Secret Garden: Episode 20 (Final)

633 January 16, 2011January 24, 2016

by girlfriday

It’s the bow-tied, triple-knotted kind of ending for this cast of characters, as we say our final goodbyes to Secret Garden. I’d personally like to say farewell to omo-queen Secretary Kim. Thanks for the laughs. And of course to my new favorite idol-oppa, Oska. Yoon Sang-hyun, I was never on your bus before, but I’m totally on it now. Oska, fighting!

FINAL EPISODE RECAP

Joo-won tells Mom that he’s going to live the rest of his life as Ra-im’s husband, despite knowing that it’s going to be near impossible for her to accept. She reels, spitting out that this is nothing but a momentary feeling—it’s something that happens once in everyone’s life. He looks at her curiously.

She means Joo-won’s father, of course, who we’ve never heard mention of until now. She says with bitterness shaking in her voice that “they” are always the ones to grow tired and leave first, while “we” are always the ones left behind. Hm. So she’s lumping Ra-im in with her husband, for a myriad of reasons including class. Well that explains a lot, but did it really require us to wait twenty episodes for that explanation? Is anyone going to be sympathetic for you after all that shrill shouting, for all those episodes?

Joo-won tells her that it doesn’t matter—even if it ends up that way, he’s never going to leave her. He tells Mom that someday he’ll walk her down the aisle with Mom’s blessing. She replies that she’ll roll over in her grave before that happens, and Joo-won takes his leave with a heavy sigh.

Meanwhile, Ra-im heads to the bus stop, trailed behind oh-so-conspicuously by Mom’s secretary. She decides to confront him, and hands him a coffee, saying he must be tired following her around in this cold weather. He looks at her sweetly and says he’s secretly on her side (aw) and offers to drive her where she’s going, since he’s going to follow anyway. Hahaha. Awesome.

She goes to meet Ji-hyun, who’s been going over Ra-im’s charts looking for the reason that she woke up from her brain-dead coma. Ra-im tells her that she’s not going to find the answer in medicine. She adds that the time she visited Ji-hyun wasn’t her; it was Joo-won. Way to advertise to a shrink that you’re batshit crazy.

Ra-im just explains obliquely that it was a miracle, and that she and Joo-won have experienced a miracle that can’t be explained by science and medicine. Or logic. You forgot logic.

At the same time, Joo-won sits down in a café with Jong-soo, who’s called him out for his concession speech. He tells Joo-won that this is normally the kind of conversation they’d have over drinks, but he’s already seen Joo-won’s drinking habits. Heh.

Jong-soo tells Joo-won that he’s always wanted to be a father, an oppa, and a man to Ra-im. But now Joo-won has to be all of those things to her. Joo-won just answers, “What if I don’t wanna?”

Joo-won: “I’m only going to be a man to Ra-im. A father, an oppa…you be those things. Don’t leave her an orphan. That’s MY request.”

AW. Seriously, aw. Can you…hug it out? No? Come on!

The next day Joo-won drives Ra-im somewhere, as he confirms that Oska and Seul have arrived. She wonders if they’re all eating together, but he doesn’t answer. He takes her inside, asking pointedly that if she wants to run away, it’s her last chance.

She halts in her tracks. Are we…? He just smiles, asking if there’s anything she wants to do in her last ten minutes before becoming a married woman. Buh…way to be romantic, dude.

She calls him a jerk for deciding this on his own, without so much as an “I love you,” even if he doesn’t mean it.

Joo-won: Why would I say something like that? You really aren’t very bright, are you? It’s not because I love you. It’s because I love ONLY you. I have no other choice in the matter, you amazing woman.

Pffft. Okay, I know it’s meant to be romantic, but um…it sounds like you’re saying this is your only option in life…which is just not the way you intended it to sound, methinks. He puts out his hand, as he says that there isn’t going to be any flowers, or candles, or even a ring…but will she still become his wife?

She puts her hand in his, and says, “Of course.”

They head inside to register their marriage, with Oska and Seul as witnesses. Joo-won peers over as Ra-im is writing, complaining that she’s writing awfully slowly, when he was totally fast. Heh. They sign with matching heart-signatures, the way Ra-im had signed Joo-won’s name when she was in his body.

Oska and Seul gag at the hearts, and Oska retaliates by signing the document like an autograph. Ha.

They head to Joo-won’s house first, to decorate his room for the newlyweds. Oska tells Seul that he’s learned something by watching Joo-won and Ra-im: that all memories, even bad ones, can be wiped clean with time and love. He promises to remember everything, even the bad stuff, and turn it all into happy memories of how they met, fell in love, broke up, and then got back together.

He gets her to agree to do his music video, and hugs her in delight. Joo-won and Ra-im walk in, asking what they’re doing here. Oska: “We’re here to do all this.” (Pointing to the decorations.) Joo-won: “You were doing OTHER stuff!” Ha.

They thank Seul and Oska, and Joo-won can’t help but take another jab. He turns to Seul: “If we had met when we were 21…” Ra-im and Oska scowl, and they all laugh, as Joo-won kicks them out. “We have…stuff to do…”

Rawr?

He chases her around the bedroom for a while, and then lands on the bed alone. She tells him to freeze, and then climbs on top of him for a kiss. Finally, the Ra-im of yesteryear, pre-wrist-grabs and buckets of tears.

We get a montage of their happy first days as a married couple, taking walks together and staying in together. As they laze around and read (Is it sick that this is the thing I’m most jealous of—that these people have time to laze around and READ?) Joo-won shows her the rewritten ending to The Little Mermaid.

She calls him Secretary Kim (cute) and tells him that his ending sucks, as he chases her around the room in circles. I suppose it works out nicely that they’re both immature in the same ways.

They go to ask Grandpa for his blessings, but he sides with Mom, saying that they’ll have to get her permission first. Easier said than done, Gramps.

Joo-won notifies Mom of the marriage registration, and she ends up in the hospital. Joo-won goes to see her, and she admits defeat. She disowns him as her son, and though she lets him keep his job, she takes back everything else, and tells him to cough up money for the land that his house is on. Well that’s actually way nicer than I thought she’d be. All those dramatics, and you get to keep your job AND your house? What the hell was on the line, then?

Director Park is lamenting his lost job when Joo-won calls, re-hiring him and taking him under his wing. It’s a win-win, as Joo-won earns an ally and loses an enemy, and Director Park gets to keep the job he loves.

Ra-im announces her married status to the action school, and the guys stare agape, some of them even crying (heh). Jong-soo congratulates her and gives her a script to a new project: Sector 7 (another shout-out to a Ha Ji-won vehicle).

Jung-hwan thinks she’s a genius for taking care of the paperwork first (since he’s never been shy about thinking that Joo-won was a catch) and wonders if maybe she’s pregnant. She glares him down, and he decides it’s time to pay Joo-won a little visit…

He shows up at LOEL with backup (and bats! Ha.) to make it clear that Ra-im’s got a bunch of oppas, and that the day Joo-won makes her cry is the day he dies. Aw, this is the cutest thing EVAR.

Joo-won says he already spoke to Jong-soo, but Jung-hwan’s like, I’m the director now! Why are you talking to him!? Hehe. Joo-won accepts the warning this time, but says the next time, he’s gonna tell on them to Ra-im. The guys look around nervously.

Oska handwrites invitations for his concert to his fanclub, and Tae-sun worries that he doesn’t have any time to waste if he’s going to do a decent performance. He makes Oska practice over and over, concerned that his vocal skills aren’t going to top the charts.

Oska tells him that he doesn’t care about those things anymore—now, every moment, all this, is what matters to him. He tells Tae-sun to use this studio from now on and make the music that he wants.

He goes to film his music video, and finds that the story is his first meeting with Seul. Aw. What’s hilarious is that they cast someone to play the younger her, but Oska plays himself. Ha. Oska winks at her as she watches from the monitor, and she smiles.

Joo-won and Ra-im each do well at work, and enjoy the sleepy exhaustion of being newlyweds. Ra-im: “You have to let me sleep sometimes!” Heh…heh. Heh. Heh.

Oska gets ready for his big concert, and everyone watches happily as he sings. Tae-sun is the only one who looks on with a heavy heart, as he sighs wistfully, slings a bag over his shoulder, and walks away.

Seul sees him, and chases him down backstage. She asks if he’s really leaving this way. He answers that it’s because he doesn’t like her (still calling her ajumma). She realizes that he genuinely loved Oska, and asks if he can’t stay and be his friend.

Tae-sun: “You mean you get to be his lover while I have to be his friend?” Well, when you put it that way…

He tells her not to lose Oska to some other girl, and says that the song “Tears” is his gift to her, as he walks away. She tells him that if he ever needs something, to call her. I do really love these two as frenemies fighting over one man. Too bad he has to leave.

On stage, Oska sings his 7th album title track, “Tears.” Seul returns to her seat holds up a sign that says, “Sun said that this song is about me. Do I have that right? With the excuse that I was hurt, I hurt you so much. I’m really sorry. Truthfully, the roasted chestnuts is me. But the cheesecake is some other bitch. I still love you anyway, Choi Woo-young.”

Hahaha. I do love her sassiness. Oska makes a big heart over his head as he sings, signaling to her that he loves her too, and she cries, holding up her sign in the middle of the audience.

As we watch Ra-im do sit-ups while Joo-won holds her legs (an excuse for him to kiss her, of course) he narrates in voiceover that they spend their days finding out just how immature a man and a woman who are in love can be. Heh. Accurate description if I’ve ever heard of one.

They wear MATCHING SPARKLY TRACKSUITS as they play and run around in the snow, and they continue to fight and make up like always. This time he follows her into the elevator for a makeout session, only to be awkwardly interrupted by his entire executive staff. As everyone else gawks and averts their eyes, Secretary Kim takes out his camera….LOL.

Five years later, they have three kids, and Ah-young’s dream comes true, as the couple takes the kids to Grandma’s house for a visit. There, outside the big gate, the kids cry that Mom won’t get them some new toy. Ra-im remembers the dream, and laughs that it really did come true.

Grandma comes out to greet the kids warmly, but coldly ignores Joo-won and Ra-im, making sure the gate shuts firmly behind her. Joo-won says in voiceover that his mother really was true to her word. They expected that time would change her, but she’s remained as firm as ever.

I rather like that her character stayed consistent. No easy answers in life. You know, except for coma-killing-body-swapping miracles. Except for those.

Ra-im becomes an action school director herself, echoing Jong-soo’s lines from the first episode to her team of stuntmen.

Oska proposes to Seul with a chestnut and then the ring he’s kept for all those years, and tells her that fifteen years have gone by since the beginning, and he plans to never grow up, and remain like this with her forever. Well, it’s good that you set realistic goals. She cries, overwhelmed (and probably exhausted, what with fifteen years of dating).

Ah-young and Secretary Kim walk along the river, and happen to find the message in a bottle that he had thrown into the ocean on Jeju Island after they had first met. She takes it as a sign and hugs him in delight.

Jong-soo goes to meet a casting director for a project, only to come face to face with Sohn Ye-jin. Dude, he gets Sohn Ye-jin as a consolation prize? No need to feel sorry for this guy!

She tells him that she happened upon his script that’s been stuck in development hell for the better part of a year, and asks what he thinks of her. He’s like, whaaa? Sohn Ye-jin: “What, were you thinking of casting Angelina Jolie?” He literally OMGs to her face. Haha.

Joo-won and Ra-im put all the kids to sleep and sneak out, thinking they’re home free…only one of them wakes up and announces that he’s going to sleep with mommy tonight. Joo-won: “Who says?” Kid: “Moooommy, I don’t like Daddy.” Ra-im: “I don’t like YOU right now.” Hahaha.

Joo-won puts the kid back to sleep with one finger to the forehead (That’s exactly what MY dad used to do! Why do all Korean dads do that? Where do they learn this stuff?)

They finally get the kids to sleep, and Joo-won carries her out. They go for a walk, as Ra-im says in voiceover:

Ra-im: We still don’t have a single wedding photo. But we live every day, loving and being loved, living a magical life. Maybe being in love is a lot like swapping souls. May your soul have flowers that bloom, a cool breeze, a shining sun, and…once in a while, a magical rain that falls.

It starts to snow as she says those last words, and they snuggle as they watch the snow come down. Still in voiceover, Ra-im asks Joo-won if he’s really not going to tell her…what he meant when he said he tried to deliver her father’s message sooner. Well you sure did ask soon. Five years and three kids later, you finally want to know?

We flashback to thirteen years ago, when Joo-won had gone to the funeral in his hospital gown, and seen Ra-im for the first time. He cried outside and watched over her all day and night, but couldn’t bring himself to go in.

Finally in the middle of the night, when she had fallen asleep on the ground, he came in and repeated, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” over and over to her. He collapsed next to her, and in a stupor, he watched her sleep. She started having a nightmare, and he put his finger on her forehead.

He then fell asleep with his hand over hers. They had met that way, in the wake of her father’s death, only to repeat the same actions over and over again.

GIRLFRIDAY’S COMMENTS

What’s fated is fated. That’s pretty much the moral of the story.

As a final episode it didn’t exactly wow me, since including yesterday’s, that’s two full episodes of denouement. All the dramatic payoffs actually happened last week, and this week was mostly a happy send-off for all the characters, one by one. On the upside, it wrapped everything up neatly with bows and all, and we got an entire episode of future bliss for all involved. On the downside, no dramatic tension to be had whatsoever.

On the whole this series was kind of Frankenstein’s monster, what with all the piecing together of disparate genres and picking and choosing elements that don’t really bind together…but it walked and talked like a drama. I think this writer’s strengths are in the moments—her dialogue is crisp and witty, and all the butting of heads crackles with humor and dramatic possibilities. I especially loved the rampant immaturity in all the adult characters. It was aggravating at times, but always entertaining. Her sense of humor is dry and immature, which totally jives with mine. Heh.

What I find lacking (besides a satisfying use of the body swap element, grrr) is a true connection to her characters. I just never fell in love with Joo-won or Ra-im. I know lots of people did, and I’m happy for your beautiful and fulfilling love. I just didn’t, and well, it’s impossible to fall in love with a drama when you’re not in love with the main characters.

I found Joo-won’s character very compelling at first, because he was so damaged and flawed and curiously new…but he ended up being SO socially abrasive that he lost me. Ra-im seemed like she was going to be all spunk, but ended up quite the lackluster heroine, for all the badassery that was initially advertised. That’s not to say that they were wholly unsympathetic, but my heart didn’t expand and contract along with theirs; I didn’t cry when they cried; I didn’t hold my breath when they declared their love….and I really really wanted to. I just didn’t.

I don’t think I’ll ever get past the utter waste that was the body swap plot (oh, the potential, what could have been…I bleed, I cry…) and wielding the fantasy element with such disregard for narrative satisfaction. In the end I think the show courted the audience a lot like Joo-won courted Ra-im: it wore a bunch of shiny things and then expected us to come running, impressed at all the awesome. Hand-stitched in Italy is impressive, yes, but I think I’ll stick to machine-washable: earnest, and full of heart. But that’s just me.

JAVABEANS’ COMMENTS

First off, the finale itself. What a weird, uneven cobbling together of epilogue-type scenes. You can really feel the rush job with the awkward cuts between scenes, changing threads without a proper sense of build and flow. I thought it felt like the finale episode of a drama that has been given a last-minute extension—lots of padding to provide fanservice and fill out the time.

I have to admit that the latter half of the episode felt like a copy of My Name Is Kim Sam-soon to me, but without the emotional resonance—I LOVE the finale episode of Sam-soon and felt it was a beautiful fit to the drama, but here, it feels tacked-on. I wish the writer had found a way to make a finale that was more organic to THIS show, that felt like it flowed out of the 19 episodes preceding it, but I think she’d run out of steam (and perhaps more importantly, time).

As for the drama as a whole: Secret Garden is like Gourmet to me—the loveliness of the packaging totally obscures the ordinariness of the story and the hackneyed plot. That’s totally not an insult (and I really enjoyed Gourmet), although I know there will be those who take it as one. But let’s take a look at the drama first before jumping that gun—it’s a show built entirely around the premise of two lovers being held apart by social class, fantasy body-switching shenanigans notwithstanding. And with regards to that central conceit of She’s Just Not Good Enough, there’s nothing really new about how it’s addressed: Hero struggles with self, eventually gets over it. Hero’s mom struggles with it, causes a shitstorm of trouble to keep them apart, never gets over it.

Nothing wrong with a simple plot, and certainly, Secret Garden is buoyed by enough other aspects to make it a fun watch. The acting, for sure, and the chemistry between Ha Ji-won and Hyun Bin, which I think was fabulous despite never fully warming to either character. The depictions were great—the characters, meh. Ra-im was a shell of a character, never given much development or complexity; the writer chose to pour all her energies into Joo-won, at Ra-im’s expense. (This is not exclusive to Secret Garden, since it happens in a number of dramas, but the prevalence of this particular flaw doesn’t negate its weakness.) Thankfully Ha Ji-won’s performance was enough to gloss over that insufficiency for most viewers, although I wished I could have felt something for her character or connected with her even a little.

The magical element frustrates me the most because one of the biggest issues in the drama’s plot IS the body-swapping, and yet the drama never defines its magical rules, never explains the purpose, and just leaves us hanging. I don’t mean that everything has to be explained in minute detail, but when you create a huge conflict and then resolve it with absolutely no explanation, I’m going to feel cheated. I don’t need a logical explanation about how this works in real-life physics, but hell yeah I’m going to want to know why and how it happened within the context of the show itself. Instead, I’m left wondering, What was the point?

It’s clear that Dad initiated the swap to save Ra-im from a horrible stunt accident, based on his comments at the Mysterious Garden restaurant and after she misses her audition. Joo-won effects his so-called miracle to get her the role anyway, circumventing Dad’s intentions, which I can accept as one of those hand-of-fate motifs that kdramas so love to incorporate. But as we see, after she’s in her coma and pronounced very likely brain-dead, Dad still has the magical wherewithal to restore her body, healthy and whole. So why did he ever initiate the swap in the first place, if his mojo could revive the brain-dead?

I don’t buy that they needed to be swapped for Dad to save Ra-im, or that her body needed Joo-won’s soul to heal, because her own soul was perfectly intact—it awakened fine in Joo-won’s body. The only thing damaged was Ra-im’s body, and it was revived just fine.

The same goes for the amnesia—it happens for no reason, then goes away just as easily at a convenient moment. The 21-year-old Joo-won gave me some of my favorite bits of hilarity so I’m fine with the drama taking us there, if only to provide some bubbly fun. But couldn’t the drama have cobbled together a reason, any reason, no matter how flimsy, to explain it? Instead it just waves its figurative wand o’ hoodoo and makes the inconvenient questions disappear into bubbles with that narrative cure-all, magic.

So I am left to conclude that that magic was utterly pointless, and that makes me feel like Drama jerked me around and toyed with my feelings. And it’s too bad, because it’s such a well-made drama that had they tried just a WEE bit harder to connect its dots, it could have been more than a very prettily wrapped box… of air.

I know I know, people will always tell me to shut up and just enjoy it already. I’ve gotten the emails. But that’s not how it works for me— if a drama simply ceases to make sense, then I can’t enjoy it, because I like stories to not make my brain hurt. Or rather, let’s put it this way: I can fall in love with a crazy, messy ball of contradictions, flaws and all (which I’m sure you already know if you’ve been reading this site for any length of time). But I’m not going to try to convince myself that it’s not actually a crazy, messy ball of contradictions. In fact, I enjoyed Secret Garden despite much of its absurdity, shed a few tears, and laughed out loud at its wackier moments. It was fun, and often entertaining and zippy with the comedy. It didn’t rock my world, but not everything has to.

633

Required fields are marked *

151 rainerust

January 17, 2011 at 7:21 AM

I can't believe this drama is over...sigh. Now I'm back to hating Mondays.

Despite the logic flaws, I really, really loved the characters and the drama itself - the witty dialogue, and the way the writer managed to tie in most of the plot points all the way to the end (okay, except for JW's sister who mysteriously disappeared. I kept expecting for her to turn up somewhere but...it's like they totally forgot she existed. Which isn't an impossibility, what with their filming schedule).

I like that Evil Mom hasn't still forgiven them, and I like their little slices of life after the 'Happily Ever After', because sometimes even though it's nice to end on a dramatic high, I feel like...that's it? How do I really know you're living happily ever after? HOW? So yeah, I'm actually happy with this last episode. And the last scene was sweet.

I imagine the voiceover wasn't really them asking each other at that exact moment when snow fell, but more like them remembering the moment when she asked him about it, and when he shared his story with her. It's really sweet.

Even though you guys didn't really seem to enjoy the drama (certainly not as much as I loved it!), thank you SO MUCH both for your fabulously fast recaps after each episode, just so I could check what the heck was going on (some of the subtitles I was reading didn't make sense...but then again I could never wait for the English subs, and went straight for the Chinese ones, so...). Love you guys, JB & GF, and hope y'all will find a drama in 2011 that y'all really love! 2010 seemed to have been a little disappointing for y'all (except for MGiaG for GF?)...

Required fields are marked *

152 Shin mi rAe

January 17, 2011 at 7:21 AM

I love reading the comments. Thanks jb and gf.

Binnie, I love you so much. I'm so happy to see how you have grown from kss to secret garden. I will miss you terribly. I'm glad I haven't got the chance to watch worlds within and friends. I will watch that while you are away. Be safe and know we are all awaiting your return.

Required fields are marked *

153 Free

January 17, 2011 at 7:22 AM

wow, superfast recap!

thanks to both JB & GF !!!

Required fields are marked *

154 tracy

January 17, 2011 at 7:22 AM

can't get enough of it. I've truely enjoyed SG, at least the ending was so much better than that of Pasta :]

Required fields are marked *

155 ngy

January 17, 2011 at 7:23 AM

F*ck fate! Other than that, the drama's good.

Required fields are marked *

156 fatraspberry

January 17, 2011 at 7:28 AM

this last ep wasn't so overwhelming for me BUUUUUUUT i still love it! idk maybe because i'm SG-biased? haha. i loooove hyunbin and ha ji won..if they're having another project together, i'm SOOOO going to watch it :D too bad hyunbin is going to the army very soon. :(

Required fields are marked *

157 AcrobaticUrchin

January 17, 2011 at 7:32 AM

Ignoring the obvious fan service of this final episode (which I will not deny I found really cute), I actually liked how it went out. It wasn't hugely dramatic, but sort of quiet, how you might expect it to be (even in 'real life, where are lives are sadly not like this show).

The show is really built around (awesome acting and) moments, so when they made the final episode a collage of moments, it seemed to fit for me. It was sweet, but not too sweet, and exact how a FAIRYTALE should end: we always see them ride off into the sunset on a white horse and then, "they lived happily ever after." That's exactly what happened here. We got to see bits and pieces of their happily ever after - so I thought it sort of fit the fairytale theme.

I'm also very glad that Joo Won's mother didn't end up all butterflies and ponies. That doesn't usually happen in fairytales - the antagonist does not redeem itself, either being destroyed in some way or disappearing off the face of the planet so we don't have to see them again. Not quite a perfect bow.

So, despite its patchiness, I think the drama actually stuck to the magical fairytale theme it has been spinning all along. I especially liked that they tied Joo Won back to Ra Im at the very end because not only was their end (or should it be beginning?) a fairytale, but their middle, and ultimately their beginning became even more 'magical'.

Required fields are marked *

158 sjsmnn

January 17, 2011 at 7:32 AM

Me too Love So Ye Jin

Required fields are marked *

159 fatraspberry

January 17, 2011 at 7:36 AM

ahhh no more waiting on dramacrazy for eng sub or waiting for the recap every weekend, i really like this drama. :( so sad it's ending. :(

Required fields are marked *

160 JOEY

January 17, 2011 at 7:36 AM

Its actually 17 years later... not 13...
When he flashes back. =D

Required fields are marked *

Sukispop

January 18, 2011 at 8:00 PM

Che-song-ham-ni-da...but it was 13 years.

In the drama's present time, Joo-won is 34 and Ra-im is 30. When the elevator accident occurred, Joo-won was 21 and Ra-im was 17. ;)

Required fields are marked *

161 SG-addict

January 17, 2011 at 7:39 AM

Can't believe SG has ended. Withdrawal Symptoms, here I come! :(

Admittedly, the final episode is nothing more than fluff, but I loved it! Grateful to KES and the whole production team for the fanservice! :)

It's been an extremely enjoyable and memorable ride, SG! Thank you for all the laughs, fun and joy in the past 10 weekends!

JB and GF, you guys have been awesome with your recaps! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Muah! <3

Required fields are marked *

162 dramaloverrr

January 17, 2011 at 8:05 AM

THE ENDING WAS SOOO SWEET!!! I LOVED IT!!! i was smiling and crying a bucket of tears!!!
okay...with that said, this is my favorite drama hands down, and i'm going to miss it and everyone in it. i'm just sad that it's over.

Required fields are marked *

163 weissman

January 17, 2011 at 8:26 AM

I loved everyminute of this . Its right up there with my all time favorate

Required fields are marked *

164 buhdoop

January 17, 2011 at 8:27 AM

Secret Garden is the first Kdrama I have watched week to week. I am new to Kdramas so I have been marathoning them, but this was the first one where I had to wait and wait and wait for the episodes to air.

I experienced all of the butterflies waiting for it to come on, the fan girliness of looking up the spoilers and deciding whether I wanted to read them or not. The giddiness after seeing the spoilers (especially the Joo-Won Oska kiss spoiler OMG).

SG lost me in the last several episodes, but I was already hooked with the story and wanted to see how it turned out. It was a fun ride and makes me wonder how people felt when other popular shows like My Name Is Kim Sam Soon was airing.

Goodbye Secret Garden, it was fun while it lasted. Bring on the next drama :)

Required fields are marked *

165 Linda165

January 17, 2011 at 8:30 AM

Thanks for the recaps, but sorry girls, you're comments won't spoil my love for this show and the character. :)

Required fields are marked *

166 Canto

January 17, 2011 at 8:30 AM

Don't hate me! But I am lamenting over Hyun Bin the actor!

I read from LiveKPop and PopSeoul that he may have plastic surgery his jaw to have a V line... currently popular with male artistes, with the androgynous male looks that are currently the rage in Korea. Like Se7en and other pop idols.

After his prominent V line, he may had to lose weight in order not to look too different.

If it's true... I lament the loss of the original cute Hyun Bin in MNIKSS. He was so cute without the V line anyway, why did he do it? He was like really, really good looking... I miss the original Hyun Bin!

And also on the topic, my other fav k drama, SKS, I was surprised to read online that Park Min Young admitted that she had done double eyelids and nose plastic surgery before her debut. Hmm...

The good thing, I searched online and head Micky Yoochun's singing voice. His voice is low and scratchy, and romantic, such a muscial talent! Very nice...

Required fields are marked *

x0mi07

January 17, 2011 at 2:12 PM

it's not plastic surgery. trust me. i asked my dad already cuz he's a consultant plastic surgeon and has been for over 18 years.=) my dad said it's just weight loss. he even assessed my face and said if i get as skinny as him, i'd also show prominent cheekbones and a rather visible v-line. se7en didn't get plastic surgery either. my dad and i are sure too.

when you've seen enough, you could usually tell what's plastic and what's not.^^

Required fields are marked *

A

January 17, 2011 at 4:08 PM

agreed, for me it's gets easier and easier to tell who's had surgery and who hasn't after watching a lot of dramas

in actresses,
i would say that if they look pretty all the time, as in even when they are crying their heart out, and they look perfect from any angle/lighting, i'd say they had some sort of surgery. it's especially easy to tell nose jobs and double eyelid surgeries

Required fields are marked *

Barbara Starks

January 17, 2011 at 4:52 PM

It not plastic surgery but great deal of weight loss!!, his face is amazing but his body need some meat on it!!! I think he was the biggest in the Movie "In love with a Million" nice in the drama "My Lovely Sam Soon" and only head shot please in "Secret Garden" but his acting skills as always been grade A....

Required fields are marked *

bd2

January 18, 2011 at 1:26 AM

It's weight loss.

Hyun Bin's jawline looks the same as when he was younger and skinny (can actually see the changes every time he gains and loses weight).

Required fields are marked *

167 fromdblock

January 17, 2011 at 8:50 AM

secret garden

-magical and fantastic ;)
-adorable leads
-lots of cute, funny and romantic scenes
-was not perfect but i really loved it

Required fields are marked *

168 gea

January 17, 2011 at 8:57 AM

so this is goodbye... SG, thank you for the roller coaster ride... you will remain in my heart till the end of my life~ ah so sad~ :(
Hyun Bin, finish your MS quickly, do more great dramas and movies, and marry Ha Ji Won!
Ha Ji Won, i wanna see you beat Angelina Jolie to pulp! :P and yeah, marry Hyun Bin when his MS is over :D
Yoon Sang Hyun, release more album as OSCAR and do lots of romcom drama ok?
Kim Sa Rang, now i'm a fan of you. you should marry Yoon Sang Hyun for real lol!
Secretary Kim, i still think you are a psychotic drug and organ dealer when you are not being Joo Won's secretary! if Ah Young disappear, i'll hunt you down!
Ah Young, i love you! i love you! i love you! will you be my bestfriend now? :P

thanks JB n GF for your insightful comments and recaps... i had so much fun here... fighting!!!

Required fields are marked *

kappy

January 18, 2011 at 11:21 PM

Gea,
I've read a LOT of these comments and meant to respond to some of them (more of them, that is) but haven't (would take too much effort and time, and it's late), but I had to respond to yours 'cause it's so cute! My thoughts are pretty much the same! :)

Required fields are marked *

169 Yuki

January 17, 2011 at 8:59 AM

First of all, thanks for the recaps!
I do like this drama even though there are ups and down, flaws too... but boy, Hyun Bin did a great job! I was very impressed with his acting since "Friends" (he was super good in that one and I think he should have won tons of acting awards for that drama).
I just want to add that even though the chemistry between HB and HJW is very good in Secret garden, but the kissing scenes in "the world they live in" were better, more natural and didn't give us the feeling of they were acting. I just feel some kissing scene in Secret garden were a little bit off which is a shame.
Well,just my own opinion. Over all, Hyun Bin is a very good actor, will sure miss him in 02 years!

Required fields are marked *

ghaylet

January 17, 2011 at 11:45 PM

Yeah, felt that too. I think Ha Ji Won is awkward during kissing scenes. I'm not sure if it comes with the character but it seems like she's holding back something. Even so, I love them to pieces..

Required fields are marked *

kappy

January 18, 2011 at 11:28 PM

Yes, I thought the same thing about HJW's kissing. Hyun Bin does a fine job (and I mean FINE), but girl, did we forget what to do with our lips? They needed to... move more. Oh well, loved their chemistry! Really loved the end where Ra Im is not holding back anymore and they seemed so in love with each other.

Required fields are marked *

170 katiekatekate

January 17, 2011 at 9:01 AM

it would have been nicer if the drama ended with huggy huggy of Ra im and Joo won, the flashback just made me sad.

but the drama was great, very cute hehe. ^_^_^

Required fields are marked *

171 Wendy

January 17, 2011 at 9:20 AM

I will miss secret garden. "Is this the best? Are you sure?" Maybe it is not the best for some, but its will do for me.

Required fields are marked *

172 Seanshine

January 17, 2011 at 9:23 AM

Firstly, thanks soo much for the recaps of this drama. ;)

As I've mentioned before..NO CHEMISTRY! I am a Hyun Bin fan through and through. But for some reason the romance these two have feels forced, not really natural. There were times I wanted to so much believe the storyline (to sincerely enjoy what was being layed out in front of me) but I just couldn't. I can watch most korean dramas over and over but this I probably wouldn't watch again like that. I think its because the script was a bit too far fetched..even by 'fated to be together' standards.

The actress was a bit to stiff. Where is Kim Suh Na when you need her? Lol

Bin and Suh Na need to do another drama together, but this time around, she being the woman that's unobtainable. Lol

Cheers!

Required fields are marked *

kappy

January 18, 2011 at 11:39 PM

No chemistry?! That seems so strange to see amidst a sea of "Wow, great chemistry!" comments, but oh well. To each his/her own.

Required fields are marked *

173 hookedonmonix

January 17, 2011 at 9:31 AM

no that anyone is going to read comments this far back, but I have to say that I love the fact that JW and RI kiss so much in this last episode. Not just because I love kissing scenes, but I always find it a bit odd that after the big kiss scene (usually around the middle of the series), the couple seems to lack any desire to kiss again. Or move forward at all in their physical relationship.

Required fields are marked *

Linda165

January 17, 2011 at 9:37 AM

I read your comment :)

Required fields are marked *

AcrobaticUrchin

January 17, 2011 at 10:05 AM

I come back and read all the comments, so I read your comment too, and I agree.

There is always a big kiss and then nothing. I thought there was about one too many kisses in this last episode so it felt just the slightest slightest bit forced, but then again, it is snippets of their newlywed days and we know from 21-year-old Joo Won that he's sort of a pervert.

It is nice to see a physical relationship between the two characters, especially between these two because they're always been physical (the shin-kicks, the sit-ups...). And because they've lived as the other, literally, for a period of time, that skinship barrier is even more reduced (at least in my opinion).

Required fields are marked *

Jane

January 17, 2011 at 11:02 AM

Really? Most of the dramas I've seen have the couple kiss in the last episode.

Required fields are marked *

174 Seanshine

January 17, 2011 at 9:43 AM

Oh I can't forget about Oska. Oska rocked this show. Loved him!

Required fields are marked *

175 lb_tmi

January 17, 2011 at 9:44 AM

i was never really a fan of Binnie, but dang!! he really really shines here in Secret Garden. I love me my HJW, but she paled in comparison to Binnie.. but their chemistry together was phenomenal!!

i am such an easy pleaser in regards to dramawatching, that i don't notice editing, music, and whatnot.. i can brush those aside and it not bother me one bit.. but boy was it ever noticeable in this finale!! the editing was so choppy! the music didn't seem to always fit.. and wth w/ the concert scene and al the background noise? irritating that one couldn't just listen to Oska's singing because there was so much other crap noise and echoing going on...

i LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDDDDD the double tracksuit frolicking in the snow!! i loved that KeyLime initiated the wedding night, and i LOVE LOVE LOVE secretary kim taking out the camera phone when the elevator doors opened up. Secretary Kim was by far my most favoritest character, followed by Oska, then Jung Hwan from the action school. I wish Taesun's ending would have been different, cuz i felt like he shoulda got someone to love..

i disliked JongSoo's pairing w/ SonYejin, not because she's not awesome, but we had that glimpse at Joowon's sister and him... i would have liked to see some follow thru on that. and i don't like that grandpa didn't give his blessings because he's standing behind evilest mom of kdramaland... he said himself he was forced into 3 marriages before the 4th wife, he should approve of Joowon not having to go thru that and finding someone he loves as his FIRST and ONLY WIFE!!

the kids weren't really properly used except for the scene where evil mom takes them in and leaves KeyLime and Joowon outside the gates. other than that, there was no need for them in the other scenes.

ep 19 and ep 20 accident and KeyLime's father's funeral scenes are heartbreaking.. and probably the best parts of the eps...

overall, i loved this drama.. but i prolly won't watch ep 20 again... cuz it was my least favorite and didn't really feel like the rest of the drama.

Required fields are marked *

ar

January 17, 2011 at 10:15 AM

the grandpa had potential with the nice 4th wife. It was sort of weird that he would throw his support behind JW's mom when it looks like he didn't like JW's mom that much. Actually it doesn't look like he likes his entire family much.

I guess he's really traditional too in thinking that kids should listen to their parents. And if he had decided to override JW's mom's decision, it would have been too neat and pat.

Required fields are marked *

176 Zoe

January 17, 2011 at 10:31 AM

I thought the reason for the body switch was so he could identify with Gil Ra Im in some way...to literally get outside himself. It also forced them to spend time together, to defend their respective jobs. That was enough of a reason for me.

Required fields are marked *

Wendy

January 17, 2011 at 3:36 PM

Yeah!!! I agree with you! Even though dead Daddy said the magic was to save his daughter, but like someone else mentioned, I think it was to save JW too. He went from a cold and haunted character to well... pretty much a normal person that doesnt need to go see a shrink or take meds, and who remembers his childhood. As for Ra-Im, well she was always apologizing, and probably had an inferiority complex when it came to her superiors and elders. She's still scarred from Dad just suddenly vanishing one day. I think that JW and RI switching souls allowed them both to heal what was broken. After all, dead Daddy never said that the salvation he wanted to grant was physical. Maybe it was more about the soul to begin with :p

Required fields are marked *

177 Kimy

January 17, 2011 at 10:41 AM

Get ep 19 & 20 softsubs from here:
http://www.darksmurfsub.com/forum/index.php?/topic/29-secret-garden-2010-episode-1-20-completed/
(You have to sign up first to dl the subs)

Required fields are marked *

178 more

January 17, 2011 at 10:43 AM

Anybody who says a drama is not supposed to make since is an idiot

Required fields are marked *

179 dae hae

January 17, 2011 at 10:50 AM

After watching 20 eps of Hyun Bin, I am still asking if HB did something to his jaw line. It looks different than before, and his dimples are missing. He had a perfect face, so why mess with perfection.

Required fields are marked *

buhdoop

January 17, 2011 at 1:27 PM

My husband was wondering the same thing. He said he was much more handsome in My Name is Kim Sam Soon but looked a little weird/strange in SG.

We chocked it up to losing a lot of weight. His featured will probably come back when he gains weight.

Required fields are marked *

A

January 17, 2011 at 4:12 PM

i remember from an interview he did he said he lost 8-10 kg of weight, that's 16-20 pounds!
of course he would look different

Required fields are marked *

180 pigrabbit

January 17, 2011 at 10:52 AM

"Is this your best, Show? Are you sure??"

Well, the ending wasn't what I was hoping for, but at least it tied up all the knots. Thanks for all of your time and dedication to writing these recaps! I've thoroughly enjoyed your comments, often more than I've enjoyed the episodes XD Thanks!!

Required fields are marked *

181 halcyon

January 17, 2011 at 10:53 AM

omg.. it was perfect ending..but after reading ur comment, did i felt like something was missing or undone.. like the body swap part..n brain dead n still alive.. nyway who cares as long as its happily eva after.. love hyun bin.. n i ended up liking oska...he was just amazing...

Required fields are marked *

182 SujuSarang4Eveer

January 17, 2011 at 10:58 AM

Over all, I can see that my favorite drama title goes from BBF to Secret Garden!
Even though the magic was kind of useless and illogical... but so are things in most Korean dramas.. you just have to learn to accept the weirdness. I still think the magic added spunkiness to the drama. It gave us many laughs which makes up for the tears later on.
And I agree about Hyun Bin's character... I really wanted to go in my computer screen and slap him hard but I think his character improved later (much like almost every jerky male lead). Despite him being jerk.. I fell for him once he became nicer... and now I am diagnosed with JooWonism and BlueTrackSuitnism <3
Even though Ji Won's character was a little weak, I still liked her character since she showed girl power against Hyun Bin! All the kicking and beating up won me over <3
I loved Yoon Seul's character! especially the love war with Tae Sun! And Oska.... aw, Oska! he is just adorable!!!
Secretary Kim! I am in love... he is so cute and funny and I just love his character!
Mom wins the award of being the evilest mom!! yeay!
I send special love to that guy who confessed to RaIm at the Christmas party! and to all the people at the action school! They treat RaIm like their sister and its very heart warming!
BTW, what happened to JooWon's sister? I expected her and director to get together....
Overall, I love the characters(Yes, even mom. Even though she was a total bitch, she was awesome at being a bitch.)
Secret Garden <3

Required fields are marked *

183 teapot

January 17, 2011 at 11:13 AM

My thought during the scene where the elevator opens on the kiss: Director Park, dude, you need to get some.

Required fields are marked *

184 jent

January 17, 2011 at 11:31 AM

will have to go out and get the dvds... and REWATCH. it's awesome and loved the way they finished it. everything started with a fairytale and we end with reality. =) somewhat.

i LOVE it. it didn't need to be perfect. it just needed "to be".

this show made me a binnie fan and have always loved ha ji won.

now im a bit sad there's really nothing else that's on par with this drama to watch. *sigh*...

my princess, here i come.

Required fields are marked *

185 kati

January 17, 2011 at 11:38 AM

I am started watching korean dramas about half an year and I didnt know so much how is everything. First I had not interest in this drama but I saw that everyone talk about and I tought let see what is this I catch up in ep 7 and I loved it. It was full of humor and the caracters is was something interesting and started wait every week...
Became a fun but the end I am a bit confuse the mom but they know why they did this.
but I miss a humor it was so good and what happend became so dramatic and for me lost a bit that...
But I dont complain it was ok how is wrote
JAVABEANS " In fact, I enjoyed Secret Garden despite much of its absurdity, shed a few tears, and laughed out loud at its wackier moments. It was fun, and often entertaining and zippy with the comedy. "
Thanks

Required fields are marked *

186 Clover

January 17, 2011 at 12:00 PM

I really enjoyed these last two episodes! i think the author could have helped connect the dots a bit more, but because of time constraints and the fact that it was only supposed to be 20 episodes, I am satisfied! xD

I would definitely recommend this drama to my friends!

Required fields are marked *

187 alex

January 17, 2011 at 12:02 PM

I stopped watching a long time ago , after the 1st episode , I think ,because it was so stupid .It was a very poor remake of MNIKSS . I read all the recaps and never found any reason to watch again . I agree with all the crirics of GF and JB . Thank you for all your comments .

Required fields are marked *

gingganggolli

January 17, 2011 at 5:29 PM

….wow need to calm down buddy…Judging the drama after watching ep. 1 and say stupid? Well that’s the stupidest thing to say…

…and have you really read the review of gf and jb? or better yet did you understand? They didn’t say stupid, but “it would have been perfect if?...duh

…We would have appreciated the comment if you pointed the reason why its dim-witted drama or suggest kramas that you think not being stupid and lets see....

Required fields are marked *

bd2

January 18, 2011 at 1:29 AM

Alex didn't miss anything.

Overall, SG was pretty bad.

Required fields are marked *

nn

January 18, 2011 at 6:41 PM

@bd2
bad,,, huh?

but u still watch it rite?

Required fields are marked *

188 anotherfan

January 17, 2011 at 12:13 PM

I commented once already just generally but i finally watched the last 2 episodes when I was actually awake and read all the comments here - most of all were really interesting.

I do want to say that I did laugh at JB's comment about the mom "no likey the girlfriends"... JB - you really know how to hit the point :) I also cannot imagine anyone other than HB being Joo Won. He was quite good. I'm no fan of him... I always thought he was good but didn't really pay attention after MNIKSS and ML movie. I couldn't make it through WAWWLI. And the series is set up better for him and as awful as his character was - he was great at playing JW. As for HJW - I saw her first in Bali and I loved her, and then I saw Hwang Jini and thought she was good. She's definitely way toned down in this series, but I thought she did a pretty good job matching up to JW character.

I do like how all the character are pretty consistent. So episode 20 was a lot of fanservice but for the first time - I didn't mind. not sure why... maybe cause it felt pretty realistic. Putting kids to bed -- oh... they hit that right on. It takes forever sometimes!

I'm glad that there wasn't any one character that I really did not like. Ok - maybe the mom. At least there wasn't an annoying 2nd female lead here.

All in all, I'm glad I watched it. It's not the greatest drama ever or anything but I watched and loved it like it was. :)

Required fields are marked *

Chris

January 17, 2011 at 5:34 PM

Amen to that. Well put.

I loved it from beginning to end.

There were those who mentioned that due to GF & JB comments they won't watch Secret Garden.

I would strongly suggest that they should watch it themselves and judge whether worth watching or not.

Required fields are marked *

189 dramaloverrr

January 17, 2011 at 12:47 PM

i find myself watching the ending scene over and over again...never once did i not tear up. it's just sooo beautiful and sweet. what's fated is fated... awww i'm gonna miss it.

Required fields are marked *

190 Superapple

January 17, 2011 at 1:09 PM

I'm just like you : the begining was so great and full of good promises.. but only the first half was that good. After that it stayed funny, and the crazy chemistry between the two was always there that's why i didn't stop watching it, but as you said, thay didn't assure the explanations, the development etc, it's a shame. But seriously, all the sparkles, and the jokes, ahhhh :D.

Required fields are marked *

191 anh

January 17, 2011 at 1:41 PM

Just a note – I absolutely adore Michael’s take on the MAGIC in Secret Garden. But like he puts it, either you buy the premise and the use of magic in the show or you don’t. I personally think that the writer did a fantastic job in creating such world with fine details. Everything makes sense in the end, and she does make a point about love and sacrifice. I like this way of telling the story. It’s perhaps quieter and poignant. Not everyone’s cup of tea apparently. Anyway, enjoy the delicious words by Michael people!

http://thundie.wordpress.com/2011/01/17/the-secret-garden-the-17th-18th-episodes/

Required fields are marked *

192 dancetrina

January 17, 2011 at 1:42 PM

I will absolutely miss this drama! Love you Binnie!

Required fields are marked *

193 keunsukfan

January 17, 2011 at 1:53 PM

didn't watch it. just read the recaps. so now, not gonna.

i still love ha ji won and hyun bin though...

Required fields are marked *

194 rystal

January 17, 2011 at 1:57 PM

lol you both needa stop analyzing dramas and just enjoy them. ur reviews were cute at first but after a while they got boring and just plain old whiny. honestly u dont like it? we get it, the drama doesnt have to make sense but dont bring others down with your rampage episode after episode, its not cute. u wanted to get ur point across? that u didnt like the way they handled the magical part? well we got that after about the millionth time you said it girls, no need to go to the millionth and one.
funny how u like the piece of crap that dream high is but u cant shut up about your complaints on such a well put drama like Secret Garden.
whatever, it's hundreds of fans beg to disagree with you two and well, that's enough for me :)
thanks for your first recaps though, those were good until you got butthurt.

Required fields are marked *

x0mi07

January 17, 2011 at 2:23 PM

please take a step back and relax for a bit. jb and gf have been doing this for a long time. you don't have to like what they're saying but since you're here, you don't have to cross the line and bash them outright. that's being rude and it's completely unnecessary (not to mention ungrateful).

in the end it all comes down to personal preference. and universally speaking, just because they don't agree with you, you shouldn't be harping like this when you're browsing their site [which for the record they started for the purpose of deconstructing korean dramas and kpop culture]. it shouldn't kill you to be more polite.

Required fields are marked *

crazedlu

January 17, 2011 at 5:25 PM

secret garden was weak storytelling. it included a variety of kdrama cliches and genres it probably should've never touched and worked them poorly. if a writer doesn't weave their work together flawlessly, or at least give it a try, then what are they doing?

oh yeah.. fan service. i'd rather not write then.

Required fields are marked *

ContentedOne

January 18, 2011 at 7:10 AM

Actually I respect JB and GF a lot.But I also find a bit puzzle why they seems not to enjoy SG the way a lot of us are .I get it must be personal perference; just like I would not even give Jesoen X File a try, even to dramabeans it was the best for 2010.I just hope readers do not get discouraged to watch SG , because they will really miss out a gem.

Required fields are marked *

HappywithSG

January 18, 2011 at 2:16 PM

Heh, I agree with you, there are quite a few dramas that I find them to be average but JB and GF just love them so much, such as My Girlfriend is a Gumiho. It is ok, but I don't find it as entertaining as SG.

Required fields are marked *

195 microworm

January 17, 2011 at 3:00 PM

This drama didn't catch my attention initially, thanx for the recap, it was the recap that lure me to watch this drama. I didn't have much faith in the writer, Kim Eun Sook, becoz her previous drama were mostly below average (such as Hello Miss, Lovers, Lovers in Prague), Lovers in Paris and On Air were average, and City Hall was the only was that was enjoyable. So, I was relieved that SG remains enjoyable throughout, although I must say after episode 10, the plot was not neatly tied together.

Actually, I have stopped looking into the logic in dramas becoz most of them do not provide good answers under scrutiny. SG has some very witty and original scenes, strong acting, good OST and has provided good entertainment. It is a good romantic comedy compared to many others.

Required fields are marked *

196 omega

January 17, 2011 at 3:08 PM

I have same view with @175.1 asianromance , it would be a perfect episode , if JW and RI and the children , going thru the black gate , and mum welcome all of them warmly.

Required fields are marked *

197 Wendy

January 17, 2011 at 3:21 PM

Omo!! I'm so sad that Secret Garden is over!! I might be the only one, but I actually enjoyed the lack of DRAMA in the last episode, for once!! I'm so sick of dramas killing off one or both of the major characters in the last 5 minutes of the show. It was really sweet to get a glimpse into their life after all the craziness has ended! :D

And the characters were really endearing to me, and I really connected with them. I actually didnt get past episode 2 of SKKS, and dropped MSOAN after episode 6. The former because the OTP did nothing to me at first glance. Just nothing. I actually HOPED that those two weren't the OTP of the show. Normally I go automatically crazy for the OTP, but that time it didn't happen. As for the latter, well, the main leads looked cute but the after awhile the storyline grew really tiresome. Anyway, to each their own, I suppose. SG is a show that got me addicted to death for the first time in a long time. It's actually a first for me to start a show before it finished airing, and oh how I regret that. I think I've spent the most frantic week ever anticipating the last 2 episodes, and I was seriously going nuts lol.

jb and gf and some other people kept saying that the magical soul swapping had potential, but we never got to see what it could have been. uhhh just curious, but what exactly did you guys had in mind with "what it could have been"? When people keep saying that, it just frustrates me, because I'd really like to read about some of the brilliant could have been alternatives that people are thinking, or maybe not even thinking, of. when i read in the synopsis that the guy and girl would switch bodies, I was like : "oh cool! best potential for comedy EVER!" and that's exactly what the show delivered, no? To me it was funny as hell. Sometimes I think back to some of the things and I star laughing randomly out of nowhere. omg, is there a post secret garden shrink? cuz i think i need one. the only thing i'd improve would be to have had them switch bodies more than just twice! i really didnt get enough of the comedy LOL.

However, I do agree that Ra-Im waking up from the coma defies some logic. the way that dead daddy cured her was not something his magic was supposed to do. but then again when i think of the alternative, which is Ra-Im being DEAD, and the show ending in a stream of tears instead of the fluffy last episode, I quickly forgive and forget.

The thing I'll miss the most from the show is Hyun Bin though. Apart from being totally hot and talented, he delivered his character in a way that really made me swoon in spite of him being a jerk towards the middle of the show. However, his arrogance is also part of his charm, and I wouldn't have liked his character as much if he didnt serve us epic lines such as "helping the poor and alienated neighbors" and the like, haha. Jang Geun Suk in you're beautiful was a lot more arrogant than this with his "i give you permission to like me", but people loved him just fine (me included). So I don't get why some people are being so harsh on Joo Won.

So, all in all, Im really sad to say good bye to the show! Thanks for all the memorable moments!

What the hell can I possibly go watch now? Cant believe HB's next work will be in 2 years! Arg!

Required fields are marked *

198 =_=

January 17, 2011 at 3:58 PM

can anyone explain the purpose of the body swapping part???

imo, KJW & GRI part started from funny -> boring -> good (because they dun have a clear story until the ending)
as for, Oska and YS , i was anticipating for their progress but the ending for both of them left me with some how a little disappointed...

Required fields are marked *

199 Cleev

January 17, 2011 at 4:18 PM

they could have changed the appearance of the characters so it LOOKED like 5 years has passed.

Required fields are marked *

200 halfmoon

January 17, 2011 at 4:26 PM

Although very rare, some people do wake up from a (not sure if it's brain-dead) coma without explanation. I've witnessed it with a person very dear to me. Of course, he wasn't able to jump out of bed and run like RI did. But my point is, there are sometimes things in life that can't always (or yet) be medically explained.

I think the awakening from the coma could have been better written. Or maybe they shouldn't have used the word "brain-dead". But well, the way I see it: it's not a medical drama, so if a body-swap can happen, why can't other unexplained thing occur either, right?

Required fields are marked *

kappy

January 19, 2011 at 12:04 AM

Well put. I agree. It was a miracle, something that JW's doc couldn't fathom because it couldn't be scientifically explained. Ra Im tried to tell doc that, and in doing so, made the point to us, the audience.

Required fields are marked *