Welcome to the Open Thread, everyone! The cuteness between our OTP is making me grin lots of goofy grins; I hope you guys are having a good time with this one too! ❤️
SOME IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS, before we begin:
ZERO SPOILER POLICY
1. We will be adopting a ZERO SPOILER POLICY for this Open Thread, except for events that have happened in the show, up to this point.
The spoiler tags don’t work in email notifications, therefore, please take note that WE WILL NOT BE USING SPOILER TAGS FOR THIS OPEN THREAD.
ANY AND ALL SPOILERS WILL BE REDACTED to protect first-time viewers in our midst (although, I’d appreciate it if you would save me the trouble of having to redact spoilers, heh 😅).
This includes, but is not limited to, how characters &/or relationships develop, later in the show.
We need to protect the innocent! 😉
SPOILER ZONE
2. HOWEVER!! If you’d like to discuss spoilers from a rewatcher’s point of view, I’ve created a SPOILER ZONE for you, where you can discuss all the spoilers you’d like, without the need for spoiler warnings. You can find it here!
Without further ado, here are my reactions to this set of episodes; have fun in the Open Thread, everyone! ❤️
My thoughts
Episode 5
Welp. It’s confirmed. I pretty much have constant hearts in my eyes, when Boong Do and Hee Jin are in the same timeline, and are sharing the screen, but find my attention wandering somewhat, when they are apart.
These two basically carry this entire show, with their cuteness and chemistry, and I can’t get enough of the two of them, together. 😍
It’s kind of rom-com clichéd that Hee Jin gets caught by Soo Kyung, and gets bundled into the car where Soo Kyung proceeds to grill Boong Do, but because this is when Boong Do gets clued in that there are other ways of saying goodbye, I’m happy to just roll with it.
Also, Hee Jin’s cover story, that Boong Do’s a university student who’s helping her study history for her role as Queen In-hyun, is a pretty decent one, I think. It’s.. not terribly far from the truth, except for the part where he comes from 300 years ago. 😅
And even though Soo Kyung’s warning to Boong Do to be careful of Hee Jin putting the moves on him feels kinda out there (again, rom-com lens to the rescue), Boong Do’s amused expression, and polite bellow of a laugh, followed by him trying to quash his involuntary grins, makes it all worthwhile.
Seriously, Boong Do trying to suppress his smiles around Hee Jin, is one of Show’s big highlights. He just looks so amused – and also, kind of smitten – in spite of himself.
It’s just like Hee Jin, to have been so distracted by her impulse to kiss Boong Do in the elevator, that she’d forget that elevators tend to be fitted with CCTV cameras, pfft.
But how timely, though, that going back to the library to check on the CCTV footage (which doesn’t exist, thanks to a conveniently timed CCTV breakdown, heh), puts Hee Jin in a position to spot Boong Do sneaking back into the library, after hours.
I am a sucker for Boong Do and Hee Jin to share screen time for any reason at all, so I have absolutely no complaints about this. 😁
How very helpful of Hee Jin, to race over to Boong Do, to advise him on how to avoid the CCTV cameras. I’m sure it didn’t have anything to do with the fact that she’s attracted to him and would like to see him again, heh. 😉
And how swoony of Boong Do, to indicate that the fact that they keep running into each other, must be inevitable (read: fated) rather than mere coincidence.
In real life, that might be eye-rollingly cheesy, but in this drama world, coming from Boong Do, somehow, it lands as rather melty, and my heart wobbles in response. 💓
Hahaha, that when the topic of goodbyes comes up, Hee Jin claims that the method she’d taught Boong Do, is the most courteous and emotional, with the best manners.
Is that.. why Boong Do goes after Hee Jin, to pull her in for a kiss?
I mean, he says that that’s the reason for the kiss, but my gut tells me otherwise.
First, there’s the way he sighs to himself, just for a beat, before he goes after her and pulls her back by the wrist, to kiss her. This makes me feel that he’d been fighting himself, and finally gives in to the urge to kiss her.
Second, this kiss totally reminds me of how Hee Jin had first kissed him, thinking that she’d never see him again, in that it has a similar energy; it feels like he kisses her, because this is plausibly the last chance he’ll have to kiss her, given that he’s unlikely see her again, once he returns to his time.
Of course, it’s still possible that Boong Do believes what Hee Jin had told him, that this is a normal way of saying goodbye in 2012.
However, my gut says that most likely, he’s playing along with Hee Jin’s chosen cover story – but as far as he’s concerned, because this kissing thing is only done between lovers in his time, this isn’t just any old goodbye, from his point of view.
Plus, there’s just no mistaking the way his eyes light up with delight, each time he look at her, or in her general direction. 🤩
Much as I care for Boong Do’s safety, I have to confess that I was less interested in the plot to poison him, back in Joseon.
I was just glad and relieved that Boong Do’s time at the library, had apprised him of these events, so that he’d know how to save himself – thereby changing the course of history (which is pretty mind-boggling, come to think of it).
Poor Hee Jin, though. She gets so worried about Boong Do, when she finds out from the online chronicles, that Boong Do dies on Jeju Island, at the age of 27.
Not gonna lie; it gave me SUCH a thrill, that Hee Jin picks up that call with the Jeju area code, and hears Boong Do’s voice on the other end of the line.
Ahhh!!! He’s not only alive, he’s here in 2012! HUZZAH!!
How melty-swoony-adorable is it, that he spent 3 days learning how to use a payphone, so that he’d be able to contact Hee Jin? 😍
I have questions about how he managed to get Hee Jin’s phone number, but that can wait. For now, I’m just so happy that he’s safe, and back in 2012! 🤩
Episode 6
I’d been super curious to know how Boong Do got himself sorted and managed to call Hee Jin, so I’m extremely pleased that Show takes the time to show us just that.
We get insight into how Boong Do gets his hands on that guidebook and some money, and then how he basically teaches himself everything he needs to know, from currency, to getting medicine for his wound at the pharmacy, to how long flights from Jeju Island to the mainland take, to how to use a pay phone.
AND, importantly, Show remembers to fill in that bit of information, of how Boong Do knows Hee Jin’s phone number. How smart, that he’d thought to memorize it, when she’d written it down on that post-it for her car dashboard! 🤩
With Boong Do being as brainy as he is, I can absolutely believe that he’d successfully memorize it, and then retain that information accurately, for when he needed it.
I’ve always loved Boong Do’s extreme adaptability and his calm, analytical approach to solving problems, so these scenes were basically like catnip, to me.
The only thing that we don’t get to see, is how Boong Do gets his new set of clothes, but that’s just foundational to this story, by now.
We know that he steals a set of clothing each time he arrives in 2012, and we’ll just have to suspend disbelief around how he always manages to get a nice set of clothes in his size, along with a beanie – when it doesn’t look like beanies are big in fashion or anything. 😁
And, there’s also suspension of disbelief required in terms of how Boong Do manages to give himself such a professional looking haircut, with just a single pair of scissors, while standing over the sink in a public restroom.
I do wonder why he chose to cut his hair off, though. It’s not like his attacker chopped off so much of his long hair, that it could not longer be put up in a topknot.
And it’s not like he doesn’t plan to go back to his time – where he would need a topknot – so I’m quite puzzled about his decision to embrace the short hair of the times.
That said, all of this is really not that important.
What’s important is, Boong Do’s safe in 2012 with Hee Jin, while everyone back in his timeline is losing their minds over why they can’t find him anywhere, muahaha.
In particular, it gives me great satisfaction to see Lord Min Am getting so perplexed over Boong Do’s disappearance, and what his “better card” might be.
The other thing that gives me great satisfaction, is how Boong Do’s smile looks so happy and genuine, when he reconnects with Hee Jin, in 2012.
Both over the phone and in person, he just looks like he can’t stop that twinkle in his eye, when it comes to Hee Jin, and that absolutely gives me a case of the squees. 😍
It’s so like Hee Jin, to jump on a plane to Jeju, in order to see Boong Do – and well, to help him get to the mainland too, of course. Although, I’m really pretty sure that helping him is just an excuse to see him again, heh.
I do love the detail, that because Hee Jin’s drama is about to premiere, Boong Do catches sight of the trailer on a public TV at the airport, and for the first time, sees her beauty, because she’s dressed in a way that’s familiar to him.
Well, yes, I can see how Boong Do wouldn’t be used to the fashion of 2012, although I find it hard to believe that he couldn’t see Hee Jin’s beauty, aside from her Joseon makeover.
I do think that Soo Kyung’s suspicious attitude towards Boong Do is played rather too OTT, but it’s easy enough to shrug off, with a rom-com lens on.
Plus, it’s admittedly quite amusing, when she grills Boong Do on his background, and gets suitably impressed, when he gives her all those truthful answers, which place him as a very rich, very privileged person, heh.
Also, it’s just a relief to have Soo Kyung be nice to Boong Do for a change.
It’s cute how Boong Do and Hee Jin basically flirt their way through that conversation about cause and effect, even though they don’t seem to realize that they’re flirting.
Boong Do reaching out to wipe the coffee milk foam off Hee Jin’s lip is absolutely a player type move, so I’m with Hee Jin on this one. 😁 And, I love how quick Hee Jin is, to pick up on the cause and effect line of argument, and then turn it all back on Boong Do.
I luff her. 😂 And I can totally see why Boong Do always looks so amused by Hee Jin, when he’s around her.
Han Dong Min being on the same flight as Hee Jin and Boong Do, is the perfect catalyst for where we end our episode, so even as I’m rolling my eyes at Dong Min’s attempt at a big show to make himself look good as the hero type, I’m actually grateful to him, for making it such that Hee Jin comes right out and claims Boong Do as her boyfriend.
Cute! I love that Hee Jin’s instinct is to protect Boong Do, even at the cost of going public with a fake relationship that might affect her celebrity reputation. More than that, I love the potential for hijinks that we now have, with this fake relationship suddenly on the table.
The way Hee Jin walks over to Boong Do to hold his hand is so sweetly protective, and then the way she looks up into his face, and asks him what the result will be, if the cause is them being in a relationship, is so tentative and vulnerable.
We don’t get to hear Boong Do’s answer, but that look in his eyes, is so gentle, so tender and so intent, all at the same time, that I find myself in a melted puddle of squee. Glug. 😍
Does Boong Do read Hangul?
snow flower, hangul was introduced in the year 1443 by king sejong the great. kim boong do in our drama is from year 1694, so there is no reason that he would not know hangul.
btw, there is a very interesting and thought provoking drama completely dedicated to king sejong and the whole process of creating hangul. if it interests you, you might want to check it out (if you haven’t seen it already, you seem to be quite a seasoned korea drama fan) – tree with deep roots.
@eda — I suspect the reason Snow Flower asked the question is not because she doesn’t know the history and timing of Hangul’s creation, but because at first, and for a long time after, it was despised by the scholarly elite, looked down on as vulgar and even actively suppressed. The scholar-official class was used to writing in Chinese characters, and as ardent neo-Confucians, using that to tap into Chinese philosophy, literature, and political trends. As far as I understand, Hangul didn’t really start to get broader elite acceptance until much later, like in the 1800s, and then after the Japanese colonial occupation ended after WWII.
So I’m actually kind of curious about Snow Flower’s question as well. He may have run across Hangul, or know it (it’s really easy to learn, after all), but he may not be very well versed in it, either. It’s a good question.
trent, thanks.
yah, i heard about this, the aristocrats/nobles fiercely objected to hangul, fearing to loose their power over the general population. but, from what i understand, king sejong made it mandatory and included it in the curriculum, especially in higher education. so they might have insisted on using chinese, (which they did) but were exposed to hangul by king’s design of the educational system. if this is not so, please feel free to correct me, i’d like to know.
@Trent, that’s exactly what I was thinking! As a public official, he probably has a familiarity with it, but as nobleman, he likely learned Chinese characters first.
@eda, I noticed that he was very happy when he found the Korean tour guide book with Chinese characters, so I thought he was more comfortable reading those rather than Hangul. But that is consistent with him being a nobleman. I am a big fan of Tree With Deep Roots.
hmmm… i wonder why the koreans would print anything in chinese characters, now, that they have their own letters and proud of it till today (celebrating the day it was introduced, a national holiday). the only thing i could think of – it is done to accommodate chinese tourists?
Hi eda 👋
I’m not rewatching right now so I’m answering without context of the scene you’re talking about. But it’s my understanding that Chinese characters are still included in many things in Korea today. I notice in many modern dramas, characters ask other characters what their name means in Chinese. And many words (not the letters) have their roots in Chinese. There is even a reference tome that I’m always told to refer to but I haven’t yet as I’m intimidated by adding more to my plate. I can’t think of the name of the reference/”dictionary” (for lack of having the right name, but all the online Korean teachers swear that it increases your Korean vocabulary much faster if you refer to it. My point is that Chinese characters are not completely abandoned and ignored. I think it’s taught in school but moreso as a reference to the past’s history, so therefore most Koreans would have a passing familiarity with some of it. I think it’s similar to how we get a few classes, maybe a semester) on Roman Numerals (although Roman Numerals are far less intense with less to learn). But my point is that while I may have forgotten some of the much higher symbols, I recognize most them and can make out a document that utilizes them. I’m not saying that Koreans recognize most Chinese characters because, if I recall correctly, we learned in Tree that there are over 50,000!
thanks, beez, no wonder i designated you my korean counsellor. (and you do live up to my expectations)
Accept my most humble bow 😔
Hahaha, eda! Recommending any drama/movie to Snow Flower that has Jang Hyuk is like recommending Chuno! or Healer to me! Snow Flower is probably the original Jang Hyuk fan. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
In fact, I was surprised to see her commenting here because we usually mostly see her when the thread is about a Jang Hyuk drama (oh. Or a music that heavily features music.)
BTW, Snow Flower, someone left you a comment. Darn! I can’t remember which thread. I think it was a music-related question about one of your comments surg links to you playing. I took the liberty of responding to the person that they probably wouldn’t be hearing from you until another Jang Hyuk drama is being discussed and then you might be around to notice it. 😅
@beez, I have been busy with work in the past weeks, so I did not participate in some of the group watches. But I do read the comments here regularly. I am currently catching up on the Queen In Hyun’s Man, and plan to start Heard It Through The Grapevine. I am super bummed that the new Jang Hyuk drama is not streaming in the US. Do you remember where was the music comment?
@Snow Flower — As well you should be (bummed, that is). I never miss the opportunity to complain about Disney’s inexplicably short-sighted policy to geo-restrict all their new kdrama content. Stupid!!
And doubly so because (to my eyes), Jang Hyuk has been excellent as the powerful minister in that new drama, which right now might be my favorite show…
@Trent, where are you watching Red/Bloody Heart? I thought you were in the US as well.
It’s a fairly convoluted hack, alas, but: you have to VPN (with a decent professional VPN like ExpressVPN or NordVPN) into an Asian server (specifically Japan, is the only one that is working for me right now), and then your Disney+ (U.S. based) subscription will show kdramas only available in the APAC region. Like Bloody Heart, Love All Play, and Soundtrack #1 (which I also loved lots and lots).
It’s very frustrating, but what can you do?
And this is why I won’t let go of The Dark Side (and I don’t feel as guilty as I should about it).
@beez, yeah just on the downlow between you and me…if Disney is going to be so stupid short-sighted about their global access/geo-restricted licensing deals, then they pretty much deserve what the get when it comes to fans accessing The Dark Side.
(I’m going the VPN route for now, just because that gets the original subs and vid copy)
Yup. And the fact that I do pay for Disney also helps with the guilt!
Snow Flower – if I had to guess, probably Secret Love Affair?
I consider myself more of a Chuno fan rather than a Jang Hyuk fan. There are some of his dramas I have not watched because of your warning!
i am also a great fan of dae gil. and like you, i am yet to see anything even remotely on the level of dae gil. it is probably his “crowning glory” forever. even the “tree” is lacking for me in his performance, (in some scenes) although it is one of the MOST educational, thought provoking dramas. but in spite of anybody’s warnings, i still watch anything of his – never give up hope.
@Snow Flower – It’s really only The Great Merchant that is unbearable. I wasn’t thrilled with The Voice but that was mainly because of the way the character is written but it’s probably good that they switched it up so he’s not Dae gil/Ddol in every drama. I also found Wok of Love intolerable (although his part, when he wasn’t mooning over FL, was fabulous).
This show’s OTP is the epitome of SQUEEEEEEEEE! Ah, I love them both so much and the way they interact. No one imposes on the other, it all feels very natural – yes, even the wrist grab! And the wrist grab almost never works for me! I guess a lot of time in our kdrama romances, there’s a fair bit of misunderstanding and friction, but not here. They totally connect, and even when there’s the hint of confusion between them, it’s super cute (like the kiss goodbye).
Oh, but all the misunderstanding and friction comes from literally the rest of the cast and that’s the only downside to this epically wonderful show. I don’t like ANY OF THEM!!! Especially the manager, actually, because she’s supposed to be Hee-jin’s friend too but she’s just yucky to her and our girl deserves kindness not derision. Dear me, she’s worse than even the witchy one and the awful ex-boyfriend – which is saying a lot as they’re dreadful.
