Playful Kiss: Episode 5
by javabeans
Yay! Playful Kiss finally figured out how to tell a story!
This was the episode I was waiting for — one that felt complete, had an arc, told a story, was driven by something more than pure fluffy cuteness. It’s too bad this week dropped this drama to new ratings lows, because it’s just starting to gel together for me, and I think it’s rather late to change people’s minds significantly. I only hope things continue in this vein.
SONG OF THE DAY
Misty Blue – “마음을 기울이면” (Listening to my mind) [ Download ]
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EPISODE 5 RECAP
Turns out Seung-jo’s fake-out kiss maneuver (I almost wrote “meaneuver,” which should totally be a word) is just another prank. He lets it go far enough that Ha-ni thinks he’s being serious and nervously suggests they date first. Oh, Ha-ni. Half the time I want to be you with your adorable facial expressions and ten million hairdos, but then you are so sweetly gullible that I cringe for you so hard it hurts a little.
Seung-jo bursts out laughing at her choice of words, and Ha-ni dashes out of the room, mortified. She leaves behind the reason she went there in the first place — her workbook covered in “I ♥ Seung-jo” doodles, which he smiles to read. You act all cold, Mr. Genius Robot Boy, but you sure don’t hate her adoration, do you?
Tearily, Ha-ni wonders if she really is stupid for liking him even after he treats her like this. But she can’t control her feelings.
On to the Topic of the Day: university admissions. As third-year students, Ha-ni and her crew are worried that with their grades and limited smarts, there may not be any schools that will accept them. With the help of her teacher, Ha-ni tries to find an angle that will bolster her case for admission, asking her father about notable relatives in their family history.
After exhausting the list, they find one spark of hope to cling to: Blood donations, which Ha-ni makes regularly, count as community service. This gives them a school to target: Parang University, with its social sciences department, which is also Min-ah’s school of choice because of its animation department.
That university fervor doesn’t extend to Seung-jo, however. While the other kids study madly and pin their hopes on particular schools, he zones out dully.
When Ha-ni’s computer goes on the fritz, deleting the school application she’d been working on just as the deadline looms, Seung-jo is called upon to restore it. (Thankfully he succeeds.)
Ha-ni knows that Parang University is a long shot, which makes Seung-jo wonder why she flipped out so much to get her application in. Her answer pretty much sums up the dynamic between them and shows why we love her: “I still have to try my hardest.” For her, college is about finding out what she’s good at and what she likes.
Seung-jo asks how you know when you like something, and there’s something sad about the way he says it with genuine curiosity, as though he truly doesn’t understand this thing called human emotion. Ha-ni answers, “When you find something you like, your heart races.”
At that, Seung-jo raises a hand to his chest but sighs when he doesn’t feel anything. Looks like the Tin Man still needs a heart. He says, “I’d like to feel that too.”
Teacher Kang-yi exults to prove her detractors wrong when two of her students — Ha-ni and Min-ah — pass the preliminary round for admission to Parang. They still have a rigorous interview to undergo, as well as entrance exams to take, but this is a promising sign.
A sudden typhoon hits on interview day, however, which is enough to cancel school and keep most people indoors. Ha-ni braves the weather, determined to make her interview come hell or high water. (Literally.)
In fact, most of the intervewees have decided not to risk the storm and don’t show up. One interviewer is sympathetic to their plight, but the snappish lady (and head interviewer, it seems) is not pleased. So a storm hits and these kids just decide to put life on hold until it’s over?
Ha-ni faces the panel nervously, stumbling a little when she’s asked what she’s most interested in and blurts automatically, “Baek Seung-jo!” (Cringe cringe cringe.) But the nice interviewer takes her explanation with an open mind as she amends that she’s most interested in people. With Seung-jo in mind, Ha-ni launches into philosophical musings about how she’s been wondering how and if we are truly able to understand people.
It’s not a bad way to present herself, but the waspish head interviewer asks why they should pick her, and Ha-ni falters, unable to think of an answer. She’s coolly dismissed.
Ha-ni: “You’re right, I’m not really good at anything. Even I’m amazed that I made it past the first round, and I’m really grateful for it. But I think I can say this: If you choose other impressive students with good grades and lots of awards, but those students don’t study because they’re lazy, or they just give up because it’s raining, and you feel like it might be damaging to your school, then pick me. I’m slower than others, but I don’t give up. I stick things through to the end. That’s why my nickname is Noah’s Snail. Please raise this one snail.”
Seung-jo drops a bomb when he announces he’s not going to take the college entrance exam, nor does he intend to go to university: “Because there’s nothing I want to do, and no place I want to go.” He isn’t being a brat; he just don’t know how to live, and doesn’t want to just go through the motions of copying other people. Mom sighs that he has no goals because he’s good at everything, and the adults worry about how to handle this.
