Mi-rae’s Choice: Episode 15

by gummimochi

I’m… still not sure as to what exactly happened in this penultimate episode; it rather feels like I plummeted into a supermassive black hole and ended up in a different universe with disengaged characters who hold grudges even after learning the truth and an assumption of each other’s feelings lets rumors fly about the workplace and beyond.

Our resident time-traveler still withholds information even to the day that marks Shin’s potential downfall, which makes me wonder if she should have planned this whole time-travel thing a little better. Then one last tidbit comes flying out of left field, and no—it’s not the 4.7% ratings this episode clocked in at because, well, we kinda already knew that was gonna happen.

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CNBLUE – “Lie” [ Download ]

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EPISODE 15 RECAP

Se-joo belatedly reveals himself to be Mi-rae’s savior, explaining that he simply wanted to approach her as a man, nothing more. With that, he asks her to accept his feelings. At her silence, he slips the ring on to her finger and hugs her.

Having signed the contract, Shin shows up to work at NTN the next day. He overhears a few employees arguing, but the pretty VP tells him not to worry about it and leads him into his swanky new office.

Se-joo hits yet another roadblock in his plans, so he seeks Grandma’s help with acquiring investments. She notices the ring on his finger (couple rings, perhaps?) and agrees to help, on the grounds that he marries the girl of her choice.

He isn’t keen on that idea, and Grandma warns him that although she can overlook the idea of dating Mi-rae, marriage is out of the question. Se-joo tells his grandmother in a gentle yet firm voice that it has to be Mi-rae.

Ajumma Mi-rae meets with Oppa to fill him in on how she nearly returned to the future, only to learn that nothing in her future changes if she returns and that she and Mi-rae are considered two different entities.

Oppa tries to wrap his head around the parallel universes theory, which basically points to the notion that there are multiple universes and versions of the self that exist parallel to one another. Therefore this present could lead to an entirely different future than Ajumma’s (which would make sense since Mi-rae has made different choices from her future self).

Ajumma panics at this, and grabs her phone to warn Mi-rae, but Oppa reminds her that doing so won’t change anything. He suggests that they keep this truth between themselves for now.

Mi-rae is up to her ears in work when she’s called in to see Chairman Lee. She tugs at her sleeve to hide the ring, but the chairman has already seen it and plainly tells her to quit her job and marry Se-joo.

Mi-rae shifts uncomfortably at that since she hasn’t even discussed the topic with Se-joo at all. The way the chairman emphatically voices her approval of Mi-rae is certainly odd, and we later learn that they’re merely empty words to try and scare her off.

Shin goes on air for his first broadcast as the NTN main anchorman. Mi-rae watches the first few minutes at home with a glum expression, and then turns in early for the night when Oppa and Ajumma walk in moments later.

He’s led to a classy CEO gathering afterward by the pretty VP, whom we’ll have to introduce sooner or later as Hee-kyung. This get-together is also a mini family reunion because the two supposedly rival corporate groups are actually in-laws.

Pointing to two seats next to her father, she notes that one is hers while the other is still empty. Er, so you’re trying to introduce him as a possible son-in-law when you’re not even dating. O-kay.

Shin sits down with the chairman to ask why he’s even being considered for his daughter given his lack of prestigious background. The chairman says plainly that he doesn’t need any more of those prosecutor or political types in the family; rather he wants a fresh face to show how open-minded of a chaebol family they are to, you know, the common folk.

Being used like a charity case isn’t what Shin had in mind, but the chairman answers that he’s simply opened the door—it’s up to Shin to walk through or not.

They run into Chairman Lee as they’re leaving, which eek—that’s awkward. She throws a few thinly veiled barbs in Shin’s direction before warning the NTN chairman that even a trained dog can bite its owner’s hand when hungry.

Mi-rae confronts Se-joo at work about the rumors floating around the workplace that they’re engaged, which really shouldn’t come as a surprise if you two are blatantly wearing couple rings everywhere.

That’s news to Se-joo and he laughs it off until it occurs to him that it’s not such a bad idea after all, and he asks her to sincerely consider getting engaged for real. The mention of Grandma nearly has Mi-rae bring up her earlier chat with her, but she holds her tongue.

Mi-rae then ends up in the same elevator as Yoo-kyung, who finds it strange that Ajumma is still around. The sight of the couple ring makes Yoo-kyung momentarily hesitate before explaining matter-of-factly how she was in a car accident with Shin the same day Mi-rae was in Jeju.

There’s no malice in her voice as she adds that if things went as intended, it could have been her who met Se-joo that day.

Mi-rae sits down her brother to inform him that she’ll be transferring jobs soon; she’ll only be known as either his little sister or Se-joo’s girlfriend if she stays here. Her main reason is to establish her career on her own, and Oppa grumbles a little before telling her that he’ll be away for a couple of days, refusing to give any details as to why.

At home Mi-rae asks Ajumma if she’s been travelling without her knowledge. Ajumma denies it, and then notices the couple ring when Mi-rae takes a call from Se-joo.

Given his exhausted voice, it seems like he’s had another rough day and asks Mi-rae to accompany him tonight and dress up. As Mi-rae dolls herself up, she’s reminded of how she prepped for her last date.

When they arrive, Mi-rae asks if they’re attending one of those fancy parties where the rich talk about boring things like stocks and the economy. Se-joo admits that he was afraid she wouldn’t have come if she’d known, but she smiles instead, saying that she’s curious about his chaebol friends.

….which includes Hee-kyung, who’s brought Shin with her. Well that’s not awkward or anything. She’s surprised to hear that Shin and Mi-rae were former co-workers, and Se-joo introduces Mi-rae as his girlfriend, making sure to flash those couple rings in front of Shin.

A little later, Hee-kyung is pleasantly amused at the rumored soon-to-be engaged couple, adding that they look good together. Then she tosses out the same question to their neighbors and beams to hear that they do.

Meanwhile, one of Se-joo’s friends mentions how there’s talk that Shin is in the running to take over NTN thanks to Hee-kyung.

Distracted, both Shin and Mi-rae excuse themselves to get some air. They end up at the same rooftop and exchange awkward greetings, and then Shin congratulates her on her upcoming engagement, words that make Mi-rae fiddle with her ring.

Mi-rae asks if he met with Hee-kyung on their night of their Christmas Eve date. Shin confirms it, saying that he was initially scouted but remains vague about their current relationship status.

That allows Mi-rae to assume that they’re dating, and she replies that they look good together, a compliment that Shin simply accepts. Bahh.

It’s only after she leaves first that Shin covers his eyes to hold back his tears.

Ajumma greets Mi-rae when she gets home and immediately clocks her gloomy mood. Mi-rae thanks her future self because Shin looks happier now than ever, and Ajumma lets out a troubled sigh.

Oppa leaves for his vaycay to the hospital, which leaves Ajumma in a tizzy worrying about who might take care of Oppa when she’s stuck in the house because the Black Man could come after her.

So Oppa is shocked when he arrives at his room to see Shin already waiting there. HA, that got me to laugh. They’re just as lovingly abrasive to each other with their usual bickering. When Shin asks if he heard any future developments about the cancer from Ajumma, Oppa answers that they apparently cut ties five years from now.

Shin dutifully waits outside the operating room while Ajumma paces about in worry at home. She slips outside past the Black Man in a distracted moment.

Meanwhile Mi-rae talks to one of her bosses at work about a work matter after being unable to get in contact with her brother. That’s when she learns about Oppa’s cancer relapse and that he’s at the hospital, not on vacation.

She runs out in tears as she puts the pieces together in her head, and then calls Ajumma, demanding to know what hospital he’s in.

I love how annoyed Oppa gets when he wakes from surgery to Shin’s face. He’s surprised to see Ajumma next to him and sighs deeply to hear that Mi-rae knows everything and is on her way.

Shin takes that as his signal to leave, but Ajumma stops him and looks back at Oppa, who turns his head.

They relocate to chat where Shin is astounded to hear about the whole parallel universes theory and how he’s not necessarily destined to end up married to Mi-rae, financially ruined, and lose a child.

Ajumma braces herself before admitting that it’s all her fault and sincerely apologizes. Shin asks if Mi-rae knows, and Ajumma says she doesn’t even know where to start.

He asks why she’s telling him everything then, and Ajumma says that he and Mi-rae still have feelings for each other. But it’s too little, too late now and Shin says that even if he doesn’t know whether the future will change, he can’t change the pain he’s caused Mi-rae in the present.

It’s possible that he can end up hurting Mi-rae more than the other Kim Shin. He believes that Se-joo can make her happy, and tells her to keep this truth a secret from her.

Mi-rae runs in shortly afterwards and cries hysterically over Oppa’s hospital bed until he finally snaps at her: “I’m in recovery! I have to rest!” HA.

It’s cute how she fusses over him, and when Ajumma returns, Mi-rae asks why she didn’t take Oppa to the hospital earlier. Ajumma truthfully answers that she only learned about Oppa’s stomach cancer when she got here.

Mi-rae takes that to mean that Oppa eventually recovered in the future and cries tears of relief. But given how Oppa and Ajumma share a knowing look, we can assume that he wasn’t so lucky (in that other timeline. Oy, confused yet?).

Elsewhere Yoo-kyung sits through a thoroughly boring drunken ironic rant about manners while setting out utensils for the all-male crew. She’s finally had enough this time and slams down the box in annoyance.

She gives the PD a piece of her mind about practicing some manners himself before storming out with a smile on her face. Good for you.

Se-joo wraps up a business dinner and dismisses his secretary for the night to take a nightly stroll. He smiles to see a family eating out together, and then calls Mi-rae, who doesn’t pick up.

He walks into the same restaurant where Yoo-kyung happens to be in and teasingly pulls a pickup line which makes her sigh exasperatedly, and then turns around to see Se-joo. Heh.

He asks about the brochures in her hand and learns that Yoo-kyung plans to study journalism overseas on a scholarship. He offers to help her family out while she’s away, but she insists there’s no need since her brother will soon be in the army and her mother will stay with relatives.

She’ll earn money for her own expenses while giving the scholarship funds to her mother. She’s not sure if she’ll come back to Korea or not, and apologizes that she won’t be able to see him get engaged (well, officially, since she’s referring to a formal engagement party).

At the hospital, Mi-rae drops by the nurses station where they wonder if her brother works in broadcasting because they recognized Shin.

Mi-rae works up the courage to call Shin to thank him for taking care of Oppa before the surgery. He says it was nothing, and Mi-rae hears Hee-kyung’s voice before hanging up.

Oh, how cute—Mi-rae prepares a welcome back party for Oppa at work, complete with balloons and flowers. Their high spirits dampen when they hear that Mi-rae is leaving, but misinterpret it as a celebratory party for her engagement instead.

Shin is approached by the same pair of reporters who argued with their boss at the beginning of the episode, asking him to do an expose on a corporate group that sells humidifiers that contain a toxic ingredient that leads to illness with continued use.

The corporate group in question is an in-law to the NTN chairman and the idea rejected by other networks. Shin tells them to come back with solid evidence.

Mi-rae grows curious one morning when she sees a man wearing a sandwich board about the same issue. His son died of lung cancer because of the humidifier’s effects and in the end, the corporation admitted no fault nor provided compensation.

The man simply wants justice for his son’s untimely death, but no one is willing to stand up for the issue. He asks that Mi-rae get his story known. So Mi-rae shows up at her new job and pitches the idea to her boss, who suggests that she at least interview the man first.

Mi-rae spots the pair of NTN reporters when she heads out again and brightens to hear that the story will be covered. But her face falls when she hears Shin will be reporting it. Uh oh.

Worried, Mi-rae calls Ajumma to ask about the events leading up to Shin’s downfall and gets annoyed when Ajumma doesn’t give her a straight answer. I especially like how Mi-rae questions how she’s always being told what to do but never gets an explanation.

She has to practically pry the information out of Ajumma, who again doesn’t recall exactly what happened apart from the fact that Shin was fired after covering an expose which also coincided with the start of a reporters’ protest. Mi-rae: “Is that today?”

That takes Mi-rae to the NTN building where the aforementioned protest takes place and runs into Shin.

Shin responds warning with cold indifference at the warning that he’ll be fired if he covers that particular story. He asks if she’s asking him to compromise his principles to save his own skin and if she’ll take responsibility if he takes it up with his bosses.

She finds his words harsh, but resignedly agrees that perhaps it’s not her place to worry about him anymore. Shin lashes out at her concern and tells her not to interfere in other people’s affairs. Uh, shouldn’t you be directing those words at Ajumma, not Mi-rae?

Ajumma Mi-rae grows wary when a package arrives at the house. She cautiously accepts it when the deliveryman (another Black Man in disguise) grabs her. She screams for dear life, ignoring his insistence that someone is waiting for her in the future.

But then she gapes when the deliveryman tells her: “Kim Shin is alive.” What, you have GOT to be kidding me. It’s just a line to get her to comply, right? She faints in shock.

Mi-rae yells in fright to see the pair of Black Men beside an unconscious Ajumma in her living room. She’s utterly confused to be told that not only is Ajumma in danger in this universe, but also they are in fact, two different Mi-raes.

Mi-rae is still confused when they take Ajumma to the hospital and tells her brother that the Black Men can’t take Ajumma back when she’s unconscious, but she won’t wake up.

Here I’m thinking the pair of Black Men could have taken her to the hospital themselves since the time-travel rules are so willy nilly anyway, but Se-joo comes to join the party too because why not. Apart from fatigue, the doctors don’t know what’s wrong.

Meanwhile, the pair of reporters appeal their case to Shin minutes before the broadcast and presents him with their own written copy of the script. Shin places both scripts on the newsdesk in front of him, contemplating which one to read from.

COMMENTS

To be honest, I don’t even know where to start, but someone once told me that it’s always best to start at the beginning, so shall we? With Se-joo’s confession, I do appreciate that he was honest in saying that he didn’t want Mi-rae to be burdened by the idea that he saved her life, though the revelation does bring pressure in of itself. Still, Mi-rae still had a choice to accept or reject his feelings… and said nothing, which is what grates at my nerves. Then we see her wear the ring for the rest of the hour at home, at the workplace, and to meet Grandma and she wonders why people are whispering that they’re a soon-to-be-engaged couple when they’re dating. At least, I think they are since Se-joo calls her his girlfriend.

Even then, she chooses to let assumption breed rumors among everyone, perhaps hanging on the notion that she’s finally taking part of Ajumma’s Master Plan, which we already know to be useless, but I’ll get there. Unfortunately Se-joo also climbs aboard this gossip train since he thinks an engagement is a good idea, which might make that moment the lamest proposal in recent memory. Don’t get me wrong—he’s sweet, genuine, and nice on paper, but to throw in the towel once and then let others assume that they’re about to be engaged (which Basketball would know so well), that’s pretty confusing, no?

Speaking of supposed pre-engagements, Shin also has a hazy professional relationship with Hee-kyung, who’s dropped hints of romantic interest that he’s drawn a firm line at before. Now he’s a potential marriage candidate to a woman he’s… not dating, then he also lets Mi-rae assume that he has someone in his life. I can hope that his strong principles might keep him from pursuing a romantic relationship with Hee-kyung and allow himself to be the poster boy who married rich, but who knows when all’s fair in love and war.

Then Shin remains frustratingly vague during the eleventh hour and he still directs his misguided anger at Mi-rae even after learning that she and Ajumma Mi-rae are two different people and that he’s not destined to the same fate as the Kim Shin that Ajumma once married. At this point, I’m inclined to believe that he’s keeping Mi-rae at a distance to drag this final conflict to the last possible minute when I’ll be the one thinking that it’s too little, too late. It’s something I don’t want for Shin, whose head is filled with the knowledge of his own future and Mi-rae’s which we now know could lead to an infinite number of possibilities that don’t necessarily have to follow Ajumma Mi-rae’s timeline.

So if we follow the notion of parallel universes/multiverse theory (and be forewarned: I can’t guarantee that it will make any sense), Shin can still change his mind and make a different decision that opens himself and everyone else up to a different future. And if the time-travel rules are so flexible anyhow and it takes two Black Men to bring one time-traveler back, then why not?

It’s a pity that Ajumma Mi-rae’s character ended up as a conflict device for much of this series where she had nearly everybody fooled, including herself. Her apologies do come far too late in this alternaverse, and it somehow still doesn’t occur to her that her continuous participation in this reality brings harm to everyone and herself. I’m not quite sure what to make of this last-minute declaration that the other Kim Shin is still alive, when we were led to think that he had died in the other timeline, but Mi-rae’s Choice, you’ve got one more hour to show me that you can turn this time machine around.

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