What a lovely recap @solstices, you captured everything I also felt and thought watching this week's episodes! 💕

I too appreciate the way that this show is exploring the idea of passion, chasing dreams etc through a number of different lenses. I found it a little tough to watch Donghee feel more and more beat down as insecurity and jealousy begun to pile up within him, because it just felt so real in the way it was portrayed. I could really feel how pathetic he felt and how frustrated he was, especially in a situation where it's not only yourself you have to answer to but family and friends too. It's something we all go through, and is especially hard to avoid when you have things like LinkedIN and Instagram etc. that sometimes make the toxic self comparison unavoidable so I appreciate the earnest look into that and the decision to not have him miraculously win a competition/join Neon/finally get a lucky break but instead have him accept that this was his limit but without regret for exploring this path in the first place. As hard as it is to work for your dream, it takes just as much effort and courage to recognise when it's time to accept things the way they are, whilst also understanding that it doesn't mean you're 'worth' any less as an individual.

In a similar vein, I also appreciate the little parallel there between how Maeum felt trying to dissuade Donghee and how her dad might've felt when she told him she was moving on - it kind of makes the point that his feelings are valid too considering circumstances and that he'll eventually come around, which I'm grateful for because we've got enough 'strict and over the top parent unwilling to accept that their child has autonomy' characters in the drama world.

Also interesting points of note for me at least: the high schoolers partying at Junyoung's house?? who are they? and why did Jinhyung look like he was smiling a bit regretfully to himself towards the end of ep 8 after seeing Maeum and Junyoung in the office together 👀 this show sometimes has these specific but vague split second shots that focus on a character reaction with no explanation or follow up given that make you go hMM. Another example was when Jihyung was all 🤯 when Maeum and Junyoung said they'd go to Pomme's house together and there was a split second scene of Yoomi watching Jihyun with a knowing smile on her face, and also when Jihyung came in with that coffee and saw Maeum and Junyoung on the balcony and then walked a way with a contemplative look on his face. At the time I thought they were hinting at him catching feelings for Maeum but there's been no follow up since so now I'm second guessing whether I even saw those scenes correctly??? 😂

Fun pair of episodes, and I definitely felt the heartbreak of the assistant not making it after 10 years.

I hadn’t picked up on it before, but I guess the woman who I figured was the girlfriend/wife of Joon-young is actually dead. Looking back on it, they never interacted and I just assumed it wasn’t the point of the scene. Suspected as much in episode 7 finally, but then the small (I assume) flashback of Joon-young crying in front of the Charnel house kind of clinched it. I’m enjoying the characters, and it’s still an easy happy pill watch every week.

Thank you, @solstices, for the weecap! I'm loving the changes in Joon-young. The way he ran over when Pomme called him about the 'peeping tom' and worried about her. I love Ma-eum's mom and how she helps her daughter but still explaining to her how Father feels that Ma-eum decided to be honest to her Dad.

I was worried that Dae Ryuk's work was going to be stolen. And that Dong Hee did it. It would have ruined his reputation beyond repair.

Dong Hee's crying scene was really good. Had me crying with him. I felt bad for the guy and I could totally relate. He has a better mindset now that he is moving to a new stage in life, maybe finding a different goal. It was touching that Dae Ryuk saw what his intention was with his webtoon too. ♥

The story made a great, unexpected parallel with Ma Eum wanting Dong Hee to keep going and Ma Eum's Dad wanting her to go back to judo.

Hye Mi is awful. Less of her please. I actually thought she was gunning for Dae Ryuk when she remarked about an artist not fitting with Neon's usual types.

Losing Kang Nam and ending Gumiho Princess would be a huge blow for the team, but EP 8 felt a wee bit draggy with his story covering most of it. On one hand, he is a major artist who is crucial to their sales and popularity. But on the other hand, I didn't believe in him leaving Neon. Or at least not any time soon. So it was pretty predictable that he would stay. At least this plot didn't take more than one episode to cover? XD

They're gradually revealing more of Dae Ryuk's painful past. I'd really like to see Dae Ryuk get help for his trauma soon. Professional help with therapy.

