Dream High: Episode 4
by girlfriday
Hello, new crack! I’m totally loving this drama right now, and I don’t even know if it’s at all logical, because it’s very by-the-book, in terms of what we expect will happen in an underdog-success story. But…it’s just so earnest, and cute, and strangely suspenseful. I honestly wasn’t expecting this drama to get this good after the first week, but this episode totally hooked me.
SONG OF THE DAY
Lee Seung-chul – “마지막 콘서트” (Last Concert) [ Download ]
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EPISODE 4 RECAP
Hye-mi looks on as Baek-hee performs onstage, and overhears the other students saying that it must be the power of the K-pendant. As Baek-hee finishes her dance, she kisses the pendant for good measure, and thinks to herself: “Take a good look. This is MY world.” Ha. Awesome. I just really dig this rivalry.
Meanwhile, Sam-dong is busy reuniting the lost girl with her mom at the train station, not realizing how much time has passed. He makes a mad dash to Kirin.
At the same time, Director Shi announces the three special entrants who didn’t take to the stage tonight. He sneakily announces that they’d all like to see them perform, and the students start chanting for them to go up. Hye-mi finally stands up, and Jin-gook follows reluctantly.
Once onstage, Jin-gook freaks out over the wall of paparazzi flash bulbs (it looks like a traumatic memory rather than simple stagefright) and drops his mic and walks away. Hye-mi is left standing on her own, not knowing what to do.
As Jin-gook walks out, Sam-dong enters and they run into each other. Perhaps a hint that Sam-dong might be fated to get the girl: he’s running towards her, as Jin-gook is running out on her.
He runs into the auditorium to find Hye-mi standing up there alone, frozen in the spotlight.
Cut to the next day, as Director Shi tells the President what went down, and what the press is saying about the special entrants. He thinks the only answer is to get rid of them, along with Professor Kang of course. We see that this is the real reason he opened up the event to the press. They table the decision for now.
Oh-hyuk brings Sam-dong home (Are ALL of them going to live under one roof? Awesome. Bring on the madcap hijinks!) and he tells Sam-dong that their places at Kirin might not be there in the morning. But he decides that they should go to school anyway just in case. Sam-dong looks up dejectedly at the starless night sky and wonders if everyone’s plucked all the stars away in Seoul.
Hye-mi snuggles in with her little sister for the night, needing some comfort but not willing to admit why. Aw. In the morning, she gets ready for school and puts her shoes on, only to have a heel break off. It’s the final straw and she has an outburst as everyone in the house watches her, and as Jin-gook hears from the other side of the door.
Sam-dong tries to be helpful, but she just pushes him away, shouting that she lied to get him here, and that he’s nothing; he may as well just go home. Aw, don’t break his little heart!
Hye-mi stomps outside and raises her arm to throw her shoe, but Jin-gook stops her. Calmly, he tells her to fix her shoe if it’s broken, and stoops down to put it back on her foot. I’m having flashbacks to the early days of Cinderella’s Sister, back when the boys were cute and smiley and ran around turning people’s shoes around. Sigh.
She blames him for ruining everything yesterday, and he hilariously tells her that normal people cry when they’re upset, not throw tantrums. Ha. She then actually starts to cry, but then he decides that she doesn’t look the way other girls do when they cry (read: pretty). Jin-gook: “You look weird. Maybe you shouldn’t cry.” Hahahaha.
She stares him down, and he sweetly puts the motorcycle helmet on her head, so that she can cry all she wants. Aw, you guys are being so cute. Now I’m going to have crazy Sam-dong vs. Jin-gook wars all over the place. I suppose there are worse things than having two adorable boys to battle over.
At school, a star student arrives to a crowd of adoring fans. It’s RIA (played by Han Ye-in, the spunky little sister in Coffee Prince). It’s nice to add that element too—that some students are already famous while they’re in school, adding another layer of dysfunction, but hey, that’s the world.
Speaking of dysfunction, the girls all get in line to be weighed (publicly, no less) as the teacher tells them all to lose 3kg in a week. Seriously, Show? Gross. Pil-sook is singled out, of course, but thankfully the drama stays firmly in evil-teacher-is-evil territory. I still hate the message though. As if girls in high school don’t have enough worries about their bodies.
To everyone’s surprise, Hye-mi walks in to join the class. The teacher tells her that her status as an official student hasn’t been confirmed yet, and she counters that her expulsion hasn’t been decided either. The teacher scoffs and Baek-hee smiles to herself.
Board meeting time. Predictably, Director Shi has everyone in line to axe Professor Kang and the three students, but President Jung says that they’ll stay, and he’ll leave. Okay, I’m cool with that. He promotes Director Shi to his position, and leaves Kirin in his hands.
Hye-mi and Baek-hee have a run-in in the bathroom, where Baek-hee declares triumphantly that she should leave of her own accord, since she’s going to be kicked out anyway. Hye-mi gives her best glare and looks down at Baek-hee holding onto her K-pendant. Hye-mi: “You’re afraid of me, aren’t you? My dad told me there’s only two reasons people lean on charms like that: when their own abilities don’t cut it, or when they’re afraid of someone else.” Nice.
Baek-hee reels, and then slaps her across the face. Damn! Girlfight already? They start screaming and pulling each other’s hair. (Disappointing, but I suppose it’d be unrealistic if they went all Su Ae on us.)
The other students run in to see what’s going on, and Baek-hee totally fakes losing the fight, as she slumps down and pretends to faint. Hye-mi stands agape, as the other students accuse her of being the bully. Aaaargh! I mean, I know Hye-mi is no lightweight when it comes to the diva showdown, but how can you not be on her side when she gets bamboozled like this?
Baek-hee drops the damsel-in-distress act when she realizes that her pendant is gone. She rushes back to the bathroom, but it’s gone. Outside, Hye-mi puts on her jacket and the pendant falls out of her pocket. She picks it up, wondering skeptically about the so-called lucky charm.
Just then, Jin-gook runs over to tell her that they’ve been accepted. She looks down and smiles. Perhaps it is a lucky pendant after all.
Oh-hyuk walks in to thank President Jung for saving his job, and President Jung just smiles and tells him that the hardest part of the battle is ahead. Oh-hyuk shuffles his feet at that, wondering if President Jung has mistaken him for someone else. This is Kang Oh-hyuk, bottom of the totem pole, fly-under-the-radar guy. President Jung just smiles and tells him that he has the ability to win this fight.
Oh-hyuk returns to his desk to find a note from President Jung along with his own high school notebook. In the letter he writes that Oh-hyuk should read the notebook and remember who he was when he loaned it to his old friend, Jung Ha-myung.
I like that President Jung, Yang Jin-man, and Oh-hyuk are all connected from their high school days, but I find it hard to believe that Oh-hyuk and Jin-man wouldn’t remember him. Too much plastic surgery? Regardless, it’s a passing of the torch, and the inspiration that Oh-hyuk needs to remember that he was a dreamer once.
He flips through the notebook and finds his dream scrawled across the page: “My dream: 20 years later, to be an adult that I wouldn’t be ashamed of now. Kang Oh-huyk, fighting!”
Hye-mi shows her skills in singing class, as Baek-hee starts to worry. She keeps grasping at her collar, where the pendant used to be, nervous over the bad luck of losing it.
Sam-dong shows up at school, where everyone starts snickering at him immediately. To be fair, rumor has preceded him, and his appearance is a little out there, but it’s a harsh welcome even though he knows the circumstances. He looks around campus, and comes across Jason giving an impromptu concert, with Pil-sook adorably playing piano for him. (Why are they so cute?) He’s singing Lee Seung-chul’s “Last Concert,” posted up above.
Sam-dong runs up to the stage (cage?) and takes a mic, asking in front of everyone if Jason’s the top dog around here. Heh. I like your approach, Sam-dong. Just go straight to challenging the jjang on your first day, eh?
He declares that if they throw down, and he shows he can beat Jason, it means he’s not just some country bumpkin. He asks Pil-sook to keep playing, but she refuses out of loyalty to her crush (aw). Jason asks her to keep playing, and accepts Sam-dong’s challenge, cool as a cucumber.
Hye-mi, Jin-gook, and Oh-hyuk follow the other students in, and Hye-mi worries that he really shouldn’t bust out his singing skills like this. But to her utter surprise, Sam-dong begins, and he’s good.
He’s no prodigy, but he can sing, which floors her, since this is not the same Sam-dong she saw doing that really embarrassing show. He holds his own, but Jason out-sings him with flowery touches. He’s not necessarily better, but he’s much more confident, and Sam-dong ends up dropping his mic and walking away in defeat.
God, I love a drama where two characters can have a Sing-Off as their first meeting. I frickin’ love this scene!
He runs away and broods outside, where Hye-mi finds him. He tells her that he would’ve won had he known the song. What, now? It turns out that he didn’t know the song…he just guessed where it was going, based on the beginning of it.
Oh, so THAT’s the prodigy part—not so much the vocal skills, but his understanding of music. Mkay, I’m just gonna go with it.
He declares it’s just a matter of time before he beats Jason, but worries that his backwater-appearance is something that will take longer to fix. He decides a month will be long enough.
Hye-mi doesn’t want to wait that long, and turns his face towards her. His stunned blinky reaction is so cute. She decides that his eyes are pretty and they shouldn’t stay hidden, and asks him how much money he has—there’s no need to wait a month when she can take care of it in a day. All right! Makeover time!
Hye-mi’s debt-collector shows up at school to get some more collateral on his loan, since he’s unsure of Hye-mi’s skills. He threatens to take Hye-mi away, and gets Oh-hyuk to sign over his house as leverage. He stupidly signs, and Jin-man witnesses the whole thing, surprised at the lengths he’s going to protect a student.
Hye-mi and Sam-dong buy some supplies, and she cuts his hair. Aw, his crazy smitten smile while she does his hair is priceless.
Hye-mi takes the newly hot Sam-dong shopping. He stops in front of a store display featuring Rain: “Is this guy popular?” Ha. She’s like, you don’t even know Rain? He starts to ask, “If I become a star like him…” but trails off. He stands in front of the window and does his best pop-idol stance, getting a laugh from Hye-mi.
On their way home, Sam-dong wonders why everyone is still staring at him. Um, they’re staring at your newfound hotness. Get used to it, buddy. Hye-mi gets a call from Dad and she cheerily tells him that everything’s okay, and is happy to hear that she might see him soon. Sam-dong smiles to see her being a little girl.
Pil-sook comes home with some delicious bread, but decides against it, choosing to starve. We see that her picture frame (probably previously inhabited by Kim Hyun-joong) is now occupied by Jason. Yay for replacing your idol crush with a real one.
But as soon as she starts starving herself, she ends up binging. Well I’m glad they’re actually tackling this with some semblance of realism, and not some magic diet fairy. Poor kid. She just ends up feeling worse about herself than before.
Baek-hee takes extra private vocal lessons to try and stretch her range and hit the high notes that Hye-mi can reach. Her mom catches her and tells her to give up on her pipedream and study; it’s not like she’s talented like Hye-mi or anything. That makes Baek-hee livid, as she screams that Hye-mi lost the audition, while SHE got in. Sad, that her Hye-mi-complex is based on a lifetime of living in Hye-mi’s shadow, led by her own mother.
Jin-gook goes to see his father, where he addresses dad’s wife politely, and with respect, but calls her “Madam.” He thinks there’s been a mistake; Dad deposited a bunch of money into his account on accident. Dad tells him it’s no mistake…he’s to prepare to go abroad.
Jin-gook declines the offer, saying that he doesn’t speak English and he could starve over there. He plans to stay here. Dad warns him that the press is going to get involved and things are going to get ugly, but Jin-gook returns the money and leaves. As he walks away, we see that a photographer is tailing either Father or Son.
I like that his character isn’t disrespectful or the typical rebellious chaebol son. He’s either illegitimate or from a first marriage, but he’s quite desperate to be accepted and loved by Dad, no matter how harsh he seems to be in return. I can already tell you’re gonna to break my heart, kid.
Baek-hee returns to the school to look for her lost pendant, and comes across someone dancing in the studio. It’s Jin-gook, dancing out his daddy issues. Ha. If only everyone could dance out their daddy issues, kdramaland would be a much happier place. She gapes at him, starry-eyed. Looks like another crush has begun.
Hye-mi gets a visit from her debt collector, who hands her a box of beef (well, I guess he’s got to take care of his investment). He asks if Jin-gook is her boyfriend, saying that he was pretty impressive, storming into his office like an action star, to rescue her.
It’s news to Hye-mi, who remembers guiltily that she saw all his bruises and called him a punk gangster. Jin-gook heads home, and when it starts snowing, he sighs that nothing is going right for him today, and worries about his bike being parked outside.
But when he arrives, he finds Hye-mi perching umbrellas over his motorcycle, and brushing the snow off. It’s not the smartest plan, and she struggles to make the umbrellas stay, finally giving up in frustration. She’s about to head inside, but she turns back, coming face to face with Jin-gook, holding an umbrella. He holds it over her head, like a proper knight in shining armor.
He smiles sweetly at her, touched by her attempt to do something nice for him, and she apologizes for jumping to conclusions about him. “I’m not usually wrong, but I’ll admit that I was, this time. You’re not a bad guy.” He breaks into a smile. Why so cute, you two?
Hye-mi’s sister runs out to warn them before they enter: the witch is back. They walk in cautiously, only to find that Oh-hyuk’s sister isn’t so witchy after all, when it comes to cute idol-boys-in-training. Ha. She fawns over Sam-dong, only to become an embarrassing mess once she discovers Jin-gook. LOL.
Sam-dong is a little taken aback when he officially meets Jin-gook for the first time. The whole group sits down to dinner, where Oh-hyuk’s sister makes it clear that she’s going to play favorites. To Jin-gook and Sam-dong: “Call me noona”; to Hye-mi: witch-glare. Ha.
She gets totally sloshed at dinner, and Sam-dong makes the decision then and there: he’s never going to drink. Ever. Hehe.
Hye-mi and her sister breathe a sigh of relief that night, knowing that they can stay at the house now. They smile at their good fortune, and Hye-mi kisses the K-pendant for finally turning her luck around.
Oh-hyuk stays up all night working on a new manifesto for Kirin, called “Dream High,” where he lays out how music should be considered art and not a commodity, and presents it proudly to Principal Shi the next day.
He gets a patronizing pat on the back for all his work, and Principal Shi tells him to take his three special entry students into the university prep class (the class where music goes to die). He realizes that the school has already given up on them and plans to ditch them there, and he digs his heels in, as it sinks in that the uphill battle has just begun.
Hye-mi makes a move to return the pendant to Baek-hee’s locker, but can’t bring herself to do it. She holds on to it, swearing that it’ll just be for a little bit longer. Sam-dong watches her curiously.
She goes to dance class, where Baek-hee confronts her about the pendant. Took you long enough to figure it out. Her toadie starts to search Hye-mi’s pockets, but Jin-gook steps in. Just when you think he’s coming to her rescue, he does the opposite, by telling Hye-mi to cough it up.
He finds the pendant in her pocket and returns it to Baek-hee, telling Hye-mi to act like herself; she doesn’t need a stupid pendant because she’s plenty talented on her own. It’s like a back-handed rescue…which then gets totally wiped out by Sam-dong, who rushes in to deck Jin-gook in the face, for outing Hye-mi. Haha. Fisticuffs already? This love triangle is going to be So. Good.
The boys tussle, and get interrupted by Kyung-jin, who sends them to the proper class…Kirin’s graveyard.
In a montage, we see that the ensuing days are hard on the three kids, especially Hye-mi, who gets hazed like nobody’s business. At one point she gets egged, and Sam-dong runs up to shield her with his jacket. Their English lesson by Jin-man consists of conjugating verbs like “finish, give up, and deny,” heh, and they sit deflated.
Hye-mi walks out, and Sam-dong takes Jin-good aside to talk. He tells Jin-gook that if he apologizes to Hye-mi for making her out to be a thief in front of everyone, then he’ll apologize for hitting Jin-gook.
Jin-gook says that he was just trying to knock some sense into Hye-mi, because in her own words, those sorts of trinkets are for people who have no skills to rely on. But Sam-dong explains that it’s not about her singing. When she had that pendant, her father called: “If you had seen the look on her face, you wouldn’t have taken it away from her.”
Is it possible for her to date both of them at once? Can there be some kdrama rule of exception for a case like this?
They get interrupted by Hye-mi, who calls everyone to attention with a bullhorn in the middle of the auditorium. She announces that she’s no longer going to take their terrorizing her, and she puts up a challenge: if she beats Baek-hee in the midterm exams, then everybody apologizes and the terror stops. She vows to show everyone that the pendant’s original thief was Baek-hee, who stole her audition out from under her.
Sam-dong stares drop-jawed, and Jin-gook smiles, now satisfied that Hye-mi has returned.
Baek-hee asks what she gets if she wins. Hye-mi says that she’ll acknowledge that she’s a thief, and accept everything they say about her. She adds, leveling a glare: “But don’t worry, because I’m gonna win.”
Aw, hells yeah!
COMMENTS
What a difference a week makes. I liked this drama for what it could be last week, but now it’s totally stepping up to the plate. Why am I so invested? I don’t even really know. I think the cast of characters is just really refreshing, because while the story’s setup is predictable, the characters are interesting subversions of the typical one-dimensional archetypes. Everyone’s got surprising layers and reasons for us to love AND hate them, from the prickly heroine down to her nemesis, who’s overcompensating for all her lack of self-esteem.
I love all the friendships and love triangles that cross, double, and triple-cross…it’s exactly what you want in a high school drama, complete with dance-offs. I mean, what’s with the awesome?
I’m glad we’re settled into the school now, because the backstory was necessary but dragged the thing down. We all just wanted to get here, and now that we are, it’s shaping up to be quite the addictive ride. Sometimes you just need a drama like this: one that you know will be utterly satisfying and deliver on its very simple premise.
Also, it doesn’t hurt that the boys in this drama are SO distractingly pretty. What?
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Tags: Bae Yong-joon, Dream High, featured, Ham Eun-jung, Jang Woo-young, Kim Soo-hyun, Suzy, Taecyeon
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51 luckyme
January 12, 2011 at 6:19 AM
thanks for the update gf. I am not really hooked to this drama as of now. also i am confused totally as to who is paired to whom
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52 dubusangtae.
January 12, 2011 at 6:46 AM
am i the only one rooting for baek hee and not hye mi?
i swear i don't noe why but i really dislike the hye mi charater...==" her first ep impression has really stayed with me
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Okie Dokie
January 12, 2011 at 9:49 AM
I didn't see your comment when I posted. I'm with you in rooting for Baek Hee as well.
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Mochi
January 12, 2011 at 2:40 PM
thats only your opinion
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Okie Dokie
January 13, 2011 at 10:58 AM
Apparently it's not. And you don't have to get so defensive, it's just someone's opinion.
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marce49
January 16, 2011 at 2:07 AM
I like her more than the "lead". And also think that Jin Gook should atleast become interested in her other than the other girl. He is much more interesting than Sam Dong
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53 Rina
January 12, 2011 at 6:53 AM
Thanks girlfriday & JB for these recaps b/c now I'm hooked on this drama!
I was worried about getting emotionally invested since the last few dramas that I've been mesmerized by the beginning have tanked towards the end.
Sam-dong is so cute! Jin-wook is sweet but I totally adore Sam-dong.
I haven't decided on rooting for Hye-mi or Baek Hee yet. I like that Baek Hee is breaking out of Hye-Mi's shadow but I don't like that she's becoming every manipulative and use underhanded tactics like putting a tack in her rival's shoe. Out of the girls, Pil-sook is still my favorite. I'm rooting for her and Jason!
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54 mizzychan (｡◕‿◕｡)
January 12, 2011 at 7:02 AM
i dont know but since ep 1, i just dont really like baek hee ~~ and surprisingly i loved hye mi's character more !! :3
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55 ivy_factiva
January 12, 2011 at 7:03 AM
Is anyone bothered by the fact that there's no LOCK on their student LOCKERS? i mean first it was the thumb tack sabotage in ah-joong's shoes and then now hyemi almost returning baekhee the pendant. (This reminds me of how i keep facepalming over the door that doesn't lock at Sanggojae in Personal Taste).
Oh wait. Over logical self. I forgot this is Dramaland.
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JadeJoker
January 15, 2011 at 2:03 PM
I was under the impression that in Asia they don't use locks on their lockers. I have NEVER seen any (high) school drama in which a student has locked their doors. Or read any mangas in which that happened.
Which is why bullying is so much more intense there.
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56 rich
January 12, 2011 at 7:44 AM
Gaaah, yea drama... I'm so in love with the cuteness! ^^
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57 Lahlita
January 12, 2011 at 8:53 AM
Thanks for the recap, Girlfriday-unni. I hadn't started watching the drama yet because life is in the way and it's another quarter-end (damn you, financial industry!), but I might have to start. Between Sam-dong and Jin-gook, I'm hooked. Sweet, pretty boys being sweet and pretty? I'll be there with bells on!
Also, I don't think we'll have crazy shipper wars this time. According to the poster she's ending up with Sam-dong (who is gorgeous ... those eyes, those lips, my goodness), but I honestly do not care how she gets there, because both boys are so frackin' appealing. The character of Hye-mi is the best viewer avatar ever, not because I can identify with her (I can't), but because, hello, have you seen those boys! Hell, yes!
Oh yeah, and the message of chasing your dreams is nice too.
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58 Dara
January 12, 2011 at 9:05 AM
How many times do I have to watch these kids drop their mic on stage in this drama? lol
You know I think it's president Jung who pulling the trigger in the first place by handing out that K-pendent! Just like in the pic when you play snooker you hit the first move and all the balls bounce different ways. If this is really his intention, I would say epic move.
*whispering* dare I say neener neener to JB now? You know all these kids are quite fresh compares to KTH/SSH. Hehe.
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59 Maki
January 12, 2011 at 9:12 AM
I won't be attempting to watch this drama since theres just too much of Suzy and yea her face can get annoying. If only Eunjung was the lead.
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Mochi
January 12, 2011 at 2:43 PM
= = thtas only your opinion
its too late to complain
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marce49
January 16, 2011 at 2:09 AM
Exactly!!! I mean I think she should have been the lead!
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60 Windsmeify
January 12, 2011 at 9:24 AM
I love WooU couple!!!!!
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61 fatraspberry
January 12, 2011 at 9:32 AM
this ep is probably the greatest ep so far :D it makes me wanna keep watching. :)
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62 Okie Dokie
January 12, 2011 at 9:47 AM
Am I the only one that is still on Baek Hee's side? I don't find the Hye Mi character all that redeeming. She's still a brat. So she has some hardships, but that was no way to treat her one and only friend. And then to be all pissy because she's getting a taste of her own medicine? I don't know, I can't get on board with her. Baek Hee even tried to rekindle their friendship just to be shot down. So, I just don't find her likable. Not at this point anyways.
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63 alice
January 12, 2011 at 10:45 AM
anyone know where i can watch this with eng subs? thx in advance
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jeanne1123
January 12, 2011 at 6:49 PM
Youtube, mysoju, and dramacrazy.net.
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alice
January 12, 2011 at 7:19 PM
wow i feel like a total idiot
thank you tho!
i usually check soompi thread bc i would think they would be the most insider..
but i got like darksmurf / download links
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64 Alvina
January 12, 2011 at 11:01 AM
I dont understand why we even HAVE to take sides. HM and BH being ~real~ characters with issues would be a breath of fresh air; I'd hate for them to continue being the typical k-drama stereotypes that they're veering to right now.
I understand taking sides in terms of shipping (it's so hard to choose between two winning male characters) but I hope they give depth to the female leads.
Everyone in real life are shades of gray rather then the black or white of k-drama world lol... k-dramas that are successes know that.
That said, I need more Jason/pil-sook.... the only reason I'm watching this, really LOL
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65 Rachael
January 12, 2011 at 11:31 AM
Haha, GirlFriday I think your subconscious decided to show off your preference in this recap.
Jin-good hehe.
I know it's just once, but it tickles me since that's a pretty accurate nickname for him so far.
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Rachael
January 12, 2011 at 11:33 AM
Also I agree with the "Why can't she date both?" after all, they've done it in a few Kmovies. Why not decide to finally go for it in a Kdrama? It would be fabulous as that in itself would also create drama just for existing, especially in a high school!
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66 lilly
January 12, 2011 at 11:59 AM
After watching two episodes all I can say is : Gosh this drama is so bad and so...fake ? The second lead female is the usual bad girl toward the main lead female character who will loose at the end. By episode 1 you know the end and who will win and who will end with whom. The main female lead looks unappealing and has an unappealing vibe therefore you can't see why two boys will chase her. This is the strict rule of kdramaland.
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67 micheal
January 12, 2011 at 12:00 PM
I'm rooting for Go Hye Mi now. Up until now, she's still a arrogant, careless girl, but she sure will grow up in the future. At least, she doesn't hurt anybody for her own advance like evil Baek Hee. not that i hate Baek Hee but i just can't stand her selfishness. however, I do admire her for the desire of improving and proving her true ability to everyone.
I actually freaking love the part when Jin-gook and Hye-Mi stand in snow under the umbrella. They are so cute together.
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jeanne1123
January 12, 2011 at 6:47 PM
I agree with you. They are just so cute!
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68 chrislawrence
January 12, 2011 at 12:49 PM
you guys are were completely right about this drama! at first I was kinda iffy about it, but now I'm loving the characters and the bits of hilarity!
I was dieing when the aunt was playing favorites, especially when she goes, "oh, Jin-gook, you must work out" XD
and I KNEW! she was going to tell them to call her noona XDD
And Hye-mi, I honestly thought I was going to hate her, cause everything thing she did seemed over done, but now, I'm getting annoyed with Baek-hee and her "innocence" act. *bleech* :P
And I'm going to have Hye-mi tantrum when the romance starts to unfold more with Sam-dong and Jin-gook. I'm already jealous!! especially since apparently Suzy is my age!! SO LUCKY! LOL
okay, I'm typing too much >.>
CAN'T WAIT FOR EPISODE 5-6!!!
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chrislawrence
January 12, 2011 at 12:51 PM
well, Suzy is one year younger than me (which is WORST!)
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69 gemma
January 12, 2011 at 12:58 PM
wow...totally rooting for Hye Mi and hoping she kicks Baek-hee's arse!
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70 badmamajama
January 12, 2011 at 1:18 PM
i don't think this show has a villian or a saint which most Kdramas have . at least i choose not to look at it that way . i feel like Eun Jung is going to run away with the show i kim soo hyun doesnt beat her to it .
after watching this i was like MORE jason and IU MORE man makeovers MORE Kim soo hyun MORE sing off's and dance off's MORE MORE MORE .
iw as scared it was going down hill after the firsst two episodes but am hooked . i love how both the guys are looking at hye mi in different light . i can't choose
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71 Lithel
January 12, 2011 at 1:31 PM
I was thinking of how I hate girls slapping each other, and then I was reminded of Don't Hesitate, and come to think about it, Baek Hee kind of looks like the second lead of that drama...
I hope she doesn't become like her but so far it's not looking good...
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72 TeARsFade
January 12, 2011 at 1:33 PM
loving this drama already.
best episode so far :)
hopefully it'll just keep on getting better
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73 Ace
January 12, 2011 at 1:37 PM
Don't know why I'm getting hooked. It's not cute-adorable-funny as My Princess. It's not heart-wrenching and magical as Secret Garden. And obviously 21-yr old Joo-won's not here.
I watched ep 4 first and planned on skipping ep 3 since I had read the recaps already and it sounded sort of boring. But I couldn't help myself. What can I say? Hye-mi's growing on me. I adore her little sister (since The Great Gye Choon-bin). And I'm intrigued by Sam-dong. And since Bae yong-joon made his exit already that's one more reason to stick around, right?
I planned on watching Athena this week instead of this, but so sorry dear Siwon. You have so little screen time there so I'm just settling for screencaps of you for now. High school drama or spy drama? Ah well, I've already started with Dream High so must finish this first. ;)
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74 geebaby!
January 12, 2011 at 3:45 PM
I'm pretty sure the photographer is tailing Jingook/because there was a photographer taking pictures, among the many, who was wearing a mysterious ring in the scene where Jingook and Hyemi were stuck on stage, and the photographer who was taking pictures of Jingook after talking to his father also had that same ring on.. Right?
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75 chatzilola~
January 12, 2011 at 4:17 PM
the guys' characters are perfect and the acting isn't bad at all - u - i'm currently rooting for hye mi tho, even tho she WAS bitchy in the beginning, its her spunk, and a shield she puts up to continue on.
i see alot of comments about her speech at the end being over the top, but she had been bullied mercilessly and i really think i would have liked her less if she didn't stand up for herself and give that speech.
she really did appreciate baek hee's friendship deep inside, especially back when she had the flashback of buying the heart strap with her. i think her tough girl facade is just too much of a habit for her to reveal that to baek hee, especially with the girl now set on being hye mi's rival.
i do admire the way baek hee's character was written though, the old "we used to be friends" scenario turned into something much more realistic as BH has to face her fears and over come her HM complex. her reason for being "evil" is alot better than many of the romance drama "bitches" ive seen. :)
(whoa, that was long o_O")
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76 Stephanie
January 12, 2011 at 4:30 PM
I originally felt sorry for Baek Hee, but now shes just turned into a psychotic bitch.
Although Hye Mi is mean on the outside, shes really a softie on the inside, her mean girl side is just an act because shes so prideful.
Baek Hee... the more this drama goes on, the faker she becomes and the more I hate her guts
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Laura
January 12, 2011 at 7:01 PM
prideful =/= rude, ignorance and unkind (which are all the characteristics you can read from HyeMi's forehead).
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77 Stephanie
January 12, 2011 at 4:32 PM
I originally felt sorry for Baek Hee, but now shes just turned into a psychotic bitch.
Although Hye Mi is mean on the outside, shes really a softie on the inside, her mean girl side is just an act because shes so prideful. She really wants Baek Hee back but her pride won't let her forgive BH for beating her at auditions.
Baek Hee... the more this drama goes on, the faker she becomes and the more I hate her guts
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78 kdlover
January 12, 2011 at 4:34 PM
Im really trying to like this show..its pretty good so far but the main girl acting is really turning me off!! Im not familiar with kpop so i dont know who she is but she is sooo wooden,...not sure what it is but i dont like her acting!!
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79 Sin
January 12, 2011 at 5:10 PM
If they up the Sam-dong/Jin-gook bromance, then this drama will seriously become one of my favorite crack-dramas.
I love the tangled romances. I especially love how Sam-dong and Jin-gook are taking different approaches to wooing Hye-mi, both of which are totally awesome, yet highlight their differing connections to her. They're both trying to help/protect her, it's just that they're helping/protecting different pieces of her: Sam-dong, her mostly introverted emotions and Jin-gook, her mostly extroverted emotions. They're both integral pieces of her character, so it defines the two guys against each other without making them feel redundant. Mostly I'm psyched that so far neither of them is hiding their feelings and carving out their place as the second lead. Second leads always break my heart! I love that I can't quite tell who's going to get the girl yet.
Pil-sook and Jason are still my favorite. How do they cram so much cute into so little screen time?
And make-overs? Fffttttt. Who doesn't love that noise? Sam-dong's utterly awkward confusion are suddenly becoming pretty (PRETTYPRETTYPRETTY)? Made of 100% awesome.
I also love that there are FISTICUFFS FOR ALL. Hair-tugging cat fights, fist-flying bouts in the name of defending honor (as the white knight fights... the other white knight!), vocal throw-downs. MOAR DANCE BATTLES NEXT PLEASE.
I also adore that amidst all the in your face aggression, there are so many quiet beats of characters getting into inner fisticuffs with themselves. I especially like how they're handling Pil-sook's weight loss issues thus far. While I hate the WE DEMAND YOU LOOSE X-AMOUNT OF WEIGHT EACH WEEK and all that, I'm glad to see they're countering it with her realistic struggles. Oh how I hope they continue to keep up that honesty (and move it forward with an emphasis on being healthy, please)!
I absolutely love a good underdog story and in this story every character is an underdog.
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80 minosukki
January 12, 2011 at 5:14 PM
I like Baek Hee less and less as the drama gets on..She's becoming so bitch, and such a wannabe. Though Hye Mi seems snobby one the outside but that's just her defense mechanism. She's been going through a lot and you can see her nice sides...Love the two male leads :D
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81 Liana
January 12, 2011 at 5:14 PM
Initially i was only planning on watching this drama for the side couple of Jason/Pilsook, but I decided I would try paying attentention to and hopefully enjoy the main characters. But honestly, Suzy's (main girl) acting is so stiff, and her facial expressions and attempt at level changes in her voice is really annoying me. Even if Baekhee is turning into a bitch, i can't help but like he more than the main girl. The whole idea of getting viewers to have sympathy for the main girl who goes from a brat to a good girl isn't working out for me, probably because Suzy's acting isn't convincing me.
I'll just be devoting most of my attention to Jason and Pilsook for now. xD Hopefully Hye Mi doesn't get involved in their relationship >___>
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82 Caarol
January 12, 2011 at 6:06 PM
I love Hyemi! Are you guys kidding? I think you need to be in her shoes to understand her character, because she's not that bratty/stuck-up on the inside. It's just an outer shell, because she's too afraid to let anyone in.
And her whole arrogant personality is much better than the fake, evil Baek Hee ...
I loved Baek Hee until she put that tack in her shoe. Aw come on, I know you want to beat Hye Mi, but you should beat her with your own talents, not some sneaky little tack that'd injure your component's feet.
Hyemi hwaiting!
P.S I'm sooo torn between who to root for!! :( Taecyeon or Kim Soo Hyun. Awww man!! This is like picking between Taecyeon and Nichkhun!
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83 jeanne1123
January 12, 2011 at 6:39 PM
Thanks for the recap Girlfriaday. I'm loving this drama. Especially the cuteness of the pairings. And I don't know if this sounds odd but I do understand Hye mi. She's just protecting herself. You know you became like that when you've already experience countless of pains and heartaches. That's when people tend to hide themselves from the world yet keeping their dreams alive.
And the pairing that I want to root for is the so-called impossible pair 'coz they wouldn't end up together because they said the guy's not the main lead. Yeah. It's Jin gook-Hye mi for me. And I know I should have a change of heart while it's still in its early episode to avoid being heartbroken. But still... I can't help it. I love to see them together. I love how Jin gook understands Hye mi. I love how he protects her in his own little way. I love how they bicker and yet be on the same side. Oh! I just love everything about them!
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84 danni
January 12, 2011 at 6:42 PM
Finally, Kim Soo Hyun gets to sing. I was wondering how well he would compare with all the idols in the drama but I think he's holding his own. The sing-off was AMAZING and it was about time too, I was beginning to think we'd never see any of the cast show off their talents.
Even though Hye Mi and Baek Hee are both bitchy, I find myself rooting for both of them (except when they're up against each other, than I'm usually all for Hye Mi). I don't believe Baek Hee's acting the way she is so we'll root for Hye Mi. Hye Mi is already bankrupt, chased by debt collectors, living with the man whom her mom left her family for, and cannot go to Julliard to pursue her dreams. I think she is pathetic enough to root for without the addition of Baek Hee bullying. Sure Hye Mi's attitude doesn't help in rooting for her, but for me, the hope that Hye Mi will change, though it seems far off, is what makes me like her. Baek Hee's bullying is only to help Baek Hee boost her own self-confidence, which this episode showed is something she definitely lacks. If Hye Mi's bad attitude stems from too much pride, Baek Hee's is from too little. I want to see Baek Hee gain that confidence, without needing to push down others to feel superior. Both of them have a lot of growing to do which makes them sort of likeable.
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85 jeanne1123
January 12, 2011 at 7:04 PM
Can someone tell me if Kim Soo Hyun's the main male lead? Where can I confirm/see/read it? I just want to know. Please?
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86 Lalaland
January 12, 2011 at 7:16 PM
If Hyemi works for the money support, Baekhee works for the spiritual support. Their reasons that fuel them to go on are just as strong as each other.
But people sometimes seems to value Hyemi's "money support" as something more important than the spiritual value Baekhee is seeking for.
Let's spare a moment to pick between 2 possibilities: Don't have a place to live (but can live with friends and have supports from them) or live under the same roof but even your mother don't believe in your worth. Which one is worse? I said both are just as sad as the other.
People say the reason to fuel BH's action is weak b/c she works for fame, popularity.... That's very wrong! BH has to work to show her worth to the one who's closest to her, her mother, who should be the first one that believe and support BH. That's just as stressful as HM works to save her sister and herself.
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87 bobo
January 12, 2011 at 8:22 PM
I hope Hye-mi just keeps failing until she loses her "I'm better than everyone else" mentality. I can't sympathize with her character at all. I don't see Baek-hee as the villain.. at least for now. Hye-mi was a total b-word to Baek-hee, and when BH tries to mend their friendship, HM blows her off again--as if BH was the one who betrayed HER. Revenge is inevitable.
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88 bobo
January 12, 2011 at 8:27 PM
Hye-mi's sister is SO adorable
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89 Kim
January 12, 2011 at 9:16 PM
Atleast Hye mi is just being true to herself. She's arrogant and confident and a complete bitch but she doesn't try to hide it. Her problem is that she's got way too much pride dammit.
Now BaekHee on the other hand... see I used to be on her side but the thing she did with the thumbtacks, went way past the line. Other that that bit though, I would've been rooting for her all the way.
Meh i care more about Sam dong and Jason/Pil sook storyline anyway hehehe.
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90 Dara
January 12, 2011 at 9:16 PM
I hope we will not have shipper war in here with HM/BH. I lost my appetite writing comment in Coffee House because of that!
To be honest, I found EJ fans rather aggressive in those days. Please enjoy drama as it goes and wait for the story to develop. For me, I love all , it's kind of fresh to see them struggling and growing at the same time.
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Maddy
January 12, 2011 at 9:27 PM
I think all shippers are aggressive, not just EJ. I did find some SY shippers to be quite aggressive as well.
I do agree that it would be nice to let the story unfold... though I think it's fair game to talk about the characters (and their development). Both characters have good and bad sides, so it's natural we're bound to feel for one more than the other.
It would be nice if we all steer away from calling the opposing shipper things like: idiot, blind, dumb, stupid and etc.
I think that is rude and unnecessary.
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Jane
January 13, 2011 at 5:23 PM
I think she means Eun Jung, who is the actress who played SY. Her fans have already begun to start "wars" on other sites. Seeing that brought a lot of clarity to me concerning the root of the shipper war of 2010. I bet if the character becomes as evil as Kim So Yeon in All About Eve, they'll still argue that Hye Mi is worse.
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Maddy
January 13, 2011 at 5:54 PM
I knew she who she meant for EJ. SY = PSY.
I haven't seen a lot of "wars" on this site or even in soompi, although I admit to skimming through soompi briefly.
I haven't seen anyone calling either side of the ship delusional, stupid or what not yet... at least not in here and partly not in soompi. I think it's fair to critique the actresses/actors acting and overall development of the drama (all inclusive of character and plot).
I haven't seen all about eve so I can't compare, however I think it's a little judgmental to declare what you said at the end. HM isn't all good, and BH isn't all bad; BH has some actual depth to her and HM is starting show some of her depth. I wonder if KSY's character has similar depth for the audience to connect with.
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Jane
January 13, 2011 at 6:15 PM
My mistake, then.
I'll be happy to be wrong which would mean that many enjoy the show and characters and don't get caught up with the actors. From all I see, many EJ fans can't differentiate her from her characters which ends up creating unnecessary wars and drama in the fandom.
91 Maddy
January 12, 2011 at 9:17 PM
BH's psychological development is compelling; and I love that she has depth despite being the typical evil second lead.
I haven't seen the same depth in the other leads, which I believe will be fleshed out as the drama unfolds, but I wonder if their struggle with be as thrilling as BH. This is a silent struggle with which many teenagers (to even early adulthood) struggle. Not all of us can be rich, talented and be blessed in all ways, however, some of us may have fallen victim to the inferiority complex, especially Asians where we're taught we're never good enough.
I don't like what she does, but I don't have the heart to hate her.... because I know at some point I've probably cheated on a test, wanted to feel better about myself and do loads other things to overcompensate for my lack of confidence.
I hope I get to connect and feel similar things for other leads... otherwise I'll be on a sinking ship and man does that suck.
On another note, that screen capture at the top with JG and HM is mad adorable. Such warm fuzziness.
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92 tapegunslinger
January 12, 2011 at 10:25 PM
I can't wait for the next episode! The pacing of this show is great, I'm glad they didn't drag the set up out for too long.
I'm starting to go sour on Baek-hee. I liked her at first and thought she was sweet but her smugness is starting to bother me a little bit. It's weird because I can totally understand WHY she would want Hye-mi to eat some humble pie but it's not resonating in a way to make me feel sympathetic. I guess it's because she's resorting to backstabbing and fakery to accomplish her goals...
And Hye-mi is growing on me. She's bitchy but at least she's forward about things. I definitely thought she deserved the results from the auditions but this week's episodes deepen her character to more than a spoiled brat.
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93 슬픈 너구리
January 12, 2011 at 11:53 PM
i caved in and ended up watching.
just done reading the recaps too and could not agree more.
what drew me at first was the buzz it was making (both good and bad) and the pics from the recaps as i scrolled through them.
CANT 2PM s TY and that cutie from WILL IT SNOW THIS XMAS (is it?) BE 6 YEARS OLDER?!!!?
i m so torn b/e them and i m soooooooooooooooo hooked! this is like SG up till the past 2 episodes...
i do have an ever so slightly softer spot for sam dong tho....
gaaaaaaaah, why must he be born in the year of the dragon.... 나쁜 놈...그 소년이 예쁠 뿐만 아니라 남자답게 자란다. 죽겠다 잔짜ㅏ! ㅠ_ㅠ
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94 malia
January 13, 2011 at 10:02 AM
After watching 4 episodes now i'm really starting to feel sorry for the cast. You can totally see their breath whenever their at school - they must be freezing.
Other than that I LOVE IT!
Really can't wait for the Jason/Pil-sook romantic development - their so cute :) <3
Also the eye candy is sooooooo good. Kim Soo Hyun i love you!!!!!!!!!
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95 Bean Addict
January 13, 2011 at 10:37 AM
I am ADDICTED to Dream High. Even though I know that you guys won't put the recap up until the next morning, I STILL check like every 15 minutes at night for the next one. So PPPppplllleeeeaaaassseeee (I know you're doing your best) put the recap up as soon as you can?
And I don't care which guy Hye Mi ends up with b/c BOTH are awesome!!
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96 sleipnir
January 13, 2011 at 11:49 AM
I find it silly that they're actually both good to their friends and only go into angry mode infront of each other. lol.
Baek hee's mad at the world that always underestimated her, and she's going to unleash all hell on hye mi.
On the other hand Hye mi is just on the defensive, protecting her pride/image.
and yeah.. 'starting to hate on Baek hee being more evil than hye mi was on the first episodes.
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97 Anjo
January 13, 2011 at 2:25 PM
Why do we always see their breaths? Even when they are inside D:
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98 lala
January 14, 2011 at 1:54 AM
Taecyeon's character annoys me!
I can't believe he called Hyemi out in front of everyone like that! He acts so self-righteous but he has no idea what he wants/what he's doing. I hate fake alpha males who act like girls are just pathetic and weak.
TEAM SAM-DONG!
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99 gumiho lover
January 14, 2011 at 10:56 PM
I sincerely hope that Hye mi will end up with BOTH of the guys...i want it to be like this:
Hye mi and Jin gook moments first
but then we also have
Hye mi and Sam dong moments as well
and then we have LOTS AND LOTS OF
SAM DONG AND JIN GOOK MOMENTS!!! :)
oh and baek hee has no one yay! ^^
tho i can't wait for accidents or incidents to happen inside the house with the threesome (keke)
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100 Gabby
January 14, 2011 at 11:35 PM
I've been checking up on drama beans for dream high eps as YouTube vies have no subs, I've been reading drama beans reviews since playful kiss and this is my FIRST time commenting
I LOVE DREAM HIGH <3
Thank you for the reviews, luv you!
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