On February 4 and 5, Our Universe premiered with episodes 1 and 2 on tvN. It follows Hyun-jin and Tae-hyung, who clash from their first meeting. That changes after a sudden accident takes their siblings’ lives, leaving behind young Woo-joo and forcing them into an unexpected family bond. With no alternatives available, the pair step into unfamiliar roles as co-parents.
Tae-hyung, a photographer who depends on personal rules, finds that control slipping after his brother’s death, especially as daily life with Woo-joo begins to reshape his routines. At the same time, Hyun-jin, who devoted her life to supporting the sister who always protected her, sees raising Woo-joo as the only way to honor that love. Working beside Tae-hyung feels uneasy at first. But over time, their perceptions shift towards each other.
Our Universe episodes 1 & 2 recap
Episode 1 of Our Universe starts with Woo Hyun-jin and Seon Tae-hyung’s introduction. Hyun-jin supports herself through food delivery work, while Tae-hyung earns a living as a photographer’s assistant. Although their paths are distinct, both struggle with instability. During a dinner, Hyun-jin’s older sister Hyun-joo reassures her about finding a permanent job. Later that night, an engagement ring discovered in her sister’s purse changes everything.
Seeking answers, Hyun-jin visits the police station to meet Seon Woo-jin. She gives her approval and suggests a formal family introduction. Elsewhere, Tae-hyung faces ridicule at a work gathering over his past and education. Intoxication fuels a sudden resignation, leading to financial strain. His friends advise him to sell personal valuables. Around the same time, Hyun-jin joins Hyun-joo and Woo-jin for wedding shopping.
She notices a designer wall lamp her sister admires, and quietly realizes it is far beyond her budget. Soon after, Tae-hyung lists the same lamp on a resale app called Pimang, leading to an unexpected meeting with Hyun-jin. What begins as a simple transaction turns tense during negotiations, which ends in an argument. This results in the lamp’s bulb breaking. Although they part angrily, Hyun-jin’s phone is accidentally left behind, allowing Tae-hyung to discover that her sister is marrying his estranged brother.
The memories of his abandonment and broken promises surface. Tae-hyung later confronts Woo-jin at the family meeting and walks away. The wedding proceeds without him. Three years later, Tae-hyung shifts his career and buys an apartment. Meanwhile, Hyun-jin remains stuck in temporary office work and is once again denied full-time employment. A disagreement pushes her away from her sister, and communication stops between them.
Tragedy soon follows when Woo-jin and Hyun-joo die in a car accident, leaving their young son Woo-joo behind. At the funeral, Tae-hyung meets the child for the first time, and after Hyun-jin suffers a ligament injury, responsibility briefly shifts to him. When custody discussions arise, both are identified as the only family. Tae-hyung chooses to walk away, while Hyun-jin decides to raise Woo-joo, closing the first episode of Our Universe.
Episode two of Our Universe opens with Hyun-jin bringing Woo-joo to her sister’s home, where familiar objects trigger memories and guilt from their last argument. This leads to clutch Woo-joo and breaks down. Soon after, a BS Food acceptance announcement arrives. Elsewhere, Tae-hyung admits to a friend that grief never reached him, since distance defined his bond with his brother.
The narrative then introduces Yoon-sung, the CEO of BS Food, who reviews Hyun-jin’s resume. He smiles as if he remembered a shared past. While prepping for the interview, Hyun-jin’s plans change when Se-yeon calls about her urgent trip to Busan. After failed tries to find help to look after Woo-joo, Hyun-jin turns to Tae-hyung. Though sceptical, he agrees to watch the child.
Hyun-jin’s interview goes smoothly, though chaos unfolds at home when Tae-hyung struggles with Woo-joo during a potty accident. Overwhelmed, he brings the child to Hyun-jin’s office, where disorder follows and sparks a brief argument. In the confusion, Woo-joo runs off and ends up soaked in a fountain. This pulls both adults into the mess as they chase him.
Later, Hyun-jin cleans Woo-joo at home. The next day, Tae-hyung learns his apartment is flooded due to a plumbing explosion, requiring repairs lasting ten days. With no option left, he asks Hyun-jin to stay over. That day, Tae-hyung handles chores and bonds easily with Woo-joo, which surprises Hyun-jin. By the end of Our Universe episode two, both agree on shared childcare and household duties.
The next episodes of Our Universe, episodes 3 and 4, will air on February 11 and 12 on tvN.
Edited by Shreya Jha
