153

Marriage Not Dating: Episode 6

This episode begins to delve a little further into each character and what makes them tick, though each answer seems to lead to even more questions. We finally find out exactly what happened to Jang-mi to make her so terrified of being alone, and why Ki-tae is so determined to stay single. We even discover the reason why Se-ah has popped back into Ki-tae’s life after three years, and the answer is every bit as selfish and self-indulgent as you would expect. But these revelations are dealt out with a careful hand, and I have no doubt there’s a lot more to each story to discover.

 
EPISODE 6: “Me, who looks alone, isn’t alone, but seems alone”

In a dark bedroom a couple, faces in shadow, roll around on a rumpled bed. The man takes off his shirt and pants, and they pull the covers over themselves. Rawr.

A few evenings earlier, Se-ah leaves the ladies’ wine party, and Yeo-reum follows her out to the street. He returns the envelope she previously gave to him, but she says that she already knows everything she wants to know, and tries to hand it back to him.

Ki-tae and Jang-mi see the end of this exchange, and Ki-tae jumps to the right conclusion about Se-ah, while Jang-mi jumps to the wrong one about Yeo-reum. Jang-mi fixes betrayed eyes on Yeo-reum and says that she must have been the only one with feelings again, and escapes before he can explain. He tries to follow her but Ki-tae stops him, asking Se-ah if it’s fun to play with people’s emotions.

He follows Jang-mi and they end up drinking soju at a pojongmacha, though for once it’s Ki-tae doing all the drinking. He gripes at Jang-mi for learning nothing from her experience with Hoon-dong, and for not listening to him about Yeo-reum, while she sits in stony silence.

He’s on a roll, and says that it’s not that the guys she dates are bad, but that she makes them treat her badly. He goes on and on, listing everything she does wrong, not even noticing the giant tears rolling down Jang-mi’s face. He’s being so Ki-tae right now – everything he says is true, and it’s even good advice, but he’s not even attempting to say it in a way that’s helpful or kind.

Finally she agrees that he’s right, and he runs with it some more, telling her to be the bad one and demand better treatment from men. She should take what they offer and then throw them away first.

Jang-mi finally decides she’s heard enough, and she declares that fine, she’ll throw HIM away. Even though they aren’t really dating, she’s been doing the same thing with him that she does with other men, and she’s going to stop. And he’s the worst of them, because he knew he was using her, and she went along with it anyway.

Hoon-dong and Hyun-hee go out, and he spends the whole date whining about Jang-mi. Hyun-hee methodically refills his shot glass until he’s completely wasted, and carries him home. She asks if it’s okay that she’s not a nice person and kisses him, and they spend the night together.

In the morning, Ki-tae panics when he gets a message from Se-ah that she’s with his mother at the salon. She reassures him that she hasn’t told his mother what she knows…yet. She warns that he’d better stop avoiding her calls, or she might just accidentally let it slip that his engagement is fake. She also mentions that later, they’re going shopping at the department store where Jang-mi works.

At the store, it’s obvious that Hyun-hee didn’t get much sleep last night, but Jang-mi is hyper and works like a woman possessed. Hyun-hee says that she should slow down, since she’ll be a VIP customer once she gets married, but Jang-mi says that it’s not happening. Hyun-hee asks if Ki-tae found out that she kissed Yeo-reum, but Jang-mi just dodges the question and declares that she’s done with both of them.

Yeo-reum shows up and asks Jang-mi to eat with him, but she’s still angry and asks why she should. He just chirps with a cheery grin, “You said you like me!” She drags him out of the store to talk, barely missing Ki-tae, who’s trying to find her before his mother and Se-ah can.

Jang-mi demands to know when Yeo-reum’s lies started, and he doesn’t deny taking money to get close to her, but he promises that he was giving it back. He says it was just a joke and that he doesn’t like having to explain himself. Seriously, stop talking. You’re making it worse.

His pretty smile isn’t getting him out of this one, and Jang-mi tells him to leave her alone and pass the message along to Se-ah. But Se-ah and Ki-tae’s mother overheard the last part of the conversation, and Mom demands to know what’s going on.

Ki-tae finds them, and everyone tries to explain in a round-robin of awkward until Mom just tells them all to shush. She asks Se-ah to explain, and Se-ah truthfully says that she asked Yeo-reum to find out the true relationship between Ki-tae and Jang-mi. Then she surprises everyone by saying that she did it so she could figure out the perfect wedding gift for them.

Ki-tae and Jang-mi go to lunch, where she asks him if it bothers him that his ex is paying someone to pry into his personal life. He says that she’s done it before, but he’s sure she won’t use the information against them. Yeo-reum sits down to eat with them as if it’s no big deal, and a fed-up Jang-mi reminds them that’s she’s totally done with them both, and leaves them to shoot eye-daggers at each other.

Hyun-hee finds Jang-mi sitting outside, and tells her she’s been seeing Hoon-dong. Jang-mi is aghast that she would be with him, knowing how he treated her. Hyun-hee says that she won’t date him if Jang-mi objects, though she points out that it wouldn’t be fair if she did, since she’s got two other men to choose between.

Meanwhile Hoon-dong wakes up and is horrified to realize that he slept with Hyun-hee, and sneaks into the restaurant in case one of the girls might be there. Yeo-reum can’t help ribbing him a little, and Hoon-dong retaliates by childishly tipping over a drink for him to clean up. Hee.

Hoon-dong asks the chef about the kimchi fusion dish he thinks the chef made the night before, telling him to add it to the menu. The chef realizes that Yeo-reum must have made the dish since he was “incapacitated,” and he doesn’t look at all happy.

Hoon-dong finds himself face-to-face with a furious Jang-mi, who chases him out of the restaurant and through the streets, wild-eyed and screaming. He’s impressively fast, but she finally cuts him off and demands to know if he’s serious about Hyun-hee.

He swears that Jang-mi is his only love and sleeping with Hyun-hee was a drunk mistake – um, is that supposed to sound better?! But Jang-mi didn’t know that he actually slept with Hyun-hee, and she delivers a beatdown that frankly, has been a long time coming.

She makes Hoon-dong swear not to hurt Hyun-hee and stop seeing her, and he actually thinks she’s saying that because she likes him again and is jealous. I can’t even with this guy. Neither can Jang-mi, and she just has a small tantrum and heads back to the restaurant.

She gets there in time to see the chef yelling at Yeo-reum in the alley for cooking without permission, and Yeo-reum good-naturedly offers to give him the recipe and not tell anyone it’s actually his. Instead of being grateful to Yeo-reum for covering for him twice, the chef gets angry and punches him.

Yeo-reum refuses Jang-mi’s help and sympathy, saying that he’s embarrassed and telling her to go. He utters a quiet, “It’s all your fault,” and walks away.

Se-ah visits Ki-tae at work and asks for a favor in return for saving him in front of his mother. The next thing you know, Ki-tae is at a sperm bank answering some very intimate questions. HAHA. Also Oooooohhh. So that’s Se-ah’s game. Ki-tae gets as far as a dark room with a cup and a naughty video, but he can’t go through with it.

He tells Se-ah that she’s taken the joke too far, but she insists that she’s serious. She says that she wants to stay single, but wants to spend her life with someone, and she loves herself so much that she wants to be with someone just like herself. There are so many things wrong with this, I don’t even know where to start.

Ki-tae says that a baby isn’t a toy (thank you!) but Se-ah pushes, promising discretion since it’s her father’s hospital – nobody will find out. He says that single women aren’t allowed to get sperm donations here anyway, so she just matter-of-factly suggests that they sleep together instead. She gives him a choice: give her a baby one way or another, or she tells Mom about his fake engagement.

Ki-tae gets a call to come to Jang-mi’s parents’ restaurant, where Mom is talking but Dad is back to using his notepad to communicate. They’re upset about the memorial going badly, and Dad says that he’s doing something about it.

Ki-tae and Dad sit to talk over chicken and soju, and Dad starts by saying that even though Jang-mi may seem like an ordinary girl, she’s his only daughter, and asks Ki-tae to take care of her. Ki-tae tells Dad that she dumped him, and asks for his help. Cue heavy drinking male-bonding time.

Dad says that Jang-mi is scared of marriage because of her parents’ bad relationship, and we see what happened when she was a child and was left alone. Her parents had a fight and both parents walked out, each of them telling Jang-mi to have a nice life with the other parent.

