I do hope that the DB staff will keep this hangout up for at least three days. Many people, probably the majority, are watching EAGLE BROTHERS on VIKI, which means they may nut realistically be able to post comments- or even knowledgeably read them, until at least Tuesday.
The central story of Episode forty-three was actually our Silla couple. As the divorce laws of the ROK are structured one can ‘punish’ ones erring spouse but refusing to divorce them. In any case Silla mom now knows about Silla Dad’s plans for the new premium makgeolli plant.

But we did have a nice moment when Chunsoo asks Mi-sun to marry him and she accepts- and everyone is happy about that.

Then Gwangsook had an accident at the brewery involving steam. Another situation not realistically portrayed: As a former Naval Officer I am acutely aware of what live steam can do and “a few blisters” is definitely not what you get when taking a direct blast. I realize that what this writer needs is not so much an editor but rather a fact checker when it comes to business, law and even machinery.

Hani’s babymama blows her top when she sees Hani out with Seri. I think that the custody fight is definitely on. What I hope is that there are enough adults around (perhaps including her husband?) but also Gwangsook and Chairman Han, who can talk some sense into Hani’s parents. This situation calls for intervention, and not just by lawyers. Throughout my career I have had to point out more than a few times that the law is an incomplete toolbox- it cannot fix everything by itself.

Chairman Han’s MIL has something to say to her family- we will have to wait until later to find out what that is but it may or may not have to do with those pills she is taking.

Seri was happy about how Gangsoo had told her he would straighten out Beomsoo if he got out of line “It was like having an older brother”. Upon getting home she cannot help to overhear her parents yelling at each other- and learns as a result that Gangsoo is indeed her actual Oppa.

The Good, Bad and Ugly of Episode 43:

The Good: Chun-Soo and Mi-Soon make it official. And she wants to move into the brewery complex to live with a big family. Mr. Go and Joo-Sil are publicly dating “in secret.” He really is her Knight in Shining Armor. The only good thing about Heung-Soo’s story arc is that we are getting less of it.

The Bad: MIL has an open bias against Gwang-Sook because she cannot be a real “chaebol wife.” It may be an outdated concept but in MIL’s world it is still reasonable and respected. She does gives Han and Gwang-Sook rope to make their case, but it is not working. Han was wrong to not phone MIL about not making her meeting. We have the pending MIL medical situation to add another crisis in the mix.

The Ugly: Seri learns Mom’s dark secret when she argues with Silla Dad. The overprotective Gang-Soo is actually her brother. It is as shocking as major shareholder telling Silla Mom that her husband is tanking the company as sales and stock price are down more than 30 percent. Silla’s Dad’s obsession to destroy Eagle is destroying everything around him: his company, his marriage and now his daughter’s life. The real ugly is coming with Young-Eun seeing Seri taking over her mother role, stealing her baby from her. That anger is about to boil over into a helluva mess.

Lost in the maelstrom of the makjang story lines is the fact that Young-Eun can obtain enough facts to gain sole custody of Han Ni. South Korea law is very specific that persons cannot marry blood relatives through degree of third cousins. It is founded upon the tradition and belief that such marriages is “an act of family destruction.” I have not found one case where an adopted brother’s half sister marries into his family because it is obvious that since the adopted brother is legally a blood relative in his new family, such a situation would not be sanctioned. Yet, the writer is pushing forward this narrative. Young-Eun, to gain custody, only needs to show the court that Beom-Soo is endangering her daughter in an illicit, illegal and destructive relationship with Seri.

I still don’t like the characters keeping secrets at the same time not keeping boundaries. There was no reason for Beom-Soo to tell Silla Mom that Gang-Soo was in the fashion show. It is clear that Gang-Soo was trying to separate himself from his birth mother to live his life with his real family, the Ohs.

Episode 44 begins with Seri and Mi-ae both crying as she finds out that Gangsoo was born of Mi-ae who could not keep him and left him on the steps of Eagle Brewery.

After wrestling with the concepts for a while Gangsoo has accepted the truth and come to peace with it, even to the point of seeing that he was better off for his mother’s decision, which is objectively true. Is there a bigger contrast in this drama than that between the characters of Gangsoo and Dokgo Tak, Seri’s father? Maybe, in a way, the greatest beneficiary of the situation could be Seri? Her dad may be a disaster but maybe she will now have an Oppa who is a Serious Man.

Dokgo Tak is facing increasing resistance to his ‘premium makgeolli’ plan from his stockholders and directors. If he keeps this up, he will be booted out as Silla Chairman. He is so consumed with his hatred of Eagle Brewery that he can see nothing else. He has a tragic flaw of Shakespearean proportions and tragedy is at this point inevitable.

Seri thinks that she should give up Beomsoo, even though she genuinely likes him, because of the family history but now we find that Beomsoo is not willing to give her up- rightly pointing out that neither of them are responsible for her parents’s decisions. He has made the commitment to stick this thing out. I think that we may be ready for the Hani custody battle to take the center ring of this whole circus.

Dokgo Tak? I really don't get the man. Perhaps comprehension fails him. What part of Kang-soo's father died 3 days to his birth in a workplace accident can't his brain cells figure out? I understand if he is livid. But he's angry for the wrong reasons. And at the rate he's going, I am struggling to recall the right reasons he has to be reacting this way.

Chun-soo and Mi-sun... I hope the writer doesn't send their story to the backseat now that they're married.

I'm basically fast-forwarding through 3rd brother. But, I'm glad he's hitching up soon.

At this rate, all Oh brothers will be married before Gwangsook finally does hers. One mountain just shows up each time they're making progress.

Quick question: has Seri and Beom-soo shared a kiss at all? And, all their hugs seem protective rather than intimate. Or is it the height disparity at play here?

Episode 44 had some creepy moments. When on the bridge, Seri had a momentary lapse of clarity about their inter-family relationship being wrong until then silent Beom Soo changes her mind. Even with all the secrets exposed, they want to forge ahead on a path of destructive behavior? She still calls him Professor which is as romantic as weeds infesting a rose garden. Throughout, I saw or felt no chemistry between this couple.

Ok-Boon has turned from Stalker to Stage Mother. Yeah, that was a weird turn. Almost as weird as a comeback special without an audience!

Bom giving back the necklace to Gang-soo felt like she was giving up on her relationship with him because it was going no where (though she said it was for him to get over his current worries and troubles).

Chun-Soo and Mi-Soon are the best, stable and kind couple. It contrasts well against Han’s impatience and Gwang-Sook’s hesitation about causing problems. Han continues to throw his money around to gather gratitude while Gwang-Sook tries kindness to win over MIL. I get the impression that Gwang-Sook feels that at some point Han will overwhelm her work, goals and life unless they can get more balance in their relationship. (In two days, Gwang-Sook has the healing powers of Deadpool.)

The MIL head butting in Han’s office, using the same words of stubborn pride, was an important reminder that Joo-Sil and MIL's personalities are pretty much the same but cut from a different cloth.

Silla Dad is on a collision course to disaster. If the shareholders are so against his plans, where is the board of directors’ approval of the new factory? (Again, the writer does not understand how business decisions are really made.) Silla Dad’s revenge spite against Eagle boils down to Silla Mom’s failure to support his plan to destroy Eagle and Beom-Soo taking away his daughter.

With so many balls juggled here, we only got a short sample of Mr. Go’s secret plan being blown up when his sister yells at him. I wanted to see the immediate action and reaction by Joo-Sil: would she be angry at the lie or would she tell sister that he was already dating her? My bet is on the latter but I would not be surprised if Joo-Sil pride puts her in a short funk or lover’s quarrel. But my money is on Mr. Go to win the day.