High School King of Savvy: Episode 8

by purplecow

Be warned, there are a lot of feelings this episode. Soo-young struggles to put aside one director while coming to terms with the affection of the second, while Min-seok tries to keep his emotions bottled up to avoid becoming a burden to the woman he likes. His coping mechanisms don’t help him cope, as neither steak nor exercise can ease the sting of Cupid’s arrow. It takes a while for our leads to learn their own hearts, but thankfully for everyone involved they can’t lie to themselves forever.

 
EPISODE 8 RECAP

After Min-seok swoops in for the kiss, he explains that he didn’t want Soo-young to be hurt by the truth. “I like you,” he declares simply. He has more to say, but Soo-young flees before he has the chance. She loses her shoe in her haste. Min-seok stands helplessly on the stairs, shoe in hand, as he watches his Cinderella run away.

The memory of the kiss stays with Soo-young as she runs through the street. Eventually she loses her sock as well, and has to call Yoo-ah to bring her some shoes. “Did some pervert chase you?” Yoo-ah demands immediately. HA! Substitute “lovestruck teenage puppy” for “pervert,” and Yoo-ah pretty much nailed it.

Soo-young tosses and turns again that night, reliving the tumultuous events of the day. In a neat bit of editing, the screen splits to show Min-seok as well, also unable to sleep. Then the screen splits further, so we see all three members of our budding love triangle, all equally unhappy and unable to sleep.

Soo-young goes to Jin-woo’s office to return the gift he gave her. He says he also needs to return the thermos, but Soo-young immediately replies that he should throw it away. Min-seok enters just after Soo-young leaves, with a message for Jin-woo: Back off.

Min-seok is actually grateful to Jin-woo for helping him realize his feelings by being an ass to Soo-young. He has a great line that uses his signature catchphrase: “For being such a complete bastard… thank you very kamsa.” But he didn’t come only to express his gratitude; instead, he warns his rival director not to mess with Soo-young any more. Jin-woo takes the opportunity to ask whether he went to Germany to weeks ago. Min-seok coolly replies that it’s none of his business, and he should butt out of Min-seok’s personal life as well as Soo-young’s.

Soo-young has to take some research files into Min-seok’s office, and she is still clearly uncomfortable about the kiss. He calls her out on the way she’s been acting, closing the door when she tries to leave. He says, “Stop crying over another man, and come to me. Okay?” Soo-young pushes past him, slamming his foot accidentally with the door.

The next morning Min-seok calls Soo-young, reprimanding her for not sending him a morning call. “I’m giving you a morning call to tell you to give me a morning call.” Pfft. He also reminds her to respond to him, referring to the many instant messages and texts he sends her during the work day.

President Yoo has a meeting with his two Chief Bootlickers, who want to submit a revised company information booklet. It even has the profiles of the company’s management, with pictures and biographical information. There’s a bitter competition to see who can compliment the president most effectively. One says he looks like James Dean, but President Yoo is displeased; he heard that Robert Pattinson is the guy everyone likes these days.

The president sees Jin-woo’s company profile and realizes he forgot his son’s birthday. Now he understands why Jin-woo asked if he wanted to eat a meal that Sunday. When he’s alone, he calls his secretary to tell her to prepare a gift for “the young people,” mentioning cuff links as a not-so-throwaway suggestion.

The Retail Team has a long meeting about their current project, which involves sending out promotional videos to different malls. Team Leader Kim asks Min-seok’s permission, which he gives immediately. He seems to be more interested in watching Soo-young than following the details of the proposal.

After the meeting the team plays a game to decide who should go out to buy snacks. Min-seok and Soo-young are chosen. In order to avoid a one-on-one situation she offers to switch with Assistant Manager Park, who is happy to save 20,000 won. But then the other members of the team feel bad about sending the director out on an errand, so they all depart together and leave Soo-young alone with Min-seok in the office. Soo-young tries to rush away, trips, and hurts her ankle.

At the end of the day Min-seok asks Soo-young if she wants to leave together, but she says she will finish up some work first. She waits a while before packing up, so she doesn’t have to be alone with Min-seok. Her ankle still pains her, so she limps out of the building.

He’s waiting for her, demands to know why she’s avoiding him. “Am I that uncomfortable?” She says that it was only yesterday she stopped liking Jin-woo, and she can’t change her mind that easily. Soo-young has decided to focus only on work for now. She draws on a wonderfully apt metaphor for her recent romantic catastrophe, saying that being bitten by a dog has even made her frightened of puppies. Min-seok has no choice but to let her go, though he insists that she take a taxi since she got hurt because of him.

Yoo-ah counts money for skates and goes in to her sister who’s icing her ankle. The story about the directors comes out, and Yoo-ah’s approach is laudably straightforward: “If you like him, date him. If you don’t, then don’t.” But Soo-young knows it isn’t that simple. She has to see Min-seok every day at work, and his sudden confession is overwhelming and stressful. She tucks in her gaudy pajama top, wondering why she is so attractive. Yoo-ah laughs that her sister has gotten full of herself.

The boys are at Tae-seok’s mother’s shop, eating as always. They talk about an upcoming training trip that Min-seok will have to find time for in his schedule. They have a game against a tough rival coming up, though there isn’t much hope of winning. Then the boys see Min-seok’s phone, with its unanswered text (“OK?”) to Popcorn Sister. They tease him about trying to pick up a girl, and he leaves.

Min-seok runs to get out his frustration, then collapses on the ground. He can’t hold himself back, so he takes out his phone to call Soo-young.

The sisters are preparing for bed when the call comes in. Yoo-ah tells Soo-young to be straightforward so the director can wrap up his feelings, but Min-seok doesn’t give her a chance. He asks again if it can’t be him. “Director…” Soo-young says, but then Min-seok cuts her off: “All right, then.” He promises not to make her uncomfortable from now on, determined to go back to being friendly allies.

When Yoo-ah hears that the director gave up so soon after confessing his love, she says he must not have liked her sister so much after all. Soo-young says that everything worked out, although she doesn’t look as happy as we might expect. As for Min-seok, he is still lying in the field wrestling with his emotions. “So what if she likes you?” he asks the sky. “How far would you go?”

The next morning Min-seok meets Soo-young in front of the elevator and follows through on his promise. He asks her about his schedule and nothing else, and Soo-young looks a little taken aback at his new attitude. Then Team Leader Kim comes tearing around the corner, calling out to Min-seok: “Fake!” He sees Soo-young a second later and tries to backtrack, stammering nonsense until Min-seok drags him off to the stairwell.

Min-seok wants Team Leader Kim to cover for him missing work on Friday, as it is the first day of the team’s training camp. He asks if the team leader will take responsibility for his life if he gets kicked off the hockey team. When Team Leader Kim asks why they had to go to the stairwell for this conversation, Min-seok replies that he’s just giving him a little exercise and then runs up the next flight. Aw, these two are so cute when they bicker!

The day passes with Min-seok carrying out his promise to treat Soo-young professionally. He asks another team member to get his cola and hamburger, and only calls her to confirm his scheduled appointments. Soo-young goes through the day with a puzzled expression, as if she can’t quite believe Min-seok’s actually doing what he said he would.

Min-seok takes the boys out for steak thanks to the company card, and tries to eat his sorrows away with two pounds of sirloin steak (surefire cure for a broken heart: a coronary). He tells his friends to eat up, with a smile that is so obviously fake even his immature friends know something’s up. Later he walks along with them, still with that set smile on his face. He sees a shopping cart and takes off, riding it along the street in the dark.

Soo-young walks down the street, still upset that Min-seok left without waiting for her. A shadowy figure appears behind her, adjusting its footsteps with hers. Soo-young speeds up her pace, and the figure does as well. A hand reaches for her shoulder… and it’s Min-seok’s grandpa! He does an adorable happy dance in the street, declaring that he found Pretty Unni.

She takes him to a convenience store for popsicles, and Gramps is such a good listener that Soo-young shares her troubles. She tells him about the director at work, who confessed to her and whom she rejected. And yet, he seems so okay with it, maybe too okay with it, and she thinks it was unfair of him to just leave that day without waiting for his secretary. Gramps listens with a sympathetic ear, then asks for another popsicle. Just then Soo-young sees Min-seok and his friends hurtling by with the shopping cart, and huffs that she should gather up those young hooligans and teach them a lesson.

Min-seok finally drops his fake smile after the shopping cart ride, letting his dejection show. His friends guess that he’s like this because of Popcorn Sister, whoever she is. When it comes out that she’s a woman at his work, Duk-hwan points out the unavoidable problems with liking an older woman at his workplace.

There’s a 10-year age difference, and if he lies about his age it’s fraud. Min-seok says he knows everything they’re going to say, which is why he’s trying to get over his feelings. His friends want him to get over her by training hard at the camp, but Min-seok only groans and shakes back and forth in his Shopping Cart of Angst.

That night Soo-young dreams her bungee-jumping dream again, but this time it’s Min-seok who comes plummeting down without the rope attached. Soo-young wakes up, musing that her dreams have been fairly accurate lately.

She finds Yoo-ah in the living room, lovingly packing some fried tofu snacks for Min-seok. Soo-young tells Yoo-ah that she should love her own sister even half as much as this “Husband Lee” fellow.

Min-seok takes a call from Yoo-ah, back to his usual brusque manner. His father hears the call and muses that Yoo-ah has been coming around the house, and that Min-seok should treat her well. He then gives Min-seok some red ginseng to keep his energy up, worried about all these training sessions his son has had recently.

Gramps steals some ginseng, intending to give it to “Pretty Unni.” Min-seok plays along, giving Gramps some more so he can share with his mystery girl. Before Min-seok leaves, he notices that Soo-young’s moss has grown a little withered after days of neglect.

Yoo-ah and her minions arrive at the bus in time to see the boys off. She gives Min-seok the food she prepared, and Duk-hwan and Tae-seok promise to make sure he eats it. Soo-young is all smiles for Min-seok, but pulls Tae-seok back with a no-nonsense glare and warns him not to say anything about his feelings, and to hurry up and get over her.

When Min-seok doesn’t show up for work that day, Team Leader Kim does some quick thinking and says he went for a last-minute business trip to Japan. It puzzles the team, but Assistant Manager Park only groans that the people in Osaka must be at it again, making trouble with their flightiness.

Soo-young is worried about the flight, however, in light of her dream. She posts online, asking what her dream might mean. One comment suggests that the person concerned might get into an accident, but the general opinion is that her dream was meaningless. Soo-young relaxes with a relieved smile.

At the training camp Min-seok throws his all into the exercises. His friends watch in amazement, and Duk-hwan wonders if getting dumped would light a fire under his ass as well. Then Tae-seok slaps his ass, and the boys reestablish their maturity level with a slap fight.

Jin-woo gets a call from the rehab center that makes him rush over right away. The nurses say his mother was doing well that day, but now they can’t find her. They claim to have looked everywhere, but Jin-woo gets a thoughtful look and runs off.

Soo-young accidentally breaks a glass while retrieving a document from Min-seok’s office. The bad omen reignites her fear for the director, and things only get worse when the team sees the news of a relatively strong earthquake in Osaka. They begin to worry, and Soo-young starts calling Min-seok frantically.

Min-seok powers up the mountain to come in first on the run. It isn’t making him feel any better, though, and he keeps running suicides even after the last of his teammates finish. The coach tells him to take a rest, but he keeps going until he falls down and scrapes his arm. The team rushes over to see if he’s all right.

President Yoo hears that a guest has arrived for him — it’s Jin-woo’s mother. She’s dressed in pretty clothes and has brought some flowers for the president’s desk. He demands to know why she’s here. Is she threatening him? She only wanted to see him, but President Yoo says she can’t be here because this is Jin-woo’s workplace. It infuriates her to hear him speaking about Jin-woo, so she slaps him and he calls for the secretary to escort her out.

Jin-woo arrives just as the president’s underlings are trying to get his mother to leave the premises. He shouts at them to leave her alone, saying she’s “someone he knows,” and takes her arm carefully to lead her outside.

The Retail Team finally manages to get a hold of Min-seok, who confirms that he hasn’t been hurt. His arm is in a sling, however, which is bad news for the hockey team with the game coming up. Tae-seok comes in with Duk-hwan on his back, and the two buddies give Min-seok a hard time as only true friends can.

President Yoo receives the gift that he requested for Jin-woo and puts it beside him. But when Jin-woo enters the office, the only thing on his mind is how the president treated his mother. He’s practically shaking with anger as he asks how his father could treat someone so cruelly, especially someone who gave up her life for him. “I lose, Father,” he declares, and leaves without a second glance. At his apartment, Jin-woo takes out the birthday cake that Soo-young bought him. He hears her voice reading the words on the card, wishing him a birthday full of laughter. He covers his face with his hands, utterly crushed.

Now that they know Min-seok is safe and sound, the Retail Team is ready to get some food. They head off to eat gopchang (intestines from cattle or pork), but Soo-young stays behind. She tells Assistant Manager Yoon that she isn’t feeling very well, which he accepts without questioning further.

Min-seok’s coach addresses the hockey team after their training. He’s proud of them for their hard work, and tells them to put every last ounce of effort into this game, but also into life: “No regrets.” They answer confidently, while Min-seok looks down with a sigh.

As the boys head for the BBQ pit, Duk-hwan congratulates Min-seok on ending his feelings cleanly. He starts reminiscing about one time he nearly had his heart broken, although Tae-seok is there to remind him that after the girl dumped him, he asked out her friend the next day. The conversation stops when the boys realize that Min-seok is nowhere to be found.

Cut to the truck driver with whom Min-seok has hitched a ride. The man asks if Min-seok if going back to Seoul to get his arm checked out at a hospital, but Min-seok says no: “I just want to see someone.”

Meanwhile Soo-young walks along the road, telling herself that she was only worried because of the dream and the earthquake. However, her memories play out in flashbacks that belie her words, replaying all of the meaningful moments with Min-seok. Suddenly she stops and admits to herself, “You know that’s not the only reason. It’s because you like him… it’s because you like him that you’re acting this way.” With new resolve, she hails a taxi and leaves for the airport. NOOOO, Soo-young, you’re going the wrong waaaaay!!!

Soo-young waits at the airport with a sign that reads, “OK.” Aww, it’s the answer to Min-seok’s text! Min-seok arrives at the company, just as the final plane arriving from Osaka lands without Min-seok on it. Thinking that Min-seok has already changed his mind, Soo-young throws her sign in the trash and prepares to leave. Luckily she sees the missed call from Min-seok and calls him right back. They resolve to meet in their neighborhood immediately.

After running through the neighborhood frantically, they finally see each other on opposite sides of the street. As they wait for the traffic to cease, Soo-young calls out to Min-seok: “Okay!” When he can’t hear her, she tries to spell it out instead. She makes a big “O” with her arms, and then a “K” (quickly correcting herself when she realizes her “K” is backwards, ha).

Min-seok still can’t figure out what she’s saying, and when the next bus passes by, he’s gone. He runs up an overpass and sprints, though it looks to Soo-young as though he simply disappeared. A few seconds later he appears behind her and draws her into a hug. “I couldn’t give up,” he admits, panting. “You know I have killer fighting spirit.”

“Okay,” Soo-young says. “My answer is also okay. Director, I like you.” Then she closes her eyes and leans in to initiate the kiss. She jostles his arm by accident, but Min-seok only raises his injured arm and places it behind her neck, pulling her in close.

They start smooching as the “Walk” sign turns green, and in voiceover Soo-young reflects that her dream was meaningless after all. “I won’t rely on those kinds of dreams anymore,” she says. “A professional modern woman, full of responsibility and a sense of duty. A woman who just started to love… I’m Jung Soo-young.”

COMMENTS

There was heartache aplenty this episode, but it only succeeded in making the ending that much more satisfying. Finally our lovebirds have stopped running from each other. The final scene was so appropriate, with the distance between them shown by the highway. Now they’re together, walking in the same direction, having finally admitted their feelings.

But with Min-seok’s secret identity still secret, not to mention the various familial crushes involved, I doubt it will be smooth sailing from here. Jin-woo is likely to keep things tense at work, and I’m already sad for Yoo-ah when she finds out that her Husband Lee is actually in love with her sister. Come to think of it, Gramps is gonna be heartbroken too – his Pretty Unni is making time with his grandson!

It’s nice that Min-seok’s efforts to be super manly keep getting subverted in this episode. It’s great that he wants to be more mature and responsible for Soo-young, but the danger is that he becomes too domineering. Look at the scene in his office, for example, when he says that if she doesn’t like Jin-woo she should just come to him instead, as if that were her only option. It doesn’t help that he keeps the door closed as he’s saying this, which is just a shade too aggressive for me to feel entirely comfortable.

Workplace solicitation from the boss is almost always uncomfortable due to the power imbalance, even if Soo-young doesn’t know said boss is really just a lovestruck teen. I was very happy that Min-seok’s efforts to be domineering ended with the sharp edge of a door to the foot. Min-seok’s puppy love is adorable and I’m sure he doesn’t mean any harm, but he’s so young and impulsive that he may not see how his actions could become burdensome or even threatening for Soo-young. Just imagine Jin-woo pulling that stunt (or any other boss you’ve experienced), and you might see what I mean. Much better was Soo-young leaning in first for the kiss at the very end — it shows she still has that same impulsive spirit, even after her experience with Jin-woo. Go for it, girl!

One of my favorite moments was Min-seok’s call to Soo-young, when Yoo-ah says the director must not like her if he’s giving up so easily. The way she responds highlights the differences between Min-seok and Yoo-ah in terms of the way they think about love. He is extremely careful about respecting the feelings of the person he likes. For much of the episode he doesn’t want to do anything to burden Soo-young, even if it means keeping his distance and holding his emotions inside. Yoo-ah, on the other hand, thinks that if you love someone, then you need to go the distance. She lives that creed with respect to Min-seok, putting up with his grouchiness and taking his side against the world. Both philosophies have their charm, even though they’re so very different.

The supporting characters are also a huge part of this show’s appeal. First for me are Duk-hwan and Tae-seok, the bumbling but good-hearted duo who always have Min-seok’s back. Then there are the scheming directors at Comfo, with their silent argument about Robert Pattinson, and Team Leader Kim with his woe-is-me approach to managing Min-seok. They each only had small moments in this episode, but somehow they still manage to shine.

Even the Retail Team, who could have come across as your average spiteful work colleagues on a mission to Give the Heroine a Hard Time, actually manage to show some depth, even if it’s as simple as putting off a work dinner to check up on their director. Gramps and his attraction to Pretty Unni gets me every time, and Dad’s concern for Hyung-seok and Min-seok is exactly how a dad should be. The main leads in Savvy are certainly strong enough to stand on their own, but one of the show’s greatest strengths is that they don’t have to.

Now that our lovebirds have (for now) sorted out their feelings, it’s time for the real conflict to begin. The guilt from leading a double life, the fallout when said life comes crashing down around Min-seok’s ears, and the repairing of strained relationships should make the coming weeks every bit as gripping and enjoyable as the previous ones.

I’m especially looking forward to Jin-woo’s role, since he’s managed to show such a depth of character lately. This episode he really hit rock bottom, and yet he still seems to genuinely want to repair relations with his dad and mom. He’s not (at least so far) out for simple revenge — he wants to rebuild a family, but his pride and defense mechanisms make him every bit as flawed, in his own way, as his father.

While I wouldn’t exactly be thrilled to see him end up with Soo-young at this point, I think that he desperately needs someone like her in his life. And it’s a real shame that he’s locked in not-so-mortal combat with Min-seok, because the two could really be best friends. Min-seok’s simple loyalty and compassionate heart would go a long way toward alleviating Jin-woo’s loneliness, although he’d have to let down his defenses first. I have no clue what will happen in the end, but I’m holding out hope for a happy ending with a healthy dose of bromance!

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