Five-year-old Jang-mi was left by herself, each parent thinking the other was with her, and had broken a glass and stepped in the shards, cutting herself badly. She spent three days alone, bleeding and hungry and terrified, not knowing if either parent was coming back.

Dad feels terrible for his mistake, and has spent the time since trying to get along with Jang-mi’s mother for their daughter’s sake. He blames himself for Jang-mi’s negative attitude towards marriage, and asks again for Ki-tae to help her.

Jang-mi’s mom tells her that Dad and Ki-tae are together at the restaurant, and by the time she gets there the men have finished off at least 8 bottles of soju. They’re both practically incoherent but adorably deny being drunk. Jang-mi just shoves Ki-tae to the floor where he sits giggling, and has a few drinks with Dad herself. HA.

Finally she takes Ki-tae home, where she has to literally drag him kicking and flailing out of the taxi and piggyback him inside. Poor girl looks like she’s wrestling a drunk octopus. She dumps him on the couch and tells him to just call this whole thing off and marry Se-ah. He mumbles that he can’t because “she’s just like my mom.” Jang-mi points out that he was going to marry her before, and he says yeah, because “she’s just like my mom.”

Ki-tae tries to stand but topples over and Jang-mi steadies him, bringing their faces close. For a long moment he looks at her, and then he leans in close…and shoves her away. Hee. He wobbles to the bedroom but trips and falls, and Jang-mi manages to haul him up and onto the bed.

Ki-tae kicks at her and hollers that he wants to be alone, and starts to undress (Jang-mi primly covers her eyes but isn’t above peeking), but he only gets his pants half off before he falls off the bed. She manages to get him back in bed and fend off his flailing arms and legs to get him undressed, and wraps him up in the covers. Well, that scene wasn’t nearly as sexy as it looked in the opening. POUT.

In the morning, a violently hungover Ki-tae finds his kitchen in a shambles. There’s a note on the coffeemaker telling him not to just drink coffee, but have some soup, which is still bubbling on the stove. Awww. He grumbles about the mess, but tries the soup and rice, and he feels better until he finds another note suggesting that they meet with their parents today and tell the truth.

Ki-tae flashes back to three years ago, when he brought Se-ah here to an empty house and told her that his happiest memories were when he was alone here as a child. They had agreed that this would be their first home as newlyweds.

At work, Hyun-hee stares at her silent phone, and Jang-mi tells her that Hoon-dong won’t be calling because she nearly killed him for sleeping with her. Hyun-hee’s voice shakes with anger and betrayal as she says that she thought Jang-mi was over Hoon-dong, so she doesn’t understand why she can’t date him herself.

Hyun-hee says that she knows that Hoon-dong loves Jang-mi and that he doesn’t like her, but she thought it could possibly have led to something. Tears fall as she cries that Hoon-dong won’t contact her now because Jang-mi interfered.

Ki-tae sits in his office and thinks over Se-ah’s baby ultimatum, and it says a lot about how much he loves his house that he’s actually considering this insanity. Jang-mi startles him out of his reverie, scaring the life out of them both, and asks if he’s ready to come clean to their families. He says that he’ll go, but after his appointments for the day.

Jang-mi waits for Ki-tae downstairs, and helps Yeo-reum carry out some garbage. She asks what he meant that his getting hit was her fault, and he says he’ll talk to her but not now…he wants a more romantic setting. Unfortunately, Aunt Mi-jung is lurking in a car nearby, and makes a call to report to someone that Jang-mi is meeting with the waiter.

Ki-tae can’t find Jang-mi and calls her, and she tells him that something came up but it won’t take long. Ki-tae hears Yeo-reum’s voice and is horrified that she’s even talking to him after he got paid to date her. He yells that he thought she wanted to be single, and hangs up on her.

Aunt Mi-jung calls Ki-tae and informs him (for a 200,000 won bribe, ha) that his mother is paying her to find out the relationship between Jang-mi and Yeo-reum. He tries to blow it off, reasoning that they’re going to come clean anyway, but ends up tracking her phone and going to find her.

Jang-mi and Yeo-reum talk, and she tells him the whole story about the fake engagement. He marvels that she did all that for no good reason, and she says she’s ending it anyway. He’s skeptical, knowing she can’t let things go easily, but she swears that it’s all over with him and Ki-tae both.

She asks why it’s her fault he got punched, and he tells her that he’s the one who made the kimchi cheese dish at the party. It’s her fault for giving him the kimchi. She’s touched that he made the dish, because she’s the one who thought to eat the cheese gratin with the kimchi.

Yeo-reum bursts her bubble a little and tells her that he was really inspired by a girl he knew a long time ago, who made wonderful kimchi pancakes. Then she made them for him and left him, and it put him off kimchi ever since. Jang-mi says that he must have loved that girl very much, and he says that it wasn’t like that – it was his mother.

Yeo-reum shakes off the serious atmosphere and stands to leave, but Jang-mi stops him. She thanks him for telling her something so personal and they smile at each other for a long moment. Yeo-reum teases that she must be falling in love again, and jokes that that story always works on girls.

Suddenly they hear the sound of a camera, and see a woman in a dark hoodie photographing them. They give chase but the woman loses them, only to run smack into Ki-tae, who thinks it’s his aunt and rips off her hood.

But it’s a stranger, and the woman gets up to deliver the camera’s memory card to Se-ah, who is standing right behind Ki-tae. She tells Ki-tae that she thought some hard evidence would help her case for a baby, and he growls that she hasn’t changed at all.

We go back to three years ago again, a while later, and Se-ah tells Ki-tae that she bought the place next door so that they could have more room. Ki-tae is furious, since he had told her how precious this home was to him.

Se-ah clearly doesn’t care what Ki-tae thinks, and laughs at him for his attachment to the house. She brags that she can find out his secrets and use them to get her way, then ushers in a group of workers and orders them to break down the wall between the apartments.

It’s the last straw, and Ki-tae orders the workers out, telling Se-ah that she can go with them. Back in the present, he accuses Se-ah of doing the same thing to him now that she did back them, and she says it’s his fault both times for pushing her away.

This tense confrontation is witnessed by Jang-mi and Yeo-reum, and also by Aunt Mi-jung who is crouched out of sight. Jang-mi spots her, and remembers that Ki-tae’s mother will force him to get married to the woman of her choosing if she can prove that his relationship with Jang-mi is fake. Looking back on the manipulation tactics of his mother and Se-ah, Jang-mi suddenly understands why Ki-tae is so opposed to marriage.

Ki-tae tells Se-ah defeatedly that she can just go tell his mother everything, he doesn’t care anymore. Jang-mi resists her natural urge to help, and tells herself that everything is going to be revealed anyway so she’ll stay out of it. But she remembers all the times that Ki-tae told her how badly he wanted to be alone, and she can’t help herself.

Just as Se-ah pulls out her phone to call Ki-tae’s mother, Jang-mi stops her. She says that she’s been patient because Se-ah and Ki-tae are old friends, but she’s sick of it. In front of everyone, she declares, “Gong Ki-Tae is my man.”

She takes a step closer to him, and he backs away a few paces asking what she’s doing. She mutters under her breath, “I’m an idiot.”

Then she throws her arms around Ki-tae’s neck and plants one on him. Ki-tae stands frozen for a moment, then his eyes roll back and he clasps Jang-mi close and deepens the kiss. Her eyes fly open, then close again – and suddenly they’re kissing with abandon, neither of them caring that everyone is watching.

 
COMMENTS

All I can think right now is this: three cheers for cable television! So much kissing and skinship in this episode. I’m a very happy little recapper right now.

But seriously, how refreshing is it to be watching a drama that isn’t afraid to show adults having adult relationships and doing adult things? We’re not wasting episodes drawing out relationship plot points by pretending that grownups in their 20s/30s are scandalized by a hand accidentally brushing their shoulder, or pretending that things like kissing and sex only happen after a couple is, at the very least, engaged. I can only overlook so much before I start to have trouble suspending my disbelief and accepting that the proper response to an unexpected smooch is to stand stock-still with your eyes wide open. Raise your hand if you’ve ever done that while kissing someone. Yeah, me neither.

That aside, I’m finding myself more and more invested in these characters as time goes on. I’m still thrilled that, even though they may appear to be stock characters at first glance, nearly every person in the show is proving to have some very understandable and sympathetic (though sometimes seriously messed-up) reasons for their actions. Nothing happens just because “that’s what that character type does,” and there’s always a driving motivation behind their behavior.

I’m enjoying the way the show slowly peels back the layers a bit at a time, showing us the reasons why someone is acting or reacting like they are. And I feel like we’ve only touched on what’s under the surface, and that the show has a lot more to give us as we get to know them better. It’s a lot like how it is to get to know someone in real life: First you get the broad strokes of who they are, and the more time you spend with them and the more they open up, the more you understand why they are the way they are. It feels very natural, and explains why these characters feel so genuine and accessible.

The more I watch, the more impressed I am with the writing on this show. Information about the characters is doled out in just the right amounts and at just the right times, but never revealing more than we need to know at that moment. So many dramas give the viewers all the background information on the characters right away, leaving us to pull out our hair in frustration at watching them stumble around clueless for episodes, since WE know that if they just talked about X, or did Y, then everything would be fine. But in Marriage Not Dating, the audience doesn’t know any more than the characters do at any given time. We’re on that journey of getting to know their backgrounds and secrets right along with them. So I never feel like, “Why is s/he doing that stupid thing?” because I don’t have any more information than the character does. Their actions make as much sense to me as they do to the characters themselves.

I just can’t say enough about how much I’m loving this drama. I really have no complaints about any part of it. I’m happy to be along for the ride, wherever it takes me.

 
RELATED POSTS

Tags: , , ,

153

Required fields are marked *

Dude, I'm pissed. That cold open was purposely misleading, which is totally different from deftly twisting the expectation, a la Episode 5. This time, we're given footage of something that didn't actually happen, which is just plain trickery. I feel like I was lied to. LIES, ALL LIES!

0
41
reply

Required fields are marked *

I KNOW RIGHT??? I'm bitter.

0
9
reply

Required fields are marked *

LollyPip:

Thanks for the recap and actually saying what all of us have been feeling for soooooooooooooooo long.

A drama that actually depicts ADULTS having ADULT convos and kisses and skinship. /backflip for show!

and you're right about the writers! effing brilliant tricksters!

Thanks for your recap. <3

0
3
reply

Required fields are marked *

I watched this episode twice, to make sure I don't miss the opening scenes....
and still in the end of 2nd watching..
my brain : "that's it..? that's it..? wt***"

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

You are not d only one,I normally watch k dramas in a skippin method,I had to cross check 3 tyms

0

At least they're intelligent about tricking us viewers.

This, and the 'typhoon' .... lol!

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Chill lax ladies. I have a feeling that the exact scene will be next episode. I have faith in the show. Million Thanks for the recap

0
4
reply

Required fields are marked *

I'm certain it's yet to come. If I'm not mistaken he's wearing a different shirt. Though she happens to be wearing the same top. Fingers crossed!

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Yes, I was tracking that black and white striped top for the whole show and then - what happened? She kept it on :)

0

I hope you are right.

But the several tvN dramas of recent past seem to indicate a business model, in which tvN dramas begin with a loud bang, push the envelope a bit, and flirt with crossing the boundaries. Then suddenly in the middle of its run, it gets religion and begin conforming to the most bland, uncontroversial social conventions to go out with the least noise. Look back to Witch's Romance, Emergency Couple, Let's Eat ...

In this one, like I've said before, the I-want-you-to help-me-avoid-marriage hook is getting tired and the drama needs to find a new hook. It will probably be the oops-I-fell-in-love-with-you-instead thing. But how tvN does that old trick can make a lot of difference.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

hwata:

i agree with your post. many of us are hoping for the oops-i-fell-in-love-with-you version. i just hope that show continues with the adult/realness of the characters while developing the "oops".

many of us stated that we were expecting the bland & boring middle episodes to begin, yet they didn't! in addition to that, the writers have kept us on the edges of our seats with trickery-ness (word?). so let's applaud the writers.

i'm sure you'll agree 'that Rome wasn't built in a day'. at the end of the day, it's all about the ratings. so if show sees a major dip, they might get religion and back-off from the forwardness that we have come to enjoy. but recent trends of spicey & spontaneous & smoldering kisses are a great start to building Rome(ance). hehe.

so please keep watching. :)

0

I'm holding on to the idea that the scene is still going to come up later on in the next episode or so.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

That's what I thought too.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

LMAO! GirlFriday...your feelings have friends...cuz we're all pissed at the trickery of the writers.

just when we thought show was gonna slow down and get bland & boring on us for a couple of epis...SHOW freakin LIES TO US!

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I was thinking about it after the episode. I realized the scene is between Hoon Doong and Hyun Hee. Teehee. Well, Im not a hundred percent sure but..I guess? :)

I LOVE THIS DRAMA!!! THE BEST! Can't get over the ending scene!!! <3 <3

0
3
reply

Required fields are marked *

Nah, it wasn't the same room. I think it was just a tease of Ki-tae and Jang-mi hopefully in the future. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) I won't be mad if that's the case lol

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

I agree, rawrr. Also, it was JangMi's voice for sure. This WILL happen, in due time ^^

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

rawrr and bee:

i agree with you. i think it's a tease for future use.

but it is funny how show is making us 'think' about stuff like this by using teasers, trickery and realness to keep us wanting MOAR!

/backflip for show!

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

The show will make it up to us. Or else we riot!

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

We are already enjoying the show. No need for them to pull a gimmick like that. Just hope it was someone's brain fart and it won't happen again.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Ok, I'm not crazy, I went back and rewatched the episode wondering if I had missed the reference to the opening, but nope, writers trolling.

0
6
reply

Required fields are marked *

The people in the first scene are wearing the same clothes as Jang-mi and Ki-tae in the drunk scene. We TOTALLY got trolled, man.

0
3
reply

Required fields are marked *

Maybe this cold open is referring to a scene further in the future ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°). I won't even be mad if that's the case.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Agreed.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

That's what I thought, but I was in denial about the writers doing something so mean like that.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Yep, trolled us then winked at us...

With a bit of parody:
Look at his body language in the last scene. One arm wrapped around her, and the other stick-straight by his side. LOL.

And a bit of meta:
Wasn't the cold open like the opening sequence in I Need Romance 2012? (Bed scene, with the belt buckle) Remember, that scene was also a fictional tease.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I do not think it's the same. In "I need romance 2" was the first episode in which there was no speculation. And it is perfectly explained it was a fantasy of a script. But he also made ​​it clear that something such had happened in the past.

However, this scene does not have any sense to me.
I believe it was to reach the conclusion that it was too soon for that. But still do not understand why they did not use the imagination of one of the two to show that scene. Because what they accomplished is that many felt cheated.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I think the cold open was of Hoon Dong and Hyun Hee because when he woke up the next morning, the same plaid shirt from the opening was on the edge of the bed.

0
3
reply

Required fields are marked *

You are right - the cold opening was a blended opening...

It was not the two leads …it was her ex-the-restaurant- guy and her 'girlfriend' from the department store…they showed clips of the two leads for the first 2 seconds ….darken light and the two second leads got busy…that is why her'grilfriend' kept pouring him drinks…why they went to the hotel room she stated, 'I am not nice'…..why she declared "it was not a mistake.'….which is why he was running because when he woke up from his drunken stupor he realized he had did-the-do ,,,and he thought she had turned Crazy:) …again

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Yeah, I think they mixed the scenes of Jang Mi undressing Ki Tae with Hyun Hee and Hoon Dong's scene to make it seem like JM and KT were the ones doing it.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I re watch that scene a few times and it is definitely gi tae room since the couch and watch boxes are on the shelf..then the clothing matches their drunken night as well..I'm hoping he either dreamt it or imagine the whole situation..be pretty dope if thay happen

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

That was misleading but totally brilliant, which this show does so well.

When we thought it was all about US - sex, it's all about ME - alone.

Great reversal.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Yeah, see I actually really liked what the scene ended up becoming so I'm not all that disappointed with being misled. I think they shouldn't have flat out shown something that didn't happen though. Imo, that kiss was a much better way to start things off!

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

The writer is a troll and while I am pissed, it's actually a pretty good twist on the previous cold opens we've been getting. I love it.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

As someone pointed out on tumblr, this time we werent given a countdown so no promises are made about the cold opening ;) could be to mislead us about the drunk scene, but could be a future occurence too. Keeping my hopes high!

#bedscenejuseyo

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Eh, really? I also counting down ( because in other episode there was clue to count down ), but in this episode there is no any clue to count down so i not expect anything.

i think that scene was GT imagination, mixed from hospital scene and his memories when JM helps him to take off the clothes.

I mean, look how GT reacts when JM ask him if he remember anything about that night. :D

now, what about the dark secret?

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Sometimes in Korean dramas you have to use your imagination huh. The next morning the soup was still on and the note was there for him to eat soup instead of drinking coffee. We should be adult enough that in Korea there are some things not shown. The drama is really a good one and I appreciate that since they are far and in between. Thanks to the writers and subbers.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Right? RIGHT? So many misleading things about that open. They were wearing the clothes they wore when he got drunk with her dad!
And then there was no countdown.
What a fake out!
But the rest of the episode was so good I had to forgive them ^^

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I had to rematch the beginning, thinking that it might've been about the jerk 1st boyfriend and her supposedly friend (yes, they have names…but too lazy to look 'em up). I still don't understand what I saw. Was it about them? Cause that's just trolling!!

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I already imagined a lot of things there, actually. It's a good thing they ended the episode with that hot kisses!!! I fell in love with Ki-Tae in this episode

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

wasn't the opening scene depicting dong hoon's drunken escapade with her friend from the store? It was intended to mislead but I thought by the end that's who the scene was really about?

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I just assumed that those were two completely different scenes--they were just way too different. I think they'll revisit the other scene sometime later in the series.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I've been waiting for this all day. Finally a drama that's got me hooked. It seems like forever.

Thanks GF!

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thanks LollyPip!

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

And there I was, giggling like a maniac because of the opening....sighhh. I was fooled.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Trolling at that bed scene huh?!

Love the kiss. Did he just kissed her for real or is it still fake? Keke GT I know you ate fallen already. I think more hot kisses will come my way... keke

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

THE BEGINNING!!! WHEN DOES THIS HAPPEN? I WAS SO EXCITED for it and was anticipating it throughout this whole episode since we've come to get used to seeing the beginning at the end *cries* Still, i love this drama SO SO much! best drama of 2014 so far

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

I have a feeling not til several episodes down the road...

BUT! hopefully it happens in episode 7! MUWHAHAHA

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Loving this drama so much. I picked it up just for fun and really wasn't expecting it to be so good. Tvn needs to stop playing with my heart, the rate at which they are producing gems like this is making it hard for me to do anything else but stay glues to the screen.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thanks for the recap!

Omg you guys. I'm just so in love with this show. Like seriously, I'm crazy for it. I LOVE our leads together and this episode is one of my favorites for them.

When Ki-tae got drunk and bonded with her dad I was already super satisfied, but then he went on to be such a hilarious drunk! Yet, I love how instead of being just another hilarious drunk scene, (except with him instead of her for once lol) the bed scene ended up actually being such a vulnerable and sad scene, and managed to be so, while still making me laugh and swoon (there was stripping involved, after all lol).

It's just the first time I think Jang-mi really gets to understand just how afraid he is of connecting with/trusting people and just how much this whole marriage sham means to him. He isn't your typical spoiled playboy who wants to date girls without committing or keep his nice apartment. He's just a normal guy who very desperately feels the need to protect himself and the place that has been a solace to him all his life, and that's why he's doing all of this. I think Jang-mi had already begun to understand that, but this was the first time she saw just how much of a struggle it is for him. Of all the characters, I really do think his growth will be one of the most rewarding.

What's lovely about this scene is that it leads to such a lovely conclusion!!! I cannot express enough how much I LOVED that their first kiss was initiated by her, out of concern for his well-being, thus highlighting the fact that they now know and care about each other's situation enough to prolong the ruse for each other's sake and not for themselves. This, of course, mostly applies to Jang-mi because, at this point, the ruse doesn't really help her.

It's just so great because I was totally already expecting their first kiss to happen eventually for their sham, but I definitely assumed that Ki-tae would do it because he's the one who really needs this. That's why I just love how everything unfolded so differently and much more satisfyingly than I expected! And thats not even mentioning how he reciprocated ;)

They can't fight the attraction now!

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Also has anyone else noticed how pretty and bright Han Groo's eyes are? The lighting in that last scene set them off beautifully.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I agree I am totally enjoying every bit of this drama, and have yet to find something about it I don't like. It's so real and refreshing. Thanks for the re-cap.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thanks for the recap. I'm certainly on the loving this drama bandwagon. What a great show that's not afraid to show real relationships. I can't think of anything about it I don't like. ....hmmm maybe the fact that they trolled us with that opening. Lol.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Better and better! I don't mean to be naive, but I just expect this drama to continue soaring as it goes on. It's not possible in my mind for this drama to lose steam at any point.

Woo-hoo for cable! Adults are like adults! This is like the first drama I've seen where we've got cross-kissing going all over the place. I always hate that in dramas, the male leads tend to be the ones who get to kiss more than one person, so I like that Jang-mi is like a regular person who kisses more than one guy. And I don't love her any less for that.

When Ki-tae deepened that kiss, ohmygawd. It made me squee, and I hardly squee. This couple, so great.

I was disappointed that opening didn't happen, but I know something better will come along. I love these openings by the way because I'm finding they keep me hooked. I want to know why and how this thing happened, and I love it when it's totally subverted like in Episode 5 (SO DAMN FUNNY.).

Urgh, Se-ah, could you want anything without being more selfish? So frickin' delusional, that one. Hate her. And Yeo-reum, I don't care for you. Your mysteriousness is neither attractive nor swoon-worthy, so stop it! I love Jang-mi, but I don't like it when she's with this guy.

So much to say! I wished I'd picked this drama up after it finishes so I could marathon the whole thing! But then I wouldn't be able to write this. Win-win!

0
9
reply

Required fields are marked *

This episode seemed to aim at turning all the cliches on their head.

The male lead is portrayed as a frigid homebody, while the female lead is out drinking and kissing-around. Then when the male lead gets drunk the female lead piggybacks him home and undresses him...until the male lead tells her he just wants her to leave so he can go to sleep. Later, when the two finally kiss, the female lead initiates it without 'asking permission'... while the male lead halfway acts like he's watched too many Park Shin Hye dramas. ;-)

Meanwhile, the female second lead gets the male second lead drunk so she can take advantage of him.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I actually was pleasantly surprised with Se-ah. I mean she's obviously one of the bad guys at this point, but I liked the fact that she interferes with the main couple not because she has feelings for Ki-Tae (as in every dramaland romantic triangle), but because she wants a child from him WITHOUT him.
I think it's a nice twist, since I assumed she was a manipulator in love, but nope, she's just selfish, and that goes so effing well with her character !

The only character that didn't surprise me and please me is Yeo-Reum, I mean being abandoned by your mother with pancakes is pretty common in dramaland :P

1
6
reply

Required fields are marked *

paupauchan:

i have to disagree with you about Se-Ah. I see her as very controlling and her air of entitlement makes me wonder if she could ever have feelings for someone else because of these reveals:

1- when GiTae says that he is getting married, she gets mad at him and says that "they both agreed to live alone." so --kinda weird that she wants him to live alone and her to live alone but still have an exclusive relationship with him.

2- during their engagement, she buys the house next door and hires contractors to bust the wall down between the houses, WITHOUT even discussing it with her fiance, GiTae. now - every coin has two sides, GiTae bought the house because he lived there before and it seems like he didn't bring SeAh into the home-buying decision.

3- given their history and her controlling issues, she says she just wants a baby from him...but my guess is that as soon as she is preggers, she is gonna wrap a noose and a ring on him.

4- i just don't trust her. what's it to her if GiTae is in a fake relationship? the so-called evidence to prove to the mother that he is in a fake relationship means she has feelings for him and that she wants a baby from him is a strong indicator that she is still holding onto something.

her air of entitlement makes me think she's a bomb waiting to explode. just saying.

0
5
reply

Required fields are marked *

In total agreement about Se-Ah.

Especially #2 - nevermind the purchase of house. she also already had the demo team all ready to charge ... I get it she doesn't enjoy the 'cramped space' HE chose and wants, but hey ... you guys are going to be living together in marriage, hullo. Some prior consultation and comunication would be err, nice?

Add also the fact she paid YR to spy for her.

Selfish and self-centred, manipulative, calculative, scheming ... bring it on.

