Melting Me Softly: Episodes 13-14 Open Thread
by missvictrix
It’s the penultimate week of Melting Me Softly, and though some of the plot lines wrapped up fast, our cryo-couple still has things like cold hard jealousy, henchman hellbent on murder, and the equalization of their body temperatures to deal with before they can live happily ever after. Will they survive to fight another week? Will we?
EPISODES 13-14 WEECAP
This week’s episodes are all about the reveal of the Lee Seok-du/Hyeon-du situation, which Dong-chan had rogue-edited into his show. Like I said last week, this scene wasn’t all that exciting, and everyone at the broadcasting station is way more surprised than you might expect, since I can’t think how half of them know who this guy even is.
Regardless, the best part of this sequence is that baddie Lee Hyeon-du sees the exposé, too. This means he was sitting in his nifty leather chair about to watch the Go Go 99 premiere with the rest of the nation. That just tickles me to no end.
Anyway, his plot line is swiftly dealt with, and after a brief face-off, everyone is put back to their rightful place (jail and board room, respectively). This whole subplot is responsible for shaking up the lives of our cryo-couple irrevocably, but in the end, was one of the dullest around.
While the baddie plot line is wrapping up, Dong-chan and Mi-ran set off their temperature alarms a few times attempting skinship, and despite the fact that she’s clearly nuts about him, Dong-chan is jealous of her and the new intern to the point where it takes up half the episode. It’s supposed to be comedic, and while I love petty and exasperated Ji Chang-wook, it drags on too long for something we know has no weight.
But wait, there’s more! Though there’s finally a nice, authentic moment (read: hug of forgiveness and letting go) between Dong-chan and Ha-young, it mostly devolves into Mi-ran seeing them. Then it’s her turn to become inordinately jealous. She’s filled with doubt over Dong-chan’s feelings for her, and I’m not sure why it’s taken Mi-ran this long to see Ha-young as a rival, but there it is. But have no fear — the jealousy plot lines are one and done, and our couple goes back to staring moonily at each other.
Something else has to happen, so Dong-chan suddenly decides to quit his job, even though the show was a roaring success. There’s no real reason why he quits, and it doesn’t serve much purpose except for some funny meta on the relevance of TV media. At the behest of his niece, he decides to devote himself to a YouTube channel instead. Eventually, he gets to interview all the people that want to be in the next round of cryogenics, because somewhere in the background, the procedure is getting cleared and approved (let’s not go there).
Here’s where Melting Me Softly returns to where it started, telling us that humanitarian reasons are really the only reason why cryosleep should be allowed. Most of the contenders have selfish and shallow reasons for going into cryosleep — unlike Mi-ran, who twenty years ago, did it hoping to “cure” her brother.
However, Dong-chan’s faith in humanity is restored when a young family applies so that they can save their young son who is dying of a rare cancer. And then there’s one more participant who just might pass muster as well: a young and famous chaebol whose secret girlfriend is dying of an incurable disease.
HOLD UP! It’s my puppy Jinyoung making a cameo! Although the cameo is due to writer Baek Mi-young and Jinyoung having worked together on My Beloved Eundong in 2015, when I see Jinyoung I can’t think of anything but how much I loved That Psychometric Guy. Thus being, I’m only half paying attention when the last ten minutes of Episode 14 explode into cliffhanger action.
Because we must tune in for the final week, we leave our leads locked in turmoil and on the precipice of death. Dong-chan is getting the final shot that’s going to equalize their body temperatures, and though Professors Hwang and Jo are calm and confident, it’s not long before Dong-chan is coding and clutching his heart. And Mi-ran? She’s about to get taken out by Hyeon-du’s henchman who’s cosplaying a cop.
My favorite moment this week was when Dong-chan’s niece tells him that he’s “like an old pair of undies with a worn out elastic.” Outside of the visual being hysterical, it strikes me that this is the perfect way to express how I feel about this drama as a whole. Overused plot lines, needlessly stretched out, and belongs shoved at the back of the drawer. But, we’ve only got one more week to go! Let’s see what dramaland has in store for our cryo-couple next week — and I’m sure there will be no lack of cheeky wrap-up for our other characters as well.
RELATED POSTS
- Premiere Watch: Miss Lee, Melting Me Softly
- Temperatures are heating up for Ji Chang-wook, Won Jin-ah in tvN’s Melting Me Softly
- Ji Chang-wook and Won Jin-ah thaw up in teasers for sci-fi romance drama Melt Me
- Lee Moo-saeng joins Ji Chang-wook drama Melt Me
- Yoon se-ah to play Ji Chang-wook’s first love in Melt Me
- Ji Chang-wook to return to dramaland as cryogenic man for tvN
Tags: Im Won-hee, Ji Chang-wook, Lee Hong-ki, Melting Me Softly, Shim Hyung-tak, Won Jin-ah, Yoon Se-ah
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1 drunkfairy
November 11, 2019 at 5:32 PM
If this drama isn't entertainment I don't know what is.
This overused twin swap situation physically pains me to watch.
Also, what in god's name was that superior/inferior contact name change? That's meant to solve anything????
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2 LT is Irresistibly Indifferent and reminded of the slow march of death
November 11, 2019 at 5:36 PM
@missvictrix when this stinker is finally over I hope someone shouts you a lot of drinks for getting through it and retaining your humour while doing so. Nearly there!
Hwaiting!
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stpauligurl
November 12, 2019 at 7:01 PM
I'm not watching this show, but enjoying the recaps and responses.
@missvictrix -you should certainly be rewarded, or reward yourself for watching this show and recapping it.
*hwaiting*
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3 kellibean
November 11, 2019 at 5:43 PM
I seriously have no idea what the hell is going on in this drama, because I ff through almost all of it. I only watch the parts where the leads are in the same room together, and even that is disappointing. I am only sticking with it because I like both the leads (especially Wookie) but this drama is super dumb. There just isn’t another word to describe it.
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skelly
November 12, 2019 at 12:12 PM
I believe I can actually feel IQ points evaporating out my ears when I watch this show. I think it is worth a scientific study. Perhaps a TV show can have volunteers...oh, never mind...
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kellibean
November 13, 2019 at 12:54 PM
Lol, it’s not even that fun to rag on. It’s that bad, am I right?😅
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4 fei
November 11, 2019 at 5:44 PM
I cannot take it! A once mature PD with suave and charm before being frozen, is suddenly regressing into some teenage lover. What happened to Wookie ! I'm really just watching to watch him, but I really think we should all just rewatch Healer !
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Bob
November 12, 2019 at 5:35 PM
Well, a once-mature PD who had made his reputation off a show that blasted college girl interns into swimming pools with seltzer bottle rockets (or whatever that was in the first episode). I wonder, did they schedule this program to air before they had a series synopsis in their hands?
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5 amruta1009
November 11, 2019 at 5:56 PM
First I thought it is okay not that bad, then I got bored and now it's just huh, with this whole show. What's the point of the villain, why the quiting and jealousy for no reason, what was even the plot, why is the show still even going on. It's seems they just want to fill time. On the bright side(?) only two episodes left.
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mugyuljoie is preciousss
November 12, 2019 at 2:10 AM
The point of this particular set of shows was for Jinyoung to have a cameo. Just like the point of the entire series is the cold shower scene. 😂
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skelly
November 12, 2019 at 12:14 PM
At first I read that as "why the quilting..."
That might have been more interesting.
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Brás Cubas
November 12, 2019 at 2:00 PM
LOL! I agree 1000% with you on this. What is even happening in this show. I swear I wanted to appreciate the story and the cute moments between the leads, but nothing is clicking for me. I officially tap out, best of luck to those still powering through!
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MikeyD signed up
November 12, 2019 at 5:37 PM
I wonder why Viki is pushing the series so strongly. It reminds me of PBS in the US a few years back scheduling their pledge drives around the series 'Sherlock' only to watch the series turn to utter crap.
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6 JustMe
November 11, 2019 at 6:41 PM
Bless you @missvictrix for riding this one out. Your sacrifice is not in vain.
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missvictrix
November 12, 2019 at 6:48 PM
:)
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7 Lookie
November 11, 2019 at 7:17 PM
That wide, doe-eyes look of Mi-Ran is getting into my nerves. Only. For. the. Love. of. JCW. But even for that, I can't help but leave the show for a few episodes then come back when I lose care about my sanity.
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missvictrix
November 12, 2019 at 6:52 PM
I'm not feeling Mi-ran much, either... And it's such a shame because I flat-out adored WJA in Just Between Lovers. Here's hoping she (+ everyone) does better next time.
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8 Lord Cobol (Kdramas, like water, flow downhill)
November 11, 2019 at 8:37 PM
Most of those clown who wanted to be frozen couldn't possibly pay what it would cost. Or cope with whatever the SK job market would be after 20 years or so.
But I halfway wish there had been a few thousand young men wanting to be frozen before their military service, so they could claim to be too old when they get thawed, and get out of serving completely.
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9 Lord Cobol (Kdramas, like water, flow downhill)
November 11, 2019 at 8:48 PM
The good thing about the chaebol switcheroo was they got it over with mercifully quickly.
But I wish they had skipped the whole body temp thing and spent more time fish-out-of-watering with all the changes to society and technology since 1999. With enough planning I'd guess they could have sprung something on us every week. I'd have loved to see someone who had no experience with smart digital assistants listen to Bixby & Siri badmouth each other.
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skelly
November 12, 2019 at 12:21 PM
So many lost opportunities! They should have focused on the change in technologies and lifestyles in 20 years. They should have focused on trying to rekindle the pre-frozen romance and for Mi Ran to fall for her ex's/gf's son. They should have shown how difficult it is to hop back into a topical, tech-oriented workspace - or go back to school - when all of your information is 20 years out of date. They played it just for laughs, when it should have been as thoughtful and sad as it was funny.
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Lookie
November 12, 2019 at 6:59 PM
True. Too much potential and a lot of missed opportunities. Sad. Sad. Sad.
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10 javinne
November 11, 2019 at 10:00 PM
I come here everytime there is a recap, honestly, just to read the rant comments about how bad this drama is (even when we all love wookie) 😅
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drunkfairy
November 12, 2019 at 4:32 AM
HAHAH love this!
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shach
November 13, 2019 at 3:02 AM
Me too, it's more entertaining this way.
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Healer’s
December 31, 2020 at 9:00 AM
Comment was deleted
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11 mugyuljoie is preciousss
November 12, 2019 at 2:24 AM
It seems like this writer is afraid to commit. The premise had so much promise. We almost get heartfelt family moments and social commentary. We almost get an interesting mystery.
Instead of a cohesive drama, we've been served mixed trope salad, a main course of weak romance tinged with misogyny and ageism, and a side of half baked mystery. I'm not sure if desert was the cold couple shower, a glimpse of Jinyoung, or if something more sweet will be served next week.
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12 larelle79
November 12, 2019 at 12:37 PM
I gave up after episode 2 but I did read the recaps and comments and I wonder if I was too hard on this show. I just don't understand how this show was just off the rails from the word go.
It really could have been a cute, funny show without much of a plot. Look at Reach of Sincerity and also the cdrama Put Your Head On My Shoulder. There was not much there plot wise and it was not the greatest of writing but you have not only the leads but also a great supporting cast that help gel with the leads and it all just worked. Your supporting cast should not be the best or at best the most tolerable thing about a show. Your b stories and that cast are important.
Why couldn't the show just be about adjusting to life 20 years after the fact and re establishing the relationships that you missed out on.
Why do the leads have to be romantically involved. Why was a platonic relationship with someone that you endured a life changing moment with not on the table.
Huh?
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LT is Irresistibly Indifferent and reminded of the slow march of death
November 12, 2019 at 12:45 PM
Then you couldn't have had the shower scene which, I still believe, was the entire point of this drama.
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larelle79
November 12, 2019 at 12:51 PM
THERE IT IS !!! :)
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missvictrix
November 12, 2019 at 6:49 PM
I agree... and as absolutely anticlimactic as everything else in this drama.
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Lookie
November 12, 2019 at 7:01 PM
I hate the shower scene, actually. I felt JCW and the lady was taken advantage of.
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javinne
November 12, 2019 at 9:07 PM
LOL!!!!!!
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drunkfairy
November 12, 2019 at 5:35 PM
You're so right. Why couldn't it just be about adjusting to life 20 years later? Why couldn't they focus on mending relationships? It's sad what they've done to this. What a waste.
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javinne
November 12, 2019 at 9:06 PM
I also agree. The adjusting thing, including problems with temperature, which many don't require a shower scene, could do sooooo much to the drama, within the fantasy of really being able to live after 20 years of being frozen.
On the other hand, thank you for the examples. I watched both shows (touch your heart and put your head on my shoulders), and I like them both enough to binge them. I doubt I would want to binge Melt me (shower scene included) 😅😑😅
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mugyuljoie is preciousss
November 13, 2019 at 2:47 AM
Or we could've had an awesome sort of noona romance as they mended their relationship. They had a stellar cast to work with.
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LT is Irresistibly Indifferent and reminded of the slow march of death
November 13, 2019 at 11:20 AM
But she's old??
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larelle79
November 13, 2019 at 11:22 AM
Are you sure ???? ;)
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mugyuljoie is preciousss
November 13, 2019 at 11:29 AM
That was a statement from a side character who strikes me as a woman who acts more like an adolescent than an adult of 45ish. The "old" girlfriend could've been part of a hot noona romance, but they added unnecessary plot overlays of jealousy, angst, misunderstanding, and chaebol doppelgänger instead. They didn't miss many tired tropes in this one.
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13 Bob
November 12, 2019 at 5:47 PM
Its hard to imagine this series and the series 'Melo Is My Nature' ran for the same number of hours and same number of episodes. Both were set in the world of TV entertainment, let's remember. Its as though those shows came from different planets. On that other planet Melting could have had a solid ensemble cast, decent character development for all involved, smart winking pop culture references, and could have touched on universal themes.
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14 weirdnshort
November 17, 2019 at 8:47 PM
the only way i could finish these episodes was to increase the speed of the videos. So many cringey moments. The highlight was also Jinyoung's cameo for me.
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15 Bosuji
August 23, 2020 at 7:27 AM
For those dithering on To watch or not To watch MMS .. read on. Mild SPOILERS.
(I have collated below Missvictrix words - sentences in her review for you to decide if you want to watch JCW in his COMEDIC GLORY. He took the crown effortlessly.)
My Comment: I HEART _ HUG _ SNORT_GUFFAW_ROFL_and go all fluttery warm and crazy with the TWO leads whose chemistry was like poetry.
This is my first watch of JCW as a total goofy - hilarious - WITTY - Short tempered but adorably COMIC ROLE. SO SO SO polar opposite to what I have seen earlier in HEALER and K2 and Empress Ki.
The ONLY JCW movie I dropped was K2 .. and NOT because I didn't drool over his Je Ha character .. but because it because torturous to watch Anna written in as his love interest when a large majority (those who dropped it like a hot potato) was rooting for the STEAMING HOT vibes that developed between Je Ha - Choi Yoon Ji. I have cussed the writer-director-producer-casting of Yoona as Anna in K2 related comment sites where I found fellow disappoints,
I HAD to collect MissVictrix's HILARIOUS review highlights which 200% reflected my thoughts and feelings as I watched the show - all nighter binge-mode.So below .. BOWING to MissVictrix prose :
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My favorite moment this week was when Dong-chan’s niece tells him that he’s “like an old pair of undies with a worn out elastic.”
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