Sweet Stranger and Me Eps 15 and 16 Recap

I took a break from this drama because I started to get annoyed. After all that Nan Gil went through to break free from his sadistic, amoral 'father,' now he had to deal with Na Ri's sleazy dad. Between this and the ending of 'She Was Pretty,' I had to take a break from k-dramas for a while.

Episode 15

Episode 15 is primarily Nan Gil preparing to leave. Like we believe that that's going to happen.

Na Ri's dad (NRD) proves to be just as much of a sleaze as we thought he was. He:

• Flat out lies when Na Ri asks about the trip they took
• Tries to muscle his way into taking over the dumpling shop and the special piece of land
• Acts like the current success of the dumpling shop was because of him. Even though he never actually made any dumplings but bought them from the local grocery store
• Guilt-trips Nan Gil all over the place about his sight (I'm left wondering if it's partly an act to freeload like so much of th rest of his life.)
• Guilt trips other people about his sight (again, that freeloader!)
• Sends his girlfriend back to Seoul once she's served his purpose
• Has the audacity to complain about Na Ri just living in the house and *not* working at the dumpling shop
• Tries to imply that Nan Gil is stealing Na Ri's money
• Meets and schemes with Deok Bong's dad (DBD) to steal the land and sell it to DBD
• Only turns himself in for faking his own death so that he can steal the land, not because he wants to be a dad to Na Ri
• Tries to push Na Ri at Deok Bong

Deok Bong is as cool as ever. He:

Sweet Stranger and Me Episode 14 Recap

Okay, so I’ve been putting off finishing this. I’m going to miss Nan Gil and Na Ri.

Episode begins with Na Ri tending to a small cut on Nan Gil’s hand. I’m confused. Didn’t we end on the Director showing up? How did we get here? I even closed and reopened the episode in case I was looking at the wrong one… She remarks that it’s healing well. She thanks him for going and seeing Abeoji, even though Nan Gil’s not fully healed. I know I’ve seen this before – why are we rehashing the last part of the last episode? Looking at pictures on his phone. Fighting over the phone and the back hug. He apologizes for taking so long. She tells him that it’s fine, because she knows that regular men don’t disappear in the middle of the night, cut off contact and then come back injured. Man, sometimes she can be mean. Sometimes really thoughtful, but sometimes really mean. She says that it’s all she needs.

He asks if that’s really all she needs: a man whose only skill is making dumplings well. She smiles and says that there’s a lot of things he’s good at: Protecting the land. She adds that sometimes it seems like he likes the land more than her. He replies that he knows that this is the world of childishness, but he never thought that she’d be jealous of some land. Especially since he’s liked you since he was about 5. She adds another to the list: acting as a stepfather. He smiles – a huge grin on his face – and notes that he was pretty good at it, wasn’t he?

♬ You are my man ♬
♬ You are my soul ♬

She asks about the picture again. He answers that it was taken when she searched through his room like a thief. As she looks through the pictures, Na Ri chuckles.

♬ I found out that love can change a person ♬

Flashback montage. Wow, this is making me feel like the writers are stretching to fill these last 3 episodes. Do we really need a flashback montage?

Sweet Stranger and Me Episode 13 Recap

Crowded street in Seoul. People are out in various dress. Some are completely bundled up. Some sport nothing by a light jacket – they must be tourists. Nan Gil is wearing only his black suit. He makes a call to Wan Shik and asks where Wan Shik is. Wan Shik says that he’s at Dada Finance. Nan Gil says that he’s going to the address Wan Shik told him about. Wan Shik asks if he’s going alone. Nan Gil tells Wan Shik that Director will be the most suspicious of Wan Shik once he’s done.

Wan Shik tells him to just do well. He’s hanging up. Wan Shik sighs and heads into Director’s office. Bunch of bruisers are there. Wan Shik tells them that Nan Gil is coming. Wow, I did not expect that double-cross. All the bruisers leave except for Bruiser.

Na Ri rides in the taxi. Does she really want to see her father? She arrives at the nursing home. Which looks like a hospital to me. She meets Seamy, who is so excited to see her (and a little emotional). Seamy says that she’s the one who called and tells Na Ri to hear about their relationship from Abeoji personally. Na Ri nods.

