really took my emotions, tossed them in a blender, and hit the highest setting. I’ll be honest—I thought Ryang Eum was just playing the trusty sidekick, dutifully following Jang Hyun like a knight sworn to his lord.
But no, his attachment had layers—the kind you peel back only to realize there’s way more going on beneath the surface than you ever expected.
I thought I had this drama all mapped out—love triangles, longing gazes, the usual K-drama chaos. But then Ryang Eum was thrown in, and suddenly, I was questioning everything.
More Than Just Devotion: The Emotional Undertones
From the moment Ryang Eum stepped into the scene, his connection to Jang Hyun felt different. Not the usual warrior-and-lord dynamic, nor the classic ride-or-die bromance.
No, this was intensely personal.
The subtle tension in his words, the way his emotions fluctuated depending on Jang Hyun’s proximity—yeah, something deeper was going on here.
His every glance at Jang Hyun carried a weight that couldn’t be ignored. The subtle tension in his words, the way his emotions fluctuated depending on Jang Hyun’s proximity—yeah, something deeper was going on here.
Jealousy, Fear, And The Unspoken Truth
Then came the defining moments that sealed the deal for me:
- Jealousy in full force – Every time Jang Hyun turned his attention to Gil Chae, Ryang Eum’s reaction spoke volumes. He wasn’t just concerned—he was possessive.
- That chilling declaration – When Jang Hyun, feeling lost, admitted, “I don’t belong anywhere,” Ryang Eum immediately responded, “Right. You don’t belong anywhere. But wherever you are, I belong to your side.”Uh, hello? If that’s not peak ‘I’ll-follow-you-to-the-ends-of-the-earth’ energy, I don’t know what is.
- The fear of being left behind – Unlike a traditional loyal right-hand man, Ryang Eum wasn’t simply following Jang Hyun out of duty. His attachment was a lifeline, fueled by a deep-seated fear of losing the one person who made him feel like he had a place in the world.
Love Or Obsession? A Complex Dynamic
So, was Ryang Eum in love with Jang Hyun?
His entire world revolved around Jang Hyun—like a lovesick planet orbiting a very oblivious sun.
And let’s be real, K-dramas love to blur the lines between loyalty, obsession, and deep, unspoken love. Many historical dramas have played with themes of loyalty blurring into love, particularly when deep bonds are formed in extreme circumstances.
That depends on how you define love. If we’re talking about romantic love, the show leaves things ambiguous. Ryang Eum never explicitly confesses his feelings in a conventional way.
But if we’re talking about devotion so strong it borders on obsession, then absolutely. His entire world revolved around Jang Hyun. His jealousy, desperation, and eventual downfall all stemmed from his inability to exist without Jang Hyun in his life.
A Tragic Love That Had No Place In Joseon-Era Society
Here’s the heartbreaking part—no matter how deep his feelings ran, Jang Hyun never reciprocated them the same way.
Not because he didn’t care, but because his heart belonged to Gil Chae. And perhaps, because Jang Hyun himself may not have fully grasped or acknowledged Ryang Eum’s feelings, a reality that often plays out in deeply hierarchical or constrained societies.
In the rigid world of Joseon-era Korea, where Confucian values dictated personal relationships, there was no space for the kind of love Ryang Eum longed for.
In the rigid world of Joseon-era Korea, where Confucian values dictated personal relationships, there was no space for the kind of love Ryang Eum longed for.
Same-sex relationships, while existing throughout history, were not openly acknowledged in this period. Social mobility was nearly impossible, and loyalty to one’s superior often blurred the line between duty and deep emotional attachment.
Ryang Eum’s love—whether romantic or not—was further complicated by his lower-class status. Jang Hyun, as a nobleman, would have been bound by strict societal rules, making any unconventional bond nearly impossible to act on.
His love—whether romantic, emotional, or an overwhelming need for belonging—was destined to remain unfulfilled.
Final Thoughts: Was It Love, Loyalty, Or Something Else?
Ryang Eum’s love for Jang Hyun was tragic, raw, and painfully one-sided. Whether you see it as love, devotion, or something in between, one thing is clear—it was one of the most heartbreaking dynamics in the drama.
And honestly? I’ll be sending my therapy bill to the My Dearest production team. This drama emotionally wrecked me in ways I didn’t see coming. It also added a rare complexity to male relationships in historical K-dramas.
While K-dramas often highlight brotherhood and loyalty, My Dearest took it a step further by exploring the emotional turmoil of a love that could never be acknowledged.
While K-dramas often highlight brotherhood and loyalty, My Dearest took it a step further by exploring the emotional turmoil of a love that could never be acknowledged.
It challenged traditional portrayals of camaraderie and highlighted the emotional weight of unspoken devotion, giving us one of the most quietly heartbreaking relationships in recent drama history.
What do you think? Was it love, obsession, or something in between? Let’s talk in the comments!
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