Personal Taste: Episode 16 (Final)
by girlfriday
Dear Show,
I really, really wanted to love this finale. So much. But sadly, you ended up being all foreplay, no finish. It was sweet, and fun while it lasted, but I’m not going to call you in the morning. I want to say “It’s not you, it’s me”…but I can’t. ‘Cause it was you. Sigh. We had a flawed beginning, to be sure, but the honeymoon stage was so good, that I overlooked the things you were lacking. Because love is blind. But in the end you couldn’t satisfy me, and you and I both know I have too much self-respect to fake it. So fare thee well, dear Show. And in case you’re going to try and beg for me to reconsider, I’ve written you this letter so you know the reasons why I’m breaking up with you…
FINAL EPISODE RECAP
We pick up after Jin-ho’s been bitch-slapped by the good professor. Very manly, followed by an even manlier scream. Jin-ho retaliates by telling Kae-in’s daddy outright that his flawed design for Sang-go-jae is the reason it all went south, and worse yet, Kae-in is bearing the brunt of his mistakes as a father. Whoa. You’re probably going to regret that later. [Also, where does all that courage go in, like, two minutes? Did you use it all up here and forget to restock? –javabeans]
Kae-in stops him: “What are you? What are you to me?” He shouts at her, asking how long she’s going to live put down by her father, and as a sinner who killed her mother. Yes, thank you for pointing out her issues, but that’s no way to HELP her deal with them, buddy. She asks again who he is to her, to say those things. That stops him right in his tracks, since he’s the one so dead-set on being the noble bad guy. Idiot. Being noble’s for losers.
She tells him to go, saying she doesn’t want to see his face again. Daddy reiterates the sentiment, and Jin-ho is left alone in the courtyard. He looks sad, but all I can say is: You Did It To Yourself. The final episode is entitled: “Today’s Weather Forecast.” (Kae-in’s previous diary entries were all weather-centric—in Korean the word for “diary” and “weather” are the same, and as a story device they can be seen as both.)
A few days later, Young-sun and Ascot come by (That’s right. Still not calling you by name.) to help Kae-in put the finishing touches on the children’s playroom. They try to suggest she ask for Jin-ho’s help, but she ignores them. Later she comes upon a private conversation, where Ascot relays how dire the situation is at their firm. Young-sun is surprised to know how serious it is, and they both wonder why on earth Jin-ho is being so stubborn when he clearly misses Kae-in and is depressed about the breakup.
Later that night Kae-in falls asleep while working, and Jin-ho comes by to be wistful and sad in her vicinity, but do nothing. Well, he covers her with a sweater, looks at her regretfully, and then leaves. [Funny how “being noble” basically equals passivity in our kdrama heroes, huh? Talk about succumbing to your “destiny” and letting Fate tromp all over your heart like a tap dancer wearing golf cleats. –javabeans]
Here’s what I find so troubling about this very clichéd plot device of the forced separation. Normally I’m okay with it, because it’s a necessary evil. I get that. But in this story, with these characters, it rings false. Why? Because at every other stage in the relationship, they have steadily chosen each other, over everything else. I don’t even think that Kae-in believes that Jin-ho was using her or doesn’t love her. Not for a second. So that leaves Jin-ho, who is choosing not to forgive himself, all of a sudden, for being caught in the lie. Let’s be real. If it was the lie, and not the being-caught-red-handed part, he’d have done this angsty pouty thing weeks ago!
She wakes up to find Chang-ryul there, and asks if he put the sweater on her. He didn’t, but insists on driving her home. Jin-ho, now officially a card-carrying member of Stalkers Anonymous, watches as Kae-in leaves in Chang-ryul’s car. [I find this particularly problematic because this makes Jin-ho into a coward. He loves her, everyone knows he loves her, and he can’t stay away… but then he just lurks like a Peeping Tom needing his next fix. Just keep him away from trench coats and schoolchildren… –jb]
Do-bin asks Professor Park to look over one of the design entries. The professor smiles as he looks it over, then asks whose design it is. It’s Jin-ho’s, of course, which makes the professor not so happy anymore. Meanwhile, Scarface Han meets with MS Group President Choi (Do-bin’s daddy, as you’ll recall), and he announces that Jin-ho’s company is in such dire straits financially that he shouldn’t be allowed to go further in the competition.
Do-bin and the professor overhear this as they wait for President Choi, and when the professor asks what Do-bin wants in regards to showing him Jin-ho’s designs, Do-bin replies that he simply wants the professor to judge him fairly, equal to the other contestants. He adds that if Jin-ho had intended to rip off Sang-go-jae, he wouldn’t have submitted a design like that, and that he never gave the professor any excuses for his actions, even while preparing a new design. While some people would find that noble, personally I think it’s idiotic. Why not explain yourself? [Kdrama Hero Nobility Clause, Article 1.a, I’m guessing –jb] Anyway, Do-bin’s sincere plea gives the professor pause to think.
Jin-ho and Ascot are running out of options as they get turned down for loans from bank after bank. Ascot suggests swallowing their pride and borrowing from Tae-hoon’s dad, but Jin-ho doesn’t seem too keen on the idea. [Because pride > desperation. I think that’s Kdrama Hero Nobility Clause, Article 1.b. –jb] He gets a call from Do-bin, and meets him at the bank. Do-bin offers a loan/investment, which Jin-ho refuses, of course. But Do-bin tells him that without it he won’t get to participate in the final round, since he passed the first round of judging. He convinces him to take the money and not let him down, and Jin-ho finds himself even more indebted to Do-bin.
Do-bin non-sequiturs an offer for Jin-ho to stay at his country villa (convenient plot device), then makes the classic mistake of telling In-hee about it. Really? Are you new? [I mean, I’m sure she came with a tracking device and locator software anyway, but there’s no reason to just hand over the info. Let the robot earn her narrative keep, I say! –jb]
Kae-in’s playroom project is finally complete and it’s time for opening day. Do-bin, Ascot, and even In-hee congratulate her on a job well done. Dad shows up, flowers in hand. They have their first heart-to-heart in well, EVER. Dad realizes that’s he’s been selfish all this time, never considering her feelings over his own. You’re just realizing this now? I know you’re not exactly father of the year, but wowzers, you take indifference to a whole new level.
Kae-in says she understands, since he loved Mom very much. Dad turns to her and says, “I loved you as much as I loved your mother.” [Anyone else find this comment wildly hysterical? That monstrous snort of incredulity sure cleared up my sinuses. –jb] He says that he destroyed the pictures and boarded up the basement so that she wouldn’t remember (yeah, that works so well, usually), and that he got angry at her for taking on her mother’s profession, hurting her hands the same way her mother used to. That implies you had some semblance of a relationship with the adult Kae-in, which has pretty much been proven false up till now, so I think that’s baloney, Dad, but whatever.
She calls him, “Father,” and he takes her hand, musing that her hand used to be so small and it’s gotten so big now. See, that jives better with the absentee father seeking for redemption. Yes, you missed that whole middle where she went from a little girl to a woman. He says, full of meaning, “You’ve worked hard.” It’s as high a sentiment of praise you’re ever going to get from a Korean dad, to whom hard work is tantamount to being a good human being. Kae-in, tears in her eyes, calls him “Appa (Daddy),” and hugs him.
From afar, Jin-ho watches as Kae-in finally reconciles with her father. And honestly, if the father had been introduced earlier in the series or had more depth as a character, I’d probably care a lot more. I know it’s been an important feature of Kae-in’s character to be acknowledged by her father from day one, but because it’s always been a one-way street until the last episode, I’m not as moved as I would like to be. He still has yet to be redeemed from his absenteeism, in my book.
