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Answer Me 1988: Episode 18

Our gang is all grown up in some ways… and still exactly the same in other ways. But now that they’re a little bit older and maybe just a tiny bit wiser about life, they know what it means to have regrets and start to do things differently this time around. To what effect remains to be seen, but hey, I consider it momentous enough that they’re acting on their feelings now instead of denying and repressing and making puppy eyes. We’re all out of time for that now—there’s only one week left to go!

 
SONG OF THE DAY

Lee Seung-hwan – “기다린 날도 지워질 날도” (Days I Waited and Days That’ll Be Erased) [ Download ]

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EPISODE 18: “Goodbye first love”

We’re all the way in October 1994 now, which means the gang is 23 this year. One by one they rush out to go over to Taek’s room for his birthday party, and both Jung-hwan’s parents and Deok-sun’s parents linger by the doorway, looking wistfully at their second child who never comes home.

Jung-hwan’s parents sigh that they miss the high school years because they got to see their son, while Deok-sun’s dad gets all huffy about her finally coming home and immediately running off to hang out with her friends. He perks up right away when Mom informs him that Bora is coming home though, and yells after Deok-sun that she can just stay out.

Sun-woo comes out of his room (in Taek’s house, squee) and takes issue with Jin-ju not greeting him. He reminds her that there was a time when she was alllll about Oppa, but Jin-ju pouts that Sun-woo is hardly home and always sleepy. Dad tells Jin-ju to be the bigger person and apologize first, and she considers it.

Mom sets the table for Taek’s birthday party and asks Sun-woo to check on him, to make sure he’s not down the street struggling to park his new car. That’s exactly what Taek is doing, in fact, and the hilarious part is that there are no other cars around him. He just has to park it against an empty wall, but can’t figure out why the car won’t go there.

Finally Sun-woo comes to the rescue and sends Taek home because the family is waiting, so Taek complies. Everyone rushes to the door when he comes in, and Jin-ju complains that Oppa came home so late that the food is getting cold. He takes out a lollipop from his pocket and gives it to her, and she’s happy again. Okay, I am actually jealous of a little girl right now. She gets to have Sun-woo AND Taek as oppas?

Taek opens the door to his room to find a lavish home-cooked meal set out for his birthday party, which is pretty damn moving, when compared to the pizza boxes and bottles of Coke he used to have.

Sun-woo heads home after parking the car, which is of course the exact time that Bora turns the corner and arrives on their street. They both pause and look at each other, but before Bora can say anything, Sun-woo gives her a silent courtesy bow and heads inside. Aw, he’s still heartbroken.

The kids sing happy birthday to Taek and give him a pager as a birthday gift, and he says he doesn’t need one or even know how to use it. They complain that he’s the only person without one, and Deok-sun says THEY need him to use it.

Taek asks how Jung-bong is doing and if he’s studying for the bar exam, and Jung-hwan tells him that Hyung isn’t studying at all. Honestly, I thought it was a miracle he even got into college. Dong-ryong says that Bora is the anomaly for locking herself up in a gosiwon and not even visiting her family just to pass the exam, and Taek gives a little glance over at Sun-woo, who’s got his head down.

Mom rattles off a million things to Bora all at once because it’s been so long since she’s been home, and Bora assures her that she’s living well. Dad complains about her living with her friend and Deok-sun always staying over at a friend’s house between flights, and No-eul always off to do another concert (he’s a college student, so he must be in theater/performing arts like he wanted).

They get a call in the middle of dinner because an employee at Dad’s bank took off with some money, and he has to rush off to go catch them. Bora wonders if Dad isn’t too old for the fraud department now, but Mom says he’s still spry and will still earn extra money while he can.

Taek’s birthday party now has beers instead of soda, and the boys grill Deok-sun on her latest boyfriend. She insists that she dumped him, so of course the boys tease her endlessly about being dumped.

Sun-woo and Taek’s parents come over to have drinks with Jung-hwan’s parents, and they ask why the phone line here is always busy when they try to call. It’s because Jung-bong is monopolizing the computer (remember dial-up?), his latest obsession. Some things never change. He’s in a chatroom with a few people, and when he mentions a space travel card, one of the others named Maggie’s Memories (Maggie was Mi-ok’s nickname in high school) names the board game that it came from, and it startles him.

Deok-sun’s mom joins them with today’s newspaper in hand, with a big story about a famous celebrity naming Taek as her ideal type. His parents say that they’d prefer someone ordinary, not famous, but they trust Taek to find someone on his own. He goes on plenty of blind dates all the time, and Dad figures he’ll meet the right person eventually by doing that.

Dad guesses that Taek’s friends are teasing him about that news story right about now. Deok-sun cracks up while reading it, wondering if all these famous people who like Taek know that he can’t tie his shoelaces.

Dong-ryong asks Taek why he can’t manage to have a relationship when he goes on more dates than any of them, and Sun-woo ignores Taek’s protests and tells them the real reason: He goes on blind dates and then gets rejected over and over because he never says anything and the women are frustrated and bored. Lol. Taek pouts that he tries, and they tell him to try harder.

Dong-ryong prods Deok-sun to set them up on a group date, but she doesn’t want to hear complaints from her girlfriends about the guys she brought. Dong-ryong and Sun-woo even get Taek to agree, but Jung-hwan refuses. He’s up in Seoul for a short stint, but eventually he’ll go back to his post and any relationship would end then anyway.

They ask Jung-hwan to play a song as they start drifting off to sleep, and Sun-woo tells Deok-sun to stay over too. But she says she’s going home after this song. Everyone shuts their eyes where they are, but then after a little while, Taek opens his eyes and stares across the room.

Then we see that Jung-hwan has his eyes open too, and they’re both staring at the empty space where Deok-sun was sitting just a moment ago. Deok-sun and Bora share a bed like old times, but both sisters lie awake deep in thought.

In the morning, Deok-sun heads out just a few seconds ahead of Jung-hwan and they miss each other on the street, and then again as Jung-hwan drives by and Deok-sun looks down at her watch. The whole sequence is set to Forrest Gump music, and she goes on a date to watch Forrest Gump with another guy.

The moms ask each other if they’ve seen their kids while they’ve been home, and Jung-hwan’s mom says she’s seen a lot of the back of Jung-hwan’s head. Sun-woo’s mom says she sees a lot of Taek and Sun-woo… when their eyes are closed. In flashback we see Mom and Dad just staring and staring at Taek and Sun-woo while they sleep, wondering if they’ve lost weight since last time or just checking to make sure they’re still breathing. Ha.

Deok-sun’s mom says that Bora does nothing but sleep when she’s home too. They ask if she’s chosen a specialty, and Mom says Bora wants to be a prosecutor, and thankfully her student protesting history won’t stand in the way of that. Jung-hwan’s mom sighs wondering when Jung-bong will ever get to that point, and starts chugging soju straight out of the bottle.

Bora’s friend reminds her about the blind date she promised to go on this weekend. She says it’s with a younger man—a third-year med student at Yonsei who’s a genius. Sun-woo? She says he has a nickname: “Garbage.” Lol, it’s Oppa-ya!

