Boys Before Flowers: Episode 12
by javabeans
EVER so much better. Does one writer get the odd-numbered episodes, and another the even ones? Because this isn’t the first time I’ve noticed Tuesday episodes are much better than Monday ones. (Only one person is credited for scriptwriting this series, so this is a rhetorical question.)
Don’t get me wrong, it was still flawed and cheesy, but I don’t mind cheesiness. Over-the-top cornfluffery is part and parcel of this drama at this point. It just has to make sense in the context of the story. Episode 11, in its context, did not make much sense — and we shouldn’t have to fanwank a story to make it comprehensible.
I think I’m just going to excise Episode 11 from my memory, to the extent I can without plot difficulties.
SONG OF THE DAY
Youme – “참” (Very) [ Download ]
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EPISODE 12 RECAP
Jae-ha admits his villainy and claims credit for everything. He points out the irony of a guy losing his girl at his own mother’s order. It’s too bad Jan-di turned him down, because Jae-ha was planning on splitting the money (from Madam Kang) with her. But, “The moment you rejected my proposal, the goal in my game became one thing: Gu Jun-pyo.”
Jan-di asks why he’s bent on revenge — what exactly did Jun-pyo do to him? Jae-ha answers that technically it was his brother who was wronged — he was F4’s rooftop victim. He’s nearly crippled now, “but he smiles whenever he talks about you.”
It seems his feelings for her were genuine, however: “Yeah, I wanted revenge, but as we became friends, I thought that if you came to me, the revenge didn’t matter.”
Jun-pyo bursts in, his foremost concern for Jan-di’s safety, and asks Jae-ha to let her go. At Jae-ha’s instruction, the guys beat the heck out of Jun-pyo. Sobbing, Jan-di screams for them to stop.
Jae-ha offers to send Jan-di away — if Jun-pyo begs for mercy on his knees. Since begging won’t help Jun-pyo (ostensibly they’ll continue beating him after letting her go), Jan-di yells at him not to do it.
More thrashing. Now Jae-ha instructs him to vow, on camera, that he’ll give up Jan-di. Jun-pyo spits blood (and whoa, fake-blood overload there), saying, “I can’t do that.” Incredulously, Jae-ha asks, “Do you want to die?” Jun-pyo responds, “I don’t want to die, but if you’re going to kill me, what can I do.”
For what it’s worth, since he’s being paid off by Mama Kang, I doubt Jae-ha means to kill him — just maim him a little. Or a lot. Grabbing a chair, Jae-ha demands that Jun-pyo give up Jan-di.
As he swings the chair downward, Jan-di jumps forward to protect Jun-pyo, crumpling to the ground when the chair breaks across her back.
And then, F4 to the rescue! (Arg, no, this is not ALMOST PAAAARADIIIIIIIIIIIIISE. Perhaps the production heard our complaints, because at least we get the instrumental version of the song. But still.)
On the upside, we get to see the F4 boys kicking some ass. Woo-bin takes out several thugs, while Yi-jung is so smooth he delivers a few swift kicks with his hands in his pockets. Even the gentle Ji-hoo gets a bit of action, but in keeping with his sensitive image, he subdues Jae-ha by twisting his arm rather than throwing a punch.
Jun-pyo, badly injured, clutches an unconscious Jan-di.
When she awakens, she’s in a hospital bed, while Jun-pyo sits in a wheelchair at her bedside. He says she nearly scared him to death, which is a sentiment she returns: “Why did you just take the hits? You said you could take on more than ten guys like that with no problem. Liar.”
Jun-pyo: “Idiot. Stupid. Double-digit-IQ dummy. How could I do that when you were captured? I’d rather get all my ribs broken than let them damage one of your fingers. But still, why did you rush in when I was letting them beat the hell out of me? What if something happened?”
Jan-di repeats his words back to him (double-digit IQ, dummy), and they proceed to bicker, which is how we know that all is well.
When Jan-di returns home, her mother and brother are sobbing and their home is in shambles. At first I thought this was Madam Kang’s doing, but turns out Dad got dragged off by loan sharks. (I assume the family took out private loans to stay afloat, although we know there were gambling issues in the past too.) The debt collectors threatened to sell Dad’s organs if they don’t come up with the money right away.
Without other options, Jan-di’s mother swallows her pride and begs for help from Madam Kang. True to her warning, Madam Kang does not issue second chances easily, and coolly says that everything has its systematic order: “Wrongs must be apologized for, debts repaid, then help given. I am a businesswoman, so I cannot abide calculations and procedures that are not conducted properly.”
Mom prostrates herself on the floor; Madam Kang looks pleased behind her paper but shows no emotion to Mom, who takes out a parcel. It’s a bowl of salt, which she pours over her own head, pleading for forgiveness.
Even Madam Kang looks surprised at that. Satisfied now, she extends a hand to Mom. Knowing how frightening she can be, any sign of kindness coming from her is especially ominous.
With Madam Kang’s money, Jan-di’s father is freed. With somber faces, Jan-di’s family explains to her how they got the money — and everyone knows what that means for Jan-di’s relationship with Jun-pyo. Mom argues to keep the money but Dad insists upon returning it, saying that he’ll handle their debt one way or another.
Feeling guilty, Dad asks, “You really like Jun-pyo, don’t you?” She answers, “You’re more important, Dad.”
Dad: “I’m sorry, for being a burden to my daughter’s love.”
