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Grandpas Over Flowers: Episode 1

EPISODE 1. Broadcast on July 5, 2013.

girlfriday: Here we are with the first episode of tvN’s new Friday variety show Grandpas Over Flowers, helmed by PD Na Young-seok, of the original 1 Night 2 Days.

javabeans: He’s definitely the main reason this show has been on our radar. Yes, the premise is cheeky, but you can’t sustain a whole series based on a funny-sounding premise alone. (As we found with the current 1N2D, which has taken a golden premise and tanked it with clumsy execution.) It’s Na PD’s brand of cleverness, tightly planned trips/games/rules, and amusing sadistic streak that have made his episodes such great fun to watch. It’s just enough structure to keep a show from going off the rails, but knows when to back off and let a moment have, well, its moment.

girlfriday: The premise: four veteran actors — the Halbaes (a slangy term for grandpa, like gramps) — and one guest go backpacking in Europe. Hijinks ensue.

javabeans: Backpacking grandpas. Sold. Especially once we’ve seen how they revert to childish pouts in moments of stress, which is just hilarious when you’re talking about dramaland’s presidents, kings of yore, and stern patriarchs.

girlfriday: Yeah it’s definitely built on an old idea — variety as a way to ruin images for entertainment — but this takes it to a whole new level. The first episode brought in average 4.15% ratings (with a high of 5.39% during the hour), which are big numbers for cable, and a fantastic start for the show.

javabeans: Okay, so we open on the four halbaes (gramps—er, grampses?) of the show with scenes of Paris in the backdrop, and is it witty or just plain mean that the song playing is “Viva Primavera”?

girlfriday: Oh, Na PD’s songs, how I’ve missed you. The opening preview montage is really cute.

javabeans: It’s adorable, on top of being artistically really well done with cartoony graphics laid over and integrated in.

girlfriday: And just plain funny moments like Lee Soon-jae bumping into a full-length mirror thinking it’s a hallway.

javabeans: Then we back up to footage from March, before the trip proper to when the show was getting planned. The halbaes arrive at a coffee shop and meet with Na PD and the other crew members.

girlfriday: Haha, did Na PD just tattle on Lee Soon-jae for being pissy that Shin Gu never calls him?

javabeans: Whoa, they met in 1961 in their twenties. Okay, he can be a little pissy that the upstart never calls. I love when Na PD takes out a globe to discuss travel options, but it gets in the way and Baek Il-sub just points and goes, “Take it down.” Na PD immediately, sheepishly takes it down.

girlfriday: I really enjoy seeing him squirm so much.

javabeans: Then we see the footage from the previews, where Na PD presents a few ideas (skydiving, hot air ballooning) and the halbaes are all, “So… you want to kill us? Is that it?” This is the great thing about this premise, which I think maybe other variety shows are losing a bit, of the dissonance between the PDs being the bosses but feeling awkward ordering around their celebrity charges. It’s not the shows’ fault, the novelty is just wearing off and PDs are getting more comfy bossing around big stars. But here, you just can’t get over the age/respect thing.

girlfriday: Yeah it’s immediately hilarious one moment and tense the next, because you can’t escape that dynamic. It’s great. Even when the four halbaes meet up and Park Geun-hyung arrives, it’s just shocking that he’s all, “Il-sub-ie!” at Baek Il-sub like he’s some kid. Ha. Turns out they’ve known each other for years, and were so close in their twenties that people thought they were brothers. At the next pre-trip meeting, Na PD brings up backpacking, and Lee Soon-jae brings the room to a screeching halt: “Backpacking?” They all expect him to complain or something, but then he says, “I did that once. June 25.” As in, the Korean War. LOL.

javabeans: Haha. You really can’t top the “I was in the Korean War” line. He literally carried a sack of rice on his back in wartime.

girlfriday: Baek Il-sub immediately perks up at the mention that a youngun will be brought on as a guest, because that no longer makes him the maknae. We just saw him make coffee for the hyungs after pouting in protest, which we’ve seen in previews.

javabeans: HAHA, is that Lee Seo-jin’s role? That is hilarious. The biggest star, relegated to errand boy role?

girlfriday: I’m thinking yes.

javabeans: The captions literally call him “Art School Hyung”—Na PD totally cribbed that persona from his last show (1N2D). I love the meta.

girlfriday: Pwahahaha… and then there’s this cut to Na PD asking, “So what lie did we tell Lee Seo-jin? That he’s going on a trip with Girls’ Generation?” Oh. My. God.

javabeans: Is this a con job? This is aweeeeeesome.

girlfriday: This is even better than I thought. So then he proceeds to lie to Lee Seo-jin’s face about the trip and how he doesn’t have to prepare anything. And then when Lee Seo-jin says that he really likes Sunny, Na PD nearly loses it. I’m dying.

javabeans: Why is it so cute just watching Soon-jae haraboji packing his bag? Editing is everything.

girlfriday: Yeah it’s the intercutting between his charismatic bossypants drama characters, and then his real-life shuffling about, fetching his underwear and socks at his wife’s request.

javabeans: Baek Il-sub is the only one who actually seems as boyish as his image. He chuckles that he feels like the night before going on a grade school picnic, and somehow he looks like that eight-year-old version. Okay, then we have this bit with Seo-jin totally grinning to himself at the thought of palling around with SNSD, and they’re playing the SNSD song “Genie,” and he’s labeled Seo Genie, aka Seo-jinnie. Witty layers of puns! I love everything so far.

girlfriday: I know, this show is making me happy. YAY.

javabeans: What makes Na PD a great PD (aside from the wit and editing skill and the sadistic streak) is that his alterna-plans feel like real plans too. Like, he has the plan for the real show, but you get the feeling that in planning the dupe with Seo-jin, he gives that whole faux trip full mental consideration, because if it’s not convincing then it ruins the real trip.

girlfriday: Totally. That’s why he’s an evil genius.

javabeans: Because I was sitting here wondering why anybody continues to fall for Na PD’s tricks, when he’s famous for the twists. But it’s because sometimes he lets you think you’re IN on the joke, and you’re not.

girlfriday: Here we go… it’s airport day, and “Almost Paaaaaradise” comes floating in. HEE.

javabeans: Oh man, I still have reflex twitching from that song. Is it mean that I feel like “almost paradise” has another meaning with halbaes in their 70s?

girlfriday: That’s why it’s hilarious. Shin Gu is the first to arrive, and the first thing he unpacks is two bottles of soju. Pfffft.

javabeans: And Baek Il-sub has this huge tupperware of soy sauce beef.

girlfriday: Aw, cute, are they already calling him Sub-sub-ie?

javabeans: Haha. It’s perfect. (Sub-sub = disappointed, as in, he gets petulant when things don’t go his way.)

girlfriday: *sniff* Miss 1N2D. The real 1N2D, I mean.

javabeans: Na PD tells the halbaes that Seo-jin is going to be joining them, saying that the halbaes only have to do light stuff and can make the young strapping lad do the heavy work. Grandpa Il-sub says he’ll do as much as he can… which strikes me as the kind of thing you mean for about ten seconds. When they hear about the SNSD bait and switch, they all chuckle. It’s actually embarrassing when Na PD meets Seo-jin and draws out the ruse and it’s so obvious that Seo-jin spent his time googling them and preparing to be all cool and awesome. Embarrassing in the best way, that is.

girlfriday: Heeeeeee. I’m watching through my hands, but dying of laughter.

javabeans: Because Seo-jin can’t stop grinning despite himself and his attempt to act cool is failing because he’s just too excited. Na PD is being such an imp about it, too: “Are those new shoes? Did you buy new shoes for this?” (He totally did.)

girlfriday: So then Na PD makes him sit in the middle of the airport with his back turned, and then sends the halbae foursome over. Lee Soon-jae taps him on the shoulder, and he spins around… eep the look of shock on his face!

javabeans: He does the whole polite bow thing, assuming this is coincidence, and on one hand you don’t get the big sudden bomb-drop reaction. But it’s almost funnier this way because you can see his muddled confusion trying to make sense of it, slowly, as they’re dropping hints (“Oh, we’re going to Paris too” and “Why don’t you come with us?” and “Who did you say you were going with?”).

girlfriday: It’s so funny to watch him try and say no without saying no.

javabeans: And there comes the moment when he’s starting to sense something weird, so when asked about his trip he starts stammering, “I-I don’t know. Who am I going with?” Na PD has to tell him the prank, and then: “Did you just shoot me a dirty look?” Park Geun-hyung tells him he can choose to go with or decide now to back out, rather than feel he has to go and then resent them all. Seo-jin: “Teacher… how can I possibly say I won’t go?” Hee.

girlfriday: Na PD sits the grandpas down and pulls Seo-jin aside. “Are you gonna hit me?” And Seo-jin just keeps laughing because he still can’t believe it.

javabeans: Seo-jin’s manager approaches with head hanging, and he says he’ll have to fire her upon his return. Haha. From a clip shot later, Na PD asks what Seo-jin would say to her, and Seo-jin goes, “Who’s that?” So now we get the H4 montage (intercut with F4, natch), and it seems as good a time as any to do formal intros. I thought the show would get to it, but maybe they assume everybody and their mother already knows these veterans.

girlfriday: Halbae 1 is Lee Soon-jae, age 80, and the grandpa in every drama ever. Some recent roles: Childless Good Fortune, The King 2 Hearts.

javabeans: Halbae 2 is Shin Gu, age 76, also every grandpa ever. I guess that’s just a given with these men. Shin Gu was most recently in Hundred Year Inheritance, and also Feast of the Gods, Queen Seon-deok and King and I, among many others. (It’s worth noting that each halbae’s filmography is insane, with more than 100 projects for most if not all. Each, I mean.)


girlfriday: Yeah their filmographies out-do their ages in number, which is kind of astounding. Halbae 3 is Park Geun-hyung, age 74, and the cold chaebol president specialist of dramaland. His recent credits: Empire of Gold, King of Dramas, The Chaser.

javabeans: Halbae 4, Baek Il-sub, just turned 69, though by Korean counting he might get called 70s (I suspect we’ll get a lot of references to 70s, so that’s why he counts). In contrast to the gruff, stern others, he’s always the cuddly teddy bear type. Recent dramas: Ojakkyo Brothers, Sons of Sol Pharmacy.

girlfriday: And the guest (labeled the Jandi of the group, lol) is Lee Seo-jin, age 43, most recently in Kye Baek and known in varietyland as Art School Hyung from his hilarious guest appearance on 1N2D.

javabeans: I know that in variety we tend to drop the surname, but… I dunno, I don’t think I can do that this time. Maybe he’ll just have to be Soon-jae halbae the whole way through.

girlfriday: Yeah I think we’ll either have to go with full name or add a halbae or gramps or something. I just can’t do a straight-up first name for them. It seems rude.

javabeans: Na PD outlines the trip specs: Essentially, they’re on their own in Paris for ten days and have flights back to Korea out of Zurich. “And if you need internet or anything, you have Lee Seo-jin.” Seo-jin makes this What in the what now? face that cracks me up. But maybe I shouldn’t laugh, given how I am anytime my mom asks me about how to message on “the face book.” (I shouldn’t, but I’m still laughing.)

girlfriday: He hands them an envelope of cash, meant to be their entire allowance for the whole trip. It’s roughly a hundred bucks a day per person, which isn’t so bad, but that includes having to pay for hotels and everything, so it’s gonna get interesting.

javabeans: The one concession is that the show has secured lodging for the first night. Still, that’s nine days unaccounted for. As soon as they land in the Paris airport, I hear gramps(es) going, “Seo-jinnie. Where’s Seo-jinnie? We need Seo-jinnie.” This trip is going to be good.

girlfriday: Lucky for Seo-jinnie, there’s a small group of fans waiting to greet them. It’s just like three or four Korean students who are studying abroad, but they help him figure out how to get to the city from there.

javabeans: Oh phew, that’s such a relief though. Like how in a foreign city, you want to cry in relief to see ANY familiar thing. Which is why my dad would rather eat ramyun every night than, say, gourmet French food at amazing restaurants.

girlfriday: And thankfully, Seo-jin’s English is really good.

javabeans: Yeah, that’s gonna come in handy. Just as long as he doesn’t get the thing I got, of asking in English for a price in lira and getting back a number in yen. Not helpful!

girlfriday: Oh noes, the first bump in the road: At the train station, the five members somehow get split up into three different groups while trying to transfer trains.

javabeans: Seo-jin probably has the worst time of it because he’s lost everybody and starts wandering to find them. Meanwhile, Grandpa Soon-jae is really spry for being the eldest, and he just keeps charging along without slowing down. Grandpa Il-sub gets pouty because his hurting knee keeps him from going fast, and he finally is all, “Fine, go! Go then! Go!” It’s so cute that his hyung Shin Gu knows him well enough and sticks around to wait, smoothing ruffled feathers.

girlfriday: And in an interview segment, Grandpa Geun-hyung calls him Baek Shim-tong, for his tendency to get pissy. I’m really glad these halbaes know each other and can poke fun right away.

javabeans: I’m just glad Seo-jin found them in the end, though his expression is looking pretty dark. But he does have his eye out for the grandpas, who suffer through a long subway ride. Ha, Il-sub Halbae is so mad about the weight of his bag (compounded with his bad knee) that he grumps that if there are any more goddamned stairs, he’s throwing away that beef. And wouldn’t you know, he gets to the staircase and just tosses that bag out of the suitcase huffily.

girlfriday: OMG. He totally throws it, and then kicks it away for good measure. Haha. They weren’t kidding about his tantrums.

javabeans: He was so proud of it in the morning! His wife made it all special-like for the trip! (Cute, Seo-jin picks it up.) They exit the subway and find the street, but then they have to figure out how to make it to their lodgings. There’s this really tense stretch while the grandpas get increasingly cranky and Seo-jin is plugging away at his smartphone, and you just feel him willing the place to be nearby. He’s biting his lip and looking really stressed, and then finally he breaks into a smile and we get the full-on choral Ode to Joy accompaniment.

girlfriday: Oh thank goodness. He runs back with this huge grin to tell them that he found it, and scrambles to help them with their bags. It’s pretty funny to watch him TRY to help them, but they all refuse to be helped in this really stubborn way.

javabeans: I’m amazed that they found some sort of residence for the show, and also jealous. It’s a special lodging house just for Korean visitors, but located in a residential neighborhood which makes it harder to find, since you can’t just ask for directions to a hotel. It’s such an ordeal getting here that Seo-jin is all, “We’re staying here for the rest of the trip, right? We can stay here, right? We should just stay here.”

girlfriday: He looks a little like his soul is elsewhere.

javabeans: There’s this sequence at the table as the grandpas discuss all the touristy places they want to see, and Seo-jin’s head just hangs lower and lower and lower. Then the staff introduces a student who’s living in Paris and helping out on the trip, and his head just pops back up and he starts smiling again. It’s hilarious.

girlfriday: Poor guy. I can just feel the stress and relief, stress and relief, over and over with every twist.

javabeans: It can’t be good for Seo-jin’s health. But… good for building character?

girlfriday: And certainly entertaining for us.

javabeans: Then they head toward their beds—there are two dorm-like rooms with three twin cots in one, and two in the other. Just his luck, Soon-jae halbae wants to bunk with Seo-jin in the two-bed room. HA. Shin Gu halbae actually says, half-amused and half-sympathetic, “I feel so sorry for Seo-jinnie.”

girlfriday: Dude, and then Il-sub Halbae starts to tell Na PD that they can’t put all those cameras here or he’ll kick them: “Did you see me kick the beef earlier?” Na PD actually gulps… and then orders the staff to take the cameras down. WHAT.

javabeans: Omo. That’s… unprecedented. But yunno, Na PD’s gotta pick his battles. I freaking love how when it’s time for dinner, Il-sub halbae is ALL ABOUT the freaking beef now, even though he’s the one who almost kicked it right onto the train tracks. Wow, his wife vacuum-packed it and everything.

girlfriday: I love how it turns into a Thing. He gets interviewed about it later, and he says how much he regretted kicking it away, like it’s a freaking love letter to beef, and how bad he felt.

javabeans: It’s sweet, though, how he’s all, “I’m sorry, my wife!” I think he’s teary-eyed too.

girlfriday: How is it both hysterical AND touching?

javabeans: I know, I’m laugh-crying right now. Especially when they’re passing out the dishes at the table, and they talk up the beef, and Seo-jinnie pipes up, “That’s the thing he kicked earlier.” That’s soooo the thing your five-year-old brat brother would do. Omo, it gets better when Na PD has this realization and tells the group that the two people sitting at the table—whom they have ALL assumed were staffers—are actually just boarders at the lodging house. They just joined them at the table and have been eating and chatting. Hahaha.

girlfriday: And then after Na PD has this whole conversation with them about how they’ve been married seven years, Il-sub Halbae suddenly turns to them: “So why are you sitting here? Are you on your honemoon?” Seo-jin actually quips: “He never listens when anyone else speaks!” Lol. I’m more afraid he’s going to kick them out for eating his beef. I love how Il-sub Halbae turns on a dime. Suddenly he’s all sentimental and mushy, wanting to make a toast to commemorate traveling with all his dramaland friends.

javabeans: Afterward, it’s to the computer for Seo-jin, who has this whole list of plans and reservations to make. Thankfully he has that extra student staffer to help, but you definitely get the sense that he got hoodwinked into working on his vacation, and he’s maybe formulating a complicated revenge plan against Na PD in the back of his mind while trying to keep his polite face on for cameras’ sake. It’s awesome because you can SEE it on his face.

girlfriday: Seo-jin brings up the money issue with Na PD, knowing that they can’t make the plans they want on their budget. If it were just him vs. Na PD, he’d never win, but once the halbaes get involved, they squeeze more money out of him.

javabeans: I think there’s also the element of intentional suffering not needing to play as big a role in this trip when it’s built into the structure already. So the producers can surely give a little so that grandpa can see Moulin Rouge. I feel like Seo-jin just needs like ten minutes in a dark, empty closet to cry or something. Instead he settles for OJ with the staff, who are appropriately awestruck at the terribleness of his SNSD trap. I hope for his sake the drink is spiked.

girlfriday: He does look relieved that there are other human beings around who get his pain. And then the episode ends on Na PD’s eerie refrain: “You know what the truly frightening thing is? That’s just the first day…” HA. Evil!

javabeans: Oh wow, and that’s the end of the episode. I didn’t even realize it till my file stopped. That’s a good sign, surely. Here’s my takeaway from Grandpas Over Flowers: With a good PD, any show can be interesting because it will be funny and well-crafted. I was iffy on whether we should follow this show on an ongoing recap basis or just treat it like a Roulette one-off, because while I was drawn to the premise, ultimately these are halbaes I like and respect but don’t particularly feel the need to know on a weekly basis. But the episode was hilarious and smart, and I fully enjoyed it.

girlfriday: Yeah, I knew I missed Na PD, but I kind of didn’t know how much until I saw this episode and was just entertained the whole way through. Yay for a new variety show that gets me excited! It couldn’t have come at a better time.

javabeans: I’m excited enough to say I want to stick with the show, but let’s go with: We’ll finish the trip, and then decide. But if the next episode continues to be this funny and cute, I will be happy and relieved to find another show that gets me pumped to recap, rather than dragging my feet. Ya just can’t take this kind of alchemy for granted, not anymore.

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THIS IS HILARIOUS!

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With the loss of DramaCrazy I hope Viki or DramaFever picks this up ASAP. Too adorable!

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umm... what do you mean by "with the loss of dramacrazy"?

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DramaCrazy is gone... It closed about two days ago

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OMG, why?!?!?

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i think that it was over the same reason mysoju closed, thanks to dramafever.

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They've resigned from the drama landscape...they posted a message that they were going to shut down and were going to leave the message board up for a few hours so everyone could switch contact information.

Last I heard the website just has the shutdown message on it.

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I've been streaming & downloading asian dramas for over a decade now (Asianload,petpeeves,d-addicts,early yrs. of youtube,mysoju,crunchyroll,viiki and others) and it's frustrating to see pretty decent sites that you've stuck with for a very long time go down. I haven't found any site that streams on speedy joe, which is what many liked about Dramacrazy.

Well, I'd like to think that someone out there is gonna a do a reboot with the same format and easy accessibilty for everyone, anywhere yet resistant to monopolistic bunch of gremlins.

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This totally... I am always quiet but grateful and post thanks to all the wonderful subbing sites... I never understand how could fans demand when it doesn't appear just by magic words towards the magic twirling wand but lotsa hard work to subs...

And recently they have been a near "wipeout" or sort that cause a couple of reliable sites (albeit the smaller to mid size ones) not just down but totally quit.

If everyone aim is the same to provide non Korean with subs... as a non Korean is very grateful. But its sad that though intention is the same... but execution is not and now we have less avenue to watch dramas or varieties with subs...Monopoly business or not... Understandably there are issues with copyright but subbing sites has always got around it... but it seems not that feasible now.

Back to watching without subs and reading recaps. So recaps ftw!

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This seems like fun.

I also hope Viki or DF pick it up (still waiting for either to pick up "Mandate of Heaven").

Never was fond of DC due to all the pop-ups and other things.

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I wasn't fond DC too! It had good variety but the pop-ups drove me mad!

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Hi bd,

If you are still looking for streaming video of "Mandate of Heaven" try gooddrama(dot)net ; they have it there.

*substitute "(dot)" with an actual period ;)

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I haven't read the recap yet but it sounds awesome! I really hope this episode gets subbed soon :D

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I sooo want to watch this, it sounds hilarious! (haven't read the full recap yet) But I don't know where to watch it subbed. Or who's going to sub this..

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Someone now please tell me that this show is going to be subbed and I am happy^^

This sounds awesome and since I've given up on 1N2D when Seung Woo and Bird PD left (apparently a good decision) I am in desperate need for something other than RM and BFF that I can watch on a regular basis :)

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So glad you are recapping this. Better this than the floundering 1N2D! Now, all we've to do is find a place to watch it!

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Where can i watch this? please.

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this seems very fun.. grandpas travelling, having the time of their lives :)

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I'm so happy it's good!!!!!!!!!!! :D

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Ohh. I missed him (Na PD) too and old 1n2d and heo-dang lee seung gi and cho-ding eun jiwon and the list goes on. :(

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Oh my goodness, this was HILARIOUS! I'm looking forward to the next recap, and this might be the first variety show I watch raw, with my whole 30 words of Korean.

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where did you watch it raw? i need to watch this in any language asap. hahahaha. TOO ADORABLE!!!!

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you can watch it here RAW (dailymotion vers - if you want other version just browse the site) : https://tv[dot]iamkorean[dot]com/dm-%EA%BD%83%EB%B3%B4%EB%8B%A4-%ED%95%A0%EB%B0%B0-1%ED%9A%8C-130705/

(replace the [dot] as usual~)

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THANK YOU, @djes

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where did u watch it? tell me pretty please!!

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@gigglegagaing & @May

There's lots of torrents everywhere hun. You just gotta find the right one...

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ad in i gotta download it? sighs, living in a third world country is the only reason why i stream videos. it would take hours just to download a small video. i'd rather stream it. so, anyone knows where i can watch it?

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Try daebaksubs? I think it does it since it only subs variety shows: dad where are we going and barefoot friends are on there among others ;)

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tv.iamkorean.com

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try bada dot tv. you have to search for the Korean title.

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is that extension name or what...please tell me the whole link
thanks..

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Try ondemandkorea, it's there. I think it's one of the official sites that you can watch korean TV for free. There's a lot of other variety shows and dramas there. High quality videos too!

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Thanks gf and jb. I haven't seen the episode but it sounds hilariously funny. Yeah for Na PD!!!! Great to have him back. The con on LSJ was sooooo devious but funny--hehehe.

Do you know where I can watch this online?

Thanks.

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hahahaha I love this show! Thank youuuuuu!

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Watching old people is so peaceful....

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Thanks for recapping this! I was really looking forward to this show mainly because of Na PD and from the looks of it, I wonder if Na PD can make the halbaes suffer (e.g. being stranded, being starved, etc) since gramps can just pitch a fit and not follow instructions (seniority factor). I'm curious of what's going to happen in the next episode and that's definitely a good thing :)

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So this is awesome! Are ya guys gonna start recapping it?

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Ooh, I'm so happy to see Na PD again! Thanks for recapping this.
I hope the younger-guest spot is a staple-- Seo-Jin gave Na PD someone safe to bully, and I like that there's someone to take care of the elders. I can't imagine a lot of volunteers for the job, though. Will it be the SNSD gambit every week?

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It makes me super happy to read that you guys enjoyed watching and recapping this. I didn't get to watch 1N2D in any of it's seasons, but I did follow your recaps for the last almost year and I felt bad for you both when you had to stop it. So whatever time you get with this, hope it's awesome!

The read of this was hilarious so I'm hoping it'll get licensed and subbed and I can check it out for reals...

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Perfect replacement for 1N2D on DB's recap roster.

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OMG what a way to kick things off! I love how Lee Seo-jin's world got turned upside down because of the age thing. Looking forward to reading the rest of your recaps, for however long Dramabeans decides to continue!

(PS Take a lesson, Hamster PD!)

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Oh man, this sounds like a totally awesome show to follow....

I really hope someone starts subbing for this show.

If anyone knows of a sub for this show, I'd love to know about it!

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This show is great. Apparently the reason i can't stand to watch 1n2d anymore is no more Na PD. Even from the recap i can feel that this show is so bubbly and witty.

Thank you guys for recapping, now i have to watch this!

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Just so you guys know, ondemandkorea has this show!

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Thanks. Is it subbed in English?

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No, it's not subbed but it's a great site to watch shows that are in HD :D

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Thank-you so much! >.< I've been searching everywhere for a site that streams this show.

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lee seo jin is such a diva

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LOL i'm not familiar with na PD except for what you guys have said about him here but man, i really felt for lee seo-jin. it was incredibly obvious how genuinely floundered and flustered he was by the whole set-up. we haven't seen these guys go to bed yet after their first day, but i hope a good night's rest is enough for him to be able to pick himself up on day 2. cause man, he really looked like he needed it.

one thing that did bother me, despite the hilarity, was the fact that his facial expression wasn't so great throughout the episode. he looked almost hopeless. i kept wishing he'd perk up a bit more for the cameras, and maybe walk with the grandpas, not ahead of them. i'm giving him the benefit of the doubt though; i'm sure there's a lot that wasn't shown.

and dang he did have a hard job. travel is challenging, brings out all kinds of sides to people, and he must have been under huge pressure. i get it. the long flight, foreign country, language barriers, public transport, trying to find the lodgings... all the while escorting the four grandpas with camera crew tagging along. and then he probably still is dealing with the shock of realizing that he'd been duped.

i disagree with na PD though—i think, for lee seo-jin at least, the first day will remain the worst!

ps. DANG lee soon-jae grandpa is agile! he's crazy healthy for his age. my own grandpa is a few years older, and just as healthy, but not nearly as spry in movement.

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I wouldn't worry about Seo-jinnie too much. Yes, he was totally blindsided and that was kind of mean (but hilarious), but he's obviously quite familiar with Na PD and they've worked together before. Na PD calls Seo-jin "hyung" and speaks in banmal, so they're very friendly. Maybe it helps to know that?

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Thanks for that clarification!

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haha thanks, it does! i did notice that they seemed pretty friendly :) i wasn't trying to bash lee seo-jin in any way (i am totally sympathetic with him) it just seemed like maybe it was taking him awhile to recover from his shock, and i was expecting him to be a bit chattier and cheerier once the initial shock wore off. but nothing that a good night's sleep wouldn't cure either, i thought.

haha when they decided to go by train, i chuckled and thought that this should be fun. there was a street interview of lee seo-jin interview a year or so ago, and he admitted he'd never eaten at a street food stall, or taken public transport. he had no clue how the subway worked. but he got the grandpas through all right! still, airport bus might have been better, if slower (less walking for poor maknae grandpa).

thank you for this recap by the way! as always, loved reading your takes on it!

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poor Seo-Jin ssi, having been duped and also trying to navigate in a foreign land while taking care of 4 gramps on a budget~ I totally get his sulky face

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actually in all honestly it's a pretty smart choice to get Lee Seo Jin - his speaks fluent English (to get around Paris) and he's old enough to be respected in the industry, but obviously WAY younger than the Halbaes for them to make fun/make a slave out of.
Whereas Seung-gi would be wayyyy too young for them

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Do you think Seo-jin has gotten close to Na PD (probably have gone out to dinner and drink) ever since 1N2D? That's why evil PD has gotten away with that prank?

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It was awsome .i just heard about Na PD being in this show that made my day even though my Korean goes as far as 24 words i got stuck to the very end .didn't even realized time can pass this easily.if anyone could find the subbed version of this show on anysites please leave the address ;-)thank youuuu soo much jb & gf for the recap.i really <3 this show .hope the next ep will remain as funny & hilarious as the first with rating flying higher:-)

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I really liked to know more about puny words they use with their names like baek shimtong or the halbae thing B-)hee I'm still giggling over the whole prank on seo jinee but course still like don't like it when he's walking ahead of the pack like that.i want him to join grandpas in the whole scheme &make more funny moments rather than only being the maknae stressed out over tomorrow's plans but 4 now its one of the things that makes this show awesome still want the dynamic Chang littleB-)keke

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Oh my the gramps! Na PD and them sure brighten up everything! And poor seo-Jin! Na PD is just so sneakily evil.

Definitely would want to catch this.

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I so want to watch it but where? Thanks ladies for the recap :).

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I hope someone subs this... *praying*

Thanks for the recaps, ladies. Hilarious and awesome. I miss Na PD so much.

LOL at Seo-jin. Hope Na PD rewards him by inviting Sunny to just meet and welcome him when he gets back to Seoul. ;)

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Wooow never expected it'll be recaped here so I'm happy thanks DB and GF .... I'll be missing your 1N2D recaps it was so fun ...but I'm soo excited about GOF ^_^ so herre I go to read

Sorry for my bad English

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Thanks girls, I didn't expect a recap that fast! I watched the raw and was half-guessing my way throughout, hopefully some sub team would pick this up.
I was not fully convince that Lee Seo Jin really thought he was going on a trip with Girls' Generation... Sure, he did seem really shocked to see H4 at the airport, however prior to the trip there had been lots of news report of Na PD planning a trip with grandpas and there was even a rumour that Lee Seung Gi was invited to be the host (but was brushed off by Lee Seung Gi's agency, which coincidentally is also Lee Seo Jin's agency). So I'm not sure if Lee Seo Jin was really blind-sided or he was just acting it out.
Between the H4 grandpas, H1 & H4's character was more distinct as compared to the other two. With H1 being the leader, the H4 being the grumpy maknae. Hopefully we can see more of H2 and H3 in the next episodes.

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That's what I'm thinking too. They are from the same agency and Na PD did ask LSG to join. Hook did confirm it, but it he was too busy babysitting Suzy (okay, slightly bitter about this now..) But, Lee Seo Jin played it up well enough anyway. This is fun. A great replacement for your 1n2d recaps girls.

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Such a great show...I loved the recap. I'm probably going to watch the Semi Fly raw until subs happen LOL

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They should totally get SNSD to hang out with the Seo Jin guy after this!

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True - how funny would it be to have SNSD at the airport on their way OUT when So-jin and the Grampas land back in Korea?!
A big, girly SNSD wave for So-jin and a total close-up of his face when he sees his dream trip smashed once again .......

Loved the recap, Ladies. Please continue?
:)

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Thanks for the recaps ladies..

An entertaining replacement to the one we are all just lost (interest to watch), tho' I still dl and watch it for my UTW and SSK weekly dose. ^^

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I was totally imagining the wife watching this episode... YOU DID NOT JUST KICK MY BEEF! LOL.

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My God,seeing this recap makes me really miss 1N2D (season 1 of course!).I miss Na PD,I miss Lee Seung Gi,I miss Kang Ho Dong,I miss Eun Ji Won,I miss Su Geun, I miss MC Mong,I miss Kim C..If only they could bring back all those things again..

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I miss them terribly too! You know what ? I have been watching the old S1 episodes over and over again !

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Yaay thank you so much for the recap! I was aboout to request a recap of this in the open thread but wallah! Hehee even though Ive only read the recap, I was definately exciting! Gonna watch it later tonight, my mum just borrowed it from the local korean video shop :)))
And awww the gramps are all so cute :0 seo-jinnie, kinda feel sorry for him but I guess its all for variety ! But I cant believe he's 43already... wow... how time passes I first fell in love with him in Yi-San years ago ♥.♥ haha

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between 1N2D now and this, i pick this to be recapped. i feel really bad for saying that :'( i reallly loved 1N2D season 1...

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Lol watching now and I think the background music to the lost-in-subway scene is from Stairway to Heaven... Na PD must have a whole list of morbid music jokes!!

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Na pd....I missed you. I really hope this Show will be subbed it sounds hillarious just reading the recap.

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I am so going to watch it when it is subbed ! It looks just ... MARVELOUS :D
But heck, they got high ratings ! It is amazing for a cable channel and it is a variety show. I guess I wasn't the only one anticipating it :D
I really don't get Na PD's popularity because I wasn't a fan of 2 Days and 1 Night but he really seems to be great at what he is doing plus he got great popularity.

I'm watching Cheer Up Mr Kim with the grandpa with glasses. I think I'm going to write him in my favorite veteran actors lol.

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Great timing! At least losing 1n2d doesnt sting that much

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i think that the next trip's guest is going to be lee seung gi or eun ji won.. totally looking forward for that ;)

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I'm crying laughing. How Na PD hoodwinked Seo Jin of all people!! Seo Jin, who said of his 1N2D experience that he'd just like to forget it as quickly as possible, now has to spend a week with 4 gramps. DYING. Evil, evil genius Na PD. I'm so excited about this show. I haven't watched a Korean drama or variety show in about 6 months but I watched this show in full and loved it. Bring me back in, Show!

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Haha, if this is the way guests are gonna be treated on this show, how will they rope in more willing victims?! It might stretch even Na PD's evil ingenuity!

Poor Lee Seo-jin! He's EARNED a trip with SNSD!! (And I'm saying this after only Day 1) :D

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It sounds like an awesome variety program and I'm happy for the good ratings. Not going to watch the program but if DB continues to recap, I'm in. All the Dramaland metas and subtext is hilarious and of course our 4 hallbaes are national treasures.

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guys where's the raw episode...

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it's on ondemandkorea if you can watch it there.

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This read really hilarious! I went ahead and watched the episode raw. It had me at when Lee Soon-jae bumped into the mirror LOL I really hope the whole variety show is just as hilarious as the first episode.

Congrats on the ratings! Almost on the same level as Barefoot Friends (still no idea where that show is going).

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I am already having so much fun reading the recaps. Can PD Na team up with 1N2D S1 cast again ? It would be epic fun!

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Within the first 3 seconds of reading the recap, I stared at my scrollbar and PRAYED it's goign to be a long way down. :D

Thanks guys. This soothes the pain that is 1d2n.

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