My Ajusshi: Episode 3
by LollyPip
Ji-an turns out to be far shrewder than I gave her credit for—she clearly has a plan, and is willing to ruthlessly use whomever she has to use in order to make her plans happen. We still don’t know what she’s up to, or even why, but somehow that just makes her more compelling rather than less. I just hope that Dong-hoon figures out her game before he gets caught up in it, because this is one young lady who’s strong enough to bring everything crashing down around his ears if he isn’t careful.
EPISODE 3 RECAP
On the train after dinner, Dong-hoon asks Ji-an, “How did you know that I’d received a bribe?” She reminds him that they looked each other right in the eye when it happened, saying that she could tell from his body language.
They get off at the same stop like usual, and Dong-hoon asks Ji-an to keep it a secret that she’s the one who threw out the money. She agrees in exchange for him buying her dinner and drinks for a month.
Dong-hoon asks if he can just give her money instead, since people will talk if he’s seen having dinner with her. Ji-an scoffs that he must think he’s attractive, and she asks for ten million won. His stunned expression answers that question, and she walks off alone.
Dong-hoon’s wife, Yoon-hee, talks on the phone to her lover (and CEO of Dong-hoon’s company) Joon-young, who tells her that they found the bribe in the trash. She reveals that Dong-hoon told her he lost it, suspecting something strange.
She thinks they should tell Dong-hoon the truth about their affair. Joon-young asks if she has the courage, advising her to sit tight and let him handle things.
Meanwhile, Ji-an follows Dong-hoon home and watches him input the building’s security code. She lets herself in, noting which floor the elevator stops on, then checking the mailboxes for his unit number. She finds a letter to Yoon-hee from the bar association, and she pockets the entire handful of mail.
When he gets home, Dong-hoon says he found the bribe when Yoon-hee asks, but he just says that a janitor found it in the garbage and brought it to him. Yoon-hee wants to know why people are saying he threw it out, and he asks her, “Who said I threw it out?” Oops.
Yoon-hee covers by saying that she called Joon-young when she couldn’t reach Dong-hoon. But Dong-hoon is on his guard now, and he grumbles that Joon-young is someone who hides his greed with saintly smiles. Yoon-hee snaps at Dong-hoon and stomps off to her office. He apologizes, then tells her not to call Joon-young anymore.
The following morning, Ji-an is already at the office when Dong-hoon boards the train. She slips a pen recorder into the stack of mail for Joon-young, and when she goes to his office, she pops it into his pen cup. But it triggers an alarm, so Ji-an takes the pen back. She calls her friend Ki-bum, who thinks the alarm was possibly a bug detector, and he advises her to assume there’s also one in Joon-young’s cell phone.
Sang-hoon, Dong-hoon’s older brother, composes a text saying how much he envies him for being a manager at a big company, who has somewhere to go and a young female employee who likes him. Dong-hoon replies, “Go back to sleep if you have nothing to do.” HA.
The copier acts up, and Ji-an makes a lot of noise pounding in it trying to make it work. Dong-hoon finally jumps up to help, but he finds himself nose-to-nose with Director Park. They step away to talk, and Ji-an watches them go, kicking the copier in frustration as if she’d been trying to get Dong-hoon’s attention.
In the men’s room, Director Park tells Dong-hoon that the fifty million won (in the form of gift certificates to a department store) was given to him on purpose in order to get him fired. He says that he originally thought the bribe was for himself and had gotten mixed up because of their similar names, but now he’s worried they’re both targets.
Dong-hoon asks who it could be, and why he’s being targeted. Director Park thinks that the only logical answer is Joon-young, and that it’s obvious why he wants him gone. He’s unsure of Joon-young’s motive for getting rid of Dong-hoon, but he says that it’s pretty obvious that there’s animosity, dating back to when he demoted Dong-hoon to the safety inspection team.
He says that at the time, he thought it was just Joon-young feeling awkward about being his college sunbae’s boss, but now he believes there’s something more going on. He asks if there’s anything between Joon-young and Dong-hoon, but Dong-hoon says there’s nothing.
Director Park warns Dong-hoon to stay vigilant, since the other side will probably strike again soon, so they need to discover who sent the bribe and get rid of them first. They scatter when Director Yoon walks in, and Director Yoon reports to Joon-young that they were up to something.
Joon-young thinks they’re just digging for information, and he asks Director Yoon which company sent the bribe. When Director Yoon is hesitant to tell him, he warns that it better not be a technical, building, or safety-related company.
Director Yoon insists that he wouldn’t take such a dangerous risk, confessing that it was a temp agency who sends them workers for a fee. Coincidentally, or maybe not, Ji-an is one of the workers they sent this year.
He tells Joon-young that the temp agency managers even come and manage their own people. He confesses that the president of the agency is a bit of a thug, but he says he’s also very loyal, especially when he’s paid to be. And this doesn’t strike you as a problem?
Joon-young gets only a minute’s notice that Chairman Jang is on his way, and he and the directors follow the chairman as he tours the building. Chairman Jang stops in Dong-hoon’s department to invite him to dinner tonight, and Dong-hoon locks eyes with Ji-an for a moment before telling Chairman Jang that he has a prior commitment. Chairman Jang just says they can get together whenever Dong-hoon is free.
As they leave, Joon-young tries to criticize Dong-hoon, but Chairman Jang pays no attention. He decides to go, “Since I got rejected.” Okay, he’s adorable. The directors realize that he came all this way just to extend a dinner invitation to Dong-hoon.
After work, Ji-an leads Dong-hoon (who follows at a distance) to a restaurant. He pulls down a shade to shield them from the other diners, then watches as Ji-an demolishes enough food for two people in silence. She easily tells him where she lives, but when he asks what her father does, her guard goes up and she asks why he cares.
She guesses he’s trying to figure out if she comes from a good family based on her father’s income, and he apologizes for being rude. He tells Ji-an that he’s never gotten a bribe before and didn’t intend to keep it — he was just conflicted. He says that someone planned to fire him over it, and Ji-an guesses that it was Joon-young.
Dong-hoon is amazed when Ji-an accurately sizes up the situation — it couldn’t have been Director Park because he seems friendly, and Director Yoon wouldn’t do something like that on his own, so it must have been Joon-young. She asks why he’d do such a thing, and Dong-hoon sighs that Joon-young must know he dislikes him.
He doesn’t give a reason why, but Ji-an says there’s always a reason. Dong-hoon snaps that sometimes people don’t want to think about why they dislike a person. Ji-an says that he must really hate seeing Joon-young succeed, and Dong-hoon says that whenever he hates someone, they end up doing well. So she asks him to hate her: “Extremely and without limit. Complete hatred.” She offers to hate him, too.
They ride the train home like strangers, but at one stop, too many people get on and they end up standing very close, with Ji-an’s face in Dong-hoon’s chest. Dong-hoon tenses up, and as the train resumes its journey, he tries to shield Ji-an from being crushed while contorting so that he doesn’t touch her.
While he’s distracted, Ji-an pilfers his phone and installs a spy program, then slips it back into his pocket. She tests the software as Dong-hoon walks home, confirming with Ki-bum that it works and they can overhear everything he says if his phone is near.
In the morning, Sang-hoon sneaks home after being out all night after a job interview. He confesses to Mom that he was turned down because of credit delinquency, and she fusses that all three of her sons went to college, but two of them still live at home.
A man from the credit agency comes to the door looking for Sang-hoon, and Ki-hoon tells him that Sang-hoon doesn’t live here. Sang-hoon tries to pretend he’s someone else, but the guy doesn’t believe him, and eventually Ki-hoon gives him up by yelling that he’s a terrible actor.
Mom is a thousand percent done, and she wearily tells the man from the credit agency to just take Sang-hoon away, ha. He’s not taken away, to Ki-hoon’s annoyance, and the brothers head outside together.
They watch in horror as a van speeds up to beat a light and goes up on two wheels as it makes a sharp turn through an intersection. It narrowly avoids tipping over, then screeches to a halt, and Sang-hoon and Ki-hoon run over to yell at the driver.
He’s a friend of theirs who runs a cleaning company, and apparently he pulls that stunt every day just for the fun of it. Sometimes he actually does tip over, ha. The brothers hang out with him while he works, and he tells them that his wife just suddenly cried and left in the middle of the day, upset by the menial janitorial work they do.
