Coffee House: Page 9
by javabeans
Oh, it’s good to have Coffee House back. Unfortunately, the four-episode postponement most certainly did set the drama’s ratings back, nearly halving them. It was performing in the 9% to 10% range, but this episode dropped things to a 5.9%. (Giant didn’t have as big a drop — only about 1%, landing at 12.8% — but it did air one episode during the World Cup, while Coffee House did not.) Bummer.
SONG OF THE DAY
T-MAX – “심장이 열 번 뛰기 전에” (Before my heart beats 10 times). As you guys know, I’m not a huge kpop or idol-band fan. But of all the boy bands out there, I have to say that T-MAX is probably my guilty-pleasure favorite; they’ve got hooky melodies and a vaguely old-school kpop flavor that reminds me of groups like Shinhwa. [ Download ]
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PAGE 9 RECAP
After Jin-soo and Eun-young pull back from the kiss, the uncertainty of the moment hangs in the air between them. Jin-soo tries to brush it off, uneasily joking that her birthday gift is a little much, and then asks if this is another attempt to fool Ji-won.
Whatever hope Eun-young may have been harboring in this moment of vulnerability is dashed by his response, and she silently turns away, picks up her umbrella, and walks off.
When it started to rain, Seung-yeon had rushed out with an umbrella, worrying about Jin-soo. Now she finds him walking along in a daze, hardly even registering the pounding rain as he continues to drink from his beer. She attempts to shield him with her umbrella, but he rejects it.
Eun-young returns to the office, where she manages to put on a cheerful smile for her employees’ benefit — they’ve prepared a party to celebrate a new writer contract. As soon as she makes it to the safety of her office, however, she wails in humiliation — what was she thinking? What happens now?
Seung-yeon remains unaware of this development, and runs into Hyun-joo in the building. She explains that she had come in with a cake for Jin-soo, but the Birthday Grinch ordered her to remove all signs of festivity. Hyun-joo invites her to join the office party, then gets the idea to combine both events. Seung-yeon likes this, and decides that she can’t just let Jin-soo’s birthday go uncelebrated after all.
Seung-yeon opens the back door so the publishing house employees can sneak in and grab Jin-soo to escort him forcibly to his own party. I know Seung-yeon’s not the brightest color in the rainbow, so to speak, but you’d think she’d have learned her lesson by now in defying Jin-soo’s direct orders, even when it’s “for his own good” (at least in cases not involving pills and self-hatred). I think she’s lucky this doesn’t backfire her in any great way, ’cause she’s just asking for another Jin-soo smackdown.
This makes for uncomfortable squirming when Jin-soo’s dragged into the gathering. Everyone else assumes that these two ought to be more than happy to party together, given their closeness and all. As if the memory of their kiss weren’t embarrassing enough, comments are made about the kind of present Jin-soo might want, particularly from Eun-young.
The two try to avoid each other’s gazes but are pressured into blowing out the candles together to celebrate both of their days.
Eun-young excuses herself and dashes to the bathroom, where she groans to herself, “Awkward, awkward, oh it’s so awkward!” Jin-soo steps inside with messy cake-smeared hands, and she forces a hearty laugh, trying to play it cool and joking that he got the wrong bathroom. Until he points to the wall — urinal! — to indicate that she’s the one who got the wrong room. Heh.
Trying to think of the best way to deal with this, Eun-young decides that what they need right now is time. And distance. Lots of time and distance. So, she grabs her bag — not noticing that her cell phone is left on the desk — and sneaks out of the office before she’s noticed.
And then runs into him in the elevator, as he also makes his getaway. Awkward! To make things even worse, just as they joke how uncomfortable things would be if the elevator stopped, it stops.
They try pounding on the doors and pushing the alarm button, but no response. Laughing uneasily, they try to pretend this isn’t their idea of a tenth circle of hell and fail miserably at it.
Next door, Ji-won comes back to his office after taking a few days off to cool his head. He’s in a despondent mood, believing his chances with Eun-young to be lost to Jin-soo.
There’s a hilarious moment when he prevents his secretary from opening his blinds. With a tragic air, he gets poetic: “Over the past few months, this window has been the window of memories, reminding me of my beautiful youth. But now… I’ll have to call it the window of hell. What hellish view awaits me once these blinds are opened tonight? I’m afraid to look.”
All the while, his secretary gives him a confused “Whatever, weirdo” look. Finally, Ji-won decides he has to face his demons and orders the blinds opened.
The sight incenses him anew: How dare they party while sending him to stew in his personal hell? Ji-won calls Eun-young’s office and gets Hyun-joo, who explains that Eun-young is currently not in sight. And neither is Jin-soo.
Whatever sultry scenario Ji-won’s imagining, it’s miles away from the embarrassed, stilted conversation Eun-young and Jin-soo are attempting in reality.
Jin-soo muses that the elevator is sorta the same size of the phone booth — does she have some kind of romantic fantasy about catching him alone in these enclosed spaces? That earns him a glare, so he withdraws the statement, but contends that it’s weird that she’s acting so affronted when HE was the one who’d been taken by surprise. His choice of wording raises her hackles, though, because he’s the one who “suffered” her kiss. And she’s all, suffered?!
Eun-young tries to cover up her embarrassment, first laughing it off, then blustering that a kiss takes two participants. Jin-soo counters, “That’s just instinct. And I’m a man.”
Just then, the elevator resumes operation and the doors open, but Eun-young’s not about to let him go on that excuse and grabs him with one hand while jabbing the “door close” button with the other. The doors slide closed just as Seung-yeon, who has come out to look for them, sees them standing together inside. She sees from the display that the elevator stops at the top floor.
Eun-young decides that it’s best to confront this head-on and tells Jin-soo that they ought to stop talking in circles. She starts to speak, but he cuts her off, choosing to speak first:
Jin-soo: “Are you my publisher or my friend? Do you want to make money with me, or have fun? Do you hate me or like me? To me, you only mean one thing, but it seems you always have multiple roles, and it’s too much for me.”
Jin-soo tells her it’s time that they make things clear, just as Eun-young blurts her reply:
Eun-young: “I’m your publisher and your friend. I want to make money with you and have fun with you. I want to kill you out of annoyance, but I like you too. What do you want me to do?”
Jin-soo doesn’t like that answer, and tells her it’s “against the rules” — she has to choose one role and stick with it. Eun-young doesn’t like his response either, which is designed to make things easier on him: “Why am I only allowed to be in the position you designate for me? People can be different things to each other. Don’t relationships change naturally with the times?”
She doesn’t want to be the one always left behind when he pulls his disappearing act, wondering if he’s okay or if he’s dead. She tells him, “I can’t go back to the beginning now. I don’t want to do that, either. You insist that we go back to our original places for your comfort, but now I’m going to act according to my feelings too.”
She adds that she’s a greedy person — on top of those two roles of friend and publisher, she can even add another: “I’m going to be more than that, too. Why can’t I do that?”
That’s tantamount to a declaration, isn’t it? Or at least, it opens the door — which he swiftly closes with a no. “I’ve never thought of you as more than that.”
Eun-young tells him not to lie, not believing that he means it. She thinks he’s shutting her down for the wrong reasons (fear? uncertainty?), and I’m inclined to agree with her. However, he assures her that he’s not lying, and that has the effect of knocking the wind right out of her sails.
Jin-soo repeats that the kiss was just a bodily instinct, and Eun-young now accepts his answer that he only wants her to be a friend. Caustically, she laughs at herself, calling this “the highlight of today’s awkwardness.”
Eun-young manages not to shed any tears as she heads back downstairs, not seeing that their conversation has had a third listener: Seung-yeon, who had followed them up from downstairs.
While Jin-soo is left to brood on the rooftop alone, Seung-yeon trudges out of the building glumly, clutching her balloons. So the romantic chemistry between them wasn’t just a show.
Seung-yeon doesn’t quite understand the reasons behind her reaction, because she hasn’t fully acknowledged that she’s starting to like Jin-soo, so it’s as puzzling as it is depressing.
Passing by a streetside pojangmacha, she sees Ji-won having a drink. Outwardly he laughs and gives her his trademark cheesy salute, but he’s mired in a funk of his own. He talks to Seung-yeon, but the words are directed more at himself as he wonders if this is how Eun-young felt when he cheated on her with Young-mi. If so, he acknowledges that he deserved her anger, and figures he’s earned this feeling. Took him long enough to get it!
At home, Seung-yeon reflects on her mood, wondering if wishing that the couple doesn’t work out is the “normal response” in this situation. She recognizes that a pro ought to be interested in the work, “But why am I only interested in people?” Why is she so bummed out?
She sighs that she must not be qualified; she wasn’t meant for professional success.
Despite her denseness in realizing her feelings, I think Seung-yeon IS aware; she just has a tendency to hide behind her supposed dumb ways as a source of denial. She must be hip to her real reason, because she asks her grandmother if it’s true that Dong-wook really likes her, and wonders if she ought to give it a shot with him.
The party occurred on a Friday, and on Monday, Jin-soo arrives at the book cafe, where he overhears her employees wondering what’s up with Eun-young. She hasn’t come in to work, and nobody knows where she went.
He confirms with Hyun-joo that Eun-young has been gone for the weekend, leaving her cell phone in the office. They’ve checked her home and called around, but haven’t found any trace of her.
Her staff is pretty worried, but Jin-soo has an added reason for concern, thinking back to their rooftop conversation. He spends all day calling her home and trying to get a hold of her, tracking down her various contacts.
Such is his anxiety that I doubt Jin-soo even realizes that their situations have been reversed, for once, and now he’s getting a little taste of what he’s doled out to her for so long.
Ji-won also hears the news and calls the office. He sees Jin-soo through the window and orders Hyun-joo to put him on the line, then rips into him for letting this happen. It’s a little unreasonable to blame Jin-soo for this, but Ji-won’s not acting on reason, and he also believes Jin-soo to be her boyfriend, who therefore has a greater responsibility to make sure she’s okay.
This situation is worrisome because Eun-young has never gone missing before, nor has she purposely remained out of contact. However, Ji-won’s next accusation is particularly cutting: “Why do women always find themselves in these situations around you?”
Ouch, low blow. The words, obviously a not-too-veiled reference to his dead wife, get to Jin-soo. Late that night, he stacks dominoes methodically and keeps calling Eun-young, only to get her voicemail.
Finally, he leaves a message — but as soon as he utters the words, they bring a painful memory back with sharp clarity. They echo the words he’d spoken to his wife Hee-soo, when she’d been out of touch and he’d tried to find her.
The domino tower collapses — symbolism! (Jin-soo resorts to building dominoes when he is at his most stressed, because it’s a way of asserting order from within chaos.) He sits in the dark, stricken at the thought that history might repeat itself.
Meanwhile, things are lighter at the Kang household, where it’s meat-grilling night, Dad’s favorite night of the week. This week they have a special visitor: Dong-wook has been invited, and comes dressed to impress, cleaned up in a suit. This is Seung-yeon’s first move after deciding to give it a try with Dong-wook, and his first activity as her official suitor.
Jin-soo calls Seung-yeon during dinner, explaining the call as mere boredom. She’s surprised, and double-checks the reason for his call. He confirms that he’s “bored to death,” but she can’t quite shake the feeling that something is wrong.
As for the family… I got a big chuckle over the meat-o-go-round, when Dong-wook extends a piece of lettuce-wrapped meat to Seung-yeon. Dad gives him the eye and grabs the piece for himself, then offers a piece to Seung-yeon himself — note how Dong-wook hangs his head so pathetically in the shot above. But when Seung-yeon tries to eat it, Grandma snatches the piece away. And round and round they go. HA.
Back in his apartment, Jin-soo sits in the dark with his pills. He swallows a mouthful, then thinks back to the fateful day several years ago when he and Eun-young had gone everywhere looking for Hee-soo.
She had left him one last, ominous voicemail message, and they’d feared the worst. While he was driving around in their search, a phone call had come — but he couldn’t answer, staring at it in fear. Eun-young had tried to reassure him with hopeful words, but when she answered the phone, she’d been presented with bad news.
Eun-young and Jin-soo had sped to the site of a bad car accident, where Hee-soo’s car had been overturned.
In the following days, Jin-soo had sunk into deep depression, sleeping with the help of a constant diet of pills while listening to her last message:
Hee-soo’s message: “I’m sorry to worry you. I didn’t do it on purpose. Don’t misunderstand. And this… this will be the last time, so don’t be annoyed. You’re doing fine, but why am I not able to do that, stupidly? But you know, you really are mean. You’re too much. You know that, right?”
The wording indicates that she had been having a hard time with life after their separation, and Jin-soo’s ability to move on had hit her particularly hard.
In the morning, Jin-soo is shaken awake. It’s Seung-yeon, here to check on him.
He’s had a rough night but he’s fine now (at least physically speaking), and tries to act like Seung-yeon’s worry is unfounded. She sees the scattered dominoes and pills, but even without those clues she had sensed something was odd — Jin-soo uses “I’m bored” as a euphemism for feeling bad, which is an observation that he’s surprised that she picked up on.
Jin-soo asks Seung-yeon to check his messages for him. It’s like he was in his flashback — he can’t bear to be the one to hear the bad news, and when Seung-yeon picks up the phone, he waits with bated breath. She reports that there’s no message, which is both a relief and a worry. More of a relief, though, and with the worst-case scenario off his mind, Jin-soo suggests breakfast.
As they’re walking, Seung-yeon gets a call on her cell phone, and Jin-soo tenses as she answers it. She doesn’t say anything telling, but he senses that it’s about Eun-young, which she confirms. That was her office, calling to assure that Eun-young has returned to work and is therefore fine.
Not waiting for her to finish speaking, Jin-soo immediately tears down the street, racing for the book cafe at a full sprint. When he gets to the office, he’s drenched in sweat and out of breath. It isn’t until he sees Eun-young through the glass windows that he starts to calm down — she’s conducting a business meeting, looking perfectly fine.
Her employee explains to Jin-soo that Eun-young had taken a weekend trip to Japan to clear her head. She hadn’t even realized that everyone was in a tizzy over her absence, thinking all was fine.
All the while, Jin-soo stares intently at Eun-young through the glass, nearly overwhelmed with relief. I love the look on his face, so loaded with meaning — it’s a look Kang Ji-hwan does particularly well. (And it gets me — Every. Single. Damned. Time.)
When Eun-young catches a glimpse of him, she starts to excuse herself and head out to see him, but he holds up a hand to stop her. He puts on his trademark smile, but now it clashes with the sheen of tears in his eyes.
Trying to act calm, he indicates with a gesture toward the door that he’ll just head back, that there’s no need for her to interrupt her business. Eun-young understands the message and nods, staying in her meeting.
Now sapped of energy, Jin-soo staggers out of the office in a daze, pausing at the threshold as Seung-yeon comes running up, out of breath from chasing him.
Tiredly, Jin-soo suggests they order out instead, and heads back to his place. Trudging along, he misses his footing when he steps on his bottle of pills. His arm reaches to brace himself on the counter, but lands on some supplies instead, and he loses his balance. He collapses to the floor and, in his exhaustion, falls unconscious.
COMMENTS
Several interesting conversations in this episode — namely, the elevator scene and the rooftop scene immediately after. I’m sure most of us would agree that he’s the one who’s being silly for insisting people remain in their clearly delineated boxes, but it’s in character with what we know of him. Jin-soo isn’t stupid enough to think people can only play one role, but this is his coping mechanism, and as we’ve seen with the dominoes and other quirks, Jin-soo tries to enforce a sense of order when he’s feeling vulnerable.
I suspect this is also why he sticks to his wacky plans and extended jokes — because in being erratic and unpredictable, he ensures that he is always the one in control. Control over a situation means control of his feelings and therefore control (or avoidance) of pain.
I’m glad to see that he’s finally seeing how it feels to be on the other side, because it’s true that he’s been a mighty pain to those around him. While it’s hard enough in a professional sense, Eun-young in particular has suffered, but because of her love for him as a friend, she has put up with it, pretty much unconditionally. Jin-soo refuses to play anyone’s game other than his own, but that also means he’s opted out of the Real World Game, too. If he continues this behavior, he might just get locked up in his own world. Furthermore, he may lose his sole link to the real world in Eun-young if he pushes her away one time too many.
