Coffee Prince: Sixth Cup
by javabeans
Coffee Prince is (so far) proving to be better than I expected. Episode 6 was tons of fun, and starts getting a little more emotionally meaningful, but doesn’t get bogged down with too much seriousness.
And the gender-bendy, pseudo-gay-homoerotic mindfuck really gets going!
SONG OF THE DAY
The Smiles – “Rainbow”… The Smiles is an indie-rock band that reminds me of American indie-popsters Of Montreal. They’re both a little twee, a little unabashedly precious, a little offbeat (they’ve even got a ragtime tune on their album). I think they’d make a fabulous soundtrack band, really. The only thing is, they sing mostly in English (clearly not their native language); I wish they’d sing more in Korean, actually.
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(Also, I keep hearing that there’s a Coffee Prince manhwa, but I haven’t seen any indication of that. The series is based on the novel, but any comic-related images I’ve seen are based on the drama, not a manhwa. If anyone knows for sure that there’s a manhwa, please correct me!)
EPISODE 6 SUMMARY
At the art gallery opening, Eun Chan recognizes Yu Ju and runs off, trying to hide her face, afraid of being found out.
Han Sung talks to Yu Ju while Eun Chan goes to the bathroom, and when Eun Chan sees them talking, she’s bummed to realize Yu Ju is Girl B. She mutters in dismay that Girl B was supposed to be ugly.
Seeing Han Gyul unexpectedly show up (he’d said he couldn’t make it), Eun Chan tries harder to hide (look at her scurrying behind him). I like that Eun Chan still acts in the same boyish way even when she’s dressed up prettily — despite the fact that she’s completely female, she’s not comfortable with feminine frills, and that makes sense to me.
Unable to escape the notice of the others, Han Sung drags Eun Chan over for introductions (he half-jokingly refers to her affectionately as his “girlfriend” and also his “kid friend”). But Han Gyul’s fixated on Yu Ju and doesn’t notice anything. Yu Ju doesn’t get a good look at her face, and doesn’t recognize her either.
Feeling uncomfortable, Eun Chan leaves early, and Han Sung apologizes for putting her in such an awkward position. He sees that she’s upset, and says he should have made sure she didn’t bump into Han Gyul. Although she’s mostly upset at seeing him with Yu Ju, I think she’s also partly disappointed that Han Gyul didn’t notice her, because she wonders how he could work with her every day and still not recognize her.
Han Sung tries to take her home, but Eun Chan insists on going alone, trying to fake cheer. He gives her money for a taxi, but Eun Chan walks along dejectedly and takes a bus anyway. Her feet hurting from the heels, she digs out a discarded pair of slippers from the trash, and cries.
“Guy A… Girl B… There’s no room for me… not even in my dreams.”
Eun Chan crying in her fancy dress, taking off her long wig and messing up her makeup makes for a sadly grotesque sight, and I respect Yoon Eun Hye’s lack of vanity in her portrayal of Eun Chan. Most of the time, pretty actresses do their best to look gorgeous regardless of its place in the story (waking up with perfect makeup, or dressing a poor girl in the most fashionable clothes), so I always appreciate when an actor gives up his or her highly safeguarded image for the sake of the work at large. Actors have to be emotionally stripped bare to be genuine, and often their protective vanity interferes with their art. Sorry to sound all pretentious about acting as a “craft.”
Anyway, Han Gyul is suffering the same depression at seeing the happy A/B couple together, and mopes around the house. Finally, he calls Eun Chan for company (who has him entered in her phone as “재수없어,” or loosely, “pain in the ass”).
They eat pizza together on his porch, and he motions her over to test her coffee-smelling ability. She says if she gets it right, he has to show her the room in back that he didn’t let her see before.
Guessing correctly, Eun Chan is shown the back room, which houses Han Gyul’s collection of Legos (he used to work with them in the States). He marvels at the concept of playing with toys: “Here, I can do anything I want.” (Eun Chan retorts, “You do whatever you want outside, too.”)
They play with the Legos (in a cute moment, Han Gyul “corrects” Eun Chan for bringing a bulldozer toy into the mix, because it doesn’t fit the time period of his horse-mounted knight-era setup).
Eun Chan comments on how sad Han Gyul is for his lingering crush on Yu Ju, and after a beat, he agrees that he’s dumb for liking a girl who’s unavailable. He wants to stop now, and Eun Chan tells him he made the right decision: “Goodbye, our unrequited loves.” Han Gyul asks what she means by “our” and she answers that it’s her business.
While Eun Chan falls asleep, Han Gyul muses: “Tonight, I really hated the idea of eating dinner alone. But on a day like this, why of all people did I think of you?”
Seeing that Eun Chan has fallen asleep, Han Gyul stares down at her face… and cautiously touches his fingers to her face, lightly… And then he realizes what he’s doing with an alarmed shake of the head, and gets up immediately, prodding Eun Chan awake and telling her to go home.
After a meal at home, Yu Ju tells Han Sung she occasionally has very selfish thoughts (only occasionally?): “I think, if it were always like this, I could get married. Then I think, Ah right, this isn’t all there is to marriage. I like how things are now.”
At work, Han Gyul gets a kick out of ordering Eun Chan around, enjoying her disgruntled expressions. That causes Min Yub to step in and take over (misguided chivalry = still cute), telling her she should pass on the heavy labor to him. (Aw.)
In fact, Han Gyul can’t take his eyes off Eun Chan, and at one point appears directly behind her to help her reach something on a high shelf. He’s standing way too close for comfort, and after he leaves, Eun Chan nervously smells her hair, thinking she ought to have washed it (since he must have been close enough to smell it). Hehe.
Han Gyul’s obvious attention toward Eun Chan is noted by Mr. Hong (who smiles knowingly) and Min Yub (who looks on worriedly). For what it’s worth, Ha Rim notices too but he doesn’t get it. Mr. Hong tells Han Gyul to just admit he likes Eun Chan instead of harassing her with work, causing Han Gyul to bluster that he isn’t doing that.
Han Sung drops by to talk to Eun Chan, worried that she’s been avoiding him. She makes the excuse that she’s working earlier in the day, and is going to give up the milk delivery because it’s hard working both jobs: “I’ll miss Sseulja a lot.” Han Sung: “What about me?” She deflects, saying she can call him whenever she wants to see him.
He apologizes again for the day of the art show. With tears falling from her eyes, Eun Chan tells him: “Because you’re such a good person… because I like you… I didn’t know it myself, how much I really liked you… I went home that day and my heart ached. But I’m fine now. She’s pretty, and refined… so I’ll give up. I hope you two will be happy.” She puts on a brave smile and insists she’s okay. Han Sung looks on with a mixture of (I’m inferring) sympathy, pity, and maybe a little sorriness.
With that issue aired out, they resume their friendly relationship. At one point, Han Sung puts Yu Ju on hold when she calls because he’s on the line with Eun Chan. He takes a long enough time chatting happily with Eun Chan before getting back to Yu Ju that she seems bothered.
Meanwhile, the cafe picks up business with the assistance of Eun Sae, who’s taken phone-videos from Eun Chan’s phone and her own and uploaded an amateur commercial onto the internet. Since the video prominently features the cute Coffee Princes, advertising them more than the cafe itself, it’s not long before women come in droves to the cafe to drool over them.
[A few small plot detours: Eun Chan’s mother goes on a date with Mr. Gu the butcher, who asks her to go steady, then retracts it in embarrassment at her nonchalant reaction. Sun Ki seems to be in search of his ex-girlfriend from three years ago, from when he lived back in Japan, although at present he has no leads. Ha Rim is getting fed up living in such a pigsty with Mr. Hong. And Han Gyul’s grandmother seems to be getting more ill.]
Increasingly bothered by his distraction with Eun Chan, Han Gyul tries to ignore his interest/attraction, acting cool around her. (Which annoys Eun Chan because she takes his behavior at face value.) When he sees Yu Ju for a movie (who’s feeling a little odd about Han Sung, preferring a friend to a boyfriend), he asks if he can give her a hug, and she complies.
Although at first I was worried that his interest in her was renewed, Han Gyul is actually hugging her to confirm he’s still attracted to women, and breathes with relief: “Thanks. I won’t have to go to a mental ward after all.”
Still, during the movie (Shrek the Third), Han Gyul sees Eun Chan’s face on the screen and laughs to himself, remembering all her cute antics.
Han Sung and Eun Chan hang out at the park, playing with Terry/Sseulja. He asks about work, and she says Han Gyul is making life tough on her at the cafe. Han Sung wonders: “Does Guy K like Girl N? Why would he be harassing her?” Eun Chan: “Nope. Guy K has a pretty other girl.”
Han Sung asks what Girl N thinks of Guy K, and she answers it’s a boss-employee relationship. Smiling knowingly, Han Sung prods, “Just boss-employee?” She answers, “Yes, because Girl N has fallen in love with another handsome man.”
Going back to his place, Han Sung gives her a change of clothing and tells her to wash up (she’s sweat-soaked). So when Yu Ju shows up uninvited to bring him breakfast, she’s shocked to see Eun Chan there, and to realize her true gender.
The girls talk, and Yu Ju notes that she could’ve figured it out when Eun Chan said she liked her male teacher. Eun Chan apologizes for lying, and explains she had to because of her circumstances, and asks her to keep it a secret from Han Gyul, for now. She’ll tell him eventually. It’s wasn’t exactly her intention to come across as a boy; she just kind of looks like one. When she was a student, lots of girls would call her “oppa” as well. Eun Chan asks if she can call Yu Ju unni, and Yu Ju answers, “It sounds nicer than noona.”
After Eun Chan goes, Yu Ju teases Han Sung about liking Eun Chan. At his awkward reaction, she persists, teasing him while he tries to change the subject.
At work, Han Gyul sneaks glances at Eun Chan while piling task after task on her and enjoying her reaction (like a little boy picking on a little girl — or another little boy, I suppose — because he likes her. Or him). Eun Chan bursts out, exasperated, “Why are you acting like this to me? If you’ve got a complaint, just say so.” But in a hilarious bit, Eun Chan blows her bangs out of her eyes in frustration, but to Han Gyul, Eun Chan’s hair waves… in s l o o o o w … m o t i o n …
Unnerved, he tells her to stop that, and she does it more to annoy him. (Hysterically, both Min Yub and Ha Rim join in.)
Han Gyul drags Eun Chan aside, staring at her intensely, making Eun Chan worry that he’s discovered her secret. She tries to run away, but he holds onto her, still staring, and says, “Let’s hug once.”
Trying to explain, he stammers, “I can’t think straight because of you. Let’s just hug, once. Then I think I can figure things out.”
Startled, Eun Chan asks what’s up with him and moves away. He grabs her in a hug…
(As One’s “White Love Story”)
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…and from the expression on his face, it seems things didn’t figure themselves out the way he was hoping.
At first unable to react, slowly Eun Chan hugs him back, closing her eyes… and the subtitles onscreen tell us:
“He shouldn’t have held me… Because it made me want to tell him I’m a girl…”
The song snippet in the last scene translates to:
Now I know, how you were as lost and wandering as I was
How you hurt so much, it kept you from sleep
Hold my hand, I won’t let go again
I love you, for as long as I breathe…
Additionally, I don’t think Eun Chan’s secret can stay secret for the rest of the series, with more and more people gradually finding out. Min Yub alone is careless enough to let it slip accidentally, but now with Yu Ju aware, I can’t see her NOT using this knowledge at some point. I don’t necessarily mean in a malicious way; but I don’t expect her to sit on it, especially since she knows Han Gyul so well… At least, that’s my hope, that they don’t drag out the secret through the very last.
For now, though, it’s fun — and I want to see the issue linger long enough for Han Gyul to have to deal with his preconceived notions of homosexuality in a substantive way (it’ll be a wasted opportunity if they flirt with the idea, but discard it by revealing that she’s really a girl to stay “safe”). I’m really curious to how they’ll treat Han Gyul’s growing attraction to Eun Chan. On one hand, attraction is physical — pheremones, instinct, chemistry. On the other, the mind is a powerful thing, and although he may not be able to deny his feelings, I expect him to sure as hell try. I wonder at what point he’ll have to give up resistance — Han Gyul seems pretty gay-friendly by nature. Will he be able to accept himself as gay? Or, at least, liking another man, even if he doesn’t only like men?
Geez, I’m dying of curiosity. I’ve got to get back to reading the book. Somebody make me more hours in a day.
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Tags: Chae Jung-ahn, Coffee Prince, Gong Yoo, Lee Seon-kyun, Yoon Eun-hye
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101 Salamander
July 23, 2007 at 4:14 AM
Hiya, thanks for the wonderful summaries, been watching the last two episodes without subs and only understand a word here and another there, this blog of yours is very helpful. What a cliffhanger... waiting eagerly for the next episode, which should be airing, umm... about in an hour? :D
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102 Natt
July 23, 2007 at 8:45 AM
can't waith for next episode
thanks
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103 Arriane
July 23, 2007 at 2:18 PM
Coffee Prince may be one of the most disgusting kdramas I've ever set my eyes on... But I still love it! What like most about it, it's unique, especially Yoon Eun Hye's character, Go Eun Chan. In most Kdramas, you'll see dashing leading ladies in the pretty make-up and girly clothes (I don't have anythng against them, I'm just trying to make a point in GEC's style) but in this one, you'll see a simple GEC, dressed as a man?!. I find myself laughing out loud not only at her personality, but also on Choi Han Kyul's moments when he is confused on wether or not he is gay. And about that discussion, if most people think someone is gay for liking someone who he/she thinks is the same gender as him/her, I think there might be cases that they are wrong. For example, CHK's case. We can see that he likes her because of her "girlyness", and not because she is very manly. He likes her because she "acts" like a girl. So, obviously, the reason why he likes her is because of her girlyness as a man, and not her manliness, which she lacks because she IS A GIRL. Also, from what I think, other than the fact that people thinks she is a man, and that she displays herself as a man, she is showing her true self. Her true personality. So, I bet even if she does reveal her true gender, she will still be personalized as the bizzare GEC. Well, that's just what I think. Anyways, THANK YOU SO MUCH for all the CP summaries. hope you'll continue to bring great joy to us CP fans by not stopping to create summaries. Thanks. I really appreciate your efforts!!!
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104 princess_agl
July 24, 2007 at 1:28 PM
Ohh I love your summaries, thanks so much. You are such a good writer!
Btw I read some comments asking for English subs.
You can watch Coffee Prince with english subs here:
http://www.mysoju.com/the-1st-shop-of-coffee-prince/
They have pretty fast releases on subs, but who needs subs when you have dramabeans?! hehe ^^!
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105 Auntiemame
July 24, 2007 at 5:42 PM
Hi Javabean,
FYI (if you don't already know) - In the comments section of Vivagirl's upload of episode 7, in VEOH, a person by the name of "fairykissess77" mentioned that she is translating the book in xanga.com/coffee prince.
Your blog adds so much to the dramas, even if they have english subtitles. Thanks so much.
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106 Nali
July 26, 2007 at 4:37 AM
Greatt summary, your really good at writing. Thanx!!!!
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107 irene
July 26, 2007 at 7:59 AM
Hi Javabean thanx for the summaries.
By the way i really like this song,The Smiles - “Rainbow”.
Where can i find it??
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108
July 27, 2007 at 10:26 AM
I agree with you that Eun Hye is very consistent in portraying her tomboyish character. She really looks good without any make-up at all. Regarding Han Gyul learning her true gender, yeah i think he will know eventually, but he will not tell Eun C!an. I see him turning the table over to Eun Chan by pretending he doesn't know and just continue flirt with her. Well, i hope that's what gonna happen coz, it's kinda cuter and funny. I hope they will be consistent in making the drama light, fun and sweet till the end. With very happy ending of course =). Thanks again for transcribing. You're great!!!
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109 Beng
July 27, 2007 at 10:28 AM
Sorry kept forgetting to put my name. I'm no. 108
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110 Me
August 24, 2007 at 2:53 AM
Enjoyed your summary writing (plus the photos) tremendously ! You shd write for a living. Thanks for the effort. Appreciate it !! :)
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111 p
November 4, 2007 at 12:41 PM
[email protected]
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112 Vanessa
January 14, 2008 at 9:44 PM
You write beautifully,
thanks for the gr8 summary,
i love coffee prince!!
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113 juvy
January 24, 2008 at 6:44 PM
I really love coffee prince. Fantastic!
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114 smiley_kotot
February 8, 2008 at 7:51 PM
hi,
i was wondering if you have the song "white love song" uploaded. i love the song and has been looking for it since i first watched the drama. i apologize if someone else had asked this earlier. im a bit lazy when it comes to reading of the computer ^_^
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115 Jeison
February 14, 2008 at 2:20 AM
All i can say about Coffee Prince its to cool and i love watching again and again...and i like the role of eun chan(Yoon Eun Hye) ...God Bless..The Coffee Prince writer keep in touch..nice story..:)
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116 kayi
April 5, 2008 at 2:01 PM
nice and perfect summary =P
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117 vanz
April 12, 2008 at 2:58 AM
REALLY LOVE THIS PART WHEN THEY HUGGED EACH OTHER
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118
May 22, 2008 at 9:05 PM
รักพี่มากขอให้พี่มีความสุข
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119 nikko .A
May 21, 2009 at 12:29 AM
i love you yoon eun hye pls!!!! come to philliphines :P :D
love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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120 mr .A
May 21, 2009 at 12:34 AM
love you :) :):):):)
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121 argo
May 21, 2009 at 12:42 AM
i hate the partner of yoon eun hye I HATE YOU !!!!!!! I HATE YOU !!!!!!!!!
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122 jasmine
August 6, 2013 at 4:18 PM
it's so cute and sweet scene ever to feel what love really is....
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123 dramabird
October 16, 2015 at 4:17 PM
I'm going voting crazy!
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124 Sandy
October 27, 2015 at 7:18 AM
Thanks for these posts. Netflix translation/captions sometimes don't convey the meaning correctly! Reading these posts make them so much better.
Thanks again!
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125 Ana Marie
July 8, 2017 at 4:06 PM
10 years after and i'm back to watching the show and reading the recaps. thanks javabeans and dramabeans for the insightful recaps. the side comments hooked me to reading your recaps. hoping to see EC and HG together in a show again.
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