High Society: Episode 4
by HeadsNo2
Things move fast in this episode, and I mean fast—one second our hero and heroine aren’t dating, the next they are, and months of essential milestones get compressed into a span of days. It’s a lot to wrap your head around, plus there’s not as much Ji-yi and Chang-soo to break things up this round. We needed to spend some more time with our leads anyway, although if this hour’s rollercoaster is what we can expect from this couple in the future, we might find ourselves reaching for the crazy pills more than the smelling salts soon enough.
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SHINee – “Odd Eye” [ Download ]
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EPISODE 4 RECAP
After a morning bike ride, Chang-soo imposes on buddy Joon-ki for breakfast because he’s got something on his mind: Can’t Joon-ki give Ji-yi a promotion? Even a tiny one? Aw, someone’s got it bad.
But Joon-ki won’t do anything of the sort, and besides, Chang-soo should know that part-time and temporary employees are handled by a separate service. Having his ignorance pointed out causes Chang-soo to lose his smile as he reminds Joon-ki solemnly that they should still have respect for each other no matter how close they are.
Joon-ki’s coldness is noted by one of his colleagues too, though he seems more keen on putting Joon-ki in his place. That’s a more difficult task than he counted on since Joon-ki won’t be cowed—even if he were to fall from his current position like his colleague predicts, it’ll still have been worth every second.
After asking her maid to pack her two lunches (while making the food look inexpensive and simple) and agreeing to join her brother on his vacation tomorrow, Yoon-ha drops one of the lunches off at Joon-ki’s desk and gives the other to Ji-yi.
Yoon-ha whines that she always thought it was corny to pack someone a lunch, but now she’s actually done it—no matter that she just had to say the word for her maid to do it. She’s decided that she wants to confess her feelings to Joon-ki today before she leaves for two weeks and misses her chance.
Ji-yi respects Yoon-ha’s cojones in just going for it, but wonders what her friend will do if she gets rejected. Though Yoon-ha claims she’s immune to rejection, she soon breaks down and admits that it’s all an act. She wouldn’t know what to do if Joon-ki rejected her.
Meanwhile, Joon-ki finds her lunchbox and attached note, unable to help a small smile. But when Yoon-ha greets him on the storeroom floor he barely acknowledges it before going straight to Ji-yi for a private chat.
When asked what her plans for the future are, Ji-yi says that she wants to work hard for six months in the hopes that she’ll become a contract employee. Joon-ki asks if she’d like him to speed that process along for her since he’s received a “request”—and he doesn’t need to say who it was for her to know.
It’s very thoughtful of him to ask for her opinion, considering that she wants to become a contract employee using her own effort. He admires that and gives her his approval, effectively overruling Chang-soo’s say in the matter.
Chang-soo gets his comeuppance when Ji-yi calls him out to pelt him with all sorts of moochy questions—how high can he have her promoted? Can he lend her money? She’s asking these sorts of questions so he’ll stop liking her after what he did, though it only confuses her when Chang-soo agrees with her philosophy that nothing in life is free.
If he thinks that, she counters, why would he ask Joon-ki to promote her? She admits she wanted to take the promotion against her better judgment, but when Chang-soo argues that she could have, she asks if he’s also planning on taking responsibility (marrying) her.
He freaks out at that thought, and Ji-yi explains that she doesn’t date anyone she knows she’ll breakup with. Mortified, Chang-soo argues that he didn’t ask her to date him, though Ji-yi returns that he would’ve.
“I won’t do it!” he says almost too emphatically, causing Ji-yi to take a step back and ask why not. Hah. His dating philosophy is the polar opposite of hers because he refuses to connect dating with marriage. Besides, the help he offered her he would’ve offered to anyone.
Ji-yi says he can offer that kind of help when he’s old and ugly, and then looks at her toes as she admits that his doing so now is her butterflies. She leaves Chang-soo befuddled and wondering whether she’s intentionally messing with his feelings.
Yoon-ha ends up texting Joon-ki to ask if he enjoyed the lunch she brought him, and when he says yes, she asks him if he can spare some time after work.
Lady Kim grows incensed when she sees Madam Min and Chairman Jang together on the news, and decides that she wants Mama Lee to start calling her agasshi (young lady) to make her feel better. But Mama Lee has as much trouble calling her that as she does accepting an all expense paid shopping spree from her.
Once they’re alone, Yoon-ha admits to Joon-ki that she doesn’t have a good relationship with her parents or sisters, and is only close with her older brother. She adds that she doesn’t have anything to her name but even so she asks, “Will you date me?”
She doesn’t miss the small smile on Joon-ki’s face, asking if this is funny to him. “Yes,” he responds drolly. “Are you rejecting me?” she ventures. “Yes,” Joon-ki answers in the same monotonous tone.
Yoon-ha tries to act cool about it all as she turns to leave, though she’s anything but. Joon-ki stops her and starts on about how a relationship should begin conventionally, and for a moment it almost seems like he’s going to chastise her.
Instead, his point is that it should be the guy who asks the girl out. Like she did, he tells her about his family situation, his yearly salary, and other assets. And on that note he asks, “Will you date me?”
Yoon-ha can’t help but smile as she says yes, happy at this turn of events. He takes her hand in his as he matter-of-factly tells her that they’re dating from this point forward, but that he can’t escort her home tonight because of an appointment. I think she’s too high on cloud nine to care.
Ji-yi returns home that night to find Chang-soo waiting outside with his devil-may-care smile. She picks up a brick to threaten him away from surprising her like this again, though it’s not because she doesn’t want him to—it’s because she’s afraid that she might start to really like him.
She finds Yoon-ha waiting inside, and tentatively asks if her friend was successful in asking Joon-ki out. They both cheer when Yoon-ha says she was, though she mentions how she had to be rejected first, then asked out by him before it became official.
It’s cute that Ji-yi is true to her word about supporting her friend, even if her disposition turns grumpy when Yoon-ha’s all aflutter about exchanging texts with Joon-ki. She’s not pining over him, but rather thinking about Chang-soo as she blurts, “You shouldn’t even start dating a bad guy. That’s the basic rule of dating.”
She’s saying that more to herself than Yoon-ha of course, though I wonder if Yoon-ha knows that she’s agonizing over Chang-soo without Ji-yi mentioning his name.
Kyung-joon can’t help but notice how his little sister is so very in love while on their private jet, and makes an executive decision to drop her back off so that she can have the two weeks she would’ve been on vacation to spend with her new beau.
She’ll be free from familial obligations since they’ll think she’s with him, so he literally encourages her to go on a vacation with her boyfriend and use the time wisely. But then he adds strangely, “If I were father, I would choose you as successor.”
Joon-ki meets her back on land while she still has her suitcase in-hand, and doesn’t press her too hard for answers about where she was going and why she isn’t going there anymore.
Yoon-ha can’t even meet his eyes as she calls him “Oppa” for the first time, all smiling and shy. When he asks why she won’t look at him she explains that it all feels like a dream to her, though she’s jolted out of it when he takes her hand and pulls her in close.
That’s what he wanted to get across to her—that this isn’t a dream, and they’re really together. It’s a surprise that she doesn’t just melt into a puddle of happiness when he asks her out for a meal.
They’re equally adorable when out, acting like they’ve been dating for much longer than one calendar day. Yoon-ha carries on like a besotted puppy as Joon-ki walks her home (to Ji-yi’s house for the vacation period), and shyly takes his hand during the walk. Aww.
The next day, Madam Min hears some shocking news over the phone and then on the news: Kyung-joon’s boat sank off the coast of Mexico, and though no body has been found, he’s presumed dead.
Madam Min can’t process this information for plenty of reasons—he’s her son, but more importantly, he’s the heir to Taejin Group. He can’t die like an ordinary person.
Only then does she remember that Yoon-ha was supposed to be with him and calls her, but when she realizes that Yoon-ha is still in Korea she lets out a horrible scream. We next see Yoon-ha with tears running down her face, having found out about her brother.
Madam Min is still in shock when Yoon-ha returns home, all but whispering, “Why did you come alone? Where is your brother?” Then, as the truth starts to set in, she becomes more and more hysterical. “You lived? Just you?”
Poor Yoon-ha sets to shaking as she tells her mother that they didn’t even leave together, prompting a level of vitriol from Madam Min that sounds too hateful to be real. She accuses Yoon-ha of killing her brother, and that she just knew Yoon-ha was that type of person all along.
She blames herself for allowing the trip, before she attacks Yoon-ha while screaming, “Die! You should die too! Die! Die!” Yikes. This is taking child favoritism to a whole new level.
The family takes time to mourn, Ye-won included. Yoon-ha really does start to blame herself for her brother’s death, thinking that everyone she loves eventually leaves her. Now that even Kyung-joon couldn’t escape what she sees as her jinx, she’s convinced she can’t ever love anyone.
…Which is right when a text from Joon-ki comes in. She deletes it, sobbing.
Because Taejin Group’s stocks have plummeted since the announced death of Kyung-joon, Chairman Jang puts Ye-won center stage as successor to his company.
Madam Min has to pull herself out of her depressed stupor to be strong for her family, since Kyung-joon once told her that he admired her strength. But since she’s not entirely convinced he’s dead (someone’s been watching dramas), she dedicates resources to find him at any cost.
She does her duty and joins her family for breakfast, only to throw the dishes off the table when she sees everyone eating like their brother and son didn’t just die. Chairman Jang is the chief offender in her eyes, and he shows absolutely no sympathy for her tirade or even a sign that he’s mourning.
He and his wife really get into it in front of the children this time, with Madam Min screaming at the top of her lungs at her husband’s coldheartedness. Kyung-joon was his son too, but Chairman Jang seems to care less about that and more about the negative impact his death is having on the company—plus, he blames him for going on a vacation during such a crucial time.
Madam Min claims her son was so eager to leave because his father never trusted him and only tested him, a move which Chairman Jang doesn’t regret. He saw Kyung-joon as too sentimental and weak, so he was trying to make him stronger. But in the end he proved incompetent.
Yoon-ha’s finally had enough and steps in to defend her late brother’s honor, asking as well as she can that her father not speak so ill of him. The complete disdain the rest of her family feels for her in that moment is almost palpable.
Contrast that with the warmth and happiness of Mama Lee and Papa Choi, as she tries to help him to feel useful even though his disability prevents him from working. She punishes him for saying that she’s only suffered since marrying him by cooking him delicious food, with the warning that she’ll make even more if he keeps on like that. Awww.
They talk about their wish for Joon-ki to get married even though they know they’re not ideal future in-laws, but Papa Choi seems to adore his son so much that he hates himself for being such an inadequate father. I’m sure Joon-ki would disagree.
Speaking of, Joon-ki keeps sending worried text messages to Yoon-ha that she keeps finding herself unable to delete. She still can’t bring herself to reply, nor can she stop her tears as she reads over the cute little messages he’s been leaving her. “I miss you,” she cries.
Yoon-ha gets called in to meet with her father over her future in the company now that they can use her. She doesn’t want to take a position that’s opened because Kyung-joon is gone, to which Chairman Jang tersely replies, “Your opinion doesn’t matter.” Great talk, Dad.
She mentions how she agrees with her mother about the questionable circumstances surrounding Kyung-joon’s “death,” but her father wants none of it. I’ve seen a lot of awful chaebol families before, but these people don’t even qualify as a family. I’m not even sure they qualify as people.
Ji-yi can’t help but think about Chang-soo whenever she looks at the street light he appeared to her under, while Chang-soo can’t help but think about Joon-ki the second he returns from a trip with his mom. Even his mom notes that he likes Joon-ki just a little too much.
She’s the only person so far to register what a loss Kyung-joon’s death should be to his family, because Lord knows no one in that family knows how to mourn.
But she also sees Yoon-ha’s succession in the company as a positive thing if Chang-soo would only keep in touch with her. A marriage with Yoon-ha would be an advantageous business arrangement for their family, she argues, and Joon-ki overhears all of this with interest.
In the car, Joon-ki doesn’t seem thrilled when Chang-soo asks about Yoon-ha, nor can he feign surprise when his friend reveals that Yoon-ha is secretly a chaebol’s daughter. At least for now Chang-soo’s trying to nab Ji-yi by playing hard to get.
Instead he calls Yoon-ha, and Joon-ki’s expression turns to a scowl when Chang-soo gets ahold of her instantly, considering how he’s been trying and failing to do the same. Chang-soo seems to make it a point to act sympathetic without making things worse for Yoon-ha, as he gives practical solutions to help her get over her grief—like returning to work, for instance.
Yoon-ha’s already on her way, and thanks him for his concern. She gets a call from Ji-yi next, but she can’t bring herself stay on the line when her friend starts asking about how Joon-ki’s been supporting her through this crisis. So… she knows Yoon-ha’s brother died but nothing more?
Still, Yoon-ha thinks of Joon-ki with tears in her eyes, and says to herself, “I miss you. I want to lean on you.” So she finally calls him, and he picks up while Chang-soo’s conveniently asleep. She’s got something to say, but Joon-ki tells her to wait until they can talk in person.
Chang-soo wasn’t actually asleep, and asks if his friend has been dating someone behind his back. He doesn’t pursue the matter.
Ji-yi couldn’t be more excited that Yoon-ha’s returning to work with her, though the two girls run into an awkward situation when they have to take the same elevator as Chang-soo and Joon-ki. Chang-soo, bless his heart, at least tries and fails to make some conversation.
When Joon-ki pulls Yoon-ha aside for a private chat, she hearkens back to when they’d discussed who should ask who out (all of one week ago) as she asks, “Who’s supposed to say it first when you break up? The girl or the guy?”
Joon-ki knows what’s coming and answers solemnly that it should be said by whomever wants to do the breaking up. He stops her from stumbling over her words: “Don’t drag it out and look at me while you tell me you want to break up.”
So she sucks in a breath and looks into his eyes, “Let’s break up.” He doesn’t buy that she wants to based on her expression, causing her to just cry more. She lied, she says. “Everyone lies,” he answers. “I did too.”
But her lies were much bigger. “I’m not poor,” she starts, choking back her tears. She doesn’t exactly say she’s a chaebol, but she admits that she got a part-time job to help her tolerate her family and that she could have left at anytime if she weren’t so afraid to be poor while living on her own.
She explains how she had been preparing to live without her family and thought she’d made the right choice… “But Oppa died,” she cries. Like her mother, she echoes the sentiment that Kyung-joon just couldn’t have died—not when he had the world laid out right in front of him.
Joon-ki pulls her into an embrace, which she allows for just a moment before pulling away. “Everyone I love gets hurt. Everyone I love leaves me. My mother has been unhappy since the day I was born. So leave me,” she says.
He interjects to tell her that being unhappy is a choice, and she can’t take responsibility for the unhappiness of others. She caves then, leaning her head against his chest as he pulls her closer. She missed him and wanted to see him, she explains, but worried that he could be hurt because of her.
There’s a flicker of something that passes over Joon-ki’s face as he reassures her that her fears are baseless. A glimmer of guilt, maybe? “Don’t leave me,” she whispers. “Please don’t ever leave me.”
And with that, Joon-ki kisses her.
COMMENTS
Phew. I’m glad Yoon-ha finally got that off her chest, because it was getting a little ridiculous that she’d think she was doing a good job hiding her identity by virtue of just not telling people who she is. And now it frees us to think of her in a more sympathetic light, if only because we’ve seen how oblivious she is and now she’s being preyed upon (probably, maybe) by someone who knows that’s how she is and knows how to take advantage of it.
Still, it’s not like Joon-ki had to roll out the red carpet of romantic gestures in order to ensnare Yoon-ha, and half of me wonders if their relationship is more coincidental than not, even though Joon-ki would likely disagree. (He loves his choices, after all.) Their relationship is so bizarre that it probably wouldn’t have happened on a regular day, and Yoon-ha’s sudden devotion makes me feel pity for her despite thinking that she really should know a lot better by this point. Then again, she hasn’t really given any signal that she does know better.
Suffice to say, Yoon-ha both confuses and disturbs me. I just don’t know how to feel about her because I can’t understand how her brain works, though I’m inclined to give her some slack because of the certifiable household she comes from. Even so, there are simple things she says and believes with all her heart that just blow past me—like this jinx business, for instance. Grief changes a person, and she was very close to Kyung-joon, but why is it that after one severe loss in her family she’d jump to the conclusion that everyone who loves her gets hurt? That everyone who loves her leaves? How is that a thing when that’s only happened to one person she’s loved? And no, her mother doesn’t count. Not really, anyway.
She believed in this jinx so much that she stopped talking to Joon-ki altogether, which just doesn’t make sense. Unless she’s left a trail of bodies in her wake, it’s patently unreasonable for her to think that Joon-ki would get hurt by mystical otherworldly forces just by being in her orbit. He knows that, and he even told her so. What’s worrisome is that she doesn’t, and genuinely believed that she was jinxed so much so that she was sure she would doom the love of her life she’s been dating for an entire week. It’d be different if part of her reason for distancing herself was the realization that her living a lie could have direct and harmful ramifications to the people she loves, but it wasn’t. It was part of it, but not as important to her as her terrible curse.
Joon-ki is much more difficult to sort out, though luckily most of that seems to be intentional. What he’s doing is complicated if he’s doing what I think he’s doing by maneuvering his way into Yoon-ha’s life for personal gain. With the way she’s carrying on now, it’ll positively destroy her if/when she finds out she’s been used. The question is, how much will Joon-ki allow himself to be affected?
RELATED POSTS
- High Society: Episode 3
- High Society: Episode 2
- High Society: Episode 1
- To be or not to be evil in High Society
- Four youths’ fates divided by money in High Society
- Blind dates and champagne toasts in High Society’s posters and stills
- High Society starts with a kiss
- Sung Joon and UEE pucker up for High Society’s poster shoot
- Chaebol’s Daughter adds UEE, Im Ji-yeon, and new title
- Sung Joon offered lead in Chaebol’s Daughter
Tags: featured, High Society, Im Ji-yeon, Park Hyung-shik, Sung Joon, UEE
Interview with Kim Yoo-jung
Hello Dramabeans series
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1 Gustave154
June 18, 2015 at 3:06 AM
Yes OTP FTW!!!
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Spi
June 18, 2015 at 1:02 PM
OMG the kiss!!! Enough said.
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2 Skyofblue
June 18, 2015 at 3:06 AM
The growth of the relationship for the leads here was just really fast to grasp. The sweetness of a budding courtship was barely registered. I was wondering how one could go from a crush to such a desperate love within the span of this one episode.
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Skyofblue
June 18, 2015 at 3:19 AM
Ah, I forgot to say this. Thanks for the recap Heads!
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Jon G.
June 18, 2015 at 3:22 AM
While I can see where they -- especially YH -- are coming from, it was a bit hastily and clumsily delivered. The whole "how to get rid of Big Brother" issue certainly didn't help.
However, I don't think YH was that desperately in love with JK (yet). Maybe it was more a certain over-dramatic fatalism that send her into that kind of depressive mood: She wants to be loved by JK, but she also wants to stop now before they really start the relationship.
Right now, breaking up with JK or not is the question between giving up on love altogether or not. That's delusional, of course, but she really seems to think that way. And because she does, JK becomes the very essence of love for her. Once he gets her to face him again, the very death of her brother and her delusional superstition work like an autohypnosis for her.
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Chloe
June 18, 2015 at 3:51 AM
I think this pace is ridiculous. Yoon Ha is just being desperate for someone to lean on here. When she says 'I miss you' "i want to lean on you', I really hope she meant her brother. They haven't even dated much and she's already so clingy and melodramatic. I started out loving this show because I loved her character. But now...not so much. I'm starting to hate her character quite a bit.
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Ivoire
June 18, 2015 at 5:48 AM
I 1st watched this ep. raw, and when I heard YH say "I miss you, I want to lean on you," (I could understand/guess that much), I wondered if she was talking about her brother or about JK.
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halo120
June 18, 2015 at 7:12 AM
Hi, where are you viewing this with English subs? I usually use Dramafever but they are not carrying this show. Thanks.
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Hyolykpop
June 18, 2015 at 7:27 AM
check out myasiantv.com! They have pretty Good subs and mainstream dramas are uploaded really quickly!
table122000
June 18, 2015 at 9:03 AM
Viki.com
Azale
June 18, 2015 at 11:00 AM
Yeah, use Viki. Don't use myasiantv, they steal their subs. Also their content isn't licensed to be streamed, it's uploaded illegally.
helen zee
June 18, 2015 at 11:40 AM
Go to VIKI.com. All the other websites except for Drama Fever copy form them.
halo120
June 18, 2015 at 9:39 PM
Thanks a bunch
LaKeisha J.
June 23, 2015 at 7:55 PM
well you're going to hate the next two episodes then!
I'm trying to cut her some slack because one thing that I've noticed is that dramas really do a good job of linking psychology to family backstory. So maybe she's this ridiculously clingy and comes on so strong because of how desperately she needs to be loved. Which makes the ultimate reveal all the more tragic.
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YANII
June 18, 2015 at 3:54 AM
I share your sentiments. There is just no emotional growth here. it seems that this "relationship" with Joon-Ki just got concocted out of thin air. I am flabbergasted asking myself did I MISS an enitire episode? where's the logical flow? You can't go from suddenly having feelings, confessing, "dating" and then emotional breaking up in a span of an episode.
Also, I am not saying UEE is a bad actress, but I just can't seem to connect with her portrayal of Yoon-Ha.
On a side note, I am loving Ji-Yi and Chang-Soo's budding courtship, too cute!
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Ocspastic
June 18, 2015 at 2:29 PM
Lol I agree. They haven't even gone on an official date and he kisses her. Seems contradictory to the conventional lectures he gives her. And, if you look at next week's preview, it seems like she doesn't want to leave his place and he has a shirt off? Talk about really fast!!
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cheakie18
June 18, 2015 at 5:49 PM
exactly! that's what i felt too! their relationship was way too fast. it's only episode 4 and bam we got a kiss already :o
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XiaYu
June 23, 2015 at 8:33 AM
Precisely!! I mean, I can't help but wonder what exactly they're gearing up for in a 16 episode drama for them to push so quickly past the development of an actual relationship... It is, after all pretty important that the viewers feel invested with the couple as well!
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3 usanotsuki
June 18, 2015 at 3:13 AM
Thx for the recap!
Oddly enough i found this drama intriguing when i didnt even bat an eyelash before its premiere..
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CLINTON CARTER
June 18, 2015 at 3:24 AM
i felt the same way before the premiere. i am glad that i was wrong
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4 Tbees
June 18, 2015 at 3:36 AM
I actually feel sad admitting it that this episode really did not do it for me. It was just too bizarre for words. I was so looking forward to this drama but so far, only the second leads are the reason I'm continuing with it. (And Sung Joon)
Her mother is truly rotten! I hope they don't do a 180 degree spin on her by the end of the show and make her seem like a misunderstood poor madam cause she's NOT. She chose to believe that guy about her youngest and behaved quite cruelly with Yoon-Ha. It's because of this that I'm been quite patient with Yoon-Ha even though her naive(?) outlook is throughly frustrating to the point that it becomes unbelievable.
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Dramalava
June 18, 2015 at 4:15 AM
And the award of a WORST mom of the year goes to?
I'm with you on how bizarre it is that the mom would just take the word of some rando and treat her child with so much contempt. The dynamics of this family are hard to understand. I'm lost on the sibling rivalry and ugh, I can't with the douche dad
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camille
June 18, 2015 at 4:38 AM
I live in a country where someone from a rich family was allegedly killed by his siblings due to money. Not that they don't have enough -- just not rich enough. So as crazy as the sibling rivalry is in the drama, so are some people/families in real life.
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birdscout
June 18, 2015 at 6:27 AM
I must have missed it, but can you explain what Terrible Mother Min was told by the random guy about Yoon-Ha that makes her hate her daughter so much?
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birdscout
June 18, 2015 at 6:32 AM
Never mind, I found the answer from response 8 below ;)
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5 KDaddict?JCW
June 18, 2015 at 3:37 AM
I'm not disturbed by Joon Ki or his choices.
He clearly wants to marry up. Even his previous gf was chosen on the basis of her family's fortunes. Yet, he chose to break up with her when she showed she clearly disrespected his parents. There is hope that there are things dearer to him than money, even if he isn't aware of it yet.
So what he is manoeuvring himself into her life? The story and its melo will be about him and Yoon Ha's relationship ups and downs, until he gets a chance to redeem himself. He doesn't come across as the heartless evil type that the brother-in-law is in Mask, played by Yeon Jung Hoon.
They've 'killed' Lee Sang Woo's char. But w/o a body, no one is definitely dead in a KD. It's said to be a cameo; still, I hold out hope that he'll show up at the end.
That crazy mother of theirs takes the cake among crazy KD mothers. Joon Ki's mom on the other hand is the sweetest of them all.
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Cha
June 18, 2015 at 4:07 AM
I have a feeling Oppa is alive too...in true drama fashion he will make a comeback towards the end of the strory...
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Alice
June 18, 2015 at 2:02 PM
I have a feeling he may have staged his own death to catch his older sister in something.
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Auntiemame
June 18, 2015 at 2:43 PM
I agree. The father and KJ may have staged the trip and accident to let the ambitious sister take the fall for the prosecutors' investigation.
I think that KJ also got off the plane when he dropped off YH. We see KJ in a positive light because of his love and concern for YH. But, I'm not sure that he's as nice as YH thinks he is.
Both KJ and JH are ambiguous characters.
Then, we have the polar opposites in the secondary couple, CS and JY, who are totally open books.
BTW, was there mention of another dead son in the family? Or, have I confused my dramas?
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Sera The Ms Temper
June 18, 2015 at 5:35 PM
it made me remember "legendary witch", the heroine's ex husband who had been known dead appeared near to end of the drama, and actually dead at the end of the drama...
btw the terrible mother here was a very kind hearted mother in legendary witch. haha.
