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Heard It Through the Grapevine: Episode 2

These are the faces of the condemned about to face judge, jury, and executioner in the form of In-sang’s parents. They’re in for a shock even greater than the pregnancy reveal itself, culminating in a strangely funny sequence of events as the Han Family gets turned upside down. The tone still swings from funny to serious and then back again, so much so that a part of me wonders if this drama was made as a meta parody on traditional family shows—or maybe it’s just a little off-kilter in general. It’s something different, that’s for sure.

Note: I’m still hesitant to take Grapevine on as my single longest recapping project ever, so for right now, future recaps are still just a maybe.

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Almeng – “Yes I Do” [ Download ]

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EPISODE 2 RECAP

Bom knows just how wealthy In-sang is before they even get out of the taxi, as she looks up at his house through the window and muses, “You must be really rich.”

In-sang distractedly makes an affirmative noise before realizing how snooty that seems, though his attempt to backpedal is funny and kind of sad with the way he stutters through it: “Uh, I mean no… I don’t know.” When confronted with how he’d lied about coming from an average family, at least In-sang admits that he would’ve said anything at the time just to sleep with her.

He’s all but quaking in his boots while Bom supports him as they enter the house, and she’s the one having to comfort him by saying everything’s going to be okay.

Daddy Han and Mama Choi do NOT know what they’re in for when they first see their son with his head bowed next to a pregnant girl, and only begin to put the pieces together when In-sang gestures to Bom and stutters that she’s his girlfriend.

In-sang is in desperate need of a tranquilizer as he has to struggle to get every single word out, but the mishmash of syllables ends up telling a rough story to his shellshocked parents: He loves Bom, and the child in her belly is a product of that love. And oh, he wants to marry her.

The first demand Daddy Han makes is to ask how they met, which In-sang explains with great pains—they met at a debate competition, they dated, and cemented their feelings at the study camp.

But when he can’t get through the rest of the story, Bom intervenes to gently add that they made a mistake and should’ve restrained themselves. Mama Choi goes weak in the knees at Bom’s affirmation that the child is most definitely her son’s, even though both Bom and In-sang admit that neither of them could restrain themselves.

Just then, Bom is hit with sudden abdominal pain that has her doubled over and crying. Mom and Dad look on in horror as Bom says her water just broke, and continue to do so as the house staff starts rushing around for towels and other supplies while Bom starts going into labor two weeks before her due date.

Mama Choi attempts to escape to her room, but finds no solace as In-sang bursts in with his pregnant girlfriend in and lies her on Mom’s bed. His sister Yi-ji is helping out at least, and sets off to google how to give birth at home at Bom’s request. Haha.

Daddy Han tries to act like he’s got it all together, but he winces every time he hears Bom’s labor moans through the walls. I don’t know why this is all so funny, but it is. (You know what would make it even funnier? If we could actually see it. This show must be sponsored by the color beige.)

Yi-ji literally reads instructions on home birth off her phone as Mama Choi puts earplugs in her ears to block out the noise. Daddy Han turns The Magic Flute up impossibly high so that when the EMS team arrives, he can turn them around by shouting that there’s no pregnant woman giving birth inside. He just really, really likes blowing out his eardrums after work.

Daddy Han has his secretary use Bom’s phone to text her father after he calls, dictating how the text would sound coming from his son. It’s super formal, stilted, and a little bit insane. I kind of like this crazy family.

Bom is the one calling the shots for her unplanned birth, having read enough on the subject to direct In-sang and his sister on how to assist her. The head maid handles the tougher part of the process while Yi-ji goes running through the house to proclaim how much Bom’s cervix has dilated.

For now, Daddy Han is choosing to delude himself by claiming that they’re just being good citizens by helping the randomly pregnant girl their son brought home—and that in helping her they’re not legally admitting anything. Like that’s their grandchild about to be born.

Mama Choi allows herself to believe the same lie, and finds it much easier to enter the birthing room now that she thinks of Bom as being totally unrelated to her and her son in every conceivable way. Even though In-sang is currently holding Bom from behind for support while she screams her way through another contraction.

The Han Family house goes on communications lockdown on Dad’s order, but Mama Choi still thinks it’s a good idea to answer the phone so her rich friend can overhear the sounds of Bom’s screaming. I’m sure that’s not going to come back to bite her.

The sounds of screams soon gives way to another kind of cry—that of a newly born infant. Bom’s just given birth to a beautiful baby boy.

At least a doctor is brought in to care for Bom afterward, even though she’s pretty much got everything under control, having studied about pregnancy and birth extensively beforehand.

Bom calls her mom to tell her the news, giving her the details in a surprisingly calm manner even when she can’t fight a few escaping tears. But she makes sure to stress that she’s being treated very well and that In-sang’s family will invite her over soon.

Her mom thanks In-sang over the phone, and he grants her request for pictures of her grandson, even snapping a selca of the three of them together for the first time.

Papa Seo, Mom, and Bom’s sister get to ooh and ahh over the picture while Papa Seo realizes that his former attitude regarding his daughter (embarrassment) was wrong, thanks to Mom knocking some sense into him. Aww.

Despite being in the same house, a faint Mama Choi gets all her updates on the baby’s status via her secretary. She’s not happy about any of it, which the staff giddily gossips about behind her back.

