Summary
A lovely finale closes out the season in a satisfying way.
This article contains spoilers for the ending of See You in My 19th Life Season 1 Episode 12.
A lot is made of Netflix’s general refusal to end a series properly, but thankfully its K-Drama offerings tend to buck this trend. See You in My 19th Life is no exception. After 12 long episodes, it really does have the decency to end.
Let’s be frank – it does have to speed through a couple of character arcs and relationships to get there. It isn’t totally satisfying on every level, but it pays off the central relationship and overarching mysteries well enough to be considered a very respectable and often heartfelt finale.
See You in My 19th Life Season 1 Episode 12 Recap
At the end of Episode 11, Ji-eum finally remembered that it was Min-ki who killed her sister, Seol, in her first life, and her rage at the event is what enabled her to be able to recall all of her previous incarnations.
This at least allows Ji-eum to apologize to Seo-ha for the blame she placed on him – and his neck – and somewhat come to terms with the nature of her existence. She suddenly has a real purpose, and her various lives have all been building towards the same thing: Revenge.
How can Ji-eum break the curse?
Ji-eum is quick to confront Min-ki, who is quick to apologize for what he claims to be a grave mistake with unexpectedly fatal repercussions. She can neither forgive nor forget, though, despite the number of lives that have elapsed in between softening her resentment somewhat.
The real stakes for Ji-eum come from what will happen to her if she breaks the curse. Min-ki explains that if she can repeat four words with a free heart she can live a single, normal life again, but the condition is that she will forget everything associated with her previous lives – including Seo-ha, Cho-won, and Ae-gyeong.
Do Cho-won and Do-yun get together?
One of the other ongoing subplots is dealt with rather unceremoniously in this episode and proves a low-ish point of the finale not because of its quality but its lack of depth.
I’m talking about Cho-won and Do-yun. After learning about their mutual feelings in the previous episode, but remaining resigned to the idea that a relationship between them couldn’t work, Cho-won intends to tell Do-yun that she’s ready to move on.
But Do-yun isn’t having that. If she’s alright with their financial and familial differences and any questions that might be asked about them, then so is he. And, of course, she’s fine with that, so Cho-won and Do-yun do end up together after all.
Does Seo-ha forgive his uncle?
Since forgiveness very much seems to be a theme of this finale, a little time is devoted to Seo-ha visiting his uncle in prison.
Life, it turns out, is too short for holding onto grudges, despite the severity of whatever caused them. Seo-ha’s uncle confessed to his crimes, and that goes a long way. Seo-ha offers the forgiveness that his uncle begs for, and the two reconcile.
See You in My 19th Life Season 1 Ending Explained
Does Ji-eum break the curse?
Ji-eum’s plan is to break the curse without telling any of her loved ones what she intends to do. Of course, though, Seo-ha finds out and comforts her about the inevitable decision, saying he will make sure to be a part of her life again even if she forgets him.
Ji-eum meets with Ae-gyeong and Cho-won for the last time, without them knowing it. She moves the former to a better hospital bed and shares a meal with the latter and her mother. She consoles and reassures her about the loss of Ju-won.
These matters attended to, Ji-eum goes to the bridge and, finally with a free heart, breaks the curse. In her past life, which comes to her in a vision, her initial self breaks the chains that have kept her shackled to each of her previous existences.
Ji-eum returns to normality. She works at the same company she started with, but before long, she bumps into Seo-ha and is asked to work at his hotel. She’s unsure and tells him to date her instead. The cycle begins anew, and it seems like some things are destined to happen either way. It’s quite a lovely closing note.
You can stream See You in My 19th Life Season 1 Episode 12 exclusively on Netflix. What did you think of the ending of See You in My 19th Life Season 1? Let us know in the comments.
