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Personal Taste: Episode 8

What a difference a week makes. Everyone comes flying out of the closet, and the ensuing angst isn’t even the half of it. The comedy, the sincerity, the confluence of events—all hit a high this week as our characters discover that their hearts are doing things separate from their minds. In this episode, entitled “Kae-in’s Revenge,” exes pop out of the woodwork and fuel the story forward in unexpected ways, leading our couple closer together…and further apart.

 
EPISODE 8 RECAP

Jin-ho continues driving like a madman down the streets of Seoul, and I can’t even focus on the angst because I’m like “Stop the car! Boy, I will reach right in there and MAKE you stop!” Crazy driving makes me anxious. People end up in comas and forget who they loved only to discover it the day their soulmate is standing at the altar with someone else…oh, I’m getting carried away. Are you at least wearing your seatbelt?!

Back with Kae-in’s B-side and ultimate smack-a-thon with Chang-ryul, he tells her to stop feeling sorry for Jin-ho because he’s just a low-down scumbag who’s using Do-bin’s sexual orientation to manipulate his way into getting the Dahm project. In-hee of course is witnessing all this and stows that tidbit away for her future wily plans. Kae-in spits back that there’s no way Jin-ho would do that; he’s not the kind of person to use and abuse, unlike YOU, Han Chang-ryul. Nice. She defends Jin-ho’s honor, saying that she truly knows him.

Kae-in leaves Jin-ho a voicemail, telling him not to drive in that mood, and to just pull over and take a deep breath. Thankfully he listens and pulls over by the river. But it turns out he’s got other things to ponder, as today is also the anniversary of his father’s death. He goes home, where Mom, Hye-mi, and Sang-jun are preparing the table.

Sang-jun comes into Jin-ho’s room, commenting on Jin-ho’s perfect penmanship, saying that Jin-ho should consider himself lucky that Sang-jun stays by his side, since he’s the type to be singled out and rejected by other men (he means this in a juvenile, schoolyard way). But when Jin-ho doesn’t respond right away, he squeaks: “Are you mad at me?” Haha.

Sang-jun wonders if something happened with the Dahm project, and starts sniffing around (literally), saying that he smells something fishy. And who could resist eau de Min-ho? Hye-mi catches him mid-sniff, and points out how weird this looks. She asks, “Do you like men, Sang-jun oppa?” Jin-ho’s like, what’s the deal with all the gay in my life right now?

Hye-mi gets called out by Mom, and Sang-jun turns to Jin-ho: “Do you think…could it be that I’m really in love with you? If that clueless girl Hye-mi noticed something, then maybe…I’m in love with you?” YES! Yes, that’s what I’ve been saying all along!

Jin-ho doesn’t even bat an eyelash: “Get out.” Sang-jun: “Oooh, jagi, you’re being so cold right now it’s sexy.” AHAHAHAHA! You are SO in love with him!

But Jin-ho’s not in the mood for jokes: “I said get out.” Sang-jun gives a playful “okay,” giving up the games, and shouts out at Mom for a blind date set-up. Omona, I love this guy. Jin-ho is just infinitely better because he’s best friends with this guy; that’s how awesome he is.

Jin-ho honors his father, and I’m sure he’s wondering if his actions of late are letting his father down, but in my book, that courageous outing—out of compassion and sensitivity—makes him the best kind of man. Well, initial lie to Kae-in notwithstanding. But that was a misunderstanding that snowballed into lunacy, and it’s sort of too late to be straight with her. Heh…heh, heh. Come on, you have to let me have ONE pun. I’ve been such a good girl!

Back at home, Kae-in debriefs Young-sun on the events of the day, and Young-sun agrees that Jin-ho was very brave. Kae-in adds that she also slapped Chang-ryul. Young-sun, mouth agape, asks how on earth she had the balls to do that, all of a sudden. Kae-in says she doesn’t even know what came over her, but when Chang-ryul called Jin-ho “dirty,” her hand just came up out of nowhere. Young-sun wonders if maybe Kae-in’s got some other feelings towards Jin-ho, since this is such an uncharacteristically bold thing for her to do. Kae-in insists (a little too much) that it’s just friendship, nothing more.

Jin-ho and Sang-jun are out for a drink, and Sang-jun notices that something’s wrong with Jin-ho. Was it the telltale kdrama sign of angst: pounding soju? Jin-ho wonders why life is so hard, as he silently drinks, and thinks back to Do-bin and Kae-in’s reactions to his coming out.

He comes home, where Kae-in is up waiting for him. She timidly asks why he went to such lengths, outing himself that afternoon. Jin-ho replies that when Chang-ryul asked him if he was using Do-bin, in that moment he could see Do-bin’s face. “Those eyes…looked so sad. I couldn’t not say it wasn’t true.”

But he wonders aloud, “Could that have been it? What if it was my competitive streak with Chang-ryul? Or maybe, I really was using Director Choi.” Kae-in is quick to prove him wrong. Jin-ho asks why she’s so firmly on his side. Kae-in: “Because we’re friends. Friends are supposed to take your side no matter what.” Jin-ho smiles, and points out that she’s always getting hurt that way. Kae-in scoffs that she’d never be hurt by Jin-ho. That makes him feel guilty enough to start confessing: “Actually, I…” But she cuts him off. No! Why must you interrupt the man when he’s about to confess his un-gay-ness for you! Why?

She goes back into her workshop, and Jin-ho follows, offering his help. They banter back and forth about work, and Jin-ho offers to buy up all her furniture if he does well, but Kae-in is quick to veto that. She’s got her pride as an artist—it’s the one thing that’s kept her going all these years, and it’s clear that Jin-ho’s impressed by this aspect of Kae-in’s otherwise doormatty personality.

He goads her, “Do you even know what pride is?” At that, she reaches slyly over to her chainsaw, making Jin-ho jump back and cry out for her to put it back down. HAHA. Jin-ho reacts like a little girl who’s seen a mouse: “When I moved in I almost died of a heart attack from that thing! Put it down!” Kae-in picks it up and moves closer: “How’s my pride, now?” Jin-ho finally concedes, with a thumbs up: “It’s the best.” Oh my god, how much more do I love their interactions when there’s heavy machinery involved? I’d love to see her wield a nail gun to make him do the dishes.

The next morning, they’re off in Jin-ho’s car, and Kae-in has done her version of looking nice, wearing a cute bowler hat and some lipstick. She adorably points it out to Jin-ho, seeking his approval, but he’s like, isn’t it because you didn’t wash your hair? Heh. She concedes. He drops her off at her bus, where she runs to barely catch it, being her usual bumbling self. But this time instead of getting exasperated, it makes Jin-ho smile as he watches her.

She gets on the bus and opens the window, leaning out just to wave at Jin-ho as he drives by, and the smile that breaks across his face…I can only describe that as pure unadulterated joy. I don’t know if it’s just because he’s been such a stiff serious fellow until now that the contrast is so stark, but his smile just makes me involuntarily grin from ear to ear, clutching my cheeks from smile ouchies.

When Kae-in goes to work, Chang-ryul is lying in wait, and wants to have a word. Instead of kicking him in the groin, like she ought, she goes to have coffee with him. When she’s short and snide with him, he has the nerve to wonder why she wasn’t like that when they were together—he would’ve grown less tired of her, see. Oh, is THAT what you dragged me here to say, jackass?…is what I want her to say. But she listens for a while as he tells her he wants to get back together. He’s sorry, he’s regretful, he’s hurting, blah, blah. Listen, buddy…you blew your shot the day you walked the queen of the vampires down the aisle. But you’re free to grovel anytime.

At Jin-ho’s office, they find out that MS Group has changed the prerequisites for the Dahm designers, and celebrate the news. Jin-ho feels guilty, but doesn’t betray why he’s in no mood to celebrate. The Hans over at Mirae also hear the news, and get very upset, and I’m thinking, what’s the big deal? If you’re such a big architecture firm, can’t you just use your big resources and make a good design? I know they’re the “bad guys,” but I hate one-dimensional villains more than anything. I mean, this is just the qualifying round. If you’re such stiff competition, let’s see it in the work, people.

But then, the real villainy begins. Chang-ryul meets with a private investigator, and assigns him to do a background check on Jin-ho. Private life, the gay, everything. Okay, that’s more like it. Bring it on, dirtbag!

In another coffee shop, Young-sun has just told Sang-jun about Jin-ho’s coming out, and Sang-jun omo-omo-omonas all over the place. Young-sun asks if he knows about Jin-ho’s relationship with Do-bin, causing Sang-jun’s eyes to roll into the back of his head.

And when he reacts badly, she adds that he can’t be mad since he’s been two-timing with Tae-hoon anyway. Kae-in told her about the two of them wearing couple-tees (HA!) and being lovey dovey with each other. Sang-jun is on gay overload from all the news, and even the way he hangs his head down is funny.

Young-sun asks if Sang-jun cheated on Jin-ho first, and Sang-jun’s “Omo, what are you talking about?” seems more like a declaration that he would never cheat on his Jin-ho. Heh. Young-sun muses that relationships between men and women are hard, but perhaps the ones between men are even more complicated. Oh, you haven’t even uncovered the first layer of complicated in gaydom, sister. There’s levels and sublevels, and branches with words you’ve never even heard of. He’s so agitated that when he gets up to leave, he walks right into the glass wall of the coffee shop, making me die of laughter. That sight gag’s a classic for a reason.

Sang-jun rushes back to the office to ask Jin-ho how he could have outted himself in front of Director Choi and Chang-ryul. Jin-ho asks how on earth he found out about that, and Sang-jun says that “Young-sun unni” told him. Jin-ho, no matter how gay-sensitive, is not cool with the male appropriation of the word “unni,” heh, so he puts a stop to that. He heads out to meet with Do-bin, and Sang-jun asks, “To go out on a date?” Jin-ho looks back at him like, dude, seriously? And Sang-jun looks back all, what?

Jin-ho leaves, and Sang-jun tries to convince him that re-outing himself as straight now will only make the situation worse; maybe they should use the opportunity as a gift from heaven and work hard on the project, righting wrongs later. But Jin-ho doesn’t see it that way, which is why he’s the hero, right?

He meets with Do-bin, and thanks him for creating the opportunity for him with such good feelings. (Note that he calls Do-bin’s feelings for him “good” as opposed to Chang-ryul’s very pointed use of the word “dirty” in reference to those same feelings.) Jin-ho: “But…I can’t return those feelings to you.” Do-bin closes his eyes, not wishing to betray his heartbreak.

Jin-ho says that he knows it’ll seem like he used Director Choi, but he wanted to be honest now, rather than use his feelings. It’s the best thing he can say under these circumstances, but I would really rather him just fess up to being straight, since what’s one more confession to add once you’re already breaking his heart, one way or another?

Do-bin reacts very graciously, asking if Jin-ho’s trying to make him out to be the bad guy. He didn’t make the opportunity for Jin-ho’s firm because of his feelings; he simply wants Jin-ho to do his best for the Dahm project. But his eyes betray tears and a wounded heart. He’s not ready to take Jin-ho’s rejection at face value, and offers a fishing trip. The hope in his eyes kills me. Jin-ho tells him that he’ll repay the kindness by putting his all into the project, and leaves. Methinks this conversation is not over, and Jin-ho will be making me cry if he breaks Do-bin’s heart any further.

In-hee catches Jin-ho on his way out, and asks him to buy her dinner to thank her, and am I the only one who’s thinking, who asks for someone to buy them a thank-you dinner? If you have to ask someone for a thank-you dinner, chances are, they’re not thankful anymore! Anyway, Jin-ho finally takes her out to dinner, if only to shut her up, and In-hee tells him about Kae-in’s slap the other day, wondering if maybe Kae-in has other feelings for Jin-ho. Okay, nosey noserson. Jin-ho’s clearly not interested in what she has to say, either, because the entire time, he’s doing this:

She adds that when she started to work for Director Choi, she had entertained aspirations of becoming Mrs. Choi and the heir to MS Group (well why don’t you just tattoo “Golddigger” on your forehead, then?), but she never felt that Do-bin was a “man,” the way that she keeps feeling toward Jin-ho. Jin-ho, annoyed, asks why he has to talk about this, and gets up to leave. In-hee lays on one last thing: “What made him move into Sang-go-jae? Must have just been coincidence, right?” Oh, you bug-eyed twit! Jin-ho doesn’t answer and leaves. In-hee smirks, making me want to slam that plate of food in her face.

Speaking of characters who make me want to do petty things, Chang-ryul’s father lies in wait for Kae-in to come home, then takes the time to tell her things…that shouldn’t be said. I mean, even from his perspective, these are stupid things to say. He tells her that he’s sorry for what Chang-ryul did, and that if they had known who’s daughter she was, they never would have treated her that way. Er, what now? Is there someone on this planet to whom that speech would give the warm fuzzies? I don’t get you, scarface. An actually effective evildoer would ply her with compliments about her person, not her birthright, revealing the truth of your evil ways. Dumbass. Kae-in responds like anyone would—in abject horror.

She goes home, huffing and puffing in disbelief, and then Young-sun comes over to send her over the edge: someone has bought all of Kae-in’s furniture off of Young-sun’s website, and the buyer? Han Chang-ryul. Kae-in can feel herself going stark raving mad under the surface.

Jin-ho comes home to the sound of chopping wood, and rushes over to find Kae-in bleeding all over her workshop. He rushes over to help her, but she goes straight to the bathroom to run her bleeding hand under water. He knows something’s wrong, and says, “You know people have a funny habit of hurting themselves when they’re angry.” Kae-in: “Because I’m stupid. They all think that I’m so easy.”

The next day she meets with Chang-ryul and coldly asks why he bought all her chairs. He says that he was trying to contact Young-sun (to try the friend angle) and saw the chairs, so he bought them because they’re important to her, adding that he’s going to donate them because he wants to be like her. Kae-in looks like she might be softening a little bit, and then she asks if he really wants to start over with her. Chang-ryul beams in surprise.

Back at home, Kae-in does a head-stand to help her think better, and when that doesn’t work, she goes for a run. Jin-ho sweetly stands watch over her as she does all this, finally stopping her to ask what on earth is going on. She just looks up at him with determination and says, “I’m going to get my revenge!”

On their way back home, Jin-ho tells her she’s not cut out for vengeance, and Kae-in insists that she can do it. Jin-ho tries to convince her by telling her about his mom, the person he loves most in this world. Aw. He says that Mom wants to get her revenge as well, but she’ll never be able to, because she’s too sensitive—the second she lays eyes on her opponent, tears come flowing first. Jin-ho: “Do you know why I became friends with you in the first place? Because you are exactly like my mom. That means you’ll never be able to get your revenge.” It’s sweet and actually a compliment, but it’s not what Kae-in wants to hear right now.

She bangs her head against Jin-ho’s back in frustration. It’s so cute that Jin-ho is constantly this giant wall that she’s running into and hanging off of in comical ways. Back at home Kae-in gets sworn in as Lady Vengeance, under the tutelage of Teacher Jin-ho. Jin-ho asks her again if she really feels the need to do this; he’d rather her just move on. Kae-in: “What about an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose?” Jin-ho: “It’s eye for an eye…and a tooth for a tooth.” Heh, well you said she’d be bad at revenge.

They stand in the bathroom, and Kae-in looks at herself in the mirror, about to say something, then losing her nerve. She insists she can’t do it, but Jin-ho teases her: “You don’t want revenge, do you? With confidence, now!” Kae-in looks timidly at herself in the mirror, and says: “I am pretty.” HA. Jin-ho’s teaching her to say self-affirming things in the mirror!

It’s simultaneously cute, funny, embarrassing, and empowering—because what woman doesn’t deserve a friend who will teach her to do this? But man, is it hard to do. Kae-in hilariously tries out statements like “You’re sexy!” and “You are perfect,” all the while with Jin-ho smiling to himself at her utter adorableness. Hands down the cutest scene of the episode.

The next day she’s ready for her final test—they go on that date that Jin-ho proposed in the last episode. Kae-in comes out all dolled up, making Jin-ho’s face go gaga. Such a sucker for that moment. Such a cliché, but oh so satisfying.

She walks over to the car, but he stops her, opening her door for her, saying, “Get in, princess.” Kae-in tells him to stop grossing her out with the sweet talk (heh) but he reminds her that a woman who values herself gets treated well. So he tries it again: “Get in, princess.” And she responds royally, making him laugh.

They go to the movies, and Jin-ho asks her what she wants to see. As per usual, Kae-in defers the choice to him, but Jin-ho teaches her to assert her opinions. Jin-ho suggests an action-adventure. Kae-in: “Don’t be ridiculous! We will watch a romantic comedy!” Haha. She’s learning!

But the fun gets interrupted by Yoon Eun-hye’s cameo appearance. She’s Eun-soo, Jin-ho’s ex, and although they never say as much in front of Kae-in, she can pick up on the more-than-friends vibe. She asks if Kae-in is Jin-ho’s girlfriend, which he denies, but then Kae-in says, “then what am I, your boyfriend?” speaking of course platonically, not knowing the context.

The three of them go on a really awkward coffee date, where Eun-soo asks how they met. Kae-in starts to tell her of the encounter involving butts…but Jin-ho shoves her drink in her mouth, shutting her up out of embarrassment. Eun-soo and Jin-ho reminisce a little about their college days and all the time they spent studying in the library, and then Eun-soo gets up to leave. There’s a quick nod to Coffee Prince on a close-up of the mug (they are at a Coffee Prince shop) and overall Yoon’s cameo is nicely understated and not fourth-wall-collapsing.

Jin-ho walks her outside, and she asks if he ever regrets not stopping her from going abroad. He just says he’s sorry. Eun-soo says that she wants to have someone to watch movies with before she runs into Jin-ho again, say in ten years. It’s a nice sentiment and of course well-acted, that implies that she knows he’s moved on, and she will too. She adds that Kae-in seems like a good person, and walks away.

Kae-in comes out, and tells Jin-ho that he and Eun-soo seem like exes. He replies, “Apart from being a man or a woman, she’s the person who bewitched me most. She was a kindred spirit to me.” Kae-in: “I want to be like her. Someone you consider a kindred spirit.”

Later they sit outside, overlooking the city, and Jin-ho surprises Kae-in with a confession: “I like you. I always end up laughing because of you.” Kae-in is totally confused because he seems so sincere, but it turns out he’s teaching her another one of his “lessons.” Really? I’m pretty sure you don’t know the difference between reality and “lessons” anymore, pal. Stop tugging a girl’s heartstrings!

Jin-ho flashes back to when he really confessed his feelings for Eun-soo, asking her if she wanted to stop being friends. It’s adorable and it helps to flesh out Jin-ho’s character too, knowing that he has this past love and loss in his life, and is not a total workaholic who is out of touch with his heart.

They get up, but before they leave, Kae-in stops Jin-ho to write something on his back with her finger. She writes a diary entry, where she says in voiceover: “In the next, next, next life…come back to me as a man…who can love a woman.” Eeee. It’s so heartfelt, and accepting, and wistful and sad.

On the way to work the next day, Jin-ho imparts another lesson: a good sense of humor will totally reel in the men. Really? Where’s my line of dudes? Kae-in’s confident in this one: she’s got humor in spades. Jin-ho: “You slip and fall and break things…that’s slapstick, not a sense of humor.” Heh, he’s got a point. So she tells a joke, which doesn’t go over well, and then asks him to demonstrate, since he’s the teacher. But he can’t think of one right now. So she tells him to call her when he does.

Commence cuteness, with Jin-ho asking Sang-jun and Tae-hoon for jokes, and calling Kae-in all day long with new attempts to make her laugh. Meanwhile, Kae-in goes to a lumber yard to buy some materials for the playroom project. She gets a call from Chang-ryul who insists on coming to get her, and she’s cold but decides to let him dig his own grave for her sweet revenge.

Jin-ho calls her back with another joke, this time succeeding in making her laugh (with a pun, not really funny in translation), but while she’s still on the phone with him, she gets squashed by some wood beams, knocking her unconscious. Jin-ho rushes over and calls the lumber yard, where they tell him she’s been moved to the hospital.

But when he finally arrives, he’s too late. Chang-ryul is by her side…and that’s when it hits him. I know, it’s cliché that he has to see Chang-ryul there, taking care of her to know that that isn’t right—that HE should be the one at her side. But I DON’T CARE, because it makes my heart stop, the look on his face. I can’t breathe.

And then? He goes right over there, sweetly asking if Kae-in is okay, and when Chang-ryul gets in his face, he says, “I’m going to start a love with this woman, so butt out.” He pushes Chang-ryul out of the way and takes Kae-in gently by the hand, as they walk out of the hospital.

Only when he looks down at his hand, it’s empty, and she’s not there. NO! Aaaaaaack. Why art thou trying to kill me, Show?

He looks down, heart shredded, saying to himself: “You even trained her to take revenge. Why are you getting in the way, Jeon Jin-ho?” He leaves, thinking that he’s walked in on Kae-in and her white knight.

Only that couldn’t be further from the truth. In reality Kae-in isn’t letting Chang-ryul anywhere near her, physically or romantically, and won’t even let him feign concern for her (even though I do believe he’s really concerned here).

Jin-ho asks the nurse about Kae-in’s condition. She asks if he’s her guardian, which he wistfully confirms. Once he finds out that she’ll be okay, he leaves, saying to himself that this is as much as he can do for her. (Implying the larger context, for her in general, because he’s probably still planning to move out.)

Chang-ryul begs her to let him take care of her, so after a pause, she asks him where his car is, and he runs after it gleefully, telling her to wait there. And then…it ends. Whaa? Okay, that’s the weirdest ending ever. It should’ve ended with Jin-ho’s empty-hand realization. I’m going to pretend it ended there, okay Show? I think you’d rather I did that than rant about the lack of dramatic tension when you end an otherwise dramatic episode on a puzzling facial expression following unimportant minutiae about cars. Gah.

Anyway, pretending it ended where it should have, this was a rapid-fire episode filled with sparks, peppered with cuteness, and loaded with drama. I feel like with the last episode and this one, we’re finally getting the show that we’ve all been wanting Personal Taste to be, and while it shouldn’t take a show seven episodes to get there, I do love it now that we’re here.

I love that Jin-ho realizes his love, or the beginnings of love, for Kae-in in a big moment, because he’s been touting all his lessons and fancy ideas about men and women, but he’s the one who got blindsided by love. The music cues in that moment were finally spot-on, and Lee Min-ho’s performance in the last two episodes was a standout.

Kae-in’s journey is a little rougher, what with the big gay elephant in the room, but she’s got such an upbeat outlook that even her wish in her diary—that Jin-ho be reincarnated in the next lifetime as someone who could love her—is so accepting of who he is and full of love that I can’t help but want to hug her, all the time. Mostly I envy her openness, even if she’s a little on the dim side.

Now that we’re halfway through, my drama clock tells me a separation is due; I hope it’s short-lived, otherwise I’ll have to wave my chainsaw about until the cuteness resumes!

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the lmh-ness is seriously killing me....phew think i melt into a freaking puddle everything this guy smiles..phew and double phew...awww @ the whole next life thing....sooo adorable....
love love sang jun so freaking awesome he is with the whole unni bit....i've wanted to say something abt the age diff btwn lmh and syj for awhile now..i think its only there when u go looking for it....but its there nonetheless...but they do make a super cute couple....
its been a wish of mine to watch yeh and lmh together after watching 'coppee' prince and bof and it i got it and it was AWESOME...funnily enuff i dint think i saw the age diff of this couple...but tht could also be cos of the fact tht they dint get all tht much screen time anyway...but i'd love to see them together sometime in the near future!
eeekk all this against is really doing me in...but cant wait for ep 9 though.... btw loved the recap :)

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I STILL.....haven't been able to find Episodes #7 and #8
with English subtitles, on a web site that isn't "broken." :(

Why doesn't some of the brainpower behind the Korean
television industry YET realize that there are gazillions of
non-Korean speaking fans out there, and come up with a
well publicised, multi-language web site for forgotten fans
like us? They can count how many times each series is
viewed, and get a clearer ratings picture of how popular
something ( like "Personal Taste" ) really is.

You work like crazy to produce great TV comedy and drama?
And then you make it practically impossible for people to view it?

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@ 52 grace think viikii has links tht are up for ep 7 parts 1 thru 5 and ep 8 fully...and yes cant agree with you more! they should try accommodating the english speaking audience a bit more..but then im thinking do they event realize how popular the dramas are outside korea and wht an opportunity tht gives them to make more money?

and in my previous post i meant all this angst is doing me in! so bad at this editing thing really annoying :P

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weeeeeeeeeh! thanks so much guys for the recaps! I've been waiting for this, appreciate all the hardwork! =)

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH! I must agree (not in a biased way) that LMH was outstanding in last week's episodes! I'm so happy =)) Eps 8 and 9 really brought me tears and laughs! But more importantly, I love how the two of them try to ignore their true feelings... waaaaaaaaaaah! I really can't wait for the net episodes... We're now half way, hope this series would get extended =D I could now confidently say that the chemistry between Jin Ho and Kae In is finally kickin and working double time now! They look so cute together! I could already feel the electricity! yey! =) tomorrow's the day you guys, another episode for us! Can't wait!

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AWESOME! I wanna give CR a big punch for being a jerk. and i hope the next few episodes will not be that heart breaking or i will cry my heart out.. zzz..

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@43 & 50 - You guys have got remember this is escapism. Fine, guys generally find girls like In Hee and YEH's character (and for those that do about her particular, return to Coffee Prince and then tell me how you feel about YEH's appearance) more attractive. But you've got to admit, girls like In Hee and YEH are much rarer than the adorable slobs like Kae-In. Realistically, maybe most guys won't see pass that, and will always go for the sexier one. But guys like Jin Ho will exist, or at least that's what I hope.

And you guys do realize that you are making the same argument about Kae-In like Chang Ryul and In hee did in the drama, right? And I HATE them for criticizing her when she has so much better qualities. So she's a slob. There are worse things to be in life. Also, I find Kae-In to be soo cute. (but I'm a girl). I must also note: SYJ the actress is normally GORGEOUS. Google her. That is one beautiful woman.

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OMG!!! this is one of my favorite dramas this weeks, I Love them, they are cute and soooo adorable... but my heart ache for KI and JH, hope if they gonna separate is just for a very short time. Thanks for the recaps... thanks...!!! you are very funny.

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I just have to say this...I CRIED watching the scene where Kae In was writing in Jin Ho's back, stating there,

"In the next, next, next life…come back to me as a man…who can love a woman.”

Seriously, I was so moved. Maybe it was because I could connect and I for a fact know how it feels to like a man who's gay. I KNOW I KNOW, sounds horrible (Not because he's gay or anything.. but the fact that I still continue to have romantic feelings for him and butterflies are still existent in me.) kekekekekeke. But positively it was because I felt the sincerity, the loss and and love, and frustration that Kae In is feeling... Ugh. HANDS DOWN TO SON YE JIN!

Lee Min Ho in the other hand. Boy, you never fail to amaze me! Aside from those good looks and melting stares of his, ofcourse! But seriously, it's a major crime to be that hot! I fell in love with him in BoF, and after watching him in PT, I just think I could never fully recover with my MinHogitis :p Probably 'till the day I die, there will be no cure for this madness! BWAHAHAHHAHAHA. ooh by the way, he was so sexy when he was watching Kae In convincing herself that she was beautiful, sexy and perfect. I replayed it like a millionth time! Mygad. phew!

Nwi, great job as always guys! THANKYOU SOOO MUCH FOR THE RECAPS! =)

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@53 the indian girl!

Thanks. I've gone down the viikii road and ended up
at some dead end for the viikii plug-in something or other,
whatever that is. I'm no computer expert, unfortunately,
so I have NO CLUE about stuff like this. Plus......all of my
other options: dramasub, dramastyle, and good 'ole youtube
still don't have the English subs for 7 & 8. To tell you the truth,
I think I'll just make a crank phone call to "Yes Asia ~ YA Entertainment"
and tell them how stupid I think that their publicity department is.

And then I'll ask them about ordering the DVD for this series. :)

By the way.
Technical stuff aside, I love everything about "Personal Taste."
I knew we were gonna' get a chemistry over-load.
We just need to have.......patience. :) :) :)

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I loved this episode
It made up my mind about wanting to see a LHM-YEH tandem in the future!

and am i the only who who caught the Boys over Flowers reference with the “It’s eye for an eye…and a tooth for a tooth.” line?
Jinho actually gets his idioms right lol.

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@56

you're a hypocrite. you hope there are guys in the real world who would tolerate or even like kae-in's annoying personality and overlook her mundane physical appearance.

yet the whole reason you like this show is because of how hawt lee min ho is. imagine sanjun was the main character, you wouldnt even waste your time watching this.

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Leeloo,

Good point. I almost forgot that this show makes references to some dramas.

JB and GF, thanks for recapping this drama. This site is the best. Really.

As much as I try to be unbiased, I can't help but say that I would love an eau de Min-ho as well. Where can you buy one? Or better yet, have his smiling face on a credit card, like Kim Hyun Joong (sp? from SS501/ Ji hoo from BoF), and that company would surely profit millions of dollars from me. I'm so glad he's my oppa. At least I won't feel guilty unlike when I fall for the younger men. :)

I'm glad too that I didn't give up on this show (and my love for Min ho and girl crush on Ye Jin prevailed).

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I don't see how anyone could NOT see that he's falling for her. It is all over his face. CUTE!

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25 Choufy

But isn't Sangjun also married? I remember something he mentions in the past episodes about him ending up working in a supermarket to support his wife & kids.

Anyhow... Sangjun and Youngsun are tooo adorable! I'd take their comicness over Inhee and Changryul anyday!

60 Leeloo

I totally did. Its funny how this drama keeps on making subtle pokes at LMH's previous (and iconic) character as Goo Joonpyo....

Hilarious.

girlfriday

thanks for the awesome possum recap, girl!

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omg the behind the scenes was incredibly cute!! aaaaah!

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this series gets better with each episode. i just loved how jinho didn't hesitate at all when eun soo asked if he had any regrets about letting her go. he said sorry and that was the end of that! again thanks for the recaps!

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61 Starscream

If Sangjun was the main character? Heck, I would. He is hilarious as heck!

But on a more serious note... this is a korean drama, and like what a previous commenter said, it really is a form of escapism. Nothing about this drama screams reality.

And most romcom kdramas are tailored more to play with female viewers' likes/dislikes/fantasies

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Thanks for the recaps!
I actually forgot about the ending on this episode because of the NGs!
Can't wait for 9 & 10! I so love SYJ & LMH!
I usually come home from work stressed and so tired so I watch these romantic comedies to help me decompress.
Thanks again! Keep up the great recaps even if sometimes the Show just kills the great moments!

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@61
I think Kae-in may be a slob but she has one thing going for her that In-hee doesn't - she's not a bloody gold digger. I'd take average looking, gawky, messy and good-hearted over a girl who thinks she's entitled to MY house AFTER breaking off OUR wedding. Inhee's sexy one-night stand material but if she's the kind of chick you want to date and marry, yeah that's cool, that's one less annoying gold digger the rest of us have to put up with.

Personally I find Kae-in average looking (on drama standards) but I want a girl who can stick up for me not dump me the second something hotter and richer comes along.

YEH is supposed to be the girl-version of Jin-ho - both are reserved, capable of deep love but also knowing went to let go. Anyway, we hardly know a thing about her, she was like in 10m of the episode.

All in all, your argument is basically just your own opinion - comparing apples and oranges. Some guys like simple, kind girls not bitchy chicks who use sex as a weapon.

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@ leeloo

loool i got tht one not to worry you are not the only faithful hawked eyed BoF-er here!!

@grace
http://www.viikii.net/channels/goto/viikiihelp#TOPIC/918

hope tht might help! me wants every1 to enjoy PT goodness plus i know how frustrating it is when u cant get the vids going when u know they are out there somewhere...sigh which only makes worry abt the forth coming eps when the serial is really gonna kick in u know siiiigggghhhh

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hot!!!!!
thank u girlfriday.. ur recap is awesome!! i really love LMH.. everytime he put his killing smile, i feel like dying inside n melting in front of the screen..

in ep 1 - 6 he rarely smile.. becoz he portray a cold blooded character.. now when he fall for kae-in, which is always make him smile n laugh, he shows his warmness character.. im seriously love jin ho.. <3

to in hee, please do not disturb kae in's life..
please refer to trailer ep9, in hee is a bad girl!!

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61 - who says I only like this series because LMH is hot. He is, and I do enjoy that (again, this is escapism and i'm entitled to believe a guy like jinho would fall in love with a girl like Kae-in). But it's also hilarious, heartwarming, with great characters (Kae-in included) and treats the issue of homosexuality in a way I have not seen in kdramas.

And heck, if Sang Jun was the lead, I'm sold! He's even more funny than Jin ho, and his actor is plenty captivating, if not in the traditional sense of handsomeness than in charm! He and Young son deserve a spinoff, they're so funny.

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That cafe... was that the same cafe used in The Woman Who Still Wants to Marry? In episode 10, where Min Jae (Kim Bum) sat near that wood decoration thing and overheard the conversation between Shin Young (Park Jin Hee) and her ex?

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@ Dude... Well said! :)

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@ 43 Starscream, as a guy, I don't see any attractiveness from Inhee except for tons of makeup on her poker face and reveal clothes she's wearing. Gea-in might not have sexual appeal in an obvious way because of the nature of this character but I can tell that this girl has a natural beauty and she will become much more beautiful if she dress up like a fashionista (just like actress Son Ye Jin in reality).

For YEH, she's nice looking but appear only like 5 min so I'd pass her

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I'm thinking of watching and have been following the recaps, but it looks like he is remaking his roommate in his ex's image? They both look alike with the bangs and all. If so, that's classic and I feel sorry for her.

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@Starscream. I'm going to assume that because of your name you are actually a pretty cool person generally, and that this is just one isolated incident of idiocy on you part.

First point - Kae In is supposed to be slobby/unkempt/rough around the edges compared to In Hee and Jin Ho's ex. That's the point of the show really - looking for something more than just shallow attraction and building deeper relationships between two people. Jinho is gay, which means that to begin with he is not a love interest for Kae In, and Kae In is a trainwreck of femininity therefore also, not what Jinho would look for in a relationship.

The shows strength is that it shows how relationships can be built on something more than just outward appearances and first impressions, as the two characters support each other through friendship and respect.

Second Point - If we're going to just be throwing around opinions, I think Kae In's a cutie, so there!

Third Point - What a dick, don't be so shallow. Kae In's appeal is that she's wholehearted in her love for people, is a good person etc. Some people find integrity and strength of character to be more attractive than a pretty face (although yes, a pretty face does help, at the end of the day I'd rather be around a person I like than a bitch).

Which is why so many people have said in response to your "You wouldn't watch this show if Sangjun was the lead" comment that they would. Sangjun may not be the prettier than JinHo appearance-wise, but he is funny and charming and I for one think he's hilarious without being offensive about the whole 'Am I gay?' thing. I would totally tap that.

There are going to be more JinHo fans than SangJun not because he's prettier, but because he's the lead and we know more about his character, he has more dimensions than Sangjun.

End of my rant, Transformers ftw

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I agree the last 2 episodes got better.It is now right up there with the other 2 dramas. Too bad the first few episodes were not able to draw in more audience.Still cannot relate to Kae In character. I did not find the transformation of Kae In to be believable.She goes from a naive clueless messy no makeup girl to someone wearing makeup all the time .With the hair up she looks like an old maid.The only thing going was the warmth of her character. On the other hand the handling of the gay issue was pretty well done so far.DB was great. I must say surprisingly LMH acting got better with each episode.

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aww, smile ouchies :)

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#50 I totally understand why Kae In wants revenge now. Han ChanRyul and his dad are not leaving her alone for all their selrfish reasons. Why should she be subjected to that. She wants them out of her life! Anyway, I love this drama so much that I keep watching them over and over. It's so addictive. I love all the characters, especially the two leads. Thanks for those recaps, too, JB and GF! You are awesome!

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From what I understand about the episode's title, Kae-in's revenge, it means that Kae-in wanted to make revenge to Chang-ryul with a little help from Jin-ho. But at the end of the episode when Jin-ho sees Kae-in taken care of by Chang-ryul, Jin-ho feels that Kae-in is able to have her revenge-on him, by making him admit his feelings for Kae-in and not hide it anymore, like he always does. Ah, I hope this made sense, what am I saying. But this is from what I understand based on the recap and watching it raw.

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after what 61 said
and assuming I'm one of the few guys on here
I have to chime in

I do find it amusing just how many comments are made about LMH's hotness
but if I'm honest I'm guilty of thinking the same thing about 90% of the actresses in the dramas I watch...I just don't type out my feelings

throwing personalities aside I really dont think In-hee is beautiful
I like her haircut but her face is too plastic to enjoy

based solely on appearance Chang-ryul's mom was quite beautiful...Young-son has her moments too but I've completely fallen for SYJ.

her lips are incredible
her eyes, especially when she's teasing Jin-ho
and her voice

I don't really see why people think she looks plain..
are funky clothes and wacky hairstyles enough to hide her beauty?

I wish more girls knew that some guys like "plain", natural looking girls

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ok, I think some people misconstrued my thoughts on Kae in.

frankly, I don't care that she isn't super sexy. she's obviously a good looking above average at the very least.

to me though, she is SUPER ANNOYING in terms of her personality. I wouldn't be able to stand a girl like that in real life.

she makes so many weird faces, and she acts way to dim for me to accept as a gf. As you can tell, Im not into the acting all cutesy type.

maybe its because Im americanized. I cant think of any leading american ladies that act like kae in.

In hee on the other hand, is confident and sexy. sure she uses her feminine wiles, but why shouldn't she. I think a real life jin ho (ie a successful, handsome man...sorta like me) would never fall for someone like kae in, rather he would prob date in hee.

I like most of the characters except the female lead. I like chang ryul..he's funny as hell. I like in hee, she's sexy and bitchy, but shes got it. I like jin ho, hes cool and what guy wouldnt want to be him. I just cant stand kae in, because to me, she's the fakest character of the show. no real life person acts the way she does.

sorry for the rant.

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@43 "I fast forward the scenes shes in because she irritates me."
WHAAAAAAT
I guess to each his own regarding her looks, but why are you watching this drama ?
you've gotta be ffwd'ing thru 60% of it?!

"I find Jin Ho’s ex, eunsoo?, to be a lot hotter and have more chemistry."
I'll letchu slide on this statement because I agree that eunsoo/eunhye IS cute..I know this is blasphemy cause CP is my favourite drama of all time but, after seeing them side by side I still like Kae-in more

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ok starscream

just curious

what do you think of Young-son? Kae-in's friend?

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Thanks for the recaps JB and girlfriday. It's like listening to the color commentators at a baseball game. 8-)
"what with the big gay elephant in the room" made me laugh and laugh...

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bippa being a lil bit like Kae In I really have a problem : my hubby doesn't like me with make up at all... and I'm not so young anymore- I'm 2 years older than SYJ

I know on my own skin what means a guy that really loves natural looking girls
On the other hand I should consider myself lucky that I'm in that kind of relationship: heart does matter more than looks... on other words we aren't beautifull forever but our soul can be

In high school I had a friend like InHee I was the mastermind at picking up guys but my "good" friend used to stole them from me after a few weeks ... so I don't agree with the escapism : for me half of the drama is my life

LMH's age+5 years =SYJ'age
my hubby's age+4 years=my age
and my hubby is KNG type tall and good looking(my MBA coleagues(LMH's age) told me so between the drools after my hubby)

I don't watch this drama because of LMH(I told this before)=for me he's not that hot... for me hot means Kim Nam Gil (walking sex), Oh Ji Ho(I would love to torture those abs),Kim Hyun Joong

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@85

honestly, dont think much of her. guess that as someone said, shows like this is tailored for a female audience. so alot of the stuff the average female viewer enjoys I don't particularly care for. I'd personally be much more interested in seeing lee min ho tame in hee to be honest. I find his relationship with kae in to be quite boring and without ANY sparks...we all know he's got her in the bag if he wanted to, so there is no real challenge for him.

chang ryul is actually my fav character on the show. I find him most interesting and real. most of the other characters strike me as either too one dimensional or too fictional.

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y cinderella's sister ? pleaseeee

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thanks so much for a great recap! as always!
ur really good! the best!
i enjoy reading your recap as much as watching the dramas.

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"You slip and fall and break things... " <3 ahh love. :)

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@50

"I also don’t really buy it that Kae in suddenly wants revenge. Where did that come from?"

I think it must be probably the meeting KI has with CY's dad that fueled the desire for revenge. She realized the truth behind CR's motive for reconciliation and felt extremely disgusted by it. What the man wouldn't do to achieve his motive?!

But in the end, I don't think she really wanted to do that anymore because she no longer liked him that much and she wasn't the type to bear grudges anyway. She was too busy thinking of JH, as evidenced by her little monologue while writing on his back.

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@ Starscream

"I think a real life jin ho (ie a successful, handsome man…sorta like me)would never fall for someone like kae in, rather he would prob date in hee."

LOL so... kaein isn't good enough for a "handsome, successful man" like you? seen.

"to me though, she is SUPER ANNOYING in terms of her personality. I wouldn’t be able to stand a girl like that in real life.... I just cant stand kae in, because to me, she’s the fakest character of the show. no real life person acts the way she does."

methinks you would definitely think Kae-in was fake if you refused to date anyone who acts like her... but wait, if you know you don't like girls who act like her then maybe you've met girls who act like her... and so maybe she's not fake...?

just sayin'.

I co-sign with Bippa (#81) - why are you watching this drama at all if you hate Kae-in and skip through all her scenes? doesn't Inhee have too little screen time to warrant a full hour of your viewing (and a good number of scenes with Kaein in them)? or maybe... you watch it for Lee Minho? LOL so that you can become a "handsome successful man" like him, of course ;)

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I’d personally be much more interested in seeing lee min ho tame in hee to be honest.

i have to say I laughed out loud reading this
for a minute dirty mind took this where you may not have intended

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Thanks for the recaps. Good to know I'm not the only one avidly waiting for the next two episodes.

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Thanks for the re-cap JB & GF ^^

I'm totally addicted to this drama. Especially,the casts are too great to speak out <333

BTW, why dont you guys join us at Soompi? http://www.soompi.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=244503

We need all Personal Taste supporters there.

Thanks!

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Sigh... LMH's smile kills. :P my knees went weak everytime he smiled, which is so often this episode... Heh!

Am glad that PT is finally finding it's stride, but i guess this is when the angst will start coming in, just hope that the light-hearted moments are enough to offset the angst.

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Thanks for the great recaps! I love the tag-team thing... "On the way to work the next day, Jin-ho imparts another lesson: a good sense of humor will totally reel in the men. Really? Where’s my line of dudes?" ... you deserve your line of dudes, for sure, your recaps are a scream.

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I'm a lil dissapointed of Korean viewers : they only look at the shows with lots of angst... its kinda depressings... personally I loved the first eps with HAHA moments I love to ROFL better than cry... I like to be on my tiptoes but c'mon I want to laugh really hard
about the edge of the knife moments I'm watchim OML's finish for the yesterday episode ...and can't bear it to watch some things are too much for me

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Starscream,

I understand that you prefer In-hee than Kae-in. But really, why are you watching this show when you FF Kae-in's scenes who is on cam almost all the time? If it was me, I would've quit on this show a long time ago. But since I like the main actors and everyone else, I've come to love it and would want to see more.

You can't really generalize that all a successful, handsome men like you would fall for In-hee, or most average men would fall for her (bippa's a good example) and not Kae-in because the reality is, there are women like In-hee and Kae-in (well, not exactly, but almost).

And again, if you don't like Kae-in, just quit the show, while you're still halfway it. I don't want you to suffer another 8 episodes just to see Kae-in or harass your FF button (no sarcasm there, I'm just being honest). Because for someone who watches dramas a lot, I quit a show when I lose interest in the main characters to spare myself. So I'd like to spare you as well.

Leona,

Don't even wonder why they love melodramas more than romantic-comedies. I tried asking myself that question, and I still haven't found an answer. I guess it's just in their culture that they prefer dramas and tragedies (hey, who am I kidding, I always watch shows like these when I was a kid) than hilarious shows. But again, it's everyone's preference. :)

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