Flower Boy Ramyun Shop: Episode 7

174 November 21, 2011January 24, 2016

by javabeans

There’s a surreal, almost manhwa-like sheen of farcical humor coating the surface of this show, but then there are moments of real connection and emotion. Jung Il-woo has been dramatically intense before (Return of Iljimae) as well as hilariously oddball (49 Days), but this drama gets him to use both extremes of his range. The humorous side gives Chi-soo this outlandish, comical brat side, but then he’ll turn on a switch and show the vulnerability underneath. I love that.

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EPISODE 7: “Flower Boy Ramyun Shop”

So Chi-soo offers to work the ramyun shop after all, goaded by the knowledge that Eun-bi will be there. I vastly enjoy that throughout the brief commercial break, Chi-soo is up in the corner, making adorable faces at us.

Eun-bi chases him out to ask incredulously why he’s taking on the job. He tells her he’s considering it a lesson in work experience and flashes his crayon contract at her to tell her that she has no say in this.

He drives off leaving Eun-bi confused and frustrated, howling at the moon (which bears Chi-soo’s winking face), “Why are you doing this to me? WHYYYY?!”

The newly assembled team gets to work renovating the shop with some hired help, but it turns out that the hired ajusshis are annoyed because all of the shop’s helpers are useless. For instance, Ba-wool and his friends hammer the wrong things, Hyun-woo is so nervous he’ll paint the wall badly that he wields the brush like an artist making a very slow masterpiece, and Kang-hyuk — what else? — sleeps. I love that he uses a paint roller as a pillow.

Then there’s Chi-soo, who strolls in late, wearing his idea of work gear — which might work in a Vogue spread interpretation of hard labor, perhaps. He looks about as realistic a construction worker as a stripper. He’s dressed in a black trench coat (see? totally stripper), wearing a hard hat set at a jaunty angle, and brings in his own folding chair so he can sit in the middle of the shop like a director managing his crew.

When they’re done, the battered old sign reading “Eun-bi’s Snack Shop” is taken down, and replaced by a shiny new one. The team looks up at their new sign with satisfaction — minus Eun-bi, who mutters, “Flower boys, my ass.” The new sign reads: Flower Boy Ramyun Shop.

As they shop for groceries, Eun-bi pesters Kang-hyuk to un-hire Chi-soo, insisting that he’s totally unsuited for the job. She’s outlined the reason a dozen times, but Kang-hyuk asks what her real reason is for not wanting to work with Chi-soo. Startled at the point-blank question, she gapes a moment, then declares, “I just dislike him!”

Ba-wool storms up, complaining about having to share a room with Hyun-woo, that weirdo, and insists on having his own. Kang-hyuk smiles at Eun-bi: “Then I’ll have to move into Wifey’s room.” Quick as a flash, she turns on Ba-wool: “Just share!” Haha.

Ba-wool can’t stand the awkwardness of sharing with Hyun-woo, so he starts to whine and pout, tugging on Kang-hyuk’s arm pleadingly. Eun-bi won’t be outdone and joins the whining, until they’re both like little kids clinging to Dad’s arm.

That night, Ba-wool walks in while Hyun-woo’s in the middle of his skincare regimen, finding it weird and uncomfortable. Here’s a mismatched alpha-beta pairing if ever there was one.

Chi-soo tells Dad about his new job, describing it as work experience needed to take over the company. “I can’t do stuff like MBAs.” (Or, you know, real work.)

Dad supposes this has something to do with that intern teacher, and asks why he’s still fixated when his suffocated chest problem has been resolved. Chi-soo declares that he’s got a new problem now with his eyes (hence the Eun-bi hallucinations), but doesn’t want to answer why: “Stop asking! You know how I hate questions!” Ha, if only I could get out of sticky situations with that excuse.

Dad wonders if Chi-soo’s eye problems result from him losing face (or more literally, “selling” his face). Secretary Man reports one more curious fact: The store Chi-soo will be working at happens to be the very same ramyun shop that Cha Sung had attempted to buy out (since it’s located right in front of the corporation’s building). Dad declares that they’ll buy out that shop, and also buy back Chi-soo’s lost face. Ha, I love that he takes that expression literally, like you could just buy back your pride with money. Maybe it’s thinking like that that makes it so easy to lose it in the first place.

Chi-soo plays a baseball game on his tablet, but up pops Eun-bi’s face, superimposed over the pitcher’s. Not even surprised, he muses, “You again?” He tosses the tablet away and shoves his rolling chair away from his desk…and then scoots himself back awkwardly to pick the computer back up. With a rueful smile, he figures, “Fine, let’s take this as far as it goes.” Aw. He’s finally admitted to himself he likes her.

The next day he shows up to the shop, acting like the owner again rather than mere employee, and cuts the “ribbon” to mark their opening.

Dong-joo and Coach make their way over to the grand opening, and she sighs about Eun-bi’s poor luck with men, having heard about the new owner’s propensity to sleep on impulse, figuring he’s a lazy slob. Ha, yeah let’s see if your “pity” lasts when you get to the shop.

