Sly and Single Again: Episode 10

119 March 30, 2014January 24, 2016

by purplecow

More secrets are revealed this week, and Jung-woo continues to have serious problems letting Ae-ra go. His feelings are obvious to everyone but himself at this point, but the way he acts on those feelings leaves much to be desired. There’s playful banter and bickering aplenty, but not so much of the honesty we saw from our leads in the rooftop scene a few episodes back. In contrast, Seung-hyun doesn’t hesitate for a second to say how he feels, following up on the confession that ended Episode 9. And for Secretary Gil fans out there, we see a new side of him in this episode, as Jung-woo’s secretary experiences the cruel sting of heartbreak. A bit of a rocky episode, and one with more than my preferred dosage of Ae-ra’s family (which is none), but it did a decent job of setting up the conflict ahead.

EPISODE 10 RECAP

We left Ae-ra in the middle of an ill-advised back hug, initiated by Seung-hyun at the exact moment that Jung-woo comes walking around a corner. Ae-ra locks eyes with Jung-woo, who looks stricken and hurries away into the night. Ae-ra breaks away from Seung-hyun with a terse, “Let me go.”

Jung-woo drives off alone, harried by the memory of Ae-ra in another man’s arms. Back at the house where the employees are drinking and making merry, Yeo-jin arrives with terrible news: the DonTalk servers have crashed. Jung-woo is the one best suited to fix the problem, but he’s nowhere to be found.

The employees search the house and grounds in a panic. Ae-ra remembers Jung-woo’s startled reaction when he saw her and Seung-hyun earlier, and thinks to herself, “Surely he wouldn’t…”

…but he did. Ae-ra finds Jung-woo at the dream house, staring at the miniature version in a darkened room. She tells him about the crisis and urges him to return. “Who are you worrying about?” Jung-woo asks. “The CEO, or Cha Jung-woo?”

“The CEO,” she answers. Jung-woo doesn’t know exactly what answer he was looking for, but that certainly wasn’t it. He coldly informs Ae-ra that he doesn’t need her to worry about him in either capacity, and that he would prefer it if she didn’t come to the house in the future. Unnoticed by the divorcees, Yeo-jin’s car comes to a stop in the street just outside, having apparently followed Ae-ra when she left.

The next day at work, Ae-ra gets scolded by her colleagues for taking off when there was such a commotion with the servers. She feeds them a line about a stomachache, and apologizes profusely. Meanwhile, Seung-hyun is being conspicuously nice to Ae-ra at work, her cold reaction to his back hug notwithstanding, so she drags him up to the rooftop for a little chat.

On the way up to the rooftop, who should they run into but Jung-woo, leaning against the elevator wall and looking like death warmed over. Up on the roof, Ae-ra begins a hilariously self-serving speech about how she should have been prepared for this, since she was the kind of girl who attracted guys since she was in middle school. She understands how terribly hurt Seung-hyun must be, but she cannot accept his heart.

Her long-suffering sighs only draw muffled snorts from Seung-hyun, and her rejection neither dejects nor deters him. He cheerfully informs her that she’ll come to accept his feelings later (maybe we’re supposed to cut him some slack for being harmless and cute, but I think someone should still introduce Seung-hyun to the concept of “No means no!”). Hiding behind the rooftop door is Jung-woo in his trench coat, listening intently to every word.

After eavesdropping on the roof, Jung-woo gets a reminder that he’s not the only one with troubles. Secretary Gil has been dumped, and the experience has proven too much for our beloved secretary’s usual good humor and knowing smile. Jung-woo’s consolation — that it’s good to break up with a materialistic woman before things went any further — only makes matters worse. Secretary Gil storms off, and all Jung-woo can do is yell at him not to drink too much.

Secretary Gil, of course, heads straight to a bar, and the way he throws back a glass of whiskey shows that Jung-woo’s advice is likely to be ignored. The secretary’s buddies are determined to help him get over his heartbreak with liquor and pretty women, and they’ve made arrangements with the establishment to provide the latter.

Three women walk in and join them. The waiter then tells the ladies that they’re very lucky to be drinking with DonTalk’s handsome CEO.

Secretary Gil cracks a cheesy grin and doesn’t deny it. Too bad the woman sitting next to him is Song-hee from the marketing team! I have no clue how she came to be there, but seeing the two of them thrown together like this is intriguing.

At work the next day, Ae-ra and her colleagues watch an interview being conducted with Jung-woo and Yeo-jin. The interviewer asks whether their relationship might become more than merely professional, to which Yeo-jin replies that nothing is impossible. Jung-woo looks away with an amazingly awkward chuckle.

The employees gossip about the chances of the two bosses getting together. Manager Kam is of the opinion that they’re already secretly dating, while Song-hee laments that Director Kook is just too strong an opponent in terms of winning the CEO’s affections.

Later that day Jung-woo makes a surprise visit to Ae-ra’s division, which sends Team Leader Wang into a last-minute frenzy. Jung-woo says he’s only there to keep an eye on things and show his appreciation, and then oh-so-casually sidles over to where Ae-ra’s sitting at her cubicle.

He reminds her of the idea she shared at the company retreat, and asks her to have an official proposal drawn up before the next day. It means another late night for Ae-ra (which is probably Jung-woo’s ulterior motive), but it’s not like she can refuse the CEO with Team Leader Wang and the rest of the office looking on.

In full stalker mode, Jung-woo sneaks down to the office to check up on Ae-ra, and gets upset when he sees her taking a personal call… at 10:00pm! He calls her from his desk phone, and says that she can finish her work if she just tries hard.

Ae-ra asks if he knows what day it is. “Wednesday,” Jung-woo replies. After hanging up, Ae-ra complains that he should have remembered, even if they’re divorced.

Ae-ra tries to escape the office at midnight, but Jung-woo literally runs her down in the hallway. She’s at her breaking point, but Jung-woo hams up his ‘shoulder injury’ that he supposedly sustained after saving her from the falling column. Ae-ra isn’t happy, but she trudges back into the office.

Jung-woo stays with Ae-ra into the early hours of the morning, though it seems like they’re doing more bickering than working. Ae-ra texts Seung-hyun, who’s waiting for her at a restaurant, that she won’t be able to see him.

This, of course, prompts Jung-woo to ask if she has plans later, and if it’s with a man. He’s visibly upset at the prospect of her dating, asking if she only started working at his company to find a man.

Jung-woo comes back with some food, and whines about having to stay late for the sake of one intern. He boasts that he is the future leader of IT Korea, Cha Jung-woo… only to sit on a bottle cap Ae-ra has strategically placed on his chair. Ae-ra punches the air in triumph, then sees the seaweed soup and realizes that Jung-woo did, in fact, remember that it was her birthday.

The next day, Ae-ra promises Seung-hyun that she will pay for dinner next time. Seung-hyun enthusiastically agrees, while Yeo-jin watches the interaction from a higher floor.

Later, Yeo-jin makes a visit to Ae-ra’s division, and I’m guessing Team Leader Wang’s head is spinning with all these visits from the higher-ups. Yeo-jin publicly thanks Ae-ra for picking out the gift for the man she likes, and only smiles when the office workers applaud for her supposed relationship with Jung-woo.

Ae-ra sends a text to Jung-woo, wondering if Yeo-jin knows about their relationship. She then cancels the text, thinking that it might make it seem like she still has feelings for him. Of course, seeing that Ae-ra sent a text while not knowing what it was drives Jung-woo crazy.

Cut to: Jung-woo and Ae-ra talking through their phones on the rooftop. Ae-ra claims that she mistakenly sent him a text meant for someone else, but that isn’t likely to make him any less worried. His battery gives out before he can hear who she sent the text to, so he wrist-grabs her and leads her to his office.

Safe in his office apartment, Jung-woo childishly demands to know who Ae-ra was texting, even counting down from three. That’s when the doorbell rings, signaling disaster… Jung-woo’s family has arrived for a surprise visit.

Ae-ra hides in the bedroom, while Jung-woo sits down with his mother and sister. They cut straight to the heart of the matter, which, of course, is Ae-ra’s continuing employment. They want him to fire her, convinced that she’s up to something.

A poorly timed phone call from Song-hee almost blows Ae-ra’s cover, but Jung-woo’s female relatives are distracted by a text arriving for Jung-woo from Ae-ra’s mother about the soup she made him earlier.

Jung-woo finally puts his foot down by asking his family to leave. After they’ve gone, Ae-ra pretends that she didn’t hear the hurtful things they said, waiting until she’s alone to let the tears fall. Unfortunately for all of us, Jung-woo’s mother leaves with the intention of stopping by the restaurant run by Ae-ra’s family.

Seung-hyun takes Ae-ra to an empty room that he’s rented, with plans to turn it into an art studio. He’s ordered black bean noodles, banking on Ae-ra’s earlier promise to eat a meal with him. Their comfortable meal is interrupted, however, when Ae-ra gets a call from her brother. Jung-woo’s mother and sister have arrived at the rice soup restaurant, and the atmosphere is very tense.

The confrontation between the families starts bad and gets worse, as accusations fly on both sides. Ae-ra’s mother is passionate in defense of her daughter, and calls Ae-ra afterwards. Ae-ra’s parents might have been on board with a reconciliation before, but that was before Mom was offended on Ae-ra’s behalf — now she doesn’t want her daughter to be open to the kinds of insinuations her former in-laws were making.

This time it’s Ae-ra who calls Jung-woo out to the rooftop. She admits that when she joined the company she had different intentions, but now she just wants to do her best for the remainder of the internship. She acknowledges that his mother has a right to be angry with her, but asks him to make sure that his family stays away from hers.

Ae-ra hangs up and walks away before Jung-woo can respond, but we do see that he’s kept the phone bauble she dropped in his apartment.

Seung-hyun waits for Ae-ra outside her apartment, but the cake he’s brought isn’t for her. He’s finally decided to cash in the rain check for tea with Min-young, and even offers to stay and help her with a few last-minute orders for home-made candles.

Seung-hyun works together with Min-young, craftily ignoring Ae-ra, and it’s hilarious how easily manipulated she is. After offering to help a few times she just butts in, but her only accomplishment is spilling a bit of hot wax on Seung-hyun’s hand.

He doesn’t look too upset, however, when Ae-ra treats the tiny wound and blows on it carefully. A few minutes later Seung-hyun gets up to bring Min-young some more wax, when he sees a photo album with wedding pictures of Ae-ra and Jung-woo.

Seung-hyun is painting in his new studio when Yeo-jin walks in. She sees his painting, which depicts the selca he took with Ae-ra in the police station a few episodes ago, and asks her brother for a favor.

The camera cuts to Jung-woo and Seung-hyun sparring, with Seung-hyun pushing himself particularly hard. He’s remembering all of the tense moments between Ae-ra and Jung-woo, which only increase his determination.

He beats Jung-woo, and we learn that they made a bet on the outcome of the match. Seung-hyun reminds Jung-woo of what he said many years ago: that you should be careful when choosing friends, and even more careful when choosing to leave them. Seung-hyun leaves, without telling Jung-woo what his forfeit will be after winning the match.

At the rice soup restaurant, Ae-ra’s father brings home flowers and other gifts to cheer up his wife. Unfortunately, it seems he dipped into his wife’s savings to fund this thoughtful gesture… I think we all saw that one coming. Dad is saved a beating, however, when Jung-woo shows up, intent on apologizing for his family’s behavior.

Some heavy truths come out, as Ae-ra’s mother takes Jung-woo to task for his thoughtlessness. Jung-woo learns that Ae-ra took on a load of debt after the divorce, and also that Soo-cheol spent the alimony money that Ae-ra said she’d used up. When Ae-ra arrives at the restaurant, Mom goes so far as to demand that she quit her job at Jung-woo’s company.

Jung-woo talks with Ae-ra alone, both of them pretty subdued. Jung-woo mirrors Ae-ra’s earlier words on the rooftop when he says he understands why her mother hates him.

Ae-ra informs him that when she finds another job, she’ll quit the company. Jung-woo leaves Ae-ra at the restaurant, but not before telling her that she dropped a phone bauble in his apartment, and that she’ll have to swing by sometime to pick it up.
As Jung-woo approaches his car, Seung-hyun appears. Seung-hyun doesn’t ask why he’s outside of Ae-ra’s family’s restaurant

“Hyung, I’ve been thinking about what we talked about before,” he begins, but Jung-woo isn’t willing to wait and hear what he’s about to say.

“No,” he bursts out, cutting Seung-hyun off mid-sentence. “Don’t do it.”

COMMENTS

Unfortunately, I’ve pretty much lost hope for Yeo-jin. Up until this episode I refused to write her off, and I even rather liked her. But that moment in Ae-ra’s office really clinched things for me: searching out Ae-ra to imply that Yeo-jin’s in a relationship with Jung-woo was pretty low. Let me just say, I can understand Yeo-jin’s worry about Ae-ra. An ex-wife almost always has the potential to threaten a new relationship, especially when there are messy, unresolved feelings lying around. But Yeo-jin should determine whether or not Jung-woo has any feelings for her, before she puts so much effort into staking her claim in front of Ae-ra.

I can’t actually bring myself to hate Yeo-jin, though — it’s more like pity. She’s already been through so much, and now she’s deliberately setting herself up to get hurt again. The lies by omission that she’s piling up are going to come crashing down, and I think that when they do, she’s going to be absolutely destroyed. The question for me is whether or not she’ll deserve our sympathy when that happens — right now, she’s really pushing it.

The families… ugh. Ae-ra’s mother grates on my nerves more each time I see her, and the scene with both obnoxious families was zero fun. Honestly, I wish Ae-ra and Jung-woo had just eloped and been disinherited, so we could focus on our leads getting back together without all this time wasted on characters whose few redeeming features are becoming increasingly insignificant to me compared to their general odiousness.

Seung-hyun started off on a real low point for me this episode. That back-hug was the epitome of “too far,” especially compared with the romantic situation he’d prepared before that. He’s an adorable puppy dog, sure, but he lost a lot of points with that one. He took the rejection at face value, which is good, but his persistence afterwards is a little worrying. There’s a fine line, after all, between persistence and denial, and once you cross it you’re not cute anymore… you’re a stalker. Ae-ra doesn’t seem to mind hanging out with him, and even seeks out his company, but if she continues to turn down Seung-hyun’s romantic advances, I really hope he gets that message. The good thing is that everything is out in the open now between Jung-woo and Seung-hyun. No more dancing around, wondering who knows what: now it’s time for confrontation, strained friendships, and hopefully some overdue realizations about what our leads actually feel about each other.

Jung-woo puzzled me this episode, and not really in a good way. On the one hand, it was nice to see him so completely, transparently unhappy about Ae-ra potentially dating other men. However, his method of keeping her from dating — making her work late every night — was childish, controlling, and definitely not attractive. It was sort of nice that he remembered her birthday, but compared to his ulterior motive of keeping her too busy to see other men? Not cool. I mean, what’s next? Binding her feet so she can’t run away? Also, he seems to have conveniently forgotten what he said to Ae-ra about starting a new life with a new woman in the dream house he originally built for her.

Does he even realize his hypocrisy when he flaunts his future relationship in Ae-ra’s face, and then can’t stand to see her make a fresh start of her own? If he does see it, then he’s deliberately refusing to acknowledge the fact that his jealousy is completely inappropriate given his actions. If he doesn’t see it, then he’s an idiot with a selective memory. Neither option makes me happy about the person he currently is getting back together with Ae-ra. The only positive sign this episode was Jung-woo’s willingness to apologize for his family.

I want to root for you, Jung-woo, but I can’t unless you start giving me more to work with. Cute bickering won’t cut it forever. Time to own up and be honest, or shut up and let Ae-ra go.

119

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1 Nicole

March 30, 2014 at 12:30 PM

I actually felt great when Ae-ra's mother gave the bitch in-laws her own smackdown. I'm beyond the point of even caring about Ae-ra's father's immaturity so her family doesn't irk me that much.

I am on the same page regarding Jung-woo however. While the jealousy and banter have been cute for the last two episodes, he needs to show that this time around he's going to exhibit more understanding and fairness. Ae-ra has been holding up to standard so far so I hope she remains cool and consistent.
Seung-hyun is beginning to lose some of the initial appeal he had, but he's such a well-meaning puppy I can't help but keep liking him at this point.
Yeo-jin crossed the sea of no return for me a while ago - I can only hope she doesn't completely fall into the frustrating bucket of typical second lead manipulations.

That all being said, the ending scene with Jung-woo's desperate intervention really got me in the heart. Can't wait for next week!

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Anonymous

March 30, 2014 at 12:59 PM

I totally agree. Ae-ra is the only one I can seem to sympathize with. Jung-woo is pushing the jealousy thing too far, but the last scene made up for most of the infractions. On the other hand, Seung-hyun just joined my list of utterly annoying second male leads who cannot stop clinging to people who don't want them romantically. Usually the female lead is kinda wishy washy about rejecting romantic advancements, but Ae-ra flat out said "no." Seung-hyun needs to respect that, or he's turning into a stalker. Also, I hate the kind of tacky romantic gestures that Seung-hyun has been partaking in (dude, slow down), so I guess (and concede that) he was already on my bad side when the episode started.

And dear Yeo-jin. Poor girl is setting herself for the embarrassment of her life, and is also climbing on the ship traveling to the end of the world. She needs to learn that having a prosthetic leg (or any "disability") does not make one a lesser being, and she also needs to figure out how to get off a guy when he's clearly not interested. Then again, nearly every single second lead needs to learn this.

The one gleaming point in this show is how well the family matters have been handled, especially in how Jung-woo and Ae-ra confront and jump all the hurdles that had melted their marriage. Divorced or not, they know how to support each other emotionally and they aren't resentful of each other's parents. I'd even say that a lot of the parent stuff that most of you guys seem to hate is actually quite realistic. I don't necessarily like the characters, but I feel their portrayal is reflective of some portion of society.

