Greasy Melo: Episodes 1-4
by odilettante
Greasy Melo, also known as Wok of Love, is the latest drama from popular screenwriter Seo Sook-hyang. If you’re familiar with her previous dramas (Pasta, Miss Korea, Jealousy Incarnate), then the fun blend of quirky characters, odd but heartwarming slice-of-life situations, and delicious food won’t be much of a surprise. Still, the premiere promises a welcome treat that will have you reaching for the nearest bowl of jajangmyun.
EPISODES 1-4 WEECAP
SEO POONG (Junho) is a hotshot sous chef at a Michelin-star gourmet Chinese restaurant that sits atop a six-star hotel. He’s confident he’ll soon take over the restaurant from the persnickety head chef, which means he’s well on his way to having everything his heart desires — which includes his impending wedding to his first love. Unbeknownst to him, however, his bride-to-be is cheating on him with the chaebol owner of the hotel.
DAN SAE-WOO (Jung Ryeo-won) is a bubbly heiress whose love for her horse is only usurped by her love for jajangmyun. Except she’s on a diet, since she’ll also be getting married soon, so no greasy Chinese food for her. Alas. In preparation for her upcoming nuptials, she visits a salon and, being fearlessly nosy, she cheerfully tells a nearby stranger that his haircut makes him look like a gangster.
Except that stranger actually is a gangster. DOO CHIL-SUNG (Jang Hyuk) is immediately smitten with Sae-woo, but crashes back to reality when he realizes she’s getting married soon. He muses over the divorce rate, but unfortunately for him, only five out of a hundred couples get a divorce, so he has to find solace in his love for Nietzsche instead.
Also at the salon is Poong, who does his best to ignore Sae-woo’s endless chatter as she asks him about his upcoming wedding. Despite his cool and unaffected demeanor at the salon, as he drives to the wedding hall, Poong echoes Sae-woo’s babbling and takes Sae-woo’s silly suggestions to heart (such as shaving off his facial stubble right before he kisses his bride).
A month later. The night before Sae-woo’s wedding, she attends an equestrian fundraiser at Giant Hotel, the very hotel where Poong is a chef. The fancy and expensive banquet meal is paid for by Sae-woo’s father, but all Sae-woo wants to eat is jajangmyun. But Giant Hotel’s hoity-toity Michelen-star Chinese restaurant doesn’t serve such a pedestrian dish.
Sae-woo recognizes Poong from the salon and begs him to make her some jajangmyun, but he refuses. Master Wang, the hotel restaurant’s head chef, is disgruntled that Poong has been making adjustments to the menu without his approval. In retaliation, Master Wang tells Poong there’s no way he’ll be promoted.
Poong decides to rebel and make jajangmyun for Sae-woo as a way to protest that the most important thing is a customer’s taste, not a chef’s pride. Despite working for one of the best restaurants in the city, though, Poong doesn’t have the proper ingredients.
Chil-sung is the boss leader of his “boys,” the gangster underlings who are loyal to him. After a terrible car accident a few years ago, Chil-sung decided to give them a chance at a normal life by opening up a Chinese restaurant. Except they’re all terrible cooks, and the restaurant doesn’t make any money since no one ever eats there.
But their restaurant is right across the street from Giant Hotel, which means that’s where Poong ends up in his quest for jajangmyun ingredients. Poong orders eight servings of jajangmyun, but only so he can get enough black bean sauce. He bluntly tells the gangsters everything that’s wrong with their restaurant, pointing out that it’s no surprise they don’t have any customers, and then leaves with just the black bean sauce.
The boys are offended that Poong wouldn’t stay to eat their food, so they and Chil-sung follow Poong down the sidewalk, demanding he at least act like a proper customer. Poong sneers that “the customer is always right,” so if he doesn’t want to eat their terrible food, he doesn’t have to. He vows to never step foot in their restaurant again.
Sae-woo’s given up on Poong’s jajangmyun promise and leaves the hotel. Poong stops her, insisting that he didn’t abandon her. He only left to get black bean sauce, but Chil-sung’s boys carry him back, ready to fight for their culinary honor.
Chil-sung tries to keep his boys calm as they tussle with Poong. Sae-woo, frustrated that the night isn’t going as she hoped, knocks Chil-sung over the head with a sign. She just wants to eat jajangmyun before she gets married, dammit.
She and Chil-sung recognize each other from the salon, and Sae-woo realizes that he is, indeed, a gangster. Chil-sung warns her not to get married, since it’s difficult to get divorced. Poong also pipes up, telling her to stay and he’ll make jajangmyun. He adds that weddings are just a scam, anyway.
At least, they are to Poong, because he’s since found out that his bride has been cheating on him. Sae-woo still believes in love and marriage, though, and defiantly invites the men to her wedding so they can see how devoted her groom is to her.
Poong returns to Giant Hotel, furtively trying to hide the fact the gangsters covered his face in black bean sauce — only to find his bride, SUK DAL-HEE waiting for him. She wants a divorce — although technically there’s nothing legal she needs to file, since even though they had their wedding a month ago, they hadn’t gotten around to officially registering their marriage.
The man Dal-hee is actually in love with is Giant Hotel’s CEO, YONG SEUNG-RYONG, who’s the exactly the kind of douchebag chaebol that’s easy to hate. It doesn’t help that he and Master Wang conspire to transfer Poong from Giant Hotel to nowheresville.
In the morning, Sae-woo picks up her groom’s tuxedo — at the same place Seung-ryong is getting a suit fitting. Chil-sung is also there (because of course he is).
When one of Seung-ryong’s shady lackeys secretly steals a set of expensive cufflinks, Chil-sung gets involved only when he sees how distressed Sae-woo is, worried she’ll be late for her wedding. Chil-sung just needs three minutes to beat up the shady lackeys and get the cufflinks back, because he’s that awesome — although he does get some help from an impatient Sae-woo, who brandishes a trashcan as her weapon of choice.
Poong is furious that he wasn’t promoted to head chef at Giant Hotel, but Master Wang is still petty about Poong changing the recipes. Master Wang blackmails the rest of the staff in order to throw Poong under the bus. Seung-ryong kicks everyone out of the kitchen so he and Poong can talk in private.
Poong’s aching for a fight, but despite being a trained MMA fighter, Seung-ryong refuses to engage. Poong also knows that Seung-ryong is the man Dal-hee has been seeing, but Poong refuses to end things with Dal-hee.
Poong also insists that because he’s given ten years of his life to the hotel and building up the restaurant to the famous destination it is now, that if one of them should leave, it should be Seung-ryong. After all, he became the CEO only a few months ago thanks to his parents. It’s not as if Seung-ryong spends much time at the hotel, anyway, since he’s constantly exercising.
That finally gets Seung-ryong’s blood boiling, and he punches Poong, who falls down, knocking over a tray of ice cubes into the abandoned woks. The ice causes the hot oil in the pans to explode. Poong takes his wok and ladle, and with as much dignity as he can muster while explosions continue in the kitchen, he walks out of the hotel.
Meanwhile, Sae-woo waits eagerly for her groom to walk down the aisle — but instead of a groom, prosecutors arrive to arrest her father. The groom is a no-show, and her doctor calls: Sae-woo has terminal cancer. Worst. Day. Ever.
A week later, Poong sees the “for lease” sign on the now defunct Hungry Wok restaurant. He applies for a loan — from none other than Chil-sung and his boys, who have started a loan business after the restaurant flopped. Poong’s determined to get his revenge and steal all of Giant Hotel’s customers, and offers up his wok and ladle as collateral.
Chil-sung agrees, but only on the condition that Poong teach his boys how to cook so they can help run the restaurant. Chil-sung’s still determined to have his boys lead a lawful life so they can settle down, get married, and raise families.
Poong returns to Giant Hotel and does his best Jerry Maguire “who’s coming with me?” speech to persuade his old friends to join him at the new restaurant. But everyone’s under Master Wang’s control and they ignore Poong’s rallying cry.
