Sell Your Haunted House: Episode 16 (Final)
by Branwen
Sell Your Haunted House comes to an emotionally satisfying conclusion as our duo deal with a few unpleasant last minute surprises. With the support of the Daebak team our exorcist re-evaluates what she wants in life, after a long-awaited farewell.
EPISODE 16 RECAP
Do stabs Ji-ah and then throws her to the ground, telling her that she shouldn’t have expected to live after messing with him. In-bum is still weak but manages to push Do away, giving Ji-ah enough time to grab her nail gun and hit Do around the head with it.
Do is interrupted by the arrival of Hwa-jung and Ji-chul and runs away, leaving both Ji-ah and In-bum unconscious. While fleeing the scene he gets into a fight with a mob of homeless people and dies after falling down a flight of stairs, cash fluttering loose in the air.
On the way to the hospital In-bum’s eyes suddenly snap open and the lights in the ambulance begin to flicker, causing the driver to lose control and crash into a parked car. In-bum emerges from the smoking wreck and walks away, now possessed by Do’s ghost.
Ji-ah wakes up after her emergency surgery to the news that In-bum has disappeared. Upon learning that Do is dead she remembers that In-bum’s necklace was broken during their run-in with the egg ghost, leaving him vulnerable to possession, and puts two and two together.
Ji-chul has analysed the CCTV footage in the area around the crash and can track Do by following the path of malfunctioning cameras he leaves in his wake — he seems to be heading slowly towards Daebak Realty. Ji-ah guesses that he’s planning to try and kill her again after failing at Sky Building.
Hwa-jung wants to go to the police but Ji-chul objects, worried about the consequences for In-bum if Do does something illegal while in his body. Ji-ah reassures him that she won’t let that happen.
Hwa-jung drops Ji-ah back at home after she’s discharged, but begs her to re-think calling in the police because she’s still not in any shape to be fighting ghosts and performing exorcisms. Ji-ah tells her that she made In-bum a promise the first time they worked together to take responsibility for anything he did while possessed, and she intends to keep it.
Ji-chul has been tailing Do and calls Ji-ah (he’s saved in her phone as +1) to let her know that he’s close. Ji-chul intervenes when he gets in altercation with a driver — worried that In-bum will have to suffer the repercussions if Do seriously injures the man — and gets sent flying, lying crumpled on the ground as Do marches on towards Daebak Realty.
Ji-ah is ready and waiting when Do enters the office and launches herself at him, but as they fight her stab wound reopens and it becomes clear she’s struggling. While being choked by Do, Ji-ah appeals to In-bum for help and he manages to wrest control of his body back for long enough for Ji-ah to free herself.
Do regains control, but Ji-ah manages to lure him into the backroom where she’s prepared a salt barrier, trapping him inside with her. Ji-ah and Do fight again but this time the balance is in Ji-ah’s favor, as she uses a metal exorcism tool to get the upper hand.
Ji-ah pins Do to the ground and presses the sealing tool into his chest, where it bursts into flames as Ji-ah curses his soul to burn forever to atone for his sins. Do’s spirit is pulled from In-bum’s body into a sealing jar, and Ji-ah collapses to the floor unconscious after setting the lid in place, the hand that held the sealing tool a burned mess. In-bum crawls towards Ji-ah and places his hand in hers before following suit.
Ji-ah wakes up in a hospital bed to see In-bum asleep at her bedside, still holding her hand. Her gaze softens as she thinks about him struggling with Do to save her, but she quickly looks away when he opens his eyes, overjoyed to see her awake.
In-bum feels guilty that Do almost killed her using his body, but Ji-ah tells him she’d be dead if he hadn’t fought Do’s ghost for control at that critical moment and thanks him for it, and In-bum thanks her for surviving. Hwa-jung watches their moment from the doorway and decides not to intrude, dragging Ji-chul away for lunch.
In-bum asks about the burns on Ji-ah’s hand and she explains that those are the nasty side-effect of sealing that she mentioned before. She didn’t want Do to get to move on peacefully to a better place, she wanted to make him suffer for what he had done, and now his spirit will burn for all eternity in the sealing jar.
In-bum gets discharged first and goes to thank Ji-chul for stopping Do from harming anyone while he was possessing In-bum, and getting hurt in the process. Ji-chul was trying to hide his injury in case In-bum felt needlessly guilty over it, and grumbles about Hwa-jung selling him out.
In-bum shocks Ji-chul by telling him that he loves him, explaining that someone once told him that the surefire way to make sure he never becomes a vengeful ghost is to express the emotions that he feels. He’s grateful to Ji-chul and he loves him so he wants him to know that, and Ji-chul tells In-bum that he’s grateful to him and loves him too.
When In-bum visits Ji-ah at the hospital she tells him that she intends to try sending her mother’s spirit off again when she’s discharged and asks for his help. She’s convinced that Mi-jin is angry with her after Ji-ah forced her to show her how she died, but In-bum says that as her mother she’ll understand how Ji-ah feels.
Stood in the hospital lobby as she’s about to leave, Ji-ah looks around and realises that she can’t see ghosts anymore. When she gets home she rushes past Ji-chul and his celebratory cake and goes straight upstairs to summon Mi-jin, but can’t see her when she appears.
Ji-ah guesses that sealing a spirit must also seal away the exorcist’s abilities, which is why it’s only done as a last resort, and frantically wonders how she’s supposed to help her mother’s spirit leave without them.
Over drinks, Hwa-jung confides in Team Leader Jung that she’s worried Ji-ah won’t be able to recover from this setback, but he tells her to have more faith in Ji-ah’s strength. At Daebak, In-bum hesitates to disturb Ji-ah and tells the others to give her more time, as Ji-chul gripes that it’s just like Do to still be a thorn in their side even after death.
Ji-chul wonders if they could just use the awl while Mi-jin’s possessing In-bum anyway, but Hwa-jung quickly shoots that idea down by telling them that if someone without exorcist abilities did that then the medium would actually be stabbed.
Just then Ji-ah comes downstairs and the others all stare at her in shock when she announces that she’s going out to eat. At the restaurant, both Hwa-jung and In-bum fuss over Ji-ah, loading her plate with meat, and even Ji-chul donates a piece which gets a tiny smile out of her.
Ji-ah tells them that she underestimated the effects of the sealing ritual but she doesn’t regret doing it, because Do deserved what he got. She doesn’t know that the loss of her abilities will be permanent anyway, and the team resolves to help her look for a way to bring them back.
Ji-chul’s idea is for Ji-ah to put her hands in a cauldron of piping hot salt to recharge her energy, like wrestlers do, which she shoots down immediately. Hwa-jung has Ji-ah devour a table full of food in the hopes that it’ll help her recover her stamina, to no avail. In-bum attempts to hypnotise her with a pocket watch but accidentally entrances Ji-chul instead.
Sitting in the park at night, In-bum asks Ji-ah if she’s actually okay or if she’s just trying very hard to be. Ji-ah tells him that she always wanted to be normal when she was a kid, but now that wish has come true she feels like she’s nothing without her abilities. She’s not going to wallow in self-pity this time though, because she’s determined to regain her powers and send her mother’s spirit off.
Hyun-joo brings over boxes of food to express her gratitude to Ji-ah for giving her the chance to send Chang-hwa off properly with a home-cooked meal, and Ji-ah remembers how he’d left himself in the end without her intervention.
Ji-ah tells Hwa-jung that she thinks she can send Mi-jin off without using the spirit awl too, if she can let go of her. Her resentment towards Mi-jin for leaving her behind, her guilt for killing her, and her selfish desire to keep her mother by her side even as a ghost have been holding Mi-jin’s spirit back.
After facing the egg ghost and having to choose between sacrificing herself or allowing many other people to die, Ji-ah feels that even if she still doesn’t agree with Mi-jin’s decision, she can understand it a little better now. It’s taken a long time, but she’s finally ready to surrender her resentment and guilt towards her mother.
Hwa-jung takes Ji-ah’s hand and tells her that it’s not surprising that it took her time to get to this stage, because it’s always hard to let go of someone you love.
Ji-ah finds In-bum poring over the old exorcism records looking for a way to help her — Ji-chul has already conked out — and asks him to help her perform an exorcism. As Hwa-jung waits anxiously downstairs, Ji-ah covers her eyes with a blindfold and asks In-bum to remove his necklace.
When Ji-ah opens her eyes Mi-jin is standing in front of her with her arms open, looking the way she did in life, and Ji-ah rushes into her embrace. Ji-ah tearfully apologises for making Mi-jin suffer on her behalf by holding onto her, but Mi-jin replies that it’s been a pleasure to watch Ji-ah grow up so well.
Mi-jin tells Ji-ah that it’s time for her to go, and asks her to apologise to In-bum on her behalf for what she almost did to him. Ji-ah can’t accept it and pleads with her mother not to leave her alone again, but Mi-jin smiles and replies that Ji-ah has never been alone, in the past or in the present, because she’s surrounded by people who love her.
Mi-jin tells Ji-ah that she’s a better exorcist than her mother ever was, and she’s proud of her for all the people she’s helped and all the people she will help in the future. Tears rolling down her cheeks, Ji-ah tells Mi-jin that she won’t have to be cold anymore and lets go of her hands, and Mi-jin’s spirit disappears, leaving Ji-ah sobbing alone.
In-bum drops to his knees as the spirit awl disintegrates by itself, and realises that Mi-jin has gone. He gently removes the blindfold from Ji-ah’s face, and holds her as she cries her heart out.
Before she leaves, Mi-jin’s spirit appears to Hwa-jung and apologises for entrusting her with such a big responsibility before she died. Hwa-jung tells her it was her pleasure to care for Ji-ah, and Mi-jin thanks her for doing it so well.
Ji-ah gets a call from In-bum telling her to get dressed and come outside, where she finds him posing against a convertible. He drives her to the columbarium to visit her mother, having heard from Hwa-jung that she’s never been, and tells her to come here whenever she misses Mi-jin and wants comfort.
As they leave, Ji-ah tells In-bum that she never really had any dreams about what she wanted to do in life when she was a kid, not seeing the point since she was fated to become an exorcist anyway no matter how she felt about it. He asks what her dream is now, since she’s free to choose, and she tells him that she’s decided she wants to be an exorcist.
In-bum says that he’s also decided what he wants to do but won’t tell Ji-ah, and she sniffs and pretends she wasn’t really curious anyway.
When Ji-ah gets back to the office Hwa-jung asks her if she’s said her farewells to In-bum and scolds her when she finds out that Ji-ah still hasn’t told him she’s decided to head out on a trip to recover her abilities, not knowing when she’ll return.
Watching Hwa-jung immediately start to touch up her makeup after getting a text, Ji-ah asks if she’s going on a date with Team Leader Jung but she denies it. Ji-ah tells her she should go out and enjoy herself even if it’s not with Team Leader Jung, since she sacrificed so much of her free time for years looking after Ji-ah, and Hwa-jung tells her that she’s always had a thriving personal life so Ji-ah can stop being so dramatic.
In-bum and Ji-chul watch on as Hwa-jung extinguishes the Daebak Realty sign and locks up for the last time. Ji-chul complains that it was too cruel of Ji-ah to just leave without saying goodbye, but In-bum has faith that she’ll return.
Hwa-jung says it was fun while it lasted and orders the guys to stay out of trouble, and Ji-chul tells her to stop acting like this is goodbye for good because he intends to text her every day. After one last lingering look at Daebak, they get into their separate vehicles and drive away.
One year later, Ji-chul meets with a bereaved mother and tells her that he’s deleted all digital traces of her deceased daughter’s online presence, as she requested. He gets a call from Soo-jung and enthusiastically agrees to meet up the next day to celebrate some good news.
Chang-hwa Restaurant has reopened and Tae-jin serves tables full of hungry customers, fussing over Hyun-joo and bashfully agreeing when a man asks if he’s the owners’ son. Hwa-jung, Team Leader Jung and Detective Kang enjoy themselves over dinner and drinks at a pop-up bar.
Ji-ah walks down the street towards Daebak Realty wheeling a suitcase behind her, and passes under a banner proclaiming the redevelopment cancelled. In-bum emerges from the record room as she climbs the stairs, and both are surprised to see each other. In-bum asks nervously if Ji-ah found what she was searching for and she simply smiles and holds her once-scarred hand up for him to see.
The neon sign above the door lights up once again, proclaiming Daebak Realty open for business. A wealthy man enters and is greeted by Ji-chul, Hwa-jung and In-bum, and Ji-ah makes a dramatic entrance to ask her customary question: have there been any deaths in the property recently?
In-bum and Ji-ah stand in front of a large building at night as Ji-chul tells them through their earpieces that he’s secured the area and Hwa-jung nags them about being more careful not to damage anything this time. They stride forward together, ready to perform another exorcism.
COMMENTS
And so Sell Your Haunted House comes to a reasonably strong end with most of the loose ends neatly wrapped up. I actually think it was stronger in the first half and missed the case-of-the-week format once we moved away from it, but overall I enjoyed the ride. For the most part the writing has been consistent and well-reasoned, and the maturity of the characters and the clear communication between them was refreshing. Ji-ah and Mi-jin’s farewell was lovely and a fitting conclusion to their story. Ji-ah had been mourning her mother for 20 years but was finally ready to let her go after reaching the final stage of grieving: acceptance.
I’m a little conflicted about this episode because I wasn’t happy about a couple of major things that happened — namely Do’s abrupt death and Ji-ah losing her exorcism abilities — but I did like the consequences of them. Do’s death and possession of In-bum felt rushed and way too convenient to be believable (which even the writers acknowledged, lampshading it with a comment from Detective Kang about it seeming absurd), but Ji-ah sealing his soul away to burn forever as punishment for his crimes was exactly the kind of justice I wanted to see. Call me vindictive, but that was way more satisfying than a prison sentence.
Ji-ah losing her abilities also came out of left-field (why would the books just say there were serious side effects and not elaborate?) and I know she said later she’d make the same choice if she could do it again, but I think her decision would have had more impact if she’d known what she was sacrificing when she did it. Having said that, I love that when freed from the burden of her abilities Ji-ah makes a deliberate choice to become an exorcist again. It shows how far she’s come from the person who was holed up in her own shell, resenting her role and trying not to involve herself in people’s lives any more than she had to. It was a pleasure to watch her grow and regain her confidence and trust in others over the course of this drama — although I’m really glad she stuck to her signature black and didn’t revert back to pastels!
Ji-ah was the heart of this drama and Jang Nara gave a phenomenal performance — I couldn’t look away when she was on-screen. She’s really pushed herself out of her comfort zone with this role and proven herself a much more versatile actress than I’d previously given her credit for. Kudos also goes to Jung Yong-hwa who I initially had doubts about — he wasn’t quite a traditional leading man but brought a softness and vulnerability to In-bum that suited the character really well and complemented Ji-ah’s strength and stoicism.
I am disappointed with the lack of romance between Ji-ah and In-bum, because I feel as though it was often teased and hinted at but never came to anything. What a waste of such amazing chemistry! They had such an amazing, supportive relationship and there were some lovely moments in this episode, from In-bum holding Ji-ah while she was crying to the soft look on Ji-ah’s face when she woke up in hospital to find In-bum holding her hand. I love that Ji-ah was so intent on fulfilling her promise to In-bum to take responsibility for him while he was possessed, and live up to the trust he placed in her, and I love that In-bum took the time to really ask Ji-ah if she was okay — he’s a great judge of knowing just what she needs, be that advice, someone to listen, or just some space. The respect, trust and affection they had for each other showed in all their interactions, and their relationship truly was a partnership.
I’m rarely a fan of time-skips and I’m not convinced this one was necessary, but I am happy that Ji-ah got some time to heal and that everyone ended up back together again. The Daebak team dynamics were great, as they grew comfortable with each other over time and In-bum and Hwa-jung got over their initial hostility and bonded over doting on Ji-ah, and she started looking less annoyed and more fondly exasperated at Ji-chul’s antics. I also really appreciate that the writers gave time to little moments like Mi-jin thanking Hwa-jung for looking after Ji-ah, In-bum letting Ji-chul know he appreciates him, and both Tae-jin and Hyun-joo flushing with pride and happiness at being mistaken for a mother and son. It felt genuine and really fleshed the characters out well, and the kindness and love in those interactions was heart-warming to watch. I really loved the central tenet of this drama: express your emotions freely and live with no regrets.
I’d happily watch another season, just saying.
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Tags: Ahn Gil-kang, Jang Nara, Jung Yong-hwa, Kang Hong-seok, Sell Your Haunted House
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1 OldLawyer
June 14, 2021 at 11:27 PM
As to the lack of a romance between Ji-ah and Im-bum: It would have been out of place in this story. But that very fact is why there could be a second season.
Ji-ah used to be against marriage precisely because she did not want to burden a child with her gift- do not forget that the ability in inherited. But her attitude towards exorcism is completely different now- and that changes her attitude towards children as well. Now continuing the family tradition would seem like a good idea. And Im-bum would be the best father for them.
But, apparently he would stop being a medium if he looses his virginity. Does Ji-ah turn to other mediums again? Is there another way around this?
Assuming that Jang Na-ra were available these questions- and ones related to them- would be the foundation for a second season which would be a new story and yet a true continuation of the first season.
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Lord Cobol (Kdramas, like water, flow downhill)
June 15, 2021 at 12:58 AM
But... What if In-bum loses his virginity while possessed? Does that count?
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OldLawyer
June 15, 2021 at 7:20 AM
Maybe its the solution.
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allin
June 15, 2021 at 11:47 PM
that sounds vaguely porny
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ar_arguably romantic
June 15, 2021 at 7:54 PM
It's possible the both of them are actually asexual romantics. Then In-beom can stay a virgin forever!
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allin
June 15, 2021 at 11:41 PM
part of the fun of season 2 would be determining exactly how they can hook up without in beom losing his psychic abilities. or maybe making the very fun discovery that he DOESN'T lose them. because, y'know, he's special. and with those genes their kids would be ultra super special powerful.
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Ann
June 16, 2021 at 7:12 AM
Yes, this will be a good story for Season 2. When is it?😀
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OldLawyer
June 16, 2021 at 10:04 AM
We do not know if there is any plan for a second season. Both of these leads are fairly sought after and it may not be possible, so this is just speculation as to what might be possible.
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light
June 18, 2021 at 4:57 AM
The actors mentioned a possibility of season 2 if it receives enough love.
Chrysalidding
June 16, 2021 at 7:15 PM
trying to figure out how to hook up without him losing his psychic abilities would be ultra fun! would he have to be ascetic and travel around for a year to regain his 'yang' energy if he does lose it? =p
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2 knewbie
June 14, 2021 at 11:28 PM
I’m a bit disappointed by the last two episodes. Separately, each of the plot elements is fine. Together, they felt kind of repetitive and interminable. Is it because the narrative started dragging, with In-bum being possessed by two evil spirits in a row and Ji-ah ending up in hospital twice? And although the old “trap his spirit in a magic pot and torture him for eternity” trick does suit Do Hak-sung's cartoon villainy, it seems a little out of place in a show about letting go and moving on. DHS dying ignominiously in the middle of assaulting the homeless and scrabbling for cash in a grimy underpass - now that is a fitting end for the guy.
Still, Mi-jin’s farewell to Ji-ah and Hwa-jung was deeply moving, and all in all, I feel this show has been put together with more thought and care than most other K-dramas. It isn’t just the plot and the characters, but also the costumes, the look of the set, the music, etc. And the cast of course! Jang Na-ra is a revelation here. She and Kang Mal-geum have been absolutely wonderful as the two alpha females leading Team Daebak.
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FlyingTool
June 15, 2021 at 9:06 AM
“ And although the old “trap his spirit in a magic pot and torture him for eternity” trick does suit Do Hak-sung's cartoon villainy, it seems a little out of place in a show about letting go and moving on.”
Well said. I have to agree.
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light
June 18, 2021 at 4:59 AM
Cried buckets at the mother's farewell scenes. Well done.
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drabea
August 26, 2021 at 11:23 AM
knewbie. <- I stuck with this show, mainly to see how the story would wrap up. I liked the actors, (except for Ji Chul's girlfriend) but just could wait to get back to it.
Regarding: "Mi-jin’s farewell to Ji-ah and Hwa-jung was deeply moving,", I found that I was quite disconnected from it.
I agree that Mi-Jin's part was tender, but the subs that I saw agreed with the recap:
"Ji-ah can’t accept it and pleads with her mother not to leave her alone again,".
After all the repetitive messages throughout the episodes about "letting go", I couldn't understand ending up with Ji-A's repetitive, wailing pleading for her mother not to leave.
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knewbie
August 26, 2021 at 9:47 PM
For me, Ji-ah's pleas etc were not just understandable but very realistic and touching. JA had been in deep denial since her mother's death. She had convinced everyone, including herself, that she was desperate to send Mi-jin's ghost away, but her subconscious desire to hold on to her mother was so strong that it had defeated all her best efforts. So it must be agonising for her to finally face what she'd avoided all these years: the genuine prospect of never ever seeing her mother again. Wailing and gnashing of teeth seem pretty reasonable in the circumstances.
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3 LT is Irresistibly Indifferent, Dame Judi
June 15, 2021 at 12:02 AM
This turned into such a beautiful drama about letting go of your past and starting anew. I'm so glad I persisted with it after those two awful episodes in week 5.
I'm even fine with them not pursuing a romance since I felt like Jia-ah and In-bum became natural partners instead.
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mmmmm
June 15, 2021 at 5:14 AM
I agree with this!
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Alluvial_Fan
June 15, 2021 at 6:38 AM
Natural partners is a great concept that Kdramas need to consider. When male and female characters are depicted as being able to sustain a caring, supportive relationship that does not include romance, it will be a huge step forward (and away from the patriarchy).
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tsutsuloo
June 15, 2021 at 10:02 AM
Hwang Shi-mok and Han Yeo-jin's partnership in Stranger exemplify this type of relationship. Prior to season 2, the actors were asked what their characters meant to each other. Both said that they were each other's "best partners."
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ar_arguably romantic
June 15, 2021 at 8:04 PM
I felt like I got both the cake and the eating it part with the non-romance. I like have two beautiful people to ship and imagine a romance for in the future and not having a romance written in to interrupt the point of the story. We didn't have to end up attributing Ji-ah's change to discovering romantic love.
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4 paroles
June 15, 2021 at 12:23 AM
I thought I should just pop up and share a few BTS stories. The writer has started a journal on the creative process of the SYHH script. On the romance, they never intended to develop it. The hand holding skinship was not a plot device for that (although I would argue it's the best hand holding excuse ever). Also, and I personally concur with them on this point, it's impossible for the two to get together with seeing how Ji-ah's mother died. The only unexpected element for them was that the leads generated way too much romantic chemistry (no surprise with JNR) which led to fans requesting for romantic scenes, which I agree with OldLawyer will look extremely out of place given the tone of the and the slow progression of their relationship. Romance was never on the cards.
Anyway, I'm not supposed to share this so if you guys want to know more (with the help of Google translate) you can register for a Kakao talk account and head over the drama fan cafe page to check the posts.
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paroles
June 15, 2021 at 12:24 AM
given the tone of the drama*
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paroles
June 15, 2021 at 12:25 AM
and head over to the Daum drama fan cafe page*
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Lelly19
June 15, 2021 at 1:44 AM
Ok, maybe they never intended to develop any romance, yet they did a lot of teasing throughout the drama..add to that the undeniable chemistry between the leads and it's understandable why so many people, me included, felt a little cheated in the end!! xD
Having said that, I agree that romance would have been somewhat out of place in the show; in fact I did not miss it throughout its run, but only at the end! The fact that it was the last episode, plus the chance of seeing more of these characters being pretty low, might have had some influence there ahaha! I was still very happy, though, just a tad greedy! ^^
One thing though, why would their past history stop them from being together as a couple? By dramaland standards I don't think it's that far fetched...no?
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paroles
June 15, 2021 at 3:11 AM
I was confused why people felt cheated because I did not see an opening for anything overtly romantic as far as the story goes. There was no way to put it in a natural manner that would fit in with the vibes of the show.
By drama standards no, but forgoing the fantasy elements, the emotions in SYHH run realistic rather than dramatic.
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Lelly19
June 15, 2021 at 3:38 AM
Yes, I understand, we just see it differently! ^^
That's normal, to get different perspectives even when watching the same exact story! xD
I don't know, it felt like they developed a connection/relationship that in the end helped them both overcome their shared tragedy from the past, so why not develop it more! Would that be too dramatic??
(I'm just speaking hypothetically here, I'm not saying the show should have actually done it)
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paroles
June 15, 2021 at 4:54 AM
From my perspective, it's more like if I was told to add romance into the show, can I do it? The answer is no. Given the characterisation of Ji-ah and the backstory, I don't think there is a feasible way to do it. I've seen many people suggest different ways to incorporate romance, and to put it bluntly, they all seem like terrible ideas and just don't work.
It might be just a matter of personal preferences and interpretation, but I don't think the connection necessarily leads to romance. Ji-ah and her mother were victims in this situation, and in fact the resolution of the past tragedy was done in a relatively flippant manner. I do not really agree with the direction there and I felt there wasn't a satisfying conclusion to In-bum's uncle's misdeeds. Even if that was not an issue, the push still has to come from Ji-ah if we want to develop the romance. It doesn't make sense for someone on the side of the perpetrator to initiate it (some might say In-bum is innocent, but I think practically speaking you cannot separate the family from the person). There hasn't been any obvious sign of her interest though. The chemistry is apparent, but the feelings are one-sided.
I just don't think there is time and opportunity to develop it.
Kurama
June 15, 2021 at 5:04 AM
@paroles I think the story focused on the mother-daughter relationship. But in the future, I could see a relationship between them. The're not guilty for what happened in the past. The uncle did kill innocent people but it was an accident, the mother tried to kill a kid without searching for more informations. Both were wrong.
Ji-Ah and Im-Bum don't feel any resentment, so a love story could be possible in the future.
paroles
June 15, 2021 at 5:15 AM
@kurama That's perhaps where the difference in opinion arises because I do think uncle is absolutely guilty whereas Ji-ah's mother just subscribes to utilitarianism. And it was precisely because of In-bum's uncle's actions that she had to make such a decision. I do agree that perhaps given more time in the future, the writer might be able to take things in another direction, but right now I don't see that happening.
Lelly19
June 15, 2021 at 6:03 AM
@paroles
Ok, now I understand better your perspective, it's always interesting to hear different point of views!
Though I still tend to disagree overall, especially considering that both kids (at the time) were victim of something out of their control, they don't have to carry that guilt over their own lives too..I feel like the show wanted us to believe both of them let go of the past and moved on, that's why I see a possibility for more! But we're just talking about hypothetical scenarios anyways 😅
(Also hopefully I'm not sounding like I'm trying to convince you here, just sharing a different take 🙈)
paroles
June 15, 2021 at 7:03 AM
@cubely No worries, I didn't get that impression at all. I'm also open to being convinced, but I think with dramas there's a subjective element to it so it's difficult. Personally, I find the interactions interesting and I don't care for a conclusion so I'm not bothered about it. I have no problem with open endings without a clear definition of the leads' relationship. These are all just opinions and preferences at the end of the day and there is no right or wrong.
Nothing
June 22, 2021 at 10:50 PM
The ost are a bit misleading..most of it involving love..though not inserted in drama..but im ok with no love line too
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5 paroles
June 15, 2021 at 12:41 AM
Back to my thoughts on the drama.
It would do much better if it had another ghost-of-the-day arc. 6 episodes were a few too many for wrapping up, especially if you want to keep up with the tight pace in the first half. Some of the mythology and background could have been introduced with another short story and that will make build up to the finale much more logical. I would still argue that world building is pretty good and the drama is generally consistent. It's a 9 for me till episode 12 and an 8 for all 16 parts.
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paroles
June 15, 2021 at 1:32 AM
Maybe just a final comment.
I'm not great at creative writing, but I do know some basics. I think what should be applauded with regard to this drama is the introduction of how ghosts are exorcised, the tools used, the role of the exorcist and the role of the medium. As a half-baked mathematician, I consider these details analogous to axioms that do not require proof.
Let me just say that it's very important to have facts when you make conjectures and therefore I appreciate that the writers put thought into the world building. We are eventually left with "how to exorcise egg ghosts" and "how to exorcise Ji-ah's mother" as the mysteries, and the solutions could be derived from the building blocks we were given. I remember in the very first episodes there were already people doubting Ji-ah's mother's classification as a property bounded ghost and it was suggested that exorcists can also be possessed. The fact that names are required to perform exorcism was a recurring thing in the drama as well.
My point is that logic is very important in dramas, even if these are just made-up stories. If you think that I'm insinuating something, you are darn right I am.
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6 Lord Cobol (Kdramas, like water, flow downhill)
June 15, 2021 at 1:02 AM
Agree. Case-of-the-week can be much better than 97% of the big story arcs that kdramas always have to inflict on us. Are you listening, Voice 4??
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7 Kurama
June 15, 2021 at 1:32 AM
I loved this drama!
I was happy with the stupid death of Director Do, it's so funny that someone so powerful died in a such way. Our heroes are not killers, they couldn't kill him, but Ji-Ah got her revenche making suffering a looong time. I loved they had a special "bank" for that. I wondered how many exorcist exist.
This drama was the journey of Ji-Ah. She needed to let her mum go and even if she knew it, it was very difficult until the end. She needed to embrass her heritage as an exorcist too. She felt she had to do it but now she wants to do it. Their ideas to help her to find back her powers were so funny. I really liked the touches of humor in this drama.
Our con team was super cute and caring. I loved when Im-Bum said to Heo Ji-Chul that he loves him and he thanked him. Im-Bum formed a great team with Ji-Ah, he always trusted her and agreed she was the strongest, he didn't less a man for that, no ego issue! He was there for her, he gave her time to heal but good advices too.
For the love story, it didn't bother me so much. It was more about Ji-Ah and her mother. But for a second season, it could be fun to watch them finding a way for them to be a couple without Im-Bum loosing his powers as a psychic. I can already imagine a lot of funny moments :p
I'm very happy with this story. The story was simple but effective. We learned about the different ghosts step by step. The way to exorcize them was pretty inventive with the need of an exorcist and a psychic, the hairpin with the name of the ghost, the nail gun to stop them, etc.
The OST was pretty good too! I like when an actor sings an OST :)
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Dorotka
June 15, 2021 at 4:58 AM
Absolutely agree. I also liked how Do's death was basically his own doing.
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Miky
June 15, 2021 at 10:24 AM
Ji Ah told him that money will be his death and it was indeed...
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allin
June 15, 2021 at 11:36 PM
totally agree, it was really refreshing to have a male lead who was confident enough in himself not to feel threatened by the strong female lead
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8 Lelly19
June 15, 2021 at 2:20 AM
This show was love..or daebak!! xD
It was not perfect, some parts were weaker than others, but overall I enjoyed it all!
I binged it till ep 14 and then caught up with the last 2 episodes a few days later (once ep 16 aired) and I felt like the pace was great throughout. I really loved all the episodes, this finale included!
I actually appreciate the way they resolved Do Hak-Sung's storyline, both his "ridiculous" death (karma??) and the fate of his soul. I also liked how this was dealt with fairly quickly, so they had more time to give Ji-ah's mom a proper send off; can't explain it, but it was really satisfying to watch. Also some tears might have been shed, there, and surprisingly, what got me was when Mi-jin appeared to Hwa-Jung, probably because I wasn't expecting it..it was pretty moving!
Didn’t mind the time jump, because I feel like everyone needed some time off to deal with everything that had happened, and we didn’t have to see it, necessarily; but it was nice to know that in the end the squad would be back together again doing their thing! ^^
...and then who knows, they can still tell us more about that in season 2 maybe??? ahahah!!
I just loved it a lot, and loved the cast, and I need more of Jang Na-ra looking bad-ass in all black! xD
..Jung Yong-Hwa was pretty fine too hehe ^^
In the meantime I started a rewatch!! It’s just as good as the first time! <3
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ar_arguably romantic
June 15, 2021 at 8:16 PM
I like how the time jump wasn't because someone was running away from something. I can imagine there being a Daebak Realty group chat and Ji-ah popping in every other month to leave a curt text.
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allin
June 15, 2021 at 11:34 PM
i have a feeling i'll be bingeing this again soon too
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checkinout
June 16, 2021 at 2:45 AM
I’ve just started rewatching it too and boy, have our leads come a long way. Reminded me again how well the character development and relationship building between our leads were done - so organic and believable.
Also reminded me of how good the guest actors here were. I do miss our episodic ghost of the week stories. This show is set up so well for seasons!
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Juliet
June 16, 2021 at 7:22 AM
I am rewatching it too. I even wrote the “time”of my favorite scenes so I could watch it whenever. For someone who is afraid of ghosts ( because I feel them and believe they truly exist), I even watch this at night. I learned a lot too. I will be more mindful of how I treat others especially my own people. It is the best 2021drama for me. Thanks for the recap.
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9 Kafiyah Bello
June 15, 2021 at 4:49 AM
This was a delightful drama and I am happy I was wrong about Jung Yong Hwa's acting abilities, he has really improved. Luckily he was paired with one of the best in the business, but he still held his own rather well.
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Kurama
June 15, 2021 at 5:17 AM
You should watch The Package. He was so funny in this role! And every character has his/her own story. It was a nice and funny drama.
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OldLawyer
June 15, 2021 at 7:55 AM
I loved THE PACKAGE. And Jung Yong-hwa was very good in it- which is why I could not understand the doubts as to his acting abilities going into this drama. Plus he was paired with Jang Na-ra which was bound to bring out the best in him- and did.
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allin
June 15, 2021 at 11:33 PM
i suspect people still have residual memories of yonghwa's very first performances in YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL and HEARTSTRINGS where he was a greenhorn actor and still figuring it all out. thankfully he's had a few more dramas under his belt and he's developed his skills so he was pretty well able to keep pace with nara here. he was lucky enough to get to hone more of his acting skills with her and i think he rose to the occassion
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misamisa
June 16, 2021 at 6:33 AM
Yeah I guess so. But also marry me if you dare. He done good but has zero chemistry with FL.
Kurama
June 17, 2021 at 3:00 AM
@misamisa the writer was the issue with this drama. Yonghwa was the second lead, not the main one, and the writer changed the story, forgot about Lee Dong Gun... it was a big mess! But Yonghwa had chemistry with Han Chae Ah.
10 9ja Unni
June 15, 2021 at 5:04 AM
What I liked the most about this drama is that there was no relationship between Ji-ah and Im bum. I was not interested in that at all. It was a good drama all around.
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11 welh
June 15, 2021 at 5:42 AM
The lack of romance was baked into the story early with the purity of the psychic being a requirement to be a medium. Besides, the series worked best as a "buddy" drama.
The Do story and demise was a weak point. The irony was lost that the poor people he trampled to gain power eventually led to his death. The sealing of his spirit also was anti-climatic. JiAh's hand burn injury had to fully heal in order for her to regain her powers. Is there a guild of exorcists to take her place for her year hiatus?
It would have been better to see how JiAh healed herself during the year off instead of a quick time jump. But my biggest issue with the ending is that the old neighbors came back restart their lives. However, none of them owned their buildings. At that point, everyone should have moved on. Even if Do Construction would not go forward as the developer, a new one could have taken over. Even the cancelation of re-development does not change the sales contracts.
I did like the weekly ghost episodes. I also found it consistent that JiAh did not know everything about exorcism consequences but forged ahead. It also gave us hints at future issues, including the egg ghosts. I felt the world building and mythology of the series was very good. The plot twists were well done. I also think Jang Nara's performance was excellent. This is the best drama so far this year.
I am not in favor of a second season despite some lingering questions about JiAh's family, her unknown father, the 10 year gap after her mother's death and how In-beom became a con-man.
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12 OLakes
June 15, 2021 at 6:21 AM
I thoroughly enjoyed this drama, and it will probably be in the top 5 for me for 2021 (as things currently stand, though we do have another 6 months to go). I agree that Jang Na-ra was hugely the reason for this - she was absolutely incredible from start to finish, impossible to look away from whenever she was on screen. Ji-ah was incredibly real and fleshed out, and the emotional array she brought to the role was impressive.
I am also good with no romance, though I do think the drama teased the idea (whether or not they intended to). But as it never seemed to be more than In-beom having a little crush on Noona, it didn't really take up any space. In a way, it's perhaps a bit of a shame as they did have good chemistry - but it just wasn't that kind of a drama, and I'm okay with that. Instead, this drama gave depth to other kinds of love and togetherness, which was fantastic.
For a drama that was about the supernatural, there was something very fundamentally human and quotidian about it: the choices we make, the people with whom we keep company, the actions we take (or don't), and even the stories we tell ourselves about who we are and the life around us.
Finally, my only real regret is that I didn't wait to watch the episodes in pairs after airing got off-kilter. But that's on me, and not the drama! Thanks @branwen for excellent recapping all the way through!
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OldLawyer
June 15, 2021 at 8:01 AM
Your points illustrate the fact that this show was really well written. We should definitely thank the writer for giving this show real depth. This show may have featured the supernatural but that was not what it was about- as you said it was about the choices we make in life. I think that this will stand out as one of the five best shows of the year- even with some good shows coming.
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13 Dreamer205
June 15, 2021 at 9:11 AM
Thank you @branwen for recapping this drama!
It's been such an enjoyable ride and I'm going to miss anticipating new episodes every week.
I feel the same way about the romance. Even if our leads don't end up together I thought they would have at least hinted at the possibility. Even that hug could have been done so much better. Also it wasn't explained at all why Ji Ah and In Bum were both okay after exorcising the egg ghosts. I can only assume that they succeeded because they had a list of names of the deceased or that In Bum had a special energy combined with Ji Ah. I thought they would explain how/why their eyes glowed in the process of exorcism when In Bum made contact with Ji Ah as previously when they were kids. Other than that I enjoyed the finale. Ji Ah sending her mother off was touching and beautiful. I'm glad to see the Daebak team working together it the end. I think everyone was great in their roles, especially Jang Nara.
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14 bbstl 🧹
June 15, 2021 at 10:33 AM
So, I’ve been waiting for 16 episodes to learn what is that thing she is shooting, what does it shoot and why is she shooting it? It looks a lot like a staple gun I once owned, so I’m willing to accept that it’s a nail gun 👍🏼 But did we ever find out why shooting nails is part of the exorcism? Maybe I just missed that?
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welh
June 15, 2021 at 10:58 AM
It was used to close the gap in the salt barrier to allow the ghost to enter the exorcism space. I assume it used salt bullets to complete the seal so the ghost could not escape and the exorcism could be done. She also used it when In-beom was possessed to stop him from killing Director Do in the parking lot.
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mmmmm
June 15, 2021 at 11:31 AM
I think it’s a multi-purpose gun (like many things that she has); as the ghost can only enter the exorcised area when there is no salt, they have to leave a certain space for this. Then, when the ghost already entered the area, it’ll look too funny if someone needs to pour the salt to close the area and there will be a need for an extra person in the scene since In-Bum will have to be possessed and shouldn’t be assigned 2 difficult tasks. I’ll say that *me pretending to be the production team*, this is unacceptable; hence, the need for a cool-looking, multi-purpose gun.
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mmmmm
June 15, 2021 at 11:34 AM
And as already seen, the gun can be used to smack bad people and shoot normal people, too. It serves a lot of purposes, and I’m sure that it can be used in other ways as well but we haven’t seen this yet.
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allin
June 15, 2021 at 11:28 PM
semi-related: i always laughed when i saw the perfectly straight lines of salt around the exorcism area in each episode. you know that it took a production intern hours to set those up so neatly, but ji ah and in beom seemed to get it all arranged in about 15 minutes
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Seon-ha
March 31, 2024 at 7:08 PM
Definitely a salt-staple gun. After all, salt is a staple!
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mmmmm
April 1, 2024 at 9:56 AM
Hahaha that is a good one.
bbstl 🧹
June 15, 2021 at 4:09 PM
Thank you all very much!I wish I had asked 14 episodes ago so I wasn’t still laughing every time she used it. Beanies know all!
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tsutsuloo
June 15, 2021 at 3:38 PM
In the SYHH Special, the production staff called it a "salt bomb gun." It was a real nail gun they made lighter for Jang Na-ra. The actress joked she was weak and found the gun was still quite heavy!
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korfan
June 16, 2021 at 12:28 AM
I wondered about this too for the longest time! I did recognize it as a nail gun, which I assumed was altered for her use. However, I specifically wanted to know what she actually loaded into the gun that created those "glow-y" barriers!
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quimby
June 16, 2021 at 6:38 AM
Those are salt bullets according to what they say :) Maybe they're pressed salt that stay together like those bamboo-fired salt balls?
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15 Lady Lolo
June 15, 2021 at 12:57 PM
Thank you for the recaps and insight, @branwen! I was a bit worried about the ending of this show - given the cliffhanger ending from the last episode - but it stuck the landing! Jang Nara is always a treat to watch, and I especially loved Ji-ah. I never fail to be amazed at what roles she could pull off. I was also pleasantly surprised at Jung Yong-Hwa's performance since I haven't really watched any dramas with him. His character perfectly complemented Jang Nara's. While I'm not too disappointed about the lack of romance given the tone of the show, it feels like a waste of such great chemistry... perhaps a second season, please?
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tsutsuloo
June 15, 2021 at 4:20 PM
In my four years of watching Asian dramas, I feel like most shows have given up by the last episode. I know you can't please everyone, but it's such a treat when a drama manages to deliver catharsis and tie up most plot points.
I was okay with the lack of overt romance because the explorations of self-forgiveness, trust and caring for others was deeply profound. (Plus, my head canon has In-bum figuring out a way to lodge himself in Ji-ah's heart on a permanent basis.)
It would be great if DramaBeans published an essay about what makes good chemistry and what happens when it isn't consummated in a romantic relationship.
I echo everyone's thanks to @branwen for her outstanding recaps and commentary! I hope to follow your next recap!
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allin
June 15, 2021 at 11:26 PM
yonghwa the singer is known for being able to harmonize with anyone so i wonder if that somehow translated over to his performance here. he and nara really played beautifully together
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16 checkinout
June 15, 2021 at 5:59 PM
I found the last episode deeply satisfying - Do got his deserved end (I just LOVED how fierce JiAh was when she pronounced his eternal punishment) and the goodbye between JiAh and her mum was beautifully executed (love the bonus apology to InBum and thank you to HwaJung). We also got some laughs when our DRE gang tried to help JiAh regain her powers and cringe-swoon with InBum and his sports car "date" that actually had a really sweet purpose.
Am so glad the drama ended strongly and stayed true to its overall logic and message. And while my brain could rationally understand why there simply was no place for a romance between InBum and JiAh within this story, my poor poor heart was yearning for so much more. Dang that CHEMISTRY between JNR and JYH! When InBum made his long awaited love confession, but to JiChul instead of JiAh, I literally laughed out loud at how the writers were trolling us!
I've also been following the writer's daily updates/essays in the Daum Fan Cafe and I can feel his love and devotion to the show. Even the director is out in twitter responding to fan tweets about the drama. I think that's what made this drama extra special, everyone who was involved from the actors, director, writers, set designers, stylists, cgi team, sound/music direction... and I'm sure I'm missing some, seems to have a deep love and pride for their craft. And that truly showed in this little gem of a drama about 'ghosts' that had so much heart.
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mmmmm
June 15, 2021 at 6:43 PM
A shout-out to the show's cast and crew!
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17 ar_arguably romantic
June 15, 2021 at 8:36 PM
A solid drama! Though it had like 2 weaker episodes in the last quarter, it was thankfully not one of those "it takes 4 episodes to get into it. Then it gets really good." dramas nor was it one of those "it went off the rails in the last half". I like solid dramas because they're easier to recommend people. I thought it had a strong and fitting ending. Whether it be kdramas or american tv shows, endings are hard and being able to stick the landing deserves a round of applause.
And Jang Nara made me cry a bucket of tears in ep 16. For her entire life she has been able to send off spirits and bring peace to the loved ones left behind. It was touching to see her without her exorcism powers and finally getting to be like one of the many people she has helped. She finally got her turn!
I love how supportive Ji-chul, In-beom, and Hwa-jung are. They've developed a bond. I love how Ji-chul told Hwa-jung that he will text every day. And In-beom may not be Ji-ah's future husband, but they have such a great friendship and partnership. I was touched when he brought her to the columbarium. He knew she needed that.
My only dislike is the underwear PPL. Underwear in a can seems so not environmentally friendly. Like I can imagine having them in vending machines at airports, but getting cans of underwear as gifts or for yourself? Just buy them at a store and wash before use. Bring back the chips PPL
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allin
June 15, 2021 at 11:23 PM
it's nice to think that ji ah is finally getting her turn and her chance at peace
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18 allin
June 15, 2021 at 11:17 PM
I'm so glad the show gave ample time for Ji Ah to say goodbye to her mom. I also loved that Mi Jin visited Hwa-jung as well before leaving. I thought that was quite lovely. Special shoutout to combining the occult with Christianity in that scene (it's the second time we see Hwa-jung praying so I assume she's a Christian). The mood and tone of this drama was so consistent across its entire run, which is no easy feat considering 16 hour-plus long episodes. The characters stayed in character and their actions followed logically based on who they were and what situation they were in. They were allowed to have flaws and blinds spots and still remained highly likable. The worldbuilding made sense and the small details such as the quotidian work done at the Blue Salt manufacturing headquarters were delightful and imaginative. Truly a well-made and well-crafted show. I will miss it.
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19 korfan
June 16, 2021 at 12:54 AM
I'm glad I watched this as it turned out to be quite enjoyable. In the beginning, I mentioned that I suspected it would take me a while to warm up to Jung Yong-hwa because I simply had reservations about him. But win me over he did. With Jang Nara, there were never any doubts. She always delivers.
For all the trouble our main villain caused, his death was almost too simple but the whole sealing situation definitely made up for it.
Finally, another nice detail was the goodbye between Ji-ah and her mother. So much of Ji-ah's life was consumed by the thoughts of what happened that fateful day long ago that Ji-ah was, dare I say, basically just existing rather than living. I'd like to think that Ji-ah now goes forward, feeling less burdened and able to find joy and happiness.
Thank you for the recaps Branwen!
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20 misamisa
June 16, 2021 at 6:48 AM
This drama is definitely my cup of tea. I'm not into romance drama these days and this drama came and ended my drama slump.
What's magical about this drama is how well in beom and jiah understand each other. They supported each other through their flaws and behave like a wise people. They dont beat around the bush and solved their problem directly.
I'm definitely okay with no romance. Not all people in a boat will end up romantically. Man and woman can be best friend because why not.
Will definitely watch this again soon
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21 Mike
June 16, 2021 at 9:59 PM
Well, I watched it... all the way through... and enjoyed it for the most part...and I suspect I'll soon forget about it. It was technically a very good series. Well paced, well acted, well filmed. But there just wasn't that extra *something* that makes a drama stand out. I think my issue was it was only about the surface stories, there was no deeper meaning to resonate. By that measure I'd have to say 'Meow, The Secret Boy' was actually the better series.
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Juliet
June 17, 2021 at 9:02 AM
Haha…I wish you can convince me that “ Meow, the Secret Boy was a better series…:)
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22 ShesPopular0911
June 17, 2021 at 7:00 AM
I'm afraid this going to be lengthy comment so I'll be cutting it by parts. somehow I'll be extra carefree about it bcus, after all, this is the final episode.
This episode is really the resolution (at least of their first story) and the quietest among all. It’s so peaceful and I love it. I think all ends met and ties knotted. I was just smiling all throughout the second half of the episode and also at war to shedding tears because I know it’s the end (again of the first story).
Okay talking about Do Hak Sung’s death, as Ji Ah manifested, money would kill him and it did at least in the most poetic way. It isn’t satisfying for a villain to fell out that fast though and I would surely nag about it if that ghost possession-final battle between him and Ji Ah didn’t happen.
For a second, I actually want to question Ji Ah’s personal matter on sealing Do’s spirit and literally burning him to hell. But then, no. Let’s leave that character alone “forever”. After all, everyone here is human who acts, reacts like human. Ji Ah took over that authority, punishing him in her own way, and we don’t mind it, I’m sure.
I also appreciate the promise she made for In Beom and the way she kept it until the end. That’s just pure heart. I love how the production behind the story became so mindful of the character’s progression.
The way In Beom resisted the possession shows how great care he has for his Ji Ah. And then him, reaching for her hand, it’s a mix of assurance and love. They both always hold hands in the most heart fluttering scenarios (but still they expect us to not crave for romance lol).
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ShesPopular0911
June 17, 2021 at 7:09 AM
Okay, lemme say the reviving power operation was so hilarious because it’s completely ridiculous lol (that HYPNOSIS CLOCK). I thought that would be a little extra for an ending episode later on but then I realized it brought me back to the original comedic genre of this drama. And we missed it after all the heartbreaking and heavy moments.
This story is all about sending Ji Ah’s mother spirit at the first place and when we got Changwa’s case, I already knew that would be the best resolution. Although it’s obvious, I like the fact that it took one more episode to get into that because it still needs progression and some healing along the way. “Letting go of a beloved is always painful…” If you didn’t shed a tear on that farewell scene, go and see a doctor. When Ji Ah refused to let her mother go, she looked like a kid, aww! That’s so wonderful and heartbreaking, at the same time. Finally, her mother will never be cold, y’all!
And another plot wise scene, ends to meet, is Mi Jin’s showing up and thanking Hwa Jeong for raising her daughter so well. That was less than a minute appearance yet so heavy and remarkable. I must say that’s one of the most memorable scenes in this drama. Vouching!
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23 ShesPopular0911
June 17, 2021 at 7:31 AM
I noticed that most fans and avid viewers of SYHH mainly ask for two events to happen or should've happened; the JiBeom endgame as a couple and Season 2.
So I learnt from the main actors (Jang Nara and Jung Yong Hwa) from their transcribed and translated interview after the ending of the drama that they both expect no love line even at the beginning of script reading.
I somehow trust this saying because they know the run of the story better than anyone here (objectively speaking, im sorry ), and actually kind of agree with that. Perhaps because I am not really into romance, or that I'm personally a fan of man and woman becoming best friends, or it's just refreshing to have this kind of relationship existed after all the drama I've watched. I'm sure they do love, care and will promise to commit with each other (are they already couple if this is the thing? again I have few ideas about love thingy).
But then, re-watching episode 9, that ending when Ji Ah and In Beom had this lovey-dovey, lowkey, sugarcoated thrilling fall on each other, isn't that a clear foreshadowing? Even in the eyes of non rom-com fan, that would be an enough teaser of future romance.
I understand though that in the period of 16 episode, it isn't enough to give spaces for romance. There had just been a lot that went on and I'm happy they stayed true and focused on healing.
Well this is a drama, I can say, that is shaped for such seasonal drama. They are master of perfect tonal combination, a lot of themes that diversified and whether they bring us romance or not between the leads, I'll still surely be tuning into it if heaven's provided. *fingers crossed
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24 light
June 18, 2021 at 4:43 AM
Excellent overall. Will remain as one of my most favourite kdramas ever. And I have been watching for 20 years. Lots of heart, excellent wit and comedic chemistry. Amazing cast ensemble. I cried and laughed, and swooned from the no romance romance. I am now a new fan of Jang Nara (she was electric, I agree) and as an old time fan of Yong Hwa (he is my first Kpop Bias), I am rather proud of him.
I don't mind a second season either. With the same production team please.
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25 Akmafa
May 10, 2022 at 8:58 PM
I've read all the comments from episode 1-16, I love how almost all the comments are positive, and appreciative. I love that @Branwen and other commentes highlight some trivial or detail scene that actually add more to the stories and characters. It makes me love this series more and more!
I'm not experienced enough with kdramas, but even that I surprised how mature these characters are. they do communicate! I also feel how well prepared the story/the plot is. kudos to the writers. and they dont drag too much! that actually surprise me too. the characters reconcile quickly too.
I have a girl crush on Jang Nara because of Go Back Couple. but I declare my self her fan because of this show. She is soooo good. This role is so different from all her works before. She can be that Tsundere! her voice, omg even her voice changed. and all the attires and accecories are chef kiss.
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Akmafa
May 10, 2022 at 9:01 PM
to add a little, I dont know how many times I've rewatched this show.
to be honest, I do want second season. I can't get enough of the characters. I love Four of them. so lovable. but I'm afraid season 2 will ruin this beautiful masterpiece. i'm afrain Jiah will be lovey dovey and not cold reserve gorgeous like we know (tho I want more romance too). So, I'm satisfied if it only have one season. but okay if there is possibility of season 2. Because now, I will watch anything with Jang Nara
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26 Ry
August 22, 2022 at 2:44 AM
I just watched this show and it's really,really good. I just want to put in two cents on some areas
> Ji-a sealing Do Hak-Seong being contrary to a show that preaches letting go and acceptance.
I disagree. The show doesnt talk only about letting go and acceptance, it also portrays justice, and karma. The part where the stalker-murderer was killed by a truck, and In-beom's quip about it being karma shows that. Even the part when "hairy" died, and Ji-a performed an exorcism on him, is more of a 'we need to know what happened' basis. Personally, i wouldn't have liked it if she exorcised Do Hak-Seong just like that because I feel like that's getting off lightly compared to what he's done. The guy was the catalyst for not one but TWO egg ghosts after all. Even after when he found out that Ji-ah wasnt for show and that he was really being haunted by In-beom's uncle, dude didnt even have any sort of temporary character change. IMO, he deserves being sealed in a jar [and honestly, this can be like a plot starter for future exorcist story (maybe Ji-a's descendant? :P ) something like a spirit so malevolent he made two ghost eggs while he was still alive and him getting out of the jar to wreak havoc again]
> Ji-ah not letting go of mother ruining the moment
I dont think so, it just made JNR's character more realistic. We all know Ji-ah has a hard time letting go of her mother and thats why she held her down all those years. It would be weirder if she can just let go of her with a snap of her finger and a smile. She had a moment of weakness when she saw her mom, but she managed to get her bearings under control and send her off.
> Romance between In-beom and Ji-a
I am not mad at the ending, i think it's possible. There were subtle hints of In-beom being captivated by Ji-a several times, (think when she was possessed by the murdered actress), or when Ji-a didnt want him around and In-beom was crazily worried. I dont think Ji-a's mom dying because of In-beom's egg ghost plot, isnt really plausible. Ji-a doesnt even think In-beom or his uncle is at fault at all. Like she said, he was innocent, and when she faced off the egg ghost she said, she finally understood what her mom felt 20 years ago. She and her mother are exorcists, its their job to help innocent people. I also think In-beom's uncle gor his atonement. He stayed as a vengeful spirit for 20 years, and being one has been described as standing on the cold with no clothes on. He also put his beloved nephew in trouble and died himself. I think thats plenty enough.
Tbh i would have liked it if In-beom joined Ji-a on her trip. Something like her secretary telling him in advance because she knew Ji-a wouldnt and him hiding on her car or something would have been funny but her taking time alone for herself also makes sense. I'd love seeing a Season 2 where Ji-a goes through a character development, now that her mom is not a vengeful spirit anymore. Dressing not only in...
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