Bad Couple: Episode 15

by javabeans

So here’s the thing. I liked how Bad Couple ended in their last two episodes (15 & 16). I liked the resolutions and the character wrap-up. What I didn’t like, then, was how these resolutions were presented. Story = decent. Execution = hated.

I kinda hesitate to give my full honest opinion on the ending because I don’t want to ruin the satisfaction others may get from what is, in the end, a nicely wrapped-up story. It’s just that as I was watching the last two episodes, everything felt really weirdly off-balance. The editing felt slapdash, the music cues were off, the scenes went on a little too long, the dialogue tended to meander. I wonder if the production was really pressed for time — I know that final weeks are tough in kdrama production, as you can read for yourself here. Personally, I think they ran out of story, and what could’ve been one episode was stretched into two.

(Random) SONG OF THE DAY

Tei – “나무” (namu / tree) [ zShare download ]

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EPISODE 15 SUMMARY

As the reality of Dang Ja’s dire situation sinks in for Gi Chan, he can’t quite confront her about it, so for the moment he pretends all is normal. He does what he can to take care of Dang Ja as carefully and attentively as possible.

Even though they’re happy together, Gi Chan mentions that Dang Ja’s never said the words “I love you.” She tells him they don’t need to say it in words, but Gi Chan says it would be nice to hear. Dang Ja teasingly laughs at him, but she fashions an elaborate setup for her confession of love.

She attends a play with him (and Dol Soon and Yong Gu), which is interrupted by an emergency alarm. Smoke appears, people panic, chaos ensues in everyone’s haste to escape. Dang Ja is separated from Gi Chan, and he plows through the throng of people, shouting for her, when the alarm quiets and a spotlight illuminates Dang Ja onstage alone, where she gives him her speech on how much she loves him. The crowd goes wild.

Her momentary good mood is dampened, however, when she gets a call from Yoon Seok, who feels she should know that he’s spoken with Gi Chan, who now knows about her illness.

Yoon Seok is still trying to get back into Young’s good graces, but she’s not having it. When he brings her roses and an apple pie, proud of his thoughtfulness, she tells him she’s not particularly fond of either. He’s only bought her flowers once, back when they were dating, and she always bought apple pie because HE liked it, not her. She points out, “Do you see now how hard I’ve tried all this while, doing my best to match myself to your tastes?”

He tells her to say what kind of flowers and things she likes so he can buy them for her, but that’s not the point. Young is a little surprised, however, when Yoon Seok tells her he’s broken up with Sae Yeon; she’s off in America.

Young sighs her frustrations to Joon Soo, and they both figure Yoon Seok is reacting to being dumped, and wonder what they’ll do if he really doesn’t consent to the divorce.

Yoon Seok, meanwhile, continues trying to please Young (who’s mostly annoyed), and uses Chan as reason for the family to go out to the amusement park together. Young can’t refuse when she sees how much Chan wants to go.

Dang Ja thinks things over and talks to Gi Chan about her condition, and they finally get things out in the open. He tells her not to bear everything alone, and also tries to persuade Dang Ja to go through with the surgery, saying he can’t lose her. But she won’t change her mind: “I only need to hang in there one more month.”

Gi Chan asks what happens if they can’t beat the illness, and Dang Ja says they will: “I believe it. Wait and see, I’ll make a miracle. I’ll save our Jadu, and myself. Now that I’ve met you, and have Jadu, it’s too unfair if I die. It’s too unfair, so I can’t die.” She tells him to just work on getting the world’s best recipe for seaweed soup. (Aside from being a traditional birthday dish, seaweed is considered very nutritious and particularly good for new mothers right after they’ve given birth.)

Seeing how Yoon Seok won’t leave Young alone, Joon Soo goes to talk to him, saying that Young’s unhappy. Yoon Seok tells Joon Soo: “Then either kill me, or wait till I die.” Joon Soo appeals to Yoon Seok to let her go.

However, Yoon Seok follows Young as she goes on a date with Joon Soo, and seems to feel some pangs of conscience as he sees her happy expression. He sits her down for a serious talk, and tells her that seeing her happy with Joon Soo reminded him of how she used to be, ten years ago: “You’d changed so much because of me. He’s found you again.” Yoon Seok would like to see her return to her former happy self: “Please give me one more chance.” But Young tells him she doesn’t have the confidence to do that: “I can’t smile genuinely in front of you anymore.”

Gi Chan’s father calls him to consent to their marriage, and Dang Ja’s friends throw her a birthday party (a real one; not faked like the last time when they wanted an excuse to invite Gi Chan to dinner). Everyone rallies around her, wishing her strength and health. Gi Chan tells her not to be lonely anymore, because now they’re family.

The couple travel to the beach for some relaxation time, and as they sit contentedly, Gi Chan broaches the topic of her reconciling with her father. However, he’s unaware that Dang Ja has started to feel ill, breathing heavily and losing energy…