121

Oh My Venus: Episode 3

Oh My Venus continues to be sweet and funny, but a bit more backstory on our characters reveals a dark underbelly of lifelong hurt and betrayal. The show is turning out to be deeper than expected, though not at all in the ways you’d expect. While a physical makeover is in the works for one person, the true healing needed may actually be in someone else’s heart — the person who truly needs help may not be as obvious as we thought.

EPISODE 3 RECAP

Joo-eun asks if Ji-woong is John Kim, holding up the ID badge she found triumphantly. He looks confused, but Young-ho shows up to say that she has, in fact, found John Kim. He waves Ji-woong and Joon-sung inside (as they try to warn him telepathically not to do this), and pulls Joo-eun inside to talk.

HAHA, he’s got his hand over her mouth to stop her blabbing the name John Kim again, and she actually licks him to get him to let go. He warns her not to give away John Kim’s secret (with his soggy hand on her shoulder, hee) or her coming here will be meaningless. When she asks how he knows what she’s here for, he gives her the once-over and says it’s obvious — but she stops him from saying it and goes looking for Ji-woong again, still thinking he’s John Kim.

All three men sit looking guilty while Joo-eun explains how she figured out their secret. Ji-woong mentioned the woman on the Stella Show, and he’s a trainer. Not to mention, he’s clearly Korean-American, which would warrant having an American name. She would be sure based on that evidence, but their triple guilty expressions confirm her hunch.

Young-ho becomes amused when she mentions her best friend’s ex being the host of a celebrity news show, and asks if she’s threatening to out them. She says she’s not NOT threatening them, but whatever works. Ha.

Ji-woong finally gets a word in edgewise and insists that he’s not John Kim, but Joon-sung grabs him by the head and yanks him out of the room. Young-ho says that he’s sure that “John Kim” knows she wants a makeover, and offers to talk.

Later the three men huddle in the bathtub, where Ji-woong holds his arms in the air as punishment for being so nice to her and dragging them into this situation. Poor Ji-woong is so flustered he keeps forgetting what language he’s speaking, switching from Korean to English and back.

Meanwhile Joo-eun is in the main room, happy-dancing her good fortune. She imagines herself the next success on the Stella Show , while Woo-shik cries in the audience to see her svelte and gorgeous, and Soo-jin storms off the set.

The men decide Joo-eun is too tenacious to ever let this go, and come up with a plan — Ji-woong will pretend to be John Kim, allowing Young-ho to preserve his identity. Young-ho claims to be the team doctor, and says that he’ll be in charge of things since John Kim’s Korean isn’t that good, HAHA. Ji-woong even starts babbling in English just to “prove” it.

Joon-sung doesn’t look happy that she even looked him up and knows who he is, but Young-ho smiles and says that from now on, the three of them are her team. Joo-eun is thrilled, while the guys try really hard to look thrilled.

Joo-eun floats home on Cloud Nine, and finishes her delivery food as a last supper. Hyun-woo calls her and laughs at the idea, and Joo-eun can’t tell her about her arrangement with the guys, so says to wait and see — she’s had a chance at redemption.

Young-ho and Joon-sung spar, with Young-ho easily winning. Manager Min calls Young-ho to warn him that his villa is ready, and he’s expected to move in this afternoon. Wow, for a “villa,” that place is huge.

Joo-eun starts her day by reducing the amount of sugar in her coffee, prompting her secretary to ask if she’s sick. Joo-eun cryptically asks if she’s heard of John Kim, and giggles when her secretary admits to being a fan, too.

Soo-jin gets a massage (during work hours? Aren’t you the same woman who just chided Joo-eun for leaving work on her half-day?). The masseuse compliments her on her great skin and calls her a natural beauty, but Soo-jin doesn’t look happy and says that really, she’s not. Woo-shik comes to escort her back to work, and she admits to liking his chivalry and wanting to keep him for herself.

Dressed in his slouchy hoodie, Young-ho goes to his family’s company building, narrowly missing running into Woo-shik in the elevator. Lost in thought, he remembers seeing his father sitting in a dark room, with Manager Min on his knees in front of him. Min gasps that someone was brought to the hospital as soon as possible, but they couldn’t be saved.

Min had started to mention Young-ho, but his father only says that now isn’t the time to expose him to the outside world. Not until he can bow in front of his deceased mother’s photograph. From the other side of the doorway, little Young-ho sits in his wheelchair with his right leg in a brace, shaking and crying for his mother.

Back in the present, Young-ho sits in his father’s office, and Dad says that it would have been better if he’d just had Manager Min bring him a message. Young-ho agrees, since his father isn’t even glad he’s alive, and Dad doesn’t bother to contradict him. Young-ho asks for his manager position in the States to be given back to him, knowing that his father has the authority to make it happen, but Dad tells him to just accept it, basically calling him spoiled.

Struggling to keep it together, Young-ho says that his life has been anything but sweet. He gets up to leave, but says that he’ll agree to the arranged marriage.

He’s flanked by Manager Min’s men before he can drive away, and he admits his frustration at having his job taken away. He tells Min to tell his great-grandmother that he has no job and nowhere to go now, and to stop pouting and pick up when he calls her, because he wants to see her. He sends Min another finger-heart, which makes Min smile.

Great-Grandmother’s porridge is brought to her, and she takes a call reporting that Young-ho showed up at the office. The woman who brought the porridge, who behaves like an employee but calls her “Mother,” seems to take note of this information.

Young-ho is so distraught, he parks on a bridge and just sits on the ground while traffic passes him by. He gathers himself and takes a call from Joon-sung, who’s at the villa with Ji-woong — dang, the place is luxurious. The guys get ready for their first session with Joo-eun, and I gotta laugh at how enthusiastic Ji-woong is about pretending to be John Kim.

Joo-eun’s car is blocked in by a swanky sports car, which turns out to be Soo-jin’s. She can barely get it out of the tight space she’s wedged into, and nearly hits another car, so Joo-eun smoothly maneuvers the car out herself. Not that Soo-jin is thankful.

Ji-woong attack-hugs Joo-eun again when she arrives at the gym, while Young-ho snarls at the aegyo voice she uses with him. Jealous so soon? She changes into her workout clothes while Ji-woong is encouraged to be super-tough on her so she’ll quit. Ah, so that’s why they agreed to this so easily.

Joo-eun is reluctant to come out of the dressing room in front of all three men, and Joon-sung says again that they have to stay because Ji-woong’s Korean is terrible (Ji-woong: in badly-accented Korean “I can’t… uh… Korean.” HAHAHA). It convinced Joo-eun to reveal herself, and at the sight of her, Young-ho is anxious to get this over with.

Ji-woong leads Joo-eun in a series of stretches, and the poor girl is so out of shape she can barely even finish the warm-up. Joon-sung demonstrates her first exercise, and it’s hard to tell if her cringing is from the difficulty or the fact that he’s waving his butt right in her face, hee. But she gamely tries it, to hilariously bad results, though if Ji-woong could help her just through sheer force of will, he would.

HAHA, Hyun-woo is watching a documentary about the military, and as it turns out, the exercises the guys are putting Joo-eun through are the hardest routines that the super-elite soldiers perform. Later Joo-eun lies on the gym floor, barely able to move, and the men leave her there to let herself out when she can get up. She wonders if this was a bad idea, but reminds herself that she can do anything she puts her mind to.

