Gu Family Book Episode 15 Recap

The episode starts with Yeo Wool as a little girl in a hanbok, looking at her father’s weapons. She tries to take one down when he appears and gets it for her. It’s obvious that they have a good relationship with the way they smile at each other. He hands it to her and tells her to feel the weight of it. It’s very heavy. He tells her a sword is strength. But used unjustly to spill innocent blood, the weight is unbearable. She asks him if he’s hurt an innocent man. He remembers Wol Ryung as he thinks, “Once. Long ago. A true innocent.”

Yeo Wool is wandering the forest, looking for Kang Chi. Wol Ryung appears. So Jung tells Kang Chi that his father is back and means to kill him. We get more of their conversation, as we watch Wol Ryung play cat and mouse: “My father? You said he died.” “He’s returned as a demon. He means to destroy anything to do with Seo Hwa. You’re her son. He’ll destroy you and anyone close to you.” Again So Jung begs him to run.

Yeo Wool falls, having twisted her ankle. Wol Ryung shows himself. She thinks, “Kang Chi, help me!” Kang Chi stops running and says her name. Did he hear her thoughts or did he smell her? Because he’s done that before. And after he stopped, he changed direction. Wol Ryung surveys her face. This time she tries to grab her weapon, but he grabs her wrist and stops her, his gaze never wavering. That creepy smile. Yeo Wool looks afraid.

Master's Sun Episode 2 Recap

We start where we left off, Gong Sil asleep in Joong Won’s arms. Well, not in his arms, since she fell on him and he isn’t exactly holding her. He sits there for a moment (which I take as a good sign. Like subconsciously he didn’t want to let go) and then shakes her loose. She moans she just wants to sleep and he’s shaking her to get her to open her eyes.

Gong Sil begs Joong Won to sleep with her and he’s like, What? She’s a mess! She’s desperately trying to grab onto him and he’s holding her off by her head. It’s really humorous. He tells her to stop dreaming and shoves her down onto the pallet that she was sitting on. I’m laughing harder because he’s so arrogant. Does she think that simply by being clingy that he would fall for her? Then he notices the smell on his fingers and clothes. When was the last time she washed her hair?!!

Gong Sil smells her hair. Joong Won leans over and sniffs again and disgustedly tells her that if she’s going to try to seduce someone, she should at least wash her hair first. Wouldn’t that be a clue that she *wasn’t* trying to seduce you? She mutters back that it’s not like he would anyway. He pulls out his pocket square and starts trying to wipe her smell off his hands.

Gong Sil asks him why he’s there. Joong Won wants to know what she’s heard about him. Does she really know something about her? Did she know Hee Joo? Gong Sil notes that the ghost’s name is Hee Joo. He asks again, more forcefully, how she knows Hee Joo. Gong Sil says that she saw Hee Joo. Joong Won looks at her like she’s got two heads. He starts to say it, but Gong Sil finishes his sentence: Hee Joo is dead, right? He tells her that Hee Joo died a long time ago. When he was much younger. And she’s been haunting him ever since. That must have been a drag, not being able to read all that time. And why affect his reading? 

Gu Family Book Episode 14 Recap

So Jung’s library. So Jung lights another candle as he stands across from Wol Ryung. How’s this conversation going to play out? Because Wol Ryung mostly looks normal, is he going to forget that he’s supposed to be a demon now? That he drained the life out of 3 people? Is So Jung going to be smart? Will his cryptic-ness actually be of a benefit this time?!!

So Jung tells Wol Ryung that he looks well. Even though half his face is covered by his hair and he’s not smiling anymore. And is a demon. Wol Ryung tells him he looks older. So Jung jokes that everyone gets old. Wol Ryung says, almost bitterly, that after 1,000 years, he doesn’t pity humans at all, that they just barely live 100. Did he pity them before?

So Jung coughs uncomfortably and asks why Wol Ryung’s back. Wouldn’t the right question be *how* is he back? Or why haven’t you come back before this? So Jung wants to know if his old friend *is* going to be a demon for 1,000 years. I’m wondering if going demon is because of the broken heart, not because of some broken spell.

Before Wol Ryung answers, he wants to know something first. He walks closer to So Jung, who shifts uncomfortably because Wol Ryung’s now easily within strangling distance. Wol Ryung says he saw someone in the forest. Not a man. Not a demi-god. He was wearing So Jung’s talisman bracelet. He wants to know who it is. So Jung doesn’t really make much eye contact with Wol Ryung. Well? Wol Ryung growls.

Gu Family Book Episode 13 Recap

The episode starts with Kang Chi narrating events: his heart-to-heart with Soon Shin and Soon Shin asking how he will choose to live, asking Yeo Wool why she stands by him, Yeo Wool standing up to her father and taking his hand even as he’s a gumiho, her telling him she’d do anything for him. These are the things that make him want to be human, to be a man again.

Then we get to see that daddy Pyung Joon didn’t quite relent as much as it appeared when he allowed Yeo Wool to train Kang Chi. She and Gon are in his office and she’s arguing, begging to be in charge of his training. She says she’ll be harder on him than she has been on anyone else. Pyung Joon puts Gon in charge. Yeo Wool argues that the two are spoiling for a fight the minute they see each other. Gon scowls at her. She needs to be there to play mediator. Pyung Joon asks her if she wants Kang Chi to end up leaving, since it’s so hard for him. I want to slap him, since he saw how Yeo Wool makes things *easier* for him.

Gon can’t take Yeo Wool being sad, so he has to speak. He agrees that Yeo Wool needs to help with the training, because they don’t get along and Kang Chi will listen if she’s there. Yeo Wool is surprised that he’s siding with her against her father. He looks in her direction and she smiles her thank you, you’re awesome. He just looks away and rolls his eyes. Pyung Joon has no choice but to listen to his *two best warriors.* His words, not mine.

Yeo Wool brings the bag of beans. The triumphant music is playing. “My father says I’m in charge of you.” That is such a loaded sentence! A great loaded sentence. It seems like this episode is going to be a happy one and I need it. Last episode was so gut-wrenching. I need a little happy-happy, joy-joy.

Master's Sun Episode 1 Recap

We open with Tae Gong Sil (Gong Hyo Jin) disposing of her recyclables. There is a huge storm blustering outside of her apartment, with lots of lighting and thunder. Gong Sil is moving slowly, lethargically, as if exhausted. The landlady comes downstairs and tells Gong Sil that the family in apartment 404 has moved out, and so quickly. Judging by how she dropped the bag she was holding and timidly repeated the apartment number, Gong Sil doesn’t like the sound of that. The landlady wants Gong Sil to clean out the apartment. As an after thought, she adds that Gong Sil should remove the dresser, since it might be unlucky.

Gong Sil slowly climbs the stairs, as if expecting something to jump out at her. She arrives outside of apartment 404. It’s obvious that she doesn’t want to go in. The thunder and lightning don’t help.

Inside, there is trash all over the floor. The lights are out. As Gong Sil scans the room, the door to the closet creaks open. Suddenly a apparition, all in white with a mask over its face, appears in the corner. Thunder crashes and Gong Sil jumps and quickly turns on the light. The corner’s empty now.

Gong Sil starts to clean the room, inching her way inside the apartment. Suddenly, the fluorescent tube above her head pops, sparks and shorts out, bringing darkness back to the room. Gong Sil, of course, screams in terror and looks around frantically. After a moment, when nothing happens, she starts cleaning again, muttering, “Pretend you didn’t see. Pretend you didn’t see.”

Gu Family Book Episode 12 Recap

It’s the halfway point. What else can happen?!

Our episode starts with that conversation between Pyung Joon and So Jung. Can he become human? Is he dangerous? So Jung gets to the point: it would be better for them, because if they continue, it could mean one of their deaths, but there’s nothing anyone will be able to do if they don’t stop it themselves. So Jung, of course, is philosophical about things: it’s the nature of relationships. We hear Pyung Joon say, “One of them may die,” as we return to...

Kang Chi in chains. Tae Seo hasn’t shown up yet. There’s the pathetic yelling of each other’s names that’s so like Seo Hwa and Wol Ryung. And then, Tae Seo appears. We hear Kang Chi say, “That (them rejecting him) won’t happen. Tae Seo and Chung Jo will never turn on me.” Again I’m struggling as Tae Seo declares that he’s there for Kang Chi’s head. I hate the look on Kang Chi’s face. It’s so sad how he says, “forgive me, Kang Chi.”

Tae Seo grabs the bracelet. Kang Chi begs him not to take it off. But Tae Seo does. They just look at each other.

Oh, no! Bong Chool decides to run up and ram Kang Chi in the gut with the hilt of his sword. For good measure! That’s not good. Oh, he’s done it now. Kang Chi winces in pain and sinks to his knees. A huge wind kicks up in the forest.

Gu Family Book Episode 11 Recap

The episode begins with Kang Chi relishing his victory – the stewed chicken – and Gong Dal cackling over being able to wear Soon Shin’s hat. Gong Dal asks Kang Chi why he wants to be human. Without hesitating, he answers: to have a family. Not just any family, but his family at Century House, including Chung Jo and Tae Seo. Like it used to be. The semi-tragic music is playing. Gong Dal asks what he’d do if they didn’t want him.

That seems to be a running theme in Kang Chi’s life: whether he’s wanted by the people he loves. First it was Moo Sol. Then it was Chung Jo and Tae Seo. The only person who seems to have totally accepted him, gumiho and all, is Yeo Wool. She’s seen him at his worst, gh-d out, and it hasn’t changed how she treats him or views him. I don’t think he’s quite gotten this yet, but I think he will. He’s clueless but he’s not thick.

I like Gong Dal, because he's speaking what Kang Chi doesn’t want to acknowledge: this fear of being rejected because of what, rather than who, he is. I think Kang Chi ignores it most of the time, in order to stay sane, but I definitely think it’s a fear of his: that maybe they didn’t care for him as much as he thought, that his not rescuing them will change their feelings… I mean, Chung Jo rejected his rescue attempt and Tae Seo has tried to kill him. Those sorts of things *would* get a guy to question things.

