Boys Before Flowers: Episode 25 (Final)

629 March 31, 2009January 24, 2016

by javabeans

Last episode!

I was pretty satisfied with this finale. It didn’t feel rushed, but it wasn’t too dragged out either — it wrapped up everything much as you’d expect, but managed to insert enough details to keep it interesting (because I was fearing that the ending would go down too predictably and therefore be lame). Oh, and you know the part that they kept saying would deviate from the Hana Yori Dango original? I LOVED IT.

(First) SONG OF THE DAY

Toy – “Bon Voyage” with Jo Wan-sun of Roller Coaster. [ Download ]

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Oh my god, this recap is so long. Sorry, guys! You are forewarned.

EPISODE 25 RECAP (FINAL)

Jan-di visits the hospital in the early morning, while Jun-pyo is still sleeping. She makes a joking comment trying to magic back his memory (“abra cadabra, make Gu Jun-pyo remember Geum Jan-di”), then drops off her dosirak lunchbox at his bedside.

Later that morning, Yumi comes by. I want to give her the benefit of the doubt (so far she’s annoying, but not evil), but really, she’s got boundary issues to be slipping into a sleeping patient’s room and applying a skincare device to his face while he sleeps. That wakes him up.

Glancing over at the side table, he wonders what the lunchbox is doing there. Yumi opens the containers, and as she pulls out the Jun-pyo Face Rice tray and the egg roll-up snacks, Jun-pyo furrows his brow, a thought niggling at the back of his mind.

He tries one of the egg rolls, and the taste jogs his memory — it gives him a vague (good) feeling. Jun-pyo asks if she made the food, and for a brief moment Yumi hesitates, as though wondering how to answer, then nods. He says, “I remember. The thing I forgot — it was you, right?”

Although you get the sense she hadn’t intended to lie at first, this is too good for her to pass up, so she goes with it.

F2 arrive at the restaurant for some lunch, while the girls watch in puzzlement, wondering why they’re here. Finally, when they’re done eating, they announce the good news: Jun-pyo’s been released from the hospital.

Jan-di perks up. The guys encourage her to go to him, and she rushes off excitedly.

Yi-jung remains behind, because he has something to say to Ga-eul. They watch clay baking in a kiln as Ga-eul muses, “They look happy, those plates inside. For some reason, rather than thinking they’re hurting in that heat, it feels like they’re happy. They’re full of hope that if they endure this, they can come out and receive love.”

Yi-jung has two things to tell her, and starts with the bad news first, the way she likes it: He’s leaving. He adds, “I guess that may not be bad news to you.” He plans to remain abroad for four or five years.

Ga-eul tries to be optimistic, saying it’s actually good news because he’ll be sure to return an even better potter. She asks for the second part, so he tells her, “When I come back, I’ll come find you first.”

That’s even more startling than the first, but makes her much happier. Perhaps Yi-jung is a little uncomfortable to have opened up, because he adds, “I mean, if you can’t find your soulmate by then.” But that’s enough of a confession for Ga-eul, who breaks into a smile.

Eager to see Jun-pyo, Jan-di rushes into his room, calling out a welcome greeting, then stops short: Yumi is already there. Jun-pyo just tells her that Ji-hoo’s not here, and that she should take care of her boyfriend before rushing to check up on him.

At his ungracious non-welcome, Jan-di figures this was a mistake, and turns to go. Yumi steps in to admonish Jun-pyo for being mean, and urges Jan-di to stay for tea. It’s an odd dynamic, because Yumi has usurped Jan-di’s position as hostess, and I’m not the only one who thinks she’s an upstart: the maids also direct dirty looks at Yumi.

Jun-pyo acts pretty friendly and relaxed with Yumi, which is hard for Jan-di to watch, so she gets up to leave. Jun-pyo tosses out casually, “Don’t come by again.” (He doesn’t say so in a mean tone, but maybe it’s all the more hurtful that he’s so blasé about something that means so much.) He adds, “When I see you, I feel really bad. It bothers me.”

Jan-di retorts, “Fine. I’m sorry! I won’t come by anymore!”

Yumi reads the tension and follows Jan-di outside to ask, “Are you the person Jun-pyo oppa is supposed to remember?” She sees that Jan-di is, and takes a tone of concern as she says, “But as you can tell, I think it’s worse for him to see you. If he sees you, I think his condition will deteriorate. So for now, I think it’ll be better if you don’t drop by. Don’t worry, I’ll do my best to bring back his memories of you naturally.”

Yumi’s words are reassuring, but Jan-di is also a little doubtful; after Yumi rejoins Jun-pyo, Jan-di peers inside. Jun-pyo asks Yumi to make the lunchbox again — proof that Yumi had taken credit for her lunch, which probably means she’s lying about the rest, too.

Upset, Jan-di rushes down the stairs on the way out and bumps into Ji-hoo, who tells her firmly, “Don’t run away.”

Jan-di tries to escape, but Ji-hoo says, “You can’t be pushed aside like this.” Pulling Jan-di behind him, he heads for Jun-pyo’s room. Unfortunately, they find Jun-pyo and Yumi napping cozily on the couch together.

That hurts. Jan-di rebuffs Ji-hoo’s attempts to reason with her (and persuade her to fight for Jun-pyo), telling him that it’s over, she’s done: “Even if he lost his memory, even if we started over from the beginning, I had faith he would recognize me. But I was wrong.”

Ji-hoo starts to protest, but Jan-di isn’t swayed:

Jan-di: “No, it may be upsetting and unfair, but I have to acknowledge the truth. The Gu Jun-pyo I loved is gone now.”
Ji-hoo: “I told you that you couldn’t be the little mermaid. I can’t let you two break up over such a ridiculous thing.”
Jan-di: “This isn’t because of Yumi. In the end, Geum Jan-di and Gu Jun-pyo could only make it this far.”

Yumi presents her lunchbox to Jun-pyo, who eats an egg roll with anticipation. However, the moment he registers the taste, he frowns: “This isn’t it. The taste is different from before. Did you really make it that time?”

Yumi stutters, “O-of course! Who else could have made it? That’s just because every time I make it, the taste is a little different. I’ll make it right next time.”

But something’s not right, and the taste of the food just enhances his bad feeling. He says, frustrated, “That girl. That Jan-di weed girl — I can’t forget her expression.”

Yumi: “That’s too mean! How could you say that? I’m the one who was with you, from the hospital up till now, but you feel so bothered by a girl who just dropped by and bugged you a few times? Your friends all treat me badly and take her side, and her boyfriend totally ignores me. But still, I put up with it because of you. If you act like this too, what is Yumi supposed to do?”

