My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho: Episode 16 (Final)
by girlfriday
Dear Show,
How do I love Thee? Let me count the ways.
1. Your hero is Woongtastic.
2. Your heroine is the cutest thing since cats started having babies.
3. You do crazy things, but then you recover with The Cute.
4. You hurt, but you hurt so good.
5. You speed along like a bullet train, and make me wish time passed more slowly.
6. I find myself flipping through pictures of our time together, remembering you fondly.
7. You break my heart, and then put it back together again.
8. I can’t quit you, even if I tried.
9. You love me…just as I am.
FINAL EPISODE RECAP
After revealing her only remaining tail in the moonlight, Dae-woong asks her with angry tears, “Then…you’re still dying?” The thought that this is only occurring to him now makes me want to smack him with a large encyclopedia. She responds that she couldn’t give up the desire to become human.
Emo Hair is busy staring holes into the sandglass of mystical ki, which he has put upright again. He watches as Mi-ho’s life slowly pours out, leaving very little left. He begs for her to hold on a little longer. Is that the best you can do? Don’t you have any mystical powers other than your glowy knife and milky skin? Now’s the time to break them out, Highlander Boy. We’re in the finale.
Dae-woong can’t believe she’s still dying. After everything he had to do to let her go, she’s STILL dying. Yeah. Hence the moniker Noble Idiot. Don’t you watch dramas? Mi-ho says that it’s not just because of love—she couldn’t give up the desire to become human, and she feared that by his side, she’d have done anything to stay alive, even take the rest of his life if she became desperate.
At that, he gets up and puts her hand on his chest, saying, “Then take it. Take it all.” Ack! Crushing. My. Soul.
She looks down, stricken, pulling away from him. That’s treating her exactly like what she doesn’t ever want to be—a monster. Dae-woong doesn’t care—he’ll do anything to save her life. He says that she’s a scary gumiho, and he’s a human under her spell, so she should play the role and just take his life. He grabs her by the wrist (gah) and yells at her to take it.
Mi-ho can’t even look him in the eye as she steps away. She says he really is an immature human, and that she’ll come back then, and really take his life. She leaves him with a half-hearted death threat.
She returns to Dong-joo and confesses to removing her fox bead. He reels at the realization that since the moment she came to him, she had already given up. She can’t become human, or even half like him, so this is the extent of what she can do, to protect Dae-woong. She asks him to return the bead to Dae-woong, and lie to him so that he’ll take it back. Great. Just what we need. Two Noble Idiots running about.
Dong-joo meets Dae-woong on a rooftop and feeds him the lie—if he takes the bead back, and fills it with the rest of his ki, Dong-joo will kill him at the end of the hundred days and return the bead to Mi-ho, saving her. He starts to say that he understands if he hestitates…
…and Dae-woong downs the bead in one shot. Without so much as an ounce of fear or hesitation, he tells Dong-joo to come to kill him alone, and to make sure that he returns the bead to Mi-ho safely. As if I didn’t already love you enough, you’re going all gallant-knight-in-shining-armor on me now. How’s a recapper to stay focused with all of the swooning?
As Dae-woong leaves, Mi-ho appears around the corner, having witnessed it all. Thank heavens for that. Dong-joo is floored from Dae-woong’s unflinching conviction to give up his life for Mi-ho. I love that wimpy Dae-woong became the kind of person to shake up Dong-joo’s belief that humanity is selfish and weak.
Mi-ho comes up to him, smiling as she gives him a big fat I-told-you-so, about her fantasy-love being the real deal. Aw. But then she continues to be a Noble Idiot, insisting that they go far away, and never appear in front of Dae-woong again.
Show, are you TRYING to kill me?
Dae-woong prepares to give up his life for Mi-ho, as Mi-ho prepares to leave. He cries, as he regrets not being able to be there for her, but is satisfied with being able to protect her with his life. Dong-joo watches him from afar, amazed at his bravery in this act of love.
Dong-joo shows up at the airport to meet Mi-ho, and he asks her one last time if this is what she really wants. He tells her that he thought love was doing what the other person wanted, but then regretted it for a thousand years. He swore to never make that mistake again, but this time, he’s retracing his steps. So he did the only thing he could do to protect her, because even if he gave his own life, it wouldn’t save her. Well, that answers that question.
He told Dae-woong the truth. APPLAUSE for Dog Teacher!
Mi-ho’s eyes fill with tears, as she hears him acknowledge that their love is true. “Why did you do that? You’re cruel. I hate you. But…thank you.” Aw. He tells her that he’s not the one to stay by her side till the end. That person…is right there…
Dae-woong runs into the airport right on cue. Dong-joo tells her to go to him, and leaves them to fate. Well, you didn’t actually turn out to be very useful, mystically, but points for killing the Noble Idiots, anyway.
Mi-ho goes to Dae-woong, who says with tears and trembly lips:
Dae-woong: You’re really…a terrible evil gumiho. You put a human under your spell and took his ki, and now you’re ripping his heart to shreds, you scary gumiho!
Mi-ho: I’m sorry. But even if being with me is scary and painful, can I stay by your side?
He pulls her in for a hug, as Mi-ho finally lets herself cry in his arms. Gawd, these two kill me. I’m such a sucker for the angry blurting of hurtful things to mask true feelings.
At the temple, the monk explains the painting to a group of ladies, as he recounts the promise the Samshin Grandmother made to the gumiho: if she found a husband to give his life for her, she would allow her to live in this world. One of the ladies turns around, musing to herself that a promise is a promise…
Ten points for Team Samshin Grandma! You are free to take your victory lap now.
She appears to Dong-joo first, as she asks him what he thinks is right: “I’m sorry,” (Gil-dal’s last words) or “Thank you,” (Mi-ho’s last words to him). He smiles as he realizes who she is, and says that “Thank you” is the right answer. She smiles as she tells him that he’s fine then. Sad that it took him a thousand years for Mi-ho’s thank-you to heal the wound from Gil-dal’s “I’m sorry,” but it’s a nice bookend for his character.
Dae-woong and Mi-ho walk hand-in-hand, but their happiness takes a dip as they walk past an elderly couple, knowing that they’ll never make it that far. They tell each other, “Right now, being with you—is the greatest happiness.”
They return to their loft and eat together. Dae-woong tries to get her to eat kimchi, which she doesn’t like, but he insists that she’s got to, if she’s Korean. Yeah, that’s what my parents used to tell me when I was a kid and didn’t like kimchi. It’s cultural identity peer pressure! She asks for a kiss on the cheek if she eats it, and he offers her one on the lips, so she plans to eat up all the kimchi on the table. Yay, Cute, you’re back! We’ve missed you!
Mi-ho shows him the tea set that she bought for Aunt Min-sook’s wedding gift, and he praises her for knowing his aunt’s taste. She wonders if it’s not right for Director Ban, but Dae-woong tells her that it’s better for the man to match his tastes to his wife’s. Okay, can I marry you now?
They wonder if they should’ve bought a set for themselves, but then realize the heartbreaking fact that they’ll never be married and picking out china. Mi-ho makes an excuse about them being too breakable, and decides that they should buy ones that don’t break so easily. Dae-woong agrees: “Let’s get ones that never ever break.”
It’s Min-sook’s wedding day, and while the bride worries about her nervous farting habit, Director Ban shows up in his usual trenchcoat-and-sunglasses garb. Really, Chow Yun-fat Lite to your own wedding, huh? But thankfully Dae-woong intervenes and helps him out of his nervousness, calling him Uncle.
The wedding commences, where of course the point is not so much the bride and groom, as it is the best man and maid of honor, making moon eyes at each other. Samshin Grandma makes an appearance in the crowd, eyeing the pair with an air of disapproval and worry.
As Grandpa gives Min-sook away, she trips and Director Ban catches her, asking if the baby is okay. Whoops. Egg’s out of the bag. Grandpa rejoices, and everyone cheers.
After the wedding, Mi-ho walks around and stops when she sees a bride and groom dressed in traditional hanboks, and remembers her own lonely wait as a bride five hundred years ago. Dae-woong asks if she regrets not meeting her match then, but she of course doesn’t regret a thing, since she had to be trapped in that painting to meet Dae-woong now.
Knowing how much she’s always wanted to be a bride, he takes her by the hand and gets her some red dots for her cheeks, and they take a picture to commemorate it. Adorable.
Later, Mi-ho puts the picture in her album, as she declares to the universe, “In five hundred years, I’ve finally found my groom. Because he loves me so so so so so much, he can give me everything. I’ve found him.”
The fateful hundredth day arrives, and Dae-woong tells himself that he won’t count the time, or cry, and that he’ll spend this last day with her in happiness. He swallows back his tears and puts on a brave face. There’s…something…in my…eye.
He comes out and asks if there’s anywhere she wants to go. She asks if he isn’t tired, since they haven’t slept for days. (From wanting to spend every waking moment together? That’s so cute!) She takes out the lotion that Dae-woong bought her, and puts some on his face, and the look in his eyes…Oh my god, now I’m really crying. Gah! People crying buckets of tears does not move me as much as someone trying their damnedest NOT to cry…it crushes my heart into pulp.
They wonder what they should do, thinking that maybe they should replay their first date and go see a movie…except the only passes Dae-woong has are all for future days. They decide to go see the chicken shop ajumma, but then she’s away in the country, so she won’t be back till tomorrow. Ack, their struggle to find something to do on their last day without acknowledging the pain is so heartbreaking.
Dae-woong wonders why everyone, even Aunt Min-sook and Grandpa, are away until tomorrow. Mi-ho then finally says the words out loud: “Tomorrow…I won’t be here.”
They decide to go to the fountain that Mi-ho likes, except when they show up, it’s off for repairs, until…yup, you guessed it…TOMORROW. Mi-ho says it’s okay, but it’s enough to put Dae-woong over the edge. He starts shaking as he says it has to be today, and walks off, angry.
With his back turned so that Mi-ho can’t see, he cries. She watches him, knowing what a brave face he’s putting on for her benefit. He pushes his tears back, and then turns around, smiling as he reaches out his hand to her. I swear, I’m not crying. I’m NOT!
They go home and light some fireworks, and Mi-ho lights up in glee. They spend the rest of their night in the gym, because that’s the place where Dae-woong saw her true nature, for the first time.
Mi-ho: Were you really that scared, back then?
Dae-woong: Yes. But as scared as I was then, I’m a hundred times more…right now.
He clutches her hand. She covers his eyes as he starts to cry. Tears streaming down her face, she tells him to think of it all as a dream, from the moment she appeared. That way, when he opens his eyes, it won’t hurt. They cry, with her covering his eyes to keep him from having to watch her disappear.
Dae-woong: Don’t go.
Mi-ho: Forget all the scary stuff. And remember me as a really really really really good dream.
With that, she gives him a kiss, and her tail comes out in the moonlight. It fades away, as the last grains of sand trickle down in the hourglass, and just like that, Mi-ho disappears.
Dae-woong uncovers his eyes to see that she’s gone, and his sad tears turn to angry ones, as he says to himself, “A dream? When I open my eyes, it won’t hurt?! It hurts this much…how can you be a dream?”
He slumps to the ground, sobbing. If there’s any more sadness to be had, I’m going to have to borrow someone else’s tears, because I’m fresh out of my own.
Back at the temple, Samshin Grandma has returned to the painting.
Dae-woong wakes up the next morning in the gym, having cried himself to sleep in that position. He realizes that she’s gone and left him there all alone, and he refuses to let it go that way. He runs, as he says in voiceover:
Dae-woong: Mi-ho-ya, you must be crying, but it doesn’t rain anymore when you cry. No matter how sad you are, I have no way of knowing…because you’re not here anymore. Mi-ho is gone. Mi-ho is gone. Mi-ho…is gone.
He cries her name out one last time, and then…stands in the path of an oncoming truck. WHAT? WTF Dae-woong?! Aaaaaaaargh!
He lies there in the street, still conscious, as he cries a tear. It starts to rain, and he clutches his heart, happy that she’s still here, somewhere in the universe. Can you please be happy AFTER you attend to your gaping head wound?! Show, you’ve been itching to pull some crazy stunt like this, haven’t you? Are you testing me?
I suppose since he has the friggin’ fox bead, he’s not going to die or anything. But still. Reckless, party of one?
Dong-joo and Samshin Grandma sit in the park, and Dong-joo asks what she’ll do with Mi-ho. She says that she can’t return a gumiho who’s lost her nine tails and given her ki to a human, but says that if they wait, perhaps the heavens will intervene.
Some months later, Dae-woong’s movie comes out and it’s a big hit, making him and Hye-in stars. Aunt Min-sook has her baby, Byung-soo and Sun-nyeo are dating. Dae-woong lands on the cover of magazines, and Hye-in shoots a CF with…Hong-ki? Hong-ki! We’ve missed you! What’re you doing here, puppy? He’s here as Jeremy, of course, although it’s unfortunate that he’s here alone to represent A.N.Jell. Well, you were my favorite anyway, so I’m pleased as punch.
Sun-nyeo knows that Hye-in has a crush on him, so she tells her to get off her high horse and do something about it…otherwise she’ll end up like she did with Dae-woong. That’s enough to scare her, so she swallows her pride and practices Mi-ho’s tactic: “I really, really, really, really like you.” Complete with finger guns. Ha.
Byung-soo has come up in the world too, making his own movies. He shows Dae-woong the script he wrote, using his idea—a love story between a human and a ghost. Dae-woong tells him it’s supposed to be a gumiho, but Byung-soo balks that a gumiho requires too much CG, for nine tails. He went with ghost instead. HA. I love the meta.
Dong-joo appears on the set, and Dae-woong is pleased to see him. He’s still posturing, of course, because he’s Dae-woong, but they’re friendly as they catch up. Dong-joo is a professor now, having decided to live amongst people. He asks if Dae-woong is still waiting. He clutches his heart, saying of course he’s waiting…because she’s not gone yet.
Dong-joo tells him that today there will be an eclipse. “The sun and the moon—they can’t exist in the same space. But they break that rule, and come together, in the eclipse.” Nice imagery.
He tells Dae-woong that it’ll come today, the day when the heavens go crazy. Sure enough, as the eclipse begins, Dae-woong’s phone starts ringing. Only he realizes it’s not his phone, but Mi-ho’s. He answers it, and it’s Mi-ho, using the eclipse to speak to him.
He runs around looking for her, asking her where she is, but she just answers that she’s watching him, and that she’s close to him. The eclipse passes, and their connection is lost. Dae-woong and I both curse the heavens for their cheap trick, and he sheds a tear, asking angrily if that was it.
He cries in disbelief. And then, from a distance, he hears her voice. “Woong-ah!” He looks up, and Mi-ho stands there, calling his name. Hooray~!
He walks over to her, not knowing if he’s hallucinating, and pokes her face, just to be sure. She cries a tear at his touch. He asks if she’s a ghost, and she’s about to answer, but he hugs her, saying it doesn’t matter.
Dae-woong: It doesn’t matter if you’re a ghost, or a gumiho, or a person. It doesn’t matter. It’s enough that you’re in front of me. If you’re back, that’s enough.
Gah, it rivals: “Whether you’re a man or an alien.” Really. Such a perfect thing to say to her.
That night, they return to the loft and sit together in the moonlight. She asks if he isn’t curious whether she’s returned as a human or a gumiho. He says it doesn’t matter, but he is curious. Mi-ho: “The moon is out and everything. Should we do a round of hoi-hoi and find out?” YES PLEASE.
Dae-woong’s pleased to see that she’s tail-less, which makes Mi-ho upset that he’s not actually fine if she’s still a gumiho. She confesses to having one tail left, as she wraps it around his waist, with her best come-hither look in her eyes.
Now THAT’s what I’m talkin’ ’bout.
They get snuggly, as Dae-woong says in voiceover, “As always, my girlfriend, she’s still…a fox.” Haha. Cute!
GIRLFRIDAY’S COMMENTS
What a great resolution. It would have left me unsatisfied, if she just became human, and didn’t retain any of her gumiho-ness. I love that Dae-woong’s ultimate confession of love is that it doesn’t matter what supernatural creature she is—he just loves her, for being her. It’s the best kind of declaration in my book, because he adores her exactly as she is, no more, no less.
I honestly wasn’t expecting this much angst in the finale, because I thought the mystical whozit would get resolved earlier, but I don’t mind it at all, because the angst actually played out so beautifully, and moved my ice-encased heart to tears. I thought that knowing they’d get a happy ending would have lessened my reaction to their last day, but it turned out not to matter—what moved me was the fact that they didn’t know it wouldn’t be their last day. So their brave front in the face of such crushing loss was epic, and romantic.
What I love about a story like this (and why my heart belongs to Buffy) is that the mystical mumbo jumbo is just a device—it’s a metaphor on a large scale that allows the high-concept life-or-death choices to drive the story, while forcing characters to face basic questions about mortality, self, sacrifice, and love. Their epic love story can have the dramatic tension found in all dramas, but the supernatural element provides a framework to justify the angst—it’s story-driven, and calls out Fate as the main operator in the universe, whereas other dramas use the same elements without giving the same level of narrative justification.
It’s my own bias, for sure, since this kind of story isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. But for me? This show owns me, heart and soul. I may have found a new favorite. Of. All. Time.
JAVABEANS’ COMMENTS
I agree with everything Girlfriday just said, but still, I must offer a slightly different take on the ending and the drama as a whole. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed so much about this drama. But I think my reaction to the wrap-up is a bit less enthused.
A few criticisms:
As you well know, I’m a big fan of the Hong sisters. I’ve seen all their dramas, I’ve enjoyed all their pairings, and laughed at their jokes. They have a way of telling fun, funny stories in an accessible way that doesn’t talk down to you or try to be what it was never meant to be. Their style can dip into slapstick or hammy humor, but it never gets pretentious. Major kudos for that.
That said, there is a difference between a trademark and a crutch. The Hongs do both, and while I love the former, the latter can suck the zest out of a show.
Hong sisters trademarks: Pop culture parodies. A middle-aged couple finding love. Tongue-in-cheek references to famous dramas and/or movies. Cute catchphrases (“Bassha,” ‘I lub you,” “hoi-hoi,” “kkoraji hagoneun,” “You will be blessed”) and quirky-cute terms for things (“cow” rather than beef, “bubble-fizz water” instead of soda).
Crutches, on the other hand, are what you get when writers fall back on certain plot devices, conflicts, or resolutions, which feels more like a lack of creativity than an intentional callback. That’s why in my book, Delightful Girl Chun-hyang will always be my favorite Hong sisters drama, because everything was fresh, fun, and new back then. My Girl was super-peppy and entertaining, but it doesn’t rank as high in my book because there were certain recycled elements from DGCH that lacked the fresh factor. They broke with those patterns, thankfully, for Fantasy Couple — which is why I have a lot of respect for that drama even if it’s my least favorite of theirs. Hong Gil Dong took them further from their stable of favorite cliches and setups, but then You’re Beautiful brought a portion of them right back. (As in, extended separations, overhyped melodrama forcing the couple apart, dastardly meddlers, toxic parents, hapless second leads who never get the girl.)
What worked marvelously the first time doesn’t hold up as well the fourth time around, which is what I felt with the past few episodes. Like with Dae-woong following Mi-ho around (which we saw in DGCH and My Girl) and one character telling a huge lie to spare the other pain, which ends up keeping them apart (also from both DCGH and My Girl). I adore these writers, but for their next drama they’re really going to have to explore some untrod territory.
THAT SAID, I actually think Gumiho works despite those recycled elements because its fantasy angle is SO interesting and clever. By giving the conflict a true life-or-death gravitas, these elements are given a bit of a twist, so ultimately I accept them. I just can’t feel excited about them.
Regarding the ending: I’m generally satisfied, or at least as satisfied as I can be with a huge deus ex machina swooping in to save the day. As far as deus ex machinas go, it was done pretty well — I’m glad that they didn’t have Samshin Grandma merely wave a mystical wand and bring Mi-ho back, as I feared about halfway through this episode. If she did that, all the angst and conflict of the previous several episodes would have been moot, and that would have made me bitter. No, we are told that even in this fantasy world, there are supernatural laws, and Mi-ho cannot come back since she has given literally everything of herself. So only in this freak occurrence when “heaven goes crazy,” when the sun meets the moon, does she have a chance of crossing the cosmic divide and rejoining Dae-woong. But he has to earn it by waiting for her steadfastly, and it appears that a few years have passed since she disappeared.
I appreciate that the angsting had a narrative purpose (other than to keep them apart), because both had to prove that they would give up their lives for each other in a real, tangible way rather than just saying that they would in hypothetical scenarios (as Mi-ho tried to get Dae-woong to do). The lore says that only when the gumiho meets a man who is willing to give up everything can she step into the human world. They had to go through that trial by fire so that in the end, there is not a shadow of a doubt that they earned their happily ever after.
RELATED POSTS
- My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho: Episode 15
- My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho: Episode 14
- My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho: Episode 13
- My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho: Episode 12
- My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho: Episode 11
- My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho: Episode 10
- My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho: Episode 9
- My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho: Episode 8
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- Who will cameo next on Gumiho Girlfriend?
- My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho: Episode 6
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- My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho: Episode 4
- My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho: Episode 3
- My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho: Episode 2
- My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho: Episode 1
- Pop Culture: Gumiho
Tags: featured, Lee Seung-gi, My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho, Shin Mina
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51 wike
September 30, 2010 at 9:33 PM
i'm crying like a baby. . not just a cheapy sobbing but an expensive big cry! i really love this drama did a great job in emotional touche. . i love hoi couple so so so so so much.. aah, the sly Hye in did the recommended love shot to Jeremy? hahaha i lol-ing after crying.. so finally our LOVELY MI HO still a fox.. I really love Dae WOOG words ''it doesn't matter if u're a ghost or a gumiho or a ghost. it's enough u are in front of me now'' that's so WONGASTIC! ~sorry for borow ur word. lol! Love u so so so much WOONG AH!
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Kaitlyn
October 1, 2010 at 8:52 AM
i am a little confused but judging by the posts here so far, i assume she's a human??
he said "my girlfriend is a fox", didn't say "gumiho" so it just meant that she seduced him hence she's a fox (meaning she's human) and not a gumiho any more?
right?
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sheino
October 1, 2010 at 3:08 PM
i think she's half...not a gumiho anymore coz she only got 1 tail.,which that made her a fox...
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52 Grace
September 30, 2010 at 9:34 PM
Thanks for the recaps! <3
I teared while reading this.. I'll have to prepare lotsa tissue paper when I watch this episode!
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53 autumn93
September 30, 2010 at 9:35 PM
Thanks for the recap!! Girlfriday, your recaps are always awesome to read and you're just too witty and funny!! Javabeans, your added commentaries caused me to ROFL! Yes, I also "may have found a new favorite. Of. All. Time." lol It was just such a well written, heartfelt, adorable and anything in between! I haven't enjoyed a drama like this is a ling time! This series had so many things that you never see in a k drama like honesty among characters (this ignoring last three eps lol), a female character who is straightforward and direct about her feelings who's not a damsel in distress and is not afraid to show her sexual desires. There's just to many to name!!! This show was very fresh and great to watch!! I feel so empty and sad now that MGIAG is over!!! What is there to look forward to in the k-drama department on Wednesdays and Thursdays now?
BTW, does anyone know if there will be special for this like will ngs, bts and interviews with the cast members similar to the goong one??
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54 kdlover
September 30, 2010 at 9:36 PM
Overall I like this series..but as someone else posted all the hong sisters drama always starts strong and end kinda weak!!! I have to agree...i didnt anticipate the later ep as much!!
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55 SecretAddiction
September 30, 2010 at 9:37 PM
Waaaahhh!!! It's over!!! I'll miss them so much. Thanks so much for the recap girlfriday and javabeans!!!
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56 midge
September 30, 2010 at 9:37 PM
wait, so if shes still not a human... then she's immortal? that'll be weird since he'll grow old and she'll stay the same.
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Azafran
September 30, 2010 at 9:43 PM
If you notice, her tail has now become white and furry like a foxes, not a nine tailed fox, so she's still a fox, i think, but not immortal. She will live and die like a fox!
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midge
September 30, 2010 at 11:38 PM
phew cuz i was thinking, oh we're back to square one.
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danna
October 1, 2010 at 12:29 AM
naaaah i think they just did that for the laughs...i hope
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57 crazedlu
September 30, 2010 at 9:37 PM
loved it! i was actually able to watch this one. loved it all. i understand your (jb) criticism and agree, but i still loved it. =D i really wonder what the hong sisters will pull out next. it was LOADS, and i mean LOADS, better than "you're beautiful." i'm excited for their next project.
i LOVED their execution.. writers and actors.
shin mina did her thing. i mean, she was incredible as gu miho. when they went through the casting and all these names started showing up in articles, i was nervous about them all (especially sandara park 8/). i wasn't too thrilled about shin mina but i didn't mind her because i thought she was a solid actor. and well, she was amazing. i bet she captured the hong sister's gu miho perfectly. lee seung gi did well too. not as well shin mina, but i loved him as daewoong and am glad they casted him.
anyways, loved it. and thanks again for the recaps, jb and gf. they kept me afloat. ^^
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58 MSA
September 30, 2010 at 9:39 PM
I was expecting grandma to come into the picture (or, well, *out* of it in this case) ever since episode 1, so I'm really really really happy they used her - even though I actually wanted Mi Ho to see her, hehe.
As for the ending... some things I didn't like (Truck, WTF), but all in all I liked it. A lot. Specially for the second leads - I think this is the first time I've gone from hating to loving them or, at least, y'know, liking them. And I'm so so so so so happy for Mi Ho and Dae Woong, obviously.
In plan of "I see what you did there~", I recognized the 'crutches' JB was talking about, and I surprised myself when I realized that they didn't bother me at all - well, not more than normally, that is - because I liked these characters and this story so much more. To be frank, and as much of a fan of the Sister Hongs I may be, I hate My Girl with a passion of a thousand burning suns. And what seemed stupid, childish, absolutely unnecessary in My Girl suddendly turned into necessary evil here.
Thanks for the recaps, girls!!!!!!!!!!! I was dying to read it :DD
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59 cattey
September 30, 2010 at 9:39 PM
This recap made my entire day!! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! This series will be missed along with all its Cute. Again, thank you, Girlfriday and Javabeans for the brilliant recaps! I love Dramabeans!!
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60 oh! tht! chick!
September 30, 2010 at 9:39 PM
am i the only heartless thing not to have cried at all? sure i felt sad for them but i did not cry not even a lil bit...in terms of angst i think ep 14 was the best i was bawling like mad for tht ...
im ok with the ending i guess...the serial as such was cute but its not going to break into my top kdrama list like yab did after i finished it ( and it stayed there for sometime before i forgot abt it...) u know what i mean right...the sad feeling tht u get after watching a really awesome drama tht itd over...it did happen with this one :( but shin min ah u've earned urself a loyal fan babe! she was nom nom nom nom nom cute! i think ill remember her the most from the show and thats saying something for oppa/ahjushi crazy moi :P
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HOIHOIHOIHOIHOILOVE
September 30, 2010 at 10:20 PM
I hope you're the only one.
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61 serenity56
September 30, 2010 at 9:40 PM
it was a well made drama.. from the casting to the story and it lived up to the expectations of the audience... without a question, the hong sisters really know how to please the right viewers.
my guess turned out to be wrong by the way.. Dong joo didn't sacrifice his life..
nevertheless, i am so happy coz from there, Dongjoo and i will live happily ever after. har har.
nice. nice.
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nara:)
October 1, 2010 at 3:46 AM
not so fast serenity56! i thought i already gave you a heads up in Episode 14's recap! LOL
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62 Azafran
September 30, 2010 at 9:41 PM
This ending rocked although i was sad that we didn't get to see them carry out their life plans of jakjigi-ing, marrying, having kids and living happily forever after! It was implied in the last scene but still a shame we couldn't be a part of it since we've seen them go through so much and mature! You get so attached to these characters! I could watch LSG and SMA as DW and MH for episodes on end just being the cute, lovey dovey couple that they were!!!
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63 pv
September 30, 2010 at 9:42 PM
Thank you girlfriday and javabeans for your hard work. I love my gf is a gumiho. It's one of my top favorite now. (=
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64 rosesarered
September 30, 2010 at 9:43 PM
Loveeet! Thank you very much for all the excellent recaps :)
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65 Diana
September 30, 2010 at 9:44 PM
I've stayed up all night to wait for this recap so, I can sleep peacefully :p I'm so happy with the ending, however, it sucks that this show has ended :( This show has seriously made my day every week with its comedy and romance. Great job recappers! (: Hopefully there'll be greater drams to come that can make me this happy and get my mind of things!
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66 ilukd
September 30, 2010 at 9:44 PM
wow .. what the ending ... thanks Girlfriday and Javabeans for such a Woongtastic and foxy review ... love you so much .... our destination of this drama has came to end but who cares ... we had wonderful time together ... we laughed.... we cried.... this drama got to be one of my best .... almost no 1 .... WOW thanks Hong Sister .....
Last but not the least just want to say
i really really really really like Shin Minha as a Gumiha ... for me She is born to play this character ..... She did a wonderful job .. Hats off to you ... And To LEE SEUNG GI ......my love for you has grown 1000 times more than yesterday .... may god bless you all
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67 Lucky
September 30, 2010 at 9:45 PM
I love this drama to bits, but DGCH will always be my fav. Thanks JB and GF for the recaps! I'm also dying to find out how you guys rate this show!
I have to admit that I wasn't very satisfied with the ending. It was a bit forced, with that "Heaven goes crazy" thing. It seemed like they were going to kill Miho, but the viewers wanted a happy ending. They couldn't come up with another ending, so they decided to throw in a mystical explanation, because that always solves everything. >.<
That said, if Miho had actually died, I would probably boycott future Hong Sisters dramas out of spite. I'm so hard to please, I know.
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Lucky
September 30, 2010 at 9:50 PM
Oh, and my perfect ending definitely consists of some jjajigi (sp?)
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midge
September 30, 2010 at 11:33 PM
lol
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68 celestialorigin
September 30, 2010 at 9:47 PM
Thanks for the beautiful recap!
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69 SoloJacen
September 30, 2010 at 9:47 PM
I saw the recap up but I didn't dare to read it until I watched the episode.... Loved it.
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70 cheanne
September 30, 2010 at 9:48 PM
Love it very much...Thank you for filling my addiction......You are the best......
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71 K4Ice4Thu
September 30, 2010 at 9:49 PM
*eyes are raw* I bawled pretty much this entire episode and I still can't really watch it w/o bawling..
I honestly haven't watched a drama in a while that truly broke my heart even while making laugh like this one. It's also been quite a while since I've been THIS OBSESSED with a drama that I would actually stream it live, download it, and rewatch it over and over..
Although the Hong Sisters do use crutches, I can't help but feel that they still get to me everytime lols..
Hong Sisters..thank you for a happy ending - w/o that, I would've probably sworn off kdramas in a fit of anger (kinda like how i almost did after HGD if it wasn't for Who Are You lols). Lee Seung Gi (I heart you to pieces), Shin Mina (wow you've totally become my girl crush XD) and all of the cast (yeah, that includes Emo Vet & Evil Noona) and crew put together an awesome drama. Great chemistry=WIN
Its been a fabulous ride and 16 fantastic recaps from Javabeans and girlfriday so props and the best cow for you ladies!!! 너무너무너무너무너무너무..너무너무 좋아! XDDD
CAN'T WAIT TILL THE DVD COMES OUT! *crosses fingers for a special edition* 호이호이! 내여자친구는 구미호 대박!!
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72 memei
September 30, 2010 at 9:50 PM
I was waiting for your recap so badly that I decided to just give my patient an aerobics video as therapy hahaha, so I can check from time to time if its up. Anyways, I think the part where dae-woong got himself hit by a truck was just his way of affirming if miho's still with him through the fox bead.
I watched the episode raw hours ago and I was crying buckets even though I didn't understand a word. Haha. Dae-woong's misty eyes were enough to cue me when to cry.
Again, thanks girls for the recap. Weee!
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Meosles
September 30, 2010 at 9:57 PM
The part where he got hit by a truck reminded me of the ending of Autumn in My Heart, an ending which I really hated. I am sooooo glad they didn't end the show this way. It would have ruined the show for me.
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Bownie!
October 1, 2010 at 11:43 AM
It totally reminded me of Autumn in My Heart tooo!!!
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73 Birdie
September 30, 2010 at 9:50 PM
Thanks for the recaps, jb and gf. I really really really really enjoyed reading your recaps. You had made the drama more fun than it really is. I mean ,on the whole it was entertaining,and the ending was satisfactory for all concerned.
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74 ank
September 30, 2010 at 9:51 PM
Thanks for the recaps to both JB and GF!!! I am enjoying all the summaries of MGIAG (well, and your other ones) tremendously.
Cried so much when DW found MH gone at the GYM. Lee Seung Gi is soooo good!
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75 Lahlita
September 30, 2010 at 9:52 PM
Girlfriday and Javabeans: These last two months have been so splendid. Watching this drama along with you really made it for me. I got so caught up in your enthusiasm and this has been such a fabulous party. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Also? DAMN, you ladies know how to write! It's too amazing the way you both wield words and wit. And stuff. :-) I am not ashamed of my fangirling!
Now, on to the drama:
1) So, Woong-ah and Mi-ho never actually had hot man-on-miho hoi-hoi in the drama! At least not that we saw! What the eff is that ish? Sixteen episodes of coqteasing? Bad Hong Sisters!
2) I think Lee Seung-gi and Shin Mina displayed the best chemistry I have ever seen in my life. It rivals/surpasses Gong Yoo and Yoon Eun-hye. They were just so in tune from the very first episode. I hope they stay close because you can't fake that connection. God, they were cute.
3) I cried so hard I almost caused a tropical storm. None of that there's-something-in-my-eye crap this time. I was flat out bawling!
4) That's all. I wanted to write something outrageously intelligent and insightful for the finale recap, but I've got nothing. This drama made me sad, then gloriously happy. It broke my heart, then healed it, like a fox bead. It was perfection.
