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That Winter, The Wind Blows: Episode 8

They really weren’t kidding about the dichotomy between our two leads when it comes to their ideas on life and death during the pre-production press cycle, and it’s an issue that’s becoming all the more apparent as we officially hit the halfway mark (I know!). Even with darkness looming ahead, there are more cute moments in this episode than you can shake a bell at, giving off the vibe that we’re actually watching two people bond as opposed to two actors just giving it their best shot. Thumbs up, Winter. Thumbs up.

As far as ratings go, That Winter isn’t necessarily killing it at 13.3%, but when you consider that its competition is pulling in single digits, it’s a pretty valid victory.

 
EPISODE 8 RECAP

Soo and So-ra’s charged glance doesn’t last long, since he’s got to get Young to the hospital. So-ra is prevented from following by Young’s totally amazing fiancé, while Hee-sun witnesses it all before calling Jin-sung for backup.

Young gets rushed in for examination, with Soo frantically declaring guardianship over her. Jin-sung calls in the meantime about what to do with So-ra, but we don’t hear Soo’s instructions.

Myung-ho asks So-ra to point out the Oh Soo she dated from a picture showing both of them, and she points Friend Soo out as deceased before confirming Soo as the one she dated.

At the same time, Jin-sung calls her to tell her that if she’s got a shred of compassion left for Soo, she’ll keep quiet with Myung-ho if she ever wants to talk to her beloved again. She complies by lying to Myung-ho that the Soo she dated was PL Group’s only son, prompting Jin-sung to initiate phase two of Soo’s plan by calling up an old contact.

Myung-ho cancels So-ra’s contract with them (probably because he’s mad she didn’t tell him what he wanted to hear), so she turns the blame over to Soo, as if he needs even more emotional blackmailing from the likes of her.

Because Young woke up during the middle of testing and refused any more treatment, Soo settles for chatting with the doctor instead, becoming visibly disheartened when he learns that there’s a chance her brain tumor has relapsed (hence the fainting). But, the only way they’ll know is through an examination, and Young’s made it clear she doesn’t want one.

Young jumps all over Soo the second he suggests getting tested, because she’s been through this song and dance with Secretary Wang countless times before even for the smallest symptoms.

It’s not the testing process she’s afraid of as much as being stuck in a hospital with Secretary Wang, so by accusing Soo of siding with her, she effectively gets him to drop the subject. For now, anyway. She promises she’ll get tested if she experiences pain again.

She wants him to go to the company’s big anniversary gala with her, so she can show her brother off to everyone and prove that she’s not alone. She knows how to guilt Soo (who doesn’t?), and gets him to agree to go so that way he can know if she gets sick or not. If he doesn’t go and she were to get sick, she claims she’d never tell him. It’s emotional blackmail of the highest order, but at least he’s aware of her tactics. Not that it does much.

Young tells Secretary Wang that she’ll be going to the party with Soo, which sort of leaves Wang out of the equation. She covers by saying she didn’t have time to go to the party anyway despite her looking visibly affected, even though Young keeps barreling over her decisions for this and that. Even the dress Secretary Wang picked for the gala won’t do – she wants the one Soo gave her.

She cuts off any retort by Secretary Wang with the claim that she doesn’t want to fight, since she’s determined to be happy for the thirty-one days Soo has before he leaves.

Jin-sung happily shows his hyung photos he and Hee-sun snapped of Myung-ho and his flame looking cozy, but they also have a video of him desperately trying to end things with her.

Soo still wants Jin-sung to follow Myung-ho in hopes that they’ll catch him with his guard down, even though he’s hoping that their contact will come through in digging up Secretary Wang’s past. As for So-ra, Soo claims he’ll deal with her alone.

Speaking of the devil, Myung-ho informs Secretary Wang that So-ra confirmed Soo’s identity as heir of PL Group, but she’s not so easily convinced and wants So-ra invited to the anniversary to see what happens.

Soo and Young head to the resort where the gala will be taking place, and Young drops some not-so-subtle hints about not wanting Soo to leave for Italy. “Don’t have any hope that I’ll stay here,” Soo tells her lightheartedly.

“When I was young, do you know what I learned while I was sick? ‘If I have hope, I will be the one who gets hurt,'” Young replies. Aw.

Soo seems baffled when chefs bring in baking ingredients, and Young explains that she wants to make pastries for Soo. It’s less about the bread and more her desire to feed him with her own hands, which is cute.

She’s pretty capable at baking too, by using voice instructions and touch. Soo steps in to help only when she needs to use a knife, and guides her hands while standing behind her. It’s skinship galore from here on out, even though it seems strange to call it that considering the fauxcest. But the closeness is wayyy more couple-like than sibling-like.

Soo wants to know why she was at the mall in the first place, causing Young to teasingly reply that she was buying a gift for someone she loves that’s NOT him. Hah. The recipient of the jewelry gift is actually Lawyer Jang, and Young went by herself because she wanted to pick the present out personally to make it special.

He asks her if she trusts Lawyer Jang, enough to trust him when he’s not around anymore, and she nods happily. Soo seems comforted that she’ll have someone to depend on When The Time Comes.

They’re both clearly having fun so Soo decides to play around by smearing icing on her face, only for Young to get revenge by literally COVERING his face and hair in the same stuff. I’m not even going to lie, this scene is squee-inducingly adorable. At least on this end.

He finds Young frantically searching for the carnival bell he won her after he washes up, and has this strange moment where he seems to realize just how dependent she is on him/their memories together when he helps her find it.

He helps her prepare for a ski lift ride by making sure she’s got multiple layers of socks and scarves, by all intents playing the part of a caring brother. Maybe he is really getting comfortable with this relationship, because he has another unconscious slip like the forehead-kiss scene of the last episode, only this time he just grabs her face and bumps their foreheads together playfully.

Hah. Some worried company members try to dissuade the two from going to the top of the mountain because it’s dangerous, so Young and Soo fight back by parroting each other’s sentences and finishing each other’s thoughts. Like real siblings. Waitaminute… Gah, this show is messing with my brain chemistry.

They take the ski lift, with Young enjoying the winter wind. Soo promises her that he’ll make sure to keep taking her to windy places, and there’s your show title.

Soo has to put her down for a bit of rest, since he’s been hiking up the mountain with her on his back. She feels sorry for burdening him and hopes that he’ll meet a nice woman eventually, leading them to talk about his dating life. Young: “You’re a player, aren’t you?”

He puffs up a bit and jokes, “I’m just the kind of man that women like.”

He puts a pair of earmuffs on her for the rest of the hike, which seem to work like a blindfold in her case. Once they make it to the very top of the mountain he takes them off, and the wind rustling through all the frozen branches around them makes the sound of thousands of tiny wind chimes.

It’s musical and magical, overwhelming Young enough to bring tears to her eyes. Soo wraps his arms around her from behind: “Later when I leave, even if you lose the bell, if the winter wind blows the trees will always make this sound.” Awwwww. That’s why he looked so troubled when she was so worried about the bell. And that’s why he carried her up a MOUNTAIN.

“If only you could see this now,” he says. “It would have been really nice. But more than this, what I want to show you is actually you, yourself, more than anything.” He goes on to say that if she could only see herself she’d see how pretty and cool she is (d’aww) and Young turns around in his arms…

…And kisses him on the cheek. “It’s okay to kiss an oppa like this, right?” she asks with a smile. Soo’s completely fine with it and holds her close as soon as she goes in for a hug. (The water, it gets murkier.)

Young wants to sleep in oppa’s room that night, so he lets her take the bed while he stays on the floor, reading her to sleep. He wonders if he’d want his memories back if he lost them like the character in the book (please don’t go down this road, Winter), deciding that he wouldn’t care about any of his memories save for the ones he has with her.

Soo tries to shift Young on the bed since she’s already fallen asleep, but he ends up hypnotized by her lips again and leans in, this time delivering the lightest of kisses on her lips. I’m talking a literal brushing of the lips, so tiny and brief that you’d miss it if you blinked. (But who’d be crazy enough to do that?)

She stirs slightly, serving as a wake-up call to Soo, and he returns to his spot on the floor. Young wakes up later and sneaks past in order to make him coffee, and despite stumbling around a bit and burning herself, she manages just fine.

Soo gets a literal wake-up call from Young as she sings him happy birthday. He’s confused at first, but recovers quickly: “Ah, right. It’s today, isn’t it?” Please tell me you remember your friend’s birthday, Soo. Otherwise this is a really foolproof way for her to know if you’re lying.

She’s already gone (hence the call), but urges him to go into the living room to find the present she left. “After you leave, in the event that you miss me, I want you to listen to that sound.”

Ah, so she DID go to the department store to buy a gift for him. It’s a bracelet with a tiny bell charm that she’s left on the top of the cake she made him, which means she woke up early in order to frost and decorate it. Awww.

As he blows out the candle on the cake we hear him in voiceover, as though he’s narrating from the future: “If I could have stopped, I would have stopped then. My dangerous acts to get close to Young were crossing the limit. The warning sounds that rang from deep within my heart… I definitely heard them.”

He slips on the bracelet and shakes his wrist by his ear, causing the little bell to ring. Now he feels extra bad and fights back tears when he takes a bite of the cake, clearly touched but also weighed down by guilt.

His voiceover continues that now, for the first time, he’s considering how much he’ll get hurt by this whole scam, even more so than Young.

Later, he finds Young rehearsing for a presentation she’ll have to give at the gala, and lets her know he’s arrived by shaking the bracelet so she can hear.

This is interesting – So-ra gives Moo-chul the heads up that she’ll be crashing the gala, but we find him with the Doctor Noona who turned Soo away. And that Noona actually seems to be Moo-chul’s real sister, who’s none too pleased with Moo-chul living the kind of life he does.

Moo-chul’s defense is that he’s got two months left to live, so he’ll live how he pleases. (News to everyone.) He has a contemptuous relationship with Noona because it seems like she abandoned the family and the rest of their siblings, causing Moo-chul to become a gangster in order to support them. But because she saved one of his brothers through brain surgery (and seemingly paralysis), Moo-chul still gives her the time of day.

Still, we know he’s suffering from something serious, even though we only see some blood splatter on the snow.

Hee-sun and Jin-sung keep an eye on Myung-ho even as he heads to the gala, and for the first time she starts noticing that Jin-sung has some appeal. It’s about darn time.

She’s half-joking when she wonders whether she should just go out with him since her and Soo clearly aren’t meant to be, but Jin-sung fires back that he’ll only listen to her when she really means it.

Secretary Wang puts on a smiling face outside the gala, though she’s just waiting for So-ra to show up and crash the party. That’s all she can hope for at this point, since shareholders are showing interest in the long-lost prodigal son, leaving no room for her or Myung-ho in the company.

Unfortunately for Soo, Lawyer Jang gets a call from Coffee Shop Joong-tae with news – while looking up articles on So-ra, he found paparazzi photos of her and Soo together. Naturally netizens must have done a little digging at the time, enough for Joong-tae to know that Soo is NOT an Italian chef, but an infamous illegal gambler from Cheongdamdong (an extra affluent part of the already-affluent Gangnam District.)

Uh oh. That’s all the info Lawyer Jang gets, but it’s enough to know that Soo lied through his teeth about his past.

So-ra arrives as the party is about to start, while Jin-sung and Hee-sun hang around in the back with a picture of Myung-ho’s girlfriend as they try to spot her in the crowd.

Soo is nervous about going in front of this kind of crowd, but Young convinces him to do it in order to help her look stronger and more capable to the nervous shareholders who could oust her from the chairman position at any time.

As he leads her out, she smiles to hear his bracelet before her smile falters. Eek. Is she getting another headache? Those things sure do have some dramatic timing.

Soo helps her up the stage where she addresses the mass of partygoers, and even Jin-sung notes under his breath how engrossed Soo is into his role as Young’s brother.

So-ra’s in attendance and scoffs when Young mentions that Soo has no interest in the company because he’s an Italian chef, knowing what a lie it is. Soo keeps his introduction short and just asks the shareholders to support Young, giving her the report afterward that no one applauded with pity – the shareholders seem to respect her now.

He meets So-ra’s gaze before he heads off stage to meet her (closely followed by one of Myung-ho’s lackeys), leaving Young to finish her presentation while she sweats from pain. To her credit, she’s doing an awesome job holding herself together. So far no one can tell.

Jin-sung’s eagle eyes on Myung-ho pay off when Myung-ho’s girlfriend shows up to the party, and he leaves Hee-sun at the table to pursue his prey. What’s he got planned?

So-ra lures Soo to her hotel room for a chat, only Soo borrows her phone during the elevator ride to call her extremely jealous sponsor (and consequently the man he owes all his debt to), knowing that he’ll freak out to know his girlfriend is with him.

He’s smart enough to wait until they’re out of security camera view to pin So-ra against the wall so she can’t interrupt his conversation. Yikes. He basically tells her boss to keep better tabs on her if he wants his money, because Soo won’t be able to get it if she keeps interfering. She’s gonna be in trouble.

She doesn’t get a word in edgewise as Soo warns her to stay away from him if she wants to keep her acting career. Judging by the way he body checks Myung-ho’s lackey the second he scuttles from the elevator, Soo was well-aware that he was being tailed.

Myung-ho and Secretary Wang have to plaster on their best fake smiles as shareholders reveal their newfound support of Young, with those on the fence having changed their mind after seeing Soo. Lord knows they couldn’t have changed their mind from the rousing speech he gave.

Meanwhile, Lawyer Jang calls a detective contact of his to look into Oh Soo, The Gambler. Not good.

Soo finds out belatedly that Young’s left the party when she calls him on her way home. She’s looking sicker than ever as she barely holds it together, but Soo goes on red alert and rushes out when she mentions going home to take “medicine,” immediately thinking she means the Instant Death Pill.

Ha. Okay, it’s a leetle bit funny that she’s cried wolf too many times for Soo to not think she’s going to commit suicide at any given moment. Even though I’m sure she just meant normal, non-lethal medicine this time… right?

Young struggles to make sure no one is alerted to her condition on the way home, even going so far as to threaten her driver with termination if he tells anyone. She all but crawls to her room with her hair plastered to her face with sweat. Oh no.

Soo bursts into the empty house to find his room ransacked and the Death Pill gone. He rushes downstairs, but doesn’t see Young drinking water in the kitchen while we do. Oh no.

Something seems to come over her after she drinks, and the glass falls from her limp fingers. Soo rushes into the kitchen at the sound and sees Young crumple to the ground, only inches away from the empty pill canister.

But there’s no Death Pill in sight. Did Young take it?

 
COMMENTS

This show has been hinging one too many cliffhangers on the question of whether Young lives or dies, and to be honest, I finally got a wee bit frustrated with it this round. It’s not that I don’t feel for Young’s pain or that I don’t understand her motivations, but the constant “Will she or won’t she?” aspect of this whole suicide issue is getting a little tiring. Surely there must be other aspects of the story we can use as cliffhanger fodder, right? Granted, this opinion is subject to change if Young really did take the pill intending to die once and for all, but if it’s another Clever Editing Scare and it turns out she’s fine (which, let’s face it, we’re only halfway through the series), I’ll consider my desensitization threshold thoroughly tested. It’s getting to that point where I hear much thunder, but I see no rain.

There was an interesting turn this episode as far as the sexual tension versus the incestual tension goes, in that the closeness between Soo and Young has started to feel almost too natural, which sapped some of the romantic tension out of their moments together for me. I’d chalk that up to Soo becoming more comfortable in their relationship, since we’d see how every little touch from Young used to affect him before, only for him to be much less self-aware and much freer with with his hands now. I’m not really sure if this falls under the desensitization category, because far be it from me to say there’s too much skinship, it’s just that the intent behind it has changed with their relationship. They’re still not siblings and their behavior isn’t normal even FOR siblings, but their dynamic has eased a bit and settled down. Which isn’t a bad thing at all, more like an interesting new dimension to explore.

I don’t think So-ra’s role in this story is done, though it’s refreshing to have a hero who’s decently straightforward in dealing with his problems. He normally doesn’t sugarcoat what he says when he needs to say it, giving him an earnest quality that I still find endearing and appealing regardless of the overarching con. (I’m so going to be eating these words later when the truth comes out, aren’t I?) I really do believe him when he claims to want Young to live happily once he’s gone, and I really do believe that he wants the best for her despite everything.

The only problem is, I have to qualify that “despite everything” every time, because I am gonna need whatever Soo is on if he thinks he’s going to make it out of this with both of them amicably parting ways and therefore richer for the experience. For now, I’ll give him a gold star for his efforts to keep Young alive, since that’s becoming quite the full-time job.

 
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OMG, I've been refreshing this page like crazy for the past two days. Finally!!! Thank you so much <3 I nearly held my breath when I f5 and saw this post. Now I will come back to read your great recap (like usual)

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I am glad. Not only me who's always done that for these few weeks.

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Thank you for this recap, the series keeps going strong, the leads are just lovely.

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thanks for the recap :)
I guess I'll start this show next week..

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thanks :)

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No stick figures accepted :)

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haha. it'd be a waste for this show.
too much pretty

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Haha are you referring to any drama in particular when you say "as opposed to two actors giving their best shot"?

I liked the way Young used emotional blackmail on Soo to get him to come to the party and to sleep in his room, because that's the kind of mischief a little sister would do to her too good natured brother, or a daughter to her dad.

Soo's icing covered face just says it all. I brought this upon myself hahahaha. I also liked that he almost threw the cake at her but still refrain himself from ruining her hardwork.

The random show titles inserts just make me chuckle.

I did not blink or even breath during that almost kiss scene. It's true that their interactions have been more siblings-y but I could feel the sexual tension back with that scene. At least from Soo. But these waters sure are murky.

Moo Chul's death sentence seemed really thrown in awkwardly, that's the first time I thought the show didn't introduce a plot element smoothly. And how in the hell did Jinsung and Heesun just crashed the super selective shareholders party just like that, and sitting at a table like they belong without anyone noticing?

Other than that, this show continues to be beautifully mesmerizing. Thanks for the recap!

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"And how in the hell did Jinsung and Heesun just crashed the super selective shareholders party just like that, and sitting at a table like they belong without anyone noticing?"

I was thinking about this too!

I loved the cake scene, when she threw all that cream on Soo's face and he was tempted to smash the cake into her face but pulled out of it the last minute. Then he was left standing there all helpless, not knowing what to do next. Complete K.O! xD Go Yongie!

I can feel the sexual tension but I think Soo is the one who always ends up forgetting that he is supposed to be the brother. Yongie is more like a clueless innocent girl.

Anyway, I am actually starting to get a bit bored with the show. I'm fine with it being slow paced but in the previous episode when secretary Wang, once again, got threatened by Soo with not taking Yongie to the hospital for the right treatment. I was like, yeah this is getting old...

Also Yongie with her suicidal character is starting to get on my nerves. I understand her life has been hard and all but this is getting tiring already. I wish she went to the hospital to find out what's wrong with her, she doesn't need to accept the treatment if she doesn't want to but I really want to know wth is wrong with her health.

Also, these few last episodes have been mainly about Soo and Yongie spending time together whereas the plot hasn't been advancing much...

When Moo Chul's sickness was revealed I thought maybe his death will save either of our main characters.

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Just watch ep 9 and you may see Young might not be as suicidal as she seems to be. She IS suicidal in the first few episodes. But since the death pill scene we actually have misunderstood her a little. Well I don't want to spit spoilers out so what I say seems really confusing LOL. Just watch it!!! It's fast-paced again, btw.

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I know what you mean but she is still using these "kill me" or "it's easy to kill me" too much for my liking.

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OMIGAD AND I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE. I thought that there must be something wrong with me,and that I was being a wet blanket because for the last two episodes (8 & 9) I feel like there's not much plot advancement.(must be the live-shooting side effects kicking in) The sweet moments between the OTP was super adorable but I kinda spent most of my time getting impatient to see where the storyline is actually going. And I realised that I couldn't really care less about the secondary character (sorry Bummie) >.< because I feel like they don't really serve much purpose other than being a plot device to move the storyline forward. We need more background info on them. And I still feel like strangling Sora to death (what is wrong with me,really).Here's what I think: Moo Chul will side with Soo at the end although he may seem mean now but I figured since they used to be friends he'd still help him out at the end. I mean if he really wanted him to die,he'd have done it in the first place instead of dragging it out. Despite my picky qualms, I still love this drama for the cinematography and amazing visuals. And JO IN SUNG.

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ditto...except that they already finished 12 episodes; they started filming the 13th episode last monday. The 16th episode script(finale) is finished also so no possibility of live shooting and extension.

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Good to hear that! I just hope that the script won't let us down. Noh Hee Kyung,I'm putting my faith in you! >.<

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I agree that the pace did slow up a little but I don't mind just watching Soo and Young bond, because I'm really really reluctant to experience the heartbreak that's looming. And then Young goes and says there is only one month left until Soo leaves and I'm like wait, where did all that time go?

About the pill, I was also annoyed that they pull the will-she-won't-she-die card out again but then I wondered if she really knew that pill was meant to kill or if something was lost in translation (between Soo and her but also from korean to subtitles lol)

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She didn't know it was a death pill..watch ep 9...OS said that it was more like an amulet or a charm that can ease you when you feel painful...So she basically isn't suicidal on this episode....I think some translations miss this one..

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@sweetcloud: I agree with you about enjoying the slower-paced respite with Young and Soo. After his emotional opening up/breakdown when Young essentially told him he wasn't to blame for his girlfriend's death I liked that we got to the fallout from that. That we got to see how much more relaxed and happy Soo was, and how comfortable they were together. (Like siblings, or more like an established couple.)

The looming deadline (which, yeah, it's coming up really quick) added enough tension for me. (But then, I'm so strongly on team-Soo that anything that makes him happy, and Young happy, makes me happy.)

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*got to see the fallout... *sigh*

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If Soo invited them, I dont see how hard it could have been for Jinsung and Heesun to come.

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Especially JO IN SUNG.

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The whole cake scene looked like a legitimate CF.
The cherry cutting, the finger burning, the ear touching. Seriously. I thought i was watching a CF.

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Oh my gosh the icing fight was awesome! I adored that Soo picked up the cake and was like, "no... no I can't do that" and so that meant Young won. It was such an awesome escalation. :D

I also liked Young's emotional blackmail. Mainly because it means she's not some sweet, helpless, little thing. She's got fire. (Though it was also good that Soo knew exactly what she was doing, so it wasn't like evilly manipulative or anything.)

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Thanks so much again for the fantastic recap!

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I really love this show and your recap is daebak! I just saw episode 9 last night on Viki (no more supporting DramaFever from now on) and it was as intense as episode 8! I can't wait to read your take on next episode.

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I know what HeadsNo2 means about the relationship feeling more natural, like Soo is making a real effort to think of himself as her real brother--WITH the exception of that almost kiss/barely there kiss scene, which tells me that there are still times when he can't sustain the lie to himself. *fans self* Hawt.

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"Young and Soo fight back by parroting each other’s sentences and finishing each other’s thoughts. Like real siblings. Waitaminute… Gah, this show is messing with my brain chemistry." AHAHAHAH I was thinking something along the same train of thought when I watched the drama.
I am frustrated with Young's all-too-many times of crying wolf. And I agree that Moo Chul's sudden death sentence was pretty random. I think that the drama is trying to say that karma is coming to get him because he's a mafia mob? idk. Anyway,I love the visuals,the beautiful lines and super pretty OTP from this drama but I've become quite detached from it lately. It's like I can no longer connect with the characters anymore. I think it's just me because I am getting really picky about dramas these days. Thank goodness there's on stick man images for this drama's recap because no stick man can replace the awesomeness that is Jo In Sung and Song Hye Gyo. Anyway,I can't wait to read your recap for the ninth episode! Heads,thank you so much for recapping! :3

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oops I meant no stick man images HAHAHAH can you even imagine how the main OTP would look like in stick figures? MIND.CANNOT.COMPUTE.

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I feel like MOO CHUL's death sentence was not SUDDEN. They hinted towards MooChul's desperation increasing throughout the series, as if it is not solely due to his memories. The series constantly reminds us that something is up with Moo Chul. I whole heartedly disagree that it was sudden. I think this show really is very details and uses alot of implication before thrusting us towards the truth!

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I wasn't crazy enough to blink as well...I saw the slight kiss....heee

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Heya.
just wanted to tell you that its a pleasure reading your recaps with your quirky comments after watching the drama.:)
the best part are the visuals and the next is the love story thought the plot now is moving in circles and it doesnt matter if its a happy ending or not coz im still gonna love it to pieces..:)

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This episode is so heart warming. The chemistry between the 2 leads is so amazing. Excellent cinematography especially the scene on the mountain. Hope we will have a happy ending for this show.
Does anyone know how the movie version and the J-drama version end?

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You don't want to know. I've seen it but if told here, it might ruin it for others who don't like spoilers. Lets just say if this series follows the movie, it has the potential to give us what we hope for, but not in the way we would have liked.

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You know what, I always thought Moo-chul was kidding with the whole Death Pill - like it was just a placebo of-sorts and all he was trying to do was mess around with Soo and how he would react when the Death part of the pill did not come out.

And I totally get what you say about the sibling part. They're SO NOT behaving like real siblings, but at the same time but the comfortableness they share while being together makes it less strange.

And both Song and Jo are doing an amazing job.

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I also entertained the same theory about that death pill! I thought Moo Chul just wanted to test whether Soo would choose to take the pill or kill Young and have him regret whichever way, since killing himself makes him a coward and killing the helpless blind girl makes him a coward AND a bastard.

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YES! that's exactly what I was trying to tell.
But now I just don't know... whith him dying and all maybe he DOES want Soo to die so both of them are defeated. Like "I go down and I'll take you with me or I'll take someone you like (just like you did to me)", you know, concerning the whole dead-pregnant-girlfriend-I-forgot-the-name.

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Thanks Heads for the recap.

I have to agree with you. Kudos to Song Hye Gyo and Jo In Sung for having such chemistry on screen. They are so natural together. It's like watching chemistry build step by step through episodes as their characters start to connect with each other.

Gah.. so many cute moments in this episode which led me to think that we are about to have a doom and gloom episode (Hello there episode 9). It's okay show, I know you are melodrama. Bring on the tears, I'd say.

I appreciate the way this drama peel its characters layer by layer. I have to admit when Moo Chul spat on Mr Kim face, I don't know what to think of him. Too much balls? Overly confident of his own 'power'? But as of this episode, it all makes sense. This guy doesn't have a care in the world. What for since he only got two months to live? Looks like Moo Chul is dead set bringing Oh Soo together with him.

Soo and Young... what else to say about them? You both are insanely ADORABLE together! And don't worry, I never once see you both as sibling. Never. I've got my own brother and I have never kiss him ever! So yeah.. sibling? My foot. Hmph. (this isn't a complaint, in case people misunderstand)

Thanks again Heads!

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Hello ! I just have a question : is it me or the instrumental music is the same as in Nice Guy (or very similar) ? Anyway, thank you for the recaps, they really give me a better understanding of the show :)

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seems really similar to me as well

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Soooooooo similar!!!!!!

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Great episode, though if this ending is yet another fake-out, I'll be pissed. Not that I want Young to die, I don't! I'm just getting tired of wondering if she will do it or not.

I liked all the cute, sweet moments this episode, but I'm wondering how this show can continue to smudge the lines. And Soo better not actually be her brother. And, no one better get amnesia.

I don't think we've seen the last of So-ra, though I wish we had. She's creepy and annoying.

Lawyer Jang was really interesting this episode. What if he does find out the truth, but doesn't oust Soo? That would be the best course of action, but I doubt it.

Thanks for the recap, Heads!

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Thanks for the recap! This episode was definetely one of my favs so far, i found it so romantic... ive seen soooo many kdramas, but they all fade away when compared to twtwb, to me its perfection :D

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I continue to be confused about the brain tumor. I thought she was told she had one, but really didn't.....but somehow thinks it will come back????

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She had a brain tumor and she got operated when she was still young. In OY's video that OS was able to watch, she narrated that the brain tumor is not the cause of her blindness, rather it's RP Retinitis Pigmentosa. So it's possible for relapse...

just a speculation, I think it's also not RP because the doctor(in this episode) said it's not possible to have that kind of headache if it is RP. She needs thorough check-up and I think it's not a tumor too but something else that is curable (i'm kinda hoping here lol)

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Ah, ok. I was still thinking about the video when she was really small, where she said she hadn't been taken to the hospital. I thought the tumor story was totally made up as a cover. Thanks!

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my favourite actor is kang dong won. but i'm starting to fall for JIS.

i wish i had a brother like him.

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I think this is one of those dramas which I watch not so much for the plot , but more for the characters. I am vested in both Oh Soo and Oh Young and hope for the best for both!

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haha for me its neither characters nor plot but the execution itself, the visuals are stunning and the actors have good if not beyond good acting.

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Me too, me too! I am so completely invested in both Soo and Young and want them to have a happily-ever-after and... yeah, I should brace myself for the heart-shredding to come. Meanwhile, it's fingers-in-ears and "lalala, they'll be happy for ever!!" as I watch. ;)

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ME THREE! I know that it's a bit too much of a stretch for melodramas to have happy endings but I REALLY REALLY WANT THEM TO HAVE THEIR HAPPY EVER AFTER. The entire time my brain's just thinking "Just let them both be together already". If the ending is a sad one(rightfully justified) I think my heart would break. :O

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My heart almost stopped at the álmost' kiss! even though the plot development didn't advanced that much in this episode, I think those cute moments covered it all. :) And having two beautiful leads looking so awesome together is never tiring :D

Just watched ep 9, and my heart just keeps asking for more!

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What fab drama, it keeps you entertaining and the music sores thru the air , such beautiful cinematography which captures all the expression and emotions of the actors ...hats of to the director and editing dept. Truly a grand job. Really loving the way drama qualities are improving over the years ... last year was a blast with series and great stories this year too everyone are trying their best. They are far more entertaining than the movies ... Oh Soo and Oh Young ...you both rock !!! you deserve all the credit everyone are giving.I would like to credit the guy who thought of casting you both for this drama ...you both are sooo talented it feels natural and not at all acting yet this is a drama ...melodrama catogory ...Rock on !!!!

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I wish someone would comment on Soo's inner monologue. What is he trying to say about being conceited about paying a game with love. Is he saying he's fallen in love? How is he going to be the one who gets hurt?

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He finally realizes that he loves OY. He said his heart is ringing a bell (warning him) that he should stop being close to OY but stubbornly he didn't listen. He's so used at playing at love that he always win but for the first time in his life, he's playing a game of love wherein he knows he will be the one to hurt the most.

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nice explanation.

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Writer Noh used symbolism as way of expressing one person feeling

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And as Heads pointed out it sounds like he's narrating from the future, so maybe he's recalling it as the very moment he found himself in love with her.

@Kaye is right about the playing a game of love part. His life - as far as we know - is a succession of "a girl's heart total destruction - the movie" and never showed any remorse while/after doing it, s you can see why he knows it's love this time, he's totally conflict knowing that even if he gets the money, he loses Young and love altogether.

Oh, this is horrible, can I just hug him?

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I disagree that his thoughts are some thing from the future. I think his thinking is in real time and in this case he recognizes another opportunity to end this charade, but passed. He doesn't know how to get out of this scam.

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I don't know about future or present for his thoughts, but yeah, I think he's long past the scam. (Which is why Jin-sung gets so frustrated with him.)

I think he's been fighting with either protecting himself or protecting Young (maybe fooling himself that he can do both? especially with his relief that Young has Atty Jang she can trust). And maybe this was the moment -- getting her birthday present for him -- when he tipped into being motivated by protecting Young rather than himself?

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This episode was so CUTEEEE! I love how they acted so comfortable and natural around each other. They're more like newlyweds than siblings *cough but that was the goal of the director wasn't it? To show how they fall in love.

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Soooo good! I can only rave about this drama. No rant whatsoever!

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Such a great recap! This series is enthralling, Soo and Young are so beautiful and good together, although the faux-cest does feel a bit.. yeah...

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i must say the most heartwarming scene in this episode was that when Soo took Young to the top of the mountain and let her hear the the sound of the wind chimes..

Hugging her while telling her ---

“If only you could see this now,”. “It would have been really nice. But more than this, what I want to show you is actually you, yourself, more than anything.” "If you could only see yourself, you'd see how pretty and cool u are."

DEABAK!!!

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Ah he is super hot ! And she is super cute with het flawless beauty , they really really really suit each other PERFECTLY!

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I super love this drama! The chemistry between the fake siblings is just wow!
Thanks for the recap..I cant wait for next week's episodes! ♡

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I'm often disappointed when dramas forget to SHOW the audience why the characters fall in love with one another. It's just accepted that A is passionately in love with B, etc. I loved episodes 7 and 8 because they took the time to SHOW. I thought it was key in cementing the bond between Soo and Young, as well as showing us how emotionally and intellectually in sync they both are - How attached they are becoming to one another.

I didn't get so much a "comfortable, sibling" vibe as much as I got a vibe about how well they suit one another. They fill holes in each other and support each other, understand each other and know how to tease and laugh together - it's the relationship that became the focus of this episode. It wasn't plot-heavy, but that's okay with me because I'm pretty sure it set up the basis for future episodes - for explaining why they will react and do what they'll do for each other. Hopefully, it will make the second half of the series all the more believable and meaningful because the writers showed us why Young is so special to Soo - and why they both feel so strongly bonded.

As for Young - it may take her a little time to come to terms with him not being her brother (I was hoping that she already suspected) but the connection between them has been solidly established. There is a real foundation built by the writers - and by episodes like this awesome one - that help us understand how she could forgive him and love him in spite of the lies. Because we know she will.

Love this show! :)

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Yes! You've said exactly what I was thinking and explained it so well. (And oh, how I hope your last paragraph -- that they've set it up for Young to forgive and love him back -- comes true! I hope, hope, hope for a happy ending.)

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Thank you for this.
although not much happened, i sincerely believe this episode was to showcase HOW they fall in love. It's sweet, and beautiful. This episode is really dedicated to young and oh soo.

I tend to love fast-paced plots but i think noh hee kyung is wonderful in the little moments between characters that i'm willing to just sit back and enjoy the moment. I trust this writer.
I can understand peoples frustration though. You're only given 2 episodes per week and you want to be on your toes each episode; it keeps you coming back.
It's a different feel when you're marathoning all 16 episodes in one sitting, i imagine.

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I agree with all that you have to say :)

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Love this episode..It shows a lot of potential about how OS and OY could be if they are together...just that I think this is like a fan service for us coz they will be bringing the hardcore melo for the upcoming episodes.. :( Its like feeding and pampering a person befor you kill them..aish!!Gonna go grab a box of tissue for the next episodes..

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The show is feeling well scripted. The Noona Doctor should be important, but we are getting to know her piece by piece. Sure, Moo-chul's I'm-dying didn't have any lead to. But as a side character, I didn't mind. It fit with what we had seen so far, even if we didn't have a hint.

One thing I don't understand is why it is so important for Young to be the Chairman. Sure her dad was, but I have yet to see her make a single decision about the company. Has she even entered the office once this show? Fine if you want the job, but all that making-the-shareholders-happy just meant she cemented her position as the dollhead for Myung-ho and Wang

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***POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT*** (just in case)

There's so much foreshadowing in this episode on Oh Soo's death! They keep bringing up him leaving for Italy, but it's starting to sound like he's leaving this world or something. I can so see that scene on the mountain making sounds of a thousand wind chime being shown again after Oh Soo dies, and Young will be left on top of that mountain to reminisce their past memories. So far, it seems this drama is going for the same ending as the movie Love Me Not, and I really REALLY DON'T WANT THAT.

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OH NOES. TELL ME THAT IT ISN'T SO! T T And here I am all along thinking that if there's going to be a sad ending it would be Young dying due to her brain tumor or something(It really reminds me of the melo-tropes being overused a few years back ala Autumn in my Heart,Winter Sonata time period) *rolls eyes* I've never watched any previous adaptations of this drama so I was really hoping that our OTP can have their very own happy ever after. OH NOES.

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Sorry! Didn't mean to scare you. I'm only speculating as well. I do hope that there will be a twist in the end where neither of them dies! =) However, as much as I don't want to agree, I do feel that sad/bittersweet endings often make dramas more memorable, realistic, heart-wrenching, and overall epic. But just this once, I want the melodrama writers to pull off a happy ending that's not crappy, rushed, or lame.

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Amen to that. I think I can handle sad endings if they are done beautifully with the right justifications but there's still a tiny part of me that wants a happy ending kekeke~ Well I've heard that shooting is over so whatever qualms that we'd have with the ending(if any) we can't blame it on the live-shooting system. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a satisfying ending like what you said. >.<

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i might be the only person here who wouldnt mind a tragic ending much, ofc an happy ending would be better, but i wouldnt feel cheated with a sad one either. idk, i think no matter the ending, what i really really want is for young to regain her eyesight (even temporary) before all comes to an end. idk why, but i really want her to finally get to see her "oppa" :D i cant help but wonder how would that moment be :)

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edit: if i have to guess an ending, its either they both get to live, either they both get to die, but who knows..this show is full of surprises

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Same here....if they can't both live, then I would prefer them to both die. I think having just one of them live alone with the memories and thoughts of "what could've been" is just too painful.

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Ditto. Leaving either one of them alone in this world would be too devastating.

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That's interesting that she will gain sight.

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For me Moo Chul's death sentence suddenly made his actions leading to this point make more sense to me. I also liked that Dr. Noona is his sister. It had seemed a little 'off' for Oh Soo to call her Noona and her reaction to him was strange, too. Now I think she was trying to hide her gangster family connections from her co-workers. These guys all obviously have a long and complicated history together and i want to know more about how Moo Chul, Oh Soo, and the rest met and when.

I think Young's 'death wish' is part of her naivete- she's so smart, but she lacks a lot of practical knowledge and common sense about the world because of the restrictions imposed on her by Sec. Wang. She says stuff, but mostly I think when she talked about dying it was part of her pesky kid sister way of trying to emotionally blackmail her brother, without really understanding the impact of that particular version of blackmail. Mostly, I think her blackmail attempts are adorable and so natural for a kid sister. This one isn't cute, but I don't think she really grasped the impact of it.

Still wondering if Sec. Chang is Oh Soo's mother, if it will be significant who his father is. If she is Oh Soo's mother, then that would explain a lot about why she's so needy about having Young depend on her.

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well, we know where they met. They basically kind of know each other through the same small country side neighborhood. Whether they were friends previously? I kinda doubt it. It seems like MooChul (thats his name right??) kind of kept his distance from Oh Soo when he was younger because he thought Oh Soo was better than him but after the death of the girl, Moo Chul thinks Oh Soo is basically trash.

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I actually really like how all the characters are connected somehow. Even if they're all on bad terms with one another it seems as though when shit hits the fan they'd be there for one another.
Perhaps noona doctor play a hand in young's future?

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okay so i wanted to ask this after having a long argument with my sister and my nephew about whether frozen branches really do makes those wind chimey sound or not....they kept telling me that its edited and i kept saying that even if the sounds in the scene itself is edited, this does happens in real life
please someone tell me that it really does happens

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They don't sound like bells but clink together in a unique way - not so much chime but tapping, cracking, and clinking...like two ice cubes in a glass

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It does happen in real life. But the altitude plays a huge factor in it. You need to go high because of the winds, and because the icicles are more thoroughly frozen. There is a science to it.
In one word: Yes.
It happens.

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Awwws! anybody else sad MC is dying soon? I am! I know he's done evil things and all but I don't necessarily consider him evil (not like a certain Jang Chul Hwan in Lights and Shadows who's been keeping my blood boiling lately!)
And on a side note, considering KB outshines JIS in the looks dept. (to each his own people!), how unfair is it that he's supposedly best friends with Lee Min HoT and Jung Il Woo...discrimination much?!! ;)

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I do! Feels like he stepped out of the way at the start (for Hee Joo's benefit presumably) and again to help his family (when the sister deserted to be an MD) and now he's dying...hard to be a cheery fellow.

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awww man. I watched that movie but I still have no idea what the writer and director will do in the drama version.
it is very ambiguous as it is... cant determine, cant really say for sure if it is this or that. no idea at all.

and again. watching this and that and thinking about my own story...thinking of what to leave out. pauses. void. thinking. pace. what is NOT said. cant be very obvious. how to do that? feels so hard

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Well, as for this cliffhanger, its not really a "will she or wont she kill herself" because Young doesn't know that the pill WILL KILL HER. It's more like Soo's internal panic that is the cliffhanger here.

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Soo's panic is definitely part of the cliffhanger, but in Episode 5 he was pretty clear about the nature of the pill when he told her: "If you take it when you want to die..." Yadda yadda.

Young-ie knows what's goin' on.

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i disagree. The cliffhanger is soo's panic and did Y take the pill? will she die? cos we the audience knows its a death pill. Y doesnt.

my understanding is that Y thinks that the pill is a fantastic
pain relief pill of some sort, that taken, will relieve all the pain and discomfort. not one that will kill her for sure, otherwise she wont make him promise that he would share it with her. she doesnt wish for her brother to die...

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She actually didn't know the nature of the death pill. Soo said something like if you (feel like you) want to die just take it and all the pain will disappear. So it can either mean it will kill you (as we viewers understand) or mean it will relieve your pain and make you feel better (as Young understood). Otherwise, she would never tell Soo she was gonna take the pill and just secretly took it.

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I don't think she realized he meant it will kill you. I think she thought "you take it when you want to die" meant, "And then you'll feel better."

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this drama is seriously exquisite. visually breathtaking (the mountain scene!), well written, and the chemistry between song hye-kyo and jo in-sung is incredibly beautiful. i love the title song—gives me heartache every time i hear it.

even in my dreams i never imagined this drama would turn out to be so high quality. i hate melo, i hate anything sad. but this is incredibly well executed. nice guy, which i didn't enjoy, should take major notes from this. and song's acting! i can't stop marveling at just how well she's doing. i've always thought she was a decent actress, but her acting has never been quite on par with the might that is her star power. i don't think there's a single korean actress who can do a crying scene the way she can.

i agree, it's not a ratings monster (yet), but its first place spot is more than deserved. beats the other two any day. this is THE show i look forward to all week (and childless fortune on the weekends).

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Though I am getting a bit tired over Young's umpteenth attempt at killing herself, the drama makes up for itself in other aspects.

Like the mountain-top scene. It's not enough for Oh Soo to describe his feelings for her, so he had to take her to a frickin' mountain top to do it. Ahhh Young I was cryin' with you too girl! haha

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@Headsno1 There is a reason why she's suicidal. She has been rendered unappreciated by her father, controlled by Wang. Everyone around her wants something or lies to her. She knows from the start this Oh-Soo is a fake and is only playing along because it's the only nice "game" in town to be played out.

I suspect she knew because of (1) his voice, and (2) his twice-recounted love history, attributed to two characters. Being a liar, he didn't realize he failed to cover his tracks.

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Yes indeed that mountain scenes is something stuck to my head...... I wonder where writer Noh gets this inspiring thoughts

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I am sensing a lot impatience from the viewers here...

As for myself, I think Young has been liking Soo already, it's just the drama writer cannot give it away, coz it will make no sense to see how fooled Young is into believing that Soo is actually her brother, then insert scenes where Young will be mentioning (or in a voice over) that she might be falling for Soo, (that will make it more incestuous).

But Young's action tells more, how she feels happy whenever Soo is around, and how her heart flutters hint us oh... there something's going on with her heart. (and we know that's falling in love.. hear? hear?)

with the slow pace, I think the writer is maneuvering the story just fine, we just have short attention span, and kinda reminds us that we are actually in no control of the situation, the story breathes its own life.

However with Young's "will-she-wont-she-die" scene is kinda frustrating. But the magic is that the dissonance pushes us crave for more, and in the episode 9, you'll see what's going on with Young's mind (and will frustrate you more)

I think all characters are behaving like that to propel the story forward. At the end of the day, we will just realize, that Oh the writer did this and that to lead us to where the story is going

Good job Noh Hee Kyung :)

with us viewers, leave the reservations and lets watch and enjoy it until the end.

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thank you for the recaps, heads! love this show, cant believe its halfway already...so much has happened...praying it continues as wonderfully as it started and ends well, however it does, we'll be ready, i think...

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finished watching both of this week's episodes and I'm so confused about whether Youngie understood the meaning of the Death Pill... awaiting ep9 recaps! Thanks for the awesome recaps Heads!

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oh this show knows how to toe the line between uncomfortable and whatever this feeling it gives me is, it's a good feeling just not sure what it is.

Also as awesome as this show is the presence of a song by Gummy makes it 100 times better.

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Omg yes the OST for this drama has been nothing but perfect. The song by The One - Winter Story is heart shattering.

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When I saw the gift Young left for Oh Soo, all I could think was HA! Young has just belled the cat! So she must have more than a clue. One of my favorite parts so far.
Also, I think Moo Chul is implying to his sister that his choice to become a gangster was done to support the rest of the family financially, and that they didn't have to go into that life because he sacrificed himself to it for them. That's why he's telling his sister that she doesn't have the right to look down on him. It definately made me feel more sympathy for Moo Chul's character, and understand him, and his distaste for Oh Soo, who he sees as a selfish user.

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They are so beautiful together and the scenery goes perfect is also breathtaking. I always found Song hye kyo to be one of the most beautiful actress.

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Thank you for the recap.

Good chemistry of SHK and JIS.
SHK acts really good on this drama.

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