Na Ri comes face-to-face with Abeoji. And she's looking at a different picture this time. Oops. Seamy narrates that when Abeoji fell from the rooftop, he hurt his head and his memory isn’t that great. Abeoji walks by Na Ri, not recognizing her. Well, she needed a picture to remember what he looks like – and he looks pretty much the same – it’s only natural that he wouldn’t know what his grown-up daughter looks like. Seamy says that Abeoji hasn’t stepped foot out of the nursing home for five years and just worked as if he was dying. Am I supposed to feel sorry for him? I don’t.

Sweet Stranger and Me Episode 12 Recap

Episode starts with Nan Gil (and Yong Kyu) running to rescue Na Ri, him catching a taxi. Wan Shik closing in on Na Ri. Why is she just standing there? Bruiser notices that Wan Shik isn’t around. Bruiser 2 reports that he went to Hong Dumplings. Bruiser tells Nan Gil via Joon to go to Susaek. Taxi driver asks where Nan Gil wants to go… Joon asks if Nan Gil’s at the restaurant. He acts like Nan Gil is there, says that he’s scared – which he might be but I think it’s a bluff – and asks that Nan Gil come quickly. Nan Gil gets what he’s saying – go save Na Ri – and tells Joon to wait a little. So, Nan Gil heads home.

Duk Bong has stopped by the house. Inside, Na Ri asks where Nan Gil is. Wan Shik replies that Nan Gil wasn’t there when he arrived. She asks if Nan Gil knows that Wan Shik is there. Smoothly, Wan Shik asks if he really needs to give notice when he’s visiting a friend? He tells her not to be Nan Gil. She immediately replies that she’s there because it’s her house. Wan Shik’s phone starts ringing. It’s Nan Gil. He doesn’t take the call, which stresses Nan Gil out even more.

Wan Shik repeats that it’s dangerous for her to be near Go Nan Gil. He tells her to get herself together, settle her debts and leave peacefully. Na Ri’s phone rings. She immediately answers it and tells Nan Gil that it’s her. Trying to sound reassuring, Nan Gil says that he’s almost there. He asks that Na Ri give the phone to Wan Shik and get out. She agrees and holds the phone out to Wan Shik.

Outside, Duk Bong is trying to reach Na Ri but gets the busy message. He finally notices Wan Shik’s car.

Sweet Stranger and Me Episode 11 Recap

Instead of showing us Na Ri’s answer to the question ‘Do you think their marriage legitimate?’ the episode starts with Nan Gil and Na Ri returning from their getaway. Why the time jump then? I’m irritated. The smiles that they were wearing when they were away have left and been replaced by awkwardness. Because he can’t stand the silence, Nan Gil asks if he should show Na Ri the pictures he took when he gets on the bus. Na Ri didn’t see him take any pictures.

Nan Gil says that they’re proof of their time together: Quiet sea, waving sea, sunset sea. Trying to sound like she could care less: Na Ri replies that it’s fine. He can send them to her. Nan Gil smiles at a thought and says that there's a saying that a certain day is equal to your whole life. Yesterday was like that for him. He thanks her. Na Ri doesn’t smile.

She remarks on how much more at ease he seems since he thinks this is over. He thanked her, but she’ll say she did it as a dutiful daughter to a parent. This makes Nan Gil grin slightly. Na Ri asks if he could exchange yesterday for the whole life that he’s lived? Sounding a little indignant, almost Appa voice – he replies that, of course, he can’t. It was really hard to learn how to make dumplings and knead dough.

Na Ri notes that the bus is coming. Nan Gil says that there's something that he couldn't tell her because he was afraid it would ruin the mood. Na Ri replies that she knew because she saw him looking depressed all of a sudden. There’s a pause. Looking grim, Nan Gil says that he thinks he’s going to lie to her some time in the future. So she can't be with him. Aw, and this is why I love Nan Gil. He hates the idea of lying to her. Dong Jin didn’t, but he doesn’t want to betray her trust like that. He adds that he’s just going to protect her land and that's it. Cheerily, Na Ri tells him that she’ll see him in court.

