Sungkyunkwan Scandal: Episode 17

191 November 3, 2010January 24, 2016

by girlfriday

Hey, girlfriday here, back for another hit of Joseon Crack. What can I say? You take a free sample, and next thing you know, you’re pawning your mom’s tv for another hit.

In this episode, the mystery and political intrigue takes center stage, as the past comes back to start ripping our foursome apart. Love is in the air, but so is death and darkness, and it looks like the final battle is going to be: Noron and Soron, power and truth, and head vs. heart.

LESSON 17 RECAP

Our foursome gets un-blindfolded, to discover that they’ve been assembled there in the dead of night…by the king. Professor Jung outs himself as the King’s partner in crime and confidant, and the king gives the quartet a job to do. He shows them a map of Joseon and tells them of his dream to someday make this a country where there are no ruling classes, where people can freely do business and farm and where everyone lives as equals. Aw, I love you, Anachronistic King that Defies Time and Space! I do, I truly do.

He charges them with the task of finding a box—one that houses very important royal documents, that was last in the possession of Yoon-hee’s father and Jae-shin’s brother. It was the thing they were killed for. Jae-shin looks sidelong at Yoon-hee, knowing that this is the first she’s hearing about it.

Yoon-hee is the first to speak up, once they’re left alone to think it over. She declares that she must do this, because it’s her only chance to know a father whose face she can barely remember. She thinks if she retraces his last steps, that perhaps she’ll learn of the man that he was. She asks for their help.

Yong-ha asks Guh-ro what he wants to do. He sighs that he wants to see if the world that those people had dreamed of could be a reality…because one them was his brother. Yoon-hee’s eyes widen to learn the connection between their families.

They take out her father’s will, and discover that it’s a code, a word-puzzle of the kind that they know the professor favored. They crack it piece by piece, as Jae-shin watches silently, and when they decipher geum…deung… he finishes the rest of it for them: geum-deung-jisa. I love this code-cracking scene. We all know what’s coming, and yet it’s suspenseful and riveting, and visually engaging.

Yoon-hee: “Geum-deung-jisa? The thing that the Red Messenger always…” Pause. Pause. Lightbulb! Haha. I love this moment of…waaaiiit, oh that’s right…YOU’re the Red Messenger!

She looks up at him: “Did you know these things…all this time?” They ask if he knows where the geum-deung-jisa is.

Jae-shin says he plans to start looking today, because as Yoon-hee said, perhaps by retracing their last steps they’ll be able to figure it out. He tasks the two brains with cracking the rest of the code, since he hates stuff that makes his head hurt. Oh, you’re just trying to look cool. You’ve read all the books in Sungkyunkwan, you inner nerd!

He starts to leave, and Yong-ha calls out, “What about me?” He looks back, pretending to be annoyed, “What do you think?” as he grabs him by the neck and drags him along. Aw. You two.

Once outside, Yong-ha asks what on earth this geum-deung-jisa is about, and why they’re looking so hard for it. Jae-shin fills him in on the details of what he knows: that the Norons are behind killing his brother and Yoon-hee’s father, for fear that the geum-deung-jisa would unearth their involvement in the death of Crown Prince Sado. (This is, of course, all operating under the assumption that it was a conspiracy, since this is in essence a task given by the king to clear his own father’s name. While the conspiracy theory is merely that—one of many conspiracy theories—it is historical fact that King Jeong-jo spent most of his life trying to clear his father’s name.)

Yong-ha balks that Jae-shin knows so much, when he pretended not to know anything more, earlier. He gives a knowing look, and we can surmise that it has something to do with Sun-joon being a Noron.

Meanwhile, In-soo has been busy outing the Red Messenger the night before, presenting Jae-shin’s bracelet to his father as proof of his identity. He insists they march into Sungkyunkwan with soldiers, and when his father resists, he mounts a plan on his own.

He catches up to Yong-ha and Jae-shin, surrounding them with soldiers and taunting them with the bracelet, declaring that he has the evidence to put away the Red Messenger for good. He bares Jae-shin’s wrist, sans bracelet, as proof.

Only Jae-shin presents his other arm—with the exact same bracelet. And then Yong-ha shows his wrist, with another of the same. That shuts In-soo up in a hurry, and they scamper off, even managing to retrieve the original bracelet from In-soo’s grasp. Genius, Gu Yong-ha. Only you would clear your best friend’s name through the use of accessories.

Yoon-hee starts to doubt herself, wondering if someone like her can undertake such a monumental task. Sun-joon kneels in front of her as he takes her hands, and gently tells her that he’ll always be by her side, when things get difficult, when she doubts herself, even if they come up empty-handed. It’s as sweet and perfect a declaration as she needs—not for someone to save her, but to promise he’ll be by her side.

Jae-shin has a nice moment with Professor Jung, who warns him of the risks of acting as the Red Messenger right now. Jae-shin is surprised that he knows, and is touched when the professor notes that he knew the identity of the Red Messenger because of his writing, as it resembled his older brother’s. Jae-shin in turn quotes a text he particularly respects—written by a Sungkyunkwan student long ago—Professor Jung in his youth. Aw. So nerdy, but I love this little exchange.

On their way out of the bookstore, Sun-joon and Yoon-hee get stuck in the hand-crank elevator (which Sun-joon can’t figure out how to work on his own because of his rich-and-spoiledness). They land in each other’s arms, so close to a kiss, but get interrupted by the nosy book clerk. Drat!

They get out of the steamy elevator and Sun-joon awkwards his way into the topic of kissing, trying to joke that perhaps Yoon-hee faked the elevator stalling to kiss him again, but fails miserably. Leave the jokes to the professionals, boy. Yoon-hee gets huffy at him out of embarrassment, declaring that he needn’t worry—she’ll never do “that” again. Ha. He’s left speechless and dumbfounded. Yeah, girls are complicated like that.

Jae-shin sees them flirting together, and though he’s known their feelings for some time now, it’s a further nail in the coffin to see them together. He sighs and smiles in his Guh-ro-esque way. Poor puppy.

In the library, Yoon-hee continues her research, but finds that Sun-joon is one step ahead of her. In each of the texts she picks up, he’s placed a series of little love notes. That is freaking adorable. They’re composed like little edicts—that she should forgive and smile, that a scholar should continue what he started. Do you mean the kissing? Oh, you cheeky squirrel.

She gets to the last note, but then another student grabs the book before her, sending Sun-joon into a tizzy. Heh. Love-note-panicked Sun-joon is hilarious. He barely manages to trade the love-note book for another copy without offending his classmate, and sighs in relief as he delivers his final note: I love you.

Eeeeee!

Yong-ha plies the local police with liquor, enough to distract them while he rifles through their old records. He discovers that on the night in question when Professor Kim and Jae-shin’s brother were killed, they would have been checked into the palace by guards. If the assassin were positioned there, and on the Noron payroll so that money was exchanged, he surmises that there will be a record. He starts asking around to find out whose luck had changed that day—if someone’s fortune had shot up overnight, people would know. Ever the smart one, this kid.

Yong-ha tracks the guy down, and finds that he had gambled away his fortune in no time. He’s about to dig a little deeper, when he gets discovered in the gambling hall by his irate father, who drags him out by the scruff like a little dog. He tries to reason with Dad, who doesn’t believe that he isn’t gambling, and gets further chewed out for pretending to live as a nobleman. His father is clearly a businessman, and a very wealthy one at that, but not a yangban, or a man of noble birth, which means that Yong-ha uses his father’s wealth to pretend that he’s a nobleman’s son.

As if on cue, In-soo’s lackeys discover this about Yong-ha just as we do, and report back, as In-soo mounts his case against our heroes.

Yong-ha drinks away his angst with his best friend, declaring that all this fancy following the king’s orders isn’t really for him, but what he believes in is Guh-ro. He relays what he’s found out thus far, and tells Guh-ro to find a record of the Noron payout to the assassin. Always follow the money. It’s the first rule of every cop procedural.

Guh-ro steals into his father’s study, and finds that his father’s got the exact record that he’s looking for. The money trail leads right to Sun-joon’s father and In-soo’s too, which is no surprise since they are the Number 1 and Number 2 of the Noron faction, respectively.

Dad interrupts him, and Jae-shin asks accusingly why these documents are in his father’s possession. Dad, displaying honesty for the first time, asks if he’s supposed to forgive the people who killed his son. Jae-shin’s world is rocked to find out that his father is not just a Noron puppet—he’s essentially a double agent, mounting a case against them to avenge his son’s murder. Well, this is clearly a case where it would’ve been nice if you had communicated a little better, Dad, because you’re both going all vigilante for the same cause, and you could’ve bonded over it instead of having your son disown you for most of his adolescence. Just sayin’.

Yong-ha and Jae-shin’s one-two daddy angst is breaking my heart, but it’s a nice parallel for their characters.

Meanwhile, the lovebirds are busy researching where to find the geum-deung-jisa, but Sun-joon can’t focus because he’s trying his darnedest to get handsy with his girl. Only she’s not cooperating. Keh. She finally lets him hold her hand, and requests that he focus on his work, and so he takes the opportunity to hold on for dear life. I don’t think he’s ever going to let go of that hand.

Jae-shin returns but can’t bring himself to enter that room, where he’ll have to face them being all cutesy with each other. He does what any third-wheel second lead would do. He grabs his liquor and perches in his tree for a bout of angst. Aw, baby bird, your heartache is tragic, but lovely.

The guard-turned-assassin has run out of money and decides to pay Sun-joon’s father a friendly visit. He alerts them that people from Sungkyunkwan are inquiring into the events of ten years past, and that he’ll need a little payoff money if he is to keep his mouth shut and disappear. In-soo’s father wants to kill him off, but Sun-joon’s father calmly agrees to pay, and later chastises his colleague for letting things unravel this far.

Sun-joon wakes up the next morning to find that he and Yoon-hee have fallen asleep at their desks, still holding hands. Oy, I’m glad Jae-shin didn’t come in last night, because he might have vomited all over his broken heart.

Sun-joon finds him in the library, to ask if the geum-deung-jisa has to do with Prince Sado’s death. Jae-shin just answers curtly that they ought to stick to their separate tasks, and walks away.

Yoon-hee catches up to him, and he softens immediately at the sight of her. (How could he not, when she’s so particularly cute with him?) He doesn’t say anything, but pats her on the shoulder and sighs as he tries to distance himself knowing what’s to come.

Yoon-hee and Sun-joon head to the bookstore, and he sends her ahead of him, stopping to pick up a present for her. But when Yoon-hee enters the bookstore, Hyo-eun is there, making for quite the awkward meeting, especially when she asks for Yoon-hee’s help in getting Sun-joon back. She reminds Yoon-hee that theirs is an engagement between families, and therefore one that can’t be broken lightly, because of minor things like feelings.

Then Sun-joon comes bounding up, tilting the awkward into full-on tense. Yoon-hee tries to exit, leaving them to talk alone, but Sun-joon stops her (by the wrist, argh). He tells Hyo-eun that he’s sorry, but his heart belongs to another and his feelings (or lack thereof) won’t change. He drags Yoon-hee out, leaving Hyo-eun floored.

He drags her into an alley, where he demands to know what she meant by leaving him to talk with Hyo-eun. She replies that she simply thought they might have things to discuss, as he is bound to marry her someday…

She adds that she doesn’t hope or dream of any more than what she has at the present, and has never even let herself dream of a real future with him. Sun-joon practically jumps down her throat (Not literally—pull yourself together!), telling her to start thinking about it now, sincerely, and seriously. He thinks about it day and night, and has changed his views on everything he thought was impossible because of her. But she’s still refusing to step outside of her prescribed social box. What a nice bookend that now it’s Sun-joon who is pulling Yoon-hee into a gray area, challenging her ideas of the world as she did for him in the beginning.

Yoon-hee: “Then what am I supposed to do? I’m so scared. I’m so happy every day. I’m not used to these things.” He pulls her in for a hug, and then starts to lean in for a kiss…

…only to be thwarted by their hats. Drats again! Goddamn wide-brimmed hats of non-kissery!

It’s a great way to undercut the earnestness of the moment, with some much-needed levity and brightness. I love these two most when they’re competitive and petty, but second when they’re awkward and smiling. This time she reaches for his hand as they run off to meet their friends.

Yong-ha presents Jae-shin with the payoff documents he found, announcing that all they have to do now is find out who the real source of the money is. Jae-shin tells him that they should fold; their task was to find the geum-deung-jisa, not the murder culprit. But Yong-ha catches on right away: “You know, don’t you? Who is it?”

Sun-joon and Yoon-hee enter the elevator, and he remembers the present he got for her. He takes out a ring (he’s already wearing the matching one) and places it on her finger. Sun-joon: “Did you say that after we leave Sungkyunkwan, it’ll be the end of us? There’s no such thing as the end. Because I’ll start it again, every day.”

They head down in the elevator, and when it lurches again, she jumps into his arms. That’s enough for Sun-joon to finally decide that he will make the kiss happen, hats be damned, and he starts to untie her hat. Omo. Why do I feel like he’s undressing her?

He takes off his hat too, and kisses her.

They bask in the moment for about two seconds, before they overhear Yong-ha’s rising voice:

“You’re telling me that the person behind all of this is…Sun-joon’s father?”

Oh. Crap.

Well finding out your honey’s father killed your own will put a damper in any budding romance, THAT’s for sure.

COMMENTS

While none of the revelations plot-wise were of any surprise, I do enjoy very much how they were delivered throughout the course of the episode. Yong-ha is the investigator, Sun-joon and Yoon-hee are the code-crackers. Jae-shin is on a slightly different trajectory because he knows the things that the other three are finding out, but he’s playing a different role—he wants to protect Yoon-hee and Sun-joon from finding out the tragic twist about their fathers. And his continual heartbreak kills me.

I was frankly a little deflated after Sun-joon found out that Yoon-hee was a girl (his lack of a pulse in that matter was wasted potential, dramatically speaking). It let a lot of air out of the tires, because the middle-episode span of his growing romantic angst was so good. But the execution of the political storyline is better than I expected. What used to bore me before is much more interesting in the final stretch, mostly because our foursome become active detectives in solving the mystery and finding the treasure, metaphorically speaking.

