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The King 2 Hearts: Episode 13

War games, mind games, and games of the heart. Bong-gu solves a riddle, Shi-kyung slays the ladies, and Jae-ha opens up about his first love, which is brave, considering your girlfriend probably carries a gun.

SONG OF THE DAY

King 2 Hearts OST – Lee Yoon-ji – “처음 사랑” (First Love) [ Download ]

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EPISODE 13 RECAP

Bong-gu-stiltskin ponders his riddle box (The riddle: Something I have that you don’t.) He whispers, “People,” and it snaps open. He giggles and opens it up… to find one of Jae-ha’s fancy royal usb drives. You know he had those custom-made: It needs more bling!

Bong-gu laughs that he’s returning video letter for video letter, and walks away. But of course he gets about three feet from the desk and can’t handle the curiosity, and heads right back. Ha.

He turns on the video letter of Jae-ha, sitting with his arms crossed like a disappointed father, “I TOLD you not to open it.” He says he’ll give Bong-gu one last chance, and tells him to turn it off before he gets to ten.

Begin countdown. Bong-gu scoffs, “What is this, porn?” Dude, you can’t send my mind to the gutter two minutes in. I have a recap to write!

He fast-forwards through the countdown, and we resume at ten. And then the video switches to hidden camera footage of Jae-ha’s Operation Seduction. Hahaha. Nice.

Bong-gu’s eyes widen to see his girlfriend swooning over Jae-ha, not wanting to go home to her boyfriend, whom she calls childish for doing magic tricks every night. She rattles off a litany of blows – he’s got no charm, no humor, he’s got an inferiority complex and calls himself “the king,” and she’s only with him for his money.

I love that every time she says something particularly hurtful, Jae-ha looks directly at the hidden camera, just to rub it in. She says that money can’t buy dignity, and tops it off with a hand-graze and a suggestion they move the conversation elsewhere.

At the same time, the girlfriend walks into the room in person, and Bong-gu pulls out his gun. Without a moment’s hesitation, he shoots her, and then again and again when she’s on the ground. Damn.

Jae-ha says dryly, “You’re not going to kill her right?” Uh… I know it’s not his fault that Bong-gu’s crazy, but he’s going to regret saying that so glibly. He says that Bong-gu already knew what she thought of him, but that’s people for you—they lie, they allow themselves to be fooled.

He says that’s what he used to think too. And that’s how he was with Hang-ah in the beginning. He even shot at her too. But it was hyung who saved him, by believing in him. He hopes that Bong-gu will let this go, “Otherwise, you’ll end up very lonely.”

As he says the words, Bong-gu’s minions run in and discover the girlfriend’s bloody body, faces contorting in horror. Jae-ha continues:

Jae-ha: At least I had people who believed in me, so I could start over. But you don’t… have anybody. If by chance you really did kill her, that’s the end for you—the very nature of hopelessness. Because that’s what’s really important in life: people. That’s why my weapon and my strength is people. The people who believe in me. The people who held out their hands to me though I kicked them out. And even the person I shot… who loves me. Kim Bong-gu-sshi, go ahead and step on me some more. The more you do, the stronger I’ll become. Why? Because now I have to protect the people who believed in me.

Damn. So good. It’s exactly what I wanted from Jae-ha, and then some. This paired with Shi-kyung’s speech to him a few episodes back just give me chills.

Bong-gu doesn’t even let him finish, and busts a cap in the tv. His minion tells him that Jae-ha’s making an announcement right now, and then we cut to his speech (at a function to honor Jae-kang).

He says that his brother had two dreams—to have North and South Korea enter the WOC together, and that he’d marry Hang-ah. Excellent way to bolster support for your wedding. I approve. He says that to that end, the WOC team will enter as planned, with the original members… including himself.

From the security line, Dong-ha’s jaw drops. He whispers to Shi-kyung, “We’re ALL going?” Shi-kyung just grins.

Jae-ha says that this team has trained together for months and that even in the recent incident in North Korea, it’s that teamwork that saved the day. He knows that dissension is high regarding his engagement to Hang-ah, so this is how they’ll prove themselves—by making it to the second round, or else they’ll call the engagement off.

Er? But! Now you’re just making it harder! Gaaaaah. He says that he loves Hang-ah, as everyone knows. But he understands that the king marrying a North Korean isn’t something that the citizens will accept on faith alone, hence this display of harmony/teamwork to show that North and South can work together. It makes sense in theory, but what about the part where you were gonna marry her, like right now?

He then calls Hang-ah to the stage, introducing her as the North Korean team leader, the woman he loves, and his fiancée-to-be. She walks onto the stage dressed in uniform, and then he holds out his hand (like a boyfriend, not for a handshake) and they hold hands and stand side by side, smiling at each other. It’s adorable.

Afterwards, the prime minister throws a fit, saying that the king can’t go into a combat situation himself. But Jae-ha rattles off plenty of kings who have gone to battle—Alexander the Great, King Gwanggaeto. The prime minister’s like, That was EONS ago! But Jae-ha’s got an answer for everything, determined to see it through.

He says that every major country has some stake in the North-South divide, but it’s time they take control and show the world that this is their own problem and not anyone else’s. The prime minister can’t argue with that reasoning, but then whines, “What if you get hurt?”

Jae-ha breezes that it’s all games with blanks, and besides, won’t other teams be too scared to injure a king? And if they do, can’t the prime minister kick up a big fuss? And then he winks at the man like they’re in on a secret together. Player gotta play.

Secretary Eun hasn’t said one word in disagreement (remember Jae-ha came to him beforehand with the plan) but asks one thing—what if they lose in the first round? Jae-ha assures them that they won’t, and starts to explain, but tsk-tsks that the prime minister wouldn’t understand because he never went to the army. Ha.

Questioning his health (aka his excuse for not serving in the army) leads to the prime minister’s swift and hearty approval on the matter. He says that he’ll guard the country in the meantime, but Jae-ha says he needn’t guard his position, since he’s got Princess Jae-shin on that job.

You mean the princess who’s currently driving her wheelchair around like a monster truck and trying to run over staffers accidentally-on-purpose? That one? You might want to rethink that.

It turns out her road rage is just to mask her massive pain, and in a moment of weakness, she approaches the top of a staircase, her hand trembling on the forward gear.

She looks down with pained eyes, and then starts to inch forward. But Parrot squawks out at the last moment and she stops. Lassie’s got nuthin’ on you, birdie.

Hang-ah comes to ask Jae-shin about taking charge of the palace for a month, and Jae-shin flips out, saying that she can’t even go outside the palace let alone deal with official appearances. She snaps at Hang-ah as if it’s her fault, and Hang-ah just snaps right back.

I love that she’s so no-nonsense with the petulant princess. It must be all her days spent taming her petulant oppa. But Mom’s in the room, and when Hang-ah asks to speak to the princess alone, Jae-shin tattles that if Mom leaves, she’ll hit her like last time. Ha.

Hang-ah’s like, But… I bathed you!

She knows she’ll get nowhere with Mom around as a shield, so Hang-ah tags along on her trip to the hospital the next morning. She stoops down to change her heels to sneakers, saying that she shouldn’t give more pain to hurt feet, but Jae-shin asks bitterly what it matters, since she can’t feel the difference.

Hang-ah says that she heard from Shi-kyung about what happened the last time she went to the hospital, and promises to ride along to keep her safe. Jae-shin grumbles that she knows the real reason is to nag her to play king for a month, but her face shows relief.

Mom tells Jae-ha that there’s no way that Jae-shin can handle the job. But Jae-ha says she has to do it, and Mom has to stop babying her. They have to go by the rules, and the rules say the next in line for the throne has to take his place.

But Mom says Jae-shin isn’t even in a state to handle everyday life, let alone all that pressure. She wakes up every night to find Jae-shin banging her head against the wall, asking why her, why it hurts so much, saying that she hears a strange song in her ear and every time she falls asleep she dreams of being chased.

Mom: “She can’t even walk. You’re asking someone who can’t walk to run!” But Jae-ha is resolute that she has to get over it. He says that’s what Hang-ah went to do. “She’ll be able to run.”

In the car, Hang-ah looks over at Jae-shin, her eyes full of warmth and sympathy. She’s knocked out on pain meds, which the staffer tells her is an everyday occurrence now. She pulls her over to lean on her shoulder, holding her the rest of the way.

Back at the palace, Jae-ha tells Mom that because she Jae-shin won’t show herself or speak about her condition, people just think she’s gone insane, that she’s locked herself in the basement of the palace and drools and craps her pants like a vegetable.

Crying, Mom screams at him to stop, asking how he can say things like that about his own sister. But he yells back that it’s because he’s tired of hearing people say those things about her.

Mom wails that Jae-shin was so smart, so bold, fearless in front of people. Jae-ha fires back with tears in his eyes that that’s why they have to catch the bastard who did this to her. He kneels by her side and takes her hand. “Are you going to just let the bastard who killed hyung and did that to Jae-shin go? Mom!”

And then he tells her about Bong-gu strolling in here with a smile, telling him over a shared meal how he killed Jae-kang. He calls him a scary bastard who has endless power and fears nothing. He tells her that’s why Mom and Jae-shin have to be stronger, if they’re going to take him on.

But Mom cuts him off, “Don’t do it.” She tells him to run instead. The tears finally start to fall as he looks up at her in shock. She can barely eke out her words through her tears, shaking in fear at the thought of losing Jae-ha too.

“Jae-kang-ie, before he is your brother, he is my son. I will forgive everything. I will bury it in my heart. So let’s just be a little bit pathetic. We can close our eyes just this once, like nothing ever happened. Jae-ha-ya, save me. Don’t do it. You too… No! Don’t do it! No, I can’t…” Tears stream down his face as he looks up at her. She wails, broken and desperate not to lose another child. He hugs her tight as she cries over and over that he can’t, that she can’t lose him too.

Waaaaaaah. The mommy-son scenes just kill me on this show.

Bong-gu calls a meeting for Club M, and says that Jae-ha declared that he had no people. He plans to rectify that situation, which just proves he never got it in the first place, and declares that they’ll work together to preserve their agenda.

The first thing on his to-do list: attend the peace conference in Jeju, and participate in the WOC himself, so as to help bring about peace on the Korean peninsula. Uh-huh.

Meanwhile Hang-ah takes Jae-shin to ground zero. The memories start to swirl around her. And then she fills her in on what kind of man Bong-gu is, and what he did to Jae-kang because of the WOC and Jae-ha’s engagement.

She explains that a man like that will use any opportunity to attack the monarchy—which is why Jae-shin has to take the throne in Jae-ha’s absence, to adhere strictly to law. But what’s more important is Jae-shin’s memory.

“If we’re going to stop him, we need a weapon. Right now your memory, your eye-witness account… is our only weapon against him. Please…”

Later that night after Hang-ah catches Jae-ha up to speed, he sighs that he knew it wouldn’t be easy. Hang-ah says that she’s changed so much—when she first met Jae-shin she was so bold, but now…

She wonders what on earth happened to her that night to make her so scared. But that thought leads her to wonder how Bong-gu found out about the villa in the first place. THANK YOU. Can we put her in charge?

Jae-ha never though much of it before, but then realizes now that it was his vacation, and only a handful of people actually knew where he was staying. She asks exactly who. The family, Secretary Eun and Shi-kyung, and the secret service team who went with him.

She asks hesitantly, “Secretary Eun is trustworthy, right?” He scoffs that the old man has been serving the monarchy for over thirty years, and was here before Jae-ha was even born. Yes, but if you think about it, that’s like having one chief of staff for seven presidents. Does anyone think that’s a good idea for one man to have so much power?

She doesn’t argue, but says that he did say strange things… like the time he lied to her about the congressional hearing and how it was Jae-ha’s idea. He gapes, “Is that what you believed all this time?”

She says no, actually, because apparently Secretary Eun told her after the fact that he lied. To cover his own lying ass? Damnit. But then Jae-ha remembers how Secretary Eun told him that it was Hang-ah’s idea to go to that hearing.

The next day he looks out the window as Secretary Eun briefs him on the WOC, and then asks after a long pause, “Ajusshi, you never lie to me, do you?” He answers no. Jae-ha nods and smiles.

He sits down at his desk and jabbers on about how he asked the head housekeeper to clean his mouse but she forgot. She’s been around forever though, so it’s not like he can yell at her. “When people get old, they must forget from time to time, right?” Oooooh.

“That’s what happened with you too, right Ajusshi? The safety check, when hyung died?” Holy crap. I didn’t think he’d make that leap so fast. Jae-ha has perfected that smile-while-threatening thing, and he just smiles up at him, as Secretary Eun has an internal freak out and then answers, “Yes.”

Jae-ha returns to business as usual and watches him go with a wary sigh. He’s clearly testing the waters for now, but I understand that he doesn’t WANT to believe it despite the signs that maybe the old man isn’t quite as honest as he claims to be.

Jae-shin ponders Hang-ah’s pleas, and flashes back to memories of Jae-kang, and then the day she saw her attacker outside her ambulance. I really hope this time they’re concrete memories, though it’s still unclear.

Dong-ha’s colleagues ask if Kang-seok is like the terminator, and Dong-ha postures that he’s nothing special—he’s just a crazy SNSD fanboy. The guys are like, “But in the army, SNSD is god.” Hahaha. Truer words.

But Dong-ha says he’s not strong at all, insisting it’s all show. Shi-kyung finally looks up from his book, “Is that why you ran away from the snowball fight when Rhee Kang-seok came?” HEE.

Shi-kyung playfully makes a move to hit him over the head with his papers, eliciting a big “ooooooh” from the guys. Suddenly the festivities come to a screeching halt when Jae-shin wheels into the room at top speed.

The guards all jump to attention and click their heels, and she asks what they’re all standing around for. That’s their cue to scram, and they don’t need any prodding. They scatter like a pack of mice, leaving Shi-kyung alone to deal with her.

She tells him that she’ll do it—she’ll take Jae-ha’s place for a month. But she has a condition: Shi-kyung has to stay and help her. But the WOC! And the team hijinks! He says as much, but she tells him that someone else can go in his place. She needs him here.

“Should I get on my knees and beg? To save me? Then will you do it?” She rants that the world thinks she’s crazy, disabled, calls her all sorts of things, but she’s still a princess, so why does she have to plead, to someone like him?

But she catches herself. She can’t help but admit how much she dislikes him, “You’re frustrating and I don’t even want to see your face! But I have no one. If Oppa and Unni go to the WOC… then I have no one to lean on. I feel a little pathetic for having to say this to you, but stay. I’m asking you.” Aw, I change my mind! Stay!

He finally relents and tells her that he’ll let the king know. She adds that she really doesn’t remember—she’s tried and she’s not avoiding it, she swears, but she can’t remember a thing. He nods and says he knows, apologizing for what he said the last time. She turns her head away as a tear falls, not wanting to cry in front of him.

Shi-kyung reports all this to Jae-ha, who looks up with his mouth gaping open, “Jae-shin told you directly that she’d do it?” Shi-kyung nods and says that he’ll have to drop out of the WOC, and Jae-ha looks up at him with a raised eyebrow, “What’s your secret?”

Shi-kyung stares, confused. Jae-ha: “Kim Hang-ah, and now Jae-shin. How’d you seduce them? Is the entirety of your true nature a royal-killer?” Jae-ha’s like, what is with women’s tastes? He adds that if Shi-kyung does well, he might end up the king’s in-law.

Before Shi-kyung can even react, Jae-ha says this isn’t how it’s supposed to go—he wanted a brother-in-law who’s easy to talk to and gets along with him swimmingly, so they’d play golf together and stuff, not someone like him.

And Shi-kyung just blurts out, “Me neither!” Hahahaha. Jae-ha looks up, rug pulled out from under his own joke. Shi-kyung says Jae-shin is NOT his taste in women, so he needn’t worry.

Jae-ha backs down, totally deflated by Shi-kyung’s seriousness. He finally snaps back, “Why do you always get so angry when I make a joke?” And then suddenly he gets belatedly offended, asking what he means by taste anyway, upset that he’s insinuating that Jae-shin isn’t up to his standards. Hee hee hee. I luff these two.

Shi-kyung cuts him short and leaves with a bow, and Jae-ha has to call him back in to finish the conversation. He tells Shi-kyung to find his replacement for the team then, and motions for him to come close.

He leans in, and in a low voice, he tells Shi-kyung to check on every last person who knew where hyung was staying when he died—every guard, all the staff, even Secretary Eun. The last name makes both of them uncomfortable, but Jae-ha just tells him to inspect everyone equally.

Shi-kyung wonders if there really might be a mole in the palace. Gah, the fact that he’s in charge of this investigation just breaks my heart.

Secretary Eun goes over Jae-shin’s upcoming agenda, and though she resists public appearances, he tells her that the peace conference in Jeju is something she can’t avoid. And then he gets the guest list, where he sees John Mayer’s name.

He calls Club M but puts the phone down when Shi-kyung comes to see him, to ask for his help in clearing up some accounts that don’t match up from the guards who were in Anmyundo.

Dad looks at him in alarm—why is he asking? Shi-kyung explains that the king put him on the case, to find out if there’s a mole. Dad panics, asking whom he’s investigating. Shi-kyung says everyone, but adds with a smile that Dad’s not a suspect-suspect, since the king trusts him completely. Oof. Already not true.

Jae-ha shows Secretary Eun his WOC uniform, complete with the team leader armband. Hahaha, did you have that made the second Shi-kyung stepped down? Cracks me up.

Secretary Eun tells him that Bong-gu will be attending the Jeju peace conference, where Jae-shin will be—is he really going to leave like this? But Jae-ha says it’ll be a public event, besides, Secretary Eun will be there. “I trust you, Ajusshi. Take good care of Jae-shin.”

It’s the night before they ship off for the WOC, and Jae-ha prepares a late-night barbeque for Hang-ah. She says they have to work out, not pig out, with so little time before the games. But he tells her that teamwork is more important. Uh-huh. Teamwork? Or teamwork?

They clink their wine glasses and she downs her glass like a shot, so he laughs and quips that she’s impressive, but falls way short of his first love, who was soooo pretty and reaaaaally forward. She literally pulls up her sleeves for a beatdown. HA.

Flashback to little grade school Jae-ha, who collided with a young girl and fell instantly in love. He loved everything about her, down to her immovable coldness. She wouldn’t give him the time of day.

His mom had sent him to a public school and he tried to hide his identity, but the truth came out in no time. And then suddenly, that girl just sidled up to him and linked her arm in his. “It was a little disgusting.”

He muses that most people talk about their first loves like they’re precious and beautiful, but he chuckles, saying he doesn’t know—his first love is something he wants to forget.

Jae-ha: “I gave up right then and there. This is how things are. This is what people and the world are like. I gave up and I enjoyed it. Even when I met a good person once in a while, just to there, I’d draw the line, and not trust. But living that way… a person grows so lonely.”

Hang-ah listens, her eyes full of empathy, and she reaches out and puts her hand on his. He looks over at her, and then takes her hand up to his face. He closes his eyes as he leans onto her hand. Awwwwwww.

He looks up at her, “Thank you for being here.” He says let’s win, and she gives a little nod. And then he leans in for a kiss.

They arrive in Japan for the WOC and finally meet up with Kang-seok and Young-bae, who salute Jae-ha stiffly. He’s like, what’s with you guys? They remain stone-faced, so he reminds them that it can’t be this way if they’re going to be a team.

Suddenly Kang-seok breaks into a huge smile, “Right?” Hahahaha. He shakes Jae-ha’s hand warmly, and Young-bae bear-hugs him, and then TICKLES him until he lands on the floor. I missed this so much.

Kang-seok greets Hang-ah with a smile, and then he and Dong-ha join in on the attack. Group ticklefest? I love this team! And now I’m all sad again that Shi-kyung isn’t here. Wah. The replacement guy watches the proceedings agape.

Jae-shin gets crowned as interim monarch and then it’s time for the peace conference in Jeju. Bong-gu’s minion asks if he’s really going to let the WOC proceed like this, and Bong-gu insists he’s turned over a new leaf as his peace-loving self.

But then he coughs something up… a WOC ball. It’s one of the team selection balls that will determine the Round match-ups. I don’t see how taking one ball makes the outcome a given, but I’m just going to take it as a sign that he’s rigged the whole lineup. Not knowing this, of course, the team scouts out their top choices for opponents in the first round.

Secretary Eun calls Bong-gu over and over, and he finally gets through, and asks what he’s doing here. Bong-gu says he was invited, and warns that it’s not really the princess he should be scared for, but himself.

“You have a son, right? The king’s right hand man? What would he do if he found out that his father is friendly with me?” His eyes widen. Way to get him where it hurts.

Jae-shin braces herself for her first public appearance since the accident, and Shi-kyung tells her he’ll always be where he can see her, and that it’ll be over before she knows it. But she can barely hold it together, and she grabs his sleeve, asking if there are a lot of people, and if they’ll all be looking at her.

He gets down on one knee and asks if she remembers that night she took him to see the shooting star. “I never saw a shooting star. Because you shone brighter.” Oh swoon. I know it sounds like a line, but not coming from the boy scout. He means it.

He tells her that she looks just as beautiful tonight. Awww, you mean that’ll be the reason people look at her? Jae-ha’s right. You totally have game. She cries a little tear.

The WOC draw is nearing, and Hang-ah rushes to call Daddy for his input on which teams they should go up against. Basically small countries that see very little war. It doesn’t much matter though, since it’s luck of the draw anyway. They announce that usually the top three winners from last year’s games get to draw first, but the U.S., U.K. and China decided to give first draw to the countries entering for the first time. Korea gets called for their turn.

Shi-kyung takes his place at the back of the banquet room, and Jae-shin takes a deep breath, and then heads out onto the stage…

Jae-ha and Hang-ah go up for the draw and he reaches into the bowl. He hilariously fidgets, looking down to see if he can read any of them, unable to pick, and Hang-ah has to mutter under her breath that it’ll look bad if he doesn’t just pick one.

She tells him to just grab the first one, and he nods… and then stirs the bowl again. Ha. But suddenly one of the balls snaps into his hand. Oh noes. Is it a magnet? He’s wearing a conspicuously large ring…

He looks at it, surprised, but it’s already in his hand. He takes off the label and flashes it to the crowd without looking. The team looks back in shock. “USA!”

Oh. Crap.

Jae-ha and Hang-ah turn to each other, shell-shocked, as the American team cheers.

 
COMMENTS

That has to be a magnet. I was wondering how Bong-gu would rig a random draw, but that’s as good as any I guess. It leaves a lot to be desired as far as foolproof plans go, but in any case he succeeded in pitting them against the worst possible foe to meet in Round 1 of the games. I have faith though. At the end of the day, it’s a game of wits and strategy, not a contest in military resources. Besides, guy’s got a marriage on the line if he loses.

It’s still ridiculous that he ADDED that stake to their engagement, as if they didn’t have enough to overcome, but what it does is create a counter effect storywise – it suddenly gives the WOC higher stakes from our point of view, because now they have to win for us to get our happily ever after. Before I didn’t much care whether they won or lost, other than wishing for the team to do well, but now if they lose, we will have words. It’s hardly organic—the stakes are set up artificially with big neon lights—but in any case now I care a whole damn lot, despite knowing they made it this way so that I’d care.

I’m excited for Shi-kyung and Jae-shin’s baby steps forward. It’s the first real inkling that he’s given about his feelings, and it clearly took a lot for her to beg him to stay by her side. (I also love that she’s always the first to make a move.) Though Jae-ha’s teasing is my favorite thing of all, because I can never get enough of that look on Shi-kyung’s face when he’s being mocked.

But the ‘people’ speech to Bong-gu was the best thing in this episode (though the mommy-son scene was the one that gutted me, with the performances). I wondered if Jae-ha had really come far enough to know the full weight of his own keyword, but I felt so proud when he proved that he did, in what to me is a direct answer to Shi-kyung’s speech for him to be strong. I love that he knows too, how each of them including his brother has cut him slack or forgiven him or had faith in him before he deserved it. But they gave it anyway, which is why he’s now paying them back by living up to that belief in him. Seeing the direct effect of Shi-kyung’s faith, Hang-ah’s love, in transforming Jae-ha into a king – that’s the heart of the show for me.

 
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Thank you so much for the recap. As always this episode is awesome. Indeed, The King 2 Hearts is a masterpiece. <3

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Love this episode. The tension is so palpable you can cut through it using a needle. Lol. I feel like I am with them in this journey. I smile when they smile. I cry when they are crying. And when Jaeha was going to kiss Hangah, I puckered up too. Hahaha!

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ahahahhaa. you are adorable.
Yeah, i agree though. what the characters feel, i feel for them.. and this show, god. just totally knows how to rip me apart.

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When watching HA put her hand on JH’s hand, my heart was beating faster. When JH took her hand and put it on his cheek, my heart skipped a beat and started saying kiss…kiss…kiss….When he started move his head close to her, I was on the edge of my chair, but I was like ‘please anybody, don’t interrupt them, please…’ And then they kissed. Me? Fainted.
That’s just a lovely kiss with pure love. I’m never like this watching short and simple kiss in kdrama. You know, kdrama’s been shown many kisses like that. This is just love.

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Love that scene!

Some complained about the kiss not hot enough. Gosh, girls, didn't you feel the love between the two, when they were not even touching each other? It's all in Hang Ah's eyes. The way she looked at that hurt boy from long ago, who had to learn to hide himself inside a polished, cold, hard shell, who was so lonely but could do nothing to save himself. Wow! HJW totally nailed that moment.

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I have to say, I like the simplicity of that kiss scene, how he took her hands to his face and a simple kiss, and then saying they must win together.

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*It’s all in Hang Ah’s eyes.
@AnnMichelle - you said that right! Just when you think you can't possibly love JH more, he opens up and shares his innermost thoughts, ahh...swoon...

That look on HA's face was pure L.O.V.E.! I can just feel her heart melting, like mine! LOL

I'm been gushing so much about LSG's stratospheric leap in his acting skills, it's time to pay homage to HJW. After watching her in SeGa, I went on to watch WHIB & Hwangjini and became a fan for life. Now, watching her as HA, I continue to be amazed at her range. With many, many actors out there, no matter how popular, you can change the premise of the movie/drama/sitcom, the period even the character but essentially their acting/mannerisms stays the same. (Think Jennifer Aniston. Sorry if you're a fan)

I just love how HA switches from badass to aeygo (don't you just love how cute she was when they clicked their wine glasses?) and we all just buy it, even JH (heehee!). All kudos to HJW who make her so believable!

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I am with you babes. HJW , as LSG claims, is the best actress of her generation. I started loving LSG because he did this drama with HJW, in the same way that I love all the actors HJW worked with. They all respect her caliber. She has never rested on her laurels and you know from all of her works, movies and dramas, how she always wanted to excel. Not just act...but excel in it by trying new things being versatile that she is. I do not know if there is any other Korean actress of that kind of versatility like her....be it drama, action, thriller, horror...name it , she has done it all, AND with flying colors...with all her acting awards to boost. Sorry for being an avid fan...but that is just how I love Jiwon !!!

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I really like your comments on Ji Won onnie. I am forever fan of her also. <3 your comments

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Agreed 100%. HJW just loses herself in a role. She has such range and fearlessness. And she takes roles that challenge her, too. I remember in an interview about Secret Garden, she was asked whether she was nervous or hesitant to play a girl who is inhabited by a man, and she laughed and said that was precisely WHY she took the role. Because she thought playing a man would be challenging and interesting.

Truly an inspiration. And there's a reason Seunggi is doing so well in his role--she seems to inspire her costars with her passionate dedication, her good spirits, and her talent. She gives them so much to play off of.

Sidenote: I haven't watched What Happened in Bali or Hwangjini--should I? I LOVED HJW in Secret Garden and she's basically the reason I started watching this show. But I'm hesitant to jump into those because I haven't watched a historical drama yet and WHIB just seems so depressing.

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I appreciated the intimacy leading up to the kiss more. I didn't care about the lightness of the kiss because the hand holding and cheek cupping was 10x more intimate than other dramas kiss scenes.

More than that I liked that this kiss wasn't a full on tonsil hockey match. Not every kiss in a couple's relationship is gonna be like that. Some are deep tongue-fests, some are light pecks, some aren't even on the lips at all...But all are valid ways of showing love and intimacy.

Got a little long winded but suffice it to say, I liked the kiss. lol :)

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"This is just love."

:)

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*kdrama's shown, sorry...

@ AnnMichelle
Agree, we can feel their love, even when they're bickering. If love was in form of bird, millions birds would fly around them and blocked our screen. Hehe.

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Dear Girlfriday,

Thank you so much for another detailed and insightful recap. It took tremendous effort on my part NOT to read your recap until I finished this episode. This way I can nod my head throughout your writing and relive all those precious moments.

Too many things to say really. But foremost I just love how the story line loops itself so beautifully.

When Jae Ha used Hang Ah to tease Shi Kyung yet again, the first love story he told came squarely into focus. So Hang Ah was not like that at all. JH used to complain that he did not understand why HA would find Shi Kyung attractive, instead of him, a PRINCE. That's it. Hang Ah did not give a toss about him being a PRINCE. At all. She loves him despite him being a prince. She trusted him when he did not deserve the trust. This is the kind of love that can remake a person. Or rebirth. JH is so lucky to find it.

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Thanks for sharing this gem of an insight AnnMichelle.

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aww!! u hit it right on the spot!

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Love your insight AnnMichelle!

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OMG U R so right.....

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you got it right on the spot, AnnMichelle! Hang Ah literally and figuratively saved him, don't you think? :)

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You're so right!! i love how wuli heroine is really a heroine instead of just a damsel in distress..

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Beautifully said.

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i loled at jae ha reaction when shi kyung told him that jae shin wanted him to stay. well, since i dun speak korean but i can tell that jae ha asked him what's his deal with woman (hang ah and jae shin) and really that made me laugh so hard at 1.00 am in the morning.

but reading ur recaps about jae ha said that he wanted bro in-law who's not like shi kyung (one who he can go swimming and play golf with) that definitely made me laughed louder. :P

aigoo jae-ha ya! u certainly did not make me laugh for nothing!!

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DAEBAK!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU GF ONCE AGAIN AWESOME RECAP. OFF TO READ IT AGAIN. :)

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oh I love this episode! thx a lot, GF!

man, the scene between Omma and JH made me teary.. I just want to give Omma a hug.. this is why I love this drama: the mother here acts like a mother in the real world. their interaction is totally touching and of course real.

oh and of course Earnest Botman was so sweet when it came to the princess. And when he said that JS wasnt his type? Boy, you're so in denial... just date her already!

and that tickle! hahaha I feel like watching an old 1n2d episode where LSG couldnt hold the tickling!

today's episode is just like a music piece's dynamic. This episode serves as a decrescendo, moves into a crescendo for the next episode bcoz I know the next ep is gonna be intense

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I felt the same way too! About the tickling, that is. But Seung-gi the boy in the old 1N2D episode has grown up into a manly being. And his haircut enhances this new image. Love it -- he should maintain this look even after the drama.

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As much as I like the idea of Shi Kyung being in the palace protecting Jaeshin, I'm still a little bummed that he won't be in the WOC. The camaraderie between the six is all kinds of awesome.

Can't there be two of him? :(

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The clueless look on the newbie of the team further put focus on the gaping hole without Shi Kyung.

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oh my god. I want a Shi kyung. WHERE can I get one?

that mother-son scene just gutted me. they got the casting for the queen mother just perfect. she is knocking it out of the park along with everyone else in the cast.

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When you find out where to get one, please let me know. I want one too. XD

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THANKS SO A LOT ^^

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Might get a little wordy but...

What. The. Actual. F*ck?! How is it that he really didn’t anticipate what Bong Gu would do?

It’s really obvious that this dude is off his rocker. And he’s evil! He’s off his rocker and he’s evil. At the very least he was gonna beat the crap out of Tara. He has no conscience.

It wasn’t right. Jae Ha didn’t kill her personally but he is just as responsible for her death. He sent Tara into a dangerous situation with a known psychotic murderer without telling her everything that was happening. At the very least he should have told her what he was doing before letting her go back to Bong Gu so she could make a decision herself.

And I think I’m even angrier at the mocking and condescending “Don’t kill her.” message he sent too. So you’re telling me that it did occur to him that Bong Gu might kill her but he went ahead with this plan anyway? Why? Because she’s just collateral in this dick measuring contest between them. And guess what? It ended with her getting riddled with bullets.

I don't like the idea that I'm not supposed to care because what? She was a call girl/gold-digger? She was the girlfriend to a psychotic murderer? She wasn't a main character? None of those are valid reasons for me.

What Jae Ha did was not right and I'm not completely ok with it. I mean his callousness is completely in character but it pisses me off sometimes.

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You are right to feel pissed off from that point of view, it is not morally correct.

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Admittedly, from a writer's stand point I do like having a main character be so morally gray. After 6 years of Asian Drama watching, I have never been as emotionally invested with a KDrama as I have with this one. lol

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Same here on the emotional investment.
I'm glad legally he is not liable though, because I will not be able to forgive if justice is not done just because he is King.

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I mentioned earlier:

i guess when somebody blatantly confesses that he killed your brother, sister-in-law, may be responsible for your sister being paralyzed….it puts things into perspective! He’s just after BG’s blood! Also, we’ve seen JH being maniacal with that evil smile in place with BG and the North Korean PM! In a way he’s kinda like BG…only that he’s good-looking, charming, & knows when to switch personalities and how to diffuse explosive situations. We also had a glimpse of this during the early days of WOC training.

While I am in no way belittling Tara's death JH is avenging BG for the misery he caused to the Royal Family just because he was banned from South Korea! Since claiming the throne BG's been a thorn on JH's side always sabotaging his efforts to do better....he's that enemy who'll always hurt JH and he won't be able to rest in peace until he brings him down...

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It's all in from which point of view actually. Grey as ravens_nest put it aptly.

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In one word: grey! Yes, merci beaucoup ravens_nest & topper. I always seem to go off on a tangent. CANNOT.STOP!

ps: ravens_nest your name reminds me of this crazy ornithology class I had taken!! The field work was awesome in the dead of winter......NOT!

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Right? So he's willing to do anything. The writer in me is like "Awesome!" but the moral part of me is like "OMG, so freaking ruthless!"

My emotions are all over the place. This discussion has def settled down a lot of my initial anger though. haha :)

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My favorite characters are gray. There is nothing more boring than a white bread hero.

I did feel sort of bad for the Tara character. I don't think she deserved what she got. But even without JH's involvement, her situation with the crazy BG was never going to end well.

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i was reading all comments about jae ha's involvement w tara's death ... i can't help but quote that " all is fair in love and war " .

you do what you have to do jae ha!!!

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totally agree. I think gray characters are more real. And I also think that when you're friends or involved with Bonggu, that kind of ending would come anytime anywhere. Remember the scene where he threatened that white guy *his friend but I cant remember his name* with the injection or something?

but still, I really didn't see it coming. Him shot Tara, I mean

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that's what i love about this show - the characterisation is great. each person has his/her faults, bright/dark spots and its great seeing how they grow. i am also really digging the whole subtext of North-South relations (with Jae Ha-Hang Ah's relationship and the WOC) paralleled to the reality.

Following this drama has got me reading both on dramabeans and koala's playground and i have to say, koala's analysis of Bong Gu as the parallel to the real-life manaic ruling N Korea today is certainly a possibility, given the brilliance of this(these?) writer(s) for the show. i really won't be surprise if it was the writer(s) true intention writing Bong Gu's character the way it is.

This drama is a literature / film analysis class in itself, i tell u!no wonder it has gotten us all hooked onto it!!

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You said it best. Being around BG and how he could turn on you without any real provocation already put her in a bad spot. Sure, I felt bad for her but at the same time, you'd think she would know better. Yes, there is an evil streak in JH but unlike BG, his is controlled by people who really care about him.

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Yes, gray characters are great, but doesn't the character have to realize he might be doing something he shouldn't to be gray? I would have less issue with Jae Ha basically setting up Bong Gu to be a a position to kill Tara if Jae Ha had stop for even a moment and showed some hesitancy or concern that maybe what he's doing to Tara is not right and that she doesn't deserve it... Or if Jae Ha wasn't goading at the hidden camera while luring Tara into making a confession that would bring about her own death. When he looked at her he didn't even flinch to think this woman is walking right into her death and I'm leading her there...that's F-ed up.

Also, "all is fair in love and war," but that doesn't mean it's good or right. And although Kings have to make hard decisions, and yes, be in the gray area sometimes, it doesn't absolve them of their duty to do what is right. The problem with Tara's death is that is was unnecessary, and therefore gratuitous, for Jae Ha to make his point. He did something unnecessary that caused someone's death.

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Nope...it is not morally correct and Jae-Ha did know the risk. e's by no means a squeaky clean, all for justice king. He's just as dangerous as all those other kings we read about in history.

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Yes, agree...
No matter howbig I love Jae Ha's character, it's not morally correct.

When i read that bong Gu shoot Tara, I was like 'd**n, Jae Ha, you kill her'

With all has happened to him, his brother murder, his disable sister, all of them rounding around and added one factor that he is actually smart and cunning,he is that dangerous. He is not a type who fight all for love and justice, but actually only for him self.

In other hand, I think Jae Ha,is representing the King/country leader in reality, none of them is clean....

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I have to admit, I was really shocked when Bong-gu killed Tara in cold blood.

Dramatically I'm cool with it, because it does show a ruthless streak in Jae-Ha's character that I didn't quite expect. He was more a less a practical joker before this, but I think things are going to get wayyy more intense from now on.

I felt really bad for Tara and the main henchman during that scene when they were dragging her body out though. It still befuddles me as to why they'd hang around the likes of Bonggu even if he's filthy rich. That's kind of like selling your soul to the devil.

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To me it's more vengeful than ruthless. He is a person who makes sure he gets back at someone else, damn the consequences.

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Hi ravens_nest - I've no doubt, that as tightly as this drama is written...the writers probably argued endlessly over the *ethics* is setting up the murder of the psycho's girlfriend.

...AND having the King be the hand behind it.

I can't speak for the writer's personal experience, but can say for myself that I knew woman (acquaintance through friends, right after college) stunningly beautiful, model-type ....who CHOSE to date a club-owning, Bentley-driving, bodyguard-having, druggie-king-pin guy. (seriously...I'm not making it up)

Everyone around her..told her, begged her... tried to lure her away from this guy that everyone KNEW was a freak. But she LIKED the LIFEstyle.

One night after a bad business deal went down, to which she was a random witness...he put a bullet through her head. (beautiful and dead...at 23)

It seems crazy...but it DOES actually happen..and the players involved are WELL versed on the possibilities. So I'm gonna have faith here that the writer's injected a dose of real world *ugly* on purpose.

Everyone associated with the Club M enterprise had a hand in murdering JaHae's brother...is the message.

cheers !

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Oh man, that is gritty.

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swear on a stack of whatever-is-dear.

true story.

I only knew her in passing (no pun) ...I could *smell* the bad from that group of people.

At the time, I liked to party...but their world was REALLY hard core....obviously.

The end point is....that level of CRAZY ...does...exist.

In terms of the drama...I'm ok with a King who can cause his enemy to kill his associates. (methinks Aussie guy's days are numbered)
...however, I'm hoping that Bon-Bon gets a close-up with EarnestBot™

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I am hoping for a Bon Bon vs Kim Hang Ah showdown. And the candy gets snapped and eaten. Maybe a tag-team fight? LOL

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@topper - re: 'I am hoping for a Bon Bon vs Kim Hang Ah showdown.'

That was my first thought...' cause we KNOW HangAh would deliver her straight to the devil...on a skewer...with onions...and maybe a cherry tomato.

Our girl is just like that.

....but some part of me wants EarnestBot™ to rescue his Princess...she seems to need that....and it makes an interesting opposite to the JaeHa/HangAh relationship.
We get two Fairy-Tales in one ~ ♥

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me too!! i want hang ah to cream that bon bon into a melted candy. !!

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" EarnestBot™"

It's trademarked! :D

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I know it's her choice because she's not some brainless puppet. She makes the choice to go back to him every time for his money, as she herself explains.

It still feels super callous though but I'm def not as angry as I was before. These discussions are great!

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@ravens_nest - you brought up an extremely relevant point and phrased the anger well...nice way to prompt the discussion ~ :)

In a way, I view it as JaeHa's *notice* to Club M 'staff' (people..key word) that ANY ONE of them is expendable...at ANY time.

---breaks ranks in Followers
---causes the Lead to have doubts

Like Sun Tzu's *Art of War*.....in which disregard of distinction between military & civilians are key to success.

*i.e. Bring war material with you from home, but forage on the enemy. Thus the army will have food enough for its needs.
*translation: bring weapons to the battlefront, but house & feed off the locals

Basically...break the house starting from the foundations.

I don't dismiss JaeHa's ethics...but then, this is ...war?

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Right? And the thing is, I'm not unaware of the military/war aspect. I'm not that innocent. lol So I sit here torn about my feelings on this. The ruthless part of me understands the practicality/efficiency of his plan but the moral part of me is just cringing at how cold it was...

Ugh, what are my feelings doing?!

(Love the Art of War reference, btw. :) )

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@ravens_nest- I totally get where you're coming from...
I've learned to LIKE JaeHa.

He certainly wasn't presented as ..ummm...Prince Charming at the beginning of the romance.

I admit to applying *promise* to him in the same way I(we?) apply potential to any guy-of-interest in life. (I admit that personal/fail) hehee

In terms of the drama....he's growing into a King of a Nation...even if he's a figurehead, he has power even if he's bound by the mutative-rules of politics and...especially for Korea, there is the potential of REAL war.

...apologies, I could ramble on~ but I'll conclude with....I think he's being written as a Power-Player on purpose. Hell, he already shot HangAh....this King isn't just showing up for the cake & Champagne.

p.s. I'm really impressed with that guy, SeungGi...previously I thought him such a pup. ;)

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It is essentially a 'war' and Jae Ha is in it to win and there's a fine line between right and wrong when it comes to warfare and the issue of ethics is always a major point of discussion.

This discussion really is great though.

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I like that when push comes to shove, Jae Ha's not afraid to make those hard decisions. More so now that the lives of the people he loves are on the line. With his spot-on profile of Bong Gu's character, he must have foreseen that BG would go there (kill the girlfriend) but he taunted him anyway.

So many dimensions in Jae Ha's character! I agree with @trixiecopper, Jae Ha's certainly not your whitebread hero. He's more like the wholesome grain with a lot of nuts!

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Moreover, unless she's a TOTAL clueless dingbat (which i had mentioned earlier), she very well can't say that she does not know the evil that BG is up too. For eg, she knew that Bon Bon kidnapped JS and that JS jumped off the cliff. Remember that conversation that BG and BB were having while BB was curling her hair? So if she still chooses to SLEEP with the creep, then she should know the danger she's in. Moreover, it didn't affect her enough to stay away or even rectify the authorities. How can anyone be THAT callous? It's like being an accessory to murder. So yes, while I feel that it was shocking of JH to set her up like that, in some ways, she also asked for it.

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Oops... I mean 'notify the authorities'.

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Totally agree with those who are disturbed by JH's disregard for a bystander's life, whether she was a not-so-innocent one or not. Being dumb or greedy is no justification for assassination by proxy.

That said, 2 posts helped me to understand it better:
sallyb's above: "Everyone associated with the Club M enterprise had a hand in murdering JaHae’s brother…is the message."
That was an Aha! Of course! moment for me - thanks, sallyb!
And rearwindow's insightful analysis (comment 5.4.5.1.1) of how intelligently manipulative JH's ploy was: Tara was not an incidental casualty, but was central to demonstrating JH's thorough psychological understanding of BG - i.e., JH's ability to predict and thus manipulate BG's actions, let BG know that he could and did, and weaken BG by removing one of his so-called 'people'.

I disagree that this is a grey area: I think it's just plain wrong. However, it's very machiavellian, and I can understand (though not countenance) it better based on these two posts (thanks sallyb and rearwindow!). Thus I see JH's actions as not casual, not vengeful, but a highly skilled (and ruthless) move in this dangerous game that he has, in fact, been forced into.

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"Being dumb or greedy is no justification for assassination by proxy."
"I disagree that this is a grey area: I think it’s just plain wrong."

Thank you for saying that.

It doesn't matter that Tara slept with Bong Gu for money or that she knew he was an evil arms dealer who killed people. Tara was just the latest pretty face Bong Gu had next to him. She wasn't his life long partner who helped him with all his dealings. Jae Ha simply didn't value her life. He wanted to make Bong Gu angry and if that meant killing some random woman, he was ok with that.

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Have you seen this picture, adorable and hilarious couple ever http://nimg.nate.com/orgImg/tv/2012/05/03/03316143.jpg

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They're hilarious!which episode is this from?

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I think tonight's episode

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It looks like it'll happen in the forthcoming episodes...they're both wearing the same uniform whereas in the past they represented either the North or the South.

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cutest ever!!! oh, why is it so nice to be in love :))

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wooohooo!!!!

ratings be damned!!!

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What a great episode to bring as to the next level.I'm glad that the engagement spoiler is out or else I would stay awake at night thinking what will come, but the writers are keeping us on our toes.All I can say is just give us a happy ending with intimate scenes that will blow up the roof and children.

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Another great episode !

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thanks again GF, your recaps enlightens me when I'm confused with the plot line or the dialogues and of course, I absolutely need to know whilst I go mad waiting for the subbed vids.

While i still cant wrap my mind about JH knowingly endangering and ultimately, indirectly having Tara killed, I'll let it go because well, this drama had me by my non existent balls so i really don't have a choice. I need this drama like a drug---can't eat, can't sleep till I know what has been going down with, what I assume to be the most good looking, non-boring King in the history of tv. bwahahaha. at least in K drama. (Ok, debate starts now!)

I truly hope we get a happy ending, really. For the first time, I also care a lot about the secondary love story of JS and SK, and they are surrounded by equally lovable characters. For the first time, I don't know if we will get a happy ending or not. Anything in this show can happen and at a lightning speed. The episodes gets darker and darker that we are constantly surprised when a situation suddenly goes the comic route which offers a welcome relief from all the throat- gripping drama.

Love it love it!! And this episode proves once again how crappy that article about LSG having to learn from Tae wong is. Damn it, I don't know if i'll be happy or angry that the article site closed down before I can give the author a piece of my mind. Here it is anyway---$%*&#@!!!!!

Seunggi has grown by leaps and bound. The way he cries now...it's so moving unlike in his previous dramas where I sometimes actually cringe a little when he narrows his eyes and scrunch his face. Maybe all the time he has now to prepare for the drama has paid off. Unlike in Gumiho and BL where he has to juggle Strong Heart and 1n2d, his eyes look red most of the time. In here, aside from the marvelous wardrobe and stylists (love the hair!!), he looks luminous. Or was that just from the stars in my eyes?

eherm. Ha Jiwon, goddess of Kdramas, thank you for making a man out of our boy. I'm so glad it's you...haha. aaaand cue imaginary flashback to the bed scene!

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Damn it, I don’t know if i’ll be happy or angry that the article site closed down before I can give the author a piece of my mind. Here it is anyway—$%*&#@!!!!!

hahaha!!

i am sooo glad it is Ha Ji Won, the one and only! no one can touch her when it comes to dramas.

i did a lot of first times just because of this drama.
first time that i ever watched a kdrama live, first time ever to comment, first time to ever really care about all the characters and yes even bong gu ... not in the nice way but urging the actor on to make it even more believable. first time to be bothered thinking of a drama at work, first time really seriously buying a DVD set for a drama.... so many first times.

and in the words of koala's : i came in here solely for ha ji won but would leave with a massive affection for lee seung gi :)

:)

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^^and in the words of koala’s : i came in here solely for ha ji won but would leave with a massive affection for lee seung gi^^

Couldn't agree more!! *sniff sniff*

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oh dear everything you mentioned applies on me too.. I will never ever forget this drama. :) I have no boyfriend ,no date,my cp is turned off coz no text or call is allowed every wednesday and thursday nights hahaha! crazy me... :)

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Me too! First time I'm actually watching a drama live and commenting too. And having lots of fun. It's like being back at literature tutorials during my uni days. Always felt so enlightened and stimulated after animated discussions.