For us who know the truth, she’s obviously way over the line with this speech — but if she really WAS Jun-pyo’s girlfriend, I suppose this is how she would react, and she’s acting her part to the hilt. She cries, and makes Jun-pyo feel uncomfortable.

The guilt trip works, because the next thing we know, Yumi and Jun-pyo are jointly hosting a “surprise pool party.” (I’m wondering what the surprise is, if they’re handing out formal invitations.) The setting is absolutely gorgeous. In fact, this entire episode is pretty visually stunning, on the whole.

Yumi wastes some screentime with a harp performance — and seriously, Mr. Jeon PD, do you really have to pay tribute to yourself (again!) by using a My Girl theme song here?

Feeling pretty low, Jan-di steps aside to be alone. Yumi finds her by the pool and keeps up the ruse that she’s been working to “help” Jan-di. She has news to report, but it’s not good: “He doesn’t remember you.”

Yumi speaks obnoxiously about herself in the third person (because we don’t already hate her enough?): “I’m sorry to tell you, but Yumi likes Jun-pyo. I didn’t try to deliberately, but I ended up falling for him, so much that I can’t break up with him. Oppa feels the same as Yumi. But you can understand, can’t you? We can’t control our hearts.”

Yumi draws everyone’s attention to make a big announcement: She and Jun-pyo are going to study abroad together to the States. They will leave in one month.

F3 marvel in a sort of disgusted fascination at Yumi’s fast maneuvering. Ji-hoo leads Jan-di away from the crowd to the pool, where he leaves her while for a moment to get her a drink.

Alone, Jan-di takes out her star-moon necklace, just as Jun-pyo walks by. As soon as he sees her, Jun-pyo turns to leave, but Jan-di asks if he remembers the necklace she’s holding, or the names engraved on it. Jun-pyo takes a look at the “JJ” and says irritably, “How would I know that?”

Jan-di holds it out to him: “I’m giving it back. Take it.” None of this makes sense for Jun-pyo, and he retorts, “Why would I take something like this? If you want to get rid of it, do it yourself.”

He hands it back. Jan-di says, almost defiantly, “Fine.” She throws the necklace into the pool, where it settles on the bottom. But she’s not quite done:

Jan-di: “Gu Jun-pyo. I’ll ask just one more thing. Do you know how to swim?”
Jun-pyo: “Swim? I don’t swim.”
Jan-di: “You don’t, or you can’t?”
Jun-pyo: “I have a bad childhood memory, so I don’t swim. I’ve never learned.”
Jan-di: “No. You did know how.”

Jun-pyo bristles at the way Jan-di is talking about him so familiarly, but her words start to unnerve him, particularly as she tells him what kind of person he truly is (including a few of the sayings he’d messed up previously):

Jan-di: “You’re hardly afraid of anything in this world, yet you shake in fear over a bug. You’re an idiot who thinks it’s better to get all your ribs bashed in than see one of your girl’s fingers break. You’re a dummy who can’t tell the difference between the words privacy and pride, who insists like a train that swallowed its heart that the 38th Strategy [of ancient China] is running away [it’s the 36th]. You say you hate kids, but you want to be a devoted father who watches the stars with your son. You’re a lonely person with a lot of love.”

Uneasily, Jun-pyo demands, “What are you really after?”

Jan-di tells him, “Say my name,” then starts to step backward, slowly, purposefully. At the edge of the pool, Jan-di pauses… and then lets herself fall backward into the pool.

It’s an eerily beautiful image as she hits the water, stiff as a board.

In the pool, Jan-di picks up the necklace, but doesn’t come back up to the surface. Clutching the necklace, she remains submerged.

The rest of the party rushes to the water’s edge, alarmed. Jun-pyo stands frozen in shock… and then, memories come flooding back.

In quick succession, he flashes to all the other water-related emergencies earlier in the drama (if I didn’t love this moment so much it would be funny that they have enough of those to compile a montage).

He whispers, “Jan-di.” Then, jolted out of his stupor, Jun-pyo shouts her name again, and dives in.

Memory now back in full force, Jun-pyo pulls her to safety, where he tries to revive her. In a panic, he administers CPR and calls her name repeatedly, until Jan-di sputters awake.

She looks up and asks weakly, “Do you remember now?” He tells her he’s sorry, and she asks him to say her name again.

He clutches her to him and obliges.

(Yumi walks off, petulant. Good riddance!)

And then, it’s back to everyday life, kinda.

Jan-di and her family are back at their old place in Seoul, and she’s about to graduate. She doesn’t intend on going to her graduation party, although her mother urges her to.

Jun-pyo calls her out to congratulate her on her upcoming graduation. He also asks if she’s really serious about medical school, teasing about how she’s not smart enough.

He’s also here to request a date. Echoing an early scene, Jun-pyo traps Jan-di against his car, leans in closely, and says: “Tomorrow, ___.”

Naturally, just as he relays that crucial bit of information, a passing motorcycle drowns out his words. Jun-pyo thinks his message is clear and warns Jan-di that if she’s late this time, she’s really dead.

True to her word, Jan-di doesn’t plan on showing up to her graduation party, but a stretch limo pulls up (presumably from Jun-pyo) to take her — so when she arrives at the formal party, she’s still wearing her school uniform. (Let’s ignore the horrid dancing and the familiar set, shall we?)

F3 greet her warmly, and Woo-bin steps up first to ask her to dance. This allows each person a send-off as each gets his moment with Jan-di. As she dances with Woo-bin, she thinks, “Song Woo-bin, he’s always reliable and caring, as though he was the eldest in F4. I know now that he understands better than anyone how to comfort a person’s feelings, while standing one step behind.”

With Yi-jung, she thinks: “He acts cold and like a bad boy, but in reality he’s warm and innocent. Thanks to Yi-jung sunbae, I think Ga-eul has really become a lovable woman.”

Ji-hoo’s last:

“I was like Alice dropped into Wonderland. Could he know what a huge solace he was to me, that I was able to meet him whenever I went to that emergency door? He’s like a ‘bonus’ given to me from heaven. I won’t ever forget him. My soulmate Ji-hoo sunbae, thank you.”

When Jun-pyo doesn’t make his appearance, the guys wonder what’s keeping him. Jan-di thinks back to his drowned-out words, and now realizes what this reminds her of — and rushes off to Namsan Tower.

Sure enough, Jun-pyo’s waiting for her and asks, “Didn’t I say you were dead if you were late?” But he’s not upset, and with a snap of his fingers, lights fill the courtyard.