Ha-ni tries to talk to Seung-jo, settling for speaking through his locked door, suggesting gently that he at least take the test. What if he skips the test, only to change his mind? She’s always thought that people who have a lot could share a lot, whereas she has nothing to share because she’s so lacking. It’s a sweet way of pointing out that he has a lot going for him without being petulant about it.
The family breathes a huge sigh of relief when he decides to take the exam after all. He’s got a little cough, so Ha-ni springs into action and offers him some cold medicine.
It isn’t until after he takes it that he asks if it’s the kind that makes you drowsy, and to her horror, it is. She urges him to throw it back up, but he just sighs and says this is typical Ha-ni behavior.
Thanks to the pill, Seung-jo drowses through the test, his vision blurring and his head nodding in sleep. When the proctor warns him time is running out, he looks up in horror and starts hurriedly zooming through the test. As a result, the whole school is abuzz with the possibility of their star pupil crashing miserably in this most crucial of moments, and naturally Ha-ni is blamed.
When the scores come out, Seung-jo is shocked, but not for the expected reason. He muses, “I must really be a genius,” because as usual, he’s performed brilliantly.
Ha-ni is elated, relieved to not be responsible for the ruination of a young genius’s future. It’s super sweet that she exults for Seung-jo, even though her own scores have come out very poor.
Now for the wait. Ha-ni sticks close to her phone, hoping for a call, and slowly her spirits flag. Eun-jo plays a prank on her, making her think for two seconds that she got in, which is just… so… cruel. (Lying in the name of love, going on a revenge warpath, switching babies at birth — those are kdrama conflicts I can handle. But screwing with college admissions? Let’s just say, if somebody pulled a prank like that on me, I’d be in prison right now.)
Min-ah gets her acceptance call, which is further disheartening (for Ha-ni, who is nonetheless excited for her friend). So when her call finally comes, she’s convinced she has failed and thinks it’s another joke. Upon realizing that it’s true — she got in because someone else backed out — she exults.
Seung-jo smiles to himself as he watches her reaction. And isn’t it telling that he only ever smiles at, with, or to Ha-ni?
Seung-jo’s parents give Ha-ni musical tickets as a congratulatory present, and she makes plans to meet Seung-jo’s mother there. (It’s the Goong musical — way to cross-promote, Group 8.)
This gives Mom another opportunity for matchmaking fun times; she tells Ha-ni she’s running late, then sends Seung-jo in her stead, telling him that she got stood up. Ah, way to pull the Mom In Need card, which no Korean boy can resist!
Mom credits her acting for this success, but Eun-jo has caught a whiff of Seung-jo’s changed attitude and wonders if his brother might have another reason…
Seung-jo us being pressured to attend a top school, Tae-san University, but doesn’t understand what the big deal about college is. Ha-ni recites some words her grandmother used to say, which are to live life with a spirit of fun.
He mulls those words over, as though the concept of fun is one that hadn’t been programmed into his bank of simulated human emotions. The word “fun” does seem to appeal to him, at least on a theoretical level since I’m not sure he’s ever experienced it first-hand. Cutely, Ha-ni says that if he went to Parang, she’d make it fun for him.
If this is how we eventually get these two at the same university, I LOVE it! Earlier, I’d assumed his doped-up testing experience would be the great equalizer that would force Seung-jo to consider a lower school like Parang, but if he chooses it… well, you’ve just won me over, Playful Kiss.
Seung-jo picks out a doll from one of those claw-hook machines, and although he tosses it at Ha-ni indifferently, his response proves otherwise. She asks if it’s for her, and he retorts, “Do you think I picked it so I could keep it?”
They are joined by Joon-gu and his posse, who happen to be in the area, and what ensues is the adorablest bit of metaphorical dick-waving ever. I mean, insofar as male posturing can be adorable.
Seung-jo carelessly tosses his crumpled-up cup into the wastebasket, earning him Ha-ni’s admiration. Joon-gu scoffs and follows suit, proving it’s no big deal, which makes Seung-jo pinchy-faced to have his prowess challenged. He gets up, tosses a soda can into the air, then high-kicks it into the trash can. This earns him more wide-eyed wonder from Ha-ni, to his satisfaction.
Joong-gu attempts the same, but no dice. He falls clumsily to the ground, and Ha-ni stifles a laugh. Seung-jo smirks, pleased with himself.
This spurs Ha-ni into one of her flights of fancy, wherein she imagines the boys in a Baroque display of dueling over her affections.
She gets so caught up in the fantasy that she imagines them about to run each other through on their swords and bursts out, “NOOO!” To which both boys look at her quizzically and she lamely covers by turning the “No!” into a round of calisthenics.
Now that Ha-ni’s university future is secured, it’s time for Seung-jo’s next round in the Tae-san admissions process. Recalling Seung-jo’s indifference over college, Ha-ni decides to follow him to make sure he ends up at Tae-san.
She sneaks along at a distance, and a brief run-in with a pedestrian causes her doll to drop from her bag — the one Seung-jo won for her. She looks back to spot it lying in the middle of the crosswalk, and worries over whether to dash back to get it, or keep going.
Seung-jo doesn’t seem to notice he’s being followed, but when he hears a car screeching and hitting something, he stops in alarm. Passersby gasp at the girl who went flying through the air, and he looks back, eyes widening in shock.
Ha-ni ends up in the hospital with a broken leg, attended to by the adults. She’s worried about Seung-jo, and breathes a sigh of relief when Mom supposes that he’s already at Tae-san; he’d left soon after bringing her here.
So it’s with surprise that they all look up when Seung-jo enters the room.
COMMENTS
Finally, some stakes! This is what girlfriday referred to in a previous recap — that it doesn’t matter how small the story is, but we need to feel invested in that conflict and outcome. Till now, we’ve been treated to cute vignette after cute vignette, and this was the first episode that sustained a complete arc from start to finish. There were little cute bits interwoven throughout (like the trash-can duel), which show us that we CAN be cute and slice-of-life and still have a full-fledged plot and progression.
In fact, I don’t think it’s the slice-of-life aspect that was hurting this drama — God of Study was a hit despite a similar smallness of its stories and a vignette-based storytelling format. However, they had an overarching goal propelling the series that drove them from Point A to Point B. Until this episode, we haven’t had that with this drama. I don’t mean we have to focus on university conflicts from now on, but it would be greatly appreciated if every episode gave us a problem to worry about and stakes that defined the characters’ actions.
I haven’t seen or read any previous versions (and mayhap we can please, please lay those comparisons to rest now? Isn’t it getting old?) so I don’t know if this is new or not, but I like that we get some emotional depth in the characters. Ha-ni notes that Seung-jo has his own host of issues with being a genius, because he has no need for school or university or goals. Hence the existential crisis, which is a really interesting aspect to give a kdrama hero.
When I first heard that Seung-jo was a handsome, perfect, smart Big Man on Campus, I groaned at the cliche since that describes practically ever kdrama hero ever. But in making his intelligence a burden, and a problem, his character is given added depth. Ha-ni is also fast becoming the only person who can get through to him (as she did in urging him to take the exam), because she has a knack of framing things in a different way. It’s almost that she’s SO simple that her thoughts are surprisingly insightful in their plainness.
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Tags: featured, Jung So-min, Kim Hyun-joong, Playful Kiss
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51 annie
September 17, 2010 at 11:45 PM
Thanks for the recap Javabeans!
I agree, best episode yet. I especially loved the posturing between Seung-jo and Joon-gu, and the interview scene.
I'm loving the dynamic between these two as well.
Also, no more comparisons as of now, I promise. :)
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52 J
September 17, 2010 at 11:52 PM
I'm glad that i didn't give up on watching this drama. The first episode was very disappointing and although episodes 2-4 did get slightly better, I still wasn't very interested in continuing. I remember disliking the first half of the Taiwan version but ended up enjoying ISWAK for the last half so that was my motivation to continue to watch Playful Kiss just to see if the Korean version will get better or not. I'm really glad I continued as I enjoyed both episodes 5 and 6 ^^
Jung So-min's really adorable!! I do cringe at Ha-na's gullibility but am really glad she isn't annoying like Xiangqin in ISWAK. Jung So-min is really doing a great job here =) Kim Hyun-joong is major eye-candy (my drool!! sorry =P) and I'm happy to see improvements in his acting~
Thanks Javabeans for the recap!
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53 sarangf
September 17, 2010 at 11:58 PM
thank you so much for the recap. even thought i love and watched this eps coutless of time i still waiting for your recaop or should i say your approve heheh.kiss and more kisses
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54 jeankaycee
September 17, 2010 at 11:59 PM
its a sad day, rating wise but fortunate not story wise!
this episode gives me more reason to love about this drama. the little stories and moments that captives most raw and genuine human emotions.
situations like the dilema of oh hani getting acceptance at university which i think most of us experience. the male posturing showdown of the two guys which was adorable.
i like the idea that they are giving seung jo the much needed depth. the scene which he ask how to know what you like speaks so much about his character.
all of the characters are really growing on me!
hope they continue to take this path in storytelling.
please continue to be fun, adorable, sweet and with the improved storylines!
also, hoping that the ratings would pick up.
if this is showing in my country, i bet my the ratings would be just like bof!
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55 Lisa
September 18, 2010 at 12:00 AM
Hulu.com (for US viewers) has up o episode 4 English subbed. Here's the link:
http://www.hulu.com/search?query=playful+kiss&st=1
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56 Noypi
September 18, 2010 at 12:05 AM
I am one of the many who wasn't thrilled with this drama after episode 1 (being a virgin on ISWAK, or the anime, etc).. but i saw improvement on EPisode 2 and since then i've been following it.. Not like my LOVE and ADORATION for My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, but enough to keep me interested.. So for a KDrama addict like me who is giving it a shot, for those second guessing, give it a shot as well.. I think you'll like this rom-com =)
Thanks for the recap JB.. i agree, the ratings are pretty harsh.. usually dramas like these (low ratings) in my country, Philippines or even where i Live now, (America), shows get cut or ended early.. I hope it picks up.. atleast an 8-12% rating.. we can always hope!
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57 djeedjes
September 18, 2010 at 12:14 AM
I love the fact that you don't know about the story, never watch any other versions, or read the manga, Javabeans ( and I assume girlfriday too? )!
It's like total new experience to hear ( read ) your point of view..
PK has a lot of cute moments, and yess, I adore Oh Hani's hairstyles and girly outfits. I'm not a girly girl in my teen, but if I ever have a daughter I'd like to dress her up like OHN. And Mom's style! oh so cute!
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58 Ani
September 18, 2010 at 12:26 AM
"and mayhap we can please, please lay those comparisons to rest now? Isn’t it getting old?"
I concur!!!!
But I still don't like the bear ending. Maybe puppies??? HAHAHA. And by the way, I love the first picture where Seung-jo is laughing. For the first time I acgually think this guy is cute.
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59 giddy
September 18, 2010 at 12:52 AM
While this is no Baker King, it has me coming back every week because the characters continue to evolve. Ha ni is the star of the show--she makes or breaks the show because it's all about her, and she's ADORABLE.
KHJ is most enjoyable when he lets loose and is enjoying Ha ni--like when he was teasing her with the sock at camp and she was chasing him. The new insight that this episode brought to his character gives us a glimpse of his of his vulnerability. Love the way you described it, JB, as his intelligence being a burden. Thanks for giving this one a chance, even when the ratings are so low. Funny thing for me is that I can't wait for PK each week, but even though I've watched 7 eps. of MGIAG, I only watch when I have absolutely nothing else to watch--still waiting for it to grab a hold of me, even as I'm watching ep. 8 now. o.O
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60 molla
September 18, 2010 at 12:58 AM
my priority now is mgiag!!hoi~hoi
still not convinced with pk....
maybe i'll try to watch it later ^-^
seems its getting better....i guess
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61 MEL
September 18, 2010 at 12:58 AM
JB and GF---thanks so much, I'm really enjoying this series and your recaps add to the funness of this adorkable kdrama...reading your bits and pieces of zaniness just add to the laughter I get from actually watching it, let me count the ways....i.e......
I have to start with EP4--GF's recap that the JO brothers being dropped on their heads for the way they display or don't display human emotions...they could hear me clear to L A with my laughter...GF I just love you!!
and now EP5:
Seung-jo’s fake-out kiss maneuver (I almost wrote “meaneuver,” which should totally be a word)... (I agree with you, that word should be used frequently--I will..)
Eun-jo plays a prank on her, making her think for two seconds that she got in, which is just… so… cruel. (Lying in the name of love, going on a revenge warpath, switching babies at birth — those are kdrama conflicts I can handle. But screwing with college admissions? Let’s just say, if somebody pulled a prank like that on me, I’d be in prison right now....... (I'd probably be in jail too if someone did that to me...)
After watching Goong (yes Group 8--umm genius in advert for the musical--too bad it wasn't Uknow playing the prince).......They are joined by Joon-gu and his posse, who happen to be in the area, and what ensues is the adorablest bit of metaphorical dick-waving ever. I mean, insofar as male posturing can be adorable.... (umm metaphorical d..k waving???, did I read that correctly..? ..I damn near p..d my undies...)
...so JB don't get annoyed that I copy/pasted your zany bits, I love you too... it's great to hear you're liking this now... I'm just crazy about how Jung So Min's portrayal of Oh Ha Ni- her college interview speech is just achingly touching "...then pick me...I’m slower than others, but I don’t give up. I stick things through to the end. That’s why my nickname is Noah’s Snail. Please raise this one snail.” (awwww...no doubt--no question she'll sway Seung Jo to her corner---she's so cute and lovable, Kim Hyun Joong--well, I'm a softie for him...) Though ratings are low, the internet and the Asian word seems to really love this...and the fans and non-fans are paying attention since the rant and rave sections on your recaps are popular, so 'nuff said... and yes, I'll follow your request no comparing the three versions... it's very difficult but okey...I'll do it!
Thanks once again...JB for the witty recap, can't wait for the next one...
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62 des
September 18, 2010 at 1:02 AM
wow, this drama is like a blast from the past for me. i've known a "seung-jo" before and everyone in our high school had a crush on him. so smart, so handsome, so rich, so good at everything, so perfect. in fact, some of
our classmates called him "chinese ken" (like the doll, haha). and just like seung-jo, this guy also looked stiff and cold most of the time. i never saw him looking frazzled ever, it was as if he wasn't challenged enough and bored with everything. of course this only made him more mysterious and all the girls were clamoring for his attention.
so yeah, i find myself nodding and giggling with everything that hani does, because at some point one of my friends must have done the same for our "seung-jo" crush. it may seem so stupid in hindsight, but it made such perfect sense to us then.
which brings me to the reason why i love this drama so much. its real and believable and it gets you right where it matters. every character is someone that you've met or will meet in your life. and the issues that they deal with, which may appear so simple and inconsequential to some, are actually real issues that students their age are dealing with.
i don't care much about the ratings but i do hope that the cast and production team will not be affected by it because this drama such a breath of fresh air in my otherwise stressful life. i'm sure a lot of us here feel the same way.
p.s. JB, thanks for the recap!
p.p.s. i want to be seung-jo's mom when i grow up. :)
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Charmie
September 18, 2010 at 6:07 AM
what happened to "chinese ken"? just never thought they're real. hehe ;D
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des
September 18, 2010 at 8:10 AM
oh, they're real alright. at least "chinese ken" was. haha. i feel bad calling him that because he actually started to warm up towards the end of our senior year and he was more likable then. he never dated anyone in our school, i think we were probably too boring and unsophisticated for him. i mean, his family goes to europe or somewhere else exotic every summers, while the rest of us mere mortals have summer jobs or go to camps if we're lucky, ha.
last time i heard (through facebook) he is now in singapore working as a finance guy for ING (of course!). we didn't go to the same uni so i don't really know much about him after high school. but yeah, its eerie how he reminded me so much of baek seung jo :)
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63 kyra
September 18, 2010 at 1:03 AM
STIFFNESS?FATIGUE? yeah that sounds more like it!!
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64 Dara
September 18, 2010 at 1:11 AM
Read though your first paragraph and felt relieved. I really wanted this drama to be good.
Thanks for your recap, I laughed out loud for the first time with this drama, this show is starting to get the point I've been looking for, and also noticed there were good diversions added in this episode too. The director/writer seemed to pick up on the right spot. I hope they'll continue to do so , so I can be content with the drama no matter how the ratings are.
Best of luck for PK casts and crews, Fighting!!!
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65 hajae
September 18, 2010 at 1:11 AM
Thank you for the recap javabeans!
I still can't believe it took me 5 episodes to realise that Seung Jo's homeroom teacher was the other guy in Goong S. GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
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66 junaly
September 18, 2010 at 1:11 AM
even though so far PK has not given me the extreme feelings of "OMGOMGOMG" or "oh no that's so sad T_T", i think that it has a few good points. her friends are very close and supporting, Ha-ni has a wide range of facial expressions (which are sometimes funny), Kim Hyun-Joong improved in his acting, and the episode endings were good enough to make me want to see more. there were funny parts and adorable parts and i think i will watch it to the end. i have not watched the other versions, so i think it will be great!
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67 CHshe
September 18, 2010 at 1:22 AM
Wah Round 5 already^^
Oohhhhh I'm loving every episode now ^^ hehehe
The story pace is the same as Anime... Almost felt like seeing a 3d version of the anime come alive... Only small twists here n there... But I'm liking BSJ and OHN potrayals, both are refreshing and I have to say the best! Including BJG potrayal of Kinnosuke, dang he was hilarious and less annoying ^^ and also the mom and BSJ mini-me... I'm lovin em all. This is by far the best adaptation to date... so far
And gurls don't worry about the 16 episodes rumour, if the pace remains this way, you'll still enjoy it more n more... Check the anime if u want to be sure of it hehe
IMO Itazura Na Kiss is one of my favourite love story of all time. I don't care about the show ratings in Korea. It doesn't mean anything and would not change the way I feel. I only feel bad that people over there will miss a lot for not enjoying such a beautiful story.
Hmmm their lost my gain, I guess ^^
PK Fighting!!
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Ami
September 19, 2010 at 1:42 AM
Actually.. their loss is also our loss.. coz the drama that originally was touted to have 20 episodes is now being cut to 16 *pouts*
I read somewhere that people are starting a petition to ask for its extension though.
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CHshe
September 19, 2010 at 6:58 PM
I understand ^^ but I dont want to be too greedy now... as I'm liking this version the most...
Like I said if it's only 16 episodes, I wont think it as a loss as the story pace follows closely to anime, it is faster than anime actually ^^
Spoiler...
In anime, the hmm 'declaration' will be in epsiode 15, so with the remaining episodes I think we would be seeing a little life after hmmm 'you know what'... wouldnt want to give away too much spoiler haha
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68 Severine
September 18, 2010 at 1:31 AM
Thanks, JB. Love the recap!
I also feel this is the best episode plot-wise, but I'm also loving the chemistry between the two leads. I truly enjoy the little moments between them (e.g. Ha Ni convincing Seung Jo to take the entrance exam), because it allows us to see that Ha Ni's love for Seung Jo goes beyond that of a school girl crush, and that Seung Jo is realizing it bit by bit. KHJ has come a long way since BOF, and JSM is absolutely lovable and believable as Ha Ni.
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69 sumee
September 18, 2010 at 2:02 AM
i don mind watching this drama..its progressing gradually !
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70 sumee
September 18, 2010 at 2:03 AM
i forgot to add...Kim Hyun-joong acting capabilities have increased in a positively !
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71 Marie
September 18, 2010 at 2:05 AM
I like this drama. It's cute and a lot of fun! True, the first episode was a disappointment, but the following ones have been much better. This drama makes me laugh.
I agree with Javabeans, though, this episode had a really good story arc, unlike the other ones.
I don't understand why there are low ratings for this drama...but I don't really care. If there's a show that I want to see, it's not the ratings that will stop me.
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72 linkyo
September 18, 2010 at 2:07 AM
Despite the flunk in the rating, I think, playful kiss is starting to grow on me. It's simple and just predictable, but I think, that's also its strong point. Because it made me smile with an assurance that they are going to be together. :D
And oh!! How I love your analysis:
»“Because there’s nothing I want to do, and no place I want to go.” He isn’t being a brat; he just don’t know how to live, and doesn’t want to just go through the motions of copying other people.«
Yes, I think because seung joo is just excelling everything (academically school-related stuffs) with such an ease that makes him bored. It's like, life doesn't have any challenges and excitement, and because him living as a "perfect student" for his school years has been decided and planned by their parents, so he doesn't have his own goal--only the goals set by his parents and society.
And I'd love that his interaction (and if I may say, his relationship) with Ha Ni will help him have his own self-produced goal.
So thank you very much Javabeans, for this recap! :)
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73 faberess
September 18, 2010 at 2:34 AM
thank you javabeans!
i really enjoyed this ep.
i hope that its ratings will soar high next week since baker king is over.
PLAYFUL KISS FIGHTING!!!!!
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74 chahaya
September 18, 2010 at 2:56 AM
thanks!
I love that you never watched other version, so your review will base on this Korean version only, without comparing it with other version, like most of us do :)
I like her interview speech, it's so honest and show her personality ^.^
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75 Sacha ooms
September 18, 2010 at 2:59 AM
Can't wait to watch it!
go visit gokpop.com ^^
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76 CHshe
September 18, 2010 at 3:20 AM
Hehehe, correct me if I'm wrong,
I've watched the part leading to the accident and I noticed a little tiny speck of smile on BSJ face, hinting that he knew OHN was following him...
Is it just me?
I've rewatched it and still feel the same ^^
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yen_nguyen
September 18, 2010 at 3:42 AM
yes, of course he knows. I think everybody knows that. that's why when he heard a girl was crashed by a car, he was really worried thinking that's Hani.
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Charmie
September 18, 2010 at 6:10 AM
nope its not only you! i agree totally. :D
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77 jilly
September 18, 2010 at 3:24 AM
Thank you JB and GF for the recaps..
Hohohoho I think you have the same taste of drama with me...most of my favorite dramas is always in Your recap-ing ..sorry for my bad english...
thank youuuu..........................^^ Fighting PK!!!
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78 jackwon
September 18, 2010 at 3:34 AM
Thank you for the great recap, Javabeans! I really like the show, and reading the reviews from you and Girlfriday makes me enjoy it even more! Like you, I've never seen any of the other versions, so this is all new to me, too, and I like the analyses you give.
I agree that this episode had wonderful character development and plot progression, and I hope it continues. I'm glad everything improved after the first episode and just keeps getting better each week. Love JSM so much, and KHJ's acting has gotten pretty good, so there's rarely any "should've done it this way" moments (besides the sometimes strange editing, which still needs work, and a need for a fuller OST).
Hope the ratings pick up next week!
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jackwon
September 18, 2010 at 3:42 AM
I forgot to mention that I loved reading Hani's interview speech. It was so earnest and sweet, especially this part: "Please raise this one snail." Awww... So thanks for that.
Also, I LOVED the "period piece romance" fantasy sequence!! It was utterly hilarious! I could not stop laughing, until my cheeks and stomach hurt! XD
And I, too, think that SeungJo knew he was being followed and was momentarily too shocked and scared to turn around and confirm his worst fear.
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79 yen_nguyen
September 18, 2010 at 3:40 AM
I LOL when Beak Seung Jo say: “I must really be a genius" after he saw his score report.
He made it in just 15 mins.
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80 xvii
September 18, 2010 at 3:40 AM
beautiful recount, JB. and can i just say, you also always pick the right scenes to capture. i can almost figure and follow the story just by looking at the photos.
anyway, i've just finished watching episode 6, and trust me, it'll only get better :-)
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81 fret
September 18, 2010 at 4:43 AM
it always gets better when we stop having to cringe so hard for the girl since we know that the guy is softening towards her. yay!
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82 Diadda
September 18, 2010 at 4:52 AM
I was just asked to do a PK vid. ummm how do I say this. I don't download this one. I stream it at most or wait for the dramabeans recap. I would need a song for it and plenty of time to download and actually watch the episodes all the way through. For the one that requested, please be patient. I'll see what I can do.
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83 justkat
September 18, 2010 at 5:18 AM
Thank you.
PK is just so wonderful to watch. I've loved every episode thus far.
I really love how this drama is taking the time to develop the character's love story instead to just telling the audience that the characters are in love so use your imagination and make up the reasons why the characters are in love.
JSM is one of the most adorable actresses. She completely carries PK. This story is all about OHN and the actress who plays OHN can't deliver, then PK would not be fun to watch.
I love KJH. He is such wonderful eye candy. I am shallow enough where I demand cute actors if I have to invest time in a story. Thank goodness he is holding his own. And every time he smiles...my heart's aflutter. Wow!
BSJ's mom is the best Mom in a Kdrama that I have ever seen.
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84 Dara
September 18, 2010 at 5:21 AM
Just finished ep5, I would say this is what I've been waiting for from the Korean adaptation!
No matter how many times you remake it, it could be better. I believed the director just got a wake up call or something, and KHJ you were much better, I was kind of like his SJ in this episode, more at ease now. I laughed out too, which was a good sign that it really got through me.
Thanks JB, your recap today gave me an inspiration to give it another try, and it's worth it! Smiled all the way thru episode, and heartfelt for SJ too (-Mr.director please reduce daydreaming scene to as only necessary, thank you-).
I'm back on this boat again.
And KHJ, you have gotten skinnier and skinnier, please be strong and keep improving. PK fighting!
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85 Z
September 18, 2010 at 5:32 AM
I was also scared that they would have him bomb the test because of the cold medicine. I might have dropped the show if that was the case because I could just imagine 10 more episodes of Hani being burdened by guilt for ruining his life and packing up to leave at least once a week. No fun at all! And, by the way, it would totally have been his own fault anyway... who pops pills into their mouth on an important day THEN stops to read the instructions? I've been taking the same cold medicine for years and I still check the box periodically.
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86 poopy
September 18, 2010 at 5:40 AM
its sad and bewildering that this drama is getting such low ratings, despite a good cast(jung so min for the win) and good production (okay, the plot is a lil predictable but the fluffly scenes makes up for it). i guess the korean audience are mostly old ahjummas???haha.
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87 dee
September 18, 2010 at 5:46 AM
"...because she has a knack of framing things in a different way. It’s almost that she’s SO simple that her thoughts are surprisingly insightful in their plainness."
- you're right JB, i think this is the reason why Seung Jo will be attracted (if not yet) to Oh Hani despite her character not intelligent (i don't want write stupid, because she's not) and not pretty.
i'm excited for the University scenes, I hopefully think this is where the meaty stories and arc will be
thanks again for the recap.
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88 Charmie
September 18, 2010 at 6:12 AM
Thank you Javabeans! Really glad you are starting to enjoy this series. :D
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89 thoughtsramble
September 18, 2010 at 6:19 AM
Hmm just like to say that I thought Seung Jo noticed that he was being followed cos I distinctly saw him smiling as Ha Ni follwed him... unless he's smiling for no reason?
Just saying(:
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90 Ace
September 18, 2010 at 6:35 AM
Don't judge a kdrama by it's ratings...(Anyway, hope the ratings increase because PK deserves better ratings than what it's getting)
This episode was a definite improvement (also ep 6). Made me laugh out loud for real unlike the first 4 episodes. Oh Ha Ni as usual is adorable without being annoying. I'd like to have her as a little sister. Seung-jo is growing on me (there could have been better idols to play this part, but I'd give KHJ 3.5 stars)
It's completing my week nicely. Mon-Tue for SKKS, Wed-Thurs for MGIAG, and Fri-Sat for this. Would like Joseon X-Files for Sundays to cap it all off!
Oh! I hope the Goong thing would stop. The musical is forgivable since it's one-time only, but the bears...please, please, please cut that out!
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91 Ladymoonstone143
September 18, 2010 at 8:02 AM
Thanks Javabeans for the wonderful recap. I think this drama will have more success in the countries that has bought the copyrights already to air this drama. But still crossing my fingers that it will pick up ratings next week. I love this drama to death because it makes me feel good just watching it...:)
As always, I truly enjoy your recaps...
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92 riin
September 18, 2010 at 8:33 AM
"meaneuver" should TOTALLY be a word. :)
word.
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93 andiwaslike
September 18, 2010 at 8:47 AM
its because you're too impatient lols
there's a lot of arcs in this story and those that you've mentioned are told subtly since the second epi
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94 Khris
September 18, 2010 at 9:38 AM
i actually look forward to this drama every week now. i didnt watch the first two episodes mainly to save myself the agony of watching the show draaaaaaagggg --- i read the recaps of course. But from the 3rd episode on, im hooked!!! i love Ha-ni!
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95 ladykristinn
September 18, 2010 at 10:43 AM
I super love this drama. Not heavy. Episode 5 is my favorite episode so far. You can see that EJ is a little suspicious of his own brother especially the date. He thinks that mom's machinations is not the only reason why SJ went to the play. I thought I might be able to see a glimpse of Yunho though.
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96 shahi
September 18, 2010 at 10:53 AM
am i the only one who thinks this show is awfully slow?
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97 anonymous
September 18, 2010 at 11:05 AM
Just watched ep 5 and 6 for the third time, how can I survive 4 more days????????
thank you JB for really funny recap!!!
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98 bumpkin
September 18, 2010 at 11:26 AM
Thanks JB for your recap!Loooove it.
I can totally relate to SJ with the 'no motivation in life' dilemma. I've been there. I know how it feels like.
I love how HN was saying (screaming?) encouraging words to SJ before the test. She was like his personal cheerleader---which I think he appreciated, even if he did dismiss her then coldly. Don't we all need a little cheerleader once in a while.
I really hope the ratings pick up. Will cross my fingers, arms, legs, toes...hell, even my eyes for it! :))
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99 DiOnIsSa
September 18, 2010 at 12:46 PM
Thank you JB very much for your recap! Actually, you made my day with it cuz I enjoyed this drama too much, especially the last two episodes! I totally agree with you on the point that the plot is changing now. Believe me, there will be more changes soon! This story is really addicting! Also, though I don't agree with you in some things, I really like reading your thoughts about the story but, obviously, your today's recap is the best for me :)
2.8% ratings is really awful :( And I really don't see how it's possible for such sweet drama?! Of course, there are some shortcomings, however, the team is great in doing their best!!! And I feel really sorry for them! JUST CHEER UP, GUYS, CUZ YOU REALLY DO GREAT!!!!!
I think maybe ratings fell due to the last ep. of BK?
Probably, audience was interested in what happened in the end of such anticipating drama? Cuz I heard that MGIAG ratings fell too...So, maybe next week ratings will rise up for both dramas? I really hope so!!!
And now as for the 5th episode. I trully enjoyed it! I love PK for leaving warmth in my soul after watching it :) The three main leads are so compatible to each other and create good chemistry! And, actually, I love almost every charecter here :)
My favorite scene here is when Ha Ni brought food for Seung Jo and encouraged him to take an exam. It was so cute, and her words were so sincere and definetly touched him! This girl really loves SJ too much and ready to support him in everything! And more touching thing is that she always succeeds in it! Ha Ni is sort of muse for him who always is able to encourage him keep going! He is already attracted to her just doesn't understand it yet! Even his little brother (I adore him) slowly awares of this :)
The scene in theater and, especially, after that was hilarious! This sort of a "Rooster fight" for the girl's attention was great! I like how duckie (he rules) awakens in SJ different sorts of emotions like jealousy, annoyance, sometimes even anger.
Of course, I was impressed by Ha Ni's speech in Uni, I was really touched! And when results came out for both of them. Oh! Almost forgot! After EJ teased Ha Ni by "apple department", I guess...I was laughing :)
The last scene was really unexpectable for me cuz I thought her stomach would hurt like in the anime, however, they overruled it, and they did really good! I'm sure SJ saw her following him, otherwise, he wouldn't smile. And his face after he heard the hit was scared! He really was scared for Ha Ni! Great scene!!!!! Better then it was in original anime, I think.
See you, guys :)
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100 biske_chan
September 18, 2010 at 5:39 PM
The Korean version is cute in a way however as far as the story goes I'm not actually surprised by it anymore since I've already seen the the Taiwan version ~ It Started With A Kiss & the Anime for Itazura na Kiss (where the drama was based on).
But like always, great review! So detailed, I like it! ^_^
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