Answer Me 1988: Episode 18
by girlfriday
Our gang is all grown up in some ways… and still exactly the same in other ways. But now that they’re a little bit older and maybe just a tiny bit wiser about life, they know what it means to have regrets and start to do things differently this time around. To what effect remains to be seen, but hey, I consider it momentous enough that they’re acting on their feelings now instead of denying and repressing and making puppy eyes. We’re all out of time for that now—there’s only one week left to go!
SONG OF THE DAY
Lee Seung-hwan – “기다린 날도 지워질 날도” (Days I Waited and Days That’ll Be Erased) [ Download ]
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EPISODE 18: “Goodbye first love”
We’re all the way in October 1994 now, which means the gang is 23 this year. One by one they rush out to go over to Taek’s room for his birthday party, and both Jung-hwan’s parents and Deok-sun’s parents linger by the doorway, looking wistfully at their second child who never comes home.
Jung-hwan’s parents sigh that they miss the high school years because they got to see their son, while Deok-sun’s dad gets all huffy about her finally coming home and immediately running off to hang out with her friends. He perks up right away when Mom informs him that Bora is coming home though, and yells after Deok-sun that she can just stay out.
Sun-woo comes out of his room (in Taek’s house, squee) and takes issue with Jin-ju not greeting him. He reminds her that there was a time when she was alllll about Oppa, but Jin-ju pouts that Sun-woo is hardly home and always sleepy. Dad tells Jin-ju to be the bigger person and apologize first, and she considers it.
Mom sets the table for Taek’s birthday party and asks Sun-woo to check on him, to make sure he’s not down the street struggling to park his new car. That’s exactly what Taek is doing, in fact, and the hilarious part is that there are no other cars around him. He just has to park it against an empty wall, but can’t figure out why the car won’t go there.
Finally Sun-woo comes to the rescue and sends Taek home because the family is waiting, so Taek complies. Everyone rushes to the door when he comes in, and Jin-ju complains that Oppa came home so late that the food is getting cold. He takes out a lollipop from his pocket and gives it to her, and she’s happy again. Okay, I am actually jealous of a little girl right now. She gets to have Sun-woo AND Taek as oppas?
Taek opens the door to his room to find a lavish home-cooked meal set out for his birthday party, which is pretty damn moving, when compared to the pizza boxes and bottles of Coke he used to have.
Sun-woo heads home after parking the car, which is of course the exact time that Bora turns the corner and arrives on their street. They both pause and look at each other, but before Bora can say anything, Sun-woo gives her a silent courtesy bow and heads inside. Aw, he’s still heartbroken.
The kids sing happy birthday to Taek and give him a pager as a birthday gift, and he says he doesn’t need one or even know how to use it. They complain that he’s the only person without one, and Deok-sun says THEY need him to use it.
Taek asks how Jung-bong is doing and if he’s studying for the bar exam, and Jung-hwan tells him that Hyung isn’t studying at all. Honestly, I thought it was a miracle he even got into college. Dong-ryong says that Bora is the anomaly for locking herself up in a gosiwon and not even visiting her family just to pass the exam, and Taek gives a little glance over at Sun-woo, who’s got his head down.
Mom rattles off a million things to Bora all at once because it’s been so long since she’s been home, and Bora assures her that she’s living well. Dad complains about her living with her friend and Deok-sun always staying over at a friend’s house between flights, and No-eul always off to do another concert (he’s a college student, so he must be in theater/performing arts like he wanted).
They get a call in the middle of dinner because an employee at Dad’s bank took off with some money, and he has to rush off to go catch them. Bora wonders if Dad isn’t too old for the fraud department now, but Mom says he’s still spry and will still earn extra money while he can.
Taek’s birthday party now has beers instead of soda, and the boys grill Deok-sun on her latest boyfriend. She insists that she dumped him, so of course the boys tease her endlessly about being dumped.
Sun-woo and Taek’s parents come over to have drinks with Jung-hwan’s parents, and they ask why the phone line here is always busy when they try to call. It’s because Jung-bong is monopolizing the computer (remember dial-up?), his latest obsession. Some things never change. He’s in a chatroom with a few people, and when he mentions a space travel card, one of the others named Maggie’s Memories (Maggie was Mi-ok’s nickname in high school) names the board game that it came from, and it startles him.
Deok-sun’s mom joins them with today’s newspaper in hand, with a big story about a famous celebrity naming Taek as her ideal type. His parents say that they’d prefer someone ordinary, not famous, but they trust Taek to find someone on his own. He goes on plenty of blind dates all the time, and Dad figures he’ll meet the right person eventually by doing that.
Dad guesses that Taek’s friends are teasing him about that news story right about now. Deok-sun cracks up while reading it, wondering if all these famous people who like Taek know that he can’t tie his shoelaces.
Dong-ryong asks Taek why he can’t manage to have a relationship when he goes on more dates than any of them, and Sun-woo ignores Taek’s protests and tells them the real reason: He goes on blind dates and then gets rejected over and over because he never says anything and the women are frustrated and bored. Lol. Taek pouts that he tries, and they tell him to try harder.
Dong-ryong prods Deok-sun to set them up on a group date, but she doesn’t want to hear complaints from her girlfriends about the guys she brought. Dong-ryong and Sun-woo even get Taek to agree, but Jung-hwan refuses. He’s up in Seoul for a short stint, but eventually he’ll go back to his post and any relationship would end then anyway.
They ask Jung-hwan to play a song as they start drifting off to sleep, and Sun-woo tells Deok-sun to stay over too. But she says she’s going home after this song. Everyone shuts their eyes where they are, but then after a little while, Taek opens his eyes and stares across the room.
Then we see that Jung-hwan has his eyes open too, and they’re both staring at the empty space where Deok-sun was sitting just a moment ago. Deok-sun and Bora share a bed like old times, but both sisters lie awake deep in thought.
In the morning, Deok-sun heads out just a few seconds ahead of Jung-hwan and they miss each other on the street, and then again as Jung-hwan drives by and Deok-sun looks down at her watch. The whole sequence is set to Forrest Gump music, and she goes on a date to watch Forrest Gump with another guy.
The moms ask each other if they’ve seen their kids while they’ve been home, and Jung-hwan’s mom says she’s seen a lot of the back of Jung-hwan’s head. Sun-woo’s mom says she sees a lot of Taek and Sun-woo… when their eyes are closed. In flashback we see Mom and Dad just staring and staring at Taek and Sun-woo while they sleep, wondering if they’ve lost weight since last time or just checking to make sure they’re still breathing. Ha.
Deok-sun’s mom says that Bora does nothing but sleep when she’s home too. They ask if she’s chosen a specialty, and Mom says Bora wants to be a prosecutor, and thankfully her student protesting history won’t stand in the way of that. Jung-hwan’s mom sighs wondering when Jung-bong will ever get to that point, and starts chugging soju straight out of the bottle.
Bora’s friend reminds her about the blind date she promised to go on this weekend. She says it’s with a younger man—a third-year med student at Yonsei who’s a genius. Sun-woo? She says he has a nickname: “Garbage.” Lol, it’s Oppa-ya!
So Garbage Oppa turns out to be Sun-woo’s classmate at Yonsei, and they even share an office at the hospital (and a crossover character in their friend). They help each other out and are friendly, and Garbage asks Sun-woo for his pager number because Sun-woo owes him a favor.
Deok-sun’s dad comes home late and asks to be woken up early because of his big fraud case. He passes out right away, leaving Mom worried about his health. Jung-hwan’s mom stands by the window just waiting for Jung-hwan to come home, and Dad gently tells her that Jung-hwan said he’d be out late.
He’s hanging out at Dong-ryong’s hyung’s restaurant, where Dong-ryong works now. They close up for the night and wait for their friends, and reminisce about the time they saw JYP at that dance competition when they were kids. Dong-ryong asks why Jung-hwan hasn’t dated anyone seriously, and says that going on a few blind dates and dating for a month or two doesn’t count.
Dong-ryong points out that he still hasn’t given anyone his graduation ring (from the military academy, apparently a “fiancée ring” that you give to your girl when you graduate because that’s tradition). Jung-hwan says he doesn’t have a girlfriend to give it to, and Dong-ryong sighs that he’s going to die before ever being able to confess once. Yeah no kidding. Or I’ll die first.
Taek’s colleague at the baduk training center is super grateful to Deok-sun because she introduced him to one of her flight attendant friends, and the friend introduced Deok-sun to her current boyfriend in return.
The boys arrive at the restaurant before Deok-sun, and Taek says he can’t drink because he brought his car. Dong-ryong says that Deok-sun can drive because she quit drinking, which the other guys all say won’t last long.
Deok-sun arrives and they all greet her as Soo-yeon because Dong-ryong remembered that fortuneteller and her predictions, and Deok-sun scowls that she needs to move because there’s nothing they don’t know about her.
They ask if things are going well with the boyfriend, not really believing her, and she insists that she’s really popular elsewhere. Taek: “Where?” Jung-hwan: “Come on, let’s not lie to each other.”
She says she’s going to a concert with the boyfriend this Sunday, and Dong-ryong reminds her that they were all supposed to go see Forrest Gump together. Deok-sun and Taek have both already seen it, which makes the other three grump that they can’t go see a movie with just three guys.
Deok-sun takes that to mean they at least see her as a girl, and offers to cancel her date to go with them. They yell at her for acting all cutesy, and she scowls and asks for a drink. Taek informs her quietly that she can’t because she has to drive, and then continues to drink his beer. Pfft.
They see Dong-ryong home because he’s roaring drunk, and when Deok-sun trips over his front gate, Jung-hwan and Taek both jump in to hold her up on either side. Well that’s not awkward.
Deok-sun comes home and asks Mom why Dad looks so tired these days. She wonders if maybe he should retire, but Mom says he would hate not working, and she’ll make sure to get him some herbal medicine.
Jung-hwan’s mom is still awake until he comes home, and when Taek heads in, Mom is there to make sure he got in safe. She reminds him not to take sleeping pills tonight, and he smiles to find a cup of milk left out for him.
Jung-bong is a bundle of nerves as he decides to ask his chatroom to meet up in person, and he’s floored when Maggie responds: “First floor, not second.” Aw, he’s so happy. I really hope it’s Mi-ok!
Deok-sun’s dad brings up the topic of early retirement with Mom, but she tells him that he can’t retire before their kids are married off. She obviously feels bad for insisting, but doesn’t want their daughters to be at a disadvantage. He takes it back right away and swears he wasn’t considering it seriously.
Deok-sun gets all dressed up for her concert, only to get a message from her date asking to cancel at the last minute. So she changes out of her nice clothes and trudges out in slippers to go buy groceries for Mom, and happens to run into the guys on their way out. She lies that she’s going to the concert anyway, and lets Dong-ryong drive her just to keep up the ruse that she didn’t get dumped.
It must be Blind Date Sunday, because Bora heads out on her blind date and waits for Garbage to page her, and Jung-bong heads out to meet Maggie with his pink shirt and a bouquet of roses.
Taek washes his face in the bathroom, as Deok-sun’s flight attendant friend tells her boyfriend that the guy she set up with Deok-sun turned out to have a girlfriend on the side. Dong-ryong and Jung-hwan grouse when Sun-woo cancels on the movie, and they’re surprised when they notice Deok-sun’s boyfriend at the movie theater with another girl. Dong-ryong figures that Deok-sun got dumped after all, but Jung-hwan looks pissed.
He’s distracted through the whole movie and doesn’t hear a word that Dong-ryong is saying to him, and just as Jenny and Forrest are running through a crowd to get to each other in the movie, Jung-hwan darts up and runs out of the theater. Yeessssss! Ruuuuuun, Jung-hwan, ruuuuuuunn!
He races to his car and peels out of the parking lot, and outside the concert hall, Deok-sun leaves a message with her friend Ja-hyun to come to the concert and bring her some clothes. She’s freezing in her sweats and slippers, but insists on waiting outside.
Jung-hwan speeds the whole way, beside himself every time he’s stopped by a red light and forced to wait. He looks like he might start running people over if he can’t get there faster.
Deok-sun waits and waits even though the concert has started, and even the ticket-takers start to pity her. But then she looks up and sees someone approaching…
Jung-bong waits and waits, looking up and looking despondent every time someone else walks through the door. And then finally, someone makes him stand up…
Bora looks across the table at her date and asks, “Are you Garbage?”
Deok-sun gapes as someone runs over to her out of breath… Omo, it’s Taek!
And aaaaack, Jung-hwan was literally two steps behind. He turns and walks away, as he narrates: “Fate doesn’t come around at any time. To use the word fate, it has to be a dramatic moment brought by coincidence—that makes it fate. That’s why another word for fate is timing. If I hadn’t gotten caught at just one of those lights, if those damned red lights had helped me out just once… I might be standing in front of her right now, like fate. My first love was always held back by damned timing. That damned timing.”
Jung-bong looks at the girl who just walked in, and yay, it’s Mi-ok! She looks adorable. They don’t even need to say a word to each other, and he just rushes her in a giant hug, crying because he’s so happy to have found her again.
Bora asks her blind date again, “Are you Garbage?” But it’s Sun-woo, not Garbage, and he asks what Bora is doing here. She tells him to answer first, so we flash back to Garbage reminding Sun-woo that he owed him a favor. Garbage got told to go on the blind date, but earlier on Sunday, Na-jung fell and twisted her ankle.
Oppa-ya ran over to find her, and left a message for Sun-woo on his way, cashing in on that favor by asking him to go on the blind date.
Jung-hwan’s night only gets worse as he sits in his car listening to the radio. The news reports an unprecedented forfeit from baduk player Choi Taek, who suddenly forfeited today’s match for personal reasons. He skipped a match to go to Deok-sun?
Jung-hwan slams his steering wheel in anger and cries alone in his car. He narrates, “But fate and timing aren’t just coincidences that find you. They’re moments like miracles, that arise out of choices made because of ardent desire. Surrender and decision, without hesitation—that is what makes timing. He was more ardent, and I should’ve had more courage. It wasn’t the red lights, nor the timing that was bad… but the countless times I hesitated.”
Sun-woo and Bora sit in tense silence for a while, and Sun-woo says bitterly that Bora must feel nothing if she was able to go on a blind date with someone from his school in his department. But she says, “I came for the one-percent chance that it could be you.”
When she heard that his nickname was Garbage, she realized it couldn’t be Sun-woo, but then she thought that maybe he’d hear about the date because it was with one of his classmates. Bora: “And though it’s only a one-percent chance, if you still liked me, then couldn’t we start over?” Her eyes well up with tears as she says, “I know this sounds crazy, but I missed you.” Sun-woo doesn’t know how on earth to respond.
Deok-sun insists that she didn’t get stood up, and Taek just nods and says he knows. He lets her tell the white lie about her date getting into an accident on the way, just throws his jacket around her shoulders. She says she’s not cold, so he says he’s too warm to wear it, and follows her into the concert with a smile.
Jung-hwan wipes his tears and continues to narrate, quoting Forrest Gump: “‘Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.’ Even if I’ve picked the bitterest chocolate of them all, it can’t be helped. That’s the fate I chose. There’s no regretting it, crying about it, or being heartbroken about it.”
2015. Deok-sun begins another interview at a coffee shop, and when Lee Seung-hwan comes on over the radio, she reminisces about going to many of his concerts. She wonders if they don’t have too much interview footage by now, and says asking her stuff is fine, but her husband normally dislikes doing interviews and she only agreed to do this one because her sister asked.
Husband arrives and stands around awkwardly while Deok-sun runs to get him a coffee, and she tells him to go home, promising that she won’t bug him while he works today. He lies that he likes interviews, and she laughs and tells him to go home. She reminds him to take out the trash, and he says he already did on his way to the comic book store. She mutters at him to stop with the comic books for his image’s sake, and he shuffles off.
Back in 1994, Sun-woo peels open his eyes in the morning to find Mom and Jin-ju staring creepily down at him. He tells them to stop being scary, but Mom pouts that everyone’s asleep. Jin-ju asks why he even comes home if all he ever does here is sleep, and Sun-woo asks to sleep some more, but caves and asks for breakfast.
Jung-hwan wakes up to find his parents doing the same creepy hovering thing, and he jumps out of his skin. He asks why they didn’t wake him, but Mom and Dad wanted to let him sleep in. Mom is so cute about having made his favorite dish, and Jung-hwan laughs into his pillow.
Bora and Deok-sun wake up face-to-face, which surprises Bora since she didn’t hear Deok-sun come home last night. They start the morning off with an old-school fight, and Dad chuckles that it sounds like home again. Dad gets a bloody nose that morning, and Mom looks more worried than usual.
At Sun-woo and Taek’s house, Sun-woo says that all the kids are getting together tonight because Jung-hwan is leaving tomorrow. Taek says he has a match, but it should end early. Jin-ju nags him to do fewer competitions, and when Sun-woo laughs, she nags him not to come home anymore if all he’s going to do is sleep. When Taek laughs at that, she nags him not to date that celebrity who likes him, or else. Guess we know who the boss is around here.
At Jung-hwan’s house, Mom stares and stares at the calendar feeling like something is off, and goes to check the calendar on her nightstand. We see her flip back a few months and find a date circled, but the past few months are clean. Hm, I wonder if it’s menopause.
Deok-sun and Jung-hwan head out together to meet the gang, and he notices that she keeps checking her pager. She asks if it’s okay to take his car when they’re going to drink, and he says she’ll be driving it home. He tells her to put on some music, but all he has are Lee Moon-se tapes so she picks one, and they spend the whole ride bickering like old times.
They have beers with Dong-ryong and Sun-woo, and Taek is on his way. Jung-hwan notices that Deok-sun looks up every time someone opens the front door, which just leaves tiny cracks in my heart every time.
Dong-ryong asks for Jung-hwan’s graduation ring, and Jung-hwan takes it out but says it’s kind of a waste to give it to Dong-ryong. Dong-ryong complains that he doesn’t have anyone else to give it to and will die before ever proposing to a girl, and says, “It’s my wish to see you confess before I die.”
Suddenly Jung-hwan says, “Deok-sun-ah…” and puts the ring box in front of her. HOLY SHIT. He says he was going to give it to her when he graduated, but he’s doing it now. Sun-woo and Dong-ryong stare at each other wondering what’s going on, but Jung-hwan just continues like they’re not even there.
Jung-hwan: “I like you.” He says it again so intently, and then laughs as he tells her about all the things he did, like waiting for an hour outside the house just to go to school with her, or not being able to sleep until she came home from the library every night: “All I ever thought about was you.”
Dong-ryong mouths to Sun-woo: “This bastard must be for real!” Sun-woo tells him to shut it. Jung-hwan names the times they ran into each other on the bus, or went to the concert together, or when she gave him a shirt for his birthday: “I was so happy I thought I’d go crazy.” He says he always wanted to see her more, and was just happy when he was with her. Deok-sun smiles as he says all this, and he adds, “I’ve wanted to tell you this for a long time: I really like you. I love you.” Omg, I’m a puddle of goo.
The moment lingers, and then suddenly Jung-hwan turns to Dong-ryong and asks, “Is that good, moron? You said this was your wish.” Oh nooooooooes, Jung-hwan, you’re not going to act like it was all a joke, are you? I’m going to go cry in a corner now.
Sun-woo and Dong-ryong are so shocked that they don’t even understand at first, but then they take it as him pulling one over on all of them and laugh. Sun-woo asks Deok-sun if she was fooled too, and she just smiles, not knowing what to say to that. Jung-hwan smiles on the outside, but he looks like he’s on the verge of tears. Are you seriously going to take this TO YOUR FREAKING GRAVE?
Dong-ryong says he’s smitten and confesses that he loves Jung-hwan back, and they laugh it off like it was a prank. Deok-sun looks over at the door again when it opens, and Jung-hwan notes it again.
In flashback, we see that after Jung-hwan told Deok-sun she didn’t look pretty in a hanbok way back in 1988, he ran inside to stare at her from the window. And after showing up to give her an umbrella in the rain and walk away with his cool one-liner, he ran home and freaked out like big dork, and smiled at himself for doing the cool thing.
He was a total spaz about the Christmas present too, and nearly chickened out of asking No-eul to deliver it for him. He finally managed to give it to No-eul, who couldn’t comprehend why Jung-hwan would be giving Deok-sun a Christmas present, and to cover up his own embarrassment, Jung-hwan basically kicked him until No-eul was too afraid to ask more questions. Lol.
The group reminisces about old times over drinks, and they decide to move on to round two and page Taek to meet them there. They get up to go, and Jung-hwan’s ring gets left behind on the table.
COMMENTS
Noooo, don’t leave it on the table! Is first love over, just like that? It can’t be over, there are two episodes left! I’m starting to have a mild panic attack here, because I was not expecting Jung-hwan to just fold like that. How can you confess like THAT, so sincere and heartfelt, and then say you’re kidding? That’s not… You can’t… AGH. That confession really threw me for a loop. And I still can’t read Deok-sun’s expressions throughout it—is it just sweet nostalgia for an old crush, and is she waiting for Boyfriend Taek to arrive? (Not that I wouldn’t squee about that either. I mean, that’s kind of the nice thing, or terrible thing, about this love triangle.) Or is she disappointed when he acts like he punked them and she’s trying to save face? I feel like Jung-hwan just took himself out of the race with that final I-love-you-just-kidding, but if he really did, I don’t know if I can handle it. *whimper*
It really is in keeping with their characters for Taek to go all in when he sees an opportunity and for Jung-hwan to hesitate so long that he shoots himself in the foot. So, so much that it kills me. But I am glad that he finally learned his lesson about making your own damn fate, because screw timing and coincidence—you make that fate yourself with every choice, and hesitation and inaction are choices too. That’s a really important thing for Jung-hwan to learn as he finally grows up, even if he learns it in the most painful way possible. The thing that throws a wrench in everything is that we still don’t know how Deok-sun feels about any of this, whether seeing Taek at the concert reignited old feelings, whether Taek finally confessed, or if she’s ever thought of either them in the years since high school.
I didn’t expect to be moved by Jung-bong and Mi-ok’s reunion, because their loveline has always been comic relief or just sweet. But Jung-bong was crying when he finally found her again, and I suddenly felt like he’d had a hole in his heart all those years. It fits his character more than anyone else that he’d be fixated on his first love and never move on, and because their loveline was never guaranteed, I was so relieved when she walked through the door.
Bora and Sun-woo, on the other hand, were always going to get back together; it was just a matter of how. It was the best crossover yet to have Garbage and Sun-woo as classmates in med school, since it works out that they’re the same age (I never really stopped to think about how the timelines overlapped, and find it funny that these kids are older than Na-jung and the rest of the 1994 gang, even though, duh). The blind date switcheroo might’ve been an actual twist of fate, but I liked that Bora owned up to saying yes for that tiny chance that she might see Sun-woo again. It’s nice to see the reversal too, because he always chased her and liked her more when they were young, and now she has to work to convince him to give their relationship another chance. I thought it was cute that she went on the date even after knowing that Sun-woo’s nickname could never be Garbage, just on the off chance that she could make him jealous. It’s so roundabout when she could just knock on his door, but he clearly hasn’t made it very easy for her to approach him.
It’s a big relief to know that everyone has at least attempted to move on and date other people, and that it’s not for lack of trying that they’re still lingering on first loves (I’d argue that it’s because some of you never confessed, but that’s water under the bridge). Taek and Sun-woo’s family is so cute that I just want to spend entire episodes with Bossy Princess Jin-ju telling her oppas how to behave, with Mom looking after Taek and Dad getting Sun-woo to play catch. They’re like a mini Brady Bunch, and I love it. Taek eats whole meals, has a little sister to dote on, and their house doesn’t seem so quiet and sad anymore. I found it hilarious that all the parents kept staring at their sleeping kids because they never see them anymore—it helped make the passage of time feel real, in a way that just cutting their hair or dressing them differently doesn’t do nearly as well. Because the parents actually act like they desperately miss their kids, I find myself thinking of them as having left the nest and living full adult lives out there. It makes the group reunions bittersweet too, but it means more that they still get together on Taek’s birthday because that’s tradition, and that they make time for each other even though their lives are going in all sorts of different directions. At least I know that no matter which way the loveline goes, our gang will always be the same. Okay, I’m off to go cry some more.
RELATED POSTS
- Answer Me 1988: Episode 17
- Answer Me 1988: Episode 16
- Answer Me 1988: Episode 15
- Answer Me 1988: Episode 14
- Answer Me 1988: Episode 13
- Answer Me 1988: Episode 12
- Answer Me 1988: Episode 11
- Answer Me 1988: Episode 10
- Answer Me 1988: Episode 9
- Answer Me 1988 delays broadcast in January
- Answer Me 1988: Episode 8
- Answer Me 1988: Episode 7
- Answer Me 1988: Episode 6
- Answer Me 1988: Episode 5
- Answer Me 1988: Episode 4
- Answer Me 1988: Episode 3
- Answer Me 1988: Episode 2
- Answer Me 1988: Episode 1
Tags: Answer Me 1988, featured, Go Kyung-pyo, Hyeri, Park Bo-gum, Ryu Joon-yeol
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101 Willtheshipsail?
January 9, 2016 at 10:28 PM
Bitter but sweet...
Junghwan is breaking my heart but im on team Taek so im happy for him ( he's so freaking adorable!!!).... i don't care who is the hubby I'll still be happy. I hope that the next ep will be more about the deokson and her futur hubby and that the final ep will show everyone's happy ending~. Cant wait for they whole week to end!...junghwan...sob...T^T
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102 hmmmm
January 9, 2016 at 10:34 PM
The thing about this is....
Why would the writer seal the deal shut about JH-DS with TWO WHOLE EPISODES to go? Are they seriously going to fill those scenes with Taek and DS being lovey-dovey? Really?
They've already done everything possible:
-beautiful beach date
-bridal run
-a kiss scene
..... and you're going to fill 4 hours more with them?
Where will JH be during 4 hours? Training?
Keep in mind people that JH hasn't had his kiss yet! Even Chilbong had something!! I know there's going to be something, I know it! After all this terrible angst I've been going through, I want some intense kissing that will make DS-Taek's kiss seem like a mere peck!
I think DS-Taek's kiss wasn't a dream. It was real, but through the kiss DS realized that she actually didn't have super deep feelings for Taek.
Otherwise, they would be dating already, right?
So the rest of the two episodes will show DS's story, from her deep feelings for JH, to becoming a flight attendant because of him as well.
And she will go BACK to get that ring. Yes she will.
And she will use it to confess to JH.
And intense kissing will follow.
Please writer-nim. JAEBAL!!!
Ah, and also. In one of the future scenes, they talk about how they went to the 1988 college music festival together with friends. Taek didn't go. So, there, proof that JH is endgame.
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seoqueen
January 9, 2016 at 10:39 PM
i like your prediction. please be true!!!!
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redfox
January 9, 2016 at 10:58 PM
but why would she?
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crying
January 9, 2016 at 11:03 PM
intense ???? hahahhaha i completely forgot what she said about the college music festival... shall go and rewatch! ... hehehehe 'intense' ????
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SomeSarameun
January 9, 2016 at 11:58 PM
"Ah, and also. In one of the future scenes, they talk about how they went to the 1988 college music festival together with friends. Taek didn’t go. So, there, proof that JH is endgame."
THIS!! it made me laugh really! lol no offense, but did you really watch that episode of the future DS and Husband interview? (that's ep 6 by the way, fyi) and did you even try and connect it to the future episode after this scene?
I know you're rooting deeply for JH to end up with DS, but make sure to full proof your hallucinations,,,ehem, i mean your ideas with the actual facts that were presented by the writers of the show.
What actually transpired in that interview was, future husband insisted that he watched it with the gang and pointed out the winning song of that year (1988) but DS's rebuttal is that they watched it on tv instead. and they continued to bicker as to who won the 1989 singing competition, whilst the future husband intently suggested of who won that year, in which she somehow agrees as to what her husband is saying. (this whole scenario was used as a ploy to confuse the readers, but it clearly gives us a hint of who the husband is..)
Then come Episode 7, it was shown that future DS was right after all, that they did watch it at home, with the whole gang except taekie.
Fast forward to the recent episode, ep 17, it was shown that in 1989, the whole gang, this time including taekie, saw the 1989 singing competition therefore he would know who won that year's competition.
Now i'll leave it up to you to decide based on the facts that i've stated as to who has the end game in this series. hahahahahahaha
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shai
January 10, 2016 at 12:03 AM
Calm down! It's not that serious! She simply made a comment. It's not the end of the world if she got a detail wrong.
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crying
January 10, 2016 at 12:39 AM
okay, i have no idea who you intended to reply to but you need to chill out. after watching 18 1.5hr eps, you shouldn't expect anyone to recall every single detail. and yes i did rewatch what OP said. i actually went through GF's reply 1988 recaps and found which ep to rewatch it. you sound like some mad taek x deoksun shipper. people like you are the worst. you could try to offer a different perspective to the events which take place throughout the drama without sounding rude. let's try to remember that these dramas are not made to be viewed by people to analyse every single detail. i, along with everyone else, have the right to root for whoever we want. this is a site where people share their opinions. there is no need to go off at someone who roots for a person. i never once said that the husband IS junghwan because i do recognise that there's a possibility that the husband could be taek. i also don't need proof to root for a person. now go take your agressive tendencies elsewhere.
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rjy
January 10, 2016 at 1:42 AM
it's rude to say people are 'the worst' when you don't know them as well.
like you said, everyone is entitled to their own opinions and both of them were stating their opinions for the ending based on the ship that they prefer. i agree that that person added in multiple unnecessary comments but "you sound like some mad taek x deoksun shipper. people like you are the worst." was unnecessary and extremely rude as well.
genuinecity
January 11, 2016 at 11:47 PM
Lol @ "And intense kissing will follow"! Yes, please.
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103 Ellyn@20
January 9, 2016 at 10:35 PM
Still hoping that JH is the husband or else, it will be just too sad for JH. He likes DS since the first episode!! He saw her liked SW, saw her cried for SW, saw CT liked her, he himself cried for DS then made a confession and said it was a joke. Omg, this is just too much to handle.. How is JH ever going to get over DS after all these??
P.S. I would picked JH if I were DS. CT is nice too but I still prefer JH. Haha.
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moon
January 9, 2016 at 11:25 PM
I think the series is mainly (not entirely) viewed in Jung Hwan's lenses, even if Duk Seon ends up with Taek in the end. So it may also be possible that the main storyteller JH (though DS is the main lead in the series) is not the husband.
I have read in some posts that if this is true, then it may be possible that JH will see DS and TK's moments as lovey-dovey, though in DS's POV he only views TK as a friend, nothing else. A person suffering from a one-sided love can see things in a different perspective. LOL
Well, writers are really confusing us right now.
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SonyaK
January 10, 2016 at 10:36 AM
Yeah, I have noticed this shift as well. TBH, a little part of me is cheering for DS/Taek, simply because I would love to see he director playing around with such a fresh, experimental style. I know he said in the beginning, he expected the series (as a 3rd instalment) to fail and was going to do what he wanted with it. I hoped through the series that he stuck to that and didn't give in because of the crazy ratings!
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lemondoodle
January 10, 2016 at 6:18 AM
Most girls would pick Taek unless they can read minds.
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earlgrey
January 11, 2016 at 1:15 AM
for me the point is he "SAW" and that what he did only "SAW" and never take action, even SW and DR never realized that JH liked DS.
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104 Sophia
January 9, 2016 at 10:36 PM
Noooo Jung Hwa! Why did u do that? ?
Don't give up yet....it's not over til it's over! ✊✊
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105 J.L
January 9, 2016 at 10:40 PM
Thanks a lot, Girlfriday for speedy recap!! i love this franchisee and specially R88...Glad your recaps sooth my heart while waiting for subs
That indirect confession scene really had me crying. It was step towards closure by JH (I have done pretty much the same thing with my first crush/love so this scene had me crying all over again)
I sincerely think that DS is already aware of JH's feelings...There was very little surprise on her face as he went through the confession. Her expressions were more of being grateful for liking her and apologetic since she doesn't return his feelings. Only after seeing that and she dindn't reciprocate to his confession, JH firmly turned into a joke to save their friendship. But all that needs to be said, was already conveyed to DS.
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J.L
January 9, 2016 at 10:48 PM
Couple of other events made my belief stronger that she already knows abt love triangle. When both boys helped her when she tripped, all three of them were awkward. DS just turned her head and went straight home without any goodbye.
Also her calm behaviour after that "dream" kiss (I believe it's pretty real) must be because after the kiss it's possible that CT might have admitted that he cant express his feelings to her coz he doesn't want to hurt JH either (I know this is far fetched conclusion but more I think abt it, it feels possible). That must have clued her about love triangle and thus she must have let it slide as dream to save the entire group
Either way, I feel pretty bad for JH. He has golden heart but he kept on losing his chances with his hesitation, overthinking...Just hope that he finds someone really great soon and gets his own happy ending. Jung hwana fighting!!!
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106 Unnie55
January 9, 2016 at 10:49 PM
Damnn Junghwan made me cry so hard.... then he make me flutter during fake confesion..really writernim it that the conclusion of Junngpal love story????????
By the way, man Ryu Jun Yeol is such a gem, those heartbreaking and confession felt so real. Cant wait for his new project, i mean there is no way they wasting his talent like that.
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107 tiaralavista
January 9, 2016 at 10:53 PM
I hope, really really hope, Deok Sun knew about the pink T-Shirt that Jung Hwan always treasured, and she became a flight attendant because Jung Hwan became pilot. Because, there isn't any clue about Deok Sun dream. I hope it..
At first watching this AM1988 I told myself not to rooting anyone, because rooting Chilbong made me sick. And in an interview YYS said that Taek remind him of Chilbong then I root for Jung Hwan. Although seeing Jung Hwan in this series made me rooting for him first.
PS: I want a cameo of Seo In Guk. I like Hello Monster.
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J.L
January 9, 2016 at 10:55 PM
+ for SIG cameo
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redfox
January 9, 2016 at 11:01 PM
Hello Monster was from a different station :-( so I know the chance of a cameo is not very high.
but couldn´t they do it anyway?
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ngocdpb
January 10, 2016 at 2:38 AM
Nah, here it is Seo In Guk from AM1997. Well, for me, SIG in AM1997 is a little less handsome than Hello Monster's. Don't be disappointed. LOL.
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tiaralavista
January 12, 2016 at 6:52 AM
I know. But still I am a fan of him. haha
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deedu
January 10, 2016 at 6:08 AM
Seo In Guk is Reply 1997 LM so there's must be ok. he can play as Taeki's fans, yeay this time bogum is hyung. but the problem is i'm not sure if SIG still young enough to play as yoon yoonjae lol.
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redfox
January 10, 2016 at 10:18 AM
yeah,. I know that, what I mean, the excuse for bromance is from a different channel.
I think he could. people with triangular faces are easier to make look younger.
if he wore hockey clothes, it would be easier!
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lemondoodle
January 10, 2016 at 6:20 AM
> she became a flight attendant because Jung Hwan became pilot.
People keep saying that, but seriously I hope not. I'm not here for her "dream" being about following him. No thanks.
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Cousland
January 10, 2016 at 6:32 AM
I don't follow the logic of this one, him becoming a fighter pilot in the army somehow inspired her to be an air hostess?
She went for what was the hot girl job of the early 90s, she's pretty and has an open, caring personality so I can definitely see why she'd go for this career and why they would hire her even if she didn't have the greatest grades.
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lemondoodle
January 10, 2016 at 6:57 AM
Yeah, they aren't in the same field. JH is a military pilot. It's not close to the same thing. He could become a commercial pilot eventually, but I doubt she thought about that at the time. It was likely because it was a good and easy job for her to do. Like her father said, he didn't dream of being a banker, but that's just how it worked out.
It's just unfair people want her career to be all about him, when his career actually has a really sweet and deep meaning between brothers.
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deedu
January 10, 2016 at 7:16 AM
'she’s pretty and has an open, caring personality so I can definitely see why she’d go for this career and why they would hire her even if she didn’t have the greatest grades.'
10+alpha for your comment.
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SonyaK
January 10, 2016 at 10:40 AM
Me too. #teamDeoksun. Choose your own future! If it is coincidence, great, but if they reveal she did it because of him.... /sadface
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108 ShipperofShips
January 9, 2016 at 10:59 PM
JH!!! Let it still be you!
Anyway, thank you Girl Friday! :)
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109 Kit
January 9, 2016 at 11:00 PM
I was SO mad at Junghwan on principle because I think the worst thing you can do is make a confession into a joke, and it's especially cruel for the recipient. But there's no black and white and it was done in such a heartbreaking manner WAILS. The whole time I was screaming at my screen thinking 'this can't be real' and it was even better/worse than what I had imagined. It doesn't beat the 1997 confession for me, but it comes very close.
But I couldn't even hold onto my heartbreak because the scenes with Miok-Jungbong as well as Sunwoo-Bora were absolutely amazing too. I wasn't very invested in the latter pairing, but that scene was fantastic. (Also I think I'm shallow and like Sunwoo's hair better now ha.)
It really does seem like the whole episode was about going for it, and in that way, Taek-Deoksun would make sense, but we'll never know until the very last minute. As long as they're all happy in the future D: (And explain the reason for these interviews too. Wish they'd kept it constant throughout the episodes, even though they would've frustrated us with fake clues.)
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fatraspberry
January 9, 2016 at 11:07 PM
he didn't say it as a joke. DR tells him you should be able to confess, and he did. and that's why when he said it he said "is this enough?" he didn't directly say it's a joke, but he does want it to appear like a joke - because he's been looking at DS and how she stares at the door, like she was waiting for Taek.
JH was giving up, from what I see, he meant what he said and he does want to confess but since he's thinking DS is inlove with TK, it would be useless - he makes everyone think it's a joke by saying "is this enough?"
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fatraspberry
January 9, 2016 at 11:10 PM
and I think, instead of being silent about how he feels for the rest of his life - he wanted to say it out loud to DS. he thinks DS won't even care since she's in love with someone else.
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lemondoodle
January 10, 2016 at 6:22 AM
The whole "is that enough?" makes it out to be a challenge if not a joke. Not something serious. Like he did it to please his friends who were bugging him about confessing to someone. He used DS to do this actually, which is kind of a shit thing to do (but of course we know he's sincere).
The confession was all wrong even if he said all the right things. Bad timing again.
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Cousland
January 10, 2016 at 6:36 AM
By turning to DR and say "is this enough?" he's implying the confession isn't something to be taken seriously. He doesn't have to go "hahaha, kidding, kidding, joke, joke." to completely invalidate everything he just said to DS.
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110 Teamtaek
January 9, 2016 at 11:02 PM
Great recap!!! Thank you for posting this! I have been waiting all day since I don't understand Korean. It was torture when i was watching the raw episode.
For those who are complaining about JH not being the husband, stop complaining and enjoy the show. We all should be rooting for DS to choose who she wants to love whether is taek or JH. I secretly like DS the most compare to the other female leads in the answer me installment. I feel like she is the most relatable, less annoying, and loving/sacrafical.
The writers did an amazing job in this installment and really gave us more than a love story. I love all the families and the side love stories.
If you watched all the series , you would understand not to be too focus on the husband bc the writers are trolls. I tried to not emotionally invest in the male lead bc at the end if the day, the husband was already choosen whether I agree to it or not. But its defn fun seeing the story unfolds and seeing if my pick wins!!
I am team taek btw and have always been. I never fall for the second lead in any drams and I just had a gut feeling it was always Taek. The writers are getting smarter and I knew they wanted to make the viewers think that JH was the husband but they haven't fooled me. Why would the writers focus on DS and Taeks relationship so much if JH was gonna be the husband? There were barely any screenplay for DS and JH as we got deeper into the drama. I really like JH character and his charm but there is something about TAEK that is irresistible. You just can't help but fall for him and want to bring him home to mama. ? the way he looks at DS and cares for her!
I know there's two more episode left and it's still to early to say it's taek for the win but I am without a doubt it's him. I'm excited for the reveal of DS feelings and all the flash backs.
My prediction for ep 19 and 20: After the concert, Taek and DS hangs out a little and feelings rekinder thus DS coming home late. DS later finds out from a friend or the newspaper that Taek missed his match for DS. She will be the one who confesses to TAek that she always loved him and she did indeed kiss him in ep 17. She never revealed her feelings for taek bc she knew Jh had feelings for her. She saw jh's wallet as well or somehow knew that confessing her feelings to taek was gonna do more harm than good. But taek will not make a move until he asks for permission or closure with JH. JH gives taek permission to love DS and they lived happily after!
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Amy
January 9, 2016 at 11:40 PM
haaaa letz wish..
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moar
January 9, 2016 at 11:57 PM
can you turn this into a drama? 100% would watch
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Ninja Kil
January 10, 2016 at 1:43 AM
Yes me too. 100% would watch your drama!!!
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teamTAek
January 10, 2016 at 5:39 PM
LOL. I should start writing dramas since i watch so many. My sister also enjoys kdrams, so before we start watching one, we like to predict the outcome for fun. If you watch enough of them, you can kinda tell the ending. But these Answer Me installments kills me bc they are super tricky and they play with our emotions!!
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J.L
January 10, 2016 at 12:01 AM
Exactly my thoughts...particularly your prediction :)
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teamTAek
January 10, 2016 at 5:47 PM
I am super curious why DS never confessed to Taek if she really liked him? Also if she knew the JH liked her bc during JH's confession in ep 18, she didn't react much to it even if it was just a joke. I think she was too preoccupied with something else. Like she was waiting for someone..ehehe I really think Taek and DS had a "TALK" or something happened after the concert. I saw something on SOOMPI and it was a picture of DS and TAEk swinging at the park. i hope i am correct!
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Aoi
January 10, 2016 at 2:34 AM
Woow! i love this plot so much!
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teamTAek
January 10, 2016 at 5:41 PM
I am super excited for ep 19 and 20 bc i know i will be giddy like a little school girl falling in love again for the first time. I hope my prediction is correct!
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ayade
January 12, 2016 at 6:20 AM
I dont know about all your predictions coming true but omg how awesome and refreshing would it be to have the girl confessing instead :D that would be great for once!
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moar
January 14, 2016 at 5:17 AM
amen!
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111 Jeha
January 9, 2016 at 11:02 PM
It reminds me back then on earlier episode. When adult DS was asked what is the thing she remember most about first snow. The Husband said that is when DS rejected by Sun Woo after she wrote so many postcards to "Starry Night".
At that time TK still in baduk club and JH read the postcard she wrote and heard the conversation between SW and DS.
Well, i'm still confuse about the husband.. I really hope JH as the husband..
Writer-nim, do your best!! :")
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112 Chocosundae
January 9, 2016 at 11:03 PM
Omg! I watched it raw , but i understand and feel jung hwan's confession! He is so sweet but how could he forgo his chance again! Duek sun's reaction is just smiling it seems that she's really not affected about jung hwan , she's more excited when taek is going to come, isnt?
Well so excited for ep 19 and the finale! I really cant wait :))
Thanks for the recap girlfriday! <3
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113 AHHHHHH
January 9, 2016 at 11:04 PM
It's obviously JH... Looks to me that SW and BR will get back together.. like at this point for them to not be together doesn't make sense.. and I think SW still had feelings for BR all this time.. SO, if SW and BR are together and DS ends up with CT then it's double in laws which would be so weird and not make sense... My hunch from the beginning was always JH and the writer is just shaking things up.. I feel like CT told DS that JH liked her and DS is worried for CT not coming to the friend gathering because he got rejected or might feel awkward.. Also, from the look on DS's face, she definitely knew...all this time and she felt JH's sincerity from the heart.. Her friends back in 1988 told her they thought JH likes her if he tells her not to go to the blind date and that's exactly what he told her. "Don't go." So back then she should have known that JH did have some feelings.. Maybe the reason she didn't say anything during confession was because she wanted to tell him privately..not in front of friends. I really hope she goes back for the ring and shows up before he leaves with it.. I love CT too but at this point I ship JH and DS..
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114 LMHisabadactor
January 9, 2016 at 11:08 PM
I'm gonna die laughing if JH got a younger sibling after 6 years. LOL
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AHHHHHH
January 9, 2016 at 11:13 PM
ahahha I was thinking too! maybe Mi Ran mom is pregnant and missed her time of month kkkkkk
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earlgrey
January 11, 2016 at 1:32 AM
And the brother kid will be once again Sung Joon!!!! Joonie ya miss you so much since Dad where are you going ^_____^
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ayade
January 12, 2016 at 6:21 AM
hahahah it would be crazy wouldn't it? She probably complain about being too old to be having children at her age xD but it would be lovely too!
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115 jazzcafedreams
January 9, 2016 at 11:09 PM
If it is Taek, I hope this show ends my misery at Episode 19. I'm just not up to waiting until Ep 20 to find out. Don't do that to me show! Come clean at Ep 19 so you'll have time to sort out the life and lovelines of the others.
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116 crystal
January 9, 2016 at 11:12 PM
as much as i love CT (and the actor) i feel like DS will end up with JH. the bickering dynamic the grown ups have is like what the younger DS and JH had. for CT to treat her like that would be a drastic change. the writer will just come up with a reason for JH's fame later in life.
don't lose hope team JH!
and DS's dad needs to retire before the IMF crisis hits! :(
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117 Leah Flores
January 9, 2016 at 11:13 PM
Would it be so tragic if Taek heard JH's confession? I can imagine him about to enter the door but stopped coz he is hearing JH confession but did not finish the whole thing and just walks out of there.
I love Taek but my heart is crying out for JH??????
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118 Zo
January 9, 2016 at 11:16 PM
OMG i was on team jung hwan. HOW DARE HE? I just felt like he stabbed my heart.....T_T
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119 Jacqueline
January 9, 2016 at 11:18 PM
Watching the past Reply dramas taught me not to invest so much in this game of guess the husband, and I'm so glad I didn't for '88. I have no idea who the husband could be, but this drama has been such a treat outside of this triangle. I love everyone on this street and will miss them terribly.
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120 lordseungri
January 9, 2016 at 11:24 PM
jung Hwan you stupid stupid noble idiot
i cried rivers for him today.
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121 Ammy
January 9, 2016 at 11:30 PM
Hey, JH-DS shippers don't you all worry as after ep 18, I think chances for JH being the husband just rose high. TK's ship is gonna sink for sure. Now its DS's time for some action, mark my words she is gonna reject TK and confess her love for JH... Its so clear that she loves JH especially after ep 18. I can even imagine ep 19, its gonna happen like they are gonna show DS's side of the story and in ep 20 JH-DS's ship is gonna sail for a world tour and TK is gonna move on in his life with baduk and some other beautiful girl...
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122 Amy
January 9, 2016 at 11:34 PM
im a CT DS shipper but i think JH is the hubby. we only know about JH's suffering becoz they hav only shown us that....DS was taekie's one and only love and he was always alone and enduring....didnt he gave up on his date for JH...didnt he considered their frndship first...didnt he also considered others happiness first...didnt he also take action for his loving ones... he was panting when he met Deoksun, that must hav meant he was running all the ways...may be his car didnt work at time...may be he was also caught up in traffic...and he also noticed her shoes when she lied abt the date...and i dont think the kiss was a dream..even it is , that only means that his dreams were all full of DS... didnt he deserve the one and only girl he loved with all his life..he may not be any hottie like JH. but even with all of his 'inadequacies' he is the most precious thing in the drama.its nice that JH fans are heart broken...hmmm next week its our turn..i dont know what the hell these writers are going to do with taekie...him always taking pills must mean something...any body know kal ho na ho love line and wat happens with SRK...i jst hope that doesnt happen..plzz writers show some justice and atleast show us taekie's story, emotions and all frm his point of view..plzzzz
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Dreamer
January 10, 2016 at 7:44 AM
Well... it could be KAL HO NA HO..... and Jung Hawan could be Saif Ali Khan .. and TAek is SRK.. :)
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Amy
January 10, 2016 at 1:46 PM
i jst hope not.......atleast show us his POV...he is so precious..somehow i hav a feeling that the ring is not meant to be left behind....may be taek was hearing them all the while...my heart broke....agh...i never had a second lead syndrome and cant remember any drama....where two guys had some what same chances....but from how they hav listed the caste and how the scenes bw JH and DS have more prominence in the OST i think JH is the end game...but just for a change writer nim please..huh .....please...jst for this series. Anyway the series is hit and evrybdy will watch the last eps also so cant u jst ship taekie and DS together....plz
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Dreamer
January 11, 2016 at 12:18 PM
Yup!! ring will not be left behind.. someone must take it after they left.. either Taek or Deok Sun.. even though i am shipping DS and CT but i know my ship will be sink... JH will be definitely the end game.... but i will be happy with any decision writer make in the end.. because this drama was antique piece of work.. they did really well... :)
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123 merry
January 9, 2016 at 11:37 PM
Finally I was able to marathon this drama over the holidays. I did not know english subs lagged much longer. Is it df? Grrr. While indeed the whole drama itself and the bonding of families a treat, I think this whole franchise banked on the guessing game. I cannot recall other dramas eliciting that much guessing game. Anyway, in the two episodes, anything can happen. It ain't over til its over, as some of you said above. Some writing is on the wall, if we are able to work out the 2015 scenes. Thank you GF for the speedy recap. Hold the tears. In due time, there will be dancing. Fighting!
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124 Aya
January 9, 2016 at 11:52 PM
My respect for PBG acting has been rising since I remember you, but his Taekie performance multiply my respect for his acting 100x. I love him so much now that it will hurt me so much if his heart got broken.??
I have convinced myself that JH is the end game since ep 3, but Ep 18 is hinting that Taekie could be the husband. I hate the writer so much for this.. It feels like reply1994 hinting chilbong had a chance, when in actuality he doesn't. Ahh.. Reply 1997 at least was straight forward with the romance eventho they were dragging the husband mystery till the last episode... Iskkk.. Please writer!! I thought you said this time round is not about guessing the husband anymore??
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125 Youja
January 9, 2016 at 11:55 PM
I'm on #TEAMTEAK but watching Jung Pal being heartbroken like that..I really can't take it!! :'( :'( WHY??!! Why JH!!
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126 photoframe
January 10, 2016 at 12:01 AM
"Deok-sun’s dad brings up the topic of early retirement with Mom, but she tells him that he can’t retire before their kids are married off. She obviously feels bad for insisting, but doesn’t want their daughters to be at a disadvantage."
aw but their daughters will both marry their friends' sons so they don't have to worry </3
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127 Ginagina
January 10, 2016 at 12:01 AM
Argh!...I'm feeling frustrated right now. Jung Hwan you better be the husband!..(even though I'm doubtful now)
And Deok Sun, you should know better that Jung Hwan is lying because no 'fake' confession is that detailed.
If jung hwan did not get Deok sun, I wished for him to get a girl who is very INTELLIGENT,SMART,KIND, AND 1000X MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN Deok Sun.
Until next week, I'm gonna rewatch this episode and cry my heart out.
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128 Habanero
January 10, 2016 at 12:03 AM
The confession.. Junghwan never says it was a joke. He takes the chance to confess by fulfilling DongRyong's wish and the boys don't take it seriously.
But I'm sure Deoksun knows the confession is true. Where her heart belongs is the question right now. Recent clues pointed to Taek but not all scenes or flashbacks are showed to us yet; and with this writer, we can never know.
The confession scene was really beautiful it breaks my heart. I can feel the love and sincerity; so I pray for it to be Junghwan. Fighting R1988!
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129 Inggg
January 10, 2016 at 12:10 AM
bleeping timing!! Darn it! #teamjunghwan lets not lose hope <3
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130 SomeSarameun
January 10, 2016 at 12:12 AM
I think that last two episodes will contain tons and tons of flashbacks from DS's perspective.
What I really like about this Reply series is that the Heroine is not as easy to read as the previous to reply heroines. Hence I really believe that there will be plenty of flashbacks from her point of view. Just to clear things ups.
And now that JH has had his closure of his love story for deokson, which make me believe now that CT is the husband. We'll get to see the romance that was built over the years between those two. From their younger years, to puberty up to adulthood.
I really think the the first love of DS is not SW instead it was CT. But she decides not to pursue it for some reason, and that's were all the flashbacks will come in.
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131 ticklemypickle
January 10, 2016 at 12:22 AM
I have a set of friends I have grown up with since I was a kid. Our families are very close friends, much like the families in 1988. One of these friends is like my little brother, and I constantly baby him and take care of him. That is how the Deok Sun/ Taek relationship looked to me. Her devotion to him seemed totally sisterly, and I really connected with that.
Recently however, I am starting to think Taek is the husband, despite my strong feelings for Jung Hwan. I always wanted my bby Jung Hwan to be the husband, but the relationship between Taek and Deok Sun really seems to have progressed the most naturally.
I'm still crossing my fingers, hoping that bby pulls through at the end, just like my child Yoon Jae did in 1997. It's all up to Deok Sun now, and I really really hope her decision doesnt break my heart like Na Jung's decision did.
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132 marsinblue
January 10, 2016 at 12:23 AM
This episode was too sad for words.
Given that this season was supposed initially to not have a husband hunt, their ended up making the most puzzling and painful of all...
They're doing Junghwan so wrong. Even if he's not endgame he didn't deserve having his confidence, self-esteem and happiness trampled on throughout half the series. I thought they woudlve learned from 1994 mistakes to give the non-husband a deserving closure and build-up to a new relationship (they so messed up with Chilbong, his "it ain't over till it's over" and the 30 sec new love interest). They did so well in 1997!
My only wish is to see lots of smiling and happy Junghwan in the last 2 eps, so I hope that is the only upside of this painful "letting go of 1st love" episode.
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claire
January 10, 2016 at 10:40 PM
What about DS self confidence then? Junghwan was so hot and cold with her that I am sure it made her lose some of her self-esteem. He was kind then he was mean and the poor girl don't know where she stands. This is the girl that is suffering of middle child syndrome. The girl that wants affection and confirmation that she is love.
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earlgrey
January 11, 2016 at 1:43 AM
1000% agreed with Claire, this also the very reason I can't stand on team JH, every time they said JH did something for SW, for TK and so what? what about the girl? what about DS? TK never did that, he always appreciate DS, even when he need to act the noble idiot arc, he still do it subtly by saying that something important relating to Baduk happened and he really feel sorry to her.
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lemondoodle
January 11, 2016 at 7:33 AM
I agree. And DS was never confident to begin with. She's been put through a lot by these two guys with their hot and cold behavior. TK was less extreme, but still he did hurt her when he canceled on her.
I wish she could have found a new good guy, but of course the guys she meet dump her or cheat on her. Messed up.
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NNN
October 6, 2022 at 11:59 PM
Though it's 6 years late, but +1000 on this. I never for once think that JH is the right one for DS, he's too prideful to say that she's pretty (when all of his friends thought so) and had to shame TK for possibly being attracted to her. As you've said, DS main struggle during her teen was finding her self-worth. She was the poorest from her peers, and even in her family, she was never being prioritizes by her parents and siblings. I think the main reason why DS used to flock to CT was because she knew he needed her, and even CT's dad validated it by asking her to go with CT when he was sick. I always belief that for people with low self-esteem, the feeling of being needed is pricelesa and that's why she treated CT differently. Back to JH-CT, it also back to who put more effort for DS, and its always CT, from the start to very end. He never tried to hurt her feeling (and when he did, I'm sure he was hurting more than he did her) and he never want to humiliate her (her white lies in the concert aboutbher date in accident? CT just smiled even though I suspect he heard everything his director and DS manager said about the date). This is when I'm positive that CT is the best man for DS, and was ao glad that DS shared the same belief.
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133 Livii
January 10, 2016 at 12:25 AM
Really liked this episode. What is there to explain? JH's monologue does say it all- His own hesitation and fears led to this. And while the earlier episodes steamrolled the connection between him and DS, afterwards it just petered. Stalled. For a very long time I must say.
And what I loved was this slow and gradual rise of DS and Taek's relationship, when he was such a offbeat though central character in the beginning. When older DS said "I couldnt imagine you'd be the one I married" in one of those early episodes, and we mainly saw her first pursue SW and then JH in her teen years, I thought it could be Taek. It has been slow and gradual and made me see a reaction in DS provoked by nothing else but her own self. So lets see, Im not counting my chickens before they're hatched.
Its all on DS now. JH speech and acceptance was beautifully shown. It felt settled. To backtrack on this for some last minute dramatics would feel cheap for me.
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pixiemooondust
January 10, 2016 at 3:54 AM
+10000
Everything you just said, I feel the same way. I can't wait to see how this lovely drama wraps up. Oh Friday come sooner!
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134 Momo
January 10, 2016 at 12:28 AM
Why would people compare JH to Chilbomg when it's super obvious the CB of this series is Taek. JH like Oppa and YJ before him has been most focused on from the beginning character development wise even without DS involved and has way more day to day interactions with her. Taek like CB came in late in the show and disappeared most of the time. Viewers get swayed by their grand romantic gestures but it's always the guy that does the small considerate everyday thing that wins in the end. In R'94, CB also got to NJ first in NY and had a ton of screen time with her after she broke up with Oppa. We all know how that turned out. My hopes were raised in the final stretch even though I knew that logically speaking CB was not meant to be. This is the exact same trope and I will admit that my hopes for Taek was raised but I refuse to let them play me like cheap piano the second time. I root for Taek but will be thoroughly surprised if poor Taek doesn't end up in the same pool of rejected second leads with Chilbong
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135 madqueen
January 10, 2016 at 12:29 AM
I'm in nerher ship or rather, I'm on the writer's ship. The clues of the hb was laid bare from the start and they mostly point to Taek.
The writer has been consistent with the clues and storytelling.
Did anyone not pick up the comic bookstore mention in this episode?
In ep 2, Taek was the last one to arrived at his victory celebration at JH's house because he had to go pick up comic books from the comic bookstore. To my recollection, I think Taek was the only one ever had anything to do with comic books.
Taek hated interviews, this was mentioned multiple times during the past episodes etc etc.
I'm also ok if there is a twist and JH is the hb....so long as the writer writes it in logically and convincingly. No whiplash WTH ending is all I'm asking!
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136 miroufleur
January 10, 2016 at 12:34 AM
I still want her to end up with junghwan, taek just doesn't do it for me. The confession ripped my heart i cried a lot
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137 erwinia
January 10, 2016 at 12:40 AM
I ship Taekie and Deok Sun..cos I never got over Chilbongie's heartbreak. So Team Underdog it is.
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138 pari
January 10, 2016 at 12:42 AM
Let me confess that I watched it raw first.
I am surprised the amount of detail people expect writers to put in the story. I have never even seen a series with that kind of eye for detail. So kudos to all those who joined the dots either in Taek of JH favour.
I really don't care who gets the girl(I am Team Duk Seon, if that makes sense!), but when I saw Taek arrive earlier than JH, I did not feel sorry for JH. I felt that he deserved those tears for being an idiot and for not having the courage. I know it is all in the name of friendship and everything, but still I couldn't help but feeling that he forgot that he might be hurting Duk Seon with all his idiotic actions. He never considered her feelings before his friendship.
I know it sounds like a selfish thing to wish for, but I am a very unforgiving person, and if I would have been Duk Seon's place, it would be difficult for me to overlook all those missed chances. In fact even if they get together, it will always be that they could have spent more time together if not for noble idiocy.
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139 TD
January 10, 2016 at 12:42 AM
here's my first comment ever. you know, I am so curious who's the husband. its my first reply series so yeah not like other viewers here I couldn't see the writers pattern. but hell yea, the writers really got me in the series. i've been watching many korean dramas you named it, but I never, even just for once, fall into both male leads, I always know who I am rooting for, either it's first male lead or the second. but this show...... made me fall for both male leads until I really confuse who I am rooting to be the husband. like Park Bogum as Taekie, he's hot issue right now so physically he's got me first (tbh he was the first reason I gave reply 1988 a try), but while his character not really shine at first few episodes, Jung hwan really caught my attention too. you know, Jung Hwan is kind of man you wanted to love you. He might be not soft and gentle to everyone, but for sure he will be gentle to the ones he loved. I do really like his character. but then when I am starting to root for him, Taekie shines. He's child alike in some way, didn't do anything besides baduk right, but he's a man. he knows what he wants. he's a man of act. and I do like him too as a man. He is busy, introvert kind of one I think, but he knows how to take care of people he cared with his way. similiar with Jung Hwan, he's cool to everyone, but he's warm to the his special ones. I don't want to see both of them break their heart, seriously. Whoever the husband is, I feel pity to the one who got his heartbroken. Right now, I am wishing the writers wrap this drama beautifully, and prepare something warm and a happy ending not only for the husband and DS, but for everyone, especially for the one who got rejected. Because seriously....... both Taekie and Jung Hwan are great character and deserve happiness in love. yes they both have flaws, but admit it, even if I am #teamJungHwan I would still fall for someone like Taekie, if he loves me in real life and vice versa. even if I am #teamTaekie I would still fall for someone like Jung Hwan if he loves me in real life.
oops. I am sorry for my long post. it just that I want to let my feeling out lol. cant wait for the next week. so excited!
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140 ebay
January 10, 2016 at 12:43 AM
Initial reaction to JH ------ I don't curse but! #%&*!&$^*%$ Juhg-Hwan you had my heart broken with that confession! Its not as if you don't know that DS doesn't like you even in the slightest chance, with the gifts and stuffs... This is frustrating, im so disaapointed with JH. How can he dare do this to a girl... to his friend? Everyone can laugh about it, we may not see DS reaction but as a person to receive a confession like that then... JH you're crazy!!! You better keep your mouth shut and do nothing.
on the lighter side....... the kids grow up "lol"! I'm happy that we got to see more of the friends since we had the family / individual focus before. And yes, some character change and some stays the same!
Thanks for the recap... off to cry!
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141 Jennipoh
January 10, 2016 at 12:54 AM
Why do they always have to make the '94 heroines so painfully clueless??? Granted, the last two seasons were better playing off their cluelessness, but man does Deok-son take the cake for being the biggest airhead. Any girl would've been able to tell Junghwan liked her even waaaaay before Taek ever made a move. For example, Junghwan went to meet her friends should've been indication. Seems like she didn't dwell on it like he asked her to. Secondly, giving a gift even when he wasn't her mannitou should've sealed it. No guy would do that! Then he waits for her in the rain to give her his umbrella...and then he goes to the concert with her and even takes a picture with her...
and this was all before he started pushing her away!
bleh, i'm sick of unreasonably dense heroines. I'm sorry Deokson was so poorly written.
I'm hoping it's Junghwan in the end because the weight of this story was so so so much on him. Much of the story was through his lense and I'd feel cheated again like I did with Chilbong in '94.
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SonyaK
January 10, 2016 at 10:48 AM
Haha, I don't know about you, but when I was in high school I could always see other people's crushes and was utterly clueless when a guy was crushing on me. Pretty sure most of my girlfriends were the same. :p
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claire
January 10, 2016 at 10:51 PM
I'm sorry but Deokson's reaction is pretty much what any teenager would feel if they wrongly assume that the guy had a crush on her. DS felt weird because JH is being weird with her. He is her friend first and foremost. So when she confirmed he liked her, she tried to grab the chance to be with him. But the dude just push her away. He did not even try to comfort her when she needed a friend. He did not try to rectify the misunderstanding of the pink shirt. She tried for skinship but he pushed her away. With all that pushing away he was doing, of course she would think she was wrong and she assumed again.
Bad thing is, she was wrong with SW so it must be so devastating for her. And probably embarrassed too.
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lemondoodle
January 11, 2016 at 7:47 AM
Please. JH is a jerkass to her most of the time, even if he likes her. He says one thing and means another thing. After he went to her at McD's, she did TRY to move towards him, but then he then proceeded to ignore her for years. How should she know what's going on in his mind? It's not her being clueless, it's him not being clear.
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Kdream
August 21, 2022 at 4:02 PM
DS tried with JH. She took the early bus to school for him, brought him the pink shirt, begged him to go to the concert, faked a hurt leg, tried to seat next to him on the couch. JH did not respond positively. DS was far from dense.
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142 annie2195
January 10, 2016 at 1:04 AM
i'm DS and CT shipper from the start but as how much i hate to admit it, JH will eventually be the husband, they gave a clue about the husband in the future, that said the husband does'nt like to have interviews but only does it because of his sister. Then we see JH mom looking at the calendar as if like girlfriday says is menopausing but like reply 1994, it's not menopausing it's pregnancy. so JH still has the chance that he may be the husband, because JH mom maybe pregnant with a lil girl so its just the writers are screwing up everyones feelings like all the reply series
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rjy
January 10, 2016 at 1:54 AM
deoksun says '언니' (unni or eonni) which means older sister or can be used to refer to a female that is older than you.
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143 Cotton
January 10, 2016 at 1:05 AM
Dear show, Y u do this to me ? *sobs* playing with mah feels..... writer nim is so mean :'(
*Sobering up* :-D
There are only few eps left and even if any of the couples come together, there is not much time for cutesie romance stuff. All we have seen of the main couple is as individuals but not much couple moments. I think they might cram it up as they did in 1997 last eps in which they show how they are as a romantic couple...together. *sigh* i just don't want JH to suffer anymore. He has been in a kind of one sided love for a really long time :'(
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144 pirateparade
January 10, 2016 at 1:10 AM
Ryu Jun Yeol really brought Jung Hwan's character to life even with the few dialouges. I really hope Jung Hwan gets his girl even if it's not Deok Sun anymore. He just needs to be happy.
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145 moar
January 10, 2016 at 1:14 AM
My main thought is that if Taek and JH can remain friendly all of us here at dramabeans should be able to
Some of the comments above leave a bad taste in my mouth. Please, please, PLEASE refrain from making personal comments about other beanies.
At the end of the day we're just here to share our love of kdramas.
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yes
January 10, 2016 at 7:45 AM
Yes, please.
I've been reading some comments and, wow:
"You're not a nice person"
And comments that hint that the commentor is "hallucinating"?
Wth people? The original comments were all about the drama. So, what, if people lean one way or the other, towards JH or Taek, they are absolutely free to comment slightly negatively towards the other character.
THEY ARE DRAMA CHARACTERS, and THIS IS THEIR OPINION.
Don't take these personally and start personally attacking the commentors.
The reason I enjoy dramabeans discussions in the first place is due to the maturity of the community here. I'll be really disappointed if it starts becoming some malicious teen girl fandom war.
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SonyaK
January 10, 2016 at 10:51 AM
Well phrased, Moar. And no need to call people out even more than they have been. Bravo on a mature criticism. :)
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146 saranga
January 10, 2016 at 1:15 AM
OH MY GOD OH MY GOD.
i don't even know how or where to begin. i want to kick jung-hwan in the shins and slap him on the head a few thousand times. after that, i want to hug him and hold him tight. all the while screaming at him "WAT THE HELL DUDE!"
i honestly didn't care about the husband hunting up till now. but for the first time i'm scared of where all of this is going. still, i don't feel like the show is going to let jung-hwan's love go unrequited like that. still, NEXT WEEK IS THE FREAKING LAST WEEK. though i guess since the episodes are so long, i guess it's more like 4 episodes.
ryu jun yeol is amazing for pulling all of this off the way he's done so far. his acting is so incredibly natural, it's unreal. i can't tell if it's the character or him, or if it's the writing, or if the role just happens to suit him. i'm SUPER anticipating whatever he does next, just to figure him out.
plus, does anyone feel like he's got the boy next door look down? this whole entire series, i've had this niggling feeling that i've seen him somewhere before, that i should know him from somewhere. it's highly unlikely that i actually do, so i think it's just that he actually looks like a real korean guy, someone you could run across in the street or on a campus somewhere. that's the only way i can put it. he's strangely fascinating...
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Sand
January 10, 2016 at 2:36 AM
He's considered an average-looking guy in Korea. Average-looking not typical-looking. People's first impression of him isn't awe or admiration, but once you see his acting skills I bet people fall for his charms and begin noticing small details about his face and his appearance becomes, like you said, fascinating and in my opinion quite good-looking.
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147 Bebot
January 10, 2016 at 1:20 AM
As far as the story goes Deoksun don't like Taek as much as how he likes Junghwan. You can see the she can only offer friendship to Taek while being with Junghwan makes her happy. I think this will be like Reply 1997 that they have to part ways and at the end Seo In Guk and Eun Ji ended with each other. #teamjunghwan here but if Taek is the husband then I feel sorry for Deoksun cause she needs to do everything cause Taek only focus on Baduk,
But as far as I'm seeing how the young Deoksun and her husband teases each other and how her husband talk to her it's Junghwan's attitude.
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Bebot
January 10, 2016 at 1:21 AM
sorry not young "ADULT" Deoksun and her husband
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148 LSIG
January 10, 2016 at 1:24 AM
The mom and dad's hairstyles didn't change in years!!! Get them all a makeover please.
JH - i ship you but silence is not golden here. Your hesitation and confession might cost you a lot
Taek- Acknowledge JH's wallet pic and give them a chance with no regret later
Physical / sensual chemistry is between JH and DS than DS and Taek. DS takes pity on him and is more caring than loving. Their relationship has no sexual synergy but with JH it will be explosive.
Yoo Jae and Shi Won had explosive sexual chemistry that is missing with Taek and DS.
All said and done, I LOVE LOVE LOVE this series. Will miss it next week. Don't care who the husband is anymore.
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149 Butterbeer
January 10, 2016 at 1:37 AM
I'm so frustrated with Jung Hwan.
But at the same time, in real life, a guy like him did exist so yeah it's not unrealistic.
Unless Jung Hwan man up in the next 2 episodes and actually confess to Dok Sun (if he hasn't lost his chance already), I think he deserves to be broken hearted and let Taek continue his manuever to get Dok Sun :(
I love Jung Hwan and all but it won't be fair for Taek if Jung Hwan does nothing yet he's the one who gets the girl.
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Sand
January 10, 2016 at 2:41 AM
Yes, there are many guys like him in the world. Guys who didn't have the courage or hesitated and missed their chance for romance.
This drama was realistic for me. I think some people wanted some fiery romance of the kids when they were in high school but that's very unrealistic for typical students. Most Korean high school seniors are too busy studying for their college entrance exams.
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lemondoodle
January 10, 2016 at 6:28 AM
JH won't confess. He did and it's over. He's moving on. It's all up to DS to stop him if she wants to.
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earlgrey
January 11, 2016 at 2:03 AM
JH Math problem = move on to next problem/girl
TK Galaga game = comeback to get 1st rank/girl
if that's can be interpreted as their personality, then the confession is JH closing statement before he move on to next girl, while TK will back to win DS #TeamTaek
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150 Esther
January 10, 2016 at 1:56 AM
Everything pointed to Taek right from the start. Deok sun and Taek had more moment together than she and jung ha ever had. Remember the beach scene, the hotel camping in abroad before his game and the encounter of the male flasher. It is these moments I always considered first.
Take for instance, the Empress ki drama showed more of Togo's moment with nyang than the king ever had with her. Same thing with Answer me 1997 which had more moment of Yoojae and the girl.
As a matter of fact, Answer me 1988 is more in sync with Answer me 1997. First, jung ha got to confess first albeit indirectly while Taek had to let go of his D day (date) once he discovered Jungha's feeling. Same way Yoojae's bro confessed first and Yoojae had to also let go of his D day too. Another is Deok sun never knew what she really wanted at the start, even while she was considering Jung ha, same thing happened to the girl in Answer me 1977 while she was considering Yoojae's brother. Eventually, both girl got to know who they actually feel for and want.
Personally, I think the writer had been straight forward so far.
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