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Tags: Coffee House, Ham Eun-jung, Jung Woong-in, Kang Ji-hwan, Park Shi-yeon
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1 Ian Bar
June 28, 2010 at 10:25 PM
YAY! I AM FIRST! Dream beans you always bring a smile to my face with your k drama synopsis's.:) Kamsahamnida!
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2 maria
June 28, 2010 at 10:42 PM
holy shortpants, batman!! i have been refreshing like mad every 5 minutes (yeah, i wish i was kidding) , and around the time i needed to leave for work already, i was like, "juuusst one more refresh" .....that was an hour ago.
HIGH FIVES EVERYONE! i did not go to work, so i could read the dramabeans recap of coffee house!!!!!! O_o heheheheh :P don't worry about me, i'm a happy camper. off to read now!
THANKS, Sarahbeans!
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3 wulanastasiaz
June 28, 2010 at 10:43 PM
thank u so much..
i practically fallin love with this drama.. right before i find that it wont be airing for two weeks..
so.. this recap is really feels like a cool and warm breezee at the same time..
love it..
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4 missminami
June 28, 2010 at 10:44 PM
I hope Jin Soo end up with Seung Yeon
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5 V
June 28, 2010 at 10:46 PM
Hooray for another update! I thoroughly enjoy reading all of your updates (as well as girlfriday's updates). Can't wait to watch the episode now.
Btw, I'm a long time reader/lurker, first time commenting. :)
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6 Quinze
June 28, 2010 at 10:51 PM
Thanks for the recap! Just watched the raw so this def cleared up some of the confusion.
I absolutely LOVE how EY is portrayed. Capable of bouncing back time and time again and can hold back her tears and not turn into a blubbering mess.
Hah she's so cute when she's trying not laugh off the awkwardness.
JS needed this "Oh Sh*t" moment for all the jerk moves he's pulled.
It's refreshing to see the karma. JS just can't be the only one who makes those around him suffer for his antics no matter what his reasons are. Someone finally makes HIM hurt.
Still this kind of angst and emotion I can tolerate since it's handled well without the overkill. It's really up to the actors to show their emotions on their faces which everyone does so well. Esp KJH.
Gah! the sprint! Perfect scene!
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August 29, 2010 at 5:36 PM
agreed! Jinsoo needed that shake-up: the jerk. (and I mean that in the nicest way, lol)
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staples
August 29, 2010 at 5:36 PM
oops! that was me :)
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7 linnamsia
June 28, 2010 at 10:51 PM
thank you, i've just about refreshed this page for the umpteenth time. comes from watching drama with no subtitle and not understanding korean. and yes, its got me hooked quite badly. if it zones back to SY instead of EY, i'll leave this drama alone. honestly. but i'm glad its getting fun ;-)
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8 KT
June 28, 2010 at 10:52 PM
Thanks JB!!!
I love you!!!!
I like this episode a lot!!! **off to read and comment later^^
Muahhhhhhhh for all CH-lovers!!!
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9 hmm...
June 28, 2010 at 10:55 PM
There was a continuity error. Her hair and clothes isn't the same in this flashback as to that other flashback. This is the same car acciedent scene, right??
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10 yuvee
June 28, 2010 at 10:58 PM
Agh I couldn't resist and read the recap before watching the episode because I'll have to leave for work soon and won't have enough time. SO silly of me to have thought that reading the recap would satiate my appetite for CH! Now I just want to see it more, aghhh!!!!
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11 amg01
June 28, 2010 at 11:05 PM
Like I said before; In the confines of a Drama it does work but in real life it does not! Eun-young and Jin-Soo have a very, very, very "Bad" relationship, why do people think is cute? Most people wanted a continuation of the "Kiss and the romantic element" between the 2, but why? I disagree completely in the sense that Jin-Soo is fully aware of his situation with Eun-young, he alone more than any one else knows that, that is the main reason why he wants to leave as soon as he is done with the draft for his next book, if he was really in love, or he had any inclination that he could have a good romantic relationship with her, why not stay? the reason is because they have a very bad codependent relationship, and if they continue they will end up destroying each other, but than again another "Prosecutor Princess" kinda bad relationship between the 2 leads that people find cool end cute as for me I find this kind of relationships taxing, demeaning, destructive, and bad for people who are engage in them!!!! But What in Hell do I Know!!!!!
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12 mmmaggie
June 28, 2010 at 11:05 PM
Ratings only in the 9-10% range before the break?? That's interesting considering all the impassioned commenters/fans on your recaps. Javabeans, do you know if this is like "You're Beautiful" where it has a small, but extremely loyal and vocal group of fans, or is "Coffee House" just not resonating with viewers in Korea?
PS. Part of the reason I'm glad that the show is back on is so we can read your recap of it, javabeans! :) Thanks for getting it up so quickly!
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13 xylophonic
June 28, 2010 at 11:09 PM
Coffee House is back! But...for some reason this episode did not do it for me? Oh well, maybe it's the JS/EY shipper in me.
I admit I was extremely frustrated with Jin-soo during most of this episode. And somewhat disappointed. When everyone was freaked out because Eunyoung was missing, I was hoping he would dash out and look for her, do something, anything, instead of moping around in his room. And even more so when Ji-won called him to blame him for her disappearance, I thought that would spur him to search. So you can guess how I threw up my hands and cheered when he sprinted like crazy all the way to the cafe upon hearing that she had returned.
Honestly, with Jin-soo I have no idea what's going through his head. So...he wants to be friends and that's it? For real? At the moment I don't think the JS/EY door has 'closed', per say, but I have doubts that they will end up together. Eunyoung has already given up, most likely, so I'm thinking Jin-soo has to now take initiative if this pairing is going to work out. And...the chances of that? Yeah. Not high.
I'm kind of appreciating Ji-won's role in the drama more and more lately. Though at first glance he's the annoying ex whose skull's thickness equates to that of a brick wall, he's also the one who doesn't waffle around when it comes to landing the emotional blows (which may actually be a testament to his tactlessness). But I think this is a good thing because in Jin-soo's case, you really need someone to put it bluntly and get the meaning across and past his many emotional defensive mechanisms. His accusation triggered memories of the past, which put him in this funk and made him afraid that Eunyoung was going to somehow end up the same way as his ex-wife ten years ago. I appreciate that Ji-won doesn't hold back when it comes to saying what he wants to say, because it really gets to Jin-soo sometimes.
Also, who else thought Dong-wook was ADORABLE in his suit?? Awww. <3
Thanks for the recap, as usual!
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14 mimi
June 28, 2010 at 11:13 PM
I'm assuming he's going to end up w/ Seung-Yeon b/c of the drama publicity poster. But if so, then there's not much to go on b/c nothings really developing between them and it's already ep.9.
I had to mention this: Bad botox job for Eun-Young
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm96/javabeans122/drama/2010/ch/ch2/ch9-00085.jpg
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15 miniejungle
June 28, 2010 at 11:14 PM
cant wait to watch it tonight. thanks javabeans, as always!
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16 maria
June 28, 2010 at 11:21 PM
"And she’s all, SUFFERED?!" ---->5 minute LOLs!!!
all right, jin soo, you and me are gonna have to box this one out, coz you have crossed the line, buddy. DOUCHE!!
but yeah, okay. the best thing is: jin soo's sort of easier to read when he's being a contentious child, isn't he? because when his defenses are up, he tends to pick his words in a way that TOTALLY give away what he's "defending" himself from. DOUCHE IN LOVE? hehe ...or just a normal guy who turned into a douche, to keep from getting attached and getting himself broken again, i guess. ...i can understand that. i don't like it and it's no excuse--- coz EY's right: "why DOES she have to just occupy the role he designates for her, just so he can have his comfort and control??? you're not the only one broken here, buddy!!!--- but i can sympathize with it.
still--- i'm glad for the progress and the turning of the tables, because at the end of the day, you don't get to live like that, just coz you get sympathy. and i LOVE LOVE LOVE these characters so much that i want that for them, i want them to be able to LIVE.
but i'm content with waiting for that point t gradually come to fruition. from a neutral point of view, you have to actually appreciate the storytelling. the pace has, for me, been wonderful. revelatory and full of progress, while still keeping me guessing all the time and wondering about what's to come.
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17 penny
June 28, 2010 at 11:28 PM
OMG..ITS BACk!!!!! this has been the longest two weeks i have waited for a recap..THANK YOU so much for another wonderful and exciting recap...this drama keeps getting better and better..after this i hope JS finally realized his feelings for EY or any other feelings that he has been suppressing all these years..i like the character's developing but what's a kdrama without a little romance right? can't wait for ep 10...
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18 ray
June 28, 2010 at 11:30 PM
thank you sooo much javabeans!!!
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19 JAM
June 28, 2010 at 11:31 PM
I still haven't figured what which way the relationships will go. On the other hand, I don't know which pairing I want either! Jin-soo and Eun-young - a little too intense for me but there's this deep connection between them that is nice to see. Jin-soo and Seung-yeon - can't see the romantic connection there yet. Certainly on Seung-yeon's end but not on Jin-soo. If this pairing is to happen, something's got to happen really soon. Aside - Dong-wook looks really cute with his hair neaten up. Profile is gorgeous!
thanks so much JB for the recaps. Anticipating ep 10!
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20 nobody
June 28, 2010 at 11:32 PM
i love JI WON !!!! more JI WON in this drama please!!!! what a great actor JUNG WOONG IN is, wish he is the lead instead of kang ji hwan....
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21 Dele
June 28, 2010 at 11:32 PM
I loved this episode. It was filled with sad moments but man was it good. I loved the way Jin Soo ran to the office just to assure himself she was there and safe. The look(s) on his face caught my breath, man I'd love for a guy to look at me with so much there. I loved how he held his hand out telling her not to come out. Always protecting himself, I bet he wondered if he could still keep his control without that glass wall/door between them. Which is also telling, he wants to keep things separated but you can still see and react to everything that is happening. The walls between them are fargile, delicate, and breakable.
I dug how he tripped over his sleeping pills, which meant to me that those babies are going to keep screwing you over. I just loved all the details on this episode. Oh, and Dong Woo looked mighty fine. I jumped out of my seat to get a closer look at my tv screen and was like WOW. I don't want SY to use him though, he deserves more, hopefully he wins her over with his charmingly goofy self.
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22 missy
June 28, 2010 at 11:33 PM
whoa so fast! i didn't really expect this recap to come out today. thanks by the way.
but, man! i think it is better not to rely on Jin-soo's words but on his body language. he genuinely cares for Eun-sung (though i think it is in friendly way). and now he's got an attachment to his secretary (i mean calling her in the middle of his despair).
i'm starting to put aside the love angle in either of the teams because it doesn't show in any way. maybe Jin-soo is not yet ready for any romance or he will never be because he locked himself from any of it.
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23 atsirk
June 28, 2010 at 11:43 PM
I melt every time I see Kang Ji-hwan stares that way...omo...
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24 Meanie
June 28, 2010 at 11:50 PM
Awww poor Eun Young! :(
Darnit, I was hoping for a big fat kiss scene in this episode; but noooo.
I was kinda isappointed in Jin Soo in this episode (Lol saying this kinda kills me inside, being a huge KJH fangirl)
"instinct" oh yeah sure. INSTINCT. Sigh JS, what am I gonna do with you? You kissed her back maaan! If you really suffered from her kiss, you could've pushed her away and slapped her. Or something. Geez.
& how in the world did EY & SY manage to find JS? They were just walking around, and oh- there he is, conveniently. Does that happen to you guys? Sure doesn't happen to me!
I hope that in the later episodes a totally hawt smexii guy will appear for EY & make EY crazily infatuated with him! Then, hopefully JS will become jealous& realize how hopelessly he is in love with EY. Then, he'll do all these cute and crazy things to win her back (*coughcough*jiwon*coughcough*)
LOL @ Jiwon in this episode & the past episodes. I must be crazy for saying this but gosh, he's adorable! ;)
Random comment but:
Park Shi Yeon is really really PRETTY. No wonder Ki Kwang likes her ;)
& I've been really mean about this episode, but I'll remain loyal to the EY/JS couple for now x) <3
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25 Ani
June 28, 2010 at 11:54 PM
I.... am shocked that the series is back. I mean, it's good, I'm happy, but man, what a left fielder huh? Anyways, I'm not going to make any guesses as to what will happen, but look forward to it nonetheless. Thanks javabeans.
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26 darkice712
June 29, 2010 at 12:00 AM
I am really liking this drama. This is the second time I am seeing Kang Ji Hwan in a drama (the first time was in Save the Last Dance and he barely rated notice), and I am really enjoying his portrayal of Jin Soo. Despite the fact that the character is good at making people frustrated and crazy with worry, I can be patient with him and hope that he (Jin Soo) gets better because of Kang Ji Hwan's portrayal of the character.
This is the first time that I'm enjoying Park Shi Yeon's acting, and the second time I've seen her on screen. I like her portrayal of Eun Young, but I have to wonder at her wardrobe sometimes. Her tendency to wear miniskirts, shiny material, and slashed clothes doesn't fit her professional image.
This is the first time that I can't be sure about the OTP, and I am not enjoying the experience. That uncertainty makes me not want to set my heart on any one pairing. I just hope that whatever the conclusion is, it is logical enough that I can be happy with it. I don't want the ending to ruin the fun I am having in watching this drama.
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27 Hannelora
June 29, 2010 at 12:16 AM
Thank you very much for your summary.
I am waiting for the next eps. It seems 7 eps left. I hope that EJ and JS can confess their love together. Otherwise, I feel hurt for EJ….
It is really hard for her to love JS. I am afraid that she will be tired, and left him. Then, probably SJ will fill this place in his heart. Hope that it is not true.
Love is not only happiness, but also forgiveness. Love is not also pink color. Therefore they should overcome their obstacles to go ahead for future.
In the interview, the director said that at the beginning of ep. 12,the change will be so big that you’ll wonder whether you’re still watching the same drama. I wonder whether JS find the new love from SJ. Because now he call her when he is sad,… Anyway, I do not believe one can change his feelings to someone who met him a few months.
Love should be growed days by days, and has a long time relationship….I think that JS does not have someone in his side to hear his confidence except EJ. Now if EJ is not here, then SJ becomes a friend who near him to talk with him. It is simple like this.
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28 alphabet soup
June 29, 2010 at 12:26 AM
ugh, my heart practically broke at the roof scene. great acting on PSY's part, i gotta say.
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29 Omona
June 29, 2010 at 12:31 AM
Finally DW and SY's love line starts <3
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30 nom_kitteh
June 29, 2010 at 12:43 AM
I am loving this drama so, so, so much! It is quite unlike other Kdramas in that the two leads are truly equals. Eun-young dishes it out, stands her ground, is open, honest, caring but not obsequious, while at the same time vulnerable, shy, hopeful...oh, I could go on and on about how much I am loving this kdrama heroine with presence. There seems to be two kinds of kdrama female leads -- one stridently rough and abrasive and the other utterly helpless and fragile. Here we have a combination of both qualities, and I am loving it. Also, I am so glad that slimy casting directors who only saw Park Shi-yeon only as a sultry sexpot have finally allowed her out of that casting prison. Park Shi-yeon's acting is so good here. I believe her character because of the actress's ability to bring so many emotions at once to us. As a result, for once, even though Kang Ji-Hwan is hotter than the hottest hottie and even though I watch for the male eye-candy, for this drama I find myself waiting for EY's scenes!
The writing is great in this drama too. Just when I think I have figured it out, the writers throw in dialogue and scenes (like the one on the elevator/roof top) that just make go me go, YES! NOW THAT'S HOW REAL PEOPLE TALK!
Can't wait for tomorrow...
Thank you, JBeans, for the recaps!
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31 nom_kitteh
June 29, 2010 at 12:50 AM
One more thing: It does worry me a bit that Jin-soo is realizing his feelings for her so early in the drama (ep 9). That makes me nervous. With all the baggage the two carry, if they come together by ep. 10, then maybe ep. 11-15 will be spent on how their collective baggage + neurosis are way too seriously heavy and the wounds from the past are just way too deep, leaving them with no option but to part.
But this is a romantic comedy, so I hope there is a happy ending.
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32 Marie
June 29, 2010 at 1:09 AM
@Amg1
I agree with you 100% JS/EY relationship is wrong nothing but bad can come out of a destructive relationship like tthat, they share too many bad memories. They both need to move on. JS needs to find happiness with SY and her loving family to change his life around.
@mimi
You are so right PSY's Botox is shocking in that pic I felt very bad for her. She is such a pretty girl why do that to herself.
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33 winnie
June 29, 2010 at 1:24 AM
I'm SO HAPPY to see this drama back on air!! I didn't think this episode was as up to par as the others, but I'm wondering if it's because of the break in between. One little thing that really irked me was that they had changed Eun Young's hair and outfit in the flashback scene. I'm sure the crew would have recreated it exactly if possible, so I don't exactly blame them; however, the little glitch really does take me out of the moment.
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34 KT
June 29, 2010 at 1:29 AM
Stop bashing the actress and get a life PLEASE!!!!
I DONT SEE ANYTHING WRONG IN THE PHOTO!!! She is pretty- surgery or not!!!
You guy are acting so immature right now, just like, the kid - who couldn't get the candy, then said the the candy wasn't delicious. Come on!!!!
We are here to enjoy CH and support all the cast and crew.
Could you guys please respect us and keep it for yourself!!! Thanks
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35 QueenPinay!
June 29, 2010 at 1:53 AM
yay! thanks for the ep update :) can't wait to continue watching! been waiting for eps 7 and 8 with eng subs! hopefully they have it now.thanks again!
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36 rainerust
June 29, 2010 at 2:30 AM
OMG YESSS!!!! I have been waiting FOREVER FOR COFFEE HOUSE TO COME BACK!!!!
This recap was kinda fast though. I don't get subs until tomorrow. *sob* Still, it's good to have it back, and I think the writers handled the aftermath of the kiss scene pretty well. I get really annoyed with kdramas who dish out the kiss scene without ever telling people what happens after that. I mean, seriously? People kiss forever, and then...that's it? Isn't there ever some kind of awkwardness when they separate? So yes, I think Coffee House has it right!
Looking forward to seeing EY and JS move on from their current relationship, and kinda hoping that SY and JW get out of their funk really soon, because as annoying as I find SY, I'd rather her pre-realising her feelings for JS, because she's less fun right now. Oh well.
Awesome recap as usual JB! Thanks SO MUCH, and can't wait to see Ep 10's recap as well!! :) Whoo hoo!!
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37 ambs
June 29, 2010 at 2:46 AM
this was such a frustrating episode but JS running like a maniac to see her was epic.
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38 ambs
June 29, 2010 at 2:49 AM
@28
completely agree, i have new levels of respect for her acting =o i was so sad for them... JS was such a butthole in this ep. my other problems with it
SY is such a doormat... and who goes up 20 levels of a building to spy on a conversation.. -_-
don't get me wrong i like eunjung!
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39 yen_nguyen
June 29, 2010 at 3:17 AM
@11: I like both EJ/JS and PP leads. One of the reasons (I like those kind of paring) is that I can feel the DEPTH in their relationship. It is heartbreaking, emotional but definitely CUTE. I think that's the way "CUTE" is to people who are at 30s and experienced many bad memories.
If EJ/JS are chosen to end up together, they surely can be happy.
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40 ambs
June 29, 2010 at 3:21 AM
what i loved most about the rooftop scene was the heartbreaking way EY gazed at JS after she was rejected. you could see clearly that this had broken her and her eyes seemed to say i'll stop bothering you, i give up
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41 kc
June 29, 2010 at 3:35 AM
Thank YOU...I love your recaps. A refresher to my sad morning! Thank you thank You...now I must watch it!
I read your recaps before watching just cuz Im so entertained by your words!
Im a EY/JS shipper but then again I can see that they have too much baggage to haul between the 2 of them! I think I might have to settle with SY/JS at the end! Must accept them in full terms! But what ever these 2 give me. EY/JS I will take!
Thanks DRAMA!
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42 grasya
June 29, 2010 at 3:53 AM
i love how Jin Soo made a dash to see EY...but I'm still apprehensive about the epi 12 thing...
JS and EY, hwaiting!
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43 jeankaycee
June 29, 2010 at 3:59 AM
finally!!!! coffee house is back!!!!! im so glad that its back i watched it without subs but even without the subs i do understand the flow the episode due to the fact that the actors of this drama were so good at conveying emotions you just need to watch to know whats happening.
the elevator/rooftop scene were done well and it pains me to see that Jisoo is still holding whatever emotion he have. and when Eun Young disappeared was like pulling the mat out of Jisoo's feet. also glad to know more about their past so we could understand Jisoo's character more.
and scene when Jisoo runs back to the coffee studio and to see Eun Young there, the look of Kang Ji Kwan face was priceless, full of emotions! darn!!!!! how does he do that?!
cant wait for the next episode!!!!
hopefully with subs now.
again javabeans thanks for the woderful recap!!!!
i salute you for doing a great job all the time!!!
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44 Carinne
June 29, 2010 at 4:46 AM
Ehh, screw ratings! *holds right fist up in the air* (I must keep my left hand on my laptop to keep my thoughts intact.)
Argh~ Why does every single guy have to screw up the best thing that walks in his life? Wae! Wae? Wae!! (Diverts to Oh! My Lady opening scene of MinWoo's lackluster acting skills... has director JB call "Cut!" yet?)
Oh~ I like SY more in this episode; she's gotten her maternal clock insync. Turned keen, well observant to her kiddo boss' theatricals. (I ponder if that is reason to her getting fired by JS in ep.10? The young lady is getting too close for comfort JS? What do you have to fear JS? Let SY open your skeletal closet and replace the lightbulb 'cos it's definitely burnt out.)
A.W.K.W.A.R.D. Um, the restroom clearly is unisex and there hangs a corresponding sign on the restroom door. Talk about manipulation, EY's head is foggy enough to bolt away in a nanosecond flustered in humiliation confronting JS. So what, JS points at a urinal. (I wanna whisper to coach EY this...) Point at a tampon/maxipad dispenser to even the game.
Poopsy, you're right JB. JS wants a grip in "control" of his lifestyle, and whom ever treads in his pool will have to be an Olympic swimmer to qualify in his Good Will Games. Well, I have no doubt SY is a goddess, by her sense of style, so she can take on JS and find his Achilles' heel.
Ohhhhh, c'mon... is 13 xylophonic so far the only one attracted to DW? His suit! His hair! His suave-eh-eh! His watermelon! pahehe. Ok, he's no Don Juan, I give in to that, DW didn't bring a single flower or so for his lady. Ahh~ the un-romántico suitor. Here are those practical guys whom are safe and boring. Olé! At least the meat-o-go-round was the highlight of this episode for me. Cute! Funny! Everything else had gotten serious... and "too much" as JS's HeeSoo states.
Maybe I'm completely random today. Oh well. Ep.10, here I come... wiiiiiiiiii~
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45 nattacatta
June 29, 2010 at 5:39 AM
Okay, so I love Dong Wook. Like, a ridiculous amount. He was so adorable in his little suit with his hair- ah, I melt! I think I would be happy with whatever OTP they threw at us without him being there. But because he likes Seung Yeon, I want him to be happy at the end so badly that I want Eun Young and Jin Soo to be together!
(Ah- and the head hang jb pointed out- ADORABLE!)
And Kang Ji Hwan was amazing this episode. His look at Eun Young through the window- ah, it was so powerful! I think Park Shi Yeon was amazing here too, and they acted the rooftop scene really powerfully together. I love it when I love the angsty bits in dramas because of the acting (eg. Personal Taste- the early angst).
I think this show hits the right notes with its balance between light and heavy- the meet go round and Jin Soo's depression. It works so well, and I could be laughing one minute then crying the next (I am fairly sure this is the first episode that made me cry- well done Coffee House!).
I love that I came to my laptop after being away for like 20 minutes and you had posted the recap and viikii had posted the episode! Score! I so missed Coffee House- it sucks about the ratings cause I think it deserves so much more!
Thanks for the recap jb!
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46 bensky
June 29, 2010 at 5:41 AM
JS/EY are the main couple, there, I said. I think what confused us was the amount of screen time Ham Eunjung has. But as in most things, dramas, i.e. Entertainment are business. As been reported, Eunjung and her mother has been looking for a leading role in a drama, and this would be second choice as supporting actress opposite a A list Actor with same screen time as main actresss. The producers would like this as this will pull in her fans, and to hedge their bets as PSY image is not all that strong yet.
As to the eposide 12 thing, I think it will go back in time to the two past couples and their story. This will really make it look like a different drama. Which I think JS will be a fresh and carefree person unlike now. If this does happen, I hope it is only for 2 episodes, since this is a 16 eposide and unlikely to extend due to its low ratings.
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47 Lan
June 29, 2010 at 5:42 AM
The folks at Soompi had really good observations and had pointed out that EY and JS in JS's car accident memory look different from EY and JS in EY's car accident memory back at the end of Episode 5. In EY's memory, she had a totally different hairstyle, with bang, and a light green ? shirt on, while JS had some long sleeve denim clothes on. In JS's memory however, EY was without bang, and both of their outfits were different - EY wearing smth black and not a shirt with collar, and JS in black polo? They also noticed that apart from EY's memory of the accident, EY was never seen wearing bang elsewhere - not in the college flashback, not in the college photos, and not in JS's memory.
So... editing mistake? PD mistake? It seems like they went the extra mile to give EY a new hairdo (the bang) in EY's memory, so why didn't keep it consistent? Or some other meanings, for example, like some people suggesting that there were 2 different accidents? One where JS's ex-wife survived, one when she didn't? Anything else?
Javabeans, any theory here?
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48 yen_nguyen
June 29, 2010 at 6:02 AM
@47: it sounds interesting, I hope someone give some explanation.!
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49 Bee
June 29, 2010 at 6:03 AM
@47 It can also be a case of different people remembering the same incident differently. The dark colors that JS remembers fit well into his mental state at the time of the accident, and the emotions he connects with that.
I daresay that, deep down, he's still stuck in that emotion.
In EY's memory, despite the bad things, there's still her positive feelings for herself and for JS.
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50 GrayZiLay
June 29, 2010 at 6:07 AM
Finally! Thanks a lot JB.. I felt revived again after weeks of waiting for your most awesome recaps to come.. Wee.. I certainly needed this one.. I love this drama and can't get enough of it.. You're a heaven-sent JB! ^^,
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