Boys Before Flowers: Episode 18
You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both (and add a dash of the embarrassing) and there you have: A typical episode of Boys Before Flowers.
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EPISODE 18 RECAP
At the pool, Jun-pyo forcibly removes Jae-kyung’s arms from around his waist, but she wraps them around him again.
Jun-pyo faces her, and we can see he’s changed somewhat because his tone is almost gentle when he says, “You’ll find a guy who’s right for you.” (He tempers that by adding, “Since you’re not so ugly.”) Stubbornly, Jae-kyung insists, “I don’t want anyone else.” She asks cautiously, “Is there someone you like?” He responds, “Yeah.”
Jae-kyung just nods, so he wonders why she’s not asking about the girl. She’s already guessed, though, and her reaction is revealing of her character — despite her straightforward personality, in this she chooses denial over facing the truth. Jae-kyung shoves her fingers in her ears and shouts, “I don’t want to hear. Ahhh, I can’t hear, not at all.” And she runs off.
Jan-di doesn’t see the rest of their conversation, because she had turned and left after witnessing their hug. In shock, she sits alone in a daze, which is where Ji-hoo finds her.
He assesses her mood and takes her aside to a quiet corner. In true Ji-hoo fashion, he doesn’t ask questions and waits while she sits and fidgets with nervous energy. Jan-di looks at her shaking hand and mutters that the stupid thing won’t stop. Ji-hoo takes her hand in his grasp and tells her, “It’s not stupid, so don’t scold it too much.” It’s a really sweet gesture.
Ji-takes starts to play his guitar, until eventually Jan-di falls asleep on his shoulder. After a little while, Ji-hoo moves aside and leaves Jan-di to continue sleeping.
When he steps outside, he notices Jun-pyo exiting the hotel; soon afterward, Ji-hoo gets a text message from him reading, “I’m leaving first.”
Alone in the hotel suite, Jae-kyung smothers her sorrows in ice cream, and who can blame her for that? Although, if she were really serious she’d be using the big spoon, is all I’m sayin’.
Jae-kyung recalls all the signs that indicate that Jun-pyo and Jan-di used to date, such as the first meeting in Macau when Jan-di admitted she’d come to see her boyfriend. Looking over the couple rings she’d planned to give to Jun-pyo, Jae-kyung compares the inscriptions on the rings to the one on Jan-di’s star-moon necklace.
And now for some (unintentional) hilarity. I’m sorry, this whole section was almost too embarrassing to watch, even if it did finally feature more Woo-bin. On the downside to having more Woo-bin is that it felt like they were shoehorning in a Woo-bin Story of Drama and Angst purely because fans want more Kim Joon, and while I fully support that cause, I only wish it had been handled in a more skilled way.
Basically, Woo-bin parks his car along a bridge and thinks back to a recent encounter where he had been drunkenly walking the railing while Yi-jung looked on in worry. Woo-bin is wallowing in a bout of self-pity because — get this! — he’s embarrassed about his background.
Woo-bin says in a defeated tone that he’s only considered part of F4 because of his association with the others (uh, and what about the construction empire he’s inheriting, conveniently forgetful writers?). His shady associations make him ashamed — but only with his F4 friends. While he doesn’t care what other people think of him, sometimes “I feel so embarrassed that it irritates me to death.” (Irritate to death? That’s like saying something is extremely mediocre, or the best average.)
Frustrated, Yi-jung pulls Woo-bin off the railing, and pushes him against his car — and who else wondered for a second whether these two guys were going to make out?
Yi-jung’s mad now, demanding, “Is that all we are to you?” He thinks friendship runs deeper than that, and that they should be able to rely on each other and not feel ashamed.
You’re right, Yi-jung, because you shouldn’t be the ones feeling embarrassed — that’s for US to feel, watching this scene. (It is so, so uncomfortable.)
But now that Woo-bin is sober, he reflects back to the bridge scene fondly, and calls Yi-jung.
Now the tables are turned — Yi-jung is the one who’s drunk and in a foul mood. He staggers from his table at a club, nearly falling on top of one woman sitting at another table. When the girl recognizes Yi-jung, she’s flattered at the attention, and he comes at her with a kiss. This does not go over well with the men at the table, who shove Yi-jung aside angrily. Drunk as he is, Yi-jung is in no state to defend himself, and the guys get carried away beating him — one even stomps on his hand, hard.
Woo-bin to the rescue! He arrives in a blaze of fury, with a group of gangsters in tow. The club guys back off quickly as Woo-bin’s mobster henchmen offer to take care of them, but Woo-bin vows to take care of the bastards himself.
Woo-bin growls that in damaging Yi-jung’s precious hand, they may have destroyed something that’s irreplaceable. Woo-bin fights them, then takes Yi-jung away to get treated.
At the resort, Jan-di and Ji-hoo are greeted at breakfast by a cheerful Jae-kyung, who announces that she couldn’t sleep at all because “last night was a hugely historic night for Gu Jun-pyo and Ha Jae-kyung.” That’s not exactly false, but is intended to plant the wrong idea in Jan-di’s head. Jae-kyung compounds the innuendo by saying that Jun-pyo left early because he was embarrassed (over their supposed Big Night together).
So, Jae-kyung has decided on her battle plan — to take charge and do whatever it takes to win Jun-pyo. For what it’s worth, she seems conflicted about misleading Jan-di, but that doesn’t stop her.
Jan-di and Ji-hoo take a detour to a Buddhist temple, where they write wishes for good fortune on tablets. It’s sweet that both Jan-di and Ji-hoo’s wishes are for each other rather than themselves: Ji-hoo wishes that Jan-di will be accepted into medical school, while Jan-di’s is for Ji-hoo to “always be happy.”
A monk happens to be watching, and smiles at them in approval. The man tells Ji-hoo a little cryptically that Jan-di is like a lotus flower whom Ji-hoo should treat well, as she will “make you a family.”
Meanwhile, back home, Dr. President Grandpa Yoon has heart trouble. (It wouldn’t be a PD Jeon drama unless somebody has random heart trouble?)
When Jan-di arrives home, she finds her family in low spirits and her parents packing. They’ve realized they can’t support the family by living and working in Seoul, so they are going to move away to work and will send money back to Jan-di and Kang-san, who need to stay to continue school.
They name Jan-di the official head of household, to which Kang-san mutters, “Since when wasn’t she?” Truer words, dude.
Here’s an odd and interesting scene. In the morning, Jun-pyo finds to his surprise that Jae-kyung is directing his servants, which he finds intrusive. Undaunted by his lack of enthusiasm, Jae-kyung steers him to sit at the breakfast table. She’d thought long and hard about what she could do for Jun-pyo — which isn’t easy because they both grew up rich and privileged — and considered what she’d like for herself. The first thing that came to mind was how she hates eating breakfast alone.
Jun-pyo thinks back to his own childhood, how he always had to eat alone in the big dining room and how he hated it. It’s quite interesting because he stares at Jae-kyung in a new way, like he’s seeing her for the first time as a potential friend — or maybe more, a kindred spirit who understands him more than he’d anticipated.
He agrees to eat — a little reluctantly, as though he doesn’t want to feel kinship with her — so she excitedly serves him, which reminds him of breakfast with Jan-di’s family.
Jae-kyung presents Jun-pyo with the couple rings, and asks him to put hers on her finger. Jun-pyo reads the engraving, and the J ♥ J inscription reminds him of the same thing he’d put on Jan-di’s necklace.
This is a nicely acted beat, because for a moment you’re afraid he’ll actually go ahead with it, and Jae-kyung looks at him in nervousness, hoping he will. But the engraving is what snaps him out of it, and Jun-pyo puts the rings back inside the box and hands it to Jae-kyung. He leaves, saying, “I have somewhere to go.”
That turns out to be Yi-jung’s studio. Yi-jung’s right hand has been broken and he now wears a cast. He looks around his studio, as though missing it now that he can’t do anything, and remembers working alongside Eun-jae in the past. Even with Eun-jae, he’d displayed flashes of his current playboy attitude, telling her that girls are like math problems — they make him wonder how to figure one out (suggesting all girls can be easily reduced to a simple answer). His comment causes her smile to falter.
When Jun-pyo visits, Yi-jung is in a lost, bitter state of mind. He says, “It’s over,” referring to his career as a potter (which I don’t understand because yes, his arm is broken, but broken arms heal, no?). In any case, he compares his forced retirement to that of the swimmer with the bum shoulder, which makes Jun-pyo ask sharply if he means Jan-di. Yi-jung: “Is there any other swimmer we know?”
Yi-jung thinks, “It looks like you really came to your senses in Macau. Stuff like love or innocence never applied to people like us from the start.” Jun-pyo, however, just wants a straight answer from Yi-jung: What is wrong with Jan-di and why?
Yi-jung tells him that it was the blow from the chair that did it: “You don’t know how much Jan-di cried after she heard she wouldn’t be able to swim anymore, do you?” This hits Jun-pyo hard, but Yi-jung continues in his dull monotone: “People like you and I have nothing to give the women we love but hurt.”
Reeling from this news, Jun-pyo heads to the school pool, where he battles his guilt over Jan-di’s injury.
Meanwhile, Jan-di manages to find a new room for herself and Kang-san — it’s not a great location, but it’s what they could afford. Brother and sister promise each other to do their best so their parents won’t have to worry.
Madam Kang is traveling on a business trip to Vancouver, so before she leaves, she instructs Mr. Jung to keep a strict eye on Jun-pyo and to report to her at the first hint of something odd. Mr. Jung agrees, although by now it’s clear his loyalties to Jun-pyo trump those to Madam Kang, which we can see in his expression when he sees Jun-pyo sleeping with his pink curly-haired doll.
Mr. Jung also leaves a folder in Jun-pyo’s possession that shows recent photos of Jan-di, meaning he’s still keeping tabs on her and having her watched. I suppose this is supposed to be Romantic, not Stalker-Creepy?
Thus Jun-pyo has no trouble finding Jan-di’s new home, where he shows up in the morning as she’s returning with her brother from their delivery run.
He makes up the excuse that he’s not here to see them; he’s here because he’s also moving into the building. It’s not a total lie — he really IS moving in — but it’s obviously because of Jan-di.
Jun-pyo explains that this is a sort of test of life experience for the Shinhwa successor. He’s supposed to try fend for himself and experience independence for a while. (Yunno, leadership skills and building character and all that.)
This means he’s their neighbor; he’s taken a nearby apartment for himself.
Ga-eul continues with her pottery classes. Eun-jae reads Ga-eul’s dejected mood and guesses that she’s pining over the guy she likes, and urges her to confess her feelings before it’s too late. Ga-eul answers, “I’m afraid. He’s very different from me.”
Wisely, Eun-jae responds, “Love doesn’t work if you hold back. And it won’t remain hidden even if you try to hide it.” Ga-eul senses that Eun-jae is speaking from experience, so she asks why it didn’t work out for her. Eun-jae says that although she wanted to stay with her man, in the end she couldn’t — she kept wanting more than he was willing to give.
Jan-di comes home to find a huge stock of household supplies, which she guesses came from Jun-pyo. It’s cute that he knows how she’d respond, so instead of saying he got them for her, he makes the excuse that he bought too much for himself so he’s just “throwing it away” by dumping it in Jan-di’s apartment.
And then, he is distracted by the wonderful, wonderful smells of cooking ramen. The three settle down to eat, but Jun-pyo takes an instant liking to the noodles (it may be his first experience ever) and quickly scarfs down the entire pot, then asks for more.
Taking Eun-jae’s advice to heart, Ga-eul decides to be honest about her feelings. Despite his cool greeting, Ga-eul isn’t deterred and asks him to go out on a date with her. Yi-jung reminds her that they already did that, so she clarifies that she means a real date, not a fake one.
Yi-jung maintains his dismissive demeanor, but Ga-eul tells him she’s not joking. She confesses, “I like you.”
For a brief moment, it looks like Yi-jung is surprised (and more affected than he’d like to admit). But he covers that up with his usual defense mechanism, which is to push her away and act the cold-hearted womanizer. He says thanks, but recites his list of dating “rules”:
Yi-jung: “One, I don’t mess with nice girls. Two, I don’t mess with foolish girls. Three, I absolutely don’t mess with girls connected with my friends. Ga-eul, you know all three apply to you, don’t you? My answer is no.”
She starts to protest. He says, “You know the way out.”
Hurt, Ga-eul leaves, but his expression when he’s alone tells us that he’s lashing out because of his inner frustration — he’s kind of like Jun-pyo in that, actually. For Yi-jung, it’s not that he can’t have Ga-eul, but he’s afraid to pursue anything with her, so he keeps her away. But similarly to Jun-pyo, he has enough presence of mind to feel self-loathing over it.
That night, Jan-di’s studying is interrupted by a scream coming from nearby — it’s Jun-pyo, and the Big Bad Shinhwa Multimillionaire has just seen a roach. Okay, they are pretty gross, but Jan-di takes care of them easily and shoots Jun-pyo an annoyed look.
When she starts to leave, Jun-pyo hastily asks her to stay and keep him company. So she does, sitting by until Jun-pyo has fallen asleep. She tucks him into bed, then heads back to her apartment.
She has an unexpected guest — Jae-kyung, who heard about her move from Ga-eul. Frankly, I’m not sure what point this serves (probably a clumsy setup for a future point) because the obvious conflict is that she’ll realize Jun-pyo lives next door. But instead, we just get an abrupt transition from Jae-kyung’s visit to the next scene, which shows Jan-di in the school library.
While browsing the bookshelves, Jan-di comes across Ji-hoo napping in the aisle. When he wakes up, he notices the Matisse book she’s holding; he takes an interest in her mention of a school report, because this is something he can help her with.
Since his family owns several art galleries, Ji-hoo closes one to the public to allow Jan-di its exclusive use.
In the gift shop, Jan-di looks over a gift set of a ceramic lotus flower, which reminds her of President Yoon’s puzzle, so she asks Ji-hoo if he knows why lotus flowers bloom in mud. Unbeknownst to Jan-di, her wording echoes the monk’s words, and Ji-hoo thinks back to his comment that Jan-di will make him a family.
Afterward, Ji-hoo falls asleep while resting on an outdoor bench because apparently he is narcoleptic in this episode. Working off Ji-hoo’s sleeping profile, Jan-di sketches him while he dozes.
When he wakes, she gives him the drawing, which he says is so good it merits a present in return — he hands her a gift box containing the ornamental lotus blossom, and answers her question: “They say that even though lotus flowers bloom in mud, they make the world clean and fragrant.”
Jan-di thinks, “Their name is pretty, and so are their actions.” Ji-hoo: “You’re like that.”
At home, Jun-pyo busily packs his clothing. With Madam Kang still in Vancouver, he asks Mr. Jung for his cooperation in keeping quiet to his mother.
Jae-kyung bursts in, so he tells her exasperatedly that she should call and ask permission instead of barging into his room. This doesn’t faze her, and she flops onto his bed and makes herself at home.
In annoyance, Jun-pyo tries to pull her up — Mr. Jung leaves them to their privacy — but instead, he ends up losing his balance.
Jun-pyo falls, hovering over Jae-kyung.
She asks, “Want to make a bet with me?”
COMMENTS
Someone commented in a previous episode thread that it’s almost like Lee Min-ho and Lee Min-jung are trying to suppress the great chemistry they have together for the sake of their characters, and I have to agree — they do have chemistry, which is problematic since their chemistry threatens to outstrip the other couples. (I think Jun-pyo and Jan-di have chemistry too — only, we’ve barely seen them acting together in the past six episodes, which tends to erase that from our short-term memories.)
What’s interesting is that the whole Jun-pyo and Jae-kyung courtship is meant to be unsatisfactory, or at least should point to why these two aren’t right for each other, or at least why they’re less right than Jun-pyo and Jan-di. Textbook Kdrama Studies should tell us that they are supposed to be perfect for each other on paper but not in real life — kind of like how Ji-hoo’s the perfect guy for Jan-di but won’t work out because she doesn’t reciprocate his feelings (anymore). But it’s starting to feel like Jae-kyung really is the right girl for Jun-pyo, and that confuses me. Not that I think the production is going to flout convention and actually put them together — oh hayell no — but because I’m not seeing why we are supposed to be rooting for Jun-di over Jun-kyung, except maybe “because we’re supposed to.”
For instance, think of all of Jun-pyo’s and Jae-kyung’s interactions together. If we were starting this drama with “season 2,” you’d think that Jun-kyung was the ultimate pairing rather than the foil. Even the way Jun-pyo is treating Jae-kyung is softening, and he has a few moments of real connection with her (whether they’re romantic or even just platonic, in a human-to-human way). So why are they pushing this angle when I’m trying to root for the “real” ultimate couple?
We also have a similar issue on the flipside, with Ji-hoo and Jan-di. I know this may sound like a diss, but I don’t mean it that way — it’s more like glass-half-full thinking — when I say that I’m almost glad that Ji-hoo isn’t played by a stronger actor, because then I’d be completely confused about the mixed-up love lines in this drama.
To wit: Imagine someone like the silently broody Jung Il-woo (a la Return of Iljimae) or gentle Ji Hyun-woo (from My Sweet Seoul), or sure, Jang Geun-seok (Beethoven Virus) casting longing glances at Jan-di — I’d be on that ’ship so fast my head would spin.
As it is, I’m liking their dynamic a lot — not necessarily the actors’ chemistry, but the characters’ relationship. One of my favorite moments is when they each write their wishes for the other person, because it’s poignant that they both would rather wish for the other person’s happiness more than their own. I’m guessing the monk’s prediction actually means Jan-di will restore Ji-hoo’s family (i.e., mend the bridge with his grandfather), but the other meaning (suggesting they’re going to marry) is an interesting thought. In theory.
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Tags: Boys Before Flowers, Gu Hye-sun, Kim Bum, Kim Hyun-joong, Kim Joon, Lee Min-ho, Lee Min-jung
Thanks Javabeans!
yay, review!
Thanks for the recap!!
<3
I liked this episode! I don’t think that JP was falling for JK when he was looking sad on the stairs! I think he likes her and relates to her, in a friend sort of way, and can tell by all the nice things she does that she really loves him. He doesn’t want to hurt her, but he really loves JD.
I love this show. I am addicted, and will probably get fired when they check my history at work, because I was watching today when I was supposed to be working. Oh well, it is worth it
i must say, i can feel the drag brought about by the extension already. nonetheless, there were scenes that i thought made up for the extreme emo-ness of the past weeks, and they were acted out very nicely.
1). ji hoo locking his hands into jan di’s and telling her not to be too hard on herself, that’s she’s not stupid for the still loving the person she loves. if anyone would understand that, it’s ji hoo. and i LOVE how that fact makes this scene so sweet, and at the same time, incredibly heartbreaking. sometimes, there really IS just one person who teaches you what love is, and another who reaps the fruits of the lesson you learned. it’s a cruel truth.
2). that look that junpyo gives jae kyung when she fixed him breakfast. people might construe this look as junpyo possibly liking JK, but on the contrary, i think the look conveyed for the first time ever that he’s actually SORRY for having to have to hurt her. he doesn’t love her, but he understand the longing for love and sharing that she has; he has it as well. her wish about the full breakfast table? junpyo understands that. he’s exhibited this same yearning for and to jandi several times already, and now that he realizes that she’s actually kindred, he’s finally felt sorry for not being THE ONE for her. that’s why he assures her that she’ll find The one for her also.
3). the secretary leaving him the pics of jandi. we all thought we knew the story of BBF, and then *jajang* secretary turns out to be junyo’s dad! …LOL kidding. although the dynamic between them is tangible and heartwarming. he IS a father figure to him, and understands him enough to know that he has found LOVE. it supercedes evil commands from the old witch mama kang. (plus in this scene, junpyo’s hugging the stuffed cat jandi gave him: BONUS!)
4). jandi’s chemistry with her brother.. it just really feels real, and it contributes a lot to the feel of *we can get through this*
5). junpyo explaining away the fact that he bought jandi things to help her out. “i didn’t need these, so i threw them away.. here.” …like the sushi scenes, this shows that he really knows jandi enough to not make her feel like he’s giving her charity. he knows she can take care of herself, but he just cannot NOT help. he loves her, DOH. the depth of how they curve into each other’s quirks conveys their love for each other even better than romantic and fluffy words ever will. that’s just how they rooooll.