Jun-pyo comments, “It’s nothing magical. Stuff like this is really easy — compared to tending to the Jan-di-baht.” (Literally, “maintaining the grass.”)

Since this is a reenactment of their first date (albeit upgraded), Jun-pyo buys her coffee, then leads her to the viewing deck. In a cute moment, Jun-pyo brings her to the cable car, intending on pointing out the graffiti he’d written on their first date, but Jan-di’s embarrassed and blocks his view.

She complains, “Why’d you write this, and make it impossible for me to get married?” (This means that it makes her look promiscuous and would therefore be a stain on her character.)

Jun-pyo doesn’t see the problem: “Then just marry me — who else are you thinking of marrying?” In contrast to her grimace, Jun-pyo looks at the scrawled words proudly, announcing, “Now you can’t get married.” (To anyone else.)

But now it’s time for them to get down to some serious talk. Jan-di tenses nervously when Jun-pyo’s tone turns solemn: “Let’s marry.”

Jan-di doesn’t know whether he’s joking — he isn’t — and is completely taken aback, since she just graduated from high school. Jun-pyo explains, “I have to go to America. This time it’s not because of my mother, or the company. I decided this.”

He’s decided to take his future into his own hands: “I’m going to do my best. If I can save the company, that’s good. If I can’t, I’ll shut it down with my own hands.”

Jan-di’s dismayed when he says that he’ll be back in four years at best, asking, “That long?” Jun-pyo: “So come with me.”

But that’s not the magic solution, and it’s Jan-di’s turn to grow (more) solemn. She can’t go with him: “When you went to Macau, I made a decision too, regarding my dream, my work, what I want to be. Like you, I have something I want to devote myself to, and it’s here.”

It’s not a rejection, it’s reality butting in. Jan-di says with a hint of a smile, “Go, and come back. In four years, if you come back as a really impressive man, I’ll think about it again then.”

At this, the mood lightens. Maybe it’s not an ideal solution, but the compromise will work for them. Jun-pyo asks, half-jokingly, “Do you mean that? If you lose me, you’ll really regret it.” She teases back, “Hey, if you lose me, you’re the one who’ll regret it.”

Jun-pyo has no problems admitting, “I know that if I lose you, I’ll regret it till I die.”

Once again repeating some words she’d formerly told him, Jan-di says, “Gu Jun-pyo. You may not be a complete idiot.”

And now, we’re four years later.

Jun-pyo has made significant progress as a managing director with the company, and is being interviewed on television. While it starts with his business successes, the interview segues into personal questions. Naturally, as a rich, young, handsome chaebol, Jun-pyo’s the target of a lot of crushes and romance speculation.

When asked whether there’s anybody in his life to help him through the hard times, Jun-pyo responds, “It would be a lie to say I haven’t had tough times or been lonely. But because of a promise I made with somebody, I drew upon that as support and was able to endure.”

Watching proudly are Jun-pyo’s family — Mama Kang actually shows warmth as she watches alongside her husband, showing him affection that we’d never seen from her. It looks like she’s finally showing the personality that the others have hinted at — the kinder version of herself before she’d become Shinhwa chair.

And maybe the biggest surprise in this epilogue is that Jun-hee has now taken over from her mother’s position — she’s the new Shinhwa chair.

Next up: Yi-jung, who arrives at the airport with dark shades and a swagger. (I’m sorry, Yi-jung being badass just makes me giggle.) True to his word, he heads first to Ga-eul, who is now a teacher. He watches as she leads her young students in a pottery session, then steps in.

It’s adorable how one of the little girls looks at Yi-jung and asks, “Ajusshi, did you come from abroad?” He’s surprised that she guessed right, and she follows up, “Did you come from Sweden?” Is he their teacher’s boyfriend? ‘Cause, y’see, Teacher Lady mentioned something about someone in Sweden… A little embarrassed, Ga-eul moves to shut the girl up, but Yi-jung enjoys this proof that she’s been talking about him to her kids. (SO CUTE.)

Now, for Jan-di. And, somewhat surprisingly, also Ji-hoo.

She is a student at Shinhwa University’s medical school, as is Ji-hoo. As we might expect, Jan-di’s sorta struggling along, klutzy and bumbling as ever, while Ji-hoo is doing very well and about to graduate.

Today, they’re on a sort of medical outreach trip. During a break, Jan-di sighs to Ji-hoo about her tough time, and he teases her about failing.

A sudden disturbance interrupts their conversation — a helicopter hovers above, and a familiar voice comes over the loudspeaker. Just like a prior scene when Jun-pyo crashed Jan-di’s working vacation on the fishing boat, he now announces, “Oy, commoner! Can you hear me? Geum Jan-di!”

He instructs her meet him at the beach and zooms away.

When she arrives at the beach, well, now THIS really is almost paradise! (Yes, I’ll admit it — despite making my ears bleed earlier, I was glad to hear the return of “Almost Paradise” after its extended vacation.)

Jan-di approaches with gladness, but a little disbelief to see Jun-pyo here in the flesh .

Indicating her white coat, he teases that she looks like “an ugly duckling playing at being the white egret” — another callback to a previous Jun-pyo-ism (he means swan). At that, Jan-di laughs, “It really is you.”

Pulling her to him in a hug, Jun-pyo says, “I missed you to death. I’m not letting go again.”

He reminds her that she’d agreed to marry him when he came back. Jan-di returns, “Look here, Dummy Gu Jun-pyo. If you want to get technical, I said when you came back in four years, I’d think about it.”

Jun-pyo drops down to one knee, pulls out a ring box, and makes it official: “Geum Jan-di. Marry me.”

And of course, at that moment a voice calls out:

Ji-hoo: “I have an objection to that proposal!”
Yi-jung: “I do, too!”
Woo-bin: “Me too! You two can’t agree without our approval!”

THE END (finally)

And, okay, another Song of the Day, just because:

Rumble Fish – “사랑해 마지막 그날까지” (I’ll Love You Till My Last Day). If this were a movie, this would be the point halfway through the ending credits where the main song ends and a second song starts up. [ Download ]

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I’m going to start off with the criticism, because ultimately I was happy with the ending and would prefer to end on an upbeat note. So I’ll pull a “Ga-eul” here and start with the bad:

WEAKNESSES (aka, Stuff I Just Let Slide):

(1) Madam Kang’s witchy opposition. Poof, gone now? To be fair, I don’t really think it’s a logic flaw, because after Jun-pyo recovers his memory, I take it we are to assume Mama Kang gave up her opposition. It actually does make sense — there’s nothing like contributing to your son’s near-death to give you a wake-up call. But on the other hand, we didn’t see that explicitly, which might give the impression that the Jun-di reconciliation happened too easily, when goodness knows it came anything but “easily.” Not after all those episodes of separation and angst.

(2) Dr. Ji-hoo. Uh, but what about The Music? Where did his doctorly pursuits come in? I get that this probably has as much to do with his grandfather as Jan-di, but it felt random. Like it was conjured just to prove again that Ji-hoo is Jan-di’s soulmate, only now it emphasizes that they’re platonic soulmates, since they’ve remained friends even though Jun-pyo’s been away.

This leads me to:

(3) Soulmates (not to be confused with Soeulmates). I’ve never been a big fan of the “Ji-hoo is Jan-di’s soulmate” aspect. Maybe we’re all conditioned to think that soulmates are a romantic thing, and maybe I resent how much time was overwhelmingly given to the soulmate and not the actual love interest. I think Kim Hyun-joong has improved a lot over the course of the drama, but I still don’t really feel the chemistry between Ji-hoo and Jan-di. The fact that they had SO many sweet, intimate moments throughout the series and I still never jumped ship indicates just how lacking their pairing was for me.

(Intellectually, I thought Ji-hoo was better for Jan-di, but I never felt their emotional connection on a gut level, and their interactions never got me excited or giddy or otherwise invested.)

On the other hand:

STUFF I LIKED:

(1) Callbacks, yay! I enjoyed all the revisited past moments and bits of dialogue that were injected into the finale. I’ve seen dramas do this in the past, but a lot of times they feel forced in. Boys Before Flowers surprised me by doing a good job of incorporating past lines or interactions to build the action here. It didn’t feel like a mere rehash but a natural use of these characters’ personalities.

For instance, I liked how all of Jun-pyo’s misstated sayings came back and were worked into dialogue — both in really serious scenes (the pool) and lighter, more upbeat scenes (the cable car, the beach). In some dramas, it feels like characters are suddenly altered/forced into making the ending work, but I like that this was an example of continuity done right. Done wrong, we get blatant fanservice, but done right, it’s pretty emotionally satisfying.

(2) The epilogue. The time-skip epilogue is a risky device and is sort of an easy out. Epilogues can be problematic in that they provide a “perfect” wrap-up for characters, kinda like sticking a band-aid over a more serious problem. BUT, in an over-the-top, feel-good romantic comedy like this, I’m all for it. I know there’s no such thing as a true-life Happily Ever After, but this is what I want from a giddy, lovey romance drama. The perfecter the better!

An epilogue gives us a little more time to deal with goodbyes, so we avoid the let-down feeling of a resolution that comes too quickly. I would have been sorely disappointed if we ended after the cable-car kiss — and for a few dreaded seconds, I actually thought they’d ended the drama there — but the “four years later” gave us (okay, me) that needed buffer to let myself down gradually. LOL.

(3) Soeulmates. I expressed my ambivalence about how they would wrap up, but I was pleased with their ending. I don’t think they really needed a huge finish — that would’ve taken time away from the other romance — but I like that we have hope for their future without necessarily seeing it.

The time skip works for them because they, perhaps more than Jan-di and Jun-pyo, needed to grow up and live their lives and mature some more before getting together. As much as it might have been romantic for Yi-jung to have made a big gesture at the age of 20, I wouldn’t have the hope for their future that a time skip sorta automatically takes care of.

(4) The amnesia fix. Just as I was pleasantly surprised about how the amnesia plot came about, I was pleased at how it played out.

Example: The taste thing was one part that was well tied in, because Jan-di made those foods for him in the past, and when she did, they had some significance. The first time Jun-pyo asked for those egg rollups, it was after the snowstorm. It also symbolizes something of their class differences — or rather, emphasizes the “Hey, maybe we’re not so far apart” aspect of their statuses, since Jun-pyo loves this commoner food for what it is, even though he has gourmet stuff all around. (Hey, metaphor!)

But I was glad that the taste issue alone wasn’t enough to get Jun-pyo’s memory back. Here’s where the plot diverges from Hanadan, and I was really happy with it — and frankly wished they’d diverged more often. The taste was enough to remind Jun-pyo of his newer, warm-n-fuzzy feelings, but not enough to identify all the details (like, for instance, WHO those warm-n-fuzzies were directed at).

That leads Jun-pyo to be chummy with Yumi (grrr), because he’s correlating his memory of Jan-di’s warmth (evoked by her food) with Yumi. I doubt he feels anything for Yumi specifically; it’s more like his wires got crossed so the affection he feels for Jan-di is being misdirected at Yumi.

(5) The pool. OH, the awesomeness of the pool!

Here’s why I love that Jan-di fell into the water:

(a) It proves that despite what she tells Ji-hoo, she still does have faith in Jun-pyo. At first I thought she would merely fake being in “trouble” underwater till he jumped in to save her, but she committed to her last-ditch effort so much that she was really in danger. Was it foolish? Perhaps. But it’s also evidence of how much she believed that he would come around, because even if his conscious memory can’t recall her, she believed in their other connection — that intangible, indestructible love they feel, that connection that’s so strong that forces much stronger than plain ol’ amnesia weren’t able to sever them. (Namely, Madam Kang.)

(b) I love Jan-di’s speech to Jun-pyo, because it appears that his selective amnesia (as evidenced by his belief that he can’t swim) has blocked out the past year or so. Any feelings that resemble the Newer Jun-pyo (post-Jan-di) are mostly expressed subconsciously; everything he knows and does consciously is from pre-Jan-di times. So in her speech, Jan-di speaks to the Jun-pyo who changed for/because of her. The things she tells him may not even be things he realizes concretely — they’re things he’s forgotten as well — but as she talks, he feels them resonate. He can try to deny that he knows her, but he can’t deny the truth of her insight into his character, and that scares the bejeebus out of him.

(c) And most importantly, Jan-di’s jump into the pool forces Jun-pyo’s subconscious to act. Sure, all throughout the episode, Jan-di (or F3) could have told Jun-pyo the truth of their relationship, but it would’ve done little good to merely announce, “Hey, I’m your girlfriend, you idiot!” Maybe it would have helped, but it wouldn’t have provided the jolt that would return the rest of his memory — not like a good ol’ scare to the subconscious could, anyway.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

Was Boys Before Flowers a GOOD drama?

Well, no.

In all honesty, I can’t really call it good — insofar as a “good” drama requires strong acting, masterful directing, tight storytelling, and overall high quality. And it can’t just have one of those elements, but most or all of them, expressed in skillful balance.