The cleaner notes that Dong-hoon is the only one from their neighborhood with a good company job, and Sang-hoon grumbles that he ignored their texts yesterday. He adds something about Dong-hoon enjoying the long winter nights, and Ki-hoon tells him to knock it off.
Dong-hoon gets to choose a temp worker to keep for his team, and naturally he chooses Ji-an. The temp manager says he was going to stop placing her, and he warns Dong-hoon not to complain about her later.
At the water tower site, Dong-hoon’s team is back to using their drone for the inspection. At lunch time, Dong-hoon notices one younger guy’s short socks and asks if it’s a new winter trend for young people not to wear long socks. Listening in through the app on Dong-hoon’s phone, Ji-an realizes that he’s thinking about her.
Dong-hoon and his team get back to the office later, and one team member asks Dong-hoon why most bribes are in the form of gift certificates. Dong-hoon explains that it’s difficult to find untraceable money, so many people buy department store gift certificates with a company credit card to give away as bribes, and that makes a light bulb go off in his head.
He calls Director Park to meet up and leaves his phone on his desk. Ji-an hurriedly calls Ki-bum and tells him to call Dong-hoon’s phone several times. While it’s ringing, she chases after Dong-hoon to tell him he has a call, making sure he’s got his phone on him so she can listen to his conversation with Director Park.
Dong-hoon takes his realization about using a company card for bribes to Director Park, who thinks it should be easy to track down a company card that charged fifty million won’s worth of certificates. He tells Dong-hoon that when they find them, they’ll find who hired them. He says they’ll celebrate together once they catch the culprits.
Ji-an calls Joon-young to report that Director Park and Dong-hoon are looking into who secured the certificates for the bribe. Joon-young tells Director Yoon, who calls the president of the temp agency to ask if he used a company card to purchase the bribe certificates, screaming down the phone at him when he answers that he did.
Dong-hoon visits the janitor, Choon-dae, in the basement. He confirms that it was Choon-dae who turned in the bribe he found in the trash, and he leaves him a gift certificate as thanks.
At the end of the day, Ji-an rides the elevator with Joon-young, who warns her that she’s in danger of losing her payout (for getting Director Park and Dong-hoon fired). She just tells him to keep his burner phone on and keep it on silent.
Loan shark Kwang-il has been looking for Ji-an, so he calls to ask where she’s been. She says she’s staying in saunas, which tells him that she hasn’t been staying in saunas, and she sarcastically calls him smart. He’s been to the random house where she has her mail delivered and knows that her grandmother’s former living facility is looking for her for overdue payments.
He says he paid off her grandmother’s bill, which he’ll add to what she already owes him. He threatens that no matter how much she runs, she’s still in the palm of his hand, and he orders her to turn herself in to him before he sends his goons after her.
Ki-bum follows Director Park to a club that evening, and after reporting his location to Ji-an, he slips in through the back door posing as a food deliveryman. He finds Director Park in a private room, talking to someone about their purchases of gift certificates, then goes back out to meet Ji-an in the alley.
He removes his jacket to reveal that he’s dressed like a club employee, and he goes back in as Ji-an cuts the power. He sneaks into Director Park’s private room while everyone is in the hall and spikes his drink with some sort of powder. Ji-an turns the lights back on, and Director Park goes back to his meeting and sips his drugged cocktail.
While all this is happening, Dong-hoon sits at his desk, looking at his pictures of his son (who, I believe, is studying abroad). He leaves to meet Sang-hoon for drinks, who grins at him and says he looks younger lately, assuming he’s having an affair with Ji-an.
Dong-hoon tells him to stop talking about someone’s precious child that way. Ji-an, who’s listening in while working her dishwashing job, is startled to hear them discussing her.
Sang-hoon complains that teasing Dong-hoon is his only fun, then says that he knew Dong-hoon wouldn’t get in trouble because he’s got a lot of willpower against temptation. Dong-hoon asks morosely if he really thinks it’s his willpower keeping him out of trouble.
When Ji-an gets off work, her boss catches her with her bags of leftovers scraped off of other people’s plates and fires her. She just leaves without a word.
Sang-hoon’s wife, Ae-ryun, finds the brothers at the bar. She presents Sang-hoon with divorce papers and begs him to set her free, screaming at him when he avoids taking the papers and promises to pay back his debt.
Once she’s gone, Dong-hoon tells Sang-hoon to just grant Ae-ryun a divorce. Sang-hoon refuses to ever do that, because eventually Mom will die and Ki-hoon will move on, and he’ll be left a lonely old bachelor. But until Ae-ryun takes him back, he’s thinking of dating someone. His words sound cheerful, but his expression is one of anguish.
As soon as Dong-hoon reaches his building, Ji-an texts him to buy her dinner. He texts back that it’s late, but she keeps waiting.
Director Park wakes in a strange hotel room the next morning, with no idea how he got there. He forbids the hotel employees to tamper with the CCTV or anything else, then as he peels out of the parking lot, he gets into a fender bender with another car.
He leaves the scene, late for a meeting. His subordinates tell the prospective investors that he’s on his way, but the delay causes them to reconsider giving their business to the company, and they leave.
The office is all atwitter at the news that Director Park was arrested for a hit-and-run. Director Yoon excitedly informs Joon-young, who gets a call from Ji-an telling him to prepare her payment for getting Director Park fired.
Joon-young passes Dong-hoon in the hallway, and Dong-hoon asks him, “Am I next? Why? I don’t think I did anything to you. I never make it known that I don’t like you.” He accurately guesses that Joon-young must have done something to him that he doesn’t know about yet, which Joon-young finds unsettling.
Ki-hoon visits his former boss, a director who wants Ki-hoon to be his assistant PD again. Ki-hoon says that he came to talk about his movie idea, but when the director tells him it’s a bad idea, he turns down the job offer. He punches the director to completely sever their relationship and remove the temptation to come crawling back for the assistant PD job when he needs money.
He heads home, talking on the phone with his friend from that office about what he’ll do now. The cleaner’s van comes screeching around the corner on two wheels like he does every day, and today he tips the van over on its side. Only it isn’t the cleaner who crawls out — it’s his brother Sang-hoon.
He tells Ki-hoon that the cleaner’s wife wants to open a restaurant, so they sold him the cleaning business. He asks Ki-hoon to do it with him, and Ki-hoon reluctantly agrees. They work hard cleaning an apartment lobby and change the name to Brothers Cleaning.
Of course Mom, ever the pessimist, complains to Dong-hoon that it’s a waste of their educations, but she sighs that at least it’s something, and Dong-hoon can stop worrying about them now. He gets another text from Ji-an demanding food, and when he ignores it, she starts calling.
He gets an advance on his credit card of a million won (just under $1000 USD) and gives it to her over dinner, promising the other nine million she asked for over time. She asks if he’s afraid people will talk if they eat together, and that she thought he would find it fun.
She asks if he’s worried he’ll like her, and he changes his mind. He takes back the cash and tells her to confess that she’s the one who turned in the bribe money, because he doesn’t want to be dragged around by a kid.
He leaves, and Ji-an follows him out. She tries to kiss him, but Dong-hoon shoves her off. She walks away, and we see that she had listened to his conversation with Sang-hoon about having willpower against temptation. He’d said that he didn’t know if he got where he is by his willpower, because he’s never truly been tempted.
Nearby, Ki-bum sends Ji-an the picture he took of her and Dong-hoon, which makes it look like they were making out in the street.
COMMENTS
I have no idea what’s happening. Seriously, not a single clue. I don’t know what Ji-an’s plan is or whether she’s on Joon-young’s side, Dong-hoon’s, or what. I have no idea what her relationship is to Ki-bum, or how they seem to work together so well to accomplish things like tracing someone’s phone or drugging a drink. I don’t know what Kwang-il wants from Ji-an or why, since it seems to be more about control than the money. And I certainly haven’t got a clue what, if anything, Dong-hoon is going to do to save himself. Whatever Ji-an’s plan is, she’s obviously got everything mapped out already, especially since she tried to bug Joon-young’s office as well as Dong-hoon’s phone. At least she’s covering all of her bases, not trusting anyone but herself to look out for her own interests.
And yet, I don’t mean any of this as a complaint, because even though I’m confused as hell, I’m loving every minute of it. I honestly didn’t expect to like such a stark, bleak show, but I really do, even though each episode leaves me feeling as though I mostly have a grasp on things, but there’s still something eluding my understanding. I think it’s because I can sense that I’m supposed to feel this way at this point, because none of this feels like a mistake. It’s as though the story has me right where it wants me to be at this point, and that it’s completely certain of the story it’s trying to tell, and that all I have to do is hang on and watch and everything will be explained in time.
Something I admire about My Ajusshi so far is how it tells a rich, compelling story without feeling the need to make things too detailed or complicated. I mentioned last week that I actually enjoy the office political maneuverings (which usually leave me bored to tears) for exactly this reason, but everything in this show is straightforward, without unnecessarily convoluted situations. The writer knows how to use the characters to draw us in and keep our interest, while the actual events are just backdrop. The focus is on the people, not the circumstances, and I just love that.
I find Yoon-hee, Dong-hoon’s wife, a very fascinating character, full of contradictions. She confuses me, but at the same time, I understand her. She’s a person who’s weak enough to give in and have an affair, but she feels guilty and keeps saying that she wants to come clean and get a divorce, eager to make things right even if it’s late. I do think she feels remorse for her behavior, and I also think she bears no ill will towards Dong-hoon, because she consistently argues his side whenever Joon-young talks about him. But she’s not so remorseful that she’s willing to break things off with Joon-young and be faithful, either. At some point she’s going to have to pick a side, and I’m afraid she’ll choose with her heart rather than her head.
But the fact that her chosen paramour is her husband’s boss makes things much more complicated, as Joon-young well knows. Even if Yoon-hee divorced Dong-hoon, and even if it were never known that their relationship started before that, it will reflect very badly on him the moment it comes out that he’s dating an employee’s ex-wife. Now things have gotten even more complicated with the bungled bribe attempt and Dong-hoon’s supposed ethical choice of throwing the money away, gaining him Chairman Jang’s admiration and support. Right now, there’s just no good way to handle things that ends up with Yoon-hee and Joon-young still together (not that there should be).
I think that Dong-hoon knows full well that Yoon-hee is unfaithful, though I’m not sure he knows who her lover is. He seems like the kind of guy who wouldn’t want to know, although he figured out that Joon-young did something to him that he’s unaware of, so it won’t be long before he connects the dots. But I think that he’s choosing to ignore it for now, especially after that quip he made to Ji-an about not wanting to think about why you don’t like a person.
I particularly appreciate how Ji-an and Dong-hoon are kept interacting with one another — she’s using the fact that the company thinks Dong-hoon threw out the money to not only get some free meals, but to spend more time with Dong-hoon so she can gather information to fulfill her deal with Joon-young. She’s whip-smart, and I admire her ability to size up a situation and figure out the best angle for her benefit — sometimes even multiple angles. I think that Dong-hoon is smart, too, but he’s been complacent for so many years that it’s taking him some time to wake up. I was glad to see him fight back, and I’m eagerly awaiting Ji-an’s next move, now that Dong-hoon is no longer playing along.
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Tags: IU, Lee Seon-kyun, My Ajusshi
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1 keiru
March 29, 2018 at 8:11 AM
Thanks for the recap, @LollyPip 😊
Ji An is the real boss here, Dong Hoon rejected an invitation from an important person and Joon Young obeyed Ji An's instruction without even had the chance to talk back to her 😂
Also, Ji An and Ki Bum look like a professional swindler team 😁 I can't believe they are just normal neighborhood poor woman and gamer boy
When Ki Bum threw the kimbap away, I was yelling "Nooo~~ why didn't you just take it home and give it to Ji An's grandmother??" Such a waste..
Anyway, I really enjoy this episode too ! 😄
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Kdramahiatus
March 29, 2018 at 8:40 AM
Thank you for the recaps Lollypip:) I am quite nervous on how this story is developing. Jian is manipulative alright and clearly have no qualms destroying any man's life for money. The cast last week cleared the issue of this not being a romantic drama but does not mean it will not tease and flirt with that idea as the story will unfold. Be careful now PDnim you are really toying with us.
I am trying my very best to not define that "dinner food relationship" Jian and Dong Hoon have going on but their curiosity with one another is seeping through the food and liquor. It's not a physical thing but more like an emotional attraction for each other. I noticed DH does not talk while Jian is eating her meals for some odd reason he knows that it annoys her. Those little small things that makes their interaction compelling in my opinion.
I just want to comment on the chemistry of LSK and Lee Jieun (IU) in this episode. Please excuse my french here fellow Beanies but OMFG! I don't know how to describe it.. Can I say tension? uncomfortable? their silence is sexy? I was one of the people that was not keen on this pair from the beginning but hot damn I cannot look away even with the knowledge that everything else is a hot mess.
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MapleSilver
March 29, 2018 at 9:52 AM
Tension is the word. The subway scene, for example. I knew it wouldn't play out the way it always does in any other drama, but still that proximity is maddening in a heart-skipping way.
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cherry 🍒
March 29, 2018 at 10:32 AM
This is a breakthrough role for IU. I started MA Lee Sun Kyun but IU is the one who owns the show for now.
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Moonbean
March 29, 2018 at 4:55 PM
This is definitely IU's time to shine and I'm very impressed. This is a prime example of what a good director can do with a hit or miss actor. I liked her well enough as the bubbly heroine in Pretty Man and the haughty looking idol in The Producers but her acting in Moon Lovers was very weak. You couldn’t tell her emotions from her blank stare. Not so here. In the first week's episodes her face was empty of emotions because she doesn’t feel emotions. She is so dead inside, nothing reflects to the outside. Not to the expression on her face, nor the tone of her voice. She doesn’t feel pity, sadness, fear, joy, excitement about anything. She must resent the hunger she feels as it poses her the problem of what she should eat. She is no candy
suffering her life with good cheer. When we watched her going from job to job we see the reality of such a life.
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missjb
March 29, 2018 at 5:29 PM
She is incredible here, I think it's more like the power of a good script of her character and her willingness to add nuance and detail to the character than it's written in the script. She gives so much passion to the character. I don't think I will drawn to Ji An's character if different acctress with less passionate and talent act out this character. I have faith in her though from the start. Because compare to any idol turn actor, She is one of many who a give a shit about acting
john
March 29, 2018 at 10:54 AM
“dinner food relationship" Jian and Dong Hoon
Food porn !?! The air is charged with some sort of energy.
I’m curious if Ji-an is going to eventually reveal the infidelity to Dong Hoon?
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newdramaaddict
March 29, 2018 at 11:38 AM
@videobabe79 I see that too. There were several times when Ji An was listening in to Dong Hoon's conversations that she seemed to act surprised and thoughtful to what he was saying. Also when they were eating and he said he didn't want a reason to hate someone. It could've been because she figured out how to get to him like with the temptation comment, but there were almost flashes of understanding in her eyes. Idk, she's super hard to read.
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fay17
March 29, 2018 at 12:07 PM
@videobabe79 I definitely see chemistry too, wow. Chemistry, tension whatever you name it. Also that train scene, erm I know I'm not supposed to root for these two together, but can't help it ehh. If anyone writes a fanfiction on them I don't mind reading it, would be my first fanfiction I guess.
Also, I'm having acidity problems lately lol, but Ji An's smooth moves keep my heart burn more, and I am more in despair everytime because of our pabo ahjussi. :/
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gadis
March 29, 2018 at 3:17 PM
The tension between them is maddening. I found myself glued to the screen, hanging on their every breath. And everytime Dong-hoon noticed what Ji-an did, or seemed to unconsciously try to read her reaction in some situation, my heart skipped a bit. They are so drawn to each other without knowing why, as much as I'm drawn to their hot-mess relationship.
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CS
March 30, 2018 at 7:09 PM
If I were walking around listening to LSK's velvet voice purring in my ear day and night, I'd fall for him too! I wouldn't mind listening in on that wire tap!
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Kaleidoscopic
March 31, 2018 at 11:53 AM
Comment was deleted
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neener ~ Inside the Magic Shop ~
March 29, 2018 at 8:40 AM
Same reaction with the kimbap! Why throw it huhuhu
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Lord Cobol (Kdramas, like water, flow downhill)
March 29, 2018 at 10:26 AM
Yes, they seem kinda like swindlers, and she sure seems like a good pickpocket. But she can't be all that good at either or she'd have money to buy food.
More backstory coming on this? Connected to loan shark?
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Tyn123
March 29, 2018 at 3:29 PM
I think Jian has mainly been trying to do things the right way, hence she has the skills for a pickpocket but isn't one and is actually trying to earn her keep.
The bribe money incident was her giving into temptation and taking the easy way out but it back fired and so she turned to making money with her own skills.
I am super interested in her right now. Also her relationship with her loanshark, they obviously have a past, not a romantic one but maybe a close enough one that they way they talk and interact has a closeness to it.
I get the feeling that her, loanshark and gamer boy may have been at one point possible friends.
It could be that someone she supposedly killed that ruined one side of that relationship.
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Moonbean
March 29, 2018 at 5:13 PM
Ji An's treatment of the CEO is cracking me up. I'm loving the fact that she is not subservient to that jerk. After seeing scores of Kdramas in which guys old enough to be their bosses' grandfathers bow down so low this is such a breath of fresh air. I also liked Dong Hoon confronting him and telling him you must have done me some wrong I don’t know about for you to want to get rid of me as I have done you no wrong. I like that they tell things as they are.
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2 javinne
March 29, 2018 at 8:22 AM
And i am still asking myself, should I make room to watch this show?? I mean, the premise is ok for me from the beginning. And if it's really platonic I am more than happy with it. But I don't know if I want to cry over this show, and the pretty noona starts tomorrow... Otokke???
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mushroomsoupie
March 29, 2018 at 8:29 AM
You really should! Episode 4 is even better. You can get your dose of grittiness with My Ajusshi (who buys me food lol) and balance it out with Pretty Noona. You have to know the bleakness before you can truly appreciate fuzzy and precious things in life.
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javinne
March 29, 2018 at 10:40 AM
Yes, you might be right. Also, I am watching now the first episode of Switch, and I just can't believe my eyes: I am liking it!!! I am surprised I like Jang Geun-seok so much in this role 😮, which I didn't expect...
So... Spring will be very busy with so much nice shows airing!!!! 😀
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Moonbean
March 29, 2018 at 4:52 PM
"My Ajusshi (who buys me food lol)"
Double lol :))))))
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Carolina
April 7, 2018 at 7:30 PM
Yes!!!
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3 sweetiepie12
March 29, 2018 at 8:26 AM
I love how the writer strategically used what could've been "romantic tropes" in k-dramas (a guy protecting a girl in a train filled with people, a sudden kiss on the street) as Ji An's opportunities to deceive Dong Hoon (wiretap, scandalous pic).
Also, does anyone else feel the strong chemistry between the 2 leads? My heart skipped a beat when JA attempted to kiss DH. That moment when JA stared at DH before the kiss, her facial expressions. So intense...
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Kdramahiatus
March 29, 2018 at 9:43 AM
Oh yes Jian's intense stare and unyielding confidence in getting things done. Either way, my heart stopped for a moment. LSK in my opinion was so good in that scene because literally he was shaking after she left. Poor guy.
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gadis
March 29, 2018 at 3:26 PM
Poor Dong-hoon couldn't even process what's just happened. Ji-an always said there was nothing more in her request for him to buy her dinner and drinks (well, except for a little bit blackmailing), and yet she is the one who makes that bold move first. That kiss attempt is like what he said earlier, his first real temptation, much like that wrongfully addressed bribe money.
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MapleSilver
March 29, 2018 at 3:57 PM
You are my favorite commenter today, @gadis. I should just follow you around. :-) Yes, poor guy is going to be even more confused now, and my heart is breaking at his thinking she might have a thing for him, when truth is she is trapping him.
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MapleSilver
March 29, 2018 at 9:54 AM
Very very strong. I just wished the director did not shy away from showing us the forced kiss. That was shorter than a nano-second. Caving in to pressure again?
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MapleSilver
March 29, 2018 at 10:10 AM
And I interpreted that subway scene not so much as DH trying to protect JA, but as him trying to keep a distance from her, as a way to protect himself.
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Kdramahiatus
March 29, 2018 at 12:01 PM
agree. as evidence of how white his knuckles were from holding the train pole. LSK with his nervousness again:)
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MapleSilver
March 29, 2018 at 12:31 PM
I'm glad you noticed that little detail. He tried with all his strength not to literally fall onto her, and perhaps figuratively, too.
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MikeyD signed up
April 9, 2018 at 3:59 PM
Just for a laugh I've been watching to 2013 soap opera 'You're the best Lee Soon Shin' lately and its hard to believe the lead in that show and this one are the same actress. The mother in that series and this one also being the same actress doubles-up on the the deja-vu.
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4 Altari
March 29, 2018 at 8:29 AM
Totally off topic but is Javabeans okay? It seems like I haven't read anything from her for a long time.
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Amilia
March 29, 2018 at 6:09 PM
I don't know if she's not feeling well, taking a vacation, or dealing with behind the scenes stuff, but she did have a blurb in What We're Watching last Friday. So she is still alive and watching dramas.
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Lord Cobol (Kdramas, like water, flow downhill)
March 29, 2018 at 7:28 PM
JB hasn't posted much since early Oct when she posted about being in a drama slump. So I *guess* she's still slumping and I *hope* that's all.
In case I'm wrong -- get well soon!
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Alluvial_Fan
November 30, 2021 at 7:52 PM
Re-watching with hubby. Is this the beginning of the end?
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5 IamPilgrim
March 29, 2018 at 8:32 AM
Thanks for the fast recap. I personally enjoy Ji An. I love how they’re all thrown off by her. A whole CEO can’t even talk back to her. Honestly, I don’t particularly care who’s side she’s on (though I’m also rooting for Dong Hoon). It’s like Misty all over again where I don’t particularly condone their actions but I’m rooting for them and already a ride or die.
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6 neener ~ Inside the Magic Shop ~
March 29, 2018 at 8:44 AM
Great recap as always @lollypip and I miss reading one!
I honestly have no idea what Ji an plans to do and what's the big picture but sometimes it's good that I don't know. Knowing everything and just waiting for the characters to figure things out sometimes bores me so definitely loving the writing.
Can I just say that IU is killing the role? Ji Eun owned Ji An!
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7 pineapplegongzhu
March 29, 2018 at 9:04 AM
Thanks for the recap, Recap Queen @lollypip!
This Show is a cat-and-mouse game, except that Ji An is the cat, and all the other men are the mice! Good grief! You first think Ji An is the helpless candy, and then she turns into a mastermind puppet master!
I wouldn't want to be one of Ji An's targets. Poor Dong Hoon. But, I feel that Ji An's plan is going to backfire on her when she realizes what a decent guy Dong Hoon is. I think that is where the "switch-a-roo" will be - HER changed feelings for him.
Before I said I am disappointed that Dong Hoon and Ji An won't get together, but (I know this sounds crazy), now I'm kind of rooting for Dong Hoon to stay with his wife. I know, madness, but there's no revenge like the kind of revenge when the decent guy ends up the winner (like the world should be).
Dong Hoon's brothers: I literally cannot decide whether I want to roll my eyes at them, or just laugh at how ridiculous they are.
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IamPilgrim
March 29, 2018 at 10:23 AM
It’d be difficult to classify him staying with his wife at the end as winning, though. I feel that’d be a major loss on his side. I don’t hate her though I don’t condone what’s she’s doing. I’m sure she didn’t just start cheating out of the bloom. If we go by what we’ve seen so far, it’s clear Dong Hoon isn’t the best husband. He seems neglectful and the relationship just seems totally off - like two lonely people sticking together for the sake of appearances. They barely speak to each other!
I just don’t like how the two of them, the wife and Jung Young, seem to want it all. Not only are they having an affair but they seem intent on getting him out if the picture, whether or not it ruins his life. She knew about the bribe, was worried but after realizing it was a way to get him out of the office so her divorcing him wouldn’t be so scandalous for Joon Young, she was on board.
She seems like she’s clearly beyond coming back to him. I want him to win too by divorcing her. Them going their separate ways would probably be best for him.
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NP
March 29, 2018 at 11:57 AM
Yes, I don't think staying with his wife would be a win for anyone but the wife. She would be too easily forgiven and that would be really annoying.
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fay17
March 29, 2018 at 12:15 PM
This. I was also wondering about the future prospect of their relationship, but then I saw how the wife was still complying with Joon Young on forcing dong hoon out of the company. She did feel guilty, but it's like being an accomplice in a crime, but once you commit a crime or become part of it, I guess by that time, feeling guilty or sad for that person who's being wronged, just doesn't make much sense. You can't have it all. I can see redemption for her, maybe, but not with Dong Hoon. I don't think the kind of person that he is, that he could fall for his wife this time.
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Moonbean
March 29, 2018 at 5:05 PM
I had no empathy for the cheating wife from the beginning as there really is no excuse for cheating. But what clinched it for me was her token fight against her lover’s plan of sacking her husband and then cruelly divorcing him after he is fired and her response of “we are becoming bad people”. Hello! You are bad already.
I am guessing behind the deterioration of their marriage is the loss of their child but no matter how difficult that is it still is no excuse nor justification for her to cheat on him and go along with her lovers' cruel plans.
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fay17
March 30, 2018 at 2:18 AM
Was it mentioned that they lost their child? Although, you could be right about it. It seems unlikely that they will send a child so young abroad for studies.
IamPilgrim
March 30, 2018 at 3:09 AM
I also found it weird how they never showed their kid. And it’s extremely weird they’d send a kid so young to study abroad when it seems like all his family is in Korea. And they’re no scenes of the parents speaking to kid on the phone. Dong Hoon’d Mum or siblings don’t even ask about the kid. And they’re too many pics of the kid at a certain age. But also, why would they lie that their kid went to study abroad if he passed away? And the wife, when mentioning why she’s cheating, never once brought up the kid. And even in the event of divorce, the wife never mentions her kid as the reason she’s staying, rather because of a potential scandal for her lover.
Moonbean
March 30, 2018 at 3:13 AM
No they haven't mentioned. I'm just guessing from the way they never mention him but keep showing his pictures. And also the sate of their marriage. There's gotto be a reason.
MapleSilver
March 29, 2018 at 10:43 PM
I already feel bad for DH. We know he won't "get the girl" at the end of the show, and he can't go back to his cheating wife because of her deep betrayal. There is just no happy ending for him. :(
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spazmo
March 30, 2018 at 11:35 PM
the brothers are comedic relief, to me... they just react so naturally, without any agenda whatsoever....
love them!
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8 brainsandwich
March 29, 2018 at 9:04 AM
Good recap. I too am totally bamboozled as to what is going on. But I am enjoying the show.
Ji-an is such an intriguing character. I loved the scene where the chef asked to see her purse and she just pulls the food out with no fight, knowing she will be fired. Most other people would I think try to make an excuse, but she just picks up her bag and leaves. She is one tough cookie. I have a feeling that her carefully laid plans are going to come tumbling down pretty soon, because everything can't go her way all the time.
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cherry 🍒
March 29, 2018 at 9:33 AM
I’m praying she’ll stay this tough till the end! I’ve never seen anybody like her in k/dramalnd. I’m more and more intrigued by her with each episode.
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MapleSilver
March 29, 2018 at 2:54 PM
I think that night when the chef fired her over the stolen food, she was really wishing Dong Hoon would buy her a meal because she was hungry. I was really happy he turned her down saying it was really late. Right there we could see the dynamics starting to change.
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gadis
March 29, 2018 at 3:32 PM
Oh yes, I was torn between wanting Dong-hoon to appear because the poor girl is going to go home hungry after such a long day at work. Yet at the same time, I want him to refuse playing her game, so that she knows that he isn't that easy to be taken advantage of.
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9 nerdy
March 29, 2018 at 9:04 AM
Okay but is it the end for Director Park? It saddens me that we wouldn't be able to see him anymore.
Oh and I like Dong Hoon so much, he is honestly a good guy without being too noble. It also helps that he is easly relateble and down to earth. And his chemistry with Ji Ah? If it continues being as great as it is, by the end of the drama no one would be able to proove me they aren't in love with each other.
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MapleSilver
March 29, 2018 at 6:47 PM
I hope Director Park comes back with a vengeance. After the two leads, he is my favorite character. When he asked Dong Hoon if DH has any idea why the CEO holds such a grudge on him, do you think it crossed his mind that the CEO may have a thing for his wife?
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10 kiara
March 29, 2018 at 9:10 AM
Did I miss it or was it ever revealed why Ji An is in so much dept?
Why does she feel like some secret double agent to me? She's got some skills for just a poor girl.
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missjb
March 29, 2018 at 11:22 AM
In this episode has been revealed, turn out she is from a temp agency. A shady employement for A freelancer. she must be learn alot through her experience with this company. I predict she has been doing a shady work even before this case.
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kiara
March 29, 2018 at 12:24 PM
Comment was deleted
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kiara
March 29, 2018 at 12:25 PM
Ohhh I love me some shady heroine. Thank you :).
I'm going to be spoon fed with this drama lol. I don't want to think.
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missjb
March 29, 2018 at 3:23 PM
This drama need our attention full. I actually have to rewatch it twice in some scene to read what happened lol.. That ajusshi who took 50 mil won from trash bin is also apart from a temp agency. Both of them are actually an allies from that company. Don't you think our heroine has already shady from epi 1? Lol
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kiara
March 29, 2018 at 4:28 PM
That's my problem right now. I need a fluffy romance instead of piling on the melos lol.
I have too much respect for Jung Ha-yeon not to watch "Sunset."
11 cherry 🍒
March 29, 2018 at 9:28 AM
My Ahjussi is the best thing since Forest of Secrets. It’s been awhile since I’ve been this thrilled about a drama.
Ji Ah is probably the most compelling heroine I’ve seen so far in k-dramas. I really hope the writer won’t screw her character up. I’m loving how ruthless she is. But I think it’s time for Dong Hoo to step up too.
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12 vanity0326
March 29, 2018 at 9:42 AM
I think he knows about the bugged phone and is letting the game with Ji Ann play out.
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13 Miss Flame
March 29, 2018 at 9:56 AM
I love relationship between Ji An and Dong Hoon. It feels a strange atmosphere around them, and it's breaking my nerves. Now I'm their fangirl, I was so excited when she called him "ajusshi" and he told her "kid" that is absurd. Before the whole bribery issue, somehow he was seduced by her. But at this point, I don't know if he feels attraction or pity. If this will not be a romance (my imagination is going fast and far), at least I hope a deep conexion. Both are awesome characters, I'm a hundred porcent part of their team.
This third episode was less dark, the music helped a lot to lighten the atmosphere. But it was very intense anyway. I passed all chapter at edge of my chair, trying to understand what she was planning. Jin An is a genius, she surprise me minute by minute, and her gamer friend don't stay behind. I regret to have insulted him in the previous chapter. They did many ilegal things in such a short time that I am impressed. I don't really care about her alliance with the CEO. I know she needs the money, I want her to be able to pay off her debts soon because that loan shark is pissing me off. And all we know: she is being shaked by Dong Hoon.
I don't know what to think about Dong Hoon's brothers. I feel very sorry for them, but that's all. Maybe I really want to see them try hard, they only complain about how miserable is life while their mom is suffering a lot. For now, I enjoy a little this trio-losers concept.
Waiting for next chapter.
P.S.: Anyone else wishes the death of Dong Hoon's wife? Dear, you can drown yourself with your tears.
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fay17
March 29, 2018 at 12:18 PM
Lol about him calling her a kid, I found it funny how every time he called her a kid or viewed her in that regard, she tried to defy that assumption, [ don't know whether that was part of her plan, or she was going for her gut feeling], like when she said, 'did I ask you what your father does?' or when she tried to kiss him.
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14 Beverly
March 29, 2018 at 10:02 AM
Yeah I'm hooked and have no idea where this is going.
I'm curious as to how Ji An learned all these skills in how to set up and con people. While I find her fascinating and a total boss I need Dong-hoon to catch up with her before she totally burns everything down. I feel so bad for Park....even though he did run from the accident.
I am really curious about the relationship arc. Is romance completely out and it will turn into a found family situation?
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15 Linda Palapala
March 29, 2018 at 10:42 AM
It's on my watchlist and you've made me really want to start it, even though I'm trying to finish up about a half dozen other dramas!
Is this pre produced? If not, with all the comments about the chemistry between the leads and the fans wanting them to get together, would that be possible?
Thanks for all your comments and recaps!
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beantown
March 29, 2018 at 1:24 PM
Do start! It's excellent!
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Linda Palapala
March 29, 2018 at 1:27 PM
Hi @beantown! Long time no hear. Lately I discovered there are some Chinese dramas I love - which I thought I'd never like! So now there are more Chinese dramas than kdramas on my watchlist. And a lot of William Wai ting Chan.
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beantown
March 29, 2018 at 1:36 PM
Ahhh @linda-palapala we've been buried under waves of nor'easters here- my drama hours had to be sacrificed to the god of snow shovels. Chinese dramas? Do tell! I loved both Bu Bu Jing Xin and Love 020, so any recommendations you have would be welcome!
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Linda Palapala
March 29, 2018 at 2:25 PM
Sorry about the n'easters! We're finally into nice weather here.
Wm Chan - Love Lost in Times. I've never liked fantasy before, but this is gorgeous. Gorgeous leads, excellent plot and well written, beautiful music, cinematography, costumes. Not only do the leads have excellent chemistry, all the characters are good. One of my top 3 this past year and it has a "happy" ending. Oh, and usually I ff thru the beginning and ending credits, but not for this drama. I watch every single time because it's so beautiful.
2nd love: Nirvana in Fire 2 (I haven't watched the first one yet, and I'm glad I watched the 2nd one first, if that makes sense). Excellent writing, plot, etc. and I loved the way the writers portrayed all the relationships.
Just added Only Side by Side With You (Wm Chan). Modern, nice revenge story, but only 8 episodes are out.
There are several others....
john
March 30, 2018 at 4:13 AM
Go Princess Go is funny. Not your normal C drama, lol
MikeyD signed up
April 9, 2018 at 4:07 PM
There's cinematic 'chemistry' between the leads but I don't know if anyone actually wants them to get together romantically. The Ji-an character is super-scary. Charles Bronson in 'Death Wish' level of scary. Also, they may have done a bit of foreshadowing in episode 1 when the first thing they told us about the guy is he used to slaughter pigs with is parents as a child. So this series could get bloody at some point.
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16 Passerby
March 29, 2018 at 10:52 AM
JI an sets of skills and her aides, especially the tech savvy kid, provide some clue to her complicated past. Clearly, this woman is a prisoner of her fate, who got herself indebted to an intelligent nemesis who is toying with a noose around her neck.
Skipping through, she chanced an opportunity at work to cash in on a bunch of corporate barracudas and struck a deal with the CEO to take out his rivals(she needed money because of dependence and due to her insurmountable debts). She skillfully planned, tracked and executed, without guilt, the downfall of a director, knowing that he is equally a compromising character , and she moved in on her next target, Dong Hoon, with the same deadly moves - setting up meals, texting( adding credence to their “office affair” before snapping the intimate picture) etc.
Her “mistake” was bugging his phone( surveillance purposes). She unknowingly walked(eavesdropped) into his problematic lives and got to KNOW Dong Hoon. Dong Hoon is not only genuinely nice but possesses high morals too, as she had discovered.
In the following episodes, she will be deeply moved and transformed by being an “uninvited guest” into his life. Her good conscience will not allow her to frame or assassinate his character.
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17 spazmo
March 29, 2018 at 11:54 AM
i'm just happy seeing "Kaist" again...
: )
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john
March 30, 2018 at 4:11 AM
I just finished SPL. Missing the boys already. That is why Tae Wook from Misty should have gone to prison, he could have been the focus of SPL 2. Brilliant lawyer locked up for killing wife’s former lover . That’s allowed isn’t it, characters from one show popping up in a unrelated show?
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18 newdramaaddict
March 29, 2018 at 11:58 AM
The flashback with the temp agency shows that the janitor was also there as a temp. This explains how they met, so I wonder if they've been planning something that connects back to the thug head of the agency.
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19 NP
March 29, 2018 at 12:07 PM
Kwang- Il is scaring me. A lot. He gets so much pleasure out of tormenting Ji-An and it's not even about the money for him like @lollypip said, but about the control, he wants over her. He is terrifying as a character and I'm scared Ji-An isn't going to get out of her confrontation with him easily at all, and it's never gonna end with just money. I feel so terrified for her everytime he appears and pray he won't find her or her grandmother.
Ji- An is literally the ultimate boss at the moment because she's playing her own game and everyone's her pawns. But it's gonna be interesting now because Dong- Hoon's not playing by her rules anymore.
Director Yoon is that typical textbook villain who messes everything up for the bad guys lmao. I do hope that Director Park comes back though. He is such an interesting character to watch because he doesn't fear his superiors at all.
Also who else thinks Chairman Jung is gonna pull some big strings sooner or later and help Ji- An and Dong Hoon out of some trouble we know they're gonna get into? He's so cute.
No words for Dong- Hoon's brothers' smh. I feel sorry for their mom.
I do wonder about Dong -Hoon's son though. I wonder where he is.
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20 gadis
March 29, 2018 at 12:28 PM
I was overcome with emotion watching that train scene when Ji-an casually pickpocketed Dong-hoon's phone and planted a bug in it, while he tried to not make her uncomfortable in such a cramped space. It felt like a painful illustration of Dong-hoon's life as a whole. He is just a nice guy who tried to be kind to everyone (or in Joon-young's case, not to make his hate noticeable), and yet people kept backstab or take advantage of him. But I felt a bit hopeful when Ji-an got to listen to how kind he is, even in private when no one else is there to judge what he says or does.
And then, that last scene happened. I'm one of the people who didn't mind if their relationship eventually developed romantically. So when Ji-an calculatedly tried to kiss him to get an incriminating picture, it's just so heartbreaking. She is willing to do everything, including testing Dong-hoon's willpower, when he is nothing but kind. I understand her desperation too well, and yet I'm still hoping his endless kindness would finally thaw her heart. Preferably soon.
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fay17
March 29, 2018 at 12:43 PM
Ah same here, I feel like I'm more scared of Ji An by now lol. I'm terrified of her next move. It's just plain sad to see how Dong Hoon is being used and manipulated by sly people around him. But then I keep telling myself, karma is a bitch and everyone will taste their fair share of it.
Also, all these nonsense about netizen and how they don't want romance is getting pretty much repetitive and annoying. I wish they just let it be. It's equally heartbreaking to see that the cast have to talk about how it's a non-romance drama every time there's an uproar about it. :|
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MapleSilver
March 29, 2018 at 1:11 PM
Has there been another recent uproar over the big age gap since the premiere? Judging from comments here, it seems that most people are okay with a romance after seeing these two interact.
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fay17
March 30, 2018 at 2:20 AM
It has been mentioned on couple of news. Even the actors went on saying that this is not a romance drama, rather a human one. Although yeah, human dramas still can have romance in part of it too I guess.
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MapleSilver
March 29, 2018 at 1:14 PM
You so eloquently summarized everything I was feeling while watching the two scene unfolded. I am quite in awe of what you wrote. This drama is breaking my heart through the struggles of PDH.
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missjb
March 29, 2018 at 3:33 PM
That's how I felt from that train scene. He is just acting so nice without bad intention involve. While people around him wanting to take him down in his back because of their need involve.
Little by little she will know him through this Dub his phone think. What a plot device writernim
But he is abit careless at this point despite his suspicious is just heartbreaking. Not knowing the one backstab him is unexpect people near him.
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21 JustMe
March 29, 2018 at 1:06 PM
I know he's almost double her age... but the chemistry is so there between the characters. (I hope Im not the only one feeling this).
I love the Ji An is smart, but I'm hoping to see Dong Hoon be quick on his wits too. He deserves redemption too, the poor man. Ji An's had it hard, but can't she see the guy she's ruining is having a hard time with life too?
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22 Isabel
March 29, 2018 at 1:16 PM
I gotta give it to IU because she just makes it work regardless of who she's working with, like, she has had chemistry with all the male leads she's worked with so far, and I like that.
I am indeed very intrigued in knowing how this game of cat and mouse is going to end, it's interesting. Also, there's something I like about this drama a lot, and that is the realness of it. You know, often we see that no matter what drama you're watching, or what social background the characters have, there's always that flashy fashion style that bothers me till no end, and in this show, you see none of it; they're dressed like regular people who have regular jobs (tho their clothing is probably brand name lmao) and listen, I haven't had the chance of watching epi 4. I keep refreshing the page waiting for it, so that should give you a clue of how invested I am on this show already lol
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23 egads aka Dame Maggie
March 29, 2018 at 1:18 PM
Ji-an has some serious skills, and if it turns out shady temp agency is actually a super secret government spy agency I won't be surprised.
Like @lollypip, I'm liking this much more than I anticipated. I love that I don't really know what's going on, but not because the plot is convoluted, but because the writer is skillfully spooning out information in the tensest way possible.
I don't think it's a coincidence that Dong-hoon is an inspector. His job is to find the deficiencies and literal cracks in things. Methinks, he and Ji-an will be teaming up at some point to reveal some major ethical cracks in the company, or even more.
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24 Linda Palapala
March 29, 2018 at 2:05 PM
Gawrsh, sorry about the n'easters! I love Wm Chang in Love Lost in Times (and I never ever liked fantasy before) but this one is very well written and makes sense. He and the female lead have excellent chemistry, and I like every character. Beautiful music, costume, cinematography and a happy ending! You know how there's beginning and ending credits? This one lasts two minutes each, and for the first time ever I watch the beginning and ending every single episode instead of ff . It's just gorgeous.
Loved Liu Hao ran et al in Nirvana in Fire 2. Loved the pacing, the plot and the characters' personalities. Another good ending too. I've yet to watch the original NIF.
William Chan in anything!
For a lighter tone, Wu Xin, Monster Killer with Elvis Han is quite good. A few boring parts here and there but beautifully done. Sad ending from what I hear, I still have 3 episodes to go.
William Chan in anything...DF and Viki both picked up his newest, a modern revenge/love, Still Side by Side With You.
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25 Miss Flame
March 29, 2018 at 3:17 PM
That's why I think that she is being shaked for Dong Hoon's nature. I do not know if it will be part of a great plan, but that kiss was an attempt to break his "willpower". It seems that she wants to consider him as a bad guy, but he is simply an old-nice man.
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MapleSilver
March 29, 2018 at 4:07 PM
Yes, now she knows, and we know that he is decent through and through. He gave himself too little credit when he said he'd done well because he had never really been tempted. He stood up to her seduction; he asked her not to do this.
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LT is Irresistibly Indifferent and reminded of the slow march of death
April 7, 2018 at 8:44 PM
It wasn't much of a seduction though. Launching yourself at somebody in the street is a pretty easy way to get rejected, even if the other person is tempted. So I'm not sure this counts as standing strong against temptation.
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26 Melona
March 29, 2018 at 3:40 PM
It's been a while since I commented, but I suppose PD Kim's work brought me out of my hibernation.
I just would like to point out an error in the recap, which makes a big difference in understanding Ji-an's current motivation. She went in to Director Park Dong-woon's office (you can see his name plate on the desk) to plant the bug (and failed) and not Joon-young's office. She goes all in, working in team Joon-young, with the aim to get her 20 millions to pay off her debt. She's not currently playing as a double agent and as far as I'm concerned she doesn't care one bit about Dong-hoon's situations. She just used him to achieve her goals. She really wants to get both Director Park and Dong-hoon fired at this stage, although I suspect things will change once she gets to know the kind of person Dong-hoon is, which will be angsty for her. I love that the heroine is the one who gets to be angsty. So even though the title is My Ajusshi, it really is Ji-an's story (and IU is fantastic as her).
Kudos to Jang Ki-yong for willing to take such a dark role even though his acting career just started to blossom. And I'm super curious about his backstory with Ji-an, because I've never seen a loan shark being so controlling and obsessive about their target. They usually just want their money. But Kwang-il seems hellbent on destroying Ji-an's life and makes her as miserable as possible.
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Moonbean
March 29, 2018 at 5:18 PM
I think the beauty of the plot comes from how Ji An’s plan of bugging Dong Hoon’s phone to spy on him all the time is backfiring against her because everything she hears is showing her what a decent guy he is so in spite of herself she will start feeling guilty and conflicted very soon. She is already not the emotionless robot of the opening weeks' episodes.
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27 ax123
March 29, 2018 at 5:01 PM
I think the scene where Ji-an attempts to bug the office was actually Director Park Dong-Hoon's office and not CEO Do Joon-young's.
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MapleSilver
March 29, 2018 at 5:07 PM
I am sure you meant Director Park Dong-Woon, not Park Dong-Hoon.
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Moonbean
March 29, 2018 at 5:15 PM
Yes, that's what I thought as well especially after her friend said "start with the other one".
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28 MapleSilver
March 29, 2018 at 5:59 PM
Those without access to Dramafever, where have you been able to watch this show?
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O
March 29, 2018 at 6:38 PM
Fastdrama . co
Myasiantv. se
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29 rychastings
March 29, 2018 at 7:51 PM
this really is a melodrama
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30 stpauligurl
March 29, 2018 at 8:25 PM
Just finished episode 3 before I would let myself read the recap and comments. So many interesting ideas.
Thanks for the fast recap @lollypip - I'm glad you said you were confused, then I knew it wasn't just me! A few thoughts on this show.
When I think of Ji An the word enigmatic comes to my mind. She is deep and still and mostly in control, yet we've seen some hints of true sympathy and pity in her eyes when she learns things about Dong-Hoon.
Dong-hoon on the other hand, makes me think of the word pitiful. He is so beaten down by life and the only thing he really has is his dignity - and even that is being held onto by a thread. But there is still a strong sense of morals and pride that keeps him from complete despair. Though with that wife, his two brothers and mom hanging around it's a wonder he doesn't run away.
I noticed that the colors in this show are all very dark. There doesn't seem to be much lightness, and I'm not sure if that has to do with the filming in the dark and cold mostly - or if it is purely by design. Even the extras walking by were all wearing dark coats. Am I getting that wrong?
Seeing that makes me hope that when things turn around and they both find some goodness in their lives, that the colors in the show will also lighten. I don't know but it just struck me that way tonight.
Overall am loving this show and now I'm off to watch Episode 4.
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31 amg01
March 29, 2018 at 8:28 PM
When the hurricane strikes, only mercy can spare the tragedy that is before us all!
I am fascinated with Ji-an, not on the count that she is amoral, but on sad reality that she is only using the "system", that the world around her created in order for her to survive.
Will I be more sympathetic of her, if she turn to prostitution, or whether she sold drugs, pick your vice here, in order for her to make ends meet?
I think she does have a consciousness, but her immediate circumstance are so dire that is swim or sink, and the sad part is that there are people more than willing to hire her to do their dirty work.
Yes it is true that she can tray to walk the straight and narrow, and I think that in the past she tried, but her world is so cruel that walking that line, only leads to a dead end, the fact that she has been "manhandle", by more than one person is her proof, that doing the right thing not always pays in the long run.
After watching episode 3/4, I am setting myself for an epic journey of redemption, and heart-brake like I heave not seen in K-drama land before. Like I said before not only in Korean Dramas, but most epic stories about jaded heroes, have always have a man
(gender specific) as the protagonist. Man through out history have been historically expendable, so in conflict and war they are the ones to crash an burn almost 99% of the time, but this time is fascinating seen a young woman the one being the sacrificial lamb, and the amoral lost soul seeking redemption........
IU has officially become my #1 Idol turn actress, I believe that this is her defining moment, she was born to play Ji-an, Ji-an in any other actress body would have never been the same IMHO....IU Fighting!!!!!
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32 Moonbean
March 29, 2018 at 8:51 PM
One of the unexpected things I like about this show is how they bait the viewer with something interesting at the end of each episode to make them curious to come back. It is easy to get hooked. They are not necessarily cliffhangers but something to pique your curiosity to make you want to come back (if there wasn’t enough in the show already to want to do so). I really wasn’t expecting that. The whole discussion regarding temptation and then Ji An offering him that temptation through a kiss and testing whether Dong Hoon will act as he preaches while at the same time continuing her plans was brilliant. So now in Ji An’s eyes not only is Dong Hoon saying some surprising things and making her take notice but also he is reacting in unexpected ways. I am expecting that through Dong Hoon Ji An will gain back the faith she lost in humanity.
I hope the comments regarding this being not a romantic story is related more to the tone of the show and romance not being central to the story rather than there won’t be any romance in the show because at this point that really would be a shame. Especially when Dong Hoon is protesting so much about how she is a kid and all that the conflict that would arise from his feelings would be very interesting to watch. Same goes for Ji An and her actions. But looking at the episodes I have seen at this point I am quite confident that the writer and the director prepared something interesting for us regardless of what it is.
At the end of last week’s episodes I had three questions:
- Who is the janitor ajusshi at the company that helps Ji An and how does he know of her business? She seems to be a very private person. I was guessing he may have helped her get the temp job there. I wasn’t right but we learned they ae from the same temp agency.
- What’s the loan shark’s beef with Ji An? She was right when she was baiting him before. He doesn’t seem to care for the money, he wants revenge. He wants to put her in jail. I wonder if Ji An was telling the truth when she said the worst thing she killed was a person and if his revenge is related to that. This question is still unanswered. I wonder if we will see flashbacks to their past relationship.
- Initially I thought Ji An’s friend was a brother or cousin and found him heartless and selfish but for a friend he is quite loyal as he helps Ji An even if he is lazy. For her to come and crash in his house with her bedridden and deaf granny he must have been a really good friend. This week we saw another aspect of their relationship in how well they work together so my curiosity has intensified. What is their bond that he is so loyal to Ji An and helps her to this degree?
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fay17
March 30, 2018 at 2:35 AM
Ah I think this makes more sense. I didn't think of it this way, but you could be right about this. Like how in fictions there are romantic relationships but there are parts of everything as well. I would be very interested too to see how he would face his changed feelings towards her, and whether he would be able to come to terms with it lol. And yeah, though there hasn't been anything explicitly romantic, but I get the attraction, looking out for each other on the emotional level part. If this was a fiction, we could see what the characters are thinking internally. This drama somewhat reminds me of 'little women' and Jane Eyre lol, they have the same story structure.
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33 theimprintonmynose
March 30, 2018 at 3:18 AM
I still can't find the 'healing' aspect of the drama. It feels more like a mystery/political drama, which I'm completely fine with. Will continue watching..
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kiara
March 30, 2018 at 7:21 AM
I don't think they'll get ot it this early. There is 12 more episodes to go.
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34 mushroomsoupie
March 30, 2018 at 3:52 AM
Watching this episode with earphones is such a treat I'm telling you. I want to personally thank Ji An for bugging Dong Hoon's phone because this time it feels like i'm listening to ASMR version of Lee Sun Kyun's voice. His voice is just so magical, it does things to my body LOL
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LT is Irresistibly Indifferent and reminded of the slow march of death
April 7, 2018 at 8:42 PM
While I wouldn't go that far, I think his voice is extraordinary. I haven't heard a voice like that out of a Korean man on Tv ever.
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35 Betty
March 30, 2018 at 5:23 AM
I hadn't planned on watching this but the atmosphere of the first episode drew me in and it's completely unlike anything I'd expected it to be.
I'm so intrigued by Ji An and want to know more about her!
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36 Del
March 30, 2018 at 6:16 AM
While I enjoy this drama, I just am not sold on few things especially Ji An's planning seem all smooth sailing and all too easy. How the hell did Ki Bum has the uniform of the club? How is that so easy for Ji An to have access to the club and cut off the power supply? Who actually moved Director Park to the hotel? How is that Ki Bum always on standby and managed to take the photo which implicate that Dong Hoon is cheating with Ji An? All these defy my logics.
And maybe I am one of the few whom is not impressed with IU's acting. Her coldness came out rather forced. Definitely there's an improvement in her acting but I wouldn't say she is that good yet.
On a seperate note, the three brothers really cracked me up and I enjoyed every of their scenes together.
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MapleSilver
March 30, 2018 at 9:23 AM
Yes, it bothered me also at how easy things went for her in episodes 1-3. What gave her the nerve to swipe the CEO's phone under his nose when there was no reason for her to do so? She was only a lowly temp for goodness' sake. I think the writer/PD did bend over backward to make her an impressive heroine to the point of things defying logic, and they have been very successful judging by all the comments everywhere. About Ki Bum taking the picture, I think after her dinner plans failed with Dong Hoon, she realized she had to speed everything up, so she might have called Ki Bum after they left the restaurant and asked him to wait and snap a picture at a certain place. That's why she quickened her pace and managed to get Dong hoon right at the location she wanted.
I think IU's acting really came together in episode 4. Again, she really had an interesting character written for her, so whatever shortcoming she had in her acting could be masked by all the badass moves she made. It's a quite brilliant strategy.
But like you, I also enjoyed the brothers. No one has said much about Song Sae-byeok, the actor playing the youngest brother. This is his first drama and I love how natural his acting is. And Lee Sun Kyun, he conveys every little nuance of emotion so believably, I just fall in love with him all over again.
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37 Kafiyah Bello
March 30, 2018 at 11:19 AM
I seem to be the only one not at all interested in a romance, ugh, just NO. I feel like I'm the only one not seeing sexual chemistry. I think they have great chemistry, but not sexual and I pray they keep it that way. I think it will make the drama better. Regardless I'm in for the ride, hopefully it lives up to my expectations.
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Del
March 30, 2018 at 10:23 PM
You are not the only one. I hope the relationship between Ji An and Dong Hoon remains platonic. I just want her to see him as an older brother who could show her that life is not too cruel after all and they both heal each other.
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Kafiyah Bello
March 31, 2018 at 6:36 AM
Thank you I'm glad I'm not alone😊😉
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LT is Irresistibly Indifferent and reminded of the slow march of death
April 7, 2018 at 8:40 PM
Add me in to that as well.
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38 isbjorn
March 30, 2018 at 2:29 PM
is no one else finding this hard to watch because Ji-An seems so cruel? And as much as I like Lee Sun-Kyung (just finished Coffee Prince and loved him in that), he is just not compelling in all the long stretches of silence. His eyes just don't carry anything--not in a psychopathic way, just in a meh way.
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39 Kafiyah Bello
March 31, 2018 at 6:35 AM
Comment was deleted
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40 Aliceinwonderland
April 1, 2018 at 11:55 AM
I am just curious about one thing: wasn't the bribe in the form of cash in the first two episodes? I clearly remembered them talking about the CASH bribe all the time and how he threw away CASH. I also thought Ji-An paid the loans sharks in cash.. it wouldn’t have made any sense if she paid them gift certificates right? So why do they say it was in the form of gift certificates in this ep? Have I missed something? (Probably) Please help. Lol. I can’t go on watching if I don’t have this mystery solved haha.
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41 LT is Irresistibly Indifferent and reminded of the slow march of death
April 7, 2018 at 8:38 PM
And.... now I'm on board. This is why I like to wait until I have four episodes of something before I start because often the first two are just setup. This was gripping from beginning to end, I couldn't look away. I find the main characters still a bit of a mystery to me (Ji An more than Dong Hoon), mostly because Ji An's expert covert surveillance seems at odds with the other aspects of her life.
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42 OregonPDX
April 26, 2018 at 10:15 PM
Just watched #12 and the scene where JH is looking out of the window of the car and sees JA standing on the street corner is froth with pathos. At that moment he realizes that “my heart is with that woman”. His longing is for JA. His heart is taken but his head tells him that it just isn’t possible and in that there is great sadness.
For JA, it clear now that her love for JH is not just fake, a part of the manipulation that her scheming might have required. Her eyes say that this is the man with whom I want to; make meals, watch movies, hold hands, caress, snuggle, cuddle, tickle, laugh, sleep with every night, and wake up to every morning. And at 21 she is living for the moment and could care less about JH’s age and is still believing that it might be possible.
Sadly I don’t see any way for this to happen with JH’s sensibilities which means no matter how the story ends JA ends up with a broken heart.
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43 oscaduran
May 26, 2018 at 8:01 PM
I just started watching this drama. At this point, I hope she has a very good explanation for all that she's doing because I'm hating her.
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44 LT is Irresistibly Indifferent and reminded of the slow march of death
April 2, 2020 at 2:58 PM
These brothers, God. On rewatch I said I didn't hate them as much because I knew how the show panned out. But I take that back. His brothers are such selfish losers. Almost revelling in their uselessness.
So, as usual, we hate people we suspect are like us. Like, I recognise these middle aged traits even as I want to slap them over the head. But I do identify with Dong Hoon and his boring office/home/family routine more.
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