So Garbage Oppa turns out to be Sun-woo’s classmate at Yonsei, and they even share an office at the hospital (and a crossover character in their friend). They help each other out and are friendly, and Garbage asks Sun-woo for his pager number because Sun-woo owes him a favor.

Deok-sun’s dad comes home late and asks to be woken up early because of his big fraud case. He passes out right away, leaving Mom worried about his health. Jung-hwan’s mom stands by the window just waiting for Jung-hwan to come home, and Dad gently tells her that Jung-hwan said he’d be out late.

He’s hanging out at Dong-ryong’s hyung’s restaurant, where Dong-ryong works now. They close up for the night and wait for their friends, and reminisce about the time they saw JYP at that dance competition when they were kids. Dong-ryong asks why Jung-hwan hasn’t dated anyone seriously, and says that going on a few blind dates and dating for a month or two doesn’t count.

Dong-ryong points out that he still hasn’t given anyone his graduation ring (from the military academy, apparently a “fiancée ring” that you give to your girl when you graduate because that’s tradition). Jung-hwan says he doesn’t have a girlfriend to give it to, and Dong-ryong sighs that he’s going to die before ever being able to confess once. Yeah no kidding. Or I’ll die first.

Taek’s colleague at the baduk training center is super grateful to Deok-sun because she introduced him to one of her flight attendant friends, and the friend introduced Deok-sun to her current boyfriend in return.

The boys arrive at the restaurant before Deok-sun, and Taek says he can’t drink because he brought his car. Dong-ryong says that Deok-sun can drive because she quit drinking, which the other guys all say won’t last long.

Deok-sun arrives and they all greet her as Soo-yeon because Dong-ryong remembered that fortuneteller and her predictions, and Deok-sun scowls that she needs to move because there’s nothing they don’t know about her.

They ask if things are going well with the boyfriend, not really believing her, and she insists that she’s really popular elsewhere. Taek: “Where?” Jung-hwan: “Come on, let’s not lie to each other.”

She says she’s going to a concert with the boyfriend this Sunday, and Dong-ryong reminds her that they were all supposed to go see Forrest Gump together. Deok-sun and Taek have both already seen it, which makes the other three grump that they can’t go see a movie with just three guys.

Deok-sun takes that to mean they at least see her as a girl, and offers to cancel her date to go with them. They yell at her for acting all cutesy, and she scowls and asks for a drink. Taek informs her quietly that she can’t because she has to drive, and then continues to drink his beer. Pfft.

They see Dong-ryong home because he’s roaring drunk, and when Deok-sun trips over his front gate, Jung-hwan and Taek both jump in to hold her up on either side. Well that’s not awkward.

Deok-sun comes home and asks Mom why Dad looks so tired these days. She wonders if maybe he should retire, but Mom says he would hate not working, and she’ll make sure to get him some herbal medicine.

Jung-hwan’s mom is still awake until he comes home, and when Taek heads in, Mom is there to make sure he got in safe. She reminds him not to take sleeping pills tonight, and he smiles to find a cup of milk left out for him.

Jung-bong is a bundle of nerves as he decides to ask his chatroom to meet up in person, and he’s floored when Maggie responds: “First floor, not second.” Aw, he’s so happy. I really hope it’s Mi-ok!

Deok-sun’s dad brings up the topic of early retirement with Mom, but she tells him that he can’t retire before their kids are married off. She obviously feels bad for insisting, but doesn’t want their daughters to be at a disadvantage. He takes it back right away and swears he wasn’t considering it seriously.

Deok-sun gets all dressed up for her concert, only to get a message from her date asking to cancel at the last minute. So she changes out of her nice clothes and trudges out in slippers to go buy groceries for Mom, and happens to run into the guys on their way out. She lies that she’s going to the concert anyway, and lets Dong-ryong drive her just to keep up the ruse that she didn’t get dumped.

It must be Blind Date Sunday, because Bora heads out on her blind date and waits for Garbage to page her, and Jung-bong heads out to meet Maggie with his pink shirt and a bouquet of roses.

Taek washes his face in the bathroom, as Deok-sun’s flight attendant friend tells her boyfriend that the guy she set up with Deok-sun turned out to have a girlfriend on the side. Dong-ryong and Jung-hwan grouse when Sun-woo cancels on the movie, and they’re surprised when they notice Deok-sun’s boyfriend at the movie theater with another girl. Dong-ryong figures that Deok-sun got dumped after all, but Jung-hwan looks pissed.

He’s distracted through the whole movie and doesn’t hear a word that Dong-ryong is saying to him, and just as Jenny and Forrest are running through a crowd to get to each other in the movie, Jung-hwan darts up and runs out of the theater. Yeessssss! Ruuuuuun, Jung-hwan, ruuuuuuunn!

He races to his car and peels out of the parking lot, and outside the concert hall, Deok-sun leaves a message with her friend Ja-hyun to come to the concert and bring her some clothes. She’s freezing in her sweats and slippers, but insists on waiting outside.

Jung-hwan speeds the whole way, beside himself every time he’s stopped by a red light and forced to wait. He looks like he might start running people over if he can’t get there faster.

Deok-sun waits and waits even though the concert has started, and even the ticket-takers start to pity her. But then she looks up and sees someone approaching…

Jung-bong waits and waits, looking up and looking despondent every time someone else walks through the door. And then finally, someone makes him stand up…

Bora looks across the table at her date and asks, “Are you Garbage?”

Deok-sun gapes as someone runs over to her out of breath… Omo, it’s Taek!

And aaaaack, Jung-hwan was literally two steps behind. He turns and walks away, as he narrates: “Fate doesn’t come around at any time. To use the word fate, it has to be a dramatic moment brought by coincidence—that makes it fate. That’s why another word for fate is timing. If I hadn’t gotten caught at just one of those lights, if those damned red lights had helped me out just once… I might be standing in front of her right now, like fate. My first love was always held back by damned timing. That damned timing.”

Jung-bong looks at the girl who just walked in, and yay, it’s Mi-ok! She looks adorable. They don’t even need to say a word to each other, and he just rushes her in a giant hug, crying because he’s so happy to have found her again.

Bora asks her blind date again, “Are you Garbage?” But it’s Sun-woo, not Garbage, and he asks what Bora is doing here. She tells him to answer first, so we flash back to Garbage reminding Sun-woo that he owed him a favor. Garbage got told to go on the blind date, but earlier on Sunday, Na-jung fell and twisted her ankle.

Oppa-ya ran over to find her, and left a message for Sun-woo on his way, cashing in on that favor by asking him to go on the blind date.

Jung-hwan’s night only gets worse as he sits in his car listening to the radio. The news reports an unprecedented forfeit from baduk player Choi Taek, who suddenly forfeited today’s match for personal reasons. He skipped a match to go to Deok-sun?

Jung-hwan slams his steering wheel in anger and cries alone in his car. He narrates, “But fate and timing aren’t just coincidences that find you. They’re moments like miracles, that arise out of choices made because of ardent desire. Surrender and decision, without hesitation—that is what makes timing. He was more ardent, and I should’ve had more courage. It wasn’t the red lights, nor the timing that was bad… but the countless times I hesitated.”