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Lucy
June 18, 2015 at 5:19 AM
I think that the exploration of the typical "secretary" that you find at the shadow of every chaebol is intriguing.
Will the story be about Joon Ki falling in love for realses? regreting his manipulation?.
I was thinking about the parallelism in those two caracters too, (Mask brother-in-law and Joon Ki here).
These are highly capable people, some smarter than their bosses, with the misfortune of being poor, but ambition to climb, and are dashing enought to snach a wealthy bride
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blnmom
June 18, 2015 at 5:36 AM
After Legendary Witches, I will NEVER believe anyone to be really dead in a drama again. And, per School 2015, you can even end up being alive WITH a dead body.
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blubluskye
June 18, 2015 at 6:35 AM
"And, per School 2015, you can even end up being alive WITH a dead body."
One point for you.
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Azale
June 18, 2015 at 11:02 AM
Lets not talk about that Drama, it's a scar to the memories of many. It's best left forgotten. :'(
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Mandelbrotr
June 18, 2015 at 9:59 AM
Oppa is totally not dead. The only question in my mind is did he plan it? Is he off just escaping this life? Was he taking Yoon Ha to escape as well or involve her in the plot? Did he send her back because he thought she was happy? Or was one of his sisters trying to take him out?
So the mystery is accident or intentional?
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windsun33
June 18, 2015 at 11:52 AM
Pretty sure it was planned. He gave her the key to use in case anything happened to him. Of course she ignored him and apparently left the key on his desk. I wonder if that will re-enter the plot, or be forgotten?
Some of the writing seems to be a bit choppy here.
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6 Bodamba
June 18, 2015 at 3:41 AM
This is a weird drama. There are lots to suggest that this is just another cheesy, cliche rom com drama. But somehow it has this pulling power to keep you hook for every minute. I think this probably one of the most realistic korean drama of all time. I feel like all the players in this High Society are more than most, human. Human with all its ambitions, complexities, and also charms.
I like this drama already.
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Jon G.
June 18, 2015 at 3:51 AM
It's definitely NOT a rom com, I can assure you.
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Chloe
June 18, 2015 at 3:57 AM
I would say the 2nd leads' scenes so far are pretty rom com
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Jon G.
June 18, 2015 at 4:06 AM
Well, it's comic relief.
And if the writer follows her previous patterns, for every little bit of joy they have now they will suffer manifold when the time comes.
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7 KDaddict?JCW
June 18, 2015 at 3:43 AM
Oh, I'm not thrilled by Chang Soo's immediate change of attitude and demeanour to JK when JK refused to promote Jiyi on his say so. It is belittling and undermines their so-called friendship.
What he is saying is that: I'm your friend only when I allow it; at all times, don't forget your place.
The relationship between them will turn very contentious, won't it?
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Nana
June 18, 2015 at 4:56 AM
He took things for granted.. he might hv think JK as a dear friend but cant stop being an immature chaebol and a spoilt brat.
I have to admit i am very irritated by him
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min
June 18, 2015 at 5:13 AM
He might see JK as friend but he thinks he is still his boss and he shouldn't challenge his authority.
But it is not as if JK is any better. At least CS treats him as a friend. JK just wants to make use of him to climb up the social ladder. This friendship is too vulnerable.
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Ivoire
June 18, 2015 at 5:54 AM
About this, "He might see JK as friend but he thinks he is still his boss and he shouldn’t challenge his authority."
And that makes me feel that JK is not truly his friend (or his equal), since CS gets to dictate the "terms" of their "friendship."
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yukie
June 18, 2015 at 8:38 AM
Yeah, CS and JK friendship is NOT genuine at both front.
CS might be slightly more genuine in that he trust that JK is completely on his side. But if JK is not as useful and as 'nice' as he wants him to be. I dont thinks CS will see him as 'bestfriend'
JK of course has the worse end of this friendship, because he has to prove himself as useful and at the same time, CS moody and spoiled tendency forced JK to 'behave' accordingly to maintain the 'friendship'
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yimmi
June 18, 2015 at 8:59 AM
So, true. This "friendship" isn't really very friendly. JK ov
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yimmi
June 18, 2015 at 9:12 AM
(Argh! Sorry for the half post. It's why I don't bother to comment anymore with my tablet)
Anyway, I had to agree. The strain it places on JK to "keep his place" has to build some resentment even though he seems to genuinely like CS. That's all I'll say before I accidentally hit the post button again. :p
venus
June 20, 2015 at 3:14 AM
You are right about their relationship. Even JK knows his place; to be or at least pretend to play second fiddle to the chaebol kid even though they are "friends". We saw this in the scene, I think in episode 2 when they were racing on their bikes but he applied the brakes to let Chang Soo win. That was very figurative. He has to hold himself back in order to succeed until he can find his winning ticket that will then allow him to flourish, truly showcase his talents and place him above Chang Soo. It seems only a rich bride from a great company can do this for him so Yoon ha looks like that winning ticket. After all one if marrying Yoon ha could give a Chaebol kid the one up on his brother, then it would definitely propel a poor kid with crazy talent.
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8 dramalama
June 18, 2015 at 3:44 AM
She has been told she is a jinx by her mum who got it from the fortune teller. If your family constantly tells you that from young you will believe at some level subconsciously and associate every friend in your life you lose to that. Wonder what her school life was like in that household.
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dokutokunaneko
June 18, 2015 at 4:28 AM
I remember this too, how she kept telling her brother that everybody she loves leaves her, so it must be a deep rooted belief from a long time ago.
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camille
June 18, 2015 at 4:41 AM
This exactly! She has been brainwashed since day 1. I don't think just having a 'strong' personality would have overcome it.
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Dee
June 18, 2015 at 6:15 AM
Yup! She might have been a "difficult" child in her parents eyes when she was young since she is so different from her sisters. Then her mother's trip to the fortune teller guy might have solidified her belief that Yoon Ha is the black sheep of the family and she has been then been told that to her face as she grew up.
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wackycashew
June 18, 2015 at 7:47 AM
Yes, she's been mistreated as the black sheep since day 1. It's not just cuz of the jinx. It's also because her dad started to neglect her mom and got together with the mistress. That's why her mom thinks she is bad luck and dislikes her so much.
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Arawn
June 18, 2015 at 8:50 AM
Yes. People are to focused on this curse thingey. Ultimately, the curse is just an excuse for the mother whether she truly believes or not. She's the type of person who blames others for her miserable life and Yoon-ha ended up being the perfect scape goat whom she can mentally and physically abuse (even hough physical abuse, thank god, hasn't seemingly been very harsh) as much as she wants. I bet that every time mom has a confrontation with dad and loses, because clearly she always does, she goes to punish Yoon-ha. And Yoon-ha is the perfect target also because she has a strong personality - just like dad. So she is a substitute of dad for mom to kick around because she cannot go against the real target of her anger.
And as all of you say, Yoon-ha has been literally brainwashed to believe she harms others by the virtue of EXISTING. Of course in this kind of situation it makes perfect sense for her to blame herself because EVERYONE ELSE DOES IT. And they have always done it. She doesn't know any better. And so her pain gets her to panick and pull away from Joon-ki.
For me this made perfect sense and was completely logical.
When Joon-ki said she isn't responsible for the happiness of other people, I bet it's the first time EVER she hears someone saying that she ISN'T the one to blame. And she needs that. She needs that so, SO desperately. So of course she clings to Joon-ki because he absolves her from guilt! (No matter the guilt has no real basis - for her it is very real.)
This girl is desperate for love. Of course she will fall fast and hard when a situation arises. In her family only her brother treated her kindly and now he's gone, too.
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yukie
June 18, 2015 at 9:15 AM
Arawn, I COMPLETELY agrees with you!
i find the whole set up is perfectly reasonable. YH behaviour is completely in character. Her mom actually blames herself for not protecting KJ from YH, and ask her to go and die.
She is having negative view on herself because of her family.
JK is so far the one guy that she thinks like her for herself and not because she is rich. therefore after her brother adviced her to be brave and take chances, she decided to confess. which results in the fast pace of their rship.
After which JK continues shower her w attention and affirms that he likes her as she is (eg: allowing her to eat however way she wants, and agree to let her not act frail)
Although to be fair, JK himself did not chase YH simply because she is rich. He have some principle in choosing whom to marry, 1. is to respect his background 2. respect and love his parents.
I believe that the moment he knows of the rude rich lady intent to apologize, he did a background check on YH and know the truth. After which he make his move by telling her his roots (checking point no.1). When his mom drop by the store he keeps checking how YH behaves towards his mom (checking point no.2)
So of course when YH confess he accepted it. I think JK character is nicely layered and nicely played.
He might not really like YH initially, but after her breakdown it seems like he do want to ease her pain even if its a little bit. He doesnt seem to be someone who can marry just for riches. even toward his last gf he did said he was sincere to a certain extent.
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MEed
June 18, 2015 at 9:57 AM
I agree with and to add on JK has always been sincere even in his previous relationship and also we have to note that he was interested rather intrigued by her from the beginning.
wackycashew
June 18, 2015 at 9:53 AM
I totally agree. YH is her mom's direct target because the mom has no one else to pick on and nowhere else to vent her anger. Her husband treats her like dirt and she's been enduring it for all these years. Yet, for some reason, she can't empathize with what YH is going through. She only dotes on her son and can tolerate the other two sisters since they were born before the mistress came along. Since she needs to take out her anger on someone or she'd go insane herself, YH automatically became that scapegoat. It's no wonder YH needs care and attention as well as affirmation for love. She's received none from those who are supposedly closest to her. Her only lifeline in the family was oppa and now he's gone, too.
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agoodheart
June 18, 2015 at 12:23 PM
@Arawn Thank you for your comment! Totally agree with you!
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Auntiemame
June 18, 2015 at 2:51 PM
Well said!
I'm not having problems with YH's characterization.
And, those parents should be the poster couple in favor of divorce, for the sake of their children, if nothing else. Ugh!
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9 min
June 18, 2015 at 3:57 AM
Despite them looking compatible, the first lead just lacks chemistry. I don't feel anything for them. Their relationship happens too fast.
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Jon G.
June 18, 2015 at 4:08 AM
That's pretty much expected though. He is not into her on an emotional level at all, and she's a pretty messed up girl starving for any kind of positive attention.
There really shouldn't be any honest romantic chemistry between them.
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Arawn
June 18, 2015 at 8:51 AM
This is quite well put. And this is why I totally buy the fast romance. She is STARVING for love so she will of course respond quickly and deeply.
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pogo
June 18, 2015 at 12:56 PM
There really shouldn’t be any honest romantic chemistry between them.
There should be chemistry of at least SOME kind, though.
This is practically the exact kind of love line as Nice Guy (conniving man with things to hide cold-bloodedly seduces a chaebol heiress he initially has no feelings for).
And yet Song Joong-ki and Moon Chae-won had sparks practically flying off the screen even at the stage in the story where he was just using her. Much like Joon-ki is supposedly doing in High Society, only that spark/continued interest in seeing Joon-ki and Yoon-ha just isn't there in HS.
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Lixie
June 18, 2015 at 2:42 PM
What kind of chemistry should be there already? I think her crush on him was pretty well established and the whole situation led her to sort of a mental breakdown, she is a love starved girl as others have said, and she is headstrong and naive enough to marry him, so a perfect target.
The famous chemistry is a very subjective thing. :) I felt none in Nice Guy except with the villain.
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pogo
June 18, 2015 at 8:01 PM
The thing is, almost NO kdrama starts out with a couple actively romantically interested in each other, but the chemistry needs to be there from the start because otherwise you're just watching two people talk at each other.
And by chemistry, I mean "am I interested in seeing these people's interactions?" It doesn't have to be romantic chemistry, even antagonists can have great chemistry with fellow actors - look at the recently concluded School 2015, for instance. If the answer to that question is 'yes', then they've got it.
But kdrama OTPs feeling this flat and rushed 4 episodes in, generally isn't a good sign.
hydepy
June 19, 2015 at 3:31 PM
Yeeee.. Finally someone who thinks that this pair looks alike with Ma Roo x Eun Gi, which is a good thing ^^ I love how instead of Ma Roo who showed his redemption & emotion clearly, Joon Ki's act is very hard to read. Both pairs are probably the best realistic pairs on korean drama, because it's not love at the first sight, but love after the male leads know the female leads character further,, That's what true love means :)
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Me
June 19, 2015 at 6:00 PM
From the begining i think yoon ha as eun gi and joon ki as maru. The different is Chang So who I hope will fall for Yoon Ha. At least I hope he have interest in Yoon Ha.
LaKeisha J.
June 23, 2015 at 7:57 PM
My issue is that Sung Joon character ( amazingly ) has zero charisma. He's like a social climbing zombie.
