No Gain No Love Episode 12 Review: Satisfying Conclusion with a Happy Ending

No Gain No Love Episode 12 Review | Leisurebyte

Director:
Kim Jung-shik

Date Created:
2024-10-01 17:30

Episode 11 of No Gain No Love is one of the most emotional ones so far. We finally find out that Ji-uk was the last foster child taken in by Hae-yeong’s mom, and why he kept this secret from her. There’s also a tense moment when Ja-yeon’s dad breaks into her house and attacks her, but Gyu-hyun shows up just in time to save her, getting their love story back on track. However, things take a heartbreaking turn when Hae-yeong gets a call from the nursing home saying her mom has passed away.

The comedy rom-com series is directed by Kim Jung-shik and written by Kim Hye-young.

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No Gain No Love Episode 12 Recap

The No Gain No Love finale episode kicks off with a heavy and emotional start as we see Hae-yeong and Ji-uk heading to the funeral home to say their last goodbye to Hae-yeong’s mom. Upon arrival, we see familiar faces—Nam Ja-yeon and Cha Hui-seong—who embrace and cry together, making the entire scene all the more heart-wrenching.

Watching Hae-yeong’s foster siblings come together for the funeral adds an emotional weight to the situation, and the atmosphere gets even heavier as the cremation process takes place. After the funeral, Ji-uk holds Hae-yeong’s hand, promising that he would take care of her just like he promised her mother. However, Hae-yeong, not wanting to bind him to that promise, tells him to live his own life now that her mom is gone. She even removes his wedding ring, symbolically setting him free, before walking away.

It’s a tough moment for both of them—Hae-yeong leaving him while still clearly in love, and Ji-uk staying behind in tears, unable to let go. Back home, we see Hae-yeong break down as well, struggling with her feelings of dependence on Ji-uk, even though she knows she has to let him go.

Ji-uk later returns to the house, grabs his bags, and leaves for good, closing a chapter on their relationship. Fast forward a few days, and we find out that the AI playground project, once Hae-yeong’s brainchild but now in An U-jae’s hands, is finally launched. Hae-yeong, despite no longer being part of it, visits to see the success of what was once her dream. At the event, Gyu-hyun tells her that Ji-uk is leaving the country, suggesting she should go to the airport to say goodbye.

But Hae-yeong decides not to, bottling up her emotions instead. Meanwhile, Gyu-hyun and his father do head to the airport to bid Ji-uk farewell, and we get a sweet brotherly moment between the two as Gyu-hyun tells Ji-uk to come back soon. Three months later, Hae-yeong has left Gyu-hyun’s company and started her own with Yeo Ha-jun, who used to be Gyu-hyun’s secretary. They’re struggling to find investors, as most startups do, but in a hilarious moment, Ha-jun suggests asking Gyu-hyun for help, which Hae-yeong fiercely rejects, vowing to bring down his company instead.

On the other side, we see Gyu-hyun dealing with his family as he tries to convince his parents to let him marry the woman he loves. His father, however, sets him up on a blind date, which leads to a hilarious misunderstanding when Ja-yeon sees him with another woman at the hotel. The moment plays out as if Gyu-hyun is cheating, leading to Ja-yeon’s fiery reaction.

Back to Hae-yeong—she considers selling her mother’s old house in her quest for investment and goes to meet a potential buyer, only to find Ji-uk there with another woman. Assuming he’s moved on, she runs away, hurt and confused. Later, she ends up going to Gyu-hyun for investment, leading to some cute and funny moments where he calls her and Ha-jun “traitors” before they use Ja-yeon’s name to sweeten the deal.

As she’s leaving, Hae-yeong overhears people talking about Ji-uk returning for a wedding, further cementing her belief that he has moved on. Ja-yeon, meanwhile, delivers a special lecture at a college, and Gyu-hyun, being the supportive boyfriend, shows up to cheer her on, eventually proposing with a couple’s ring. It’s a sweet moment that gives them a much-deserved happy ending.

Later, while walking past the convenience store where she and Ji-uk first met, Hae-yeong breaks down in tears. Ji-uk suddenly appears, and Hae-yeong awkwardly congratulates him on his “wedding,” mentioning she saw his “pretty girlfriend.” Ji-uk plays along initially, but when she brings up an old memory of when he gave her a lighter, things change. He grabs a can of alcohol, despite not being able to drink, and reveals that he’s not getting married—the girl she saw was his stepsister. He admits that he came back for her, not to start a new life.

In a drunken state, Ji-uk ends up at Hae-yeong’s place, and the next morning, when Hae-yeong wakes up, she panics, thinking he’s left again. But Ji-uk returns with breakfast, and in a moment of pure, uncalculated emotion, Hae-yeong finally tells him that she loves him. They share a heartfelt kiss, finally getting the happy ending they deserve.

No Gain No Love Episode 12 Review

The final episode of No Gain No Love strikes a perfect balance between heartbreak and healing, giving viewers an emotionally satisfying conclusion. The opening funeral sequence is sombre and deeply emotional, setting the stage for the rest of the episode. Watching Hae-yeong and Ji-uk navigate their love for each other while dealing with grief and self-doubt adds depth to their characters, making their eventual reconciliation feel earned and poignant.

The misunderstandings, though typical in K-dramas, are well-handled here, adding just enough tension without dragging the story into melodrama. Hae-yeong’s growth, both personally and professionally, is a highlight, especially as she starts her own company and moves on from her past. The comedic moments with Gyu-hyun and Ja-yeon provide much-needed levity amidst the emotional weight of the episode.

The reveal that Ji-uk wasn’t getting married and had come back for Hae-yeong is the emotional payoff fans have been waiting for. Their final scene together, where Hae-yeong confesses her love without any reservations, feels authentic and marks a satisfying end to their journey. Overall, Episode 12 wraps up No Gain No Love beautifully, blending moments of heartbreak, humor, and emotional growth to deliver a finale that leaves viewers with a smile.

Also Read: No Gain No Love Episode 11 Review: Emotions, Secrets, and A Sudden Death!