6). having a glimpse of the old junpyo back, once he moved next door to jandi. the ramyun scene and the bug scene swere totally random for me, save the fact that it showed the dynamic and reason why junpyo and jandi ARE junpyoandjandi
him asking her to stay a bit, was touching, because in his world where he has to take care of her secretly and not show his true feelings, those were the first honest words he’s said to her in a while. i’m willing to bet a lot a lot that when she killed that bug, he only wishes that she had the same coloring book as minji,l that said, “mrs. goo jun pyo” on it. LOL
i always appreciate your take on things. awesome, recap, as per usual.
THANK YOU, SARAH! 
omg i have been waiting for the whole day
the highlight of the boys before flowers routine :]
So funny you mentioned about Woo Bin and Yi-jung making out cause that’s what I was thinking when Yi-jung’s face was so close to Woo-bins. AHAHAHAH!!!
wow i must say
they are dragging this too far
i want lovelove mode already!
YAY
hahah top 10?
THANK YOU SO MUCH GUYS FOR THE RECAPS!!!!
I WAS WAITING FOR THEM!!
its good that gu hye sun is much better from her accident now..:)
can’t wait for tomorow!!!
I have to completely agree. The Woo Bin scene on the bridge was really strange and felt completely out of place. I wonder if the PD put it in after Gu Hye Sun’s accident… perhaps to lessen the number of scenes she has to participate in?
When the monk told Ji Hoo that Jan Di will “make you a family” I think that Ji Hoo interpreted that as him and Jan Di will become a family. I interpreted that as Jan Di will help Ji Hoo reconcile with his grandfather, i.e. make a family. What do you think? (oops i wrote this before i saw your comments)
I was very nervous when i saw the breakfast scene between Jye Kyung and Jun Pyo. The look that he gave her made me really nervous. It looked like he was starting to develop feelings for her… The PD has mentioned that they would do this Korean version of Hana Yori Dango differently. That doesn’t mean that they’re going to change the ending…right????????
i love your recaps…i check back every few minutes to see whether or not youv’e posted. i totally thought yi jung and woobin were gonna make out! hilarity!!!
Haha I was totally thinking the same thing about the awkward Yi jung-Woo bin scene…
And I agree with some other people, I hope they end this conflict soon. And I do like the fact that maybe Junpyo can now see his fiancee as a friend, because I think that is how they best turn out. I do agree however with you, the past couple of weeks’ episodes are doing nothing for me in terms of rooting for the “main” couple. They need to get them back together soon, at least temporarily.
Wow.. I absolutely agree! I find myself wondering why isn’t Jun Pyo and Jae Kyung getting together. I really want to root for Jun Pyo and Jandi… but Jae Kyung seem so much better! It feels like Jun Pyo met Jae Kyung first, they would be together. I too wish there were more interactions between Jun Pyo and Jandi. I was anticipating it when he moved in next door… but all we got was a sleeping scene. I feel ripped off. I wish they would stop yelling so much and have some more serious moments. I like those more.
This episode felt so choppy and random. The entire scene with Woo bin… There were just question marks all over. Had no idea what was going on. I thought I missed something from an earlier episode! Yea.. something has to be done with the script writing or director or something. I’m tired of watching 2 minute music videos of jandi roaming around in the library, or people walking around every 20 minutes. Give me the good stuff!
Thanks as always for the recap!
Woah.. Nice summary. I have waited for your summary since the morning.. It has become a habit for me now. lol Before I download the ep, I read your summary first..
Thanks for your work so I can read an interesting and nice recapped summary.
I think it is about time that Jandi should step up and fight for her love..
She is supposed to be a strong and fearless girl.
Yes, I think JunPyo is more compatible with JaeKyung, based on their living and background. She understand the loneliness and the disadvantages to be a rich heiress. But I think Jandi have taught JunPyo a lot of things and helped him experienced some things that he didnt do before.
It smooths his longings to be belonged or to cared or loved.. 
She helps him to fill all of those missing parts in him and his life..
Woobin scene out of NO WHERE.
And I agree, I thought they were going to make out after Yi-jung so tenderly put him on the hood of the car~
Maria, I totally agree with you. I think that JP and JK have great chemistry together, and he seems to like her, but not in the romantic way. He just saw her as a person for the first time in this episode, not just an annoyance, and is hating the fact that he is being put in a position to hurt her. But he’s still gonna do it
Debbie, the Woo Bin scene made me think of a bunch of writers sitting around a table, saying, ok, all the fans want to know more about Woo Bin, how can we work that in? So they came up with a completely unrelated storyline and squished it in there at the last minute. I am glad they tried, heaven knows, it’s nice to have our opinions valued, but, hmmm. It did kind of seem like Woo and Yi were going to start kissing at any minute. And how did Woo know that Yi was at that club?
Thanks for your commentary Dramabeans! I love coming to your site, it makes me feel connected in a world where no one else has even heard of BBF, let alone cares what happened in this episode!
thanks for the recaps! omg im still rooting for yijung and gaeul! i hope they get together~
I agree that the Woo Bin scene was really weird and random. It’s like the producers finally caved and decided to give him more screen time. I just wish they didn’t just randomly insert it. It felt really out of place. And yeah I totally thought YiJung and him would start making out hahaha. There was totally a romantic vibe between them in that scene. What a hot gay couple they’d make lol
Another way you could look at the couple problem is that they could other ways but because they have such strong feelings for each other they can’t move on.
Plus, I’m wondering if the whole story of Hana Yori Dango is just different from typical Korean dramas, thus all the confusions you are having. But I’m more in favor that it’s the scriptwriter’s fault.
I am delusional as hell, but I’m still here praying that the network will pull a Jandi/Jihoo ending at the last minute ):
dude I say Yijung and Woobin should get together. They are the perfect OTP.
there’s been way too many Jandi-Jihoo scenes. I don’t think I’ve watched any version of HYD where Rui was this involved with makino. I don’t agree with you about Jaekyung and Junpyo though, but that’s probably due to my extreme dislike towards Jaekyung’s character.
Aw maaaan… looks like Jae Kyung is going to go the “Spurned Lover turned Manipulative Crazy Person” route… my least favorite drama plot.
And I got a new lesson in being careful what I ask for tonight. We said we wanted more Woobin. We said “give the boy a storyline, why don’t ya?” And they reward us with the lamest plotline in history (it’s official, I checked… this one is lready in the record books) coupled with the awkwardest four minutes of my kdrama watching life! If this is what there going to do with him I’d rather we go back to the days of “Yo, Yo, Ma Bro!”
Really, I feel like they were trying too hard on all the side characters tonight. Woobin’s story is just wack… I haven’t been so disappointed since The Fresh Prince of Bel Air was cancelled. Yi Jung’s was unnecessary… he’s already got the debaucherous father, the feelings/non-feelings for Ga-Eul, and the long lost first love, and the abandonment issues with his brother. Do we really need to add a ruined career in order to know that the boy has some drama in our lives? The same thing with Grandpa’s heart condition… what’s really the point?
On another note… I loved seeing Jandi and Jun Pyo back together again. It put a smile on my face. Especially since (I’ll come clean and admit it) Jihoo does nothing (NOTHING) for me and, as much as everyone gushes over the sweet soulmatyness of their friendship, I just don’t see it. They pretty much just bore me to tears. Big ol’ bored tears… not a pretty sight… I’m just saying…
i forgot to mention how cute i think kang san is and how funny your comment was about ji hoo being narcoleptic…since when did this prince charming fall asleep on floors and park benches in the middle of the day?!
The Roach scene was HILARIOUS. Jun-pyo was so cute!
I agree that Jun-pyo and Jae-kyung have great chemistry. I really started to wonder what if they will end up together. (silly me.)
I think the character who had a crush on Jun-pyo (the one who had all the plastic surgery and her name was Sakurako in the Jap. version) should just come back ans slap the sense into Jae-kyung. (maybe she should’ve came back before Jae-kyung even found out about Jan-di and Jun-pyo’s dating history, and at that time, she could’ve yelled it stright at Jae-kyung’s face: “THEY WERE DATING!!!”) Cuase I thought that in one of the other versions Sakurako’s character actually defends the couple when DOmyouji lost his memory and all that. She said that she admired Makino and all. I think that was really sweet. Haha.
Maybe they need a guy to root for Ga-Eul. That way, he’ll make Yi-jung finally move forward. xD And/or maybe Eun-jae can help (though I doubt that).
Can’t wait for tommorrow’s episode. Thanks Javabeans. Awesome as always.
Yay, cute and funny scenes make a much welcomed comeback! Despite making the plot inconsistent as a result, LOL. Things have been so depressing lately. Even Yi-jung and Woo-bin have shown their serious side so I really appreciated the happy moments. I couldn’t stop giggling and the funny background music didn’t help either. Hilarious!
The first scene of this episode was very painful to watch only because it looked so silly. It could have been a good one. But they made it look cringeworthy. I don’t like the character Lee Min-jeong is playing but I really felt bad for the actress after watching her run around like a turkey and yelling nonsense.
We saw some dilemma between Yi-jung and Ga-eul. The way things are headed, I think they just might end up together and I would love that. Even if, as a result, it deviates dramatically from the original story. I first learned the story of Hana Yori Dango when I watched the Taiwanese version. And it left me a little empty when I realized they would never end up together. Up until the very end, I was still anticipating their return but I was disappointed. As for Yi-jung and Ga-eul, who are so cute together, I do hope for a happy ending.
Jun-pyo got me worried when he stared at the new girl for a long time in one of the scenes. I wasn’t afflicted because he was staring. It was because I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. All this time, I thought his feelings wouldn’t waver even a tiny bit. But I wasn’t so sure at that moment. And then I thought some more and realized maybe he was looking at her that way because he pities her. He knows what she’s going through. He understands all too clearly the loneliness she went through as a child, and the pain and burden of pursuing an unrequited love. After all, it’s a reflection of his past. I just hope that’s all there is to it.
As for the last scene… I hope it’s one of those cliff hangers where in the next episode, the supposed climax fizzles into nothingness. Like it was created only to hook viewers for the next episode, not to further develop the plot.
Javabeans, you really had me hurting there when I read your last comments (about Jun-pyo and new girl). I hope you stay loyal to Jun-Di. It’s weird how I have no problem watching Ji-hoo and Jan-di get friendly but have a BIG problem watching the new girl with Jun-pyo together. And I’m not rooting for Jun-Di because they’re “supposed” to end up together. I’m rooting for them because I believe in true love.
Hoping and waiting.
Thanks for the recap as always.
(apologies for the long post!)
Aha. Wow. Again. Enjoyed reading your reviews more than the recap itself. I watch the raw version early in the morning but I always have to set aside time during the night so I can read your opinions.
Gah. Now I’m rooting for Jihoo and jandi/junpyo and jaekyung.
am i supposed to feel like this?
I guess the makers are making us feel like this so that when the story has its obvious twist (change of couples) it’ll bring the emotions outside of us.:D
THANKS
Its not better chemistry but but better writing on Jae-kyung/Jun Pyo front, jan Di and Jun pyo have had no scenes and the ones that they have had have been terrible. This show sufferes from seriously crappy writing epsecially in Jan Di’s case who hasn’t had a decent piece of diolgue for like 10 eps now.
bravo nice review ….thanx a lot ,keep on going ok,I’m looking forward on your next review…
hahaaha we’ve had so much jun pyo/ji hoo, it’s about time we had some yi jung/ woo bin!!!! XD
i feel like jae kyung is the female version of jun pyo. she’s doing like the same things to jun pyo that he did to jan di to win her affection. coming to his house unannounced, getting him food, etc.
i feel so bad for jae kyung though.. we all know how this is going to turn out, but i kinda want jun-kyung and jandi/jihoo. -_-
and omg poor ga eul in this episode!!!! T_T and yi jung! that poor, poor boy.
ah so much angst.. so much emoness. but i’m still loving it.
thanks for the recap! =D
Do you remember in like episode 5 when Jandi had that dream and it was like your soulmate and your husband will be 2 different people? Dude when that monk was talking to JiHoo that is what totally came into mind! What if the Korean Version will change it up and make Jandi and JiHoo end up together? But honestly like right about now I dont mind it. the JunpyoJandi story is getting a bit thrown in the background. I almost feel like I should be rooting for Junpyo-Jaekyung and Jandi-JiHoo
Thanks for the recap!
your side remarks are so funny javabeans =)
1) Although, if she were really serious she’d be using the big spoon, is all I’m sayin’.”
HAHAHA I agree! A big spoon to match the big gallon carton/bucket of ice cream.
2) “Frustrated, Yi-jung pulls Woo-bin off the railing, and pushes him against his car — and who else wondered for a second whether these two guys were going to make out?”
LOL me! just for a second.
I liked the part when they write each other’s wishes too. it was cute & sweet.
I agree with you that when the Buddhist told JH that JD was going to bring him a family, it refers to her bringing him & his grandfather together again, as a family. Like Master (jandi’s boss) said in the episode when ji hoo for the first time sees his grandfather in the clinic, he told jandi that it was up to her (her responsibility) to reunite the two….also the grandfather told jandi that she reminded him of a lotus flower…I think they all connect.
the ramen scene was so cute & hilarious!!
I am REALLY excited about SoEulmate in the next few episodes. He will FINALLY stop being in denial & be true to himself and go for Gaeul =) SO EXCITED!
which leads me to my question, When YJ was talking to JP about how only guys like them can only bring nothing but pain to the girls they love, was YJ referring to Gaeul?? cuz it was be4 she asked him out… or was he referring to his first love? clarification would be appreciated, thanks =)
thank you javabeans, always! =)
Thanks for your speedy recaps! I’ve been refreshing the page all night even though I know it takes a while for you to get them up! I always find your comments witty and insightful so please keep doing what you’ve been doing for those of us who don’t understand Korean
finally, there’s a cute jun pyo- jan di scene in this ep! i was starting to wonder if they’re still “connected” (well, emotionally).
i feel so bad for ga eul =(
i really wish she ends up with yi jung! or else, i would cry. or be really angry at this drama. whichever one comes first.
i wanna quote this one:
Frustrated, Yi-jung pulls Woo-bin off the railing, and pushes him against his car — and who else wondered for a second whether these two guys were going to make out?
loz! seriously, i was laughing so hard when i saw this scene and reading your comment about it makes it way funnier…i thought im the only one who felt uncomfortable wih this. i got this goosebump and then i started laughing…
and the part where tha monk mention about jandi giving jihoo a family almost made me confuse…. i was thinking, hhmmm are they trying to change the story now?? lolz i think most people would have mistaken it (like me) that jandi is gonna be jihoo’s future wifey…thank you for those people who enlighten me about this (i guess my brain is so swamp lately because of my student) i finally got the whole picture of it.
thanks javabeans for this wonderful recaps…i always make sure that after i watch each episode that i read your recaps right away.
I see what you mean Javabeans; I had a similar thought…
if this wasn’t a “Hana Yori Dango” remake, I’d be rooting for the unconventional pairings myself. As it is, the friends that I’ve introduced to this drama that have NEVER EVER seen HYD before were crushed when I told them Jun-pyo and Jandi were the eventual pairings. The comments were along the lines of :
“Why? Ji-Hoo does everything for her”
“Jae-Kyung understands him”
“So are Ji-Hoo and Jae-Kyung going to end up together?” XD
It’s kind of funny actually; I’m half Indian so I tend to make a lot of parallels between Indian movies and drama and Korean movies and drama…
In most Indian movies, the ideal setting would be to diminish the “idealistic” first love and see that the parent’s pick will eventually be correct… as in, the hero learns to love the new heroine. I mean, that’s only allowing if Madam Kang was more benevolent XD
Thank you for the recap…I need to go watch it if only to see Kim Joon and Hyun Joong’s pretty faces and Bummie and Minho’s intensity >_<
Really enjoy reading your comments and other readers’ comments.. Totally agree with #5 Maria.. Pretty much sum up my thoughts for this episode.
Btw i am really worried when they show Dr. President Grandpa Yoon having a heart problem. I understand that it should be a factor for Ji Hoo to reconcile with his grandpa.
BUT i am worried that they changed the story and the grandpa eventually passed away. If he passed away, the quote “she will “make you a family.”” will be leading to Jandi-Ji Hoo marriage?
There has been an interesting theory going through the fans
which is that the writer might have mixed
the (originally) cool character of Jae-kyung with
the supernice but clinging & cheating character of Umi (from the comics).
I was suspicious about that at first,
but Jae-kyung’s tryings to appeal to JP and catch his heart…
giving false information to Jandi but still taking care of her even after she
knows Jandi is JP’s love…
Well.. that somehow reminds me of Umi.
yup, i agree on the better writing and more screen time/interaction JK and JP get as opposed to JD/JP. i mean, the PD is barely throwing us Joondi shippers a bone here. why are there so many intimate/semi-reflective scenes between the two when they are definitely NOT the main couple? i mean, i hate to bring in comparisons to previous versions, but in the japan HYD, there was some amazing makino/tsukasa interaction despite the whole fiancee arc. here, though, we only get tiny glimpses of the Joondi chemistry, which just makes me long for even more and hate the fiancee and her desperate ways a hell of a lot more.
i wish gaeul and yijung will get together already!
I’m so afraid that i’m going to jump ship. The problem is that, for me, Jae Kyung shines so much brighter than Jan Di. And her chemistry with JP just keeps getting more powerful with every scene. At the end of this episode, I just kept wishing they would kiss.
Leslee-
I totally know what you mean about getting fired- I couldn’t resist it and watched the episode at work today during my lunch hour. I am a total junkie, but hey, the first step in overcoming an addiction is to admit it. AND I ADMIT IT.
Regarding the Junpyo-Jae Kyung thing, I didn’t take it to mean that Junpyo is starting to fall for her. When she takes the fish with her hands just like Jandi’s mom, I was thinking the whole time that they would have a flashback of Jae Kyung at the breakfast table after spending the night at Jandi’s house and Jandi’s mom doing the same thing to her. I took that whole scene and Jun Pyo’s look to mean that he too understands what it is like to finally be shown intimacy and love among families, not that he is starting to have a romantic inkling towards her.
I loved the scene where Jandi is sketching Ji hoo and the little detail of her feet crossing his feet at the library. This director tries to show the subtleties of the characters’ relationships with one another through small details like that. I like that suble imagery.
I won’t even get into the whole bizarre and uncomfortable scenes about Woo-Bin and Yi-Jeong land ost love and all that uninteresting waste of good time that could have been used for more Jandi/Junpyo scenes. Totally extraneous, badly acted and AWKWARD to say the least. I choose to erase from my memory altogether so as to not spoil the rest of the story. As Ji hoo wrote about the bathroom scene in Macau, “memory deletion complete.”
I’m so confused with my pairings! I want JandiXJihoo and JunpyoXJaekyung… but it’s not suppose to be that way.. is it TT_____TT??
On the other hand, Junpyo with doll is.too.cute.*dies*
That aside, I’m still surprised how in all dramas in k-drama history, BOF is the one drama that HAS to have a bad director -_- (maybe not the worst, but not so great either). I mean, even in dramas that aren’t that great or may end up in the not-so-memorable list at least have better directing, that it’s just amazing how of all dramas, BOF (the MOST popular story) ended up the way it is and yet how it’s too addicting -_________- Was it just coincidence that the ost pd isnt that great either….?
You are just terrific in writin recaps! I’m glad you did!
Even though some episode sucks to the max, i swallow the pain just looking forward to read you recap which i myself find super entertaining.
I’m smiling just thinking of LMH and the Ramen scene…. Let’s have RAMEN for lunch today! KAL JA!
thanks so much for the recap, dramabeans! i always look forward to reading your blog. my thoughts on this episode:
-slightly better background music. the pop songs still drive me nuts, but there were some good moments.
-jandi’s apartment is the same exact one as the female lead’s in kdrama “attic cat.” what a fun coincidence!
-loved all the JP-JD scenes. we finally got our tough jandi back. at least for a while. come to think of it, i miss the days when junpyo would call jandi “saht tang” or “jan di baht.”
-when i watched this ep without subs, i didnt know what was going on btwn woobin and yijung, but it looked mighty awkward. still, i was happy there was more character development in this ep. and also interesting dynamics between jihoo, jandi, jae kyung, and junpyo.
the comments dramabeans made about the love polygon are really interesting and got me thinking. cause as a viewer, im starting to ship jandi and jihoo. im not quite sure about junpyo and jaekyung though, probably b/c i find jaekyung’s persistence in latching onto junpyo annoying. but its very true that we are not given a real reason to believe that junpyo and jaekyung arent for each other except because the manga set it up that way. i think dramabeans really nailed it in her analysis. i agree 100% that the actors seem to withhold their chemistry for the sake of the drama. i felt really uneasy during all the junpyo-jaekyung scenes in this ep. looks like the pd and the writers will have to polish up this issue!
i really hope the writers flip everything for jandi and ji hoo to be together! YEAHHHH hahaha
i know this will piss off a lot of junpyo fans but his fiance is kinda cute for him too.
plus, its ji hoo’s turn to get some love. come on people!
Thanks Dramabeans! As always I look forward to your review.
JK and JP do have chemistry and they seem made for each other. On the other hand, Dao Ming Si in MG1 told the fiancee that his heart was taken a long time ago. I guess the feeling is similar for GJP. Had JK appear first – it is likely that they would be perfect together. Jandi has altered him completely so it is hard to let anyone in. At least for now…
As for JH and JD, they are given so many opportunities to spend time together! Lovely lovely shot at the temple. They are like destined to be together. Again the monk’s observation brought me back to the fortune teller at New Caledonia – that both her soulmate and husband were there at the same time. I cannot imagine GJP as her soulmate and JH is obe
The storyline seems to be drifting further and further from Jundi to Jun-kyeong and Ji-di. I like the possibilities. If JP wants to be with JD – we need to see him do more. Her response to him in his episode was justified as he had been really mean to her.
Look forward to tonight’s epi!
“For instance, think of all of Jun-pyo’s and Jae-kyung’s interactions together. If we were starting this drama with “season 2,” you’d think that Jun-kyung was the ultimate pairing rather than the foil. ”
During the scene at Macau where JP and JK were fighting over that pair of shoes, the chemistry I noticed between them is more of a sexual tension type of chemistry. Watching them chase each other made me think of the type of people you see on tv arguing one minute and then ripping their clothes off the next. It’s more of a playful flirty with a hint of lust chemistry. (Ok maybe I should keep this G-rated… >_<;; but that was the vibe that I got when I first saw them together.)
As for Jun-Kyung feeling like the ultimate pairing, I have to admit, this episode did seem to toy with this idea each time we see JP softening his exterior to JK, but we still see him pining away for JD so I’m not getting the vibe of JK/JP being the ultimate pairing. As for JK being the ideal girl for JP, she might be but for me personally I’m just not feeling her. There’s something about JD, the way she struggles through her hardships, trying to take care of her family and pull X number of jobs at once, that makes her a good foil to JP’s character, who’s lived a much easier life (materialistically speaking). Their differences in background and circumstances help them open each other’s eyes.
For me personally, I find Jandi’s character much more admirable for all the hardships she survived and the strength of character with which she’s endured them. Nothing’s making me sympathize with Jae Kyung at the moment, only that she’s in love with a man who doesn’t reciprocate her feelings. Jae Kyung has yet to experience hardships. She’s always had her bodyguards to bail her out when she’s in trouble (ie fighting off the knifed robber in Macau). If it weren’t for her bodyguards, JK’d be seriously injured. I wonder if she understands the consequences of her actions. Sure, she’s a free-spirit, which would give JP a different type of relationship than what JD could provide. But with JP’s wealth and lack of family, a free-spirit isn’t what JP needs at the moment. He needs to learn the consequences of his actions (like issuing a red card) and what a family is, which is what JD provides.
this episodes made me remember the word from the fortuneteller (during Jandi and F4 stays in the island), “your husband and your soulmate are two different persons”
if the story ended with junpyo marrying jaekyung, and jandi to jihoo, that will make what the fortuneteller said became true (implying junpyo is jandi’s soulmate)..
i dont want that..
so u DO like jang geun suk? lol cuz u criticized him a lot in hong gil dong. but i know u have a soft spot for him.
j/k dramabeans!
once again, GREAATTTTTTTTTTTTTT review. u pointed out so many things that i didnt even realize! i sorta gave up on the drama a loooooong time ago. just now watching for the sake of the ending. but u can somehow turn the most boring drama into something thoughtful! well done well done!
the trouble with Jae-kyung and Jun-pyo are they really too much alike to make a couple. They both tend to try and override everyone else options and do things they want, also both are very selfish and frankly I can not see two such people being long term lovers, they will end up hating each other or worse.
The new rooftop apartment [another classic K-drama myth done, poor girl on the roof top] I guess came from the little old lady at the doctors. And talking of doctors just how long is it going to take for Jandi to tell JiHoo about the grandfather?
Guess when he falls over with heart trouble so they can have a death dead reunion and the old guy drops dead..now that would be a K-drama classic moment if there ever was one,,lol
I can’t deny the fact that Junpyo and Jae Kyung has a little chemistry. Although I love to rant about that, I doubt it. Too much. Haha, I’m hoping for more Jandi/Junpyo scenes. I can sense that in the future.
I’m surprise you didn’t mention about the new ost since (except for 2 songs) overall I really didn’t feel the songs at all, especially the instrumental songs.
I totally agree with you! Jaekyung and Junpyo are interesting to watch; I kept thinking they’d make a good couple on real life. The characters, not the actors.
And the Woobin drama, ahahaha. It was so embarrassing, I just kept on snickering the whole time. I didn’t know BBF would play the self-loathing/I-don’t-deserve-my-friends card. AHAHAHA it was so bad.
awww…i wanted ga-eul to give a few choice words to yi-jung there..but oh well…i hope if they’re ever made a couple NOW that she’ll seriously make him work for it…
Anyway… Why cant the Hanadan elements sync a lil with the Kversion! I’m expecting gold and diamonds but what i got was glass and plastics….
No worries…. this episode has its flaw and perfection.
Relationship wise, they really must do something with the communication between Jandi and Junpyo….. I want more and i expect more.
I saw love between Makino & Domyuji…. Jandi…. do something as Junpyo is truly, madly, deeply in love with you!
Kimbum is a method actor! I love the way he hurt Ga Eul… That was really mean. If I am Ga Eul, I will freaking cry on the same spot. The words are like thousand knives stabbing you on and on! Kim Jun scene made me smile…. I love this strong presence on screen and I appreciate that scene made specially for him. Well, we should have more of him you know. Hyunjoong… You are my sweetheart as always! I keep on listening to you Thank you song and put some scene between you n jandi…. Maybe you & Jandi are M.F.E.O (made for each other but not destined together.
Lee Minho….. I always look forward for your scene and I love every bit of it. You are such a sweetheart.
Hye Sun…. I love the way you look now. I think you look better now then the first few episode…..
I LOVE THIS RECAP SITE
I’m just glad that Goo Hye Sun has recovered from her injuries and that everything’s back on track.
Hope that BBF is injury-free from here on in.
Thanks for a great recap! Wasn’t this a “sleepy” episode? JP and JH were tag team nod-sters and they didn’t look like they were acting being knocked out. On the JP-JK & JD-JH pairings, Jan-Di’s the catalyst for JP’s and JH’s ability to connect with people. JK gets to benefit for a bit, but only JP evokes an equal and opposite reaction from JD. JP-JD forever!
I agree with your assessment of the monk’s comment–that Jandi serves to bridge JH and his grandfather together again in the future.
I don’t see the great chemistry that others are seeing between JK and JP though, (but I do agree that there is a serious lack of chemistry between JD and JP lately). I think JK’s character serves mainly to strike a cord in JP so he clearly sees some of the detestable aspects of the super elite’s upbringing (ie: memory of him eating alone as a child). This further breaks down JP’s shell, brings him to modesty and ultimately, closer to JD as was witnessed in the next scene where his new home is in JD’s building.
I assume the writers had JK visit JD at her new place to set the trap for a future run-in with JP/conflict as Java mentioned, and also to pull on those damned emotional heart strings of the viewers so they feel torn: JK genuinely likes JD despite what she knows is going on between her and JP. Despite the awkwardness, they’ve always been cordial to one another and got along. Similar to JP, JK cares enough to stop by and to immerse herself in the commoner’s world. I can foresee JK and JP forming a solid friendship wherein they pull each other out of the corrupted and/or unsatisfying depths of their privileged lives. It’s hard to dislike JK’s character despite her being annoying.
But shifting gears…whatever the heck happened to the JD+JP couple!? I am definitely starting to feel somewhat “dragged around” watching this drama now. It bewilders me how from one episode to the next (or from one SCENE to the next, no less), the two main characters JD and JP can be so intertwined one second, then completely disconnected in the next. It just makes the entire storyline so inconceivable. It’s too much of a hot-and-cold/schizophrenic dynamic that it makes no sense. If JP is going to get seriously bothered by something that JD does and vice-versa, how can he hwa-pooruh so fast!?
And wow, that scene with WB and YJ–da heck? Why? I felt disgusted after witnessing the writers of BoF finally pointing out the big elephant in the room (even though I love WB’s character and the guy who plays him in real life), ie: that WB’s character is “lame” and less than riveting. Granted his character has no screaming (or even subtle!) hamartia or character conflict, they pulled that stunt out of no where. Totally sets back Kim Joon fans and has them walking away in shame. I hope the writers have something great up their sleeves for his character. Sigh!
hey javabeans, i also had the same thought about the monk’s words: that jandi will be the bridge in restoring jihoo’s relationship with his father…although i appreciate the double entendre of that scene (the monk could have been implying that jandi and jihoo will end up as husband and wife). that was one of the nicest scenes in that episode, IMO.
i also agree with you, junpyo and jaekyung have great chemistry. jandi should step up and show her spunky side again! or else my shipping tendencies will jump to JP and JK’s ship, so to speak.
lastly, i totally wish yijung would get over eunchae (enough of the angst already!) and chase after gaeul! (but their story was set up quite nicely, if i may say so. *thinking positively*)
We need some JD JP moments back, totally forgot what they were like when they were together. Rewatched a few episodes and boy do I want them back ‘fighting’ again. They build their chemistry but had so few scenes in season 2 we, the audience are wondering…are they suppose to be in love? Are they suppose to pine for each other? They only had episode 9 and 10 to really interact and show their love…so why the hell can’t they just let each other go? Throwing JH and JK to the mix just makes everything even more confusing, so I agree with you…six episodes of no JD JP moments…makes you kinda wonder where the PD heading and Do we really give a freak if JD ends with JH now? He’s perfect for her. There is definitely chemistry btwn GHS and LMH but…that was six episodes ago. If the PD plans to make viewers ship for JD and JP he need to step up. Because right now…the chemistry I’m feeling is JD with JH (sweet, romantic, down to earth) and JP with JK (exciting, flirtatious, carefree)…so what the heck was the chemistry btwn JP and JD? Damn if I know that was like ages ago.
OKAY, so I decided the other day that I would re-watch the Japanese version of HYD and I did. And I decided, Lee Min Ho is my favorite Goo Junpyo! =D
Alright, so this episode was kind of twisted..? I mean it was confusing.. So, at first when the monk said that Jandi would be the one to give him a family, I was like “What?” Like I was thinking like Jihoo and Jandi mating and that equals a family but then when they switched it to the next scene to Jihoo’s grandfather, I was like “OH!!~” You don’t know how relieved I was… Haha, and I agree with you on the part that Jae Kyung and Junpyo seems to be the almost perfect couple, like the perfect for each other type. They understand each other, and thats very important but I think Jandi is the one to give him a reality check and she gives him a new way of looking at life. I mean Jae Kyung has the spunk but at the same time, girl is still spoil and very naive, which doesn’t bring much to Junpyo’s interest. I think he’s starting to see her as a potential friend, because he obviously has no interest in her as a lover. =)
Woobin’s scene wasn’t that bad until the part Yi Jung pulled him over. That was indeed awkward. But goshers, Yi Jung, why don’t you want our poor Ga Eul?… I think that maybe its being afraid… I mean he’s still not over Eun Jae and he knows he’s hurt her and maybe that’s why she ran away from him but ugh.. I don’t know, the story is so confusing right now… =/
Everybody seems to hate Jae Kyung now that she’s trying to take our Junpyo away from our Jandi but is it just me or is this like a whole replay of the Jihoo-Jandi-Junpyo relationship before in like the first half, except its Junpyo doing it to Jandi instead… Well, I’m hoping tomorrow’s episode would be better and STOP dragging the drama. I mean all this dragging is only making me lose interest not keeping me in. =/ We really need to see our favorite coupling back. I mean that was one of the reasons most of us are still watching. We’re waiting for our dear Jundi to reunite and love again like before.. =/ [Gosh, I'm corny..]
Anyways, great review. =D
Thank you so much for your very insightful recap… i look forward reading it all day…
(my own thoughts only..)
As expected korean drama tends to drag the story so much so that we end up wanting to pull all our hair out from annoyance… i even got to the point where i really wanted to stop watching the show until i know the end, due to the fact that i hate watching jandi hurting all the time. she seems to be the only one who looks so pathetic almost all of season2… this drama is suppose to show us how junpyo and jandi’s “true love” overcomes all evil, but then why is it taking so lloooonnngggg for them to put this two together??? hasnt the girl been through enough pain/humiliation/hearbreak to last her a million lifetime??? i say, enough already its time to show us what this love can do…
as if we are not in so much turmoil that they are now adding more confusion into the picture… junpyo and the fiancee??? i think , he finally saw her in a different light, and as hard as i try to convince myself that its just a good friend kinda look its not really working… as you said, they are suppose to show us how they are not right for each other, but the effect of this particular scene leaves me with a lot of “what if ” questions…
jihoo and jandi’s realationship is so gentle and calm, and i hate to admit it, but it makes me think that maybe…just maybe… he is better off for her… all she ever received from jun pyo is pain and he doesnt even have the guts to atleast tell her/expalin to her why his doing this to her… his way of showing his love is hurting her more, but jihoo’s love shows us that no matter what the situation maybe he will always be there for her… doesnt she deserve this kind of peace???
i am in a state of rage right now that i really want junpyo to feel a little of what he put jandi through…(note: parents lost thier bussiness, un-deserve insults, lost her ability to swim, and finally, her heartbreak…. ) its not that i dont see his own psuffering, i just think that its not even an ounce of what jandi is going through for him/because of him… i would love to to have the scene reverse… instead of junpyo losing his memory of her… have her lose her memory of him, now isnt that one hell of a twist… i am very excited to see how well he can handle the pain of being ignored and forgotten… ?( i know its a long strech, but hey isnt this why they call it drama?!)
Ianyway, i just really hope that they give us an ending worth watching… worth remembering and worth loving…
as if you guys haven’t already said it enough, i agree that they are dragging this out — they need to get jandi and junpyo together again! but i predict that at the rate they’re going, they won’t get back together until like ep 20 or at the earliest, the end of ep 19….
all this mispairings are probably confusing a lot of people. and now, though i love junpyo and jandi together, i kind of like jihoo and jandi together as well. –______–;
well, at least gu hye sun is feeling better (and did anyone else notice her stiches on her lips??)
also, is anyone missing junpyo’s curlier perm??
The Woobin scene on the bridge was PAINFUL…i had to fast forward it because it was extremely awkward to watch…
I wanted the writers to develop his character more, but what the freak was THAT?? I haven’t read the manga and never finished the previous two versions of the drama, but it is my understanding that Akira/Woobin is supposed to like older women because his mom is very childish and his twin sisters are very clingy towards him (or something – correct me if I’m wrong)…Is it really THAT difficult for the writers to introduce that aspect of Woobin’s character? We haven’t even seen his home! Is it really that hard to show him at home with his family? Or showing him hitting on Noonas? Kim Bum’s character has enough drama in his life for the two of them…couldn’t they spare some of that drama for Woobin who is instead relegated to being an extra who only appears when he needs to fight someone or to say “yo yo yo my bro!”
It’s so sad that such a good story like this fell in the hands of bad writing, directing, and in some cases, bad acting *sigh*
But I still keep watching because BoF is like crack …LOL!
I think that you were much more generous than I was.
In my opinion, this episode sucked. I could barely stand to watch it if not for the hope of catching a glance of Goo Jun Pyo. Of which, there was precious little!
I am so disappointed with the direction the storyline is taking. And the transitions in this episode were choppy and abrupt. Ugh.
Here’s to hoping this drama improves!
Javabeans, I thought you would have been less gentle than your actual comments. it seems that you become really smooth with BOF.
really this episode was a big “HuH??”. Everyone seems acting like a zombie and the story isn t moving at all. we know that Jh cares for JD. JK wants JP to love her …and everything is like sticking.
I never watch a drama where all the characters like so much sleeping.5 sleeping scene!! ^ ^;
anyway I understand where they are coming from and I hope for next week that they could wake up of their “narcoleptic”state (I mean PD, the actors, the writers …)
As usual, thank you for the recap.
I did want to say something about the couple pairing…For me, its wonderful, not because I’m rooting for the mixed match but because I believe that its something that the manga writer did purposely. To me the issue is that there are other people out there and they may even be better for you but you just don’t love them as much or want to be with them.
I love that JK is so much like JP because I believe that it goes back to the weird sequence with the whole “soulmate and husband” thing. On all sides JK-JP’s relationship falls into this category, as well as JD-JH. Its a good thing because its not about “destiny” in a sense but more about choices and reality.
To me, in the story even in the way it is portrayed here, isn’t that JH and JK are wrong for the main characters or even that JP and JD are the best fit but that they met and/or loved each other first. They loved in a real way and though someone great may come along, its just plain too late.
this episode felt very uneven, it did not flow as well (I mean as well it can be for BOF) however there were some redeeming aspects of it
-the look the junpyo gives to jk, wow, that was intense, I just kept thinking “STOP! looking at her like that!” however, I did come to my senses and realize it was junpyo knowing that he was going to hurt her and how much he didn’t want to
-the moments of Ji Hoo and JanDi, I’m not a supporter of this couple but I just keep thinking how heartbreaking its going to be for ji hoo when jandi ends up with junpyo, the small moments were sweet like them at the library and jandi trying to wake him up or when he passes a fork to jandi after she drops her, so subtle and sweet almost
I know jd and jp kind of reunite when he moves next door, but it just didn’t feel as great as I wanted to maybe because I know its not really a reunion..I was hoping when he was sleeping in his apartment that he would pull jandi to the bed as she was walking away-but I did enjoy the subtly of jp sleeping peacefully with her there (aw, how cute is jp sleeping with the stuffed animal!)
Alright, I do like WooBin but how he was included in the episode was super random and bizarre! Oh BTW, WooBin is hot! especially the picture Javabeans included in the recap, that deathly stare! Ouch, prince song!
Oh yeah, Yi-Jung angst? No, thank you, I get enough of that already from jp and jd-just be suave and glow for ga eul!
i hope so very much for a better episode tomorrow! jun hee unnie is back! yes!
I forgot to mention. Maybe BOF will go back on it’s track and tomorrow’s Teus episode will rock~~~~~~
nyahahahahahaha *excuse the random laugh*
I personally really like Junpyo and Jaekyung and this probably will be the first time that I like the hero with the relationship wrecker girl because if I may admit, LMJ and LMH have better chemistry than LMH and GHS. On the flipside, I’m also finding that Jandi and Jihoo are being pushed together too and because of the many scenes they are in, I’m starting to buy into their pairing. This is dangerous dynamic. I don’t want to be left disappointed when Junpyo and Jandi get together.
I couldn’t have said it any better! JK really is reaping the fruits of JD’s influence on JP. The JP now has really matured since his cake smashing, red card bullying days. JD’s actually made him more human and reflective and caring about others besides himself and the F3. The old JP wouldn’t have even spared JK a second glance. JK’s like a female mirror image of the old him, spoiled, selfish, pursues things kind of desperately and one-sidedly even if the other person clearly doesn’t reciprocate her feelings. For me, the breakfast scene clearly reflects that. JP kind of sees himself in her and her actions and for once, actually pities the poor girl…hence the flashback scene of him pursuing Jandi in New Caledonia. So the whole super couple, they have amazing chemistry thing…I’m really not feeling it. They’re too alike to be long-term lovers….they’d end up tearing each other’s hair out after all that bratty bickering… i mean ‘great’ chemistry wears out.
First off, I am on spring break at a beach house and I was previously FUSSY that I could not get through into the wireless internet so that I could read this, hahaha, how absolutely pathetic! I just love your recaps.
Okay, no doubt about it, I am scared to watch this ep just because (I am too embarrassed to have to explain to people I am on break with what I am doing so I haven’t seen it yet) I don’t want to have to cringe with the JK/JP scenes. I suppose more recently, I find that I am more endeared towards Jan-di that I don’t want to have to feel bad for her!
BUUUT I do think the whole Jun-pyo moving next door is a big step in comparison to the lack of what they’ve been having on screen for some time now…IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING geeeez. I see that Jun-pyo’s got his work ethic back — and getting credit for it because now Jan-di SEES AND HOPEFULLY KNOWS that he can’t help but be around her.
Anyone else DISAPPOINTED in Ga-eul? I know she was given advice and that prompted her to just ask, but errrg I wish she would respect herself to not work for a man. At least Jun-pyo worked for Jan-di…anyone else see Yi-young on any occasion work for Ga-eul?
Also, I read somewhere for ep. 20 there will be a huge wedding? I myself am rooting for the Graduate type of exit for our main couple.
ahhrg!!!! bof is slowing driving me crazy.. i think about it every minute of my life. every thing i do, certain actions and interactions with people somehow parallels with bof.. but yeah. must- get- over- addiction… hmmm.. anyone up for bof anonymous(treatment for addiction) haha. i think im really gonna need that once the whole series is over. Im already dreading what im going to do every monday and tuesday night now.. reruns anybody?? haha. jk.
but yeah.. anyways.. grr.. i hate myself for slowly falling for jihoo and jandi’s relationship. I mean, i feel so bad for jihoo because right now he has nobody but jandi. but I guess when he reconciles with his grandpa, i wont feel that bad anymore because he will have somebody to be with.. (just praying that they don’t give president grandpa some incurable disease).. but yeah.. no matter how much i sway for jandi and jihoo, once junpyo gets in the picture i get all confused again.
and.. just a random note.. anyone else get creeped out by the weird lady at the clinic who wouldn’t let go of jandi and kept complimenting her. x_x
I think we should sign a petition and just have JD end up with JH. I mean it’s amazing the number of JH-JD shippers out there! Nobody will really care who ends up with whom anymore since season 2 really build the relationship of JD and JH, JP and JK. This story can be about people staying in their place and learning to love the partner that loves them! BTW people have different perception of chemistry but to me I still think GHS and LMH have amazing onscreen chemistry but…with all the JK-JP scenes it’s hard for me to root for JP and JD. Also all the scenes of JH and JD together…I’m now used to seeing them together and are wondering…why shouldn’t they? I can now see chemistry btwn JH and JD…so now I don’t mind a JH-JD ending.
OK, I was in denial but this ep forced me to face it: BBF has slowed to the death crawl. Because of delay caused by GHS’s recent accident? Jang Ja Yeon’s suicide? Possible 1ep extension? And WTH is with JP/JK constantly doing repeats of JP/JD things? Shoes in Macau, ride cable car, uninvited sleepover at JD’s house, using hands to break off the fish, etc. Was it like this in the other versions or did the Korean writers come up with it? Why did everything about this ep seem so forced, awkward and/or contrived??? Such a bad cut/paste job.
Whatever the reason for the death crawl, the only thing that saved this ep for me was the ramen scene. Because my stomach made a near identical growl a millisecond before the sound effect kicked in for Jun Pyo. LOL, paused player and promptly made some shin ramen. Really hoping that Tuesday’s ep holds true to form!
wow
rating 35.5%
oh PS:
“Frustrated, Yi-jung pulls Woo-bin off the railing, and pushes him against his car — and who else wondered for a second whether these two guys were going to make out?”
……*raises hands* … i’m still hoping for this. this is my true OTP.
and leslee, you’re right about JK and JP… i also think when he finally SAW her, he saw HIMSELF, actually. he sawe how sad and empty she truly feels, and wants to help make it right for her, but he can’t fall in love with her just for that reason. perhaps–much in the same way ji hoo is jan di’s soulmate– what this is is Jun Pyo finding a soulmate as well.
and i agree with comment 38- sopi. i could totally see jaekyung convincing junpyo that she was his gf if he gets amnesia in the show. and she even has jandi’s star moon necklace to add to it. im looking forward to how the korean version is going to carry this out..
and one more thing.. i know in the japanese version there is a grandpa who is the untimate source to junpyo and jandi pairing.. im thinking this role is going to be carried out by jihoo’s grandpa, but its a little weird to me that grandpa would be on the jundi ship if he knows his grandson lovers her… any thoughts on this anyone?? and there is also a scene that confused me at the clinic when a patient said she wanted jandi to be her daughter-in-law and the grandpa said she is already paired with someone. i wonder who he was referring to.. jihoo?? or maybe he knows about jandi junpry relationship? i was really confused.
LOL I also was like “omg are they gonna make out?!” during the the F2 scene on the bridge, it was so ridiculous.
I actually really enjoyed this episode…huh
Can’t wait for the next one-the maid plotline has been my all time favorite since I first read the manga! It’s just so silly, I love it.
That darn Ji hoo is growing on me so bad; the hand comment?? Amazing! It’s just funny how much I hated that actor originally and he gets a simple haircut and suddenly he doesn’t suck. I. am. so. very. shallow! XD
Also, did anyone else think “wtf?” when JH wanders off after covering JD with his jacket? I mean, dude, she’s sleeping on a bench in a public area, for the love of God!
I know that if JP and JK gets together, I DEFINITELY WILL NOT be buying the DVDs when it’s out….. : P
Did anyone else get the feeling that they got an advertising contract for male rings this episode?
Not that the cell phone thing wasnt bad enough…
@ 81- I totally had the same thought! “DUDE, are you just leaving here there?!” lol
I kind of like this episode but it didnt make me too excited like the previous ones that made me watch it over and over and over again….well all i can say is that the PD likes to ruin all his characters no?…he likes the “its over” effect which is really tiring..(maybe he’s running out of ideas….or are the writers running out of ideas?) i just wish they’ll think of something else to show the down moments of the characters and not kill them (almost kill them)….the scene to show off woo bin’s acting ability should have done the other way around…( i mean he should have saved yi jung first then while looking after him at the hospital he would reminisce about the bridge scene…and remind yi jung about how they can rely w/ each other stuff)…maybe it wouldn’t be that out of the blue moment….
and totally agree w/ maria about jun pyo’s sorry look to jae kyung…i read it as..he realize how lonely jae kyung must be….because he knew first hand how it feels to me by himself most of the time….and the “she will make you a family” comment i hope they’re not giving us a hint that the ending of this version might be different from other versions because its gonna suck big time…it’ll probably be the worst thing they’ll do…they shouldn’t even think about it even for a sec.. well see you guys again tomorrow….thanks sarah very good recap as always…
Thank you so much, Javabeans!
I always look forward to reading your recaps.
“apparently he is narcoleptic in this episode” ~~ this made my day! lol!
omg i’ve been reading the past few episodes from here, i haven’t had time to watch it but yea
i really want JD and YJ to be together
i want to comment on the ‘make you a family’, for some reason i was thinking about JD and YJ together as a family but that’s just my thoughts
this totally made my day
I dont mind actually if JP and JK ended up in the end. about 75% of the time, i tend to root for the “unfated” couples in kdramas so nothing’s new for me. le sigh. also, I agree with the supressed chemistry between JP and JK. honestly, I see more chemistry between them than with LMH and GHS but that’s just me.
[...] Episode 18 Recap: Here Thanks [...]
Love this site!! As i live in Oz we don’t get to watch or hear much about Kdramas so site like these are really good for us to know what’s going on in K world esp for those who are into K things at the moment!! Keep it up!
As for the drama – i only learn about BOF or BBF after hearing that the Hyung Joong was going to be in it and i really liked him and Hwang Bo in WGM!
This series does makes me wonder what the JD & JH couple would be like – she will always be taken care of and looked after – no dramas cos JH is not that type of guy ( i guess not as much excitment!) and JD would of been with JH as well if JH didn’t like the other girl (forgot her name!) AND the same situation applies to JK and JP too!!
But then there would be no drama at all!!!!
I agree it is sort of losing interest to me – (i still like the recaps!) i don’t feel like watching it cos it seems like even if i miss one episode i sort of would know what’s going to happen!
But still i have to say that the K version of BOF is good esp the boys as they dress really well and not as skinny as the Jap or Taiwanese version!!! As for the girls i like both jap and k version!!!
Can’t wait to buy it on DVD though!!
i was watching CSI and totally forgot about this; anyways
um a few comments to make, haven’t watch it yet, probably a lot more comments after it
poor jae kyung, but i think she’s being a very realistic character, when in “love”, it leads you to do crazy cRAzy things, and i think jan di was never a hugely great friend for her even though jan di was JK’s first friend, still, not a great friend..
and ji hoo’s a great friend, if i could find a friend like ji hoo, i think i wouldn’t care about anything else, that’s a lot of trust they have between them
poor kim bum, but wheres my ga eul x yi jung action?!?!!
i dont know why woo bin’s embrassed, being a gangsta is hot! especially the mafia kind
(yay madam kang’s coming to my hometown, vancouver! lol..)
oh okay nvm, here’s my ga eul and yi jung action. i hope this wont end up how it ended up in the tw one, which is the tw ga eul and yi jung having a date and then ga eul having to move to vancouver (again, what’s up with that) for her family . =_=
I don’t want to compare but in the Japanese version, Tsukasa never even looked at any other girls besides Makino. However in this version, JP is like constantly throwing these glances at JK and letting his guard down.. which is really confusing me and like you said, should I be rooting for this couple? I think I prefer Tsukasa over JP in this certain aspect.
Another excellent recap. I really enjoyed this episode… I love the story arc where Jun Pyo moves in next door. Cracks me up. Since we know that GHS can draw to an extent, I wonder if that was her real drawing of Ji Hoo (sorry if someone’s brought this up before… it just hit me right before I pressed submit.) Can anyone shed some light on that?
As for Woo Bin/Yi Jung and the weirdness on the bridge… all I have to say is that’s Bromance going one step to far. So. Weird.
Thank you Sarah for a great recap.
I watched it and this episode confused me with the pairing because the chemistry amongst the characters are really good and it made me laugh as well.
I’m still a Yi Jung and Ga Eul shipper
— but he hurt our little darling Ga Eul again, but I’m still hoping 
— aaaaaahhhhhh next episode will probably reunite Yi Jung with his “first love” from the reaction he gave Ga Eul about something he saw (getting a little headache now) 
I don’t even want to go deeper into the scene with Yi Jung and Woo Bin – that was really funny.
Jun Pyo is really cute – sleeping with his PINK pillow, grabbing the pot cover from Jan Di and enjoying the ramen, getting scared from a tiny cockroach – I love this guy! I really would like more Jun Pyo and Jan Di scenes together.
Good or bad episode BBF I still can’t get enough of it
I’m anticipating tomorrow’s episode.
i love to read all the comments here and dramabeans recaps. you guys are wonderful in terms of writing the reviews for each episode lol and some are so cute and humourous. I suppose after episode 12 this plot is sinking down , down and really down…seeing that monkey clinging around junpyo it really hurt my eyes.. not that i want to hate jaekyung and i just feel pity for this character. sigh.. what happen to the scriptwriter? doesn’t he know how to write the script well and give a smooth flow of the whole story or he intend to torture us slowly and suddenly give us a surprise!!! ( heart attack maybe). May god bless the scriptwriter.. it seems alot of us are complaining about him
i think a problem with the last 6 episodes or so, is that i’m at a loss for why i’m rooting for jun pyo/jan di and yi jung/ga eul. the show stopped building on both relationships, and the scenes tonight just felt out of place. i was happy to see more jp/jd scenes but it didn’t capture the same chemistry from before, so you end up rooting for the jh/jd and jp/jk pairings. the recent episodes have been concentrating so much on the side pairings, that it shows no reason for why jp and jd should be together except that they were forcibly separated. it just feels like jp and jd have feelings for each other bc of the past and not from anything that has happened in recent “months” or episodes.
and please, let’s cut off the angst for yi jung. as much as i like him, the boy is starting to irritate me with his heavy breathing/bulging eyes.
this drama is seriously weird in so many levels, it’s not even funny! haha. it’s so true that they’re taking the Jae-Kyung-Jun-pyo and Jandi-Ji-Hoo development waaay too far and long. i mean a couple of episodes without Jandi and Jun-pyo moments is alright, but it is taking way too long for them to be together again. the things that Ji-hoo and Jandi do together are couple stuff, and as i was watching today’s episode, i almost thought that they were the main characters and that they were going to end up together. then i remembered Jun-pyo. and i’m pretty sure that that look that Jun-pyo gave Jae-kyung during breakfast is reminiscent of so many other k-dramas out there. i mean, i know the look was meant to be a look of understanding and gradual acceptance for Jae-kyung (nothing romantic at all). but i’ve seen that look before. where? it’s usually a look the main male actor gives the MAIN female actress when he realizes he might love her!!! (you know, when he gets an epiphany that he actually does like her). gosh, this drama is so messed-up.
i’m just watching for the little subtle nice moments: (1) Jae-kyung’s clear conflicting expression when she knows she’s lying to Jandi but does it anyways, (2) Jun-pyo’s sorrowful look towards Jae-kyung; (3) Yi-jung’s hesitation in rejecting Ga-eul. all nice moments and my only reason for watching this ridiculous drama.
I used to had that “early week” blues in me, but it all changed to enormous excitement now I’m a certified “BFFholic” I’m sure gonna miss it after March 31…
I liked this episode. It brought out the “reserved” characterization in the story I’m waiting for, where characters became more ordinary humans. and less detached from their mega-rich backgrounds. It presented how they can also value friendship, love and those simple things we can take for granted.
1. I really liked LMH’s acting here. For a lead actor newbie, he sure can draw the feelings required for the scenes. His mere look at JK at the breakfast table has already succeeded in picturing his sorry feelings for not choosing her and understanding her situation.
2. For JH, I still cant seem to feel the intensity of his love for JD. Is the acting a bit rigid or cold? His quiet “heroine support” is now becoming too monotonous for me.
3. Woo bin’s character as a gangster is lame. The Taiwanese version’s Mei Zuo is more dynamic and funny, much larger than its “yo-yo” clique. However, I absolutely liked his value for friendship.
4. JK seems to be getting so “trying-hard” here. Her good heart is overshadowed with her greed to get what she wants, which is a picture of a typical spoiled brat. Oh well, I think I’m gonna puke so hard if the story will really divert to their rumored wedding. Yes, they are totally not MFEO.
5. I like the development of YJ and Ga eul’s love angle. Angst and reserved feelings were well presented. KB is really a man we wish we could hate but cannot.
6. For JD, her character must evolve into a stronger, more dynamic development, now that she has gone through all those hardships in life. I miss Makino’s rough wit and strong values, matters I cant feel in JD’s character. Instead, she is torn in these stupid frustrations, where she is always a constant prey to JH’s gentle care, which I think do contribute to her becoming also a “gentle character”
Thanks for d recaps, java beans….been waiting for it since last night…hehe
This episode really gives me a breather….can see glimpses of JunPyo that I know n love, especially in that ramen n cockroach scenes…i just love it…after been tormented in so many episodes…really love it, especially during the ramen scene…JP was so cute…
I hope that JK will give up on JP as soon as possible…I know d last shot was kinda eerie but i think that is just so that we keep on watching d next episode, just to keep us on our toes…I’m sure JK will try one last time to win JP’s heart but hopefully she will see that u can never win against true love….D sooner, d better….
Regarding JH-JD relationship….I know that JH really loves JD but when will he tell her about it? Let it be in the open….Please Ji Hoo, if u really want her, just tell her so. She would’t know until u tell her…But if he did tell her, then there will be more drama, right….hehe
Am really excited to watch d next episode…Hope there will be more JP/JD scenes…Especially now that JD will be working as his maid (as in d preview)….And d witch mama kang is out of the way….hooreeeyyyyyyyy…..
Lastly, if Ga Eul really not gonna end up with YJ (as per d previous versions), I hope PD will at least give Ga Eul a new love. She deserves some love…But can they really change it so that this couple ends up together, coz they are such a sweet n cute couple….Oh, please let it be…
Thanks for the review!
As for the scene where JK goes to Jd house after she moves, it was brief but i think it had more of a point than to just set up a future plot. I thought this was another scene that stressed their weird friendship. Throughout the whole series, JK and JD have been hurting each other unintentionally. JD couldn’t bring herself to tell JK about her relationship with JP because, well it doesn’t exist anymore, and she was probably afraid to hurt JK, especially after JK fell for JP. And JK was just unaware of everything, and therefore kept hurting JD. But in this episode, JK knowingly hurts JD when she finds out, though she did it to confirm JD’s relationship with JP. After this whole ordeal, she goes to JD’s house. Not showing JD how hurt she was, she went back to acting like her old self.
This shows how important this friendship is to JK, and that she is not willing to easily let go of this relationship either.
i have more enjoyment reading your commentary than actually watching the drama.
previous comment from Nea, hit it right on the head, its too late for JK to be
with JP, and JH to be with JD, those feelings have already been set in stone for JD and JP despite all the struggles they have to endure.
thank u again for your awesome recap of the series and all the other series that u take a liking to…..
I like the second half of the episode. Jun Pyo is so cute and endearing.
And I do hope they pursue the Yi Jung-Ga Eul tandem next. Yi Jung reects Ga Eul a couple of times already. It will be refreshing to watch him pursue Ga Eul (like Jun Pyo pursued Jan Di) for a change.
thanks Java beans!
i am glad they gave WooBin (meaningful) scenes here, but it’s also a bit funny..i do agree with everything you pointed out
your comments are always something to look forward to..
Thanks for the great recap. You always sum everything up so well and I totally agree with you.
1 – Woo Bin’s story line is confusing because we haven’t seen anything about his life (outside of F4) to understand why he’s embarrassed to be a gangster’s son.
2 – The relationship between JunPyo and JK is starting to bother me because they seem like the right fit but I’m still rooting for JanDi.
3 – I love how JiHoo really cares for JanDi and puts her fist but It’s so obvious that she’s totally heart broken over JunPyo. It’s very interesting how patient he is with her and how he takes care of her knowing that he is going to lose in the end. Usually when a guy does this he’s deemed whipped or a totally loser. But in this case you really see where is he coming from and how much he cares for her.
I can’t wait for episode 18.
I’m getting really confused with the JD-JH relationship. In the library scene, when facing the sleeping Ji Hoo, she mouthed the word “Oppa”. She has never even called JP that. What happened to SunBae?
All this JD and JH quality time is driving me nuts.There are just so many innuendoes? Where is all this leading to?
i agree with your point about the confusion in the pairing at this point in the series. at times i get so frustrated with this show that i’m contemplating giving up on it. and i know it does no good to do this but i can’t help but compare this to hana yori dango season 2. i dunno what the stupid writers and production team are trying to do with jaekyung and joonpyo but that scene with the breakfast seems entirely counterintuitive and going against what is meant to happen in the end. i know what the writers are trying to do. they’re trying to fuck with the viewers so that when jandi and joonpyo eventually find their way back to each other, it;ll seem so much more dramatic and satisfying. and maybe it’ll make sense later but in the meantime it’s sooooo frustrating to see the writers going WAAAAY overboard with it and totally losing sight of its emotional core. in HYD, never did i ever think that domyouji was thinking about any other girl beside makino. and even when makino was confused about domyouji vs. hanazawa rui, she wasn’t spending constant time with rui either. rather, she was contemplating what to do in order to follow her own heart. going by the writer’s script and goo hyesun’s portrayal, i don’t see how anyone who is supposed to believe that she isn’t into jihoo. i can’t see the jandi-jihoo chemistry thing though, unlike most people. but mostly because i can’t imagine any girl who’s obvious enough to fall for his CHEESY BAG OF TRICKS. its weird because i really liked kim hyunjoong on “we got married” but i absolutely despise his Rui. i liked how rui was so fucking cool and when he did things for makino, it felt nice and romantic, not desperate and cheesy. kim hyunjoong has never once been able to express rui’s aloofness and it will always disappoint me about BOF.
i also dislike how the show has turned jandi-jaekyung friendship almost TOO friendly. in HYD, you always felt shigeru’s loneliness and desire for makino’s friendship but makino always was reluctant pretty much until when shigeru left. i understand what BOF is trying to do but in attempting to make jandi seem angelic, they have also taken away her backbone and any kind of personality.
ugh, so fed up.
don’t even get me started on the yijung angst that is SOOO CHEESY and the horrible editing in this entire episode. also, thanks for replacing cheesy music with EVEN CHEESIER MUSIC. i can honestly say i absolutely hate this show right now but will i tune in next week? you know it! it ain’t crack for nuthin’
feeee-yu! for a second there i feared that JP would accept the stupid couple rings. after JK presented the ring i found myself screaming “oh my god. oh my god. DON’T ACCEPT IT!”
yep. the woo bin/ yi jung scene was hard to digest. its weird how the PD went with that scene just to express a little ‘non-homo man’ love. hahaha
as for kim joon, even though the (love)scenes with him and kim bum were absolutely retarded and the storyline completely illogical and tacked on, i kinda liked the performance we got out of him in spite of the shitty storyline. so it just makes me wish more they would give him a storyline that actually made sense. the great thing about his character is that in the manga, he’s the force that holds F4 together and attempts to solve all their problems. here, he’s just kinda useless. i’m not sure why the production chose to leave that part out, but it’s pretty effin’ stupid. and if they left it out simply because he’s less popular than the other actors and they wanted to give more airtime to the names that would sell more CF contracts, then i hope this production team never makes another drama again.
i don’t mean to be so hard on this drama considering how obsessed i am. but i guess i’m just lashing out because i’ve never been this obsessed with a program as badly written as this. especially cos i just finished watching dal ja’s spring for the first time and to go from that to this is just painful.
Javabeans, thank you thank you for making me laugh so hard. Specifically in the Woo Bin sequence and the ‘narcoleptic’ line. I can always count on ya on doing that, and BOF just makes it easier ha!
Um, so Jan Di didn’t faint or pass out or hurt herself in this episode? Isn’t this a first for wonder woman? *Applause*
If we all didn’t already know how this ends, the chemistry between the ‘wrong’ couples would have generated much more interest and buzz, because we’d keep wondering who’ll end up with who. As you said, I just don’t buy why Jun Pyo and Jan Di are meant to be: yes, they have chemistry, yes they are cute together, yes to some degree they can care for each other, but I really don’t think they’ve ever been shown to understand each other. So, in some ways, the fact that we all expect an ending and are just wondering how they’ll do it in this version kind of takes away form the fun…
LOL. I think there will soon be a fan club for yijung-woobin pairing :S Really think that Jandi should end up with jihoo, but who said love was easy? ><
and 1 more thing….
is JH’s grandpa having a heart problem or something? if so, why were he clutching his right chest? ain’t it supposed to be the left chest….hehe…or is it just me….lol….
one thing i liked about tsukasa is that they showed how after makino and him became separated, he went back to his old ways. it showed how much she really touched his life. it upsets me at times to see goo joonpyo sitting idly by like a big ball of pansy as jaekyung just pesters him again and again and he just weakly calls out “monkey!”. i kinda want to see him be a jerk again. it’ll show how much geum jandi affects who he is as a man.
I think grandpa has chest problem not heart problem right cos he is holding to his right side of the chest not left where the heart is. unless he got different body structure than us lol…
nah…i still think that jandi/joonpyo couple is the best
if you weigh it out, yes it seems that the past couple episodes have been centered on Jaekyung and Joonpyo, but the scenes between joonpyo and jandi are more meaningful.
Plus, jaekyung is kinda annoying throughout the episodes, which makes her an unfavorable character to most people.
and to shizuki, i assure you that there were far more worsely written dramas than this. There has to be something good about the drama that keeps you watching. so get over the badly written script or whatever.
@#113 – Tay
lol….yeah, probably chest prob…though usually in any other drama, that kind of scene with all d med is usually for heart related problem….
So when I commented after the last episode, I believe I might have used the words “please throw Woo bin a bone”. I was clearly too hasty with my words – really guys, there is no need to force it. If you can’t give us a decent scene, you don’t need to give us one at all. Although I’ll admit I did get great pleasure from screaming “KISS HIM DAMNIT! KISS HIIIIIM!” at the screen.
Also, I love how blase Jan-di was about finding Ji-hoo passed out on the library floor. Ji-hoo is the only character who could be found lying motionless in a public place without this being the intro to a hospital scene. Also, I think if I was wandering around my school library and saw a disembodied limb in a secluded corner, I’m screaming at the top of my lungs, not investigating the scene.
I’m relieved that Ga eul confessed her feelings to Yi jung though. Now I know that I should give up my vain hopes for those two ending up together because its clear they are going to follow the HYD storyline. My focus can now return to the main couple: Yi jung and Woo bin.
Thanks! I’ve been waiting for your recap all day.
LOL, I totally thought the same thing when the Mr. Jung gave the file to Junpyo.
“I suppose this is supposed to be Romantic, not Stalker-Creepy?”
In reality, it would be stalker creepy!
It seems we can praise Lee Minho forever and a minute. I applaud his facial reaction at the breakfast table. He did so well shifting his look from irritated, to understanding, caring and just as you said, ” like he’s seeing her for the first time”. This totally did a number to many of us. Good Job!
As for the Woobin scene, I’d say “Thank you for more Woobin time! But that was so unnecessary!” lol. Agreed w/everyone’s comment.
#92 Lena
I totally agree – Tsukasa never looked at another girl. At most he felt guilty not being clear with his feelings. He always knew Makino was the one. GJP is losing his mojo. Where is the obsession!
Maybe the scriptwriters really want us to root for the alternative pairings? In that case then – Jihoo fighting!!!!!
Thanks for the recaps! I always love your comments!
As for the Woo bin scene, what made me full of question marks was Yi Jung screaming at him to get off the rail, when clearly there was another barrier on the other side. Sure its dangerous when hes drunk, but the way he was yelling, you’d expect him to be jumping off the bridge, not casually walking on an inside rail. *extra cringes for the entire scene*
There were a bunch of cute moments. I like how they incorporated Joon pyo’s stuffed cat. It would have been sweeter if Jandi discovered it in his rooftop bedroom.
What really got to me was the music. While I do appreciate the new variety and better choices in music, does there really have to be something playing in EVERY scene? I think there wasn’t one point in the show devoid of music. Yes, it helps make a scene, but it would enhance it even more if they didn’t beat the dead horse with it, if you know what I mean….
Though theres lots of flaws, I have to say, the show is seriously addicting! Can’t wait till tomorrow’s episode!!!
Okay, just food for thought to everyone above who say Junpyo is leading towards Jae Kyung. My take on the breakfast table scene was that yes, he did see that Jae Kyung feels the same loneliness, but the look he gave her was more like, I feel your pain but I really can’t force myself to have feelings for you because the person who showed me love and closeness is Jandi, ergo the scenes at Jandi’s house. Compare the look he gives Jae Kyung in this scene with say, episode 3 where Jandi gets drunk. Junpyo is all goofy smiles. He can’t help but smile when he is around Jandi. Or the scene where he looks at Jandi at the auction in his house and sees her interest in the goggles. There is luv showing in his eyes that you don’t see when he looks at Jae Kyung.
That being said, I wish Junpyo would stop being such a wuzz and stand up for what he wants already. If he doesn’t learn to be a man and stand up for what he wants then he deserves for Jandi to end up with Jihoo and he can keep the annoying monkey girl. I’m sorry, but I find her annoying.
And I agree with comment #112- they should highlight more how much Jandi is the element that influences Junpyo to be a better person.
@115
i really hate it when people argue against complaints of bad quality by saying there’s actually worse out there.
well DUH.
the great thing about life is that however good or bad something is, there’s better or worse out there. i don’t really give a shit though. the point is what’s in front of me and right now, what i have in front of me is the worst thing i’ve seen in a long time that i’m still hopelessly addicted to. the script is poorly written, the editing horrible, the music gives me a toothache, and KHJ is still a pain in my backside. but i continue to watch because it’s too late, i’ve already been hooked and am dying for my next fix, hoping against hope that somehow things will get better and the characters will somehow regain some sense again so i can go back to loving them and realizing that me caring about the characters hasn’t been in total vain. i understand that on paper it’s pretty stupid: if you think something is bad, then stop watching it. the answer is obvious. but based on most of the comments on this page, the answer is anything but. so yeah, don’t tell me to “get over the bad writing”. the very fact that i am a loyal viewer gives me the right to give a damn and criticize bad writing.
Thankyou! Been soooo looking forward to this! God, i’m really starting to lose interest in this show, which is disappointing considering I had really high hopes in the beginning. I agree with most of the comments here, the story is being dragged too far and the main couple need to get together ASAP. Nevertheless, I look always look forward to reading your recaps and will genuinely miss this show when it’s over (despite all its many shortcomings)
Thanks again!
first off, i love the soundtrack on this episode
is it just me or is it getting much better???
second, im very very worried about the fiance and junpyo relationship, when he looked at her like that at breakfast, i was like holy crap he’s softening. Surprisingly i am softening to the jihoo and jandi relationship. they really are amazing friends, and right now, if they could be more, if thats the direction the drama is heading at, i wont be as devastated as i would have a couple of episodes ago. I love jihoo’s simple sweet gestures and moves and how he treats jandi. and like you said, we have barely seen any jandi/junpyo scenes lately..
I really am worried the drama wouldnt make junpyo and jandi end up together…
oh and yijung, he needs to snap out of it and just date gaeul!..
day by day i’m waiting for GP and JD moment..but the storyline is starting to drag. the drama seem lack of a touching scene where we can really feel it..feel the situation. Compare to Japan version, it does give a touching feeling when we watched it. The K version, have a good actor but the storyline uhhh..somehow dissapointed…i wish they could give JD and GP more moments together, because it is about the love story of GP and JD and how they effect in each other life..how there are meant to be together..and how strong and deep the feelings of both of them..where they should make a starting point where JD make a move a confession to admit her true feeling toward GP and GP could truely know how JD feels at him verbally. And their love could grows more and deeply…but somehow so sad that they dragging the storyline and we become bore but still i am still wacthing it faithfully is it is my most fav manga adaptation. But i am so hoping that GP with JD..if they changed the it uwarrrrrr i am sooooooooooo dissapointedddddddd….
Sometimes I wonder if chemistry is defined by dressing sexily and harassing the main actor
). IMO, JK and JP are identical in terms of characteristics, that’s why they will not end up together. You need another half.
Anyway, I watched the preview of ep 19 and recognized that the movie is based on the manga, Jandi will be Jp private maid and maybe Ji Jung and GE will be just a memory
Totally loved your reviews. Thanks a lot. I agree with you on the JD-JH and JP-JK relationships. I believe it is because the two couples are so similar in lot of ways. So the chemistry between the two couples are somewhat expected. But then that is the very reason why JD doesn’t love JH as JP doesn’t love JK. JP is more suited with JD because they complement each other. What JP doesn’t have, JD has. They are cut to fit each other. Two peas in a pod do not have the same shape but they fit the pod just right. Sorry for the rambling. Clearly, I have been Joondified! Can’t wait for tonight’s show.
This is the first time that I am commenting here. So to kick off, I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to javabeans for recapping the series. It’s really interesting reading everyone’s different take on the same story.
But I am mightily disappointed with the story telling and script writing for BOF. They were given a great story, 2 great productions for reference and YET, we are presented with such a dichotomy of a drama! The story either speeds along leaving us with no breathing room or gets stuck in no man’s land (like right now). I’m just wondering if the writers were to finish the script before filming started, it might have been a better story/drama. I find none of the delicate nuances typically found in a K-drama (which made the genre so unique) present in BOF. Why so?
you should seriously become their consultant/advisor sorta thing.
& as for the monk saying “she’ll make you family”- although i haven’t watched it yet; the impression i get 4rm your recap seems like it’s in terms of an oppa/dongseng relationship. bc that’s how jandi kinda treats it already. although jihoo has other motives… but in the end, it’ll be confirmed of that. bc we all know jandi & junpyo will end up together, again. xD
More Yi-jung and Ga-eul PLOT PLZZZZZZZZ
Firstly, I think this episode isn’t as exciting as the previous ones.
Why would J-pyo move in to the house next to Jan-Jun& her brother all of a sudden. Maybe he wants to be close to her and all but it kinda doesn’t really make sense. I mean in the Taiwanese version, San Chai and Dau Ming Sze were already back together when he moved in but Jun-pyo wasn’t even back with Jan-di.
And that Jae-kyung chick. She is an embarrassment to the Japanese and Taiwanese of the same character. I never thought of her character to be so ‘cheap’. (No offence to those who like her) In the Taiwanese and Japanese version, they gave up on Dau Ming Sze/Doumyouji after the scene in the resort. But I don’t understand why is the Korean version a long winded with this Jun-pyo and Jae-kyung’s one sided love engagement.
But I did like Jun-pyo’s softer side in this episode. He actually fell asleep in the ‘lousy’ apartment. Unlike Dau Ming Sze and Doumyoji who left and complained that they didn’t sleep at all to the other F3.
I also hope that Wu-bin/Kim-jun gets more lines and appearance.
Thanks for the recap, Javabeans. Same sentiments, as always.
Yes, the WooBin-YiJung bridge scene was really embarrassing and so completely out of point. Even without that sequence, he would still have gone to YJ’s rescue anyway. It’s solely for the sake of having more WB screen time.
What irks me the most is the positive development of the JP-JK relationship. Somehow the JP-JD magic – which used to induce me to rewatch their scenes many times with fondness – is gone. JP’s heart wavering and softening toward another girl – even just a little – is just not right. I’m sad that the dogged single-mindedness of the harsh and violent Domyouji character who has a soft spot for only Makino has gone off-tangent here. It’s bad that I cringe everytime there is a JP-JK scene and I’m left disappointed after the JP-JD scenes this episode. This shouldn’t be the case – it’s going against both the essence of the manga and textbook Kdrama studies (as you put it so well).
I had so eagerly read the manga after being hooked on BOF and I actually find myself more drawn to the manga than the current BOF storyline now. Besides, I like the cool Shigeru character so much more than the selfish, immature and annoyingly clingy JK. Seriously, would someone who is supposed to be cool and well-travelled shamelessly throw herself at a man who is in love with someone else even after being rejected?
I so want the JP-JD element to be terminated asap and let us have some real meaningful JP-JD bickering sweetness which I hope the next portion of the story in JP’s house would be full of.
“To wit: Imagine someone like the silently broody Jung Il-woo (a la Return of Iljimae) or gentle Ji Hyun-woo (from My Sweet Seoul), or sure, Jang Geun-seok (Beethoven Virus) casting longing glances at Jan-di — I’d be on that ’ship so fast my head would spin. ”
I say AMEN to that!
I still havent watched this episode coz im still waiting for episode 19 to be uploaded=]
Then again thank you very much for yer recaps=]
Ji Hyun Woo would totally complete the longing stare. His longing stares in Rainbow Romance were waht made me finish that God-awful drama XD (oh and HwanHee) XD
Anyway, he doesnt have the look, it’d be awkward ANYWAY
I havent watched this show since ep 8 I just read your recaps.
I have watched th elast two adaptations and the chemistry between the two snt like this. The way theyve made it it’s like they fit eachother but in the last two dramas they added a little slap stick and certain glances from the lady to keep us from wanting them to be together!! Here they just keep adding tension scenes from what I’ve read. I actually did watch the ep where they meet and he drags her instead of Jandi
yeah….
start to confuse on who supposed to be with whom….
*even start doubting, will it end up like the real hanadan?
dramabeans,
I was looking for your comment on the scene when (after he refuse to wear the couple ring) JunPyo walking down the stair, remembering that all the thing JaeKyung did was similar to his (when he tried to woo Jandi). For the moment, I thought he change his heart…..*woooo….that will give me a heart attack.
….oh, the music is getting much much better…… thank GOD
sorry typo – it’s JP-JK element to be terminated, ASAP.
It’s crazy but I miss the days I was so hooked on BOF and JP-JD so very much. I love this adaptation so much more than the TW or JP versions simply because of the actors and the Kdrama romance x-factor. I’m crossing my fingers my addiction will regain its intensity soon.
i totally agree… JK is a really good character that she’s really hard to hate. at first i thought, oh yeh it’s okay. its more real this way – that she’s realistic, not blatantly annoying…
and i must admit im starting to root for JH just coz he treats JD so well! he is so so sweet… though you are right about JH seeming good on paper, but your heart will always tell you who to like… we can change our feelings just like that.
sigh, its gonna be a long ride i think before they undo what they have done and get JD and JP back together…
I’ve been a silence reader of javabeans drama recaps since 2008…but today i feel the urge to write a comment…i really really like your review on a drama and fortunately most of your comments are really speak out what I had in mind. Thanks javabeans for all those recaps, and wonderful and fantastic comments.
Thanks again for the insightful review! =D
I have to thank you so much for all your recaps! And the songs too! They’re awesome! The recaps saved me time from watching the actual thing. But I’d watch it all when I have time
And a faster internet connection x) I’d know what to expect without having this heavy feeling of not knowing what would happen. Love you. ♥
Plus I think Kim Bum is super cute so the pictures really help xD
Good review.
That is the famous F4 ? you put Akira and Soujiro together to make them look …Gay. LOL People may complain about other F4 but at least they looked like real friends.
JP & JK have more chemistry than the lead couple and their relationship looks threatning to the lead one…Good. Now how will the PD do to make JK disapears ? Suddendly the girl (who has not yet really showed she could know JD and JP are in love) will suddendly say she doesn’t want to marry JP because….and the storyline can continue ?
What is that ? “I am sorry I love you” ?
omg, i just noticed in this episode that her brother’s (who is adorable btw) name is kang-san, which makes jis full name keum kangsan. HA.
And people why are you worried isn’t this drama a version of HYD manga? Isn’t this version the one which “follows the best HYD manga” ? Isn’t it the more “realistic drama ? So why are you worried for JP-JD couple, if they end together ? Don’t you know in the manga the characters are supposed end together ? Don’t worry they will be together at the end. The question is how the Kversion makers will manage this storyline…
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA
@Two Cents
I agree with you. I don’t see Jun Pyo giving Jae Kyung any look of love. The look at the breakfast table to me is empathy rather than love. On the other hand, Jan Di is the one that makes his heart beats faster and he just wants to do all sorts of “crazy” things for her like taking off to New Caledonia or even Hokkaido on a whim for a short getaway. Also, I keep recalling the scene at the bar where Jan Di got drunk. The look he gave her then was classic love – silly goofy grins and all.
I agree with everything you said about this episode.
When that Woo Bin/Yi-Jung scene came on, I was trying really hard not to cringe. It seriously came out of nowhere and seemed very awkward. When Yi-Jung pushed him onto the car, all I could think about was the potential for a Gay Boys Before Flowers Parody…
And the crushing of Yi-Jung’s hand just seemed so convenient. As soon as he staggered to that table, I knew what they had planned, though I prayed they’d take it in a different direction. How did they even know to step purposely on his hand? If they did know who he was, you’d think they’d know better than to attack someone so influential. It’s just stupid and pointless.
And honestly, the relationships are starting to make me mad. You’re right–the alternative pairings are getting too much attention, and the actors have way too much chemistry with one another. All I keep thinking is how horrible this would be if someone competent was playing Ji-Hoo’s role, and how (for once) I’m actually NOT liking Jun Pyo’s fiancee. In all the other versions, I liked her because I never really saw her as a threat, and because I knew how the story turned out… but now, she drives me nuts because she’s almost *too* good. Thank goodness the Taiwanese version didn’t go overboard like the Korean one… if Vic’s Rui had been acting like this one, I’d have jumped ship in seconds.
They really need to wrap this up. It’s doing more harm than good.
Thanks for the great recap and comments Javabeans!! The Yi Jung and Woo Bin scene is really out of place .I am also beginning to wonder why the PD is extending Jae Kyung’s role as JP’s fiancee as both Taiwanese and Japanese version showed that her character gave up on JP after being spurned by JP in the resort. In both MG and HYD, the fiancee is only in a few episodes but I am getting nervous with the Korean version as JK is still here and having more quality time with JP than JD. I also liking JH and I am a little afraid I am secretly rooting for him though I still love JD and JP. I hope the PD”s would include that Japanese scene later on where Tsukasa (JP’s character) would kneel down and beg Rui (JH’s character) to let go of Jan Di.I also think that of all the 3 versions, Japanese Tsukasa is the most faithful.I can’t see JP falling for another girl like the Taiwanese version.Noticed still some swelling on JD’s lower lip so that is most probably why JP ate her Ramen.Just like an old song Jan Di will be Torn Between Two Lovers!!!!
Ok…so before I had somewhat of a major, MAJOR problem with Jandi’s character because she was so weak. I haven’t fully seen the Japanese original, but I’ve seen the Taiwanese remake and in there, Jandi’s character was a really strong girl, in all aspects. It made the pairing a lot more believable. Whereas so far in this version, Jandi’s been a weakling and that’s one of the reasons I think that it’s so much more believable to pair her with the quiet, supportive Ji-hoo.
Although I really did like her finding a new apartment for herself with her brother. It shows something of a strong side to her…although not very much.
But whatever. I still don’t like Jun-pyo’s fiancee, whatever her name is. I just can’t like her. I didn’t hate her so much in the Taiwanese version…but I really hate her in this one.
And of course, thanks for the recaps!
thanks for the review! i was expecting it!!
ps: I love how you narrate the recaps! jaja
Ga Eul, that’s gotta hurt! TT.TT
A little surprised on the loopholes they’re presenting…. gah~ Hopefully, the Tuesday episode will redeem the series (yet again). Waaah~~ And damn, Jae Kyung’s persistence and insistence is getting more and more annoying. I mean, it’s supposed to be that way, but I didn’t feel this way in the previous versions.
Thanks for the recaps javabeans! ^^
OMG !!!! I love this episode!!
And i cried when yi jung push gaeul away, (did i spell her name rite..?)..
anyways, finally we get to see some jandi and junpyo’s moments!!!
I hope junpyo won’t lost his memory like the Japanese version…
-JP fiancee’s is really really getting on my nerves !! She’s nice and all, but i just don’t like her !!!
Haishhhh, can’t wait fr the nxt episode !!
Ohh, and yeahh, there’s a rumour tht..junpyo’s stepmother is jandi’s real mother!
Watafuk! Hope it’s not real !
great review .. great sharing.. thks a lot …
This is off topic but why doesn’t GJP give JD some of his ramen? He ate their dinner and now he’s hoarding his stash? Sheesh! She even killed all the bugs crawling over the ramen boxes. Girl deserves a prize.
Totally embarassed when Ga Eul practically came begging for a date with Yi Jung. Look at the way he acted – first, he was not very welcomed her at the door. Second, he was flipping his magazine while she was talking to him. Third, he said one reason that he wouldn’t want to date her was her stupidity. Last, he told her “you know where the exit is”…. I was totally ashamed of Ga Eul – Where is her pride, girl????? I would like to have a poll for all the girls in the world to see how many would want to do what Ga Eul did in this episode.
I just caught on to this show last week and am instantly hooked. I understand very limited Korean, but get the gist of things by the incredible acting
Love the summaries. Can’t wait to read from episode 1 tomorrow while at work!
I also don’t like Jun-pyo’s fiancee.. i don’t hate her though.. at least not yet.. She maybe similar to Jun-pyo in status so she tends to understand him more but at least Jun-pyo has friends.. i find her creepy in a harmless way..
Thanks for your usual great recap!
Excellent review javabeans!
Thank you – kamsa hamnida! (sorry my Krean sucks).
BTW, If you don’t already write drama reviews for the media professionally..perhaps yopu should consider it
And I wonder why people compare Jun Pyo and Domyoji and say Jun Pyo actor is the best Domyoji. I mean you can like Jun Pyo actor because of look but face it Jun Pyo has never been Domyoji.
Firstly in the “shoes” scene with Jae Kyung he easily showed the soft side of him.
However he is like that since the first episodes (easygoing, mature, nice ect…). With Jun portraying (or Jerry one) you can see it’s Makino who actually and really changes him. Jun acted the best Domyoji like the character is no matter his physical apearrance. Domyoji is an overracting stupid and unhumain character at first who open his mind and changes thanks to Makino. Makino is his destinated girl (they came from “saturn”). And if you read the manga you can’t disagree with me. That’s why People always tend to like Rui at first (in every version even the manga). However in BOF it was not possible since Jun Pyo had not the important characteristics which could distinguish him of Rui and you couldn’t see why Jan Di hated him (Jun Pyo).
So that leads me here I am not suprised if you see chemistry between JP and JK and a probable JP-JK couple. It’s because at first part of BOF we can’t say Jan Di is the origine of JP changes (remember people. Look at your
own reviews. How you trashed GHS Jan di, the way she ill treated Jun Pyo and how you were all about JP because of his look without notice this guy was already too likeable and easygoing and mature). If you remember Jan Di was too arrogant, agressiv and an exagerated (apart the bad acting of GHS) and out of character at this time. People trashed her (and keep trashing her) while Jun Pyo was a bit too calm and tolerant (look at the scene with Min Ji at episode 5. After what happened Domyoji wouldn’t enable Sakurako to be in his house). He was able to controll himself even without Jan Di (the shower scene showed me a guy who can call himself in question. But people was all about his look as usual) and I have never feel the lonely vibe in him or someone who can’t get along with people (The rugby scene [playing in a team prove you can get along with other people than F4], straight hair and uniform scene prove you are at the same level of your classmates, the boat scene at episode 3 when he is well surrounded by many people and he is all smily or the way he uses too much his sexuality. He is supposed to be Domyoji not Soujiro and “the time news paper” part at episode 4 shows a character who is not immature like Domyoji supposed to be. So you can’t say what are the Great changes Jan di made on Jun Pyo and you can’t see what Jan Di did better than Jae Kyung in JP life. Remember people complained (not only me) on how they can’t understand the “passion” of Jun Pyo for Jan di and how suddendly Jan di is in love with Jun Pyo after stucking with Ji Hoo all the day (episodes 6-8).
So Before complaining why Jk this…why JK that…think this situation is the consequence of a bad execution (Sorry but LMH portraying is too melodrama,
[exageratly] crybay and weak to be Domyoji or GHS can’t simply act the character of makino or has not understood who is Makino [same to LMH]) which begun at episode 1 but people was in denial because “the guys are hot”.
And what do they want to prove with the “pink bear” thing???? Jun Pyo/Domyoji is prince of Goong !! Oh I guess I know “fangirls service”. Domyoji maybe childish or lonely but do you see the almighty Domyoji sleeps with “bear thing” ? or even look at another girl than Makino ?
thanks dramabeans for the recaps. i guess since a lot of people has ranted about the Woobin part…i have nothing more to say regarding that matter. starting from episode 15 for me…the whole drama has gone way downhill. i enjoy reading your recaps and people’s comments after the episode more than watching the show itself. with just a few episodes left there are still a lot of unresolved issues that needs to be dealt with. the writers have been dragging it so long and i feel that they will give the resolutions haphazardly in the end and that frustrates me. i feel that the extra episode they finally were able to negotiate wouldn’t help much.
anyways, this has nothing to do with the drama…how come my name comes out red all the time when most come out purplish-blue? hehehehe…just paranoid.
thanks dramabeans…love…love…love your site.
just finished ep19 raw and though I did not understand most of the words uttered, all i can say is: I can’t wait for Javabean’s recap and my addiction has been rekindled! JP and curly mee made me laugh again.
The way you describe each scene is simply awesome. I just can’t wait a week to read your recaps. I’m from India. Right now only 8 episodes have finished but I never miss 2 read your recaps on every Mondays and Tuesdays. I’m waiting to read the recap of episode 19. I hope that you will post it soon…..Khumao
i kinda agree with lily. although i think lee minho is a good actor and the bad execution is mostly because of the bad writing, i do think the overall portrayal has really strayed from the complete inhumane asshole side of the manga original domyouji that would have really pointed out his eventual transformation as a result of geum jandi/makino. and now during this angsty period, joonpyo is turning into a joke, and absolutely nothing like the bratty piece of shit as shown in the original story. i can understand why the korean writers might have wanted to paint a more likable picture of domyouji/joonpyo, but i like that hana yori dango took the risk of making him absolutely despicable initially only to have it really pay off at the end when he drastically changed. anyway, it’s still (kinda) early. i’m crossing my fingers that things will start to look up soon and we can get some of that awesome jp/jd love that made the show so worth the wait every week. yes, i thought the korean version didn’t really clearly show how jandi went from hate to love all of a sudden (and i really think it was mostly because of goo hye sun’s lackluster performance). i mean, all she ever did was shout at jp. but man do i miss those scenes about now. regardless of the bizarre love polygon now, i can’t deny the irresistible JD/JP chemistry. we got a little taste of that tonight with the new episode (second half was amazing!) but it was SUCH a tease. can’t wait for next week!
a warning for those of you who are watching kkotboda namja without having seen hana yori dango. DON’T WATCH IT TILL THE KOREAN VERSION IS OVER. i did that last week and i just finished it. before i watched it, i was getting kind of weary of the mess the korean drama was getting itself into but i still had very little complaints. now that i’ve watched the japanese version, it has completely changed how i watch the korean version and really makes it seem like a pile of garbage next to hanadan. and i only say this because the japanese version’s gotta be one of the most amazing dramas i’ve ever seen. seriously, i’ve never cried that much before during a damn TV show. every time i hear “ARIGAAAAA-AAATO”, i get a little teary.
Hi Dramabeans, just want to say a few comments on the BOF
For me, one of the reason I’m addictive to the drama is because of your review here. I think you have a great talent as a writer. Your analysis is very logical and smart. I mostly agree with your comment about the drama. Thank you. I come to your site almost everyday.
I like the 1 – 10 episodes of BOF, because the story is refreshing and funny, also its very interesting to see the interaction between Jun Pyo & Jan Di, but I really become disappointed with the 11 episodes until now. I just can’t helped to compare this BOF with Taiwan version. The more I see this BOF, the more I miss to watch the Meteor Garden. I just want to say that the producer & writers of Korea Drama is spoiling the original story already and prove that Korea version is failing compare to Taiwan & Japan version. It’s too sad actually, the only thing that drawn me to this drama only Lee Min Hoo and the curiosity of how this will end.
I want them to shake up the HYD theme and put the unconventional couples together. Maybe it would end with Junpyo and Jandi, but then at the end JiHoon interrupts the wedding,or she runs away with him on his motorcycle just before the start Runaway Bride style, and JunPyo is conforted with JK the maid of honor. Because you know JK would fight to share maid of honor spots with GaEul.
It seems like JK and JP really understand one another in that we were both deprived of a family when we were little and could really make a good one together way. I think Mama Goo wants JP to be happy and successful, which is why she is hooking him up with JK a girl good for JP, but richer than JD. And we all know Butler man is her true love that she denied in order to become rich Mama Goo.
Am I wrong for thinking that Kim Bum’s angry eyes are worse that Hyun Joong’s. He just looks so fake with his mad scenes. I’m glad that they tried to give JD a break though. Maybe it’s time to work on the SeoulMates couple, give JD a break, and keep the fans happy.
OHOHOH! now, it’s getting better despite JP and JD didnt have further development/resolution….
they need to wrap up the JK and JP story. It is dragging! They need to show us more JP and JD so we all know they are meant to be together.
#158
I’m so agree with you!
;o)
I had watch the Taiwan version and Japan version of BBF and this is how the story really goes. Maybe our being fanatic with JD and JP makes us think they are making the story long. I can say I like the BBF the most though the Taiwan version which was shown in the PI was such a hit…WAIT till they see the Korean version and they would most likely forget the Taiwan F4..lol
@163 momo ONE WORD OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUF !
At last someone who wakes up (unfortunately with the dragging and “came from nowhere” scenes).
I had a lot of the same thoughts. I’m longing for more fun scene to temper all this angst! Latter halves of kdramas always get like this. Kang San’s “truer” words made me smile.
Like I said HYD japan can’t be compared to BOF anymore (the F4 in Japan version was INTIMIDATING no matter their physical appareance and their chemistry shines from episode 1, Mao is WONDERFUL so are JUN and the other characters[F3,Kaede, Tsubaki even secretary man] who were simply NATURAL [it helped a lot the drama in 9 and 11 episodes], the soundtrack…Listen to “one love”, “Blue mind”, “planetarium” ect… and you will know what is a soundtrack). Even MG has become better than BOF since at least (with less budget) they didn’t lack what is HYD.
Now BOF has to be compared with other korean dramas qualitywise.
very interesting recap. i like the way you write out your thoughts cos heck, i’m thinking along the same lines as you in certain parts. Kdrama Textbook Studies? Classic! Haha ;P
thanks for this!
re: 106 cindy-
“i can honestly say i absolutely hate this show right now but will i tune in next week? you know it! it ain’t crack for nuthin’”
hahaha! i think we’re all feeling this way. rolling our eyes but can’t wait to get home to watch it. and will be stabbing ourselves in the eye waiting for next week.
I agree!! What is going on with the mixed signals we’re getting? Although Jae-kyung is a likable character, I really wish they would just resolve that and let Jandi be with Jun-pyo already…
I am crazy about this movie although I am not in the age of those characters any more. I watched a bit of J version but I think Korean version is better than J version in term of choosing actors for bot female and male characters. Their appearance and personality (or at least the way they express it) are much more suitable to the characters than J version.
I really love the way JH cares of JD. I like tender and sophisticated love. He is always there whenever she is in need.
It would dislike watching following episodes if it gives me a hint that JD and JP end up marrying each other like J version. I wish JH and JD end up being together. Something should be different from previous versions.
I think the problem is not JD-JP love. In hyd Japan or maybe MG the character of Shigeru stayed in the drama at about the same number of episodes.
I think the problem is JK and JP have : CHEMISTRY (what GHS and LMH lack at first time). They understand each other and JK somewhat can controll JP.
Plus JH and JD have begun to have chemistry and a stronger relationship. It seems less fake, evolve more naturally, looks more romanticly improbable than JP- JD at first part of the drama (ironically It reminds the love’s evolve of Domyoji and Makino in other versions like the jdrama except here it’s Rui/Ji Hoo and Jun Pyo case looks like more Rui case.).
I think if JK was leaving the drama and JD coming back with JP (what in my mind will happen), JK’s character would have seriously marked the drama…
I agree, Season 2 or whatever it is is definitely way more drawn out and boring. The main reason right now I am leaning towards the “main” couple is because (1) Jihoo is just a little too boring for my tastes and his extremely mellow/calm relationship with Jandi is too tame for a drama. Things are supposed to be spicy and fun, no one wants to watch people get along all the time and do completely normal things. And (2) Jaekyung and Junpyo are just too alike, they seem more like best friend material than spousal material. I have to give it to the girl, she is pretty darn persistent and way more confident and bold than Jandi ever was in this show (except for maybe the first few episodes), but she is always way too clingy and acts annoyingly oblivious. Therefore, by default, I like the main couple together. I just wish they had more scenes together to remind us why we liked them in the first place.
Season 2 = a dud.
not following this drama, but Soojin vap is all i needed… she hasn’t changed at ALL! so gorgeous ^^
it kind of down hill, beginning was so good. well i wish that jandi and Jihoon
hook up but the way the director set up he could not a move on her.
so sad, i want more drama…..it getting bored same thing Yi-jung and Gaeul
Dramabeans, have to agree with you that I no longer know why I should be rooting for the JD-JP pair, other than the fact that I’m supposed to. From the start, I thought there was a real problem with the LMH-GHS pairing in that they lacked chemistry; especially coming off of the Japanese version where the chemistry between MatsuJun and Inoue Mao flew off the screen. When JK appeared in episode 14 or 15 of BOF, I knew there was an immediate problem in that, from the get go with the shoe scene in Macau, I sensed far more chemistry between LMH and the actress who plays JK. At this point, I can’t help but smile at the scenes between JK and JP. All unwillingly on my part, mind you, but a real indication that this is no longer HYD, and something is seriously messed up if I feel this way!
Compounding this problem is the lack of evolution or sizeable change in Jun Pyo’s character along the lines of the change in Domyougi’s character due to Makino’s civilizing effect.
Before rambling, i’d like to say THANK YOU so much javabeans for the recaps!
i always look forward to your comments and the rest of the discussion and analyzing in your page. i just can’t stop refreshing it. =)
i still can’t believe i spent an hour reading through all these wonderful comments. So i’d also like to apologize in advance for this longgg post ;]
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@27 JomeLee
Gah. Now I’m rooting for Jihoo and jandi/junpyo and jaekyung.
am i supposed to feel like this?
I guess the makers are making us feel like this so that when the story has its obvious twist (change of couples) it’ll bring the emotions outside of us.:D
Yea, i guess the writers are trying to make us feel for the characters rather than being one-sided and ignorant of the antagonist. I’m feeling afraid and guilty that i’m starting to root for JP-JK & JH-JD couple selection. It’s driving me insane!
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@32 JJ
When YJ was talking to JP about how only guys like them can only bring nothing but pain to the girls they love, was YJ referring to Gaeul?? cuz it was be4 she asked him out… or was he referring to his first love? clarification would be appreciated, thanks =)
I really want to believe that he was speaking of GaEul. And there were plenty of scenes hinting that, too. YiJung has hurt GaEul before if you recall the Valentines Day episode–she was hurt badly because she found out that he was a player. He also couldn’t have been refering to his first love because EunJae was the one who hurt him–not YiJung himself. And also the scene where GaEul walked out, he was left in agony, because GaEul(the girl he possibly likes) will only end up getting hurt because of his bad habits.
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@48 aoiyuki
During the scene at Macau where JP and JK were fighting over that pair of shoes, the chemistry I noticed between them is more of a sexual tension type of chemistry. Watching them chase each other made me think of the type of people you see on tv arguing one minute and then ripping their clothes off the next. It’s more of a playful flirty with a hint of lust chemistry. (Ok maybe I should keep this G-rated… >_<;; but that was the vibe that I got when I first saw them together.)
I was sort of thinking that, too. There chemistry feels like its more of that type. JaeKyung’s actions towards Junpyo is more about satisfying herself with physical actions(hence piggy-back, biting his ear, linking arms, the kiss, grabbing hold of his abs^^, and pulling him down in his bed). Seriously!
There’s something about JD, the way she struggles through her hardships, trying to take care of her family and pull X number of jobs at once, that makes her a good foil to JP’s character, who’s lived a much easier life (materialistically speaking). Their differences in background and circumstances help them open each other’s eyes.
Finally, there’s the foil that we’ve been searching for between Jandi and JaeKyung. Jandi understands how tough life could be–while Jaekyung is still a newbie in experiencing pain and hardships. That’s what Junpyo admires and loves about Jandi—she has great potential to live on her own despite all the calamities that constantly arises.
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@63 Lanie
i really want junpyo to feel a little of what he put jandi through…(note: parents lost thier bussiness, un-deserve insults, lost her ability to swim, and finally, her heartbreak…. ) its not that i dont see his own psuffering, i just think that its not even an ounce of what jandi is going through for him/because of him… i would love to to have the scene reverse… instead of junpyo losing his memory of her… have her lose her memory of him, now isnt that one hell of a twist… i am very excited to see how well he can handle the pain of being ignored and forgotten… ?( i know its a long strech, but hey isnt this why they call it drama?!)
EXACTLY. That’d be one hell of a twist. I was thinking that all along & it’s a drama after all! I guess its supposed to mess with your emotions to the fullest. I guess we’re on the minority side about getting all hyped up for the memory loss thing.
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@68 Nea
I love that JK is so much like JP because I believe that it goes back to the weird sequence with the whole “soulmate and husband” thing. On all sides JK-JP’s relationship falls into this category, as well as JD-JH. Its a good thing because its not about “destiny” in a sense but more about choices and reality.
I guess they are trying to show character maturity and not give in to emotions? These teenagers are finally getting a grip on reality and needs to start making choices. I’ve seen Junpyo(not as cold as before), Jandi(learned acceptance and refrained from violence), and Jihoo’s(got on his feet & earned money on his own) character developments, and the only one left behind is Jaekyung(who will probably eventually give Junpyo up). The decisions they make is all about sacrificing for each other’s satisfactions–which keeps this drama going.
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@72 @PILK
JK really is reaping the fruits of JD’s influence on JP. The JP now has really matured since his cake smashing, red card bullying days. JD’s actually made him more human and reflective and caring about others besides himself and the F3. The old JP wouldn’t have even spared JK a second glance. JK’s like a female mirror image of the old him, spoiled, selfish, pursues things kind of desperately and one-sidedly even if the other person clearly doesn’t reciprocate her feelings.
thanks for explaining my thoughts.
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@98 mommy
I liked this episode. It brought out the “reserved” characterization in the story I’m waiting for, where characters became more ordinary humans. and less detached from their mega-rich backgrounds. It presented how they can also value friendship, love and those simple things we can take for granted.
that’s an interesting point of view. Looking at how the drama is going in a mature perspective, it really does seem like (somewhat) of a good episode–although many others found it a drag.
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@100 dunlop
Throughout the whole series, JK and JD have been hurting each other unintentionally. JD couldn’t bring herself to tell JK about her relationship with JP because, well it doesn’t exist anymore, and she was probably afraid to hurt JK, especially after JK fell for JP. And JK was just unaware of everything, and therefore kept hurting JD. But in this episode, JK knowingly hurts JD when she finds out, though she did it to confirm JD’s relationship with JP. After this whole ordeal, she goes to JD’s house. Not showing JD how hurt she was, she went back to acting like her old self.
This shows how important this friendship is to JK, and that she is not willing to easily let go of this relationship either.
Now that i think about it, i’m starting to view Jaekyung(not just as an oblivious manipulative monkey) as another mere victim in this drama. It’s her turn to experience the pain in getting a hold of both love & friendship.
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@105 Really confused
I’m getting really confused with the JD-JH relationship. In the library scene, when facing the sleeping Ji Hoo, she mouthed the word “Oppa”. She has never even called JP that. What happened to SunBae?
I recognized that, too! OMG, i wonder if they’re giving us hints(on their growing relationship[a twist, perhaps?]) or she just screwed up her lines, because this is REALLY driving me insane!!
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@121 Two Cents
Compare the look he gives Jae Kyung in this scene with say, episode 3 where Jandi gets drunk. Junpyo is all goofy smiles. He can’t help but smile when he is around Jandi. Or the scene where he looks at Jandi at the auction in his house and sees her interest in the goggles. There is luv showing in his eyes that you don’t see when he looks at Jae Kyung.
Oh dear, i hope so. Loving, goofy smiles are much better =] It reminds me of he ramen scene. He had such an evil, attractive smile on his face when he saw the ramen(an expression we haven’t seen in awhile).
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@127 MoMo
JP is more suited with JD because they complement each other. What JP doesn’t have, JD has. They are cut to fit each other. Two peas in a pod do not have the same shape but they fit the pod just right.
Yea! They’re just like two missing pieces to a puzzle–they complete each other by working around their differences.
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@131 Daphne
But I did like Jun-pyo’s softer side in this episode. He actually fell asleep in the ‘lousy’ apartment. Unlike Dau Ming Sze and Doumyoji who left and complained that they didn’t sleep at all to the other F3.
Just like his first real kiss with Jandi—[a multimillionaire!] knelt (or lowered himself to her level) just to ask for her love. This time he went as far as living in a crummy apartment and actually adjusted to it as he fell peacefully asleep by Jandi.
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@165 LDJ
I think Mama Goo wants JP to be happy and successful, which is why she is hooking him up with JK a girl good for JP, but richer than JD. And we all know Butler man is her true love that she denied in order to become rich Mama Goo.
Is that really true? Butler has history with Mama Goo? I’ve read these assumptions (possibly rumors from other sites, too)! But if it is the truth…then Junpyo would have less reason not to feel guilty over his promise with his other father, then get on with Jandi, right? …very interesting…
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@73 funniebones
Also, I read somewhere for ep. 20 there will be a huge wedding? I myself am rooting for the Graduate type of exit for our main couple
i read about that too—but i’m not sure if the sources are reliable, though. There were sayings that it’ll be filmed in Jeju Island? Anyway, if they are gonna go as far as preparing a wedding, then it better be good(though i’m afraid it’ll be cliche)!! And if it is true, i hope that it’s only a dream(like Jandi’s dream of Junpyo getting married to someone else, then she finally gets on her feet & fights for her love before it’s too late!!!) aghhhhhh. that would be really good and satisfying enough for me(i wish). sigh.
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OH-EHM-GHEE. this post is very, very long. sorry about t-that!
this crack is no good for me.
–enough rambling from me already.! ..
Dramabeans thank you again for recaps…however I have to agree with you 100% WTF is the PD thiking or writers…..I mean this drama is supposed to be all about GJP and GJD and their coming together against all odds, I mean I don’t know where they are taking the story line but COME ON enough is enough with the whole fiance story….we got 5 episodes to go and some real problems to solve. The PD got serious issues if he can’t wrap up this story and make GJD and GJP happy and lovebale again…..I’m frustrated,irrated and mad that Jandi still thinking that GJP doesn’t love her and that GJP can’t stand up against his mother…..now unto my observation/critique of this episode overall i’ll give it 8 out of 10….why not 10 because I want to see more interaction between GJD and GJP…..I loved the fact that he can’t let her go and that he missed having her around but PLEASE can we have some more INTIMATE moments or talk between them….
Moving on….what I have learned from this episode…if a guy doesn’t want YOU PLEASE WALK AWAY AND HAVE DIGNITY AND SELF RESPECT…..”mokey girl” really showed that she doesn’t have any of those qualities…..I wanted to scream “GIRL GJP DOESN’T LOVE YOU MOVE ON….” but she keeps trying…..AND that WHY I LOVE JANDI …..THE GIRL GOT SELFRESPECT AND DIGNITY…..when GJP broke up with her she cried….but never begged GJP to take her back…eve now we could see that evethough JanDi loves GJP she keeps her distance because she belives he doesn’t love her…..and she is not going to beg…the GIRL GOT HER PRIDE…..”Mokey Girl NEEDS TO EXIT THE STORY NOW” the story is getting out hand….THIS WRITERS WILL SUCK IF THEY CAN’T GIVE US A FULL EPISODE OF JANDI AND GJP….that’s the whole point of the story right….Can the PD be creative and have GJD and GJP put in a deserted island and have their issues/problems resolve without intereference so both of them can finally show their love and fight for it together…….sorry if I took too long.
so true dramabeans.
when i saw yi-jung push woo-bin to the car, it said gay all over.
i think it wouldn’t have been so embaraassing to watch if woo-bin kept his eyes open with a look of shock or something, or if yi-jung at least punched him. thanks for the subs! d(^O^)b
So I’m not sure why but this episode was moving really slow and draggy for me..it seemed like it was a big melodramatic episode.. bring out each and every one of the characters ’s personal issues to the screen to show they are struggling.
Each F4’s personal problems were literally placed in front, and then Jae Kyung and Jun Pyo’s argument, then Jun Pyo’s struggle with Jan Di, Ga Eul and Yi Jung, Yi Jung and his childhood lover, I think the only thing that was actually happy was the brother sister bond and Jan-Di Ji-Hoo interactions. Plus Ji-Hoo looked super cute sleeping in the library, although I would say that he shoulda a picked a better corner since no one’s going to find you, i mean i didnt think jan-Di was able to either.
I’m hoping things don’t go this slow.. or i’m going to lose interest or have to fast forward scenes or something .
Thanks for the recaps as always!
Lol but first I have a few things to say lol Sarah, what you said at the end about the relationship chemistry was awesome and I wanna add to that:
Personally, I wonder what the character of Ji Hoo would be like if it was played by Oguri Shun. Yeah I know, he already played Rui in the Japanese version, right? Except I see both characters as being quite different actually. I mean, they both start out as rather aloof and enigmatic (though more so on Rui’s part) but after they start to fall for the Makino character, the certain devulge. Rui certainly loved Makino but he was incapable of expressing that affection in a deep or meaningful way that would reach Makino at a deeper level. He always kept his distance from her even as he was courting her, was always light hearted and flippant to the point where it was difficult to even figure out whether he was in love or just playing around (probably why Makino didn’t quite believe that he was in love with her when he kissed her).
But Ji Hoo is much different. He’s expressing his love in a much deeper and tender way while holding himself back, probably because he doesn’t want to push too hard while Jan Di’s going through this tough time (and maybe partly because he’s not sure whether she’s ready or capable of letting go of Jyun Pyo). You’re right in JiHoo’s actor isn’t quite skilled enough to get the emotional depth of that situation across (though I think he’s greatly improved from the beginning of the drama when he was almost unwatchable to me) but I can’t help but imagine what it’d be like if Shun had been given *that* Rui to play (and if Rui’s and Makino’s relationship was more like Jan Di and Ji Hoos). Like you I’d ship it with the fist of an angry god.
The way things are going and the mixed relationship messages, I’m not even sure whether I’ll be able to jump on the Jan Pyo ship when it eventually happens. I can’t even remember being particularly impressed with the chemistry anyway (though I’m sure it was good, I can’t remember flipping out and squeeing over the two).
REQUEST
So anyway just to ask: is the second ost out yet? I NEED to get my hands on that second moon song!! It was in Goong S too and I really wanted it but it wasn’t released with the soundtrack. If you find it, can you post it up on your site??? I’m talking about the instrumental that first played I think last episode when Ji Hoo went to see Jan Di in the hospital after she collapsed (again *headdesk*) and he kissed her fingers (so sweet!).
“So why are they pushing this angle when I’m trying to root for the “real” ultimate couple?”
AMEN. I am so confused; it’s driving me INSANE. I just want to see that jandi + junpyo get together!!!! I really don’t want to see jaekyung with junpyo even though they do look okay together.
And if the writers/producers make it so that junpyo actually falls in love with jaekyung and they get married.. I will be sending so many hate letters.
Jandi+Jun Pyo all the way!!!!cast and crew be safe and be healthy…*.*
i have to agree with no 122,duh, this show is the worst hanadan version compared to taiwan and japanese version, but yeah, im already been hooked to this show, and i think, mostly just bcoz lee min hoo.
awesome request, as usual! i broke my usual rules while waiting for the interminably long download and read it first… but now that i’m watching it, please javabeans would you happen to know what song is playing before Woo-bin’s scene on the bridge? it’s filled with 나봐 and 가봐…
also another one at the buddhist temple – this one is really Goong-type poppy
From now on I’m calling you Professor Beans.
After watching BOF I feel like my brain is dead, but once I read this it’s like BAM! alive. xD
JK is a sweet girl…..and she is freakin relentless! i like that
)
I agree with the previous poster (sorry can’t remember the name). MatsuJun’s Domyouji is by far the best Domyouji. His stature definitely doesn’t make him scary, but his acting coupled with great lines and scenes made up for it and clearly makes him the best male lead in all versions. Lee Min Ho is a great actor, and definitely looks the part, but the dialogue that he’s given doesn’t make him a Domyouji. I blame the director and the script writer as well.
Tsukasa only has eyes for Tsukushi, he doesn’t even give other girls (no matter how good looking they are) a second glance. I remember in one of the Hanadan episodes there was a scene where the f3 was talking about Makino and her unlucky circumstances and some girl (one of the evil trios?) was fawning over Domyouji, Domyouji was annoyed and headbutted the girl and yelled at her “Get away Ugly!!” I was laughing so hard. That was Tsukasa’s charm, he will not be swayed by another girl, even when Shigeru stripped naked in front of him, he rejected her, he was still devoted and loyal to Tsukushi.
There’s nothing to hate about the character JaeKyung, but the fact that JunPyo is slowly warming up to her is out of character for Domyouji. And what happened to feisty Makino? She’s reduced to a girl that you’d wanna throw a pity party for. Never, ever did I ever feel that for Tsukushi, no matter how bad the situation was, you could tell she was strong, you barely even recognized that she’s a struggling poor person.
KVersion is too emo now, I remember laughing a lot watching the Japanese Version. In terms of looks the casting is great, but the writing, directing and some acting are totally cringe worthy. SoEul scenes are wasted, they even managed to screw up Woo-Bin’s character in this episode. If they were going to do a story-line for him why not show his little sisters, and his child-like mother!? Frikk, I don’t even know, it’s so frustrating, there is no happy medium for this drama. This version is crap, the OST, even if it is improving, makes my ears bleed, and the only thing that makes me watch this drama is Lee MinHo and the eventual JunPyo and Jandi reconciliation, which looks like is gonna happen at the bitter end, ARGH. It’s like watching the Matrix, you liked the first one so you had to watch all the sequels just for closure and hoping that it’ll get better.
oh by the way is it just me or all the characters are modified in some way? What happened to Woo-Bin’s love for cougars? and why the hell is Yi Jung’s first love so feminine!?!
/rant
I dunno why but I really like the scenes with Jaekyung and JunPyo! She’s a tough girl and I like her character a lot more than Jandi’s! I think they have really good chemistry and its really cute when they argue. On the other hand, I really like JiHoo and Jandi together. They are so shy and innocent towards eachother
Iunno, people might hate me for this.. but I like jaekyung.
i know im SUPPOSE to hate her..
but I can’t help but like her.
she knows what she wants and she goes for it.
i just don’t know why but I never really liked jandi.
she’s no longer confident, and she is jsut too troubled.. but that kind of trouble.. but she always needs help (in a way).
kinda sick of seeing that..
I dont mind jun pyo and jaekyung scenes.
some are sweet and it’s almost making erase memories of jandi and junpyo,. which is no good.
But honestly…
if jaekyung came first,
she probably had a chance with Jun Pyo.
Yes, Jandi was the first girl ever to make such memories with jun pyo,
but if jaekyung came around first, then for sure Jun Pyo would have fallend in love with her..
ps. i agree with you on the woobin and yijung scenes.
just seemed random and uncessary.
@193 OUF ! another wake up
That’s why I said if Domyoji (manga, Japan versions) came in Korean version, LMH Jun Pyo would never be a member of F4.
I mean even Soujiro of F4 japan acts more powerfully and intimidating than Jun Pyo… No comment about the so called F4 (Kversion)
I can’t believe there are still people comparing BBF to the Japanese series! I understood it in the beginning but now these people just sound narrow minded and bitter!
As a newcomer to this series, to me there’s no credibility in the comments that only say “omg in the Japanese version” or “in the Taiwanese series.” It’s not because those people make no sense because sometimes they do, but their bias is so obvious that now I just discount all their thoughts. It’s sad but true.
I dunno but to me J version is not so interesting since the main actor looks like a GAY with too much make up.
Taiwan version is worse, so fake, so ugly and Shan Cai has just one face, stupid girl.
To wit: Imagine someone like the silently broody Jung Il-woo (a la Return of Iljimae) or gentle Ji Hyun-woo (from My Sweet Seoul), or sure, Jang Geun-seok (Beethoven Virus) casting longing glances at Jan-di — I’d be on that ’ship so fast my head would spin.
oh my gosh. this is SO TRUE.
Domyouji warmed up to Shigeru too didn’t he? :O He didn’t really connect with her though..
And @ 193: I agree!! man. I really miss Tsukushi! ): Makes me want to rewatch Hana Yori Dango and see her strong character instead of this girl who never sticks up for herself. Sure, she’s developed.. but what was so good about HYD was that no matter how illogical, the characters were just so awesome (:
I’m sad that the Korean version couldn’t capture that. ): (Sorry LMH, your acting is great.. but.. your characterization!)
I still like how the relationships are developing and how the characters are slowly maturing. Though I’m sure some of us are questioning why Jae Kyung and Junpyo shouldn’t be together, remember all the things that Jandi taught Junpyo? If Jae Kyung had come first, I still don’t think she would’ve been able to change Junpyo that way. Maybe a little.. but.. he was so different before! :O Not to mention, Jandi is still more experienced in struggles than Jae Kyung..
(Sorry this is so long)
I know this was a while back but was anyone else disappointed with the elevator scene???? ; w ; I was SO disappointed.
First, the rain made it more dramatic in the jap version. Not to mention, Tsukushi gave Domyouji her ONLY jacket and scarf. (Since when did Jandi start carrying around blankets? -___-;;) Man, that is being tough and caring. And that’s what got to Domyouji. Her CARING. Her TOUGHNESS. Her SPIRIT!! D:
And yet I continue to be entertained by the korean version.
Guess I can like the korean version for the stuff it did do well and the different characteristics. (:
Message to poster # 182
That was freaking awesome! =)
Poster 199 – Lisa F
I know what you mean by we shouldn’t compare to the other versions, each and every version should have their own spin on it, otherwise why the heck should we watch it if it’s the same as the previous ones right?
BUT! The drama is deviating from the original Hana Yori Dango characterizations that you can’t HELP but compare. It’s gotten so out of hand that people are questioning if Jandi/Junpyo is canon. Viewers should know right away who is the lead couple, and know it without a doubt, we know it SHOULD be Jun-Di, but how come it doesn’t seem like it?
@ 201 Gloria about the elevator scene, you are not the only one. I stated it but people were all about “they are hot”. Anyway I think the out of characterisation is one of cause of the failure of this important scene (and other ones like the made up scene, the double date scene, the kissing scenes ect…)
What wasup with the whole Won Bin and Yujing scene. So random. I thought they were filling in gaps to cut down on Jandi’s scene, you know coz of her recent injury and evrything.
Does anyone know the name of the song when it cuts abruptly to the scene when Jandi’s in the library? It’s a recurring song, but it’s not in the OST. I really like it though…
Thanks!
I haven’t read any of these posts but while I was scrolling down,
# 182 (O.o)” – Mar 10, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Wow! You take the cake on this one!
Gotta respect the passion and energy.
Yeah, that Woo-bin segment was TOTALLY random! Talk about character development, I definitely didn’t see THAT coming. He’s too charismatic, confident and self-possessed for that scene to be convincing. They could’ve just shot him walking around and I would’ve been happy.
I’ll just delete that whole scene from my memory.
Thx javabeans…nice recapp. can’t wait so long to read ur recap.
i think Im more addicted to u more than to BBF itself.
Yeahh, I’ll really dissapointed when the version will make new couple as JP+JK ; JD+JH.
because however the bad scripts made, but JP+JD make BBF stand as now.
okey, I’ll understand how plot can be ‘grow up’ but since JP&JD loves
full of things (love&tears), don’t u think their loved deserved to be stand in?!
I’m afraid that PD will make alternate ending (2 version) just for fans’ satisfaction.
no..no..no, don’t do that pls…just do as you think its THE BEST ending.
whether some fans will protest or dissapointed for ending version you’ll choose,
but as u make it with most logical reason, highest consideration
and strongest story behind..I’ll respect it anyway.
4 PD : my curiosity due to Makino (JD)’s characteristic – why u kill the characteristic?
not GHS should be blame..but how u want kind of characteristic..if u want
kind of Korean version through characteristic’s, why u don’t make the develop ones?
if u want different kind of Makino, just make it stronger because we
want something more not less, don’t we?
ok, I’m done…
Thx Java. For PD : THINK more before u ‘fulfill’ fans’ request (fact about Woo Bin scene showed
that u’ve think more than twice. Don’t do that for ending u’ll made pls..just do as ur favor)
I believe the whole “woo-bin being embarrassed” scene was just his imagination.
They were wearing different clothes, he scoffs after the scene is over like it was a funny thought and then gives yi-jung a call .
It would make more sense (and be more interesting character-wise in so many ways – I also thought there was some homo-erotic vibes there XD -) if it was just him imagining a situation, and it would also be according to his character, since he’s the mediator, the peace-maker, the most tranquil, put-together one in F4. He’d have his internal issues, but he would never push them on his friends like that, I think.
Mainly, it might have been the editor’s fault, that scene is badly placed, and they should have made it clearer that it was just a thought, that it actually didn’t happen.
Oh well. XD
lol, late to the party but the comments here seem so much funnier after watching ep19
#182 (O.o)
thank you for the response! =)
Yeah, I agree. Supposedly, ga eul is supposed to bring yi jung & eun jae together…to prob allow him to let go if his past… and supposedly, what his dad said about her being a good girl (in today’s epi) and eun jae indirectly allow the relationship btwn yi jung & ga eul to blossom. can’t wait! Hope it’s true!! They need to end up together! =(
Also, about the wedding scene in epi 20, there is a rumor that the wedding is planned by F3…as fake wedding for ji hoo & jandi to force jun pyo’s feelings for jandi to be revealed. kinda like that hospital scene where they planned for jandi to come out with her feelings for jun pyo.
that would be very interesting!!!
199 LisaF, I understand your frustration and may even feel the same if I had never read the manga or seen the Jdrama version. If this drama wasn’t supposed to be a remake of Handan, all of us who are at our wits end with the Kdrama writers wouldn’t feel so strongly about it! But this is akin to taking the Cinderella story, and having Prince Charming not only to put the slipper on the ugly step-sister, but to form a viable relationship with the stepsister that would potentially cast doubt on whether Cinderella, or Prince Charming, is indeed the one. In short, if you change crucial aspects of both Cinderella and the Prince, does it stop being a Cinderella story?
I’m not saying Hanadan is a Cinderella story per se. I’m using it as an analogy. Nor am I liking JK to the ugly step-sister because JK is very pretty!
The problem lies in the fact that JK has real tangible chemistry with JP, and it wouldn’t seem so out of left field if they diid get together (never going to happen because this is still Hana Yori Dango).
193-Aiya: You took the words right out of my mouth!
Poster 186: How thoughtful! If Shun played Ji Hoo, sheesh, I would be the first one to ship over to the JD-JH boat. You nailed it when you said: “Rui certainly loved Makino but he was incapable of expressing that affection in a deep or meaningful way that would reach Makino at a deeper level. He always kept his distance from her even as he was courting her, was always light hearted and flippant to the point where it was difficult to even figure out whether he was in love or just playing around (probably why Makino didn’t quite believe that he was in love with her when he kissed her).”
Will watch to the end just to see if the writers can turn this around…
I feel that the chemistry between JP n JK is not of a lovers’ kind.. it is more of mutual understanding. Jaekyung is more of a female version of Junpyo.. and because of that, I feel that they aren’t meant to be. One of the reason for the deep love between Jandi and Junpyo is the synergy between them.. where their strengths make up for each others’ flaws.
Like Jandi being too nice sometimes, maybe because of being so used to taking all the s*** in life. She sometimes gives up her rights to fight for something (like Jihoo’s love at the beginning). That is a flaw (yet also her strength) in her personality, and is something that Jihoo cannot really help other than console. But with Junpyo, his confidence (and also arrogance), is what Jandi lacks, and that’s why she would fall in love with such a guy. He sorta keeps her driven. And vice versa, Jandi is able to make Junpyo learn how to express the softer tones of his character.. That’s also the reason that he fell in love with her in the first place isnt it?
Their relationship from the start had been a rollercoaster. The fact that they both learnt so much from each other and went through so much emotional turmoil, that is something that Jihoo/Jaekyung can never replace. Had Jihoo reciprocated earlier, or Jun pyo meets JK earlier.. probably I wouldnt say the same.
In reality its also like that (only less drama), couples stay commited, not because that their feelings won’t stray. Rather. It is a choice. Because of all that they went through, all that you’ve experienced together. The tears and the joy and the angst… The more of it, the more you feel in love.
sorry for such a long comment! Just that I feel so connected to the drama.. Once had a guy like Jihoo, doing so much for me.. Almost made me wonder if I should remake my choice with my boyfriend of 4 years (which girl won’t be moved?!) But when one recalls how the love took place at the beginning. You wouldn’t move on that easily… At least you’ll need lotsa time before you can love another again…
OMG.. I just read a comment that said Matsu Jun’s Domyouji is the best in all 3.. I beg to differ… Yikes!!! To even thinking about it makes me giggles…
Sorry, but for me the best would have to be Jerry Yan’s potrayal… second would be LMH and I don’t even want to list Matsu Jun as my third… Erkkk… coz it’s just awful…
Why? Because both Jerry Yan and LMH has that features as Domyouji from the manga… I’m not an anti-Matsu Jun… but seriously with that height, not so strong physics and that bad acting of his, really makes me want to pull my hair out… Enough that he doesn’t even resembles Domyouji from the manga, but his acting was rather making Domyouji looks stupid and weak rather than being childish and ignorant; and it’s really poor acting and bad portrayal. I even wondered how the hell he landed this part, please don’t tell me is just because of his curly hair, please… better if Ikuta Toma was casted in…
I’m not saying that Jerry Yan is a better actor, but his character and physic look more natural as being this childish, ignorant, violent and self-centered guy. And for Matsu Jun, is quite disappointing coz he has a lot of acting experience and should’ve achieved a lot better. But still even if he act the part well, I still didn’t see him to be fit as Domyouji. As for LMH, yes he is the better actor, however again the script from MG version is stronger and a lot similar to tha HanaDan series thus making Jerry Yan’s portrayal unbeatable.
I remember a scene where Inoue kick MatsuJun for the first time and he fell like a girl and I’d go WTF??? Domyouji is not that weak??? DAMN! And that laugh of his is really fake!. I guess he really tried hard to make other people believe how childish he can be… but it’s so unnatural to me. Awww spare me please!
You may want to disagree with me, but I just want to share my views on this. Clearly, for those who think otherwise, you may want to watch that kick scene again… To me it’s just kills me… and kill domyouji character of coz…
1. i love this episode… more JH…YES!!! and JD-JH works for me… i know, i know ..it’ll be totally wrong to divert away from manga but don’t you guys think it will be interesting? at least JH/ RUI would be happy in one version of the story (although i’m still spazzing and hoping for a miracle (and a cameo) of a long-haired brunette wearing a green beanie playing game of rock paper scissors with JH…..;)
2. do you guys remember that imaginary drawer JP have in his room that contains a rotting half-eaten apple, a few JP-like chocolate/biscuits and a can of coffee? when i saw JP hugging that curly-haired purple cat-like thing, i was half expecting to see the rest of the stuff strewn on the bed around him.. heh heh….
3. some people complaint that this episode is too slow but i kinda like it… allows for some breathing room and side story that is different from the manga. i really was hoping that they will divert away from the manga and make their own version of BBF in the second half of the drama. after all the frantic pace of the first season i was hoping for a new story right now….
but i still wonder why it seems so rushed (the first 12 epi)? japanese HYD only have a total of 20 epi (9 + 10) but the story doesn’t seems rushed esp the 1st season.
4. and i HATE the part where makino works as maid in domyouji’s house (HYD). i don’t see the point then and i don’t see the point now (only saw the preview of ep 19). i wonder how are they going to explain that here…
and…uuhh… javabeans… thanks for a great recap…. “apparently he’s narcoleptic in this episode”… totally made my day
Great summary! I saw this episode but read the summary anyway b/c your commentary is always so funny.
An aside: did anyone else notice that several pieces of Jandi’s attire in this episode had a small plush pinned to it? or perhaps they were in different episodes as well and I didn’t notice until now…secret marketing plan or Jandi fad? either way, I thought they were cute.
I feel like the Woobin story line was just put in there to set up for the breaking of Yijung’s hand. Which I don’t completely understand since he’s just become greatly devalued in my sight. I guess now I’m just supposed to love him for his looks and personality… Or is this setting up a foreshadowing of how he’ll be stripped of other qualities that once connected him to his father (an end to his womanizing ways?…but only if the script writers decide to stray from the core plot line of the manga)?
Is the monk’s “Make you a family” comment supposed to be just a vague, misleading way of telling Jihoo that Jandi will become the bridge between him and his grandfather? b/c no way is she physically providing him with a family. But I have to say, this episode made me like Jihoo more. He just seems like a better boyfriend than the wishy washy Gunpyo I’m seeing now…
The Japanese version had the ugliest F4, but I thought they had the best actors.
I disagree with poster 214, Jun made Hana Yori Dango really fun for me. He might have been shrimpy, weird-looking, and manorexic but he was great entertainment and I thought he was a good actor. He portrayed the violent, and dumb, Domyouji well. He also has great chemistry w/ Mao. The Japanese Version was for laughs, I don’t remember the “kick scene”, I’m not going to go back and look, I’m sure it was there. Lee Minho is the best looking Domyouji, I really enjoy watching him onscreen (not just because he’s hot), he really shines and is definitely a great actor, the best of the f4, and he has the potential to be the best Domyouji, only if they give him great lines and characterization. Well – we all have our opinion, I just thought I’d put a few cents in.
yay.. someone that agrees with me! the woobin seen was completely akward.. i was thinking oh no, is this why he doesnt have a girlfriend? he’s secretly seeming yi jung.. lol
ok, and seriously, they need to do better editing.. one moment jae kyung was at jandi’s place and then suddenly its really bright and jandi is in a library.. i was just like wtf?
but i loveee that personal assistant guy.. much more than other versions where he actually is mean alot of the time… best moment of all time was when junpyo broke down in the macau airport and he hugged him ..awwww..but i have a sneaking suspicion something bad is going to happen to him due to the witch… hmm..
lisa f. just out of curiosity, but have you even seen any of the other versions?
214
Right on! I’m so agree with you!
Jerry Yan is the better one followed by LMH. Seriously it really give headache just to think Matsu Jun also acted as Domyouji… I really can’t see which part that he’s good… All I know that he’s not Domyuji… really makes me shiver….
And not just that kick scene, almost all the time he looks constipated… sorry but it’s true… >< I like Matsu Jun, but for me his acting in HYD is really makes me want to cry!
217
The F4 Japanese version is the ugliest… that’s so true… but they are also the worst… What save them here is because of good and well-budgeted production team, other than that is so useless to even say it out loud.
Why? They even don’t have that chemistry with each other… the best F4 would be the taiwanese… the four of them really look like they’re friends who grew up together… I like how Xi Men and Mei Zhuo always dwell themselves in Dau Ming Si and San Chai matter, esp the part when Xi Men asked Dau Ming Si to go over San Chai’s house to protect her and be a brave rider… Man! That was really funny as hell!!! The reaction from Dau Ming Si was really priceless and I just giggled how Xi Men likes to play with him… It really gives a lot difference vibe from the rest F4…
p/s.. @ any fellow joongBoers..
have u guys read the translation of the new BBF ost song by ss501? i forgot the title but i suggest u go and find it somewhere… TOTALLY worth it…
TO THE WORLD!!!!!
*Ssorry if it’s inapropriate to post this here. am a hardcore fan of KHJ*
This is a bit late, but thanks so much for the recap Javabeans! So freakin funny
@163: momo, If only you could have warned me sooner! I also watched Hana Yori Dango two weeks ago, and I wish I hadn’t, lol. It was like a light bulb moment, like ‘oh so this is what it’s supposed to be like!’
I just wanted to note that i do also think jun pyo and jaekung do have some sort of chemistry but i think its more out of an understanding with each other….they both grew up extremely rich and all the responsibilites/restriction that come along with it. they are like exactly alike…shes the girl version of him…i think thats why there is some sort of “chemistry” between them…i think they should be best friends!!!
i am still rooting for JAN DI and JUN PYO regardless of whether “they’re supposed to be a couple.”
if i have to hear how meteor garden is better than hana yori dango one more time, i think i’m gonna cry. that show is laugh-out-loud bad. F4 look like tacky chicks and none of the characters can act. give me a break. yes, this is a manga adaptation so looks do matter. but the MOST important thing is the ability to portray the aura of the character and i’m sorry, the japanese version definitely trumps all other versions.
@214 please don’t be angry but about Jun/Domyoji when do you see him “weak” ?
And you tell stupid…Read the manga or watch the anime and tell me when you saw Domyoji how did you find him open minded, sharp…?
Well said @ 224
hey dramabeans (or anyone actually) do you know the song playing when Eun Jae and Yi Jung were doing the pottery thing? it’s IN MY HEAD!! haha and i don’t know korean so i can’t google the lyrics like i always do. hahaha. thanks a whole bunch!
thanks for the review!!!
hi! anyway u can re-upload song of the day? the mediafire link keeps timing out. many thanks in advance!
I just have to ask..
In the scene where Jun Pyo visits Yi Jeong’s studio…
Does Jun Pyo call him “hyung” or “Jeong”?
Because I hear Jeong…
It is a stupid question but I just want a confirmation from others.
Also hoping I’m not too old and my hearing is not shot….
hehe ^^;
i’m just as delusional as chiharu
i wish junpyo and jaekyung would just get together
she really does like him and he’s deffo compatible w/her
you know the reflection scenes that all dramas have?
where the person remembers all the romance between them?
there would be plenty for jaekyung and junpyo!
and the same for jandi and jihoo!!!
jihoo is like… a bajillion times nicer to her
plus he’s not confused about her or anything.
he knows he loves jandi and he knows he can!
however, i think hyunjoong was good for the role of jihoo
if he was a stronger character, jandi would have come over
or would at least notice his feelings more.
plus, if he was stronger, it’s harder to see the care
jandi just needs to get her act together, let JP know it’s over fsho
and let him go to jaekyung, and then hook up with jihoo
Go Jihoo!
@229 Jin Ju
I heard the same thing but I believe it was Jeong because I was always under the impression that Jun-pyo was older. And because I replayed it multiple times.
ah i finished watching
i dont want to sound ungrateful but there was a lot of fast forwarding through these episodes.
some thoughts i want to rant about
whenever someone says something to jan di, why does she go huh then make the person repeat it?! does she have a hearing problem or something =_=; or are they just dragging out the drama..
i really dont think it’s plausible to make jan di go to med school, she’s not smart, as we can see in may instances, nor can she afford something like that, she should just give up..
also
it was so emotional when jan di saw GJP and JK hugging and then suddenly they’re fighting over ramen =_=;;
as a woman, jan di is seriously unattractive, i still dont get why someone like her was casted as jan di.
i basically just rant about jan di everytime i get a chance to, im sorry but aHAFKJDLASKJFD
also
the emo side story of woo bin and yi jung was unncessary and kind of awkward..
but it did look like they were gonna kiss on the roof of the car..lol
Oh please do not make so much fun of the woobin and yijung scene. I actually loved that the BOF writers seem to be delving deeper into the bond among the member of F4. It is just beautiful! It shows the stong honesty and the willingness for the members to be there for each other….they have been friends thick and thin since kindergarten.
Also all F4 members have family issues—they are all affected by the mistakes and decisions of their parents. Actually jandi also is affected by her parents who cannot really take care of their children–Jandi is really the caretaker of her family. But it is also what made them who they are. F4 are beautiful and wealthy but they all have demons in thier own past to deal with and overcome to fully bloom.
Woobin must feel some shame to be the son of a “mafia boss” who has shady dealings–that is his own demon to overcome. I hope Jandi plays a role in helping him as well as she did JP and JH while Gawel is helping Yijung to deal with his own demon of the fear of becoming like his parents—unfortunately he is bringing that onto himself. He is a very self-destructive character.
I applaud the writers of this drama. Although some parts may feel awkward, in general, the writers are just amazing as they link and connect the pieces of various characters together to deepen and make them even more meaningful to us, NO wonder these characters are so addictive and we really love them.
I am so addicted that I cannot stand it but I look forward to the episodes. I would be really sad for it to end soon. I will miss it. I hope I can order the DVD and the OST for the drama. I would not mind watching it again and even talk about it with other friends and even my children about the meaning of friendship, relationship, overcoming demons, etc.
I am totally addicted to this bad and excellent drama . But I think the way to watch it without driving one crazy is
1. leave brain at door
2. fill in the blank
I did not get how JD could possibly be in love with JP based on their limited interaction until I went and had a peek at the other versions and then I went – OOOOHHHH. Many scenes assume you understand what the heck is happening and the dynamics.
There are SO MANY questions that sane people would ask abt this drama- how can parents leave children to fend for self without checking for them the accommodation , is my main question. Pleaase. how irresponsible of them!
How come they sleep at a drop of a hat?? Can they please think of another way to convey vulnerability/sadness/longing ???
How can JH and JP not address this rift between them? How come there is no rift??
How can MDM KANG’s cameras take such close ups of GJD?
How can they skip school so much??
And my main gripe- THESE ARE VERY YOUNG KIDS !! How can Yi jeung be so affected by his love – when the heck did all this happen -when he was 15?
Sigh…..but again. I totally love it.
#229,
I believe Woo-bin does call Yi-jung “Jung.” (It’s not “hyung.”)
In Korean, often names will get shortened, where the first syllable of the name gets cut off; it’s a mark of affection. For instance, Yi-jung turns into “Jung,” but it would be weird to call him “Yi.” Woo-bin might get shortened to “Bin” (but not “Woo”). That’s why I thought it was a little weird that Jae-kyung (perhaps you’d call her “Kyungi”) calls Jun-pyo “Jun” because that’s the first part of the name. You will notice that Jan-di’s brother Kang-san often gets called “San.” You probably wouldn’t shorten names like Jan-di or Ga-eul, though; they sound weird.
It just shows that they’re good friends.
@maria
“the secretary leaving him the pics of jandi. we all thought we knew the story of BBF, and then *jajang* secretary turns out to be junyo’s dad! …LOL kidding.”
LMAO.
I tend to agree with #230. JH-JD have a much deeper bond and stronger story line than JP-JD up to this point of the show. I know that the manga dictates a JP-JD ending. But so far, other than JP staking his claim on JD as girlfriend ahead of JH, the JP-JD relationship somehow pales in comparison to what JH-JD have established.
Is JP aware of JD’s aspirations to be a doctor, her volunteer work at the clinic, how devastated she was when she found out she couldn’t swim anymore, her tendency to nose bleed, her parents’ work issues? JH does. And is there to fight fire, give counsel, offer medicine, clean bleeding nose, cheer her on etc. . JP-JD have so few moments together in the past few episodes it’s almost hard to recall.
In this instance, JH isn’t an obstacle to the JP-JD relationship. Madam Kang isn’t. JP’s character needs to portray that depth of love for JD, he is ready to go through hell to get her and make her happy.
If JP-JD are to end up together in this series, I think the script writers will have to provide a convincing plot in the next few episodes, because I don’t see how JD will have the heart to leave JH, her first love who stands by her so sincerely and unconditionally. Wouldn’t she be losing her soulmate if she’s with JP? I am assuming the script is still fluid at this point, so I hope JH fights the good fight and wins her heart in the end!
BBF is a very enjoyable and entertaining series, despite the slight inconsistencies and flaws. Keep up the good work, crew!
Temple scene strikes a cord with me, peaceful and calm, a sharp contrast to JD’s feelings after JK’s words. And JH-JD praying for each other, so sweet it brings a smile to my face
for some reason, when jandi is around jae kyung and ji hoo she acts like a slow mental patient that always needs to be taken care of by jihoo
this story very best for me but when want to show recep for 20 until last episode??
i really want to know,,.thnks
sorry, probably not relevant to post here…but i still have not started watching BBF! with the latest scandal, i have half a mind to boycott this drama…and just read your recaps. nothing personal but don’t really want money in the wrong pockets if all this hullabaloo turns out to be true! ;-(
I go nuts when i hear people liking the show just because the guys/gals are hot.
I think the same thing is happening again with this show. I remember how famous MG was –and basically the most famous question in town at that time was–who is your favorite tw F4? and so i have to give out one, though i didnt know why i have to…maybe just to go on with the trend..
BUT THAT WAS BEFORE.
okay,im looking for entertainment.till now… but i can’t find it in this show. If your asking me why i am still watching the show—it’s because i want to criticize it for good.
btw,i’ll finish it.
i agree with lily
-Now BOF has to be compared with other korean dramas qualitywise.
how shallow, there are better korean dramas than this…..logically, it doesnt really deserve high ratings!!!
well, im rewatching this drama again…
1. yes, i noticed that Jandi called Jihoo oppa in the library…. heheh… (well, im a jandi-jihoo shipper – hence i only watch jandi and jihoo scenes.. LOL)
2. no one mentioned this i guess, but i like the idea that jandi-jihoo went to the buddhist temple and pray… i was quite surprised to see them pray, coz im under the impression that GHS and KHJ are both christians… but whatever, im for traditions and respecting the traditional Korean culture is what makes Korean dramas unique
can any1 tell me the instrumental song played by jihoo to jandi when,,
“Ji-takes starts to play his guitar, until eventually Jan-di falls asleep on his shoulder. After a little while, Ji-hoo moves aside and leaves Jan-di to continue sleeping.”
didn’t know the tittle and so couldn’t find the correct song…
please email it to me on
nyu2_hoho@hotmail.com
thx,,
“They say that even though lotus flowers bloom in mud, they make the world clean and fragrant.”
Well, Ji Hoo didn’t really answer “why” lotus flowers bloom in mud. Who knows? I’m curious.
i think the scenes are dragging too much. we GET IT ALREADY. ji hoo is nice to her. very nice. so why spend 5 minutes on each and every thing they do together?
helo leemin ho???? I LOVE YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU??????????????????????????????
I think it’s unfair to say that Jun Pyo and Jae Kyung are more suitable for each other and that they will fall for each other if they met first. They seem okay together because of the fact that Jae Kyung has a naturally cute personality and because Jun Pyo is kind and doesnt want to hurt her.
Even if they ARE suitable for each other, AND met first, the unique experiences that Jun Pyo and Jan-di shared will not happen between them. This is because these experiences are only possible with Jan-di and Jan-di alone.
Love does not blossom between any two person thats suitable for each other. I think an important concept in this show is that in your life, there are few people that you will really fall in love with. Maybe only THAT single destined person. Maybe none.
Thanks so much!!! ^^ I always read your reviews while I watch the episode, so I’m always like, “Damn you, episode, go faster so I can read the review!!” Thank you so much again for writing all this!
This one of my most favorite korean dramas next to Your Beautiful But this one is so hilarious and i <3 the off and on thing with Goo Jun Pyo and Jan Die (sorry i dont know how to spell there names propely)
Thanks A Bunch : D
best best best!!!