You’re Beautiful: Episode 2
by javabeans
I have a good feeling about this drama. Everyone is well-cast and the writers do a great job subverting cliches and twisting angsty moments into a punchline. Love that. I enjoyed this episode even more than Episode 1, which was already pretty jam-packed with hilarity.
SONG OF THE DAY
Lee Seung-gi – “꽃처럼” (Like a Flower) [ Download ]
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EPISODE 2 RECAP
Mi-nyeo wakes up from her dream and finds herself, shockingly, asleep on the floor with the three other guys. Startled and overwhelmed, she tries to get her bearings and figure out what happened. She has no idea how she got back to the house, but her shirt is dirty and her lip has an injury.
Her split lip triggers a memory — she had fallen off the bench and the boys had rushed to break her fall. When she landed on top of one of them, her lips mashed with another set. But she can’t remember which set of lips!
She closes her eyes, trying to convince herself that this is a dream, and starts praying.
Jeremy comes out to scold Mi-nyeo and give her the stinkeye for her drunken behavior. From his disapproving attitude, Mi-nyeo assumes he’s the one she offended, and apologizes. Jeremy instructs her to apologize to the person she offended most: “hyung.”
This means it wasn’t Jeremy, so she approaches Shin-woo next. He’s sitting down for some morning tea and says he was shocked at last night’s unbelievable events. Mi-nyeo again apologizes profusely and begs him to consider her actions as being hit by a rock falling from the sky. (As in, unfortunate and random.)
Hilariously, Jeremy sees her sitting with Shin-woo and yells, “Hey! I told you to go apologize, and you’re just sitting here drinking tea?!” Mi-nyeo answers, “But I am apologizing.”
They set her straight: it was Tae-kyung she violated. With this additional information, we return to the flashback, when she had fallen on top of Tae-kyung, mouth landing on his — but that’s not where the story ends. After she had landed, she had gagged… and vomited… right into his mouth.
(I’m not exaggerating when I say that I had to pause my video and laugh until my sides literally ached. This is exactly what I mean by the Hong sisters spinning cliches in clever ways. The “oops I fell and landed on your lips” is a familiar scenario, and I was sorta going to let it slide… but now it goes from an expected gag to clever twist.)
This also explains everyone’s horror — they’re not reacting in prissy shock because of a mere kiss. It’s an appropriate level of response, I think, to vomiting into someone’s mouth. The two guys advise her to patch things up with Tae-kyung — if he’ll let her, that is.
Tae-kyung wakes up and freaks out to recall last night. We have seen how compulsive and uptight he is, so now he fixates on getting to the shower to wash himself clean of his revulsion. When Mi-nyeo comes by to ask for forgiveness, he’s so agitated that he tells her he can’t talk to her now. Also, “Why would I forgive you?” She answers thoughtfully, “Because you’re a good person.”
Tae-kyung bites out, “When I’ve disliked a person in the past, I kept disliking them, because they kept doing things I disliked. I disliked you from the moment I saw you, and sure enough you did the thing I hate most. It’s clear that you’ll keep doing things I hate and that I’ll keep hating you. So that forgiveness you talk about won’t happen now, or ever.” He yells at her to get out.
But he’s not a complete ogre, because when he heads to the bathroom to wash up, he mutters (a little guiltily) that Mi-nam should’ve listened when he asked for time to shower and calm down. It suggests that he knows he could have handled it better and that Mi-nam didn’t mean to do it.
Mi-nyeo leaves a cup of tea and a fragrant candle on his desk to enjoy later, but in so doing she spills wax on the ground. When she bends to wipe it up, the hot wax makes her recoil. That makes her crash right into his CD rack. The contents of the shelves come crashing down, and she frantically holds up the rack to keep it from also falling, and is stuck holding up the frame. (It’s like one of those Mousetrap chain-reaction games gone awry. LOL.)
Unfortunately, a remote control also falls and sets off the fan, which causes sheet music to flutter down, which land next to the flickering candle…
Mi-nyeo frantically tries to rectify the situation while Tae-kyung showers (topless Jang Geun-seok scene!). She tries reaching for the remote control, but it’s out of her reach. She then tries blowing out the candle, but she’s too far.
She concludes that she must douse the candle and looks around for water. Seeing none, she gets the idea to use her own spit…
(I’m starting to see how she got into so much trouble at the convent.)
Tae-kyung, refreshed from his shower, emerges JUST as she spits at the candle. On the plus side, the candle goes out. On the down side… well, everything else.
Tae-kyung glowers at her (“Did you just spit on my floor?”) and demands to know what she’s doing. When she says she’s here to beg his forgiveness, he growls, “Then should I forgive you using your methods?!” and slams his hand on an empty shelf.
He only hits the case for emphasis, but the sudden movement causes a heavy trophy to fall, hitting her on the head. Tae-kyung didn’t mean to hurt her, and is alarmed as she crumples to the ground. Blood seeps from a wound on her forehead.
The others arrive in the doorway to see Tae-kyung hunched over an unconscious Mi-nam, holding the business end of a heavy award trophy. He’s frozen in guilt and shock. I LOVE how Tae-kyung answers, in this thoroughly incriminating pose, “I didn’t do it.”
(He means he didn’t make the mess, but his stricken expression makes me giggle.)
Mi-nyeo awakens as she is being taken to the hospital in an ambulance, with Hoon-yi sitting by her. Despite her weakened condition, she points out that if she goes to the hospital, they’ll find out she’s a girl.
Good point. They pull over at a neighborhood park and treat her injury with over-the-counter medicine instead. Mi-nyeo does say that Tae-kyung didn’t hit her, but Hoon-yi believes she’s too good-hearted and is merely covering up for him.
Tae-kyung calls and wants to talk to Mi-nam, asking about her injuries. It’s very cute how he plays it off like he’s not worried, and says he just wants to clarify that he didn’t hit her. Mi-nyeo tells him that she’s fine and he doesn’t have to worry, and that she’s being treated in the emergency room.
What she doesn’t know is that he’s actually AT the hospital, looking for her. At the emergency room, a nurse informs him that he can’t use his cell phone here. That stops him short, and he asks Mi-nyeo how she’s on the phone when they aren’t allowed.
Uh-oh. Mi-nyeo fumbles for an explanation as Tae-kyung narrows his eyes in suspicion — just as a truck passes through the neighborhood (Mi-nyeo’s), peddling groceries. Tae-kyung hears the loudspeaker.
A fan-shot video surfaces online, which shows the four A.N.JELL members in the parking lot the night of the party. Jeremy carries an unconscious Tae-kyung (he’d fainted in shock after the vomiting incident), while Shin-woo carries drunk Mi-nam. This leads to online speculation — was there a fight?
Therefore, when Mi-nyeo heads to A.N. Entertainment to discuss things with the manager, a snoopy reporter is lurking in the lobby. He prods for gossip, hinting that there’s bad blood between Mi-nam and Tae-kyung.
Mi-nyeo protests in her sweet way that Tae-kyung didn’t hit her. Tae-kyung arrives at that moment, sizes up the situation, and storms off.
The reporter doesn’t believe Mi-nam’s denial, and puts up a story about the injury to Mi-nam’s face, saying Tae-kyung hit him. Articles continue to appear online that contain few facts but a lot of suggestive speculation about group strife. Fans, led by the fiercely loyal fanclub president Sayuri, jump to the conclusion that Go Mi-nam must be the problem — how dare he endanger Tae-kyung’s image? Everything was fine before Mi-nam arrived.
Sayuri’s a little unhinged (in an entertaining way), and thinks this is a ploy by Mi-nam to garner sympathy for himself. She leads a protest to kick him out of the group.
Jeremy’s an interesting character, because he’s a happy-go-lucky type, but in this circumstance he’s peeved at Mi-nam because his hyung Tae-kyung is suffering. He (half-jokingly) sics his dog at her, which jumps at her playfully and slobbers over her face. (Btw, the dog is named Angelina Jolie.)
Jeremy scolds Mi-nyeo for ruining Tae-kyung’s room. She’s glum from all the drama and because of the bloodthirsty fanbase, and promises to clean up the mess she made.
When she starts to leave, he grabs her because he’s not done talking to her. Being suddenly in close quarters makes her panic, and she runs away. Interestingly, her frantic reaction makes Jeremy uncomfortable. He thinks it’s because it makes him seem like the bad guy (like he was a pervert for grabbing Mi-nam), but I’m also going to suggest that he feels an odd attraction to her that unnerves him.
Shin-woo is more kind, asking how she’s doing and indicating her injury. He reaches for her forehead, and she recoils. Shin-woo says, “If you flinch like that, everyone will catch on.” Mi-nyeo is alarmed, thinking he means that they’ll catch on to her girl identity, but he clarifies that they’ll assume she really was hit by Tae-kyung.
Mi-nyeo heads to Tae-kyung’s room to clean up before he gets back. Among the scattered items, she finds a lot of old CDs and videos of Mo Hwa-ran, a singer famous in the ’90s, and guesses that he must be a fan. When she spots a photo of the singer with a young boy, however, she wonders if Tae-kyung is the boy in the picture.
Of course, this is when Tae-kyung arrives, displeased to see her rooting through his stuff. Fed up, he grabs Mi-nyeo’s arm and drags her downstairs to confront managers Sung-chan and Hoon-yi, who have just arrived. He wants Mi-nam kicked out, or he’ll leave instead — then makes good on that threat by storming out of the house.
Mi-nyeo sits in a funk, telling Hoon-yi that she’s finding it increasingly difficult to endure; she’s all out of energy. Her manager, however, takes the glass-half-full approach: this is a good thing for her. If she grew too friendly with Tae-kyung, she’d be in greater danger of being found out. The benefit of being hated is that he’ll keep his distance, and she’ll be able to last the month.
He points out that Mi-nam has shot to the top of internet search results, reminding her that being famous will help find her mother.
We also introduce actress Choi Ran, a Hong sisters regular, as Mi-nam’s aunt. She brags about being related to Mi-nam, although her friends remind her that she dumped the kids off at the orphanage. The flighty, selfish aunt says that she’s still family — she’s better than the mother who abandoned them, whom they don’t even know. It’s clear that while the twins were a burden as children, now that one is famous, she’s willing to rekindle the relationship in the name of “family love.”