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10 Ivoire
June 18, 2015 at 3:59 AM
Thank you (a lot), for the recap! I really liked this ep. I LOVE the acting by everyone in this drama, though the 2nd leads are (slightly) my favorites as well. I really love the subtlety Uee shows in her scenes, and I feel that she was well cast for this drama. I love how she portrays her character’s innocence, and naivete at times, and I LOVED her acting in the last scene, on the rooftop. I could feel YH’s pain, at losing her brother and at missing (terribly) JK. I loved the part where YH said, “I want to lean on you.” That was so well said, and I could relate to that.
I also loved JK’s reaction to YH asking him to break-up. If he was acting, his acting was very good (because for me, I felt that he was sincere in that scene). His voice changed, when he told her that “she didn’t sound like someone who wanted to break up,“ and he looked heartbroken himself. I loved that JK encouraged YH not to take on other people’s unhappiness, and I agree, we should not do that. I loved the embrace he gave YH the 1st time, the way he put his head in the crook of her neck, and the way he held her. And I did think that the kiss was (very) nice. I did think though, “hum… if we get a kiss scene this early, what can we expect from this drama? How deep will the angst be (and the pain), when they come?”
I find the possibility that Oppa was killed (by one of his family members, or two) interesting, and I am curious to see what is done with that part of the plot. I think it would be an interesting change, if noona or dad (or both) did ask for the plane engine to be messed with (tampered), and the accident did happen, as a result of that. I will miss Oppa as well, I was hoping LSW would be in the drama for a longer time. Maybe we could have some flashbacks with him in them? Also, I wish YH had taken the key Oppa gave her, I hope that aspect of the plot will not be dropped, because I am curious about that now (and the fact that Oppa said that YH should be the successor).
I really love JY (continue to love her), and I seriously LOVE HOW real she is, and how she can disarm CS. I have replayed their scene on the rooftop many times now, and I know I will watch it again a few more times. I love how honest she is with CS, and yet how she tries to have boundaries with him. I do hope that CS will fall for her HARD and DEEP, and I look forward to seeing how that will change him, and what he will continue to do for her. And I really do hope that, as a beanie said yesterday, the plot for this drama will continue to be well written. This drama has so much potential!!! I feel invested emotionally in it, a lot. Another thing I would love to see, would be CS saying, “I really want to date you, because (now), I want to equate (or link) dating with marrying.” I just love how JY threw that at him in the last ep. (or maybe that was in ep.2), I love that line.
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Ivoire
June 18, 2015 at 4:00 AM
Also, PHS has me in love with his acting, in this drama. I loved him in Heirs, and to me, he is shining here. I smile and swoon, when I see him on the screen, and I wish his scenes would last longer.
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blubluskye
June 18, 2015 at 6:33 AM
Same here, I really missed him in this episode.
Here's hoping for more CS scenes next Monday.
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venus
June 20, 2015 at 3:23 AM
I'm swooning over him. Never thought I would but I just love when he comes on the screen!!!!!
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Saltish
June 18, 2015 at 4:21 AM
Totally agree with you on chang soo and Jiyi!
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Ivoire
June 18, 2015 at 5:42 AM
@ Saltish, thank you!
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whimsyful
June 18, 2015 at 9:15 AM
Oppa's death is one big mystery. Aside from the possibility of foul play, there's also the chance that he faked his own death--you could certainly interpret some of his words/actions that way. Either way, lots of options.
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11 Jon G.
June 18, 2015 at 4:00 AM
On a side note, I'd like to compliment prop staff: The choices of bikes for CS and JK were rather spot on.
CS rides a Korean made retro steel frame with vintage down tube levers (Campagnolo).
JK rides a much more modern and streamlined Canadian monocoque carbon frame with modern Shimano integrated gearshift system.
That alone would be enough to characterise them.
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Ivoire
June 18, 2015 at 4:07 AM
Hi Jon G., good to see you here! About your whole comment, and especially about this, "That alone would be enough to characterize them." What do you think that tells us about them? I will confess to not knowing much about bikes.
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Jon G.
June 18, 2015 at 10:17 AM
JK's bike is an efficient and computer-designed racing machine. Pure performance, no heart.
CS's bike is all about tradition, elitist craftsmanship, but more about appearance than inner value with a touch of noble understatement.
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pogo
June 18, 2015 at 12:58 PM
That is a really cool detail, and I love when the aesthetics of things in kdramas are so nicely thought out.
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camille
June 18, 2015 at 4:44 AM
Thanks for sharing this detail! It's great to know how the production designers put a lot of thought in, and a symbolism that would've been lost to me as a foreign viewer.
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Ivoire
June 18, 2015 at 5:41 AM
I echo camille's sentiments. As someone who loves details, I greatly appreciate finding out that the production team put a lot of thoughts in some of the details. And as a foreign viewer as well, those details would have been lost on me (plus the fact that I don't know much about bikes). Thank you Jon G. for sharing that tidbit of info.
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Auntiemame
June 18, 2015 at 2:59 PM
Oh yes! Thank you for these tidbits of detail. While I always look to books displayed in dramas for a clue to the plot, character or theme of the drama, I don't know beans about bikes. So, I won't have thought of the bikes to define the characters.
Reading between the lines and connecting things in the dramas further enhances the viewing pleasure. It's like finding a nugget of gold in a pan of sand.
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wackycashew
June 18, 2015 at 8:15 AM
Thanks for sharing this insightful tidbit! Definitely not something I would've noticed since I know nothing about bikes. XD Glad that the production team is paying attention to such details.
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venus
June 20, 2015 at 3:26 AM
Wow. Really cool observation. Thanks for sharing that detail.
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12 dramalama
June 18, 2015 at 4:11 AM
The complaints about the speed and depth of feelings are perhaps a little jaded .When you fall in love like YH does for the first time the feelings are intense and although you might question the speed and depth it is no less real for people who grow to love a person in the space of a week.
You might looking as an outsider question it but even in real life feelings that are very intense can develop in a very short space of time. With the most important person in her life dying it is no wonder she feels so bereft and needs the person she thinks she is in love with.
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camille
June 18, 2015 at 4:45 AM
I've seen this happen in real life so many times, its not unrealistic at all :p
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birdscout
June 18, 2015 at 6:51 AM
I agree. I find Yoon-Ha's falling for JK so quickly plausible because she has spent her whole life wanting to be shown any sort of kindness or love that she doesn't get at home.
Even her beloved Oppa only started to pay attention to her when she was no longer a child as he "matured, got divorced, suffered business setbacks".
When JK touched YH's hand to take the soju bottle to pour can you imagine just how much that bit of skinship must have meant to YA? Made me think back to falling in love when just brushing past my love's hand sent shivers up my spine.
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nikkik411
June 18, 2015 at 8:42 AM
The thing is, it's not unplausible for real life but for a show where the viewers have not been given enough time to understand the motives and dynamics of the characters (it's only been airing for 2 weeks), it feels very rushed and jarring.
In real life, I wouldn't bat an eye at their relationship but in a show that has so far done a terrible job at giving their leads chemistry, it does nothing but pull me out of the story when she's falling over herself for a dude she's been dating for literally 3 days.
Unless they are going to go a Nice Man route where there is no chemistry because it is obvious he's manipulating her and then after she finds out we move into a territory where the female lead gets a backbone in the relationship and the male lead actually has to start trying.
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Arawn
June 18, 2015 at 8:54 AM
To each his own. I do not only find them very good chemistry wise - I thought that kiss was bloody hot no matter the circumstances!
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13 yukinosuna
June 18, 2015 at 4:13 AM
I knew from the moment the brother gave her the key that he was a goner, which is sad because I liked their relationship.
This is one of the most rotten families i've ever seen in a drama, and coming from makjang heaven it says a lot.
Joonki should read Icarus
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brian
June 18, 2015 at 11:52 AM
Hmmm, he offered her the key. Did she take it?
I guess we'll find out.
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windsun33
June 18, 2015 at 11:57 AM
It looked to me like she just put the key down on his desk and left it, and pretty much ignored everything he said.
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14 Sean
June 18, 2015 at 4:14 AM
Second leads actings, chemistry and story is more natural and enjoyable. I can't with UEE's expression. Her eyes disturb me a lot and I know why. She seems difficult to give any expression and move her mouth naturally and her big eyes is just, I don't know how to explain. Sung Joon acts also just so-so. The story is like typical makjang drama. The only good thing about this drama is second leads. That's all.
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pogo
June 18, 2015 at 1:00 PM
Her expressions don't bother me too much, but I did notice she's got a lisp in episode 3. No idea whether it's for the character or it's an actual speech impediment she faces.
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Alice
June 18, 2015 at 3:02 PM
The 2nd female lead bothers me. (Not the guy though) Her acting seems so superficial. She doesn't seem like 2nd lead material, maybe 4th, 5th, or an extra on the set.
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15 Saltish
June 18, 2015 at 4:15 AM
I really love Changsoo X Jiyi couple, pity that there wasn't enough of them in this episode but it was a good one to focus on the main leads. I agree that it's fast moving, I guess everything gotta to move in this pace so to focus more on how Joonki will be entering Yoonha's heart his "own way".
Some may say the show is predictable but I personally think that it is predictable to a certain extent. We don't know how Joonki is going to cheat and climb his way through, what will happened when Yoonha finds out and tons of other questions like will Changsoo and Jiyi be together or being opposed?
I guess I could understand how Yoonha feels when your beloved oppa just died no where out of a sudden and have your mom putting the blame on you on top of thinking that you're the jinx. Everything just fall on you and makes you think that it's true, it's actually common when you're feeling depressed and you just don't want anyone to get hurt. It can be a stupid thought but doesn't mean one can't feel that way after what happened.
And I agree that Yoonha "may not" yet fall deeply for Joonki, not yet. Just imagine that She likes him and his the only one there for him, hence she doesn't want to hurt him before she feels that she could do anything.
As for my fave OTP... ohh words can't describe how much I love them in the show. If Joonki X Yoonha is the rom-melo type then Changsoo X Jiyi is the rom-com type. These two couples are opposite and blend so perfectly. Changsoo is going all out to get her in the next episode! *heart flutters* the only thing I am curious is, can Jiyi continue to stop herself from falling for him? Though we know that she has fallen for him unconsciously, I just hope it won't died down along the way and becomes draggy. And can Changsoo continue be attracted to her in a long run? Or its just him feeling that he hasn't met someone special like that and just want to go out with her for fun? I hope not and I hope this is what the show is trying to address and having Jiyi to change Changsoo's mindset of dating and marriage can't go hand in hand. I got a feeling that it won't be always happy dovey for this couple along the way, there bound to be sadness.
Nonetheless, thanks for the review. I am falling for this show deeply now. Can't wait for the next.
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16 Dramalava
June 18, 2015 at 4:35 AM
Oh high society! It's kind of a mess but somehow I'm still in for the ride. While YH falling for JK is fast, I can see why it makes sense for her. Like many have alluded to, this girl is starved for love. Her world is so small, since it's basically her family and everyone except for her brother hates her or is indifferent about her existence. So it makes sense that she would hold on for dear life to anyone that appears to show sincere affection towards her.
To be honest, CS's pursuit of JY makes me feel uncomfortable. I guess I don't find his constant violation of her boundaries charming. I feel like if he weren't rich and handsome we'd see him as a little stalkerish. I love JY. I think she's lovely and strong so it's a little sad that there's a bit of the Candy narrative added to her story. Maybe I feel this way cause I don't really care for CS. Anyway, asi es la vida in drama land so tropes and cliches are expected. regardless of misgivings, I rooting for this show to be good.
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17 Ivoire
June 18, 2015 at 5:16 AM
I LOVED CS’s banter on the rooftop with JY, and I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the way he looked at her (and the way she said it) when JY said, “it gives me butterflies, when you do nice things for me.” It felt like it took him aback that she would be so honest about her feelings for him, and to hear how much he actually affects her, though she doesn’t want to delude herself. That reminded me of the Healer’s reaction in ep.12, when CYS (the female lead) told him that she (badly) wanted to kiss him. Both guys looked at their girls like, “you’ve got my full attention (now), because I actually want the same thing (that you want), and though I want it, I am not sure how to progress from here.” There is so much in how both men look at their love interests (and about their whole reaction to their women confessing to them), I think I could write a whole page (or more) about it.
Going into this drama, I was not sure what to think of JK, and I expected him to be straight evil, as one of the posters’ lines depicted him. I guess with 12 more eps. to go, he COULD become evil. The thing is that JK confuses me, tbh. I know that he kept to himself the fact that he knew YH’s true identity, however, I find many of his actions towards YH to be sincere. Or am I just being fooled? He does seem to be affected by her (as she is affected by him), and maybe that is part of what is supposed to happen, that as much as he wants to use her to become a part of her world, he will also fall deep for her (in the process), AND he will have to prove to her that he genuinely loved her (if he ends up using her, to move on up socially and professionally). I sure hope that is what will happen, even if some (later) revelations end up hurting YH. For example, when JK chooses NOT to drive YH home, is it because he doesn’t want to let on that he knows she is extremely wealthy, and lives in a very fancy house? Or does he genuinely think that: a) a girl should not let a guy drive her home, the 1st time she meets him, and b) did he really have an appointment/commitment that late at night, when they started dating? He did take her to JY’s home though, so… (Yeah, I am confused by JK’s behavior, and motives). I also wanted to say that I loved the hand flirting that JK did in ep.3, when he took the bottle of Soju from YH’s hands.
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growingbeautifully
June 19, 2015 at 8:54 AM
Hi @Ivoire
How are you doing? I know you're busy, so you may not have read my email. I was trying to tell you about our Healer poll. :) Let me know if you can't find the link.
I see here that you've likened the reaction of the guys to Jung Hoo's reaction to the girl's confession. It's true,... all those expressions that flit by... surprise... joy... anticipation...confidence or lack therof?
I really like it that the confessions come on earlier rather than later. With that knowledge, the protagonists have more choices that they can make, and more scenarios open up for us viewers. :)
Hope to read more of you!
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18 Ivoire
June 18, 2015 at 5:18 AM
And then, there is the fact that to me, JK seems protective of JY. In the previous eps., he knew JY liked him, and he accepted her gift (food), yet he did not encouraged or pursued her. I felt that he simply did not want to hurt her feelings (and he was being polite), so he accepted her food. JK is also the one who keeps telling (asking in a way) CS not to mess with JY, and not to play with her (and toy with her feelings). He seemed to be against CS interfering on JY’s behalf, and I loved that he sought JY’s opinion before doing anything about CS’s request to move JY up at work. I also loved that he was honest with her, and that he respected her wishes, and actually encouraged her to work hard to reach her goals.
There is also the way JK tries to be honest with CS, though when CS does not like it, he quickly puts JK in his place, and shoots him down. And there is also JK’s relationship with his mom, like the fact that he felt bad that she came to clean his place, and he wanted to take her home, in ep.2. And he invited her to have tea at the store, so he does not seem ashamed of her. So I don’t know how evil JK might get in the future, but for now, I give him points for many good things I have seen (or sensed) in him. Maybe JK is supposed to have shades of grey, and not be black and white (which I thought he would be).
And I originally loved CS, but now I don’t like him as much. I do love that JY keeps him on his toes, and she intrigues him, greatly. I don’t however feel that CS and JK are friends, not true ones anyway. As Heads pointed out in ep.2 recap, there is something to be said about a person “cleaning” his clothing (or shoulder), after your “friend” pat you there. CS says that despite their class differences, he is (very?) good friend with JK. Really? Why don’t you listen to him then, and why do you feel the need to put him in his place, when you don’t like the truth he is telling you? And why did you and your mother treat him like he was not there (or like he was a servant) at the airport? I just feel like CS can be the way he wants around JK, yet the opposite is not true. JK has to be careful around CS, and mind what he says. I thought it was hypocritical of CS to say, “even if we are close, let’s respect each other.” Yeah CS, please follow your own piece of advice, to start with. I find CS adorable and endearing in many ways, yet I do not like how he views and treats JK. I do feel that it says something about who CS truly is as well.
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Jon G.
June 18, 2015 at 5:39 AM
I don't think JK is evil by nature. He's just determined to not letting any moral qualms getting into his way. He is trying to be a self-made psychopath, if you will.
He isn't unnecessarily cruel. He only exploits people what that is necessary for him to reach his goals. He protects JY from SC because he knows SC. There also might be a certain class awareness in him that is contrary to his agenda. While he wants to be rich, he doesn't necessarily think that rich people are better, quite the opposite.
SC treats JK rather poorly, I agree. SC is the kind of guy to say "Some of my best friends are poor. Look, that guy over there who cleans my clothes, chauffeurs me and does my work for me is from a poor family and my best friend."
However, when it comes to following his goals, JK is utterly without mercy. Seriously, the way he plays YH is so masterfully and so horribly cruel, I felt kind of ashamed to enjoy it.
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KDaddict
June 18, 2015 at 6:11 AM
Why would you call him a psychopath? Self-made or otherwise? What has he done that is psychopathological?
We've seen him dislike his humble roots, wanting to get ahead, playing nice w his rich classmate, wanting to marry up. That makes him ambitious, w a chip on his shoulders. Psychopath? That isn't fair.
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Lixie
June 18, 2015 at 7:44 AM
I'm not sure if that is what Jon G meant but I'm guessing it is because Joon Ki makes an effort NOT to empathize with people if that will get on his way. Psychos are unable to do it by nature but JK isn't one of them he just chooses not to care. The completely calculated way in which he plots his actions around his friend and Yoon Ha should grant him a title a bit more intense than just an ambitious guy. :)
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Jon G.
June 18, 2015 at 9:44 AM
JK is more than just ambitious. He actively tries to overcome his humane instincts, to allow him to manipulate people more efficiently. What he does to YH is way beyond ambition: He knows how to manipulate her, and he doesn't let any kind of empathy get into his way.
Now, there are glimpses of doubt and hesitation in the way the actor plays JK. And we also see that JK can be somewhat empathic (like when he tries to protect the total stranger JY from his friend SC).
He IS no psychopath, but he "wants" to be a "dark triad" kind of person, a machiavellian psychopathic narcissist. A person who has no scruples, no emotional attachment to other people, who is free to manipulate them as necessary.
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KDaddict?JCW
June 19, 2015 at 12:24 AM
I wouldn't be too surprised IF later on JK does some things that prove your interpretation right. However, up till this point, he hasn't done anything to warrant that kind of assessment IMO. Your interpretation is darker than the vibe that I'm getting from what is presented of JK so far. Mine is similar to Sho's in Comment 46.
Arawn
June 18, 2015 at 9:00 AM
I think CS does honestly and sincerely believe he and JK are truly friends. But his upbringing comes into play and unconsciously he considers himself better and thus treats JK the way he does. JK realizes this and thus he does not consider CS a true friend - he sees the class divide to which CS is oblivious but which still dictates his actions and treatment of JK.
It's kinda sad, really. Thing is, I'm not sure if CS would continue being JK's friend if JK acted real because he couldn't continue being on the pedestal. he'd had to be equal with JK. But it's possible that drama will bring him around and I wish it will. I would like to see these two as true friends.
P.S. I also enjoyed how Jk played YH. It was just so well done you could not but enjoy it...
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SSR
June 19, 2015 at 10:26 AM
Hahaha Arawn, I dont remember reading your comment before writing my thoughts but we wrote almost same things regarding CS. Yeah I think he is really honest with his feelings and thinks it is normal to behave like this cause he superior than him.
And regarding your saying about "if CS would continue being JK’s friend if JK acted real" I cant be sure too but I have a feeling he would. I believe, in one way, he is like this cause no one specially JK doesnt tell this to him in the face. If JK tells him how he feels and how he(CS) hurts him by doing and saying those things, he would take back at least and start to think.
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SSR
June 19, 2015 at 9:47 AM
I'm not watching this, only read recaps and I skip some big parts so I can be wrong but what I think is that yeah he is not evil by nature but he is dark...very dark. Because he could/should not have been like this by nurture seeing how sweet his family is. And the writer should give me a real reason why he is doing the things he is doing such as playing with people' emotions. Hating rich('couse his father has been treated by them poorly bla bla) or being ambitious wont cut it for me. But I say this if they want me to belive he will redeem himself in the end cause he will fall in love and do a few good things to be the good guy! Since we know this is where this story will go...
As for SC he treats JK poorly(and bc of that their friendship isn't the way he believe it is) and he is not flawless(and I like that) but it is by nurture. Because he doesn't know any better and thinks it is normal thing...well at least this is how I think. But his character and family havent opened much so any conclusion can be wrong too. And when he fall hard for the "poor" girl it will shatter his world, his thoughts and his relationship with his family. And I cant wait for this happen and only hope the writer dont use second couple for only comedy. Cause to my surprise I'm much much more interested in them given my allergy to romcoms and so called cute couples and liking characters like male lead in general.
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Lixie
June 18, 2015 at 7:50 AM
> I thought it was hypocritical of CS to say, “even if we are close, let’s respect each other.” Yeah CS, please follow your own piece of advice, to start with. I find CS adorable and endearing in many ways, yet I do not like how he views and treats JK. I do feel that it says something about who CS truly is as well.
Absolutely. I talked a lot about if Yoon Ha was hypocritical or not on the last recap and when this scene came up I just started laughing because it is such a good example of a hypocritical character. Chang Soo keeps acting as if their friends but doesn't treat him on equal terms, I was very glad we got that mean spark from him again, I was missing the moron who splashed YH on the very first ep, CS is not the charming guy people were talking about on the last episodes, well he can be but there is more to him. :)
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19 Hubba_hubba
June 18, 2015 at 5:19 AM
Is it just me? Some of the things the brother said leading up to his vacation seemed suspicious to me. I thought he was planning something... but I guess a having a ship sink for a plan is a bit too much.
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Jon G.
June 18, 2015 at 5:24 AM
I think that the writer exaggerated with the foreshadowing of his death. That made the death itself look suspicious.
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KDaddict
June 18, 2015 at 6:14 AM
Not a ship, just a yacht. He can well afford to sink a private yacht. A million bucks or so must be just spare change.
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LaKeisha J.
June 23, 2015 at 8:00 PM
Nah, his death seemed suspicious to me to. He gave all these shares to Yoon Ha, and warned her. Also he's the one that got her off of the flight. I'm just waiting for them to find him chilling with a margarita on an island with Elvis and Tupac.
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20 Sajen
June 18, 2015 at 5:22 AM
What an odd episode, yet if you look at Yoon-ha as an abuse victim, which she is, it actually makes sense psychologically speaking.
Her whole family since she was born has been emotionally abusing her, I take it from earlier interactions that brothers warmth is a relatively recent development. So it makes sense that she would become dependent on anyone who shows her even a tiny bit of warmth, first her brother and now Joon-ki. I'm less sure of why she does that whole break up thing but still I'm sure there's an explanation somewhere.
Kyung-joon on the other hand confuses me part of me thinks he knew Ye-won was going to try to kill him and that's why he tried to give Yoon-ha that key last episode. If he did why did he want to take Yoon-ha on vacation with him? Another part of me thinks maybe he was going to fake his own death to get away from his "family" and that's why he wanted to take Yoon-ha with him. If that was his plan why would he let her get off the jet? Surely he knew their "family" would turn on Yoon-ha as soon as he was "dead". Maybe he thought her crush would be enough to carry her through.
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21 Saltish
June 18, 2015 at 5:44 AM
Now that someone pointed on the way Changsoo treats Joonki, it kinda bothers me as well.
CS: I don't mind his (JK) social status, we are good friends.
CS: Even though we are good friend but let's respect each other.
I guess, Changsoo really treats Joonki as his friend but given him being born with a silver spoon, he is arrogant like typical chaebol. I mean, that's how a chaebol behave right? Rude, mean, arrogant and doing things their own way and if someone defies them they get angry. And this is what turn Joonki off.
Joonki is the complicated one, I feel that he treats everyone sincerely at the same time he has his own agenda for treating them nice. Take his friendship with Changsoo for example, he values their friendship in a certain way, eg, losing on purpose to Changsoo so to maintain their relationship but then gives advise to Changsoo not to toy with Jiyi. Oh the irony.
Come to think about it, it wouldn't be fair to Changsoo as well because Joonki is just using his friends to climb up the social ladder. Hence, I would say Changsoo is childish and naive in this aspect which we can see it how he and his brother relationship in supermarket company.
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22 cizz
June 18, 2015 at 6:14 AM
Personally, I think that the reason for their fast relationship is because joonki allows it. He is just letting her date him and experience happiness so if he does propose, if I am not jumping the gun, it would be a win win situation where the girl is happy in her delusional puppy love and he gets the money or status while recieving love. But only if the girl is reasonable and in the case of the other gf she is disrespectful so he dumped her and her fathers company was near bankruptcy.(so he knows his rights lol) I think he is just treating it like a business agreeement not that he actually likes her to that extent of an unrealistic relationship so I feel him as an ambitious character.
As for UEE's character the writers need to better than that. If they are depicting her as a naive sheltered lonely rich girl who never dated then they got that down packed. It wasnt entirely unrealistic her "courting" him it just reminds me of young highschool love that barely lasts, which leads me to believe maybe he is the first person she dated?? Which is quite possible. I liked her independent blunt personality before she swayed 180 but it wasnt that unreasonable since her world, said mysteriously dead brother, did died but she could have handled it a bit better or given better lines.
I still have hope for the next episode to surprise me but if she is going to break down and cry in the absence of her backbone I feel like this drama will flush another good or potentially good plot.
As for side characters, they are doing pretty well in terms of complexity such as that rich guy being quite flashy with his status adding depth to jk's pretense. As for the friend she is cool to watch she speaks her mind but I feel maybe she gotten over her crush a little too well or she maybe she is an extremely nice person? Oh that reminds me the fact that yoon ha just straight up no remorse and dates her best friends crush, makes her seem pretty heartless. I mean where is your loyalty gurl?
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23 Nyai
June 18, 2015 at 6:15 AM
So.. Noona killing Dongsaeng or him faking his death? Bettings?
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blubluskye
June 18, 2015 at 6:28 AM
I bet KJ will come back alive in the last episode. Wouldn't be surprised as this is a k-drama after all.
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yanne
June 18, 2015 at 8:26 AM
I think Oppa faked his death and had a plan of his own. The clues weretrying to give Yoon Ha the key to his safe I presume and packing a tad too many books for a vacation.
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Nyai
June 18, 2015 at 1:48 PM
yeah, that's what I though. What I don't have clear are his motives... but I think his conversations with Yoon Ha and his mom implied he had something planned.
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24 Adal
June 18, 2015 at 6:27 AM
And you wonder why Joon ki resents Chang Soo? Chang Soo uses every opportunity he has to remind Joon ki that he is an heir of a conglomerate and Joon ki is his faithful underling. It's present in all their conversations. He covers up for the fact that Joon ki is smarter, more ambitious and more efficient than him by constantly putting Joon ki in his place. If you had a friend like that, wouldn't you resent that friend a lot?
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min
June 18, 2015 at 6:41 AM
First of all, I won't be his friend.
But like i said earlier, Joon ki is not any better. Knowing CS's character, he still befriend him because of his status. Written in character profile. He is just wants to make use of him. And knowing CS is naive, he just pretend to be his best friend.
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KDaddict
June 18, 2015 at 7:20 AM
+1
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25 pam
June 18, 2015 at 7:28 AM
I don't like the look of main actress
too much botox, too much cosmetic surgeries .
honestly , her face loo unnatural
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26 maddragonqueen
June 18, 2015 at 7:43 AM
I don't get this show... I enjoyed last week's episodes, but this week just confused me. Ok, Yoon Ha believed in her curse before Kyung Joon died because I remember her saying something about it to him at one point. But she still had never said anything about why she believes that, exceptfor her mother... which counts as one person, I guess, but a lifetime curse? Her actions make no sense to me.
I also guess they are going for this whole naive and innocent thing, like she's never dated anyone or been in love before, but it still doesn't really make her behavior about Joon Ki seem logical... maybe if they had actually spent a little more time showing us their dating life, I could buy it... but it doesn't even really fit with her character from previous episodes. I can't tell if the show really expects me to be on board with her emotionally...? Because I'm not. So I just feel confused.
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27 CaroleMcDonnell
June 18, 2015 at 7:57 AM
Thanks for the recap. Things I really believe about Yoon-Ha: the deep infatuation she has for Joon-ki and the love she has for her brother..although there scenes together felt a bit stilted and restrained to me. Things I had trouble believing: that she believes folks believe her fake identity. Is she that dumb? The whole jinx thing. That felt as if the writer wanted to make her more pitiful so we could have a false worry about her leaving joon-ki..which we all knew wouldn't happen anyway.
I'm looking forward to Joon-ki battling unnie for the company and dead brother's return. Will joon-ki kill big brother if/when dead bro returns...cause then he'll have the company, right? I'm thinking Chairman will have found a "true" son in Joon-ki...once he accepts him. And will Joon-ki go up against his bro-chaebol-pal? My guesses rarely come true when it comes to dramas but we shall see some great angst in the future. Not sure if Big sis murdered brother. Or even Joon-ki. (I've gotten cynical.)
Thanks for the recap.
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Adal
June 18, 2015 at 8:31 AM
When you're told something negative about yourself often enough, you start to believe it whether it is true or not. Trouble with Yoon ha is that her mom has been calling her jinxed and a bad luck child since she was little, so, of course she believes that about herself. She may have lost loved ones in the past before her oppa disappeared which solidified her notion about this, we don't know, because the drama hasn't shown us that yet.
One thing I do know, is that the only one who really cared for her in that family is dead. It's no wonder she feels alone and wants to lean on someone, enter....drumroll. ..Joon ki, an unscrupulous maneuverer. I hope he falls hard for her and she gives him hell.
On the other hand, he does care for her, maybe he's not in love with her yet, but there is something there...
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hibeautiful
June 18, 2015 at 9:12 AM
Question!
Does JY know that her bestfriend whom she put first before herself is a chaebol? or did I just simply miss something here?
Thanks in advance.
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Adal
June 18, 2015 at 9:15 AM
I assume that she knows Yoon ha lost a family member, not necessarily that Yoon ha is a chaebol. I hope the drama gives us more explanation on this in future episodes.
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28 wackycashew
June 18, 2015 at 8:12 AM
Thanks for the recap, Heads!
I think it's a bit hard for some people to understand YH's world and how she thinks given the way the storyline is going and the pace of the relationship with JK... I can see that if she's been brainwashed all her life that she's bad luck to those she loves, she can feel extra emotional with the sudden passing of her beloved oppa, especially since she was supposed to be on that trip. So, even without the outrageous way her mom reacted, she probably would have had survivor's guilt to some extent. And to add to that, JK is the only other person who has shown her kindness and concern (besides JY) outside of her family. So, right now, it must seem like the whole world is crashing down on her and JK is potentially in harm just by being associated with her. That's why as much as she doesn't wanna let him go, she thought it'd be better to quit before they go any deeper. Not to mention, she has no ideas he knows her true identity and she's guilty about lying to him.
I do find some of JK's behaviours to be sincere. It seems that even though he has a master plan to marry up and secure his status, he still has certain principles. As some of you pointed out, he can't tolerate someone who disrespects his parents and he looks out for JY. I think he must have been affected by YH's worry that her jinx might involve him eventually, thus causing him pain. He probably didn't expect her feelings towards him to be so strong, and that despite her current state of sadness and needing someone to lean on, she was still thinking about his safety. It would be interesting to see his emotional conflicts in the upcoming episodes as they are together more and more. Even though he views this relationship more as a business deal right now, I have no doubt things will change.
I still like JY and CS's bickering relationship. It's a nice change to have a character like JY telling CS her honest thoughts.
Like some of you have mentioned, I'm also not fond of CS's "friendship" with JK. He obviously thinks that his "friend" is of lower status, so he needs to pull out that respect card because of his own inferiority complex. No wonder JK has contempt for him and just treats this relationship as what he needs to do to maintain his position.
I love the scenes with Mama Lee and Papa Choi. Always so heartwarming and a welcomed contrast to the evil Jang family. I don't think I've seen anything worst out of the dramas I've watched. If I was YH, I'd probably be messed up as well growing up in such an environment.
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Tai
June 18, 2015 at 10:58 AM
---Like some of you have mentioned, I’m also not fond of CS’s “friendship” with JK. He obviously thinks that his “friend” is of lower status, so he needs to pull out that respect card because of his own inferiority complex. No wonder JK has contempt for him and just treats this relationship as what he needs to do to maintain his position---
^ mte. like i've disliked CS since day 1 in part cause of that. i dont hate cs now cuz its clear a wake up call is in his future too. but its obv imo why JK cant stand him and only pretends to be CS's friend lol. or hell just lets CS think that. to JK's credit, he never really says what he doesnt mean. otherwise he'd be licking CS's butt on the regular (er figuratively) but he doesnt. he only does just enough to no appear as a threat to CS. and never openly contradicts CS either without coming off as someone with no spine or thoughts of his own. he's essentially CS's glorified lapdog assistant (CS himself almost said as much) not something to base off a real friendship is it? again i was surprised people didnt pick up on that right away. im glad this scene happened to drill that point home.
and yeah, i thought JK was p taken aback by her sobbing that he was going to leave her and she'd ruin his life by existing in it or smth. i dont think he realizes just how fucked up she or her life is. imo he has enough of a conscience that i'll be surprised if he can stay cold on her for very long. she's NOTHING like his past rich girl fiance.
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wackycashew
June 18, 2015 at 12:43 PM
LOL Yes, who would wanna be treated as a lackey? I agree that JK just does enough to play his part so that he doesn't appear as a threat to CS. He knows CS has his ego and chaebol ways. That's why he let CS win the bike race. But it's clear disdain when he dusts off his jacket from CS's touch. Just that CS is too clueless to realize this isn't true friendship. I think CS must know that he is not as smart or hardworking as JK. And honestly, he lacks social awareness probably due to being a chaebol from birth. That's also why he doesn't understand why JY wouldn't jump at the chance to be with him.
That's right. I think while being CS's "friend", JK never really misled him. I actually like the fact that he doesn't suck up to CS and act two-faced. He often speaks his mind and that's why CS doesn't like being put in his place, probably knowing what JK says has a grain of truth at least. But then, CS probably doesn't have any real friends. His hyung doesn't like him and there isn't anyone next to him. So, JK seems to be a friend of convenience. When he wants to do something, JK can accompany him or be his driver or whatever. Anyway, I expect CS to realize this soon, especially when he finds out JK has been dating YH without his knowledge.
Totally agree. It's hard for anyone to guess what really goes on in that horrific Jang household. Though JK is not naive enough to think that YH must have had an easy life given how he's aware she tried to sabotage the marriage set-up with CS and she must be somewhat ignored at home, I don't think he knows the extent of the emotional abuse she's endured. Her sobs and asking him not to leave are really cries for help. I hope JK can get to know YH and maybe his conscience will win eventually as he falls for her and she means more to him than a chess piece.
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29 Mart
June 18, 2015 at 8:19 AM
I know most people think the pace of the episode was fast and YN seems needy and very in love with JK.
I think she at the moment is the very vulnerable. Of course the people she loves is getting hurt, her brother was her only people, haven't you see that family. I won't judge her for wanting to have someone to lean on, at least not right now, she need s a hug and a kiss. Good job JK!
For JK, I can only say that he can't be that bad if he is coming from the family he comes, his mother or his conscience, won't let him, I hope.
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Tai
June 18, 2015 at 10:50 AM
yep! she was in a vulnerable state, lost the only man in her life who wasnt total garbage and the only person in her family who didnt hate or look down on her. to top that off it happened the same week she had her first boyfriend/romantic love. she's young and emotionally naive, OFC she acted the way she did. im surprised the recapper was so confused? do the writers need to spell all their characters emotions out in great detail? the fact that they p much never do character voice overs is great too. keeps the audience on their toes thinking,
JK's family is so sweet, YH adores them so purely and his mom is alread fond of her. i'll be amazed if these factors dont give him pause in w/e nefarious plans he may have
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30 Adal
June 18, 2015 at 8:46 AM
I think both the chairman and noona sincerely grieved the loss of their dead brother/son. I saw the scene where the noona had tears in her eyes as she was running her hands along Gyeong joong's name plate, and dad had tears in his eyes at the office. It's just that they did not go overboard with their grief the way mom and Yoon ha did. People grieve in different ways and given their acerbic, manipulative, controlling and cold personalities, they probably expressed it briefly and went full speed ahead with the business of saving the company. The only person I didn't see express any grief at all was the middle sister. I am beginning to think that she is quite vapid.
I don't believe either one of them had a hand in Oppa's disappearance. I think either it was genuinely an accident or he planned it himself.
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Tai
June 18, 2015 at 10:46 AM
the key he offered yh is important. his reasoning then means he either realized he was on someone's kill list or he himself was planning to disappear for a while for his own reasons. but wanted to make sure his sister wasnt totally helpless in his absence. (it also seems like he wanted YH to have the chair more than he wants the chair himself. another reason he could have to disappear) I hope he's not dead, i think there is more drama in him being alive and only turning up much later at the least expected time.
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venus
June 20, 2015 at 3:42 AM
Or could it be like When a man loves and the secretary takes a request literally instead of figuratively and just offs the offending party.....hmmmmm
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31 nikkik411
June 18, 2015 at 8:57 AM
See, I understand what they are trying to do with YH and JK but it was executed kind of poorly. Instead of whatever the hell happened in episode, Kyung Joon dying should've ended ep. 4 and majority of ep. 3 should've been focused on the fact that YH is so love starved that she'll hold on to whatever little attention JK gives her. Although it logically makes sense that she likes him a lot already (not to the extent where despite her brother dying she is simultaneously crying over a boy), they rushed it way too much for it to be digestible to a wide audience.
The confession shouldn't have happened this ep at all, it felt so awkward shoved in between the death and news of YH being added to the succession list. That look of JK's eyes lighting up in the airport would've been perfect if they had still been in the flirting/interested stage and he was still calculating whether he should date her or find a different rich girl to prey on.
Meh, I'll stick around because I'm curious how they're going to pull off this plot but the pacing is really weird. I'd like to believe I'm being shortsighted and the writer has a huge plot point they want to hit that would need the relationship to progress quickly for but if not this drama is going to plateau into nothingness before it even reaches ep. 10.
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LaKeisha J.
June 23, 2015 at 8:02 PM
At this point I'm sticking around for couple number 2 and the layers of family deception. If the writer is wise they will alternate the interest of the couples so that we're never bored. But the lead couple is dry as toast to me.
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32 Alessar
June 18, 2015 at 9:08 AM
I'm not sure but did Chang-soo have that streetlight instaleld (bulb changed maybe) because it was dark there before?