Sun-woo and Bora sit in tense silence for a while, and Sun-woo says bitterly that Bora must feel nothing if she was able to go on a blind date with someone from his school in his department. But she says, “I came for the one-percent chance that it could be you.”

When she heard that his nickname was Garbage, she realized it couldn’t be Sun-woo, but then she thought that maybe he’d hear about the date because it was with one of his classmates. Bora: “And though it’s only a one-percent chance, if you still liked me, then couldn’t we start over?” Her eyes well up with tears as she says, “I know this sounds crazy, but I missed you.” Sun-woo doesn’t know how on earth to respond.

Deok-sun insists that she didn’t get stood up, and Taek just nods and says he knows. He lets her tell the white lie about her date getting into an accident on the way, just throws his jacket around her shoulders. She says she’s not cold, so he says he’s too warm to wear it, and follows her into the concert with a smile.

Jung-hwan wipes his tears and continues to narrate, quoting Forrest Gump: “‘Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.’ Even if I’ve picked the bitterest chocolate of them all, it can’t be helped. That’s the fate I chose. There’s no regretting it, crying about it, or being heartbroken about it.”

2015. Deok-sun begins another interview at a coffee shop, and when Lee Seung-hwan comes on over the radio, she reminisces about going to many of his concerts. She wonders if they don’t have too much interview footage by now, and says asking her stuff is fine, but her husband normally dislikes doing interviews and she only agreed to do this one because her sister asked.

Husband arrives and stands around awkwardly while Deok-sun runs to get him a coffee, and she tells him to go home, promising that she won’t bug him while he works today. He lies that he likes interviews, and she laughs and tells him to go home. She reminds him to take out the trash, and he says he already did on his way to the comic book store. She mutters at him to stop with the comic books for his image’s sake, and he shuffles off.

Back in 1994, Sun-woo peels open his eyes in the morning to find Mom and Jin-ju staring creepily down at him. He tells them to stop being scary, but Mom pouts that everyone’s asleep. Jin-ju asks why he even comes home if all he ever does here is sleep, and Sun-woo asks to sleep some more, but caves and asks for breakfast.

Jung-hwan wakes up to find his parents doing the same creepy hovering thing, and he jumps out of his skin. He asks why they didn’t wake him, but Mom and Dad wanted to let him sleep in. Mom is so cute about having made his favorite dish, and Jung-hwan laughs into his pillow.

Bora and Deok-sun wake up face-to-face, which surprises Bora since she didn’t hear Deok-sun come home last night. They start the morning off with an old-school fight, and Dad chuckles that it sounds like home again. Dad gets a bloody nose that morning, and Mom looks more worried than usual.

At Sun-woo and Taek’s house, Sun-woo says that all the kids are getting together tonight because Jung-hwan is leaving tomorrow. Taek says he has a match, but it should end early. Jin-ju nags him to do fewer competitions, and when Sun-woo laughs, she nags him not to come home anymore if all he’s going to do is sleep. When Taek laughs at that, she nags him not to date that celebrity who likes him, or else. Guess we know who the boss is around here.

At Jung-hwan’s house, Mom stares and stares at the calendar feeling like something is off, and goes to check the calendar on her nightstand. We see her flip back a few months and find a date circled, but the past few months are clean. Hm, I wonder if it’s menopause.

Deok-sun and Jung-hwan head out together to meet the gang, and he notices that she keeps checking her pager. She asks if it’s okay to take his car when they’re going to drink, and he says she’ll be driving it home. He tells her to put on some music, but all he has are Lee Moon-se tapes so she picks one, and they spend the whole ride bickering like old times.

They have beers with Dong-ryong and Sun-woo, and Taek is on his way. Jung-hwan notices that Deok-sun looks up every time someone opens the front door, which just leaves tiny cracks in my heart every time.

Dong-ryong asks for Jung-hwan’s graduation ring, and Jung-hwan takes it out but says it’s kind of a waste to give it to Dong-ryong. Dong-ryong complains that he doesn’t have anyone else to give it to and will die before ever proposing to a girl, and says, “It’s my wish to see you confess before I die.”

Suddenly Jung-hwan says, “Deok-sun-ah…” and puts the ring box in front of her. HOLY SHIT. He says he was going to give it to her when he graduated, but he’s doing it now. Sun-woo and Dong-ryong stare at each other wondering what’s going on, but Jung-hwan just continues like they’re not even there.

Jung-hwan: “I like you.” He says it again so intently, and then laughs as he tells her about all the things he did, like waiting for an hour outside the house just to go to school with her, or not being able to sleep until she came home from the library every night: “All I ever thought about was you.”

Dong-ryong mouths to Sun-woo: “This bastard must be for real!” Sun-woo tells him to shut it. Jung-hwan names the times they ran into each other on the bus, or went to the concert together, or when she gave him a shirt for his birthday: “I was so happy I thought I’d go crazy.” He says he always wanted to see her more, and was just happy when he was with her. Deok-sun smiles as he says all this, and he adds, “I’ve wanted to tell you this for a long time: I really like you. I love you.” Omg, I’m a puddle of goo.

The moment lingers, and then suddenly Jung-hwan turns to Dong-ryong and asks, “Is that good, moron? You said this was your wish.” Oh nooooooooes, Jung-hwan, you’re not going to act like it was all a joke, are you? I’m going to go cry in a corner now.

Sun-woo and Dong-ryong are so shocked that they don’t even understand at first, but then they take it as him pulling one over on all of them and laugh. Sun-woo asks Deok-sun if she was fooled too, and she just smiles, not knowing what to say to that. Jung-hwan smiles on the outside, but he looks like he’s on the verge of tears. Are you seriously going to take this TO YOUR FREAKING GRAVE?

Dong-ryong says he’s smitten and confesses that he loves Jung-hwan back, and they laugh it off like it was a prank. Deok-sun looks over at the door again when it opens, and Jung-hwan notes it again.

In flashback, we see that after Jung-hwan told Deok-sun she didn’t look pretty in a hanbok way back in 1988, he ran inside to stare at her from the window. And after showing up to give her an umbrella in the rain and walk away with his cool one-liner, he ran home and freaked out like big dork, and smiled at himself for doing the cool thing.

He was a total spaz about the Christmas present too, and nearly chickened out of asking No-eul to deliver it for him. He finally managed to give it to No-eul, who couldn’t comprehend why Jung-hwan would be giving Deok-sun a Christmas present, and to cover up his own embarrassment, Jung-hwan basically kicked him until No-eul was too afraid to ask more questions. Lol.

The group reminisces about old times over drinks, and they decide to move on to round two and page Taek to meet them there. They get up to go, and Jung-hwan’s ring gets left behind on the table.