Similarly, Daddy Han doesn’t take the new family addition all that well and sets to breaking various things in the house so that by the next morning, he’s having to work from home while the staff sweeps up the mess he made.

While Mama Choi gets up to face the day and save the child—by which she means her son, not the newborn infant in the house—Yi-ji seems to be the only Han family member who seems to be having fun.

I can’t quite tell if it’s supposed to be funny that Daddy Han and his wife are conspiring on how to make Bom feel safe and well taken care of while they find a way to sneak in a paternity test. They’ll hire a good nanny in the meantime. (These and all scenes brought to you by Shooting Through Objects. Shooting Through Objects, because why provide visual clarity when you can just not?)

In-sang has to be roused from his sleep at the foot of Bom’s bed where he’s been curled up like a loyal dog while she chomps away at her breakfast unfazed. At least the head maid seems genuinely friendly to her.

Daddy Han is clearly holding back some serious rage when he confronts his son the next morning, and manages to talk around the elephant in the room. He hasn’t even seen the baby nor does he care to, since his only concern is convincing In-sang to go to school. He even finds a roundabout way of promising that the baby will be cared for without referring to him/it directly.

In-sang gets all dressed up to go to school before sneaking into Bom’s room to find her asleep with the baby. He very gingerly and very quietly puts his things down so he can snuggle up next to the baby, which he showers with adorable little kisses.

This wakes Bom up, even though she insists she’s fine when he tries to usher her back to sleep. She can tell by his uniform that he’s going to school and asks if his parents have come to see the baby yet.

“They will,” In-sang promises, though Bom is no fool—she knows that she and her baby aren’t that welcome underneath his parents’ roof. It’s cute how In-sang tries to assuage her fears, and leaves only after giving her and the baby a kiss on the forehead.

Mama Choi takes over once her son’s off to school, and makes arrangements with the staff to have Bom and the baby set up in separate rooms. The maid even dares to protest with what she sees as a cold move by Mama Choi, since she’d be separating mother and child before Bom’s first breastfeeding (which she’s been prepared for and looking forward to).

But Mama Choi closes the discussion by reminding them that she used a nanny to help raise her children, so Bom can too. Do Bom’s feelings count in this at all? Wait, this is a chaebol family. Why did I even ask.

In-sang, meanwhile, believes Secretary Kim (the family’s head chauffeur/butler/errand man) when he says that In-sang’s phone is still missing, if by “missing” he means “confiscated.” He does start to get a wee bit concerned when he’s driven past his school instead of to it, since his dad wanted him to see something.

Daddy Han can only look shifty at work when he realizes that one of his pregnant colleagues is now without a nanny because his wife just hired her out from under her. Whoops.

Meanwhile, the female secretaries at the law firm have figured out an ingenious way of gossiping in plain sight by using Japanese to talk to each other over their cubicle walls. They know all about the nanny situation and In-sang’s baby, and tend to just roll their eyes at the way chaebols behave.

Instead of school, In-sang gets taken to a tutor/hypnotist his father took great pains to acquire in order to help him ace the bar exam. But In-sang didn’t know that his family made plans for him to live there with his tutor, and protests the second he realizes what’s going on that he can’t stay there—he’s got a girlfriend and a baby to look after.

Secretary Kim immediately shoots back that In-sang should have thought about his future before he started a family all willy-nilly. Besides, nothing In-sang can say now will change his fate. He should think of this cram period as a time for reflection.

While Mama Choi’s hoity-toity friends consider using her stolen talisman to impose themselves on her, she reluctantly oversees the setting-up process of the new nursery. Though she can’t even wait to hand over all baby-related decisions to the new and expensive nanny.

The new nanny takes over mothering for Bom before she can get her first breastfeeding in with her newborn, and you can tell she’s just going along with the adults out of confusion and politeness.

The head maid sends her a sad smile as Bom is shuffled over to her new and separate living quarters within the house, where she’s told that she can’t stay in the same room with her own baby. Can’t she just, I dunno, walk back?

While Mama Choi orders her room cleaned and sanitized now that Bom’s out of it, she finds the nanny feeding the infant from a bottle and admits to not being sure whether she’ll allow Bom to breastfeed it. O-kay.

She tries to pretend like there isn’t a baby crying in another part of the house (is she really blaming the noise on stray cats?) when she meets with a matchmaker for her son, but Bom hears her son’s cries…

…Though her attempt to leave gets blocked by Mama Choi, whose sole purpose seems to be keeping Bom locked in her room. “Babies cry,” she says of the sound Bom’s so concerned about. He’s in the best hands money can buy, more importantly.

Bom catches on quickly that Mama Choi is doing this to punish her, and Mom doesn’t even have the huevos rancheros to admit it. Instead, she’s all smiles and niceties, acting like Bom is a precious gift in their household and not an unwanted pest.

So Bom takes her at her word, and politely asks if she can take care of her own baby, since she’s been preparing to do so anyway. And if Mama Choi is worried that she has any resentment against In-sang that could transfer over to the baby, Bom assures her that she doesn’t.

But Mama Choi’s had all she can take, and mutters under her breath about how Bom won’t stop talking back to her. “Don’t you have any shame? Don’t you realize what you’ve done?!” she yells, before launching into a tirade belittling Bom for being born a plebeian…

…Until her secretary clamps a hand over her mouth, whispering that everyone can hear her. Bom takes the opportunity to bow her head and tell Mama Choi not to worry, because “I’ll overcome the sense of shame.”