I hope that they do this last dramatic hurdle due diligence in the story, because I want to feel that their work in bringing about this better tomorrow is earned, and that the couple can actually have a realistic happily ever after in this world.

191

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51 misa

November 4, 2010 at 12:58 AM

as expected! GF again...

...and the kissss!!!

thanks GF! off to read.. :)

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52 samgetang

November 4, 2010 at 1:02 AM

"…only to be thwarted by their hats. Drats again! Goddamn wide-brimmed hats of non-kissery!"

Hahaha! That earned a long and good LAUGH from me! Thanks, girlfriday - it was a fun and awesome recap of one of the cutest and hottest episodes in this series so far!

The hand grabbing scene and the love edicts in the library are just way too cool and funny. Micky Yoochun is also smiling a lot in this episode! :-) That's what love does to most people, hahaha!

And the detective scholars reminded me of my Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys days in my youth. ;-) Who can resist a mystery? We can title this episode the Jalgeum Quartet and the Mystery of the King's Missing Box or some other Nancy Drewesque-sounding stuff ehehe :-)

Reading the recap doubled my joy for this episode, thanks so much, girlfriday!

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53 goldenflower

November 4, 2010 at 1:05 AM

I never knew the appeal of Micky Yoochun until now..... I'm definitely on that boat!!

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samgetang

November 4, 2010 at 1:18 AM

yes, he is a dream boat, haha!

and he sure can act! charming indeed...

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sam

November 4, 2010 at 2:11 AM

Hahha..then you can always press "replay". He has this
"silent" appeal and charisma . I am a shipper since the beginning.Although I also love the other 2 guys.But SooJoon is the one and only for our Yoohee.

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54 :P

November 4, 2010 at 1:14 AM

i recognized tht dirty mind...tis girlfriday! thnk u and whoa. tht was awesome! i cant believe it ended 2 days ago because all the recaps rnt up yet...but then we all will hit tht joseon crack crash...wow, this is tlly the equivalent of YB for me

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55 Soo Ae

November 4, 2010 at 1:38 AM

Yay!

The recaps are up and I found its by girlfriday! It double makes my day!

I enjoy your recaps girlfriday, all the time!

Echoing koreandramalover's request earlier for javabeans and girlfriday to pretty please recap the final episode together!

I so love this drama, still high on Joseon crack even if it has ended (sob, sigh!)

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pohonphee

November 4, 2010 at 2:34 AM

Emmm, I think it kinda unfair for Red-pill or Cassie if Javabeans/Girlfriday recaps the final episode after Red-pill & Cassie did tandem recap for 17 episodes of this series and Girlfriday stealing every best episodes ;)

I think Red-pill or Cassie has the honor to recap the final episode and it will be so great to have all 4 awesome recappers sharing their last comments at final episode. ha, ha, ha it's just what i'm saying, but JB/GF is the one who owns this site so it up to them :)

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koreandramalover/kay

November 4, 2010 at 5:09 AM

Thank you Soo Ae for agreeing about JB/GF recapping the final episode of SKKS but thank you also to pohonphee for your comment

because it was not my intention to discredit red_pill or cassie for their hard word recapping the series...

and I do agree that it would UBER AWESOME to have all 4 recappers to give their take on the final 2 episodes...
because each recapper has different strengths and having 4 different perspectives would do justice to end the recapping of SKKS with a bang! :)

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56 pohonphee

November 4, 2010 at 2:01 AM

Eeeek Girlfriday again!!
In what kdrama series I can have 4 people recaping it. That's how great SKKS is. Love SKKS!!

Sun-joon & Yoon-hee together is cute...
And who said Sageuk can not have a steamy-hot-in-elevator kissing scene?
Oooo kdrama, you're the crack of my life..

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57 misa

November 4, 2010 at 2:05 AM

two of my fav Sun-joon/Yoon-hee moments in this episode:

when Sun-joon kneels in front of Yoon-hee: its like he's proposing to her..sooo sweet!

when Sun-joon is about to kiss Yoon-hee and he's untying her hat: its like he's undressing her..sooo hot!! heehee!

i also love the cute notes moments in the library, Sun-joon's facial expression when he offered the other book to the Soron student is just priceless..kawaii!

and of course the Yong-ha/Jae-shin bracelet moment..Yong-ha has a brilliant mind! In your face In-soo! haha!

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58 124y

November 4, 2010 at 2:11 AM

''trying to joke that perhaps Yoon-hee faked the elevator stalling to kiss him again, but fails miserably. Leave the jokes to the professionals, boy. Yoon-hee gets huffy at him out of embarrassment, declaring that he needn’t worry—she’ll never do “that” again.''

i laughed so HARD! they're too cute! look at YS's expression. hahaha..

i miss skks.. :(

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59 ah_in_fan

November 4, 2010 at 2:26 AM

thanks for the recap gf

i loved this episode because YH owned IS

loved the bromance! so gonna miss this two :(

"Genius, Gu Yong-ha. Only you would clear your best friend’s name through the use of accessories." LOL

"I’m glad Jae-shin didn’t come in last night, because he might have vomited all over his broken heart. "

so true ! :)

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60 Informantxgirl

November 4, 2010 at 3:35 AM

Thanks for the fab recap. Always such a pleasure to read.

Full confession: Every time Yong-ha does something with his lips (like touching them), I melt into a massive puddle of fangirliness. If he keeps drinking and touching that mouth, I'm gonna be all Sun-Joon and not be able to focus on this drama, and what a shame that would be.

Bad, bad Yeorim! Noona is displeased...she wants to punish you...oh, wait, I need to stop, since this is a PG place. :D

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61 Puakea

November 4, 2010 at 4:32 AM

Untill now i've just kinda been goin with it but something is really bothering me...Norons and Sorons...what's the diference between the two?? i've been curious for a while and it's starting to annoy me that i don't know!

sorry if this has alreday been answered before, these threads always get so many comments (it deserves it, this show is awesome!) and i usually only read through the first few comments

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Ace

November 4, 2010 at 4:49 AM

Political Factions in Joseon Dynasty: In the 16th century, a nationwide split occurred within the Sarim faction between the Western faction (Seo-in) and Eastern faction (Dong-in), composed mainly of younger generation. Political divisions intensified even further as the Eastern faction in turn split between the hard-line Northern faction (Buk-in) and the moderate Southern faction (Nam-in) and the Western factions split between the Old Learning (Noron) and the Young Learning (Soron).

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Puakea

November 4, 2010 at 4:57 AM

ahhh thanks so much! :)

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62 Anime1234

November 4, 2010 at 4:38 AM

Thanks for another ROFL recap!

Oooh, the banner today is Yong-ha. Smile. I love his winks in the show.

I love, love, loved the elevator scene with the slow pulling of the ribbon to remove the hat and the closing of the eyes and the KISS...swoon(pick self off floor to watch the rest of the show).

But how on earth did Yong-ha and Jaeshin not hear the elevator lurching announcing the fact that they were about to be joined by others or the confession itself? Voices Carry both ways, writers.

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Anime1234

November 4, 2010 at 4:54 AM

Oh I also loved your poor baby bird perched in the tree image. That was so fitting.

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63 Fasiris Fay

November 4, 2010 at 4:40 AM

this episode was uber cute- I could not stop grinning and squealing during the love notes scene!

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64 anon

November 4, 2010 at 5:33 AM

Moon Jae Shin... Missing you like crazy right now.

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ice

November 4, 2010 at 7:42 AM

you and me both, anon! :)

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65 sm1leitsamy

November 4, 2010 at 5:59 AM

yay for recaps, thank you!!!
ahh waiting for english subs for the last two episodes and it's so hard to get away from spoilers, especially when i've become a fan of SKKS on facebook hahaha, sadnesss.

i think i missed something here.... does MJS know that LSJ know that KYS is a girl? and how does he know they're in a relationship in this episode? I saw 18 so I know that's a different case there, but I thought MJS didn't know about their relationship in this episode...

and does hyo-eun think LSJ is gay when he grabbed YS's wrist at the bookstore or was she just shocked at LSJ's rejection? just wondering.........

anyway... CAN'T FRIGGIN WAIT FOR THE NEXT TWO EPISODES!!! <333

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Lisa Purba

November 4, 2010 at 6:36 AM

I believe MJS knows that LSJ has found out that KYS is a girl since the outing/picnic day. He notices carefully the interaction between those too since then, in the school and in the market. He just knows.

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66 Francesca

November 4, 2010 at 6:07 AM

I love the little exchange between Professor Jung and Jae-shin. Prof Jung definitely knows Jae-shin is a brilliant student. That's why he expects Jae-shin to pass the next exam and not only occupied with Red Messenger activity.

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67 ice

November 4, 2010 at 6:48 AM

I'm totally suffering from Moon Jaeshin withdrawal and am so grateful that you're still sharing these lovely recaps with us! :)

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68 cannotfathom

November 4, 2010 at 6:49 AM

Thanks so much for the recap! I think of this as the "smile" episode. SunJoon kept smiling :)

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69 birdscout

November 4, 2010 at 6:52 AM

I started writing down all the quotes from this awesome recap that I wanted to highlight and realized I would have to pretty much quote the whole thing! I can't express very well how absolutely wonderful this recap is, but it certainly does justice to this great drama episode! Thank you, girlfriday!

I loved the many animal-related epithets in this recap: "Poor puppy", "cheeky squirrel", "a little dog", "baby bird" :) I wonder, girlfriday, if this was consciously or unconsciously done.

