Tan isn’t deterred at the fact that it would be too much like a movie, after all, this is Hollywood, where those kinds of things really do happen. Eun Sang replies, “Really?” and it seems like Tan’s won her over, but then she adds, “Is this place called Hollywood?” Next thing we know, we’re outside, looking at the HOLLYWOOD sign and Eun Sang is tripping over the fact that she’s *in* Hollywood. As I laugh, Tan’s slightly offended that she’s more excited about seeing the HOLLYWOOD sign than him telling her he might like her; there's no way the sign is more interesting than what he told her in the movie theater. She catches his meaning, but ignores him, saying that this was one of the things she told herself she would definitely visit when she came to the States. Tan even mutters, “Am I talking to myself?” But she’s determined to ignore what he’s put out there. Probably because he *lives* in the States and she’s just visiting. Not that Tan’s used to being practical, since he’s pretty much had a really easy life. And he knows that he’s insanely wealthy, but she doesn’t.
Eun Sang is still tripping over seeing the HOLLYWOOD sign and Tan grimaces, a little hurt that she’s ignored (in essence, rejecting) what he’s said. But, since he still wants to be around her, he says they can take his car to see it after they go home and freshen up. Because that’s what most people do, change into more than one outfit a day. Okay, maybe they’re sweaty. That’s a feasible rationale. But Eun Sang knows she needs to cut the cord now, before anything else develops between them, so she politely refuses, saying that she wants to stop being a burden to him, so she’d like to go back to his house to get her luggage. As she asks which way she should go to get there, Tan just walks away, clearly hurt by the rejection, and Eun Sang’s face shows that she’s bothered that he’s hurt.
Back at Tan’s house, Eun Sang’s luggage is still standing by the front door where they left it when they ran from the thugs. Since Rachel couldn’t be bothered to bring it inside. Glad they're in Tan's neighborhood because if it was Unni's, that bag would be gone. Tan looks at it sadly, and from behind him, Eun Sang looks at him sadly. But it’s an impossible relationship and she knows that. Since she’s going home to Korea and he’s staying in California. So, like always, she pushes her sad feelings down inside and is ever practical as she goes to grab her bag. He won’t look at her as she gets her bag and then starts walking away from him (the house).
In spite of herself, Eun Sang doesn’t want to leave things like that, so she asks Tan if he could check to see if there's a reply on her status one last time. When he looks at her, it’s clear from his expression, that he’s angry and hurt. Probably not something he normally feels. Most of the time, he doesn't seem to have any real deep emotional reaction to anything. She adds that she’s really thankful for everything he did for her. It doesn’t make things better. Because he’s not saying anything, she says goodbye. But his response is to wordlessly grab her bag and carry it back inside the house.
Tan checks Eun Sang's Facebook and sees the message that Rachel had erased off his phone. He’s not happy that Eun Sang’s ‘boyfriend’ has replied, like she said he would. Tan just stares at the phone, as this is another thing that’s going to carry her away. As she enters the house, Eun Sang looks at him, sad that this is happening, but there’s nothing she can do, so she pretends everything is fine.
When Eun Sang reaches the bottom of the stairs, she asks about her bag, since it’s no where to be seen. Her voice pulls Tan out of his thoughts and he replies that it was all cracked. How did that happen? She doesn’t answer his question, just asks again. He says that it’s in his bedroom, upstairs. She sadly nods and starts to go get it, but Tan has hopped up and as he starts up the stairs, he announces that he’s going to take a shower. So she can go inside and take it. Which she’s not going to do, since he’s going to be naked in the bathroom.
Tan stops, mid-stairs, and tells Eun Sang to stay until her friend contacts her. Even though he HAS. But Tan’s not telling her that. When is he planning on telling her? And she’s going to be angrier that he didn’t say so he could keep her there. She sighs, because she’s stuck someplace she’s trying to leave before she gets more hurt.
As Tan enters his room, he notices a note from Rachel: she ate lunch alone, so they should eat dinner together. He’s not happy about this obligation. Eun Sang’s suitcase is sitting in the middle of the room, at the foot of his bed. The phone rings. It’s Jae Hoo, calling to tell him that he is obliged, per the Chairman’s decision, to attend a family party with the American shareholders, at the farm estate. He needs to be there by lunchtime, tomorrow. Jae Hoo mentions that Won will be attending, too. Tan asks if his hyung knows that he’ll be going. It almost seems like he’s hoping that his brother wants him there. Jae Hoo is evasive with the answer and that’s an answer for Tan. Jae Hoo hangs up and Tan sits on his bed, hating this new obligation and the fact that his hyung doesn’t love him back.
Jae Hoo sighs as he gets off the phone. He’s still in Korea. His expression says that he wishes this distance between the brothers wasn’t there, that the Chairman wouldn't cause this rift with what he does. Bo Na enters and as she sees him, she cries, “Father-in-law!” She’s very excited to see the father of her boyfriend. He tells her to call him ajusshi. Heh. He asks her why she’s at school – they’re at Jeguk High School – when they’re on a break. She’s there to prepare for the short-film festival. She persists in calling him Father-in-law. Heh. When he corrects her again, she makes a face, and his tone says that he’s not mad about it.
Bo Na starts to complain about Chan Young’s behavior since he went to America. He won't even call her first, and he talks to American girls! She mutters that he must be cheating. Chan Young seems to take after Jae Hoo, because Jae Hoo teases her as he says that it looks like he’s given birth to a really bad guy. She immediately gets offended that someone would say something bad about her boyfriend. Jae Hoo leans in and tells her to be careful of him, because Chan Young secretly really likes women. And Bo Na, because she’s Bo Na, doesn’t realize that everything she’s saying directly refutes what she’s complaining about. Bo Na says that it’s not Chan Young that’s the problem; it’s the woman chasing *him* that’s the problem, like Cha Eun Sang. She says that Jae Hoo shouldn’t be nice to her since his son’s girlfriend doesn’t like her. She calls him Father-in-law again as she leaves and when he corrects her again, she says that ajusshi is for Won Bin. Won Bin starred in the film, 'Ahjusshi.' Heh. He smiles after her. Clearly the son takes after his dad, because they both seem to appreciate her spirit, even if she is jealous easily.
Bo Na gets to her destination in the school, where two girls are mooning over Hyo Shin. Bo Na is immediately annoyed because of their half-hearted bow in greeting to her and chastises them for being disrespectful. At least, that's what she says, but I think she's annoyed that they're there to moon over Hyo Shin. Heh. Bo Na really likes being the center of attention. I guess Chan Young was right, when he said that she’s the star of her own movie. Hyo Shin laughs at Bo Na giving them a hard time.
The girls beg their sunbae to come and eat; they have gotten up at the crack of dawn to make it for him. And they really must have since they’ve brought him food for all over different parts of Seoul, which Bo Na points out before she starts to yell at them. One of them mutters about how she should just set up a broadcasting station for their sunbae (rather than have to put up with Bo Na), since this little group doesn’t really mean much. Boy, these girls are really not getting on Bo Na’s good side, because now she’s offended by that comment. The grumbly girl says that her dad is the CEO of SBC. So that must make her an expert on these types of things. Bo Na retorts that her dad is the CEO of Mega Entertainment and her family wouldn’t do very well if their stars no longer had anything to do with SBC. Hyo Shin is in the background laughing at these foolish girls. They quickly scram, so Bo Na helps herself to what they’ve brought.
Bo Na asks Hyo Shin what the occasion is and he says that it’s his 100th day. Because that usually implies having been dating someone for 100 days, Bo Na is shocked, especially if it’s one of those girls, but he laughs because he’s talking about it being 100 days until the college exam. Which he needs to do better at this time around, so that he can be even more elite.
Apparently, being part of the broadcasting group isn’t something the elite smile on. Hyo Shin tells Bo Na that the 10th grade producer is saying he'll quit (because his family found out). Hyo Shin’s been successfully hiding it from his family for three years, although he wonders if it’s so much him, or his parents, that are the ones good at hiding it. Hyo Shin takes some pills and Bo Na asks what they are, he replies that it’s vitamins. She’ll understand next year. And I wonder if it's *really* vitamins and not something like Ritalin to help him study.
Tan is coming down the stairs, wearing a suit. He checks his watch. He’s probably late. Eun Sang asks what’s going on and he tells her they should go to Hollywood next time, since he urgently needs to go somewhere. Eun Sang naturally asks if something bad happened. He doesn’t answer, just tells her to stay there and not go anywhere. She replies that she needs to go, she’s been too burdensome. Tan snaps at her for always saying she’s going to leave. Does she have somewhere to go? Then he tells her if he hears the word “burden” one more time, he’ll sell her off! And since she still wonders if he’s a drug dealer or something, it’s not out of the range of possibility that human trafficking is in there, too.
But they’re interrupted by S.D., who just let himself in the house. And I groan really loudly as I voice my dismay. Not the over-acting guy!!! Arg! S.D. bubbles about his sweet angel being in this house and blows her a kiss before he starts rushing down the stairs towards her. Tan starts to tell S.D. about the goons that chased them, but S.D. cuts him off, telling Tan not to worry about it. He has it covered. And he pats Tan’s stomach. And I scream with the torture that is S.D.’s acting. It’s so horrid!!! So horrid! S.D. finishes down the stairs and rushes over to Eun Sang, grabbing her in a side hug as he asks if she’s staying there. And I cringe for her. Not only is it not customary for men and women to touch each other in Korea, but that he’s a drug fiend (at least in Eun Sang’s experience)… I wouldn’t want him touching me either.
Tan sighs, annoyed at his friend, and asks Eun Sang if she gets carsick. The next thing we see, they’re driving along the California coast line. It’s really beautiful. Tan tells her to take a nap if she wants, since they’ll be driving for a while. And I guess Tan’s driving up the family estate early to talk to his brother, before tomorrow afternoon. Tan and Eun Sang don’t really talk as he drives, and an English-language song plays.
Back in Korea, Madame Han is at the club. One of her friends is asking about Ji Sook’s refusal to budge on the family registry. Madame Han wants her to keep her voice down, because people might be listening. Girlfriend says that a really good excuse for divorce is an affair and she knows someone who’s really good at getting incriminating pictures. Madame Han points out that her relationship with the Chairman started as an affair, too, but friend replies that she gave him a son, so it makes it different. This convinces Madame Han, since Ji Sook is the only one of the Chairman’s women never to have given him a son (or any children).
Later, at home, Madame Han sneaks down to the wine cellar to call the detective and as she happily finishes the call, she notices Hee Nam, who has heard everything. Hee Nam writes that she wasn't eavesdropping, she just happened to hear. Madame Han starts to whine about Hee Nam not making herself known, but Hee Nam replies (via her notebook) that she was just writing that Madame Han should use a burner phone for those types of calls. When Madame Han realizes what she’s saying, she whines about Hee Nam not telling her sooner! Hee Nam starts to reply but Madame Han tells her not to dare write “But you never asked!” Apparently this type of thing happens a lot. Heh.
Tan and Eun Sang’s drive has progressed into the desert. They stop in a Podunk town of Harmony, population 18. It’s about 10 buildings on either side of the highway. Eun Sang wakes from her nap and asks if they’re there. Tan doesn’t answer, he just hands her the car key and says he’ll be back. When she asks how long he’ll be, Tan replies that he doesn’t know; he might be chased out after 5 minutes, or it could be longer. He tells her to walk around if she gets bored. She should just avoid someone: The person who looks the coldest here. He doesn’t clarify anymore than that, just goes inside.
I guess we’re at the family farm. Major spread with people talking, eating. A jaunty version of ‘When You’re Smiling’ is playing as background music. Won actually has a smile on his face and laughs at one of the investor’s jokes. They seem to really like him and he seems remarkably relaxed. Tan arrives – in that suit they showed in the previews. Which I notice is hemmed so that his pants look like they’re high-waters. He adjusts his coat right before he comes into his brother’s view. He definitely looks uncomfortable. One of the investors asks who Tan is and as soon as Won sees him, the smile drains from his face and the song fizzles out. Won excuses himself and walks over to Tan. Or rather past him, not greeting Tan as he says, “hyung,” but demanding that Tan come with him. It’s obvious that this rejection hurts Tan, who sighs and follows his hyung.
Eun Sang is wandering though the grove on the farm. Somehow she manages to be within ear shot of where Won and Tan arrive to ‘talk.’ Won looks furious. Tan tells him long time no see, Hyung. But Won doesn’t want pleasantries. He demands to know who told Tan to come. Tan wants to know if his brother has been well, but Won doesn’t want to talk about that. Does Tan think he could show his face at a place like this? Not that I think Tan has ever given any indication that he *wants* to be involved in these types of things. I’m still hoping that hyung isn’t being a bitter jealous spurned brother and is actually trying to protect his dongsaeng. Tan replies that he couldn’t not come, since Won is there.
Tan starts to say something to the effect of he just wanted to see his hyung, when Won snarks about this being why children are hard to handle; they react based on whatever they want, without realizing the implications of their actions. There’s a pause while they look at each other. Tan says with a sad smile on his face that it’s been three years since they’ve seen each other; he’s grown quite tall. But Won is cruel. He tells Tan to just do what he’s already been doing in America, meaning to stay out of his way. And that he should just leave. Then Won just walks off, leaving Tan to swallow and not cry. Eun Sang feels very sad for him.
The sprinklers come on in the orchard. It’s like one of those moments when the hero ponders something sadly in the shower, because Tan just stands there, not reacting, getting wet. Eun Sang slowly walks over to him, and it’s only when she’s standing directly in front of him does he realize that she’s there. Her face shows how sorry she is for him. She asks him if he’s all right. He says he’s not. She tells him that his clothes will get all wet. He doesn’t really seem to care. He asks her why she eavesdropped and she replies that she was going to count 1,2,3, take his hand, and run with him, if it turned out that Tan was in danger. A nice throwback to running into Chris on the beach. Tan asks her why she *didn’t* run, since he was in danger the entire time she was watching. That hurts my heart, because I think he’s saying that he was in danger of being hurt the whole conversation, not that her presence means that it made the conversation dangerous. He walks away and she reels from how bad she feels for him.
Now Tan and Eun Sang are driving home. And I’m confused because Jae Hoo said the event was tomorrow, not today. At least that's what the subs said. The top is up this time. Eun Sang keeps looking at him and finally he asks her what. She says that it’s too quiet. Not that they were talking on the way there or anything. But I know what she’s saying. The mood is even heavier than it was before. She asks about the radio. Tan sighs and tells her to forget that it happened. She tells him that she would anyway, even if he didn’t say anything, because everything’s like a dream, something out of Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Tan’s been looking at Eun Sang and not paying attention to the road. When he turns to look, he sees that a rock slide has covered the road. Even though it’s not a very steep hill at all, some really huge boulder have fallen down. Because that’s what happens on rolling slopes in America, rock slides. Not steep slopes that have weaken because of erosion, but rolling slopes. I should stop being picky, since this moment was dramatic! Tan reacts, swerving to miss them, putting his arm across Eun Sang to protect her as they swerve and end up driving up the hill and stranding their car. Not that he couldn’t have driven on the other side of the road or anything.
When Tan discovers that he can’t back up because he has no traction, he tells Eun Sang to stay in the car. He mutters about things becoming more difficult once the sun sets. As he gets out of the car, I wonder why he has New Jersey license plates on his car. But I guess we’re not supposed to notice something like that. If I was in Korea, I probably wouldn't know that each state issues their own license plates for their residents, so Tan, as the owner of car in California should have plates from California. Eun Sang starts to freak out because of all the horror movies she’s watched. Tan’s checking the car and it looks like it’s leaking fluid (probably gas). Eun Sang gets out of the car as Tan tries his cell phone, but because of the remote location, there’s no signal, which makes Eun Sang freak out even more. What’s even better is that they’ve crashed right by a gas pipeline (there’s a warning sign with a phone number on it).
So, they end up with Tan in the car and Eun Sang attempting to push as he tries to back up. Because apparently, Eun Sang can’t drive, even though it wouldn’t be anything to teach her to push a gas pedal since this is an automatic car. And the car dies as it runs out of gas, so Eun Sang utters the ‘eotteokay’! Tan tells her to get anything of value and put it in her bag, since they need to find some place civilized before it gets dark. Eun Sang doesn’t want to, because in movies, the characters find those types of places and end up dying there. He shrugs and tells her she can stay then and starts to walk back in the direction they drove from. Eun Sang hurries after him, since in the movies, she’ll end up dying if she stays there by herself. Heh. I’m really cracking up how seriously she’s taking those types of slasher flicks. Like that type of thing really happens in America. Or anywhere. When Tan teases her about concluding that she’s going to die, Eun Sang retorts that if they're going have a sequel, at least one person will have to survive! She scurries ahead of him as he starts to laugh at her. At least his mind is off what happened with hyung.
As they walk down the highway, I notice the 55 mph speed limit sign, with the notice that it’s radar enforced, so there must be a cop that will come by soon, since this is a pretty flat barren strip of highway. Later, as it’s starting to get dark, Eun Sang asks Tan if he even knows where they're going. He gestures at the highway as he retorts, “Is there another road here?” Eun Sang thinks that maybe they went the wrong direction and Tan says that he saw a roadhouse when they passed by before. Eun Sang remembers that she bought some food souvenirs earlier. She’s bought two of them, but one’s for her mom. Heh. But she’s going to share the nuts that she’s bought. Tan grumbles about how quickly she spends her money.
Tan starts to mention Chan Young and Eun Sang’s eager to hear if he’s replied. Tan snipes at her about not letting him finish, so she sighs and tells him to go on. He wants to know what she’s going to do if he contacts her. Eun Sang’s ready with her list: First, she needs to get money since unni stole all of her. But not all of it, since she was able to buy those souvenirs. But it’s not enough to buy a ticket home. Tan tells her that he can lend her the money. She tells him she’s not that brave, since she’ll probably have to offer her kidneys as collateral. He tells her she should be brave. She asks him if he thinks she’s trustworthy. Tan doesn’t answer. Instead he starts walking again, telling Eun Sang that there was a reply. She wants to see his phone to check the internet, but he grumbles that there wouldn’t be access, since the phone’s not getting any signal. Eun Sang spots the roadhouse up ahead.
The guy at the roadhouse / motel is an expert in extortion, since he tells Tan that they’re closed for tonight, but he’ll book the tow if they rent a room. Tan decides to get the room. It’s not a bad looking room! In fact the bedspread is actually quite stylish. And it has a couch and a desk! Eun Sang tries to clean up her dirty shirt, but Tan’s bought them new ones, with ‘I love California’ written on the front. He tells her that they can’t very well sleep in what they’re wearing. And then he proceeds to start to unbutton his shirt, which makes Eun Sang spin around in embarrassment that she almost saw him partially naked! I laugh and remember he had a similar reaction out by the pool.
With her back to him, Eun Sang asks him if his objective is to get them mistaken as a couple, but he retorts that she shouldn’t even dream about that. Even though not 12 hours before, you were basically telling her you wanted to be a couple. Heh. She glares using the back of her head and we’re treated to Tan’s bare back. He tells her to go change and then come outside. He leaves and she tells herself that she should have peeked.
At the bar of the roadhouse, Mr. Extortionist remarks that their dinner of eggs, sausage and French fries looks good. I don’t necessarily agree. Wow. That’s a lot of grease. Tan tells Eun Sang that it’s the best they could do, since they’re closed. Oh, so I guess Mr. Extortionist has a heart. I guess I should call him the Manager. Manager’s left them there to eat and Eun Sang is eager to do so because something’s better than nothing. She remarks about them even having alcohol. Tan’s surprised that she drinks and she retorts, hasn’t he noticed her hands trembling (from alcohol withdrawal)? He looks at her for a moment, like he can’t believe she just said that, and then he tells her she’s a bit cute. She smiles and replies that it's good that he knows.
Eun Sang starts to dig in, but Tan is just sitting there, chin in his hand, smiling as he watches her. After a few moments, she notices and tells him to stop looking or she’ll start asking questions that will make him feel uncomfortable. He wants to know what kinds of questions. Like ‘Who was the person you met at the farm?’ When she says yes, he replies that the person on the farm is the person he likes most in the world. And that really makes me feel bad for him. And explains why his brother’s rejection hurts him every time. Eun Sang’s surprised by that answer. Is there anything else that she’s curious about? She starts to ask him about their relationship, when he says that she shouldn’t think those types of things about his hyung. And she nods, still playing, that he likes his own brother... He yells, “Hey!” at her suddenly, making her jump backwards suddenly, and she almost falls off the stool she’s been sitting on. He catches her and there’s the staring moment.
After a moment, Tan asks her if she’s dumb, which confuses her. He tells her that she almost hurt herself. The proximity makes her uncomfortable, so she shakes him off, protesting that it was because of him! She was just joking... He starts to tease her about her red cheeks and her dirty mind, but she protests that it’s because she feels wronged! Plus, she didn't even get to try a pancake after coming to America. He thinks that’s a little random and she says that in American movies, you see people pouring syrup onto their pancakes and drinking orange juice. It looks so American style. Well, she’s kind of right. Although I like my syrup on the side so my pancakes don’t get soggy.
Tan tells Eun Sang that there's a delicious pancake house on Melrose Avenue that they need to go to when they get back to L.A. She quickly tells him to stop making promises like that, because people who do that during times like these die! Then she starts muttering about it being scarier when she notices these things and she’ll just concentrate on the sausage at hand. I realize that she’s still thinking about those slasher flicks she likes watching. I laugh hard. He tells her that *she’s* scarier! And I think about the nice chemistry they have.
Back in the motel room, Tan announces that he’s sleeping on the bed. Like the true gentleman he is. Eun Sang was thinking the same thing, after all she’s just thankful he’s providing her a place to sleep. He doesn’t understand how she can be so positive, since it’s his fault that she’s in this situation. She replies that it’s because of the rock slide. She lays down and closes her eyes. After a few minutes, Tan asks her if she’s awake. Because it would be hard for me to fall asleep lying on my back with all the lights still on. She doesn’t respond. He asks again and when she still doesn’t respond, he starts clattering things like the phone, to make a bunch of loud noise. No response. He goes over and kicks the table and tells her that her acting sucks. He has something to ask her. Then he kicks the couch and starts to threaten her about not waking up, so she gives up, sits and demands to know what he wants.
But it’s not something Tan wants to tell Eun Sang. It’s something he wants to ask: Why does she want the Jeguk Group to go bankrupt? She’s initially confused by the question and then asks him if he read her feed. He doesn’t see why he shouldn’t, since she was logged on. She still doesn’t think he should have looked and tells him to log out while she’s asking nicely. Tan concludes she must really want them to go bankrupt. She tells him that it has nothing to do with him. Does he hold stocks in that company? Tan squirms uncomfortably and decides to drop the subject. Then he tells her to keep watch over him until he falls asleep, after all she’s the one who kept talking about murders; She scared him. Heh.
Tan crawls into bed and as he lays there with his eyes closed, Tan tells Eun Sang that she should only look and don't think about doing anything with him. She sputters that he’s seriously not that great, if at all! He laughs at that response, “As if...” He rolls over and she whines about it taking a long time. But she continues to sit and ‘watch over him,’ even as she’s fighting to stay awake.
Lying there, he opens his eyes and asks her how soon she’ll leave for Korea, once she gets in contact with “that dude.” Heh. She answers, barely still awake, ASAP. Tan rolls over and sees that she’s basically asleep. He gets up, but then dashes to catch her as she falls over. She’s completely asleep. He’s moved by his feelings and ends up prying his arm loose and then sitting on the coffee table, watching her sleep.
Back at the Bilt Hotel, Rachel is eating her breakfast. She gets a text. It’s from Chan Young, thanking her for sending him the address where Eun Sang is. Rachel mutters that he should go and get rid of her already, if he’s so thankful. I’m surprised she did that, but it makes sense in getting rid of her rival. It was smart of her to jot down the phone number. But I don’t get the impression that she’s stupid, in the least.
Tan and Eun Sang arrive back at his house. She asks to see his phone, just in case Chan Young contacted her. Tan’s still ticked because she wants to leave. As they get out of the car, someone calls Eun Sang’s name. It’s Chan Young. Eun Sang’s very excited to see him, but puzzled how he found her and that he’s in the States. Chan Young’s more concerned about how she is and why she didn’t reply to his post. He says he was worried and in the background, Tan huffs, irritated at her “boyfriend.”
Eun Sang is practically bursting to see her friend. She declares that she can breathe now. Tan can’t take watching the girl he likes gush over another guy. He throws down his bag and starts to walk inside, saying that it's hot. If she has something to say, she should go inside and say it. Chan Young, like a normal person, asks about Tan, their shirts, whose house this is. Eun Sang, again, wants to answer his questions later but also wants to go in and say their goodbyes. Chan Young looks like he’s got a bad feeling.
Tan’s gotten himself a drink. He doesn’t look any happier. Eun Sang tells him thank you and that she’ll be going to Chan Young’s house. Tan wants to know why she wants to leave, since all she needs him for is to borrow money. She responds that there’s *less* of a reason to stay there. Tan gives her a reason: he’s caused her a lot of problems (like the issue with her passport) so her staying there is the least he can do.
By the time Tan finishes his speech, Chan Young has reached the bottom of the stairs. He asks Eun Sang if there’s a problem and Tan hostilely asks what Chan Young’s going to do if there is. As Eun Sang tries to diffuse the situation, Chan Young looks at Tan with a face that says, “What’s your problem?” Eun Sang thanks Tan again and Chan Young realizes that he knows Tan. He asks if he’s possibly Kim Tan. Tan doesn’t recognize him, even though Chan Young says they know each other. Tan asks if Chan Young’s someone he bullied in middle school. Chan Young cryptically replies that it's not something you can classify so simply. Eun Sang is confused at Chan Young’s reaction.
Before they can talk anymore, Chan Young announces that he and Eun Sang should go, since their taxi is there. He walks up the stairs to get out of the house of the youngest son of his father’s boss. I’m sure he knows the politics of that family. And from his reaction to Tan, he remembers how Tan used to act. Tan just looks at Eun Sang, hurt, as she says goodbye and walks up the stairs and out of the house. It’s obvious that she feels bad about how they’re leaving things and as she walks away, Tan works hard to not cry.
Back at Chan Young’s apartment, Eun Sang’s been explaining what’s happened since she got to Korea. She tells him she had no choice but to stay with Tan because her sister ran and she had no money or a passport. Then she asks about Tan’s name and Chan Young is really surprised that she doesn’t know the name of the guy she’s been hanging out with. She says that she didn't ask, because she didn't want to have to talk about herself. She asks if he’s bad kid; did he bully Chan Young? Chan Young replies that Tan’s just somebody he knows of, but he’s not a nice kid. Eun Sang isn’t quite sure how she feels about her best friend not liking Tan.
Inside Chan Young asks what happened to Eun Suk. Eun Sang just worries about what she’s going to tell her mother. Chan Young tells her not to worry about the plane ticket. As Eun Sang starts to say she’ll pay him back, he tells her to do that *slowly.* He knows how much she works already. Her thoughts immediately turn to when she can buy the ticket – even though I find it ironic that she wants to use a travel agency rather than shopping for her ticket online – but he tells her to slow down about that, too. The only thing they need to be urgent about? What they’re going to eat for dinner. Eun Sang says she wants ddeokbokki (Spicy rice cakes).
After they eat, they’re wandering around the Universal Citywalk Hollywood area, eating huge swirly lollipops. They, of course, take a picture and Chan Young posts it on his Facebook page. Where Tan can see them and feel even more jealous of Eun Sang hanging out with her ‘boyfriend.’ Chan Young says that he did it to show her something cool. He holds out his phone and has her count. After three, the phone rings. It’s Bo Na. He is horrible! Eun Sang freaks, because she knows how jealous Bo Na can be. When she mentions Bo Na pulling out her hair, Chan Young exclaims that it sounds fun! Eun Sang kicks him and tells him that he’s dead. And I am laughing at how horrible he is and how much he enjoys tormenting them both.
Chan Young answers the phone and of course, Bo Na is crazy jealous. She yells at him, asking him what he’s doing with Eun Sang and he replies that he’s thinking of Bo Na, of course. What else would he be doing? Heh. He steps away to talk some more and Eun Sang smiles. She looks at the Citywalk and spots some t-shirts like the one Tan bought her. It makes her think of him, with a little sadness in her face.
Tan’s at his house, sitting out on the deck, missing Eun Sang. As he studies later, he checks his SMS feed and there’s the picture of them together. As expected, it drives him crazy, so much that he can’t concentrate. He lays in his bed and looks at that engagement picture, where Rachel looks like she’s eaten something sour and he looks like he’s pretending to care. He mutters that it’s tomorrow.
Rachel is still waiting at the hotel, for her fiancé to contact her on the year anniversary of their engagement. In fact, she’s about to leave for Korea. He finally calls, and she answers it testily. He asks where she is and she doesn’t want to tell him. He tells her that he figured that she'd be upset and packing her bags to return to Korea. Even though she’s still in the States, she tells him that she’s already back home. He doesn’t buy it, but that’s because he’s in the same hotel lobby not 20 feet from where she’s standing. He tells her to come back to America, not using the phone and she realizes he’s there.
Rachel tells the bellman to put her bags back upstairs and to change her flight to the next day, since Tan probably won’t want to see her beyond today. Esther calls and Rachel can finally honestly say that she’s with Tan. She tells her mother that he dressed up really nicely just to see her. Tan feels a little bit like a jerk. Which he should. Mom tells her that the official story for the visit is because Tan asked her to come, not because Rachel was anxious to see him. Before Rachel can ask her anymore questions, Esther hangs up, because her mother-in-law is coming. Mother-in-law? Ah, Ji Sook. She looks happy as usual.
Esther is very flattering to Ji Sook, who’s ‘polite.’ And based on Esther’s comment on how Ji Sook maintained her figure after giving birth to Tan at such a late age, no one knows that he’s the son of the mistress. Ji Sook replies that there are some things you are born with and some given with money and time. And we know which ones she was born with.
Ji Sook mentions Rachel going to see Tan as soon as her school vacation started. She compliments Rachel’s beauty. Esther laughs in gratitude at the compliment. Esther asked to meet with Ji Sook because of her upcoming remarriage; she thought it would be proper to inform Ji Sook first. Ji Sook had heard and congratulates her. My they're polite. Esther asks about Tan and Young Do’s falling out. Ji Sook doesn’t look pleased that people know, but says that until right before Tan left for the States, they were very close. And it looks like she doesn’t know the why of the break up either.
Back at Young Do’s hang out. He’s throwing a tennis ball at the wall. Myung Soo is chastising Young Do for exposing his film by accidentally opening the door to the dark room at the wrong time. He moans that the next Cartier-Bresson could have been born! I’m impressed that Myung Soo knows who Henri Cartier-Bresson is. One of my favorite ever photographers. In response, Young Do quotes Cartier-Bresson: “For my lifetime, I tried desperately to capture the decisive moment. However, every moment in life... was a decisive moment.” My subs mistranslate it to be ‘crucial’ moment, but it’s *decisive,* that perfect moment that captures “in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event as well as of a precise organization of forms which give that event its proper expression.” Cartier-Bresson once said, “To take photographs is to hold one’s breath when all faculties converge in the face of fleeing reality. It is at that moment that mastering an image becomes a great physical and intellectual joy.” The man was a genius.
As Young Do quotes Cartier-Bresson, he looks at the photos on the wall, focusing on a picture from 2009. I don’t recognize either of the boys in it, who are hugging the way best friends do for a picture and eating cream-sicles. When I look at the scribbles underneath the date, the names listed look a lot like Tan and Young Do. Given the context of the quote and how he looks almost longingly at those younger days, it seems like Young Do misses his best friend. Even though he wouldn't actually admit that to anyone. Myung Soo looks at him like he’s crazy for his weird rambling and Young Do retorts that it’s something that Myung Soo’s role model, Henri Cartier-Bresson, once said. Shouldn’t Myung Soo at least know who he is, before he’s born as his successor? Myung Soo’s response? Another aegyo face, and Young Do gives him a death threat back. I wonder how often Myung Soo gets out of situations by flashing a little aegyo.
Young Do’s phone rings. It’s his dad calling. Yay. 'Cause we all love *that* guy. Young Do almost doesn’t answer the phone. The next thing we see is Young Do being forced to practice judo with his dad, who is beating him badly. They’re both black belts. And I wonder if this is a regular thing, Dad beating up his son under the excuse of training? They go at it until Young Do can’t really get up anymore and lays there on the mat panting while Dad gets one of his men to give him a bottle of water. Doesn’t offer his son any, cause he’s a classy dad. Dad’s yelling at him about what happened back in the kitchen. Dad is nice enough to tell Young Do why he never wins. (1) Because he’s never beaten Dad. Young Do replies that he guesses it’s because he took after his mother rather than Dad. I’m guessing that part of the reason why Young Do hates his dad is how Dad treated his Omma.
Young Do nod-bows and starts to walk away, but Dad's not done. Secondly, Young Do attacks way more than necessary. Whether he’s on or off the mat. Young Do’s face twitches as he holds back any response. Dad orders Young Do to pick Rachel up at the airport when she returns the day after tomorrow and then Dad leaves first. Because Dad has to be the winner even in that. I really get the feeling that Dad constantly does things to crush his son.
Tan has just bought Rachel a present, some sort of clothing, and she pretends to really be excited about the gift. But Tan knows she’s just pretending and she replies that neither one of them could ever get excited about something they buy (since they both are excessively rich). And judging from the Dick’s Last Resort restaurant in the background, Tan’s taken her to *San Diego* to go shopping. Rachel is grateful not for the gift, but for the time they spent shopping together, especially since Tan doesn’t like doing it (shopping). Unlike when he was with Eun Sang, Tan’s face does not look happy; just distant. Rachel doesn’t look very happy either.
Tan replies that he likes shopping with her, because if they did anything else, it would feel like they’re *really *on a date. Great thing to tell your fiancé on your anniversary. Boy, he’s a dream fiancé. But I get the feeling that it was a business merger that they both had to do more than anything else. This immediately wipes any type of smile off of Rachel’s face. Not that I feel particularly bad for her, because I don’t really like her. She stops walking and asks if “that girl” left. Tan calls her out on how she sent Chan Young the address. She snaps at him to stop talking about that girl and he replies that *she* brought her up.
Rachel’s phone rings. She huffs, annoyed, and pulls it out of her purse to answer it. And I wonder about her outfit. At Young Do’s name, Tan starts to pay attention. On the other end, Young Do is certainly not happy to have to come and greet her at the airport. He asks her if she’s an elementary school kid, since she can’t just arrive by herself. He warns her to make sure that next time she works it out that he doesn’t have to be bothered. He warns her not to make him call her again about it and then hangs up.
Rachel’s reaction: she calls Young Do a crazy jerk. Then she turns to Tan and mentions about how she’s about to be siblings with “this bastard.” Tan’s heard. He asks if Young Do is doing okay. Because he knows what the Dad is like. And it sounds like the falling out was more on Young Do’s side. Rachel retorts that, of course, he's doing okay. He's doing what they used to do as a pair, but all by himself now. So this is the second time this episode they’ve referenced the bully that Tan was back in Korea. Rachel sighs that Young Do’s just ruined her mood. Not that she was particularly happy before he called.
Rachel suggests they go to that pancake place on Melrose. Tan flashes back to that conversation about pancakes he had with Eun Sang, frowns, and suggests they go someplace else. When Rachel asks why, he says that *she* could be there. She scoff at his ‘premonition’ because of how huge LA is compared to Seoul. Tan also mentions that they’ll need a reservation to get in, but Rachel is determined to go, just to see if they do, indeed, run into Eun Sang. Tan sighs.
The pancake place is Lou & Mickey’s. Which is not located in LA but in San Diego, in the Gaslamp Quarter. That’s *only* 127 miles from Melrose Avenue, but it’s only about two blocks from where Tan and Rachel are at right now. And since no one in South Korea’s going to probably check the accuracy of American landmarks, I guess that’s how San Diego and Los Angeles can become synonymous. And lo, and behold, as Rachel and Tan arrive, who is sitting at one of the tables outside? Eun Sang and Chan Young. They’re having a good time. And Rachel is not happy, especially when she sees how Tan looks at Eun Sang.
Eun Sang’s teasing Chan Young about really becoming an American, with him making reservations. He replies that it’s just the basics. Do you not make reservations at restaurants in Korea? Chan Young wants to know how she heard about Lou & Mickey’s. And again, he says that they’re in LA. And Korean tourists are really going to be disappointed if they watch the show and want to visit the landmarks that were in it, since THEY ARE NOT IN LA. She doesn’t tell him that she heard about it from Tan. And then she sees Tan standing there with Rachel. Significant staring.
Rachel angrily asks Tan if he arranged this little meeting. Which makes total sense since she's the one who mentioned the place and demanded that they go there, when Tan wanted to go some place else. Tan immediately wants to leave and go someplace else. But Rachel wants to stay, just to be difficult. Tan tells her he’s trying to be considerate of her but Rachel responds by asking how avoiding Eun Sang is a considerate thing for *her.* Interesting question and point. And I would say that it’s because it won’t bug Tan that much to see her. Not like it would Rachel. Even when Tan protests that there’s no place available, Rachel retorts that they can just make one. Chan Young has noticed what Eun Sang was looking at. I wonder if he recognizes Rachel, too.
Rachel declares that she wants to find out whether this all was coincidence or destiny. She stalks over to Eun Sang and Chan Young’s table, goes so far as to tell the maitre d’ that she’s with their party. In ‘excellent’ Engrish. Chan Young sighs as she walks toward them. Rachel addresses Chan Young, noting that *he* was "White Hacker Yoon" and then she declares that she’s going to join them. She says that they’ll pay. Because that makes it all okay.
Back on the sidewalk, Tan sighs with frustration. He really doesn’t want to have to go socialize with Eun Sang and her 'boyfriend.' Eun Sang asks how they know each other. Chan Young says that it’s from school; as she can see, they're not that close. And every time he snarks, it makes me love him even more. Rachel says that it's their first time talking to each other. She had no reason to talk with him, since he's at school on a scholarship for needy people. Eun Sang can’t believe Rachel just said that and Chan Young looks irritated that Rachel’s such a snob and has crashed their meal, rather than because he's ashamed that he’s a “needy person.”
Tan arrives and orders Rachel to get up. Rachel pointedly says that today's their engagement anniversary. Then she tells Tan he’s allowed to eat pancakes if he wants. Wow, he’s allowed. Like a dog on a leash. Nice. Tan sighs and declares that he wants to eat, too. Eun Sang really looks uncomfortable to be caught between this guy who clearly likes her and his pissed-off fiancée.
Rachel asks Chan Young what his relationship is with Eun Sang. He says that they've been friends for a long time. Tan looks pissed to have to go through this. Rachel asks why they came to the restaurant; was he trying to impress her? He sighs and replies that they came because his friend wanted to come. He’s not scared of her at all. I guess he has to deal with jerks like her all the time at school. Tan reacts to that, because Eun Sang only knows about this restaurant is where *they* talked about going. Rachel snarks about the incredible coincidence. Then she declares that Tan and “this girl” believe it’s fate. What does Yoon Chan Young think?
Tan answers, saying that he thought Rachel wanted to eat pancakes. He tells her to stop it. She’s ‘sweet’ as she says she’s only making conversation. Then she changes the subject to how Tan used to date Lee Bo Na. Lee Bo Na's current boyfriend and ex-boyfriend should greet each other. Tan winces about that one. Chan Young tells Rachel she shouldn’t be talking about a person who's not even there. Rachel replies it’s *his* fault since he left Lee Bo Na alone to be there with “this girl.”
Eun Sang is staring off into space, not wanting to be part of any of this. But then Rachel focuses on her, making a snide remark about how Eun Sang only seems to spend time with men who are taken. Chan Young is pissed at that one and so is Tan. Tan gets up and drags Rachel out of there. Eun Sang’s clearly hurt by her venom. Chan Young asks Eun Sang what he should do: Meddle in or pretend not to know? Eun Sang sadly smiles and tells him to order so they can go buy her plane ticket. Chan Young sighs and tries to persuade her to stay. But she says she should go, since she’s worried about her mom. And she needs to start working to repay him. He sighs because she’s stubborn.
Tan’s dragged Rachel off and finally she wrenches her arm free. She wants to go talk, since he was cool enough in front of that girl. And then Tan proceeds to put her in her place. He tells her that when he was younger, he was always so impressed and intimidated: she was ten and could speak English and Japanese. She was 14 and liked his brother and told him that he was a just a kid she didn’t want to deal with. When the idea of their engagement came up, her response was ‘would there be someone from our social circle who’d be a better match?’ which made him realize just how naive he really was. In the last 8 years, the Yoo Rachel he’s known has always been smart, pretty and mature. But not now. Tan tells her not to behave like the way she is now, especially if it's because of him. He’s not worth the effort and she shouldn’t ruin herself. His words seem to cut her, at least as much as she can be cut. Tan sighs and says that he’ll see her tomorrow before she leaves. And then he goes.
Rachel returns to her hotel and just happens to walk past Won. They stop at the same time, realizing who the other person is. Rachel calls Won ‘Oppa,’ which is great since she’s engaged to *his brother.* He’s surprised that she’s not staying in Young Do’s family’s hotel. She replies that she doesn’t want to be indebted to that family and from the looks of it, he’s doing the same thing. He’s actually a little warm as he asks her how she’s doing. She says she’s well and then asks him if he met Tan. Won replies, “If you consider it as having met, I guess I have.” Rachel basically says that it’s the same for her. And Won’s response doesn’t seem to show any venom towards his brother, which makes me wonder if I’m right about how I’m interpreting what he’s doing, and that he misses his brother, too. Rachel notices that Won’s going out and asks if she can tag along. He tells her that it's not a place she'll like. She doesn’t care, since it’s better than sitting in a lonely hotel room, staring at her phone. Won adds that it’s a bit far and Rachel mutters that the further, the better.
Where they’ve gone is to the cemetery, where Won places a bouquet of lilies on the grave of Sofia Lee (1957-1990), his mother. Wow. She was only 33 and isn’t even buried in Korea. That really says that the Chairman loved her. I mutter with sarcasm. And it means that Won doesn’t get to visit her grave very often, either. He cleans the grave of bits of grass and dirt. Rachel asks who it is and he says it’s his Omma. Before his Omma meet his dad, she was a ‘country girl’ who made wine and picked oranges. But the suffocating chabeol household and the pretentious parties… For an American country-girl, Korea was ugly to handle and in the end, she came back like this. That’s really sad and his mother was really beautiful. And the Chairman is a jerk. If I didn’t think it before, I’m sure thinking it now.
Rachel asks about Omma making wine herself. Won says that in their house’s wine cellar, there's a wine named “Won” that his Omma personally made, the year he was born. Wow. Rachel takes the words right out of my mouth when she says that Omma was cool. And I feel really sad for Won. He lost someone like that to be raised by someone like Ji Sook. Rachel asks him if he ever came here with Tan. But she’s the first person he’s ever brought here. Won’s face and tone say that he’s never even thought of Tan there. Rachel says that Tan will be jealous. When Won laughs, since he thinks she’s talking about him, she clarifies that she means that Tan’ll be jealous of *her.* Which is very true, considering how he longs to be close to his hyung. Rachel’s glad she came and Won says he’s glad as well since it saved him from talking to himself. She should think of this as if she’s peeked into someone's diary.
Won gets a phone call and from his face, he doesn’t look like he wants to answer the phone. But he does. It immediately becomes clear why: it's Jae Hoo. Won reports that he’s planning on staying in the States for a few more days and to tell the Chairman that he’s planning on heading to Singapore from there. Won brings up Tan showing up at the party. Per the Chairman’s orders, if you remember. He sarcastically tells Jae Hoo to make sure that Tan knows about his schedule in the future. Jae Hoo replies that he doesn’t need to worry; he doesn’t interfere in Won’s *personal* schedule. Just when he’s ordered to by your Dad. Not that it’s a bad thing to spend time with your brother.
Back in Korea, where it just so happens also to be daytime - even though there’s a 16 hour time difference - Jae Hoo gets on the elevator and he tells Won that he’ll meet him at the airport. But before the doors can close, Dong Wook and Esther get on the elevator. The brief pause that Esther makes before getting on says that she and Jae Hoo know each other. Which we already knew by Jae Hoo’s stunned reaction at her getting married. Jae Hoo just stares straight ahead as Esther asks Dong Wook about Young Do going to the airport and Dong Wook is sure Young Do will, since he said so. She laughs that Young Do will hate it. But Dong Wook doesn’t care, since Young Do can’t do anything about it and overthrow him. And Dong Wook cockily straightens his tie and thinks about what a man he is, that he can beat up an 18-year-old.
Dong Wook exits the elevator and immediately Esther turns to address Jae Hoo. He continues to stare straight ahead. During the elevator ride, he's only glanced in her direction once, when she definitely couldn't see him do it. She makes small talk but he doesn’t really bite. He mentions the engagement and she ‘guesses’ that be it 20 years ago or now, her husband's not him. And she calls him Oppa. That's messed up. He smiles slightly, with the side of his mouth she can't see, because he knows she wants a reaction. Instead he congratulates her on her engagement. The elevator reaches Jae Hoo’s destination and he starts to exit, but before he’s out of earshot, Esther has to add that it's a bit strange how he can still make her heart flutter. He doesn’t bite and instead wishes that it will be the same when she remarry. She doesn’t like that response and the elevator doors close with them looking at each other.
Jae Hoo’s phone rings and it’s Tan calling. He wants to know if Won has returned to Korea yet. Jae Hoo lies and says that he’s probably leaving as they speak. Tan’s obviously disappointed at the news. Jae Hoo mentions that Tan met his son. Tan’s surprised but then he realizes that Jae Hoo’s son is Chan Young. Next thing we know, Tan’s called Chan Young, who wants to know how Tan got his number. Tan says that Chan Young put it in his reply to Eun Sang. Which means that he's still logged onto her account with his phone. Tan tells him to put Eun Sang on the phone, but Chan Young refuses because she's not there at the moment. When Tan asks where she is, Chan Young won’t say. He just says he’ll relay what Tan wants. I bet if Tan were more polite and courteous that Chan Young would have been more helpful. Tan snaps that Chan Young’s not her lawyer and Chan Young should call him when she comes so he can tell her himself. Then he hangs up the phone. Not demanding or pretentious at all. Chan Young looks at the phone and thinks about what a jerk Tan is.
Eun Sang wanders up right as the conversation ends. And, again, I bet Chan Young would have possibly kept Tan on the phone until she came right back, but because Tan's being a jerk, he didn't feel obligated to. Eun Sang’s been talking to someone about her sister. Chan Young still wants to think the best of deadbeat unni, since he says that Eun Suk could have had some circumstances which is why she abandoned her sister in LA. It’s not that Eun Suk is a selfish witch who doesn’t care about anyone but herself. And showing what a classy guy Chan Young *is,* he tells her that Tan just called and wants her to call him, since he had something to say. He offers his phone for her to do it. She pauses, torn, but then declares that she doesn’t want to, because after tomorrow, she won’t see him again.
Chan Young stares at the phone and sighs, because of the game she’s playing with herself, but then changes the subject to when her flight’s leaving. Eun Sang immediately tells him that he’s not skipping school to see her off. He replies that he was asking so that he *wouldn’t* go. I really like their friendship. And I think Chan Young is my favorite character so far. She’s mad that he isn’t coming but he laughs because he got her with his teasing again.
Meanwhile, Tan is sitting by the phone, drilling his fingers, waiting for Eun Sang to call. And he waits until as the sun has started to set. I really like the song that’s playing as Tan fights with himself about calling her. Eun Sang stops by the message board of Tan’s school, the one that the Korean girls were posting about the party on, and sighs as she leaves Tan a message: “One summer night, it was a like a Midsummer Night's dream. I will disappear now. Just like a dream at night. Goodbye.” Wow, that’s sad. And highly risky, since someone could take the note before he sees it. Or it could get covered up or blow away.
Tan’s at the hotel, waiting to take Rachel to the airport, like he said he would. She’s shocked that he’s there. He says they should go, if she wants to do some duty-free shopping before her flight. How is he planning on getting into the international terminal, where the duty-free store is, without a ticket? They don’t let you into any of the terminals without a ticket anymore. She doesn’t want to go with him, but he basically tells her too bad.
At the airport, Tan tells Rachel to send him a message once she gets back to Korea. She asks him if he’s ever planning on coming back. He says that he might want to, but he just doesn't have the courage. She’s surprised his saying that and he replies that he needs rash boldness to do it. They look at each other and then suddenly Rachel hugs him. She tells him that she still hasn't forgiven him and that she really hates him. He almost hugs her back but then thinks better of it.
Eun Sang walks in to see Tan and Rachel hugging. Or rather Tan putting up with Rachel’s hug since he’s sitting there sighing as he bears through it. But this just drives home even more that whatever happened between them would never work. She starts to walk back out of the airport, because she can’t take it, but Tan spots her. He calls out her name and tells her to stop right there! Eun Sang stops when he calls her name. And the episode ends with her back to him, Tan looking at her, and Rachel no longer hugging Tan but looking at him as he looks at Eun Sang.
Thoughts
Episode Three starts with Tan declaring his feelings and Eun Sang ignoring them. Or at least trying to, even though she likes him back. But she knows, like the rest of her crap life, that it will never work out, since (1) he’s engaged, and (2) they live on two different continents. She barely knows his name, although her best friend knows him better, and from her perspective, she won’t ever see him again. Even though we know differently, like the fact that his mother is her mother’s boss, and that he’s bound to come back to Korea soon, particularly because he wants to find her. From the ‘ferocity’ with which he’s trying to pursue this relationship, I think this is the first time in a long time, if ever, that Tan’s ever really wanted anything. And she doesn’t know him as defined by his status, which is very much in Korean culture. She just knows him for who he is. Mostly, since he didn’t tell her where his money comes from. And he isn’t very forthcoming about very much of anything.
I felt really bad for Tan, because of how much he craves his brother’s love and how much Won refuses to give it. From that one little comment that he made in the hotel, I suspect that Won does actually love his brother and all this rivalry and coldness has a purpose, but it’s sad to see Tan chase him and Won shove him off the minute the kid catches him.
I really hate that their Dad has set up this competition and friction between them. And from everything that I’ve seen the Chairman is one selfish man. It seems like he either started up with Ji Sook or married her shortly after Sophia Lee (Won’s Omma) died, but judging from the fact that her body isn’t even buried in Korea, it says that most of the love in that relationship was on Won’s Omma’s side. There’s no love between him and his current wife and there doesn’t seem to be any love between him and his current mistress. In fact, the fact that he hasn’t divorced Wife No. Two in favor of the woman who gave him another son tells me he doesn’t really care about how anyone really feels except himself. He certainly doesn’t care how either one of his sons feel; and just wants what he wants. I’m glad that the Chairman’s not my dad.
And then we have Young Do’s father: the bully. I really don’t like him. The man is abusive, both physically and mentally, and doesn’t miss a chance to make Young Do feel like less than nothing. Again, this dad doesn’t care about his son or his son’s feelings. And unlike Hyo Shin’s father, who seems to at least want his son to be partially happy (the broadcast club that they allow him to be in, despite the potential displeasure it might bring to the Grandfather). But even Lee Chang Hyuk is bound to whatever *his* father wants and Hyo Shin has to put up with both their expectations, along with the expectations of his uncles.
The only good father out of the bunch is Jae Hoo, Chan Young’s dad. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Jae Hoo is the only one who isn’t a chaebol. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that pretty much the only people that are well-adjusted and/or happy are the people who *don’t* have tons and tons of money. It’s almost as if the series is pointing out that just because you have money, doesn’t mean that you will be happy. Most likely you won’t. Eun Sang’s unhappiness mostly comes from being so without that life is really a fight just to be comfortable, but unlike the rest of these heirs, she (and Chan Young) feel loved by their parents.
I am interested to know what caused Tan and Young Do’s falling out. I suspect that it might come from Young Do feeling abandoned by the only person who truly understood what he goes through with his father. It doesn’t seem like Young Do has any type of deep relationship with Myung Soo, even though they seem to hang out a lot. I don’t think Young Do has *anyone.* From their reactions to each other, Young Do is the one who is pushing the relationship away, even though he seems to miss it. Tan seems to genuinely still care about how Young Do is doing. Probably, like with everyone else, Young Do told Tan to get lost and so Tan did.
It is interesting to note that it seems like before being ‘exiled,’ Tan seems to be very much like how Young Do still is, even though neither of their familial relationships have changed, just the proximity to the abusive father. I would venture to say that Tan’s transformation stems from at least having some friends who seem to like him for *him* rather than his title and from being out from under the pressure that Korean society can have on those who live in it. Everyone he knows in America doesn’t really *know* just how powerful his family is, so they don’t treat him as a title, but rather as a person.Young Do hasn't had that and has that daily rejection and belittling from Dad, so him growing to be more compassionate and less impulsive seems like it would be a bigger stretch. Both seem to be introspective, but I think Tan's the only one who's actually been allowed any opportunity to contemplate things in an environment that isn't stiffling and abusively critical of weakness.
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