Jan-di: “Who said anything about love?”
Dad: “It is. That’s love, Jan-di. That makes him as dear a person to you as your dad.”
Jan-di: “If I’m not sure of that myself, how can you know?”
Dad: “I’ve been Dad to my pretty daughter for 19 years, how could I not know?”
I really like this scene, when Jan-di returns the money — the emotions are played just right, not too extreme or melodramatic. Jan-di’s tone is respectful, and Madam Kang’s is likewise measured and civil. She suggests that in Jan-di’s situation, it would be wise not to stand on her pride foolishly. But Jan-di turns to go, and Madam Kang seems almost a bit desperate when she offers more money.
Madam Kang: “Fine, let’s make a deal.”
Jan-di: “Please don’t insult me or my family anymore.”
Madam Kang: “Then do you really mean to date my Jun-pyo?!”
Jan-di: “I think that’s between the two of us.”
Madam Kang struggles to maintain her composure, then offers, “Fine, let’s be honest with each other. I admit that we have caused problems for you and your family. So please accept that you are not suitable for Jun-pyo.”
Jan-di nods: “Yes, Gu Jun-pyo and I are very different. I admit that.” Thinking Jan-di is agreeing, Madam Kang smiles, but it fades as Jan-di continues, “But do you know this? The two of us are in the same place, looking at the same thing. I made him a promise that you would never be my excuse for breaking up with him.”
Madam Kang says that this is an unprecedented opportunity to collect a high price on a “worthless” commoner family’s pride. Now Jan-di’s insulted: “I hadn’t known pride had a price. Then how much is your pride worth?” Madam Kang: “Unbelievable.”
Jan-di: “I hope you will change your thinking that commoners’ pride can be bought with money. People’s hearts can’t be bought, either. You don’t know that, do you? But Gu Jun-pyo knows that now.”
Jan-di is so distracted on her way out that she doesn’t even notice Ji-hoo, walking right past him. Sensing yet another Jan-di emergency, he cheers her up by making pancakes (using her recipe), which is his cure for the blues.
You know what else is a cure for the blues?
Skiing, apparently.
All of a sudden, our main cast is enjoying the snow at a winter resort, where Jun-pyo teaches Jan-di how to ski (she’s by far the worst). It’s kind of cute how she’s going so slowly that he walks alongside.
Later that night, the guys notice Jun-pyo fiddling with a necklace, contemplating it intently. Woo-bin jokes that Jun-pyo’s bound to screw up when he tries giving Jan-di the gift, and although Jun-pyo tells the guys to knock it off, he seems worried about that very thing.
Therefore, Ji-hoo takes it upon himself to set things in motion, to help Jun-pyo get over his nervousness by forcing them together. Ji-hoo first sends Jan-di on an errand — getting coffee — then calls Jun-pyo out.
The tactic works, and gets the ball rolling. Jun-pyo manages to figure out the rest on his own — he drapes his jacket around Jan-di, deliberately putting her hand into the pocket so she finds the necklace, which she draws out curiously.
Idiot Jan-di is back for a moment, because she thinks it’s HIS, and teases that it’s way too feminine for him. (Jun-pyo’s facial reaction is hilarious.) He tells her it’s hers.
He says, “There’s only one like it in the world, so if you lose it, you’re really dead this time.” Jun-pyo had designed and ordered it himself, and explains its meaning: He’s the star, and she’s the moon inside, because Jun-pyo the Star won’t ever leave Jan-di the Moon. Somehow that sounds rather possessive in English, but it’s pretty sweet in Korean.
Taking advantage of the romantic moment, Jun-pyo leans in to kiss her, but cough/sneezes at the last moment. Jan-di returns the jacket and puts it over him; Jun-pyo reaches a happy compromise (symbolism!) by sharing.
Jan-di worries to Ga-eul, because hearing that Jun-pyo made the necklace specially for her adds to the pressure to keep it safe. Ga-eul thinks that’s a happy problem: “If someone told me, ‘I made this for you’ and gave me a one-of-a-kind keepsake, even if it’s just a piece of glass, I’d be so happy.” (Yi-jung, are you listening?)
Speaking of whom, Ga-eul spots Yi-jung heading out with Woo-bin and has a sudden desire to ski, dragging Jan-di onto the slopes.
The Jin-Sun-Mi Trio, who happen to be at the same resort, overhear the necklace conversation. As always, they are overcome with envy, particularly Ginger (whose real name isn’t actually Ginger — I think it’s Jin-ju; it seems they use the English names as their shtick).
Keen to stir up trouble, Ginger orders her underlings to swipe the necklace, which they do by knocking Jan-di down, then helping her up clumsily. With Jan-di distracted, they swipe the pendant.
Having skied further down the slope, Ga-eul looks up at Jan-di in concern, so when a careless snowboarder barrels down the slope almost drunkenly, Jan-di notices first. She shouts a warning.
Nearby, Yi-jung hears Jan-di’s yell and spies Ga-eul about to be hit by the snowboarder. It’s a good thing he just happens to be unstrapped to his snowboard at the moment, as we all do in the middle of a ski run, so he can run at her and push her out of harm’s way.
Worriedly, Yi-jung asks, “Miss Ga-eul, are you okay? Wake up! Can you hear me?”
Ga-eul slowly opens her eyes, obviously not hurt but taking her time to appreciate this. LOL. It’s adorable how she can’t hide how much she’s enjoying this situation.
