20

Beethoven Virus: Episode 6

BV tends to err on the side of the predictable, but it’s an enjoyable watch, nonetheless.

Que l’amour est beau!

As always, many thanks to Luv for lending her screencaps.

SONG OF THE DAY

Loptimist – “Ghostwrite” [ Download ]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Episode 6

Well, everyone’s joy at hearing the orchestra formally established vanishes like dust up a vacuum when Kang explains that he’s decided to only hire professionals to play for his new orchestra. Not only that, but he also belittles the members’ contributions to the success, and literally takes all the credit for the city council’s decision to have an orchestra in the first place. He leaves behind a group of very angry people.

Ru Mi is more disappointed than angry, however, and asks him to at least let them audition. Kang tells her that this team is really just not strong enough for his tastes. There is also a long monologue about how he is the honest one, as opposed to Jung Myung Hwan, who will coat the news in sugar but drop them nonetheless. I think he’s trying to rationalize his decision as the general gist of his speech to Ru Mi points out that an honest bastard is better than a lying nice guy. (Maybe, but it’s still not the done thing.)

In addition, Kang marks her out as the worst of the lot, having gone deaf and all that. He’s hiding his concern for people under a tough coat again, as he suggests snottily that she should go see a doctor. Ru Mi is in the valley of Denial, so he sends her to an ear expert who’s a friend of his for a checkup. (He has friends?!)

The next day, she goes through a few scans, and though we aren’t told the diagnosis just yet, her reaction (crouching in the middle of the street and covering her ears) seems to indicate that it isn’t good.

That night, at a roadside eatery, Bae, Hee Yun, Kim and Ru Mi sit together and drink their share of alcohol. Gun Woo ducks in out of nowhere, and tells everyone he went to the police station to tender his resignation. Upon hearing this, Ru Mi, already three sheets to the wind, pats Gun Woo on both cheeks and calls him a pitiful boy.

Gun Woo, on the other hand, seems to be completely at peace (besides being a little disturbed at Ru Mi’s current mental state). The others grumble about not hearing a single thing from Kang about auditions, and down more alcohol. This being Gun Woo’s night to shock people, he tells them that Park, the double bass player (double bassist, double bass-er?) got a phone call from Kang and has an audition.

This is the last straw for Bae, but he stops shouting when he hears that Kim has also received a call – however, the old man knows he has Alzheimer’s and has told Kang that he will consider it. Everyone surreptitiously checks their cellphones, making sure that Kang hasn’t called them – and then Gun Woo’s phone rings.

It’s from Kang – who tells him that this call does not mean, in any way, shape or form, that Gun Woo will be guaranteed a spot. It’s just that his bravery in resigning and deciding to pursue music has touched Kang – and he’s throwing out a pity line for Gun Woo. (Yeah, right, pull the other leg, Kang, we no longer believe in your cold-blooded asshattery.)

Gun Woo is rendered very speechless and can only repeat Kang’s instructions mechanically. Also, Kang makes Gun Woo promise not to tell Ru Mi the location and time of the auditions. (Thus guaranteeing Gun Woo certain death at her hands, lol.)

The chummy atmosphere disappears and congeals into general gloom as Bae keeps going on and going about how hard he worked as a member of the orchestra Gun Woo abandoned – Gun Woo is guilty enough to think of not going to the auditions. Thankfully, Kim talks him out of that insane idea.

Bae leaves in a cloud of alcoholic fumes, and Ru Mi chases after him. They both know that it’s a great chance for Gun Woo – who caves and texts them the date of the audition (next Wednesday). He doesn’t know where either. Everyone will get a text message on where the audition is Wednesday morning.

Ru Mi decides to get the location out of Kang. Instead of asking him face to face – he would totally refuse – she texts him with various friendly messages asking to see him. The man is still in the office, being a workaholic of the nth degree, but he texts her back, saying that he’s at dinner with some instrumentalists.

Then Kang hears a bit of a disturbance in the offices next to his room. It’s Ru Mi, flipping through the trash and folders with a flashlight in hand. He moves to call security, but only as a ploy to get her to admit the real reason she’s trying so hard to join the new orchestra. To Ru Mi, this is a chance to do what she wants, and she doesn’t want to miss it like she did with other chances in the past. Her desperation strikes a chord in Kang.

He remarks cryptically that if she does pursue it this time she may lose everything, but he writes down the audition date and location on her had anyway.

Ru Mi looks down at her hand like it’s been turned to gold. 😀

Rapid change of scene to Park’s house, where there’s a celebration going on, with people from work. It’s for a younger colleague of Park’s, who has just been promoted to section chief. Kang texts Park with the location of the audition, but Park is talking to his colleague in his daughter’s bedroom, so his wife brings the phone to him.

Unfortunately, Park’s colleague is really drunk and he makes a few passes at Park. (Either that or my brain is due for its annual bath of soap.) It’s more about humiliating Park than actual affection, since the colleague was promoted at Park’s expense. His wife watches as the colleague-turned-boss insists on putting his dirty socks on the clean coverlet of their daughter’s bed.

Later, she brings up the topic of joining the orchestra with Park, very tentatively – he loves the job, why not go to the audition? However, the salary is half of what Park makes now, and he’s quite undecided. He yells at his wife, who’s been taking a lot lately (along with being pregnant), and tells he that he refuses to go.

Hmm. At an internet cafe, Yi Deun is basically prostituting herself – her friend tells her that it’s a fast way to make money. (Well I’d tell the friend to stick her head in water and never talk to me again.) She meets with an exceptional ‘buyer’ online, but it turns out to be Kim using an alias ID. He drags her away (if an old man can drag her away then she’s really skipping out on the food) to the grocery store – one of the many places Yi Deun is part-timing at.

Kim sits her down at a table outside and gives her the money he promised. However, she’s not getting away with it until she gives Kim a satisfactory answer for her recent downward spiral. As it happens, Yi Deun is deluding herself about dreams of riches and setting up a scholarship fund for music students in need. Kim tries to make her realize that it’s a pipe dream by asking her to sell her flute to him, and then asks her if it’s alright if he destroys it.

What he doesn’t anticipate is Yi Deun one-upping him by taking her flute and slamming it against a nearby pole. Not done being dramatic, she flops down on the ground and starts crying.

Kim takes a pamphlet out of his pocket and crouches down next to the girl, explaining that there is an annual musical contest for talented music students who, for whatever reason, are not able to support themselves. If Yi Deun is willing to take three months off and focus on her music, Kim believes that her skill will let her take the scholarship. And he’s not just saying this to make her feel hope – he’s actually judged at these kinds of competitions and knows what it takes.

Aww. He tells her not to give up so easily, and the two stay crouched beneath a lamp-post.

Wednesday morning, audition time!

Park goes in, and passes without a hitch – Kang tells him that should he be chosen for the orchestra, he is expected to quit his current job and put all his energy into playing the double bass. The conductor doesn’t want him running off two days before a concert again.

Out in the hall, all the instrumentalists sit in hushed little huddles, except for the concert members, some of whom are here to cheer their fellow members on.

Gun Woo arrives at last, apparently everyone’s been waiting for him. Anyhoo, the last batch of instrumentalists are called in with him. The actual playing isn’t a problem (the auditions seem almost perfunctory, like Kang has already made up his mind). However, Kang does ask Gun Woo about what he thinks classical music is. (Thus bringing the events of the past full circle.)

Being put on the spot, Gun Woo answers that he doesn’t know much about classical music, but he does know that their orchestra was happy together. Kang deadpans that this answer is too broad and stupid, then tells him to drop by the office later to pick up the practice schedule. (Omm, that was fast.)

The old orchestra members watch as a succession of really talented instrumentalists audition in front of Kang. At least half of them leave in the face of the newcomers’ talent. Ru Mi stays, as does Bae. (Hee Yun is outside having vapours. Ouch.)

At the end of the day, Kang reads out their scores to them – the average of the newcomers is 7.2, while the rest of the old orchestra average about 2 points.

To make herself feel better, Ru Mi stuffs herself at dinner, and I hope it’s Gun Woo who pays, because she’s eating a lot more than her civil servant salary can probably pay for. It’s epically cute that Gun Woo actually takes noodles and food from his own bowl to give to her.

The restaurant seems to be empty (also rather improbable, but whatever), which is probably why Ru Mi is eating the way she is.

Gun Woo tries to encourage her by telling her to look for other classical ensembles. Ru Mi dismisses one by saying that the annual audition date is too far away, which mystifies Gun Woo. He demands an explanation, and Ru Mi gives it to him.

In four months, she may lose her hearing permanently.

Gun Woo is so appalled I doubt he would look worse if someone killed a baby in front of him. Ru Mi seems pretty resigned to her fate, and mentions that her frequent headaches are the result of a tumour in her brain. Cue panic and concern on his part – he wants to drag her to a hospital right away, though she insists on finishing their meal first.

The two find a seat on a nearby fountain. The operation on the tumour will result in her losing her hearing, so she wants to do the most she can with her ears before operating. Gun Woo is nonplussed at her acceptance (well, she can’t do anything about it either, dude, stop stressing yourself out).

Ru Mi tells him that she tried to be sad, but it didn’t work out. (Yay alcohol.) She compares her reaction to being poked with something sharp – one doesn’t feel it at first, and the pain becomes obvious only when blood starts flowing.

Gun Woo doesn’t know what to do with an attitude like that, and settles for hand-holding. She’s glad that he’s worried about her, then swears him to secrecy.

(Dammit, this returns JGS right back to Angsty Prince Chang Hui territory.)

Well, he’s still sharing a house with Kang (ahh, it must be convenient having a friend who’s at a never-ending conference in San Francisco), so the first thing Gun Woo does after coming home is to request that Kang allow Ru Mi on the orchestra as a substitute, since the older man is definitely unwilling to have her as an official violinist.

(He also tells a huge lie about the tests coming back normal for Ru Mi, but why dwell on plot details that will destroy Kang a few episodes later?)

However, Kang’s idea of a substitute is someone who stands while the orchestra practices all year round – and who doesn’t get paid. (- Insert eyeroll – I can just see people flocking to the job already.) Gun Woo’s not too happy with that, but Kang cuts him off and exits the room.

Gun Woo seems to be the liaison for the old orchestra and the new, as they all meet for dinner again. Everyone grumbles except for Ru Mi, who is happy to be near music for the four months she has left.

At his workplace, Park is again being picked on by his boss, who is a lot younger than he is and seems to be holding this against Park. He ends up at having to stay really late at work. When his boss comes back, his temper reaches breaking point and he lets loose with what he’s been wanting to say for weeks. Now that he’s made up his mind to join the orchestra, Park feel free to disparage the pompous, lazy man for what he is.

Gun Woo is outside waiting for the bus when Bae follows him to give him a muffler for his trumpet. Aww. He did this because Gun Woo doesn’t have one and sort of needs it if he wants to practice without waking every dog, cat, parrot and human in his neighbourhood.

The young man is extremely touched and flashes back to his times with the old orchestra. (Cue MV.)

The next day, Kang begins the first practice of the new city orchestra. He notes that Gun Woo isn’t here – and his expression here is more of surprise than anger when the old orchestra members come walking through the door.

They’re so cheerful and happy to be here, while Kang looks like he just tasted something particularly unpleasant. He remembers his offhand comment to Gun Woo, and orders the young man to take his seat. However, to everyone’s surprise, Gun Woo stands with the substitutes.

His explanation: I belong here with them.

End episode.

Commentary/Rambling:

– THEY USED THE BRAIN TUMOUR PLOT? WHUT? DO NOT BE STICKING WITH THE PASTICHES, PLSKTHXBAI. I know they want to link Ru Mi with the title, given that Beethoven also suffered from tinnitus before losing his ability to appreciate music, but gosh, could they have gone with something less hackneyed and overused? (I have had enough of cancer/tumour shows, thank you.) I suppose the rest of the show will be about Ru Mi’s struggle to stay active in music without being able to hear it. Fighting Ru Mi! (I think I may be hallucinating, but I do believe Kang also calls her Ludwig von Ru Mi? Subtle is the way to go, writers.)

– You know what, I give up trying to figure him out – Kang is a softie with a granite shell two feet thick – and I will leave it at that. He’s got a nasty mouth on him, but he sends Ru Mi to a checkup when she would totally not have gone, and he gives Gun Woo a chance in a formal city orchestra even if he doesn’t have classical training (contrary to popular belief, talent isn’t everything). At least Gun Woo and Ru Mi actually push his limits in return for his kindness.

– On the love triangle front: Gun Woo seems to be moving into the rather worrying position of Mr. Nice Guy, the one who listens to the girl about her problems and then doesn’t end up with her. Very well documented phenomenon, mainly due to the guy not speaking up (or doing it too late) or not telling her in very concrete ways. With the hand-holding, however, there seems to be hope.

– Have I mentioned that I love it when people’s cellphones ring in this show, because they’re all classical mixes? ROFL. Also, Kang Mae’s nickname for Ru Mi is ‘Fighting Rooster’, which out-cutes the very subtle love triangle they have going on. (Nothing dramatic, thank you, Drama Gods.)

Sevenses

RELATED POSTS

Tags: , , ,

20

Required fields are marked *

Thank you so much Sevenses.
This brain tumor plot line is too tragic...I didn't expect that at all...sigh...

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thanks for the recap ^^
"THEY USED THE BRAIN TUMOUR PLOT? WHUT? DO NOT BE STICKING WITH THE PASTICHES, PLSKTHXBAI. I know they want to link Ru Mi with the title, given that Beethoven also suffered from tinnitus before losing his ability to appreciate music, but gosh, could they have gone with something less hackneyed and overused? (I have had enough of cancer/tumour shows, thank you.)"

Totally agree~~ I'll be strongly annoyed if this descents into Melodrama realm! WHy ruin a perfectly good drama by giving it a tumor, literally .=.= Like they couldn't have picked something more subtle.
And this is by no means bashing, but imo the actress who plays Duremi- her acting is really the "weakest link" among the three leads- focusing on her and her condition for the rest of the drama is really not a good idea.

As for the love triangle- u think the outcome's already decided? or it's one of those steer the ending towards audience preference type thing - they are still filming right?
Hope poor JGS escapes the fate of playing second fiddle yet again (I mean losing to KJH is one thing...)
I feel that Kang Mae's character is more like a dad who's learning to communicate with his kids (GW and duremi) I just can't see him and durem from the romance angle...

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

"On the love triangle front: Gun Woo seems to be moving into the rather worrying position of Mr. Nice Guy, the one who listens to the girl about her problems and then doesn’t end up with her. Very well documented phenomenon, mainly due to the guy not speaking up (or doing it too late) or not telling her in very concrete ways. With the hand-holding, however, there seems to be hope."

as long as the PDs dont stay stuck on the whole angsty look & hand holding... maybe Gun Woo has a chance...

sometimes i have this moment while watching kdramas when i just wanna slap em to their senses and say "geebus, just tell her u like her already!!" lolz...

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

another drama with the lead having brain tumor...why am i not surprised? it's a cliche if she dies, it also a cliche if she gets an operation but loses her hearing...it's also a cliche if she does not lose her hearing.

so, what to do? hahaha!

i don't care anymore who ends up with, i like gun woo, i also like kang ma-e... i am enjoying the drama because of the music and the struggles each one of them is having. they have pretty interesting characters to begin with.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Oh no.! Another drama joins the list of cancer stories? The cancer matter may ruin the story line for me . As same as Sevenses, I have been digesting enough cancer dramas. BV is good enough and we don't need a plot of cancer tumor to add in. AAAA ....I'm frustrated right now!
Sevenses, thank you!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

thank you dear.. yikes.. need our Ru Mi to be happy & healthy.. no more deadly tumors!!!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

As soon as there is a brain tumor I always am so annoyed. Really...I just want to say forget it and move onto another drama.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Love your recaps and comments!!! I'm going to wait to see how this drama will pan out before watching it, so I enjoy the recaps!

"THEY USED THE BRAIN TUMOUR PLOT? WHUT? DO NOT BE STICKING WITH THE PASTICHES, PLSKTHXBAI. " ---> i can't believe it either! And Ru Mi isn't as talented as Beethoven. Beethoven was able to compose music after he went deaf (and it took him losing his hearing bit by bit for a period of almost 10 years before he went deaf)- for a girl who loves music and doesn't have that much talent- it's to cruel for her to go deaf before she can really make a name for herself. I agree with hanneebuff, it'll be a cliche any way this pans out but I hope the writers will be able to cure her hearing somewhat- like maybe just have her to deaf in one ear. Maybe they should have advertised the tumor in the beginning. I hate it when they spring it up on you. At least, she's not suffering something really life-threatening now, so we can be spared scenes of her getting progressively weaker and coughing out blood.

poor Gun Woo/Jang Geun Seok- he's going to get shafted again.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

SERIOUSLY. WTHECK. main girl getting cancer?! thats so 2002. and just wrong.

and kang maestro is too old for herrrrrrrr. i like the younger coupling :)

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

i thought it was a cyst.
And a lot of people have them actually (they just dont know it)---AND there is a difference from having a tumor and having cancer people.
My mom has one, but since its so deep in her brain, they cannot operate. So she is subject to horrible headaches which cause her to have bad eyesight. BUT she does not have cancer.
Its not improbable. so shut up.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

thanks sevenses for yet another informative recap. i have seen less than 10 K-dramas, and it strikes me something funny that BV has at least 3 overbearing husbands/chauvinists in the whole cast! what are the odds?! I agree it's a shame they went down the Tumor hole. What's more ludicrous is Duremi's reaction, or her performance of it. She could have conveyed an extra layer of "pretend courage" in her usual, up-with-people optimism about her diagnosis. but Noooo...oh well. it was funny when she shone the flashlight in maestro's face; it was an extra beat in the scene that could've leapt into extended slapstick about breaking and entering at night :D
anyway i'm all ready for the upcoming series of furlong glances, quiet sufferings, agonized misunderstandings required for love triangles. it's too late to abandon these little people and their orchestra dreams now!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

RE: the maestro-duremi pairing...it's kinda cute, like "i've a crush on teacher" sort of forbidden tension. maestro seems a bit asexual anyway (no affection unless it's for that dog, mmm!), so it's quite a challenge for her. she's already without a career & as it appears, losing her brain soon. winning maestro's heart won't be too hard! plus he probably did nothing but study/compete all his formative years of musical training. he probably hasn't let down the guards for an angelic girl such as cherry picked by yonsama himself :P

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

p.p.s. (sorry for triple posting...) the trumpeter who plays the clown overdoes the oinking, just a TAD?!
*stuffs ear plugs*

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Jo - I'm sorry to hear that about your mother - and I do apologize if the post offended you in any way. If you read closer, you will see that all of us ranters here are merely annoyed at BV's use of such a blatant plot device. Having a tumour is up there with congenital heart disease and incurable cancers in the category of drama plot points. These things exist, but in terms of drama scripts, they are considered an easy way out for writers - plus they tend to be clichéd.

It's like the Dickensian plot device of having a wealthy aunt/relative/past acquaintance leave the hero with heaps of money just as he is on the verge of difficulties. We're not belittling people with tumours, just the writers who can't be more creative than to rely on something so overused.

All the best to you and your mother. :D

On the relationships front: I see Kang as a father figure to the both of them, but that's just because large (10+) age differences in romance tend to make me go running for the hills.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

can someone tell me when Beethoven Virus airs and how often. Clueless over here. Plus i support Gun Woo, the junior, maybe its just me but the other gun woo seems just a leeeeeeeeeeeeeeetle bit old for her. n stuck up.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Beethoven Virus is a Wednesday-Thursday drama that airs at 9:55 local time. So that's twice a week, for a total of 16 episodes.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

if i see kang with ru mi and not with gun woo. that is when i stop watching this show.

Kang is a great actor. but he's a ass. The only person he deserves is his stupid dog who ate his sleeping medicine. (the doctor is cute, but the fact he treats his dog better than people is disturbing, maybe he likes his dog way too much) <--that would make for quite a plot....

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Seveses, why do you stop posting the next episodes TT_TT
I'm looking forward to see them.
Plese keep writing!!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

sujini,
er, huh? episode 7 is already up....

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

>.> eerhg. When I read about the brain tumor thing I lost my mind and scrolled down to make an effin comment! RI MI can't DIE! WTF! Ri Mi and Woo should end up happily married! T____T I feel like turning off my pc now. I stayed up this late hoping that this story might end up really nice. A super happy ending. if this drama would end tragically I would curse this drama! T____T Ri Mi. please don't die yet T_T. dammit.

Sorry -_- My emotions are taking over my hands. I can't stop typing :(

Jwesonghamnida. Okay. I think I should stop watching this drama.

I don't want another heart break.

Anyways, Thanks for the recap T_T

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *