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Bride of the Water God 2017: Episode 11

by LollyPip

This episode is all about confessions and choices, with feelings bubbling to the surface and demanding to be heard. But there’s always a risk in putting yourself out there, particularly when you’re not quite sure what answer you’ll be hearing. With all these mixed messages and missed opportunities, it’s enough to drive even a god to drink.

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EPISODE 11 RECAP

When Hu-ye shows up drunk in her office, So-ah settles him into a chair and loosens his collar. But in his alcohol-induced dream, he imagines she’s Ha-baek ripping his shirt open to expose the earth mark on his chest. He lunges suddenly, flipping So-ah into the chair and hovering over her threateningly.

He quickly realizes that she’s not Ha-baek and immediately apologizes, horrified with himself. She watches as a cut on his arm heals instantly, but before she can even react, Ha-baek bursts into her office.

Ha-baek takes in the scene and runs down the stairs to punch Hu-ye. He swings again, but Hu-ye catches his arm this time. The two men glare at each other menacingly, but Hu-ye sees So-ah looking frightened, so he backs down and offers her an apology.

He leaves, and Ha-baek stops So-ah from following him with a hand on her arm. She asks Ha-baek why he went straight to violence without knowing the situation, but he roars that what he saw was pretty obvious.

In Ha-baek’s mind, he interrupted a romantic interlude, and So-ah is so offended by his assumption that she refuses to tell him what really happened. She asks what they are to each other to even be having this conversation.

That takes the fight out of Ha-baek, and he drops her hand. So-ah storms out of the office and walks away in the pouring rain, trying not to cry. Equally upset, Ha-baek stays in So-ah’s office all night, fighting back tears of his own.

So-ah’s friend Yeom-mi wakes from where she fell asleep in her odd little shop, sensing that So-ah is on her way. Sure enough, when she comes out, So-ah is there, dripping wet and looking utterly bereft. She asks if she can sleep at Yeom-mi’s place tonight, her voice breaking when she says she doesn’t want to go home.

Hu-ye spends the night in his office, and he wakes from more nightmares featuring So-ah, killing flowers with a touch, and his tiny friend Min planting flowers for him. A last flash of something that looks like bodies lying on the ground wakes him with a start, and he jumps in terror to find minor god Geol-rin standing beside him.

Hu-ye remembers walking in the rain last night and calling Geol-rin. He reminds Geol-rin that he once said that it wasn’t Hu-ye’s fault he was born with such a terrible power, and asks if Geol-rin only said that because he’s afraid of him. Looking haunted, he asks who’s responsible for all the deaths he’s caused, if not himself.

He confesses that ever since the gods showed up, he’s been losing confidence, and that he’d almost forgotten what he used to be, but lately it’s all coming back. “Yesterday, I almost killed that woman,” he confesses.

Sang-yoo finds Ha-baek still in the office in the morning and nearly dies of fright before he realizes who it is. Ha-baek says calmly that he’s waiting, but his eyes flicker uncertainly when So-ah shows up.

So-ah asks Ha-baek why he didn’t go home, and he says he couldn’t, though he wasn’t exactly waiting for her. He explains that he fell asleep while trying to think of a way out of the office, and we see that when he tried to leave and couldn’t lock the door behind himself. He ended up staying all night rather than leave the office unlocked, which would be irresponsible of him. Okay, that’s pretty sweet.

Of course he plays it off like he’s irritated that So-ah left without locking up, and insists that he stayed because he was thinking of others. He chides So-ah for selfishly leaving without giving him the key, then magnanimously forgives her, ha.

So-ah thanks Ha-baek, and he asks if it’s okay to be irresponsible, but something in his voice has changed. He tells So-ah that if he lets himself be irresponsible now, then he’ll become irresponsible in the end, too. He says she’s not a distant sound that will fade, nor is she insignificant.

His voice growing soft, he says, “I wants to hold you, and kiss you. I want you to be my beginning and my end. I want my mind to be filled with thoughts of you. I want my jealousy to be justified, and I don’t want to feel guilty after punching someone.” Well, swoon.

But he adds that for that to happen, he has to begin. He knows their future is predestined, but he asks So-ah anyway, “May I begin?”

So-ah listens to his confession, tears welling in her eyes. Then she gives her answer: “No. Don’t begin.”

Mura wakes to find Bi-ryum making coffee (she’s been staying at his place like Ha-baek told her to). Bi-ryum says he envies humans their ability to get drunk, because he can’t manage it despite drinking until dawn. He wonders at the weakness of humans and snaps his fingers to produce a huge diamond ring, pointing out how something like this doesn’t impress Mura.

Bi-ryum asks about Mura’s plans today, and she says she’s going to keep watch over him. He likes that idea, then spends the day jogging and working out, leaving Mura excruciatingly bored and fending off male admirers at the gym.

At the end of her wits, Mura asks Bi-ryum’s constant shadow Jin-geon why he never speaks, and if she really froze and crushed his tongue. He just gives her this look, ha.

Eventually Mura demands to know why Bi-ryum is so anxious today, but he refuses to tell her. So she asks what he wants from Hu-ye, and the question wipes the smile off Bi-ryum’s face. He says simply, “I want him to die.” Mura promptly calls her manager and cancels her schedule for the rest of the day, but Bi-ryum smirks that he’ll just forget about Hu-ye for today.

Geol-rin had suggested that Hu-ye tell So-ah everything and ask for her help. Hu-ye balks, unsure whether she actually saw him healing instantly. But Geol-rin reminds him that So-ah, as the gods’ servant, is the human most equipped to understand him.

Chairman Shin barges into Hu-ye’s office with Jaya and demands to know if he’s engaged to So-ah, or if she knows his weakness, figuring that’s the only reason Hu-ye would decide not to buy her land. He’s mostly angry that he doesn’t own land in the new area where the mall is being built, meaning he won’t stand to profit.

But he pretends it’s concern for Hu-ye, and he begins to lay on the guilt trip by talking about how he took him in. Hu-ye cuts him off and says he has a meeting, telling Chairman Shin firmly that he won’t be changing his mind about the mall location.

Secretary Min overhears Jaya grumbling to herself, and she asks him why Hu-ye has acted so strangely ever since he “hugged” her. She wonders if she should mention it, but Secretary Min tells her to keep it to herself.

Ha-baek indulges in a dramatic moment on his rooftop balcony, having a good wallow over So-ah’s rejection. He gets himself all worked up, wailing that she doesn’t know who she turned down, calling her stupid and dense, and then sighs that she’s also cowardly.

He calls Bi-ryum, asking his help in losing his iron control for once. Bi-ryum is up for the challenge, but Mura is upset just thinking about why Ha-baek would want to lose control. She asks Bi-ryum why Ha-baek would call him when he doesn’t even like him, and he explains that it’s because he’s a guy.

Before he goes, Bi-ryum tells Mura to work on her kissing scenes, and says that he left something to help her practice in her dressing room. Mura warns him to just hang out with Ha-baek and not get into trouble, so Bi-ryum promises to behave, adding seriously, “I always listen to you.”

Mura goes to her dressing room to find a huge blowup doll beckoning to her in Bi-ryum’s voice. PWAHAHA, she’s supposed to practice kissing with that thing?

Bi-ryum takes Ha-baek to a bar, hoping alcohol will work better on Ha-baek than it does on him. Ha-baek eyes the shot of liquor suspiciously, but Bi-ryum promises this is the way to losing control, so he drinks it down.

Chuckling to himself, Bi-ryum asks if things aren’t going well with So-ah, but Ha-baek just does another shot. Bi-ryum talks about the So-ah he knows from college, whom he describes as looking “like freesias in spring.” He says she wore short skirts and dated a lot, which spurs Ha-baek to take several more shots. When Bi-ryum says that he tried to give So-ah a diamond ring but she refused it, Ha-baek just starts chugging from the bottle, ha.

Bi-ryum starts recording Ha-baek with his phone, and he’s still recording later as a very drunk Ha-baek discusses being rejected by women with a mailbox. A group of men wander by and start harassing Ha-baek, grabbing at him and telling him to give them his wallet.

Despite the alcohol, Ha-baek is still his usual arrogant self, and it’s not long before a fight breaks out. At first Bi-ryum just watches, enjoying the show, but then he snaps his fingers, leaving his camera still recording while hanging in midair, and jumps in to bash some heads.

So-ah is so shaken by Ha-baek’s confession that she imagines him sitting in her office, looking at her with disappointment. She hears him again in her head, asking her if he should begin. She says to herself that no matter how many times she thinks about it, her answer is still no.

When she finally leaves for home, Hu-ye follows her at a short distance, thinking about following Geol-rin’s advice and telling her the truth about himself. He thinks about his vow to win her fairly, but then he remembers how he nearly killed her last night and hesitates, wondering if he deserves her.

Namsuri calls So-ah to ask her to tell Ha-baek that he got a chicken delivery job and won’t be home until very late (and LOL, Yeom-mi is there too in a matching chicken costume). Next So-ah gets a call from Hu-ye, who assures her that he’s fine after what happened last night.

She doesn’t realize he’s right behind her as she walks, and she offers apologies on Ha-baek’s behalf. She keeps the conversation to impersonal topics, and Hu-ye soon stops following her and ends the call.

As Yeom-mi helps Namsuri deliver chicken, she peppers him with questions about the gods. She asks if the gods’ powers are really transmitted through kisses (referring to Ha-baek kissing So-ah when they met, and Geol-rin cursing Ha-baek with a kiss), which makes Namsuri panic and run. Hee.

Bi-ryum delivers the mostly unconscious Ha-baek to So-ah, draping him over her like a scarf. He wonders aloud if, were he to ask So-ah for a favor, he should ask her to keep Ha-baek here or let him go. He decides he doesn’t know how he feels and should probably book a session with So-ah, then leaves with a wry smile.

Struggling to carry Ha-baek in his state, So-ah somehow gets him inside, intending to let him stay until Namsuri returns. Ha-baek trips on the stairs and takes So-ah down with him, landing on top of her on the floor.

It takes some effort for So-ah to get out from under Ha-baek, and once she does she stops to catch her breath and sneak a peek at his sleeping face. She starts to remove his arm from her waist, but he just pulls her closer. He says softly, eyes still closed, “Let’s just stay like this. I won’t begin, so don’t be afraid. Just stay for a few minutes.”

His hand moves up from So-ah’s waist until it finds her hand, and he holds on tightly. So-ah looks at Ha-baek for a long time, then she moves her other hand on top of his. She closes her eyes, and they both drift off to sleep.

The next day, Mura watches Bi-ryum’s recordings of Ha-baek, shocked to see him behaving so out of character. She wonders why Ha-baek hasn’t going back to claim his throne yet, and although Bi-ryum looks like he knows something, he just says that Ha-baek is trying things out before the duties of his throne weigh him down.

So-ah wakes in her own bed, and she gets up to find Ha-baek gone. Then he wanders up the stairs with his coffee and book like he does every morning, and he asks her about the books in her house. She says that they’re mostly travel books and that she hasn’t read the one he’s holding, which is titled If There Were a Word More Loving Than Love.

Taking Ha-baek’s cue, So-ah acts like nothing happened between them. She asks Ha-baek to read the first line of his book to her while she hangs laundry, saying that she can tell if she wants to read a book just by hearing the first line. He balks, but he finally reads her the first sentence, which seems to describe their relationship perfectly:

“How did we meet? One day, a butterfly flew like a petal and made a small flutter. How did we meet and end up here? The corner of the street where we exchanged our love in spring. It was a sudden miracle.”

He continues for a few more sentences, both of them growing more emotional at the beautiful words. Just as he reads a line about not wanting to ascribe their miraculous connection to fate, So-ah stops him, saying lightly that she likes the book and calling him inside to eat. Once she’s downstairs, So-ah wipes away a single tear before going inside.

Ha-baek eyeballs his breakfast, asking So-ah if it’s edible, and she watches him anxiously as he takes a bite. By the way he looks like he’s trying to eat without actually letting the food touch his tongue, I’m gonna say her cooking is still atrocious.

Ha-baek suddenly asks So-ah why she used to wear miniskirts and date a lot, and why she doesn’t look like freesias in spring anymore. LOL, Bi-ryum had told So-ah that he told Ha-baek she was innocent and ladylike, which she now knows was a bald-faced lie. She turns it around on Ha-baek, saying that he’s probably dated countless women in his long life. She asked which one he liked the most, but he just clams up and shoves more food in his mouth.

Ha-baek tells So-ah that he’d have paid her back by now if he had his powers, so she asks what he would have done. He says he’d fix the things she breaks, and make it so she can swim and drink cold water. So-ah says she can do those things herself, challenging him to think of better repayment.

She offers some suggestions, like making it so she finds gold on her land or making her the owner of an oil field. She says he can reunite North and South Korea, build her a house that looks like a cathedral in Vanuatu, and make her prettier.

She continues with her outlandish requests, getting more and more creative (I particularly like the part about having tea with Jude Law), and when she finally winds down she realizes that Ha-baek left the table, ha. He quips dryly that human emotions are confusing and annoying, but So-ah tells him that a king should listen to his people.

As she makes him coffee, Ha-baek says things would be different if she had the servant’s tablet, which has the power to fulfill the servant’s wish. So-ah is all, Well, give it!, but Ha-baek says he lost it.

He explains that he wouldn’t have been able to grant her wish (to live in Vanuatu) anyway, because it has to be for something she truly wants. Before she can ask more questions, Namsuri arrives, and he proudly shows off the money he earned before heading down to eat breakfast.

Namsuri notices So-ah’s cute matching mugs, and she says that Ha-baek bought them for her after working a part-time job. Namsuri is scandalized at the idea of the water god working a lowly job, and he flounces off to the roof in a full-on sulk. Ha-baek follows him, but he stomps off, angry and hurt.

While Ha-baek starts himself a bubble bath, So-ah asks if he wants to go see the ocean. She mentions that he could look up how to make lunchboxes, and though he’s initially indignant at the idea of doing it himself, her threat to take the breakfast leftovers instead has him quickly pulling out his phone.

He decides on an array of fancy foods, all of which So-ah nixes in favor of kimbap. They work on assembling the kimbap side-by-side, and Ha-baek watches So-ah incredulously as she proceeds to reduce her kimbap rolls to shreds (of course, his are perfect).

Mura calls Ha-baek to invite him to lunch with her and Bi-ryum. He turns her down, saying that he’s going to the beach, snapping at So-ah for hacking at her kimbap with a knife. He hangs up on Mura, leaving her completely confused.

She wanders out to Bi-ryum, still wondering what Ha-baek meant by the beach and broken kimbap. Bi-ryum decides he’s starting to like Ha-baek and heads off to change, and Mura picks up his phone to watch the videos of Ha-baek again.

She finds one she hasn’t seen before, and as she watches it, her eyes go wide. It’s a recording of Ha-baek at the bar, very drunk, as he says, “If only I could, I would live with that woman, here in this world.” Mura drives to So-ah’s house at top speed, screaming Ha-baek’s name.

On the roof, So-ah packs up her torn kimbap as Ha-baek tries to call Namsuri. They hear steps on the stairs, but it’s not Namsuri — it’s Mura, who stalks towards So-ah angrily.

She asks if So-ah knows why a lowly human like her is even allowed to speak to the gods, then says that she wonders if So-ah would be able to stay near Ha-baek if she knew the truth about her ancestor.

Ignoring Ha-baek’s objections, Mura says that she’s going to show So-ah how her ancestor ended up as the gods’ servant. She grabs So-ah’s hand and the two of them disappear into thin air, leaving Ha-baek shouting after her futilely.

COMMENTS

Is it strange that I’m glad the heroine just got kidnapped, if it means we’re finally going to get some answers? At least now we know there’s a reason the show has been withholding information, but it’s still frustrating to know that we’ve gotten this far with just bits and pieces of backstory and no explanation for why, when it could so easily have been handled better. I have no problem with a story being doled out slowly so long as it’s done well, but it’s been so clumsy in this drama. All the show would have had to do was make So-ah a bit curious about her family and ask questions, and have Ha-baek refuse to tell her, and I wouldn’t have been so impatient with the sloppy way information has been handed out. That’s not to say I’m not still enjoying the show, because it’s an interesting story and I like the characters, but it can be very frustrating to watch at times.

Hu-ye is quickly becoming the most interesting character in this show for me — I love how he’s so torn between what he is and who he wants to be. Im Joo-hwan is perfectly cast here, because you can really feel his despair when he thinks about the destructive nature of his powers and how much death and pain he’s capable of. He’s so tragic, because you can’t help but mourn what he could have been if he’d only had a father who understood him. Yes, his power is fire and fire kills, but it also warms and comforts. Even when fire destroys, it cleanses and paves the way for new, healthy life. Fire can be controlled and utilized for wonderful, life-giving purposes, and that’s the side of fire that I see in Hu-ye. I just want him to see that he can use his powers for good things, because he really is a good person, and that the mistakes in his past were just that and not a reflection of his spirit.

But what I like most about Hu-ye is that we understand why he does the things he does, because his reasons and motivations are made clear. Which makes me that much more frustrated when other characters don’t get the same treatment, because I know it’s not that the show doesn’t know how to do such things, but that it’s just choosing not to. So-ah in particular is annoying me because I just don’t understand why she keeps rejecting Ha-baek. I mean, I can make educated guesses, and I’m probably not far off in assuming it’s because of her fear of rejection and her knowledge that he’s leaving soon. I just wish we got something to let us know for sure why she’s not even willing to try.

So I’m hoping that Mura’s little trip (to the past, maybe?) with So-ah will shed a lot of light on things. I’m dying to know what So-ah’s family has to do with everything that’s happening, because clearly there’s more to it than just their being punished for some slight an ancestor made to a god. I want to know what happened twelve hundred years ago, what Bi-ryum had to do with it, and how Ha-baek was involved and why it’s left him so emotionally scarred. And I’m guessing that even Hu-ye is somehow tangled up in it, because mentions have been made about something happening to him in that same time frame. Regardless, I’m just glad that it looks like we’ll be getting any answers soon, because even though I still think it’s cute and fun, I’d really like to be enjoying this show more than I am at the moment.

 
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Tags: Bride of the Water God 2017, Gong Myung, Im Joo-hwan, Krystal, Nam Joo-hyuk, Shin Se-kyung

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I still have too many questions, and you're not speeding up at giving me the answers, show! But at least I know that next episode we'll find out what Mura is going to tell Soah, and those answers have been a long time coming. Perhaps her ancestor was the one that Habaek loved and was betrayed by?

On Habaek & Soah: How much do I love the fact that he asked for permission to begin? For all his haughty godly airs, Habaek treats her with quite a bit of respect and he's got this noble aura around him that I just love. I like that he said he wanted to hold her, kiss her, and not feel guilty for being jealous, but he knows he can't without her consent, and when she doesn't give it, he backs off. Thank you, Habaek, for not expecting her to be obliged to like you back.

For SA, I believe her past made her build up a wall against other people, and the idea of letting Habaek "begin" and then losing him must be terrifying. I wanted her to say yes, but I also understood why she didn't. I really like the scenes where she wakes up and finds him in the kitchen, and they eat, buy groceries, make kimbap...it's all so ordinary but very sweet. All these give her a glimpse into what it's like to have someone to rely on, someone who will be there at the end of the day and not just an empty house. And knowing that all that won't be permanent? Ouch. It's going to be hard to let him go.

On Hoo Ye: I just really wish the show gave us more information on these halflings. Are they really born to be destructive? Or do they have powers that are just too strong, and a lack of control/training causes them to destroy? HY has clearly harmed people in the past, even though JGL said it wasn't his fault, and he's struggling so hard to hold onto whatever control he has left that my heart goes out to him. Not in the "he should get the girl" way, but I do truly hope he finds contentment and peace in who he is. He just wants to be a good human being, agh!

On Biryum & Mura: It's odd but they literally look just like the perfect married couple, now that she's moved in with him. On a shallow note, I love MR's hair. And I also love how she can't even be bothered to watch BR getting all hot and sweaty, because I know I sure did.

I found it kind of odd that she keeps asking Jin Geon why he doesn't talk and if she really froze his tongue. It's either these gods have a bad memory, or I'm imagining the look of unease on Jin Geon's face whenever she asks him about it. I'm still thinking there's more to him, (maybe he's actually the twin but pretending not to speak?) but the show isn't giving me answers in that department.

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I definitely think he's not the twin who had his tongue frozen since Mura keeps bringing it up.

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I really want Habaek to get to his throne ASAP. Not because I shipped Soah and Huye together with the intensity of fifteen suns, Huye + Happiness is still my OTP for this show. I mean there has to be a reason why they had VFX effect on that dying fish, right? Right? Like Mura mentioning the environment getting a hit while Habaek remain absent from the throne. As a person who studied three years on conversation biology, my main concern in this drama is the freaking world they lived in.

Side note, did Habaek not paid attention to the river? I'm still puzzled why Mura didn't flat out say to Habaek, "The river is not well, they're dying and so, without the water, humans will die, Soah will die too."

LOL, I'm not even mad at this drama. Just genuinely worried for the world Soah lives in. I already accepted the baffling natures of the gods and goddesses in this drama simply because they're not humans, so as a fellow human, I ain't gonna judge.

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Hu-ye + Happiness is a good ship...to ship. I'm on board! :D

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I am wishing forever happiness for Huye so much more than any character in this drama combined. Poor puppy just wanna love and be loved 'tis all. ? Oh and conservation biologist bud? That dying fish scene was not mentioned to Habaek.. Bec the show conveniently forgot! ? I'm sure it'll come around when the plot needs it. ?

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Yeah, what happened to that scene?
Because there's no mention of it...it's probably not urgent/important. LOL!

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Hahahaha! Mura forgot bec she's now busy baby-sitting Biryeom. I'm all for it bec now he can't bully Huye! Yay! Small victories!

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True that. ?

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Please count me in as well on board the Huye + Happiness ship! ?

And lol at conveniently forgot!! ? Somehow I can imagine this being true.

With all the random crumbs of information they give us, I sometimes wonder if they actually had the complete background planned from the start, or if they are just making things up as they go along -- "why don't we drop some clue here, this is a good place to be ambiguous; this loose end here may be tied with that loose end there; hey, this new story arc may be interesting so let's drop another clue here" kind of thing.

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You're most welcome aboard the Hu-ye + Happiness ship! ?

Haha yes, they're definitely just leaving crumbs for us...to make sure we come back for each ep. Lol!

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The dying fish are officially the White Walkers. 10/10 considerate af, will not die until you have finished resolving your romance issues.

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Thank You Lollypip!

Hmm the tone of this episode is a little better. I enjoyed watching the deterioration of Habaek's pride. Watching him talk to So Ah about being irresponsible and then drinking himself into a stupor, was so enjoyable! It will be good to see the Water God humble himself a bit hee!

Still too many plot related questions to count ... This drama has a lot of work to do, if they plan to answer some of them before the drama ends ... Oh well, I'm trying to just enjoy the ride for now.

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Oh god is it going to be something like Habaek fell in love with Soah's ancestor who betrayed the gods which is why Soah's lineage is cursed...?

Anyways besides that, I found myself actually really touched by Habaek's confession. He knew the odds were against them and yet he would literally give up his entire fate if it meant starting a new one with her...and it was even more touching when Soah rejected him, because we all know she wants the same exact thing as he does. To be together, even if that means literally going against the heavens. Something about lovers not being allowed to be in love due to predetermined factors...never gets old, does it? From here it could literally go either way because Soah's not a damsel whatsoever and she's firm in holding on to the realistic version of life, no matter how much it hurts. BAH

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In the manhwa, I think that's the backstory.. Not sure whether the drama will go along with that.. We'll find out in the next episode (hopefully. And yes, star-crossed lovers though its been used so much since Romeo and Juliet.. Still captures viewer's heart, if done right. ?

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Thanks for the speedy recap, @Lollypip!

Is it bad that I’m now watching BOTWG solely because of Hu-Ye’s storyline?

I hate to say it, but currently the OTP’s love story, while bittersweet and romantic, seems a bit stale. Habaek’s confession was pretty great script-writing, but that happened within the first 17 minutes of the Show.

Because Show deliberately refrains from giving us a lot of information regarding the mythology and history of the divine kingdom, the only character who is interesting currently is Hu-Ye, as he is the only one with an actual struggle. Like @Lollupip said in her recap of episode 9, Hu-Ye’s struggle and storyline have REAL and dire consequences. Therefore, it’s more interesting. Also, I find it interesting that Geol-rin is really setting up Hu-Ye to put all his hopes in a relationship with So-Ah. I hope Hu-Ye becomes an actual rival to Habaek because it sure doesn’t look that way right now, and who wants a boring love triangle where the second lead never really had a chance? That would be boooooring.

When Hu-Ye discussed with Geol-rin the previous deaths that he had caused and the horror of almost killing So-Ah, his torment felt so overwhelming and palpable, my heart just went out to him. Sometimes the most compelling story is the one where the character is fighting against himself in order to be a BETTER self.
Will he go dark? Will he somehow pull through? What (or who) will be the factor that influence him the most?

Im Ju Hwan in the rain…..would love more of that. I’m surprised the water didn’t turn into steam upon hitting him, he is so hot in that scene. Dare I say it, I think Im Ju Hwan has more charisma and gravitas than NJH. :O

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100% agree with what you have said. You put it better than me!

While the show is cute with Ha-baek and So ah...there just doesn't seem to be any weight to their relationship. I'm just getting really confused because they're both seemingly in love...yet they can't/won't get together (mostly So ah at this point) and yet they go on dates and spend their time together smiling and being cute. So why is So ah still not saying yes?

I'm now totally watching for Hu-Ye's storyline too. As you said, there's just something about his struggle to be good that just gets me right in the heart! He's so tormented wanting to be good and I wish he had someone by his side to ensure him that he is good...because the destruction he causes is not because he wants to but because he can't help it. Especially with the gods constantly reminding him that he was born to be evil...

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I know right! Its like a dead-end push-pull. No, we can't be in a relationship but yes, we can go on (pseudo) dates.
Geolrin I think really hates Habaek that's why he's basically pushing Huye to get Habaek's girl, I think it just happens to coincide with So Ah being the most understanding human Huye has ever known so his attraction to her just fires up. Huye is hands-down the most interesting, complex, layered, perfectly-cast character in this drama. Pls pls pls to all the gods in this world, make him a happy ending.

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Haha push and pull..like a tug-o-war game! ??
Yes, please happy ending for Hu-ye!

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I was wondering why Geolrin kept pushing the So Ah agenda.

As I was watching this ep, I kept remembering what the High Priest said about a demigod's nature -- that it's not good or bad per se. They can be good or bad or weird, it depends on what they choose to be.

And so I was really frustrated that Geolrim didnt make Huye understand *that*. He didn't have to push the So Ah agenda onto Huye. I kept wishing that Geolrim would help Huye see that *he* (Huye) had the power to be good and defeat his evils. That he just had to give himself credit that he could be and actually was good.

Why can't the earth god (who seems to be the most sensible if not the wisest being among all our four gods) or the high priest give Huye this pep talk?!? As it is, poor puppy is conflicted and needs a hug. ?

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I do agree that HY is the most layered character in this story. I guess it's because he's the only one who has a legitimate, heartwrenching struggle. He's the outcast, the one abused from birth, the one who's being discriminated against no matter how hard he tries. He'll definitely tug on everyone's heartstrings, especially since we can see how desperately he's been trying to avoid the gods and live his own life. Plus yes, IJH definitely pulls off that internal struggle really, really well.

I do think, though, that Habaek's character in itself was written to be more... flat. He's got everything going for him, doesn't he? He's set for ascension to the throne, and all he needs to do is collect those 3 stones from the gods in the human world. Sure, he's powerless, but that's just a blip in his quest because he collected the stones easily enough anyway. Because he's king, everyone is at his beck and call, and he's untouchable. His struggle is... well... erm, trying not to fall in love while he's in the human realm?

When you compare Habaek to HY, HY definitely takes the cake in terms of an actual, relatable struggle that we can tear our heart into pieces over. But I do think that it doesn't make Habaek/Soah's struggles any less pertinent. Maybe just because I'm a hopeless romantic that way. I love love stories!

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If only I know korean and can write a script. I WOULD write a spin-off for HY and give him a proper Love story. He deserves it!

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❤ I want you to be my first and last Reminded me of Goblin's confession! And there was even a book passage! ?
How did we meet? One day, a butterfly flew like a petal and made a small flutter. How did we meet and end up here? The corner of the street where we exchanged our love in spring. It was a sudden miracle. ❤
How can the drama show that confession, make So Ah declined Habaek outright and like Lollypip said, I just wish we got something to let us know for sure why she’s not even willing to try. Oh, and who else was nervous as to where Habaek's hand was going in that drunk floor scene? ? His eyes was closed for god's sake! Perhaps we can attribute that perfect hand-hold scene to.. godly powers? Lawl. ?

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Godly powers...I wish he got them back by now!

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I'm actually enjoying Habaek's haughty powerlessness! If he has powers, he can follow Mura kidnapping So Ah and we won't have answers then!

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It was a beautiful confession, wasn't it. I do get why So-ah refused though. For all the lovely heartfelt words, nothing has actually changed from last week, when he kissed her but said he was leaving. He even ended the confession by saying that they couldn't change their predestined fates. I don't blame her at all for nor wanting to get in any deeper with someone who says outright that he won't stay with her.

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I don't blame So Ah for saying no, she knows perfectly well that Habaek is leaving.. And why is everyone saying Habaek is now almost half-human.. Will that mean anything? Can he perhaps become human and live with So Ah? Or I guess the show is just trolling lol

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What's the name of the book that poem is from ??

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If There Were a Word More Loving than Love is a really interesting book. Is that book only on the drama?

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May i know whos the author of the book?

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For a strange reason, i like her unwavering decline. Maybe bcz I can understand where she's coming from. She's always like that, being alone, enduring lonliness, be strong and independent on her own. She doesn't need anybody else to fix her broken light bulb, nor to clean up her messed-up heart. I really like her determination from the beginning, in spite of her flaws. It's refreshing to watch a female lead like her, one who decide her life and can be anything but a damsel in distress. i think Habaek like her bcz of that.

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I really liked it when she said she didn't need him to fix things for her, that she could do it on her own. It made me think, that if he had his powers, no relationship could ever form between them. He probably would have tried to 'fix' her right off the bat. And there is no way a real relationship could form without him having to accept who she is, flawed or not.

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normally, k-dramaland will give us female leads who are strong on the outside, but practically damsels in distress inside. After several beginning eps appearing strong, they are ready to throw their problems, their life away like nothing's really matter in comparison to their men. i really dont like that at all. So, So-ah is really something in kdramaland. I love her as a real human being, not some character from a drama.

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He losing his power was the essential part to form a relationship. So that he can creep into her heart :)))

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I'm looking forward to any answers we get from the next episode as well. But ohmyheck, So Ah has a will of iron to refuse a confession like that! 'Swoon' is right! I understand (sort of) why she said 'no', but at the same time...how hard must THAT have been?? ALL of their scenes together this episode made me all gooey.
And my heart broke for poor HuYe as well. He is trying so hard to just be a good person. He's like the bullied kid that is going to snap and take down everyone around him.

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Im Joo Hwan is killing it and acts his co-stars out on such a different level that it makes you feel like watching two different dramas. On one hand there's the shallow pretty romcom and then the tragedy play about Hu Ye's life and him losing grip on his humanity. If the other actors are in their romcom zone it's bearable but my god are they bad when sucked into serious drama acting with Im Yoo Hwan. The beginning scene was so weird to watch. Im Yoo Hwan's emotional acting showcasing Hu Ye's horror and shock had so much gravitas and carried over to the screen while Shin Se Kyung's blank face that was supposed to show fear, confusion and sympathy was nonexistent. Nam Joo Hyuk couldn't do anything either except doing exaggerated facials and opening his eyes wider. Compared to Hu Ye's complex emotions Ha Baek's anger felt superficial and not as intense. His romantic insecurities and anger felt secondary and less important in face of Hu Ye's serious struggles. As the leading man Nam Joo Hyuk should have made the focus of the scene Ha Baek's worries and fear for Soo Ah what viewers sympathize with the most. But with his limited acting he completely lost to Im Yoo Hwan who usurped the whole scene from him.

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Agreed, @em and I. Im Ju Hwan brings depth, layers and complexity, all the while being able to maintain clarity into his character while all the other characters seem a bit cardboard.

I suppose there's always going to be a discrepancy in acting skill, though, when you have a large age gap. Im Ju Hwan is at least 7 years older (or more) than most of the cast. Of course, age doesn't necessarily translate into ability, but it can translate into experience.

I have to wonder why Im Ju Hwan chose to be second lead when he's actually leading man material.....although, one could argue that Hu-Ye is a much more interesting character than Habaek.

I wonder how the Korean audience is reacting to our two male leads.

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<I suppose there's always going to be a discrepancy in acting skill, though, when you have a large age gap.

Nah. If Yeo Jin-gu were playing alongside Im Ju Hwan, you'd have no discrepancy. Or look at FOS – no glaringly obvious discrepancy in acting skills with the younger/less established (e.g. Shin Hye-Sun, Jang Sung-Bum) versus the older, more experienced one.

If kdramas were just a little better in casting, you'd not see such discrepancies – there's young talent out there, but looks/agency/popularity continue to top everything.

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IJH vs everyone else - its like watching two different shows isnt it?

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I love me some NJH (he is the most charming young man ?), but I agree with all of your points!

So for NJH's sake I am just hoping this drama is enriching his acting experience, and that he is learning from IJH a ton of skills, which he can use in the future.

As it is presently, I am just enjoying the ride (still fun!). And swooning at how steamy IJH is.

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I hope the 4 younger leads are taking notes, IJH is giving them acting lessons with each episode.

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Hahaha you are so~ right! IJH slaaaaays every ep! ❤❤❤

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..even though I still think it’s cute and fun, I’d really like to be enjoying this show more than I am at the moment..

~ I checked out my logic from ep 1 and watch for the cuteness and the actors act their character. Simply because I love the manhwa and not want to be disappointed with the adaption by comparing both.

But, I feel you. Thanks for the speedy recap @lollypip!

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i started this show late last week and now i'm all caught up. some thoughts in no particular order.
I love Shin Se Kyungs hair. Love the smart bob and the colour

Hate Mura's hair. i just want to push it off her face and i cant tell you how bad i want someone to give her a volume blowout. Did she really wear those enormous dangly earrings to bed?

Why are printed suits a thing?

Nam Joo Hyuk is wearing blouses - i'm not sure i like it.

Now onto less shallow observations - I think the writer has fallen in love with her creation i.e. Hu Ye. I havent read the original but i think this character is a bit different wrt backstory and so the whole tortured soul who only wants to be good seems to be taking over the end game i.e. Habaek. It occurred to me in this episode that i;d happily watch a show about a half god struggling with choices and the woman who falls in love with him. Buuuuttt....this isn't that show.

Never thought i'd find myself saying this but it seems like Habaek needs a little more agency of his own. his character arc, at the least the ways it been shown to us, is a bit shaky. And i cannot believe we're on ep 11 with still no clue and to what the Gods' problem is.
At this point, i'm sticking it out becuase a) i want to know what the actually conflict/ mythology is b)i really enjoy So Ah's character c)Hu Ye needs a happy ending (please without JaYa) d)I'm really curious about how they will resolve the immortal god vs short lived human concept - is it going to be bittersweet? tragic? ludicrously happily ever after? i'd really like to know.

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@dramamad, ha! I think you hit the nail on the head: the writer has fallen in love with Hu-Ye. Why else would he be so different from the manhwa character and, frankly, from the rest of the flow of the story?

Or, perhaps the writer has fallen in love with Im Ju Hwan! Ha! His scenes are so poignant, yet I feel the writer knows the Habaek/So-Ah story must take precedence. So, there is this chasm between writing the Habaek main storyline, with scenes which are mainly fillers versus the Hu-Ye sub-plot, which is much more interested, but not allowed as much screen time.

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I think the writer really gave up on NJH, he is too bad, she relized the huge mistake in casting. If Im Ju Hwan would have been the lead i am sure that HaBaek would have been much more interesting but the writer really can't do anything with NJH so she just chose to focus on someone that can act and can inspire her. I actually feel sorry for the writer and for Im Ju Hwan, i hope at least in this drama at the end he will get the girl instead of Ha Beak.

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When Hu-Ye's character became conflicted, Im Ju Hwan revealed his acting range, the writer then realized what good acting skills can do to a character in the story. Hope to see more Hu Ye scenes instead of Biryuem, Mura, Jaya and the lovestory of Nam Soo Ri.

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Here to spread some love for the leads! Habaek and Soah have amazing physical chemistry, that scene with his hand slowly drifitng upwards, well my mind just went into the dumps. :p And yes for more answers and no more cockblocking for our leads.

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i loved the way you described huye's nature and the form of fire we see in him, lollypip :) that was so correct and he's the only one i really feel for in this show right now. sure, habaek and so-ah may or may not be together at the end of the show; or moora and biryum may or may not tell us all about the past they keep talking about- but i really really want hu ye to have his happy ending, probably with ja-ya ;) and there has to be some kind of justice for the half-human-half-gods by the end.

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I still want huye with so ah. First, i think huye need so ah more than habaek. Second, I cant stand NJH's acting, he's SO bad. His confession was great, and fortunately the viewers dont need to see his facial expression.

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That "Do I deserve someone like her?" line of HuYe! Oh My God! Totally nailed it! Sometimes I'm wondering why you're not the main character!

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Ikr! Also the scene where Huye's following Soah without her knowing. I find it sweet, as if I'm watching the main loveline!

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Yesss, please writer-nim, end it differently this time, pair so ah with huye please...

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The fact that Ha Bae will have to leave because they belong to two different worlds is reason enough to reject him. I would reject a Korean idol if he would want me, for that same reason.
To follow him
I would have to leave home, friends, family, dreams, career, everything
I would be uprooted in a strange cut-throat world I wouldn't belong to, where everybody would try to sabotage me and our love - from his agent, his mother to band members and his fans - because of course everyone would think that there is somebody better suited for him, from his own world.
He would have lots of things to do and we would see each other rarely because of his touring and scheduled appearances.
There would be innumerable fans trying to seduce him. Plus I don't particularly like k-pop and Korean food doesn't agree with me.
It's like being the wife of a Joseoon king and living at court, where everyone is trying to slander, poison or depose you. (Queen for Seven Days, anyone?)
So I understand So Ha very well.

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Oops, sorry, I spelled their names all wrong. When will Dramabeans include an "edit" feature?

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LoL, I love your comment, I wish I could upvote it 100 times.

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I hear you 1000% and agree....unless, of course, that idol carrying me off to his world was Jungkook of BTS...then I'd surely try it for at least one day before crying for the rest of my life. It's all about making memories, right? Right?

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The reason this drama is not receiving much love is because it feels like the main characters are the bullies and the CEO is the good guy. Those two gods are petty and most ungodlike and Habaek doesn't actually do anything, other than indulge in long broody silences. There comes a point, when one feels like giving up...what are you good for?
On the other hand, the CEO exhibits the full range of emotions someone in this situation would face. He doesn't seem like the bad guy at all, he is conflicted, he tries his best to control his impulses even when he is under extreme provocation. He doesn't randomly use his powers to give himself more power, in fact he is more about keeping it quiet. He is so much more likeable than those 3... so, how can people continue to tune in to watch week after week when you think the supposed baddie is more of a good guy than the actual good guys?

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Yeassss! I hope BTWG writer read dramabeans and consider our voices.

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Either the writers have secretly given up on Nam Joo Hyuk or discovered the joy of Im Yu Hwan it's clear that Hu Ye is getting a first lead treatment on screen. Ha Baek has no scenes where he is in agency of driving the plot further. He just gets those lovey dovey romantic scenes and self moping zoom ins on his pretty face when he is sad about not being with Soo Ah to give a superficial surface of a first lead. But the poignant and defining scenes goes to Hu Ye.

And it's not just coming from Im Yu Hwan's ability to elevate his character but also the writing. If they wanted Ha Baek to have more agency they could have made Hu Ye vengeful and going after Soo Ah so the first lead has something meaningful to do by protecting his girl. Soo Ah's life being in danger by Hu Ye would have given viewers the stakes and sympathy to connect with the first lead.

But instead they decide to flesh out Hu Ye and having the main couple going through romantic tropes like it's just a bucket list of to dos instead of meaningful character development. Like Soo Ah doesn't want to get more attached but still does romantic stuff that gets her more attached because a romcom has to have at least one gimbap scene.

I'm very confused because the romance was supposed to be the driving force of the show yet it feels like filler while we're watching the real suspense errupt through wondering whether Hu Ye will become evil. I can't imagine that was the plan from the beginning since they obviously tried to go for a 'Goblin' vibe where the main pairing drove the plot. Did they despair about Nam Joo Hyuk's acting so they just felt f**k it let's get over with the romance and focus on Im Ju Hwan?

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I have a feeling that final ep will be Soah wishing that she will be together with habaek . you know, that tablet thingy he talks about when they are in the living room . Iam 80% sure of it .

Joo dong also talked about that tablet when he met the gods asking them if they saw it and then he went for an errand. maybe he looked for his tablet . Maybe So ah will be using Joo dong's tablet to wish coz you know, habaek lost his. hahaha . this is just what I feel thou .

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This show is really losing my attention. The casting is not good. Hu-ye is basically the only character that is holding my interest, and that actor is fantastic. Shin Se Kyung can be very good in BUBBLY light comedy but as soon as you put her near angst (see: When a Man Loves) she becomes a black hole. The god trio are all not very good actors yet and these roles are exposing their weaknesses. The story isn't going anywhere... it's just not working for me. I don't hate it, and since the new rival service has sucked up all the shows I wanted to watch and this is basically the only thing DF has right now I'm still watching it. But I'm like, Facebooking while it's on kind of watching.

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With you on When A Man Loves (and see also good over-the-top-ness in Girl Who Sees Smells), but her serious/angst acting has improved a bit since When.

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I agree; she's not the issue.

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BOTWG has long crossed the line of teasing the mystery to create suspense to dragging and annoying me with no answers. It makes me feel like the writers have no plan or can't fill 16 episodes with intriguing story.

Yes I get that pretty people with pretty clothes all also have their problems but please stop trying to make Ha Baek/Soo Ah's will-they-won't-they, Mu Ra's crush and Bi Ryum's anger issues seem equal to Hu Ye being emotially and physically bullied by gods for no justified reason. I thought about the 'first-world-problem' meme everytime the show wanted to tell me how painful Ha Baek not getting the girl is supposed to be.

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Well said! I agree with all your points! :)

And to dwell a little more on the Habaek/So Ah will they or won't they issue, I only *feel* that So Ah's denial is really just to prolong the drama.

I get objectively her abandonment issues and all that.

But on the story level, I can't completely sympathize and agree with So Ah because she nevertheless cheerily agrees to the pseudo-dates. (In this ep, she has initiated this beach outing and picnic food making, yes?) So the impact of her "firm" resolve to not get into a relationship with Habaek is much watered down because she agrees nonetheless to further invest time and emotions on Habaek.

And on the acting level, I feel that SSK and NJH do not give the relationship the full depth and layers that their relationship could potentially have.

So SSK's denial just seems shallow to me. I wish I could feel more her internal and complex feelings of anguish and heartbreak and defensiveness and pride in refusing.

But the acting is a little less layered and hence rings hollow to me. Hence --> just to prolong the drama.

As opposed to Hu Ye / Im Joo Hwan's problems, which seem more real and layered, both story-wise and acting-wise.

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omg that confession though...I think it's the first romantic confession that has ever made me cry...but I already knew Soah was going to say no cause she hates nice things and is unreasonable lol...interestingly enough I know a girl like her

So this episode was pretty good imo, it made me laugh a lot at seeing Soah's destroyed kimbap next to Habaek's perfect ones. And it made me teary eyed at Habaek's confession...and I was excited to see Soah get kidnapped too cause that means answers and explanations yay!

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Wow

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This is my first time commenting here.
I never thought I could fall for Asian dramas so much.
I don't even know Korean and I'm very thankful for the subtitles and these written updates.
I'm totally a goner if such dramas are played in front of me.

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Today's episode was awesome. Habaek's rejection, Him getting drunk, So-ah and Habaek sleeping and Nam-sori's scandalization- I couldn't stop replaying them. Poor Habaek, rejected by a mere human- I'm still laughing. But the proposal was cute and heart touching.
I still feel bad for Hu-ye, and it looks as if the gods are pushing him to his limit and that is the only point where I dislike Habaek. I just hope the story comes up with a good justification.
And that last scene, finally some answers,I've waited too long.

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If So-ah can tell from the first sentence whether she wants to read a book, maybe she could read that sentence in the bookstore. Then she could save some much-needed money instead of having a house full of books.

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I have this thing about book buying. I just got to buy them! Now, I'm left with tons of books I have yet to read. I know they are good books, that's why I bought them. It's just that they keep on getting pushed down my priority list. Someday, someday!

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most of the books that she have are on traveling, we dont really know if she bought it or was given it. bc she only said that she ONLY read and buy travel books.
oot
and about Terry Pratchett he was fascinated by religion and gods and their byproduct bc he was always trying hard to be an atheist unlike others, me me me, which it came naturally. he had to fight for his DISBELIEF everyday

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Show about gods with issues - must be time for some Terry Pratchett god quotes:

"The trouble with being a god is that you've got no one to pray to"
[Small Gods]

“But you are a gods-fearing man?”
“What I’ve seen of them certainly frightens the life out of me"
[The Last Hero]

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HAHAHAHAHA! Nice, @lordcobol

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Ha-baek is the best! I could listen to him read a book aloud forever! It must take all the effort in the world for So-ah to still reject him now. I'm too pathetic, I would say yes right away. HAHAHA.

So the book is called "If There is a Word More Loving than Love"? If that word is "goodbye", I'm gonna be flipping tables!

I felt really bad for Hu-ye because as much as part of the problem is the gods hating on him, he's also having an internal battle with himself. It's nice to see that he can find comfort in Geol-rin and So-ah. He was so worried that So-ah would hate him after what happened so it was satisfying to him be relieved that So-ah is still who he remembers her to be.

I've stopped thinking about when the drama will give us answers because I know it will just stress me out. And they will give us answers anyway. It's just the writer's style and I've come into terms with it. Maybe I can just request more Drunk Ha-baek?

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Surprisingly, I have seen a lot of Nam Joo-Hyuk dramas--not for him but he happened to be in it (Scarlet Heart Ryeo, Weightlifting Fairy, Cheese in the Trap, School 2015). I never thought much of his acting until WLFKBJ but I will admit BOTWG made me literally say aloud, "He's become a man." He's been pretty swoon-worthy in this drama. I just wish the writing was better and the directing sharper. There's so much to play with in this world and all of its potential is under-utilized. That said, I find I always enjoy the mundane things that Habaek and So Ah do together. If this drama cannot be an epic fantasy, I'll settle for the light rom-com. I will admit that I've been writing some fan fiction in my head about what I would do if I were So Ah: Instead of letting him bathe on the rooftop, I'd take him to a lake or beach or something. I hope they make a return to the beach for a communal swim/trust activity/skinship.

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Yes to sharper writing and directing!

I have reached the point when I wonder whether the writers themselves know the answers or they're also just winging plot points and background information as they go along. Things don't feel structured and still seem haphazard and directionless when we're already in episode 11.

As for NJH, I think his best work remains WFKBJ. (I thought he was practically perfect for the role!)

His strengths lie in his comedic timing. His weakness, for me, is in scenes requiring deep complex grave emotions, which is exposed a lot in this show.

Perhaps better directing moving forward should prevent showcasing your lead actor's main weakness and little of his strength (???) Oh I don't know how this can be addressed!

That said, I find that NJH even fares a tiny bit better than SSK. So one can imagine my opinion on SSK's acting, hee. ?

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I've liked their previous works a lot, Misaeng and QIHM. In QIHM the director was noted for his use of split screens. And people said Misaeng was a fantastic adaptation of the manga.

So I kept wondering if things aren't working out in this adaptation because their hands are tied by the original manga.

In certain scenes of Japanese manga adaption dramas, you can almost do a screenshot and it looks just like a square of drawing with the way the actors are positioned on the screen and holding their position. A perfect example here is Soah grabbing his shirt from the back and there's a pause as they show us that closeup. To me at least it looks strange in a drama.

Similarly the tone of the drama is slow and has that romance manga angst thing going where nothing happens and they're just angsty. But in a drama it feels too slow.

So if they are indeed doing a fairly faithful translation of the "feel" if not the plot then there really much that can be changed.

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he was in cheese in the trap ???

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Her acting sucks and all but damn if Krystal/Mura/Hyera isn't one of the Best Dressed character in KDrama this year.

I love LOVE almost everything she wears!!

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"So-ah in particular is annoying me because I just don’t understand why she keeps rejecting Ha-baek. I mean, I can make educated guesses, and I’m probably not far off in assuming it’s because of her fear of rejection and her knowledge that he’s leaving soon." --Lollypip

I don't think this is hard to understand at all. Ha Baek has told So Ah many times now that he is leaving. He tells her they have no future, but he wants to start a love affair anyway, even though he will leave her. She doesn't want that. She wants someone she has a future with, someone she can rely on--and he is telling her he is not that person.

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I'm TeamHuYe...want to join me, @jamieopso?

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@pineapplegongzhu

I feel that's a doomed ship, according to all K-dramaland rules, though, pineapplegongzhu! I am not prepared to have my heart shipwrecked yet again. But I do so badly want Hu Ye to have a happy ending. Like someone brilliantly said earlier, I ship Hu Ye + Happiness.

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Oh, the Hu-Ye + So-Ah is totally doomed, but I just don't care because even in the midst of all the romantic interludes, I still find no reason to ship Habaek + So-Ah....

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I ship Hu Ye + Life and Hu Ye + Happiness and I am increasingly worried that neither ship is viable. (I'm also willing to ship Hu Ye + So Ah but I don't need to have my heart wrecked again like when my SLS kicked in for Scarlet Heart...)

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Wasn't about to log in just to like this (holy cow has Dramabeans's comment system changed since I went off for a while...) but I found this an extremely insightful comment.

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Thanks, Kaoren. I just think So Ah is wisely (at this point) guarding her heart. If it hurts this much to say goodbye to him now, before they've truly started anything, how much more would it hurt when they are deep in a relationship?

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i think that the defining is the problem. while SA is wiling to pretend that it is only casual, the minute it has some defining meaning of there relationship she holds back. even if she initiated the question of their relationship.
and reverts to the fun and camaraderie stuff like room mates more than lovers. and it is very normal for most ppl to revert back and not hold grudge till indefinitely. after she states her wishes and mellow a bit she reverts to her usual self, life goes on, well in real life.

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wonderful wonderful episode......honestly NJH is awesome in this drama,he has this legal and loyal presence.......... his scenes and acting touches me plus he doesnt have a wide range of emotion ...i want him to do more romance in the future coz he does it well .........his confession and drunk scenes/skinship were perfect........i find his story and struggle just as important
while i feel 4 mr shin ..i want him to find happiness and just be a frd to so ah...to me habaek and so ah have better back ground story interms of romance and chemistry am sure they are end game and rightfully so
xo gud ending 4 mr shin but more so ah and habaek pls........cant stop swooning over him

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i mean he has wide range of emotion and i cant picture and other actor as habaek

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This has truly been THE MOST DISAPPOINTING show of the year.

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coughRulercoughcoughMaster of thecoughcough

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Hmm.. I just noticed but the so-called Jin-geon who is the shadow of Bi-ryum played in the C-drama *My amazing boyfriend* whose Korean version is *My love from another star*

I'm kind of late i think.

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I'm pissed off at how much they're mistreating Huye due to their own stupid discrimination. The poor guy really wants to be good and has done well all these years. He doesn't even have any desire to go back to the god part of him or do anything, and yet these supposed all powerful gods think they know so much better :/ I really hope they realize what they did to this poor guy and get off their high horse.

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Again, enjoyed reading the afterthought on episode 12 recap. This drama is more than a love story, it dwells on a complicated myriad of human feelings. Want to focus on Soah's reason for rejecting Habaek. Can see where she is coming from : it's her fear of yet another abandonment, aka separation anxiety. Think about it: she has been neglected & eventually left to fend for herself since her dad took off with no news yet; left her mother to die from heartbreak-alcohol-induced-liver cancer; and herself ? to impulsively try to commit suicide in anger & despair. It takes lots of will power, courage & determination to be able to fight against life/fate obstacles to end up where she is right now - a psychiatrist therapist. It’s no easy feat at all. Hope viewers can feel the angst of each character, especially Hu-ye (he's got most empathy from viewers already) and more so, Soah. My heart completely sunk for her……?

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"Yes, his power is fire and fire kills, but it also warms and comforts. Even when fire destroys, it cleanses and paves the way for new, healthy life. Fire can be controlled and utilized for wonderful, life-giving purposes, and that’s the side of fire that I see in Hu-ye." Well put Lollypip! And beautifully done so!:) Hu Ye is easily my favorite character in this show. I wanted him to end up with SoAh just because I wanted him to have someone he can be open about his true nature and mostly, just so he can have someone by his side honestly. Gyeol Rin might be there as I suppose it's fine because

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Hope to read more unbiased constructive comments about the drama & its characters. This is a spin-off from the original manhwa. Seriously if it tagged along the original story, then it would predictive & boring. The cast, new & old, is just doing their best in their given roles, so give & take their acting skills. Heart goes out to Shin Se Kyung, the most maligned & misunderstood member. If anyone has a heart, watch or re-watch 'Tree With Deep Roots' and 'Six Flying Dragons'. Don't know if anyone in her shoes could hold out until now....thank you.?

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What's the point in giving constructive comments? I mean, this is not a feedback session. This is literally just a comments thread on a drama recap. The cast and writer are not gonna see this. If people really don't like something about the episode and need to vent, just let them?

FWIW, I actually liked Shin Se-Kyung in both SFD, TWDR, but I like her a bit less here. This, though, I'd blame on the writing - I think her character has serious potential but it's barely being developed. I'd go so far as to cynically claim that the typical kdrama tropes in this case are stifling what her character could be.

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Huye needs a spin off series.

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10/10 would watch

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I just logged in to shout praises for IJH. I already knew that he can act but boy he took my breath away. I like that his acting is subtle but the message he tries to convey is there. I do wish that moving forward he would have main lead roles. It is such a shame that he would only play second fiddle to those he can act circles with. Although to be fair I do not think NJH is bad I just think that he just paled in comparison to IJH.

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I agree. NJH has some great moments (though I think he has some bad ones, too). But overall, I think he's good.

It's just that IJH is so *consistently excellent* so the difference is just more obvious.

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In this show, I feel it's as though Ha Baek is in the position of an already engaged-to-be-married man: he's engaged to marry his future role as king of the gods. That is a role that won't allow him, apparently, to have a relationship with a human woman.

He's essentially saying to So AH, though, let's have an affair anyway, and not think about tomorrow! He is not saying, I will find a way to be king and still be with you. Nor is he saying he will abdicate the throne for her (as Edward, the Prince of Wales did for Wallis Simpson). So what is she supposed to do in this situation? I am glad she is currently valuing herself more than that, and protecting her heart as well as she can--though I expect that won't last.

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I get what you mean by your analogy, though I think, literally and figuratively, Habaek's intentions towards So Ah are nobler. He's not just asking her to have an "affair".

The way I interpret it, he's asking permission if he may love her / if they may start a relationship, and they will figure out the next steps together. I don't think Habaek, once he has confirmed that So Ah loves him back, has intentions of leaving her behind.

He's tried convincing himself to leave a couple of times before but he always failed. How more could Habaek leave So Ah hanging if So Ah tells him she also feels the same way?

So that's why I sort of roll my eyes at the extended drama of So Ah refusing.

Habaek is asking her to take his hand and take a leap of faith into wherever this would take them, together. But So Ah refuses because she has abandonment issues, etc.

At least for now.

I'm the sure the next episodes will have them together against the world. Hahaha.

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I agree with you, cotton, that Ha Baek is not asking her to do anything tawdry--he definitely is falling in love with her. But it's like he's still intending to leave her and "marry" someone else anyway, out of duty or whatever.

I also think you're right that he is now saying, let's figure out the next steps together--after we start something. Before, he wasn't even saying let's figure it out together. So he's progressed. Next step in the story: she will be willing to take that leap of faith, like you said. Ha!

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this must have been the most boring episode so far.... very disappointing! If it is not for IJH, I would have ended the show... yikes...

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The premise didn't interest me all that much, TBH. I only started watching because I happened to see one of IJH's scenes (in this very episode, in fact) and then went back and got caught up because I wanted to know more.

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In this episode, nothing actually really happens. Everything is in a snail pace. They ponder, stare, long and it's time for next episode. If only...

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For me, Hu Ye and Biryeom's characters are so far the most interesting (should I say the only interesting ones?). I tend to cringe whenever the two leads appear. Haha. Anyways, if I'm not mistaken, there were news articles that said Kang Haneul's cameo appearance in the show was already confirmed. Right? Or was it cancelled? Someone enlighten me please? Thanks.

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Honestly i don't understand what people complaining about this show...acting,,.story..etc..just don't get it...for me NJH and SSK has been consistenly good until now..the same case with other actors...this drama is my crack this year.....just perfectly my cup of tea...don't get me wrong..i've watched tons of korean show since my high school time...and thats like...a million times ago...and do you guys check the ost? Its amazingly beautiful..meaningful..perfectly in tone with the drama....i never find this very beautiful ost in the drama before...its soo good..and i'm not even a fan of njh.....he is the best water god..he mix the haughty..arrogant...soft hearted god..calm..sensitive...romantic powerless god perfectly..why do u all complain so much?!?

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i dont know how more or less interesting this kdrama compared to other is. since its been a couple of years now that i only watch SSK dramas, i did try Misaeng i felt it was trying to imitate japanese office dramas. and what can i say i prefer the japanese ones. obviously i wouldnt watch this drama if not for SSK.
one of the things that usually bother me about kdramas is it repetition and lack of good and smart lines for the leading female character. for me i absolutely HATE the cutzy teenager type of WOMAN, lets not forget that it is a women not a child. for example Park Bo Young after the police scene in ep one of Strong Women... i became allergic to her, when bf i could almost tolerate her, i know even in her 40 she will play a cutzy teenager.
what bothers me is when a female lead gets most of the lines in a drama she is disliked, as if only the male should have good and many lines. i read somewhere that the actress are getting younger bc the audience dont care about the female and the dramas are male centric. always always sadden me. kdrama are aimed at women and they are in fact the majority of the audience and instead of demanding more text and scene for female, the audience indeed only care how the males reacts.
the writer here, like the writer in Strong Woman..., changed the character to fit the actress. while in SW case she made it cutzy silly and absurd, in BOTWG she gave great line solo scenes, and much much more substance. what is wrong with seeing scenes with just the female.
and if your looking for good plot and profound plotline look elsewhere
there is NO such thing in kdrama. it is ok to like fluff, i do to, but i understand its fluff and dont think it is anything more than FLUFF.

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i said it bf but the greatest compliment from a writer to and actor\actress are monologues and and many lines. and the greatest from a director are solo scenes. and only actors the pd and writer believe in will get both.
if you count the lines and monologues SSK is getting here she has the most lines and actually the most scenes.
she even gets to say lines that should have been given to the other actor in the scene with her.
and ppl here would probably say, too bad, and they should have given it to the male. but the fact is the writer and director, like me, think that SSK is one of the few actresses that can pull off solo scenes, and thats why she is one of the really very few female leads who get to say so many lines!

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