 
COMMENTS

Noooo, don’t leave it on the table! Is first love over, just like that? It can’t be over, there are two episodes left! I’m starting to have a mild panic attack here, because I was not expecting Jung-hwan to just fold like that. How can you confess like THAT, so sincere and heartfelt, and then say you’re kidding? That’s not… You can’t… AGH. That confession really threw me for a loop. And I still can’t read Deok-sun’s expressions throughout it—is it just sweet nostalgia for an old crush, and is she waiting for Boyfriend Taek to arrive? (Not that I wouldn’t squee about that either. I mean, that’s kind of the nice thing, or terrible thing, about this love triangle.) Or is she disappointed when he acts like he punked them and she’s trying to save face? I feel like Jung-hwan just took himself out of the race with that final I-love-you-just-kidding, but if he really did, I don’t know if I can handle it. *whimper*

It really is in keeping with their characters for Taek to go all in when he sees an opportunity and for Jung-hwan to hesitate so long that he shoots himself in the foot. So, so much that it kills me. But I am glad that he finally learned his lesson about making your own damn fate, because screw timing and coincidence—you make that fate yourself with every choice, and hesitation and inaction are choices too. That’s a really important thing for Jung-hwan to learn as he finally grows up, even if he learns it in the most painful way possible. The thing that throws a wrench in everything is that we still don’t know how Deok-sun feels about any of this, whether seeing Taek at the concert reignited old feelings, whether Taek finally confessed, or if she’s ever thought of either them in the years since high school.

I didn’t expect to be moved by Jung-bong and Mi-ok’s reunion, because their loveline has always been comic relief or just sweet. But Jung-bong was crying when he finally found her again, and I suddenly felt like he’d had a hole in his heart all those years. It fits his character more than anyone else that he’d be fixated on his first love and never move on, and because their loveline was never guaranteed, I was so relieved when she walked through the door.

Bora and Sun-woo, on the other hand, were always going to get back together; it was just a matter of how. It was the best crossover yet to have Garbage and Sun-woo as classmates in med school, since it works out that they’re the same age (I never really stopped to think about how the timelines overlapped, and find it funny that these kids are older than Na-jung and the rest of the 1994 gang, even though, duh). The blind date switcheroo might’ve been an actual twist of fate, but I liked that Bora owned up to saying yes for that tiny chance that she might see Sun-woo again. It’s nice to see the reversal too, because he always chased her and liked her more when they were young, and now she has to work to convince him to give their relationship another chance. I thought it was cute that she went on the date even after knowing that Sun-woo’s nickname could never be Garbage, just on the off chance that she could make him jealous. It’s so roundabout when she could just knock on his door, but he clearly hasn’t made it very easy for her to approach him.

It’s a big relief to know that everyone has at least attempted to move on and date other people, and that it’s not for lack of trying that they’re still lingering on first loves (I’d argue that it’s because some of you never confessed, but that’s water under the bridge). Taek and Sun-woo’s family is so cute that I just want to spend entire episodes with Bossy Princess Jin-ju telling her oppas how to behave, with Mom looking after Taek and Dad getting Sun-woo to play catch. They’re like a mini Brady Bunch, and I love it. Taek eats whole meals, has a little sister to dote on, and their house doesn’t seem so quiet and sad anymore. I found it hilarious that all the parents kept staring at their sleeping kids because they never see them anymore—it helped make the passage of time feel real, in a way that just cutting their hair or dressing them differently doesn’t do nearly as well. Because the parents actually act like they desperately miss their kids, I find myself thinking of them as having left the nest and living full adult lives out there. It makes the group reunions bittersweet too, but it means more that they still get together on Taek’s birthday because that’s tradition, and that they make time for each other even though their lives are going in all sorts of different directions. At least I know that no matter which way the loveline goes, our gang will always be the same. Okay, I’m off to go cry some more.

 
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ARRGGHHHHHHH!!! cried ma frikin eyes out just readin jung hwan's confession...so torn right now. didn't even feel bad 4 chilbong buh this got me wrecked. WTFH!!!!!

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Sw and taek basicly are brothers now since their parent married.if sw ends up with bora wouldnt it be a little bit weird if taek ends up with ds? Whts their relationships call? Is it legal there?

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Sw and taek are basicly brothers now since their parent remarried.wouldnt that be weird if sw ends up with bora and taek with ds.is it legal there? And probably the interview is about taek family since older ds also stated that she only do this interview since her sister ask her so.

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Did the parents actually marry though? I thought they just decided to live together, but I'm pretty sure that it was never mentioned that they got married.

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ya that's what i was thinking too

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so fed up with that talk.

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It is called 'Gyup Sadon/Double in-laws', I think and there were such cases in some other dramas (I can't remember which one tho). No problem legally as far as I know.

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It's not like SW or JJ joined the Choi family registry, so they aren't really related to each other. The only thing I see bad about DS marrying Taek, is that it leaves the Kim family out in the cold with no connection to the rest of the families.

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I think it'll be fine. I mean, DS and Taek would be in-laws, nothing wrong with them marrying. There's no blood bond.

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Thankfully, DS' marriage (as with all Reply series couples) seems to be happy from the present day interviews, so may the best man win, whoever he is. And should her hubby end up being JH, hope that DS gives him a good beating!

On another note, it would be fun to have BR and JJ in the same scene in 1994 onwards if BR and SW get back together. Can't imagine how they will react towards each other... keke

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When did JH graduate from the military academy?

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isn't the writer being too much? i am so annoyed at this writer i can't believe she failed this hard. giving us zero romance and dragging us along for this long. poor junghwan he doesn't deserve this. i have always been team taek but along the way i realised that i wanted taek to have his chance and for him to date, but jh should be the husband. since he loved her from day one and was always there for her . his downhill is that he hesitated for too long. taek did too but later down the line he was honest with himself and took that step, junghwan is STILL hesitating so now what. how can we root for someone who is still not putting on his big boy boots. maybe ds does know he likes her but she got tired of waiting for him. i don't blame her. i feel so confused. i just want everyone to be happy

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She didn't fail at all. *shrugs* Harsh words.

Also, this drama was never supposed to focus on romance.

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this may be a drama, but there's no hard and fast rule that the person who loves first, deserves love more. let go of your pre-conceived notions and just enjoy the story as it unfolds.

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well, we don't really know since when Taek love Deoksu so... who knows maybe he love her since he was 5 yrs so he technically love her first but even that as KPP said there isn't a rule that the person who loves first, deserves love more.

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I would be very sad if the writer indeed pulled a random one in the story as teh early Future Husband and this Husban for sure don't resemble at all.My heart bleeded fro Junghwan this epsiode and thsi week...what i might feel even more mad and sad than him getting the girl is that the writer made such a beautiful confession,maybe his one and only into the product of a joke,that is sad...This week preety much drown my sails and see as Taek is he final choice even with DS looking at that door each time she was eharing people entering,JH saw it and realized her heart was somewere else...More than sure he took the courage in the last minute and wanted to at least say what he felt rather than have the remorse all his life about being too coward to do it...I think,he,game up on DS...also we still have Taek confession so more likely he's the husband,even more with the way Future Husband acts now(just like Taek,along the hints)

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One thing I'd like to say is Hyeri's acting in the confession scene is really good. She's wants to laugh it off and at the same time is noticing how this guy who is HER FRIEND looks so sad while making a so called joke. She's uneasy because she knows he means it. But she can't accept it because the time has passed. I will never see her the same way after this role.

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Yeah, during the confession it was like Deok-sun was a different version of herself, still recognizable, yet simultaneously made anew.

I seriously can't get over this episode.

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I couldn't agree with you more...nailed it...

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Right? So, it wasn't just me that saw she looked uncomfortable with JungHwan's 'confession'? I thought it was just me. When he said "I love you" she shifted and smiled in uncomfortable way.

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Just look at deok suns eyes and facial expressions when Jung hwan confesses.
The husband, to me, was official at that moment. Not going to say who, but those that focused on deok sun in that moment would know too.
You think friends who knew each other all their lives wouldn't see through the bull, and just the truth?
I'm glad hyeri could portray deok sun without complaints, and more. Given she has a very similar personality to deok sun in real life, this was no issue.
Always give full faith in the casting team of answer me.

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Thank you so much for the recap. I watched the raw video yesterday morning, and was going nuts until, I read the recap at midnight.

I think Deok Sun will start to remember all the times Jung Hwan mentioned in his "joker"confession, and realize he was serious. She'll go to him. (Hope someone goes back to get the ring)

In the end of the First Snow episode 2 things happened. 1. Bo Ra tells her husband" I have Woo Jae with me". ( and the whole smoking thing too) that sealed the fate of SW and BR.
2. Deok Seon's husband knew about her getting rejected by Sun Woo, that snowy night. Only 4 people knew about that.
2 of them are SW and BR.

I really love the idea of DS and Taek. I really do not want to see Taekie heartbroken. Not enough tissues in Texas.

In 1988 or any other year. Many people loose their 1st loves for one reason or another. It happens. Only one of them is gonna win.

I am going to go cry in a corner now.

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The problem is that the eary Future Husband actions screamed JungHwan,no matter how much Taek could change over the years a personality doens't change THAT MUCH or fine actions while rather the last 2 weeks or so teh Future Husband did an 180 in his personality,that's what i don't like and would be dissapointed if teh writer indeed changed the initial ending to cater to some people or other who knows reason...I wouldn't mind at all if we didn't have the future to see and it wuld make perfect sense either choice DS would make but to say that early husband was Taek even more wih the way of acting and info he knew it's too much

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friends can grow similar. Taek can be a lot like Jung Hwan, Dong Ryung and Sun Woo, and same for others. they´ve become more alike in some aspects adopted features from each other

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Thank you for filling in the gaps that the missing sub titel caused :)
I really root for Taek to be honest for finding his happyness with Duk-Sun. According the cast listing and previous dramas its a small chance.
I think from Duk-Suns crushes was only Taek thats she from her own felt from the beginning as he rushed her over the football field.
And as shown on flash back those little close moments as they tresured each other, and the fact he can only be honest with her. And Taek is not silly is only a pure naive hearted guy like a tresure you can't find such ones in every corner... I hope they will end up together.
Jung-Hwan has his own struggles and I'm sure he also loves Duk-Sun pure heartedly. And drama would be not so good without JH & Taeks hearth wrecking brotherly respect and love for each other and the strugle to get or not get DS...

Previous episodes kiss scene every inch of feeling that could go through it was there ... tearfully heartbroken yearning... Taek role and feelings are so well acted from Park Bo-Gum I really learned to like this actor through his role so cute so loveable :D and his killer smile omo can't get enough from it.
Well I hope for the best for next weeks omg ending & rooting for Taek with all my might :D

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"Its not over til it's over!!!" *Team Jungpal*

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It's funny how all Reply fans are worried/scared for their ship....EVERYONE is unhappy, good job writer, you are the only one who can make such a frusting but amazing drama

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*frustrating

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Hahaha this. I completely agree!

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It's amazing really. I'm not too scared, but I ship either one though lol. There is a good case to make for either ship, and I can't hate on whoever DS picks since they are both great guys.

JH fans didn't worry too much for 16 weeks and now they finally get to feel some of what everyone else was feeling. It's fun to watch.

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or 8 weeks, 16 episodes. Feels like 16 weeks.

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I KNOW!!! I mean, they are ALLLL complaining and I'm like, dude, chill, let us TeamTaek have our moment of glory instead of angst like we've had these last few episodes. Don't ruin it for us.

The shipwars is getting ridiculous. Some TeamJungHwan on tumblr are like complaining and writing really mean stuff. Some are in denial about Taek/Deoksun, as if Taek's feelings came out of nowhere.

Can't we just get along, people?

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that´s really infantile if people really do that. ok, I am one of the peoplewho doesnt see any charm in JungPal but I dont care whether he or Taek becomes the husband. But I agree with people who say the JungPal-DeokSun line didn´t get developed enough, they havent grown towards each other like Taek and Deok Sun. So it would be really the writers god-act to suddenly throw them together anyway. but I can just as well see Deok Sun and Taek having grown into the kind of besties whose friendship isn´t swayed even if they romance someone else. I think now Taek will be fine- he will def not die without her. but if he does become the husband, he is more deserving in it. he used to always lean on DS but is showing she can lean on him now.

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I definitely learned my lesson this time around - shipping wars were so bad in AM 1994, my Chilbonged heart took a while to recover. and honestly I don't care who the husband is this time around since they gave a lot of depth to the stories and characters so I'll be happy/sad to whomever deoksun ends up with. But I feel that they definitely made it trickier.

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I could not sleep thinking about how frustrating this series has become. Like someone mentioned, it has become more of a guess-the-husband game and so the writers are trying really hard to keep it a secret and hence Dok-Sun's character is that of an indecisive woman who gets influenced by other people's (her friends') idea of love. But then if she does end up liking Taek without any external influence, I would like to see how and when - with the usual flashbacks or maybe that moment where he carried her and ran. *I don't like flashbacks, they seem too imposed*
And the reason for JH to give up on DS was blamed on timing - What timing? They live under the same roof and JH can easily talk and spend half an hour with her. He did that when he asked her out for a movie, so why not now.? She even came to his room to "test his feelings" by asking about the "blind-date". Also in this episode, they made JH look like a jerk with that confession.
I watched reply 1997 again today and then I realized that by the 11th episode, Shi-won knew exactly whom she wanted to be with and pursued him. And that freaking series was of 17 episodes. Here we are on the 18th episode of a 20 episode series, and we still do not have a clear idea of what the freak is going on in that girl's head/heart/liver whatever. Bitter, you may say, but hell I cannot understand this.
I was a Chilbong-Najung shipper and that sank terribly and here we have Jung hwan-ssi and Dok Seon ship and I am just waiting for the ship wreck. Well I am just gonna cry over the fact that they wasted such a tall hot looking guy in uniform. T-T

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1988 wasn't always frustrating--and for the most part, thankfully it still isn't. hands down, i still think this has been the best out of the reply series. that said, i agree with you. i'm disappointed that the writers are still keeping us guessing at who DS likes until the very flippin' end.

after this episode, many of us are wondering whether the writers are just tricking us by strategically leaving 'important' pieces out. (for example, does DS go back for the ring, was the kiss scene really a dream, ....seriously the theories i've read are limitless lol)

personally, i will hate the writers (and this series) if they are just trolling us. because if what happened in episode 18 was really just a gimmick, then it's just cruel to the viewers. if you're a TK shipper, then this episode exponentially raised your hopes to just smash them to bits the following week. if you're a JH shipper, then seeing that confession and what looked like the end of his first love was just painful to watch.

