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Grandpas Over Flowers: Episode 7

 
EPISODE 7. Broadcast on August 16, 2013.

javabeans: Here we are, already at the Season 1 finale for this show, with the last episode of this European trip. Well, it’s on cable and it’s experimenting with format so it’s been a short Season 1, but on the other hand, it’s been a loooooong Season 1.

girlfriday: So we pick up the morning after Geun-hyung halbae has left the group (sadness) and now we just have the impatient mat-hyung Soon-jae halbae and the tantrum-throwing maknae Il-sub halbae left. Breakfast is so awkward and silent that the PDs ask if they should turn on some music, and soon they’re both dancing to Michael Jackson. Ha.

javabeans: Sitting outside are Seo-jin and Na PD side by side, in this silent daze, and one of the producers tells Seo-jin he looks like he’s aged. Just then, their neighbors happen by with a bunch of tools and slabs of stone, here to construct an outdoor table. Na PD jokes that Seo-jin should offer his help, and he’s all, “I’m thinking about it.” Hahaha. He’s totally been reprogrammed into worker/helper drone mode.

girlfriday: He rolls up his sleeves and offers to help, and suddenly he’s the one nagging Na PD to stop standing there being useless. He’s like, “I was joking…” Too late. Now they’re both helping.

javabeans: After they get that huge slab hoisted, Seo-jin heads inside to research more info on their next stop, but isn’t sure that he can call in the event they don’t speak English. Light bulb moment: Let’s ask the neighbors! Caption: Nothing’s for free.

girlfriday: It’s great. He uses brawn, she gives him brains, and the hotel reservations get made with no hassle. I like that when she asks if all three guys can sleep in one room he’s like, “Nonononono. Two rooms.”

javabeans: I know, it hardly matters how the two rooms get divided, provided there’s a division. But three in one? Aie.

girlfriday: They pack up and head out, and take a really picturesque train ride through the alps. Soon-jae halbae studies his travel guide book the whole way, taking notes like a good student, and then sometime later he suddenly announces that they should give Seo-jiinie the day off, and he’ll find their way to the hotel. What.

javabeans: Omo omo. Seo-jin’s reaction is both thrilled and worried, like, uh you sure? But I need to check you in! Meanwhile Na PD’s jaw literally drops and he’s all, “O….kay.” And then, “Okay!” Il-sub halbae has this “Uhhh” look on his face the whole way through this but in the end he’s all, “Okay, whatever works, I’ll just go along.” Either the halbaes are going to get into a fight or they’re going to come out of this super-bonded. Or both those things.

girlfriday: Yeah I’m nervous but it’s probably going to be entertaining either way, which is what probably went through Na PD’s head in those two seconds where he went slackjawed.

javabeans: I’ll grant you that Soon-jae halbae probably is the one halbae we don’t have to worry about in terms of finding his own way—he seems really resourceful and sharp, as opposed to, say, Il-sub halbae who would maybe just sit down in the middle of a street until somebody helped him. But putting them together and alone is the thing.

girlfriday: I have this image in my head of Il-sub halbae being the kid you lose at the amusement park, and hours later he’s just sitting in the same spot, crying.

javabeans: Yes, meanwhile his mother has gone tearing around the whole place searching everywhere BUT that place, because that’s where she lost him.

girlfriday: And Soon-jae halbae would’ve made the most of his day by riding all the rides, and then taking a taxi home.

javabeans: Which he would’ve paid for with the extra emergency money he always carries just in case. And when everyone is shocked and relieved, he’d be all, “What?”

girlfriday: So then they arrive in Lucerne and Seo-jin has this worried mom-look on his face as he sends the halbaes off, and already within twenty seconds, Soon-jae halbae is walking way ahead. Crap, they might actually lose each other.

javabeans: Seo-jin says in an interview that he’s not worried that the two halbaes will be awkward with each other, even though they don’t talk much, because they go waaaay back and have those decades of familiarity between them. He gives examples of the halbaes looking out for each other in little and silent ways, which is sweet.

girlfriday: Awwwww.

javabeans: So that’s one worry we can strike from the list. Still, that leaves the other one: wandering halbaes! I will say though that Switzerland is really beautiful—it’s like every image you have in your head from movies and cartoons, only it’s really like that. When are we gonna take our Parisian-Swiss tour, huh?

girlfriday: And with a Seo-jiinnie of our own?

javabeans: Well, obviously! Though I’d be fine with a Min-ho Genie too. I’m easygoing like that.

girlfriday: How giving of you. I say we just pick up and go. This show seriously makes me want to be on the road. We can be road bloggers!

javabeans: I love how Seo-jin experiences his first moment of free will and is instantly drunk on it. He’s all, “I haven’t gotten to choose a single thing for myself!” And then like a kid on the loose, he beelines for McDonald’s, which, HA.

girlfriday: Pfft. Does being with the halbaes make everyone into children?

javabeans: I notice how McDonald’s served in any country outside of the US actually looks tasty. Like what you get actually resembles the menu pictures.

girlfriday: Yes, I’ve experienced this. It’s weird.

javabeans: It’s actually cooked with a little respect in Europe, I’ve found. It’s SO WEIRD. Whereas McDonald’s at home gives me stomachaches. It does make sense that Seo-jin is all but inhaling his burger, since he could never bring the halbaes to eat hamburgers. The PD says he should’ve asked them to go, and he’s all, “I’m pretty sure they would’ve pretended not to hear me.”

girlfriday: Meanwhile, Soon-jae halbae is ordering lunch and buying ice cream in German with ease. Damn, I’m pretty impressed.

javabeans: Wow, turns out he already knew some German before the trip, having majored in philosophy. He went to Seoul University and majored in philosophy. Dude.

girlfriday: The man remembers German he learned in ‘54? I can’t even remember the German I learned in college!

javabeans: I’d do the really ignorant thing of saying English words with a German accent, the way Californians jokingly add -o to make things Spanishified. I guess this is how JFK ended up calling himself a jelly donut though.

girlfriday: They check into the hotel and make their way up to the room, but find that there’s only one bed. Oh. That won’t do.

javabeans: Il-sub halbae feels strongly enough about this to head back down to ask for twin beds, only… can he manage? I mean, he’s having trouble using the elevator! Maybe it’s telling him something.

girlfriday: The receptionist tells him they can actually separate the beds, though they’re having some issues communicating, because Il-sub halbae doesn’t see how they’ll turn one bed into two.

javabeans: It cracks me up how he just reverts to Korean like there’s any expectation she’d understand.

girlfriday: Somehow, they get through it, and he gets them to split the beds now.

javabeans: It’s funny how you can pretty much see the receptionist figuring it’s easier to go upstairs and split the beds rather than trying to explain this. So they go up and literally just take off the bedcover and show the twin split.

girlfriday: This is just true of all situations involving grandparents. It’s less work to just get up and do the thing they want, instead of getting into a whole conversation about it. It’s pointless. They get what they want in the end anyway.

javabeans: Meanwhile, Seo-jin is finally getting to have the European vacation that comes to mind when you say “European vacation.” He wanders freely, without worrying about anybody else (now that he doesn’t have to worry about dinner menus all day), and just happens upon a choral rehearsal in a neighborhood church, which he gets to watch from the back pews and enjoy at his leisure. I’m so jealous.

girlfriday: He’s having the best day ever. I want this life. Though it’s really cute that the entire time, he keeps mentioning things that the halbaes would like.

javabeans: It’s adorable. “Teacher Park Geun-hyung would love this” and “Teacher Lee Soon-jae ought to be feeding those swans.”

girlfriday: I’m increasingly impressed with Soon-jae halbae. He gets to the bus stop to try and figure out which bus they have to take, which is understandably confusing, so then he asks a guy nearby (using pretty damn good English) how to get where he wants to go.

javabeans: Now I think he gave Seo-jin the day off because HE wanted the European vacation he’d been dreaming of. The stranger is really nice, too, telling him when to get off the bus and giving him walking directions from there. They arrive at the famous lion sculpture, and I love Il-sub halbae’s habit of taking photos of everything by sel-ca-ing it.

girlfriday: They even take a sel-ca together, which is super cute. And then Il-sub halbae sits down for a break while Soon-jae halbae checks out the funhouse of mirrors on his own. It’s freaking hilarious. He just keeps walking into mirrors, and I can’t stop laughing. I’m concerned he’s never going to find his way out.

javabeans: It’s funny the first time, but way funnier as it goes, especially the more careful (even paranoid) he gets with subsequent hallways, and how he still runs into them despite it. I think the giggling PD really makes it, as she’s gasping, “We’re trapped!”

girlfriday: They totally get lost in the maze, and then a worker has to escort him out, only then the VJ gets equally lost, running into mirrors and crying that he left them behind.

javabeans: Did the employee really say “We’re closing now”? He was literally stuck there till closing? The VJ really is the icing on the cake. They’re always the silent characters, but here you see the guy putting out his hand as Soon-jae halbae’s dozen reflections grow smaller and smaller, and he’s all, “Wait!”

girlfriday: I’m crying.

javabeans: And even when you can see the exit door right in front, Soon-jae halbae still bangs into one last mirror on his way out. The PD jokes that he cruelly left them behind, and he quips, “Every man for himself.”

girlfriday: “This is a matter of life and death!” LOL. Outside, Il-sub halbae asks after Seo-jinnie, and when Na PD asks if he misses him, Il-sub halbae just hedges, “I’m just curious…”

javabeans: It’s hilarious how Seo-jin is pressed up against the display window of a closed store, like those sneakers inside are the most amazing thing in the world. A PD marvels, “This is the most excited I’ve ever seen you get.”

girlfriday: He gets all geeky about them, ‘cause they’re a limited edition sneaker or something.

javabeans: The absolute best thing is his rationale: “I’ve suffered so much I think I need to give a present to myself!” First of all, I agree that he’s suffered and deserves it. Second of all, that reasoning is totally my life story.

girlfriday: Dude, it’s the thing that drives pretty much all of my spending. But also, it’s a slippery slope, y’all.

javabeans: I argue not even a slope but a cliff. Once I’m off, I am OFF. Somehow it makes it so extra adorable that it’s sneakers, though. Of all the things for a top actor to get geeky about, it’s athletic shoes.

girlfriday: The halbaes head out to find a Korean restaurant for dinner, but I’m starting to get worried with Soon-jae halbae’s directionless wandering. He just keeps walking in circles, and Il-sub halbae already has a long face, but then even Na PD suggests they take a taxi. You figure it’s pretty bad if Na PD wants to call a cab. But Soon-jae halbae refuses, dead-set on figuring this out for himself.

javabeans: At least Soon-jae halbae manages to inquire with a concierge, who gives him a map with Korean restaurants marked on it. Phew. I didn’t worry they’d come to dire ends, but I did worry for harmony’s sake.

girlfriday: Yeah especially when Il-sub halbae just stopped following him at some point, with his characteristic Eh, I’ll just wait right here. The problem is, he does this without warning whenever he feels like it.

javabeans: Right? He just plants himself with that stubborn face on. There’s this distinct tone of joy in Na PD’s voice when Soon-jae halbae comes back on their radar, and the crew starts walking in the direction of the Korean restaurant. Il-sub halbae is still grumpy and suggests a taxi ride on the way back, but it’s cute how he breaks out into song when he sees the all-too-familiar Korean flag hanging out in front of the restaurant.

girlfriday: Lol, so difficult, and yet so easy. They sing-song their way up… and then OH NOES. It’s closed!

javabeans: Closed Sundays. Were there ever sadder words? Il-sub halbae literally just hunches down right then and there. Like he can will the place into being open. But as it turns out, a producer calls another restaurant, and the owners actually offer to come in and open just for them.

girlfriday: Oh thank goodness. Il-sub halbae looked like he was about to cry over his shattered samgyupsal and soju dreams.

javabeans: Cut to: Seo-jin, practically giddy over his wine and pasta dinner, eating up a storm. A producer asks whether he’s worried about the grandpas, and he’s all, “No way, not with Soon-jae halbae. The problem isn’t whether they’ll get lost, but whether he’ll lose Il-sub halbae.” Back to the halbaes, who have totally taken a taxi to the second Korean restaurant. Na PD isn’t even trying anymore is he?

girlfriday: At this point I think HE’s tired and wants food too. I think he got a tiny taste of being Seo-jinnie for half a day and just said to hell with it.

javabeans: So then they finally sit down to eat, and Na PD’s with them, all smiles, and Il-sub halbae is all, It’s the little things in life. I do love the song choices, like Jang Kiha’s “Let’s Walk Slowly” in this scene (with the line, “You’re walking too fast, I can’t follow you”), since that’s all I wanted for this trip in the first place. Leisure and fun and Europe, vicariously enjoyed!

girlfriday: It’s so his theme song. You wouldn’t think Il-sub halbae could get any cuter, but he totally gets aegyotastic when he’s drunk.

javabeans: I love how he just is unabashedly, “I love Korea.” He’s not necessarily touting it as the best in everything—like, he isn’t saying the Garden Expo is better than Versailles, ha—it’s just his favorite thing ever and nothing can take its place.

girlfriday: And you totally get the sense that if kimchi and soju came from France, he’d love France.

javabeans: On the way back to the hotel, Il-sub halbae is in a great mood and suggests stopping for wine and bringing Seo-jin along.

girlfriday: This is so funny. Na PD calls Seo-jin on the halbaes’ orders, and Seo-jin basically barks at Na PD to get lost, with zero intention of returning. So then Na PD hands the phone to Soon-jae halbae, and immediately Seo-jin’s voice goes up a pitch and he says he’ll be right there.

javabeans: LOL. Caption: “Lee Seo-jin’s vacation OVER.” He joins them at this gorgeous riverside bar, and don’t you love how Na PD has become the fourth character now?

girlfriday: Yeah I love this foursome. It’s like two bickering hyung-dongseng carbon copy pairs. In the morning, Il-sub halbae doesn’t budge, so Seo-jin and Soon-jae halbae head out on their own. And just as Seo-jin predicted yesterday, the first thing Soon-jae halbae wants to do is feed the swans.

javabeans: He really is an animal lover. Seo-jin explains, “He’s the kind of person who would go up to horses eating grass and offer them more grass.”

girlfriday: They take a nice leisurely stroll around the city, talking about marriage and life plans, like a real father and son.

javabeans: Il-sub halbae, on the other hand, went to bed early and gets up late, and sits around the hotel room. Somehow I don’t think he minds so much. While touring a church, Soon-jae halbae and Seo-jin get approached by a young Korean man who’s on a backpacking trip of his own. The reactions: For eight months. Oh my god how and why.

girlfriday: Crazy. Soon-jae halbae is especially impressed that he saved up money for a year by working part-time jobs so he could take this trip on his own, and says that when he was young, going to Jeju was a big feat. At the hotel, Il-sub halbae finally gets hungry enough to make his way down, and has this hilarious conversation with the receptionist where I swear, he only speaks Korean and she only speaks English, but they manage to communicate.

javabeans: It’s hilarious because to her, he’s saying, “Good restaurant blah blah blah” and to his ears her response is “Down (pointing downstairs) good food, mumble mumble blah blah.” Haha, he’s all, “I don’t understand but it’s making me hungry.” He wanders out in a cheery mood, and says that he watched Soon-jae hyungnim and Seo-jin walking around through the window, but the way he explains it, they were two fools just wandering uselessly around forever and ever.

girlfriday: Hahahaha. They crossed the river, and crossed it again, and then took the old bridge to cross it again. WHY. WHY? like it’s incomprehensible that someone would do that for fun. On purpose.

javabeans: For some reason (maybe because Na PD plants the idea), Il-sub halbae gets it into his head that his meal MUST be fondue, because it’s just got to be fondue, and he heads down the street intent on finding it.

girlfriday: I know, I can’t for the life of me figure out why he’s obsessed with fondue. But it cracks me up that it’s now become “bbong-dieu.”

javabeans: The hilarious thing is that he doesn’t even do any research or anything, all he does is wander into every single restaurant going, “Menu… fondue…” and gets pointed outside to some imaginary place down the road. This continues for a while until he finally arrives at Fondue House, ha. I really really hope he hasn’t hyped it up in his mind, since it’s just, yunno, cheese. Delicious cheese, but still. Cheese.

girlfriday: Yeah I suspect he’s going to be cranky. Soon-jae halbae and Seo-jin take a boat cruise, and man, everywhere they go in Lucerne is just beautiful.

javabeans: They take a trip to a nearby village, and there’s a moment when Seo-jin rides one of those playground horsies, and you can literally see a couple in the background laughing at him and then backing away. It cracks me up.

girlfriday: That moment is just indescribably funny. The long silence, him just swinging back and forth on the horsie…

javabeans: Soon-jae halbae eats some ice cream and feeds sparrows, and then they head back in time to join the fondue party. There’s this funny beat when they sit down and Seo-jin and Il-sub halbae simultaneously order with the server. One says, “Do you have an English menu?” and the other says, “Fondue. Three.”

girlfriday: After lunch they say that it’s their last day, and start giving each other knowing looks… Cut to: one last Go Stop rematch. They start the game at the hotel, and then we cut over to an interview with Il-sub halbae that’s much more serious in tone. The PD asks him if he has any regrets in his life, like when he was in his 20s to 40s, and he thinks long and hard. “Regrets? *serious pause* Yeah that Go Stop game earlier. I shouldn’t have done that last Go.” LOL. I literally spit out my drink.

javabeans: It’s a great editing moment. Back to the interviews, though, the halbaes are asked to describe getting older. Soon-jae halbae says that the question suggests they’re approaching death, and that nobody gets to that point having lived a perfect, regret-less life. Il-sub halbae says that he’d love to live the rest of his life with this feeling of having worked hard and enjoyed yourself, which is a pretty good way to look at your future. We get a montage of scenes from this entire trip, with the captions reading, “Because we can’t turn back time, this time is even more precious.”

girlfriday: And then there’s a collection of answers from each of the halbaes on what traveling is to them. Gu halbae: “Youth.” Geun-hyung halbae: “Happiness.” Il-sub halbae says that backpacking was a lot like being in the army, but that he has happy memories. Heh. And Soon-jae halbae: “Travel is joy.”

javabeans: And then, a question about errand boy Seo-jin. “He got thinner.” “He’s a good guy.” Caption: “The perfect luggage boy.” We get a series of comments from Seo-jin himself: how he feels greeeeat on his last day, how he isn’t sad AT ALL to be leaving, and how, if given the chance to go on another trip with either a girl group or the halbaes, would he? Seo-jin: “No. I would not!” Famous last words.

girlfriday: Muahahaha. PD: “Wouldn’t it be funny if after this we cut to you at the airport for the next trip?” Cut to: Seo-jin at the airport for the next trip. LOL.

javabeans: What puts the cherry on top is that his reaction in the moment is utter incredulity, all, “LIKE HELL” and “DREAM ON.” Like it’s the most ridiculous notion in the universe. Then we segue into a preview of the next season with the Taiwan trip, replete with the hilarious reaction shot of Seo-jin realizing that his traveling partner is Sunny of SNSD. I particularly love the clip of Na PD telling the halbaes that Seo-jin has left them to go off with her somewhere, and the halbaes cursing, “Rude punk!”

girlfriday: I can’t wait. I really hope they end up doing this at the end of every trip—asking Seo-jinnie if he’ll come back, him swearing up and down that he’ll never do it again, and then starting all over again at the airport, all What’d Na PD promise you this time?


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Thanks for the series of fantastic recaps for this very enjoyable show.

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,i watched dz raw last night and I really LOLed when seo jin bee lined for mcdonalds..

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Hey! Can you tell me where you found the raw ? Trying to search it by google-ing the name in chinese and stuff aha but I can't find it! It will surely be on maplestage tomorrow but Im too impatient ! :P Thanks a lot !

Haa! Can't wait to see Seo Genie's face when Sunny will appear! :D

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google semi fly torrent... choose the twitter account and check her back tweets about a day or two before...you'll find the link...it a torrent download though..

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Google using the korean title and add the episode number. That's how i did yesterday :D

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Thanks for taking me along on this trip, even though I've never seen the show.

I love Lee Soon-Jae's work, and having followed the trip, I appreciate having some insight into him as a person.

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Guhh, this show makes me long to wander around Lucerne and Basel again..

Soon Jae halbae is animal whisperer indeed. Love the dynamic between mat-hyung and maknae when all the middle hyungs are not around. They're just, understanding and caring to each other in silent way..

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This looks like the BEST ep of the whole series. Off to watch. Thank you.

As for JB and GF going on the road, I believe that you've worked so hard at recapping all these years, watching, dissecting, finishing more bad shows than good, that you totally deserve a non-working vacation. It might cleanse your palate, and let you come back with less bad taste in your mouth, left by former dramas and scripts that bugged you. To give you a break, a fresh start. Surely that's what vacations are for, and why everyone needs them.
How to manage the site while you are gone? Rope in your minions to do the work, like Na PD rope in Seo-jinnie? :D Best regards.

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I think JB and GF have now quite some international funbase. What about a trip with sleepovers at beannies' homes? With local sightseeing overday and k-drama discussions at evenings... I can offer Brussels... and we even have a Korean restau nearby ;--)

Anyway, thanks for the recaps, it was fun.

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I obviously meant "fanbase"... though "funbase" as "we all have fun together " could be OK as well :--) ...especially with the Granpas' show :-))

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Eee someone else from Brussels? *high five*

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I want to come too!

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@Saturtledaisy *high five* :--)

@TS You can come as well. We still have a sofa at our living room :--)

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The funbase is welcome in New Zealand

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Thank you for the recap seo jinie &soon Jae halbae were so much like father & son pair traveling around .the mcdonald line &all of jinie's edited reactions at the end were so funny i already got distracted for the next ep with sunny .there were lots of articles surrending the trip but i was glad that somehow thanks to NaPD we didn't so far miss the empty chair of the most doting husband<3

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I swear. I LOVE this show. Everytine I read this recap, there`s a foolish smile until the very end. And FWIW I`d happily marry SeoJin in a heart beat. Even if there is a 20 year gap. ;)

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I'm sad now. But at least there's season 2 to look forward to.

Love the format, especially since it offers some opportunity to do introspective interviews with the halbaes. I have recently had to good fortune to hang around with a few distinguished elders at work or through work... and man, the pearls of wisdom that they drop!

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Man I wish I had lee soon jae as my grandpa (I never saw my gramps since he passed away when i was very young).

LSJ is all over korean web sites with his german and english speaking abilities! So impressed.

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It's the end?! Aww
When will the next trip be shown? I'm missing the 4 gramps already!!

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Word is that Next season is Next week! How nice.

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The Next Question is:
How on earth did wicked Na PD manage to get Seo-jinnie back for a second installment? By promising him Sunny.......again? And he took the bait? Again? Hahaha.

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The only way would be to get Soon Jae halbae to order him!

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I think it's good to have a shorter season. Have mercy for the halbaes and their guide. Lol.
That said, I'll miss this show and the recaps which go with it. Thanks to everyone!
About McDo being better in Europe than in the motherland, I have to agree. ;)

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Omo, I love the McDonalds in France. I have an international fish filet sandwich standard. The US just doesn't match up. The best was actually Montreal.

