Coffee Prince: Thirteenth Cup
by javabeans
This episode was, as I suspected it might be, entirely full of small, sweet moments. As much as my romantic-loving side would love to believe things remain in an Episode 13 zone of optimistic happiness, the side that’s all too familiar with dramas can only brace itself for what lies ahead.
It’s like walking along a razor’s edge of tentative, hopeful, but momentary happiness — lovely in the moment, but you’re aware that at any point the teeniest misstep may cut you.
Or maybe that’s just my uneasiness born of cynicism — creating problems where they don’t (yet) exist.
SONG OF THE DAY
Crispy Rhodes / 크리스피로즈 – “Crispy Paradise” [ zShare download ]
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Note: To anyone who requests that I post a recap “quickly” —
These episodes air in Korea from approx 10pm-11pm, which is 6am in my time zone. After the rippers upload the file, I download it, watch it, take screencaps, upload images, find songs, translate and write recaps. I’ve been managing a turnaround of half a day. I’m fast. Honestly, there’s little I can do to hasten my process. I’m not offended at requests — I’m just letting you know this so you’ll understand why I can’t oblige. And now, onward.
EPISODE 13 SUMMARY
Adorably, Han Gyul asks Eun Chan on a date for that evening. But Eun Chan, who’s been studying extra hard lately, says she was going to study that night (Han Gyul: “Do it tomorrow”), then declines again because her mother’s been complaining that she’s been out late too much.
Han Gyul blusters, “Then when can we go on a date—?” before realizing, with amused surprise, “You’re playing hard to get?!”
Eun Chan makes a series of suggestions, all of which Han Gyul summarily dismisses for one reason or another — amusement parks, shopping, plays, musicals, the park, out driving. Han Gyul’s decision: “Home. DVDs. It’ll be cozy.” He walks off before she can respond, grinning to himself.
Meanwhile, Eun Sae, who’s a bit of a brat this episode, acts like a queen while Min Yub loyally follows her around, doing her bidding. Ha Rim hears about this and can’t stand seeing Min Yub reduced to such a puppet state. He tells him to dump Eun Sae immediately — he’ll introduce him to a different girl.
That night, Eun Chan and Han Gyul play a little game to decide who has to do the dishes — all questions and answers must be given in five syllables, and the first person to mess up loses.
Han Gyul: “You like me, don’t you?”
Eun Chan: “Ob-vi-ous ans-wer.”
Han Gyul: “Since when has that been?”
Eun Chan: “From when you kissed me.”
Han Gyul: “The kiss from which time?”
Eun Chan: “Match-mak-ing date kiss.”
Han Gyul: “It was that early?”
Eun Chan: “The ramyun is done.” [Eun Chan cheers]
Han Gyul: “Look at you, acting weird all on your own.”
Thus Han Gyul loses.
Han Gyul asks about Eun Chan’s feelings for him (it’s cute how, now that they’re happily dating, he keeps fishing for affirmation from her — not because he needs it, but because he likes hearing her say it). She answers that she’d thought they were on such different levels — he’s handsome, comes from a good family, and has great qualifications. On the other hand, she’s not that pretty or feminine, and her family background is nothing impressive…
Eun Chan: “There aren’t that many things to like about me, but still, you do.”
Han Gyul: “No kidding. But what can I do? Those qualifications don’t mean much to me. I just like you.”
Eun Chan mentions his plans to leave in a month, and Han Gyul asks, “Should I not go?” Eun Chan: “You know you’re going.” Han Gyul: “Do you want to go with me?” He mentions all the things they could do together if she went with him to New York — they’d live in his family’s place, and while he’s at work, she could go to the park to read. After work, they could eat dinner in the East Village, and go listen to music.
She likes the idea, but knows she can’t really go with him. He asks why not, and she answers, “Because I’m not thinking about marriage right now.” Han Gyul doesn’t follow, but she answers, if he wants her to go with him to the States, aren’t they going to be living together? Doesn’t that imply marriage? Han Gyul tells her people can live together without being married, and her surprised expression makes him amend embarrassedly that they could live in separate rooms. But, surely she can’t mean that for them to sleep together, they’d have to get married, right? “People who love each other can sleep together. Can’t they?” At Eun Chan’s continued silence, he grows more embarrassed.
Eun Chan: “If we sleep together, of course we should get married.”
Han Gyul: “So, if sleeping together means you have to get married, does holding hands mean you have to get engaged?”
She doesn’t really have an answer for that, and Han Gyul distracts her with ice cream to sneak a kiss. He tells her once again, “I’m really glad you’re a girl.”
Eun Chan’s family thinks the same way she does, though, and Eun Sae assumes that talk of taking her to New York means that Han Gyul’s proposed. Eun Chan says no, they’re not getting married. Eun Sae’s first concern is if Han Gyul will provide for the family (i.e., get them an apartment), and Eun Chan chides her — why should he do that? Eun Sae rants that Eun Chan’s only thinking of herself — she’s just happy at the idea of going to New York and leaving her family behind to fend for themselves. How will they manage without her? How will Eun Sae pay for college and make their rent?
(Before you hate Eun Sae too much, she explains herself in a following scene. So don’t judge her too strongly — yet.) Their mother tells Eun Chan not to be too upset — Eun Sae’s just acting up because she’s sad at having a guy steal her sister’s attention.
Sun Ki goes to see the woman he’s been searching for, meeting her face to face at her apartment, and that’s all we get this episode.
Min Yub takes Ha Rim’s advice and goes on a date with another girl — one who’s not only pretty and sweet, but who’s particularly good at taking care of the guy. Min Yub finds himself happy to be doing well — the girl agrees to a second date — and blows Eun Sae off when she calls.
Bummed, Eun Sae chats with Mr. Gu, who’s excited to hear Eun Chan might be on the verge of marriage — she really met a good man. Eun Sae jumps over him: “Why is he good, because he’s rich? My sister’s not the type to go after someone just because of his money, you know!”
Eun Sae glumly tells Mr. Gu she’d intended to buy her sister a car and her own cafe when she succeeded as a singer — but now Eun Chan’s being strung along blindly by a guy. After her mother leaves her (implying she’ll end up marrying Mr. Gu), Eun Sae will be all alone. In a sweet, fatherly gesture, Mr. Gu tells the despondent Eun Sae that he does want to marry her mother, but if she doesn’t want him to, he won’t pursue it — he’ll wait until she accepts the idea. Also, if her mother marries, she’s not losing a family member, she’s gaining new ones. (Okay, if you want to hate Eun Sae, now you can judge her.)
Now that everything’s out in the open, Eun Chan gushes to Sun Ki about how handsome Han Gyul is, practically drooling over his broad shoulders, long legs, good-looking face… Sun Ki just smiles knowingly. Bringing up the issue of Han Gyul leaving for the States, Sun Ki advises her to talk out her issues (about needing to provide for her family) together: “Don’t just worry about it on your own.”
Sun Ki: “Grab onto him. He liked you even when he thought you were a guy. Who knows, maybe he won’t go.”
Eun Chan: “An ambitious man… They say it’s really low to cling to someone using love as an excuse.”
That night, Eun Chan eats ramyun with her mother, who’s supportive of her daughter’s romance with Han Gyul but wonders if the social disparity between the two families isn’t too great. Eun Chan defends their family — what’s there to be ashamed of? — but in a clever transition, the director takes us from Eun Chan’s pot of ramyun to Han Gyul’s pot of expensive crab soup, made by his elegant mother.
Han Gyul’s family has decided it’s finally time to reveal the entire truth about everything, and his grandmother takes him to his birth mother’s crypt. As they look at the slab marking her resting place, his grandmother tells him that Lee Myung Jae, the man he’d met a few days earlier, is his biological father.
She leaves Han Gyul to give him space to digest this latest bit of shocking news…
Han Gyul then sees his adopted father for more answers. His adopted father had liked Han Gyul’s mother (and so had Lee Myung Jae), and even wanted to marry her. But because of his mother’s fierce opposition (Han Gyul’s mother was orphaned), in the end, he ended up leaving her.
Han Gyul: “It makes me angry, but I don’t know why, exactly. Maybe it’s because of the biological father who’s just now appeared, or because you and Grandmother suddenly revealed this now, or because of myself, for believing I was part of your bloodline.”
Ha Rim tells Eun Chan (jokingly referring to her as the Mrs., aka Han Gyul’s wife) that Han Gyul recently got an offer from the toy company in New York to be one of their designers. It’s an amazing accomplishment — he worked his ass off for three years to get the offer — and he strongly advises her not to let love get in the way of a man’s aspirations. If she wants to stay together , she should go with him — Han Gyul would take care of everything for her (living expenses, etc.). But she refuses to just receive everything from him. Eun Chan tells Ha Rim not to worry that she’ll hold Han Gyul back: “Even if you don’t say all this, I’m going to let him go.”
Han Gyul, quiet and withdrawn, asks about Eun Chan’s day, and she relates all the events that happened at the cafe. He prods her after each vignette (“What else?”) until she finally gets around to it: “Without you around… I kinda missed you.” He says he missed her too.
Han Gyul tells her everything he’s learned today — his adopted father was friends with his birth parents, who’d divorced within a year, after which his birth father left for Australia. Shortly thereafter, his mother passed away in an accident, and his current family took him in and raised him as their own.
“I was completely fooled by my grandmother, father, and mother. They treated me so well, I didn’t have a clue. The three of them were so good to me… but still, I feel resentment. Why didn’t they tell me earlier? Or, they should’ve kept it from me through the end — what’s the point now?”
Han Gyul asks Eun Chan again to go with him to New York, and she answers that she can’t because she has to take care of her family here, but she’ll write often. Han Gyul starts to say, “If it’s because of your family’s circumstances, I can—” but Eun Chan tells him she’ll manage. He should go, do a good job, and come back. She warns him: “I didn’t say this before because I thought you’d get cocky… Don’t wear black shirts. Last time, all the female customers couldn’t stop staring.”