As for conniving guy in the past – he seems a tad paranoid and unhinged! I kind of like that 😅
Anyway, this is a treat and I love Eda Harris’ comment that this group watch is a group smile – it is 😊 Thank you, kfangurl! xx
@Ele – it is too dog-gone adorable! I have seen it a few times and I am enjoying this as much as my first watch.
Upfront I want to agree with the others that the OTP is definitely a good reason to love this show. I DO love seeing them on the screen together and seeing Boong Do looking at Hee Jin and his laughing at her antics and such is soo cute.
Thank you so much KFG for addressing the fact(that I was a bit confused by) that Boong Do just happens to, after the second time coming to the future(and really just stealing the clothes and backpack), magically always find clothes and shoes that fit him, a beanie and a backpack every time he comes to 2012 and this time he “found” money(I was kinda hoping he would return the bag to the lady that left it behind, but then he wouldn’t have learned all that very important stuff and got money). I guess people on vacation just lose their stuff sometimes.
So happy that Hee Jin is so attached to Boong Do that she is willing to call him her boyfriend just so he wont get in trouble with the police, even though that is most likely to cause some problems for her professionally.
kim, (I was kinda hoping he would return the bag to the lady that left it behind,
he just doesn’t know yet how much we as humans and our consciousness progressed in 300 years! (dahhh) most likely, that in his time nobody dropped money on a dirt road, and in our time we return money if we find it (sometimes, no?)
Great review of these two episodes! I am loving this drama for the 4th time. Still great, and still gets the heart pounding. Yes Fangurl, it is the delicious looks Boong Do gives Hee Jin that make this so worthwhile. Lord Min Am makes me think of Snidely Whiplash – what a great villian! 🤣😂😅
It makes me think that Boong Do plans to stick around for a while because he cut his hair. That is a pretty big step!
I can barely hold myself back from watching more episodes. It is like having your favorite dessert displayed on the table and knowing you can only eat just so much!
Ah this pair of episodes made me smile so much. Hee Jin and Boo Dong are absolutely sparky together and all of the excuses to meet and to kiss are wonderful for me. Han Dong Min is such an idiot but a loveable one. I am enjoying this show so much I’m running ahead, lol. I’m so glad we are doing this on the group watch if not I would not have watched it !
i guess we are all in a “group smile” mode, kind of like a group hug, but since we are on different continents, a group smile seems to be a good substitute. but that’s what this drama and this OTP is doing to us.
we are all elated when this adorable couple is on the screen, but to say that all else is… well…may be unimportant – well, without it there will be no story about our OTP, all these other scenes are brining us to those smiles, this is the backbone of the drama, and the OTP is built and supported by all else.
so for me, although i melt when i see these two on my screen, it is the whole story that works together.
i finished the ep.6, and it was difficult to keep “my horses” back, even that it did see this drama before.
you know, it’s like you go to a nice coffee shop, you have your favorite dessert, slowly savoring it. but soon your plate is empty, and only some faint remnants of the awesomeness is in your mouth. so you want more, but can not have another dessert right now. so that is how i feel, this drama is truly like a dessert, but have to wait for the next time we can all watch it together., so, working on my self-discipline, and did not watch ep. 7!
Aw, a group smile 🥰 Lovely!
One of the great things about this show is it delivers on the popcorn, squee and oh ah moments time and time again. We expect it, it is all about the OTP and it is the key reason I fell in love with this show originally.
Episodes 5 and 6 established the baseline for their relationship. We get to see how clever Boong Do is and how caring Hee Jin is. How magical is the twinkling of his eyes? I just adore her look of wonder on her face – she has clearly never met someone like that before. They are now clearly in each other’s orbit.
My two overriding impressions from these two episodes:
First, I agree with you 100% that, at this point at least, this show is all about the OTP together. When they’re sharing the screen, it’s all light and frothy fun; when they’re not on screen together…it’s kind of meh?
And second, I was seriously annoyed at ex-boyfriend. He’s such a big puffy bag of vainglorious wind, coasting on looks and (undeserved) reputation. Gah. That whole farce on the plane, I just wanted someone to smack him upside the head…
Trent – He’s such a big puffy bag of vainglorious wind – That was perfection! 💯