Boys Before Flowers: Episode 11

226 February 9, 2009January 24, 2016

by javabeans

I was really annoyed with Episode 11 for the first half. I mean, REALLY dissatisfied. What happened to character continuity, yo?

At least the second half made it better. Not ALL better, but it helped erase the irritation wrought by the first part.

(The viewers didn’t seem to mind, though — yet again, ratings hit a new high with a 31.5%. Also, I have noticed the music is improved in this episode.)

SONG OF THE DAY

Byul – “니가 떠난다” (You’re Leaving) [ Download ]

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EPISODE 11 RECAP

Thinking to do something nice for Jan-di, Jun-pyo supplies the pool with scented salts, soap, and froofy spa items. Does he think she’s going to be settling in for a foaming bubble bath in a chlorinated pool? I suppose when you harbor a pathological fear of swimming, you end up hazy on the concept.

Yi-jung notices that he doesn’t seem happy. Jun-pyo answers, “I’m annoyed that this is all I can do for her.”

At the tawdry Enjoy Productions, Jan-di is persuaded to pose for what she is told is an academy (hagwon) brochure, despite the obvious warning signs. If the skeezy lighting and set decoration weren’t warning enough, aren’t the stuffed animals in fetishwear a telltale clue? I’m convinced that Episode 11 Jan-di is part cute tough girl, part idiot. Actually, minus the tough.

The shoot starts off tame enough — she’s dressed in a school uniform but asked to wear bunny ears — and then the two pervy ajusshis ask her to change into her next costume. Thankfully the writer remembers that Jan-di at least has half a brain, because she puts her foot down at the playboy bunny outfit.

The creepy men insist she continue and advance slowly, jazz hands waggling like they’re about to tickle her to death. Jan-di apparently forgets she is master of the high-flying spinning back kick, because all she does is shrink back and cower (what, did she lose part of her courage along with part of her brain?), waiting for someone to save her.

Thankfully, someone does. This is a guy she had bumped into on her way inside the building, who for whatever reason has sensed her trouble. He grabs Jan-di and ushers her outside.

He walks her home but declines to identify himself, saying that they’ll be meeting soon anyway, at which time he’ll introduce himself properly. He leaves saying, “Good night, Geum Jan-di sshi.”

Ga-eul and Jan-di puzzle over how her “black knight” knows her. Then Ga-eul and their boss drool over a hot new model on TV, the mysterious “Haje” (pronounced “ha jay”). Gee, I wonder who that could be.

At school, Jan-di’s grumbling stomach and the wafting smell of food lead her to an empty storeroom, where ramen is cooking. She calls out a greeting (and gets no response), then sneaks a taste because she’s starving. Uh, I’m pretty sure it’s a bad idea to eat anything out of an unknown pot in an unknown room, but like I said, it’s like Jan-di’s half-brain-dead for this episode. She eats.

The ramen owner/cooker walks in, catching her mid-bite — and she recognizes him as the black knight. This is Lee Jae-ha, looking mighty different from the cool, collected guy who’d helped her. He addresses Jan-di as “sunbae” (he’s a first-year, so probably 16 or 17) and confesses he’s her fan, seeing how she stood up to F4 like a “commoners’ hero.”

Jae-ha explains that he intentionally adopted a nerdy appearance at school, wanting to go unnoticed, since he doesn’t care for any of the people here anyway. Jan-di laughs because she can identify with that, and Jae-ha eagerly agrees that they’re from the same world. Since she was looking for work, he mentions a decent-paying gig doing errands at a photo shoot, which she accepts.

Jae-ha acts the part of the unassuming outsider when he bumps into Jun-pyo and apologizes profusely — but we see a flash of something darker when he glares at Jun-pyo’s back.

Jun-pyo comments how he’s barely seen Jan-di recently, and intends to whisk her off to Hokkaido for a short weekend jaunt. Thinking of her new job, Jan-di fumbles for an excuse, seizing on Ga-eul’s birthday — it’s their long-standing tradition for her to spend the night.

(I can see why she’d be uncomfortable telling Jun-pyo the truth — she may just not want him to worry after declining his financial help. But if this is her intention, the drama shows it poorly — because by lying, it makes it seem this is about Jae-ha more than the job, which makes me very, very cranky with Jan-di.)

Disappointed, Jun-pyo grumbles, “Am I more important, or Ga-eul?” Immediately, she answers, “Ga-eul,” then forces a laugh and promises to call.

On his way to his studio, Yi-jung spots Ga-eul at the door and keeps himself out of view as she walks away, watching her leave with a troubled expression. On the doorstep, he finds a bag she’d left, and the contents bring a smile to his face.

Yi-jung heads to a cake shop to buy a red heart-shaped cake, then catches up to Ga-eul on the street corner. She must be the slooooowest walker ever. Presenting her with the cake and flowers, he wishes her a happy birthday (to which she responds, “Huh?”).

Okay, this modeling job irritated me because it makes Jan-di seem like an idiot. First, she arrives with the nerdy Jae-ha, surprised that everyone knows him so well. Her job is to organize the jumbled clothing, and she looks at Jae-ha in shock when he walks out dolled up as Haje, looking hot and broody in his studded black leather and guyliner.

Although Jan-di had seen through the nerd glasses to recognize her dark knight, apparently she could not connect the dots to link her dark knight to Haje. (Ha-jae = Jae-ha, get it?)

After Haje’s shoot ends, the photographer asks who Jan-di is (Haje replies, “My girlfriend”; Jan-di contradicts him). The photographer comments on how good they look together and asks if Jan-di’s interested in modeling. Haje still needs a partner for an upcoming shoot, and they like how Jan-di looks with him.

When she hears how much the job pays, Jan-di agrees.

At Ji-hoo’s place, Jun-pyo stews over being pushed aside for Ga-eul, and how Jan-di’s always busy with activities except meeting him. Ji-hoo lets Jun-pyo rant, but his observant eye is drawn to Haje’s CF on television, and seems to recognize him.

Jun-pyo falls asleep in Ji-hoo’s bed, and Ji-hoo tucks him in. It’s cute, and I expect Jun-hoo (Ji-pyo?) fanvids any moment now.

After the photo shoot, Jae-ha and Jan-di chat over ramen in the early dawn hours. He mentions that his older brother would have liked Jan-di too, so she comments that they must be close. Turns out that his brother — his only family — is ill and currently receiving medical care.

Jae-ha gives her the gist of his family history while accompanying her on her morning deliveries (and we get some cute/appropriate music for once). His father was a rich lawyer who fooled around with a poor girl, and he and his brother resulted from the affair. Jan-di feels pity for him, but his glass is half-full — at least he didn’t grow up into a materialistic snob.

They’re chatting pleasantly when Ji-hoo pulls up on his motorcycle. Jae-ha starts to introduce himself politely, but Ji-hoo ignores this and fixes a disapproving (?) look on Jan-di. He tells her, “Jun-pyo came by last night. He was unhappy at being passed over for Ga-eul.”

Jan-di starts to explain, but Ji-hoo continues, “I’ll pretend I didn’t see you today.” He zooms off, leaving Jan-di feeling guilty — but Jae-ha smiles to himself behind her back.

The guys wonder at the change in Jun-pyo, who’s no longer ranting and raving. Jun-pyo reveals his new strategy — he’ll play hard to get and make her uneasy. (The others all think he’s bound for failure.)

Woo-bin notices Yi-jung wearing his… whaddayacallem… arm socks? Disembodied sleeves? Yi-jung doesn’t explain that they’re a gift from Ga-eul, answering, “They’re a little tacky, but they’re pretty warm.”

The school is abuzz when the magazine comes out featuring Jan-di and Haje’s photo on the cover (notice the mag is named Group 7. Ha.). The Jin-Sun-Mi trio are sick with envy over Jan-di’s inexplicable pull with Jun-pyo, Ji-hoo, and now their beloved Haje: “After you stole F4 away, Haje was the one person who gave us hope in our pain!”

Haje/Jae-ha interrupts: “I don’t really care about giving you guys hope.” He’s here in his Haje persona, and steps inside to take Jan-di by the hand, and lead her outside.

Students burst into F4’s private classroom to show Jun-pyo the magazine. Seeing Jan-di on the cover, dressed only in a man’s shirt and looking cozy with Haje, his eyes widen in shock. Jun-pyo throws the magazine and storms out.

He comes upon Jan-di with Jae-ha, and confronts her angrily, asking if she’d avoided him so she could be with “trash” like Jae-ha.

He sneers, “Geum Jan-di, you sure have grown up. Now that you’ve appeared in a magazine, do you think of yourself as some kind of successful model? Tell me — is the reason you couldn’t go with me to Hokkaido because you were doing stuff like this with him?”

Unable to deny it, Jan-di remains silent. Jun-pyo continues sarcastically: “Why don’t you insist that he’s Ga-eul? Or was it his birthday that day?”

Jan-di: “I’m sorry for lying. I was wrong. I’ll explain everything.” But Jae-ha laughs then, infuriating Jun-pyo.

Jun-pyo: “Did you just laugh?”
Jae-ha: “It’s a little funny. Do you have so little confidence with the girl you like? And before getting jealous, shouldn’t you first find out what situation your girl is in?”

It’s not like there’s a good thing to say to Jun-pyo at this moment, but that’s REALLY the wrong thing. Jun-pyo beats up Jae-ha, who doesn’t put up much of a fight.

Jun-pyo demands, “What do you know, to talk like that?!” Jae-ha tells him, “Jan-di sunbae is wasted on the likes of you.”

That only pisses Jun-pyo off more, and he continues punching Jae-ha until Jan-di bursts out, “Stop!” Nice of you to step in so quickly there, Jan-di. Maybe if you’d reacted a few minutes earlier instead of just standing there dumbly, you could have actually done some good.

Jun-pyo stops hitting Jae-ha, gets up, and approaches her as she explains, “He helped me outside of school. And he was a friend at school, the only person I connected with.” Even I winced at that. (Also: Jun-pyo aside, what about Mr. Soulmate, Ji-hoo?)

Jun-pyo asks: “The only one?” Grabbing her by the jacket, he barely keeps his temper in check, demanding, “What is that bastard to you?”

Fighting tears, Jan-di says, “I’m tired. I want to stop now.” He shouts her name in disbelief, as she continues, “I want to go back to before I knew F4 and Gu Jun-pyo.”

Jun-pyo lets go of her, and stalks off without another word. F3 follows him silently, with Ji-hoo pausing to give her a look.

And I say: WUT THE…? I suppose now she’s lost part of her heart to go with her missing brain and courage. Now all she needs is some tricked-out ruby shoes to get back home.

I do not understand Jan-di in this moment, at all. NOT ONE BIT. If the first half of the episode had been devoted to their relationship obstacles and Jan-di’s struggles (like in Episode 10), her defeated statement of wanting to quit might make a teensy bit of sense. But she has just hurt Jun-pyo — having LIED to him, making him look like a fool in front of the school, caught holding another guy’s hand — and THIS is when she’s too tired of their relationship to continue?

DOES. NOT. COMPUTE.

Well, she asked for it: Jan-di is delivered a second red card. Jae-ha comes up to her clutching his own red card, and assures her, “Don’t worry, now I’ll protect you.”

The cruel pranks resume, such as her desk being removed from class. Locating it outside, Jan-di pushes the desk back toward the building, when Jae-ha darts out and cries, “It’s dangerous!”

Jae-ha pushes her back just as a heavy potted plant crashes down from the second floor, toppling the desk.

Grimly, he tells her this is Jun-pyo’s doing. He points to the landing above, just outside F4’s private classroom. In disbelief, Jan-di shakes her head, saying, “No, he wouldn’t do that.”

After she leaves, Ji-hoo inspects the broken pot.

Finding Jan-di on her paper route, Ji-hoo explains that he’s known Jun-pyo for fifteen years: “I don’t think anyone can know someone completely. But I believe I know what kind of person he is. Do you think Jun-pyo’s behind it?”

Jan-di answers, “I want to believe in him.” Ji-hoo: “Whether you believe him or not is up to you. But did you send him away because of that guy?” Ji-hoo tells her that he didn’t pursue her because of Jun-pyo: “Don’t make me regret it.”

A notice on the chalkboard indicates that class has been moved to the science lab. The lab turns out to be empty, but Jan-di waits around, not noticing when a canister of gas rolls inside, slowly filling the room with its fumes.

When Jan-di does notice the smoke/vapor, she scrambles for the door, which is locked. All the windows have been nailed shut as well, so she pounds on the windows and screams for somebody to save her. BREAK THE DAMN GLASS, idiot. But it wouldn’t be a Jan-di crisis if she didn’t wait for a hero to save her instead of actually using her brains to save herself, right? This kind of stupidity needs its own name: Jan-distress (as in, damsel in)? Jan-disaster?

Jan-di coughs and collapses on the ground as Jae-ha runs up in the nick of time, smashes the window, and saves her. As he carries her off, he reminds her, “I told you I’d protect you.”

He takes her home, where he lingers over her as he puts her to bed, about to steal a kiss when he’s interrupted by his phone.

Jae-ha assures his caller — Mama Kang — that Jan-di’s sleeping in his bed, and reminds her to get his payment ready. He stares intently at a few photos of someone we can assume is his older brother.

At this news, Mama Kang smirks: “The kid is pretty good.” She pops open a bottle of champagne and lifts her glass to toast the progress of her Master Plan of Manipulation and Evilry.

The F3 guys have been unable to get a hold of Jun-pyo, and worry that he and Jan-di may really be over for good.

In the meantime, Jun-pyo has gone off alone somewhere and rejects all his calls. We eventually see where he has chosen to brood — he walks around the class trip location from Episode 3, when Jan-di had saved Jun-pyo from drowning and given him CPR.

Ga-eul bursts into the F4 lounge in tears, asking the guys for their help in finding Jan-di. She’s been unable to get in contact with her and something seems fishy — her family received a call that Jan-di was out with F4, which she obviously isn’t.

Woo-bin and Yi-jung hope that she’s with Jun-pyo, but Ji-hoo has other suspicions. He orders someone to contact Jun-pyo because Jan-di’s in danger.

Jan-di wakes up disoriented and groggy, shocked to find out she’s been unconscious for the past two days. Jae-ha assures her that he called her parents so they wouldn’t worry, saying she’d gone on a trip with friends.

Jan-di thanks him for his help and starts to leave, but Jae-ha asks if she still trusts Jun-pyo, warning that Jun-pyo is the kind of guy who would destroy her if he can’t have her for himself.

Jan-di tells him to watch his words: “There are things about Gu Jun-pyo that you don’t know, that I do.” Jae-ha counters, “No, there are things I know that you don’t… Way before you knew him, I’ve known what kind of person he was. He doesn’t see anyone outside of F4 as people. He’s someone who doesn’t consider other people’s happiness or lives.”

With certainty, Jan-di contradicts him: “No, he was like that before, but he isn’t now.”

Jae-ha grabs Jan-di to him, pleading with her to break up with Jun-pyo: “You weren’t right for each other from the start. Come to me. We understand each other. You and I are like minds in the same world.” Jan-di shoves him off.

Jan-di: “You’re someone I was grateful for, who became a supportive friend, but you’re not for me.”
Jae-ha: “You can’t still have faith in that jerk, can you? Even when you’ve gone through this?”
Jan-di: “I do, I believe in him. Because Gu Jun-pyo believed in me.”

Jae-ha tries to grab Jan-di for a kiss as she struggles against him. Breaking free, she slaps him.

Jae-ha tells her, “You’ll regret this. Please come to your senses!” Jan-di assures him that she’s seeing clearer than ever: “Thanks to you, I realize what I’ve done wrong. And what Gu Jun-pyo means to me.”

She leaves with the parting words: “There’s no such thing as Jae-ha’s world, or Jun-pyo’s world. It’s enough to look at the same thing from the same place.”

Jae-ha grabs Jan-di from behind and applies a (presumably drug-soaked) cloth over her nose and mouth, saying, “I warned you that you’d regret it.”

Jun-pyo returns home, unaware of everything that’s transpired in his absence. He’s immediately alarmed when his butler tells him F4 have been very worried because of Jan-di.

Jun-pyo is handed an envelope containing an anonymous letter bearing the ominous message: “If you want to save Geum Jan-di, come alone.” With it is a picture of Jan-di, bound and gagged, and a lock of her hair.

With Jan-di in danger, Jun-pyo pretends nothing’s wrong and insists on going to bed undisturbed. Once he’s alone, though, he dons black clothing and grimly prepares to meet the kidnapper.

Hearing Jun-pyo’s returned, the guys rush to his house, but find his door locked. The butler, agreeing with Woo-bin’s misgivings, defies Jun-pyo’s orders and unlocks the door, telling them of the odd letter that was delivered earlier.

The room is empty, curtains billowing in the open window.

Somewhere in a dark warehouse, Jan-di wakes up from her drugged sleep, tied to a chair. (Did anyone else immediately think to the RIDICULOUS Witch Amusement Episode 14 kidnapping? Which, btw, is an episode I already referenced when comparing the lights scene in Episode 9.)

Jae-ha owns up to everything, boasting of his perfectly executed plan — the photo shoot, the red card, the science lab. He assures her, “I had a reason — actually, two.”

She wonders at his motives, so Jae-ha tells her, “Look at me. Don’t I remind you of someone?”

COMMENTS

Even if you weren’t familiar with the storyline, I had a feeling from Episode 1 that this actor — Jung Eui-chul — would be coming back. He’d given a strong enough performance that it seemed unlikely he was cast in such a tiny role unless there was more planned for him.

(Born in 1985 and 186cm tall, Jung debuted as a model, after which he appeared in the TV shows Hello My Teacher and Rainbow Romance, as well as movies Doremifasolatido, Beastie Boys, and Romantic Island.)

Regarding Jae-ha’s role: I like fast-moving storylines. When you know the general outcome of the drama, there’s not a lot of reason to draaaaag out conflicts. But in this case, I wish they’d drawn out the Jae-ha storyline a little — not for the exaggerated melodrama, but because I think it could have been a good chance to extract some development out of our characters. By which I mean, he could have been a great foil to Jun-pyo in a way not even Ji-hoo could accomplish.

For instance: Jun-pyo tends to order Jan-di around, even when he has her best interests at heart. With Jae-ha, the dynamic is different, partly because Jan-di is older and partly because Jae-ha (before going evil-genius on us) seems to respect her and defer to her. It would have been nice to see that contrast played up more. I suppose Ji-hoo was supposed to do that, but Jung is a good actor, so perhaps that’s why I feel this could have presented a more compelling triangle.

As for Jan-di’s absurd and nonsensical actions? I AM SO ANNOYED. I’m glad she came around in the second half of the episode — about halfway through, things took a marked upswing — but the first half had me totally confused. How could she break up with Jun-pyo so easily, after all they’d gone through to stay together? What about all the sweetness and light of Episodes 9 and 10, and the lovely promise she made that she wouldn’t be scared off, and the kiss that (literally) stopped traffic?

Ms. Writer Lady: THIS STORY DOES NOT WORK WITHOUT JAN-DI. Please bring back the Jan-di who made sense!

226

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151 Tara

February 10, 2009 at 7:39 AM

ok... I'm with you on this one. I read it with a HUHHH????? look on my face.

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152 Nea

February 10, 2009 at 7:40 AM

Just a few thoughts:
When Haje says that JP is insecure, he is, but who made him that way? And also like some others have said, I wasn't surprised with JD because this is what she does, when things get a little sticky, she quits (on JP that is). Relationships take work and committment and though I agree that if you aren't willing to do that you should get out, JP is too precious and jaded to leave and disappoint in the way she does (every episode).
I truly believe that the biggest issue for JP is being left in the dark and everyone, even strangers coming before him. If she had been more straightforward about what she was doing, I do believe that JP would have looked at the magazine cover in a different way. Even if he got angry and confronted her, he would have anticipated her response like in previous eps.

Sadly either way one looks at this, the blame has to lay with JD. Intentional or prideful, drained or fatigued, she could have handled the entire situation much better.

Also many have spoken about the strength (or lack there of) of JD and I have to say that her spunk dwindled in this ep. I don't think that anyone is saying that she was superwoman but rather there was an inner strength about her. But as I read posts, I thought about the fact that though she is strongwilled it usually only surfaces in defense of others(or against JP), not necessarily herself and she stayed true to that even in this episode. She was slower in her defense of Haje but I think that was due to fatigue, shock, confusion and regret.
Another thing I found interesting was that eventhough there is that inner strength, she has a tendency to want to be strong but looks for the help of men. She constantly expected JH's help (even in this ep) and welcomed Jaehe's, being thankful to them both but always rebuffs JP and is never thankful. Therefore, she doesn't mind being dependent on men that she really doesn't have feelings for. (Is this an emotional self preservation method?

And like almost everyone, I love this drama but can't help but be critical of what has transpired so far. This episode wasn't the best but I'll get over it.

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153 def201

February 10, 2009 at 7:48 AM

guyliner?

tehehehe!

There was a part of me that was rooting for Jae-ha because I could understand his motive for revenge. Also, what he said made a lot of sense. It is in fact true that outside of F4 and Jan-di, Jun-pyo does not give a damn about how he treats people. That is beginning to change slowly, but the arrogance, self-centeredness, and lack of empathy for others is still a part of his flawed character.

I could see why Jan-di broke up with him at that point in the episode. He is jealous, possessive, has a violent temper and tends to act before he thinks. I know that she lied to him, but couldn't he keep his temper in check for ten minutes and give her a chance to explain?

If my boyfriend did that (i.e. beating the crap out of someone because he got the wrong end of the stick ), I would be running for the hills with a restraining order in hand. Jand-di should have been honest with him from the start, but that is not the best way to handle the situation!

I still care a great deal for this character, but I can also see his (scary) flaws.

Aslo, my inner fan-girl thinks Jae-ha is smokin' hot! She demands that he and Jun-pyo settle the dispute with shirtless mud wrestling!

"Ms. Writer Lady: THIS STORY DOES NOT WORK WITHOUT JAN-DI. Please bring back the Jan-di who made sense!"

Completely agree on this point!

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154 sonam

February 10, 2009 at 7:51 AM

@98 I agree with you 100%. BBF has been wholly lacking in any real emotional punch for me. I am crazy about LMH but I still don't seem to care enough for Jandi. The director needs to give us a fully fleshed out character in Jandi. We need more one to one time with her......what's she's thinking ...how's she 's feeling...some more scenes from her perspective. I feel I hardly know her and we are at Ep 11 already.

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155 Arivle

February 10, 2009 at 8:08 AM

Well I have to say that I was also irrateded with JD in the beginning, but after watching the whole episode twice, I really pity JD. The episode overall was really good if look past the whole JD and JP fiasco. The episode showes some of the major flaws for JD and JP.
1. JD wants to do everything her way and be independent and not ask for help. Ex not asking JP for help. Cause she knows that he will everything in his power to do so, but at the same time the evil mom would hurt her family and for JD her family is always first. However, her stuberness is always getting on the way of things.
2. JP in this episodes shows that he needs to grow up more, and be more mature about things. I mea please let JD explain...but his impulsiveness always get the best of him. JP needs to trust JD more....
3. Love the part JP beats the hell up of the model love it when he gets all jealous.....but also love the part when JD is all by herself and is folding the newspaper and she is warming up her hand and remembers the gentleness of JP when he warmed up her hand....at that moment she realized her BIG mistake and feels terrible.
4. Love the fact that JD after all trust and belive in JP even after all the bad incidents.
episode 12 better be good.....

PS. JD in the second half of the series is going to be doing the chasing ....cause I have a feeling JP after two years don't want anything with her. That's my opinion.

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156 kerri

February 10, 2009 at 8:14 AM

omg totally agree!! i'd love to love jandi as a character much more...all one can do atm is drool over the guys and admire the guy playing jun pyo's acting skills...,.

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157 lily

February 10, 2009 at 8:20 AM

lmao This drama doesn't make sense since Epi 1 but it needed a really bad Episode like the last one so that people will wake up since the nonsence is growing. The quality of this episode is the consequence of a bad execution concerning the storyline and the characters which begun when the serie released. At Episode 11 you can't feel the friendship between the F4 (who looks F2 or F0) and the connection between the actors. You maybe a "lee Min Ho" fangirl but frankly it doesn't make a good drama. Today the directors have to make Jun Pyo mean, aggressive ect... to remind to the viewers "He is a bad man and Jan-di is the nice one" when they made him kind, nice, cute, smily, caring, who has not any real difficulty to adapt to "commoners world" (episode 1 to 10) . Indeed it doesn't work since people can't help but bash poor girl Jan-di or KHJ for what they dare to do to "poor boy Jun Pyo".

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158 Lidy Wilks

February 10, 2009 at 8:22 AM

i haven't seen episode 11 yet. i like to wait til both episodes are out before watching it. i love it even more, reading your recaps before watching the show. knowing that jandi loses her common sense in this episode, whether or not i'll be disappointed with the episode, i will find out later. but since the story line is slightly different from the manga (i've already read), i understand why jandi would call it quits because she's tired, even if the scene wasn't portrayed properly. mama kang is one scary b@#*%. because of mama kang, her family business is out of business, her brother is skipping meals at school, her family food stand was attacked by thugs (hired by mama kang, we all know this) and jandi has 3 jobs. now with all this going on, who in their right mind would still have their common sense? it's all about the portrayal. now if the creepy photography Enjoy guys going to attack her, make it more realistic. at least have jandi really trying to fight them off but unable to cuz she's weak from overwork and sleep deprived. have jandi actively show her exhaustion, rings under her eyes, sleeping in class, not having the energy to swim, making gaeul worry about her and end up talking to yi-jung about it. finding out from him what's been happening (the makino character doesn't tell yuki all of her troubles, esp when the root is mama kang). then when jandi wants to break up because she's tired and suffocated, it'll come off as more believable.
besides in the first half of the storyline, the makino-doumyoji was obviously one-sided w/ doumyoji giving and makino taking. plus doumyoji was selfish and couldn't understand his GF. but in the later half of the storyline, their relationship has become more balance w/ more caring and understanding on both sides. which is what we'll probably see in the next 12 episodes, hopefully.
also, has anyone noticed that the 3 male characters from the manga, that added some friction to makino-doumyoji relationship was merged into one character in this episode? jaeha saved her from the creepy Enjoy guys and found her a job (Kin-san),jaeha turns out to be haje a hot model, w/ plans for revenge and does a photo shoot w/ jandi (Junpei) and is in coohoots w/ mama kang for money (fake kiyonaga)

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159 Angela

February 10, 2009 at 8:37 AM

Yah, that made absolutely no sense. I stopped and just started laughing over how awful it was. Seriously... the writer couldn't do better than THAT. *I* could have done better, and for FREE.

I really hope that was a one-time fluke, and that something like that never happens again. Thank god it picked up again after. I was about to riot.

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160 p3rk3le

February 10, 2009 at 8:37 AM

I agree that JanDi didnt make sense at first. But I think that was because she HAD to understand what JP means to her. Even after all the sweetness in ep10 she still kept saying that she would break up with him if he was too much for her. She just didn't understand her own love for him.
After breaking up in ep11, she finally came to understand her own feelings. So I guess that was necessary. I don't think it was JanDi's fault. I think it was just the plot. They should have come up with a better reason for her to break up with him.
That said, aaaaaaaaw, I was SO waiting for Jung Ui Chul!! Loved him, I did!! (even though the vampire-him didn't suit him) xD

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161 kirara

February 10, 2009 at 8:44 AM

I totally have to agree with you Javabeans on this one. I really thought this episode was ridiculous and yes, the later part of the episode made up for it, but still i was a bit disturbed..

I was also not happy with Jan-di as well. I thought she was suppose to be a strong girl but this entire time, she like was saved by the new guy Jae-ha, Ha-Jae? lots less Jun Pyo time.. but I totally loved the fact that Ji Hoo was playing detective and the savior, by trying to put jan di and jun pyo together. Plus he's so keen and observant that this new guy is causing problems..

Ga Eul and Yi jung are just darn cute.. lets hope it becomes a happy ending, since its somewhat pointing in that direction since little by little he's starting to accept her..

Can't wait to see whats in store for ep 12.. the episode ended off with F3 with serious looks on their faces.. just made me love those guys even more.. they look soo HOT being the good guys to help their friends in need. :D

Thank you again for the recaps!

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162 yay

February 10, 2009 at 8:47 AM

#134

Yeah that's it. I (or the viewers) knew why Makino broke it off with him. It was because Tsukasa's actions had indirectly caused Yuuki to suffer.

However, when Jandi broke up with Junpyo, it wasn't so clear to me. I was like, Wth just happened?

With all that rant though, like everyone else here, i'll probably still be watching this show. The Shinhwa family members are quite nicely assembled. They're very good actors LMH, Madam Kang, Noona plus Mr. Seo Yi Jung, GaEul and Master Porridge lol (he's not as strange as Okami-san but he still cracks me up).

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163 meenuby

February 10, 2009 at 9:55 AM

This is what we get when everything runs on a tight schedule. Accidents, poor writing, poor directing. On the bright side, at least the music's improved a notch.

Thanks for the recaps.

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164

February 10, 2009 at 10:18 AM

agree on all your jan di points (love how you pointed out that she just stood there for damn long while the guy got beat up). i'm so annoyed with her character. it's like i cant feel the sympathy that i'm supposed to and it irritates me.

the actress (or her acting to be precise) and the way they are portraying her character is just too painful to watch. i'm reading your reviews (quicker, less painful) instead of watching the episode haha. and this is irrelevant (kind of) but i really really HATE HER HAIR!! haha

plus so far it's been such a one-sided love story it's hardly romantic anymore. i really wish they would just break up.

yay for ji hoo for walking away from jan di and with jun pyo btw!

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165 sg

February 10, 2009 at 10:22 AM

i myself am getting annoyed with Jan Di character as she could be very fastidious inspite of JP being so generous to her etc. she still didn't feel satisfied & why always yelling at each other but i think i shld stay with all the rest of you re this episode -- i agree that this episode didn't seem to make sense at all! thanks a bunch for the recap!

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166 lemon

February 10, 2009 at 11:19 AM

This episode was totally WTF for me. I was about 10-15 minutes in and I was thinking, what happened to the drama? This whole episode seemed so out of place.
I have to agree with you about Jae-Ha. I like his character but I wish they hadn't thrown him in all of a sudden. They should have built him up more steadily for at least 2 episodes before making him all crazy. They should have made him more of a real threat to Jun-Pyo instead of just sticking him as the bad guy. BORING.
On a side note, I'm so happy to see Jung Eui-Chul! Totally swooned over him in Rainbow Romance, and I'm glad to see him back doing dramas. Sexy <3 teehee

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167 andygal86

February 10, 2009 at 11:21 AM

Thanks once again for your recaps! This episode, to me, was just hit and miss. I agree with all of you that Jan-Di really need to wake up and be the feisty Jan-Di we all know. At the same time, I agree with one of the readers from above (sorry, there are so many entries!) that she is sleep deprived and a good night's rest (in this case, 2 nights) was all she needed! I wish she would tell Jun-Pyo the truth sometimes...he'll be mad and throw a hissy fit, but in the end, he'll understand! Let's hope the next episode is going to satiate our appetites!

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168 anna

February 10, 2009 at 12:08 PM

"As for Jan-di’s absurd and nonsensical actions? I AM SO ANNOYED"
I AM ALWAYS ANNOYED BY THAT! I haven't stopped.
It feels like she's ALWAYS ready to break up with him at the first sign of trouble. Like the episode where he beat up that bastard bf of Ga-uel and she was all like, "Apologize or we're over" JUST LIKE THAT!

I HOPE she finally put more sincerity in this relationship and stop going into it half-heartily. Poor JP, even at this far, I still fell like it's some unrequited love.

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169 nanun

February 10, 2009 at 12:15 PM

what is it with ga eul and yi jung that so interesting? i think their scenes together in this episode was so pointless and meaningless:(

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170 meesook

February 10, 2009 at 1:04 PM

I've never seen or read the original Japanese Hana Yori Dango but is the Korean version following the original version?

And yea... I was also confused when Jandi didn't defend herself in the shady modeling place (Why didn't she use those strong swimmer legs she supposedly has?).

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171 mysticmoon

February 10, 2009 at 1:51 PM

pls bring back old jan-di... pls.. i rili dont like this episode esp the first part its all about that new guy and forgetting about the relationship with JPY. Also i missed how JI HOO saves jandi, huhu..

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172 xiahkixiri

February 10, 2009 at 3:09 PM

I think the thing that they're trying to do is bring in their own originality, ie Jandi/Junpyo starting to go out WAY early, and then go back to the manga, with her not trusting him/being tired. Its just constant back and forth and IDIOTIC. Nothing makes sense. WHY WON'T YOU MAKE SENSE? If this was pre- eps 9+10, okay. But after all that gooeyness, 2 days later you can't handle it? You can't tell him anything? WHAT KIND OF AN IDIOT ARE YOU?

On the upside, when he was confronting/punching Jae Ha, Jun Pyo was way sexy. <3 And I liked everybody's acting this ep, even GHS, despite 'tard!Jandi. Good boy, Ji Hoo. Random Soeulmate couple, but next ep with her faking = ZOMG SPAZZGASM. SHE IS THE FEMALE JUN PYO. <333

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173

February 10, 2009 at 3:34 PM

i agree with everythin u thought of this episode

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174 dinara

February 10, 2009 at 3:38 PM

`Jun-pyo falls asleep in Ji-hoo’s bed, and Ji-hoo tucks him in. It’s cute, and I expect Jun-hoo (Ji-pyo?) fanvids any moment now.` LOL javabeans you are great

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175 ash

February 10, 2009 at 3:39 PM

sadly im watching this drama now cuz of yi-jung & ga-eul, at least shes not acting stupid and their chemistry looks promising (in my opinion), its better than all the other hyd versions.... i hated how jan-di just waited to be rescued, and isnt it fishy enough that a black knight comes out of nowhere, and now hes her new best friend?

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176 yumi-chan

February 10, 2009 at 3:59 PM

I banged my head like ten times against my wall due to the stupidity of this drama. This version can not and will not compare to HYD japan. -_-

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177 jasiya

February 10, 2009 at 4:04 PM

i like this drama but they actually tried to make little bit different from Japanese version

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178 1ricelady

February 10, 2009 at 4:14 PM

so this is what i'm thinking is going to happen...like everybody else is saying...it is only a onesided love from JP but I think in the second half of the drama t's going to be from JD's point of view now...yea that makes more sense right if it was to happen like that....I think it'll be so good if that happens...yea we still have 12 more eps to go! FIGHTING!

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179 labooboo93

February 10, 2009 at 4:24 PM

I think they should have switched the actors for ji-hoo and jae-ha.

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180 Mai

February 10, 2009 at 4:26 PM

You know I found myself skipping through the first half... It was almost dreadful... =/ But the second half sort of made up for it with the excitement knowing Junpyo was going for her rescue. =) I love how he loves her so much that he would do anything in his power to save her. =) But that was it for this episode.. BUT I'm about to watch episode 12 now. =D Can't wait for your review already.. =D

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181 Kix

February 10, 2009 at 4:29 PM

Is it just me or is anyone annoyed by Gum Jan Di? She had a crush on Ji Hoon, then Jun Pyo and now while still dating Jun Pyo, she likes the model (Jee Ha?). I've been watching 11 episodes now because everyone is raving about this drama. How is this better than Star's Lover? I rather watch Star's Lover, it's more realistic. I guess I may be too old for this kind of drama. Qoong and Coffee prince were also targeting younger audience, but I could still relate to the story. For some reasons, I just can't connect with the plot and the characters. It's hard for me, as an adult to comprehend, all these rich kids just wasting money and spend so much money for their girlfriends. THese kids have no concepts of work ethics and responsibilities. They are living their lifestyles like they own the world...it's hard to watch when we are in the midst of economic crisis. You know what I am saying?

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182 sitknee

February 10, 2009 at 4:50 PM

I think the writer was confused...obviously jandi is not suppose to be so vulnerable...ALL THE TIME...i thought she was the tough girl...what happened since like the first 3 episodes to now????
further she cant just break up with Jun Pyo...ALL THE TIME...hello too much repetitiveness...ugh FRUSTRATION

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183 aki

February 10, 2009 at 4:51 PM

I don't know if we're watching the same drama, but agree with #26 and #37's comments -_- basically JanDi has never made sense character wise, no surprise here. This is a classic case of 'the sh*t has hit the fan", excuse my language.

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184 elmo

February 10, 2009 at 5:20 PM

jan di has been annoying since the first ep
..i hope they stop putting on so much mascara..:D
but yea yayyyy kim bum and ga eul!

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185 Alvina

February 10, 2009 at 5:48 PM

First of all, I want to learn how Jandi does what she does...

She's like a flippin' "hot sexy Male" magnet; there's great responsibility that comes with that kind of power XD

Second of all, I love Jae-ha's actor!!! I was waiting for him to turn up again ever since I saw how hot he was in episode one (yes, I think of my world in degrees of the aesthetics. The only thing I was confused about what his lack of family. Didn't his "older brother" tell Jandi to pick up the money from His "family" after his death? Am I mistaking Jae-ha's actor for the wrong guy?

about the Ji-Hoo, Jun Pyo shipping, I just spent 20 minutes talking to a person who was convinced that the only reason Ji-Hoo wanted to mess up Jandi's relationship with Jun Pyo was because he himself was in love with the F4 leader >_< really? really?!

Plain and simple, the character of Jandi annoys me and I think she always will. She doesn't have that homely feeling as Makino and she's too hard-headed to be truly lovable.

*sigh*
But we watch it anyway, neh? Despite all of it's faults

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186 retchell

February 10, 2009 at 6:10 PM

kim so eun is so pretty. :) and kim bum, yay.

i like this drama.

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187 Alvina

February 10, 2009 at 6:25 PM

for some reason, looking at compilation of Ji-Hoo's scenes, he's not as one dimensional as I thought at first. Granted he's a bit too blank for my liking but I think that's just the interpretation taken from the script.

For example, in this episode, his face is blank but I find his eyes to always be showing some emotion. >_< Perhaps, I'm just too used to hard hitting and emotional males in K-drama that I'm trying to find ~some~ emotion in my favorite Rui's character.

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188 glalam

February 10, 2009 at 6:34 PM

I agree totally, the first half was sooo annoying. I like the tense ending but Jandi was all over the place, an idiot, clueless, weak and gullible. Come one, she was awesome when she kicked Gael's ex-bf.
I like the strong and protective Jandi, hate the weak and clueless version so much.
Nothing against GHS, but the writers need to sketch her character better.

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189 tasha

February 10, 2009 at 7:14 PM

i dont get it. who does ja he look like????

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190 tasha

February 10, 2009 at 7:23 PM

OMG!!! Jung Eui Chul (Jae-Ha) IS THE JUMPER FROM EP 1!! eeepp!!

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191 kimchikay

February 10, 2009 at 7:29 PM

okay, so im annoyed by the sudden change in the so called "character development" but I still don't hate Jandi....only cause I can see where she's coming from with the whole "I'm tired, lets stop.."

the poor girl's family just lost their business....she's working non-stop to make some money so her family can eat, so her brother doesnt get made fun or and so she doesnt succumb to Joon Pyo's mom...and what is he doing? asking her to go off to Japan to eat noodles? like seriously, c'mon...the girl has work to do and Joon Pyo's blowing his top every 5 mins she doesn't pick up the phone....

why doesnt he help her? with the paper route? with the milk route? how about giving her a bowl of warm noodles instead of dragging her from the place to place..ofcourse the girl is going to get tired and want to quit....i feel her and she does show regret in the scenes afterwards where she's almost crying...she's trying to hold her family together...it doesnt help she goes to a super rich school where the most work they've had to do is pick up a pencil..she has no one to relate too...and her boyfriend's mom is the reason she's gotten into the mess in the first place...

what do u want her to do..jump into Joon Pyo's arms and thank him for what his mother has done? give her a break...

wooo hoooo...GO JANDI....she needs more love....Joon Pyo gets all the love...I've started liking her character and her acting...she is getting better every episode.....

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192 goldlilys

February 10, 2009 at 7:52 PM

Oh man, what did they do to the smart, and strong girl Jan-Di? Love your comments there. Sheez cowering like she can't take care of some gay-looking ajusshis in their oldies and waiting to be rescued by WHOM?!! I mean no one knew she was going to such a place. And shouldn't she already be wondering how Jae-ha / Ha Je could have known about a corner junkyard if he was such a famous model.

Still the mom is sooo evil. Jun Pyo is cute as ever and loving how Yi Jung is starting to look at Ga Eul with more softness. Really if their relationship doesn't go anywhere like the Japanese or manga version, then what was the point of all that looks of love.

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193 DAE

February 10, 2009 at 8:15 PM

i have not watched any of the episodes but given your recap i filled up my graphic mind of what transpired in this chapter.
..... per my recollection the MG1 counterpart was fare more heart wrenching... the dialogue delivered by dao ming si was far more deeper and the scene created a confused san cai.... and to be honest that's one of my most unforgettable scenes.... being told by a man you share some special affection with " i will follow you to hell and back" or something of that sort makes me want to go after him and be hugged...

it was a very endearing scene for me.... i gave my heart for dao ming si... but raised a hat to san cai for her confused state she had to pretend in front of dao mostly due her pride and dao is not showing her enough trust to continue working and be independent... what she dont see is dao has some bad feeling w/the guy she was working with...

... however as you given the recaps above that so important a scene supposedly the time when lead man is to already give a full declaration of his love has been somehow obliterated in the korean version.... argh!

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194 anna

February 10, 2009 at 8:48 PM

for the very first time since the beginning of the series, this is the very first time I fast forwarded the beginning of this episode....

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195 JW

February 10, 2009 at 9:04 PM

I always read your recaps with admiring since you do a great job. However, I didn't have any comment until this ep. I was so pissed off. I watched all the movie versions of this book and so far this is the worst one. I've been waited for the whole week and was so happy when I saw it posted. But after just a few minute watching, I don't want to continue. This is the first ep. I tend to skip it. Definitely I won't watch it again as usual. They build Jandi character so off the line. And I don't know it's just me or what but I don't like her face expressions sometimes. It looks annoyed.

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196 goldlilys

February 10, 2009 at 9:17 PM

Haha, maybe read the manga, and get more of Makino / Jan Di's annoying and indecisive character. She does that like for most of the freaking 36 volumes. I read up to volume 34 and stopped because Tsukasa/ Jun Pyo and Makino / Jan Di's love roller coaster keeps going and going. I'm kind of glad that the episodes are going pretty fast and not drag on the scenes like the manga.

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197 quantumvis

February 10, 2009 at 11:56 PM

In defense of Jan Di, she's probably afraid of total commitment to Jun Pyo. She doesn't know how far he wants to go with their relationship, like in Hokkaido. Just the two of them, alone? She's probably never been in a relationship before, and it's difficult for her to have to give so much to Jun Pyo, who is totally demanding. For someone who's never been in such a relationship, to begin with someone somewhat abnormal like Jun Pyo, is very sacrificial. She has to sacrifice everything, her family, fortune, etc. all for Jun Pyo, and she doesn't even know if she really likes him that much yet.

That part about having no friends at Shinhwa is a little over-extreme. Didn't she consider Oh Min Ji her friend in the end, not to mention Ji Hoo and the rest of the F4?

And yay! during the first 30 minutes, they only played the Stand by Me song ONCE!!!

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198 joeydragonlady

February 11, 2009 at 3:23 AM

I agree with you? what he hell happened
to the Jandi who was brave and didn't
put up with crap? did she lose her
brain after being dating Jun-pyo?
I mean he's hot and all but please!
I do wish Jung Eui-chul would have
been cast in a longer part. He's an
excellent actor.