Welcome to the Open Thread, everyone! I’ve got this shot headlining our post today, because I do very much enjoy the scenes of Young Shin at Healer’s lair. ๐๐คฉ
SOME IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS, before we begin:
ZERO SPOILER POLICY
1.ย We will be adopting aย ZERO SPOILER POLICYย for this Open Thread, except for events that have happened in the show, up to this point.
We donโt want to spoil anyoneโs watch experience with spoilers.ย The spoiler tags donโt work in email notifications, therefore, please take note thatย WE WILL NOT BE USING SPOILER TAGS FOR THIS OPEN THREAD.ย ANY AND ALL SPOILERS WILL BE REDACTEDย to protect first-time viewers in our midst (although, Iโd appreciate it if you would save me the trouble of having to redact spoilers, heh ๐ ).
This includes, but is not limited to, how characters &/or relationships develop, later in the show.
We need to protect the innocent! ๐
SPOILER ZONE
2.ย HOWEVER!!ย If youโd like to discuss spoilers from a rewatcherโs point of view, Iโve created aย SPOILER ZONEย for you, where you can discuss all the spoilers youโd like, without the need for spoiler warnings. You can find itย here!
Without further ado, here are my reactions to this set of episodes; have fun in the Open Thread, everyone! โค๏ธ
My thoughts
Episode 15
Things take a turn this episode, and it very much feels like we’re in a new chapter of our story, with Jung Hoo and Young Shin relating to each other on a whole new level, and working together in a whole new way as well.
Before I get into that, though, I just wanted to backtrack a little bit, and say that, as we open this episode, with a quick revisit of how Jung Hoo had tried to get Young Shin to leave, before he gives in to tears, as Young Shin pulls him to herself, and asks that he not make her leave, it occurs to me for the first time, that these are tears of relief.
Before, I’d assumed that these tears were simply an expression of all the pain that Jung Hoo is feeling on the inside, with everything that’s happened, and with the loss of Sabu.
However, on this viewing, it occurs to me that even though Jung Hoo is quite determined in his efforts to make Young Shin leave, he doesn’t actually want her to leave. He doesn’t actually want to be alone.
He’s just deathly afraid that something will happen to Young Shin, if he allows her to stay next to him. The fact that Young Shin refuses to leave, is, I think, a source of relief to Jung Hoo. He doesn’t know what it means for the future, but he does want to be near her. And it shows. Aw. ๐ฅฒ
I think the big thing to talk about, this episode, is the fact that Young Shin and Jung Hoo consummate their relationship, at a stage where 1, they don’t really have a defined relationship, and 2, Young Shin doesn’t even know Jung Hoo’s name.
I remember that when Show first aired, there had been a section of viewers who had felt very uncomfortable about this.
Oddly, I wasn’t part of that camp when I’d first watched Show, but on this viewing, I can see more clearly now, why people might have found this all to be too much, too soon.
That said, I still stand by my take, which is that, even though this all sounds very rushed on paper, it does feel reasonably organic to their relationship and to our story.
What I mean is, even though there are many things that Young Shin doesn’t know about Jung Hoo, including his name, she has implicit trust in him. He’s saved her life a number of times now, and he’s always been there to protect her, when she’d been in danger.
On top of that, I do see Young Shin as a very instinctive sort of person. I would absolutely believe that she’d be led more by her gut, than by any amount of analysis on paper. And, she trusts Jung Hoo, in her gut.
Additionally, sexytimes can be very life-affirming, and with Jung Hoo grieving Sabu’s loss in such a deep way, and with touch so clearly being his love language of choice, it actually makes sense to me, that Jung Hoo would be so drawn to Young Shin, as she kisses him.
What really gets me, every time, really, is how endearingly Jung Hoo then cleaves to Young Shin, whatever Young Shin happens to be doing. He just kind of.. hangs off her like he’s this large appendage that just happens to be attached to her. It’s adorable. ๐
And, to my eyes, it lands not only as a gesture of affection, but it also feels to me, that this is Jung Hoo charging himself, almost like he’s a battery, and Young Shin’s his energy source. She’s basically a source of life to him, in a manner of speaking.
I do appreciate that in response to all this, Jung Hoo gets into his thinking space (against Ahjumma’s wishes, heh), and decides that he needs to find himself, so that he can be real with Young Shin, rather than the fake self that he’s gotten so used to using, to interface with the world at large.
I find his desire to be real with Young Shin to be very sweet indeed.
Also, I can’t help but notice that when Jung Hoo goes to see Moon Ho, and they hatch a plan to avenge Sabu’s death, Jung Hoo makes it a point to let Moon Ho know that, yes, he does like Young Shin. That tiny smile that Jung Hoo can barely hide, as he says it, makes me smile.
This is partly him being a bit territorial with Moon Ho, I do think. But at the same time, this is him, being real about Young Shin – and it’s so great to see that the thought of her makes him smile, in spite of himself.
What Moon Ho says about Moon Sik actually believing himself to be a gentleman who’s done no wrong, and who genuinely can’t remember his own actions, is intriguing.
This reminds me of Moon Sik’s hallucinations, and makes me think that Moon Sik is more psychologically unstable than one might expect.
Hrm.. That kind of makes him more of a loose cannon, doesn’t it? Who knows what’s going on in his mind, if he’s living in some alternate reality where he’s faultless, and has never done anything wrong towards anyone?
I do very much appreciate the fact that Jung Hoo makes it a point to re-introduce himself to Young Shin, as himself.ย It’s true that Young Shin loves him regardless of the label he uses to identify himself, and so, it’s not something that would make or break their relationship.
At the same time, this feels needful, and from the expression on Young Shin’s face, it seems to me that, beyond the myriad of mixed emotions, it moves her to finally have Jung Hoo present himself to her, as himself.
No disguise; no Healer persona; just himself.
It’s so like Young Shin, to grump about it a little, but glide so quickly and smilingly into working in partnership with Jung Hoo, on their new mission. She is such a sweetheart. I luff her.
And how cool, that she takes to all these spyjinks like a duck to water, HA. I especially loved her spontaneous decoy tactic, in getting Detective Yoon out of the room, to allow Jung Hoo access to his computer. She’s a natural! ๐คฉ
I guess she does naturally have an inclination for, er, playing the system..? ๐
I also love her unadulterated joy, as she pronounces to Jung Hoo, that this is all just SO much fun, before racing back inside to finish the job.
Tee hee. Jung Hoo’s slightly discombobulated reaction, and his pleased, bashful uncertainty over her use of the word “boyfriend” on him, is just icing on the cake.
I personally really enjoyed watching Healer set the stage for Detective Yoon and his team to arrest their dirty colleague, who’s responsible for Sabu’s poisoning.
The way Healer does it, it’s like he’s leading little kids to big treasure, with all those arrows on post-it notes in strategic places. It honestly gives me a thrill, that Jung Hoo’s so fast and capable, that he’d have time to create a roadmap for Detective Yoon and his team. Heh.
That turns into a pretty cool exclusive on Sabu, by Some Day, and it really does remind me of the spirit of the original pirate radio station that the original gang had put their hearts and souls into.
On the upside, I am glad that this provides a measure of closure for Jung Hoo, as he watches the broadcast with Young Shin in his arms, and Sabu’s ashes sitting on the table with them.
On the downside, with Moon Sik and Moon Ho basically declaring war on each other, and with Moon Sik determined to stop Myung Hee from actually meeting Young Shin, things look kind of worrying.
It does not give me a good feeling, at all, to see Young Shin get into Moon Sik’s car, because he absolutely does NOT have good intentions. Eep.
Episode 16
As the past gets stirred up, our OTP relationship gets put to the test, and it’s all kinds of heart-in-your-throat, life-on-the-line angsty. Both pretty great kinds of angst, just in case I wasn’t clear.
The great thing about rewatching so many years after my last watch, is that so many of the details are hazy to me, that I am genuinely on the edge of my seat, wondering what’s going to happen next.
Mostly, I hate that Moon Sik’s taking Young Shin and planting all these ideas in her head, that Jung Hoo’s dangerous, and a murderer.
I mean, to be fair, I get why Moon Sik’s doing this; it’s his way of fighting back, after Moon Ho’s launched this war on him. But, I still don’t like it, because it messes with Young Shin, and I hate that our dear Young Shin has to deal with all this.
When I think about it, Young Shin’s quite possibly the most innocent of all our characters.ย She’s just doing her best to live her life, and suddenly, this episode, her whole life is turned upside down.
Not only does she find out that her mother’s alive and that she’s (just about) the last to know, she also finds out that Jung Hoo’s father had maybe-possibly killed her father.
Plus, there’s all that stuff that Moon Sik’s guys feed her, telling her that Jung Hoo, the man she loves, is a murderer.
It’s A LOT, and given how Young Shin still suffers from PTSD-triggered anxiety attacks, I can see why she’d sink into a non-verbal funk, where she just sits in her bedroom in a daze. Poor Young Shin. ๐ญ
That said, I do admire the fact that Young Shin’s able to think quite clearly, even as Moon Ho tells her about the fact that her bio-mom is alive.
I love that she points out that Moon Ho could have told her the truth, even if he’d had reservations of what would happen, if he told Myung Hee the truth. It’s a very fair point. Telling Young Shin the truth doesn’t carry the same risk as telling Myung Hee, so why didn’t he?
I can only rationalize that Moon Ho had been afraid that Young Shin would approach Myung Hee anyway, or that, the more people knew, the higher the risk that Myung Hee would eventually hear the news, and thus suffer a life-threatening fit.
I’m glad that even in the midst of her funk, while Young Shin’s still reeling from the information that’s been dumped on her, and still looks physically weakened by it, she reaches out to Jung Hoo, by calling him.
And I do love that, even though he’s in the midst of dealing with those guys who are baiting him about Park Dong Chul, Jung Hoo makes sure to pick up the call, because he knows it’s Young Shin.
Ahhh! There’s something so cool about the way Jung Hoo manages to have a conversation with Young Shin, while fighting off those dudes – and claiming that he’s just doing some “cleaning.” Hee! ๐ And, eee! ๐คฉ
I do love that Jung Hoo makes straight for Young Shin, once he’s done dealing with those guys, and I love even more, the stunned looks on Dad’s and Ahjusshi’s faces, when the usually docile and bumbling Bong Soo smoothly evades their attempts to waylay him.
It’s heart-pinching, though, to see Young Shin unable to look Jung Hoo in the eye, because she’s recently put together the fragments of information, to conclude that it looks like Jung Hoo’s father had killed her father.
On a tangent, I just wanted to say that one of things that makes this OTP relationship feel so real, isย the way Jung Hoo approaches her, and asks her why she won’t look at him, nor hold him. Those are such hallmarks of typical couple interaction, that it’s weird to Jung Hoo, if she won’t touch him back.
It might sound like a small thing, but the fact that the skinship between this couple is so natural, makes this relationship feel so much more organic, to my eyes.
That little detail, where Jung Hoo rubs his thumbs on the bare skin of Young Shin’s collarbone, as he looks at her searchingly, adds so much to the raw potency of this relationship.
When Jung Hoo realizes what’s bothering Young Shin and sets off to find evidence that his father didn’t kill her father, I love how it doesn’t take Young Shin two seconds, to run after him.
I love how she grabs him by the collar, then looking at him so searchingly with her teary eyes, she tells him, “You have to find evidence and come back.” … “Even if you can’t, come back.” Augh. That’s so beautifully poignant and heartfelt.
Plus, how handsome does Jung Hoo look, so focused and intent, as he listens to what Young Shin has to say, as if with every pore of his being. ๐
I love just as much, that Young Shin makes it a point to tell Jung Hoo that he’s not a bad person. Aw. That is so sweet and thoughtful, and it gives Jung Hoo – and me! – the assurance, that she’s able to differentiate him, from the alleged deeds of his father.
And, just as I swooning at the heartfelt hug that she pulls him into, right there in the cafe, I have to giggle too, at Dad’s and Ahjusshi’s stunned reactions, at the scene that’s just unfolded in front of them. Tee hee. It’s hilarious. I don’t know whether to swoon or laugh, and it’s great. ๐คฉ๐
HOW COOL, though, of Jung Hoo to stride right back in there, after walking off, in order to give Young Shin a kiss. Eeee!!! ๐๐
That’s totally Healer-levels of cool, and I have to wonder exactly what’s going through Dad’s and Ahjusshi’s minds, as they witness all this coming from Bong Soo. ๐
I already love Young Shin, but I love her even more, with the way she approaches Moon Ho with coffee in her hands, and a smile on her face. The way she’s able to do that, after being so angry with him for withholding information on Mom from her, is so endearing.
I appreciate that part of her reason must be what she’d promised Jung Hoo, that she’d look for evidence too, and part of her process is to talk to Moon Ho, but on top of that, I really like this scene, for how she gets to find out about herself and her early life.
All of these nuggets of information that Moon Ho shares, including how she and Jung Hoo had been inseparable as kids, and how her birthday is the next day, are all precious things that she would’ve never known, if Moon Ho hadn’t told her.
For this reason, I’m really glad that Young Shin’s not the kind of person to hold grudges. It’s her warmth and her openness that allows her to learn these things, and I love that about her.
Over on Jung Hoo’s side of things, I can’t help feeling at least a little nervous, at how he’s walking into a trap knowingly, because he can’t see any other way to get the information that he needs.
It’s incredibly frustrating to watch his conversation with Park Dong Chul, because it’s so clear that Jung Hoo’s not going to be able to get that recording, and that Park Dong Chul’s greed is going to be his undoing.
It’s tragic, but it’s true that someone as blinded by greed as Park Dong Chul, wouldn’t pay any heed to any warnings given to him. And Jung Hoo does try, hard, to warn him.
Sigh. Too bad Park Dong Chul is too foolhardy to listen, and it looks like he’s dead, by the time we close our episode.
How terrible, that it looks like Jung Hoo’s going to become the prime suspect in Park Dong Chul’s murder.
I’m also concerned that Young Shin looks spooked, as she sees Jung Hoo crouching over Park Dong Chul’s body, and with Park Dong Chul’s blood on his hands.
I sure hope that Young Shin is spooked by the sight of blood, rather than by the idea that Jung Hoo actually killed Park Dong Chul. Coz.. she trusts him, right? Right..? ๐ฉ๐ฌ
After a heart-wrenching episode 14, it feels like the gush of cool water on a weary desert soul to finally see Healer love on Yeong-sin like a little puppy dog throughout the beginning of episode 15.
I love seeing them wake up in bed together so playfully but didn’t conclude that they consummated the relationship. They went through some emotionally exhausting ordeals to get there, which may or may not have led to sexual release, and we were free to interpret whether it did or not.
They woke up in sweaters instead of literally skin-to-skin, so the way I see it is that they’re in a pretty intimate place (in bed under covers together) while still yet to reveal everything (they’re not naked, she doesn’t know his name yet, he has yet to tell her the full story of who he is and she asks nothing).
And of course, he finally only reintroduced himself, with his real name, later in the day as the “freelancer” Mun-ho hired to help with Yeong-sin’s assignment. Swoon. Jeong-hu back in action as a Healer hiding in the police station’s plain sight, culminating in Sabu’s murderer’s arrest and the special broadcast on Someday News that night is a huge win.
Myeong-hui and Mun-sik’s marriage is starting to crack more dramatically and man it is tense. I wonder if it will survive whatever is coming their way in the following episodes, especially now that Myeong-hui and Yeong-sin are due to meet and will likely open a can of worms nobody saw coming.
Episode 16 has been mostly tense for me, but that is because the enemy is launching all their necessary attacks to sabotage our protagonists’ goals. From Mun-sik’s evil detour pickup for Yeong-sin to the trap he set for Jeong-hu with the promise of evidence for his father’s innocence. And not a sight of Assistant Oh this episode, meaning that it has gotten to the point where it has become this personal for Mun-sik.
The cat is finally out of the bag, and Yeong-sin is finally being made aware that her biological mother is still alive. Understandably it’s like having a ton of emotional bricks collapsed on Yeong-sin, but I’m glad she didn’t dwell on it for too long and we see the story move along quickly with her telling Jeong-hu to find the evidence and come back, or just come back at all, and making amends with Mun-ho so she can learn the details of her early childhood, long forgotten underneath the trauma of losing her birth parents.
I am terrified of episode 16’s ending with Jeong-hu now likely framed as Park Do-cheol’s murderer. I would also like to think that Yeong-sin is having her asthma attack due to seeing blood and the murder weapon. But she is also desperate to prove Jeong-hu’s innocence after having bombs dropped on her that he is suspect to the murders of two people Healer had encountered, as well as the accusation that Jeong-hu’s dad murdered her own biological father.
I think Yeong-sin’s mental state would be significantly weakened as we start episode 17, and Mun-ho will have to be the bigger man for his baby bears as they all strive to find the truth. He’ll need to have enough evidence to keep Healer’s accusers in check as well as to restore Yeong-sin’s faith in whatever the hell is going on.
i’m a bit late, catching up as my internet was down for 2 days. so before i read all the comments, i just want to share mine, and then i’ll see the rest. but if i repeat what some of you are saying, please forgive me.
ep 15 – BINGO! the young princess comes to save the poor prince who seems like he’s giving up on life and life is no better than death (i love the theme from folk stories where the prince comes to the aid of a princess in a coma, or vise versa – the princess revives the prince with a kiss, always a kiss). here, our princess jumps into the cold bed to the half-dead frozen in pain prince and cuddles him like a baby, warming him up. and like in those fairy tales, our prince springs up to life, full of energy (really, look at him) – love will wake up a dead (why don’t we practice it???) that was actually the ending of ep.14, but a prolog to ep15.
healer’s tears: yes, he’s afraid something bad might happen to ys. but she’s not afraid, love also gives one courage, and stays. healer’s tears… tears of relief, she’ll be by his side no matter what, they’ll somehow find a way to face it together, whatever it might be. these are also tears of letting go in a way, and choose love. yes, healer gets to live A DREAM, but it is real, and it is not an island and not a leopard, these were replaced by yeong shin. i am almost jumping out of my own skin – love those scenes, love the victory of love, love the way the drama brings it in and the way it is written, love our couple and the acting. love, love, love it all.
and we see healer’s playful side, when she wakes up and finds him looking at her on the other side – he dives under the covers, sweeping her under, and o, the joy of it! then, in the kitchen – he can not let her go for a second, and it is so cute and playful and honest. but the best part is when he hops on the bus, grabs her, to last at least for another stop – and it is so boyish, and so what one can do when in love. the naked truth of it – after the first intimacy, he just wants to last this feeling for ever.
healer in moon ho’s apartment, 3 main objectives – they hatch out a plan of action – revenge for teacher, truth of healer’s dad’s fate, and appropriate time of truth for ys. there is a little moment when healer tells moon ho “yes, he likes ys”. translation: she’s mine, stay away or else… we see healer’s smile, a tiny smile but o so potent – accomplishment, acknowledgement, slight embarrassment, satisfaction of a cat that just ate your burger from your plate and licks his chops. (have you ever seen a cat doing just that – you have to see it to believe it) smile – best ever.
ys is scheduled to have an appointment with the detective and moon ho sends her to cooperate with a freelance person that he hired. so on my first watch i thought that this is kind of moon ho’s private joke or something like this, but now i see it different. he hired healer as a freelance, because the person that works in the office is park bong soo, and ys is going to work this time with healer himself, on healer’s mission. during the interview with the detective, she hears ahjumma talking about the computers and gets a glimpse of the inner workings of healer as a business. she is amused and fascinated, but gets the idea – she catches on very quickly, and makes everybody leave the room to provide for healer an opportunity to do this job. now they are a team and she enjoys it, like picking a lock. JUST BRILLIANT. the girl is smart (didn’t i say it before).
and finally, in ep.16, the most scary moment, when moon shik tells the weasel-secretary that HE will teach the kids “appropriate way to adjust to society.” just the thought of it made me feel like a bucket of ice was dumped on my head.
the last scene – myeong hee – suddenly understands and closes the door behind her husband – it seems she closes the door on that relationship – finally.
love those scenes, love the victory of love, love the way the drama brings it in and the way it is written, love our couple and the acting. love, love, love it all.
Yes!!! Ditto.
there is a little moment when healer tells moon ho โyes, he likes ysโ. translation: sheโs mine, stay away or elseโฆ
Question for everyone:
I never thought Moon Ho would pursue Young Shin in a romantic way, but there are definitely flashes of Healer feeling jealous toward him. Does anyone else think that Moon Ho would have thought of YS that way? i.e. I think Healer’s jealousy comes from knowing that YS had a crush on Moon Ho, not that Moon Ho showed any signs of liking her romantically.
right sweetroad, jealousy is not always reasonable, it lives in healer’s head a little bit, but he would be jealous of anyone at this point, he can not afford to loose her (it is discussed in a different scene, but i do not remember where and do not want to go into spoilers).
but moon ho is not even aware that ys had this crush on him, he’s still pretty connected to his ex-girlfriend at this time. at the same time for moon ho she is still little ji an under the bed on the “mora mora” island, he’s fiercely protective of her, he feels a certain degree of responsibility to her, and he’s even proud to see her all grown up and even following in the footsteps of her father and mother, unbeknownst to her.
I agree with @eda. MH doesnโt have any romantic feelings or notions towards YS, but Healer is a bit jealous anyway. I remember that scene that you are talking about. There will be another one that will show how territorial Healer is.
Thanks @eda and @MariaF, that’s what I thought too, that MH doesn’t feel anything like that for YS. But Moon Ho does think about her, talk about her, and worry about her (basically, giving her some special attention)…and perhaps Healer sees that and just wants to stake his territory as you guys are saying.
“That little moment”….The way Healer conveyed that feeling was so good and natural. In fact the whole conversation between Healer and Moon Ho in that penthouse apartment scene was so good and it’s one of my faves in the whole drama. (TBH Yoo Ji-tae looked beyond swoon-worthy for me in that scene – I have a huge crush on him in this drama)
FGV – Bit sad that you didn’t include a scene clip of that ;-(
princess jazz, I have a huge crush on him in this drama
so do i!!!
in general, this drama presents a major dilemma for me – EVERYTHING is a fave, and one better than the other, and then the other is better than the next one, and so it goes… to no end.
welcome to the YJT club…agree that everything and everyone works so well within this drama…but for me personally its YJT, JCW and Park Min in that order…;-)
princess jazz, for me personally its YJT, JCW and Park Min in that orderโฆ;-)
for me, jcw, yjt, (actually on the same level) jo min ja (ahjumma) and do ji won (myung hee) – in that order.
Here is my order:
JCW,
JCW,
JCW,
Park min, Dad, Ahjumma
For some reason, YJT doesnโt do anything for me. ๐
This made me LOL.
i guess thanks god, or we would all be wishing to date one man. so thank you for leaving yjt to us.
Right. Otherwise, no one would stand a chance.
@MariaF – before I knew Yoo Ji tae’s name – you know I have a tendency to label characters (and actors) with descriptors – I used to refer to him as Lurch.
@Beez – ๐ ๐คฃ๐๐๐ ๐คฃ๐๐คฃ
beez,
Lurch.
that is so negative! why? is this a character problem? or he as an actor? where? or is it a slang that i am not familiar?
@eda – I’m afraid to answer. It is negative but I didn’t mean it that way. ๐
Lurch was the name of a character on the original The Addams Family tv show from the 1960’s. I called Yoo Ji tae that in my mind when I couldn’t remember the Korean names of actors. It’s because he’s so tall. So unusually tall for S.K. actors and when he runs, he looks so awkward. I’m ๐ just imagining how that’s not going over well for those whose bias he is. Sorry (a l’il bit).
beez, it’s ok, i get it. thanks for the explanation. i’ll have to watch now the way yoo ji tae runs. lol. of course i did not see that adams family. and nothing can change my admiration of yjt as a man or as an actor. so far. (unless he runs like quasimodo (the hunchback of notre-dame from miserable), but nothing less or more.
Nah. Nah. Nothing like that. He just looks heavy-footed and a little
sleuthslue footed. ๐คฃEdited to add – Had to Google the correct term.
LOL, I always thought Lurch looked like Frankenstein, and Frankenstein is the farthest thing from my mind when I look at Yoo Ji Tae. But you’re right, they’re both tall. Don’t recall what he looks like when he runs, but now I’ll have to watch for it as well, like Eda.
YJT just fits the silhouette of Lurch. It was just a way for me to identify actors. Like for the longest, Gong Yoo’s profile pic on AsianWiki showed him with his hair in a weird spiked ‘do. It reminded me of Goku from Dragon Ball Z (an animae my son watched when he was a kid). So somehow Gong Yoo became “Goo” in my mind. ๐
Yeah I’m not really a fan of how Mun-ho now likes Yeong-sin romantically the way he liked her biological mother all these years! Although there is such a thing as age gap love, if I were Mun-ho and had committed to finding my first love’s long lost daughter through hell and high water, I would automatically position that now grown girl as a niece or stepdaughter of sorts and not a potential love interest just because she’s a grown woman now.
But well, being attracted to, or falling in love with both mother and daughter is not impossible in the real world. No judgment for those who do feel this way IRL. So I’m going to take Mun-ho’s word for it that he loves both Myeong-hui and Yeong-sin.
However, it was revealed in an earlier episode, in a conversation with ex-girlfriend/ex-executive producer Kang Min-jae, that part of the perpetual conflict in their relationship is how Min-jae would never take the place of Mun-ho’s first love and that she would have to be okay forever being second place. And though Min-jae doesn’t know who this first love is, we all know that it is no other than Choi Myeong-hui. The only nuna with whom Mun-ho can be his real self, even as a four year-old crying over literally spilled milk.
We still don’t know the inciting incident that prompted Mun-ho to start searching for Oh Ji-an two decades after the girl had been declared dead. But he’s gotta love Myeong-hui nuna that much to be willing to take this risk and decide if and how to eventually reunite mother and daughter without jeopardizing their safety.
So I’d say Mun-ho’s love for Myeong-hui looks pretty irreplaceable at this stage, even if he’s currently distracted by her equally attractive daughter Chae Yeong-sin. (I honestly hate it when Mun-ho calls her Ji-an, it sounds so disrespectful of the new life and identity Yeong-sin has after closing the traumatic chapter of her early childhood.) Anyway Yeong-sin is with Jeong-hu now, and Jeong-hu has made it very clear to Mun-ho to back of from his girl, romantically.
Anyway, in the following few final episodes, I can see a breakdown in Myeong-hui and Mun-sik’s marriage. I don’t know what will happen but in an earlier episode, after having Myeong-hui push his hand away as she refused medicine, we saw Mun-sik breaking a glass of cold water on the floor. I couldn’t help but think of how Mun-sik would be willing to destroy Myeong-hui as a last resort if she comes to uncover the deception that founded their marriage. But I’d like to think whatever danger Myeong-hui might find herself in towards the end, that Healer and Mun-ho would come to save the day, and help her break free from the chains of Mun-sik.
Early in the series Mun-ho jokingly asked, “Nuna, how about you leave your husband and come live with me in Seoul? I’ll buy you a comfortable house and take care of you.” But of course hyeong catches him red handed. I kinda wanna see some kind of open ending with a possibility of Mun-ho’s joke coming true.
I think the inciting incident was moving Ji An’s grave which was empty. Mun Ho mentioned this to his brother in an earlier episode.
Thanks, KFG!
You all have covered quite a bit of the important parts below (plus a very interesting tangential discussion ๐) so I just wanted to mention a few moments that captured my attention this time:
– Jong Soo got left behind again. He really is going to need therapy.
– Detective Yoon saying to Moon Ho, “Oh yes, Chae Young Shin is here. We’ve had a very pleasant time talking, time has flown so fast.” (paraphrase)
– Ahjumma dancing around her lair a couple times. She does seem quite capable of entertaining herself. Plus – does she ever sleep in a proper bed, at a decent hour?
– Jung Hoo is so sweet and tender with Young Shin in his lair and on the bus. But once he’s in Moon Ho’s presence again, he’s cold and short with him. He started out feeling antagonistic toward Moon Ho, and there are still flashes of it now.
– Yoo Ji Tae really brought it to these two episodes – Moon Ho’s anger with his brother, his professionalism in giving the broadcast, his regret toward, and brotherly love for, Young Shin. Plus YJT is quite tall. And I can’t stop looking at his hair.
@The_sweetroad – YJT – for me, it’s that slightly protruding front tooth.
@ beez, his tooth doesn’t bother me, (looks kind of cute, in his case, adds character, he he) but in general… these koreans are so concerned with their looks, they are ready to sacrifice pain, blood and i am sure a good amount of money, but so many of them have crooked teeth. i guess this is not considered a disturbance to their looks. as an expert on such issues, what is your take on it?
sweetroad, totally agree with you on yoo ji tae. now he joined my favorite korean actors list. do you know any other dramas with him? i know something is in the works, but what is already existing and promising?
HI Eda! Healer is the only thing I’ve seen with him. BUT I heard his drama, Mad Dog, was good. Looks like he’s in a bunch of films, too: https://asianwiki.com/Yoo_Ji-Tae
thanks, i’ll check it out.
Nice to see some YJT appreciation posts ๐ and many thanks for the same.
I have a huge crush on him in this drama and as rightly said these two episodes are some of his best. Honestly if you don’t have your eyes fixed on him, it is easy to get absorbed into JCW and Park Min (and other characters as well) acting as everyone does a good job in this drama.
And for me it’s his face that does the trick.
And for me itโs his face that does the trick.
Hee hee, that’s some true fangirling right there.
Agree with you that everyone is doing a great job in this drama. These days I’m especially enjoying all the interactions and funny comments in the Someday News newsroom. The guy with glasses is pretty grumpy, but understandably so.
Are you going to watch Money Heist with YJT as The Professor? Word is it will be released sometime this year.
I โค the grumpy nerd with glasses. He gets the bulk of work to do. Without him where would Someday News be?
He is so great. And all his fashionable sweaters. ๐
Really, all the fashion/ costuming in this show is very well thought-out. I like that the Someday News editor guy is always in a cardigan and more “old-fashioned” clothes, but the guy with the glasses has his own “flair” shall we say. Young Shin is always professional at work and cozy at home. And ahjumma just wears whatever the heck she wants. And her hair! Moon Ho is sharply-dressed (do we ever see him in comfy clothes?), and Myung Hee is dressed kind of boringly…but then again, no one except her household is going to see her. And Bong Soo/ Healer costuming is so good…you know exactly what vibe he’s going for by his clothes. I love it all.
I remember Moon ho wearing jeans but they didn’t look comfortable at all! ๐ More like jeans in the 1950’s made out of rough material and called dungarees. ๐๐ And he cuffed them just like the little kids back then. Now that I think of it – just where’d that long tall drink of water find those jeans? He must’ve ordered them online from the Big&Tall shop in the USA. ๐คฃ๐คฃ๐คฃ
Ha!
And – “tall drink of water” made the Disney movie “Tangled” absurdly flash through my mind. That little cupid old guy drunkenly saying, “You look like a tall drink….of water.”
@the_sweetroad – I haven’t watched Tangled yet. It’s been on my Disney watch list forever. But that’s an old southern saying to call somebody a “tall drink of water”. ๐
Yup. And after you watch Tangled, you will always picture this little drunk Cupid saying it. Let me know when you’ve seen it. ๐
@the_sweetroad – it somehow always gets pushed to the back burner. I recently watched Encanto and the big Red one that I can’t remember it’s name right now.
I also need to watch the Hawaian one and there’s another one from around the time of Tangled that I can’t think of right now.
I finally watched Tangle yesterday and saw the drunk gnome (or whatever he is). lol
๐๐๐ Hahahaha. Isn’t it a cute movie? And that flying gnome….I don’t know what makes him so special – his size, his age, his drunkenness, his nose, or the Cupid wings. The whole package is memorable.
I love that movie so much. Speaking of which, have you ever watched Chuck? The TV show about the nerdy CIA asset and the beautiful CIA agent who’s assigned to protect him?
No. And outs a shame because I โค Adam Baldwin. But that’s back when I was working and by the time that I discovered the show, it was almost over. I don’t think there was a way to binge all the previous seasons back then.
Adam Baldwin is great! I’ve only seen him in Chuck and Firefly but his delivery is spot-on.
We’ll have to see if Chuck comes to the streaming services at all. We have all 5 seasons on DVD, but what do you know, we no longer have a DVD player. But the first 3 seasons are wonderful. I don’t know you that well, but I think you’d enjoy it :).
I forgot to say that the connection between Tangled and Chuck is that Zachary Levi is the male lead in both ๐
I know I’d like it because I can watch almost anything if a bias is in it. And I did watch a couple of episodes but I just didn’t have time back then and really don’t.like not seeing something from the beginning. I’ll watch for it to see where it’s streaming when I need a break from Kdrama.
sweetroad, ok, so now we are into fashion – i guess girls can’t help it.
i love all young shin’s coats – she has quite a collection, to be envied for. but they all cute and designer.
and how about healer’s leather jackets and other coats – i could not take my eyes of all of them, throughout the whole show. a lot of them were quite a fashion statement.
ahjumma – her gazillion flashy glasses, that is what attracted me (i have to confess, i have a huge collection of glasses, from victorian frames, to 20s – 30s, to super modern, all with my own prescription and mostly tinted in different pastel light colors). myung hee is dressed conservatively but elegant and with taste – everything that she has or touches is with great taste. she reminds me of kim hee ae from secret love affair, of course the fashion style – hardly anybody can compete with kim hee ae. but there is something in there auras that i find similar.
You’re right, Eda, Myung Hee is dressed very elegantly. Agree about the aura and the echoes with Secret Love Affair. They both are just very gentle people. And they both needed to wake up to what life could be!
ooo oo! OMO! I totally disagree. The two characters may both appear genteel, but the SLA FL is anything but gentle. She and Myung hee may give all the same type of quiet class and both may wear elegant pieces, but that’s it.
beez, i totally agree with you, i did not imply in any way that mh as a character is similar in any way to the character of kim hee ae in secret love. the notion that they are both gentle is not my idea AT ALL and i do not agree with this notion. they do have that quiet class, as you say, both are very beautiful women and actresses and as i said there are auras around them that feel similar to me.
Hehe, and I do think Oh Hye Won carries herself gently, but she is made of steel. But maybe “quiet class” is a better description than gentle. She has slow movements, she’s kind to friends and students, and even appears docile to all her slimy superiors, even though she’s on her own side and not on theirs…Compare her to her hot-tempered husband, and I do think there’s a gentleness about her.
Inwardly, though…a truer gentleness comes out when she’s with SJ.
But Myung Hee’s gentleness is on a different level, I can agree with that.
i guess, you have a point too. but if you want to call it a form of gentleness, it’s of a totally different quality.
Agreed…a totally different quality between the two. This has been a helpful discussion. I kind of threw out my original comment, but you all made me think harder about the two women :). Myung Hee is truly gentle, inside and out…and OHW appears gentle, but the entire time she’s playing a game. With SJ her truer gentleness can come out.
See, I view FL of SLA like those predator teachers. She’s a skank and I can’t stand her. And that’s why I didn’t partake in the rewatch. (I’m laughing cause I know that is going to be such an unpopular opinion.) ๐คฃ๐คฃ๐คฃ
Ha! Those are fighting words for people who love SLA! I watched SLA but I didn’t LOVE it, as it moved way too slowly for me and there were so many backstabbers in the show. Plus adultery.
But I know SLA fans enjoy watching OHW outmaneuver everyone and fall in love with pure-hearted SJ. You call her a skank, and they cheer her on. It’s a funny dichotomy to observe. ๐คฃ
@the_sweetroad – I could write so much more but then we’d have to move to the SLA threads and I’m not up for that fight. ๐
Nah. No need. Like I said, I didn’t love the show and am not all that invested in it. Talking about Healer is much more fun.
Dit-to-the-TOE! ๐
@Beez – ๐ ๐คฃ๐๐
beez and sweetroad, i am sorry you did not enjoy this show, really.
you all know how much i love healer, well sla is on the same level for me, so you can imagine.
anyway, adultery. if you do not have a husband, then there is no adultery, right? if you have a non-husband type of husband, it can not be adultery either. living as a married couple, only because you were once married, but the actual marriage (which includes sex as an integral part of a union defined as marriage) disintegrated into nothing, then the union is a fake one as a marriage. that was the marriage of the fl in sla, add to this all the nastiness of the so called husband. should a woman,(or man) be condemned to tolerate and suffer when it gets to such a point of unbearableness? and let me just add, it is not easy to get a divorce and get out of an unbearable situation like this the easy way. there is nothing easy in a divorce, and many times takes a long time to finally get there.
sla in reality was an incredibly touching love story, and as a drama, accompanied with the most amazing music, not just as a background but as an integral part of the story and characters, yes, the drama was smashing in it’s beauty and art expression.
i talked about it much while we were watching it, so i am done, not going to continue, even if anybody choses to respond. how did we get again to mm and sla?
Just to clarify – I did like SLA and was glad I watched it; I just didn’t love it. It was well-done, beautiful to look at, and as a piano player I loved the focus on the classical pieces.
I think my main niggle with the show was how slow it was. But that’s completely my personal preference. And the adultery…in my sensibilities I’d prefer people to get divorced first and officially lay a bad marriage to rest, instead of cheat and sneak around. But again – that’s just me. I didn’t really have an issue with OHW getting out of that marriage – it was dead, and probably should never have been.
By the way, the actor who played the husband is also in Dream High, and also in The Producers in a very silly, very funny role. To then see him in SLA in a serious role was great! I like him (the actor, not the husband).
How did we get onto SLA? By comparing Myung Hee to OHW, lol.
And we got onto MM today because we were having some strange happenings on the MM threads.
@the_sweetroad @eda especially – the actor – Park Hyuk-Kwon – is great in Six Flying Dragons. (oops! just remembered I’m supposed to be checking on your progress with watching on n your computer/tv. I’m coming now).
sweetroad,
i said i am not going to dwell on SLA, but just to clarify:
in my sensibilities Iโd prefer people to get divorced first and officially lay a bad marriage to rest,
i completely agree with you, that would be my preference too. but… there is a big but… life is not THAT simple. getting out of a marriage demands courage, determination, energy and a lot of money, and in general to be able to tolerate all the dirt and abuse from different sources that will come one’s way. simply put, it’s not simple and not easy. sometimes it is necessary to have an external push (which can be a blessing in disguise). the character of yai in SLA and the developing feelings and finally the realization of the fl’s conclusions of her entire life – these were the necessary push for the fl to finally get out of her failed marriage. that is how i see it.
