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My Unfamiliar Family: Episode 11

Our adorable friend pair spend some time reminiscing about their past and contemplating their future this hour. After years of repressing and ignoring any feelings of the romantic variety, they finally have another chance to get everything out in the open. Now they just have to decide what they want and whether they’re willing to seize the opportunity to go after it.

 
EPISODE 11

We pick up where we left off with Chan-hyuk striding determinedly up to a smiling Eun-hee. He gets close … and she starts whacking him upside the head with her purse. Pfft. He’s naturally taken off guard by her intense mood swing.

Eun-hee declares she’s angry that they spent years not talking. Couldn’t he have called her first? Chan-hyuk reminds her it was her decision to cut off contact. Eun-hee wonders what could’ve been had they remained friends. In her mind, she asks if they might’ve dated. Chan-hyuk steps up to her and slowly leans in to kiss her.

Except she’s imaging it, and poor Chan-hyuk in real life is once again confused by her sudden outburst. She rambles that their cutting ties was an inevitability since they would’ve fought eventually. Chan-hyuk half jokes that all her relationships these days end with cutting ties.

Chan-hyuk asks if she’s done with her affair, and Eun-hee admits she is. Simultaneously, like in their younger days, they signal to each other to walk another round. When he asks Eun-hee why they’re here together, she ventures that they must miss their past, which clearly isn’t the answer he was looking for.

We return to Sang-shik and Jin-sook as he accuses her of being in touch with Eun-joo’s dad. Jin-sook smashes some fruit and can’t believe he’d have the audacity to think that. But Sang-shik insists he saw it.

At Eun-joo’s wedding, Sang-shik felt out of place as he watched Jin-sook handle everything gracefully while he found it stifling. He saw Jin-sook smiling at some man who looked just like he envisioned Eun-joo’s father looking. Wait, so that’s it? Seriously?

Jin-sook shares my sentiments and finds his extrapolation ridiculous. Of course she was smiling at her daughter’s wedding. In reality, a couple had come up, and the wife thought she recognized Jin-sook from university, although Jin-sook had nervously denied it. Sang-shik had seen her talking to the husband.

Jin-sook frustratedly cries that he could’ve just asked her. Instead, he assumed and started making her life harder after the wedding. Sang-shik is left speechless and ashamed.

Eun-hee tells Chan-hyuk that it was fascinating to see how her dad changed when his memory was lost. His eyes were truly like those of a 22-year-old. She gives Chan-hyuk this somewhat disturbing doe-eyed look meant to be reminiscent of a 20-year-old. Ha.

She blasély confesses that, at that age, she stole glances at Chan-hyuk and reviewed mental pictures of his smile every night. Did he ever feel like that about her? He’s shocked into silence. Eun-hee says she knows he’s never seen her that way and finds it “comfortable and nice.”

Eun-hee gets up and starts walking, but Chan-hyuk sits frozen. She notes his expression, but he denies having something to tell her. Oh, come on, dude. She gave you an opening!

Sang-shik drowns his sorrows in soju and drunkenly calls Man-ho out to join him. Soon, they’ve reached the drunken singing phase. Sang-shik stops mid sorrowful song and has to be restrained by Man-ho as he wails that he’ll never forgive himself if it truly was a misunderstanding.

That night, Eun-hee receives an email from Geon-joo. He found her car key on her desk and wanted to drive her car to her place but didn’t since it’d make her uncomfortable. He praises her work on the manuscript. Eun-hee sends a professional reply.

The following morning, Eun-joo shows Tae-hyung the detailed spreadsheet she compiled of their finances to be split. He worries his mother will hire a lawyer to fight this; she’s spiteful.

When Eun-joo claims she’s spiteful too, Tae-hyung sighs that she doesn’t know herself well. She isn’t spiteful, but she does seem like she’s purposefully picking fights. He encourages her to stop, but she tells him to watch from the sidelines.

At P&F, the employees gossip in the breakroom about Geon-joo dumping his rich ex after getting successful. Eun-hee silently works while they speculate that he’s having an affair with Kyung-ok. Geon-joo comes in and wants to hold a “meeting” with Eun-hee.

He gives her some children’s books after noticing she was gathering them. Eun-hee explains she suddenly got a nephew. Aw, are they for Yong-gyu? Once work is less busy, they decide to meet to have a final talk (Is that really necessary?). Meanwhile, Chan-hyuk stands outside a driving school but turns away.

Later, Eun-hee stops by her mom’s. Jin-sook acts nonchalant about Sang-shik moving out, but she lets Eun-hee know there’s kimchi in the fridge if she wants to give it to him or whatever. Pfft.

Eun-hee tells “Miss Sook” (heh, she’s really taken to the nickname) that at least her dad wasn’t having an affair. She makes her mom laugh as she playfully holds onto her. But Eun-hee runs away when Jin-sook worriedly asks if she isn’t dating anyone.

At Chan-hyuk’s, Ji-woo ignores the barrage of texts from Eun-hee scolding him for avoiding the family, especially when Eun-joo has something to say. Chan-hyuk berates him for ignoring “his friend.” Eun-hee raised him while their dad was hospitalized, so he should listen to his sisters.

Ji-woo wonders what Eun-hee did during the years she struck out on her own. Chan-hyuk sputters that it’s not like he’d know, and Ji-woo eyes him suspiciously. He suspects that Chan-hyuk knows everything about his family.

Eun-hee visits her dad’s temporary place (a trailer) to drop off the kimchi and the kids’ books for Yong-gyu. Sang-shik asks her to keep his living situation from the family. He lets Eun-hee know these things because she’s strong and considerate, just like her mom.

Since Eun-joo takes after him, she’ll just be mad. He thinks Eun-joo must be disappointed in him, but Eun-hee says they’re all just upset he didn’t tell them. Sang-shik argues he couldn’t have since he was afraid he’d go to jail, wouldn’t be able to provide for them and Jin-sook would leave.

Eun-hee thinks he doesn’t know Jin-sook very well, and Sang-shik sadly notes he does now, lamenting that he can’t go back in time. Eun-hee gives him a copy of the 1982 photo and shows him the footage from the police they all watched. What was he thinking as he looked at that flower?

Sang-shik pastes on a smile and some fake enthusiasm to say he must’ve turned 22 because he was thinking about how pure that flower was. Eun-hee comments she clearly got her skills at faking happy from him. He promises to live better now and asks her to delete the footage.

Inside, Sang-shik has a sudden episode of tinnitus and double vision. Uh-oh. On the drive home, Eun-hee gets a call from Eun-joo. She plans to ambush Ji-woo at his office the next day and tells Eun-hee to get Chan-hyuk to hold him there. Ha.

Eun-joo stops by the café and notes Hyo-seok’s relaxed appearance (glasses and un-styled hair). He’s been waiting for her since he’d like to end their friendship on good terms. When she agrees, he asks to meet up later.

