Chocolate: Episode 16 (Final)
by TeriYaki
After the years of misunderstandings that kept them apart, our doctor and chef more deeply appreciate their miraculous connection. Thanks to an unexpected reunion, that bond gets tested once again as our couple’s path to happier-ever-after hits another bump. Our doctor faces a professional challenge, and with the hospice’s future in question, he may be in a unique position to save it.
EPISODE 16 RECAP
Kang catches Cha-young gazing at all of the chocolates inside her favorite store. Cha-young is surprised when he joins her and asks her to recommend the best one.
As they sit in the cafe with their selections, Cha-young reminds Kang that he doesn’t eat chocolate. Kang explains that he feared that eating chocolate would make him homesick for Wando, but that was before he met Cha-young.
Curious about why Kang decided to give up chocolate after his mother died, she asks about her accident. After a few seconds, Kang tells Cha-young that his mother was hit by a car on the way home from buying him chocolates.
Cha-young confesses that she thought that the lady who gave her chocolate might have been his mother and Kang laughs, “You should write novels instead of being a chef.” Kang takes Cha-young’s hand and suggests that they make the best of their lives, in memory of the lady. He changes the topic when he invites Cha-young to his place the next day to celebrate his birthday.
After passing a simulator test at a driving school, Hee-na begs Tae-hyun to take her to see her dream car, which she hopes to buy as soon as she gets her license. They visit a dealership and as they sit inside of a sporty coupe, Tae-hyun is unusually quiet.
Hee-na guesses that he’s worried that she’ll die before she gets her license and tells him, “If I die, then so be it. But I might still be alive.” Hee-na realized that life without plans is pathetic, which is why she plans to get her license.
Hee-na admits that like Tae-hyun, she lived as if she had all the time in the world until she got sick. Hee-na shares another of her goals, after she buys her car she wants to drive to the sea with Tae-hyun.
The sea is where Director Kwon has taken Seon-ae and he smiles when she wades into the waves and squeals. She asks if he needs to get back to work so that the resident from Seoul doesn’t bully him (Seung-hoon?) but Director Kwon informs Seon-ae that he took the day off.
When Seon-ae expresses her happiness, Director Kwon finally realizes that while he worked long hours, she was painfully lonely. Seon-ae gets Director Kwon to agree to spend a day with her in the spring and in the fall and then drags him into the water where they splash around happily.
Over lunch, Seon-ae announces her plan to attend a cooking academy so that Director Kwon can eat something besides instant noodles. When he steps away for an important call, Seon-ae’s memory suddenly returns. Director Kwon returns to an empty table and learns that Seon-ae left after paying the bill.
On the bus ride home, tears trickle down Seon-ae’s cheeks after she sends Director Kwon a text, “After I met you, I was blessed with so much happiness.” Seon-ae promised to never visit Director Kwon again and wished him happiness.
At Geosung Hospital, Seung-hoon protests when Grandma allows Kang to button her coat, “…you didn’t even let Joon touch you.” Kang suggests that Grandma should go back to work but she decides that it’s time to leave the hospital in her family’s hands.
Before Kang can leave the hospital, Hye-mi calls and they meet in a quiet hallway. Hye-mi angrily reminds Kang that Geosung became successful because of the sacrifices that she and Grandma made. Hye-mi blames the many all-nighters that she put in for her two miscarriages and her inability to be a proper mother to Joon.
Hye-mi doesn’t think it should matter that Seung-hoon isn’t her father-in-law’s biological son when Kang’s father gave up everything to run away and get married. Hye-mi’s voice rises when she asks why Kang should get everything, “Do you think this makes any sense at all?” She’s surprised when Kang agrees with her and offers a solution.
Kang calls Joon, who’s still at his pottery studio, to report that he offered Hye-mi a deal — keeps the hospice open and he won’t go after the chairmanship. Joon can’t believe that Kang gave up the chairmanship so easily but then he remembers that his cousin didn’t put up a fight when he was transferred to the hospice.
Joon guesses, “You wanted to stop, didn’t you?” When Kang says nothing, Joon adds, “And I bet the people there ended up changing you.” After they hang up, Joon remembers his time at the hospice and admits, “After all, they ended up changing me as well.”
As Kang walks the hallways of the hospice contentedly, we hear him promise, “Don’t wait for me, Grandma…I’m never going back to that hell you all live in.”
On the hospice grounds, Dae-shik sits on a bench in a daze while Young-shil cries her eyes out in a bathroom. After composing herself, Young-shil returns to Dae-shik but he jumps up to avoid her. When pain forces him to sit down, Young-shil orders Dae-hik to look at her and when he does, he blocks his face with a bowl.
Young-shil takes Dae-shik’s face in her hands to plead, “You said you wanted to go out with me. Then you should look at me in the eyes and do your best to win my heart.” Struggling not to cry, Dae-shik confesses that he doesn’t have much time.
Dae-shik’s face crumples when Young-shil puts her hand on his chest to argue, “You’re breathing right now…Your heart’s beating nice and strong.” Dae-shik sobs that he should have come earlier but Young-shil insists that he’s not too late and wipes aways his tears.
When Dae-shik pushes her away, Young-shil argues that everyone dies, she might even die before him. Dae-shik throws his arms around Young-shil and sobs that someone as kind as her deserves a long life, “Only then can the people who can’t go to heaven learn that an angel really exists.” With tears streaming from her eyes, Young-shil hugs Dae-shik back.
Kang arrives home with groceries and after tidying up his place, he opens his mother’s cookbook and announces, “I’m having a birthday party with my girlfriend today.”
Kang follows his mother’s fried chicken recipe while Cha-young dons her apron at the hospice to bake a cake. When Cha-young gets a call from an unfamiliar number, she’s stunned by the sound of her mother’s voice.
It’s dark outside when Kang turns on the string lights in his living room and he worries that Cha-young forgot about his birthday. When the doorbells rings, Cha-young apologizes for being late and holds up a bottle of wine and a cake as Kang smiles happily.
When they sit down to eat, Kang gushes over the beautiful cake while Cha-young can’t take her eyes off of the fried chicken, which reminds her of her father. Kang confesses that he has butterflies because Cha-young looks particularly pretty and she bashfully admits to wearing makeup and her best dress.
Cha-young gets the celebration underway when she lights Kang’s birthday candle. Kang closes his eyes and says, “Thank you for blessing me…,” but Cha-young protests that’s not a proper wish. Kang insists that he already has everything that he wants and blows out his candle. Kang suggests that it’s time for Cha-young to stop calling him Dr. Lee. After they kiss, he asks if he can speak comfortably to her as well and when Cha-young doesn’t protest, they kiss again.
After dinner, Cha-young empties her glass of wine and turns to Kang, “Should we run away together?” When Kang asks where they’re going, Cha-young suggests somewhere no one can find her.
Kang agrees, “I can do that. Let’s go,” and he runs to get a scarf for Cha-young, in case it’s cold wherever they go. Cha-young thanks him for agreeing so readily and confesses that she’s been running away from her mother all day. Cha-young explains that even though her mother is a horrible person, she’s agreed to meet her. Kang takes Cha-young’s hand and promises, “We’ll just have to elope next time.”
The next day, Kang watches from the doorway of a church while Cha-young prays. She goes from there to a restaurant to meet her mother and when Cha-young says, “It’s been awhile,” her mother snaps, “What kind of response is that? Am I your client or what?”
Mom orders the most expensive steak on the menu and while she eats, Cha-young takes issue with the fact that she looks happy after causing so much misery. Cha-young’s mother argues that her targets were so stupid that it was only a matter of time before they were swindled. Mom reminds Cha-young that her father lost his fortune when he helped out a friend, which is when she realized, “You either get stabbed in the back or stab someone in the back.”
Seated at a nearby table, Kang overhears Cha-young remind her mother that she abandoned her at that collapsed department store. That’s where Cha-young met the lady who saved her life, and she tells her mother, “I learned what life is about from that lady.” But Mom calls Cha-young a fool for wasting her time cooking for the dying.
Cha-young confesses it was that lady’s example that led to their reunion because she was hopeful that her mother was sorry for all of the pain that she’s caused. Cha-young realizes how wrong she was when Mom asks, “What are you talking about?”
A man interrupts, calling Cha-young’s mother “Honey,” to warn that one of her victims is on his way with the police. Mom grabs her things and promises to call later but Cha-young won’t have it, “Don’t call me. I won’t answer.” Cha-young suggests meeting again in ten years to see which of them is living well.
After Mom runs off, Cha-young gets a text, “Do you want me to hold your hand?” When Cha-young sees Kang, he sends another text explaining that he was worried and somehow ended up at the restaurant. When Cha-young goes to Kang’s side and holds out her hands, he stands up to hug her.
On the train ride home, Kang holds Cha-young’s hand as she rests her head on his shoulder. Soon, he’s on the train alone and we hear Cha-young’s request, “Could you give me a little more time? Don’t push me to come back soon. Don’t wait for me. And don’t pity me.”
While Cha-young huddles on the floor of her room, a worried Kang arrives at Seon-he’s house and sees Cha-young’s shoes outside of her door. As Cha-young cries, Kang promises, “I won’t push you nor wait for you. Don’t get lost though. Just make sure you come back.” Kang stands outside of Cha-young’s room until the early morning light is in the sky.
Seung-hoon tags along with Joon to a pottery exhibit to plead with him to return to the hospital. When he’s ignored, Seung-hoon whispers that a chairman’s daughter wants to meet him but Joon is distracted by an attractive woman who’s massaging her left arm and shoulder (cameo by Lina).
Joon approaches her to warn, “You should go see a doctor soon…I think you have a serious condition.” The woman accuses Joon of hitting on her so he apologizes and turns away but she collapses seconds later. When Joon accompanies the woman into the ambulance, she asks, “Who are you?” With confidence, Joon tells her, “I’m Lee Joon, a neurosurgeon at Geosung University Hospital.”
Director Kwon hands his address to the movers at Seon-ae’s house and when they’re confused, he explains that he’s her husband. When they’re alone, Seon-ae begs Director Kwon to let her go because she doesn’t want to burden him with her illness. Instead, Director Kwon wraps his arms around Seon-ae and promises to stay by her side.
As Kang look up at the sky during a break, an elderly patient pokes him with his cane and suggests, “Let’s go for pizza.” Young-shil catches up to him and explains to Kang that ever since the old man went out with his grandson, he’s been craving wood-fired pizza. Kang decides that wood-fired pizza sounds like the perfect lunch and happily agrees to take the patient with him.
On a beach, Tae-hyun records a video to explain that Hee-na had to take an unexpected trip and that she apologizes for leaving without saying goodbye. When he’s overcome by emotion, Tae-hyun pauses the recording and recalls Hee-na’s final request.
Tae-hyun held the hand of the bedridden Hee-na while she weakly murmured that she wanted her viewers to believe that she was doing great, somewhere in the world. Tears trickled down Tae-hyun’s face as he agreed to her wish.
As her breathing weakened, Hee-na reasoned, “Because I really won’t die. I’ll work hard and continue to live my life to the fullest in this beautiful world of ours.” In her mind, Hee-na saw waves crashing on a beach as tears glistened on her cheeks.
With a sad smile, Tae-hyun resumes the recording, “…cherish every single moment that comes by, ladies and gentlemen. The day you wasted today is the tomorrow that someone who died yesterday so badly wished for.”
Dae-shik and Young-shil practice a song for a competition but he’s having trouble singing. Young-shil throws her arm around Dae-shik and suggests, “Don’t tell people that you left the gang to be a singer. Let’s keep it to ourselves.”
Young-shil jumps to her feet when she sees Na-ra, who’s there to visit all of the things that she misses about the hospice, like Ji-yong’s turtle. As Na-ra lists everything that she wants to see, an anxious Dae-shik explains that they need to practice for their competition which is the next day. When Young-shil whispers that the visitor is Na-ra, Dae-shik understands.
Young-shil suggests that if Na-ra misses the hospice that much, she should come back to work. Na-ra agrees and as she hurries away, Young-shil asks about her scary father. Na-ra reports that he broke both legs chasing a suspect so he won’t be a problem for some time.
When Na-ra asks about the man in the matching shirt, Dae-shik smiles and puts his arm around Young-shil, who confesses, “He’s my boyfriend.” When they sit down to practice, Dae-shik can’t stop smiling and calls Young-shil, “My girlfriend.”
Kang is at home missing Cha-young so he visits the hospice kitchen where he’s reminded of happier times. From there Kang goes for a walk on the beach and thinks back to their first kiss. While Kang keeps busy with hikes in the woods, we learn that Cha-young has been in touch and hear her voice, “You’re doing well, right?” Cha-young makes sure to let Kang know, “I have never been lost, not even once. All because you followed me no matter where I went and stood there for me holding a guiding light.”
As Kang takes in the scenery, Cha-young’s voice continues, “I’m grateful that such a wonderful man like you makes my heart flutter.” It’s during one of his hikes that Kang comes to a decision.
Kang returns to the restaurant in Greece where Cha-young worked and he’s recognized by the maître d. He explains that Cha-young isn’t at work, so Kang decides to wait for her and he sits at the same table all day.
In the morning, Kang visits the site of the cooking competition and recalls Cha-young’s description of their first meeting as kids, “I was starving, and he made a warm home-cooked meal for me.” As he walks through the streets, Kang just misses Cha-young, who looks as if she’s deep in thought.
At the restaurant, Kang is served a chocolate cake and he immediately recognizes Cha-young’s handiwork. He races through town on a bicycle as we hear the words he spoke for the opening of the drama, “I’ve been running for a long time to come to you.”
Kang jumps off the bike to run to the arched lookout by the sea where he’s finally reunited with Cha-young. His narration continues, “There were times when I wanted to stop…And sometimes, I got lost. But because of you, I could come this far.”
Kang pulls Cha-young into a back hug and when he turns her around to kiss her, we hear him explain, “I wanted you to get more rest, but I missed you way too much.” As they walk away holding hands, Kang stops to wrap his scarf around Cha-young and we hear her say, “I wanted to rest with you, too.”
Kang narrates that this is where their story ends as we’re treated to scene after scene of the drama’s characters eating. Kang continues, “We will get lost again at one point or another…But as long as we hold onto hope, nothing can break us down.”
COMMENTS
Gosh, I love Kang and Cha-young together. I just wish that there hadn’t been that separation before their dramatic reunion in Greece. While I understand that Cha-young’s inability to save her mother with her act of kindness wounded her deeply, I was disappointed that she ran away to Greece by herself. Even though it’s consistent with Cha-young’s pattern to deal with her pain all alone, I was angry that her mother cost her even one minute of happiness with Kang. But when Cha-young met her mother, she was confronted with an unrepentant, selfish monster who she realized never once gave her daughter’s well-being a thought. Cha-young’s mother couldn’t be more different than Kang’s mother, who in her final act of kindness taught Cha-young how to live.
What the separation did prove though, was that Kang was yet again willing to wait for Cha-young. Kang knelt for 4 hours on the beach in Wando while Cha-young slept on his shoulder and he stood vigil through the night outside of her room after her meeting with her mother. He went about his life as best he could without Cha-young while she recovered in Greece until he just had to see her again. Kang’s support and patience balanced out the years of Cha-young’s suffering when he failed to recognize that she was the girl that he met in Wando.
While it was a relief to see Kang and Cha-young back together, I was disappointed by its briefness and the fact that it was Kang who was doing all of the work. Cha-young had to know that Kang was in Greece and I’m convinced that she made that cake so that he would realize that she was back. But why run away again? Even if Cha-young needed more time to heal, there’s a point when a couple shares one another’s burdens, and Kang had demonstrated time and again that he was ready to do just that.
That commitment to share the ups and downs of life is what finally brought Director Kwon and Seon-ae back together. Seon-ae’s dementia allowed Director Kwon to finally see their married life through her eyes and he realized that he essentially abandoned her while he worked long hours to support her family. Not only was Seon-ae lonely, she couldn’t bear to watch the man that she loved kill himself to satisfy her selfish siblings. It was heartwarming to witness their reunion even though Seon-ae’s condition will rob them of some of the time that they have left together.
That aspect of battling time is something that’s all too familiar at a hospice, and both Tae-hyun and Young-shil are confronted by it firsthand. Dae-shik finally tells Young-shil that he’s dying and with no time to waste, she makes a heartfelt plea for them to make the most of the time that he has left. I’m not gonna lie, Young-shil’s argument about why Dae-shik shouldn’t give up on their love had me laughing and crying at the same time. I was a sucker for the former gangster who had nurtured a life-long crush for the bossy nurse with the biggest heart around. And then there’s Tae-hyun. He was there to help Hee-na in her final days and her determination to live her life as intentionally as possible served as a stark contrast to Tae-hyun’s aimless existence. Tae-hyun will never forget the young girl with a thirst for life thanks to the hospice, and the lessons learned there changed Joon and Kang as well.
Whatever the disappointment I felt about Kang and Cha-young in the finale, Joon’s brotherly relationship with his cousin made up for it. After turning their backs on the hospital, Kang and Joon finally connected as family and friends. While Joon was surprised that Kang gave up on the chairmanship to save the hospice, it only proved what he had known all along, that his cousin was never an enemy but a kind and loving boy. Then, when confronted by the disturbing symptoms of that woman at the gallery, Joon slipped back into doctor mode to help her. With that return to medicine, Joon’s perspective shifted from the selfish pursuit of the chairmanship to a desire to help others and his happiness was apparent. I have no doubt that in the future, Joon and Kang will work together to run both the hospital and the hospice.
Kang’s closing words celebrating the power of hope and kindness were a testament to his mother. No matter what their future holds, our reunited couple, along with everyone who was changed for the better by their time at the hospice, will live their lives with intentional acts of kindness. It’s the quality that drew Kang and Cha-young to one another in the first place. Now that they’re back together, it’s time for them to focus that kindness on one another.
RELATED POSTS
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- Yoon Kye-sang and Ha Ji-won begin a romantic journey in Greece for JTBC’s Chocolate
- First teaser for JTBC’s Chocolate with Ha Ji-won, Yoon Kye-sang
- Jang Seung-jo confirms JTBC drama Chocolate with Ha Ji-won, Yoon Kye-sang
- Ha Ji-won, Yoon Kye-sang up for JTBC melo Chocolate
Tags: Chocolate, Ha Ji-won, Jang Seung-jo, Min Jin-woong, Yoon Kye-sang
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1 Sunset125
January 22, 2020 at 8:34 PM
(1) Thanks @teriyaki for an excellent recap and comment! Thanks @sailorjumun as well for your great recaps of the odd episode.
Now where was I? 🙂
I had come expecting an epic love story. It had been a long journey, the first K drama I watched live, and ended up waking up at 3am every night new episode was out to pick up where the story left off. “Sometimes I want to stop. Sometimes I want to flop down and collapse. And sometimes I get lost. But because of you (show) I have come this far 😬”. And I had left with an epic love story, one of the best.
It was a love story between two people who were saved by kindness, linked by kindness and attracted to each other by their own kindness. It was also a story about how love, trickled down through time and rippled out through space, is the true meaning of human life.
Though their good looks certainly help 😊, CY and Kang are attracted to each other by their kindness. When she first met Kang again in the hospital, she followed him around to make sure he is the boy who gave her the warm meal when she was starving. He thought this patient had a crush on him and pushed her away. She narrated: “He was wrong, for me it was not love yet”. Once she was certain about his identity, she was shocked to hear him being called “an evil bastard” by Jun. It was only when she saw him picking up the cardboards in the rain to help a bystander and clear traffic that she was sure this is the same KIND boy in her memory and fell in love with him over again. When Kang first knew CY, he misunderstood her to be a heartless cheating girl who left his best friend for another man, hence his hatred and cruel words against her. But, he still prioritised her safety over his own and saved her life simply because he is who she always knew, a kind person and doctor who sworn to save life. It was only through their interactions at the hospice that he realised how kind she was and fell in love with her.
In a drama heavily accused of abusing tropes and cheap story lines by some viewers (I don’t know why) the love story is surprisingly fresh and free of the patriarchy often seen in Kdrama land. Guy is rich and chaebol yes, girl is poor and has dependent family yes. But the guy is not the boss/or of higher rank of the girl. She doesn’t owe him any money or dependent on him for her job/finance/livelihood or dwelling (except for that one time in Wando when she was without her purse ☺️). He doesn’t use money/debt/job to tie her to him. He saves her as a doctor not as a favour doer. She can drive him for 6 hours like a boss and is in control of her own life. He respects her choices, her boundaries and offers her unconditional support. She is a chef but we see he cooks for her more than she cooks for him. There is never anything material between them but a spiritual bond through kindness.
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2 Charlotte
January 22, 2020 at 8:53 PM
I agree with almost everything you wrote about saying good-bye to our characters...especially our two cousins (although I desperately hope that Joon keeps his ties with pottery and doesn't fall prey to the expectations of his mom and dad like he did for most of the drama). As for Director Kwon and Seon-ae...I felt sad for him, yet knew this was a way to finally settle any karma they had left between them. My biggest disappointment was the boredom I felt as the our two leads went through the "I must go away and heal myself" trope. Cha-young was so strong all the way through (especially when dealing with her brother) and to see her fold because of her Mom was almost a cliché after this bright, strong woman spent the whole series taking charge and care of everyone who needed her. And when she was sick at heart ...she couldn't allow Kang, the person closest to her, to care for her broken spirit. I loved this drama, but was disappointed in the lackluster ending especially since our star-crossed lovers had journeyed so long to find each other again.
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3 Beverly
January 22, 2020 at 9:06 PM
*sigh*
This turned out to be a disappointing watch for me that ended on a whimper.
Cha-young leaving felt like she had learned nothing and not true to where her character would be in life. This is a woman of a certain age who has knowledge of how finite and fragile life is, and of how it is painful for your loved ones to disappear. I think, to me, it would of made more sense to grab onto Kang with both hands and the viewer could bbn of had some satisfaction of seeing them together.
The overabundance of tragedy started leaving me numb. I'm not sure why the writer kept adding tragedy on top of tragedy. Not only were the patients dying they had to also have grifter brothers, runaway mothers, murderous husbands, and so on. Just watching the end of a normal well lived or mis lived life is poignant enough.
The last two stories with the nurse and then the brother would of been more meaningful if they'd started from the beginning. Watching the nurse and her reformed gangster decide to enjoy falling in love with each other despite his illness could of been a beautiful story.
Joon, oh Joon, you were under appreciated. He added a that little balance and kick to any scene he was in.
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4 debbie
January 22, 2020 at 10:02 PM
This drama has been the best drama so far for me. My Fridays and Saturdays will no longer be complete without Cholocate in it. ☹️☹️☹️
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5 amruta1009
January 22, 2020 at 10:32 PM
I think I lost interest in the story. The last two episodes I finished in a rush. I have mixed feeling about the whole thing.
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6 Kurama
January 23, 2020 at 1:05 AM
I think the episode 15 was better than the 16 one.
Cha Young at the end showed no growth of character. She already knew her mother was a bad person, but ok it's normal she still has hopes. But to the point she flew away? She didn't really help with her relationship with Kang. He did all the work...
I didn't really understand Director Kwon and Seon-ae's relationship, or precisely the chronology... It was pretty weird how they told it but I hope one moment, someone will tell it with more facts and not by snippets in each episode.
The story of the Hee-na was touching but I would prefer more scenes with the main characters than an other sad story...
I think my favourite part of the drama was the 2 cousins! They grew up a lot during the story :)
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7 samgyeopsal
January 23, 2020 at 4:39 AM
that cameo!! Lina! she's Jang Seung-jo's wife! how cuute
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8 egads
January 23, 2020 at 5:16 AM
I already posted my
rantfeelings for the finale on my wall, but there's one last thing I forgot to say. When Kang goes biking/running through the streets of Greece to find Cha-young next picturesquely looking at the water, and then he come up behind her and wraps his arms around her in no way was it all realistic that she didn't scream and start punching and kicking. She didn't know who suddenly hugged her from behind, and any person I know would have a fight or flight reflex in that situation. Beyond all my other issues with this episode (and boy were there a lot) this particular scene made me a bit stabby.There was good story buried within this mess, and I really enjoyed the cooking scenes, the scenery, Ha Ji-won, and meeting the actor Yoon Kye-sang. I'm going to look for him in future works because I quite enjoyed his screen presence. But now, I'm just going to put this one behind me, and only remember it as a how to not pace and plot your 16 episode melo.
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9 pickleddragon
January 23, 2020 at 5:41 AM
Agree with what some of you have said on the problems with the drama. This was the first kdrama I live watched in full, as soon as it was released. So there was definitely something there, which made me want to watch it. It was definitely a combination of the show timing for my part of the world and instant subs, but I like to also think there may have been something subconsciously compelling about the show. I cringed many many times, but there were usually 5-10 minutes in every episode of solid storytelling and performance that kind of made up for the rest of it.
Generally, I thought the trauma (especially to the leads) was overdone, and even if you grant that it's a kdrama, and so it can indulge in some excessive tropey-ness, 90% of it was not really necessary to take the story forward. The part I really liked was the relationship between the cousins, IMO, and that could have been a bromance well told with a little more detail. I thought the romance between the leads was buried under somewhere - there seemed to be no reciprocation from CY to LK's sudden (and inexplicable) personality transformation in those last two episodes. And I don't know about the rest of you, but I did not like that LK did not tell CY the truth about his mother's death. That was just not nice, however much he wanted to "protect" her.
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10 pickleddragon
January 23, 2020 at 6:50 AM
A shout out also to @teriyaki and @sailorjumun for great recaps - it was a fascinating experience to watch and read the comments soon after - very different from just watching the show in isolation. And also @sunset125 for fabulous insights for each episode!
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11 welh
January 23, 2020 at 7:13 AM
CHOCOLATE did deliver on what it set out to be: an old school, painful melodrama. I just felt that the ending was odd. Of all the characters, CY was the one who did not find any resolution. In fact, the "hope" comments at the end were more foreboding than happy. I do not mind ambiguous endings if it makes sense.
CY did not come to resolution on her abandonment issues. She kept people at a distance, including Kang at the end, because she fears the pain of potential future abandonment.
I was expecting a more bittersweet ending: CY neuro-condition worsens to the point she and Director Kwon's first wife are the last two hospice patients as the facility is about to close. Kang and Kwon would care for them as best they could; living each day like they would have wanted to share with them. The end would have been Kang putting their pictures on the memory board.
I do think the series used food as the universal memory marker that it is. We have so many special memories which are triggered by food. Memories plus food equal healing.
FYI: HJW did a fun interview on her YouTube channel with her character. Also, she sang the female part of the final OST song "Seek and Hide." She has a video of that posted as well.
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12 Connie Ng
January 23, 2020 at 11:43 AM
The lady that Joon meets at the museum is a cameo role by Lina, the real wife of Jang Seung Jo!
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13 eternalpnk
January 23, 2020 at 5:28 PM
I think the separation at the end was unnecessary and meaningless. I didn't see the point in that at all. I also couldn't understand why Cha-young ran away or why Kang didn't just confess that the lady who gave Cha-young chocolate was his mother. I mean, they're finally together and they went through so many things at the hospice. I thought there was this understanding between them. *sigh* I didn't like the ending but, at least through all of this, I did find a new favorite actor in Joon (aka Seung-jo Jang)!!
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14 ar_arguably romantic
January 23, 2020 at 5:56 PM
Thank you, TeriYaki and SailorJumun, for recapping this series and sharing your insightful thoughts.
It's weird to think how I could have easily missed out on this series. The story didn't really appeal to me. I'm glad I picked it up, especially during the airing since this drama really does feel more suited for the winter weather.
I'm surprised and relieved that this last episode kept it low-key considering there was too much drama in the first few episodes. I thought it was a nice touch that Cha Young wasn't emotionally cured by love (and that mom, what a piece of work!) and it wasn't Cha Young's love that got Kang to let go of his need to outdo Joon. Various circumstances gave him just enough space for him to really think about what he wanted. I liked how they both gave each other their space, which I think makes sense for the two mid-late 30s introverted people who have been deeply scarred by their tragedies.
My only criticisms are: 1. Kang lying to Cha Young about his mom. I get that he probably didn't want Cha Young to be reminded of the building collapse every time she looked at him. But it's also something I feel like Cha Young could stumble upon one day. 2. The Greece reunion felt sort of music-video-ish - like what's up with that chocolate cake? Did she really bake it and then teleported to a location at least a mile away?
I did like how there was at least one person in her life that was like "I need to find Cha Young and be with her!" Even in hide and seek in episode 4, the kids forgot her!
Not everyone's cup of tea, but I loved it and felt it was greater than the sum of its parts.
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15 Kwan
January 23, 2020 at 7:50 PM
The last episode did not satisfy me. I liked this drama, but it's not by any means my favorite.
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16 Cosmas
January 23, 2020 at 11:21 PM
Hmmm! I'm crying right now.
What a love story.
These days, kdrama has started to use ending scenes of the last episode as the first scene of the first episode and it's nice indeed.
I learnt a lot from this drama about friends and life. So, it is left for me to apply them in the world we are living.
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17 PatLafougere
January 24, 2020 at 1:30 AM
I would like to see many of the actors in this drama again and I hope they do well. I particularly liked Min Jin-woong as Moon Tae-hyun. I understand that he has acted in several other things. His physical comedy is spot on and I thought the last scene on the beach was very precise - it could have been cheesy and dreadful, but I think it was done simply and sensitively.
I increasingly liked Jang Seung-jo as Lee Joon, too, not just because he is easy to look at. 🌹
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18 vijaya
January 24, 2020 at 1:46 AM
I am happy that it has happy ending..period
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19 aramint
January 24, 2020 at 6:57 AM
Honestly, for me, this drama is far from perfect. Repetitive flashbacks / unnecessary fillers, rushed side storylines, too much tragedies etc.
However, I love the main characters (or should I say Yoon Kye-sang 😆) so much, that I was willing to bear with it, and to be fair, the drama does have its beautiful moments and meaningful life lessons. It also made me come back to Dramabeans after 2 years. I even made new friends!
So, thank you Chocolate, for everything. 😊
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20 mmmmm
January 24, 2020 at 8:59 AM
I'll come and read the recap and comment here. Now I just have to finish correcting students' assignments first. Fighting!
