Thanks GF! I've been dying for this recap. It's as if watching the show itself isn't complete until I've read the recap too. Guess I'm officially addicted:-)

I agree totally with your take on OHN's lack of development in this episode. But I actually think the whole part where she is talking about being BSJ's stewardess to his pilot etc was trying to highlight her realisation that she was not growing or maturing compared to the other people around her. That she finally noticed she was acting like BSJ was her sun and she was just orbiting aimlessly around him, instead of pursuing her own dreams. I really hope the last few episodes will have OHN doing some serious soul searching. It's so unfair to have BSJ come so far (in terms of character development) yet OHN is still stuck at high school level. We all know she's going to end up with BSJ somehow or other. But I want it to be in a way that BSJ will treat her as an equal, not as a silly, sweet kid who has a crush on him.

Please Show, don't let me down!

Thank you so much GF! i know this was a very disappointing episode. hani is way too obsessed with seung-jo. i cringed when she went to get a job at the company (hani, i'm sorry but...get a life). and seung-jo, for someone who will be her soulmate, is really cold to her at times. and i keep on feeling sorry for duckie, because his unwavering devotion to hani will result in heartbreak. i wish the characters were more stable and had more depth. there, my very amateur perspective!

gf, i understand that this episode was not easy to recap but you still provided us with your insights and for that we (PKissers) are grateful.

i also understand your views regarding hani not having backbone and dreams of her own. its disappointing i know but i think thats hani's nature. i think she lives her life following her heart rather than following logic and pride. she's living life as per what makes her happy and the people around her happy.

there are still cute moments for this episode to come by.
little moments where you can see that hani is important to seung jo. like the dinner scene when seung jo didnt say one word regarding hani's bad cooking, or when the manger asked if the lunch box was made by his girlfriend and he said yes.

also, this episode is more for seung jo rather then hani. this episode is a build up for the conflicts that seung jo have to face which will greatly affect his family and his relationship with hani.
the ball is now in seung jo's court.

NOT REALLY A SPOILER:

i know that jb and gf doesnt read or watch other version of playful kiss and you guys hate spoilers but i feel that i need to say my piece regarding hae ra being the granddaughther of the investor. it was really a surprise for most of us (who read/watched other version) because in the original version, "hae ra" and the investor's granddaughter supposed to be two different person.
in this version they combine 2 characters in one which i think makes things more complicated than its supposed to be. the decision makings would be much more difficult.

because if you think about it if seung jo would really pursue to be with haera for the sake of his dad's company, in the outside it looks perfect because seung jo and haera are so alike others would think it would make sense for them to be together.its just the same case for hani and joon gu. but in the end they are not complementing each other instead they are just reflecting one another.

anyways, with 4 mores episodes to go, i do hope that playful kiss would continue to charm us in its own way and to end this drama is a great ending that it deserve. (actually that WE, viewers deserves).

i do hope that jb and gf would still hang on with us for this drama til the end.

til episode 13! i think we are in for a heartbreak!

PK AJA! FIGTHING!

i haven't been watching the drama, but from this recap, this is exactly how it should be.

this is what the taiwanese production did too. it annoys me that the girls make such little progress, but that's the way the story goes, and i had to take it for what it is to like it, then love it, because there IS something to it.

in the taiwanese version, it was ALL about the leading male's performance. as much as i'm not a fan of the real joe chen, i like his acting and his portrayal of tomoko pulled me through and balanced ariel lin's character well. i don't even know how to begin explaining how he got me through a drama where i'd usually punch myself because of the obsessive-compulsive, deranged, undying love of a girl. but he got me through it and it remains one of my favorite dramas to this day.

nothing on gumiho, but i still love it.

is it because of khj that i wasn't able to fall for this drama? yes. and i was even tolerant of him.

Thanks, GF for the recaps!! I don't necessarily agree with your statements but I do appreciate the opportunity to read it and explore other's impressions of the drama and it's characters.

I like the trilogy that is ~ drama-recaps-rants/rave ~ . Each in equal parts. I can't have one without the other. The addiction is strong. Thanks to all for feeding it.

though Hani seems like she hasn't learned nor matured in any way and her world revolves around SJ.. i still find her sweet and honest to admit to SJ that she always wants to be by his side.. and always be the one helping him. She puts him before herself, which is admirable in a way. Our robot-starting-to-have-a-heart boy didn't rebutt her, instead encouraged her to work hard towards her dream. The pot and the lid.

of course a drama needs to be dramatic, therefore over-doing on the stalking scenes which frustrates many of us. Then again, robot-boy was quite dense! so if not for her painfully obvious stalking and hanging around him like she had nothing better to do, he probably wouldn't have felt her presence nor learn to appreciate her.

Thanks you so much girlfriday for the recap. I was not stalking so much with any PK related this week because I was into SKKS but deep inside, I know it is just a few more episodes and I have to let go of Seung Jo and Ha Ni which makes me sad all over again.

I can understand the frustration with Ha Ni and Seung Jo. I feel like beating my wooden spoon on my laptop everytime Seung Jo is so insensitive to Ha Ni or Ha Ni is going after him again.

And when that last part of the witch came and made a big twist to the drama...I was screaming in frustration...argggh...this looks soooo familiar. The bad girl will never redeem itself..always bad at the end.

If not how adorable Jung So Min is with the character, I think I would have given up my stalking with PK. If I want eyecandy..SKKS will provide that for me because Seung Jo is such a robot boy that I can't take it anymore with his "cold" feelings for Ha Ni.

The hug part at the table more or less make up for the crazy part on this episode. They are just adorable.

At least Wednesday tomorrow...yay new episode and hopefully robot boy will realize sooner or later that he has to go after Ha Ni...

Thanks again GF....loves your recap always.

I guess it's a huge chore to keep so many PK fangirls satisfied. Thanks so much for fueling the addiction.

Even though this episode is so much more fluid then the last episode, I was put off with OHN's "dream" conversation with BSJ. And darn if he didn't pat her back and encourage her to follow the dream.
Did anyone find it so funny/cute how they shot that scene? His long legs touching the ground and her short little legs just hanging off the bench. It was like an adult talking to a little girl about her dreams.

Seriously, what happened to the determined, spunky girl in high school? That's the OHN I love and want to see.
The only reason I don't hate OHN is that JSM has been able to infuse her with so much personality beyond the spoken words. JSM is such a joy to watch. I can't wait to see her in another role that has true spunk.

BSJ just blows hot and cold to me. I don't particularly care for his character. You would think that he would have realized some of his feelings by now. I don't know if KHJ or the PD is to blame but whatever, I really need BSJ to redeem himself or I will not be a happy camper.
I like the high school BSJ so much better too. At least he had more emotions and reactions.

As much as I adore Mama Baek's antics, I can see how she can scare the living daylights out of her son. I can remember all the embarassing things that my mom tried to do and I sympathize with BSJ wanting not to be controlled.

I guess I'm still in it for all the sweet moments that they inject at various, random moments (rofl when Duckie tasted OHN's lunch and wondered it she in fact hates BSJ) and for all the potential sweet moments to come…it better come!
I don't like the rush feeling of each of the later episodes. I know they are trying to cram it all in so that we have our happy ending…but it doesn't jive with the sweet, slow beginning of the drama. But then almost all the kdramas go through this towards the end of the series.

I feel like Hot 'N Cold BSJ. I can't wait for each episode but then I am so dissatisfied…but then I can't wait for the next episode…and I am once again not satisfied…etc.
I really don't want PK to end. My hubby can't wait for PK to end so that he can get his warm wifey back.

Thanks for the Recap! :)
I must say I really liked this episode. I know Ha Ni is not at her best in this episode and that she should worry about her future and have aanother goal beside being by seung Jo's said forever, but this is Ha Ni. I take her as someone who's very "slow" . She's never been that bright, first of all and she just hasn't found another real interest beside Seung Jo yet. I'm guessing she will find one ultimately, I've already thought of something, although I haven't seen the Taiwanese version or read the story, judging from her behaviour with Seung Jo. I still like Ha Ni because she knows Seung Jo so well. I admit it can be annoying sometimes to see her be so in love with him that she forgets to think about her own future- again, that's just because he's her whole world -she can't imagine her life without him...But the thing is that she will become unhappy if she doesn't have something else to fulfill her life...
oh and I loved Ha ni 's back-hug! sweet! I also laughed so hard with the scenes with the packed lunch!!!And Hani's raw cooking! lol ^^ and Seung Jo still eating it!

girlfriday, you've finally reached everybody's main gripe with the premise of PK/Itazura na Kiss: The female lead is a a girl with no life expectations/goals outside of being witht the guy she's in love with.

I never got really far into the manga, but Oh Ha-ni's character never seems to change. EVER. And as a fellow female, that's annoying. It's a different type of heroine, but one that you have difficulty rooting for because you can't relate (or at least I can't). Really, following around the guy you love until you die is your life goal? Even if he treats you like crap? Even if your feelings are never reciprocated? Um, yeah, no, I'll skip out on the life of emotional slavery. Ha-ni's still likable, just not relatable for modern women, which is why you want to smack her sometimes.

I loved this drama..at starting some ppl don't like it, but i actually think this drama kind of cute...but as more episodes as I watched, I am no so sure about it anymore..><

I have never read the original manga or watch the other versions of drama before, so I'm not sure about the story..but I feel a bit bored watching series now..=x I still LOVE the characters, but somehow I still can't feel much of the connection between Hani and Seung-jo. I just can't convince myself how seung-jo start to like Hani. Maybe because it's always Hani who showing her love to Seung-jo?

About Hani's love towards Seung-jo(stalking too much?) Some saying it's simply Hani's character, I accept that, but I still found it a bit too much..I mean I know it's a drama, but seriously loving Seung-jo is all her life? I love Hani..but I want to know more about this character..=0
On other hand, I feel like knowing even less things about Seung-jo..or maybe I should say I cant' see the sparks or feel the chemistry between them??
T-T

In short..altough I love the characters a lot, I can't say I enjoy how the relationship between Hani and Seung-jo..is developed.
it's just my own opinion.

i get upset everytime ha ni opens her mouth, like seriously she is lacking so much[ mentally].. she is not lacking in love[ her dad, duckie, her friends, seung jo mom && dad ] so y does she choose to follow a man around that constantly ignores her. he doesnt even act like he is interested in any 1 part of this show. in the taiwanese version the girl is slightly more sensible ..i guess the writers didnt do a good job transferrin the personality of the characters..cause ha ni doesnt even seem like shes inlove she seems obssessed!

even though this show is lacking in comparison i like it.

Ok... now that I am done with ranting. Let's go to the actual episode.

GF, you would be surprised but Haera as the grandaughter gave me a SHOCK... because in the other versions, it is a different girl, one who is kind and nice and not mean like Haera... perfect in a word and one who would truly convince Hani that she has no chance... so yeah... I totally did not expect that... It is true that I thought it was a possibility but I didn't see it coming really.
I am learning to accept this total twist from the original manga.

About SJ... i totally loved the look he gave her when she muttered how to understand him... the boy can express his emotions, when they even bother to surface, as well as a brick, and as maturely as a kindergarten kid. In a way, he reminds me of Sun joon, except Sun joon has more reason to fear loving.. the more you like a girl, the more you push her away while still wishing that she'd be by your side... sheeshh... you can't push her away forever... eventually, she will not come back so get your act together. You know you love it when she loves you.
But that makes it much more fun whenever he "grudgingly" does his mom's bidding... like with the musical or the keys... In his own way, he can't get away from Hani.. girl, you have him in your grip. You just don't know it and he thinks he can get away from it. Too bad you're both wrong. And yes, the coat was probably on purpose... XD
what i loved though, was him eating the food and telling eunjo to stop complaining... now if that is not love...
And lol at your reference to Noriega.. I only heard about him in class. XD
btw, about the school reunion... I think several month, if not almost a year has passed. and i totally missed Bye Bye Sea.... and what happened to the teachers??

About the plot pattern not changing... I think that it's actually meant not to change.. after all, the show is about how Hani's ability to be unshakable when Seungjo's is concerned managed to change HIM.

As for Duckie... my heart goes to him... how can he be so devoted??? the difference between him and Hani is that he doesn't get the girl. sigh. and I totally laughed at the lunch box scene.. HILARIOUS

As for Haera... I, too, admire her for distinguishing love from life... That's what I do as well. But I am not condemning Hani for not doing that. At least, JSM (for me) manages to make it not look pathetic like i've seen in the other Kotoko.

THANK YOU! I was nodding my head all the way to the end. The show, the manga, the previous versions all set us back to the 60s or something.

how i wish that even though they based it on the manga- i just wish they change the personalities - or make it the opposite.... e.g. SJ will be Hani's personality and vice versa... hehehe.... or if this manga was written 20yrs ago- how i wish they adapt the "now" personalities.... or probably Hani will still evolve her life around SJ - it will be like - SJ will be the RN and she will be the MD.... hehehe... how about that...LOL!!!!
but still i love all of it - the japanese manga; the taiwanese version- i watched them all... hahaha... eventhough the lead actresses are so pathetic... but still its so cute.... hehehe...

Girlfriday, you and JB are the best! GF, thank you for speaking what's on your mind. I know its not a popular opinion and I applaud you for stating it so eloquently here.

As for me, I am LOVING this turn of events.

After I got over my initial surprise to seeing THAT GIRL in the ending, I must say this is my favorite episode so far. My emotions were all over the place while watching it. All of a sudden, the cutesy romantic drama that I’m addicted to has turned into something else entirely, something that gripped my heart and made me feel so much more.

And yes, the infamous conversation at the bench. To me, that conversation defines their relationship and the reason why they are still not together. Putting aside my 29 year-old independent woman sensibilities, I was really touched when Hani said that her dream is centered on Seungjo and the way she said it in such an achingly vulnerable way. Yes, we may cringe at her lack of self-preservation but didn’t we feel this way (perhaps to a lesser degree) at some point in our lives? Heck, I wish I had her courage to love with careless abandon, pride be damned.

I also loved how Seungjo actually listened to her this time instead of making yet another smart-ass comment about it. At this point, I think it’s safe to say that he cares about Hani. And he knows it. But what he is still trying to figure out is how she will fit into his life. This goes back to my previous comment about his linear thinking, how every thing has to make sense for him before he starts acting on it. Right now, he’s still trying to put all the pieces together and because he believes that Hani is always there just waiting for him, he refuses to deal with his feelings for her until he can see the bigger picture. What he doesn’t realize is that Hani is exactly the one he needs to see the bigger picture. I think its telling that he asked her about her dream because he must know that he is a part of that dream that he can’t see himself.