Ji-woo comes home late to find his mother sleeping on the couch, waiting for him. She tries to get him to talk, but he retreats to his room after promising to talk later.

Chan-hyuk finally bites the bullet and starts attending driving school. At P&F, Eun-hee thanks Geon-joo for the kids’ books but admits to feeling a little uncomfortable with his help, which makes him upset.

Chan-hyuk has some pep in his step as he meets Eun-hee outside P&F to tell her he passed the written driving exam. Eun-hee congratulates him and offers to teach him driving which he plans to hold her to once he gets his permit.

Eun-hee speculates that he’s doing this since having no license is crimping his dating style. Chan-hyuk rolls his eyes. Eun-hee reasons he must’ve chosen this area since there’s so many driving schools and pats herself on the back for her powers of deduction while Chan-hyuk smiles adoringly after her.

When she catches him staring, he says he wanted to try stealing glances and taking mental pictures of her too. She does this awkward laugh thing that he mimics, telling her to stop being awkward. Ha.

At work, Seo-young is shocked to hear from Ji-woo that Chan-hyuk is getting his license. Ji-woo didn’t think much of it, but Seo-young indicates there’s a reason he avoided it until now.

At home, Jin-sook makes way too much food. Her assertions of how refreshing it is to be single are punctuated by the clangs of the broken containers she roughly pitches in a bin. Sang-shik texts Jin-sook, looking for an excuse to see her. Eventually, he resorts to saying she should meet him if she’s curious whether he tried to kill himself. Wow.

He waits for Jin-sook in the retro café he found listed online as a good date spot for older couples. He’s disappointed the café is full of young’uns, but he presses on. Following online dating advice, they sip coffees and he shows her pictures on his phone of the onions he’s growing. Aw.

She sees the many photos of Yong-gyu on his phone and bemoans that he’s taking responsibility for another life. Sang-shik finds watching him grow up is beautiful and interesting. It reminds him of their kids. Jin-sook is done with the chitchat and wants to know about that night.

Eun-hee can’t get Chan-hyuk’s comment from earlier out of her head as she heads to his office where Eun-joo is already waiting. Seo-young takes off before the sibling meeting and runs into Eun-hee outside. She hesitates but asks Eun-hee why she calls Chan-hyuk a player.

Eun-hee laughs uncomfortably that it’s just a jokey nickname, but Seo-young thinks he’s far from being a player. He’s equally nice to everyone. It’s strange she gets dating advice from him anyway since he’s all talk. Once she rounds the corner, Seo-young beats herself up for saying anything while Eun-hee fumes at the idea that Chan-hyuk told Seo-young about their private conversations.

At the café, Sang-shik confesses he’s not sure if he planned to live or die that night. Jin-sook angrily asks if they were nothing to him, but he says he felt so wronged he wanted to die. It felt like he was in a one-sided love, and his family saw him as a burden.

Jin-sook is aghast that it was “just because of that,” but Sang-shik gets worked up as he says that was enough to make him consider suicide. It was Eun-joo’s call that night, asking if he was okay and wanting to see him, that changed his mind. That and the daisies, which Jin-sook always liked. He decided to bury the pills in the mountains along with those dark thoughts.

At Chan-hyuk’s, Eun-hee pretends she’s okay, but Chan-hyuk notices something is off as he leaves the siblings to it (despite Ji-woo’s pleas for him to stay). Outside, he runs into Seo-young who acts all twitchy before leaving.

Inside, Eun-joo chides Ji-woo for not answering her calls. Is it okay since she’s not his full sister now? This conversation is exactly what Ji-woo wanted to avoid. Eun-hee plays peacekeeper, as usual, and speaks up for Ji-woo who’s uncomfortable.

The sisters remind him he’s an adult now. Eun-joo notes he’s not willing to be independent, yet he’s making things hard on Jin-sook by avoiding her and giving attitude. Is their mom supposed to do all his chores and cater to his moods?

Eun-hee intervenes when it looks like Ji-woo is going to cry, but Eun-joo isn’t done. Does he think about their mom’s life? Jin-sook has always lived cautiously in fear of rumors being spread.

Eun-joo calls their father “Mr. Kim Sang-shik” and asserts things will be different now. She’s not planning to announce it to the world, but in her mind, he only has two children now. (She is a really intense person.) Eun-joo leaves Ji-woo crying and Eun-hee stunned.

At the café, Jin-sook starts to say something about Eun-joo but stops. Sang-shik notes the bag full of side dishes Jin-sook made – she wanted to make sure Yong-gyu eats well. Jin-sook struggles not to cry when Sang-shik apologizes for being useless outside of work and making her take care of him all those years.

Ji-woo is still upset and worries he ran Eun-joo off, but Eun-hee assures him she’s just lashing out. Eun-joo is more sensitive than she lets on. Unlike Eun-hee, she’s not capable of cutting off contact.

Eun-hee attributes it to the fate of the eldest child and confesses she feels bad about her own rebellious phase. They snipe at each other to do better, and Eun-hee leaves. Chan-hyuk is waiting by her car since she mentioned getting a drink, but she brushes him off.

Chan-hyuk calls her out on pretending things are fine, but she just tells him to take care of Ji-woo. She needs to sort some stuff out. Chan-hyuk worriedly watches her go.

Sang-shik has another episode in his truck and thinks it’s due to overwork. He calls Eun-joo right as she contemplates calling him. Meanwhile, Ji-woo picks up on Seo-young’s nervous glances toward Chan-hyuk at work.

At P&F, Eun-hee mulls over what Seo-young said. She calls Chan-hyuk but immediately regrets it and disconnects. Later, Eun-joo calls Jin-sook to let her know she plans to tell Sang-shik everything when they meet that night.

In the office, Seo-young can’t take it anymore and fesses up to Chan-hyuk. She confesses she went through his texts with Eun-hee. Wow does this girl cross lines. She apologizes and further confesses she “made a mistake” with Eun-hee.

While eating with colleagues, Eun-hee ignores Chan-hyuk’s texts asking to talk. Fretting over Seo-young’s confession, he heads to P&F. At the team dinner, everyone asks Geon-joo to analyze Eun-hee’s personality like he did for the rest of them.

Geon-joo observes that she always chooses last and tries to lift the mood of whoever is having a hard time. She’s willing to be uncomfortable, yields to others and doesn’t like fights. They assume he’s complimenting her, but he addresses Eun-hee to ask if living that way is tiring. She escapes by finally taking a call from Chan-hyuk who asks to talk in person.

Eun-joo is surprised when Tae-hyung comes home because her father wanted to see him. He would’ve found it uncomfortable before, but he doesn’t now. Tae-hyung observes he and Eun-joo have talked more recently than at any other time in their five-year marriage. Sang-shik arrives with chocolate and flowers. Before Eun-joo can say anything, he apologizes.

Once everyone has left, Geon-joo asks Eun-hee if she has any professional goals. Doesn’t she have ambition? Despite society looking down on those without ambition, Eun-hee decided to make it her goal to live without it.

