Peach of Time – Series Review & Ending Explained

Story

Hidden plot

Peach of Time deliberately hides the main plot in the beginning. The first episode ends without introducing the supernatural twist, making you think it's just a plain old family melodrama. The ~shocking truth~ emerges by the end of the second episode. We discover that Yun Oh is actually dead and Peach has been interacting with a ghost.

The twist caught me by surprise. To be honest, the first episode was a little misleading since it showed a heated argument between Yun Oh and Sung Suk. There was a specific moment where she finished her son's sentence, so it really seemed like they were interacting with each other. After rewatching the premiere to catch any missing details, the storytelling still felt kinda duplicitous.

Nonetheless, I like the concept behind Peach of Time. There are some innovative ideas that go beyond a standard BL romance, exploring the themes of grief, loss, and remorse. The problem with Peach of Time is that it doesn't execute these ambitious storylines well, leaving many inconsistencies & plot holes. It tries to tell a complex story without paying attention to the details. With more thought and care, the premise could have resonated a lot better.

Oh yeah, I'm dead!

Of course, it's laughable how Yun Oh conveniently forgets HE'S DEAD. I love that his character has the worst case of selective amnesia, unable to recall important events until the necessary time in the plot. Oh, I just remember I died! 😵 And oh, I just remember someone pushed me in front of a car! 🥴

Okay, it's lazy and contrived writing when the main character suddenly regains a memory whenever the plot demands progress. At times, Peach of Time feels heavy-handed, engineering plot developments instead of letting events occur organically. Peach hires a new employee, who just happens to be the daughter of Mario's long-lost first love! The police randomly retrieve new dashcam footage, right after dismissing Yun Oh's death as a suicide!

I mean, come on already. Maybe I can excuse these wild contrivances once or twice, but not when the coincidences keep happening again and again. It makes the writers feel unimaginative, as if they couldn't think of a better way to present an idea. Please stop relying on these cheap tactics and try to tell a more cohesive story instead.

Supernatural twist

I thought the supernatural elements in Peach of Time would be more exciting, but the storylines feel absurd and abstract. You have 49 days to stop being bitter or you'll be an evil spirit forever! WTF? Why are there RULES and DEADLINES in the afterlife? Can't Yun Oh simply be dead without this vague doomsday countdown?

Peach of Time doesn't answer any logistics questions you might have about Yuh Oh as a ghost. Why is Peach the only one who can communicate with the apparitions? WHO KNOWS. 🤷 I also can't tell much difference between being a ghost or a human in this series. Yun Oh can ride in go-carts, Mario can whisper in his ex's ear, Peach can kiss his dead boyfriend… The supernatural universe seems arbitrary, bending to whatever is convenient for the plot.

I'm not a fan of Mario, who feels really shoehorned into the narrative. At first, I thought he was supposed to be Yun Oh's dad lol, but his actual backstory is convoluted and uninteresting. The actor is handsome, but his role is so irrelevant. Just about the only thing I appreciate about Mario is his name. The fact this series has two characters named Mario and Peach is not lost on me, teehee~ 😆

Grieving mother

The best storyline in Peach of Time explores Sung Suk's grief as a devastated parent who mourns over her dead son. Her circumstances are tragic. Not only does she lose her only child, but Sung Suk must live with remorse over her heinous final words to Yun Oh. "I wish I never had you," she wrote on an impulse, right before he died. Evidently, karma read her text message and went like, "Okay, be careful what you wish for!"

Peach of Time is riveting whenever it focuses on Yun Oh's mom. In her poignant journey, we see a sensitive showcase of grief, guilt, anger, and eventually acceptance as she processes her loss. The actress puts in a tremendous performance that feels genuine, powerful, and heartbreaking. She steals the spotlight from the two leads, almost to the extent that I wish I was watching her instead of them. Sung Suk is the heart and soul of the series. All the best moments involve her, and the series shines when she's on centre stage.

My complaint is that Peach of Time doesn't do enough with her character. After the stellar episode when she learns about her son's ghost, Sung Suk doesn't interact with him that much. Instead, the narrative takes a long detour into the cafe storyline, the Mario subplot, and the police investigation. These side stories feel like distractions, drawing away attention from the main event. What a waste of the juicy drama and storytelling potential with the mom that would've been way more compelling.

Romance

Yun Oh and Peach

Yun Oh and Peach share cute romantic BL moments together. Their relationship scenes are propelled by gorgeous cinematography, dazzling lights, and even confetti falling in the air as they kiss. The aesthetics are certainly there, but I still feel a disconnect with this romance. The couple doesn't captivate me, like there's a missing charisma from the BL equation. Whether they are sweet or distraught during the storyline, I'm not emotionally attached to them.

The circumstances of their romance pose a mental barrier for me. It's tougher to immerse into a ghost-human romance on the basis that one of them is DEAD. I don't have a high threshold for BL shipping, but it would help if both characters are alive. Peach of Time doesn't make the Yun Oh and Peach compelling enough to break this obstacle in my mind.

Another barrier is that I find Yun Oh pretty annoying throughout the series. His personality is grating. I understand why he might be cranky after being dead, but the whininess, hostility, and negativity get on my nerves. There are a few instances where he snipes at Peach, who has always been supportive of him. Yun Oh's character can be unlikable at times, which deters me from committing to his relationship with Peach.

Mario and Su Jin

The Mario and Su Jin subplot bores me to tears. To be honest, a heterosexual relationship in a BL series already loses me halfway. It's worse because Mario's connection with his love interest feels artificial and contrived. I'm not engaged by the convoluted backstory with the mansion fire or whatever.

Maybe it'd be more effective if the relationship was established through flashbacks and we actually saw their interactions. Right now, I can't connect with this pairing. Mario is already a peripheral character in the storyline, and his love interest is even more of a nobody with minimal characterization. Peach of Time doesn't develop this love story well enough for me to care about their reunion.

There were so many forced moments in the last few episodes where Mario gets sentimental around Su Jin. It means nothing to me that Mario and Su Jin stand beside each other in the café, near the Christmas tree, or at the party. Instead, why not use that time to actually build up their romance? At the very least, give us some actual interactions between them!

Acting

Good acting

Sung Suk's actress (Jung Ae-yeon) is phenomenal in Peach of Time. She portrays a multifaceted character with sentimentality, nuance, and intrigue. Episode 5 is a highlight for the actress, who nails all the sophisticated emotions in scene after scene. I also think her interactions with the dad from the hospital are epic. While I don't find the hospital malpractice storyline entirely satisfying, those two actors elevate the material so much.

Surprisingly, this BL series is more of a showcase for her acting talents than the two leads. Yun Oh's actor (Choi Jae-hyun) is solid for the most part. However, Peach's actor (Jimmy) is noticeably shakier, not bringing the firmness in his performances required in those crucial scenes. Maybe it's the language barrier or perhaps it's just general inexperience.

With that said, Peach is a likable character who seems warm, happy, and smiley. The actor exudes a natural charisma and lights up the atmosphere when he's on-screen. He doesn't give a dismal performance, but it's just one that needs more polish and improvement.

Ending

Sad ending

Peach of Time has a sad ending where Yun Oh departs from the afterlife. He leaves behind a heartbroken Peach in the living world. Before the departure, Peach throws a Christmas party for Yun Oh at the coffee shop. At the party, Yun Oh performs music in front of a crowd, fulfilling one of his wishes before death. Peach tells Sung Suk to listen to the song with her heart. She closes her eyes and imagines bidding an emotional farewell to her dead son.

Previously, Yun Oh entertained the idea of staying behind to spend more time with his boyfriend. However, Peach didn't want to hold back Yun Oh from achieving bliss in the afterlife. He would rather let his boyfriend go to ~a better place~ than see him turn into an evil spirit for eternity.

Their final interaction takes place by the sea, a place where Peach and Yun Oh promised to see together when the latter was still alive. As they gaze at the ocean together, Yun Oh asks his boyfriend if he has any wish to fulfill. However, Peach keeps it a secret and wouldn't tell him. After declaring their love for each other, Peach leans in to kiss his boyfriend, who vanishes into the air before his eyes. Peach is left alone at the pier by himself.

Who killed Yun Oh?

In the final episode, we find out what happened on the night that Yun Oh died. The truth is that Yun Oh did not commit suicide. Instead, he was trying to avoid Eun Bin's dad, who had harassed Yun Oh earlier in the day. When Jung Sub confronted him again at a traffic intersection, Yun Oh's first instinct was to run away. Unfortunately, he carelessly walked into traffic and killed himself. Jung Sub didn't report his involvement to the police until now.

It must be noted that Yun Oh was being a total dick to Eun Bin's dad when they interacted earlier. Originally, Jung Sub arrived at the house and wanted to meet with Sung Suk. Instead, he encountered Yun Oh, who told the stranger to leave his mother alone. Yun Oh seemed dismissive of Jung Sub's grief and claimed the dad was selling his child's sob story for money. Jung Sub was so infuriated that he stalked Yun Oh, leading to their deadly confrontation at the traffic light.

I felt way less sympathetic about Yun Oh's death after seeing the flashbacks. As it turns out, saying atrocious things to people runs in the family. I won't go as far as to state that Yun Oh deserved to die for making an offhanded callous comment. However, there was definitely some karma involved in his death. 😬

Ending review

The finale is emotionally charged with many farewells, although it falls a bit flat for me. To be fair, some scenes are done excellently for sure. My favourite part is when the mom says goodbye to her son in an imaginary farewell. It's a poignant moment that feels like a great ending point for her character's journey. While I don't believe Sung Suk will ever stop grieving, there's a sense of closure and enlightenment with her bereavement process.

However, Yun Oh and Peach's farewell scene didn't move me as much. Yun Oh already performed music earlier in the episode, so hearing a second song from Peach was overkill. The goodbye between them was slightly mundane, along the lines of "I'll never forget you!", "I love you too!", blah blah blah. Compared to the complex relationship dynamic between Yun Oh and his mom, the romance between him and Peach felt shallower. Their emotions didn't leave the same impact on me.

I like the moment where Yun Oh vanishes into the air, denying us that final kiss between the couple. However, I don't love the final scene in the coffee shop, where the drama teases that his character might have returned. It's an unnecessary cliffhanger that undermines the decisiveness of Yun Oh moving on beyond the afterlife. Yun Oh is dead and finally gone from this world. Stop dangling the false hope that he'll reunite with Peach.

A mother's last words

What prompts a mother to tell her son that he should have never been born? Sung Suk didn't just say these cruel words after losing her composure in the heat of the moment. It was a calculated message that she wrote in a text, read it over, and still decided to press 'Send'. What she said was wrong, and there was little justification no matter how badly her relationship with Yun Oh had gotten. However, let's try to understand more about her motivations.

During her younger days, Sung Suk fell in love with a man whose wealthy family disapproved of their romance. They looked down on Sung Suk because of her poor upbringing. Ultimately, the ex sided with his family over his lover, ending their romantic relationship even after she got pregnant. Sung Suk might have thought having a baby would change her ex's mind, but she was still ostracized and became a single mother.

Raising a child by herself couldn't have been easy. There was no doubt parenthood limited Sung Suk's options when it came to finding another romance. Maybe even her career was affected, as she balanced between a busy hospital job and the schedule of a single parent. We don't know exactly how much hardship Sung Suk faced in the past, but we can imagine she made sacrifices and lost opportunities because of her child. In an alternate reality, her life might have been easier if Yun Oh "had never been born".

Sung Suk

Sung Suk is a high achiever. You don't just become a doctor without lots of ambition and hard work. Although her ex's family looked down on Sung Suk, she is driven to prove them wrong with her successes. Imagine if a doctor mom raised a doctor son! Her triumph would be the ultimate revenge on the people who rejected her.

Unfortunately, her son was not the academic type and kept failing entrance exams to medical school. Yun Oh was more of a creative free spirit, who loved playing music, working in a coffee shop, and travelling the world. His interests didn't align with Sung Suk's vision for the future, causing a rift between them. She hoped that he would become an accomplished doctor, even though Yun Oh actually aspired to open a café instead.

