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Angry Mom: Episode 8

We focus almost entirely on the students and Kang-ja’s quest to right wrongs from the inside, and it makes for a great episode. It isn’t anything new to point out that the world is corrupt, but watching children accept that as fact is another thing entirely, and the wave of disillusionment just makes Kang-ja more determined to save the day.

 
SONG OF THE DAY

Lim Kim – “언제 진실이 중요했던 적 있었니” (Since When Was the Truth Ever Important) [ Download ]

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EPISODE 8 RECAP

After being thoroughly threatened by Jung-woo, Ah-ran decides to put her head down and study, and tells Mom to leave school so she can put this stuff behind her. Kang-ja is left speechless.

Jung-woo is officially re-introduced to the teaching staff as the director of the board, and when Chairman Hong tells all the teachers to make sure the upcoming midterm scores are up, Noah chirps that test scores aren’t everything. He’s met with a room full of silent stares.

As they walk out, Chairman Hong merely chides Jung-woo that the girl was awfully young, and Jung-woo just offers that everyone makes one mistake. To her credit, Ae-yeon looks a little horrified.

Jung-woo smirks to himself that he’ll make sure Chairman Hong never returns, while Chairman Hong chuckles in his car that Jung-woo has a long way to go. He gives Ae-yeon a vague warning to pick the right side, while thinking back to his conversation with Jung-woo’s father—the one in which daddy dearest told him to get rid of Jung-woo and the washing machine once their work is done.

Kang-ja tells Gong-joo everything, and they deduce that Jung-woo has a network of far scarier people behind him. Kang-ja finally lets down her fierce façade and starts to break down in tears, crying, “Why does a mother only amount to this? I’m her mother! I’m her mother… but why is there nothing I can do for her?”

Gong-joo tells her that it’s not just her—all mothers in the world feel this way. She just holds her friend and lets her cry on her shoulder. Great, now I’m crying too. And hee, so are the princess minions, who suddenly appear in the background sniffling into their tissues, having been a foot away the entire time.

Gong-joo gets mad and just wants to go in there guns blazing, but Kang-ja tells her that this isn’t about tit-for-tat retribution. They have to ensure that these people can never do this again. She says that it’s time to use their brains. Awww yeah.

It’s hilarious how quickly Gong-joo deflates at the mention of brains over brawn, and she reminds Kang-ja that this isn’t really their strong suit. But Kang-ja has a plan for getting smarter—they’ll both study up on Myeongseong Foundation’s ins and outs, and somewhere they’re bound to come across one weakness.

To that end, the princess minions gain access into Chairman Hong’s house posing as exterminators to plant cameras. Kang-ja’s plan is to cut off the head—Chairman Hong—and go after Jung-woo when he’s left without backup.

Kang-ja has another hurdle to jump when she gets home, because her mother-in-law is waiting to hear that she dropped out of school like she promised she would. They’re interrupted when her husband Jin-sang comes home, and Kang-ja clamps a hand over Mom-in-law’s mouth to keep her from talking.

She manages to drag Mom-in-law out with her, hand still over her mouth, and then butters her up with expensive sushi. Kang-ja offers to send her on that trip she’s always wanted to go on, or a facelift, and Mom-in-law starts to soften.

She’s mostly worried about what happens to their family if Kang-ja gets caught at school, so she promises to be careful and begs for one more month to keep up the ruse. Mom-in-law consents to one more week.

Meanwhile, hubby Jin-sang goes digging around in Kang-ja’s backpack for her ID card (to add her to his list of names for unknown nefarious uses), and finds her school uniform. He asks her about it when she gets home, and Mom-in-law actually helps cover it up and Kang-ja lies that it’s from a friend’s daughter and she’s giving it to Ah-ran.

Noah can’t get it out of his head that his father might’ve pulled some strings to get him his job, and asks him about it directly. Dad is pretty evasive and asks how he could’ve done that when he knows no one at the school, and Noah seems satisfied with that.

After watching the Chairman Hong Cam for a while, Gong-joo decides that he’s not right in the head. She promises round-the-clock surveillance and sends Kang-ja off to school with a polished apple (while wearing a Snow White costume, keh).

Ah-ran is aghast to see Mom back at school, but Kang-ja swears she’ll make it so that Ah-ran can study in peace. Jung-hee’s trio runs up and offers their sympathies to Kang-ja for her bio-mom/adopted-mom drama, having drummed up an elaborate backstory about her being abandoned in the streets. Kang-ja and Ah-ran just gape, as Jung-hee and the girls defend Kang-ja in front of the other kids.

When they get to class, the vice principal is there to rearrange the seating order, ignoring Noah’s protests. They now have to sit according to class rank, which sucks for them but is fun for the drama, since it puts first-place Sang-tae next to second-place Ah-ran, much to his joy and her ire.

And of course last place goes to Kang-ja and Bok-dong, which just makes my day. Both boys are trying their damnedest to play it cool, but Sang-tae keeps grinning and Bok-dong steals glances at Kang-ja when she isn’t looking. This kills me:

Besides being academically embarrassing, the new seating arrangement puts a kid who can’t read the chalkboard in the very back row, and when he asks to be moved up, the fascist vice principal tells him to just get higher scores so he can sit closer.

Noah follows him into the teacher’s office to argue that this isn’t right, but just gets another screaming outburst for his trouble. The vice principal hands out test material to use for the upcoming exams, and then collects a fat check from the publisher of the study guides. Ugh.

Jin-sang turns over his list of people to Jung-woo, and is surprised to be named the lead developer on the new construction site. Oh yeah, he’s definitely their fall guy for whatever fake front this is.

In class, Sang-tae invites the smartest kids in class to join his study group and tells the riffraff to stay out of their hair. The kid with the glasses, Geun-soo, meekly offers Sang-tae a pastry and asks to join his study group, and Sang-tae dismisses him like a bug.

Kang-ja can’t stand to see him bullying that sweet kid and gets up to make an issue of it, when suddenly Ah-ran’s eyes go wide and dad Jin-sang walks through the door. ACK. Kang-ja hurriedly drops to the ground and crawls toward the back of the room like she came out of The Ring, as if that’s not the most conspicuous thing ever.

Everyone stares, but before Dad can look closely, Ah-ran drags him out acting embarrassed. Kang-ja succeeds in crawling to her desk, but Bok-dong asks what she’s doing, so she quickly ties his shoelace. Eee, he totally has this cute internal freakout at her sweet gesture. He has such a crush on her.

The princess minions continue their running commentary about what a weirdo Chairman Hong is, as they watch him spend his day talking to his snakes and ignoring his son.

Gong-joo eagerly attends a moms’ lunch with other parents from Kang-ja’s high school, only to find that it’s an excuse to bribe the vice principal and get the inside scoop on which study guides to buy for the exams. Dude, just how much side money are you pocketing?

The other moms sneer at her and Geun-soo’s mother (the shy boy with glasses), who admits that she’s out of savings but had to give something to get her son ahead, when he’s struggling in school. Gong-joo is doubly saddened, knowing what an ass the vice principal really is.

Midterm exams begin at school, from PE tests to English poetry recitals. Comedian Kim Young-chul cameos as the English teacher, and when Kang-ja gets called up to the front of the class to share a poem, she begins to recite somberly: “Step by step. Ooh baby. Gonna get to you girl.” Oh. My. God. Are you quoting the lyrics to Step by Step? *dies laughing*

Music class includes more recitals, and the theme of the day is pretty much Sang-tae Coasts By. So do the students of mothers who bribe the appropriate people, talent or skill be damned. Kang-ja is dismayed to learn that this is how things work—students of moms that grease the right palms get ahead.

Kang-ja spends late-night study hall just happily watching Ah-ran study, and when she notices Bok-dong sleeping next to her with his thumb near his mouth, she mutters to herself that he really seems like a baby at times like this.

She busts out her Myeongseong flow chart to study instead, but runs out when she sees Ah-ran head for the bathroom with a bloody nose. Kang-ja tells her to go home and rest up before the big test tomorrow, but Ah-ran asks why she isn’t like all the other moms and goes right back to studying.

On her way back to class, Kang-ja sees Jung-hee sneaking down the hall. She’s on her way to join Sang-tae and his inner circle in the office, where he’s handing out copies of the exam. Oh, THAT’S your idea of study group? No wonder Ah-ran doesn’t want to join you. Besides, yunno, the fact that you’re an ass.

Jung-hee asks to be included because she really needs to do well on this exam so that her parents don’t ship her off overseas. Sang-tae agrees to let her in if she stands up to Kang-ja, and tests her right away when Kang-ja comes in asking what they’re doing.

Despite Jung-hee’s cold rebuff, Kang-ja can tell that something suspicious is going on and grabs one of the tests out of another girl’s hand. When she tries to wrestle the other exams away, they struggle and Kang-ja gets pinned down by a bookshelf. Sang-tae just tells Jung-hee to get all the exams, and they leave her there.

Though Jung-hee rips the tests out of Kang-ja’s hand, she manages to hold onto one piece, and takes it straight to Noah to tell him about the cheating.

He bandages up the cut on her forehead and says that the school will have to open an investigation and she’ll have to name names eventually, but she remains tight-lipped for now.

Noah sighs that he doesn’t know where things went wrong, calling it a kaleidoscope where teachers and parents and children just start to reflect one another until it’s unclear where the trouble began.

Kang-ja says that she doesn’t know about complicated things like that, but she does know one thing: There is a monster in this school.

At home, Kang-ja tries to get Ah-ran to sleep instead of pulling an all-nighter, and lets her in on the secret that there won’t be a test tomorrow. Ah-ran guesses right away that Sang-tae is behind the stolen tests, and uses the chance to study harder to edge ahead into first place.

Kang-ja catches a glimpse of Jung-woo’s father greeting his constituents on television, though she doesn’t know about his connection to Jung-woo. He’s just presented in the media as a caring politician with a heart for education, and it seems to leave an impression with her.

In the morning, Ah-ran and Kang-ja are both shocked to be handed midterm exams as if nothing happened. Kang-ja asks why the test isn’t postponed, and runs into the vice principal’s office where Noah is currently asking the same thing.

The vice principal has no intention of canceling an exam that made him so much side money, so all of Noah’s protests fall on deaf ears. Once Kang-ja arrives to offer herself up as a witness, the vice principal accuses her of being the number one suspect and shows her the video of her in the teacher’s office with Noah, adding that Noah could be in on it.

Kang-ja has no choice but to name the culprits, but that doesn’t faze Sang-tae in the least. He just sits back and says that the test was a practice exam based on last year’s midterm, and everyone else corroborates his story.

Jung-hee is the last holdout, and Kang-ja calmly reminds her that she’s the one who’s always complaining about this dirty rotten unfair world—if she takes Sang-tae’s side now, she’s making a choice to be part of that world she hates.

Jung-hee does really look torn up about it, and she’s about to open her mouth when she gets a text from her mother (who received a warning from the vice principal) about being sent abroad. She immediately falls in line and confirms Sang-tae’s story. Kang-ja and Noah look devastated.

So the midterm scores stand, and Ah-ran drops down to third place. Sang-tae gives her an I-told-you-so about joining his study group, the jerk. And Jung-hee’s friends call her out on going darkside to raise her scores, and they get into a fight.

There’s another commotion outside the vice principal’s office, where Geun-soo’s mother is currently arguing that she gave him money to raise her son’s score. It didn’t go up, so she’s asking for her money back. Naturally he denies receiving anything, so she parks herself in his chair and at least demands for her letter back, refusing to budge.

Kang-ja and Noah arrive in the office and pick up enough of the argument to know that the vice principal is collecting bribes. And just when you thought they couldn’t be disillusioned any more in one day.

Noah takes up the argument privately with the vice principal, fuming over his blatant misuse of power. He stomps off prepared to go straight to the education board with this, but the vice principal just asks how Noah’s father is any different—he paid to get his son this job, didn’t he? Ouch. There goes the last crack in Noah’s rose-tinted glasses.

There’s a cool shot of Kang-ja as she walks through the halls in slow-motion, and everyone else moves in reverse. It’s starting to dawn on her just how deep the corruption runs in this place, and how difficult it is for anyone to fight it.

She finds another set of kids in the boys’ bathroom, berating Geun-soo for cheating. The poor kid gets beaten up no matter what he does, and Kang-ja kneels down to ask gently why he did it.

He cries that he just wanted to do well and be liked by teachers and other students, and not be overlooked and ridiculed all the time. Kang-ja sighs and tells him that he still crossed a line, and Geun-soo wails that it’s unfair. Sang-tae steps out of one of the stalls and sneers that he can’t poop in peace.

As they leave school that night, Kang-ja tries to tell Ah-ran that it’s okay if her scores dropped a little this time because they’ll go back up. But Ah-ran argues that nothing is okay about this—no matter how hard she works, she’ll never be scored fairly, and asks what’s right about that.

She repeats the same thing that Kang-ja said at the top of the episode and that Geun-soo said: “It’s not fair.”

It breaks Kang-ja’s heart even further when Ah-ran adds that the world is just one big con. She tucks Ah-ran into bed and watches her sleep for a while, and then gets the idea to write a letter to the minister of education.

She details all of the injustices going on at her school, and then finds him at his next public marketplace appearance to hand him the letter personally. He listens to her story and tells her not to worry—he’ll take care of everything.

Kang-ja leaves in good spirits, buoyed by the feeling that she’s actually made a difference, and tells Gong-joo all about it. Gong-joo is skeptical about a politician keeping his word, but Kang-ja says that this one is different.

The princess minions pipe up when a visitor shows up on the Chairman Hong Cam, and Kang-ja is shocked to see the minister of education walk right in and hand her letter to Chairman Hong.

He grouses, “Do I have to deal with trash, with trivial civil complaints like this? Don’t let the cries of children reach my ears. I hate it. Give them candy or sweets to suck on, but don’t let them cry!”

 
COMMENTS

How poetic that the minister of education hates children. Not that we didn’t guess this, based on how he treats his son, however illegitimate. I was worried about Kang-ja trusting yet another man in power who can’t be trusted, but this show is pretty quick about not leaving our heroine in the dark too long, and I’m grateful for that. I want her to gather up enough information to take the whole house down, and she’s finally starting to see just how far this organization reaches. It seems an insurmountable foe at the moment, but that makes her quest all the more admirable, if one woman can bring down an organization that elaborate. I can’t wait to see their faces when they discover who’s responsible.

But for now Kang-ja has to swallow bitter pill after bitter pill, and today was a shared experience in becoming jaded, from Noah to Ah-ran to their classmates. It’s so heartbreaking when Kang-ja wants to shield Ah-ran from having to believe the worst about people and the world she lives in, only to be proven wrong at every turn no matter how hard she tries to do the right thing. Her earnest frustration is so palpable, and Kim Hee-sun makes this character feel so grounded and real, no matter how crazy the situations get.

Today’s episode had very small and relatable problems, familiar to any high school drama about the haves and the have-nots. While the villains are pretty outrageous (that vice principal, I mean, come on), Angry Mom does a fairly good job of giving multiple perspectives, like Jung-hee who hates the corruption but yields when her livelihood is threatened, Geun-soo who represents the weak and bullied, and Noah the righteous white hat… who discovers that he’s the product of the very same privilege that he despises. It’s a great moment when he’s struck with that hypocrisy, though it’s really his father’s not his. Still, he benefitted in the same way that the students of the wealthier parents did for the exams—those kids get ahead in life, and so did he, because of what his father was willing to do. From an ethical point of view, it’s almost easier to be the kids of poor parents who can’t afford to bribe people. Not that being Ah-ran is fair either, but she gets to have a clean conscience, and in this school, that’s saying a lot.

While Angry Mom isn’t inventing any new conflicts or being subtle about its message, I find myself always in the moment with Kang-ja because my heart is with her, and engaged with every little character because they’re given warring motivations, personal quirks, and are written as complex people. I find myself sympathizing with the nosy mother-in-law or wondering about Noah’s father, understanding Jung-hee’s boneheaded move, and feeling for the bullied Geun-soo even though we just met him. And of course I love everything about Gong-joo and her princess posse, and Bok-dong, whose crush is fast becoming my favorite thing ever. I know he’s just a kid and it’ll only end in heartbreak, but ohmygod, could it be any cuter? Moar please.

 
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I think this will be the turning point for Noah, Kanja, and Ahran. I hope they realize that together they are stronger, and come up with a plan to fix that place once and for all. I am also glad that there were no major physical fights today. I think Kanja is beginning to realize that she cannot solve anything with her fists alone.

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Poor Bok Dong he is such a cutie ❤️

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BokDongie!!!!!!!!!!! soooo cute:) I can't believe these drama people HAS to make it a heartbreak :(

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Bokdong ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

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OMG!!! why Bok Dong's scenes is so short?? I can't get enough of your smirks.

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It will definitely break my heart if someday my son learns that life is freaking unfair the way these drama kids do. I hope Kang-ja's husband is not stupid enough to put her name down for all the fake identities he has to create, but this is drama, of course he will. Have a feeling that Ahn Dong-chil will find out about Kang-ja this way.
Btw, Bok-dong is the cutest ever :)

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Yep he did. Dumbkopf.

I assume what he was expected to do was to fabricate the names of day-laborers who would supposedly work on the new building. But since they don't exist, the foundation's construction affiliate (run by Ahn Dong-chil) will pocket the money and use it for political contributions (funding the Education Minister's presidential campaign) and contributions back to the foundation to be used as honorariums for the foundations board members. And I f the fraud was discovered, KJ's husband would be accused of fabricating names and pocketing the funds. It's a reasonable scam if you're using the names of Chinese migrant workers. But if you're using real names pulled out of the phone book...um, not so much.

However,I thought the Chairman was saying to AY that JW 'would require a long time to learn a lesson.' As in: time spent reflecting in prison. So maybe hiring a numbskull project manager is part of the Chairman's plan to set JW up for a fall. By transferring the chairmanship to JW prior to the operation starting he could make JW fully responsible for the fraud.

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Oops. I hope you know I was saying KJ's husband was the dumbkopf, not you! ?

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Haha, I understand, no worry! I love Angry Mom, but watching this episode makes me feel like: Man, school life (or life in general) is so depressing! Just like Ah-ran and the other kids who face all the unfair stuff with no solution. Thank God, my highschool years ago was nothing like this!
Btw, the scenario you write is perfect.

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I can't believe Kang-ja's husband is an idiot. Newly promoted as a project manager, does he deserve to be insult and get hitting on his head by Dong-chil all the times?

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Bokdong Bokdong Bokdong! SOOO. CUUUUUTE.

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That school is a mess

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That scene where she ties his shoelace is both hilarious and cute! Kim Hee-sun just nails the funny.

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Does Bok-dong feels annoying of Kang-ja's behaviours?

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nooo he actually felt butterfly in his stomach

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i guess there will be a scene when ahn dong chil tries to kill kang ja and bok dong will save her. bok dong will get hurt but alive and ahn dong chill will die.. hee

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Yes to that! Heehee

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It's weird but I'm starting to get a different vibe. With this episode I thought we started to see the 'little guys' reach the end of their rope and reach out to each other.

And, like Girl Friday said, they're giving the characters nuance. They've showed these characters operating within 'the system', but also showing them as outsiders looking in, disgusted by what they see. They've shown that AY, BD and ADC were lured into the system out of desperation, feel trapped and are just trying to live for a better day

Given the odds against 'the little guys' I'm starting to wonder if they'll all make an alliance. The thing that could seal the deal is that AR is ADC's niece. And she's a lot like his brother in looks, character and brains. It's conceivable that he'd want to protect her. (And didn't they suggest in Episode 7 that he was the one who unintentionally killed his brother? If so, he'd have a lot of guilt and would want to do for his brothers child what he didn't do for his brother. If I had to guess I'd say ADC will die protecting AR and KJ. And we'll cry when it happens.)

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ADC blames KJ for his brother's death. It could've been either of them that did it, but he created the situation, so it seems more his fault. Hard to say.

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@TS

It will break my heart into a thousand pieces, but it will be some sort of poetic justice. Great idea.

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You should be assistant to the writer, I like your scripts.

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Man after watching a few episodes of Angry Mom, I don't know if I want to watch School 2015 lol.

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Lol why?

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Because modern school life is corrupt and depressing?

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Any school drama is depressing... If School 2015 is anything like School 2013 with lots of violence and bullying then it would be depressing as hell...
Though School 2013 had some (LOTS) of brighter moments. :)

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I think the focus in School 2015 is somewhat different. I think there will be bullying and violence but the main plot is the mystery about what happened to the other twin. The one twin goes to replace her popular twin sister because she goes missing and the other twin wants to find out the truth. But I guess School is always somewhat connected to bullying. Angry Mom in some ways gives of the School vibe, maybe that's why I love it so much :)

Can't wait for School 2015 btw!! :)

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is there really bullying in all schools? I never thought there was bullying in my school...maybe it was because I was doing the bullying? One never knows, we could be mean and thoughtless sometimes, as well as over sensitive, but I would have noticed organized bullying taking place. The stuff in this drama is just crazy. Or is it normal in S.Korea? I never can take media's depiction of a country seriously until its verified by real evidence or accounts. Any one know of any reliable reports/statistics to attest to it? With kdrama its very possible school bullying is just another trope inspired by obscure incidents, like multiple personality disorder.

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I asked a friend's daughter and she said no. She said that the teachers are making a big deal about it but the kids aren't sensing it happening. So the kids are starting to laugh at the teachers' 'chicken little' approach to the topic.

She's in a high achieving school where kids are expected to go to top Universities, so the pressure is high.

This is in the U.S. Not sure about Korea.

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As far I know, it is not a kind of violence bully but all sort of bullies do happen in all the schools like comparison with status, materialism and rankings.
It is not easy to say 'Avoid It' when it not on you. Some can take it but some can't. Suicide is the solution to get out of this pains.

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Kaishy

What country are you referring to?

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In my country the pressure to do well is so high in prestigious schools (and no I'm not South Korean, but I'm Asian). The pressure to cheat and to share our answers to fellow examinees in a test is also high.

One of the most hurtful lines that shattered my 'rose-tinted glasses' was from this classmate of mine, back in junior high school, when she told me, "If you're too honest [meaning: If I don't share my answers in the answer sheet], you won't find any friends."

My friendship with her went sour after that, but she got her point across, sadly. You either do well or die trying at these schools. A painful lesson that I don't want my child to ever learn.

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We learned about important plot developments this episode, i.e. Kim Hee Sun and Kim Young-Chul need to start a New Kids on the Block cover band asap. Loved the moment of levity in all the gloom and doom conspiracy. The eye candy didn't hurt, either. Dark and light moments alike, it's got me hooked.

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Lol. Kim Young-Chul was so enthusiastic.

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This is a drama when i ship the teacher to his girl-student, the girl-student to her daughter's classmate, her daughter to her other classmate.

Calculate it.

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Lolololo.......

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" Bok-dong, whose crush is fast becoming my favorite thing ever.." Hahaha 200% agree with GF. Everyone seem fond of BokDong, he such a cutie (Ji soo sure gonna become breakout star after this drama. Complete package, looks and acting is A+++).
I cant imagine seeing him being heartbreak when he learn Kang ja true identity. Omo poor boy

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Exactly. breakout star. Ji Soo is not kpop idol doesn't belong in any boy group. I read he's stage or theater actor. Just a pure actor. Excellent one.

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OMG! do we keep falling for him only?

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This is so wrong... so so wrong... but I'm squeeing. :DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

Poor Bok-dong though. So much heartbreak in his future. *sigh*

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I love how this drama sheds light on an issue that really does happen in Asian countries. School have become less of a learning institution and more of a place where business transactions takes place. It saddens me how many bribes there are and how parents and students are driven to desperation.

In other news, Bok Dong's little puppy glances just make this drama super awesome.

Also, is it me or is the background music weird sometimes? especially with the weird drumming LOL, but Ali's OST just kills me

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Yes, I found the background music with the drums out of place. I think some scenes would be better without any music.

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"After watching the Chairman Hong Cam for a while, Gong-joo decides that he’s not right in the head."

No, really?

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bok dong is ♥

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Omg, thanks so much for the quick subbing! Viki didn't even finish subbing and your recap is up! Yay!!!!!!!! Kamsahamnida!

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Man, I can't wait till they all team up and fight against all those who deserve to get beat up!!! And aww, her loyal mean girl group betrayed Kanja?!? I was just starting to like them..
I know it is wrong, but I want to ship Bok-Dong and Kanja SOOOOO bad!!! He is so cute!! Like GF said Moar please!! Who cares about Noah?!??? Okay, maybe he will prove himself later...???
Thanks for the recap!

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I like how they've made Noah child-like without making him childish. And am looking forward to seeing him grow.

I also like the contrast between the kids - who are jaded beyond their years - and him - who's innocent beyond his years. While they need to learn who they can trust and how to manage that trust, he needs to learn who he should distrust and how to manage it.

I love it when shows create these types of parallels. It makes the growth trajectories have an interdependence and synchronicity that feels so satisfying.

And it's fun to be at the part of the show where they're starting to have the epiphanies that will help them grow and lead healthy, balanced lives.

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This drama is seriously giving me high blood pressure with all the corruption that's going on in the school. I am a huge proponent for equity, especially in education, and seeing how those who have gain unmerited benefits over those who have not is one of my biggest issues (one that is even driving my career - I just want to counsel all those kids!).

Kim Hee Sun is awesome in this role as the mother who wants the best for her daughter and have it done in the best way possible. I love her righteousness and tenacity, and I hope that her and No Ah will be able to work together to take down the school.

And Bok Dong ... wish there was more of him because he's just so darn cute but I'm sure we'll be seeing much more of him in the future hehe

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Bok Dong ah.....
You're such a cutie..

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I love the cute scenes between Bok Dong and Kang-Ja too. 1.) Bok Dong steals glances at her when she isn’t looking. 2) He tried to grab her hand to stop her from fighting with Sang-tae. Unfortunately, Kang-ja was too focused on Sang-tae to even notice that. This just shows that Bok Dong has grown to care about her. 3) Bok Dong silently punching himself in the cheek, after Kang-ja tied his shoelaces for him. LOL He’s too cute. Who would have thought that the bully Bok Dong (who bullied a girl but has never held a girl’s hands before) will fall for Kang-ja? LOL It’s too funny and cute.

I loved that the drama, the actors, and the actresses enabled us to understand and relate to each characters so well. We are able to put ourselves in these characters’ shoes. Thus, it’s hard for me to be mad at Jung-hee when she sided with the baddies to save herself, instead of helping Kang-ja. It’s sad to see a kid like Guen-soo being used as a scapegoat. Everybody does it and didn’t get in trouble, but when he and his mom does it, they paid a heavy price for it, even when they didn’t even get the prize. It’s hard to see Ah-ran, a young child who is losing her trust in the world FAST. First, she sees her mother as the biggest liar, then Jung-woo as someone who can get away with murder, and now… she sees that hard work doesn’t pay off in this unfair world. There is Teacher Noah too. My heart broke for him when he learned that his dad bribed the school so that he can work there as a teacher. Poor guy. That revelation had left me speechless, just like it did to Teacher Noah. And, last but not least, our Kang-ja. It seems like every one that she thinks is righteous and that she can trust keeps turning out to be the exact opposite. And no matter how hard she tries to show Ah-ran that there is some goodness left in this world, in the end, she will come up empty handed.

I look forward to seeing Kang-ja grow into someone who can use her fist, her mouth (words), and her brain to fight and school this corrupted school system!!! I am also curious to find out, what the source of this corruption was. In Teacher Noah’s words, the piece of paper that is reflecting off the small mirrors in the kaleidoscope. For now, I’m suspecting that it’s Jung-woo’s dad. But, who knows? Especially, when this drama is full of unexpected twists.

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Bok Dong didn't try to hold back Bong Wool holding her hand, but she so rashly stood up from her chair (to lecture Sang Tae about "bullying" that boy) that her chair nearly flew backwards, so he just held up the chair in order for it to not land on the floor. He wasn't trying to hold her back. He didn't even react until Bong Wool already stood up, and he didn't know she wanted to go to Sang Tae. He just was "shocked" that she stood up so rashly and nearly crashed the chair backwards.

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Hahaha! I got watched this scenes too. You're right!

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"It seems like every one that she thinks is righteous and that she can trust keeps turning out to be the exact opposite."

So true. And we're seeing that the supposedly "bad" guys are the ones who are most disgusted by the corruption.

Another kid I feel sorry for is Sang Tae. He way he defended the mom who abandoned him. How his dad dotes on horrible spiders and snakes, but doesn't speak a word to him. And how he keeps a motorcycle in his room so he can drown out the screams of his dads girlfriends as they're being beaten. *Ugh*

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Agreed with you. Finally, the main culprit is the Education Minister, using powers, corruptions and money to maintain his position. Only his son, Jung-woo can takes him down.

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It's kind annoying seeing AR complaining how unfair the school is. Why she didn't move. I know corruption is everywhere, but at least she would receive less bullying and could take a chance to get less stressed and study.

Also, I understand kids trusting everybody, but the teacher and mother trusting others without backing up their proof is lame plot excuse. The writer has to think about something else, because it is getting tiring. Like, threat AR from getting expelled or something like this, this would work more, you know, because her all future depends of it and her mother would not let people do this. She would stay quiet because of her daughter's future. Then, I would hope her dad would open his mouth because he is a father after all.

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I don't understand your comment actually. What is wrong with Ah Ran complaining? She has every right. She is studious, honest and tries to get good grades without cheating. She tries and tries and tries and now even fell from second to third place. She complains because Sang Tae is rubbing it in. She has every right to complain that even with physical proof (it was the same fricking test) they still wrote the exam.
It's not that Ah Ran only realised the world is corrupt, it's just that Teacher Do told her to be quiet and study, because she wants to walk the path that brings her fortune, but even that is her forbidden, because even concerning the grades there is only corruption. She is not allowed to tell the truth about her friend because of corruption. She drops the wish to avenge her friend and thinks that it's okay, she'll focuse on her studies BUT corruption.
It's not that Ah ran doesn't know there is corruption, she is just fed up that now it even influences her grades so extremely. She has every right to complain, because it is unfair.

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Edit: Ah Ran didn't want to change schools because she wanted to find out the truth about Yi Kyung. After Teacher Do threatened her she thought she could just go back to studying quietly but realised even that is influened by corruption. That is what I mean :)

And she was near the exams, I don't know anyone who would drop out like that. I think Ah Ran gets a kick out of kicking Sang Tae of his first place, so she will stay xD

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I have a thought of it too. In the first place, her mom is willing to transfer her to another school immediately but Ah-ran wants to stay back to investigate her friend, Yi-kyeong's death.
Since now, she got wet with her feet, the deeper that she had to go, she can't backs-up immediately. Hope she cooperatives with mom to bring down all the villains soon.

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Man I'm so in addicted to seeing the Bang Wool/ Bok Dong or should I say Dong-Wool moments ~~ Iyaaaahhh ~~ Their chemistry on screen is just amazing. It's so cute that he always seems to be watching her gaze. Like when he was taken away by the cops, he was looking at her. Don't know if I'm imagining his feelings ~~~ kkkkk. I don't really ship Ah Ran with Bok Dong wool though... not sure why... hmmm I feel like Hong Sang Tae needs saving too. I found it depressing a while back when he came home. He has so much problems but no one actually helping him. It's really sad. Love this drama.

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I so <3 this drama. Brilliant acting, and brilliant storytelling! And though it may not be to everyone's taste, I'm totally digging the OST and the way it cuts through scenes in juxtaposition.

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Shaz, is that you? Are you addicted to this drama too? Guess we are on the sàme boat too, "ahjumma" ;)

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Count me in too.

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Lol, yeh it's me - I'm enjoying this drama a lot, hearty!! We "ajhummas" definitely do float in the same boat, haha!!

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Hi! We met way back then in Soompi Healer thread.

Glad to see you here. The drama is dark but it lures all kinds of viewers and fans.

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@heartoppaya

Hi! We met way back then in Soompi Healer thread.

Glad to see you here. The drama is dark but it lures all kinds of viewers and fans.

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aieeee why the hell am i squealing over bok dong's crush..gahhh he is such a cutie..

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Omygeee..... Bok Dongieeeee..... I know it's so wrong SO WRONG to ship Kang Ja and Bok Dong but to hell with the age barrier, they are my OTP.

Bok Dong is too cute to ignore and I dunno how to survive if there is no Dong-Wool moment (like Elaine said) in one episode. It's a need actually. And hey, I called dibs on the young hottie, remember? ;)

Anyway, thia drama is so addictive I dunno how to stay for a whole week without seeing my darling Bok Dongie.... :*

Bok Dong is made of cuteness...
Kang Ja is made of awesomeness...
Angry Mum is made of jjang-ness!!!

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*Applause* Love your misery comments.

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Bok dong Bok dong Bok dong! Ayiie! more more more pls! and the way he steals glances at Kan Ja.. oh love! Heee!

We ship them, right? Ha ha

Ji Soo will really really be big A list star I predict. He's what only 21. but impressive acting already.

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For those who like Ah Ran/Bok Dong (not necessarily romantic!!!) I found a blog on tumblr that wrote the first (?) angry mom fanfic.. or at least I didn't see any other angry mom fanfics xD

http://youthridedaily.tumblr.com/post/115963584975/atonement-of-sorts#notes

she wrote something bok dong and ah ran related (which can be read as bromance or romantic she says) and even said that she'd do sang tae/ah ran in the future (for those who like the ship or the constallation!).

Thought I should share it xD

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Well, Ah Ran and Bok Dong would be a lot better (as I can't bring myself to like Sang Tae at all, even if I think about his bad luck landing with such a terrible father), but so far there's only been clues of a possible Ah Ran-Sang Tae relationship. I guess when he matures and changes she might see him differently. Or she'll be the reason behind his character growth.

For Bok Dong, Kangja will obviously be the catalyst of his change. It looks like he has a crush on her, and while they can never be together, maybe she can adopt him? haha

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I actually think that Bok Dong's crush is not a real crush but he rather is attracted to her motherly character. He never had a mother or care for him like a mother, so it could be he mistakes his crush as love for Kang Ja as a mother (everything she does leads to not a typical student but mother like. She scolds him like one, she cooks for him like one, she worries about him like one and she ties his shoes for him like one). So I'm pretty sure it won't be heartbreaking for Bok Dong if he finds out the truth, but rather be a revelation that he cares for Kang Ja as a mother figure.

I also think they will further Sang Tae's infatuation and while I believe they won't end up together, I think once Sang Tae can only rely on himself (and not his father) she will come to realize that she appreciates him more like this. His turning point may be when his mother returns (she is in the cast list) and Ah Ran and Kang Ja realize that not everything around Sang Tae is so mighty (like with Bok Dong) there is a possibility of mutual understanding here. I'm sure Ah Ran won't like Sang Tae romantically, but maybe they give as an open end with Sang Tae being (maybe) bullied by the others because (since the Charimain may end in jail) has nothing to rely on and is a typical student, she will stand up for him and so they become closer.
I would love such an ending.

For Ah Ran and Bok Dong, I wish there would be a situation where he openly rebels to protect her so she sees that he is not a henchman anymore so she can finally appreciate his own way of protection for her. He did protect her (and Yi Kyung) still in his own way and they both share something that even Kang Ja and Bok Dong don't share. They are both a part of a bigger picture and both liked Yi Kyung (I assume Bok Dong did like her as a person still) and understand her in a way no one else does.

I wished that in the end Bok Dong and Ah Ran came to a more brotherly relationship (for those who ship them romantically it could also mean friendly) for example with Bok Dong coming to eat at Kang Ja's restaurant or him working there in the end (truthfully he has no real other options since his grades aren't that great :D) and him and his brother reuniting (am I the only one that thinks there must be a bigger meaning to that brother?). I really, really wish he could find a family in them and not be lonely anymore.

While I never really ship Kang Ja and Bok Dong romantically (because from the beginning I knew that she would not care, since she seems to only deeply care about Ah Rans safety and that it would lead to and heartbreaking end) I see that she really is the one person who can crack him since they both went trough similar things and have a strong connection to Ahn Dong Chil.

Btw, I loved the drabble still. I really would wish for such an understanding between Bok Dong and Ah Ran in the end of the drama!! :)

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I like the idea of Sang Tae ending up being "rejected" and Ah Ran taking his side! That'd be a cool, "open" kind of ending for them :)

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I agree, I don't actually get the impression that Bokdong will be heartbroken when he finds out the truth, just that the feelings he takes as a crush are actually a response to feeling warmth from someone for the first time, and their relationship will naturally morph into a mother/son bond.

Also, everyone seems to want to ship BD with somebody, but it looks like I'm the only one who wants to see fanfic of him with Yikyung.

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Another good writer, I stand for you.

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How funny, the oneshot is actually from me!! xDD

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Thanks for the recap!
So heartbreaking for the kids - even the haves know they are getting ahead by cheating. That doesn't do their self-worth any good. It is a bitter victory for them.

It says a lot about Ji Soo's charisma that we are talking about his 30 seconds or so on screen. I am guessing the casting director is surprised by all the brou ha ha surrounding this kid, since his role is minor. Hopefully, the writers will take this and run with it, giving us more of him later.
It reminds me of in Lee Jung-jae in Sandglass. He had nothing to do with the story but the ladies when nuts over him.

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it's probably because his role wasn't important enough for the latest episodes. I think once the focus will be on Ahn Dong Chil/Kang Ja again (and finding out the truth about Kang Ja) Bok Dong will take a bigger role again.

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Personally, that is what I am most afraid of, that they will change the story in order to give Bokdong a bigger role because of all the interest in him. As someone who fangirls story more than actors, I want to see the drama as the writers originally intended it.

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I felt when I first watched that Bokdong was going to be a big part of the story. They gave you too much backstory on him for him to just be a small part.

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That could be a benefit.
If the writers are inspired to write the part differently because an actor is talented. I think actors influence writing all the time.

The story may have required "Threatening student" to do one thing, kinda boring, but then, they see how good he is at being conflicted so they enrich the story not just change it.

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I'm pretty sure Bok Dong was to be an important character from the beginning. They wouldn't make Ahn Dong Chil his guardian and from the beginning show that Bang Wool actually cares about Bok Dong (motherly) because they both have a similar background (which also was established from the beginning). It's just that currently the focus lies on the Hong's house and not Bok Dong. When Kang Ja will be revealed to Ahn Dong Chil, I'm sure Bok Dong will play a bigger role again.

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I'm not sure how I feel about this episode. It wasn't bad, but I have the impression that things are starting to drag a bit. We understand there's corruption, and we know it goes deep. That's been clear since episode 6 or so. I need to see Kangja & cie start to take the school down. We're already halfway through the drama. Don't make that happen in the last 2 episodes!

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I'm sure that following the two episodes we will come closer to somebody finding out Bang Wool is Kang Ja and the focus will be on the story behind Kang Ja/Ahn Dong Chil and Bok Dong involvement. I think episode 8 marked a turning point from which Kang Ja and the crew will start making a plan to really take everyone down and the focus will be more on her back story and the people involved in it as well as Sang Tae's backstory. It at least seems that there is more to come in his backstory.

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Listening to all you fangirling over a highschooler is like listening to my 70 year old mom saying really inappropriate things about Won Bin .... it's kind of creepy.

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Or my 60-year-old mom fangirling over Nickhun haha

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My late granny was a fan of Kevin Costner during his Dances With Wolves fame.haha

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So there are two options. Now that the Miniser of Education mentioned "a female student" it could lead to Teacher Do finding out there is someone besides Ah Ran (and Bok Dong) that knows the truth OR Kang Ja again put Ah Ran in a lot of danger because Teacher Do concludes that it was Ah Ran who wrote the letter, which in the end would lead to him threaten her parents (and therefore Kang Ja herself).

She made her own grave here!

And second, the father used Kang Ja's name for his strange list, right? So could it be that maybe Ahn Dong Chil will read it and see her name and therefore start digging how Ah Ran's dad got that name?? I'm curious!!

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I am curious too in this part. Thanks for your explanations.

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Bok Dong-ah....
Please give him more scenes, writer-nim, PD-nim!! His crush or infatuation to Kang Ja is the best thing ever in this episode!

Why oh why this drama has so many despised people? The ones that make you want to reach the screen and kill them right there and then. In this ep, the VP disgusts me a lot, he really really unfit to be VP or be any teacher of any sort.. Hope he'll get the punishment later. And yes, bribery, corruption, violence is actually common in high school, even during my school days and I leave it few years ago..

While I do recognize this drama has some flaws, now it becomes my favorite one other than HITTG. :D

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I feel some depressions as you too.

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I think it's funny that when the teacher asks Sang Tae where he wants to sit he's like "Ask Ah Ran" and the teacher is all nice to her.

Sometimes Sang Tae can be sweet too, sadly he mostly is an ass..

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Bok Dong!!!! Is there any alternate universe where his heart doesnt get broken and he gets to have a cutesy and ohmygod feelings love story????!!!!!

I know I like this drama to be serious, but I hope they develop the love lines well on the side!!!!!! Even if its Bok Dong's one side crush, with him being too cute and Kang Ja having to explain to him she is a mom to spare his pain :D
Imagine his face reaction!

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Imagine him being OK with it! (IF she weren't married, that is.)

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Please say it loud, so many fangirlings will support you. Please count me one too. :)

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Sign me up for more Bok Dong please! <3 How old is Ji Soo in real life anyways? :D~

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Ha ha, all of this Bok-dong love...
Jisoo's a 1993-er. He just had his birthday recently. Here's the picture of the celebration with his doting hyungs:

https://instagram.com/p/00QnVuqA6M/

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And if you check out his latest IG pic.. omo <3. He's gonna be one big star.

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What's his IG username?

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What I want to know is, are schools in S. Korea actually like this? Because if so, that is freaking horrible.

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Not just in South K, girl. I used to go to an okay school and I thought when I'd have kids, they could go there too. But I hear now teachers are taking bribes from parents and grade children accordingly there. And I'm from Canada, which is supposed to be the 10th least-corrupted country haha

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I personally think that gong ju should adopt bokdong and ah ran and bokdong can have their own the good girl falls for badboy. cuz From my perspective, sang tae and ah ran doesnt make a good couple. He doesnt know the struggle the people without power face he has always been the one with power so i think ah ran and bokdong will be better at understanding each other...then again this is just a drama and they/bokdong dont exist in real life*sobs*

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That's why she (may or may not) turn to sang tae once he loses everything (wich wull come) and he is a typical student like the others.

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That's what I thought too? Why not, don't waste of times? Focus on other options, Bok Dong n' Kang Ja will make us little bit of relief even it is not true.

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Hong Tae is a nasty brat too. I don't want Ah Ran with him. Bok Dong does as he does because the ADC's connections are looking after Bok Dong's brother in prison. Hong Tae is just spoilt and mean.

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And that's where you got Sang Tae wrong. I won't excuse his actions, but if Bok Dong cowardly follows Ahn Dong Chils rules, Hong Sang Tae cowardly follows what he learns. If you think Sang Tae is a nasty brat than Bok Dong is one too. It's just we sympathise with Bok Dong because of what we know of him already.

Sang Tae is not a spoiled brat. He just didn't learn anything else. His character description gives away that he actually hates himself a lot and that he has a poor way of showing he likes Ah Ran because he wasn't taught otherwise. He thinks that he can only be something and impress others while threatining them with being the charimans son. He relies on that because he has nothing else. We see that Sang Tae actually is very lonely and thinks his father doesn't deeply care for him. He shows sympathy when his father hits Ae Yeon.
Of course his douche behaviour can not be excused, but just like with Bok Dong, we see that there is a lot more going on.
Bok Dong can decide to follow Ahn Dong Chils rules as much as Sang Tae decides to follow what he learned. Bok Dong is also egoistic because he does what him is told (because he wants his brother earlier released, of course, but still he hurts other people for that).

I love Bok Dong, but people should judge Sang Tae after watching the whole drama first.

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Although i don't support Sang-tae, he as well has problems of his own that he has to face. It doesnt really matter on rich or poor as long as they can both help get through there problems together. Although i don't see Sang-tae and Ah-ran as a couple couple. I can see Ah-ran being the force to help Sang-tae with his issues dealing with his father and what not.

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Thanks for the very prompt recap GF!

This has certainly been an episode of disillusionment. Although corruption is known, seeing it revealed over and over again, among all groups of people in the school setting and in all levels, in a single episode, kind of gets to me. I felt depressed.

It is equally saddening to realize that even among our good guys, some form of it is practised and accepted. Even with Kang Ja, she had to bribe her mum-in-law, so they could both deceive her husband.

No Ah has to realize that his father is not above bribery as well. To know that he could not get in on his own merits as well as to accept fraud in his much respected father, must be terribly painful to No Ah. I wanted him to stop wearing rose-tinted glasses, but this bursting of his bubble is quite extreme. I hope he does not become a despondent player in this story, because we need all the good we can muster into the fight against the baddies. :( :)

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Hello, gb!
I agree that this episode is a disillusionment episode for many characters. But I want to talk about Noah.

I'm currently out of words to respond to you properly, so I can only quote that overplayed song, Aloe Blacc 's "Wake Me Up":

"all this time I was finding myself, I didn't know I was lost."

I think that line portrays what Noah feels in this episode properly, that while he believes that poems and his father's soothing words is helping him finding himself, only now he realizes that he is but a babe in the woods.

I agree with you, though, that I was hasty in judging the old judge (pardon the pun). After all, he's only a small part of this convoluted, corrupt social structure. But maybe because he is the only(?) representative of the law in this drama and because he is a poor father figure to Noah, I placed the entire blame on him. I really shouldn't've, but I did.

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Hi @Selenette, glad to see you back here.

Blame is hard to place... I feel it is to be spread around if at all.

Even for us in real life, when the question is bread and butter, being blocked from advancement, being unfairly accused or treated.... it is extremely tempting to join the majority to take the easier way to get by or get on.

Or because something that is wrong is so pervasive, it becomes accepted to an extent, ... one just goes along with the flow.. just like what that mother said, she wanted to do something to help her son, so she also bribed the Vice Principal. Since bribery was so rampant and expected, she felt that if she did not do something, she was not being a 'good' mother. So sad.

The evil has to be uprooted all around, probably from the top down... ie the ones in power have to be forced to come clean and live clean first. However they are also the ones with the power to use other dishonest means to eradicate dissidents.

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@gb

Thanks for the wonderful reply, I think corruption can only be ended when every living generation (crossing the gap of age, social class and geographic distance) is committed to its eradication.

I'm a lecturer and sadly I find my students either dispassionate or disillusioned about our country (which ranked among the worst corrupted countries according to Transparency International). I was frustrated, until Angry Mom was aired and I thought I could find some way to make these students care: by talking about their experiences at home, and when they were high schoolers, etc. I don't know if this would work, but I think it's worth trying.

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When will Kang Ja beat the crap out of this Min Joo chick because she's been the one causing trouble for Ah Rhan since she got back to school. Her little smug face is so irritating.

Also, if Sang Tae wasn't played by Baro, I would not at all support the Ah Rhan/Sang Tae ship. But all his little glances are cute because he's not talking so I just see it as Baro. Essentially we are halfway through the drama and there are no more Bok Dong/Ah Rhan interactions so I'm assuming that ship is dead which is sad because there is actually no way that he will end up with Kang Ja (especially since it's clear that if she does leave her husband she's going to Noah and she was super disgusted, rightfully so, by the student-teacher relationship so she wouldn't date him even if it somehow was an option).
I just want to see Bok Dong be cute and happy with someone and Ah Rhan is the only viable option although seeing him get all flustered around Kang Ja is cute, scriptwriter-nim please let my Ah Rhan/Bok Dong ship live if only for this reason!

Back on topic, I agree with people saying the plot is dragging. I'm usually on the edge of my seat with this drama but this one I actually opened the recap so that I could skip and just read what happened (besides, we all know important stuff gets put into a flashback for the next three episodes anyway). I just feel like we're at the halfway point, we should get to more butt kicking and actual plans to accomplish things. I understand that they're trying to establish that the people they're going up against are really powerful but I feel like we got that when Bok Dong took the fall for Yi Kyung's death. But I guess it is good that they're addressing relevant issues in the Korean educational system (though some of it may be blown a little out of proportion). I'm just hoping this won't be like Persevere where they finally get a win in the last 20 minutes of the finale.

Side Note: That shot transition from Noah to Kang Ja was gorgeous.

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I have to admit that I think they casted Baro excatly for that. Boys doesn't want to hear it, but Baro naturally looks very cute and acts very cute which they probably saw as an advantage seeing that Sang Tae is (at least currently) a dick.

So I think the producers wanted Baro to play Sang Tae since he can pull of the quiet admire of Ah Ran really well, but also knows how to pull of Sang Tae the dick really well.

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In the earliest episodes the lighting and colors were dull and sepia toned, as befitted the dark events, but current episodes show us scenes in natural lighting, looking normal. It’s just that the normal is so dark as well, and the darkness is so pervasive, that it is taken as normal and accepted. How easy to kid ourselves that all is well and bright, when the reality is not so.

The comic relief this episode was mostly in the first half:
- Minions’ enthusiastic pest control in Hong’s house,
- when one minion scared the other with his “snake” hair
- when Kang Ja went crawling like the girl in “The Ring” Hahaha! to hide her face
- the English lesson with the English teacher doing the dance moves teamed with Kang Ja’s expression was wonderful.
Aside from these, it seemed like reality was just dismal all the way.

Most irritating: Vice Principal’s boot-licking and blatant corruption before parents and teachers is a caricature, effectively showcasing the corrupt system and power play, and how demeaning it is for all ‘lower levels’ who feel they need to grovel to get ahead.

Most apt: Snaky Hong loves his scaly pets (he’s giving reptiles a bad name!!! :D ) and communicates well with them.

Kang Ja walking through the halls when all the rest walked backwards: one person walking against the tide when all elements seem to be accessories to the corruption, like walking through quicksand and not getting sucked in.

There’s so much more to accomplish in this story:
1) Resolution to the murder of Yi Kyung
2) Uncovering the money laundering of the Minister
3) Some form of redemption hopefully for Sang Tae, Ae Yeon and definitely for Bok Dong, with an alternative of having a caring friend(s) away from corruption
4) Revelation of Kang Ja as a mum and how this works out for family and friends
5) Solution to keeping Ah Ran and all the kids safe from snakes in schools.

May the good pace continue and may all loose ends be tied up in just a few weeks time!

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I liked that moment when Kang Ja and Noah share a glance. "Monster?" And... you can see she wonders for a second if she can tell him. It's such a rewarding moment for their relationship. She didn't trust him, but she really is starting to. She can see he is the only one in here who really believes in his principles ^^

And Bokdong. Seriously. Never before a man threatening people with a knife was so sexy ^^

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thank yoiu so much GF!

i love this episode yet i am very frustrated. it seems like kang ja's every move has gone to naught. tho i did not expect her to easily succeed in her endeavors but still, it breaks my heart when she is proven that this problem seems insurmountable. i am afraid for her and for ah ran. for bok dong and for the rest. will they just continue to stay on in this system of corruption? i hope noah one day will find it in himself and be able to fight right along kang ja in this. the drama maintains the cute even when it tackles some very senstive issue in the korean education system. the drama had so far been true to its theme and was very brave to tackle this and i hope that it would not stray and would not shy away from the issues at hand.

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i go cray cray everytime bodong appears.....

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i want some happy endings. I want kang ja and her daughter to win and see teacher Do, his dad and the chairman in prison. I want chill bong or what's his name to find out Ah Ran is his niece and thus as a way of redeeming himself help them get the others punished. I want princess Han to take Bok Dong in as her Foster son (boy is he gonna be spoiled) .Sang Tae to go live with his mother (who will turn out to be a wonderfull woman, but who was threatened by the chairman) and i want Ae Yon to end up with teacher Noah. Seriously, unnie needs a good man and he needs someone to protect. and also..GO MINIONS !!

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Hahaha! Good combinations.

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Love it!

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Thanks you so much for your wonderful drama recaps, @girlfriday.
I always look-up for your wonderful detailed drama recaps. You're the best!

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you know an actor is so great and destined for stardom when he literally has less than a minute screen time and zero dialogue in an episode and yet he steals everyone's heart anyways.

Jisoo, Jisoo, Jisoo. I DON'T EVEN BELIEVE IN NOONA ROMANCES BUT HERE YOU ARE CRUSHING ON AN AHJUMMA AND I SHIP IT WITH MY HEART AND SOUL ASDFGHJKL BOY WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME I JUST----

My heart, it whimpers.

Case in point: https://instagram.com/p/0-I1ZwqA-X/?taken-by=actor_jisoo

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So right.. destined for stardom Ji Soo!

Bok Dong Bok Dong... how can we be in love with a bully!?! Kan Ja and Bok Dong..yes! and I have this stupid grin on my face :)

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OH. Oh my god. They are so cute in that IG post.

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Bok Dong....bok dong....bok dong....bok dong im inlove...<3<3<3..lol..

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Kim Hee Sun is so beautiful it is actually ridiculous. 5 stars.

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