Han Gyul asks, “Eun Chan, should I not go?”
Eun Chan can’t let him do that, hearing how he worked so hard for the past three years. She tells him she’ll think of it as him going off to do his military service, and wait patiently:
“So don’t you dare go off and have an affair or anything, or else you’re dead!”
Ephemera’s “Balloons and Champagne” ::
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But, if they miss each other too much, maybe they can see each other once a year… or once every six months. Han Gyul, on the other hand, would much prefer to fly back and forth every weekend.
Eun Chan tells her sister not to worry anymore since she won’t be going away with Han Gyul. Eun Sae, young and flighty, is entirely too happy about it. I’m trying not to place too much weight on Eun Chan’s (casually delivered) line after she tells Eun Sae that Han Gyul wanted to fly back every week to see her: “Honestly, if we do all that and still end up breaking up, it’s better to break up now.”
Eun Sae exults to her mother that Eun Chan isn’t leaving, but her mother looks troubled to hear it.
Han Sung comes home expecting to spend another lonely night wondering where Yu Ju is… but to his shock, he finds her sleeping in his bed. I love that hesitant, relieved, hopeful smile on Han Sung’s face enough to forgive this couple for their awkwardly uncomfortable fight in the previous episode.
Fanny Fink’s “좋은 사람” (good person) ::
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In the morning, Yu Ju awakens first, and tells Han Sung she’ll step out for some groceries for breakfast. Han Sung takes her arm as she walks by, and tells her, “Hurry back.”
Han Sung: “I really missed you.”
Yu Ju: “When?”
Han Sung: “When the wind blew, when I walked, when I fell asleep alone at night, when I woke up alone in the morning…”
Yu Ju: “What about Eun Chan?”
Han Sung: “After being briefly swayed, the moment you packed your bags, I came back to my senses, and got over my feelings for her… Thank you for coming back.”
Yu Ju: “I never thought I’d be left behind, since you were always the one who loved me more. But seeing the small changes in your gaze, your sighs, your expressions… made my heart fall with a thump. It’s funny, that as my feelings for you grew, I lost confidence. And so, I thought, ‘Let’s preserve the last of my pride. Before I’m left, let’s leave first.’ That’s why I ran away. I was so afraid of what would happen if you didn’t grab hold of me.”
Han Sung: “Wily fox.”
Yu Ju: “Thank you, for holding onto me till the very end.”
Ha Rim prods Eun Chan for some details of her love life, asking what she and Han Gyul do so late at night. What’s the extent of their physical contact? She shyly admits they hug, and he tells her with exasperation that she’s gonna drive the guy crazy. She doesn’t get it, so Ha Rim tries to explain from a man’s point of view… and it’s hysterical watching him attempt to convey a guy’s, um, raging hormones, which dominate his mind all day long. She innocently wonders what guys do, and just as Ha Rim brings up porn, Han Gyul overhears and jumps in, alarmed, telling Ha Rim not to tell Eun Chan stuff like that. Ha Rim just says he’s just educating her to help Han Gyul.
Han Gyul takes offense to the way the other Princes heap chores on Eun Chan, and yells at them to take care of it themselves — why are they making Eun Chan do all the work? The Princes grumble at how protective Han Gyul is being. In exaggerated theatrics, they accost Eun Chan, calling her madam (effectively saying Mrs. Han Gyul, really), fanning her, feeding her, etc.
Han Gyul gets a call from his mother telling him Lee Myung Jae is leaving for Australia tomorrow morning, and that he should go send him off. If he doesn’t, he’ll probably regret it later.
He tells Eun Chan about it, and she doesn’t quite know what to tell him, how to react, so instead, she goes to his apartment early the next morning to leave him with a cheer-up message (the song is Casker’s “Mocha,” on the OST and posted on the song list, if you’re curious):
Han Gyul finds it on his way out, and reads the message on the milk carton: “Super-strength-supplying milk! Go Eun Chan Milk. Be strong. Kiss, muah!”
Neither man refers to their true relationship, but it’s clear that both are aware — and both know that the other person knows. They make fairly generic goodbyes, but at the last minute, Han Gyul asks one more question: “I heard you have a son. What’s his name?” Lee Myung Jae tells him he’s Lee Han Young, twenty-two: “He’s about your height. He resembles you a lot, too.”
They shake hands, and Han Gyul watches his father leave with a small smile.
On his way home, Han Gyul calls Eun Chan to report his successful morning venture, thanks to her strength-providing milk. He informs her proudly that he sent off his father grandly with a handshake and no tears. He’s now on his way to report sales figures to his grandmother, and will return to the cafe in the afternoon.
Han Gyul: “Eun Chan, let’s tell each other everything.”
Eun Chan: “About what?”
Han Gyul: “Just everything. Saying that we love each other, or that we’re sad, that we miss each other, that we’re angry, that we’re feeling spiteful, everything. Let’s not stay in the dark, not knowing and being unable to do anything, and causing pain. Let’s talk about everything, all right?”
Eun Chan: “Okay, I’ll say it all. I won’t hold back anymore, I’ll tell you everything. Everything.”
Han Gyul: “Good.”
RELATED POSTS
- Coffee Prince: Twelfth Cup
- Coffee Prince: Eleventh Cup
- Anatomy of a Scene: Tenth Cup
- Coffee Prince: Tenth Cup
- Coffee Prince: Ninth Cup
- Coffee Prince: Eighth Cup
- Coffee Prince: Seventh Cup
- Coffee Prince lyrics: White Love Story
- Coffee Prince: Sixth Cup
- Coffee Prince: Fifth Cup
- Coffee Prince: Fourth Cup
- Coffee Prince: Third Cup
- Coffee Prince: Second Cup
- Coffee Prince Store # 1
Tags: Chae Jung-ahn, Coffee Prince, Gong Yoo, Lee Seon-kyun, Yoon Eun-hye
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51 Javabeans
August 13, 2007 at 9:18 PM
Acey, at first I wondered similarly about the extent of Han Gyul's father storyline... While it wasn't the most riveting part of the plot, I think it served a purpose -- and a significant one, at that, because it feeds into his trust issues. Without that facet of his life -- his feeling of complete and utter lack of trust in the world -- the turning point in episodes 11 and 12 wouldn't have had nearly the impact they did. So I feel fairly satisfied that the thread served its purpose adequately.
Lisa, I see your fear but I actually have to argue the opposite. It helps knowing that the screenwriter is the same person who penned the novel -- and she has expressed that she wanted to purposely leave room for development of the romance, whereas in contrast she felt she ended the book too abruptly. You can read more of that here. So that actually goes a long way to alleviating my concerns that the drama might not end satisfactorily.
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52 Rain_scent
August 13, 2007 at 9:19 PM
I been waiting you ... thank you. for this episode , I can watch this maybe on Friday , I try to download from d-addicts.
Thanks again . from Thailand .
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53 Lisa
August 13, 2007 at 9:25 PM
i hope so too...
:)
see, not completely pessimistic!
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54 Lisa
August 13, 2007 at 9:26 PM
oh my gosh, where are manners, THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH!!!! for the summaries, th
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55 Jigs
August 13, 2007 at 9:34 PM
You're an angel! Finally i understand what are they talking about.Thank you so much!!!
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56 KT
August 13, 2007 at 9:39 PM
Thank you so much for posting! I have been using K-Dramas to learn Korean, and all of your wonderful posts not only help to clarify any misunderstandings I might have, but also help me to find other great K-Dramas to watch. (By the way, I LOVED Flowers for My Life, too!) Kudos from Delaware!!!
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57 beng
August 13, 2007 at 9:43 PM
Yes, Javabeans, you're quite fast, very fast. And we all appreciate it.
This episode 13 is sooooo cute, i hope it will just stay that way. No more conflicts, i hope and if there will be (which everyone knows), it will be just about their family. I want the 2 lovers to keep on holding on to their love and drawing strength from each other. Thanks again Sarah and God Bless (^^)
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58 tooizzy
August 13, 2007 at 9:45 PM
WOOHOO!! JAVA ADDICTS IN THE HOUSE!!! :-)
Hello Everyone... missed the interaction with all of you he he. I just read the summary and I'm willing to wait for the subs in this one. JavaBeans, your summaries are so great that I feel completely satisfied with just reading it and not even watching the Raw. (LIGHTNING STRUCK) Thank you for the wonderful job you are doing!!!! GRACIAS!! :-)
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59 amy
August 13, 2007 at 9:45 PM
yah faster this time! thanks!
i like this episode but there's something missing....i don't know what is but...
anyway, the scene that i like the most in this episode is when Han Seung goes home and the moment he sat down and saw Yu Ju's bag and she's inside the room and the music played at the right moment i felt like relieved and greeting her 'welcome back' i think Yu Ju's absence would definitely make this drama incomplete. It's not that i like her but her character is much more like a real person in real life where she's full of confidence and could have anything her way and of course something or soemone will get in her way that's where the part she realizes her mistakes, matures and move on.... i think she won't cause any more problems with Eun Chan or Han Gyul though she still asked Han Seung about Eun Chan- just to make clear that they can be together again with no barriers.
And i feel for Han Gyul he should hate is biological father of leaving him but still he hate his adopted family for fooling him. and for Eun Chan and Eun Sae - i don't hate her, they showed in this drama how sibling relationship are- they fight, they tease each other, they care for one another eventhough they won't show it- i mean that's siblings relationship though you say means things and argue, you always have the impulse of protecting your sibling when you feel their not doing the right thing! And Eun Sae here portrays the bad sister but inside she is caring too and it's not that she's useless she has a dream and would share it to her sister
And for the Coffee Princes i hope Ha Rim gets his turn this time-- his own story.
