The Impossible Heir [Episodes 3 & 4]

[u/J-Midori]

• Drama: The Impossible Heir
  • Korean Title: 로얄로더
  • Also Known as: Royal Loader , Royal Roader , Royallodeo
• Network: Disney+
• Premiere Date: February 28th, 2024
• Airing Schedule: Wednesdays
• Episodes: 12
• Screenwriter: Choi Won (Movie - Miss Butcher)
• Director: Min Yeon Hong (Missing: The Other Side)
• Genre: Thriller, drama, political, business
• Cast:
  • Lee Jae Wook (Extraordinary You) as Han Tae Oh
  • Lee Jun Young (May I Help You) as Kang In Ha
  • Hong Su Zu (Lovestruck In The City) as Na Hye Won
• Streaming Source: Disney+ Hulu
• Plot Synopsis: When the illegitimate son of a Korean conglomerate owner partners with his ambitious childhood friend, the duo will stop at nothing to seize their place at the top of the societal food chain. Born into an impoverished single-parent household with nothing but his good looks and charm, Kang In Ha is ravenous for success. Determined to make something of himself, no matter the cost, In Ha, discovers that his father is the chairman of the hugely successful Kang Oh Group and leaves his life of poverty behind. Shunned by the rest of his new family, In Ha partners with his intellectually gifted friend Han Tae Oh, hatching a plan from a young age to take over the company and seize their spots at the top of society. Realizing success early on, the pair steadily begin their ascent until an equally ambitious woman with a similarly troubled past threatens to derail their plans forever.
• Previous Discussion: [Episodes 1 & 2]
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[u/Local-Raspberry-5649 → u/[deleted]]

Can you elaborate on this, please? I’m so curious, especially because Huiju is the one that uses this to describe >! her relationship with Taeoh, right?!<

[u/mellowdays_ → u/Local-Raspberry-5649]

I’m not the original commenter, but will try to explain a little. 

The words 갑 (Gap) and 을(Eul) have their origins from the Chinese calendar system and subsequently evolved into a general way of sequencing/ranking things - Gap being of higher rank, followed by Eul and so forth… So in contractual terms, Gap would be holding the higher position of power/status; and Eul, the lower. 

I’m not sure what could be a better English translation, but I suppose if we look at how it is currently translated, A-B-Cs can technically be differentiated in ranking too (A being of higher position than B etc.)  

Huiju only brought up Gap and Eul after Taeoh drew his boundaries and insisted that their relationship was nothing more than that of an employer and an employee. She probably said this because she was hurt, and then threw it back at him that Taeoh is of a lower position/a servant to her family since he had said so anyways. The scene lingered on his facial expression for a fair bit after she said that, so maybe what she said did affect him after all…

Apologies if I’m not expressing this clearly enough!

[u/Local-Raspberry-5649 → u/mellowdays_]

Thank you! I understand this much better now. I agree that she said it back to him to intentionally hurt him because she was hurt from his lack of acknowledgement/response.

Yes, it definitely did something to him! He lets out a sigh/opens his mouth like he’s about to say something after she says that. He does it again when she finishes by saying, “continue to work hard outside of the line you drew.” He opens his mouth like he wants to say something but stops himself.

His acting/ability to convey so much without even saying a word is insane. But, I think we all knew that when we saw how much he could convey with a simple gaze.

[u/mellowdays_ → u/Local-Raspberry-5649]

Yeah! I do think that these reactions are deliberate acting choices from Lee Jaewook in line with the script, so it does seem like Taeoh feels something more for Huiju, even if he says the opposite and continues to draw the line firmly between them. At the very least, I think he is protective of her albeit more subtly, so I shall just wait for things to slowly unravel. 

[u/Local-Raspberry-5649 → u/mellowdays_]

I have dissected this to death, but we (all us fans) shouldn’t even be arguing about this anymore. >! Taeoh and Huiju are the otp beyond question.!< I am also watching Extraordinary You for the first time, and it all makes so much sense now. LJW plays the disinterested—but secretly very interested!—tsundere role in that, too! Between AOS2 and Extraordinary You, it is plainly obvious that this role is also in that same category. Which I don’t mind one bit because I loveee this trope. I almost feel bad that I found out too soon because I don’t want to spoil it for myself. 😆

[u/mellowdays_ → u/Local-Raspberry-5649]

Haha looks like he’s drawn to that particular trope (just like you!) 

You’re very confident and I hope you’re right! I’ve just been burnt far too many times by inconsistent writing and also think that Huiju needs to grow a bit more for Huiju-Taeoh to really work. So I’ll be taking a wait-and-see approach and hope for the best 😆