I find it a little curious that Mi-nam and Tae-kyung both have mother-abandonment issues, but I’m going with it for now. Tae-kyung runs into the glamorous woman from Episode 1, and we realize that this is Hwa-ran, his mother. He freezes when they come face to face with each other in the elevator, and he tries to cover up the intensity of his reaction with coldness.
For instance, he calls her “madam” rather than “mother,” saying that he only called her Mother in the past out of childish naivete, thinking biology made someone a parent. He warns her not to act familiar with him — back when he was a kid, she was the famous one and didn’t act like his mother, but now the tables are turned and he’s the famous one. He doesn’t want her causing trouble.
Shin-woo has been remarkably perceptive, and we sense he knows more than he’s letting on. Jeremy, on the other hand, is cheerfully oblivious. He wonders what Shin-woo’s thinking about, and Shin-woo replies that Jeremy should figure it out himself, although he doubts that that’s possible since he’s so dense.
To prove that point, Jeremy brings up how strange Mi-nam is — first, he’s weirdly sensitive and even cried after Tae-kyung left the house. On top of that, he’s too soft and smooth: “It makes me feel bad.” Jeremy sees that Shin-woo doesn’t share his opinion, and comments that he must like Mi-nam. After all, he took care of him the night of the party.
This leads us to a flashback, when Shin-woo had helped Mi-nam out of the party. He’d looked closely at Mi-nyeo’s face, and as he held her, he’d started to sense the truth — that Mi-nyeo is really a girl.
Jeremy: “You must be enjoying hanging around with that girly guy.”
Shin-woo: “I’ll have fun watching for now.”
Jeremy doesn’t get that he means he’s going to enjoy her antics posing as a guy, and shrugs off the comment.
Mi-nyeo is thrown another hurdle when Sung-chan announces that Mi-nam will be making his stage debut at the Asia Music Festival, which is in two weeks. Hoon-yi and the stylist (who’s a good friend of Hoon-yi and knows the truth) both protest, saying Mi-nam isn’t ready yet, but Sung-chan is eager to strike while the iron’s hot.
Mi-nyeo doesn’t think she can do it, but she is thrust into activity — photo shoots, dance rehearsals.
Stylist Wang is impressed with Mi-nyeo’s hard work, but Mi-nyeo confides that she’s looking forward to righting everything when her brother returns. She’s wronging everyone by lying now, so she must endure the hardship that comes with it.
The stylist is sympathetic, and they share a nice dramatic moment — only to cap off the scene with the stylist telling Mi-nyeo that she has gone overboard with the stuffing. OF HER PANTS.
Sung-chan has a webchat with Tae-kyung, who has moved out and is now staying on his own at a hotel. The manager tries to convince Tae-kyung to participate in the Asia Music Festival, and we can tell Tae-kyung’s anger has cooled a little because he grudgingly agrees to consider it.
Sung-chan sends the wrong email, however, and has to rush off to find the right information. He instructs Tae-kyung to sit still and not move. As he leaves, he inadvertently moves his webcam, and a few moments later, it captures a different scene altogether.
Tae-kyung watches as the stylist bursts into the room with Mi-nam. We know that she has found one of Mi-nyeo’s fake balls (literal and figurative) in the dance studio and is frantic to correct the mistake before someone notices, but to Tae-kyung’s eyes this scene takes on a different slant as the stylist whispers that they’ll be private here and fumbles for Mi-nam’s pants.
Tae-kyung does a spit-take — and just then, the light goes out at a crucial moment as the re-stuffing takes place. When the lights come back on, the stylist prods Mi-nyeo’s chest to check that the bindings are tight. There’s not not much to bind in the first place, “But still, you’re a girl.”
Tae-kyung is incredulous: “She was a girl?”
OH MY GOD.
I LOVE THIS. (More on this later.)
Tae-kyung pushes “record” on his laptop to get the last snippet, as Mi-nyeo says with relief, “Thanks to you, nobody will find out I’m a girl.”
Tae-kyung drives to the studio to “confirm something important,” and walks in on rehearsal where the A.N.JELL guys are practicing with the other dancers. Everyone watches curiously as he beelines for Mi-nyeo, and he stares at her intently.
Suddenly, he grabs her in a hug. And feels the truth for himself.
He says incredulously, “Go Mi-nam… you!”
But he doesn’t get to finish that thought. Sung-chan walks in with a reporter, who starts snapping photos happily. Sung-chan is pleased at the sight of the two members seemingly on good terms (and this also suggests to the others that this was a photo op).
Tae-kyung tries to get the manager alone to tell him his important news, but Sung-chan blows him off. So when Tae-kyung insists they have to kick Mi-nam out of the group, it comes out sounding petty and he is waved aside.
Mi-nyeo is just relieved that nothing weird(er) happened with Tae-kyung, and is instructed by her manager to the second-floor bathroom to avoid showering with the other boys. However, they’re unaware that the downstairs shower is broken, and that the boys are headed upstairs.
Jeremy notices, “Mi-nam really doesn’t wash.” Shin-woo knows the real reason why, but since Jeremy is so endearingly thick, he concludes, “Like Tae-kyung hyung said, he must really be dirty!”
Hoon-yi had been guarding the door, but a phone call makes him wander away, so Mi-nyeo freezes to hear their approach. Thankfully she’s done showering, but now she’s stuck in the locker room, and the boys are all getting nekkid! I LOVE the censoring — laugh-out-loud hilarity, folks! — as everyone’s modesty is preserved with animated clouds.
But what’s an innocent almost-nun to do??? As she does in times of stress, Mi-nyeo appeals to the Mother Superior, who appears (in her imagination) to give her some advice. She reminds Mi-nyeo of the cherubs in religious paintings, which have never given her a sense of shame: “Think of them as cherubs appearing as God made them.”
It is hysterical. (I couldn’t stop laughing.)
It does do the trick, though, since Mi-nyeo is able to peacefully walk toward the exit without shame, as she pictures all the boys as angelic babies.
She snaps out of her reverie when Shin-woo covers her eyes with a towel. Smiling, he tells her: “Since you’re done washing, you can leave. If you’re here, I can’t shower.”
She totally misses the meaning behind that, and she rushes out. She sighs in relief, “Great, I wasn’t found out!”
But she gets the response, “You have been found out.”
Tae-kyung stands facing her, arms akimbo. Coming closer, he announces, “I’ve found you out.”
Uh-oh. Mi-nyeo prays, “Mother Superior, what do I do now?”
COMMENTS
I was thinking we’d get another Coffee Prince with conflicted emotions and attractions and ten episodes of anticipation, but Tae-kyung finds out the truth now?? THIS IS FANTASTIC.
The setup to this drama (crossdressing and romantic comedy) means that there are a few predictable elements that must happen, like someone finding out the truth early, and someone being uncomfortably attracted to Mi-nam. However, what makes this drama strong from a narrative perspective is that it swiftly takes us PAST these cliches, so that instead of dragging out the obvious ending for episodes, we address that point right away and move on. That makes me more excited for what’s to come, since there’s more of an element of surprise.
Aside from that, I again have to point out the great casting for all four idols. Jang Geun-seok has a wonderful sneer, and he really commits to it — I feel like this is the most committed I’ve seen him to a role in a long time.
I also love the manager’s overreliance on English phrases. Oh, it’s hella cheesy but that’s why I love it — he thinks it’s cool but it makes him look silly.
I love Jeremy for his dunderheadedness — how oblivious is he? He’s the first one sensing an inkling of attraction because his body takes note of the signs — Mi-nam’s girlish mannerisms, smooth skin, vaguely feminine ambiance — but his brain is a step behind his body, so he’s the last one to know.
And while Tae-kyung is a great character who I’m sure I will end up rooting for, HOW GREAT IS SHIN-WOO? I like him so much. He’s the Rui that Kim Hyun-joong couldn’t quite be. I have in the past suffered from Second Lead Crush Syndrome, where I felt bad for secondary characters who never got the girl despite treating her better than the hero, and I think Shin-woo will continue this trend. But I think of this in a positive light, because the benefit to a strong conflict like this is that the love triangle actually feels tense and engaging.
RELATED POSTS
- You’re Beautiful: Episode 1
- You’re Beautiful gears up for its premiere
- Faux idol group A.N.Jell is revealed
- FT Island’s Hong-ki ready to return to acting
- Park Shin-hye crossdresses for You’re Beautiful
- Jang Geun-seok gets into character for You’re Beautiful
- Park Shin-hye is Jang Geun-seok’s girl in You’re Beautiful
- Hong sisters idol drama to be led by Jang Geun-seok
- New idol star drama in the works
Tags: Jang Geun-seok, Jung Yong-hwa, Lee Hong-ki, Park Shin-hye, You're Beautiful
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1 Vanessa
October 10, 2009 at 3:36 PM
Great review!
finally something good to watch
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2 glitzyglam
October 10, 2009 at 3:36 PM
wow it seems you are really enjoying this and I didn't read all of it because you've made me want to start watching it, so I didn't want to spoil this episode for myself hehe!!! I was a bit skeptical on watching this because I thought it would be very cliche and too much like it's trying to be like CP.. but it seems like it is not at all! Also, totally liking the fact that there seems to be many funny moments in this!!
btw- I forgot how much I used to think Hongki looks like Geunsuk. So funny to see them in this together. haha, maybe I'll stop comparing Hongki's face to JGS's now (:
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3 engl
October 10, 2009 at 3:38 PM
i absolutely love this drama!!! it's been sooo long since i've actually anticipated the next episode release of a drama and i love the feeling. the whole cast is great and i like how its not overly cheesy and exaggerated, for example the character of jeremy.. and it has a wonderful mix of serious and funny moments not letting either one last long enough for you to think that the drama is getting boring. i'm soo happy that you're doing the recaps for this drama.. i think i could even rewatch the episodes one more time it was that entertaining!
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4 amhrancas
October 10, 2009 at 3:48 PM
yea! new recap!
I watched this episode right after seeing episode 1 and I still love it all! Yes, there are the cliche's, but like JB said, they're spun so perfectly that they work really well here. I absolutely loved the whole nun coming out of the gym locker bit, and then the babies in the locker room.
I agree that Shin-woo is AWESOME in this. It's only episode 2 and I am in love with him. But then, I adore all of the characters so far, which is another thing You're Beautiful gets points for!!
Can't wait for Episode 3, and THANK YOU! for the recaps!! 8D
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5 randomfan
October 10, 2009 at 3:54 PM
I am so in love with Shin Woo, it's going to break my poor little heart when his poor little heart gets broken.
Anyway,
WORD. WORD. WORD. in each of your comments, I was completely awe-jaw-tothefloor-surprised when the revelation was out by Episode 2, this just sweeps us all in unknown territory--- now where the hell are they gonna head with this? I thought it was going to be the usual cross-dressing romance wherein the leading men never figure out until the last frame... but not with this one!
And the mommy dearest issues are worrying me too, but I'll get over that.
Thank the dramagods that I am enjoying a trendy drama for 2009. Hong Sisters never let me down.
Another WORD on Shin Woo, I am in love with him already. It sure helps that the actor is scrumptious looking, has delicate features, a deep voice, and the most charming smile. gaaah. We all know he's the Rui but unlike Kim Hyun Joong he doesn't sleep walk this role. He isn't as natural as the two other leads, but he's so likable. How can you resist him? And gah, I know I'll be heartbroken.
Thank you very much for the recap.
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6 gallivanter
October 10, 2009 at 3:55 PM
Your excitement about this drama is contagious, JB! I usually wait until the weekend to catch up on all my dramas, but after reading your first recap I HAD to watch the second episode.
Kudos to the Hong sisters for creating a drama about a subject I wouldn't normally be interested in, and kudos to the actors for really bringing these characters alive. They're all so cute!
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7 AngelSanc26
October 10, 2009 at 3:57 PM
I have to say that I just love your recaps. A lot of the time I enjoy reading them more than I do actually watching the drama! Keep up the great work! I'll definitely be checking out this drama when I get the chance!
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8 Elena
October 10, 2009 at 4:06 PM
I love that at least one guy catches on quick... now two. I, too, laughed at the shower scene. Hilarious.
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9 Samii
October 10, 2009 at 4:09 PM
i am SOOO rooting for Shin-woo lmfao
He's just so cute, i can't bear to see him get hurt! lmao
i'm loving this drama (:
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10 grace
October 10, 2009 at 4:09 PM
Seriously I love Shin Woo so much. The love triangle (square?) will be very fulfilling Also, the manager Hoon Yi. He's so polite, nice, yet he is incredibly weird. I especially loved the scene where he was explaining to Mi-Nyuh how Tae Kyung's whole image was based on the 'hard stare' and he gave himself double eye-lids to imitate him.
I also love how the writers broke the 4th wall when Hoon Yi was reading the list of the top online searches and "You're beautiful" was number four.
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11 unoriginal
October 10, 2009 at 4:10 PM
Park Shin Hye really needs to start being more original instead of being a Yoon Eun Hye copycat. First Goong-Goong S now Coffee Prince-You're Beautiful.
What's next My fair Lady-I m a Princsess? She is so unoriginal.
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CATFUL
January 23, 2013 at 3:29 AM
PARK NOT COPING ANY ONE ITS OTHER STAFF WHO CHOOSE HER FOR THIS KIND OF ROLL AND SHE IS GREAT SINCE TEENAGE AND SHE IS THE BEST THE THE LEAD ACTRESS IN COFFEE PRICE 1000 TIMES PARK SHIE IS FULL TALANTED SHE CAN SING ACT AND DANCE
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TT
January 19, 2016 at 2:46 PM
funny because she isn't copying anyone and has made a name of her own
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12 hopesofgreen
October 10, 2009 at 4:11 PM
I LOVE SHIN WOO and Jung Yong Hwa for doing well with the character. In past trendy dramas, I've always rooted for the second lead. This hasn't been the case in most recent dramas because they're so poorly developed.
I was so surprised that not one but both male leads found out she's a girl. I was expecting angst between the characters while they question their own orientation. So I'm glad to see the twist which brings a new kind of tension to the drama.
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13 Biscuit
October 10, 2009 at 4:12 PM
Watched this episode last name and I couldn't stop laughing! A pure comedic, trendy drama done well.
I agree that I LOVE the fact that the lead guy (and Shin-Woo) have found out that Minam is a girl. In other series, the episodes lead up to the big climax of when the cross-dressing lead’s true identity is going to be revealed. But were only 2 episodes into the drama, and now you’re thinking what is going to happen next. It’s more exciting now.
(Hopefully now there is less HanaKimi comparisons… since the only thing similar is cross-dressing…. Since the female lead is already caught by lead male and Shin-Woo)
I’m laughing throughout the entire episode. And OMG the MUSIC! When Minam spit on the candle right when Tae Kyung comes out of the shower, there’s this loud orchestra music. And in other scenes, everything seems to go well and nice soft music flowing in the background. But once something happens or the character realizes something, the music abruptly
Second favorite scene goes to the shower scene! Oh boy. There’s a nun walking out of the locker room and light shining inside a building, LOL. But I LOVE that woman’s reasoning of looking at naked men ( ehhhh that sounded perverted… ahem.)
Now that you mention it, Shin-Woo does remind me of Rui. While Hyun-Joong has the appearance of Rui, Shin-Woo has the personality.
Isn’t this interesting?
Jang Geun Seok could have been Jun Pyo. Park Shin Hye could have been Jandi. What if Shin-Woo was Rui? (Sorry, I keep referring to the actor as Shin-Woo, since I can’t remember his real name)
Btw, doesn’t Shin Woo look like a younger version of Shin Sung Rok (For those who don’t know him, he’s the momma’s boy in Three Dads and One Mom)?
--
@11: Woah, let's not go there. Just because she happened to be part of Goong S and is now doing a cross-dressing drama, she's a copycat? This makes no sense... at all.
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14 HeyCitrus
October 10, 2009 at 4:12 PM
Seriously, the funniest kdrama I've seen in awhile. The acting's great and it's just so zany it's awesome. I love how when GMN makes a mess of the room and the first thing that TK replies withis "Did you just spit in my room?"-- sort of oblivious to the mess of everything else. I love his quirks.
And the camera part....absolutely awesome. Not only was it hilarious, but the scene afterward which was backed with heavy metal music (er I think it's classified as heavy metal), and the way the camera focused on each member and their reaction was funny and awesome.
I've been watching some scenes over and over again...something I don't do often. Can't wait for the next episode! I want to find out how she gets on top of that truck...
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15 birdscout
October 10, 2009 at 4:13 PM
Only you, javabeans, could bring in a reference to the Mousetrap game in this wonderful recap. Thank you! I laughed so hard reading this!
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16 christina
October 10, 2009 at 4:14 PM
once again a WONDERFUL recap, javabeans! this episode was hilarious. i couldn't stop laughing.
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17 nixxochick
October 10, 2009 at 4:15 PM
like i mentioned before in another post i really like this drama and is one i am 100% sure i will be able to watch from start to end without having to fast-forward in boring scenes.
the only problem that i think im going to have with is is that i am almost positive i am going to suffer from Second Lead Crush Syndrome..oh well ^_^
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18 ginko
October 10, 2009 at 4:15 PM
Ha ha, tks to Hong sisters, we have a great idol drama at the end of the year.
I laugh so much my belly hurt, it's crazy in a fantastic way. A good version of Korean Hana Kimi.
Thanks so much JB for the quick recap.
Shin-woo, he's definitely a Rui, love him.
And thank you for the song of the day, Lee Seung-gi - I love him in SI.
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19 joonni
October 10, 2009 at 4:16 PM
I share the exact same sentiments as you about the early discovery of her real gender and about the Shinwoo. I too have fallen for the Rui's more often that I should.
Yey! Everyone is so excited about this drama. Let's hope it heals us of the BOF trauma.
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20 onbe
October 10, 2009 at 4:16 PM
Loved this episode very much! I watched it yesterday and it is hilarious. hehe
I am also pleased that TK finds out that MN is a girl very early. The fact that he is confronting her with this is also amazing! I thought he might just pretend not to know and play with her a little. So far, the plot is very original and funny.
I suffer from Second Lead Crush Syndrome too and I started rooting for SW from the first scene he was in and he is growing on me ever since!
I'd recommend that while watching the second episode that you don't do that while eating! hehe XD
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21 orangegummybear
October 10, 2009 at 4:18 PM
haha omg i love your drama recaps.. thanks to you i actually ended up watching this series and so far i love it! there really are hilarious moments that makes a cliche that much more enjoyable.. and like you said it's going to be interesting to see what the hong sisters have up their sleeves since 2 of the main characters already know she's not a guy. definitely one of the strongest beginning of a series that i've seen in awhile.. i just hope they keep up this momentum... =)
p.s. i have the second lead crush syndrome as well and i've already started liking shin woo a lot.. and hehe tae-kyung w/ his hair and "dark" mannerisms remind me of snape from harry potter!
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22 arivle
October 10, 2009 at 4:18 PM
OMG.....I love ur recaps...this drama is great....and I'm looking forward for episode 3. This is laugh out loud funny!!!!!! and that why I'm loving this drama....they just found out the secret and that makes it more interesting....I'm also loving the actors and their characters.....I have watch both episodes twice and still make me laugh like crazy.....hope it continues with the same energy and hope it keeps getting better and better....PLEASE RECAP THE SERIES!!!!!!!!!!!
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23 danni
October 10, 2009 at 4:21 PM
WOOO FOR SHIN-WOO! I knew I couldn't be the only one who liked him and he is a little Hanazawa Rui like, right? I was watching the first episode and I remember thinking, why isn't he the male lead? but now I'm thrilled, and also kinda sad that he's second lead because he's totally awesome. Yes, the cliche in this show is being pulled off very well. The part where she threw up in Tae-Kyung's mouth was hilarious (and totally gross), but I'm surprised everybody, well enough people, know that Mi-Nyeon is a girl already so I'm expecting something MAJOR within the next couple of eps.
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24 o-cha
October 10, 2009 at 4:22 PM
Nice recap javabeans!
I'm really enjoying this drama right now. It has a good mix of silliness and storytelling. Definitely a classic Hong sisters work...and that's a good thing. I also love the fact that the whole female pretending to be a male plot is out in the open so early in the drama....it makes it more exciting with anticipation on what the plot will be.
Gosh..Shi Woo....he is awesome. I'm excited about seeing a second lead that might actually make many people root for him to get the girl at the end.
But like you said Jang Geun Suk is doing an amazing job as Tae Kyung too.
And Park Shin Hye...ooh Park Shin Hye..how can one not love this girl? She is soooo adorable and loveable as Mi Nam/Nyeo.
Looking at the cast of this drama just makes me think of how good Boys Over Flowers could've been had they have the right cast.
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25 Kaishing
October 10, 2009 at 4:23 PM
thanks for the recaps!!! this just keeps getting better and better...wednesday come already!
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26 oblivia
October 10, 2009 at 4:23 PM
The Hong sisters will make right the disappointment of some of these recent dramas. I'm HOOKED! I especially appreciate the fact that we don't have to drag out the suspense of "will they find out?"
To be honest, I had a tough time getting myself to read your recap of Lady Castle's final episode--and that's never really happened (a credit to your awesome insights). But that's how much of a letdown that series was. Now, I'm super-psyched again! THANKS!
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27 Audrey
October 10, 2009 at 4:25 PM
I agree so very much about how awesome that we got past the finding-out cliche/surprise within the 2nd episode! Makes me more excited about the plot twists to come :)
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28 soysauce
October 10, 2009 at 4:26 PM
Did you ever finish Triple? I kinda forgot about that drama.
Anyway, thnx for the recaps :D
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29 Sophie
October 10, 2009 at 4:27 PM
OMG. I LOVE THIS DRAMA!!!!!
Specifically the writing: it's wonderful and witty. The transitions are also lovely. There have been a lot of dramas that went downhill due to bad writing... but not here! I feel it will only get better. =)
The only thing that I don't like is Jung-chan's wardrobe. The scarf/tie is unflattering, but I suppose that's part of his character.
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30 iciviuja
October 10, 2009 at 4:29 PM
nice review! I LOVE this drama more and more...! it's only two episodes for now but it's amazingly interesting. thanx for your review for at least i could get the idea of what i was watching (as i was watching it streamed live, so..). but you didn't include Jeremy in the bathroom, the one before Shinwoo puts towel on Minyeo's head. how I love his mug face, proudly walking naked in front of her.. ^^ that was really hilarious! and oh how i love Shinwoo's mannerism! Please God make me meet one guy like that someday! haha. ooh i can't wait for next episode to come this wednesday!
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31 Meru
October 10, 2009 at 4:44 PM
I'm having a bit of the Second Lead Crush Syndrome too. Shin Woo is just so appealing.
This episode was so hilarious. I don't think I have ever seen a nun coming out of a locker before. Cloud censoring was a first too.
The glow in the dark balls webcam scene is EPIC. I love how Mi Nyeo is so innocent she doesn't know that she only needs two balls. The whole webcam scene had dialogue like something out of a porn video.
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32 Dani
October 10, 2009 at 4:53 PM
What a great review and I completely agree 100%. I'm so glad they found out now instead of dragging it on for several more episodes!
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33 mily2
October 10, 2009 at 5:01 PM
thank you darling.. gosh.. I love love love this series sooo much.. everyone is so loveable and cute.. can't wait for the next episode.. hehe.. by the way.. can you shoot me an email? been trying to reach ya :)
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34 Aida
October 10, 2009 at 5:02 PM
((( THANKS JB!!!))) 200x
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35 langdon813
October 10, 2009 at 5:05 PM
My pause button is going to get a workout with this drama...some scenes are so laugh-out-loud hysterical that you just can't do anything else. The plus side to that is it helps the episode not fly by quite so fast!
Yes, the inevitable comparisons to Coffee Prince and Yoon Eun-hye will be made, but I'd argue that that's a huge compliment rather than something to be criticized. But in reality the stories and characters aren't even remotely similar, except that in each you have a woman passing herself off as a man. Period.
YEH did a fabulous job of portraying a tomboy who had suppressed her femininity for most of her life, so much so that she's naturally mistaken for a man by people who don't know her. It's just who she is, and only when presented with an opportunity to make some real money (and, let's face it, a chance to hang out with a really hot guy) did she ever willfully and intentionally pretend to be a man.
Mi-nyeo is so OBVIOUSLY a girl pretending to be a boy, and not doing it very well either; in fact, it's her femininity that makes her uniquely qualified to become the fourth member of the androgynous boy band A.N.JELL. Let's face it, we girls love us some pretty boys, do we not? Mi-nyeo is uncomfortable in this strange skin whereas Eun-chan was right at home.
This drama is so much smarter than it appeared to be at first glance; the humor is amazingly clever, the cast is absolute perfection, and it leaves you longing for more (MUCH more) at the end of every episode. What more could you ask for?
Lightening in a bottle, this one. Thanks for a fantastic recap, JB!
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36 YH
October 10, 2009 at 5:14 PM
i dont know.. on one hand i like how they found out her identity now - it's different, but on the other hand, i'm scared the drama might just burn out if they dump everything out now. maybe they shouldve dragged it on for one more episode; i hope they don't burn out early like Boys Before Flowers did!
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37 ahahah
October 10, 2009 at 5:15 PM
its the CEO with the english phrases. the manager is the guy that always follows minyeo. and ppl say that the CEO's character is inspired by TONY AN from the idol group H.O.T. who set up his own company named T.N. and also TONY AN is really into english too since he lived there for half his life.
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38 amydem
October 10, 2009 at 5:15 PM
You're absolutely right. I think the actor playing the Shin-woo character would have been a better Rui. Great catch on that!
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39 Sara
October 10, 2009 at 5:18 PM
love the second eps even more.....so many hillarious scene.....only 2nd episode and already liking both first and 2nd lead....thanks JB
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40 ColleenF-H
October 10, 2009 at 5:25 PM
In Hana Kimi they find out almost immediately that she's a girl but he doesn't confront her about it until it is almost over. Here I think it is really ineresting that JGS's character confronts her about the duplicity while the JYH's character is inclined to see what happens. It is going to be very entertaining to see where the Hong sisters are going to take us. I just can't believe how much I love this drama already. YAY!!! :)
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41 Vroom
October 10, 2009 at 5:31 PM
this show keeps getting better and better! I'm already hooked. The Sisters really make great dramas. I agree, I feel the cast was put together quite well. The CEO or whatever cracks me up with all the english he pops in his sentences. He looks quite goofy.
This wasn't on my radar when I first heard about it, but now it is!
This is so good. I hope it just doesn't get dragged out since two of the guys found out already..
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42 mie
October 10, 2009 at 5:40 PM
LOVE SHIN-WOO <3
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43 A.
October 10, 2009 at 5:42 PM
I can not possibly wait for the next episode. I haven't been this excited about a drama for a long while - I think it's because too many dramas these days have started out promising but end up being a huge disappointment. I really hope to god that the same does not happen to this.
I too was going to be like, OHMYGOD SHINWOO WHY ARE YOU SO COOL & NICE & GOOD-LOOKING & CUTE & JUST SO NICE?!??! AND SENSITIVE?!?! Yeah. Yeah. I too always root for the main male lead, but Shinwoo is really going to test that. He is just so... oh my goodness. I can't even find the words for it. Plus, it doesn't help that he is very good-looking to begin with. I am in for a conflicted ride with the males. LOL.
This drama is GREAT. One of the greatest for a LONG TIME. I love the Hong sisters for this. And all the other stuff they've got.
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44 dramafreak19
October 10, 2009 at 5:48 PM
Oh god, that web camera part had me laughing till I cried. It was SO FUNNY! She was using glow-in-the-dark balls!!!! LOL!!!!!!!!
There was also SO much fan service in this episode (which is something I would NEVER complain about!), it was SOO much fun to watch!
Can't wait till next week!!
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45 mee
October 10, 2009 at 5:49 PM
Slight correction to your otherwise excellent recap:
Mi-nyeo snaps out of her reverie in the locker room when barely-clad Jeremy confronts her. Mi-nyeo is flustered and paralyzed. Shin-woo rescues her by covering her eyes with a towel and guiding her out of the locker room.
This does change the perception of Shin-woo a bit compared to your original recap, making him much more gentle and perceptive, I think.
I'm wondering if Mi-nyeo and Tae-kyung might be half-siblings. The woman in episode 1 noticing Mi-nam on TV was Mo Hwa-ran, no?
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46 Sonam
October 10, 2009 at 5:51 PM
The lead girl is so likable. I am so relieved. Since Jandi I have become a worrywart.
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47 tarayqen
October 10, 2009 at 5:52 PM
this show is just fun fun fun to watch.... anime with korean actors in it... hehehehehe.... anybody wishing its next week already...... by the way how did they do with the rating?
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48 Protocol Snow
October 10, 2009 at 5:52 PM
Sounds very promising! Hope there's subs soon :)
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49 etsy
October 10, 2009 at 6:01 PM
i LOVE SHIN WOO. i also have the tendency to root for the second male lead which always leads to major angst for me. i'm really excited about this series; the hong sisters are definitely able to take a fresh approach on things, and the conflict is interesting. even after mi nam is found out and everyone accepts her (which is usually what happens), she's still going to have to struggle with having a relationship, because her original plan was to be a nun.
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50 thankyou
October 10, 2009 at 6:05 PM
"I was thinking we’d get another Coffee Prince with conflicted emotions and attractions and ten episodes of anticipation, but Tae-kyung finds out the truth now?? THIS IS FANTASTIC. "
My sentiments exactly. I was thinking "here is another coffee prince story line, but i'll endure as long as the hillarity continues". Boy was I happy to know that TK found out. I think it will be alot more fun to have the two leads fall in love knowing each other's identity. Meanwhile, to the rest of the world, this would be a gay couple. Oh I can not wait for the fan club leader to find out that the two are having a cozy relationship and still think MN is a guy.
As for JGS's acting, he has grown so much after beethoven virus. I daresay another great actor has rubbed off on him.
I"m also rooting for a MN-TK, but as you said, SW is sooo wonderful. I love him as much as I loved the second lead in coffee prince. You feel good knowing that he likes MN. I'll go one step further and say that it actually feels good to know that someone like him would like you.
What I love is stark contrast between TK and SW, not just physical but mental and emotional. TK knows that SW is the more self actualized of the two. Perhaps even superior in certain aspects. I'm looking forward to the elements of jeolousy creeping in when MN gets noticed by SW.
This drama has certainly been a breath of fresh air after so many disappointments this year. If anything, I've had a fun two episodes and regardless of what happens down the road, at least I had two hours of laughter and pure enjoyment. And an hour of reading your wonderful recaps. It is such a joy to know that you are having just as much fun as I and many readers are watching this drama. I bet it makes for an easier effort recapping something so good as this.
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