I agree the Chaebol family in this show is nuts. The mother should be on therapy. They're horrible. I thought this was going to be a cute Rom-Com and it's more like a reverse 50 shades of Gray. (Seriously I think even though she's the rich one, Joon-Ki is going to wrap her around his little finger like *snap* that. And I don't think it's going to be a healthy relationship with her obvious emotional immaturity.)
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gem28
June 18, 2015 at 9:46 AM
Yep, that's when Yi-Ji threatened him with the brick and asked him to stop or else she will fall for him. From the looks of the precap, she already has and the STP will have a sort of fight over their feelings. Honestly, I am more scared for the STP, their path to ultimate happiness will be the hardest with the huge gaps between their backgrounds. Although, Chang Soo's mother seemed like a normal mother, vain but not crazy by Yoon-Ha's family standards.
And Joon Ki, so far he is manipulating her. But Yoon-Ha is different and he is a man capable of genuine warmth when he wants to so lets see how long it takes for him to fall for her. Also the fact that his mother works for the mistress is there to make matters complicated I believe.
Also Yoon-Ha's mother goes full cray cray next week. I'm really looking forward to that.
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33 Arawn
June 18, 2015 at 9:09 AM
I love, love, LOVE this drama! I'm happy because for me everyone's actions make perfect sense and characters are interesting and complicated.
Can't wait for the Monday!
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34 chikaboum14
June 18, 2015 at 9:50 AM
I just don't feel the relationship btw SK and JK. I like the second leads better, they are full of life and have tons of chemistry.
Ok the leads did have chemistry when they were kissing. So i guess i just have a problem with the way these two characters are written because i usually like these two actors (UEE and Sung JOON).
But whhyyyyy is she so naive? The last scene was so ridiculous and awkward for me that I had to cut off the sound lol. What's wrong with her, getting all dramatic with a guy she's been dating for one week. I just don't get it.
But still, i 'm ready to go along with this speedy plot and see where we'll get.
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Mandelbrotr
June 18, 2015 at 10:01 AM
I'm ready to go along with the speed of the plot as well. This is only the 4th episode so I'm thinking of this as more of the preamble. Now Oppa is "dead" and the couple is together. Now the drama can start.
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Jon G.
June 18, 2015 at 10:13 AM
Exactly.
"Can we get married" started with the male lead proposing to the female lead.
"Warm Word" started with the male leads cheating on the female leads (who they are married to).
This is not a rom-com, it's an earthy melodrama.
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Tai
June 18, 2015 at 10:41 AM
YEP. her oppa dying is clearly a huge turning point for YH, her mother and largely the entire company/family. its clear their relationship wasnt taht serious and yh only acted so gooey cause she's never been in love before. she's naive in love and life but very independent minded and opinionated at the same time. im looking forward to her getting stronger and jk eventually losing composure and control.
imo its very similar to nice guy in terms of the otp's dynamic. but i like the set up and tone here more. also luckily i think we will be free of personality altering amnesia this time around lol.
i'd like to think this serves as the start of a wakeup call for YH but failing that when she finds out JK's intentions re her werent entirely pure...i forsee a warpath on the horizon. so many possibilities! im excite! also hopefully more kisses XD
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windsun33
June 18, 2015 at 12:03 PM
It is almost like this was written originally as a 20 episode drama that got cut to 16, so they are compressing the first episodes.
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35 hi
June 18, 2015 at 10:25 AM
Thanks for your recap and insightful comments
Sincerely i love YH cause that she stand on her own feet unless the world is not her turn and she has her own way to stand the loneliness. i love her prideful behavior
but her love toward JK frightened me that make her fragile an lean and trust for some one who really don't knew. Scares me cause when someone like JK with strong character break her pride how could she tolerate :((
and i agree in some part the hero and heroin is like healer
I love the acting and i love Uee since Fool's love and sung joon since I need romance 3 but he really frightened me in this drama
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36 Tai
June 18, 2015 at 10:34 AM
i think joon ki's feelings on yoon ha are more complex than just wanting to "prey" on her. i think he wasnt going over the top with the romantic gestures 1. not to overplay his hand 2. he prob knows she's NEVER been in a relationship since he knows she's rich and isolated. which leads me to:
Yoon Ha's antics made perfect sense to me. she has never been in a relationship nor has she been in love. Ji Yi even mentions this and its been made a point that Ji Yi HAS been in love and in a serious relationship that almost led to marriage. these are important details no? Yoon Ha is strong willed but innocent of the Real World. the only world she's known is her fucked up household. Ji Yi was actually 100% correct when she said Joon Ki decided to suddenly share a personal story with Yoon Ha as a ploy. He is observant and sharp so he prob garnered enough about her personality by then to know it would soften her to him.
tbh I dont entirely know what joon ki's "plan" was re yoon ha. his look of surprise when chansoo's momma talks about her being possible successor, indicated to me that he probably hadnt thought THAT far ahead to marrying her or etc. esp since no matter how hard he works, trying to marry a chaebol's daughter with his current social status (even one who is in love with him) would be a very tall order. so im left wondering just what his full intentions were or are even now. i think its safe to say he knew who she was from their first meeting but beyond that..who knows.
i thought chan soo's reaction when joon ki flat out told him he doesnt know even basic things re the company was pretty telling about the equality of their relationship. like, im pretty sure this is why joon ki wil never trust or love him the way chansoo claims he does towards joon ki. i believe cs when he says that, but i also believe that he has no fuckin idea what that means and who joon ki even IS. imo his love for JK is based on his supposed loyalty and deference to CS and CS's goals. and ofc he prob thinks JK's cool aura is attractive in its own way. but is that really friendship?
like how can jk grow close to a person with whom he feels such a large gap? its the same with the letting chansoo win at the biking and never pointing out that chansoo doesnt know jackshit about running a business and his bitchy older bro is RIGHT. Joon Ki is 100x more qualified at chansoo's job (and he knows it) but chansoo got his job via nepotism and when he loses it, it will be thru his own sheer ineptitude (but he'll still be rich regardless). with that mind ofc jk resents the shit out of CS, let alone trust or respect him.
That said, lol how long does he think he can hide from cs that he's dating yh? it'll be pretty bad timing now that cs "revealed" that yh is rich to joon ki.
Also i think jk WAS genuinely worried about yh, not out of tru luv but out of human compassion. even without knowing the news (which he did know) having someone go silent on you...
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Adal
June 18, 2015 at 11:43 AM
+1
Your analysis is very accurate.
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Jon G.
June 18, 2015 at 12:03 PM
I think it's mostly a longer term strategy. He needs HER to be the one to make an effort, because he needs her to believe that she was the one who initiated and invested into the relationship from the start. He needs her to believe that when the times will be rough, because he will need her unwavering support against her family.
He still has to give her subtle signs that her interest in him is not completely futile (especially with her feeling inferior). I especially liked his play with her on her confession scene. Put her in her most desperate mood and then throw her a bone: The emotional turmoil alone is enough to increase her infatuation with him by a few levels, while he looks all smooth and cool. He humiliated her, but in the end, she feels even grateful for it. I wonder how often he played this game before already.
I'm not sure. To me it felt like JK was mostly worried about the implications on his schemes. He knew what was going on to a certain point, and he knew that she was most vulnerable and a perfect prey right now, but he also knew that there was the risk of losing her.
When he got his chance through CS, he immediately acted. Not out of compassion or anything, out of hard, cold calculation. He knew what his physical presence would do to her, and then he forced her to look at him.
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Tai
June 18, 2015 at 9:33 PM
Oh yeah I forgot to talk about him yanking her chain in ep 3. I actually was like OUCH when he did that and then turned it around on her. that was 100% him fucking with her and i was like "Er...." after it. im not seeing romance yet but i am not sure if he's that ice cold as you say. he could be! that would be very dark, i still dont know for sure how dark this drama really wants to be. it seems to stop at the precipice of full on melodrama or makjang melo. I'm holding out hope that JK is more interesting than just cold robot. i like the idea of him wanting to be cold and vicious but struggling with it, esp with someone as vulnerable as yoon ha. he can be like that with CS cause CS is kinda an ass and looks down on JK. but in YH's case its a whole diff case. its too early to really know.
I like that things are ambiguous enough at this point that either of us could be right tbh. I like when character's emotions arent like displayed to us in detail and we have to use observation and analysis to come up with something concrete. (which may then be disproven)
I also think the brother/oppa is faking his death. someone downthread made a great list of reasons as to why. Which means if things get super dire for YH, he could possibly reappear.
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Jon G.
June 19, 2015 at 1:04 AM
That's what I find so fascinating about him: He sure isn't a cold robot, even though he tries his best to be one when he follows his goals. That's what a well-designed villain should be like. Even better when he's a villain protagonist (for the time being).
Contrast him to the villain in "Mask", who is almost the same archetype, but so zero-dimensionally flat that he is just outright boring.
Agreed.
However, NOT showing emotions is not a good idea. It's better to show them in a somewhat ambiguous way, just like emotion expression works in the real world. Instead of, you know, neon-signed schematic emotion expression that many K-dramas love to do.
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37 Arawn
June 18, 2015 at 10:34 AM
I see no problem with Yoon-ha being very naive. Of course she is - what else could a sheltered chaebol daughter be??
It has been pointed out many times, I know, but still... I guess I just somehow feel for Yoon-ha so much. She's so starved for love that even she'll launch herself onto anyone showing her even a little kindness and because she has no experience of real life, she does not know how to be careful. It's like releasing a pet animal into the forest - it will have no idea how to avoid beasts because never in its life has it encountered any. (Granted, Yoon-ha has her experiences with beasts, but of very different nature. Those she knows how to avoid.)
I do think JK was attracted to her even before he knew she is chaebol daughter or if he has known from the very beginning, then it's a mixture of attraction and monetary interest. In the elevator scenes in the hotel his attention does not look solely like "oh, chaebol daughter, iiiinteresting". It seems like he notices her as a woman, too.
But of course he would not have gone after her had he not known her background. I have to say therein lies the angst I am expecting from this show: Yoon-ha finding out his motives when he has already fallen for her. Both will suffer. On the other hand, show can play it out differently, too. I really wasn't expecting Yoon-ha coming clear about her family this early so we will see.
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Jon G.
June 18, 2015 at 11:45 AM
The scenes are very ambiguous, to be honest. At that time, we have no idea whether he recognises her from the pictures or not, and I had to manage several different interpretations of the scene simultaneously. We only learn much later that he might have known from the first second who she is.
One interpretation -- actually my first because I initially assumed that he recognised her after he just did a background check on her -- was that he was somewhat surprised in HOW she showed up to her blind date, and did the math. Which immediately triggered his hunting instinct, because if she is trying to sabotage her blind dates, she might be a potential, erm, victim for his plots.
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LaKeisha J.
June 23, 2015 at 8:12 PM
Here's the thing. I no longer think there was a point that he didn't know who she was. He had to research her for the date remember? I think THAT was the reason he was staring at her originally.
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38 Dahlia
June 18, 2015 at 10:41 AM
Thank you for the recap!
This episode was a mess. First the speed dating, then Yoonha taking her "curse" seriously enough to want to break up with Joonki (but not enough to warn Ji Yi, who loves her like a sister??). And then Yoonha confessing the truth about her background to the guy she's been dating for, what, a few weeks at most (but still hasn't told her best friend). That seems to have knocked the legs out of a big part of the potential plot; I was looking forward to Joonki scheming and pretending not to know about her and then the fall-out from that. I'm not sure where they're going to take the series now. I'm going to keep watching for now, both to find out and for the cast, but man, does the writing on this show feel a little clunky.
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39 danydanybobany
June 18, 2015 at 11:03 AM
Others had said it and i agree: all this premise makes logic. This is a story about how she really wants somebody to love (insert music here) because all her life she has been ignored and even hated and he wants to marry a rich girl in order to climb up (even in the flash backs we can see that this idea is said out loud by Chang-soo), thas why the began the relationship and THEN they are going to fall in love (please?). Yes, this espisode was really fast, but for me this was just the basis for all the story. The Chang-soo and Ji-yi story is more what are we used to. My only concern is that this can become really crazy if not handled properly.
Maybe she hasnt kill anyone, but the simple fact that even her mom doesnt like her that much, makes her think that if she loves some one they will leave, physically or emotionally.
I dont like the mom, i really dislike her since episode 1. If the basis of her to treatment towards her daughter is a "profecy" that some dude told her, she is lost for me, no respect anymore. I know she suffers and all but i cant like her if she treats all the daughters below her son. You can tell me its cultural or whatever, I kind of understand that (but i dont like it). But the profecy thing? ridiculous.
Im not a fan kisses before they know each other more (Lie to me comes to my mind). They are more exciting after that. But I loved this kiss. I think i like it because 1) She really really needed it and 2) They have awesome chemestry. Im looking foward to the kisses at the end of the drama.
Thank you for the recap!
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40 Aly
June 18, 2015 at 11:05 AM
This drama has all the elements for me to love it, but the end result is so messy!
This whole episode left my head spinning! How can they rush the main couple's relationship like this?!
The kiss at the ending was supposed to be romantic and please me as a viewer... but at that point I was just bitter because I couldn't understand how they got from point A to Z in such a short time.
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Jon G.
June 18, 2015 at 11:33 AM
I'm not sure whether the kiss is actually romantic or not. You know, considering that YH is not emotionally mature enough to be in love, and JK isn't in love at all.
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41 lavelyshai
June 18, 2015 at 11:10 AM
Before Kyung Joon went missing, Yoon Ha has been saying everyone who loves me, leaves me so it's something she strongly believes in. I'm inclined to believe she feels this way due to people she cares about suddenly leaving. Then it doesn't help that no one in her family (minus Kyung Joon) actually likes her.
If someone has never received real love then that makes them crave for it any way they can get it, even if it makes them look really naive.
But about Kyung Joon, it's quite obvious he's been planning this escape for a while and I don't think he was ever planning on taking Yoon Ha with him. He gave her that key and then use that cryptic message about her becoming the heir. On top of of that, he also told Ye Won that without him, she still won't be king. He's doing this on purpose.
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Adal
June 18, 2015 at 11:47 AM
Ah.... Good point.
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windsun33
June 18, 2015 at 12:10 PM
You bring up a couple of points.
I am thinking that perhaps he planned all this "dead" thing from the beginning, specifically to get the older sister in as head of the company.
It is pretty obvious that she has poor management skills, and is pretty unscrupulous, so I think that he is setting her up for a major downfall when all her bad decisions keep piling up and threaten to bring the company down.
With older sister on the outs, and brother missing - she will be the only heir left.
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42 brian
June 18, 2015 at 12:07 PM
Well, there's the romantic part of this show. But then there's the powerbrokering and who's on top part of the show. Because Yoon Ha's father is so powerful she will have to come work at the big fancy company, no more part timing at chang soo's market.
I look forward to the crazy power struggle between the 3 sisters each looking to be named the successor to the company. The preview shows mom freaking out so she will just continue to try to punish the world but probably won't have any control over the company.
I'm curious to see if the key leads to some major dirt on Ye Won and maybe Pops himself. Also will Yoon Ha's entering management put her in conflict with Chang Soo or his Hyung. And will Joon Ki help or hinder her or even support her from the sidelines. We know that Yoon Ha can see the pig picture in companies and can speak foreign languages so she'll be good to go if she is forced to work at Taejin.
Always fun to see a chaebol power struggle and see how it plays out.
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windsun33
June 18, 2015 at 12:13 PM
I did not watch ep1 really close, but wasn't there something in there about a news reporter saying something about how the company was the poster child for crime and unethical practices?
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LaKeisha J.
June 23, 2015 at 8:09 PM
Hmm i just finished episode 6, that might push Yoon Ha into position since she now has the best public image in the family.
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43 agoodheart
June 18, 2015 at 12:20 PM
I actually cried when Yoon-ha cried, her pain felt so real... I think Joon-ki and her will make a good pair. He will experience genuine love, and she will be able to heal from the warmth of his family (and in time, from him also).
Chang-soo and Ji-yi are lovely. Hardship awaits ahead but there's chance for them.
I watched Beloved Eun-dong a bit close to watching this so it's a bit... But well, I enjoy it nonetheless. Tbh, I think my exhaustion with the loveline bait from Producers make this drama feel like a breeze to me, there's no need to run in circle wondering who's going to end up with whom, just watch things work out like this is so much less stressful. And there's something in this drama that make me look forward to watching more also, maybe it's the chemistry.
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agoodheart
June 18, 2015 at 12:30 PM
Oh and I like the song "Summer Days In Bloom" by Maximilian Hecker that was played in this episode too.
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44 dramalama
June 18, 2015 at 12:38 PM
That kiss was not meant to be romantic because he is not in love with her and is manipulating her so if as the audience you did not feel it worked as trying to convince you that their relationship is authentic then it in fact did succeed in exactly what it was trying to convey.
He was also holding her very standoffish like he was not trying to be more affectionate than was necessary. I felt really bad and sorry for her. So lost and truly alone with the exception of one girlfriend who probably will feel betrayed and will leave her once she finds out the truth. So essentially she will be completely alone soon and being manipulated by someone she is hanging on to.
I think the part where she tried to break up was acted well by Uee she had that look on her face of total abandonment and sorrow. People complain about her eyes I think they are her particular quirk but she managed in spite of it to be convincing. Not every actor can act with their eyes. She did well enough.
This story is quite sad on many levels when you consider the mother's own life with her brute of a husband and her brutality towards her daughter whom she beats until the daughter no longer reacts. How tortured must you be to be that cruel to your own flesh and blood.
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Alessar
June 19, 2015 at 7:01 AM
I very much agree.
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45 sweettangerine
June 18, 2015 at 12:40 PM
Enjoying the drama so far. Sung Joong is playing his character well, as are his other three co-leads (with the exception of IJY, who sometimes overacts and is annoying at times). It's soooo pleasant to see k-actor delivering his English lines where it's actually comprehensible for once. Sung Joon did well in that scene.
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LaKeisha J.
June 23, 2015 at 8:13 PM
Do you notice how his voice loses the Barry White sexiness when he speaks english tho? It sucks.
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46 Sho
June 18, 2015 at 1:34 PM
First of all Heads thank you for the recap!
I wasn't sure about this drama for the first three episodes, finding it entertaining but not really captivating, but episode 4 has me hooked =D!! I am now rooting hard for Yoon Ha, more for her personal growth/finding true happiness and less for the loveline, which I am fine with but am not emotionally invested in, at least not yet.
Like many of you above so well articulated, I find both Yoon Ha's superstition and fast falling for Joon Ki believable and logical. She already bought the idea that she was bad luck before her brother went missing, so it's not like she only suddenly came to think this way after this ONE possible death. If you grew up being abused by your own mother, who dotes on one of your sibling and is at least civil with the others, and she constantly tells you this is the kind of treatment you deserve because you bring bad luck to everyone, wouldn't you have self doubt? Especially when everyone else in the family either ignored her (oppa did not become friendly until recently) or piled on the abuse. How else was she to make sense of being singled out that way when the abuser continuously reminded her of her status as a bad omen? Even if she had reasoned with herself, and with Mom in a prior episode that the superstition could not actually be true, the death of Oppa must have killed this rational thinking. I know people in real life who truly believe in their own good luck/bad luck, and how someone in their lives "always" bring them fortune/misfortune even though their circumstances are not even one tenth as extreme as Yoon Ha's.
As for Yoon Ha falling hard for Joon Ki, I highly suspect he is her first real crush because she lead a very sheltered life before this part time job, and had not let down her guard in front of any man who knew her true identity. In spite of her naivety, I think her feelings for Joon Ki wouldn't have intensified to such extent had it not been the sudden "death" of Oppa. She was devastated and completely helpless, she told herself she needed to leave this one man that made her feel warm and happy, who she believed liked her for her- and you know how the human mind works when one tries to stay away from what one yearns for, the yearning simply becomes stronger.
I think Joon Ki was genuinely intrigued by Yoon Ha before knowing her identity, and now he pities her as well. So it's not love yet, but it's also not completely just him trying to marry up. However more than romance, I am curious to see how Yoon Ha will grow stronger and eventually take over her family's businesses empire and become king, because there have been enough hints that's where the story is heading. I just hope the writer has enough business knowledge to make this arc realistic, and not laughably juvenile as in most K dramas.
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danydanybobany
June 18, 2015 at 2:36 PM
Wow, love it. You put everything I wanted to express, but better written.
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KDaddict?JCW
June 19, 2015 at 12:24 AM
YES. +1
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47 Evelia
June 18, 2015 at 4:01 PM
I did not expect that her brother was going to die. I still don't understand the main's couple motivation. I liked the second leads, they have a lot of chemistry.
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48 growingbeautifully
June 18, 2015 at 6:26 PM
Thanks HeadsNo2!!
After reading your recap and most of the comments here, what strikes me most is how many of us are saying that the circumstances and set up in this show actually do reflect bits of real life.
The realism is also in the complexity of all the main characters, in the way of being human.
It's true that there are terribly dysfunctional families in the world, whether rich or poor, to the extent that family members murder each other. Here we have a dysfunctional rich family and a happy, poor family to balance it out.
In long-term practice of child abuse (emotional as well as physical), coupled with the isolation of wealth, that continues to adulthood, it is possible for a person to grow up appearing to be worldly, but actually naive, and prey to the street-smart. It is also quite human to be a bundle of contradictions - a mixture of confidence at times and yet lacking in assurance in others. So we have the case of Yoon Ha which is entirely plausible.
There are calculating people who have a heart, and emotional people who can also be rational. So we have Joon Ki and Ji Yi. Both of them are also more in touch with reality and can pretty much know what to expect with the decisions that they make. Even Chang Soo is calculating enough to know that he has to make a good marriage to beat his brother, and that his fun with Ji Yi can actually only be that, unless he is prepared to risk losing in the brotherly power struggle. Until he decides to be more mature and responsible, Ji Yi has to protect herself from being hurt.
The thing that I'm surprised no one commented on/mentioned (or maybe I missed it) was that Ji Yi's moving from disapproval of Chang Soo and a major crush on Joon Ki to considering Chang Soo's attentions as causing her butterflies was more sudden than or as sudden as Yoon Ha's crush on Joon Ki. I believe that feeling at 'crush' level can be more easily changed than those that are more established, however, it was also pretty sudden that she gave up Joon Ki and immediately considered Chang Soo.
I agree that the areas of interest in this story can be two-fold - how relationships grow from need versus rational decision to something more and how Yoon Ha, probably with Joon Ki's help, takes on her family and either proves herself with them or successfully divorces herself from them. As I've mentioned before, I remain intrigued.
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venus
June 20, 2015 at 3:51 AM
I like your comment about How Jiyi's feelings are changing towards Chang Soo and how she's debating with herself about dating a bad guy. It's interesting to watch because due to her background, his mom would never accept her as wifey material but she knows her worth so would she change her value system and become ok living as his mistress because of love? (We always wonder how can a woman chose that for herself so maybe we'll watch her make that choice) or will Chang Soo grow some and ignore his family (mother's wishes) and marry for love. I have high hopes for the second leads' story as much as I do for the OTP.
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growingbeautifully
June 21, 2015 at 8:44 AM
@ venus
Thanks. I'd like to believe that JY is realistic enough to not fall too madly in love that she'll do what CS wants, if it involves becoming his mistress and losing her self respect.
I was thinking that the 2nd leads relationship is probably meant to balance out or contrast with the 1st lead's relationship. Where 1 couple has the guy following his heart, the other has the girl doing so. Also the thinking through of the consequences or benefits of dating is done by the other party in each relationship.
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gasenadi
July 6, 2015 at 1:54 PM
Interesting take, @Growingbeautifully, because those two heart-followers just happen to be chaebols and the realistic ones who think of consequences are the working stiffs.
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49 Quiet Thought
June 18, 2015 at 7:10 PM
This show is fun to read about in recaps, for the class analysis as well as the puzzling over which plot points are intentionally mysterious and which are just bad writing.
It does however, like a lot of Chaebol stories, make me glad to live in a country that more or less gave up on having a wealthy upper social class a hundred or so years ago. The conversation reminded me that we don't even have a social class of "heiress", except as a joke or insult.
That said, I've not had time to follow the drama closely enough to understand why our heroine had to take such a low-status job to escape the role of heiress. Why not just get a professional education and have an independent career, like some of the other Chaebol daughters I've seen in dramas? Are the family roles so tightly bound in Korea that she would have been shunned or blackballed in a business career path, or in medicine, science, or teaching?
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yukie
June 18, 2015 at 9:27 PM
she did explain this to CS in ep 2 i think.
She said there is not many job that allows her to not send in her full background details. So she cant work full time, because they will ask for her family details.
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Spi
June 19, 2015 at 12:10 AM
She did also said that she has a major plan to escape her family and to live on her own. And she would like to know what it's like to live poor beforehand. This part-time job is her preparation for that break-free.
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Quiet Thought
June 21, 2015 at 10:44 AM
Good for her. They're a bunch of whackos.
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Quiet Thought
June 21, 2015 at 10:46 AM
. . . An, really, with that family, all this family, Amal the talk about her being a hypocrite seems a bit off.
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Quiet Thought
June 21, 2015 at 2:12 PM
Okay, never push the button without editing.
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gasenadi
July 6, 2015 at 1:51 PM
So glad for you, Quiet Thought. I've lived in two different places, one the USA where Wall Street was occupied to protest the 1% and where the Walton family owns more than most of us poor working folk. And the other place just opened a super-mega exclusive shopping mall in a depressed economy where people are emigrating like crazy and could never afford to buy in that exclusive mall. So, yes, consider yourself lucky.
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50 saturn
June 18, 2015 at 8:03 PM
Yoonha didn't call Junki 'Oppa'. When she was asked if she was going to travel, she answered, 'Yes, with Oppa'.
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