Sweet Stranger and Me Episode 10 Recap

Episode starts with the confrontation with Weasel. For those of you who missed it, I’m calling Uncle Weasel now, because of what he’s doing right now. Weasel tells Na Ri that Abeoji died last year. Na Ri’s shocked face. Nan Gil asking what Weasel is talking about. Indignant, Weasel say that he’s telling Na Ri what Nan Gil hiding from her! Na Ri looks at Nan Gil, asking for an explanation. Nan Gil looks pale. Trying to hold it together, he says that Weasel told him that Weasel saw Abeoji last spring. Weasel’s indignant face says ‘uh-oh.’ He forgot about that. How could Weasel see someone who died a long time ago then? Weasel protests – but it’s so obvious that he’s been caught in a lie – who is Nan Gil saying saw whom?! Nan Gil looks at Weasel, pleading for Weasel to stop.

Nan Gil is actually really patient with this guy, given everything. He’s trying to get Weasel to stop lying, not for himself, but for Na Ri. He knows Weasel is being twisted by Director. Given what I know about Nan Gil, he’s begging Weasel to stop for Weasel’s sake, too.

Na Ri says that she remember Weasel saying it, too. Weasel is really surprised. Na Ri says that Weasel told Oma and her that he saw Abeoji. He said he thought Abeoji was still gambling. Bad lying from Weasel. No, that time... he could have mistaken him... He remembers what Wan Shik said about the death certificate and says that he confirmed it! How this man can lie with such bluster. Just like Yeo Joo, he’s so used to twisting people’s emotions to get him what he wants. Nan Gil gets more worried when Weasel says this. Na Ri wants to know would show Weasel Abeoji’s death certificate? Especially since he’s not related to Abeoji.

Nan Gil tells Weasel to come talk with him. Na Ri tells Nan Gil no. This is about Abeoji. Uncle and she are going to talk about it. Weasel tells her that there's no need for her to go through heartache because of a father that she hasn’t seen in over 20 years. Na Ri declares that she’s not hurting. But how could Weasel suddenly show up and say, "Abeoji died"?

Sweet Stranger and Me Episode 9 Recap

Sorry for the delay in these. For some reason, Blogger decided to leave them as Drafts rather than publishing them.

Episode starts with flashbacks. Na Ri arriving home, drunk. At the hospital, Nan Gil telling her that he’s her step-father. Na Ri deciding to trust him. Nan Gil getting called out by Duk Bong about her being his first love. Na Ri asking what his feelings are now. Nan Gil sitting by her bedside in the hospital. Director telling Nan Gil that he and Na Ri are ill-fated. Nan Gil’s confession and the kissing. Na Ri proposing that they start for real. Him asking her to wait and her agreeing to. Don’t know why we needed the recap, but okay…

Episode really starts out by the lake. Nan Gil asking the Director what he supposedly did to Na Ri. Director reminding him of the printing shop incident in Euljiro. But this time, we get to see what happened.

A group of Director’s thugs arrive. They all have steel bats. Nan Gil is with them, but he seems less eager to do what they’ve set out to do. Wan Shik leads the way and Nan Gil’s in the back. They burst into a room where men are playing poker. They get challenged and Wan Shik strikes the first blow. Smiling, he asks them “What printing shop?” He’s heard that they’re playing the loan shark behind his father's back. He tells them they don't have a work ethic. For running around behind Dad’s back.

Sweet Stranger and Me Episode 8 Recap

Episode Eight begins with Na Ri’s return to the house. Still in the car, Duk Bong says that he’ll buy those books for her. She says that it has to be those books. He tells her to go get the books and come back out. He’ll wait for her out front. She tells him not to wait. He replies that if he doesn’t wait for her now, he feels like he won't get another chance. And they both know they’re not talking about the books. If she’s uncomfortable with him being in front of the house, then he’ll go to the museum. So she can give him a call when she’s done. Duk Bong insists that he’s not half joking and half serious here. Aw, poor Duk Bong. I think she’s the first girl he’s wanted to date that he ever really liked.

Na Ri says that she’s not just going to get the books either. She knew why she came back, too. Duk Bong says they should negotiate. Aw, his poor face. Not that I want him to get the girl, but I feel bad for him, just the same. He says he won't wait for her and will go straight to Seoul so that she won't feel uneasy. In exchange, she’ll put some time aside for him later. He’s got something to say to her. She agrees – if only to get out of the car.

Duk Bong brings her the suitcase. She says that she’s leaving and practically runs back inside. He tells at her to make sure she gets in touch with him this time! It’s like he’s not even there. He mutters to himself that she should at least answer him.

Na Ri walks towards the books. She sighs and looks at them. Nan Gil arrives. They are going to show it again. Whee! Nan Gil says that he thought she wouldn't come. She says that she’s taking the books. He says that he call her because of the books. He says that he decided that if she came back, he would tell her everything. She turns around and says that he should tell her.

Sweet Stranger and Me Episode 7 Recap

Our episode begins right where it left off: Nan Gil and Na Ri in her room, her bags packed, Nan Gil pretending that he’s happy that she’s leaving. Na Ri asking if the Nan Gil of the present likes her now. Nan Gil takes a step forward and reaches up like he’s going to cup her face.

Logic Na Ri appears, dressed in black, and declares that this is too fast... No.These ideas about timing are a result of human's biases. Think about all the things she and Nan Gil been through together. He would be embarrassed to say he likes her.

Nan Gil’s hand gets really close to her face and then… pushes aside her bangs to pull off a piece of cucumber stuck to her forehead. Why would he move that slowly if he was just going after a piece of cucumber?! He asks what it is. She clears her throat and says that it’s no big deal. Something just stuck on her. Nan Gil is considering the cucumber and asks she was doing a facial. He leans in closer and says that it doesn’t look like anything changed. What a slam! He’s so wrong, especially since he keeps pointing out her wrinkles.

She leans backward and tells him not to try to change the subject. He tells her that she’s right. He’s remembered her a long time and he still likes her. I am really surprised he just admitted that. What is he planning? Na Ri looks at him with a stunned look. Like he’s talking about cleaning gutters – Nan Gil says that it’s like a beautiful memory. Meeting in your hometown and liking someone? He doesn’t know the Hong Na Ri that lives in Seoul and he doesn’t don't want to know her. Ow, that was cold. And he is so lying. Na Ri’s face says that she doesn’t like it, either. He says that he doesn't like her, miss her, or long for her. He thinks of her as a stranger. And he is so lying!

Bring It On Ghost Episode 2 Recap

I need something to lift my mood. I finished Episode 6 of ‘Sweet Stranger and Me’ and watching Nan Gil’s heart break is breaking mine. So, fingers crossed that this show will do the trick. If the last episode is an indicator, I think it will.

Bong Pal is walking down the street, a frown on his very bruised face. He stops to look at a group of grade schoolers loading into a bus. Seeing a mother with her son makes him think of his own mother.

Bong Pal as a boy, waving to his Oma, who is across the street. Oma’s gesturing at Bong Pal and a ghostly shape appears behind her. It doesn’t just shove her into an on-coming car, it throws her into it. So much for starting this episode with something funny. Bong Pal remembers Oma’s eyes as we hear the heart monitor indicate that she’s dead.

Bong Pal crying at Oma’s funeral. A creepy ghost apparating in front of him and grinning evilly as he slides away in fear. Why didn’t Oma come and see him if he can see ghosts? Poor Bong Pal. At first I thought this ghost was Oma, but it’s not. Just creepy. He hides under a table and cries.

Bong Pal at school. Teacher asks why he doesn't ever play with his friends. He’s always playing by himself in the corner. She coaxes him to come play outside. They play the Korean form of Red Light, Green Light, where he hides his face and says that the moogoonghwa flowers have bloomed! But everything goes bad as he turns around and the ghost from Oma’s funeral appears. I really can’t tell if it’s Oma or not. It just seems strange that she would look so menacing to him, if it was his Oma.