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From Guam
September 30, 2010 at 10:17 PM
I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE YOUR COMMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I FEEL THE EXACT SAME WAY!!! ^____^
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yellowmum
September 30, 2010 at 11:47 PM
aside from loving gf and jbs recaps, i also love reading your comments. i can feel the passion!
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viola
October 1, 2010 at 7:37 AM
In reference to #1, I knoww right?! when they were trying to find something to do together I was screaming at them internally..... hello hoi hoi?!!
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76 Vee
September 30, 2010 at 9:52 PM
Thanks for the lovely recaps...
I'm gonna miss "hoi coupLe" !!!
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77 nadiyah
September 30, 2010 at 9:53 PM
thank you SHOW!
love the ending twist....thinking that miho already disappear but then, she showed up.....
nomu nomy nomu nomu nomu jo ah....
shin min ah has done a great job of potraying a gumiho... (a cute one of course)hah!!!love her...
lee seung gi was marvelous!!! i had never found such a realistic act before....because of you... i cried my heart out..
seung gi you are a wonderful actor!!!
Mr fox hunter who was known for his hotness....Haha... yeah maybe you are very good looking guy... but still in this SHOW i fell in love with seunggi... i guess looks sometimes did not influence my interest. but thank you Dong joo song saeng?
Hye in was cute i guess...haha... anyway good luck with jeremy...
SHOW..im going to miss you...seunggi and min ah
SHOW! you are DAEBAK!!
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78 xiaoSxin
September 30, 2010 at 9:53 PM
what can I say.. this episode really bawled my eyes over.. red and puffy..
thanks for the recaps.. I really enjoyed JB's and GF's take on each episode plus their little comments on the side.
thanks Hong Sisters.. this drama is definitely WOONGTASTIC!!
I say.
I. LOVE. LEE. SEUNG. GI.
*squeal!*
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79 Severine
September 30, 2010 at 9:54 PM
I just broke the record for number of times cried in one episode. *sniffle sniffle*
Thanks for the lightning-fast recap and all of your hard work! You guys are the best.
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80 wonderbea
September 30, 2010 at 9:58 PM
Awesome job, Girlfriday and Javabeans. I enjoyed this drama immensely, and even more so after reading your recaps. Like the both of you, I cried buckets. But tears of anguish and pain turned into tears of joy in the end. My Girlfriend Is A Gumiho is now my all-time favorite :D
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81
September 30, 2010 at 9:59 PM
wait...didn't daewoong received the bead from mi ho before? and if miho still have one tail thats mean she'll live longer than a normal person...then they both will live longer...like a true forever and ever happy ending right..LOL, am I right?
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apple a day
September 30, 2010 at 10:13 PM
it would be nice if this were true for them
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82 nicola
September 30, 2010 at 9:59 PM
omg cant beleive that was the final episode so sad!!
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83 ashi
September 30, 2010 at 10:01 PM
tanx for the nice recap
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84 sunshine
September 30, 2010 at 10:07 PM
This finale was actually a huge disappointment for me. I was fine with the whole lying thing even though we already had it last episode, because this time it served a purpose: it changed Dong Joo and it showed us that Dae Woong is, without hesitation, ready to give up his life for her. However, I just felt that the angst just dragged...and dragged...and draaaaaaaagggggggeddd.
I'm happy that Mi Ho returned in physical form and I liked how the last scene reflected their first meeting, but I didn't like it at the same time. If she didn't make the phone call, I would have been totally happy, but after she made the call, she kind of just...appeared. It just didn't feel like there was a punch to it. Like I said, if there was no call, that would've been fine because there would still be the punch. However, since they decided to use the call, I wish they would've just left it as the only connection these two have and only during eclipses. At first when I thought that's what was happening, I was definitely beating my chest going "Nooooooo!" but at the same time, I felt that it made sense. And it would echo the mythical romance genre, which is usually bittersweet.
One thing that I liked about this last episode was that it finally clicked for me what had happened to Dong Joo. In this episode (and a lot of the past ones), he mentions over and over again about regretting doing what his lover wanted and not trusting humans etc etc. There was a scene--I think it was when he gave Dae Woong the bead--when it flashes to him killing his lover and he talks about how the bead will kill him etc. Given the information that he's half-human, I think (and maybe it was obvious to everyone else) that he never gave his goblin lover's bead back to her which is why he ended up just killing her and he ended being half-human and why he's so angsty and why he can't trust humans, because he was a human and he failed.
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kfan13
September 30, 2010 at 10:22 PM
On your point about DJ, I don't think the drama ever pointed to the fact that DJ was Ga-Dil's human partner and betrayed her. He was potentially the hunter and helped Ga-Dil (and saved her human partner whoever that was), by killing her.....or atleast that's what I understand from the subs and recaps.
Anyone else have a take on this ?
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munchkim
September 30, 2010 at 10:40 PM
Agree with you. There was no mention of him being the "human" who betrayed Gil Dal. What I understood from the past recaps and from the subbed vids was that DJ killed Gil Dal not because he wants to but because it was what GD wants (since she can't let the human she loves die). And because he loves her, he did what she asked believing that "LOVE is doing whatever your loved one wants" (maybe...but not always).
Anyway, like he said, (killing GD) he regretted it for more than a thousand years... blah.. blah..
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85 AnnMichelle
September 30, 2010 at 10:07 PM
Dear JB and GF,
Thank you both for your wise words, tremendous knowledge, great hearts, and utter devotion.
I cried and cried and cried...
Then a big smile...
The world is whole again.
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86 maya
September 30, 2010 at 10:08 PM
thank you...this is sooooooo awesome.....
i love it 'so so so so so....much~~~~'
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87 apple a day
September 30, 2010 at 10:11 PM
I totally cried while watching the last episode!I think the ending was very satisfying and I really loved LSG's acting!This drama will definitely go on my list of favorites! :-)
I was also a nice touch seeing Jeremy and I pity him for being Hye-in's latest object of desire . LOL!
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88 From Guam
September 30, 2010 at 10:12 PM
Now that it's all over I feel like my fox bead is gone. *clutches my chest*
Saranghae Show!
You did it: You made me cried buckets for the second time (watched raw, watched subbed, read recap).. wait, that's three times. T_T
I'm so disoriented.. can't even count right.
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89 rose
September 30, 2010 at 10:14 PM
ah and it ended i gonna miss this drama and all the cuteness and adorability and all in between, hong sister are still the best in rom com hoping to see there drama soon.... i always fell in love with there lead actors but here i also really like the main actress
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90 sheenae
September 30, 2010 at 10:16 PM
tanx for a nice recap love it
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91 Isabella
September 30, 2010 at 10:17 PM
Thankyou show, javabeans and girlfriday!~ Until next time!
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92 serii
September 30, 2010 at 10:23 PM
Thank you so much javabeans & girlfriday for doing these recaps. I haven't watched the series (dumb, I know) but I just haven't had the time and your recaps help me feel as though I'm watching it and also notice things like symbolism, etc. that I probably wouldn't have noticed otherwise! Hehe.
THAT BEING SAID, CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP CLARIFY:
does mi-ho only appear when there is an eclipse (kinda like how pirates of the caribbean with orlando bloom & keira knightely type of scenario where they only get together once every ten years or whatever it is?) OR was mi-ho able to return to the world FOR GOOD when the eclipse happened?
Sorry, I'm just so confused!!!
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93 Betsy
September 30, 2010 at 10:24 PM
i have shred tons of tears just by reading this!! :)) thank youu!!! :D
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94 Jh
September 30, 2010 at 10:24 PM
Epic, insane, hilarious, cracktastic, etc. :D
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95 peet
September 30, 2010 at 10:25 PM
thank you so much for the recaps!!
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96 evelyn
September 30, 2010 at 10:26 PM
this is the cutest and sweetest drama ever.
there r some truly heart breaking scenes n it reli torn me apart but i didn't cry, jus feel sad.maybe it's becoz of when i think of the day they had together n it juz HEAL me automatically. lol
luckily dawoong din die coz hitting by a stupid car.when i saw he hit by the car i was LIKE WHAT?AUTUMN TALES AGAIN.THIS IS NOT HAPPENING MAN. but happy that it's not n is still alive.else it will be the most CREEPY ending ever.
even though the ending is far from realistic but still i love the happy ending.so u satisfafied me n become my fav k drama ever=)
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97 Osi
September 30, 2010 at 10:30 PM
Sob..sob..sob..
No more hoi-hoi couple on wed-thurs.
I feel so empty.
I'll miss MGIG.
I'll miss Woong.
I'll miss Miho.
I'll miss fox rain.
I'll miss aunt Min Sook and Director Ban.
I'll miss Grandpa.
I'll miss Su Nyeo and Byung Soo.
I'll even miss Dong Joo and Hye In.
I'll miss everything.
Hoi..hoi
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98 Bonnie
September 30, 2010 at 10:34 PM
I wasn't a big fan of the final episode but I thought it was a great and addictive drama overall. You're Beautiful just felt like fluff to me in comparison, and I actually haven't seen any other Hong Sisters dramas. (I love Kang Jihwan and so should probably see Hong Kil Dong, but now that I've heard there's a sad ending...meh).
I also hoped that it had been years instead of just months or 1 year that they had been apart, but I too felt annoyed when I saw that Dae-woong's aunt's baby was still pretty little. I was mostly annoyed because Dongju said he was a professor! I've been working on this PhD for 4 years already, dammit... (:
To answer someone's comment about it being unrealistic that people were looking directly at the sun during a solar eclipse- I've been in Korea for a solar eclipse and people were looking directly at the sun all around me, despite my protests. (I have to wonder how many people lost a good amount of their eyesight that day). So it wasn't actually unrealistic at all...
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99 sukideo
September 30, 2010 at 10:39 PM
I cried like a baby. O.M.G <3
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100 theedie
September 30, 2010 at 10:42 PM
@GF: when you say that this your favorite of all time...are you saying this trumps Kim Sam Soon???? 8O
also, am I the only one thinking "it's your last day together. You're having a hard time figuring out what to do. So....shouldn't you guys have sex?" XD
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girlfriday
September 30, 2010 at 10:55 PM
Seriously. If it was my last day on earth and he was my One True Love, there'd be some serious mating going on!
Oh, let's be real. If it were a day that ended in "y," that'd be the first thing on my list.
Does this trump Sam-soon? Guh....when you ask it so directly like that.....**shuffles feet**
I said "MAY," right? MAY be my favorite of all time. I can't be objective right now because this is the freshest in my mind. But given some time, I may be able to stack it against Coffee Prince and Sam-soon with some semblance of logic.
All I can say for sure right now is, it hits the same spot for me, drama-wise, that Buffy does. And Buffy is ACTUALLY my favorite, of ALL TIME. I just get to put k-dramas in a separate compartment, because, well, I make the rules in my own brain!
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xiaoSxin
September 30, 2010 at 11:13 PM
GF.. I was actually thinking the same thing after I read your recap!
When you said it MAY be your all time favorite.. I asked myself that question too.
SamSoon is my favorite drama of ALL TIME.. I'll watch this again after 1 month maybe then I can objectively rate its ranking on my list. I am very biased right now because I'm suffering from withdrawal symptoms of watching an addicting drama plus I am still very much intoxicated by the awesomeness of Lee Seung Gi.
He is definitely WOONGTASTIC!
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linkyo
October 1, 2010 at 9:21 AM
Agreed on the "things you do if it's the last day with your ONE TRUE LOVE" it's actually a lil bit ... Hm.. Weird? That they (DW MH) didn't think of it. Or maybe because mating would be a form of transferring Ki, so Miho don't want to do it...? Hah.
Anyway....
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