Fated To Love You: Episode 19
by HeadsNo2
There’s plenty of cute to go around as Gun and Mi-young work furiously to convince the right parties that they belong together, come what may. Gun also goes on a side quest regarding his father and the words of wisdom he left behind, which sure would’ve done a whole lot more good during that three year split—but what’s past is past. It’s time to look toward the future, even if that means ignoring the threat of darkness looming on the horizon for happier thoughts.
SONG OF THE DAY
JYJ – “Dad, You There?” [ Download ]
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EPISODE 19 RECAP
We find everyone preparing for the (second) marriage of Gun and Mi-young, but they’re missing one thing: the bride and groom. It’s with shock that Grandma Wang finds out the two have suddenly skipped out on their own ceremony.
Not to worry though, Gun and Mi-young seem fine, even though they’re driving away in their “Just Married” car…
Rewind. Gun enters his office to find Mi-young waiting for him, only for Gun to ask: “Who are you?” Mi-young isn’t fazed, and tries to jog his memory by telling him that she’s Keddongie’s mom, Dalpengie, and Superglue.
A lightbulb goes off over Gun’s head as he remembers who she is before he loudly proclaims, “Jang Na-ra!” Hahaha.
The moment Mi-young slaps him for that, Gun wakes up in her old apartment. It was just a dream. They share a cute moment baking bread, but Gun doesn’t want to let her go off to the studio to work—even though she jokes that she has to bring home the bacon now that he’s not working.
He finally lets her go with a kiss, then heads to Mom’s restaurant for the day. It’s adorable how he practices satoori to try and fit in, because Mom is still not sold on him re-marrying her daughter.
He’s brought her supplements in what he admits is straight-up bribe, especially when they’re named “Mother, I’ll Be Filial So Don’t Worry.” Hah. Mom brushes him off, so Gun claims he’ll come back with something that really sparkles, even though he doubts that whatever he can bring will shine brighter than Mom’s eyes.
Mom doesn’t want anything from him and attempts to send him away, but Gun proves to be superglue as he begs Mom to at least let him eat before he goes, in terrible satoori, no less.
She reluctantly lets him stay, but doesn’t want him to keep calling her Mom. When he doesn’t get the point, she finally sits him down by calling him “Gun-ah” as she tells him that he really is like a son to her. Gun thinks she’s about to tell him good news and excitedly tells her that he thinks of her as his mother, too.
He asks her permission to marry Mi-young, but that’s not what Mom sat him down for. She doesn’t know how sick he is, but promises that because he’s like a son to her, she’ll help him no matter what… though that plan doesn’t seem to include Mi-young.
Gun defends his health as being more than perfect since he hasn’t even had a cold in the last three years, but Mom takes him by the hands as she pleads, “Can’t you let my Mi-young go?”
She knows it’s selfish of her when Mi-young wants to take what will inevitably be a hard road, but she can’t just sit by and watch either. “I really do like you, Gun. But I’m still opposed to your relationship with Mi-young. You know how I feel, right? You understand what your mom is saying, right?”
Gun looks moved by her desperate pleas, but in a surprising turn, he lets out a hearty laugh as he asks her whether she thought he’d give up just like that. He takes her attitude as a challenge as he promises to come back even stronger next time.
Daniel, wearing alarmingly gold footwear, finds himself confused by Se-ra’s cold attitude when they run into each other in their building. He doesn’t know she saw the picture on his nightstand, but she can’t forget it.
Gun crashes Mom’s hair salon, and introduces himself to all the other ajummas as Mom’s soon-to-be third son-in-law. He turns on the charm when it comes to all the ladies, and acts all surprised when he sees Mom there, like he toootally wasn’t expecting to see her there.
Mom just rolls her eyes as she tells him to just give it up now—no means no. Gun praises her for her consistency, even as his voice lowers just a bit when he adds that he knows he’ll gain her approval in the end. Until then, he’ll just keep trying.
He goes home to find Mi-young and freshly-made ramen with fish eyes (which he’d been craving ever since she made it for Yong), and as he digs in she brings up the issue with Mom—she’s making it difficult for him, isn’t she? “Easy women are no fun,” Gun jokes in return.
Mi-young knows he’s not letting his true feelings show to spare her, but Gun just tells her to trust him. He’ll do whatever it takes to get Mom’s approval. Mi-young finally smiles: “Gunnie, fighting!” Gun: “Fighting!”
After sharing a Lady and the Tramp moment with the ramen, Gun breaks into his low voice as he insinuates that tonight is the night for amour.
But of course, the moment he leans in for a real kiss, they’re interrupted by sudden and unexpected visitors for an impromptu housewarming party: it’s the Soapsuds Duo and Mi-ja.
Gun isn’t too thrilled at the interruption, even though they’ve brought the tools needed to play Go-Stop. (Meta Moment: They call Gunnie the similar-sounding “Go-ni,” his gambling character’s name from the drama Tazza.)
He’s not so great at the game, so Mi-young offers to step in and play in his place. Even though he doubts her claims that she’s not so bad herself, I love that Mi-young ties her hair back and puts her glasses on in preparation. It’s on now.
Mi-young ends up surprising everyone when she cleans them all out, and it’s funny how Gun can’t get her to stop even when he points to the rising sun. But at least she wins him all his money back? Hah.
After Se-ra fails to have a heart-to-heart with her heartless mother, Gun and Mi-young provide some unexpected company to Mom on her morning walk. She knows that they’re working in tandem now to try and convince her, and reiterates that when she says no, it’s final.
Gun is determined to show Mom just how healthy he really is, and proceeds to do some challenging exercises in front of her. Mi-young is there to cheer him on the whole time, leaving Mom actually speechless—whether it’s at their teamwork or Gun’s amazing acrobatic ability is up for grabs.
It’s extra cute when Mi-young and Gun exercise together, and when Gun’s strength starts failing during a sit-up, Mi-young entices him to go that extra mile by offering him a kiss at the finish line.
They’re both exhausted, but neither of them stop showing their collective strength until Mom finally walks away. Gun insists on carrying Mi-young home on his back even after all that, which doesn’t escape Mom’s notice. I doubt it’s his strength winning her over, but their love for each other.
After Gun reads an entry in his father’s diary detailing his regret for his noble idiocy act and how it caused him to miss out on valuable time with his family, Yong and Ji-yeon play house at Lee Manor as they work out what to call each other.
She doesn’t want him calling her “noona” anymore, so he instead switches to calling her Ji-yeon-ah. But Mama Yong intervenes before they get a chance to kiss, and another makjang drama scene plays out when Mama Yong’s disapproval of Ji-yeon causes her to run off crying.
Gun returns to the manor to ask Mama Yong about his father—specifically, how he was the last time she saw him. She flashes back to the memory of him leaving as he told her he was sorry and thanked her, while in the present she tells Gun that there was nothing she could do when his father wanted to return to his family.
Both of them grow misty-eyed when she recalls that the day he returned to the wife and son he loved so much was the same day the car accident happened, the one that killed both Gun’s parents. Mama Yong sighs that if there’s only one good thing to be gleaned from the tragic situation, it’s that Gun’s father spent his last moments with the woman he loved.
Before Gun goes, he bows his head to thank Mama Yong for giving him his father’s diary. Mama Yong is in shock, since that’s the first time Gun’s ever thanked her.
Gun and Manager Tak visit a private investigative agency populated by gangsters—and more specifically, CEO Doodoo of Doodoo Industries (the man Gun almost sold Mi-young’s island factory to). Of course, he’s not a big-time CEO anymore, which he explains as being due to a stint in jail for some illegal activities.
Unimpressed, Gun decides to leave only to find the door blocked by CEO Doodoo’s gangsters. He shadow boxes with them to show them his moves, and CEO Doodoo finally relents to offering him a ten percent discount to find whoever it is Gun needs finding.
He’s shocked when Gun hands him a picture of a tree, the same tree we saw in a flashback with Gun and his father. CEO Doodoo is up to the task, and swears he will find that tree.
Se-ra brings Daniel an unidentifiable plate of food from her very first attempt at cooking, which Daniel describes as looking “metaphysical.” Hah. After admitting that she looked into his background a bit, she asks if he remembers the night he was so drunk she had to help him home.
When she admits to seeing the picture on his nightstand, Daniel openly tells her that it’s of his little sister, Mi-young, who he lost when he was younger. Se-ra’s expression looks somewhat panicked as she leaves with hardly another word, freeing Daniel from the obligation of eating her food.
There’s a ring at the door, and it’s Se-ra again: “The little girl in that picture… I think it’s me. But I don’t know why I’m in that picture.” Daniel looks understandably stunned.
Daniel calls Mi-young out for a drink, unable to help himself from commenting on her beautiful smile—especially since it makes him want to start over as her neighborhood oppa again. Aw.
After making some small talk about work, Daniel says he called her to give her one last gift. He goes up to the stage and takes the microphone to sing her a ballad from the OST of Prince’s First Love (specifically “Since That Day” by Sung Shi-kyung):
As usual, the sunlight was warm
And you were beautiful leaning against me
You talked about leaving, as if asking for time
I smiled so you wouldn’t suffer.The things I said like a habit
I’ll do anything you want
I was a fool to keep that promise
Since that day, I’ve always been sorry
Worrying that even for a day I might forget about you
The saddest thing is to realize that
I still smile every now and then
Even though you’re not around
I feel sorry about breathing without you that I sigh
Since that day, it’s always like this
Since that day, I’m always in pain.
As he sings his heartfelt song, Mi-young flashes back to all the precious moments she shared with him. Tears are streaming down her cheeks by the end of the song, and when he returns to his seat, she tells him how precious a gift that was and how she’ll cherish it always.
“Don’t forget it even when you become a grandmother,” Daniel warns her playfully. “Call me if you ever need a priest or a neighborhood oppa.” Aww, this actually sounds like a goodbye. The forever kind.
Mom calls Gun over to her restaurant where she serves him plain tofu, the national food for freshly-released prisoners and sinners. But the message is intentional, because Mom says Gun is a sinner to her: “Since you’re taking my perfect daughter away from me forever.”
Gun’s eyes go wide—Mom’s finally changed her mind! “Can you promise to live a long time and protect Mi-young?” she asks. Gun takes her hands as he gladly promises that he’ll always make Mi-young smile and laugh.
He and Mom celebrate by getting wasted together, which is the scene Mi-young happens upon. Hahaha. She has to drag the both of them to Mom’s house, where Gun promptly passes out.
Mom’s still awake though, and Mi-young hugs her in happiness now that she knows they have her approval. After Mom blusters that she doesn’t need to attend the same wedding twice, she laments that she only gave in because of Gun’s tenacity, “But I can’t give my blessing with a smile.”
Even so, it shows that Mom can’t help but love Gun regardless. As Mi-young cuddles up with her for the night, we find that Gun isn’t quite as drunk as he led them to believe, since he heard everything. “Thank you,” he whispers. “Thank you.”
Wedding day. After getting dressed in his tuxedo, Gun gets a call from CEO Doodoo about the tree. Mi-young’s sisters help her into her gown and apologize for Mom’s absence, explaining it away as due to her being stubborn.
That’s when Gun grabs his bride with the declaration that they have somewhere to go, and they have to hurry. The wedding party is left in shock as Gun drives away with Mi-young, telling her in the car that there’s just somewhere he has to go with her.
She takes his hand and reassuringly says, “We’re already going there together.”
We return to the scene that opened the episode, with Grandma Wang all but collapsing at the news of the runaway couple. At least this time, Gun sends Manager Tak a text explaining that they’ll be right back.
Gun and Mi-young arrive at the tree, where CEO Doodoo and his men are just barely holding back a crew of men who were, coincidentally, about to dig it up and move it. The men agree to leave the tree alone for now so that Gun and Mi-young can have some privacy.
It’s the same tree from Gun’s flashback with his father, around which he and his father had shared precious memories and happy times. But more importantly, it’s where his father had buried a box filled with keepsakes, including a pair of cufflinks Gun would only get to wear when he was an adult, and a signed baseball little Gun got from the first game he ever went to with his dad.
But Gun hadn’t understood at the time that they wouldn’t revisit the tree again, since he hadn’t known about his father’s illness. “Gun, listen to me carefully. Right now and from now on, whenever you feel scared, be like Daddy.” Dad laughs his trademark laugh, now Gun’s. “Laugh like this, okay? If you do, I’ll always be with you to protect you.”
In the present, Gun digs up the keepsake box, and cry-laughs when he pulls out the baseball first, then the cufflinks. After he puts them on, he reads a note left by his father for when he’d inevitably find it as an adult:
“Gun-ah, by the time you read this letter when you’re an adult, you’ll probably know everything about me. I walked the same path you did. Even though I decided to leave you and your mother’s side right now, I know that perhaps one day, I might come to regret this choice.”
Gun and Mi-young hold hands as they run back to their own wedding, while Dad’s letter continues in voiceover:
”Should there come a moment when you have to make an important decision, don’t be anxious about a time that hasn’t happened yet, like I was. Don’t waste this moment in the present, and I hope that you will enjoy living life to the fullest every day. My son, my loving son Gun.”
COMMENTS
So this was an interesting conclusion, and strangely enough could’ve worked as the ending to the series as a whole. While all this about Gun’s father speaking to him from beyond the grave works to provide some much-needed closure for our hero, I’m still left scratching my head as to why the issue with the keepsake box was so urgent that Gun had to interrupt his own wedding for it.
If Gun was still waffling in indecision or still hell bent on staying away from Mi-young for her own good, these memories and messages from/about his father could’ve actually carried a lot of relevant weight. There was a time where they could’ve served to solve conflict, widen Gun’s perspective, or even change his mind—but I can’t help feeling that that time has already passed, which makes this sudden treasure hunt touching, if not a bit moot when we consider the fact that Gun had already made his decision, with no visible signs of wavering.
Or who knows, maybe he was so stuck on finding that box because he was wavering, at least inwardly. I just wish we would’ve been shown that, because while this hour had plenty of cute moments (and cute for cute’s sake isn’t bad), so much of it fell flat because there just wasn’t enough conflict to sustain the story. Because aside from Gun’s sudden fixation on the box, the only conflict presented and solved in this episode revolved around gaining Mom’s blessings, which at least saved it from falling into the filler bin. But just barely.
Despite her small(ish) part, I really do like the way Mom has been written and portrayed, since she managed to do the traditional parental opposition thing we’ve all come to know and hate but with the added twist that she genuinely, truly loves Gun as a son. It actually broke my heart when she promised Gun she’d take care of him like a mother even if (and especially if) he would never become her son-in-law, because we got to see her at war with herself in trying to do what was best for Mi-young and Gun.
Eventually, of course, she came to realize that her only course of action was to step aside and let them be—but I respect Mom all the more for admitting that while she couldn’t say no, it doesn’t mean she has to be all smiles about the decision either. It definitely would be nice if Gun and Mi-young could be fated to love each other without being fated to deal with heartbreak and loss down the line, but maybe that’s the whole point of Dad’s diaries and letters. Maybe it’s useless to worry about what hasn’t happened yet, because the here and now is what matters most.
RELATED POSTS
- Fated To Love You: Episode 18
- Fated To Love You: Episode 17
- Fated To Love You: Episode 16
- Fated To Love You: Episode 15
- Fated To Love You: Episode 14
- Fated To Love You: Episode 13
- Fated To Love You: Episode 12
- Fated To Love You: Episode 11
- Fated To Love You: Episode 10
- Fated To Love You: Episode 9
- Fated To Love You: Episode 8
- Fated To Love You: Episode 7
- Fated To Love You: Episode 6
- Fated To Love You: Episode 5
- Fated To Love You: Episode 4
- Fated To Love You: Episode 3
- Fated To Love You: Episode 2
- Fated To Love You: Episode 1
Tags: Choi Jin-hyuk, Fated To Love You, featured, Jang Hyuk, Jang Nara
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1 chane
September 4, 2014 at 11:07 PM
Yay! It's finally here, I waited for this recap before watching the finale. Thanks Heads!
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2 Jennipoh
September 4, 2014 at 11:18 PM
If there was ever an episode of just fluff and fillers, this one takes the cake. Or maybe the next one will. Oh Fated...T_T
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Sahara
September 4, 2014 at 11:44 PM
I like the fluff coming from the two Jangs, but I believe this drama would have been better if it was shorter (18 eps?) or the same length with a different conflict and not of Gun's noble idiocy. They really had to drag that one out.
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Lizzy
September 5, 2014 at 10:26 AM
I know why you would say 18 because all the big conflicts got solve...but really, most of the time, with dramas that solve everything in one episode, I am left with bitter taste, even though we get 15 minutes of fluff. Personally, I LOVED this series because it actually gave us these extra episodes of the couple together being happy. I didn't mind there wasn't a major conflict but rather emotional healing and lots and lots of cute moments :-)
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sweetcaroline
September 5, 2014 at 9:40 PM
hi lizzy and all, i love this extended bliss. i agree there are dramas that end abruptly (like a handshake) with only less than 5 minutes of OTP time then it leaves you to go figure in your dreams.
i am a confessed hopelessly romantic gal so this ep is a treat that tickles my heart. i just love watching our snail couple...JH and JNR has a magical chemistry.
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Lizzy
September 5, 2014 at 11:13 PM
Sweetcaroline, omg I was thinking how lousy Prime Minister and I ended...that handshake killed me, considering in the earlier episodes Prime Minister, aka, Lee Bum Soo kept on referring to lips smacking. Yep this series really did deliver and I love it.
Seanshine
September 7, 2014 at 7:57 AM
I totally agree! I love the last two episodes. The lead actor was over the top but he is really good. I never get tired of seeing his work.
Thanks for the hard work DB!! (^_-)
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Heart
September 5, 2014 at 5:39 AM
Filler full of fluff is always better than never-ending angst in my book and the finale was basically just a long epilogue and I couldn't ask for more.
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Awe
September 5, 2014 at 5:47 AM
jennipoh:
i have to disagree with you b/c this episode connected some dots and gave us that fuzzy feeling we have wanted after 6+ episodes of angst. you gotta admit there were so hilarious and cute moments.
while i agree with Sahara and others that this could have taken place earlier and this episode could have also served as the ending, i'm so glad it didn't.
i respect a production that wraps up loose ends without cramming them all into one episode or leaving viewers to wonder about this character or that.
i LOVED>LOVED>LOVED this episode.
side note: HeadsNo2 fyi: JangJang had to leave wedding to go to tree b/c dramaland scheduled to have tree removed exactly on wedding day at exactly the time of ceremony. these kinds of interruptions are famous in dramaland. plus Mom needed time to get dressed into the layers of hanbok.
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cingdoc
September 5, 2014 at 10:16 AM
LOL.... Yes, in dramaverse, time is not the same as real time.... Mom looks gorgeous in her Hanbok ^.^
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Lizzy
September 5, 2014 at 10:28 AM
@Awe, I totally feel the same.
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Koi94
September 5, 2014 at 4:30 PM
My thoughts exactly! :) More cute JangJang moments are better than having to miss them a week sooner!
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kanz
September 5, 2014 at 2:38 PM
I don't mind filler episode if it's just cute and funny... Hahaha
I love Fated because it's fun, silly and something very touching, not because character's logic.
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3 lulu
September 4, 2014 at 11:24 PM
To me, Mom and Gunnie’s relationship has always been the strongest aspect of this show. Even through that dark period of weeping and gnashing of teeth, their relationship stood strong and the show handled their bond beautifully. That’s why it was even more heartbreaking how Mom wasn’t able to give Mi-young to Gun. She wasn’t simply serving as a plot device to be a barrier to the happy couple; Mom truly loves both of them but doesn’t want either to experience pain or hardships, which is a completely understandable reaction. The scene where Mom offers to care for Gun if he becomes ill and explains why she can’t approve of the couple moved me to tears. I really appreciate that the show didn’t turn Mom suddenly into the big, bad wolf.
Another major plus: Gun being extremely proactive in gaining Mom’s approval. He pulled out all the stops to show Mom how he’s capable of protecting/loving Mi-young. The whole scene with him and Mi-young basically doing acrobatics in park? Brilliant. Should’ve had them tag teaming all this time, show!
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osmanthustea
September 5, 2014 at 6:18 AM
You have a point. Although of course Grandma Wang is awesome, it is true that Gun and Mom shared a stronger bond to have stayed together - even under guises of mutual annoyance - through his painful period with MY.
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4 jhu
September 4, 2014 at 11:26 PM
Oh Heads it's you! You are here finally. You don't know how much I've missed word from you two these past two days. The joy you have released with your recap to ease our bursting hearts! A very, very heartfelt thank you to you. <3
I agree with you 100% Heads. This episode ended on such a high note, for me it marked the end of the entire show. (Dramaland: this is how shows should end. Please take note.) Now whatever they've got coming in epi 20 can only be wish fulfilment and fan service.
And what's left you scratching your head...a lot of the stuff in the last two episodes feel like fillers. I think FTLY would have been such a perfect little package had it been just 16 episodes long. Too bad fate stretched it four episodes too long to dilute its essence.
And Gunnie-sshi...Your new Star Trek inspired 'do. I cannot even...But I promised unconditional love. So maybe I'll have to get used to this like everything else your hair has been doing in the past 18 episodes...
(I'd really appreciate an explanation from the producers though.)
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Altari
September 5, 2014 at 12:06 AM
I feel like they didn't have enough story for 20 episodes too. My logical brain tells me that 16~18 episodes would have been perfect. OTOH if they had ended like that my withdrawal symptoms would have been so severe I wouldn't know what to do with myself. So I am glad for this cute filler episode, though the PPL is kind of blantant.
Oh well, if that means the hard working staff gets a good paycheck I don't mind watching a ridiculous breadmaking scene.
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Awe
September 5, 2014 at 5:52 AM
while we all agree that show could have wrapped in 16 episodes, i'm really glad it didn't.
this was a great drama. i loved watching it. even the fillers.
just watching these actors embellish their craft was endearing to me.
really, really glad the way show wrapped up Daniel-Do-Right and MiYoung. thank you show, you owe me a box of tissues for that one.
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Boxed-In
September 5, 2014 at 12:08 AM
Jang Hyuk's hair-stylist-ee-sshi must have run out of hair gel. And the designer-ee-sshi probably donated all of Gun's suits (except that cream-maroon thingy) to the next show, in exchange for the tuxedo.
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jhu
September 5, 2014 at 12:34 AM
Boxed, do you think I'll be forgiven for ff-ing through Diniel-sshi's song? I feel like I'm breaking some big commitment rules, but...
I just couldn't get myself to sit through it one more time, Boxed-in. How many times have we heard the final goodbye from him? Only to hear it again. And again. And again.
The scene before the song, when he was trying to eat Sera's metaphysical pancakes, almost redeemed his character. And then he went right back to Mi-young to drive the same damn idea into her head. The only time in the entire show where I've been unable to understand her is when she cried after listening to that song.
Earlier Daniel felt unnecessary. But now he's become a bitter experience. Storytellers at fault. Like they don't know what to do with his character. Or how to keep him part of the OTP's narrative.
Really sucks. Because I'd have loved to enjoy Choi Jin-hyuk's presence in a drama.
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panda
September 5, 2014 at 2:14 AM
Hey guys.
I have always said I would have loved FTLY to have been 16 eps but it wasn't so I moved on :-)
I would have said this ep felt like filler, but I absolutely didn't mind seeing all the cute.
I also felt it had some important scenes. The most important one was the opening scene, the dream, which showed that subconsciously Gunnie was still very scared about his health. And so,I didn't really mind seeing them go look for the tree and it's contents......
One part made me laugh hysterically though, when Gun's father told him "laugh like this". Buahahaha
I have so much to write about my whole Fated experience but I will wait till it's the final recap.
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paroles
September 5, 2014 at 2:41 AM
The thing that bothered me more was that CJH didn't seem like he was in singing mode on that day. His rendition was... barely passable.
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Awe
September 5, 2014 at 6:00 AM
paroles--
i watched CJH sing before the subs were available and tbh, i felt his pain. he wasn't trying to be a rock star. just seemed like an honest rendition from a person who is not a 'full time' singer. so to me, it made it even more real.
Daniel-do-right told MiYoung that he had to settle his feelings but when she tells him she will forever cheerish his present, he looks on the verge of tears. dam the fate of the second male lead. just kills me.
Boxed-In
September 5, 2014 at 2:42 AM
Jhu, if you're not forgiven, neither am I ('coz same). I like looking at Daniel- he's pretty, has a good voice, and wears interesting clothes, but as far as his track goes, the only one I now want to see was with Mi-young the sister (whose character was another waste of a good actor). On the whole, I don't really mind him. Because, so much pretty, no? One must always appreciate pretty. :D
So I just finished watching the finale and have the same issues with the show as most of you here have already pointed out- a couple of episodes too long, too little dramatic tension in the last leg to sustain interest, etc etc. & like Heads so aptly put it, Gun's discovery of his father's good deeds should ideally have come BEFORE the reconciliation, because now it has very little emotional affect since he's got the girl anyway. Whatever. If this is them doing fan-service, I'll take it. My love might have taken a hit these last two weeks, but for everything they did before that, FTLY still has my heart.
On to the things I liked:
-Gun's father telling him to laugh at life whenever possible. Now we all know it was not just an OTT stunt. And yes, Jang Hyuk did use the laugh wonderfully as a way of expressing Gun's emotions. So take that, haters. Hmph.
-The whole exercise-to-convince-Mom stunt at the park. And kisses as encouragement. & was that a 'Secret Garden' sit-up scene parody again? ROFL.
-Mi-young as the Go-stop shark. Badass. The girl has layers, man. Hee.
-The Jang Nara dream. And the car scene in the beginning. All of which were a nod to Ep.11, without the heartbreaker parts of it. I appreciate the band-aid, Show.
& Heads and Gummi, thank you muchly for all the great recaps and insightful comments you guys have given us throughout. Look forward to the final one.*cheers*
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cingdoc
September 5, 2014 at 2:46 AM
Hee, I, too, fastforwarded Daniel's singing despite my love of CJH!( I redeemed it by rewatching Emergency Couple's favourite scenes)
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5 pigsnout
September 4, 2014 at 11:27 PM
I like the fluff and fillers even if the chasing after the box was weird. I also love Miyoung's mother, one of the best parents in kdrama ♡♡
And I really love finally finding out that there is a point to the insane laugh. Only one more episode with the laugh T__T
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6 Altari
September 4, 2014 at 11:27 PM
Thank you for the recap. I've been refreshing like crazy since yesterday.
I loved the exercise scene and MY's kissy face was too cute. And Gun's interactions with MY's mom are one of my favorite things about this show.
Is it just me but does Jang Hyuk look like he REALLY needs to get some sleep? Or is it his hair style?
Really love your song choice too.
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BrightGirlSuccessFan
September 5, 2014 at 5:45 PM
i can feel that Jang Hyuk and Jang nara look totally burned out in the last 2 episodes. They were still shooting the finale episode on the last day that the episodes aired
I wil like to believe that this drama will be even better if it's not live shooting
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7 Mohammad Ismail
September 4, 2014 at 11:27 PM
I love to read your posts, you are really working hard. "Fated To Love You" is a wonderful drama, I really enjoy. Keep it up...
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8 penny
September 4, 2014 at 11:29 PM
I love this episode, even if it was just a filler one. I'll take a cute filler ep any day than an ep full of angst and heartbreak.
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9 Sheisha
September 4, 2014 at 11:31 PM
I'll never get tired of Jang Hyuk's acrobatics in this show. Thank you for the recap!
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Awe
September 5, 2014 at 6:06 AM
a lot of people commented about how Jang Hyuk's wife might feel about the skin-ship during this drama.
so...in addition to thanking the production, cast, designers, stylists, product placements (lol), a HUGE THANK YOU to their families for supporting this wonderful drama. thank you!
also, Heads+Gummi, heartfelt thank you to you both for the recaps. dissecting and interpreting the cultural nuances have been such a HUGE addition to watching the drama. thank you!
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10 Yuri
September 4, 2014 at 11:36 PM
Ha! Gunnie's hairstyle changed again
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liza
September 5, 2014 at 1:26 AM
Hmmph I'm disappointed. His second hairstyle is the best and suited his image perfectly
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mingmangming
September 5, 2014 at 2:06 AM
do you mean with the snape hairstyle? ;)
it's gun 2nd hairstyle :D
i love 3 out of 4 of his hairstyles.
i love this hairstyle too
but i agree the gelled hairstyle suit him best bring his charm more.
i love his 1st hairstyle too.
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Awe
September 5, 2014 at 6:09 AM
i'm just so happy that show CHANGED his hairstyle...all the time.
tbh, this is a first. the guy's style never changes in dramas. so good, bad, weird hairstyles...i'm just happy show entertained us with the changes.
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sweetcaroline
September 5, 2014 at 9:58 PM
we have less to talk about if he did not change his hairstyle. ;) his snape style created lots of buzz. his act 2 opening 'do brought out the fangirls in us (oooozing with hotness). as described by jhu, his star trek inspired hairdo, well it is generating mixed reviews of yah i like, did they run out of gel, nay i like his previous one. regardless what hairstyle, i will still cheer for my gunnie.
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11 osmanthustea
September 4, 2014 at 11:36 PM
Gosh, this new episode has really let me down. I almost rather that the story ended at episode 18, skipping Mom's reticence and filling it up with some closure on Daniel and Se Ra.
This whole episode just reeked of filler! And product placements. That robot cleaner was cute last episode. The bread maker? Uh not really. I just felt that even the acting liked spark this time round - unlike everyone's stellaer performances throughout the show - simply because the actors knew this is just filler?
And while it is understandable for Mom to be worried for her daughter's happiness post-Gun, I think we would have been fine with assuming that, because Mom already loves Gun so much, there wouldn't be any issues.
Don't get me wrong, I think the moments between Gun and Mom are sweet, and he was such a winner when he amubushed her at the salon. I'm also happy with the closure he had with Mama Yong. I just felt that the bulk of the scenes in this episode are not strong enough story points to drag out the drama. As much as I hate to say this, I think the lack of cliffhanger into the next episode kinda brings down the compelling factor. Of course I will watch it, but I just feel that all previous episodes fared much better.
Anyway, thanks for the recap! There were certain bits I didn't understand but the recap helps (=
PS. Why must his hair style change suddenly? UGH.
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Bex
September 5, 2014 at 4:35 AM
Ia I found myself pretty bored and I fast forwarded through the convincing mothers scenes and through Daniels song because it just seems like such a big load of nothing none of it has any risk or weight on the story in the long run. The only interesting parts were sera finding out about her adoption and Daniel.
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Awe
September 5, 2014 at 6:14 AM
wow osmanthus.
for me, it's like show is gently setting us down. how many dramas have we watched where everything was crammed (or left out) in the last episode due to lack of time.
i loved watching the acting, even if it was filler...the lady and the tramp scene SWOON-CUTE.
Gun swinging out of a tree in front of Mom. SWOON-CUTE.
the convo between MamaYong+Gun...hand me another tissue.
i applaud show for not racing to the end and continuing to give us quality scenes...even if they are filler.
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12 bashful
September 4, 2014 at 11:40 PM
Thanks HeadsNo2 for this recap describing another entertaining FTLY episode.
I saw another display of the writers' amazing skill in providing both the super funny and serious scenes. How resourceful are they in including in every episode it seems such endless supply of catchy and hilarious phrases and of parodies? And where they use those phrases and parodies in the dialogue are on the mark, making the funny ones funnier, the serious more meaningful:
1. JANG NARA! But of course, Lee Gun would naturally have mistaken Mi-Young as Jang Nara. LOL.
2. Like many, I too L-O-V-E the noodle eating scene aka remake of the "Lady & The Tramp kissing scene".
3. How about Lee Gun's and Mi-Young's exercising tandem? Omma's facial expression at the sight of these 2 Excercise-holics was priceless.
Lee Gun-ssi, you never cease to amaze us. Last episode, you've shown you are one romantic speller. In this episode, you unveiled another hidden talent, that is, in the "parallel bars" exercise. LOL.
4. As for the serious scenes, I iniitially felt anxious when I saw the preview of this episode because of the scenes where I thought MY and LG were crying. It was a relief to find out the real cause of those tears. Lee Gun's father's letter/advice to his son, his encouragement to live life to the fullest, was very touching. That advice echo's Mi-Young's declaration at the press con. That advice in a way is also LG's cure to his HD disease as it gives him the courage to live life with Mi-Young happily regardless of what the future brings.
5. Last but not least, Daniel's farewell song to MY was sweet. Wow, I didn't know CJH has a lovely singing voice. MY's gentle tears of gratitude for Daniel were heartfelt. Jang Nara continues to impress me with her acting. Mi-Young is so lovely both inside and out because of Jang Nara.
Aaaahhh, one last episode to go! Why must good things come to an end? Can we STOP THE BEAT, as Lee Gun-ssi would say? LOL. Maybe not, so Final Episode bring it on! :D
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bashful
September 5, 2014 at 12:26 AM
P.S. Based on Lee Gun's dream where he forgot Mi-Young and called her Jang Nara, I think it was evident that Lee Gun at that time was still at least subconsciously fearful of his sickness, of losing his memory. So, Lee Gun perhaps was looking for some reassurance that he made the right choice to be with the one he loves despite his illness. When he asked the Step Mom about the last time she saw his Dad and learned about his Dad's eventual decision to return to his family, he perhaps got curious as to what led to his Dad's decision. That is why, I think, when the gangster called minutes before the wedding start time about finding the Tree, Lee Gun felt compelled to go there along with Mi-Young and retrieve the box, and read his Dad's letter...Just admire the writers constant skill in weaving the funny scenes with self-reflection inducing scenes.
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neverending
September 5, 2014 at 2:04 AM
Jang Nara was brilliant in the role. I liked Kim Mi-young more than Lee Geon and I hope I'm not the only one.
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bashful
September 5, 2014 at 2:32 AM
Agree with you, Jang Nara was brilliant in MY's role. :-) This is the first drama of Jang Nara that I saw. Then I saw Story of Successful Bright Girl last weekend and episode 1 of Baby faced Beauty. Of the 3 drams, I liked Jang Nara's acting here in FTLY the best. She made Kim Mi-Young beautiful inside and outside. She gave Kim Mi-Young that modest, soft-spoken, kind-hearted and elegant character. She gave Kim Mi-Young's cool fashion sense that I really love!
But I equally like Kim Mi-Young and Lee Geon because they bring out each other's true beauty and more. Kim Mi-Young is the one that made Lee Geon more patient, more romantic, more caring of others and more handsome, while Lee Geon is the one that led Kim Mi-Young's transformation into the beautiful Bond Girl and the Super Glue.
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cingdoc
September 5, 2014 at 2:54 AM
I,too, shared your thoughts( hehe, except Daniel's singing... Sorry, CJH( not his singing skill which I love( I have his Emergency Couple OST on repeats in my ipod))but the fact of awkwardness between MYsshi and Daniel had to be rehashed, again!)
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Awe
September 5, 2014 at 7:41 PM
cingdoc:
Awe
September 5, 2014 at 7:49 PM
cingdoc:
you're right...another awkward scene of 'goodbye already'.
but i think we forget that this couple spent everyday together for 3 years.
and Daniel Do Right, true to form, wanted to give her a meaningful gift. his song was an admission to how he feels about her and that his love is unrequited. seriously, what guy exposes his rejection & vulnerability when he knows it's game over? i thank SHOW for this---because the world would be such a better place if broken relationships had even an ounce of closure that Daniel gives theirs.
Daniel stayed true to form: SUPER COOL till the end.
pearl
September 6, 2014 at 9:20 AM
Well to recall their last conversation, Daniel did ask MY for more time, right? This was his closure and if I didn't know better I would have thought that song was specifically written for his character. It's perfect!
tebz10
September 5, 2014 at 6:14 AM
I love Jang Nara, too, but maybe not as much as I love Jang Hyuk in this one. I must say, though, that Jang Nara made me want to be Kim Mi-young. She's so cute and sweet, but smart, and I want to keep her in my pocket.
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Awe
September 5, 2014 at 7:51 PM
lol
your comment about wanting to keep JangJang in your pocket...conjured a product placement in my head of JangJang dolls.
i guess i should thank you for that. hehe
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13 sarajang
September 4, 2014 at 11:49 PM
The writers are such a tease, but loved the way Gun and Mi Young express their love and support for each other just like sticky rice ha! And my favourite scene? The Ramyeun noodle kiss, a reminiscent of the movie “Lady and the Tramp” (I almost fell in my chair ogling and restraining myself to laugh so hard because my hubby is already fast asleep :D) and Gun suggesting to Mi Young they should build their nest. This is the best romcomdrama so far for me and will definitely worth to watch over and over again. Hope the series ends with nothing but happiness and contentment at least for us viewers.
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nomad
September 5, 2014 at 4:50 AM
I'm already planning to re-watch the drama, and skipping the noted angst episodes…it's too hard to say goodbye to this couple. They're up there in favorites for me, along with Chiaki and Nodame.
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Cazorlaesque
September 5, 2014 at 5:28 AM
Ah, I like your taste, nomad ^_^ Nodame/Chiaki and the Snails are my favorite couples too. They're way too brilliant and in a league of their own.
I won't skip the angst episodes though. I don't watch sad dramas, but the angst in FTLY is THAT good. If there's one actor that I can trust to deliver all sorts of emotions, it's Hyukkie. His pain just hurts so good ! Have you ever had an actor make you sob through your laptop screen THROUGH A TV SCREEN ? There was no room for skepticism after ep 17.
I've had unwavering faith in Fated from the get-go. I have a few things to discuss with JH oppa's hair stylist, but other than that, I believe the only words we can have for the FTLY team are a big, loud, heartfelt THANK YOU.
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Awe
September 5, 2014 at 6:22 AM
sarajang--
i think that FTLY took advantage of the "things" that made Secret Garden so successful and embellished them. for example, Secretary Tak
this romcom was superb.
i need a cigarette...oh snap...i don't smoke.
:)
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Cazorlaesque
September 5, 2014 at 7:22 AM
The way I see it, the loyal, capable sidekick has always been a universally acclaimed addition to every TV show/movie ... I don't think we owe Sec Tak to "Secret Garden" per se.
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sarajang
September 6, 2014 at 6:52 AM
I agree with you. There are times people may have the same idea unknowingly..
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tebz10
September 5, 2014 at 11:22 AM
I loved the Ramyun scene! I might've overused the replay button on that one. So adorable! And, oh, that slurping noise!
Also, who ate the ramyun? Was it equally shared? It seemed to me that Jang Hyuk got most of it. Am I thinking about this too much? LOL!
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14 mummy of 3
September 4, 2014 at 11:50 PM
The dream he had at the beginning showed that he was still fearful at a subconscious level, so the inclusion of his dad's treasure box & letter were much needed actually. Very impressed by the details of this show & glad they close all these gaps nicely:) and thank you for recapping! Much appreciated.
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15 trekkie
September 4, 2014 at 11:51 PM
Heads, thanks for a wonderful recap and comments.. as always. Reading your post makes me laugh and cry again.. absolutely love this show and the two jangs!
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16 Evie
September 4, 2014 at 11:55 PM
I can't stop saying how much i love this drama.
1. I love Gunnie for being oh so amazing. His love for MY is so endearing and I can't help be envious. He reminded me that love is not about the saying but the doing. The small little things he does and says leave me breathless.
2. I love MY for her strong will and unwavering love for Gunnie. Her strength gave Gunnie the strength to live life to the fullest.
3. Mom. I fully understand her struggles and objections. Love comes in many forms and her love is equally steadfast and beautiful.
Gunnie and MY's love and support for each other leaves me envious and I know that no matter what happens, no matter what other people say, their love will never change.
I kept refreshing this page cause I always believe in reading other people's thoughts and reflect on what I might have missed out. Thank you for reviewing. I have finished watching the finale and I can't wait to hear from you.
Trust me, WITHDRAWALS are coming. At least i know what i'll be doing this weekend. Watching re-runs. What bout you?
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Yuri
September 4, 2014 at 11:59 PM
Yup, the withdrawal is kicking in. I already re watched all the episodes twice now waiting for the finale.
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17 ftly fan
September 4, 2014 at 11:56 PM
ty so so mchhhhhhhhhh.....
i was waitng so long 4 recap ....
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18 yoadrian
September 5, 2014 at 12:20 AM
The stars have never shined brighter:
1. KMY and Gun - onslaught of cuteness,felt like the earth spun WAY faster than usual.
But really, they should start making fools of themselves on a floor somewhere...
2. Daniel Pitt production number - bucketful of sadness,did you think you can make it
through the song without crying?
3. Sera - Well the scene with the mom, no doubt,at least interesting.If not interesting, then boring. If not boring,
then, horrifying. If not horrifying, then unforgivable?
Second to the last episode and I wanna do a "from the vein emoting,
screams of terror of NOOOOOOO, or an annoying hashtag overload #UNJUST #UNJUST
#UNREMARKABLE until finally #JUSTSILENCE.
Show, will i ever find another you?
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19 krikkrikkrik
September 5, 2014 at 12:30 AM
Waited for this for hours :D thanks for the recap. Really excited for the ending !! :D
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20 meh
September 5, 2014 at 12:49 AM
This was a beautiful episode (meaning everyone looks so beautiful and the wedding and all of those shots) but a very slow place. Sadly to say, this is my least favorite and the second place goes to the last episode too. :( I skipped this and the last one. I actually didn't even finish the ending as I already knew what will happen. Oh Fated, I will still love and miss you.
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meh
September 5, 2014 at 12:51 AM
Meant to say: *I skipped alot of parts from the last two episodes. Too much unnecessary fillers.
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21 sweetcaroline
September 5, 2014 at 12:54 AM
I love this episode because it is feel good. Lots of love and kisses. At the same time, there are several closures (some may call them fillers). Closures create endings for a new beginning.
1.Gun's finding out about his dad. As we watched in previous episodes, he does not have a good memory of his dad. Having read this dad's diary and finding his treasure box, left him a gift of living a full life. So we close on the issue of dealing with HD which we are all so worried about. (so the production spent time dwelling on this).
2.Gun appreciative of Mama Yong's conscientious action of passing on his dad's diary. Being able to discover there is no infidelity but noble love.
3.Sera's confession of might be little sister of Daniel. (sigh) Finally, we end the long search of the missing sister.
4.MY's mom giving her approval. Yipee, we see them wed again. The process of getting her approval made us witness a beautiful relationship that blossomed between a mother and son, soon-to-be-again husband and wife.
What left me scratching my head is (WHAT!) Gun got a new 'do again?!????
That's episode 19 for me. Left a smile on my face (rather than a tear).
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22 ping
September 5, 2014 at 12:58 AM
Does anyone know the bg music they used the first time Gun was on screen in the first episode? I've been looking for it but I still can't find it.
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Beezus
February 19, 2015 at 3:42 PM
I'm not sure what "bg" means but I thought I heard music from the Chuno ost.
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23 ellell
September 5, 2014 at 1:47 AM
BUT WHAT ABOUT THAT DRESSING GOWN GUN WORE HALF THE EPISODE??
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paroles
September 5, 2014 at 2:01 AM
Apparently, it was Jang Hyuk's own idea. I think we should just appeal that he stop choosing his own clothes from now on.
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terry
September 5, 2014 at 2:08 AM
Lol, so it wasn't sponsored? Those robes were ridiculous.
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bbstl 🧹
September 5, 2014 at 9:03 PM
But ... why? His end of show exhaustion made him want to stay in his pjs? That was one ratty looking garment.
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24 bjharm
September 5, 2014 at 1:52 AM
I think the reason they had to be at the tree and not wait till after the wedding was simply it was going to be torn down so it was then or never, plus we never have that shoot of them running hand in hand ..:-)
I really do not mind this episode was all about cute photo shoped moments, after all it did not harm to the story in any way and most of the time depite yourself you be watching with a grin on your face, I am sure 20 will be much of the same with them neatly tying any of the remaining plot ends
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25 elgoog
September 5, 2014 at 1:58 AM
My few thoughts on the show since it's ended already:
On the whole FTLY was a good drama. The pacing would have been a lot better if the drama only had 16 episodes. There's the amnesia and noble idiocy tropes, which I think the scriptwriters can definitely find alternatives for, plus there's the fact that ep19 (and some other episodes as well) is essentially a filler.
I really didn't like watching the part about Geon's father. And the gang trying to find the tree and all. I'm sorry but that totally didn't work for me. I can understand MY's mothers reserve about marrying her daughter off to someone with a serious disease, but I'd rather they not come up with it in the first place. Another type of conflict would have served the show much better. Ep19 was probably the most underwhelming episode of them all. Other than the kiss that is. The ramyun kiss was fantastic.
Despite me liking Geon since the start of the show, towards the end I found his flamboyant style a little annoying (contrary to a lot of people here). I liked how he's quirky, but sometimes his reactions result in a few awkward moments which I found difficult to watch. Jang Hyuk also just overacted a little in my opinion. Another reason why I started disliking the character towards the end was also because of Geon's insistence that his disease was one big obstacle to them being together. And even though this led to Mi-young being the one who reached out to him first (displaying the development of her character), I think Geon's response to Mi-young's return was really contradictory in the sense that he just plainly denied the true intention of why he did what he did even though he was the one who started the whole thing by stalking her. In short, the continuation of the noble idiocy trope was incredibly frustrating.
Jang Nara was great as Mi-young. I think her character was perhaps better thought out as well. The fact that she went to France (the land associated with openness and romance... bla bla) made her quite different from who she was initially, and it was made obvious throughout the drama: how she took the initiative during the press conference, and even in the allegory in the finale episode (kids may not get this). Some people may think that her character was kind of flat but JNR has the knack of making her character likable no matter how much of a doormat it is. And I didn't think Mi-young was that much of a pushover like what everyone anticipated anyway.
The best thing that happened to the show was their casting of the two Jangs. I don't think I've seen any on-screen couple in my entire life that has so much chemistry. It's off the charts. If not for the snail couple, I might have given up on this drama when the writing started going wayward at ep14. Trust me, anyone who watched this drama will love the snail couple. Think Lee Dongwook and Lee Dahae have brilliant chemistry? It's not even close. The Jangs are ahead by a mile.
And the worst...
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elgoog
September 5, 2014 at 1:59 AM
And the worst thing that happened to FTLY? The writing. The first 8 episodes were full of goodness. However, afterward it seemed like they had no clear outline of where to go. At times, it was almost as if one scriptwriter had used too much of the plot to fill out one episode that the other had to stretch out another episode. The side characters had potential, but their storyline was completely cast aside. You definitely won't notice it when you first start watching (because you will just want the snail couple to fill up your screen every single second) but towards the end it becomes painfully obvious.
However, the thing is the scriptwriters always manage to sneak in absolutely amazing parts whenever you feel like dropping the drama. Think ep13 after the amnesia and ep18 after the angst. It makes you cling on to hope that every episode that follows will be just as good. In fact, there were always certain moments in some of the drab episodes that compelled you to come back and watch it.
All in all, it was a fun drama to watch. And it's a drama you should watch even if it's just to see JH and JNR act lovey dovey on screen. The main reason why it lost out to JG in ratings may be due to the fact that JG had a beefier plot. But as a romcom, it's pretty much as good as it gets. (And nope, I didn't like MND at all.)
It'll be interesting to see how the ratings battle develop after the finale of FTLY and JG. IOTL has to fight against Iron Man and My Spring Days, and both are expected to flop big. So, by right, IOTL should come up top. Nevertheless, due to people's overwhelming curiosity on how much of a train wreck IM will be, it's also possible that their premiere fare well. I'll be back to check on the recaps then!
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hehe
September 5, 2014 at 2:15 AM
dont think IOTL finale ratings will have a big jump, consider next week is chuseok holidays and also even they get the no.1 placing, there's no big deal as in the competitors are all new dramas..
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elgoog
September 5, 2014 at 2:30 AM
Yup, it's no big deal if they do, but it's quite a big deal if they don't.
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jhu
September 5, 2014 at 5:45 AM
Wow elgoog, looks like you put a lot of effort into this post. Thanks for posting.
As much as I love and want to love FTLY, I cannot help but agree with everything you say (MND included).
The show started off so great, I've been going back and reading our comments from the earlier episodes, and the sense of euphoria at having stumbled upon such an incredible show, it's so palpable. But now, the charm has faded. We will love FTLY, but a little begrudgingly.
The first half did the unexpected. And blew our minds away. Then the second half did the expected. In a pretty good way, I would say. But that's not going to be enough. There's no other way to convey this than that it was a letdown.
I'm so with you on the show's weakness being the writing. The show seemed to lose a lot of its fluidity halfway through. With beautiful shots, touching moments snuck in here and there, the sum of the parts still did not make a satisfying whole. A lot of it had to do with how it didn't feel well written.
Re the side characters, they could have been explored much better. And resulted in fascinating, engaging people had they been allowed to be the protagonists in their own lives at least, if not the show. While the minor characters complemented the leads' story line perfectly, the second leads were glaringly ineffectual. Out of place and purposeless. Poor things.
I'm kind of sad. Because I can't gush about the show the way I wanted to till the end. Even all the fluff and cute fuzziness cannot cloud my judgement and make me giddy. I think that's the case for a lot of us here.
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eki
September 5, 2014 at 6:08 AM
It was the way lower than expected ratings. That forced the writers to turn it into a melodrama. FTLY underperformed, and even JH acknowledged this.
Loved the first 10 episodes, but once it turned into a melodrama it was a letdown.
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Boxed-In
September 5, 2014 at 9:53 AM
Aww Jhu. Are we breaking up with FTLY now? Most comments seem somewhat disillusioned. Which I totally get, by the way.
Anyway, I'm just trying to get all my complaints and whining out of the way in this recap because I really don't want to criticise in the final one. This show is special to me in a lot of ways, and I'd just maybe like to remember it that way. Sentiments. Gah. There's going to be an outpouring of love in the last one. Heh.
@elgoog, that was a great comment, and spot-on. The acting made the show much better when the writing sort of flunked, and yet we had some of those fantastic moments thrown in between. In fact the whole Huntington's twist will forever be a big question mark for the show. How much we liked (or disliked) the second half depends mostly on how far we were able to reconcile ourselves with that one. Because it felt like tragedy piled upon tragedy, and was the major detour from the original Taiwanese version. It challenged everything we expect from a remake in particular, and a romcom as a genre in general. No wonder it turned off so many people.
That said, I don't think the twist was something the writers were "forced" to do because of low ratings or anything. We got enough hints throughout the first half about Gun's hypochondria, and the extreme pressure he faced from his family due to the genetic disease and fear of dying young. The plot needed a separation, and the only other way to go was the Big Ol' Misunderstanding, which would have entailed total character-assassination after the relationship we saw in the first half. The devil and the deep blue sea, imo. So, I'd really say that FTLY's first half was both its boon and its bane- it set the bar so high, and made Gun so close to perfect, that the fall from grace in the second half just felt incredibly hurtful. The extra couple of episodes didn't help either.
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jhu
September 5, 2014 at 10:16 AM
Boxed-in, you weave magic with your words. I'm such a fan. Haha. *blushes*
Everything you say captures my sentiments. I sound sullen, but what you say is exactly what I feel too. Do you think Show brought out all the goodies too early in the game? I don't know if I'd have loved it this much if we'd been given Gunnie's perfection in gentle and consistent doses throughout. It was what we got the first few episodes that made us crazy fangirls, right? And I remember, we used to be blinking twice, unable to believe the show was taking us to such great heights. Like, is this really happening? In a k-drama? It was honestly too good to be true for a while. So I guess we saw it coming, in a way.
I actually still haven't watched ep 20 yet. Am about too. And keeping my fingers crossed.
Will join you at the other end. Hope good things are in store. Either way, let's have a blast as we read and comment on the final recap.
dpanda
September 5, 2014 at 12:56 PM
Exactly, boxed-in, i think we were utterly spoiled in the first 10 episodes.
But, i always knew it couldn't continue like that. Cos if you think about it, him being perfect and all has no conflict/story to fill up 20 episodes................
elgoog
September 5, 2014 at 10:51 PM
@jhu:
Yup, I wasn't very impressed with the show towards the end. However, I tried very hard to continue liking the show (and thanks to the snail couple it's possible). I guess it's because the first 8 episodes drew in me and after that it was hard to give up on it. It's definitely not a GREAT drama, but as what you mentioned, "We will love FTLY, but a little begrudgingly." That's totally what I thought myself.
I camp at Soompi, but people there love the show so overwhelmingly, and as a very rational fan I felt that my criticisms won't go down very well over there. That's why I'm posting my opinion here instead.
@eki:
Nope, the writing didn't go into melo because the ratings were "low". JH himself seems a little disappointed, but from what I heard most had low expectations for the drama in the first place, and the fact that it held on to 2nd almost throughout it's entire run, despite coming up against IOTL later on (which had much better ratings for their premiere - 9.5%(?) but didn't improve much), was commendable. Gong Hyo-jin and Jo In-sung were both coming off (somewhat) hits like Master's Sun and TWTWB whereas JH's IRIS 2 was a flop and School 2013 brought LJS and KWB to fame instead. Anyway, I felt that it's just that the scriptwriters were a little lost.
@Boxed-In:
Yes, I agree that "FTLY’s first half was both its boon and its bane". While everyone was drooling over how Geon is the perfect man, I was thinking how would they go about introducing a conflict when they pretty much love each other to death already. They made his character so faultless that the only way they could make MY leave him was noble idiocy. *sigh*
However, the good thing is that FTLY seemed to have gained quite a bit of following in both the Korean and international community, and this will help Jang Hyuk in his return after IRIS 2. As for Jang Nara who has lost so much of the spotlight over the past 10 years, I hope that her career will be properly resurrected (not that it's dead now, I'm just saying, but after all she used to be one of the biggest stars, if not the biggest star, in Korea back when I first started watching Kdramas).
anonym
June 9, 2022 at 8:42 AM
I agree with everything you said. the story is tiring. the best thing is the 2 main leads. If it is not for Jang Nara, I will never finish it
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26 mylovelydevysoon
September 5, 2014 at 2:08 AM
I had the same thought as HeadsNo2 when the ending came, that the episode could have easily worked as a ending and I would have been happy and fine with it but I can't wait to see what the next episode has in stored for us.
As the summer comes to an end and all the summer dramas are coming to an end I think that Fated out of all the summer series I've watched is my second favourite of the season that is if Plus Nine Boys doesn't swoop up from behind and blow it out of the water - Discover of Romance continues to be my number of summer days with the illustrious it's created to far. (^O^)
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27 terry
September 5, 2014 at 2:09 AM
Aww, no pic of the morning kiss?
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28 delicious cookies
September 5, 2014 at 2:10 AM
This is it.
I don't care whether this is a filler or not. But, writernim end this drama without anything left to debate. Finished smoothly..
thank you FTLY, now I'm thinking snail, snape's hair and lollipops differently.
This is a good example of a rom-com and successful remake drama.
Now, I have to fight from post-drama syndrome. Aihhh...
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cingdoc
September 5, 2014 at 2:59 AM
Yeah, you and I will suffer the withdrawal together with the other fans .
Perhaps we can try what Gunnie does to relieve our sadness by eating something sweet, hehe, like " delicious cookies"( sorry, couldn't help it ....)
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29 Aigoooo
September 5, 2014 at 2:58 AM
TW Version Spoiler!
I wish they had given Se Ra and Daniel more screen time. Their story was actually getting quite interesting and they really have a great sibling chemistry. Convincing mom was kind of a moot point since we all know that those two will always be together from now on, marriage or not. I also wished they had taken a cue from the TW version and made a scene where Mi Young goes back to Yewol Island and finds out that Gun had everything renamed Keddongie in honor of their unborn child. I thought that was a really touching scene from the TW version.
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30 ERRYN13
September 5, 2014 at 3:52 AM
Secretary Tak looked extra hot in this episode. Yowza.
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31 AJ
September 5, 2014 at 4:51 AM
"Gun also goes on a side quest regarding his father and the words of wisdom he left behind, which sure would’ve done a whole lot more good during that three year split..."
Exactly -- I feel like a lot of the last two episodes have been full of not very convincing efforts to plug plot holes. I'd have been gone 8 episodes ago if it wasn't for Jang Nara. She is grounded and pitch-perfect through-out.
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32 Den
September 5, 2014 at 5:12 AM
This and the last episode seem like epilogues, but still I'm thankful because I was smiling from start to finish. I've already expected fluffy cuteness from the last two episodes because the angst period was over already. I'm glad that they didn't follow the last conflict from the TW version and just gave us resolutions with Miyoung's Mom and Gun's Dad instead.
Like others, I'd be watching the whole thing again this weekend. I don't know about the negative comments, but for me this rom-com delivered and is one of the best so far this year. Also, as rom-com's my go-to genre, I'm happy there a lot of good stories this year. But of course as good as the others are/were, FTLY's one of the few that touched me (like Master's Sun last year) and so it's something I'll remember for a long time.
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33 genmai
September 5, 2014 at 5:27 AM
Thanks for recap! I love every seconds of this episode. After cry and stress so much before, this episode make me feel relax and prepare for the final episode. I love the way that writer-nims and PD-nims give us this episode to prepare our mind. I can't stop smile and laugh while watch those Lee Gun and Kim Mi Young re-union moments. They are the most adorable and mature couple that I ever seen in Kdrama! I will miss Jang Hyuk and Jang Nara so much. They set a high standard for kdrama couple from now on! Daebak!
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34 Ty
September 5, 2014 at 5:34 AM
Thanks Heads and gummi, I'm gonna miss this drama so much.
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35 Heart
September 5, 2014 at 5:43 AM
The last scene of the couple running in their wedding attire is just like the first scene of Emergency Couple. Hee.
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MostlyAmused
September 5, 2014 at 8:25 AM
Yes! ...and Gunnie standing up in the car gave me a flashback to Coffee Prince I thought my smile would split my face in half.
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36 samsooki
September 5, 2014 at 5:59 AM
A sincere thank you HN2.
I love the balance and thoughtfulness of your recaps. It is like watching the drama with a muse.
Of course, you could have chosen to be an evil muse but you chose to be the good and wise muse (at least for this drama hehe) with juat the right amount of bite and generous wit. How lucky we are to be able to have shared this drama with you.
Even when this drama started losing your way, your recaps felt like there was always a way back home and I really appreciated that. Thank you! <3
Oh and Ep 19 was like watching a shopping cart full of Sanrio toys run into milk-laden bowl of sugarbomb cereal. Non sequitorially, it might look cute but boy, what a mess.
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jhu
September 5, 2014 at 6:28 AM
Your note to Heads, so beautifully conveyed. I want to share in the thanks as well.
And Samsooki, it was great fun sharing the viewing space with you. Loved every bit of every comment you threw our way. Too bad the show lost its way, huh?
I'm grieving because my cute little baby grew up to kind of be a belchy, pot-bellied couch potato. Who bakes bread and uses robot cleaners and wears NB sneakers. In his dreams, yeah.
We started with such a solid show. And then they expected us to be happy with just a lot of fluff? That was kind of disorienting...also sad.
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samsooki
September 5, 2014 at 7:46 AM
Wait til my end of episode comments tomorrow.
DPittJerkBoll will not get a pass, trust me. hehe. Get your own snail bewbs!
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jhu
September 5, 2014 at 9:10 AM
oh, will certainly be there to witness the DPitt bashing session. i'll be cheering you on from the sides.
of course, if i were you i'd tell him to stay the hell away from the entire snail species. and find his own mollusc metaphor!
also, i saw that FTLY has managed to draw you out of your 3 year twitter hiatus? would call this show mighty for that reason alone. ;)
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samsooki
September 5, 2014 at 12:27 PM
Hehe.
I have 3 kids under the age of 5, and the younger ones are twins!
So I've not had much opportunity until recently to do something so mundane as watch a k-drama from start to finish with Mrs. Samsooki.
We started only recently.... and then, here I am. =)
panda
September 5, 2014 at 8:34 AM
awww jhu, it wasn't that bad was it?
You almost sound as if you disliked it by thhe end.
I wanted fluff for the ending as the alternative would have been quite heartbreaking..............
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jhu
September 5, 2014 at 8:51 AM
@ panda - i don't know if you'll call it bad, but i feel like i'm watching an entirely different drama from what we started with.
when i say i didn't want fluff, it doesn't mean i wanted a sad ending. i wanted happiness for the end too. i wanted cute moments. i wanted the whacky humor. but i wanted it all to make a sprinkling over something more solid. this was great topping, but without the cake.
all the fluff has made the show so sparsely populated with meaning that, in spite of all the cute, it prevented me from sustaining an emotional connect with the characters.
like i've said somewhere above. the sum of all the beautiful parts don't automatically add up to make a great whole. and am really sorry about it. *sadface*
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panda
September 5, 2014 at 9:22 AM
i really liked the ending though.
it was open ended in a way as his disease is still there, just not flared up.
I loved the quiet scenes between them.............
looking back, seeing as this will be my 3rd time watching already, i dont see how they could have ended it any other way really.
The writing could have been better, but jhu i must confess i Absolutely Love the show flaws and all. lol.
LoVE.
I am still shaking with happiness really. I have been so caught up in their lives. Thats how bad it it
jhu
September 5, 2014 at 9:40 AM
panda, it's really great that you love the show with its flaws and all. like i said earlier, i'm just a bit disoriented. maybe if i marathon the whole thing 3 times in a row, i'll have a different feeling about it. but for now, i'm rather poopy faced. and i still think that they could have done things very differently these past 3-4 episodes. in fact, with their track record, i expected them to do it differently (including the disease and the noble idiocy, loved how they dealt with the amnesia though). thus the disappointment? unless i, like mr samsooki who's right above us, decide to erase all the decisionmaking of the second half out of my mind.
but aww...thanks for trying to comfort me. hahaha. whatever the case, we are so into the show, taking it so seriously...i talk to you guys more frequently than i do with my 'friends'. haha. it's been a real special journey. and i promise i won't forget all the good bits for when they lasted.
hugs.
jhu
September 5, 2014 at 10:01 AM
also panda, haven't watched ep 20 yet. am about to. let's hope for some good feels, yeah?
cingdoc
September 5, 2014 at 7:07 AM
If I may, I would like to share your beautiful conveyance of thanks to both of the recappers- @ HeadsNo2 and @ gummimochi. It is with sincere gratitude for both of your hard work in giving us super fast, detailed and fun recaps. Thank you very kamsa!
I am going to miss The Snail Couple, warts and all.... I think the drama will be one of my favourite romcom for many years to come.
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cingdoc
September 5, 2014 at 7:11 AM
And.... Thank you JNR for leading woori @ samsooki back to us, however briefly, from his super busy life....his love for you is WAY stronger than how Gunnie feel for MYsshi, never with any doubts, and DEFINITELY without amnesia ^.^.
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37 WintermelonT
September 5, 2014 at 6:05 AM
Thanks for the recap Heads.
When i was watching this episode, I was wondering which screen cap you'll use as the headliner, I was hoping it'll be either the exact one you posted (piggyback) or the very last image in their wedding attire, sitting on the wall.
So happy you did hehehehe.
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38 Den
September 5, 2014 at 6:39 AM
One other thing: I love that it's obvious all the actors in this show are enjoying doing their scenes especially the wacky ones. I could guess that some lines and actions are ad libs and that makes it more fun to watch.
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39 Adal
September 5, 2014 at 8:54 AM
Lee Gun! What happened to your hairstyle?!! It sure is distracting. I'm glad for the variety of hairstyles, but of all of them, I like this one the least. The hottest one you sported was when you were trying to get Ellie Kim back.
Anyhow, am I the only one who found this episode kind of boring? Actually, more than a little bit boring. I know the climax is gone and all, but it all just feels like filler to me now.
Found myself fast forwarding through some scenes, like when he recruited the guys to find the box, talking to Min Young's mom and when Daniel Pitt sang to Ellie Kim (though I admit he has a sexy voice). Which is something I have NEVER done on this show. Wish they had spared more time on the siblings reunion though.
All in all, I'm pretty satisfied with this drama, despite this episode.
One more episode to go....
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jhu
September 5, 2014 at 9:15 AM
oh dear me. how come we all sound exactly alike today.
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40 fab
September 5, 2014 at 10:00 AM
"JANG NARA!" The dream was terrifying but I died from laughter. :D
Is the index finger some kind of reference to Jang Nara?
And yes to every comment beanies! Gosh I am gonna miss not only the drama but I'll never forget the recaps and the commenters...
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tebz10
September 5, 2014 at 11:17 AM
"Is the index finger some kind of reference to Jang Nara? "
It might be? I know they tease her that she puts up her index finger whenever she's trying to memorize her lines.
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pogo - sailing HMS Queen of Tears and HMS Sailboat Lovely Runner🍉
September 5, 2014 at 12:40 PM
I cackled when dream-Miyoung punched Gun onto the sofa for calling her Jang Nara, this episode truly gave us the 'rom' and 'com' parts of a romcom.
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41 hyunjee
September 5, 2014 at 10:38 AM
I am astounded at how much hotter Jang Hyuk is when his hair is out of his face. Like 1000% hotter.
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42 Lizzy
September 5, 2014 at 10:49 AM
Personally I LOVED this series and I really appreciate that the series did not end in 18 episodes. For once we actually get few extra episodes of couple living together in happiness.
I disagree about ending it in 18 because, after watching series like "Prime Minister and I", "Trot Lovers", "Mirae's choice/Marry him if you dare" and many many more...these are just a few recents, I completed hated the everything get crammed into resolving in the last episode or we get less than 10 min of happiness after episodes and episodes of evil characters getting their way or we get WTF ambiguous ending.
This series to me is ultimate fan service because the production team actually gave us actually resolution and memorable cute fluff moments. I also LOVED that this episode had the whole lot more Gun and MY's mom's scenes because that is my second most favorite thing about this series, next to of course drooling over Jang Hyuk...so damn HOT :-) On that note, I too prefer his gelled hair but he looks sexy in all three.
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Lizzy
September 5, 2014 at 10:55 AM
correction ***"completely hated that" not "completed hate the" [wish I could edit the comment...wow, re-reading my comment..sorry I see more errors :-(]
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pogo - sailing HMS Queen of Tears and HMS Sailboat Lovely Runner🍉
September 5, 2014 at 12:38 PM
yeah, this is fanservice done really well.
Ok, maybe the box was a weird last minute addition, but I liked seeing Gun and Mi-young just living together happily as a couple and truly able to be a couple (no angst over exes or babies) with nothing besides maybe some nosy in-laws getting in the way lol. And I love love LOVED how they dealt with Mom, you could just feel the love between Gun and her so much. Like Heads says, she's not the bad guy, you can see where she's coming from. And the drunk post-tofu scene is the cutest<33
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Lizzy
September 5, 2014 at 11:22 PM
Yep I liked that too, no angst over exes and babies...just perfect couple scenes and persuading mom.
As for the box, I know it was a bit out of place, but I can make a case, that because Gun growing up hated his dad for what he did to his mom, and after getting the diary and reading it, he started to feel something was missing. He knew he had remember things wrong or did not know the full truth. May be he did not want to get married without first completing that final puzzle piece. Because they say, one must know their past in order to do well in future...[something like that] but some scene got cut and we are left with a minor gap.
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43 Bella
September 5, 2014 at 10:59 AM
Where can you buy the bags that were designed by Ellie Kim on the show? Can you even buy it?
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tebz10
September 5, 2014 at 11:15 AM
I think you can, but I'm not absolutely sure. You can look up YOUK SHIM WON on google. It seems like she has an online store.
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logan5
September 5, 2014 at 2:48 PM
http://youkworld.com/
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44 pogo - sailing HMS Queen of Tears and HMS Sailboat Lovely Runner🍉
September 5, 2014 at 12:35 PM
I can't be the only one who actually ate up all the extra fluff and wanted more,right? I'll take fluff over angst any day.
(and the Jangs make it so easy to want more fluff - literally everyone in this drama is the cutest, but they are the cutest of all!)
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fab
September 5, 2014 at 12:52 PM
Me too me too! *jumpsupanddown*
And the final episode is filled with fluff, you can't get them more fluffy!
Oh *sob* I am gonna miss the Jangs so badly...*sob*
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panda
September 5, 2014 at 1:06 PM
ME TOOOOOOO!!!!!
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MrBloo
September 5, 2014 at 9:03 PM
When it comes to the Jjangs, fluff is good. I'll even watch the Jjangs read the telephone book together. FTLY is all about the Jjangs.....
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45 pogo - sailing HMS Queen of Tears and HMS Sailboat Lovely Runner🍉
September 5, 2014 at 12:42 PM
Also, Gun's hair. Why the last-minute change, I'd come to love his sticky-up gelled hair and just about got used to it (and I still miss his long swoopy hair). Did they run out of styling products?
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Toria
September 5, 2014 at 9:29 PM
I know, It looks like its been cut by a blunt scissor. Maybe the craze in Korea? Altogether Gun can carry any hairstyle, just not the very very short one (Iris II).
And why no comment on MY's hairstyle? She needs a better stylist! She should have at least improved her hairstyle, wardrobe and make up after coming from Paris.
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46 BrightGirlSuccessFan
September 5, 2014 at 5:38 PM
episodes 19 and 20 are basically filler episodes
no wonder the ratings didnt go up
for episode 19 I wish they cut down those parts on Lee Gun persuading Miyoung's mom (too windy) and finding the box , i was hoping to see a proposal scene from Lee Gun but it's still good we still get to see the fluffy scenes between the leads
still love this drama and jang Jang couple <3
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47 flowerlady
September 5, 2014 at 6:19 PM
Everyone, thank you for your comments, this Dramabeans has been a great part of the adventure of watching the story of Fated to Love You, the happy times and sad times. It was like having a little chat with friends..crying together..laughing together, etc...best wishes to you all!
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48 Toria
September 5, 2014 at 8:54 PM
Gun took a vacation in this episode. I cannot fathom for the life of me why MY would still leave GUN by himself (after 3 years of separation) and go to work (not like she works for someone---she works for herself). And MY did not prepare breakfast! No wonder Gun looks like that, wearing shabby clothes, almost tired-looking!
And from the start of episode 19, all she fed GUN is a bowl of ramen! And to add to that MY prepared 1 bowl. How do you expect the man to react? A bowl of ramen, how can it make a person full? And to share? I know its a kind gesture, but its not enough for a full grown man!
Too much time wasted for when the guest arrive for a game of stop and go. I think this time should have been dedicated to visiting dog pooppies site, visiting GUN's parent's ashes, showing the finish product of MY painting of GUN, reviewing the fake divorce papers, Daniel and Gun finally coming to terms, going back to Gun's house. The wedding hall venue should have been grander with the entrance of the bride and groom directly next to the to entrance, so when actually call the bride and groom they would really look like they just entering the room and not coming from the side.
Love Daniel's farewell song to MY. Love Gun's wedding tuxedo.
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49 Moonbean
September 5, 2014 at 9:23 PM
Best use of piggyback I have ever seen (no, I'm not a fan of it) and also best executed piggyback...
Not much more good things to say so I better stop here....
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50 Kat
September 6, 2014 at 5:58 PM
I assumed the hunt for the box was for the cuff links.
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Beezus
February 19, 2015 at 3:49 PM
I'm late to the party but - yes! The cuff links! It would have made more sens if they had shown Gun getting dressed for the wedding and about to put on cufflinks when the memory of the butted box hit him.
I pat myself on the back, too, for noticing early on that Gun's crazy laugh came out wherever he faced a challenge (I'm usually so busy reading the subtitles that as I miss stuff, which is precisely why I come here).
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