Eda, after I wrote the above I remembered how difficult it was to get a divorce in Korea (since I had researched it for My Mister!) so I agree with you – SJ was the final push that she needed to get out of that failed marriage and (frankly) crazy life. Glad you’re still engaging me on SLA! ๐ ๐
@eda – I never said I didn’t thoroughly appreciate SLA – for the quality of the writing, the story, and especially the acting. I made an observation of the way I feel about the FL.
I have watched it twice because of the quality but at the time of the group watch here, I was not in the mood for it and probably never will watch it again. Similar feelings for My Mister. Can’t deny its quality but will never watch it again.
beez, sounds like you almost ready to go the office and help out!
Er, been there, done over 30 years of that. No, thank you!
Thanks :-). I have written an appreciation post for him under the Healer drama review in this blog. Just that the character of Moon Ho was well-written and YJT played it so beautifully as well. I am yet to watch his other works but Mad Dog is in my list and I am planning to watch Money Heist K-version just for him (haven’t seen the Spanish one yet).
Lets enjoy rest of the group watch for this month.
if you watch mad dog please let us know how you enjoy it or not. i have so much on my list, but would like to know whether i should add this one.
butting in to say that I liked it.
@Beez – good to know as I have had Mad Dog queued up on V for months. I was unsure whether to watch or not.
I sent you a virtual hug today Miz B as I watched the dark side on my new Firestick…I could not have done it without ya!
@phl1rdx – I enjoyed Mad Dog immensly, phl ๐
@All – it’s a go then. It is moving on up to top slot. I need to fill the hole where Be My Princess was (and that is a big hole to fill).
@phl1rdx – that is a big hole to fill!
Sean – gotta admit, I am having a major Taifu withdrawal.
Phl – I am still digesting the final episodes – including goose bumps (go figure) – amazing!
@phl1rxd @Seank – goosebumps?
So when I saw you guys discussing this drama before, I looked and it looked historical. But when I googled it just now, it looks modern day? Which drama is it that’s causing these gushing goosebumps?
@Beez – it is two dramas in one. It is a period drama within a modern day drama. Two for the price of one. Be My Princess. I cannot get over how much I loved it. You would know by the end of E2 if it is for you.
Ahhhh. I see. Thanks.
I wouldn’t want to make the same mistake I made when I started Lost in 1949. I thought it was a time travel story. lol It was very good, btw.
@Beez @phl1rxd – there are these sweeping, majestic scenes during the historical part re the ML’s desperation to get home and save the princess. No other show does it better (and I mean all shows). Jeremy as the ML is a stand out during these moments. He put everything into it!
We’ll see. ๐ถ (skeptical face)
๐ฑ๐ฑ๐
@Beez – This drama really moved me. Yes, it is cheesey in parts and sometimes tropey (modern part) but the drama owns these proudly. In spite of the paths the story line takes at times, the actors actually have real conversations and deal with the cray cray pretty quickly.
I think you would know by the end of E2 if this is for you. You might not sync with it. I realize it is not for everyone, but it definitely was for me. So far, my top CDrama of 2022 and now in my Top Ten list of CDramas.
seankflethecher, doesn’t it sound a bit like the queen and i, that we are going to see next in our group watch?
@Eda – while it does have that same ‘feel’, BMP really is different. In Queen In Hyun’s Man (a really excellent drama) for example, the ML travels back and forth in time continually. I cannot say more on BMP as I do not want to spoil if you decide to watch. Both dramas have one thing in common though – they are all about the love.
Both dramas are excellent and rank very high on my drama lists. And, I am going to say that the OTP in BMP is as good as the OTP in TROP (which is really saying something as, IMHO, the OTP chemistry in TROP is the ‘best of the best’ in drama world).
@phlrxd – regarding TROP – I’m still confused. Where did you and @eda see all this chemistry? And I luff FL in Show. I somehow have a disconnect. Or maybe I did that thing that I do where I fall asleep on a show and never realize that I did. Now I definitely saw her chemistry with (help me out @eda cause I can’t think of The Beast’s character’s nor actor’s name).
And I’ve since changed my mind about TROP’s ML actor after watching Lost in 1949 so if I missed major scenes of the TROP OTP, please tell me. Like most historicals there wasn’t a lot of touching. Did they ever share a kiss? A hug? I only remember that ML would find ways to get FL out of tight spots (but, of course, can’t remember specifically what). Do you guys know of anywhere that recapped or reviewed Show so I can refresh my memory?
@Beez – I gave up trying to find the Stranger comment where Sean calls the relationship between the two leads as ‘understated attraction/love/longing?‘. Sean will have to help me out as my memory fails me. Anyway, key word here is understated.
It is the mystery and pull of the TROP‘s OTP’s intense attraction to each other that pulled me in Miz B. I found it sizzling, quite cracky and mysterious (hidden aspects).
The first few minutes of TROP‘s E25 was IT for me. Chen Kun brought it. ๐ฅ
Eda will have to confirm this, but I think he kisses her under the water?
@phl1rxd – I am scratching my head too – but challenge accepted ๐๐๐
Sean – no worries as it is buried deeply in this blogosphere of awesomeness somewhere and would take a long time to find…time you could spend watching more drama.
In short, we were discussing the relationship between the leads in Stranger S2 and I mentioned that scene in the restaurant and the unspoken chemistry between the leads and you called it “understated something (attraction/love/longing)” and it made a distinct impression on me. Suffice it to say, I totally understood what you meant and agreed with it. You also mentioned it in regards to Longest Day in Chang’an.
Oh dear, I am getting too old as I can’t remember where it was. At least you know I really do pay attention to your comments! ๐๐
@phl – yes, I do recall my comments re the understated relationships in both shows. The understated nature is key to the effectiveness of the story in both dramas.
You are always very generous when it comes to my comments and I appreciate that enormously ๐
๐๐๐๐
WHAT!!! Slaps and kisses! And I’m missing all this?!
(Slaps is in reference v to the info @MariaF just have me b that ML slapped FL on My Mister)
@Beez – I am laughing over here. I can’t believe that you cannot remember the beginning of E25. No slaps and barely a kiss and it was cracky as all get-out.
beez,
i would gladly watch it with you, totally, it will be the 9th or 10th time for me. i never get tired of it. and yes, they did kiss, and hug, not much, but there is definitely the most incredible attraction, tension, even “closet” sexuality, – it’s all there – but intense and exploding. your “beast” is helian zheng- the prince and later king of some kind of primitive far away tribal kingdom, jinshi tribe. ( i thought you were attracted to his facial hair, but once you saw him in lost in 1949 as the pilot in love, but clean shaven, i think it was a bit of a disappointment), there was no real chemistry between helian and fengzhiwei, (fl) she was not attracted to him ever, she disliked his antics and barbaric ways and talk, and rudeness, but gradually accepted him as a friend. he pushed for more. that’s all.
let’s do it, that is one drama that i would love to share with you more than any other production.
c’mon beez, say yes.
@eda – I watched the first 5 minutes of ep 25 and I was grossed out that he was on top of her with his weird ways. But I’ve decided to rewatch the last few minutes of ep 24 to see why he ended up there. Maybe then when I watch the beginning of ep 25, I’ll feel differently about it.
o beez, you are taking it out of context. promise you, he had every reason to end up in that position in ep.25. but you need to get the whole development of the story, not just an episode. this is truly important in this case.
phl,
wow, we both share this incredible admiration and love for the OTP in trop. so that seals the deal. tomorrow. and thanks for the intro.
@eda – as per phl1rxd below ๐
sean,
i’ve got to see your “goose bumps”, that’s as serious as it can get.
will start be my princess tomorrow (you and phl pushed it to the very top)
guys, what are you talking about, what is taifu? phl, if you are having a withdrawal it must be a “heavy drug” hit. share, please.
