It was disappointing but understandable that the real Moon-Seong did not tell Grandma the truth. But she started to pick up the hints, the pieces of her memory, from Moon-seong’s short conversation. I think this drama is trying too hard to show that lies can be considered effective “drama.” I disagree. When the cover was blown, adding more deception, even if one can convince themselves it is for a noble purpose, is not advancing the tension of the main story.

Mr. Jeong’s decision to scrap the real for fake grandson is still an unforgivable sin, especially with his background as a young thug saved by a stronger Grandma. Jae-Heon’s confession to Se-Yeon and her reply was awkward. Yoon-Hee is a much better match for him. But this show follows this year’s trend of clueless men in the romance department. In the highest social circles, a loveless marriage can be borne by business necessity. Jae-Heon cannot understand it. I cannot understand why Jae-Heon’s new (fake) sibling friendship would ever lead to real romance with Se-Yeon. They have nothing in common except keeping the lie from Grandma. And was Dong-je’s sudden change after the marriage was announced show that his desire was more in “the chase” of getting Se-Yeon than the marriage thus resulting in a get-out-of-jail card ending for the lead couple? Yuck.

I found the story gears grinding to a halt annoying at this point in time. The real Moon-seong’s lack of urgency to save his sick wife really hit home (earlier I though she was dead since he left China); there is no reason to wait if he needs Grandma’s money and power to save her. Grandma herself is slowly putting memories together to know who is the real grandson, but her health is fading fast. There is no reason why she cannot confront Jae-Heon for the truth before it is too late. The show is setting up the tragedy that Grandma will never acknowledge her real grandson or apologize for not using her resources to find him. These episodes continue to bog down on the Play elements and not enough push it to the climax.

I felt these two episodes were really strange - even some of the editing was a little all over the place? Scenes seemed to end more abruptly and everything felt weirdly "patched together", especially the songs fading out and not feeling resolved

The little bits of humour - while welcome because it provided some light-heartedness after all the heavy secret keeping so far - came across kinda out of place? I could see they were going to get the romantic line moving since Se-yeon found out, but it doesn't feel earned and I can't connect the dots to how we've gotten there

All that being said, while this drama has lost the interest i had at the beginning, I'm interested to see how things all wrap up. And I can still laugh my way through it ><

While watching, I was thinking that if viewers have been frustrated with the quieter, more contemplative pace of this drama, they were going to be *really* frustrated with these two episodes. I haven't been one of those viewers, but I understand how those hoping for big forward movement in the plot and the lives of these characters are probably doomed to disappointment at this point.

For me, who has enjoyed the tone and pace of the drama, these episodes were pleasant but not quite as affecting as I'd hoped. They started strong, with what I thought was a very moving and poignant scene between the grandmother and her real grandson. I thought the actor was very good in that scene in wordlessly revealing his love and respect for this woman even as he clearly wanted to just tell her the truth. I thought it was also clear that when he talked about his father resenting his own mother that the grandmother understood that he's her real grandson. I believe that if he had approached her again, she was ready to outright ask him if he's the real Moon Sung. But alas, the faux one showed up instead.

I've liked Jae-heon and Se-yeon's interactions throughout the drama, and find his feelings to be believable. But they come across as more of a crush. And although I can see how she has come to like him for his warmth and disarming boyishness, she's such an emotionally controlled character that her confession seemed hollow. Maybe she's going to follow up "I like you" with "as a friend" and that'll be that.

Sadly, I see even less romantic chemistry between Jae-heon and Yoon-hee. I did, however, like her brief scene with the younger brother. They'd be cute together.

Mostly, I felt terrible for Moon-sung this week. Everyone treats him like something less than a human being--in their eyes, he's a foreign thug who just doesn't belong in their family. When he shows restraint and respect they ignore it, and then when he understandably loses control they see it as confirmation that they were right all along. I will applaud the drama, though, as this is the most realistic outcome when it comes to a wealthy family in the South being confronted with their long-lost Northern cousin who has had a very tough life.

This show has many light moments, but the story is actually very tragic. So I'm not sure what I should even hope will happen.

I'm going to see this through to the end. It is actually rather difficult to like any of the characters by this point as all of them seem to be doubling down of the lie with no sympathy for a grandson that is alone in a new country having grown up under difficult and sad circumstances. The hotel is supposed to be a beacon, and he is someone that needs that beacon. We get an uncomfortable and unearned love line which seems out of step with the plot, but perhaps needed for the marketing purposes of the drama. We get lots of filler moments and characters that we are supposed to think are upright but seem just as selfish as any chaebol character I have seen throughout drama land. I don't have to like my characters to like a drama, but somehow, this one just bothers me. It's not okay to not tell grandma the truth. It deprives her the ability to make peace with her own circumstances. It deprives the grandson of some needed personal, familial and financial support. I do think it is that realization that we are moving towards (that is my hope, anyway). I liked the last few episodes much more then previous episodes and I'm generally content that I decided to watch this one. But, it tests my patience.

I'm tired of wishing but that won't make me not enjoy this piece of art. I just wish we got some movement.

So now, we not only have his late father's letter but his wife is alive but needs a liver. With the former, I thought he was stalling but the latter spells desperation all over the screen. I wish Real Moon-seong just drops the bomb, deliver his late father's letter, get what he needs to save his wife's life, rub the righteousness of his heart in Se-jun's face, and head to China/North Korea to save his wife. When his wife's health is out of red zone, decide what he'll do with the stakes he'll inherit from Nakwon.

All this while I was itching for Se-jun and Se-yun's reaction to the truth but their reactions are not providing that flair. Now I'm itching to see the flair Se-gyu and Granny will give off. He's not only warmed up to Jae-hoon but we see that he's began to appreciate Yoon-hee thanks to her act episodes ago. I guess it is fitting that we see what was and is going on in his head before the truth gets to him. That way, I believe he'll have the information required to give me, one of the audience, an informed take on the deceit that has become a play in the family.

Secretary Jung's story makes up for the bait and switch thing they're doing here cause it was a nice look into what made him what he is today. The kindness and thoughtfulness Guem-seon showed him then impacted and changed his life for the better. And now that relationship is what makes me look forward to Guem-seon confronting Jeong about the deceit.

Nobody wants to be the one who will tell the truth to Grandma. They're all afraid to hurt her and make her more sick. So they are navigating with this lie and a hotel to save/crash. The slow motion of this drama doesn't bother me so much. It could be better but I kinda like this old vibe.

I found very funny that Secretary Jung younger version was played by Dawon from the Kpop group SF9 (so the comment about the fact he looked like an idol was on point) and it's the same group as Rowoon who did House on Wheel with Sung Dong-Il :p

I have no problem with the so called ‘noona’ romances as I see them as a feminist equaliser provided they are between functional and loving adults who know what they are getting into. There is such a global bias against such relationships because women’s fertility, youth and beauty are valued above all else in virtually all cultures so these relationships are regarded as heretical aberrations. I say to hell with these deeply malignant and disempowering views. Bring in more of these! Not every relationship must end with the fake ‘happily ever after’ and a gaggle of future anklebiters coming into existence. It disappoints me profoundly when women shore up patriarchy even more by advocating against such relationships. So despite my disappointment with many aspects of this drama and now that the fauxincest angle is done and dusted, I don’t mind if these two good actors are going to go down this road. They don’t have sizzling chemistry but have a great rapport.

I wrote this on my fan wall yesterday:
“ I don’t think I have enjoyed any part of ‘Curtain Call’ as much as the ribbing Jaeheon delivered to Jeong Sangcheol for his long lost good looks. That was SO.MUCH.FUN”.
I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did.

I feel so bad for the real Ri Mun Sung! And grandma. The worst part is that they, and especially Se Yeon didn't for a moment consider to approach the real cousin. Perhaps she is too trusting of secretary Jung, but not much can really explain their behaviour. The reveal of secretary Jungs' past doesn't help. At this point they seem to be waiting for grandma to die rather than tell her the truth and that's just cruel; grandma had a bond with her grandson! This whole thing made me briefly side with the brother and wished that he was succesful.

Secretary Jung's backstory was great in providing more insight to his character. I can understand why he was so determined to help Grandma with his scheme when she had changed his life in such a huge, positive way.

I can see Jae Heon liking Se Yeon yet it looks like a simple crush. Her response was a bit of a surprise. I'm guessing she will tell him she likes him as a friend though.... I don't know how or why they're trying to fit in this romance. It's not needed.

Dong Je... I liked seeing him decipher the clues quick. He was awkward when Se Yeon agreed to marry him. He did not have that confidence he had at the beginning. He wanted to marry her, but he wanted her to fall back in love with him. All this time, I don't think he had a transactional reason for their union. His feelings for her are genuine. No matter what methods he used to try to woo or persuade her, if she doesn't have the mutual attraction/feelings, then it's not going to work.

Gradually catching up on this drama. I like it for the most part especially while I'm watching, but it's just not making me obsessed otherwise. The pacing has been languid and there are more unnecessary flashbacks these past few episodes.

Has anyone else noticed that the show has been dangling a big birth secret for Jae Heon? For one thing, his mother mysteriously abandoned him at an amusement park. There've been no clues at all about who his father might have been. And Secretary Jung knew Jae Heon was raised at the same orphanage that he was. But the biggest tip off is that grandma told Se Yeon that when she first saw Jae Heon / fake Moon seong that it was as if her first husband had come back to life because they looked so alike. (She'll repeat this in ep 13 but that's getting ahead of the story for this recap.) That's too many nods to some kind of big mystery. I can't think of anything that could explain why Jae Heon looks just like "grandfather" but it seems unlikely that they would have written that into the script if it weren't going to become significant...