Boys Before Flowers: Episode 17

287 March 3, 2009January 24, 2016

by javabeans

I don’t know if this was by design or by chance (because of the broadcast delay), but this episode had some quieter moments, which have been a rare thing in this series — it’s usually so jam-packed with The Drama. I don’t think that’s a bad thing, though, because for once we had a little breathing room in some scenes, and it was a refreshing change.

Now if we didn’t also have a few mind-bogglingly embarrassing scenes mixed in among those nicely spaced-out ones…

SONG OF THE DAY

The Name – “처음 사랑했을 때처럼” (Like when we were first in love) [ Download ]

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EPISODE 17 RECAP

Revisiting happier times, Ji-hoo watches home videos showing him at age five, playing around with his then-doting grandfather. Ex-President Yoon similarly loses himself in memories of the day Ji-hoo’s parents died.

(Just kiss and make up, you two!)

Jun-pyo faces off with his mother, who wants him to officially accept his engagement with Jae-kyung. She tells him that Shinhwa’s deal with JK Group is a huge deal — is he so thoughtless that he could give up everything his father and grandfather worked so hard for, over a silly thing like love?

Jun-hee storms in and instructs Jun-pyo to leave. Steely, she asks her mother, “Wasn’t it enough to do it to me? You need a hotel, so you sell your daughter. You need investments, and sell your son. What are you going to do if you need something else? You have no children left.”

Madam Kang insists it’s all for her children’s sake, at which Jun-hee scoffs. She’s never felt that anything her mother did was for their benefit. Mom asks her where her current happiness comes from if not her, and Jun-hee laughs bitterly: “Happiness? Do you know what happiness is?”

Jun-hee warns Mom to leave Jun-pyo alone — she won’t sit back this time.

Jan-di is busy at work, filling in for her parents on the janitorial night shift, when Ji-hoo steps into the lobby and sees her. After a moment, Ji-hoo pushes up his sleeves and grabs some supplies to join in. Jan-di is a little abashed but grateful for the help, and together, they clean the windows and the floors.

Afterward, Ji-hoo waits for Jan-di outside the restrooms, but grows concerned when she doesn’t emerge. He tries calling, but though he can hear the ringtone sounding, nobody picks up. Cautiously, he looks inside, and finds Jan-di collapsed on the ground.

Ji-hoo rushes Jan-di home and calls a doctor, who says Jan-di will be fine with some rest; she’s just overworked.

Seeing some blood on Jan-di’s finger, Ji-hoo is reminded of the time Jan-di had wrapped his bleeding finger for him. Ji-hoo takes her hand and presses a kiss to it…

…at just the moment that Jun-pyo drops by. Jun-pyo watches for a moment, then turns and silently leaves. In his car, her thinks back to the confrontation at the Macau airport, when Ji-hoo declared that he won’t step aside this time. There’s an interesting moment, I think, when he laughs and cries at the same time, then erupts into frustration.

Thus when they cross paths at school, he ignores her. (She’s nursing a bloody nose, indicative of overworking — although who else immediately thought of That Other Drama Cliché, the cancer storyline? I doubt that’s the intent, but still, there was a little too much emphasis on Jan-di’s blood to escape that thought.) Jun-pyo walks right by her, and Jan-di, feeling hurt, doesn’t see him turn back to watch her. He kicks the wall in anger.

It must be this frustration, coupled with his mother’s constant browbeating, that forces him into his next decision, which we hear from Jae-kyung that night.

Jae-kyung calls Jan-di out and meets her at the playground, grabbing Jan-di in a hug and fighting tears as she starts to speak. At first, Jan-di worries that something has happened to Jun-pyo, but it turns out that Jae-kyung’s tears are of happiness — Jun-pyo finally came around and suggested they start dating officially.

Jae-kyung was so thrilled she just had to share, and gushes, “Isn’t it so romantic to fall in love with your fiancée?” (I think that’s a little backward, but we get the point.) She also thanks Jan-di: “I’m so happy I have a friend to tell.” Jan-di looks like she would dearly love to not be that friend, but musters up a weak “Congratulations.”

The new couple makes their first official appearance at some kind of Shinhwa event (a cell phone launch party?). F4 is subdued around Jae-kyung, and Jun-pyo himself isn’t too enthusiastic to be here with her; he’s mostly quiet as his friends halfheartedly greet Jae-kyung and trade looks.

Jun-pyo and Jae-kyung greet the proud parents, and Madam Kang expresses her approval of Jae-kyung. Even when her parents suggest that she calm down and act befitting her position, Madam Kang encourages her to continue being her bright, lively self — I’m guessing that she really doesn’t care about the girl’s personality given her lofty connections.

Jun-pyo and Jae-kyung leave the party early to go on their first official date, during which Jun-pyo looks mostly unhappy and disconnected while Jae-kyung tries to engage his attention. I think on some level, Jae-kyung must be aware of Jun-pyo’s feelings, because she’s not completely dumb — she does notice his distraction when they’re at the movies (they’re watching Speed Scandal, by the way).

But she ignores this and keeps the date moving along, whether it’s by shoving popcorn into Jun-pyo’s mouth, dragging him around a teddy bear museum, or goading him into riding the cable car with her. (When he tells her to go alone, she teases him about being afraid of heights, prompting him to come along out of annoyance.)

In the cable car, Jun-pyo spies the message he’d scrawled on the wall the night he got stuck there with Jan-di, and I’m exceedingly disappointed that it wasn’t Jae-kyung who saw the message rather than him. Instead, Jae-kyung enjoys a moment of closeness when the cable car jerks — she misreads the way he automatically puts his arm around her to steady her as a sign of affection.

(At least, I think she’s misreading it, because I don’t think Jun-pyo is actually interested in her. It’s not that he couldn’t be attracted to her — maybe he would have been, if not for Jan-di — but that his feelings for Jan-di tend to be so overwhelming that I just don’t think he’s got room to think about anyone else.)

Ji-hoo comes upon Jan-di studying in their stairwell, and she jokes that at this rate, it would be a miracle for her to make it to medical school. But, she reasons, even if she doesn’t, she could always continue helping out at his grandfather’s clinic.

Belatedly remembering that the estranged grandfather is a touchy subject, Jan-di cuts herself off, then suggests that Ji-hoo make up with him. Ji-hoo answers curtly that they’d never fought — he was abandoned. Jan-di hesitantly mentions that his grandfather feels awful and misses him, but that just elicits a scornful laugh.

Their attention is diverted by two people walking down the hallway just inside — it’s Jae-kyung, nagging and hanging on to Jun-pyo’s arm. Jun-pyo’s growing increasingly irritated at Jae-kyng’s constant clinging, which she defends by saying is because she feels uncertain about their relationship. However, she offers to stop tagging along all the time if he’ll make her feel more secure — then she’ll stay put and wait for him patiently.

Jun-pyo asks what it’ll take for her to do that, and she answers, “Give me a kiss.” Her request makes Jun-pyo think back to all the (romantic, sweet) kisses he’d shared with Jan-di… and then he makes up his mind. He grabs Jae-kyung quickly and kisses her — but in contrast to his kisses with Jan-di, his eyes remain open, cold, unfeeling.

Ji-hoo grabs Jan-di to keep her from seeing (it’s a thoughtful, but mostly useless, gesture) and holds her against him until Jun-pyo breaks the kiss.

It has meant nothing to Jun-pyo and he walks off, thinking he’s earned his freedom. But Jae-kyung, happy now, persists in following him, causing him to grumble, “What now?”

Jae-kyung has a list of things she’s always wanted to do with a boyfriend (99 things, in fact) and suggests they tackle one thing per day. By the time they reach their 100-day mark, they’ll be done with her list and be a “real couple” by then. (Jun-pyo, meanwhile, is exasperated at the prospect of still being with her in 100 days.)

I almost put this screencap up top, because it’s my favorite shot from today, and I think it demonstrates the feel of this episode well — quiet, with space to breathe.

Ji-hoo can see how hurt Jan-di is by the kiss, and continues to follow her as she walks around in a daze (even running into a glass door). As with the mop scene before, Ji-hoo gives Jan-di her space and doesn’t push, but stays in the background until she’s ready to talk. When she finally does, she asks him to take her somewhere.

This ends up being the river.

As they look over the water, Ji-hoo says that Jan-di must have been an otter in a past life — she’s hard-working, cute, and needs water to survive. Jan-di thinks that as long as they’re inventing stories, she could be the Little Mermaid instead, but Ji-hoo vetoes this: It’s too sad to think of her as someone who suffers because of failed love.

Mustering some cheer, Jan-di offers to buy Ji-hoo dinner, so they leave the river and head to a restaurant…

… where they run into Jun-pyo and Jae-kyung. I suppose this run-in makes sense, since this is the restaurant the girls had taken Jae-kyung on their day out.

Oblivious to the tension (whether feigned or real is up for debate), Jae-kyung is happy to see Jan-di and greets them excitedly.

Meanwhile, Ga-eul attends her first day in pottery class, which is taught by a woman named Eun-jae.

I take back what I said about Ga-eul being smart. I’m not saying she’s dumb for taking up pottery because of Yi-jung, and I can understand her actions, but I’m disappointed nonetheless. It’s one thing to harbor a crush for someone you know isn’t good for you (you can’t help your feelings, right?), but another thing to actively cultivate that interest. This is a drama so we know Yi-jung is a decent guy and probably the Perfect Soulmate for Ga-eul… but she doesn’t know that. He hasn’t proven himself to be a good match, and in the absence of that kind of conviction, I’d thought she’d be smarter. Oh well. She’s young and he’s hot.

After class, Eun-jae asks about Ga-eul’s interest in pottery; she answers that someone she knows is a potter. Wanting to share an interest with a friend is a sentiment Eun-jae understands; she explains that that’s how she started, back when she was a child.

Ga-eul asks if Eun-jae’s boyfriend is a potter, and gets the reply that the person in question is a potter, but not her boyfriend. I’m sure we’ve all guessed this much, but Ga-eul starts to get an inkling that Eun-jae refers to Yi-jung when Eun-jae indicates a ceramic mug — she repeats Yi-jung’s words from an earlier episode about how these clay creations are stronger than they appear.

Yi-jung catches his father making out with a younger woman at his studio, and faces him in disgust. Yi-jung asks why his father lives like this, and gets back the response that life is boring. Yi-jung snipes, “Have you ever lived properly even for a moment?”

Dad replies, “There was only one woman who made me want to live right. If you let that woman go, they’re all the same. They’re all just meaningless repetitions.” (Way to be romantic and misogynistic at the same time, dude.)

Yi-jung feels that that’s unfair to his mother, but his father sighs, “That’s why I wish this life would pass quickly. But things don’t work out that way.”

We can see how having a father like this has shaped Yi-jung’s playboy tendencies, but Yi-jung resents hearing that he resembles his father. His father knows Yi-jung hates it (he smiles, “Isn’t that cruel?”), but it’s true.

He leaves him with these pearls of wisdom: “The real thing comes once. That’s another cruel truth.”

Awkward silence prevails at dinner. Jae-kyung notices Jan-di eyeing a notice on the wall, and it piques her interest — it’s a ladies’ challenge. Anyone who finishes a “jumbo ramen” within 20 minutes wins 50 coupons for free ramen. Jae-kyung can tell that Jan-di wants those coupons, so she offers to win them for her. In exchange, she wants a wish from each of them if she succeeds.

Ji-hoo is first to agree, and Jae-kyung dives in.

Everyone watches in a mix of disgust and amazement as Jae-kyung eats, and eats, and eats… and polishes off the gigantic bowl. (More than the stomach space, I fear for her cholesterol and sodium levels.)

She wins the coupons, hands them over to Jan-di as a gift, and claims her wishes: She wants the four of them to go on a trip together. They can stay at one of her family’s resorts. Jun-pyo resists (“I hate double dates”), but Jae-kyung points out that he’d already promised.

After his disturbing confrontation with his father, Yi-jung drowns his sorrows in some hard liquor and loses himself in a childhood memory, when he’d been crying under the table and fearing for his mother’s life. (I’m not sure if she was ill, or perhaps, in keeping with the theme, she had attempted suicide as a result of his father’s infidelity.)

A girl joins Yi-jung under the table — Eun-jae — and comforts him, saying she always knows where to find him. He puts his head in her lap and makes her promise not to leave until he falls asleep.

Feeling lost and alone, Yi-jung now looks at the empty space next to him and imagines that Eun-jae is there, asking brokenly, “Eun-jae, won’t you find me again?”

Still pretending she’s here, Yi-jung lays down as though to put his head in her lap, but in reality just lying down on the empty bench.

Jae-kyung gets her wishes, because the foursome check into her family hotel (I’m so confused — it’s unclear where this is, exactly). Up in their suite, Jae-kyung shows Jan-di a new purchase, thrilling at the couple rings she’s bought for herself and Jun-pyo.

Jan-di is taken aback to see that the rings have been engraved with a “J ♥ J” before realizing it stands for Jae-kyung and Jun-pyo.

Her reaction to the J/J engraving is explained later as she sits by the pool looking at her star-moon necklace, turning it over to reveal the same inscription. But she loses her grasp and drops the necklace into the water. Dismayed, Jan-di decides to retrieve it, and searches until she finds the necklace sitting on the bottom of the pool.

As she swims toward the end of the pool, her faulty shoulder, which has been bothering her all episode, flares up. In pain, she flails around wildly, unable to stay afloat. (AGAIN? I don’t know why a bum shoulder means she can’t use her legs to STAND UP. Excuse me while I pause to go laugh my head off.)

No, really, it’s horrible. I tried really hard to tell myself that the pool was deep, but it was still a hard scene to buy.

And then, things get even cheesier when out of nowhere, Jun-pyo comes swimming out to save Jan-di, pulling her to safety.

Worriedly, he calls out to her and jostles her awake. Jan-di’s first reaction is puzzlement, because Jun-pyo can’t swim. He answers that he learned how, since “I figured I’d rather drown than watch some other guy save you.” Because, as we know, it’s too much to hope for that she ever moves beyond the need for rescue.

Jun-pyo takes Jan-di in his arms and starts to carry her away, which is when the other two come running. Ji-hoo steps in to say he’ll take over from here and help Jan-di back to her room. Reluctantly, Jun-pyo puts Jan-di down and relinquishes her to Ji-hoo’s care, staring intently after her as she walks away. Even Jae-kyung can’t escape noticing his reaction this time. After everyone leaves, she finds Jan-di’s dropped necklace on the ground and reads the inscription curiously.

Yi-jung loiters outside a café and glares through the window at one of the baristas inside. His rage is explained by a flashback, which tells us that this is Yi-jung’s older brother.

The two had had a falling out the day his brother gave up pottery and left home. Apparently they had both studied under their father’s tutelage, but Yi-jung had always been the one with the natural talent, and he’s the one who will take over the family legacy.

Yi-jung had felt betrayed at his brother’s abandonment — he’d escaped but left Yi-jung to shoulder the burden alone. (Yi-jung had never asked to study pottery, although his father had pointed out that he hadn’t protested, either.)

(Oy, the shoutiness and the eye-bugging! Kim Bum, I love you, but you are not in East of Eden anymore.)

Meanwhile, at the undisclosed resort location, Jun-pyo broods alone in the pool, thinking of how he’d had to step back and let Ji-hoo take care of Jan-di. Jae-kyung arrives wearing an uncharacteristically serious and solemn expression, silently removes her robe to reveal a bikini underneath, and joins him in the pool. When he asks what she’s doing, she grabs Jun-pyo suddenly in a back-hug.

At the same time, Jan-di has gotten some medical attention (she’s fine, she just forgot that she shouldn’t swim anymore) and assures Ji-hoo she’s okay. She excuses herself to retrieve something she’d lost, and heads back to find the necklace.

And this is how she comes to see the other couple, embracing in the pool.

COMMENTS

(Did they get a new music director? The Second Moon guy, perhaps?)

Is anyone else feeling tired out by the drama? I don’t mean tired OF the drama, but tired out BY it. I dunno, for mindless entertainment, sometimes it really makes you work at following along.

I didn’t mind the pacing issues (much) because I knew production had to work around Gu Hye-sun’s accident and filming delays. That meant I was generally okay with the episode, except for a few of those truly odd parts that couldn’t be overlooked.

Jae-kyung. I think I have a handle on her character, but as I mentioned, it’s not clear just how much she guesses about Jan-di and Jun-pyo, and how much she’s genuinely ignorant about. I guess it’s up to us to decide for ourselves how manipulative she’s being, but that covers a pretty wide range and I’d rather know for sure if she’s being oblivious, completely manipulative, or halfway in between (I suspect the latter).

Also, what was the point of the ramen scene? I was puzzled as to why Jan-di was so freakin’ passive in this scene — she’s just going to let someone engage in an eating challenge to hand over an awesome prize? When Jae-kyung said she could tell Jan-di wanted those coupons, I wondered, then why doesn’t Jan-di actually WIN them herself? I thought perhaps she’d join the challenge, or maybe they’d both do it, but instead, she just sat back and said nothing, then accepted the prize.

Interestingly, Yi-jung’s father’s view on love is in line with Ga-eul’s philosophy on soulmates, which suggests that Ga-eul is the match for Yi-jung. On the other hand, if Yi-jung has already had a love and lost her, does that mean he’s used up his quota for this lifetime?

287

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1 saryKIM

March 3, 2009 at 8:29 PM

yayyy thanks for the recap!

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2 fluffpuff

March 3, 2009 at 8:30 PM

Thanks! I've been refreshing for this page! I love your reviews! Haha:)

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3 Yukuri

March 3, 2009 at 8:31 PM

i love you javabeans.. thanx for the recap..

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4 sitknee

March 3, 2009 at 8:32 PM

EARLIEST I HAVE EVER BEEN!!!

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5 Pups

March 3, 2009 at 8:37 PM

Thanks for the recap, Javabeans. As usual, I love reading it.

Can you upload this song to share with us? It's Japanese singer Utada Hikaru's "First Love". I think the song complements with the sad mood in Jan-di and Jun-pyo's scenes, or how Ji-hoo is quietly hurting when he sees Jan-di is sad. Thanks!

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6 GreenFreak

March 3, 2009 at 8:37 PM

Loving your opening pix of JunPyo and JiHoon..
This ep had a whole lot of the two doing "odd" things.. would add nicely to those funny parody videos... Evil JiHoon part 2.

I thought the same thing for Yi Jung and GaEul... did he already miss his chance..or is she REALLY the one ???

Thanks for the recap as always!!!

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7 Sue

March 3, 2009 at 8:38 PM

Thank you for the recap!

As usual, I agree with all of your comments. One side note - as to why Jandi was so "freakin’ passive" in the ramen scene, which was totally lame btw and unnecessary, apparently it's the only scene Gu Hye Sun shot after her accident. You can tell that the left side of her face is still a bit swollen and that she has trouble opening her mouth. Obviously the whole "we're letting her rest" bit was untrue - clearly the producers have to shoot around her because the poor girl can't speak.

