Pasta: Episode 4
by javabeans
I think this is going to be my last Pasta recap. I’m enjoying this series for the chemistry between Lee Seon-kyun and Gong Hyo-jin and I still think that there are solid elements to this drama, but given the landscape at the moment, it’s just not commanding my attention. I’ll explain more below.
SONG OF THE DAY
Pasta OST – “Lucky Day” by Every Single Day. I’ve been a fan of rock band Every Single Day for a while, and it’s good to see them come out with something new. [ Download ]
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EPISODE 4 RECAP
Yoo-kyung is so stunned to be named the winner of the blind audition that she asks Hyun-wook — who’s stunned as well to see who he has picked — to repeat himself. She prods him to reiterate, “Tomorrow, you will…?” Everyone waits with bated breath for his reluctant response: “…work the frying pan.”
Team Korea revels at this development because they know how angry Hyun-wook must be. Everyone goes around tasting Yoo-kyung’s winning dish, and they agree that it’s deserving. Despite the lines that have been drawn between the two kitchen sides, Team Italy is friendly and welcoming; the leader tells Yoo-kyung that it was good enough to go out to a customer.
Team Italy discusses this surprising turn — this is a first time for Hyun-wook. Even in Italy when he’d done blind tastings, he’d never picked a woman. The three guys were also picked this way.
The most junior cook on Team Italy, Eun-soo, wonders who will be the new assistant now that Yoo-kyung has been promoted. He realizes belatedly that this means he’s been demoted. (I don’t feel too bad for him since he was promoted hastily anyway, and he hasn’t been a proper assistant to earn the place of cook in the first place.)
Hyun-wook is frustrated with this development, but there’s really nothing he can do about it. The mood when they meet in the locker room is, unsurprisingly, tense. As he changes his clothes, it’s like he’s challenging her to leave, especially when he deliberately reaches to unbutton his pants and tells Yoo-kyung, “If you’re uncomfortable, leave.”
(And the silly girl actually leaves!)
Still, Hyun-wook is the head chef and he has an eager new cook, so he takes her aside to teach her a few tips. She’s a little slow and unsteady, so he demonstrates how to cook a dish and plate it, then warns her about the lunch rush. Her wrist and arm muscles get a workout from holding the heavy pans, which she’ll have to repeat dozens of times during meal hours.
Yoo-kyung knows that Hyun-wook must be angry to be stuck with her, “But I won’t make you regret it. Please teach me, chef.”
The next staff meeting shakes things up further, because Hyun-wook is making three major changes to their menu. First, no more foie gras. Apparently this drama forgets that foie gras is French and therefore would not reasonably be the best-seller at an Italian restaurant, but let’s go with it. Second, no more spoons. The reason being, they are drowning their pasta in sauce, when really it should just coat the noodles. Third and most importantly, no more pickles.
Each of these decisions is shocking for the staff, but the pickle decree practically gives everyone a fit. No pickles at an Italian restaurant would be like no kimchi at a Korean restaurant! (Supposedly.) Without the free side dish set at every table, patrons wouldn’t have that tang to cut through the rich pasta taste. Hyun-wook argues that pickles are loaded in sugar and affects the way people taste the pasta. Their taste buds will adjust in due time.
President Seol is facing flagging sales and puts his foot down on Hyun-wook’s changes, but Hyun-wook proceeds anyway.
This divides the kitchen further. As the leader of Team Korea, Seok-ho stands up to Hyun-wook to say that he’ll take responsibility and keep sending out those foods. Hyun-wook argues that the chef’s word is law. Yoo-kyung is torn, because while she just won her job after such difficulty, she believes that these changes are wrong. Furthermore, in the three years she was assistant, she was responsible for making the pickles, which were the only food that she made that actually got served. Ultimately she joins her colleagues on Team Korea.
The first day the changes are implemented, the dining hall is loud and clear in their complaints. Skimping on the sauce and withholding pickles? Who do they think they are to lecture the diners on the sugary properties of their side dishes? And if it’s so bad for them today, why was it perfectly fine to serve yesterday?
During the restaurant’s idle time, Yoo-kyung looks up through the glass ceiling to see Hyun-wook brooding by himself on the roof. She joins him, and he asks whether she thinks he’s doing this just to pick a fight. It’s like the staff assumes he’s just being difficult, but he does have a reason for his choices. Yoo-kyung stands around uncertainly, not quite sure what to say. She asks what his dream for his kitchen is, and explains that if he hadn’t helped her with the goldfish, she wouldn’t have had the courage to return.
Hyun-wook: “Is this consolation or flattery?”
Yoo-kyung: “Would flattery work?”
Hyun-wook: “No.”
Yoo-kyung: “Would consolation work?”
Hyun-wook: “No.”
Yoo-kyung: “What would work, then?”
Hyun-wook: “Nothing.”
But at least he smiles when he says it.
It’s a different story, however, when a filming crew descends upon the kitchen of La Sfera. It’s bad enough that the kitchen staff wasn’t notified (arrangements had been made through President Seol), but absolutely infuriating when it turns out to be Se-young’s crew. They promise to be out before dinner service, but that’s hardly a satisfactory answer.
Hyun-wook glares at Se-young, who looks at him with infuriating calmness. It’s like she’s provoking him on purpose by offering to let him taste her pasta, but he won’t bite (literally or figuratively). He storms out of the kitchen.
Hyun-wook goes for an aggressive drive, and now that he’s alone, he can’t contain his rage. Se-young calls him, telling him she’s glad that he’s angry with her. She’s prepared to take his fury — she was most afraid of the opposite, that he would have forgotten her.
When he returns, the film crew is gone, and Se-young has left a plate of pasta for him to taste. Instead, he drops it on the ground: “It’s poisoned. If you eat it, you’ll die.”
Although San has taken efforts not to link himself to the restaurant, now it becomes clear that his family in fact owns it. He knows his sister Kang’s taste in men, and hints that she ought to drop by to check out the new cooks. And sure enough, the moment she sets her eyes on Phillip, she’s smitten.
The customer uproar over the pickles is reaching a deafening pitch, so President Seol makes an executive decision. Since Hyun-wook has thrown out all their pickles and refuses to send them out, he instructs the wait staff to serve them from the dining hall, without Hyun-wook knowing. He orders Yoo-kyung to continue making the pickles, and she protests. But he holds the cards here, because he knows about the egg money and blackmails with her. Yoo-kyung had previously found a deposit in her account from the egg supplier (a sort of bribe for their patronage) and returned it to Chef Totti before he was fired. President Seol says that there’s record that she received the money, but no record of it being returned.
What she doesn’t know is that Totti had in fact returned the money to President Seol — who had pocketed it himself. When Hyun-wook goes out to buy fresh ingredients, he meets the acquaintance of their egg vendor.
Yoo-kyung’s roommates have all packed up and moved out, since they are all unemployed now. Yoo-kyung can’t stay here either, but she has no place to go, so she calls home and urges her brother to move out so she can move in. (Their home doesn’t have room for both of them.) After all, he’s a medical student so he can live in the dorms, right?
Yoo-kyung’s father barks his denial. Her brother will stay put and she’ll have to figure something else out.
When a VIP customer comes in and orders foie gras, Hyun-wook goes out to apologize that they no longer serve it. The table grows upset, and Seok-ho hastens to contradict him, offering to prepare the dish. Hyun-wook says no. Seok-ho says yes. The stand-off continues.
However, now that he’s in the dining room, something else catches his attention — the pickles being served on all the tables. What the…? Realizing that his staff has circumvented his authority, he finds the batch of pickles and charges into the kitchen.
Knowing that Yoo-kyung must be behind it, he grabs her furiously. How dare she directly defy his orders? His anger is so strong that the others are alarmed, and Yoo-kyung falls to her knees pleading for his mercy.
He talks to her one on one in his office, calmer now, asking for the full story. Why did she make the pickles? Yoo-kyung won’t tell him her reasons, so he asks if she will continue to make them. Morosely, she answers yes. Rather than growing angrier, he has to wonder at her contrary responses.
That evening, she sits in front of a tub of cucumbers, debating whether or not to proceed with the pickling. In a comic sequence, Team Italy tries to get inside to stop her, clawing at the door, held back by Team Korea,.
Yoo-kyung is in the backroom for a long while, and when she emerges, both Teams are collapsed on the floor, exhausted from fighting each other. They assume she has proceeded with the pickling, but instead, she presents them with a new idea. She has put together a fruit salad mix that will solve the problem of excessive sugar, since the fruit is naturally sweet. She’s barely into the explanation when an indignant President Seol bursts in — does she know how much money she has just thrown away? Fruit is incredibly expensive compared to pickles — and now she’s suggesting they give it away for free too?
The scene is disrupted by Hyun-wook, who comes in and, surprisingly, goes directly to Yoo-kyung, pulling her in close. Everyone is shocked at his gesture, but as he leans in, he asks, “The eggs — that was you, right?”
COMMENTS
I honestly get a ton of enjoyment out of writing recaps (wouldn’t do it otherwise!) but nothing kills that joy faster than passive-aggressive complaints about how I’m so slow. It’s not like I’m sitting here stewing over the comments — I get it, enthusiasm makes people impatient — but it does get kind of exasperating.
That said, like I mentioned, I’ve decided to stop recapping Pasta, although the decision has nothing to do with the complaints or with the show being unsatisfactory. Recapping is fun when there’s something to discuss, something to dissect and analyze or pick apart or squee over. These factors are much more motivating than whether the show is generally entertaining — because even if it’s fun to watch, if I have nothing to say about it, I sorta feel like recapping is an empty activity.
That’s how I feel about Pasta. These recaps are really short compared to my usual length, and while I’m often fighting to cut down and edit recaps to be a readable length, I really don’t have that problem here. Furthermore, although I really like Lee Seon-kyun and Gong Hyo-jin, everything else sorta feels like filler. I don’t think I can make it through an entire drama solely based on the lead couple’s chemistry (which is also why I couldn’t make it through Partner).
Phew, at least there’s one weight off my mind!
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Tags: Gong Hyo-jin, Lee Seon-kyun, Pasta
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1 funky
January 22, 2010 at 9:17 PM
thanks for the recap. upset u won't be doing it anymore since I really like the drama but it's totally understandable.
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2 mzpakipot
January 22, 2010 at 9:18 PM
JB, i enjoy reading your recaps than watching the real show. You're one terrific writer! Thanks a heap!
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3 hanachana8
January 22, 2010 at 9:20 PM
thank u for your honesty regarding the recap of this drama. I respect your decision and will continue to enjoy the recaps of the other dramas that you find deserve your commentary....more often than not i find your opinions right on the money on the dramas that you do comment on, thanks again!!!
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4 Elena
January 22, 2010 at 9:27 PM
Thanks for this. I can't imagine anyone pushing a creative writer for results. It's beyond me.
I always enjoy your reviews and recaps.
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5 cate
January 22, 2010 at 9:34 PM
Thanks for ur reviews+ recaps...always a joy to read them!
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6 estel
January 22, 2010 at 9:38 PM
Delurking to say a huge "THANK YOU" for your awesome recapping efforts! I'm sad you won't be continuing to do Pasta, but I can hardly complain when you've got so much else going on. Sadly, I think society - and the people that make it up - is getting worse and worse about demanding things - a little delayed gratification is just the thing. :)
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7 langdon813
January 22, 2010 at 9:39 PM
Thanks JB! This is definitely an enjoyable drama, but not one that requires a lot of emotional investment or deep thinking. Fun, but it doesn't really stay with you for long after each episode ends. The big kick for me in this episode was seeing Dol-soon from Bad Couple with her fabulous short haircut and cougar attitude! Love her.
We'll look forward to future recaps of more challenging dramas, whichever ones may catch your fancy and get those recap juices flowing!
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8 more
January 22, 2010 at 9:40 PM
Of all dramas to stop recapping why this one?
Because Boys over flower,My fair Lady where awful compared to Pasta. Yet you continued capping BOF MFL.
I honestly dont get it
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9 langdon813
January 22, 2010 at 9:50 PM
@ 8 more
Because it's HER blog and therefore she should do what she enjoys. And she gave her reasons for dropping the drama already, so let's just accept her decision and move on.
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10 Javabeans
January 22, 2010 at 9:51 PM
@more -- you completely missed the point, didn't you? Because (1) those dramas are not airing now, and therefore do not compete with my work and sleep schedule against Pasta, (2) I just explained that it's not so much about the quality of the drama as it is about how much there is to say about it once all is said and done, and (3) your comment suggests to me that you know how I ought to spend my time better than I myself do. Pray tell, continue to tell me how to spend my time to suit your needs.
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Lisa
September 27, 2011 at 9:02 PM
How to spend your time? However the hell you want! It would be nice to bar people from perusing all of your hard work if they so rudely...or maybe I'm just a vindictive person. That is probably it.
I actually can't believe you can run a site such a this. I barely have time to write a page or two to keep my chops up with work and life so I can't imagine watching a drama and taking the time to analyze it. Props to you and the other recappers. It makes me want to try my hand at it. Helas...my Korean is nonexistent.
Here's to recapping! Cheers! Konbae! Kampai! Cin cin! Sante! Salud!
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Lisa
September 27, 2011 at 9:03 PM
so rudely complain* (the result of writing a comment after teaching cello all day long...)
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11 okdubu
January 22, 2010 at 10:00 PM
i'm starting to not get hyunwook's character he's turning very meeehhhhhhhhhh for me. what's his deal with all the changes?
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12 kaedejun
January 22, 2010 at 10:01 PM
hm - you have a point. sorry to hear that this series wasn't as enjoyable to recap - in terms of discussion. sometimes i feel that way with IRIS - but IRIS always answers my questions by the next episode anyways - hehe...
@more - similarly as to how bad/good My Love Patzzi was, it was fun to see javabeans, dahee, and samsooki debate about it endlessly, no?
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13 Soluna
January 22, 2010 at 10:02 PM
I'm sorry people have been complaining.. subtle comments about how quickly you put up a recap are still complaints and it's not cool that people don't understand how much work goes into your recaps. Thanks for the recaps you've done thus far, and the ones you'll do in the future.
And about what you said about Pasta.. I can see what you're saying. We're six episodes in and I'm still unsure of how I feel about Kim San, Alex's character. There's not much character development, or plot development for that matter. This drama seems to be ambling along, despite its quick pacing. However, having watched Partner all the way through, I think Pasta's going to turn out much better than Partner did. I liked the Kim HyunJoo and Lee DongWook pairing, but their relationship didn't progress much even until the end, and the drama itself only took a few baby steps from beginning to end, leaving us with very little by the time Partner was over. On the other hand, I can kinda see Pasta doing more than Partner ever thought of doing, and the chemistry between Lee SeonKyun and Gong HyoJin is off the charts compared to the lukewarm chemistry of Kim HyunJoo and Lee DongWook. Maybe Pasta will turn out to be like Partner. But I'll keep watching it 'til the end just to see how great the two leads are together. :D
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14 Molly
January 22, 2010 at 10:08 PM
"Yoo-kyung looks up through the glass ceiling to see Hyun-wook brooding by himself on the roof."
I like the use of the word "glass ceiling" here - it's almost a double entendre! Was it intentional?
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15 jo
January 22, 2010 at 10:08 PM
oooh. really? hmmm...ok then.
I like Pasta though...i think it just keeps getting better!
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16 alert
January 22, 2010 at 10:10 PM
Thanks for the recap JB!
As much as I would love you to recap Pasta, but I totally understand you. I was excited about the drama at first, and totally love the leads' chemistry, but the rest of casts are so... bland. Plus, there's hardly anything else interesting to poke on -no drooling second lead, no bitchy ex, no adorable cutie that you want to squeeze from the side casts etc. They should have established that by ep 2-3 i think hehe. I can continue ogling at the Voice and GHJ, but still, it would be bored to discuss that alone for 16 eps ha!
The drama still grow on me though, and I'll continue watching Pasta, despite it being late at subbing process.
Looking forward for other drama recaps from you!
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17 bloujadine
January 22, 2010 at 10:12 PM
Thanks for the recap JB. I found the first two subbed episodes and still couldn't get past the first. Don't get me wrong, I love the cast it's just that I had more fun reading YOUR recaps than watching the drama itself. I gave Wish Upon A Star a try and really liking that. Again, I appreciate all your hard work.
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18 Auntiemame
January 22, 2010 at 10:14 PM
I also agreed that while it is an entertaining show, there isn't much to discuss or dissect. No surprise. Just look at the size of the portions being served to their customers. Almost minuscule...
Thank you for the recaps up to this point, anyway.
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19 Molly
January 22, 2010 at 10:15 PM
Just finished reading the recap, and I can see why you're dropping Pasta recaps. Thanks for telling us about your decision, and for all you do for us Dramabeans readers.
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20 Luna
January 22, 2010 at 10:15 PM
I like Pasta mainly for Lee Seon-kyun and Gong Hyo-jin, but the drama doesn't have much depth and intricacies that would require JB's analysis and review. So yeah, I completely understand your stance on this one. Plus, you already have lots on your plate, so skip the appetizer and dig in for the main dish ;)
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21 bug
January 22, 2010 at 10:19 PM
Dont let the selfish readers get you down. I know I comment on the behalf of many silent readers -thank you for all that you do write. I am an avid reader of your engaging and fun posts (daily). I hate it when you don't write about a drama I am watching because your comments and observations add so much. I never comment on people's blogs. But I felt that I needed to let you know that there are thankful - quiet - devoted readers out here.
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22 amg01
January 22, 2010 at 10:23 PM
Lots of Luv!!!! Thank you for your hard work....I am just upset at the lack of understanding in some peoples minds,,,This is your Domain to do as you wish, thank you again for let us partake of your gift,,,Mahalo, Thank you, Muchas Gracias.. : O )
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23 glencorajane
January 22, 2010 at 10:24 PM
#8
BOF is entertaining albeit sometimes brainless, but it is fun. My Fair lady is also funny and all the cast in these two shows are either already famous/very popular or extremely good looking to watch.
Conversely, Pasta doesn't boost a stellar cast. The only person I like in the team is Honey Lee (but I am not a guy so its not enuf a pull factor). Plus I think they should have chosen another title. Just looking at the name put me to sleep and I havent watch a single ep. Its too similar to several past dramas that are center on food competition. I am not into food, so all the more I am not motivated to watch.
Sorry if I offend all the fans of Pasta, but my point is I understand why JB is stopping the recap.
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24 giddygirl108
January 22, 2010 at 10:27 PM
I'm glad you have your limits and boundaries on which dramas you're choosing to recap. If it's not fun for you, it won't be fun for us! I'll just have to watch this drama on my own then...tehe!
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25 Tacllnv
January 22, 2010 at 10:33 PM
I'm very sad that you wont be recapping Pasta; however, I appreciate and thank you that you have let us know. It goes to show that you are very dedicated and respectful of your readers! Thanks JB!
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26 deeta
January 22, 2010 at 10:36 PM
I admit to have been a culprit on that passive agressive thing during Return of Iljimae recaps. I really apologize for that, it's a bratty thing to complain about it.
You made a really good point with the comparison to Partner. The main couple is compelling but nothing else really is. I wonder how long I can stick with Pasta too if the other characters do not get interesting soon.
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27 yuella
January 22, 2010 at 10:37 PM
Giant thank to your recap. Honestly since I transfer to Australia, the amount of money and time I spend to see Kdrama was uncountable; especially I have to use Mobile Broadband. Your blog is my savior. I am enjoy reading Pasta recap and hopefully you could continue when you have more spare time.
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28 ditzychick
January 22, 2010 at 10:37 PM
i think your recaps are great, and have enjoyed all of them, i'll miss the recaps for pasta as i don't get to watch many of these shows or here about them much at all since i'm in australia, and unfortunately don't have the time to watch them all either but i think you do a great job and always enjoy the recaps! reading your recaps for me is nearly as good as watching the shows as they are so well done! so thanks!
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29 pasta
January 22, 2010 at 10:43 PM
perhaps its because readers have come to think that you would only recap good shows (you're beautiful, coffee prince) and since you're not recapping pasta, readers assume you're probably thinking it ain't that good.
well at least thats how i felt when i read the first few lines.
of course, after reading the rest i found out why you wanted to stop recapping.
So far I've enjoyed the show quite a lot. to me it feels like a grown up version of you're beautiful. i like the banter between the two leads. In fact, i'm enjoying this very fun combination of lead characters. gong hyojin, dare i say, I didn't like at the first look. But now i think she's so honestly cute with her acting that it feels very real. though sometimes i find the voice's voice very irritating with the excessive shouting, its this thing about his expressions that makes me go aww.. (im not dramabeans so i cant really think of a word to express that!) and it all makes for a very enjoyable drama to watch.
it's a pity you won't be recapping anymore, because very often you are able to put my thoughts into words. it's pretty much like watching a show with a friend. im not sure what kind of depth you're looking for in a drama but hey if not for your first few recaps, i wouldn't have started frantically searching for subbed videos and eventually end up watching chinese subbed ones. so thanks alot for your recaps! and i now know what the korean word for "fired" is! :)
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30 robotmatsuri
January 22, 2010 at 11:01 PM
It's a pity that you're stopping, but I'm so grateful for what you have done so far. Thanks JB! :)
President Seol drove me absolutely nuts in this episode! I really wanted to punch something every time he appeared on screen.
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31 honest_will
January 22, 2010 at 11:01 PM
thanks for the recaps
but i can understand what you mean
now to all those who irritated dramabeans
just wait for those hard and soft subs to come across dramacrazy.net
then watch it
theres no point asking for them if she busy with her own life
and another thing
i dont like this couple, their acting is great and chemistry is good but there is too much yelling and takes too long for them to agree on anything
i didn't mind the kim sam soon couple, coffee prince, yab, hong gil dong, shining inheritance, on air
but i REALLY REALLY HATE this couple and their conflicts, it reminds me of.......
QUE SERA SERA
(too much male ego and yelling equals distasteful drama)
i watched QUE SERA SERA and i hated the relationship,
and ERIC should stay to his shinwha days
cos all that yelling and lalala and for the girl to continue to like him even though what he did was stupid, its like watching all those stories from the movie, hes not into you
PS any drama that i needs to be watched at 2x speed is becos 1 its slow to watch and 2 the yelling outweighs the story
a drama is supposed to make you wind down but this one made me more angry and i am now VENTING THROUGH THIS BLOG
pss KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND WILL BE FOLLOWING YOUR BLOGS IN FUTURE
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32
January 22, 2010 at 11:05 PM
thank you thank you thank you!
[for all the recaps and hard work you put into them]
:D
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33 Cartman
January 22, 2010 at 11:11 PM
Oh. So that's why. Oh well.. thanks anyway for the first 4 episodes. I loved it, really. And I agree, your recaps for Pasta are short. hehe. :D
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34 lovesdramas =)
January 22, 2010 at 11:13 PM
JB - I think you're amazing. I, for one, don't know how you manage to run your blog so beautifully and you also have a regular life as well!! Kudos to you! I've guest blog for a friend before with just one article and it's hard hard hard to write. I can only guess how long it takes to write a recap -- I was thinking just inserting the photos takes a really long time. I, for one, really appreciate your hard work... you keep me in the kdrama world. =)
I feel the same way about Pasta - there are just way to many dramas out there and in my limited time, I can only watch a few. Since my twdramas are sucking me back in, I am sticking to Will it Snow for Christmas (love your recaps & insights there) and Wish Upon a Star for the time being. Thanks for all your hard work. You rock!
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35 llama
January 22, 2010 at 11:14 PM
JB, thanks for the great job, and it's completely understandable why you aren't sticking with Pasta. It's a fun and breezy show to watch, but there just isn't much weight and heft to the story. There isn't much to dissect so much as merely describe what happened.
@more
I hated BOF and MFL, but I liked reading the recaps because JB had so much to say about each show. JB does her best work (iMHO) when she is strongly passionate about a series, and reading how she works out her attraction to shows like BOF in light of its many flaws is a delight.
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36 all4movies
January 22, 2010 at 11:22 PM
No probs, JB.
I'm just happy to read whatever catches your eyes/heart/attention.
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37 yen_nguyen
January 22, 2010 at 11:24 PM
There is something not right at Pasta.
It's not because of the cast.
I think it is because of the writer. I think she/he doesn't know what or how to do with characters she made.
I've tried to keep till ep 6, waiting for something to happen, but it seems like there is nothing.
So about your decision, I think it's ok, it's good if you save Pasta time for something else better (I always believe it would be better)
Thank you!
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38 hahafatgirl
January 22, 2010 at 11:31 PM
I've only watched up to episode two but I got scared every time the Voice starts yelling. I literally jumped out of my seat a few times. I don't know if my heart can take any more of this. Maybe I need to watch it with the sound turned down?! I do sort of want to continue......
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39 more
January 22, 2010 at 11:34 PM
@javabeans
If your going to disagree with me Dont put words in my mouth i never told you how should or should not spend your time.
If you rather cap dramas similar to BOF then go for it. It dont bother me
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40 llama
January 22, 2010 at 11:39 PM
Just wanted to follow up with a beef(s) that I have with Pasta. The whole hullabaloo around cooking the perfect pasta is not convincing at all. It's pasta for goodness sake! The more I thought about it, the lamer it comes off. The food here isn't nearly as complex of technically difficult as it was in Gourmet. Yoo-kyung fell in love with the perfect pasta dish before she started working at La Sfera, which means that the apparently very "high" standards for cooking pasta existed in the LS kitchen before Hyun-wook showed up.
Another small point - i think La Sfera must be grossly overpriced. Didn't Yoo-kyung and her friends pay over $2500 for a dinner in a previous episode? I saw the portion size, and the American in me would thrown a tantrum if I was charged more than $30 for a small pile of pasta in olive oil. I would want more food, dammit! Even with a large group of 10 and wine, that's a large bill.
One last point (now that I've unleashed the floodgates). I don't ever want to see Yoo-kyung eat another plate of pasta again. She's kind of disgusting when she spears a large fork full, eats half of it, and then uses her hand to push the rest into her mouth (like in ep 2, and in front of her customers no less!).
I've been watching the show in pieces and according to the availability of subs, so maybe things are as bad as they appear to me. However, I'm still underwhelmed by the food.
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41 ugh
January 22, 2010 at 11:50 PM
@more, first you criticize Javabeans for what dramas she chooses to watch and now you bitch at her for pointing out that you were rude? If you find it so difficult to understand why she chooses her shows then leave, you won't be missed. Don't challenge someone over WHY she does something that she doesn't have to do in the first place. How ungrateful.
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42 cat.leafs
January 23, 2010 at 12:02 AM
Nonetheless, thank you for the recaps, Javabeans.
To more:
Think about it: Four recaps of Pasta, that's very cool, hands down. It is better than no recap. Don't hate.
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43 cheonsa
January 23, 2010 at 12:10 AM
hi javabeans, as noted by those who left comments above, though we're disappointed there'll be no more pasta recaps, we really appreciate you taking the time to explain your decision. And it's really the reason why I LOVE your recaps. It's not just about the plain re-telling of the story - that's just like serving up plain rice - but your recaps are like colorful and flavorful bibimbap with the different layers and textures that make them such a satisfying read. In fact, a lot of times, I have more fun reading your recaps than watching the shows. I believe, for every one disgruntled, demanding, rude guest, you have many many more appreciative, grateful guests patiently awaiting to partake in whatever it is you decide to whip up next, appreciating most of all, our chef's emphasis on quality over quantity or speed.
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44 ar_arguably romantic
January 23, 2010 at 12:14 AM
Thank you for the recap! I'm sorry that there are people out there giving you smack about which dramas they feet entitled to have recaps from you when you do them out of your own generosity in sharing with us readers your reflections. If they want to know more abt the episodes, they should seek out other forums of discussion about the drama.
my fave comment in the recap: "(And the silly girl actually leaves!)" (when you referred to the scene where Hyunwook was changing. I agree! YooKyung, you should have stayed and watched and let us know if it was boxers of briefs or boxer briefs.)
Anyways, regarding Pasta. I really like seeing the chemistry between the two leads, but for the past few episodes (4-6), I've been mostly fast-forwarding through parts since, imo, nothing is really progressing in the plot. To me, it's sort of like the first few episode of Iljimae (Lee Junki version) where, sure a bunch of stuff happened, but nothing has really advanced the plot by ep 6 out of 20.
My big gripe is this: I agree with the poster who said that there were "apparently very “high” standards for cooking pasta existed in the LS kitchen before Hyun-wook showed up" so I really don't understand why Hyun-wook treats them like they are all noobs. He's dissatisfied with everything in this restaurant, which tons of happy customers have lined up to get in, even before he stepped in to throw his weight around and started abruptly changing things to dissatisfy all the loyal customers. Shouldn't he try to make the customers happy and not ruin business for the owner? Maybe he should open up his own restaurant and put his own mark on it instead of trying to hijack La Sfera.
Anyways, I do like the breezy tone of the drama and the YooKyung and Hyunwook interactions. This drama maybe in flawed, but at least it's got a lot of charm.
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45 YH
January 23, 2010 at 12:19 AM
Hi, delurking here.
I just wanted to say that I love love love your website and your recaps. I'm sorry to hear about the passive-aggressive criticism, and just wanted to say that I'm just very, very happy that you even write them. Sometimes, I'll watch a show and then read what you wrote, as you have wonderful insight in the drama. :-)
So just wanted you to know that there's definitely silent readers who appreciate your writings! :-)
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46 hjkomo
January 23, 2010 at 12:24 AM
Anyone who complains about the speed of recaps (or subtitles...or downloads) should spend a year (or two...or several) doing it themselves. SERIOUSLY.
Thank you, JB for all your hard work and generosity.
Pasta is delightful and fun. I'm enjoying the HW-YK chemistry immensely, but yeah, there isn't a whole lot to say about the drama. That doesn't mean I can't squee every Monday and Tuesday, though. ;)
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47 pongs
January 23, 2010 at 12:30 AM
Hi jb, you have my full support! It's been really enjoyable being able to read the recaps in such clarity (non - korean speaker here) and reading the comments left by those who had experiences and thoughts to share. Nevertheless, thank you much :)
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48 mumuchan
January 23, 2010 at 1:28 AM
I will miss your recaps, but I totally understand your point.Thank you for having provided us with four recaps already^^
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49 Jenny
January 23, 2010 at 2:38 AM
Don't worry, I'm fully enjoying your recaps for the other dramas.
Keep up the good work and don't let the people who complain put you down ^^
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50 Deborah
January 23, 2010 at 3:42 AM
Thanks Javabeans! I have been reading most of your recaps lately (with the intention of never watching the shows), and honestly, I really like them when you have something to criticise, so I understand where you are coming from. I really enjoy reading your comments and thoughts on why something is bad or good, whether it is lacking substance or contains meaning that I myself would never have picked up on (I watched YB but I still loved to re-read your recaps because it offered insight into themes I would have brushed over). Thanks for the hard work, and despite ~some~ rude comments, you must know it is greatly appreciated!
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