When they get up, Kae-in sees Jin-ho walking away, so she runs after him, calling his phone. She catches up and sees him ignore her call, so she asks why he keeps circling around her and hiding. Good question. Perhaps he’s skipped ahead to the part where you get a restraining order and he has to stay at a certain distance. [And… uh-oh… is that a trench coat he’s sporting? –jb] He denies the accusation, but she knows he did the sweater thing. (Was that really so big a gesture it’s being cited here?)
She calls him a liar, who’s done nothing but lie since the moment he stepped into her life. Can’t argue there. He says as much, agreeing that she’s right: “It’s all a lie. So the fact that I’m here right now…consider that a lie too.” Are you getting metaphysical on us? ‘Cause I’m pretty sure you’re standing right there. [It’s a little late for Cartesian philosophy, no? –jb] Or maybe you’re the Ghost of Jin-ho? That would make a lot more sense, actually, since you are nothing like the Jin-ho of episodes past.
He says that things will be easier if they don’t run into each other anymore. That is NEVER true—don’t you watch tv? He says he’ll go pack up his stuff while she’s here, and then they won’t have cause to see each other anymore. Kae-in just watches him go, instead of tearing him a new one for being a giant asshat.
He returns to Sang-go-jae to pack, and takes a peek inside Kae-in’s workroom. The one thing that makes him nostalgic? The chainsaw! Aw, I love their chainsaw memories! I’m glad it made a comeback in the finale, as it was my favorite Object of Meaning between them. Wouldn’t it be funny if this drama, instead of a necklace or a doll, tried to market the chainsaw as Personal Taste memorabilia? That would totally trump some moon-shaped necklace. He spends some quality time with Jin-ho the lion doll, then walks out of Sang-go-jae with heavy steps and tear-filled eyes.
Do-bin congratulates Kae-in on a job well done, and offers one last bit of help—he tells her that Jin-ho is staying at his villa. Kae-in says it doesn’t matter since they broke up, prompting Do-bin to say he’s disappointed in her, since the only reason he gave up Jin-ho so easily was because Kae-in was the one who loved him. Um, wouldn’t Not Gay be, like a little more important than that reason? Okay, to each his own. I won’t tell you not to love Lee Min-ho from afar, as that’s pretty much what most lay people do to get by, gay or straight. [Although, come to think of it, I’d kinda love to see Do-bin pull an In-hee and get all clingy. And then compete with In-hee for the attention of an uninterested Jin-ho. Lulz all around! –jb]
Kae-in and her dad eat apples at home, and while Dad eats them the Korean way (peeled and sliced [courtesy of the woman of the house, natch! –jb]), Kae-in cuts hers down the middle and takes a bite. Dad notes she always ate her apples that way (Really? How come we’re only seeing that now, Show?), and Kae-in says they taste better that way. He asks for the other half, putting down his own boring slice, and gets ready to take a bite…
And then it dawns on him, as he stares at the half apple in his hand. Jin-ho’s Dahm design…that’s why it felt familiar…it was this, half an apple, sliced just like this. Kae-in stares at him, wide-eyed. “Jin-ho’s design concept…wasn’t Sang-go-jae? It was an apple?”
We get flashes of Kae-in presenting Jin-ho with his apology apple, and his new concept based on her gift. Okay, I’ll give you this one, Show. The apple thing is cute. You’re depriving me of my victory lap with “Eye of the Tiger,” which is just a shame for everyone involved, but the apple design is clever and cute, without being saccharine. It’s also a surprise, since who would ever design a building after fruit?
Needless to say, this is The Thing that jolts Kae-in out of her seat and into a cab. She calls Do-bin for the villa address, and heads over, ready to forgive. Go get your man! Even though he should be the one begging you to take him back! But whatever, I’m tired of the noble angst!
Jin-ho stands by the lake in the pouring rain. Are we really going to use EVERY cliché in the book? Don’t answer that. We’re barely halfway through. [Actually, I think we’ve run out and have circled back for a second pass on most of these cliches. –jb] An umbrella shows up behind him, and when he turns around he’s surprised to see In-hee. We’re not.
Inside, Jin-ho is running a fever, which In-hee tries to use as an excuse to stick around, but Jin-ho’s always been consistent when it comes to her—he’s NOT interested, ya hear? He pushes her hand away, saying he’ll go sleep in the car then, if she insists on staying. She looks for medicine, but he tells her it’s not that kind of sickness…it’s heartbreak. And I’m fairly certain that even YOU know that it’s not about you, dear queen of the undead.
But she’s not asking for his heart right away. She’s good with clinging to him even if it’s unwelcome, and she hopes that his annoyance will turn into…some reluctant love/hate. Dude, are you unfamiliar, with like, the meaning of words? How many ways can a man tell you he’s not interested? You used to be hateful but now you’re just really pathetic, and I really didn’t want to end up pitying you. It’s much more fun if you stay heartless.
In-hee finally decides to leave, and Kae-in walks up to the house just as In-hee comes out. She tries to posture that she has a right to take Kae-in’s place, but Kae-in shuts her down cold: “There’s no space for you between Jin-ho and me.” NICE. Hello, Spine. Where have you been? In-hee launches into the heart of the matter…
In-hee: “I absolutely despise you. I hated your nicey nice act from the start. Tell me the truth…you acted like my friend because you felt sorry for me; that’s why you took me in.”
Kae-in: “You were family to me. And I was to you.”
In-hee: “No. I was living off of you, so I pretended to be like family.”
Kae-in: “Every time I got in trouble with Dad, you were there for me. You turned over every trashcan in the house looking for a picture of my mother. That was you.”
In-hee: “It was unbearable pretending to be your family.”
Kae-in: “Don’t lie.”
In-hee: “I’m not lying. I hate you. I hate you to death. I can never have anything. Even if I want it to death, I can never have it. But why do you…get to have everything?”
Kae-in: “I never tried to take anything. You’re really stupid. You’re the only one who doesn’t know…how much you have.”
I know deep down In-hee’s a damaged girl with parental issues and really, really, really low self-esteem. But would it be too much to ask to just let me go on hating her, and her continuing to be a psychotic evil-bot? That would be way more satisfying. That said, the actress is knocking it out of the park, with her hateful words belying an undercurrent of injured pride and weakness.
Kae-in searches for Jin-ho inside, but he’s nowhere to be found. She comes back outside and In-hee is still standing there, perhaps stunned by Kae-in’s unfailing trust that she indeed has a soul… somewhere…deep, deep, way deep down. She tells her that Jin-ho is sick: “Even though I’m right in front of him, he doesn’t see me. He can’t see anything else, and he’s hurting a lot…your Jin-ho-sshi.” Thankfully this is as heartwarming a moment as these two will get. No big reconciliation. This is just her concession that Kae-in has won, and perhaps she never had a place here after all. Epically slow on the uptake, that girl.
Kae-in runs out to the car to get Jin-ho, and sits by his bedside as he stirs awake. Like the giant idiot he is, he turns her away, insisting that he’s fine. This is ridiculous. Now you’re just feeling sorry for yourself. Kae-in says she’s not going to live here; she just wants to make sure he’s okay. But he tells her to leave, unable to bear his guilt and her closeness. She gives up, and stands to go…and Jin-ho grabs her arm. “Don’t go.” Ha. Go! Don’t go! Make up your friggin mind!