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

This isn't related to Se Ah's personality,but her eyebrows have been getting on my nerves..I know, but it's a thing of mine.
Loving the show, I hope it stays strong and doesn't go all melo on us.

0

teacharmer:

HILARIOUS!!!

I went back to check out SeAh's eyebrows and WOW---on any other person that would be a unibrow. kinda creepy, right?

your post is so funny!

0

I agree. I think Se Ah still has feelings for Gi Tae (she basically says as much to various people, and I wouldn't put it past her to have contrived that date auction to have the chance to buy a date with Gi Tae). I feel like she only says she wants to live alone like Gi Tae to save face/pride because Gi Tae pretty much dumped her and maybe to show Gi Tae how "alike" they are.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I agree with se ah trying to save face since from the flashbacks it looks like se ah was more then willing to marry and live with gi tae for the rest of her life but he was the one that initiated the breakup..she said he push her aside twice so it seems like she always wanted to stay by gi tae no matter what but it was him that left her..she is probably jus so use to getting what she wants and since she was with gi tae for so long he probably never stood up to her either..since she knows his mother and the way she acts to gi tae she probably sense that she is able to do the exact same thing

0

tapioca:

To MARATHON or not to MARATHON...

it's such a double edged sword.

marathon= means i get moar show NOW but less from recaps & sharing posts

no marathon= means i get to read you're hilarious posts and enjoy recaps.

i'm so confused...i want it all...i must be influenced by SeAh. aaack!

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

i was sooo waiting for that opening scene to happen but....yeah it didn't. YOU TEASE!!!!! well at least there's that kiss in the end, which i liked :3 UGH I SO CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT EP. I WANT TO SEE A CUTE JEALOUS INLOVE GI TAE.

i don't really like hyun hee. i don't know if it's the character itself or its the acting but something about her is really annoying me. oh well, it's not like she's that important to the main couple anyway.

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

glad to know i'm not the only one who is pissed every time Hyun-Hee is on screen.
In my girl-book, sleeping with your best-friend's ex just after their fallout and then getting all mopy and angry because you got caught makes you deserve a slap and the title of b*** of the year.
why can't kdramas give us some real girl friendship and support? i mean, except for a few (awesome Baek NaeRae i'm looking at you), girl leads rarely get to have real supporting friends.
and Kang Se-Ah, guuuurl that's a new brand of crazy you've got here!

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I know right! Besides, it's one thing to sleep with your friend's ex, and another to sleep with the total jerk who screwed her over!! To me that means she completely dismisses how much Hoon Dong hurt her friend.
On the other hand, Jang Mi interfering in the relationship between Hoon Dong and Hyun Hee was uncalled for.
I feel that the writer did that so that the viewer would get satisfaction because it is a kind of indirect revenge on Hyun Hee, and at the same time it doesn't compromise Jang Mi's image as a good person...

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

The kiss at the end was way better than the kiss she had with Yeo Reum especially because she's making the decision to save him regardless of the pain and mess it will bring her, but what's with his limp arm?!?!?!?! I couldn't help noticing her full-heartedly flinging her arms around him while he just scoops her in with just one aggressively decided arm while the other just hangs there. Killed the shot for me.

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

That kiss at the end was super hot. I love her eye-flutter after he stars really kissing her back.

I see his one-armed embrace for two reasons:
1. It shows that he is still torn on being attracted to her. He can't help but NOT to reciprocate her skinship.

This is the second time she surprised him with an embrace - the first time when she saved him in the bathroom. On that occasion, being half-out of his mind and unable to think things through carefully, he grabs on to her for dear life.

In this second case, although he's surprised, he still has his wits about him - enough to be able to hold back just a bit.

2. From a cinematography perspective, his keeping one arm down make the shot more open to the viewer and allows the audience to see more of what is going on between them.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Shaynanigans:

superb post!

thanks for sharing that...made me wanna go back and watch it again.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thank you, LollyPip. I totally agree with your comments about how deft the writing is and how it really makes the characters seem fresh and real. And of course, it's always nice to see characters look like they're actually enjoying kisses and skinship, whoo.

I really enjoyed this episode not just because it was very funny but because it also started giving us more concrete glimpses into the motivations and backgrounds of these characters. How interesting is it that both JangMi and YeoReum experienced abandonment as children but they have grown to deal with it in opposite ways? Yeo Reum remains aloof so that no one can get close enough to hurt him again while JangMi throws herself after anyone who shows her some interest because she's so desperate for connection and so fearful of being alone. Him revealing that to her is seriously the perfect way to shake her resolve, although he doesn't even know that. These characters have experienced so much trauma and it colours everything they do, even as adults. I think there is a lot of truth in that. And while KiTae might be going to extreme lengths to retain his solitude, I can completely understand his desire to keep everyone at arm's length and to revel in solitude.

Now I can't wait to find out what Se-Ah's deal is because GIRL IS CRAZY. She is blackmailing her ex fiance into helping her have a child so that she can live with someone who is just like her?! I had to pause the show for awhile just to absorb the immense wrongness of all that. GIRL. JUST NO. I do not blame KiTae for ending things with her, wow. I really hope we get some insight into what makes her tick because I can't currently fathom it.

Definitely not okay with HyunHee getting HoonDong wasted so that she could sleep with him. So wrong! And I still can't tell if she's genuinely interested in him or not. I really thought she was only interested in his money up until now but this show's doing such a good job of giving all the characters depth that I want to believe there's more to it than that.

Also just yowza at KiTae deepening the kiss at the end. YES. MORE OF THAT PLEASE. I'm glad the opening didn't happen just because it would have been way too soon. They don't feel that strongly about each other yet so I'm okay with them taking things slow.

0
3
reply

Required fields are marked *

I agree that Se Ah is just freaking nuts. But what makes it interesting is that I have never seen that trope used in a drama before, and am curious to see where this leads to.

She seems to be an extremely controlling person - and maybe thinks that if she is a single mother she can mold the poor kid into her exact self image (we all know how well that usually works out in real life).

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

I find Se Ah's character very interesting. She seems like someone who has everything figured out in her life and although she has made it clear herself that she is narcissistic, from my point of view, it doesn't seem that way. She is definitely not the one dimensional second lead whom you want to bitch slap nor is she someone with no feelings for GT.
I hope the story shows her development for the better too along with our leads.

PS: Very restrained acting from the idol who plays Se Ah. I don't think it's a bad thing though coz it keeps her character on the borderline crazy/evil territory without pushing it too far.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I agree with you, Han Sunhwa's limited range of expression actually works here, as it delivers the message of how cold and calculating Se-ah is. And yet, I find Se-ah intriguing because a part of me hopes she was being honest about wanting a baby.

That is, I want to believe that Se-ah selfish wanting is a result of bad parenting too. She ends up loving herself so much she puts herself above everyone else; including the man she loves and even her (future) child.

In this case, I lump her and Yeo-rum together because, in my opinion, both of them are vain. They know well how to work their personal (physical) charm for their own benefits. They don't trust (or love?) other people beside themselves. Well, Yeo-rum has a case of abandonment to factor in, and yet I wonder how Se-ah was brought up. Maybe her rich parents indulge her with money but without any real affection? Maybe she was spoiled rotten, without any guidance towards morality's right and wrong?

While Gi-tae 's case of (slight?) misanthropy is one of the main concerns of this show, I think both Yeo-rum and Se-ah are misanthropic too, in that they don't really believe that humane relationships are worth fighting for. They discard people easily and (for Se-ah) when she is hurt, she never forgives...or so it seems from this point of the story.

Anyway, I've been wondering about these two side characters (Se-ah and Yeo-rum) ever since I watched the trailer and the opening. It's like Sunhwa and Jinwoon have mischievous light in their eyes, like they are partners in crime or something.

Sorry if this reply is posted repeatedly.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Love it. I have another reason to adore Fridays and Saturdays now!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Another episode full of great moments!!! And yes the KISS was definitely the hight light! Also I loved the scene when she was chasing Hoon Dong and give him much deserved smacks!

I also I agree with you 100% that all the characters actually have back stories that drive them. I hate how dramas just try to pass the she's selfish so she does selfish things motivation to the side characters and leave them so flat.

I'm still holding out that maybe the opening will hopefully be in the next episode!

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

Hoon is so selfish and self centered that he deserved every bit of that beat down :P

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Hahahah..hoon is such a great anti hero villain role even though he might be the most harmless person ever..He sees his mistakes but wat can yea do..that's who he is

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Omomom!!! Finally we have the 6th episode recap..been waiting for this for so long and loving this episode..it was such a tease because the strip shirt on the floor was the same one jang mi was wearing the day of the drunken ki tai..I thought fersure that it was goin to happen but there was no countdown which was odd for me..it was great how they were able to turn that scene to such an emotional one for ki tai...jang mi could see jus how much it means for him to be alone..hyun hee, hoon, se ha and YR were nice little fillers which show each side of wat the characters are seeking and wat drives them

Only thing I couldn't stand was YR story..so a sad childhood allows for him to play jang mi and she actually forgives him..He never even really apologize and even the scene at the mall the guy wasn't sincere or apologetic..He jus kept doin what he always does which is smile and play everything off.."u don't want me serious" I was seriously dying thinking he thought he was the hulk..then the only thing he has is abandonment..I guess since korwan dramas have so much of it I didn't really feel much for it but that doesn't excuse his actions to jang mi and even the aftermath..

But that kiss..man that kiss was epic..I can only compare it to secret garden..One of the best kiss scenes I seen in a k drama and her initiating it meant even more then if he forced it on her..The him pulling her in and jus giving it her all..seem so hot and genuine since some reason most k drama kisses they tend to change head directions constantly which always distracts me

1
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I am choosing to believe that the opening scene wasn't a troll for what actually became the hilarious Ki-tae drunk undressing but is actually SOMETHING TO COME! Or, at the very least, maybe it's his drunken dream about how he WISHES that would have gone but couldn't recall it upon waking up? I like my version better.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

That scene was great. And the devious little grabby hands JJM made when she was facing away from him...LOL. I think this might be HER dream sequence.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I NEED THE ENTIRE OPENING SCENE~~~

Lol...omg, this drama is soooo good!!!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

YR dude I know you have issues in your life but you don't do that to a girl acting so inconsiderate.

1
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

MND is the first drama I didn't know any of the actors in, yet still watched it. I am IN LOVE with Yeon Woo-jin and Han Groo - I could watch them forever and ever. Their bickering isn't just pointless arguments thrown back and forth (okay maybe they are) - but they do it with so much chemistry, (side note: I absolutely HATED Full House). They're freaking HILARIOUS together, might I add! Don't think I've been as in love with a show as I am with this one!

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I disliked Full House as well, couldn't even finish it. But for me there's no comparison, in FH they were two kids bickering, and his lies were just to much (the baby!), but this is different, more reasonable and less impulsive.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

thank you for the recap!!~

*SHAKES FIST* WRITER-NIMMMMMMMMM!! you troll!!!

You do not just write a scene like that and think that avid kdrama fans would take it lightlyyyyy!!!! ARGHHH! I demand that scene to be shown sooner (or later... but sooner the better!!...wait does that make sense....?)

I've been hooked on this drama is say... HOOKED!!
I love how realistic the show is when it comes to the interaction of people who are genuinely attracted to each other.

And that ending kiss though... MAH GAWDDDD
DEAR LAWD... THANK YOU FOR CABLE.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I am absolutely Loving this drama. Best one this year by far!!!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Out of all the currently airing shows, this one just owns me. Completely and thoroughly.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

i am looooooving this show and given kdrama's recent track record, i'm so nervous how my love is going to be treated >.<

i wonder if they are going to keep doing the cold opening or transition to something else. same with the contract marriage...because if that's all there is for 16 episodes, i'm goin g to be so sad.

PLEASE STAY AWESOME. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Wow! I just discovered this awesome drama today, and the mini-binge was fabulous. Thank you for the great recaps!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

First, thank you GirlFriday and LollyPip for choosing to recap this show! Secondly, I happened to catch this show when it first aired because I was looking for a drama to fill a void that often happens when another drama concludes. So when I really started to get sucked into this show and saw that dramabeans was not recapping it, I felt a little alone in my love for this MND. But now I'm excited to share the love with everyone else! So thank you again for recapping!!!

So I'll just end on this... That kiss... LOVED IT!!!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

THERE WAS NO COUNTDOWN.

I am still holding out hope that that scene will still occur down the line. (Maybe Ki-tae has a half-dozen of the same style/pattern of boxers.)

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

Oh, and thanks for the recap, LollyPip! :3

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Hopefully they continue with thay scene on the next episode as a running gag jus to synchronized the episodes coming up..

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Lol..love it so much..still cracks me up that anytime something happens to either of them ki tai helps her with words while jang mi uses her physicality..hehe reversal much

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I've said this in another place, too, but... Imagine if the sexes of Dong-hoon and Hyun-hee were reversed; you have a guy who deliberately gets a girl drunk and then sleeps with her. What would you call it?

Rape.

So, essentially, Hyun-hee raped Dong-hoon. She's one scary person this Hyun-hee, indeed.

0
4
reply

Required fields are marked *

There's no need to do the gender-reversal exercise. No matter what sexes we're dealing with, if you don't have non-consensual sex is rape. To give consent you have be to sound of mind = sober. Done.

I really dislike Hyun-hee. I find her to be manipulative, self-centred and a poor excuse of a friend... and this episode just sealed the deal for me, the girl is vile. I wouldn't be surprised if she becomes one of our heroine's biggest road blocks, I could see her jealousy getting to her and stabbing Jang-min in the back.

Now that I'm off my MND rant, a general comment on kdramaland. One of the biggest issues I have with it is that almost every single drama has the male lead planting a kiss on his girl when she's not expecting (and quite often not wanting it) and she just remains there all wide-eyed and uncomfortable or, even worse, angry and hurt. I have a problem with this because consent isn't just about sex, it should be about any increase in physical intimacy... including kissing. I just don't understand why this is such a popular scene in Korean dramas when skinship is such a big deal... and that's not even getting all feminist and talking about the imbalance of power created by such scenes. Why would you have your leads cross that boundary when one is clearly not up for it? UGH. Makes me angry. No more of that dramaland, OK?

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I think doing the so called 'gender reversal exercise' has it's place.

The reality is, if the genders had been reversed in this episode this message board would be lighting up like a christmas tree with condemning comments. But written as it was, there has been almost nothing said.

There's frequently a glaring double standard in what people react to. Sometimes it's worth pointing out.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thank you for saying this! I was going through the comments and the recap thinking "seriously is NO ONE going to point out the vile thing she just did?". The double standard is horrible and needs to be taken more seriously by the show and the audience. Hyun-Hee= vile now. Keep tabs on this one.
I'll give Jang-Mi a pass because she probably though he forced himself on Hyun-Hee when drunk, that'd the only way I accept her beating on him in that particular instance.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

That was my reaction too. How could she take advantage of him like that? It's still rape even if a woman does it to a man. So despicable!

And I agree with Gidget, the fact that no one talks about it shows a big double standard. :(

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

My take on that cold opening scene is that it's what Ki-Tae *thinks* happened on the night he got drunk. It's definitely Ki-tae and Jang-mi, and the clothes they were wearing that night, but just a slightly different memory of how he ended up nekkid.

If we go with this interpretation of the opening scene, it also adds a certain humour to the whole conversation about "we have to tell our parents everything/Aw... do we hafta tell 'em?" that Jang-mi and Ki-tae have since they're totally talking at cross-purposes.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I love the GT x JM couple. They are seriously so adorbs. And the getting drunk with his father in law scene was so good.

It's so rare to find a drama that has as much heart as they do laughs, balancing each other in a relevant narrative. Tbh, save for GT, JM and GT's mom, I don't really care for the secondary characters. However, I feel like I can just watch the three of them locked up in a room together they whole day and they will still be wonderfully entertaining

Han Groo (as an actress) reminds me of Ha Ji Won; she can go from comedy to heartbreaking drama at a drop of a pin. And Kim Hae Sook is breaking my heart here. You can see the little shocks on her face when strangers show her human decency that her family doesn't extend her. She's such a bulldozer, but I don't think anyone doubts that everything she does, she does it for her family.

Lastly, can I just say I love the theme of Girl who never wants to be alone love together with a Boy who only wants to be alone? There's something soul-tugging about the idea that JM really needs to learn how to go the distance by herself - I have no doubt that she has the capability to do so - vs GT who needs to learn to not let his vulnerability isolate him from the rest of the world. And his family (except for his father perhaps) - for all their quirks, imperfections and mischief - truly cares and worries that their mistakes will cause him a lifetime of loneliness, even though he is perfectly fine with that outcome.

In hindsight, the little detour last episode into GT's Locked-In Incident is absolutely necessary. It is only with that experience of fearing that you would die alone in your bathroom at the grand old age of 30 is he able to begin to comprehend the fear and helplessness JM must have felt when she was 5.

Although I must say, I'm surprised he just didn't drink from the tap during the time he was locked in - desperate times call for desperate measures! I must have been reading too many Man vs Wild/Survivor type stories because I was also contemplating how he could have munched on his potted plants in the bathroom if things get too desperate. Haha.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Lovely comments, especially about how his lock-in experience made him more able to empathize with Jang-mi's trauma at 5. I hadn't thought about that, but it is so true. I also echo your sentiments about the tap water. Really? C'mon, Ki-tae.

And I too have drawn the Ha Ji-won connection, particularly in light of Han Groo's badassery in Girl K. She just throws herself fully into whatever her characters demand of her. I love her.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

And I thought DB won't be recapping this gem!!

Thank you GF and LollyPip, for the fun and extremely great read! Love your recaps on this drama!

I fell in love with Yeon Woo-jin during Arang..... I still remember there were some of us over at that drama's recap that really liked his depiction of the evil yet not entirely heartless villain, brilliantly portrayed. Because of his performance in Arang and that I don't know who he is, I went to check out Ojyakyo Brothers (yes, I didn't watch OB for Joo Won, I watched for YWJ!). Although very different, again he delivered as the maknae of 4 brothers who fell in love with a much older woman but had to split with her in the end.

I finally realise WHY I like him, as an actor.

YWJ doesn't over-act. He uses his eyes and small gestures to depict his emotions. He is not TOO good looking but is really good to look at. He can make you FEEL for him even when he is the villain (and NOT a lot of people can do this ok!!???).

Here, YWJ again out-performed and exceeds my expectation. I am totally sold to his Ki Tae! (is it just me or do you guys don't like this namen too? it just sounds.... OLD, if you know what I mean lol) Way to go, YWJ!! Perhaps you can do another Lead Role, this time on national TV hon?!

BUT the biggest jaw-dropping element for me is Han Groo. I mean, WHERE did the gal come from?? OMG!! She is just so natural that I can't believe me eyes when I found out she is just 22. The maturity her acting brings to her role here is DEFINITELY beyond her age. Again, I didn't know who she was until this drama, and boy am I in love with her!! Her Jang Mi, if played by a less capable actress (or worst, a plastic idol), can be SUCH A SORE coz let's be frank, Jang Mi is way too naive for her age (29?), she keeps liking the WRONG guys, she shouts/screams a LOT, and she can be so INTO YOUR FACE sometimes (frank).

Han Groo's Jang Mi is so charming! She makes you FEEL her vulnerbility, makes you want to just PROTECT her! Yet, she can take care of herself, bouncing back so many times even when she feels hurt and sad. Love it!

The story. There have been quite a number of cable dramas that are so good. Reply Me 1997, QIHM etc. One of the reasons why they are popular and we love them is the so UN-KDRAMA part.

Actual Kissing.
Believable dialogues.
(hell) Bed Scenes!!!

Keeping it real yet injecting some fantasy parts is what make this drama so endearing!

PS. MORE KISSING PLEASE!

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

Agree agree agree. Especially about the lead actors. They are rocking it.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Han Groo acting is seriously superB!! I miss Jang Mi even when I had finish watch the episode twice.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I can't believe that we are only at ep6. Why does it feel that so much has happened?

Han Groo in MND reminds me of YEH when she acted in Coffee Prince. The arm flailing, the frustrated huffing, the sneering/pouting. Uncannily, they do resemble each other as well. While watching Jang Mi help a dead-drunk Ki Tae out of the cab, i could really see YEH in her. If we were to put Kim Soo Hyun, Han Groo and YEH in a row, it'd look like Kim Soo Hyun growing up. Or sisters in a row!

Also, i thought that Yeo Jin Gu looks like the mini-version of Yeon Woo Jin.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Everybody is raving about the kiss... but for me the most favourite scene was drunk Ki Tae. I enjoyed all Yeon Woo Jin's antics. This guy is a comedy gold :--)
... greeting Jangmi with "poop", falling out of the taxi, his demonstration of standing straight (oh, how I liked Ki Tae's "I"m completely OK", "I can stand and walk, no problem" and then falling down or stumbling. How often the actors play a drunk person and then walk straight!), his looking around the appartment on Jangmi's back, his undressing and pushkicking Jangmi out, his gestures when Jangmi picked him up from the floor... I just couldn't stop laughing....

...and yet they also managed to inject seriousness into it when Ki Tae talked about Se Ah and when he expressed his wish for just being left alone...

Honestly, Se Ah is scary...

PS Thanks for recapping and catching up with the episodes with such a speed.

0
9
reply

Required fields are marked *

Push-kicking!

There was that bit where she bent down (to catch her breath) with her back to him, and he just took the opportunity to kick her. I have a feeling that's an improv cos how do you script those things in?

It reminds me of something that happened during uni days. Two of my friends got super drunk as a result of a drinking game (ah... those were the days). We maneuvered them back to their respective rooms on two different floors. But one of them insisted that she wants to go "visit" the other drunk.

So she tottered back down and marched into the other drunk girl's room and climbed onto her bed (with the other drunk girl in it). My second drunk friend was not happy her bed got invaded and started being a whiny drunk. The invader just deadpanned, "Shut up - you're being noisy" and kicked the other girl off the bed, who rolled off onto the carpeted floor. I know it sounds drama and slightly dangerous, but it was hilarious at that time.... because like GT, the invader is actually quite a quiet and serious girl when sober, but totally a funny bad-ass when she has had a tipple.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I so agree with you two. That was the best sequence of the episode. The details they're putting in are hilarious. Loved...

Her complaint about his long legs being a problem as he spilled out of the taxi (in the classic trope he should be her daddy long legs, but she's always having to rescue him)

The piggy back ride where he's obliviously throwing his body weight from side to side.

The little greedy eyed, grabby hands gesture she made while he was undressing himself.

His drunken stupor paired with really good drunk eyes.

And in the midst of all that, he twists the portrayal to be all soft and smexy, by quietly murmuring that his one simple desire is to be (left) alone.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

"And in the midst of all that, he twists the portrayal to be all soft and smexy, by quietly murmuring that his one simple desire is to be (left) alone."

-Yeah, I have to say that when he did that, the last thing I wanted to do was leave him alone LOL. It was a lovely, and vulnerable moment, but he also managed to be very very sexy during it.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Yeah, I'm honestly surprised that everyone was so bummed about the opening scene because I loved the scene we got instead so much more and no one's talking about it! I even forgot about the scene at the beginning. Ki-tae managed to be hilarious, adorable, vulnerable and sad all in one scene and I loved it.

0
5
reply

Required fields are marked *

I was surprise his talk wasn't really wasn't in the recap..I seem likely th most emotionally vulnerable he has been throughout the series..he/she knows the request isn't that tough but the great links that he goes I n ord r to maintain it speaks volume and rung true in her head because of all the manipulation and constant fight to get him to do what other people want..I jus hope she doesn't take that much longer to trying to fit herself in this equation since her goal now I'd to keep him alone forever

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

Yeah, I thought that scene was probably the most important of the episode so I was a bit shocked that all that was said about it was that it was less raunchy than in the opening. Not even a mention of what Ki-tae said :( Now I feel like that cold open disrupted the flow of the episode by making people disappointed at what they didn't get, instead of grateful for what they did. So that's my personal reason for not really liking it.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

it was such a perfect troll cause i was completely invested throughout the entire episode..i rewatch the beginning several times since they hid the faces to find any landmarks i can pinpoint later on and unless gi tae was with se ha..there couldnt be a different guy since it was his room..but even pushing her away was such a tease..she looked like she was nervous something would happen which had me holding my breath and when he push her i laugh so hard at it..the clothing and everything jus seems like he either had to have imagine which was why he was shock when she spoke about wat happen that night or they wear the exact same clothes the day after..either way that jus guarentees that gi tae is already thinking and falling for jang mi..

0

I concur! There were so many great moments in this episode, that I forgot about the opening scene! (I trust the writer to give us an explanation ... soon!) The sperm bank and drunk KT was so wonderful! Put aside the comedic factor, we're given the reason why KT is so desperate to be alone and how vulnerable he is. If anything, he's a SMART drunk, lol.

I still cannot believe that YWJ is 8 years older than HG -- he's freakishly young looking and she's a beautifully mature actor; they look and feel so perfect and wonderful together. What a great balance. I would not ask for any other actor/actress to play their characters, casting is brilliant. These two will go very far.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

You know you love a show when you write so much about it without even mentioning one of the best scenes. The sperm bank!!! That was hilarious. I felt so bad for him. He's such a smooth guy all the time so whenever he gets uncomfortable or flustered it's even more endearing.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

GAH, that opening was such a tease. But the scene turned out cute anyway with the whole post-it-notes shenanigans, so it's okay.

Jang Mi and Ki Tae stays as such awesome characters and they soooooo complete each other. I kind of want them to keep delaying the fact that they know they actually like each other so that the endless fun continyes hahaha. Han Groo is such a good actress too, I've never watched any of the leads besides Sunhwa and Yoon So Hee but all of them are refreshing.

Now here it is, I dont know if I'm the only one but Se Ah INTRIGUES me. Wow. So selfish, so frustrating, yet so interesting. She could be doing what she's doing to just get Ki Tae on bed, but I reaaaaalllyyyyy hope she actually wants to live with a baby that's just like her. I really hope she does love herself thaaaat much. That only means that there could be a reason for that, perhaps she just cant trust anyone enough to love them more than she loves herself, and that if she doesn't use her own tricks, she believes she wont get what she want and people will take her for granted (like lets say, Jang Mi). Maybe I'm asking for too much....but this drama's been so good I can't help it haha. I guess a sneaky clingy spoiled selfish ex as usual for a second lead isn't too bad either.

0
3
reply

Required fields are marked *

@diba..that's a pretty interesting premise..The only people that haven't dug much into their background is gi tae and sa ha so I wouldn't be surprised if more layers were peel in the upcoming episodes..from the looks of the previews it seems that something might hit home for se ha..we don't know exactly why it is they became the person they are while we pretty much have the gist of jang mi and YR..Se ha and gi tae might have more in common in terms of background but to much similarity jus doesn't work..

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

Yeah, I dont know why but that last clip of her at the end of the preview hints that smth is gonna go down with Se Ah.

And perhaps, the same way Yeo Rum and Jang Mi has similar horrible experiences from childhood yet reacts contrastingly (YR ignoring and abandoning before getting abandoned, JM hanging on to everyone to not be alone/abandoned), maybe Se Ah and Ki Tae has similar stories too but responds differently.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

@lessonlearn : Maybe I'm taking this show way too seriously, but I'm curious as to what Se-ah's true motivation is. Does she really want a baby, or is it Gi-tae she wants, or is it neither of the two? As in, does she merely want somebody to live with, it doesn't matter who, as long as she doesn't have to sacrifice (and compromise) anything?

Both she and Yeo-rum are not merely vain and selfish, I think. They're also scary because they're distrustful towards other people, and they know their physical charm very well to use that for their benefits. They might be all smile, but underneath their surfaces, they're cold, cold people.

I hope the production team doesn't downgrade those two to merely jealous and selfish second leads.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Ooh this is getting real good. I just did a little catch up from the first episode and I can now proudly say I'M HOOKED!

First drama ever I am even bothered to watch after My Love From Another Star.

The leads have this adorable, zippy chemistry and Yun Woo Jin has just become my most recent obsession.

Keep up the good work, drama, and I'm sure I'll be hungover after the 16th episode begging for more.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Dooooooooooooodee! I DO NOT think the scene was the first scene at all. I think...No I FIRMLY BELIEVE... we gongetthehotrawr scene next episode! PLEASE GODS OF DRAMA. Do not deprive me off YWJ's hot scenes. I LUUUUB Himmm!!!!!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

dang! I really wanted to finish the episodes 1 to 6 last night then suddenly the subs that I have got out of sync by 3 mins by episode 3. Viewing experience totally ruined!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thanks so much for recapping this show.~~ It's so much fun...it's another good reason to look forward to weekends. YWJ & HG are are so good in this series. *_*) I'm now totally cheering for Jang Mi ang Ki Tae. I am looking forward to seeing them realize why they wouldn't want to be alone... *_*)

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I don't like Sunhwa's character, I find her pathetic! I wished writer would make her character look less pathetic and a bit cool!!!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I find it so refreshing that these characters obviously know what sex is and there is no problem with a kiss, even if the person you're kissing isn't the one with whom you'll end up with.
The usual drama with the 30 year old virgin can be so .......

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

In the last picture..what's with his right hand?? Why is he not hugging her with both hands? Is he holding something? I just wasn't buying the sperm thing...now he went all the way, did the job and then discusses that a single woman can't get impregnated! This was just plain ridiculous..but otherwise just Loving this show. Splendid job by the lead actress...simply love her.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thanks Lollypip for the recap. This drama is really making me feel giggly and giddy with happiness. It's perfect so far. And I'm so glad that they are keeping up with the kisses and skinship.

It's good in a way to know that Jang Mi and Ki Tae didn't sleep with one another because I rather that they decide to explore that area while sober than drunk. But still I don't like being LIED to! >(

I'll forgive them this time because I'm just loving this drama too much! :)

So please, please, please...continue to light up our weekends with more goodies!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I actually love how the opening scene turned out. YWJ was funny-sexy-adorable-and sad at the same time.

T_T I got teary when he said he just wanted to be alone. Coz he sounded so sad and sincere.

This show is awesome so far. I LOVE YWJ AND HG characters a lot.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

JangMi/Han GooRu acts like Go AhRa from Reply, and sounds like Kim SunAh. Feels so familiar.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I can totally picture the writers snickering in the back room while they wrote the intro sequence. They better make it up to us in the next episodes!

That kiss at the ending was a bit out of the blue. Dare I say it? It was a bit awkward that their first kiss was in front of all those people. And the awful 360º spinning camera!

But the kiss itself was great. Yay for cable!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

it's the first in a few years that dramas throughout the weekly slot are keeping my excitement meter up there (M/T: High School King of Savvy, W/Th: Fated to Love You, F/S: Marriage not Dating)! And though they're all on the fun, quirky side, it's pretty great that each comes in different tones and flavor. I do like mixing genres on a given period, but if having all romcoms mean well thought out, layered characters in plot lines that make sense, then keep 'em coming!^_^

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I remember when the only good rom-com was Witch's Romance and now we have so many great shows. I really think this one is the best out right now followed by Fated to Love You. I loved the ending kiss and it was crazy that we were trolled with the beginning but I think it was for the better because it would have been too early in the show for that.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I don't totally buy the excuse that all Se Ah wants is a baby. After all, she is wealthy; she could get an anonymous donor, if not in Korea, in the U.S. or someplace else. I think it goes back to the whole control thing, and a reason to tie Ki Tae to her.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I don't buy her reasons too. What's to keep her from going to their parents later on and making the pregnancy a reason to get them married? Idk about her family, but his family is traditional and believes in keeping up appearances. She had already told him years ago she'd use his secrets against him.

Theorizing: Se-ah might just have been biding her time, since Ki-tae didn't seem interested in anyone else, and he was still talking to her. She might have said "I don't want to get married either" to fit in with Ki-tae not wanting to marry anyone-- so that she could say they were alike and wanted the same things. But now that another girl's in the picture, she may be scrambling to regain control before he goes ahead and actually marries Jangmi.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Once you're hooked on MND, you can't go back! Turn away fast if you're not too late in!!! This can cause serious change on how you view the REST of the K-dramaland!

My guess on the opening is either it will be explain later on OR this is one of KT's imagination at the hospital, holding his cup, and imagining JM and him getting hot and steamy so he can get "high" and "release pressure" ... bwahaha I feel dirty for saying that! Wahh MND, what have you done to me!?!?!

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

oh gawd!!! i wish i never started this series..all i think about at work is this series and i end up goin to different sites to write about it..

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I want my bed scene right noooooooooooooow !
Gosh', I am so in love with that show. The kiss was so hoooot ! SERIOUSLY I AM A HAPPY SHIPPER XD.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Making of the kiss scene!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Op1kopEAE2U

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

hehehe..still cant get enough of that kiss scene!!!

0
reply

Required fields are marked *