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70 cheanne

November 4, 2010 at 7:24 AM

I so much want to read this in the office earlier.....But our IT decided to filter and maybe the word scandal trigger the filter....grrrrrr...... Anyways, thanks for the recap girl friday.....always great.

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71 Annie

November 4, 2010 at 7:25 AM

omg this is so cute!!!! I die of cutness

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72 red_pill

November 4, 2010 at 8:06 AM

Okay, so I asked some Korean-Korean friends of mine about the wrist-grab, and they claim that Koreans think it's polite (say WHAT?). Apparently, hand-grabbing is more intimate and an invasion of privacy (though more efficient when running away), and so men will grab the wrist first to be non-intrusive. I thought that was an interesting cultural difference.

Btw, lovely recap GF.

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birdscout

November 4, 2010 at 8:43 AM

Very interesting point, and makes the wrist-grab a lot more palatable to non-Korean-Korean viewers;) I like how you differentiate Korean-Korean friends vs Korean-American (I'm assuming) friends, red_pill. I do that too.

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kimkim

November 4, 2010 at 9:20 AM

Hmm, interesting. I never thought about it that way, but it makes perfect sense. The hand-grabbing is always portrayed as this sweet, romantic moment, the first hand-grab always being heart fluttery. The instances where the wrist grabbing happens is always the opposite of that, although the dramas try to portray it as romantic or chivalrous.

Always love your insight, red_pill!

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73 girlkorean

November 4, 2010 at 8:25 AM

this whole episode is perfect....except i would change one thing - i would've made Yoon Hee return the act, and take off Sun Joon's hat. i think there's an underlying motif during this series that women are essentially equal or at least should be equal to men. i would've preferred for her character to own the fact that she wants to kiss him too and not just be a passive receiver. She's gone toe to toe with him on just about everything else, why not her sexuality?

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birdscout

November 4, 2010 at 8:49 AM

Oh, that is a great observation! I agree, it would have been really awesome to have Yoon-hee untie Sun-joon's ribbon and have her really be an equal participant!

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momosa

November 4, 2010 at 6:14 PM

Lol! If that scene was taken away from SJ, he will have nothing much else to show!

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anais

November 4, 2010 at 8:47 PM

Actually, I think it says a whole lot more for the scene to have depicted what it did.

Had Yoonhee taken off Sunjoon's hat, although that seems much more equal to us in the 21st century, that would have been off the charts in 18th century Joseon. It wouldn't have been equal at all.

I was utterly shocked that Sunjoon took off his hat as well. It would have been totally ok by then standards for him to have "undressed" Yoonhee and then pulled her in for a kiss. That he removed his own hat as well is such a significant gesture. He was making himself equally vulnerable in that interaction when he need not have, a gesture so in keeping with Sunjoon's character.

When I watched that scene, my attention kept going back and forth between the kiss itself and the two equally bare top knots, and I was as much full of flutters from the top knots as from the kiss. Maybe even more so by the top knots.

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samgetang

November 5, 2010 at 11:33 AM

anais....wow! what's all this top knot and no-hats...

very interesting point about LSJ taking off his hat as well -- this being a sign of him opening up to the same vulnerability as KYH!

this makes this scene even HOTTER than when i did not know the significance of that simple gesture.

amazing!!! thank you again, anais!

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birdscout

November 5, 2010 at 8:46 PM

Having read your comment, I have to agree! I was looking at this scene with 2010 eyes, but your background info makes this scene all the more important for what it represents of the Joseon era. Thank you, anais for your many insightfu, and intelligent contributions you have made throughout the SKKS discussion.

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74 mina

November 4, 2010 at 8:42 AM

the way Sun-joon removed their hat before is the most erotic thing ever! seriously...lol thanks again for the wonderful recap!

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75 totaladdict

November 4, 2010 at 9:47 AM

One of the reasons I've been so in love with this drama is that from early on, I could see that the relationship between Yoonhee and Sunjoon was gonna become more than a One True Pairing.... it was gonna be a One True Partnership. I love how they protect, help, challenge, and love each other in a very mutual way. But what really floats my boat is that they make each other better in the context of a shared Grand Purpose-- wanting to use their lives to create a better world (Joseon). Such a relationship is relatively rare even in modern times, so I find it especially delightful to see one set in the Joseon era. (Then you add in the perfection that is Guhro and Yeorim, and I can see why I'm so addicted to this drama!) I loved the glimpses this episode gave us into the OTP's future relationship: they will be romantic in their own nerdy way (e.g. through scholarly-but-playful love notes), and they will fight the good fight together-- holding hands all the while. When Sunjoon knelt before the fretting Younhee and declared that he would be by her side through thick and thin, I felt like he was in essence saying: I may have grown up more privileged than you, but I see you as my equal.... you have earned my love, respect, and devotion, and I offer myself up to you as your partner. (Personally, I find that extremely swoonworthy.)