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8 chivisale

March 3, 2009 at 8:39 PM

thanks...great recap, about the ackward scene of Jandi only watching the ramen competion, it was cause the scene was changed for the injuri of GHS... they filmed that scene after she came back from the hospital...
I'm so happy!!!, this is my fist time writting, but I always read your blog, I love it,sorry for my english...

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9 erppie

March 3, 2009 at 8:40 PM

originally jandi and jaekyung were meant to win the ramen competition together, but this scene was edited since it was filmed after hyesun's accident. So i became a one-woman show for jaekyung
i'm getting a bit tired by the show. JD and JP needs to be reunited soon. They are the energy source of the entire show. And since they have been apart for so long (except for ep 14's funny spy date moments), i'm feeling the grind of it.
The junpyo saving jandi scene could have been made better, such as showing how he walks by and notices her struggling in the water. I think jaekyung seriously doesn't have a clue abt jandi and junpyo's relationship until junpyo saved jandi from the pool. don't think JK is acting stupid.

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10 Sue

March 3, 2009 at 8:41 PM

One more thing . . . (Oy, the shoutiness and the eye-bugging! Kim Bum, I love you, but you are not in East of Eden anymore.)

LOVE IT. So true.

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11 annie

March 3, 2009 at 8:42 PM

wow. lots and lots of new music. they definitely weren't kidding about the second OST.

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12 Linda

March 3, 2009 at 8:42 PM

Thanks for the summary! I love the Jihoo & Jandi interactions, but I too, miss the Junpyo & Jandi love~~

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13 Debbie

March 3, 2009 at 8:42 PM

Sarah, I'm pretty sure the ramen scene was filmed after Gu's accident, and that is why she didn't say anything during that entire scene. She still has stitches in her mouth.

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14 bebe

March 3, 2009 at 8:44 PM

this episode was a nice quiet one, not too far fetched. but with the cable car, how many times can they all be on the same one again? first jihoo and jandi, now jae kyung and jun pyo. i am sure there are other cable cars but they all just happen to be on the same one again.

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15 Gallivanter

March 3, 2009 at 8:45 PM

I have to suspect that with Eun-Jae and Yi-Jung, it's going to be different than in the comic. Maybe she will have betrayed him. I hope so, but my FAVORITE scene from the comic and Japanese adaptation is the finality to their relationship (and his with Ga-Eul/Yuki).

...or, it's going to end up sloppy. My money's on this. But, somehow, I just won't care. I think they're cute despite the way everything has gone down.

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16 Javabeans

March 3, 2009 at 8:45 PM

My problem with the ramen scene isn't (only) that Gu Hye-sun didn't talk -- but because it was utterly pointless and confusing. :(

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17 maria

March 3, 2009 at 8:46 PM

OKAY. let me get this off my chest. WUT IN THE NAME OF GLOB was that anycall/samsung modelling bit???

*breathe*
okay. i think that even with the pacing problems, what's best about this show is that each of the characters has really come into their own, and we find ourselves liking all of them, honest to glob.
i was curious about what would happent o the mondayssuck-tuesdays rock pattern, because mondays only ever seemed to set up tuesday eps, and is therefore usually sacrificial in terms of plot and pacing, and yes, this episode did leave me *wtf*ing at some points, but all in all.....*fiiine* it became a tuesday ep. :P maybe that's what's gonna happen: they'll make the tuesdays great, like always and make the mondays eps better. YAY!

thanks for the awesome x infinity recaps, sarah! ...still can't get over their pancakes of sadness. maybe now, now, we have RAMYUN OF SHOCK.

and *melt* at the scene where jun pyo saved jan di. *swoon*

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18 andrew

March 3, 2009 at 8:46 PM

hey javabeans, the ramen scene was confirmed to be the one goo hye sun shot immediately after she was discharged:

http://kr.news.yahoo.com/service/news/shellview.htm?linkid=16&articleid=20090304100107294e7&newssetid=83

So it has been confirmed that the ramen scene is the one GHS shot after her discharge.
http://kr.news.yahoo.com/service/news/shel...mp;newssetid=83
Goo Hye Sun's scene after discharge from hospital

written by:김형우
translated by: dunlop09

Goo Hye Sun, who was hospitalized after a car accident, returned to “Boys Over Flowers” filming after her discharge. The scene that she shot was necessary for episode 17.

The episode that aired on the 3rd contains Goo Hye Sun's acting after her discharge. This is the scene where Goo Jun Pyo(Lee Min Ho), Yoon Ji Hoo(Kim Hyun Joong), Ha Jae Kyung(Lee Min Jung) and Geum Jandi(Goo Hye Sun) are at a restaurant, and Jae Kyung ends up entering a Ramen eating competition.

In this scene that lasted for 4 minutes, Goo Hye Sun acted without saying a word. Despite concerns, the swelling was barely noticeable. The only problem was that everything was a bit unnatural due to her injury that has not yet fully healed.

Originally, Jandi and Jae Kyung were supposed to eat the Ramen together. However, due to Goo Hye Sun's injury, the script was modified so that only Jae Kyung had to eat it.

Meanwhile, Goo Hye Sun is doing everything she can to recover from her injury. Thankfully, the swelling has almost completely gone down, but she still has problems when it comes to talking. On February 27th, Goo Hye Sun was hospitalized after a car accident. After receiving stitches for a tear in her lip area, she remained in the hospital until March 2nd.
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19 deeta

March 3, 2009 at 8:47 PM

I actually like the ramen scene. It's a reminder that Jaekyung DOES like Jandi, that she thinks of her as her friend. At that time, I don't think she had any inkling whatsoever about the extent of Junpyo and Jandi. Only later when she found the necklace that she sort of got the gist that they might've been more than friends.

I personally think this episode was better than I would've thought. Yijung thing was too dramatic for my taste, it didn't help that the acting (it's only first impression, but I can't stand Eunjae) was well, like you mentioned, EOE-ish. I hope this whole Yijung thing would be resolved nicely.

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20 :)

March 3, 2009 at 8:47 PM

i always like reading ur recaps :P
they're so fun!! but i thought kimbum's scenes were really good!
i kinda teared up a bit T.T

lol i like his shouting too, it showed his rage and then his glare!!
ooh this is the only time im thankful for the netizens and fans who wanted the So-Eul couple to have a storyline because we get more in depth with yijung.
I'm really rooting for them, but in the books they dont get together so we'll see!!

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21 deeta

March 3, 2009 at 8:48 PM

Ohh, and yes for the new scoring and songs!!! I spot no paradise in this episode!

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22 Jennifer

March 3, 2009 at 8:48 PM

Since NOBODY has said this yet, they filmed that scene after the accident ;)

I really enjoyed this episode but it's time for something big to happen in the quadrangle. The pining is getting a little old.

Truly enjoyed the Yi-jung scenes

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23 Debbie

March 3, 2009 at 8:48 PM

Perhaps the ramen scene wasn't included in the original script but because Gu couldn't talk, they had to create something? They probably had something better planned but couldn't do it?? (I'm giving the producers a lot of credit here! haha)

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24 maria

March 3, 2009 at 8:48 PM

oh and HALLELUJAH FOR NEW MUSIC!!! ....is it a bit sad that i ACTUALLY miss almooost paaaaradise?? :P

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25 musicae

March 3, 2009 at 8:48 PM

I thought the music was a lot better this episode, if i'm not mistaken no "PARRADISE!" which is always good news.

I liked yi-jungs story line, pretty interesting. I want to freaking yell and punch him in the face for not realizing his soeulmate is ga eul. But yeah Kim Bum did lots of yelling and had eye issues this ep.
I think when the 4 met up after jp rescues jd and jae see's jp looking at jd as she walks away, then finds the necklace is when things starting clicking in her head.
I really liked jihoo this episode, 17 eps in and i'm finally starting to actually like the love rival.
I hate Jandi's passive aggressiveness.

I have completely given up hope of Jan Di helping herself, totally accepted her being the damsel in distress forever.

..poor Kim Joon the only f4 to have no storyline what so ever.

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26 ichigopan

March 3, 2009 at 8:48 PM

Jun Pyo and Jae Kyung are actually kinda cute together. I said KINDA. *ducks behind bench*

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27 rainey

March 3, 2009 at 8:48 PM

The show is a lot of work. While it is currently a guilty pleasure of mine, it does get very tedious trying to rationalize ridiculousness all the time. I hate to be a fan-girl, but at this stage I'm really only sticking through for my LMH.

I know I'm in the minority, but I found the Kim angst very awkward. I know he was supposed to show off his excellent emo skills, but I was unimpressed.

Oh, and I also have stopped feeling sorry for the guy who loves the girl and won't take action. If he decides it's better to stand in the sidelines and play cupid then why should I get all twisted up for his 'sorrow'. Nope, over it.

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28 lime9

March 3, 2009 at 8:50 PM

for JD to supposedly care for the necklace she sure is careless with it. that whole pool scene was stupid and useless. the JD character is making me very, very tired of her stupidity. the scene of JP and JH cooking is cute enough to just barely get me through the stupidity/fainting/in need rescuing that is JD in this episode. bring back the spunky violent JD soon please.

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29 Maryuan

March 3, 2009 at 8:50 PM

According to the news (only about Gu Hye-Sun's injury now), the reason why Jandi didn't engage in the Hurl-Inducing Ramen Eating Contest was because they filmed it after Gu Hye-Sun's accident. Apparently, her lip was too swollen, so they had to alter the script and cut our her ramen-eating scene.

