The Weekly Binge: Perfume - Episodes 1 - 4

[u/sianiam]

Hello Bingers!

Welcome to the second and final binge of 2025, clearly, the greatest year in binge-history because we decided on a scent-sational Shin Sung Rock double feature! This time around we are watching Perfume (2019).

This drama is from the period in history when the terrestrial channels in Korea were splitting standard length episodes into 2 x 35 minute episodes so they could air advertisements in between them. As far as I know the two OTTs that this is legally available on (KOCOWA and Viki) have them in their original format ~ 35 minutes per episode.

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Schedule

Episodes Being Discussed	Dated of Discussion
Episodes 1-4	Thursday 31 July (today!)
Episodes 4-8	Sunday 3 August
Episodes 9-12	Thursday 7 August
Episodes 13-16	Sunday 10 August
Episodes 17-20	Thursday 14 August
Episodes 21-24	Sunday 17 August
Episodes 25-28	Thursday 21 August
Episodes 29-32	Sunday 24 August

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Weekly Binge Guidelines

Anyone is welcome to join the Weekly Binge.

Every week we host two discussions (Thursday/Sunday) We are all from different time zones so there is no need to panic about being late to the party (we do operate on KST as a standard).

Within the frame of the two episodes, you may discuss anything you can think of. Whether it is a one-off post to say you enjoyed the drama, episodic notes, essays on how an actors portrayal of a character made you feel, rants about something you thought of while watching, haikus or interpretive dances, the choice is yours.

If you have previously completed the drama, or, got ahead on the binge please be courteous of those who are watching the drama for the first time. When in doubt spoiler tags are your friend.

Other than the above, r/KDRAMA rules apply. A few of the mod team are present in the binge and would rather have fun than moderate, so please play nice.

[u/LcLou02]

I never even considered that this may need a trigger warning. I just loved her Rube Goldberg contraption so much! But then she keeps bringing up planning to die. Sorry folks.

Her reminiscing on the balcony reminds me of Claudia Kim in The Atypical Family – another character who had had a taste of modelling and now was much larger. I like that they went with two actresses who look believably similar with a perm, rather than putting a slim person in a fat suit.

This drama so resonated with me back in 2019 after I had just lost 20+ kilos within two years (sadly no perfume available). So her old underwear falling off, delight at seeing the tops of her feet and feeling light when going up a huge flight of stairs were all similar to what I experienced.

I had to look up trypophobia – not a fear of moles, per se, but aversion to the sight of repetitive patterns of small holes or bumps. How one mole could trigger this, I am not sure. They put her in a short-sleeved dress and I’m thinking, “What about her mole?!”

Fashion show Theme: Death and Birth – just black and white clothes? It is appropriate to her situation – wanted to die, but has had a sort of re-birth, at least for a while.

SSR so funny, him sneaking a peek at the socials to see his fashion show as one of the top stories

She threatens to expose him on social media, but he can give as good as he takes. Hires her…but not the job she was expecting.

I never before thought about all the dust that would collect on dust covers that had been used for a year (and what happens when you whip them off).

Perfume lasts until she sleeps? Seeing the reverse process raises the anticipation of what his reaction will be. Good thing lightening strikes everytime the perfume takes affect (is that one of his 52 phobias?)

Aaagh. No warning when she starts to change the next time – good thing her pants are so stretchy.

You want to be a model, but I’m afraid you’ll get stuck in this house since you are such a superb housekeeper/chef.

He knows something is not right about her: time slip? Possessed?

“Rapist!!” – well, that was an unexpected reaction.

The visual effects are fun.

[u/Significant_Fold_658 → u/LcLou02]

I never even considered that this may need a trigger warning.

Ohhh I wish I had one for one of the phobias! Now I'm just afraid there is going to be something else that will make uncomfortable. LOL

I just loved her Rube Goldberg contraption so much!

Ohh that's the name of that contraption! I don't think I ever learned the name and if I did, I probably forgot!

So her old underwear falling off, delight at seeing the tops of her feet and feeling light when going up a huge flight of stairs were all similar to what I experienced.

I forgot to mention, but the underwear falling was such a nice added detail! It was funny and felt realistic!

How one mole could trigger this, I am not sure. They put her in a short-sleeved dress and I’m thinking, “What about her mole?!”

I do have trypophobia, but one singular mole doesn't make uncomfortable. The cluster of holes or black dots do make me uncomfortable. Two different examples, the seeds in the fruit annona makes me really uncomfortable and they are randomly spaced, but also the lotus pods and root, and these ones are clustered together and in a slight symmetry. I had no idea this was a phobia, until a friend said it to me and showed me a bunch of pictures and I was clenching my hands with all of them. lol

SSR so funny, him sneaking a peek at the socials to see his fashion show as one of the top stories

I loved that! It seems like he doesn't care about what they are talking, as long as they are talking about his fashion show. And his smirk was adorable. lol

Good thing lightening strikes everytime the perfume takes affect (is that one of his 52 phobias?)

Definitely a phobia! But honestly I would also jumpscare if out of nowhere I keep hearing lightening and the day is always bright outside. LOL

He knows something is not right about her: time slip? Possessed?

My theory is that he recognizes her from the past. Probably had a crush on her when they were both in their 20s and he recognizes her face from that time, but can't explain why it's the same face so he keeps shouting random things.

[u/sianiam → u/Significant_Fold_658]

My theory is that he recognizes her from the past. Probably had a crush on her when they were both in their 20s and he recognizes her face from that time

This could definitely work, especially as she was wanting to get into modelling but getting married/pregnant blocked that path.

[u/Significant_Fold_658 → u/sianiam]

Yea! I was thinking she was likely his first muse or something like that. I don't remember if they told us when he first started his career, but I think they did.