Romance Town: Episode 3
by kaedejun
This episode had me screaming for MOAARRRRR! You’d think a drama that’s all about slice of life would elicit a calmer response, but no. I’m also counting on this drama to give me another awesome bromance.
SONG OF THE DAY
Tei – 너뿐이야 from Romance Town OST [download]
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YAHOOOOO! Soon Geum’s won the lottery! Young Hee hides from view, making sure she doesn’t see him looking from above, and going so far as covering his head with his jacket when she comes up to his grandfather and father’s graves.
Spotting him, she asks, “Who are you?” He replies, “I’m the spirit of the mountain.” Unbelievable… He reveals himself though, catching her off guard. Sticking a pink flower in his hair, he informs her that she’s bowing to his grandfather Kim Yuk and father Kim Han, and the reason he’s around is because he needs to pluck off the weeds. So what’s her deal?
Soon Geum plucks the flower from his hair and tucks it behind her ear. She says that she’s gone crazy after being kicked out by Gun Woo. She felt that she was so crazy she just had to share it with the rest of the deceased elders too. Young Hee smiles and adjusts the flower; “I never knew, but now I realize – you’re pretty Ahjumma.”
Eeep! O_O
At work, Tae Won makes his rounds through the office and encourages everyone to keep tabs on the stocks. If they can hit a certain goal, he will treat the whole office dinner. Everyone cheers – except Gun Woo, who looks on disinterestedly.
He barges into his father’s office later asking for the Hiro Fund account to handle for himself. Tae Won tells him to take it easy on his first day, and Gun Woo shoots back, “You’ll give me your son but not this account?” Tae Won thinks Gun Woo is not ready, and learned nothing in New York except how to steal business from others. But Gun Woo says he just wants to be exactly – if not better than – Tae Won.
Hyun Joo is cleaning the bathroom at the Jang Residence, and removed her giant pearl ring. She cleans until every surface sparkles, and then leaves the bathroom – leaving behind the giant ring. When Mistress Boon Ja enters, she coos, “So that’s where I left it!” and slips the ring on.
As she serves tea, Hyun Joo notices that Boon Ja is wearing her ring. She belatedly realizes that she was not wearing her ring at all, and goes back to the bathroom to look for it, thinking that perhaps Boon Ja just has the same ring. Not so – back in the living room, Boon Ja notices Soon Ok’s pearl ring and gushes that Soon Ok’s is as big as a grape, while hers is teeny. That is – until she raises her hand and realizes that her pearl is WAAAAY bigger. Woops!
Soon Ok’s annoyed; Boon Ja wants to trade rings to keep the peace; and Hyun Joo is miffed. Jang Chi Gook gave the same ring to each woman in the household!?
Jang Chi Gook insists that Soon Ok and Boon Ja only provide friendship; he’s really in love with Hyun Joo! Pshhh – like she really buys that.
In the Kim Residence, Da Kyum gets an unexpected visitor: Joo Won. Joo Won waltzes in as if she’s the owner of the house and begins her inspection. She makes sure the surfaces don’t have a single trace of dust; the food is still fresh; and she fixes Young Hee’s un-made bed with a purse of her lips. When she finally leaves, Da Kyum bitterly wonders who the hell Joo Won thinks she is to be acting like she’s the lady of the house.
Gun Woo heads over to the trading center to look at his stocks. Suddenly, Soon Geum with Kang San sits next to him. She asks how his stocks are, and Gun Woo can only stare wide-eyed. He blinks hard several times; his eyes were playing tricks on him! It was really just another mother and son. HA! He’s hallucinating Soon Geum’s presence!
Young Hee plunks down next to him, gloating that his stocks are doing well, and then laughing when he realizes Gun Woo’s are going down. (Young Hee is an annoying but insanely fun friend.) Revenge: in an elevator with cute girls, Gun Woo introduces Young Hee – a sloppy fellow who does nothing but slack off. When he’s in need of money, he sells one of his grandfather’s paintings for a quick fortune.
Revenge 2: Young Hee nags Gun Woo on the way to the bathroom, about being as reckless as his stepmother. Gun Woo admits they’re similar to some degree – both are ill-mannered, brainless, and unlucky – so he tells Young Hee to go look for someone nicer instead of him. It’s funny that Young Hee’s first thought is, “But what about Da Kyum? Without me, she’ll have nothing!”
Hyun Joo returns to the neighborhood lugging two heavy bags of groceries. She’s still mighty bitter about the rings, and then one of the bags breaks in the middle of the road. Her day couldn’t get worse. Meanwhile, Yoon Joo doesn’t know what to do with the dirty dishes and with a kid calling her, “Grandma, I’m hungry.” She storms out of the house angrily.
As Hyun Joo gathers the fallen vegetables in her skirt, she sees Yoon Joo and asks her for help in picking up the eggs. Out of spite, Yoon Joo steps on it instead and walks off. Hyun Joo mutters curses under her breath, and that’s enough for Yoon Joo to turn around and slap her in the face.
OOOOO – CAT FIGHT!
The two of them hurl insults at each other: Yoon Joo warns Hyun Joo to watch her mouth and know her place, going so far as cracking an egg over Hyun Joo’s head. The maid returns the favor, saying that even though she’s only a maid, at least people won’t call her a money-grubbing bitch. Hair tugging and pushing ensues, and the rest of the maids gather around to pull the ladies apart.
Da Kyum grabs hold of Hyun Joo, pulling her off of Yoon Joo. Soo Jung scolds Hyun Joo and tells her to apologize, but as she helps Yoon Joo up, she takes a fierce hold of her hair to pull her up. Ouch! Then when Yoon Joo goes to attack Hyun Joo again, Soo Jung pulls her backwards on to her shoe’s heels. Petty revenge from the maids!
Hwang Yong and Jang Chi Gook notice the ruckus and help the ladies up. Da Kyum, Soo Jung, and Zar Lin observe that Hwang Yong is gently helping Yoon Joo back to her house. (Oooh – something going on there?) They also note with interest that Jang Chi Gook is so concerned over Hyun Joo’s welfare. (Definitely something there…)
Back in her room, Hyun Joo grabs a photo of her two boys and breaks down into heaving sobs. Yoon Joo’s insult was right – as a maid she can’t even cook a meal for her own sons. As for Yoon Joo, she’s been stunned into silence by Hyun Joo’s statement that she only married for money. Perhaps she never faced that fact directly, or she did think she was in love. She requests Hwang Yong to forget the incident ever happened, and he promises: “Everyone has something that they want to hide or can’t admit.” He hands her his handkerchief, and his kind manner touches Yoon Joo.
When Hyun Joo finally emerges from her room, Jang Chi Gook worriedly asks if she’s OK. Hyun Joo admits that she wanted to be a woman for a couple of days and wear the ring, but she was planning on selling it so that she could support her sons. At the end of the day, she’s still a maid, and if only she had saved enough money, she would have quit tomorrow.
Soon Geum heads over to the company that hands out the winning lottery. She is spotted by her dad’s friend, Choi Bong Yi. He wonders if she’s there to see him, and Soon Geum cringes. Now she can’t collect her winnings – especially in front of her dad’s buddy! He thinks that she’s there to borrow money because of her father, who just left, and that sets her off running after him.
She catches him, and they eat at a small restaurant. She’s annoyed that he doesn’t even care for his own well-being, or even contact her, or even visit her mother’s grave. Soon Geum asks him, does he like money or go-stop better? Answer: go-stop, because it’s a more fun way to get money. Does he like go-stop or his daughter more? Her father, Sang Hoon, wisely answers: of course, daughter. If so, she logically concludes, then he should quit playing go-stop for her.
Sang Hoon: “I play go-stop so you can stop being a housemaid.” He then takes out her wallet from her bag; she assumes he’s going to take more cash but instead, he puts money in. He had won a game. He then notices the lottery ticket, and has enough time to see the circled winning numbers before Soon Geum snatches it away.
While Soon Geum is annoyed with her father’s inability to stop gambling (all in the name of needing to pay her back), another patron drunkenly asks her to pour a drink for him. The guy wonders if Soon Geum is a young miss or is an old maid, and that’s when Sang Hoon kicks the guy off his chair, defending his daughter’s honor. It would have been a heroic act – if only he weren’t so beaten easily by the young drunks and kicked on the floor. Needless to say, he ends up in the hospital with a broken nose and in need of surgery.
As for Gun Woo, he’s having a civilized dinner of sorts with his father and Young Hee. Tae Won pours the boys a drink and tells them to take it one shot. Of course, Gun Woo does it – even though he can’t drink for his life – his father is not someone who cares enough about him to remember these sorts of details. Tae Won informs Gun Woo that if he so badly wants to be like his father, tomorrow he can start living exactly in the way Tae Won had lived when he was thirty.
Gun Woo and Young Hee know that Tae Won is going to take everything away, but they both don’t seem too worried about it. Young Hee wants to know why Gun Woo lost all that weight. Gun Woo knew that no matter how smart he was, no one would take him seriously if he remained heavy. Except for Choon Jak – and that’s why he’s so desperate to find her and repay her.
Young Hee comments that Soon Geum isn’t too bad either, but Gun Woo thinks it’s wasteful for her to spend her life being a maid to his horrible family. Young Hee also notes that Gun Woo’s language has become ruder the skinnier he got.
At the hospital, Bong Yi thinks Soon Geum’s father is too troublesome for his own good. He wonders aloud where they could get the money to pay for the hospital bill. Without telling him she won the lottery, she says she’ll find a way. She heads over to a nearby convenience store, reasoning that perhaps the other maids will lend her money. She’ll be able to pay them back anyways since she’s got the lottery money.
Young Hee drives up to the same convenience store – he’s madly hopping to go to the bathroom! Gun Woo goes inside to grab a drink and that’s when he gets a call from a friend who found Choon Jak’s phone number. He has bad memory though, and can’t memorize the number.
Soon Geum takes out her lottery ticket, musing over the winning numbers, when it’s suddenly snatched out of her hands. Gun Woo flips it around and writes down the phone number. She tries to grab it back, but he raises it above his head. Danggit! Why is he so tall!? And dark?! And handsome!?
He enjoys tormenting her, and asks her to give him the ticket. UHHHHH – I don’t think so, fella. She jams her heel on his foot, and he bends over in pain. Snatch! – and out she runs. Gun Woo hobbles after her and yells for Young Hee to go catch her. Confused because he just came out of the bathroom, Young Hee runs after her without knowing why. He grabs her vest easily, and she pleads with “the spirit of the mountain” to just let her go. She tries to continue her crazy act, saying that she’s a rabbit and will give her liver to him if he lets her go. Young Hee makes her promise before letting go.
HMMM – is the boy getting himself involved in a love triangle?!
Tae Won returns home to the sight of Yoon Joo sitting on the couch, waiting for him, clutching Hwang Yong’s handkerchief. She begins making demands: she wants a new car, and unlimited credit for her credit card. Tae Won acquiesces, and she’s frustrated that he never says no to her. She asks if he’s hiding anything from her, but he thinks she’s being needlessly naggy. He just wants to know what she really wants. Surprisingly, she says she wants Soon Geum back.