Oh Yoon mussing up his hair wildly was funny. His vehement order that his webtoon will not be terminated early makes me wish he can turn it around. His PD Doo Hee is not helpful.

I found sad that Dong-hee had to have his own webtoon to be recognized. He did an important work for Writer Baek’s, he was important for the team. But it doesn't have value if he didn't debut. But I guess it's better for his selfesteem to quit completely and find something else like Ma-Eum.

Dae-ryuk's past looks very dark. At least, now he's not alone anymore to confront it.

I like how the rookies are treated in this team. They are given new tasks but not let alone to do it. They always get a feedback. Seok Ji-Hyung and Jang Man-Cheol know their strengths and use them.

So Goo Jun-Yeong doesn't live with a ghost, because I guess ghost don't do party... But he's clearly ignoring her and I think he will regret it.

I like that this show leaves some small hints, barely a minute screentime for some mysteries... it is intriguing. I definitely think the mystery lady in Jun Young's life must be a ghost or a memory. She is dressed in the same white outfit , in every scene, except the opening scene in Ep 7 when she was reading a webtoon(and did he call her Noona, I couldn't tell). And that scene with party at his home - she does not seem to be part of that too, (and again, still in that same white dress). As to the party, it seems he is renting his place out ? there seems to be some numerous messages asking if his place is available.

@solstices thank you for a great weecap. I agree that looking at these two episodes as showing different perspectives on what happens when we lose sight of our why and was a good background for the scenes of our rookie’s growth. That dawning of this must be how it is for dad was such a sad moment but I love how this family interact and support each other. However, we saw how when one sibling has an exceptional skill that is time consuming, the other sibling perceives the parents use of time as representative of their distribution of love. This perception is treated as hard evidence and resentment builds as they feel hard done by as the less valued/loved child of the family. We see how this plays out in her determination to intensify her attack on the webtoon artist because she is gaining attention from other people who feel powerful when criticising others.

I loved the humour of the Gangnam storyline but his immature girlfriend is proper getting on my nerves. She was upset that his new company won’t use their staff to play hide and seek with her.😬 Was he not doing that job when they met? The nature of his work style means his availability is not going to change and with two projects on the go it’s going to mean he will be under more pressure. She needs a younger version of Eojin who is well organised and has banked several episodes. She is part of the problem; she distracts Gangnam which messes with his head and therefore it takes him longer to reach his deadlines. We saw when he was focused he finished in good time. It’s great she is independently financially stable but what was her attraction to him and what does she do with her time? I don’t think this actress looks the part in the Japanese version she is a young ex model so it fits better that she acts like a spoiled child used to lots of attention and now she isn’t working she is bored.

The insertion of PPL in this drama is really bad because the products don’t fit and every episode it is the equivalent of pausing for a proper advert. I almost wonder if it’s intentional to get some kind of alternative award for bad PPL. They would definitely get this years top prize. The car Donghee’s uncle picked him up in I assume was not PPL as they chose a white blob so the audience would not be distracted and could focus on the moment. It was great to see the joy of finally having someone get the message behind the story. I like that it was the very person he had dismissed as having no value that was the only one who could see it.

With Pomme’s case why would she invite people she doesn’t know into her house just because they are her work colleagues? There is no reason not to believe one of them could be an obsessed fan using work as a cover to get closer to her. I suspect it’s an ex boyfriend or a fan/anti fan. She is rich so she could hire someone to assess and determine the right kind of security to protect and offer peace of mind while awaiting the police investigation. Also has anyone in...

Like many other beanies, I liked the parallelism between DongHee and Maeum conflicts, and I loved how Maeum recognised the conflict that means wanting someone to go on doing something and letting that person chose what they want because that is what she did.