Thanks you so much! Good night!
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60 rainey
August 13, 2007 at 9:50 PM
I really, really love this show. Many thanks for the summary.
Your cynicism is well deserved; past precedent has shown that if things are going smoothly and in the audience's favour then inevitably there must be some conflict (minor or otherwise) to cause a disruption, however temporary or permanent. This is not just a k-drama affliction, it happens with every country. They say they don't want us to get 'bored', personally I like bored and if they can do such a good job writing tension and building the relationship then they should be skilled enough to maintain a relationship and still make it interesting for the viewers to watch. All that said, I've already braced myself for the now compulsory fallout. I'm fairly confident though that they'll work it out. |Fingers crossed|
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61 Belle
August 13, 2007 at 9:58 PM
Many thanks Javabeans! :-) Got up at 6 this morning to watch this episode like the true addict that I am. Note, I don't understand Korean. But this just popped up into my mind... Lee Han Young. Why mention the name of the brother. Ok...he looks like Han Gyul. If Han Gyul leaves, does fate take Eun Chan to Han Young as a replacement? When Han Gyul comes back will there be another triangle? No can't be... only 4 more episodes right? Worried, very worried. :-(
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62 lani
August 13, 2007 at 9:59 PM
Yes, muchas gracias for the summaries. Now I can watch the raw episodes. About their sleeping together, is it now more acceptable for Korean girls to sleep with their boyfriends before marriage? Sam soon and Dalja did it but they were much older (30 and 33 respectively) but Eu Chan is only 24 and not quite experienced with the opposite sex. But I agree, sex is natural outcome of their love for one another.
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63 Marisse
August 13, 2007 at 10:00 PM
I am giddy wth happiness right now!!!!
Thank You so much for all the hard work youve done in everything...from the downloading, summarizing, andwhatever else we dont know about!!
Everything...and i mean everything is much appreciated!!!!
What I read here makes me happy than me being with my boyfriend..hahahaha!!!!
XOXO
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64 Amane
August 13, 2007 at 10:04 PM
I like HS and YJ's part. when i was watching online yesterdaynight i nearly cried over the scene when HS found YJ sleeping on the bed in his room.
It's really a touching scene.
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65 aoi
August 13, 2007 at 10:04 PM
somehow, i have a feeling of a huge thunderstorm looming in the background. This is too happy, way too happy in korean drama standard.
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66 Jinjinnie
August 13, 2007 at 10:06 PM
I dont think people should push/rush you to update your post because it's not like you are working for them or anything. I enjoy reading your post everytime it's updated. And i think there's no point on reading a bad post being written in a rush and hurried way. Though many readers will be reading this but they should just understand your situation and not rushing you about it.
Just do what best you can do in hand! No rush! A good work needs time! ^^
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67 avonmarissa
August 13, 2007 at 10:11 PM
Javabeans, this is a result of my crazy mind trying to find out the legend behind the name Javabeans. I had a doctors appointment today and I had a new doctor, a female. I noticed that her last name is Korean and her first name is Sarah. I thought to myself, "this woman might be Javabeans." At the end of the appointment, I started dropping little clues trying to find out whether she is you. Lets just say she is not you, and I was disappointed, more than the fact that I was at the hospital because I am sick. How cool will it be if you were my doctor, I could actually get the previews before you post it online. Anyway, I kept laughing at myself on the way home thinking about the extent of my craziness over your website, Kdramas and Coffee Prince.
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68 coffeewhore
August 13, 2007 at 10:16 PM
wow...i had a feeling you would have the summary up and what do i see? everything perfectly summarized. ha i'm going to resist reading it because i haven't even seen the episode yet but i'll be back :)
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69 nileey
August 13, 2007 at 10:22 PM
thanks for the summaries - and i'm quite surprised to learn some people actually pester you to update your post sooner!
Anyway, this sounds like the calm before the storm......
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70 blue4u
August 13, 2007 at 10:27 PM
My fondness in this drama grew more and more as it nearly ends, so I can't thank you enough for the swift review you wrote each week on coffee prince. I know its quite a job, but i want you to know that your effort is very much appreciated.
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71 Yopoyop
August 13, 2007 at 10:27 PM
well it was a The sweet Ep before the storm no? don't you think so ?
every moment was sweet, every transition was well done, everything make you smile
I wonder the ep of today ... hum ... I wonder,
thank you Javabeans for making my day and don't push yourself
^^
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72 sunnygirl
August 13, 2007 at 10:30 PM
what you said about this momentary giddiness and sweetnothings is giving me a nagging feeling of going bad. You know typical korean drama storyline. I hope the writers won't bungle it especially now that they have extended it. I really hope the story won't loose its steam as it is doing well at the moment.
what you said about the speedness of our posts: its very much appreciated. no. reverred.
I was just thinkng about it last night as soon as I get home from work(1130pmish UK) and I was right in guessing that there would be 6 hours or so time difference between us. But it didn't stop me from checking your site....in case..you have posted it. I can't comprehend hangul so to me.... your my sanity saviour.
Go Girl!!!!!!
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73 dais
August 13, 2007 at 10:50 PM
Wow, Sarah!!! Not only I'm enjoying your recaps but I was reading the comments.....you are averaging about one comment per 2-3 minutes!!! Pretty darn impressive, girl! It just shows how good you are. I thank you for all your hard work. Have a wonderful day!
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74 w
August 13, 2007 at 10:57 PM
man, i'm almost afraid of tomorrow's episode... if only i didn't want it so bad. haha
thanks for your hard work and the songs! i love fanny fink's song from this episode, it perfectly embodies the delicate emotions all the characters are feeling at this point.
thanks again!
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75 Una
August 13, 2007 at 10:59 PM
Thank you, thank you thank you :) FOur hours ago I went to bed and now at waking up, you have put up the summary ... you are making my Tuesdays worthwhile !
Thank you very much for all your hard work!
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76 Marisse
August 13, 2007 at 11:03 PM
I just checked out the ratings at http://www.tnsmk.co.kr ...Coffee Prince is still stuck at #2 but its fighting its way to #1...Hurray for the Cast & Crew!!! ...For this Episode, Nationally its 29.3, and for Seoul its 32.1...just a shy away from reaching #1....
Can somebody tell me what show is at the #1 ratings slot from KBS1???...the 3rd spot is also from KBS1 but its far way off from Coffee Prince so no need to worry...
I'm dying of curiosity....hehehe..thanx in advance to anyone who can help!!
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77 silentmeteor
August 13, 2007 at 11:09 PM
thkx a lot~
i really love all EC+HG scenes. so adorable.
pure yet sincere love~ *drools*
thkx again sarah for the wonderful summary..you shine my day! XD XD
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78 Maureen
August 13, 2007 at 11:14 PM
Thank you again! You are so great! I love this show! Thank you for taking time out your life, so everyone can enjoy Coffee Prince!
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79 Javabeans
August 13, 2007 at 11:19 PM
Marisse, from that link to TNS media's latest ratings, #1 is the daily drama As Much as Heaven and Earth, (consistently) performing at 34%-35% viewership. Because it's daily, it has a strong, loyal following and I suspect many people tune in out of habit as well. But I don't believe it's a direct Coffee Prince competitor as it plays in a different time slot (earlier). CP is #2, the KBS News is #3, #4 is a morning drama. And the closest weekly drama is at #5 (national, #6 Seoul), the Catch a Gangnam Ajumma drama that's pulling in approx 15% ratings. So Coffee Prince is by far in the lead with respect to its time slot, as well as being the highest rated weekly (as opposed to daily) drama. Just for the record, #6 (nationally, #5 Seoul) is MBC's Sports News.
avonmarissa, your post made me laugh. in a good way. i'm flattered, but no, i'm not a doctor. and if i were, you wouldn't want me to be yours. lol.
Belle, although I can always be proved wrong, I don't believe the half-brother thing was foreshadowing... I thought it was just a way of tacitly acknowledging the truth between the two men, that Lee Myung Jae is Han Gyul's father. Koreans often name their children with a shared syllable/character, so I thought it was significant that both of his sons had the "Han" character in their name. He further solidifies the connection by pointing out their height and facial resemblance, and Han Gyul understands this as well.
lani, as for the sex before marriage issue... I don't think Korean society is at all as puritanical as kdramas depict them, but I think what we can say about recent kdrama trends is that sex and physical affection are becoming more mainstream in media and entertainment. It's now more acceptable to depict those situations on television, whereas it wasn't too long ago that that sort of thing was avoided entirely.
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80 secret admirer
August 13, 2007 at 11:22 PM
Thanks again javabeans for your lightning-speed summary. Nice sweet episode, with a pregnant transition middle-of the-drama feel. Hmm, out of curiosity, what do you think the writer will be focusing on in the one extra episode? For once, i like CP to spend some time away from the Han Gyul/Eun Chan's romance and put a little bit more emphasis on Eun Chan's family. It would be nice to see some growth or change in either Eun Chan's mother or Eun Sae. Wouldn't it be great to see both underwent some positive experiences by the end of ep 17?
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81 lain
August 13, 2007 at 11:29 PM
omg i had small tears in my eyes when i finished
to be honest i haven't even seen 11 12 yet!
but im still patiently waiting for subtitles. im so eager to watch it but at the same time i have exams
iwanna cry for their happiness, so pure and elegant, not tainted at all by material goods or what could have or would have or anything!
such pure love makes my heart flutter
thank you so much for this quick update! i only recently got this epsiode as well
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82 Acey
August 13, 2007 at 11:29 PM
Ack apparently I double-posted, how mortifying X__X sorry everyone for clogging up space, please ignore post #24.
Lol isn't it funny (and kinda sad) how years of K-drama watching has trained us to distrust two consecutive happy episodes? I remember in Delightful Girl, Chun-Hyang, the two leads finally got together, and it was barely half an episode later that Byun Sa-jang turned evil. Han Gyul and Eun Chan have been happy for more than two episodes now, and it's set our spidey senses tingling, heh. In this case though, I would be more than glad to be proven wrong. I hope today's last scene can be taken at face value and doesn't mean Han Sung's advice to hide his kiss from Han Gyul will be blown out of proportion (because it was reasonable advice, and I'm sure he felt sorry)
But so far this drama has gone out of its way to exceed our expectations, so I have (a modicum of?) faith that it won't let us down again. The secondary characters in the love polygons have defied stereotypes - I usually feel somewhat sorry for them eg in Winter Sonata, wouldn't everyone be happy if Sang Hyuk and Chaerin got together? Well, here they have. And it seems like they have a shot at their own happiness. I think (I hope) I'll get the wish I expressed a couple of episodes back, that the two couples be kept separate and messy entanglements largely avoided.
There seems to be a greater threat though, in the parental disapproval department. (I hope not - surely Granny is too cool for that!) But historical precedent (in the form of Han Gyul's father) suggests otherwise :( Hopefully 1) she's mellowed 2) his father (adoptive) steps in to prevent history repeating itself - this I think would be neat, since after finding out the truth Han Gyul might be softening towards him? If I'm not wrong, he feels sorry for his behaviour towards him, doesn't he? And they weren't always at odds with each other.
Javabeans, please correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought Han Gyul knew his mother wasn't his birth mother before Lee Myung Jae told him about it in episode 11. So he always knew his family was hiding something from him (though I agree that after he got the photo of his mother, it came home to him more keenly how his family - his father - never shared anything about her to him, and the timing was a double blow to him given Eun Chan's revelation) but I think the bigger blow was possibly finding out Lee Myung Jae was his father? He had completely no clue, and this was only tossed to him after he got together with Eun Chan. I know it's a tiny plot thing, but I wish they'd worked it more seamlessly into the plot so that it doesn't feel as if it could've been taken out with no lasting harm - but that's just me! It's actually the same issue I have with the Harry Potter books, which is that the entire series read end to end doesn't hold together as well as it could. I mean, we only see flashes in every episode of Sunki's secret history, but instead of making us go wtf was that about? we're intrigued and want to know what happened at how it'll all pan out. OK I guess the difference might be that Sunki is hot... and Myung Jae is not ;)
Heh maybe they used it as a time filler so that there would be minimal disruptions to the momentum with the one-episode extension. Oh! Suddenly I see another way it could affect Han Gyul's character development - now that he knows he's not really part of the Choi family, he might feel less entitled to a large inheritance, and this will spur him to stand on his own two feet? (I love it, btw, that Eun Chan can see Han Gyul as an 'ambitious man', given that most others would brand him as a ne'er-do-well especially in his pre-CP days. It seems like she's having the kind of faith in him that Han Gyul in episode 12 says he needs to have from the person he loves.) Hence America, etc. I could live with that. Thank you for making me justify this to myself! If I'd just left it at that this series may not be as perfect in my heart as it could've been. Thank you!! :)
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83 Kiongna
August 13, 2007 at 11:43 PM
Dear Javabeans,
BIG HUGS.....Thank you so much....I've been a bad bad semi-ajummah and kept clicking on your website from workplace hoping to see the summarry and voila...you never disappoint.
One of the best things about you Sarah is that you say it with simple words and so accurately, so easy to read and digest, you don't use big words, nor many many words and we the readers get to enjoy the whole essence of the drama just by reading....and the way you put your words it has a very cheery, sweet and kind disposition, never ever authorative / assertive, ALWAYS kind and gentle. I'm sure this depicts you in real life, how wonderful.
Love E
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84 Javabeans
August 13, 2007 at 11:51 PM
Acey, yes Han Gyul has known for twelve years that his mother is not his biological mother. His bitterness toward his father all these years stems from this (which is partly why Han Gyul now feels guilty for holding a grudge against his adopted father for the wrong reason). What I meant by his birth secret scarring Han Gyul with his lack-of-faith issue is that, each time he learns to accept something, yet one more thing comes to shake up his idea of what is real. He learns who his mother really was, finally gets the issue out in the open with his family... and then, as if that weren't enough, he learns about his birth father. It's not just that he's been lied to, but that he's discovering one after another. One can see just how much he needs for something not to lie and betray him, which is why I could understand his harsh reaction to Eun Chan in Episodes 11 and 12.
And as for the family opposition, I think knowing of Han Gyul's grandmother opposing his (birth) mother from marrying his (adopted) father actually is something to take optimistically... I see it as a sign that all players involved will see that history -- and the pain that came with it -- should not be repeated. Especially not with Han Gyul, who is the bearer of the brunt of most of the pain. And, how could they not love Eun Chan?
And thanks so much for your kind words, Kiongna!
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85
August 13, 2007 at 11:52 PM
thank you so much for the recap..this is so sweet when they were talking over on the phone...and the scene about HS found YJ in the bed is very tounching.
like it ... n thanks
lol..xoxo...lol...
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86 Tweety
August 13, 2007 at 11:52 PM
Thank you so much for the summary. This episode is so sweet. Can't wait for the next episode. Have a nice day ^_^
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87 Acey
August 14, 2007 at 12:04 AM
Javabeans, ahh, I see what you mean now. Yes. Thank you! Thank you so much for your ever-patient replies! And super-fast too :) And can I just say, I love your translation of the 5-syllable word game. I think it just shows how much care you take in your translations - I've seen many translations that just give us the meaning of what they're saying, but not the essense of what they're doing - with it the mood is lost. I was wondering how I'd have done it in their place and just as the CP writers often make me think there's no way anyone could be that, that's what your translation of the game made me think as well. And the way you segue between scenes in words as seamlessly as an edited film... Truly quality worth waiting for! Simply AWESOME :D
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88 Acey
August 14, 2007 at 12:18 AM
^Ahm, sorry corrections to #87
*essence;
*..no way anyone could beat that.
And R @ 22, I totally agree with you about the apartment (wth is an officetel, btw? Cos I want one - Han Gyul's, to be exact!)
It all woodsy and nice and ohgod the use of space is to die for. It's not just the roll-out bed, there's also a drop-leaf table next to it - you could pull a chair over and use it when the bed is hidden, or sit on the bed and use it. And the open-concept bathroom with its deep, tiled jacuzzi, the pull-out closet (you think how can just one door hold so many clothes and voila - amazing depths indeed), the deck; I think it's very very much a bachelor pad but still homey; I think I would die to live there. Which is why my envious heart went !!! at how comfortable Eun Chan was with it.
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89 Anonymous
August 14, 2007 at 1:13 AM
thumbs up! Sugar roll all the way.. its soooooo sweet the couple! I was thinking if its too smooth for a relationship? I wonder what's gona happen next....
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90 Anonymous
August 14, 2007 at 1:14 AM
again thumbs up for your quality of work! Yeah.. its not easy... U been working really hard! after this drama, pls take a vacation! =p
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91 wonbinrules
August 14, 2007 at 1:38 AM
THANK YOU!!! And don't worry, I understand why it takes time. In fact I usually wait until Tuesday or Wednesday to check just in case the summaries aren't up yet. It's amazing that you get them done so fast though. So thanks again! It was soooo cute! I'm giggling! And I usually don't do that. So *giggle* cute!
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92 smile
August 14, 2007 at 1:49 AM
Thanks for doing it so fast and your hard work. appreciate it very much ya..........!!!!
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93 jindarae
August 14, 2007 at 1:53 AM
yeah just be patient guys... Sarah and all the subbers are working very hard to give us the latest... anyways thanks again!
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94 keciku
August 14, 2007 at 1:57 AM
Dear Java/Dramabeans, Thanks ever so much for your hard work in doing this summary really appreacited. Knew that you would not let coffee princes down. THANKS A MIL!!!!
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95 Gramps
August 14, 2007 at 2:08 AM
javabeans, you're not just "quite fast". Your turnaround speed defies the laws of physics and psychology. Since it is totally impossible for a single human being to craft such wonderful pieces in the time you do (and OMG you even have time to come up with a wholly convincing translation of a pentasyllabic word game, a feat that in itself that would take a team of professional translators a couple of weeks) I've been forced to conclude that I must be dreaming it all: you, this blog, CP and, yes, the persuasive but impossible fantasy that watching the live stream yesterday, I got about 80% of what your summary just confirmed, thanks to a massive boost to my real-time Korean comprehension ability after bingeing all weekend on those scripts you posted. So, in the worst traditions of cheapskate cliffhanger sequences, I'm about to wake up and find this blog and the fantastic and wonderful world it has opened was all a wish-fulfilment fantasy. But it was truly great while it lasted.
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96 Cartman
August 14, 2007 at 2:15 AM
I almost literally jumped for joy..the atmosphere now is so so sweet!!! But I'm now really sensing what will their problem be..
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97 Kaki
August 14, 2007 at 2:24 AM
Thank you very much for your summary ! it is very well done, it seems like we are watching it
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98 ruby
August 14, 2007 at 2:35 AM
its so good.. thanks alot..^_^
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99 Noona
August 14, 2007 at 3:50 AM
A litte advice to EC: She better not let him go to NY, a bunch of us here are patiently waiting for HG to just leave Korea. I'm in LA but I'm more than willing to relocate to NY! lol
GO JAVABEANS! WE LOVE YOU!
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100 emceelegs
August 14, 2007 at 3:58 AM
Yes!!!after reading your great summary I'm going to watched it in you tube because
it has no subs yet...
Thanks you so much javabeans.....yes.its very well done ..love you!!
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