Moorim School: Episode 3
by LollyPip
Assimilating into a new school is never easy, but having to start out on the lowest rung of the ladder is nearly more than our boys can take. Dean Hwang has to step in when the two rivals prove they can’t get along, and his punishment could very well teach them something important about themselves. That is, if they can survive the ordeal in the first place.
EPISODE 3 RECAP
Chi-ang and Shi-woo fight it out for the right to stay at Moorim, and their skills have the girls swooning and the boys jealous. As they spar, they think to themselves that they’re incredibly evenly-matched — and then we back up to see that they never actually started fighting, and everyone is wondering why they’re just staring at each other. HAHA.
They throw a few I’m about to start!… Okay, here I go! feints at each other, but when they finally do actually try fighting, they just wildly kick and flail at each other, with nothing actually landing. OMG I’m laughing so hard I’m crying right now. Did Chi-ang just bite Shi-woo? I’m so embarrassed for you both right now.
Eventually they’re just pulling hair and slapping each other’s faces, which is when Professor Kim arrives to break it up. Dean Hwang shows up too, and he looks like fire is about to shoot from his eyeballs. He yanks both boys into his office for an explanation, and they pretend it was just a mock fight, for fun.
Chi-ang tries turning on the charm, but Dean Hwang is having none of it, and explains that Moorim is about more than learning martial arts — it’s also about knowledge and virtue. In fact, martial arts class is only once a week, because it’s important for the students to learn to fight with intelligence and honor. This annoys Chi-ang, but something about Hwang’s words seem to strike a chord with Shi-woo.
Dean Hwang doesn’t care why they came here, but if they have no intention of taking it seriously, then they’re welcome to leave. Shi-woo asks what he wants them to do if they stay, and both boys bristle when Hwang puts them in the beginner class (Chi-ang claims to know judo, and Shi-woo says he learned a lot in action school, but I think that fight proved them both wrong, hee).
But despite their protests, they find themselves designated the school’s “low class,” and assigned the lowest of the chores — cleaning the bathrooms. Up in their room, the girls worry about the boys’ pride and whether they’ve ever even cleaned a bathroom (smart money says NO). Still, the boys do make an effort, neither willing to let the other outshine them even in toilet-scrubbing.
Soon-deok spends her day off wondering why Shi-woo, the hottest idol in the country, came to Moorim School. Sun-ah seems unsettled at Soon-deok’s interest in him, and jumps to his defense when Soon-deok says he’s greedy (for being so famous and wanting to attend their school).
Soon-deok’s dad takes Aunty shopping to buy some makeup for his daughter, and she whines like a child when he doesn’t buy her anything as well. (She seems to be more of a caretaker-slash-neighbor than actual family, as she mentions she wishes this were a date, so we’ll just call her Aunty as an older-woman figure to Soon-deok). In fact she pitches such a fit in the street that she leaves him there, stranded.
Teacher Samuel reports that the boys are actually working hard at cleaning, and sure enough, Chi-ang is even folding the toilet paper ends neatly. He gets annoyed when Shi-woo “ignores” him, though he really just can’t hear him. This attack seems pretty profound — Shi-woo can’t hear Chi-ang talking right in front of him, and when the pain hits, it looks like a doozy.
Even Chi-ang is concerned, but Shi-woo pretends it’s nothing. He lashes out when Chi-ang asks about his ear, yelling that he’s fine and storming off. He’s so clearly not fine, but his attitude puts Chi-ang off whatever worry he might have had.
Even Soon-deok notices that something is off with Shi-woo, but he brushes her concern away as well. He barks at her, wondering if she’s worried about his lost career since he can’t hear, or the fact that he’s ranked lowest in class, and she mutters that she was just worried about his burned hand. Oh.
Soon-deok is ready to go to Seoul with him and set things right regarding his scandal, and that gets Shi-woo’s attention. But he’s so on edge that he can’t even trust this, and asks what her angle is. Soon-deok figures that people have been using him his whole life, and tells him to just take her help for what it is. She gives him a big grin, which totally diffuses his anger.
Chi-ang’s mother pumps Dad’s assistant for information on Moorim School, and why her husband insists that Chi-ang attend there. He stays tight-lipped and she gets nowhere.
Shi-woo overhears some of the other students discussing him and Chi-ang, and none of it is flattering. The part where Chi-ang was born out of wedlock and so can’t be acknowledged, is of particular interest to Shi-woo.
Left alone, Soon-deok’s father is forced to ask strangers for help getting to his doctor’s appointment, but with nobody to help him, he misses his bus. His phone is knocked out of his hand and now he’s in real trouble, and he ends up getting hit by a motorcycle as he kneels to search for his phone.
Chi-ang actually seems to like cleaning — more than studying anyway. He asks Sun-ah if she’s seen his “Ariel,” and she tells him that Soon-deok has gone to Seoul.
Soon-deok readies to go with Shi-woo, but a call has her hesitating while Shi-woo waits for her on the bridge as they agreed. Chi-ang notices that Shi-woo’s not in their room and his bed is made, and connects the dots — they must be together.
Soon-deok’s call was about her father, and she rushes to find him at the police station, forgetting all about Shi-woo. Awww, it’s so sweet that Dad’s worried about losing the cell phone she bought, and proud that he saved the makeup he got her. He can’t see that it’s just the box and the makeup is missing, which has Soon-deok fighting back tears and telling him that it’s really pretty. ~sniffle~
Shi-woo waits at the bridge for Soon-deok, but rather than angry at her delay, he seems more lost and abandoned. Chi-ang doesn’t seem as happy as he expected to have his room all to himself, either.
Soon-deok shows up at Aunty’s house to bring her some snacks she made, and swears that her dad said he’ll never hurt her feelings again if she’ll just come back to his place. She gets Aunty and Dad in the same room, looking mightily pleased with herself, and just grins while they bicker.
The issue isn’t makeup, but Dad’s feelings — or lack thereof — for Aunty, and Dad finally barks that Aunty is beautiful even without makeup. He gets a little handsy, which melts Aunty’s anger, and Soon-deok wisely leaves them alone. (Aunty: It’s not like that! Dad: It’s exactly like that. Rawr.)
It’s only now that Soon-deuk remembers Shi-woo, and she finds him still waiting for her on the bridge. She begs to rest for a moment before running down the mountain again, and asks pitifully for a drink of water. She’s milking this for all it’s worth, but it works on Shi-woo anyway.
By the time Shi-woo gets back with Soon-deok’s water, she’s snoring on the bench and muttering about potato rice cakes and chicken, ha. But something about her gets to him, and he wonders if she’s so poor that she even works in her dreams.
He ends up carrying Soon-deok back to her room and putting her to bed, and he tells Sun-ah to have her find him as soon as she wakes up. Aww, you’re just a big grumpy marshmallow, aren’t you? As he leaves her room he stops to think about all the jobs she’s mentioned — yet she didn’t take money to frame him, and she’s willing to help him clear his name.
Shi-woo finds Chi-ang appropriating his bed, but Chi-ang wants to talk about why he and Soon-deok didn’t go to Seoul. When Shi-woo doesn’t answer, Chi-ang wonders out loud if he’s just pretending not to hear him, and Shi-woo finally blows — he yells that he can hear Chi-ang just fine, and orders him off his bed.
Chi-ang bows up at Shi-woo and calls him “runaway idol,” asking if he thinks he’s on Chi-ang’s level. Shi-woo counters that he’s not the big shot heir from China like he wants people to think — he’s not even legitimate, which makes his mother a concubine. Okay, I was on your side until you said that.
That comment gets Shi-woo a sell-deserved punch in the face, and sparks a full-on fight between the two. The noise draws the other students but Jeong just lets them duke it out, so the girls go running to wake Soon-deok for help. But the teachers get there first, and for the second time in one day, have to break up a fight.
This time they stand in front of the entire school and faculty, where they ask for separate rooms. But Dean Hwang says with barely contained fury that there’s no need for that, because they’re both expelled. Chi-ang bows his head (with difficulty) and asks not to be sent away, but Hwang simply walks away without a word.
Sun-ah chases her father down to beg him to give Shi-woo one more chance, but he’s so angry that he threatens to expell her, too. Damn. Soon-deok is right behind Sun-ah, and she moans that this is her fault for not keeping her promise to Shi-woo.
The other students watch Shi-woo and Chi-ang through Nadet’s drone, wondering why they’re both still standing where Dean Hwang left them. It’s their pride, of course, which won’t allow either of them to leave when they blame the other for this situation (Hint: that’s your problem right there, guys).
Chi-ang is especially annoyed, since Shi-woo planned to leave once his scandal was cleared up anyway, but he has to stay a whole year to get what he wants. He makes the first move to find Dean Hwang and beg (whine) for lenience, but Shi-woo is right there with him and asks for a different punishment than expulsion.
Shi-woo cuts in to ask for another chance, earning dagger-eyes from Chi-ang, but Dean Hwang is unmoved. At first I think Chi-ang is getting on his knees, but he just sprawls on the floor and refuses to leave. Of course he’d go for immature over humble.
It’s Shi-woo’s respectful request to be allowed to stay that gets Hwang’s attention, and he asks if it hurts their pride to be expelled. He takes them outside and points out Moorim Peak in the distance, and tells them that whoever brings the school’s banner back from the top first, can stay. From the reaction of the rest of the school, this is pretty damn dangerous.
Shi-woo is the first to step up and Chi-ang quickly follows, and they’re told that they must go now, in the middle of the night, dressed as they are (Chi-ang is only wearing one shoe!). Dean Hwang tells them that if they can’t get the banner, not to even bother coming back. The boys head out, and Nadet sends his drone to follow them.
The boys don’t get ten steps before Chi-ang wants to go back for his shoe, feeling like Shi-woo has an unfair advantage. But when he turns back, the path is closed and the school is gone. If they don’t succeed, they literally can’t go back.
The students think this is much too difficult a task for beginner students, though Jeong maintains that they didn’t belong at Moorim anyway. Sun-ah hears this and pulls him aside to tell him that she knows he was behind the ice incident in cooking class, worried that he’s not living up to the values that Moorim tries to instill.
He tells her (again in English, for no apparent reason) that she’s confused — he’s not here for the school values. He’s here to graduate with top honors, win the martial arts competition, and go home successful. He admits that he’s more than willing to get rid of anyone who gets in his way, including any of the existing students. Of course, all of them are right behind him to overhear what he just said, though he acts like he doesn’t care.
Chi-ang tries to talk Shi-woo into quitting on their way up the mountain, not understanding why he’s doing this when he was planning to quit the school anyway. Yeah, I’ve been wondering the same thing. Chi-ang seems to be sincere when he says that he’s the one whose future depends on this, and asks for Shi-woo’s shoes and his help. Shi-woo just tells him to shut up, ha.
Back at the school, even the teachers think that Dean Hwang went too far, though Professor Kim says that Moorim Peak isn’t that dangerous. In fact, he claims to be the one who placed the banner there in the first place, and that he used to hike up every morning. Professor Oh calls him out for a liar, and they start bickering again.
Professor Beop says to Dean Hwang that sending those kids up the mountain could get him and the school in big trouble. Hwang reminds him of the seal unlocking when the boys arrived, though he claims this test isn’t to determine who unlocked it. He says crypticaly that their fight doesn’t just involve the two of them, and it will take more than two of them to complete this task.
It’s interesting how, now that the boys are gone, Dean Hwang isn’t at all angry — in fact he’s pleasantly calm. He tells Professor Beop that no matter if they’ve only been here two days, they’re still Moorim students. This appears to clue Professor Beop into his true plan, though we aren’t privy to it.
None of the students sleep easy that night, and Nadet stays up late watching Chi-ang and Shi-woo through his drone. Chi-ang’s mother seems to sense that something is happening with her son, and stares at his photo.
In the morning the boys find their path blocked by a wide chasm, and they argue over whether to go around or find a way across. Chi-ang horrifies Shi-woo by making a jump for it, and the idiot actually makes it across. But as he’s crowing his success to Shi-woo, his sock foot slips, and he finds himself dangling over the abyss by his fingertips.
Frantic, Shi-woo also makes the jump, and lowers his belt for Chi-ang to grab. An ill-timed attack of ear pain has Chi-ang lose his footing, and all that stands between him and the long drop is Shi-woo’s strength. Luckily, together they manage to pull Chi-ang to safety, though he immediately gripes at Shi-woo for nearly dropping him.
Shi-woo is still in the grips of his attack and doesn’t answer, and now Chi-ang grows genuinely worried. He calls to Shi-woo and realizes that he can’t hear him at all, but the attack subsides and Shi-woo glares at Chi-ang for making that stupid jump.
Aunty makes Soon-deok’s dad a gigantic breakfast of foods known to be aphrodesiacs, and when he asks why, she titters that Soon-deok won’t be home tonight. He’s gonna need extra energy, huh?
Professors Kim and Oh spar together, in what looks like more of a courtship dance than anything else. Kim finds it very sexy when Oh kicks his ass, and he angles for a kiss, but she’s too worried about Chi-ang and Shi-woo alone up on Moorim Peak.
The boys are starting to lag, and Chi-ang decides to test Shi-woo’s hearing. He only succeeds in annoying Shi-woo by whispering his name over and over, ha. But he’s not kidding when he steps on something with his sock foot and hurts himself, and he gives Shi-woo his best puppy-dog eyes and asks yet again to switch shoes. It almost works, but Shi-woo saunters off again, leaving Chi-ang shoeless. Shi-woo is made of sterner stuff than I am, clearly.
So Chi-ang is forced to use his tie and leather wallet as a makeshift shoe, which is pretty damned resourceful for a spoiled rich kid, and even seems to impress the stoic Shi-woo. The kids back at school find them with Nadet’s drone, and worry that they must be hungry and thirsty by now.
Indeed, Chi-ang starts to whine about being thirsty, and Shi-woo finds a little trickle of water for them to drink. They freak out and run when they see a snake, but they get split up in their fear, and the kids argue over which to follow with the drone. They choose Shi-woo, so everyone is worried when he finally stops running and can’t find Chi-ang. Now it’s a real competition, since the boys can’t work together anymore.
We see the mysterious man in the coma, and get a glimpse of his past as he and his family (a wife, and a small son and daughter – twins?) are forced to hide out in a mountain cabin. He tells his wife that he was told to bury the jewels in a secret place that nobody knows, and he knows this place is pretty safe since he used to train here. Wait, is that the little girl Dean Hwang was protecting before?
We get further events from Hwang’s perspective — he had found the wife dead in the cabin some time later. Professor Beop also appears to know something of this, based on the way he’s staring into space thoughtfully.
Alone now, Shi-woo nearly walks right into a large beast, which looks like some kind of otherwordly wolf. The students are watching through the drone, but the wolf-thing sees it and attacks, and puts it out of commission. The beast sees Shi-woo, growls, and leaps.
Without the comfort of being able to see the guys on the mountain, Sun-ah is ready to run up there and find Shi-woo. She tells any other kids who want to help, to meet her at the front doors.
Shi-woo runs from the beast, but finds himself face-to face with it again. It jumps up at him and knocks him down, and he gets up quickly. The jewel in his pendant catches a ray of sun and shines directly into the beast’s eyes, and stops it in its tracks.
COMMENTS
Interesting, and intriguing. I like the way the show is doling out clues at a slow but reliable pace, while at the same time giving us more mysteries to wonder about. Why was the man in the coma hiding jewels on the mountain, and where did his children go when his wife was killed and he was put out of commission? I think it’s no coincidence that Shi-woo’s pendant has a jewel in it, and that in his memory of his dead mother in the fire, she had the same short hair as Coma Man’s wife. So if the little girl is the same one Dean Hwang saved, then would that make Shi-woo the son and Sun-ah the daughter, making them siblings or even twins? If so, how did Shi-woo get separated from his sister, and why did Dean Hwang never look for him? I do find the mysteries compelling, and I have a feeling we haven’t seen the half of it yet.
The show seems to be settling into a more comfortable rhythm, relaxing into itself and letting its characters be a little bit more human and fallible (we saw some of that with Chi-ang last week, but now everyone’s inner insecurities are showing). The air of mystery is still there, as we haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of what’s truly going on at Moorim School, but it seems to have let go of that sense of extreme gravitas it tried to carry in the first week, and let the characters shine instead. The show feels more cohesive than it did in the beginning, so if it keeps on improving like this, it has the potential to be a really fun watch. And as a viewer, more than anything I want characters I care about, and this show definitely has plenty of those.
That said, I’m a bit worried about Shi-woo from a narrative perspective, because he holds things so close to the vest that it makes it hard to care about him as a character. In fact, with a lesser actor than Lee Hyun-woo, I’d have stopped caring about him already, so it’s a good thing that this character is in the hands of an actor who can make us love him without having to hear actual words. I get that he’s had a tough time on his own, with people only caring about him as far as his talent can benefit them, and that naturally would lead to a person being reluctant to show any true emotions. But as a drama character it’s problematic, because he’s so closed off that we’re being given no sense of his feelings or motivations, why he’s at Moorim and why he’s determined to stay (we can guess, but those aren’t answers, you know?). I do think that Soon-deok will be the person who starts to crack that veneer, with her way of just being herself that seems to affect him. She’s the first person who was willing to not only do something for him, but do it at their own expense, and I think that’s already getting through to him. I think — hope — that a budding friendship with Chi-ang will do the same thing, and hopefully we’ll see a very different Shi-woo by the end of the show.
One thing I really like about this show, in a strange way, is that neither of the leading men are likable. I’m so used to one male lead being the “nice guy” that it’s almost refreshing that both of our boys are jerks, at this point. They’re the epitome of the conceited, self-absorbed teenager, just looking for what benefits them and bristling at anything that gets in their way. Of course they have very different reasons for being that way, and their issues manifest in very different ways, but I almost like that neither of them is showing his true self at this point in the story. It makes me watch them closely for those little flashes of maturity, and they are there, like when Chi-ang worried for Shi-woo’s hearing just for a moment, or when Shi-woo realized that Soon-deok lives a pretty hard life. Those little glimpses of the people Chi-ang and Shi-woo will grow to be are fascinating, and I foresee a lot of character growth for both of them. Now that they’re stripped of their privilege — and the pressures and fears that come with it — they can slowly become who they really are inside. (And as a side note, I’m thinking both of them are somehow special… there’s no way a normal human could make the jump over that chasm.)
In fact, Chi-ang and Shi-woo are so much their own worst enemies, that I really feel as though the added “villian” character of Jeong, with his inexplicable English, is unnecessary. Though I suppose that it wouldn’t be a school-centered Korean drama without that one kid who would push you under the bus (or down the stairs) for daring to be a better student, and goodness knows the other students at Moorim could use some more characterization. I do hope the rest of the students are fleshed-out a bit more as the show goes on, because I love the multicultural aspect of the school itself, and would like to get to know the other kids a bit better.
RELATED POSTS
- Moorim School: Episode 2
- Moorim School: Episode 1
- Light vs. dark in new set of posters for Moorim School
- Lee Hyun-woo goes from idol factory to Moorim School
- Moorim School’s foursome invites you to its mysterious school
- First look at Moorim School’s bad boy bromance
- Lee Hyun-woo confirms action romance drama Moorim School
- Seo Ye-ji, VIXX’s Hongbin for youth drama Moorim School
- Lee Hyun-woo, Yook Sung-jae courted for KBS’s Moorim School
- KBS announces global youth action romance Moorim School
Tags: featured, Hongbin, Lee Hyun-woo (2), Moorim School, Seo Ye-ji
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1 insomniagirl
January 20, 2016 at 2:08 PM
This is my new favorite fight scene.
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loco
January 20, 2016 at 4:01 PM
I laugh- snorted when they showed us the actual fight. I was pretty embarrassing how bad they were at fighting.
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fanwho
January 21, 2016 at 5:24 AM
Reminds me of fighting scene in Hogu's love (last ep). LOL
Feel like I am watching cartoon - somewhat entertaining. Only if they can act better. sigh.
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jjeinn
January 25, 2016 at 9:02 PM
in the beginning when they were fighting 'coolly' was a fake scene? like it didn't actually happen?
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2 Ek Ladhki Thi is Kim Eun-sooks no 1 fan
January 20, 2016 at 2:18 PM
This drama is so cute I can't even. This show, Six Flying Dragons and Cheese In The Trap are the reasons why my Mondays and Tuesdays are awesome again. You have an intense drama like 6FD, a cute drama like MS to relieve stress and an easy yet though to provoking drama like CITT to sleep on.
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3 Dynasty 101
January 20, 2016 at 2:18 PM
Thank you lollipop for the recap....
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4 CaroleMcDonnell
January 20, 2016 at 2:58 PM
This is a drama I am seriously invested in. So much so that I actually HATE the Dean of this school. Maybe it's my impatience with the cold "knowing teacher who is out to destroy his student's pride" trope. The "obey mysterious me" while I destroy your self-trust and self-respect kind of teaching. It's off-putting and waaay old.
I'm afraid the romance might upset me as well because I like Chi Ang as a character. And I hate the old "well, he's merely infatuated so his crush on Ariel" doesn't count trope. I know she saved his life and that is part of his fantasy about her. But heck the idea that everyone falls in love with people who takes care of their wounds, pats their brows, or saves their lives is throughout these first episodes (with the exception of the teaching couple who seem to be both vying for dominance) and that isn't super valid either. Are all the wounded men being taken care of by strong selfless sane women? (Chi Ang's mother being the exception.) Then fine. But I better see some real reason for the other guy to get the girl...if that is what's gonna happen.
I suspect the Dean's daughter has to be a long lost sister...in order to make a certain love story valid and applicable. So the story feels as if they are making a way for idol and mermaid to get together without leaving two cast-off lovers. Dean's daughter'll probably have to fall for Mr Arrogant. Will see. I'm just waiting for Mr. Arrogant's backstory.
The mystery is okay. I can take it or leave it but I suppose it's good the mystery exists because the love story subplot is feeling very predictable. Please, Show, surprise me by having chaebol and Ariel be the OTP.
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5 alua
January 20, 2016 at 3:07 PM
I'm still watching. Shi-Woo and Chi-ang got me through ep 3 and 4, despite the fact that plot is fairly predictable and parts are just not very credible. But the growing bromance is cute and because there's something about Shi-woo (much thanks to Lee Hyun-woo's acting) that captivates me – like some immense pain he carries inside of him that makes me really curious about him.
Everything else – and everyone else – bore me. I have been forwarding the scenes with the other students, with the teachers, with the parents. Literally nothing interesting & such flat acting. Occasionally Soon-deok is watchable (although I still think she is in another drama, or in this drama but from another planet), while Sun-ah... I still find her a very inconsequential character.
Not sure yet about who the siblings are (well, Shi-woo is one), but thinking now the Shi-woo will start liking Soon-deok, rather than the more convenient pairing with Sun-ah.
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Gidget
January 20, 2016 at 5:49 PM
What struck me right away is that they decided to aim the show squarely the sub-18-24 and 18-24 demographics. And the director is intentionally employing the visual and storytelling styles that are familiar to those demographics. (To me it's felt stylistically like a TV version of Harry Potter with some occasional Hanna Montana thrown in.)
If watched with that in mind, I've found it relatively easy to appreciate what they’re trying to accomplish and just enjoy the show.
And re: the pairing. Yup. I suspect that the pairing will be the wedge driven to initiate the greater rift we'll see between Shi-woo and Chi-ang.
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6 Miky
January 20, 2016 at 3:10 PM
So who thinks the Director dauther is in fact Shiwoo's sister?it's the same litte girl the director protected in the beginning of ep 1 as the one the man from the hospital was holding in the flashback(more likely Shiwoo dad)...curious what's about those jewels that they were told to hide and making them go into hiding and hurt/killed...Is Shiwoo power his or an effect of the jewel he has on his necklace?
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jen
January 20, 2016 at 10:10 PM
i think the sister is Soon-deok
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7 hearttaek
January 20, 2016 at 3:20 PM
Seonah... If she's really shiwoo's sister... Those fangirl dreams lmao imaging fangirling over your own brother.
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Marina
January 20, 2016 at 3:46 PM
LOL Dude... I can't even... XD If it's true, poor girl.
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8 missDVM
January 20, 2016 at 3:25 PM
I have decided to just sit back and enjoy this show- warts and all. Because of that, it has been so fun to experience the mix of mystery, surreal "magic" aspects and plain old hokey moments! That being said, it is the grounding in the character's emotional story arcs that MAKE this drama happen. Without the serious moments, such as whenever Chi-Ang worries (really worries) about how his mother is doing, the intense pain and fear that Shi-woo is experiencing as he battles his hearing loss and even Soon Deok's discovering that her father has put her needs above his own MAKES me want more of this drama. It is THOSE moments that have me biting my nails and really investing in this drama.
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Gidget
January 20, 2016 at 5:51 PM
Couldn't agree more!
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9 Julzevias
January 20, 2016 at 3:34 PM
I'm not sure about everyone else but I dived into this expecting packed action and quick narrative development so the lagging pace in these last 2 episodes is actually a disappointment from my point of view.
Although the bromance and developing relationships are nice, do we really need to spend like a gazillion scenes of the other teachers and students talking about Shi-Woo and Chi-ang's destiny a billion times? The writers should've brought out those characters at a minimum because the only thing they've done is talk about the main characters and warm up to Shi-Woo, and each time these side characters are just peppering the show with useless flatness.
Honestly, I'm fine with this being a cute show rather than a dramatic one, but since weighty elements are thrown in from day 1 then they should keep at least some of that rhythm in there instead of dropping down to ground level. This show has a lot of potential and throws together a cache of genres, but I think it's got trouble balancing all these different elements so far.
That being said, there are still a ton of episodes left so it's got plenty of time to build up to a climax. And the one thing this show DID do right are the main characters (so far, excluding Sun-ah), because the bromance is seriously killing me with smiles and Soon-deok's acting was HILARIOUS(at least in episode 1; the humor has dropped a bit). I want to love this show a lot(BIG fan of growth at supernatural schools) and I hope it'll let me do so.
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Gidget
January 20, 2016 at 5:20 PM
I’ve thought they’ve layered in quite a bit that’ll facilitate the upcoming conflicts. Here’s what I saw in this episode:
Shi-woo articulated that because he lacked family, all he had was music. However we saw that his father and sister are probably still alive. The father is being held captive by Chi-ang’s father, and will need to be rescued.
Chi-ang’s core need is to be accepted by his father and protect his mother. But he’s also starting to develop a ‘family’ with Shi-woo and the other students at Moorim. Eventually he’ll have to choose between Shi-woo and the Moorim family, and earning his Father’s acceptance.
The reason both Shi-woo and Chi-ang are both at Moorim: as a path to the concealed gems.
The gems are located in a house on the mountain that’s been ‘sealed’ so it can’t be found. Not even by the teachers.
The gems have unique properties. The wolf wanted to avoid the light of the gemstone. And given that Shi-woo is wearing a gem, we can now surmise that his powers to protect himself and break seals probably came from the gemstone, not from some native ability.
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Gidget
January 20, 2016 at 5:25 PM
The laid the groundwork for future conflicts.
Pendant:
We already knew Hwang suspects Shi-woo has the power to break the seal. Did he sent them up the mountain with a secondary hidden motivation? (To see if his mere presence would break the seal and reveal the house.).
If the jewel in the pendant has the power to break the seals, can Shi-Woo and his allies protect it from multiple parties who will undoubtedly try to steal it? How will this put their lives at risk? Will Shi-woo’s father and Sun-ah turn into bargaining chips for the pendant? Will this pit Chi-ang and his need to save his mother and earn his father's approval, against Shi-Woo and his need to save his sister and father?
Shi-Woo/Chi-ang:
We now see that the stakes for each of them will be identical. They'll have to choose between their Moorim family or blood family.
Hwang:
I suspect that Dean Hwang has his own hidden agenda. If you assemble all the hints: 1) carrying/capturing Sun-ah; 2) saying the mountain may have called Shi-woo to it (has he been waiting for the lost son?); 3) the scene in the empty prison; 4) sending the boys to ascend the mountain when it apparently put them at great personal risk (Why wasn't he afraid of what Chi-ang’s father would do if Chi-ang was seriously hurt? Are they working together? Is Chi-ang just a pawn in their chess game?); 5) all the shots of him blankly staring like he’s coming up with a hidden plan.
Mountain as conflict device:
They reiterated that a person apparently needs ‘training’ to walk in that area of the mountains. There are strange beasts living there. And for the second time we’ve seen that the mountain has ’blind spots’ where people can suddenly become separated unable to hear voices calling out to find them.
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Julzevias
January 21, 2016 at 3:53 PM
Honestly, this groundwork has been used a lot. Although it's hard to create masterpieces nowadays, it doesn't have to repeat every plot seen before in the exact same manner. Pendants, mountains, secret masterminds from above, they're implemented the exact same way, so what drives this story insofar besides the plot is the relationships. And most of these relationships are trite.
Not to say I dislike this show, I just find it a little disappointing in that it had so much running potential and just suddenly lost its momentum.
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10 loco
January 20, 2016 at 4:23 PM
I really enjoyed this show so far.. a great escapism show. The potential bromance is just to attractive. I really hope that they do not add any love interest and or triangles. For one let a show just be about friendships with no love lines thrown in.
For some reason i am imagining the director/ headmaster of the school to be a modern teacher version of "Gaksital". As in training people to fight oppression and evil in the world. But its probably just my brain finding a way weird way to connect the two characters..
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11 LillyLee
January 20, 2016 at 4:26 PM
I am enjoying the show a lot. I started to watch it just out of curiosity and am very glad I did. It is Prince Charming as a narcissistic butt and Jack the Giant Killer as anti-social recluse being forced to room together. Funny stuff.
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12 Stuckonyou
January 20, 2016 at 5:12 PM
Despite several lack issues in this drama, I am quite surprised by myself that I find it quite fun. I try to see with an open mind so yes low quality here and there is okay.
I am actually looking forward to Shi woo - Seon dook romance. They kinda cute together. Hee
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13 Loveycat
January 20, 2016 at 5:23 PM
Park Bo Gum and Lee Hyun Woo is same age, they are 93's liner. But why Lee Hyun Woo always get a cast as high school student, while Park Bo Gum already act as a mature person twice if i count it right.
As much as i know, Lee Hyun Woo is more senior in acting. He is good, i like him, but i think he have to do more different kind of character than a student.
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bea
January 21, 2016 at 4:01 AM
it's probably because he still looks young compared to his other 93 colleagues
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14 noona
January 20, 2016 at 5:29 PM
I literally Do Not Care about Shi-Woo one bit. I don't care how rough his life is, I'm sick of him being an ass, and he's really not that interesting at this point. I don't want the main lead getting with him but I unfortunately see it going that way...
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15 Gidget
January 20, 2016 at 5:29 PM
Thanks for the great recap LollyPip!
I have to say that the approach you’re taking to covering this show has been great. You’ve evaluated each episode against the creative framework the PD has chosen. I really appreciate that you're choosing that road, instead of labeling any departure from general expectations or more refined preferences as “flaws”. Awesome professionalism!
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16 growingbeautifully
January 20, 2016 at 5:32 PM
Thanks LollyPip!
I have to agree with lots of the comments. However I find that taking it as a 'kid show' with perhaps inexperienced show makers and rookie actors, it's fun in it's own way, and lots of it is forgivable and everything can be just get better. If anything, it makes lots of other so-so shows stand out instead LOL! Definitely great for a relaxing watch, with some very funny bits (I like how the actors don't mind making such asses of themselves) and a few heartwarming moments. For the potential in character growth alone, this show is something I'd like to follow.
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17 jamie143
January 20, 2016 at 6:01 PM
I think it's because of his baby faced. Though, Bogum seems to look young sometimes at least his face fits his age but Hyunwoo does not. I hope Hyunwoo choose a heavy drama next that could really show his potential like in equator man but he would be the lead or even the second lead, not just a young counterpart. Or he could venture in cable drama where characters of their drama have more depth. I want him to be well known like Yoo Seungho or even Bogum right now.
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18 hearttaek
January 20, 2016 at 6:12 PM
They've revealed the pairings in the character charts though... Will talking about that still count as spoilers (and therefore, off limits to talk about here in the comment sections)?
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19 KDaddict?JCW
January 20, 2016 at 6:46 PM
I'm enjoying the show, but am not impressed with the acting of the 2nd male lead.
Also, the 2nd female lead just looks quite a few years older than the other 3. Maybe she's the older sister, still, it's distracting.
The show definitely has a juvenile quality to it. I don't hold that against it tho. I'm giving it a lot, a lot of leeway in hopes that it'll deliver. The teachers (their attitude) tho are truly annoying. Last but not least, I wish they'd help me understand why the Dean needs to wear spiffy double breasted suits in such a mountain setting and such a post in such a school!!
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20 annida
January 20, 2016 at 6:58 PM
thank you, lolly...
:D
your recap is awesome!
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21 Cee
January 20, 2016 at 7:18 PM
This episode started off a bit slow I was almost bored, but then I was seriously awake and started losing myself. The boys' journey was intense and would become even more so on next ep. I'm completely sucked into the whole mystery, there are so many things we don't know yet. I love how the show unfolds both big and little mysteries so neatly and so intriguingly. It's organized, considering how many things we'll have to deal with later. And here I was thinking that 20 eps might be too many. Hopefully the pace and the delivery will continue to be like this.
I've started to like Soondeok better because at last she stopped being such a generic candy girl. I'm glad she started to show more feelings (other than happiness and optimism) and I'm waiting for her to 'come out' more. At this point, I still love Seonah better as a character, and my heart is already breaking at the fact that she and Shiwoo are most likely to be siblings. She adores him (as a man) so much it hurts.
Anyways, am I the only who's wishing there's no romance here? Shiwoo and Chiang have started going to that bromance lane and honestly the best thing in dramas is bromance and sometimes romance just ruins it all. I don't want to see them 'fight' over a girl and have one of them (well, Chiang) give up. Not only for Shiwoo and Chiang, I also feel that Seonah and Soondeok's friendship is wonderful and I'm sure we'll arrive at a point when Seonah feels jealous and betrayed as hell and that would be very sad.
Even so, life is unfair so what do I expect?
P.S. It seems like Chiang's father has something against Shiwoo's father? This ain't gonna be pretty
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22 brian
January 20, 2016 at 9:07 PM
I am confused by people who are saying the dean through them up the mountain because he has some sneaky plan to get something to happen. I assume he did it to have them learn to work together, and that teamwork is how you mature, which would be the real lesson, not "who gets the banner gets the prize".
On another note I remember seeing the actress who plays Seon Deok in Diary of a Night Watchman. She seems more mature in the fantasy sageuk, but she seems young and cute here, with the exception of her extremely deep voice. Somewhat incongruous coming from such a young petite person. Still, I enjoy her acting.
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gem28
January 20, 2016 at 9:58 PM
You Know, long long ago I remember watching Gilmore Girls pilot and Rory's voice in it. It was quite deep but later she switched to slightly different voice range. The deep voice, I think if required and withing Seo Ye-Ji's skills can be slightly changed to suit the age. She looks really young compared to the other actress playing Sun-Ah which is surprising given she is 25.
As for the show, the character development is quite nice and the bromance which is wonderful is kicking in. I can totally ship Chi-Ang with Shin-Woo instead of the girls. But the story I guess will take a few episodes to settle into a nice pace with solid focus.
This show is now officially my guilty pleasure. Its flawed but I can't help watch and anticipate what happens next.
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hdgb
January 21, 2016 at 11:14 AM
Seon Deok is an annoying character but despite that, actress Seo Ye-ji is average/decent at most. Her acting isn't good though. She is un-natural, awkward, and despite her efforts to be expressive, she is still not convincing or believable. She has made multiple dramas in the past. After getting substantial amount of experience, she is still not good.
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23 Adal
January 20, 2016 at 9:42 PM
The acting is getting better and more cohesive. The one thing that I'm curious about is where and how did they manage the shot of a wolf? I would love to see behind the scenes footage for that one.
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Gidget
January 20, 2016 at 10:30 PM
The first couple of shots were altered. In the next episode they look like big German Shepherds with their coats dyed all black. Might even be one dog edited-in multiple times.
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Adal
January 21, 2016 at 1:58 AM
I thought that they looked more like dogs than actual wolves but I couldn't say for certain. In any case, I am glad to see a kdrama that's thinking outside the box...
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Adal
January 21, 2016 at 10:45 AM
Ooops!
They are "wolfdogs".
Read article below: http://www.allkpop.com/article/2016/01/vixxs-hongbin-lee-hyun-and-more-mingle-with-wolfdogs-for-murim-school
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24 bips99
January 20, 2016 at 10:08 PM
I really thought that i would stick with this drama but this week's episodes put an end to that idea quickly.
Its just so ............ boring.
The entire of adults parts - whether it is the teachers, the dean, soon deoks parents, the coma patient - its all so blah! I fast forwarded ALL of it. 4 episodes in and we have no idea about any of the other students except the english speaking one who i want to punch. Soon deok acts like she is part of a slapstick comedy drama and seems a complete misfit in the scenes.
How can someone make magic, martial arts and mysterious school boring I fail to understand
Its only the 2 male leads that are worth watching. Not just to look at but because its the only thing that the writer has spent some time fleshing out. Whether its their personal hang ups, or their enmity or their budding bromance - its all interesting.
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alua
January 20, 2016 at 11:37 PM
I did exactly the same fast-forwarding and pretty much only watched the parts with the two male leads.
The school feels pretty ordinary to me. The only "magic" is the seal that protects Moorim and the necklace that protects Shi-woo. Which is exactly what makes the whole fantasy genre pretty uncompelling – this drama could really do with more "atmosphere". I'm not quite sure I have quite grasped the world of Moorim, which currently seems to be a school with maybe 20 students, maybe 10 teachers and a lot of doing nothing (everyone is always in attendance when Shi-woo and Chi-ang get scolded/get into a fight? And all they do is stand and watch?).
My feeling is we've got a low-budget production with a rookie writer who isn't particularly skilled and doesn't know how to give us a fuller package – in setting the scene to create a full "world" that three-dimensional characters inhabit. It's not that everything needs to be spelled out or shown, but hints and can go a long away. And developing a background story for each supporting character (even if you never tell it), so you can write them better into the story that you are focusing on.
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alua
January 20, 2016 at 11:44 PM
I'm not counting the "beasts of the forest" as magic. If there are really fantastical creatures, the other students should already know (even if they may have never encountered them). These "beasts" don't even work as wolves – they are so clearly dogs.
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cassidy
January 21, 2016 at 10:18 AM
So far, the story is cheesy and meh. I'm watching this solely for Lee Hyun Woo and Shin Hyun Joon who are the legit good actors of this drama. In my community, Most Kdrama fans agree Seo Yeji is Not a good actress and she is mediocre because she tends to over-act sometimes. Hongbin cannot act either and he is wooden.
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jill
January 21, 2016 at 10:40 AM
Agreed! Ppl around me dislike seo yeji's acting too. she is so-so but not good. Hongbin and the others are kind of painful to watch. The writer is not doing that well with the plot. Random redundant scenes and pointless details. I might drop Moorim School halfway if the plot continues to stink.
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25 ywcnois
January 20, 2016 at 11:32 PM
I'm really looking forward to the character growth (for ALL of the characters - even some teachers still have a lot to learn). The reason this drama initially seemed interesting to me, was because of the idea of a school that did not focus on SPECs etc. but on morals, values, life lessons. So far I'm not disappointed, but I hope all of the characters have learned a lot by the end of episode 20.
And I really like the fantasy aspect. I was wondering if Shiwoo's power is caused by the necklace or comes from within himself, but one of the trailers said something like "Have you ever felt it?" "A power from within you." Right? So I guess it's his power.
Also, I'm curious about what kind of relationship Dean Hwang has with Shi-woo's father. I guess Dean Hwang went to that house and tried to save the family, but only managed to save Seon-ah.
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26 les
January 21, 2016 at 3:22 AM
Thanks LP for the recaps!
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27 scott
January 21, 2016 at 6:32 AM
bad drama.. bored me enough.. the only reason i keep watching is only seo yeji ..
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sophie
January 21, 2016 at 10:19 AM
This drama's not my cup of tea. I don't like seo yeji's acting and don't like her character either.
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28 joeyuel
January 21, 2016 at 8:26 AM
Can anyone tell me the name of the music that starts when the action scenes start like the one at the imaginary fight between the boys in episode 1
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LollyPip
January 21, 2016 at 8:36 AM
Alive, by Vixx
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxdHf0q4ITY
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29 joeyuel
January 21, 2016 at 8:45 AM
but episode 1 was before January 18 which was when vixx's ost was released
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30 joeyuel
January 21, 2016 at 8:47 AM
and mp3 please if you can sorry for my bothersomeness
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31 Saya22
January 21, 2016 at 9:35 AM
I really love this drama! It sort of reminds me of a Japanese manga I read called Gakuen Alice aka Alice Academy. It's a mysterious school was gifted kids go. Sort of like Harry Potter. Episode 4 was great! This show keeps getting better and better.
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32 Kris
January 22, 2016 at 6:44 AM
I am pretty much anticipating this drama ever since and it never failed me! I really love this drama!
I really love your comments @LollyPip. I was thinking exactly the same thing! Maybe Shi-woo and Seon-ah are really twins! And I love how the drama kept everything going.
Can't wait for next week!
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33 Camille W
January 23, 2016 at 7:42 PM
I know I'm going to be here til the end. Loving Soon Deok and Si Woo. I'm hoping that the other students in the supporting cast get better characterization later on too.
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34 Saertus
January 25, 2016 at 1:47 PM
3 episodes in and meh, boring show, bad plot, meh characters, and I haf such high expectations about it. Compared to many other dramas I've seen this one is really crappy.
I'm very surprised to read some people actually like it. I think is very mediocre. Cheese in the trap is like a trizillion times better.
After each episode of this drama I don't feel like watching more and that for me makes it a bad drama.
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