Dong-joo gets a phone call from her well-to-do fiancé, and makes a point to practice getting her tone just right — feminine, gentle — to act the part of the perfect sweet girlfriend. Coach deliberately zips up his jacket and leans in to say, “I’m all dressed now,” leaving it to the fiancé to misinterpret that as he will. Heh. There’s something in the Coach’s demeanor that suggests he may be pining for Dong-joo — the real Dong-joo, all loud and argumentative and unvarnished. We shall see.

When they get to the shop, they stand there mouths agape at the bustle. Women are literally lining up outside, sending moony looks at each of the employees — especially Chi-soo, who mans the side dish station, handing out little dishes of pickled radish and tossing out “You’re so pretty” compliments to each guest.

After the shop closes that night, Eun-bi, Dong-joo and Coach wonder at Chi-soo’s decision to work there. Could he be out for revenge?

Coach imagines a scenario — acted out by stand-ins for Chi-soo and Eun-bi — where Chi-soo insists that Eun-bi return to her old job, demanding, “How much money will it take?” He grabs her face and leans in… at which point Dong-joo interrupts, “How corny!” She calls it a lame scenario straight out of an old-fashioned drama. (Hilariously, Fantasy Chi-soo and Fantasy Eun-bi stop their scene at her outburst, and the camera pulls back to reveal a shooting set — like it is, indeed, a scene out of a cheesy drama.)

Dong-joo’s got a better hypothesis: Her Fantasy Chi-soo comes decked out in a sparkly tracksuit, all Hyun Bin style, alternately harassing and complimenting Fantasy Eun-bi on her strong arms.

The next morning, Eun-bi comes face to face with Chi-soo in the store, who blocks her path and smiles down at her. Suspicious, she asks what he’s up to and he replies pleasantly, “I’m just taking a look, to see what you really look like.”

She accuses him of having evil intent on his mind, as though he’s just working up new insults. For a brief second he looks surprised and asks, “Is that really what you think?”

Her lack of faith in him gets him pissy — not that we can blame her for doubting him — and he says if he was going to torment her, he’d do more than that. Like making her call him oppa again.

Business is hopping today, too, and Eun-bi grimaces at the clamor, stuffing some dough into her ears as earplugs. Ew. I’m not saying that’s how certain infections are caused, but I’d be wary of sticking anything yeasty into a bodily orifice, is all I’m sayin’.

Chi-soo’s at his radish station, already less charming than he was yesterday, sick of this work. He takes a break, affecting the pose of a tragic and long-suffering poetic hero. He sighs dramatically, “From a far-away place, somebody calls for me.” Just as a whiny girl yells, “Oppa, gimme more radish!”

Haha, I love how theatrical Chi-soo is about his life that is, funny enough, a lot more mundane than he thinks it. But who could blame him for growing up that way when Daddy Cha is the coddling kind, and even now sits gravely hearing the reports of “The Radish Incident”? The secretary says that rivals were ready to take that bit of gossip to the media circus, but they “just barely managed to block it.”

And what exactly do the stories say? “The true face of Cha Sung’s crown prince revealed! Not Hwanung after all, but Dangun!”

Hee. Hwanung is the mythical son of god in Korea’s origin myth, while Dangun was the actual historical founder. Although he was said to be Hwanung’s son, Dangun is a real person, and therefore a mere mortal.

But wait! The pun, she gets even better! Dangun in this case actually refers to “danmuji-gun,” which means Mr. Radish. HAHAHAHA.

The word spreads and soon Chi-soo’s posse is teasing him and call him Dangun-nim. The nickname makes him tetchy, so Hyun-woo advises him to just tell Eun-bi the truth: “Say that you went to the shop because you wanted to see her.”

Chi-soo protests that, balking at the inaccuracy: “It’s not that I wanted to see her, it’s that I couldn’t stand NOT to see her!” He says this indignantly, not registering that what he said isn’t, yunno, any better than Hyun-woo’s version. And then he looks up at one of those billboard screens, where he envisions Eun-bi with her volleyball again, and clarifies, “It’s because I hurt.”

Hyun-woo tells him that’s the same thing. Chi-soo retorts that it’s nothing like that — that this is the result of a huge shock, like after a disaster. He reminds Hyun-woo that women with curly hair, glasses, tracksuits, and body odor (the kind he lacks — not, I hope, actual foulness) aren’t women to him. But then his Eun-bi-vision reasserts itself and he gazes off at his hallucination, and his surliness changes into a moony-eyed smile.

Chi-soo concludes, “If I want to get over the shock, I have to see her constantly. This is treatment.” Oh, okay. Is that like doing more drugs to get over your addiction to drugs? Good luck with that.

But suddenly the mood changes when Hyun-woo catches sight of something and hurriedly excuses himself. Chi-soo sees a trio of rough-looking ajusshis — loan sharks, perhaps — and recalls Hyun-woo telling him about his father’s financial problems.

Chi-soo arrives at the store and calls out his bodyguards, who have been sent to monitor him. He adds another order to their list of duties, saying that they’re to also monitor the store, and that if any black-suited gangster-like guys come by to harass people, they’re to “beat ’em half to death.” Aw, that’s sweet, in a wacky sort of way.