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anais

November 4, 2010 at 8:49 PM

You're so right on!! One true partnership in the context of a shared Grand Purpose. So right on.

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samgetang

November 5, 2010 at 11:35 AM

totally agree, totaladdict! my sentiments exactly....

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76 CPW

November 4, 2010 at 9:50 AM

hoho, only in kdrama land that taking off a hat can be darn sexy and hot!

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77 Ariel

November 4, 2010 at 9:59 AM

Second leads are making their presence felt and JS takes the cake for being the most awesome second lead in the history of K-drama. Protecting the love of his friend and the girl he loves, lovable...

I actually have 2 of Yoo Ah-in's movies, Boys of Tomorrow (blah or is it just me?) and Shim's Family (super love). Funny he sports the same look in both movies and in SKK, that is his hair covers most of his face.

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78 birdscout

November 4, 2010 at 10:36 AM

I've just been re-watching this episode and LOL! did anyone else notice at the 21:10 point when Yoon-hee and Sun-joon leave the bookstore after almost kissing in the stuck elevator, that Sun-joon (trying to be funny, but missing the mark with Yoon-hee) imitates Yoon-hee by reciting the line she had used before kissing him in the library and BATTING HIS EYES?!? Sooo cute and sooo funny, especially because Yoon-hee is so peeved!

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red pill

November 4, 2010 at 4:54 PM

Call me a dork, but my co-workers and I imitated him for a few days afterwards. The batting of the eyes was TOO CUTE.

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anais

November 4, 2010 at 8:51 PM

I'm sooo jealous that you have coworkers with whom you can bond over SKKS!!!!

That scene was so precious. And he was so precious doing it!!!!!

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birdscout

November 5, 2010 at 9:06 PM

You are a dork in the best possible sense and how I wish I could be a dork alongside you and your SKKS-loving coworkers. I never knew of Mickey Yoo-chun before SKKS, but his portrayal of Sun-joon has won me over, and his eye batting had me in stitches.

Let me take this opportunity to thank you red_pill for your fabulous recaps! All the wonderful recappers at dramabeans have made the SKKS experience so much more fun!

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79 Roziah

November 4, 2010 at 10:48 AM

Never thought that Joseon era guys are hot before due to their slightly feminine attires and wide-brim hats (hanging beads, anyone?). However, SKKS totally changed my mind. They are not only hot, but really smoking as in please-call-the-fire-department hotness!!!! Their colourful robes even managed to enhance their masculinities instead of diminishing it.

As for the elevator kiss between Sunjoon and Yoonhee, their tender but very sexy kiss is appropriate due to their new openly declared love for each other. More hotter kiss than that, I think they will burn feathers (?) on the walls of the elevator.

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80 LadyIgraine

November 4, 2010 at 11:13 AM

I haven't watch this episode in its entirety, in fear that I'll miss this show so much :(...

btw: prepare to die of jealousy from watching song joong ki's recent cf for fujifilm instant camera.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mh64lkvmQfo

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minsun

November 22, 2010 at 6:44 PM

omg, why is my heart beating so fast...I think I am in love....

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81 Nikki

November 4, 2010 at 1:34 PM

I actually swooned when SuJoon joked with YoonHee, by widening his eyes and blinking innocently like she so often does. It was a bad joke to make to a girl, but I loved that he TRIES to make jokes now. I love you SuJoon! After ep.17 my heart is all SuJoon's! Sorry JaeShin...

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82 sosoxrah

November 4, 2010 at 1:40 PM

I love how they made the kiss scene so meaningful with subtle moments. Not only do their hats place an awkward barrier from being able to kiss, but I also felt that Sun-joon untying Yoon-hee's hat was an act of undressing her. This scene emphasizes the love between a guy and a girl and also the removal of the hat that only men wear is like shedding Yoon-hee from the attire that she's worn for years so she can show her true self to Sun-joon.

I'm so sad that this drama is over. This was seriously the main reason I looked forward to Mondays and Tuesdays. I've never really watched a drama where I thought one hour felt like 30 min because it was so enjoyable to watch. Hopefully "Mary" will be good so I don't feel too empty w/o Moon Jae-shin :)

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83 Thin Cut

November 4, 2010 at 3:39 PM

@anais : great indepth recaps, good grasp of history, good choice of words (modern english, not stuffy...) kudos to you and all the rest of the recappers/ commenters/ ranters and ravers...
I am one of those who watch Korean dramas (am not Korean) to bring my mind to another dimension as a precursor to prepare my mind for another day ahead... a refresh button actually...I truly enjoy dramas like this ( and Coffee Prince too) cause it somehow manages to bring out my happy hormones..
To everybody..Maraming Salamat po...
PS..
I will miss Yeo-rims magnificent clothes...

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anais

November 4, 2010 at 8:54 PM

Hi. Thanks. I just saw your comment. Very kind of you.

My mom calls k-drama like this and coffee prince her hee-hee-ha-ha.

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84 eka wachyu

November 4, 2010 at 4:42 PM

Moon Jae Shin still number one for me but i thing I am start to like Lee Soon Jun... the beatle of love ecome interesting altought we know the answer moon jae shin is the guy who can't married... poor jae shin but after all you recap is so good, thank to you.... I just hope i can see another Moon Jea shin character in other histori drama korea with Yoo Ah in ... but with happy ending.... :) hurt see Jae Shin with sorrow eyes look at LSJ and KYH, and reliaze the love that he feel can't happen...
I am start to think something happen to LSJ so MJS can be together with KYH

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85 le meera

November 4, 2010 at 5:53 PM

It seems I'm late to this party. Where can I watch this drama?! It's not on aznv.tv and that's where I usually watch dramas... and I don't think dramafever works for me cuz i don't live in the US.

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koreandramalover/kay

November 4, 2010 at 6:10 PM

You should try this website : http://www.dramacrazy.net

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86 jubilantia

November 4, 2010 at 6:15 PM

I die, again and again and again, from this drama. The cute nerdy-ness, the cute angst, the cute deviousness, the cute cute (guess who's who!). And that's without the excellent characterizations, great plot, beautiful costumes, and gorgeous music. This episode freakin' killed me. I just about needed smelling salts for The Hat Scene, and Yoo Ah-in wowed me all over again with the scene with Geol-oh's dad. And then all of a sudden YONG-HA BACKSTORY. I also love that they all make mistakes. Rookies that we are, we think Yong-ha's so smooth, but not as much as he'd like to think.

However, the lines about "where the learning is headed and the nation begins"- was anyone else hearing "HellOOOO I think they might be talking about Sungkyunkwan, hmmm? I thought you guys were supposed to be smart? Anyone?"

Also, thanks for the recap, girlfriday!

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87 didi

November 4, 2010 at 7:55 PM

super...super....super ..super drama!!!!!!!best kdrama i ever watched.....Discovered Micky Yoochun for the first time..my world turn up side down now....damn talented charismatic new actor....cant wait for his new project...and all the best for his JYJ tour(new discovery too)...

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88 Carinne

November 4, 2010 at 10:53 PM

That was one HOT naked top hat KISS.

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89 Gladys

November 4, 2010 at 11:38 PM

I freaked out at Sun Joon's looks when he was trying to intercept a senior from taking the book which he had planted the word "LOVE". He looked so embarassed, it's almost like being "caught with his pants down!" LOL! Afterwards, he looked awkwardly at YHee. Can't bleme him, after all it was his first attempt in courting a girl!
Micky really portrayed this scene extremely well in the library!

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90 rockingchairs

November 5, 2010 at 2:04 AM

Anyone else turned into a puddle of goo when he kneeled down and said that he'll always be by her side? Because I'm barely peeling myself off the floor now..

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91 Lilian

November 9, 2010 at 10:27 AM

This second lead is different. He is jealous, over protective at times but he does not make me go mad! Instead I feel that when you know you have no hope with the girl, you should be happy for the couple. Jaeshin is awesome......

and I think Yong Ha would make a good detective...

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92 lizzz

November 11, 2010 at 5:19 PM

i loves this episode!
SJ and YH areso cute together <3

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93 ziziebrown

November 14, 2010 at 10:43 PM

from certain angle, I swear Mun Jae Shin looks like so Jisub :)

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94 ashtoh

November 23, 2010 at 5:57 PM

thanks for the recap girlfriday :)

the drama presents each of the event smoothly but not to the extent that it is worth anticipating (not that i don't like the drama storyline but i somehow expected it) and hope there are more to it - more spectacular storyline - maybe more dramatic scene of how Sun-joon found out Yoon-shik is a girl.

One could only hope for more after following Korean dramas for a long time...

but i still enjoy the story up to now - and writers of this drama do not fail to deliver their beautifully written recaps :), thank you...

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ashtoh

November 23, 2010 at 6:01 PM

sorry, i forgot to emphasize - the writers in dramabeans for this drama :)

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95

December 29, 2010 at 10:10 PM

Why are these recaps so addicting?!
I just read some spoilers before watching! Grrrrrrrrrrrr

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96 Turquoise21

February 20, 2011 at 7:01 PM

What was the book that Sun-Joon was reading when he was holding hands with Yoon-Hee? He gave her an uncomfortable look when she asked if he's found something. I'm just curious about that book and what he read in it. Anyone?

Loving this drama so much!!

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97 EricaDEE

July 6, 2011 at 7:59 AM

HELP! Does anybody know the song playing in episode 17 around 23:17? It's the scene when yoon hee starts reading the letters sun joon leave for her in the library.