I would've like to see the J vs. J Ramen Showdown though... Maybe they'll make up for it later in the series when Gu recovers. I'm sure Jandi can win against Jae Kyung because she is SO much better at eating than swimming.

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30 innocentsteps456

March 3, 2009 at 8:50 PM

love your review as always :) and I'm really happy that we are starting to explore more of the Yi Jung - Ga Eul plotline that hasn't been explored before. Although since the drama isn't going to be extended, I'm kind of worried about tried to fit all the love lines in the next 6 or 7 episode... anyone else concerned?

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31 Jennifer

March 3, 2009 at 8:50 PM

"My problem with the ramen scene isn’t (only) that Gu Hye-sun didn’t talk — but because it was utterly pointless and confusing"

Java, it served to get the three of them to agree to go on vacation with her. And it gives JD free food, god knows her broke ass needs it :D

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32 glalam

March 3, 2009 at 8:51 PM

thanks for the recap....i'm a little saddened that there is only one episode this week...but here's praying and hoping that GHS is fine now.

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33 j

March 3, 2009 at 8:52 PM

maybe jandi was still in the state of shock of the 2 kissing? which's why she didn't join in on the ramen challenge?

& did any1 else notice that jihoo's wearing black, hahaha...

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34 Lena

March 3, 2009 at 8:52 PM

Jihoo is really growing on me. I think my favorite scene was the part when he follows JD after they see JP and JK kiss. I really liked this scene and the mop scene from the previous episode. I like how he doesn't push JD and instead he waits for her to speak first. I wish I had a friend like Jihoo =(

I'm really getting tired of seeing JP cry almost every episode. It was touching to see at first.. but now I just want him to man the f up

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35 sophie

March 3, 2009 at 8:53 PM

wah, kim bum!!!

thank you for the recap

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36 kate

March 3, 2009 at 8:54 PM

thanks^_^

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37 Javabeans

March 3, 2009 at 8:54 PM

Let me also add that my ramen scene complaint includes the violation of that Golden Rule of Drama-Watching: I shouldn't have to fanwank to make it make sense. Accident or not, that scene shoulda damn well made sense.

But thanks for the info, to everyone and their mother who shared the tidbit!

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38 andygal86

March 3, 2009 at 8:55 PM

Thanks for the recap Javabeans! I kept refreshing your page, just waiting for the recap... This episode didn't have a lot of shenanigans, but it wasn't too bad either. I had so much angst after Jun Pyo rescued Jan Di from the pool! When Ji Hoo said he would take her from here, I totally yelled at my laptop, telling Jun Pyo to say something! I wish he would have told Ji Hoo that he would take care of Jan Di, but no....Thanks Madam Kang! Its also nice to delve more into Yi Jung. BTW, is it just me, or did anyone think Eun Jae looked like an older Sohee from the Wonder Girls? Just a thought....Looking forward to your next recap! :)

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39 funniebones

March 3, 2009 at 8:56 PM

1) I was expecting a comment about more material for the Ji-hoo-Jun-pyo fanmade vids, hahah!

2) I am really losing faith in Jan-di and Ga-eul...
...is Jan-di just really overworked and fatigued that she just focuses on the bare minimum...that being work and studying?
I did agree with you previously about Ga-eul being smart, but I suppose I am impressionable and agree with taking it back...I really was hoping the first round with the chocolates bit would be enough for her. I really wanted him to work for her! Instead she is working for him!
...and yeah, what were they trying to suggest with Yi-jung's dad's message? That Ga-eul is the one for Yi-jung or Eun-jae?

3) The music is better just due to the variety, but as I am constantly reminded of my friend who just finished up Coffee Prince, I must say...I suppose I'll take the new music, then.

4) I mean I am all for Jan-di and Jun-pyo, and not that I am doubting Jun-pyo's love for Jan-di... but it really, really bothers me that Jun-pyo's disinterest seems forced...and that they have some muffled chemistry there.

Thank you for the lovely recap! I love how the obsession with BOF has forced me to drop priorities and instead spend time forming this into a critical analysis-master's thesis material....

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40 Aye

March 3, 2009 at 8:57 PM

Did anyone else laugh out loud when they showed Jun-pyo learning how to swim? Way to ruin a nice scene PD Jun Ki-sang.

Thanks for the recap!

P.S.: Do you know the name of the singer and the title of the song that was playing during the scene in the teddy bear museum? It's difficult to search it online since it's in Korean. Thanks for your help.

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41 seobak

March 3, 2009 at 8:58 PM

"Oh well. She’s young and he’s hot."
That line was good. XD I generally liked Ep.17 though. There were a few bumps but I overall enjoyed it.. even though I am still more interested in the Ga-Eul/Yi-Jeong story, there was more interest generated in the Jun-Pyo/Jandi in this episode.

But I would really just rather watch all SoEul parts. I am interested in how the Korean adaption will take their story.. happy ending, hopes?

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42 ozchick

March 3, 2009 at 8:58 PM

Thankyou!!!!!! Been refreshing your page ALL DAY!
I must admit the show IS starting to get a bit boring now and i'm beginning to lose interest (not completely though! Just a tad bit) Things better be picking up soon since we're almost nearing the finale!

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43 Aaannie

March 3, 2009 at 9:00 PM

ahhh i can go to bed earlier now!

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44 Airajuliafor

March 3, 2009 at 9:01 PM

Maybe Yi-jung's first love wasn't actually a love...? I mean, if you think about it, during the time Eun-jae came, his life was a mess, and she was this oasis that helped him. Maybe he really didn't lover her; it was just a confused liking/crush. Or maybe Yi-jung's dad's philosophy is just plain wrong... that you can have two loves that you will be able to spend your life with... [I actually heard this philosophy that people are born with 8 (or some number close) soulmates. The first one you find is usually your REAL love; and it's really rare for you to find the others, but if you do, they say you'd be so close to Soulmate 1 that it wouldn't be hard to choose.]
Anyhoo... since monday episodes now technically became tuesday episodes.. does that mean that if the tuesdays-are-better-than-monday-episodes pattern continues, monday eps will now be better than tuesday? (did i lose you? xD)

Thanks, Javabeans. Awesome recap, as always. Kamsahamnida.

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45 Tay

March 3, 2009 at 9:02 PM

so few JD and JP scenes lol...mon episode is so boring lol...

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46 bbm

March 3, 2009 at 9:03 PM

wow, it's strange when i want to comment and had less than 10 comments above me. usually it's up to 100...
-edit, wow, just by typing this the comment went up to 40 something... nice
well thank you for this... i think the decision to put season 1 and 2 (of the japanese storyline) into 24 episodes of one season start to take it's toll, it become repetitious and kinda slow... i didn't say it was bad, but if they keep it like this, i'm afraid it will get boring...
i'm hoping not...

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47 Mastisa

March 3, 2009 at 9:03 PM

Hey dramabeans, just wanted to mention that I love your recaps and have been reading them since like episode 4 of BBF. Your comments are hilarious and have a healthy dose of experienced criticism! I love watching BBF now even though to me it's descended into melodrama and cliche coincidences (GJP and GJD just have to walk into each other WHENEVER and WHEREVER the other looks like they're with someone else - and then almost every guy scene that is included solely for the purpose of showing his angst and perhaps getting them more airtime for the fangirls) - because some parts are still enjoyable and then I can come read your blog and laugh at all the rest.

Anyway, it was fun to see a review of a 50% Jan-distress episode (although I felt for her, which made it MUCH better than the past ones, it's just that it's been overdone). And YJ's anger seemed to come out of nowhere. I thought I could relate to GaEul though - pottery seems fun even without a guy as an excuse! But she suddenly went all lovey-eyed when the teacher asked her about it... she should have denied it or said she just saw a guy doing it and thought it was cool or something... now it feels like she's kind of lost her personality like JD's lost her ability to stand up by herself... erm...

But I think the scenes between GJP, JD and JH are still awesome! Even the flawed ones! =)

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48 lidge_fan

March 3, 2009 at 9:05 PM

"Is anyone else feeling tired out by the drama? I don’t mean tired OF the drama, but tired out BY it. I dunno, for mindless entertainment, sometimes it really makes you work at following along.".......lol....yeah, the scene of JD and JH standing in front of the columns was beautifully shot but glad you went with the pic of JP feeding JH....lol

@17 maria: yeah, the phone modelling thing was a bit o_O but if they didn't have it, Woo Bin wouldn't even be in this episode at all :( I didn't pay any attention to Akira in the manga, Meteor Garden or the J-version but I really, really love the character of Song Woo Bin in the K-version of Hana Yori Dango. *sigh* Poor guy! I've never rooted for side characters before but K-drama has changed that.

Thanks for taking the time to do the recap, javabeans!

edit: hey javabeans, I tried to edit the name and suddenly my comment had a blue box....sorry! :(

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49 dove

March 3, 2009 at 9:05 PM

i agree if jandi would participate in ramen challenge, it would be great. However, i read from soompi forum such that due to GHS injury , she couldn't eat ramen so that 's why they modify the scipt which subjects to jaekyung alone eating the ramen. The ramen part was the one which they filmed recently on monday after GHS discharged from hospital.

Thanks for the review.

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50 jassarah

March 3, 2009 at 9:11 PM

For what should have been a Monday episode, this one wasn't alcohol-drowning bad. (Falls over in shock) Dare I say Season 2 overall has shown a remarkable improvement over Season 1? There's definitely a lot more interesting emotional development of the characters. I noticed the change (for better) in the music as well. Maybe the music director is like the schizo screenwriter--it's anyone's guess whether it's good or bad from episode to episode.

Thanks for the recaps!

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