Boys Before Flowers: Episode 24

199 March 30, 2009January 24, 2016

by javabeans

Last week, folks! Get ready to say goodbye…

There were a lot of nice moments in this episode. (Honestly, at several moments I said aloud, “NICE!”)

Naturally, there were other points I thought could have been done better, but we’re so close to the end that at this point I’m just glad when things are working, and proceeding relatively smoothly.

Also, good news for those of you who use the drama streaming site Dramafever.com! They’ve just licensed Boys Before Flowers and will be putting up the first batch of episodes this week. They’ll be officially partnering closely with With S2 fansubbers to bring you high-quality translations. If you haven’t signed up for the site yet, use the invite code “coolbeans” and register in time for the BBF launch. 😉

SONG OF THE DAY

Sweet Sorrow – “그대에게 하는 말” (Words Said To You) [ Download ]

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EPISODE 24 RECAP

Jan-di’s mother asks what’s going on, not fooled at Jan-di’s assurances that nothing’s wrong. Jan-di keeps her tone bright and says she wants to live here with the family, which gets Mom sputtering. What about school? And Jun-pyo? Even though Jan-di has been protesting for a while that she and Jun-pyo are through, the family hasn’t believed it, but I guess Mom can sense that things have changed. She sighs, “We’re done for now. What hope do we have?”

Yi-jung wonders if Ga-eul has heard from Jan-di (she hasn’t), and she wonders in return how Jun-pyo is holding up (“He’s a mess”). With those preliminaries out of the way, Yi-jung addresses the matter of their own chemistry: “Don’t we have to talk about us now?”

Ga-eul speaks first, possibly acting before Yi-jung can shoot her down: “You don’t have to feel pressure from me. I know how you feel, and I won’t go looking for you anymore.” As Eun-jae had said, doing everything she could leaves her without regrets: “Thank you for giving me the chance to try my best.”

However, Yi-jung’s suddenly perturbed expression suggests that this might not be the way he had intended the conversation to go…

Jun-hee hesitates over whether to talk to Jun-pyo, but ultimately backs off and worries to Mr. Jung, “This time I really don’t have a good feeling.”

Perhaps feeling it’s time to reveal one truth, Mr. Jung leads Jun-hee to the mystery patient’s bedside — and at the sight of her father, Jun-hee breaks down. Not only is she hit with the shock of seeing him alive, but all the implications that accompany this.

Namely, that all evil deeds point back to one source: Madam Kang. Jun-hee storms in on her mother, demanding to know how she could sink so low: “I don’t even want to call you mother. How could a person go that far?”

At first, Madam Kang has no idea what has caused this outburst until Jun-hee cries, “How could you say that my father had died when he was still alive? … Were you planning to forever deceive us?! Why did you do it?”

Now that the jig is up, Madam Kang recovers smoothly from the surprise and answers, “Your father would have wanted it.” He had entrusted her to take responsibility before his collapse, and she couldn’t see the company ruined. “My pride wouldn’t allow it.”

Ooh, bad word choice. Jun-hee bristles: “Pride? Are you saying that you told your children their father was dead and deceived the entire world all because of your pride?”

Overhearing, Jun-pyo walks in and demands to know what’s going on. Trying to prevent a blow-up, Mama Kang promises to explain everything calmly, but he’s not having it.

He sees the proof for himself when he goes to his father’s sickbed. Jun-pyo is given a huge emotional shock, remembering the promise he’d made to his father (to take care of Shinhwa and his family after his father was gone). He recalls his mother specifically manipulating that loyalty, by invoking his (supposedly) dead father’s hard work to guilt-trip him into doing what she wanted.

Jun-pyo stalks out out in a haze of betrayed confusion and goes for an angry drive. Now his thoughts turn to Jan-di’s parting words — how they’re from different worlds, and how she’s never been able to see him as a man beyond his Shinhwa position.

It’s got to be a tough blow, not only because his Witch Mom has again done him wrong, but also because his entire struggle in this second faux-season has just been proven pointless. (Granted, his father was in a coma and unable to work, so perhaps Jun-pyo would have had to assume his position even if his mother hadn’t orchestrated this grand hoax. But still, everything that resulted from the emotional manipulation is the bigger loss.) It’s got to hurt.

Ji-hoo sits alone, pining for Jan-di — we can tell because he stares at their fake wedding photo, then his mother’s ring, which he wears on a chain as a necklace. Ji-hoo then hallucinates for a moment, thinking Jan-di is sleeping nearby, and smiles in relief — only to find that he’s imagining things.

Maybe his Jan-Distress antenna is working, though, because he turns on the television and happens to catch a news segment at the very fish market where Jan-di works. In fact, she’s in the background of the shot. Oh, Coincidence. So nice of you to show up.

Jun-pyo’s attitude settles into cool detachment — he declines to visit his father again, and when his mother tries to talk to him (saying, “Talk with your mother a moment”), he scoffs, “Mother? Have you ever truly been my mother for even one moment?”

F3 try to persuade him to go visit Jan-di, now that Ji-hoo has located her. Contrary to expectations, he ignores their prodding and says he’s not interested. Nobody really believes that but he doesn’t change his mind, so Ji-hoo leaves a scrap of paper behind (the address) and says he’s going — it’s up to Jun-pyo if he wants to come along.

And then, it’s a gratuitous topless scene! (Who else laughed? Yay for fanservice!)

We know that Jun-pyo isn’t actually indifferent to Jan-di — he’s just resigned to the futility of the circumstances. What could he do even if he did see her?

Jun-pyo: “I can’t promise her anything now. I can’t tell her I’ll always make her laugh, that I’ll make her happy or to trust in me. Being the son of someone like that, being a member of that kind of family — I hate it enough myself, so how must she feel? She’ll have hated everything she went through already.”
Woo-bin: “But she’s Geum Jan-di, she might feel differently.”
Jun-pyo: “That’s why it’s more impossible. Because she’s the woman I love.”

In the fishing village, the neighborhood ajummas accost Jan-di’s family, accusing them of lying about Jan-di’s relationship to the Shinhwa heir. They’ve seen the report naming Jae-kyung as his fiancée.

Hearing that Jan-di isn’t actually engaged to Jun-pyo, they insist on getting their money back, which they loaned eagerly when they thought it would help ingratiate themselves with a future Shinhwa family member. Now that that’s not the case, they clamor for repayment immediately — after all, what if the family runs away? (To be fair, it’s a valid concern.)

Into the chaos arrives Ji-hoo, who stops the furor by announcing that he will pay them all back.

Ji-hoo does, and the ajummas take their payment happily, chattering about the handsome young man, wondering if he is the Shinhwa heir.

One man catches their conversation and the mention of Shinhwa. This is the man introduced in the previous episode as a former businessman from Seoul who was ruined, left by his wife, cut off from his kids, and now spends all day wandering and drinking.

Jan-di wonders how Ji-hoo found out where she was, and he answers, “I heard the emergency alarm.”

She’s uncomfortable that he’s paid her family’s debts, and feels she’s received too much from Ji-hoo. At this, Ji-hoo turns to face her, crouches down so that they’re at eye level, and says, “You’ve given me more.”

(NICE. That just might be Ji-hoo’s best line in the whole damn series. It’s a lovely little moment — not too maudlin or goopy-sweet, but pleasing in the matter-of-fact way he says it.)

After some small talk about Grandpa Yoon, Ji-hoo takes off his necklace and hands it to Jan-di. He explains that the ring was given to him by his grandfather, and had been his grandmother’s, then his mother’s.

Ji-hoo: “I don’t know when it started either. But now, I can’t be without you.”

Jan-di looks down at the ring, torn over his gesture and her feelings. Unable to accept, she gives it back, saying in an increasingly choked voice, “I thought I could forget — that I did forget. But…”

Jan-di pulls out the the necklace she’s already wearing — Jun-pyo’s — and continues, “…but I can’t throw this away. I can’t let it go. I can’t tear Gu Jun-pyo away.”

Jan-di apologizes, but maybe Ji-hoo wasn’t expecting her to accept, because he’s pretty understanding. He pulls Jan-di to him in a comforting hug and tells her it’s okay.

This ring-necklace moment is another part where I thought, “NICE.” Because while there’s nothing amazing about the exchange, I thought the moment was built well, and all the symbolic and logical elements (for once!) convened in just the right way.

For example, it makes perfect sense that Ji-hoo would put the ring on a chain and wear it (rather than, say, carry around a ring box). It makes sense that he’d give it to her, and that she’d refuse it. And it makes sense that she’d be still wearing the star-moon necklace. So all these elements work together without seeming forced or fanwanky, which makes the symbolism even nicer — that Jan-di can’t accept Ji-hoo’s gift (i.e., his feelings) because she’s already wearing Jun-pyo’s.

All the while, Jun-pyo watches from his car. Naturally this isn’t easy for him to watch, since all he sees is the hug and he can’t know that Jan-di has just confessed her unwavering love for him.

He takes to lurking around the neighborhood, which is how he happens to see another shady character lurking — the disgruntled ex-Shinhwa employee, who is under the mistaken impression that Ji-hoo is Jun-pyo.

When Ji-hoo comes into view, the ex-Shinhwa man gets into his car and revs the engine with maniacal determination, muttering that he’ll bring Shinhwa down with him.

Ji-hoo doesn’t notice the car heading toward him, but Jun-pyo does, and he realizes that his friend is about to be mowed down. He leaps into the street, shoves Ji-hoo aside, and gets hit instead.

The impact actually looks really painful — Ji-hoo takes a hard hit too, but it’s nothing compared to Jun-pyo, who receives the full brunt of the collision and flies over the windshield and roof, crumpling on the ground. Ji-hoo races to him and calls for emergency help.

When Madam Kang arrives — looking genuinely worried — Jun-hee confronts her angrily: “Are you satisfied now? Is this what you wanted? You said this was all for Jun-pyo in the end.”

Madam Kang is unusually quiet, not responding as Jun-hee continues, “Do you know one thing that your son enjoys eating, what he likes, what he wants to do?”

When Mr. Jung confirms that Jun-pyo’s surgery went smoothly, Madam Kang turns to leave — she has an important meeting. That riles Jun-hee up further, who calls after her mother, “Was our father not enough? Answer me! Tell me if what’s important to you is Shinhwa or Jun-pyo!”

Madam Kang leaves, but for once her hard exterior slips a little. Jan-di comes running, sees Mama Kang sitting, and approaches. But rather than taking this moment to kick her when she’s down (which honestly, she’s earned the right to do at this point), Jan-di sits quietly for a moment. When she speaks, it’s without rancor:

Jan-di: “Jun-pyo really likes egg rolls and ramen. He particularly likes the fish cakes at pojangmachas [street stalls]. He’d eat twenty at once. He likes packing lunch and going on picnics, and he likes looking at the stars through the telescope his parents gave him.”

All throughout this, Mama Kang has remained silent, though her expression is more vulnerable than we’ve seen from her. Jan-di says insistently, “Don’t worry, he’ll get better.”

Mom gets up to go without acknowledging Jan-di, but the words have their impact. On the way home, Mama Kang tells Mr. Jung to pull over at a pojangmacha, where she watches a father and son eating fish cake skewers together. She even — omo! — sheds a tear. But because Lee Hye-young is awesome, her performance isn’t TOO soft, and she soon recovers her brusque demeanor.

(By the way — good lordy, do we really need a flashback here to Jan-di’s pojangmacha comment from a minute prior? I think this just proves that BBF’s problem isn’t that the drama is made by idiots, or that its fans are idiots — it’s that the drama makers just think the fans are idiots.)

At the clinic, Ji-hoo remembers the last thing Jun-pyo had told him after being hit by the car: “I told you, it can’t be anyone but you.”

It’s a callback to the night before his wedding, when Jun-pyo admitted how he didn’t want to give Jan-di up, but Ji-hoo was the only person he could bear seeing her go to.