Soon Geum visits each house, hoping that one of the maids will lend her money. All of them say they don’t have cash to spare. Zar Lin takes pity on her and hands her a card to a loan shark company; she found the business card on her master’s desk.
Soon Geum makes her way to the office, which is completely empty. The banners and signs about money lending freak her out a bit, and when she steps on an ID card with the face cut in half, she decides she’s had enough and runs out the door – slamming it against none other than Hwang Yong.
They’re shocked to see each other, and Soon Geum immediately assumes that Hwang Yong might want to borrow money too. When he starts bleeding from the bruise on his head, Soon Geum thinks he got beaten up by the loan sharks; ha! I love she’s so oblivious to the possibility that she did this to him. As she helps stop the bleeding, Hwang Yong tries to get her to leave by saying that these loan sharks have really high interest rates. But that’s when the loan sharks arrive and say, “President!”
So THIS is how Hwang Yong made his money!
In the office, Soon Geum sits uncomfortably, sneaking peeks at the ominous-looking men behind Hwang Yong. Noticing this, he hands his men some candy, telling them to smile (or try to) and get back to work. He then breaks the ice: if she’s scared, well, he’s scared too that his neighbors will find out about his line of work. He suggests she go to the bank and borrow money instead, but she has no collateral. That’s when she notices a sign stating he accepts lottery tickets as collateral – if they’re first place though.
Perfect! 14.2 billion Won that reduces to 9.5 billion after taxes. Soon Geum gives him a sly smile. Hwang Yong says he’ll give her an additional 500 million, which confuses her – why is he giving her additional money? She’s afraid he’s going to use it against her in the future (perhaps), or use it as a bribe to keep her mouth shut in front of the neighbors (maybe). Soon Geum is so hesitant that Hwang Yong is ready to break off the deal…when she finally relents.
They go to a storage facility where Hwang Yong uses his thumbprint and key to open the storage room. He hands Soon Geum a piece of gum, saying it’ll help her later, but she refuses. OK then – in they go. Inside are sealed boxes full of 50,000 Won bills. Soon Geum is beyond shocked – she’s never seen so much money in her life! She becomes light-headed, and Hwang Yong stuffs the gum in her mouth: “Chew! See, this is why you should have accepted it when I tried to give it to you before.”
They count out 10 billion in front of her. At that moment, Gun Woo is calling her frantically for Choon Jak’s number. Soon Geum accidentally accepts the call, but Gun Woo could only hear the bills being counted in an automatic machine before she ends the call. 10 billion counted out, Hwang Yong hands her the key to her future, and she hands over the lottery ticket.
As Soon Geum becomes rich, Gun Woo is being stripped of his belongings. Tae Won wants all of Gun Woo’s credit cards. The gas in his car will run out by the end of the night. If Gun Woo wants to be just like his father, he will become penniless, and has to fight his way to the top. Though Tae Won acts like he’s doing Gun Woo a favor, Gun Woo knows his father doesn’t really care if Gun Woo succeeds or not. He will “disappoint” Tae Won by truly succeeding.
Soon Geum informs her father that he’ll be staying in the hospital for a while. As soon as she leaves to get some food, he rifles through her bag for the lottery ticket. It’s gone, but he’s putting two and two together.
He gets a surprise visit from all the other maids. Soo Jung and Hyun Joo immediately entertain him with some go-stop, while Zar Lin is made lookout and Da Kyum replenishes the fridge with food. Da Kyum disapproves of their actions, but she can’t do anything to stop them. They hide the cards when the nurse comes in to get his blood pressure, but resume immediately thereafter. Unfortunately – they don’t notice Soon Geum entering.
Sheepishly, Soo Jung and Hyun Joo gather their winnings. Soon Geum screams in frustration – why can’t they all just stop gambling for once!? Hyun Joo whispers to the father that Soon Geum is short-tempered because she lost her job, and that’s when Soon Geum pushes them all out. She didn’t tell her father that yet.
When they’re all gone, Sang Hoon hands her an envelope filled with cash. The maids had all brought it in for her, and Soon Geum feels a twinge of regret at cashing in the lottery with the loan sharks. He asks if Soon Geum was afraid he’d take all of her winnings, and Soon Geum defensively says she didn’t quit at all. In fact – she was just about to head back to work!
Once alone, Sang Hoon makes a call to his friend Bong Yi, fishing for details about the first prize winner for the lottery. Bong Yi only knows that the winner is from Chungdam-dong, the rich area where Soon Geum works, and that the first prize winner won 14.2 billion Won. That’s enough to make Sang Hoon’s heart stop – and the doctors have to shock him back to life.
Outside, Soon Geum receives a call from Yoon Joo, but it’s actually San on the other line! He sweetly calls out, “Ahjumma~!” and Yoon Joo tries to guide the little boy to say that he wants to see her. (Little boy’s vocabulary isn’t that sophisticated yet!)
The other maids are all putting on make-up at a cosmetics store. Soo Jung is about to put on some pale pink lipstick when she hesitates and puts it back down. She has no master or mistresses to impress, and no reason for her to put on any. Hyun Joo notes her sadness and purchases the lipstick for Soo Jung. Later on, she has Soo Jung hold her sweater and look in the right pocket; it’s a bright red lipstick. It’s totally not to Soo Jung’s taste, and so Hyun Joo explains she should look on the left pocket; it’s the wearer’s right side, the onlooker’s left side. All this explains to us is that at least one of the maids is cognizant of the pocket mix-up.
Soon Geum returns to her storage room and hugs a few wads of 50000 Won. She then gets a call that her father is missing from the hospital. Where’d Sang Hoon go!? Why, to the Kang Residence of course! He goes to find out whether Soon Geum quit or not, and Yoon Joo actually says that Soon Geum never quit. (Well, that is true, but she never mentions that Soon Geum got fired either.)
Soon Geum is racing to the Kang Residence, having deduced her father was heading over there. Also returning home is Gun Woo, who drives up alongside her until he finally gets her attention. She tries to run from him, but he stops her. He’ll drive her home – it’s faster, and they’re going the same way.
Ha! As soon as she’s settled in the car, he locks the doors and drives right past their home. He makes the excuse that the foot she stepped on is still in pain, and the brakes aren’t working. They circle around the cul-de-sac, and he wants to know what Choon Jak’s number is. Unfortunately, she no longer has the lottery ticket and so can’t tell him that.
As he drives around, Soon Geum receives a text from Soo Jung. The money in the envelope was actually from Gun Woo; he had told the maids to give it to Soon Geum but not mention that it came from him. Soo Jung thinks it must be severance pay. This is puzzling news for Soon Geum, who’s currently under the impression that he hates her.
Seeing as she doesn’t have the number, he takes out a blanket (aw – no snacks?!) and reclines in his seat. They’ll have to camp out for the night until she figures out the number.
Soon Geum: Do you really like Choon Jak that much, even though she’s a maid?
Gun Woo: Of course.
Soon Geum: Then what about me? We’re both similar, and were unfairly fired on the spot.
Gun Woo: … I like you and hate you. I hate you and like you.
Soon Geum: So…do you like me or hate me?
Gun Woo: Are you curious?
Soon Geum: Yes.
Gun Woo: Then try to make me fall in love with you.
Kaedejun: !?!?!?!?! AJHDSFA;JLGHAW;EFJJGJFKA;DG;UIAWUGJA!!!!!!!
Soon Geum burns up in embarrassment.
Comments:
OHMIGOD! A confession!? In episode THREE?!?!?! I’m counting this as a half-confession, because if you can’t explain coherently how you feel about someone, but know that you can’t be away from them, you like them.
So far there’s been a nice balance in managing the various story lines. I, too, hate the confusing names (Hyun Joo and Yoon Joo – you couldn’t give them different second syllables?!), but slowly and surely, these characters are being revealed to us. I like that Hyun Joo isn’t just a money-hungry maid, but someone who’s bitter about her station and also a single mother. I also immensely enjoyed Hwang Yong’s character; I thought he was going to be a boring rich guy, but he’s actually a lot kinder than the rest of his lot – and makes his money in more shady ways.
I also really enjoyed that certain issues were addressed, such as Gun Woo’s sudden rudeness and reason for weight loss, as well as the whole right-pocket/left-pocket thing, rather than leaving it up for the audience to wonder. I’m glad they’re making the pocket-fiasco a plot point rather than something that could have been dismissed as a continuity issue.
At least Soon Geum’s got her money! Let’s hope she can enjoy it for a while before the Drama Gods decide to mess up her life and take it from her.
And – no spoilers about episode 4 please!
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Tags: featured, Jung Kyeo-woon, Kim Min-joon, Min Hyo-rin, Romance Town, Sung Yuri
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1 romance
May 21, 2011 at 8:19 PM
OMMMMMG ! id been refreshing everyday like every ten minutes hoping a recap would show up.. & hallelujah it did ! thanks for the recap. <3 i cant wait till you recap episode 4. (;
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romancetown-er
May 22, 2011 at 1:24 AM
ME TOO ^^ im in love wif this show! :)
can't wait for next ep...! xD
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2 MiMi
May 21, 2011 at 8:38 PM
Thank you very much! :D
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3 angle2mx
May 21, 2011 at 8:39 PM
Whew! Thanks for the recap. I watched the sub but I was still confused. This helped :)
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mizzxtiffany
May 21, 2011 at 8:50 PM
Agreed! This recap helped! Thanks so much, Kaedejun! I can't wait for episode 4 :)
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hanabi
May 21, 2011 at 8:52 PM
I was confused too! I'm really liking this, but there are a lot of people to keep track of. I need a relationship chart so I can tell who's related to whom, etc. Can't keep them all straight, and it doesn't help that I can never remember anybody's name beyond the two leads.
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hookedonmonix
May 21, 2011 at 9:16 PM
Thank you for the recaps!! I'm only able to watch it with iffy/incoherent subs, so even though I get the general idea, there are many many things I miss.
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hookedonmonix
May 21, 2011 at 9:18 PM
sorry, I didn't actually mean that to be a reply to another comment- I'm distracted.
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Ani
May 21, 2011 at 11:34 PM
Yeah, I used to watch those badly subbed ones too (I think they just run Chinese subs through a translator and then stick those english subs onto the video or some such thing) but I just don't anymore. That's why I stopped watching Crime Squad because the subs were bad (I like the actors well enough that I want to watch it, even if it's kind of, er, bad). They drove me crazy, half because the grammar was so bad, and half because most of the time you can't make heads or tails out of the conversation. So I'm just gonna wait until better quality subs surface. Heh. Sad day.
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Josina
May 22, 2011 at 8:35 AM
I'm glad to read I wasn't the only one befuddled by the Eng subs because I didn't have a clue what was going on sometimes... (heads up to anyone lured in by "subbed" episode 4: don't bother....)
Tweetiebird
May 22, 2011 at 12:48 PM
dramacrazy has good subs the rest were really really bad i stopped watching cause it was gobbledegook
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kiotzo
May 21, 2011 at 11:37 PM
glad i'm wasn't the only one xD
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kiotzo
May 21, 2011 at 11:38 PM
*Edit: I wasn't the only one ^_^
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Beng
May 22, 2011 at 12:45 AM
Agree! your recaps helped a million lot =). So it means that the lottery is won fair and square by Soon Geum?! The problem is, will the other maids understand it later on? It could still become a bone of contention to them given that there's a witness in the left and right pocket emphasis --- the store owner where she bought it. I will still not rest easy. But i also hope that she gets to enjoy her winnings first =)
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aina
May 22, 2011 at 5:22 PM
how do we know for sure that the lottery she won was from her ticket? ehh...