Even though 1988 is better scripted, I had less angst watching 1997. I knew from episode 1 who the husband was...that one was a no brainer. As for 1994, don't get me started -- i will be forever scarred by how that turned out. For 1988, i've been on the losing team since the beginning, so i've always had little expectation that taek would be the husband. so if he is, great. if it's jh, great as well since that's what i was expecting. but i think that next time, if they decide to write another 'Answer Me', i'm going to wait until it finishes airing and find out who the husband first, so that i can jump on the correct ship from the flippin' beginning! this guessing game is too stressful!

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Remember what SW said to Taek in EP 15? DS may be a bit dense, but she will believe your confession when she looks in your eyes.

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I've been team jung hwan since the early signs in the show. But last episode Taek's dream made me changed camp. And today's episode nailed me to team taek. Boy am I glad I'm no longer harped on jung hwan. Seriously, how can you take SO damn long to take action???

The whole Forrest gump movie was already at around half way mark before he FINALLY decided to run to deok sun. And I remembered finding it an extremely LONG movie when I watched it. Just checked, freaking 2h+ movie, long before lord of the rings even made news. That's a lot of time. The 2 red lights won't make much of a difference.

When he confessed and then joked about it, I seriously almost threw my Hp at the wall while watching.

It doesn't help that they showed more flashback insight on his first love history. So you liked her way before the alley encounter? Even when she was practicing for the Olympics 2 months ago you already like her? Then when you smiled while seeing her on TV was bcoz of your crush on her? Why the hell would you say she's not cute when all the other 3 guys are? Seriously.. The flashback really left me fuming. Jung Hwan is really a coward..

Comparing Chil bongie to Jung Hwan is an insult. Chil bongie confessed many times to Na Jung sincerely. He didn't mask his feelings with jokes and say offputting remarks.

Jung Hwan really pushed Deok Sun away at his own hands. When she was mistaken about the pink shirt, he should have gathered courage then to clarify the misunderstanding and make known his feelings. Deok Sun had yet to have special feelings for any of the guys then so it could go any way.

On a side note, it will be really cute if Jin Ju is Chil Bongie future wife like some beanies suggested :)

Trash oppa cameo is a great gift :)
Also got the different show timeline figured out with that, lol. So trash oppa is older than na jung by 6 years, then if Jin Ju is really Chil Bongie future wife, Jin Ju will be 7 years younger than Chil Bongie.
Also, if Bora is prosecutor, they can even add Seo In Guk's Yoon Jae character as cameo. Judge Yoon, heehee :)

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Sorry, typo, pushed Deok Sun away with his own hands.

I think Deok Sun already had feelings for Taek before the princess carry, coz she was awfully unhappy about the cancelled meetup.
The princess carry and close proximity only brought her feelings to the surface so she was pondering over it after that.

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Thank you so much for the recap. I watched it raw and had to come here to make sure I understood everything correctly (with my broken Korean!)
And I must say that though I am Team Taek I will be happy whoever DeokSun ends up with as long as it was from her own heart.
I love this series because of the focus on family and Reply 1988 was no different! The whole neighbourhood felt like one big happy family (haha literally true for SunWoo and Taek once their parents got together)
and more props to SunWoo's mom for calling Taek's dad in the past and convincing him to move to Seoul because the story wouldn't have been complete without them!(Papa bear and Choi Taek 9-dan)

I cannot wait for Friday to come so I can watch the next episode!

till then, here's the unboxing I did for the OST part 1 (I absolutely love the music selection in this Reply too! I hope they release the second part soon! hopefully next week! and it even fits into the case for the OST part 1! much like how all the families fit together!)
https://unmyeong2025.wordpress.com/2016/01/07/reply-1988-ost-unboxing/

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So this is from Soompi credit to @Monsterlife:

"Why TK: in connection to previous reply"

1. There is a detailed childhood flashback about him. Dedicated ep 2 for that.

In 94: trash and najung and the dead brother

In 97: sw and yj childhood

2. They practically spent their childhood in tk's room.

In 94: nj's house

In 97: sw's house

3. The time jump happen after the dream kiss. After she felt weird about TK.

In 94: nj and trash broke up

In 97: yj confessed

4. Ds told tk she knew him like the back of her hand.

In 94: nj and trash

So there... Hope for team taek!

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I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

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I was rooting and still rooting for Jung-hwan. But...my heart can take it. damn Show...u're doing the angst too well

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Did Taek ever do a voice over? Could that be a sign for anything? There are equal chances that this pulls a How I Met Your Mother since both JH and Taek have shown they could die. JH with the nose bleeds and high-risk profession, and Taek with his statement that he would die without DK. Although most kdrams don't go this shocking route. Although they are definitely doing the interviews for somebody within their group. Love isn't perfect.

Also JH's confession is not that shocking either. Most guys have done what he did. It is a very common cover, especially when you think the girl doesn't like you back. You do it for closure and the tiny chance that she likes you back.

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Credit to @hushhh Soompi

To me the die was in episode 2 and I never saw anything that changed it.

More than change it was a natural progression [to mix metaphors] their relationship went from caterpillar to pupa to butterfly

I would add DS has already told Taek her intention towards him early in the drama. Parapharase "Drink your milk. Grow up quick and marry me. From patting your behind I can see you are growing well and well will have great fun together."

DS has stated her intentions of marrying Taek to the group. Paraphrase [you break you buy] "I broke his head and made him better. I will take responsibility. I will take him home. I consider it a good bargain--I win on this deal on claiming our slightly chipped --barely noticable really--Taekie"

Take then accepted her [technically] public proposal letting everyone know he was fine with her owning him. "I like her. Yeah. I like DS. I like her not as a friend but as a woman. I want her to have my slightly chipped self"

Taek's father has accepted the marriage. He ceeded responsibility for Taek's care and wellbeing to DS early on. "Send DS with Taek to China. It isn't as if she is studying. I mean she would be good at taking care of Taek."

Papa Choi saw what none of the others adults saw or children saw, the yin/yang completion that DS and Taek gave to each other. One excelled in theorethical/academic knowledge and the other excelled in real world practical knowledge. The guy who couldn't (would) plug in an electric kettle and the girl who couldn't (wouldn't) study. Over time each developed skills in the area they were lacking to function independently but still suffered some deficit--[*cant park on an empty street*] but they are still yin to the other's yang

DS parents clamor for the marriage early on. "We claim Choi Taek as our son-in-law" See guys. Done deal. Only thing left to do is sign the paper.

I think there are more examples of people talking (joking) about DS and Taek marrying--but I can't rewatch 18 episodes right now.

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I love reading the viewers' comments as much as I like watching this drama. The comments are funny and refreshing. They make the "waiting" for the next episode more bearable and fun hahaha. I belong to Team Taek but I have a feeling the JH will get the girl, DS. All arrows are pointing to that direction:
a.) In the reply series 1994 and 1997 the girl always goes to bad guy or the person who does not really treat her well.
b.) The famous characters in the past 2 reply series did not get the girl. The presidential candidate in reply 1997 and Chilbong in reply 1994. In this drama, Taek is the famous baduk player so I assume that his fate will be the same.
c.) I assume that when she was making a decision for her future...she choose to be a flight attendant bec JH is a pilot. JH is a fighter pilot now but when he gets old he can shift to become a commercial pilot. Military pilots often do this bec it is more rewarding monetarily.
I assume that someone will get the ring back and give it back to JH or DS...it's probably Taek. I want DS to end up with Taek but if she ends up with JH it's just as okay. I just love this drama. The writers are so intelligent hahaha. They were able to think of inventive ways to torture us, the viewers.