Soo-jin joins Woo-shik at an indoor pool, posing slinkily in her swimsuit, though he tells her to cover up or she’ll be cold. She pouts that she doesn’t know how to swim, and he says he can teach her like he taught Joo-eun… oops. Soo-jin looks disturbed for a moment, then says that they shouldn’t avoid talking about Joo-eun, and accept his past. Then she pushes Woo-shik in the pool for saying her name, ha.

Joo-eun is so exhausted, she can barely climb the stairs to her apartment. But her daydream of being on the Stella Show motivates her, and she hauls herself up, as a shadowy figure watches her from below.

She jogs in the morning, pushing though her side-cramps, while Joon-sung trains by jogging along with her, carrying Ji-woong. They have to help her up a set of steps in her jellylegs, as Young-ho observes from his nice comfy car.

Next they give her a giant stuffed sloth (that weighs the same as her body fat, Young-ho informs her) for some heavy bag training. Joo-eun immediately starts throwing and punching it, alarming the guys a little — okay, alarming the guys a lot — at her level of anger.

Joo-eun gets a leg cramp during one exercise, and all three guys drop what they’re doing to worriedly hover over her and massage her muscles. Later when they discuss her workout regimen, they’re no longer trying to get rid of her — instead they’re worried that she hasn’t lost any weight, and trying to figure out how to fix that. Awww, they like her!

Ji-woong shows them a news article about Anna Sue possibly admitting to having a relationship with John Kim, and the guys moan that the scandal doesn’t seem to be dying down. Ji-woong grins like a fool when he gets a text from Joo-eun telling him of the exercise she’s doing on her own, even imitating her aegyo voice, which annoys Young-ho.

The next day at the gym, Young-ho and Joo-eun eye each other suspiciously — Ji-woong and Joon-sung have an interview, so it’s just the two of them tonight. I love how Young-ho imitates Ji-woong’s voice, hee. He gets a call from his blind date and sighs that he can’t miss it, so Joo-eun assures him that she knows what to do and can be left alone. She even seems a bit sorry when she says that “John Kim” was unlucky enough to get stuck with her, but that Young-ho and Joon-sung don’t have to help.

Woo-shik takes Soo-jin to a movie, and he notices that she’s not eating any popcorn. He tries to hand-feed her some, and when she declines he puts a piece in his teeth and goes in for a kiss. His phone buzzes before he can close the deal, and Soo-jin sees that the call is from “mother-in-law” — whoops. Judging by Soo-jin’s face, that’s gonna bite him in the ass later.

Joo-eun works out until she collapses, and reluctantly takes a call from Woo-shik. He’s shocked that her mother doesn’t know they broke up, and says they need to go tell her, right now. He gets to the restaurant first, and they end up only a few tables away from Young-ho on his date.

Of course, Young-ho recognizes Woo-shik, and hears Joo-eun call the lady he’s with “Mom” when she arrives. She tries to get her mother to leave with her, but she and Woo-shik both want to stay. And just when Joo-eun thinks it can’t get worse, it gets a thousand times worse, when her younger brother shows up with his perky fiancee.

Apparently Mom orchestrated this to encourage Woo-shik to propose to Joo-eun, unaware that they’ve already broken up. Talk about awkward. Both Joo-eun and Woo-shik shoot little bro Jae-hyuk meaningful glances, and he gets the hint and ushers his fiancee right back out of there.

As soon as they’re alone, Joo-eun rips off the bandage, and tells her mother that she and Woo-shik broke up. Mom begs Woo-shik to change his mind and take Joo-eun back, and he looks truly contrite as he says he’s sorry. Joo-eun promises Woo-shik that this won’t happen again, and motions him to leave. He does, with Mom calling after him, and Young-ho watches Joo-eun as Mom breaks down.

Young-ho’s date (who seems a bit dim, but sweet enough) asks if he’s okay, and he mutters that it’s making him uncomfortable, the way Joo-eun always shows up where he is.

Joo-eun drives her mom to the bus terminal, and Mom brings up the wedding plans. Joo-eun snaps that they broke up already, but Mom means Jae-hyuk’s wedding. They bicker some more, but it’s loving and half-laughing, and Mom reassures Joo-eun that she’ll be fine.

Young-ho’s drive home is also a thoughtful one, though he’s remembering how Joo-eun is always right there, no matter where he goes. Ji-woong calls him after their interview and says that Joon-sung wants to train, so Young-ho offers to meet him at the gym.

But when he gets there, it’s not Joon-sung exercising, but Joo-eun (while listening to I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor, naturally). At nearly midnight, after the evening she’s had and literally staggering with exhaustion, she still went back to the gym to finish her workout.

Frustrated, he confronts Joo-eun, asking if she really thinks she’ll lose weight like this. And if she does, what will change? Joo-eun scoffs at the idea that she should only lose weight to change things, and reminds him that he said to keep doing this until she can’t anymore.

She staggers and he has to catch her, barking that she’s already hit her limit. She repeats her mantra, that she can do anything she sets her mind to, but Young-ho counters that believing something, and being able to do it, aren’t the same thing.

But Joo-eun doesn’t agree — if she believes she can do something, then she can, because she believes. Even as she’s trembling with exhaustion, she still insists she can do more. Young-ho tells her to stop or she’ll hurt herself, and his anger now looks more like worry and concern.

He waits with her for a driver to take her home, unwilling to let her drive herself considering the state she’s in. She gives in, and he reminds her to take a hot shower before bed to loosen her sore muscles, which is unexpectedly sweet. When Joon-sung marvels that she stayed this late, Young-ho says, half to himself, that she’s brave and sincere.

Once home, Joo-eun deletes Woo-shik’s number from her phone, and texts Ji-woong (as John Kim) that she had to quit early tonight, but will work harder tomorrow to make up for it. She asks if he thinks she can really change, but says that she’ll believe, since he’s working with her. Young-ho is home by then and sees the messages pop up on Ji-woong’s phone, and he remembers her statement that believing you can is the same as being able to do something.

Joo-eun is so sore the next day she can barely move, though she tries to hide it when Soo-jin comes to her office. She informs Joo-eun that she is to go on TV — there’s a live news program that wants to do an interview, and prefers a female attorney. There are only four at the firm, and Joo-eun is the only one free. Soo-jin is all wide-eyed innocence when Joo-eun asks if this is payback, and Joo-eun has no choice.

She texts Ji-woong to explain why she can’t go running this afternoon. Young-do relays her message to Ji-woong, who’s in the other room (he even imitates the little “fighting!” emoji with a totally straight face, which is ridiculously adorable).

Ha, so Soo-jin IS using this as retaliation, as she settles in gleefully to watch the interview and remembers Woo-shik saying how he taught Joo-eun to swim, and that he still had her mom in his phone as “mother-in-law.” Young-ho also catches the broadcast, which seems to be going pretty well — until Joo-eun collapses, live on the air. Young-ho is riveted, waiting to see what will happen, and to her credit Soo-jin looks pretty worried.

Joo-eun is rushed to the hospital, and in the ambulance she thinks, half-unconscious, that this is her second ambulance ride. She wonders if they’ll take off her corset or more this time, as well.

Soo-jin calls Woo-shik to tell him what’s happened, but he says he’s too rushed to talk and hangs up on her.

At the hospital, an unseen person tenderly puts a bandage on Joo-eun’s hand where she received an IV — aww, it’s Young-ho. Some time later she’s woken by her phone ringing, but before she can wake fully to pick up, Young-ho hands it to her. He’s still there? Why is that so swoonful?

Joo-eun checks under the covers and sighs at her ruined clothing, and Young-ho dryly quips that he didn’t cut her clothes off this time. He takes off his jacket for her to cover herself, and drives her home. She’s quiet and distant in the car, and Young-ho jokes that now she has a new “worst day of her life.” He asks why she wants to lose weight so badly, but she just snorts that it’s a useless question.

When they pull up to her place, Joo-eun for helping her yet again, and starts to walk to her apartment. But she’s suddenly whirled around, and finds Young-ho right up close. He says that if they’re going to do this, they should do it properly, and introduces himself.

“I’m John Kim.”

COMMENTS

Oh Young-ho, that didn’t take long at all. I’m all wobbly-kneed by him already, and it has nothing to do with the fact that he’s being played by So Ji-sub (though I’m not gonna lie y’all, that doesn’t hurt). I think it’s equal parts that he already finds Joo-eun interesting and fascinating when she hasn’t lost an ounce, and the fact that he doesn’t like people easily yet she’s gotten through to his heart this much already. I’m a sucker for a guy who likes the girl before she changes a single thing about herself.

Young-ho’s relationship with his father makes a lot more sense now, knowing what we learned in this hour. Apparently he had something wrong with his leg as a child, and his father kept him locked up for not being the perfect son he wanted. Not even letting him attend his own mother’s funeral until he could kneel before her picture is just… I started to say cruel, or callous, but what it is, is monstrous. Blaming a child for a condition beyond his control, and keeping him from living any sort of life, is monstrous. No wonder it seems that Young-ho went to the States and never came home. And what’s even sadder is the bleak matter-of-factness that Young-ho says things like, “…since you’re not even happy I’m alive,” and how Dad doesn’t even attempt to correct the idea. It’s just heartbreaking, but it also explains a lot about Young-ho and why he keeps himself at a safe distance from people, and why he keeps his public identity a secret. When you feel no sense of self-worth, you don’t want people to notice you. It also explains his dedication to physical fitness — if the first part of his life was defined by being so physically “defective” that he wasn’t even allowed out of the house, it makes sense that he makes sure to be healthy now. To Young-ho, being physically fit probably equals freedom.

Young-ho is a much more tragic figure than he originally seemed, but I sort of love that the show is giving us more than a simple “girl loses weight and falls for her trainer” story. But then, I’m all for unexpected depth in a drama, and this show seems to be gearing up to give us more to think about than bodily aesthetics. I had hoped that there would be a message beyond physical looks/health, though I’m surprised in the direction it’s coming from — if anything, I expected Joo-eun to be the source of any food for thought we might be offered. Young-ho is an unexpected gift, in that he’s such a lost soul in need of saving, probably even more so than Joo-eun. I’m happy he’s not totally alone, and has his loyal friends who seem to be willing to do anything for him — but his family background is so hurtful, and Young-ho’s eyes so ancient and sorrowful, I just ache for him. And I have a feeling we haven’t even seen the half of it yet.

Young-ho isn’t the only character continuing to surprise me — the more we see of Joo-eun, the more I adore her. She’s got a backbone of steel and a will of titanium, and doesn’t seem to be scared of anything. It didn’t take long for her determination to get in shape to impress all three men so much that they abandoned their plan to get rid of her, and are now concerned with how to help her reach her goals. I love that it didn’t even take a major event for them to change their tune — it just happened so naturally, because Joo-eun does that to people. She changes them for the better, just by existing, and they don’t even know it until it’s done. She lives by example and does whatever she pleases, confident in her ability to succeed, and you can’t be around someone like that for long without it rubbing off on you.

But for Young-ho, whose survival to this point has hinged upon yielding to those with power over him, Joo-eun’s can-do attitude really bothers him right now. He doesn’t understand how she can work herself into exhaustion and still want to keep going, because in his world, that’s just purposely hitting a brick wall over and over. He sees her trying to hard with no results, and it reminds him of his own situation. Easier to give up, give in, admit that you can’t do it and run away. At least, at this point, his attitude is resulting in him beginning to worry for Joo-eun and make sure she takes care of herself, which can only draw them closer. Later I’m sure, her determination will begin to rub off on him, and he’ll find himself capable of being less of a doormat with his father. At least, I hope he will, for his sake.

RELATED POSTS

Tags: , , ,

121

Required fields are marked *

OMG Yay the recap! Thank goodness it's here so I can squee with others and relive the episode! I was having withdrawals!

1
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

& oh wow first time I've ever been first to post. ✌

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

nope. sorry to disappoint you. muhahahahaha!

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I like this drama. Just not sure why Woo Shik will go for someone so stoic (dead) and not much encouragement that she's really into him.

3
13
reply

Required fields are marked *

Their relationship is... bizarre. It really doesn't make sense to me. I think they are trying to pull some sympathy cards for both of them (Woo-shik: still cares about his ex, so he's not just a cheating jerk *rolls eyes*; Soo-jin: occasionally giving us a glimpse of her weaknesses although half the time I get the feeling that she's pretending in front of Woo-shik to tie him to her). Their "romantic" scenes still make me press the fast-forward button.

4
12
reply

Required fields are marked *

Same their scenes put me to sleep as well ?

1
4
reply

Required fields are marked *

In my case, they ... uhhhh... just make me want to retch. And I wonder how Woo-shik can stand listening to Soo-jin with her plastic barbie doll voice and super-affected demeanour?

2
3
reply

Required fields are marked *

Some men, many men, get turned on by that sort of thing.

1

Likely she's too dehydrated from extreme dieting to eek out any emotion.

1

(cont.) in which case, they deserve whatever comes their way afterwards.

2

Hahaha! I thought I was the only one fast-forwarding and rolling my eyes.

1
reply

Required fields are marked *

same. always FWD their scene.can't stand them.
love joo eun and the her three boys.

1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I am strangely okay with Woo Shik and Soo Jin, because they both seem to be in the relationship for odd reasons.

It's like Woo Shik convinced himself early on that he's the sort of guy who deserves to be seen with a beautiful woman, which is a large part of why he pursued Joo Eun initially. And Soo Jin's got a chip on her shoulder about Joo Eun AND is hyper-aware of how she was treated when she was fat.

They're both paying a lot of attention to how they look to others, and not a ton of attention to each other. I actually think the actors are doing a pretty good job of portraying one of those couples you end up saying "...what do they even see in each other?" about. They don't see anything in each other, they see each other's exteriors.

3
4
reply

Required fields are marked *

You've made a very good pt.
He sees her as a trophy, just as she sees him. That kind of relationship naturally has no depth, and I think that's how those two are as persons too.

I've a hard time figuring how I feel about these two actors in their roles here. I liked him a lot in History of Salaryman; she's been good playing the villainess in various dramas, but I'm finding them to be like cut-outs here. I thought it was the writing, but your comments pts out that their chars ARE like cut-outs.

1
3
reply

Required fields are marked *

Perhaps that's exactly what the writer's are trying to achieve?

Woo Shik is essentially a shallow man. He courted Joo-eun cause she was beautiful and remember how he was shocked that she didn't know who he was...the national swimmer? I think with him, it's all about image. Getting Joo-eun as a gf was like winning a trophy which makes him look good. When Joo-eun started putting on weight, he decides that she doesn't look good for his image, so he switches to another trophy.

