Secret Garden: Episode 10

313 December 13, 2010January 24, 2016

by girlfriday

Apparently everyone woke up on the right side of the bed this episode, because every eligible bachelor in town starts lining up at Ra-im’s door, and fighting each other like the ten-year olds that they are. Oska wins for Best Smile, Jong-soo wins for Most Embarrassed, and Joo-won wins for Sparkliest Boxers. Yup. You heard me.

EPISODE 10 RECAP

Joo-won discovers Ra-im and Oska mid-flirt outside her apartment, where he’s clearly been waiting for her like the stalker that he is. The best part is that Oska and Ra-im gang up on him like a pair of older siblings, just to rub it in his face. Wait, scratch that. The best part is the new tracksuit, this time hand-stitched by French artisans. HA.

Ra-im: “Why are you wearing an ajumma’s long underwear?” Heeeeee. She adds that she told him quite clearly that she didn’t want to see him anymore, so he’s either got rocks for brains, or he’s REALLY REALLY into her. I just love her right now. She’s so much better as a sassypants than the over-apologetic meek girl.

She pointedly tells “oppa” to drive home safely, and walks right past Joo-won without a word. He follows her to her door like a little kid, whining that he didn’t get a proper goodbye. She slams her front gate in his face, and he screams, “My nose is higher than other people’s! It could’ve gotten hurt! Didn’t you think of that?” Haha. Even in his rants, this guy is all about how awesome HE is. It kills me.

She goes in without a word, and Ah-young gives her a package—it’s some books she ordered. She tells Ah-young that she went to someone’s house and it had a library filled with books, and it made her wonder if he had read them all, what he was thinking when he read them, and if she read them too, she might find some truth about him that she may have missed before.

Aw. How freaking ADORABLE is that? Trying to know a person (who is outwardly unknowable) by reading the same books as him? That’s the cutest and nerdiest thing ever. It hits me right here.

She puts the copy of Alice in Wonderland on her shelf, and we see that she’s started a little collection of her own. Next to her collection of action DVDs is the beginnings of her own mini library, with the likes of 1984 and One Hundred Years of Solitude. I love that juxtaposition of their two personalities sitting side by side on her shelf. Strangely enough, it looks a lot like my bookshelf, which perhaps means I have a split personality, but that’s neither here nor there.

Joo-won follows Oska home to ask if he really meant that stuff he said to Ra-im. He throws the question of sincerity right back at Joo-won, asking if he can really take responsibility for his feelings, and for Ra-im. Joo-won: “Responsibility? Did you take responsibility for all the women you dated?” Oska: “That’s why I get cursed at.” Heh. Point taken.

Oska tells him to be honest about himself—that he isn’t the type to give up everything for a woman because he doesn’t feel the need to. He couldn’t even handle the bag incident, let alone the wave of terror that’s bound to come from his mother. He points out rather correctly that Joo-won thinks of marriage like a business deal; hence he should just meet some girl more like him, and stop with Ra-im before she gets hurt. Aw, I sort of love Oska oppa coming to her defense.

He questions Joo-won about his motives with Seul too, citing the handholding incident from the golf course. He wonders if he’s planning to marry Seul and just have some fun with Ra-im: “Rotten bastard. Take your hands off of both of them. They’re both too good for you.” Dayum. And woot, Oska! I love that Joo-won has SOMEONE in his life that’ll tell it like it is.

Joo-won sits alone in his empty palace, brooding over his hyung’s words. He puts Ra-im’s map back together, and above his own name writes, “Cowardly.”

Ra-im stays up to read Alice in Wonderland, and this time the titles on her shelf form a little poem:

Alice in wonderland
Like a fairytale
The night that Eun-ha shot through the galaxy
A bad boy is standing there
This insignificant melancholy
She walked at the pace of memory

(I’m approximating on the third title, which is a play on the name Eun-ha, the same word for galaxy, or Milky Way—it could be The Night that the Milky Way Pierced the Galaxy, but that makes no sense. Hence, the pun.)

Jong-soo records himself reading the script for Dark Blood and gives it to Ra-im, the helpfulness of which I don’t really understand, as he’s reading a script in English, in English, but anyway, she’s touched, and she trains fervently for the role.

Both Joo-won and Ra-im go back to their daily lives, and as Joo-won gets ready for work the next day, he discovers a little memo that Ra-im left behind—a printout of instructions on how to tie a tie. Ha. Something about that stirs Joo-won, whether it reminds him of the body swap, or her.

Oska gets nagged to go to his fan-signing, which he’s afraid to do, given the current plagiarism scandal. Meanwhile, Seul is still brooding over being falsely accused for leaking the song, but when her friend points out that she’s still got the wherewithal to get her hair done, Seul reminds her that even if the world is crumbling around her, the one thing a woman must guard is her appearance. Ha, the fervor of your superficiality is astounding. Truly.

Oska holds his fan-signing, which is depressingly spare at first, but a small group of fervent fans show up to cheer him on. He decides to give them signatures as Choi Woo-young, and not Oska, for their belief in him as a person. Seul decides to show up in line, and asks for a signature addressed to her as his forever love, and without a reply, he writes, “To Yoon Seul, Thank you for loving me all this time. –Oska” She reads it with tears outside.

Joo-won goes to the opera, where he of course buys three seats so that he can use both armrests for himself. (Okay, I will confess to secretly wishing I could do this, but never having the gall. Or the money, let’s be real.)

He imagines Ra-im sitting beside him, and spends the entire opera thinking of her. The next day he tells Secretary Kim that he couldn’t concentrate at all; this time he’ll need an entire row of seats, to keep the riffraff at bay. Okay, now you’re just being crazy.

He leads a presentation for a new resort that he’s got in the works, which utilizes the natural mountainside surroundings as a retreat. Director Park steals some of his thunder as soon as he finds out that Joo-won’s grandfather is stopping by for a peek.

Joo-won comes home to find Dr. Lee waiting, having just stopped by because he strangely hasn’t been calling all the time, like he usually does. She asks if he hasn’t run out of his meds, which reminds him that he hasn’t taken his meds for a while now…how was it that he slept in that tiny apartment without them?

He shakes it off and says that it seems he doesn’t need them anymore, and doesn’t explain the rest since he doesn’t actually want to be committed for being insane. Yes, I would agree. Best not to tell your shrink that you’ve been running around in a woman’s body.

He asks if people usually need to give up something in order to get something that they really want. She says yes, since usually the thing you want so ardently is outside your means. He scoffs that anything, let alone “that woman” is outside his means, or above his social standing.

Just then, a delivery arrives, and it’s all of the stuff he had bought for Ra-im’s apartment. He stares down at all of the returned boxes, and rants that she has to be so righteous and proud. Dr. Lee points out that it’s not what most women would do, and tells him that she IS out of his league. HA! Damn straight!

Oska breathes a sigh of relief as the plagiarism scandal gets reneged, and when Seul meets with Tae-sun, we find out why—Tae-sun was the original songwriter of the copied song. She offers him a contract to do any music the way he wants.

On a snowy day, Joo-won sits at home and reads Alice in Wonderland, and then plays with a smurfs app that repeats everything he says: “Omo, Kim Joo-won-sshi, do you know how long I’ve waited for your call? I miss you like crazy.” Aw, such a lonely little boy.

He goes for a walk in the snow, and then comes upon a shiny new toy that’s fun in two ways—as a video game, and as a means of torturing Oska. Oska comes over fuming that Joo-won’s snaked the arcade game he’s waited three months to get, and when he tries to take it back, Joo-won threatens to out his scandalous pictures with his ex Chae-rin. They strike a deal for Joo-won to keep it for three months, after which he’ll return the game AND the original pictures. Ha. These two. Giant kids with way too much time and money.

Oska tells Joo-won again to be honest with himself about Ra-im: “Stop with your Lovers in Paris cosplay and go back to your normal self!” Hahaha.

Joo-won actually HAS decided to stop seeing her…but not right now. Pfft. He says that he likes her too much because she’s curious and new, but that he’ll eventually probably grow tired of her, and she’ll become like every other woman in his eyes—the typical nine out of ten women who are just common. Um, shouldn’t your obsession with her and her constant refusal of your advances tell you that she’s probably that ONE in ten that you’ve never encountered before? Moron.

He thinks a few months of seeing her will do. Gah. The only reason I’m tolerating you right now is because you’re just digging your own grave. A few months of seeing her will only make you more in love with her, genius.

Oska calls him out for being a bastard, and Joo-won just sticks to his ridiculous obsession with The Little MerMistress, refusing to face the fact that HE’s the one who’s in love with her, and not the other way around. He plans to date her for a few months and have her disappear, as per Operation: MerMistress.

To that end, he shows up to the action school day after day, with some new flimsy excuse to see her: first it’s that he gained weight while she was driving his body around, and now he wants his abs back. Next he gives her the boxers she wore and washed while she was in his body, telling her to wear them. One pair is actually SEQUINED. No, really.

He then shows up to complain that he’s constipated—what did she feed his body? Pwahaha. At each turn, she calls him crazy, and eventually perverted. Yeah, I’d have to agree. Finally, he shows up to complain that his department store’s profits are down, due to something she signed off on, heart-signature and all.

She tells him that she was just following Secretary Kim’s advice, to which he says he’ll have to fire Secretary Kim then. She doesn’t want him to get fired so he offers up a trade that he gets to come see her whenever he wants, and she’ll greet him with love and gratitude and joy. Pfft. Yeah, she’ll greet you with swearing, is what she’ll do.

She makes one motion with her latte towards his be-laced tracksuit, and he freaks out, “Get mad at ME, not the clothes!” Heh.

She takes a sip and ends up with foam on her lip, which he calls out as a typical coy maneuver when women are around men. She reaches to wipe it off, but he grabs her hand out of the way and leans in, getting up out of his seat. With a soft kiss, he licks the foam off her lips. Yowza.

How is it possible that you can be so unattractively metro about your tracksuit one minute, and then make my stomach do flips with a move like that, the next? Gah.

She makes a move to hit him, and he warns her that from now on, if she hits him, he’ll do the same thing (kiss her, not hit her back). Awesome. I see lots of hitting and kissing in their future.

The action school gears up for a sageuk shoot, and Joo-won manages to tag along, with help from Ra-im’s sunbae. His outfits as an extra are just…priceless, and he tries to get his sunbae to switch outfits with him claiming that “there must be something wrong.” Heh. Serves you right to play a lowly commoner.

He’s terrible, naturally, since he refuses to lie down on the dirt to play dead (choosing instead to lie down on TOP of another dead body), and using the opportunity to attack Jong-soo, who’s on the same side in battle. Keh.

Ra-im comes out, dressed in her Damo costume, and Joo-won goes gaga. So cool to see Ha Ji-won playing Ra-im, playing this role. She does a beautiful swordfight with Jong-soo in the snow, and Joo-won watches in awe from the sidelines.

In voiceover, he remembers a line from Alice in Wonderland, about looking through the wrong end of a pair of binoculars, so that everything seems like a fairytale. Joo-won: “I must be suffering from the same thing. Otherwise, why is every second with that woman, who means nothing, like a fairytale?”

At lunch, he asks why on earth Ra-im does this work, when no one will ever know she was in this film, or reward her with money or anything else. She says that he’s right, but that her fellow stuntmen will remember her as she’ll remember them. She asks him how many people will remember him, or break their arm in his place. Naturally, he can say nothing, the man with zero friends.

She adds that it’s the work they’ve chosen. “What are you to judge what we do? Who the hell are you?”

The action school goes out after the shoot for some gopchang (pig intestine lining) which you’ll remember Joo-won refused to eat the last time. Ra-im does the Korean thing of putting some on everyone’s plate around her, but purposely leaves Joo-won out. She reminds him that he doesn’t eat such things. He complains that she should still offer him some regardless of whether or not he’ll eat it, asking her not to treat him differently.

She counters that being treated differently is what “his people” pay for, remember? Ha. Awesome thing to throw back in his face. One of the guys calls him out for not being a man if he can’t eat this stuff, and Joo-won postures that of course he can, which is right when Ra-im pops a piece in his mouth. Heh. Ra-im: “Chew and swallow.” Joo-won: “NO! I’m gonna melt it down!” Everyone has a good laugh at his expense, including Ra-im.

The next morning, Joo-won wakes up…in Ra-im’s bed. He turns over to find Jong-soo lying next to him. HA. He screams and Ra-im comes running in from the kitchen, and he panics, “Did we swap again?” Heh.

He asks why he’s there, and she tells him to try a little harder to remember last night…which we find out devolved into a drinking contest between Joo-won and Jong-soo. Boys.

They match each other shot for shot, and Joo-won declares drunkenly that he’s going to have breakfast with Ra-im the next morning, and that he’s going to sleep over. Jong-soo says that he can’t. Joo-won: “I’ve slept over plenty of times! You don’t even know.” Haha. Ra-im’s eyes widen in horror, “Hey!”

They end up in front of her place, and Jong-soo stops Joo-won from going in. Joo-won: “What, this is my house! I’ve lived here. I’ve worn her panties. I’ve washed her body. I brushed her teeth three times a day.” OMG I’m dying. How can he say, “I’ve worn her panties” with a straight face??

Jong-soo wakes up, confused as to where he is, tipping Joo-won off that he’s never been here before. Well that shouldn’t be news, given his demeanor with her. As Jong-soo sits down for breakfast, Joo-won washes up, and he peeks out to ask Ra-im if she threw away his toothbrush, and if he can have the blue towel, because he likes that one best. Awkwardly awesome.

The three head back out, only to be encroached upon by a THIRD suitor. Hahaha. This is becoming like a clown car of eligible bachelors. Oska appears, wanting to kidnap Ra-im for a consult on some stuntwork, and she asks Jong-soo for permission to go. He obliges, and she heads off with Oska happily.

Left behind, Joo-won asks why he just let her go. Jong-soo asks why HE didn’t do anything to stop her then. Jong-soo: “Are we…on the same side?” Joo-won wonders why he doesn’t know: the-enemy-of-my-enemy…

Oska asks Ra-im for her help on a CF that he’s shooting, and they go back and forth with their usual level of overly cutesy play-flirting, but this time Oska betrays some sincerity. She’s caught off guard and says that she’s kidding. He knows that she is, but adds that he’s being careful, because he’s growing fond of her…Ruh-roh.

She gets a call from Joo-won’s mother, and heads over to meet her. Ra-im asks tentatively if Joo-won returned the money, and Mom has a fit over her gall, thinking she’s spent they money, and then told Joo-won to pay it back. She curses her for her daring to face off with her, and when Ra-im says that her words are harsh, she grabs her water and tosses it in Ra-im’s face…only Ra-im’s got the reflexes of a stuntwoman, and dodges it swiftly.

Hilariously, she realizes what she did and apologizes, passing HER glass of water over, saying that they can go again. Hahaha. Just then, Joo-won walks in to stop his mother.

You think for a moment that he’s going to be all gallant and noble, except this is what he says:

Joo-won: Why? What for? There’s no reason for you to treat her this way. You’re wasting your energy on something useless. I didn’t say I was marrying this woman. Why are you dragging her here and making her the star of some third-rate drama? If I happen to hang my life or death on her, stop me when that time comes. This is only for a moment. You can’t even wait one moment?

COMMENTS

King of Bastards, Kim Joo-won. My god, I don’t know how on earth you’re going to redeem yourself in her eyes after this. Part of the enjoyment of watching you be such an ass is the light at the end of the tunnel—that we know you’re bound to change, and grow, and STOP being such an ass.

Currently, though you are falling ever deeper in love/obsession/whatever you want to call it, you’re also not growing as a person, and it pisses me off. Don’t get me wrong—I don’t dislike the drama because of this, since I clearly enjoy any chance for Joo-won to get his comeuppance, and I do love his character for all his quirks and lonely isolation. But at this point I’m rooting for Ra-im to stomp on his heart and gleefully skip away.

I love that the momentum of this episode (until the last five minutes) is that Ra-im is gaining the upper hand. She’s free because she doesn’t have the same emotional attachment that Joo-won does, and even if she’s attracted to him, his off-putting personality is enough to nip some of that in the bud. It’s actually hilarious to watch all three men stumble over each other to gain her affections, however ineffectual they may be.

In the end Joo-won is the only one who really gets under her skin, but so far most of that is a beehive of negative vibes, so I don’t blame her for hating him. Theirs will probably go down as one of the great bickering courtships, which I love, but man, if I ever found myself in that kind of relationship in REAL life, it’d be cause for an intervention.

313

Required fields are marked *

51 mardie

December 13, 2010 at 7:28 AM

i have to say, i like that blue sparkly track suit better than this lacy(?) magenta 1. euw!!!

i laughed out loud when i saw that pic of him with sunglass and the costume!! priceless!!

i dont know if im the only 1 who have this thought, but joowon's character reminds me a bit of Dr House.....

Required fields are marked *

Nana

December 13, 2010 at 7:50 PM

O my god .. thank you .. Dr. HOUSE .. I keep thinking he reminds me of someone but I couldn't quiet grab the picture .. you must be smarter than I am .. thank you

Required fields are marked *

mardie

December 16, 2010 at 7:30 AM

ha ha.
not smarter, just watched too much of Dr House, and strangely attracted to him. haha.

Required fields are marked *

52 littletoygun

December 13, 2010 at 7:33 AM

what words can exactly describe that drama's beauty?

my first watch was next to my boyfriend and I LOL-ed a lot that he couldn't stand next to me anymore by looking at me like "are you out of your mind?"
now, I was watching the second time alone and gave a break to control if the recap is done and yessss!!!!
how an awesome episode again, right?? till the last scene, I've melted because of almost every scene.
- JW's jealousy
- JW's not being able to stop thinking of RI
- handphone app
- a printout of instructions on how to tie a tie
-his excuses to meet her
-Ra-im’s map back together and sticking on the wall
AND
of course one of most beautiful kiss ever!!!!! (actually almost all the scenes were awesome)
I can watch it forever. they're created for each other, what a harmony. even their lips match perfect (pevert müge)
it's so cute that JW can not stay away from RI both pyshically and in mind but he still tries to find excuses for his feelings. oh man!!! you are getting in love deeper and deeper, don't you know?
HB acts perfect JW so I can't be angry wth any his moves. his last words were beyond bad-ass behav. but still I love him so much.
by the way, we could see oska's liking RI at last and for the first time I could see the the possibility. when oska cares a woman sincerely, he seems so cool and also cute.
I'm not suprised three men war. even though there are more men I'll not be suprised. which man can resist RI's charm and beauty??
only bad thing is no preview again.. =(
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Seceret Garden!!!!!!!
I wish it could last forever.....

Required fields are marked *

53 JD

December 13, 2010 at 7:40 AM

Beautiful recap. Thanks, Girlfriday!!!

Also, the reason why he gives her a clip recording of the script in English (when the script is already in English) is because, in the previous episode, she said her pronunciation was bad.

Required fields are marked *

54 tamekadenise

December 13, 2010 at 7:45 AM

@girlfriday i think jong-soo gave her the recording of him reading the script so she would get the pronunciations of the english words down since he is fluent in english. i think :D

LOVED the episode but the end really made me feel sad, they had been making PROGRESS!!! lol

Required fields are marked *

55 Ladymoonstone143

December 13, 2010 at 7:46 AM

Thanks for another awesome recap Girlfriday...

There are so many redeeming scenes on this episode...the foamy kiss which I replay soooo many times because I can't get over how tender that kiss was..and it was not a close mouth kiss either...lol

The scenes where JW was playing extra...those are hilarious...

BUT the end...I was clinching my fist on what he said...I hope Ra-im will give him a swift kick on his rear end...

Required fields are marked *

56 katz

December 13, 2010 at 8:15 AM

Thanks for the recaps, GF! Love how you add in those sound effects that go with your commentary, perfect!

I really love the way Ra-im appears every time Joo-won thinks of her, the way the book titles form a poem and how fairy tales such as the Little Mermaid and Alice in Wonderland get written into the story and related to the two leads.

AND that kiss... a definite yowza, hell yeah!

Required fields are marked *

57 tachan

December 13, 2010 at 8:21 AM

omo i love this episode. I bet the sequined underwear is also hand-stitched by French artisans.

Required fields are marked *

58 meltedd

December 13, 2010 at 8:33 AM

sparkly tracksuit to sparkly sequined boxers to... http://bit.ly/f6ipDt next? :D do you think JW would wear these?

The point you brought up about the director reading the script in english. The script in english is fine... But he's reading the directions as well in english?!! what's the point?

This show is so ridiculous I spend half of it laughing and the other half about to cry (well not just yet, but I suspect we will soon). Hyunbin is superb, and I love YSH's Oska as well. Purple lace tracksuit vs tribal warlord with dreadlocks and furhat and aviators? Lol-ing so hard at the aviators. Can't wait till next week!

Required fields are marked *

ni

December 13, 2010 at 8:46 AM

omg cannot unsee T_T and yes i can totally see JW wearing this without any shame like the fashion terrorist that he is...

Required fields are marked *

59 Married2ahero

December 13, 2010 at 8:34 AM

I absolutely love how messed up Joo-won is. I guess in some parts of my brain in gets a pass because he's rich, handsome and putty in front of Ra-im. (Does this mean I'm the messed up one??) But I have a huge problem with this drama.
No matter how cute, or how heart stirring Joo-won is, he's still a grade-A asshole, and the fact that I like this sort of treatment speaks volumes about a deep division of ideology and instinct in our modern day woman. As women our hearts can't help but flutter when an exceedingly attractive man takes charge and without care openly displays his affection for a woman wholeheartedly, even putting himself out of his own element just to catch a glimpse of her. This devotion is an ideal we long for. But at the same time we accept this behavior. And like girlfriday captured at the end, if this was real-life then this would constitute as stalking, and verbal abuse. But hey, since we know they're the "intended couple" of the drama we're supposed to accept all the flaws, and all the rocky beginning of their eventual, and eternal love. It helps (or doesn't help) that Ra-im, is an independent no nonsense, kick-you-in-the-balls type of gal. So we think that she wouldn't stand for abuse of any sort. But as we've seen, she does. From her production directors, Joo-won's mother, and even Joo-won. She is a meek girl at heart, but she projects herself differently because inside she's so delicate and sensitive (Isn't this kind of most contemporary women. We know what are rights are, we know what is equal and who will or will not stand for, but inside we do want a guy whose going to recognize this a sweep us of our feet. And if we don't consciously know this, then if it happened, we wouldn't be against this type of man.) Her character is veiling the fundamental truth that this is a crappy relationship, and to portray it as the "everlasting love" type, a picture of true love is a problem. If we as women get it in our minds that this is secretly the kind of burning love we desire, then how do we distinguish carnal instinct from cognitive understanding of equality and self-respect. Don't get me wrong, I only explore this topic because I am troubled with how much joy and satisfaction I get from this highly explosive goose-chase of a drama. In fact, ironically this might be on the top of my list as best dramas ever. So how do we reconcile the two? Thoughts?

Required fields are marked *

Married2ahero

December 13, 2010 at 8:44 AM

Sorry there are spelling errors, I hope they aren't distracting.

Required fields are marked *

ni

December 13, 2010 at 8:55 AM

well said. although, for me personally, im enjoying it this so much because of all the dialogue and comedy, and because HB is so good-looking[/shallow T_T] and good at acting the asshole role. i dont think we'd enjoy this as much if something similar happened to us in real life. i dont know about you but from my experience, aggressive pursuing and clingy-ness are the same as chasing me away with a bat. but here because we want so desperately for JW to improve, because it's JW whos good-looking [/shallow again ><] and honest and (as a bonus) rich and witty and funny (unintentionally of course), we seem to condone his stalker-like behaviors lol i dont know, there are very fine lines between drama and reality, but there are still lines. i like watching all these kdramas where ppl go through all kinds of drama, but you can't pay me to go through the same thing in real life. its too much trouble lol

Required fields are marked *

moomooye

December 13, 2010 at 11:35 AM

Well, I think one thing to keep in mind is that in a drama, we have the advantage of having an omniscient point of view. We know the reasoning behind his actions. Although the guy is a jerk, we also see his softer sides such as his loneliness, his imagining of Ra-im, his playing w/ the smurf app. For me, these are the things that really draw me to him, and I suppose I pretend that deep down, he really is not as a jerk as he comes off as. Unfortunately, in real life, we will never see these things, and realistically, it is a crappy relationship. If they portrayed him w/o those subtle details, I definitely don't think I can root for him at all, even if he is good-looking.

Required fields are marked *

LJ

December 13, 2010 at 3:07 PM

Well said Moomooye!! I'm not above admitting that I can be shallow and superficial&that I swoon when the camera zooms in at JooWon's handsome, brooding face. BUT the main reason why his bastardy ways do not put me off is because, as the audience, we get a lil peek to his psyche..

His weak moments, his loneliness&insecurities, his crazy mom (that CANT help).. his 'inner-self' if you wish. It seems to reflect that he's much more 'human' than he's willing to let loose when around Ra-Im.

&that just makes the show sooo much more watchable! I love those scenese when he's alone and his emotions, fantasies, quirks and what-nots come into play. Hyun Bin is becoming such a good actor!

Required fields are marked *

samgetang

December 18, 2010 at 11:03 AM

married2ahero (i like your name, by the way!), thanks for voicing out what many may have been thinking also in relation to this kdrama.

i would like to think that one of the reasons we watch kdrama, or any other dramas or film for that matter, is to escape our own realities. with this mind-set, we know that if these situations were to occur in real-life it would be a different matter, and so we take the story with a grain of salt knowing that no one actually gets hurt or suffers as a result of the wrong choices that the characters take. they are all made-up so the caution that should have been taken is not as relevant or significant. and many times for tragic or comedic purposes, the foolish choices or wrong actions are the ones deliberately made. if only wise decisions were made within the kdrama realm then there would be no conflict and it would all be a boring yarn for us to unravel. and where is the thrill in that? ;-)

even in real life, the person who always picks the right choice are often teased to be a bore...while people who habitually takes crazy risks are deemed more exciting.

but why do we still raise hell or complain when the characters that we root for in the story undergo suffering or make wrong choices? i think most of us would agree that we know it's just made-up and yet along the way we were able to relate and identify with the characters and we suddenly find ourselves hurting when they are in pain or experiencing joy when they are happy and become triumphant.

and so we all come back to the question why do we suffer fools in a kdrama? why do we gladly bear to watch assholes continue to do their thing and pass them off as cute and lovable?

why? ;-)

well, let me hazard some guesses: for one, maybe because we know its not for real. and two, perhaps because secretly we can actually identify and relate with them (nobody's perfect even in the real world , right?). and three, probably we know that behind those characters and story is a writer who can in fact orchestrate the changes that we hope to happen and so we are more hopeful as compared to real-life where we know that change is not always as easy and only God can change fickle hearts and stubborn minds. and finally, four, because maybe we know that if at anytime we do not agree/like what we see, we can easily jump/hop/skip to the next kdrama without taking responsibility for not sticking it out till the end or how ever long it takes for people to change themselves or be transformed through divine intervention; in this regard, kdrama is liberating.

these are just my guesses...what's yours? ;-)

Required fields are marked *

60 izzie

December 13, 2010 at 8:40 AM

a couple of things...

“Why are you wearing an ajumma’s long underwear?”“Why are you wearing an ajumma’s long underwear?” - haha! I remember mentioning 'lingerie' (referring to that pesky tracksuit) in the previous thread? LOL!

that new tracksuit... not only does it look like a woman's underpants... it also looks like a coffee table cover. I have the urge to put a flower vase on Joo-Wons's chest...

it's kind'a difficult to take Joo-Won seriously during his brooding/pensive moments while he's in that effing tracksuit. bleh!

1984??? is that a reference to Ra-Im's father acting like Big Brother on her and Joo-Won?

that bed with Jong-soo... that looks SO comfy. I have the urge to get snuggly with that long-haired stunt director who sleeps like a freakin' baby... hmm...

Required fields are marked *

61 m

December 13, 2010 at 8:42 AM

can this two ?? their chemistry are so great.. i having butterfly in my stomach everytime those two are near each other...

i know i know hyunbin dated song hye kyo but...

haji won and hyun bin are just two cute together...

enough for my renting..

Required fields are marked *

littletoygun

December 13, 2010 at 9:47 AM

omg!
how cute words. we're t the same boat. I can't stop thinking them in real life, too.
their chemistry is awesome, pufff^^

Required fields are marked *

m

December 13, 2010 at 11:01 AM

yes!!! both of them are so great as an actor/actress..

hope they're dated...

if this couple enter kbs best couple this year...

THEY WILL DEF WIN WIN!

Required fields are marked *

meltedd

December 13, 2010 at 11:21 AM

lol they are up against yongha/jaeshin

Required fields are marked *

62 caryatid

December 13, 2010 at 8:42 AM

i think joo-won said those words to his mom so she'll back off but i doubt if ra-im will forgive him after those harsh words! man, way to piss-off the girl your obsessing about!

BUT with the i'll-clean-your-foamed-lips-with-mine move then i'll just walk around with my foamed-lips all day so he'll clean it up for me!!!hehehe^_^

Required fields are marked *

63 bluemoon

December 13, 2010 at 8:48 AM

Oh my god~ I did the exact same thing. I really like this guy, and I look at his facebook and noticed some of the books that are his favorites. One of them is Catcher in the Rye, and I went and brought the book, and finished reading it in less than 3 hours. oh my

Required fields are marked *

64 Neurotic not Crazy

December 13, 2010 at 8:56 AM

Great recap

"mermistress" priceless

Episode filled with sweetness.

"Coffee-kiss"
"Book-learning" that goes both ways
"Say it with a Smurf: if your obsession won't confess love, the blue man will"

Question
How long was the switch and how many underwear did she wear? It seemed like there were dozens in the box.

Observation
I know people seem frustrated at the rate of the characters' growth. Some think RaIm is moving too slowly toward Joowon, and others think Joowon is being an ass for too long. But to me it makes sense. Both are being ask to re-consider their self-conception at the core. It is especially hard for Joowon who has a fossilized perception of himself. It makes sense that instead of trying to change he is working to understand the situation to see how he can get what he wants without giving up who he thinks he is.

For RaIm's case, he really hasn't offered anything to her except for the excitement of sexual sizzle. As a stunt woman, she probable has enough things in her life to make her heart race. As someone who lost her mother so young and her father at an early age, she is probably emotionally cautious and more than sexual excitement wants someone who offers emotional security. And at this point, that is the one thing Mr. Kim Joowon is not offering.

Required fields are marked *

buhdoop

December 13, 2010 at 10:03 AM

I agree, I like the way their story is developing. I think it is more believable then them being completely changed people after the swap.

Required fields are marked *

samgetang

December 18, 2010 at 11:12 AM

Agree with you both, neurotic but not crazy and buhdoop...

If it were in real life, change can happen almost til the very end of one's lifetime, if at all....so the rate of the main leads' development is actually realistic :-)

But perhaps, many viewers are not as patient because the lifetime of these characters only takes around 20 episodes or so...they hope to see and enjoy a few of the last remaining episodes with the change actually in force sans the annoying habit or irritating attitude and so it makes some a bit impatient with the pacing :-)

Required fields are marked *

65 Daniela

December 13, 2010 at 8:59 AM

Thank you very much!! I read this before breakfast. Reading this is the best way to start the day.

I watched the episode first without subs and i love it. I cant understand a thing but i had a little clue about what was happening. My stomach hurted because i laughed so hard when he was "acting". And then, the last 5 minutes... in CrazyDrama a kind person translated the last part and i was screaming. Why?! Why you have to say that?! You moron! I love Joo-won but i want to slap him too. I m waiting. Like you said, he is digging his own grave and he will fall for her even more.

I also love Ra-im, she is so cool. The way she return the things he said to her is priceless. I was intrigue about the book scene and now that i understand is so cute.

Im really waiting the next saturday, and also for him to win her love. Thank you again girlfriday! Awesome as always!

Required fields are marked *

Daniela

December 13, 2010 at 9:14 AM

jejeje is DramaCrazy,sorry

Required fields are marked *

66 koolbr33z3

December 13, 2010 at 9:01 AM

I'm surprised that JW willingly got into a cramped van with RI and the other team members to go to the saeguk shoot. Maybe she's curing him of his claustrophobia.

In an unrelated note, how awesome was this episode?! I couldn't stop laughing. Loved it until JW ruined it with his end speech. What a tool! I seriously hope he was just trying to play mindgames with his mom to throw her off.

Required fields are marked *

67 rrock

December 13, 2010 at 9:04 AM

i agree with you. although i find it hilarious, but at the same time i'm frustrated that there is no character developments in kim joo won. come on its episode 10 already. 답답해.

Required fields are marked *

68 m

December 13, 2010 at 9:04 AM

can this two date ?? their chemistry are so great.. i having butterfly in my stomach everytime those two are near each other...

i know i know hyunbin dated song hye kyo but...

haji won and hyun bin are just two cute together...

enough for my renting..

Required fields are marked *

SGcrazed

December 13, 2010 at 10:10 AM

i totally agree the steamy chemistry is foggin up ma screen has my R Rated thought hyped n my inner nasty self is thinking he should just DO her

Required fields are marked *

Northern Star

December 13, 2010 at 4:22 PM

I'll agree absolutely.

Pure chemistry, just sweet chemistry. They should really date, and date seriously.

Required fields are marked *

69 bessy

December 13, 2010 at 9:11 AM

isn't it amazing that Ra im STILL didn't fall in looovvee with Joo won EVEN AFTER the switch? i find this hilarious. because for me, if ra im fell for him that easily (given his emotional stuntedness and general insensitivity) their love story would have been so....contrived. like, you put two characters in enforced proximity for days...poof! they fall in love.

Required fields are marked *

70 kennedy

December 13, 2010 at 9:14 AM

Am I the only one who wants to know why Joo Won and Oska hate each other some much??

Required fields are marked *

minerva

December 13, 2010 at 9:17 AM

no, i'm curious, too. nothing much about the pasts of the characters have been revealed. i'm curious, too, how ra im's dad died and if his death is related to joo won. and his claustrophobia.

Required fields are marked *

badmamajama

December 13, 2010 at 1:21 PM

and why does he have claustraphobia . i knew you can be born or something with it . but when key lime was joo won oska said something about an accident and then he said he was sorry he let it slip when they had a tiny bromance going on oska mentioned it makes him feel like his his younger brother again . but i don't think oska hates Joo woon or Joo won hates oska i think they are merely irritated with each other or they don't know how to show affection . because everytime Joo won is down ( mostly becasue of Lime ( lol seriously lime . ) he goes and finds oske . fac eit peopel , oska is the only one who knows Joo won through and through . His the only one Joo Won is honest with about his feelings .

Required fields are marked *

bloghopper

December 14, 2010 at 11:18 PM

hi minerva, i was thinking the same thing too. maybe in the past, ra-im's dad saved joo-won from an accident or something. well, so much for the theories. hehe.

Required fields are marked *

minerva

December 15, 2010 at 4:35 PM

i didn't know people are born with phobias..i thought they developed after traumatic experiences, conscious or sub/unconscious, with some things or events..I rewatched episode 9 and in the end Oska told Raim that he aged 10, 20 +5 years (until he's in his current age, 35) but he still feels like he's 10 years old...Joo won is only 2 or 3 years younger than him...did something significant at age 10 happen to Oska? What about Joo won? And, by extension, what about Ra im?
yes, bloghopper!..so much for theories..*o.o*

Required fields are marked *

Joebs

December 13, 2010 at 9:40 PM

I don't think they really HATE each other. I guess some men really express their affection/concern for each other in weird ways that include bickering and a lot of teeth-gnashing. (But in this episode I really think Oska was a bit pissed off for real with Joowon's attitude, especially towards Raim.)

Required fields are marked *

71 minerva

December 13, 2010 at 9:20 AM

am i the only one who found joo won hot while he was shaving in the see-through shower room? *o.0*

Required fields are marked *

cookie

December 13, 2010 at 9:22 AM

cowardly joo won. he's not afraid of making a fool of himself (ehh..sageuk disaster?) in front of ra im, but he's terrified of facing up and confessing his feelings.

Required fields are marked *

izzie

December 13, 2010 at 9:37 AM

he tries to convince himself that he doesn't like Ra-Im. that he just fancies her.

his pendulum affection reminds me so much of Edward the Indecisive Vampire from Washington State.

Required fields are marked *

samgetang

December 18, 2010 at 11:26 AM

agree, izzie ;-) that's what makes this story so intriguing! what would make joo woon face and 'fess up to his real feelings for her....and what would make ra im realize she's also attracted to this guy...her worst nightmare?

what's funny is that unlike some males who try to suppress what they feel for the girl, pretending disinterest, joo woon, on the other hand, appear to be honest and open with his interest of ra im. but he just calls it different names/terms. while ra im has gotten into the bad habit of just being perpetually annoyed with the guy. :-)

hmmm...very very interesting!

Required fields are marked *

bloghopper

December 14, 2010 at 11:21 PM

it's a product placement, try googling hyun bin's cf, the one on philips's 3d shaver... hillarious.

Required fields are marked *

teena

December 15, 2010 at 4:44 PM

LOL I think JW's already AWARE he fancies Ra im, he just doesn't want OTHER people to KNOW it or CALL him out on it or ASSUME about the future of their relationship. He's so defensive about it it's funny!

Oh, was the shaving scene product placement? I didn't even notice the brand of the shaver...I was too busy looking at him and his shirtless self.

Required fields are marked *

72 SGcrazed

December 13, 2010 at 9:26 AM

king of bastard haz me noticing how elegant his fingers are YESSS that's what am obsessed about while everyone else is talking tracksuits.

Required fields are marked *

geanna

December 13, 2010 at 10:17 PM

homg me too! his hands n fingers~ very elegant!

Required fields are marked *

73 evelia

December 13, 2010 at 9:55 AM

Thanks for the recap.

Required fields are marked *

74 cindy211

December 13, 2010 at 9:56 AM

thanks for the recap GF. I was anxiously waiting for it so that I can get the details of the episode since I only understand bits and pieces.

Required fields are marked *

75 Auntiemame

December 13, 2010 at 9:59 AM

JW consistently has said that there is no possibility of a lasting relationship between him and RI. I wonder if his statements are based on his past experiences.

We are lead to believe that he will dump RI, in the end. Perhaps, his real meaning is that eventually RI will leave him. Just as other people that he loved has left him. Perhaps, his father. Definitely, other women that his mother has bought off or driven away.

Is this a possibility? I wonder if this is also related to why he told Seul that she can put out the story that she dumped him.

And, do we know what is the accident that has made JW claustrophobic?

Also In ep. 9, in the elevator scene, is there any meaning to "Drunkards Dream, Rock Steady" that is embroidered on the back of JW's business suit?

As for his harshness/brutality to RI, he is certainly setting himself up to be the bad guy. And, if he is the bad guy, then, she becomes the wounded heroine that will receive everyone's sympathy.

Therefore, in his warped thinking, he believes that he is protecting her and her pride and her self-respect. If he's the bad guy, she doesn't have to keep saying a million "I'm sorry", which drove him crazy in the early episodes.

OMG! He was such a dorky little kid during the filming. And, did they really have to put that great big black mole on his face, when he was wearing the common soldier's costume?! YES! Because it gave me another good laugh!

BTW, JW's sister was correct when she said she was the most normal one in the family. That is a family of wack-o's.

Required fields are marked *

76 jodasg

December 13, 2010 at 10:02 AM

Nvr look forward to a show so much since BG (but damn that ending) . Hopefully SG dun disappoint.

Ra-im & Joo Woo relationship is like dancing cha cha - 1 step forward & then 2 step backwards.

Just when Ra-im thinks she can trust Joo Woo a little cos there are times whereby he seems so sincere, he has to make all those hurting remarks & be an ass. :(

Required fields are marked *

77 jeanie65jh

December 13, 2010 at 10:05 AM

Joo Won's strange contradiction: to Ra-Im "Didn't you even think of me once?" ~ He's always complaining that when she acts, she doesn't consider him and yet...

He keeps insisting she is the little mermaid, a passing fancy or distraction. So why? Why should she consider him when she acts if who she is and what she does means so little to him. I really wish Ra-Im's character would actually address that next time he brings that up.

I mean, we all know he's a goner but still...he's got a looonngg way to go. That's why I want another switch to happen. He didn't learn near enough walking around in her skin. Silly crazy man. I love this show.

Required fields are marked *

78 Show2007

December 13, 2010 at 11:14 AM

GF. Thank you so much for the recap. Again, you made my day and just love your opening. "MerMistress" need to add to the dictationary. Bravo for the writer, PD and the CASTS. What a great drama and what a great way to end it. From Warm, funny, to Kiss, Funny and then the Axxhole talk at the last 5 minutes. I have to admit that I want to punch JW face after his "jerk axx" talks but I do think that he just has his weird logic on many "normal things" that's how he sees things should be done in his unique axxhole way. Again, you don't expect people change in one night, I see both JW and RI are changing little by little. We just have to have faith and be patience. I believe that next 2 eps will be the turning point and I do believe that JooWanda will appear again and this time he is willing to do the stunt job for RI "is not to save her but to protect her and ensure that she receive the role as he finally respect her and respect her career" well just my 2 cents.

Required fields are marked *

79 Rosy

December 13, 2010 at 11:15 AM

I like Joo Won and his practical approaches

Required fields are marked *

80 serenexmalice

December 13, 2010 at 11:20 AM

probably said already,
but this soo made my day. :]

Required fields are marked *

81 dana

December 13, 2010 at 11:27 AM

Thank you so much!

Required fields are marked *

82 phokej

December 13, 2010 at 11:35 AM

Thanks for perfect recaps :-) your comments always make my day.

Well, I quite understand why JW is such badass, just look at his mother :-) She seriously needs a psychiatrist or someone to tell her that not everyone is after her money... with mum like this, noone would be normal. And her hairstyle is... well... maybe someone should also tell her to wake up from the sixties to the twenty-first century... :-)

I sooo hope that RaIm will give JooWon a proper lesson (perhaps hitting his head isntead of leg) because that's the only thing that can wake him up to realise he really loves her and that she's no little Mermaid... honestly he would say that to me only once...

But anyway I LOVE this show :-)

Required fields are marked *

83 Noypi

December 13, 2010 at 11:35 AM

Only way that I could think Joo Won can redeem himself to Ra Im after all his Bullshit..

HE DIES TO SAVE HER FROM SOME KINDA ACCIDENT..

sad but really... dunno what else to think.. LOL

Required fields are marked *

84 ajmystro

December 13, 2010 at 11:41 AM

HELP!!!!!!!!!

I can't stop listening to Baek Ji Young's The Woman!

Required fields are marked *

Anonymous

December 18, 2010 at 11:04 AM

I know i downloaded that song also playing it non stop along with the 4Men reasons and Oska's song love them all.

Required fields are marked *

85 sobohomom2

December 13, 2010 at 11:42 AM

Some one mentioned that in City Hall, the romance doesn't really get cooking until episode 11. And like JW, that guy was also an arrogant basta*d. The dynamic wasn't all that different--in CH, the "hero" kept saying that he was going to marry to further his political interests and not for love--but in the end, love conquered all.

Required fields are marked *

86 Rocky

December 13, 2010 at 11:43 AM

i really enjoyed your recap for this episode! i must agree with you, joo-won is never going to be completely liked if he keeps acting the way he does...poor ram-im :-(

Required fields are marked *

87 Yiya

December 13, 2010 at 11:54 AM

I laughed so hard when Joo-won and Jong-soo were jostling each other when they were coming out of Ra-im's house. Boys, boys, boys

Required fields are marked *

Emily

December 13, 2010 at 12:38 PM

lol me too. Though I laughed even harder when even after all their petty squabbling Ra Im ended up going with Oska. XD

Required fields are marked *

88 mykindadrma

December 13, 2010 at 12:06 PM

Love everything about this episode, cracks me up so hard.... Just everyone of you having hate and love toward Joowon, he is so hilarious(especially during the movie shooting ). I laughed and still laughing evertime i remeber... the costume, acting and all. I'll forgive him for saying mean things because my guess he's going to get a retribution later in the episode(hopefully not dying though). . On the other note, Ra-im (HJW)never disappoint with the action scene(Love it).

Can't wait to see what other exciting things this drama has to offer...As for now this drama is over the top:).. Ha Ji Won, Hyung Bin and th rest are making it happen!!!!!

By the way...Thanx for the recap, so nice of you:)....

Required fields are marked *

89 Carinne

December 13, 2010 at 12:09 PM

Men in lace is so wrong. The only part I like about this magenta tracksuit is the high collar almost covering up Hyun Bin's cold red hot ears. He looks pretty hot w/ that face, hair, and collar. Keke~

Required fields are marked *

90 Marystatedoutallnight&SecretGarden luver

December 13, 2010 at 12:15 PM

Thanks so much! I'm just waiting for the subs to come on, but this helped alot!!!!! AMAZING!! UR THE BEST!!!

Required fields are marked *

91 what is

December 13, 2010 at 12:50 PM

I love love LOOOOVE this drama!!!
Everything about it has been working for me.

My faavorite favorite scene of this episode was where Jon woo and Jong soo are left eating dust after Oska "kidnapped" our heroine! Looks so stupid, and adorable. I LOVE THEM ALL!!!!!

Required fields are marked *

92 dit

December 13, 2010 at 12:52 PM

Joowon is Grade AAAsshole. I'm so excited to see him get served. He better gets it.

Required fields are marked *

93 LL

December 13, 2010 at 12:55 PM

BEEN WATCHING EP 10 : CAPUCCHINO KISS FOR MORETHAN 20 TIMES.

LOVE THE CHEMISTRY AND THEIR EYE CONTACTS ARE AMAZING ...

Required fields are marked *

94 zj

December 13, 2010 at 1:15 PM

I've rewatched SG so many times, it's not even funny!! Does anyone know why Seul is offering to sponsor Taesun? What's her deal? (And I know she has one)

Required fields are marked *

95 srkambbs

December 13, 2010 at 1:24 PM

Awesum episode as usually & reference to 100 years of solitude. Im reading that book for school right now....coincidence!!!

Required fields are marked *

96 halfmoon

December 13, 2010 at 1:33 PM

Comment was deleted

Required fields are marked *

97 jen

December 13, 2010 at 1:56 PM

wow i was pretty much GAPING when he said that at the end. i want to kick him but sadly, i still like him T.T

Required fields are marked *

98 mee

December 13, 2010 at 2:28 PM

aah thank you so much for the recap. made my day =D now going bak to writing my papers boo ;(

Required fields are marked *

99 deeko

December 13, 2010 at 2:34 PM

Ugh. Joo Won makes me shake my head every other minute. One moment, I'm grinning like a goat from his cute antics... then I'm frowning the next because of the jerkish things he says. Seriously, talk about a foot in his mouth syndrome. Please, JW, grow up.

I'm surprised Ra-Im hasn't driven him off a cliff yet. She's got patience. I love how sweet it was that she actually bought those books to know him better. I wish he really understood her heart a little more... and maybe she got to understand him too. He's misunderstood but he doesn't help that by his foot-in-mouth disease, which is worse than his neurotic behavior right now.

I hope they switch again. Seems homeboy Joo-Won hasn't learned his lesson quite yet.