Kang Chi doesn’t answer Gong Dal’s question.

Gu Family Book Episode 10 Recap

It starts with Ninja Soh in the room with Gon and the mason, telling them to take down the scroll hiding the secret door. Kang Chi and Yeo Wool behind the door listening. She yelps and falls. Ninja Soh hears it. Kang Chi catches her *awkwardly.* He knows she’s not Young *Master* Dam.

Unlike the last episode. His hand stays there a lot longer. There’s more lingering looks. She’s first horrified (because it would be awkward any time) and then scared about how he’s going to react. And he gets a really weird look on his face. Almost like the love light just went on. In the attic, far away from the first floor, but it’s still on now.

Yeo Wool finally (it was all of about 30 seconds) squirms away and they stand awkwardly, her with her back to him. It’s cracking me up because Kang Chi’s hand, the offending hand, hasn’t moved from its last position, even though the rest of him did. It’s still frozen awkwardly. He slowly looks at the offending hand. I’m laughing even more. Yeo Wool physically grimaces with not just her face. They glance at each other, their eyes meet, and then they look away again.

And even though all that happened, time was suspended on the other side of the wall so that they could have their moment. Their moment finished and Ninja Soh demands for Gon to stand aside. Kang Chi and Yeo Wool hear him and it helps shake them out of their awkward stupor. Both of them are worried, but Yeo Wool is more so, even wincing when Ninja Soh yells his demand that Gon stand aside.

Good Doctor Episode 2 Recap

  
The episode starts with where we left off: Yoon Seo waking up and screaming, with Shi Ohn brushing his teeth, staring at her in his boxer shorts. At least they’re not tighty-whiteys. It still cracks me up how she gags herself while she’s screaming so she has to cough. Heh. Shi Ohn doesn’t say anything as she asks him who he is and what he’s done to her. She throws things like bed pillows at him, all the while clutching the blankets to cover herself.

She grabs the TV remote to defend herself, even though Shi Ohn basically hasn’t moved except to avoid the pillow and to brush his teeth. Yoon Seo accidentally switches on the TV, which just happens to be covering a news story of Mr. Park who got women drunk, pretended to be their boyfriend and then took them home and raped them. How convenient.

Gu Family Book Episode 9 Recap

We open with Tae Seo dragging that sword, zombie-like, and tragic music playing. Tae Seo remembers his sister being dragged away, his mother collapsing with grief, Kang Chi murdering his father… The look of this false memory is different, but Tae Seo’s still half dead so he doesn’t notice. The captain’s voice telling him to kill Kang Chi.

There’s Kang Chi rushing to his side and Tae Seo stabbing him with the sword. Kang Chi’s hurt eyes. Yeo Wool, Gon, and Pyung Joon’s shocked reactions. We even got some real facial reaction from stoic Gon. Tae Seo-ya.

Kang Chi sputters out, ‘why?’ Bitterly Tae Seo spits out his grief: “How could you? He was a father to you.” The tears are about to spill from his eyes. Dagger in my heart over his pain! Kang Chi’s shock over Tae Seo’s blame. It’s chilling how Tae Seo spits, “There can be no forgiveness.” And then he screams ‘die!’ and drives the sword further in. Kang Chi grabs his shoulder and he pulls the sword out. Kang Chi falls to the ground.

Tae Seo goes to strike the death blow when a sword stops its path. It’s Yeo Wool. Finally! She tells him to lower his sword. He screams that Kang Chi killed his father. He’s just about to strike her with his weapon when Gon chops him on his neck and he collapses to the ground. This might be quibbling, but how did Gon get behind Tae Seo, when a second before he was way in front of him?

Gu Family Book Episode 8 Recap

From the Book of Nine: “…that those who defend his land may become human”

The episode starts with Kang Chi’s face off with Kwan Woong. Kang Chi tells him that he can shove it! I love him when he’s spunky! Kwan Woong orders Kang Chi’s execution. Yeo Wool has to hold herself back from interfering. And then, “Halt!” in this really awesome deep voice. It’s Soon Shin!

Kwan Woong looks like he’s sizing up a new obstacle (and that he doesn’t exactly know who this person is). Kang Chi looks confused as to why he’s there. Soon Shin introduces himself. Take that, Kwan Woong! The magistrate quakes with fear because this guy trumps old Kwan Woong here and the new guy does not look pleased.

As Soon Shin speaks, Kwan Woong watches him, as if to size him up and figure out a counter move. Again, my heart is warmed. It’s still as good the second time. The timber of his voice is gentle, like a father to a son. “I’ve come for you.” Has anyone, besides Moo Sol, ever rescued Kang Chi before? We’re not counting Yeo Wool because Kang Chi hasn’t totally gotten that they have a relationship yet.