Kae-in tells him to let go. Oh not you too! But this time he’s not letting go. He pulls her down onto the bed and hugs her from behind, but it’s totally awkward and passionless. Weird. I think it just feels really staged to me, like the director posed them rather than let them do what people would actually do in that circumstance. [On the upside — how hot is Lee Min-ho in this frame? –jb]
Jin-ho tells her again not to go. Kae-in: “I’m just going to trust you. Even if I get used a hundred, a thousand times, I’m just going to trust you. Even if it’s foolish. That’s the advantage of being Park Kae-in. Even if you use me again, even if I’m sad again, I’m just going to trust you. Because I can’t say goodbye like this.”
The performances in that moment are really quite touching, even Jin-ho’s silent reaction to Kae-in’s monumental forgiveness.
He turns her around for some kissing, of the hot but slow variety. He starts to undress her, but she has a momentary freakout, stopping him. He holds back, letting her make the next move. (Yay.) She gathers her courage, and takes his hand, placing it over her heart.
They make out, (Rawr!) and then the lights go out. (Double Rawr!)
Yes, that was pretty hot, although it would’ve been much hotter if it wasn’t paced so damn slowly. And even if this is being inordinately picky, I really wanted their first time to be in keeping with the tone of the rest of the series. Is it too much to ask for sexy fun times, with meaning, but without the heaviness? [Like with a comic bloody nose or some hilarious flailing of limbs? That would’ve been awesome, as Kim Sam-soon showed us. –jb] I think the heavy sapped some of the fire out of the moment, because to me, it felt like they were making out on a different show. There was so much cute sexual tension built up, and you could’ve capitalized on that, instead of making it all about the break-up/make-up. Not that I’m complaining about any lack of chemistry here. But the way in which it was written into this point in the story, leaves something to be desired.
In the morning they’re back to being their cute selves. You mean if they had slept together sooner, we could’ve been spared the Ghost of Jin-ho in the last two episodes? That just makes me angrier.
Needless to say, when they’re cute, they’re CUTE.
He brings her coffee. Sex AND coffee? Okay, I might be coming back around in the eleventh hour.
Jin-ho tells her he has a wish—to take a time machine ride back to meet five-year old Kae-in, and tell her: “It was just an accident. It’s not your fault. And don’t think that stupid thought of hating yourself.” She tells him she doesn’t need a time machine; she’s got Jin-ho telling her these things now, and that’s enough. Back before you became a noble idiot, I did love that your most fervent wish for Kae-in was always to love herself and think more of who she is and what she’s worth.
They stand outside Sang-go-jae, Kae-in wanting to tell her father everything, while Jin-ho says it isn’t time yet. But Dad comes right up behind them holding hands, so oops…I guess now’s the time after all. Dad sits them down and asks for a proper explanation. Did Jin-ho steal the Sang-go-jae blueprints? Yes, he answers, since his employee did it, it’s the same as doing it himself. What, now? Must you insist on touting your misplaced honor till the very last moment?
Dad softens at the truth that Jin-ho may have come to Sang-go-jae to learn its secrets, but ended up doing his own design in order to become an upright man in Kae-in’s eyes. She smiles to hear him say so. Dad congratulates him on passing the first round of judging, which is news to Kae-in. She and Jin-ho have a couple moment in front of Dad, bickering about why he doesn’t tell her things. She whispers a cute little, “I hate you,” making Dad uncomfortable with their level of closeness. [Okay, that grumpy “I hate you” totally won me over. It’s that kind of adorableness that I’ve been missing! –jb]
He asks Jin-ho, “What do you like about my daughter?” That’s cute, but oddly inconsistent with his character. Why on earth did we have to go through all the histrionics, if you were just going to end up being a big ol softy and asking questions like that? Jin-ho replies that he’s never thought of specific reasons…he just followed his heart and ended up here. You’re leaving out the detour where you followed your noble intentions and subjected us to torture. Don’t think I’ve already forgotten because you’re back to being cute!
Dad asks sternly, “Are you prepared?” Prepared for what? “To drink all night with me?” Aw, dads and alcohol. Korean rituals are sometimes sweet. My dad has had his elaborate drink-interrogation planned for my future so-and-so since I was like, five. [Which totally sounds way more fun than the teetotaling version in my family. See, I think liquor has a way of bringing out more hidden aspects of your personality that you wouldn’t get in a stiff, trying-to-impress-you conversation, so it’s actually got a helpful purpose, and I’m totally not just fumbling for an excuse to justify the drinky, for reals. –jb] Kae-in says Jin-ho can’t because he has to work, prompting Dad to whine that she’s already taking sides. Jin-ho springs right up to go buy some liquor, making Dad break into a smile.
Now that one parent is out of the way, we have to deal with the other. Are we really going to just go down the checklist like this, with no sense of momentum? I guess we are.
Jin-ho’s mom has softened a little now too, since Kae-in is no longer the one indirectly causing Jin-ho’s financial troubles. That’s a superficial reason if there ever was one. What happened to “over my dead body”? Mom still doesn’t like her very much, but Kae-in tells her how envious she was of Jin-ho’s close relationship with his mother, being the kind she had always wished she could have with her own…if she hadn’t died. That’s enough to melt Jin-ho’s mom right then and there. Kae-in says she hopes to be close to her like Jin-ho is, and then Mom invites her over for dinner.
It’s time for the Dahm design competition to pick a winner. Jin-ho and Chang-ryul are the last two standing, of course, Chang-ryul having gone with a han-ok fusion style a la Sang-go-jae. And the winner is…Jin-ho, of course. Not that the outcome was anything but predictable, but they really missed an opportunity to build some tension here. Couldn’t you have borrowed a scene from a workplace drama to make it a nail-biter of a victory? [Nope. No time. Finale’s on a tight schedule here! More loose ends to wrap up. Outta my way, narrative flow and pacing. –jb]
Chang-ryul comes out first, and tells Kae-in that he wanted to fight fairly this time, and lose fairly too, if it came to that. He puts out his hand, saying that it’s a congratulatory handshake, so it’s okay to take. He tells her that Jin-ho won cleanly this time, and Kae-in breaks into a smile. She catches herself and stops, but Chang-ryul says it’s okay to be happy. He says he’s really letting go for good this time, since before he must not have meant it, wanting to believe so badly that Jin-ho was the bad guy.
Jin-ho sees Chang-ryul walk away, and for the first time he’s not in a snit about Kae-in speaking to Chang-ryul. She congratulates him. He thanks her, saying, “You know, right? This project is my apology (apple pun) for all the times I made you cry.” She accepts. I like that the apology apple is given, and then returned, in different forms and on vastly different scales, since Jin-ho’s apology needs to be way bigger than hers.
The crew celebrates their victory with friends and drink, leading to Jin-ho having to carry Kae-in home in his arms. Dad’s been waiting up, and when they arrive, he’s quick to insist that Jin-ho hand Kae-in over to him. Jin-ho’s like, uh…I can handle it…but Dad insists, so he passes her over, which of course breaks Dad’s back. Heh. Dad has to concede and let Jin-ho take her into her room. It’s a sweet way to signify she’s too big for her father’s arms and now it’s Jin-ho’s place to carry her. But it would have had more meaning if Dad were actually one who had been around, and legitimately the carrier of the torch that he’s passing on to Jin-ho. Personally, I think that torch belongs to Young-sun, or Kae-in herself, but whatever.
Jin-ho tucks her into bed ever so sweetly. Dad watches, and asks to have a word with Jin-ho. He says that he’s grateful, and tells him the story behind Sang-go-jae. Thirty years ago, he had been given the Dahm project, and so built Sang-go-jae as a trial, a piece of that larger scale building he had in mind. His wife wanted to be able to watch Kae-in while working, and he wanted a home where his family was always together. (Which still pretty much confirms my theory…maybe I’ll do half a victory lap…)
He says that it was all for naught though, because of his mistake. He admits that maybe that’s why he couldn’t face Kae-in (Finally! Some truth!) He asks Jin-ho to take care of Kae-in, and heads back to the land of absentee fathers, from whence he came. I thought we just established that your daughter was perfectly capable of taking care of herself. But I suppose this is your way of approving of Jin-ho. He even throws in a threat for good measure. Seriously, was it absolutely necessary to bring this guy in for two episodes, just to muck things up in predictable and not even very dramatic ways, only to have him leave again? Gah. Cheerio, old chap! Don’t let the door-that-doesn’t-lock hit you on the way out!
Jin-ho says he’ll guard Kae-in well, and with that, we get a happy couple montage. They buy couple tees (A custom I find strange and off-putting, but I guess that’s what they’re designed to do—put off people who aren’t in your couple.) and go for a tandem bike ride. (Okay, the bike ride looks like a good time.) Kae-in sits on a park bench, and kids come running up to her, one, two, then a whole gaggle of them, each handing her a colorful balloon. If this is going where I think it is, it’s pretty darn adorable, as far as these things go. Jin-ho shows up with the last balloon, saying: “I’m proposing right now.” Um…that’s like saying you’re going to apologize, and then not actually doing it.
Kae-in is so surprised that she lets go of all the balloons, the last of which holds her engagement ring. Cut to Kae-in on Jin-ho’s shoulders, as they argue back and forth about the merits of proposing this way, while trying to retrieve the ring. Aw, cute! See, this is what I love about these two—they’re the cutest when the sweetness is undercut by bumbling comedy and banter. Oh how I’ve missed you! But it’s too late, Show. This last ditch effort just reminds me of the good times, and how long it’s been since we’ve had them.
Jin-ho goes to meet Do-bin, where the latter congratulates him on the engagement. Jin-ho thanks him for all his help. Short of naming your firstborn after him, I’m not sure there’s a way to thank this guy for saving your ass a thousand and one times. Do-bin is sad that if he and Kae-in get married he’ll be lonely with no one to hang out with. Aw, sad. Jin-ho assures him they’ll visit. What are they, moving to the moon? They’re just getting married. It is sad, though, that this does seal the deal in excluding Do-bin from his peripheral position in the love-pentagon.
Do-bin says that he learned a lot from Jin-ho and Kae-in—they inspired him to live his life courageously. What a compliment. They wish each other well and Jin-ho leaves. Do-bin stands in front of the Kandinsky, tears welling in his eyes for just a brief moment. You break my freezer-burned heart, Do-bin. You are the best kind of human being. I will miss your awkward sense of humor and bad jokes, and your sad hopeful eyes. [I receive a teeeeeny bit of consolation in the thought that at least Do-bin is less lonely now than he was before meeting these two, even if he had to suffer a disappointed love in the process. And if he’s saying he’s going to be “courageous,” that suggests he’ll put himself out there in looking for love, rather than consign himself to eternal celibacy, which is a hopeful thought. –jb]
Jin-ho then goes down the checklist to meet with Chang-ryul. That pink jacket…it’s so crazy, it’s awesome. Chang-ryul is getting ready to go to China, of his own volition and not because he’s being exiled. He thanks Jin-ho for giving the building contract to his company. Well, that makes sense since Jin-ho wouldn’t have the funds to actually construct the giant apple himself, what with all the debt. They essentially bury the hatchet [and thankfully not in each other’s backs –jb], which is nice since they had the potential to be friends, even amidst the Kae-in drama.
We then catch up with Ascot and Young-sun, who is pregnant with her second. We get a fakeout, presenting them like a couple, but then Young-sun’s husband finally makes an appearance. Ha! He’s this giant thug guy, who gets all jealous of her friendship with Ascot. I like that they didn’t go there with Young-sun, pairing the friends at the end…it would’ve been too predictable, and I much prefer the dynamic this way. Her husband being that giant goon makes it even funnier. Apparently they’re carrying on the gay lie with her husband, and really, shouldn’t the series have ended with an Ascot/Do-bin pairing? I would totally take you back if you did that. [Except that he totally doesn’t deserve Do-bin, gay or no gay. –jb]
Alas, that’s not where we’re going, as Ascot goes on a blind date, only to run into In-hee, who’s also on a blind date. Aw, really? In-hee? Seriously, Show? See, this is why we can’t even be friends after. Because you’re doing stuff like this. It’s unnecessary, and embarrassing. You should just quit while you’re ahead. But no, they end up getting a drink together, and decide drunkenly to date each other. [Which is like finding two loose threads and deciding to tie them together, not caring that one is a silk thread from a designer bag and the other is poking out from the shag carpet. They totally have no business being linked together, but hey! No more loose string ends! –jb]
After wasting all that precious finale time on peripheral characters, we finally get back to our couple, sitting at home in Sang-go-jae, looking out at the night sky. Kae-in tells Jin-ho that her mom named Sang-go-jae, to mean a place where they looked after and loved one another. “Let’s live here happily for a long, long time.” Jin-ho says of course they will.
We end with each of their weather forecasts. Kae-in: “It’s not always going to be a life of clear skies. But even if I encounter darkness, if I go with this man I can muster the courage to walk through.” Jin-ho: “I ran without stopping, but I was always a child running in circles. But I met this woman, and learned that stopping to breathe…could take me farther than I ever knew.”
The End.
So there you have it, Show. We had some good times, some really steamy chemistry, and some fantastic characters. But in the end you sabotaged yourself and I couldn’t rationalize my love for you anymore. My friends were worried I was settling, and threatened an intervention. When I think about why I loved you in the first place, it amounts to the parts rather than the whole…and your POTENTIAL. It almost kills me how much potential you had, still have, and never tapped into. You had all the components to be amazing, but you never really figured out how to put them together properly. Perhaps it’s my fault for setting my expectations too high. Or maybe we were just never meant to be. That’s okay. Don’t cry. You’ll hate yourself for it in the morning. Thanks for the kisses, and The Cute.
Love,
girlfriday
JAVABEANS’ COMMENTS
This drama made me feel like Kae-in, who after being burned by many a subpar drama that initially looked great, decided to take the leap of faith and dive in again, only to find myself woefully deceived by a hottie with a sincere gaze and adoring smile. But Sohn Ye-jin and Lee Min-ho were so wonderful and happy together that for a stretch there in the middle (say, episodes 6 through 13), things looked sunny. For those episodes alone, the drama was worth watching — or at least, I still harbor fond memories even despite all the rough patches in there. Her heartfelt acting and vulnerability made Kae-in someone to root for, and his portrayal of Jin-ho’s conflicted conscience and doting love made Jin-ho positively dreamy. (Let’s exclude the last episode from this, which I am rewriting and re-editing in my mind as I type.)
Sure, the spotty later episodes can somewhat be blamed on the will-they-or-won’t-they dilemma of whether to extend the series or not, plus the MBC strike that hindered the production process. But even so, that doesn’t excuse the last two episodes, which were more of a letdown than I was bracing myself for. Oh, I knew way ahead of time that this drama would never be the drama I wished it could be — which, based on its cast and material, was not an unreasonable hope, in my humble opinion — so I wasn’t crushed by the weak resolution and denouement. But I, like the ever-optimistic Kae-in, was always hoping for better anyway.
Too bad it didn’t materialize, but at the end of the day, Personal Taste doesn’t shake my faith in dramas. I may get burned again and again but I’d rather keep my faith, even if that makes me silly and gullible, because I still believe in True Love, Kdrama-Style. We’ll just call this one a brief fling that ended with an amicable split, and move on to better things.
RELATED POSTS
- Personal Taste: Episode 15
- Personal Taste: Episode 14
- Personal Taste: Episode 13
- Personal Taste: Episode 12
- Personal Taste: Episode 11
- Personal Taste: Episode 10
- Personal Taste: Episode 9
- Personal Taste: Episode 8
- Personal Taste: Episode 7
- Personal Taste: Episode 6
- Personal Taste: Episode 5
- Personal Taste: Episode 4
- Personal Taste: Episode 3
- Personal Taste: Episode 2
- Personal Taste: Episode 1
- Cinderella, Prosecutor, Taste: First episode impressions
- Personal Taste (the novel): Part 3
- Personal Taste (the novel): Part 2
- Personal Taste (the novel): Part 1
Tags: Kim Ji-suk, Lee Min-ho, Personal Taste, Ryu Seung-ryong, Sohn Ye-jin, Wang Ji-hye
Required fields are marked *
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
101 butterfly
May 25, 2010 at 1:41 AM
I want to show my appreciation to all the characters in PT that I love so much.
Thank you to SY and the guy who must not be named for giving me fun and laughter while watching them. For showing me the meaning of being true friends especially SY.
Thank you to IH for showing me that being evil makes you ugly even you are beautiful in the outside. And for showing me how pathetic I can be if you don't know how to accept your defeat.
Thank you to KI for having a good and pure heart, for being humble and does not hold grudge to anyone even they wronged her (that is God want us to be). For believing in love even in difficult times.
Thank you to JH for making me feel again how great is being inlove, how his sweet smile can complete my day. He is an extraordinary man who does not succumb to the flirting of IH (few male species are like that) who stand for his love with KI.
Of course, I would like to say my thank you to Javabeans and Girlfriday for their wonderful recap eventhough I don't agree with some of your opinion but still you make my watching of PT complete.
And thank you also, my co-Korean drama lovers by posting your opinions in every episodes. I really enjoyed reading them. Until the next drama of LMH we will see each other aliases here.
I will totally miss this show! hu! hu! hu! hu!
I am even ready to watch Grace's requested of 187 episodes.
Required fields are marked *
102 minhogirl
May 25, 2010 at 2:06 AM
@86...
Yeah...it's just a drama...nothing in reality or based on true story...so just give it a break...just watch it for fun and don't think about it seriously..HAVE FUN !!
Required fields are marked *
103 Porcelain
May 25, 2010 at 2:24 AM
Now that the drama has ended... and I felt as though I watch it even though I was just reading the recaps...
I was thinking if I were to watch it, despite how the story kinda fumbled in the mid-stretch... seriously it would be to see a post BOF Lee Min Ho and seriously Sohn Ye Jin whom doesnt fail these past few years... Early part of her career she was focused being the sickly and the dying... but I like the spunky roles she took up later and this... So I cannot miss the cute!
Great recap Javabean and girlfriday!!!
Required fields are marked *
104 artpogi 48
May 25, 2010 at 2:31 AM
am such a lee min ho fanatic ---- willing to gloss over the flaws in the story. such chemistry on the screen.... my heart palpitates whenever they kiss.... when is the next lee min ho project?
Required fields are marked *
105 personal taste
May 25, 2010 at 2:37 AM
I totally agree with you that this show did not deliver a storyline up to our expectations. It totally could have been better. In the end, I found Prosecutor Princess more appealing than Personal Taste and Cinderella's sister in comparison overall.
Required fields are marked *
106 grace, the one from Jersey, USA
May 25, 2010 at 2:39 AM
#101 ~ butterfly ~
I was reading your comment ( above ) and thinking how much
I agreed with you. Whoever the casting director was for "Personal
Taste" certainly did a great job, beginning with the early episode
appearance of the furniture salesman, Gu Jun-pyo. Right? :)
Although I had hoped that the sleazy guy who stole Kae-in's money
would have showed up and somehow paid her back.
But yeah......the two stars of PT, their friends, their enemies, they ALL
made a contribution ~ different ingredients made for delicious soup. :)
I didn't discover this web site until after "Boys Over Flowers" was already
finished being broadcast. But I've been adding my 2 cents to the "Rant
and/or Rave" comment section non-stop ever since then. And like you,
I've come to recognize the names ~~~ of friends I've never met.
Your last sentence made me really laugh out loud. I guess that now I'm:
~ grace, the one from Jersey, USA, who wanted 187 extra episodes for
"Personal Taste" ~ Does that make me famous? Or crazy? Or both? :)
I just though that with this gentle story of two people finding each other,
we could all share ( with Kae-in and Jin-ho ) in a little extra sweetness
and love in our lives.
butterfly ~ take care, my friend ~
*
Required fields are marked *
107 hopeless romantic
May 25, 2010 at 2:41 AM
@76 Show a.k.a. Maria, you're so funny!
Thank you so much for the recaps girlfriday and jb. I enjoyed it a lot and agree with all your comments. Your recaps are fun to read! I hope someday you will write a "perfect" rom-com Kdrama. Yes, the last 2 episodes were a disappointment....could have been written and directed better but in the end, I still enjoyed watching it. It was entertaining. Loved the main actor and actress, wonderful chemistry, LMH should be a kssing coach to some Kdrama actors and SYJ-you just became my favourite actress.
The one big flaw that bothered me so much was the background music. I was watching it with the viewers' comments on and there were scenes when it just became too hilarious and distracting........"pabocheorom"........it killed the bed scene.
To all the people who cannot believe that its possible to make love while having a fever - you haven't met your passionate lover who swears he will have the energy and desire even when he is at his death bed.......and I believe him completely! I hope you all meet that person. Life is too short to not have great sex!
Required fields are marked *
108 malaysian noona
May 25, 2010 at 2:43 AM
butterfly, your farewell speech make my eyes watery.
i am really going to miss PT.. very very much.
and of course the wonderful recap from GF and JB (even sometimes did not agree with their opinion but love their humour and wittiness)
my day will never be the same. without LMH and PT. let us pray and hope, he will not be too bz attending fan-meeting and doing CF, and came back to small screen again.
also want to add, if |GF and JB could re-recap those last 3 episode , make it nicer and bearable to us here an avid and die-hard fan of LMH and SYJ...
Required fields are marked *
109 nay
May 25, 2010 at 3:01 AM
i watched this episode last night but of course w/o subtitle..i'm glad that i visit ur page today..finally, yeay!! thanks girlfriday.. ^^
Required fields are marked *
110 lala
May 25, 2010 at 3:07 AM
funnnnnnnyyyyyyyy la sgt,,,,hahaha
Required fields are marked *
111 kdfan
May 25, 2010 at 3:29 AM
Thanks for the fantastic recap, i read all of them and waited anxiously for this last one. I enjoyed all the comments too.
It's the only drama I've watched so far where I don't cringed when they kissed :)
Despite some shortfalls, this is still one of the best drama on my list. Love LMH & SYJ forever!
Required fields are marked *
112 pipao
May 25, 2010 at 3:52 AM
tnx for the hilarious recap jb & girlfriday...
kinda disappointed on how they wrap things up... but im still going to miss PT esp. my jin ho sshi... hehe
Required fields are marked *
113 Helena
May 25, 2010 at 4:33 AM
to MiniGrace, I agree completely with your suggestion!
Girlfryday and Javabeans should not only rewrite the end of this drama, but, better still, write a drama of their own- a comedy of course - considering their outstanding sense of humour. !
Do it girls, we'll be forever your most faithful fans !
Required fields are marked *
114 quiceberrylady
May 25, 2010 at 4:59 AM
Like anyone else who stick to the drama by heart from the planning until it was brought to life I didn't stop believing that it will make big.. And it really did!
Lee Min Ho was a blast! He was totally handsome and traces of his previous drama cannot be seen on his looks, acting and all. I enjoyed seeing him in every scene he was in. I like him to bits.! <3
As for Son Ye Jin, she was a great actress. I don't see anyone collaborating with LMH to have great rapport other than her. She was very consistent and effective in all. I wish to see her be on-screen with LMH again...
I liked the lead characters a lot but I guess I had high expectations with the story. It fall short and I should be blaming myself for this. I didn't enjoy how the story work out but it it also has strong parts. I may say that it wasn't the best but it worked out oh so well. ;)
Required fields are marked *
115 jojo
May 25, 2010 at 5:06 AM
Thanks for the great recaps jb and girlfriday. Laughed at jb's comments in the last episode. Great way to start the day. Was disappointed in the series. You want chemistry? Check out CSW and KSA in City Hall. Hot stuff! Did they have fun or what? Guess it's time to watch it again...
Required fields are marked *
116 butterfly
May 25, 2010 at 5:27 AM
@#6 grace, the one from Jersey, USA
Thank you for agreeing with me and calling me friend. I'm so happy that through this, the number of my friends are increasing.
I just remembered that I forgot to thank Dobin for being the most unselfish character in the K-drama history and CR for being man enough to fight fair and square.
You are right Grace, requesting for 187 extra episodes make you famous and yet crazy. But don't worry, you are not the only one.
@#8 malaysian noona
Thank you that you appreciate my farewell speech
Required fields are marked *
117 reverie
May 25, 2010 at 5:41 AM
Yeah...I had very high hope with this drama. Its good but it could be much better. Agree that the three last episode is......hhh..... a disappointment.
And the last scene....their body distance, how could a lover not want to be close to each other. Find it a lil bit annoying.
Required fields are marked *
118 ivy
May 25, 2010 at 5:52 AM
That was a really nice, respectable and amicable break-up. I'm sure Show will understand. For all the times it has let us down, this is the only end it deserves. And I think going over the flaws in such a humorous way even soothes the hurt it gave us bystanders. Haha... I'll make sure to keep coming back for Dramabeans' recaps - because however bad it gets, we know someone else is with us - suffering the sucky moments simultaneously. We'd bicker with Shows at their stupidity, make-up with them from time to time, slap them in the face when they need a reality check or love them with passion - doing all that with a pinch of humour
Required fields are marked *
119 aahhee
May 25, 2010 at 5:57 AM
awesome recapping of the series jb and gf!
enjoyed it just as much (or maybe even more) than the series itself..
^^
THANKS!
Required fields are marked *
120 Marres
May 25, 2010 at 6:17 AM
And so it ends huh...
I wasn't crazy in love with this drama though there were episodes and moments between the main characters that were great! I loved SYJ and LMH in the leads.... so cute! And whoever the Do-bin actor is.... well done also! But what i most enjoyed about this drama?...... MOST Definitely the recaps!
Javabeans and Girlfriday, you guys rock the re-cap world!
thanks Thanks THANKS!
Required fields are marked *
121 badtanline
May 25, 2010 at 6:44 AM
@butterfly
i love and heartily agree your thank-yous too :]
would just like to add that the best reaction to being dumped that i've seen in k-drama has to be in City Hall -- see Mirae.
Required fields are marked *
122 aberdeen_angus
May 25, 2010 at 6:51 AM
I gave up on this show some time ago, but nevertheless, I kept on reading the recaps. They're just great!!! And this one is golden.
Every drama out there has at least half of the clichés in the book, what makes them special is whether we can overlook them because we're having fun. In PT's case, I just couldn't.
Thanks for being this funny, girls!
Required fields are marked *
123 lee_june
May 25, 2010 at 6:52 AM
Thank you jb and gf!
Although I may not agree to some of your comments I always enjoyed reading your recaps. It's the first thing I read every time I opened my computer.
I"l surely miss this drama. Great acting LMH and SYJ!
Required fields are marked *
124 Kavitha Ravi
May 25, 2010 at 7:51 AM
thanks for the recaps guys! i'd stopped watching the show after ep 13...something went missing after tht for me...read only recaps....the possible in hee hook up with ascot....surprised but kinda make senses if you think abt it....ascot did have some in hee like qualities i think...though he had enough sense/heart to know when to stop and apologise for his methods....but yeah still surprising the writers would do tht
yaaaaaay cant wait to see LMH in a new project...hope he does not take his time about it though! loooved lmh and syj together! think they saved the show as much as they could....i was hoping for a coffee prince/goong type adaptation of novel/manhwa but tht never materialised....a lil disappointed....but oh well atleast it was eye candy galore which is good enuff :P
Required fields are marked *
125 IrishCreme
May 25, 2010 at 8:03 AM
honestly, I usually look forward to your recap more than the actual show...hahhaha....and even when I'm watching the show in viikii, the comments are more interesting and funnier than the movie lines...so I kept forgetting to read the subtitles...anyway, thanks for your wonderful recaps
Required fields are marked *
126 karen
May 25, 2010 at 8:24 AM
PT is good! I love it!
It has been quite some times since i like a drama and it's ending..
the great chemistry between the leads(Min Ho & Ye Jin) and the supporting casts doing their job well makes this drama so worthy of watching..
nobody or nothing can be perfect, i'm ok with the few flaws in the drama... i'm more happy watching the drama that cracks me every week.... after a stressful day at work, watching PT makes me feel better...!
CS & PP just couldn't make me finish watching them....
Required fields are marked *
127 love&honesty
May 25, 2010 at 8:41 AM
PT is just proven to be one of those cliche', uninspiring and overrated dramas I never lay my hands on again.
PT has nothing on PP, seriously.
Required fields are marked *
128 leila8mae
May 25, 2010 at 8:49 AM
GF and JB super thank you for the recaps.. you really did brought a new experience while I watch PT.. you made my waiting for English sub bearable and even better since I really love your translations =).. I hope to read more of your recaps since I don't think my kdrama addiction will stop, EVER..
and I would have to say that I agree with what you said and I'll quote: "Kae-in tells him to let go. Oh not you too! But this time he’s not letting go. He pulls her down onto the bed and hugs her from behind, but it’s totally awkward and passionless. Weird. I think it just feels really staged to me, like the director posed them rather than let them do what people would actually do in that circumstance.".. there really is an onscreen chemistry between LMH and SYJ, no doubt.. but sometimes I really find some sweet scenes like there's something "missing".. so I'm one of those who find it "cute" more than sweet.. since we are talking about Jinho doing these gestures♥
"Don’t let the door-that-doesn’t-lock hit you on the way out!" and this line cracked me up big time!!! hahaha.. i will never forget how the gate of Sang Go Jae never failed to let anyone in most especially during times where people just need to stay out!! =)
Love this series.. though the ending could have been polished since it really appeared rushed in a way just so they can really finish all the problems.. but since I super LOVE Lee Minho, every FLAW can go down the drain!! hehe♥
this series really made my Wednesday and Thursday night extraordinary.. I will still remember how this kdrama made me laugh & cry twice(all because of LMH) and the weather forecast are really included in my list of quotes now..
Required fields are marked *
129 sophie
May 25, 2010 at 8:55 AM
I was also disappointed by the last two episodes. Too bad.
I wouldn't say PT was a really bad kdrama. I did enjoy a couple of the episodes. It just could have been much better.
I liked the cute moments that Jin-ho and Kae-in had -- maybe more than the ones between In-woo and Hye-ri in PP. But PP's storyline was better delivered. I still think that LMH's kisses were hotter than the ones in PP....
Required fields are marked *
130 sophie
May 25, 2010 at 9:08 AM
Oh, and JB and girlfriday: thank you so much for all the recaps!
Required fields are marked *
131 GreenRose
May 25, 2010 at 9:22 AM
Oh PT has ended!!! I was hoping for 4 epi extension but unfortunately... I love this drama. It has became my most favorite series among all. I love Kae In & Jin Ho's character. They are so firm & clear for their love! Lovely couple, thanks to both Son Ye Jin & Lee Min Ho for their great performance. Wishing they will have chance to partner again in the future :) Wishing them the best, happiness & successful career.
Thanks to Javabean & Girlfriday for the great summary.
Required fields are marked *
132 Judy
May 25, 2010 at 9:24 AM
JB and girlfriday, thanks for your recaps.
I felt the same as JB and girlfriday. The script and production is not as good as I originally anticipated. I enjoyed reading JB's recap on the novel more than watching the drama. I finished this drama only because I like LMH and SYJ.
After watching all 3 series (CS, PT and PP) in this season, I learnt that story plot/script may be more important than the cast. I had no expectation on PP but it turned out to be the most interesting story/drama amongst these 3 dramas. The tension is built up nicely towards the end of the drama.
CS has not yet finished but I felt frustrated watching the slow story development and the unnecessary angst scenes - the dramatic moments seemed to be overplayed by the script writer. I felt like drinking bitter herbal tea.
As for PT, I cannot find the climax / dramatic moment of this drama, though it is still not too bad. I felt like drinking water or at best, a soft drink which gives you some bubbles but not very satisfying.
Required fields are marked *
133 sogba
May 25, 2010 at 9:42 AM
it was an ok drama no story of man type thing
the ending was a bit of a let down could have been better..so many loose ends were not tied up e.g Mi Hoo ssi character getting retribution for His father etc
well it was nice to watch..so i enjoyed it as much as i could!
Required fields are marked *
134 m01919
May 25, 2010 at 10:51 AM
girlfriday,
great job. thank you for all the hard work.
java, as usual thank you for your "deconstruction"
so what will everyone watch after this? pp sounds like a drama i would like. any other suggestions?
Required fields are marked *
135 SillyCrab
May 25, 2010 at 11:52 AM
" Chang-ryul is getting ready to go to China, of his own volition and not because he’s being exiled. He thanks Jin-ho for giving the building contract to his company. Well, that makes sense since Jin-ho wouldn’t have the funds to actually construct the giant apple himself, what with all the debt. "
I didn't quite get this part.
~ Why will Chang-ryul go to China if his company's now going to build the TAM Arts Center? He'll just let someone else in his company oversee this big project?
~ So I guess the building design will now be the han-ok fusion style instead of the giant apple, right?
~ Jin-ho already knew he didn't have money and was in huge debt and yet he submitted his entry? Why? To prove he could make his own design that's not based on SGJ? Wasn't that wasting the judges' time if he knew from the get-go he wouldn't be able to do the project at all? Maybe he initially hoped that if he won the project, he'd be able to get a bank loan???
Required fields are marked *
136 brigitte
May 25, 2010 at 11:54 AM
Despite all the flaws of the drama, this is still one of the best dramas I've anticipated this year, simply because of LMH. I just love this guy so much, I enjoyed just even watching his pretty face, his sweet smile & just everything about him. He's the reason why I followed the drama till the end!
Thanks a zillion JB & GF for your patience to recap this drama. I can feel that despite all these flaws, you loved the drama, otherwise you wouldn't bother to recap it.
Required fields are marked *
137 lovedramas
May 25, 2010 at 1:10 PM
I loved the acting by SYJ and LMH but the storyline and the production left something to be desire that's for sure. It could have been so much better. They had a great cast, great actors with a lot of talent and I felt like they didn't fully use them to their best abilities. The plot was soo lacking in some places. The last 2 episodes were - eh... ok... but at least go out with a bang!!
I still enjoyed the drama overall but I thought it could have been so much more - and it totally should have been.
Required fields are marked *
138 BookGirl
May 25, 2010 at 1:28 PM
This is my first time commenting here...but I have been reading yours and javabeans' Personal Taste recaps since Episode 5 (due to constant Viikii problems). However I have found your recaps to be as enjoyable as watching the actual episodes! Actually, I started watching Personal Taste because of Son Ye-jin (I watched Alone In Love and loved it! Except the ending.), although Lee Min-ho is pretty hot.
I agree that Personal Taste deserved a more well-rounded ending. I wouldn't have minded the addition of a few extra episodes. But then they probably would have added TOO many episodes, and I could've found myself skipping to the end (like I did with Goong). Maybe if they had focused a little more on Jin-ho and Kae-in during the reflection part at the end instead of showing everyone else BUT Jin-ho and Kae-in. And I really could've done without seeing Glasses-pabo and In-hee drunkedly paired off, wondering about their future and blah blah blah.
I guess what I'm saying is, there were parts I liked and parts I didn't like. But I was just happy to see Ye Jin in a new drama period. And I'm glad to have found such good drama recappers like girlfriday and javabeans...I'll be sure to visit now for any new K-dramas I start watching! ^_^
@ SillyCrab
Jin-ho's apple design is the one that won the competition, but Chang-ryul's company will be the ones to actually BUILD it...so even though Chang-ryul's design didn't win, he was given the contract to build Tam arts center (using Jin-ho's design).
Required fields are marked *
139 jusash
May 25, 2010 at 1:59 PM
@ 7 hopeless romantic:
>>> Loved the main actor and actress, wonderful chemistry, LMH should be a kssing coach to some Kdrama actors and SYJ-you just became my favourite actress.
hahaha! ditto on the kissing coach comments. this 22 yr old can start classes to show those stagey cardboard kissers how a kiss should be executed.
chemistry turned out surprisingly well. was skeptical at first, since I didn't quite get into Kae-in'scharacter until much later (ep 6 or later) but when it flowed ... did it flow between them! Enjoyable!
>>>……..”pabocheorom”……..it killed the bed scene.
pabocheorom (fool for the first time) = it was the Almost Paradise of BOF.
completely killed the already not so hot bed scene.
>>> To all the people who cannot believe that its possible to make love while having a fever – you haven’t met your passionate lover who swears he will have the energy and desire even when he is at his death bed…….and I believe him completely! I hope you all meet that person. Life is too short to not have great sex!
ok now i understand why this impassioned couple who couldn't keep their hands off each other in the heat of fierce desire ... had to maintain that 30m distance from each other, in lotus position === like a prep for yoga levitation together or something.
the impulsive passionate intensity (the clothes-tearing kitchen, living room, dining room tabvle impulse-driven sex of the type you describe) i cannot see too clearly here at all, esp not in this execution they're presenting..
but i can another angle now why it had to be so contrived, slow-mo now ( i can't even see this scene as enjoyably-slow languorous sex, because aside from the kisses ... all the other moves came across so awkward) ....
but ahh, so. now i can make justifications. that scene is languidly contrived because of his delirious fever episode just before! :)
whatever. back to the earlier comments - at least the dude can kiss properly.
Required fields are marked *
140 jusash
May 25, 2010 at 2:06 PM
@ 7 hopeless romantic:
>>> Loved the main actor and actress, wonderful chemistry, LMH should be a kssing coach to some Kdrama actors and SYJ-you just became my favourite actress.
hahaha! ditto on the kissing coach comments. this 22 yr old can start classes to show those stagey cardboard kissers how a kiss should be executed. and those lovey-gooey gazes he capably emates for Kae-in - LMH can coach those wooden drones in those too.
chemistry turned out surprisingly good. was skeptical at first, since I didn't quite get into Kae-in'scharacter until much later (ep 6 or later) but when it flowed ... did it flow between them! enjoyable!
>>>……..”pabocheorom”……..it killed the bed scene.
pabocheorom (fool for the first time) = it was the 'Almost Paradise' of BOF.
completely killed the already 'not so hot' bed scene.
>>> To all the people who cannot believe that its possible to make love while having a fever – you haven’t met your passionate lover who swears he will have the energy and desire even when he is at his death bed…….and I believe him completely! I hope you all meet that person. Life is too short to not have great sex!
ok, now i understand why this impassioned couple who couldn't keep their hands off each other in the heat of fierce, passionately-intense desire ... had to maintain that 30m distance from each other, in lotus position === like a prep for yoga levitation together or something. :)
the impulsive passionate intensity (the clothes-tearing kitchen/living room/dining room table impulse-driven sex of the type you describe) i cannot see too clearly here at all, esp not in this execution they're presenting..
but on your explanation .... enlightenment. can see another angle now why it had to be so contrived slow-mo ahh, so ==now i can make justifications. that scene must be so languidly contrived because of his delirious fever episode just before! :)
( honestly? i can't even see this scene as enjoyably-slow languorous sex, because aside from his kisses ... all the other moves came across soooo contrivedly awkward)
whatever.
back to the earlier comments - at least the dude can kiss properly.
Required fields are marked *
141 GeriC
May 25, 2010 at 3:33 PM
Despite its flaws (and there were many) I still enjoyed this series. Wonderful acting and chemistry between the two leads LMH and SYJ. I too also agree that the ending could have been better and they never did addressed what happened to Kae-in's friend who, behind her back, took out a loan with a loan shark and used SGJ as collateral. That whole story did not resolve itself. I was also really hoping that Do-bin would find true love in the end but alas, not so the case.
I still can't believe LMH is only 22 years old and yes, yes, yes...this man can kiss! And I agree that he should be a kissing coach! Heck I'll even volunteer as a student! :)
@SillyCrab, confirming BookGirl's response to your inquiry:
>>@ SillyCrab
Jin-ho’s apple design is the one that won the competition, but Chang-ryul’s company will be the ones to actually BUILD it…so even though Chang-ryul’s design didn’t win, he was given the contract to build Tam arts center (using Jin-ho’s design).<<
My hubby is an architect so I understand the whole design aspect. Chang Ryul's company is not only an architectural firm but a construction company as well so it would make sense for Jin Ho to award the construction contract to Mirae to build the structure per the design specifications in Jin Ho's blueprints.
The whole reason why I watched this drama was all due to LMH and SYG. I highly respect them as actors. I really enjoyed it and will forgive the writers and production team for a weak ending. They gave me two characters who I cared about and rooted for throughout the entire run and am sad that it has come to end. Looking forward to their next projects. Thanks GF and JB for your insightful and humorous recaps. On to the next drama! Which I think for me will be Coffee House...
Required fields are marked *
142 Fran
May 25, 2010 at 5:23 PM
I was reading thePT recap when my 3-year old boy who was playing nearby started screaming "Daddy! Daddy!" while pointing at a screen cap of "uri Jin-ho ssi."
I'm thinking "huh?! Last time I checked, I wasn't married to Lee Min-ho!" But still, it made me grin from ear to ear (and hubby too when I told him)
By the way, thanks for the recaps that I enjoy as much as the drama itself!
Required fields are marked *
143 lilly
May 25, 2010 at 5:24 PM
Lol it seems PT sound like a "flopping version" of BOF. Too bad here they couldn't stand on previous successful versions even the book. They tried with millions kisses and skinship to hide the lack of chemistry of the lead actors. Still ratings did not go up. Then it was special appareance. Too bad even YEH couldn't save the plotless -mess ?- drama.They suddendly changed the mood of the show seeing how the lead actors comic timing s....d. They made it a melo-rom. Still here it did not save the mess...
Required fields are marked *
144 Ace
May 25, 2010 at 5:27 PM
@76 moonriver...
Best ending for me in this order:
1. Oh! My Lady
2. Wish Upon a Star
3. Prosecutor Princess (based on the recaps), and
4. Personal Taste
As much as I loved the series from episode 1, as much as I admire SYJ and LMH, I can't really give the last 2 episodes a 4-star rating. I'd give it about 3.5 next to You're Beautiful (oh, yes! no matter how fun it was from episode 1, the ending was just so-so).
If I would rate the acting though, then the PT couple is first on my list, then YB, OML tied with WUAS. Can't comment on the acting of the PP couple since I haven't watched it yet. =)
Required fields are marked *
145 whateva
May 25, 2010 at 5:58 PM
hi guys, i would like to thank all those who had done the recap of this drama coz i find it more interesting to read your recaps then actually watching the drama... i gave up watching the drama halfway thru the show ..
thanks guys, coz your witty, funny and honest summary of the show is the only thing that keeps me interested in the drama... goodwork guys
Required fields are marked *
146 Sunshine
May 25, 2010 at 7:17 PM
@45 whateva - I gotta agree with you. I stop watching kdrama for a while and I have such a hard time picking them up again! I stop at ep 4 and didnt want to continue watching it but man these recaps of jinho acting cutesy is a have to watch.....up till i read the last two eps!! they totally trash the series! i think i am so upset with the ending that I dont know if i will pick it up again (but jinho kissing her on the back is replaying in the back of my mind NONSTOP lol i think i just might have to watch and avoid the ending!!! lol i just talk myself through it!! hahaha )
Required fields are marked *
147 SillyCrab
May 25, 2010 at 7:27 PM
@38 BookGirl & @41 GeriC:
Thank you very much for clarifying! I did think that architects only make designs so I was confused why Chang-ryul would also submit a design when his company is Mirae Construction. Your comments really helped!
Thanks lots to GF and JB for the great recap -- as always!
Required fields are marked *
148 misstory
May 25, 2010 at 9:25 PM
Dear Jin-Ho: being "love sick" is just an expression... not something to be taken literally. I mean seriously - wasn't the guy just out cold? He really felt like getting it on right after that? He sure is hiding a lot of energy. Also: you'd been sweating so hard Kae-In had to bring over some towels! For the sake of all that is clean... hygiene!
Man, I really wanted to like this episode, but this really made me cringe. You guys write amazing reviews! Thank you so much for sharing this!
Required fields are marked *
149 mellowyel
May 25, 2010 at 9:41 PM
I think Lady of Spice put it best: the finale left me wanting more. I definitely paused some point in episode 13 and thought: is this the same drama? I'm tempted to create a better ending in my mind and then convince myself that that's what happened as opposed to the broadcast ending, lol. The strike and extension messed it up, but I still enjoyed the drama. The cast and characters are awesome enough that they make up for flaws in production and writing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OMG ELLIE YOU ARE AMAZING!!! Thanks so much! I didn't realize anyone paid attention to my comment that one time. It looks like it'll take a little more digging to find a download or a video, but this is a huge help. I'll post on this same thread if I find anything :)
Required fields are marked *
150 minho
May 26, 2010 at 1:28 AM
personal taste was a drama tht ppl had high expectations on and that has clouded our judgement.it ws a grt drama grt casting,average storyline,grt soundtracks.lmh is jus one grt actor and so ws the lead actress.we forget the subplots and all.overally it did well.thumbs up!!!!!!
Required fields are marked *