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lemondoodle

March 30, 2014 at 1:17 PM

his over the top gestures make me cringe. Aaah. The only one that wasn't bad was the food he ordered. The flowers, the confession, the giant painting (like what's she supposed to do with that???) ... stoop.

But I'm still giving him the benefit of the doubt for now. If he takes it any further though, he's on the list of pushy annoying second leads.

Though it's not cute to make a bet about someone. She's not an object.

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Kiara

March 31, 2014 at 7:53 AM

I honestly would prefer that than a guy that plays child-ish games and doesn't have the guts to say he still loves her and that it bothers him to see her with another man.

"Say what you wanna say
And let the words fall out
Honestly, I wanna see you be brave."

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lemondoodle

April 1, 2014 at 12:22 AM

Good point. At least SH is honest. CJW is too busy playing games and abusing his authority. She doesn't actually want to be with either one of them. At least she knows what SH is doing, as cheesy at it is.

space kablooie

March 31, 2014 at 9:50 AM

That painting has permanently stuck a line from wedding crashers into my head, from when the little brother, Todd, sneaks into Vince Vaughn's room at night, ties him up, and then creepily says, "I made you a painting." And yeah, that's about the very last scene ever anyone would want called to mind by their grand romantic gesture.

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Kristine Manuel

April 10, 2014 at 9:40 AM

the giant painting reminds me of the giant painting of Amy and Penny in the big bang theory. it's just awkward.

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Tulipsaki

March 30, 2014 at 5:13 PM

And did you notice, Ae-ra is being mature about YJ and JW as a couple, since that's what she believes.

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Lord Byron

March 31, 2014 at 8:29 AM

Enter the unholy alliance between Secretary Gil and Pi Song Hi. Pi will of course blackmail Gil.

Watch out, Director Gook! While you are blindsided by Cha's ex, Pi (aided by Gil) will come out of the left field and do some major damage to you, the company and a lot of other people.

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Nicole

March 30, 2014 at 1:09 PM

Oh, I also want to add, LOVE the OST. The instrumental tracks are so perfect, hilarious and poignant when needed. There's a song I like to call "Ae-ra's Theme" haha it's got a delicate female vocalist who seems to be singing in English...

Who uses KaTalk here? Was anyone else reminded by Jung-woo's trenchcoat brooding of the emoticon of the dog in the trenchcoat with leaves blowing around him? ^__^

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lemondoodle

March 30, 2014 at 1:22 PM

Yes! I love the OST. Poignant when needed, but also adds a nice bit of comedy in scenes that otherwise would have different meanings. That scene on the elevator with inspector/stalker CJW could have been serious since he was depressed, but that BGM was hilarious and totally changed the mood. I really love how this show manages to fit in comedy even in heavy situations.

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KDaddict

March 30, 2014 at 5:28 PM

JW's mom and sis:

Just once I'd like to see an adult Kdrama hero, whether he is as successful as JW or even one who just has a regular job, tell his parents, or grandparents, or older siblings that:
This is the woman I love and want to marry. If you wish us well, you are welcome to the wedding and be a part of our lives. If it pains you to see us together, then please leave.

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Andrea

March 11, 2016 at 12:31 PM

I actually understand and sympathize with Jung-woo's family in this particular situation.

Remember, all that they know is that Ae-ra asked for a divorce, and has reappeared only now that Jung-woo has become rich and successful. If that was all I knew about the situation, I'd be sending up alarm flares to my relative as well.

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2 Hipployta

March 30, 2014 at 12:32 PM

Yup I'm definitely on the Step Up or Step Out Jung Woo train...that petty mess from episode 10 won't cut it especially once Ae Ra said she has NO INTENTION of getting back together with him

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3 android

March 30, 2014 at 12:43 PM

I totally agree with your summation purplecow. It is definitely not cute when adults cannot come out with their feelings. So far, Seung-hyun is the only adult in this, but I don't want him to be those guys that don't just quit. It is not going to be cute, but irritating when he is going to make Ae-ra try to like him because Ae-ra is not there emotionally with him-it takes two to be a in a relationship (kdrama don't get that sometimes).

Jung-woo, ep. 9 was okay when you were doing your mini-stalking/observing Ae-ra. I gave you the benefit of the doubt that you do not know your feeling yet, but in this ep. I did not find it too funny when you were being childish with Ae-ra. Please let that be gone in the next ep.

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4 lemondoodle

March 30, 2014 at 12:46 PM

This was actually my favorite episode so far.

Ah, JW I'm not sure if I dislike you or not. You get upset when she doesn't say what you wanted her to say, but you really don't know what you want her to say. Then whine about her being mean so you say hurtful things to her without any realization that you are doing the same thing you are accusing her of. I'm sure after the last time she went to that house it wasn't actually something she wanted to do, but she did it to help him and he didn't even see that at all. He didn't get his exact results he wanted so he pouted. I'm starting to think what he actually wants is for her to kiss his boo boo and make him feel better.

It's confirmed JW is also just clueless. He had no idea there were debts probably because he just didn't pay much attention to anything but himself. Gotcha.

I'm also conflicted about JW antics. Joo Sang Wook is hilarious as the pouting manchild and the freaking trumpet BGM makes me laugh every time. I enjoyed the scenes for sure, but it was over the line as well. In episode 9 it was different when he tried to keep her away from SH she clearly knew he was lying and just played into it. Here he used his authority as her boss and a project for work (and she takes work very seriously) to keep her captive. I don't really care if he remembered her birthday, maybe that's just NOT how she wanted to spend her birthday? I mean, really JW is it that hard to say happy birthday?

I'm not a fan of her family, but I was cheering for her mother when she finally stood up for her daughter and yelled at JW. They are annoying, but AR's family are in general kind people. His family... go away. I can get why they don't like her, but I also have to look at AR's family who didn't totally blame JW for everything that happen and were able to be civil to him.

SH? I can't really dislike him still going after her. Though I'll be honest, usually it would bug me. She still enjoys spending time with him and as long as he doesn't get all physical or petty then it's okay. It also inspires JW to get off his ass, which I'm all for. I really look forward to them fighting on an even ground now for AR's attention. It won't be even since AR doesn't like SH, but at least fair. JW has been cockblocking for awhile, so I look forward to SH getting some revenge for that.

YJ - I DON'T CARE. Her lies are getting a little bold now, which means they'll eventually come back to haunt her. I'm hoping puppy isn't working with his big sis. I really do somehow doubt it.

I do love how much AR has grown. She has admitted her mistakes, apologized, reflected and gotten over her need for petty revenge. His family wasn't totally wrong she had other motives when she joined the company, but she doesn't now. She might have feelings for JW, but she's not there for anything but work now. Also loved her telling him to control his family. You go girl...

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Rowanmdm

March 30, 2014 at 1:02 PM

Agreed with your love of how AR has grown. She has owned up to her mistakes both to herself and the affected parties. I really need to see JW go through the same process. He STILL doesn't realize how much he screwed up, and until he not only admits it to himself but apologizes to AR I am not on board with them getting back together.

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ilikemangos

March 30, 2014 at 2:51 PM

The trumpet BGM -- gets me everytime.

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Sanchita Suman

April 1, 2014 at 1:19 AM

thts y i juz love watchin' romcos! these things can happen in this o/s genre only! transforming an ocean of jealousy into vapours of laughter! kudos to the whole CSL team

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nomad

March 30, 2014 at 3:08 PM

I'm with you...I'm not a fan of her family, but I actually like when her mom yelled at JW's family, and even to JW. Finally, someone has to come clean that AR worked herself to death paying for some debts that he obviously didn't care enough to know, and that worthless brother ended up spending her alimony.

And I hope that brother doesn't end up with AR's bestie. She deserves someone better.

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lemondoodle

March 30, 2014 at 5:57 PM

The bestie can obviously get with SH. She seems to have a crush on his prettiness already.

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magnus

March 30, 2014 at 10:26 PM

You nailed why I don't find SH's behavior a huge problem at this point. AR enjoys his company and is not pushing him away constantly. His over the top gestures show how childish he really is at the end of the day, too young mentally for her, but he's not being physical/petty. If his behavior starts to upset her and he persists then I'll call foul.

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lemondoodle

March 31, 2014 at 12:18 AM

Yeah, I don't think she takes him too seriously. I know she doesn't love him, but she does like him. I wouldn't have dinner alone with a guy who just confessed to me or invite him into my home, but she had no issue with it. She was excited thinking he got her something and was slightly jealous she didn't have his undivided attention. The backhug was too much, but otherwise he hasn't crossed the line with me. He said he's not giving up, but as long as he's respectful it's cool with me.

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5 lulu

March 30, 2014 at 1:04 PM

It was so sad when Jung-woo asked at their dream house who Ae-ra was concerned about: Jung-woo or the CEO Jung-woo - and she answered the CEO JW.
We knew what she meant (that the situation at hand needed the CEO), but come on now, didn't she get a clue to what the poor man was asking??? I thought it was a bit cruel, especially when she knew he had witnessed the kid's back hug to her.

I hope JungWoo finds out about the miscarriage soon, and how Ae-ra was the one who kept vigil over him at the hospital, not YeoJin.

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nomad

March 30, 2014 at 3:09 PM

Even if she has a clue, I think her answer was appropriate...

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Bonnier

March 31, 2014 at 2:23 AM

Both answers would have been appropriate. That's not the point being made. But her answer was cruel, I'd have to agree. Because Jung Woo thinks she was just interested in his money or potential to earn money in their marriage and even now as CEO - and she knew he thought this.
So to say what she did, she reiterated she never loved him for himself and further deepened his misconception of her feelings.

This whole drama is largely based on misconceptions. The one mentioned above and JW's belief of why the marriage
ended. Both misconceptions lie with AeRa to bring out into the open if she wishes to do so. But it looks like that's not a priority to her. Yet I don't see their relationship progressing until she can let the truth come out, especially about the miscarriage.

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Alex

March 31, 2014 at 8:07 AM

I feel like this, too. I'm still hesitant over whether I want the relationship between AR and JW to start up again at this point, because they still haven't cleared up that fundamental misconception - that JW thinks AR was only interested in him for the money, though he was (and still is) madly in love with her. If they got together again now, he'd just keep on assuming that AR loves his success more than she loves him as a person.

I hope the drama truly adresses this issue soon and clears the way for the two of them to come together without these misconceptions.

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vawnki

March 31, 2014 at 6:03 PM

I think it's really a matter of perspective. For Ae-ra, choosing CEO is much more appropriate. Ae-ra has been accused a ridiculous amount of times for wanting to get close to JW for monetary reasons (read: golddigger). He himself has accused her of that. If I was ae-ra, and I was accused of gold-digging, I would want to keep a strictly professional relationship with JW and say I care for the CEO. Caring for JW implies that she a romantic relation with him, and this would just "prove" to others that she is a gold digger.

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BluSky

March 31, 2014 at 4:57 PM

The Site I watched this episode on translated what she said further; she said she chose the CEO because the company was important to Cha Jung Woo as a person. Because she said that way, I can't really see what exactly he wanted to hear...

As for evil in-laws, I'm so done with them. I don't like her family either, but they are at least nice enough to still talk to him, especially since they saw the way their daughter suffered.

P.S the Gook siblings need to chill out and stop being so forceful with creating relationships with others..

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6 Anna

March 30, 2014 at 1:11 PM

Ah...purplecow, you have again managed to show me lots of points I dismissed or even liked because I saw it from a different point of view, so well done recapping this episode. Now according to me;

1. This episode somehow redeemed Ae-ra's mother to a certain extent for me. I found a speck of hope that she has a bit of...motherly affection for Ae-ra. I liked the way she fought against CJW's family and how she refused to let Ae-ra pursue a relationship with CJW again. There is a tiny bit of self-respect in her that isn't there in the father and the brother(he seems to be realizing it a little). I liked that at least CJW got to know about the debts and he witnessed the hostility from his ex-in-laws that had also faced.

2. Yeo-Jin is like that little kid that wants his friend's toy, and so she tells everyone that it is her toy even when it is not - thinking that will make it hers eventually. Outside approval comes before the actual confirmation from the person concerned for her, and she is almost forcing the relationship on CJW. Not good, girl.

3. GSH simply crossed the line here, I agree. It wasn't cute at all when he refused to back down. And because he is putting his friendship with his hyung on stake - from what I saw, he seemed angry at CJW for being Ae-ra's ex and not that CJW kept it from him, but for being someone Ae-ra cared for, and not for hurting her(not sure). I absolutely didn't like that.

4. Here is a general statement. Really, if a girl has two good suitors she can choose from, how can they have any say in it? What goes on between them is none of her concern. What's with this "you keep her", "no, she is mine" attitude? She'll choose the one she likes, end of the matter. If GSH wants to utilize his bet for keeping CJW away from NAR, I hope he doesn't, that's really low. He can't control who she likes.

5. Maybe because CJW is the lead, well, I liked that he remembered Ae-ra's birthday. It was adorable seeing him try so hard to not let Ae-ra meet another guy, although I can feel Ae-ra's annoyance. Not a good move, but the fluff was pretty good, so I am not complaining. I like how cute they are when they are all for pranks and revenge in front of each other and caring at the back.

6. I'm not writing what I wrote in Fanderay's artwork comment again, but I think I understand why he cares now. Back then, when he hurt Ae-ra about the dream house, he didn't realize how hurt she was. But after that direct moment on the roof and the effect of his father's death on her, he is starting to understand Ae-ra. Back then, all he thought was Ae-ra simply came back because he was successful. And now he knows that's not the case.

7. I like how Ae-ra rubbed it off when she heard CJW's mom berate her family, but she was full on protective when his family visited her family. I really like her, just saying. And she knew where he would be. Well, all the time I am thinking about how much CJW annoys her at times and...

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Anna

March 30, 2014 at 1:12 PM

...and yet she is touched when he is so caring. Hehe. :3

8. We all can see and we all need to see a big apology coming from CJW. Let's see how the writers deal with the miscarriage news. They should break it well.

9. I like how they deal with relationships and the feelings don't take a sharp turn. They are keeping a good pace and I didn't feel any discontinuity in the actions of the leads anywhere. Maybe I'm a bit too forgiving, but this is certainly addictive.

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windsun33

March 30, 2014 at 1:49 PM

#4: While that whole idea of "ownership" seems a bit silly in today's world, it is still a very common trope all over, not just in k-dramas. And though I have seen that attitude in RL life, it is much more common in dramas than in RL.

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Gidget

March 31, 2014 at 10:39 PM

Re: #4 Silly in today's world

Ha! I actually had this happen a few years ago.

Two friends were interested and had this months-long debate over whether it was time for one guy (who I considered a really good friend) to move aside, so the other guy (who I didn't really know) could try to get closer.

At first I was perplexed at why they didn't just ask me what I wanted. But as their initial respectful debate devolved into a full-blown testosterone fueled rutting season, I finally decided to put up my feet, grab some popcorn and watch the entertainment.

As it stretched on, I just sat there giggling thinking "who do I want to date...uh, neither?"

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windsun33

April 1, 2014 at 11:31 AM

That reminds me of a k-drama that I cannot recall the name of. Two guys were going through the whole rutting season thing, and then the girl just hooks up with a 3rd guy and walks out, leaving them both there looking really stupid.

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Andrea

March 11, 2016 at 12:34 PM

THAT is a K-drama I want to watch! ^_^

Tulipsaki

March 30, 2014 at 5:07 PM

RE #3, I do't mind GSH not backing down because Ae-ra is not being made uncomfortable. If she was, then I'd say yes, back off. Instead, she's just neutral.

If an interested party didn't make an effort to win the other person over, how would their be any romance? As long as the other person isn't feeling harassed or uncomfortable, I don't see the problem. It would be a problem, though, if GSH was making Ae-ra actually unhappy with his attention.

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Anna

March 30, 2014 at 10:58 PM

I am glad you guys are around to help me not be biased.

Like lemondoodle said above, I am neutral towards his pursuing her, but I don't like over-the-top gestures(in her words). He has not learnt that love isn't all rainbows, unicorns, flowers and spring, so it just doesn't feel right. Hence the resentment.

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7 ju

March 30, 2014 at 1:13 PM

I don't think that Ae-ra is insensitive to Seung-hyun. I thought she was but after the way she cares about him being angry or ignoring her, it appears to me that Seung-hyun is right to be more attentive and active.
That said, I think it is a good thing that he knows about Ae-ra and Jung-woo...

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8 Redge

March 30, 2014 at 1:28 PM

Ugh Jung Woo is really pissing me off. I want to strangle him more than I want to like him tbh. At this point he needs to kneel on beans and kiss my feet to get my (and Ae Ra's) forgiveness. If he can't get a clue and stand up for her now he doesn't deserve her at all.

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windsun33

March 30, 2014 at 1:37 PM

He is still missing a lot of clues, and doing a poor job of following up on the ones that he has - perhaps he does not want to know how bad things were for her...

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Redge

March 30, 2014 at 2:32 PM

Yeah because If he acknowledges his faults he knows he's a jerk and he's got nothing left to justify his blameless-ness.

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Chloe

March 31, 2014 at 6:24 AM

but thank gdness he's standing up for her at the last part! 'no, dont do it'

Don't disappoint me, show!

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9 windsun33

March 30, 2014 at 1:35 PM

Seung-hyun has gone from sort-of-cute to almost-stalker annoying. It has been made clear to him several times that she has no romantic interest in him, yet he keeps pushing it. It goes beyond the physical age difference - he might be 25'ish physically, but emotionally he strikes as more in the 15 year-old range.

I find Ae-Ra's mother somewhat tolerable, but her brother and father just downright annoying - I wish they would just write them out of the script. HIs family is also pretty bitchy, but they have not showed up enough in the series yet to be really on my hate list - they are just sort of "there", like props, for now.

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lulu

March 30, 2014 at 2:22 PM

Agree. The kid needs to back off. It really is turning into something ugly.

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ilikemangos

March 30, 2014 at 2:41 PM

The stalking runs in the family. Actually, i would say the stalking is not just exclusive to this family but to jung woo as well (he even got that detective suit going for him in this episode). Even team leader wang is nosy as hell and always butts her way into people's conversations.
However, the way one stalks could have an entirely different feeling. Seung-Hyun usually shows up to brighten up ae ra's day when everyone else in the office is a bitch whereas Yeo Jin always enters the scene with her seriousness and party-pooping mood with evil theme song entrance to boot. Everytime I hear it now i've associated it with gloom and boredom so i fast-forward. I pity her as a character but as much as I try i can't come to "like" her just yet.

I agree, mom was less annoying this episode.

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Tulipsaki

March 30, 2014 at 5:04 PM

But sometimes, if one person is interested and the other is just clueless, it can help to push the interest and make it clear. The second person gets a chance to wake up to the first liking them and then, can decide if they're interested or not.

If they were neutral before, they can easily develop an interest because it's normal to like someone who likes you. (

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10 Jackeline

March 30, 2014 at 1:35 PM

Thanks for the review, purplecow!

I mostly agree with everything, except the dislike for Aera's mom. The only episode where I didn't like her was the one where she sided with Aera's dad and hit Aera when she said she wanted to severe ties with her family. I think the mom's only fault is that she's too bound to the sense of "family" that even though her husband and son are total jerks, she still forgives them.

Otherwise, her smackdown of Jungwoo and his mom/sister was pretty refreshing this episode. I totally understand her point of view. Who would want their daughter to suffer under an evil mother-in-law? If I were her, I'd tell Aera to rethink getting back with Jungwoo too, just because his family is so bitchy to her. And I don't mind that she blew up at Jungwoo because she had a reason to. It's not like she yells at Jungwoo all the time, in fact she's really nice to him. So to have lost her temper at him this time, telling him of all the suffering Aera went through, that was nice.

It looks like Jungwoo's going to straighten up and get serious now, and not a moment too soon. I'm still cheering for him because he's just a big baby. No matter how he tries to be suave and cool, he'll always just be the geeky nerd from when they were married. I just hope he starts saying what's actually in his heart from now on, and not hurtful words at Aera that are meant to hide what he actually feels.

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Anonymous

March 30, 2014 at 3:19 PM

I have two reasons why I don't totally hate JW's family:

1. Given the circumstances, I can see why they would assume that Ae-ra is a gold-digger. She did magically comeback into Jung-woo's life when he established himself as a successful person. It's the WRONG assumption, but a reasonable assumption based on what they know. (How they handled it however, was really b****y.)

2. Ae-ra is the reason why JW's Dad collapsed, and by extension, why he died. While Ae-ra's isn't actually at fault, it's easy to see why JW's sister and mom would put the blame on Ae-ra. She's the easiest target, especially when they think Ae-ra left JW for "selfish" reasons.

Sure the two Cha ladies are not the best people on Earth, but at least they are given a reasonable impetus for their actions instead of being evil in-laws for the sake of being evil.

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windsun33

March 30, 2014 at 3:33 PM

I agree with your take on his family's feeling, but the fact is that the main reason they have that opinion is because apparently because he never told them anything. All they are seeing is the exterior façade. I think his father is the only one that knew anything about what was really going on.

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Jackeline

March 30, 2014 at 9:30 PM

I do see your point. However, even before AR divorced JW, I get the sense that his mom didn't really like her from the flashback with JW's dad. (She was kind of cold/distant/snobby to AR.) Plus AR's mom said that JW's mom always looked down on AR because she didn't have an education and was just a restaurant owner's daughter. Even though this doesn't make her an evil MIL, I really dislike how she's so judgmental. I don't know about JW's sister.

But you're right; ultimately they could've handled this better, being adults and all.

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lemondoodle

March 31, 2014 at 12:11 AM

It's in their character bio that the family didn't approve of the marriage. I can get why they don't like her now, but they also never gave her much of a chance. They NEVER liked her to start with. I can see why AR's family might not like JW now, but they were always kind to him even after the divorce.

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11 Michelle

March 30, 2014 at 1:58 PM

This series is misnamed putting all the blame on arera. First episode made her seem like a girl wanting a rich husband but she stood up and worked hard even when he quit his job without telling her. Last straw was miscarriage what is he going to about that. She definitely inspired the app idea

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Julia

March 30, 2014 at 2:10 PM

Yes I totally agree! The title and synopsis are all wrong!

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[email protected]

March 30, 2014 at 2:59 PM

Agree. And it could be off-putting to someone who hears it firsthand from someone.
I came in with the assumption that i was going to be in jung-woo's favor but it's clear that there's more to it that meets the eye.

"cunning single lady" should really just be "feisty single lady". Ae-ra is anything but deceitful and sly. You could read all her emotions on her face, whether she's upset, happy, or angry. The girl does not hold back (except for when she's in pain.)

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ilikemangos

March 30, 2014 at 3:20 PM

Argh, how did my email get posted? Can you guys change that for me, thanks!

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trixicopper

March 30, 2014 at 5:53 PM

Like that NEVER happens in Kdrama. :)

Synopsis' are often completely off base. It's always best to take them with a truck load of salt. :)

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vawnki

March 31, 2014 at 6:12 PM

Exactly! They make her sound like a gold-digger which is so not true.

She didn't leave because of money. She left because both her dreams were taken away: being a housewife, and having a family. She didn't come back because of money either - she was just wanted an apology and acknowledgement for all she had done for him, which I think she is fully entitled to.

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12 Julia

March 30, 2014 at 2:08 PM

Jung-woo may have remembered Ae-Ra's birthday but with instant seaweed soup bought from a convenience store and sliced cake nonchalantly dropped onto the table, major point deduction for Jung-woo!!! If he had been sweet and sincere, his childish and unfair use of his CEO authority to make Ae-Ra work late may be forgivable, but no! I speak from experience since I am dating a rather childish and insecure man myself, but he always manages to come out tops in sincerity and effort. ?

Yeo-Jin is the classic plot device for competition from the second female lead but it is interesting that the writer makes Jung-woo not the least interested in her romantically.

We now know that the writer likes to have misunderstandings occurring but only cleared much later down the road (Jung-woo's revelation of houshold debts Ae-Ra took on bcos of him) and even have Ae-Ra not clearing the air when Jung-woo accused her of not visiting him at the hospital after he saved her. So I guess we as angsty viewers can look forward to more revelations on Jung-woo's part regarding the miscarriage, real reason Ae-Ra divorced him and perhaps that she chose Yeo-jin's gift?

Curious about the favor Yeo-Jin has asked of her brother and how this will affect the story. Major plot device here I suppose!

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Chloe

March 31, 2014 at 6:45 AM

why does the seaweed soup mean that he remembered her birthday? did i miss out on something previously?

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tina

April 1, 2014 at 6:53 PM

Traditionally seaweed soup is given to a woman who has just given birth up to a couple of months after. Since it is associated with birth, it eventually became something that one must have on their birthdays.

Not being able to have Seaweed soup is like not having a birthday cake on your birthday.

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Chloe

April 2, 2014 at 12:14 PM

thanks for the explanation tina! :)

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13 Abbie

March 30, 2014 at 2:18 PM

I've only been casually following this show, and I missed episodes 4-6. I agree with everything you said, Purplecow! Just one thing is bothering me: Did Ae-ra have a miscarriage towards the end of the marriage, and, if so, does Jung-woo and/or their families know about it?

Thanks for the recap!

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Anonymous

March 30, 2014 at 2:23 PM

I believe no one is aware of the miscarriage but Min-young and Ae-ra.

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Abbie

March 30, 2014 at 2:46 PM

That's what I thought, too. Thanks!

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coby

March 31, 2014 at 2:55 AM

I thought so too. But I was hoping that her mom knows and I thought that her mom will blurt that one out during the confrontation.

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14 Amell

March 30, 2014 at 2:58 PM

I'm giving JW a pass for this week's episodes, seeing your ex move on isn't easy especially if it makes you realise you're not over them, but he better shape up in episode 11!

Characters like SH are probably the big reason why I so rarely get Second Lead Syndrome. They might start out cute but they rarely stay that way. To be fair though my hate for Nice Guy Entitlement plays a part too.

The writer actually managed to make me side with AR's family, it's a miracle! All it took was SW's family being momentarily worse. Look as the actress has obviously cut her hair can it just be worked in to the drama pretty please because that ponytail extension seriously bugs me.

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15 MM

March 30, 2014 at 3:13 PM

If the fortune tell is correct - maybe everything falls apart and Ae Ra is the only one left by his side and they get ordinary happiness again

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16 CHICKEN

March 30, 2014 at 3:15 PM

yeah, you guys have analysed all the details of this episode, but i'm more excited on the fact that sec gil could possibly gain a love interest in this drama cos why'd they bring up his break up?. ^^
*the lone fangirl*

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Agripina

March 30, 2014 at 7:59 PM

Helo the lone fangirl hahaha please listen to Michael Jackson : "You are not alone .. I'm here with you " hahaha

Oke, I'm not L's fan/fangirl/fanboy .. But LOL when he emulate JW's desperate style in a bar (?) even the way he laugh is the same with JW.

Ah maybe the writer want to make L ends up with Song Hee :D :D Anything is possible in K-Drama

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Chloe

March 31, 2014 at 6:37 AM

arghhh but i can't stand Song Hee...
let Song Hee end up with Ae Ra's brother haha...
And secretary Gil can end up with Ae Ra's bestie

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jejebunny

March 31, 2014 at 7:42 PM

yeah, i can't stand song-hee either. :/ i'd rather have secretary gil not have a love interest than have him end up with song-hee... >.>

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17 ilikemangos

March 30, 2014 at 3:18 PM

This week's pair of episodes were really the strongest imo and what makes a rom-com a rom-com. There were more moments where our leads shared a connection and there were more laughs than there were annoying people (although I understand jung-woo's family, they are really starting to get on my nerves).

To be completely honest, although i was always in ae-ra's favor more, i never completely loved her character until this week. She makes me laugh so hard and her ego the size of mount Everest is reminiscent of the stronger heroines in drama-land. Funny how such a trait could be so unfavorable in real life but played off as endearing in dramas. Her conversation on the rooftop with Seung-Hyun had me in giggles.

Jung Woo, although still a man child (forcing her to work overtime just to spend time with her on her birthday instead of just being straight-forward about it), is starting to open up his heart again and not be so blinded by the "betrayal". It seems there's still alot of ae-ra's pain that Jung-Woo hasn't realized yet(i get it, not every man is so attuned to his wife's feelings) so i'm waiting for the moment he finds out ae-ra miscarried. That will probably be the biggest revelation for jung woo.

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18 Gidget

March 30, 2014 at 4:48 PM

Just a few thoughts on this one:

To me Ae -Ra's character was a bit disjointed this episode. I wondered if they filmed some of her scenes in the earlier part of the series. In some scenes she reverted back to her annoying, lip-curled Smirky McSmerk immature old-self. And in others she was her more mature, thoughtful and likeable new-self.

I read Jung Woo's regression into immaturity as being correlated with her doing the same.

Re: the house. The house was always his dream not hers. And he built it after they had broken up. It was built for himself and someone who would stand by him through thick and thin. The only thing I was disappointed by when he showed her the house a few episodes ago was that he decorated it with the small plants she envisioned. At the time I thought him doing that was intended to be a low blow. However, it dawned on me that wasn't what his motivation was. I think what that scene was trying to tell us was that he made her dreams his own. The reason why their marriage broke down is that she couldn't / wouldn't make his dreams hers.

Which brings me to the family. I've appreciated seeing them. It lends understanding to why Ae-Ra couldn't cope with Jung Woo's choice to leave a salaried job for an entrepreneurial career. She watched a mom who worked like a dog to keep the family afloat, while her father chased his dreams/illusions. She also likely watched her mother's personality become progressively hardened by the strain of bearing all the responsiblity for the family. She didn't want to be married to someone like her dad or become like her mom. So after she and Jung Woo embarked on that same path, she eventually snapped. Seeing her family makes me more sympathetic to why she left him. Without this context her choice to bail out of the marriage only seemed to be motivated by both an unhealthy self-focus and materialism.

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shinayame

March 30, 2014 at 10:02 PM

I agree with you that Ae Ra didn't want a marriage like that of her parents and she didn't want to make the same choices her mother did, but I have to say I disagree with you about the house.
Jung Woo showed Ae Ra the model of the house while they were still together and when he did build it eventually, he incorporated all the features she had asked for when he first showed it to her, like the windows, the plants and the fireplace. He may have built it as a show of defiance against her leaving him or he may have built it out of sentiment, that I cannot say, yet.
But I feel, the reason he showed it to her when he did was for the exact reason you first thought it was. It was a low blow since he meant to show her that he was at a place in life where he could afford to build such a beautiful house, but also that even though it was THEIR dream house, she had no place in it any more because she betrayed him when he needed her and then came back when he was prosperous and successful.
Which brings me to what you said about their marriage breaking down. It isn't that she didn't try making his dreams hers. She worked really hard for four years, took on debt without telling him just so he could live his dream, this after he gave up his job without even consulting her and expecting her to go along with it because she loved him. She had made it clear what she wanted from the marriage and he thought she'd be as supportive as always, even though he broke a promise. I'm not saying the fault is entirely his, and there was absolutely no communication between the two, which would have made things easier, but I think four years of hard work when she wasn't prepared for it, followed by a miscarriage could have pushed her over the edge. Especially since she had to work without the sufficient educational qualifications as her mother pointed out in this episode. I think Ae Ra did her best in conditions that were not ideal and then came a point where she couldn't take it any more.
Sorry, this turned into more of a rant than I thought it would :-)

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malou1010

March 31, 2014 at 4:04 AM

Exactly my thoughts!

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vawnki

March 31, 2014 at 6:17 PM

"Which brings me to what you said about their marriage breaking down. It isn’t that she didn’t try making his dreams hers."

I think what broke their marriage was that he didn't try to make HER dream HIS.

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Gidget

March 31, 2014 at 11:32 PM

I agree that when he showed her the house that he intended to hurt her. But I looked at that scene through the lens of where the characters were at that point in time. Both were at their snarky best, trying to hurt each other. And that's because neither understood what the other went through prior to their breakup.

And I guess I do lay most of the fault for the breakup on her doorstep. Although, she did go through an unreasonable amount of hardship; she didn't let him know the extent of it. Instead of talking it through and giving him an opportunity to find a solution, she blindsided him.

Thinking about it, I do have a different perspective than many here. Saying that a career change, followed by 4 years of really hard work and a miscarriage are justification for walking out on a marriage...

How can I say it...

Well, in the words of a friend of mine...from a broader perspective, those really are 'uptown problems.'

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shinayame

April 1, 2014 at 1:30 AM

Their basic problem was communication. She didn't tell him how hard it was for her or about the miscarriage, so yes, she was at fault, but communication goes both ways. He should have told her about his decision before he up and quit his job instead of after the fact. If she was expected to talk to him about her problems and find a solution with him, shouldn't he have spoken to her about what he was planning to do and given her an opportunity to prepare herself and make some sort of contingency plan for the future?
Also, maybe a miscarriage and 4 years of hard work after a sudden career change aren't enough to break a marriage, I wouldn't know not being married myself. But looking at it from the characters' point of view at that point of time, Ae Ra wasn't as strong back then as she has become now. She had never worked before, her dream was to be a housewife. She simply wasn't prepared for the difficulties that came with supporting her husband's dreams. She may have watched her mother deal with her father all those years, but that doesn't mean she knew how to deal with problems that big herself.
Basically, Jung Woo dropped her into the deep end of a pool and expected her to swim the butterfly when she could just about barely float. Naturally, she almost drowned. I don't think she was at fault for leaving when she did. What I think she is at fault for, what both of them were at fault for, was thinking that they didn't need to tell the other person what they were thinking, assuming that love made them both mind readers.

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19 Tulipsaki

March 30, 2014 at 4:56 PM

Thanks, purplecow, you've described much of what I dislike about Jungwoo. I also feel he has always looked down on Ae-ra: it's just a general impression, even from their so-called happy memories.

However, I found Seunghoon romantic. He's just not that pushy. Okay, the backhug might've been a tad too far, but, somehow, considering the heavy hints he's dropped, and consdering this is a drama and nothing realistic is going to happen anyway, it doesn't seem that bad. It's not like he forced a kiss on her or more, just that he was trying to keep her from leaving so he could state his feelings and then the emotion overtook him.

And his judo sparring with Jungwoo made me squee. It was the k-drama equivalent of knights jousting for the maiden's hankie in medieval days. Le Sigh.

I do hope both Guk Siblings don't go down the creepy road. Yeojin is pushing that angle, but I still feel some pity for her, since she's clearly got PTSD (even if we put the fake leg business aside, losing a husband in a car crash is big). ANd Seunghoon seems genuine about Ae-ra as opposed to just overcome with jealousy.

I really, truly, hope the writers allow Ae-ra to live happily ever after with Seunghoon. Ae-ra's mother was right in telling her to quit that job and that a finished fate is finished.

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Gidget

March 31, 2014 at 11:51 PM

Ooh. I've always seen it the opposite.

I thought the show has said she thought she was pretty hot stuff. And from her viewpoint:
She condescended to be with a dorky guy, in order to secure a comfortable life.
She thought he should make himself happy living the life she wanted, because he was lucky to be with her.

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windsun33

April 1, 2014 at 11:38 AM

Actually in the beginning that is how I saw it also. Not going to go back and look, but from what I recall from ep1 is that in fact her mother suggested to her that she hit on him, as he was brainy - and that it would never have entered her mind otherwise.

But that was a fleeting moment in time, and I doubt if they would have gone any further if there was not some attraction beyond that.

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20 midwest mz

March 30, 2014 at 5:09 PM

I enjoyed this episode so much. I think Jung Woo does not know how to effect a reconciliation with Ae-Ra, and he is trying to do this the best that he can, or that the writers permit. She plays along so beautifully, and at times herself being so frisky. Someone said she put a bottle cap in his seat, I thought she poured her water bottle out in his chair. Someone noted she caused his father’s collapse, I disagree. I think it was a culmination of the marriage/their lives to that point. Jung Woo had left a good job, she is working herself to death, bills are out of control, he has had numerous set backs, and this was the ship finally breaking up on the rocks.

It is unfortunate that more information on the time of their actual marriage has not been part of the story line. I think that it would have been good, or a strong story line for a drama. How in the initial start of a marriage, there are/can be certain dreams and expectations for one or the other. Then the big curve ball is thrown into the mix and how it is handled all around. I think they have touched on it here, but not to the level that they could have.

I get the distinct impressions that culturally it is a man’s world in Korea, in that he is still suppose to be the ’be all, and end all’ in the home. Meaning here, as to how this relates to the earning of the income and home leadership. (please, anyone correct me if I am showing my ignorance here). Also, noting this with the strong momma/wife aside. With this said, Ar-ea has been forced to assume this role, and we did not get to see in total the effect it took on both characters. Hurt makes us all do things we might not do otherwise, and cause us to curl in to ourselves for self preservation.

The growth of the leads has been steady and good. I am very glad that Jung Woo has finally been told by Ae-Ra’s mom of the debts she paid off. He needs to now chew on this for a while and evolve and change due to it? The miscarriage will be the next hurdle I think, or should I say hope? I really would not like to see the writers put Seung-hyun

and Yeo Jin into situations that really muddies the water for the leads. That would leave us with the famous, resolution of the drama in the last 10 min of the last episode. So uck phooey!!

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21 coffeenlucia

March 30, 2014 at 5:28 PM

I love how he's slowly reverting back to his dorky self more and more around Ae Ra. ;)

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22 SuziQ

March 30, 2014 at 6:22 PM

Yeo Jin bothers me. I understand she has gone through traumatic circumstances, but her behavior is beginning to annoy me. I'm just wondering if she is just scheming and pretending to be nice to Ae Ra so she can maneuver her way to Jung Woo's heart. I keep waiting for her to 'drop her leg' in an upcoming episode.

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KDaddict

March 30, 2014 at 7:20 PM

"drop her leg'... LOL.

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Redge

March 30, 2014 at 8:10 PM

"drop her leg"

lmao, now sis...

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23 lh39

March 30, 2014 at 6:29 PM

Hi purplecow - thanks for your recap. Purple is my favorite colour too.

What works for me in this drama :

1) I like the writer.

2) I like all the OST, trumpets and drums.

3) Lee Min Jung (post marriage) is absolutely glowing and she is really in her element and I feel this is her best performance todate. Love her curls in earlier episodes.

4) Seo Kang Joon has been good but I will always remember this scene when there was no line - SH going through the photo album. The few frowns and then his look at AR's back of her head, indicating the realization and thoughts that went through his head in those few seconds.

This sure complicates things. His rich crazy father is a big hurdle and his close hyung relationship with JW a bigger hurdle. I don't see SH as being an annoying suitor. AR is able to spend time comfortably with SH without any pretense and she didn't imagine that he would fall for her. We see that AR enjoys his company and friendship before and after the confession. I am good to see AR with SH as 8 years isn't too much; or her going back to JW (likely this will be the final OTP outcome).

The second leads are always important as they are impetus to the main leads. It is a bonus when their characters are well crafted. Sometimes they may even be better than the main lead despite fewer scenes.

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Momopeach

March 30, 2014 at 7:48 PM

oh yeah I forgot to mention the wonderful OST. It's really good, though I could do without the dramatic strings playing during some of JW's scenes.

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24 Momopeach

March 30, 2014 at 7:46 PM

What if Ae-ra doesn't end up with anyone? I'd find that totally believable. She doesn't seem to show romantic interest in anyone particularly.

I'm sad about Yeo-Jin. She went from having amazing potential and being a great 2nd lead to borings and cliche for me. Given that there are only 6 episodes, I don't know what may happen, but I'm doubting the writers can fix it at this rate. They still haven't explained why she was with her husband at that time.

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lemondoodle

March 31, 2014 at 12:26 AM

I'd actually find it believable if JW and AR worked out their issues, forgave each other and went their separate ways in the end. Just because they love each other doesn't really mean they have to get married again.

I can see JW loves her and wants her back deep down, but he doesn't even know how to begin to start doing that and won't admit it to himself. She on the other hand loves him as well, but she just doesn't want him back at all. She's fine with not being with him and after the shit with his family unless he can keep them in line I could see her thinking it's not worth the effort.

I wouldn't like it, but it wouldn't shock me.

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lulu

March 31, 2014 at 10:12 PM

I think the catalyst for them getting back together will be the revelation of the miscarriage. I think that will really make JungWoo go after her, because it would show she wasn't all about the money in their marriage.

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lemondoodle

April 1, 2014 at 12:20 AM

He should have figured that out already...

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25 Lorac

March 30, 2014 at 8:20 PM

The only best way to end this drama is have Ae-ra single and successful in whatever career she may have. Since the title is Sly and single again/Cunning single lady, they should note the single part... JW, with 6 epi. left, I doubt they could still redeem his character - srsly, he didn't know the debts AR accumulated, ugh he is beyond redeemable... SH -- you are becoming annoying, AR is 34, I doubt if playing hard to get is still in her vocabulary, a No is a No...YJ, I like you but your step to the dark side is stupid and plain dumb, as purplecow said, she is setting herself up to a great deal of pain and rejection. Ae-Ra, leave the people around you, take your bff and live somewhere else...lol

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coby

March 31, 2014 at 3:02 AM

ditto! Somehow in this show its okay for me for them not to get back together. Whenever that I think that they will get back together I would say "nah... the title says Cunning Single Lady/ Sly and Single Again"

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26 katyaluxe

March 30, 2014 at 8:22 PM

This episode was a big step forward in terms of progression. At the beginning of the show, I hated Jung-woo and wanted Ae-ra to end up with someone other than the two leads. Now, though, I think I would be okay with her ending up with either of them, even though we all know she'll most likely end up with her ex husband. I used to think that Yeo-Jin was really cool, but know I know she's just like any other woman, with strong emotions. I can't wait for episode 11!

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27 CrazyRedHairMireu

March 30, 2014 at 9:15 PM

Seung Hyun the character aside, I just want to say that Seo Kang Joon, the actor is so freaking cute. I love his new hair style and him in general. I'm happy he's gaining popularity through this drama, although, I've seen his works before. I wish 5urprise were featured in more known works. They're all really cute and act fairly well. In any case, I'm glad Seo Kang Joon is going to be on Roommate. I hope this can bring more recognition to him and the rest of 5urprise.

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28 sancheezy

March 30, 2014 at 9:36 PM

Mybe i am the one who didn't feel bad abouth GSH behavior,
I just simply think he just trying, but ae-ra did best to make him understand,So i believe there is a point when a guy learn that his behavior is crossed the line, and I'd like to give him a chance

What i like about GSH is he is so bright, it is sad and he thinks he needs to do more because CJW is her ex-husband, i mean to overcome CJW-now is too high, he must think he needs to do something that CJW didn't do without knowing their history

I liked this episode and tolerate GSH, hope the next episode he going to be better, for CJW, he needs to learn how to understand the real problem of their marriage, he needs to remember the past, come on!

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29 Agripina

March 30, 2014 at 11:32 PM

Well, it's good to see AR 'protect' her family... All I want from AR is stop being a noble woman who always keep all the burdens on herself.. see, not only hurt yourself, but also your family. You're not alone in this world, AR.
For JW, I still don't understand why you didn't know anything about the debt. Writer-nim, please explain to me hahaha
I was lil bit don't like when JW force her to work overtime, but suddenly it changed since he still remember AR birthday hahah and AR felt sorry for making a mess by that mineral water. Maybe some said that JW were too much by didn't say Happy birthday to AR ..is it too hard for you to say those two words ?? But for me, actions speak louder D :D

Thanks Purplecow for the recap. You always change my mind about something that I see as negative thing. That's why I don't regret become your fan :D :D

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30 cecile

March 31, 2014 at 12:29 AM

I dont agree with the saying that SH is crossing his line regarding his feeling to AR. Yes people should know how to back off when being told 'NO!', but theres also nothin wrong with 'give it another go' coz who know theres change in heart that allow second chance to be succeeded.
Whats more important is his action hasnt bring bad feeling for AR yet, while in fact she enjoy being with him. So im totally in for him to fight for her against all odd.

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31 Sanchita Suman

March 31, 2014 at 12:50 AM

all i want at this stage of the drama is the relevation of truth tht she had misscarriage n if writers r thinkin' to reveal this truth at the end of the series then it wud be a major put off 4 me coz i m lookin' 4ward to see tht after realisation of mistake how jung woo n aera come back together coz as much as i can see even though aera still loves him sumwer in her heart but whether she wishes to realy get back together is still unclear.. n m juz imagining the air of astonishment in her office wen they get to know who aera is n her boss utterin' "unbelievable''..!
n i realy don agree with the comment regardin' second male lead! wts wrong with tht if he still pursues her??
juz because one has been rejected tht doesnt imply tht one shud loose hope entirely! if u guys have seen can we love? even in tht show sunmi's lover (don remember his name) kept on pursuin' her till the end!
as long as he doesnt get physical n respects her dignity m absolutely fine with it!!!

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MO

March 31, 2014 at 5:39 AM

While I do agree the writer seemed to slack off the miscarriage thing, please fix your grammar.

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Sanchita Suman

March 31, 2014 at 6:23 AM

well i didn't find anything wrong grammatically but yes she has chopped down most of the words!

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windsun33

April 1, 2014 at 11:43 AM

Agreed - I find it very difficult to read with half the words chopped to pieces.

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32 Petmink

March 31, 2014 at 1:17 AM

I thought Ae Ra poured water over the couch, since the water bottle was empty before he sat down.

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malou1010

March 31, 2014 at 4:15 AM

Yeah, you're right. If you notice the bottle has the cap on when he sat down. LOL to that scene!

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33 LMJ JSW shipper

March 31, 2014 at 1:30 AM

Please let the OTP end up together n
Not separate coz tt would really ruin the rom com wc has been terrific thus far..
But please return LMJ s earlier bangs n look..she looked positively radiant wth her earlier hairdo..
My main gripe is still the lack
Of skinship n kisses..hey might it be becoz LMJ is now Mrs LBH with a mother in law in tow so she s not doing those scenes anymore..she did a fair share of kissing in her previous rom com AAMR b4 her marriage ..
Didnt she n JSW film a kissing scene,m sure I read abt it somewr..maybe I missed it in the earlier epis??

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Agripina

March 31, 2014 at 1:47 AM

Hahhaha there's a BTS picture about they're going to kiss but that scene doesn't appear until now. Maybe CSL team save it for the scene in the last episode :D :D

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cecile

March 31, 2014 at 2:01 AM

I dont think marriage status has any relation with mount of kisses in k-drama. They were quite the professionals actor/ess who take their jobs seriusly.
I guess the skinship n kisses will grow in number starting this week. Amen.

And yeah ive been wondered bout that particular scene too. Maybe they just decide to cut the scene for its not relevant with given situation that time.

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Sanchita Suman

March 31, 2014 at 6:36 AM

haven't u seen 'ywcfs' or moon embracing sun??
lead actresses of all these dramas are married but still they nailed it! and especially eugene i have seen her in movies like 'unstoppable marriage' n 'save the last dance 4 me' but her romantic appeal in those drama/movies were not that intense but her very first kissing scene with kim tae woon in can we love (jtbc) was way too hot! so i don't find your comment having a solid base!

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Agripina

March 31, 2014 at 6:19 PM

Correction : Uhm Tae Wong ... not Kim Tae Wong :D
Yup, there's no relationship between being married and no kiss scene hhahaha even Holywood actors/actresses who are married can do more than that :D

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34 Rose

March 31, 2014 at 2:27 AM

I liked the episode 9 more,and I think episode 11 is oing to be more intresting,looking forward!;)

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35 bibi

March 31, 2014 at 4:58 AM

i hope she and her ex get back together again.
this will make the movie more intestine

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Sanchita Suman

April 1, 2014 at 1:15 AM

intestine? lol!

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36 malou1010

March 31, 2014 at 5:09 AM

Aaaaww...... episode 10 was just too sad for me! It made my heart ache so much for Ae Ra. On the bright side though, it's such a relief that now Jung Woo knows some of the pain & hardships Ae Ra went through prior to & after the divorce. I can't wait for him to know about the miscarriage, among other things.

For now, I'll cut him some slack for playing the "boss" card on Ae Ra that day...... on her birthday, of all days! Why? Two things: First off, I really enjoyed that scene..... from the time he asked her to work on her proposal (the funny facial expressions of Jung Woo, Team Leader Wang, & Ae Ra really cracked me up!), to that ever hilarious hallway scene, all the way to his office with all the bickering (which I find quite amusing!), & finally, that simple yet endearing way he let her know he did remember her birthday. Second, it goes without saying, that Jung Woo just can't VERBALIZE what his heart wants to say to her!

The ending truly saved the day for me. I see a different Jung Woo who is now more determined than ever to fight for his love & win Ae Ra's heart once more. For him to do so, he needs to get his act together, MAN UP, & confront his mother & sister. He needs to be firm & tell them to back off & for crying out loud, put them in their proper places, once & for all! Ae Ra had so much unhealed wounds from their past. She truly deserves to be happy this time around.

I'm stilll on my OTP ship..... not giving up! It's not & will never be an option for me. Looking forward to a heartwarming episode 11 where Jung Woo & Ae Ra finally heal old wounds...... to give room for their 2nd chance of finding love once again!

Pretty obvious, huh? I'm totally into this drama...... hook, line, & sinker!!!

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37 lucy

March 31, 2014 at 5:43 AM

screw ratings.
dear kdrama newbie out there, don't ever judge a drama by its ratings.

so far the drama shows good progress. i don't feel like being dragged by its plot. every episode is enjoyable.

at certain point i feel like smacking jung woo's and ae ra's head. somehow their bantering, jealousy, and affection to each other makes me enjoy these two characters. now i ship them both. and can someone tell me what is wrong with those Guk siblings?? at first i was like a noona fan to seung hyun, but he starts to irk me when he throws a little bit tantrum after being rejected. but he's still adorable with those eyes. and for the sister, i was hoping yeo jin to be the best female second lead. she is someone respectable at the beginning and i really like her character. i want her character to be loved, not being hated through out the story (please dear writer listen to my plea)

i cant help my self but keep wondering how a good and enjoyable drama like this can't have a high rating like *ehem*Heirs*ehem*.

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38 Febe

March 31, 2014 at 6:42 PM

I usually watch K-Drama not because of the ratings. I don't want to be fooled by the ratings hahaha When the story fit to me, then I'll watch it. I read somewhere that divorce is such a sensitive issue in Korea so maybe that the reason why the ratings is not good (correct me If I'm wrong). And on the other hand maybe Korean more like the story of the two other drama that air at the same time.

Well, but ratings is just like the last hope of the drama. I remember about the drama "The World Within" casted by Song Hye Gyo - Hyun Bin that have not good ratings. They agreed to be paid below the contract since this drama suffers losses because of the bad ratings :(

Yup, I was hoping that YJ will be my fave when the drama start. But now she changes ... so sad. And maybe SH will 'follow' her sister. Hahaha well, I'm affraid that the SH's fans will be mad if the writer turn him in to the bad guy to get AR. I hope I'm wrong

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lemondoodle

March 31, 2014 at 8:39 PM

Hm, the ratings for this aren't even bad. It's in 3rd place, but it's not that far below the other two dramas airing. Considering the ratings of some dramas lately... they should be thankful with the numbers they are pulling in. Nothing is really doing outstanding on W/T after YFAS ended. This isn't anything that has a huge budget, so in reality it's probably doing better than the shows its airing against tbh.

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39 eunyungah

April 1, 2014 at 8:07 AM

Thanks to all the recappers. Since the first few shows I've only been following this drama through the recaps but finally watched episodes 9-10. These two felt like a real rom-com and I'm hoping the show's painfully slow first half is finally pickup us speed! Have a great week everyone.

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40 Dray

April 2, 2014 at 8:44 PM

It bothered me that Yeo-Jin was planing on giving that tie to Jung-Woo in front of Ae-Ra, esp after telling Ae-Ra what giving a tie to a guy means. Yeo-Jin isn't the character I hoped she would be, I was hoping for a more mature response to her finding out about Ae-Ra being Jung-Woo's ex-wife.

I think the Gook sibs have too much of their father in them to not manipulate and that concerns me. And why is it that Yeo-Jin only seems to have nightmares about losing her leg? Why not about losing a husband? I can't recall if they officially ever came out & said that he died. For all we know he could be in a coma & miraculously come out of it in the last episode to sweep Yeo-Jin off her feet again only to realize that she's a Gook and has moved on.

I just want Jung-Woo & Ae-Ra to have a honest conversation and to stop hiding stuff from each other because its hurtful for the other person. I'm enjoying Ae-Ra's character growth & Jung-Woo reverting somewhat into his geeky self who still has feelings for his ex-wife. I'm not rooting for them to get back together but I also wouldn't be against it.

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