Boys Before Flowers: Episode 8
by javabeans
Ratings continue to rise; this episode posted the highest numbers thus far (25.9%), widening the gap between now-second-place East of Eden (21.8%).
Just to clarify, I know what generally happens in the original story, but when I’m talking about this drama, I don’t care so much what’s supposed to happen, or how a certain event is construed in another version. I care what does (or doesn’t) happen now and how events are construed HERE.
Moving on: I think I giggled through at least half of this episode. Some of it intentional, some not.
SONG OF THE DAY
J with Humming Urban Stereo – “Toast” [ Download ]
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EPISODE 8 RECAP
After a moment, Jan-di pushes away from Jun-pyo’s hug and says, dully, “I’m sorry.” Jun-pyo takes a moment to let this sink in, then: “Do you understand what I’m doing? The Almighty Gu Jun-pyo is pleading with you.”
Jan-di answers that she can’t help it. He wonders, “How did I come to like someone like you?” as though wishing he didn’t. He tells her she just threw away her last chance, because from tomorrow on, she won’t get any more. Jan-di returns, “That’s what I want.”
He leaves. Jan-di repeats to herself, not very convincingly, “I won’t regret it. I won’t ever regret it.”
Race day. Schoolmates gather poolside to spectate, mostly betting on (and cheering for) a Jun-pyo victory. The Tarty Trio, naturally, solidify their Mean Girl image by dressing as vapid cheerleaders. Well, I suppose the vapid part is already built-in.
The swimmers take their positions and the relay begins; Ji-hoo takes an immediate lead over Woo-bin. Thus when Jan-di begins her lap, she’s got a head start over Yi-jung, and at the turn, she’s leading by a full body length.
But Yi-jung starts closing the distance, and in the final stretch, her lead has been narrowed so they’re almost even. (Hey Jan-di, if you volunteered to take Ji-hoo’s place, shouldn’t you have been, uh, better than him?) Ga-eul urges Jan-di to hang in there, and Jun-pyo watches the tightening race as tension mounts.
The situation starts to mirror the scenario described in the restaurant ajusshi’s hazy dream (so he’s not just kooky, but also psychic!) — Jan-di and Yi-jung are neck and neck as their hands reach out toward the wall… and everything goes dark. The lights have been switched off. When they flicker back on, everyone looks around in confusion and wonders who won, but nobody was able to see the crucial final moment.
Glancing around, Jun-hee spies Jun-pyo walking away, and smiles knowingly.
Right before the lights went out, our last glimpse of the swimmers had shown Jan-di ahead by just a hair, but given that Yi-jung was gaining on her, this suggests that Jun-pyo turns off the lights not because he is afraid of losing, but because he realizes he doesn’t actually want to win.
The reason I believe that’s the case (rather than Jun-pyo doing it because he didn’t want to lose) is because of what follows: It is decided that Ji-hoo and Jan-di get to stay, thus winning the competition.
Jun-hee announces the results to everyone minus Jun-pyo (who has left on his own), and thanks Jan-di: “My stupid brother seems to be growing up nicely because of you.”
Yi-jung congratulates Jan-di on a good race, then punches Ji-hoo in the stomach. But as he does so with a smile, it’s like saying, “You kinda sucked there for a while but we’re still friends.” Ji-hoo seems to accept this good-naturedly as his due.
After the others leave, Jan-di and Ji-hoo both speak up at the same time, intending to thank the other.
They laugh and try saying their thanks again, and then, somewhat out of the blue, Ji-hoo asks, “Do you want to go on a date with me?”
When F2 drops by, Jun-pyo is contemplating a toy robot and musing aloud, “Gu Jun-pyo, you sure are paying back your debt.” By way of explanation, Jun-pyo brings up a wooden robot Ji-hoo had once had as a kid, which Little Jun-pyo wanted to play with. Little Ji-hoo didn’t want to give it away, but he’d grabbed it anyway, then tripped on the ground. The robot clattered to the pavement, and an incoming car flattened it with its tires.
As Little Ji-hoo cried, Mr. Jung had told Little Jun-pyo that it had been a gift from Ji-hoo’s deceased father.
Jun-pyo explains that ever since that day, he’d felt that he had an outstanding debt with Ji-hoo. This is his way of paying it back — letting Ji-hoo and Jan-di win the competition and dropping the grudge.
Jun-pyo: “After all, I can’t destroy Jan-di just to prevent anyone from having her, like I did back then.”
Yi-jung and Woo-bin are impressed — and relieved — at this display of newfound maturity. Listening at the door, Jun-hee smiles, too — looks like a certain idiot brother learned his lesson with the ill-fated horse.
In the morning, Yi-jung and Woo-bin try to wrangle a resistant Jun-pyo out of bed. Not in the mood to go out, he refuses, stubbornly remaining under the covers. The guys look at each other knowingly and mention the one thing sure to rouse Jun-pyo’s interest: Ji-hoo’s date with Jan-di.
They oh-so-innocently speculate over what will happen during the date: “Maybe they’ll take in the sunlight and nap together?” “And she’ll sleep on his arm?”
It’s not an accurate prediction, but it does the trick in spurring Jun-pyo to action. Meanwhile, the actual date starts off nicely with a ride on Ji-hoo’s horse, which is followed by walking and conversation. Jan-di’s rather enjoying herself — until Ji-hoo steers them to Namsan Tower.
Suddenly assailed with memories of the day she spent here with Jun-pyo, Jan-di glances over to the spot where Jun-pyo had waited for her in the snow, her mood subduing.
She remains quiet as they head inside and, at Ji-hoo’s suggestion, take the cable car. Ji-hoo enjoys the view, but Jan-di doesn’t even look outside, distracted with memories of the night spent in the cold car with Jun-pyo. Something catches her eye, and we finally see what it is that Jun-pyo had written on the wall with Jan-di’s pen:
Gu Jun-pyo ♥ Geum Jan-di
“Our first night!”
Meanwhile, Jun-pyo has followed the couple to Namsan Tower, watching unhappily from his car. (Ji-hoo notices that they’re being trailed and finds Jun-pyo’s behavior humorous, though Jan-di remains oblivious.)
When the couple heads to Ji-hoo’s house, Jun-pyo can’t quite decide what to do with himself — interrupt them? Go home? Instead, he paces outside indecisively, trying to tamp down his frustration. (Again, Ji-hoo notices Jun-pyo on the security monitor, and finds it amusing.)
Jan-di looks around at the luxurious house, noting pictures of Ji-hoo with Seo-hyun as children. When asked why nobody’s around, Ji-hoo explains that he prefers his staff to be gone when he’s home: “But it’s strange, I’m not uncomfortable around you. For some reason, I find you comfortable and fun. Something about you is warm.”
The flattery flusters Jan-di, her uneasiness growing when Ji-hoo looks at her meaningfully to say, “I think I understand why Jun-pyo likes you.” He leans in to kiss her.
Jan-di shrinks back, then pretends to be distracted, leaving him hanging. Rather than being upset at her reaction, Ji-hoo finds it telling.
He admits that the guys may have been right in thinking that if not for Seo-hyun, his relationship with Jan-di might not have developed this way. It turns out Seo-hyun isn’t marrying her French fiancé after all, but still, “That doesn’t change anything. I think it’s time for me to let her go.” He thanks Jan-di: “Because of you, I could let go of my first love.”
By way of consolation, Jan-di tells him, “They say that there’s a kind of fate where people may break up multiple times, but they end up meeting again in the end. You’ll meet her again. Because… the two of you…”
Jan-di trails off just as Ji-hoo’s head lands on her shoulder — he’s fallen asleep. But that makes it easier for Jan-di to finish her thought honestly; relieved, she relaxes a bit and says, “Thanks to Seo-hyun unni, I think I’ll be able to let go of my first love, too.”
While Ji-hoo sleeps, Jan-di leaves the house, turning back to murmur, “Goodbye, Ji-hoo.” After she’s gone, Ji-hoo addresses his poster of Seo-hyun on the wall: “I may regret it, but I should let her go, shouldn’t I?”
Jun-pyo, however, misses seeing Jan-di leave, because he gives up just moments before she emerges from the house and drives off in disappointment. Assuming the date is going swimmingly, Jun-pyo is therefore in a dark mood when he, Yi-jung, and Woo-bin get the same text message from Ji-hoo, suggesting a friendly game of ice hockey.
(I think this drama has decided to give us as many different uniforms and costumes as humanly possible. What’s next, folks? Scuba gear, circus acts, floofy tutus? Bring it on! I say this drama isn’t complete until I’ve seen all these boys cross-dressing at some point.)
When F4 is gathered on the rink, Jun-pyo says in a challenging tone, “Thought this was date night for you. Why’d you call us out?”
Coolly, Ji-hoo answers that he’d planned on a nice date night, but things got boring: “I don’t care for easy girls.” Jun-pyo’s hackles raise at this insult toward Jan-di and the other two warn Ji-hoo to cut it out, but Ji-hoo continues carelessly, painting Jan-di as eager and clinging. Because of Seo-hyun, he’d almost been tempted to take her up on the offer — “But she wasn’t good for anything other than passing the time.”
This, my friends, is what we call a death wish. Having deliberately pushed Jun-pyo’s buttons, Ji-hoo takes to the ice and the four begin their “game,” only it’s not really much of a game so much as it is Ji-hoo taunting Jun-pyo with the puck. Hampered by his anger and a singular goal to body-check Ji-hoo at every opportunity, Jun-pyo’s fury trips him up (literally) and Ji-hoo out-skates him. When he finally does slam into Ji-hoo, Jun-pyo flings off his helmet and starts pounding him.
(Btw, who else finds it hilariously inappropriate whenever they use the song “Paradise” in entirely un-paradise-like conditions? Like, say, to score a bloody fight on an ice rink?)
Ji-hoo points out, “She doesn’t matter to you now.” Jun-pyo: “She does! Even if she doesn’t, it matters!”
Woo-bin and Yi-jung hold Jun-pyo back as he bites out, “If you hurt Jan-di, I’ll kill you!” Ji-hoo sighs, “You should have just said that from the start.”
At that, the guys all stare. Ji-hoo continues, “See? You can’t give her up. You should’ve been honest so I didn’t have to do all this.” Far from appeased, Jun-pyo glares at him, calls him a crazy bastard, and storms off.
On the other hand, the other two are somewhat relieved that Ji-hoo isn’t entirely crazy and/or a horrible friend, although they do think he used rather extreme methods. Woo-bin wonders why he hadn’t said anything before, and Ji-hoo replies, “He owed me a debt. That punk broke my robot.” You just don’t get between a boy and his toys.
That night, Jan-di is lost in thoughts of Jun-pyo when she gets a call from his phone. In an effort to (over)compensate for nerves, Jan-di is about to launch into their customary bickering, but stops short to hear Yi-jung on the line.
Jan-di rushes to the hospital, so frazzled she’s wearing mismatched shoes, panicked about Yi-jung’s news. Arriving at a private hospital room bearing Jun-pyo’s name, Jan-di starts to tear up. Preparing herself for the sight, she enters, and Yi-jung greets her with a solemn look.
Woo-bin sits bedside by an unconscious Jun-pyo, begging him to wake up. Ji-hoo’s there as well.
Making her way to his bedside, Jan-di holds Jun-pyo’s hand and cries, cautiously at first, then growing in intensity:
Jan-di: “Wake up. Why won’t you wake up? I have so much to say to you, to fight with you about, to explain to you. What’s wrong?”
They explain that Jun-pyo had been depressed all day. The accident occurred after he rushed out saying he had to apologize to Jan-di. Starting to sob in earnest, Jan-di pleads:
Jan-di: “I’m the one who should apologize. Gu Jun-pyo, I wronged you. I lied to you. When you left after asking me to say those words, I regretted it. Gu Jun-pyo, wake up! Now I think I can tell you those words you wanted to hear, but how can I when you’re like this? Wake up!”
Happy to oblige, he does. His eyes pop open and he asks, grinning, “For real?”
As I am sure many of you guessed ahead of time (I was HOWLING with laughter throughout this scene), this was an elaborate ruse to get Jan-di to admit her feelings. Ji-hoo apologizes for his part, but they’re both so stubborn that extreme measures were required.
Jan-di blinks in bewilderment as the guys marvel at Jan-di’s proof of devotion. Jun-pyo leans toward her eagerly, wanting to hear her make good on her promise: “Say those words you just promised you’d say.” Jun-pyo thoroughly enjoys the moment, and Jan-di beats him up in retaliation.
I think if Jan-di had been seriously upset with them for manipulating her, I would have been behind her in thinking this was kinda mean. But she seems to take it well, after the initial surprise. At least, she doesn’t protest his attentions anymore.
Case in point: Jun-pyo takes her away for their own date day. First, he teaches her how to play golf (she is not good). (Also, can I say: I understand the desire to dress the lead actress in cute outfits without contradicting her poor character, but I would prefer they stop with the whole rich-guy-buys-his-girl-clothing thing. It seems proprietary.)
Then, he takes her out to eat some really awesome-looking sashimi, appreciating the sight of Jan-di stuffing herself silly. When dinner is over, Jan-di gazes longingly at the huge spread still left uneaten.
Feeling it would be a waste to leave all that behind, as they’re leaving, Jan-di tells Jun-pyo to go on ahead, then sneaks back inside to get the rest wrapped to go.
On her way out, Jan-di bumps into someone, who turns out to be part of a group date including the Three Musketeerettes (Amigas? Furies? Witches of Eastwick?). Jan-di’s boxed leftovers spill out onto the ground, and seeing that she’s alone, the girls waste no time mocking her for taking people’s leftovers. They’re caught up in laughter when Jun-pyo enters, sees the food on the ground, and takes stock of the situation.
The guys are vaguely acquainted with him and josh him for his new (read: plebeian) taste in women. As with all Jan-di-related insults, this is precisely the wrong thing to say; Jun-pyo threatens, “Want to shut up nicely, or would you like to read the news tomorrow morning about your company going under?”
If only we could all wield such power over our enemies. The guy hurries to apologize to Jan-di, and Jun-pyo leads her away.
Next, they watch a movie in the car at Jun-pyo’s private drive-in theater, where the pressure of being alone starts getting to both of them. Neither can look at the other; Jan-di squirms in embarrassment, while Jun-pyo tries to muster up the courage to make the first move. Their internal monologues are pretty hilarious, particularly with the normally-so-authoritative Jun-pyo trying to psych himself up:
Jun-pyo: “Gu Jun-pyo. Now’s the moment. Turn to her.”
Jan-di: “No! Don’t look at me. Gu Jun-pyo, if you turn toward me, you’re so dead.”
Jun-pyo: “Damn, I can’t do it! I’ll just have some popcorn.”
Their hands accidentally meet as they both reach for popcorn, and Jun-pyo takes that as his signal to make his move. He leans in closer, their hearts start to race, Jan-di closes her eyes in anticipation…
…and then her phone rings. Immediately, Jun-pyo retreats and the moment is broken.
Turns out her family is calling to exult over the latest extravagance: When Jan-di arrives home that night, they’re eating a lavish spread just like the one she had for dinner, sent courtesy of Jun-pyo.
She gets a text message from Jun-pyo that night, which he has sent to offset her reaction to sending all the food: “I’m saying this in case you get mad again, but that wasn’t for you. So don’t eat any of it.” Funny how his grand gestures often get her riled up, but a little thing like this (which shows he’s getting to know her enough to predict her reaction) makes her smile.
On the other hand, now she’s completely embarrassed by the almost-kiss and doesn’t know how to act around Jun-pyo. When he calls, she fakes static noises and rattles off a litany of lame excuses before hanging up on him. Oh, young love. Silly, stupid, young love.
Ji-hoo finds her swimming at school, and wonders why she’s there when they’re on break. When she replies that swimming makes her feel better, he asks if something’s bothering her (which she avoids answering).
Ji-hoo takes a phone call from Jun-pyo, but when he assumes she’ll want to talk to him, Jan-di hurriedly motions for him not to mention her presence. Jun-pyo is on his way over, so Jan-di invents an excuse to rush off, leaving Ji-hoo puzzled at her behavior.
Thus she reacts with alarm to Jun-pyo’s unannounced arrival at home that night. Her family welcomes him enthusiastically, completely won over when Jun-pyo addresses her parents as “Father” and “Mother.”
She protests when Jun-pyo makes the rather unorthodox request that they put him up for the night, but she’s outnumbered: everyone else jumps to accommodate him.
It’s a little silly to show the five of them all settling in for the night in the same room, although I suppose they kind of explain it when Jan-di’s brother offers to share his room with Jun-pyo and his mother balks at that. (Perhaps they all want a piece of the Jun-pyo love? Can’t say I don’t understand.)
Although this is a far cry from Jun-pyo’s palatial estate — he laughs that his bathrooms are bigger than their bedroom — Jun-pyo is oddly enjoying himself.
While everyone else sleeps, he tells Jan-di, “I came without really planning anything, but this is a ton of fun.” He jokes about the sleeping arrangement, but muses, “Still, with everyone sleeping under the same blanket, doesn’t it seem like a family?”
In order to avoid continuing the conversation, Jan-di pretends to have fallen asleep — leaving Jun-pyo to fend for himself against her snoring, mumbling, crowding father and brother.
COMMENTS
Okay, I’ve made a conscious effort not to bring Hana Yori Dango discussions into this drama, but I’ll depart from that rule for just a second. I knew Rui’s meddling in the Doumyouji–Makino relationship turned out to be his way of prodding them to admit their feelings for each other, and I’d wondered if Ji-hoo was doing the same… But it didn’t seem so up through Episode 7. (For one, Jan-di and Jun-pyo were getting along when he showed up, so if anything his presence was an inhibitor, not a facilitator.) Also, Ji-hoo admits that he was acting out from losing Seo-hyun, which pushed him to become closer with Jan-di. Thus Ji-hoo had no secret motives when he kissed Jan-di — he liked her, he was rebounding, ergo kiss.
That wrecked everything with Jun-pyo, and to keep Jan-di from expulsion, Ji-hoo went along with the competition. He wanted to win to protect Jan-di, and somewhere along the line (when Jun-pyo lost control of his car), he figured out that Jun-pyo didn’t really want to cut Jan-di out of his life.
So as I see it, Ji-hoo’s manipulations began after they won the competition (or Jun-pyo conceded, however you choose to look at it), when he asked Jan-di out on the date — that’s when he began working to bring Jun-pyo and Jan-di back together, after contributing to their breakup initially.
However, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t like Jan-di. Judging from his reaction after she left his house, I think we are to take that he does have feelings for her, but is willing to step back because the couple so obviously likes each other. (Although Jan-di is looking at the poster of Seo-hyun in the photo above, I think the image rather perfectly captures her relationship with Ji-hoo at that point, doesn’t it?)
I didn’t hate Ji-hoo in this episode, nor did I really like him — I guess he’s back to fading in as one of the F4 members, so he doesn’t register as strongly either way. I think I can live with that.
RELATED POSTS
- Boys Before Flowers: Episode 7
- A closer look at Boys Before Flowers scripts
- Boys Before Flowers: Episode 6
- Boys Before Flowers: Episode 5
- Behind the scenes with Kim Bum in New Caledonia
- Boys Before Flowers: Episode 4
- Boys Before Flowers: Episode 3
- Cast members featured on Boys Before Flowers OST
- Boys Before Flowers: Episode 2
- Boys Before Flowers: Episode 1
Tags: Boys Before Flowers, Gu Hye-sun, Kim Bum, Kim Hyun-joo, Kim Hyun-joong, Kim Joon, Lee Min-ho
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1
January 27, 2009 at 8:14 PM
OMG this episode must be the single most cutest episode i've ever seen in my life!!!! WOW i've never quiet fangirled over any drama before but wow i'm still fangirling after 4 hrs of the episode!!!! This episode must be the most jam packed episode of cuteness i've ever seen in my life! Jan Di date wit Jihoo, hospital scene!, joon pyo stalkin them, how he kicked the poor little defenseless tree, how she is so bad at golf, how she went back for take outs, how he played with the robot, her cute family and best & worst of all how they almost kissed and then her damn cute ring tone stopped them!! god wow hahaha LMH is offically ___ i don't even know but I know he's totally got me if he didn't like 6 episodes ago but omg hahah okay thats enough for today!! Can't wait for next week's ep!! GOD why isn't it monday already!!
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2
January 27, 2009 at 8:16 PM
Thank you so much! =D
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3 sneee
January 27, 2009 at 8:17 PM
thank you so much for the review as usual! ♥
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4 Rainey
January 27, 2009 at 8:18 PM
This show is sooo adddictive. BOF, my anti-drug.
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5 the sp
January 27, 2009 at 8:19 PM
i cant wait until da next episode either ya!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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6 betchay
January 27, 2009 at 8:20 PM
Thank you!!
Ep 8 was great!
I won't get tired of watching it!!
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7 belleza
January 27, 2009 at 8:22 PM
I was going to wait until Tuesday's ratings come in. And now . . .
"this episode posted the highest numbers thus far (25.9%), widening the gap between now-second-place East of Eden (21.8%). "
Ding dong, the King is dead. Long live the F4! :D
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8 Ara
January 27, 2009 at 8:23 PM
I don’t think I have to read the manga or watch the anime or watch the other drama versions to fully understand the characters because this is a separate project altogether and I should be able to get to know these characters in this drama, period. I don’t have to like how the characters react in a situation but I should be able to figure out why he could be acting like that.
I should also be able to understand how one situation brings in another situation. Scenarios don't have to make sense in real life (to please me), it has to make sense within the drama concept.
And this drama is just... I have no words. I'm still watching for the supporting cast, though -- just their scenes. And I can't wait for Jun Pyo's fiancee to show up...
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9 stargazer377
January 27, 2009 at 8:29 PM
i really enjoyed this episode!
gu hye san did a good job and my fears of the drama only being carried by lee min ho are starting to subside a little.
btw, yi jung's subtle glances at ga-eul are GREAT!!!
thanks for your hard work javabeans!
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10 ar
January 27, 2009 at 8:32 PM
i'm only reading the summaries and not watching it but i'm glad it's kicking east of eden with it's high-profile actors out of its spot-
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11 dooberap
January 27, 2009 at 8:38 PM
i refreshed your pages like hundreds of time before just to read what you're thinking about it..
I think maybe I was confused about all Jihoo's behavior and just realized that he's actually the "facilitator". Well, I accept your words, but I'm also blaming Hyun Joong for not capturing it well.
Ah,, hope I won't confuse you!
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12 Airajuliafor
January 27, 2009 at 8:38 PM
Thank you so much for the recap.
"You just don’t get between a boy and his toys." LOL.
IU knew he was faking that 'illness.' Cause (A) the almighty Jun-pyo would not show his weakness to anyone. And (B) this scene is so common in kdramas (and maybe some other Asian shows).
What makes me really wonder is if Ji-Hoo will ever REALLY try to pursue her. Maybe, if by some course of events, Jun-pyo has to leave her and hurts her so horribly, will he then go for her?
Either way.... I can't wait for more. Thanks again. And I hope you will continue on with the recaps. =)
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13 Jennifer
January 27, 2009 at 8:39 PM
This episode was so adorable, I could not stop smiling all the way through. My favorite moment was when JD saw what JP had written with the marker...I swear to god, that almost made me tear up. Can I just say yet again how much I adore him as a character?
I do feel that JD's feelings went from A to B rather abruptly but I can't wait to see what's coming up next
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14 hooray!
January 27, 2009 at 8:41 PM
i wish they gave a preview :(
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15 callisto
January 27, 2009 at 8:41 PM
Ah! Jandi and Jun Pyo were watching Ride Away Bicycle starring Han Hyo Joo :D
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16 Avril
January 27, 2009 at 8:44 PM
This drama is becoming so much cuter. I love it. Hopefully, the chemistry between LMH and GHS will grow as well. They are both doing good job portraying their respective characters.
Chemistry between YiJung and Gaeul is awesome... They are adorable.
...and for some reason I'm starting to like Ji Hoo. From the very beginning I hated Ji Hoo, and KHJ's acting (maybe because Shun's Rui was my favourite in HYD) But from now on, i think I will look out for him too. His acting seems improved. I like the character's dynamics
I love how the drama tries to bring out Woobin's personality. The fact that he cared so much about not breaking up the F4, and all that. He was the most caring amongst F4 in the manga, and it wasn't explored in Japanese version. so I'm happy to see that too. Kim Joon's so handsome, btw
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17 all4movies
January 27, 2009 at 8:45 PM
BBF is almost better than chocolate cake because it's so sinfully delicious.
Your music selections have been awesome too.
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18 sonam
January 27, 2009 at 8:48 PM
Ji Hoo's house is so beautiful. I am so glad they are showing us some traditional elegant homes instead of Dracula's mansion with marble columns etc. Now if only if they dressed less stuffy WASPy especially Ji hoo. With his small frame he doesn't look good in formal clothes. LMH looks good dashing in everything.
I am getting used to Ji Hoo. I wish I could get used to Jandi. Maybe when the fiancee turns up I will start feeling sorry for her.
The sleep over was cute. I wish they had made the scene a little more serious. To show how lonely JP's life has been.
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19 andy
January 27, 2009 at 8:50 PM
kumsamida you rock
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20 MishLovesBeingOdd
January 27, 2009 at 8:50 PM
Man I LOVE your recaps! Your always so fast and thorough. It made me sad tho that you didn't talk about Gaeul talking about the guy she met (right b4 JunPyo calls JanDi when she's in the shop), b/c i think that will turn out to be critical if she gets a bf. I've been really sad that these last couple of episodes didn't have much Gaeul/Yijung love but I the almost kiss definitely made up for that ^.^
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21 JOY
January 27, 2009 at 8:51 PM
Lol once again, I'm not even paying attention to the main couple- this is one of those shows that you know are bad, but plainly because it IS BOF, that makes it fun to watch. It's kind of like Gossip Girl. Or something like that- Twilight like you said in an earlier post.
:[
WHERE IS THE YI JUNG GAEUL LOVE?
I need some real chemistry yo.
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22 Airajuliafor
January 27, 2009 at 8:53 PM
Sorry for the double-post. But I just really wanted to point out that the scene wherein Ji-Hoo leaves the room after the pretend-you're-sick-to-make-her-confess scene, just emphasizes my belief that Ji-Hoo in fact really liked her. There, he just looked like he was trying to convince himself that he shouldn't regret letting her go because he gave her up (A) for Junpyo and (B) because he knew Jan-di does in fact like Jun-pyo.
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23 ice chocolate
January 27, 2009 at 8:54 PM
Thanks a lot. I have watched them, but only a little bit of them are subbed. So you fill the blank much.
I also laugh all the way to the hospital scene. And by the way, I catch a face of DaoMingShi here - http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm96/javabeans122/drama/kkot/kkot8-139.jpg
Hurray for F4!! I hope the rating will be like this for the rest of drama. And EOE will rethink again about extension of 14 eps. :)
See you next week.
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24 JOY
January 27, 2009 at 8:54 PM
OMG #9
YOU MENTIONED LITTLE GLANCES FROM YI JUNG TO GAEUL.
now i actually have to watch the episode.
squeeze every bit of yijung<3gaeul juice from this episode.
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25 ss
January 27, 2009 at 8:55 PM
JP & JD are so adorable..
btw, i dont think that JH will ever pursue JD because by the time he realizes his feelings for JD, it's already too late...
& he doesnt want to ruin his friendship with JP.
Based on the manga, JH secretly loves JD. & they are best friends.
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26 Denisee
January 27, 2009 at 8:55 PM
I haven't seen a bad outfit on Joon Pyo yet!!!! This hunk manages to look good in all and anything. Min Ho really shines in every episode.
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27 blavkum
January 27, 2009 at 8:58 PM
nice one :)
kdrama addiction..kkkk
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28 maria
January 27, 2009 at 8:58 PM
AAAAAHHHH at what jun pyo wrote at namsan tower!!!! :')
Gu Jun-pyo ♥ Geum Jan-di
“Our first night!”
and nice to see how they sped up the jun pyo-at-the-hospital-and-gets-jan-di-to-admit-her-feelings-for-him process. :P
but seriously, aaaah! at the almost-kiss, at calling her parents "father" and "mother" and stalking her date with ji hoo!!! :P aaaah jun pyo <3
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29 shu
January 27, 2009 at 9:01 PM
seriously. mans. the one on tuesday are like seriously better. i love jun pyo
and well. jihoo is fine when he is not a weirdo
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30 shannen
January 27, 2009 at 9:02 PM
Thanks for all the recap of BBF...very much appreciated!
i have watched the RAW version in YT but i'm glad i know what they were talking about now because of you...
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31 c_gunawan541
January 27, 2009 at 9:02 PM
I know, i was seriously laughing so hard at the hospital scene, and they even use that kind of sad music, it just makes me laugh even harder.
It was hard to control my laughter, bwahahahaha... And at that time, i was watching it in tvants, without sub but i still can go LMAO...
This episode is so cute and funny. I'm just glad that the pace of this drama is fast if not i'll be so tired to watch the whole same drama all over again. Although i think because of the fast pacing, the characters development aren't thorough enough such as F4's friendship, JandixJihoo's relationship and memorable scenes such as Junpyo and Jandi being trapped in skytrain, Jandi being bullied at the first part is less memorable...
However, i'm loving this drama despite all the flaws. This is what entertainment should be about, ignoring flaws and enjoy...
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32
January 27, 2009 at 9:03 PM
I believe that this was probably the best episode overall. There were tears and lots of comedy. I felt giddy for most part. While I agree that JH started to work to bring JP and JD ever later than winning the competition. I think , he made his decision when he saw JH shrink from him during the kiss or how she was uneasy with his attention. It could also be her apparent distraction in the ropeway car. In all the signs were telling and JH is nothing if not observant.
While I am loving how this version picked some of the best incidents in the other two versions, I keep wondering what is left in the story....entry of the vamp ergo mom dear and her plots I guess. For now it seems the JP/JD relationship has pretty stable footing and very little to upset it. JP's comment about family was touching. On the other hand JD's family irritates me, it is almost as if they are ready to barter thier daughter for monies. I wonder how JD grew to be so self sufficient in a family like that.
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33 lynn
January 27, 2009 at 9:05 PM
haha I was waiting every minute for your recaps and I must agree with your comment, that's what I thought when I finished ep 8 too. I was thinking if that whole thing was Ji Hoo doing because it didn't seem like it at the start. And I do think that Jihoo likes Jandi (his eyes hint it, i think)
Anyways, it would've been nice and funny if you included the part where Junpyo called Jandi "shiteak" (is that even the right spelling?) and then her father sleep-response to that (even though I think details are unnecessary)
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34 G
January 27, 2009 at 9:06 PM
Thanks for this review--as always, you're right on point!
This was a sweet episode, as everyone was saying, and I thought the captures were particularly cute, too, this time! I'm glad the Ji-Hoo Jun-Pyo angst was resolved relatively quickly in this episode, I think the Jan-Di/Jun-Pyo cute bickering will be enough drama for me for at least another episode.
Great recap! I really do enjoy watching parts of the episode again after reading your recap and insights!
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35 sonam
January 27, 2009 at 9:09 PM
I think Ji Hoo decides to give up Jandi because he knows she has started developing feelings for JP . He is very perceptive and sensed that when they were doing the drawing.
I hope the kisses will be decent. Kdramas and Jdramas seem to get very coy when it comes to kisses. I am not asking for heavy duty tongue action. Just some sweet ones without camera tricks and uptight faces and bodies.
Say what you want about Meteor Garden but it had great kisses!
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36 peachys2sleep
January 27, 2009 at 9:12 PM
"You just don’t get between a boy and his toys.”
Hahahaha!
The best part of your recaps is definitely your commentary for sure! thanks javabeans =D
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37 Rebeca
January 27, 2009 at 9:12 PM
YAY!!!!!!
I officially anounce that BOF is the BEST manga adaptation EVER! lollllllllllllll
I mentioned in a couple of posts b4 that Joon Pyo wasn't "doumyoji-ish" enough...but that feeling has gone! Joon Pyo has totally embodied Doumyoji!!!! I Love. Love. LOVE! him
Joon Hyo was also a much more convincing character in this episode. The acting wasn't top notch. But it wasn't unbearable either.
Jan Di is also becoming a pretty good Makino......but she needs to shine more. Sometimes i tend to just tune her out, like she's invisible. Idk if this makes sense, but JanDI isn't "popping" out of the screen like her character is supposed to do. Granted, of course the fact that this particular arc is supposed to be about inner turmoil and not about her "Survival skills"and "integrity" if you will.....she is a little boring to watch right now(as supposed to kind of annoying like she was in the beginning)...........but i hope that as she really starts falling for Joon Pyo, her character will become more interesting.
This episode was the best so far...and we are officially 1/3 of the way through :D
And may i just mention that Yi Jung is the hottest human being on the planet? and OMG Joon Pyo's Noona is absolutely DROP DEAD GORGEOUS....she is even prettier than Natsushima Nanako
Jan Di's family is also fun to watch.
I think they are doing a good job of balancing the scenes. Since comedic relief doesn't come from JanDi anymore cuz of all the stuff going on, it's really refreshing when her folks come on screen. The dad rawcks.
I love how I have seen/read pretty much every version of this story, but my heart STILL skips a beat. Heart-pound-worthy moments for me were: (1) When JD sees JP's inscription in the cart (2) JP following JD and JH (3) When JP moves in for teh kiss!!!! (4) When JP makes the jerks apologize to JD
Ahhhhhhhhh. What is it about this story that makes us folk feel all warm and tingly on the inside? Lol
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38 thank you!
January 27, 2009 at 9:13 PM
i hope their loving/bonding and cute moments together are not short-lived and ruined by his fiance, or anything, for that matter. It would be terrible to ruin everything in the next episode when our fave couple went through 7 episodes to just get together. I hope it's another happy episode. Pretty please...?
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39 deeta
January 27, 2009 at 9:15 PM
It was a good episode to step back from the accumulating drama since episode 5. But other than showing cute and funny scenes for pretty much half of it, it didn't feel like an episode that makes a difference, which I guess is fine. We need to unwind for a bit before a whole other problems come in.
Kinda wish they showed Junhee some more after the whole competition thingy.
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40 Fluffpuff
January 27, 2009 at 9:17 PM
I love your reviews! I've been reading them ever since the drama started and oh my goodness, the way you recap the drama is really superb! Every time i try to recap a drama i end up making a horrible job of it. Keep it up and light up all our days!!!
This episode was sweet. I went awwww all the way. Haha. I felt that episode 7 wasn't that great an episode, actually, because i'm totally a Jun-pyo and Jan-Di shipper (thanks to Lee min-ho doing a wonderful job as Jun-pyo) and i miss their bickering/sweet moments. So i'm happy that episode 8 finally brought their relationship back on track!
Thanks again for your wonderful reviews! :)
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41 tee-nahh
January 27, 2009 at 9:18 PM
omg, i didnt even watch this ep yet and im already know that i will like it. anywho, i wanted them to kiss. uhg why does the cell gotta ring?
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42 bird
January 27, 2009 at 9:18 PM
whoot! finished watching the episode right on time to read your review (: thanks for the great job, as always!! (:
"It’s a little silly to show the five of them all settling in for the night in the same room, although I suppose they kind of explain it when Jan-di’s brother offers to share his room with Jun-pyo and his mother balks at that."
was jan-di's mom balking because she wanted jun-pyo to share a room with her daughter? they even had the bedspreads ready HAHA. i'm thinking naturally jan-di would protest, so that's how the five of them ended up sleeping together in the same room (:
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43 Hana Yori Dango Luva
January 27, 2009 at 9:20 PM
@32:
Actually, there is ALOT left in the story.
The original story is SOOOOOO expansive that it would prob take about 50 episodes to cover every little thing. There are 36 volumes to the manga. So the writers have PLENTY to work with.
Bc of time restraints obviously, the other drama adaptations had to pick and choose which scenes to include. And although there are the standard popular (favorite) scenes which are never left out, there are actually a couple of plots that both MG and HYD didn't show....and the ones that were shown all had changes from the original.
So BOF has a lot of options...it can chose to follow the manga, it can follow MG or HYD while making their own twist. Or they can do their own thing and just follow the basics from the original plot.
And if you consider the fact that there are about 6 characters (off the top of my head) from the manga that they haven't even talked about, its pretty safe to say that the sky's the limit with this drama.
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44 inkyflames
January 27, 2009 at 9:22 PM
"(Btw, who else finds it hilariously inappropriate whenever they use the song “Paradise” in entirely un-paradise-like conditions? Like, say, to score a bloody fight on an ice rink?)"
*raises hand* I nearly laughed myself silly.
And the scene while Jun Pyo and Jan Di watched the movie? So damn cute.
Also, FINALLY some resolution in this episode. Ep 7 was an exercise in frustration -
the whole Ji Hoo /Jan Di thing was rather odd and the whole script just seemed rather disjointed, no? The way this ep followed up with the issues brought up previously was rather patchy too. Hopefully, the following episodes make more sense! Haha.
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45 Philippa
January 27, 2009 at 9:24 PM
Thanksssss!!!!
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46 Ally
January 27, 2009 at 9:25 PM
I LOVE THIS EPISODE!! I was totally smiling throughout the later part of ep8 keke, the lovely dovely scenes were just ASKDJHSAKDH!! <3 And I was so happy/touched to see those writings by Jun Pyo on the wall of the cable car cos I had been wondering what he did with the pen back in ep3/4?
And this is the ep where I actually liked JiHoo :) Even though I felt quite sad for him when Jandi left his house, I mean he did like her. And ugh the phone shouldn't have rung!! D8 But the two messages that JunPyo sent to Jandi were really sweet, I think he has finally gotten to know how to make friends via the heart and not money. XD
I always enjoy reading your summary and comments :)
P.S. Little JiHoo is SOOOOO cute!!!
P.P.S. I can sense the Yijung-Ga eul story coming up soon~!!! hehehe. Can't wait!
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47 Empress
January 27, 2009 at 9:32 PM
Damn this show. At the beginning I wasn't sure if I would totally like it but now I find myself anticipating for Monday and Tuesday to come. Great recaps again! I too was laughing my ass off at the hospital scene. Even before a single word was spoken I had a feeling that it was all fake but still very entertaining. I'm just hoping that the chemistry between Ga-eul and Jun Pyo improves because right now it's kinda uncomfortable to see them together.
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48 Cinamoroll
January 27, 2009 at 9:37 PM
well, our Heathcliff and Catherine (The Villian and The Selfish!) are now in love!!!
I was so happy to see them together although I feel sorry for JH. Also, I think that after their first date, although Jandi is not trying to admit or think about it, her self-esteem is getting low because she secretly compares her state to JunPyo's state. I don't honestly think that she is embarrassed about her being poor compared to JP, but it's more like, JP is all-able(except for swimming), overly-confident person (I would say fool really)whose social power is immense, but Jandi is not particually good at anything except for swimming which she quit and out of practice right after middle school. (it's like high school thing, your friend is applying for Ivy Leagues, while you think that your only chance is community college, so you feel frustration, does that make sense?) Also, she starts to feel the pressure of being almighty, rich JP's girl, and her family's behavior is certainly not helping it. she doesn't want to humble herself to JP, she doesn't want to be a mere Cinderella, but independent woman, who is on equal footing as JP. However, whenever she had those low self-esteem moments, JP saves the day with his various tactics lol. After Sushi restaurant incident, I really thought they will have the Lovers of Paris moment for some reason lol. Anyway, I really like how Jandi is feeling now. It's more realistic. After all, the theme of this story is supposed to be "Money Can't Buy Love." When I learned that Jandi is (or was) good at swimming that she could have been trained as a professional swimmer, while JP can't, I literally screamed in joy, Yes, this Makino is actually good at something! As of now, they haven't shown not too much of emphasis on that fact other than being an instrument or excuse for Jandi to enroll at Shinhwa School, but I really hope that eventually she will become a professional swimmer, so she is not a mere Cinderella, but our beloved Candy character (whom Makino is supposedly coming from) .
I think that the writer and the director made some serious flaw; they are too fond of JP compared to other charaters! I think this week's episodes reflected many die-hard manga fans and KHJ's fans angry requests and criticism- How Dare You to Destroy Rui and Makino?! (of which this week they attempted to give almost equal-balance between JH and JP and more bestfriend like F4 relationship and less screaming, gold digger like Jandi) In past episodes, I guess in an attempt to reflect that Money can't buy love theme, the writer made Jandi a screaming gold-digger, who accepts and enjoys JP's devotion, but can't give her heart bc she doesn't like him. How Tragic. Only if this drama was more in Jandi's perspective. I really think Jandi has enough reasons to hate JP for lifetime anyway. Also, her not being clear on girlfriend-boyfriend situation with JP is because I think she knew that if she remains as a girlfriend, she can avoid bullying and mistreatment from other kids. At the same time she was starting to have feeling for him not knowingly too. Yes, she is selfish, but can you blame her? Also, I am fairly sure that she didn;t think that JP would be so serious about his feeling (after all, this kid calls himself Almighty!) That's probably why she was so suprised and felt bad at the same time when JP was showing her heart shape thing with confession and her learning the meaning of bracelet at that island.
I heard that after episode 14, the original k drama story will kick in as F4s graduate from High school. I am so looking forward to it!
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49 Grace
January 27, 2009 at 9:38 PM
This was a nice comedic break from all that drama
i just hope it's not a calm before a storm
and btw! You forgot to tag Goo Hye Sun in the drama!
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50 Anon
January 27, 2009 at 9:42 PM
It was cute but I like drama... so I was kinda bored... and while others might love her family, I find them shameless and annoying... I know they are comic relief but dang...
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