In the hospital, Jan-di holds Jun-pyo’s hand and cries, feeling guilty for the way she’d broken up with him. In another nice moment, Jan-di’s tearful confession here echoes the tearful confession she’d made way back when Jun-pyo had faked his injury:

Jan-di: “Gu Jun-pyo, do you hear me? I lied to you again. To me, you’re always just Gu Jun-pyo. You’re the dummy Gu Jun-pyo who likes the unpretty, poor, nameless me. So wake up. Wake up, Gu Jun-pyo.”

And then, time passes. Jan-di returns to Seoul (moving back with her family) and resumes her school life. Some time later, F3 finds her at school to announce the good news: Jun-pyo has woken up.

Everyone gathers in his hospital room to welcome him back to the land of the conscious. Woo-bin drawls, “Yo ma bro, welcome back,” which is hilarious and also makes me admit that I’ve really missed his embarrassing gangsta-speak.

Ji-hoo tells him, “Thanks for surviving,” and everyone’s relieved to see that Jun-pyo’s old arrogance is back. Until, of course, he looks blankly at Jan-di and wonders, “What’s with that chick?”

That startles everyone — how can he not know Geum Jan-di? (Jun-pyo: “Geum Jan-di? What’s that?”) They test his memory, but he knows who everyone else is: “Should I know her? Ji-hoo, is she your girlfriend?”

More tests are performed, and while he’d been previously pronounced healthy, the doctor thinks that his selective amnesia could be a symptom of stress, or trauma. (Yeah, I know, selective amnesia = stupidest fake-disease ever, but it’s in the original, so sigh.)

Because there’s only one person Jun-pyo cannot remember, the doctor speculates that it may mean that person is linked to really painful things or was really important to him. It’s unclear how long it might take to recover his memory — six months, perhaps years.

Through this all, Jan-di continues to visit Jun-pyo, trying not to let her disappointment show when he fails to recognize her.

It’s difficult, though, because not only does he not remember their relationship, he’s back to treating her as he did before — namely, as an insignificant, unfashionable commoner. When she drops by alone, he grumbles, “What makes you think you can just barge into someone’s hospital room whenever you want? Are you interested in me?”

He’s still under the impression that she’s Ji-hoo’s girlfriend, and she starts to correct him, saying, “I’m more your girl than Ji-hoo’s…” But he cuts her off and rudely says, “Get lost.”

Jan-di takes out her frustration on the vending machine, which is when a girl comes up and kicks the machine for her. She hands Jan-di the drink and introduces herself in an open, friendly way — she’s Jang Yumi, a second-year high school student who has broken her leg in a ski accident.

When Yumi explains that she’s cheerful because she doesn’t want to be one of those patients who sinks into depression or irritability, Jan-di asks how one would deal with a person like that, thinking of Jun-pyo. Yumi answers, “Just naturally.”

Spotting Jun-pyo attempting to walk down the hall, Yumi approaches him and tries to help, calling him oppa and offering her crutch. Jun-pyo initially treats her like an annoying pest and tells her to get lost — and Jan-di attempts to offer her help to keep him from Yumi (lol).

But when faced with the option of accepting the help of one annoying girl or another, he opts for Yumi’s, and leaves Jan-di looking after them, hurt.

F3 try to figure out how to get Jun-pyo’s memory back, mulling over their options — should they give Jun-pyo another shock? (Suuure, hit the head-trauma patient in the head!)

They decide they’ll have to jog his memory by bringing up a memorable moment involving Jan-di — say, for instance, their first encounter with the ice cream cone. Thus they stage an encounter so Jan-di can shove her ice cream cone at him, stick a card to his head, and tell him, “Call me when you get your memory back.”

Unfortunately, that has no effect. Woo-bin resolves, “This was too weak. Let’s try something stronger next.”

Their next plan has Jan-di storming into the hospital room, flinging a towel in Jun-pyo’s face (to re-enact the spinning kick encounter). But Jun-pyo just asks, “Why do you keep messing with me? I’m not going to take any more, even if you are Ji-hoo’s girl.”

Continuing with the re-enactment, Jan-di clenches her fists and growls, “I told you I’m not going to take any more!” and flies into the kick (although she doesn’t hit anything). (Btw, I love how intently F3 watch for his reaction. It’s hysterical.)

Too bad Jun-pyo just yells at Ji-hoo, “Keep her out of my sight!”

Ji-hoo tries to cheer Jan-di up, saying, “Don’t worry. You’re not someone who can be forgotten that easily.” Ruefully, Jan-di wonders, “Who knows, maybe things were so difficult for him he wanted to forget.” Ji-hoo: “If your relationship could have been more easily forgotten, would that have been easier?”

They’re joined outside by Yumi and Jun-pyo, who are getting along pretty well, it seems. Jun-pyo’s actually laughing along with her chatter, although when they spot the other two, he shows no warmth for Jan-di.

Interestingly, when Yumi cheerfully introduces herself to Ji-hoo, whom she assumes is Jan-di’s boyfriend, he doesn’t even bother to acknowledge her. He’s not overtly mean TO her, he just pretends she doesn’t exist and walks right by to Jun-pyo, ignoring her overture.

(I know how this plays in the original, but for the purposes of seeing this plot play out here, I’m going to stick with thinking this is an intriguing little exchange.)

That night, Yumi drops by Jun-pyo’s room bearing pizza, which they eat together outside. She looks up at the sky and asks if he likes stars, which triggers a memory — the one at the Jeju villa with Jan-di. However, he can’t see Jan-di’s face in the memory, and wears a troubled look as he tells Yumi, “I think I’ve forgotten something important. But I can’t remember. It feels like my chest is going to burst in frustration.”

Yumi advises that he not push himself to remember — if it’s really important, it’ll come back. And if it doesn’t, it probably wasn’t that important anyway.

When F3 arrive with Jan-di, they note that they’re seeing an awful lot of Yumi lately. Not picking up on the implication (read: “We’re seeing you too much, so get lost”), Yumi links her arm through Jun-pyo’s and announces that they’re the official “Hospital Couple.”

Ji-hoo: “Do you still not remember?”
Jun-pyo: “What is it I’m supposed to remember?”
Ji-hoo: “Geum Jan-di. Don’t you?”
Jun-pyo: “You keep going on about Jan-di. Why do I have to remember your girl?”

Worse yet, Jun-pyo mutters that Ji-hoo should’ve picked a better girlfriend instead of such a common gangster like Jan-di, and tells him not to bring her around anymore.

That sets off Ji-hoo’s temper, and he lunges for Jun-pyo, just barely held back by F2. Jan-di tells Ji-hoo to stop, and they all walk off, leaving Jun-pyo bewildered: “What’s with him?”

Later, Ji-hoo apologizes to Jan-do for losing his temper. Jan-di responds, “I didn’t stop you because I was afraid you’d hurt him. It’s because if you hit him, you’d hurt more.”

Ji-hoo tells her, “You don’t have to act so brave with me.” Jan-di: “It’s not acting brave, it’s that because you’re here, you give me strength.”

She doesn’t mean anything romantic by it — and she’s made her feelings clear — so she breaks the moment by getting up for some tea, leaving Ji-hoo to brood alone.

COMMENTS

I know I’m not the only one who has tired of the Soeulmater relationship, although they were at one point the highlight of my BBF watching experience. I think it was around the same time Yi-jung turned into a pathetic emo wreck and Ga-eul lost her spunk.

For the sake of nostalgia, I’d be happy to see these two end up together, and also wouldn’t mind having this one point deviate from the rest of Hana Yori Dango canon. Just to keep things fresh. However, I’m not emotionally committed (as committed as I can be to this drama at this point) to this outcome anymore, and I actually think this episode left their relationship at a nice parting point for me. If they get together after this, great. If not, I think it works too.

If they ARE going to keep this going, I think the flicker of hope comes in Yi-jung’s reaction to Ga-eul “breaking up” with him. If she hadn’t spoken up, I think he may have suggested they try dating — but that would have been in a casual, “normal” dating relationship. But if he still wants to be with her now, I think it should mean something more — kind of how you don’t realize what you’re losing until you’ve lost it.

I expect to be in the minority about the amnesia plotline, but I actually really dug it here. Well, clarification — I hated the idea that we were getting it and I was bracing myself in anticipation. But given that it’s a prominent point in the manga and was going to be included, if we HAD to have it, I was relieved that it made sense in context.

The circumstances that led to the accident and its significance flowed logically — and, as we know, logic isn’t exactly this drama’s strong suit. For instance, it makes sense that Jun-pyo was being targeted by a disgruntled man with a Shinhwa vendetta, as well as how he acted to save Ji-hoo. The rescue, significantly, occurs just after he’s seen Ji-hoo looking chummy with Jan-di, when he should be feeling the most grudging toward his friend.

But that’s not the case, and even as he passes out, Jun-pyo’s last words are, “It can’t be anyone else but you.” The spoiled little rich boy has learned, hasn’t he? He’s come a long way since he broke Ji-hoo’s robot (albeit accidentally). (I’ll say it again: NICE.)

How awesome is Mama Kang, huh?

I mean, awesomely twisted and bitchy and plain wrong, but still, as a character she is so complex and acted so fantastically that I just love to hate her, and also love to love her.

In the past, I loved her as the awesome villain, because she was frightening and cruel, but in a supremely chilly way. I didn’t particularly need her to be that humanized because she has always been the unequivocal villain in this drama, but I always appreciated whenever she showed her layers underneath all that wickedness and evilry.

But I hadn’t expected to see this much vulnerability from her — when she shed a tear, it was like it cracked her mask to reveal the humanity underneath for a split second. I never thought I’d see true emotion from her, and it was great. Yet interestingly enough, the hint of vulnerability in no way makes her less scary for me. I think the fact that she shows a moment of true emotion, then swiftly covers it up and resumes her normal exterior, is probably just as frightening a prospect as if she were always cruel. ‘Cause this lady, she has control.

Furthermore, the scene between Jan-di and Mama Kang (thankfully without music, too!) was another “NICE” moment today. Jan-di has frustrated me to no end when she hasn’t asserted herself as much as she used to, and she even let Madam Kang drive her away last episode. But when she passes up the chance to poke at her raw wounds, Jan-di did something unexpected and proved herself to be the Bigger Person in a way that I admire.

She didn’t exult that she knew Jun-pyo better (and she could have, saying everything in a tone of “I know him so much better than you do”) but instead, she just shared. She let her in on the secret rather than keeping it to herself — which is something Mom could never do. Yunno, since love can be spread around instead of controlled tightly, guarded jealously like something with a price and a limit.

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51 Muffin

March 30, 2009 at 11:15 PM

This is the first time I can say that I enjoyed KHJ's acting. It was actually quite good and fit the character. Now he just needs to work on his "crying face" and he'll be well on his way!

I'm glad I stuck with this series. At the half way point it lost its appeal and the only thing that kept me coming back was the eye candy and boys fashions. Although, I will say that this was the first version of the series where I hoped the female lead would end up with "Rui." They just fit well together here. She brought him out of his shell and he allowed her to breathe. Passion and angst have their place, but a slow deep breath is fullfilling too.

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52 ellerdnic

March 30, 2009 at 11:16 PM

I was anticipating your reaction regarding Mama Kang's moment of weakness (for lack of better word) and I kind of predicted what you were going to say. I was thinking of the same thing when I saw the episode. I thought the actress portrayed it really well when just a single tear fell and she didn't completely fell apart. She portrayed a woman who is detached and in control all the time and yet still able to convey that somehow, way deep, deep inside, she does love her son. I say Kudos to the actress!

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53 AnitaLotti

March 30, 2009 at 11:17 PM

Should they ever do a korean remake of "Devil wears Prada" I would like to suggest Madam Kang for the lead role.

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54 EndlessxBliss

March 30, 2009 at 11:19 PM

I've read the manga and watched the dorama, and I know how this'll probably play out... but I just really hate Yumi or Umi or whatever. First of all, who the heck is she to barge into Jun-pyo's personal life and say that whatever he's trying to remember may be completely unimportant? And how can she not notice Jan-di's feelings and efforts for Jun-pyo, and even if she really doesn't notice, be so unobservant and ignorant to the point it's obnoxious? Such a dense, thick-skinned pest. (Sorry... sorry... gotta calm down) If anything, I think we need Jae-kyung to come back and handle the nuissance. (Hahaha)
Another thing is why hadn't Yi-jung actually learned from his lesson? Doesn't he know that letting a girl he knows he can potentially have something special with walk away and not running after her is a very... dangerous (for himself and his feelings) thing to do? Seriously! (Although I do kinda understand now that I hear your theory on his inital casual dating plan that has to turn serious or it's fruitless)
Anyways, I seriously can't wait for the next and final episode. Thanks Javabeans. =D

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55 Ashley Thomas

March 30, 2009 at 11:21 PM

Fantastic recap, as always!
Definitely chuckled at the fanservice-y topless scene - they had to get one of those in there before the end, didn't they?!

I really enjoyed this episode, even though I hate the fact that the amnesia plotline ever existed in the first place. I had really been having issues with JanDi over the last couple of episodes but her interaction with GJP's mom in this one was admirable. Also - props to GHS for handling the rejection scene with JiHoo so masterfully - she overacts at times but that was not one of them and it was great!

One quick thing - you may not have cared all that much about this, but in the recap you didn't mention that Grandpa shows up to comfort JiHoo at the clinic, and since currently he's the only thing anchoring the boy I just thought it might be good to at least make note of it.
(At least that way JH has somebody to go and eat his Tiny Pancakes of Sadness with!!)

Can't believe it's reached the end!

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56 Big Sista Sue

March 30, 2009 at 11:21 PM

"NICE" This episode is nice as it has all the elements needed to wrap things up!
The only thing that fogs the screen is YUMI! I hate YUMI!

I can't wait for tomolo! Thank you for your recaps! I will misss u so much and the rest of the BOF! *Sob*Sob* T___T!

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57 KJ

March 30, 2009 at 11:21 PM

A really wonderful recap of the episode :) i was looking forward to this.

Yeah, the 'memory loss' incident is quite crucial to the story line. I wonder if they kept the biscuit bit inside the script ? I really like how the J-version of HYD ended in season II and i hope this will be the same or even better!

everyone must really hate Yumi after this ep.

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58 EndlessxBliss

March 30, 2009 at 11:27 PM

@ 53 AnitaLotti:
Madam Kang reminds me of the wicked Miranda Priestly too! Frankly, I would call Lee Hye-young the Korean Meryl Streep.

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59 MK

March 30, 2009 at 11:27 PM

Garrrgggghhh!
I just hate it when I get to the last sentence of your awesome summary, Javabeans, cause that means I've gotta wait until tomorrow!!!! ㅠㅠ
Well, I still want YiJung and GaEul to get together. If they don't.. I'd be so frustrated! Hehe.
And I can't believe JanDi and JunPyo STILL have hardships to go through! As if they haven't suffered already. And JunPyo had changed so much, and now he's back to Number One. It's so sad.
But tomorrow everything will be solved! Can't wait!!!!
Thanks a ton, Javabeans! ^^

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60 abby920

March 30, 2009 at 11:28 PM

I have signed up with dramafever.com too! I have been an WITHS2 funsubber fan, because they really do a great job! You'll never regret it when you get subtitled drama done by WITHS2!

CONGRATULATIONS Dramafever.com and WITHS2!!!

Thanks for the recap Sarah :)

still hoping, and wishing and praying ........... for Ga-Eul and Yi Jung ------- sigh!

Mama Kang !!! She's great! Love her, love her, love her!!!

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61 thisiswhyi'mbehindonmymastersthesis

March 30, 2009 at 11:29 PM

Great recap! Thanks.
Mama Kang was certainly the highlight, love how you pointed out the JH exchange(I know the story but like you, I'm hoping it was significant) and I have to agree that the amnesia is being carried out pretty well.

Throughout this drama, I have tried to refrain from comparisons but to me the amnesia bit deserves one. For me, in this instance, JP not remembering JD is more believable here than anywhere that I've seen it. Moments, even days before his accident, we see that JP has released his claim on her. And, I think that it is safe to say, so much so, that he wants/needs things to be different, regardless of her feelings for him at this point. In this way, I can accept his mental desire to keep her at bay. I truly love the way that this is playing out on his part. As for Yumi and JD, well though she made effort this ep, I hope that she has more backbone to fight for her man(just once). But knowing JD, as well as, we do, this is very doubtful.

The one thing that I enjoyed most about this episode, was that it made me a little nostalgic, especially concerning JP and JH's attitudes. These two characters work very well together. Its amazing to me that regardless of the circumstance they seem to constantly move together, like paddles on a boat. Also JH's emotional breakdown made me wonder back to the pre-wedding talk. At that time, I completely agreed with JP's assessment of their relationship but today, I questioned that truth.

Finally, though I am an advocate for JD and JP (and YJ and GE, for that matter), the way things are now, could end it all for me. I know it won't, someone, if not all, will get a "happy ending" but honestly, if the train let me off here, I would be step off, no regrets. But since I bought the express ticket, I'll just sit back and enjoy the ride:)

All in all its wrapping up well. I'm glad to say goodbye.

***I had an interesting thought when I was watching the hospital scene this morning...wouldn't it be great if WooBin and JunHee noona ended up together? (Well, that is if she wasn't already married...:) I think that they would make a great Noona-Dongsaeng couple. They compliment each other very well...personality and motivation wise that is.

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62 sad-it's-ending.

March 30, 2009 at 11:29 PM

Thank you for the great recap!!!
I actually cried a lot with this episode. It's the saddest for me.

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63 momo

March 30, 2009 at 11:30 PM

ohmygod, one of the BEST episodes i've seen in a really long time. i thoroughly enjoyed this one and found myself cheering along to the NICE moments. it was nice to finally see Jandi give Jihoo a decisive response as opposed to leading him on for so long during the last while. it was also nice to see Joonpyo in those adorable hats, especially the Christmas one. it was just TOO cute since in most of the hospital scenes, he wore acted the bewildered little boy thing perfectly.

reading through your commentary, it was really nice to see that we have the same thoughts about this amnesia arc. considering how this drama has been lately, i definitely didn't have a lot of confidence about this new angle so close to the finale. in hindsight, even though i hated how Jandi ran away from Joonpyo during the last episode, it ties in VERY logically with the selective amnesia angle and how he might choose to subconsciously bury any memories of her because it ended so painfully and so recently. i know i'm always talking up HYD but i have to say that in terms of the amnesia arc, the Korean version has trumped it because it just really really made sense and somehow everything seemed to fall into place, unlike any of the previous 12 or so episodes. i liked it so much that 1) i cried during Jandi's crying hospital scene with JP 2) i actually laughed to the re-enacted scenes and 3) i actually watched it twice. it's been so long since this show has provoked any kind of emotional response in me (other than anger and frustration and excessive eye-rolling) that i was absolutely thrilled.

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64 gailt

March 30, 2009 at 11:32 PM

i liked the amnesia arc in HYD, and i fell for it here once again. This might be my favorite episode in this drama. So many great scenes that the hour just flew by. and Lee Hye Young is awesome. and (her name escapes me at the moment) jun pyo's sister is great. *sigh* i think i will cry at the last ep. :(

Hana Yori Dango, you are one special story.

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65 Tippy

March 30, 2009 at 11:35 PM

Alright...I'm about done, D-O-N-E, with this drama. I can't take the mediocrity any longer!!

The actress who played Jandi (see, I can't even be bothered to learn her name) only managed to pout her way through the drama...and when she wasn't pouting, she had this simpering smile on her face that drove me crazy! Pout, simper, cry, faint, pout, simper, cry faint...jeez woman, snap out of it!

Part of the reason why the Japanese version worked so well, was because the Makino character was engaging! You wanted to root for her! You understood why Domyogi (and F3) were so taken by her! Jandi, on the other hand, not so much.

I think that's the main reason why this drama hasn't worked for me. How am I supposed to understand the character relationships/dynamics if I want to shake some sense into what is supposed to be a tough, strong female lead, but clearly isn't? Absolutely no passion in the acting at all...none...zip...ziltch...nada...!

This could have been a great drama...I wanted to like it, I really did...I tried, but I should have moved on at the first sound of "Almost paradiiiiiise...".Lesson learned!

NEXT!!

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66 ibako777

March 30, 2009 at 11:38 PM

hey javabean, did you see this --> Crunchyroll and MBC partnership, Coffee Prince and more...
http://www.crunchyroll.com/forumtopic-480218/coffee-prince-and-more-available-now/

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67 jassarah

March 30, 2009 at 11:41 PM

Thanks for fabulous recaps, as always. I also really liked F3's intent looks at JunPyo after Jandi fake twist kicks him in the hospital, I rewatched that scene a few times just for those priceless facial expressions. Can't believe there's just one more episode left...

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68 Ilbum noona

March 30, 2009 at 11:42 PM

Finally it comes to an end..So sad but hope it leaves us with such good memories..
Thx javabeans for the recap for all this time..I'm glad knowing Kim Bum and Kim Joon in BOF..Without them BOF won't be colorful-since we've already known the ending for Jun-Jan couple..

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69 stranger

March 30, 2009 at 11:45 PM

I loved this episode....it was so emotionally charged.Loved the acting...especially Madam Kang. I'm so nervous about tomorrow!

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70 Potato

March 30, 2009 at 11:49 PM

love yi jung-ga eul..
and still hope they will have a happy ending..
im not tired of their story..just a little bit tired when yi jung recalled about eun jae..
hope he realizes ga eul is his soulmate..

wake up yi jung..!!!!!
please..!!!!!

yi jung-ga eul.........best couple in BBF

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71 Orchid

March 31, 2009 at 12:04 AM

Hey javabeans, i was semi-excited to hear that we can watch Boys Before Flowers with good quality subtitles on Dramafever.

That's cos when i registered, here's what it said:
Please note that our videos are only available to users located in the United States.

:-( I am not located in the United States.

* sad *

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72 Tippy

March 31, 2009 at 12:05 AM

p.s. All I could think of when JiHoo was manhandling JunPyo's head after he...just...got...hit...by...A CAR...was SPINAL CORD INJURY, YOU FOOL! STOP SHAKING HIS HEAD!!!

Anyone else think that? Was it just me??

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73

March 31, 2009 at 12:06 AM

how many eps are there total?!?!

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74 Boys After Flower

March 31, 2009 at 12:14 AM

The more the drama becomes near end, the more I realize that this is Hana Yori Dango.. Whatever I have wished will never appear.. =(

Why the have to create such a pathetic character as JiHoo.. Before I hoped Jandi would end up with him.. But now I realize it's ridiculous.. Now I really hope the scriptwriter has an idea how to make his life wonderful again.. Please give him more than his grandpa.. Huuu I even prefer him dead than lead a lonely life... Sad firefighter.. He removes Jandi's tears with his..

But I can't wait to see four years later especially how Jandi is going to turn into (a cute doctor, maybe?) and JunPyo and Jandi's wedding (I hope there will be this scene)..

Hmmm the ending is pretty guessable right? They said they have a surprise to audience.. I can't wait............................

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75 estelle

March 31, 2009 at 12:14 AM

Thank you so much for the awesome recap, Javabeans!

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76 Soonie

March 31, 2009 at 12:19 AM

FYI, such amnesia isn't so unrealistic as you may think. Just read a book called The Echo Maker (awesome read if you have the time) that centers around a man with Capgras syndrome, which is a disorder that takes away the person's ability to recognize loved ones....and loved ones only. Kinda crazy huh but such is the human mind I guess.....

And I'm sorry but I just gotta add that Jihoo looked smokin' in that white overcoat....!!

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77 Imee

March 31, 2009 at 12:20 AM

Sorry #65, looks like you're in the minority.Despite all the inconsistencies, this Kdrama is so entertaining.I think Goo Hye Sun (that is the actress who played Jan Di) did a descent job in her portrayal despite the kind of material she was given. She is an amazing actress . I will miss BBF for sure and the rest of the BBF gang.

