The plot points in Ep 8 really disappointed me. I feel like this drama went into the usual Kdrama tropes of the lead couple having to be separated for no other reason than there needs to be more angst to fill up 16 episodes.

I like kdramas where the couples actually fight together to stay together - no matter what life throws at them (a great example of this is KS & JI in Smile, You - which has made me much more impatient with passive woe is me kdrama couples). I can't invest in or root for a couple that cannot act in their own self-interests. I am not downplaying the heavy emotional issues here but KJ has been shown to be academically and emotionally smart - in addition, the key to why I like his character is that he is direct and assertive - I feel like we've lost that with this ep. The issue is that JW is suffering from extreme mental stress perhaps manifesting in bulimia (which I actually do not agree with) but why is no one trying to get her to see a psychiatrist? Why has all of these smart, academically gifted males not realizing she might need grief counseling?

The "lesson" in most kdramas is that problems do not get solved by purposely creating a huge misunderstanding that creates forced separation. It is the timid characters that lose in love. KJ showed both in these eps.

I also hate the plot development that requires one party to purposely hurt another party to get them to accept a forced separation. Is JW supposed to feel better now that her brother died for the love of a man who is "player"?

KJ was set up as being a straight forward, honorable, highly competent guy, but in the last two episodes he has broken every promise he has made to JW. First he forgot to meet her in the restaurant after the alloted hour (which I thought was an unbelievable plot point) and then then he goes back on his promise to JW that from then on he will see her everyday. More romantic than the grand "I will leave her to spare her pain" is the" I will stay and help JW so that she can move on from her pain". In ep 8 he allows himself to be overwhelmed by the emotional situation - I really feel its a betrayal of the character that they have built up to this point.

I think the actors (with the possible exception of HYS) are doing a great job with what they've been given but I'm finding that I am more drawn to the younger KJ and found the younger KJ much more interesting. I feel it odd that KJ has lost all of his youthful angst about his family situation - I would have thought some of his anger against the world would have survived even after 8 years. I feel that GS is portraying KJ as much more of a happy adult than I would have expected.

A note about TJ, I find his character interesting and I do think that he has been drawn to illicit sympathy but what from what I've seen so far, TJ is a weak man and the flip side to KJ's noble man. I feel like TJ's main motivating impulse is fear and selfishness. He is or was a decent man who has discovered that he is less than what he aspired to be. I found it very self-serving that TJ told KJ that KJ is torturing JW and must leave her. While it may be true, is it necessarily for JW's best interest that KJ leaves JW? or is it for TJ's best interest. Also, why bring up JW's forgotten confession to JW? Because TJ does not want to lose JW he wants JW to have second thoughts. I do believe he cares about JW but not as much as he does not want to lose JW too.

I'm also scared of the jelled back hair style of evil that KJ is sporting in the previews for ep9 . I've seen the hair style change used in a lot of lamer kdramas...I hope this is just a psych out.

Sorry this was such a long post but ep 8 really bothered me.

Javabeans, thank you for your recaps. I think the show owes you a solid - if not for your recaps I would never started watching as I usually stay away from MELOdramas and HYS in general.

Woo Jung seems to be the only sane person in this drama and it's almost a relief when she comes onscreen. Everyone else seems to be on the brink including KJ. They all need therapy. KJ's obsession with JW is almost unpleasant.
JW is the only one who should be acting insane because she has a good reason.

This drama is great because of Go Soo and the teen stars acting. I love those 2 young stars (young KJ and JW) plus JW's brother is soo HOT!!!! It seems to me that HYS is out of her league to play JW's role. Gosh ,Lee Da Hae, Son Hye Jin,Ha Ji Won could have been a better choice. I can't stand HYS acting as if it is forced.I wish the teen stars were given more time in this drama as I feel that the first 2 episodes were the best one's so far that made me addicted to WISFC.It is also nice to see familiar faces especially the very handsome Go Soo , the dad from Smile You , the uncle from Don't Hesitate, one of the wives in Queen of House wife and one of the guys in Golden Bride. Thanks for the recap as it makes the situations clearer after watching the raw video. Thanks again javabeans !!!!!!

Thanks Javabeans for this recap!!! teeheehee my christmas present!!!!! :)

It is ironic a quip i made about the 'eating disorder' for JW's character ended up being something far more serious than intended.

I actually think HYS had the toughest role to play out of the 4 leads compared to GooSoo who has probably the most straightforward and he does it very well. He broods like no other and is very easy to read and empathise while looking damn fine doing so, and as such he wins the audience's heart by his pureness.

JW is probably most conflicted character, been hurt the most - largely self afflicted, and is someone who has become so lonely and introverted since teenager due to her brother’s death. This is of course the opposite of what she was like as a teenager, someone who's brave and believes in fairness, justice and righteousness, so much so she often put herself on the front line and got herself in trouble.

JW suffers all the heartaches while totally alone, because she think it is deserves (justice has to pay), and she has to pay for whatever she did or what she caused. She did this without any family support or friends, no consoling or counselling. The irreplaceable damage emotionally and the eating disorder is the physical repercussion of that. Truly is no laughing matter however you wish the main couples get together, it would just be improbable now the cat is out of the bag, something for once i think is a genuine good reason to keep the characters apart.

Her definition of self worth is damaged, she is broken. It is very sad to see what ever spirit she had as a child, had been totally saped. Out of the four characters, she has probably the greatest catching up to do, to eventually forgive herself and accept that she deserves forgiveness and happiness and even love.

Goo Soo's character out of the 4 leads are probably the most straight forward. Other than having grown up troubled - a single parent child that lacked in father figures, he has grown to accepting that who he is and embrace the indifference. I love his relationship with mum. He behaves like a older brother to his mum because in many ways her mum still act like a teenager.

KJ has no agenda out of the 4 characters, like WJ’s description of him; he is honest, straightforward and doesn’t play games or have hidden agenda. His world is lot simpler, until now that is. It would be very interesting to see how this tragedy would affect him and how the reconciliation might even begin. In real life this would be highly unlikely but in kdrama, there is hope yet.

JW had 8 years having to deal with it, she began by abandon everyone who she loves to pay for her sins. And now is KJ’s turn. He has just begun which resulted in this knee jerk reaction of ‘the kiss’. Don’t forget, JW’s brother is probably the first male model he had as a teenager, someone he clearly look up to judging by the scene, someone who he clearly respect highly, ie/ no cocky attitude and is sincere unlike his interaction with everyone else as a teenager. To have found out he had indirectly caused his death and JW’s tragedy without knowing, it would be a lot to take in.

It is very interesting at this point, at half way point, i can't predict how it is going to end, except hopeful that the writer would deal with the tragedy in a realistic way how ever melodramatic it ended up being. I am a huge fan of the writer’s work for Sorry I love you and Thank you, let’s hope he/she can do a great job here.

I am curious about the title of the drama at this point, why Christmas? Would it refer to something like 1 year on?

@39 butterball
Haha, we have come to rather similiar view points.

@41 JB

I certainly don't mean it in a light term. I find it rather alarming for a character since many do not assume it would be self-inflicted. Just that I find it fits the pattern I see presented, my distinction is I don't see it as bulimia nervosa for JW. I see your point of being leery just because she overate twice and threw up, but I was also thinking of all the times she was intentionally eating more than she should. Not to mention there are far more movies or shows (though more American I've watched in this case) where the writer(s) have it indicated with less. Though usually with a lack of eating instead of overeating. So, while I was thinking of those two times, I was also thinking of all the other times she was overeating to try and gain a sense of control. Such as the two ramens after finding KJ suddenly in her room after already stress-filled situations involving him and in a lesser extent, TJ. Or the time after the confrontation of TJ and KJ she immediately went to the fridge and would have consumed expired food if TJ hadn't made her stop. Or over consuming after talking to her father. There's been only one episode (after the first two childhood ones) looking back through the recaps where she hasn't over eaten at some point during the episode. She's intentionally doing this, even if the goal isn't to vomit, it's meant to console herself with the ability to have a way to display control over something when she's feeling out of control. That's what I'm concentrating on in my speculation of JW being a bulimic.

@55 RandomTouristX

Christmas maybe as the idea of re/birth?

WISH YOU ALL A MERRY CHRISTMAS *^^*

Thanks JB for the recap of EP.8 :) I did not expect it, thinking of celebrating these nice days. So its a very nice christmas present for us. Thanks again.

regarding EP8 I liked and agree with @55 -RandomTouristX words. So I wait eagrly for 6th January.

In this Ep. I loved to see the younger actors again. I was glad, that they didnt cut them them totally out after the first 2 Eps and hope there will be more new scenes of them in the future eps.

I think the drama is about FORGIVENESS and Love, like Christmas - maybe thats the reason why its called WISFC. So they should have an happy end forgivinig themselves and others and start a new life again.

:) As you can see, I am in total x-mass mode LOL

I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE SUBS TO COME OUT!!!!! OMG LUVVVVV IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go-soo looking paticularly yummy in this episode, totally appreciating the screencaps! (especially this one: http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm96/javabeans122/drama/2009/xmas/snow1/xmas8-00073.jpg --- which I now have as tiled desktop background!)

Awesome recap and I am in love with this drama, I do strongly agree that the child actors were mindblowingly brilliant whereas the adult actors or rather Han Ye-seul's acting isn't up to scratch, but I think it's all part of the character, I can usually overlook these elements, they are relative when there are many other positives in play. But now all the criticism of her acting has made me paranoid too! Kind of spoiling it for lovers like me who are too engrossed in the story to care otherwise. Rant over.

The ending was pretty painful! Poor Ji Won, WJ is such a man stealing, despo beeatch!
Roll on ep.9 already! :D

How can these dim bulbs attract such undying loyalty from such brilliant, handsome, amazing men?

omg, TRUFAX!

ahhhhhhh!!!!! i can't wait until jan 6th!!!!

this drama makes me wanna keep watching plot-wise and of course because of go soo, but for crying out loud i've never seen more ridiculous or dramatic acts from characters lol. the stuff they do and the stuff that happens is just....wtf????

Ah, Han Ye Seul. Even if her character is different from childhood, I can understand.

1. Rather than seeing a gradual change from teen to adulthood, it's a large jump from point a to b. Therefore the differences are pretty obvious. So I don't really mind the few differences in characteristics.

2. The childhood Ji Wan was spunky, but a pretty big trauma happened and that's obviously enough to change her. We don't see how she deals with it as a teen or how she lives after she runs away. So the only glimpse of Ji Wan young is her spunky self, but now how young-Ji Wan was after the trauma when she ran away or how she dealt with life. She's been alone without guidance, so I don't feel annoyed how adult Jiwan is not the same as young Ji Wan. I don't know how they can be the same.

Yet at the same time, Han Ye Seul could upgrade her acting.........

---

@Rachael:

"Christmas maybe as the idea of re/birth?"

I've never really understood X-mas (other than knowing that it's pretty un-Christian without bible-backing... which is pretty wrong, imo, to call it a Christian activity when it isn't supported by the bible.)

What does X-mas have to do with rebirth?
Perhaps maybe I could understand the title and connect it with the drama more... :)

the series is now in the half way mark
cant wait for the next ep in the new year
all the main cast are doing well but there something about taejoon
i hate him because of how his character behaves, he is a backstabber and also a person who thinks his GOD
i mean, its not like he hasn't done anything wrong before but he makes other people feel bad so he can get the girl,
taejoon uses this so he can get the girl and so that kangin can leave
i feel like taejoon is taking ji wan not because of her but because of kangin
just like kids taking a test, the person getting the full marks can parade in front of everyone while the other suffers
chun, jun su and co should just have a big mediation process because there story isn't really juicy anymore, when i watch i viikii, i just fastforward to the kangin/jiwan story

anway my rant is over and enjoy whats left of your weekend

I just don't get why Kang-Jin has to leave Ji-wan. Wouldn't it be more logical to stay with her and help her through her pain? How is leaving going to help her? It really does NOT COMPUTE. I'm only sticking with this drama because of Go Soo, otherwise I would've dropped this ages ago.

One thing that is worth highlight is the significance of the scene with JW's brother and the young KJ.

So far we assumed the brother and KJ didn't k,now each other, but there were many hints that tell us his brother had in fact been a significant influence in KJ's life.

1. The troubled teenager who always ends up in police stations, in fights ended up doing doing the right things growing up. Going to the right university, studied abroad, a star in his industry and having good relationship with his family etc.

2. The sincere young KJ at the cafe meeting where for once opened up and talked about his true feelings. It was where he also made that serious promise. To come to think of it, it was the only time i think the teenage KJ smiled so openly in the entire series.

3. Some how KJ got out of his trouble teenage years by having an objective - may be having found a male model in JW's brother or someone to look up to. Or identified someone to take care of (Beside his mum and brother). He continues to search for JW by revisiting her home from time to time.

4. In his own words, KJ made important use of his brother's examine notes over the years and had even decided followed his foot steps by the same university as his brother. He also kept the notes over the years in the hope of finding JW so he can let her know how important she or he has been to him.

If the brother had not been his male model influence, i don't know what is one.

Imagine to had this significant person, a semi-mentor or someone he clearly respect or have had influenced by - to found that he is indirectly responsible for his death, it makes his break down scene at the hospital staircase even more heart breaking and poignant. It is not just JW, but he has lost someone too - someone he had indirectly be responsible for.

I'd be surprised if his subsequent decision and action was not just based on what would be right for JW, probably also out of some guilt and regret including his own outbursts infront of the highly impressionable teenage JW.

It may also be possible that he is subconsciously wanting to run away from the issue, hinted by the fact he hadn't contact JW for more than a week since discovering the truth and there's no way out.

kang jin reminds me so much of jang dong gun back in all about eve... they both have that certain male charm that is just hard to resist.....

JB, isn't it plausible for Jiwan to behave as such at the moment when she's overburden with guilt for liking someone who indirectly caused her brother's death? I have to credit to the writer on this one since I can truly relate to her. Time doesn't heal all wounds nor does it allow people to forgive themselves, which Jiwan had begged for upon returning home from their dinner date. It's logical to conclude that since it was their first real date, she was inundated with emotions (of guilt, love, self-hate) which wrought on the overeating. Ever been so nervous/anxious in a situation that food accidentally drops, or water glass gets spilled? Her behavior was extreme as the end result of her liking Kang-jin was also extreme. So, her behavior isn't at all inexplicable. She's no longer that tough spunky kid, but a fragile being whose foolishness caused a tragic outcome.
"Even if I still can’t believe the logic they’re expecting us to follow here. Really? Ji-wan MAY EVEN DIE if Kang-jin doesn’t leave? Because she’ll continue to overeat and her body won’t be able to handle it? Two words: PEPTO BISMOL."
I don't think the writer is expecting us to believe this; this speech was used for dramatic effect, a plea from TJ to KJ to leave Jiwan for various reasons (those plot devices which you love to point out). Pepto Bismol doesn't cure overeating. Stress from guilt can affect our physiology, and yes, lead to death. That's also reasonable. The writer merely implied that possibility here.
Lastly, "as a Plus side: I am really liking how sharp Woo-jung is". She didn't figure anything out on her own. This has happened a few times already. KJ was instrumental in helping her figure things out. Otherwise, she would've been like other classic melodrama second leads/villain. The writer has shown us many times how hasty Woo-jung can be.

@63 Biscuit

Haha, it is a very wrong location of when to celebrate Jesus's birth. While he may have been born in the spring, religion dictates the winter season. So I thought of it as taking the idea of Christmas in birth, but in this case rebirth involving JW. The hope of snow on Christmas I take from what I recall of Kdramas and the romantic connections with snow. So I'm speculating that perhaps the title is a question of whether the romantic relationship between JW and KJ will be reborn after it has been broken off (and not just once, but twice after this relationship). Or at least a rebirth in JW being able to love herself again, by the display of forgiving herself. So two possible speculations on the title. So far hehe.

im quite impressed with the comments..

well, initially i thought it was as sign of JW being bulimic but then i realized it must be more than that.. and im agreeing with some of the analyzation here.. im just wondering where the writer will take us

of ep9 preview, well... not too keen on KJ's hair...

The kiss with WJ was not the end all of all kisses, but that's ok with me because I want KJ to do it right with JW eventually. At least, that's my hope.

Let's see if he can "bring it" to his first love like Cha Seung Won did to Kim Sun Ah.
I still shiver when I remember the "moment(s)".

I agree, wooyoung has my respect. Thank you for the recap :)

Yay! A Song Joong-ki sighting! We just can't get enough of the boy.

@ 27 lidge fan
@ ripgal
@ 51 sscrumb
@ 55 RandomTouristX
I like all your analysis! (and JB's, of course). Lots of interesting insights. Because this (frankly trite) melodrama is eliciting so much discussion, I have to admit it's probably a little more than the common run of the mill.

Myself, I'm ok with JW being a nervous wreck, and the nervous bingeing and petulance makes sense to me (as far as anything makes sense here). I didn't take it that she was in danger of dying from indigestion, but that if she forced herself to accept what she can not and should not accept, she would do herself ill. What I find harder to understand is how men could still find her so irresistible. Me, when I'm a nervous wreck and petulant, they run a mile.

Verdict: Ah, the formula is working hard for its money. Enjoyably predictable episode (in a perverse sense of "enjoyment").

We are locking into our Tragic gears here. The ubiquitous brain tumour (why does everyone have a brain tumour? Why doesn't anyone have, oh, I don't know, a hernia?). TJ shifting into full Anti-OTP gear. The Voice of Doom (the professor) ringing out trenchantly. People selling their souls for money to save their parents (doesn't anyone in Korea have health insurance?) The faked embrace leading to the Hateful-breakup-but-really-it's-for-your-own-good scenario. What cliches are we still lacking? Oh yes! The snow, the snow! It must snow, so that we can die tragically in it.

i am officially giving up/dropping this drama. the story is getting weird, too many cliches, acting not as great anymore as in the earlier episodes. but my main complaint is go soo's facial expression. i know this is a melodrama, and i do agree that go soo is good-looking, but i am getting fed up with his stony-eyed stare and stony facial expression. I can't stand to see his stony facial expression anymore... it's ruining the Christmas season for me.... maybe this is the wrong time to watch this drama.....

Why do I keep having visions of You're Beautiful with TK kissing HY with
that final shot? I am kinda iffy about this series after the light and
funny YAB.

@72: Butterball

I'm pretty sure that KJ kiss WJ not to runaway from JW, but to deliberately make JW hate KJ.

It goes along with TJ's words at the end where he said:

"Ji-wan can’t let go of you. Even if that dummy kills herself like this, she won’t let you go. So you let go. You stop it. Please."

This was KJ's way of trying to push JW away on her own will, to have her own mind to let go.

@Biscuit

According to the professor. JW's illness was caused by the fact she can't bring herself to blame KJ therefore blame herself entirely instead. Keeping it all in, bottled it all up. This amount of stress and self hating can bring death. While her head knows she can't possibly like someone who caused her brother's death, her heart couldn't let him go (esp after KJ's brief but deadly charming seduction. ) Her head and heart are not in synch.

Therefore KJ's subsequent last minute decision can be interpreted as

".... don't hate yourself, hate me instead, don't suffer, let me suffer instead. It is easier if you blame me entirely. Make it my fault, i am responsible. I am not worth you to suffer all the heart ache alone. Don't see me or meet with me. you might have a chance of getting over this. Let me take the burden off you. I will give up my chance of happiness for you to forgive yourself and let go to have a normal life with a man you love. You deserve better... "

It might be cliche 101 but it really worked for me.

------

@ serendipity

One can interpret all Korean drama as trite, it s hardly real life, but it is all about perspective. One man's junk is always someone else's treasure. However given the writer had taken the trouble to do something more than conventional while still able to exploiting established convention for a genre she herself had made popular. I can't help but to want to understand the interesting characters she had made so real a bit more from all the clues she has given. Her characters had depth and motivation and no cheap story lines (despite yes the odd brain tumour here and there.)

For me, WISFC is a classic melodrama from a master writer of melodramas. Sure, its own shares of cliches but is way the whole package delivered, flavored, decorated and presented which makes it great. Like anything, it is not perfect, but it does hits the right emotional spots. The bulk of the story line is actualy fairly simple, but it is how much it draws and moves it mattered.

I once read a review that said a cliches used here and there are lazy contrivances that lacked in originality, however when used many times in balance and perfectly harmony, it has the marks of a master's beautiful symphony. I believe WISFC has some lyrical quality that represent the best of the classic melodrama genre. It also had its own evolutionary spin. Like many instances of each new episode shows us a different perspective of the exact same scene and timeline, it ended up creating other shades of emotions and enriched the characters.

I'm sorry, I just woke up and am being horribly lazy by replying to javabeans' last comment without reading all of the comments after it. I am sorry if I repeat what people have said.

I like what JB said about not sticking her with bulimia just because she binged a couple of times. However, from the sounds of it (I can't watch it because my internet's too slow, so I'm relying on recaps), the drama has made reasonably clear connections about JW dealing with stress by eating. The fact that she eats single-mindedly until she throws up is like an act of self harm in itself, regardless of what label it has. If she is doing this as an uncontrollable reaction to stress, I would think it fair to say she has an unhealthy problem, and that KJ is the cause of the stress which causes this problem, so he must ignore her. That makes a sort of sense to me (even though they should be dealing with the problem, not just the trigger).

It seems though, that the drama is treating JWs overeating as a direct reaction to KJ and her guilt, ignoring all the other outside factors causing her to foodsplode.. I feel so silly trying to analyse this without being able to watch it, but my point is that maybe JW could have been portrayed to have a legit problem, but that the drama is twisting that a bit to make the couple heart-achingly separate again?

...if that makes sense.

Anyway, forgive me, for I have committed many thread-etiquette sins in commenting without either watching the drama myself or reading all the previous comments, but I had to drop in my 2 cents =p

Dear DB,

Thank you for your wonderful synopsis. Peptol Bismol cracked me up for several minutes. I found this episode difficult to process and it probably had to do with the fact that I didn't like the direction the writer was taking me. It certainly helps to know I wasn't alone with this sentiment. I really enjoyed reading everyone's input here in the commentary section.

Okay dokay......so now we have a typical drama setting with the lead actor kissing the 2nd female lead with his eyes open and tears falling! I am now confused about what is going on with the lead female and her feelings....which makes me think she might be emotionally unstable. She looks like a zombie right now.....totally without any energy.

I guess I'll end up following this anyway cause I'm curious as to how they will all get out of it!

Happy New Year everyone!

By the way....another thing I noticed.....the finger healed?

Guh! Just when I thought I found my new drama addiction. I mean, seriously, what was up w/ this episode?! It was such a big mess and just all over the place! Kang-in's mom finds out she might be terminally ill only for Ji-wan's father to find out he has a brain tumor...Kang-in resigns then Tae-joon gets fired...and then there's Ji-wan. Blah! Do I stop while I can get out, or stick it out since I'm already half-way through???

The whole over-eating part was very random and I have a feeling it was just something to show that Ji Wan can't handle being around Kang Jin.....but they just did it in a different way...I HIGHLY doubt they're going to play up on this more than this episode.....so in the end, it was kinda stupid to being with....

but damn, GO SOO is so fine..makes up for the things lacking in this drama ~LOL

Don't know about this.. At this point I'm just watching it for Amazingly expressive Goo Soo. It just is not convincing enough here... The girl playing Ji Wan is not happening to me, sorry. Yep, Peptol Bismol! An easy way out of this mess.

P.S. I have to admit boy Kang-jin and Ji-yong scene is absolutely adorable. On the other hand, one of my problems here is their childhood and adulthood appearances are so different that my brain is not exactly accepting them as same people. Meantime, I'm still watching... Goo Soo power! How can I leave him behind?

@79 RandomTouristX

Oh, I do agree with you! (And I love the way you describe the lyricism and presentation of this drama.) I'm not quite getting into the proper spirit of the melodrama, I realise. And I've even wondered whether I should just stop posting my flippant comments.

Because, despite my mocking, I *am* watching this faithfully. And seeing that I can't stand Winter Sonata and other classic melodramas, I think that's saying something. Maybe my grudging esteem iss hard to tell from my irreverent comments. But, you know what, I think the meta, don't-take-this-too-seriously approach is the way to go for me personally. Because if I take the whole thing too seriously, I think I might well throw up my hands in despair and give up (as I think some posters are on the verge of).

Here's my much less elegant analysis: It's like reading a romance novel. To get through it, I have to severely lower my expectations and taking an ironic (but *affectionately* ironic) approach. Otherwise I would fling the book aside at the first cliche or logic fail. So I have to be in a frame of mind to appreciate the cliches. And the romance novels I do plough through are exactly how you describe this drama -- they follow the conventions (they must: otherwise the romance would not be a romance, or the melodrama would not be a melodrama), but there is an extra something that enlivens the tired old cliches or even takes them up to the next level, without abandoning them altogether.

On the whole, I think this drama is doing a good job (so far). I've seen much worse - plotlines which would not hold up for a moment under the scrutiny we have subjected WiSC to!

reading ur recaps bout this show...makes me want to watch this!

ok, so go soo has his part to play. XD

Tae-joon and Woo-jung's stories were so beautiful in this ep--and wonderfully executed. This is definitely a turning point about my feelings for him. I mean, I won't be rooting for him, but at least I'm not like 'get this dude out of the drama, please!'

As for Ji-wan's illness, I may be one of the few people who liked the idea. Esp. since they reused a plot device from earlier at her engagement party. I hate it when kdramas (any show really) throw in details here and there and never mention it again. "Oh yeah that dude is really good at blah blah blah." So?

... However, it was poorly executed in this ep. Kang-jin needs to go away for Ji-wan to get better? Uh ... no. It's not a physical illness; it's a mental one that is manifesting physically. The problem isn't Kang-jin, but Ji-wan's conflicted feelings. Horrible, horrible execution.

And yeah, kissing another woman in front of the true love has been overused. Like the amnesia thing. Seriously now, whenever I'm watching a show and a character gets amnesia, I drop it right away. UNLESS it's played off for laughs or really well like Prince Who Turns Into a Frog. I'm crossing my fingers because the scene hasn't ended yet, but I hope that someone does SOMETHING--like #35 suggested. But judging from the previews, that isn't very likely.

Speaking of previews, Go Soo .... No! What did they do to your hair? And why? Why would you make my husband look like that? Director, I promise I won't be mad if you make use of the dream sequence motif. In fact, I will love you forever. Please don't do this to Go Soo. How's about giving Tae-joon a new haircut?

And of haircuts, what is up with Go Soo's styles this ep? He had like 4 different hairstyles. In one ep? Seriously?

Now. Hold. Up. Is Ji-wan's father in Smile, You? I'm watching that as I'm writing this and going 'Hey! It's that dude!"

@88 serendipity

Oh please don’t stop posting on my account, lol… I am just another voice on the forum ranting on about a show that I think deserves a bit more explanation/ interpretation to be truly appreciated. I am also aware how raving about something can easily missed the big picture, and frankly at half way point, it could very well go down hill from here.

Actually I thought I’d also mention why I think JW is a really interesting character and have been played well even it is not glaringly obvious. In fact JW and WJ are such extremes in both character and in interpretation, it requires a bit more careful assessment to judge whether one has been interpreted better than another. Unlike most, I find the actress that played WJ have over acted in several scenes when it is not necessarily required. It is bit more in your faces sort of acting, spoon feeding as I’d like to call it, which I am not the best fan of. At times it is almost like watching an episode of Queen Seon-deok where you have the arched eye brow, the campy laugh, and the camera dramatically zoomed in on the character during key moments and the evasive thumping music suddenly glaring in the background. It is a bit camp for my taste.

Compare with HYS who has the more laid back approach with a performance with I thought was much subtle and full of nuances which I think is quite fitting with the character – even it is not immediately obvious. Many people commented on the fact she looked a bit fake and awkward at certain scenes, I’d argue that is the whole point.

If you look back from the adult JW, it is often quite easy (at least for me), to know whether when she is faking an outward cheerful brave persona as oppose to how she really feels or is. Every now and then she does break this persona character and to reveal the painful and pathetic JW. In fact where HSY’s acting really shines are during when she doesn’t speak or there aren’t many scripted lines.

A number of scenes come to mind

1. The opening wedding when she announced the wedding has been cancelled but it would be much better next time including dancing(fake), to her stunned face (real) with quick recovery meeting KJ after all these years, and then her cold retort in the mirror (real) at the toilet while recovering from puking up when KJ asked do you know me? Probably hating the fact she looks so pathetic to the last person she wants to reveal this to in the whole world.

2. When she suffered sweating relating to something and had to lay down on the floor to recover from her med school, she told the professor everything is fine, she is fine (fake JW)

3. When she was drunk telling TJ about her brother, she still try to put on a brave front (fake JW), many have said she looks awkward and unconvincing. To me, that is because she doesn’t believe it herself and the only way to heal is play down how painful it has all been rather than confessing or admitting that she has been responsible.

4. KJ Finding JW outside his door looking at the milk carton, it is very clear when she does’t mean what she says compares to how truly feels. The expression is awkward in this case is warranted..

5. When KJ confronted her at the café with “Who does she think she is, how dare she walked into his life…” while being moved to pieces he found she had the pendant all these time. Her stunned look is of paralysis, embarrassment, apologetic devastation, but with such sense of relief with a hint of hopefulness, like the world had been lifted from her shoulders of 8 years of lying.

It was also the expression similar to a reformed naughty child who finally confessed doing something very bad to their parent., worrying that they will no longer receive love or forgiveness ends up finding that the parent still love them after all. Other actress might have a different take, but I really like the simplicity. It is a case of less is more for me.

There are many other instances like the date scenes which indicate how she act is not how she really feels. JW is a character is conflicted and in my opinion emotionally handicapped. She never talks about how she truly feels. In fact she always seems to say the exact opposite to put on a brave front. She has a tendency to be defensive (probably due to low self esteem), to cover things up when inside she is torn apart. This happened since teenage years, note that scene when she confronted her imaginary dead brother when she ran away, that she wasn’t sorry for his death and is angry why he hasn’t kept his promise.

Many posters have commented that there’s a lack of emotion in certain scenes when there’re shoud be turning up the water works, I actually think it would be a mistake to do so. JW has also been crying for 8 years, the tears would have been dried by now, and some trepidation, reluctance and the look fo remorseful devastation would be enough for me to indicate she has already punished herself enough and she is very sorry, so much so she already given up any sense of redemption.

RandomTouristX -

Thanks for bringing out all the scenes HYS has performed her role excellently! I have to agree, she's playing it true to her character! When you mentioned the fact she can never talk openly about her feelings — not even to the ghost of her brother — I was reminded of how even when as teens when KJ confronted JW about her feeling for him she completely clammed up. All she had to do was say "yes", but she ran away. And later (after the death of her brother) when he confesses to her, she says exactly the opposite of what she feels. Her emotional handicap (imagine what her home life was like with that mother!) was in place long before she met KJ and her brother drowned, though, so it's no surprise as an adult she continues with this pattern.

Thanks again for the recaps! I agree with you on the over-eating and the overly melodramatic handling of it in separating the two lovers. I can understand it...but it just seems weak. I could see a separation if Ji-wan somehow let her ditzy side overtake the boundaries (aka trying too hard to make everything perfect) and having her hurt herself in some way (although I'm not sure in which way...I'm no k-melodrama writer). Or maybe that she reconnects with her parents and then the renewed guilt of her brother dying through that connection induces her to avoid Kang-jin? Pick family or Kang-jin???? Hhhhmm...

I'm confused regarding lead female character ,is she supposed to be depressed from childhood trauma or mental retarded ? If the character is mental retarded then
her acting is excellent , but if she is mental retarded how can she enter medical
school ?
When you experience with stress , psychological trauma you likely suffer in two
ways , totally depressed , taking medications , in and out hospital frequently , unlikely you are able to function well and another form of depression , even being depressed but wellcontrolled by medications , counselling and meditation , you still able
to overcome after few years but not 8 years .Most people can overcome their
depression after seeing their problems clearly ,and learn how to deal with , to
forgive the past . Especially high functional careers , unlikely depressed persons
able to perform properly .

I've been visiting your blog for a little while now and wanted to comment on how much I enjoy your work.
I hope you keep posting on this subject.

Just now I had to watch this ep. three times in a row. The first time I was mad over the whole "she could die if she keeps eating and throwing up!" issue. Just like you said, I'm willing to let it pass if they don't use it again. The second time, I released that, indeeed, Han Ye Seul may be too weak an actress to play the part of Ji Wan. At first I liked her because she's really pretty, and I was glad to see that she was able to live up to my expectations after young Ji Wan's actress, but now I accept her only because I love how Kang Jin loves her. Well, Han Ye Seul isn't ued to characters like Ji Wan, so I can only hope she will grow during this drama.
The third time was both the most tiring, and the most rewarding one. I got to see things that I had totally missed before. I'll just mention one, and that is Woo Jung. I always liked her, but she was still just "the love rival" of Ji Wan. Rather than pitying Tae Joon, I feel for Woo Jung, such a strong yet vulnerable woman.

Uhm, i wouldn't say HYS is a bad character for JW, it's just she's not there yet. What im saying is that she's not a complete disappointment to the character, you know actress got to endure the character....ah! i don't know. But stop bashing how she seems so flat.
But this is like that big turn up of the series. I mean KW is finally coming up to sense of what TJ said that to "let her go" and he is by kissing WJ.
its a really good episode.
I'm kinda pissed at the same time, i know its kdrama, just got to live with it, but it makes me mad sometimes *~* ;
Can't wait for the next recap!!!!!
YAY :D <3

PEPTO BISMOL was genius:D

Thank you Javabeans!

I dont think KJ is leaving her because shes going to have indigestion every time she sees him. I think his thinking about the bigger picture, meaning shes going to remember her brother in his presence and will suffer because of it. To say that the lovers are being separated because of indigestion and that pepto bismol can solve it is not entirely accurate.