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I think he got the best hairstyle here in this drama. It fits him. me likey :D

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@sam @maria:

I was there(at the article) before, but before I could give a piece of my mind, they closed the reply thread, and suddenly adding the word: The views of this article does not...blah blah. The next thing I know, I'm on the original article, and apparently, korean netizen don't favor the author too, all of them gives tanthrum and asking, does the author really watch TK2H or not?

Best thing is...there is email of the author in the original article hehehe <3, I don't know how many 'love letter' he/she got just for that sole artile.

Yes, the way he cries now is so moving. I'm his fans since Brilliant Legacy, but you could count me for judging objectively. The way he acts in this drama is soooo much better, even when Jae Ha was still annoying brat, his eyes plays the role, I can't see him as Lee Seung Gi, only Lee Jae Ha. I even wanna slap him (so rare for me)

@yellow buttercup:
Please bring this neat-short-clean cut everyday from now on! Left out the fringe extension!!
This hair style reminds me a lot with his hair style in 3rd album, which is my favorite this far, after this^^^ Me love it!

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thanks for letting us know that the korean netizens really know what they're talking about when it comes to seung gi and defending him except for that author.
she/he probably got a lot from that publicity stunt. oh well, what's new.
we already know seung gi is hardworking and if given the right material he delivers it exceptionally so don't worry.
and yeah, he needs to have his hair short, i totally love him in this.

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SUPER DUPER AWESOME!
THANK YOU GF for the always amazing recap!

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Do you mean: IsItThursdayYet?! :D

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love your name! lol

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Eun Shi Kyung! You slay me. I love that the second lead is not IN the love triangle with the main lead/pair. Jae Shin and Shi Kyung's chemistry is CRACKLING. When Shi Kyung knelt before the Princess and said that he wasn't looking at the shooting star but at her, I couldn't breathe. It was so good it hurts my heart. I just love those two. Can't wait to see more development in their love story.

I usually love open-ended endings in a drama BUT not for this drama. Please, no! I want an ending that's tied with a pretty big bow because I love the characters so much that I want everyone to have a happy ending (except for Kim Bong Gu - you can kill him off). You better not kill any of our Royals or any of the WOC Team members.

I'm gonna sue you if you do.

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"Jae Shin and Shi Kyung’s chemistry is CRACKLING. When Shi Kyung knelt before the Princess and said that he wasn’t looking at the shooting star but at her, I couldn’t breathe."

oh how I love these two! SK's words about the shooting star will sound cheesy if it comes from somebody else. But it's super duper sweet when SK who said it!

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" I love that the second lead is not IN the love triangle with the main lead/pair."

Only in Jae-ha's twisted imagination was Shi-kyung once love triangle competition.:P

I'm totally with you for the pretty big bow. Everyone's too loveable/adorable for a bad ending. My heart would break into a million pieces otherwise.

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I second that. I wish everyone would have a happy ending. I really, really really wish no one from the couples would die or have a sad ending. Because tbh I've always had this feeling about Shi Kyung will die somehow. I don't want EarnestBot diee :(

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I don't want to lose any of these characters in the end. Which does not include the baddies, especially the crazy BG. THAT I will cheer!

The good guys have lost enough! If someone has to bite it, I vote for the new guy on the WOC team. He can be like the red shirt dude on Star Trek.(you always knew HE wasn't gonna be beaming back up to the ship!)

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I gotta say, it's weird, but I care more about Shi-kyung and Jae-shin's loveline than I do the main couple. Heh. Maybe it's because Shi-kyung is so damn adorable, and the old Jaeshin was so damn badass.

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It's probably cause the romance of Jae Ha and Hang Ah are pretty much resolved, but certainly not over.

Whereas Earnest Bot and Sassy Princess havent had much skinship besides earnest bot's carrying her to bed. Forshadowing perhaps? lol

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i need bong gu's help now, please do some magic to me or anything else.
otoke... for today 6 hours it's to long than 6days. ah stress!

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Are you sure you want to be associated with that magic-loving, unstable psycho? If that doesn't freak you out then I'd like to borrow our King Jae-ha's famous description: "overly self-conscious inferiority-complex-riddled ass" --> this seemingly innocent description at times of threat can lead to deadly irreversible consequences! Case in point: Killing girl friend Tara point blank when she called out his magic tricks childish!

:D

On a serious note: cannot.wait.for.Ep14!! <3

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I have been waiting for this show.... just keep counting the days!!!!!!

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OMG again I have to say that I love the way you put these recaps together :) This episode left me breathless! So many things happening at once! Definitely the main reason I'm so addicted to this show, I never know what's going to happen next. Can't wait to see what episode 14 is going to bring us tomorrow XD

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Daebak Girl Friday and Dramabeans! Love your recap! Love Love Love. I always follow your blog! keep on going! Fighting Oni!

I Love K2H because the show give us some time to enjoy the main couple doing lovey dovey! hihihi (Romcom addict) but at the same time give us the fantasy theme of Korean Monarch and Korean Unification (I hope some day it would happen though). I love Seunggi and I love Hajiwon!

Your recap always accompany me on my long journey on the commuter line every day!

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I don't get how this drama has low ratings. It is so damn good. The story is well paced, directing seems assured, acting is superb and for a change we have a main female lead who can hold her own in any situation. What's not to love?

Besides, from what we see in the previews, engagement is clearly not until at least next week and we've already seen pictures of the upcoming engagement, so that just goes to show how ahead of schedule the drama is.

King2Hearts fighting!

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yunno, now that we're almost 70% done with this drama I say ratings be damned! Yes, I'd love for the drama to do well but the cast n crew received that fanvid project (which was in the news I believe) & are receiving critical acclaim. Most of us were worried that it would impact negatively wrt the writing. But, thus far the writing's meshing things really well!

The ratings will be b/w 10-12%. ehhhhh! Here's the stats for a Korean streaming website. Definitely can notice a big discrepancy b/w the 3 dramas:

http://tryp96.wordpress.com/2012/05/02/12-05-03-news-tidbits-lee-seung-gi/#more-1404884680

Lastly, as of a couple of days ago Ep 19 script was DONE! So, if they can end it with a bang....this drama will go down as one of the coming-of-age classics which didn't employ the usage of typical characters and oft-repeated plot devices! <3

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The ratings aren't low per se. Its just that the competition is stiff. The show is getting a lot of love and also people who don't catch it live are probably watching the reruns; not to mention the users watching online.

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[OOT]
If you follow the real-time rating as I do, you'll see how dynamic the rating is.

Yes, EM is leading, but whenever something happens with other show, you see raising & decreasing rating. I've used to ignoring rating now*thanks to dropping rating* but searching about the real time rating is kinda addictive. Make you wondering, what happened with other show, why the rating peak up suddenly?

Seeing this real time rating is somehow intense as much as I watch the show, sometimes I think it feels like a race, biting my nail and all. Last night real time rating is just that intense with RP&TK2H rating is so close. The most intense one most probably when EM took the No.1 spot, the gap isn't that much, and all you can do is wait for the average rating out in the morning.

Right now, I don't care anymore about rating (well though, good rating is okay too), just watch the character developing and the story unfolding is already enough for me :) -for now-

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Much I love JH wearing his heart on his sleeves and telling the whole world that he loves HA, I'm getting seriously worried for HA.

I don't understand much Korean so when I saw watching it raw and everytime HA's name came up when JH was talking, I'm going "Shut up, already!"

We know Kim Bong Gu is psychotic, right? JH, aren't you afraid he's gonna take out the love of your life??? Yeah, she can take care of herself in arm-to-arm combat but, helloo...ooo, remember how your hyung died? Like Bong Gu said, he died like a fool, buzzed and all, didn't even know what hit him.

please, Please, PLEASE...happy ending, ok?

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yeah, this was the second time he's publicly confessed that he loves HA! He also mentioned HA in the video. He should know better that by showing his hand he's making himself and the royal family vulnerable. Did you notice the discernible change in BG's face when HA appeared on stage?....ickkkk!!

Please be safe my beloved OTP!!

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is it bad that to me, jae-shin looks like its causing her pain to cry...?

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As always, thank you GF ! And thank you all for the most interesting comments everyone has been leaving....

You know it's a serious obsession when one clicks refresh on this page like every 10-15 minutes while ATTEMPTING to keep up some semblance of work....

This drama is truly amazing at all levels. Being a Seunggi fan makes it all the better. Uri puppy (to borrow someone's endearment from the previous recap) has outdone himself :-).

Of course, not forgetting the rest of the cast who are just as wonderful....

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Oh, the mother and son scene.

Every time she goes "Jaeha-ya" my heart breaks a little.

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Thank you GF!

I always read your recap right after I watch the latest episode to re-live the emotional roller coaster that is this show. And what a roller coaster it has been! I have never been so emotionally invested in so many characters so fast. This drama is KILLING me! It's too good! I finish the episodes and go straight to counting down the hours/days till the next time I can watch my newest obsession.

King2Hearts fighting!

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Thanks GF for another great recap.

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as expected Bong Gu is forever evil. so that's why he was holding a ball in the car..

SPOILER (well kind of..)

I'm pretty sure (well although not 100% sure) that they will beat the US team. since we have all seen their engagement pictures so that means they won't have to cancel the engagement. :D

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oh and Yoon Yeo Jung = such an expert. her acting was awesome during the mother son scene, I get teary watching that.

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Gals! Heard that TK2H OST(full) will be released in 10/5!!!
Source: http://www.yfrog.com/kj9b0utbj
Cr:lovelysgdimple

Now, who is excited along with me?? I can't wait for the BGM! Jinja~ *dancing happily *\(´▿`*\) (/*´▿`)/*

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I AM WITH YOU !!!! wait is this may 10th? or october 5th?

LOL!

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A glowing article on Seunggi's acting as Lee Jae Ha

http://asian-drama.org/lee-seung-gi-is-not-inferior-in-everything/

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thanks!!! :)

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Hi Saima, u were mentioning about SG's anatomy in pg 1 and I recall a spoiler showing JH looking at a magazine full of beautiful women and curling his toes before the drama actually started. But, I don't recall seeing that in the earlier episodes. Correct me if I'm wrong. If I'm right, what happened to THAT scene?

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thanks girlfriday! i love reading your recaps!
i teared up reading about the mother son scene...its so heartwrenching =(

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Thank you for the recap!!!!

As usual this episode is DAEBAK!!!! I LOVE this drama OMG! Totally addicted and stalking soompi every minutes I have free!!! Can't wait for the 14th episode who seems even more AWESOME !

I love HA and JS's relationship!!! How HA is so caring and hurt about JS's condition but still pushing her so grow stronger!!! Love SK, JH, Queen Mother!!! Aaaah! I LOVE THEM ALL!

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The look on their faces!!! Oh noes...

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Thanks gf! So excited for the 14th episode later!

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Anyone interested in slow motion gifs of AhHa's kiss ?

Check it out on tryp96 dot wordpress dot com

(not hotlinking at author's request)

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Hee Hee Hee! Saw it already . The things fans do to assuage their need. If its too short just slow-mo it !Haha!

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@babes
I feel the same icky eeling too!! like " SHUDDUP lah! Why are u brazenly irritating Crazy B & highlighting her protective presence?" Bonggu was already fed up wt her for foiling his bombing incident in NK . He probably is weaving his evil plans to get rid of her cos she's JaeHa's barrier. She'd give her life to protect JaeHa. *gulp* Did I jus say that ? Touch wood .

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Don't think I can watch another drama and enjoy it as much. Will probably compare every other drama with this one and find it lacking.

There are many things to like about this drama, but there 3 reasons why I think its daebak!
1) the characterisation - JH characterisation is splendid. He is not your regular bad boy turn good because of his love for a girl. JH had to go thru quite a bit to be the man he is now - he has an awesome family, who still love him despite his flaws - and they do NOT hesitate to berate him for his stupid actions. Then there's also support from Earnest Bot n of cos love from HA. Even now, his character is not flawless as we saw in ep 13. There is this 'dark' side in him too, but like most of u pointed out, it has not made him like BG bec of the love n support he received from family and nation. This makes his character more believable. We also get to see why he was so frivolous earlier - it was his terrible first love experience and the way others treated him that made him what he was. Isn't true for all of us? Our past often makes us what we are.

Then there's JS. She was such a maverick - fun loving, outspoken, feisty princess. Only to lose that spark after her accident. But who can blame her? She not only lost part of her memory, but the use of half her body too. It's definitely scary, frustrating n agonising. No wonder she's so sensitive, thinking that people are mocking her behind her back - some true and some not. But it's good that she's going to be queen for a bit. She needs to face her fears

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The second is the wonderful, academy-award winning acting from ALL the cast. i don't understand korean, but just watching them act in the raw can move me. It's the little gestures - a raised eyebrow, the widening of the eyes, the quick little smile, the trembling hands, the darting eyes, etc, speak a thousand words. LOVE that the camera zooms in on their facial expressions. Saw the movie, "The Vow" the other day with hubby. Didn't move me at all!
3) The loving. It's the little gestures again that move me. the grazing of fingers over the hand, the soft kiss, the eye contact and the beautiful dialogue.
Oh I must add one more!
4) The way the show/writers keep surprising us. I was bowled by the hand-made cosmetics (esp the 3 words) and the proposal, and the video message in ep 13, to name just 2.

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i just love this show .i don't if i can say this that acting of seunggi has been prolific.i wonder if any other actor could protray the complex charecter JAE HA better then him.as of HA JI WON she is just magnificient as always specially the north korean accent she has mastered.it sounds so real and smooth.i hope she gets a" DAESANG" awards for this role. shikyung and jae shin acting is also so realistic and natural. i just wanted to say the this drama by far the best drama i have seen.TK2H FIGHTING!

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the tickling part is just so doubly funny! i remember from 1n2d season 1 days where Seung Gi was tied to a pole while MC Mong 'trains' him to endure the tickles so they get to win the anti-nausea meds (if you watched 1N2D, you know how those boys hated being on a boat).

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Haha yeah the first time Mong did it he surrendered in about 2 seconds. LOL.

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And, then the second time Jiwon bound his hand to that pole and was encouraging him using his Airen fans. pffft. No can do, Jiwon, Seung-gi lasted all of 5 to 10 seconds. Cutest thing ever!!

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gaaaah i miss him in variety so much! Before he announced that he'd be leaving Strong Heart, i thought the cast of K2H would be able to guest on that show too like with the cast in MGiaG.. :}

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But the ‘people’ speech to Bong-gu was the best thing in this episode (though the mommy-son scene was the one that gutted me, with the performances)
in transforming Jae-ha into a king – that’s the heart of the show for me.
-----------------
Totally agree with you. This story is about how he grows up as a king. And EP13, the highlights are exactly what you indicated. I liked it a lot too.

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Live Recap and Screenshots starting in 5 minutes. Just something quick until the great detailed ones come out on dramabeans ^_^ http://goo.gl/Jt273

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Thank you. And I hope all Hearties who are watching the live stream will avoid posting next episode spoilers in the comments here, save it for tomorrow!

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This drama is messing up with my brain! The sharp and witty dialogue as well as a strong storyline and the fearlessness of the writers, I just... I'm speechless. They're basically pushing the envelope above and beyond making me fear they would insult/offend someone in the process! I'm really looking forward as to how they'd wrap this up. First round against the USA? HA! I love the writers, can we pretty please allow the South & North wins? I can't wait for the next episode... Still, thinking there's just six episodes left, it makes me sad...

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three scenes that just amazes me recentlyare 1. THE CONFORTATATION OR COUNTER ATTACK BETWEEN KIM BONG GU AND JAE HA 2. JAE HA PROPOSE HANG AH WHILE CHERRY BLOSOOMS 3.THE EMOTIONAL DRAINING CONFORTATION BETWWEN JAE HA'S MOTHER AND JAE HA IN EPISODE 13.I DON'T KOW I HAVE WATCHED THESE THIS SCENES REALLY FLOORS YOU.OF COURSE THERE ARE MORE IN INTIAL EPISODE WHICH I HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE.BUT THESE SCENES STAND OUT.

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TK2H THE BEST.THANX FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT.TK2H FIGHTING!

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When I watched this drama, I always forget that Lee Jae-ha is Lee Seung-gi. Same person, but totally two different men.

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i feel the same way. :)

i'm fawning over everyone but seung gi just floored me here.

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