Hey, it’s hard having a crush on a guy like Yi-jung; let the girl savor the moment, right?
There’s trouble brewing at home, referenced indirectly in a phone call from Madam Kang to her husband. Something’s wrong with Shinhwa Group, and Madam Kang insists she’ll manage the problem, only to have the line suddenly go dead.
Worried, she tells Mr. Jung that things don’t look good, and instructs him to locate Jun-pyo. They’ll have to leave the country immediately.
Back at the resort, Ga-eul notices Jan-di’s missing her necklace, which sends Jan-di on a panicked hunt all over her room. The Mean Girls find Jun-pyo, slyly saying that they’re pretty sure she lost his special necklace. Or maybe she threw it away.
Jun-pyo comes upon Jan-di mid-search, and asks why she isn’t wearing the necklace. She hems and haws at first, then comes clean and begs for forgiveness: “I’m sorry. I was definitely wearing it, but I don’t know when I lost it.”
He asks, “It wasn’t because you wanted to lose it?” — because this is becoming a pattern, and he’s growing frustrated. “You do this every time. Whenever I try to get closer, you trample my heart like it’s nothing. Do I still mean so little to you?”
I can see his point, but Jan-di’s got one too, since this really wasn’t her fault. She says, “Don’t misunderstand. That’s really not how it is.” But he tells her that her behavior is getting really tiresome, and leaves.
I was a little worried that his words sounded so serious, but he’s just venting; he seems much less upset outside. (He gives a snowman (snowgirl?) a Jan-di-like hat and flicks snowballs at it in irritation.)
Hearing footsteps, he thinks it’s Jan-di and starts to go off on how the necklace was one of a kind — but they’re his mother’s employees, here to collect him. Jun-pyo refuses to go, beating them off when they try to force him to leave. Ultimately, though, he is subdued into going.
Jan-di goes around the ski lodge asking everyone if they’ve seen her necklace, and runs into the Jin-Sun-Mi girls. They give her a “tip” — someone posted a notice about finding the necklace — and direct her to the location.
Using that information, Jan-di heads off, leaving just before the latest blizzard warning comes in. Okay, wandering outside is pretty stupid of her, but for once I can’t be too irritated with Jan-di because I would probably want to do the same thing. The thing that DOES irritate me, though, is that apparently the cold has also robbed her of the ability to walk upright, because she falls over every few feet for no discernible reason.
Ga-eul finds Jan-di’s note and alerts F3. Although they worry for her safety, they’re unable to go out looking for her because the paths have been blocked.
With the weather worsening, one of the Mean Girls starts feeling bad. They didn’t intend Jan-di physical harm, but Ginger maintains the hard line and says Jan-di had it coming.
Ji-hoo overhears this, and guesses they’ve done something to Jan-di. Eyes bulging (sorry, not his best look), he demands to know what they did.
F3 call Jun-pyo to let him know the situation. As he’s currently being driven away by his mother’s men, he has to lie to get them to pull over (for a bathroom break), at which point he gives them the slip by disguising himself in someone else’s clothing.
He hitchhikes back to the resort, then takes a snowmobile to the slopes, pleading with Jan-di mentally to hang in there — as he promised (with the star-moon analogy), he won’t ever be able to ditch her. I wonder if Lee Min-ho is getting tired of delivering bad dialogue. It’s to his credit that he commits to it fully.
When the snowmobile breaks down, Jun-pyo continues on foot until he finds Jan-di collapsed in the snow. She must be emitting her mysterious power to call heroes to her side whenever she’s in trouble. She needs a beacon like the Bat Signal. A Jan-Distress Call, if you will.
Barely conscious, Jan-di recognizes Jun-pyo and mumbles weakly, “I came to find your heart. I didn’t lose it on purpose.” (Okay, that line was kind of sweet.)
Jun-pyo carries her on his back, urging her to stay awake. Coming upon an empty cabin, he tries to warm her up quickly, stripping off her soaked outer clothing. Holding her to him, he tells her, “Don’t worry, it’s fine. It’ll be fine. I’ll protect you.”
Wow, they were just itching to get Lee Min-ho topless again, weren’t they?
Some time later, Jun-pyo has built a fire and given his dry clothing to Jan-di to keep her warm, shivering while he remains cold. When she pushes the jacket toward him, he rejects it. She urges him to take it, so once again they (symbolically) share the covering.
Jan-di: “I’m sorry.”
Jun-pyo: “If you’re sorry, that’s good enough. Don’t forget I saved your life this time.”
She asks (half-joking, half-meaningfully), “How should I repay you?” A bit surprisingly, he answers, “A lunchbox,” by which he means the ones she eats every day: “Actually, the first time I saw it, I wanted to try it.” Jan-di promises to make it for him: “Let’s pack lunches and go on a picnic, the two of us.”
(The Law of Kdramas says: If a kiss in a semi-romantic moment is messed up earlier in an episode, it must be made up for in a more romantic moment later.)
In the morning, Jan-di and Jun-pyo make it back to the lodge, relieving their worried friends. Ji-hoo hands over the star-moon necklace, which may be symbolic of his letting go of Jan-di (I think?).
It’s nice that Jan-di and Jun-pyo have already resolved their issue with the necklace, so its return doesn’t magically “solve” their relationship problem. Instead, Jan-di and Jun-pyo trade small smiles, which Ji-hoo notices with a little sadness.
So when they return home, Jan-di packs the lunchboxes for their promised picnic, and omg it’s JUN-PYO RICE!!
I had thought the Jun-pyo-face chocolates in Episode 10 were the adorablest things ever, but the Jun-pyo dosirak totally wins the Jun-pyo-face-shaped-foodstuffs category.
Jan-di waits for a while, although she does so uncomplainingly, remembering how Jun-pyo waited in the snow for four hours. She isn’t aware of the latest news that Daddy Gu has suddenly collapsed while on a trip to China.
Jun-pyo, who’s about to leave with his mother to his father’s bedside, asks Ji-hoo to pick up Jan-di. Ji-hoo urges Jan-di to hurry, because they only have half an hour before the plane leaves.
Unfortunately, they’re too late. Some distance from the airport, Ji-hoo pulls over and Jan-di watches the Shinhwa plane take off.
Jan-di cries (saddened at not having the chance to say certain things to him, like how much she likes him), while Ji-hoo comforts her.
From the plane, Jun-pyo sends her a text message, which reads:
“I’ll come back soon.
Stay there, and wait for me.
I love you, Geum Jan-di.”
COMMENTS
This is a tiny point, but one thing I was disappointed about was the fact that we won’t get to see Jun-pyo’s reaction to the Jun-pyo Rice Face Lunchbox.
I really appreciate how Madam Kang is being portrayed, particularly in this episode. Lee Hye-young is acting the hell out of the character, and she gives her a complexity I wasn’t expecting. I thought the Japanese Kaede was fantastic, but Madam Kang manages to be scarier, yet also more vulnerable at moments. That’s unexpected. Case in point: the conversation when Jan-di returned the money, which both actresses acted with nuance.
Yes, I love that Mama Kang is evil, and scary, and possibly a little too obsessed with her son. But I also love that she’s being acted as a human, not a live-action Cruella de Vil (pointy collars notwithstanding).
You know, I’m a fan of the Ga-eul and Yi-jung pairing, but I agree with sentiments that this relationship is being built on shaky ground. I’m not sure their development is occurring completely logically, although I don’t blame this on writers throwing them together based on fan response. I’m pretty sure they were going to make this match from the beginning (although they were probably waiting to see how viewers reacted). It helps that they’re a side couple, so fans are more willing to accept bumps in continuity. (Arm socks? Where did THAT come from? I know they were a present from Ga-eul — but more importantly, WHY?)
Still, despite the shortcomings I find myself rooting for them — I think part of why the Ga-eul and Yi-jung pairing is compelling is because it hasn’t been done before. (Yes, some complain that this isn’t “canon,” but if it DID follow canon I’m sure we’d get complaints on the other end saying that this is yet another disappointing non-romance. If fans were disappointed that the two never got together in the other two dramas, why disappoint a third time for the same reason?)
Since they may be diverging from the previous storyline, we don’t know how this is going to end. Maybe they won’t end up together, but because this feels like new ground, it keeps people interested. At least it does for me.
SPOILERY(?) SPECULATION
Stop here if you don’t want to read speculation for future episodes.
As you may know, Episode 13 is going to jump ahead in time. Apparently F4 will be attending university, but as they are already in their last year of high school, I’m not sure if they’re jumping one year, or several. But if Jun-pyo’s father ends up dying, this sets him up nicely to take on the mantle of Shinhwa Group leadership. I’m sure he won’t take over completely — his mother is more than capable — but I can see how this presents a different kind of conflict. As much as I enjoyed the Japanese Hanadan, I never really bought Doumyouji as running the company, but I can see Jun-pyo take this position believably. It probably has to do with how Jun-pyo has been shown to be serious and smart on occasion.
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Tags: Boys Before Flowers, Gu Hye-sun, Jung Eui-chul, Kim Bum, Kim Hyun-joong, Kim Joon, Lee Min-ho
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151 Bella
February 11, 2009 at 7:46 AM
Maybe it because I like Kim Hyun-joong or because it was written to make it feel this way- But I just wish that Jandi and Jihoo had got together....When I see Jun Pyo and Jandi togther I thinks its nice.....but then I think of Jihoo and I get sad.....
And I know "Almost Paradise" is not the best action song but I've grown to love it in those type of off situations. KEEP IT COMING!!!!! You know some of you guys will be confused if an actual fight song or dramatic song played with the F4.....laugh and embrace it LMAO........
And thanks for the recaps. I love reading them with that own little recap flavor you have- funny.....
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152
February 11, 2009 at 7:59 AM
Yes I agree that this episode was better, but for some reason.. I thought that this episode was a bit on the blah end a little. It started off kind of good, with the whole Jun Pyo protecting Jan Di, even if he gets beaten up, and then we went straight to skiing, which was a bit slow for me.. and then we zoom through a few scenes and now Jun Pyo goes to see his dad.. which by the way, I can't wait to see because I liked how they ended it.. with the suspense, wondering whats going to happen next.
I definately had to say that I kinda knew it was coming with the Yi Jung saving Ga Eul.. it was going to happen.. and it was adorably cute! He was so worried for her and she was loving every second of it.
I know that most people are rooting for Jandi-Junpyo, but I can't help feel bad for Ji Hoo.. he's such a sweet guy to her, and he does the nicest things to keep Jan Di happy.. i wish he was there for me!! And I know the bulging eyes thing was kind of wierd, but he just looked so HOT being angry and going to beat up those girls.. :D
F3 fighting scenes were a bit cheesy but it was still good.. get to see a different side of them.
Thanks again for the recaps Javabeans!
(oh and BTS was funny too. for those who watched)
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153 Taejus
February 11, 2009 at 7:59 AM
lol, yes, domyouji was the DUMBEST(word?) person ever, lol, it wasnt even funny how dumb he was at certain areas lol...but goo jun pyo seems intelligent enough, except when he has his moments...
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154 rei
February 11, 2009 at 8:19 AM
i absolutely loooooooove how the family interactions are more strongly portrayed in BBF and how jun pyo's "father" is actually mentioned. i'm so glad jandi's parents are more proactive and i really <3 ahn suk hwan
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155 Anatisha
February 11, 2009 at 8:31 AM
Just one thing to say... i cant watch the drama (as much as I want it ) due to work and later i arrive to my home so late and tired... but you make my day when I arrive and found a little time in the mornings just to read you, it makes me feel like im not disconnected at all...
Thank you for the recaps!
Lee Min HoT!
Lee Min HoT!
Lee Min HoT!
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156 Jasmin
February 11, 2009 at 8:47 AM
I have to say I'm not really interested in the Jandi/Jun-Pyo-Pairing anymore.O.o It starts to be boring... There is no story... no Passion... it's like.. I don't know how to say it but I really think that the first episodes were the best. What a pity!
Ga-Eul/Yi-jung- Pairing forever!!!XD I think they are more a couple than Jandi and Jun-pyo!^-^
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157 lily
February 11, 2009 at 8:56 AM
lmao Jasmin. I agree with you.
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158 Toya
February 11, 2009 at 9:47 AM
The Ga-eul and Yi-jung pairing pretty much happened in all the other live action dramas so I can understand why they liked to play with the idea here too. If you watched the other ones you kept hoping they'd end up together.
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159 maria
February 11, 2009 at 10:09 AM
hey guys, Here is the written preview of episode 13 from KBS site (from soompi)
"I feel it's been a really long time to get together. If Goo Jun Pyo pretended not to remember, it might be the dream that I dreamed alone"
As time goes by, F4 are university students and Jan Di is the 3rd year senior high school student. Jan Di waits for Jun Pyo who was not heard of, focusing on swimming and her part time job. While it is hard to contact with Jun Pyo who is preparing in Macao to succeed the company. Ji Hoo suggests Jan Di making and sending photo-mail and make Jan Di to see a doctor for her shoulder trouble.
It's too late to cure her shoulder. While it's okay with her ordinary life it's impossible to be a swimmer. Jan Di, who is confused and anxious, left for Macao to see Junpyo. Shinwha hotel resort in Macao, which boasts of its worldwide reputation makes jandi surprised but not makes her feel small
but... when she met Junpyo, she was shocked by his cold disregard even though it's been a long time no see..."
thoughts?
ARGH this means amnesia, doesn't it?? kill meeeee .
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160 KATE
February 11, 2009 at 10:34 AM
I like this ep. Jandi/Jun-Pyo fighting***can't wait for next week..thanks....
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161 Jules
February 11, 2009 at 11:20 AM
I love this episode! I really want to see Jun Pyo reaction to the lunch box too!
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162 Julie
February 11, 2009 at 11:23 AM
I pray its not amnesia! I don't want that to happen at all!
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163 Mawiiiie
February 11, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Omg I swear that when i heard the first beat of Almost Paradise when F3 came to the rescue of JunPyo and JanDi, I jumped off my chair and stormed out of my room screaming and swearing XD My brother and father (who was like..one floor down) wee like "wth are you crazy?"
But I realy liked this episode. The serie just redeemed itself after the ep 11 fiasco.
It's the first time that I can actually feel the love from both the main character. Their scenes were just so sweet haha. During the cabin scene I was like ''omg JanDi you idiot! You have a half naked JunPyo besides you! Lean on his shoulder! Lean on his shoulder!!!'' I'm such a perv LOL
But on a more serious note, I had a fright when JiHoo gave back to JanDi her necklace. I was scared that she'd just look at him with admiration or something..but she then turned to JunPyo and smile. This scene meant a lot for me. It seems (in my opinion) that JanDi finally made up her mind and recognized that even though JiHoo will always be there for her, her heart truly belongs with JunPyo now.
Kudo to the actors for this episode, they were really fantastic! The scene between the two moms made me teary, and I can totally feel JunPyo's love just be listening to his voice. His concern for JanDi was really guenine and I felt that he really wants to protect her and not just possess her. And at the end, when he said I love you, I just felt heartbroken for both of them.
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164 Javabeans
February 11, 2009 at 1:26 PM
#123 Cathe, this episode pulled in a 31.4% rating (almost exactly the same as the previous day, 31.5%.)
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165 yumi-chan
February 11, 2009 at 1:27 PM
Long ago I learned to leave my brain at the door.
When a corny line is delivered I rolly my eyes and laugh.
Why?
Because my brain isn't there and I do not compute cheesey for the next hour or so.
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166 Annie
February 11, 2009 at 3:57 PM
Lol@ the almost paradise ..