She goes to meet Chan-hyuk, both of them seeming angry. Chan-hyuk is mad she didn’t answer his texts and wonders just how low she thinks he is. Eun-hee is confused, but he doesn’t explain. Instead, he declares that he’s through. “You’re out,” he states, parroting her words from years ago. Eun-hee is stunned silent as he walks away.

 
COMMENTS

What the heck?! I get that Chan-hyuk is upset she thinks he’d betray her trust, but was she supposed to somehow magically know that Seo-young went through his texts? Either way, she has a right to feel upset that her private conversations were exposed to a person she doesn’t even know. Also, it had been like a day. She might’ve wanted time to cool off and think of how to approach it so that she doesn’t blow up like last time. So she takes a step back instead of being impulsive, and he goes nuclear about it before she even says anything. It seems like anything other than utter belief in his good nature was going to set him off, which isn’t fair.

I think the main issue is they’ve never properly dealt with their falling out. Rather than outright discussing what happened between them, they’ve skirted the issue. If they’re going to have a healthy relationship – friendship or otherwise – without their old mistakes hanging over them, they need to address what happened and why. Although Eun-hee might’ve been too harsh in cutting him out, he wasn’t blameless either. Chan-hyuk hasn’t apologized or given a justifiable reason why he didn’t tell her she was being cheated on back then. Their past grievances have created a fear of abandonment on his part and a fear of betrayal on hers.

I kind of wanted Eun-hee and Chan-hyuk to stay uninvolved at first, but I’ve warmed up to the idea of them as a couple. They’re just such great partners when they’re not being blockheads. It’d be a shame if they missed out on something special because they’re too busy protecting themselves to take the risk. They’ve been circling each other for so long, and someone really needs to make a move. Every time you think they’re making headway, someone steps back. Just accept your feelings and do something about it already! Watching them go back and forth like this is getting frustrating, but it also feels real. Their actions stem from their insecurities in a way that makes sense and doesn’t feel contrived.

It looks like Sang-shik is planning to try to woo Jin-sook back after learning of his egregious misunderstanding, but it’ll take more than a few coffee dates to fix the mess that has been their relationship. Jin-sook is finally ready to move forward and take control of her life, and I hope he respects that. If he’s sincere and she decides to give their relationship another chance, fine. His return to his 22-year-old self did seem to stir her feelings, but there’s so much baggage between them. I’d hate to see her settle again for a life that she doesn’t truly want. Then again, Sang-shik’s episodes of late have me worried we’re going a terminal illness route. With a drama that has introduced this much … well, drama, I wouldn’t be surprised. He’s just decided he wants to live and has started looking forward, so it’d be tragic if something happens now. And that’s kind of why I expect something will happen now.

After years of keeping his feelings pent up and letting things fester, Sang-shik is finally being open and honest. Jin-sook’s reaction to his confession regarding what led to his suicidal tendencies was upsetting. I understand it’s a difficult topic, and anger is a natural emotion in those situations. But it’s not okay to belittle someone’s feelings, no matter if you understand them or not. She wanted to know why he’d done what he did, and he willingly explained that to her, so she should’ve just listened and not gotten combative. Particularly for someone who’s prone to depression and suicidal thoughts, having a loved one invalidate your feelings like that can be extremely harmful. I hope she can be more supportive once she’s had time to process.

Then, we’ve got the extreme Eun-joo. Maybe her talk with Sang-shik will help her come to terms with her parentage and not feel like she has to take sides. She seems to think it’s either Jin-sook or Sang-shik without allowing for the possibility of neutrality. I think Eun-joo is the type who needs someone to blame. She used to blame her mom, but now she can’t do that, so it’s shifted to her dad. Her anger needs a target. This whole family just needs to get into therapy, really, because we’ve got a host of maladaptive coping mechanisms going on. It’s hard to deal with everyone else’s problems when you’re drowning in your own.

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Ahhhh what did the writer do to my babies?! Episode 12 had better fix things between Eun-hee & Chan-hyuk *cries*

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I have a feeling the show is going to keep things with EH and CH hanging till the end, seeing as we haven't got the typical kdrama arc of the coming together of the OTP at the halfway mark, the angsty breaking up two-thirds in, and the final resolution.

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Yes, and Mr. Player is not out of the equation. I still think he doesn't have a chance, but he's still there.

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Ya! By now, in any drama, he'd have started to slink away. But not here!

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When is he going to close the company and go back to America?

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Ugh. When he appeared on the screen, =.= , why is he still around?!

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I feel GJ and CH are like the personifications of. the devil and the angel. Every time GJ is on screen, there's a voice saying, lead us not into temptation...

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@pickleddragon and it will be so hard not to listen to that evil whisper...

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When he made his presence known right after CH says “this is over” irked the heck out of me!!! Excuse me!! Dont you see they’re having a serious convo??? BUTT OUT

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@acacia SAME! The guts to greet and add more sentences to talk. SMH

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It's that time in a drama when misunderstandings happen *hugs*cries*

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Totally agree with y'all's comments. Also, I was fresh from watching 11 and being dramatic above, but I think the root of the issue is what @quirkycase very smartly pointed out in the recap: they never really dealt with their falling out. Eun-hee just did her usual thing of smoothing things over, 5 years late.

(I love this show so much. EVERYONE'S actions have clear motivations that make sense, even when I vehemently disagree with them.)

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Yes! The scriptwriting is very tight - every character makes sense, even when they're doing what you would find uncomfortable or silly. The characters are so well sketched out. More than clips on YT about the making of the show, I'd love to see the making of the script. This is really so well written throughout.

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This drama has some of the best characterizations I've seen and a good understanding of dysfunctional family dynamics.

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Yes @laica I can't agree with you more. I don't know if other Beanies have found certain tropes in the show resembling the things that happened in their own family, but I found so many that resemble mine. Facing the falling out heads-on is something that takes a lot of courage for somebody or some families. It requires everyone's willing to hear and to not judge others from their sensible/nonsense actions which proves to be challenging for many.

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Same here! Sometimes I feel like Writernim's been spying on my family 😂

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This drama is so good!

I love all the interactions between CH and EH when they shared memories, issues or when they fight. I think CH is angry because she didn't say why she was suddenly cold, she didn't ask. It's true they never talked about the past and knowing CH it's hard to think he knew and was friends with her boyfriend and his mistress. He didn't go to the wedding when everybody was expecting him to go, he didn't get an invitation. So I'm really curious about it. And the fact there is a story behind his will to not drive. Until now, it was him helping her, maybe now she will be able to help him too.

Eun Joo is doing a lot of damages behind her her father and little brother. You can see how much they love her but she's trying to be rational in her mind, but it doesn't work like this...

I'm happy that the parents are finally talking to each other without filters after 30 years it was time! They are so full of resentment and bitterness, they couldn't see each other.

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Actually, of all the characters in the show, I feel like I "hear" EJ the most :/ I said early on that I wasn't sympathizing or empathizing with any of the characters, but her cold and clear rationalisation of everything is so clinical and easy to get, I understand that the most.

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It's easy to understand what she says but not why she says that :p Her logic is kinda weird, it's white or black.

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She is my least favorite member of the family.

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What she does isn't always rational. Her feelings of betrayal toward her father are completely irrational. The belief that he is doing things because he thinks he owes her is nonsense. There is no logic to that, it is all an emotional and irrational human mess.

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But in her mind, she does. He's not her biological father so it means he's not her father at all.

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I understand that, my comment was in regards to OP's comment that EJ was cold and logical. The fact that he is not her biological father doesn't make him feel like he owes her, that is her emotions talking, not logic. Nothing in the way he treats her from a cold and logical perspective would assumes he treats her less than his own child. There is nothing cold or logical about that, that isnpurely her emotional response to hearing jarring news.

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I also feel like CH was disappointed at how low EH thinks of him. EH could have just confronted him that night, though EH did say she needed time to gather her thoughts.

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Yeah, I think he feels hurt like he felt when she cut ties in the past.

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Though I understand that CH might feel disappointed in EH, but I also found his reaction a bit too over-the-top. I don't quite understand why he was that angry and just cut ties with her that easily. They've been moving close to walking over the friendship line into the couple zone but this reaction just happened out of nowhere.

I just told myself that it is a drama so they need to lengthen everything especially the OTP goal.

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I think as @quirkycase pointed out, these two weren’t able to talk about what happened five years ago. That’s why, I could understand CH’s reaction. I feel like I would’ve done the same. If only they talk, which these two are good at except if it’s about them.

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Ji-woo questioning CH about what EH did in the years she was alone, makes me wonder what exactly she was doing! And seeing CH's reaction suggests something's afoot. Was he secretly spying on her in those years?

Also, the actor playing Ji-woo - Shin Jae Ha - is getting to show some solid range here, even though he has only a bit part, relative to the otehrs. I've watched other shows he's been in (based on his fairly extensive filmography), but I must admit this is the first time sure I've actually noticed him. I hope he gets bigger and better roles now!

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Totally agree with you.
It was quite a surprise to know there were "hidden years" in EH's past that maknae didn't know about.
And Ji Woo is such an interesting character. He's always there, watching. I need to know more about his secrets (is his girlfriend real?), and SJH is doing a great work.

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I've only seen him as Jong Sun's adorable, sassy young brother in While You were sleeping. He was really good as the cheeky li'l bro. But this show definitely is letting him show more of his range while maintaining his cute puppy appeal. Excited to see what's in store for him in the upcoming years.

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Oh and I think it was in the BIL confrontation episode, where CH accidentally let something slip about EH in those 'lost' 5 years and she gave him major side eye when he very unsuccessfully tried to get out if it. This guy's such a goner for EH. There's no way he hasn't kept tabs on her.

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Ah I forgot about that, but now that you mention it...

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I LOVE Ji-woo. He's adorable. The scene when he was lectured by his eldest sister broke my heart. That is one of my fav scenes in this episode. That face while his tear was slowly running from his eye was something to behold. He did extremely well in that scene.

I really hated EJ in the mentioned scene. I kinda understand her actions but that lecture was out of question: it was heartless (hey your brother is crying!) - something that should never happen between siblings.

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He needed to hear that.
Ej wasn't kind to say it the way she did, but he needed to hear that and take his part of responsibility in the family. Our adorable maknae just sits and watches while others clean up the mess. That's what most maknaes do (I am maknae myself!!).

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It wasn't a big role, but I remember him from Prison Playbook.

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I still love all the characters and I’m interested in everyone’s relationship with everyone else which is great. My favorite characters are CH and EJ. I like EH but I was getting frustrated with her going back and forth with CH. EH has always been the lead on their relationship with CH just following her cues. Her reluctance and wavering is confusing to me as the viewer. For someone like CH who is incredibly considerate of everyone this would be very difficult to decipher and act on.

I also understand him being done with her. He’s been nothing but patient and accommodating of her. When he wanted to take a break she insisted they stay friends and that she will hang around and be his friend no matter what. The first instance where there was some doubt EH immediately went cold on him without explaining or talking to him. How many times does CH have to keep proving he’s a good friend? How is it okay for EH to keep using him as an emotional anchor and on her terms? I think him walking away from her is needed for his mental health.

EJ is lashing out but her pain is palpable. I do hope she takes TY and his family to the cleaners. I hope she finds solace in some way. She will still have to deal with telling the rest of her family about TY and the divorce. Hopefully they will support her.

JS and SS are adorable. I’m rooting for them and hope SS doesn’t have a terminal illness.

Maknae is cute as usual and I want to know more about his secret girlfriend and soon!

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Totally agree with you about EH. She's supposed to be the one we all like, because she's the smiling and nice one. In this way Mr. Player's description was so accurate. He said those things not as a compliment, and he was right.

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I can't pick a side with CH-EH dynamics. EJ had them pegged right. They are both nosy busy bodies who need everyone close to them to be happy and will willingly put themselves last to cater to others .
They both have secretly liked each other for soo long but hav convinced themselves they can't have the other. CH now has the benefit of insights from multiple parties -their old friends, EJ , SY...they have all made him aware that his feelings might have been reciprocated and so he's now open to the idea of trying....EH on the other hand, only has her represswd feelings that are now bubbling to the surface at times. She still doesn't expect a positive response from CH and hasn't had her feelings be validated by anyone else. So it makes sense to me that she backpedals furiously every time she lets something slip.
Like @quirkycase so wonderfully pointed out, they can't just sudde my start fresh. Their shared history is both their biggest strength and weakness.
This is why I feel much more patient with their sporadic moves and subsequent retractions.

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I'm with you on Chan-hyuk. What he did isn't the best way to deal with the situation, but the emotions that resulted in this extreme reaction have been brewing for a long time. They're really a snowballing of the fallout from Eun-hee's avoidant tendencies.

Geon-joo and Eun-joo's astute observations of Eun-hee go hand in hand. She hides what she really wants and follows the preferences of others, which isn't too bad on its own, albeit little frustrating. More than that, though, she's not honest with herself about what she wants. She doesn't just hide it, but denies it is true, even as she attempts to pursue it at times.

Chan-hyuk sensed the possibility that she likes him quite early on. He asked her why she asked him along to Goheung to confront her brother-in-law; she wasn't cognisant at the time, so he decided to play the role she thought she wanted him to play (comforter of Eun-joo, rather than someone she herself wanted to rely on).

Now he has a clearer indication from Eun-joo on Eun-hee's feelings, he decides to take action, but instead Eun-hee pivots from trying to confess to him to brushing it off as the past, that they're better as friends, etc., without even giving him the chance to speak. So once again, he senses she's not ready to face it, and doesn't press again.

But finally this misunderstanding caused by Seo-young happens, and she jumped to conclusions about him, even though he has been constantly (at times overly) supportive through her family troubles.

Unlike @quirkycase, I don't think Eun-hee was seeking an opportunity to cool down before approaching Chan-hyuk, because she showed no sign of drawing alternate conclusions. She was defaulting to her avoidant, stonewalling mode when it comes to conflict. It's really no wonder he's pissed; she assumed the worst about him and gave him no chance to even find out why she was upset.

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Wow, can we collectively say "ew" , on what Seo-Young did to Chan-hyuk. Seo-young is so damaged and disgusting. Talking about crossing the line, how can you stand to have someone like that work for you. Chan-hyuk needs to politely remove that time bomb from his office.

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Yes!!! CH needs to draw a line with his employees because she keeps crossing it and she's gone toooooooooo far.

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Agree that what she did this time really crossed the line. But I tend to see her in a more sympathetic light given her backstory. The girl was assaulted and from the sounds of it only had old family friend CH stand with her through that painful period. Like CH mentioned in a previous episode, she isn't really interested in him romantically. She has fixated on his unconditional love & support n now views him as her quasi parent/oppa. I used to see her nosiness in CH's love life as a child's anxieties about losing a favourite adult's affections once new people come into their life. It's that child-like lack of impulse that let her talk to EH disrespectfully and weaponize info she had no business knowing in the first place.But ofc she's an adult and having previous traumas can't always be an excuse for irresponsible/destructive behaviour.
On the upside, we can see she was instantly regretful after the deed was done and confessed her sins. I hope this time CH will be firm with her and draw the line and she finally learns that she can't keep interfering in CH's life and seeks the help she needs to not allow her insecurities and traumas to keep making bad decisions for her.

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Well put about SY. I got a similar sense, and did not take the instant dislike that everyone else did. Like it was pointed above, everyone's actions are backed by a story, and hers too was not just random nosiness, but came from a sense of insecurity. You may not agree with it, but the show does a good job of explaining why she did what she did. It's all very convincing.

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Yes, and it seems like even her mother is still 'friends' with the person who assaulted her. That is disgusting. I also don't feel like I can blame her actions because she has backstories. I just hope that her actions won't put those two lovebirds in difficult situations again.

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Sang-shik's insecurities ate him all throughout those years.

This made me think that we never really know what goes on in another person’s mind unless we ask. The statement ‘Never assume unless otherwise stated’ has never been truer. This also goes to Eun-hee. Which brings me to, Chan-hyuk aahhhh, she should be hurt when he said those words, because I was! She assumed he would do such a terrible thing and maybe CH should have given EH the chance to talk because it’s clearly plausible to conclude that. However, CH has been catering to EH, so I guess it’s time for her to go after him. For her to know more about CH (so we can have more details about him too, it’s been 11 eps Show, come on) and listen to his concerns in life too.

I’m a little disappointed that we don’t see much of maknae. Even during the scenes with the siblings. Come to think of it though, maknaes don’t really get to talk much in a family meeting. I saw the making of this scene the other day and it was interesting to see the actors expressing their thoughts on this and that the director had to cut them.

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I also need more maknae.
I relate to him so much. I'm the little sister in my family and also the little cousin on my dad's side, so no matter I'm a grown adult by now, in my family I'm just "the little girl" and I guess it will be like that even when I'm 80. Sure.

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Same. I'm also the youngest in the family. Every time they ask how old I am, they get shocked. Being a maknae has it's advantages and disadvantages xD

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Seoyoung went went through Chamhyuk's phone AND went to Eunhee to talk about stuff that's none of her business? What's wrong with people in this drama? Why does everybody have a stalker at work and think that's ok?

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*Chanhyuk

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I just can't believe CH didn't fire her or scold her or get angry at her... no, he was just upset because he understood why EH was so distant... C'mon, CH you need to start saying NO *roll eyes*

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I wanted him to scold SY for that. He didn't have to be so understanding because she went over the line.

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I second that! He's too much of a nice guy to be real!

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Riiight? I want one!

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Please find one with a twin. And when you do, ping me.

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@pickleddragon Will do! And if you find one first, do tell

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If I can't have him, I'll take a Ryan Gold or HaeKyung, please.

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@eazal ..Hae-Kyung...Deep Sign..Yes, please!!

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@eazal, no Im Eunseob? He also had lots of books... 📚📚📚

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@flyingcolours I was also thinking about my puppy EunSeob, but just focusing on the closest age segment, you know, haha.

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@eazal In these matters, age can be overlooked. What are noonas there for anyway.

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Agree! We're just admiring for afar the qualities of different fictional boyfriends... Age is just a number!

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The Kims have this default mode of always assuming the worst about the people they love. It runs in the family - it's a learned behaviour- and it's rooted in insecurity and defensiveness. It's terrible, but as a fellow sufferer, I totally get it. Even if they realize that they have this tendency, whenever they feel insecure, they fall back to this pattern.

Anyway, CH didn't really give EH a chance to process what she heard... @quirkycase, saying that CH's reaction stems from them not having sorted out their fall out from years before is a really good insight, thanks for pointing that out!

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I agree about the learned behaviour. The show is basically just repeating the same pattern over and over again. (for some disjointed reason, I was reminded of Downton Abbey, which I thought was one show where the relationship patterns just kept repeating themselves season after season, with no resolution in sight. How do you break out of it, is the question? Is the outsider - e.g., Chan Hyuk - the catalyst?

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Family patterns, who really gets rid of those? Reminds me of Philip Larkin's poem This Be the Verse ( "They f*ck you up, your mum and dad. They may not mean to, but they do...").
CH helps, because he's confronting her with what she's doing. But what she needs is self-awareness: to realize she does that, and to learn to spot it when she falls back into it...
Anyway, everybody has their own struggles! EH strikes me as the most well-adjusted individual in her family, she'll figure it out!

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This episode was rather a problem creator for the narrative drive I think, but Chanhyuk getting mad, Jinsook and Sangshik realizing they have wasted YEARS of misunderstanding for literally nothing is utterly depressing tbh.

But, at least the sibling saga fed me well. Eunjoo was harsh, but like Taehyung said it's like she's TRYING to provoke war in every relatiohship she has as if she wanted to project her hidden anger after all these years. But the noonas interventing Jiwoo like trapping a mice shows that afterall they still care about him, and I love they somehow push him to grow up but in the same time treats him as their baby. Gah. But, Jiwoo does need a hug, so it's such a relief he has Chanhyuk whom he can always talk to.

And like I have always said, Chanhyuk and Eunhee's up and down entertains me but doesn't really make me worry about their future about with how they act right now, there's just no way they'll manage to cut each other off again. So I think they just need time.
Gah I can't wait for the next episode recaps! 💜

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If only all characters in this drama talked to each other...

If EunHee and ChanHyeok had an honest conversation, telling each other how they feel about the other (or that they are confused about how they feel about the other), we could have some advance, in any direction: friends or lovers. I don't care as long as they are together because these two need each other.

If JS and SS have talked from the beginning and not assume that the other was cheating: the phone calls were not from a lover, JS didn't abandoned the family and was never in contact with EJ's dad, SS would have shared the burden of the accident. I really like that the memory loss led SS to realize he couldn't live the way he was doing anymore, because it was making him, JS and all their family miserable. I like he's trying to change things, make amends and heal wounds.

TH is so right about what he told EJ: she always pick up a fight. She needs to blame someone. I can't understand the way she wants to hurt dad. Because she wants to hurt him. Parents are not biological, parents are the ones who raise you and love you. Denying SS being her dad is really cruel. Yet, she always tells the truth: she may have been hard and made our maknae cry, but he needed to hear what she said. He's been hiding behind "I'm maknae" all his life, and he's an adult now...

And finally, can we talk about Seo Young? She went through her boss private texts and she doesn't get fired? I sometimes think CH is not a good person but a little bit stupid.

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This family don't talk, they assume.

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Maknae needed a nudge to stop acting out. And a hug, maknae always needs a good hug!

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I’ll volunteer to hug him 🙋🏼‍♀️

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I agree! CH is definitely not the sharpest on the scene. I feel maknae is more perceptive than CH is. CH is advantaged right now because so many people - EH, maknae, Seo Young - are all using him as an emotional trashcan. While he has won himself that role by being the high EQ kind of person he is, it is not because he is smart. If he were, he'd have played the EH game very differently...

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Seo Young is like his little sister, he told her, and she's suffering so I guess it's why he's so kind with her. But at least, she told the truth pretty fast and apologized.

But yeah even little sister needs a good scolding sometimes :p

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"Parents are not biological, parents are the ones who raise you and love you. Denying SS being her dad is really cruel."
This!!

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I'm beginning to wonder if Koreans ever talk to each other. It seems to me that most Kdramas are based on the idea that they don't.

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Hmm... I can relate to the Kims well. I’ve observed this in my Asian surroundings (along with my peers’), my parents never talked about anything except for what needs to be done, what needs to be paid for. Any emotional talk were always swept under the rug. Appearing “strong” is what they believe could earn them respect. I grew up really resentful of my parents because most communication were always one way, usually a top-down pattern (dad to everyone).

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Seeing SS finally coming clean with Miss Sook felt good, but I was a bit, "Really, Dad?".
Now they are clearing things out, remembering the nice things and reconnecting. But should she really forgive him decades of "hard time", just like that? I find 22-year-old Dad cute, and understand now that he's not a bad guy at heart, but not telling her anything, scrounging the money she needed to raise their family, his outbursts of shouting and throwing things around... All that sounds kind of like domestic abuse to me - he wasn't hitting her, but was being a total ass for no good reason, and made her feel miserable and trapped. Drama is sweeping all that under the rug, especially if Dad gets really gets sick, and I think that they should address it somehow

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It was clearly domestic abuse.
SS may be nice and warm now after he wen back to his 22 and could analyze what he had been doing wrong (sort of Mr. Scrooge and the ghost of Past Christmas), so it's nice he tries to change things, talk to Miss Suk and heal the wounds... But I'd rather they didn't go the romantic way. I need Miss Suk to live her life and smile wide and open and be free.
But giving the amount of makjang of this drama, terminal illness comes to mind...

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Yes! I'm kind of sorry that Fruit-ahjussi was a red herring...

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TBH I don't find the show has set up either of the parents as likable characters, in their youths or now. Yes, they have emotional baggage which has guided their every move, and yes, you can use that to defend their actions throughout. But they did not ever not have options - they merely chose not to exercise them, and went with the worst case scenario. It's as though they had predetermined that their lives would be bleak and miserable, and set out to make that come true.

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They way they assumed things affected their life in a terrible way, an also their kids. EJ is the best example of that, she’s being assuming things forever and decided she needed an enemy to be angry at (first mum, now dad), while EH decided she would always be in the middle and cheer everybody up just avoid confrontation. So sad. Such terrible parents... providing food and a roof is not enough.

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When EH asked her dad why he didn't tell them about Young Sik, and he replied that he couldn't take a chance on being sent to prison and leaving them without a breadwinner--that was telling for me. As shown, the entire family has a hard time keeping their mouths shut, except EJ (she seems to not want to tell anyone anything). I can also see that SS lived under a lot of stress for years, which probably brought out his aggressive behavior. Again--People, Honesty Is The Best Policy!

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What frustrates me is this drama seems to keep insisting that Chanhyuk is devoid of blame in any of the arguments he and Eunhee have. Sure, it can hurt to be suspected of something you didn’t do, but how can he expect Eunhee do expect differently of him when this is the THIRD time something like this has happened with him, that he has failed to clarify. He remains mum regarding his innocence, and allowances her assumptions to go unchecked, and then gets offended when Eunhee jumps to similar conclusions about him based on what she believes falls in line with his past behaviour.

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This is a fair point, it wouldn't occur to most people that an employee or even a friend would go through your phone, so what was she supposed to assume.

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And the fact that she distanced herself to collect her thoughts, to not explode and accuse him of smth that he might not have done should count for smth. She knows her behaviour pattern and so she tries to break free from it but what she gets in return is Chan Hyuk ending their friendship. I really don't get his thought process behind this.

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Why does Han Ye-ri's cutesy portrayals come out looking forced?

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Because it should be forced, it's EH way of coping things. She needed to please everyone to get on their good side that's why she acts cute. Well, that's how I see it xD

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On point! They're forced because she's forcing herself to act like that... I want Mr Player out of the scene, but he made a really good point - dude has observation skills!

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I give him that, his books and his good looks ;) he's still a jerk

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It's hard to resist that big library (😉@eazal) and those cute glasses. He's a schmexy jerk...

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But I think that his feelings for her are sincere just with a very bad timing. He should have to take care of his last relationship before.

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@flyingcolours you know I have a weakness for Mr. Player and his library 🤷🏼‍♀️

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@kurama, I don't question his feelings - I question his methods. About the girlfriend, I'm fairly sure drama is setting him up for a reveal: maybe she's got a drinking problem, or psychological issues, and he's been trying to help her, something like that...
@eazal, me too, me too...

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That makes sense! I completely missed that!

All this time I've been cringing everytime she makes a cutesy face. Lol. Thanks.

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You did notice it was forced xD. That's what I love about this cast, the acting has been exceptional.

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Thanks for the recap, @quirkycase! IDK how I feel about Eun-joo right now. I can understand she's upset knowing she's not the real daughter but Eun-hee's lack of confidence is because Eun-joo's the favorite daughter. Is she upset that she took care of the family when her dad got sick? Or is she lashing out at everyone around her because her life isn't doing well despite the money she has? I love Eun-hee and Chan-yuk's friendship.

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I think she's just lashing out because she feels miserable. Right now she must feel that her whole life is a lie. It's terrible, not defending her actions, but I can see where she's coming from.
No amount of money can take away the feeling of betrayal (although I agree that crying in that beautiful apartment - where she could dry her tears in won bills instead of tissues - is not optically great to make the viewers feel sorry for her)

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Still about EJ: how sad is it that she spent her marriage not having a real conversation with TH?
I'm not letting him off the hook for his horrendous coming out and choking, but I kind of like that they are becoming allies against his mommy dearest and that they SEE each other

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I don't think she felt upset because she had to take care of her family but because her mother didn't thank or make a remark about it, she thought that her mum took it for granted when she suffered a lot.

Eun-Joo is a person who needs to control everything in her life and now it's not possible : her father is not her father, her husband doesn't like women. She can't do anything about it and she's trying to rationalize it to control it.

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Well said.

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I think EJ's brooding personality was deep seeded in her childhood--when she thought her mother was going to kill her and then commit suicide. She is so sullen, and hates that she's felt forced all her life to do things she doesn't want to do: supporting the family; marrying someone she really doesn't have feelings for; going through painful treatments to have a child; etc. Then when she finds out the secrets that have been hidden in her life, it is just more than she can take, making her even more sullen. Why doesn't she tell her whole family that she is going to get a divorce? I think that's an important question.

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I think Eun-joo does/did love his husband. Only he doesnt love her, or only like her as a friend.

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I just read EJ's expressions when she first brought TH home to have dinner with her family. She didn't exactly look happy about the situation. I was wondering if she wasn't getting married in order to
get out of the house.

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What I love about this drama is the growth arc of the parents.

So many kdramas have terrible parents where the solution seems the be that:
a) the child realises that parent was just terrible for Their Own Good & forgives them (or - my pet-hate - asks for forgiveness for having been such a terrible child)
b) the child just accepts their parent is terrible
c) they break off contact

My Unfamiliar Family does something so much more satisfying in that the parents finally understand what's gone wrong and do their best to fix it. Fix it imperfectly, of course, but I am so enjoying the journey Sang-shik and Miss Sook are on, trying to make things better both with their children and eachother.

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Great insight! 👍👍👍

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This drama, as simple as it seems, keeps me watching every single detail and every character, because it feels so real!!
Wow, great acting as well.... really really good.

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I am not sure these people deserve happiness! How many serious (but small) misunderstanding affected their long period of their lives .How come they never talked about. Eun-hee & Chan-hyuk especially so annoying to watch. There are so many things untold when they are talking! These are grown up guys not 20ies something!

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Misunderstandings and making the wrong choices in life is normal,it happens, they dealt with it though we might disagree with those. Also, being open does not go with age. We probably keep more as we grow old.

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The sibling dynamics this show...Chef's kiss... it's shown in all it's petty,messy yet loving glory..
*Man, EJ does not come to play. It makes total sense that she's a lawyer. I wouldn't want to go up against her in any setting. Her asking JW if he's not responding to her since she's no longer his older sister. Wow..that was too real, esp when we know JW's biggest worry after finding the birth secret was that he ha unknowingly preferred his full sibling coz he found EJ's personalty uncomfortable. And then baldly stating that Mr.SSK only has two children..oof both JW and EH's faces were pictures of the hurt an betrayal they felt from their oldest sibling.
*How badly EH tried to shield their maknae from the fierce unnie while also not-so gently trying to call him out on being a brat to their mother.
*Ofc EJ then called both of them out..JW of being an ungrateful son and EH of always trying to b the peacemaker
*For me the most real moment was after EJ left. When EH speaks knowingly about EJ's soft heart beyond layyyyers of hardness and how she acknowledges the burdens of being the oldest and how that has shaped EJ. And then ofc the youngest two bicker and taunt the other to be better children . #relatable

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Sibling scenes in this drama are: *chef's kiss
EH and JW have a rapport - their bickering, the shared croissants, lol- that EJ doesn't have with any of them... It makes me think that deep down she always felt lonely in her family. Probably it's more about her being the eldest (and their skewed family dynamics) than different genes, but it must have contributed to make her "harder"

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That scene with EJ,TH Nd the spreadsheet . The look on TH's face when EJ said she already had it prepared and only needed to plug the latest numbers in..I both laughed and winced. It's smart to have asset distributions handy but it's also clear that it isn't just cold logic and reason that drove her to make sure she had herself covered in that marriage.
Also not too sure why TH keeps cautioning about his mother. May be the clinic is a family busines, so she could get involved in splitting income. But surely TH being an adult would have control over his own finances and assets(?) Although I dearly want to see EJ take TH's omma to the cleaners I'm unsure why TH can't just veto mother dearest lawyering up on his behalf?
I do agree with TH's statement that EJ isn't as spiteful as she thinks herself to be.I am betting that when confronted with her favourite parent, EJ will find it much harder to be harsh than she has been to everyone else in the family.

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Sang Shik since the beginning of their relationship has a huge inferiority complex that has affected his decisions and ultimately his relationships with his wife and children. This feeling that Sook settled by being with him because she did not have any other choices stayed with him and it nvr felt that he was enough for her and their children. He even feels "less than" in front of his college-educated kids, maybe that is the reason his relationship with his adoptive son and grand-son is so close and intense, maybe he identifies with them more and does not need to prove that he is enough with them. Eun Joo still tires me: girl, please breathe! She is so stiff and inflexible with her emotions, I mean, really girl? He is not your father anymore? Someone who obviously loves you so much? Finally, Eun Hee and Chan Hyuk, again, I prefer them as friends and I dnt think Chan Hyuk's anger is that far-fetched: Eun Hee does not trust him at all! @quirkycase is right, she must still have some trust issues from feeling betrayed by him. I also agree that Chan Hyuk nvr apologized for this. Eun Hee is always the one apologizing and making amends... with everyone!

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That's a great insight into SS being more comfortable with his adopted son and grandson. YS looks to be uncritical and grateful of SS's presence in his life whereas with his kids he might have always felt the pressure of expectations and the unspoken anxieties about the strains of his relationship with their mother.

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It didn't occur to me that SS could feel more comfortable with his "found" family than with his real one... That's heartbreaking, but it makes so much sense! I was having a hard time to understand why would he move in with them, but now I get it

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I think both CH and I were hoping this episode would start with a kiss and a change of relationship, and were frustrated that didn't happen. I get that they still have baggage to address and that the issue at the end of the episode is not really new. I suppose it's better for them to have to confront that baggage first than carry it into a changed relationship. We don't want to see them end up like SS and JS. But come on, guys! Take care of that business and move on to the good stuff!!

I thought Boss's analysis of EH was intriguing. He seemed to be saying she doesn't allow herself to fight for her dreams. For her, that's been a survival skill. I guess he's secretly hoping he's her dream, and inviting her to pursue him. I'm hoping instead those words give her a push to go after CH and her stalled writing career.

This episode laid a lot groundwork for ep. 12, so I'm looking forward to say more in next recap.

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Seems like boss is not giving up on EH anytime soon. He went through her desk, much like SY went through CH's phone and that's how he discovered that she was collecting children's book. When he texted that he thought of driving EH's car back for her, I got really scared as well as irritated. Thank god he didn't. And I'm glad that EH mentioned that getting help apart from work was uncomfortable.

On a lighter note, I like Hyo seok's glasses and pushed down hair much cuter. I hope we still get to see more of him. Or atleast that he makes up with EJ.

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@superwhopotterlock, nice to see your name pop up. Seems like a long time since I've run across you in the comments section.

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Hey @lindag latebloomer!!!
Yeah it's been ages. I do lurk around db sometimes but commenting has become a rarity. I'm not seeing many things and by the time I catch up, the recaps have long been posted and people would have already said whatever was on my mind.

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Hyo Seok is such a puzzle to me--and I've already seen episode 12. Sometimes I wonder if something IS lost in translation--or is it that I need to learn to read faster? What was Hyo Seok's relationship to EJ? I just don't get it.

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He lost the guy he loved to her husband. He saw that she knew nothing about this, and tried to be a friend to her, both before and after she found out.

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He said he took the job because he wanted to learned more about the man his boyfriend had fallen for, but then he met EJ and actually liked her and felt comfortable with, and wanted to be a real friend to her.

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After you watch episode 12 you can maybe explain to me why Hyo Seok called TH a coward, yet Hyo Seok turned out to be just that, a coward.

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Gah!! I hate that near kiss fakeout!! I just want them to make out with abandon without so much line drawing!!
@eazal Gawd, GJ's library is to die for!!

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The library, his glasses (yes @flyingcolours I also noticed), the fact that he's a hunk, his casual style, the way he looks at her and encourages her to become a writer... because I believe all he does is because he sees the real talent in EH.
It's really hard to resist that evil voice telling you to fall again...
Oh, man, I would be lost with no redemption, I'm telling you...

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Resist..don't go to the dark (luscious) side Eazal!

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I’ve fallen for one like him before. Scary enough, he also had some strings left attached. Haha, there was no redemption for me then. Heartbreak!!!

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If only I didn't have a clue what you're talking about...

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Normally a library like that would get me and he’s handsome, smart, and perceptive. He should be my type but every time I see him I have warning signs go off in my head. He keeps pushing EH even after she clearly stated that she doesn’t want to be involved. That is extremely dismissive of her feelings and her ability to make decisions.

I’m also comparing the viewers and my reactions to GJ’s actions and MY’s actions in Its okay not to be Okay. Both characters are disregarding the stated needs to the person they like. To me though MY blatantly ignores the boundaries set by KT she doesn’t really have any power over him. GJ on the other hand is EH’s boss and can ruin her reputation and livelihood, so GJ is much more sinister. yet most reactions to him are milder than to the reactions to MY. It’s interesting and fascinating.

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Even within this drama, SY going through CH’s phone is being (rightfully) called out. But GJ went through stuff on EH’s desk and picked up her car keys and considered driving her car to her home at night. Even if he didn’t do it just him thinking it’s okay is very scary. Him texting her that he chose to not do it because he is respecting her is also scary because it shows how much power he has in that relationship. Guy is toxic.

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I was creeped out during that scene. That was scary!

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That text creeped me out too!

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The text was totally creepy!!!
I agree with you on every thing you've said in this comment and the previous one.
But, as @misshoggy has said, when you're there, you know and yet... heartbroken.

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Ahh, they better not drag the falling out for too long, I really want my ship to sail. On another note this part especially felt close to my heart:
The world treats ordinary people without ambition as if they're pathetic. So I wondered if I should feel ashamed. But I decided to make living without ambition my goal. Then does that mean I have ambition and a goal?

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I feel so close to what EH said. I respect ambitious people, but... must I be one of them? Can't I live a normal and ordinary life? would it be a failure? I'll tell you: NO. Very big NO.

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Same here and on a general note I relate to many of Eun Hee's insecurities. Although I'm guessing she does have ambition since the show has been hinting at the writer thing.

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I love this drama! Every episode has a part that makes me cry :( i like how we think we know the characters but there’s always sth more... can I just give the entire family big hugs 😭

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Let's make it a group hug. Me included.

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I want to hug maknae in the first place.
And then EJ and JS. They really need one!

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I don't know when it happened, I don't know how, but I am legit obsessed with this show. It might be the intense emotions it inspires, or that I am low-key crushing on Han Ye-ri/hyping Han Ye-ri and Kim Ji-suk IRL, but whatever, this show has me hooked.

Sang-shik and Ji-sook...they should be listed as one of the most tragic couples in drama. Man alive, three kids and thirty-odd years together, and all this misery is due to assumptions? It's terrible to me that these two people who clearly love each other can't get over their insecurities and fear long enough to hold on to each other.

Which, like an inherited trait, is expressed in their three children. Gah, don't get me started on Eun-joo. They keep saying she's soft inside, but she's not custard soft. She's the softness of rotting fruit. I am tired of her behaving this way towards her siblings and parents, but she can't muster up 1/10th of the venom for her awful MiL and Tae-hyung.

Eun-hui and Chan-hyuk are the friends-to-lovers story I want to see as a sixteen-episode, 80-minute JTBC production. There is so much relationship there to explore, so much backstory and quiet story and heart-fluttering story, that, even though MUF is doing it well, it's not enough.

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I know, at one point I just looked forward to the next week episodes and realized that oh well I’m already hooked. 🤔

And yes to the exploration for CH and EH’s relationship from friends to couple. I love both of them and always feel like they are really a breadth of fresh air. I love their insecurities and subtle and silent heart-fluttering moments and the doubts about the other’s actions/words’ meaning. There is so much to be explored and I can’t wait for more.

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I usually don’t ship drama OTPs in real life but after seeing some of their interviews, how cute are these two????

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Resentful parents.... will breed resentful children.
The eldest is so full of pride.... instead of being grateful...now found a reason to unfamily everyone. She is her mom's own doing ....almost hopeless.

Second girl is so lacking in guidance ...now reaching mid-life and still messed up. Bedding your boss is not always a ticket to peace and happiness... and now wants to cling to an equally messed up dude. The youngest needs to grow up and leave his mother's "basement". Time to enlist or drive his father's truck instead. Dad never went to college but managed to eke out a modest home and a decent family name.

These children are mothered into resentment and ingratitude. They should have learned gratefulness and humility like the adopted son.

Drama title should be.... "A Familiar Unfamily".... just saying.

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Finally caught up to this drama!!! It feels like 100 episodes of Soap condensed into 16 episode package.. It moves at a breakneck speed!! I'm all for it!!!
Also don't hurt the poor maknae!! 😖😖

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