Boys Before Flowers: Episode 20

229 March 16, 2009January 24, 2016

by javabeans

I enjoyed this episode; it felt like a return to the style of earlier days, which in my book is a good thing.

(It’s sad; I haven’t rewatched any episodes since Episode 10 — up till that point I’d rewatched the episodes multiple times, or at least my favorite portions. I was a little shocked to realize when I started up this episode that I’d forgotten a few of the characters’ names! Aie. That’s how far back this show has gotten pushed in my mind when it’s not actually on. Although, like I said — I still totally enjoyed Episode 20.)

SONG OF THE DAY

8eight – “참지마” (Don’t Hold Back). I know the So-hee As Vampire song is getting all the attention right now for the music video, but I’m partial to this track. [ Download ]

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EPISODE 20 RECAP

When Yi-jung finds Ga-eul at her pottery class — using his trusty super-sensory Ga-eul Tracking Beacon, I’m sure — things start out promising for the couple. He looks at her encouragingly as she works on her project, and she smiles bashfully at his attention…

…until Yi-jung looks over at the ceramic puzzle piece on the desk, that is. Instantly recognizing it, he asks urgently where it came from.

Ga-eul answers that it belongs to her pottery teacher, which sends Yi-jung rushing out in a blaze of (over)emotion. (Oh, Kim Bum. It’s okay, you can bug out your eyes and flare your nostrils as much as you like, I’ll still love you.) From his shocked reaction, Ga-eul puts the (puzzle) pieces together, and we now confirm that the girl he’d been talking about in the last episode was in fact Eun-jae, not Ga-eul (sorry, Soeulmaters). (Refresher: He’d mumbled about in his sleep that he’d retreated because he was afraid he would hurt her.)

After sending her brother away, Jan-di wanders the streets with her sad piece of luggage. She pulls out her phone to call someone — perhaps Ji-hoo, or maybe Ga-eul — but gets no answer. (We can assume this is the phone Jae-kyung bought her, but a little more continuity would be nice. Jan-di suddenly has a phone! Then she doesn’t! Now she does again!)

Jan-di tries to stake out a spot for herself in the subway station, but she’s chased off by a drunken, belligerent homeless man. I know she tried to call somebody and she heads to the clinic next, but if she was willing to squat in a fetid corner of hobo headquarters, surely she could’ve tried a few more people first. Honey, there’s pride, and there’s stupidity. (Jan-di, two words for you: PC bang.)

(By the way, the background music is a Jisun song, “What Do I Do?” [어떡하죠], and no, it’s not out yet.)

At home, Jun-hee thinks back to how her mother interfered in her life, in much the same way she’s interfering in Jun-pyo’s now. Back before Jun-hee’s marriage, Madam Kang had attempted to pay off Jun-hee’s boyfriend, insisting that someone of Jun-hee’s standing needs to marry an elite type.

Jun-hee had angrily confronted her mother, saying that all she had ever wanted was a love like the one she had with him — nobody else can replace him. Madam Kang had sneered that risking her status for love is a foolish gamble. “Do that in your next life.”

Commiserating with Jan-di’s situation, Jun-hee calls her… which is a good thing, because this occurs just as Jan-di collapses in the street from exhaustion. Worried passers-by crowd around her, and one woman answers Jan-di’s phone.

When Jan-di awakens, she’s in a guest room at the Gu Manor (or I suppose I should call it Shinhwa Manor). Jun-hee greets her with affection and cheeriness, but there’s a firmness to her tone as she reminds Jan-di that she’d told her to call if she was ever in trouble. She announces that Jan-di is her guest now, and will stay in this house until she’s able to find a place to go.

Jan-di protests — it’s too much of an imposition — so Jun-hee busts out the “But you’ll hurt my feelings if you refuse” tactic, reminding Jan-di that she’d promised to think of her as an unni, regardless of Jun-pyo. Surely she wasn’t just paying lip service, was she? Besides, Mommie Dearest is out of the country right now.

It IS a solution to her problems, so Jan-di agrees reluctantly, under one condition — she wants to earn her keep. She asks to be put to work.

You know, the French maid outfits are ridiculous, but I kinda like them. More to the point, I like how they, unlike the school uniforms, are not fetishized sex-kitten costumes. Sure they’re funny-looking, but in a frilly, Pilgrim-girl way, not a skimpy lad-mag way.

Jun-hee introduces Jan-di to the staff and the stern Granny Housekeeper who rules the roost. (Anyone think that the bug pin on her collar is a nod to Jun-pyo’s bug phobia? Lol.) Granny’s kind of a hoot, not least because the actress is a kdrama staple and she always does the bossy grandma role hilariously. Furthermore, although Jun-hee calls her “grandmother” out of affectionate respect, the housekeeper demands that Jan-di (as her employee) call her “sunbae” instead. HAHA. (Insisting she be called “sunbae” would be appropriate if she were about fifty years younger.)

With that, Jun-hee announces she’ll be heading back to the States for a while, and wishes Jan-di well.

Jan-di is trained under the eagle eye of Housekeeper Granny, who demands perfection. At mealtime, Jan-di is assigned to serve Jun-pyo, so she hastily tells him the menu and keeps her face averted to avoid his notice.

Jun-pyo doesn’t notice Jan-di at first, because he’s startled to see Granny back — apparently she’d left the household to work elsewhere for a while. For the time being, she’s traded places with the butler.

Granny introduces Jan-di as the new maid, forcing the latter to face Jun-pyo. Wincing, Jan-d addresses him, and both exhibit further shock when Granny announces that Jan-di will be Jun-pyo’s exclusive personal maid.

Jan-di begs to be reassigned, but Granny is unbudging — this job requires her to do tasks that may not be enjoyable, but should be done uncomplainingly. Jan-di contemplates leaving, but feels that would be disrespectful to Jun-hee, and faces her task with resignation.

Jun-pyo, on the other hand, is loving this.

He uses a walkie-talkie to issue orders to Jan-di, which was a tactic already seen in Last Scandal. But even though it’s familiar, I still thoroughly enjoy it here.

He wastes no time putting his “personal maid” to work, issuing commands for her to essentially come running at his beck and call. When she bickers with him (using his name and casual banmal speech), Granny scolds her and reminds her to do her job.

First off, she prepares ramen for Jun-pyo, the first batch of which he rejects because she fancied it up with extra garnishes and pretty dishes — he wants it commoner-style, with the requisite copper pot and lid.

Then he tells her to sit by while he eats, softening the command by telling her how to work the recliner.

The song usage in this drama, as we know, tends to be heavy-handed, but at least the meaning of the song played here fits nicely in this scene. It even ties into a scene later. (This song is also still unreleased).

As Jan-di pulls the stool up on the recliner, the song goes, “I know that this shouldn’t happen. If you say this is a lie, will my feelings for you return?” (The song talks about harboring feelings that shouldn’t be felt, indicating that her feelings are in danger of making a reluctant resurgence.)

When Jun-pyo finishes eating, he sees that Jan-di has fallen asleep. He covers her with a blanket, and watches her as she sleeps on, not noticing that the maids have witnessed this through the open doorway. (Granny looks rather pleased, as well.)

In the morning, Jan-di has the daunting task of waking Jun-pyo, which as we’ve already seen takes some effort. He’s being so bad-tempered that when she arrives at his room, she overhears him yelling at a maid to get out and that she’s fired.

The maid bursts out crying, so Jan-di grits her teeth and storms in to wake him up, prodding him incessantly with her feather duster until he does. Furthermore, she makes him come outside to rescind his firing to the maid.

(As we’ve seen in the past, Jan-di tends to let herself be abused when she’s the one at the brunt of the bad behavior, but she’s more than willing to step in on others’ behalf. I wish she’d stand up for herself, too, because Weakling Jan-di sure gets tiresome. But given my options, I’ll take this Righteous Defender Jan-di over Doormat Jan-di any day.)

Yi-jung drops by the pottery classroom to see Eun-jae, and finally we can piece together their backstory. She’d been the one to leave him — and furthermore, she’d hidden herself on purpose to make it difficult for him to find her.

Ga-eul walks into the hallway in time to hear their conversation from the hallway. At this confirmation that Yi-jung and Eun-jae were first loves, she realizes that she’s probably out of the picture.

The girls mope together about their failed love lives. Jan-di’s lost her boyfriend to another woman, while Ga-eul is sad that she helped Yi-jung reunite with his first love, just as things were looking good for them.

Jae-kyung bursts in, worried, having found out Jan-di moved again. As telling the truth would present something of a delicate situation, Jan-di laughs it off, trying to remain vague about her new home and saying that “stuff came up.” So when Jae-kyung enthuses about another housewarming party, Ga-eul jumps in — Jan-di’s staying with her, so they can’t have a party.

Jae-kyung asks for some porridge to take to Jun-pyo, who’s sick. Jan-di almost slips by saying confusedly that Jun-pyo wasn’t sick that morning, but Ga-eul stops her in the nick of time.

Dr. Grandpa Yoon is experiencing more chest pains, which worries Jan-di. He keeps insisting he’s fine, and given that he’s a doctor, I’m interpreting this to mean that he’s actually NOT fine, which is a fear Jan-di shares. She doesn’t believe his reassurances, and says that she doesn’t like the idea of him living alone when he might fall ill again.

Thus Jan-di tries her best hand at some subtle manipulation, showing up at Ji-hoo’s home with luggage and asking if he has a spare room. The implication is that it’s for her — he’s a little taken aback, but points the way. Then Jan-di pops outside to bring in her guest: Dr. Grandpa.

This does not seem like a very good idea, and both men protest. Jan-di first deals with Grandpa, telling him he’s had 15 years to mentally prepare himself for this moment. Also, she threatens (affectionately), if he doesn’t do as she says, she’s going to reveal to Ji-hoo that he’s ill. Grandpa worries, “Will he forgive me?” Jan-di smiles reassuringly — it’ll work out.

Then she faces Ji-hoo, and as with the earlier maid scene, we see that Jan-di is more than happy to confront somebody when it’s for someone else’s behalf. Ji-hoo’s initial anger doesn’t faze her; she says, matter-of-factly, “He and you both need family. All I did was find it for you.”

She points out that even if he wants more time to “prepare himself” to confront his grandfather, at some point the preparation becomes useless.

Jan-di: “The Ji-hoo I know really loves his grandfather and misses him. That’s why you’ll be able to forgive him.”

Dinner at Jun-pyo’s is one of those scenes that isn’t a huge plot mover but is full of small, cute moments. I love it. Jun-pyo’s eating dinner with Woo-bin, when mention of the new maid comes up. He’s disgruntled that his new personal maid isn’t available, as Jun-hee had given her a five-day workweek.

Woo-bin isn’t aware that Jan-di is the new maid, and Jun-pyo’s not ready to make that news public, so he furtively signals for Granny to ix-nay on the andi-Jay alk-tay.

Then, Jae-kyung flounces in, unannounced. I laughed at Jun-pyo’s reaction to Jae-kyung’s attempt to tend to him in his moment of “illness” — could he BE leaning any farther away from her? Woo-bin, totally enjoying every moment of Jun-pyo’s discomfort, teases him about eating Jae-kyung’s porridge (hence the screencap of him above).

That night, Jun-pyo walkie-talkies Jan-di and orders her over, ignoring her protests that she’s off-duty. It turns out that he wants company while he watches a horror movie — and heh, extra lulz for using Kim Bum’s most recent film, Go-sa: Bloody Midterms.

The movie makes both of them jumpy, although Jun-pyo is the bigger scaredy-cat. Soon they’re all wound up in tension, and a particularly scary moment sends them jumping toward each other. (Is this predictable? I DON’T CARE.)

Naturally, this makes for some awkward romantic tension/frustration. They break apart uneasily, and finally Jan-di can’t take it; she gets up to leave.

Jun-pyo calls her back. She pauses, but leaves anyway.

And then she rushes back in, because she’s just spotted Jae-kyung outside, heading straight for Jun-pyo’s room. This sends her into a nervous flurry and she scurries around the room like a chicken with its head cut off, fretting over what to do.

For his part, Jun-pyo declares himself ready to just come out with the truth, but Jan-di panics and beelines for Jun-pyo’s closet. She climbs in.

Jun-pyo thinks she’s being ridiculous, but she frantically motions for him to shut the door, which he does just as Jae-kyung enters calling for him.

Jae-kyung has had a similar idea as Jun-pyo, and comes bearing a horror movie — she was too afraid to watch it alone. (They don’t say whether she brought the same movie, but the point highlighting their similarity is clear enough.)

After the movie ends, Jae-kyung looks over to see that Jun-pyo has fallen asleep. As Jun-pyo had done with Jan-di, Jae-kyung covers him with the blanket, then takes a long look at him.

I’m sure this parallel is intentional, showing again how Jae-kyung is similar to Jun-pyo — not necessarily to demonstrate that they’re a good (complementary) match, but more that they’re too similar to work. This is also the scene I was referring to when I mentioned the song lyrics previously, because the same song kicks in as Jae-kyung looks at sleeping Jun-pyo, with the same lyrics that go, “I know that this shouldn’t happen. If you say this is a lie, will my feelings return?”

Jae-kyung leans in close to press a kiss to his cheek.

Jun-pyo opens his eyes after she goes (which means he probably was awake for the kiss), then remembers Jan-di.

He finds her asleep in the closet. I really, really like the tiny beat while he’s looking at her intently and raises a hand to her face, and his finger lingers on her lips — it’s like he’s giving her a kiss, too.

He carries Jan-di back to her room.

In the morning, Ji-hoo wakes up to find his grandfather at the table, having prepared breakfast for the two of them. How sad that Ji-hoo is always left to eat his tragic foodstuffs alone, and now that he has a companion, he doesn’t want it. Grandpa Yoon has put a lot of care into making funny faces in the food — stuff Ji-hoo liked as a kid — but Ji-hoo isn’t ready for this step, and rejects it. Saying he’s not hungry, he turns away.

He does, however, come back after his grandfather has finished eating, and sits alone at the table and cleans his plate. Okay, I know this scene is all meaningful and touching, but it’s hilarious how purposely meaningful it is. Seriously, has food ever been as sad as when Ji-hoo eats it?

A lingering shot at both their plates highlights more of their similarities — they’ve even eaten in similar patterns (with the same leftovers). This reminder of their resemblances troubles Ji-hoo.

Then, Jan-di is confronted by an irate Jae-kyung, who storms into her guest bedroom and accuses her of deceiving her. How dare Jan-di lie to her so blatantly, when all she ever wanted to do was be her friend? She slaps her.

But as we may have guessed — whether from the setup or merely from Jae-kyung’s crazy eyes — this is a dream, brought on by Jan-di’s guilty conscience.

It’s the weekend, which means Jan-di doesn’t have housemaid duties, so she arrives at Ji-hoo’s house bright and early to usher them both to work. At first, Ji-hoo stands aside at the clinic, keeping out of the way without anything to do. Jan-di draws him into the mix, assigning him some of her tasks like handing out tea to the patients.

When she comes out of the exam room, she finds that Ji-hoo has done well on his own, entertaining patients with a song (the tune Jan-di sang before, “I Only Know Love”) on the harmonica. (Are Ji-hoo’s musical instruments the new F4 sporting events? What next, drums? Harp? Castanets?)

Yi-jung broods in his studio, remembering his conversation with Eun-jae. He’d asked why she’d suddenly disappeared, sadly saying that she’d been like air to him — a constant presence he’d come to depend on. Her abrupt departure was a huge shock to him.

Eun-jae had replied, “I wasn’t air. You confused the wind for air.” She had made the same mistake, too, thinking she could stay with him. However, in the end she realized, “Wind can’t return to the place it had once been.”

Ga-eul comes upon a defeated Yi-jung in the studio, asking why he’s like this. (He’s holding the puzzle piece, which he hides behind his back when she enters, which I suppose suggests that he does care about Ga-eul.)

Yi-jung doesn’t like Ga-eul questioning his life, and tells her to keep her mouth shut and leave. But she’s determined to say her piece and refuses to shut up, calling him out as a liar and a coward.

This angers him, but she points out that he had said (regarding Eun-jae) that he had pushed her away for her own sake. Ga-eul challenges his version of the story: “No, you were afraid you’d get hurt.”

Ga-eul continues: “I know the cool, stylish, attentive So Yi-jung is only a mask. But the So Yi-jung I like is a child-like person, afraid of love and of saying farewells.”

She hands him Eun-jae’s puzzle piece (which bears the Chinese character for “time” or “era”), and leaves him with one final thought: “Children don’t hesitate with things they like — because they know that they’ll burst into tears if they lose it.”

With that, Ga-eul exits. Yi-jung takes in all her words with stunned silence, unmoving… and then snaps out of it, and rushes out to follow her.

Morning again. Knowing what this means, Jan-di prepares herself for the arduous task of waking Jun-pyo, and pesters him with an alarm clock held to his ear.

Jun-pyo mumbles and resists, burying himself in the covers, so Jan-di tries harder to bug him with the clock and drag off the covers. As we can expect, this leads to a loss of balance, and she falls on top of him.

(Like I said before, is this predictable? I DON’T CARE.)

Instead of letting go awkwardly, Jun-pyo surprises Jan-di by holding her closer to him. He says, “Just five minutes. Let’s stay like this for five minutes. Then I’ll get up. Even though I’m holding you like this, it doesn’t feel real that you’re here.”

He turns to face her… and just when you’re wondering if they’re going to kiss…

… Jae-kyung arrives! Dun dun dun!

COMMENTS

With respect to the Ji-hoo storyline — I have to say that I like how Jan-di is set up to bring this pair together. The grandfather rift doesn’t excite me terribly as a plotline, but if we have to suffer through it, at least I can appreciate how it’s being carried out. No matter how obvious this outcome is (the reluctant reconciliation), it works with these characters.

Jan-di is just about the only person who could get away with manipulating Ji-hoo into forgiving his grandfather — and I don’t mean manipulating in a negative way. She’s blatant in her intentions, and Ji-hoo’s fully aware that she’s pestering him into forgiveness — it’s just that nobody else could convince him to let her get away with it. It has to be Jan-di pushing him along for this reunion to work, and the point is especially appreciated because it’s high time Jan-di (finally) gives back to Ji-hoo when she’d been receiving so much from him.

You know, I wasn’t sure how they were going to fit in the maid storyline into the drama at this late date, but I’m actually pleasantly surprised, because I think it worked. They worked it into the current plot in a logical way, and I think Jan-di’s reaction (to insist on working for her keep) is consistent with her character. They had to get rid of her family before she could act as maid, and things had to get pretty dire for her to accept this position… and I actually bought the setup this time.

In fact, I’ll defend this as a GOOD example of timing. Their relationship has been in a stasis since Jae-kyung came on the scene, even though their twoo wuv feelings are becoming more clear for both of them and harder to ignore. They needed a little push from an external force because they were both keeping at a distance, letting the circumstances dictate their actions rather than flying in the face of opposition, as they did in Season 1.

We may wish for them to be bold and fearless — okay, I’ll just speak for myself here and say that I wish that — but that’s also a characteristic of the youthful sort of “first flush of romance” emotion we get in the first half. That passionate, unrealistic, Romeo & Juliet fervor. They’re not MUCH older now, but the point remains that now there are other considerations they have to factor in aside from pure emotion. True Love may conquer all in a kdrama, but they’ve still got to work out some other obstacles first.

229

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151 otk

March 17, 2009 at 8:36 AM

the writer is excellent in terms of manipulating JaeKyung's arc , it looks as though her arc ends in 21 as they need to move on to the memory-lost ....has anyone been casted for that girl in the hospital ?

It;s funny how when the wedding pic spoiler appeared and you see comments like " Ohhh the korean version is ending into a different way ....they are putting JaePyo for us " I was laughing so hard afterall they can't cross that line with the manga-ka ...can they ? manipulating an ending to become THAT way is pretty overdone. I am getting bored of jandi , for some reason she always has the same way ....I mean #!$#!#$#! nvm.... she's going bland on me , may be it's because she ain't acceptin junpyo

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152 SYB

March 17, 2009 at 8:55 AM

Thanks for the recap! I also have a few comments....

I don't know you guys, but I don't like Ji-Hoo new look!!!! he needs a new hairdo desesperately! and God, he's getting on my nerves, he at least should show ANY emotions! When he's happy is when you can only noticed it because you sees his teeth!

Relating the scene when she faints...I found it very stupid to have her go to the subway looking for a place to sleep after she called the clinic "home", I mean, if she wasn't this subnormal (as I found her lately) she would go directly to he clinic after she left her brother at the train station and ask "grampa" to stay there. Or she can also go to her best friend's house since she offered to share rooms when their parents moved from Seoul. This girl is disappointing me constantly, I hope I never meet someone this dumb because I'll be forced to hit that person like I want to hit Jan Di.

Poor Ju pyo, his options are: the dumb Dan Di and the annoyng Jae kyun!!! He should go to the monastery instead!!!

I kind of get lost with the scene at the museum, was it a recent memories or some from the past? His friend rejected him or what? a have to see the episode again, I was so angry at the beginning with the faint thing that I missed some points from the story...

Thanks again, I really enjoy your recaps :)

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153 rie

March 17, 2009 at 9:00 AM

how come you ever go in depth about the SoEul couple like jandi and jun pyo at the end of your recaps?.....

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154 CyNurse

March 17, 2009 at 9:18 AM

As always, great recaps. I watched the episode but the BOF experience is never complete without Javabeans' insights.

Sigh. I am quite sad that BOF will end soon. I so love Jun Pyo and Woo BIn.

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155 Suzy

March 17, 2009 at 9:19 AM

Jandi ending up as a maid only made sense because of all the stupid decisions/contrivances that lead to her waking up in Junpyo's house in the first place. So what's one more stupid decision from wildly inconsistent Jandi.
But at least we got squee moment pay-offs out of this one.

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156 Tammy

March 17, 2009 at 9:23 AM

Thanks so much for your wonderful recaps of this series!! I've seen the Taiwanese and Japanese versions and I have to admit, the Korean version is starting to grow more on me... I always have to wait for Soju to stream the episodes, so reading your recaps help to tide me over until they're up. :)

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157 lily

March 17, 2009 at 9:30 AM

153 "Poor Ju pyo, his options are: the dumb Dan Di and the annoyng Jae kyun!!! He should go to the monastery instead!!!"

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA ! I can't stop laughing

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158 C_Janeth

March 17, 2009 at 10:24 AM

OMG (^-^) !!!
Just saw episode 20 and it was great.
Thank You so much for posting. Like 157, I too have to wait for soju and it is torture!
I absolutly love the way the drama is going. My BIG question though----WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN MAMA-SHINWA-PRESIDENT COMES BACK???
But for now I am totally enjoying the drama. I love the maid outfits, but was it just me or is JandDi's shorter than the rest?
I would love it if GaEul and YiJung ended up together. At times it seems that those two have better chemistry than the actual love interest of the drama. (sigh)
But anywho. It's sad that JunPyo's sister had to give up her love for her mothers business deals.
I have to agree that no one looks as miserable as JiHoo eating. There is an overwhelming sadness around him, which ends up being his own fault if he would just forgive his grandfather.
I wish that the episodes would be longer. But alas waht can you do.
Keep up the good work.

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159 (o.O)''

March 17, 2009 at 10:41 AM

at first i thought that this was just another typical episode of BBF, but now that that i think about it & after skimming through everyones comments & the recaps-- i found that this episode was in fact, pretty good.

(1) i enjoyed Jundi interactions we could finally see some good chemistry going on. The walkie-talkie scene was just so adorable(something we've been craving for from the past 7 eps.!) Then the part with the horror film where Junpyo wanted to hold on to Jandi(btw, did he purposely call her in so he could hold her--or--is he really scared of the movie?). Anyways, that scene was bittersweet, and heartbraking. Doesn't he understand that he's only hurting Jandi whenever he does that & that he's treating her as if she were merely some kinda mistress? Then when she pulled away and turned away from him, i was like -- OUCH. I was actually pretty glad that Monkey came in to take back the mood where Jandi hilariously crawled into the closet. And also when Junpyo found that Jandi cried herself to sleep in the closet while he reached over to wipe her tears was so cuteee! The music and lyrics were just so perfect for these scenes. It's so sad but i still enjoy watching it over and over again. The end of the episode was a major cliffhanger that i wanted to punch my computer screen so badly!!!

(2) i also enjoyed Soeulmate interactions i have a big feeling that those two have a big chance of ending up together. they have the most meaningful lines in the story. GaEul's words are really getting to YiJung & i keep craving for more. I like how GaEul says that she likes the YiJung that is childlike who is scared of love and farewells. And also when she says that children don't hesitate to get what they want rather than regretting the 'chance'(hence the puzzle piece she gives him) to go after what they like. Come on YiJung! Go after the lady who's dug deep into you(and showed who you truly are) while you still have the chance!!!

(3) Junpyo has made another leap in his character development(well, according to this episode). Even though it seems that he's really childish in the surface whenever he's around Jandi, he also has the feel of growing up. Under her control, he takes back firing the maids, and learnt to sacrifice for others. Not just for the 700,000+ people he has in hands, but also for those who are close to him such as JiHoo and JaeKyung. He handed Jandi back to poor JH, and stayed with the monkey because he actually feels pity-- something we've never really imagined since he drove a highschool student to commit suicide.. But since this is a romance genre, there will reach a point where he'll have to fight for himself and love.

(4) Jandi is finally backkk! I agree with Javabeans that I’ll take this Righteous Defender Jan-di over Doormat Jan-di any day. She worries about others more than she cares for herself. She found a home for a DOCTOR when she herself has problems finding her own home. seriously! T_T;; Maybe this is what makes her character lovable? She even saved the other maids from getting fired when she could hardly do anything for herself. Is this the character that we should adore? well..It's tough out there.. a girl compatible with Junpyo must be that strong to be with someone like him(a pain)... xD

(5) Monkey girl must be suffering a lot too-- so she really needs to get out of the picture soon. With our Jandi back, proving to the Shinhwa household that she has control over JP, monkey looks helpless. We've never really seen Jaekyung 'tame' Junpyo in any way(she was more of the clingy-suck up kind). Though our first impressions of her is perfect, cool, and cheerful--she can never beat the atmosphere Jandi creates with Junpyo. Therefore i look forward to the intensity of the wedding on the next episode..
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thank you Javabeans for the recaps, lyrics, and commentaries!

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160 Liv

March 17, 2009 at 11:23 AM

Interesting - for the last few episodes I'd been getting through the Jandi-Junpyo scenes only because I wanted to get to the other scenes. During this episode however, it was the reverse. I think its a case of the main couple having picked up a bit, and me losing interest in the other storylines completely - I'm still wondering why Grandpa left Ji-hoo alone for 15 years and starting to suspect we won't find out, and now that Ive accepted that Yijung and Gaeul won't be ending up together, their almost-romance just annoys me now. Perhaps I'm just bitter.

Anyway, cute episode overall - I just hope they manage to let the remaining episodes unfold as naturally as this one did - that means no wild plot jumps and crazy storylines (read: NO AMNESIA!!!!)

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161 mysticmoon

March 17, 2009 at 11:24 AM

LOVE IT! I really kinda miss the JAn-Di Jun-Pyo fight! Its really funny but 100% cute! I also love Ji-Hoo though no much dialogue you can really feel his emotions. Improve acting from all of the characters. I also love the story line of Yi jung and Ga-eul its getting more deeper and deeper. Really love this episode. Im so sad that this going to end! Lets just hope that i will end having LOVE conquers all! BBF is back on the track from the episodes 1 to 10! looking forward to more JAN-DI and Jun-PYO love quarrel scene and SoEUL cutie scenes also looking forward to next episodes and the hopefully a VERY NICE ENDING! thanks to JAVABEANS for the RECAP!

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162 jean

March 17, 2009 at 11:27 AM

Thanks for the recap. I always enjoy your recaps and comments. This is my first time to leave a comment. I'm more of a quiet "reader" of your posts.Well, like you, I enjoyed watching episode 20. I think it's kinda a break out of the previous Monday hoe hum episodes.^_^ I read somewhere that the ending will be a bit different from the original. Is that true? Well, I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Again... thanks a million for all your hard work.

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163

March 17, 2009 at 11:31 AM

I like the stark, slow transition of Jun Pyo's character. Go back to episode 1 and now look at episode 20. The amount of change, the obvious and the subtle are really quite amazing and something this drama has done exceptionally well in terms of character development.

Ji Hoo's actor is not the best, imo, but even in his character, you can see the softening. I really like his interactions w/ Jan Di in this episode. It was a great example of how strong their bond is with respects to understanding what the other needs. Ji Hoo has been Jan Di's pillar of strength for so long, attentive to the feelings she hides from everyone else, and it's nice to see her do the same for him. On another note, this episode clearly defines that what they have isn't love but a very very deep, profound kind of friendship. They are always there for each other and there is a lot of tenderness, but it's not the passion that makes your heart beat non-stop like with Jun Pyo. Ji Hoo is always the one who shields Jan Di's heart from more hurt but it's Jun Pyo that brings her alive, and challenges her.

Ga-Eul gained a backbone in this episode again. Nice to see her not moping around.

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164 Ty

March 17, 2009 at 11:54 AM

I'm not sure, but I think that, at the end of the episode, when Jan-di is pulling at Jun-pyo's covers, he pulls her down on top of him

I don't know, but either way, it's really cute :)

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165 Hannieoon

March 17, 2009 at 12:05 PM

Whenever I look at the girl playing Eun-Jae, you can totally tell that she got A LOT of plastic surgery. Gross

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166 sbop

March 17, 2009 at 12:10 PM

OMG!!!!
the 2nd OST is finally out!!!
i really love Jisun's song ~

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167 sbop

March 17, 2009 at 12:21 PM

OMG!!!!
the 2nd OST is finally out!!!
i really love Jisun's song ~
Oops, should have mentioned good post! Waiting for the next one!

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168 lily

March 17, 2009 at 12:29 PM

Something doesn't make any sense in this plot :
Let's suppose Jan di brother has left to live with some other relatives or their parents (even though it's not really clear here) do you know a parent who let her/his relative in a huge city knowing she/he is homeless ?

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169 Philippa

March 17, 2009 at 12:34 PM

This episode was soooo cute!
She looked so cute in her maid's outfit. And he is freaking adorable!!!
Thanks a bunch!

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170 hmmmm

March 17, 2009 at 12:36 PM

i still don't like how this drama paired Lee Minho with Goo Hyesun. They just don't look good together. i prefer Lee Minjung, she's so pretty.

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171 iheartbbf!

March 17, 2009 at 12:50 PM

i really really really LOVED this episode. you don't know how much. just them being in the same room is a good scene to me. haha, and the way he looks at her just makes me melt. my favorite was the end when they were hugging, it doesn't get any better than that! haha, but i thought he pulled her towards him, i didn't think that she lost her balance. either way, that part had me squealing like crazy. =D

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172 Arivle

March 17, 2009 at 1:26 PM

Thank you for the recaps.....wow I loved this episode this what we needed Jundi moments....I was wondering if the PD and writers forget the love theme in this story......jeezzz I have felt for the last few episodes that the story is dragging that JP and JD don't have much screen time...but this episode reminded me and the viewers who are the heart and soul of the story.....It was great to see the love that JP have for JD and in return how JD struggles to keep her emotions in check....remember evil mother told her to stay away......it was also great to see that JD is helping JH get his family back....the grandpa is adorable......eventhough is sad to see JH alone I belive the writers will give him a great ending......maybe his firts love comes back.....I know there are alot of JH and JD fans out there...but the simple truth is JD looks at JH as her best friend, or as a big brother but nothing more....remember that his first love made JD promised to look after JH and make to him smile more....and I think thats what JD have done through out the episodes....exposed him to new sorroundings, people, and ideas. Just as JD have change JP she has change JH also.
Moving on, the monkey girl is getting on my last nerve....she got no pride or something can't she tell that JP have no interest in her at ALL and the he loves JD ....is so obvious ....but I guess she putting out a fight...but she hurting JD who she proclaims is her friend....come on....I know she is going to give up and help both JD and JP, but right now she is acting like a spoil brat.......how can you married a man who doesn't love you.....do you want to end up like Madam Kang miserable and bitter????? I guess this episode is the calm before the storm, but I can't wait for ep. 21 and 22......4 episodes to go I can't wait to see how the writers wrap up the whole drama.....can't wait to read your recaps tomorrow.

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173 cecee

March 17, 2009 at 2:03 PM

I wish the 2 main leads would fight for their love instead of standing by watching. Its not worth it if other people step aside for them. If they love each other, they need to speak up and step up their A game! Series almost over and they STILL HAVE YET TO DO SOMETHING!

Kdramas always seem to drag out their leads relationships! I am so over Jk already! JP and JD fighting!

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174 mhsh

March 17, 2009 at 2:06 PM

is it really necessary to put in a song in EVERY scene???
has anyone else noticed this?

everytime there is dialogue.....or when there isn't...there is ALWAYS music in the background!! ahghghg.
it's gettin quite annoying. too muchh is overwhelming.
i have to say that the story seems to be dragging a little. and jandi's character is still very unclear to me...I'm not sure if it's just the acting or the character. but does she even like junpyo? i don't think so....she seems much happier with jihoo and is annoyed when she's with junpyo. she needs to make up her mind cuz if she really did like junpyo, she wouldn't have kissed jihoo on the cheek at all.

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175 lily

March 17, 2009 at 2:23 PM

It's me or Jan di have to COLLAPSE every episode ?

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176 bashiia

March 17, 2009 at 2:59 PM

can someone please tell me the song playing when this plays:
"I know that this shouldn’t happen. If you say this is a lie, will my feelings return?”

i don't think they put it in the new OST... thanks..

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177 ollivia

March 17, 2009 at 3:13 PM

What happened to the Dramatic Threat GJP shouted at his evil mom in Macau, if she ever Touches Jan di He will Destroy evertythinG??????????????

Let's see if JP will do just as he threatens?
How wil the Writer(s) of this storyline be true to their lines uttered by the main actor??????????

Jan Di is homeless, her aprt Building demolished, even while she's sleeping with young brother???

Goo Joon Pyo- will he live up to the BROKEN PROMISE???

Or his Tsukasa image is just a filler buster-money for the writers etc...

I want to see that the storylines-say what they will do!.......

this is such a major promise and a major BROKEN PROMISE that had the world weeping with GJP on those scenes....it has to mean an alignment!!! or my tears were just for S&%^$

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178 Random :]

March 17, 2009 at 4:03 PM

Jun Pyo say that he will destroy everything if his mother does harm to JanDi.
However, Jun Pyo's mom is still the chairwoman and he can't do anything just yet.
Jun Pyo can't destroy everything if he doesn't have control over it.
The mom is still in control and probably will be until she sees that Jun Pyo is married to JK.
THEN, she'll hand over her position to Jun pyo.

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179 snuffythemonkey

March 17, 2009 at 5:03 PM

You know for someone who is sad all the time and eats his emotions, Ji-hoo is one damn skinny boy.

The poor dears really need some R&R but we all know that isn't happening any time soon. That is until they're milked dry and then some.

Muchos Grassy Ass.

In other words, thank you very much Javabeans!

-STM

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180 Elle

March 17, 2009 at 5:22 PM

Javabeans! How I love your recaps, but I must ask what is that song that is playing when Jun Pyo watches Jan Di sleep? I've been searching all over for it. Or anyone else who knows for that matter.

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181 puri

March 17, 2009 at 5:38 PM

great song that you featured on this post!
i was also wondering if you would happen to know the song played in when goo jun pyo put a blanket over geum jan di after eating his noodles... ?

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182 fanitha

March 17, 2009 at 6:03 PM

thanks for the recaps!!

I'm gald I get to see more of JD and JP interactions, in the other versions we don't get to see him giving her so many orders as a maid!!! And I love that part of the manga so I'm really happy they did it!!!!!

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183 Gloria

March 17, 2009 at 6:14 PM

loll I also thought about Kim Bum's overmotion. Not to mention, I was confused as to how he found her but how he couldn't find his first love. Also.. how is that sometimes the F4 seem stalker-y, but I can't think it's creepy??

And this quote: "More to the point, I like how they, unlike the school uniforms, are not fetishized sex-kitten costumes. Sure they’re funny-looking, but in a frilly, Pilgrim-girl way, not a skimpy lad-mag way." Seriously! Ever since the drama started, I've been questioning why their skirts are so short.. - w -

My last comment is that I'm glad that Jandi and Ga-Eul got their backbones back! :D I really missed that side of Jandi, since she's often very.. pitiful and dependent. - w - almost helpless. Not to mention, Ga-Eul is saying what she has to say. Her character never had this much depth, so I'm enjoying it. (perhaps because the two are so good looking? perhaps a fanservice? :O ) On the other hand, I'm afraid we'll never get WooBin's story ):

Thanks for the great recap! :D

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184 soysauce

March 17, 2009 at 6:46 PM

AAAHH!!!!
Why do they always end w/ Yi Jung and Ga Eul??
Stupid cliff hanger!!!
>.<
I'll read the other parts later, lol, soeulmates...

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185 amy

March 17, 2009 at 7:16 PM

i freaking adore the yijung and gaeul parts, the jandi/junpyo/jihoo parts, i could fall asleeep watching them or fast forwarding...honestly its just blah blah compared to soeulmates! for ME, anyways. absolutely cannot wait to see how this drama ends up..for yijung & gaeul, that is. couldn't care less about jandi, sorry! please, like some other people said, let the 3rd time be the charm! soeulmate shipper forever!

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186

March 17, 2009 at 8:27 PM

"너무 나쁜마음이야"
http://tvzonebbs.media.daum.net/griffin/do/talk/program/f4/read?bbsId=318_a&articleId=58981&pageIndex=2&searchKey=&searchValue=

그 노래의 일음와 가수 정말 알고싶어요!
아라면, 제발 말해주세요!
저는 daum ID 없어요, 그래서 comment 못하고 mp3 받아수없고.

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187 Mo108

March 17, 2009 at 8:54 PM

I haven't had time to watch the last few episodes, so these thorough, insightful, and ALWAYS entertaining recaps (often more entertaining than the episodes themselves) are a lifeline these days. Thanks a bunch, Javabeans (always dug that moniker). I'm convinced now, more than ever, that the BBF DVD, when it comes out, MUST have a "Javabeans audio commentary" feature :)

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188 Annie Hoang

March 17, 2009 at 8:57 PM

@Javabeans: ahh i got u now!

can't wait til your next recap which should be popping up any moment now...

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189 Angela

March 17, 2009 at 9:16 PM

omg i can't wait for recaps of ep 21!!! i keep on refreshing ur page....

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190 sida

March 17, 2009 at 9:27 PM

can't wait to read your recap yesterday...finally i can read it...though i watch it last night through youtube....

:) love the plot..especially the last scene....they look so cute

i think JanDi should be more soft to JunPyo....LOL

so fall in love with JunPyo

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191 Kaili

March 17, 2009 at 11:22 PM

Finally some scenes between JunPyo and JanDi!!!

For the past few episodes, I have been sick and tired of ALL the scenes of JanDi and JiHoo. It just seems that whenever she's about to do anything he's right there. When she fainted on the street, I honestly prepared myself for JiHoo to drive up on his motorcycle and rescue her as he ALWAYS does. It is nice for her to hang out with him once in a while, but what about GaEul? I mean, she is her BEST friend, right?

Anyways... It was so refreshing to finally see JunPyo and JanDi interact in a more positive light as well. They weren't ignoring each other or giving each other weird looks like before. This episode was truly a sigh of relief to me. I was able to watch them and not worry too much about JiHoo (even though he was there in some parts) or JaeKyung (ditto). In fact, my favorite part was JanDi running around nervous and crazy because JaeKyung was coming.

In all, good episode despite the cliffhanger ending.

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192 bumpkin

March 18, 2009 at 8:11 AM

Sucks to have work sometimes....

Thanks for the recap
Am not done watching this yet but I would like to say this...

I read it somewhere that a person really loves someone when they watch the other person sleep.

I believe that this is true. :)

For a time...I doubted this....but I guess we can really (or still) say.... Goo Jun Pyo loves Geum Jan Di.

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193 nono

March 18, 2009 at 10:40 AM

#193's comment got me thinking, how come Jandi never seems to pause and watch (adoringly) Junpyo's sleeping face? It's not that she didn't have the chance to. It would've convinced the viewers A LOT that she still loves him had she done that. I mean, she did that to Jihoo and even touched his cheek! And how come Jaekyung gets to touch Junpyo's face all the time? She always cups his face when they meet, and gets to kiss/caress his face while he sleeps, TWICE! Urrghh

The writer no doubt is liking the second fiddles more than the main couple!

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194 xiaoSxin

March 18, 2009 at 4:16 PM

what is the song that was playing when Jandi was asleep and Junpyo was looking at her? the same one that played when junpyo was asleeo and jae kyung is looking at him?

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195 otakugirl

March 18, 2009 at 10:55 PM

so i found the song that was being played when Jandi fell asleep and Junpyo was looking at her. It's called 나쁜 마음을 먹게해. Here's the youtube link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zS9Z9KnBH8E

the one on youtube is the dance version but i listened carefully to the lyrics and it's the same! =)

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196 xiaoSxin

March 18, 2009 at 11:11 PM

yeah its the same song but dance version!!!!!

anybody knows if the slower version (acoustic like) would be released as part of the ost 2.5?

who sang the slower version?

javabeans!! please upload the same version as played in episode 20!!

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197 xiaoSxin

March 18, 2009 at 11:25 PM

i found a very kind soul.. he/she uploaded the album for BBF part 2.5!!! it is the F4 special! i just can't wait, and i want it on my ipod NOW!!!

though i downloaded it right now, I am still going to buy the orginal OST album once it is available in yesasia.com or if it is on sale in korea town plaza in LA.

I want to support the ost!!

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198 otakugirl

March 19, 2009 at 12:45 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmullyqCid4

here is the link to the slow version (the one in the series)... but the one i posted (two post above) you can download the album which contains all the songs for the mini album.