Love the part where Jihoo gave the necklace back to Jandi. Poor Jihoo. I'm like Jihoo. have no idea ,how much someone meant to me till I lost them.
but it's bothering me to see, in some of the scene, it's not blended well. like when Jihoo took Jandi to somewhere and ended up skiing with the other friends, it show Jandi play very well with Jun pyo, but later on Jandi were listening to Jihoo's guitar and then when she met Jun pyo, it seems like they haven't seen each other and so akward...
and then when the rest of F's 4 came to the rescue, they were supposed to be outside since that Jahee ask the other boys to go outside. but the way they called out for Jun Pyo and Jandi's name sound like they're in the room and so relax. no emotion of someone's looking for their lost friend.
Then what happened after Yi jung gave Gaeul the cake??
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167 Kia_P
February 11, 2009 at 4:06 PM
I love your recaps
and
I love this show despite (or because of, i guess) its cheesy/silly-ness. I like the relationship between the two MCs here a lot, I guess because its a longer drama (than the JP one, furthermore despite some woes, they seem to have better dialogues).
I am taking a lot of units this semester, so I made an oath NOT to watch this or any other Kdrama for fear that I will miss deadlines T__T (It takes me forever to download and watch...)
But I will be refreshing your website on tues and wed nights to see when your recaps......... Can't wait for the next one!
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168 Mo108
February 11, 2009 at 4:10 PM
I agree with you, salt--JH on guitar somehow seems to make much more sense... and it's definitely cooler. The poor violin miming got a bit much sometimes, hehe... My heart does go out to him--poor, sad JiHoo... I really do wish that JanDi realises that HE is the one for her... They are both outsiders (truly, not like with JaeHa). If his ability to listen to her and understand her, his tender, caring protectiveness for her, and his sixth sense for the "JanDi heart emergency alarm system" aren't signs, then I don't know what is... JH has always been the bigger man, it seems, bowing out gracefully and respectfully for his best friend, who seems quite immature and petty at times, even if it's just his pride... Poor JiHoo... poor, sad JiHoo...
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169 Ella
February 11, 2009 at 4:35 PM
I don't really get how people can say that this is a well-written drama. The situations and characters are okay for every scene but they don't make a coherent whole. For every odd-numbered episode, a new character or a new situation comes up and there's all this drama that everyone tries to accomodate and then the next episode, it's like the whole thing never happened and it's a new situation or a new character again.
I for one do not need an explanation why Makino got into an elite school. In elite schools, although it is mostly attended by rich people, there are one or two people there who are middle class or poorer but managed to get in and the parents worked hard to make them stay in school. And you don't have to be very smart either, sometimes, an average student can get in the best schools.
Also, in Japan, the companies provide housing for the employees (which is emphasized in the HYD drama), the practice before is that the employees are employed for life by the company, and 70% of health care is taken cared of by the government. So really, if Makino's family tries to save (which is emphasized in the HYD drama), Makino can manage to attend an elite school.
Domyoji may seem stupid in the drama but he was only stupid with Makino and his friends, because these are the people he can put his guard down. He never acted stupid with his mom, with the employees, etc. Possibly, the HYD drama could have shown Domyoji in situations where he is handling the business but the screenwriters were too busy making sure they come up with a coherent drama so I don't mind this shortcoming at all.
I hate Jandi with her trying-hard-to-be-cute-face-that-looks-very-annoying and her stupidity. Whenever she gets into trouble, I hate the fact that there's a few seconds there that it seems that she's acting as if she's waiting for someone to save her. I don't care if that is how Makino in the manga really is -- that is one thing you would never want to associate yourself with. Whenever you get in trouble, you try to stand on your own and do everything to get out of that situation. It's good if someone else helps you out but you should never ever hope or wait for someone to do so because unlike this drama where someone always saves Jandi, this cannot happen in real life.
I'm not sure if I remember correctly but it is usually Makino who saves Yuki from bullies and whenever she gets in trouble. That's why Yuki says Makino is not the type of person to stand aside while some people gets bullied. You know something's wrong with the Korean adaptation when the AUDIENCE wants Gaeul to defend Jandi against the bitches.
And the dad dying and the taking over of Junpyo.... What the?! It was just mentioned in the start of the drama that the mom is the head of the shinwa group. How come with the dad dying, Junpyo has to take over when the mom has been the main person who supposedly heads the shinwa group?
-- see it's little things like this (and there's a lot of these things in this drama) that makes this drama incomprehensible.
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170 lily
February 11, 2009 at 4:42 PM
ThanK YOU ELLA. OMG YOU SAID IT
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171 Ella
February 11, 2009 at 4:42 PM
Oh, and I get the dialogue. What I don't get is the meaning...
When you use symbolisms, the symbols you use have to make sense with the relationship you are trying to explain, so that it has more impact.
For example, when people say you are beautiful as the moon, you have to bear in fact that in the old days, there are no electricity and artificial lighting so the moon (and stars) is the only guide in the darkness. It's bright and illuminating. Oh, they are also not aware that the moon has craters when this 'beautiful as the moon' concept was developed.
Basically, the moon inside the star thing -- "ugghh" moment instead of "awww" moment. No sense.
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172 lola
February 11, 2009 at 4:44 PM
^^ To Ella, I don't think I've seen anyone arguing that BOF is a well written drama. A couple comments have said that there are moments of good writing, mixed with bad. I think we can all agree that the writing ain't so great. To me, the cast and chemistry and story (different from actual writing) are what keep me going.
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173 mysticmoon
February 11, 2009 at 4:47 PM
i really love this episode compare to episode 11. all the drama, actions, romance, comedy are all in! this what you call F4 friendship! I also like now JAN-DI is responding to the effort of GOO JUN PYO. I really love it. No dull moments.. kip it up
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174 dee
February 11, 2009 at 4:50 PM
are ella and lily the same person? they're always agreeing and saying the same thing.
*wonders*
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175 Ella
February 11, 2009 at 4:56 PM
no we're not. do we have to be the same person just because we happen to have the same opinions and views?! o_O
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176 dee
February 11, 2009 at 5:03 PM
sorry, i didn't mean to tick you off ella. of course you can agree and be diffrent people. i just noticed that you two happen to post close together a lot, mostly saying the same thing, mostly negative bashings. it must be coincidence but you can see how that might seem strange rite? *shrugs*
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177 Ella
February 11, 2009 at 5:28 PM
I don't know, I don't really keep track of who comments when and where. I have commented yesterday, someone else replied to my comment (about the moon and the star thing), while trying to go down the page, I read the comments, thought about some things and then expressed my view in a comment. I even posted again because I forgot to reply about the moon and star comment, which is the main reason, I was scrolling down in the first place.
So no, I am not her. We are not the same person. No, it doesn't seem strange. We happen to be both online today at the same time maybe? So what's wrong with that?
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178 Z
February 11, 2009 at 5:32 PM
What's a Kdrama without the requisite "overnight in an abandoned cabin during a blizzard/hurricane?" It's good to know that, during these turbulent times, some things never change. All we need now is to find out that Jun Pyo is adopted and/or the product of his father's affair and we'll be about ready to wrap this thing up (unless we already covered this requirement with Ha Jae).
And why does Woobin not get a plot? If they are not going to give him a girl or a dog then they should at least allow him to continue misusing urban slang at inappropriate times.
Seriously though, I've only been super into Asain/Kdramas for about a year or two so I never heard of this series until I stumbled on BBF a couple of weeks ago and I LOVE it. My new addiction, despite the mediocre script and cheesy soundtrack. And I get to enjoy it without any preconceived ideas of how they did it in this version or that manga or who played which part better so... yah for me!!
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179 Anri
February 11, 2009 at 5:42 PM
Omg, this is the first review I'm reading from you (new fan xD) but I must say that I'm so impressed.. so I'll be hanging around some more! XD Thanks for the wonderful review too, my favorite episode so far, hehe.
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180 varda
February 11, 2009 at 5:45 PM
i usually only read your recaps, javabeans, but i have to let you know that you have one more avid reader here, who loves the way you wrote them ^_^
and those guys who left comments under the recaps, you guys just made my day :D great comments!
i like episode 12, even though for me some scenes doesn't really make sense. but it was okay, GE/YJ can be my cure. :P I agree, I hope this time GE/YJ can be a couple, well.. not that easy, but a couple indeed. because i am tired looking at this couple didn't get happy ending from 2 previous drama. *yeah i LOVE happy endings*
@159: i think it will be in parallel with first episode of HYD season 2. IMHO not amnesia. yet.
arrrghh.. after reading the preview, i don't think i have the heart to watch episode 13. don't want to get broken heart which will lead to heart attack. will wait for javabeans review first.
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181 Lila H
February 11, 2009 at 5:46 PM
"And why does Woobin not get a plot? If they are not going to give him a girl or a dog then they should at least allow him to continue misusing urban slang at inappropriate times."
HAHAHA.
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182 Shelley
February 11, 2009 at 6:11 PM
Of all 12 episodes, I love the first a few episodes better. I have to say that some recent episodes were dropping balls everywhere. Some spots really confuse me.
But the ending of episode 12 was pretty good. At least JunPyo said "I love you". Sweet..............
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183 Mo108
February 11, 2009 at 6:35 PM
Yo yo yo! Wassup, man? I totally love WooBin's urbanisms too :D
Yeah, it IS a shame that if you collect all of the lines he's been given, it would probably only amount to about 2 minutes. Come on, give the boy a love interest! Or at least some more airtime/dialogue. There may just be more to WooBin than meets the eye...
Maybe WooBin and JanDi + GaEul's goofy boss will strike up a 'beautiful friendship.' ;) This show is so random and unpredictable sometimes that such a thing could very well happen.
What ever happened to the grunpy old man that came into the shop, complained about everything, and paid for the black noodles with a fish? I liked him...
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184 Q
February 11, 2009 at 6:41 PM
Can I just say that you write the most hilarious recaps! You're amazing, Thanks!
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185 varda
February 11, 2009 at 6:49 PM
Ella @ 170:
you took the words right of my mouth.
I like the series, but a cannot not agree with you about Jan Di's character. I expect her to have strong personality like Makino.
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186 gia
February 11, 2009 at 7:50 PM
question,
i just rewatched this episode. The scene that Jun Pyo rescue Jandi. Why do we see a guy who is filming or photography that scene? Like the model guy said that Jun Pyo paid him to do that, they filmed the scene to show her or what????
thank
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187 popcorn
February 11, 2009 at 7:55 PM
All these make no sense. However, I guess that's what's needed in order to make a cute and romantic episode. =_=" Who goes outside in a snowstorm to find a necklace? =_=" Seems so melodramatic and yet inappropriate at the same time. i guess it all leads to that one romantic make-up kiss (which I doubt in real life stays a kiss....)
=D Anyway, I'm another episode behind. Back to studying!
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188 Anonymous
February 11, 2009 at 8:10 PM
Kim Bum sorta looks like James McAvoy in that pic in his snowsuit, which is to say, totally HOT.
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189 mawiiie
February 11, 2009 at 8:45 PM
@187 I think that Jae Ha wanted to tape JunPyo's "I'm giving up on Geum Jan Di"... i guess it's a way to "immortalize" his humiliation and cowardise (is that even a word?? I'm not an native English speaker haha)
I also have a question and I hope that someone can clarify it for me. I was just wondering if there was a difference/nuance between Sarang handa (what JunPyo said/wrote in the end) and Sarangheyo and Saranghae??
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190 anon
February 11, 2009 at 9:08 PM
I kinda get tick off by the scene where mama JD goes and beg mama JP. I dunno if it is a scene from the manga but I thought she is suppose to be more higher level than that. And where does JD find the money to payback mama JP? I thought they've given it to those debt collecter in order to get papa JD back. If they get the money back from those debt collecter, then why papa JD didn't get captured back?
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191 trese
February 11, 2009 at 9:17 PM
damn, so violent...
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192 AJ
February 11, 2009 at 9:35 PM
Your recaps are the absolute best. I was disappointed that Jun Pyo didn't get to see the lunch box too...it was adorable!
I think part of Madame Kang's intimidating aura is her eye makeup......it looks really, really good though. She does an excellent job of portraying the obsessive, vain mother (like in I'm Sorry, I Love You).
Thanks for your posts!
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193 Bérénice
February 11, 2009 at 11:41 PM
thanks for the recap, as sarcastic and funny as ever, javabeans ! I'm waiting for the beginning of the week as much for new epis as for your new recaps... ;o)
@190
My korean is still quite rudimentary, but I think I can help you with that.
In korean there are several levels of politeness in speech, which can translate in distinct termination for verbs, for instance.
saranghanda would be casual speech
saranghae would be a little less casual
saranghaeyo is more polite (the -yo ending usually is)
saranghamnida would even more polite.
Usually, you chose the ending as a function of your relationship to the person you talking to (following age difference, status difference, and intimity level)...
Hope that helps, and if I'm wrong about that, someone please correct me... ;o)
And now, a long of BOF withdrawal awaiting, with multiple rewatchings of already aired eps....
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194 nixza
February 12, 2009 at 12:09 AM
Thank you for making the recap of this korean drama, i really like and appreciate it..you are AWSOME *v*
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195 JeweL
February 12, 2009 at 12:47 AM
@mawiiie
My Korean is not the best either, but "saranghanda" has a sort of "declaration" feeling to it, whereas "saranghae" is just casual.
@Ella
I would be the last person to say BOF is a well-written drama, but I rather like how the writers have changed the backgrounds and tweaked the characters to suit the Korean audience.
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196 jong
February 12, 2009 at 3:24 AM
you said you didn't know if the jump in time was a year or several. I obviously dont know for sure but i mean if it is their first year in shinhwa college its one year because i do belive earlier in the series they stated that F4 were 고3 (go 3) which is the equivalent of senior year (12th grade) in the U.S. Which means it is roughly the next school year.
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197 vrosemarie
February 12, 2009 at 4:30 AM
Somehow, I just love Madam Kang! She gives death glares, icy orders and is snappily dressed to a T! Anyway, she's not the regular yelling Kdrama mom who throws tantrums and goes on a slapping rampage (eg. Hose's mom in You Are My Destiny).
I also look forward to Ga Eul and Yi Jung parts, however small they are... In Hana dan, there was a whole episode dedicated to Soujiro's past. So Yi Jung's background does pose some interesting questions (like the baddy daddy, past gf?).
Lastly, Lee Min Ho was just HAWT at the part in the shed with Jan Di! (And phew, for one second there, the truck headlights kind of reminded me of Autumn Fairytale and every other Kdrama tragedy involving vehicles) And what a waste of an awesome lunchbox...
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198 gia
February 12, 2009 at 5:20 AM
Next episode,
They will go to Macao. What are they are lucky with this serie... Nice place anyway...
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199 lily
February 12, 2009 at 6:07 AM
@ dee I am not Ella but I agree with what she said. It's not because two persons bash this drama that this is the same person. Otherwise people who say "I love it..." actually are one person?
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200 Mai
February 12, 2009 at 7:42 AM
Ah... This episode was really BETTER, I mean the other episode was eh.. But yeah, I totally agree with you on the Ji Hoo parts, I feel like he's starting to let her go and at the same time he can see that she doesn't look at him anymore but look at Jun Pyo and that makes him sad, because he obviously wanted to be her knight in shining armor but Jun Pyo has proven that he can be that for Jandi also. I really liked this episode because although it was corny at some points it was sweet at the same time and you don't get that everyday. =)
For the Ga Eul and Yi Jung couple, it would be nice to see more from them, but we can't expect much if in the manga they're supposed to not be together but I have a feeling they'll change it for the fans... =/ I wouldn't mind it either but it would be out of content though.. [With the hat, Kim Bum looked like the little boy he was years ago. Haha, I found it funny how a hairstyle can do so much. Haha..]
Love your reviews, I hope you continue writing for this drama! =D
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