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78 rescel

March 31, 2009 at 12:22 AM

Thank you, again and again, for your recaps.
Indeed this episode is NICE and heartbreaking!
All the actors played very good ... they expressed their emotions pretty well ... Excellent!
Kudos to everyone!

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79 daizukun

March 31, 2009 at 12:24 AM

@ TIPPY
no i think it's just you...he doesn't have a spinal cord injury..the scene at the hospital shows that...his foot and head was injured. i think jihoo was trying to keep him awake (or trying to wake him up) by shaking his head :)

@ #73
sadly tomorrow is the last episode :(

THANKS SO MUCH JAVABEANS!! :DD i don't think i've ever had this much fun ranting and raving like a crazy lunatic over a drama before BOF XD it's so sad that it'll end tomorrow but at least we all had some good laughs (mainly cuz of your hilarious insight and sarcasm)!!

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80 flooooo

March 31, 2009 at 12:36 AM

well 9 episodes of suffering for nothing to lead here. It is pretty awesome of us to come this far. At least, i hope they give us a good end (cross finger) to make from all of the frustration and for me to keep this drama in my "good drama to watch " but still will skip "all the frustates part". :p

anyway, it should have been better if they could be able able to focus on the story instead of showing good looking boy wandering in lots of hollyday places promoting cars and touristique places and advertising for mobile phone. but well have to deal with this version as it is and i will fully satisfied if the ending is (and pray really hard! not too long to wait though) what made the goo-geum story so addicting in everyversion that exist (guess i understand myself)

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81 Priti

March 31, 2009 at 12:44 AM

Thanks a million for your writeup on BOF,it has been an amazing journey reading it through your eyes. Great story,miserable PD's,lovesick writers and a amazing bunch of actors. Kool.. I got one query since dramafever is now got the rights does it mean no other site will publish the online video that is toooo bad... cos i have been waiting fro ep 25 ..... Pl help

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82 Syafiqa910821

March 31, 2009 at 12:45 AM

Thanks for the recaps.

Goo Hye Sun is a good actress actually.Eventhough i don't like her acting in this drama,but i don't hate her.She has done the job well.I think she can't potrays Jan Di character well because she's losing her innocence.Can't blame her becoz she's now become more matured.Probably she would have done this character very well when she's at her ulzzang time.
I'm glad that I have understand this drama deeper than the other drama.This drama has taught me how to evaluate a drama and see the deep meaning behind that.
I think the scriptwiters tends to shows us how Ji Hoo as JanDi soulmate.I like the scene when YuMi tries to help Jun Pyo and JanDi looks jealous.Before this,i never see JanDi jealous face.However,this drama shows us actually men is way too sensitive than a women.Just look at JunPyo and Ji Hoo.They can't show their feelings.Especially Ji Hoo.Too sad that i can't watch more scenes where JanDi try to steal back Jun Pyo hearts.It was JunPyo who struggles at his best to win over JanDi.

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83 Yuhoo

March 31, 2009 at 12:47 AM

Where are the rest of the comments!!?

Okay now i can see them.. Everytime I refreshed the page I wondered why no one else was posting after the 10th comment. Gosh!! I was wrong. Am I glad =D

Keep 'em coming people !!

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84 elisa

March 31, 2009 at 12:48 AM

# 72 Tippy, being in the medical field...i was thinking of the same thing....hehehehehe

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85 Tippy

March 31, 2009 at 12:49 AM

@#79: I think you may have misunderstood me...I realize that he doesn't have (nor based on the story line, would have had) a spinal cord injury, it's just that he had just been hit by a car and there JH is, shaking his head up and down. First rule of an accident scene is don't move the head/neck...and then later on, post surgery (AFTER all the JH head shaking), they have JP in a neck brace...silliness!

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86 Glow

March 31, 2009 at 12:49 AM

I am glad that this drama will come to end. Finally! At first I really did not watch it due to the media freenzy hahaha. But I eventually catch on because of Yi Jung and Ga-eul. I like their tandem especially on the first part when they are trying to build the tandem up and she does not instanly like him! hahaha It made me as a viewer wonder when will she fall for him. And those little things that he has done for her appearing as her Knight shining amor is slowly built up through the story that really made up the reason for her to like him. It started to get draggy when there are questionable actions made by Yi Jung but you still find Ga-eul with him on the next scene! I really want to shout HEY!
With this episode it change a lot because Ga-eul is the one who in a way letting him go because she already have no regrets since she already told him how she felt hahaha. And Yi Jung is the one who wanted to try the relationship. Its way different from the other two version of the drama.
And I really hope that the ending will not be a let down. hahaha Sorry for making a comment that is too long and just focusing of Yi Jung and Ga-eul hahaha
Thanks for making my Tuesday and Wednesday exciting due to your good summary of this drama.

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87 AnGeL

March 31, 2009 at 12:51 AM

Thank you. One more episode to go.. T__T

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88 lhen

March 31, 2009 at 12:53 AM

i'm not ready to say goodbye...huhuhu

but its the reality its going to end soon....

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89 May May

March 31, 2009 at 12:54 AM

thank you for this great recap ^^

i liked this episode, but there is one thing i dont get... in last episode, mama kang and jan di agreed that she would never appear in front of junpyo, and that she would leave highschool.... and here, out of nowhere, jandi is back to school, and she even can speak to mama kang about her son....

otherwise, i like that jandi has to "work" for her couple, now that junpyo has forget everything about her... but this has a link with what i was saying : how can it work when mama kang disagreed about their relationship.... what is jandi thinking ? she doesnt fear the mama kang storm anymore ?

i cant wait for the final episode, i loved the preview at the end of the episode !! particularly when jandi bring a bento to junpyo :) abracadabra ! jandi's magic will work for the last time :((

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90 ray

March 31, 2009 at 12:57 AM

hope the ending comes out well........................
Thank you javabeans for alll the updates.....................:)

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91 anastassia

March 31, 2009 at 12:57 AM

@65: It's not just you. Me too. GHY acting's just turn me off. She is not bad but she is not that great either in this drama. Maybe in other field she is talented but not in this drama.

@77: I don't think we are on the minority. There were quite an amount of viewers who just didn't like GHY acting in this drama. Nothing personal, yah she is talented in other field but not this drama. I just cringed just by looking at her pouting and smiling face. But as an individual she is lovable. I glad that some people enjoyed her acting. Well, we just give objective criticsm without any hatred. If one want to improve their works, they have to accept constructive critism.

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92 anastassia

March 31, 2009 at 1:01 AM

@65: It’s not just you. Me too. GHY acting’s just turn me off. She is not bad but she is not that great either in this drama. Maybe in other field she is talented but not in this drama.

@77: I don’t think we are on the minority. There were quite an amount of viewers who just didn’t like GHY acting in this drama. Nothing personal, yah she is talented in other field but not this drama. I just cringed just by looking at her pouting and smiling face. But as an individual she is lovable. I glad that some people enjoyed her acting. Well, we just give objective criticsm without any hatred. If one want to improve their works, they have to accept constructive critism,

Sarah, thanks for your summary and recaps. I always love reading your thoughts!:)

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93 anastassia

March 31, 2009 at 1:02 AM

Yah, Madam Kang is just awesome. She truly an amazing actress, I always loved and amazed her acting in MISA.

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94 me

March 31, 2009 at 1:11 AM

@daizukun:
@tippy:
Mm, i have to agree with tippy. I am a GP, and as far as i know, the most important rule when dealing with patient after car injury is not to remove (or in this case, JiHoo shaking JunPyo's head) the patient until you can rule out spinal cord injury.

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95 Tay

March 31, 2009 at 1:19 AM

Only one sentence for this episode : I HATE DAMN YUMI!!!

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96 SeriouslyAddicted

March 31, 2009 at 1:32 AM

First, thank you Javabeans....you are really great for putting all that effort on updating....KBS should pay you ! People in the States AND Asia all love you!

Secondly. For every scene shown I feel that there are at least 2 scenes that should be in ...and I think although I have heard it said that you should watch this on its own, it DOES help if you have seen the other 2...it makes up for the lack of scenes showing F4 closeness, or of Jandi's moment of lurve for Jun, etc Lots of stuff they just pray we understand....

The actors ace it the way they potray their emotions, KHJ though he has been lambasted by some for his lack of skills, I beg to disagree. I totally get his feelings and that means something works eh? And I could not stop tearing at the way Jun Hee and Jun Pyo reacted to seing the father..and of course....MADAM KANG>>please hand this woman an award.At some point I actually understood her motivation!!! Don't kill me!

Of course....some criticism..MASSIVE COINCIDENCE about finding Jandi on TV...what about Gaeul's closeness with Jandi or the connection of Woobin..does that not help??

But but but.....I love the show, feel sad that its finishing....and will not let such thing as LOGIC bother me....

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97 anna

March 31, 2009 at 1:32 AM

thank god this drama is ending. that's all that i can say.

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98 herwithg

March 31, 2009 at 1:33 AM

I was emotionally-wrecked after watching this episode. I wanted to throw things around me, just whatever I could pick up. Or maybe I'm just wayy exaggerating but gah! this episode was just so full of tears and frustration that I cannot imagine how they're all going to resolve this satisfactorily tonight! I feel like lowering my expectations for the ending but this is just a drama which I've grown to love so how-ever it may end, just bring it on!

I'm not really a shipper. I just go with the flow, I support both couples that is. But since this IS a remake of Kamio Yoko's Hana Yori Dango, I resolved to just root for the main couple. I was actually dreading watching the amnesia-part (to the extent that I was hoping that they wouldn't go through with it) because it's the 2nd to the last episode and there's just so many things to fix about the JunDi relationship, JunPyo's family, JiHoo's outcome, SoEul relationship, etc. etc. And now the story gets messed up by another character who will confuse further the relationship. (Unlike Jaekyung, she's not a very likable character, grrr... and sorry for the spoiler, she lies and lies and lies...) Gah! She's a new character but she already wreaks havoc on the people around her. There's Jun Pyo and Jan Di (that's a given), but her appearance as well puts Ji Hoo's ability to cope to the test. I mean he's nursing his just-broken heart and he still has to comfort Jan Di here who's crying because Jun Pyo has forgotten all about her and is hanging out with a girl (who his original character would have never allowed to be within arm's length from him)... Ok, breathe... My gosh, can't you see the emotional turmoil?! o_o

Just a funny side note though, I was watching this episode from Vikii.com, when I read one of the comments in the discussion panel with regards to them trying to revive Jun's memory of Jan Di: "Why can't they just tell him the truth?" Haha, yeah poor logic once again.

Well anyway I'm stopping now. Wooh, that was loong! Sorry, I guess I had to pour out my thoughts here because there's no other blog that provide AWESOME recaps of my favorite show and I don't actually have a blog to rant to. Hahaha! Again, thanks for your recaps and I'm looking forward to your last recap of this drama. :)

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99 apr

March 31, 2009 at 1:49 AM

hey~
really love your blog & comments on this drama.
it s my favourite ones, from Taiwan version, to Japan version, & to current Korean version. Just like a dream that s with me & my friends for years.
i really hope there is a sweet & happy ending for JP & JD~~
& for JD's soulmate, dun know how to say... really feel sad... but hopefully he can have his true love finally...

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100 whatever0024

March 31, 2009 at 2:27 AM

@ 65, absolutely, 100% agreed with you. This drama is so incredibly flawed and there are just too much inconsistencies that I get so frustrated when I try to watch the episodes. It's so bad that I didn't even watch this episode, I fastforward through it and finished it in literally 30 seconds.

The actress who plays Jan Di is annoying and unlikeable in the drama. I just want her to end up alone. I've said this before, there's no chemistry between her and the two male leads. She doesn't make a convincing Makino. I'm sure she's a good actress in her other roles, but I don't like her acting in BBF.

If it wasn't for my love for the Japanese version, I wouldn't have watched Boys Before Flowers.

UGH, my post is in a box. Oh, well.

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