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Cantabile Tomorrow: Episode 7

The playing field gets a shake-up and the dynamics get turned all upside-down and around, in a fun way that makes for some significant character movement. I love to see the orchestra coming to the fore and becoming, rather than an albatross around your neck to drag you down, something shiny and exciting on its own merits. It’s called special for a reason! Furthermore, when you’re the hero who always gets everything, it’s a little jarring to be confronted with not having it all—or more to the point, to get what you wanted only to see that maybe it’s not what you wanted after all.

SONG OF THE DAY

Leonard Bernstein – “Mambo” from West Side StoryDownload ]

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LESSON 7 RECAP

Yoo-jin bristles to see the new guy, Yoon-hoo, paying attention to Nae-il, which brings out his inner caveman as he pulls her to himself. Yoon-hoo explains that he’s auditing classes here while on break from Juilliard, and watches Yoo-jin’s display of jealousy with amusement. The scoring for this moment is particularly apropos, with Prokofiev’s famous Montagues-versus-Capulets piece marking the tension, all bombast and machismo. Although let’s be honest here; it’s mostly a one-sided thing, even if Yoo-jin won’t admit it.

Nae-il marvels that this is the first time Yoo-jin has hugged her, which puts Yoo-jin in the awkward position of protesting that it totally wasn’t a hug while not wanting to back away entirely—since, you know, he was proving a point to New Guy. But New Guy has his number, sizing up the situation accurately—he guesses that they’re not dating, though he recognizes that things just got harder for himself (and his interest in Nae-il).

Teacher Do steers Yoon-hoo toward joining the A Orchestra, frowning when Yoon-hoo expresses interest in the maestro’s special orchestra instead. He has heard that Maestro Streseman and Yoo-jin will be performing for the upcoming Classical Night concert, and assumes that the S Orchestra will be chosen to accompany. Teacher Do implies otherwise.

Yoo-jin announces to his members that they’ll be accompanying his concerto—aw, so he did pick the S Orchestra after all? I was afraid he’d waffle when it came time to put his own playing on the line, but he just tells them to do a proper job of it and lets them squee at the idea of performing at a televised event.

Nae-il has spent all night thinking about Yoo-jin’s hug and has come to the conclusion that he was jealous of Yoon-hoo giving her attention. Yoo-jin argues, of course, but she’s totally right so there’s really no way he’s convincing about it.

Streseman gives Yoo-jin a shock by declaring that they’ll be performing with the A Orchestra instead, and that the news has already gone out to the press. Yoo-jin argues to use the S Orchestra, but Streseman points out that it’s different when you’re conducting musicians who are skilled. Aw, sad. Not that he’s wrong about which is the safer bet, but I sure hope this is another lesson-test, because otherwise Streseman is just talking out of both sides of his mouth. Not that I hold him to high standards of reason anyway.

Not knowing this, our central S Orchestra crew celebrates at Dad’s restaurant. Nae-il wonders what’s taking Yoo-jin so long to join them, not seeing that he’s watching from the window wearing a long face. Aw, now that’s positively Dickensian. Heaving a sigh, he moves on without making his presence known.

Yoo-jin’s mother she can’t get a hold of Yoo-jin on the phone, so she drops by his place directly, ostensibly to drop off some health drinks but really just to be a typical nosy mom. She notes with interest a memo on his fridge, listing Nae-il’s requested menu items for the week. Cute.

Mom asks knowingly if he has a girlfriend, and says it’s good to see him making friends with his peers and pursuing conducting. She asks if he still finds his S Orchestra friends annoying, and he smiles, “A little.” Thinking of how they invited themselves in and nagged his ear off the last time, he amends, “Well, they’re not so annoying.”

She says they seem like good people who genuinely care about him, and he agrees that they’re all sincere people, able to show their truth on the outside. Mom says not everyone lives bottling everything up on the inside like he does. He explains, “It’s because if you receive that sincerity, you have to return it in kind. I thought there wouldn’t be time to return it, since I’d be leaving for overseas. I didn’t know this trauma would be so long-lasting. So I didn’t accept it. But this time I ended up accepting it, without knowing it.”

Yoo-jin appeals to Streseman again about switching to the S Orchestra, adding that without either of them, the orchestra might just dissolve. Streseman is unconcerned by that prospect and tells him to think rationally about whether the S Orchestra is truly up for the task. Yoo-jin doesn’t hesitate for a second as he makes his decision: If he can’t perform with the S Orchestra, he will withdraw from the concert.

Streseman accepts this decision readily, to Teacher Do’s alarm. This merits another call to the faculty chairwoman, and they are more convinced than ever that they must be rid of Streseman.

Teacher Do can’t persuade Yoo-jin to change his mind, so he takes a more effective, if dirty, approach: blackmail. If Yoo-jin refuses to perform with the A Orchestra, Teacher Do will make sure his S buddies suffer accordingly. Using their poor showing at the recent music festival as ammunition, he threatens to push for dissolution of the orchestra… unless Yoo-jin complies, of course, in which case he will generously give up those plans. Oh you dick.

Il-lac, Mini Min-hee, and Su-min are still hopped up on excitement over the prospect of performing, and the spiteful A Orchestra members rather enjoy telling them the truth. *Pop* goes the bursting bubble.

Nae-il is surprised to see Yoon-hoo joining her for class, and wonders at the coincidences bringing them together. He merely asks, “Are they really coincidences?” Nae-il gets a call from Il-lac informing her of the A Orchestra situation, and she’s so alarmed she dashes right out of the room as class is about to begin. Yoon-hoo, clearly only in this class for her, excuses himself as well.

Nae-il races straight to the rehearsal hall, where Yoo-jin joins them after spending the afternoon mulling over his dilemma. The members wait hopefully for a denial, but Yoo-jin confirms the rumors as true and calls the earlier announcement his mistake. I so wish he’d defend himself more, but he does the cool/noble thing by taking the blame for the misunderstanding in the most blanket way (and thus without explanation for any motives). He says that the A Orchestra is the obvious choice and lets them think the worst of him.

He reminds them that he’s not even their official conductor, and is merely a student. The dismayed members clamor for Yoo-jin to reconsider and not abandon them, but Il-lac surprises them by roaring at everyone to cut it out. Perhaps he’s the most hurt by what he sees as Yoo-jin’s betrayal, and he instructs the orchestra not to cling to someone who doesn’t want them, asking Yoo-jin to leave. Yoo-jin tells him on his way out that they earned the applause at the end-of-term performance entirely on their own merits.

Nae-il chases him out to plead with him to stay, and half-threatens to become his enemy because she’s going to stick with the S Orchestra as its mascot. It’s cute and a little heart-pinching when Nae-il overestimates her importance like that (that he would stay just because she asked), though I also appreciate that childlike simplicity about her.

The S Orchestra members start packing up their things to head home, but Il-lac tries to prevent their departure by insisting that they’re not done for. He reminds them that they’ve got him as leader, but that doesn’t mean much to the members, who scoff that now they really are only bottom-rung students.

That evening, Il-lac waits outside Yoo-jin’s apartment to intercept him, pleading with him to change his mind. It’s so sad watching him try all sorts of different angles, from bargaining to begging to threatening, and seeing that Yoo-jin feels terrible for hurting his friends. But because he’s that guy who bottles things up inside, he just clings to his gruff exterior, saying that the decision is made.

A flicker of emotion does cross Yoo-jin’s face when Il-lac refers to himself as bottom-rate—like he doesn’t believe that of Il-lac—but he’s got a stern facade to maintain. Il-lac appeals to him as best friend, and Yoo-jin says that the BFF status only goes one way, because Il-lac isn’t his bestie. Aw, sad. He keeps his composure while Il-lac threatens to erase him from his phone, while Il-lac regrets hitting delete almost instantly. Boys, just say I love you and make up!

Yoo-jin pauses in front of Nae-il’s door, though he decides against ringing her bell. He heads inside his apartment… and finds Nae-il already there, waiting for him to cook her dinner. I love that he’s clearly relieved even if he doesn’t know how to show it, and she explains that even if they’re warring outside, they’re still in “love mode” inside, like they’re spouses who’ve had a spat. And then he makes her a steak dinner, so I guess maybe he does know how to show it, even if it’s totally roundabout and indirect.

Yoo-jin rehearses for his piano concerto with Streseman, who critiques his performance as boring. He guesses that Yoo-jin’s never worked to seduce anyone—he’s probably never needed to. Streseman enacts a bizarre upper-body wriggle to demonstrate his point, which doesn’t come across at all, leaving Yoo-jin to wonder whether he’s imitating a snake.

Streseman draws the difference between a CD recording and a live performance, the latter of which should appeal to the audience with more than just the sound of the music. He instructs Yoo-jin to put more passion into his performance, and to work to draw the audience’s gazes and steal their hearts.

As Yoo-jin leaves his practice, he finds himself walking the wrong way to A Orchestra’s rehearsals, as concertmistress Shi-won notices. He realizes his error and explains that the route to the S Orchestra hall had become a habit.

The S Orchestra members are dealt a blow upon finding that their rehearsal space has been closed off with a “DO NOT ENTER” sign by Teacher Do, who sniffs at their impending dissolution. He tells the students that they’ve got no talent and should look to their futures, taking the wind out of their already flagging sails.

The members slump in front of the closed doors, wanting to ignore the sign but fearing that disobedience would just hasten their disbandment. Nae-il sighs in disappointment since she wanted to do a costume orchestra performance, an idea the others react to enthusiastically… if not for the problem of having no money, no conductor, and no space.

Which is when new guy Yoon-hoo arrives and pulls the sign off himself, here to join the S Orchestra. In a flashback we see him declaring those intentions to Teacher Do and being heavily discouraged, but those haven’t stopped him from coming anyway.

The members are simultaneously excited at Yoon-hoo’s arrival and suspicious that he’d really want to join them, with his reputation and talent. It’s cute that they’re trying to act cool to his face while squeeing amongst themselves, given that Yoon-hoo can totally see the squeeing from his seat a few feet away. Il-lac asks for an entrance audition, which is almost going too far—the other members don’t want to play too hard to get—but Yoon-hoo is happy to comply, busting out his cello to wow them with a lovely Bach solo.

The members enthusiastically accept Yoon-hoo into the fold, not noticing how he looks rattled as he clenches a shaking fist behind his instrument. Ah, so something’s wrong with his hand, which explains why he’s taken a detour off the fast track to fame and glory. Adorably, Il-lac is slinging his arm around Yoon-hoo in no time, calling him a forever friend.

Now the orchestra needs a conductor, and they sigh wistfully that they wish one would drop down from heaven. Which is perfect entrance timing for Seung-oh, recently of the A Orchestra, who declares that he’s got some time on his hands and volunteers his services. Well, he may be petty and pompous, but he IS a talented conductor—heck, he’s a conductor, period—so they’re happy to accept him. Seung-oh, meanwhile, gives the S orchestra credit for coming a long way from their bottom-rate reputations.

Streseman and Mina talk about his plans for the students, and wait, don’t tune out yet! I know their scenes are a smashing bore, but to look at the glass as half-full, getting out all the exposition in their scenes helps keep the other scenes light on exposition, and more loaded with fun. It appears that Streseman is perhaps indeed a twisted genius (as opposed to just twisted), since he mentions the kids needing to learn things for themselves. So there’s a method to his madness, although that doesn’t mean he’s not mad.