Am I missing something here...?
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KDrama Fan
May 22, 2011 at 1:30 AM
I am the same. The subbed version I watched was like a bad version of 'google translate'. It got me thinking about ditching the drama. K's clear recap helped dissuade me for now. Thanks K.
P.S. Watching Dr. Champ and singing along (in my head) to 'I fall in Love with you'. Jung Gyu Woon is oh so fine:)
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KDrama Fan
May 23, 2011 at 12:28 AM
This episode is sooo more watchable with decent subs (-I'm watching it now on Dramacrazy).
Thanks again K, if it wasn't for the recap here I think I would have given up.
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esjpx
May 22, 2011 at 6:27 PM
Darksmurfsubs already has the softsubs for both episodes and they're good, if anyone's interested :)
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nonski ⭐️A forever JIN who crash landed on Hyun Bins heart❤️!
May 23, 2011 at 5:48 AM
thanks Josie...
http://www.darksmurfsub.com
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4 crazedlu
May 21, 2011 at 8:51 PM
i seriously love this show. didn't think i would, but it's faring better than i thought it would. and.. jung kyeo-woon.. is dashing. ^^
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5 zakuropanda
May 21, 2011 at 8:53 PM
I'm totally going to watch this show now!! Thanks for the recap!
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6 vere
May 21, 2011 at 8:57 PM
Ahh, I love Sung Yuri.
Is it bad that I already have second lead syndrome? The impending disappointment will probably fade when Min Hyo-rin steps up her game.
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7 mskololia
May 21, 2011 at 9:03 PM
Thanks Kaedejun for the recap!
You're right about the names. Even though I like all of the characters, I'm still trying to learn their names. :)
I thought JY was allowing CJ to come back, but now know she was referring to SG. Oh well, if one then the other I hope....
I actually like Hwang Yong. A guy that sucks on a lollypop in broad daylight cannot be all that bad, right?
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8 Farah
May 21, 2011 at 9:07 PM
I love this show so much and it's only been 3 episodes. This show is third in ranking for me. 1st is Secret Garden ahhhh I get gittey just thinking about that fantastic show. 2nd is It started with a kiss or playful kiss and it's sequel , its such a cute show. Of course 3rd is Romance Town, it's so good definitely finning for mire episodes. I just wish that US television network shows could have the creativeness and brilliance like our friends over in the Asian countries. I mean seriously Im so sick of remakes of old shows that you can still watch in the daytime and let's not forget about this stupid reality shows that make me want to choke somebody. This is why Asians are so much more awesome at times than Americans ( I'm African btw). Anywho before I go off even more Thank you thank you thank you for doing these recaps. You put so much of your personality in them and that's what makes them both informative and funny. Keep up the great work. Can't wait for the future recaps of Romance Town :)
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9 syeramy
May 21, 2011 at 9:08 PM
thank you!! keep recapping!!!
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10 endodo4ever
May 21, 2011 at 9:15 PM
#$%&^~!@$%^&*(&%^$#~!QWER%T^&%*&$^#@$#^%RTDASDRTYIWE^$#%&!#$%^@#$^
Excuse me, but my mind is totally incoherent now after that last scene in this episode. I can't help but spazz and flail every goddamn time Jung Kyeo Woon comes onscreen. It's like I have this automatic switch within me that just starts doing some crazy, hardcore dodo fangirling whenever he appears. I can't help it. And I also just can't stop squealing like a stuck pig and clapping my hands excitedly like a child because it's Jung. Kyeo. Woon. Why this man is so sexy and charismatic is a question I'd like to ask the drama gods someday. Or maybe now.
I love how this story is going, with Gun Woo and Soon Geum further establishing their relationship in this episode. I'm diggin' the chemistry, and loving how their relationship is at the awkward-yet-not-so-awkward-because-we-have-a-past where the two don't necessarily know exactly what to make of the other. I think that if she weren't working as a maid at HIS house, and if there wasn't this huge misunderstanding between them, they'd be a lot closer. But that's what makes their relationship so winning and fun. There’s definitely this awareness and attraction between them, particularly notable in that ending scene, so I'll be patient and wait for the past to be resolved, and for the friendship/romance to really take a hold of this drama. I absolutely can’t wait, because his “I like you and hate you” spiel at the end already had me going, WHEEEEE!
I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm totally not buying his arrogant, douchebag-y demeanor -- what with him kicking out Soon Geum from his house and treating her harshly, even when she's done nothing wrong except to let herself be employed there. But then again, perhaps that's exactly what's ticking him off in the first place -- the fact that she's working at the one place where he hates AND that the only person that loved him in that dreadful house was the Granny, but who is now no longer there. His actions may be sometimes uncalled for, yes, but I empathize with him. Plus, I don't think he'll keep this facade up for long, because that's just not who I think he is, based on how he treated her back in episode 2, right when he got back from the U.S. There’s also these little hints and there that illustrate his affection for her, such as when he torments her with his teasing. It’s akin to a little boy playfully harassing a girl he likes because he doesn’t know how to get her attention any other way, but knowing that pissing her off will get a reaction out of her, which is just what he wants. (Why boys need to do this, I’ll never understand.) Anyway, I can’t wait for more scenes with these two. They’re just awesome.
Young Hee and Soon Geum also have chemistry as well, but I don’t find this pairing as awesome for some reason. That reason, I think, is because Kim Min Joon is just not Jung Kyeo Woon. He’s funny and quirky in his own way – like how he puts up pretenses when there’s also more of him that we have yet to see – but he’s lacking the backstory that makes Gun Woo so wonderful. As for the other characters, I find them all really interesting, even endearing. I love how these maids aren’t just written off as some side character in a drama, but that they each have their own story as well. Lovin’ how we can get a glimpse into their lives and also see what’s going on in the chaebol households. Romance Town is sure stepping it up by tweaking a storyline we think we’ve heard before, and throwing it back at us in a way that’s totally unexpected. God, I cannot freaking wait for Wednesday now, because this drama is THE shit, yo!
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crazykillua
May 21, 2011 at 9:53 PM
hahahahah!!!I agree!!cant help screaming when Gun Woo said that!such a cliffhanger...eheheh..this is gonna be AKWARD!!!hhahah...Until now still confused with all their names...hehhe..they are sooo many of them of them to remember...:)
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11 ohemgee
May 21, 2011 at 9:18 PM
THIS is why i love JKW. his characters are always so straightforward and refreshing, but still have levels of depth to them.
he is an ADORABLE man-child. with smexy 6pack abs!!!
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12 Maria
May 21, 2011 at 9:19 PM
I love this show too! Just letting you know that there's another reader counting on your recaps :) thanks bunches :)
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13 ilovehk08
May 21, 2011 at 9:25 PM
I'm absolutely hooked onto this drama too :D Even though I don't understand korean, I still try to catch it when it comes out on Wednesday and Thursday. Although it's only been 4 episodes, I can sense the great chemistry between Soon Geum and Gun Woo~ Thank you so much recapping this drama, I have been refreshing for your recap too (:
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14 yumii
May 21, 2011 at 9:25 PM
I'm hoping that Korean fathers get together and sue drama writers for defamation.
It doesn't matter if they are rich or poor, in most dramas Korean fathers are awful. If they are rich they are an obstacles to their children's happiness. It they are poor, they are a blight on their children's life. (end of screed)
Of all the dramas I'm watching now I'm finding this one the most frustrating.
Gun Woo's snatching of the lottery from Soon Geum to use at his convenience without her permission and his imprisoning her in his car was too much for me to take.
To me Gun Woo is much worse the Dokko Jin of Best Love
Dokko Jin is an entitled jackass, but the drama makes clear that his behavior is jackassy, and even he acknowledge it from time to time.
But no one is calling Gun Woo's behavior in account. I feel like its being played as acceptable and I find that frustrating.
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ar_arguably romantic
May 21, 2011 at 10:50 PM
the lottery ticket scene bothered me too because it echoes where they stand - while GW can so casually treat a lottery ticket - treat it as it is nothing. But to Soon-geum, that lottery ticket can change her entire life - give her a new future and make her mom's dreams come true. Like a rich, entitled guy, he doesn't think twice to step on someone as poor as Soon-geum.
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hajae
May 21, 2011 at 10:51 PM
What about Kim Gab Soo in Cinderella's Sister? :(
But I think the same can be said for Korean mothers...especially the "rich" ones in the dramas I've seen.
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A
May 21, 2011 at 11:09 PM
I'd like to think that most drama-watchers are intelligent enough to understand that the "bad korean father" is a total clichéd stock character that basically in every k-drama LOL. But that's just my 2 cents.
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gi
May 21, 2011 at 11:36 PM
True about the dad thing, it seems that in almost every drama I watch, the dad is a big jerk.
I am also kind of annoyed with Gun Woo's behavior, but I feel like there'll be more to it, I mean obviously he has daddy issues. It's only the beginning and it's understandable that alot of these characters have a long way to go so I hope he starts changing back into the sweetheart he was with his Granny. But right now, he's totally off putting and if I was Soon Geum, I would definitely be leaning towards kicking his a** rather than falling in love.
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KDrama Fan
May 22, 2011 at 1:33 AM
I think he just thought of the lottery paper as scrap paper-not that he was stealing her ticket.
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Josina
May 22, 2011 at 8:43 AM
"To me Gun Woo is much worse the Dokko Jin of Best Love"
I guess they're both played as products of their upbringing, although Gun Woo seems to be attempting to build himself a whole new personality now that he's a lean mean six-pack machine (he does seem to drink a lot of soda for a calorie-conscious man....)
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Ahjumma
May 22, 2011 at 11:46 AM
I agree with Yumi 100% regarding fathers. But then again, there are a lot of Kdramas out there that makes a lot of Koreans look bad. And I also agree with you regarding Gun Woo's character. After viewing episode 3 I'm giving up on this drama.
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jat
June 8, 2011 at 7:45 AM
thank god u point that out. what is his problem? snatching other people's stuff like that? didnt he learn how to talk nicely? its like they dont speak the same language in that scene, n i was watching n thinking what are they doing? that guy is just a rude dude,what to like from him ?
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15 MJP
May 21, 2011 at 9:25 PM
Kaedejun,
Thanks for the recap on episode 3. I watched it RAW, as usual, so I really appreciate knowing what was said. With it being spring and all, it's pretty hard for me to watch it again.
I eagerly anticipate the recap for episode 4.
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16 Anne
May 21, 2011 at 9:26 PM
Please recap ep 4 soon,
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17 yumii
May 21, 2011 at 9:36 PM
I don't understand Korea's financial culture so I'm curious
--what are the chances that the money is counterfeit?
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18 Lilly
May 21, 2011 at 9:38 PM
not liking male lead character so much, same reason as yumi gave, too chilling, abusive
hard to shrug off
not funny, not ok
writer must be a real ............. to have that part included that as humorous to them
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19 Lilly
May 21, 2011 at 9:41 PM
Loan sharking same everywhere. The loan is the extra over amount of ticket. Whatever she spends money on he can take later from her to pay for the amount loaned over the ticket and then some because of interest if at all like real life. Dumb as a rock not just to cash it in.
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legalisfun
May 23, 2011 at 12:24 PM
yep. i dont get why she doesnt cash the ticket either...
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20 purplesheesh
May 21, 2011 at 10:06 PM
DSGTWHSNMDLKSJJNBSB13WTYIUIWEBNIJS .S;KPSDSJISHS BS
MORE! :D
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21 helen
May 21, 2011 at 10:09 PM
i dont understand why soongeum/sung yuri wont deposit her lottery ticket, and then use the money from the lottery she won to pay for the hospital bills, rather than getting it from the loan shark dude.
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ar_arguably romantic
May 21, 2011 at 10:22 PM
I think she doesn't want her father to find out and spend all the money. But yeah, that part is hazy to me.
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Josina
May 22, 2011 at 8:48 AM
When watching with those awful subs I just thought it was because she needed the money immediately but having read this recap I guess she is worried that her dad's friend (who works at the lottery agency) would tell her dad.
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22 ch
May 21, 2011 at 10:14 PM
Yess
finally...
Just refreshing this site like crazy since thursday.
I looooooveeeeee gun woo.
His chemistry with yu ri is beyond my expectation...
Epi 4 pleaseeeee come fast.
Many thanks K.
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23 ar_arguably romantic
May 21, 2011 at 10:35 PM
Thank you for the recap, kaedejun! I can't believe how much I am enjoying this series, though I watch in dread of the maids finding out that perhaps Soon-geum's lotto ticket is their shared one. My favorite characters are Seum-goon, Young Hee, and Hwang Yong.
I only like Gun-woo because he has such great chemistry with Seum-goon. I do see how Gun-woo is a bit of jackass. It's not like Soon-geum stole the housekeeping job from Choon jak! But I can see how he is a product of the sort of environment he lived in. Even though he was the former fat kid that we all felt a bit sorry for and found his awkwardness endearing, he was still rich and spoiled.
He only knows how to spend money. Some of my favorite Gun Woo parts is when his dad takes away his money.
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24 micheal
May 21, 2011 at 10:41 PM
the reason I watch this show is because of Sung Yu Ri. but i really can't catch up with its dragging, incoherent scenes.
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25 Farah
May 21, 2011 at 10:59 PM
Hey all K-Drama lovers I have a major problem, so the website I have been using to view some of my favorite KDrama shows is malfunctioning so does anyone have any suggestions on what or which website will help me view Romance Town with english subtitles cuz I will seriously go into depressed mode if I couldn't watch this show. Please Help Thank You
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grateful1
May 22, 2011 at 8:04 AM
If that site is still having issues (or for future reference), you can try natnatvip-online.org. It's pretty reliable. Good luck!
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26 letmeeatcake
May 21, 2011 at 11:04 PM
Yay! Thanks for the recap :D
I have a bad feeling that something bad will happen with the lotto ticket, loan sharks, and the money.
Can't wait til Min hyo rin gets more scenes
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27 Ani
May 21, 2011 at 11:24 PM
Man, Soon Geum's dad is going to screw her over, and it's really sickening knowing that she's going to have a hard time of it even after winning the lottery. I really just wish the dad would die, which is mean, but if he is not going to turn over a new leaf, than I'd rather he just jump off a bridge. Kdramas really like it's messed up fathers. Argh. I feel bad for Soon Geum.
*sigh* Oh, and sad day, no Da Kyum and Young Hee moments in this episode. Very very sad day.
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Janet
May 23, 2011 at 10:04 AM
"I really just wish the dad would die".... my thoughts, exactly.
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28 magz
May 21, 2011 at 11:37 PM
thank you once again for the recap! but omg alkdsjflaskdfj last scene made me quite speechless cannot wait for ep 4 recap
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29 wonbinlover
May 22, 2011 at 12:09 AM
Thx for the recap. I adore Kim Min Joon and am already shipping for him hehe since i just want to see in more leading roles.
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30 applecherries
May 22, 2011 at 12:30 AM
I think she like exchanged the lottery ticket for cash, so she doesn't owe the loan sharks anything. They, in turn get to use it to launder black money.
But that's just the impression I got from the whole exchange, correct me if I'm wrong!
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31 Laya
May 22, 2011 at 12:34 AM
Thanks for the recap! ^_^ Can't wait for Ep. 4!
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32 Carinne
May 22, 2011 at 1:00 AM
Gun Woo: Then try to make me fall in love with you.
Kaedejun: !?!?!?!?! AJHDSFA;JLGHAW;EFJJGJFKA;DG;UIAWUGJA!!!!!!!
Carinne: Here ya go! (Gives Kaedejun a pair of boxing gloves.) Now, go in there, and beat the sh*t out her!!!!!!!!
^ , ^ v
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33 Carinne
May 22, 2011 at 1:02 AM
Carinne: Here ya go! (Gives Kaedejun a pair of boxing gloves.) Now, go in there, and beat the sh*t out of her!!!!!!!!
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34 Carinne
May 22, 2011 at 1:08 AM
Carinne: No matter what happens Kaedejun, I'm not... gonna throw in the towel. You know what I mean?
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35 elham
May 22, 2011 at 1:08 AM
Boring boring boring ... .
too much maid story , it makes drama more and more unbearable !! I am watching this drama because of sung yu ri but how long i can do this ? - i have on idea .
The guy ,gun woo is really handsome but a bit overacting specially as getting angry !
I DO not know why they fill up the story by just maid's problems and somthing !! there are some intreasting characters who are capable to make a new hit ...
we have left 4 eps and to be honest , there is nothing !
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36 Ace
May 22, 2011 at 1:45 AM
Argh! My head hurts! Too many characters and subplots.
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37 Brainycoral
May 22, 2011 at 1:49 AM
I am watching this drama for one reason only---Sung Yuri. She manages to pull off the role and does not annoy me like most Korean actresses do when she screams or cries. The drama on the whole has little going for it, and the weak plot and script attribute to that. It also does not help that the editing is atrocious. But the cast has wonderful chemistry, so hopefully that will pull the drama through average ratings.
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38 Locturne
May 22, 2011 at 2:22 AM
Argh! I can't stand Gun Woo, he's become a cocky poser ("look at me, leaning cockily against you door, or standing cockily with your lottery ticket out of reach because I'm so tall" -___-) and I just can't get invested in the couple Soon Geum/Gun Woo. Hopefully, he's going to learn humility now that he's penniless. *evil snigger*
Anyway for now, I'm rooting for the loan-shark president-Soon Geum pairing, as a kind of father-daughter substitute relationship ^^
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Ani
May 22, 2011 at 3:12 AM
Yeah, I like the old chubby and awkwardly cute Gun Woo. And I like the father-daughter substitute suggestion.
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Ani
May 22, 2011 at 3:13 AM
Oh, and yup, totally snickering at the thought that maybe this would help old Gun Woo's personality to return.
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Anne
May 23, 2011 at 12:43 AM
i have a feeling the whole loan shark thing is going to be against soon geum in the future thoughhh
his daughter is that one girl joon woo after alll..she'll prob either want one of the 2 guys who's into her and she can ask daddy for help to get em away from soon geum hahah
idk xD
ive been watching too much dramas
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39 Rovi
May 22, 2011 at 3:16 AM
Oh my god, my fave moments...
Geon-woo: ...I like you and hate you. I hate you and like you.
*starts fanning self...*
Soon-geum: So...do you like me or hate me?
Geon-woo: Are you curious?
Soon-geum: Yes.
Geon-woo: Then try to make me fall in love with you.
*WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*
...and...
Kaedejun: !?!?!?!?! AJHDSFA;JLGHAW;EFJJGJFKA;DG;UIAWUGJA!!!!!!!
*HILARITY!!! XD*
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Janet
May 23, 2011 at 10:07 AM
"Geon-woo: Then try to make me fall in love with you."
In the sub I saw, the translation was "Then try and seduce me" - which gave the line a totally different feel to it (=
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40 Dara
May 22, 2011 at 3:50 AM
Thanks for the recap, I love this drama and think it's shaping up to be sth great!
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41 Leigh
May 22, 2011 at 4:48 AM
OK, so the leads are so pretty...but I am watching this drama because I have always loved Kim Min-jun. Great acting from everyone...including all the maids...
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42 vee
May 22, 2011 at 4:52 AM
Thank you sooo much kaedejun..
Omo those "try to make me fall in love with you" swoooooon... I'm dying here.
Can't wait to read epi 4
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43 liz
May 22, 2011 at 5:18 AM
thanks for the recap. It is easier to understand the story line.
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44 absothe
May 22, 2011 at 5:27 AM
Ah I really need to read the recap to understand the story, so many characters to remember and really sucky subs are not helping.
Thanks for the recap Kaedjun
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45 mysterious
May 22, 2011 at 6:02 AM
Want to watch. Can't - have to wait until show is (almost) over so I can do a marathon because I hate waiting week to week for new episodes and I like to know how a show ends (sad or happy) before I watch. Sad - don't watch; happy - do watch. Whenever I break this rule I end up with a sad ending and angry at myself for breaking my rule.
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46 angelyurihuynh
May 22, 2011 at 6:04 AM
thanks recap ^-^.
Hot Romance town drama. SRY <3 LOVE YOU
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47 Lacey
May 22, 2011 at 6:52 AM
I love Romance town! Its the only drama that im watching right now other dramas havent appealed to me yet XD
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soon-woo
May 22, 2011 at 7:55 AM
same here LOL
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48 jomo143
May 22, 2011 at 7:28 AM
For me, things started to get interesting when Trophy Wife starting fighting with Really Pretty Maid.
That scene made me laugh and made me think, and they set up future romances beautifully.
Loan Shark with a suitcase and a heart of gold could be Trophy Wife's true love, so she can escape Old Bad Hair (I mean REALLY, isn't it awful?)
Pencil mustache has to choose, finally. He can't have a menage a quatre!
Spirit of the Mountain, omo, really brought the charm tonight, but we can already see it's a lost cause. Young Maid and Rich Son getting ready to do the Hokey Pokey in the car, wooo!
Still waiting for Rich Son to man up a bit more. They de-virilized him in the fat suit, and it's difficult for me NOT to see him all whiney and soft still. He needs to grab Young Maid and kiss her, not be passive. I gotta say the laying back and expecting the girl to "come to me" - TOTAL turn-off. I would have smacked him.
Want to see Rich Son recognize Young Maid's handwriting soon. It'll be nice for him to see her in a more positive and nurturing light.
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A
May 22, 2011 at 7:54 AM
LOOOL love you jomo!
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soon-woo
May 22, 2011 at 8:01 AM
LMAO ;D ;D ;D
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49 dany
May 22, 2011 at 7:54 AM
Thanks for the recap and the song!
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50 soon-woo
May 22, 2011 at 7:59 AM
thanks K for the recap
anyway i loveeee the ost esp jessica's song called Tears Are Overflowing
looking forward for epi 4 recap ^^
Soon-Woo couple fighting :D
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