Sung Suk felt frustrated that her son couldn't follow in her footsteps. Every time Yun Oh failed an entrance exam, Sung Suk must believe his failures reflected poorly on her parenting skills. She kept pushing him to try harder to achieve her dreams, but it was pretty obvious he had reached his limitations. Some people weren't meant to be doctors, not that it stopped Sung Suk from burdening her son with high expectations. The more pressure she placed on him, the more he grew to resent his mother.

Mom vs son

We begin the story with Yun Oh and Sung Suk's relationship at the lowest point, full of hostility and bitter exchanges. As callously as she treated her son, he retaliated against her with just as much intensity and vitriol. The hatred was mutual. However, there was once a time when they had a close relationship, even if we never saw it on-screen. Yun Oh displayed their family pictures inside his closet, a sign that he secretly cherished his mother.

Also, notice how well Yun Oh knew his mom, reciting her relationship history, favourite author, and even coworker's name with ease. He wasn't indifferent and knew nothing about her. Instead, he could read his mother like a book. In fact, it made Yun Oh bitter that he knew her so well, yet she didn't seem to understand him enough. "Yun Oh likes Thai food?" Sung Suk asked in surprise during dinner, as Yun Oh mocked her ignorance.

Nonetheless, Yun Oh sought his mother's approval. Despite not being interested in a doctor's career, he never stopped taking exams and applying for medical school. A part of him still wanted to make his mom proud, but he just didn't have the capability of passing the tests. Yun Oh's hostility towards his mom originated from his disappointment in himself. Why couldn't he live up to her expectations of him? Why did she hold him to such high standards?

Yun Oh

Getting declined by schools again and again couldn't be comforting for Yun Oh's self-esteem. The rejections instilled a feeling of not being wanted and not being good enough into his subconscious. It didn't help that his mother reiterated these same negative thoughts, perpetuating the harmful belief that he was a disappointment to her.

Yun Oh grew up in a toxic environment where his self-confidence took a beating. He turned into a cynical young man, the type of person that would tell a stranger he used his comatose daughter for money. What he said was wrong, but he was angry, bitter, and had a distorted view of the world. His negativity became a defence mechanism, shielding him from the school rejections and his mother's harsh words.

Yun Oh lacked a positive influence in his life, someone who showed him love and support unconditionally. He needed someone who believed in his talents, championed his goals, and gave him reassurance without judgment. That somebody was Peach.

Peach

Peach is a bubbly and vivacious young man, radiating warmth like a bright ray of sunshine. His personality is cheerful, energized, and full of positive energy. After his arrival, the first thing Peach does is to open the curtains and let the sunlight shine into Yun Oh's room, a gesture with symbolic significance. Peach has come to rescue Yun Oh from misery, like a beacon of light to guide his friend out of the perpetual darkness.

Peach's kindheartedness is his defining quality. He is a pure, principled person who does humanitarian work, volunteers for African refugees, and gives away clothing to the homeless. During the series, we see his altruism time and time again, from reconnecting Mario with his lover to offering the food truck owner an olive branch. Peach always sees the goodness in people and helps them selflessly without expecting anything in return.

Of course, Peach also helps Yun Oh significantly. He accomplishes Yun Oh's dreams of opening a café, performing music in front of a crowd, and repairing the relationship with his mom. It was thanks to Peach that Yun Oh resolved his grudges and fulfilled his post-mortem wishes. Thank goodness Yun Oh loved Thai cuisine, allowing him to meet this wonderful person, because Peach was like his guardian angel in many ways.

Peach and Yun Oh

When Peach arrived at his friend's house, he witnessed an intense argument between Yun Oh and his mom. "You should apologize to her," Peach repeated on multiple occasions, but his friend only responded with more bitterness and animosity. The Yun Oh who vacationed in Thailand must have been a much happier, more carefree person. It probably startled Peach to see this wicked side to his friend.

At the end of the first episode, Peach sat by Yun Oh's bedside, vowing to do anything to make his friend happy again. That became Peach's mission, guiding his various actions throughout the series. He went above and beyond in supporting Yun Oh unconditionally. Peach spent weeks in a foreign country to keep his friend company and even opened a café for him. True to his word, Peach would try any attempt as long as there was a chance it could make Yun Oh happy,

Their relationship wasn't always peachy. At times, Yun Oh resisted Peach's help. He made numerous hurtful accusations towards the man who tried so hard to impress him. Nobody asked you to meddle in my life! Stop pitying me like one of your humanitarian projects! You only opened this café for your own self-gratification! Despite the ungratefulness, Peach persevered. No matter how much Yun Oh pushed him away, Peach came back and stayed by his side. Eventually, his kindness touched Yun Oh, gradually warming the darkness inside his heart.

Sea of sorrow

The sea is a recurring motif in Peach and Yun Oh's relationship, coming up several times throughout their conversations. Yun Oh mentions how he prefers the warm and sunny beaches on Thailand, compared to the cold and lonely oceans in South Korea. "I don't think I would have any sorrow if I lived in a place like that," Yun Oh laments wistfully. However, Peach seems uncertain and thinks sorrow will persist regardless of the environment.

The ocean is a metaphor for their upbringings. Yun Oh believes he would've been a happier person growing up in a warm, supportive family environment like Peach (aka. the Thai beaches). Yet, Peach disagrees with the sentiment and thinks there's hardship no matter where you go. Their discussion is like an interpretation of the famous nature vs. nurture debate. Peach argues the upbringing is only part the equation.

It's true that Yun Oh needed more warmth and encouragement during his childhood, something Sung Suk couldn't provide. Although Yun Oh envies Peach's family situation, it might be a case of ~grass is greener on the other side~. Let's say we do a family swap, and Peach was raised by Sung Suk, while Yun Oh grew up with a pair of loving parents. Would Yun Oh have Peach's personality and vice versa? Probably not, right?

Family plays a significant role, but it isn't the only factor in determining your happiness. Also, living with a doctor mom and inheriting a wealthy mansion isn't the worst result of the family lottery. The fact that Yun Oh still turned out so miserable can't be entirely blamed on his mother. It's time Yun Oh start taking some accountability for being a whiny brat. 😬

Peach's wish

In the finale, Peach wouldn't tell Yun Oh what his wish was. Considering his boyfriend was about to disappear forever, there shouldn't be any secrets between them. Nonetheless, Peach didn't reveal the truth no matter how much Yun Oh prodded him. Does he wish for world peace? Does he wish for the sorcerer's stone? WHO KNOWS. Peach's wish remained an unsolved mystery by the end of the series.

Of course, Peach is a pretty easy character to read. His wish is definitely something as sappy as "I wish for my boyfriend to never leave me! 🥺" I can't imagine him hoping for anything else. It explains why he'd refuse to confess to Yun Oh. Peach doesn't want his boyfriend to carry sorrow, remorse, or unresolved feelings before his final moments on this earth. If Peach speaks his wish, he might change Yun Oh's mind or give him a reason to stay in the living world.

The tragedy in the Peach of Time ending is that Peach sacrifices his happiness to ensure his boyfriend passes away peacefully. The price of Yun Oh's eternal bliss is exchanged with Peace's lifelong heartbreak. Other people might have taken the opportunity to spend extra time with their loved ones, but not Peach. True to his character, he's selfless and puts others before himself. Peach wants to free Yun Oh's spirit, even if it means he cannot fulfill his wish.

Sung suk's guilt

Peach is also a positive influence for Sung Suk, a grieving mother rocked by unimaginable tragedy. Considering Peach has a unique ability to talk to her dead son, he probably could've done more to reassure her. Nonetheless, he listened to her problems, offered gentle advice, and ensured she wasn't alone in that big lonely house. Most importantly, Peach was instrumental in bridging the broken relationship between mother and son.

In Episode 5, Sung Suk discovered Peach could communicate with her dead child. When Peach mentioned how he could fulfill Yun Oh's dreams, Sung Suk immediately handed over all her son's financial savings without question. There was almost a raw desperation to how quick she believed this stranger and his claims. Peach said ~i see dead ppl~ and Sung Suk reacted like "SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!!!" Thank goodness Peach wasn't a scam artist or he could've tricked the mom into giving up her entire fortune.

Paying money to open her son's café was a small price to pay to gain peace of mind. Previously, Sung Suk was distraught with guilt because she believed her coldblooded text message drove her son to commit suicide. She hid the incriminating phone, confronted the driver, and cried every night because of a guilty conscience. Her grief over losing a child was compounded by her suspicion that she was a terrible parent. Sung Suk would give up any money at a chance to redeem herself and become a better mom to Yun Oh.

Medical malpractice

Sung Suk is involved in another subplot regarding a medical malpractice case. Five years ago, a young girl fell into a mysterious coma after her hospital procedure. Since then, her father Jung Sub has relentlessly sought answers, convinced Sung Suk covered the truth. The hospital claims there was nothing wrong with the treatment and the patient succumbed to natural causes. Nonetheless, Jung Sub protested on the news and confronted Sung Suk.

Although the writing is clunky in some places, I like the underlying themes parlayed by this storyline. I see parallels between Sung Suk mourning her deceased son and Jung Sub coping with his daughter's coma. Both are traumatized parents dealing with the inexplicable loss of their child. Their tragedies paralyzed them, stuck seeking answers in the past instead of moving forward in the future.

The medical malpractice lawsuit represents another part of Sung Suk's guilt. She wasn't responsible for what happened to Eun Bin. However, she and the hospital director plotted to let the blame fall on another colleague instead. After her son's death, it made Sung Suk reassess her perspective. She stood up to the hospital authorities, defied the cover-up, and confessed the truth to the distressed father. What comes out of Yun Oh's death is that Sung Suk regains her morality, prompting her to become more empathetic to other people's pain.

Moving on

Episode 9 featured a powerful conversation between Sung Suk and Jung Sub. She tells him the truth about what happened that night, reiterating that nobody was at fault. Eun Bin had a seizure and fell into a coma, that was it. The cover-up dealt with internal affairs, as the hospital authorities played the blame game. Otherwise, there was no bigger conspiracy. Jung Sub won't find a satisfying explanation for what caused Eun Bin's condition.

"Not every death can be explained," Sung Suk tells the distressed father. She shares her own experiences with her son's death, still classified as a suicide at that point. Up until now, Sung Suk evaded the painful possibility that her message caused Yun Oh to kill himself. She confronted the driver and searched for alternative explanations.

Now, Sung Suk accepted that knowing the truth won't make her feel better, regardless of whether his death was an accident or a suicide. Her child was dead either way and she had to accept the cruel reality, with or without an explanation. Her advice helped Jung Sub to process his own grief and vengeance. He made the heartbreaking decision to cut Eun Bin's life support, letting go of a five-year battle in the hospital. It's time to say goodbye and move on from the past.

Hospital dad

I was satisfied with how the mystery of Yun Oh's death concluded. In the last episode, the hospital dad reported himself to the police after his daughter passed away. He confessed to harassing Yun Oh, who stepped in front of a car when avoiding him. Sung Suk was in tears as she listened to the explanation. She experienced a mix of emotions, ranging from anger to pain. Maybe there was some slight reassurance, after learning that Yun Oh didn't kill himself because of her.

For a while, I thought the hospital dad might have pushed Yun Oh into traffic, like a total ~soap opera murder~. The actual version of events carried more moral ambiguity, adding a layer of complexity that I enjoy. Jung Sub wasn't directly responsible for causing his death, in the same way that Sung Suk wasn't totally responsible for Eun Bin's coma. In an ironic twist of fate, both parents were loosely involved in how each other's child died, like an eye for an eye.

To be honest, I wanted a happier ending for the hospital dad, instead of burdening him with a guilty conscience. However, I understand why the writers didn't want to pass up that juicy interrogation room scene between Sung Suk & Jung Sub. If Peach of Time was a happier series, I wanted the two grieving parents to find common ground, bonding and healing together. 😭 Instead, the actual ending we got was SEE YOU IN COURT FOR KILLING MY CHILD!!! 🤬