Who Are You–School 2015: Episode 11
by dramallama
We’re given a more reflective episode, taking a moment to contextualize Eun-bi as herself living Eun-byul’s life. The plot thickens as Eun-bi becomes more involved in solving Eun-byul’s mystery. With the distinction between the twins in place, relationships begin to complicate while also illuminating the hidden details of Soo-in’s death. It’s a complex sentiment of guilt, revenge, and confusion fueling the mystery, and it requires delicate unraveling.
We also take some time to focus on Min-joon, the perfect student who desperately wants to escape the mold of his mother’s expectations. For Mommy, imperfection is hard to live with when all you’ve known is perfection.
EPISODE 11 RECAP
Yi-an sits by the pool and thinks back to his medal-winning swim. He cries as he stares at the pool longingly.
When he walks out, he runs into this swim sunbaes. They wish him well with his recovery, except for one bitter sunbae. He criticizes Yi-an’s decision to ditch the swim meet, since Yi-an was given the special privilege to swim in his race. Now with his injury, he’ll see how it’s like to be inferior. Come on, Yi-an needs a hug, not your bitter jealousy.
Director Gong notices the change in Tae-gwang’s behavior and asks him about Eun-bi. Tae-gwang is taken aback by his father’s sudden interest and sarcastically commends his father for taking this great interest in his life. Then Director Gong lets it go, seeing that Tae-gwang writes her off as a random classmate.
Mom gets called to a parent conference with Teacher Kim and the vice principal. She notes that the wrongdoings charged against Eun-bi are telling — it seems that they want to get rid of Eun-bi. Teacher Kim bows his head and apologizes, but the vice principal confidently justifies Eun-bi’s transfer order.
Two can play this game, and Mom decides that she’ll charge the school for losing her daughter on the class trip, wiping the smirk off of the vice principal’s face.
Tae-gwang sees the poster of Eun-bi’s transfer order and thinks back to his father’s interest in her. He rips down the poster, and So-young watches smugly.
Outside, So-young approaches Eun-bi and laments her transfer order. Referring to Yi-an’s injury, Eun-bi asks how many more lives So-young will have to ruin. So-young turns the blame on Eun-bi, claiming that Yi-an injured him trying to cover her secret.
So-young says that she’s going to stay at this school, but Eun-bi disagrees. “The power of protecting people is much greater than the power of hating people.” So-young scoffs, “It’s boring to have everything work out the way you want to. That’s the fun in a reversal. Look forward to it.”
Walking out of school, Mom sees the interaction and calls out to Eun-bi. Mom catches a glimpse at So-young’s nametag before So-young nervously walks away. She admits to Eun-bi that she was a bit shocked at the transfer order and tells her that they’ll discuss the matter at home.
Yi-an’s coach scolds him for refusing to undergo rehab for his shoulder. Dispirited by his injury, Yi-an doesn’t respond to his coach’s well-meaning threats about dropping him from the team. Eun-bi watches this behind the corner, and though she and Yi-an meet eyes, he gives her the cold shoulder (too soon?) and walks on.
Min-joon finally fesses up the courage to admit his laptop sabotage to Teacher Kim. He’s not confident with the consequences of facing his mother, but he knows this is the right thing to do. He fears that he’ll forget his wrongdoing completely if he doesn’t address this now. Teacher Kim silently takes his hand in encouragement.
In class, Teacher Kim announces that the culprit of the laptop sabotage has confessed; therefore, the deductions on the class project have been rescinded. The class cheers at the good news and asks Teacher Kim to reveal the culprit while continuing to glare at So-young accusingly.
In an appeal for clemency, Teacher Kim reminds the students that the culprit accepted no credit for the project so that the rest of the class could receive full credit. Then Min-joon stands up to give a formal apology to the class: “I apologize for my cowardly actions. I won’t forget how embarrassed and regretful I am.” He looks at So-young apologetically, but she doesn’t look touched.
Teacher Kim concludes that Min-joon’s apology may not be enough, but his intentions are clear — he didn’t want to lose his friends. Class ends, and Min-joon’s classmates approach him, rather than ostracize him. Enraged by true friendship and forgiveness, So-young storms out of the class.
But of course, not all is forgiven. As punishment, Min-joon is given the task of reshelving all the overdue books from the class. The tall unsteady stack of books slips from Min-joon’s hands, and Eun-bi turns around to help him. He finds it uncharacteristic of Eun-bi to help him and says that she’s never lent a helping hand during the two years they were in the same class.
A memory suddenly occurs to him, and we flash back to one year ago. Min-joon returned to school to retrieve an item, and he coincidentally saw Eun-byul. She screams after looking into the classroom and falls down in shock. Then, Eun-byul runs off.
Back in the present, Min-joon explains that he clearly remembers this day because it was the night before Soo-in was found dead. Eun-bi takes in this information, and Teacher Jung creepily watches her from afar.
At home, Tae-gwang vaguely mentions to his father about a friend who got a transfer order. He finds it ironic that she received a transfer order while he — having caused much more trouble — remains safe because of his father.
Director Gong says that Eun-bi is simply receiving rightful punishment and that Tae-gwang even admitted that she was a random classmate. Tae-gwang catches his father in his assumption: He didn’t mention that his expelled friend was Eun-bi. Funny, that Director Gong is suddenly very interested in Eun-bi, eh?
Yi-an somberly walks home and finds Eun-bi waiting for him. She confronts him about what she overheard. Why isn’t he getting treatment for his shoulder? He reminds her that she has no relation to him whatsoever and walk up to his home. Eun-bi hopefully waits outside but eventually walks back home while Yi-an watches from above.
Mom recalls that So-young was the Tongyeong bully and confirms this with Eun-bi. She suggests that they move and transfer schools as soon as possible, and Eun-bi agrees. But Eun-bi wants to do one last thing before they move. Even though she needs to face her bully every day, she needs to fulfill this task here.
Min-joon arrives at school with his mother, and Head Mommy is ready for a fight. She enters the teacher’s room and confronts Teacher Kim. She accuses him of forcing Min-joon’s confession, convinced that her son would never do such a thing. Her priorities are with Min-joon’s grades and how that will ruin his future.
Teacher Kim addresses her concerns with a dose of reality. “It’s lethal to give your child the wings to fly while forcing them on their knees. Don’t just worry about Min-joon’s grades and please look beyond to find what is hidden.” Mommy’s lips tremble in silence.
During an assignment, Teacher Kim notices Min-joon staring off into space. He comes from behind and gives him an encouraging pat on the shoulder, which seems to break him out of his trance of anxiety.
The teachers gather for a meeting and discuss Head Mommy’s illegal tutoring activities. They discuss the conundrum of the school’s curriculum in comparison to tutoring services. Teacher Kim’s mind is elsewhere, and he attempts to address Eun-bi’s transfer again. But the vice principal shakes his head at his futile efforts.
Outside, Teacher Kim catches Tae-gwang about to smoke, to which Tae-gwang puts up his hands in innocence. They stand side by side against the railing and discuss their predicaments. Teacher Kim explains, “My hands are dirty while my fallen friend has clean hands. Would I even be qualified to help my friend up?”
Tae-gwang grabs Teacher Kim’s hands and wipes them. He asks what qualification one needs to help another out. He can simply help the friend out and wash their hands together. Teacher Kim laughs at the simplicity of the answer and asks what worries Tae-gwang.
Tae-gwang asks about Eun-bi, if her transfer order is his father’s doing. He knows that Teacher Kim can’t tell him the reasons for her expulsion, but he asks anyways and walks away.
Teacher Kim walks into Director Gong’s room, demanding him to cancel Eun-bi’s transfer order. He suspects that the transfer is due to Soo-in, but Director Gong vehemently denies it. Teacher Kim requests the withdrawal of the transfer order again, this time calling Director Gong “teacher.” Tae-gwang eavesdrops the tense conversation from outside the office.
Min-joon’s mother tries to continue her tutoring business with her mother customers; however, they refuse to do any business with her. They’re bothered by her exposed illegal practices, and the fact that Min-joon turned in his own mother makes matters even worse. Shi-jin’s mother tries to retreat as well, but Head Mommy ignores her and takes a call.
After school, Eun-bi follows Yi-an home and waits outside again. Yi-an’s father pulls up in his truck and upon seeing Eun-bi, he invites her inside. Yi-an puts on his content façade in front of his father, but Dad notices the awkward silence between the two friends.
Dad walks out with Eun-bi and asks her to support Yi-an through this difficult time. He knows that Yi-an is forcing a smile while giving himself a hard time, so he asks Eun-bi to be by his side, like they’ve always been since they were young.
Yi-an steps outside, and Dad forces him to walk Eun-bi home since it’s late at night. Although Eun-bi and Yi-an initially reject the idea, Dad pushes Yi-an to escort her home. They walk silently side by side, and when Eun-bi tells Yi-an to head back, he insists that he just walk her all the way home.
Min-joon roams the city streets, when his mother messages him to come home for the new tutor. She tells him to get his head on straight and not let this case be an excuse for laziness. When Min-joon returns home, his hand hoovers over the third floor button to his home, but he decides to ride the elevator up to the top floor. Uh-oh.
Mommy begins to worry when Min-joon doesn’t pick up her calls. Min-joon’s father (Detective Park) nervously waits for a response from Min-joon, and he looks to his wife anxiously when he receives a call.
Dad runs up the stairs to find Min-joon crouched down by the rooftop door. He scolds him for coming all the way up here, and Min-joon admits that he couldn’t get himself to go home. Unfortunately, the rooftop door was locked shut (phew).
Sitting down with Min-joon, Dad asks the reasons for his behavior. Min-joon replies, “Because I despised Mom. I didn’t want to hate her anymore.” To that, Dad apologizes for not taking the effort to understand his feelings of despair. He pleads that Min-joon not consider the worst ever again and embraces his son. Min-joon cries on his father’s shoulder, and Mom lets out a sigh of relief after frantically running to the top of the stairs.
In his room, Min-joon faces the wrath of his mother. She demands to know why he went to the top floor, and her demands escalate into cries. Min-joon is everything to her, so why would he do such a thing? He did it for this exact reason: “You live for me, so you can’t live without me. Mom, isn’t it better to get rid of your ambitions than to lose me?” Mom breaks down in tears, and Dad watches from afar, in tears as well.
Teacher Jung passes by a classroom and offers to take the attendance sheet for the student. After the students leave, she enters the classroom and finds Soo-in’s old desk. She sits down and silently cries at the thought of her younger sister.
Song-joo runs in with three shoulder bags from her recent modeling gig. She offers them to Eun-bi and Shi-jin, who both excitedly accept the gift. Teacher Jung watches while passing by.
Yi-an stares at an empty pool once again, and this time, Eun-bi finds him there. She asks why he comes to the pool alone when no one is there, like he doesn’t belong there. He tries to brush off her questions, but she continues. “Remember you once said that people’s expectations are so burdensome that you just want to let down the burden. So is it better now? It isn’t like that, is it?.”
Turning to Eun-bi, Yi-an tells her to stop and back off — she has no relation to him. Eun-bi challenges him by asking if he doesn’t like her or is scared of water, like her. Recalling the moment when her memory returned, Eun-bi explains that she became fearful of water because she remembered her suicide attempt. She remembered that when she fell into the water, she desperately wanted to escape and live.
Every time she met Yi-an, she was thankful that she was alive. So she can’t stand to see Yi-an fall apart. Still, Yi-an refuses to address Eun-bi and walks past her.
Walking out of school, Eun-bi gets a message from Soo-in requesting that she come to a specific classroom. I have a bad feeling about this.
Tae-gwang sees his father preoccupied with a phone call, so he quickly sneaks into his father’s room to find any hints of Eun-bi’s transfer order. He finds the police report about Soo-in’s death and then finds a copy of Eun-bi’s identification from Tongyeong. Tae-gwang recalls his father denying that Eun-bi’s transfer was because of Soo-in, and he starts to put together the clues.
Eun-bi enters the dark and empty classroom. There is no one around, but suddenly a hooded figure follows her inside. The face of the figure is covered, and Eun-bi can’t recognize this person.
Meanwhile, Yi-an returns to the pool to retrieve his backpack and finds a note telling him to stay strong. He looks around but doesn’t find anyone.
Back to the hooded figure and Eun-bi. When the figure speaks, we find out that it is a woman, and she asks about Eun-bi’s memories of Soo-in. She accuses Eun-bi of neglecting Soo-in, even though she was her friend. The day that Soo-in died, if only Eun-byul had reached out to her, she wouldn’t have died. Then she tells Eun-bi to experience what it’s like to be alone in this dark empty classroom. She pushes Eun-bi down and locks the classroom door.
When the woman lifts her head after locking the door, we see that the figure is Teacher Jung, Soo-in’s older sister. Eun-bi knocks on the door, begging to be let out, but Teacher Jung walks away. Scared and desperate, Eun-bi calls her mother.
Mom picks up, but the line suddenly goes dead. Another call follows it, but it’s not Eun-bi this time. It’s Eun-byul calling from a payphone. She doesn’t say anything, hangs up, and stealthily exits the building in a hat and glasses to disguise her appearance.
Eun-bi’s phone dies just as Mom picked up, so she’s stuck inside the classroom. Tae-gwang paces in his room and calls Eun-bi, but it goes right to voicemail. Nooo, someone help!
Eun-bi pounds on the door and yells for help. It seems impossible to get out, and she eventually sinks down whimpering for help. Tears fill up her eyes in fear and distress. Then suddenly, the doors slide open.
COMMENTS
At this point, Eun-bi’s savior could be anyone. I like the ambiguity in this, and I’m pleasantly surprised to say that I wouldn’t mind anyone being her savior from the locked classroom, as long as the person holds some significance in Eun-bi’s life. Everyone invested in Eun-bi’s life has a reason to sincerely care for her, which is a comforting thought. Despite the misfortune she faces as Eun-byul, Eun-bi has been given opportunity to develop genuine relationships and experience belonging. She’s learning that nothing should be and can be done alone. Even though she may feel alone, she’s surely finding people who care about her as Eun-bi.
Min-joon’s storyline in this episode was heartbreaking, but it was a necessary wake-up call for his mother. My heart stopped for a moment when he took the elevator to the top floor. It’s a scary and serious thought to consider, and I hope his mother holds onto this sobering moment to change her oppressive treatment of her son. I could feel the frustration and despair expressed by Min-joon throughout these past episodes, but it was his poignant question in the episode that got me. Ambition or your son’s life? It’s ironic that his mother had always linked these two things as an inseparable unit. She had rationalized her actions by convincing herself that her ambitions would improve her son’s life, but it was a destructive assumption. I think many ambitious parents fail to realize the separation of their own intentions and their children’s freedom. The metaphor of giving one the wings to fly while forcing them on their knees was a perfect way to describe the tragedy of suppressed freedom.
I enjoyed the reflective nature of this episode to let Eun-bi’s transition to owning her identity with the people she holds dear. Yi-an’s aloof attitude sprinkled with moments of concern Eun-bi seems fitting in his gradual acknowledgement of Eun-bi as her own person. Though he seems to dismiss Eun-bi as a stranger, I can’t blame him for feeling betrayed. It’s a valid sentiment, especially since he doesn’t completely understand the complexities behind Eun-bi’s and Eun-byul’s lives yet. In his place, Tae-gwang has stepped up as the unconditionally loyal friend to Eun-bi. Even without direct interaction with Eun-bi, his actions show that he cares about her happiness.
I did notice the repetition in the unnecessary time being spent on the transfer issue. The time could have been spent to emphasize the Eun-bi/Eun-byul storyline more. Now that the loose ends seemed to be tied up, I’m hoping for more development in how our twins’ storylines cross. I couldn’t be happier to see Eun-byul alive because that opens up all sorts of possibilities for the story. I have no doubt we’ll be given a compelling reason for Eun-byul’s absence and a well-deserved reunion for everyone.
RELATED POSTS
- Who Are You–School 2015: Episode 10
- Who Are You–School 2015: Episode 9
- Who Are You–School 2015: Episode 8
- Who Are You–School 2015: Episode 7
- Who Are You–School 2015: Episode 6
- Who Are You–School 2015: Episode 5
- Who Are You–School 2015: Episode 4
- Who Are You–School 2015: Episode 3
- Who Are You–School 2015: Episode 2
- Who Are You–School 2015: Episode 1
Tags: featured, Kim So-hyun, Nam Joo-hyuk, Who Are You–School 2015, Yook Sung-jae
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1 panshel
June 5, 2015 at 3:03 AM
I was too excited to see Eun Byul that I couldn't even bring myself to feel scared for Eun Bi. Hurry back, Eun Byul, so we can rid ourselves of moping Yi An and stalking Eun Bi. As one of the rare Team Yi An-ers, I feel vindicated by all those accusations of Yi An being an obsessive stalker because Eun Bi was literally suffocating him today. At least before, Yi An was genuinely hanging out with his amnesiac childhood best friend whom mutually enjoyed his company, but now that he's lost two of his loves, Eun Bi needs to realize that hovering will only make him push her away. Stop waiting in front of his house everyday and give him time to grieve. I understand depressed people should never be left alone with their suicidal thoughts, but Yi An is neither depressed nor suicidal. When he was brooding at the pool for the nth time, I first thought he had imagined Eun Bi, which would prove he has feelings for her, but then I cautiously hoped it was actually Eun Byul when she said, "you told me before," but nope, it really was Eun Bi after all. Again. This is already episode 11 and Eun Bi has yet to show any signs of liking Tae Gwang, so the only ship left floating at the end may very well be Yi An and Eun Byul. No surprise Dad ships them since they grew up together, and I imagine Mom ships them as well as Yi An would make a great son-in-law for her older daughter.
Wait, but we want Eun Bi to transfer. Let's just transfer like mom and daughter planned and make the school feel guilty about kicking her out. Thank goodness Min Joon was okay. I cried when he broke down in his father's arms and was so proud he confessed to Teacher Kim and his class. He really is the Min Ki of 2015. I like how Min Joon gave Eun Bi another clue to our Jung Soo In mystery, but I just don't understand how Yi An and Tae Gwang were not aware of her death when they were all in the same class. I knew Tae Gwang would be listening outside his father's door. He is hands-down the best person to help Eun Bi, so I wish she would confide in him what she knows. A big thanks for the recap, dramallama!
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morgan
June 15, 2017 at 3:22 AM
I'm also a Team Yi-An, hahaha. Definitely agree with you about how annoying Eun Bi was being in this episode when it came to not giving him space. Girl, you just told him you've been pretending to be the girl he loves. What did you think?
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2 Masquerade
June 5, 2015 at 3:27 AM
Drat. I wonder if anybody else is in the same position as me, I'm shipping Tae-Eun Bi despite only reading recaps *sigh*. I'm just waiting to see whether he ends up with her/open ending suggesting they're endgame, and then I'll start watching this.
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Lin_K
June 5, 2015 at 3:33 AM
I want Tae-Bi together too!!
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anglvue
June 5, 2015 at 5:21 PM
me too! i pretty much stopped watching after eun bi essentially confessed her feelings for yi ahn. i just need eun bi to see how much he like her and to reciprocate his feelings then i can start rewatching. hahaha
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Feliss
June 6, 2015 at 1:07 AM
Team Tae-Bi too.
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carine
June 8, 2015 at 8:10 AM
i am in the same position as you.
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3 Lin_K
June 5, 2015 at 3:27 AM
Thank you for the recap, dramallama!
I'm so sad for Tae Kwang. So wanted my ship to sail :(
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Lin_K
June 5, 2015 at 3:31 AM
I'm glad that this series is focusing at least a bit on the personal lives of the secondary characters like Min Joon. School 2013 showed us the lives of students as real as it can get and that was wonderful. This series is focusing more on romance and mystery. I like the change but part of me wishes they just focused on classroom and personal issues of students.
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news
June 5, 2015 at 3:46 AM
I'm also on your sad boat sailing no where :-(
I absolutely adore TK.
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Lin_K
June 5, 2015 at 1:43 PM
;( :(
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dkaoru
June 5, 2015 at 5:06 AM
me too :( Poor Tae Kwang, he's so sweet
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Lin_K
June 5, 2015 at 1:47 PM
He is super sweet!! Hopefully he will start to make new friendships and stay happy! Maybe his mom can keep in touch with him. I wonder why moms who divorce or run away never keep in touch with their kids in kdramas. Are they not allowed to see the kids after divorce? I read a comment once that said actress Go Hyun Jung (Mishil in QSD) was married to a chaebol family and when she divorced, the husband's family got custody of kids and that she was not allowed to see them. Not sure if it's true.
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Feliss
June 6, 2015 at 1:10 AM
Yeah I wonder why too. Tae kwang is like Kim woo bin in heirs. Mommy issues.
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4 chairmanmeow
June 5, 2015 at 3:42 AM
At last, it's been posted! I've been waiting since two days. Now, I'll read the recap! :P
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chairmanmeow
June 5, 2015 at 3:53 AM
Tell me that it's Eun-byul! Tell me that it's she who helped Eun-bi!
Or maybe, it could be Soo-in.
Considering the fact that no one who's dead in this drama is actually dead, they should invest in dental records or something like that, yunno!
just sayin'
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5 michyeosseo
June 5, 2015 at 3:51 AM
My heart really went out to Minjoon in this episode. I have had the experience of being the top student in class but at least my mom wasn't as obsessed as Minjoon's omma. She has a lot to make up for her son, for all this time she's making him solely bear the brunt of her entire world revolving. Bless that padlock, who knows how swiftly things would've turned out grim if that door wasn't tightly shut?
Eunbi, if anything, has allowed herself to be deserving of the love she's been currently receiving. In short, she's now valuing the life she's been given a second chance to live. Yes, the guilt brought about by the unintended continued deception is there (case in point, her going on reaching out to Yian who I'm not sure if he has already shaken off his pity party mojo or actively distancing himself or a noble idiot-esque combination of both), but even during her amnesiac time, she has been nothing but a genuinely caring friend.
I have always been a staunch supporter of Song Mikyung and this episode, I'm just floored. She isn't buying these pathetic reasons for transfer (and yes the school definitely has a responsibility for the Tongyeong disappearance), she sensed Soyoung is up to no good at all and she brings up the transfer again when her daughter came home out of sheer concern for Eunbi's welfare. Yet, she's willing to accomodate to what Eunbi asks as support and does the constant reminder that she's here for her now.
Taekwangie! He's gone all Detective Conan on this. Ofc he's invested in his dad not doing this to "Eunbyul" but it probably will unearth old wounds that led him to grow in an environment where even his own father labels him mentally unstable and a punishment. More like this precious lonely boy is way too unfairly deprived of love, excuse you.
That is one cryptic phone call, Eunbyul~ Were you expecting your twin dongsaeng to answer or...? I have so many questions about the mystery threads and we don't have that many episodes left so tick tock, kdrama.
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6 ruichua
June 5, 2015 at 4:09 AM
The handwriting of that note is not Eunbi's and I'm guessing it was Eunbyul who left the note for Yian
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yuka sato
June 5, 2015 at 5:33 AM
No,i think its really eunbi. Yian left first when they're talking,and at that time eunbyul still in station in tongyeong
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ruichua
June 5, 2015 at 6:18 AM
I'm going by the Korean handwriting. The letter "ㅎ" is written very differently
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7 alua
June 5, 2015 at 4:17 AM
The most interesting part of the episode – the one that made actually feel something – was the part about Min-joo. That felt real.
With Eun-bi, I found myself annoyed. She has been getting creepy phone calls for a while, and she gets another one and GOES THERE? Why? Why would you do that? All by yourself, when are you already scared? And when you know whoever you are going to encounter, isn't going to be someone nice because that person has been impersonating a dead person and threatening her all the while? And why doesn't she even turn the lights on, in the corridors, or in the classroom? It makes no sense.
And of course the phone just dies then – very lazy writing IMO. Really wish there were less twists that are obviously written to serve the plot – because there more there is of this, the less engaging I find the story.
