Coffee House: Page 13
by javabeans
Sorry for the delay, it’s been a busy week!
It appears there’s some confusion in the air regarding Coffee House‘s length, because the drama hasn’t given an official explanation for the supposed change and fans are confused. But according to posts on the drama website, it was initially planned for 20 episodes and will be now ending with 18.
SONG OF THE DAY
As One – “Drive” [ Download ]
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PAGE 13 RECAP
Jin-soo arrives in Korea all gussied up like an idol star, with slick clothes and a cool swagger. As he drives by in his rented sports car, Eun-young looks up — she doesn’t see him specifically, but senses, perhaps in her gut, that Jin-soo is back.
She goes on to her business meeting, which involves the opening of a new book cafe, one that is expanded in size and scope, incorporating multi-media features. When Eun-young gets back to the office, her employee informs her that a visitor is waiting in her office, and she immediately tenses, recalling her earlier feeling about Jin-soo. She takes a moment before entering her office with nervous anticipation, bracing herself to see Jin-soo…
…but it’s her college sunbae instead. For a split-second there’s a mix of relief and disappointment on her face, and then she pulls it together and receives him with warmth.
They make some polite chitchat and Eun-young inquires after his latest business dealings. The sunbae is frequently abroad to manage a business venture, and remarks that he ran into Jin-soo last month in Mumbai — and that mention makes Eun-young freeze. Both afraid and eager to hear about him, she asks hesitantly how he is doing, and hears that he seemed healthy. He looked like a ragged mess, but that was from his constant traveling and he was well enough otherwise.
Furthermore, Jin-soo inquired after her, and the sunbae had told him she’s good, as usual, and busy making money. Eun-young knows Jin-soo so well that she imagines hearing his voice responding to those words — Jin-soo laughs that that sounds just like her.
Eun-young tells her sunbae that she has some news for him, which she had been planning to tell him sooner or later anyway. There are little hints dropped throughout the episode regarding this news, but for now we must remain in the dark.
As for Seung-yeon, she’s settled into a level of comfort with her job as a radio broadcast writer. At work she looks much more polished than we’ve seen her, but at home she’s the same relaxed Seung-yeon we knew two years ago. But she’s learned a few things in her career so far — for example, when her boss calls her for a last-minute interview that night, she changes her clothing appropriately. The last time we saw her in this situation — when Jin-soo called her for their sudden Jeju outing — she’d come dressed all wrong, but now she looks polished and professional.
In contrast, her hoobae (junior colleague) rushes to meet her at the hotel where their interview will take place, but he comes in a plain T-shirt and jeans, and Seung-yeon takes him to task for not thinking. He should have deduced from their job description and the hotel location that he ought to have dressed for the occasion, and he looks at his outfit sheepishly.
What a change to see Seung-yeon in the position of the sunbae now, and in the position to chide her juniors and give them practical advice. She may have not learned specific practical skills under Jin-soo, but she’s learned in a general sense that acting professional is a state of mind.
The two head upstairs to the room of their subject, a writer, and knock on his door. Inside the room, Jin-soo wakes up at the sound, and wonders who it could be — just as Seung-yeon’s hoobae makes the stricken realization that they’ve got the wrong door! The writer they’ve been scheduled to meet is actually one room down the hall.
Unfortunately, Jin-soo is already on his way to the door, and he pokes his head out. Seung-yeon and her hoobae duck into the doorway, trying to hide themselves from view, pretending they weren’t just banging on the door a few moments ago. The hoobae is uneasy and notes that the guy is looking their way, but Seung-yeon orders him to stick to their act and ignore him.
Their writer subject greets them in the hallway, and asks to conduct the actual interview in the hotel restaurant. Seung-yeon and the guy head downstairs to wait for the writer, who is finishing up a business call.
They take up seats at the bar and wait for a table to open up, and Seung-yeon excuses herself for a bathroom break. Meanwhile, after being woken up by his visitors, Jin-soo can’t get back to sleep and heads down to the bar for something to eat.
As he heads in, he bumps into Seung-yeon on her way to the restroom, but both of them have their heads down and excuse themselves in a perfunctory manner, not really taking a good look at each other. A few minutes later when Seung-yeon reclaims her seat at the bar, she and Jin-soo again briefly nudge each other. Again, a brief “excuse me” is all that is exchanged and they don’t recognize each other. (Rule of Kdramas sez: After a time gap, the reunion of the characters must be teased several times before actual contact.)
A table opens up, so the two co-workers move away from the bar. As Seung-yeon gathers her notes, a pencil rolls away from her. It is picked up by Jin-soo, who notices the curious similarity to his own pencil-sharpening preferences — but before he has much time to dwell on that, Seung-yeon’s voice floats over as she delivers a scolding to her hoobae.
Not only does the voice sound vaguely familiar, so do the words. She lectures her co-worker for doing his job poorly, telling him to use logic, to focus on one thing, etc. She’s repeating a slew of things Jin-soo used to tell her and makes particular use of his own favorite: “Are you crazy?” Her words and delivery are a close imitation of his, and now Jin-soo laughs as he recognizes her. Finally, she caps it off with this gem: “You have to focus on one thing in order to succeed. That’s what a pro is.” At mention of the word “pro,” Jin-soo sputters, spewing his beer over the bar.
Seung-yeon turns toward the entrance and rises to her feet in greeting. For a moment, Jin-soo looks eager to have her recognize him, but it turns out she’s greeting her interview subject.
Jin-soo listens at the bar while the meeting progresses, and murmurs with amusement, “She’s grown up.”
Back in his room, Jin-soo calls Do-sang (Seung-yeon’s sunbae) to ask what Seung-yeon is doing these days. Hearing that she’s a writer amazes him, and he asks for her phone number.
But would this be Jin-soo if he called her simply to say hi? Of course not. Instead, he fakes a regional accent when he calls Seung-yeon, introducing himself as the lawyer representing Jin-soo in a lawsuit — against her. He tells her that Jin-soo is angry to hear that she has been going around ripping off his words, and that this is a clear case of copyright infringement. He informs her that she and her family will be investigated, and sighs in mock sympathy that it’s very unfortunate that she’s basically going to get beat up in court.
After hanging up, Jin-soo says to himself, “I told her not to be a writer. Foolish kid.” But he’s amused by it, since he’d always said her foolishness was her strength.
Despite the jokey tone of his prank call, I love the little beat that fills the space now — a moment of silence that stretches through the room. Now that he’s had his fun, he sits alone in his empty suite. It’s sad.
Next, Jin-soo calls Eun-young. Her assistant answers, and almost hangs up on him because he will only identify his name as “Bastard,” and she thinks he’s being a prankster. However, when she tells this to Eun-young, she’s surprised that Eun-young agrees to accept the call.
Eun-young eyes the phone warily and takes a few long seconds to prepare herself mentally before answering. And when she does, she answers hesitantly, “Hello?” I love how he responds with an equally uncertain “Hello?” — these two are old friends but there’s such baggage here that they’re both kind of afraid, and that makes them hesitant.
The awkwardness melts away when Eun-young asks, “Is this really the Bastard that I know?” Jin-soo replies, “My nickname is Bastard, sometimes Trash, and when it’s bad I’m Son of a Bitch.”
She says warmly, “Ah, then you are the Bastard I know.” They both smile, happy to be talking again. She’s shocked to hear that he’s in Seoul, though, which throws her into a flurry of nerves. It’s too late to meet tonight, so they make plans for dinner tomorrow.
Eun-young can sense that he has something to tell her, and he confirms that he does. However, it’s “too shocking to tell you by phone,” so he promises to tell her in person. Eun-young returns the gesture, saying she’s got surprising news of her own, which she’ll wait to tell him in person.
The next morning, Seung-yeon arrives at work distracted by her legal conundrum. As a writer, the charge of plagiarism is particularly shocking, especially since she believes that she has actually committed a crime by cribbing from Jin-soo’s words.
Her nerves take a further hit when she arrives in the studio and hears her hoobae on the phone with the lawyer, confirming several of Seung-yeon’s favorite sayings — more phrases taken from Jin-soo’s cupboard of insults and rebukes. According to her co-workers, the lawyer went around asking detailed questions about all the things she regularly says.
Panicked, Seung-yeon takes them to task for selling her out like this, arguing that they totally exaggerated the case. But she contradicts herself even while defending her position, because a few of Jin-soo’s phrases slip out automatically — they’ve become a part of her own vernacular.
Seung-yeon calls Do-sang to ask if he’s been in contact with Jin-soo. Hearing that Jin-soo asked for her number, she assumes it was to file the suit against her and freaks out. (Most of us would know that plagiarism is a much more serious thing than merely repeating someone’s words in one’s real life, but I’ll cut her a little slack for being thrown into chaos from the scary lawyer’s call.)
Seung-yeon sits in misery, crying over her misfortune. How could Jin-soo do this to her? How petty and cruel of him!
Her co-workers find the situation a little bit amusing, and the DJ of her show makes an open request over the airwaves asking for legal assistance for their poor writer. Jin-soo listens to this announcement from his hotel room, and so does someone else — it’s Dong-wook, who has been gone without a word for the past few years.
Dong-wook had quit working at the book cafe soon after the last time we saw him, and all they know is that he retired to the countryside, presumably to his hometown. Eun-young is determined to find him to hire him for the new cafe — nobody has performed up to her standards since he left — but it seems he’s in Seoul now. Furthermore, he looks polished and chic, and drives a sporty car. The rest remains a mini-mystery.
Now Jin-soo calls Seung-yeon directly, pretending to be confused about all these reports from his lawyer saying that she’s going around copying all his words. He takes a concerned tone, saying that he knew she wasn’t the type to do that, and calls her behavior the result of influence, not plagiarism.
Seung-yeon is so relieved at his understanding that she practically melts in gratitude. He suggests lunch in a half-hour, and Seung-yeon’s immediate reaction is slight panic. She looks like a slob, so she rushes to a boutique for a new outfit in time to make their lunch date.
It’s not a romantic thing, but driven by a desire to impress her former boss with her newfound professionalism. To this end, she harasses the saleswoman with the frantic urging, “Do you have anything to make me look like the ultimate career woman? No, not just a regular career woman, but a total pro! The most pro of the pros! Someone who just screams professional!”
When he picks her up, she makes a big show of acting cool and collected. As he zooms off in his car, she notes that he seems to have changed.
They end up in a fancy restaurant, and she offers to treat him. Trying to act as much of a pro as she can, she urges him to order whatever he wants and orders wine for them. Jin-soo watches this all with a small smile — he’s on to her act but lets her carry on.
Jin-soo tells her she’s changed, and she enjoys hearing that she seems grown up.
Jin-soo wonders what happened to Dong-wook, and she answers that nobody knows. She doesn’t seem particularly worried as she says that he disappeared soon after he left, cutting off all contact.
She asks why he came back so suddenly, and he answers that he came to “make a phone call.” He had made up his mind earlier to make the call, but found it took him two years to work up the nerve. He hasn’t decided whether to go or stay — he might leave right away, or stay for a while. Clearly it has something to do with the phone call.
It’s only at the end of their meetup that Jin-soo reveals the truth to her — as he drops her off, he says that his lawyer saw her at the hotel bar. “Do you still not know who he is?” That makes her look at him in shock, as he puts on his lawyer voice and demonstrates.
He tells her (contrary to her words) that he hasn’t changed much. After he drives off, Seung-yeon grumbles over Jin-soo’s outrageous antics, but that soon turns to a smile as she figures that he really hasn’t changed after all.
Jin-soo drives past the book cafe, keeping an eye out for faces he recognizes. To his surprise, he’s spotted first and is forced to stop in the street while Ji-won greets him enthusiastically. He smiles uneasily and exchanges some pleasantries, and is puzzled when Ji-won tells him that he’d heard that Jin-soo returned from Eun-young. So they’re still in contact…
A few more clues about the big surprise are peppered throughout this scene, but let’s not ruin the big reveal just yet.
Hyun-joo recognizes Jin-soo and greets him warmly. She suggests that he head up to see Eun-young, since she’s in her office. He declines, saying he’s very early for their planned meeting, but Hyun-joo assures him that nobody else is in the office so it’s no big deal.
So Jin-soo heads inside, looking around with fond eyes, and smiling to overhear Eun-young’s voice coming from her office. He starts to head over, but a stack of envelopes catches his eye. He opens one to find a fancy card — a wedding invitation — and the bride and groom’s names are Eun-young and Ji-won.
Just then, Eun-young emerges from her office, and sees him in surprise. As he lowers the envelope, he takes in her outfit, as she is wearing a wedding dress.
His expression now serious and intent, Jin-soo doesn’t say anything while Eun-young babbles on nervously, saying how unexpected this is, and how she’s been so busy she had to have her fitting in the office.
This shot is a nice bit of composition, reflecting not only the physical distance between them but also the way the plane is bisected by that diagonal divider. They stand looking at each other for a few uncomfortable beats, and then Jin-soo attempts a smile and strives to sound casual as he says, “So this was it — your surprising news.”
Eun-young relies on her usual mode in times of awkwardness, which is forced cool, and as always she sticks with it despite not quite being able to pull it off.
Fumbling for something to say to fill the pauses, she looks down at her dress and says self-deprecatingly that it looks strange since it’s not her style.
Gently, Jin-soo says, “No, you’re pretty.”
False cool never really worked for them, so Eun-young now addresses the issue head-on and says that they may as well talk plainly. Now that he’s seen her surprise, what’s his?
At that, his right hand, tucked into his pants pocket, curls around the object it has been holding all this while — a diamond ring.
COMMENTS
Now that we’ve seen Seung-yeon being professional and mature (well, relatively speaking), I wonder if Ham Eun-jung was instructed to exaggerate Seung-yeon’s bumbleheadedness earlier in the series. It’s a common thing to see kdrama heroines acting excessively cutesy, especially when they later change. Like in Cinderella’s Sister. If that’s the case, I see why Eun-jung played her that way, although I still feel it was way too contrived and hammy. (At least in Cinderella’s Sister Seo Woo acted immature for four episodes, in contrast to being a grown-up for 16. Here, she was the flailing bungler for 12 episodes.) It makes me wonder how Seung-yeon would have been played if we hadn’t had the time skip, and whether I would have liked her better then. But all that said, I like her a lot more now — she’s not a 100% pro yet, but has enough flashes of competence to be respectable, with enough flashes of silliness to be likable.
This episode doesn’t provide an explicit reason for Jin-soo’s physical transformation, but I think we can glean an explanation for his actions from the context. (I say this without having seen Episode 14 yet, so I don’t know if there’s a more complete reason given later.) We know from the brief glimpse of Jin-soo on the plane that he had previously been disheveled, bearded, and unkempt. This is supported by their sunbae’s description of Jin-soo in Mumbai as being a sloppy mess as he went on his nomadic journeys.
It seems likely that his polished appearance is a bid to look good for Eun-young, which is mirrored in the way Seung-yeon reacts to meeting Jin-soo. They both go out of their way to look impressive, and they both end up overcompensating. I think his excessive getup is a manifestation of his insecurity at meeting — and proposing to — Eun-young after all these years. It’s also his way of showing her outwardly that he’s changed, perhaps so she’d believe he has changed inwardly as well. Perhaps he’s trying to persuade her unconsciously that he’s improved.
It’s interesting that for all his distancing and pranking, Jin-soo now seems like a sad character — everything he does seems like a defense mechanism. For instance, his plagiarism prank. He might say he’s just having a little fun, but I interpreted his elaborate move as a way to contact Seung-yeon without betraying actual desire to talk to her. This way, he gets to keep the upper hand — maintaining that control he loves so dearly — and dictate things without showing any vulnerability. You’d never get Jin-soo just calling to say, “Hey, what’s up? Good to hear from you, I want to see you.”
Eun-young had assured Jin-soo that she would forget him to enable him to try to move on — but I doubt he expected that she would actually move on with hers so completely. We’ve seen him take her for granted all these years, and I suspect he always thought she’d be waiting around for him.
(Now, the bigger question is how Ji-won convinced her to come back to him, because he never deserved her, as far as I’m concerned.)
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Tags: Coffee House, Ham Eun-jung, Kang Ji-hwan, Park Shi-yeon
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1 Lemin
July 16, 2010 at 10:03 PM
Omg am I first? I had a feeling this would be here so I checked the website.
Thanks JB! (:
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2 jons
July 16, 2010 at 10:04 PM
great episode. it sent chills down my spine.
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3 Kayt
July 16, 2010 at 10:04 PM
AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!~
OMG!!!!
You just made may day!!! <3
Thank you so so so much JB!!!!
I just stopped by to check and I 's pleasantly found CP recap is up!!!!
I can say I love you? I really do ^^
Now I need to see what you thought of this week eps...
**off to read**
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4 CG
July 16, 2010 at 10:12 PM
Thanks for the update! Kang Seung-yeon's character was extremely irritating this week. I'm glad to see the new marriage twist, though.
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5 CW
July 16, 2010 at 10:15 PM
Yes, it's too look good for Eun Young. You see hm checking out his appearance again when EY's secretary comes up to him (while he's in his car waiting).
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6 Bean
July 16, 2010 at 10:16 PM
Thanks for the recap!!!
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7 janna
July 16, 2010 at 10:17 PM
I'm still on the fence concerning what I think about these last two episodes. Yes, in the adult world not everything pans out well for you.. but you don't need to spend an exorbitant amount of time to figure out the timing thing. Grow up and just say what you have to. Maybe I'm too blunt. (Don't haterade on me too much; a healthy rebuttal is welcome)
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8 Melissa
July 16, 2010 at 10:18 PM
Great recap as always... but for some reason I could not enjoy this episode. It felt contrived, awkward even at some moments. Perhaps it is due to the time shift, or maybe the assault of Nissan sportcars, but I can feel the curse of disinterest setting in and it's not going to be easy to carry out a full 18 episodes at this level....
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9 Nhu
July 16, 2010 at 10:21 PM
Hahaha. I kind of love that JS came back probably expecting EY to be there just waiting... Only she didn't, because she's too good for that. It's an appropriate revenge and I like seeing him knocked down a little after being sub a gigantic jerk.
But why JW?! He's such a bad match with EY... The only time skip I wouldve changed is having DW leave after JS. Of course we don't know what his deal is yet but I thought his friendship with SY wouldve developed.
Anyway, can't wait for more and thanks for clearing my confusion about the episode number! (I didn't even know it was supposed to be 20... Had assumed it was 16)
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10 theedie
July 16, 2010 at 10:22 PM
Ji-won? Ji-won???? JI-WON?!?!?! I could have accepted it if it was anybody BUT Ji-won. How on earth did he manage to get her to agree to marry him? I can't handle this -_-;;;;
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11 ambs
July 16, 2010 at 10:25 PM
even after watching episode 13 and 14, i feel the same as when i watched the ep 13 raw. my main curiosity is THE PAST! i hope they explain more about when jinsoo fell for her, why he divorced his now deceased wife, etc.
my thoughts when watching the raw... if i can recall... i mean i wrote on the viikii board but now i can't reach the discussion page for some reason...
i absolutely loved the ending. before i saw the ring he held in his fist i was laughing a bit sardonically in my head. jinsoo had been so dependent for all this time on eunyoung to come through for him and be.. well.. eunyoung. she had always been selfless in their relationship, never crossing the line (until of course the kiss in episode 9 and beyond) and just being his overall anchor for survival beyond his hopeless thoughts after his wife died. now jinsoo has the option to fight for the girl he loves.
my theory, or wishful thinking is that Jinsoo had an arranged marriage whilst his parents planned for his successful future (ie. he was in med school) and they were married. he followed what his parents wanted for him but met EY and fell in love with her. to distance their relationship he introduced her to JW. he couldn't help but still love her and maintained their friendship. when he found out that JW cheated on her and JW and EY broke up he divorced his wife to be with her. they had grown apart as he was always busy etc. after he had received her phonecall and she had passed away he sunk into depression and guilt. part of that guilt was that he had always been in love with EY, which is why EY is entangled in his memories of his deceased wife, and why he had this "disease" as he was still in love with EY all this time but would always be reminded of his wife's death.
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12 ambs
July 16, 2010 at 10:28 PM
(Now, the bigger question is how Ji-won convinced her to come back to him, because he never deserved her, as far as I’m concerned.)
SERIOUSLY. JW is an at times hilarious and lovably annoying character, but he cheated on her and i really can't forgive that. and his private conversation with JS in episode 14 pissed me off. JW YOU SLEAZEBALL. i hope that wasn't a spoiler oO
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13 jully moue
July 16, 2010 at 10:34 PM
WHAT. the. heck.
=(
why ji won and eun young. can't we say eun young is fitting a wedding dress for her friend of for fun?
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14 Ashley
July 16, 2010 at 10:36 PM
I can join in the why Ji-Won, why?! club. I just don't buy it.
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15 CW
July 16, 2010 at 10:36 PM
ambs, the only thing wrong with your theory is that Jin Soo said he hadn't driven for 6 years and we saw him drive on the day of his ex-wife's death. That means that he must have been divorced at least 4 years before episode 1. However, Ji Won and Eun Young borke up 2 years before episode 1. So Jin Soo and Hee Soo divorced before Eun Young's first engagement was cancelled.
I'm like you and want the past clarified too.
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16 Orion
July 16, 2010 at 10:41 PM
I was really disappointed by this episode and 14. I mean, just when these character were new and fresh, they go and do the usual k(melo)drama stuff.
Girl rushing off to the worst guy possible after two years just cause some guy miiight not come back (even though she still has feelings for said guy), this "right-one" guy going all martyr just so she could be happy (oh, cry me a river) and of course they both have to act like morons even though they clearly still dig each other. Just great.
For once, I'd like more original ways to create dramatic tension before the end that don't involve turning the characters into complete idiots whose morals and way of living life is nothing like the characters you saw and respected during the entire thing so far.
Sure, you'll say, it's kdrama. What did you expect? Well, I expected more since for once, I saw a refreshing and different male lead and a female lead (Eun Young) who was actually a nice combination of the proper prim lady type and the rebellious honest and tough type.
I did expect more from these characters and this story and I got what I get with all kdrama. Characters going from refreshing to cliche and plot going from interesting series to typical soap opera.
I'm being a bit harsh and I do love these soap opera, melodramatic kdramas, really do, but I know, right from the start that they'll be that way. They're consistant. The characters don't suddenly change and the plot, you can pretty much guess early on that it was going that way.
But this series looked different. So, you expect something new and don't get it. And the change is so sudden. Within 1-2 episodes. Which isn't nice. All this is just my two cents though.
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17 T
July 16, 2010 at 10:41 PM
Thanks for the recap. This show which I had no intention of watching is so good and if it weren't for your recaps I would never have given this show a try:) I have to say I'm suprisingly on the opposite side with the women. I'm not to fond of Eun Jung and prefer Seung Yeon where as in Cinderella sister I disliked the Cinderella and loved the sister lol. I think I may just have a bias when it comes to priveleged characters. Eun Jung is the wealthier character so I think I see her as more of a snob than a professional...I guess...and though my personality is more like hers than Seung Yeon I like Seung Yeon better:) Though in the end, I don't really care who ends up with Jin Soo because I've no particular interest in his character...
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18 bjharm
July 16, 2010 at 10:42 PM
I guess being Male I never found Seung-yeon Too cute..lol guess that is why K-drama heroines are always played cute, for guys like it. Though I do think you a little too much against her, she showed plenty of glimpses, even before the two year gap, of her potential. But as she up against the ultimate business lady Eun-young I guess she could never compare.
As for Dong-wook well she didn't turn up for his birthday, so I would guess he did a Jin-soo and took off to rediscover himself...its telling that Seung-yeon had totally no idea of how much she may have hurt him.
Gosh I guess everyone is now for the Jin-soo/Eun-young as a couple though i think if so highly unfair on poor old Ji-won, yes I know he has a lot of faults but so has Jin-soo in spades and he has done his punishment in not being near a lady for two years! But then I can not see Jin-soo/Seung-yeon as a pair either. He may find her cute and she may of had a bit of a crush on him, but I do not think either really thought of themselves as a possible couple.
Perhaps he will end up with neither and go wondering off into the sunset on his own, still four episodes to go if it been cut down to 18, so I guess still time for something to happen...perhaps him storming into the wedding claiming his love..lol..
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19 hanjanman
July 16, 2010 at 10:44 PM
And I thought they were wrapping this up nicely to a 16 ep. Didn't know it was meant to be a 20 ep drama.
I'm gagging to answer some of the questions here until I realised I have seen up to ep 14 already. Don't worry guys, some of your questions will be answered in the next episode.
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20 Quinze
July 16, 2010 at 10:47 PM
Yay you recapped!!
As much I scratched my head at EY's decision to marry JW after all, I suspect it might be her subconscious way of saying she hasn't really moved FORWARD.
If it had been a new guy in the picture after just 2 years, it really would have meant that in her heart she had found enough courage to date a stranger with no ties to her past long enough to marry him. But JW was JS choice for her.
With JW, the offer was always there for her to say yes or no so it didn't really mean she moved on. I think a lot of people referred to it as a step backwards which I agree. I guess it's not about whether JW deserves it as much as it is about whether EY really able to forget JS and her past. I hope I didn't just talk in circles...
I liked how you mentioned that shot of Jin Soo alone in his hotel room. Even though you get that feeling from him throughout this episode, that shot and that moment pretty much sums it up.
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21 ambs
July 16, 2010 at 10:50 PM
@CW oh, thank you! i didn't know that ^^ well then he divorced her and remained on good terms with EY, and settled into their flirty but boundary filled relationship, and the rest of it will stay the same in my head x].
and @ hanjanman i too was excited for a nice wrap up in 16 episodes. i admit to having a teensy panic over 18 eps/20 eps original because a SY loveline can develop in the time, esp when the PD-nim is so aware there are two ships.
EunSoo fighting <3
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22 lehappyrosa
July 16, 2010 at 10:54 PM
Thanks JB! Been waiting for your post for days!
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23 kc
July 16, 2010 at 10:59 PM
Thank You...theres too many things I want to say but Thank you would suffice for now...
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24 ambs
July 16, 2010 at 11:00 PM
ps. am i the only one that wants SY to NOT end up with either DW or JS but her sunbae from the first few episodes?? his meltdown over the phone with JS was probably one of the funniest parts of the drama for me hahahha. i'm watching earlier episodes and missing the lighter fun they were then how it is now. not that i'm complaining over the sexy angst for EunSoo =]
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25 Lady of Spice
July 16, 2010 at 11:01 PM
Thanks JB for the great recap and the clarification of the number of ep for CH.I must agree with you that I like Seung-yeon's character much better now because I'm getting a little tired of seeing the bumbling, immature yet plucky young heroine in so many dramas. I really like Eun Young's character because she's complex and complicated but also a strong, confident, mature woman. Even though I have no love for Ji Won's character I am glad that Eun Young did not sit around pinning for Jin Soo, because although we knew he was coming back (there would be no more store to the drama if he didn't), she had no way of knowing he would come back. In Eun Young's eye's he's made it clear they could never become a couple. So she's moved on, because she's mature and practical and doesn't want to be alone the rest of her life because she got her heart broken. And that's the reason I like Eun Young's character. She's real and she's multi-layered and at the same time, she just wants to be happy just like everyone else.
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26 leila8mae
July 16, 2010 at 11:03 PM
in this episode, I love EUNSOO's first conversation via the phone.. even watching it RAW, I can sense the longing, love and years of friendship this two has.. nothing beats their chemistry that just exudes even if they are merely sharing one screen and not really together.. but the spark is still very much present.. I just love how they can both just be in a simple phone call and yet it can flutter my heartbeat.. blame this all to me!! haha ♥
and the look of Jin soo when he saw Eun Young on a wedding dress.. my weak heart breaks with him too.. aww JS, timing is really an issue here..
JB, thanks for the recap.. looking forward to PAGE14!! I badly need to read your side!! no pressure!! =)
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27 pasta
July 16, 2010 at 11:03 PM
after watching episode 13 and it's preview, i was deeply afraid that this would turn out to be a tit for tat love story. like since you don't love me, i pretend to love someone else instead and rope in an innocent person to fill in the role. innocent person incidentally falls in love with me for real and so there's this revenge-puppy-love kind of thing.
worst fears were confirmed in 14. sigh...
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28 pat
July 16, 2010 at 11:13 PM
100 guys and sleazy JW is the best she can do......after 2 years of dating. Way too convenient, a new classy fiance would have been so much more believable. And I guess DW is there so we do not feel bad for SY in the end. Another underwritten part. I hope to see more of him ( the actor is so cute) and bring back grandma!
(I so want to rewrite this script) Thanks for the recaps, appreciated much JB
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29 JAM
July 16, 2010 at 11:22 PM
Hi JB, thanks for the recaps. I thought we'll have to wait till next week cos you mentioned you were out of town. Your recaps cleared up a few things for a non-Korean like me. However, I'm beginning to find this drama a bit draggy. I'm also not too keen on Jin-soo hooking up with Eun-Young in the end. As 18@bjharm commented, its a bit unfair to the rest of the parties. I too can't see the pairing of Jin-soo and Seung-yeon at this point and we are already 3/4 way through the drama. I'm ready for another drama - looking forward to my girlfriend is a gumiho!!
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30 Fatty
July 16, 2010 at 11:28 PM
Thank you, JB!! As you can tell, I'm obsessed with this drama right now. Episodes 13 and 14 were sooooooo good. Both endings made me gasp. *GASP!* I can't wait for 15!
Have a nice weekend, everyone! :D
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31 Sukispop
July 16, 2010 at 11:38 PM
JB, thanks for the great recap!
When JS pulled the word copyright prank on Seung-yeon, I just thought he was being a playful but still mean jerk to her, getting a load of laughs at her expense, while scaring the hell out of her. Your take on it(the prank being a defense mechanism) really got me thinking, and it makes a lot of sense. Underneath all that, he really just wanted to see her.
Unlike another commenter who found her irritating(in this episode), I really enjoyed watching Seung-yeon. I loved how she was like a mirror image of JS, using his favorite words and phrases as she scolded her junior. I also adored watching her try way too hard to look and dress like the ultimate career woman and pro for Jin-soo and their lunch together. How she tried so hard to act with class and sophistication...the elegant hand gesture to get the waitress' attention to order wine...moving the wine glass by the stem base in circular motions to gently swirl the wine...and of course sipping the wine and making that after-sipping sound....hilarious and simply adorable.
I have no problem with CH running for 18 episodes, instead of what seemed to be a plan for 16 eps. I think it will allow more back story to unfold, and for better fleshing out and development of any and all pertinent relationships. And, hopefully, it will allow for the drama's conclusion to be mutually satisfactory for as many of its fans as possible.
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32 Snikki
July 17, 2010 at 12:09 AM
Ha! JS never expected that kind of news from EY. I want to see him suffer a little bit after he had taken her for granted. Jealous JS would be fun to watch. But seriously, he should stop confusing EY...and stop frustrating us! I want them to have a happy ending. I was ready for this to end at 16, but oh well, 2 more weeks.
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33 danna
July 17, 2010 at 12:31 AM
aaaah...so that was what it was regarding the 18 eps...and ive been thinking this got an extension...insead it got cut...lol....way to reverse the situation..it doesnt bother me though...i think 18 is better
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34 Hannah
July 17, 2010 at 12:35 AM
i have no idea why, what with the effusive praise this drama gets. but i have like minimum interest in it.
it's not like the main couple don't look good together, and they do have nice chemistry. it's even well made. but i don't know. it's not exciting to me. a matter of taste?
though i did find Seung-yeon adorable here, and maybe it's only because she's the shining beacon of funny in what seems to be a coming onslaught of ze angst, but i really dug her. she was really refreshing.
but the time skip was so stupid - or their reunion not as well executed. maybe if it'd given them time to grow, etc, and then met up again, spent time together, and had a go at it. yeah, i get what the ring is meant for and blah. such a big gesture after just coming back? even if he doesnt get to do it, i mean the plan to do so with like zero contact in between? yeah, that's not that romantic. it's a hollow kind of romantic gesture - romantic because of the act itself rather than because of the romance between the characters. if that makes sense.
i'm babbling but i'm really confused as to why this show doesn't do it for me. god knows i've let worse things go in other dramas. and that i've even LIKED dramas that i know are pretty bad. maybe i started watching it at the wrong time, i don't know.
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35 ABC
July 17, 2010 at 12:44 AM
I don't know why I can't seem to like EunYoung..maybe it's because of her role in My Girl. But she simply does not suit Jin Soo. Unlike Seung Yeon, she's a perfect match for Jin Soo. Is there a hope that these two will end up being together at the end? I really wish it will not be JinSoo-EunYoung.
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36 Ms483836
July 17, 2010 at 12:49 AM
can[t wait for epi 14!!!!!!!
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37 ambs
July 17, 2010 at 12:55 AM
@ 34 Hannah
no one's forcing you to like it... o.O
i never liked full house despite all the praise it got/ high ratings
@ 35 ABC
i'm fine with people preferring JS/SY over JS/EY but if your reasoning is that you don't like PSY from my girl then pshhhh lame
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38 yen_nguyen
July 17, 2010 at 1:07 AM
@11: I do like your theory, that sounds reasonable and interesting!
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39 yen_nguyen
July 17, 2010 at 1:11 AM
I think Jiwon and his secretary can become a nice, cute and happy pair. is there anyone else think so?
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40 crash
July 17, 2010 at 1:24 AM
Is it just me or what? Park shi yeon's face has changed vastly from MY Girl days. Her eyes are just sooo big nowadays. It's kinda distracting.
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41 err....
July 17, 2010 at 1:40 AM
@35 SY was a bully in God of Study. Maybe I should use that as a excuse why she doesn't suit JinSoo
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42 Hannah
July 17, 2010 at 1:42 AM
@ambs
haha, i know.
i guess i just got excited and then ...= /
which made me sad.
it's my nature to, like, overthink everything. so finding out what works for me drama-wise in comparison to others, and what doesn't, is interesting. to me at least xD i ain't trying to hate, if that's what you're getting at.
@yen_nguyen @ABC i kind of don't see the story heading that way... too much EunYoung set up. i think it would at 13 episodes in not jive well for them to suddenly switch the direction they seem to be heading at. but yeah, for the longest time when i didn't watch it i thought they were the lead pairs. traditionally, i think they would've been. reviving old flames/old potential flame seems an unusual path to travel in contrast to the new arrival of a quirky cute girl being noticed by the guy. and yeah, i've only watched like two eps (but read all the recaps) so i'm going on only that but truthfully i would've preferred them too. she's cute, and i think i only caught EunYoung when the angst hit...
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43 err....
July 17, 2010 at 1:54 AM
@Hannah... I think yen is talking about JW ( the 2nd male lead), and his secretary.
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44 cheanne
July 17, 2010 at 2:03 AM
Oh, I love this episode....and Im crossing my fingers that at the end my prediction will be be true......Its not that I dont like PSY but for me its more cute and sweet and totally kdrama blueprint for Jiwan to end up with Ham Eun-Jung......I cant help but giggle.....This is from somebody who haven't watch a single episode but is religiously waiting for recaps and review........
Thanks JB.
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45 hannah
July 17, 2010 at 2:11 AM
@crash they are big --her eyes are really pretty for emoting though. i think they were like that before too?
@43err... @yen_nguyen
whoops? haha. ookay, i'm just going to slink away smoothly now to do some maths...
(he's is cute though! i feel so sorry for him; he's like a puppy! although his hair could use some work haha.)
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46 daria
July 17, 2010 at 2:25 AM
By the way, Javabeans, is girlfriday watching this?
I enjoyed reading your analysis of the characters motivation at this point of the story, and I'd like to read girlfriday's two cents also.
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47 ambs
July 17, 2010 at 2:29 AM
@46 pretty sure girlfriday is watching =o i listened to their chat about CH from podcast #2
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48 Kayt
July 17, 2010 at 2:38 AM
Personally, I enjoy this episode and the 14th despite of all the frustration, torment and anxiety, pain, heartbreak and confusion were caused from EunSoo tragic fate (to be more accurate, the insane and depressing plot from the writer that is driving people crazy , thus I think it’s great !!!) or the complaint, crying and lament from fans and audiences
Yeah, you got it. I have been repeating them :D
However, let's just stick with ep 13 for now ^^;;
The only thing I wasn’t very pleased in this episode was the lack of Eunsoo interaction/ screen time together. Nevertheless, I still like it, because even if just with only 2 few-minutes-scenes together but each of them was full of chemistry, emotion, intensity and wonderful expressions, of course, acting performance from KJH and PSY. Those were absolutely beautiful done and well-captured that one couldn’t even get bored watching them. The actor and actress truly own the characters, as I can’t imagine anyone else could be JS and EY, but only KJH and PSY. (That’s why I got frustrated when people keep inveighing that the couple don’t have chemistry together or she can’t act, which‘s also their reason for the ultimate goal: “JS should be with the cute secretary”. I was like WTH, ok?!?! And really, there are a lot more and even more ridiculous than just that. Sorry for the rant but I actually don’t know how PSY could stand still, and even step up inch by inch to prove her capability with all the malignity and unfavorable rumors around in almost 10 years. Since it was pretty tough to handle for myself, just in this short period of time , hence, I admire her even more for being such a strong-willed and career-driven lady, besides her talent , sweet personality and gorgeousness)
Hmm, ok. I don’t how I got to the “CON” area, but since we are already here, let’s finish it up. And leave the “PRO” of the episode for the next post
After watching this episode raw, the strongest response from most of the viewers that I 'd read/ heard were the complaint and upset over the-matter-of-fact that EY is getting married to JW- " JW? Why JW, out of 100 people?". I am with you guys who think ,JW is a funny guy but never deserves EY nor does she love him. I can bet anything that she'd not be happy with him later on. However I thought there’d be more reasons behind it, since this is CH after all. I like # 20- Quinze 's "step backward and not forward -to stick to JW decision" interpretation, since we seem to head toward 1 direction here. I look at it from 2 POVs:
1/As an audience POV:
It’s obvious that this the PD set up for EunSoo happy ending. Why?
Because he knows that we know JW doesn’t deserve EY nor does EY really love him. So it’s against human natural belief that EY, who deserves happiness the most in CH, won’t be happy if she‘d ever get married him. On the other hand, as much as we love the character JS, we all have to admit that he’s a damaged man, who also‘s caused so much pain to our EY, yet they love each other so much. I am not ashamed to admit if EY have found a better guy than JS , who could make her happy and smile brightly every day; I may not give a damn about JS? (Ok, fine he’s the main character here, but I am just saying … , in reality, perhaps) . EY is so precious to some of us that we can’t bear seeing her unhappy.. . Here, the PD/writer shows the intelligent level of the drama is ,again. EY is getting married!!!! And “she is getting married with JW” will get only one reaction from the audience, which CH is aiming for, to support the main love line. They basically didn’t give us/ or EY choices, since JW was never a “yes” to us or “ the place that EY love could be returned”
2/As EY POV:
In EY mind: JS and she could never be together despite how much they truly love each other because of his painful past and it hurts her to see him in pain. The best thing she could do for JS is let him go and find his happiness while she‘d move on with her life . She believed that she need to bury their love, so she could open her heart and be happy again; when she ‘s happy , JS ‘d be happy even though he’s away from her. That night, she was surprised when JS told her why he introduced JW to her t, and for once, she was grateful for JS genuine care, as she thought it’d make sense too. Since this is JS sincere gift for her, should she give JW another chance? If after 100 blind dates, she still couldn’t find Mr. Right Guy, then she‘d give JW a chance if he wouldn’t date anyone in within . That was her punishment and also her last challenge for JW. Just like we all expected, after even 100 blind dates, she still couldn’t forget JS to be able to accept a new person to her heart. But this time, JW keeps his promise and is trying hard to improve himself for her. Even if she never could love him the way she loves Js, but he has shown his discipline and sincerely for loving her, she thought that spending the rest of her life with him isn’t that bad after all. He’s the only man that she can relate and be grateful for JS existence in her life, which she seems to never forget even they might not see each other again. And she dated, got engaged and … is going to get married JW soon. EY didn’t want to rush thing like that but her parents and her grandpa keep pushing it. She‘d love to see them happy. Only if EY was still in her 20’s, then she’d definitely wait a bit longer for his returning without her family bothering. Still, the world is changing minute, and she needs to change to catch up with it, so having her own little family may not a bad change either. At least, she won’t have to much time to think of ….. things that she need to forget….
** Note: this is just my personal opinions without watching episode 14. However, my little “forcing support" toward JW have completely changed after Ep 14. So, I can’t accept JW, once again, step in EY life and break it apart. No, definitely JW is a NO. PLEASE, listen to me!!!!****
THERE SHOULD BE NO PITY NOR RETURNING CHANCE FOR A CHEATING FIANCEE/BOYFRIEND/HUSBAND, OK? EY is just too nice and soft-hearted. That’s why!!!
For those who sympathized with JW, either you are too merciful or just inexperienced. Once a person cheats, he'll eventually do it again and again. It's simply just how human are. And perhaps, Coffee House‘d show us the momentum of JW later on since we have plenty of time now.
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49 yen_nguyen
July 17, 2010 at 3:22 AM
I think one can be forgiven when he return after cheating, I do think so even I'm a woman.
@ 43: yeah, I mean Ji Woo, the second male lead and his secretary. I realize that she pops up brightly and humiliatingly talking to Ji Woo during recent episodes. She's one of 3 women who talk to our lovely Ji woo ( I don't remember if JW talk to some waitress at coffee shop).
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50 CW
July 17, 2010 at 3:44 AM
I actually think Ji Won will end up with his secretary (but don't want to mention any spoilers) but we'll see.
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