On the other hand, it depends on how you define the word “good” for yourself. “Good” might not mean “artistic” to you; it might not mean “eloquent” or “insightful.” Good might mean entertaining, or emotionally provocative. Excitement-inducing. Enjoyable to watch and rewatch and participate in fan culture. And in those measures, I’d say BBF delivered.

Because sure, an Academy Award-winning film deserves its praise, but to be frank, they’re not always entertaining. Or they may be beautiful and meaningful, but not move the heart.

Boys Before Flowers was kind of a glorious mess — the acting was sometimes very good, sometimes horribly bad. The music was decent, but applied carelessly in messy spurts like a five-year-old who’s sneaked her way into mommy’s makeup stash for the first time. The writing had its moments, but more often than not was poorly paced, and as we know you can’t build an entire drama upon random nice moments.

But it also had its weird brand of narcotic magic. If you stuck around till the end, you know what I’m talkin’ about. If you didn’t, well, you may still know what I’m talking about, even if you were never under the influence. A film snob may sniff at “the masses” — and I’ve been that person too — but so what? Let the snob enjoy his lofty solitude while we masses can commune with each other and laugh and cry together.

I was actually reading a book somewhere around the middle of BBF’s run, and a paragraph leapt off the page and just about smacked me in the face with its aptness. And who can argue with the words of the (late, great) awesome David Foster Wallace?

“At root, vulgar just means popular on a mass scale. It is the semantic opposite of pretentious or snobby. It is humility with a comb-over. It is Nielsen ratings and Barnum’s axiom and the real bottom line. It is big, big business.”

Truer words, y’all.

Okay, okay, I’m done! Finally!

I’ve had SO MUCH FUN, you guys! I think the drama has reached its time to go, so I’m not sad that the series is over, but I will miss the insanity of this drama. All the discussion, the fangirling (myself included), the plot dissection, future predictions, kvetching about story insanity, snarking about ridiculosity, and yes, even bitching about everything that drove us crazy.

Honestly, I haven’t been this entertained following a drama in a while. True, in a vacuum, this product itself is far from perfect — but thankfully, I don’t consume my entertainment in a vacuum, but out here in the wilds of the internet as part of an enthusiastic community.

THANKS FOR ALL THE FUN TIMES!

629

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51 tina

March 31, 2009 at 11:18 PM

I just wanted to thank you for recapping this drama!! I enjoyed reading what you had to say and I look forward to whatever new drama you decide to write about!!

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52 Muffin

March 31, 2009 at 11:19 PM

Great recaps! Thanks Javabeans for sharing your thoughts with us.

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53 BBFan

March 31, 2009 at 11:19 PM

Does anyone know how this episode did in terms of ratings?

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54 Akiddo

March 31, 2009 at 11:19 PM

Thanks for ALL the recaps. Dramabeans you are SOLID!!!

Anyway just want to say good bye to all the fans after weeks and weeks of bonding over BoF. This drama and your recaps literally woke me up after 3 years of hiatus from Korean dramas. And now I am doing catch up.

BOF is a glorious mess as you have put it. So many ways to make it a better drama but who cares! The fluff that kept me sane for the past months despite everything at work and life. :D I am glad that this show ended properly and somewhat nicely.

Me so loving Coffee Prince now. Reading your recaps from 2007....hahahhaa..

Adiós and look forward to another drama like this in due time.

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55 joonni

March 31, 2009 at 11:19 PM

Thank you too! It was fun reading your recaps and comments. They gave me something to think about and I learned a bit about how to look at dramas critically.

Bye bye F4!

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56 kay

March 31, 2009 at 11:20 PM

just wanted to say thanks again for your insight! you've been a great companion along this ride. =)

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57 IrvineBBFAddict

March 31, 2009 at 11:21 PM

Thank you!!! I just had to wait to finish reading your recap before heading to bed~~~

I am really happy to have found your blog while crazily searching online for BBF info months back. Even though BB is now over, I will continue to check your site for Kdrama info!! Your efforts and insights are much appreciated!!! THANK YOU!

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58 ella

March 31, 2009 at 11:22 PM

wait. i think i just missed a few scenes! LOL i didn't get to watch the epilogue part with yi jung and ga eul.

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59 queen_of_the_game

March 31, 2009 at 11:23 PM

i agree with you javabeans... wouldn't say this one is a good drama but it was for sure very entertaining and i'll miss all the characters...but the thing i will miss the most is your recap and how you always make sense of this drama for me..hehe thanks a lot for your efforts and hopefully we'll find a new drama that we'll all like and have this awesome discussions again...i will miss you guys....see yah around...Fighting!!!

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60 Abby920

March 31, 2009 at 11:23 PM

I'll miss Boys Before Flowers!

Love the ending! It is one of the best Kdrama endings I've seen and I'm very, very satisfied. I still love Ga-eul and Yi Jung - their story is so cute, I really love that little girl giving away her teacher's secret, that was adorable and both my Seoulmates reactions are adorable..... I'm still on there ship :)

I really enjoyed this ending, except Yumi's part, I wanted to pull all her hairs out (just kidding).

Mama Kang I will miss you! Good thing I downloaded all the BBF episodes, I can watch them over and over if I want too :) ------- THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH WITHS2 Funsubbers, you people are GREAT! ! ! with all the things you have done to make us non-Korean speaking Kdrama fans happy for sharing your talents and hard work! Love you all :) I can't thank you enough!!! Looking forward to all your projects and to those you're done with.

Thank you Sarah for the recaps. I will still be here looking forward everyday to all the news and recaps that you share. Now I can start on Return of Iljimae :)

This is a good day to end one of my favorite Kdrama, Boys Before Flowers.

Abby920

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61 aidia

March 31, 2009 at 11:24 PM

Wow... even though its been crazy… I still can't believe its actually over...!
*tears*
But major props for the amazing recaps... I especially luved ur comments on this one…!
(reading them was way more entertaining than watching the actual show...!)

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62 ichigopan

March 31, 2009 at 11:25 PM

Awesome. Thanks for all your hard work! I'm glad it's over. =D

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63 greenpea133

March 31, 2009 at 11:26 PM

thanks for all the recaps!!! i enjoyed reading them =]

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64 tenn

March 31, 2009 at 11:28 PM

hi...finally its end...i'm just stop watching this drama in epi 15 but continue reading with your recap...and now i will start to watch the all episode....i'm really love the ending...what a surprise and sweet ending for the souelmate....this is really difference with all the previous version and manga....i'm also like the jandi and jun pyo ending.....well i will miss all the fun of craziness from this drama...this is the same feeling when meteor garden and hana yori dango had ended.....truthfully i love all the 3 version from the 3 countries...both had their own strong and weak point......hope to find another watchfull drama in the future. and ALL THE BEST FOR THE KOREAN F4 AND MAKINO!!!!!