Soo jin also sees WS as a trophy which she has wrestled from JE. Having WS makes her feel that she's one up against JE. Like someone commented in an earlier episode, she only wants him because he was JE's. Once, it's clear that JE has moved on and doesn't want him, she'll drop him.

2

<When Joo-eun started putting on weight, he decides that she doesn’t look good for his image, so he switches to another trophy.

I don't think that's quite accurate though. They've been together for 15 years (on and off if I understood correctly), she didn't just gain weight now, obviously she's been like this for a good while. It doesn't make sense to say he dropped her for the weight. I have no idea why he dropped her, at the moment I can only guess that it's because of Soo-jin – not because he likes her, but because Soo-jin manoeuvred things in a way and forced him to break up with Joo-eun so she could get him as part of her get-back-at-Joo-eun plan (without him realising this).

<Soo jin also sees WS as a trophy which she has wrestled from JE.

That's probably true but it's, well, a pretty immature way to get a boyfriend. The sort of thing fifteen-year olds do. Or kdrama second leads (which is why they are cut-outs).

0

Saying that 2nd leads come across as cut-outs becos that's they way they are intended to be is a generous interpretation. Seeing how Henry and Sung Hoon's chars are also 2-D, I'm wondering (at the back of my mind for now) if maybe the writing itself is 2-D all around. Like many here have been saying, give it 6 eps, and we'll know for sure. So far, I can't say that the writing is the strong pt of this show.

0

I am in love with this drama. I love reading the recaps because I hardly ever catch how much depth some characters have..or even the story in general. Anyway I love this one soooooo much!!

1
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Was absolutely annoyed/disgusted when joo eun's mom begged woo shik to take her daughter back and then APOLOGIZED! wtf!

Her own daughter! She doesn't see Joo eun's worth at all. Absolutely hate that in parents... I felt so bad for Joo eun.

3
8
reply

Required fields are marked *

She apologized because it seems Joo Eun took on financial responsibilities for the family after her father died resulting in her having to postpone thoughts of marriage. Joo Eun has been grimly counting down the months (13!) left in her debt repayment. Joo Eun is the independent type who would want to clear that responsibility first.

3
6
reply

Required fields are marked *

I thought she (partially) apologised because her daughter "let herself go" as a result of taking on financial responsibilities (etc.) – like Mom was saying sorry that she's not thin & perfect anymore.

Nevermind that mom essentially insta-blamed her daughter for the split, rather than asking what actually happened or believing in her daughter (i.e. knowing that Joo-eun wouldn't just break up for some silly reason and seeing it as the guy's loss, rather than her daughter's). Not surprised though. Not sure I've ever seen a kdrama that doesn't go down this route!

1
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

Yea. It's the insta-blame part that really got to me. She has NO idea what happened, and just naturally assumed it's Joo-eun's fault.

I know this is drama. But I was hoping for some drama mother like ... if I remember correctly 'Scent of a Woman''s Mom.. as in Kim Sun Ah's Mom, who totally understands her daughter's worth - Even though she's not exactly happy that her daughter was unmarried at X years of age and also unemployed, but this is something you bitch about behind closed doors. But when Kim Sun Ah brought over the boyfriend, mom was just like... my daughter is precious! You make her cry, you die! While this drama mom is more like... "oh my god! PLEASE for the life of god, take this good for nothing piece of poo that is my daughter. I apologize for everything that she is. I would pay you if I could!!" Family should have family's back. That was not cool, drama mom!

2
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Well, I thought about it a little. Mom has known Woo-shik for 15 years too. So I think just to take Joo-eun's side and blame him right away (not when she obviously is fond of him) would be just as off. She should really just be asking "What is it that happened?" without apportioning blame and apologising.

1

it's so annoying how she hasn't even paid back her loans and now the brother is getting married and she's paying for it. The brother isn't even that young, I think mid-20s if I remember correctly. How can he be so carefree about making his sister pay for all his messes. Man, sometimes family is what you want to throw away when no one is looking. can't remember what drama that line came from, but seems like a match here

1
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

i know right? what is with Kdrama and all those deadbeat parents/siblings/uncles and aunts mooching of one hard working person?
And why do they do it? I'm quite looking for the day one Kdram lead says " forget this, get yourself out of this mess, i'm not paying you squat"
Also, the marriage thing...how can parents still try to arrange a marriage of a child who is in their 30's without consent and why are thos people ok with it.
Kdrama's have me screaming at my screen quite a few times :) I LOVE IT...it's a great stress reliever and makes me appreciate my mom and siblings even more *chuckle*

1
reply

Required fields are marked *

"can’t remember what drama that line came from, but seems like a match here"

^ village of achiara haha.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

When my sister put on weight and my sister's fiancé's family were all she is not good enough our son. Our mother told my sister, if she decides to loose weight it should be for herself and nobody else.
Her fiancé though is always like if he doesn't see a problem they don't deserve to have any either.

1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I like this drama too. All the roles seem well-casted so far.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

i'm loving this drama so much... and not only because of SJS, though he's a good reaon
i'm not a fan of SMA but i like her character so much
SJS's friends are adorable
as for woo shick i can´t help but like him... i´ve always found him so pretty and likeable
so far this drama is a win, waiting like crazy for next week
and thank you so much for this recap. YOU ARE GREAT!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I'm starting to want to slap Soo Jin to death every time I see her. There's still no serious reason for her to hate Joo Eun so much other than the fact that Soo Jin's crush flirted with Joo Eun. I wonder if there's a deeper reason for her coldness, or if she's really just that petty.

2
3
reply

Required fields are marked *

I suspect the 'flirting' was for Soo Jin's benefit. Perhaps Joo Eun was trying to score a date and phone # for her.

1
reply

Required fields are marked *

It won't just be the flirting. It'll be Joo Eun standing up for her, Joo Eun getting all the guys and worse grades, Joo Eun managing to keep Woo Shik for so long, Joo Eun being fat and STILL being confident...

I think Joo Eun was everything Soo Jin wanted to be, and when their roles reversed, Soo Jin wanted EVERYTHING to reverse. If Joo Eun was downtrodden and meek and Soo Jin could play the Hot Girl who'd befriended the Fat Girl, I think she'd be much kinder.

But seeing that Joo Eun is fat and still confident and brash and kind of shrugs off her weird? That must be infuriating for someone who blamed her weight for her inferiority complex.

3
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Agree!

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I gotta say..my fav part was the leg cramp...i was having reply 1988 flashbacks. ...i was thinking to myself, "is he gonna meow now"...and i nearly fell off my chair when henry started meowing!!

1
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

This drama is wonderful and much more thoughtful then just loosing weight

And some so ji sup never hurts

1
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

This is the 1st show I decided to watch as it's being uploaded. How do you guys deal with this torture??
I love our "dream team". Those 3 guys make a lovely combo pack. I find myself with giggles & giddy. I love Joo-eun's character and really appreciate seeing this depth to Young-ho. Honestly, this is my 1st time seeing So Ji-sub in a show. I know there was a lot of fan reaction with him doing another drama & half of why I checked it out was to see what the fuss was about. ;) So far I'm REALLY enjoying this show.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Omg. I love this drama so much. Its like seeing a reality show and I am cheering for the girl to lose weight and become healthy again.

I am yay for all the skinships that happens when he is training her hahahaha.

So Ganji <3

1
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I was waiting for this comment. Hihi So Ganji!

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I like this recap way better than the actual drama. Thanks lollypip!
I really like Shin Min Ah and i like Joo Eun as a character, but there's just something off about this drama for me. I dont know if it's the chaebol storyline or the annoying second lead.
On a sidenote, am keeping up w my exercises ??

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

In my mind, I've been comparing this drama to It's Okay It's Love, which I think had a similar sort of idea: to show that, no matter how perfect they look on the surface, everyone has some flaws and weak points in their lives and thus, things to learn/room to grow. That's the sense I get with the two leads, but even the super-annoying second leads (as bitchy as Soo-jin is, we're getting glimpses of her weaknesses: she has an unhealthy relationship with food, she's in fact very insecure & lonely, she can't even move her car out of its parking spot – which was a silly scene, but normally dramas don't humiliate rival second leads like that).

This kind of message is actually really promising, but the problem is that OMV rests on several very cliché storylines (chaebol family politics and love rivalry with exes) and also has some absolutely shallow supporting characters (e.g. Ji-woong and Joon-sung) that desperately need purpose and personality (beyond just shouting "ma'am"and looking pretty). IOIL had a lot of medical blablabla but threw out clichés (love rivalry story was eliminated nearly instantly, did without chaebol family politics, only a self-made rich guy). Pretty much all its characters were distinct/real and not cliché: not pretty flower boys but a middle-aged divorcé and a socially awkward guy with a tic – they had a lot more personality from the start, as well as bromance. At the moment, you could remove Ji-woong and Joo-sung and all that would be missing from the story would be a few "ma'ams".

Plus, the damsel-in-distress. The IOIL OTP was well-balanced (both strong but flawed from the start), here, I think that's what we'll eventually get but currently the situation is... weird. Joo-eun is a strong person but –
I'm losing count – Young-ho has rescued her five or six times by the end of ep 4 – which is excessive. He'll need her by the end, for sure, but all this one-sided hero-play now doesn't work for me. I can swoon for a second, but ultimately the guy doesn't seem like a real person.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Good for you !! keep at it (the excercises)

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thank you for the awesome recap! I am so in love with this drama. I'm also relieved that his motivation for weight loss is more based on health than external beauty. Although hers is to avenge her heartbreaking ex, I think it's become more to do with her will to prove that she is still the person that can do anything she puts her mind to. It's becoming less about her ex and more about her own self confidence. This drama hits all the right notes. I can't wait for the next episodes, yet don't want it to end. Oh my Venus, fighting!!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Young-ho might have had a tragic childhood with his medical issue & absence of parents, but I still rolled my eyes at the pity card and him asking Dad (and Grandma) to fix it all for him so he can go back to the States.

He's got a name, a skill (several actually) and fame for that skill. If he really wants to, he can go back to the US right this instant (especially since dramas don't have visa & work permit issues) and build his own life. Work as a trainer, work as an oriental doctor, damn, he could probably walk into a model agency that and secure some shoots right away. (I know he's in his late thirties, but there's a whole branch of mature-men modelling.)

We've got a trio of boys, but I'm not feeling any bromance so far at all. Young-ho is still too swoony-perfect always saving the damsel (really wish this drama would stop with them coincidentally being in the same place at the same time), though there are cracks in his demeanour that suggest he'll need her at some point. The other two characters I find very one-note. Henry is like chewing gum, initially flavourful but now it's all the same. The other guy: is there anything to him? Currently he has the personality of a mass-produced pretty vase that stand in some corner of a house. The writer/actor need to give him something, if he's to be anything more than a decorative piece.

I'm glad Young-ho is falling for Joo-eun without her having lost an ounce but I still didn't appreciate some of the digs at overweight people that came in ep. 3 and 4. Joo-eun is beautiful, whatever weight. Not okay to laugh at her talking about her 'past beauty'.

Not sure why we needed an episode of confused identity? I can see Joo-eun coming to the wrong conclusion initially but why would she not believe them when Young-ho said he was John Kim???? (Sorry, I thought that just made her look a little stupid.)

0
18
reply

Required fields are marked *

I agree with what you said about Henry. I'm his fan but acting wise he seems to play the same character over and over again. The 'neck-slice' is so him. He actually just acts as himself (his real life personality). To me, as much as I love Henry....it is nothing new. But still, I still love his dorky character here though :D

1
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I just watched Henry in WGM, and yes, this is like his personality.

But I don't know, maybe I don't expect too much from him, so I am OK with his character. Maybe this is the safest way to ensure his acting would not make him look bland. But yes, if he wants to pursue his career in acting, he should try variety of roles next time :)

1
reply

Required fields are marked *

The trio seems off. I hope we can see their bromance more, otherwise it is meaningless for having a trio of guys here.

0
3
reply

Required fields are marked *

I kind of like the balance they have right now. There's the goofy culture-clash extrovert, the mannered noble warrior, and then ... John Kim.

What I love more than anything is none of them look at Joo Eun in disgust. Like, they don't act like her obesity revolts them, which is all too often a trick in dramas - like by looking at a fat woman, a guy has to stop himself from vomiting.

These guys all seem much more clinical about exercise and able to separate her brain from her body. It's a nice change.

1
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

If I were to sum it up... They're decent guys. :) They say birds of a feather flock together, and I think this is one example. They're good looking, but they aren't superficial. And they're very grounded and hardworking. The kind of group I'd be thankful to be surrounded by. In that sense, I'm really glad Joo Eun found them, as they seem to be a group that will stick with each other through thick or thin.

Tbh this group reminds me of a lot of Korean entertainment friendships where those who find success earlier support their friends who are in need. For example, U-know Yunho and Son Hojoon, Jungwoo and Hyunbin, Yoo Jaesuk and a many of his friends :)

1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Well, there is always secretary Kim, who i love btw..the little finger hearts and his dry comments :) Not to mention that John Kim seems to always be happy to see sec Kim or get a phonecall from him, even if he acts annoyes or grumbles...so far i'm feeling more of a bromance there than the trio.

1
reply

Required fields are marked *

@alua's 1st paragraph:

I feel the same way. I'm having trouble feeling the depth of this drama in Young Ho's backstory. It smacks too much of "The Poor Little Rich Girl", Only he is not little and he is not a girl.

His family paid for him to get a sterling education or several. He's a grown man in his 30s, who has fantastic skills and fame for some of them. There must be a fantastic market in the U.S. for what he does so well, esp. in L.A. I'd just make my own way in the world, let Daddy Dearest be Damned, and Never look back. Why not renounce the father who "threw you away"? Really, what can his family do to him, have him murdered?

I don't see the bromance among the guys either. The feel is more like they are his underlings, each with his own agenda. Maybe that'll change as we go forward.

0
5
reply

Required fields are marked *

<Why not renounce the father who “threw you away”?

I wondered about family loyalty... but he's been rebelling already, by staying in the US long-term, but also by hiding (trying) with the two guys in Korea. Plus, if he's lived nearly all his life in the US he's not going to be looking at this from a 100% Korean point of view (family happiness comes first) but a Western view too (individual happiness matters).

<I don’t see the bromance among the guys either. The feel is more like they are his underlings, each with his own agenda.

Underlings is a good word. Their relationship has some 'business' feeling to it, more so than real friendship.

1
reply

Required fields are marked *

We are saying the same thing, right? Neither of us buys his pain (as adding depth to the story) in that he can turn his back on his family and be perfectly happy living on his own terms, whether in U.S. or SK, albeit more inconveniently in SK.

0
3
reply

Required fields are marked *

Yup, we are. :-D

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

maybe it's to do with mom or granny. She sent him away but he still seems to be keen to talk to the old battle axe and see her again...and she looks like the boss of the family, not his father.
Maybe he wont budge as long as the iron lady is still alive?

1

Although I'm not clear I'm understanding everything correctly, what I thought I understood was that Young-ho has (had) a cushiony family job (as a branch manager) in the US but at the same time managed to do his own little thing being John-Kim-the-famous-trainer (seemingly to rich actors – the woman on the Stella show – and athletic champions – the Korean Snake guy –).

He also tried to sneak into Korea without telling his family and does his own things (as much as he can) while he's here too.

In other words, I can't see him as someone who only does what the family (grandma) wants. He might be keen to talk to her, but I feel like the writers don't quite understand what's like if you have lived half-way around the world for approx. 2 decades constantly away from your relatives and with what seems like little contact/few visits. This "daddy and grandma need to fix my job for me" just doesn't add up. Or maybe they are withholding some crucial details that would make the whole scenario make more sense.

0

I'm okay with Henry since he's representing a Korean who grew up abroad in a somewhat-realistic way, with linguistic snarls and culture clash. That's not a role that dramas get remotely right, ever (Girl Who Sees Smells, She Was Pretty, etc).

1
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

I don't dislike Henry's character per se, I just think it's paper thin. He's the character that's supposed to make you laugh every episode, but it's the same joke every episode. (Although he's still better than the other flowerboy, who currently doesn't even have a paper-thin purpose.)

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Henry's role here is comic relief.
Sung Hoon is being 'paraded' around the set like a mannequin, for his looks and body. Too bad.

Evidence of weak writing re both roles. I don't know about Henry, but having seen New Tales of Gisaeng, I know that Sung Hoon is capable of more.

1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Yes, I didn't understand why he is not more independent from his family either. Maybe he is just used to being rich? Maybe he is not ready to move to a regular apartment instead of a mansion? :) I think it's just that kdrama thing of being considerate, obedient to the family and not letting grandma down, he seems to like her. I do find the chaebol politics part of this drama totally boring but I'm loving the main couple.

1
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

<being considerate, obedient to the family and not letting grandma down

He isn't always obedient to the family though. His whole secret trainer job and sneaking into Korea wasn't doing what they want him to do.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Agree. K-drama always creates these monsterous father figure that make the lead looks so pitiful. Young-ho is a grown man able to make his own fortune. I find this storyline a bit unrealistic and unconvincing... The pace of this drama is also a bit slow.... getting boring quickly...

1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Quick question, who is So Ganji?

0
6
reply

Required fields are marked *

Other than that, I'm starting to love this drama and the recaos are just icing on top.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

So Ji Sub's nickname? Don't know....correct me if I'm wrong here...

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

@bongsookie it's a rap single he released a lil earlier this year

Here you go
http://youtu.be/UVVZwvBIwiI

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

Ah thanks @Sumee dear :D

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

My pleasure ?

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

It's So Ji Sub's nickname. The Korean public gave him that nickname bc So Ji Sub is cool. 'Ganji' means swag/style

1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Comment was deleted

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Never understood the fuss about So Ji Sub (watched Master's Sun before) but here, I'm liking him here!

0
6
reply

Required fields are marked *

?????

0
4
reply

Required fields are marked *

LOL

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

lmao

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

reminded me of reply 88, those bananas. Funniest thing though I never realized that banana could be a costly commodity in some countries.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I know, I was all ????? at the thought that bananas - bananas! could be a luxury. I mean, when I was in college, they were what you bought off a cart and ate when you didn't have money for proper food/just needed a small snack to eat while studying.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

U made me want to eat banana right now.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thanks for the recap. I have been refreshing this page again and again. I do see the potential depth in several characters. The story isn't yet as seamless as I would like but SJS is enough to keep me watching.

P.S. Right now Ji Woong is my absolute fav. He's so adorable. I love his Korean and English. Every single "Ma'am" makes me smile.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Yay! The recap is here and it's so worth the wait. Thanks Lollypip! I'm already enjoying this show immensely and even more so thanks to your recaps.

I'm willing to overlook the small loopholes/ bad writing/ cliches this drama has just because of the interactions between the characters, or rather JE and the 'three amigos' (thank you peeps on Soompi). And I guess I'm also thankful that they use a lot of English in this.

SJS and SMA continue to be amazing together. Even when SMA does not look 'visually perfect', the two of them still rocks the screen with their chemistry. At this rate, I don't even mind if she doesn't go back to her original svelte figure. At least I won't feel so alone not having the perfect body. Haha!

Can't wait to read the recap for episode 4.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Hi. Long time drama lover. I admit I've never been a fan of so ji sub. Didn't like him and never really gelled with his acting. Also most of his roles were so angsty. I really like his role in this drama. But I didn't swoon for him until that scene where they are playing Gloria Gaynor and he's watching her struggle and the look in his eyes. That was when I saw the reason why So Ji Sub is such a heartthrob and good actor. That scene slayed me. The music, the feelings... Perfection!

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Reading this makes me sooo happy. I'm a diehard So Ji Sub fan and have watched most of his movies and dramas. This guy has a style that's hard to replicate. Others have tried it but can't pull off that cold exterior masking the volcanic lava-hot persona inside. OMG I'm so glad he's doing something new for the fans!!!

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I do really like this drama and it's probably because of the leads. I try to imagine any other leads and I think I probably would have dropped it by now but somehow SJS and SMA makes me want to keep watching this.

Having watched episode 4 already, I'll save my comments for this week in that recap but I have so say, I'm very happy with the way they're dealing with her weight gain and loss.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Everytime I See So Ji Sub, I will automatically remember "Go Jo"! lol.

Can we get this here too? Ha ha.

I hope this story can be more than a girl loosing weight, otherwise 12 episodes are more than sufficient in my opinion.
For now, second leads and their relationship is weird.

Shin Min Ah together with Henry are the cutest thing ever. And I hope Sung Hoon's character can be more.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I love this drama so much! My only real complaint is Henry's "Ma'am ma'am ma'am!!!!" OMG that drives me nuts. His character adds humor...but come on. Too much dude, too freaking much.

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

I KNOW!! I say ma'am a lot but he says it SO much! I guess its because you can't call someone "you" in Korean. It sticks out like a sore thumb when he says it

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I think that's exactly it. He's raised in a culture where it's perfectly natural to refer to someone by their name or to construct sentences with "you" in there somewhere, and now he's trying to form Korean sentences without really understanding the formality level or term he should be using. He's hugging her hello, for heaven's sake! (That's one that can screw you up even in Western countries)

The word "Ma'am" is not even one you use frequently in the US, it's something you might say while working in a shop and you have to chase after the customer because they forgot their bag on the counter. But if you're trying to figure out a good neutral term of address for a near-stranger who's older than you and her name might be difficult to remember and your own boss stumbled between "ahjumma" and "aghasshi"? Well.... "Ma'am" sidesteps all of it by aiming for the middle and then translating to English.

I like it, but mostly because it keeps telegraphing that Henry's character is a fish out of water.

1
reply

Required fields are marked *

awwww... i love the three coaches :D
i wish i can train with them too. its almost christmas, i need to fit in my new dress :D

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

have another pie..buy a new dress in a bigger size and start training after christmas :p

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I'm afraid this is one of those shows where the acting far outpaces the writing. Let's hope SJS and SMA can carry it, or hope the show hires someone who can write witty repartee. There is chemistry between them, but it still seems a little off, like actors without enough to do. One of the problems is that all 4 main characters are written as intense, driven individuals, and 3 of the 4 are lawyers, and they work for only 2 companies. Not much room for variety, or laughs. Have you ever been to a party where everyone is a lawyer?? Yawn. Almost as as bad as a party where everyone is an IT programmer and works for Microsoft or Amazon. Trust me, it's bad enough to make you want to poke your eyes out. And this show is setting itself up to be the most boring party ever. Please writers, don't make me poke my eyes out.

1
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

I got your point, but being a lawyer by myself, i feel little offended. lol.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

"I’m afraid this is one of those shows where the acting far outpaces the writing."

Not at all unusual in KDs these days, unfortunately.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

The second episode worried me but 3 and 4 really made me love this show. Soo-jin has so much hate in her heart. She doesn't really seem to like the guy: she ignored his call during her massage and when he left at the movie theater to answer a call, I thought she had tears of frustration (humiliation?) because she couldn't eat the popcorn even though she really wanted to.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Watching Oh My Venus but the drama hasn't entirely clicked thus far for me. Something's missing and feels off, but haven't settled on what it is yet. I tend to give dramas at least 6 episodes to right the ship and get settled in.

Tsk, tsk — the spectacles/glass frames Shin Min-Ah is wearing — shame on the wardrobe team and a missed opportunity for product placement (PPL) by the eyewear industry. Talk about a good example of when to do seamless product integration and embedded marketing in a tv show. Many South Korean consumers now regard spectacle frames as important fashion items and prefer to wear luxury spectacle frames just as much as sunglasses.

1
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

This drama should be re-named 3 men and a lady.
Love the 3 amigos.
Love Joo-eun. SMA is doing a really good job. She's so much into her character. This is so far her most animated n feisty character. Even more than Miho, her gumiho character, which I love so much.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Ok, i know it might sound strange but I actually think Shin Minah looks better chubby.
Idk, she's just so adorable with the round face. The "makeover" in her dream was... meh (i mean she's gorgeous, yeah but that dress and makeup made her look kinda aged).
And i think this drama does kinda overdo it with the fat shaming. Shin minah's character isnt even that fat!

I actually find it quite refreshing that the main lead who is a chaebol heir is an actual gentleman! And not a spoiled jerk! Yay So ji sub!

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

No you are not alone. She looks younger by being chubbier.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I am pleasantly surprised by the show's progress. Those of you who are still doubtful, give it a chance and watch episode 4.

Yes, the contrived situations are going to be there but it's a drama and needs some liberties to get the plot going (best shortcut to any story:- "eavesdropping").

Young Ho continues to be really swoony and SJS's eyes will get you EVERY time, I swear. Joo Eun is a solid character as well and I aspire to be her. SMA has done similar roles but this time she is really committed and you can tell. Loved her daydream scene at the Stela Show where she was all superior about her weight loss. We know this won't be the case in "real" life.

I hope the show will really bring home the message that it's not about affirmation by an audience, family/lovers/friends. Weight loss or getting healthy should always be about yourself and no one else. Only then will it work. In a way, the show is starting to send this message now by showing that Joo Eun is the one to initiate and do something about her situation. Although her reasons at this point seem more as retaliation against those who look down on her or gave up on her, I hope the show will go more in the direction of her realising along the way that she is going to do it for HERSELF, not to spite someone or get a man (even one as swoon-worthy as Young Ho). OK OK, must admit that Young Ho is a big motivator, hahaha - damn that SJS's eyes - they just sucked me in!

The bromance is definitely there. Of course since Young Ho is the eldest and coach, he gets the respect of the juniors. This is a group dynamic of seniors and juniors often depicted in Korean dramas and variety shows. The sunbae gets a lot of respect but he/she doesn't abuse it and gives back by teaching or protecting the juniors. I really like this type of relationship. You can see it plainly in the travel show Grandpa over Flowers. The seniors can be demanding but they still worry over the youngest in the group who was not very healthy and do things that will make it easier for him.

Oh My Venus, fighting!!!

1
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Well as long as it so ji sub !! The show is going great 4 now.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thanks for the recap. I love the 3 John Kim team, and I love that Jooeun has a backbone and stands strong.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

This is my first time watching So Ji Sub in action and I have to say, I am very very very happy. He is such an awesome actor. Infact, I love everyone here (Ugh, except Woo Shik. I still haven't forgiven him for his COMPLETE ASSHOLERY in Birth of a Beauty). Come to think about it, WHY IS THIS GUY THE ONE ALWAYS DUMPING THE BIG GIRL?? *serious side eye*.
As a loyal Kim Woo Bin fan, I came here to support his girlfriend. (The loyalty extends to him and everyone he cares about). So even though I was VERY wary of the premise, considering how BADLY the body image plot was handled in Birth of a Beauty and I just did not trust Kland to not put me in another bout of murderous rage, I am satisfied. Shin Min Ah is honestly doing very well. (Where are all those empty drums shouting that she couldn't act. The girl can obviously act, she is still queen of CFs and oh, shes dating KWB. Need I say more? Now, go drown in your bowl of misery, depression and no achievements) While there are times i still cringed ('She is no longer the one who ruined her marriage and did drugs. She is now happy and the queen of queens'. Because she is skinny?? :/ Someone help me out here), I am satisfied with the way the girl is handling it. And how her life does not revolve around her weight, because even in a society as judgmental it is being depicted in this drama, there is still more to her than the number on the scale.
I was about to dump you after the first episode, but it looks like I am here for the ride. #FightingOhMyVenus

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

May be good actors make writer tense or lazy perhaps * cough *yong pal*joo woon took too much on his shoulder plz write I don't make so ji sub and shin min ah do that... there's a limit for actors to carry on the show..

But It's not that bad the characters are getting depth and taking better turn..its so ji sub that's the end....

Shin min ah is so cute and adorable with all the metal lollipop mentioned I love her

Well for Henry it's my first so I'm still at the stating part of chewing gum so cute..

Sung hoon in so much more he is a good actor and seems like he is only used as an eye candy here... It's not easy to shine being beside a veteran actor still writer please give him something (such a waste of talent )or I'll come and hunt you even if you give main character good story.... More bromance plz...

As for evil pair so jin you seemed hungry go eat some crap.. OK that's too much(thats my reaction after ep 4 ) ...still it's like the characters who pissed me most in their previous drama are together seems like they are doing the same.... fast forward button I love you.....

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Tbh, I love Sunghoon but his line delivery is still a bit awkward for me... I think it's just his way of speaking. I watched him from New Tales of a Gisaeng and found him a bit wooden, then I totally loved him in Cool Kiz because he was himself. He has such a nice personality, and he's such a softie, he laughs like a little boy. Here, he just seems like he's acting. Like I can tell it's acting, he doesn't own the character yet... but hopefully he'll get better. As for Henry, he's always so so so adorable... I kind of wonder if he can do other characters though, like for serious roles. This is how he portrays himself in variety too. I've watched him since he was put in SJ-M and he seemed so different from his variety character.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

??????

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I didn't read this in the recap but did the show mention something about the chauffeur dying during Young Ho's father's conversation with Manager Min? Is this going to be the typical KDrama plot where the chauffeur is Joo Eun's father?

0
4
reply

Required fields are marked *

The chauffeur did die. But if I got the story right, Joo Eun's dad died when she was in college already? Which is why her life took a turn, and she had to work so much for her family then. Youngho is older than Joo Eun by 2 years (YH is 1980, JE is 1982). During the flashback with Secretary Min and Dad, YH couldn't have been older than a middle school student and Joo Eun would have been in grade school

1
3
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thanks for the detailed timeline.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

nah, Young-ho's an '81 baby and Joo-eun was likely born in 1983 - Koreans add a year to everyone's age at the start of the year. By our age calculations, they'd be 34 and 32 respectively.

1
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Oh thanks for the correction tbh I just couldn't remember the years they were born but I know about the plus 1.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I'm so glad that my belief in this show being more than a shallow weight-loss-romance was justified! I would have been suprised if these two great actors would have sugned on for something so sgaloow - and they did not! YESSSS!!!!! I justr love how they did not make him an asshole who only likes her when she's skinny, but in fact likes her already, not DESPITE her weight but because she does not let her weight define her personality. And her personality is great ... and I love how much So ji Sub can just relte without just his face and his eyes, not even sayuíng a word! I think it is almost impossible for me to love this guy even more .... but then i watch anpother episode and BAM! HOW does Shin Min A not fall head over heels for this guy. Sure, she has Kim Woo Bin at home ...but COME ON!!!!!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thanks for the recap LollyPip!
I'm glad that this drama delves more on health issues and not just appearances.
Both are right So Ganji is So Ji Sub's nickname and also released two rap songs So Ganji White and So Ganji Black.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I just really want to say this to Lollypip. I believe Grandma is his grandma not his great-grandmother. If you look at the character descriptions in the drama's Korean page, Grandma is just 76, while Youngho is 35. Grandma was only 41 when he was born, while Youngho's dad was only 23 when he was born. Assuming that Youngho's mom and dad are the same age, Grandma had her daughter when she was only 18. It's quite impossible for her to be the great-grandmother.

Also to explain the family, Grandma's family is the company's true owner. Youngho's dad is her son-in-law, the woman in ep 3 is Youngho's step-mom, and she has a son with dad. All in all, Youngho is the only blood relative of Grandma, which is why she is determined to leave the company to him.

As for that flashback about Dad and Secretary Min. It could be that it was his Mom that died in the accident OR it could be his Grandfather since the person was only mentioned by title. I feel like there's a misunderstanding here somewhere between father and son. It seems like if Grandpa and/or Mom passed away Youngho would automatically be the heir, and I feel like when Youngho was younger dad was just trying to protect him... but now, I have no idea. Dad's character description calls him ambitious AND loyal though so I don't think he'll be bad.

1
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I am super liking it!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Seems like it was worth sticking to the show after the first, boring ep.

When we see John Kim doing his training it is painful, aggressive, the machines look like instruments for torture, he suffers fighting his demons.

Hopefully this series will not only highlight medical reasons for weight gain, but also show, that excessive sport is a sort of socially accepted addiction and as unhealthy as eating wrong or ignoring illnesses.

John Kim needs healing and I'm looking forward to his first real smile and a different body language.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Was anyone else confused why a doctor (John Kim) works her so hard after she just got out of the hospital - I realize it was to make her give up, but I can't help thinking no real doctor would have done that...at least things change in episode 4 but I was very turned off by this episode and the explanation for her weight gain in the next.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Tbh, the whole episode where they overwork her to make her give up doesn't make much sense. I don't think she needed hardcore military exercises to scare her away (if she was going to be scared away) – if she's unfit and overweight, even moderate exercise (done in a way that won't hurt her) will exhaust her at first.

I would take the exercise and medical info of this drama was a grain of salt – what they were doing was asking for serious injuries. There's a reason you don't run a marathon on the first day you pick up your running shoes. A doctor advocating injury-risking exercise because it's the only way to protect his secret identity... um yeah...?!?

Then again, I'm not sure why we needed an episode of Henry pretending to be John Kim (or the whole "threaten you to train me" setup, which I found a little lame).

1
reply

Required fields are marked *

For someone so smart and determined, it's a wonder how Joo-eun got herself into this spot in the first place! I mean getting overweight and um, dumped. Still, there has to be a reason for the drama so yep, that's it. But who needs a reason??

I freaking LOVE this drama! Whoever had the great idea to throw in 3 hotties as besties, throw in a bad guy who's also hot, a fun, gutsy heroine, a relatable girl villain, and so many other nice tidbits...I salute you!! What a way to close a good year. Thank you Kdrama deities!!

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

so smart determinated people don't get fat or dumped? Gee,tell that to my ex and my bathroom scale :) :)
I guess she is just like all of us, working hard and not being able to get to the Gym, eating comfort food and stress..i gained a lot the past 5 years and was told it was due a lot of the time due to stress and the comfort eating triggered by stress.
Think about it, she is clearly not happy with her job, just from the way she is counting months untill her debt is payed, and thanks to deatbeat brother it may take even longer. i guess that must stress her out .
I don't know if leaving your BF after finding out he was having an affaire with a coworker counts as being dumped ...but yeah..assholes happen ...
I'm being positive and thinking she dumped him.

1
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Oh, but I was so sure her ex was dumping her when he gave her the expensive dinner, flowers and returned the couple ring...looks like dumped to me hahaha.

Seriously, even the nasty parts are so funny, I can't help but laugh.

But it's not funny having to struggle with weight that never used to be there, so I can relate. You totally made sense about the reasons why she could have easily gained weight.

This drama has so many positive messages. Of course, these two main actors SJS and SMA wouldn't go for a drama unless they knew it would make some kind of impact.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I wonder if Woo-Shik left Joo-Eun because he didn't feel needed. I mean, yes, Joo-Eun is independent and I love her character but she talked to him like he was a telemarketer who she couldn't be bothered with.

Before you chuck the tomatoes at me, think about it. No, she certainly doesn't need him financially. Having been raised by a woman who ingrained "you can do bad all by yourself", I get that. But emotionally? Where is the love? Bricks... a plenty but no love

As annoying as Soo-jin is, she does at least seem "softer". Before you chuck the lettuce at me, think about it.... She "needed" him to learn to swim. A weak example maybe, but at least she acts like she enjoys his company....

Not to say image isn't an issue with WS, but I think it may be a familiarity breeds contempt issue.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I'm not chucking lettuce or tomatoes! I also noticed the show is spending a lot of time on Soo-jin and Woo-shik's budding relationship. They're being cute together, and it seems odd that the show would do that if they really wanted us to see them as bad guys. I have a feeling that we were meant to *think* he broke up with Joo-eun because of her weight gain, but he's never once said that. I think it's a red herring. I think it's going to actually turn out to be a relationship issue that he didn't think could be resolved. And on Soo-jin's side, she's learning that it's not just about having the looks, but about having confidence. She's clearly still filled with self doubt.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

this has been a wonderful few months here in k-drama land! we have finished two great runs with "She Was Pretty" and "Twenty Again," to now follow with this one!! outstanding, keep it coming please! it is nice to see a character being defined by who they are instead of what they are. 'now' mz. skinny was not bad as a full figured youngster, now she is just a first class certified snarky stinker! while our lovely either way heroine has not let anything define her, either in youth or as an adult! yeah!!!!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I was so impatient to wait for the recap. I saw the episode without subtitles. (I am not good at korean anyway). Now reading this to match with my understanding. :D

And of course main couple s awesome, i love ji woong so much. I am waiting for his ma'am on screen.. <3

Its so cute how SJS trying to imitate thier voice with a serious face. Hilarious.. :)

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *