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Dal-li and Gamjatang: Episodes 3-4 Open Thread

As our curator determines to stay in Seoul, she is forced to take stock of her situation, confronting not only the massive debt that she’s been left in, but grieving the loss of her father. Two figures emerge that seem willing to offer her support, and while one is complicated by romantic history, the other is complicated by finances.

 
EPISODES 3-4 WEECAP

Poor Dal-li is in quite a pickle. She might be the heiress of a well-respected family, but she hasn’t a cent to her name, and word is spreading fast. It seems like every day more debt is revealed, and Dal-li has barely managed to quell one problem when another arises. Her naiveté was a bit more transparent in this week’s episodes than last; now we see how helpless she is without the wealth she’s so used to having. I have no doubt Dal-li can run a gallery with wealthy donors anxious to be involved, but what about save one that’s gone belly-up? It’s a good thing her new acquaintance has a knack for making money.

First, though, they have to get on the same page. We left off last week with Moo-hak and his gamjatang-makers-turned-gangsters invading the gallery. Moo-hak is horrified to see that his debtor is actually Dal-li, but he’s about as good at saving face as he is at acting refined.

Moo-hak pressures Dal-li to pay back her loan, and while he’s rough and severe when everyone else is around, the second they’re not, the facade breaks. He waits outside for her that evening and catches her from a fall, and they not only have romantic toppling #2, but he accompanies her to a luxury mall where she’s off to replace her shoes that just broke.

I love Moo-hak’s penny-pinching ways. He acts like money has no meaning for his incredible wealth, and yet simultaneously his world revolves around making money — and keeping it. He uses (or tries to use) coupons for everything from energy drinks to designer shoes, and we even find out later that he buys all of his flashy designer goods second-hand. He might not know that he doesn’t fit into the world of the upper crust, but everyone around him knows it. Even his assistant YEO MI-RI (Hwang Bora) tells him that Da-li “has something you lack.”

But right now, Dal-li is very much at the end of her rope. She’s sold her family home, but their debt is still sky high. Her employees are barely holding on, her older cousin is basically a waste, and everyone is pushing her to ask for help from Segi Group, who’s their last hope. We learn that Dal-li was once engaged (and seemingly much in love) to the Segi Group heir, JANG TAE-JIN (Kwon Yul). In flashbacks we see a painful breakup scene — and we understand straight away why Dal-li can’t bring herself to beg the man who abandoned her in the past to help her in the present.

But of course there’s more to that story than meets the eye. Tae-jin seems cold as ice, but we see glimmers of his heart. I particularly liked him fussing in the back of his car with his tie, complaining about the event he was going to, only to ditch it the second Dal-li called him. His nonchalance towards her is a facade; we can tell that he still cares for her deeply. To Dal-li, though, to go to him would crush her pride.

The Dal-li/Tae-jin dynamic unfolds for us a bit more this week, but unfortunately that means less of Dal-li’s cop friend and almost-brother JOO WON-TAK (Hwang Hee).

Last week we met him as the perfect foil for Tae-jin. Tae-jin is icy and expressionless; Won-tak, on the other hand, is warm and real and emotional. We got a great peek at him and how he treats Dal-li last week, so I’m anxious to see more of his character (sans any impending heartbreak, of course. Our OTP is a delight, but I’m not going to pretend I won’t also feel serious SLS if Won-tak reveals any romantic feelings for Dal-li).

With Dal-li unable or unwilling to ask for help from Tae-jin, she’s left without anyone to help her… until Moo-hak turns up. The fates keep pulling these two together, whether it’s over shoes at a shopping mall, or over soju at a local restaurant. While there’s certainly attraction between them, one is too hot-headed, and the other too innocent, to understand that just yet.

So in the meantime, we learn how well they actually complement each other. Dal-li has the demeanor, grace, and disposition, and Moo-hak has the business sense. When they join forces, I imagine they’ll be unstoppable, and lucky for them (and us) at the end of our episodes this week, we start to see the beginnings of that alliance.

We also see a little more of Moo-hak’s family this week, from the increasingly shady stepbrother, to his gaudy stepmother (played by Seo Jung-yeon in a great Brahms reunion — they are both playing such polar opposite characters!). Moo-hak’s stepmother pretends to be on his side, when in fact she is trying to get her son more influence, using every technique she can to block Moo-hak’s strong energy.

Ducky painting or no ducky painting, I don’t think Moo-hak will be stoppable. He’s a force to be reckoned with, and though he has his flaws and falsehoods, he has a good heart, and a serious weak spot for our soft-spoken curator.

While this week’s episodes were a little lighter on plot, we built more necessary background, and set the stage for Dal-li and the difficult situations she will encounter. But this drama’s strength is really its comedy — those Caw! sound effects, the excellent comedic timing of the actors, and just some of the silly, harebrained moments we get. Kim Min-jae, in particular, is just delightful here, from the delivery of his lines, to his emphatic facial expressions. I can’t wait to see Moo-hak’s bombasticism and misnomers come into play in new, unexpected circumstances.

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I feel like even though this week was light on the plot, it explored our characters and their family more. I loved that Moo Hak is blunt with Dali when it comes to money. He doesn't hide his approach to money, regardless of his feelings for her. The point where he told her that she is in the wrong when it comes to doing charity with other people's money was so very true and on point. I love that Dali respects art but at the same time realises that it is directly related to money. I want to know why Tae Jin broke up with Dali. It seems like someone made him do that. I liked the scene of him fussing over his tie in the car, mainly because I want to see this cold guy sweat it out for making our girl suffer. I love that Dali doesn't let anyone trample her over. She may not be naive when it comes to money but she isn't a pushover. I also like that this drama shows how galleries are dependent on wealthy people but at the same time the purpose they can serve to the common people who wish to enjoy art. The drunken scene where Dali calls Moo Hak a handsome money grubber and strokes his hair made me smile from ear to ear. I want more of this couple each week.

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I am finally able to see Kim Min Jae's charm😍 that other beanies have been talking about. I also like the OST in this drama, the music is as classy and dignified like Dali. Unlike "You are my spring", the mystery here doesn't bother me and the story about art/gallery is refreshing.

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Ditto all this.

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They introduced a few more characters around Moo-hak which is good. I wonder what role the 2FL? is going to play but I like that she seems to be more of a friend than another love triangle. Their lunch at the cafeteria was hilarious and the fact that they were oblivious to the snickers of the students around them are too funny.

Moohak indeed has a good business sense and if there is anyone that can turn around that museum, it would be him. But Dali is not a candy too, she does know how to land some snarky comeback especialy to that chaebol who belittled her.

Anyway, while I am enjoying the scenes, I still kept wondering, what happened to the watch?

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Me too! I was wondering if she has sold it, or why she didn’t sell it, or why everybody especially MH seems to forget about it. The watch costs some hundred of dollars, that surely is some money, isn’t it?

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That watch cost tens of thousands of dollars. And it is probably somewhere in Dali's luggage.

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I was wondering about the watch too. It would be so fun if she returned it to him in front of his assistant.

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The watch is on its way from Netherlands with Dali’s other stuff.

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The episodes were fun but I would like more talking about art and less about money.

Moo-Hak is all about money, we didn't see him really working. I mean he's the boss and he has the time to make a sitting in a museum (twice)? To go to a gallery reunion, buy coffee, shopping, etc.

I wonder what Tae-Jin asked Da-Li to do in the past, sell the gallery? Take her father's position? I'm pretty sure it's the reason she doesn't to ask his help.

I wonder when the ML and FL will realize they surround by the villains, they're pretty obvious though...

I love their chemistry, it really works!

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I'm pretty sure that Tae Jin didn't ask of Dali anything so elaborate - he probably only told her something in the lines "I want you to accept this breakup".

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Why letting us in the dark, if it's so simple?

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I think shocking her was the best way to make her accept the break-up.

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I think it was just a poetic way to tell the story. Her saying she would do anything, meaning "anything to save the relationship", and then him taking it literally (on purpose, not because he didn't understand), and telling her that she should then do what he wants and give up - but we are only shown her devastation, to make the emotional impact bigger. It seems like a classic drama trope to me, nothing more to it :)

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this was my understanding of it too.

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I really do not like Tae-jin- who seems to be playing a double game. of some sort, even though he obviously wants Dali back. It is obvious that while it was Tae-jin who broke up with Dali five years ago that this was not his idea- rather his family forced him to do it. Which is why we have to ask if his family had something to do with the desperate situation the museum is now in- or did her worthless cousin have something to do with it- or perhaps with her father's death. Remember that her 'brother' the detective is in this drama for a reason.

IN any case I love our OTP- these two really do complement each other- and Missvictrix is right in thinking that once these two really get together they will be unstoppable.

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More than sure the Nephew is responsable for her Dad's death and he is working with somebody else,my guess a woman...Looks like there is also someone who knew about this shaddy stuff going on as he left evidence that Dad found back then...Curious if he was selling behind their back the paintings and adding fakes in their place and Mook-hak's step brother is the main key to uncover it but looks like he plans to use this info to blackmail his way into making business with them...Might be wrong but really deslike that assistant that clearly hates/deslikes Dal Li to a bone so now curious if she is in with that worm as she seemed to actually respect the Chairman(guess she might have recieved help as well in the past maybe and desired herself as her daughter or reading too much in her)...
I don't think Ta Jin family has anything to do with the downfall,bet it's an in- house robbery considering that mostly all the assets Dad had were donated so his Gallery wasn't well going for some good time and what the worm did added the last nail...

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I think you may be right.

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This drama is delightful. While the OTP is my front and centre favorite (who complement each other way), Dali and Tajin’s scenes have weight and undercurrent that is devastatingly attractive.

Can’t wait to see the growth journey of our two leads.

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I am there with you on the undercurrent between Tae Jin and Dali. He seems like the quiet intense type. I am interested in the drama exploring him

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I love your words "devastatingly attractive". I can't think of any better words to describe how I feel about their relationship. However, I think it's one-sided.

Me in the past would have been so head-over-heel for a guy like Taejin. He has everything. But me now would have passed this elegant choice; the guy is too deep and isn't in anyway supportive or invested.

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Tae Jin wants Dali but does not really care for her- it seems like pure possessiveness- which is why he acceded to his family's command five years ago- and now we know that the family's wishes have not changed since then.

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I love this drama and its fun BUT I just dont get the plot holes! How is Dali, A woman who speaks 7 languages and has a PHD and was a top curator at a European art firm not have enough money to buy shoes and stay at a hotel? I mean Yes, I get it, your father had debts but what about her personal monies. I mean I would think she would have made well into the 6 figures working for that gallery she was at. Did it all disappear like a poof of smoke? IDK..

This week was a little weak but still cute and funny.. The bar scene had me gushing.. that was really cute. I love Moo Hak character but that secretary lady who keeps disrespecting Dali is working my last nerve. I'm like okay, Fired, next.

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6 figures working for that gallery is possible only in countries like China and US. Considering that she generally did the publications and a bit of management work in the gallery, I suspect her salary wasn't that high.
Besides, her inheritance is probably worthy of a negative number. E.g a gallery and a debt that is five times the price of the gallery. In that case, if she decides to accept the gallery, she is also taking the responsibility to pay off the debt. Thus, she is losing her personal money.

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Lets agree to disagree, European galleries pay in Euro which is technically higher than USD, also, European galleries do pay equal if not more than American galleries because they are much more supported in Europe. Plus, people go to Europe to visit museums. People visit America for art museums to a much lesser degree.

Next, she has a PHD, so you think someone with a PHD is getting paid pesos? Even if she only made 60K, she can't afford shoes? Even if she took on her father's debts, she has been in Korea for like 7 seconds.. and from what we have seen, she hasnt paid anyone off yet so where is her money? There is no way she shouldnt have money to book a hotel.

The reason why I said this is because I have seen this plothole SEVERAL times in other dramas where the female lead is the daughter of a chaebol and kicked out of the house and she has NO MONEY? DOes that even make sense.. Remember innocent man with SJK and how the female lead had to go live in the ghetto with SJK because the dad kicked her out even though she was a Director at a multi-national conglomerate.. ROFL.. Its ridiculous.. I mean are these people paid a salary.. IDK, its just annoying.. So she couldnt sell anything around her home? Her father is a museum owner and her grandfather was but there are no private pieces in the house? They were the most elite family in Korea but there are no valuable? Jewelry? SIlver or Gold bars stashed away.. Like I said.. it just doesnt make sense that she can't afford shoes or a hotel.. its a plot hole.

Even if she is trying to pay off her fathers debts, she should have a few thousand dollars for the basic necessities. I mean her inheritance is tied up but its just weird that an educated woman would not have a dollar to her name regardless of how much debt her family had. As a working woman, I would know.

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I checked on a Dutch website (because I'm sad like that).

Museum curators in the Netherlands are paid a maximum of E4,500 a month, that's less than $60k a year. Technically, museum curators in many European countries are civil servants and it's not a 6-figure job.

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I should add that like many of the jobs in the Arts, it's one of those that you can only do and have a certain lifestyle if you're supported by the Bank of Mum & Dad - as Dali clearly was. With my (non-drama) budgeting hat on, there was no way she could have lived that lifestyle in Amsterdam (which I guess is where she was supposed to be?) without her father paying for her rent and her credit cards. Which promptly got blocked when he died.

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its still enough to buy shoes and a hotel.. I dont think your getting my point. She won scholarships so she has no education debt ( or shouldnt). Even if she made 30K a year, she was living in that gorgeous house so I assumed that she has some money, if her family was picking up the tab, she wasnt paying rent so where did the 4500 a month go?

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Dali is a researcher at the Dutch gallery and how much she earned there is besides the point. She never has to worry about money all her life until now. It’s the cards (from her father?) that paid for everything and none of her stuff is what general salaried people have. The shoes she was getting from that department stores seem to be Salvatore Ferragamo or similar brands. One pair of those shoes could be months salary for others. But that’s the life as she knows it - and you have to wonder if she’s ever been to a COSTCO or Target. She was in the top 3%, if not top 1%, and her salary is just the icing on the cake.

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I was recently reading about employees at GOOP and the author mentioned something like this. How often certain jobs like at Vogue will hire the children of very rich people. So the small salary and perks such as entrance to parties and freebies is all just icing on the cake like you say.

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I think your missing the point.. If she did not spend money on her education, clothing, housing, etc.. If all she bought was her food then WHERE DID HER MONEY GO? If her Dad was picking up the tab for everything and she was working, she should have a nice little nest egg.

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As I said, debt also eats out your personal finances. People with huge debts avoid using cards because bank automatically takes money from it.

Besides, Da Li had other landers, besides Moo Hak and gallery's small loan lenders, that she most likely already paid to. For those lenders she sold her belongings+house.

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Lol, okay well maybe this makes sense to all of you and I am the idiot whos " not seeing it" because if she had no education debt ( they said she won scholarships I think), no housing debt or expenses because her father picked up the bill then where did her salary go? I mean Yes, its possible she used everything to pay of the debt off screen but it sounds like no one has gotten paid yet from what Ive seen. Additionally, she didnt think to save some money from the sell of the house to live in a hotel or rent a smaller place and have basic necessities? She has a PHD so shes not mentally disabled. Like I said, I have seen this plothole many many times before, the only one who did it right was ITaweon Class when Yi Seo got her own apt when her mom kicked her out, see that makes sense! Why? because Yi Seo was a famous instagrammer and could easily afford it. It doesnt make sense when these Chaebol daughters is crying broke when they lose " everything" or are kicked out of the family. IF they earned a salary, one would think something was put to the side especially if there family was covering their living expenses. IT doesnt make sense to me but hey I could be missing something I guess.

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@candiland I'd love it of it turns out that Dali has been saving and investing her own money. That would take my like for her character over the top.
And she might have a nice nest egg as I was not clear on whether or not the accounts that have a freeze on them are her father's or her own.
But I don't have much faith in her spending habits as she went to such an expensive store to buy a temporary pair of shoes when she may not even be able to pay her employees.
Hopefully they do show us where her money is though with Dali it might not just be spending on herself as we see how much her family values charity as well.
I am curious if in Korea the debt collectors can go after her personal assets as well. And now thinking of her finances I'm curious if she'd have to pay taxes in both countries.
But my hope is that she's saved for a rainy day even if that amount would be a drop in the ocean of that debt.

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I think the deliberation here is down to one simple point - that is, Dali is simply living a life that we normal salaried people has never experienced. Money is nothing to those in the top x% and rich people do not live or like saving. That’s a world of growing money on their or other’s money but obviously Dali’s father is not good at it but Tae-Jin’s family does.

Then art gallery, museum and fashion houses are favorite professions of the super rich, not because it’s well-paid (and far from it) but the prestige and elitism that go with it.

I am not one of these privileged classes but have seen enough in real life those kids go into businesses that’s also out of reach such as specialising in selling Porsche, Maserati or the like car line or bringing in top couture or new designers line to their business. It is simply a different world.

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museum worker here with higher degrees. Believe me museums don't pay much at all. most are there for the love of art. curators MABEY make 30-40K. The only one getting 6 figures are the directors of the museum. Also as someone said most museums (mine included) are government funded ( the only way to make revenue is through cafe/gift shop sales) so we are considered civil servants. we may get job security but little pay.

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also i am not in america

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Okay, sorry, I think I got too hung up on the 6-figure sum to actually see your point.

I now see what you mean: why doesn't she have a bank account in her own name at all, with her own credit card, so she can pay for some necessities. And yes, that is naive. But at least she had enough money to buy an airline ticket home!

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It's TV poverty. It annoys me as well. It was fine when Moo-hak got stranded in Amsterdam because he was travelling with company money. But she doesn't work for her father's gallery and has been earning her own wage for years. I also don't understand how the gallery's cashflow has suddenly dried up to the extent they can't even pay their staff. It makes little sense.

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In a sad RL story: the father of a good friend of mine passed away last year. All her parents' bank accounts were in his name. And in the time it took for his death certificate to come through and the will to be executed, those accounts were frozen. It left my friend's mother without any cash and my friend had to bankroll her for three months, until all the formalities had been taken care off.

Life lesson: always have at least one bank account purely in your own name.

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Even if she had a personal bank account, once those debts were transferred to her, she becomes liable. They can put liens on her assets and seize her personal funds. Unfortunately, I know people who had this happen to them where their personal accounts were drained *without warning* due to some large debt for something else.

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in a foreign country? If I am not mistaken, if you are a foreigner and live outside your country of origin, your salary is not taxed or touched. So how can Korea freeze her assets in the Netherlands.. IDK.. just saying.. the only countries that I think make citizens pay taxes when living abroad is America and Eritrea ( if I am not mistaken) so yeah her money should have been hers flat out

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If you are there on a work visa, then you may need to report your income to your home country, and you may need to pay taxes to your home country in addition to paying taxes in the country you're living in. I don't know all the tax laws in all countries, though.

I totally get that some things are far fetched and that you need to have some suspension of belief to watch. But if you don't know anyone who's had a "fall from grace," so to speak, it may not make sense. You'd be surprised on how people manage their money. I know a lot of people who still have their accounts under their parents because they never separated them after becoming legal age. In that case, if something happens to the parent, the banks/creditors can take money from the adult child's account because the account is technically the parent's. It just goes to show MANY people need better financial literacy because most people don't figure it out until something really goes wrong, like a huge medical problem or death.

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This is so cute, took me out of my more than half a year long drama slump. That being said, does anyone else have the urge to punch the resting-b*tch-face whats-her-name working in Dali's gallery in the nose and watch her bleed? Or is it just me?

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Nope. I hate that girl too. She is just plain disrespectful and without a reason (as of yet)

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I think she really likes the gallery. She was the one who called down her colleagues because they were thinking to leave. Now, she just did the same with Da-Li who didn't seem to do anything. Her comment about the ex-fiancé was surely un-called for.

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I still don't get why she's so salty or something. It does make me think that she has a thing for the chairman.

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Think more that she recieved help from him in the past(maybe helped her with collage etc) and desired herself as the daughter than Dal Li...Remember that the Dad help many people via donations all his life...

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I agree, probably something like that.

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That’s more possible than what I have in mind. But to think she’s a better daughter than Dali......... tsk tsk tsk

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Reading Beans' comments here about what could be possibly going on with this woman, that made me now unsure how I feel about her. I think she dislikes Darli (oh,.. how much I love typing this woman's lovely name) for a reason unknown as of now. However, based on @kurama's comment, I don't think she is a bad person. She might have disliked Darli because she seemed ignorant of the state the gallery was in during the chairman's lead. We'll get to know more about her soon, and yes, her comment about begging money from an ex-boyfriend, ex-fiance or ex-husband was surely uncalled for, and her manner in front of the new boss is plain rude.

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I think her deslike is much more ingraned,even in first episodes she looked with deslike at the picture Dad had of him and Dal Li in his office...
Think it's more rooted in jealousy in that she wanted her to be the daughter while hated Dal Li and found her undeserving...

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I love Dali and I cannot wait to see more of her charm! Park Kyu-young is doing such a great job bringing Dali to life.

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This character portrayed by PKY might end up being one of the characters I love the most in Kdramaland. We will see.

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We shall see but so far, Dali's up for running!

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After 4 episodes behind I can say that I don't like female lead as a character. Such a rich upbringing and she is that clueless about what was going on with her father and bussines! How possible to be that much isolated! Her cousin never called her after her father's death and she still runs behind him and ask what to do! She doesn't call police for dozen of half naked gangsters but she calls police for couple of angry guys 😁

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I can't wait for Muhak's takeover of the cafeteria 😀

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Let me say how excited I am to see the gallery run under Muhak's guidance. He has that knack for making money, this is gonna be so much fun and interesting.

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From the beginning of this year until now, this is the show that I can't wait for its next episodes! How come we only have 2 short episodes per week, this is so unfair for the entire human race.

The show is simply gorgeous. I love the FL, and Im beginning to be able to warm up to ML as a character. The humor is on-point. Everything is so on-point here. I'm happy that I've found this little gem.

My only complaint is that I can't seem to find the song played at the background when the FL tripped over the ML. The song is played again during the credit in ep4. Any help would be so very much appreciated.

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Oh I cried buckets in episode 4. I can totally relate to Dalli.
My father suddenly passed away 5yrs ago from a heart attack and left me with a bad shape company. There were lists of creditors and my father's name were the guarantee. Of course I didn't have Moohak or Taejin ready to cover my back, I had to survive on my own, keeping the good people to stay with me and convincing those creditors that I would do my best to pay those debts.
It was a long and tiring battle and finally, I can see some results of those seemingly impossible hardworks.
When Dalli read last messages from her father, I just broke down with tears. My latest conversation with my father was when he was feeling pain on his chest. One hour later, he was gone. The sky was falling that day.
I appreciate Moohak's opinion that we have to do good deeds with money that we earn, not from donations or sponsorship.
I'm so ready to see how Moohak saves the sinking ship.
Kwon Yul never really catches my attention, but my, he looks gorgeous with long hair. He seems cold on the outside but yes, him fussing with the ties with just a call from Dalli is super cute. I'm sure he's not a bad man, probably just a victim of a bad sitiation.

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🥺 Im sorry about your loss, and I'm happy to hear that with your hard work and everything you put in, you now can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Your father would be so proud of you.

😊

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I am sorry for your loss. My dad passed away two years ago and the scenes where Dal-li came home hugging the slippers broke my heart. Glad you were able to overcome your most difficult situation while grieving.

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My favorite scene this week is when Dali is crying but starts talking about how tears lubricate the eyes so it's necessary 😂 Her dialogue there sounds like such a true-to-life PhD (using intellectualism to deal with her emotions). I have had real conversations like this! very funny.

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Moo-hak is a sweetie. Though I wish he'd just be loud and not yell. Truthfully, I am surprised a that I like such a blustery character like him.

It was nice to see Dal-li respect the "we are not friends" boundary. Its been nice to see someone not disregard what someone's said immediately. I like that she takes these kind of things seriously.

Hopefully there is more upcoming Won-tak.

Mi-ri was also great mix of friend, know-it-all, and exasperated assistant.

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Thank you @missvictrix for the open thread. I think you hit the nail on the head when you wrote about Moo-hak: “he has a good heart”. Despite all his bombast he is aware of others and having that good heart separates him from typical kdrama rich boys.
I thought that the Moo-hak/Won-tak exchange as they left in the morning was great slapstick comedy: elbowing each other down the stairs. I agree, let’s see more of Hwang Hee. I really don’t see the plot going the way of a Won-tak/Dal-li romance. Because of the murder mystery angle in order to protect Dal-li I can see a possible bromance develop between Moo-hak and Won-tak (maybe along the lines of Park Hyung-sik and Ji Soo in SWDBS). Where a romance may develop might be between Mi-ri and Won-tak.
O/T Actor Ahn Dong-yeob (in pic 3 above in the car, he is the middle ‘thug’ sitting in the back seat) is also in HOMETOWN (not CHA CHA CHA) which I am also watching and he plays an assistant to a loan shark, maybe he is a thug wannabe in that one.

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Oh man, I rewatched that elbowing scene several times -- such great blocking and they played it hilariously!

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This week I learnt that art gallery doesn't make money and it depends on wealthy people's money to sponsor them.

But it touched my heart knowing the reason why Dal-Li and her father work on the art gallery, I used to think it's just all for showing off that you're rich.

And the scene where Moo Hak asks her why don't she just sell everything and go back to Netherlands, and she said that the gallery is her father.., omo..., I got really teary at this scene..

I also agree with Moo Hak's father that Dal-Li might be smart and well educated, but she doesn't know about business world. She needs help...

It seems like it's hard for her to ask for help regarding managing the situation that her art gallery is crumbling...

Of course she still go out to find sponsors for the gallery's upcoming event, but really she need to solve the root issue first..

I hope Moo Hak will help her in this thing.

This drama also takes thing different.

The scene when she moves out of her house, I thought that the writer might write her as crashing at her cop's friend or Moo Hak's house; like most drama would do.

But no.

She went to sleep at her art gallery office. Wow. That's one woman who stands on her own feet.

I'm curious how the writer will bring them together.

I'm eager to know what Tae Jin said to her that they broke up.

I'm eager to see more of Moo Hak's capability as a business person. Can he help Dal-Li revive the art gallery? How would he do that?

I'm hoping to see next week with more sweet scenes between of both of them and more of Moo Hak's assistant (she's quirky and so funny!) and more of Dal-Li's cop friend (can we see more bromance scene of him and Moo Hak?)

In short, this drama is refreshing and great.

Can't wait for next week!

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Out of every premiere its this drama that I didn't expect to be so fun. Also Dali as a character is so easy to come off as dull but Park Gyuyoung somehow made it work. And I did enjoy the scenes of her working in Netherlands so much. I know this debt thing is gonna be the main plot but I wish the writer works out a way not to make our awesome heroine a damsel in distress

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Damn, the cruel break ups, I wish I had a chance like Dali has to get back with ex face to face and refuse him

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I laughed at that sly glance that Dali threw at Moo Hak's chest with full tattoo. and I couldn't help but wonder: did she know it was fake?

Maybe ... did she not have her eyes entirely closed in the Netherlands when he asked her too???

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I wonder if Moo-hak bought the jewelry that Dal-li sold at the shop they both were in.

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HA. This Cheapskate is not in love that much yet to spend a money on jewelry yet :)

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I think MH is a romantic at heart and bought the jewelry. As far as I can tell he has not yet brought up his watch with Dal-li.

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I love that he hasn't brought it up yet. It seems like as soon as he found Dali he forgot about the watch.
Though I am waiting for its reappearance which I'm guessing will be when her clothes arrive back in Seoul.

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Maybe so. But the habits and though processes of lifetime don’t change over night. He can still be pretty seriously threatening when it concerns his money and getting it and has not shown any apology for it so far. It’s not even episode 5 so He may give his comfy crocs and follow her around but not spend his precious money on Jewelry just yet :)

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Apparently Google translate has opinions about our Dali..

If you don't get invited to this house's year-end party once
To the extent that it has been said that it is not a true upper class
She is the only daughter of a reputable Cheongsongga.

She has a deep knowledge of not only art but also history, philosophy and religion.
She is also fluent in seven languages, including English, Japanese, Chinese, French, and Spanish.
However, her sudden death and bankruptcy of her father
She is left with nowhere to go overnight.
No matter how fluent in seven languages, she has a master's or doctoral degree
Without her immediate helper, she is a life worm who can't even eat a meal.
As she runs into unforeseen misfortune, she suffers from severe body aches.

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Her dad maybe a paragon in her eyes but he was not a wise man or father. Other than leaving her horrendous financial problems he let her grow up in an academic elite ivory tower with apparently only him as a friend. Now here she is ugly crying and eating old ass candy and sleeping in an office. Pitiful.

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I actually understand why some beanies said they would drop the show after the premiere. I agree. This drama unique selling point is Dali. Even Kim Min jae's character is not enough to make it up for the long list of annoying secondary characters here, or the unnecessary male characters bullying a lady in need who is grieving the death of a father. Even if that father left her in debts, all these people totally lack empathy, and some of them are supposed to be from a high class???
I blame the writer, because he/she wants to make it look like only Moo-hak and the ex fiance would/could help her, in order to establish the love triangle, and it feels forced. I don't like that.
Also, Moo-hak is annoying, screams too much, and impose himself in a very rude and unbearable way. What then? Am I suppose to like that because he is the male lead and he is gorgeous to look at??
No. I am not happy with it. I blame the writer again.
I won't drop, but I have started to FF some parts because it is upsetting.
I suppose I am curious enough to find out how they will save the gallery, but... the way things are happening.... for me, it shows that the writer is more like Moo-hak and less like Dali 😂😂😂😂😂

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I have the same issues. Dali was introduced as this intelligent, dignified, almost ethereal female lead and I don't see why we have to diminish that. I feel like they're trying to Candify her for some reason. I didn't sign up for another female martyr. And Moo-hak seemed quite out of character at several points in episode 4. I feel like the second week has lost a lot of the charm of the premiere, which I completely loved.

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I definitely do not see Dali as being portrayed as a Candy or even as Candified. What we are shown is a very smart strong woman who has had the rug pulled out from under her. These episodes certainly showed us her vulnerabilities and her lack of important knowledge that she suddenly needs. Knowledge she never had any need for before this. She is a very highly educated, and sophisticated woman who has been knocked off her pins.

I do not think that these episodes diminished her in the slightest. Instead they simply served to show us what she never had. There is no human being who is totally self-sufficient and never will be. We all lack something which is why we are social animals.

As an example of how the show tried to show us that she is still a strong intelligent woman remember the scene when she turns the second invasion of the fake thug kitchen workers (but they bought their tickets...) into an art appreciation lesson.

If it seemed like Dali was diminished then that same logic would demand that we also see the same happening with Moo-hak. The yelling and pushiness are what he was taught (we saw his father dishing it out to him in these episodes) and his ignorance of so many
very good things all were there to show us what Moo-hak lacks.

The point of these episodes is spell out that both of our lead characters lack what the other one has. To put it another way: Dali lacks exactly the knowledge and attitudes which are the only things that Moo-hak knows, and which are exactly the things that will be needed to save the museum. It may take a little while longer for Moo-hak to realize that he has just as much to learn from Dali but he certainly does not look down upon her.

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It's all just so extreme though? There's having the rug pulled out from underneath you and then there's homelessness and assault in a trashy motel.

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It is extreme and yet makes dramatic sense: Dali has to be placed in a position where accepting Moo-hak's help is the only rational choice.

Given how different their backgrounds are that probably does require some extreme circumstances.

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I agree on your opinion about how "extreme" meassurements the writer has taken, in oder to make Dali accept Moo hak´s help, but for the same reason, I am upset with the drama and don't feel like watching anymore. The "dramatic sense", our dear @oldawyer is talking about... it feels intrussive or too much forced on the part of the writer, in order to create plot. It doesn't feel natural, also because it doesn't feel real.
Even less intelligent or richer people have friends they could spend the night. That wandering between the gallery and an expensive hotel, in order to spend the night, dressed like that, with lots of money in your purse... hello, no one can make me believe a normal woman, rich or not would be that naive...
Anyway... Even if it is dramatic or not, extreme or not, it has annoyed me too much. :/
Moo hak disguising his interest by saying he is just protecting his money disgusts me as well.
For me, the charm of their first encounter is totally gone. :(

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I agree @javinne I see the writer's hand and so it doesn't feel organic. I will say I considered dropping it after episode 5 but did enjoy episode 6. I will stick around for now. I just wish that romcom writers didn't feel the need to bring every text back to the same place. Oh well, it's OctobINAR so I can enjoy again the time they nailed it.

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Agree with all your points. Romcoms always put all the dramatics in the first few episodes and then completely run out of steam. In this case, the writer has completely turned Dali's life upside down and I suppose that's meant to up the stakes but really all it does is forcibly candify her. We didn't even get a scene of her spending time with her father in the present moment since the writer was so eager to off him and start a mystery.
It's very rare to find a romcom with good pacing (e.g. weightlifting fairy) where the writer actually knows what they're doing. It's even rarer still to find a romcom kdrama that sticks to one genre...

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