But no! Next thing we know, a quartet of boys — Ba-wool’s buddies — arrive in the neighborhood, dressed up in suits and bearing housewarming gifts.

They spot So-yi also on her way to the shop and greet her enthusiastically as “hyungsoo-nim” (wife of my hyung, in this case Ba-wool) — which is why it’s all the more maddening when she chirps that she’s here to see Chi-soo. Urg. Somebody spit in her ramyun, please? Then she trips over her heels and the boys rush to help her, and I’m thinking this cannot end well.

At the shop, Kang-hyuk whips up some ramyun for Ba-wool, but Chi-soo declines the offer. He’s infatuated with his radish pile and says that this is all he craves — and then pictures Eun-bi’s face in a slice. Ha! He muses, “It’s time to take my medicine.” Riiight. Since love is a disease you catch and cure.

In the kitchen, Eun-bi works on kneading ramyun dough, and her hair slips loose of its tie and gets in her face. Two hands reach over and pull her hair back for her, and when she turns, it’s Kang-hyuk with a hair ribbon at the ready, smiling, “My wife is sexiest when she’s showing off her strength.” Ack, so adorable.

She lets him tie her hair, then asks, “Did you come here for something?” Kang-hyuk: “Yes, you.” Eeee! I love it. He lets that hang in the air for a moment, then holds out the bowl he brought, asking her to taste his soup. You cheeky hot bastard. And then he wipes the flour mark from her cheek, leaving her to smile in giddiness over his praise.

Her hair comes loose again, though, and this time it’s a different set of hands that reaches over to tie it back. Chi-soo takes her face in his hands and smiles, “Your face is so childish and obvious. So, why does it…keep…shining?”

The charged air is broken when Ba-wool barrels in and pushes Chi-soo aside, assuming that he’s grabbed her hair meaning to threaten her. Is this part of his revenge plot?

Kang-hyuk breaks up the boys, but he levels a serious look at Chi-soo and asks if that’s true, if revenge was the real reason he joined them. Chi-soo looks exasperated at the misconception and also a little hurt, which is sad for him but also not entirely undeserved.

Hyun-woo feels bad for his friend and starts to speak up, but Chi-soo hushes him, then turns to Eun-bi: “What do you think?”

She doesn’t know how to reply, but before she can, cries come from outside, shouting for Ba-wool. It’s his black-suited friends, being aggressively held by the bodyguards. OH NO. I thought this misunderstanding would be played for comedy, not to twist my heart up in knots! Nooooo.

Ba-wool angrily demands to know who the bodyguards are working for, and when Chi-soo steps to the front, they bow in deference to him. He sends them off with a chagrined look, knowing how this will be interpreted.

Chi-soo faces the others and says, “It seems there’s been a misunderstanding.” But Ba-wool is furious and assumes that this is Chi-soo being dirty and underhanded in his attempt to steal So-yi, even after he’d put on such a cool facade about making it a fair competition.

Explaining the reason for the bodyguards would be a convoluted process, so Chi-soo takes out his gold card and hands it to Hyun-woo, urging him to repay his father’s debt. It’s not smoothly done and he knows it, but he’s frustrated with being thought the bad guy in all this, even as Hyun-woo gets angry at him and refuses.

Chi-soo bursts out, “Why do you all get angry whenever I try to do anything? What am I supposed to do?!”

Eun-bi steps forward and takes the card, reserved for VVVIPs of Cha Sung. She holds it up and says, “The reason we get angry? Do you know what it takes to make one of these cards?” She lists off the minimum salary and employment qualifications required to get one of them:

Eun-bi: “This card isn’t relevant to anybody here. We’ve got a runaway, a guy chased by debt collectors, a fired twentysomething intern without a job. To us, this is our only workplace. The only place we can receive some acknowledgement and make some money. If you wanna throw this around, go to your playground. Children who hang around places where adults work are a public nuisance.”

Oh, this is so sad. She’s not wrong, which may be why it’s even sadder to be Chi-soo right now, who looks around, feeling wounded. All he sees is a wall of stern faces glaring at him.

Taking the card back, he says, “I see. Now I know what I have to do. I’ll leave.”

But! Just as he heads to the door, a man steps inside: Jae-ho, the cheating ex. The two men stare each other down, recognizing each other from the water-balloon-throwing incident in Episode 1, and Jae-ho asks if Boyfriend Chi-soo is working here with Eun-bi.

Chi-soo tells him flatly that it’s over — both his job and his relationship. He starts to clarify the scene with the water balloons, but before he can out the lie, Eun-bi swoops in with a fake smile and hurriedly coos, “Jagiiiiii! Yes, you’re right, I work here with my honey,” all sweetness and light.

Ba-wool gapes, Hyun-woo checks his hearing, and Kang-hyun looks confused.

Eun-bi shoots Chi-soo a pleading look, but he shakes her off and brushes himself off, like he’s about to toss her to the curb… and then sweeps her to his chest and declares through clenched teeth, “Of course! If I don’t see her every day, my eyes hurt. My eebbeunie [pretty].”

Eun-bi smiles with relief, until he adds, “In fact…we live together.” Ha, now this IS revenge, and he shoots her a challenging look. Like she’d risk correcting him now.

Later, Ba-wool demands to know how the hell Chi-soo came to be calling himself boyfriend. Chi-soo starts to explain, and the others — Kang-hyuk, Ba-wool, Hyun-woo — perk up, curious at his answer. Only to deflate when Eun-bi walks in and Chi-soo says pointedly, “You’ll have to ask Yang Eebbeunie to explain.”

Eun-bi has called him here for a request, and he acts bored while she struggles to muster the nerve. He turns to go, and she blurts, “I need you!”

And this is the resulting smile:

Eun-bi asks Chi-soo to keep acting as her boyfriend (specifically, as her jagi), just when Jae-ho’s around. Chi-soo wipes the satisfaction from his face and faces her with feigned ignorance, asking, “And what will you be acting as?” She says, uncomfortably, “Eebbeunie!”

To her relief, Chi-soo agrees to act in the Jagi and Eebbeunie show. But it won’t come free: “Whenever I want to see you, I’ll get to.”

COMMENTS

How cute — mixed with some moments when I actually felt sorry for Chi-soo, despite wanting this kind of humbling for him since Episode 1. And even though I felt for his hurt when Eun-bi rips into him about his fancy-shmancy VVVIP card, it’s what he needed to hear. He IS a child playing adult, and he IS in the way. If he doesn’t fix that, he’s going to do more damage than good.

That said, I’m relieved that they didn’t play out the misunderstanding for too long. Well, the misunderstanding still stands about Chi-soo’s motives for working at the shop, but the dynamic has swung back around now that Eun-bi needs his help. There’s no quicker way to defuse that tension than to tilt the balance of power in the opposite direction.

I’m curious to know if Jae-ho has any correlation to the ramyun shop that’ll keep him hanging around, because why else would they need to keep acting as a couple? Perhaps he’s connected to Cha Sung’s buyout attempt and will be making regular appearances. And while normally the fake-boyfriend thing feels like an overused cliche, this drama has been surprisingly swift in moving along its plot points, so I doubt it’ll be in effect long enough to become dead weight.

One thing I’m really enjoying is the Cha men’s literal interpretations of emotions, which is hilarious on a wordplay level, but also funny in a broader, general level. For instance, Daddy Cha’s interpretation of Chi-soo’s condition (he’s been humiliated, or lost face) is to take the words literally, meaning that he’s sold his face. And how to correct that? By buying it right back, of course. (It’s akin to thinking, “I’m so fed up!” “Just eat less then.”)

Then there’s the way Chi-soo interprets his emotions in terms of physical symptoms. If you consider the physical effects of certain feelings, he’s probably not too far off the mark — when you’re depressed, your chest might feel literally heavy, like there’s pressure being applied to your organs. But most of us — by which I mean, normal people — understand what they mean, not just what they are. Yet Chi-soo the emotional alien is completely lost, like there’s a broken connection between mind and body. It’s amusing, but also fascinating to watch him struggling to make connections that are completely obvious to Hyun-woo, for instance. The adage has never been more true, literally speaking, about building character “turning him into a person.”

174

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51 minhe

November 21, 2011 at 7:40 PM

awesome! thanks for the fast recap

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52 sam

November 21, 2011 at 7:43 PM

Love you for recapping so quickly!

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53 t-berry

November 21, 2011 at 7:52 PM

i also enjoy watching the commercial break bcoz of jung il woo icon on the top corner..now i know why people did not cut the advertisement...: )

that smile!!!

*faint*

fake boyfriend??woot woot!!fake husband??wow eun bu had it all!!

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54 nurii

November 21, 2011 at 7:59 PM

now. im in love with this show. right now, im in the mood for melodrama, thats why i always keep this behind Thousand Day Promise.

BUT. now. with Jung Il Woo being so cute. i only have so little resistance.

by the way, thats a (super) fast one JB. thanks!!

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55 N.

November 21, 2011 at 8:27 PM

I enjoy it in Canada. Tanxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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56 Bandi

November 21, 2011 at 8:28 PM

The faces that chi soo makes in the corner, rn't they showing how many commercials r left??

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57 Lindsay

November 21, 2011 at 8:43 PM

A lot of people are calling Chi Soo out for not being mature enough for Eun Bi, but I personally have more of an issue with Kang Hyuk running around calling her "wifey" (ick) and living in her home without her knowing about it (double ickkk) and basically having let her father sign her over like a piece of property to him. Ick, ick, ick. I do adore his sleepy, lazy character, but I don't feel he "deserves" Eun Bi any more than Chi Soo does so far.

An age gap doesn't bother me, I'm five years younger than my husband and we grew up together and fell for each other the summer after I graduated high school, etc, so I'm kind of feeling some faint nostalgia watching all of this play out. :)

Jung Il Woo's smoldering looks when he gets in close, goodness gracious.

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ladida

November 27, 2011 at 10:51 AM

I know, no one has brought those issues up yet. I think part of the problem is that the show is setting Kang Hyuk up against Chi Soo in a father-figure vs man-child situation, with Kang Hyuk being the one who cleans up the shop, takes people in, and gives them jobs, while Chi Soo is the one who is immature and can't handle having a job. Notice how while Kang Hyuk calls her "wifey" Chi Soo calls her "Pretty" (or "Baby" according to Dramafever?) The inherent problem with Kang Hyuk being a father figure as opposed to just a straight love interest is that fathers have a tendency to be paternalistic, and that colors his relationship with Eun Bi. She doesn't seem to have a problem with the way he treats her, and she was more offended that her father gave the shop away to someone else than that he gave *her* away--literally, but every time he calls her that I can't help but wonder why she doesn't say anything about it. Does she see it as more of a harmless nickname than a sign of how he actually views her? And when she and Chi Soo get together, is it going to be a problem? If it does become one (it should be one for her now, not just when she gets a boyfriend, but whatever) I want her to be the one to tell Kang Hyuk to stop, not Chi Soo. It's pretty ironic that there's an actual age gap between Eun Bi and Chi Soo, but a kind of symbolic age gap between her and Kang Hyuk, who seems to be a throw back to more conservative, father-knows-best times.

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58 Bananie

November 21, 2011 at 8:46 PM

Man, I do love me some Jung Il-Woo, but, daaamn if Lee Ki-Woo isn't so damn hot. In this drama he really is the perfect combination of cute and sexy.

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59 t-berry

November 21, 2011 at 9:26 PM

i also enjoy watching the commercial break bcoz of jung il woo icon on the top corner..now i know why people did not cut the advertisement...: )

that smile!!!

*faint*

fake boyfriend??woot woot!!fake husband??wow eun bu had it all!!

*faint again*

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60 sPark*

November 21, 2011 at 9:29 PM

I really enjoyed this episode moreso than other episodes. I don't really know why lol Crazy Chicken is so adorable :) Favorite character though he does OTT often. I don't mind haha I really wish So Yi would stop appearing though... she's so... dull... and not very pretty (enough anyways). Chi Soo has been changing and this episode definitely opened his eyes (hopefully) to the world. Kang Hyuk is.. <3<3 I want him for myself (minus the lazy part). I can't say whether I want Eun Bi with Kang Hyuk because I feel Eun Bi has to grow more. She's not quite ready for anyone yet.

Why is the ex back? Ugh.. I feel like there could've been other ways to get Chi Soo and Eun Bi together somehow... oh wells. I'm thinking her ex works for Cha Sung or something? Maybe he's related to the whole Buy out the Ramyun Shop buisiness... then again, he doesn't seem to recognize Chi Soo so IDK. Anyways, I'm excited for tomorrow's episode!

Thanks for the recaps :)

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sPark*

November 21, 2011 at 9:30 PM

Oh and also, Kang Hyuk. I don't think he's all that perfect either. He's very quirky for sure. I can't really understand his character.... hrm

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61 nazz

November 21, 2011 at 10:06 PM

".. affecting the pose of a tragic and long-suffering poetic hero. He sighs dramatically, “From a far-away place, somebody calls for me.” Just as a whiny girl yells, “Oppa, gimme more radish!” .." ... love Jo Yong Pil -Q song as background. Adding more dramatic in the scenes ..

same like in the Mundang Stations, when no one picked up his phone call and a kid called hum a bum ... lol .. the secretc garden music background crack me badly ...

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62 jazza

November 21, 2011 at 10:41 PM

i laugh a lot in this episode!

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63 t-berry

November 21, 2011 at 11:24 PM

finished watching epi 7 with subs~i almost cried during their misunderstanding towards chi soo..it hurt when everyone misunderstand of what u do..:(

come here chi soo i will give u a hug *arms wide open*

*hugs* *.*

than god ex bf coming back to save the day!!

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sugarpunch

November 21, 2011 at 11:40 PM

"save the day"?? more like, stir things up... a lot. hahahahaha. and yeah the last part was super heartbreaking. but that's what he gets for being a jerk most of the time. lol.

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pdat

November 22, 2011 at 12:50 AM

save the day for now haha~means chi soo probably will work at ramyun shop again..cant wait to see their acting as couple plus we can see KH might be jealous!

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64 sugarpunch

November 21, 2011 at 11:29 PM

omg this is hilarious. i think i like male leads who are drama queens... just like Ji Sung's character in Protect the boss. hahahahah. they overthink, they get jealous easily, and they exaggerate their circumstances. super funny, lol.

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65 anantatoer

November 21, 2011 at 11:30 PM

I was thinking about Hong Sisters too. The fantasy sequences remind me of the one in MGIAG. And its great, I don’t say that he/she copied HS but I see it as a (kdrama) writer reflects about kdrama conventions. And the scene when Chisoo tossed his hair as a response to those radish-fangirl’s-oppa-opppaaa!, that’s so funny, the writer keeps “mocking” other kdrama convention.Yay! to less makjang scenario and “makjang acting style”. Nice to know that we have another great kdrama (romcom!) writer. Kudos to you writer-nim. Also thanks for a wonderful recap and comment JB, btw you’re really has an eye for spotting a good drama, I wasn’t hook until episode 4.

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66 Little Lulu

November 22, 2011 at 12:02 AM

I can't explain what I'm feeling after I read this. It's just so qverwhelming a roller coaster ride from pitying Chi Soo to giggling at the end of the episode. I'm definitely IN LOOOVEEEE with you show!!!

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67 Noonapau

November 22, 2011 at 12:42 AM

Thank you for the wonderful (and speedy ) recap ! I hope to watch this episode tonight ^^ Loving this drama more and more

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68 K@T@M!

November 22, 2011 at 1:47 AM

the best drama ever........especially when il woo oppa is there ......thnx for the recap can't wait for the next one :)

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69 susu

November 22, 2011 at 3:32 AM

"Eun-bi shoots Chi-soo a pleading look, but he shakes her off and brushes himself off, like he’s about to toss her to the curb… and then sweeps her to his chest and declares through clenched teeth, “Of course! If I don’t see her every day, my eyes hurt. My eebbeunie [pretty].” "

FAVOURITE part. I love the abrupt change in music and events. oh sigh
Love the charactesr. Love Il Woo. Love big hunk. <3 hehe :D He's such a sweetie. And omoghs the teaser! I can't wait until tomorrow.

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70 goldenflower

November 22, 2011 at 3:49 AM

I'm loving this drama too. Thanks!!!

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71 pauroro

November 22, 2011 at 3:57 AM

Chisoo is trying hard to figure out things and help, problem is he just really doesn't know how to. I feel bad for him, for everyone misunderstanding him. Anyway, YAY! for the rousing character development!

This drama has got me feeling all kinds of weird emotions. It's so witty and so funny and gosh, I hope it stays like this throughout the series!

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72 Team Chi Soo

November 22, 2011 at 5:53 AM

I really don't like Kang Hyuk at all.

Even though he likes Eun Bi for who she is, he still acts like he's entitled to her and doesn't give her a choice about being his 'wife.' And the scene where they were in the grocery store, and she was telling him to fire Chi Soo...he was flat out ignoring her, because his superior wisdom reigns supreme.

I know you can argue that Chi Soo acts the exact same way, but once he realizes that Eun Bi is a person that he can't just HAVE, he'll appreciate her all the more in the long run.

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Quiescent

November 22, 2011 at 2:10 PM

TEAM CHISOO FTW! I will always stay loyal to you Il-woo my love <3

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73 popop238

November 22, 2011 at 10:29 AM

When does episode 8 come out?! i'm addicted to this show... don't know if I can wait till the next episode lol!

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74 K

November 22, 2011 at 12:08 PM

It's not that I hate Kang Hyuk. It's just that I don't find him any more suited for Eun Bi than Chi Soo.

Yes, he's adorable. Yes, he's hot. Yes, he's sweet. But until now, he hasn't really proven anything to Eun Bi. Except maybe calling her his 'wife' and standing half-naked in front of her without thinking if it's comfortable or not for Eun Bi. He's just as immature as Chi Soo, though in a whole different way, which may be adorable. But it's still odd, because he's supposedly older than him by years, right? I mean, I probably can forgive Chi Soo for his immaturity because, well, he's a friggin' high school-er!

At some point, if his character doesn't develop by next episode, then his hotness-slash-sweetness won't be able to stand up for Chi Soo's progress (which is really noticeable with each episode). At least for me.

I love characters who undergo some sort of transformation, slowly but clearly. Characters who tend to lag, who remain as they are for too long a time, bore me. That's probably why I've never shipped a second lead.

With regards to the jagi-eubeunnie thing, I don't see it as a weak twist. Chi Soo was the easiest way out for Eun Bi in that situation.

First, she's already pretended before that he was her new boyfriend. Second, the ex recognized Chi Soo first, so it'd be weird to explain that her second ex was there and her husband now is there too. Third, Eun Bi suffered for this man for 2 years, and when Chi Soo is about to break her almost-revenge, she had to do something quick. Fourth, um, I don't know, Kang Hyuk was just sitting there while everything's taking place, which totally fits his character, but come on, sweet and hot guy, do something!

Anyway, I'm loving the developments. Can't wait for the next episode! :)

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jubilantia

November 22, 2011 at 10:06 PM

THANK YOU. I love me some Kang-hyuk, but I see where they are going and I don't really have a problem with it. I see the same childlike-ness, in both of them, that you see. It's interesting because he obviously appreciates her, but he's too perfect, so it's very obviously contrived by the writers. Like, they needed a perfect second lead, and so they just took him out of the box and stuck him in. The only reason I am not extremely annoyed is because of the actor's intense charisma.

Too many times second leads act like the writers need them to just because. And the heroine never acts in conjunction with his actions, not even wavering realistically, because she has to love the lead. Kang-hyuk's a viable other love triangle leg, but not for any reason. We know she's awesome, but he doesn't really, not yet. Obviously that's the fantasy they're catering to, that your parents will tell some wonderful guy that you're amazing and he'll go "Great! When's the wedding?", but it's so absurd that my suspension of disbelief broke on it.

...and yet, I am still loving this drama, including Kang-hyuk. They are selling that ramyun hard, and I am buying every last drop. Bring it on!

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K

November 23, 2011 at 1:23 AM

That's so true. I only realized it now but prolly the main reason why I've never been on the second lead ships is because they're just there as a crying shoulder to the lead actress. Ji Hoo (or was that it?) was Jan Di's. Shin Woo was Mi Nam's.

I mean, maybe I'm not as exposed to kdramas as I should be but for once, I want a second lead that doesn't just stand there.

And Kang Hyuk is too adorable and perfect and everything that I would feel really bad if his character turns out to be just another cliche second lead. Le sigh.

But, like you, this drama has got me bloated for all I really want is another serving. :)

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ladida

November 27, 2011 at 11:08 AM

I don't find Kang Hyuk childish at all, but I think that's because most all the characters here are pretty childish, including Eun Bi (most comedies invlove adults acting like children) and Chi Soo's level of childishness is so high that it eclipses everyone else's.

I do find him flawed, though. Specifically in the way that he calls Eun Bi "wifey" and the way he ignores her very appropriate criticisms of his choosing Chi Soo to work at the shop. I also find our heroine flawed, in that her attractions to men have so far been purely superficial. I can see the writers making her this wonderful person in regards to her relationship to Chi Soo (telling him about what love really means, what it means to have a job, etc.) but they haven't done anything with either of the men in their relationship to her. I want their relationships to be meatier, for Chi Soo to have more to say about her than just that she sparkles, and I want Eun Bi to develop even more than she already has (forgiving her father, choosing the ramen shop over being a teacher, etc.) to figuring out what she really wants in a romantic partner, other than him being hot.

The best relationship in this show so far has definitely been Ba Wool and Eun Bi: they care for each other, they stick up for each other, and they each help the other grow. That's what needs to happen in the romantic relationships.

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jubilantia

November 27, 2011 at 10:16 PM

Yeah! Really great points. Eun-bi feels about like I do right now as a 26 year old, still figuring things out and finding where I fit in the world. I also think Chi-soo is starting to show glimmerings of development in his liking for Eun-bi. It's clear from his actions that he's starting to like her for more than physical reasons, he's just not able to articulate them yet, although he starts to next episode. Even though she's not mature yet, Eun-bi has been through things he hasn't, things he must before they can truly meet as equals. Kang-hyuk already appreciates her spunk, but he has serious issues communicating what he feels as well. I think his affection comes out with his cooking, which doesn't bode well because that's how Eun-bi's dad expressed his feelings and they had a hard time understanding each other. Hopefully we'll see him grow, too.

I like that we will get to see all the characters develop. Too many times we have one side of the relationship be already pretty perfect, a la Elizabeth and Darcy, and they have to ~*change*~ the other person. I think watching characters grow together, because of and in spite of each other, is the most interesting and grounded way a story can go. I also hope we'll see So-yi be more involved in the shop, because she needs a moral compass reset, stat.

I'm excited for this drama to unfold, but it's setting the bar high for itself so we expect more. I dearly hope it stays solid all the way through and delivers.

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75 Lawi

November 22, 2011 at 1:06 PM

I'm liking this drama a lot!!! But I feel I'm the only one who wants eunbi to stay with Kang hyuk?? I love him!!! Chi soo is hilarious but kang hyuk is my idea of hero <3

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76 campaspe

November 22, 2011 at 1:18 PM

Maybe I was just in a weird mood, but last week's episodes didn't get to me as much as the previous ones, and I wondered if the show was beginning to lose its shine. Thankfully, this week has me on the edge of my seat again.

Show....I love you....even when I have no idea what you are saying. Please forgive me for doubting.

Also, can someone please explain the whole contract marriage thing. Is she really married to Kang Hyuk? Is there something legally binding her to him? I is confuzzled. Can parents really do that to their children without their consent?

I'm off to warn my refresh button that it will be busy tonight waiting for ep 8 recaps. sigh.

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77 Noelle

November 22, 2011 at 1:37 PM

THanks for the recap

Ya know the whole fake bf/gf thing is kind of a downer. I would like it better if he came back to the shop by different means.

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78 Quiescent

November 22, 2011 at 2:13 PM

I'm totally shipping Chisoo & Eunbi ♥
There's something about there scenes that makes me melt~

Gosh, I LOVE YOU JUNG ILWOOO!!!

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Lindsay

November 22, 2011 at 5:54 PM

Same here, Team Chi Sooooo! <3

Jung Il Woo is impossible and ridiculously wonderful xD

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79 Mystisith

November 22, 2011 at 4:24 PM

Just wondering :What's the craze about chickens these days ? i mean Crazy Chicken in this show, Pink Chicken in Me too, flower, and last but not least i'm watching Invincible Lee Pyun Kang drama where the guy gets slapped with a living chick and ends using another one as a heater or a plushie : i'm gonna dream of those for sure :)

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80 Kstyle4lyfe

November 22, 2011 at 6:29 PM

Omo omo omo why is this show so freaking Great!!!
This show is the best show hands down showing on any tv station including the States. I was dying over past Kdrama shows homage especially when they did Secret Garden. Tears I tell you tears. Gosh this show was just what the doctor prescribed after my day's ending.

FBRS keep the laughters coming. Fighting!!!

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81 miyo

November 22, 2011 at 8:23 PM

I can't stand how much I LOVE THIS DRAMA!!!!!!

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82 ar_arguably romantic

November 22, 2011 at 8:45 PM

Thank you for the recap!!

I'm not feeling the romantic storyline much (since I'm a Kang-hyuk shipper), but I love seeing Cha Chi Soo growing up and seeing this bunch of misfits run a ramyun shop. It gives me the feel-good warmth in my tummy!

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83 jubilantia

November 22, 2011 at 9:54 PM

So amazing! This drama has me alternately swooning over the hotness (Kang-hyun, take me NOW), cackling like a banshee and flapping like a chicken at the adorable silliness, and awwwing tearily when some emotional moment happens. I LOVE IT.

I also find it interesting how both Chi-soo and Kang-hyuk act like children in different ways. I mean, Chi-soo is pretty obvious, but Kang-hyuk is also pretty naive, thinking he can come in and start acting like someone's husband without their knowledge. Maybe that's just his personality as a confident, relatively fully-realized foil to Chi-soo. Not much ruffles him, because he figures things will turn out okay.

He's acting with second-lead syndrome by not being directly proactive, but yet he is. She knows he's there and he likes her, as a support and helpmate. He's saying all the right things, like understanding that she's attractive because of her physical strength, not in spite of it. And, you know, the intense, ridiculous hotness. I mean, in the real world she'd have about 3 kids with Kang-hyuk by now, actual human gestation periods be damned. Even if Kang-hyuk doesn't exist in the real world. *tear*

Intellectually I know she's going to end up with Chi-soo in some capacity, if not fully hitched because of his age, and Jung Il-woo is amazing, but... I'm not sure I'll believe it. It's strange because I might not even feel bad for Kang-hyuk, since he seems unruffled almost to the point of apathy, like a 5-year-old who gets annoyed when someone plays with his toy but forgets about it 3 seconds later.

It's going to be interesting to see how this plays out. I have faith in the writers because of what they've done so far with it, but I'm not sure what to think. I'm loving it, so I should probably just sit back and enjoy the ride, huh? On that note, MOAR PLEASE. Time, go faster.

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84 jangerr

November 22, 2011 at 11:15 PM

Th...........th......th...ank you!

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85 Janet

November 23, 2011 at 5:25 AM

Jagi and Eebbeunie show....
....can I be a stanby for the lead female??

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86 Peppy

November 23, 2011 at 6:47 AM

Thank you so much!! I loved this episode!

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87 mei

November 23, 2011 at 6:56 AM

I know this a recap... But can you please also include what will happen next for the next episode after the comments... Thank you so much, I will be so grateful if you would include it.... More power to Dramabeans!

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88 Abbie

November 23, 2011 at 10:40 PM

EEEEEEEVIL Chi-soo! HAHAHAHA! Great episode! Jung Il-woo is a great actor!

Thanks for the recap, Javabeans!

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89 linkyo

November 25, 2011 at 4:09 PM

I read your recaps, then watched the drama, it's even better! The wittiness of it, the joke, facial expression and pauses, love them all. I can't deny that Jung il woo is definitely handsome! He really made me went gaa-gaa over him at 49 days. Here he's so playful! But for eun bi, I can't help but rooting for Kang Hyuk to be with her. Kyaaahhh!!!! Lee ki woo, how can you make someone who can fall asleep anywhere looking so desirable with all the smile and everything! This drama is surely good for stress reliever LOL

Thanks for recap-ping!

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90 ladida

November 27, 2011 at 10:23 AM

I love how Kang Hyuk rubs the roller all over his chest while staring up at the sign. So funny. Cheeky hot bastard indeed.

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91 Leina

December 8, 2011 at 11:10 PM

After 7 episodes, I can now honestly say, without bias (as I am head over heels in love with JIW), that this is a fantastic drama. I love that it makes me laugh and surprises me with plot twists, in a way that makes cliches not only acceptable but actually integral to the story. I agree with some of the commenters that putting the ex back in the mix seems like a very convenient plot device to get the two leads to interact more on a 'sweethearts level', but what I felt was actual relief when the scene came, because I feared the writers may have backed themselves in a corner with 4 of the Ramyun Shop employees railing at Chi Soo for his actions, which were mostly deserved, being the brat that he is.

And while of course many of us strong women would have had no problem standing up to that cheating ex, I do think that we all have our kryptonites (the ex, in Eun Bi's case), which, despite our better judgments, reflexively make us act foolish or weak. And there's no discounting Eun Bi's pride working here. Break-ups don't necessarily make us idiots, but when the break-up was because of cheating, i.e., we're not good enough, our instinct most likely is to show the bastard that we're doing very well, thank you very much, and moving on happily with our lives post-relationship, and hopefully, with a more handsome, more everything kind of man. That's why I cannot judge Eun Bi's actions (pretending to be Chi Soo's GF) harshly here.

LOVE THE DRAMA!!! :)