But that is all. I mean, I love Maeum enthusiasm, but she has just been doing this job for a couple of months (even if it's six, which is not); she is a webtoon lover and knows a lot about them, but it doesn't make her a PD. I know this is dramaland, and things have another timing, but it's too unrealistic. She could give DongHee his opinion as a reader but she's struggling with her job. Take for instance the scene when JiHyung asks her repeatedly to explain him what is Peeve and she can't explain... she knows by instinct why she loves the webtoon, but can't explain why, well, explaining why is what a PD must do. Same as I am a drama lover but being into drama industry is totally different. Even writing recaps is not the same as watching a drama, am I wrong?

I was also a bit sad about DongHee letting go his dream. I can totally understand he decides not to go on with his dream of debuting (same way last week SeulA was struggling whether to continue it or not), but I can't understand why he must quit the world that makes him happy. I mean, if you are an artist (because he is, even if he hasn't debuted), and if he is earning a living, why returning home to run a restaurant (I am assuming this since when we saw him talking to his mum on the phone it seemed she was serving tables) and not try and work in something related to you passion. I can understand having some time free, but not all writers get to publish a book, or all painters have their works in museums. There are alternatives, but we are shown just how he quits everything because he sabotages himself from actually being successful. I'm not ok with this take, although I agree it fits the character, as he will always chose to be miserable.

As regarding JiHyung and his offer, it's clear he will reject it, something that makes no sense in a competitive society like Korean, where you worth only how successful you are. He will reject a higher position and salary out of heart, specially knowing that he is in sinking boat.

Anyway, and despite this comment, that seems a bit harsh, I'm really enjoying the drama. And can I say I'm absolutely in love with the amazing OST? Such a mood setter!!

Really enjoyed these episodes despite them taking a darker turn this week. Is JY trying to play both sides though? He hasn't really committed one way or another and did give info to Chief Heo. And his advice to Ma Eum is telling - one can display a completely different exterior to what one is thinking - he knows himself well. Unlike MaEum who wears her heart on her sleeve, which isn't always a positive thing in the workplace either.
I love how he is hyper aware of MaEum and now has her thinking he has a girlfriend! He'll need to remedy that quickly.
Other highlights for me were Artist Nam chasing his gumiho creation round the shopping mall, brilliant and the moment Feeb started coming out of the laptop for Dong Hee, fantastic visually.
Big thumbs up for this week!

At the moment, I am most interested in Sin Dae-lyug and his childhood. The little flashbacks so far give clues to the causes of trauma.

In the last episodes it looked like Jun-yeong was developing a romantic interest in Ma-eum. At least for now, however, this interest does not seem to be mutual, seeing how happy Ma-eum is that Jun-yeong supposedly has a girlfriend.

Double cliffhanger just as our webtoon department is about to turn the corner. Business is ruthless and underhanded. Artists are flighty, insecure and born doubters or self-defeatists.

Dong-Hee's story conclusion was realistic. Ten years is a long time working to start your career. It was sad that he realized after quitting that only Shin understood his work. Ironically, they could have become good friends.

The Youngtoon hunt for artists is not illegal or unethical - - - it is business reality in a highly competitive industry. I thought the Pomme story arc was out of place and rushed to a non-conclusion.

We get a glimpse of Jun-yeong's roomate (sister?) and the fact that his parents are away. But there is still an eerie distance. We also get a further glimpse into Shin's abusive childhood - - fear and dominion is the demon is head that is pouring out into his drawings. I wonder if the writer is setting up the story to contrast the bright and cheerful light (Ma-eum) with the evil, tortured darkness inside the artists.

Forgot to mention the Subway PPL! Been a long time since I've seen it! XD Is it back in kdramas or has it been there in recent ones?

I just realized that the show is now relying on hallucinations/illusions/delusions to move the story line forward.

Okay, I'm about to give up. I really, really wanted to enjoy this drama. Love the leads and most of the supporting but I'm on the Cliff of Drop. Understand the whole tortured artist theme but I guess I'm just not up for any more angst.
Always come and check out Beanie reactions and I am happy everyone who enjoys this drama is enjoying. Maybe I call it a pause.