@Eda – I unexpectedly fell in love with the drama Be My Princess and Taifu was the name of the ML. It ended yesterday…sigh.
@Seank @phl1rxd – I watched 2 episodes yesterday. ๐
@phl1rxd – Don’t expect any major romance in Mad Dog. But it’s good.
sean, phl and sweetroad, i need your help.
i was looking for be my princess on youtube, and stumbled on a chinese movie, and saw young hu ge (more handsome than in any other movie i saw with him), but it was with no english subs. i watched a bit, just to see what it was about. so, there are some kind of archeological sites there, all the people are in some white protective suites, with gloves and gargles and all. then hu ge is in a jeep (i think, or something like this), driving, and a big stack of lumber falls on the road, blocking his way. as he tries to remove it, another man snicks a snake into hu ge’s car, and when hu ge starts driving, the snake bites his hand.
i am very earger to know what is this movie, and hopefully being able to see it.
does anybody have a clue? thanks in advance.
@Eda, I asked my family and they have no idea ๐ .
thanks sweetroad and sorry for the bother. i still do not want to give up hope, may be somebody from this community will know, or may be KFG. i hate to bother her, she has so much on her plate, but if she just knows without putting too much time and effort into this, i would appreciate to hear it.
@Eda – I am drawing a blank as well.
@ Eda – I had a good look through everything I could find re Hu Ge, but drew a big blank ๐ค
sean and phl,
thank you guys for looking for hu ge. that looked such a promising thing, o well. but how could hu ge NOT be found, he’s not a needle in the haystack. may be it will miraculously show up one day, it’s just that he looked so smashing in this.
I think I got it! lol
Now we just need to convince @eda harris that it’s super easy to set up.
@Beez @Eda – it is super easy! I am so happy Miz B! ๐ฅฐ๐๐ฅฐ๐
Eda – I had my 1st Firestick for 5 years and I used it all the time. Great investment if you don’t already have one.
beez, phl and seanfletcher, thank you for your confidence in me, unfortunately i am not that confident at all, and it is based in my unfortunate reality when it comes to computers, electronics, etc. i explained in detail my “handicap” to beez. trust me, i would love to have what you have, but i have a block in my brain, and i do not believe that i can do it. although beez sent me a detailed, VERY DETAILED, explanation of how to do it. i did not understand any of it, nada. have to accept my own reality, it is a sad one when it comes to issues like this.
It’s worth a look, Eda ๐
seankflether and phl, so now you both created a dilemma for me – should be my princess be my next of mad dog? although, i am under the heavy influence of yjt charms right now from healer. so,” is it west or is it east”?
@eda – Be My Princess ๐
got it. thanks.
by the way, did you see lost in 1949?
@eda – no, I wasn’t planning to as I quite often find these type of shows during that era quite disappointing, but it looks like I might have to give it a shot. Perhaps, after The Imperial Age, which is next on my Cdrama list!
it is worth it, if only for one of the most incredible spectacular acting in any drama, by chen kun. and i mean not just amongst chen kun dramas, but all dramas in general.
Sean – I was eye-balling The Imperial Age as well. Hmm, I am going to take a look at that…after I finish Love of Thousand Years. I need some Sean skills right now to get to all the dramas I want to watch.
Phl – My omnipresent drama eyeball is under pressure at the moment!
So, there I was last night with a range of CDramas and Jdoramas lined up and ready to start and I ended up out of the blue watching the CDrama: Female CEO Love Me – a very short 12 ep web drama with a total run time of 90mins. It is cute, tropey as anything, but a totally good, fluffy distraction.
I may need to make some hard choices re what to watch ๐ I have ignored Jdramaland for far too long and I need to do something about it. I have three dramas at least to start there.
My omnipresent drama eyeball…
He finally admits it! I knew there was some hoodoo going on!
@Beez – Gee whiz Miz B, I only gave him one set of eyeballs. But at least I gave him 6 arms. ๐ ๐คฃ๐๐
@phl1rxd – yeah, those six arms are because he’s busy, but don’t explain the ability to watch everything.
@Beez – when my daughter was about 4 years old I told her I had eyes in the back of my head. Of course kids at that age have no hesitation in saying that’s not true, but she double checked the back of my head in any case.
Anyway, I then had my back to her at the time, and because you have a pretty good idea what your kids are getting up to at that age, I said – well right now you are doing blah blah blah … there was total silence. She’s never forgotten it ๐
๐ I did that with my son too. My daughter was (and still is) always way to smart to get suckered into that.
Our three always argue who is the smartest out of them – I always ay I haven’t heard a convincing arguement yet ๐
lol Similar experience with my son.
phl, ha ha ha, you are generous.
@phl1rxd, @Beez – yes, and very “handy” at that ๐
@Beez – The Eye of Sauron springs to mind ๐๐๐คฃ
Shoooooot! That measley one dimensional-can’t-see-without-a-ring don’t have nothing on you! (As you can see, I have zero recollection of what the eye could and could not see. Lol But you feel the sentiment, I’m sure. ๐
@Beez – I really do appreciate the sentiment, Beez ๐๐๐
Sean – I snort-laughed at the eyeball vision I just saw in my mind.
I will sometimes do that myself – just check out a quick dorama to relieve the pressure of the 16 dramas waiting for me on my Watchlist. ๐ I just went through a spat of doramas myself. Do check out Tokyo Seimenjo if you have not already seen it – a good palate cleanser if you need a break from something heavy.
@phl1rxd – TS is now on the list!
i agree that touch and acts of service are jung-hoo’s love language. he was so starved of (non-violent) human touch at the beginning of show that he was startled and annoyed by it. (as a single, living alone, i can attest to the startling nature of touch, especially in pandemic times.) it’s nice to see him give into that desire now. i think he does it for all the reasons you mentioned, and also as he says, to make sure this is real and not a dream. kind of anchoring himself.
love, love, love the scene, where she pulls down the towel and they stare into each other’s eyes. it’s so symbolic and full of meaning and cute and hot. makes me want to kiss them both.
for the crying – and this has been bothering me. i think you are right, it could be partly relief, but jung-hoo made it a point to tell us he never cried for any human after his mother left him. moon-ho tells him in the last episode, it’s okay to cry, but jung-hoo doesn’t (can’t?) give in and insteads screams. also, the episode is titled It’s Alright Even If You Cry.
so for me it still is about all that pain for that effed up life, which is why the few tears spilt felt not enough… at all. i was waiting for him to truly break down and let it all out. i did not necessarily expect a drawn-out crying scene, but something showing that more than a moment’s time passed.
which is why i initially thought (and still somewhat think) their consummation was about that. you know, how people say that pleasure and pain are close together (or something along those lines). so physical relief might open the door to emotional relief. life-affirming, as you so correctly put it. but then i remember he could barely stand up straight 2 minutes ago and am left wondering how he is consummating anything at all… (normally, this is where fanfics help out, but alas…)
i wanted to shortly touch on the scene where jung-hoo tells moon-ho that he likes young-shin. love it as much as you do. it’s a small beat, but i’ve rewound it so often and paused on his small smile, grinning like an idiot. i agree with your reasoning. i think the reason moon-ho irks him so much, is because he’s young-shin’s other crush. that never sat well with him. and it’s so like moon-ho: realizes in episode 13 that healer/jung-hoo likes young-shin (welcome to the party mr. star reporter) and it takes him all of 1.5 episodes to try to use that knowledge to his advantage. ugh.
which brings me to moon-ho not telling young-shin about her mother. it’s as you say – once he tells her, he can’t control who she shares what with. and for moon-ho, (sharing of) information is all about power and controlling those around him. he learned that from moon-sik. it’s why i never completely warmed up to the character. this approach is necessary for his job, but sucks in personal relationships.
when he says that moon-sik believed himself he never did anything wrong, i was actually prepared to cut him some slack. i mean, moon-sik seems to be a master gaslighter and it can be hard to cut trough that kind of bull and manipulation. but by episode 17, i personally – no spoilers here – wanted to strangle him again.
i read reviews where viewers complained that young-shin only got 15 mins to deal with this earth-shattering news, yet jung-hoo wallowed for a week (episode) in his pain. (their words, not mine.) however, i always felt it was true to her character, how they built her up to this point. and while i do not like her forgiving moon-ho so easily, again, i think it’s in character for her. chae young-shin really is one of my favourite woman characters, with all her faults and grace.
also, did you ever notice that she shares some major traits with ahjumma? mainly the cussing, the scolding, the ordering-around, the quick wit? i’d love for someone to point that out to jung-hoo… lol. or how jung-hoo scolds young-shin for only calling him back after he tried to reach her three times! oh the injustice! and a nice call-back to all the times young-shin badgered bong-su with questions and amonishments for not picking up.
lastly, i really appreciate that show knows how to use comedy to bring some levity to their heavier material. at least it’s my kind of humour, so dad’s and ahjussi’s reactions, as well as young-shin park-bong-su-ing the detective really are a ball for me. young-shin when she mimics how she was blindfolded or how healer constrained her is superb. ๐
@zipp
๏ปฟi was waiting for him to truly break down and let it all out. i did not necessarily expect a drawn-out crying scene
I agree. The situation warranted him letting it all out. And he probably wouldโve, but YS was right there, kissing him. Canโt really blame the guy for getting distracted.
then i remember he could barely stand up straight 2 minutes ago and am left wondering how he is consummating anything at allโฆ
Healer was weak, when he woke up. But then YS fed him. Again, being a young guy and alone with a woman he loves probably helped a bit.
viewers complained that young-shin only got 15 mins to deal with this earth-shattering news, yet jung-hoo wallowed for a week (episode) in his pain.
I agree with you that YSโs fast recovery and ability to forgive โwas true to her characterโ.
But I feel there are other factors at play, besides differences in their personalities.
Their situations were different too. Yes, YS was shocked, but she gained something (someone), so to speak. Healer experienced a huge loss. And guilt. His teacher was murdered, supposedly instead of him. And Healer lost SY (or so he thought). He wasnโt going to let her be next to him for safety reasons.
also, did you ever notice that she shares some major traits with ahjumma?
Good point! YS is a bit bossy alright. I wonder if thatโs why she wanted a hoobae.
The situation warranted him letting it all out.
i think the two tears made even a more powerful statement, for a guy who never cries. what did you envision, healer falling apart into sobs – that’s just not his character. i think it was a very touching scene as is, it did not need any “enforcement”.
@Eda
Well, I said the situation warranted. I didnโt say I wouldโve preferred him to fall apart into sobs. I agree with you: that scene is perfect the way it is.
@Eda
And to add to I wrote earlier:
Speaking of crying.
I read an interview with Meryl Streep once about her movie โThe Bridges of Madison Countyโ.
There was a scene, where Clint Eastwoodโs characters was supposed to be crying. Eastwood was the director, so everyone expected him to film it in such a way that would demonstrate his craftsmanship as an actor (crying, suffering, etc.)
๏ปฟBut all he did was turn away to hide his tears. He said it would be more powerful and more in line with what his character would do.
My running thoughts jotted down as I watched:
As KFG alluded to, I remembered a lot of fans had issues about Jung hoo sleeping with Young shin without telling her his name, but he provided the opening but she had other things on her mind (not allowing him to make her leave) so she didn’t ask. He said “there’s so much I’m hiding from you”. She said “I don’t care.” And from where it went from there, it wasn’t exactly the mood to show her his driver’s license. ๐
He really looks content as she sleeps and he takes in her entire body. And this time I don’t mean anything sexual. It’s as if he’s just appreciating that she’s his and she’s there with him. He’s still processing is this real or a dream.
One thing, I’m sure you all have noticed in most Kdramas is the couple consummates for the first time and then proceed to act like an old married couple with none of that new passion that new love and sex usually bring. I thought this show was very realistic in showing Healer having a bit of a one track mind.๐ That’s how I expect new relationships to be.
As he interrupts her cooking with a kiss, it’s as if he can’t stop looking at her as he kisses her with his eyes open – still trying to confirm she’s really there with him and he’s not dreaming. ๐
I know my entire thought processes seem to be one track mind myself, but I couldn’t help wondering – does Myung hee let Moon shik… ๐คข
Yong shin getting in the car with Moon shik even though she’s hesitant. Ladies! Please take your own cue! Whenever you feel uncomfortable, do NOT get into a vehicle just because you don’t want the guy to feel uncomfortable or you fear insulting him. Public Service Announcement.
When Jung hoo comes to Young shin’s bedroom and wants to reassure Young shin that he would’ve told her about her bio mom if not for Moon ho, saying he beat Moon ho up for her is the last thing she needs to hear right now as she deals with questions of his character because it just confirms his violent tendencies.
The look on his face when faced with her rejection ๐ญ
So glad she accepted him (and let him know that she accepts him) no matter what the outcome, she won’t abandon him.
So warped that both old detectives view it as Jung hoo’s dad’s fault that they lost their jobs instead of being angry with the politicians who created the mess by switching the affidavit, and then firing them for their own twisted and greedy reasons.
@beez but I couldnโt help wondering โ does Myung hee let Moon shikโฆ
No need to worry, she didnโt.
But how do you know?
I answered in the spoiler thread, because Iโm not sure if we can discuss it here yet. I canโt remember.
Thanks, I saw your answer over there.
Ah, @beez, you and me both, one track minds running in the same track… You are definitely right, the usual kdrama post-coital scene is… not what one might expect. More than once I’ve been like, wait a ding-dang minute, I was sure they were intending us to infer that this couple just danced the horizontal Mambo, but they sure ain’t acting like it….
And yeah, the first time I saw this, I confess I was very curious if Moon-shik and Myung-hee had that kind of relationship, but (this should be in the spoiler thread… Let’s just say I’m pretty confident the question gets fairly definitively answered somewhere in the last two episodes).
@Trent – yup. In a lot of dramas, the couple finally “willed” as in “will they/won’t they”. But then they go right back to the story as it was. No change in their behavior around each other. No hidden touches or knowing looks. I expect a newly consummated couple, usually the guy, to want to “follow up” soon (so to speak). ๐
Trent – ๐คฃ๐๐ ๐๐คฃ๐๐ ๐ you really do ‘have the best words’.
@phl1rxd — you know I’m just here to amuse you and beez, right? ๐
Trent – I am definitely amused!
@Trent – keep up the good work!
in most Kdramas is the couple consummates for the first time and then proceed to act like an old married couple with none of that new passion
I wonder what explains that.
These couples act as if they started taking bromide all of a sudden.
You got me MariaF. I googled “bromide” then “what is bromide used for”. If you’re talking about the usual Kdrama couples, then I assume it tamps down the sex drive? Or if you’re talking about Healer’s OTP, then it amps it up?
If I remember correctly, bromideโs side effect is a decreased libido. There were rumors that it was put into soldiersโ food during WWI. Which most likely wasnโt true.
I always heard it as saltpeter (potassium nitrate) being the libido-killing additive.
(For ex.: https://www.militarytimes.com/off-duty/military-culture/2021/09/22/saltpeter-for-sex-drives-and-the-urban-legend-of-the-militarys-libido-manipulation/)
@Trent – “…used to preserve meat, temper steel, and to make gunpowder and fireworks.” Wow. I still have no idea what it is. A powder? A liquid?
Okay. I googled it and – DUH! *head clunk* ๐
There is no scientific evidence that saltpeter decreases libido.
Bromide is a sedative, so there were reports of โside effectsโ. But since itโs a sedative, it was very unlikely that soldiers were given it, especially during wars.
Its interesting that this show inspired this kind of conversation.