I also think Eun-bi might not end up with anyone. She isn't interested in Tae-kwang (were there even any interactions between them in this episode?), indeed, I have come to the realisation that while he is amazingly good at intuiting what's going on with her, she has zero sense of anything that pertains him (without posting spoilers, but that is so clear in the next episode). I'm actually ok with if they don't end up together, because I think he deserves someone that looks at him and realises when he is totally falling part, which Eun-bi absolutely doesn't. As for Yi-an, I'm not feeling any romance either, everything still sems like something between friends and her concern seems to be driven by guilt more than anything.
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alua
June 5, 2015 at 4:18 AM
Oh, and Teacher Kim: rockstar.
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dkaoru
June 5, 2015 at 5:10 AM
Teacher Kim is awesome! Wish there are more teachers like him.
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Lin_K
June 5, 2015 at 12:22 PM
@alua - Min Joon's story was sad.
I like your explanation of why EBi and TK ship shouldn't happen. He does need someone who notices what is going on with him. EBi is so oblivious to TK's life that it hurts to watch it. We only have four episodes left; so I don't think there is time for EBi to start paying more attention to him.
I like Teacher Kim too!
I hope EByul has a good explanation for her disappearance. I was disappointed with SI's story. It was such a lame excuse for revenge on EByul; revenge against the school management would have made more sense. The writer better have a good reason for making EByul disappear!
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Feliss
June 6, 2015 at 1:22 AM
I agree. Soo In's story is a bit weak to behind this mystery.
So she was being bullied and Eun byul should have shown more concern, which has been driving her guilt.
I was hoping for a bigger conspiracy and Eun byul as the only witness being silenced.
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8 Valentina
June 5, 2015 at 4:22 AM
[Spoiler!!!!!!! for those who haven’t seen episode 12]
Usually I don’t write comments on DB recaps because I am more of the silent type and I just like to see how things play out, but after reading the comments on Viki at the end of episode 12 (both normal and timed), I felt like I had to get this off my chest (and if I am wrong in anyway, I am open to being corrected).
It’s not that I don’t like Tae-kwang, I do. He is probably the most complex male lead I have ever had the honor of watching. I have no problems with any of the main leads because objectively speaking both Yi An and Tae-Kwang are amazingly, sweet, young men, who I know would be able to treat Eun Bi right. I main problem with this show, and it’s not even the show itself, is some of the viewers, and I am sorry if I am generalizing, but it’s mostly those who ship Tae-kwang and Eun Bi togeth er.
When I read the comments, it’s almost like some people aren’t being objective because due to (the damned) dramatic irony, we know more about the characters than they know about each other (i.e Eun Bi not knowing about Tae-Kwang’s family situation and lack of love). Like I said, I love both male leads, but the idea of “entitlement” that I am seeing is a little terrifying.
I cringe when I read all the hate towards Eun Bi for not accepting Tae-kwang after all he has done for her and people using the whole excuse of “this is why nice guys finish last.” News flash, Eun Bi is not an object to be won. Regardless of what he or Yi An has done for her, it’s not about who "deserves to get the girl" but how she feels about them. Like someone stated, “she is not a reward or a consolation prize that he (TK) "should get" just because he has had a rough upbringing.”
I understand that people feel more for TK, and I do as well because his story really resonates with me, but from what I am seeing, what he needs is not Eun Bi as a lover, but as a friend…..actually scratch that, what he needs is a friend, because even Eun Bi has her own share of struggles and it seems that she is more focused on that because she is unaware of TK’s issues. 'Two drowning people can't save each other', so even though TK likes Eun Bi, even though he feels he needs her, and even though he has “been there for her since the beginning”, it does not mean she has to return those feelings for him. That is not the way the world works ( & yes I know it’s a drama).
I have noticed that in a lot of Korean dramas, and it’s definitely due to how the writers choose to write the characters, many people completely denounce the girl’s feelings or opinion because they are so enamoured with “the male second lead” and his chivalrous nature. So it just becomes a fight between the guys rather than “who does she actually love or care for?”
At this point, I’m only looking forward to the relationship between Eun Bi and Eun Byul. After this drama, I’ll probably steer clear of “love triangle” themed dramas because I get soooooooo...
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Valentina
June 5, 2015 at 4:23 AM
stressed lol. Anyway, thanks for reading through this and please, I’m open to discussion.
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Dramalava
June 5, 2015 at 4:51 AM
Bravo! Love this! I don't have much time to comment because I have to go to work...
Honestly, when I watch dramas, the critical part of my brain gets turned off and I tend to get swept up in the story. The objectification of women is kind of an underlying theme when it comes to dramas and you are right that as an audience we tend to go along with it. I'm glad you brought this up cause men's entitlement towards women is an important societal issue that we need to talk about. So thanks for the thoughtful comments!
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hibeautiful
June 10, 2015 at 9:17 PM
I came across the db comment section under this drama tag, and I found yours is the one which hit the nail the most.
I personally don't care much about the who will end up with who, although at first, I kinda ship YA and Eun Bi. But now, I really want to see how the writer will tie the loose end.
For this drama only, I'm in for character development and plot, not romance. Thats why I was disappointed by YA.
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hibeautiful
June 11, 2015 at 8:16 AM
I meant valentina's comment lol.
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alua
June 5, 2015 at 4:57 AM
I was shipping Tae-kwang/Eun-bi but I pretty much agree with you. (Well, Yi-an choking Tae-kwang makes me hesitate to call him "sweet, young man" - that was just too much.)
But yeah, Eun-bi isn't object to be won. And it's become pretty clear that she isn't interested in Tae-kwang. In case that wasn't clear from my own comment above, I'm not blaming her for that – her feelings are her feelings. My conclusion is that Eun-bi isn't the right person for Tae-kwang and if we go back to earlier episodes, it's been there all the while – because it's not the first time he reached out to her, but she didn't notice at all what's going on (not blaming her – she's got other concerns).
Indeed, if anything, this drama makes me wish that kdramas would just forget the romance once in a while, because really we've got a story where the romance is out of place: because Eun-bi has so many other things to worry about, Yi-an should be grieving over the loss of his life-long friend (him liking Eun-bi so quickly is very bizarre to me) and Tae-kwang might indeed like her, but in real life it is very much the sort of crush that doesn't go anywhere. Really hope the writers realise that this isn't a drama that absolutely must end up with happy-ever-after couples (whether one or two, now that Eun-byul is back). I guess School 2013 makes me hopeful that they won't force an OTP at the end, but the track record of kdramas generally makes me more pessimistic, because there we very much have this tendency that characters are objects to be won...
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Valentina
June 5, 2015 at 5:09 AM
Thank you so much for your insight and im not going to lie lol I didn't like Yi An's possessive nature, but at least that I understood....but when he choked Tae, I thought that felt completely out of place, like the writer just wanted something to happen just so Tae could say ~stop acting like i used to be~ or something like that. His character now did like a complete 180
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lemondoodle
June 6, 2015 at 12:30 PM
It's weird people take SUCH issue with that choking scene (which I can understand) and not see why YA did it (not that it was right!), but don't really bring up TK's rather violent past and don't use that as a point against TK. TK is still sweet even if he started fight after fight with that one guy in class, just like YA is still sweet even if he got violent with TK once when he said something he didn't want to acknowledge. And YA has NEVER repeated that behavior either, unlike TK who took quite while to not try to start fights... Anyway, I feel some people are making YA out to be some violent monster under the guise of a nice guy and I seriously disagree with that.
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dkaoru
June 5, 2015 at 5:15 AM
hahaha I get your point. Your comment on two drowning people cannot save each other is very good :)
I agree that the focus here should be on friendship (even though am a Tae gwang supporter hehe). It's quite obvious that in ep 12 that Eun Bi does not reciprocate Tae gwang's feeling.
i think we just like happy endings too much and we tend to focus on the traditional happy ending of the guy getting the girl or the girl getting the guy.
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yuka sato
June 5, 2015 at 5:37 AM
I.AM.AGREE.WITH.YOU.FULLSTOP.
you tell it better than me though hehehe
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sumee
June 5, 2015 at 6:08 AM
@valentina I am a tae gwang shipper .. ? but I have maintained this stance I don't want anyone ending with anybody ,I will be more happier if they all remain together like really good friends ..that's basically what many of the characters need
And everyone should have the right to select whom they want to date !
And moreover they are teenagers ..oh the raging hormones ...
But still I will rant ..
I carried a lottttttttt when I watched ep 12...
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Lin_K
June 5, 2015 at 1:08 PM
Your username changed! Did you re-watch Healer again? Lol.
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Anita
June 5, 2015 at 6:36 AM
Finally, somebody wrote what I wanted too:) Well said. I agree so much:) Because of it (ship wars) now I hate the love triangles.
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Valentina
June 5, 2015 at 6:57 AM
lol basically, this was the last straw for me
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Giegie
June 5, 2015 at 8:10 AM
Well said. :)
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Calzeralzer
June 5, 2015 at 8:20 AM
Thank You!! I haven been feeling this way also and you said it brilliantly!
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sel
June 5, 2015 at 9:35 AM
I completely get your point, and comments like "he deserves her" would bother me too.
I thought about the prevalence of love triangles in kdrama and I kinda thought of them in two ways--they appeal to the girls watching, but they also serve as a way to emphasize that the girl chooses who she does. I wouldn't completely write love triangles off. When done well they can be so nail-biting and fun!
But I think the whole 'second lead syndrome' thing you're critiquing here is more about dramas than characters. Dramas are pretty fixed, and the whole 'second lead' is almost always like clearly the guy who won't get the girl, and yet is the one that often treats the girl better (at least in day to day activities). I think a lot of SLS is more about critiquing dramaland that often favors the uber-masculine guys who kinda dominate girls. So on that level of critiquing writing, it's less about girls' choices, more about writers' choices.
But even in the drama universe, it isn't necessarily something that comes down to rewarding the better guy--a lot of the time, it's also bemoaning what seems like stupid choices LOL. Like in some triangles, writers contrast this vaguely abusive asshole to this helpful sunshine-boy, and a lot of people are left wondering about the sense of the girl who keeps going to the asshole like she's a glutton for punishment. I think that sentiment rings similar to the 'nice guys' thing you're talking about, but it's coming from a different place--which is really important. It's not about rewarding the right guy, it's just about thinking about what's good for you.
Honestly, I don't even usually get second lead syndrome, because most assholes resonate with me. But even if I don't feel it, I tend to get it--cos yeah, you probably shouldn't keep going for the asshole. (Again, I realize how close that sounds to 'go for the nice guy,' but I still think there's a big difference between 'go for the nice guy' and 'nice guy deserves her.')
That said, that's way less applicable here, because Yi-an isn't usually an asshole--he is like way more possessive than TK, but he's not at that asshole level yet, I don't think. Personally, in this drama I'm super down for Eun-bi and TK to get it going--it just makes more sense to me. Their interactions are cuter and more natural, and she tends to be more comfortable with him. This doesn't necessarily add to love, I know, but I'm totally wishing that she'll see a spark there eventually.
I totally get your point that the girl isn't a reward, and comments like you noted (of ppl hating on Eun-bi for not responding to TK despite all he does for her) are terribly gross. Nice guys argument is basically always bad, and he 'deserves her' is more than questionable too. But I think, when the arguments are done the right way, there's legitimacy in the SLS/shipping the non-pairing too.
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Saner
June 5, 2015 at 10:22 AM
Hear hear! For me, my disappointment comes mainly from dramaland. They will present someone who is supportive, kind, caring and then be like "....your wrist grab tally is not up to scratch my friend, no romance for YOU!"
I am also an advocate of having a choice, but there is a definite pattern that emerges of the first lead having problematic qualities such as physically aggressive possessiveness and competitiveness in front of other men and then ignoring her, or paying attention to other girls when he and the female lead are alone, not allowing the girl to be a person and talk, have her own opinions, express herself if it displeases him etc....
For me, that moment came when Yi An made the decision, unbeknownst to Eun Bi, to leave his swim meet, got hit by a car, still crawled his way to the school, overrode her ability to speak 'because no-one knows Eun BYUL better than me, right?", made the decision then and there as to her future in the High School, left the room, collapsed in pain, and then spent a few days studiously ignoring and verbally abusing her. I'm sorry, but which part of that is her fault??
And yes, rightly, people point out that it's Eun Bi's decision to continue to follow and check up on him, but it is also the writer's decision to get her to make that decision, much like all the female characters in Hollywood are written by men, so of COURSE this woman wants to give up her dreams and follow this manly man she loves.....*sigh*
Although I was/am a TK sipper - I don't think he 'deserves' her. I just think that the choices that the female lead makes and her reasoning for these choices are problematic.
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Lin_K
June 5, 2015 at 12:43 PM
@sel - +1 for your comments.
I sometimes resonate with the asshole too. But yeah, I wouldn't tell a girl to date an abusive person. For me, shipping the girl with the asshole in DRAMA LAND is entirely different from doing something like that in real life; so I'm not so bothered if I ship the girl with the rich, possessive jerk in dramas.
I also wanted TK to be with EBi. And that's because I loved their interactions and conversations. He has always been there for her. I just wish she noticed him more. She is always going to YA because of how she feels. Like many people said here, feelings are feelings and you can't help how your heart feels. But it just breaks my heart when I think about TK. She should at least thank him for all he has done for her. And I don't think they should end up together because he "deserves" her. It's just that I identify more with TK and love his and EBi's interactions more than her and YA's.
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Lin_K
June 5, 2015 at 12:47 PM
I think I meant to say, "sometimes the assholes resonate with me." Not that "I sometimes resonate with the asshole." Haha. You get the idea, right? I have more sympathy for the asshole sometimes because of the way the character is written :)
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Lin_K
June 5, 2015 at 12:31 PM
I was/am a TK-EBi shipper <3 I agree with your comments. You said it well.
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Lin_K
June 5, 2015 at 12:58 PM
@Valentina - Please don't write off love triangles totally. Some of them are well-written, and there are female leads making choices and picking the guy they actually love/like. They do tend to pick the jerks but at least that's what they want (or the writer want).
And I do think shipping a couple is fun. Not shipping wars; it can get dirty. But yeah, I enjoy shipping :)
For me, it's not about TK "deserving" the girl. It's just that I enjoy TK and EBi's scenes together and want them together. As a character, TK appeals to me more than YA. I will be a happy if EBi was at least a good friend to him. It's kinda annoying sometimes to see her go to YA ALL THE TIME. It's because she has feelings for him, I agree but very saddening to me as a viewer who loves the TK character. I don't hate EBi for choosing YA.
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Valentina
June 5, 2015 at 6:17 PM
Lol thank you so much, but honestly besides Healer, Marriage not dating, and Pinocchio, I havent really seen a drama where the main lead doesnt start off as a jerk...like is it that hard to give a female a backbone and have a genuinely nice male lead??? lol I really want to write a strongly worded letter to these writers.
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Lin_K
June 5, 2015 at 8:06 PM
I think it may be about what appeals to the audience. I have READ that Korean public prefers chaebol leads. That's why probably one of the leads, mostly males, is rich in dramas. I would like to see a drama that defies the cliches and still manages to get good ratings and love from the audience.
The Girl Who Sees Smells had a nice male lead. He was cold at first but not a jerk. That drama didn't have a love triangle. If you can ignore the stupid police proceedings, the couple is super cute. The lead in Legendary Witch was not bad either. He was rude one time to the girl if I remember correctly. That's all.
lemondoodle
June 6, 2015 at 12:26 PM
Well said. The last couple episodes have really put me off shipping TK/EB because of how the fans act. That might be unfair, but it just sends a terrible message that he deserves her because he's a nice guy who does stuff for her. Nah, what the guy needs is friends to rally around him, not for a girl to give in and make him feel better.
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carine
June 8, 2015 at 8:31 AM
but she is not being a friend to him, she doesn't notice him
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9 Arawn
June 5, 2015 at 4:23 AM
I don't really want Tae-Eun-bi anymore. It's pretty clear that she cares almost zero about Tae-gwang. She NEVER goes to him - it's always him coming to her. All she does is chasing Yi-an. She has even almost ditched her friends for it. Ugh. I'm done with her.
Honestly, I do not like Eun-bi anymore. Her conflicts are pretty much uninteresting and unengaging to me. Mostly it seems to be whether Yi-an forgives her and hangs out with her and what happened to Soo-in - but even there I cannot feel real emotional weight because at the end Eun-bi is innocent and she knows it now.
I'm still watching this drama but basically for all the side characters who are so, so much more interesting and engaging than Eun-bi and Yi-an. Min-joon's dilemma was so heart wrenching in this episode and I really like the teacher and his emotional burden. HIS involvement in Soo-in incident seems much more heavy and emotionally interesting than Eun-bi's. Tae-gwang and his relationship with dad is awesome, too. I would really like to know whether dad cares about him at all, even deep down somewhere. And whatever happened to make him this way if he once was a respectable teacher. Even the bully girl is more interesting than Eun-bi right now...
So I will continue watching but keep skipping Eun-bi & Yi-an parts. Sorry, but too boring.
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alua
June 5, 2015 at 5:39 AM
<Soo-in – but even there I cannot feel real emotional weight because at the end Eun-bi is innocent and she knows it now
That's a major issue I have with the whole Soo-in storyline: I'm not emotionally invested in it at all because a) we barely know anything about Soo-in and her death (we finally get some details in Ep. 12 but it just took too long!) and b) Eun-bi isn't Eun-byul. And we know all the while that Eun-bi is innocent (and a stranger to Eun-byul, so even any guilt she might feel is not compelling) so a lot of the conflict doesn't work – because the moment I remember that Eun-bi isn't Eun-byul, it all deflates like a balloon pricked by a needle.
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10 AC
June 5, 2015 at 5:16 AM
I had so much hope for this drama! I was hoping by now Eun Bi would have a back bone and take a stance rather than just waiting for YA or TK to save her whenever she's in a bind.
I'm also tired of her looking sad and crying every single episode. When was the last time she smiled?? I get it, the situation sucks, but having to watch the main character continue to mope is not fun.
It's gotten to a point where I can't even remember what their end goals are! Only TK's story is keeping me going.
Haven't watched 12 yet, but we're almost done with the drama, and no details really yet on the Soo In story besides that she died. The vagueness of that story just makes everything less suspenseful when you don't know the clear motives behind why Ebyul was bullied such a way and what's pushing the sister of SI.
Also really, EB? You put yourself in that creepy situation at the end for what exactly? (Side note and somewhat related, anyone else remember the Running Man episode with the cast of School 2013 when watching this scene?-- When Kim Woo Bin was locked in the classroom...and he opened and jumped through the window to escape having his tag ripped off?? That's what EB should have done. Break through the windows/jump through the windows, girl.)
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alua
June 5, 2015 at 5:32 AM
security has to be on site!
< no details really yet on the Soo In story besides that she died
I'm feeling quite manipulated by the writers with this aspect. Like they are stringing us along. Same actually with showing us Eun-byul at the end of Ep 10 and yet her not showing her face at all throughout Ep 11 and 12 except that very last moment.
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alua
June 5, 2015 at 5:41 AM
Oops, sorry, something of my comment disappeared? Basically, I agree with the window bit! Even if she was like on the third or fourth floor (too high to jump), she should have opened the window and yelled, because security should be at the school at night. Or still some other teachers and students.
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AC
June 5, 2015 at 6:13 AM
Oh haha, I meant the windows next to the door! Those slide open! I wouldn't want hurt to jump "out the school" through the big windows! :x I can't trust Ebi to successfully complete that. lol
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AC
June 5, 2015 at 6:14 AM
Edit: Please ignore that accidentally inserted angry emoticon.
blue
June 5, 2015 at 7:07 AM
her emotions were heightened, people experiencing intense emotions hardly ever do the logical thing...that seems to be a theme for this drama.
eun byul not reporting her stalker
eun bi attempting suicide
mom and eun bi agreeing to the swap
yi-an not doing the race the first time
yi-an running into traffic.....
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11 dkaoru
June 5, 2015 at 5:25 AM
Min Joon story was very good in this episode. I feel the build up for this over several previous episodes was good. I hope his mother finally comes to her senses. In the real world, I've seen so many of Min-joon's mother, it's quite scary. They keep going and saying things like it's for their children that they're doing all these, but their children are so unhappy and they can't see it. It's very sad.
I was previously shipping Tae gwang and Eun Bi, unfortunately that ship sank in ep 12. Sigh.
I hope the show will show us more of Eun Byul - Eun Bi interactions because I think that would be fascinating. Forget the romance, can we focus on friendship and sisterhood?
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12 melody
June 5, 2015 at 5:44 AM
I really love the development in Taekwang's character. He's much more matured now. Last time, he suddenly just go punch Kitae's face because that boy badmouthed his parents. So I thought this time he would go attack his dad for transferring the girl he likes. Instead, he choose to ask, observe and investigate. He even afraid to approach Eunbi anymore because he thought he being close to her is the reason of the transfer.
And after that butt slap from Teacher Kim to Taekwang, I ship these two. And his word "What qualification would someone need to help other people. Just grab his hand and wash together later". My baby Taekwang has grown up.
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13 Feliss
June 5, 2015 at 6:04 AM
I'm still on the sad ship Tae-Bi.
While I like Taekwang's character development, I dislike how the writer portray Eun Bi. Eun Bi doesn't show appreciation for what Taekwang, and just blindly chase after Yi-An.
If the writer doesn't make Eun Bi realize Taekwang's good, I'm going to be very pissed.
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tiktiktik
June 5, 2015 at 8:29 AM
yeah
my ship slowly sinking...
writer nim, at least show us that eunbi is a GOOD friend. how come she not aware at all about her friend. taekwang is her first friend ever. he always be there for her. he always cheer her up when she sad. he even now her worry without being told. eun bi ah~~~ you even defend your friend from sooyoung. please take care of uri taekwang too. at least as a GOOD friend.
enough for my rant, sorry for confusing word. i'm not a native hehe
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Feliss
June 5, 2015 at 7:37 PM
I know right.
At this point of time, TaeBi is probably not going to happen anymore. And I don't care about YiBi, I can't connect with Yi-An's acting.
At least let Taekwang be appreciated!
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14 blue
June 5, 2015 at 6:28 AM
after episode 12 i need to see every single person who called yi-an controlling and abusive do the same for taekwang...its only fair is it not?
i feel so smug that the plot seems to be going the way i said it will and now that eun byul is back i wanna see the girls (even if not out right) fight for their place in the hearts of the people around them. yi-an's heart will be the location of the final battle though
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papaya_
June 5, 2015 at 6:55 AM
I think it would not be Yian as the final battle, but the mom's heart. Honestly, twins chasing one man? Isn't it too dragging, since we had a fair share of the "chasing my love" story with Yian, Eunbi and Taekwang?
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blue
June 5, 2015 at 7:02 AM
its four episode and we will prob have an answer for who yi-an loves by episode 15.
its not gonna be mom's heart because mom loving eun bi and wanting to adopt eun bi was part of eun byul's plan.
we already know that eun bi is not "inlove" with taekwang so he is out of play.
eun bi loves yi-an who loves eun byul and has started to develop feelings for eun bi.
if eun byul's betrayal is enough to kill yi-an's love for her, then we might get an episode where yi-an has to prove his feelings for eun bi as she wont accept them as being real
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Lord Cobol
June 5, 2015 at 8:29 AM
So the love triangle is Eunbi - Yian - Eunbyul !? Gaack !
Agree with the person above who wished they would cut back on the romance and focus on other stuff.
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lemondoodle
June 6, 2015 at 12:36 PM
lol they won't. YA doing it is bad, but TK doing it is romantic. YA gets hate because he's in the way and Eun Bi likes him, not really because he's done anything that horrible. TK is no better than any other kdrama romantic lead since he went down the same annoying ans possessive path they made the sweet YA do as well.
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15 Affie
June 5, 2015 at 6:43 AM
Watching dramas is an escapist tactic. It itakes one from the boredom of of regular living and helps you to live viciously through th ee eyes of another, in my opinion. Soi okay to project ones fantasies sometimes not characters . And it even more awesome if the writers tell your fantasy the exact way u would have it. But of cos, there's got to be room for being blindfolded. Lol. The luring to the empty classroom seen was pretty lame. How cautious does one have to be in this situation ? How about trucload s of caution..... i t was pretty weird she walking inthe trap just like that. But hey.... next thing was theynot doing a single thing about Eun Byuls appearance in this episode. Well not much.... we already know she's alive so they could have developed it much more.
The next thing ix the romance conundrum. I m sure many people shipped iYIan with Eunbi initially but quit Becos it grew boring. Taebi showed more promise and had more spark simply Becos of the actor playing him. His complex character is also a thing to behold.... but i don't think if the actor playing that role weren't as charismatic we would have the same effect. That said, i could feel the writers trying to move the narrative from the romance angle quite lot in this episode. .TK and hadmore
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16 blue
June 5, 2015 at 6:51 AM
watch how fast everyone who was shipping tae-bi a few episodes back is now shipping friendship-for-all.
kinda happy and disappointed to the way in which joo in died... it just doesnt pose any real threat to the livelihood for our eun byul/bi, but again it wont take up much of the left episodes and we can concentrated more on the conflicts that the twin swap has created.
shin jin/shi ji????!!!!! continues to crack me up with her little flirtation with tae kwang and the hair flip
gi tae and his girlfriend are just too cute, its nice to see a guy who is supposed to be the tough be soo cute and sweet. its adorable
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Daphne
June 5, 2015 at 8:37 AM
"watch how fast everyone who was shipping tae-bi a few episodes back is now shipping friendship-for-all."
I know, right? Hilarious.
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Lin_K
June 5, 2015 at 1:37 PM
Well, I always wished that they focused more on friendship and the issues of the students more, even in the middle of me shipping TK and EBi. The romance and mystery were captivating for sure but somehow it feels 'not enough.' I loved School 2013; it was a very real story with a realistic ending. School 2015 addressed bullying in schools and showed us Min Joon's story but other than that, we didn't really get to see the personal struggles of other students (except for the leads).
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17 blue
June 5, 2015 at 6:56 AM
in episode 12, that last scene between tae kwang and eun bi really affected me and i ship yi-an and eunbi together. but i think people are being a little bias with tae kwang and judging eun bi harshly for not returning his feelings, eun bi has invested just as much time into her feelings for yi-an as tae kwang did for his for eun bi, so why does he deserve a happy ending and she not?
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Lin_K
June 5, 2015 at 1:30 PM
If possible, I wanted her to realize TK's affection for her. I didn't want her to be miserable returning his feelings. You know what I mean, there can be a point where she turns around and sees how awesome TK is. But it seems like we don't have time for that though. Only four episodes left. Plus the writer likes YA+EBi. Also now I want TK with someone who actually notices him and cares for him, not someone who is near him but so oblivious to the struggles he goes through.
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lemondoodle
June 6, 2015 at 12:40 PM
Eun Bi and TK are not that different in that they are chasing after people who do not like them. It's rather funny Eun Bi gets hate for her actions, while TK is applauded for his.
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18 katasu1996
June 5, 2015 at 8:24 AM
Okay, the viewers want one thing and one thing alone: Eunbi and Taekwang, and Eun Byul and Yi Ahn. If she doesn't like Taekwang now, its probably going to happen. Or there will be an uproar as to why TaeKwang didn't get her ending. She can't end up with Yi Ahn, because he likes Eun Byul, and Eun Byul likes him soo.... they're getting together. I don't know why people are acting like her getting together with Taekwang makes her into an object or means she doesn't get a happy ending. She felt sorry towards Yi Ahn, but I don't think Eun Bi ever liked him like that. Whereas, I can see her developing feelings for Taekwang over time.
SCRIPTWRITERS YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO
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Lord Cobol
June 5, 2015 at 8:32 AM
Basically, I don't care who she ends up with... KSH is so great I'd watch were watching paint dry.
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Lord Cobol
June 5, 2015 at 8:53 AM
edit: meant "watch HER watching"
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Lin_K
June 5, 2015 at 1:32 PM
@Lord Cobol - Haha yes, KSH is a really good actress! I first watched in I Hear Your Voice.
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Lin_K
June 5, 2015 at 1:40 PM
watched her in*
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19 Lord Cobol
June 5, 2015 at 8:37 AM
The alternate endings game:
1: Eun-byul is arrested for killing whoever was buried in place of Eun-bi.
2: Eun-byul does in Eun-bi, and lives happily ever after pretending to be Eun-bi pretending to be Eun-byul.
2b: With a little help from time travel (no big deal for the industry that brought us Faith, Queen In-hyun's Man, Rooftop Prince and Dr. Jin) Eun-bi ends up in Eun-bi's tomb.
3: With a little help from corrupt authority figures, Soo-young wins and lives viciously ever after.
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bean
June 5, 2015 at 10:11 AM
haha #2 pls
that would be pretty funny. or they can both be eunbi-as-eunbyul and just alternate days or sthg
I'm very curious about the body that was found near eunbi. where did it come from? who is it? are they actually triplets because why would the police say it was eunbis body at all, unless the body resembled her? did the police notice the train thing? did eunbyul pretend to be dead and then sneak out of the morgue? I'M SO CURIOUS, and i will be very disappointed if they don't explain this (but i dont think they will tbh)
also, im going to say 2b is most unlikely because all of those dramas had the initial premise of time travel, so bringing them up here is a little weird :p
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bean
June 5, 2015 at 7:11 PM
ugh i meant "twin" thing, not "train" thing.
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20 Xai
June 5, 2015 at 8:50 AM
Who opened that door?
Ugh, I'm really starting to dislike EunBi. She's no longer using her brain and just went blindly to that classrom without knowing who the person who texted her is. Geez, can't wait for EunByul to be back (as in be with them) and knock some sense to her.
And awww, my TaeKwang has grown! Love it. <3
I enjoyed this ep, though Minjoon really made me cry :'( His mother was just too much. I wish she'll change now so MinJoon would stop despising her.
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21 wackycashew
June 5, 2015 at 8:59 AM
Thanks for the recap, dramallama!
My heart went out to Minjoon... Thank goodness the door was locked. What a heart wrenching moment crying on his dad's shoulder. I hope his mom will realize how wrong she's been and stop what she's doing. Her ambition or her child's life? Good question!!
Teacher Kim is awesome! Love how he fights for his students and guides them. It definitely took courage for Minjoon to fess up about the laptop.
I can understand Eunbi's intentions to encourage Yian to stop moping around, but the dude needs space and time right now. I have no doubt he'll come around and regain his spirits, but for now, he doesn't need Eunbi to be by his side all the time--once he accepts the fact she's Eunbi, I'm sure he will give her a chance to be her and a friend to him.
Eunbi going to the classroom by herself is a dumb move. Even if she wants to find out more info about Sooin and the whole death/mystery, she's gotta realize the impending danger. Too many things that she did in this situation are not how one would likely act, so I'm attributing it to lazy writing that is asking for viewers to suspend belief.
Hope Eunbyul will be back soon instead of the end-of-the-episode teasers.
Soyoung just perpetually gets on my nerves. Glad Eunbi's mom remembers her as the bully and is keeping an eye out for Eunbi whilst fighting the nonsense reasons for the forced transfer.
Not surprised that Taekwang found out more details as to why his dad is so set on transferring Eunbi. Hope he can keep being a good friend and watch out for her. Also, instead of just protecting her, he should share info about that Sooin incident with her so that Eunbi can learn to protect herself and be more alert.
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22 Gravitas
June 5, 2015 at 9:38 AM
I rarely watch a drama twice no matter how good/great they were.
But this one, I did.
I love how Yi An looks at Eun Bi.
He's been in love with Eun Byul for ages, and now 'Eun Byul' somehow has a lovelier personality and seemed to like him too. He told her himself that he likes the new Eun Byul more at a dinner in a restaurant.
Then he sees Taekwang, known to be the crazy, unpredictable aggressive kid in school suddenly became too close with Eun Bi and he knows something about Eun Bi that he doesn't. The man got angry. I understand.
Because just as he was enjoying a better friendship with Eun Bi, comes a new suitor to his eyes.
A suitor with eccentricities and aggression who might hurt 'Eun Byul'. He felt the need to ward the guy off'a Eun Byul for her sake and for his sake.
I love the intensity he has in his eyes when he look at her.
It had happened to me before, and I didn't know how to react or where to look when that one boy looked at me.
So, to see those kind of look/stare a boy gives to the girl he likes, gives me to feel the excitement.
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Gravitas
June 5, 2015 at 12:36 PM
I've read my post. Quite a few grammar mistakes.
I'll try to check my writing before posting it next time.
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23 bunnylion
June 5, 2015 at 10:13 AM
I've been feeling iffy about this show since way back in episode 7, but it really came to a head this week and I can't help but feel disappointed.
I'm dreading that with Eun-byul back they're never going to actually tell anyone about Eun-bi pretending to be her. Like at the end they'll "introduce" Eun-bi to them and pretend like nothing ever happened. That would be so ridiculously unfair to her friends but with 4 episodes left I don't know what other way they might go with it.
On the subject of Eun-byul, her appearance brings so many plot holes I almost would have preffered if she hadn't come back. But I guess if that had been the case I would just be angry that no one was really mourning her.
I was indifferent to Yi-an for about the first 8 episodes, but now that it's clear that he and Eun-bi are end game, he's become the biggest "what if" ever. Like what if they hadn't made his feelings for Eun-byul romantic to start with? Just friendship and then had him develop romantic feelings for this "new Eun-byul" On that thread, what if they had made it clear that there was a real distinction in his mind between the "Old" and "New" Eun-byul? Because for me that never really came across. It always seemed like this "new" Eun-byul was something he was tolerating, a "phase" that would go away so he could have "his" Eun-byul back, even if he did like some aspects "better." That made they're romantic moments less impactful to me because at least in the begining it felt unreal, like it Eun-bi was "stealing" then in a way. And nothing against Nam Joo Hyuk, because I think the real flaw was in the writing of the character, but what if they had cast a more competent actor? (What I would have given for them to have saved Yeo Jin Goo from that train wreck Orange Marmalade) Would I have shipped them then? I don't know. Al least I might not be so unitaleraly in Tae-kwang's camp.
But shipping aside, my real issue comes from the fact that I just don't see anyway that this show could have a "happy" ending, even with the loose standards of the school franchise. How will Yi-an and Eun-bi be happy with Eun-byul back? At the very least that's going to be incredibly awkward, and the same goes with mom. And isn't Eun-bi declared dead? What about her family at love house? I doubt they'll just be totally ok with it, realistically they might react like Yi-an did, because they were tricked in an even worse way. And what about Shi-jin? Did her existential crisis dissappear because Min-joon needed screen time? She was just suddenly completly fine with what her mom was doing.
And no matter how much I ship them, it wouldn't be any better for Eun-bi to end up with Tae-kwang. She hasn't shown ANY romantic interest in him despite being there for her all the time. And honestly I don't even think Eun-bi DESERVES Tae-kwang, and while being with her makes him happy, she's never supported him. He needs a friend, not that Eun-bi's...
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bunnylion
June 5, 2015 at 10:14 AM
been super great at that either. How many times does this boy have come to you clearly troubled and just wanting to talk before you give him the time of day!
I might just be unforgivingly pessimistic. Maybe the real problem was that my expectations were too high for this show. I'm still kinda new to dramas. Maybe four episodes are a lot more than I give them credit for, and the writers will have me eating my words, but right now I just feel really let down.
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alua
June 5, 2015 at 10:20 AM
+1000 on everything.
And still stand by that if this show had been completely pre-written, it would have come with so many less iffy plot holes.
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24 onions
June 5, 2015 at 10:28 AM
While I've been enjoying a lot about this drama, I'm mainly watching this now for the side characters. Eun Bi showed promise in rising to her protagonist role and taking an active role in the story, but so far she simply cries and does nothing.
And the actor who plays Yi Han is okay with simple emotions, but struggles with layering his character with depth. This is no more evident than his angry scenes.
Sure he does a better job than a piece of wood, but most people when they are angry don't possess simply straight anger, because anger is usually mixed with other emotions (Like sadness or even concern). Except the actor plays his character as just angry, which makes him appear slightly psychopathic(I think he might play a convincing villain.)
Maybe in a few years, the actor would improve, but with the amount of young capable actors in Kdramaland I question the decision to cast him in a such a crucial lead role.
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25 marsinblue
June 5, 2015 at 12:21 PM
Still team Yi An + Eun Bi.
You can see that deep down he cares for her, just that he's grieving and hurt. That doesn't stop him though from helping her when she really needs it.
Hoping they have a happy ending.
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26 Aded
June 5, 2015 at 3:04 PM
Eunbi-yian makes no sense whatsoever. I dont feel that connection. Eunbi is so annoying right now that i feel that eunbyul is a much more dynamic character even with the minimal screen time. I kinda wanna see how eunbyul and taekwang interact too
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27 j2hr
June 5, 2015 at 4:03 PM
The only thing Eun Bi earns by living as Eun Byun is Tk's friendship ( since all other relationships she inherits from Eun Byun). However, that s also the relationship that she ignores the most.
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Feliss
June 5, 2015 at 7:32 PM
Yeah. She had a new life and yet she doesn't show appreciation for the new friend who stood by her...
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28 evelyn
June 5, 2015 at 6:38 PM
So do you guys thin Yi An likes Eun Bi too? I really want them together..
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Gravitas
June 5, 2015 at 7:49 PM
Yes, he does.
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lemondoodle
June 6, 2015 at 2:06 PM
He does. He just won't admit it/probably feels guilty about it. I seriously am bracing for the fallout from Eun Bi and YA getting together. Will be pretty hilarious.
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29 hanabi
June 5, 2015 at 9:12 PM
Err...Yi-an couldn't shed a tear at Eun-buyl's memorial but he actually cried at the pool? The ending of the episode is so forced, what was Eun-bi thinking that made her decide to go there alone at night after a stranger's call? And if she was so brave, staying in the classroom shouldn't be that scary though. There are plenty of windows, and people will come in the morning as long as she can keep herself warm? Urgh, and when they try to make Soo-in's sister and Eun-buyl look extra mysterious by not letting their faces shown plus the spooky music, I find it so unnecessary because at this point, every viewers and their mothers already know. Why pretending to be some twists?
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alua
June 5, 2015 at 9:44 PM
<There are plenty of windows, and people will come in the morning as long as she can keep herself warm?
That did occur to me as well. Of course, she doesn't know what that person might do – they could set a fire or do something else to kill her – but it's difficult for the viewer to feel any real fear. Giving us a villain like the guy in I Hear Your Voice would have upped it fear-factor a whole to!
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alua
June 6, 2015 at 1:45 AM
*a whole lot....
...should not comment before having had any coffee...
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30 Water
June 5, 2015 at 10:38 PM
I love these few episodes. I like that Min-joon finally got his thoughts out and enjoyed how that character arc played out. What confuses me is that there's evidence that Eun-byul got stalked even before Soo-in died...??
Anyway as much as Tae-gwang and Eun-bi look cute together and I ship them, I'm not actually seeing any return. Eun-bi seems pretty passive. I guess Tae-gwang needs only a friend and Eun-bi recognised a kindred spirit in him and so he feels attached to him. I don't ship Eun-bi with Yi-an either. :/
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31 morgan
June 15, 2017 at 3:19 AM
Min Joon's story in this drama has broken my heart. I think what gets to me the most about it is how personally I can relate to it. I've never had thoughts as extreme as his, but I can definitely relate to the overly ambitious mother and pressure on schoolwork/grades.
Eun Byul is back and I am so excited. I'm so ready for her to fix what's going on and help Eun Bi take down So Young. It's happening, right?
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