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I'd also like to add that there are also arrows pointing to Taek's direction:
a.) DS's conversation with DR wherein DR asked her to choose who she likes and not the one who likes her. I think he was referring to Taek.
b.) In episode 2 she tapped his bottom and she made a comment about drinking milk so that he could grow up faster and marry her.
c.) When she was choosing between the gloves, she chose the gloves given by Taek.
So, given these reasons, it is hard to tell who will get the girl hahaha. The writers are so smart hahaha

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1. In their conversation I'm pretty sure DS likes JH because when DR asked her to choose between SW and JH, DS was like "why are you being like this to me? don't be like that", and you can see DR smiling. Read his smile however you guys want but to me it seemed like he caught on to what DS was feeling quicker than what DS would like to admit.
2. DR also said that he wants to marry Taek. I'm pretty sure it's just the gang that genuinely likes Taek.
3. I don't remember much about this scene so I can't comment.

If this installment follows 1997 and 1994, I'm pretty sure husband will be JH but then the writers are trolls ._.

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I must have missed something. What episode was she choosing between the gloves?

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haha...agrees with u..though i dont know abt DS selecting her profession becoz of JH...even the order in which the cast is enlisted makes it clear who is who...writers are really intelligent
only thing i now hope is to hav taekie his own story..like his on pov and all so that he wont just end up as a doomed second lead....im team taek

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I'm also from Team Taek, and I also want to see Taek's POV. I've read most of the viewers' comments many of them believe that Taekie is DS's husband. There's still hope! One viewer pointed out DS's reaction when JH was proposing...it's as if DS was surprised by the proposal. She knew that he was being serious but opted to not say anything for fear of hurting him...and I've watched the scene again and I realized that the viewer's realization is correct. DS's reaction was lukewarm in fact she kept on looking at the door everytime it opens so there is still hope for Taekie! =D

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OMG. Why Junghwan. T___T

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On one week left and Jung hwan is still breaking my heart. You 바보! I love this show. The cast. The writing. I'll miss you!!! Deok sun ah beat some sense into him if you have to...please ... (I really want to see that though)

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Yesterday I saw a topic and they are sure that JH is gonna be DS's husband 10000%. Cause as they explain, during the scene in ep 18 featuring DS & her husband at older age, DS's husband wears a jacket that have airfoce symbol on. So maybe?

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I just hope that if ever it won't be junghwan, they will give a good reason why it should be taek.but still.. ?

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um, because they have shared all the moments together and she spends more time in his room than her own?

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She likes Taek the best out of all of them. Probably even JH. We just don't know if it's romantic love. That's good enough reason.

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RJY is a really amazing actor.... I just couldn't get through it.... Cry me a river during and after 'the confession'. It's like Kim Jung Hwan is finally letting Deok Sun go...

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Random thought but did we kniw who DS had for the neighborhood secret Santa ? taek has Ds but I don't think the writers revealed who she had!? Yet another hint that taek is the husband! He had her and I'm sure they will reveal later that she had him for ss!! Also she chose his gloves over JH. Remember what Jung bong said...if two ppl get each other its fate as and they will get "married"!!!!!

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DS got JH!
and SW and BR got each other which point to them being married.. lol

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this show seriously fucks with my emotions omg.
I like taek and junghwan equally but junghwan's heart wrenching confession just makes me root for him more a teeny bit.

who wouldn't want to be confessed to like that (minus the "joke" obviously)

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Oh my Junghwan! I don't know what will i do if you are not the husband. Now, I'm still lying on my bed thinking of the confession scene. The flashbacks made me cry more. ???

I wish that DS will know about the Pink shirt. Also, did she happen to see what's inside JH's wallet?

I love Taek and i will not hate him if he is the husband. BUT PLEASE writer-nims..let it be JUNGHWAN!!!

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come on people, let's just enjoy the show and stop all the bitterness and hate whether you are on team TAEK or JH.

let's all wait for the end of the series.

all in all i love all of them and gonna miss them big time.

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I wouldn't be surprised if Dong Ryong would be the husband. In the first episode, adult DS said that she never dreamed to be married with her husband. It will be epic if DR would be the husband.

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This as what I was joking about since 2 -3 episodes ago. Show can throw us all for a loop and give us the least likely person in terms of him and her showing interest in each other. However these two have a lot in common and were both taking extra classes together. What a joke it will be!! What a lot of screaming and hair-tearing out there will be LOL!

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In episode 10, when DS asked JH if she should go on a blind date and JH answered "don't go"...he should have kissed her right then already!!!! I am Team Taek but the chemistry between DS and JH is undeniable...which makes me super confused hahaha. I just hope that the writers will also make a happy ending for whoever will lose in the love race...

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The husband is JungHwan. In the current day interview, adult Duk-Sun asks her husband not to go to the comic book store. Who reads comic books? JungHwan! We see him reading Dragon Ball comics throughout the series!

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in Reply 1994, the husband was portrayed as someone really famous in S. Korea...very recognizable in the whole of S. Korea but the husband turned out to be Trash. A lot of fans got mad bec of the pretensions in Reply 1994. So do not too much importance on the little things...you might get disappointed...just a friendly advice hehehe

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Credit to @Raphelancia from Soompi forum:

About how the narrative goes, i think the writer does a fine job on narrating how the romance plot will end. Some of my insight upon it:

Deducing the narrative progression for the romantic plot from Deoksun's POV

Episode 1-2 (2 episodes)

- This is the base, the start. It shows us how DS normally treat all the guys without any romantic feeling included (or maybe a bit for SW there, since DS should be crushing on SW at that time).

Episode 3-6 (4 episodes)

- Her friends tell her that SW like her. Then DS is crushing on SW and shows it blatantly.

- JH shows some of his affection for DS, but since DS is preoccupied with SW she doesn't notice it until later.

- At the end of episode 6, there's a big chang as Taek enters the romance plot, SW leaves DS mind.

Episode 7-10 ( 4 episodes)

- DS giving SW the cold shoulders, trying to get over him.

- DS starts noticing something different about how JH acts for her, her friend says he likes her.

- Some memorable bonding moment for JH-DS (McDonald callover, surprise christmas present, concert date, "Don't go!" scene, etc)

- At the same time with TK, there are some bonding scenes too (movie date, manito game, China trip, beach scene, etc)

- At the end of episode 10, there's a big change again, Taek confess to his friend about his feelings, JH starts to waver.

Episode 11-14 (4 episodes)

- DS is crushing on JH and shows it blatantly. While on JH side, he's struggling to keep his feeling toward her due to noticing Taek's feeling.

- Bonding moment with JH, as DS shown to give him majority of affection on this timeline.

- At the same time with TK, again, there are some bonding scenes too (flasher incident, Taek resting head on her shoulders, TK says he likes a girl, etc etc)

- At the end of episode 14, there's a big change once again, due to shirt misunderstanding DS doesn't felt sure about JH's feeling for her, she feels unloved. Then Dongryong give her pep talk about how she can like someone too rather than waiting to be liked.

Episode 15-17 (3 episodes before time skip)

- DS is again on wavering state (like she was after SW's rejection) after the misunderstanding with JH, moreover there's college matter too.

- TK notice JH feeling, and his confession plan fell through. DS took the date cancellation in distress.

- DS notice different things about TK. Her friends tell her he must have think of her as an easy girl.

- More bonding moment with TK, the bridal carry scene, can't get some sleep thinking of it, the waiting in the night (that follows to the dream kiss), etc.

- End of year 1989, the last narrative moment about romantic plot at this point is how DS start seeing TK in a new light.

Episode 18 onwards (3 episodes, time skip)

- JH missed the timing to go to DS, resulting in the heartbreaking confession scene. DS shows to waiting for something by looking at her pager and the door...

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At this point, we can't be sure about how DS feeling. But seeing the narrative progression, i think whoever the husband is between JH or TK, the writing already succesfully establish of how both options are possible. There are enough progress for both of them to be the future husband. There are enough plot for both of them to appeal to DS' feeling.

There's no odd choice, there's no script change, there's no failure in narrative. It all depends on DS now.

Let's just enjoy the show for now. :lol:

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*is, not are enough progress

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After not commenting for a really long time... I guess I am a willing victim to the writer of the drama again and I just have so much feels...

I guess I was most apprehensive about this installment. As I was crazy for the other two.

Can this tops? It did and it came out on its own.

But now… this episode…
Did Junghwan got Chilbong-ed?
Or Taek actually got Oppa-ed?

I mean the shift is just too... radical? No? But definitely... kinda un-explainable... no I am not taken by that whole timing speech... and life is a box of chocolate. You had so many years Junghwan... (I mean yielding to your bro as he is sick maybe, but they liked different girls so that is great... but even in 1997 the one that yield knows he is not loved in return... But yielding to Taek, as much as friendship is precious... Argghhhh why is this so frustrating??? )

I mean yeah there is always a wild Haitai and wild DongRyong… but I don’t really see the possibility as they are always the female lead bff… and it always remain so.
I don’t think the writer is about to outsmart us on that, unless she really is going to… which is unlikely, which I mean who/why do we ship for then?

So much for Team Junghwan or TeamTaek, its always I wish for Team Duksun. (Just like how I always hoped for Team Najung).
Knowing where her heart lies and more of growth and her story…
Rather than finding all these clues to enhance her story which is making me a walking zombie now.

I hope that it transcend more that it’s not just puppy love or first love but something more everlasting than that and that love is just love, and not that fixation on first love.
Can we have some real growth? It’s like they have all grown up but yet some things still remains stagnant. I mean they grew up and maybe dated others and stuff but we know… it is not IT.
Like something they keep buried deep in their heart like frozen. (Sunwoo and Bora, Junghwan, Taek and Duksun). Please, can the writer unthaw it?

Praying for reversal or if not extension… I need more episodes… more…
And Junghwan please… no I can’t deal with it…

Answer Me series.. effectively ruining my life since 2012. Aish…

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I'm watching this again from the first episode and so far I can see the husband for me is JH. Though I love Taek, I can see that its JH. After ep 18 most hints point to Taek and I dont think the writers will go with the obvious. Let's wait for the final twist. In the meantime, let's not fight over who will be the husband. Be thankful that we are given this opportunity to witness such an amazing show. It's so rare these days that dramas are done with taste and impart great values to us readers so be happy and not complain whatever the end story will be. Have a good week, everyone!

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Lol @ some people...
All these flavors and you choose to be salty.gif

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Just one thing that I'd like to share..

If DS ends up with JH.. that would possibly mean DS and Mi-Ok would be sister in laws which would be so awesome!!!

On another note, my head is spinning from all these theories. Please let this weekend come sooner @__@

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Wow. 500++ comments for this freaking roller coaster episode!!

I really enjoyed myself reading all the comments, predictions, analysis about the finale.

It's a week of torture indeed. I actually spent my free time reading all the comments here.

#teamtaek here! waennyol!!!! hahaha

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I was so impatient with the subs, so I watched the raw and then read the recaps. Am I the only one who knows who Deoksun might like? Rather observing how the husband acts and the hints, I'm observing Deoksun reactions or who she'll most likely have feelings for. She seems to lean towards Taek.

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I hope that she chooses Taek...

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Agree :)

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i hope she chooses Taek but it is Jung Hwan... There was no expression on DS's face when JH was confessing... but that doesn't mean she was not interested in that confession..her expressions were flat at that time but you can't take it like she was taking it as a joke... what she was thinking ??? we don't know... if all the things goes smooth from here then TAek wins... but all the beanies here already know that their is a big twist ahead and that twist make JH, hero of this Drama.... :)
but i will be always Teamtaek#... :D

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There are some questions that need to be answered before this drama ends:

1. Will DS find the truth about the pink long sleeves shirt that she gave to JH?
2. Did Taek and DS really kissed in episode 17?
3. What happened to the ring episode 18?

I hope that the writers will answer these question in the next two episodes.

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Thanks for recapping :)
About the love triangle, it's the game over for me. Taek is her hubby. Regardless who I would ship, if I put myself in DS shoes, would I chose someone who canceled his important game to come to me, or someone who didn't come? Remember DS doesn't know what we viewers know..
I also like that JH understands that sometimes you just need to let go and move over you little loves. I hope he finds a great gall for himself :)

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I suspect Taek is the husband since i saw DS and JH pics was small and it was in the wallet of JH but adult DS and her husband talked about their pic and it was in a frame (forgot which eposide)

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Another thing that i am sure the husband is taek because the husband and taek is left handed. The husband consistently shows using his left hand even in this episode, he holds his cup with left hand. I am a left handed myself but i use my right hand to write, paint, etc, but still my left hand is the most dominant one, therefore i know the reality. If the writers consistently show this details to us then DS end up with JH.. for me it seems so weird. ?

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most of the clues from the present husband are referring to Taek.
#TeamTaek
#PBGforever

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Awwwww Jung Hwan why are you breaking my heart......

Writer Nim pleeeaaase give our Taekie and Jung Hwan a happy ending. I'm okay with either of them ending up with Deok sun but whoever that doesn't end up with DS should be given a less heart breaking ending.

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Oh so many hints pointing to one guy! Many here are very detailed not to miss one little tiny bit of an observation. And if this were in court - you would win your case (lol, if I was the judge). And who knows? Ep 19 and/or 20 may just give you your reward :)
But what to do about JH? He missed his opportunity- he's to blame. He made his bed, now he has to lie in it. It seems true. I just hope that the writer/PD can send the message that sometimes what we see is not what we get. That they have more up their sleeves to bring this all to a creatively satisfying end - where I don't feel like I've been sent a virtual middle finger after 20 hours of watching what I thought was an excellent production from the beginning. That would be too harsh on all of us who were faithful viewers.

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For those of you are bored, it looks like Korean viewers have found that there are dolls in this show (like in 1994) that represent the characters. Take a look at this blog post. It's in Korean, but google translate should be able to help. :)

http://blog.naver.com/dksdnjf/220570311139

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