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Itaewon Class: Episode 7

Though merely a hole in the wall pub, Danbam makes a noteworthy impact with its first move against the giant Jang Ga. For our hero Sae-ro-yi, Danbam is a small but mighty creation of his own making, with much more brewing under the surface. He uses the humble appearance to his advantage and lets his enemies underestimate him while he gears up the next move in his revenge. As Sae-ro-yi carries on his revenge mission, his personal life begins to creep into Danbam, and he finds himself sharing his past with those who have joined his side.

   
EPISODE 7 RECAP

President Jang and Sae-ro-yi come face to face in Danbam, and the air is full of tension as they greet each other. President Jang takes a seat with Soo-ah and Geun-won, and Yi-seo openly recognizes President Jang, complimenting his reputation in the food business. She takes his order — their best stew and stir-fry — and relays it to Sae-ro-yi.

The Danbam team gathers to hear the order, and Seung-kwon nudges Geun-soo to share what he knows about his father’s taste. Geun-soo says that his father likes strong flavors, and Sae-ro-yi decides on the mung bean sprout pork belly stir-fry and soondubu. Yi-seo offers to inform the kitchen about the added flavor, but Sae-ro-yi stops her. He tells the team that he doesn’t want to show any flaws today and requests that they conduct business as usual.

Following orders, Geun-soo serves the appetizers to his father’s table as usual. Geun-won asks what his brother is doing at Danbam, and President Jang says that Geun-soo is in the wrong place. Geun-soo asks if he has a place in Jang Ga, and President Jang suggests that they discuss the topic later. Resuming in server mode, Geun-soo wishes them an enjoyable meal and bows to the customers.

In the kitchen, Sae-ro-yi spaces out and doesn’t notice the boiling water until Hyun-yi tells him. When Sae-ro-yi serves the two dishes to President Jang, he’s asked about his large investment in Jang Ga. President Jang presumes that Sae-ro-yi invested all of his father’s life insurance money when Jang Ga’s stocks plummeted 8 years ago, and he asks why.

Sae-ro-yi sensibly responds that he believed in Jang Ga to maintain their brand and quality products despite their bruised image as a result of Geun-won’s scandal. He considered Jang Ga to be a worthwhile investment in the long term.

President Jang remains skeptical of Sae-ro-yi’s intentions and then asks about his investment this morning. Geun-won looks shocked that Sae-ro-yi owns this much money. Sae-ro-yi insists that the reasons for his investment are the same as 8 years ago, but President Jang doesn’t believe him and calls him out on his lousy lies.

After President Jang finishes two dishes, he tells Sae-ro-yi that he had big expectations of Danbam, but now that he’s tasted the food, he hardly considers Danbam a worthy competitor. President Jang says that their non-competitive relationship is a relief, for the sake of Sae-ro-yi and as a favor to Sae-ro-yi’s father. He sternly advises Sae-ro-yi to give up and take it easy, and he gets up to leave.

Sae-ro-yi hardens at the mention of his father and tells President Jang that giving up is impossible, since he’s stubborn, rash, and has never given up in life. Yi-seo watches intently as Sae-ro-yi asserts, “Although it may be slow, I am taking the next steps, and you are my end goal.” Geun-won tries to belittle him, but Sae-ro-yi yells at him to shut up, and Geun-won obediently retreats.

Sae-ro-yi continues, “As a favor to my dad? You’ve got to be kidding me. The only thing you can do for my father is to get on your knees and receive fair punishment, and I’m going to make it happen.” President Jang sighs and approaches Sae-ro-yi to deride his bluff and foolishness as a mere growl. President Jang warns him that tigers don’t growl — they just shred you to pieces. He promises to show Sae-ro-yi how it’s done and walks out, followed by Geun-won and Soo-ah.

Yi-seo finds Sae-ro-yi on the rooftop looking up a video of a tiger growling, and she laughs. Sae-ro-yi accuses the old man of knowing nothing about tigers and says that he isn’t afraid President Jang. Yi-seo thinks that he should have suppressed his anger, but Sae-ro-yi is fine with President Jang viewing him as a non-threating child. It was a tactic to make President Jang underestimate him.

Sae-ro-yi messages his Ho-jin, his old classmate and present-day investment manager, and updates him about President Jang’s visit. He asks to meet up and tells Yi-seo that good defense is important in a fight. He adds, “Defense is used to stab [your enemy] in the back.”

Ho-jin agrees to meet up with Sae-ro-yi, and we see him in his fancy apartment. He thinks back to when he visited Sae-ro-yi in jail. He filled out the form for his visit and hesitated when completing the “relationship” field.

In the visiting room, Ho-jin asked why Sae-ro-yi punched Geun-won, and Sae-ro-yi responded that it was uncomfortable to watch and that Ho-jin doesn’t need to be too grateful. Ho-jin retorts that he was bearing the abuse and preparing for his own fight. He blamed Sae-ro-yi’s rash personality for his imprisonment.

Sae-ro-yi noted Ho-jin’s sharp remarks and explained that every person has different things that they’re able to tolerate. Then, Ho-jin shared that he got accepted to Hankuk University’s Business School, a product of him persevering through three years of hell in high school. Sae-ro-yi considered that an opportunity to forget his past, but Ho-jin said that forgetting one’s past is a luxury for people who haven’t experienced the abuse he suffered.

Ho-jin admitted that he still woke up from nightmares of Geun-won and would frequently find himself on the rooftop at night, contemplating suicide. He said, “Those three years were too long, and the only way I could bear the hell was thinking about revenge.”

Then, Ho-jin shared that his dream is to become a fund manager. Finally shedding his prickly façade, he thanked Sae-ro-yi for standing up for him. Sae-ro-yi shared that his dream upon release is to open up a pub that will take down Jang Ga. Ho-jin said that it would be hard to take down Jang Ga unless Sae-ro-yi had a talented fund manager on his side, and Sae-ro-yi takes the offer.

Sae-ro-yi put his fist against the glass and asked Ho-jin if he wants to be on his side. Ho-jin fist pumped against the glass and said that this was the reason he came to visit. Flashing back to the visitation form, we see that Ho-jin filled out his relationship with Sae-ro-yi as “friend.”

Back in the present, Sae-ro-yi meets Ho-jin at his apartment and hands him a beer. Ho-jin calls the 1.9 billion Won investment impulsive and says they could have waited a year for 500 million Won increase. Sae-ro-yi asks why Ho-jin didn’t stop him, and Ho-jin returns the question: Why did Sae-ro-yi trust him, a mere student at the time, with his father’s life insurance money?

Sae-ro-yi says that he doesn’t know much about stocks, but he knew enough about Ho-jin to trust him. Seeing that Ho-jin suffered through hell in high school and still got accepted to the best university, Sae-ro-yi knew that Ho-jin was tenacious. Ho-jin takes a drink and says that Sae-ro-yi makes him do all kinds of things. He says that he still gets goosebumps thinking about that meeting with Min-jung.

Flashback to Sae-ro-yi and Ho-jin’s meeting with Min-jung, where they came clean about Ho-jin approaching Min-jung with ulterior motives. While Min-jung was close colleague to Sae-ro-yi’s father, she said that she doesn’t act on compassion. Sae-ro-yi pointed out that Min-jung’s stocks doubled in value under Ho-jin’s management. Knowing Min-jung interest in Jang Ga’s prosperity, Sae-ro-yi offered to take her side in case there was ever a shareholders’ meeting.

Min-jung acknowledged Ho-jin’s skills as a fund manager, but she questioned Sae-ro-yi’s contributions. She lauded his pub establishment but noted that his pub wouldn’t be worth a fraction of Jang Ga. Sae-ro-yi asked if his contribution would be significant if he held 1% of shares, and Min-jung said that he would need 2 billion Won to hold that 1%, which she doubted a newbie like him would be able to get his hands on. Even then, she said that the 1% wouldn’t be much help.

Sae-ro-yi confidently responded that if he achieved that 1%, he would disprove her assessment of him as a newbie, and his 1% would surely help her one day. Then, he added that he isn’t desperate for her alliance, and Ho-jin nervously tried to stop Sae-ro-yi’s brazen approach. Min-jung laughed at Sae-ro-yi and commented on how he spoke as if he had already achieved these feats.

Min-jung asked Sae-ro-yi what he wants, and he said that he wants Min-jung to inherit Jang Ga. He implied that Geun-won, the heir apparent, isn’t fit to lead Jang Ga to prosperity. Sae-ro-yi promised to support Min-jung when they select Jang Ga’s new representative.

After some thought, Min-jung pointed out that unlike Sae-ro-yi, President Jang barely considers Sae-ro-yi as an enemy. She called him on his bluff, saying that his premature promises aren’t enough to move her pacifism. Sae-ro-yi let that rejection sink in and stood up to leave, but Min-jung wasn’t done.

She decided to uphold her expectations, based on the fact that Sae-ro-yi is Manager Park’s son. Min-jung said that she trusts President Jang’s intuition more that Sae-ro-yi’s words or her own discernment. She listed the food industry’s top companies after Jang Ga and said that these are places that President Jang eats at. Though achieving the 1% of shares may be significant, she isn’t moved by numbers. She challenged Sae-ro-yi to bring President Jang into his hole-in-the wall pub. If President Jang is bothered enough by Danbam, then Min-jung would consider him worth her bets.

When President Jang visited Danbam, it was much more than a reunion. The moment he step foot in Danbam, Sae-ro-yi could see President Jang’s back, ready to be stabbed.

After President Jang’s visit, Sae-ro-yi and Ho-jin meet with Min-jung, who acknowledges Sae-ro-yi’s move to lure in President Jang to Danbam with his sudden investment. Sae-ro-yi finds Min-jung’s withdrawal from other stocks and full investment in Jang Ga as a sign that she made up her mind, and Min-jung responds that he’s obnoxious. Ho-jin cracks a smile and agrees, and Min-jung says that it could also be his charm.

Min-jung agrees to the alliance and the shared mission to take down President Jang and Geun-won. She outstretches her hand to her new partner, and Sae-ro-yi seals the deal with a handshake.

President Jang summons Min-jung to his home for a game of baduk, and he shares his concerns about Jang Ga after he passes, especially since he doesn’t trust Geun-won. Min-jung carefully suggests that President Jang consider someone outside his lineage. She notes that it’s a trend nowadays and says that many others at Jang Ga who are better than Geun-won.

As President Jang puts down a baduk stone, he says that Min-jung is the person for the job. A tense silence ensues until President Jang puts down the stone in defeat. As Min-jung heads out, President Jang says that he only trusts Min-jung, and Min-jung reciprocates this. After she leaves, Secretary Kim enters, and President Jang pulls out the photos of Min-jung and Sae-ro-yi shaking hands. Ah! Of course he knows! Secretary Kim shares that it didn’t seem like their first encounter, and President Jang accepts this bitter reality.

Danbam closes for the night, and Yi-seo watches Sae-ro-yi as she analyzes his relationship with Jang Ga. She notes that although Sae-ro-yi seems like a pushover that lives as he pleases, he’s following a plan devised eight years ago. Yi-seo seems annoyed that she doesn’t know this part of Sae-ro-yi’s life.

Sae-ro-yi answers a call from Ho-jin and tells Yi-seo that he’s heading out. She asks to join him and asks where he’s going, but he doesn’t share. He tells Yi-seo and Geun-soo to close the shop after they wrap up, and dejected Yi-seo goes back to the counter to finish business.

Geun-soo recalls Yi-seo hinting at Sae-ro-yi’s history with Geun-won, and he asks Yi-seo to share what she knows. Yi-seo claims that she doesn’t know anything, but Geun-soo can tell that she knows something and insists that she divulge the information. Yi-seo angrily tells him to back off and stop asking her for his own family’s business, and she storms off.

As Sae-ro-yi reviews the list of President Jang’s shareholders, Ho-jin worries that they pounced prematurely, since they’re still 12% behind. Ho-jin notes that President Jang is highly respected within Jang Ga, so gaining that 12% will prove difficult, but Sae-ro-yi says that they have a card to play. Ho-jin seems doubtful that their card — a reluctant police officer — will have an effect, but Sae-ro-yi is determined to keep trying.

At Jang Ga HQ, President Jang scolds Geun-won for the squandered money on “The Best Pub” show. Geun-won explains that he spent the money to block Danbam from participating and was worried that Jang Ga would lose. President Jang insults Geun-won for his lack of talent and disposition, and he points out that his actions implied that Jang Ga was inferior to Danbam. He irately dismisses Geun-won and seems further convinced that Geun-won isn’t the right heir.

As Geun-won leaves his father’s office, he passes by Geun-soo in the hallway. He defensively asks what Geun-soo is doing at Jang Ga, and Geun-soo states that their father summoned him. Geun-won asks why, and Geun-soo says that he must be insecure. Provoked by those words, Geun-won slaps him, and Geun-soo says it’s been a while since he’s been hit by his brother. Geun-won seems bothered that Geun-soo calls him “hyung.”

Geun-soo realizes that all those beatings when he was younger were rooted in Geun-won’s insecurity, and Geun-won angrily grabs his brother. Unbothered by his brother’s anger, Geun-soo tells him to shake off his concern because he’s not interested in taking his spot. He pulls off from Geun-won and enters his father’s office.

When President Jang sees Geun-soo, he asks what happened to his face, and Geun-soo says that the question is familiar from his youth. President Jang puts brochure on the table and suggests that Geun-soo study abroad and visit his mother, but Geun-soo is here with other business. He asks his father to explain their relationship to Sae-ro-yi and admits that he was afraid to ask Sae-ro-yi because he knew that their family were the bad guys.

President Jang assures his son that he’s not at fault and reminds Geun-soo of his favorite idiom — “survival of the fittest.” He says that good and bad are decided by the winner, and he has always won. President Jang adds that fish in a bowl can only grow as big as a hand while fish in the wild can grow as big as two meters. He’s disappointed that his son would go out into the world and decide to work at a small pub.

President Jang orders him to quit working at the pub, but Geun-soo yells him to stop right there. Angry tears brimming his eyes, Geun-soo firmly tells his father that he won’t live following his father’s orders. Before he leaves, Geun-soo questions his father’s judgment, “Are you sure that Danbam is the small fish? Ro-yi hyung is stronger than you think.” He bows respectfully before leaving his father.

Soo-ah stops at a crosswalk and sees the bus stop where Sae-ro-yi vowed to save her from her limbo between him and Jang Ga. She calls him just as he crosses the street in front of her, and she honks to get his attention.

As Soo-ah and Sae-ro-yi walk together, they both ask each other what they’ve been up to, and neither of them share anything new. Soo-ah asks how Sae-ro-yi saved up so much money, and Sae-ro-yi says that it’s a secret. She wonders if he’s keeping this from her because she’s a Jang Ga person, but he explains that he doesn’t want to pull her into his fight against President Jang.

Soo-ah admits that she’s confused by her allegiances, unclear of where she stands between Jang Ga and Sae-ro-yi. As a self-proclaimed Jang Ga person, she’s doing her best for the company, but she also found joy in Sae-ro-yi’s promise to release her from Jang Ga. She wishes that he would stop but would find herself rooting for him. She laughs off her dual personality thoughts and continues walking.

Sae-ro-yi walks alongside her and shares why he came to like her. He reminds her of the day that she was late to her college interview and insisted on running the entire distance on her own without help. He watched her enter the college building and fell for her confidence, the way that she seemed to take full responsibility of herself. He tells her not to falter and assures her, “You just need to be on your side.” Swoooon. Soo-ah takes comfort in those words.

At Danbam, an English-speaking couple enters, and Seung-kwon immediately hides behind the glass (hehe). They just want to grab drinks and ask where they should sit, and Sae-ro-yi immediately looks to Tony to converse with the customers. Tony looks at them blankly and tells Sae-ro-yi that he can’t speak English.

The Danbam team sans Yi-seo and Geun-soo sit down together to confront Tony about his language skills. He never claimed to speak English — they just assumed that he could. Sae-ro-yi asks where he lived before coming to Korea a year ago, and Tony says that he’s from Guinea, so he speaks fluent French. Hyun-yi worries that if Yi-seo finds out, Tony will get fired.

Yi-seo and Geun-soo sit overlooking the river, and Geun-soo asks if she likes Sae-ro-yi, seeing that she gave up college to work at the pub. She asks how he’ll respond if she confirms that she likes him and asks if he cares. Yi-seo knows that Geun-soo likes her and admits that she approached him knowing that he came from a wealthy family because she thought the connection would help her. Then, she soon realized that he was completely unselfish when it came to pursuing her or his inheritance.

Geun-soo denies his crush, but Yi-seo isn’t convinced. She admits that she likes Sae-ro-yi, but she’s not super earnest about her crush. She finds human emotions shallow, since they sway in different situations. Then, she tells Geun-soo that he still has an opportunity and says that if by chance, he selfishly wants to pursue her, he should first take over Jang Ga. Geun-soo looks at her earnestly, but she says that she was joking.

Yi-seo walks over to his scooter, and Geun-soo watches her as he comments that she was brutal. Yet, he still looks at her with his puppy eyes. Aww, poor Geun-soo.

At Danbam, Sae-ro-yi asks Tony if he likes working there (ha, this is going to be his classic line), and Tony responds positively. Sae-ro-yi instructs him to learn English, just as Yi-seo and Geun-soo return from their outing. They brace themselves, and Seung-kwon holds Tony’s hand (lol).

Sae-ro-yi asks how the negotiations went, and Yi-seo updates them that she was able to score an ice machine. They try to make casual conversation to cover up their anxiety about Tony’s nonexistent English skills, and Sae-ro-yi heads out again. Yi-seo pouts that Sae-ro-yi is heading out on personal business again and quickly puts on her PPL lip tint before following him out.

The Danbam team looks relieved that Yi-seo won’t be around for business to catch Tony, and Tony asks about Yi-seo and Sae-ro-yi’s relationship. Seung-kwon says that they’re just owner and manager, but Tony seems to smell something fishy. Geun-soo stays silent and looks discouraged.

Yi-seo catches up to Sae-ro-yi and asks to be included in his personal business, since it could affect the pub. As Danbam’s manager, she wants to know more about his relationship with Jang Ga so that she can be more helpful. Even with personal business, she wants to help carry his burden.

Sae-ro-yi says that his personal business could be indirectly connected to work, so he invites her along with a warning that it may be an uncomfortable and long commute. Yi-seo smiles and happily takes Sae-ro-yi’s arm to follow him wherever he’s going.

In the bus to Pajin, Sae-ro-yi shares his story with Yi-seo, who finally learns about Sae-ro-yi’s past. She narrates, “In the racing bus, he talked nonstop about what his father meant to him, Jang Geun-won, the beginning of the ill-fated relationship with President Jang, the ensuing death of his father, the hidden truth, a friend named Lee Ho-jin, their plan for revenge, the time spent on the plan. He talked calmly and endlessly, and I listened carefully. I just listened.”

When they finally arrive in Pajin, Sae-ro-yi leads them to a house, where a father and daughter hang laundry. The daughter runs to Sae-ro-yi in delight, but the father, OH BYUN-HYUN (the former police officer on the Sae-ro-yi’s father’s case), doesn’t welcome him. The daughter asks why he visits despite her father’s dispproval, and Sae-ro-yi responds that he wants her father on his side.

As they eat, Yi-seo learns that this man is their distributor for Danbam, and his daughter, Hye-won brags that her dad made all the food. Sae-ro-yi credits Officer Oh’s produce for Danbam’s success, and Hye-won congratulates Sae-ro-yi for achieving his dream. Sae-ro-yi asks Hye-won what her dream is, and she shares that she wants to become a police officer.

Sae-ro-yi says that he also once dreamed of becoming a police officer, and Hye-won asks why he didn’t pursue his dream. Officer Oh cuts the conversation short by instructing Hye-won to collect the rest of the laundry. Sae-ro-yi asks Yi-seo to help Hye-won, and he finds a moment to speak with Officer Oh separately.

Sae-ro-yi comments on how Hye-won has grown to be vigorous and kind, unlike her father. Officer Oh asks Sae-ro-yi to stop calling him “Officer,” but Sae-ro-yi insists on the title, since he was the officer in charge of his father’s case. Officer Oh recalls his boss’ warning to stay out of the case if he wants to continue making a living, and he also remembers Sae-ro-yi’s sentencing.

Getting on his knees, Officer Oh apologizes and asks Sae-ro-yi to stop visiting him. Officer Oh promises to compensate him for everything, no matter how long it takes, but Sae-ro-yi isn’t looking for compensation. He tells Officer Oh that only thing he can do for him is to tell the truth and turn himself in. Sae-ro-yi adds that if anything, Officer Oh should be a father who can proudly support his daughter’s dreams.

Officer Oh cries about his daughter’s future without her father, but Sae-ro-yi shows no sympathy. He says that he’s a businessman, and he insists that Officer Oh pay his price. Crying helplessly, Officer Oh has no other excuse or defense.

Night falls, and Sae-ro-yi finds Yi-seo asleep. He puts his jacket over her as a blanket and watches the rain outside. Yi-seo wakes up and asks for an update on the plan to get Officer Oh to confess, which will lead to Geun-won’s imprisonment and poaching of President Jang’s shareholders. Officer Oh hasn’t budged, and this isn’t a surprise to Yi-seo.

Yi-seo rolls over to use Sae-ro-yi’s leg as a pillow, and she claims that she can’t sleep well on the floor. She asks to sleep there for a little bit, and Sae-ro-yi says that they need to head out soon to catch the last bus. Yi-seo opens her eyes and notices a large scar on Sae-ro-yi’s forearm. She asks what it’s from, and Sae-ro-yi says it’s from an injury during his deep sea fishing days.

Then, Yi-seo notices more scars on his bicep, and Sae-ro-yi says that those were from manual labor. She gets emotional and says that he must have been lonely. Sae-ro-yi admits that he was a bit lonely, and Yi-seo begins to cry. Sae-ro-yi gets a bit frazzled, and she narrates, “When I felt pain about his past, I realized that my feelings for him was love.” She grabs his arm and continues to cry.

Confused Sae-ro-yi comforts Yi-seo, and she continues to narrate, “At his melancholy voice, I was overwhelmed with emotion. I never want him to suffer alone, and I would kill anyone who hurt him. I love him. I love him.”

On the bus ride back to Seoul, Yi-seo nods off, and Sae-ro-yi looks at her with endearment. He lends his shoulder for Yi-seo to sleep comfortably, and he smiles.

The next morning, Yi-seo stops in her tracks at the sight of a line formed outside a popular pub. Soo-ah runs into her and comments on the pub’s popularity, and Yi-seo says that this is expected of a pub on the main street on a weekend. Soo-ah says that she was on her way to Danbam to borrow ice, and Yi-seo seems even more repulsed by Soo-ah now that she’s heard Sae-ro-yi’s full history.

Soo-ah says that Sae-ro-yi doesn’t really share his past with people and notes that Sae-ro-yi must trust Yi-seo. Then, Soo-ah asks if Yi-seo was behind the stock purchase, and Yi-seo accusingly asks if Soo-ah is going to tattle to President Jang. Soo-ah can tell that Yi-seo dislikes her, but Soo-ah claims that she’s actually kind of fond of Yi-seo. She asks to borrow ice, and Yi-seo rejects her.

When they reach Danbam, they find Sae-ro-yi outside, and Soo-ah gets permission from Sae-ro-yi to borrow ice. She thanks Yi-seo as she walks in, ha. Sae-ro-yi introduces Yi-seo to their building owner and seems to have bad news. As Soo-ah gets ice, Sae-ro-yi tells his team that the new building owner wants to increase their rent by 5%. But there’s more: The owner wants them to leave at the end of their contract and run his business there.

Soo-ah joins the conversation and asks how long they have until their contract runs out. Sae-ro-yi answers that they took over the lease, so they have about half a year left. Soo-ah looks at their contract and says that tenants are protected from getting kicked out of the space, but the annual 5% rent increase is allowed. Seung-kwon calls the new owner a gangster, and Hyun-yi stares at him. Ha!

Hyun-yi seems hopeful that they can stay in their current space, but Soo-ah advises that conflict with the building owner is unfavorable. She seems troubled by the owner’s plan to run his business in the building, and Yi-seo agrees. Yi-seo has seen these cases before and suspects that the owner wants to claim the rent premium for himself.

Soo-ah starts to give more advice about their legal rights, but Geun-soo concludes that the owner ultimately wants them to move. Sae-ro-yi says that he’ll give the new owner a call and try to work out a deal. When Sae-ro-yi calls the new owner, he introduces himself brightly, but the voice on the other end sounds familiar. The new owner introduces himself, “It’s me, Jang Dae-hee.”

 
COMMENTS

I’m impressed by Sae-ro-yi’s approach to bring down Jang Ga Corp, and I find myself being surprised by the layers of the revenge plan that are revealed with each episode. With the present-day trials and tribulations of Danbam, I often forget that Sae-ro-yi spent seven years building his plan and preparing for his pub. Those seven years were not put to waste, and I’m sure we’ll learn more about how those seven years have built his strength, insight, and partnerships to confidently manifest his dreams. He’s a true testament to the proverb, “Slow and steady wins the race,” but the main question is: what race is he trying to win?

In the “race” to destroy Jang Ga, I found this episode to be a bit naïve and too optimistic about Sae-ro-yi’s prospects. While I’m fully supportive of the plan, I think Jang Ga overpowers Danbam by extreme measures, and I think anyone intimately aware of Jang Ga’s power was warning Sae-ro-yi throughout this whole episode to calm down. Despite the warnings (which were definitely foreshadowing that ending), I found myself trusting Sae-ro-yi and his determination to turn his goals into his reality. He has a subdued charisma and confidence, and I completely understand Min-jung’s observation that Sae-ro-yi can be simultaneously obnoxious and charming. Since I’m on Sae-ro-yi’s side, I obviously fell for his charm.

Each supporting character from Sae-ro-yi’s past offers a window into those seven years that we’re not fully privy to. I like how we’re putting the pieces together from his past, almost like pieces of a puzzle — a puzzle that only offers its pieces with the introduction of a new person from Sae-ro-yi’s history. Ho-jin’s introduction in this episode and his friendship origin story with Sae-ro-yi was satisfying to watch. The foundation of their relationship may not be the healthiest sentiment, but their teamwork and approach present a formidable threat to Jang Ga. They’re rising above the Jang Ga ways, and I rooting for them to deliver some big fat karmic revenge on the people who’ve unfairly evaded punishment.

I can’t make up my mind about Soo-ah, and I think that may be a constant confusion, seeing that she can’t even decide which side she’s on. In this episode, she seemed more favorable to me, but I’m not sure how long that will last, which is generally how I feel about her relationship with Sae-ro-yi. I think that Soo-ah and Sae-ro-yi are still romanticizing their relationship as something from their youth, but that that doesn’t exist anymore. I think Soo-ah understands this better than Sae-ro-yi, but as I’ve also experienced, his promises are irresistible, difficult to reject, and something you want to believe in. I wonder if Sae-ro-yi recognizes the distance between him and Soo-ah and the distance he’s intentionally creating because she’s a Jang Ga person. The void he’s creating is starting to be filled by someone else.

Yi-seo’s entry into Sae-ro-yi’s personal life felt a bit forced, but I still appreciated how she followed her emotions. If you want to get somewhere with someone, you’ve got to be selfish, and she did just that. I found it interesting that Sae-ro-yi openly shared his past with Yi-seo, and I wonder how that will change Sae-ro-yi’s relationship with her. It’s true that Danbam is intricately tied to Sae-ro-yi’s personal life, but I don’t know if Yi-seo really needed to know the full story to be an effective manager. Sae-ro-yi seems to be trusting her more and more, and I wonder when and if he’ll notice his changing relationship with Yi-seo.

While I’m on board with Yi-seo and Sae-ro-yi’s relationship growing beyond just Danbam owner and manager, I am quite sad about Geun-soo’s heartbreak. His unselfish and sweet puppy love for Yi-seo is adorable, and I’m sad that Yi-seo effectively dissolved any potential for their relationship. I think the potential for Geun-soo taking over Jang Ga is an interesting alternative to Min-jung taking over, though I’m not sure Geun-soo would be up for the challenge. I think that with enough confrontations with President Jang, he may fire up his temper and ambition to destroy Jang Ga. He’s definitely a solid Plan B. And then, maybe he’ll win over Yi-seo? Am I being to hopeful? I just want his earnest hopes and dreams to come true. Is that too much to ask?

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Is it weird that I love Yi Seo’s confidence and shameless behaviour. Maybe because I would never be able to sleep on my crush’s lap so casually like she did but her shamelessness is refreshing to watch as a female character. Sae Royi is really idealistic that it can be a bit frustrating especially compared to who he is dealing with but his charms and strong mentality totally have me rooting for him and his team, even if his plans aren’t the most fool-proof

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@inkcityxx it's okay to feel that way. Her ways makes Yi seo unique. I wouldn't say she's shameless, but more like straight-forward. She doesn't like beating around the bush or holding herself back. And i love that about her.

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If a sociopath then she lacks the ability to feel shame. I can see this around Geun-soo and Hyeon-yi. She doesnt feel any shame for hurting them and so doesnt apologize.
I am going to be really curious to Beanie reactions to ep 8 when we get that recap.

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Basicaly she doesn't feel empathy like a normal human making it that she acts like that coming as rude and heartless in the view of other people but it is her nature and while she could be even worse considering her inclination she isin't actually that bad in my view.

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I had a hard time with how she was with Toni and Geun-soo especially in ep 8. Curious about the comments and thoughts when we get that recap.

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Yes! And considering her nature, she's not that bad. @bcampbell1662 it may look like she was rude to Toni, but it was actually for his sake. In her own way, she was defending him when she suggested they go to another club.

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This show is dragging for me a bit. There is so much focus on the boring triangle (square?) between Sae Royi, Soo Ah, and Yi Seo, (I guess also Geun Soo) not to mention Sae Royi's revenge plot, while the other characters (Tony, Hyun yi, and Seung kwon) only seem to matter in terms of how they relate to Sae Royi (and are only featured when it is a convenient way to tell us something about him). I know, this is typically the way dramas go, as the number of episodes are limited and we have to have a sense of the major players, but frankly, thus far the most compelling story in this to me is Hyun yi's. The one person I do not care about at ALL is Soo Ah. She might be bad, she might be good, and I really don't care either way because all she seems to be in reality is an arrogant obstacle. And I say this after one of her more endearing episodes. (Also, for me, it's not the actress...I've seen her in things I liked before)

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Ignore the love triangle, at least for now. I think it is a side issue of little importance. As for Soo Ah, about all I can say is that I have zero respect for her. I also do not trust her, and I wish they would stop talking so freely around her.

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I don’t get it. Please name a single time in this drama where Soo Ah has deliberately actually hurt Sae Ro Yi. Just try.

What exactly has she done?? Accept a scholarship and then working at Jangga even tho she knew the boss was evil? So then should all Apple, Walmart, Amazon workers quit because all those companies (and basically all big corps) heavily abuse child labor and their own workers in third-world countries....And for all those people who wants her to quit Jangga and join Danbam to be a good friend for Sae Ro Yi...what type of friend would Sae Ro Yi be if he lets his love and his friend quit a great job for his sake?? Heck, how many of y’all would turn down a great job offer simply because the company’s ethics are not good? Is Soo Ah a bit selfish at times? Sure, but who tf in real life is not looking out for their best interests? She’s a person with her own worth too, and as long as she does not hurt her friends (AND AGAIN, SHE HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING THAT HURT SAE RO YO), why isn’t she allowed to chase after her own desires?

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It is really a conflict of interest if your boss wants to take down your friend’s business and you are still trying to help your friend while being loyal to your boss. Business moral is not written as a law but common courtesy is.

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I mean common courtesy is assumed for anyone with integrity. I guess Soo Ah is so selfish to totally ignore what is hurting her friend’s feelings by trying to offer help but in fact making matters worse. Is Soo Ah really trying to help? No no no.

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It only becomes an actual conflict of interest when and if she is forced to choose between them. So far she has not been so there is only a theoretical conflict of interest, not an actual one.
And lol please tell me how do you know So Ah isn't really trying to help? And where has she made the situation worse? You can accuse her of being a bystander, but nowhere has she made the situation worse. Put down your tinted So-ah hate glasses and actually watch the drama.

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I am watching the drama. In an earlier episode, President Jang has asked Soo ah to choose between SRY and her job, and Soo Ah replies she belongs to the Jang family. I believe you are the one not watching this drama diligently. Stop accusing me of hate comments. It will become clear to you who is the villain in this drama very shortly!

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It has been clear to us Chairman Jang and Jang Geun-won are the villains in this drama since Episode 1.

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I should write villains not villain because there is obviously more than one.

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@candycane, so...it seems you can't understand the simple concept that just because she said it, does not mean she would do that. Honestly, probably everyone would have answered like she did. But until we actually see her forced to choose between the company and Sae Ro Yi, I will give her the benefit of the doubt.

Also, I find it laughably hilarious that you claim you're not biased, but yet clearly hate her so much you group her as one of the villains of the drama along with the chairman and Geun Woo. Lmao, that is some extra level of hate because she has done nothing close to the the murders and coverups that those two Jangs have done.

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Do not attack people personally here. I will not have answered like she did. I will not. She is a fictional character. Using the word hate is a bit too extreme. I don’t think your mindis very clear.

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@wisely1300 Listen, I know what it's like to care deeply for a character, but don't take people's dislike for Soo-ah so personally. It's just their opinion about a character in a drama and no one is being particularly hateful or mean-spirited towards anyone with a different opinion except for you. Please try to be more civil.

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I think it's shady that she never is straightforward about what she is thinking and feeling. Her declarations of feelings are always about what HE is thinking and what HE is feeling, perhaps in relation to her, perhaps not. But it's never about herself. She reveals nothing. That is enough to distrust someone. Yi Seo, for that matter, is not particularly different, except that we have the privilege of her inner monologue and her growing realization that being insular and "mysterious" only means that the people you want to bring the closest to you will push you away eventually. So props to character growth for her.

I like this show, but I'm frustrated with the things it dwells on vs. the things it glosses over. I'd like to see the other characters develop more. I'd like to see less of a focus on Soo Ah because a character that reveals nothing is never particularly interesting.

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"Heck, how many of y’all would turn down a great job offer simply because the company’s ethics are not good?"

Um, me. I literally have done this more than once and I would do it again. But I would do it even MORE if the person the business was hurting the most was someone I loved.

TBH, though, that's not really my problem with Soo Ah. My issue with her is that she holds her intentions and motivations to her chest. If she cared about him, she would communicate with him. She never does. HE communicates with HER, but that's not the same thing.

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She did communicate with him...So many times she has told him to please hate her and leave her alone...In the latest episode she even confessed to him her conflicting feeling of how she works for Jangga but she feels happy when he said he was going to bring it down...What more do you want her to say since that is how she feels?

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She never ACTUALLY says anything. Seriously, she doesn't. She never explains what she is doing at Jangga, she never is clear about her intentions with him, the only thing we know is that she is jealous of his relationship with Yi Seo (but that could be for any reason) and that she has lied to him about things that she has done on numerous occasions.

Personally, I think she is also angry at Jangga for the death of his father, but her relationship with him is more questionable. And frankly, that's a moot point because nothing she has said or done makes me care about her anyway. Like I said, I don't like or hate her, I don't think she's good or bad, I simply don't care about her, and every time she is on screen, I want to take a fridge break or something. Lol!

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@wisely1300. Soo Ah tells SRY to leave her alone but yet she is the one who always goes to his restaurant. Her action shows more than her words. She should stop seeing him because all her plain talks are lies.

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@candycane, she only came by his store in this latest episode, and that was only because he has continuously ignored her request of him to hate her and leave her alone and still wants to be friends with her and like her. But then again, I'm just wasting my breath here because you obviously just flat out hate her and refuses to see anything else that doesn't fit your narrative.

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Mr. Park paid for her college, yet she accepted a scholarship from the man whose son killed him and who then sent his son to jail via a corrupt system which allowed them to pretend that the son had not killed him (which Mr. Park would have never wanted). And she accepts that scholarship knowing that she is then losing her independence because he's the type of boss who expects blind obedience. Given that he fired Mr. Park. So I felt she wasn't loyal to Mr. Park and she owed some loyalty to him. And to herself, frankly. She seemed to be smart enough that she was going to get into a good college.

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to use the logic "i havent done anything to deliberately hurt my friend" as a defense for Soo Ah's actions is just plain stupid. Dont you know the phrase "not taking a side means favoring the greater evil" ??
for fucks sake, thats her friend. that family killed her father figure. i mean, I UNDERSTAND her actions and that she chose herself, but it DOESNT make it RIGHT. Further, i take Yi Seo's side when she exploded and called out Soo ah's AUDACITY to still be friends with PSRY and visit DanBam to borrow freaking ice. To me, she's abusing PSRY forgiving nature. Thats just plain toxic, and PSRY is better off without her. She knows shes betraying PSRY, heck, she's so fucking guilty that she drinks herself drunk. SHE KNOWS, YET SHE STILL DOES IT.
I understood that she needed that scholarship before, but now shes a fully grown adult who is good at her field, so why is she still staying at Jang Ga? She has a choice now, but shes still choosing the easy way. Selfish girl. Like what PSRY said, i wish she'll stick to her decision and just leave PSRY alone. Own up to her choices!
Lastly, the reason why I like Yi seo more than Soo ah is because Soo ah thinks she has to choose one between success and love (and we all know what she chooses) while Yi seo believes that choosing PSRY means getting both success and love.

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Funny how you say PSRY is better off without her. In their 10+ years of friendship, she’s honestly fine without him (I mean minus the Halloween date he wasn’t present in her life for 10 years). Yet if he hasn’t had her, he would either be rotting in jail right now for murder or dead from being shot by the detective as he attempts to kill Geun Won. She singlehandedly
saves and allows him to have a future. If he hasn’t had her as a friend, who knows what prison would have done to his psyche? He stated himself that her letters helped him tremendously in getting through prison intact as a normal person. She was the one who liquidated his father’s restaurant and get him the money for it. Basically, she was his only friend and a crucial emotional support during his lowest points in life. So if anything, he owes her greatly for all of that because what kind of a friend would he be if he throws away an old friendship now that he finally has made some friends?
Sure in a perfect world, she quits her job for him. But the show is trying to be realistic, and people in real life makes grey decisions, not black and white. Also she’s clearly struggling morally with her decisions. If you’re willing to cut Yi Seo slack for literally throwing away her years of friendship with Geun Soo (honestly what a disgusting friend she is) and attribute her attempts to make up for it as growth, why aren’t you doing the same for Soo Ah? If once she has to choose and she chooses Jangga, then sure she’s a douche. You forget that her mother freaking just abandon her (honestly that’s worse that if she has just been an orphan at birth) and she has only made it this far by relying only on herself. It’s only natural then for her to greatly struggle with the fact that now her heart can allow someone else in too and maybe she can think for others’ benefits.

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The reason people are forgiving of Yi Seo is cause she is supposed to be a sociopath. That's it. If she wasn't considered one like Soo Ah isn't considered one would she be so easily forgiven? I don't think so. I agree with most of what you have said. Since they are determined not to cut Soo Ah slack they won't try to find a reason to. (Though I do think you should not have reacted so extremely to the ones commenting).

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@amy1009 But do we even buy this excuse that Yi-seo is in fact a sociopath? In my opinion, the only reason people worship Yi-seo is because they hate Candys. While Soo-ah is no Candy, Yi-seo DGAF more.

I agree with @wisely1300 and @ttyl380 favesss from Episode 6.

Put down your tinted So-ah hate glasses

that catfight was on both sides started by yiseo, damn the bias real here tho.
yall gotta remove these yiseo tinted glasses yall watching with

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Amy, I disagree. I like Yi Seo better because she shows growth, where Soo Ah rests on the laurels of the past relationship. But neither of them are awesome people. That said, as a character (rather than a person), Yi Seo is interesting.

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@wisely1300 hello! im sorry, but i think you are too focused on the past. all those stuff happened years ago, and i admit, i was on soo ah's side until i think the episode where she thought of calling the police. like i said, i understood her actions before, she needed that scholarship, her friendship with PSRY and moral wont pay for her. what i hate the most is the present timeline. SHE'S SETTLED, HAS A GOOD JOB, PRETTY FUCKING GOOD IN HER FIELD, but why is she still staying at that damned company? not only is she working there, shes fucking kissing jang's ass. im sorry, but i just cant wrap my mind around that hypocrisy. i understood her before, but now i just cant make up reasons good enough to justify her staying there except that she just wants to choose the easy way and the winning side. what, bc she doesnt want to live like the parks? shes afraid of failing when she leaves jang ga and joins PSRY? because she feels indebted to jang ga? aghhh its just bullshit. even she feels disgusted with herself. but what does she do except that? she still kisses jang's ass anyway.
and dont even compare yi seo's friendship with geun soo and soo ah's with PSRY.... thats such an invalid point.
im not cutting yi seo some slack nor am i making excuses for her because i understand that its her character. thats exactly what a sociopath does. she was introduced as a sociopath with no conscience whatsoever, so why would i hate her character when shes supposed to be like that? the fact that shes somewhat growing a heart bc of PSRY is indeed GROWTH, and thats what i like about her character. soo ah? her growth is backwards. she had goodness before demonstrated by the good deeds youve mentioned above, but where is it now? all she does is have a pity party for herself. PSRY is better of without her, and soo ah is also better off without PSRY, if she wants to retain her sanity. she might just kill herself bc if guilt.
LASTLY
"if once she has to choose between jang ga and PSRY"
SHE HAS! all throughout the episodes, shes been given chance to choose, and she's choosing jang ga. all those little times,"one times", tellimg jang about franchise, asking PSRY about his business, calling the police, letting the bullies call the police, and "compromising" her morals and setting aside her conscience? thats her choosing jang ga. like PSRY said outside the police station, "all those one times? it will change your life."
so bid goodbye to the young soo ah in the earlier episodes, bc all those one times changed her. shes gone.

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I feel like people think I'm saying I personally dislike the character because she's not a nice person. NO! That's not it. I dislike the character because she's boring. Which could totally change next week. I'm rooting for her because I like the actress. DO something with her already! Give her something to do!!!

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@apatchuchi, ah there it is again. The "why doesn't she leave her job at Jangga because she's good at her field" argument. Do you know how many very qualified people are jobless? I have friends who are experts in their fields with PhDs from prestigious institutions, yet at varying points in their lives they have been unable to find a job. Here's reality: even with qualifications, with experiences, it is still extremely hard to find a good job. While she's unemployed for who knows how long who's going to support her financially since she has no family and friends? Are you going to call her a leech in that case is PSRY starts supporting her lol?
Apparently with you, Soo Ah even thinking about calling the police is a crime. Here's another reality: most (honestly probably all besides like the Buddha or something) humans have some dark thoughts now and then, but suppress them because we have a moral compass. Soo Ah didn't call the police in the end, so why are you still harping that? She lets the girls call the police? So what was she supposed to do, snatch their phones out of their hands???? The only thing she probably should have done was notify PSRY, so yes, that was her fault, but that's it.
Here's a third point about reality: gray exists, not everything is black and white. Her not choosing him so far is exactly that, it does not mean by not choosing she actually chooses Jangga. In fact, I see you conveniently left out the fact that Soo Ah recently even help out Danbam by making sure PSRY does not lose Yi Seo as his manager. But I guess that won't fit your narrative would it?
Finally, it's really cool that you make excuses for Yi Seo's actions because "she's a sociopath, so why should I hold it against her?" (By the way, I guess for you, Yi Seo clearly telling Geun Soo that she only took him back as a friend was for PSRY not to hate her is growing a heart but that's literally not her growing a heart or anything but just trying to not lose her goal, AS ALWAYS). By the way, she was diagnosed with 79% sociopathic traits, so what's the other 21% at? Yet in the same breath, forget that Soo-Ah was literally abandoned her mother. That's not a sob story, that's the fact, a fact that would destroy any child. So then why are you holding it against her for holding on to her successes and not quite trusting PSRY enough to throw away everything for him?

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I have to stop watching the eps back to back. These last to eps took a long time for me to get through because I kept having to press pause. This show definitely makes me feel things.
Geun-soo needs to stay away from his family and also take a few steps back from Yi seo.

I loved the scene between Soo ah and Sae-ro-yi when he told her she just needed to be on her own side. I do think they probably romanticize their relationship a bit. They were young and happy and the world was filled with potential, plus they had their dad. I have no ship at this point, but if nothing else I'd like it if at the end they could still have a friendship. Even if just to share and keep a memory of him alive on occasion.

As I said I found these two eps hard for me, but very intriguing about where the writer will take us, I just would like some more time spent on the Danbam side characters. They give me a chance to take a breath and I enjoy spending time with them and would love to watch different friendships take root.

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The big question for EP9 is will she or won't she?
There are apparently some spoilers out from the manga but I have been avoiding them at all costs.

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I hope if anyone has read the manga on here they dont spoil, though I am curious about a couple things. At this point I'd rather be surprised.

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Let's just be surprised

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Itaewon Class gives me Misaeng vibes with its dark and depressing feel. Misaeng, every episode made me want to kill myself. Itaewon Class, I watched episodes 1 and 2 back to back and wanted to kill myself.

When Stove League and Crash Landing on You were still airing on Friday and Saturdays, I would force myself to finish Itaewon Class before letting myself watch my other dramas.

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Lol.
I still need to watch Misaeng.
Yes I need to not watch back to back and then maybe watch a lighter show afterwards.

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I have mixed feelings about this episode. I love seeing the build up to how he was able to grow his money and connect with Kang Jung. Random, I need a fund manager like that because damn, he took a few hundred million won and turned it to almost 2 billion. Those are some serious skills.
Review:
PSRY- PSRY is very closed off and doesnt like too talk about himself much or his plan. I think he is very careful about his allies. However, as much as I love PSRY for his unshakable justice, I do think he needs to be a little more flexible and is a little too much. His demanding the cop turn himself in (and leave his daughter an orphan while he rots in jail) is not cool. I mean it wasnt just the cop, it was a whole list of people, it was the Cop's supervisor and I am sure the guy who went over him as well. Although, I understand PSRY anger and position, its not just good and bad people. The cop was told basically do the false investigation by his boss. Will PSRY go after the boss as well? I mean where is the line drawn. I think our Hero has to be a little bit more flexible. I would feel comfortable with the Cop testifying against Jangga CEO or even speaking to a reporter about what happened, this will all tarnish the Jangga CEO image just like PSRY wanted without the guy spending time in jail and his daughter growing up an orphan. I am not agreeing with the cop, but humans makes mistakes. In the romance department, I noticed that PSRY treats Yi Seo very differently than he treats Soo Ah. PSRY treats Soo Ah like she is a porcelain doll and he lets her do whatever she wants but his relationship with Yi Seo is more complex. PSRY argues with Yi Seo and gets angry with her. PSRY also talks with Yi Seo more than he does with Soo Ah, he rarely reveals anything to Soo Ah and he has never told her his plan like he did with Yi Seo. Hmm how do I put this, I feel like PSRY is more himself with Yi Seo.
Yi Seo- I am a huge fan of Yi Seo but this episode was a bit cringy for me to watch. However, I understand when you like someone you do things you wouldnt normally do (been there, done that). So Yi Seo basically tried to push her way in to PSRY life and what was going on. I think she wants him to share the burden with her (something he is not used to doing) but this may came across as pushy. I knew what she was trying to do and where she was coming from but I doubt her haters will give her the benefit of the doubt. The crying scene was very very important because Yi Seo probably never cried for anyone in her life but she loves this man so much that him being hurt or in pain hurts her. I think his being so calm and accepting of being hurt and dealing with it on his own is what broke her down. I really liked this scene because Yi Seo comes to accept that she is really in love with him and she wants to protect him. However, as much as she loves him, PSRY isn't there yet I think, I definitely think that he is attracted to Yi Seo and likes...

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I feel the same way about the cop.

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I don't think she's pushy but rather herself.

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I think with a man like PSRY who doesnt reveal too much about himself, you have to be a little pushy though because they will never say anything otherwise

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Agreed. That's why she is so perfect for him

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I love the Ho-Jin backstory. One more person on Sae Royi's side. I think eventually everyone he helped at one point will help him win over JangGa, including the officer. Maybe even Soo Ah, but it may be too late by that time.

Anyone think it's ironic President Jang insults his son for stopping Danbam from participating on the tv show but he himself then decides Danbam is a big enough threat to warrant buying out his building?

I still can't get on board with Yi-seo. She is so one-track minded, and doesn't care about anyone besides Sae-ro-yi. Her adoration feels very unhealthy.

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The one major thing that Sae-ro-yi has going for him is that he has over the years built up a pretty good following of super loyal friends and employees, something that Jangaa does not have.

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How is it unhealthy??
She apologized to Toni and Geun-Soo (?) and although its because of PSRY, thats a big step for her. I mean, dont we do things for love? She's still a bit immature and selfish, but its a start. To describe her adoration as "unhealthy" is too extreme.

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I don't believe she means her apologies. She only apologizes to appease Sae-ro-yi because she knows he will stay mad at her if she doesn't. That's not love; that's obsession.

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Agree. I think though the characters believe her apologies we as the viewer are not suppose to.

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She being a sociopath means she basically lacks empathy so u can't really view her as a normal human in terms of how one acts...For her that is mostly a foreign concept,that's how she is wired...In my book the means a lot that she slowly tries to change some things about her and even if she doesn't feel them,because she can't still tries for the ones she cares about...

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Agreed her adoration is unhealthy. Obsession is the right word, because she doesn't know him enough to like him yet, that is clear in the next episode. However, her selfishness( she has shown too much empathy for PSR for it to be sociopathy) and being spoiled and generally getting what she wants hasn't allowed for emotional growth, so she is stagnant. I hope she eventually grows out of it.

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What I don't like about her is that her attitude in this was very petulant. Despite all her adult posturing, she is very much a child. She was never parented and it shows constantly. I really don't see a man like PSRY being romantically interested in her but this is frequently my problem with the large age gaps these dramas expect me to hand wave. Generally speaking, 30 year old men do not want to date someone who's emotionally immature and with little life experience. They just don't.

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Not a lot really happened in this episode, unlike EP8. But I am still in love with Yi Seo, she is such a contrast to "path of least resistance" Soo Ah.

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On a little bit different tack, it appears that EP7 and EP8 are still in the 2017 timeline. There will have to be a time jump pretty soon, perhaps in 9 and 10? The statue of limitations runs out it seems in early 2020, things will have to start moving soon.

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"You don't need to be on anyone's side but your own." Swoooon. When she was looking at Danbam's contract, Soo-ah would work so well with Sae-ro-yi with her business sense. I love Soo-ah killing clingy Yi-seo with kindness.

Where was the rest of the staff during Sae-ro-yi and Chairman Jang's confrontation? I was dying for Geun-soo and Seung-kwon to hear about Dad. This is actually a smart business decision to just buy Danbam out.

Please, Ho-jin, have more than 1.9 billion won in Jangga stocks! This revenge belongs to Ho-jin as much as Sae-ro-yi. To bring down Chairman Jang, Min-jung ought to expose Geun-won for Dad's murder.

Please, Geun-soo, fight back! "Why did Father ask you to come?" Ask him yourself, son of a bitch! Geun-soo is so pitiful. His only friend, Yi-seo, is a shit friend.

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Sweet Geun soo. In this ep he seemed so lost. But I admired how he stood firm with his dad and also his answer to what happened to his face.
He has been such a surprise to me as a character. In the first ep as a little boy wasnt he killing ants? I thought he'd grow up to be the same as the other men in his family.

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That rejection was pretty mean on Yi Seo's part. She's not the nicest person but Geun Soo has been her friend and I thought she might at least be kind to him. But then again she didn't bat an eyelid when her mother kicked her out, so maybe not.

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Her mother seems totally fixated on putting Yi Seo into a "socially approved" box. I agree with her decision to move out.

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Sae Yo Ri has a big plan and I love watching every piece of it but it's the second time I'm disapointed. A restaurant is food and his location, he didn't have great food and he didn't think to be the owner of the location? I mean it's the 2 first important things to do. He knew he started a war with Jangga Co so what he was excepting?
But I was happy that his last investment was not about Soo Ah but the way to make President Jang to come diner in his pub, it was pretty clever.

I like the bith relationship he has with the both girls. Soo Ah is his last connection with his Dad, she knew him and shared the feelings of lost. Yi Seo is the first person who wants to protect him and can do it.

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It was a cunning strategic move from Jangga’s CEO to buy SRY’s place. Businessmen are trained to be ruthless and slick in responding to potential threats. Buying your competitor’s place or even company is a completely legal and viable option to eliminate threats as long as the capital is available. Jangga as a big corporation certainly has the cash reserve and other tools required to make that happen.

I find it hard to believe if SRY really didn’t expect that to happen. It was revealed SRY actually had quite a cash reserve of his own and sure he could’ve bought the place himself in the first place to prevent something like this happening. But maybe it’s just a matter of choice and priority for him. Rather than a building, SRY himself might preferred to invest his assets in a more liquid form (cash and stocks) that is more flexible and multifunctional in bolstering his plans while hoping for the best that Jangga didn’t exploit the situations.

Regarding SRY’s last investment in Jangga, IMO it was actually at least in part because of SA. Ho Jin (SRY’s bullied-friend-turned-finance-manager) called SRY as reckless and recommended for SRY to wait for another year so that he would have another KRW 500 million to buy higher percentage of Jangga’s stocks and get more voting authority as the result. It seems to me that all of a sudden, SRY just accelerated his plan for a little bit because of that bus stop promise with SA.

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I have to say, I'm kind of amazed at this story! At first it did come off as cliche, but here we have a revenge story where the person getting revenge is in fact starting a revolution? This view of things outside himself, of seeing what the true seeds of darkness in his rival are, in fighting them wholeheartedly with a polar opposite world view . . . I am hyped! Certainly, some things Sae Royi does are a bit naive, but his trust in the people around him is pretty inspirational, and it clearly inspires loyalty in return. When the people are behind you, who knows how far you can go? Viva la revolución!

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@dramallama ooh, I like what was said about "each supporting character offering a window into Sae-ro-yi’s past." I also loved everything about how he and Ho-jin became a team. I was like YAAAS, team up! I wonder if the head gangster he became friends with in jail will also make an appearance!

I also love that Sae-ro-yi is so strong and can be a support for others around him. But Yi-Seo is the only one who seems to be actively helping him back and wanting to protect him as well. I'm still shipping Soo-Ah, but she is her own person too and she's also had the same amount of time to make a plan of her own. Sae-ro-yi keeps pulling these surprises out of the bag with what he's dedicated his 7 years to and he was stuck in jail and carries the burden of being an ex-con. Soo-Ah, I will be disappointed if you don't also have hidden trump cards to pull out, for team Sae-ro-yi obvi.

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I think that Soo-Ah will end up being left alone and stranded because of all her inability to make real choices, but I think it is about time for a time jump, so perhaps things will change. Rumors of new characters being added in 9-10 - perhaps old prison buddies? One of the least predictable shows for a while, so anything I think is subject to change.

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Loved how Yi-seo's love for Sae-royi softens her up. Please don't let her be too heartbroken if ever they don't end up together, Writer-nim!

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I love my romance but I'm starting to think that maybe IC doesn't need a love-line, other than the love of a fam-squad. They need some serious squad bonding to win this 'revolution'. Right now they can't even tell Yi Seo Tony doesn't speak English 😤😒

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Itaewon Class reminds me of the great Money Flower, which started with revenge and led to a revolution of sorts (breaking the corporate hereditary succession rule). I appreciate that PSRY is stubborn and idealistic, but also cognizant of his enemy and has genuine interest in learning his business. He had a setback with the building, but let’s be real: buying one ain’t cheap, especially in a gentrifying neighborhood. If anything, PSRY shouldn’t be fazed for long. Jang is his enemy, but he’s also his inspiration to fight harder, think smarter, and go further.

Yi-seo feeling sympathy for PSRY was a startling moment, both for how emotional she became and for its intense realization. She has the intelligence and the drive to protect him, but she lacks the emotional intelligence to do it well. For someone who views relationships as transactional, to feel love like this must be overwhelming and unsettling. All Yi-seo knows is that PSRY is precious to her and she must do whatever she can to preserve that quality. Love for a functional sociopath is expecting the beloved to continue being the person they were when they became the beloved. God help the person, institution, or force blocking that path.

I’m not sure what Soo-ah is doing, but she can’t be around when the DanBam crew are discussing business. She’s teetering on the edge, but I’m not sure where she’ll fall or how hard. All I know is something has to happen because PSRY can’t keep this ‘First Love’ filter on for much longer.

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I think that a lot of the reason Sae-ro-yi felt comfortable opening up to Yi-seo was that she seems to be the first person in a while who he can really talk to. He doesn't really talk about himself to others and despite caring deeply for his employees, he keeps everyone at arms length. He seems to be the kind of person who observes and who people gravitate towards naturally, and this means he rarely needs to offer much of himself in return for others respect. It's an interesting quality, especially given his loner tendencies.

I also think that without Soo-ah definitively in his corner right now he is a little untethered, and Yi-seo provided something for him to hold on to, despite essentially manipulating the situation to her advantage. I think Yi-seo barging in the way she did caused him to open up because he was in a vulnerable place and needed that release. Whether or not you agree with Yi-seo barging in (I'm undecided about how I feel about that myself) I think despite everything, she is loyal to Sae-ro-yi and DanBam, even if she is manipulative.

Yi-seo is definitely selfish, and part of that is because she's a sociopath, but part of that is also because, as @dramallama aptly noted, you need to be a little selfish to move a relationship forward. Whether or not you think Yi-seo truly cares for Sae-ro-yi may be up for debate, but what matters here is that she believes that she loves him so she wants to know him. That is her motivation. Sociopath or not, love motivates people to act in uncharacteristic ways.

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Some people got so hung up on the term "socialpath" here like YS has a major psychiatric problem or what not. Can she just be a high achiever or a goal getter of some sort? She may turn dark as this drama is so unpredictable. Same with SRY. President Jang is also of the similar type. No one is perfect in this drama.

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The writer of both the webcomic and drama characterizes her as a sociopath. The character herself relates that she is most likely one. So if people on here on "hung up" on the term sociopath, its because it's there, in the text of the webcomic and in the character descriptions and in the script...

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Reasonable explanation for a webcomic. But the problem is some people here do not recognize it is a fictitious web comic. Like One Piece, let’s going sailing ⛵️

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I really enjoyed this episode and based on my prior years of k-drama watching experience, I'm totally shipping Yiseo with Sae-ro-yi. I'm really liking her character's flaws and charms.

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#stillteamcandy

I appreciate the idea of a girl who's been told all her life that she has "sociopathic tendencies" - and being encouraged in that belief by her completely-absent mother - coming to terms with her own emotions and discovering her empathy. And I still believe she's a representation of modern Korean notions of success and is thus being critiqued as such.

I just wish I could trust the show not to make this a romance. I don't want it, it doesn't need it. Get thee from my revenge/ social commentary show, romance! Be gone with you.

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Sorry Yi Seo.. this was the episode that sealed it for me..

No matter how you admittedly being cute and somewhat changed for the better around SRY, I just cannot see you in the same way anymore. No.
Not after that riverside conversation with GS.

Really, YS’s words in that scene shocked me. It would have been better if YS was just being her taunting self and stopped right when she was done disparaging GS. But no.. she decided to be her sociopathic best right at that moment and pretended to give GS a hope to chase her with a condition in which he actually admitted he didn’t have any interest in!

Totally intentional manipulation and for what purpose??!! Getting GS out of DanBam??? Getting GS to change his meek personality?? Getting GS to seek for his father’s weakness??

Of all the reasons YS might have that I could think of, none of it would do any good for GS. I wouldn’t be surprised if that conversation has flipped some switch in GS’s brain that’s going to torture him in some subtle way, and scarily might be without him realizing that.

That’s no way to treat any person, let alone a good friend whom you know have a crush on you.

No matter what the show threw at me to gloss the scene (somewhat romantic BGM and all), I‘m sorry it’s still borderline nasty for me. This scene was so hard to watch.

Once again, I’m sorry.. I just cannot let it slide.

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