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21 pcch2345
January 24, 2020 at 10:29 AM
thanks for the recap:-)
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22 mmmmm
January 25, 2020 at 9:48 AM
Alas, Chocolate has come to its conclusion. I actually have mixed feelings about the final two episodes, but I will still say that Chocolate has never betrayed me. It never betrayed its viewers from all those lessons the show had the intention to give: the lessons about love, kindness, time, forgiveness, etc. I found this intention what holds every episode together.
Together with its catchy original soundtracks, beautiful cinematography, veteran actors and actresses, the show succeeded in making this Chocolate rich and deep. I, too, found some parts of it quite unbelievable, cliche and tropes-driven. But as far as I know, life is just like that: full of ups and downs, reasonable and unreasonable things and fate. I don't know why, but instead of being irritated of all these unexpected and unreasonable incidents, I found that I could relate most of them with things and incidents in real life. Chocolate is not perfect, yes. But what in life is ever perfect? It's funny isn't it, but I chose to look at it as Chocolate being true to itself, its messages and its viewers: Life is unpredictable; many things are unreasonable, but instead of looking back and repenting what has happened, we better look ahead as that's where every possibility lies; time is limited, ladies and gentlemen, and appreciate that are still breathing now because many people would have paid everything to buy them another day if they have none left.
As for why CY had to run away to Greece again, my initial feeling was that the show wanted to end at the same place where all the stories began (Greece.) I also suspected that the reason why the devilish mother had to appear again in front of CY was because she had to be the reason CY had to go to Greece. I, myself, found this mother arc quite out of the place. But again, if you choose to see things with kindness, every grass is a flower (Black Dog), so the lesson derived from this mini-arc for me is that you just have to face the problem heads on just to be able to move on with life. Everyone expects mothers to treat their children well, but that was not the case with CY and her mother. CY had to face the reality to heal and to move on. Thankfully, Kang will always be there to support her. Regarding this, I feel a bit sad for TH. I think I heard it correctly that he still kept contact with his mom all this time because the mom knew everything about CY. He, in my eyes, is so weak.
Oh.. I love the kissing scenes. The birthday dinner between the two was heart-warming and beautiful. I could just feel Kang's happiness through the screen. Even after the show has ended, I still want to believe that if both of them exist somewhere in this universe, I hope they have a happy life together so much so as they do deserve it.
Lastly, I just want to say that though I feel like the last two episodes were rushed, and tried to conclude everything quite too abruptly, Chocolate never betrayed its viewers. It has conveyed all the messages it...
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23 Ina
January 25, 2020 at 9:15 PM
I really just have to commend the commenters :-)
Though I have read only comments for this episode and not all of them in fact, most are very respectful, even the ones who did not like the episode and/or the drama, I guess, as a whole. I have been reading posts on various sites related to this drama (and even commented on a couple) hoping to stumble into another drama recommendation such as this one. This thread I liked the most.
And to those who wrote the recaps, and commenters who provided insights, all so beautifully worded, my gratitude to you all.
If I can offer my 2 cents - and please forgive and indulge me, the opinion that follows are that of someone way past mid-life (am close to 60):
There is no question that this drama has a lot of flaws, But as I have stated in a previous comment, I like this drama just the same because it leaves a lot of room for the imagination and interpretation. Which is also why (and am sure this is also generational) I prefer reading novels. In my opinion, TV Dramas are also like fictional novels, you have the characters, the story line, beginning, middle, and end. However, good novels, and some dramas as well, one has liberty to "read between the lines". Some dramas I have seen, and maybe because it is demanded, or maybe it just a matter of preference, one can only imagine up to the next episode. And sometimes not even that. Happy, sad, good or bad, directly all laid out to bear. Again, am not saying it is bad drama, it is just not for me, and I will be the first to admit that I don't necessarily have good taste :-).
For me however, the so-called loose ends, understated interactions, non-verbal reactions, recurring lines, inexplicable course - makes one ponder, interpret, and even relate. As someone who has been fortunate enough to have quite a number of years tucked under her belt, and has gone thru a bit, I can relate. No, much as I wish I have the same great love story, that is not the case. And I did not and do not have the same trauma or even akin to what the leads had. But it is true that sometimes, it takes only one interaction for the person and the moment to be seared in somebody's memory. That years and years later, you just know! How it feels; how it tastes; how it smells; or how good and true a person will remain no matter what.
It is also true that for some, myself included, for good or bad, when confronted with something so painful, you would choose to detach, even if it means also detaching from what is good. Because you know that is the only way for you to heal and move on. And hopefully, if possible still, be well enough to go back and pick up the good you left behind.
Lastly, yes, it is my fervent wish that should I be near death's door, I still want to be treated as somebody still living instead of someone dying. And I know that I can only be deserving of that if I at least try to always learn from yesterday, live today, and remain hopeful for tomorrow.
... oh,...
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24 Sun panda
January 26, 2020 at 7:41 PM
Thank you for the recaps and all the commenters , I enjoyed Chocolate a lot but reading the recaps and the commenters insights have made the experience all the more enjoyable.
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25 Moko
January 29, 2020 at 2:55 PM
I could watch Ha Ji-won and Yoon Kye-sang all day long. They are soooo pretty. Sometimes I choose dramas based on actors, and even if it gets a bit boring or predictable, it's just so gratifying to see such awesome actors being cute and handsome together. But since the ensemble was also pretty awesome it made everything easier to watch.
Although the writing went a bit overboard - how many tragic things can happen to one person???? Having a shitty mother doesn't seem to be bad and dramatic enough anymore ("Cinderellas Sister" was just simpler times) Serious drama this drama^^
So overall - pretty good 7.5/10 , bc it's prettily shot and directed, and the writing actually get's less and less hospital politics after the beginning and struggle get's replaced by heartful stories which was a surprisingly soothing thing - it went from all out drama to happy ending feel good romance with heartful sadness
However - binging this, I did mind all those flashbacks (way too many) and the editing/directing put the side characters stories sometimes way too far apart - they felt like an afterthought. They could have cut all those flashbacks out and put the stories scenes a bit closer - not like episode 5 (which was super obvious and hard to relate to) & 6 that were like "this weeks slow death-journey" (maybe they needed some time)- but also not way too far apart like they did with the youtube-girl or the Grandfather and the little girl (choppy story connection). It just felt like they had to fill in minutes sometimes and the tight writing of the first episodes got lost with all that product placement (How many sandwiches and chocolate and cars can you eat?) - Sometimes that just ruins the emotional scenes. Honestly.
Something else that totally distracted me was the fact that Jang Seung-jo (Lee Joon) just looks so much younger than Yoon Kye-sang, (he is in fact 3 years older) that it was so awkward to hear Lee Kang call Lee Joon his older brother. Every time I cringed - but they both are such great actors and they had really good scenes together, so I guess it's not too bad of a casting^^
I enjoyed it - a really easy watch for the eyes
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26 Tizzy
February 2, 2020 at 1:20 AM
Chocolate was a good drama but the ending was a let down for me. The separation did not make sense to me. It seemed like the writer just needed an excuse to take us back to the beauty scenes and cinematography enjoyed at the start.
I did not appreciate Kang hiding the truth about his mother’s death. Yes, we assume he will tell her in the future, but this is an integral part of the story that should not be omitted.
I also didn’t like how CY always acted demure with Kang when she has been pining for him for the longest time.
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27 LBegay
June 2, 2020 at 12:52 PM
Did I miss something?
Do we know if Cha-Young ever re-gained her taste and smell back?
Do we know if Kang ever told Cha-Young that the lady in accident/department store collapse was his mother?
I'm thinking maybe those two areas were just "understood" by both?
-lb
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28 neener ~ Inside the Magic Shop ~
August 22, 2020 at 11:17 PM
After watching HJW on House on Wheels, I wanted to see her in a drama. Remembered Chocolate as the latest one, I ended up bingeing the drama in two days.
What a ride was that eh? My brain understood CY's choice to heal and process everything alone after meeting with her mother. But my heart wanted her to share the burden with Kang. They have been through A LOT, and the show owes them some smooches, hugs and happy moments. Also, I wanted more brotherly scenes. Jun was such an interesting character, I actually expected him to be the typical angry 2nd lead in the earlier episodes and was pleasantly surprised that it did not happen as the drama went on. Jang Seung-jo played him with such layers of emotions every time Jun was conflicted on his decisions.
The drama had too much accidents that every time they're in the car or on the road I get nervous. Despite the complaints I had along the way I still enjoyed the performance of the cast.
Thanks for the recaps @teriyaki & @sailorjumun, I read your comments and enjoyed it as I marathoned the show.
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29 kramaddict
January 30, 2021 at 5:45 PM
Glad to have found this group. Thank you all for the recaps that help me enjoy each episode.
What a journey this has been. I began watching KDrama just a few months ago and this rates as one of the best ones I have enjoyed. I've noticed a theme through many has been one of redemption. It has been satisfying to see so many of the characters grow, healing within and then helping another. This one is no exception. For me, watching Director Kwan and Seon-ae finally reunite was especially touching.
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30 kramaddict
February 25, 2021 at 1:10 PM
Loved this series, really emotional through all 16 episodes. I have just one question that bugs me. What was the purpose of Cha-Yeong losing her sense of taste and smell? Sorry, but that was imho a totally useless story arc. Really makes what should have been a really sweet scene at the beginning of episode 16 when Kang was helping her select chocolates into something weird. If she can't smell or taste them, why bother?
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31 Hanne Holsten
September 4, 2021 at 7:30 AM
I loved the scenery and the music. The main characters were were wonderful. At times I wanted to scream at them reveal your true feelings to each other I loved the food scenes. It will be too slow moving for a certain audience. I still do not understand when she was left waiting for her Mother. Who raised herall those years.
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32 Tabitha Baley
October 2, 2021 at 4:31 PM
I share the opinion of hanging disappointment regarding Kang and Cha-young. I look at body language and you never see Cha-young reciprocate Kang as he embraces her. [Truth be told this is reflected with Tae-hyun's admonition to his sister about 1st loves never working out.]
There is a scene where if I'm not mistaken where she's drinking wine and with a flicker she realizes what he brother meant which to me was what she felt for Kang was not the 'love' he sought. It was her epiphany she realized that her response to Jun when asked if she liked Kang was her true feelings. It was not a love a woman feels for her soulmate. It was the gratitude she felt for him being her sanctuary. Truth-> I think Kang knew that and still loved her and accepted it which SUCKS!
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