Realizing that no one will join him, Poong grabs the traditional bamboo noodle press that was given to him by his mentor (and Dal-hee’s father). He leaves with one last look goodbye at the restaurant to which he devoted so much of his heart and soul.
Poong contemplates his sorry life from the middle of a bridge, but is surprised by the surreal vision of Sae-woo wearing a fencing mask and walking her favorite horse. She tries to climb up the side of the railing to jump, but is distracted when Poong offers her one of the fortune cookies he grabbed from the hotel restaurant.
Sae-woo decides that death can wait a little longer, and they eat their cookies, wondering what their fortunes say.
COMMENTS
I know I ought to feel sad that our characters have already reached the end of their rope, but I know that by hitting rock bottom, there’s now no excuse for them to team up and make the Hungry Wok the best restaurant ever (or at least make it a haven for all the oddball characters we’re sure to meet). I can’t wait to see how they claw their way to the top. Most importantly, I’m already in love with our main trio and desperately need more of their shenanigans, which is all that really matters.
I’m a little concerned about the possibility of romance, though — especially since there’s cancer involved (which would normally make me roll my eyes, but I’m feeling generous — or utterly charmed by the always-wonderful Jung Ryeo-won — that I’m not bothered by this particular plot device). As delighted as I am by the constant heart-eyes Chil-sung has every time he sees Sae-woo (especially when she’s cursing or trying to fight someone, which is giving me some History of a Salaryman flashbacks), I think I’d be happy to settle for Chil-sung playing the benevolent fairy (gangster) godfather, helping both Poong and Sae-woo achieve their dreams. Which, as far as I can tell, is full-scale revenge and finally getting to eat a bowl of jajangmyun, respectively.
But I’m also excited to fall in love with all the minor characters, like Chil-sung’s boys and the other neighborhood characters we’ve only met briefly in passing. One of my favorite things about this writer is her ability to create whole story arcs and depth of purpose for minor characters. I mean, I don’t understand why Lee Mi-sook is playing both the wacky gum-selling ajumma and the more refined woman who wonders where her husband is, but I can’t wait to see how they’re connected.
Overall, I’m happy and satisfied with the start of this drama. It has a colorful, offbeat, and magical vibe, making it the perfect spring-to-summer transition drama. Oh, and then there’s the food! I love dramas that make me want to gain ten pounds every time I watch an episode, and I have a feeling that my only real complaint over the next few weeks will be that there’s no decent jajangmyun where I live. Okay, now I’m sad. Where’s my fencing mask…
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Tags: featured2, first episodes, Greasy Melo, Jang Hyuk, Jung Ryeo-won, Junho
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1 gadis
May 9, 2018 at 11:53 PM
Oh, @odilettante will recap this one? Yay!! *dance of happiness*
We are definitely in for a good dose of quirky characters and "bizarre" plot (and how come I didn't know there is cancer involved? And a 4th stage one at that too), which I really like. I also have similar reaction regarding our leads' miserable situation. They have clearly hit rock bottom, so there's no other way than up. I can't wait for their fabulous revenge and will try to distract my mind from the potential triangle-of-doom (or maybe Writer Seo finally decided to explore romcom in a different way? One can always hope).
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windsun33
May 10, 2018 at 10:43 AM
Cancer and a horse. Have to admit that is new for k-drama.
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meowingme
May 12, 2018 at 8:31 AM
Had to pick up my jaw from the floor after Sae-woo received the cancer news, seriously too too much after the no-show husband and arrested father. Guess drama gods didn't hear my prayers *cries*
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gadis
May 12, 2018 at 8:53 AM
Exactly. Though like what other beanies said, the doctor actually never made it clear who is actually the one with cancer (Seo-woo? Her mother??), so let's see how it'll progress next week. Besides, the writer had been smartly tackled a cancer plot before in Jealousy Incarnate, so I hope she'll do it again this time.
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meowingme
May 12, 2018 at 9:08 AM
In Jealousy Incarnate, at least it was treatable, but the stage 4 here shook me o_O
But yea, after scrolling thru the comments, am starting to have hopes! Also, all the OTT happenings seemed to be the opposite of angsty so far. Man, apparently show feels ex-girlfriend or boyfriend or even fiancee is not enough, has to be ex-husband and ex-wife ^^
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2 nerdy
May 10, 2018 at 12:04 AM
*Anyone else NOT feeling sorry for Poong in his marriage story? Normally I feel terrible for leads who got cheated but in this case, I don't even think she lied to him? I mean, she threw out the food he made for her and they didn't even have a talk about that. Whole first part she walked with a face like she was tortured and Poong acted as if his life depends on this relationships. At some point, I wouldn't be suprised if she honestly told him that she loves someone else and he ignored it and still continued talking about marriage (I think he actually did that here).
Anyway, I do feel sorry that he lost his job because of that but yea, that's it.
*Cancer+dumped on marriage+family goes bankrupt
And here I thought, I had shitty day
*Is it me or does this show lack in some department? I can't really pinpoint but I felt the same way about Jealousy Incarnate. There is everything that should make me adore this show but something just feels missing.
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bunny
May 10, 2018 at 12:27 AM
I dont feel sorry, actually. Seo Poong is obviously should be beter off marrying someone else who wont throw his food away. I think it was glaringly obvious that she didnt love him, I am actually amazed on how he seem to be choosing to ignore the signs and even keep her from saying "let's break up" (refer to the hair salon scene). I know he promised her father to protect her. But hey, the girl doesnt even appreciate what her father did for her, and btw, there are other ways to protect someone other than marrying them.
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myheartisomg
May 10, 2018 at 3:48 AM
I might feel less sorry for Poong if he wasn't played by Junho. That man is so good at playing the wounded puppy who denies reality for fear of getting hurt even more. I can feel the desperation in his denial and it bruises my heart.
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Namu 🐧
May 10, 2018 at 9:23 AM
Junho as Poong makes me hate his ex wife more than I should be 😅😅
how.could.you.girl ??!
but yeah his denial is real
I can feel his desperation
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하데스
May 10, 2018 at 3:55 AM
This is me as well. There is an incoherent aspect to this drama I can't quite put my finger on. For me, I think it also has something to do with the comedy.
Re: Poong. Most of those scenes relating to his ex were eye-roll inducing. I still felt sorry for him though because he was trapped by the promise he made to her father and what her father did for him.
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Cloggie
May 10, 2018 at 5:01 AM
I thought there were a couple of places where the comedy felt weirdly out of place? For example when all the gangsters were in the hospital with severe burns and then went crazy when the food turned up. I totally get what that scene was trying to say, and how it was linked to them opening the restaurant, but ... I don't know. Maybe it was the editing.
Still, three of my favourite actors and the writer of one of my favourite dramas. I'll keep watching! I'm sure the tone will settle down.
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하데스
May 10, 2018 at 5:51 AM
The hospital scene reminded my of Strong Woman Do Bong-soon. Not my favourite brand of humour, but I got where they were coming from.
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LT is Irresistibly Indifferent and reminded of the slow march of death
May 10, 2018 at 8:43 AM
Me too. I was loving every minute until then and I think I left out a little sigh of disappointment. But then they contrasted Nietzsche and death with a screaming demand for food and I (mostly) forgave them.
Amilia
May 10, 2018 at 4:48 PM
And, hey, they were going nuts over jajangmyun instead of poop wine. So that was good.
하데스
May 10, 2018 at 4:50 PM
@amilia Seriously.
bbstl 🧹
May 10, 2018 at 8:32 PM
I think what seems "lacking" for me is that it's extremely choppy and I never feel settled in with the characters, even for scenes that are minutes long. But I'm determined to like it anyway because I love the actors so I refuse to let this bother me - yet?
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Ona
May 10, 2018 at 4:35 AM
Love is blind lol, and tbh I think a lot of that indifference come more from the actress's inability to emote. She doesn't seem to have feelings for anything, not even the man she's cheating with. But also, I think it's more that she's the only family he has. They grew up together, and her father was apparently like a father to him too and took in him when they were children. He's attachment to her seems more than just being a lovestruck fool. He did stick around even after knowing so Seopoong isn't blameless but geez, she's a cheating coward who wouldn't leave him until it was too late. No excuses for cheaters, the blame is squarely theirs for not ending a relationship.
I actually find the potential dynamic of this relationship quite interesting, but unfortunately I don't think they're planning to flesh it out. Also, that actress is just... Not good at acting.
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TAS-Mania
May 10, 2018 at 5:23 AM
I thought the reason he was holding on so tight to the loser wife was because of the promise that he made to her father that he would take care of her. I'm not even sure that he loves her as much as he feels responsible for her. Just hope this show ends up being as funny as "Laughter in Waikiki". I have enjoyed all three leads in other projects so this was a drama that I was looking forward to watching.
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Alessar
May 10, 2018 at 7:08 AM
I think that the premise of the show - and why one of the names for it is Greasy Melo - is that it's going to be deliberately over the top about some things. Like, it's a little bit of a spoof of melodramatic shows; hence the disaster after disaster dumped on the bride. (And I'm not sure about this but the subtitles in the preview made it sound like it's her mom who has cancer, I think, which is still pretty bad). Certainly a terminal diagnosis, a mis diagnosis, getting someone else's diagnosis ... MELO. The scene with the gangsters all bathing and they stand up and they have matching fake back tattoos that look like "tribal" stylized wings like you'd get out of a gumball machine but so fake looking that it could be vinyl press-ons? MELLLLLOOOO.
Also I'm pleased to see Kim Hyun Joon in the gang of thugs -- he was recently in Black Knight as the fake prosecutor ex boyfriend turned personal trainer who could have been Sharon's love interest if she could have gotten over her fixat-- er anyway. He should work out really well in the cast plus he's another dose of pretty to look at.
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risa
May 10, 2018 at 8:14 AM
That was my take, too-- I was delighted to see that Greasy Melo is going to be very playful with its over-the-topness. Like odilettante, I was feeling History of a Salaryman vibes-- a pet chicken-in-a-hanbok would fit right in! It seemed like there's gonna be a lot of wink-wink meta-references too-- like the miserable nearly-mummified gangsters in the hospital scene from Strong Woman Do Bong-soon, and the visual of a depressed Jung Ryeo-won hiding herself in headgear was straight of her film Castaway on the Moon.
A super fun, over-the-top ride that's full of heart? With this awesome cast? And that's being recapped on DB? Pinch me, I must be dreaming!
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PakalanaPikake
May 10, 2018 at 8:47 AM
@risaa,
"the visual of a depressed Jung Ryeo-won hiding herself in headgear was straight of her film Castaway on the Moon"
Right! She wore a motorcycle helmet with visor. I watched it after WELCOME TO DONGMAKGOL, another wonderfully surreal film that I love to bits.
Pet chicken in a hanbok?! I must have missed an epic drama! LOL!
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bbstl 🧹
May 10, 2018 at 8:36 PM
Ooh! History of a Salaryman was great and I predict you would really like it. It was out there.
PakalanaPikake
May 11, 2018 at 12:13 AM
@bbstl May 10, 2018 at 8:36 PM
Thanks for your accolades for HISTORY OF A SALARYMAN. It sounds truly wild. ;-)
risa
May 11, 2018 at 2:44 PM
Hi @pakalanapikake~ "Epic" is a good word to describe HISTORY OF A SALARYMAN. It was well-loved by Beanies when it aired (and by HeadsNo2 who did a great job recapping it). Jung Ryeo-won was a hoot as the feisty, foul-mouthed heroine, and Lee Beom-soo is comedy gold. Please do keep it in mind the next time you need a dose of hilarity.
And thanks for recommending WELCOME TO DONGMAKGOL. I'm intrigued by the premise and I see that the cast includes Ryu Deok-hwan (whom we both love), so I've added it to my list. :)
PakalanaPikake
May 11, 2018 at 3:40 PM
@risa May 11, 2018 at 2:44 PM
Thanks so much for more background on HISTORY OF A SALARYMAN. IIRC, Lee Beom-soo was also in DR. JIN, my first Kdrama. He caught my
eye as a Joseon king, IIRC, which made me want to check out other sageuks, and the rest is history, &c. ;-)
Jung Jae-young is also in DONGMAKGOL, and I enjoyed his performance a lot. It prompted me to watch CASTAWAY ON THE MOON, and also DUEL. (Although in the latter, it was Yang Se-jong FTW. He was phenomenal, in essence playing 4 roles, including one clone impersonating the other, and being discernibly discrete. A powerhouse performance.)
Alessar
May 15, 2018 at 9:47 AM
(One week later...)
Ok so instead of a chicken in a hanbok we have a talking horse in an ugly hat. XD
PakalanaPikake
May 15, 2018 at 10:35 AM
@alessar May 15, 2018 at 9:47 AM
ROFLMAO!
MR. ED?!
At least Buster's ugly hat is preventing the horseflies from biting his ears. ;-)
windsun33
May 10, 2018 at 10:48 AM
So far it seems like a spoof of the over the top makjang dramas. I don't think it is supposed to make sense...
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Namu 🐧
May 10, 2018 at 9:18 AM
I still feel sorry for him, but I also questioned his insistence to keep their relationship (she throw that delicious food!! 😤, he knows it but didn’t talk about it)
but then I understand it, he made a promised... at this point I think, he is not love her (not that much), but more feel responsible for her
I hope he really cut the ties with her, like boy... you deserve better!
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Gidget
May 11, 2018 at 6:13 PM
I know. The writer has definitely gone downhill from earlier works. Tries way too hard to promote trendy topics. And attempts to be funny in ways that fail miserably. The works are now soulless, and have broadly unlikeable characters.
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3 Suzyy
May 10, 2018 at 12:04 AM
Finally! We see some more names in the post! It was starting to feel as if everyone in the DB staff except Mary and Lollypip have lost interest in dramas and writing!
Thanks a lot for the recap.. 😊
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4 Rukia wants melona
May 10, 2018 at 12:09 AM
Thank you @odilettante!
This show is off to a good start, I am looking forward to gleaning insights from others comments and sharing the fun...!
Now I had better go buy some ingredients to prepare for next weeks episodes...
^^
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5 bunny
May 10, 2018 at 12:10 AM
Thank you for the quick recap, @odilettante! You light up my day!
I love this drama to bits, and cant wait to watch more. I love that it is light, funny but not too crazy, and full of heart.
Mr. Gangster Boss gives me heart eyes and makes me cry when he asked Seo Poong to help for his minions to live decently, and with dignity.
It is human for Seo Poong to immediately look for extra backup that he can count on, but when that extra help turn his back on him, my heart breaks for him too. Good thing about this is that it gives real punch for Seo Poong to work his ass off to turn Minions into admirable chefs (and more, I think, as they undoubtedly may end up becoming real friends and family)
Speaking of which, I think Seo Poong's Kitchen Click is the exact opposite of the Gangster Minions. Kitchen Click has cooking ability, but lack loyalty. When things get tough, they betray Seo Poong who supported them all those years. Gangster Minion, on the other other hand, has zero cooking ability (who said that waving knives and bats is the same with having cooking mastery? Hahaha) but they are loyal. The restaurant made no money, but they stay. *sobs*
One thing I wonder about is if Seo Poong and the horse lady will also have love line, because it seems to me that both Gangster Boss and Seo Poong develop certain kind of fondness being with horse lady, and they both try to do nice things to her.
Now about that mannerless doctor who has affair with that hotel dirtbag...good riddance. A guy like Seo Poong who can cook the whole food basket on his own deserves someone who can appreciate his cooking and his love.
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하데스
May 10, 2018 at 3:48 AM
Re: Gangster Minions' loyalty. I think their loyalty and brotherhood also lend to their desire to make the restaurant work. Seeing them in the kitchen when they got Poong's order was fun to watch. I can definitely see them becoming really good cooks if not chefs.
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6 Eries be the Light
May 10, 2018 at 1:06 AM
Omo!! Thanks so much @odilettante for this recap. This show start with much interest, and seeing Janghyuk+Junho in one screen is so fun.
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7 Yuki
May 10, 2018 at 1:09 AM
I'm loving it so far. I've always liked the leading trio.
And Jang Hyuk is so good here, never imagined that he would be so funny,...and he is so cute with his crush. It's a pity that the leading lady will end up with Poong, I hope they find him a nice girlfriend before the end of the series :)
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byeol
May 10, 2018 at 1:38 AM
Really? She will end up with Poong? I thought we are going to play the guessing game here..
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하데스
May 10, 2018 at 3:44 AM
After A Poem A Day, I'm done with guessing game. That's just me though. 🙃
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vlkBadWolf
May 10, 2018 at 3:47 AM
But with the Poem - you still cannot be sure which one of the male leads is the end game
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하데스
May 10, 2018 at 4:16 AM
At this point, due my frustrations with the drama, I don't care who is endgame. Thankfully, from the get go, the show made it clear that everyone is flawed, so it makes it easier to come to terms with. Just a bit.
LT is Irresistibly Indifferent and reminded of the slow march of death
May 10, 2018 at 8:35 AM
She spent the whole two episodes craving jjajangmyeon and he's an expert jjajangmyeon chef. He couldn't give her jjajangmyeon because he was at the "wrong restaurant" (i.e. still married) but will now be at the "right restaurant" (i.e. divorced) so I think it's pretty clear who the OTP is - cancer notwithstanding.
I'll also point out that Doo Chil-sung also spent the episode looking unsuccessfully for the perfect jjajangmyeon - devouring bowl after bowl of it but remaining unsatisfied - so Poong also has the jjajangmyeon he needs as well. But since this is Korean, then I doubt the love triangle will be Chil-sung and Sae-woo competing for Poong. So it's possible the "jjajangmyeon they need" isn't romantic at all.
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LT is Irresistibly Indifferent and reminded of the slow march of death
May 10, 2018 at 8:47 AM
And can I point out while I'm on the subject: on one hand his wife rejected his cooking at the beginning. But what she actually rejected was the fancy schmancy Michelin-star Chinese restaurant food that she claims to want in favour of "greasy" jjajangmyeon that she claims to hate. So I doubt it'll be long before she realises she made a mistake.
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bunny
May 10, 2018 at 2:56 AM
It's not over until it's over, of course.
But apparently she called Jang Hyuk "ahjusshi". Does that make her definitely will end up with Poong? I cant say. Up to this point, I am still uncertain about what awaits each one of them in store, but I am excited about how the story develop, whichever the OTP is, or should I say, with or without OTP.
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Yuki
May 10, 2018 at 4:02 AM
Well, Jang Hyuk's role seems to lean more on the comedy side most of the time, so I'm assuming that there will be romantic development between the other two. She also met Poong at the bridge when she was going to jump, so I assume Poong is the "chosen one" for her. But I don't care that much. For now it is Jang Hyuk character that I'm falling for, but I don't see reasons to ship him with the heiress...he's being too cute for an unrequited love, I hope he finds a lady that suits him well and is interested in him.
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news
May 10, 2018 at 6:48 PM
Lol, totally agree. His unrequited love is so adorable. It's a mix of greasy second hand embarrassment, manly hot and puppy cute. I don't know how he's able to convey all of that, but he does. I would love it if Gong Hyo-Jin makes an appearance at the end and he'll imagine them in a field of flowers :-)
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8 Giegie
May 10, 2018 at 1:12 AM
Thank you for the recap, Odilittante!
JangHyuk is a hoot! ^^
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myheartisomg
May 10, 2018 at 4:02 AM
This is the first drama I have seen him in and I am so bewitched! His character is such a great blend of cool and uncool. Badass fight scene one minute, falling off a horse statue the next.
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하데스
May 10, 2018 at 4:20 AM
I dropped Voice almost midway in. Can't quite remember how he played his character there. Here though, I love him. He brings a whole lot of character to the show and does it so well.
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PakalanaPikake
May 10, 2018 at 9:03 AM
@hades,
IIRC, JH played a hardboiled police officer nicknamed "Mad Dog" who was relentless in his pursuit of criminals. He was very brusque and hollered a lot, and he wasn't keen to be working with the female officer who headed up the Golden Time Team. He was consumed with work. But he was a complete marshmallow with his sick little son.
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imzadi
May 10, 2018 at 4:46 AM
I usually really don't care for over the top characters in dramas. But I seriously love him in Fated to love you. At first I wasn't sure what to think, because of his antics and crazy laugh, but he sold it.
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PakalanaPikake
May 10, 2018 at 9:21 AM
Jang Hyuk had me at this scene from FATED TO LOVE YOU. A highly-paid model talks stink about the product while filming the commercial. I think she called for a stunt double to do the actual hair washing, LOL. And then the client walks in, unbeknownst to everyone on set, and demonstrates how it should be done. He tells her to get lost after she suggests they discuss it over dinner. One of my favorite Kdrama scenes of all time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fhTkmE4F4U
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Rukia wants melona
May 10, 2018 at 10:42 AM
Yes, absolutely hilarious
PakalanaPikake
May 10, 2018 at 8:57 AM
Be sure to check out FATED TO LOVE YOU sometime. It's over the top but also has a wide melodramatic streak. Jang Hyuk and Jang Nara are great.
One of my faves with him is the sageuk CHUNO / SLAVE HUNTERS. And he was fabulous as the lead in BEAUTIFUL MIND.
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Rukia wants melona
May 10, 2018 at 9:07 AM
Jang Hyuk was also good in Voice.
He gave a very intense, dramatic performance in Money Flower (a makjang fest, if ever there was one. But well acted and thankfully no screaming).
I like that he does something different every time...
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prettysup
May 11, 2018 at 2:59 AM
Yeah I fastforwarded this to watch Jang Hyuk's portions only hahaha..
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9 vongole
May 10, 2018 at 1:19 AM
Just finished watching the first 4 (2!) episodes and I am totally on board. Favourite part: Jung Ryeo-won. I disliked her (or maybe it was her character played so well) in 'My name is Kim Sam Soon'. But, then she totally won me over in the King of Dramas, and is totally adorbs here too. Not-favourite part: What's with the editing?! So choppy!
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PakalanaPikake
May 10, 2018 at 9:30 AM
@vongole,
I had the same reaction to Jung Ryeo-won's character in MY NAME IS KIM SAM-SOON. That was early in my Kdrama watching, so I was still learning to differentiate the writing of a character from the way an actor was portraying the part. I also saw her in CASTAWAY ON THE MOON, in which she played someone with agoraphobia, IIRC. She was pretty depressed in it, so was not very expressive. I like that here she's playing a normally bubbly character. I really like her vibe, which will doubtless be restored. ;-)
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10 LT is Irresistibly Indifferent and reminded of the slow march of death
May 10, 2018 at 1:26 AM
I don't even know where to start. I feel like I've been waiting for this drama without even realising it and have been judging others by its standards before it even existed. This is my emotional successor to INAR. Finally!
(Except it's only episode 2 so I reserve the right to totally change my mind).
I just loved the contrasting imagery of knives and cutting, for food, surgery and fencing. The contrast also of excess food and hunger, of the romance of wedding and the pragmatism of registration, of the nihilism of Nietzsche and the zest for life through eating.
Most of all, the use of music is what I was hoping for from Pretty Noona but clearly didn't get.
Now I wish I'd heeded the advice of other Beanies and waited to bingewatch because I'm hooked. Still, this way I get to share the experience with everyone else too.
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byeol
May 10, 2018 at 1:48 AM
You're here! I love reading your comments from I'm Not A Robot recap, I'm glad to see you here. I'm always torn between binge watching a drama and watching it live but I hate to miss sharing the emotions to other audience especially when I've been hooked. So, here I am. *prays for it to continue to be good*
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LT is Irresistibly Indifferent and reminded of the slow march of death
May 10, 2018 at 3:20 AM
Oh, thanks @joyee! I was certainly debating whether to save this or not until I saw there was a recap happening. There was so much going on in this episode, my brain is spinning from it all. I'm thinking it's maybe a bit fantastical but then INAR was too at the beginning. So, we'll see.
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bbstl 🧹
May 10, 2018 at 9:01 PM
Noooo, I'm so excited to have a show to live watch (it's been such a long time) and I'm very excited to see you and everyone else here!
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11 Runa
May 10, 2018 at 1:32 AM
Jang Hyuk AND Jung Ryeo-won in the same drama? Sign me up.
Though right now, I'm not actually feeling the whole 'cancer + husband' ran away thing, and I guess the show means for it to be like that? Fingers crossed that the only way from here is up.
I'm also not super into Poong and his sob story but hey. We're only 4 eps in. Can't wait to see what shenanigans happens next!
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news
May 10, 2018 at 7:12 PM
I watched this writer's last two dramas (Miss Korea, Jealousy Incarnate ), and including this one, I can never get into her dramas until the 4th or 5th episode. But once I'm invested, I'm totally invested. I thought the first episode of Greasy Melo was rather boring/slow and the editing/storytelling was choppy with poor transitions, but the second episode was much better, especially JH's storyline. He and his gang are so adorkable.
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12 RenOIshi
May 10, 2018 at 2:42 AM
Boo hoo Viki won’t let me watch it unless I upgrade to a plus :( This means I will have to wait for 20 more days before I can enjoy it :(
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하데스
May 10, 2018 at 3:41 AM
If the first four (4) eps are any indication, Viki is late as usual with their subs, so you wouldn't get it the same day. You should look elsewhere for subs.
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miss h
May 10, 2018 at 8:07 AM
Yeah, the subs are slow. I'm usually able to watch shows within the 24 hour free period if Kocowa subs are provided, but then there is the occasional drama that Viki subs itself and they can be fast or slow.
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13 하데스
May 10, 2018 at 3:38 AM
I like our two male leads, but Sae-woo is just too out there for me right now. I'm usually not one for comedy like seeing her walk down the street with her fencing mask on, horse in tow. I also wasn't a fan of seeing Poong get smeared with chunjang (black bean paste). It's quite possible that the end result was unintentional, but I could help but get the whole "black face" reference. I mean, he could have washed his face clean instead of trying to wipe it clean which only made it look more like "black face."
.
[1] I had no clue what they were using that piece of bamboo for.
[2] Poong coworkers are terrible. I at least thought that Bo-ra would have followed him.
[3] When you pour a large portion of your life into a company that is not yours and you feel like you aren't getting the return on investment that you deserve, it's really does feel soul crushing.
Poong has all the signs of a potential noble idiot. At least I'm preparing myself for that now. He decided to forgive his then girlfriend for her transgressions because of the promise he made to her father. Argh. At least the one upside of his personality is that he actually listens to Sae-woo when she goes on and on.
Yeah, not going to talk about the cancer any more than this sentence.
I think one of my favourite aspects of this drama might be Chil-sung and his gang. The boys seem passionate about wanting the restaurant to work, and having that drive and passion is very important to the restaurants eventual success. I like that we're not going to get the typical these guys suck and have to be whipped into shape kind of routine.
Speaking of the gang, am I the only one who thinks that Kim Hyun-Joon (Gwang Dong-Sik) is Go Kyung-pyo's doppelgänger?! Every time he comes on screen, I can't help but be reminded of this.
Fight scene was awesome.
I'm willing to watch this a bit more and see where it goes. Having said that, I can definitely see myself dropping this drama in the future. There are too many frustrating eye-roll inducing moments and much of the humour here isn't my favourite. As much as I love Junho, it's not enough to torture myself.
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LT is Irresistibly Indifferent and reminded of the slow march of death
May 10, 2018 at 3:47 AM
So this show does a lot of the visual imagery that I love but I know that other people will hate.
Poong was trained in a poor Chinese restaurant and engaged to a woman who wanted to raise herself above it. So of course he gets smeared with the Black Bean paste that symbolises who he is on a fundamental level just as his wife dumps him because of exactly that.
And while Sae-woo seemed to have it all, she was nothing but a facade of wealth over emptiness (symbolised by her constant hunger and her desire for the simplicity of Jajangmyeon). So at the end, of course she's stripped entirely down to those symbols of wealth. And why is she wearing them? Because they allow her to hide from the world just as she's been hiding behind them the entire time.
The blackface comment is interesting though. I didn't get that but I can see how you could.
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myheartisomg
May 10, 2018 at 3:57 AM
I love your comment. I live for this kind of visual imagery too. I thought the knife in the door was also a great symbol - that's all Seo Poong's finely honed talent and pent up rage right there. Right now it's stuck in place but it's a potent symbol of his potential, waiting to be released like a sword in a stone.
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하데스
May 10, 2018 at 4:13 AM
Agreed. It was made that much funnier by the master chef's/knife expert's arrogance. Awesome sword in the stone analogy!
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하데스
May 10, 2018 at 4:09 AM
re: Poong and the black bean paste on face. I still don't see the symbolism and/or reasoning behind it.
re: Sae-woo. I get the symbolism, but I think it's the symbolism with the humour that throws me off.
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Ona
May 10, 2018 at 4:56 AM
Black bean paste is the fundamental ingredient he needs to make jajangmyun, which in the show symbolises the 'cheap' chinese food that his wife hates so much. It also signifies that at his core, Seopoong's philosophy mirrors his father in-law's not the head chef who also refuses to make jajangmyun bc it's not 'authentic' Chinese food, which is why he didn't have the ingredient to make it for Saewoo. And Saewoo's obsession with jajangmyun can also be seen as a symbol that ties the two together.
He couldn't wipe off that black bean paste residue bc it's a direct symbolism of who he is. I don't understand how you got blackface from that, but that might be bc of our different upbringing that the reference isn't immediate to me.
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하데스
May 10, 2018 at 5:46 AM
Thanks for the explanation. When you isolate it from blackface, I understand the intention and meaning. As you've analyzed it, there really is a lot to the symbolism. Unfortunately, given the history of the use of blackface in Korea, I couldn't help but make that reference. Sure, they did not do blackface exactly, but one of the reasons for smearing Poong with blackbean paste was to humiliate and/or make fun of him. I think most would have come to that conclusion at some level. It's also not like the cast and crew would not have known about the issue that blackface posses. It really is quite recent that the use of blackface has resurfaced.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that you can't do anything that is remotely close to looking like blackface that wasn't intended to be blackface. My problem lies in that fact that the issue hasn't been properly addressed/resolved and greater sensitivity to issues like this helps meaningful change to happen.
LT is Irresistibly Indifferent and reminded of the slow march of death
May 10, 2018 at 8:38 AM
I may be overthinking it too but it was interesting he got covered with chunjang rather than jjajang. Chunjang is the bitter, rawer version before it's been fried. So he got smeared with the simple, bitter version.
stpauligurl
May 10, 2018 at 5:40 AM
This is a great commentary @leetennant. I was just enjoying the show and didn't catch the subtle meanings that now make sense.
This is why I like to watch the dramas live, so I can read comments like this that make the show even better.
And thank you @odilettante for recapping this show!
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PakalanaPikake
May 10, 2018 at 9:43 AM
@leetennant ChinguMode,
I like your interpretation of the black bean paste connoting Poong's humble roots, and that of his cuisine as well.
It just struck me that the black bean sauce may also function as warpaint. He's going on the warpath against Chef Wang and Evil Hotel Chaebol. How Rambo-esque.
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stpauligurl
May 10, 2018 at 10:40 AM
oooh this adds even more to the story. Love this conversation and mulling over the symbolism.
thanks everyone!
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하데스
May 10, 2018 at 5:10 AM
*blackface
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odilettante
May 10, 2018 at 10:32 AM
Speaking of the gang, am I the only one who thinks that Kim Hyun-Joon (Gwang Dong-Sik) is Go Kyung-pyo's doppelgänger?! Every time he comes on screen, I can't help but be reminded of this.
Nope, not the only one at all. I keep expecting him to hop on a motorcycle and become the best deliveryman and bring me delicious, delicious jajangmyun.
(Or maybe that's just my tummy's wishful thinking. But I agree about the resemblance!)
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하데스
May 10, 2018 at 4:16 PM
Hahaha! I totally didn't make the connection with his role in Strongest Deliveryman. Nice one!
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byeol
May 10, 2018 at 6:41 PM
I thought I'm just the only one, everytime he appears, I always almost unconsciously mumble "he really look like go kyung pyo"
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14 vlkBadWolf
May 10, 2018 at 3:44 AM
I am in love. It is funny and sweet and I actually fell in love faster than in case of Jealousy Incarnate. I am really looking forward to next episodes.
By the way, I think it is not the heroine who has cancer but her mother.
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Aliaa
May 10, 2018 at 4:59 AM
By the way, I think it is not the heroine who has cancer but her mother
What ?? Didn't the doctor tell her that she has cancer ?? I'm confused !! She even said that herself!
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vlkBadWolf
May 10, 2018 at 5:03 AM
She said something like "you want me to die" (it could be out of frustration) but it was never said that she is the one with cancer. I think the doctor did not talk directly about her.
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vlkBadWolf
May 10, 2018 at 5:05 AM
But I might be mistaken
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Aliaa
May 10, 2018 at 5:10 AM
She said " you want me to die ? " when the doctor said that the operation won't be useful for her condition and they told her through the phone that She had cancer and then she went to the doctor's and he said that she had cancer , the fourth stage I believe so I think it's actually been said several times already that she does have cancer.
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Cloggie
May 10, 2018 at 5:06 AM
I was really confused about this too. I thought it was her at first but when she and the doctor were talking it sounded as if her mother was having cancer.
But then I thought that surely she wouldn't want to kill herself if her mother was dying so maybe it was her after all? I think there was something odd with the subtitles...
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Aliaa
May 10, 2018 at 5:13 AM
Maybe, I was watching with Arabic subs and I don't really trust them so I need to rewatch that scene with eng subs to understand more but in the preview she said that she wanted the money to do the operation so i'm pretty sure it's her .
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vlkBadWolf
May 10, 2018 at 5:19 AM
I think the English subtitles on Viki never included directly "you have cancer" or "I have cancer" - it was "it is cancer" or "they should have an operation"
Aliaa
May 10, 2018 at 5:33 AM
There's indeed something wrong with the subs because the doctor said " look at your x-ray " and then said " shedoesn't have much time left"
crazyjason
May 10, 2018 at 10:55 AM
I got the distinct impression from the subs that who actually has cancer is being hidden. I want to toss out my suggestion also. I think its the horse!
The horse is her best pal. Its been beside her all of her life and is important enough in her life that she fantasized about the horse running away to get to her wedding.
Cloggie
May 10, 2018 at 11:02 AM
@crazyjason, that makes a lot of sense! Surely if it was her mother, she would have been there too?
PakalanaPikake
May 10, 2018 at 12:06 PM
@ crazyjason May 10, 2018 at 10:55 AM
Ha ha! I love it! Buster is getting on in years, so it's possible he's sick.
Does that mean there's a handsome Horse Doctor lurking in the wings?! ;-)
yongsital 🐧 ❄️
May 10, 2018 at 5:57 AM
@aliaa @tanizakibadwolf @cloggie Yeah I also think it might not be her. I don't understand Korean 100% but in all the conversations with the doctor I believe they never used pronouns. The 'you' 'I' 'she' that may have been used in translations don't seem to have actually been spoken by the characters. I definitely think it was purposely done by the writer.
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Aliaa
May 10, 2018 at 6:04 AM
That would be interesting, I was so surprised to know that she has cancer when she's the female lead and this is a rom-com not a melo , so bring it on ,writer !!
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15 zgs1994
May 10, 2018 at 4:29 AM
Oh yayyyy! A recap! <33
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16 Aliaa
May 10, 2018 at 4:55 AM
I don't care much about the love line or who the main lead is but I'm soo looking forward to the bromance, and the interactions between Seo Poong and the minions in the kitchen, hopefully this is gonna a fun ride 😄 and of course thank you so much @odilettante for picking up the show !!
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17 yongsital 🐧 ❄️
May 10, 2018 at 4:56 AM
Yes! Thanks for the recaps! 😁
The trio is a crazy and I love it! I'm excited to see what other shenanigans they'll pull. I just really want to see SP+his new gangster kitchen staff+CS take the Hotel restaurant down!! Underdog stories are nothing new but the end results are so gratifying.
Regarding SP..he was in serious denial. Didn't Junho call his character a fool in love? I'll say. I do feel bad for him though.
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18 Kafiyah Bello
May 10, 2018 at 5:40 AM
I enjoyed the first 4 episodes. Jung Rye Won is one of my favs and Jang Hyuk in comedy is always great. Junho of course is wonderful. Observations
Junho gives good kiss. I was a little mad at the girl until he kissed her and then I thought. I get it. ( blushes)
Once she threw away his food, he should have broken up with her. It shows an utter casual disregard, for Poong, his career, and him. It should have ended at that point. So my sympathy for the death of their relationship was small. It needed to end.
Ahhh Sae Woo. I liked her. She wasn't stuck up. She genuinely seems kind and not in the candy way, just a nice girl. I enjoyed that.
Chilsung is perfect. Lol. That's all.
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LT is Irresistibly Indifferent and reminded of the slow march of death
May 10, 2018 at 8:40 AM
I don't know, I think this is one of the problem with TV. I mean, the first thing we see of their relationship is her throwing away the food. But that's not the first thing he's seen of their relationship. It sounds like they've been together for years.
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Kafiyah Bello
May 10, 2018 at 11:32 AM
I get that, but one of two things occurred. Either he knew she would throw away the food and made it anyway. Or he didn't know she would throw away the food. In both situations, perfectly good food was wasted. I'm inclined to go with the latter because he seems to very much love his food. So no matter how long you are with someone, showing such a casual disregard for the effort and work put into cooking food, even food you don't like is an ender for me. She didn't even give it away, which would have been rude, she trashed it, which from my perspective makes me believe, she thinks he is trash.
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19 blnmom
May 10, 2018 at 6:50 AM
YES! Thank you, odilettante! My favorite line:
"She just wants to eat jajangmyun before she gets married, dammit."
That would be me too.
A few years ago a Korean restaurant opened up near my place and I was SOOOO happy until I found out that they only had high-class Korean food. Huh?? Nobody wants that! Anyway, the owner held out for a few months before he put jjajangmyun and ddukbokki on the menu, after which I ate there all the time.
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bbstl 🧹
May 10, 2018 at 9:28 PM
hahaha I think that's so funny that the restaurant caved in.
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20 JustMe
May 10, 2018 at 6:50 AM
First impressions of this show: ive gotten used to quality cinematography so its slightly lower quality was off putting for me.
All that aside, something was off about the humor and i cringed at jungos characters backstory. BUT, i love our three main characters and the beginning was solid. Hoping thisll continue to be a fun watch.
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21 risa
May 10, 2018 at 8:23 AM
I don't have time to comment now, but I just have to say: Welcome back, odilettante! I can't tell you how excited I am that you're recapping this! And thank you, DB, for making this happen!
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22 blessingwind
May 10, 2018 at 8:26 AM
I am loving this show. The show is funny as hell, but balances out with the emotional scenes as well.
Firstly let me, i am loving Jung Ryeo Won as Sae woo. She seems more 'smiley' than in her other dramas. I swear i hated her character so much in My name is Kim sam soon. Her character in that was so damn boring. Sae woo is breath of fresh air.
I love Poong, and he deserves MUCH MUCH better girl than his cheating wife. And Junho look so delicious in this drama.
Jang hyuk is back with the 'LAUGH'. I have missed that laugh so much while watching his last drama 'Money flower'. I laughed so hard while he was smiling from ear to ear while looking at Sae woo , being smitten by her. OMG! Adorable and Funny. <3
I want the end game to be with Poong and Sae woo. They have such an exploding chemistry. Also both their lives have taken a similar path too. Chil sung can be a godfairy or play cupid to get them back together.
Why do i feel that the Chil sung's gang's jajanmyeon is really delicious, opposite of what Poong thinks of just by assuming the kitchen hygiene. That would be such a plot twist though.
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23 miss h
May 10, 2018 at 8:32 AM
I was excited for this drama because of the cast, and while I had some issues with the first episodes, I think there is a lot of potential.
Chil-sung and his boys stole the show for me (I admit I may be biased because Jang Hyuk is my ultimate oppa). Junho is really cute and talented, but I found Seo Poong a little bland. I think that will change when he starts teaching the gang to cook, however. Sae-woo is a good fit for the adorable JRW.
Sometimes the comedy worked for me and sometimes it didn't; It was the same with Jeolousy Incarnate so it may just be a writer thing for me.
I had issues with the editing, but that's why I give most dramas four episodes to work out kinks. They apparently reshot Jang Hyuk's scenes, so that may have played a part too.
I need something wacky and fun to watch so hopefully it gets better and better.
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news
May 10, 2018 at 7:21 PM
Why did they re-shoot JH's scenes?
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24 bugs_bunny
May 10, 2018 at 8:33 AM
thank you for the recap odilettante! nice to see your name in the byline again:)
i luv the leads, the characters are a bit wacky but i get them for now, maybe coz it's the actors/actress are doing their best to sell what's written on paper! i'm not a fan of this writer, the only drama i finished was Pasta & that's coz i luv LSK dearly! + GHJ's character was so-so, but she's a good actress, so that helps...
some of the comedy might be broad for my taste, i hope to watch till the end, solely for the leads! this will fulfill my fluff kdrama quota...
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25 PakalanaPikake
May 10, 2018 at 8:37 AM
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your wee-cap, Odilettante! I'm tickled to bits to have a place to fangirl over the proceedings in WOK OF LOVE.
I can't add much more to my raves for the cast and the first two episodes in the Premiere Watch thread:
http://www.dramabeans.com/2018/05/premiere-watch-greasy-melo-lawless-attorney/#comment-3238843
Buster really is going to keep on stealing the show, and will give Jang Hyuk a run for his money. As if the butterflies circling and alighting on his head like a crazy person's flower behind the ear weren't enough, gangster Chil-sung spouts Nietzsche. I love it how he's trying to help his boys earn honest livings so they can lead normal lives. I sure hope he finds happiness, too. It sounds as if he's speaking with the voice of experience regarding the difficulty of getting divorced.
I just got an image of chef Poong astride Buster with his noodle press over his shoulder -- a la Don Quixote?! His campaign of retribution against Chef Wang is shaping up to be a doozy.
Why was heiress Sae-woo's groom hustled back onto a plane when he landed at the airport? Was he a crook who framed her father, bringing down the wrath of the prosecutor's office? (Or do we see the fingerprints of evil hotel heir Yong Seung-ryong all over this turn of events, too?)
As for the jilted bride, I have a feeling that her medical records were mixed up with someone else's. (And maybe we'll find out that black bean noodles have miraculous healing properties.) She hasn't seen her fortune yet, and neither has Poong. I can't wait to see the cookies' predictions.
WOK OF LOVE is my cup of tea. I laughed out loud through all four episodes. I've been in desperate need of a comedy for months, and this one came along at exactly the right time. ;-)
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welh
May 10, 2018 at 9:08 AM
Sae-woo was already married to the groom. She made a big deal at the salon that they registered their marriage. The reason why her husband was told to turn around may have been his own family trying to limit the shame of Sae-woo's family problems.
She was diagnosed with cancer, but there is hope that it was a misdiagnosis. Or the gangster, who must know some very competent doctors after his gang got blown up but seem fine now, comes to her rescue by paying for a cure.
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PakalanaPikake
May 10, 2018 at 9:57 AM
@ weih,
Thanks for clarifying. It makes sense that Sae-woo's husband's family would want to distance him from his in-laws' disgrace. ;-)
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bbstl 🧹
May 10, 2018 at 9:37 PM
Is Buster the horse? The Kocowa subs call him "Imma" which I'm pretty sure is Korean for "a**hole" unless I'm confusing it with another word ☺️ It cracked me up that young Sae Woo would name her horse a curse word.
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PakalanaPikake
May 11, 2018 at 12:10 AM
@bbstl,
Geez. I didn't get that other vibe at all.
"Buster" is how his name was rendered in the subtitles I read. Perhaps he was unruly or spirited as a colt, hence the use of a reprimand for men and boys. It's a lot more polite than the alternative, but still lets him know that she affectionately considers him a handful.
Are you sure she wasn't calling him "imja," Ye Olde Sageukese term that Choi Young used with Eun-soo in FAITH?! ;-)
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bbstl 🧹
May 11, 2018 at 10:54 AM
I will rewatch a bit to see but I may pretty sure what I watched spelled out "Imma".
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Ghoulinthepajamas
May 12, 2018 at 5:42 PM
The name is Ilma in Korean but in some subs they have translated the name as Buster.
PakalanaPikake
May 12, 2018 at 7:11 PM
@Ghoulinthepajamas
May 12, 2018 at 5:42 PM
"The name is Ilma in Korean but in some subs they have translated the name as Buster."
Many thanks for clearing that up.
Is this a typical name for a horse (like Fido or Rover for a dog)? Is it correct to regard the "ma" in the name as meaning "horse"? ;-)
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bbstl 🧹
May 12, 2018 at 9:24 PM
Thanks you guys! LOL you can totally tell how bad my HEARING is ☺️
Ghoulinthepajamas
May 14, 2018 at 3:11 AM
@PakalanaPikakae
It was my pleasure friend. ☺
I don't understand Korean so I can't tell the origin of the horse's name.
aegiomma
July 6, 2018 at 6:20 PM
I've figured out the horse's name!! I was reading a Korean language and culture blog and came across this:
애마: beloved horse (along with the Hanja 사랑 애, meaning love); however, nowadays, this is a slang referring to your car. This slang has been used across all generations!
-http://koreanforinternauts.blogspot.com/2018/01/103-trilingual-korean-joke-hanja-3.html
Those characters roughly sound like eh-ma. This must be what she is saying!
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PakalanaPikake
July 6, 2018 at 7:46 PM
Thank you so much, @aegiomma, for following up on this fascinating bit of linguistics and slang. Wow. A trilingual pun involving hanja.
It reminds me of referring to one's automobile as a "valliant steed." Or a steam locomotive as an "ireon horse." What a hoot. ;-)
I've been enjoying poking around that wonderful blog, too! What a treasure trove! The posts on Mugyo (Korean shamanism) and folklore are especially interesting. What a wonderful resource! Thank you once again! ;-)
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PakalanaPikake
July 6, 2018 at 7:48 PM
Sheesh!
Or a steam locomotive as an "
ireoniron horse."bbstl 🧹
July 6, 2018 at 10:52 PM
Oh my gosh, you are incredible for circling back after all this time with the answer! I love that it's also slang for car. I'll have to check out the blog, thank you for posting it.
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aegiomma
July 7, 2018 at 12:16 PM
Maybe I take my Korean dramas a liiiiiitle too seriously, haha!
bbstl 🧹
July 7, 2018 at 2:52 PM
@pakalanapikake, doesn't @aegiomma say that like she thinks it's possible? 😁
PakalanaPikake
July 7, 2018 at 7:34 PM
@bbstl July 7, 2018 at 2:52 PM, @aegiomma,
In this case, taking Kdramas seriously is a good thing. Very educational. That's the ticket. ;-)
I'm so relieved to find out there's yet another fan who appreciates the incredible wordplay in Kdramas -- especially a bilingual person who so kindly connects the dots.
After poking around on the Korean For Internauts blog, all I can say is that there's no way I'll ever catch even .01% of the puns and wordplay in contemporary Kdramas. Which seems a shame. Shakespeare would have loved this.
As for Buster's Korean name, it tickles me to bits that it's akin to calling him "horseless carriage." I think. Thank goodness she didn't name him Truck Of Doom...
bbstl 🧹
July 7, 2018 at 7:56 PM
@pakalanapikake, @aegiomma,
I agree that just reading a few of the threads on Korean for Internauts (so far) was fascinating - and made me laugh at myself that I ever thought I'd understand more than the teensiest bit about what I'm seeing. But I'll keep trying.
26 risa
May 10, 2018 at 8:37 AM
A quick comment before I have to tear myself away: I'm enjoying seeing (and curious about) Lee Mi-sook in the dual role. I really got a kick out of hearing the older Lee Mi-sook tell the younger one, "You're an idiot".
This drama is just what the doctor ordered!
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another woodalchi nicole recruit
May 11, 2018 at 8:41 AM
yesssss!!! i’m so excited for this.
but i have a question—was lee mi-sook also the nurse who delivered the food in the brief hospital scene?
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loveblossom🌸
May 11, 2018 at 9:02 AM
Yup, that was her. I'm glad to see her in a new and odd role. I'm curious about the characters she is playing in this drama and how she relates to the others too.
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another woodalchi nicole recruit
May 11, 2018 at 9:14 AM
same! and definitely hoping for some more of the awesome back-and-forth with park ji-young that was in jealousy incarnate
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risa
May 11, 2018 at 2:09 PM
They were the best frenemies ever!
27 agassi
May 10, 2018 at 9:05 AM
I loved Chil-sung sort of confession and how Sae-woo handled it XD
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28 Namu 🐧
May 10, 2018 at 9:10 AM
Woaaa thank you @odilettante for recapping Greasy Melo
It’s always fun to be able to read awesome and insightful comments from beanies!!
I love the trio ❤️
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29 PakalanaPikake
May 10, 2018 at 10:04 AM
I just realized that WOK OF LOVE's noodle-slinging gangsters are following in the footsteps of the ManDoods of SWEET STRANGER AND ME -- although only boss Ko Nan-gil had tattoos. Plus there's the loanshark business. But Chil-sung is now reformed and setting his guys on the path to honest work.
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PakalanaPikake
May 10, 2018 at 12:09 PM
Oh, and TWO COPS had a baddie with angel wings tattooed on the back of their neck.
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meowingme
May 12, 2018 at 8:57 AM
To quote Maeng-dal, "We're just as innocent when we're in front of food."; I absolutely loved this philosophy of equality before food ^^
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30 spazmo
May 10, 2018 at 12:14 PM
i always prefer Kooky Jang Hyuk over Melo Jang Hyuk... i hope the series is good!
; )
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PakalanaPikake
May 11, 2018 at 4:30 AM
While I'd gladly watch Jang Hyuk dramatize the phone book, I'd much rather watch him slice and dice it in a good sageuk swashbuckler. Even better would be doing so with a kooky twist. ;-)
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31 purplesheesh
May 10, 2018 at 5:27 PM
I hate to be the one to post the 101st comment but I have to: first, Jung Ryeo Won is amazing as always. I love how quirky she can play these characters. Also, Jang Hyuk is great in action but I forgot how good he is in rom-coms as well (see: Fated to Love You). Aaaaaand, Junho! No words needed. Can't wait to see more of this drama.
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32 abalyn
May 10, 2018 at 6:15 PM
This is so ridiculously hilarious! Yay to the return of a comic Jang Hyuk! And that lead girl with her horse, so amazing.
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33 Sal
May 10, 2018 at 11:20 PM
It's a shame that they changed the English title to Wok of Love. I think Greasy Melo describes the show perfectly. I found the first ep a little off putting but I think the show is still trying to find that thin line between satire and heart, and Seopoong's straight guy didn't quite fit with the rest of the wacky premise. But the 2nd full ep was def much better. I love how this show sometimes feel like a huge pun both with the korean title and the hit-you-over-the-head visual symbolisms. The format itself needs a little getting used to I think, but it's something new which I appreciate.
The first ep was just an intro to Seopoong without any back story, so he might seem a little blank but the 2nd (3+4) did well to colour him in, and I find it very easy to empathise with the character. Kudos to Junho for injecting a lot of heart into his character so far. I'm honestly intrigued to see how his relationship with Saewoo will develop, we've already gotten some parallels between them although there are not many scenes of them together yet. Saewoo railing at the boys for talking smack abt her potential marriage made me warm up to her immediately. She's a little weirdo, and like someone mentioned is made up predominantly of what her wealth has given her, so it's interesting to see how her character will develop.
Chilsung seems to exist as both a wrench and catalyst to Seopoong and Saewoo. If they're the melo in this comedy, then he certainly came with all the grease lol. I enjoy seeing Janghyuk as comic relief. His character is a little bit ridiculous and quite OTT and he's pulling it off perfectly. I can't wait to see how the trio's relationship will develop, I can already feel the chemistry between the three of them. At the moment, the strongest point of this drama is definitely the 3 actors leading it.
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bbstl 🧹
May 11, 2018 at 10:51 AM
Personally, I think I'm going to have to call it Greasy, Melo Wok of Love.
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PakalanaPikake
May 14, 2018 at 9:26 PM
MELO WOK OF GREASY LOVE.
Yep, that's it. Because there's a slimeball hotel heir in the show, and his attack chef. Oh, wait. Where's the love again?!
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bbstl 🧹
May 15, 2018 at 11:15 AM
OH.
Or as they say in the kdramas,
OH HO!
by George, I think that's it 😁👏🏼👍🏼
MELO WOK OF GREASY LOVE.
Ask no further questions! 🙅
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34 klesis
May 11, 2018 at 1:38 AM
Thanks for reply weecap. I haven't been watching anything so I am happy that I have found this drama.
Can Jang Hyuk's dragon club brothers cameo please.
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35 sooyi
May 11, 2018 at 4:51 AM
I was actually drawn to the drama because Junho got cast as a central protagonist but Jang Hyuk as Chil-sung made me stay on. I usually found his acting and comedy okay, but he was just downright hilarious and driving here!! He's an Exposition Fairy, alright. And he just pulls off the most random phrases (I especially liked how, in his own philosophical way, he proudly explained to Seo Poong about the name of his loan business, "Loan and Shadow" bhwahwa)!
I was thinking how the plot was going melo like the title referred, and then I was hit with Dan Saewoo's illness and her father's bankruptcy that I just couldn't help rolling my eyes, but I'll try to give my faith to the writer who has spinned a hilarious take on triangle relationships with her last work "Jealousy Incarnate".
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36 bbstl 🧹
May 11, 2018 at 2:17 PM
Yippee yay, a new show I want to watch and odilletante is recapping! We must be living right 😁
Question - are there 6 star hotels now? 🤔
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prettysup
May 12, 2018 at 1:19 AM
There has always been
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37 Maryse
May 12, 2018 at 11:00 AM
Learning to watch in the raw as it goes under the kocowa lock before the subtitles are out on Viki .. thanks for the recap!
Oh, and I am shipping Jung Ryeo-won and Jang Hyuk; they're age appropriate. The cancer will be a false alarm
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egads aka Dame Maggie
May 12, 2018 at 11:07 AM
Kocowa did have it available, subbed & free, for 24 hrs before they locked it down to subscribers only. So if Kocowa is available to you that might be an option.
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38 Najwa
May 15, 2018 at 8:20 AM
Thank you for recapping Greasy Melo! ^3^
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39 JH LOVES KDRAMA
February 13, 2024 at 4:03 PM
I'm finally giving this a try and I'm loving it! I loved Junho in King the Land (I wasn't crazy about the drama, but love him!) And I just finished Jut Between Lovers, which is now one of my top favorite dramas. It was just beautifully done. Wok of Love is a nice comic relief after the intensity of JBL. Can't wait to see what happens.
Also, I think the horse has cancer!
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