Man to Man: Episode 10
by chocolatte
Who needs the NIS when you’ve got the Chewing team on your side? Seol-woo continues to be the only one moving the wood carving mission along, but thankfully, he’s not completely without support. Whether he admits it or not, he’s tied to his employers in a way that goes beyond money or contracts, and that’s definitely going to lead to some kind of existential crisis for our ghost agent in the near future, don’t you think?
EPISODE 10 RECAP
After Seol-woo takes off with the second wood carving, Ki-chul’s car explodes. Do-ha and Woon-kwang complete their roles by calmly leaving the hotel.
As Seung-jae and Mi-eun watch the reports on TV about the car bomb, Seung-jae receives the news that Chairman Yamato failed to purchase the wood carving. He throws his wine glass against the wall in anger, but Mi-eun doesn’t even flinch; instead, she quietly comments that the NIS must take responsibility for a bombing at an international event. This catches Seung-jae’s attention.
Assemblyman Baek receives bad news as well, as he’s told by one of his agents that Ghost Agent K killed Ki-chul and took the wood carving. To make matters worse, the agent says they assume it’s K behind it all—but they were unable to get his face clearly on any of the surveillance videos.
On a darkened street, Seol-woo tells a still-kicking Ki-chul (I knew he wasn’t dead!) that he must keep his promise—once the last wood carving is found, he’ll have to stand trial for his crimes. Seol-woo tells Ki-chul to stay alive, and Ki-chul says that he will, looking grateful as he does.
We see that the two ghost agents are standing across the street from a storefront, looking in on a woman with a young girl in a wheelchair: it’s Ki-chul’s family. Ki-chul says his wife never got a wedding and his daughter doesn’t even know who he is, but they are the reasons why he kept himself alive, doing whatever he had to do.
Seol-woo notes that the two are also the reasons why Ki-chul failed as a ghost agent. Ki-chul tells him not to be so cocky, saying, “It’s easy to fool a lie detector, but it isn’t easy to keep lying to yourself.” Ki-chul adds that he knows Seol-woo’s weakness, and Seol-woo has no comeback to that.
Our main trio reunite at Seol-woo’s place, where Do-ha and Woon-kwang express skepticism about letting Ki-chul go free (and Do-ha keeps making pointed digs about “typical” ghost agent behavior). Seol-woo says he trusts Ki-chul because he showed Seol-woo his family—a secret that even the Baek Infantry doesn’t know about. He also says that the evidence Ki-chul handed over on Agent Yoon’s real killer checks out, so Myung-suk should go free soon.
As Do-ha thanks Woon-kwang for his role in freeing her father, Seol-woo fiddles with the carving and pops out its secret compartment, startling his two companions. They watch in awe as Seol-woo pulls out the key, and Seol-woo confirms that this is what they were after. He carefully lines up the second wood carving right next to the first when Do-ha lights up, slyly pointing out that there are two carvings.
Cut to: Woon-kwang lovingly polishing the carvings at his house as Do-ha explains that the statuettes will be held as collateral. Seol-woo asserts that Woon-kwang will recoup his money as soon as the NIS director returns, and Woon-kwang threateningly says that better be true.
Before Seol-woo can make his exit, Do-ha stops him to take a photo, telling him that she’ll post his face everywhere if he disappears without paying Woon-kwang back. She goes on about her right to do this when Seol-woo interrupts her with a string of numbers: the access code to his place. She’s stunned that he’d share his code, but Seol-woo even adds that he’ll text her anytime he’s not with her to tell her where he’s going.
Seol-woo updates Department Head Jang on the deal he made with Ki-chul and gives him the evidence on Agent Yoon’s killer. When Seol-woo asks about the status of the third wood carving, he’s surprised to hear that the NIS director is on it. Department Head Jang says they’ll have the carving soon and tells Seol-woo to hang in there a bit longer.
Seol-woo’s serious about keeping Do-ha in the loop, as he texts her with the news that the evidence needed to free Myung-suk has been turned over to the NIS. Do-ha looks thrilled, and with the biggest smile on her face, she starts to text Seol-woo back. But she goes back and forth with her response, unsure of what to say, and eventually just sends back a simple, “Okay.”
Seol-woo looks almost disappointed at Do-ha’s curt response and tosses his phone aside. After examining the two keys recovered from the wood carvings (which fit together to make a master key), he looks at the evidence left by Ki-chul: A CCTV recording of the actual killer attacking Agent Yoon in his office. Seol-woo notices something on screen and zooms in on a shelf, which holds the three wood carvings—and below it, a box bearing the name of a company.
When our ineffectual villains meet up to discuss what’s next, Seung-jae offers Assemblyman Baek a new plan: They should call the bomb a terrorist attack and get the NIS director fired. Of course, this idea was Mi-eun’s, and we see that during Seung-jae’s earlier conversation with her, Mi-eun had suggested that both the NIS and its director should bear responsibility for the bomb.
Seung-jae tells Assemblyman Baek that by taking over the NIS, the wood carvings will naturally be theirs. Assemblyman Baek says he’ll take care of it (but… when has he ever?) and calls one of his men to set up a press conference, then mentions Dong-hyun’s name.
Dong-hyun is still stuck in the interrogation room, and it looks like his stay just got extended—a group of NIS agents present him with a brand new arrest warrant, charging him with espionage in connection with terrorism.
Sang-shik’s on Woon-kwang wakeup duty again, and ha, Woon-kwang’s taken to sleeping with his wood carvings. As expected, Woon-kwang rebuffs Sang-shik’s wakeup call and won’t even let him come near the carvings.
At a catch-up session with Mi-eun, Sharon shares that Department Head Jang has been under a lot of stress lately. When Mi-eun probes a little bit, Sharon relays to her the question he’d asked her about choosing between money and honor. Sharon says if she were to choose, she’d pick the honorable Department Head Jang, saying that a man pursuing honor is sexier than a man with money.
Do-ha waits outside the prison for her dad to be released, and Seol-woo brings her a cup of coffee. She warily asks what kind of tactic he’s trying this time, but Seol-woo tells her it’s just coffee. Do-ha says he must be trying a “sincerity tactic” and tells him (and probably herself) that she’s not falling for it. Still, she can’t help looking back at him as he gives her his best “I’m sincere” look.
Myung-suk greets Do-ha in relief when he’s finally released, then excitedly asks if it was Assemblyman Baek who helped him get out. Do-ha starts to clarify Assemblyman Baek’s real role in Myung-suk’s arrest, but Seol-woo stops her by clearing his throat before shaking his head at her.
Dong-hyun undergoes another round of questioning, where he’s accused of letting Ki-chul escape and allowing him to commit the “terrorist attack.” Dong-hyun denies the charge, but the NIS agent points out that the interrogation room camera was turned off during Ki-chul’s stint in the room and asks what had happened during that time. That’s when Dong-hyun remembers that Seol-woo had indeed turned off the camera before talking with Ki-chul, and he grits his teeth, knowing that this means trouble.
At home, Woon-kwang watches Assemblyman Baek’s press conference calling for the resignation of the NIS director. He mutters to CEO Ji that the country’s going to the dogs, while CEO Ji says the same can be said of their movie, heh.
CEO Ji expresses worry about starting to film when they don’t have their investors lined up, but Woon-kwang tells him to keep the movie going no matter what. Woon-kwang reassures the CEO that he’ll be fine even if he loses money through this movie—after all, he’s lost most of his money anyway, and he can always earn it back.
Do-ha and Myung-suk celebrate his newfound freedom at Song-yi’s restaurant. It doesn’t take long before Myung-suk’s back to his old ways as he starts spouting off new “business ideas.” Do-ha is quick to rebuke her father, telling him, “Whatever it is, don’t do it. Your stupid con won’t work, so just live quietly waiting tables.”
That’s pretty much exactly what Seol-woo had said to Myung-suk during their last conversation, and Myung-suk says so out loud, noting how different Seol-woo seemed when he said those harsh words to him. Do-ha looks surprised—and maybe even a bit touched—to hear about the exchange.
Seol-woo replays the CCTV video of Agent Yoon, focusing on the man’s last moments before he was attacked. He zooms in on the image of Agent Yoon thumbing through a book, and he furrows his brows when he sees that the pages are blank.
Back at Song-yi’s restaurant, Do-ha receives a text from Seol-woo saying that he’s stepping out for a mission. Her eyes narrow, and it definitely looks like she’s up to something.
Seol-woo’s mission takes him to Agent Yoon’s old office, where he searches the bookcases until he finds the blank book that he saw in the surveillance video.
Meanwhile, Do-ha’s undergoing a similar mission, except she’s at Seol-woo’s place. She dejectedly looks through Agent K’s numerous passports, then picks up the lucky charm coin on his desk, remembering his words when he gave it to her. She next spies a gun nearby and picks it up, watching the door as Seol-woo walks in.
When he asks her what she’s doing in the dark, she points the gun straight at him, an eerily calm expression on her face. Seol-woo says the gun is fake, and she tells him she knows. She fires a pellet at him, making contact. Punctuating each of her sentences with shot after shot, she tells Seol-woo that the gun is fake, he is fake, everything is fake.
Exasperated, Seol-woo takes the gun away and tells Do-ha she shouldn’t just show up at his place like this. She holds up the coin to him next, asking if it’s fake too. He honestly answers that it’s a GPS tracker, which freaks Do-ha right out, until he tells her he wanted to find her if he lost her. When he shows her how the coin works, pointing to the red dot on his phone, she says she’d like to keep track of him this way—so that he’s just a dot to her, no more, no less.
That night, Song-yi asks Do-ha if Seol-woo’s back in the picture. Do-ha says it’s just for work, but Song-yi warns her to be careful of guys like him who use women. Looking down at her phone, with Seol-woo’s dot blinking on the map, she says that she’ll just use him right back and abuse him like crazy.
As Seol-woo’s working to decode the blank pages of Agent Yoon’s book, he gets a text from Woon-kwang, calling him over. When Seol-woo arrives, Woon-kwang keeps looking for reassurance that he will get his money back soon. Seol-woo manages to calm Woon-kwang down, but then gets roped into joining the celebrity for his nightly face mask routine. As the two lie side by side with their masks on, Woon-kwang tells Seol-woo to stay right by him, then reminds him to keep his promise about Do-ha.
Seung-jae’s pleased that things are finally starting to go his way and tells Mi-eun that it’s thanks to her. He complains about Assemblyman Baek’s ineffectiveness, so Mi-eun suggests working with someone younger and more upright like Department Head Jang. Seung-jae expresses skepticism about the NIS agent coming over to his side, but Mi-eun says there’s a surefire way: give Department Head Jang the power to take down Assemblyman Baek.
Do-ha’s grand plan to “abuse” Seol-woo the next morning is to get him to bring breakfast for Woon-kwang. But when the doorbell rings, Woon-kwang’s team is surprised to find not Seol-woo, but an NIS agent (and one of Baek’s men) at the door.
The agent slides Seol-woo’s photo to Do-ha and Woon-kwang and asks if the bodyguard happened to accompany Woon-kwang to the Asia Investment Forum. Do-ha’s dramatic (and terrible) acting ensues, as she gasps in feigned horror about the agent’s attempt to link Seol-woo to the car bomb. Woon-kwang picks up on Do-ha’s cues and does some acting of his own, telling the agent that his bodyguard did not attend the event.
When the agent next asks Do-ha what she was doing on the 33rd floor of the hotel that evening, she gets even more outraged, huffily accusing the agent of trying to create a celebrity scandal to distract from the terrorism incident. Woon-kwang gets into the action and angrily threatens to call the media while Do-ha surreptitiously types out a message on her phone.
Seol-woo’s just strolling up to Woon-kwang’s place when he gets the text from Do-ha warning him about the NIS agent. Crisis averted.
Later, as Sang-shik watches Woon-kwang pace in his office, the manager gossips to the rest of the team that Seol-woo and Do-ha are dating, adding that Woon-kwang must be pissed about it. Of course, what the star is really worried about is NIS’ growing interest in Chewing, and how that may affect him getting his money back. Seol-woo just repeats that Woon-kwang will get his money when the NIS director returns to Korea in two days.
Assemblyman Baek and his fellow lawmakers interrogate Department Head Jang and ask him to identify Ki-chul and Seol-woo as ghost agents. When Department Head Jang denies the existence of ghost agents entirely, Assemblyman Baek ups the ante and demands that he submit a list of undercover agents to the National Assembly.
Department Head Jang returns to the manwha café for another secret meeting with Seol-woo, telling the younger agent that since Assemblyman Baek is targeting the director, their special activities fund won’t be accessible for a while. This is so not the news Seol-woo wanted to hear, and he can’t get past it, even as Department Head Jang tells him about the Assembly’s order to expose their undercover agents.
Seol-woo insists that he’s not as worried about his identity being exposed as he is about not having access to the money. But Department Head Jang can’t help with that and tells Seol-woo to continue living as Woon-kwang’s bodyguard until the director returns. Seol-woo starts to protest that it’s not so easy, but this time, Department Head Jang disappears first.
Looking super uncomfortable, Seol-woo tells Woon-kwang and Do-ha that the money won’t be available as quickly as he’d promised. The two take turns needling Seol-woo for not keeping his word, then assume that he must be going on a new mission to get the money. Seol-woo takes a deep breath before announcing that he’s not leaving: His mission is to stay by Woon-kwang’s side as his bodyguard twenty-four hours a day. He tells them to keep him as collateral, and they’ll get the money back eventually.
Seung-jae takes Mi-eun’s advice and offers Department Head Jang a new deal: In exchange for working with Songsan, the NIS agent will get Assemblyman Baek and the Baek Infantry. Department Head Jang still refuses, but Seung-jae tells him to think it over. Telling him that the NIS needs people like him, Seung-jae adds that this may be the last chance to save the agency’s honor.
After Woon-kwang and Eun-soo wrap a scene for their movie, Woon-kwang compliments ACTOR NAM (cameo by Namgoong Min) for his work playing the villain. Curiously, Eun-soo whispers to Woon-kwang to be careful around Actor Nam.
Later, Actor Nam heads up to Woon-kwang’s rest area to find Seol-woo standing on guard. He gets a bit handsy with the bodyguard, treating him like merchandise for sale and making rude comments. When Woon-kwang pops in to chide him for his words, Actor Nam mutters an insult just loudly enough for the star to hear, then walks away with a cackle.
Woon-kwang marvels at what a psycho Actor Nam is, then tells Seol-woo that it’s okay to beat up guys like that. Seol-woo says he was thinking of doing something to the actor after filming is done, and the two exchange a little fist bump. I love them.
At their next meeting, Seung-jae is decidedly uninterested in what Assemblyman Baek has to say, except when the assemblyman mentions the third wood carving. Seung-jae says that the carving isn’t where the assemblyman thinks it is—but that it should be in their hands soon. Seung-jae’s words raises a flag for Assemblyman Baek, so after conferring with one of his men on their plans to bring down Dong-hyun, he tells the agent to look into Seung-jae as well.
Back on set, Seol-woo’s on his way to Do-ha with two cups of coffee when Actor Nam takes the coffee right out of Seol-woo’s hands and delivers it to Do-ha himself. Do-ha gushes over the coffee and Actor Nam, all the while sneaking glances at Seol-woo, who’s watching the scene unfold from not too far away. Though Seol-woo wears his usual stoic look throughout most of Do-ha’s conversation with Actor Nam (save for some gagging at her over-the-top flirting), his eyebrows shoot up in alarm when Do-ha accepts the actor’s invitation for a glass of wine later.
After Actor Nam leaves, Seol-woo joins Do-ha at the window looking out onto the street. He notices a suspicious car below, then tells Do-ha that they’re being watched. When Woon-kwang catches wind of this, he heads downstairs to confront the NIS agent who’s taking photographs from his car. Woon-kwang tells the agent that they’re engaging in “illegal surveillance of a civilian” and demands that he leave, threatening to call reporters again. Surprisingly, that’s all it takes for the agent to comply.
Woon-kwang proudly details his “victory” over the agent to Seol-woo, but Seol-woo is worried about the agency messing with the celebrity. Just then, Do-ha comes in with more bad news: All the locations they’ve booked for filming are canceling, and there’s rumors of Chewing being audited.
Department Head Jang meets with the recently returned NIS director, Director Im, who tells him that he failed in his attempt to get the third wood carving—Russia most likely has it now, and he thinks Songsan was involved. Director Im then says he’s thinking of resigning to protect his staff from the National Assembly, but this infuriates Department Head Jang, who’s more concerned about protecting the honor of the NIS. Director Im just sighs that they’re too powerless to bring about reform to the agency.
Back at Woon-kwang’s, the star asks Seol-woo if he and Chewing are now targets of the NIS because of the wood carving mission. Seol-woo says yes and starts to take the blame, but Woon-kwang interrupts him, saying, “Let’s accomplish this mission.” Woon-kwang tells Seol-woo that he will protect his brother until the end… or at least until he gets his money. This gets a smile from Seol-woo, and he looks genuinely touched.
Do-ha drops by Seol-woo’s at the agent’s request, and he asks her about skipping out on her date with Actor Nam. She confesses that he’s actually kind of a weird guy, but she knows that’s not why Seol-woo called her over and asks him if something’s wrong. Seol-woo answers that he’s trying to close things out, since he’s stayed too long in his undercover role. Wait, what? He’s leaving?
When Do-ha asks if leaving would resolve everything, he says it won’t—but he’s leaving to at least try. Seol-woo stretches out his hand to her and shows her the lucky coin in his palm, telling her that it’s his promise to return.
Department Head Jang mulls over Seung-jae’s offer in his darkened office as he puts together a handgun. He points the gun straight ahead as he recalls Director Im’s words about being powerless to change things, then he makes a call.
On their walk home, Do-ha pokes fun at Seol-woo for not having an actual plan for what he’ll do after he leaves. She then wonders if Seol-woo would have left without saying goodbye again if she’d gone out with Actor Nam that night, but Seol-woo says that she wouldn’t have gone on that date at all—he would have used his sincerity tactic.
This leaves Do-ha speechless, but Seol-woo cuts the moment short, telling her they’re being followed. He says that he’ll disappear now, then tells her to wait for him to repay the debt. With that, he’s gone, and the NIS agent on their tail immediately switches courses to follow Seol-woo.
As Seol-woo walks, the agent following him quickens his pace, shortening the distance between them. But before the agent can get too close, Do-ha comes running back and calls out Seol-woo’s name, causing the agent to quickly hide himself. Do-ha looks up at Seol-woo with a bright and hopeful look on her face and says she has a tactic: a lovers tactic. She takes a step toward him, then pulls him forward for a kiss.
Seol-woo just kind of blinks at her during the kiss, then continues to look puzzled afterward, asking Do-ha what her plan for this tactic would be. Looking exasperated, she retorts that since it’s a lovers tactic, they, as lovers, would need to come up with the plan together.
She sighs and tells him to just go, but as she’s turning away, Seol-woo tells her that he’s in. After a beat, he whirls her around and pulls her into his arms for another kiss, but this time, they both close their eyes.
COMMENTS
Well, I’m confused. Why Do-ha would propose a “lovers tactic,” and what does she think that will accomplish, besides keeping Seol-woo close to her? I mean, maybe that’s what’s she’s after subconsciously, but story-wise, it makes no sense that after going through all that she’s gone through, she’d actually think that proposing a “relationship” with Seol-woo would be a logical thing to do. Does she really think that this will get the NIS agents off their backs? Maybe she thinks she can change Seol-woo by playing his game? Who knows?
And why would Seol-woo say yes to this three seconds after telling Do-ha he was going to disappear? Wasn’t he leaving in the first place because he thought his presence was causing too much trouble for Woon-kwang and Do-ha? I didn’t really get Seol-woo’s reasoning for wanting to leave his undercover role so suddenly in the first place, but then to double back so quickly and agree to Do-ha’s idea is truly baffling. Seriously, I have so many questions!
Here’s the thing—our villains already suspect that Woon-kwang and Do-ha are involved in the wood carving mission. At the very least, they know who Seol-woo really is, and that he’d previously put his life on the line to rescue both Woon-kwang and Do-ha. Even if he did some of those things in the name of completing a mission, he still went back to them as a bodyguard after securing the wood carvings—so you’d think that would raise some kind of flag for Seung-jae and Assemblyman Baek, right? If I were them, I would not take my eyes off the Chewing team based on these facts alone—so how does it make things better if they thought Seol-woo and Do-ha were in a relationship?
But alas, our bad guys aren’t great at being bad guys, and maybe that’s part of where my frustration/confusion comes from. You have these powerful guys who can issue arrest warrants and use the National Assembly to control the NIS—and yet they can’t win against one ghost agent—one they’ve already identified. So while I didn’t think I’d be saying this, I’m glad we have Mi-eun shaking things up a bit. No matter what her actual intentions are at this point, at least she’s doing something to help her husband move things along. She’s clearly way smarter than all of those folks at Baek Infantry and Songsan combined, so it will be interesting to see how her involvement unfolds.
Don’t get me wrong—I’m still enjoying the show and the performances that the actors are turning in. This show is best, though, when it focuses on our main trio, since that’s when it goes all in with the comedy. Seol-woo’s interactions with Woon-kwang never fail to make me laugh even as they’re building a true friendship with one another, and I could watch Woon-kwang work to win over Seol-woo’s heart all day long. I also love the way Woon-kwang and Do-ha team up against Seol-woo—they just have a way of pushing his buttons, and it’s so funny to see them always get a rise out of the usually stoic Seol-woo. You can’t fault our ghost agent for starting to actually care for these two, but for our sakes, I hope that we don’t lose the funny as we move full steam ahead with the “romance.” Because while I’m always up for swoony Park Hae-jin, I love surly Park Hae-jin too, and you shouldn’t make me choose between the two.
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Tags: Dark Hole, Kim Min-jung, Man to Man, Park Hae-jin, Park Sun-woong, Yeon Jung-hoon
Interview with Kim Yoo-jung
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1 azzo
May 23, 2017 at 3:01 AM
Thank you chocolatte for the recap.
I decided to stop talking about my confusion because I realized that talking about it doesn’t make me any less confused, so I’m going to enjoy the show as it is and wait, maybe we will get a clear explanation as to why Seol-woo acts the way he does, and what he feels deep down inside!
Having been forced to work with Woon-kwang and Do-ha after his identity’s been exposed to them, he can’t be anything but sincere, no lies now because they already know everything, gaining Do-ha’s trust again is not as easy as it was the first time but Woon-kwang being the softie he is, is just in love with his “brother”, Seol-woo broke Do-ha’s heart and I’m glad she’s not letting him off the hook easy! Saying that he’ll be nothing to her from now on but a dot, OUCH, that really hurt, though I’m not sure how he felt about it! It was sad when he brought her coffee and she thought he had an agenda and a tactic behind that, even when he told her that it was to keep her warm, she hesitated before drinking the coffee! I liked Namgoong Min’s cameo a lot, it brought jealousy in Seol-woo, it was jealousy, right? His face when Do-ha was talking to him was so funny, especially when she said the cringe-worthy line: “the view of your handsome face” I couldn’t stop laughing! We obviously know that she’s not over him, every little thing he says affects her, but I didn’t understand why she had to stop him? Lovers tactic? Is she afraid that he’ll leave and never show up again? Even though he promised he’ll come back! I can’t wait to see how well this tactic works!
Woon-kwang is hilarious, getting Seol-woo to put that golden mask and hold his hand was genius, and when Namgoong min was trying to steal Seol-woo, LOL! Seol-woo desperately wanting his chief to talk about the 5 million dollars was also funny, especially it was him who disappeared on Seol-woo this time! And how cute was the flustered Seol-woo trying to explain why he couldn’t pay the money back? They got him good this time, serves him right!
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s9313071e
May 23, 2017 at 3:10 AM
I am in the minority, but I still can't get behind the romance between DH and SW. And I agree with chocolatte: what is she thinking when she proposes a lovers' tactic? Maybe I am misreading this, but I feel she is a bit desperate to keep SW by her side. And she uses all these tactics, including the "body belongs to me" contract, to keep him chained to her. Why does she check out his abode when he is not around? I understand she's given the password willingly, but still...
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maryxiah
May 23, 2017 at 7:01 PM
It's like eating junk food, you know it's bad for health, but it tastes good and you can't help yourself eating it. You keep telling yourself no more because you can't afford to get fat, and before you know it, you're in KFC nibbling down to the bone of the chicken and then it hit you, you're a fast food junkie. That's how I imagine the flow of thoughts in Do-ha's head, and Seol-woo is one heck of a delicious chicken.
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s9313071e
May 23, 2017 at 3:24 AM
I am in the minority and would probably get a thumbs down for saying this, but I still can't get behind the romance between DH and SW. And I agree with chocolatte: what is she thinking when she proposes a lovers' tactic? Maybe I am misreading this, but I feel she is a bit desperate to keep SW by her side. And she uses all these tactics, including the "body belongs to me" contract, to keep him chained to her. Why does she check out his abode when he is not around? I understand she's given the password willingly, but still...
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elle
May 23, 2017 at 3:34 AM
I have to be honest ... I have a really hard time following everyone's feelings in man to man ... and the kiss at the end of this episode ... just makes matters more confusing ... haha oh well guess we just have to keep watching hehe
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nelly
May 23, 2017 at 3:49 AM
I ship them. They are cute together, but they are not epic as so many other couples in Dramaland, so I kind of understand you too. The thing with the lovers tactic, I find actually quite logical. It is a way to be together, without really getting hurt. She knows that he lied to her and that broke her heart, but she also knows that he isn't a bad person. After learning the circumstances she was still hurt, but she understood them. So she needs an outlet for her hurt and anger, but she also senses that there is "something" between them, that she can't just let go. At least this is how I interpret her actions.
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Yanie
May 23, 2017 at 4:49 AM
me too.. and yes they are not epic as other couples in Dramaland but that is one of the reason why I love them. I actually not used to cheesy and over the top relationship. I can see that they liked each other but how I wish that once and for all Seol-woo would admit his true feelings for Do-Ha so I can ship them 100%. Because,really! I'm still confused with him. And what about the promise he made with Woon-Kwang...that he would disappear again? oh men...I think I'm going crazy hahaha..
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azzo
May 23, 2017 at 5:33 AM
I do get why Do-ha likes Seol-woo and I do sorta-kinda get why Seol-woo likes her, too, but I wish he would be a little more clear with his feelings, not to her necessarily but to himself so we could put an end to this confusion once and for all! LOL!
TM
May 23, 2017 at 6:25 AM
Since he had that conversation with Ki Chul maybe he will at least admit to himself that he loves her? That would be a good beginning. But I understand that he tried in previous episodes to push her away: ha has a dangerous job that doesn't make having a family life easy. And he's not used to having many people around him (which makes this drama fun)
Lilium
May 23, 2017 at 4:58 AM
I've been rooting for them since the Russian mission... maybe even when he tangoed her... I can't decide. :D
I'm inordinately fond of these kinds of pairings where the couple in question don't necessary sizzle but they have shared interests. ;)
But I think that they do have chemistry when they're not holding back. Which I think they have been.
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nonski
May 23, 2017 at 5:30 AM
Me since the tango! I was sidetracked in episode 5 and believed he didn't feel anything for her.
maryxiah
May 23, 2017 at 7:31 PM
I've been rooting for them since he told her "You're pretty." What can I say, I'm a sucker for a handsome guy with swoony lines.
Ek Ladhki Thi is Kim Eun-sooks no 1 fan
May 23, 2017 at 1:18 PM
Same, their love line takes some getting used to but I find them super cute now. Especially since I have now fallen in love with Cha Do-ha myself.
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maryxiah
May 23, 2017 at 7:29 PM
Feelings aren't really as black and white as we want them to be. And it's natural to see them struggle with their decisions when feelings get in the way, especially in a situation with so many things hanging in the balance.
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shuerei
May 24, 2017 at 12:37 PM
I like all your comments, Mary
azzo
May 23, 2017 at 5:25 AM
Why would anyone downvote you for this! It's okay to have different opinions, that's what makes a discussion and I guess we're all here for that!
To be honest, I'm not sold to their romance yet! I love them both, they're cute together yes, but I just feel there's something missing! Maybe it's the understanding to Seol-woo's emotions that is missing, I don't know! I've been confused with him for quite a while now and it's tiring, I didn't need Do-ha to confuse me, too! I don't get the lover's tactic! I don't know how is that going to save Seol-woo from the NIS agent who was following him, wouldn't this put Do-ha in more danger? Wouldn't this make it easy for them to get to Seol-woo through Do-ha? Why would he agree to that so quick?
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allphryne
May 23, 2017 at 7:21 AM
Well, if it is a tactic, where would they go now? Also, another disappointing kiss. Didn't look like it was for show. I feel like the hiding agent said my words. Damn.
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YY
May 23, 2017 at 7:24 AM
Made me LOL.
maryxiah
May 23, 2017 at 7:33 PM
I think the hiding agent was saying "damn" because he doesn't even have a love life to begin with and these two are busy sucking each other's lips (not that there was any sucking but you get the idea), in short, he's not expecting the PDA.
nonski
May 23, 2017 at 3:46 AM
Me too, I love NGM's cameo, it was funny and awesome. Yes, it was jealousy and I love jealous SW. One more thing... I feel like they are giving an opening for his comeback cameo when SW said he is thinking of ways to get back at Nam Gyun Man after the movie is finished.
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PakalanaPikake
May 23, 2017 at 5:35 AM
@nonski May 23, 2017 at 3:46 AM:
That's exactly what I was thinking. NGM may well be back for cameo round 2. Which would be great fun. Then again, maybe it will just be mentioned in passing.
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azzo
May 23, 2017 at 5:36 AM
Yes, I love him and he was awesome! I laughed so hard when he said he was only respecting Woon-kwang because he's Hollywood star! Oh, I would love to see him here again!
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TM
May 23, 2017 at 6:28 AM
That's the thing I liked best in this episode! I really like this actor and would be happy to see him again as a cameo in man to man
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maryxiah
May 23, 2017 at 7:38 PM
His cameo is much better than Song Joong-ki's, who did nothing but be curt and lack of any humorous trait that Man to Man possess. That one was a disappointment. Thank god Namgoong Min oppa brought out the jealousy side of Seol-woo!
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PakalanaPikake
May 24, 2017 at 7:03 AM
I didn't watch DESCENDANTS OF THE SUN, but I got the impression that SJK's character was dashing. There's nothing dashing about bank tellers. Or maybe he's now played the most dashing bank teller who ever lived -- except no one noticed. ;-)
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maryxiah
May 24, 2017 at 7:55 AM
He was...dashing I guess, I didn't really watch it for him, I watched it for Jin Goo and Kim Ji-won pairing who stole my heart right from the start. Plus he was so white and thin, totally not as manly as I would have imagined a soldier to be, unlike Jin Goo. In here though, well, he's dashing too, I guess, but I wish we could put that face to some use you know. I have a thousand scenarios in my head for him, all that down in the drain now. He would have been much better as previously rumored assistant director than bank teller, I wonder why they want to mimic Yoo Ah-in's cameo in Descendants of the Sun.
YY
May 23, 2017 at 4:23 AM
She ran after him because she couldn't bear to see him leave, and the lovers tactic...no idea what that is: is it to kiss in the alley to throw the stalker off his objective? What was the stalker's objective? To follow SW? To beat him up? To kidnap him? To kill him? Is the lovers tactic a bigger mission, for her to follow him where he is going, so they can be together? She doesn't know what it is either, but he goes along with it because he's smitten with her (I think) and can't bear to leave her behind (don't know why, isn't he a ghost agent who loves 'em and leaves'em?) Why let her tail along with him? Isn't it dangerous involving a civilian? Isn't she a risk to his mission? Questions and more questions.
Hi, azzo! Glorious day, isn't it? *beams*
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YY
May 23, 2017 at 4:30 AM
I'm confused, too. chocolatte's confused as well. I have this image of us wandering around, wringing our hands and going,"I'm confused.I'm confused" after each episode....*giggles*
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azzo
May 23, 2017 at 5:40 AM
This made me laugh! But I can totally see us doing it because WE ARE CONFUSED!
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gaeinalee
May 23, 2017 at 7:33 AM
We are indeed a bunch of gleeful confused people.. *lol*
chocolatte
May 23, 2017 at 2:14 PM
Pretty much what happened to me right after I finished the episode. Ha!
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azzo
May 23, 2017 at 5:39 AM
Exactly! I don't how these question will be answered but I wish we'll get something and not just be kept wondering! Involving Do-ha again in his mission could be dangerous, they can get Seol-woo through her, I don't what he's thinking!
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YY
May 23, 2017 at 7:23 AM
If I were a spy, and I'm going on a mission, I would never ever bring Oppa with me. Would you?
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Ek Ladhki Thi is Kim Eun-sooks no 1 fan
May 23, 2017 at 1:21 PM
Lover's tactic was possibly just an excuse to get him to stay because she really didn't want him to leave. Possibly also give him an excuse to stay since he can keep lying to himself that he's staying for the mission and not because he actually cares about her. I might be reading too much into it though.
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maryxiah
May 23, 2017 at 7:46 PM
I feel the same about her wanting him to stay, hence the lovers tactic. But Seol-woo isn't one to be easily swayed with emotions, so I'm thinking he must have his own reasons for agreeing to her. But after she said "lovers should come up with a plan in lovers tactic", I'm seeing the usual double wink that Seol-woo does when he looks at Do-ha, so he was probably thinking he wanted to hold onto her as well.
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2 ravennightstar
May 23, 2017 at 3:03 AM
Namgoong Min!!!! Was. Amesome.
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s9313071e
May 23, 2017 at 3:07 AM
I know right. I wish his cameo was longer. As short as the cameo was, I enjoyed every second of it. More substantial cameos please!
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ravennightstar
May 23, 2017 at 3:10 AM
Yep! He definitely nailed it in the short screen time he had!
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elle
May 23, 2017 at 3:36 AM
his entrance was spectacular ... his character kept making me laugh
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nelly
May 23, 2017 at 3:37 AM
That was brilliant acting :D Funny role too. I wouldn't mind seeing this character again.
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Nisa kn
May 23, 2017 at 7:24 AM
He's so funny ?
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3 nonski
May 23, 2017 at 3:16 AM
Thank you for the recaps @chocolatte! off to read...
some thoughts...
What really catch my attention watching episode 10 is how SW in his simple ways keep trying to gain DH’s trust. He is serious about it. Thing is he is SW and he can only do so much, we can’t expect him outlandish and act extra towards DH because that would be out of character for him. I am happy enough that he is trying and making an effort to let DH know. He may have been close to tears when she cried in that empty space he once resided but DH did not know about that so whatever emotions he had shown in there totally doesn’t count when DH is concern. These little baby steps he’s making is a lot and I’m glad that it’s getting through DH. Of course she wouldn’t be completely immune to him, she is in love with him still, that I believe. When a man allows you inside his inner sanctum then he’s for sure has fallen for you. He’s like giving he key to his apartment. Close! The whole time I can sense that he is being truthful to DH, his answers were direct and he doesn’t avoid her questions or answers in cryptic way and I love just how DH is taken aback when eh’s doing this. When she said he was worried he might ran away again, he answered outright that he will tell her if he is going and where he is going. It seemed a different story now because he promised her he will return. Well, I think that it’s of no consequence anymore since the preview showed us are acting as lovers. Still, for him to make a promise is very telling of the intensity of his feelings for her.
As it is, I believe that SW's reactions were greatly affected by what Agent Seo told him, about his family and his actions. Everythings seems to have started from there, little by little, interconnected. I had been thinking about that time when K was with S and he is showing his famiy to him and its eventual effect on SW an how it will affect his actions and decisions. A poster at Soompi detailed this and it's very insightful read.
I love how UG’s staff always had the wrong idea of what was happening and is going to happen. It was so funny that UG driver though he was beaten and mugged by Kim Guard, even thanking/praising him for doing so. Then came the NIS and UG driver again overheard and mistook it that Kim Guard and DH have a relationship and even stayed at a hotel room. Hahaha! I appreciate that the situations turned out to be really funny even though there isn’t much going on.
UK is way too hilarious and I’m loving it every time he is on screen because I am sure it is going to be funny. I don’t find him comic funny and that’s great. When he patted his own shoulders for doing a good job in the Black Auction mission, I was like OMG hahaha. His actions and the delivery are just so spot on funny. I appreciate thought that when he is serious you can actually take him seriously.
DH continues to be the bright, spunky and witty girl that she is. She thinks quick too, I guess that...
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nonski
May 23, 2017 at 3:21 AM
uh-oh truncated?
DH continues to be the bright, spunky and witty girl that she is. She thinks quick too, I guess that she is partly the reason why UG became successful. I know it won’t last long but I am glad that she isn’t falling for SW that quickly. She’s trying very hard to put up her defenses. She also knows what she wants, in the end it was she who took the step to make SW stay. It may be a tactic but all of us know that they just both need a reason to kiss and be with each other.
The villains are boring me and that includes ME. The previous with DH being shot by SW and them talking to a living Agent Yoon made me confused. I have to give props to this drama for always giving us cliffhangers that people would bite and watch the next episode.
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nelly
May 23, 2017 at 3:34 AM
I adore DH! There need to be more witty and spunky girls (loved your description) like her in Dramaland. It is so refreshing to see her little barbs at Seol-Woo. Good thing that she isn't just rolling over and let's him do whatever he wants. She demands the respect she deserves and I like it. I also like how she is the one to make the moves and Seol-Woo is quite intrigued by that too.
I have to agree with you on the whole villains plot. I really don't care what is going on with them, probably because we don't get to see what would happen if they were to actually get their way. I'm a little scared for Oppas ex, but she made her own bed and she is playing her cards, so ... meh I just don't care all that much.
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nonski
May 23, 2017 at 3:52 AM
After rewatching, a lot, I feel that she has her own agenda and she might be manipulating SJ to work with Jang so Jang is safe as well as his agents. Everytime she suggests an idea to SJ, her face tells that she's up to something, I hope it's for the better.
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kat kat
May 23, 2017 at 5:42 PM
I agree about DH. I don't really get why some people don't like her. I thought that the way she reacted to each situation was pretty geniune and felt real. Like when she found out seol woo's identity. I appreciate that she isn't stupidly spunky and cute (like some kdrama heroines) and she doesn't just let seol woo get away with everything. She isn't too quick to forgive him but she isn't suddenly too stubbornly distrustful and mean towards him. I thought her reaction felt really geniune and that I would also feel the same way in her shoes
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s9313071e
May 23, 2017 at 3:36 AM
I enjoy the interactions WK has with his staff. They are always so animated and cute. WK has natural chemistry with everyone in the show. He is able to bring out whatever feelings the script calls for in his scenes. I am impressed.
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nonski
May 23, 2017 at 3:59 AM
UK is gold and he's one that carries the weight as much DH and SW. He and his staff is like one small family, they may grumble, he may hit them but in th end he just actually love and care for them and in fact it is not a one way street because they care for him as much. Remember when SW reprises on him mind about UK profile that he is a bully to the weak and he's just timid to the strong. He must have realized that while with UK and Co. that it isn't entirely true because his staff sticks to him like a gum.
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maryxiah
May 23, 2017 at 7:58 PM
And I love his gossipy staffers, it so funny how they arrive at the conclusion of everything unfolding in front of them, they have no knowledge of all the national security stuff going on, so naturally they'd assume everything from the normal point of views, and I must say everything is so hilarious on either sides.
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natzillagorilla
May 24, 2017 at 11:04 AM
Agree!! It's my first time watching Park Sung-woong's acting, but I love him! He's such a great, lovable actor...his interaction with everyone make up a large chunk of what I like about this drama
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maryxiah
May 23, 2017 at 7:53 PM
Agreed! He has always been secretive, operate everything on his own and never let on his feelings, so by opening his secret hideout to Do-ha and sharing the pass code, he's giving her his full trust! He would have never done that if he isn't in love with her. Also, by promising to come back, I think he finally took Agent Seo's advice to stop lying to himself, he wanted to be with Do-ha and now he's willing to share that with her.
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4 asguardian
May 23, 2017 at 3:18 AM
i have a simple problem in the whole wood carving (statue) situation... it is obvious the main element is the key which Seol Woo discovered by chance
So why cant he hand over the statue sans the key or replacing it with another key?
Also i wish they had build the love line more.. coz honestly i dont feel the love!! or is it just me :/
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nonski
May 23, 2017 at 3:25 AM
he did not actually discover it by chance, he knew something is in the statue that would bring them closer to the hidden records of the Songsan slush funds so he analyzed the first statue and saw something inside ergo the key. Mo would definitely know that the statue is just a container so no luck in just giving them those statue.
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nelly
May 23, 2017 at 3:27 AM
I'm pretty sure everyone is aware that it isn't about the statues but what is in them. Seeing as it is so easy to open them, what would be the point of handing them over? This deception would work only for a minute, even with the fake key. Besides they are also valuable in them selves.
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s9313071e
May 23, 2017 at 3:31 AM
Me too. Although I will get another thumbs down for this, I don't feel the love line as well, now that his identity is out in the open. I wish they focus on the missions less and use the time to build a more convincing love line.
I don't understand why he can't hand over the statue sans the key as well, but since the writer wants it that way, I guess I will have to make do with it.
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katakwasabi
May 23, 2017 at 3:51 AM
yes2. i thought about that too. and cant they just make duplicates for the wood carving. no one will know better especially our bunch of bumbling villians.
sungjae is evil (i mean he slapped an old dude, his own secretary, separated his wife and his son) but he's actually harmless without his money. mieun is the one doing the thinking for him. she's throwing out ideas left and right. and sungjae is just accepting it.
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nonski
May 23, 2017 at 4:00 AM
Oi! nice to see you here @katakwasabi!
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maryxiah
May 23, 2017 at 8:02 PM
Isn't it more suspicious if he is willing to hand out the statues sans the key or the keys to the baddies? I think Agent Y hid the keys to unlock a safe that only he knows, so right now, except for Seol-woo who discovered the keys, the baddies don't really know what to expect from the statues. But to be honest, the wood carving mission in itself is failed right from the start. They spent too much time on it and enlarging its flaws.
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5 nelly
May 23, 2017 at 3:24 AM
A nice tactic she came up with ;) Love how Seol-Woo was so quick on the uptake.
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nonski
May 23, 2017 at 3:28 AM
They both just need an excuse to be together and to kiss!
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6 elle
May 23, 2017 at 3:30 AM
Thank you for the recap! I loved this episode! The banter was on point! Woon Gwang and Do Ha had me rolling! The scene where they are tearing into Kim Guard ... Oh my goodness! And Kim Seol Woo trying best to explain himself ... This episode was GOLD!
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azzo
May 23, 2017 at 5:44 AM
I loved the scene where Seol-woo was trying to explain himself to them! He was so flustered and it was really cute when he went: "아니, 아니"
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maryxiah
May 23, 2017 at 8:03 PM
And Seol-woo folded his hands together, standing as politely as he could, HAHAHAHA, I can't.
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7 vannerie
May 23, 2017 at 3:37 AM
Don't go to the dark side Department Head Jang.
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nelly
May 23, 2017 at 3:41 AM
It would be a shame. I like his honorable character. It is that quality I find most attractive in a man.
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maryxiah
May 23, 2017 at 8:05 PM
He's not. I'm sure he has a plan and that plan involves Seol-woo.
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shteffi
May 24, 2017 at 1:03 AM
I hope so....
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natzillagorilla
May 24, 2017 at 11:08 AM
it's funny because the last drama I saw of his was Signal (I HATED him there!!) so I've spent all these episodes thinking he must be one of the bad guys, and now that he has the chance of going to the dark side I'm dying inside haha
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8 nelly
May 23, 2017 at 3:39 AM
That hand holding! The golden masks! I am still laughing about it. I wonder how often the actors broke character and had to laugh themselves.
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s9313071e
May 23, 2017 at 3:49 AM
That was one weird scene. And how docile SW was when he allowed WK to put the mask on him and hold hands together. He must be cringing under that mask at the skinship. Haha
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Ek Ladhki Thi is Kim Eun-sooks no 1 fan
May 23, 2017 at 1:28 PM
I loled so much at his face when he realized he wouldn't get the money quickly and would have to continue being indebted to Woon-kwang and submitting to his every whim and desire, including cringe-inducing skinship. I love it so much.
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maryxiah
May 23, 2017 at 8:06 PM
They probably didn't. They practiced a lot before the scenes and most of the scenes took 1 take, so the crews didn't have NGs shot, only technical errors shot.
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9 lezah
May 23, 2017 at 3:46 AM
This "fake" romance tactic thing, isn't it kind of ironic because DH becomes SW's weak point and the bad guys can just target her to get to him, which means his whole "I need to stay away for your safety" just went down the drain? But I'll close an eye if it means more cute scenes between them, because it seems like the only way we can get any sort of romance, even if it's "fake".
I kind of died laughing when DH looked 100% satisfied with herself after kissing SW, and he just asked "you don't have a plan, do you?". And all I can think of is the NIS agent who's been forced to become a voyeur behind that wall. In other news, jealous Seol Woo is also very adorable.
On Ki Chul: Awww KC! Is it strange that I'm feeling so much for a small side character? KC shows me the more human side of a ghost agent - that in the end, they too long for companionship, love, and a family. But it also makes me worried, because is that the only ending for a ghost? A family that nobody can ever know about, and going rogue to protect them? Now I just want KC to have a happy ending. :'(
It's good that he reminded SW of his true feelings - something that practically everyone can tell but SW refuses to outrightly admit. The fact that SW points out KC's family as the reason for failure shows that he's not ready to do anything concrete about his feelings for DH yet, but I hope KC's words made him think about it.
On Do Ha: I think she's being all snarky and taking every opportunity to make a jab at him and his lies because she's trying her best to steel her heart against him. I thought it was sad that he'd to explain the coffee wasn't a tactic, because she has to suspect his every move now. Even his "sincerity" is a tactic. Why do I feel like crying?
I like how she shot him with the fake gun, and asked him if it hurt - which tells him that even if their relationship had been "fake", it still hurt her. When she told him to remain as a dot in her phone, I thought she was steeling herself against falling for him, but also telling him that that was all she asked from him - to stay by her side, even if just in the form of a dot. That's how much she'd liked him, to want him to stay even if she knew it wasn't possible physically. And I love how she ran after him and kissed him, basically holding onto him. Way to go, girl!
On Woon Kwang: "Even if the nation doesn't protect you, I'll protect you, brother." And then he goes ahead to do SW's signature double-wink. Ahhhh. WK makes me a puddle of mush every week. One sentence sums it up: he's amazing.
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s9313071e
May 23, 2017 at 4:02 AM
I am surprised, but I like KC and the impact he made on the show with the limited scenes he appeared in. He sums up the essence of an agent who has to balance his family and his work, and what happens when his identity is exposed and no one wants to use him for any missions anymore. Technically, SW's identity is also exposed, so I don't know why he can still be a secret agent and still hang around WK and DH.
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lezah
May 23, 2017 at 6:03 AM
Right, I'm also surprised at how much I like him! I honestly thought I would dislike KC, but he seems so human to me, and I really empathize with him.
I guess for SW, he's been exposed to the other NIS agents but it's not public news, unlike KC who had been plastered all over the national newspapers. Or at least that's the only logical way I can think of to explain it, hah!
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YY
May 23, 2017 at 4:26 AM
Exactly. She's his weakness. The bad guys saw her face. Why are they letting her walk around? Why can't they just abduct her again? How can SW leave knowing she's not safe anymore?
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lezah
May 23, 2017 at 6:04 AM
Maybe that's why he agreed to the whole lovers' tactic. Baddie just saw her plant a kiss on him. I'm like.. Eh. She's a huge weakness and she's so easy to kidnap. Imagine if they got her and bargained with him for the keys and wood carvings. Then what?
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YY
May 23, 2017 at 7:19 AM
They could get the father too, while they're at it. He's a bargaining chip, too. They could get WK, too. They could get anybody and everybody!!!!!
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maryxiah
May 23, 2017 at 8:20 PM
Because only Ki-chul clued into his feelings, not so much for the others, until after the lovers tactic behind the alley because now another secret agent saw it and could connect the dot. I think the others only thought Do-ha was a civilian in need of rescuing but they didn't tap into Seol-woo's personal feelings in the mission. But now that's gone down the drain because Do-ha just kissed him and he kissed her back. They seriously better have a good explanation for the so-called lovers tactic, I'm not hoping they just throw it out there for the sake of the kiss.
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nonski
May 23, 2017 at 4:56 AM
I almost can't reply anymore, I love your post so spot on, especially KC. He will do anything for his family and I think it affected SW allowing him to finally admit to himself that he cares for DH.
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lezah
May 23, 2017 at 6:05 AM
Then that makes all the effort in writing it worth it (; I can't hang around here much anymore Coz I just started my new job but hope I'll continue to catch recaps!
And yes! I hope KC's words sort of made SW think about his future with DH.
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TM
May 23, 2017 at 6:46 AM
I'm glad I'm not the only one who started to like seeing Ki Chul. That never happens to me with bad guys! But he was so sincere in this episode that I was actually kinda moved
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Ek Ladhki Thi is Kim Eun-sooks no 1 fan
May 23, 2017 at 1:33 PM
On Ki-chul: I care more about him so much more than all the villains. God, I need Ki-chul to team up with Seol-woo, Do-ha, and Woon-kwang and just take down all the inefficient baddies.
On Do-ha: That child needs to be protected, I just don't know anymore. Are there more ways to state how much I love her?
On Woon-kwang: I want one, nuff said.
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maryxiah
May 23, 2017 at 8:16 PM
I cried for a bit when I saw that, to me, it confirmed Do-ha's fear of losing Seol-woo. I didn't necessarily think she was hurt by the fake relationship although she stressed that everything was fake, rather, she realized he could be gone any minute by faking his identity again (after seeing the passport) and she really couldn't deal with not having him around, which is evident with all her desperate efforts to make him stay, be it pay the debts or the lovers tactic.
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10 WishfulToki
May 23, 2017 at 4:01 AM
I agree, slightly confusing towards the end: so he decides to stay, then to go, then to kiss? Hopefully episode 11 will clear up whatever they meant by 'lovers tactic'.
I don't understand Mi Eun at all, so I'll just accept that she's decided to work with the baddies (I'll imagine she's kind of like Nok Soo in Rebel, who sticks with her original decision for bad or worse). Head Jang going over to the dark side is not completely illogical... so yep, the villains are getting a much-needed boost.
Favourite musical cue of the episode: when actor Nam asked Cha Do Ha for a wine date, with Seol Woo watching attentively. And she said yes: *piano crash*. Agent K can get jealous!
I miss Chief Kim so much! I think I will watch Remember: War of the Son just because I've heard Namgoong Min's villainous Nam Gyu Man is the best thing ever.
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s9313071e
May 23, 2017 at 4:05 AM
SW has been giving out mixed vibes about whether he likes DH and is interested in pursing a romantic relationship with her. I am confused myself. I wish they give more time to the romantic aspect of the show than the missions.
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WishfulToki
May 23, 2017 at 4:13 AM
I'm the opposite, hehe, I would like the missions to make more sense, and have the romance develop alongside. Basically, when SW first 'gave his body' up as collateral it was funny, but in reality we knew (and he knew) that it was safer for him to leave. But what's the point of him leaving now? The villains know his weakness, and that Chewing has helped him... *sigh* It's tough being a ghost agent with no funds.
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11 PakalanaPikake
May 23, 2017 at 4:04 AM
Thanks for the recap and commentary, chocolatte!
I love that last screen cap. It looks like Woon-kwang and Seol-woo channeling King Tut, minus sarcophagus. ;-)
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12 YY
May 23, 2017 at 4:09 AM
What I loved:
"Everything you do is a tactic and a duty," DH says bitterly and cynically. "I wonder if I should drink this."
SW answers simply, "That's just coffee and not a tactic. It's to warm you up on a cold day." His words take my breath away. I literally stop breathing.
DH says, after a pause, "That's your sincerity tactic. I won't fall for it." But her face shows her hurt. I feel so sad for her, oh, Do ha what has he done to you?
When she fires those pellets at him and he flinches with the pain. Strangely satisfying. "It's a fake. It's all fake," she says and her face is twisted with bitterness.
"This isn't real, either, right?" and she takes out the coin, smiling derisively. He looks at her and his face just fills with pain, seeing how much he's hurt her.
"It's a GPS tracker," he tells her, "I wanted to find you if I lost you." His eyes are so, so sad. All the fight, the anger, the bitterness just melt away, and I'm just floored by his words. Why does he keep doing this? How do you stay mad with someone who says all these things that make you stop breathing, that make your heart beat so fast? How do you stop yourself from falling in love with him all over again?
"You will be a dot on my cell phone. Just stay as a dot." His eyes are so wretched, so bleak, so filled with pain when she says this. My heart is breaking.
"When working undercover, how you end it is more important than how you start it." He's saying these words aloud! I can't believe it. He's sharing his thoughts with her, that's a breakthrough for a man who keeps all his deepest, innermost secrets to himself.
"But I've stayed too long..." and her face falls.
"This is my promise to return," and he opens his palm and shows her the coin. She looks so, so sad, looking at him, as the gentle, half-smile on his face fades, and his face just stills...so many unspoken words here, it makes me so sad and I start to cry.
"I'll disappear now," he says. "Wait until I return to pay the debt," and he looks at her earnestly, there's a promise there, that he'll be back. But she looks so shaken, so unprepared for the moment of parting, and opens her mouth to say something but doesn't, like she can't bear to let him go, and he keeps looking and looking at her as he takes two, three steps backward, then he swings on his heels and just melts into the shadows.
"All right. Let's do that tactic." Then he does that twirly thing he did at the party and the alley, and it's so romantic.
The kiss. It's supposed to be an earth-shattering moment, everything in the episode has been leading up to this moment. They are supposed to kiss hungrily, they are supposed to be filled with pent-up frustration and emotions. But what I see is a tame, still kiss. Lips clamped together, pressed against each other. The camera pans everywhere, from all angles, the music swells, but I feel nothing. No chemistry, no fireworks, nothing.
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Lilium
May 23, 2017 at 4:48 AM
Was it though? I didn't get that impression.
It felt more like a new start... no more of the fakery of Episode 5.
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Yanie
May 23, 2017 at 5:25 AM
yeah! actually all their kissing scenes are always like that,..I mean it feels empty so I don't know if its because of the cold temp when filming them.I happened to read an article when Park Hae-Jin said that 'the kiss' wasn't romantic because of the 10 degrees celsius temp that night. But I wasn't sure if he's talking about all their kissing scenes.
....my favorite scene was when Seol-Woo feeling uneasy or was he really jealous, seeing Do-Ha flirting with actor Nam (cameo). I don't know I'm confused hahaha...
..still I love them so yes I'm crazy! LOL..
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YY
May 23, 2017 at 7:02 AM
Empty...yes, that's the word! Something is missing. The first kiss, the second kiss, and now this kiss. I love them so much, I ship them so hard, I find their moments together so romantic and sad, and yet feel nothing when it comes to the kiss scenes. I'm confused, I'm confused. They were frozen in that kiss, their heads were inclined, but they didn't move at all. If all their kisses are going to be like that, I'd rather they don't show any at all. Because the scenes without the kisses are so romantic, so heartbreaking I could go without those kisses. I'm going to forget they kissed that kiss and focus on the scenes before it. I'm so frustrated because PHJ had that sensual, feverish first kiss with KGE in Cheese, and I loved it so much it made my heart beat so fast, and I was hoping for a kiss like it. I didn't expect a frozen kiss.
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natzillagorilla
May 24, 2017 at 11:13 AM
YES!! Empty is exactly it, @yanie. I was wondering how they manage to kill all the excitement I get from their other scenes together with those deadfish-like kisses...I was wondering if it had something to do with the network and whatnot.
I'm confused too, @yyishere, and it kills me that they're sinking my ship when I'm supposed to squee like crazy!
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unatuna
May 23, 2017 at 10:37 AM
I know, right?! Such a disappointment. I nearly burst out laughing (ALL the angles!) during what should have been a really heated, passionate kiss. I haven't seen CITT or any of PHJ's other dramas so have nothing to reference, but I feel like he would kiss better than this.
I dunno, I ship them - I'm even starting to see a bit of romantic chemistry between DH and SW (where previously I saw none) but just not any sexual chemistry.
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YY
May 23, 2017 at 10:14 PM
The first kiss in CiTT was long, and it sizzled with so much heat and chemistry. PHJ is a great kisser.
This is the link to the kiss:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoCak0Vx-Ww
The BTS of the kiss - it was even hotter than the screen kiss:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzLp6sr7UXw
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Ek Ladhki Thi is Kim Eun-sooks no 1 fan
May 23, 2017 at 1:37 PM
All the moments you described, I feel the exact same way.
Also, the kiss didn't make me flutter one bit even though I love Seol-woo and Do-ha together so much. I felt more flutters when he was faking it than now when they're real. I still love them so much though.
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maryxiah
May 23, 2017 at 8:30 PM
Hmm, can't say I don't feel for the kiss. True, it's frozen and frankly weak for someone like Seol-woo, but I like how he cupped her neck while she held onto his coat, that gives me the butterfly and I like that the PD showed more angles because it would have been more obvious if they focus on one angle shot like the last shot from the top. Anyway, I'm sad that if this is the only kind of kiss we can expect from Man to Man, I'm hoping to see more.
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YY
May 23, 2017 at 11:02 PM
The PD had to keep moving the cameras to make up for the lack of movement on the part of SW and DH. I think the frost froze their lips rock solid that night.
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13 jillian
May 23, 2017 at 4:20 AM
Surly Park Hae Jin is the best! I also love deadpan PHJ, ghost agent PHJ and funny PHJ. ?
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nonski
May 23, 2017 at 5:09 AM
lols, I love everything PHJ!
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azzo
May 23, 2017 at 5:49 AM
He is ❤
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YY
May 23, 2017 at 7:03 AM
Oppa=Love
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Nisa kn
May 23, 2017 at 7:29 AM
PHJ awesome ❤️???
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14 karolina9
May 23, 2017 at 4:21 AM
When you think it couldn't get crazier,Mi eun starts cooking up her own idea, all I want to know is what she is up to.
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s9313071e
May 23, 2017 at 4:36 AM
Yeah, I wonder what is her end game too. She seems to have a motive for staying with her husband, and yet she gives him advice on how to deal with his adversaries. It's so confusing.
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Lilium
May 23, 2017 at 4:50 AM
I think she's manipulating SJ and actively trying to drive a wedge between him and Congressman Baek. There are obviously cracks in that relationship already but she's probably doing what she can to shake things up.
No doubt she's tired of being pushed around by him.
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nonski
May 23, 2017 at 5:16 AM
After a lot of re-watching, I think ME is doing the divide and conquer here. I noticed that everytime, she had been clocking every reaction of SJ. I think she wants to separate this two so other will have lesser power without the other. She is convincing SJ to take on Jang and she clearly knows what she's doing. She is maneuvering so that Jang still remains at the NIS. With this in mind and her having worked with Jang before, I don't think that everything else is inconsequential to what she plan. With Baek taken down, it would be easy for Jang to take down Songsang and SJ sans NIS backing. She will be hitting two birds in one stone, taking down Baek and SJ. I hope though that I am right because I had been baffled by ME,it's just now that I realized this might be the case.
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15 bogoshipda
May 23, 2017 at 4:38 AM
Ep 11 12 Doha will be shot by Seolwoo's fake gun!!!!!
This ep preps us with Doha playing with the fake gun.
I'm down to having Woon Kwang and Doha joining the secret mission. :)))
I hope that in the end Team leader Jang will come around and tear down Songsan as he just wants to take advantages of Songsan and play double agent!
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maryxiah
May 23, 2017 at 8:32 PM
Yes! I think so too. I can't wait to see what leads up to the fake gunshot.
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16 Lilium
May 23, 2017 at 4:43 AM
My feeling after a couple of rewatches is that they've hit the reset button with the romance. It seems to me that DH and SW are starting again on a much more even footing. She now knows who he is, has an inkling of the solitary, transient life he leads. After all that's happened it's no great surprise that she has trust issues. That vengeful bluster that tumbles out of her mouth demonstrates both a fear (more than anger I think) and hesitant desire to reach out. She fell for him in a big way but she's afraid (justifiably I might add) to trust him again and I get a sense that she's looking for a reason to trust him and reconnect with him.
There's no doubt she made him work hard in this episode to prove his sincerity and to his credit, I believe he understood. They were like two people who are learning how to dance together but are afraid for different reasons to get too close lest they become in entangled in something that will make them vulnerable to being hurt and become overly reliant on the other party.
I have so much love for DH here because I sense a deeply passionate person under all that and SW did awaken something inside of her. I suppose it was reckless to propose the Lovers Tactic because of the dangers involved in being too close to him. But on the positive side, I see her as remarkably brave... not just in giving him a second chance but in wanting to be a part of his world.
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nonski
May 23, 2017 at 5:19 AM
Love your post and POV on DH, she needs more love from us!
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bobo
May 23, 2017 at 5:49 AM
I agree with you @lilium. Do Ha and Seol Woo start over their relationship with this "lovers tactic". And I'm glad that Seol Woo work hard to gain her trust again.
And Woong Guang oppa never lets me down hehehe...
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snows119
May 23, 2017 at 12:22 PM
Yeah I agree with you. When he says to her that he would have gone with the "sincerity tactic", Do-Ha takes that statement as if he was confessing his jealousy or even his feelings. So the Lovers Tactic is a way for Do-Ha to reset their relationship, because she now knows that he has a bit of feelings for her. That was the main issue here, she was hurt because she couldn't be sure that his feelings were sincere, so now she's doing a leap of faith. (And when he says he's leaving, I understood that it was temporarily).
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Ek Ladhki Thi is Kim Eun-sooks no 1 fan
May 23, 2017 at 1:40 PM
Everything you said about Do-ha is how I feel about her. Which would make sense as to why she fell for Seol-woo so quickly, other than the fact that he's freaking attractive.
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Lilium
May 23, 2017 at 4:25 PM
The thing is she didn't fall for his good looks either. She wasn't even into him until she thought he was a decent and thoughtful man.
I imagine that's why he fell for her too. Because having to woo her means bringing out the better side of himself and he probably liked how that made him feel.
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maryxiah
May 23, 2017 at 8:37 PM
I wholeheartedly agree with your review. Do-ha and Seol-woo seemed to tentatively reach the middle ground for their relationship right now, which is in an odd place because they like each other but couldn't bring themselves to be together because so many things have happened and threatening to hurt them. I get why they would need a reason to start something, like say the lovers tactic. I'm hoping the tactic is for something too, not just a reason to stay together.
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17 antrefleurs
May 23, 2017 at 5:06 AM
To be honest, I'm starting to get a little bit confused with where this drama is going. Similar to chocolatte and most of the beanies, the ending didn't really make sense to me. Why would Seol-woo just go with the lover's tactic when his initial goal was to disappear from Do-ha and Woon-Kwang. Also, isn't Seol Woo's identity as a ghost agent kinda exposed already when everyone is practically searching for him and even has photos of him as well? Hopefully, everything would clear up in the next episode!
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natzillagorilla
May 24, 2017 at 11:37 AM
This show started to confuse me a while back so I just kind of decided to check my brain at the door whenever I start a new episode, I enjoy it way more!
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18 PakalanaPikake
May 23, 2017 at 6:44 AM
I expect that Seol-woo will soon be contacting his buddy Petrov to help him acquire the third statue -- and maybe US$5 million while he's at it.
I watched the episode again, and think that Seol-woo gave a clue to what's going on when he told Do-ha that how one ends a relationship is more important than how one starts it. I interpret it to mean that a fake relationship can be ended by turning it into a real one.
As for Do-ha's "lover's tactic," it sounds as if she's all for undercover togetherness. It made sense to me that Seol-woo would go for it. She's his Achilles heel, so what better way to protect her from the ruthless bad guys than to guard her himself. I'm sure Woon-kwang Oppa would be very happy with that kind of arrangement. She could work remotely.
I'm itching to find out what's on those "blank" pages Seol-woo dunked in developer and hung up to dry. Maybe a nice treasure map of Agent Yoon's caches of assets -- which could be diverted to reimburse Woon-kwang, and to subsidize Ki-chul's relocation with his family.
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YY
May 23, 2017 at 7:10 AM
"how one ends a relationship is more important than how one starts it. I interpret it to mean that a fake relationship can be ended by turning it into a real one."
What does this mean, Pakalana? I read and reread this many times to understand what you were implying. Ending a fake relationship is more important than starting a real one? The fake relationship has to be ended so they can begin anew with a real one?
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unatuna
May 23, 2017 at 9:23 AM
Haha, I think @pakalanapikake means even though they started dating on false pretences, they can still turn things around and get their 'happy ending' by building on a real relationship.
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YY
May 23, 2017 at 9:41 AM
Ok, thanks for explaining it to me. It's him saying, everything's going to be fine now we are not faking it anymore. I was wondering why he was smiling when he was saying these words.
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WishfulToki
May 23, 2017 at 9:27 AM
I think the phrase used to mean that Seol Woo thought it was necessary to end things cleanly and completely with the girl (ie: blow up in a car). But when he said it out loud to Cha Do Ha it seemed to mean something different: he fessed up on everything, and thus finished their 'fake' relationship. So it's more important that they've finished the 'fake' relationship than the fact that it started on fake premises. This point could thus be the complete end (as in he leaves), or a new beginning for them. Unfortunately Seol Woo likes to speak in riddles (or when he speaks the truth it's actually fake - gah we can't trust him either Do Ha! But we really want to!).
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YY
May 23, 2017 at 9:38 AM
Ohhhh, I get it. I didn't get it at all when I watched the scene, or maybe I wasn't paying attention because he was smiling and I couldn't focus properly. That's so deep and astute, laughing at the "Seol Woo likes to speak in riddles", he's like Yoda, only taller and less green.
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maryxiah
May 23, 2017 at 8:41 PM
Agreed! I think Seol-woo is done lying to himself, hence the promise to come back with the coin. I think he wants to seriously start something with Do-ha, knowing she is his weakness and it's safer to keep her by his side. And how much I love the confused look on his face when Do-ha told him lovers should figure out the plan together, it felt like he was assessing the option and make sure she knew what she was getting into, and then finally agreed to her.
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PakalanaPikake
May 24, 2017 at 6:23 AM
Thanks, everyone, for chiming in on hashing out the explanation of "how one ends a relationship is more important than how one starts it" -- which was in the first episode when SW was bailing out of Budapest. To avoid pursuit by hordes of jilted girlfriends who've just found out their relationships with him were fake from the get go, he hit upon the "old strategic retreat via car bomb trick," as Maxwell Smart would have said.
Simulating death meant his exes would not come after him. He could evade them without pissing them off and turning them into the dreaded "women scorned" whose fury exceeds that of Hell because they would be too busy feeling bad that he was dead. What a traumatically thoughtful way to give them permanent closure -- and him a scot-free escape.
SW tells Do-ha that how you end a [fake] relationship (i.e., with honesty and sincerity) is more important than how you started it (with deception and subterfuge). In fact, you're not really ending it at all. You're actually turning a simulated relationship into the real deal. -- At least I think that's what I was driving at. My head was spinning as I listened to that conversation.
@maryxiah May 23, 2017 at 8:41 PM:
Hmmm. Do-ha's "lover's tactic" -- that the two of them should jointly figure out the plan together -- is downright revolutionary. Up until now, he's been the one to call all the shots, including the timing and circumstances of his "demise." Now he has to make room in his life to share the decision making. Partnership is a big step for a free lancer. He's committing to learning how to play well with an Other who is truly Significant.
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YY
May 24, 2017 at 7:21 AM
I am amazed that you can understand so clearly SW's "speaking in riddles", as WishfulToki put it. I had to read and reread again your explanation, because it's so complex and complicated, and yes, I totally understand now what you meant.
I've always loved your posts, Pakalana, you have such a way with words, they make me think and laugh at the same time.Thanks for replying to my befuddlement LOL. If that's what SW is saying, that would mean he wants to start anew with her, and that's why he told her to hold onto the coin, and told her to wait for him.
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PakalanaPikake
May 25, 2017 at 8:08 PM
@YY May 24, 2017 at 7:21 AM:
Gee whiz. You're most welcome, YY. ;-)
I haven't had much opportunity or energy to fangirl over MAN TO MAN because I've been in the throes of the REBEL denouement. I'm very glad to be useful as well as ornamental this time around.
As for parsing Seol-woo's cryptic utterances, I have an unfair advantage: I trained as a German translator and worked in the field for a number of years. Some of the convoluted academic German I had to wade through from 100+ years ago used to sprain my brain so badly I would diagram the sentences to get a handle on what was being said. If I'd had to deal with nuanced feelings as expressed in literature and poetry, I would have shot myself. (I much preferred technical translating. There are no messy feelings to deal with in machinery operating manuals.) Even so, as an INFP (Introvert-Intuiter-Feeler-Perceiver, per the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator), by default I use my intuition to feel my way into perception. When I was younger, I was oblivious to feelings and operated in logic and thinking mode, so I can easily identify with Seol-woo. I used to be him. It takes one to know one.
Even so, I had to wrestle hard with this episode's new twist on the phrase that was introduced in the first episode. The hard part is finding a way to express it to others in an intelligible fashion. Which is what a translator does.
What Seol-woo was driving at flitted around on the edge of my awareness, just out of reach. After biding my time, I had to chase it with a butterfly net. The little sucker was maddeningly elusive.
I don't know if any of this is helpful. But if you'd like to explore it further, there's a great book on the MBTI called Please Understand Me: Character and Temperament Types by David Kiersey and Marilyn Bates. It gave me a lot of insight into myself and others that has stood me in good stead for many years. Enjoy! ;-)
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YY
May 26, 2017 at 6:53 AM
Pakalana, a German translator...that conjures up images of James Bond movies and secret missions, somehow LOL. I imagine you bent over some dusty tome deciphering secret codes and unlocking the key to some cryptic riddle of monumental proportions. Thanks for sharing, for decoding the riddle of SW's phrase, and the book recommendation...must try to read that in between my Korean dramas.
PakalanaPikake
May 26, 2017 at 8:17 AM
@YY May 26, 2017 at 6:53 AM:
Holy moly! Maybe I have more in common with Seol-woo than I realized! I hadn't thought about this in years, but just recalled that I passed the translator exam for a certain national intelligence agency. The catch was that I would have had to sever all relationships with foreign nationals. I had a host family in Germany that I was not about to ditch. Plus my intuition (or paranoia) warned me off. Back in those days, the Berlin Wall was still standing.
Instead of cloak-and-dagger stuff, I translated machinery manuals before switching to anthropology monographs with cryptic footnotes that required bibliographical research.
You are correct -- the tomes were very dusty. I moved half-way around the world to have access to rare source materials. Nowadays, thanks to Google Books, I can access digital images of some of those rare books and periodicals from the comfort of my own home -- and there's no dust or mold to contend with. It's the greatest thing since sliced bread. ;-)
19 Needaname
May 23, 2017 at 7:01 AM
I am joining you in the confusion chocolatte! And everyone else! But I think I've got it!! The show is trying to make us feel exactly like what SW is feeling! Stuck in a role we'd rather not have to stick to (SW bodyguard) because of $5 Million dollars (I was a bit frustrated that was still at the center of another episode but understand that is the glue that is keeping SW around so accepts it) but actually not minding it so much and still loving this show (SW seemed to actually have a moment of sincere appreciation for WK in this episode, and is moving forward with his relationship with Do-ha, loving that!)!! I feel you SW, I do, I really really really do!
re: Bad guys, why suddenly ME is all the brains, I don't know either. And that NIS/Baek agent, wow he's really nice, following SW like something is going to happen only to quietly leave SW and Do-ha alone so they can go on about their business. That's a good baddie!
re: Romance, I really like how it really moved forward in the last two episodes! Sincerity tactic! The coin/dot on the map! That coin is one of the most subtle yet romantic element I have seen in a while! I love how it really represents, at least to my interpretation, his love and commitment to Do-ha. Agent K completely disappears after his missions, so for SW to even think of coming back, and to her...that really spoke volume to me! And he will always be able to find her as long as she has the coin! So it is a commitment from her too to carry that coin! I almost thought maybe there are two coins, they each have one?? I have no idea as well what Lovers tactic will do, but love the concept behind. Lovers, working together...I think that's why SW hesitated...is he willing to risk Do-ha, but in the end, he is willing to work with her, whether to be near her or give themselves/himself more time to think of a plan, that is a huge step.
WK: still amazing as always!
I want to be a dot on SW's phone!
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maryxiah
May 24, 2017 at 8:21 AM
If it's on any other show, a GPS tracker in any form would freak me out and raise some serious red flags, but here, I'm just swooning like crazy and it's not even a jewelry, lol. I was squeeing when Seol-woo gave his promise along with the coin, I'm seeing it as a token of love from him, and gosh I wanted them to kiss right then right there.
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PakalanaPikake
May 25, 2017 at 8:28 PM
Who sez diamonds are a girl's best friend? He's telling her she's got her very own body guard. Someone to watch over her.
Has Seol-woo been replaced by a changeling?! LOL!
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20 JSinQueens
May 23, 2017 at 7:07 AM
I loved this episode to pieces because I feel like we do see how much Seol Woo has changed. (Well that and it's super funny. The Nam Goong Min cameo was gold!)
One of the key moments for me was when Seol Woo and Jang met to discuss the pressure the mission was receiving from Congressman Baek. Jang kept going through a laundry list of the ways the mission was or could be compromised, such as if Seol Woo's identity was revealed all the criminal syndicates SW brought down could be after him. But all Seol Woo cares about is that he can't get Woong Kwang's money back! It's so funny because Jang keeps saying forget about the money while listing all the bad things that could happen, but Seol Woo can't forget. He knows how important the money is to Woong Kwang and he made a promise to him to get it back. For a guy who was always about the mission previously, this is quite a change. The money doesn't even matter to the mission anymore since it served its purpose to acquire the 2nd wood carving. This is on the surface a really funny scene, but it's also a key moment for Seol Woo because he is putting friendship above his "mission."
Another scene I liked is when Seol Woo tries to tell Woong Kwang he is leaving (because his presence is causing issues for Chewing) - with the emphasis on "trying." Seol Woo never actually finishes explaining why he is leaving in that scene because every time he tries to, Woong Kwang interrupts with words of support. Woong Kwang keeps saying things like "that's why the mission must succeed" or "I will support you brother." Woong Kwang doesn't at that point stop Seol Woo from leaving but I think it's an important moment, particularly considering the ending scene...
The "lover's tactic" - It's interesting that people are so confused because I think on the face of it the lover's tactic isn't supposed to make sense. That's why Seol Woo looks confused after Do Ha kisses him and says something like, you don't really have a plan do you? What's important right now is what the lover's tactic represents. It's pretty transparaent that Cha Do Ha is just looking for a way to get Seol Woo to stay. She is also indicating she wants to work with Seol Woo by coming up with a lover's tactic together. This is similar to the Woon Kwang scene in that Seol Woo is trying to leave but both Woon Kwang and Cha Do Ha interrupt (WK with words and CDH with her lips!) and throw their support behind Seol Woo instead. I think Seol Woo recognizes this and decides at the end of the episode to take a leap of faith and work with the others in his "mission" instead of being the lone wolf as he usually is. I am sure being the brilliant agent K that he is, he will figure out a way to make the "lover's tactic" work in the next episode. But I don't think understanding the "lover's mission" is important this episode. I think what's important is realizing Seol Woo has embraced (literally in the case of CDH) working with...
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JSinQueens
May 23, 2017 at 7:11 AM
My thoughts got truncated right at the end, but I was basically saying this episode shows how Seol Woo has gone from lone wolf to consciously embracing working with others (even when he has the option to leave).
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Needaname
May 23, 2017 at 7:32 AM
Totally agree with you! And feel you too regarding truncated comment. Probably a glitch DB are still working on, it just lets you type. I think they need to reinstate the word counting so you know when your words are u
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Needaname
May 23, 2017 at 7:46 AM
I thought when SW kept asking about the money from Dir Jang was because he was more concerned about having to stay as WK's bodyguard because of that money. So he wants to be able to pay WK to be free. But yes, he is responsible and needs to keep his promise/end of the bargain.
I totally agree with you regarding the Lovers tactic! What is important is how it came about and the meaning behind it! That Do-ha proposed it and SW accepted it, knowing there is no plan really, that is a huge step for them! It is somewhat a representation of their relationship...you don't know where it's going, you know it's dangerous, but you're willing to jump in... that is what I really like about their relationship and Man x Man. The romance is subtle, it is very unlike traditional kdrama boy loves girl or girl loves boy set up, but it is there and quite special in its own way! It feels to me, maybe more mature? Maybe because there is more at stake. But loving those subtle elements!
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PakalanaPikake
May 24, 2017 at 6:40 AM
@20 JSinQueens May 23, 2017 at 7:07 AM
"Lover's tactic" = MacGuffin? I think so. ;-)
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/MacGuffin
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21 unatuna
May 23, 2017 at 10:10 AM
Given the general vibe from this thread so far, I hold the deeply unpopular view that I find no character consistency problems with SW and DH's actions. ?
Clearly DH's 'lover's tactic' is something she came up with on the spot to get SW to stay - even SW calls her out on it, knowing she actually has no plan at all. @chocolatte wonders why she would keep SW close after everything he's done (lying, putting her in danger). But we all know under that prickly exterior she's deeply loyal, even to her loser dad who similarly, has done his fair share of lying and putting her in danger. She obviously still has strong feelings for SW despite his actions and can't bear to lose him again - what better than to play him at his own game and suggest a 'tactic' that lets them to be together? (@nelly puts it really well - the 'tactic' is an excuse that allows them stay together without getting hurt)
With SW, he's been fighting his feelings for a long time. Him trying to leave was a simple case of noble idiocy as he did want to put his 'bro' Woon-Kwang and DH into any more danger. His priority wasn't the mission or dodging the NIS agent when DH came running back - the woman that he deeply cares for has just thrown herself into his arms, kissed him, and propositioned a 'lover's tactic' - who in their right mind would refuse? For me, the fact that SW throws caution to the wind whenever DH is involved makes it even more (dare I say it) romantic.
As @chocolatte points out, it's not a logical thing to do - but when you fall hard for someone, logic goes out the window does it not? ?
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Needaname
May 23, 2017 at 1:10 PM
Agree with all your points unatuna! I have no problem with the development and consistency of SW and Do-ha's relationship and characters, except sometimes when she is not as feisty as I think she should be! But that's because of me and what I would like. Since the beginning some people have had issues with Do-ha or SW, the romance, do they really love each other, how can it be...etc. I have come to the conclusion that, if you don't see it, you just don't see it. Nothing wrong with that. Sometimes it takes time and sometimes well, it's just not going to happen. I am just glad people are still watching this show, even with its flaws and frustrating moments...as long as there is Something that keeps me coming back, I'm happy! Maybe it's the beauty of Man X Man, it is so subtle you can interpret things how you wish them or see them or not.
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22 Previewqueen
May 23, 2017 at 1:06 PM
What I understand is that Team Evil suspects SW is a Ghost Agent and that DH and WK are involved... however, they have no actual evidence. This is why they are being followed, to get evidence and to expose him for who he really is. The reason SW wants to leave is that he is getting uncomfortable. Think about it, he has spent most of his career being detached from people, without those around him from ever know who he really is. This time around, his cover is exposed to those closest to him. He is in his mind in a very vulnerable position for an agent. And having so many people privy to his real self can be highly uncomfortable for someone who has lived in shadows for so long. Leaving to solve the problem is the only answer he can think of, because that is what he as always done. He is not use to having an actual team and solving things together. The "Lover's Tactic" thing, is DH trying to protect SW. Yes, she doesn't want him to leave. But she knows also that he is grasping at straws to solve the problem and with the NIS following him, it is a matter of time before he gets exposed or killed. Yet she can't ask him to stay out right, she needs to give him a reason that he can accept. So I don't see what she was doing as so much as trying to get back together with him, but rather trying to protect him using an excuse that Mr. Spy can embrace. It makes it a perfect excuse for him to actually fall in love with her without outrightly breaking the spy rules he has made up in his head.
But more than that, he likes her a lot. And after his conversation with fellow Ghost Agent KC, you can see how he is starting to stop lying with himself when it comes to her. The fact that he gave her the code to his private lair, and no one else got that, is symbolic of how he is letting her in. Also the fact he is going with her crazy conditions, informing her of his whereabouts, allowing to track him via GPS... no secret spy would allow such things unless they were special to them. Which is seems DH is. :)
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23 Lilium
May 23, 2017 at 1:07 PM
To add to the ongoing discussion about the main romance, it's clear that this episode is best understood as a contrastive to an earlier one.
Ep 5 began with SW talking in the voice over about love being a tactic useful for a secret agent. On that occasion he weasels his way back to DH's good graces by kissing her and backflipping on all the nasty "let's end this" talk with a fake confession of noble idiocy. That was followed by a whole series of intentionally manipulated moments to woo her and break her resolve. The coffee moment in the earlier episode was revisited twice but played out differently. The first was outside the prison where she questions his sincerity knowing on hindsight that all his acts of thoughtfulness were calculated moves to win her heart. On the second occasion, he was about to bring her coffee but was hindered by NGM's obnoxious actor who was in effect trying to use the same move on DH. :D
All throughout Ep.10 we see reversals. Instead of he breaking into her place, she "breaks into" his, casting her eye around his workshop. Instead of manipulating her, he reassures her over and over again that he won't go anywhere without telling her first. And finally instead of taking off without telling her, he makes a promise to return.
Hence the use of that terminology "Lover's Tactic" by DH is an echo as well as a reformulation of what Agent K began at an earlier time. It's an ushering in of a new day for them. What had been used to manipulate her feelings she would now be a willing participant of. It's no longer a one-sided strategy to deceive but a collaborative and negotiable scenario not necessarily just for the purpose of throwing the bad guys off his scent but it's a call to stay and reshape the future on their terms whatever form that takes.
The kiss at the end signals that new era of collaboration. ;)
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Lilium
May 23, 2017 at 1:16 PM
In the end it's about Do Ha's choice.
;)
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unatuna
May 23, 2017 at 3:47 PM
THIS! So eloquently said ?
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maryxiah
May 23, 2017 at 8:46 PM
Agreed! I feel the same when I was watching, like reversals of all the previous fake fronts to turn around everything for our love birds, and I love how Seol-woo is patiently taking all the jabs from Do-ha, he's hurt by them too but he understood that he needed to make efforts to win Do-ha over again (not that it requires much effort when it's clear the girl wants him too).
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24 parkchuna
May 23, 2017 at 5:41 PM
Man to Man, where the secret agents aren't so secret and I ship the bromance more than the romance ;)
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25 maryxiah
May 23, 2017 at 6:55 PM
Aww, I'm late to the recap party. Had a minor accident yesterday and couldn't get my head straight. Now I'm ready to be here and discuss the show.
Like you, Chocolatte, I enjoyed watching Woon-kwang and Do-ha poking a fun at Seol-woo and him reacting so much to it. Clearly, Seol-woo isn't above petty himself because he's more worried about being around the two than being chased down by all his previous arrestees. I love how the two bring out the best AND worst in Seol-woo so effortlessly, it makes me feel that Seol-woo is right at home with the Chewing family, especially now that the two is clear of his ghost agent identity.
I'm not confused by the back and forth (actually, I stopped being confused when I chose to just go along with it) in this episode because when feelings get in the way, we can see why their decisions/actions get murky. The way I see it, Do-ha was convincing herself the whole episode not to fall for Seol-woo's charms all over again and kept reminding herself that Seol-woo could only be a dot in her phone, nothing more or less, that she couldn't afford another guy who walks out of her life. But then, Seol-woo made one swoony move by telling her to hold onto his promise (the coin) that he would come definitely come back (what a sincerity tactic). And I think Do-ha is a smart cookie, she has always been able to read into people (despite not arriving at the right conclusion every time), so she spent an awful lot of time observing Seol-woo in this episode to confirm his sincerity. When Seol-woo opted to leave for her and Woon-kwang, I think Do-ha realized it herself that she wasn't willing to lose him and she believed in his sincerity, so she took it upon herself to start the "lovers tactic" all over again to hold onto him for real. Let's get real, if I was her, I would have started the "lovers tactic" way earlier.
As for Seol-woo, we already confirmed a few episodes back that he cared a lot for Do-ha, like or love, does it really matter when Ki-chul himself pointed out that Do-ha is her weakness? And as pointed out in this episode, a family is a ghost agent's biggest weakness, so I'm thinking before anyone else could figure out his weakness, Seol-woo believed he needed to leave not just for Do-ha, but for Woon-kwang's sake as well. I think he was more touched than he let on when Woon-kwang was willing to stick by him when even the country seemed to abandon him. A ghost agent needs to be quick on his feet and figure out a plan, maybe there's more to it when he accepted the "lovers tactic", but I feel like he calculated the situations in his head and knew what he was doing. Now that I've confirmed his feelings for Do-ha, I'm not scared that he would break her heart again, I just want...
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maryxiah
May 23, 2017 at 7:41 PM
to see more swoony moments. And frankly, I was busy swooning the whole episode rather than focusing on everything else. I'm a simple girl, I see romance and I charge full speed ahead.
As for Woon-kwang, need I say more? He's awesome and he knows it.
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Needaname
May 23, 2017 at 9:24 PM
Hope you are ok maryxiah! Never too late to the party, take care of yourself first. Man x Man will still be here! I am usually not an early commenter myself, but it's so busy at the top I like to hang around at the bottom anyway, if I hang around at all, easier on the eyes I guess! I am easy to please too, not sure if it's make me a simple person, but once I'm hooked I'm just hooked! We can be objective and go on and on about certain points, but in the end, what matters is the feeling it leaves you with. I guess like SW, wanting to stick around and come back, that's pretty good already!
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maryxiah
May 24, 2017 at 1:16 AM
Thanks, needaname, I'm doing ok. Just a sprained and swollen ankle. Thank you for asking. I agree, sometimes it gets too hectic above, I just start commenting and replying from the bottom, whichever is easy on the eyes. I believe we're all hooked seeing as many are complaining yet we're still faithfully commenting. I just hope the show doesn't falter by the end.
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PakalanaPikake
May 24, 2017 at 6:54 AM
@maryxiah May 24, 2017 at 1:16 AM:
I'm glad to hear that you are okay. ;-)
YY
May 24, 2017 at 9:06 AM
I hope you're feeling better, @maryxiah. I was wondering where you were, I'm glad you're okay. Take care, and rest that ankle.
shteffi
May 24, 2017 at 1:19 AM
Same here..........want more swoony moments myself
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26 maryxiah
May 23, 2017 at 7:57 PM
Comment was deleted
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27 lemoncello
May 23, 2017 at 9:01 PM
Kim Guard just had a hair cut! :)
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28 cherrycrumble
May 23, 2017 at 10:25 PM
I enjoyed reading everyone's analysis! I'm personally also not confused about the characters' motivations. The reason SW wants to leave clearly is because his presence is causing troubles for WK & DH. When SW talked to WK, he took the blame for the issues with WK's movie filming & tried several times to tell WK he wants to leave because of it, but he's repeatedly interrupted by WK's supportive words that makes him genuinely touched. We see a progress in SW's character that he's not going to just disappear without telling anyone as usual, this time he tried to tell WK and DH that he's going to leave.
As for DH, her 'lovers tactic' is supposed to be questionable as SW himself pointed out, but I think she really just doesn't want SW to leave again. She's always the ordinary & simple character in this world of agents and characters with dubious motives, so she's simply just making an excuse for him to stay, an excuse that fits SW's world. Seems like SW agreed to it because he somehow find a way to use that 'lovers tactic' to work on something. This should be explained in the next episode.
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29 shteffi
May 24, 2017 at 1:37 AM
Dear Chocolatte,
Thank you for your recap and comments. Love coming here and sharing the series with everyone here (great forum *claps*)
Can i start with my frustration with the kiss?? WTF! Why is there only lip contact and no tongue. The bench kiss in Cheese in the Trap was great. I will feel sad/angry/betrayed if we don't get any deep kisses. SW is an ruthless agent, and he has fallen for this girl. When he gets the chance to kiss her he will dive in and kiss the daylights out of her. And Do-ha isnt experienced in kissing, so it could have been so much fun to create scenarios for this but No??!!! Why??
I liked Do-ha's dad reaction to Seol-Woo when he got out of prison, and how Do-ha said "no we are not together" now. Looking forward to future interactions between the three.
I also liked the hints of SW being jealous but I would like it to be played deeper but I think it wont be. Do-ha is a simple girl and she has her eyes on SW so she wont waver. Ahhh I really wanted SW to go away and find do-ha interacting with some other cool guy and get jealous and then intervene in a spy like manner or whatever...but thats just me imagining things...
I liked how WK didn't let SW finish the sentence where he wanted to him leaving would be the best solution. The three of them have really become like a family. The show has shown us this nicely.
Somebody pointed out that Ki-chul pointing out to SW might have had an impact on his behavior. So now its not denying but embracing his realization(that Do-ha means the world to him)?
I loved the ease with which he gave up his apartment code to Do-ha and he doesn't seem to resist her anymore. Now the question is, what does he want/plan/think he can possible have with Do-ha? What kind of relationship? I guess the writer wants us to to keep guessing as well.
But SW has decided he is going to stay connected to Doha and keep coming back to her after missions. So he gave her back the coin? I loved that moment.
Namgoong Min's cameo was more satisfying than Song JK's but I am happy with both and grateful for their screen time.
For the last scene? i wont try to make sense of it. I will just enjoy the push and pull between Do-ha and SW and hope the writer can flush out the romance well in the future episode with hi jinks, humor and sexy moments between the two.
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30 Vo Dau
May 24, 2017 at 2:46 AM
I am just lost my interested in this drama. The story line make no sense, the main girl is just hard to watch very annoyed look. But i will hang in there just for two main actors
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31 PN
May 24, 2017 at 1:55 PM
anyone knows the song at 11th min of the ep 10 in man to man?
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32 PakalanaPikake
May 26, 2017 at 8:49 AM
When I told my husband about the Lover's Tactic(TM), he asked if that means Do-ha and Seol-woo both jump off the Sageuk Cliff of Non-Doom together. LOL.
It just occurred to me that Woon-kwang may cook up a gambit of his own -- perhaps the Crazy Glue Tactic(TM).
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33 Dramagirl
May 29, 2017 at 7:42 AM
Yes swoony Park hae Jin is awesome but surly oppa is great too. The reason for Seol woo and Doha's lovers tactic has me still baffled for its reason but i dont care anymore since i know they care about each other, so let the romance head on full steam!
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34 fatcat007
June 1, 2017 at 1:09 AM
"When our ineffectual villains meet up to discuss what’s next"
omg hahahaaaa!!!
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