MGY's face looks weird... thank you for the recap

thanks.....

I don't think one should dwell on which is worse, telling a white lie as SK or being somewhat vindictive & petty like SJ. Neither is good, but neither are they something very horrible.

In SK's case I wouldn't say that the deed itself is so very bad or damaging but keeping silent about it will make it very damaging to SJ at least. If SK won't tell him herself, it will look like she has indeed used him only for his money and that will really be a punch into his guts. And considering that Tommy knows (and so do Ah-Jung and Yoon Joo - too many people know), it's only a matter of time when somebody will spill the beans. So ultimately SK's choice is not whether SJ will know or not but will she be the one to tell him or will it be somebody else.

YJ was immensely unreasonable in her words. She basically just placed SJ's sanity, happiness and even his LIFE on the shoulders of SK. That's a horrible burden nobody should be asked to carry - that nobody CAN carry as ultimately we cannot save anybody who won't help him/herself in the process. YJ kicked SJ to the ground and is now expecting somebody else to clean the mess. Ish.

And finally SJ... that was one lousy trick he pulled there in the end of the episode. He's doing same to SK what he did to YJ: using her against his father. I'm sure he loves her but that is not an excuse. He still has issues to work trough until he'll be able to have a healthy and loving relationship with another person.

thank you for the fast recap! First, Han Se-kyung made me mad, now Seung-jo makes me mad. What a selfish man!

The drama does such a good job in portraying true human beings, with many, many faults and inconsistencies.

I feel he is the character that has the biggest journey ahead of him. He really needs to grow up AND he has to get over his daddy-issues. That will maybe only happen if Se-kyung tells him the truth. It may be devastating for him - but it may also be the trigger that forces him to grow. Remember that scene when Yoon-joo confronts him and tells him how selfish he was about their love? He should have listened ... He does not yet get it that being a couple means taking life-relevant decisions together

"The thing is, he still does not know who the original purchaser is, the one who paid 30,000 Euros and gave him a reputation and a new life."

I had feelings it was Daddy Cha who bought those painting ^^~

jaw dropped! jaw dropped!!! and laughed in glee after that. Hahahahaha Way to go Jean Thierry Cha!

Is So Yi Hyun the one playing yoon joo? I find interesting too. I dont like her on Hearstrings, i love her here, she's making that evil character, so fascinating and yet vulnerable.

I have always clung to the one optimistic part of Seung Jo's past, that he became successful on his own through sheer grit and effort. This, to me, defied the grim pervasive theme of effort being useless without wealth and being born to the "correct" social class. But this episode brings a new twist with it - that of the mysterious benefactor. I have a bad bad feeling it is Seung Jo's father, and I say bad because this would totally negate the sole sliver of light in the midst of all the darkness, that of Seung Jo finding success on his own without depending on his father at all. But now if his father is the mysterious benefactor, it would mean Seung Jo became successful because his father helped him. If this is true, then cynicism rears its ugly head again - that the stark bitter truth is in this harsh, money-driven world, it is simply impossible to succeed on your own through perseverance and hard work. How utterly depressing.

There were other parts in this episode that I found painfully real, like the scene where he cynically admits his desire to keep the expensive watch and use it as a means of survival in a foreign land outweighed all the usual dramatic noble heroics. The part where YJ tells her to stuff her confession, that a confession is just a way of shifting the burden to the receiver, is shocking in its brutal honesty.And the last scene too where he triumphantly introduces Se Kyung to everyone was far from romantic to me - she seems more like a tool here for him to use. As he gloats and revels in their discomfiture, and addresses his father mockingly, I catch myself thinking: He's doing all this for himself, he's not thinking about her at all. But the odd thing is, I understand, and it's so totally okay because he's petty and childish and flawed and he's not going to change overnight because of love.

SJ's childish whims can be cute at times but he does need to grow up and get a huge slap of reality on his face, maybe SK's confession will do the trick. He needs to learn tough love. I bet at the end they're gonna have like a 5 years period of self discovery apart and then find each other again...I don't know this drama is really tricky in that it's not as predictable.

Also YJ was right about him being selfish with his love, what he did at the end without even telling SK first just seemed like wanting to rub it in his daddy's face. But like everyone else I did enjoy Tommy Hong's reaction it was by far the best but now I'm wondering whether the sister-in-law is gonna become a real threat cos she always had that potential. I mean the way her eyes narrowed at the revelation I was all "oh snap".

I'm glad YJ isn't mad about the fact that SK and SJ love each other, but I wish SK would tell her that TH knows about everything that way she can maybe help her take him down.
I kinda do and don't want Sk to tell SJ the truth cos YJ's right he probs is gona break down and never be able to trust any girl again, i mean if that happened to me twice in a row (but with guys) I totally would lose trust in the male population. And if papa Cha did buy his frist painting, that would make him feel even more like shit. But hey ho, worser things have happened in Dramaland ^ ^

Anyway I really enjoyyyed this episode, best one yet!

This episode was sooooooooo goooooooooood. Instead of heroes and villains, we're getting a bunch of people acting in their own self-interest and following the mandates of their own moral codes. The character psychology for even secondary characters is off the hook. Yoon Joo, for example. What an interesting, complicated person. I disagree that she's "helping" Se Kyung and Seung Jo (this is definitely debatable, but she is trying to keep them together in the best way that she knows how) because she has their best interests at heart. I think she is primarily hung up on pushing them together in order to prevent In Hwa from marrying Seung Jo. It's subtle, but I noticed that throughout this episode, she would think things like, "this helps me too but it also helps you" when talking, or thinking, about helping helping SJ & SK stay together. I too find it a little surprising that she is able to stifle her emotions so well w/r/t SJ & SK's relationship. However, given that she has spent years perfecting the art of stifling her emotions in order to move forward, it makes perfect sense that she would not act rashly. I feel towards her what I feel toward all of the other characters at this point, even Tommy Hong (and even/especially our delightfully flawed leads): I am entirely sympathetic towards her, even though I don't always love her decisions.

You touch on this a little bit, kaedejun, but my favorite part of this drama is how successfully it engages in an exploration of classism. Particularly with Se Kyung & Tommy's discussion of ugly love vs. beautiful love, and SK's refrain of wondering why she is the only one who has to take these things into consideration, while the wealthy are free to love in whatever way they'd like. What is so wrong about taking wealth into consideration when choosing a partner? Most, if not all, people do it, whether they admit it or not. The wealthy do it even more explicitly, hiring matchmakers to help catalyze a romance that is financially advantageous to both parties. This show seems to ask: Is there a difference between what Se Kyung and Yoon Joo have done, and what In Hwa is doing? And if so, why? Simply because SK and YJ were poor and are thus challenging the social structure?

Interesting, interesting stuff.

Thanks for the recap, kaedejun! Please know how I am one of many who appreciate all the effort you put into this! As for my two cents: what more can I say, but I do love this drama so much. It has exceeded my expectations as it has gone beyond exploring the usual themes of love and trust. Because we hear the characters' thoughts (I love how everyone's monologues are voiced out, and we can do so much more than pick their minds), it's as if I've come to know them as if they were my friends and family even. I feel as lost as SeKyung, and as anxious as Seungjo. I cannot condemn either for their past and present actions, as my heart goes out to both. How the social commentaries are seamlessly interwoven by the writers is laudabable; how our supporting cast deserves every screen time they get, their subplots provide much amusement and added cuteness. We don't even have a typical villain to speak off as neither YSJ nor TH is painted soulless or evil.

Poor MGY.

When she was too skinny people said her to gain some weight.

Now she gained some weight they are saying her face is big not small like ot used to be; That her face is weird / offand that maybe she did some PS (to make her face bigger? lol okay).....

Not only this, they said she isn't beautiful and the other girl (who plays YJ)deserved to be the lead(because her face is smaller and she is prettier - omg, really?)

They also said because she looks too young she doesn't match her co-wokers...

I feel bad for Moon. Not sure if they are really opinions from normal viewers or biased (some PSH) fans who are bashing her for not being pretty enough to PSH. But either way, they are very mean. People love to complain how they hate idols on dramas and all, but when they have an actress that isn't considered pretty for them but acts good they complain... aRGH.

At the end of the episode I was waiting for SJ to yell "Bazinga."

On the whole PTSD thingy: if that is true (and well, if the drama says so, that's the way it is, I guess) then YJ isn't completely wrong. Apparently his trauma is having been used (and left) for money (by his mom, his gf, his dad). Now, the only way to (kind of) overcome PTSD is to avoid the traumatic experience; sometimes by literally going away, not meeting certain people, etc. Having to live through that trauma again ... yeah, that might just about do it.

As to killing him: it's not unusual for PTSD victims to commit suicide - or kill/hurt sb. else. I'm not sure I like that the drama is having SJ suffering from PTSD - after all, that's what war veterans, holocaust victims, etc. often get - at least his behavior makes total sense in that light. PTSD is pretty much the worst acquired (i.e. one you are not born with) psychological disorder you can get (that I know of).
It totally wouldn't make sense for him to be suffering from PTSD and behave in a normal way. And it's not even his fault, really. He could be doing much much MUCH worse. TT-TT

Thanks for the recap. I love the top picture; they look so cute together! Though, I'm starting to develop a love-hate relationship with this show. Love all the cute OTP moments and Yoon-joo's story arc, but annoyed at the central conflict. It just becomes overly complicated beyond the realm of credibility.

Just to add-- regarding PTSD, for me is not the worst, as different psychiatric diagnoses -- whether biologically based or not-- have different prognoses. There are holocaust victims, veterans, victims of different traumatic events who are able to reconstitute after experiencing the trauma, and live their lives, though scarred and changed, still productive and ablemto, pardon the cliche, "let go." Seungjo has had -- that we know of-- two traumatic abandonments in his life, and the manifestations of The six of PTSD can be chronic or delayed in onset. Seeking vengeance was (his perceived) way of healing; his hyper vigilance and anxiety about this relationship with HSK are both a defense mechanism and manifestation of likely PTSD. The rates of suicide are not the that high, but we do hear lot of them lately In the news. How I took what YSJ meant with regards to him finding out being the death of him, was either he could be really suicidal or the death of the person who is Seungjo as we know him.

Nervous bunny! Hahahaha. Someone should market those bunnies seriously! Especially with the ratings on the up now that May Queen is done.

At first I was totally on the boat of SK telling SJ ASAP about her "secret" which honestly isn't that big of a deal, but then I went back and re-watched the episode and realized that YJ is right that maybe SK shouldn't tell SJ...at least not everything since he couldn't decide what YJ was saying was true and untrue. Because if SK says yes, I did those things, but I still love you, SJ will question every little thing she ever did. He won't be like...oh that's why that one thing you said "Yes" without the smiley face...he'll say, you approached me all along with the intention of being rich.

Sigh...this show is so good! It's already Tuesday! A few more days!!

SJ, in my opinion, has just rediscovered the joy and giddiness of falling in love. He has not allowed himself for so long to be himself and to be in love. He has been absorbed in planning and executing his revenge on the woman who dumped him and his father. His antics and his "immature" actions to me are an expression of him freeing himself from his own bondage of revenge and spitefullness. In spite of all these "new" emotions he is experience (or re-experiencing) he has not lost his cool headedness and he sees clearly where the marriage talk (between himself and Im-Hwa) is going to go and he has pre-empted any future talks or moves by all parties concerned. It is clever of him to drop that "bomb" on all of them which is "in your face" but also showed a another side of his character - that he is shrewd and manipulative and knows exactly what the other parties are thinking. See that smile at the end? It is not an innocent sweet smile but one that says I am on to you guys and your machinations. I believe we will see more of this side of his character in the coming episodes....

While I found adorable the insecure and little guy inside SJ in the first episodes, now I'm annoyed by it because he doesn't behave like a man at all.

You would think he would change after YJ talked with him about his petty revenge agaisnt his father, yet SJ does the same and puts SK in a difficult decision just because he wanted to go against his daddy again and make him angry.

You say SK used YJ, well, isn't SJ using her now too? Because I mean, what the... they didn't even date and aren't even in a stage where they decide to marry.

On another side I'm happy he was the one who mentioned marriage first because OH MY GOD if SK mentioned it, everyone would be saying she is still after her plan to marry a rich guy and POOR SJ... I mean really guys? A relationship is about two not one, so if they marry, SJ himself wanted it.

Plus I remember the characters description and there said he will marry SK just to get revenge on his father again...

I'm the one who finds too early for SJ call what he feels ''love'' I was a little put off by it..

I know this post is off-topic..lol.. But i just wanna know if MGY will be playing for the title role of MBC's upcoming sageuk drama 'Goddess of Fire'? Moon Geun Young rules.. <3<3:-*<3<3.. Forever MGY fangirl! I would love to see her in another sageuk drama!

SK, on the other hand I empathize with. In the episode 9 she was totally conflicted as to what to do - if she takes the offer from Tommy Hong she would be giving up her love for Secretary Kim. She said so to YJ does this mean that she does not love him enough? She agonized over this and when SJ confessed his love for her and poured out more of himself to her, that was the catalyst that made her finally make up her mind. She is going to fight for her "ugly love" no matter what. Her acting in episode 9 and 10, of a conflicted and agonized soul, i find very convincing. She is also wrecked with her own consciouness, which is bogging her down as she knows right from wrong. She was not totally euphoric when she accepted SJ, after hearing his confession of what he has done, because she has to rethink and will continue to agonize over her own secret which she has yet to divulge. To tell or not to tell and even when to tell are the questions.

I liked her character and her journey into the realm of CDD. A world that everyone imagines to be paved with gold and all good things and there will be no worries once you enter this wonderful world. SK is realising that not that glitters is gold and the world of CDD is not what it seems/or believed to be. There is a price for everything - even love in CDD.

YJ is also extremely interesting - she loved SJ but she loved something else more and chose that path. Perhaps she still loves SJ but she desperately need to ensure that this relationship is not out in the open for her own survival. I don't blame her nor do I judge her. Sometimes i find myself in such a dilemma as well.

The benefactor of SJ? It could very well be his father. Perhaps his father could not stand to see his own son in such dire straits and wanted to give a helping discretly. It is true that in order to succeed, whether in business or our own professional career (to move up the ladder so to say) having someone standing behind us (or giving a good word) is extremely important and crucial. This is the fact of life and something to acknowledge if not, one is at the loosing end.

MGY's face looks like a full moon.

Question: After SK went to tell off Tommy Hong, and she leaves his place....why does she need a phone call to remind her that SJ is waiting? Didn't she just run over to TH for a reason? Why so slow?
And then when she finally gets back to the park, she stands there basically waiting for him to notice her. WHY? He's clearly freezing to death, give the poor man a break.

I know this goes back to last week, but I *still* don't understand why she pretended not to know he was the CEO. If the objective was to get him to like her, she already did that, right? So why continue the charade? And compound the sneakiness by writing that manipulative letter?

This show has clearly shown us how everyone is imperfect =D not even the male lead, aka Seung Jo, is perfect. His pettiness and the fact that he always seems to shove decisions at people is horrible....hope by the end of the drama he grows up, but still with some wackiness in him please! I wanna see him dance again =D

So once again CDA reveals itself to be a show that forces you to think! A light and fluffy rom com this is not! But I appreciate the discourse its creating and everyone thoughts on motivations etc.

Honestly I watched both these two episodes with not a small degree of anxiety (And a very large amount of TELL HIM!!! Please just TELL HIM!!!)

I have said this from begining that the writers are doing a good job regarding characterization as there are no perfect people in this drama! Even Seung Jo though played so charasmatically by PSH is in my opinion is just as flawed as Se Kyung and actually for me his situation is a little more scary as he doesn't seem to be as aware of it as she is.

I actually was glad that Tommy Hongs evil machinations coupled with Seung Jo's sincerity finally forced her to wake the hell up and decide she wanted this "ugly love" with Seung Jo and that she needed to tell him the whole truth. (Sigh I so wish she told him already).

I thought the scene with Seung Jo and Yoon Joo was powerful and loved how it shed so much light on both characters. Her anger and accusations that he used her and tested her, and that he never believed in their love. Him admitting it and saying that he knew she loved him but to what extent. Him apologizing and admiting his fault in it. And her complete breakdown as they say goodbye. Like Whoa! (I now really like the actress playing Yoon Joo).

After that scene I felt sure that if Se Kyung told him he would be able to understand. (As I feel like her finally in the end understood Seung Jo). But I also get why Yoon Joo stopped her from confessing. Yoon Joo doesn't believe in love overcoming all, which is why she left Seung Jo in the first place, also why she lives in fear of her husband finding out her past, why she lives in fear period. I do believe that her warning to Se Kyung not to confess is out of genuine care for both Se Kyung and Seung Jo but also out selfish self presevation is a good character beat and true to life. Most of our motivations in life are completely pure.

Lastly I really hated Seung Jo's declaration (or In your face Dad! move) It really brought what Yoon Jae said earlier about him using people when dealing with his dad. The fact that he did it not long after the conversation with YoonJoo where he admitted behaving that way makes it worse because he is likely not fully aware he is doing it. (He is still putting on a show for people which if I was his girlfriend would drive me crazy).

This drama is really interesting because usually we watch immature jerks who are transformed by the power of love. But I think we are watching 2 immature jerks in love.

With every attack YJ makes on SJ, I hate her more. Even if SJ gave everything up to test her love, she had failed the test! In the end she loved money than him. So how come she has all those accusations against him now?
But SJ has grown out of that petty JTS mood. He even apologizes to YJ for not being able to protect her (although I think she does not deserve his or anybody else' protection, including her current husband whom is actually a kind husband for her).
So a big applause for SJ and a BOOOOO for YJ.

But I am not sure what I have to think of SK. On the one hand I like her because she fell for Kim secretary not for JTS CEO, and on the other, I am disappointed at her for the letter of lies she wrote to SJ and the game of hiding in the sauna she played with him.

Not sure how SJ will react when he finds out the truth!

This is why when someone asks if you accept something you should always ask what that means to them completely for you to say to them you will, I suppose.
Ambushed.

Waahahahahaha no credit card in this world could buy TH reaction to the "We are going to married" thing...

Both SJ and SK are black and both of their secrets are bad. Both have a bad side to themselves, but I don't think it's the bad side that they have had in the past that is going to make who they are as a couple in the future. They need to accept and forgive and then move on with how to both help each other become better people in the future. I think that's far more important then dwelling on the past.

SJ threw SK out to the shark there at the end, and now he needs to prove his sincerity, show his "responsibility" towards her, his love to her, and figure out a way to actually protect her. Frankly, this two need to figure out together how to protect each other :) That works much better... 2 heads are better than 1.

Frankly there is no difference btw what IH is doing then what YJ or SK did. It's just that people view it differently when the idea of "gold-digger" comes to mind. Both are selfish and using others for personal gain. SK was right when she said that to Tommy.

I hope the whole SK secret gets worked out pronto! I believe they do genuinely love each other and can stay the long haul and weather all the storms together. I bet there are many ahead.

for some reason I thought this was 20 episodes not 16 and I was panicking in my head " What, how can they possibly fill 10 more episodes even with filler" granted even with 16 episodes I think they're moving a little fast.

at the beginning I just wanted Se Kyung to leave Wonderland by herself, now I want Se Kyung, Seung Jo and Yoon Joo to all leave together and all be happy.

finally congratulations to So Yi Hyun for making me like Yoon Joo who could easily be a detestable character

I tried reading all the comments, but there are a hundred, and, I should be working, so I will just write my thoughts and just ask forgiveness if someone else has written something similar or approaching my words.

I would like to point out why I love this drama even though both SK and SJ annoy and touch me deeply at the same time.

The thing is, I can identify with both of them, not because I have any particular personality trait similar to any of them, but because I think these characters reflect something we all can relate to: most of us are regular, pretty good human beings capable of some evil, of hurting others and doing things that are not necessarily good.

These are not your regular kdrama characters. To me, not even Tommy Hong is really evil. They are just trying to survive.

Yes, SK needs to confess, but SJ needs to get over his daddy issues. I think he is pretty over what happened with YJ, so to me the ending was more to just annoy the hell out of dad. SJ also needs to mature in a way that makes him more responsible, less selfish, but keep the cute and charm that he is.

And even though SK is emulating YJ, in the sense that she wants to accomplish the same thing (enter Cheongdamdong), SK is different and is willing to use different methods. She is also a different woman. I think she will call SJ to task after that finale, but I also think she would stand by him; she is stronger that YJ.

Let's see what episode 11 brings. The good thing about this series is that you can never predict what will happen next. I am sure we will all be surprised.

I have a feeling that in the end both SeKyung and Seung Jo will leave wonderland together . With their personalities they will be miserable in this type of wonderland.

Dramabeans! how do you know me so well! Exactly how I was feeling about this episode.... how could it be so dissatisfying and yet satisfying. I am soooo frustrated that Se-Kyung has told Seung-jo the truth yet. But we will see!!!

someone here says this is a selfish drama, I thought the same too... talking about reality... for some it's cruel isn't it? some people must put their selfishness above anything otherwise they're not going to get anything or left behind... oooh LIFE... *sigh* or is it just in korea?
anyway...
I love this drama, there're just a lot to learn here

These characters are all so deliciously complex and so touchingly human (SJ, SK, YJ, and even Daddy Cha). I love them all. I don't at all understand the "hatin'" some people here heap on them. These characters all just make me want to hug them, and heal their hurts.

I think it was Daddy Cha who bought the painting. I immediately thought that was the case, especially since, when Se Kyung and Seung Jo were talking about their relationship with their fathers, SJ said his dad would never have secretly saved all his press articles and awards. What SJ's dad did was "secretly" throw him a financial life-line. And you can see how desperately Daddy Cha wants a relationship with his son, even to the point of asking advice of Se Kyung's father. The poor guy is just clueless in the parenting department, like so many people in real life....sigh....

I think Seung Jo took a step toward healing when he apologized to Yoon Joo for "not being able to better protect her" in Paris. It showed that he's moved on from the hurt/rage/revenge cycle that had heretofore driven him. The video confession he made to Se Kyung is further proof. He's much more self-aware now, and stronger too, if stronger means he's no longer on the verge of emotional collapse. But, I don't know if he's yet ready to hear Se Kyung's truth. I definitely don't think he'll handle it well coming from a source other than Se Kyung herself. That's the shoe that still hangs in mid-air here, and the revelation upon which the plot will pivot (if only temporarily). He's bound to end up reading that diary, and it will not be pretty.

One thing I sincerely hope they won't use is that curiously over-used K-drama device of fast-forwarding one or more years into the future at the very end. It's seldom done well, IMHO. But, I can see SJ, SK and even YJ eventually rejecting the excesses of Cheongdamdong and leaving for Paris. A fast-forward might be the only way they could show that playing out. Just a bit of random conjecture here...

How funny would it be if the ending was another one of SJ epic day dream.

Isn't it interesting though that Seung Jo doesn't seem interested in knowing the "secret". It seemed like everytime Se Kyung tries to bring it up he stops her either to confess himself or he just brings up another subject.

I'm wondering if he already knows her "secret" when he went to her college to find her. I remember him picking up her rabbit drawings...could it be he also read the notes she left behind?? And now he's just pretending he doesn't know to see what she's going to do to test her sincerity??

Plus I read somewhere Tommy Hing is suppose to fall for Se Kyung...I can't wait for that to happen. Saturday...please come faster...lol.