Streseman asks Mina to listen to his performance, not as teacher but as herself, because he’s imbued the performance with all the feelings he couldn’t express to her before. The loaded words have Mina flustered, and she quickly excuses herself. “I can’t push it off any longer,” Streseman notes.

Nae-il has picked up a part-time gig playing the piano at Mom’s cafe—although I suppose it might be more accurate to say that nosy Mom has finagled Nae-il into a job there to keep her in her orbit. While Nae-il plays, Do-kyung drops by for another friendly chat with Mom. She knows Mom enough to guess that she employed Nae-il for other reasons, and Mom admits that she was curious about her. She finds Nae-il cute, and Do-kyung’s smile fades as Mom adds that Yoo-jin seems to think so too.

Min-hee notices Do-kyung’s arrival too, taking this as more proof that Do-kyung is dating the boss’s son. Since they still don’t know who that son is, Nae-il finds this news a relief, since it’s a little anxiety-provoking to have Yoo-jin’s ex hanging around him.

At school, Yoon-hoo catches Nae-il lurking suspiciously, and she confides that she’s avoiding Teacher Ahn. Even though her love of playing the piano hasn’t cooled, she isn’t up to lessons right now. Her mind flashes back to the scary master class experience, which dredges up all sorts of old, painful feelings.

Yoon-hoo reads her mood correctly and offers that there was a time he hated the cello too. She says he plays well now, and he says that it’s because he met someone—a pianist he wants to play with. He says encouragingly that if she’ll be ready to return to lessons when she meets someone who does that for her.

While Yoo-jin continues practices with the A Orchestra, the members of the S Orchestra also proceed with their rehearsals. Yoon-hoo is particularly attentive to his fellow players, giving them encouragement and tips.

Streseman is finally ready to reveal to Teacher Do the identity of the piano student he’s been looking for—the one he’d heard playing a rendition of Beethoven’s “Eroica.” Teacher Do is both shocked and dismayed to learn that it’s Nae-il, and even sounds wounded as he asks, “Do you hate me so much?” Ha. To burst your bubble like this?

On his way home, armed with dinner ingredients for Nae-il, Yoo-jin encounters the S Orchestra crew, who are still angry with him for his abandonment. Adding insult to injury is the fact that Nae-il walks with Yoon-hoo, even if she is ready to go running for Yoo-jin right away. Il-lac holds her back and says he’s the guy who left because he didn’t want them, and leads the miffed crew past Yoo-jin.

Poor Yoo-jin, who takes their scorn silently and then tosses away his groceries. Nae-il knocks on his door later to no response, and puzzles over his absence. She gets to work on a new sewing project, wondering all night long where he’s disappeared to. Turns out he’s at school, furiously practicing his concerto, looking caught up in the fierce emotion.

The school’s fall festival rolls around, and my, my, doesn’t the S Orchestra look spiffy. They’re dressed up in period costume, all smart suits and swing years flair. But things don’t look good for conductor Seung-oh, who’s ashen-faced in the bathroom, throwing up his lunch.

Yoon-hoo finds him and guesses that he’s dealing with a bout of stage fright. Seung-oh insists that he won’t choke like last time, but he’s shaking like a leaf and then moans that he can’t do it. Yoon-hoo tells him kindly that it’s okay, but Seung-oh asks what’ll happen to their performance.

The S Orchestra is in a festive mood until they get the last-minute notice that Seung-oh is sick and had to go to the hospital. Nae-il decides to shoot Yoo-jin a last-minute plea for help, hoping that he’ll pinch-hit the conducting duties. But Yoo-jin gets the message while he’s in a rehearsal studio busily preparing for his own performance, and sighs, “What am I supposed to do about it?”

Nae-il waits anxiously outside expecting his arrival while the clock winds down to showtime. And despite the circumstances Yoo-jin can’t completely put the S Orchestra emergency out of his mind, worrying it over until he finally hurries out of his own rehearsal with the A Orchestra to join his friends.

He arrives to find the rehearsal space is empty, though, and wonders incredulously if they mean to proceed without a conductor. He heads for the concert hall next.

Yoo-jin arrives in the auditorium just as the music begins, with Nae-il standing on the darkened stage illuminated by a single spotlight, as she plays a melodica. It’s an unexpectedly funny sight, and the audience laughs as she plays a jazzy solo rendition of Bernstein’s “Mambo” from West Side Story.

She wraps up her introduction, and then the lights turn on… to reveal Yoon-hoo on the conductor’s stand? Omo, that’s a turn I didn’t expect, but one that gets me excited. He’s good, too, leading the S Orchestra skillfully, with an attitude of competence mixed with utter fun—oh, this is great. The players get into the mambo mood, waving their bows to the tune and spinning their cellos in between beats, while Nae-il dances in front of the stage. The musicians even rise in unison to shout out the “Mambo!” line, and the audience catches the infectious mood.

Yoo-jin watches intently, and realizes, “They’re good. It’s not just that these guys are playing well—they’re perfectly in sync. They can’t have had any time to practice that. Is this even possible?”

The performance is a resounding success, earning a standing ovation and a round of “Bravo”s from Maestro Streseman himself. Yoo-jin asks in shock what Streseman is doing here right before their concert, which is a question that gets turned right back around on him. The maestro adds that Yoon-hoo knows how to captivate a person’s heart—perhaps a pointed reminder of Yoo-jin’s own task at hand.

With that, he suggests that they head off to their own concert. Watching Yoon-hoo at the front of the stage shaking Nae-il’s hand, Yoo-jin notes, “It was splendid. But only to this point—today’s star is me.”

 
COMMENTS

Ha, does somebody have a problem with sharing? I don’t actually interpret Yoo-jin’s last line in the most obvious way, which sounds like a stingy way to give praise. To the contrary, one of my favorite things about Yoo-jin’s character is the way he’s able to give credit where it’s due; sometimes you see these cold “perfect” characters and expect that they’re so exacting that they can’t have things any way but the one way they want it. A lot of heroes fitting that archetype are that way, which isn’t always a negative thing since it can be fun in its own right. But Yoo-jin’s journey is in learning to open himself up, both emotionally and musically, and to learn how to harness people’s talents to their best effect, even if that means putting aside his own ideas of perfection. What I hope for is that Yoo-jin takes the lesson Streseman is (most likely) dishing out, which is to apply the passion he sees in the S Orchestra into his technically perfect Grieg concerto.

I had no idea they were building up Yoon-hoo to be Yoo-jin’s rival in this way—I thought he’d just be unrequited love triangle guy—but about two seconds after the lights turned on and revealed him in the conductor’s place, I had that moment of excited realization when things clicked into place. It makes total sense in retrospect but I didn’t see it telegraphed miles in advance, so I’m very satisfied with the handling of it. They’ve shown Yoon-hoo guiding the orchestra members with a warm, supportive style, and we know that his cello career has a limited lifespan, so conducting feels like a natural progression for him. I suppose that’s what his bucket list is for—to him, playing the cello has been his life, and that life has been given a terminal diagnosis.

So here’s a way for him to discover a new path, which just makes him a hundred times more interesting as a character in his own right, and not just the guy who’s brought in to be the requisite K-drama rival. I’d frankly be perfectly happy if he ended up not a love rival at all but merely another member of the gang, growing and bonding with the rest of them.

I really enjoyed the swapping of places in this episode, with Yoo-jin making something of a “return” to what people might consider his rightful place—in perfect control of his playing, performing with the technically gifted elite. But Streseman hasn’t put him there to undo the work of the past six episodes, and it’s nifty to see how much Yoo-jin has visibly changed in such a short time that now he seems out of place with the A Orchestra. I appreciate that Yoo-jin can show his talent in the best light with the most skilled students supporting him, but now it’s his burden to find the feeling from within himself instead of drawing it out of others. It’s a different skill set, but just as important to learn.

This musical plot point coincides with his realizations of his personal flaws, as we see in his conversation with his mother. I love that when he’s talking about his S Orchestra friends, despite clearly finding their heart-on-their-sleeves attitude alien and befuddling, he doesn’t dismiss it as weak or wrong; he sees the value in that. Now, if only he could actually exhibit a bit more of that expressiveness (suffering in silence: aggggghhhh!), but maybe that’ll be his next assignment.

Best of all is the way that the S Orchestra has evolved from being this dead weight burden to something whose worth is becoming evident to outsiders. Nae-il grumps that her true rival for Yoo-jin’s attention isn’t another woman but the maestro; it’s a similar dynamic flip with Yoo-jin and the orchestra. The orchestra isn’t chasing Yoo-jin in a one-sided appeal anymore; now he’s the one longing to work with them and feeling cut off. I really enjoyed watching as that balance slowly shifted, and while it’s not always obvious at the outset where the episode is heading thematically, by the end I usually find myself pleased with the effect.

This is actually one of the big assets of the show which, if considered on the flipside, is also perhaps one of its flaws. I do find Cantabile Tomorrow in general to be a bit meandering—not just pleasantly slice-of-life, but in a way that actually lacks focus. I have zero problems with Cantabile being a story with loose plotting, and I find the breezy sensibility refreshing. That’s different from feeling like it’s not quite sure where it’s going for some stretches of time, which causes me fidget in my seat and makes my brain threaten to wander, before the plot snaps back into focus and gets to the point.

But what has consistently sucked me back in despite that is the drama’s overall effect—the sense that the plot is building toward genuine moments of growth and reflection, and that even if the small movements sometimes lose their way, there is an overall trajectory taking us somewhere. And that the somewhere is a place I want to travel with the show. So there are definitely lapses that do mar the overall flow of the show, and I don’t want to pretend that they don’t exist. It’s just that when I step back after every episode, the feeling of warmth and goodwill consistently outpaces my antsiness, and make up for the messy bits. The show’s kind of like the S Orchestra that way—sloppy but lovable. An unintentional synchronicity, perhaps, but one that works to its benefit.

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Yes, finally! The patented S-oke's performance! Their Mambo totally SLAAAAYED~
Gotta admit though, the highlight of this episode was Lee Yoon Hoo's sexy arm movements. Ugh, he's such a babe!

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YASSSS!

I actually re-winded a couple of times to re-watch the performance! it was just soo fun!

and LYH is eye candy so it's double awesome ;D

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me too me too! The Mambo performance really made me "BRAVOOOOOOOOOOOO!" out loud. Who knew YOO HOO can conduct? :D

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oh LYH is soooo good! :D

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Can we just talk about Park Bo Gum's talent for a second?!

Out of the entire cast, he's the only one who is convincing as a musician. I've been playing in orchestras all my life, and Joo Won's "conducting" literally gives me hives (sad, because I'm generally such a fan of the intensity he puts into acting). Like when Yoo Jin is conducting, I'm giggling at his inability to grasp the beat and appear as if he's drawing the music out at the helm. Yoon Hoo on the other hand totally understands the riotous excitement of Bernstein's Mambo. In real life it's a super difficult piece to conduct-- being a mid century contemporary orchestral piece, the time signature is all over the place with a lot of mixed meters. But he's so comfortable with the movements! He actually embodies the spirit of the music. Plus the precision and crispness of his arm movements = pro as hell

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commenting a year later LOL but yeah! I also think it's because PBG did have a music background because he originally wanted to be a singer/songwriter. but yes. love him.

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Yoon-hoo's actor is really good, when he's only 21. I was surprised by how how dynamic he was.

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He does a decent saturi accent too -- see early eps of Wonderful Season, where he plays young Lee Seo-jin.

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I'm replying to you Javabeans, because I'd like all beanies to know that the Mambo performance on teh drama was actually inspired by a real orquestra, the Venezuelan Youth Orquestra, directed by Gustavo Dudamel, who is also the director of Los Angeles Philharmonic. You can watch the real-life Mambo version here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWs9G-c_pcs

Hope you all enjoy it!

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Wow, this looked like so much fun.

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OMG he IS such a babe, tell me about itttt. I went through this episode pretty much just going "who IS this guy??!" over and over in my mind hahaha.

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Park Bo Gum is good, and he looks so cute together with Shim Eun Kyung. Oh no am I getting 2nd lead syndrome---pls do a drama together after this!

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exactly! I practically never rewatch episodes, but I did watch mambo rendition couple of times - it was so enjoyable and LYH was, well, eye candy. :)

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he he Lee Yoon Hoo's smile was infectious ! what a perfect episode !!! Loving it very much

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wow so fast JB! I can see you and GF are really into this show! Cheers!! #off_to_ watch_ ep7_ now

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yay!! recap is here!! really help me to understand the partially-subbed dialogue in viki.
as always, S-orchestra are amazing. love to see new dynamic for Yoon-hoo. i find him so adorable...

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I loved the feeling S Oke gave me at the end, it was so fun and made me really happy! You couldn't help but laugh and enjoy yourself, along with them.

Yoo Jin's reaction at the 'rat snake' was pretty hilarious though. Gotta love Joo Won and his expressions!

I'm totally on board for the characters alone, they're so amusing to me, but I can also relate to them in a lot of ways. One of the reasons I'm a fan of Nodame Cantabile was definitely because of the friendship that they had. GKP is doing such a great job as Il Rak! The scene where he talks to YJ alone made me so sad. I hope they make up soon.

The drama has it's faults, but gosh, I love these characters so much

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Yehey!!! at last!!! I've been waiting for this!!! Thanks JB for the recap.. ^_^

But, is it just me or Joo won is getting much hotter in every episode???

*excuse me for my fangirling here.. hehehe... ;)

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Nay, nay, it's Go Kyung-Pyo who's getting hotter in every episode. That hat and that snappy suit...dang, son. ::swoons::

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But Joo Won is so hot with his conductor tux! Hahaha OMG!!!

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Joo Won looks more like a man than boy although we know in real life. he's so full of aegyo, dorky and shy.

I guess if you like young uns, you will go for Yoon Ho and if you like more mature and hot guys you will go for Joo Won. Go Kyung Pyo is cute, very.

The guys are all very tall in this drama including Ma Soomin. Everyone seems to be at least 1.85?

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Yes they are very tall.

Joo Won (Yoo Jin) -185cm
Park Bo Gum (Yoon Hoo) - 182cm
Jang Se Hyun (Ma Soo Min) - 185cm
Go Kyung Pyo (Il Rak) - 184cm

They make for a very eye catching cast keke.

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Oh my gosh! I have a thing for tall guys. And this drama just grouped them together...*swooooonnnnsss to no end* <3

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Joo Won looks more like a man than boy

I'll be honest: they all look like babies to me (I'm a couple of years older than the actor playing Il-Rak's Dad - who, by the way, is also smoking hot.)

But if I was 20-something again, I'd be all about Il-Rak - just the right measure of dorky enthusiasm, sharp-dressing, and confidence. ;)

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I will allow that tuxedo was very nice.

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They’re dressed up in period costume, all smart suits and swing years flair.

Holy cow, do I have the biggest crush on Il-Rak and the rest of the S-orchestra players! They are having so much fun, and I just want to hug them and feed them too much food and cheer for them as they play their little hearts out.

And then go slap Yoo Jin upside the head, because dude, you couldn't share Professor Butthead's ultimatum with anybody? Nae-il, honey, I say go for the sweet-faced cellist and ditch that high-maintenance mixed-signals boy.

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O my god, I almost agree with your,
'go for the sweet-faced cellist and ditch that high-maintenance mixed-signals boy',
but we all know nail likes her Orabutt

Yon Ho really steal the episode for me, that face when he conduct OMG hooottt *fanmyself

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we all know nail likes her Orabutt

::snickers:: Now I'm not going to be able to think of Yoo Jin as anything but 'Orabutt'.

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Thank you for the recap. This episode was totally awesome. Still fun but lots of heart too. I was laughing and almost teared at the S orchestra's performance.

I can understand why most people find Yoo Jin annoying in sending mix signals, unable to express his feelings etc and only able to bring out his jealousy and competitiveness. First, Yoo Jin is based on the character Chiaki and this is what Chiaki is, Actually this version has changed Chiaki's character in making Yoo Jin more sensitive(yeah...it was lot worse) and more vocal. Although that vocal part, he mostly say them in his head or to himself. He does give credit when it's due but he says it so straight and matter of fact that you got to "rewind" and realized he's actually saying good things.

Yoon Ho is like the opposite of Yoo Jin. He is very good with people. I marvel that he can even talk the way he did with Teacher Yoon and get away with it. I am not sure if he is boot licking but he seems genuine with everyone else so I'll give him benefit of doubt.

So we have 2 geniuses, very talented. One with high EQ and the other, very stunted in EQ. I think with the exception of Do Kyung who I don't even know if she was ever Yoo Jin's friend, Yoo Jin never had a true friend. He was not obsessed with himself. But rather obsessed with music because that's the only thing he knows and it's safe.

Naeil is not "normal" girl. If she was, she wouldn't have given Yoo Jin a chance. Yoo Jin is not a "normal" guy either. So I think they pretty fit each other.

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Really love Joo Won's acting in this episode, just one word "DAEBAK"
When he plays piano alone, his expression is so great~~~~
After watching I really want to hug Cha Yoo Jin. I can't wait to see Cha Yoo Jin's performance today~

And S Orchestra had a fresh, funny performance. I love their smiles, their styles, everything~

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omg!!! yess!!! i agree with you, I really like when Yoojin play solo piano in his room. Cant wait to see his perfomance with A-orchestra in episode 8. I think Yoojin will be concertmaster with solo piano.

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I thought he looked a little constipated when he played. The boy needs to loosen up a little. Which, I guess IS a major theme in this drama. You've gotta feel the music.

I am enjoying Cantabile much more these last few episodes. Was ready to write it off & move on, but think I'll stick around for the final movement (no pun intended.)

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Absurd or obvious?

both I think

Joo Won you are doing just fiiiiinnnneeee......the only thing you need to loosen are your clothes. Your intensity is spot on where it matters. Plus do you play for real?

Does anyone know if Joo Won really plays piano to this level? I can't believe if you tell me he does not.

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I remember reading/watching an interview where he said he learnt how to play the piano when he was young, but stopped quite early on. So I seriously doubt he can actually play it to the level required, but he has enough musical background to mime the playing bit convincingly (plus I bet he practises like crazy just before the shoot)...

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Loosen his clothes... kekekeke, yeah like two or more buttons... unbuttoned. Love that.

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This show leaves me with fluttery feelings! ^^
I was expecting the S-Oke to play 'Rhapsody in Blue' by Gershwin, which was my favourite piece in Nodame and the anime but I am 100% equally happy with the 'Mambo' which is also my favourite in WSS. It just had me smiling uncontrollably non stop and they loked amazing.
Not only Joowon but I think Shim Eun Kyung is getting prettier in each episode. I cant wait for the moment of realisation when Yoo-jin falls for Nae-il. Gah, so exciting!

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Yes, I can't pin point but she looks totally radiant now.

I so love her mascot act, it was wonderful. Everyone is, I felt as if they weren't acting but performing for a real concert and thoroughly enjoying it.

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She's having fun, finally. And that's the way "Nodame" was supposed to be.

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Joo Won was so haaaawwwt when he plays the piano. No words to describe that look of intensity and turmoil on his face. I don't mind him taking it out on the piano more, LOL.

Although the close up shots of hands on the piano keys belong his double, obviously Joo Won played well enough for the rest of the body shots. He could really mimic the finger and body movements to the tee.

So damn convincing in conducting, piano and now I just need more violin.

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I still have to watch this. But I enjoyed reading the recap. Though the story is a bit off from the manga (with the Yoon Hoo chara), I still find it all right, if Yoon Ho is not the third wheel but a chara that can change Yoo Jin. I am still enjoying the drama as well.

Yoo Hoo looks good with glasses. Ayiii!!!! <3

Naeil's costume, is that finally the MONGOOSE????? ^________^

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The addition of the Yoon-ho character seriously spiced things up! Now Im super invested in this show and really excited for the next episodes to come! Also, the S-orchestra looked really good in their period costumes! Their strut around the campus is too cute for words!

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Of course, the Korean team can never replicate the J-dorama. No doubt about it. The Koreans cannot replicate something with a distinct Japanese "thing" that is cultural. Regarding Naeil being an oddball, I am not sure if there are a lot of oddballs in Korea because most of the young people there are more into pleasing Oppar or being handsome for Unni. In Japan that oddballs who don't even go out of the house exist. In Japan, the people are open about homo, but in Korea, there is still some taboo in it. We don't know who among our oppars are even gay. So, replicating something with a distinct cultural thing can be a very heavy task.

But I still give thumbs up (and if I have hundred hands, I will give thumbs up) to the team for trying. The story is just so cute even though there are obvious deviations from the manga, anime, and J-dorama. TC, for me, is a hybrid. It might not have the wackiness that the J-dorama has, but it has the "cool friendship" vibe that I get in J-doramas like "Gokusen." (But please! Do not produce a Korean Gokusen!). It still has the Korean flavor like the wrist grabbing, love line, and love triangles, but not the usual "chaebol guy meets candy girl," because though Yoo Jin is rich, he is not a son of a chaebol but of a businesswoman and a pianist. His perfectionist and moody behavior is not because he is a spoiled brat but because he had a traumatic past. And as for Naeil, she is not the usual candy girl in K-dramas. She is odd, might not care about what other people think of her, but has her eyes only for her Orabang.

Sorry for those who love their unnis and oppars, but if TC is compared to K-pop, TC would be like AkMu or Lee Hi. They have the cute and different feel, and I feel that way with TC.

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I forgot to add regarding my statement above:

"Regarding Naeil being an oddball, I am not sure if there are a lot of oddballs in Korea because most of the young people there are more into pleasing Oppar or being handsome for Unni."

If there are extreme oddballs in the Korean society, especially in school, they are subjected to bullying by the iljins who want to maintain all things cool.

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Um, I guess it's nice that you're leaving an overall positive comment about the drama, but your knowledge of Korea and Japan seems to come purely from pop culture. People who don't come out of their houses in Japan are not quirky individualistic folks, they are depressed unemployed young people who have had difficulty surviving in a competitive society. Also being gay not equal oddball. That was actually kind of an uncomfortable aspect of the original manga, where Masumi was gay in a weird way.

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But I do agree with you that there is a hybrid vibe to this drama, and I enjoy it.

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Thanks for the recap!!!

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Damn Lee Yoon-hoo, slay a bit! I loved that performance so much I had to watch it more than once. He was into it!

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Wait, is Puri Gorota gonna be in this version too? If it is not Puri Gorota, at least a fave anime of the same flavor for Naeil to enjoy.... Oh, I just hope...

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OMAGAWD!!! Joo Won playing the piano just slayed me. I just love how the emotions I am seeing. I am so waiting for his performance on today's episode.. Need to tighten up some garters... it might go sliding down without any notice if I see Yoo Jin in his performance... Aaaahhhh......