Good Doctor Episode 1 Recap

I am really excited for this drama. I watched a preview and it looked very interesting – Joo Won plays an autistic savant, Park Shi Ohn, who was mentored by a director at Sung Won University Hospital, Choi Woo Suk. Shi Ohn from an early age showed aptitude for medicine and with Woo Suk’s support, he’s now a first year intern. The tone of the preview and the description on KBS’s website (and even the musical score) says that this will be an uplifting show and I always like those.

And I have to say, I like the intro and the use of stop-motion to produce a 3-D effect.

The first thing we see, besides an overall city shot, is a picture of two boys, one hugging the other. I’m thinking that this picture of Shi Ohn and another boy is significant to our story. There’s also a ceramic bunny and an alarm clock which is ringing. Aw, Joo Won is sleeping. He looks so peaceful.

Gu Family Book Episode 7 Recap

Sad cello music plays. Yeo Wool comes on the scene of the men attacking Kang Chi, but stops from intervening because of the blue lights. We hear her thoughts: “I didn’t want to believe it.” And we drift back to the peach tree under the crescent moon. So Jung telling her that one of them would die. “I thought I could ignore it. But now…”

Kang Chi begins to transform into a gumiho. Yeo Wool shivers with fear. “Choi Kang Chi, what kind of monster are you?” As Kang Chi attacks, she runs away, terrified. When she comes across Gon, she’s so frightened that she doesn’t recognize him and tries to escape from his grasp. He tries to figure out if something is wrong and she says that something is very wrong, terribly wrong. Where has he been all this time? There’s a horrific howl which frightens her more.

Kang Chi kills the last guard, the man who cut the bracelet from his wrist. Thankfully he didn’t rip out any hearts. He staggers away, trying to get to Chung Jo, but collapses as rain begins to fall. Is it natural rain or gumiho rain?

Chung Jo arrives at the gisaeng house. Madame Soo Ryun’s gisaeng house. When she hears they have a new girl, the daughter of Park Moo Sol, it’s almost as if she dreads what she’s about to do. Chung Jo is outside, refusing to go in, that she’d rather die than become a giseang. Soo Ryun exits the house and asks her what other choice does she, the daughter of a traitor, have? Just like Seo Hwa, she pleads her father’s innocence, but Soo Ryun says that it has nothing to do with her. When Chung Jo begs her to kill her, that she would die, Soo Ryun remembers Seo Hwa uncomfortably. There is a pause, where there’s a chance she won’t do what we know is coming.

Gu Family Book Episode 6 Recap

I’m eagerly awaiting Kang Chi’s revenge on Kwan Woong, although it’s probably not going to happen since it is the series bad guy and Kang Chi’s nemesis. 

The episode opens with a bloodied Kang Chi as a child. He’s been in a fight. Moo Sol is there and asks him why he beat up his friends. Kang Chi is angry about being called a river orphan. Moo Sol asks him if he is ashamed of being found on the river. When Kang Chi meekly answers ‘yes,’ Moo Sol squats down and tells him: “I think of it as a blessing. If you hadn’t been on that river, I’d never have met you.” This makes Kang Chi (and me) get choked up. Moo Sol continues: “Family isn’t just blood. It’s in our hearts. And in my heart, you are a son to me.” Kang Chi and I both cry.

Moo Sol stands and turns to his friends, telling them that when they tease Kang Chi, they tease him. Moo Sol’s love makes Kang Chi feel happy.

Again we see Moo Sol being run through by Kwan Woong’s man. Moo Sol gurgling. His family’s shocked faces. Kang Chi punching the attacker and cradling Moo Sol. Again with the face caress, where they rip out my heart with a spoon! Why a spoon? Because it hurts more. “You were a son to me.” His last thoughts are for his children. Tae Seo screams, “Father!” Lady Yoon faints. Kang Chi begs Moo Sol to come back and even though he screams, “My lord!” we know that he’s screaming, “Father!”

Clouds cover the moon. The fierce wind blows. Everyone is afraid.

Good Doctor Episode 1 Summary

Since I'm kind of long-winded in my recaps (it's the writer in me), I thought I would post a summary of the action first. Here's the link to the recap.

Episode One opened with meeting Park Shi Ohn (Joo Won), our hero, who lives alone. He's autistic by highly functional and is leaving to move to Seoul for a residency.


We get a flashback showing how hard life was for him as a child.

The other kids beat him up because he was different. His father was an abusive alcoholic, who in a fit of rage killed Shi Ohn's pet bunny. Shi Ohn had one champion: his older brother, Yi Ohn, who defended him against the other kids and his father.

He also was friends with a kindly doctor, Choi Woo Suk (Chun Ho Jin), who acted as a surrogate father and encouraged Shi Ohn's interest in becoming a doctor.

Gu Family Book Episode 5 Recap

Phantom-like assassins begin to appear, filling up the rooftops and surrounding Kang Chi and Yeo Wool. She seems to have fought them before, but they are unfamiliar to Kang Chi.

Moo Sol asks who the man pretending to be So Jung is. The assassin drops his disguise, now holding a sword to Moo Sol’s throat.

Kang Chi and Yeo Wool fight to defend themselves from death. As phantoms, they dissipate when killed, but their swords can still wound and kill.

The assassin asks Moo Sol to continue his story of Kang Chi’s bracelet. A blade appears at his head. “Drop the blade,” commands Han Noh. The assassin glares and many more guards enter the room. He tries to complete his task, swinging at Moo Sol’s head, but his way is blocked by Han Noh’s sword. Han Noh is so cool. Moo Sol doesn’t even blink at this threat.

Yeo Wool fights with her sword and Kang Chi fights with his fists and feet. He needs to get a sword already! Kang Chi is frustrated, because they just keep coming. Yeo Wool tells him that the phantoms are all just one man. Killing him will kill them all.

House guards fight the assassin. Could he be the one man they need to kill?

Yeo Wool and Kang Chi continue to fight as Kang Chi scans the phantoms for the lone man.

Gu Family Book Episode 4 Recap

Flashbacks of Seo Hwa and Wol Ryung’s relationship. Rip my heart out again, why don’t you. Wol Ryung Says, "I loved you, despite everything."

The girl and Kang Chi run through the forest. Her hat flies off and her hair flies free. Kang Chi saves her from the guard. As he declares, “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you,” it sounds familiar to her. She remembers a boy saving her from a savage dog when she was young.

Blue lights fly like fireflies and she realizes that she is by the peach tree under a crescent moon. The music swells as she holds him and does not run. A very nice visual image.

The monk stands outside of Century House. Kwan Woong has also arrived, although Moo Sol has not returned. Tae Seo knows that this means trouble, but goes out to meet him. The group demands rooms. Tae Seo begins to refuse, claiming they have no room, when he is stopped by Ninja Soh, who tells him that when they demand something, he will do it. The veil of the palanquin rises and Tae Seo sees Kwan Woong. Tae Seo knows of the old chancellor and he affirms that he is Kwan Woong, which disturbs the residents of Century House.

Tae Seo tries to accommodate their request, but there are only two empty rooms. Kwan Woong’s reputation has them afraid, since he is known to be ruthless and unrelenting. Tae Seo hopes that Kang Chi will return to help them, not knowing that his mother has gotten rid of him.

Gu Family Book Episode 3 Recap

The episode starts with the monk running through the forest, certain that Wol Ryung has come back. Instead he finds Seo Hwa and their newborn child in the cave. At first he doesn’t recognize her, but when he sees her face, he realizes who she is. He makes her some soup and tells her that the baby has Wol Ryung’s eyes.

Seo Hwa is heart broken because she can’t remember what Wol Ryung looks like. So Jung shows her the hawthorn dagger and tells her that Wol Ryung could have saved himself if he had killed her. The knowledge of this drives the emotional dagger of her betrayal into her heart. For the first time in 1,000 years, he loved someone so much that he wanted to be human and he couldn’t bear to be without her, so he let himself die instead. So Jung gives her the dagger, saying it was a symbol of Wol Ryung’s love and trust in her. Way to give her a physical dagger to go with her emotional one.

Seo Hwa has come to hate humanity and, dagger in hand, has come to Kwan Woong’s estate to try and kill him. “I have lost that which is most dear. I ask no forgiveness.” Attacking, she slices Kwan Woong across the face. He stares at her with horror, partially that she is alive and partially because she is trying to kill him. She truly has a mad, murderous look in her eyes. “I pushed true love away. I wished his child dead. I ask no forgiveness. I will answer for my sins.” Screaming, she goes to strike the death blow but is stopped by Kwan Woong’s captain, Ninja Soh.

Seo Hwa has left their baby in the care of So Jung. “Have mercy on this child. Spare him the loneliness of his father. Give him a normal life, surrounded by decent and loving people.”

Gu Family Book Episode 2 Recap

Episode Two begins with Wol Ryung declaring that he loves Seo Hwa and wants to be human. So Jung tells him to wake up, because Dam Pyung Joon is searching for them. Pyung Joon is one of a rare group of humans whose powers rival that of the gumiho.

Seo Hwa wants to leave, to keep Wol Ryung from being in danger. He laughs, dismissing her fears, and shows her the food he has gathered from the forest. When she tells him that an apple is good, he goes out and picks many more for her to eat.

Wol Ryung’s loving presence and serving heart, bringing her things like a sack full of butterflies, these help cheer her and win her heart. Because she misses Yoon and Dam Yi, Wol Ryung travels to the town to find them and discovers Yoon’s hanging body. Kwan Woong has left him hanging for 4 days.

As Soo Ryun asks Kwan Woong to take down Yoon’s body, they receive news that the body has been stolen. It’s interesting that she is concerned about the boy’s body, since it doesn’t seem to be something that should bother her.
Wol Ryung returns after burying Yoon’s body – complete with grave marker, which means he can read and write – and tells Seo Hwa that Yoon and Dam Yi are safe. Grateful, she hugs Wol Ryung, telling him she can finally live again. Suddenly embarrassed, she pulls away, but after a moment, he kisses her and asks her to marry him. Even as she tells him all the reasons why he shouldn’t marry her, he continues to ask and she agrees.

Gu Family Book Episode 1 Recap

Author's Note: My side comments are put in italics, so as not to confuse them with what might be said by someone else. They might be a bit of snark, a flash of irritation, or just an aside.

Narration. It was a place of mystery. A place none dared approach. It had long been a dwelling place of guardian spirits. It was called the Garden of the Moon. And there are protectors of Mt. Chiri... who have lived for thousands of years. I'm liking the music. It's very mystical sounding. It sets a good tone. And it reminds me of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films, which I absolutely adore, so it also puts me in a favorable mood.

The monk So Jung climbs up the mountain in search of Wol Ryung, the gumiho. From his reaction, “Oh, no. Not again,” it’s not unusual for Wol Ryung to leave his cave and travel down the mountain. Why that's a bad thing, I don't know. To emphasize that he is not human, he bounds into the air, impossibly high, and lands with a thud, unhurt.

Other Miscellaneous K-Drama Cliches

Cliches that I couldn't fit in another category:

1. Time travel is not unusual. It has no set rules or logic and depends on the relationship of the hero and heroine. 
2. Time travel will end in: heartbreak, lasting love, or lasting love with heartbreak. 
3. Reincarnation is also a common occurrence, especially for someone who was born in the Joseon era and ends up in modern-day South Korea
4. Body swapping can happen and will typically lead to love. 
5. In order for a woman to be mistaken for a man, all she needs to do is wear a man’s hair style and say she’s a man. Even if she’s really pretty, no one will ever guess that she’s a woman. 
6. There will always be a scene at either a hospital or an airport, or maybe both in the same series. 
7. Rooftop apartments are also typical and affordable. 
8. When relaxing in a public bath house, wearing a towel on your head is mandatory, even if your hair isn’t wet. The bath house also will supply your outfit. 
9. If you go to a spa or bath house, expect some sort of awkward scene to happen. 
10. Daylight is very unusual in Korea. It can be pitch black at 6 pm or completely bright at 6 am. 
11. Weather is also unusual. It's not atypical for the hero or  heroine to be stuck out in the rain.

Cliches: Koreans and Their Transportation

Of course, Korean dramas feature transportation. Whether it's a car racing off to rescue someone, or time spent thinking on the bus, here are some of the cliches that appear:

1. Poor people will either walk or ride the bus. Rich people will either drive themselves or be driven somewhere by someone. 
2. Instead of driving after someone on a car or bus, a person will chase him/her on foot. Or maybe a bike. But probably just running. 
3. Suddenly pulling over in traffic is no problem, even if it’s on a bridge. This also applies to making random, sudden u-turns in the middle of the street. 
4. There will never be traffic to stop you from pulling over or making a dramatic u-turn. 
5. When upset, drive really fast in your car. You will never get a ticket for it. 
6. You can park your car anywhere, whether it’s blocking a street or in front of a hospital or airport. Your can will never get a ticket or be towed. 

Cliches: Education and Students

Just like American dramas have cliches (like the male teacher who gets in a relationship with one of his female students), there are cliches regarding the Korean educational system:

1. All school uniforms include a jacket and, if a girl, a plaid skirt.
2. If you’re super rich you don’t have to wear a school uniform. 
3. Pranks and bullying can be brutal and can involve things like: arson, vandalism, and assault and battery. They can also potentially kill someone.
4. If someone is being bullied, the teachers will never step in and stop it. 
5. When in school, the students are typically in charge of their own education and do not need teachers. Most of the time, all school is, is study hall.
6. Students also rarely have to do any type of homework, even if it is their last year before university. 
7. It is totally normal for female teachers to date male students.
8. Traveling abroad for school is normal and not costly or difficult. If you’ve gone to America, you will return to Korea successful. You normally will have gone to university like Harvard or MIT.

Cliches: Work Life

Like in America, Koreans spend a lot of time at work. Here are some of the cliches about this part of Korean life:

1. Someone in the drama will work for a big corporation. 
2. If you are the son of a business's president/chairman, you are required to follow in your father's footsteps, even if you aren't interested or qualified. If you are the daughter and are qualified, you will be overlooked in favor of your brother, even if he isn't interested or qualified.
3. If you are not the first son, but some other member of the family (second son, cousin), even if you are more qualified and more successful, you will not be given the president/chairman position over the first son. 
4. The highly-educated and successful businessmen will be able to speak English. They will *not,* however, be taught correct pronunciation and will have a thick accent that the English-speaking people will, of course, understand even when it’s hardly comprehensible to native-English speakers watching the drama. 
5. He will also be able to speak several other languages like Chinese and Japanese. 
6. Even if you’re under-qualified and have never done the job before, you will get the job if you impress the boss. Or are the heir of the company. 

Cliches: Eating and Drinking

Just like Americans, Koreans have food and beverages that they prefer and mores regarding them. Here's some of the cliches you might find in a k-drama:

1. There will be gratuitous shots of delicious looking food. If food is being prepared, like a cooking show, the drama will show you how it's done.
   
     
     
     
2. If ordering coffee, it will be either a cappuccino or Americano. 
3. If not drinking coffee, people will drink tea or orange juice. Or Soju.

Cliches: Health-Related Situations

All medical dramas have cliches, but Korean dramas have some of the most interesting cliches regarding health-related situations:

1. If you are working too hard or over-exerting yourself, this will be indicated by a nose bleed.
2. When you are troubled, you will suffer from some ailment like a fever or constipation.
3. If you go out with wet hair, will get sick with a fever.
4. If you spend too much time outside in the cold, you will become sick and develop a fever. This will happen within 6 hours rather than a couple of days.
5. If you have a fever, you will be cured not by taking medicine, but by a magic washcloth that is applied to your forehead throughout the night.
6. When people are sick, they will eat porridge.
7. When you are sick or hurt, you will be cured with a good night's sleep. Even if you’ve broken a bone or been beaten up quite badly.
8. If you’re sick, an IV will also cure you overnight.
9. If you have an IV, it always remains full.

Cliches: Koreans and Emotions

Like all good dramas, emotions run high at some point. These are the typical cliches that show up in a Korean drama:

1. The hero and heroine will end up crying, often about each other. Or because someone died. Or is in a coma. Or has amnesia.
2. Often the crying will be a tear running down the cheek but occasionally it is painful sobbing. And it can be done in a crowded place with lots of people around.
3. If you're a woman and you end up sobbing in the men’s room, great things will happen to you. Especially when the hero catches you in the men’s room.
4. When someone is sad, it will rain, even if it’s unexpected and the sky was completely clear a minute ago.
5. It is socially acceptable to whine while speaking when you are upset.
6. Repressed anger or distress will be expressed with a clenched fist. No one will ever notice when you do this.
7. Anger, irritation or stress about a situation will give you pain in the back of your neck.
8. If troubled, spending time by the Han River will help the situation.
9. Feeling love causes a pain in the chest that must be rubbed.

Cliches: Lifestyles of the Rich and the Poor

More often than not, one of the couple will be rich, so there is a culture clash because of the differing backgrounds. Or, there will be prejudices because of them. Here's some of the cliches:

1. The rich never worry about money and have an endless supply of it to spend. They don’t usually carry cash and their credit cards are typically black (an unlimited credit line). 
2. All rich people will have astronomically huge houses with a butler and maid staff. The maids are required to wear a short black dress with knee-highs, a frilly apron, and an ugly hat. 
3. When rich, you will always eat on opposite sides of your very long table, even if it’s just you and another person. 
4. Rich people often buy out an entire restaurant on a whim. They might also purchase the entire selection of clothes in a store or the entire day’s worth of food at a food establishment. 
5. The rich always have a personal jet that can take them anywhere at a moment’s notice. It’s supersonically fast, too, so that in just a few hours, it can take them halfway across the world. 
6. Whatever company the rich person is from, it is one of the most influential in all of Korea and at some point in the drama it will bring international recognition for Korea. 

Cliches: Relationships with Friends and Family

Family is a central theme in any k-drama. Whether it's avenging a dead relative or complications with living ones, the hero and heroine will most likely have do deal with these cliches:

1. Either the heroine or hero, or maybe both, will have a parent who has died, often during childhood.
2. Korean fathers are domineering and do not pay attention to the desires of their children. If the father does not fit this mold, he most likely will die at some point in the drama.
3. Korean mothers are unreasonably possessive and restrictive when it comes to the woman their son marries. When they are wealthy, they prefer him to have a loveless, strategic merger for a marriage rather than to end up with someone who makes him a better person and loves him and not his money. Even if they aren’t wealthy, her son’s bride must not be adopted, divorced, illegitimate or an unwed mother.
4. Unless you are fabulously rich, your in-laws will hate you. Even if everyone else in the family loves you and/or you cure an incurable illness.
5. Whether you are rich or not, there will always be someone who opposes the hero and heroine’s relationship.
6. It is typical for parents to beat their children when they’re being rebellious or upsetting. Often it will be done in front of someone else.
7. Someone in your family will have a long-lost sibling. 

Cliches: Drama Leads: Their Relationship

Since we have the hero and heroine falling in love over the course of the drama, there are many cliches regarding the relationship they have:

1. The hero and heroine will have conflict and not like each other when they first meet. 
2. There will be a love triangle. Or maybe 2 concurrent love triangles. The lovers will split up at least once because of a request or threat of a third part or because one of them is feeling bad for a third party. 
3. When there are two men in the picture, the heroine may initially like the nice guy but will eventually fall for the jerk. This will only happen after the jerk likes her first. The exception is when the rival for the heroine’s affection is an ex. Even if he’s reformed his dastardly ways, she will not end up with him. 
4. When there are two women in the picture, the heroine will be likeable, moral, quirky and feisty. Her rival will be physically beautiful, manipulative and will lie to try to win the man. The other woman will be someone who calls the hero Oppa, his lost love or his ex-girlfriend. 
5. If the hero has a debilitating problem – anxiety, claustrophobia, supernatural affliction – it will be conquered with the love of the heroine. 
6. If the hero and heroine enter a relationship using a contract (and typically just for show), they will fall in love and the relationship will work out. 
7. Relationship contracts are always discovered. 

Cliches: Drama Leads: The Heroine and the Second Female Lead

In every k-drama, there's the heroine, the person you're supposed to root for. Besides maybe some ancillary characters, she's usually the first female you meet and it's typically right before or after you meet the hero. These are the typical cliches:

1. The heroine will be feisty, hot tempered, and will stand up to the hero when he is being a jerk. This will cause him to like her.
   
       
       
2. The heroine, when meeting the hero or finding out his identity, will not want a relationship with him, unlike the rest of the women he knows.
3. She is also hard-working, has a good appetite and does not like taking any type of handout. And is probably poor. And will never, ever take a bribe from the parent of the hero.
   
   

Cliches: Drama Leads: The Hero and the Second Male Lead

In every k-drama, there's the hero, the one who you're supposed to root for and the one who will win the heart of the girl. He's usually the first male you meet (besides ancillary characters) and it's typically either right before or right after you meet the heroine. These are the typical cliches:

1. The hero (the one who will end up with the girl) is a jerk when you first meet him. Maybe he's just socially awkward, grouchy, but more likely it's just that he's arrogant and entitled. And is probably rich.
   
     
     
     
   
2. The hero will usually come up with some insulting nickname for the heroine which will evolve into a term of endearment. Examples include: chicken, commoner, space rock, pig rabbit.
3. The hero will not know how to interact with the woman he is attracted to. He will be insulting, critical, defensive and will yell at the girl that he likes. She will never, ever dump him for treating her like this. She may or may not call him on his behavior. She will definitely mutter under her breath about his behavior and, even when he’s demanding something unreasonable, the heroine will comply with his request.
   
   

General Behavior of People in a K-Drama

1. When someone requests a meeting to talk about something serious, you will oblige, meeting at a food establishment, a park or by a body of water. This rule is true even if the person asking hates you or is out to get you.
   
     
2. Even after you know that someone is out to steal/replace your beloved, s/he can be trusted to tell you the truth about things. This applies even if s/he has lied in the past and/or if what is said completely contradicts your beloved's actions and/or character. If you are a relative of the hero/ine, this will also apply to your judgment.
3. You will always get stuck in an elevator with someone who makes you feel uncomfortable. Even if there are six different elevators, inevitably you will be stuck in the same one.
   
   

K-Drama Cliches: Things that Will Probably Happen When Watching a K-Drama

While American television shows may have their predictable moments, there are things that I have come to expect will happen in a k-drama. Here's a partial list of what you might expect, also known as All I Needed to Know I Learned from Watching K-Dramas. I've divided up my posts by type:

General Behavior of People in a K-Drama
Drama Leads: The Hero and the Second Male Lead
Drama Leads: The Heroine and the Second Female Lead
Drama Leads: Their Relationship
Relationships with Friends and Family
Lifestyles of the Rich and the Poor
Health-Related Situations
Koreans and Emotions
Eating and Drinking
Work Life
Education and Students
Koreans and Their Transportation
Other Miscellaneous K-Drama Cliches

My Drama Viewing List

I started watching k-dramas mid-2013. Since then, I've branched out into dramas from Taiwan and Japan, but Korean dramas are still my favorite. Here's the list of what I'm currently recapping (list created on 15 Aug 13; last updated 14 Nov 18):

Bad Guys (2014)
Recap: Episode | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
Bad Guys: Vile City (2017)
Recap: Episode | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
Bring It On, Ghost (aka Let's Fight Ghost) (2016)
Recap: Episode | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |

W-Two Worlds (2016)
Recap: Episode | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |

Here's the list of the k-dramas that I have finished recapping:

Gu Family Book (2013)
Recap: Episode | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |

Hundred Year Inheritance (2013)
Recap: Episode | 1-10 | 11-16 | 17-20 | 21-22 | 23-24 | 25-26 | 27-28 | 29-30 | 31-32 | 33-34 | 35-36 | 37-38 | 39-40 | 41-42 | 43-44 | 45-46 | 47-48 | 49-50 |

Marriage Not Dating (aka Marriage Not Love) (2014)
Recap: Episode | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |

Mask (2015)
Recap: Episode | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |

She's So Pretty (2015)
Recap: Episode | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
I know I'm missing the last two episodes, but I just can't watch an end where Shin Hyuk doesn't get the girl.

The Suspicious Housekeeper (aka The Strange Housekeeper) (2013)
Recap: Episode | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |

Sweet Stranger and Me (aka The Man Living in Our House) (2016)
Recap: Episode | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15-16 |

Warm and Cozy (2015)
Recap: Episode | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |

You're All Surrounded (2014)
Recap: Episode | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |