Mi-rae’s Choice: Episode 11
by gummimochi
It’s about time for the truth to come to light, even if those words are accompanied by misunderstood feelings. Our heroine gets a shot at her dream to write her own words, and I’m still digging around for the hope lying somewhere in the bottom of this time-travel box. This hour feels much more like a setup for what’s to come, but at least we finally get the answer to the question we’ve been dying to hear.
Today’s episode hit another low for the series with a 5.0%, which makes me wonder if there’s a time-travel elevator I can take myself to help change this show’s future.
SONG OF THE DAY
BoA – “네모난 바퀴 (Hope)” [ Download]
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EPISODE 11 RECAP
Shin interrupts group reflection time with his own confession: “I like Mi-rae.” Eee, it’s still nice to hear it a second time around. But then Oppa and the others chime in with the same words, which effectively turns his honesty into a running joke, and Mi-rae rises to leave.
He catches up to her and gets defensive when she says he was the one to start the jokefest. He insists his feelings are genuine, but Mi-rae is plenty hurt by now, and says through tears that she didn’t feel his sincerity today.
Things are awkward between Se-joo and Yoo-kyung as they sit together nearby. He apologizes for not recognizing her feelings and asks why and when she started liking him. She wonders if he thinks it’s because he’s rich, but then answers that he was the one to be there for her.
Writer Bae sits next to Mi-rae, who’s still upset about Shin’s abrupt confession. She points out that Mi-rae must really like him, since she easily could have turned him down if she didn’t.
She’s sympathetic to Mi-rae’s desire to focus on her career right now, and taking her hand, says that she trusts Mi-rae to be able to find the theme of hope in this assignment. Aw, I really like them together.
So Mi-rae starts her undercover assignment working in the nightclub’s kitchen, struggling to keep to her country accent. She nearly jumps when Se-joo drops by to check in, and when she asks how the team is doing, he pointedly answers that Shin and everyone else is doing fine.
Speaking of whom, Shin is unable to pry any information of Mi-rae’s whereabouts out of Oppa, who hilariously feigns sickness at the question. It’s Writer Bae who chimes in to clearly tell him how and where he can find Mi-rae with the reasoning that Shin’s clunky approach to romance reminds her of her husband.
Shin heads straight for the nightclub and runs into a waiter outside who’s happy to keep tabs on Mi-rae for him. He mentions that another master, who looks like “a young master” also dropped by.
So Shin waits in a cafe across the street from the club, which is where Se-joo finds him. Shin asks when Se-joo will make his grand return and when he’ll be fired, saying they both need time to prepare for the send-off.
The thought hasn’t occurred to Se-joo, who laughs that Shin must think him a petty person, but Shin disagrees, “I think you’re a very scary person.”
As for Shin’s job security, Se-joo answers that he’s still valuable to the company and still useful, though his choice of words makes Shin sound more like a product than an employee.
Mi-rae is surprised to hear Shin swung by earlier and plays along with the ruse that she’s his cousin. She bribes the kitchen ajumma to keep her secret, but why do I get the uneasy feeling that this entire operation will tank?
Oppa receives the shocking DNA results that confirm that both Mi-raes are the same Mi-rae. He calls Ajumma Mi-rae, who’s still on lockdown at the chairman’s estate, throwing out the sleeping pill meant to induce her fortune-telling dreams, her hair significantly grayer than before.
She nearly breaks down in tears of relief when he asks to meet so they can talk. Then she calls Chairman Lee to tell her that she’s had another “vision.”
She reports that Se-joo will end up homeless, advises against investing in YBS, and most of all, Mi-rae likes Jokey PD, which ew. Chairman Lee suspects that’s a lie, and Ajumma admits that it is.
But this time when she’s told to try again, Ajumma refuses to act as a psychic puppet any longer, telling the chairman to dream on. Ajumma points out that she’s the unni, cutting the chairman down in banmal. Plus, the chairman wouldn’t be able to know if she’s lying about the future or not.
So Ajumma offers up a proposition: she gets to leave and the chairman gets her visions on the condition that Mi-rae is left alone. It’s a pretty epic smackdown that leaves the chairman completely flustered, but Ajumma’s got places to be because her Oppa is waiting.
Oppa is still trying to wrap his head around the idea that Ajumma Mi-rae is his dongsaeng when they meet. He spoons more porridge into her bowl, remembering that it was her favorite food when she was young, which is like the sweetest brotherly gesture ever.
Ajumma tries her best not to cry, touched by how different he is than how she remembers him. He asks if cancer is curable in the future, and sighs to hear that it isn’t. Ack, is this your future you’re asking about or someone else’s?
She admits that they hadn’t spoken in over twenty years because Oppa had opposed her marriage to Shin. He asks who it is that dies in the future. You and everyone else on this side of the screen is wondering the same thing, oppa.
Back at the nightclub, Mi-rae finishes patching up her fellow kitchen ajumma with whom she’s become friendly with, when a collapsed employee is taken out of the back room. That gives Mi-rae a chance to get inside herself, and she stirs up some noise to grab the goon’s attention.
It works, but when the kitchen ajumma nervously tries to intervene, they’re both called inside. Mi-rae hurriedly tries to send a warning text on her spy phone, but she gets caught and it gets tossed aside.
Mi-rae is led into the back room where the skeevy fake liquor production takes place. She turns on her hidden camera glasses. The ajumma is told to pat her down, and she pauses at a bump beneath Mi-rae’s apron and is near tears before announcing that she’s clean. D
aww, ajumma.
Mi-rae changes her apron before sitting down to document the liquor-mixing process, pausing every few seconds to grab a steady shot. But one of the thugs quickly catches on to her robotic movements and reaches for her glasses before smashing them on the ground. Uh oh.
The ajumma immediately pleads for mercy and gets sent away. She silently grab Mi-rae’s apron before stepping outside, and brushes past the waiter who asks where Mi-rae’s gone. He finds her startled reaction strange and sees one of the goons jump in his chair.
So he steps into the back room to see Mi-rae tied up, and then calls Shin, who then informs Oppa.
At the same time, the kitchen ajumma calls Se-joo through Mi-rae’s phone. He walks over to the chairman’s security guard parked nearby, not at all surprised that Grandma is keeping tabs on him. He asks how many men they can gather at a moment’s notice.
Meanwhile, Mi-rae threatens to her captor that she and her team will expose their illegal activity on the airwaves. The thugs laugh in her face and points to the now empty room, taunting her to find any incriminating evidence.
That’s when the men are called outside, where Se-joo’s men try to force their way in. Se-joo decides to join them, but gets locked inside the car, told to wait for the police instead. Se-joo sighs in frustration.
Back inside, Mi-rae kicks the goon into the wall when his back is turned. Still tied up, she attempts to walk out, which is when the goon throws her back to the ground. Before he can do anything else, the ajumma charges at him and knocks him out with a beer bottle.
She apologizes to Mi-rae in tears as she loosen the ropes, and they walk outside where the police have already arrived. Se-joo runs to check if Mi-rae is okay just as Oppa drives up to ask the same.
Mi-rae looks around until her eyes settle on Shin standing nearby, something that Se-joo doesn’t miss. The thug is dragged outside, and Shin steps in when he raises a hand to Mi-rae.
The police holds up the destroyed glasses, noting that their camera was rendered useless, but Mi-rae shows them her necklace, a backup camera which also recorded everything. Shin’s lips turn into tiny smile, impressed, and Se-joo takes her home.
Chairman Lee is at another event when Yoo-kyung runs up to introduce herself. They exchange pleasantries, and Yoo-kyung stops the chairman to ask if she knows of Mi-rae, not the maknae writer, but the older Mi-rae.
Writer Bae refuses to write for the cheapened liquor feature, asking Oppa to trust Mi-rae with the story instead. So Oppa tells his sister the good news, and Mi-rae squeals with excitement and celebrates with Se-joo.
Oppa remarks that they look good together, and Se-joo asks a bit hopefully, “Really?” Aww.
But then Oppa brings her back from cloud nine to ask if Mi-rae has found an overarching theme that ties into their show’s aim to convey hope to their viewers. She hasn’t, and he asks why she chose this topic—was it to show off or for pride? Or because she needs this project to boost her career?
He sighs deeply, and then decides to go with their original plan to compare the fake liquor distribution against more virtuous establishments. Mi-rae puts on a brave face at the tough love, as Oppa stands just outside the door.
Oppa gets a call from Shin just then, and instructs him to stay out of Mi-rae’s away because it was Se-joo who stepped up to the plate. But Shin sits the both of them down to suggest that they run a teaser of the feature during the news broadcast.
The other department has already approved, and there’s one person stopping them: “Miranda” aka Chairman Lee.
Next thing we know, Se-joo walks in to see Grandma, who chastises her grandson as usual until Shin follows in after him. To that, she yells at him awkwardly, but Se-joo just shrugs with the explanation that Shin already knows the truth.
Se-joo comes out with it to ask if Grandma is against the idea because of Mi-rae. She plays ignorant, but I love that neither men beats around the bush with the chairman, and Shin names her as their maknae writer whom he cherishes. Grandma’s astonished reaction of “It’s him?! Mi-rae likes him?!” is priceless.
Then both men take opposing sides to argue whether the chairman would be that petty and narrow-minded, which leaves her confused. Ha, I kind of love that reverse psychology tactics throw her for a loop.
Chairman Lee interjects to applaud their performance to work together to defend the one women they both love. She then wonders aloud how this play will end—who will Mi-rae choose when the curtain falls?
Mi-rae is busy racking her brain for ideas after watching the teaser on the news when she receives a package from the kitchen ajumma. Aww, it’s a pen so that she can keep writing.
Shin goes on air to posit the question to their viewers of whether there is a glimmer of hope beneath a disheartening story like fake liquor. But the story drew enough attention on the news for a bill to be presented to the National Assembly. And that is hope itself, he answers.
“Hope isn’t a gift given to us by someone else; it’s something we need to pioneer and discover for ourselves.” That’s the stance their show holds, he explains, and he casts a look at Mi-rae before finishing with the optimistic note that they’ll search for hope to the end.
Mi-rae watches her name appear in the ending credits with sense of relief and pride. Shin turns around with a smile that disappears when he sees Mi-rae busy talking with Se-joo. He walks off set just as Mi-rae sees him leave.
Yoo-kyung waits for Se-joo outside, already dispirited after catching him watching Mi-rae during the broadcast. She asks if Shin also knows about Se-joo’s secret now, and suggests that he come clean to Mi-rae too.
She points out that if he’s hoping that Mi-rae will accept him as he is, then she should like him regardless of his chaebol background. Se-joo replies that he plans to tell Mi-rae everything tonight. To that, Yoo-kyung calls him cruel and walks off in tears.
Oppa’s attempts to criticize Mi-rae about her ending narration doesn’t faze her since she’s already heard at how impressed he was with her back at the studio. He emphasizes that all she didn’t do all that much, but Mi-rae is proud of herself that her little story is now in consideration to be made into a law.
Regardless of whether the bill passes, Mi-rae remains optimistic and likens the nationwide attention the issue received to a small vial of clear water poured into a dark ocean. If they keep pouring more of those in, wouldn’t they be able to clean up the ocean just a little?
Oppa scowls at that, but it’s apparent that she’s gotten through to him. She wants to become a current events writer to change the world one story at a time. There’s someone to thank for that change, who’s also the one she likes: Shin.
Se-joo watches at a distance and catches the tail-end of the confession, having heard of Mi-rae’s whereabouts through Ajumma.
Oppa flips his lid, kicking the swings in frustration. You could almost say his disapproval is almost too emphatic, save for the fact that Oppa already knows more about the future than Mi-rae does.
Oppa angrily stalks off before marching back home to ask Ajumma (whose hair is now brown again) if he can tell Shin the whole truth. Well I don’t see why not if Ajumma manages to tell key people involved without any huge implications thus far. Oppa presses that they have to tell him.
Mi-rae talks out out to herself in the playground, addressing a wall as if it was Shin and saying that they don’t need piles of money to be happy. Then the camera pans up towards Se-joo, hiding and listening nearby.
He appears outside her home a little later to find Mi-rae locked out of her own house, and asks to talk.
Oppa calls Shin out to a restaurant, and he swallows hard before telling Shin that he’s brought Mi-rae with him and opens the door to reveal Ajumma Mi-rae.
Shin is understandably confused since he knows both women share the same name, and Oppa leaves the two to talk, tossing the DNA results in Shin’s direction.
He has little patience for Ajumma Mi-rae as it is, but she tells him to listen carefully. Then Ajumma tearfully admits that Shin will marry Mi-rae and they will have a child: Geon, the one she loved the most, “Our son.”
And Shin has to believe her, Ajumma insists, “Because I’m the Na Mi-rae you married.”
COMMENTS
Finally, the answer about who died in the future-past we’ve been longing to hear all series long. Even though the sad truth to lose a child is heartbreaking, there’s a part of me that wishes this tidbit came to light a little sooner since the revelation didn’t strike a deep emotional chord that I hoped it would. I feel that the pacing in the last few episodes is a contributing factor to this, as if the show stalled in this area (while allowing our romance to inch forwardish). By doing this, it eliminates the pressing threat to time-travel and lack of motivation in Ajumma Mi-rae’s plans, and in turn allows an extended time for viewers to narrow down their speculations, so then when we learned the truth, there’s less of that oomph quality this discovery should hope to have. It’s as if I can feel a certain clockwork in the machinations of the plot by withholding the twists just long enough for us to generally anticipate them.
It also takes away sympathy from Ajumma Mi-rae, whom we were told risked her life to travel back in time… and apart from heart palpitations and gray hair, next to nada is happening. Still. This truth sheds light on her deep resentment towards Shin (with whom she may have been arguing with before the flashforward car crash), and yet there are still times when I feel like Shin, wondering why I should put up with her tears. But now that he knows the truth, it also gives us a chance to witness Shin’s reaction and (hopefully) anticipate any serious changes to his own life choices because of it, but I also feel like I shouldn’t set my expectation bar too high.
I want to be sympathetic to Ajumma’s plight, and I don’t want to actively hope for her deteriorating health. But with a laughable hunter and her meddling that hardly leaves a drop, let alone a ripple in this time-space continuum, what we’re left is a nagging ajumma who can get away with messing with reality with her own self-created willy-nilly rules and frankly, a lot of frustration instead of support.
I wish I could remain optimistic and venture to say that one woman’s actions can’t necessarily change fate, but by saying that, it would negate Mi-rae’s optimism that persistence and perseverance can produce change. It would counteract the uplifting message of hope that the show (and the show-within-the-show) has been trying to convey thus far, and if that’s the case, either you’ve got a writing flaw or a discouraging message instead. And I want neither of those possibilities for this show.
On the flipside of that coin, I still love Mi-rae’s optimism and idealism, which is in such stark contrast to Ajumma’s jaded outlook. She recognizes that one little story won’t change the world, but she’ll keep throwing eggs at the rock until it rolls. And even though Oppa may never say the actual words, there are people behind her to support her and help her tiny water vial cause a ripple in the ocean.
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Tags: featured, Han Chae-ah, Jung Yong-hwa, Lee Dong-gun, Mi-rae's Choice, Yoon Eun-hye
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1 Caitlyn
November 19, 2013 at 3:14 AM
This line was exactly what I was thinking - "there’s a part of me that wishes this tidbit came to light a little sooner since the revelation didn’t strike a deep emotional chord that I hoped it would". It's why the 5% rating doesn't surprise me. The show isn't pulling us in like we hoped it would. And Se Joo is going to confess to Mirae... again? He knows how she feels and he wants to make things uncomfortable again? I don't get him.
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August
November 19, 2013 at 2:13 PM
Park Se-Joo's Unrequited Love in Episode 11:
You never lose by loving. You always lose by holding back. ~ Anonymous
To burn with desire and keep quiet about it is the greatest punishment we can bring on ourselves. ~ Federico García Lorca, Blood Wedding
Every broken heart has screamed at one time or another: "Why can't you see who I truly am?" ~ Shannon L. Alder
Ask me why I keep on loving you when it's clear that you don't feel the same way for me. The problem is that as much as I can't force you to love me, I can't force myself to stop loving you. ~ Anonymous
Let no one who loves be called unhappy. Even love unreturned has its rainbow. ~ James Matthew Barrie
Love is never lost. If not reciprocated, it will flow back and soften and purify the heart. ~ Washington Irving
Love, unrequited, robs me of my rest:
Love, hopeless love, my ardent soul encumbers:
Love, nightmare-like, lies heavy on my chest,
And weaves itself into my midnight slumbers! ~ William S. Gilbert
Park Se-Joo's Unrequited Love in Episode 12:
I never knew until that moment how bad it could hurt to lose something you never really had. ~ from the TV series The Wonder Years
If we must part forever,
Give me but one kind word to think upon,
And please myself with, while my heart's breaking. ~ Thomas Otway
I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all. ~ Alfred Lord Tennyson
I hate the day, because it lendeth light
To see all things, but not my love to see. ~ Edmund Spenser
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light
November 19, 2013 at 7:25 PM
aw this is heartbreaking
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silver
November 20, 2013 at 2:18 AM
wow, this is great lines dude...m gonna write down this in my diary...
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kaede
December 1, 2013 at 10:11 PM
"Let no one who loves be called unhappy. Even love unreturned has its rainbow. ~ James Matthew Barrie"
I love this..
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August
November 19, 2013 at 2:25 PM
Park Se-Joo's Unrequited Love Episodes 3 - 12:
Why hide your feelings to the one you love? Why love the one who loves another? Why give everything if only pain comes in return? Why wait if there's nothing to wait for? I guess the answer is love. ~ Anonymous
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2 Drama Queen
November 19, 2013 at 3:16 AM
What a let down- we all guessed it was their son who was lost eons ago. The question is - sooooo?!
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3 Shazreen
November 19, 2013 at 3:21 AM
So she went back to prevent her son from happening?
That is kinda mean... Now I get the difference between ajumma Mi Rae and present Mi rae....
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windsun33
November 19, 2013 at 3:22 PM
That whole idea just makes no sense to me.
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4 Lux
November 19, 2013 at 3:22 AM
Thanks for the recap!
When this show started, I thought it deserved a 2 digit ratings but from where we are now.. hopefully, it'll regain the potential I saw from its first episode :-)
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5 binbon
November 19, 2013 at 3:27 AM
hmmmm so Future Ahjumma wants to prevent the 'making' of her son to prevent 'his' death- worst plan ever!! She should have gone back much earlier to prevent her own birth.. now that's a better plan!! Real disappointed with this episode. Apart from tying some lose ends, didn't entertasin me much.
Its a sad(and lost!) cause but i hope true love prevails. Its nice seeing the 'looks' kim-shin and mi-rae give each other..such longing, yet so much misunderstanding!
Hoping the next few episodes get exciting.
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windsun33
November 19, 2013 at 12:55 PM
That sounds an awful lot like the same theme as Deja Vu, where the girl goes back to prevent her fiancé from falling in love with her.
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DayDreamer
November 19, 2013 at 7:00 PM
That drama made me smack my forehead. Like, she could've totally just prevented his death (which was lamely done, btw...it seemed like he could've avoided it). But to go far back as preventing him falling in love with her??? And then going through the heartbreak because of that?? I have no sympathy for that character.
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windsun33
November 19, 2013 at 9:28 PM
Though the setup in Deja Vu is kind of lame, I can (mostly) accept it just for the setup of having to win him back again over her not so nice half-sister. It seems to be the only big anomaly in the series.
But with Mi Rae, FMR just keeps on plowing ahead for an even more stupid reason, even though she has already drastically changed the past so that nothing she "knows" anymore is real.
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6 jeannie
November 19, 2013 at 3:37 AM
Yes. It feels a little disappointing because it is heading towards what we have predicted. Anyway, I do hope at least the ending changes and Mi Rae will be with Se Joo although in reality we know it is quite impossible as Yong Hwa is not the main lead :(
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7 Min
November 19, 2013 at 4:02 AM
I like this drama but I want to love it as much as I love the actors, but I can't and that's discouraging... I'm wondering if by the end of it I'll be wondering why I watched it at all... will all my invested time go to waste? I hope not, I hope it pulls in one last turn around, something akin to my favourite baseball team pulling in a win at the last inning, so that I can really believe that it's not over till it's over.
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Min
November 19, 2013 at 4:03 AM
As always thanks for the recap!
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August
November 19, 2013 at 10:42 AM
What's your favorite baseball team?
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Min
November 19, 2013 at 1:04 PM
I bleed Los Angeles Angels/ Anaheim Angels red... though my cousins bleed Dodgers blue, when we get together we get into a very charged freeway series rivalry.
right about now I'm wanting to bring out the rally monkey to energize this drama and help them make a turnaround.
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August
November 19, 2013 at 3:15 PM
As a baseball fan always hearing about the "Curse of the Bambino," I never imagined that the Boston Red Sox would win the World Series title in 2004, 2007, & 2013.
It astonishes me to this day, that they have won 3 times since 1918.
Now, I am waiting to see how much longer the "Curse of the Billy Goat" lasts.
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8 kit
November 19, 2013 at 4:02 AM
I feel like this drama should be frustrating me, but I'm genuinely loving it.Shin and Sejoo together is great, they're two great and talented personalities who know what they want. When they're fighting each other, the friction is delicious, but they're much better together. I'm just hoping we get some good moments between Mirae and Yookyung in the future too. In this timeline, the two couples will be closer than they ever were in the first version. They're good people to have on your side for sure.
I liked the little bit of Yookyung at the women's conference too. I'm sure much of her reason beforehand was attending to brush shoulders with people in elevated positions, but I bet she's more invested in them now after Sejoo's words.
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PlumWine
November 19, 2013 at 6:11 AM
I really enjoyed when Shin and Se Joo teamed up against Miranda. It was fun. I hope the girls will get together also. I think once emotions are settled they'd all make great friends.
That's a good take on Yoo Kyung's present motivation. Making herself into the type of woman he needs by his side.
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9 Quiet Thought
November 19, 2013 at 4:16 AM
I want Mi Rae's perm back.
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RaineeDays
November 19, 2013 at 5:26 AM
Lol. Yes.
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August
November 19, 2013 at 10:45 AM
I thought Mi-rae looked the cutest when her hair was pinned up with bangs.
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thursdaynexxt
November 19, 2013 at 12:20 PM
Haha, funnily enough, me too!
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windsun33
November 19, 2013 at 9:30 PM
Me too. I thought I was the only one in the world that actually liked it :D
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10 Quiet Thought
November 19, 2013 at 4:18 AM
. . . That new do is as lifeless as a 5% rating.
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11 docster6
November 19, 2013 at 4:25 AM
I like this episode just fine because I like the actors and that is the reason I watch religiously. I started to watch it before the English subtitles came in because I was so anxious and I only understood "I am sorry" and then on the screen another watcher wrote "Ouch". That meant Mirae didn't accept Shin's confession. After that I was happy because I am still shipping Se-Joo. I am 100% with Oppa, no marriage with Shin, PLEASEEEE!! Actually, the only one who understands Mirae's feelings is Writer Bae, I really like her.
The reason I like this episode was that both men were staking out the Karoke place even though they couldn't see Mirae from that across-street cafe. I can see similar sacrifices that male leads of other dramas made for their women and that is what attracts me to Korean Dramas. I like that innocent love that is missing in Western dramas. I think there will be a lot of angst in Episode 12, I think I saw Shin dating YK and Mirae crying in the preview. Aish!
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Every Idol's Noona
November 19, 2013 at 5:24 AM
Ooh, I'd love to see that. Shin and Yoo-kyung, I mean. Not that I ship them, Drama God, no. But Mi-rae's starting to aggravate me. Did she seriously think Shin would make a joke out of her feelings? And Se-joo. Man. I honestly think Yoo-kyung is much more interesting as a character. She has many layers and that makes her feels real.
And don't get me started with Ahjumma. Tsk. Vile, old woman you!
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opheliadrowning
November 19, 2013 at 6:40 AM
I like the subverted expectation that happened with Mirae going undercover--that both men were in motion to save her, but that ultimately, it was the wine bar ajumma who helped to save Mirae.
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August
November 19, 2013 at 10:55 AM
I totally agree with you...So glad...I sighed in relief!
When I saw the preview for Episode 11, I was dreading the normal "which male lead will rescue the heroine first trope."
The writing of Hong Jin-Ah has faltered in many instances with Mi-rae's Choice (AKA Marry Him If You Dare), but having the ladies rescued themselves was not one of those times.
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opheliadrowning
November 19, 2013 at 11:00 AM
I think that is the strongest part of this writer's work so far in this drama. The female characters are all strong, from Mirae to writer Bae to the wine bar ajumma. One of the reasons I keep watching is that the female characters are so much more their own persons than in many, where they are the central character, yet somehow still just a prize for the male hero in the end. And after just a brief bout of meanness from KY to Mirae at the beginning, which has mostly abated, it seems like there isn't a whole "bitchy female second lead" archtype to deal with.
The only flaw is that FMR seems intent on changing fate by changing marriages instead of changing people so that they can work out better (though that is happening naturally by itself).
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windsun33
November 19, 2013 at 9:38 PM
I will give you that - I think one of the main reasons I have such a love/hate relationship with Heirs is because all the females in the drama seem like cardboard cutouts that just spout one-liners, or pathetic rag dolls with no thoughts of their own.
At least in this one all the main characters seem to actually have a real personality, and the girls actually have (Hold On Now) - a BRAIN.
August
November 19, 2013 at 10:55 AM
I totally agree with you...So glad...I sighed in relief!
When I saw the preview for Episode 11, I was dreading the normal "which male lead will rescue the heroine first trope."
The writing of Hong Jin-Ah has faltered in many instances with Mi-rae's Choice (AKA Marry Him If You Dare), but having the ladies rescued themselves was not one of those times.
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August
November 19, 2013 at 10:55 AM
I totally agree with you...So glad...I sighed in relief!
When I saw the preview for Episode 11, I was dreading the normal "which male lead will rescue the heroine first trope."
The writing of Hong Jin-Ah has faltered in many instances with Mi-rae's Choice (AKA Marry Him If You Dare), but having the ladies rescued themselves was not one of those times.
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12 Mrs Kim
November 19, 2013 at 4:57 AM
I was really hoping that this time Yoon Eun Hye choice was a good choice but its a pile of stink
I am just watch now for the second leads
what a waste of great chemistry and great talent
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13 opheliadrowning
November 19, 2013 at 5:16 AM
If it is their son who dies, and the son is the person FMR loves most, I don't understand then why she would come back to basically POOF her son out of existence, because isn't that essentially what she is doing? If Mirae and Shin do not marry and have a child, then Geom never gets to exist at all. That I find kind of troubling. Has the winter written herself into a corner, or will there be another twist as to who dies?
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imfaerae
November 19, 2013 at 10:36 AM
Exactly. How twisted is THAT? I found the idea of mother wishing her child was never born disturbing. (Which is basically what she's saying if she goes back to preconception). If you're going to go back in time, just go back to where your husband kills your kid and change that. Why mess with his whole existence? That's just horrible!
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windsun33
November 19, 2013 at 3:28 PM
And we don't know what he died from either. I had better hopes for a halfway logical reason, but I guess not. Rather than try to prevent the marriage, why not try to prevent the son dying?
And if the kid died from some genetic disease or cancer, the chances of exactly the same genetic makeup happening again is billions to one.
In short, this makes no sense to me.
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dramaddict
November 19, 2013 at 6:09 PM
if the son died because of some genetic disorder, it would somehow makes sense why she is hellbent on preventing the marriage between mirae and shin.
but if the son died because of an accident, why not just prevent said accident to happen?
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windsun33
November 19, 2013 at 9:42 PM
Even the genetic thing makes no sense. Scientifically, the chances of getting exactly the same bad gene pool that would lead to that are at least thousands to one. And most major genetic defects you can now screen for and could be probably avoided anyway.
So no way do I see this making any sense.
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dramaddict
November 20, 2013 at 3:10 AM
but it is still by chance... it can be as high as 75%.
if parents are screened before they marry, and they find out they have high risks for genetic defects - they can opt not to have any children. or do scientific conception if they want. (future mirae can do this so that she can marry shin still.)
but conceiving first, and then screening for genetic defects, and then deciding whether to push thru with the pregnancy is such a gray area. people would have differing opinions about this.
anyway, there is one family and they have 5 children - all of them mentally retarded. the family is rich so they can provide special care and special education for their kids. but the parents are full of worries for the future, like what will happen to the children when they die.
also, some genetic disorders would need expensive treatment, and this is crucial for the entire life and not just a one time thing. genetic disorders may be treatable and manageable, but usually never cured completely. and most important is the suffering of the children with genetic disorders, as well as their families.
so if the writer do the genetic disorders route, future mirae's desperation to prevent the marriage is somehow believable.
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14 light
November 19, 2013 at 5:57 AM
Yong Hwa looks awesome in this series, but I cant help but think that maybe, just maybe, he shouldnt have jumped ship from Heirs. Heirs is a stinkhole but its so popular. This series could either make him or break him.
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Mia
November 19, 2013 at 8:46 AM
Nah I doubt he would've received the same kudos for his improved acting skills being in a teen eye candy drama. Ratings are great but in this situation, connections are better. He just worked with YEH. Most of the main cast members of HEIRS are his aquaintances and friends, friends of his friends, or people who have worked with those acquaintances and friends. Even with failed ratings, he's better off working with a cast of experienced adult actors that would help him further improve as an actor. Yonghwa will continue to get roles since his dramas are popular overseas.
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imfaerae
November 19, 2013 at 10:45 AM
Good point. Him NOT doing Heirs was a smart move.
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light
November 19, 2013 at 7:27 PM
yeah you are right
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August
November 19, 2013 at 11:03 AM
I think Jung Yong-Hwa made the right decision in choosing to play the role of Park Se-Joo rather than the Choi Young-Do role in Heirs.
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llij1990
November 19, 2013 at 5:44 PM
I also I agree! MHIYD may have a low ratings in Korea but I am really sure it got good ratings/ anticipated by many overseas.
The Heirs got their ratings because many Idol stars are there. Yong hwa made a big decision for his future ;) because he was able to be with very good actors, his acting improve way way better. He can now portray 2 different roles in one series.
Kudos to him.
I just wish the ratings of this drama will have a higher ranking. :))
Thanks for the recap gummimochi
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addictedtoyou
November 23, 2013 at 4:31 AM
Nah. He already had You Are Beautiful and Heartstrings to establish his popularity (hallyu status). He is marketable on his own. What he needed now is a work that will showcase his acting chops and Marry Him If You Dare, despite the dismal ratings, has done just that. He's been getting good feedback, both in Korea and internationally, for his portrayal in this drama so. In the end, it's a win situation for him as an actor.
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15 kellyldramas
November 19, 2013 at 5:57 AM
I wish they would just have ks and mr get together already. And we could watch them work through their issues together so they don't have those problems with their son down the road. Whatever. Something that shows our H/h growing or changing. Ok, fine MR is pursuing her careers. That's cool and all but this isn't a show about triumphing over adversity in a cooperate environment. Or so it was presented. It was supposed to be about healing after disappointment and shattered dreams, coming together despite loss, having the strength to love, family relationships. Whatever tagline you want to give it, we are not getting it now. This isn't Dal Ja's spring. And I don't get the title What is MR choosing exactly. Obviously she isn't choosing SJ. I've always liked YEH but not the dramas she's chosen. This one is better then some of hers but still not that great. I am guessing ep 13 will be when they get together that always seems to be the get together ep in these dramas. Guess its a structure thing.
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August
November 19, 2013 at 11:06 AM
"...What is MR choosing exactly."
Apparently a career, pursuing her passion for writing, and Kim Shin.
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16 loveprevails
November 19, 2013 at 6:20 AM
The whole premise of this drama is about making choices. When you know the future, would you continue to be who you are or change your ways while staying on the same path or take a completely different route?
Fate already gave Shin a life with Mirae and he blew it in that reality. Since fate has given Mirae a second chance to relive her life, why not give Se Joo the chance to be the man who can make her happy?
Throughout, Shin has not proven that he can make Mirae happy. When it comes to feelings and emotions, he's insecure and lack confidence in himself. He shows it time and time again. He blows hot and cold leaving Mirae dangling in no man's land. What they have for each other is undeniable attraction.
Whereas Se Joo knows what he wants and goes for it. He respects her and treats her well. He's open with his feelings. He doesn't back down and is willing to compromise. Up to now, he seems like the better man.
I like this episode. It's nice to see both men doing what they can for Mirae and not the typical second lead always a step too late syndrome.
I think the writer should take the risk and pair Mirae with Se Joo instead. It would be a nice change. But if the theme of this drama is 'hope', then I guess Mirae and Shin will get their second chance to make better choices as individuals and as a couple, setting it all up for a better future.
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PlumWine
November 19, 2013 at 6:40 AM
While I agree with everything you said about Shin, Mi Rae's heart has already chosen. ( At least for this ep). On paper, Se Joo beats Shin by a mile and more. However at this point I can't say she would be happy with him if she choose with her head instead of her heart. My hope is that they are all now making different choices from FMR's timeline to significantly change their future for the better. :)
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loveprevails
November 19, 2013 at 8:16 PM
:) Didn't think what I wrote will generate quite a few responses.
I agree with what all of you wrote. I'm just saying that it would be a change if the writer would take the risk and do something different. It's not like Mirae doesn't like Se Joo but her attraction is more towards Shin. And predictions do influence a person's heart to some extend. It happens even in the real world.
And no matter what, in korean drama, romantic relationships are usually the central plot. So the leading girl tend to have to choose between the two main guys. I've no issue with that since we have invested so much time in them already and most of us rather have the leading pair end up together.
I think there's one comment below suggests that I'm Se Joo's fan. That's funny. Anyway, to set the record straight, I'm far from it. And on top of that, I don't normally 'ship' for second leads. The only other two dramas that I preferred the second leading men to end up with the leading girls are the "I need romance' dramas.
I know Mirae will end up with Shin and they will change and overcome the obstacles in their way. I'm fine with it. This ending will also send a good message. That nothing is set in stone. Our lives is ours to make or break. By being aware and making different choices, we can change our future even predicted ones. And if not, well...at least we tried instead of giving up. :)
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opheliadrowning
November 19, 2013 at 7:12 AM
I guess ideally that would be nice, but if I were Mirae and did not love Se Joo, but loved Kim Shin, and STILL chose Se Joo, I don't think I could be happy. Honestly, I would rather be alone or keep moving forward to find someone else that I loved and felt attracted to in that way. This Mirae has shown that she has a desire to advance and be good at her career. Why should romantic entanglements then define her?
I guess I have been seeing this drama as NOT about picking a different husband, but about Mirae making choices to change herself, about Shin making choices to change himself, too, so that their attraction/chemistry to one another still can exist, but with changes to their flaws that made the last timeline so bad, that this time around their marriage works out and the timeline changes for a better life.
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PlumWine
November 19, 2013 at 7:23 AM
"Why should romantic entanglements then define her?"
Thank You! That is probably my biggest problem with this and many other kdramas. (Not so much that I'll stop watching! :) ). It just kills me that choosing a mate is the defining reason why so many women do... well what they do. (Real life included). Don't get me wrong, it is important, but then they seem to relegate themselves to that persons wife. That's their end all be all. I don't need to do anything more proactive with my life now. I need to stop ranting, real life is intruding on my down time. Sorry. :)
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opheliadrowning
November 19, 2013 at 7:51 AM
That was one thing I really loved about "The Master's Sun." The heroine and hero love each other, but she wants to be complete within herself first, and tells him, if I can't figure myself out, then I won't come back to you. She is first and foremost defined by herself, which makes for a better mate.
It seems like Mirae is working toward that, but FMR is working against her. Present Mirae wants to carve out her own life. She's not concerned with "choosing the right husband," and her romantic issue is more with figuring out her feelings for Kim Shin. I don't think for present Mirae it has ever been a question of which man, but a question of whether or not she will end up with Kim Shin. It's not a one or another choice, but a yes or no choice. I know many people might like this, but I think the writer has focused too much on Se Joo as a potential choice of a husband. He's gotten a lot more airtime than I think most second leads usually do, so it seems like a viable option in that way, but emotionally, Mirae has never even seemed to entertain a serious notion that she may come to love him in that way, so it is confusing to viewers who are like, "There's this other guy who adores her, is pretty perfect on paper, so why doesn't she pick him?"
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Annie
November 19, 2013 at 7:58 AM
I always find it confusing when people watching dramas don't actually take a lead's feelings into account... Mi Rae has never even once betrayed a hint of romantic feeling for Se Joo, so why the heck would she choose him? It doesn't make a whit of sense.
opheliadrowning
November 19, 2013 at 9:18 AM
@Annie, right? Just because you as a fan would want that person for yourself doesn't mean the character does. It doesn't make that character any worse or a loser somehow.
Annie
November 19, 2013 at 9:44 AM
@ophelia,
Yep, it's one thing to comment on a character's good qualities (believe me, I get why people are attracted to SJ) but making him a contender in the main story line when that would subvert the entire theme of the drama is just masochistic.
P.S. love the user name... wish I were more creative ;-)
August
November 19, 2013 at 11:59 AM
I understand the your reasoning...
However, originally that's not how the promos and synopsis for Mi-rae's Choice was presented to the audience. Hence the alternate title "Marry Him If You Dare" with time travel solely for the purpose of allowing Future Mi-rae to coming back in time to make sure Present Mi-rae married a different person the 2nd time around.
After watching 11 episodes move forward, backward, or spin in place, many viewers now realize and have a more clearer vision/premise for the what the show is, is not, and will not be about.
When you expect or are familiar with a concept and something else is presented...sometimes it takes time to recognize, adjust, and accept.
17 PlumWine
November 19, 2013 at 6:33 AM
Thanks for the recap Gummimochi.
I actually enjoyed this episode. I was really surprised at how they handled Shin's confession. I didn't see that coming at all. Writer Bae rocks! She is living the life Mi Rae wants. FMR didn't bug me this time (loved her standing up to Miranda), however Oppa should have stayed in the dinning room since FMR never seems to be able to explain things properly. I really enjoyed how the guys worked together to watch over Mi Rae at the bar and played with Miranda. Her reactions were great. I felt a little bad for Yoo Kyung, however he was being truthful so as not to give her hope. I liked that she's still proactive in away by going to the meeting even if she doesn't know if it will work for her.
As for the their child, Geon who died, that's tragic. However as a few people pointed out (thanks, by the way), going back to the past to not even conceive him is somehow wrong. I'd like to know the whole car crash scene. Was he young and walked into the road while they were arguing, dying instantly? Severely hurt but they couldn't afford proper medical care because she was the only one working? Did Shin leave him in the car and it was in the crash? Whatever it is I can't seem to figure out why it's only Shin's fault, therefore he must not even be born. Can't she just tell herself about the accident and not go there that day? That said, sometimes it's just your time and there's no getting out of it. Perhaps it was just the final straw of her love for him. I just hope I'll get a proper answer tonight.
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18 opheliadrowning
November 19, 2013 at 6:45 AM
I feel like this drama missed out on an opportunity to show us more of the future, or of the future that could be--for instance, can we see more of FMR and Future Kim Shin's (FKS) life together? Can we see SJ and YK's actual timeline before FMR showed up? Could see see what life would be like if Mirae does choose SJ? Maybe that's what it is gearing up to, but I dunno. It seems pretty rooted in the present and it's kind of dragging a little, though I still watch.
Also, did anyone else find Oppa's reaction to Mirae saying she liked Kim Shin kind of surprising? It was so violent, and it seems like both he and KS are getting along better lately. But maybe that's the whole thing about the "undoing" of the future son, future timeline, etc. Like, I could see Oppa being angry if believes what FMR has to say, but like how many of us are perplexed, would he want to undo his nephew, too? There is no guarantee that a marriage between Mirae and See Joo would result in a child or a happy marriage, after all.
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August
November 19, 2013 at 12:09 PM
I agree. As a drama of 16 episodes, each of the main lead characters (PMR, FMR & KS, SJ/YK, and Oppa) could have had at least 2 1/2 - 4 episodes centrally focused on their past/present storylines...like LOST did for its' characters.
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19 light
November 19, 2013 at 6:49 AM
I think I agree with Loveprevails that when I have that chance to change our destiny, I will choose another man that could make me happier. we can try to choose the same man and hope he changes for the better. In reality, its not that easy.
We tend to wonder during troubled times, what if we chose another route? For some people, for MiRae to even sacrifice her son's existence is unusual, it is actually not. I have a friend who has two children but a problematic husband. She often wonders what will she do if she didnt have her children so early in her marriage. Its not that she doesnt love her babies, its just that she wants a better life for herself ass well. She doesnt want her babies to go through all the troubled issues in life.
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20 Kaybee
November 19, 2013 at 6:52 AM
....so she went back and ***d up Se-joo and Yoo-kyung life! I am really!!! I don't really care for Yoo Kyung but Se-Joo? She messed with their feelings... THIS IS JUST SOOOO WRONG ON MANY LEVELS!!!
I really hoped the future Mirae is actually Yoo Kyung but now this doesn't make any sense...
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21 Jan
November 19, 2013 at 6:52 AM
I really cried during Oppa and Ajumma Na Mi Rae scene.
It was so touching how two siblings reconnected.
Also, she must have been lonely risking her life coming from the future. And finally someone that is important to her can understand her and care for her.
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22 Treasure
November 19, 2013 at 7:15 AM
I love the growth in Mi Rae and Shin as the show has developed. Love that they have been responsible for the growth in each other. They are no longer the people we saw in the beginning episodes. Regardless of the plot devices the growth alone showing that people can change has been worth the watching
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August
November 19, 2013 at 12:42 PM
In regard to Present Mi-rae, several people have helped contribute or are responsible for her growth:
Future Mi-Rae (Self-Improvement/Help Instigator)
Se-Joo (Encouragement/Emotional Support; Friendship)
Kim Shin (Male Colleague; Love Interest)
Writer Bae (Fellow Female; Workplace Mentor)
Oppa (Brother holds her accountable and challenges her to do her best)
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23 coco
November 19, 2013 at 7:35 AM
When i heard the premise of this drama i thought it would be super cool and a change to the typicall romantic kdrama ,but they didn't execute it well enough. I couldn't sympethise with future mi rea because i didn't know why she was doing what she was doing. It frustrated the hell out of me that she kept coming between mi rea and shin with her schemes. If they had told us the reason from the get go maybe we would understand her actions better. Then again maybe i wouldn't root for shin and mi rea as much if i know. Another thing if she didn't want her kid to die she should have went back like a week before it happened not before mi rea married shin. Lastly, she keeps blurting out the truth to everyone and even tells her oppa the real reason she came back. Shouldn't she tell mi rea the whole truth it is her own life after all why not tell yourself the truth instead of telling the truth to everyone else
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thursdaynexxt
November 19, 2013 at 12:46 PM
Yes, exactly - how would Present Mirae feel when she finds out Future Mirae told everyone else but her?! She really doesn't trust herself, does she?
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24 coco
November 19, 2013 at 7:42 AM
btw sorry for any mispelled words english isn't my firs language
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25 Lyla
November 19, 2013 at 8:03 AM
The revelation didn't do anything for me since I have been wondering if the person who dies in the future is their son for two weeks now. At least now Shin knows the truth, I guess?
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26 Mia
November 19, 2013 at 8:17 AM
I'm really hoping the child Future Mirae is talking about was their unborn child or one that died soon after childbirth like someone theorized last week. If her child is who she loved the most, why would she choose a course for her past self that would wipe that child out of existence? She was doubled over when Shin ran over to the accident so a miscarriage is plausible. If he was more focused on the accident and was oblivious to her condition and she couldn't have any babies after that point that would definitely explain FMR's desperation in getting Mirae away from Shin and hooked up with the more stable Seju since. If the child is one that they raised, FMR's antics up to this point would be beyond ridiculous.
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27 Gia W
November 19, 2013 at 8:59 AM
I still like this show, its much slower than I want, but I am a fan of Shin and Mi Rae together. I know there are lot of Yong Hwa fans, but with this story, I would be sad if Old Mi Rae actually change the future that way…writing is so frustrating, because all three, YEH, LDG, and JYH are all good actors and this could have been much more fun series. I think at the end, I am little disappointed because I miss Masters Sun, coming off that type of awesome series into this and/or Heirs…all been slow and not as exciting...
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28 Limmy
November 19, 2013 at 9:45 AM
Poor Yonghwa. His shows always seem to struggle to break the 10% barrier. His acting's much improved though, I think they've figured out how to cast him properly. Maybe he'll finally see ratings gold in his next drama!
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29 fn
November 19, 2013 at 10:46 AM
i completely agree with PlumWine.we can't choose our loves but we can choose our destiny .if i can come back the past i want to correct my treats to choose good things instead of my love. dead of their son is not shin's fualt lonely but the biggest fualt was oppa's one.
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30 SuziQ
November 19, 2013 at 11:01 AM
Finally, this show has been dragging its feet and going around in circles why the future Mirae wants to put a halt to her and Shin's wedding.
The pacing is so slow that up to this point, who cares? It just doesn't have the impact. Why doesn't she tell the current Mirae the situation too? It doesn't make any sense.
We have only had glimpses of how Shin despicably behaves toward Mirae in the future. Now, we find out it is their son that dies. But if Future Mirae messes around and doesn't get married to Shin doesn't the son which she professes to love will never be in existence?
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31 LEEEEZZZZ
November 19, 2013 at 11:10 AM
I think that people are missing the point about trying to prevent the son being born. The show is not about that, the show is that the main leads are fated together. No matter what events happen or where they are, they are meant to be. So if they are meant to be, then it is fated that their son dies. One way or another it will happen. FMR is trying to prevent that from happening. Not just her own unhappiness but trying to prevent their son's death. Who is to say that MR won't have a son with another husband. It is just that KS and MR son will die. Fate is fate no matter how it happens.
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32 Kim Yoonmi
November 19, 2013 at 11:14 AM
YEH keeps getting screwed over lately with the writer... I kinda spotted the issues in the first episode, but it's watchable, somewhat.... maybe. What's with the good cast, decent director and bad writer curse?
I think the better plotline would be she's preventing the relationship because Shin ends up accidentally killing Mi Rae's brother, but the child is collateral. That's a ship I can ride. That or Shin in his desperation ends up murdering her brother, which would be hard on Mi Rae, then present Mi Rae's conflict would be, she's really attracted to Shin, but knows what will happen and is forced to choose to try to change it (which is plenty of stuff one can do playing with theory of timeline) or give him up.
I wish they'd done that one. 5% ratings doesn't surprise me.
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33 hi
November 19, 2013 at 11:47 AM
oh at the end there is only loneliness for Mirae:(((
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34 Lindy
November 19, 2013 at 12:04 PM
I think the revelation that it's Mi-rae and Shin's son that died couldn't have happened any sooner. It's the last big card Future Mi-rae has and she obviously doesn't want to play it if she doesn't have to. Every step of the way she has tried, and failed, to pull Mi-rae away from Shin and nothing has worked so far.
The drama is called Mi-rae's Choice not Mi-rae's Choices. Present Mi-rae has lots of choices that she never had in the past. Future Mi-rae has given her this. She can marry Shin, marry Se-joo, refuse to define herself by the men in her life and concentrate on her new-found career by using the talent that she's had all along and so on. The real choice is actually Future Mi-rae's. She's chosen to go back in time to essentially erase her son. She's chosen not to give him life.
As a mother, I find this hard to understand. In the movie, Peggy Sue Got Married, Peggy Sue gets the opportunity to go back to the week before her 18th birthday and change the one night that sets her on her future self's path. She decides not to do this because the consequences of not doing this will cost her more than she's willing to pay.
It seems like their son dies in a tragic accident while Mi-rae and Shin are too wrapped up in their own issues to pay proper attention to him. In a situation like that, a horrible accident involving a child and in which both of his parents are not paying proper attention, it's easy to blame the other party. It's also human nature to want to turn all the anger and the guilt you feel onto the other party while leaving yourself blameless. Future Mi-rae might be blaming Future Shin 100% for "killing" their child because she has never been able to accept her own culpability in his death.
Future Mi-rae is the ultimate unreliable narrator because this has never been about Shin's failure professionally nor about his personal inadequacies as a husband. She's unreliable because she's been lying to herself.
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Lindy
November 19, 2013 at 12:19 PM
It also seems that Future Oppa is not a very nice man and brother at all. Either he's erased Mi-rae from his life so completely that he is unaware that her child has died or he knows her child has died and still chooses not to speak to her for 20 years because he's unhappy with her choice of husband. Pretty old school!
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thursdaynexxt
November 19, 2013 at 12:42 PM
Yes, that's the trouble I have with this show too - all of them - Future Oppa, Mirae and Shin - are shown to be SOOO different from their Present selves that my imagination is struggling with the weird disconnect.
I know Present Oppa wants to arrange a marriage for Mirae, but I can't see him as being such a stickler that he wouldn't talk to her for 20 years. I remember the scene when they struck a deal in the restaurant: if he gave her a chance at writing and Mirae didn't succeed, then he'd marry her off to someone she'd never seen, "just like the Joseon era". Then they clinked their beer glasses together and he goes to her: "One shot!" as they scull it all. Fell in love with those siblings right then and there! I just can't see Present Oppa behaving like Future Oppa.
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Lindy
November 19, 2013 at 11:07 PM
I know! It's like the characters become better versions of themselves when Future Mi-rae changes the time line. It's hard to reconcile Present Oppa with a man who is so hard and unforgiving that the refuses to speak to his sister for 20 years just because she marries against his wishes. Especially if he knows about the death of her son. Same with Shin, present and future, although, if he's dealing with a job loss, the death of a child and the alienation of his wife, it's more understandable that he becomes a depressed drunk. I wonder who was responsible for him losing his job in the first place. Was it Oppa when he marries Future Mi-rae?
I admit to finding Future Mi-rae very unsympathetic and shallow but she's starting to grow on me now that she doesn't seem to have come back to change the future just to "live well".She's not solely motivated by greed and envy but dealing with pain, loss, guilt and anger. Poor Shin. No wonder he sinks into depression and drink. He's already carrying the burden of guilt over the death of his father. The death of his child must have been unbearable especially if Future Mi-rae might have placed all the blame on him.
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35 thursdaynexxt
November 19, 2013 at 12:33 PM
*Sigh*
My main problem with this drama is that Future Mirae is just such an unsympathetic character, particularly when the writer doesn't give us enough explanations/background for her actions. Sure, she has her moments (like someone mentioned - I like the "reunion" scene with Oppa too), but her scenes with Present Mirae just don't gel for me.
The writer's chosen to withhold the final reveal up till this point, but I feel like there were so many other moments and characters they could have used to get the viewers really invested, even apart from knowing who died. Right now, there's not enough other ingredients to hold the story and characters together (for another 5 eps or so, too). They shouldn't have started the drama if they only had such a thin premise and limited ideas!
Sorry, rant over. :) Maybe the problem is just not enough time and a limited budget. But it's just such a waste of a stellar cast! Will keep watching for LDG, but I hope he gets a good role soon.
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36 thursdaynexxt
November 19, 2013 at 12:50 PM
On a side note, it's great that Shin's receiving recognition for his subway heroics!
Thanks to gummimochi for keeping up with the recaps!!
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37 Norule
November 19, 2013 at 3:16 PM
I'd loved to love this show because of the cast but sadly no..I only watch ep 1-2 and then just wait for your recap. Really can't stomach future mirae..they are like two different very different individual! Thank god for the hero and seejoo. Even yk is an interesting character. .I just dont get future mirae and yet the show is about her..dont get me wrong, I have nothing against the actor only at the character..im frustrated because I really really wanted to enjoy this show like I enjoy the masters sun..btw..crazy as I my sound..wish mirae kept ker perm..it gave her character..whatever
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sogazelle
November 19, 2013 at 8:54 PM
future Mirae is the reason I also drop the show...I CANNOT STAND HER!!!! she's selfish! period.
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38 sirena
November 19, 2013 at 3:27 PM
One of the issues I'm having with this drama is the time-line of events. How long was their courtship? Did they date for a few months and then marry? When did their marital troubles begin? When did they have a child together? How long were they married before they divorced? These are just a few questions that I would like to have answered.
I'm not sure how to feel about the "big reveal." I should feel sad that the person who died was their son. And yet, I don't. Perhaps, as others have suggested, this information should have been revealed sooner. Also, is the flashback scene of Shin and Mi-rae standing on the sidewalk and then turning towards the street at the sound of an accident the moment when their son died? Was someone driving the car with their son inside? How exactly is Shin responsible for his death?
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39 DayDreamer
November 19, 2013 at 7:04 PM
I can no longer be bothered to watch this drama since it has left me in the realm of Don't Care. Will only follow the recaps just to see how things work out. Which is too bad since I really did like it in the beginning.
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August
November 19, 2013 at 7:52 PM
Have you seen Episode 12 yet?
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Bailey Otaku
November 19, 2013 at 7:59 PM
[SPOILERS DELETED. -jb]
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DayDreamer
November 19, 2013 at 8:10 PM
Um....that's quite a spoiler. Not that I have a problem with it since I gave up watching....but others might not like it.
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Bailey Otaku
November 20, 2013 at 7:13 PM
mianhe everyone! ^_^"
The Drama is still hella confusing, no?
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DayDreamer
November 19, 2013 at 8:08 PM
No. Why, did the drama suddenly become awesome?
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August
November 19, 2013 at 9:31 PM
It is the pivotal episode that we have been waiting for. If you are dropping MHIYD, then end it in style with Episode 12.
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40 light
November 19, 2013 at 7:37 PM
I can bet the ending will be Mi-rae will let go of Shin, tries it with Sejoo for a while, then Shin realises his idiocy, fights for Mirae, Mirae welcomes him, both agree to work things out in the future, Seju lets Mirae go. fast forward a few years later, we see seju with YK, Mirae and Shin with child happy. Sigh. Who am I kidding.This is KDrama after all.
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41 History
November 19, 2013 at 9:39 PM
Is the team still doing Kim Shin's Morning Show plus Pandora's Box now, or are they no longer doing the Morning Show?
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42 windsun33
November 19, 2013 at 9:56 PM
Am I the only one here rooting for YK? Unlike far too many 2nd female leads in dramas, she actually seems like a really nice girl who keeps getting shafted by events beyond her control. Though a rival, she actually seems to like MR.
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43 CajsaLisa
November 19, 2013 at 11:07 PM
Gosh, I love this drama... even though its pace is not fast, i like it because life is sometimes boring xD
You know, I really don't understand present Mirae... I mean, I do not believe in that 'love of your life' thing lol I guess there are a lot of men meant for us so it cannot be just 1... I swear, if I were Mirae and knew all that will happen just because I chose Kim Shin to be my husband, and if I had another chance to change my life, I would choose Seju and live a normal life... and my reasons are that I just cannot stand not easy-going guys and guys who bad-mouth women. In my opinion, it is better to live a peaceful life even if your husband is not the one you loved the most... at least he loves you and understands you and will treat you well in the future...
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44 Sajen
November 19, 2013 at 11:47 PM
I knew it. Doesn't make me hate Ajumma Mi-rae any less though. I wish she would hurry up and age to death or go back to the future or anything to make her stop ruining the drama.
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45 kay
November 20, 2013 at 8:34 AM
glad they finally straightened her ahjumma hair! the asian fro was distracting me.
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46 john
November 20, 2013 at 2:10 PM
Poor Yoo-kyung ! I luv you sweety !
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47 Kara
November 21, 2013 at 9:48 AM
Quick question: Why are some of the people calling Kim Shin Kim Han instead? Either I've been missing that this whole time or it is a change that just happened and since I don't know Korean that well I'm confused.
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gummimochi
November 21, 2013 at 9:52 AM
They call him Kim An, short for Kim Announcer (or Announcer Kim, which is the same thing). Hope that helps!
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48 Anna
November 21, 2013 at 7:44 PM
Hey! This post isn't about the drama itself, but more so about the writing of the recaps. This isn't meant to be offensive but just some constructive criticism.
The writing is a little confusing. I find myself having to reread a passage multiple times. Sometimes, I just ignore the passage completely and instead watch the scene from the video. Usually I read recaps for shows I'm interested in but don't have enough time to watch, so it does mean a lot for me to go watch a whole scene itself. And these recaps are probably meant to be for people who are reading these in conjunction with watching them, but either way I think that a few simple changes can make the recaps much more enjoyable and clear!
In my opinion, the quality can be improved just by clarifying who is in what scene, where they are and what just happened. Sometimes when I read a passage, it makes sense but then I look at a picture and I'm like "what? Se-joo was there? What? Shin was there? Wait what, where are they?". Additionally, the transitions from one scene to another aren't as clear as they can be, adding onto the previous point, sometimes I don't know it's a new scene so other characters will be in the passage, but I'm like "Oh they were there too?" but no, it's a new scene.
The whole scene/passage when Mi rae and the kitchen ahjumma were "caught" (or something), was so ridiculously unclear, "It works, but when the kitchen ajumma nervously tries to intervene, they’re both called inside." Firstly, what works? After rereading, I know you meant that she was successful in getting the attention of the goons, but perhaps "She was able to get the attention of the goons" would have been better. Secondly, why are they called inside when the ahjumma tries to intervene? What is she intervening with? What is the goon doing to Mi rae that she must intervene? I haven't yet watched the scene but maybe "but when the ahjumma tries to intervene when [insert what the goons are doing to Mi Rae maybe], the goons suspect something is up" or something along those lines would have been more clear.
And, again, I don't mean to say this with malice nor do I mean it to be offensive. I know you do this for us for free (I think!) and I really super duper appreciate you and this site, but I thought this might be a little helpful!
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