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Flower Boy Ramyun Shop: Episode 7

There’s a surreal, almost manhwa-like sheen of farcical humor coating the surface of this show, but then there are moments of real connection and emotion. Jung Il-woo has been dramatically intense before (Return of Iljimae) as well as hilariously oddball (49 Days), but this drama gets him to use both extremes of his range. The humorous side gives Chi-soo this outlandish, comical brat side, but then he’ll turn on a switch and show the vulnerability underneath. I love that.

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EPISODE 7: “Flower Boy Ramyun Shop”

So Chi-soo offers to work the ramyun shop after all, goaded by the knowledge that Eun-bi will be there. I vastly enjoy that throughout the brief commercial break, Chi-soo is up in the corner, making adorable faces at us.

Eun-bi chases him out to ask incredulously why he’s taking on the job. He tells her he’s considering it a lesson in work experience and flashes his crayon contract at her to tell her that she has no say in this.

He drives off leaving Eun-bi confused and frustrated, howling at the moon (which bears Chi-soo’s winking face), “Why are you doing this to me? WHYYYY?!”

The newly assembled team gets to work renovating the shop with some hired help, but it turns out that the hired ajusshis are annoyed because all of the shop’s helpers are useless. For instance, Ba-wool and his friends hammer the wrong things, Hyun-woo is so nervous he’ll paint the wall badly that he wields the brush like an artist making a very slow masterpiece, and Kang-hyuk — what else? — sleeps. I love that he uses a paint roller as a pillow.

Then there’s Chi-soo, who strolls in late, wearing his idea of work gear — which might work in a Vogue spread interpretation of hard labor, perhaps. He looks about as realistic a construction worker as a stripper. He’s dressed in a black trench coat (see? totally stripper), wearing a hard hat set at a jaunty angle, and brings in his own folding chair so he can sit in the middle of the shop like a director managing his crew.

When they’re done, the battered old sign reading “Eun-bi’s Snack Shop” is taken down, and replaced by a shiny new one. The team looks up at their new sign with satisfaction — minus Eun-bi, who mutters, “Flower boys, my ass.” The new sign reads: Flower Boy Ramyun Shop.

As they shop for groceries, Eun-bi pesters Kang-hyuk to un-hire Chi-soo, insisting that he’s totally unsuited for the job. She’s outlined the reason a dozen times, but Kang-hyuk asks what her real reason is for not wanting to work with Chi-soo. Startled at the point-blank question, she gapes a moment, then declares, “I just dislike him!”

Ba-wool storms up, complaining about having to share a room with Hyun-woo, that weirdo, and insists on having his own. Kang-hyuk smiles at Eun-bi: “Then I’ll have to move into Wifey’s room.” Quick as a flash, she turns on Ba-wool: “Just share!” Haha.

Ba-wool can’t stand the awkwardness of sharing with Hyun-woo, so he starts to whine and pout, tugging on Kang-hyuk’s arm pleadingly. Eun-bi won’t be outdone and joins the whining, until they’re both like little kids clinging to Dad’s arm.

That night, Ba-wool walks in while Hyun-woo’s in the middle of his skincare regimen, finding it weird and uncomfortable. Here’s a mismatched alpha-beta pairing if ever there was one.

Chi-soo tells Dad about his new job, describing it as work experience needed to take over the company. “I can’t do stuff like MBAs.” (Or, you know, real work.)

Dad supposes this has something to do with that intern teacher, and asks why he’s still fixated when his suffocated chest problem has been resolved. Chi-soo declares that he’s got a new problem now with his eyes (hence the Eun-bi hallucinations), but doesn’t want to answer why: “Stop asking! You know how I hate questions!” Ha, if only I could get out of sticky situations with that excuse.

Dad wonders if Chi-soo’s eye problems result from him losing face (or more literally, “selling” his face). Secretary Man reports one more curious fact: The store Chi-soo will be working at happens to be the very same ramyun shop that Cha Sung had attempted to buy out (since it’s located right in front of the corporation’s building). Dad declares that they’ll buy out that shop, and also buy back Chi-soo’s lost face. Ha, I love that he takes that expression literally, like you could just buy back your pride with money. Maybe it’s thinking like that that makes it so easy to lose it in the first place.

Chi-soo plays a baseball game on his tablet, but up pops Eun-bi’s face, superimposed over the pitcher’s. Not even surprised, he muses, “You again?” He tosses the tablet away and shoves his rolling chair away from his desk…and then scoots himself back awkwardly to pick the computer back up. With a rueful smile, he figures, “Fine, let’s take this as far as it goes.” Aw. He’s finally admitted to himself he likes her.

The next day he shows up to the shop, acting like the owner again rather than mere employee, and cuts the “ribbon” to mark their opening.

Dong-joo and Coach make their way over to the grand opening, and she sighs about Eun-bi’s poor luck with men, having heard about the new owner’s propensity to sleep on impulse, figuring he’s a lazy slob. Ha, yeah let’s see if your “pity” lasts when you get to the shop.

Dong-joo gets a phone call from her well-to-do fiancé, and makes a point to practice getting her tone just right — feminine, gentle — to act the part of the perfect sweet girlfriend. Coach deliberately zips up his jacket and leans in to say, “I’m all dressed now,” leaving it to the fiancé to misinterpret that as he will. Heh. There’s something in the Coach’s demeanor that suggests he may be pining for Dong-joo — the real Dong-joo, all loud and argumentative and unvarnished. We shall see.

When they get to the shop, they stand there mouths agape at the bustle. Women are literally lining up outside, sending moony looks at each of the employees — especially Chi-soo, who mans the side dish station, handing out little dishes of pickled radish and tossing out “You’re so pretty” compliments to each guest.

After the shop closes that night, Eun-bi, Dong-joo and Coach wonder at Chi-soo’s decision to work there. Could he be out for revenge?

Coach imagines a scenario — acted out by stand-ins for Chi-soo and Eun-bi — where Chi-soo insists that Eun-bi return to her old job, demanding, “How much money will it take?” He grabs her face and leans in… at which point Dong-joo interrupts, “How corny!” She calls it a lame scenario straight out of an old-fashioned drama. (Hilariously, Fantasy Chi-soo and Fantasy Eun-bi stop their scene at her outburst, and the camera pulls back to reveal a shooting set — like it is, indeed, a scene out of a cheesy drama.)

Dong-joo’s got a better hypothesis: Her Fantasy Chi-soo comes decked out in a sparkly tracksuit, all Hyun Bin style, alternately harassing and complimenting Fantasy Eun-bi on her strong arms.

The next morning, Eun-bi comes face to face with Chi-soo in the store, who blocks her path and smiles down at her. Suspicious, she asks what he’s up to and he replies pleasantly, “I’m just taking a look, to see what you really look like.”

She accuses him of having evil intent on his mind, as though he’s just working up new insults. For a brief second he looks surprised and asks, “Is that really what you think?”

Her lack of faith in him gets him pissy — not that we can blame her for doubting him — and he says if he was going to torment her, he’d do more than that. Like making her call him oppa again.

Business is hopping today, too, and Eun-bi grimaces at the clamor, stuffing some dough into her ears as earplugs. Ew. I’m not saying that’s how certain infections are caused, but I’d be wary of sticking anything yeasty into a bodily orifice, is all I’m sayin’.

Chi-soo’s at his radish station, already less charming than he was yesterday, sick of this work. He takes a break, affecting the pose of a tragic and long-suffering poetic hero. He sighs dramatically, “From a far-away place, somebody calls for me.” Just as a whiny girl yells, “Oppa, gimme more radish!”

Haha, I love how theatrical Chi-soo is about his life that is, funny enough, a lot more mundane than he thinks it. But who could blame him for growing up that way when Daddy Cha is the coddling kind, and even now sits gravely hearing the reports of “The Radish Incident”? The secretary says that rivals were ready to take that bit of gossip to the media circus, but they “just barely managed to block it.”

And what exactly do the stories say? “The true face of Cha Sung’s crown prince revealed! Not Hwanung after all, but Dangun!”

Hee. Hwanung is the mythical son of god in Korea’s origin myth, while Dangun was the actual historical founder. Although he was said to be Hwanung’s son, Dangun is a real person, and therefore a mere mortal.

But wait! The pun, she gets even better! Dangun in this case actually refers to “danmuji-gun,” which means Mr. Radish. HAHAHAHA.

The word spreads and soon Chi-soo’s posse is teasing him and call him Dangun-nim. The nickname makes him tetchy, so Hyun-woo advises him to just tell Eun-bi the truth: “Say that you went to the shop because you wanted to see her.”

Chi-soo protests that, balking at the inaccuracy: “It’s not that I wanted to see her, it’s that I couldn’t stand NOT to see her!” He says this indignantly, not registering that what he said isn’t, yunno, any better than Hyun-woo’s version. And then he looks up at one of those billboard screens, where he envisions Eun-bi with her volleyball again, and clarifies, “It’s because I hurt.”

Hyun-woo tells him that’s the same thing. Chi-soo retorts that it’s nothing like that — that this is the result of a huge shock, like after a disaster. He reminds Hyun-woo that women with curly hair, glasses, tracksuits, and body odor (the kind he lacks — not, I hope, actual foulness) aren’t women to him. But then his Eun-bi-vision reasserts itself and he gazes off at his hallucination, and his surliness changes into a moony-eyed smile.

Chi-soo concludes, “If I want to get over the shock, I have to see her constantly. This is treatment.” Oh, okay. Is that like doing more drugs to get over your addiction to drugs? Good luck with that.

But suddenly the mood changes when Hyun-woo catches sight of something and hurriedly excuses himself. Chi-soo sees a trio of rough-looking ajusshis — loan sharks, perhaps — and recalls Hyun-woo telling him about his father’s financial problems.

Chi-soo arrives at the store and calls out his bodyguards, who have been sent to monitor him. He adds another order to their list of duties, saying that they’re to also monitor the store, and that if any black-suited gangster-like guys come by to harass people, they’re to “beat ’em half to death.” Aw, that’s sweet, in a wacky sort of way.

But no! Next thing we know, a quartet of boys — Ba-wool’s buddies — arrive in the neighborhood, dressed up in suits and bearing housewarming gifts.

They spot So-yi also on her way to the shop and greet her enthusiastically as “hyungsoo-nim” (wife of my hyung, in this case Ba-wool) — which is why it’s all the more maddening when she chirps that she’s here to see Chi-soo. Urg. Somebody spit in her ramyun, please? Then she trips over her heels and the boys rush to help her, and I’m thinking this cannot end well.

At the shop, Kang-hyuk whips up some ramyun for Ba-wool, but Chi-soo declines the offer. He’s infatuated with his radish pile and says that this is all he craves — and then pictures Eun-bi’s face in a slice. Ha! He muses, “It’s time to take my medicine.” Riiight. Since love is a disease you catch and cure.

In the kitchen, Eun-bi works on kneading ramyun dough, and her hair slips loose of its tie and gets in her face. Two hands reach over and pull her hair back for her, and when she turns, it’s Kang-hyuk with a hair ribbon at the ready, smiling, “My wife is sexiest when she’s showing off her strength.” Ack, so adorable.

She lets him tie her hair, then asks, “Did you come here for something?” Kang-hyuk: “Yes, you.” Eeee! I love it. He lets that hang in the air for a moment, then holds out the bowl he brought, asking her to taste his soup. You cheeky hot bastard. And then he wipes the flour mark from her cheek, leaving her to smile in giddiness over his praise.

Her hair comes loose again, though, and this time it’s a different set of hands that reaches over to tie it back. Chi-soo takes her face in his hands and smiles, “Your face is so childish and obvious. So, why does it…keep…shining?”

The charged air is broken when Ba-wool barrels in and pushes Chi-soo aside, assuming that he’s grabbed her hair meaning to threaten her. Is this part of his revenge plot?

Kang-hyuk breaks up the boys, but he levels a serious look at Chi-soo and asks if that’s true, if revenge was the real reason he joined them. Chi-soo looks exasperated at the misconception and also a little hurt, which is sad for him but also not entirely undeserved.

Hyun-woo feels bad for his friend and starts to speak up, but Chi-soo hushes him, then turns to Eun-bi: “What do you think?”

She doesn’t know how to reply, but before she can, cries come from outside, shouting for Ba-wool. It’s his black-suited friends, being aggressively held by the bodyguards. OH NO. I thought this misunderstanding would be played for comedy, not to twist my heart up in knots! Nooooo.

Ba-wool angrily demands to know who the bodyguards are working for, and when Chi-soo steps to the front, they bow in deference to him. He sends them off with a chagrined look, knowing how this will be interpreted.

Chi-soo faces the others and says, “It seems there’s been a misunderstanding.” But Ba-wool is furious and assumes that this is Chi-soo being dirty and underhanded in his attempt to steal So-yi, even after he’d put on such a cool facade about making it a fair competition.

Explaining the reason for the bodyguards would be a convoluted process, so Chi-soo takes out his gold card and hands it to Hyun-woo, urging him to repay his father’s debt. It’s not smoothly done and he knows it, but he’s frustrated with being thought the bad guy in all this, even as Hyun-woo gets angry at him and refuses.

Chi-soo bursts out, “Why do you all get angry whenever I try to do anything? What am I supposed to do?!”

Eun-bi steps forward and takes the card, reserved for VVVIPs of Cha Sung. She holds it up and says, “The reason we get angry? Do you know what it takes to make one of these cards?” She lists off the minimum salary and employment qualifications required to get one of them:

Eun-bi: “This card isn’t relevant to anybody here. We’ve got a runaway, a guy chased by debt collectors, a fired twentysomething intern without a job. To us, this is our only workplace. The only place we can receive some acknowledgement and make some money. If you wanna throw this around, go to your playground. Children who hang around places where adults work are a public nuisance.”

Oh, this is so sad. She’s not wrong, which may be why it’s even sadder to be Chi-soo right now, who looks around, feeling wounded. All he sees is a wall of stern faces glaring at him.

Taking the card back, he says, “I see. Now I know what I have to do. I’ll leave.”

But! Just as he heads to the door, a man steps inside: Jae-ho, the cheating ex. The two men stare each other down, recognizing each other from the water-balloon-throwing incident in Episode 1, and Jae-ho asks if Boyfriend Chi-soo is working here with Eun-bi.

Chi-soo tells him flatly that it’s over — both his job and his relationship. He starts to clarify the scene with the water balloons, but before he can out the lie, Eun-bi swoops in with a fake smile and hurriedly coos, “Jagiiiiii! Yes, you’re right, I work here with my honey,” all sweetness and light.

Ba-wool gapes, Hyun-woo checks his hearing, and Kang-hyun looks confused.

Eun-bi shoots Chi-soo a pleading look, but he shakes her off and brushes himself off, like he’s about to toss her to the curb… and then sweeps her to his chest and declares through clenched teeth, “Of course! If I don’t see her every day, my eyes hurt. My eebbeunie [pretty].”

Eun-bi smiles with relief, until he adds, “In fact…we live together.” Ha, now this IS revenge, and he shoots her a challenging look. Like she’d risk correcting him now.

Later, Ba-wool demands to know how the hell Chi-soo came to be calling himself boyfriend. Chi-soo starts to explain, and the others — Kang-hyuk, Ba-wool, Hyun-woo — perk up, curious at his answer. Only to deflate when Eun-bi walks in and Chi-soo says pointedly, “You’ll have to ask Yang Eebbeunie to explain.”

Eun-bi has called him here for a request, and he acts bored while she struggles to muster the nerve. He turns to go, and she blurts, “I need you!”

And this is the resulting smile:

Eun-bi asks Chi-soo to keep acting as her boyfriend (specifically, as her jagi), just when Jae-ho’s around. Chi-soo wipes the satisfaction from his face and faces her with feigned ignorance, asking, “And what will you be acting as?” She says, uncomfortably, “Eebbeunie!”

To her relief, Chi-soo agrees to act in the Jagi and Eebbeunie show. But it won’t come free: “Whenever I want to see you, I’ll get to.”

 
COMMENTS

How cute — mixed with some moments when I actually felt sorry for Chi-soo, despite wanting this kind of humbling for him since Episode 1. And even though I felt for his hurt when Eun-bi rips into him about his fancy-shmancy VVVIP card, it’s what he needed to hear. He IS a child playing adult, and he IS in the way. If he doesn’t fix that, he’s going to do more damage than good.

That said, I’m relieved that they didn’t play out the misunderstanding for too long. Well, the misunderstanding still stands about Chi-soo’s motives for working at the shop, but the dynamic has swung back around now that Eun-bi needs his help. There’s no quicker way to defuse that tension than to tilt the balance of power in the opposite direction.

I’m curious to know if Jae-ho has any correlation to the ramyun shop that’ll keep him hanging around, because why else would they need to keep acting as a couple? Perhaps he’s connected to Cha Sung’s buyout attempt and will be making regular appearances. And while normally the fake-boyfriend thing feels like an overused cliche, this drama has been surprisingly swift in moving along its plot points, so I doubt it’ll be in effect long enough to become dead weight.

One thing I’m really enjoying is the Cha men’s literal interpretations of emotions, which is hilarious on a wordplay level, but also funny in a broader, general level. For instance, Daddy Cha’s interpretation of Chi-soo’s condition (he’s been humiliated, or lost face) is to take the words literally, meaning that he’s sold his face. And how to correct that? By buying it right back, of course. (It’s akin to thinking, “I’m so fed up!” “Just eat less then.”)

Then there’s the way Chi-soo interprets his emotions in terms of physical symptoms. If you consider the physical effects of certain feelings, he’s probably not too far off the mark — when you’re depressed, your chest might feel literally heavy, like there’s pressure being applied to your organs. But most of us — by which I mean, normal people — understand what they mean, not just what they are. Yet Chi-soo the emotional alien is completely lost, like there’s a broken connection between mind and body. It’s amusing, but also fascinating to watch him struggling to make connections that are completely obvious to Hyun-woo, for instance. The adage has never been more true, literally speaking, about building character “turning him into a person.”

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thx so much for the recaps!

Maybe someone’s already mentioned this, but I noticed today that the 4 actors playing the “flower boys” have Woo (우) in their names: Jung Il-Woo, Lee Ki-Woo, Jo Yoon-Woo, and Park Min-Woo… which makes me want to refer to them as the Woosome boys… the woo factor… ingredient woo… woo-ables… or maybe woo luv :)

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Oh, I love the Woosome boys ! :D

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me too!!!!! <3

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woo hoo!

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WOO HOO, two!

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I love how Kang -hyun writes with those colored pens!! It's so cute!

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Woe to the WOOsome Boys!good thinking there!~~~

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Woo know woo love it.

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aw thanks! ^^

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Then Woosome it is!

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WOOt !!! WOOt !!! WOOt!!!

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WOOSOME is Handsome!!

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yes, he's woonderful [hehehe]

btw I LOVE your use of adjectives. Javabeans you should write a novel.

And I love the way Eunbi incredulously says "왜~에~~!왜~에~~!" I do the same--she's so cute!

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nice:)) its woosome haha^^
seriously this drama is so addicting!!

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super AWESOME!!!!!!!

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thanks!! this is quick!

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thank u! thank u! your quick recaps for this show makes my day!

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First! Now we need the half naked scenes of Cha Chi Soo to complete the trifecta!!!!

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Have I mentioned that I love this show too?
And I love Gf and Jb even more for recapping this show...
*sending love signs your way DB*

And a little tidbit trivia...
Our four guys that are tied to the ramyun shop all have 'Woo' as the second part of the names
Cha Chi Soo -Jung il WOO
Choi Kang Hyuk - Lee Ki WOO
Kim Ba Wool - Park Min WOO
Woo Hyun Woo - Jo Yoon WOO

it my not be anything special but I managed to pick it up while watching the opening credits, and Hangul was taught to me in 2hours on Sunday... :)

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Thanks for the super fast recap as always! I get a kick reading them and it doubles my enjoyment for the drama.

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Yes yes thank you been waiting for it. Accidently saw ep 8's preview and have been dying for the recap. Thank you.

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Oops already had that at the swimming pool. Anybody know which movie the first revenge scenario is taken from? Also the actors look familiar.

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Thank you thank you. I was watching the raw and so happy to see your recaps! I guess I wasn't that far off in some scenes in my interpretation of what might be happening! I was wondering what is the radish obsession meant though. So funny.

7D - I love the Woosome boys term! Awesome.

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Squeeeeee! I was watching the raw too and definitely missed a few things too - like the radish bit.

While I'm giddy that Eun-bi and Chi-soo are now in a fake relationship, I can't help thinking that the scene with the ex was a deus ex machina to get them together. It would have been so much easier and logical for Eun-bi to get Kang-hyuk to act as her hubby instead...I mean, he already calls her his "wife."

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I agree with you, Moll. I felt that was a little forced too, but let's see how that'll play out.

I'll forgive a little machina for a whole lotta hilarious lovin from Chi Soo...

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It's because in the first ep, the ex saw Eun-Bi with Chi Soo as her BF first. So, it won't be convincible if she had KH act as his BF now. But, I dunno, what if ex overhears KH calling EB his wife? I guess having CH be her fake BF is more comprehensible, though. Which I really like. If EB's gonna have CH, it doesn't hurt if I can have KH. Hee.

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Even so, she could've said they broke up and gotten together with Kang-hyuk, haha. Ah well, no complaints - looking forward to the hijinks between the two.

Speaking of which, I'm surprised Javabeans/Girlfriday haven't called dibs on Kang-hyuk yet...;)

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Oh....just wanted to mention that the Secret Garden Expensive track suit shown here was so FUNNY!

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And some of the soundtrack too. Cracked me up.

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I smiled at the suit, laughed at the soundtrack

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Ah the memories of Secret Garden. It's already been a year, amazingly.

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Oh...sparkly tracksuit.

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Also it was equally funny to have 'autumn tales' scenes. WonBin's famous line used over and over again - “How much money will it take?”

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Right, the two reference (Autumn tale and Secret Garden) make me laugh hard !

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thanks for recapping this series!! =)

jung il-woo <3

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squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee... i love all the woos in this drama...

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This drama is not is not the same without your recaps. Thanks for explaining the puns and other cultural bits. I am curious is the writer of this drama has done other stuff. She/He is pretty good.

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Yeah, Dramabeans has really got me interested in Korean culture. Its funny how i can't stand Thai drama (which i can actually understand) but am obsessed with Korean drama (which i don't understand a word). Those cultural references are very useful and fun for me to read, so thanks GF and JB!

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okay i loveeeee the bratty chi-soo but I'm dealing with a second-lead crush the size of mars. Why so amazing Kang Hyuk?!!!

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ME TOO. GAHH. SO HOT.

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me too! although, i've always had the love-for-second-lead syndrome.

kang hyuk is <3 <3 <3

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Damn, why do i have to always go for the second lead ?! Kang Hyuk :'( Of course she'll end up with Chi Soo. My eternal creys.

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Eun Bi needs to end up with Chi Soo!! Because then I get to have Kang Hyuk! Hoorrah! Here I come Korea!

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what i really love about this drama is that it knows how to bend genres...if that even makes sense. as in, the show has its serious dramatic moments, but also balance with its lighthearted comedy.

for instance, my favorite scene in this episode was when everyone at the ramyun shop was upset at chi-soo until suddenly eun-bi's ex-bf comes in. her sudden lovey behavior and that shift in tone gave me a whiplash and i died laughing.

i love this drama and I CANNOT WAIT FOR TOMORROW. yay!!!

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Yeah, it's got kind of a Hong sisters feel, with the puns and zaniness and pop culture references and general awesomeness.

With you on the waiting! I'm so excited.

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really,thank you.....

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Love that I sort of know the time the recaps come out in my time zone, now! Yay.

I really love that they're taking the romance plot at a steady pace, which I think is really refreshing.

I wish Me Too, Flower recaps are coming!

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yay!! another recap!!

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Lawd, the preview for ep 8 made my heart squeeze, and I don't even understand Korean.

watch out girls, the crack is just getting stronger. I may not survive this show.

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I LOVE THIS SHOWWWWWWW!!!!!....I laugh from beginning to end....that sneaky smile from Il Woo was a KILLER!!!...

U Rock JB!!!! thx for recaps!!...

Is it just me, but when I watch this drama I feel like it could have been written by the Hong Sisters, I don't know it could be the jokes and the quirkiness ....2 thumps up for the writers!!!...

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Can I just say this show is just tooo adorable?
I LOVE reading javabean and girlfridays recaps as well; the way they are written just makes everything even funnier!

man, I wish they'd changed the ending of this episode though. I'm not sure if I like Eun-bi being at the mercy of Chi-Soo because of her ex.

I would have loved to have her say, instead to her ex that she had dumped Chi-Soo and is now the "wife" of Kang-hyuk.

not only would that have been a smarter move (since she is "technically" the "wife", at least to Kang-hyuk and her dad not to mention he's such a hunky all around guy that can knock that stupid Ex down a couple of notches in terms of face) but THAT would have driven Chi-Soo mad crazy!

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Totally agree. Chi-soo being madly jealous would have been AWESOME to see, and I need her to get some quality time with Kang-hyuk before the all-out Chi-soo shipping begins...

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Carrie, your comment got me thinking about why not Kang-hyuk. I mean besides the fact that he is the second lead and all. Since I too think that at this point, Kang-hyuk is a much better fit for Eun-bi.

BUT in keeping with Eun-bi's character, it only makes sense that she jumped on Chi-soo as she is not one to calculate and think long term- she works on impulses- and more importantly, it would hurt her dignity/pride in front of the loser EX to have Chi-soo reveal the truth that they, in fact, never dated. Mad crazy Chi-soo would probably only humiliate her more had he seen Eun-bi jump to Kang-hyuk, lol. Besides, Kang hyuk and Eun-bi arent that close for her to rely on Kang-hyuk yet. Given the moment created, it would only make sense, she would jump on board the Chi-Soo-Ship.

Yeah I probably analyzed this much more than was needed... but it bothered me too, so maybe I am trying to justify the writers?

God, I have a 4 hour exam in 2 days, and I am analyzing such things. GAH

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"I would have loved to have her say, instead to her ex that she had dumped Chi-Soo and is now the “wife” of Kang-hyuk."
That's what I was thinking too! But of course, they have to make it somehow that the two leads are in a "contract relationship" and eventually falls in love. How typical.

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I considered that as well. I don't know why Eun-bi didn't just use Kang-hyuk. Of course, it's all for the drama's sake but still... he was right there and he's sooo available and willing!!

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@Carrie I agree with your comment. I love this show because what's not to love? It's awesome. However, that ending with the whole fake relationship -- I hated it. I really, really didn't like it. It was just abrupt and weird.

Putting aside shipping for a second, many readers know that I'm really particular about the portrayal of women, and this turn of events just made me sad. It seemed like such a set-back. Eun-bi had gone through the death of her father, losing her job, standing up to the brat who had been making her life miserable, accepting her father's legacy, owning her strength and her personhood -- and then it all went to shit just because her ex appeared. I didn't get it. I would have thought Eun-bi would tell him to sod off with his cheating self, that her life was none of his goddamn business, and then volley-spike him in the fake with a ramyun pot. She and Chi-soo could have gotten together another way that preserved her dignity. This was a complete and total regression (in my humble) opinion, and I was sorely disappointed. And now this is how the relationship between her and Chi-soo is going to begin? With her at his beck and call because it was OMIGOSH, liek, sew important that she be dating someone when her ex is around? Blech. It's really disappointing.

However, to be disappointed, one must have expectations. And I have expectations. Why? Because I LOVE this show. It's one misstep. And it's a friggin' drama. I can forgive it and continue to love, but Show had better wrap up this fake contract-relationship shit quickly and get to the real Chi-soo/Eun-bi pairing, okeh? No more of this weak-woman bullocky wank-shite.

Last but not least: Kang-hyuk is too hot. A girl can dream, yeah?

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I agree 110%. I thought, and was excited about, gangsta girl finally growing a real backbone. I am kind of disappointed at this...

I mean, EunBi should be listening to her own words. Why is she, "playing around" when the shop should be the one getting all of her effort.

And the overplayed cliche of contract relationships was soo.... 2004 -_-

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@Lahilta "I didn’t get it. I would have thought Eun-bi would tell him to sod off with his cheating self, that her life was none of his goddamn business, and then volley-spike him in the fake with a ramyun pot. She and Chi-soo could have gotten together another way that preserved her dignity. This was a complete and total regression (in my humble) opinion, and I was sorely disappointed. And now this is how the relationship between her and Chi-soo is going to begin? With her at his beck and call because it was OMIGOSH, liek, sew important that she be dating someone when her ex is around? Blech. It’s really disappointing."

^ THIS.
Eun-bi threw a water balloon at her ex's FACE. She stood up to Chi-soo and after giving him a piece of her mind, she never looked back-until now, that is.
UGH. I hate it when the female leads have to resort to being at the mercy of these jerk heads because of insecurity, which, in this case was her Ex. Why is it that the girl always has to be the "slave" and under control of a guy? I would think, given Eun-bi's connection to the shop that SHE would get to order Chi-Soo around! now THAT is a probable situation I think!
With the strength she had gotten over the couple of episodes and what she had to go through (with her father passing), I would have thought she would have totally slapped her douche-bag ex silly!
Plus, what is there to be ashamed about when you have someone like, I mean, WHO IS Kang-hyuk!
That man is just too much. He's so freaking sweet and cute! Even him being all lazy is so endearing. He's just so chilled which is just PERFECT for someone like Eun-bi!
I know he's the dreaded second lead (SIGHH) so I had better just accept that silly boy chi-soo. >.<

Lol, don't get me wrong, I actually LOVE Chi-Soo-He's ADORABLE in how ignorant he is but something about this being a boy-woman relationship just makes it so wrong for me. I know he's going to mature but STILL! He's not even legal yet!

I wish they wouldn't cast 2nd leads but CO-LEADS. that way, the viewers can decide who they wanna swing to and the writers can abide and adjust accordingly.
haha, I know it's impossible and probably not the most effective way to write a drama but a girl can dream, right? dreams*

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You can dream, but I think writers already pander too much to the fans. They've got to stick to their guns, and write something so good that the viewers follow, rather than try to please everyone, because that neeever works. Come on, writers! Don't be like a wimpy K-drama heroine! Be an awesome badass one that takes no shit! Boot the ex to the curb! Stop worrying about getting married and let it happen! DROP AND GIVE ME 50!

I'm liking the dynamic between Chi-soo and Eun-bi, but it is a little creepy. You forget because Jung Il-woo is older, but they're going to have to time jump or something to make the relationship viable. And yet, Kang-hyuk is wonderful but perfect because the writers need him to be. Eh, we'll see. I have faith.

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AMEN. She has no reason to feel uncomfortable around the scum; he is the weak one. While the fact of the fake boyfriend scheme is extremely not okay, the execution was a tiny bit hilarious. Lee Chung-ah and Jung Il-woo are fantastic. Still, I will not be deterred.

I am determined to have faith in the writers, though. They must figure out a way to turn this on its head and make it to the drama's advantage. They've managed to turn other conventions, like the noona slain by the younger man thing, on their heads. Honestly, the first episode or two I was uncomfortable to the point of squickiness by Eun-bi's predicaments, but they'd gotten on track so nicely. So hopefully this will turn out well.

Also, Kang-hyuk is ridiculously dreamy, but I have several beefs to pick with the boy. First of all, he owns her? The hell? And the whole stalking for four days before she even knew he was involved in her life? That's a little to creepy-Edward for me. And then on the other hand he is too perfect, with his whole automatically-understanding-her because the writers need him to.

Anyway. I'm still loving it, but Drama's about a half-step from the time-out chair, so it better get with it.

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Well, it's 5 months later so no one will probably read this but in my opinion, sometimes we just go back to certain behavioral patterns around certain people.

For Eun-bi, there's a certain sense of pride she wants to keep around her ex, so it's not so much about needing to be "strong" around him.

So I don't think this makes Eun-bi weak, but rather human.

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i agree - i didn't like that plot twist either. seems like a bit of a cheap trick. *sigh*

that aside, if they had to use a contractual relationship, i think chi-soo was the better choice - that is assuming eun-bi will end up with chi-soo. it would have been rather cruel for her to start such an insincere relationship with kang-hyuk, inadvertently play with his emotions, then leave him when she falls in love with chi-soo.

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Oh, now I think that would make the best sense.

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Thank you,thank you so much I always updated the recap...oh gawd bunch of cutie ramyun boys episode ...love it..

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Thanks a lot! I watched the raw ep earlier today but I only speak about five words of hangul and one of those is annyeonghaseyo so needless to say I miss a lot. Now I know what's happening. Also, it's so much fun to have all of the wordplay explained! Thanks once again!

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OMG...I love this drama!!! I especially love Daddy Cha! Thanks for the recaps!

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I do nothing but look forward to reading these recaps and watching this drama....damn!

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oh my...just want to let you know that i truly enjoy reading your recap---every single letter is sooooo very appreciated. komawo.

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I love how this show manages to take small details and make them so meaningful rather than simply placed in a scene just to be symbolic. And I could die each time Kang-hyuk gives that look to Eun-bi, like after he wipes the flour off her cheek. Gaaahh! I felt bad for Chi-soo when he gets taught a lesson about him not belonging in the ramyun shop like all the other hardworking adults there, but it's interesting how they managed to turn the scene 180 degrees to reinvigorate Chi-soo's "revenge" against Eun-bi. They really do a great job to move the story along with its touching and hilarious moments. And who can complain against the ggot-mi-nams there! I wish this drama would never end!!

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Thank you , You're Beautiful, for teaching me what "Go Mi Nam" means!

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Yay! Thanks for the recap! This helps alot while watching without subtitles. LOL
Saw the preview for the next episode...getting interesting but I didn't care for the ex to appear though.

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Am I the only one desperately (and probably vainly) shipping Kang-hyuk/Eun-bi? Is it too much to hope that the writers will pair Eun-bi up with someone around her age instead of the high-schooler despite the laws of Drama and OTP saying otherwise???

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No fear Sunmi, I also ship for them two. I will go down with this ship!

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I'm there with you! ~I will go down with this ship! I won't put my hands up and surrender! There will be no white flag above my door!~

Honestly, it's not even the age-thing that bothers me so much as the gap in maturity. It seems to me like Eun-bi's a woman, at a point in her life, where she needs a man not a man-child. As much as I love, love, love Chi-soo's bratty, high-strung temperament, at this point in the drama, Kang-Hyuk's the only one capable of providing that stability. There's also the added bonus of him being a hot, sculpted, talented hunk with magic fingers--in the kitchen! :3

Then again, we'll probably see Chi-soo man-up and earn Eun-bi's respect/love/yadda/yadda in a few episodes as that is the way of the drama fairies. *le sigh*

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Yup, totally agree with the maturity issue. Especially after this episode, where Kang Hyuk was soooo hot :D

There's a serious lack of scenes between him and Eun Bi and too much of Chi Soo's mooning, though that's fun to see as well. :)

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I feel you, but Kang-hyuk has some growing up to do, too. Puppy, you can't just walk into someone's house and start living there, even if her passed away father did sign it over to you in crayon.

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Hahaha. There's a bunch of us who have been rowing that ship from the get go.

About the Chisoo age thing? Truthfully, he's months (or a year I think?) away from being of legal age. And technically, if you think about, most couples out there are a few years or so apart. Hell, my parents are 5 years apart. If I think about it, if they met 3 years earlier, mom would have been in high school still at the age of 17 while the hold man was already 22. Nothing like my best friend's parents who are 10 years apart. As much as I am on the Panda-Silver Pot ship, I have no qualms about Chisoo and Eunbi being together because of their age. My problem with Chisoo and Eunbi pairing up is the fact that he doesn't deserve her quite yet.

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Actually I think neither of them deserve her quite yet.

Chisoo because of his bratty ways and Kang Hyuk because he's so darn confident - nothing seems to shake him. He just turns on the heat and doesn't get bothered if Chisoo is sniffing around her. It's kinda clinical and cool for him at this stage. It's like, if she got a step too bothersome, he'll give up and go curl up somewhere to sleep.
So I want to see Chisoo get more twisted into jealous little knots, but I also want to see Kang Hyuk all hot and bothered by her. Not just hot.

That will just fill me with sadistic glee!!!!

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Fair enough. But of the two guys, Kang-hyuk is a step or two or four more mature than our resident spoiled brat. But I do look forward to when Chisoo mans up and brings the heat. Once Chisoo has the balls to throw down the gauntlet, to smack Kang-hyuk with a white glove, to challenge for territory rights (not that Eunbi is anyone's territory or object to possessed mind you), I look forward toseeing Kang-hyuk getting his adorably Panda-like ways in check and to start showing Eunbi that he was always there for her and has it in him to continuing being there for her.

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*hugs the Panda*

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No doubt Kang hyuk is more mature. Outside drama land he'd be my pick any day of the week and twice on Sunday.
But in dramaland, I'm a sucker for ChiSoo's smitten looks. In that department he's got KH beaten.

Side thought - KH is such a unique character. He reminds me of Dokko Jin who was a unique combination of crazy + hot.
But Dokko Jin had this frenetic energy.

KH is fascinating to watch, the same way pandas (thanks Alvina!) are fascinating in their slow-moving but goal-oriented ways. This is the second best crazy-but-hot leading man. Dokko Jin still wins.

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*pouts* I said Panda too. XD

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*panda-hug* for Ani too! :D

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group hugs Panda :) :) :)

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As we've been saying for the past 6 episodes, I suppose we'll all be going down with this ship.

It's like being told to flip a coin, only for both the sides to be heads. The toss up is already in favor of Cha Chi-Soo. :(

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I'm totally shipping Kang-hyuk/Eun-bi. Well, I'm especially shipping Kang-huyk, to be honest. :)

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Right? I think we're all Eun-bi/Chi-soo, Kang-hyuk/ME.

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I do realy like thid show...woow...
Poor chi soo...
But he look very adorable wth his lovesick...
Wow...it makes my heart beating so fast...
Thans for the recaps..
Can't wait for tomorrow...

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@7D - Fantastic term; Woosome Boys FTW!
I am totally gonna buy this drama! This is my rom-com drama of 2011 <3

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DAMN IT! I DONT GIVE A SH*T FOR THE HIGHSCHOOL BOY...why cant she just get married with Kang Hyuk?! C'mon drama gods C'MOOOON there's no way she could hook up with a snotty highschooler!

*breathe in, breathe out*

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My heart hurt a little for Chisoo, but it hurt even more seeing how the competition is going to be even ground soon for Eunbi's heart once the kid mans up. Poor poor Kang-hyuk. I also ache for Bawool, and his Crazy Chicken love for an undeserving bitch like Soyi. I just want to hit her so bad right now. Ack.

P.S. Kang-hyuk is soooo freaking hot.

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i feel like want to throw a punch to crazy chicken to make him sober from soo yi drunk love and cause the misunderstanding towards chi soo

*grabing my palm*

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kang hyuk.. how can i even describe how i feel whenever i see him ...gaaahhh.. honestly, i feel sorry for him, can i have him instead,haha^^ and Chisoo(yes im greedy). :)))

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Woe to the WOOsome Boys!good thinking there!~~~
Love it!!!
Can't wait for the next episode!

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Ratings soaring higher!! woot!

AGB Nielsen Media Research 2.84 %
Peak 3.6%

Wow the ramyun silver pots are pouring in !

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Trench coat = stripper?

I wish!

I'm eagerly awaiting the next steps of the fake couple.

I feel pretty bad for Chi-soo; his every steps is being misinterpreted! Why can't they just assume he's an alien (a very beautiful one to be sure) and treat him like a baby? I would love to baby him. With a face like that, who wouldn't?

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Trenchcoats always seemed like a flasher thing to me. XD

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That is why the Scheduler was so interesting. He had all sorts of trenchcoats in all sorts of colors. Remember the salmon one?

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Did you see something you like? :>

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NOOOOOO!!!! No babying of Chi-soo... He's such a spoilt brat because of all the babying by his dad. What he needs is some 'bullying' by Eun Bi. That way he'll man up faster...

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Don't care if he ever grows up, as long as i get to bath him.

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thanks a lot..i needed this dose so much,

considering how poor my korean is without the subs..

<3
i really hope me too, flower is just as quick (no hard feelings, just a wishful thinking)

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Thank you, Sweet JB, for putting this out in Prime Time EST. Now I don't have to wait until butt-crack o'clock to read this ramyunnie goodness.

Loved the character development of Chi-soo, and I wish I didn't love Kang-hyuk so much since he and Eun-bi aren't endgame. But I just love Kang-hyuk so fcuking much! I can't help it. Second-lead lovesickness is killing me.

Finally, JB, do not EVER mention yeast and orifices ever again, Jeezus. God, that just took me right back to that awful week during the summer of 2008 -- but you don't need to know about that.

Thanks for the recap! :D

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Chi-soo the emotional alien, lol. That just sounds so adorable <3

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This drama is soooo adorable!!! Love it, love it!

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thanks!! i really want kang hyuk to step up his game and get at least a teensy bit crazy over eun bi.although if he doesnt i wont mind too since ill probably ship them till the end. <3
ugh must he be so pretty its messing up my mind.i never thought id see the day where i chose someone else over jung il woo.
anyway @7D woosome was a genius term for them! thanks again for the recap!!!!

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Omg, been looking forward to this recap all day :)

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thanks so much for the recaps! this is by far the quickest!!!

watched the raw last night but the steam crashed at the later part of the show... off to read...

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Thank you for the recap!

And for bringing back fond memories with this: "Ew. I’m not saying that’s how certain infections are caused, but I’d be wary of sticking anything yeasty into a bodily orifice, is all I’m sayin’." When certain medications were NOT OTC, and you had to get a prescription? YUCK!

My family watches me watch and laugh without subs. They don't realize just how funny this sh7t can be with NO words.

These actors are having a ball with this. Today reminded me of a Hong Sisters drama with the fantasy sequences.
The ensemble does a great job when they are not speaking - all of them bring home the emotion of every scene.

And, damn that Cha Chi Soo with his hands. Mostly I was a-gaga over his thumbs on EunBi's neck and face. I completely understand why she is melting near him like she is. Don't you love how they choreograph the movement of their heads to mirror where the other's eyes are looking. It is amazing how in synch they are in those breathless scenes. The kitchen one tonight, as well as the car ones and all of the wall scenes. I am hoping the coming attraction for tomorrow delivers on its promise....Hmmmm...Ep 8, yes, perfect time for a kiss.

Cha Chi Soooooo, don't worry, I am on your side with this: “If I want to get over the shock, I have to see her constantly. This is treatment.” Ignore all the people on the JH ship!

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I LOVE Ba-wool and Hyun-Woo pairing.
It's so adorable how Hyun-Woo is so feminine and Ba-Wool finds it plain awkward and uncomfortable. AHHH SO CUTE! :3

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I know!!!! I was hoping someone would mention this. I think they're utterly adorable and totally hope this will turn into a beautiful bromance :D

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I just saw the clip in episode 7 where hyun woo was in the middle of his skin regimen and it was so CUTE! x)
Ba-Wool's uncomfortable faces and actions were hilarious and Hyun-Woo was just so calm! xD

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I love the part where Hyunwoo, with his hairclip and face cream on, very sweetly tries to tuck Bawool into his blanket. Bawool looked like he wanted to run out of the room screaming. BWAHAHAHA sooo cute! More roommate hijinks please!

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I DIED from teh cute. SO funny.

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I loved the fake Chi Soo and Eun Bi parodies of an old fashioned drama and Secret Garden's Hyun Bin sequined track suit.Also how the fake Chi Soo squished the Fake Eun Bi's face. It was very cite and hilarious.

Just love this drama!!!

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Love love love this ep!!! i'm just super elated that so far this series has been going up and up and has not taken down my expectations...

i was also wondering why Eunbi didn't say that she's married to KH and that he's dumped ChiSoo..ke ke ke...
but i guess it's to add to the fact that she needs to humanized Chisoo...

poor Chisoo, he's always being misunderstood, what can you do, since his upbringing tends to deal with money so he thinks his money will solve everyone's problems...

can't wait for tomorrow!

thanks for your recap as always i'd read your recap before i watch it so that i'd have a better understanding of what's going on...

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haha I just love this drama more and more<3 can't wait to watch it with subs tomorrow!

thanks for the recap! ^^

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Minyuhsubs has uploaded their vid with hard sub

http://minyuhsubs.tumblr.com/

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Awww.. So cute!

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