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Coffee Prince: Sixteenth Cup

I’ve read the comments on whether Coffee Prince is or isn’t “realistic.” Here’s my take: Coffee Prince isn’t realistic, and it doesn’t tout itself as realism. From reading about writer Lee Sun Mi, I highly doubt that’s a claim she aspires to anyway. Coffee Prince isn’t even purely original. What it IS, then, is a wonderfully rendered telling of a story that has elements of the familiar — and it reworks those familiar points in a refreshing, clever, and entertaining way.

Rather than the story being (or not being) realistic, I find that the series displays flashes of realism in the little moments it captures, which I think is a quality many overwrought, emotional, and/or melodramatic series forget. Coffee Prince has those large-scale dramatic moments too (i.e., every cliffhanger episode ending), but balances those out with lovely little touches here and there, and that’s where it shines through for me. Like Yu Ju waiting for Han Sung to come home, whiling away her day in Episode 7, or how Han Gyul tries to figure out ways to get Eun Chan to return to the cafe after she quits. Or the way Han Gyul intertwines his fingers through Eun Chan’s while on the beach in Episode 9, or how he cups his hand around hers later while Eun Chan sleeps. There’s the great moment when Han Gyul shaves, and smears the shaving cream over the mirror in self-loathing, having a hard time accepting that he might be gay. Or how he pours water over his head in front of the open refrigerator in Episode 11 after finding out Eun Chan lied to him.

Coffee Prince isn’t reinventing television. Who would want to see something that claimed to do that? (If I wanted pretentious experimenting, I’d watch Soderbergh, thanks.) But rather than merely regurgitating stale cliches in well-worn genre, Coffee Prince manages to add fresh insights to the landscape. And that’s why I’m watching.

SONG OF THE DAY

재주소년 (Jeju Boy) – “새로운 세계” (“New World”)
[ zShare download ]

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EPISODE 16 SUMMARY

Yanni – “Reflections of Passion” ::

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Yu Ju and Han Sung get married, while Han Gyul’s grandmother is taken to the hospital quietly. When Han Gyul and his mother visit her later that night, he asks his mother if he should take the idea of marriage more slowly, but his mother can tell that isn’t what he wants.

Eun Chan’s mother tells her to go ahead and marry Han Gyul soon — she’ll cash in their house deposit and live in a one-room apartment with Eun Sae, so Eun Chan doesn’t have to worry about them.

 

 
Things remain awkward between Han Gyul and Eun Chan the next day. Eun Chan had sent him multiple text messages saying she missed him and asking him to call when he had time, but he hadn’t called back. He takes her aside to talk.

She acknowledges that she was thinking too much of herself — but even though she’s sorry, she can’t marry him right away. Han Gyul acknowledges that he took her financial situation too lightly as well, and wants to help her. Eun Chan says it’s not just about money:

Eun Chan: “I don’t want to become a burden.”
Han Gyul: “Why is that a burden? When I was going through rough times, I shared my worries with you, and you consoled me, don’t you remember? Was I a burden to you while you were with me, comforting me?”
Eun Chan: “That’s different from this.”
Han Gyul: “What’s different about it? Because it’s like you’re giving your heart, and I’m giving you money?”

Eun Chan answers that she wants to stand on her own: “When my father was alive, I lived dependent on him. Now I’d live being dependent on my boyfriend. I don’t want to live the rest of my life being unable to do anything properly on my own.” Han Gyul asks impatiently if she’d marry him if he didn’t give her any money, then — she can send Eun Sae to college and support herself with her own money.

Eun Chan asks why he can’t wait — why does he always decide everything on his own, making one-sided decisions? Han Gyul chafes at the phrase “one-sided” — is he the only one wanting to get married?

 

Their argument is interrupted, so Han Gyul revisits their discussion later. Calmer now, he asks her, “It’s because you don’t like me enough to marry, isn’t it? It’s okay, so tell me honestly.”

Han Gyul: “I want to live with you. For the rest of my life, I want to eat together, talk together, sleep together, be together. Do I need any other reason?”

Eun Chan’s point isn’t that she doesn’t want to marry him. She just wants to wait. Han Gyul reminds her that he’d given up his dream job and faced his parents’ opposition for her — can’t she give up that little bit of pride for him? Getting more worked up, he asks if she’d still refuse to marry him if that meant they’d break up. Does she dislike the idea that much?

Eun Sae hears about the latest developments with sisterly indignation: How could he be so selfish? How can he threaten to break up with Eun Chan over that? He thinks money solves everything. Psh. She grumbles about how Han Gyul treats her family lightly, then sneaks in a phone call to the offender himself.

Han Gyul answers the call with some surprise, and makes plans to talk to Eun Sae the next day. He wonders about the cause with some anxiety.

 

As for the Princes: Min Yub blames Ha Rim for pushing him along and causing him to lose Eun Sae. Sun Ki makes the astute observation that Min Yub listened to the wrong guy. Everyone else has somebody, but Min Yub took love advice from Ha Rim, the playboy who has nobody. But Sun Ki also finds himself alone when he arrives at Yuko’s place to find her gone, just as she’d warned him she’d do if he wouldn’t leave.

 

Han Gyul’s grandmother senses things aren’t going smoothly for Han Gyul and Eun Chan. He admits that he’d rushed with the marriage talk — and as he explains Eun Chan’s position to his grandmother, it seems that he understands it better. He describes Eun Chan’s need to be independent and to support her household, and asks his grandmother to consider Eun Chan’s attitude as something good, admirable.

 

Eun Sae meets Han Gyul and asks him plainly: “Are you really going to break up with my sister?” She tells him of her mother’s intent to cash in their home deposit to marry Eun Chan off, but neither she nor her mother can afford a monthly rent — therefore, she asks Han Gyul if he could please consider pushing the marriage off a year. She’s not planning to go to college, so she’ll get a job right after she graduates from high school, at which point they’ll be able to afford a monthly rent. Worried he might really break up with Eun Chan, she assures him that her sister is a good person.

Han Gyul listens to Eun Sae’s speech with a mix of confusion and amusement, and tells her, “But I have no intention of splitting up with Eun Chan.” Eun Sae mentions how he told her sister he’d break up with her if they didn’t marry, sees Han Gyul’s smile, and realizes, “I knew it. You were just saying that to get to her, weren’t you? Aish, what an idiot. How could she not tell that from the truth?” Eun Sae calls Han Gyul “brother-in-law,” and a wide smile spreads on his face, liking the sound of that.

 

Min Yub begs for Eun Sae’s forgiveness, saying earnestly: “No matter how meanly you treat me, you’re still pretty to me. Even if you get mad and yell, you’re cute. I really like you a lot. But if you truly hate me, I won’t call you anymore and I’ll give up. So tell me, do you really hate me?”

Stony-faced, Eun Sae tells him yes. Min Yub accepts her answer contritely, saying he understands. He tells her to take care, and turns to go. Eun Sae calls him back, upset, asking when he got so “cool” that he’d accept one answer right away and leave so quickly. She seems genuinely hurt as she lays out his offense — he’d said he only liked her, then saw other girls. He acted so innocent, then went behind her back — that’s worse than anything a player could do.

Eun Sae: “If you have the confidence to only love me from now on, follow me. If you don’t, leave.”

Eun Sae turns to walk away slowly, and Min Yub takes a few hesitant steps. He tentatively calls out: “Eun Sae. I’m following you right now… Just saying that to let you know. In case you don’t.” Eun Sae looks back a few times to confirm that he’s still there, and crooks a finger to beckon him close. Ecstatic, Min Yub grabs her and runs around the playground in excitement.

Despite finding Eun Sae annoying half the time, I can’t be too upset with her (is it little sister syndrome?), because her logic makes some sense. True, she treated Min Yub poorly, and he took a lot of abuse. But on the other hand, she never pretended she was anything different. He knew what she was like and still pursued her. He, on the other hand, was disingenuous (albeit stupidly, at Ha Rim’s prodding).

 

Han Sung and Yu Ju have their first marital argument when Han Sung goes to Yu Ju’s studio to find it strewn with tired co-workers (new project) and empty wine bottles. Even though he knew she’s used to staying up all night working and drinking, and that she puts work above him, he’s still disappointed. Yu Ju’s sorry, and explains that she doesn’t rank work above him — both are important. She asks for his understanding, but he asks, upset, if he’s just supposed to stand by and watch from the sidelines.

 

Eun Chan is summoned to Han Gyul’s grandmother’s office, and Han Gyul listens in astonishment (and panic) to find that his grandmother is offering to send Eun Chan to Italy to study to become a barista, as she did for Mr. Hong. Bursting with agitation, Han Gyul jumps into the conversation, insisting to his grandmother that Eun Chan will never take her support, that she’ll insist on staying to provide for her family.

Eun Chan voices her concerns about accepting the offer, but it seems she’d like to consider it. If she goes abroad, she’ll be earning a salary, which she can send home to her family. Han Gyul recognizes the danger of this development, and asks if his grandmother’s doing this to tear them apart (Granny: “So does that mean your relationship is something I can tear apart so easily? All the better for me, then”).

 

Han Gyul hounds Eun Chan repeatedly, asking if she’s really considering going. At his persistence, Eun Chan frustratedly says no, she’s in no position to go abroad. Han Gyul mutters in worry, “It’s hard enough as it is not seeing her every day. How am I supposed to last two years?”

 

Eun Chan’s mother asks her to be honest: “You want to study abroad, don’t you?” Eun Chan admits she found the offer very tempting, but thinking of how she’d have to leave her family changed her mind. Her mother asks, “Am I holding you back? Don’t decide that if it’s because of me.” She assures Eun Chan she’ll be fine — if Han Gyul agrees, she should go. Eun Chan tells her mother she’s not going, and that she’ll have to marry her mother off first — to Mr. Gu. (Eun Chan’s mother denies it, blushing in embarrassment.)

Eun Chan’s mother: “It’s time for you to live your own life. Don’t worry about me or Eun Sae anymore. Even if it’s just this once, live as you want, freely… That’s what I really want to see.”

(Song: “Star” by 어른아이 [Adult Child], posted under Episode 14.)

 

The Choi cousins again commiserate together. Han Sung understands Eun Chan’s situation: “Eun Chan’s still young. There’s a lot she must want to do. There are a lot of things she probably gave up in choosing you.” Han Gyul says he gave up things too, but Han Sung points out he’s placing the reason for giving up the New York job entirely on Eun Chan. If he’s honest, he’d admit he’d found his work here fulfilling too.

Han Sung brings up his problems with Yu Ju. He’d married her knowing all about her habits and her work, but now he finds himself just barely holding back from insisting she quit working: “Is this why women don’t want to get married?”

Han Sung: “The moment a man makes a woman his, the man wants that woman to live according to his wishes. But just because he’s won her over, can he force her to do as he wants?”

Han Gyul sees Han Sung’s point, laughing in agreement:

Han Gyul: “I wish she would.”
Han Sung: “You too? I do, too.”
Han Gyul: “Why can’t things just go the way I want?”

Note: I enjoy this conversation, but it strikes me as something a woman would want to hear, rather than something a man would actually say. I don’t mean to give men too little credit, but somehow this kind of understanding of a woman’s role in contemporary society seems to be exactly the kind of thing women desperately WISH men would understand… but unfortunately, too many times, they don’t. Great, have I alienated all the men now?

 

Eun Chan tells Han Gyul she’s decided not to go abroad. She was about to call his grandmother to tell him so. He asks why she decided not to go, and she answers that she’s got at least a hundred reasons.

Han Gyul: “It seems to me that your hundred reasons not to go can’t hold up to the one reason for going. Am I right? I don’t want you to go, either. Thinking of this cafe without you makes me not want to come here every day. It makes me not want to work. I don’t even want to think about not being able to see you. When I was planning to leave for New York, there were times I thought I couldn’t because I’d be haunted by your memory. Do you think I want to send you away? But I want to show you a bigger world.”

Eun Chan says she doesn’t want to be apart from him, but he tells her he can go to visit: “I hate the idea of you giving something up because you love me. I want to be your support, so you can grow, and advance.” When she asks if he really wants her to go, he can’t answer yes, but he does say:

“I’ve realized I can’t be responsible for your life. But I can be by your side, watching over you. I’ll take that instead. We may be separated now, but later, much later… when you hold the hand of your first child… when they go off to school… when you marry your children off… Ah, proposing is so embarrassing.”

(Song: “이별전의 발렌타인” [“A Valentine Before Farewell”] by Pineapple)

 

Meanwhile, Yu Ju makes the first step in reconciling by calling Han Sung home early to make dinner (and her first batch of kimchi, which both note as lacking something in the taste department, although her efforts are duly appreciated). I don’t think their problems are completely over, but it’s a nice first show of compromise.

 

Han Gyul makes his official greeting to Eun Chan’s family, who accept him gladly. Though it’s merely a formality, he asks for her mother’s approval to marry Eun Chan.

Eun Chan shows Han Gyul her room, and the toys he’d made for her. He warns her away from smooth-talking Italian men (“They say ‘you’re beautiful’ to everyone, so don’t pay them any attention!”) and sighs that he misses her already. While they kiss, his hand makes his way under her shirt, but at the first contact of his hand on her skin, Eun Chan jumps and pushes him back, skittish.

Flustered and embarrassed, Han Gyul realizes she’s not comfortable with going further. Frustrated, he keeps her at a distance and tells her not to touch him from now on.

 

That sexual frustration continues the next day — Han Gyul is serious about not letting her touch him anymore. She finds his reaction cute, and he does his best to keep away, with limited success.

Ha Rim, going through girl problems of his own, tells Eun Chan not to torture Han Gyul — if she’s limited their contact to mere kisses, Han Gyul is probably feeling all churned up inside.

 

Misty Blue – “위로” (comfort) ::

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Eun Chan looks wistfully around her as she thinks about how she’ll be leaving soon. She writes on a leaf, “Let’s meet again in two years,” and affixes her name tag on the branch.

 

That night, Han Gyul and Eun Chan text back and forth.
Han Gyul: “Are you sleeping?”
Eun Chan: “Nope.”
Han Gyul: “What are you doing?”
Eun Chan: “I miss you.”
Han Gyul: “Let’s meet in our dreams.”

Donawhale – “Running” ::

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After reading the last message, Eun Chan makes a swift decision, and gets up. She makes a lame excuse to Eun Sae, then sneaks past her mother out of the house. She runs through the streets and arrives, out of breath, at Han Gyul’s apartment.

 
He’s shocked to see her there (Eun Chan: “I missed you, so I ran over”), but he can’t trust himself to be near her this late at night, and won’t let her inside. She pushes past him, and he keeps his distance, agitated at her every movement as she drinks wine, looks around his apartment, and wanders from room to room.

He insists repeatedly that she leave, and tries to occupy himself reading a book. (Eun Chan: “Do you hate me being here so much?” Han Gyul: “Not you, me. “) He tries to push her outside, but can’t bring himself to touch her, so he resorts to dragging her toward the door by her foot.

 

 
He manages to shove her outside, shutting the door and forbidding her from coming inside anymore (only in the daytime, and accompanied by Ha Rim).

Unfortunately, he’s forgotten her shoes. She pounds on the door, and taunts him, saying she’ll go off to Italy and be sure to have an affair with a handsome Italian man. Finally, Han Gyul cracks the door open and tells her he’ll drive her home. She shoves her foot through the opening.

Han Gyul: “Don’t come in! Take your foot out. If you come in, I’m not sending you home. I’m warning you.”

 

Looking him straight in the eyes, Eun Chan squeezes herself across the threshold, and firmly plants both feet indoors.

 
The Melody – “Paradise” ::

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Han Gyul stares at her intensely, understanding the choice she’s made, then sweeps her up in a kiss.

 

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Coffee Prince is indeed addicting. This episode ending just left me grinning the whole day.
It also left me raising my expectations for the last episode.
Thanks dramabeans for your efforts.

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thank you for both episode summaries, they were both great.

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So satisfying to my lomantic soul....thanks Javabeans.....

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omg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i soooo love the ending!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i so love their pace of relationship!!!!!!!!!!!!!! regarding the matter whether this drama is rather realistic or not, i'd rather look at the maturity thinking of the characters. I love eun chan's character; she's a real thing-- i love the way she thinks about Han Gyul's family's reaction towards their relationship. She accepts it and understands the way they feel, and not annoyed or insulted; for just because her family is poor, they disagree to their relationship, immediately jumping into conclusion that she is not good enough for HG. That's what I call being matured hehe. EC is a GREAT lady.

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I dont like the two year separation idea. She can marry him and then go to Italy. When he gave up everything for her thinking she is a boy, how can she not consider his love and affection for her and marry him. She can go to Italy or wherever after marriage which many people do. She can go with family later and learn the course. They have plenty of money. She can pay back later after earning if she really wants to pay back.

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javabeans, thank you for the great summary! =)

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Hmmm...Interesting twist with Italy. But I wonder whether she takes the trip or not? You can still do what you want in life even when your married. For some reason this show treats marrieg like its some type of life shackle. LOL! But seriousely, theres always solutions between couples it depends on finding that middle ground.

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Waarrggghhh! only one more episode to go. I'm going to seriously miss this series. Love HK and EC. Thanks so much Javabeans.

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Goodness!!! can't help myself grinning like an idiot! thanks javabeans!!!!!

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Who cares if it is real or not? It answers something in all of US. That is why we are all addicted. What this drama does with the cliches is innovative, not necessarily creative, but very innovative. Now, there will be other dramas trying to do the same thing but it will not be as fresh and new as Coffee Prince has been for us. Now that we all have a certain standard of reference (CP) we are going to be even harder to convince to suspend our realism in order to be sucked into other stories.
Coffee Prince is a nice fairytale and we must not forget it is a fairytale. Like someone said earlier, some times we, as women, don't know in what direction we should go to attract men. Then we change ourselves to attract others while lying to ourselves. I like how EC never really changes herself to fit the mold of her society alway being EC. We should compromise but to be hunted then told we must change when what attracted the men was our unique selves is ridiculous.

Anyway, Javabeans A BIG THANK YOU!!!!

Nadia- are you Nadia Hamid from Maryland?

Ciao

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flash two years and she a manager of her own coffee shop and on more equal standing with Han Gyul....and go on from there perhap.

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You know how addicting this CP series is? I caused a plague in the office and everyone caught the bug, watching and checking your site for their daily cuppa 'java'. It's a fix that we can't resist. :)

Coffee Prince is generally a chick-flick. (hmm, must be because both PD and the writer are women? I don't really need to point that out huh?) I've got a whole bunch of male friends, brothers and relatives and they don't talk to each other like the Choi cousins do. Those parts are merely women's wishful thinking. It's so true that anything related to emotions, they'd rather discuss it with someone from the opposite sex. Because I do get that a lot. And sometimes it's disconcerting to hear how they see relationships, work ethics and even politics (no wonder I remained single...but that's another story).

I'd like the idea of both EC and HG pursuing their respective carreers abroad. My God, they're still young to get tied down, you know? and with the advent of advance communications that we have now (c'mon, Koreans even invent them!), having a long-distance relationship isn't as bad as it seems.

Thanks for the recap Javabeans! Until next week...
(sidenote: I heard another Donawhale song called "Running"(?) This time they sound a bit like Coldplay, while the "Echo" one was more Ivy-like. I say that Indie-group sounds pretty good.)

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I really love these songs by 어른아이/Adult Child, but I was only able to find a Japan version of their album on Yesasia... anyone have an idea where else I could look?

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Wow. You're so great. I really enjoyed your summary!! Thanks for your fast work!!
Eun Chan and Han Gyul, they are so cute!!! Especially, Han Gyul.
I cannot believe this seriese is going to be ended.
I miss this couple already, but I am happy that I can read your post and meet this couple.
They are very very cute. Can't wait the next, last episode!!!

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Watching the ending, I just hope that the script writer won't fast forward 10 years into the future to show us how happy they are in ep 17. I would prefer a open ending, so maybe...just maybe... they will do a sequel. Call me a day dreamer but I want to see more of HK and EC. The previous weeks, my life is so upside down, I feel the time is too long when I have to wait another week 'til the next ep, then when that day comes, I laugh and cry 'hysterically' (that the word my housemates refer to me) and when it's over, I find 1 hour is too short. God save me.

Thanks Javabeans, I love the fact that you make it available to us coffee-hungry-fans as soon as you can. Is it me or the excitement of watching CP is too much that you feel the need to share it with others as quick as you can?
Haha, I can't help but grinning all day after watching CP.

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# 113 invisibelle
It's listed for sale at
http://www.annyoung.com/
Paste 어른아이 into the search box on their home page if you don't have a Hangul IME.
I have never bought from them myself, but they are a US company (Orange County CA) so should be OK to deal with.

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Really enjoy watching Cp but more than that really enjoy reading everyone's thoughts. That has been part and parcel of the whole CP experience for me. It's really fantastic and amazing as well when a piece of work can provoke so much after thought from it's audience. So much of what is out there is just mindless entertainment so when something gets us to slow down and truly reflect, then I'd say the creator of the piece has really succeeded in the endeavor. Thank you javabeans for providing this gathering place.

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Javabeans, thank you for the great summary!
Please, could anybody tell me what is the melody that is playing during the last scene (when HG is carrying EC to the bed...)

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I wonder, do they have any condoms?

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# 119Anonymous
I wouldn't be surprised if HG didn't design them. After all, the specimens of his handiwork EC was playing with in between downing the red wine soju-fashion aren't the only sort of toy...
I carefully refrain from even thinking about, let alone mentioning, the idea of coffee flavoring.

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#120 Gramps
"I carefully refrain from even thinking about, let alone mentioning, the idea of coffee flavoring."

That really cracked me up. :) Another form of getting your caffeine-fix...a surefire "upper," but let's not go there...

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if dramas were realisitic, they would be boring.

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#121 Ima - pas devant les enfants!!! Especially if, as could well be the case, "Ima" is a Kapampangan "nanay". In which case you and I both ought to be ashamed of ourselves, talking of such matters in the domain of a nice girl like javabeans.

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#123 Gramps: pas devant les enfants! -lol

Désolé Javabeans, but Gramps started it. ;) Just can't help commenting about it.
Will definitely have Coffee Prince withdrawal (I swear no pun intended on that!) once this series ends.
Ok, back to PG mode....

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i was to hyped up yestreday ... i couldn't focus because of the last minute scene coffee prince showed yesterday
so i decided to rewatch and rewatched just to get over the scene.. and take it as it is..

i've read "morality issues" being discussed in forums.. esp regarding showing pre-marital sex and all... my take.. just to remind them both characters are adults already....
and what's wrong with teenagers... watching it... it was rated PG 15...
i mean come on.. i may be liberal about it... but KIDS and teenagers are now very smart...
and the scene wasn't really a bed scene.. if we are to compare it with movies being watched by kids.. the kiss between the leads of High School Musical 2 was much terryfyiong for me.. than this

my take for the episode.. based on javabeans summary..
1) Han Gyul is such a GOOD Person... i need to find a real Han Gyul
where could he possibly be....
2) Eun Chan finally makes her move... i'm not saying because she made a decision to sleep with him is the move.. but we all know... the moment she ran to HG's apartment proved to me... she was ready to be with HG 100%
i've been complaining for all while that she's been really always on the safe side...
but you know hard it is for somebody like EC.. an independent tomboyish woman to actually physically give herself ..

another episode of unparalled chemistry between YEH and GY..
a big applause to the writers and director for bold moves...

i agree with javabeans.. it's not original... but is a fresh start... i always say this
but CP just raised the level for K dramas....heck soembody has to that
like what "My name is Kim sam soon" did... or else we are gonna be stuck with dramas that adds more melodrama to our already melodramatic lives...
reality wise..it's not the story that is real.. but the emotions all the characters goes through.. whether its... happiness, sadness... pervertness... (hahahaha)

side note: tried watching "time between dog and wolf" and got irritated by the character Nam Sang Mi was playing... i said to myself... isn't that the same girl in all other typical k-dramas...

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OMG thank you soo muchh, your the BESTTT!

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Go Chan barely finished High School.
Would she even have a mature and technical vocabulary along with math calculating skills to study coffee abroad.
She pinned her name tag on a tree saying "see you in 2 years"
as if it were her last day at the CP?
- can you get a Passport and Visa to go live and study in Italy overnight in Korea.
Who paid for the barrista school she was attending in Seoul. that was the 1st time i'd noticed she was actually IN school.
the storyline crashed and burned for me in ep. 16.
but that doesn't mean i haven't enjoyed the ride.
2 years later with different hair and more mature glances - i'd have preferred that it ended when the lights in Han Gyul's apt. were turn off
- fade to black -
2 second blank screen
- no cards -
followed by first card
IN MEMORIAN for those S. Koreans recently killed in Afghanistan.
second card - directed by:
3rd card title
then roll.

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Wahhh!!I really want to see the next chapter!!=DD!!Again, a big thank you for all the time you spent on doing the CP recap!It is really appreciated!

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canyayasis, interesting points. This is actually where i feel guilty about my recaps, because on one hand, I choose to leave certain things out because my summaries are already topping out at around 3,000 words and that's just ridiculous. But I don't always know what omissions will trip other people up, and I guess I assume everyone will watch the drama anyway and not just accept what I say. You're free to be disappointed in the series, of course, but I feel bad if it's based on something that I did, rather than the drama itself.

Eun Chan is putting herself through barista academy; this isn't the first time it's been mentioned, but it's the first time we've physically seen her there. (I think this is why she's behind on her repayments to Han Gyul, which triggers their money argument.) She's been going for a few episodes, I think.

I don't think Italian visas are that hard to get for Koreans (or Americans). It was very easy when I went a few years ago.

Hm, I'm all for higher education, but somehow I don't have trouble seeing Eun Chan as intelligent despite barely finishing high school. I don't know much about studying coffee (on a professional level) -- do you need a strong technical and math background? Because then, I'd be screwed even with my fancy-dancy education.

I do agree that I'd have been fine with the series ending at 16, and the lights flickering off would've been a nice way to close. But I'm still looking forward to seeing how it all ends with 17... But thanks for your thoughts -- dissent always gives you more to think about! :)

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WELL, there's lots of math - conversions etc... calculus - i couldn't do it with my fancy dancy education either... i loved this series - the apple farm, the romp in the stream, the CP concert, Terry-ah - everything... you're right, it would make the perfect reel of "moments of perfection in production" reel - for all the reasons you stated.
Toward the end though, i was starting to get bothered by the ambient noise outside the perimeter of filming. I was SHOCKED when i saw the pictures on SOOMPI of people actually getting THAT close to production filming - domestically, there is a much wider and broader perimeter to control outside noise being picked up.
i'm just weary of the few years jump in the future..
as i'm sure you'll remember - we just had that 6 year jump in BAD COUPLE.
and the year or so jump in QUE SERA SERA-
p.s. watch THANK YOU - i will not disappoint.

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Well, let's face it... the last two episodes seemed to be not on par with the previous fourteen! It was noticeable in ep 15 but more apparent in this last one that the quality of the writing has dropped down a notch or so. So, does extending the show by only one episode ended up altering its original spirit and pacing? I guess we'll have to see the ending before we can make a decision on that.

Personally, i felt that the balance of the characters was slightly off this week. It focused more on Eun Chan and gave her arguments more weight. In turn, the character Han Gyul has been reduced to an idealized sensitive man who continued to put his love's welfare above his own. Does this man really exist in real life, ladies? I miss the man who captivated me while he was struggling to identify his sexuality. Coffee Prince, like someone has said earlier, MAY be heading toward a "chick-flick" ending. That would be ashamed if it happens because it did such a fantastic job at tackling the homosexuality issue in addition to exploring personal growth. It SEEMS that the writer is giving us what we (female viewers) want to see/hear rather than continuing to challenge (or surprise) us with more a complex ending. It's a little bit early for me to said this so I desperately want CP to prove me wrong next week! They have surprised us many times before. What is clear is that Coffee Prince lacks (may be due to the combo of female writer+PD) a male perspective/voice on the issue of relationship. Would the story (or ending) be any different otherwise if the writer is a man? Gramps (or anyone), your thoughts?

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THanks again for this wonderful CP blog....
I'm enjoying myself emensely, listening to the music you've provided as I'm reading your synopsis. I've been downloading Ental episodes from d-addicts and before finding your blog, I was going crazy with impatience for their next uploads (ep 13 right now). BUT NOW.... I read what your blog entries and feel quite satisfied and able to wait for d-addicts episodes/.srt files.

Thank you for making my day, today. I feel so happy...

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secret admirer, i think Coffee Prince has always suffered a handicap by lacking a strong male perspective, but had until very recently been able to manage that by drawing the conflicts so nicely. (And had it been written by a male, I really think we would have lacked a lot more in the other things it's done so well. Perhaps an additional writer would have helped -- not a situation of having a male instead of a female writer, but one in addition to.) Now, we've definitely veered into female wish-fulfillment territory, and the over-perfection of some of the Choi men's statements struck me as very clear proof of that. Granted, at this point I've built up such affection and goodwill toward this show that it doesn't faze my enjoyment terribly, but it's not something I can ignore either.

And I think the PD was very smart, and prescient, in resisting extension of the series so strenuously. I have a feeling she was strong-armed into agreement. That said, it's not like i think it's ruining the show or anything that severe.

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# 131 Secret Admirer "Gramps (or anyone), your thoughts?"
Heck, I don't mind playing the role of global village idiot on this blog, indeed I've been auditioning quite determinedly for that part, as some people may have noticed: but token male spokesperson??? I'd prefer to leave that role to "anyone" since it appears to be a choice between him and me.

On gender-unspecific issues: for tourist or business entry to any EU country for 90 days or less, Korean (or US) nationals just turn up with at any entry port with a valid passport and a return flight coupon. No prior application needed or possible. But for two years' study, EC will need an Italy specific long-stay visa (Italy has more types of these than anywhere else, 21 at the last count). That does require prior application in Seoul, but provided HG's Granny's financial support includes depositing upfront the specified minimum daily subsistence amount in Euros and in EC's name in an Italian bank account, there are no problems. And when the consular official sees the family name on a sponsoring letter from Granny, he'll send the visa round in an embassy car with a box of amoretti. So say 48 hours max.

Then on EC's educational qualifications. You would certainly need calculus to design an explosion-proof expresso machine, but I'm not sure you'd need it to understand its operation, though they are indeed complicated and temperamental contraptions. Anyway, university education is vastly overrated (I know, because I used to inflict it on people for a living: people do learn a whole lot at University, but it's often not from the courses they take) and Korean High Schools are generally excellent. Well, they aren't always too hot at teaching English, but that's not for lack of skill or effort: it's more a problem of method and the huge gap between Korean and European languages.

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Is 17 the last episode?!

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secretadmirer - i've calmed down a bit - but if you can post a SCREAM, you should read my posts over on the SOOMPI thread after ep. 16 - i agree with the balance being off these last eppies.
- i mean POOR Sun KI! he barely gets an "also ran" - i felt horrible for him when he walked into that empty apt. and he had such an awesome singing voice that barely got noticed...
for me, it was the group that went to the Apple Farm that captivated me. the ancilliary characters left me "un-moved." and that wedding event felt empty and flat - HS had better chemistry with Terry-ah the dog.
and these vignettes of new 2nd layer characters in ep. 16
- the man in the studio with a child video on his phone....
Han Rim's lastest flame sitting at a table with 3 unknown friends...chatting up on the phone with Ha Rim...with a stuffed bear?
wha??
having said ALL of this
- i don't regret watching this series - and dramabeans has made that possible.
in Go Chan's character development she's:
never had a boyfriend - never been in love - never been out of Korea
so, this 24 yr. old innocent - meets man - falls in love - suffers traumatic psychological damage with his vicious rants, tantamount to character assasination, forgives him, keeps her first steady job, kisses him, looses her V to him, accepts money from the grandmother that's about to die, loves him and leaves him for 2 years, blah, blah....
as long as it doesn't end like ONE FINE DAY - i'll be happy.

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P.S. to GRAMPS -
i've never enjoyed being PUT IN MY PLACE as much as i did by you and the reference to an exploding espresso machine! touche' and BRAVO! It's just in one episode, i saw Go Chan counting on her fingers - and it didn't seem likely to me she'd make the huge leap to thresholds of temps and boiling points etc..

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Thank you for another wonderful summary.. Sorry didn't get to read them earlier.. It was a bitter sweet episode for me .. I loved the G-rated love making ending .. However this is what I didn't like ..

- What's up with saying yes to marriage and then expect the person to wait for 2 years .. (it's like YJ thing all over again with a shot of Hee Jin from MNIKSS).. Not that I think choosing career over guys is a bad thing (heck I'm doing it myself.. But I won't go say yes to someone and expect him to wait for me in the first place).. This is too selfish .. In this category I think Dal Ja's spring did a better job ..
- I still don't get the fuss about marriage.. Are they expecting to have a big wedding (ok my ideal spot for marriage is the city hall) or give dowry to the guy?? or even the "married EC" expected to be a stay at home wife who's job is to popping out kids?? I mean Get REAL.. Nobody does it 21st century.. When my cousin went to study, her hubby was with her (she's the head of the household) and when my dad had to study my mom tookover her role as the head of the household (currently our household runs by the joint force).. I really don't get why EC can't support her family or work even when she's married.. I'm all up for not being married but her reasons aren't strong enough.. Given the fact is that she's madly in love with HG..
- I also don't get it when the guys regard their wives as property.. (not meaning this drama).. I mean WTF.. (Ok this is my feminist side talking)..
- I don't get YJ's drinking habit given the fact she's pregnant .. or is it OK in Korean society?
- Finally I'm so in love with HG now (minus the assaulting kiss) .. It's funny how I'd prepare myself for the possibility of not liking him at the beginning of the drama and ending up loving him the most .. He'd gone through the most emotional suffering in this whole drama and still going through some..

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136 canyayasis: "as long as it doesn’t end like ONE FINE DAY - i’ll be happy."

ooh, that's pushing too much for comparison. With only Gong Yoo as the common denominator, CP is a universe away from that incestuous insubstantial drama (apologies to those who liked it).

I reckon let us all have some faith with CP's PD and the writer to surprise us to the very end.

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isn't it interesting how we always want more ... at the beginning, all eun chan wants was just for him to pay attention to her .. then to love her .. now that she got that .. she wants more a career and love ...

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IMA - i didn't care ONE FINE DAY - though i had some serious Roll on the Floor and Laugh my @#* off moments with the Team Manager's diagrams for kissing...
I was referring to the "i'm leaving for a few years....." (THOSE ENDINGS!!?!?!?!?!)
THAT type of ending - where we get at MOST 30 seconds of screen time on a lackluster reunion -

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#138: I could understand her reason for not marrying. Once she gives in to marrying him, who can say that there won't be a possibility that she can refuse to accept his financial help. In marriage, there's no such thing as your money, my money (except those fancy Hollywood celebrity couples and their marriage contract). Besides, she is used to being self efficient and is a strong personality, now it's would be hard to buy the idea of being a meek housewife. Does that make sense?

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your comments are quite insightful and i wholeheartedly agree with them.

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I love this drama so much, this is the first korean drama that i watched fully and enjoyed. The casts were amazing especially EC and HG. They both are great actors. Their facial expressions, all the feeling in the drama were amazing. HG is sooooooooo freaking HOT. My GOD, the drama end next week. I am really going to miss it soooooooo

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I'm on the fence about EC

On the one hand...her dreams have always been about making those she loves happy (as she relates them to HK anyway)...keeping her family fed and doing her best at whatever job she has...the jump to a very individual dream that would force her to leave the people she loves, albeit temporarily, seems strange. (not that I dislike the development...it just seems sudden)

On the other hand, Dr. Hong urges her to dream bigger than simply doubling her salary.

yet another hand...

When HK was still planning to go to NY, EC told Sun Ki that holding someone back (from achieving a dream) using love was base, but her eyes and her words seemed to convey different feelings...she seemed to want to ask HK to stay even though she thought it was wrong (theoretically)...and she was SO VERY happy when he chose to stay...this EC doesn't seem to mesh with the EC planning to go to Italy...but what do I know.

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#138

I am just as baffled about Yu Ju partying while pregnant...was it just her friends drinking or was she drinking too?

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javabeans... got your points! Criticizing Coffee Prince does not mean that i did not enjoy the drama ('cause i love some pieces of it to death), it's just that i had such high hopes for it. I wished for it to be a great show, not just a very good one. I can only hope that CP bounced back with an ending that befits its amazing run. I do understand that it is unfair or unrealistic to expect the writer to maintain the same level/quality of writing for whole duration of the series (especially since the last 4 eps are add-on to the novel adaptation). Thus, come the question of whether the episode extension puts pressure and constraints on the quality of the work. Maybe having a second writer on the team (male like you've pointed out) would have made a positive impact on storyline in terms of easing the workload as well as furthering character developments. Side note: Soderbergh can be quite egocentric, but few can deny the social significance of his movie "Traffic".

Gramps, ROFL, i definitely did not mean to offend or single you out as the rep for the male species. It was just a desperate call for some response (i.e.: "anyone")! I do apologize for the misunderstanding. I will surely miss reading your witty/candid comments once CP is over.

canyayasis: Yes, I can SEE your SCREAM and your POV. However, it is only a show (albeit one that we obsessed over for the last 8 weeks). It's pure entertainment after all. So let's just sit back and enjoy the moment, heh? Good till the last drop, Coffee Prince!

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Yess paper written and printed, back to usual programming. I think that since from the beginning not many of us were expecting much more than a light frothy concoction from Coffee Prince, it's already exceeded our expectations in the climax. Many Korean dramas actually like ending on a climax (when major conflicts are resolved), or quickly after it, so everyone's riding on an afterglowy high, and it's only later you realise you still want to know how they work it out in the end. CP may have raised our expectations too high but it's hard to live up to the peak (artificially extending it would make the series seem forced and dragged and drawn-out) so I think it's great that even as they're wrapping up the issues they're showing us that life goes on (although I don't see how I can take that lesson literally and understand that yes, exams begin when CP ends!) So although these last few episodes feel milder than previous ones, I'm not really let down, because I've already been spoilt (as in, gâtée, not spoiled as in spoilers) by the earlier episodes. These past episodes have been fluffy as hell butbutbut... I love CP too much to complain. Possible lack of mental rigour on my part here, but I don't mind just sitting back and taking it in and brain-dying. xD

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Now, that this drama has almost concluded, I'm even more curious to know about the writer, director, script writer, set designer, etc. I wonder about their gender, their education background and work experiences, as to whether or not it was strictly within Korea or if they matriculated or worked in from a more western-type atmosphere. Although, I am no expert on Korean dramas, this production team certainly seems to be different and more western in perspective, than from the production staff of other dramas that I have watched.
Anyway, this has been a very enjoyable ride ... just like EC's first ride in HG's convertible mini-cooper.
Thank you for a chance to participate in this blog.

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I've forgotten since when, but i enjoy reading ur summaries more than watching the show itself. Must be ur style of writing! U've got me addicted~. lol.Keep up the good work yeah?
Really appreciate the amt of hard work u have put in. THANKS!

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