So it goes. It’s heartbreaking and it also feels very real. And for the first time, I can actually see Seungjo’s internal struggle -- that urge to hide from your feelings, especially when those feelings are something that you can’t make sense of. *sigh*

Meanwhile, there’s Haera. I actually love this twist from the manga because now the stakes are so much higher. Seungjo has to choose between the girl who seems perfect for him on the outside, the one who looks good on paper versus the girl who doesn’t seem to fit into his life, the one who makes him see and feel things he can’t understand. Will he pick the logical choice or will he take a leap of faith?

Ah, the game is sooooo on. Bring out the Klennex and the smelling salts. Oh, and an umbrella because the weather forecast says there’s going to be A LOT of rain. ;)

Ok so Dukie is definitely my favorite character now. I Love his character growth. And HaerI as Christine totally surprised me.

It is sad to see people whose goal in life revolve around a spouse or boyfriend (ie, people with no self worth). HOWEVER, do remember this is just a manga character and besides who are we to judge another person's dreams, no matter how silly it may be?

I started watching ISWAK and TKA while waiting for the next PK episode and realised that the beauty (and popularity?) of the show because of the romantic chemisty between Pot and Lid. Unfortunately, the stupidity and self-worthlessness of OHN's character is integral to the whole story and any improvements will be un-Hanisque to say the least or cause the storyline to lose its appeal. And if the winner is because of the chemistry between Pot and Lid, can we have more such sweet moments rather than the emphasis on OHN's lack of self-worth? Think that should help in ratings.

Thanks for the recap GF, I have been looking out for it for a while and wondered why you took so long. Now we all know : ) Thanks again!

so, so true. it's sickening how she lives off the air he's breathed. interesting that whenever seung-jo has acknowledged anything she does, it's a part of her that's unrelated to his influence on her. her tenaciousness (top 50 placement attempt / tennis bet), her inherited wisdom (have fun wid it, courtesy of grandma) , her bravery (jumping in after eun-jo when he was drowning), her caring (with no-ri) and the weird intuition she has with him (college exam convincing, doctor suggestion - and this is unrelated to how he affects her, it's because she knows him and has, well, weird intuition) etc. are the sorts of things that affect him. her repetitive efforts to be a lackey do not - unless you count the incredulous "I can't believe she likes me this much" snort-and-smirk.

Let us start neutral: This episode had many gems in it, and if the episode were set with a different tone, we would have squeed our hearts out. But the brusqueness of the brevity after such a light end in the prior episode--for the lack of a better word--sucks. And after factoring in the CUTE and the melancholy, melancholy outweighed the Cute.

Now, addressing the hot topic that's got GF (and a lot of us) all riled up this episode (and subsequent recap), I must say I'm part of the riled up group. While I know, and have felt, it admirable to have a simple ideal, such as "living for another than one's self", I can't help but retort that it is what it is: AN IDEAL. Sure, ideals and dreams do come true, and underdogs DO WIN, but, in a characteristically BSJ way, I'd have to squint and glare. (I'll admit, luck and favor weren't on my side when my one-sided love story went awry.)

Delving more into this topic, someone had aforementioned how Sartre's ideals mixed in with the PK plot. However, as I've also replied in an earlier comment, we forget that this whole story was originally Japanese.

(I will be making some cross-cultural comments, so if I sound stereotyping forgive me, I don't want to make this my dissertation.)

While I find Hani's ideal and dream as a person boils down to "living for someone (BSJ)", I can't say that this is a prevalent Korean ideal, not in this moment in time at least. Gregorian (or was it Victorian) times called that if one's love were already married, one stayed unmarried because that would be "cheating" on your first love. Right now the Korean women's ideals are very post-feminist, in a way that a lot of women are delaying marriage until their careers are settled (as what has been happening in the West for some time...)

Which is why, when I saw this episode, I was anticipating the backlash with her little speech about her being beside him (I was shaking in rage, actually, but only because I've got a different emotional investment). Right now I can't shake off the thought of how secondary characters in other drama's always say that to the primary characters they love (ie; the second guy in Brilliant Inheritance to the main girl). How does that differ from Oh Hani confessing that to Baek Seung Jo? Oh, because she literally has nothing to give or offer but of herself.

To reiterate, "The [Japanese] subtext at hand is: because of Hani’s lack in doing everything well (see anime, and how the dad lists off all the things she could not do when Ire-kun asks her hand–I swear this is the only thing I watched in the anime) her only choice is to live for someone else. She’s got nothing to give but of herself (I vaguely remember her saying something like that to BSJ “you’ve got so much to give…I don’t have anything…I’m going to live for fun/gonna find my way through university.”)

This isn't a travesty of being a woman in this day and age. It *IS* admirable. I guess some of us are just more jaded and/or self-assured than others. Or it maybe that Hani's love is pure? She doesn't carry the emotional baggage we carry when we meet a guy and "dig" him. She just loves him for who she thought he was, and is, as she continued to get to know him. To her "love is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs...It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." (I just went to a wedding 10.10.10, hello Bible verses)

On a brighter side, I don't know if I should be ashamed if I were to compare my love story with Hani's. Mine would pale in comparison...but then again, this is real life.

oh yeah, i forgot. has anyone ever noticed how when seung-jo speaks to ha-ni, he looks over her shoulder half the time? it reminds me of Wilde's Remarkable Rocket. the little #$%^@ - can't he even respect her enough to LOOK AT HER?
although the habit does seem to be lessening. points for subtlety of marking a change in robot boy. i wonder if that's the actor's idea or the director's?

Loved your recap as always, GF, though I must admit that your main point of contention seems a bit baffling: Why is it so wrong for Ha-ni to base her future around Seung-jo, but when Duckie does the same, it's not only okay, but praise-worthy?

The only real difference is that he got a head-start, lol.

I mean, sure, he loves cooking and is getting really great at it... but have we all forgotten what eventually led him to that particular "career" choice in the first place?

It was his love for Ha-ni, and his desire to ingratiate himself with her father, and help him take over the family business. Not exactly the best example of someone "turning over a new leaf"; not when that leaf is still completely tied to one particular individual, and continuously coloring his actions. Even now, he still thinks he's doing it for *their* future. So why is her-partner-lid getting a free pass, while she gets reamed, and has her girl-badge revoked??

Really, whose to say Ha-ni won't have similar success when it comes to following Seung-jo, where-ever that may lead? If nothing else, she's proven to be passionate, and to throw herself entirely into whatever endeavor she undertakes... so if she's able to find something that makes her happy and she enjoys, I don't think there's anything wrong with that. Even if Seung-jo IS the initial spark that lights the flame beneath her... it's really no different from someone choosing a career because of money, security, ease, or familiarity.

And she seems a bit too carefree to ever really regret her decision. I'm confident that in the end she'll make the right choice. So put down your pitchfork and take a deep, deep breath. It's gonna be okay... ;)

Wow...It seems you all have a very "strong" reaction on this ep and on this drama period..haha. Compared to ISWAK, PK is more upbeat, however, you will feel a gap in between story, it makes you feel like something is missing. I like the idea the IMBC post the dairy out, after each epsiode. Once you read their dairy, the whole thing makes more sense. You all should google it and try to read the dairy and you will have a better picture of the whole drama. Still, I do not like the idea to live and running around and manipulated by ONE guy. As we all should have our own life and dream.

Even tho i disagree for your negative's view.
Thanks for doing the recaps anyway.

Will someone make a spin of on Duckie becoming a Cordon Bleu chef. Lee Tae-sung is one of those guys that is just going to keep getting better looking with age ...

Also LOL, I totally don't mean anything by this and I love your recaps so much but this struck me as kind of amusing.

"Seriously? What in the WHAT, now? Did you really just say that your Big Life Plan…is to follow Seung-jo around for the rest of your life and be his assistant, his secretary, his token lackey?"

And your pen name is girlfriday. LOLOL.

Totally not meaning to be a bitch, you're awesome, but I just found it slightly funny. XD

i didn't really enjoy the ep, like you stated, hani's pretty much too free to deal with, all the followings and stuff. tho to be honest i didn't expect much from the drama as well. but yeah it was way too cute <3 now can't wait for the back-in-action cuteness in ep 13 and 14 =P~

I think we should not forget that this version is so faithful to the manga, that it was written decades back and the idea of giving or should I say submitting to someone you believe you love for most girls in the old days are very much a norm. I pretty much accepted that Oh Ha Ni's dream is to be with BSJ and she'll do absolutely everything for that dream to come true.

I'll really feel sad watching the next episode because the Oh Ha Ni I know will give up just like that..believing BSJ's actions which he totally doesn't mean at all.

Trying to keep this short and sweet... all three live drama versions:
Japanese version, forgettable... and suffered from the Japanese style of keeping episodes under 12...
Taiwanese version, a little draggy that's true... but the ArJoe couple was unforgettable... saw them in another drama and it was this storyline that made them great... including the annoying stalker girl bit... so there.
PK, very choppy in parts but true to the story and JSM is so expressive... she outshines her sunbae KHJ.

The thing about character development... OHN is above that! OOOXXXX

Thank you for the recap girlfriday! Entertaining and astute as usual.

So I am in total agreement with your points here - I too wailed in frustration during Ha-ni's dream's speech, and was very pleasantly surprised with He-ra's position in this matter. Upon reading through the comments however, I realized that I was projecting my own opinions and ambitions about what the "right" life path is, and that choosing love as your dream and making someone's happiness your ambition is no less valid a life goal than focusing on your career. As someone (I forget who) so rightly pointed out in the comments, the feminist movement was about giving women choices, and a person has as much a right to choose to be a loving partner and homemaker as to strive to be a doctor, chef, neuroscientist etc. Love *is* a worthy goal.

However. I think it also depends on context. To choose to dedicate your life to being a loving spouse/partner to someone who *loves you back* is praise worthy and probably very brave in today's world where you are often judged on the distinction of your career. But to dedicate your life to loving someone who constantly ignores, humiliates, avoids and insults you is something else. Because let's face it - Seung-jo is still not very nice to Ha-ni. We the audience can see he is softening, that he is actually in great denial about his feelings, but to the somewhat simple-minded Ha-ni, he is still the guy who moved out of his own home to avoid being around her, who changes jobs with the frequency some people change socks to avoid her following him around, who blatantly disrespects her to her face while proving himself capable of courtesy and friendliness to pretty much everyone else. Without the reciprocity of feelings, this isn't a charming tale of dedication and true love - this is denigrating, baffling and very frustrating!

Yes, I know they will get their happily-ever-after and Seung-jo will redeem himself and validate Ha-ni's unwavering perseverance. ut right now, with everybody else finding themselves and making progress in their lives, Ha-ni's stasis is frankly just disappointing. And sends completely the wrong message to more impressionable about what love is supposed to be about.

Just like the passion for a career in medicine, basketball, culinary, fashion design, Hani likes Seung Jo as a lifetime love/career. I really don't see anything wrong with that cuz it's just as worthy, just as "passionable". She will get more satisfaction than the other careers.

Anything that SJ chooses, will be challenging & good for society, so it's fine to run with him so to speak. Hani chooses to be a giver, a helper. What's wrong with that?? Simultaneously having eye candy/lover with her everyday as she works...that's great, that's joyful!

awesome recap as always...
i must admit, the whole i-never-want-to-do-anything-on-my-own scene sort of shocked me. but in general, i like this drama and liked the episode. for me, a lot of the discussion evolves around the definition of feminism. for many people it basically means equal opportunities, which is often set as leading to independent, career-oriented lifestyles. but then that's not exactly equality: for me, it is letting a woman chose what she wants to do. she wants a career, have one, she wants to be a housewife, pull out the apron. so basically, i see hani's point in always wanting to be by the man she loves.
---but it's more out of her childish naivite than the result of an adult decision. so give it some time, once she seems more mature, i might be able to respect her more :)
right now i just adore her :)
how cute was that hug at the dinnertable?

I think there's a lot of subtle cues in many versions of Playful Kiss that are missed, or misread, or dismissed, in understanding the two leads.

We all come to the table with our own backgrounds which include our take on love, education, maturity, what's right or wrong, acceptable or unacceptable, what's normative or abnormal, what another should or should not do.

One assumption I'm reading over and over again in the comments is that Oh Ha Ni's goals, her dreams, her drive, are not enough, and are not for herself, that she LACKS because of what she wants, how she wants it, how she comes to her maturity, and her life's goals.

I found a huge discrepancy in understanding first during ISWAK with the Zhi Shu/Naoki character. In a telling scene, early on, episode 4 or 5, he is writing on his window a quote that requires more thought than a passing glance to understand its meaning.

"Let only that little be left of me whereby I may name thee my all.
Let only that little be left of my will whereby I may feel thee on every side, and come to thee in everything, and offer to thee my love every moment.
Let only that little be left of me whereby I may never hide thee.
Let only that little of my fetters be left whereby I am bound with thy will, and thy purpose is carried out in my life--and that is the fetter of thy love."
— Rabindranath Tagore

In the previous episode, he had just read the love letter and then said out loud in the room where a sleeping Xian Qin lay, "What does it mean to love someone?"

These characters are both on a journey about love as they mature in goals, social skills, career, education ... all the paths we all walk or choose not to walk.

No matter the version of this storyline, the frustration that so many feel at the female lead's lack, and the male lead's coldness, and the repetitive nature of her one-sided stalkerish love, usually signals a misunderstanding of the plot (yes, there is a plot!!! GASP! Who knew? Better yet, who told?).

Is it enough to love someone in a lifetime? Is it a worthy goal? Is it good enough, high enough, elevated enough, to have your heart and mind so focused on another human that they expand you, grow you, increase you, all within their circle of influence? Is it enough, in turn, that your love so encompasses them that they are transformed by it?

Our modern hearts and minds are scoffing at that great woman behind the great man, or the great man behind the great woman, but in the end, history is LITTERED, as in, you can't put your foot down without stepping on them, with great men and women who've had equally great, loving, quiet, sacrificial men and women behind them. Know a great actor who's married to a 'nobody'? A great author? Statesmen? Nobel Prize winner? Spiritual leader? President? CEO?

Playful Kiss/ISWAK/InK, all, littered with many deep and abiding themes that have literally ruled mankind's journey. It's nothing to scoff at. Great love has transformed men into great leaders, thinkers, builders, warriors, artists ... great love has transformed women into great scientists, leaders, thinkers, builders, artists ....

what then, is great love? Can it be so narrowly defined by modern constructs in which both man and woman must follow their paths to personal glory in order to truly be made for each other? What if it is a sacrificial, single-minded, pure-hearted, wholly-embodied braided rope of mind, body, and soul to be what another person needs when they need at all costs to self?

Cotton candy? What drama are you watching? ;)

I sorta stopped watching this.
Because I remembered how much the female lead annoyed me with her constant "my life is about insert male lead name here tw/krn/manga".
I wanted her to grow a back bone & stand up for herself but that's out of character..lol
Only part I'm really looking forward to is when she decides to marry the 2nd male lead & the male lead comes & FINALLY confess his love for her.

I love how the tw. version did it. It was real hot. I hope they do it for this version if not then UGH...totally sucks because that's my fave part..lol

As far as Ha Ni is concerned, not knowing what to pursue in life except for her unwaving love for SJ should not be labeled as stupid or gutless. How many of us have gone through our lives not knowing what direction to take or regretting later the decision that we made or aimlessly cruising along or go by family or peer pressure. To me Ha Ni is just being true and honest with her feeling which is very refreshing. I don’t see anything wrong with her being a nurse or some other profession to be beside SJ. At least he’s a good influence in her life. SJ did not know what he wants to do initially if not for Ha Ni’s insights. So to me they are in the same cloud of uncertainty.

Maybe we're not so much upset that Ha Ni's dream or noble ambition is to love Seung Jo and help him at whatever he chooses to do.

Maybe it's because her noble dream is so unworthy of her love.

Awesome insightful recap!

I love Duckie too and I wish him to have a nice girl to love him lots!

I totally agree about Ha-ni dream...i think i almost hurled when she told SJ what it was...

"I just wish that it wasn’t always Ha-ni matching herself to Seung-jo. I want her to form her own piece, and for Seung-jo to try and match her once in a while too." ------ AMEN! Although you typically find characters like Ha-ni in many kdrama's, I always hope that as time goes by, characters like her will change as well. It's really, really getting redundant seeing girls like Ha-ni chase men around without finding their own identities instead or trying to fill one in.

Thanks for the recap.

This episode had me yelling and hitting the computer.
First i completely hate He Ra. Yes yes very predictable but never the less STUPID!!!! I just dont like her. She's like the more agressive/slightly smarter version of Ha Ni. Except she's not cute... at all.... HATE HER!!!!!
Second while i do love Ha Ni i wish she would focus on being more independent. I was completely pissed with the whole 'if your a doctor i wanna be a nurse if your a pilot i wanna be a stewardess' thing. and before everyone starts saying 'this is just a drama/manga/anime get over it' i get that but it made me wonder if there is a girl out there like that.... anyway just holding out for a dramatic growth in Ha Ni... who i still love dispite her lack of dreams.

How can you love someone until you have some respect for yourself first?! As a female medical student (yes, there are female med students Ha-ni ya), I feel so frustrated at how low Ha-ni brought her self down. Even if she doesn't have her own dream, at least dream to be at the same level of SJ. You don't have to be his sidekick forever you know. You can totally be a doctor or a pilot or a golf pro if you want to! Aishh, this is so annoying! For once thank you Hae-ra for showing us some girl-power!

Thanks Girlfriday! I can see that DUCKIE has won you over by his cooking! As I observe and feel that you forced yourself to write this recap! hmmm *smiles* I'm pretty sure if they dont change Hani any soon I'll be hearing rather reading from you some good'ol "encouraging" words to push Hani harder! Nonetheless I enjoyed reading your recap!

(I'm basing this mostly off the manga, but the drama as well.)
Okay. So as someone who has follow her "head" her entire life, I must say that I think people are not looking deeply enough in Kotoko's character or the point of the story, though some have come close.

How many of us so-called "self-respecting" women who tell ourselves to get over men who don't like us back and to forget crushes and move on are actually just trying to avoid the pain of a face to face rejection? How many of us can really say we have the guts to stand up to a guy and tell him we love him and we will always be there for him no matter what?

Honestly, while Hani might be pitiful and a bit pathetic, she is honest emotionally. Which is more than most people can say. Most of us are not Duckies or Hanis... most of us are scared. We don't want our vulnerabilities exposed, open. We don't want to be made fun of or looked down upon. We don't want ourselves to be ridiculed so we hide behind lies and masks to cover up those painful inadequacies. And if we have experienced those, we quickly learn to hold it in so we don't have a repeat experience. We hide.

We've all had unrequited loves or crushes. But I bet most of us have never had the courage to continue and perservere (and this part I think this drama has captured better than previous versions) even when mocked and put down time after time. Most of us don't have the courage to say that our dream is to be with that person. That being with them is what's going to make us happy. NOT that they make us happy (God knows Hani gets mad and frustrated with what he does and gets angry and sad), but that just being with them is the best feeling in the world. Yes, it's not independent. Does everyone have to be in order to be a quality human being?

Hani knows that she doesn't have a chance in hell, but does that deter her? No. Hani knows herself though, she knows she loves this guy (or in the beginning really admires him) and she's not going lying to herself about it. She wants him. She probably feels like she needs him. Yes, it's scary to feel that much for someone, especially when that person knows and can crush you (repeatedly) with that information.

Now back to Seung Jo. He's perfect. He can do everything easily, so he goes through life with few problems. Rather boring. Everyone else knows him as a perfect, calm, person... they don't bother to look past his exterior and he is judged just as much as Hani. Hani is one of the only people who can see his bad sides, acknowledge them, and love him anyway. Seung Jo is just as pitiful in that he has trouble letting himself go. He follows his head, he lacks exactly what Hani has - heart & passion. At the beginning, he just as much as those who criticize Hani, mock her and think she's ridiculous and silly and obnoxious. But the key is that HE changes his mind. He watches her and realizes that HE is the one who is wrong here. Hani shows him how to find those and in that way, Seung Jo is just as dependent upon Hani as she is upon him. Yes, it's more subtle. Yes, Hani doesn't "develop" into a whole different person. But that's not really the point of this story which is why it's so different. It's glimpses and vignettes into a life. Seung Jo is the one who is changed by Hani's love and acceptance.

I think that people have become so indoctrinated by the "rules" of the game that they sometimes forget that love isn't a game, it's a feeling and sometimes there is no logical explanation. Sometimes there is no logical way to reach your way into someone's heart. Sometimes you can only just be yourself and love with all your heart and not apologize for it, even if you are clumsy or silly or bad at math. :)

So while I'm still scared and playing romance by the rules (yes I'm a hypocrit! lol), I can totally identify with and understand Hani. I've been there. I've loved a friend for more than 5 years. I can only say that I wished I had the courage to be more honest with myself and with him. I'm not going to suddenly go confess and stalk him, lol, but it irritates me when people say that this manga is just about a girl wearing down a guy into marrying her. Because that's just a disservice to my favorite manga. <33

Anyway.. Just my two cents.

(And anyone else pissed about the combining of Hera and Chris's characters??? I KNOW there are foreign actresses who speak Korean in Korea that they could have hired. Where they trying to do a budget cut or something? It really sucks because I wanted Duckie to get his girl!)

The problem here is Jung So-min. Not that she is bad but cos she is so good. She imbues Oh Ha Ni with so much potential. You just know she can be so much smarter, stronger, sassier and spunkier, probably cos that's how JSM really is but alas the script and story dictates that Oh Ha Ni stagnates and frustates and is stuck in first gear.

I was wondering how the outdated values from the manga were going to translate. It turned out okay in the Taiwanese drama, mainly because everything is so ridiculously over the top in Taiwanese dramas that your mind numbs to the crazy.

But the 'I-have-no-independent-dreams' thing sticks out like a sore thumb here. (granted kdrama land isn't exactly progressive either...)

I think it would of played out better if they went with Ha-ni wanting to be a supportive wife/good mother. Because at least then she's just conservative instead of you know, an extension of Seung-jo.

Thanks GF!! I loved the "VOMIT" comment :D :D :D Felt exactly the same. just as irked! I think this may even put me off Korean dramas for a while.. so YEW! atleast it put me off PK :( even tho I love KHJ :(
feels so good to read that so many women hate it that O-hani doesn't have a life. I guess I was waiting for recap to come to went out the frustrations...
People who like O hani character should watch Indian soaps- they can see"love so pure" the woman will wash her man's feet and drink that water too. enjoy if that ur cup of tea...

I'm sorry but may i say this...?

HOLLY MOLLY but this is EPIC...
I thought I wrote a long comment and guess I thought wrong, seeing all the other ones here... I think it's the first time I've seen so many lengthy and rich discussions on a recap... and I LOVE it!!
not even the epic debates of PP about sociopath disorder went to this scale. The thread just exploded while I was gone...
It's so interesting and educational to read diverse opinions on life, goals, respect, love, feminism, religion, you name it. XD

I returned here to post a comment about how I usually don't condone Hani's behavior were it in another drama.. usually, i would want to smack the heroine (or mostly the second lead) and sometimes the second male lead as well for being clingy but somehow... not for PK... perhaps it means I have a double standard but I was going to say that the reason was that Jung So Min is awesome and that what's so beautiful about PK is that it presents a love mostly unaffected by outside factors except for the two person involved... mainly an "uncomplicated" love... but after reading so many comments, I'm not sure that's a term I can use anymore... kk

well comparisons to the other versions are discouraged I know but there are plot threads you can not get away with. Frankly Oh Hani would be quite happy being just what she is play acting, that is a house wife who lives for her life husband and family. In other versions there is time for Seung Jo to force/bully her into a more rounded person, but she really never happy unless she following him and his attempts only hurt her and their relationship. Like it or not she is an extension of Seung Jo, in many ways they make up one complete person, both having things the other lacks. But with so few episodes I can not see that happening here, so they may just skip the 'growing up' bit and use He-ra and the marriage to save the company as the big angst ending. of course that would also mean losing the best bit of the story that is Seung Jo
fearing Oh Hani is going to marry Duckie and finally come to the realisation that it is him! not Oh Hani that can not live without the other.

Thank you GF! You have voiced exactly the reason why I got sick of watching ISWAK, and frankly as much as Oh Ha Ni is cute I lost all love for her character precisely because of her lack of development in forming her own identity.