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65 jean

March 31, 2009 at 11:29 PM

javabeans....thank you too...I've enjoyed all your recaps, comments and other stuff that you shared. Like you, I've enjoyed this series..even if I'm a bit "old" for it..hehe But really thank you very very much for all the time you've spent sharing. It's been really fun. until the next drama we all will enjoy..^_^

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66 naners~

March 31, 2009 at 11:29 PM

my favorite scene in this episode was the pool scene. I love how jandi took the initiative to make junpyo remember her instead of waiting for him to come around like makino did. i know jandi wasnt the kick ass type of girl that everyone expected her to be, but i think she was pretty strong and balanced in that area. i think jandi, as well as the f4 really matured in in their roles throughout the drama. it makes it more realistic.

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67 andygal86

March 31, 2009 at 11:30 PM

Thanks for the awesome recaps again! I'm terribly sad that this show is over...! At the same time, I'm glad that it ended on a (good) happy note! I'm going to miss my F4 boys...Jun Pyo's dorky, boyish smile; Ji Hoo coming to the rescue; Yi Jung's make-me-melt smile (!!!!); and Woo Bin's gangsta English! I haven't enjoyed nor looked forward to a show like this in such a long time! I know that, technically and anachronistically, this show is flawed, but after the first episode, I figure this show should be watched more for pleasure and entertainment. I don't have too many qualms with Koo Hye Sun's acting...I think its more of a character issue than the actress' problems. Lee Min Ho is a phenomenal actor and I think he did his character justice. For Kim Hyun Joong, it took me the longest time to warm-up to his character, but thankfully he improved in the end (Better late than never!) Kim Bum played So Yi Jung quite well...I wasn't digging his emo-ness when he was using Ga Eul's feelings for him, but he recovered. Kim Joon, the underrated F4, he was the person I looked forward to, hoping he would have more of a storyline.
Oh, there are so memories from this show! Like I have said before, thanks again Javabeans!

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68

March 31, 2009 at 11:30 PM

that Yumi girl looks a little like Han ChaeYong.

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69 esztokam

March 31, 2009 at 11:30 PM

thanks again for the amazing review!
I was so happy to hear Paradise at the end! But I still miss something (e.g. We don't know what Woo Bin did during the 4 years)~
I totally loved the pool scene. I literally screamed at the screen!

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70 bladbla

March 31, 2009 at 11:30 PM

Check these out - Kim Bum, Kim Joon and Kim Hyun Joong's "Goodbye Jihoo" fan meeting
It's cute! LOL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMUrcdnBMMo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbBKeXAcUGY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjvPTmGS9hA

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71 Debbie

March 31, 2009 at 11:32 PM

Thank you, Sarah!!!

I have to agree with you on every single thing you said in your commentary section. I too do not think that BOF is a good drama because it lacks good consistent acting, music, writing and directing. HOWEVER, I think that it is a great drama because it's so damn entertaining. I don't think I have fangirled a korean drama as much as I have for BOF... and Lee Min Ho!!! haha Anyway, thank you so much for all that you have done. Throughout the BOF run, You always provided thought-provoking, funny, entertaining, and detailed summary of each episode. That is really appreciated.

Quick questions... what do you think happened to Ji Hoo's grandpa? Did he die or did he retire? Also, I too agree that the abrupt change in attitude of Jun Pyo's mom was a little disconcerning. Does this mean she approves of Jan Di now? Do you think they will do a movie (like what the Japanese did)?

I heard that there would be a BOF special next Tuesday. Did you hear anything about that? It could just be an April Fools joke. Anyway, now that BOF is over, I don't know what to do with myself on Mondays and Tuesdays!

What is the next drama that you will be covering? I highly anticipate your recaps! :)

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72 Priki

March 31, 2009 at 11:32 PM

Thank you for your recaps for BBF, Javabeans! I simply loved reading your comments every time, and I LOVED this last recap! Thank you so much for all the hard work you put in! I'm aleady looking forward to the next series you recap (aside from Return of Iljimae, of course...).

Once again, thank you so much!

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73 Carrie

March 31, 2009 at 11:33 PM

Thanks for awesome recaps javabeans. While I might not always agree, I appreciate the perspective you bring. You are the queen of awesome recaps! :) And I definitely agree with you about the pool scene. That ended up (well from the point that Jan-di starts to talk to Jun-pyo anyway) being my favorite scene in the whole drama. Beautiful stage, excellent acting, drama and... the result I wanted. Ha ha.

For me, I will miss this drama. No I don't want it to go on forever and ever, but for the things I was going through in my own life, BOF was a welcome and sometimes slightly strange escape/release from reality. I loved getting lost in this drama Mondays and Tuesdays. I'm going to have to find a new obsession. Any suggestions???

Anyway - thanks BOF Korea! Excellent, satisfactory ending. Thanks for 25 hours of laughter-giddy-exciting-fangirly-yelling-angry-teary-depressed-warm-and-fuzzy-happiness-and-other-completely-random-logical-illogical induced feeelings of insanity. For all of those emotions... for this crazy korean drama obsessed fangirl... it truly was...

Alllllmost paaaaaaradiiiiiiiiiiiise.

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74 Leslee

March 31, 2009 at 11:33 PM

Thanks for this and all of your other recaps! I am especially glad for it because I was in a tizzy about what happened with JP and his family and the business, as a huge chunk of the 4 years later part was missing from the site where I watched it.

It was weird, but the only part of this whole drama where I actually cried was when JP got his memory back. I started to tear up when JD started talking to him by the pool, and by the time he had rescued her, I was smiling and crying, And my husband officially thinks I have lost my mind, because I rarely cry at ANY tv shows or movies. I mean, the last time I cried was at the end of Titanic.

I don't care what anyone says, I loved this drama. If I were looking for great, Oscar level acting, writing and directing, I wouldn't be watching a teen drama anyway. This one was just great enough to make me a happy girl, thank you very much. I loved what you called it, "kind of a glorious mess". I will miss it.

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75 Samsoonie

March 31, 2009 at 11:35 PM

I truly enjoyed your recaps from episode 1-25. Every time i finished an episode, I was so excited to read your summary and comments so that I could agree with many of the things you said. And when I was a week behind on my BOF episodes, I could take a sneak peek at what I missed by skimming your recaps.
You were so insightful with your criticism and praise!
I agree that BOF may not have been the best drama, but it was one of the most entertaining ones I have seen yet. And I'm glad that I took this journey with you :)
Can't wait for the next drama that will make you and I this giddy!

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76 Annie101

March 31, 2009 at 11:36 PM

peace out BBF <3!

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77 vshin81

March 31, 2009 at 11:40 PM

hey javabeans-

i'm not one to post comments on these blogs, but i couldnt help myself. i actually waited to read what you had to say about the finale before i headed off to bed. As much as I thoroughly enjoyed watching the boys before flowers series, i was even more entertained by your analysis and dissection of the episodes. Thank you for your in depth synopsis. It entertained me during its airing for the last few months. Now that its over, I have no idea what I'm going to do this coming Monday! and Tuesday!! hahaha!!

My sincere thanks to your dedication to this drama!

keep blogging...i may not comment again, but I do love reading it! :) you are 짱!!!

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78 Soonie

March 31, 2009 at 11:42 PM

And not to forget, they did a nice wrap up of the F4. We all complained in the beginning that no real friendship existed between the boys but as illustrated by the swimming pool scene, they all had faith in Junpyo. They all stand there so long that at first it was a bit of a shocker when someone's drowning out there but then if any of them had jumped in, it would really signify them as "giving up" on JP coming back.

One criticism, definitely it all kinda felt crammed into one episode, though i really did like how they all grew up.... The only person that didn't seem to was Woobin, and I would have really like that part added in. Maybe he could have started his reign over his dad's business, or something to that extent, illustrated by showing him in a business suit?

As for Jihoo being a doctor, I think if you think back, he really grew to love his grandfather's clinic....even earlier in the episode he returns there as his place of refuge (when he has that perfectly tranquil house of his). And after his getting back together with grandpa, it just made sense to me that he would want to take over. I didn't really associate this new pursuit with Jandi but with his grandfather, though he does hint that she was part of the reason why. But then that's the role he's satisfied with assuming in her life, as her guardian, and esp since JP is away. Also I think we were to assume his grandpa had passed away at that point??

that last picture of Jaekyung! I was thinking during the finale that I missed Jaekyung..... Unlike the Yumi character who was really just annoying and pointless (pretty disappointed with her acting) Jaekyung made you like her and really, all of the characters in this drama had good sides except for yumi....

oh, and one more criticism, what was the point of Jandi taking care of JP's father?? seriously it seemed like later that would play a factor in helping Jandi become a part of Junpyo's family..... Or maybe it was a foreshadow to later? ....b/c I'm not sure if we can interpret Madame Kang's acceptance of their relationship quite yet just from that one scene of her smiling. She's happy b/c JP's manning up and taking over the business....

ugh...anyway, i blame it on the poor directing, scriptwriting, etc.... I've never had so many questions after watching a drama!!! But probably that's one of the reason's I kept watching....to see if the things that didnt' make sense at first would make sense later.....haha....

anyway, cheers! I'm glad for its happy ending and glad that its over!

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79 springroll

March 31, 2009 at 11:42 PM

thanks so much javabeans! i'm really going to miss the insanity/ funamania that went into my mondays and tuesdays. i'm partially glad that it's over because i just wanted to see the main couple be together at the end (cheers to the happy ending!). but i'm a little sad because bbf has been my source of entertainment for the past three months....now what am i going to occupy my mind with?! :)

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80 etsy

March 31, 2009 at 11:44 PM

just finished watching the episode. i am cringing at the ending. it was sooo cheesy and 90s/80sish. i am not a fan. love the pool scene though

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81 Nanae123

March 31, 2009 at 11:45 PM

ohh my... it really ended.... it makes me felt empty... i get into this drama so much... and now..it is done... i will miss Goo Jun Phyo a lot... well i will watch the whole episode once again i am sure... and i will still be a fan of Lee Min Ho... i hope he will act in another drama soon... very soon... after he got some rest and of course his surgery and recovery and all...

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82 makuii

March 31, 2009 at 11:46 PM

First of all,
THANK YOU javabeans for recapping this series periodically, every monday and tuesday.
So, we finally reach the end of the third (fourth?) adaptation of hana yori dango...
For me, it was fun while it lasted, not necessarily what you'd call "brain food" but hey, sometimes we don't need to think...^^
Thanks for 25 episodes of pure fun, laughter and utter baka-ness - I will miss the korean F4 and JanDi!

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83 Orchid

March 31, 2009 at 11:48 PM

Congratulations on re-capping Boys Before Flowers from start to finish! I know that's hard work... But this drama is indeed so much fun!!! :-)

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84 Marres77

March 31, 2009 at 11:49 PM

A glorious mess! Agreed!

Thanks very much javabeans!

Next on the menu?

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85 ank

March 31, 2009 at 11:49 PM

Thanks for the 25-episode recap! I thoroughly enjoyed reading your commentaries!

For me, BOF is not an excellent drama, but a feel good drama. It's entertaining, and I do not need to use my brain to analyze things too much. This is the only HYD version I've watched completely, as I dropped the other 2 versions after 1 episode.

I'm a little sad that it's over, since watching it had bring me so much fun and more importantly, new online friends from different HYD communities.

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86 theset

March 31, 2009 at 11:50 PM

thanks 4 all recaps u hav done 4 us... appreciate it soooo much...
thanx javabeans...
i'v waited long time 2 see ur last recap for this drama...
although i dont like the ending...cz they just let us think ourself about what happen with the characther...
^^v

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87 DELE

March 31, 2009 at 11:50 PM

Thanks for all the recaps Javabeans....I look forward to the next one in addition to Return of Iljimae. Your recaps of it made me decide to watch it!!

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88 Auntiemame

March 31, 2009 at 11:51 PM

Sarah,

Do not ever be concern about the length of your reviews/summaries. Well-written prose is always a joy to read. Besides being well-written, your summaries are also entertaining and insightful.

Narcotic certainly describes this drama. Since the start of the so-called season 2, I haven't felt compelled to immediately watch each episode. Yet, when I do finally watch the episode, I find a smile on my face and an enervating high during the giddy and cute moments.

For me, the best part of the final episode was the re-emergence of the stalwart JD. Just as JP needed to be awaken from his amnesia, I think Yumi's announcement jolted JD out of her stupor. There was a flash of defiance in accepting the fait accompli, in JD's face, as JH led her away from the party. And, I think that's when she decided to make a final effort with JP. But, it was totally brilliant of her to select memories that are known only to the two of them to stir his subconscious. Lastly, I think she put her life on the line for their love, by deliberately falling into the pool and not surfacing.

There is such a divergence in the quality of the directing, I wonder if a lot of the scenes that we found troublesome had been assigned to a second tier director.

As always, thank you for making this wonderful blog. See you at the next drama.

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89 mRAWWe

March 31, 2009 at 11:51 PM

I've been lurking around here for a while, reading your recaps of BBF and Return of Iljimae - they're really awesome by the way.

Anyway, I liked this ending, sweet and fluffy as it should be. Sure this series have had it's flaws (.. okay, pretty many flaws) but I think overall it was quite enjoyable anyway. Though, I'm still confused over WHY Yi-jung traveled to Sweden of all places? I mean.. Sweden isn't known for pottery, at least what I know of.. But hey, I'm happy anyway, since this makes my country get a little more wellknown, lol :D

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90 awwman

March 31, 2009 at 11:52 PM

this feels like when i finished the last harry potter book. so. sad.

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91 engl

March 31, 2009 at 11:52 PM

you didnt mention in your recap, but i was really confused as to whether the grandpa died? since jandi did say that the clinic was closed...

i didn't like the very last ending where they stare into the ocean..way too cheesy, but then again this is bof we are talking about lol. and was i the only one that laughed out loud when jihoo suddenly became a med student ... and the four years later.. lol.. in drama world, its all magic ^_^

thanks alot! i was skeptical about recaps in general, but i loved yours.. i shared your sarcasm and fan girl moments!

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92 Luv

March 31, 2009 at 11:53 PM

Thank you Sarah.
I went straight to last part of the recap first...hehe...always looking forward to read your comments.
BBF was not the best drama but I had so much fun watching.
Thank you for everything...love you.

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93 elisa

March 31, 2009 at 11:54 PM

Dramabeans, my sincerest thanks for all the recaps and commentaries. i had such a blast checking in your blogs and reading other peoples's passion (and disgust) about this drama. will have to agree to a most fans that i will be missing F4 more than the series itself. FANGIRLING....hahahaha, i had to laugh when you wrote this because i haven't done that for a realy long time, but this series made me act that way again. i guess, that's midlife crisis for me.

beautiful ending. pool dialogue was sublime. wished that it was this consistent throughout the series.

last note on fangirling...when the little girl hugged Jihoo, i wanted to push her away and say "Doctor Prince, i am a doctor...you should forget that girl and marry me now instead..." such a Jihoo fan. Now THAT'S FANGIRLING at PREMENOPAUSE....am so pathetic.

Great run...till next time. THANKS SO MUCH!!!

forever your fan and probably the oldest in the bunch too...elisa

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94 Bérénice

March 31, 2009 at 11:57 PM

Once more, javabeans, thak you for all the recaps you took the time to write during this BOF frenzy ! BOF has been the experience it was for me in good part thanks to your blog entries, yours insights and your humour !
I must say, at times, that while watching an episode, I would wonder 'what will javabeans say about that?'...
All in all, I think this has been the drama I was the most hooked up on, and that I loved the most since I entered the realm of k-dramas, 3 years ago (I think). After begining to watch K-dramas, I decided to learn Korean, but, as you may imagine, it's not always easy for someone who is of French descent and lives in France... Even while learning, I'd always continued to wait for subs (mostly by WITHS2, so thank you also for that ;o) ) to watch a series...

However, this time, BOF got me baaad, for several reasons, and after episode 6, I stopped waiting for subs, and couldn't wait mondays and tuesdays to watch the episodes of BOF streaming (at work, which is bad, I know, but well, BOF frenzy could only last a time... ;o) )... At first, it was really thanks to the pictures and some random words and sentences (and reading your recaps the day after) that I would get what was going on before the subs came out, but I must say that by the last episode (from yesterday night), I'm amazed at everything I understood (from your recap, I actually understood 90% of the dialogs)... So I'll be even more nostalgic of BOF, because BOF accelerated my learning of Korean !

I really loved this finale, I agree it wrapped up the series pretty well, and, as you mentionned, I loved that they put several references to past episodes in this one, including the pool speech for Jandi, which was the highlight of this episode for me - how we see and he understands, that , at this point, she knows him better than he does...

Anyhow, I'm now officially going to fall in withdrawal - how am I going to fill all those moments of spoiler searching on soompi, of recap reading here at dramabeans, of preview hunting on week-ends, and of episode watching at work? It's kind of pathtic, isn't it? ;o)

So, again, thanks so much for sharing with us, Javabeans, and I hope another fun drama will soon come out to prolong the frenzy ! Bye bye BOF, but dramabeans forever ! ;o)

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95 vjah

April 1, 2009 at 12:00 AM

In this episode, I love the pool scene. It wasn't overdramatic but still poignant and believable to jog Jun Pyo's memory back.
Overall, I like this version of BOF. The F4 was really F4 not just F2 or F3...LOL...if u guyz get wut I mean. I am not talking about screentime. More on how their friendship is about them as group and not as pair like in the other version. We know who is closer to who but this version showed why they are F4.
Again and again, thanks for your awesome recaps.

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96 mie

April 1, 2009 at 12:02 AM

I just want to add that a huge part in Madam Kang's personality change (though it was skipped over, presumably to be assumed) is the father aspect. I imagine he woke up from his coma and one of the first things he said (after asking about his family) was "Where's that nice girl who would read to me?" And then applied his daddy influence.

And as for the Ji-hoo being Jan-di's soulmate thing, I feel resolved. When I thought about Jan-di ultimately choosing Jun-pyo despite Ji-hoo being her soulmate, I couldn't, well, cheer happily for the Jun-pyo/Jan-di couple. But I think when you set that romantic definition of soulmate aside (after all, they do have "matching" souls, in a sense), it worked out well and the crew did a great job in showing that Jan-di and Ji-hoo were on a different (not better or worse, just different) level from Jan-di and Jun-pyo. They definitely portrayed the Rui character better, I feel, than in HYD.

Thanks for the great weekly updates. I enjoyed them immensely, sometimes more than the episode itself. ^^

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97 jj

April 1, 2009 at 12:03 AM

Reply to #53 BBFan

according to KBites, the rating for this final episode was 33.7%
High! =)

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98 Tippy

April 1, 2009 at 12:06 AM

A big THANK YOU for all your hard work!! You were there for me when the quality of the video was poor...when the subtitles were missing...when I couldn't bear to watch to whole episode and when I needed to know that someone else was thinking exactly what I was thinking!!

...aaaaand...I will never look at pancakes the same way again!!

So, what are we watching next??!