UNDER THE OAK TREE Season 1 reread

Season 4 of Under the Oak Tree wrapped on March 22, and I swear I let out a full-on pterodactyl screech when I hit the last panel and realized—there. were. no. more. episodes. How could artist P and Seomal end the season on that kind of cliffhanger?! And now we wait… but how long? (Please say “not long.” Please.)

While we brace ourselves for Season 5, there’s really no better way to pass the time than diving back into the story. So, we’re kicking off a quick reread series here at KCB, starting with—yep—Season 1! If I had to sum up those first 34 episodes in one word, it’d be: miscommunication. So. Much. Miscommunication.

But jokes aside, rereading Season 1 reminded me just how slow-burn this story really is. What starts as a marriage of convenience gradually (and I do mean gradually) transforms into a relationship filled with warmth and genuine love. The pacing is deliberate, and honestly, it’s part of what makes the emotional payoff hit so hard later on.

Fun tidbit: Manta recently shared a behind-the-scenes look at Season 1, noting that artist P poured a ton of effort into Maxi’s wardrobe—doing research, reading books, and even consulting with Suji Kim to get every detail just right.

Riftan is sweeter the second time around

Riftan is… a lot (wink wink, nudge nudge). I remember having a really negative reaction to him during my first read—especially in those early chapters. When we first meet Riftan, he doesn’t do much to make Maxi feel safe or comfortable. Their wedding night? Still makes me squirm. Even though he asked for consent, Maxi was clearly terrified and anxious—and then he just leaves her alone in bed?! The amount of blame placed on this poor girl for his abrupt departure is honestly astounding. And seriously, so many of their issues could have been avoided if Riftan just, I dunno, talked. Like, why would you disappear the morning after your wedding without so much as a “Hey, I’ll be back soon”?

Then there’s the dramatic reunion—where he scares the living daylights out of her by getting right up in her face—and then has the audacity to scold himself like, “I’ve returned a monster.” Sir, maybe don’t loom over your traumatized wife like a brooding beast next time?

But this time around, I noticed more of the small things Riftan did—the quieter moments where he shows how deeply he cares. He’s definitely a man of few words, clumsy with them even, but he tries. He fumbles through his thoughts and usually resorts to embracing Maxi instead of saying what he feels, but you can tell he’s trying to connect. The little gestures—like giving her his full attention when she speaks—are what made him feel more endearing this time.

When I reread the scene where he leaves after their first night, I saw it a little differently too. Maybe it was his version of, “If I stay, I might never bring myself to leave.” Which is sweet… but would’ve been even sweeter if he just left a dang note.

Where is Rosetta?

With all the times we’ve heard about Rosetta’s beauty, it’s kind of wild that we still haven’t seen her in the manhwa—not even once. During my reread, I started wondering just how distant the relationship between the two sisters really was. It’s understandable that Maxi’s memories of her childhood home are dominated by her father’s abuse, but if it weren’t for the Duke constantly comparing her to Rosetta, her sister might’ve been a barely-remembered footnote in her life. And whenever Maxi does mention Rosetta, it’s always through a lens of self-criticism—she’s not as beautiful, not as smart, not as capable.

Was Rosetta deliberately kept away from Maxi? Did she ever try to secretly reach out? Or is Rosetta truly as cold and distant as she seems? So many questions—and I’m crossing my fingers that Season 5 finally gives us some answers.

Also, it really struck me how few women are present in Season 1 outside of Maxi’s maids. It’s no wonder she felt so alone and out of place, constantly surrounded by cold or antagonistic men—even Riftan at times—especially coming from a home where she never had warmth or support. That’s why Agnes’s arrival later in the series is such a breath of fresh air. Her presence feels like the beginning of something new for Maxi: female camaraderie, perspective, and finally, a sense of belonging.

Confirmation: Ruth is still the absolute best

My second reread confirmed something I already knew: I freaking love Ruth. He’s sharp, sarcastic, and absolutely not the type to coddle Maxi—and I love that about him. He really pushed Maxi to test her own limits and discover strengths she didn’t even know she had. Part of the reason he’s able to do that is because, to Ruth, Maxi is a blank slate.

Riftan, in contrast, sees Maxi through the lens of her noble upbringing. He assumes she’s accustomed to a life of luxury, and that makes him overly focused on giving her everything he thinks she’s been deprived of. He just wants her to be happy in her new life—even though Maxi is already so much happier simply living at Calypse estate, away from the trauma she left behind.

Ruth doesn’t bring those assumptions into the mix. He sees Maxi as she is and meets her where she’s at—offering tasks that build her confidence and slowly help her grow more independent. He’s thoughtful in his own way, giving her space to learn and carefully pacing her progress so she doesn’t get overwhelmed.

And that’s a wrap on my Under the Oak Tree Season 1 reread! Thanks for following along, and I’ll see you next time as we dive into Under the Oak Tree Season 2!