Mama Choi can only scream angrily behind her secretary’s hand as she attempts to claw it away so she can get at Bom.

 
COMMENTS

I spoke way too soon about Mama Choi not being your atypical evil chaebol mother, and though we can see shades of her trying to seem more awful than she might be—like when she expressed even the most offhanded concern about the nursery room temperature—it doesn’t change the fact that she’s either willfully and dangerously ignorant or just another terrible mother-in-law (only not quite) in a long line of terrible mothers-in-law. Maybe she’ll grow and change for the better over the course of the series. I’m not ruling anything out, but I’m also trying not to call things prematurely either.

Bom is definitely a breath of fresh air, and in the most unassuming way possible, to boot. She’s not making her mark by being obnoxiously loud or opinionated, but by being unassumingly quiet and steadfast. Whether her maturity came with her pregnancy or before, she’s well beyond her years as a teenager and it shows. She’s still technically not a Grown Up in a world of Grown Ups which puts her at a distinct disadvantage, but unlike In-sang, she has no loyalty to the people trying to now take control of her life. She has a basic respect for the parents of the boy she loves, but already we’re seeing how her calling as a mother trumps her calling to be a grateful houseguest.

In that respect, it seems Mama Choi has sorely underestimated the girl she’s dealing with, and the fact that Bom is now the mother of her grandchild while still being an unwed teenager creates a very unique and interesting dynamic between them. Since the Han Family is stuck in the past, then tradition dictates that the mother-in-law holds all the cards until the poor, fledgling daughter-in-law bears a son. It’s only the second episode and Bom has been there and had that, so we’re left with a conundrum we don’t normally get to in other family dramas that toy with the balance of power between women of the house: What happens now?

It’s that aspect that makes Heard It Through the Grapevine a different kind of family drama in a sea of sameness, which shouldn’t be surprising given the expert team behind the show. There are literally an infinite number of directions it can go from here, whether it focuses on the love story between In-sang and Bom or the challenges of growing up in reverse. And I have to respect the fact that their love story starts where most other dramas end, because they’re going about this whole happily-ever-after thing completely out of order. That’s the fun part for us, even if it’s not so much for them.

In-sang is a funny one to be sure, and sometimes it seems like he may be acting in a slapstick drama Bom isn’t necessarily a part of. I think that’s just his immaturity showing, since Bom seems to have the wisdom of a grizzled mountain guru and ten times more grit. He’s got a lot of growing up to do comparatively, though his heart is in the right place, which does mean a lot after seeing how he all but wet his pants during the mental breakdown he had facing his parents with his pregnant girlfriend.

Lucky for him, his parents are too passive aggressive to take their true feelings out on him, and I’ll be interested to see if In-sang is capable of stepping up to the plate not only as a husband, but as a father and son. In the meantime though, no one would complain if the screen was filled with more scenes of In-sang kissing that adorably chubby new life form he’s way too young to be the father of. Bom earned her status as a new mother and awesome human being by having that baby with literally just sheer force of will and an internet search, so In-sang better not let an apartment with locks on the inside keep him from getting to where he’s needed most.

 
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hopefully first

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yay.... i am kind of liking this show. I hope it doesn't disappoint . Still too early to give a clear verdict

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I think you someone should take on recapping this drama, if only for it's novelty. I was disappointed that Iron Man wasn't fully recapped because it was unique -- most of the shows reviewed seem to be much of the same. It'd be a nice change of pace.

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+1

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another +1

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Recapping is difficult when someone really really likes a show; recapping something that you don't enjoy, even if it is unique, is about the most difficult activity I can think of.

I guess if the folks here were paid to do these, everything could be recapped here, but that is not the case.

Plus, actually now that i think of it, do we - drama fans - want to read what a disinterested party thinks of a show? As much as we say we want a recap to be unbiased, it is so much more fun when the writer agrees or disagrees with what is on the screen, and if I feel like the writer is sharing part of him/herself in the piece. I think that is what attracts me to read the recap of a subtitled show. Not only can I get clarification on some of the language or context, I get to "hang out" with people while thinking back on the episode. Heads or JB or GF both complaining and/or fangirling are why I am here. Not just to get a review of the activity.

Why doesn't DB write about every show? Recappers are people, too.

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yeah, episode 2 was what convinced me this drama is going to live up to its 'black comedy' promises. There is something hilarious in In-sang's parents' desperation to deal with Bom while trying to trick themselves into believing that they're really doing it all for the good of their son - if this episode doesn't drive home how obsessed they are with keeping up appearances and saving face while deluding themselves into 'all for the greater good' zone, I don't know what will.

(I mean, hiring a matchmaker for your high schooler son with the intention of setting up situations where he can meet his mother's hand-picked candidates "naturally in a few years" i.e. Mom and matchmaker will attempt to manipulate In-sang into situations where he meets and spends time with these girls, with the strong implication that he won't know they are behind it? wtf. And this is after he's already a teenage dad....)

I love Bom. She is no Candy and never wanted any part of this world, but she has a quiet strength to her that Go Ah-sung pairs with incredible vulnerability. And I really wonder what they intended to separate mother and baby for - what are they going to do with the baby?! and I agree that In-sang is having total mental breakdowns over the knowledge of Bom's pregnancy and is a total chicken about it, but considering how little time he has to get used to it, he's mostly been quite decent about it and wussy drowning attempt aside, he's stood by her and done his best. Plus he seems to genuinely love the baby and Bom. The morning goodbye scene was adorable.

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and yeah, the interiors. I really wish someone would turn the lights on in the Han house, but I feel like the sludgy brown light and the design of the interiors says a lot about it. The house is pretty traditional-looking, which is not a feature you find in your average chaebol/rich-person house but makes sense since the master and mistress of the house are the way they are. I mean, look at In-sang's room, does any teenager's room look that impersonal in real life? These are deliberate aesthetic choices, and they're telling us a bit about our resident stuffy chaebols.

I hope you'll continue recapping this, Heads - I think it's promising enough not to turn into another Lee Soon-shin mess. But even if you don't, thank you for giving us these two recaps!

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Did they build a new house around a traditional old house? It looks stunning although it is dark, but the old roof inside is remarkable.

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It's probably a set, so: they built walls and a roof propped up in a warehouse.

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Lol. Of course it's a set! But we are supposed to think that his family build a new house around an old one, aren't we?

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@Newbie - don't know if you'll see this, but when the mother is having a conversation with her snooty friends, she specifically mentions trying to keep the house as it was (when inherited from her in-laws) while she was renovating it. Which is probably how they ended up with a modern exterior over a traditional interior.

Very cool way to tell you that that's basically what Papa Han and Mama Choi are too - seemingly modern, with their perfect lives and well-dressed appearances and repeated emphasis on education, but really as conservative as any Joseon yangban on the inside.

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@pogo - Yes, I agree, that's the message they wan't to deliver.

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I thought the exact same thing when I watched it. Doesn't it sort of seem like they took a traditional U shaped Korean house and then built a roof over the courtyard and incorporated that into the house too? I thought it looked really cool, yet creepy at the same time. It definitely fits with the tension going on inside of that house though.

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Cool and creepy, that nails it. As always this team tells its story with every medium possible. Lightning, set, music etc.

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The dad's argument to split all three was 'Divide And Conquer'. He's trying to weaken Bom's position, make her vulnerable.

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"Bom is definitely a breath of fresh air"

Bom is lovely. She's the one thing I really like about this drama so far.

As for the rest of episode 2, the birth scene just exploded my brain. An impromptu homebirth just so chaebol family can control and micro-manage the "fall-out" in case the baby does turn out to be your son's? I'm afraid I just wanted to scream in frustration. I think I even prefer Kang-chul's denial approach in Hogu's Love to the "let's separate the three and imprison the mom until we've got the paternity test back".

And how could Bom's parents be satisfied with pictures? If my child gave birth, I'd be there in a nano-second. Heck, if I were Bom, I'd have been screaming for my family. In such a intense, vulnerable, emotional moment, to be surrounded by only strangers who are not even nice in an unwelcoming house like that... no no no. Only good thing was that In-sang was right there. And that some of the employees are clearly helping them out.

Honestly, I want Bom and In-sang to grab their baby and RUN from that house NOW. (Preferably taking In-sang's sister with them, since she seemed to be happy to meet Bom.)

In-sang is clueless. He's got his heart in the right place but that's a war ahead of him. I feel mostly sorry for him – his parents' level of micromanaging is mind boggling.

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yeah I'm amazed that In-sang's parents (two pieces of work and that's putting it mildly) raised two kids who seem to be actually decent people. Yi-ji may be flighty and In-sang immature, but their hearts are in the right place and unlike their parents they don't seem to be snobs.

and count me in as another one who was shocked that they went as far as separating mother from baby. I'd have understood isolating them together, but how cruel and unfeeling do you have to be to think it's not normal for a new mother to want to soothe her baby if it cries? Those parents are clearly unhinged even if they're presenting an upright model image to outsiders.

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I think the family's staff is responsible for raising In Sang and his sister to be decent people. I'm sure they were their main influence over the years.

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yes, I definitely think the parenting duties on this one - real parenting, not just deciding which schools they go to and who they marry - was left to the staff. Who seem to be fond of In-sang even if they think his parents are ridiculous.

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I had no intention of watching this show but the recaps are making me fall in love with it! This is a little scary. XD

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I wasn't planning to watch either. The number of episodes and not knowing what the whole "black comedy" thing would mean kept me from being excited about the series. But now I'm totally hooked. The moment episode one ended I was on to episode two. Then all I wanted to do was talk to someone about it. I'm so glad that heads recapped the first two episodes to find out what everyone is thinking and feeling about the story and I really hope that the recaps keep coming. Even if they don't it's good to know there's a good fan base for the show.

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"(You know what would make it even funnier? If we could actually see it. This show must be sponsored by the color beige.)"

LOL!

I am still liking this show too. I fervently hope that this show will subvert your standard eeeeviil plotting tropes and not drag the story down.

Seo Bom is a badass. I love her!! How she was calm during the delivery was not short of amazing. She is also perceptive. She already knew by morning that she wasn't welcome. I really liked the short sweet moment when In-Sang came to see her and the baby before going to school.

BTW the mom is unstable .. we all know that, and it was truly highlighted when she started screaming at Bom and the secretary had to come sush her.

Oooh and I hope In-Sang sister has some character development and becomes BFFs with Seo Bom. I think that would be a lovely dynamic to explore.

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The dad smashed up everything in his study (and really, should he be handling weapons in this state, I don't like the way he's around the sword) and left it for the retainers to clean. The mother lost it and finally snapped and showed her true colours to Bom.

They're both unstable, In-sang and Bom should get the hell out of there with their baby. I agree that the sister seems decent, and was the only person in the family who was genuinely decent to Bom. (I hope they become friends too)

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You know before the crazy chaebol lady from the Korea Air airline I thought a lot of how these dramas depicted chaebols were gross exaggerations but now I think of them as quite believable.

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I have to say, Bom had that baby like a BOSS, as a mother of 2 I was severely impressed by the birth scenes and her attitude. I am unexpectedly enjoying this drama way more than I thought I would.

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What I find most hilarious is that the baby secret isn't really a secret at all. The secretaries know all about it and plus the housekeeper has the pictures on her phone, their entire staff mocks them & their reactions. They're so caught up in their bubble of tradition that they can't see what's right in front of them. I can't wait for them to be openly ridiculed in front of their "friends", someone's bound to find out soon.

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Well the "talisman pouch returning" friends are on their way... lol and with the mom yelling like crazy who knows what shenanigans are in store.

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I'm really enjoying this show so far, I hope you're able to keep recapping it!

I love the servants and how they are laughing at In Sang's parents. Having the servants on your side goes a long way since they are the ones who really make things happen.

This feels like a skewering social commentary on chaebols as opposed to glorifying the wealthy as we usually see in dramaland. Even when the wealthy are villains, usually they have power. But these parents are powerless to stop what's happening and word getting out. So they smash windows and make lies about cats. I'm finding it all very funny.

I don't think Bom will be separated from her baby for long. She's too strong and as you say, has no vested interested in doing what these people tell her.

In Sang impresses me, he's saying and doing all the right things even though he's absolutely terrified. That's true bravery.

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In-Sang impressed me too, he looks scared but he is brave and all heart. I can see why Bom loves him and took him back.

I cant wait to see his growth and see Bom reaction to these horrible parents taking away her child.

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Yes, he had no time to get used to being an expecting father but he still promises to do the right thing and take responsibility for it and does his best. His parents must be regretting that their son is so decent, ha! And Bom is also very strong, she has no need of chaebol money to have her baby.

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In the preview, SEO BOM and the baby ended up together again(in one room). They forbid In Sang to see the two of them but was able to escape and enter the house (hiding under the table where his parents were having conversation. It looks like after 2 days, SEO BOM's parents are looking for her. Her dad is very near the house in the preview. I think we'll soon see SEO BOM's parents with their in laws..

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I thought I would just take a quick look at it and ended up watching both episodes. Was trying to guess what direction they might head and all I could think of was Mrs Bucket of Keeping Up Appearances always trying to hide her family members from people she wants to impress.

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Ha, I did too! And of course she'll be the first one to tell you her name is pronounced as Mrs. "Bouquet" not Mrs. Bucket.

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Oh my, I was sooo angry at the parents. How could they let Bom deliver completely on her own?? Why didn't they at least call the family doctor from the start? This is so irresponsible! I have nothing against homebirth, but there should be a professional present, especially when it is the first birth of the woman.

And to seperate the mother and the baby so cruelly??? I*JUST*COULDN'T*DIGEST*IT! (perhaps also because I'm now expecting our n.3 and n.4).

I hope In Sang espaces from his tower... and Bom's family invades the mansion of inhumanity and takes the new family with them.

PS The morning moment with kissing the baby was sooooo sweeet!!

PPS Heads, thanks a lot for the recap and I hope you will continue!

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Congratulations are in order for your n.3 and n.4!! I haven't watched the drama yet...but reading the part about how they separated the baby is just so enraging! Those first hours are so important!!

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Congratulations on your babies!

And these parents really are horrible.

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No kidding, I don't think I can watch this show anymore, it makes me boil with rage! I had a planned homebirth but I want to perform a home penis-ectomy on In Sang's dad for refusing her medical care! And giving a baby a bottle without the mom's permission...honestly makes me angrier than anything Gu Jun Pyo's mother ever did.

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I have watched both the episodes and I have thoroughly enjoyed them :D I really hope that you will continue recapping it. It's wonderful to read the comments of others about the drama!

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Haven't seen an episode yet, but it makes me wonder why the setting is so dark. Are black comedies also supposed to have these kinds of setting? (LOL)

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Lol not necessarily but i guess the director didn't want to waste money on lighting xD

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I found the way this drama was filmed was very interesting. As a black-comedy, I can see how this drama makes humor out of subjects considered taboo. I found that the drama definitely makes fun of the attitudes of such prestigious families who care so much about image and are so histrionic in their home. For example, playing music so loud in the house and closing off all communication because a secret is being “born” in the house. The horrible separation of family and how the upper class treats the lower classes. The way that In Sang must study, isolated, staring and a black dot and cramming his life away. The extreme emphasis that S. Korea puts on academics and power connections. The belief of the upper class that specs or skills don’t matter anymore as long as you have the connections to pull the strings you want. While none of these scenes are laugh-inducing, it gives us a sardonic view of what life is possible like for these upper class people. This drama also touches upon the topic of sex education, a topic that all youngsters as well as adults should be well acquainted with and educated about. This prevents mistakes from happening, especially preventing the hardships of single mothers and teenage pregnancy. This puts so much stress and financial suffering of the parent who must raise the child either alone or if they are lucky, with their young spouse. Having a child is big a deal and I feel like it is important to have one when you can emotionally, physically, and financially support one, not when you can’t sexually control yourself or don’t have the mind to use protection. I like how this drama emphasizes that they did use protection, but unfortunately it was defective.

Here is the rest of my thoughts on these issues, so I'm not spamming the comments section: https://picadrama.wordpress.com/2015/02/25/heard-it-through-the-grapevine-heard-it-as-a-rumor/

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From the moment the dad was trying to say "du...guuuuu" when he met Bom till the end of the birth scene, I was in splits.... and it felt liberating.

And so I thought that this might be the drama that perhaps will deliver me from the crutches of Healer (which ended more than 2 weeks ago)....because nothing else that I've try so far has worked.

And I thoroughly enjoyed "Secret Love Affair" so I'm looking forward to the upcoming episodes.

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I also read in an interview that Lee Joon had a hoobae who went through a similar situation. He draws upon that experience to help him act in this drama. I think that is such good idea, to know first hand what may happen and the feelings that will come with it. I can't imagine starting a family at 18! That was the age I was worrying about where to go for college and what to study, not how to take care of a new life! It will be a long and arduous rode for sure for Seo Bum and In-Sang!

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I am not watching the show. But thanks for the recaps. I am not sure if I was supposed to laugh. But some of the recap portions sounds insane. Not your words- the situation.

I am not even sure whether I am laughing because it's funny or because it's insane.

I think it's the latter.

Boy. And this is a weekday drama?

My my my.

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You should try it! The black comedy part is not like normal kdramas exaggerated comedy, more like.......they have such a straight face but the situation is so absurd that I want to laugh just seeing it. Like the dad going "divide and rule".

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I am reading through the comments and as soon as I get to yours, the the last statement made me laugh all over again -- "divide and rule". Keep in mind, I watched the episode yesterday.

I laughed throughout this episode, and so should everyone else, that is what the drama is trying to do. Have you laugh at this family and all the ridiculous things they are going to go through, trying to hide this baby.

I don't need a growing up arc for In Sung. He just needs to keep being cowardly, but tenacious when it concerns Bom and the baby.

I don't need to learn any lessons, I just want to laugh at him trying to commit suicide by first dipping his toe in the water. I mean look at the first picture, his face. How can you not laugh?

I don't want to see screaming, yelling chaebols. I want to see this entitled family literately pull their hair out trying to cover this up and they will, considering nothing will go their way. e.x. - The mother tried to get some rest after fainting and no less that 5 minutes later they commandeered HER bed to deliver the baby (LOL).

And finally, I don't need anything else but 30 splendid episodes like these 2 I've just watched.

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To: HeadsNo2

Whether you decide to do the recap or not it is really up to you, but I just want to say that I actually came to this website because I didn't understand why 2017 was so important.

You clarified it for me as is the case with Joseon era dramas as well. I know little of the history and reading the recaps helps to clarify certain tough issue.

Now, I don't think they will be anymore issues regarding this show but I just want to thank you for the 2 episodes you have recapped so far. Thank You!!

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(You know what would make it even funnier? If we could actually see it. This show must be sponsored by the color beige.)
(These and all scenes brought to you by Shooting Through Objects. Shooting Through Objects, because why provide visual clarity when you can just not?)

You know what makes this show even funnier? Heads' recaps!! Seriously, your recaps make the show even more funnier... LOL

Love ya HeadsNo2 and hopefully you'll take it as your longest recapped-drama! :D

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+1 Please HeadsNo2

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♥♥♥♥

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The thing I like most about IHITtG so far is that it is reflecting a real paradigm shift that seems to be occurring in Korean society right now. Something The Greatest Marriage danced around but never quite came to grips with: changing societal norms like single motherhood, the control parents and the family can exercise over their children in such things as careers and marriage, the willingness of the "lower classes" to defer to their "betters" etc.

In-sang's parents are still working with the old playbook. They assume they can control the agenda with their wealth, power and social status. They think people are automatically going to do what the Han family wants simply because it's the Han family that wants it.

But Bom has already fought and won the really big battle. She's willing to have her child and proudly raise it as a single mother. The household servants don't appear to be about to go along with the Han family agenda either as they already seem to be thoroughly besotted with the little baby flesh magnet and respect Bom's courage and dignity in the whole home birth scenario. The Seo family aren't going to let their child and grandchild be victims of classism and the so-called elite.

There's a lot of nice touches in this drama so far. In-sang's sister knows about his romance with Bom so they are obviously used keeping things from the parental units. The daughter of one of the rich families is using In-sang as a beard so she can hang out and get up to who-knows-what with the son of another of the families. It's fun to watch.

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I'm already loving this drama. It's got a "Valid Love" meets "Secret Love Affair" realistic feel to it. Or as realistic as a drama can get. I suspect I'll continue to be very livid at the rich in-laws. This is the drama that will be stressing me out this season. The pain and shaming and rejection seems so real.

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Seeing Lee Joon play a new dad, I remembered him in Hello Baby where MBLAQ took the kids to the Zoo. He put on tiger paws and ears and was hanging out with one of the baby girls. I was dying laughing because he could barely walk and was almost waddling.

6 minute mark .. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNY3tXA16uw

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Well, first I checked how many episodes this would run. Saw that it was 32 and thought maybe not, still on that fence. First episode was bumpy for me on how it presented its self, but hung in. By the end of the episode it sort of had me, and perhaps (?) does now by the end of the 2nd one??

I agree with all of the posts that say the inside shots are all too dark, but then maybe that was the purpose of shooting it in this manner. To let us, or to help us perceive that the family is closed off from the world at large? Also, what is up with all the stairs? Talk about a choppy house, don’t ever have mobility problems, you would never make it.

Also, and a strong one, I too did not really think that those that have the funds were that nuts, until life imitated art. The charming skirt that had the airplane return for ‘her’ choice/selection of legumes was like a sha zam moment. They are real, and they are, but not really among us!!!

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Yeah In Sang's parents are just as bad as nut rage lady.........it's only that they hide it very well and show a polite and charming face to the world.

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When the maid was wheeling that vacuum cleaner/cleaning trolly, she stopped right before the stairs. I hope we get to see dragging it up them - bump bump bump - to show how ridiculous and pretentious it is to have someone in your household use one. She isn't cleaning the ground floor of an elementary school. She could actually carry the supplies in a bucket.

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Hahaha I was wondering how is she going to push that trolly up and then she just very conveniently stopped right in front of the stairs. Guess they also have no idea how can a trolly function around a place with stairs.

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Please continue to do the recap

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This drama made me laugh so the black comedy is well done here.
So far the acting have been great i am impressed

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the thing i love about this show is the music. it makes the scenes funnier. so awesome!

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the music score crack me up every serious scene. it's like music is mocking the characters and i can't help, just laughing along the music

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got'a love that Klezmer music. it fits so well! La heim!!!

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Fabulous music! The music of the show is like a narrator! This drama is fantastic - the best one on the airways right now!

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I hope you continue recaps Heads! I like this drama, the feel is so different from all other dramas I ever saw.

and those parents are really horrible. In Sang may be scared but at least he tries toface consequences....

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I like the storyline, but somehow the way they shot the drama, the color, camera angle ect. annoys me.. is this done on purpose? like a theme or something... I want to see their faces clearly, not only mouth or things hanged somewhere.. *sigh*. I hope this doesn't continue until the end...

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I kinda like it though. Cuz not a lot of Kdramas are shot this way. It uses relatively more long shots and less close ups than other Kdramas, which gives a movie feel to it.

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Episode 2 is daebak aawww I laughed a lot but also literally teared up at the post-partum scene when Seo Bom spoke with her family.. aawww... and when in the morning the baby turned its head to see daddy.. aaaww lovely moments.. as if the baby is an experienced actor too. Looove this drama so far. This is the only drama I'm following now.

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HeadsNo2 ~

Thanks for the recap*.

Ep 2 was funnier. The dark interiors had much more light. Signifying the arrival of a new dawn? New family members at any rate, like it or not.

Turning away the EMT's was unforgivable, imho. If something had gone wrong during the delivery, how could they have hoped to cover that up?

The dark sombre interior depicted throughout much of the house and the arge servant staff reminded me of something akin to a Masterpiece Theater program depicting a Victorian era upper class home.

The male and female secretaries, who I suspect function as proxy parents for the children and the housekeeper, cook, etc.

When the older staff member caught himself saying, "Congratulations" , he meant well, but obviously overstepped the established boundaries.

I can kind of understand the parents desire to be cautious, however, the baby should be with the mother and her parents should be allowed visitation. She's somewhat of a hostage.

Really enjoying the show.

* Please continue ! (Unless of course, it goes south ala B-Ball, but I don't think that will happen)

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I was laughing through the labor scene because it's like they're so uptight...but their young unmarried virgin daughter is sitting beside Bom as she's giving birth reading instructions...like did they consider it super birth control

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I was cackling all through that bit......the (as far as we know) virgin teenager is enthusiastically looking up birthing blogs and helping out in the home birth while her mother (who has birthed two children and presumably is familiar with the process) pretty much goes for her smelling salts.

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Hi HeadNo2, I understand your hesitation about recapping this show.It's 32 episodes after all! But I hope you'll try recapping at least two more episodes.Moreover it's not necessary to commit to all 32 episodes.Just recap as long as you enjoy it.

That being said, even if you stop here, thank you very much for covering the first two episodes at least and giving us an opportunity to share how we feel about this drama.I thought no recapper would notice it at all given the length and the style of the show.Thank again :)

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Totally seconding that! It might be too early to decide the show's a fluke, right? =D

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Eeps, It's 32? Oh dear, I just started thinking it's 16.

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Great acting Seo Bom

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Wow, the synopsis sounded quite meh but I got super interested in the drama after reading the recaps. I'm totally watching it for Seo Bom because she's got it all together. Love that everyone seems to be secretly rallying behind the couple. I do worry about how the story will turn out since 32 episodes is rather long. But who knows, there might be some good surprises along the way.

PS. Also love Bom's mom. That's the kind of mother everyone should have!

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Thanks for the recap. I love your frustration at the "shooting through objects" Every time I see an interior in any show filmed through the vertical blinds I ask myself the same thing, but they have to vary the shots. Let's hope we get clarification of camera when we get clarification of character.

I want to talk about Dad. Boy is he a piece of work fondling his gnarled wood sword holder. Some of the shots were extremely phallic, and Yoo Joon-sang is a good sport to play along with being the "victim" of these images.
What is becoming clear is YJS is playing someone who thinks he is living the role of a King in a sageuk. The formal way he speaks, carries himself, and the gravity that he expects everyone to react to his words. He commands rather than talks to everyone.

The Han household believes itself to be royalty. Mom's reliance on secretaries, fortune tellers, nannies, and matchmakers to manage her family and future reveals how weak she is. Like a poor little princess brought into a palace with no skills to run it and she is definitely aware of the gulf. Bom-bom will be good for her, I think. This newly minted mother will show strength against impossible odds, and show Mom that you can take power from inside because nobody will relinquish it easily.

In-sang was drawn to her strength as well. It seems he lost his gamble with a condom nine months ago, but I think this new reality will make him a better man....eventually.

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What is becoming clear is YJS is playing someone who thinks he is living the role of a King in a sageuk. The formal way he speaks, carries himself, and the gravity that he expects everyone to react to his words. He commands rather than talks to everyone.

good catch! The parents but especially dad with the oratorial pronouncements and constant reminders of In-sang's place in the 'dynasty', really does have strong shades of Joseon king about him.

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Loved everything you said.

I'm not surprised. :D

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This, the way you describe how dad is very clear and i have a sense of dark humor about it. Dad rule the world. basically, he is just a lawyer but he think himself over everything, even the law and pretend like he's the king in household.

First i was like why the actor who portray dad looks unnatural but he's supposed to be like that for being an extra dad who rule the house, nope the world. the actor is portraying in humor sense and i think he's really doing good.

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Thanks for the recap HeadsNo2. I'm enjoying IHITTG and it definitely seems to be a show with lots of promise so I hope you’ll continue recapping it.

A total of 32 episodes...maybe consider recapping IHITTG each week as a double header. With 2 episodes down, that would leave you with only 15 more to complete.

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I have observed that the cinematography of this drama and another Kdrama, Secret Love Affair are the same. I guess because it has the same director, the filming style is almost similar. I guess the director likes this type of cinematic effect. Even most of the cast members were from the Secret Love Affair. The characters from both dramas have parallel backgrounds, for instance the rich characters are always looking and behaving classy and well educated but hide the fact that they also gossip and detest their rich friends. The poor and/or middle class characters on the other hand, are smart, down-to-earth, caring and has sense of humor. I believe both dramas have the same writer, that's why there are similarities in characters. I like the way this director and writer team create their dramas, always a little on the dark side, which shows the reality of life and at the same time they parody life to inject humor. I am excited about this drama, I hope the characters will develop in their own unique and interesting personas.

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Not too much comedy in this drama. I think some of the scenes were meant to be funny but just weren't. I think they are trying to do some spoofs, but they aren't coming off very funny. The melo part has potential to be somewhat interesting, and it is fun to see a young couple that actually stands up for itself.
So overall, some potential, I wish for more real comedy, and I'll have to see how this plays out.

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I'm late watching this show, but I've caught up in the past few days all 14 awesome episodes.

Sad that there won't be anymore recaps because this is the first show this year that made me go 'daebak' after every episode. It's like watching a modern drama, yet has that sageuk feel to it. Heirs had the potential but failed. I love the humor and the unexpected stuff that happened. It's a cross between Misaeng (in the way that the script's well-written, the PD's great, and the BGM so apt) and a Hong Sisters drama (that the clichés are overturned and end up surprising me).

I'm in love with the characters. Bom is awesome. I want her to succeed and fail at the same time because she scares me with her genius. In-sang is the best chaebol son ever. Zero ego unlike all other kdrama heroes. Grandfather Han is so funny. I want him to fail when he's being so manipulative, but I want him to win too because he's such a heodang. (Yoo Joon Sang reminds me of Uhm Ki-joon in Golden Cross when he's being serious, and Tablo when he's being a heodang) Grandma Choi has warmed up to me because she and her husband loves being grandparents to that cute baby.

Hope that the next 18 episodes continues to deliver and just maybe make this my favorite drama this year.

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I completely agree with you, Den. I'm sorry there aren't recaps here.

Bom is scaring me a bit too. She is so quick at picking up how the manage (read manipulate) people. But In-Sang did tell her father that he fell in love with her when he watched her "own" the snotty kids at the school camp. So maybe she already had that talent, which reminded him of his mother, so he fell for her.

As for the pregnancy, they did use a condom, but it obviously failed. I think if you watch more than two episodes, you will see the good and the not so good in both families. Someone said the color pallet was beige-- well shades of beige instead of black and white.

For me, this drama is in my top 10. I hope it continues to suprise me.

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This drama is so good and why aren't Dramabeans picking it up after all..bad call..I always thought dramabeans had impeccable taste..? so why is this off your radar so soon... *rant

Such a witty and clever story! Excellent writing!

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Drama beans really experienced a major fail on this one by dropping the recaps too soon. It just gets stronger with every episode. The wit and satire could not be better. If the last third is as good as what has been released so far, it will be my all time favorite K-Drama.

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commenting so I can give this the 5 stars it deserves (best drama of 2015, no contest)

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I don't understand why she isn't calling her family to collect both her and the baby. Because I understand why the son is used to listen to his parents. But she should be with her family, not strangers! Even if they didn't try to separated her from her baby, I don't understand why she is staying there. But the way she is kept away from her baby is nightmare category for me and I've never even been pregnant.

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god I wish you hadn't stopped these recaps.

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