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I really liked this episode.I'm growing really fond of cantabile tomorrow but I would also like to see Nae-il playing in the concerts instead of being the mascot.

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I felt hard for YH, such a charming guy, and even wanted NI to date him for a while, hehe, they had more chemistry than when with she's with YJ (to me). The cellist obviously stole the light from Joo Won in this ep, at least for me. IDK, sth is missing from this show, it didn't make me awe like the J-version, may be because of NI, shouldn't she get serious already after 7 eps gone? That mambo was a great job done from the Korean cast and crew though ^^

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Yoo Jin's little chat with Mom reveals a lot about him.

- He grew up without Mom being there or maybe she was there physically but just not there for him
- he had no friends
- Mom says Yoo Jin formed a barricade around himself just thinking about Viera every day
- Mom asked about S orchestra being YJ's friends and from the initial look on YJ face, Mom asked if he still feels annoyed.
Does this mean YJ has always been easily annoyed or irritable ?

- Yj really cannot express his feelings and genuinely wonders how the S oke members can do it so freely.

So he has made quite a bit of progress but there's still a long way to go.

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forgot to add

Yoo Jin has a funny reason for not forging friendships. He said he can't take what he cannot return. He has always thought he would go and study abroad so he never invest in a relationship. But his trauma kept him grounded for much longer than expected.

Why would anyone think like this? Unless he has another issue . Read in synopsis somewhere that his Dad abandon him when he was a child. That explains his animosity towards his Dad. So is he afraid of investing his feelings into a relationship because it may not be reciprocated? And he takes it to not making friends because he doesn't want to abandon them? Or deal with the feeling of loss?

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I think the whole 'I can't have friends because I'm going abroad' thing was one of those pretty little lies we tell ourselves to avoid dealing with the more difficult things we don't want to face. It's a lot easier to believe you're doing the right thing by not accepting one sided friendships than to sort out your own issues about emotional attachments. And yeah, I think the abandonment by his father certainly could have created exactly those kinds of problems.

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I have moved several times and knowing that I will be moving soon definitely made me not want to make any kind of new relationships. So I can relate to Yoo Jin in that aspect.

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Wow the actor playing Yoon Hoo is really good, I'm a new fan! I used to be totally for Joo Won, but I'm slowly switching sides XD Park Bo Gum is so charming! I forsee a bright future for him :)

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I also am enjoying the young charmer Park Bo Gum. Second the bright future. Short clip of a pre Cantabile photo shoot. http://vimeo.com/107350476

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Squeee thanks for this! I'm practically licking my screen right now.

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+1

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"But what has consistently sucked me back in despite that is the drama’s overall effect—the sense that the plot is building toward genuine moments of growth and reflection, and that even if the small movements sometimes lose their way, there is an overall trajectory taking us somewhere. And that the somewhere is a place I want to travel with the show. So there are definitely lapses that do mar the overall flow of the show, and I don’t want to pretend that they don’t exist. It’s just that when I step back after every episode, the feeling of warmth and goodwill consistently outpaces my antsiness, and make up for the messy bits."

JB, you took the words right out of my mouthhhhh, every single thing you said here (and of course you put it in better words and feeling!). Exactly how I feel about this show, I'm just good-naturedly letting the flaws slide (and there are quite a bit) because it's got so much heart. Thank you :)

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Thank you for recap :D

i got goosebumps when Yoojin play solo piano in his room and the last orchestra perfomance!! Park Bo Gum so cool!!! omg... cant wait for episode 8, when Yoojin' piano solo with A-oke orchestra.

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Why Naeil call Yoojin with sunbae? Not orabang?? they change it??? Why??? I like Naeil still call Yoojin with Orabang. When i searching the mean of Orabang in google, Orabang is Jejudo dialect. That why, Naeil said she is from Jeju when Yoojin mom asked her.

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Maybe because there were some comments from k-netizens who didn't like Nae-il calling Yoo-jin orabang *sigh* I for one don't mind all the orabang since Nae-il thinks/believes/insists Yoo-jin is her boyfriend.

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i love this drama... and i love this episode... yoon hoo so great...thanks for this recap

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Great episode and awesome recap JB :)
I love S-Orchestra performace and Yoo-jin piano scene. Can't wait to see his performance tonight !!
Btw, Joo-won looks so good with this Lee Kang-to look ^^

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Seven episode and it still pretty much all about the male lead with the 'star' of the drama fixed to being a female feed for him, and now they add a second guy she can be used to build up. I been waiting and waiting for Nodame to come into her own but each time they hint at some sort of move they take two steps back and push the male lead once more. I would not mind if it was like a 30 episode drama but it only 16teen and they have not really used her at all and the show half way done.

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Abolsutely right.

I don't know if you've seen the J-drama but it really makes this issue all the more blatant. In the J-drama, the leads took turns to shine, and even when it was Chiaki's time and Nodame was cheering him on, I never got the feeling that she was any less important than him.

I'm loving this Orabang but Nae Il is really not working for me. Yoon Hoo conducting is a good addition to his character beyond the romantic rivalry, but the performance was supposed to be about S Orchestra inspiring the male lead, not about yet another male character when Nae Il STILL NEEDS some active screen time and character development.

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.. Sorry, you obviously did watch the J-drama .. I just realized you called Nae Il Nodame (I can't help it either).

Anyway, here's hoping for Nae Il to grow into the Nodame we all love.

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That's a consistent problem with K-drama no? In a J-drama even with a naive oddball meets arrogant talented conductor scenario and the fact that Chiaki is sort of a narrator, the characterisation of Nodame is so strong that even her devotion to Chiaki makes sense.

With some exceptions, more often than not K-dramas start with the premise of strong female characters and then waste them. And they always have strong male leads. Helps to increase their popularity with a predominantly female aud of course!

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ohh, this is the best episode so far... with a lot of music and a great performance at the end. I can feel YJ's emotions, I hope I can hug him right now~~

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Ep 7 is so great! So much emotion! Joo Won always is best in emotion.
and...OMG....He was playing piano with that emotion! I'm dead already!!!!
Seriously, I forgot about NC when watching TC. Good work, guys!
Can't wait ep 8.

BTW, re watching in KBSW bring the fresh feeling. Ep 3 is so so but feel good when watch it in TV, not laptop or PC. What happened to me? :D

And, tks for your recap, JB. ^^

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I easily get overwhelmed with small things and now I'm crying bc I'm so proud of S Oke babies like a proud mama T.T Look how much they've improved. I wanna hug each one of them. I started watching this because of Cha Yoojin/Orabang/Orabutt/Orabulge (Joowon to be exact lol) but after this...idk anymore but damn LEE YOONHOO!!! The faces (esp. when he smiles) he makes when he's conducting @_@ but on a serious note I think the progresses are a bit slow for a 16 episode drama. I want some Naeil progresses too bc the way I see it she needs more episodes for her. But then, I'll be just waiting here patiently for that since this drama is way too unpredictable for me that sometimes it loses its focus. I'm excited for Yooj.. I mean A Oke's perf. tonight ?

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The feels!!! Sooooo heartwarmingly good! ^^

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YOON HOO!! I basically fanning myself through the episode and hyperventilated when he's conducting... Gosh, he's so cute and handsome! Nae Il can have her Orabang, please give me Yoon Hoo.. hahaha
While Joo Won is also smoking hot in the tuxedo and Go Kyung Pyo in pink suit is crazily good-looking too...
I don't care with the plot as long as they keep the hot men! Ahahaha

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Does anyone here recognize Park Bogum from Gaksital? I'm liking his character in this drama.

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I did!!! Hahah! I knew i know this actor way before this drama but I couldn't quite figure it out yet until I wiki it. I ALWAYS FIND HIM CUTE IN GAKISTAL and his acting skills improved a lot since then. (Of course I did watch his debut in Blind movie.)

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LOL. I've been waiting for someone else to notice this :).

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JB called him Little Jo Insung in her recaps then. I thought the same thing watching him in this ep. I love his eyes! I hope he gets more projects.

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and in that vimeo video of photoshooting too! resemblance is there.

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I was totally clapping and grinning at the end of this ep. LYH soo cute. I love this show. its so fun to watch. does anyone know the name of the song that plays at the end of each episode ive been searching but cant seem to find it anywhere HELPPP!!!! please

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Ikr? At moments, I thought Yoon Hoo was a better conductor than Yoojin haha And the OST song came out this week, it's Melody Day's Listen To My Heart :D:D

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I'm getting vibes of Yul from Goong (Kim Jung Hoon) when seeing Lee Yoon Hoo (Park Bo Gum). Anyone else? I had major 2nd league syndrome in Goong, too! :)

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Hello, Eva.

I remember that Yul turned into a manipulator (who also silently acquiesced with some of his mother's behavior from the middle to end of the show). He saw the way Shin treated Chaekyung and probably felt that he was entitled to her (since he was kinder, more understanding, etc.). I was a fan of Yul as well, but I was also aware of his more questionable behavior.

I'm hoping that Yoonhoo's character doesn't follow the trajectory of many second leads in k-dramas. No manipulative behavior, no sense of entitlement (please, please!).

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@Peridot,
Yes, Yul from the beginning of Goong, not the end. Although, you do have to say that his trajectory was realistic, since he was written as a character with real faults, and not just a perfect 2nd lead for us to side with. He succumbed to his inner demons and faced consequences for his actions or lack thereof.
Hopefully, we'll see some growth for Lee Yoon Hoo. He needs a little more depth, although I like that he already knows that winning over Nae Il will be challenging for him.

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Yes, I agree that there were many things going on in Yul's life and I could understand the darkness of his character (or the dark elements). It's really sad seeing him leaving with his mom at the end. He was responsible for his own actions even if the (unhealthy) influence of his mother (who had her own demons) could not be ignored.

Yes, I want a complex second lead in this drama, but hopefully he won't fall into the second-lead trap I mentioned above.

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Even though people starting to appreciate this drama, I honestly going to the opposite direction. This drama has so much different atmosphere than from the original. It just that I feel like Tomorrow's Cantabile is more into drama and the characters' development. I'm not saying it's a bad thing but it just that the original is more focus on the music and this is the reason why I love Nodame Cantabile. It made me appreciate music in many different ways. Although it does kinda show in the k-drama, it isn't the center of the drama. I like the first 2 episodes better than the latter episodes because it just shows how people can connect with others with music. I have to say this drama does challenge the original. I need to think in a different angle to appreciate this drama more.

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I like the J version better. It focus on the music and through the music. the two main characters face their own challenges, growth, develop and final come to appreciate each other's differences. The K version have a total difference focus. The music is not the main driver forces. It is only the background. The politic within the school, forces all the characters to make choices and by these choices, come the misunderstandings. I think at the end, all these misunderstanding develop in the k version will be resolve and then end of the story.
If you see the J version Christmas special in Europe and the Movie final score I and II. You will see the conflicts between the Nodame and Chiaki, and how they develop love through these conflicts.

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can someone here tell me did they really know how to play piano violin and all other instrument???? seriously hahahahahaha how come.......

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oh ghad! the mambo performance was seriously good! I fell for yoon ho, he was an entertaining conductor.. my heart bleeds!

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Naeil and Mini Minhee are so cute together, like sister kittens! :3

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Who is the guy in the trench coat? (He's in the back most of the time) I've seen him before

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