What's McDonald's like in korea? In Thailand, it was pretty bland.

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I have eaten McDs in quite a number of countries and i have NEVER thought to compare them. Now I regret it.

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Awww this is the cutest show ever, seojinnie is the best <3, also I think this. concept of "seasons" is like KBS's The human condition that is also divided in No trash,no electricity,no cars,etc.

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aah, human condition also a really amazing variety shows. not only funny but also insightful, cute (especially Yang Sangguk, Jung Taeho, and Kim Junhyun), and have a moral n social value
and the one who created this show is no other than Na PD too. and this is one of my fave variety, alongside granpas over flowers and cool kiz on the block, which isn't really that funny but have its own charm ;)

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This was fantastic and hilarious. Thank you both for the recaps! I cannot wait for the next season ^_^

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I have to watch this episode now.I swear the series recaps made me laugh an laughed. This one brought tears.

However Soon Jae halbae is one impressive dude. Does anyone have a photo of him on the Net when he was younger? Now I've this image of when SSK is older and has this wise vibe as well.

Totally enjoyed this series. Thank you for the recaps.Na PD has hit gold again.

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Here are some of his younger photos I've searched thru Yahoo.

All I can say is that based on the articles I've seen, our Soon-jae halbae was quite the looker when he was in his prime (original term I saw repeatedly was kkotminam (no really), which is something, since standards have basically changed over the past 60 years)

http://image.donga.com/pictorial/uData/200705/070509_lsj/001.jpg
http://cfile8.uf.tistory.com/image/151CA50B4C22E34D01916D
http://photo-media.hanmail.net/200702/08/tvreport/20070208162210.754.0.jpg
One scene of the 1969 movie "Chunwon Yi Gwang-su" as the teenage Gwang-su - http://cfile9.uf.tistory.com/image/137101024C22E34E25A0FC
Montage of him and his wife Choi Jeong-hee - http://photo.newsen.com/news_photo/2010/04/23/201004231131191001_1.jpg
Another picture of him and his wife - http://cfs8.tistory.com/image/2/tistory/2008/07/09/09/55/48740c6e84f4e

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Wow, Soon jae halbae was quite the looker!

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I like his wedding picture. He was 32. She was 26. He was a philosophy major at Seoul U. She was a dance major. Match made in heaven. He was certainly quite the looker.

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Awww...such a great ending. This show really rocks and I'm totally looking forward to the Taiwan trip.

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What a great season. :) so funny!!! Glad they had a good time... Maybe except seo Jinnie. :) lol

Can't wait to see the Taiwan one. That's where I am from :) even though I don't live there now, I would think that getting around Taiwan would be heck of a lot easier than Europe. Although I did think the show was funnier when the "young uns" were made to sweat a little... But poor dude seemed too stressed at times. At least they shouldn't have to cook food in the hotel room right?? It's Asia! Hello cheap food and night markets. Can't wait to see what kind of interesting things NA PD has up his sleeve this time.

In any case, I am glad season one was successful and seeing Europe in all it's glory was great.

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Thank you for recapping this wonderful show. I always read these recaps with a grin on my face from start to finish. I can't wait for the next season.

Regarding McDonalds, I can attest that the ones in Japan are much better than the ones in the US. Everything seems more fresh, from the lettuce to the tomatoes to the chicken meat. I never go to McDonalds in the US, but when I lived in Japan, McDonalds was actually a viable place to eat out with friends.

I remember one funny incident regarding ketchup. See, at McDonalds in the US, ketchup is free and you can take however much you want. In Japan, while ketchup is also free, it's not self-serve and you won't automatically get it with your meal. Instead, you have to specially ask the employees for it, and they'll usually give you only a packet or two. So the first time a group of us exchange students went to McDonalds, the Americans were complaining about how there was no ketchup, or how little they gave you, but then all the students from Europe were like, "Pfft, please, at least it's free. In Europe you have to pay extra for every packet." LOL None of the Americans had known that little tidbit about European McDonalds. Faced with the prospect of maybe actually having to pay for ketchup, suddenly getting only a couple packets for free upon special request didn't seem so bad, haha.

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Hahaha. Europeans are stingy. That's all I can tell you. I was so amazed my first time actually paying for McDonalds myself in China (as a kid, I never cared about the bill obviously).

I was like: "wait, this is free?" and they misunderstood me and thought I wanted more so they gave me five extra packets. For free.

Culture. Shock.

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No Han Ji Min?

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Only disappointment in this series! Be awesome to see her go around Bern with the 4 grandpas for even half a day!

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I can't believe it's over! Looking forward to the next season. Thanks for the recap guys!

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hooray, i have been waiting for a recap for the latest episode since last week! so i am so glad for this recap now! :) thank you, guys!

i wonder how high the ratings are this week?? this week's episode seems really funny. missing the other two halbaes that didn't appear in this episode now....

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hmmm according to wiki, il-seob halbae majored in english literature in myongji university when he was younger! interesting! i wonder where can we know more about these four halbaes? looking forward to seeing more of their personalities quirks in their future episodes! :)))

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Il Seobbie majored in English! But you wouldn't know it seeing him talk to the receptionist about the bed arrangement in their room, nor buy a cellphone cover. He speaks Korean to everybody like they ought to understand it. Funny.

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English literature? Really? REALLY?

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Ratings for Ep 7:
Ave Nationwide: 5.7
Highest Nationwide: 8.7
Ave in Seoul: 10%
Highest in Seoul: 11.2

No.1 in ratings among shows for all cable channels AND Big 3.

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Really nice numbers for a cable show! Barefoot Friends wishes it could reach this high.

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Maybe he'll get Hyuna on the next trip after Taiwan LOL

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Sorry but I've looked everywhere including asiantorrent.
Where is ep 7 online anywhere please?

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Dearie, I have it regularly from Semi_Fly. Here's her twitter link: https://twitter.com/semi_fly.

Enjoy~!

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I want a SoonJae Halbae of my own because he's so awesome. IlSub Halbae's observation about SeoJin and SoonJae halbae is cute. Can't wait for next season.

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I watched his movie Late Blossom (aka I love thee). The film is awesome, and so is he. Highly recommended.

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Thank u so much for the recaps, ladies. This is the most hilarious ep ever...

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Thankyou for the recaps! I enjoyed them a lot, especially because I didn't get to actually watch the show. Even the raws are so difficult to find! I wonder if I can find them with Chinese subs somehwere... (last resort D:)

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If you read Chinese (which you do obviously, being from Taiwan) 风行 has them on subs but I think they don't come out as fast as the other variety shows. I find if I hang around a bit they get around to uploading the episodes eventually.

The English subs for this show is a lot harder to come by though...

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I'm not from Taiwan....? Not sure where you got that idea D: My family is from Beijing~

But thanks~ I'll wait for it. I don't watch that many shows with Chinese subs unless I get impatient or when I really can't find it in English, because reading (a lot of) Chinese gives me a headache. I can read it... but it doesn't come as easily as English =P. So... I'm not all that familiar with Chinese subbing sites. I usually just use maplestage.

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When seo jinnie was sitting in playground horsie, he looks really lonely. I'm hoping that he'll find a partner that will truly love him, cause it's pretty obvious that he's a good man. I really wished he find true happiness...

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In his conversation w H1, he said he'd like sb who is:
low key, sb he can go travel w, easy to get along, but it is no good if she doesn't know anything either.
So sb easy-going, not in the lime light, and 'somewhat' intelligent? That's not a tall order, is it? :)

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Is there any Eng sub for this show?

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Thanks for the recaps! I'm looking forward to the second season.

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Thank you so much for the recaps - even though I only watched the first episode so far, I love the show!

And I totally need to watch this episode - I really want to know why Soon-jae halbae felt the need to express in German that he can't dance the chachacha ;D

(And I'm afraid here comes my nitpicky side once again... But it's absolutely correct to say "Ich bin ein Berliner" if you want to say you're from Berlin. Yes, "Berliner" is also the jelly donut thing, but it's _not_ called that in Berlin itself, and even if it were - aren't there any homonyms in English? We Germans are smart enough to figure out what he meant ;) )

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I miss these recaps and show already!

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I haven't seen the later episodes of this season, only the first ones, but have thoroughly enjoyed reading your recaps, ladies! Thank you.

I have a special appreciation for Seo-jin's striking out on his own in this episode, as I just returned from a trip to London with my in-laws. My father-in-law IS Soon-jae, just plowing ahead of everybody, not even turning around to see if he's lost anybody in the past mile or two. My teenage daughter is the Il-sub of the group, grump, grump, grump, but too cute to stay angry with. I felt like Seo-jin on the day we split off into different groups, and I made a beeline for Brick Lane, scarfing down Malaysian pancakes and scouring the street markets before heading west to the other side of town, Harrods-bound. Yet the entire time you're separated from your group, you're thinking, Oh, _____ would love to see this, or ______ would enjoy eating this. :)

Very heartwarming series. I'll try to actually watch the later episodes soon, but in the meantime, enjoy your recaps.

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Definitely gonna hunt for next season's episodes because of Sunny. ;)

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OMG! What a great series! I loved it all! The ending where Seo-jin swears he won't come back, and then cutting to him at the airport was hilarious! LOL! I cannot wait for season 2!

Thanks for all the recaps, GF and JB!

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BUT, did Seojin get his sneakers?

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Don't think so. It was Sunday, the shops were closed. They left the next day.

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Love u guys. Love this show! thank you for the recaps. every time I read this I just smile and laugh my way through! I can so relate to the wonders of traveling with older people...It is at the same time fantastic and exhausting.

As GF said they get their way no matter what...and it is easier just to do it for them! LOL.

O I found episodes at K24H.com. only 3 have eng subs.. the rest are raw, but they all 7 of them!

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WHERE CAN I WATCH THIS DRAMA?/

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LOL so Sunny was just bait?

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Aww.seven episodes, though it had been a long trip for seo jin :D. Reaaaaally impressed by soon jae halbae,like he could still remember the German he learnt. Love this quartet of the two halbaes and seo jinnie and NA pd. Can't wait to watch this episode :) and totally loooooooking forward to watching season 2!!!!! I hope you'll still be doing recaps then. Thank you for this season's recaps!!!!

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Is it true actors who are married in RL can't kiss on Korean TV? It would be one reason for someone as obviously wonderful as Seo Jin to delay marrying, if it would limit career options as the leading man if he can't kiss once he marries.

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Some actors (not all, thank god) once married are reluctant to shoot kiss scenes because their second half is protective (makes my eyes roll to Australia). Generally they are discreetly asked to stay "single" the longest time possible to entertain the fantasies of the public (my fantasies care for the marital status of my crushes, you have no idea...).
I'd rather have them free to live like they want AND act reallistically on screen. Some manage to do it so I don't see where is the problem.
PS: Dear stars, just don't announce your wedding 1 hour after the finale of the most romantic drama of the year with the best OTP ever... Thanks in advance.

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I've been watching the drama Mom's Dead Upset (2008), in which Soon-jae halbae plays Il-sub halbae's father. It's pretty hilarious considering how close their ages are, but they make it work (and Il-sub halbae's hair is dyed extra-black to make him look younger, hahaha).

I don't know if they had other projects together, but playing father and son for over 60 episodes would definitely make you close . . . but also perhaps enforce that age order hierarchy even more.

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Imagine not having any dietary restriction and being in a foreign country. You have just escaped(?) from culinary non-adventurists and you can now order anything in that foreign country. Remember, you can eat ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING! So what do you eat?

"MCDONALD'S, OF COURSE!"
- Lee Seo Jin (2013)

smh Seo Jin. Being a person who likes to have eat-ventures but can't really, this part really annoys me. Like I just want to grab his collar and stuff that burger on to his face (lovingly, I assure you).
But meh, do what you want, Seo Jin, you earned it. But still, McDonald's! It's not like they don't have McDs in Korea. Even with aspiring mother-in-law-to-bes that may or may not be stalking his every move, he could've gone to a drive-through or to order McDelivery. But nooooo, he needs to go to Switzerland to have McDs. It's not even a localized burger, is it?
Okay. I'lll stop ranting about Seojin's preferences now.

Soonjae halbae- how amazing is he? He went to Seoul U?! Man, even I've heard of how legendary SU is and how tough it is to get it. And it's awesome how he still remembers what he learnt and has it deeply ingrained in him; you can just see it.

I still haven't actually watched this show (sigh). minemee hasn't subbed past Ep3, have they? I'm really lazy, so I want to watch everything in 1 go. Beggars can't be choosers, I know, but still, I'm trying my luck and asking kshownow if they'd sub it.
This show deserves to be subbed by some high-quality place like iSubs that try to even source the songs.
But iSubs have been really behind in RM subs because of the sheer amount of work they put into their product. So I guess I'll keep hoping for some other place to sub this.

Or not.

I'm fine with reading their recaps (they got me literally laughing out loud and with tears in my eyes), but ughhhhh Europe.... I want to see those places too!
So I guess it's head-long hurl into RAW world then.

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I've seen Lee Seo Jin in Firebird and Yi San... I am a fan... but only in this show did I fell in love with him....Seo Jinnie... sarangae.

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Can I just add something on the Seo Jin in McDonalds? I totally understand him. I remember getting off the train in Milan, Italy, all stressed out, super tired from staying 8 hours in the train and super hungry. Outside the train station are so many restaurants.. but I went to McDonalds. Why? because I am too tired to think, to contemplate foreign menu, and to ask the waiter what each entry on the menu means. I just want to gulp some Big Mac and hit the bed.

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Hi! Do you know the title of the song that was played while Il-seob and Soon-jae separated from the group and were walking to find the hotel by themselves. The time when they were talking if what they saw were geese or swans. Or, if possible, can you also give the entire list of songs that were used in every episode? Thanks! I really like watching this show.

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