162

Answer Me 1994: Episode 18

It’s an episode all about taking that last chance—for securing your future, reconciling your past, or finding love. As our crew takes their first steps out in the real world after college, they come face to face with some harsh lessons, some universal, and some unique to their generation.

 
SONG OF THE DAY

Kim Dong-ryul – “다시 사랑한다 말할까 (Should I Tell You Again That I Love You)”
[ Download ]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

 
EPISODE 18: “Should I tell you again that I love you”

It’s almost winter in 1997, and Na-jung scouts her department’s job listings for places to interview. She doesn’t seem too worried about scoring a job before graduation, though of course she doesn’t know how bad things are about to get for the economy. Gah, could there be a worse time to graduate from college and enter the job market?

Haitai has just been discharged from the army and returns to school with his old swagger, decked out in the latest fashion and swinging finger guns. Na-jung gapes at the tightness of his t-shirt, and makes him cover up his nipples before he pokes an eye out. They skip along to go eat lunch together, just like the old days.

Wedding, 2002. It’s time for the bride and groom’s friends to come take a picture, and Samcheonpo and Yoon-jin run over to the bride’s side. Na-jung gives Binggeure crap for standing on the groom’s side, and then Yoon-jin nudges her to look at the person who’s standing next to her.

Na-jung jumps back, startled and a little horrified, “What’s that?” Yoon-jin laughs and says it’s a special service for her on her wedding day. Then everyone smiles for the world’s blurriest wedding photo.

Back in 1997, Haitai beams at the massive breakfast spread in honor of his return home. Dad comes out to join them looking like a zombie with a hangover, and asks Haitai if he’s ever heard of that one-way cell phone that only works near phone booths.

Not knowing what landmine he’s about to step in, Haitai says everyone’s heard of that, scoffing that he’s never encountered a product with a shorter shelf life. He prattles on that there were people who invested a bunch of money into the thing, musing that there are all kinds of morons in the world. Ack.

Garbage comes out to whack Haitai upside the head, but Dad cracks and goes from laughter to tears to laughter again, repeating “moron” and sticking the phone in his rice bowl like he’s totally lost his mind. Garbage warns Haitai never to bring it up again.

Na-jung adds that her parents even got a loan on this house and are now in debt because of that phone, but assures everyone that between Dad’s income and her entering the workforce this year, things should be fine.

Yoon-jin worries that she won’t be able to hold a wedding this way, but Na-jung says she found a venue that was half off in January. Oh, that’s soon. Though of course we know she doesn’t make it down the aisle till 2002.

Garbage is back from Busan early thanks to his advisor opening a new clinic here. Yoon-jin already has a job lined up, while Samcheonpo is studying to get into grad school after coming out of active service in only six months, which Haitai rants about especially because Samcheonpo acted like the world was ending when he had to go, ha.

They make plans to have a party for Yoon-jin’s first day on the job, and Garbage notes Na-jung’s forced smile through the whole discussion, putting a reassuring hand on her shoulder without a word. Aw.

Poor Dad loses his mind and starts screaming for the coach’s number who gave him the tip to invest in the phone, and the whole family has to get up to restrain him. After breakfast Na-jung starts filling out every job application she can get her hands on, while the news announces yet another conglomerate filing for bankruptcy.

Haitai mousses up his hair to go to school, solely for the purpose of scoring a girlfriend by Christmas. Na-jung reminds him she has a friend to set him up with, but he insists on getting his own dates.

Yoon-jin tenses up when the news turns to sports and Chilbongie is on TV. She scrambles for the remote awkwardly, but Na-jung tells her it’s fine—he’s always on TV and their stuff is in the past.

Binggeure calls Chilbongie in Japan, who runs out of the shower half-nekkid to pick up the phone. Is he shirtless just to make up for the fact that he’s been missing for so long? I’m not falling for it! Not… gonna…

He tells Binggeure he’ll be coming to Korea tomorrow for a quick doctor’s visit, and they make plans to meet. Binggeure tells him to live a little and do something other than play baseball like date or party, while Chilbongie just tells him not to mess things up with Die-Die.

Na-jung and Yoon-jin simultaneously gasp when Haitai comes home all puffed up after getting a date with the prettiest girl in school (they call her Yonsei’s Jeon Ji-hyun). He swears she seduced him, which the girls call a blatant lie.

We see them lock eyes on the bus earlier that day, and she alerts him to the fact that she’s getting off at the next stop, which he takes as his cue to follow. They share some sweet potatoes in the street and he admits he went two extra stops on the bus just to spend more time with her.

At home the girls refuse to believe it happened, and Haitai swears he’ll make her his girlfriend to prove it.

Chilbongie gets his physical and nervously awaits the results with Binggeure at his side. Oh man, I don’t like the look in the doc’s eye. He starts in on the big speech with a stern brow… only to fake them out with a laugh and give Chilbongie the all-clear. Oh phew. I love that Binggeure yells at the doc for the joke.

He has to play guard on the way out of the hospital because Chilbongie gets accosted by fans, and then the cousins go out to eat. Chilbongie is a little too chipper throughout the meal, choosing to avoid things with a smile.

Binggeure has to ask twice about whether his mom visits often, and Chilbongie finally shakes his head and says he’s seen her twice. He’s up on news about the boardinghouse friends though, because Haitai calls once in a while to fill him in the latest gossip and talk his ear off.

Chilbongie’s the first to bring up the elephant in the room: “I hear Na-jung is getting married.” Binggeure asks if he’s okay, and Chilbongie says he is, adding that it’s not exactly like he’s going to follow around a girl who’s marrying someone else like a stalker. “With time, when more time passes… I’ll be okay.”

Na-jung comes by the hospital to drop off wedding invitations for Garbage to hand out, along with a change of underwear and socks. She demands the dirty set in return (Gross. That’s love right there. Who’d wanna touch that??) and attacks him when he won’t hand them over.

She gives him a peck on the cheek and runs off when Yoon-jin calls with news that Haitai got dumped again. Oppa: “How long did he date her?” Na-jung: “One day.”

Haitai gets drunk and tells the girls that he lost Jeon Ji-hyun to a hoobae, and they gasp to hear which one. A flashback to the noraebang earlier that night reveals Jeon Hyun-moo whisking her away with his singing skills. Hahaha.

Haitai asks if Na-jung’s friend is still available, and she says of course, insisting that he’ll like her—she’s Yonsei’s Uhm Jung-hwa. Ha. So he waits on pins and needles for his blind date the next day, and in walks a girl who literally makes him drool.

The girls hear that things are going well for him, but then he shows up at home just a few hours later with a hangdog expression on his face. They ask what happened this time, and he sighs that they went to a noraebang and he lost her to married man with kids.

Cut to: Yoon Min-soo belting out a song. Hahaha. He puts on a broody performance for the ladies, and then promptly answers a call from Hoo with a big goofy grin. Aw.

Yoon-jin whacks him on the head and says it’s obvious he doesn’t want a girlfriend, while Haitai whines that he’s the one getting dumped. But the girls point out that if he really actually liked any one of the girls, he’d have run after her, held her hand, and pleaded with her to stay.

Yoon-jin just cuts to the chase and asks about his first love Ae-jung, and Haitai freezes. She tells him that’s the answer right there—if his heart still races at the mere mention of her, then he needs to deal with his first love before bothering with other girls he’s not even interested in. Dude, listen to her.

It’s November 21, Yoon-jin’s first day on the job. She gets all dressed up and the whole family sends her off together, reminding her about her party at home tonight. Na-jung sits staring at the phone all day, waiting to hear back from her latest job interview.

Dad tells her there’s nothing to worry about, brushing off all the news about each new financial hurdle, insisting the country will weather the storm.

Just then, the phone rings, and Na-jung lights up to get the word that she’s been hired, and she’ll start her new employee training next month. She dances, Mom and Dad jump for joy, and she calls Oppa to tell him the good news.

Yoon-jin comes home that night to a massive feast to celebrate both girls’ new jobs, and Dad pops the champagne, showering them with celebratory bubbles. As the party goes on, Na-jung sees something that makes her freeze, and Yoon-jin follows her gaze to the TV.

Dad is the last one to get a clue, but then eventually everyone turns to watch the news report that the country was in economic crisis.

Na-jung: November 21, 1997. Yoon-jin’s first day on the job. And the day I secured my very first job. The country was ruined, like a lie. South Korea went from Asia’s dragon to its worm, and the shining Generation X became a class that was cursed.

She narrates as we watch the family’s fallout: Dad loses his job with the Twins, Yoon-jin gets told she won’t be receiving paychecks anymore, and Na-jung waits for her call about new hire orientation, only to see on the news that her company went bankrupt.

She eventually gets the official letter in the mail, rescinding the new hire offer. She narrates that she never even got to go to work once before rejoining the ranks of the unemployed.

We watch her slave over new applications in the coming days and interview for whatever she can. Dad watches with a long sigh, and then Oppa comes in to give her a hug of encouragement. She wonders what she’ll do if she just ends up a wife who does nothing but makes food, and Oppa tells her he doesn’t care; it’s Na-jung who couldn’t stand for that.

But then a few days later, she gets a call and lands a job after all. Hooray! The man on the phone congratulates her, and adds that she’s lucky—there aren’t many jobs available, but she secured a position abroad because of her English skills. Oh noes.

She braces herself and goes to see Oppa, who sits numbly after being told. He asks shakily if she accepted the job, and she tells him that this was her last application and her last interview—her last chance.

She’s due to report to the office on January 10 and spend two years in Australia. Oppa points out that their wedding is on January 25. Eep. Na-jung bites her lip before saying it, and then asks cautiously: “Can we postpone the wedding for two years?”

He reminds her they’ve passed out invitations, and adds that he just signed a contract for their new house. She promises to explain everything to the parents really well, and to take care of cancelling the wedding and apartment.

Oppa lets out a long sigh: “No. No.” Aw, Oppa. She tells him this is really important—her life depends on it. But he digs his heels in: “Just stay. I can earn money.” Oh nooooooo, Oppaaaa. You’re killing me.

She gets up and runs off before she bursts into tears, and she cries herself to sleep that night.

Oppa paces outside in the snow that night, and comes to the house first thing in the morning. They sit in silence for a while, and then he finally says, “I was wrong last night. I’m sorry. I’ll wait for you to go and come back.” Phew.

He wipes her tears away and says he thought about it in the reverse, if she had asked him to go to abroad and leave his job for her. He realized it then that he had taken her work too lightly when he couldn’t do the same, and apologizes for it now. Way to come around, Oppa.

They tell Mom and Dad, and then just like that it’s time for her to say goodbye. Oppa drives her to the airport while holding her hand, and she narrates:

Na-jung: We are a special couple. We spent twenty years as brother and sister. We had the sincerity to endure a one-sided love that challenged our strength. And we had the dependability to push a wedding that was a month away to begin a long-distance relationship. We were a very special couple.

She flies away to Australia and Oppa drives back alone. We watch her settle into her new job and call Oppa regularly to tell him how much she misses him. But as time passes, they grow less and less frequent.

Na-jung: That being out of sight puts someone out of your heart—I just thought they were words to describe regular couples, while we were a very special couple.

We watch as calls start to get missed on both sides, emails pushed till later, (Lol, do you actually have an account named Trash Kim?) and their photo starts to get buried under the mountain of paperwork that takes over daily life.

Na-jung: We were a very special couple. But in front of time, in front of life, that specialness was becoming very average. Like anyone, we were becoming negligent and like everyone, we became buried. Eventually we became accustomed to that negligence. Like that, we became a very un-special couple. And like that, without breaking up, we had broken up.

We watch time pass from Samcheonpo and Haitai’s point of view, sitting in front of their computer at home and receiving emails from Na-jung while reading about Chilbongie in the news. Ha, each year there’s a new search engine that’s declared the best, and by 1999 Na-jung is preparing to return home, and so is Chilbongie.

This time Samcheonpo opens up a site called I Love School (which Answer Me 1997’s Oppa invented, if you remember) and explains to Haitai that it’s a way to connect with old friends…and first loves. He nudges Haitai to try it to find Ae-jung, and Haitai mulls it over.

New Year’s Eve, 1999. Na-jung has been back in Korea for a week, and comes home to find everyone in a flurry of activity, getting ready to leave the house. Mom and Dad have a date, so do Yoon-jin and Samcheonpo, and even Binggeure runs out to meet Die-Die. Na-jung tries to butt in to remind them that it’s the turn of the new millennium, but they just run out the door.

Ha, Dad complains that her present to her parents after being away for two years is a pair of Uggs, but puts them on anyway. Na-jung sighs to be left in an empty house.

She heads upstairs and finds Haitai hunched over after sending Ae-jung two messages yesterday online, and receiving no answer. He says dejectedly that if she had replied he would’ve gone to their class reunion party tonight to see her, but now he’s too embarrassed.

Na-jung flicks him in the face and tells him to get it together—that’s not even trying, and not something to be embarrassed about. She tells him not to regret it later, and tells him this is probably his last chance. “It’s your last chance to be sure if you still like Ae-jung or not. Or you can just spend the rest of your life in this room with Sung-kyun.” Ha. If that doesn’t get you up, I don’t know what will.

On their way to their dates, Yoon-jin remembers their ancient promise to gather on New Year’s Eve 1999, and wonders if anyone would’ve remembered. Binggeure thinks that Na-jung might, knowing her crazy specific memory (ha, I forgot about that trait), and then wonders if Chilbongie or Garbage might too.

Samcheonpo says Garbage wasn’t there, but Binggeure says he told everyone about it back then. We watch as Garbage, now a surgeon, finishes up a procedure and returns to his desk. And today’s date is circled in red on his calendar.

Na-jung goes upstairs armed with every kind of liquor in the house, and sighs at the empty room where she and her friends had made that promise. At the same time Chilbongie arrives at the airport, greeted by a crowd of reporters. Do we have a New Year’s Eve Race to Na-jung Part II?

Haitai goes to his reunion and a friend tells him that Ae-jung is living in Seoul now and she probably won’t come tonight because of him, but hands him her phone number anyway to try calling.

As Chilbongie gets driven home, he asks his manager to drop him off elsewhere: “I have someplace I have to be.” Is it…?

Na-jung waits alone at home, and it starts to snow outside. Omo. My heart can’t take it if this is a fakeout.

Garbage gets dressed to head out, and to make things even more nerve-racking, he’s got on virtually the same outfit as Chilbongie. Well, you do have similar taste in other things, so I’ll give you that. Each of the boys looks up at the snow coming down.

Haitai paces back and forth outside the bar, hemming and hawing as he stares down at Ae-jung’s number. He finally decides to call, and as soon as he does, a phone rings from just behind him. She’s standing right there, and answers her phone.

Ae-jung: “Ho-joon-ah.” Ah, finally a name for Haitai (the actor’s own).

Na-jung looks up at the clock as it nears midnight, and sighs to herself as she gets ready to drink alone. But just before she can put the glass to her lips, she hears the front gate open outside.

She goes out to the balcony and sees someone approaching. She comes back in and waits, and a pair of feet hesitates at the bottom of the stairs. We get a teasing shot from overhead, but of course since Oppa and Chilbongie are wearing the same friggin’ clothes, it doesn’t matter. Stop yankin’ my chain!

He walks up… and up…

It’s Chilbongie! She’s surprised to see him, and he looks back at her with shaky eyes that rip me up. She smiles, and he does too. It’s only then that we get the episode’s title card, named for the Kim Dong-ryul song that’s playing over the scene (posted above).

He asks about the other kids, who have all forgotten and gone out to celebrate. She muses that he remembered, and he mimics her accent to say that he did. Na-jung breaks the awkward air between them to ask if he isn’t hungry, suggesting ramyun. It does the trick and he laughs.

Back outside the bar, Haitai stops Ae-jung from going inside with the first thought that comes to mind, and asks the dumb irrelevant question if the song playing overhead is from the fifth album. She corrects him, and he finally gets up the nerve to say: “I missed you. I missed you a lot.”

And he pulls her in for a hug.

At the house, Chilbongie comes back with ramyun (ha, he’s the one to cook it, just like old times) and they stuff their faces hungrily. Na-jung asks how much time is left before the new year and he looks up at the clock and says there isn’t much left. Ten seconds, in fact, and he starts to count down…

She freezes mid-chew, her cheeks still full of ramyun, as he counts down to midnight. “Three, two, one… Happy New Year.”

At that, she hurriedly throws a hand over her lips. Pwahaha. He cracks up and says he’s not going to do that, teasing her for going overboard. But he does ask, “Na-jung-ah, what’re you doing tomorrow?”

We go back to the wedding photo in 2002, and the “special surprise” for Na-jung on her wedding day turns about to be Haitai wearing his old 1994 hair just for the occasion.

This time the blurry picture reveals Haitai’s face as a friend of the bride, officially taking him out of the running for Future Husband. Not that he was ever a real contender.

 
COMMENTS

So the pendulum swings back Chilbongie’s way. Despite being happy in the moment when Chilbongie shows up at the top of those stairs, I’m just generally pooped out from this game and no longer see the point of letting myself get emotionally involved if I’m just going to be yanked around till the finale. Which is of course what’s going to happen. That it’s putting a strain on my love for the show is an understatement, so I’m trying to just ignore all the purposeful Hand of Mystery waving, because it makes me want to slap it away. If the characters would just be allowed to live out this love triangle as if the future didn’t exist, I’d be much obliged. Wishful thinking, I know. It’s only more apparent in the final weeks how much this should’ve stayed a 16-episode show.

The IMF crisis played out in a much more impactful way for Answer Me 1994 than for the 1997 crew, and it was a nice way to weave in a particular generation’s set of unique problems. I just can’t even imagine leaving college at the exact moment when your country’s economy goes down the tubes in such a colossal way. I actually wish we had taken up the whole episode on the subject (or even more, heck we have the time), because I like it when our main characters have something else to worry about than their love lives. I could’ve done with Na-jung being jobless for months or even years, since that’s actually more realistic, but it proved to be a nicely developed impetus for her to leave (whereas I didn’t see the need for Oppa to even go to Busan, except to motivate the 1997 cameos).

I like that Dad’s investment folly actually folds into all this despite mostly being played for comedy. If he had stayed solvent, if he hadn’t lost his job, maybe Na-jung would feel less pressured about having to land a job right away. But her family is depending on her to keep them afloat, and that makes her decision easy and responsible and right. It’s also a choice that may not have happened in 1996, which is why it’s motivated nicely with a touch of regret at having been born into your generation, which sucks but is just your lot in life.

I was grateful that Oppa only spent one day opposing her choice. It’s an understandable reaction since it sucks to be him in that situation, but it was still a heartbreaking letdown. Of course he came right back and said the perfect thing, so all is forgiven. Their breakup seemed like a natural progression from her having to go abroad, so I suppose now in 2000 we just reset the whole game to zero, with all three parties in the same city at the same time. The fact that we’re still in this place in the story after so many episodes is a little mind-numbing, but at least this time we’re down to the final years before the wedding? I’m happier about the fact that Na-jung got an episode to just do something for herself and her family, and not be defined by the love triangle. She was also a really good friend to Haitai, which I adore about her. His was a happily ever after I was really rooting for.

 
RELATED POSTS

Tags: , , , ,

162

Required fields are marked *

WHERE IS EVERYONE WATCHING THE FULL EP 18??!!?? I'LL EVEN WATCH W/O SUBS BUT PLEEEAAAASSEEE TELL ME!! :(

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

When did oppa and nj broke up? Was it 1997, right? Or late 1997 ? Then CB and NJ met again December 1999... So that makes NJ 2 yrs without BF plus whoever she ends up with, they got married 2 yrs after... So total of 4 yrs.... I think number of years of togetherness is not an issue here. i had a BF before of 10 yrs and we broke up due to long distance relationship... And i ended up marrying my BF of 3 yrs...i think its a matter of right love at a right time.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

also i would like to say that i am very happy that they used "timing" as a theme?<3

that was the thing that resonated most with me in AM1997. i think YJ first talked about it in the episode where SW was almost attacked, and YJ ran to her. about how love cannot start unless both parties like each other at the same time.

although i am happy, i am also a bit disappointed about how they showed in AM1994. it was vague and thus didn't hit me as hard as it did in AM1997. did the timing theme apply to CB or T? did CB finally get his timing right? or was it that T was the one who always had his timing right? or or was it about NJ's timing? idk, show.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

the use of timing in the reply series is what makes it so special for me. i dont really see it in other dramas.
oh, and i think the timing thing refers to all of them. chilbongie has waited for a long time for najung. najung and trash, while they were still dating, have been troubled with the timing of events in their lives (the busan thing, najung going out of korea for work).
i do have to agree with you that its a LOT more vague than '97. but if you look for it, its there :)

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I think it is still Oppaa.
And I can totally related to the economic crisis and graduating without landing a job. I will be graduating in few months time and just found out there's no position available for the graduating class. :( :(. I appreciate A-1994 touch on to that even just a bit.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

What are the names so far??
I know
Kim ___ Joon ? Cb
Kim Jae ____? Trash
Kim Dong Joon : Newly known Haitai
Kim ___ ___ what was Bingrae again?
Kim Sung Gyu Samcheonpo

0
4
reply

Required fields are marked *

oops! I guess I have Haitai and Bingrae mixed up, oh the humor of this writer to make EVERYONE with the same surname sigh!

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

The names are:

CB: Kim ___ Joon
T: Kim Jae ___
Haitai: Kim Ho Joon
Bingguerae: Kim Dong Joon
Samcheonpo: Kim Sung Gyun

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Who called Haitai btw. Was it his wife(first love) then it makes it obvious that the wedding picture, coffee outside apartment clue pretty relevant.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Actually on the Reply 1994 website oppa is just Kim 00, they haven't confirmed his name as Jae_. Everyone thought that Haitai was a Kim but on the site it never said. His name was revealed to be Son Ho Joon. That is the real name of the actor playing Haitai. In fact Jung Woo's real name is Kim Jung Gook.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I have not connected with this drama as the rest of you so I stopped watching the last couple of weeks.

I will watch it once it is over because I am not invested enough to find out who she ends up with. I think it is the slice of life that entertained me for a while but since I am from Korea and do not really have any nostalgia, I can not connect.

It is a well made drama but not addictive enough for me. But I do like to read the recaps here. I know the characters enough to imagine what is going on based on recap.

I never finished 1997 either. I think I stopped around episode 6 or 7. One of these days, I should catch up on that too.

I think I stopped when oppa because too cutsie and grating. I think it was the episode where they went out to eat. I don't think I want my guys to be that cutsie. It just felt very strange. So, I stopped.

Or may be my ship is the baseball guy. He is not gratingly cute and I gave up when I knew it was probably not going to happen.

In any case, it is a very directed drama - I have not found it addictive enough.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Corrections: I am very ashamed...

1) I am not from Korean and hence do not have nostalgia
2) I stopped when Oppa became too cutsie and grating

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

This love triangle really giving a bitter taste in my mouth. The first half is cute and nerve wrecking but now... i just want to pull my and someone else hair.

Why so much secret and swinging right and left? Yes, real life isn't as simple as an OTP in drama because we never know what a future held for us. But writer-nim, you KNOW the ending, so why playing with us like this? You ruined my Chilbongie-Najung ship for me.

I know there's a drama where the second lead get the girl, and I'm all abroad with it because me as an audience because: 1) The supposed to be OTP kinda breaking or have a really great problem in the middle 2) the second lead is there with the first lead all time, and support her all the time so when the shift happen I can rejoice it since the change is feel more natural narratively.
But this? Drama spending After 2/3 half episode written with Oppa-Najung love story and suddenly in the end of the last four episode, the story turn around with Najung-Oppa break up (off screen) and Chilbongie back after they ship him out to Japan (and out from my screen)? As much as I love Chilbongie to pieces and want him to happy, I just can't fully enjoyed this last pitch of ball.

Writer! are you joking? It's not even funny!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Oppa. That is all.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

They broke up & he's back!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I am pro Trash. :) I just want to see the process of how he's become who he is in 2013. That's all.

1
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

At the new year scene, NJ was totally waiting for Oppa - she was nervous and anxious - when CB appeared, some disappoitment showed into her eyes, but then she smiled back to her old friend CB.

NJ and Trash are both avoiding each other but I'm sure both love each other a lot.

1
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I literally cried when Chilbongie came back.
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN FOR THE PAST TWO EPISODES D':

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I think the best way to watch this drama is to view it as a whole, not according to WHO you want to be endgame. The trolling has become frustrating but the writer has been consistent with his characters and she clearly knows where she's heading HER story.

Its a bit tiring to read comments that they cant enjoy the drama, if trash or chilbong is the husband. Come on, this is not only about them. This is about life in general. For sure, whether its trash or CB, there will be a valid and good reason why one of them attended the wedding, in spite of it all. And dating and breaking up happen all the time. Engagements get broken some of the time. Couples get married after 10 or 5 or 2 years, even after 6 months of dating. It's not impossible!

We're down to the last 2 episodes and to enjoy the finale, we really have to keep our biases aside so that we can understand the lesson, the theme, the whole point of this drama.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I agree that the drama is much more enjoyable when you view it as a whole and not just for who she ends up with. Like most viewers, I was really into finding out who the husband was but I noticed that the more I read comments the less I looked forward to the drama. Over analyzing and arguments over who the husband may be took away from this great drama. For me at least. After seeing them happy and still friends in the present I realized it doesn't really matter who the husband turns out to be. I'm probably in the minority but I like that they haven't revealed the husband yet. I think, as a viewer, it would take away from the emotional impact of the scenes between the characters. It's nice to see and experience their emotions the moment it's happening without already knowing how it's going to turn out.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Actually, I don't think you noticed this, but I'm pretty sure that Binggeure calls Chilbong "Dong Joon" when he called him...

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Dong joon is BG's name not CB's

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

wow this episode was heartbreaking, if not for the hilarious first half when the beloved haitai is back!!! with his too tight clothes and the ridiculous scp who likes to take things too seriously. love the breakfast scene with oppa taking control of the table, i missed seeing everybody together!! and sweet cb is almost back too

bad memories from the 1997 financial crisis too, so gonna wipe this episode from my memory

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Ugh this is really hard right now. I really think NJ will still end with Trash but UGH. All these really vague clues are too much, ;w;

From experience, I really think how the long distance relationship seemed very realistic. Sometimes it works out sometimes it doesn't. Even the strongest couples have the hardest time. The fallout from taking each other for granted, keeping in touch and being more focused on your own life is exactly what I saw in this episode. It's really easy to keep in touch nowadays with texting and wifi but I can imagine back then it's was very difficult (remember how bad was internet back then guys, painfully slow =.=). Especially with the job that Trash has, being in medicine is really a career that you dedicate yourself to. I feel like they really ended their honeymoon phase and were in the next phase of their relationship.

I don't think in anyway that Trash or NJ were selfish in choosing to focus on their careers or making their choices. I find them personally as completely acceptable choices.

This doesn't mean they won't be together. Haitai was in an LDR before and he broke up. It was first love and now he's back with Ae Jung (which I was soooo happy for him ^__^). Even though their relationship didn't work out they still harbored feelings for each other. It gives the possibility that this can happen again. This might be just their relationship maturing out of honeymoon and the lulling stage that follows it. They are back in the same country now so maybe it will be easier for them if they end up back together. But it also might not.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I also was thinking about who is "replying back" or "answering". In R1997, Shi Won was replying back to Yoon-jae's feelings for her. He had harbored feelings for her for a longggg time without distinct reciprocation. Here there are two options: NJ replying to CB or Trash replying to NJ (or however else you may interpret it). For Trash and NJ, it could be a do you love me from NJ or a do you still love me from both over them after breaking up. For CB, it's pretty obvious that NJ would be replying back to CB.

I feel like they really built up the Trash-NJ boat so much for us to see how even seemingly strong relationships fail which even though it's to the distress for the viewers, it's a very real thing. NJ has very little experience being in a relationship since it's her first love which can actually be one of the hardest to lose. I don't think that Trash and NJ's relationship can be the completely same again. If they get back together, their relationship will be more mature I predict.

I still want to know where Trash's drinking problem comes in. I haven't seen him like totally hungover. He doe go out to have soju and everything but it seems normal, not like huge or problematic enough for NJ to yell at him in a past episode for it.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

this is answer me 1994 or reply 1994 though. the question is implied to have been asked in 1994 (either to another character or to their own) but remained unanswered.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Oohh and one more thing I thought of, the cousin with special gifts lol. She said that Trash and NJ would break up but also said another time they would be together for a long time. This could be another hint.

(Sorry for all the pro-Trash possibilities if it makes anyone uneasy. I'm actually a very big CB fan ;w; but this is all for the sake of analysis~)

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Actually, the cousin said that they should be together for a long time not would when he gave her money to take a taxi.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Is it me, or it’s a whiplash sort of episode…

I do really appreciate the slice of life take here; IMF crisis is more real than anyone could have imagined at that point. Myself have to change my course of studies from studying abroad to studying locally for 2 more years till things gets more stable. (Sung Dong Il ahjusshi… omg… it was hilarious, yet sad when Appa has that crazy breakdown…)

I get too that long distance couple do eventually cave in.

I really do appreciate that slice of life. It really does happen… I mean even in AM 1997, even though they didn’t officially date, Shiwon and Yoonjae was separated for 6 years where they each went about their own life, studying, entering the work force etc…

It’s not so much of Team Thrash or Team Chilbong but its more Team Najung. But if the breakup did happen, this is not the reality I wanted for my fictional characters which I stan for 17 episodes. I mean after the awesome proposal, Show you can’t do this to me…

To reintroduce Chilbong this late back into the game, I just felt it shortchanged his character. Like he was just conveniently there…

And for so many episodes we had debated over the underdevelopment of Najung’s character that all there is for her is Oppa and even putting basketball aside, while Shiwon has her fangirling and writing fanfics and all… And now that she is doing something for herself and like GF said not defined by her love triangle yet I can’t help but felt that the writer wrote her short as well. I mean her choices were hard, and with her hoping to do something for the family, but it’s still painful all around, leaving Korea, leaving Oppa and family… Perhaps going oversea for work, just like Oppa going for Busan are not the best choices of the story but I guess this is the writer’s way of advancing the story. I mean like GF I could have Najung being jobless for month and go thru with the wedding and continue looking for a job, but I guess that is not catalyst enough to move the story forward... anyway all said and done... I dunno what twist will happen in the last 2 episodes but just remembering in 2013 they are all still friends and happy.

And Najung’s advise to Haitai… I hope she heeds those advices herself before the end of the series… I just hope, they will let us know that the characters love is stronger than that.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

what happened to na jung's little brother?

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I consider him to be a magical child that appears once in a blue moon lol.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

As much as I love Chilbongie, he has to wake up and realize that Na Jeong’s feelings for Trash Oppa are not dead. In fact, they are very much alive. If he’s the guy we know and love, he’d do the best thing by reuniting the star-crossed lovers. Marrying Na Jeong or even dating her after seeing how much in love she is with Oppa, is just out of character for Chilbongie. He’s a great person, adorable, hot, perfect in every possible way. He deserves someone who loves him back. Yep, he genuinely loves her, but she doesn’t. You can’t just hope that in two episode she’ll change her love. That she’d love someone else. Trash oppa might not be the most perfect person, but his love for his Jeong-ah is pure and flawless. Oppa loves her dearly, more than life itself. I hurt for Chilbongie for not getting the girl’s heart. He has to realize that there might be someone else for him, someone who’ll love him, and only him. Someone who is not haunted with the ghosts of her first love. Someone who is not Na Jeong. Her heart is already with Oppa-ya. Oppa on the other hand, don’t cry sweetie. Be your perfect, hilarious, heart-warming self. You’ll get a perfect ending with the love of your life. Don’t cry, you only make us fans sob our hearts out. Fan wars are unnecessary. Both men are love. But one suitor will win. Its not a game to lose or win, its just a battle with your heart. Whoever Na Jeong choses, we should respect her decision. After all, that’s her choice in love. Its a battle of love and sacrifice, but lay your arms down, folks. Both men are perfect in our eyes. We didn’t follow these people fall in love, out of love, strengthen friendships for nought. We believe in them. We believe in their choice. May it be love, or sacrifice.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Sorry.. can someone give me the link episode 18 full? some of link i found just work in canada and us. Little bit frustrate want to watch.... :D

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

although i'm team CB, i really do not care at this point who na-jung marries. this show has me at the end of my rope. i'm tempted to wait for DB to recap the finale then go back and watch the last four episodes IF i feel like it.

i was really loving AM 1994 initially--even more than i loved 1997--but now i'm just frustrated. it was never a good idea to make this 20 episodes, but they were banking on a hit & wanted to make more money . . . fine, i can live with that.

but early on in the series, the fact that it the show dragged was not that big of a deal b/c the filler was great & entertaining. at this point, the filler is not bad but at some point, a person wants substance over filler & there's just no substance here.

what i think is the worse thing about this show is the 2002 wedding teasers. it would have been much more effective to use the teasers in the first episode and never again. we KNOW the backbone of the show is that the husband is a mystery. it wastes time & adds absolutely no value to keep showing the 2002 wedding scenes. those scenes are frustrating to watch b/c the viewers know they are not going to show na-jung's husband and setting the scene up & fading out just before the husband is revealed is a cheap gimmick that viewers don't need after we've sat through an hour+ episode.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

i think there are def gonna be some flashbacks in regards to their breakup. i agree that it is way too vague...

and ive been in a long distance relationship for over 5 years now and i can definitely relate to how they could grow apart and break up due to the distance. it doesnt indicate that their relationship wasnt "strong enough" or illusionary - its simply a fact of life. no matter how much you love a person, everyday business and priorities can temporarily mask your once strong love for a partner. esp when reality is so harsh and you are working ur ass off everyday.

also, i dont understand why oppas initial reaction to NJs desire to work in australia was so "disappointing".. like you said its COMPLETELY understandable. i mean for gods sake they HANDED OUT the invitations already and the wedding was gonna be a sealed deal. plus the thought of being separated with NJ was probably very painful and to not react the way he did would have been weird... i think its very realistic to have a "rash" reaction at first, but come around like oppa did the next day.

what fiancee in the right mind would simply say "oh of course i am totally fine with you going to australia for 2 years and postpone our wedding for that long as well" right after she brought the subject up?!!

1
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I was missing Chilbongie's absence a lot so I am happy to see him back! The 1997 economy downturn is well done in this drama. I still remember the impact although I was a kid then!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

My favorite Haitai hair was #2 during the time lapse. Sadly, it only lasted for a few seconds.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *