I’m actually really excited about this drama. I mean, it’s Hyun Bin’s first drama in 5 years, which comes five years after ‘Secret Garden,’ which comes five years after ‘My Name is Kim Sam Soon.’ And it sounds like he’s going to play a great mix of his characters from both of those dramas. Plus, I love Sung Joon.
Our drama starts with shots of Wonderland – a theme park that very much reminds me of Disney World. Rides, flashy dancing ladies, merry-go-rounds… Smiling, cheering children and a waving bunny mascot. One of those cheering children holds a helium Wonderland balloon as he runs with his friends. Lots of balloons and waving amusement park workers. Balloon boy runs headlong into someone: the pan back reveals Goo Seo Jin (Hyun Bin). He doesn’t react or look down at the boy. His only reaction is to flick the balloon out of his face. It bounces right back. Annoyed, Seo Jin swats the balloon out of the boy’s hand.
The boy begins to wail over the lost balloon. Seo Jin turns to watch it float into the air. He frowns as he notices the disco ball light. It’s bobbing dangerously. He looks down to see a woman walking into the path of the falling ball. The chain snaps and the ball falls. He runs and pulls her out of the way. A little wire work facilitated that stunt. The ball shatters on the floor and they slide across the floor.
Switch to Seo Jin in bed. He sits up, freaked out by the dream he’s just had. And as I watch his freaked out face as he tries to process what he’s just dreamt, I sigh. I have really missed Hyun Bin’s acting. I didn’t realize how much, but I really have. Seo Jin frantically shoves his glasses (different frames) on his face and it displays his heart rate. He gets out of bed and quickly leaves his bedroom.
And *what* is he wearing? Ah, k-drama fashion. Those flowered pants wouldn’t be cool on an ajumma.
Holy crap! This guy is loaded. His house is huge. And he just happens to leave a fire burning in his *hanging* fireplace. I really like how it’s decorated. Cool tones of greys and light sea blue.
Seo Jin heads to the kitchen and pours himself a glass of water. Using a china teapot and a crystal glass with gold trim. Seo Jin chugs the water and plunks the glass on the table. Then he heads outside. Or rather, his enclosed garden ATRIUM. Is this guy hiding from the world? Why not have this be OUTSIDE? And I’m wondering what he thinks his dreams – because I’m assuming that there’s more than one – mean. Seo Jin goes to sit cross-legged (Indian style) on a mat. He turns on an American Indian chant meaning ‘love,’ ‘mother’ and ‘earth.’ As the chant repeats/sings “Shima shi,” Seo Jin rests his upturned wrists in a true yoga pose. Eyes closed, he starts singing along with the chant. But it doesn’t look like it’s working to calm him, what with the frown of concentration that he’s wearing. And Hyun Bin doesn’t have a bad voice.
Seo Jin opens his eyes slightly to see if his heart rate’s gone down. Nope. It’s still 124 beats a minute. He starts chanting something different: “Soori, soori, masoori, soosoori, saba.” My subs tell me that it’s a chant used in casting a spell in TVXQ’s ‘Spellbound.’ Interesting. Switch to another restful piece of music. Seo Jin reaches up to grab the pendant he wears around his neck. He mutters, “Day by day, in every way, I’m getting better and better.” And gosh, darn it, people like me! Channeled Stuart Smalley there for a minute.
Even as the meditation tells him to take a deep breath, Seo Jin can’t let go of the image of the disco ball’s chain breaking and the ball falling to the ground. Frowning, he opens his eyes and his heart rate has jumped to 132 beats per minute. He swallows, pained.
Outside a house – probably Seo Jin’s house – a man runs, flipping a book open and talking into his cell phone. He starts making notes (as he runs on what looks like slick slate tiles) of his phone conversation: “Blood pressure 150/90, pulse of 107, and breathing rate of 29. His MSP (Metamorphosis Signal Point) went up to 132.
Not sure what a Metamorphosis Signal Point is. The drama was nice enough to define what MSP is. Basically it’s what he just jotted down: Pulse, respiration, blood pressure, bio-index. Maybe what’s going on it that they’re noting *when* Seo Jin could potentially switch to Robin.
Man – which the cast list says is Seo Jin’s secretary, Kwon Young Chan (Lee Seung Joon) – enters the house, still on the phone. As he tells the person on the other end that he understands, he bows respectfully. Which makes me smile. Hard habit to break. young Chan hangs up and tentatively approaches Seo Jin, who is now standing in the tree pose. Quietly, he asks Seo Jin if he’s all right, calling him ‘Managing Director.’ Eyes closed, Seo Jin answers that he’s fine. Young Chan asks if something happened and a much calmer Seo Jin answers that he nothing has happened to him. Young Chan crows with relief. He was worried! Seo Jin breathes that he’s “putting it down.” Whatever ‘it’ is. Young Chan tells his boss to be careful and smiles at him with relief.
Seo Jin drops his leg from the tree pose to stand, still with his eyes closed. He asks Young Chan about his stats. Young Chan leans in and looks at the monitor under Seo Jin’s shirt on his belt: Blood pressure is now 110/80, pulse is 76, breathing is 15, and body temperature of 36.5. Young Chan declares Seo Jin “normal.” Seo Jin’s eye’s pop open and he glares at Young Chan. He rips the monitor off his pants and shoves it at Young Chan; then he walks off. Young Chan frowns and sighs, then follows.
Shirtless Hyun Bin alert! Young Chan is preparing Seo Jin’s shirt. Seo Jin remarks how it’s the first time in five years that his MSP went up to 132. Young Chan clucks at him not to worry, as long as it didn't go over 150. Nothing has happened during all this time and Dr. Kang said that Seo Jin’s stable. Seo Jin is putting the monitor back on. Without looking up, he asks if Young Chan called Dr. Kang. And I get the feeling he’s not happy that Young Chan did. Young Chan smiles as he says that Dr. Kang is planning on calling as soon as her lecture is over, with some news. Seo Jin pauses to clarify that Dr. Kang had news. Young Chan doesn’t know what it is, but it seemed important.
Seo Jin thinks for a moment and sighs. He asks if Young Chan told Dr. Kang about his dream. Young Chan says that Freud declared that it's an extremely lucky dream. Seo Jin poo-poo’s this idea, since Freud never interpreted dreams. Seo jin need to study psychology a little more. Freud *did* analyze dreams. He tells Young Chan not to make up things to make him feel better. Especially, since it just makes him seem more like an obsessive patient. Young Chan laughs nervously – I think because he knows about the multiple personality – and says that he's dreamt of someone getting hurt in his dream and then he ended up getting some free money.
Seo Jin’s looking intently at himself in the mirror. He declares that the man in the dream wasn’t him. He’s certain that it wasn’t because if he was himself, is there any way that he would risk his life to save someone? Still nervous, Young Chan quickly agrees that that wouldn't happen. So, Seo Jin is a jerk. Seo Jin sighs and says that his MSP was over 150. Shocked Young Chan. He quickly checks Seo Jin’s glasses. Seo Jin snatches the glasses away from Young Chan, annoyed that Young Chan’s being so literal. Seo Jin declares that his MSP above 150 happened in *his dream.*
Suk Won (Kwak Hee Sung), his head of security, arrives. Young Chan and Seo Jin head out for the car. Whispering, Young Chan asks Seo Jin what happened in the dream. Nothing much happened, right? Surely, in the dream, Robin... Seo Jin stops walking to glare at Young Chan. Young Chan quickly shuts up. Seo Jin tells Young Chan not to talk about that jerk, Robin.
And Suk Won really reminds me of Kim Jae Joong. I mean:
Kim Jae Joong Kwak Hee Sung
I am going to trip over this the entire show, I think. Kwak Hee Sung’s features aren’t quite as delicate, though. Like he could be the less ‘dainty’ identical twin.
As Seo Jin reaches the car, he activates his monitor. A nice heart rate of 98.
Switch to: An Airport. Ha Na is entertaining a little girl with coin tricks. I don’t think Han Ji Min’s fingers are quite that long, but it’s nice camera work to give the illusion that she’s a master of illusion. Ha Na smiles and offers the coin to the little girl. She seems very kind and good natured. The escalator conveyor rolls past an ad for Wonder Land. Meaningful music plays and Ha Na’s smiles softly to herself.
Shot of Ha Na exiting the International Terminal to establish that she’s been out of the country.
Shot of Wonderland that *really* reminds me of Disneyland, which is what they were probably going for. Seo Jin is walking the grounds flanked by Young Chan, Suk Won and other security detail members. The security guys all wear maroon suits. Suk Won is set apart by wearing a maroon shirt and solid grey tie. Seo Jin pauses as he sees a green helium balloon floating toward him and a little girl chasing it. Soundtrack: The plot thickens in funky 70s TV show. Seo Jin stops the balloon, a consternated look on his face. The little girl nicely asks for the balloon. Seo Jin frowns at her and slaps her hands away. Then he walks off with the balloon.
Young Chan quickly apologizes to the crying girl and runs after Seo Jin. Seo Jin tells him that balloons are prohibited today. So are the weird inflatable clowns that they use to advertise car lots and the ride where the cars are hot air balloons. Young Chan tries to point out how the ride makes *a lot* of money, but Seo Jin is set on it being prohibited. And he’s the boss.
Seo Jin walks a little farther and stops as he watches a group of kids – holding the red balloons from his dream – crowd together for a photo. They’re all dressed in the same colored ice blue coat. The sign behind them says, “Buing Buing angels, today you will have fun with Managing Director Ryu Seung Yun.” Seo Jin slightly smiles to himself at the scene. The reason for the smile becomes clear as soon as he starts talking to Seung Yun.
Seo Jin steps into the photographer’s shot and asks Seung Yun (Han Sang Jin) if he registered his event. Seung Yun asks what the problem is, since Seo Jin is embarrassing him with the kids watching. He tries to play it off like it’s not a big deal, even playfully giving Seo Jin a jab to the arm. It wasn’t the touching scene of underprivileged children getting a trip to an amusement park that made him smile. It was the idea of sticking it to Seung Yun that tickled him. Dead pan, Seo Jin tell Seung Yun to get out. Seung Yun isn’t sure he heard Seo Jin correctly.
Over with the kids, Young Chan is collecting all the balloons, saying that they’re not allowed today. Just bringing tons of joy today. Seung Yun is even more surprised and asks Seo Jin when the ‘no balloons’ policy started. Seo Jin replies that it’s starting today. Seung Yun can’t believe that he’s forbidding balloons *in an amusement park.* Seo Jin replies that it’s *his* amusement park. Seung Yun starts to argue with him. Are balloons dangerous? Seo Jin replies that they are. Plus they’re unnerving and childish. Imagine. Children acting like *children.*
Seo Jin references the sign and asks Seung Yun if he’s in his right mind. Seung Yun laughs – almost with disbelief. Again, he tries to coax Seo Jin out of being mean. He asks Seo Jin what there’s not to like about this charity event. Seo Jin replies that it’s not that he doesn’t like it, but it makes his heart ache, how Seung Yun is using those kids like that. Seung Yun is properly offended. He says Seo Jin’s name, “Managing Director Goo.” Seo Jin snaps back, asking Seung Yun what is taking him so long. Glares between them and then a slight nod from Seung Yun. Almost like he *knows* what’s going on with Seo Jin so he’s letting it go. Or maybe it's because he knows that Seo Jin is stubborn so no amount of coaxing is going to get him to change his mind.
Seung Yun turns back to the kids and acts like nothing’s wrong. He happily laughs and asks the kids if they want to take the train to go eat something yummy. Of course, the kids want that. Seung Yun boards the train and rides away with the kids. Seo Jin watches them go and tells Young Chan to set up an invitation-only event for 10,000 neglected children. To out-do Seung Yun’s event, of course.
A stray red balloon gets loose and Seo Jin watches it, concerned, as it floats into the sky. Someone screams, “Run!” Lots of screaming. The cause comes into view: an escaped gorilla. Seo Jin’s eyes look like they’re going to pop out of his head but he doesn’t move. Screaming woman being chased by gorilla. Ridiculously misshapen gorilla. Obviously a person in a gorilla suit. The gorilla runs into something, trips and rolls onto the ground. Because that happens for gorillas. The woman runs up and grabs Seo Jin’s arm, begging him to save her. Instead of continuing to run past Seo Jin and his group, since the gorilla: (1) is down on the ground, and (2) would most likely get distracted by the male obstacles in its path and stop chasing the woman. Of all the cheesy, fakely dramatic moments…
Seo Jin tries to get Screaming Woman to let him go, but she has a death-grip on his arm. He bends over and bites her arm to get her to let go. She does. I laugh. Finally, the gorilla climbs to its feet. And this is a *weird* looking gorilla. And I have just let out a belly laugh because… Seo Jin shoves Screaming Woman in gorilla’s direction. Screaming Woman is down! and now somehow unconscious, even though she didn't hit her head or anything. Seo Jin runs for and climbs on top of one of those kiosks that sell things. Young Chan climbs up after him and quickly hands Seo Jin a set of headphones. Seo Jin tries to calm his blood pressure, squinting his eyes shut and deeply breathing.
Gorilla approaches unconscious Screaming Woman. Who needs to wake up now and start screaming again to agitate the gorilla. Buddhist chant starts (which I am assuming only Seo Jin is hearing). There is a crowd now. Who is not running, even though there is a gorilla on the loose. Instead they’re watching the spectacle and screaming when the gorilla moves slightly in their direction.
Meanwhile on the highway, Ha Na sits in gridlock traffic. I think that’s the first time I’ve seen gridlock on a k-drama. She is almost to Wonderland. You can see the Disney castle in the distance. Ha Na looks at it, smiles and sighs. Taxi driver grumbles about the traffic and turns on the radio, which has breaking news.
Switch to Seung Yun, who is getting news about the loose gorilla on his cell phone. He’s with all those kids at a nice, fancy restaurant. Wonder Hotel Group's secretary, Choi Seo Hee (Lee Ha Na) has called him to let him know that Managing Director Goo is on the verge of collapsing. Neither of them look very upset over Seo Jin’s predicament. On the contrary, they seem a little gleeful. Seung Yun hangs up and smiles as he tells himself that their Seo Jin has a weak heart. Then he smiles again at the thought of Seo Jin’s weak heart giving out and tells the kids that they should give Managing Director, Goo Seo Jin, a hand because he just saved them from something dangerous. The kids happily clap as the photographer takes their picture.
Back at the park, Seo Jin opens his eyes. Nervously, Young Chan asks if he’s okay. He nods. The gorilla is still loose and Screaming Woman is still unconscious. Seo Jin gets Young Chan’s walkie talkie and asks for an update. Is 119 coming? Did the security team get the location? Do the animal wranglers have the tranquilizer guns ready? And right on cue, about 8 people show up with tranq guns. Really? They need *8* people? Oh wait, only 1 tranq gun. The rest of the people have *nets.* Ah, k-drama. So not realistic. You tranq the animal and then wait for it to go down before you try to wrangle it. And what is this one chick doing? Shoving the net at the gorilla, making threatening noises?
The wranglers slowly move towards the gorilla. The guy with the tranq gun has a clear shot but just doesn’t seem to want to shoot. Finally. When he finally does shoot, the tranquilizer dart *just bounces off.* Okay, I’m starting to get annoyed. This is completely unrealistic. Now the wranglers – especially grunting chick – are screaming like everyone else. The gorilla decides to charge when suddenly…
A voice calls “Bing Bing!” Gorilla stops and turns to look in the voice’s direction. It’s Ha Na, smiling. She calls Bing Bing again. Seo Jin yells for someone to pull her away. Bing Bing scrunches his face, thinking, and then charges at Ha Na. Screaming crowd. Seo Jin starts to feel really weird. His heart rate goes up to 138. He gasps and grabs his throat, like he can’t breathe. And the vein in his forehead looks like it’s about to explode. His heart rate goes even higher as he watches Bing Bing charge at Ha Na, who is still smiling and waving her arms hello. Bing Bing takes a flying leap at Ha Na, who stands with her arms wide stretched. Just waiting for his hug. Please don’t shoot the gorilla.
Seo Jin is still trying to breathe. But then he notices that Ha Na isn’t dead. Instead she’s laughing and spinning around. Bing Bing is jumping around her, and spinning, happy to see his friend. Seo Jin starts to be able to breathe again. His heart rate slowly drops. The wranglers sigh with relief that she’s back. Ha Na makes baby talk to Bing Bing and just laughs. Seo Jin thinks, wondering what’s wrong with him? You’re gonna fall in love, dude.
Seo Jin heads back to the office. He is not happy. He strips off his monitoring equipment as Young Chan says that he sent the crowd to the hospital, just in case. Seo Jin tells him to check it to see if it’s broken. Seo Jin pulls out his phone and calls Dr. Kang, leaving a message that it’s a code blue. Young Chan seems like he’s not heard Seo Jin say that before. Seo Jin explains that his MSP almost went above 150. Young Chan tells Seo Jin to give him the glasses. Seo Jin tells Young Chan not to go overboard. Young Chan responds by asking what Seo Jin had for lunch the previous day. Seo Jin shakes him finger at Young Chan as he declares that going overboard is prohibited.
Young Chan pulls a taser out of his pocket as he repeats his question. Seo Jin answers that it was saessak bibimbap.(Fresh vegetables and mixed rice.) Immediately Young Chan tries to taze him. Seo Jin dodges and holds up a stone bookend to defend himself. He looks shocked at Young Chan trying to attack him. Young Chan tells *Robin* that they did not eat saessak bibimbap for lunch yesterday. They had yookhwe bibimbap.(beef tartar and mixed rice). Seo Jin makes a face like he’s annoyed and declares that yookhwe bibimbap was their dinner. Saessak (fresh vegetables) was for lunch. He steps forward like he wants to hit Young Chan with the stone horse.
Young Chan thinks and realizes that Seo Jin is still Seo Jin. He apologizes and says that Seo Jin was shocked and his MP3– er, his MSP went up. Seo Jin declares that it wasn’t because he was shocked. When he was feeling shocked and terrified, his MSP was 130. Seo Jin ponders, recounts the events and realizes that his heart rate didn’t go up until the gorilla was about to attack Ha Na. Young Chan wonders if it’s because Seo Jin knows her. Seo Jin shakes his head and declares that that’s why it’s strange, because he doesn’t. Why he’d have that reaction when he was safe from the gorilla? Young Chan tries to think what this means. Seo Jin decides it has something to do with the girl and orders Young Chan to bring Ha Na to see him in his office.
Outside, a reporter is covering the gorilla incident. He’s standing with Ha Na. He introduces her as Jang Ha Na, who participates in the Bong Choon Circus, the last remaining circus in Korea. Korea only has *one* circus? Wow. PT. Barnum would have jumped on that. Reporter continues that Ha Na is the daughter of the circus's late ringmaster, Jang Pil Seong. She looks quite apologetic. Ha Na begins the interview with an apology, saying that as the new circus ringmaster of Wonder Circus, it will not happen again. Reporter declares that Ha Na just arrived from the US. Because Koreans make a habit of living abroad in America.
Reporter asks why the gorilla, as soon as he saw Ha Na, became tame. Ha Na smiles and says that it might be because she raised him since birth, so he thinks of her as his mother. Reporter is surprised that Bing Bing was able to recognize her after being away for so many years. Because even though gorillas are capable of learning sign language and communicating in complete sentences, they won’t remember humans. Just like dogs won’t recognize their humans after months or years of separation. Han says that she was also very moved by Bing Bing.
Reporter concludes the interview. Ha Na mentions that the news reports are all saying that the incident is because of negligence by the circus. Reporter asks if there might be another reason? Ha Na declares that Bing Bing’s cage is very old and that they’ve asked Wonder Land to replace it several times. Ha Na asks Reporter to make sure that he includes that in his report. Reporter nods in agreement.
Young Chan arrives. He tells Ha Na that Seo Jin wants to speak with her. She has no idea who Seo Jin is. She asks Young Chan to wait until she’s done with the reporter. Young Chan ‘encourages’ her to come, since the Managing Director is the one in charge. Ha Na considers this and agrees.
Seo Jin’s got his monitoring equipment back on and has just buttoned up his shirt. I guess they thought 2 shirtless moments in one episode was too much… Young Chan and Ha Na arrive. She introduces herself as the new person in charge of Wonder Circus, Jang Ha Na, the daughter of the late ringmaster, Jang Pil Seong. Without saying anything (or taking his eyes off her) Seo Jin waves for Young Chan to leave. Young Chan bows and goes, not saying a word. Ha Na isn’t quite sure how to react to that.
Ha Na continues, saying that Seo Jin must've been very shocked earlier. She declares that she just arrived back from Las Vegas today. Las Vegas actually makes sense, since there are performers like Sigfreid and Roy there with their wild animal performances. Seo Jin is just looking at her. She stops talking – because he’s being weird. Seo Jin turns on his monitor and steps across the office toward her. Suddenly, he grabs her arms and pulls her close to him. And I would be wearing Ha Na’s expression. That was completely unexpected and this is *way intimate* distance. Seo Jin just looks at her.
Ha Na sputters, asking Seo Jin what he’s doing. He pulls her closer. And man, if I’m not starting to swoon, what with these close-ups of Hyun Bin’s face! She starts to protest and try to wriggle free, but Seo Jin isn’t letting go. Seo Jin checks his MSP: 98. He smiles, almost a sneer, and declares that it’s just as he thought. Ha Na yells at him to let her go. He shoves her backward. She is completely shocked at his rude behavior.
Seo Jin walks back to the window behind his desk, declaring that pulse is normal. Body temperature is normal. Breathing is normal. Ha Na wants to know what he’s saying. Seo Jin declares that the blood pressure is a bit high. It’s like Ha Na is no longer in the room. Seo Jin (out loud) supposes that this could be normal, since this situation can be an irritating situation.
Ha Na wants his attention but Seo Jin dismisses her with a “You may leave.” Surprised Ha Na. She asks why he called her to his office, if it wasn’t about the gorilla. (Which in Korean is 'gorilla.') As it sinks in about the gorilla, Ha Na declares that she was about to meet with Seo Jin about the incident. Before she can continue, Seo Jin tells her that the circus has been fired. The contract has been cancelled. Ha Na, of course, objects because Wonder Land was also responsible for what happened with Bing Bing. And I’m starting to get distracted by the HUGE scarf around her neck. Right now it looks like it’s about to swallow her entire head. Seo Jin just says that Wonder Land’s legal team will resolve the penalty for cancelling their contract early. Then he dismisses her.
Ha Na’s not going to quit so easily. Another reason why I think I really like her. She asks Seo Jin why he’s getting rid of them. Seo Jin says that the performance is awful. The parade is awful. They have terrible sales. Even if he has to pay a penalty for not fulfilling the contract, it is still more cost effective for the circus to leave. Ha Na looks horrified and appalled that he can be so non-chalant.
Seo Jin presses a buzzer to tell his secretary that the ‘guest’ is leaving. Ha Na immediately pushes the buzzer and says that the guest is not leaving. Seo Jin is a little surprised and asks what Ha Na thinks that she’s doing. Ha Na tells him that she was thinking the same thing: what is *he* doing? Heh. She has to check his name plate to know his name. She tells Managing Director Goo Seo Jin to look here. I love it when someone says ‘look here!’ Wonder Circus is Wonder Land's history itself. They’ve been a part of the park since it began in 1975, and, for Wonder Land to receive so much love up to now, her father's circus played a big role in that. She scolds him and tells him that he should know that.
Then she repeats what he said about the circus. It's awful?! Awful?! Ha Na demands that he take those words back right now. She’s actually boiling. Wow. She’s so pleasant even when she’s angry. Seo Jin calmly – he’s been impassive since she started talking – says that he will take them back right now. So leave. Hand gesture to emphasize the ‘get out of my office.’ She knows he’s being a jerk. She demands he take back what he said about the parade being awful. Seo Jin’s attitude is dismissive as he says that he takes that back, too. Aside from cancelling the contract, he can take back everything he said. So, please leave.
Ha Na still isn’t going to give up. She says that she’s aware that the circus team has not kept up with the trends, but she’s planning on changing that. She came from Cirque du Soleil. Which is why Las Vegas made sense. Good job, writers! And they’re nice enough to define what Cirque du Soleil is for the audience. Ha Na says that she even walked the tight rope there. She’s planning on changing the show at Wonder Land. Seo Jin agrees that it should be a good performance and she can do it as much as she wants. Anywhere in the world, that is, but not at Wonder Land. Seo Jin gets another ‘look here!’ from Ha Na. Does he think he can do this unilaterally to someone?! He replies that he is the person who can do this. Ha Na can’t believe his arrogance.
Ha Na exits his office, steaming, and tries to think of what she’s going to do.
Young Chan is back in Seo Jin’s office with the monitoring equipment. Young Chan says that it’s not broken. Seo Jin wonders what’s going on, then, because just now with that woman – I love it when someone refers to people like that: 'that woman' –nothing happened to his MSP. So why did it go that high before? Young Chan clucks at Seo Jin that it’s because he was startled. Seo Jin isn’t convinced. Something feels ominous.
Some of the animal wranglers from Wonder Circus. Conveniently named on a big sign behind them. Since 1975! Which is a long time (40 years). It’s grunting net-woman in the white coat (cast list says that she’s Cha Jin Joo), stocky butterfly net man (Park Hee Bong) and the guy with the tranq dart (Lee Eun Chang). They’re worried about what’s going to happen. Hee Bong worries that they’ll be expelled, since Seo Jin was itching to have them leave, even when the late ringmaster was here. Jin Joo (Oh Na Ra) points out that they’ve been with Wonder Land a long time. Ha Na arrives to hear that Hee Bong’s oldest child is starting a more expensive school and their rent is being raised. Sad music plays to stress how Seo Jin’s decision would put these people out of work and Ha Na cares about them.
Jin Joo tells Hee Bong not to worry. Managing Director Goo won’t to do that because of the video she shot of him during the incident. Eun Chang (Lee Won Geun) adds that it's not how an owner should act. Jin Joo says that if Seo Jin tells them to leave, she’ll upload it to the internet and trash his reputation. She’ll try to make Seo Jin number 1 in the search engines.
Ha Na enters. Eun Chang calls Ha Na ‘Noona’ and asks how it went. Ha Na doesn’t answer, but asks Jin Joo (calling her Unni) to let her see Unni’s hand phone. Ha Na’s nodding with purpose.
And she’s back in Seo Jin’s office. He’s watching previously mentioned video, horrified. It is *bad,* especially him shoving the woman at the gorilla. Ha Na says that she’s someone who really doesn't like doing something like this. She asks how he feels about it. Seo Jin is watching it for a second time. With disbelief, he says that he didn't know it was this bad. Aw, is Seo Jin being moved by his own awfulness? Ha Na wonders this, too. Ha Na leans over to look at Seo Jin’s reaction. Seo Jin says that he didn't think his appearance would be like this. Not exactly what she was expecting.
Seo Jin, stunned, says that he’s very unappealing. Ha Na – because she’s a *nice* person and not vengeful – starts to try to reassure him. Eyes still transfixed on the phone, Seo Jin declares that they will extend the contract. He calls his secretary and says to get a new contract for Wonder Circus. Ha Na can hardly contain herself as she smiles because it worked. Seo Jin asks to be left alone. Ha Na is happy to oblige. She asks for the hand phone. I think I’m going to start calling my mobile this permanently! Seo Jin’s still fixated on how bad it is. He says that it’s an appearance of a 'him' that he didn't know was such trash! Again, Ha Na says that it’s not as bad as trash. But it kind of is. I don’t think Seo Jin’s reaction is all that bad. It gives me hope for him, that there’s a nice person inside who cares about how he hurts people.
Ha Na tries to get the hand phone out of Seo Jin’s fingers, but he doesn’t want to let go. Again Seo Jin asks Ha Na to please let him be alone. As a favor. Ha Na is really surprised that he’s taking it this hard. She lets go of the phone and says that in return, she’ll ask a favor of him sometime in the future. She leaves Seo Jin with his sorrow, staring at the phone.
And I really hope that they have an extra copy of that video. Because he can always erase it, since he’s in possession of the phone that recorded it.
Outside, Young Chan is on the phone with Seo Jin. He hangs up as Ha Na exits. He gets her attention and tells her to prepare her stamp so they can finish the new contract, which is already ready and in Young Chan’s hands. Now that’s an efficient team! Ha Na is practically giddy at the news.
Back at Wonder Circus, Ha Na is giving the crew the news. Where is Sung Joon?!! Ha Na mentions that for extending the contract, she’s going to produce a new act. Eun Chang wonders why Seo Jin caved so quickly. Did she threaten him with the video? Ha Na scoffs at the word, ‘threat.’ She just just moved him, using the phone. Just to make a point. Everyone laughs at that, except Eun Chang, who doesn’t believe it. He calls Seo Jin a sociopath who has no emotions and can't be moved. That's what the people from the secretary's office said. They haven't once seen him smile or feel bad for anyone. Ha Na replies that he was even about to cry, watching the video. They need to live while believing.
Eun Chang and Hee Bong leave Ha Na’s office. Eun Chang wonders if they can believe it. Hee Bong’s inclined to believe it, since Seo Jin’s the Managing Director. He wouldn’t joke around about something like that. It's not like a contract is a child's game.
Han and Unni Jin Joo are discussing Seo Jin’s reaction. Ha Na says that with a really shocked face, his eyes were teary and he was on the verge of crying. When he did that, she felt a little sorry. Unni points out how Seo Jin is pretty handsome, isn't he? Heh. Go, Unni! Ha Na’s stuck on the sociopath rumor but Unni wants to dish on how cute Seo Jin is. And yes, especially when his eyes smolder! Swooning earlier. Ha Na poo-poo’s Unni being focused on that. Ha Na mentions the video again and Unni answers that in that situation, she couldn't see his face properly, but only saw his butt. A really sexy butt. Heh. Women the world over are the same. Unni emphasizes its sexiness by making a hand motion like she’s squeezing it.
Although, as a side note, how did Unni have the time to shoot the video, since she was getting the net to wrangle the gorilla?
Ha Na replies, asking what's the use of a really sexy butt if it's not hers? You, go, girl! Exactly. Why drool over someone and humiliate yourself? Unni’s not going to drop it. Unni declares that she knows (what’s the use of that butt) because she has met a lot of guys like that. Ha Na’s intrigued. Unni says that those guys have a lot of scars, that's why. They are prickly and cold. But those are just their defense mechanism. Ah, k-drama, perpetuate the fantasy. The love of a good woman will save the bad boy… Ha Na rolls her eyes at the bad-boy defense, of dealing with it and hoping that you’re the one to save the monster.
I love you, baby, I’m not a monster.
You know how I was in the past.
When time passes, it’ll all disappear.
Then you will know, baby.
I need you, baby, I’m not a monster.
You know me so don’t leave like this.
If even you throw me away, I will die.
I’m not a monster.
Sorry. Big Bang’s ‘Monster’ just popped into my head. It seemed to fit the discussion. Back to Unni:
Unni declares that it's like a thorn on a rose. When guys like that meet someone special, they become the world's most affectionate man and hot. Ha Na rolls her eyes. “Hot, my butt.” Yes, I love her even more! Unni sighs and says that our Dae Pal should meet someone special soon. Ha Na wants to know who Dae Pal is. Unni says that it’s Seo Jin’s nickname. Ha Na is wondering what I am. Why is Seo Jin’s nickname Dae Pal? Unni pauses for a moment before illustrating that it’s because of the way he wears his hair. Ha Na agrees that Seo Jin’s hair is a sight.
Young Chan puts the new contract on Seo Jin’s desk. Once Seo Jin realizes what it is, he sighs disgustedly, flips it in Young Chan’s direction, irritated that Young Chan didn't see through his ruse. Young Chan protests that on the phone Seo Jin told him to bring a new contract. Still ticked at Young Chan’s lack of prowess, Seo Jin says that it was just his quick thinking. Young Chan pretends to see what Seo Jin is talking about. Seo Jin flips the phone Young Chan’s direction, telling him to delete the video and return the phone. At least he’s not saying to trash the phone. But I *knew* it was an act. And I was all hopeful for a nice guy underneath. Young Chan bows apologetically and gets the phone. Seo Jin declares that he’s not someone who falls for this kind of stupid video.
Young Chan watches the video and cringes at how BAD Seo Jin looks. He mutters to himself about how Seo Jin’s quick thinking saved them from disaster. If this had gone around the internet…. Seo Jin scoffs at that idea. Young Chan tries to explain – without saying the actual words – what everyone is thinking about how bad Seo Jin looks. Seo Jin just stares at him like he’s stupid. Young Chan mentions the part where Seo Jin bit Screaming Woman.
Seo Jin is not amused. Would he have done it if it was a man?! He did it because it was a woman. She touched him. And if women can touch him, why would he live like this? As someone so young and healthy, if he can touch women, why is he living like a zombie! His frustration is evident over having to be completely celibate and I feel a little bad for him. He’s not completely cold. Doesn’t Young Chan know? Women prohibited, skinship prohibited, aggravation prohibited, passion prohibited. If he hadn't have made them forbidden, all those things would have affected his MSP. And then! Seo Jin slams his fist down on his desk.
Robin could come out. Seo Jin calls Robin a jerk. If Seo Jin’s calling Robin a jerk, how horrible must he be that Seo Jin thinks he’s bad? But that makes sense that Seo Jin wouldn’t like someone who is sweet and kind. He’d think Robin was a jerk and hate the fact that Robin would get him entangled in people’s lives. Young Chan quickly says that Robin coming out can’t happen. It would be trouble. And, for five years, Seo Jin has done so well. Living almost like a saint... Seo Jin takes issue with the word ‘almost.’ He’s a complete saint. Perfect!
Young Chan tells Seo Jin that he deserves to die. Which strikes me as ironic, or maybe not, because it’s what a king’s ministers say when they’ve upset the king. Or is that kind of what they’re going with here? And Young Chan seems to have genuine affection for Seo Jin. He adds that as someone who knows Seo Jin’s situation, he’s sorry. Seo Jin declares – he strikes me as a little desperate in wanting Young Chan to understand how bad it is, but not in pathetic way, just adamant – that he’s also a man. Seo Jin sighs and introspectively asks Young Chan if he thinks that Seo Jin’s not embarrassed. Even though he’s putting on a good show of not caring… Seo Jin looks at Young Chan again and orders him to make sure to delete the memory and be su0re to clean up the circus. Young Chan bows and leaves to comply.
The Circus gang are watching some of Ha Na’s footage from her time in Cirque du Soleil. They love it. Hee Bong asks if this is what they’re going to be doing. Ha Na confirms it. They will put the songs, dances and performances into a story. And where are they going to get the music? Eun Chang wants to make sure that they make the performance agreeable to a child’s eye, since Wonder Land is a family park and 50% of those who come are children. Ha Na’s already had that in mind. She’s planning on bringing out climbing ladders, tightrope and characters that they used to use.
The group welcomes Ha Na back. Since before with Bing Bing it was a little chaotic. They thank her for coming and she asks them to please take care of her. Applause.
Noise out in the ring. The group heads out to try and figure out where it’s coming from. It’s men cleaning the space. Man in Charge tells them, on Seo Jin’s orders, that they are to vacate. MIC hands back the phone and, yup, the video is gone. Ha Na can’t speak. Eun Chang can’t believe that Seo Jin stooped that low but Jin Joo can. Those kind of people don't ever keep their promises. Hee Bong is confused. Ha Na is in denial. Was he acting? Eun Chang calls Seo Jin Two-Face. Ha Na clasps the phone with anger. He’s trifling with the wrong woman.
Switch to Dr. Kang (Shin Eun Jing). She’s making a presentation on people like Seo Jin:
We commonly call someone whose inside and out are different, a Jekyll and Hyde. Those people are clearly aware that they act differently on the outside compared to what's inside. They remember it all, what they said, what they did.She shows a clip from ‘Primal Fear’ where the sociopath reveals that he was lying about not remembering. She pauses on Edward Norton’s gloating smile and stresses that the people they are talking about today can't remember. What they did, who they met, where they were. She gives an example of William Stanley Milligan aka Billy Milligan, born on 1955, from Ohio, USA. She lists several of his alters before declaring that these 24 people are in reality all Billy Milligan.
In October 1997, in Lancaster, Ohio, when he was arrested for rape and armed robbery, Billy asked the police, "What did I do wrong?" The police officers had different opinions about him. it's a memory loss, a show, or just acting. But then, Billy uses Yugoslavian which he never learned. He skillfully used Illusionist Houdini's escape techniques. How could this be possible? Billy was abused by his step-father when he was a child. It was horrifying. That's why Billy thought, "It wasn't me who went through that." "That… is Timmy, Danny, Walter." He thinks again. "Arthur, Ragen and Steve will get revenge for me." And they committed murder, rape and assault on behalf of Billy. Dissociative Identity Disorder. Just like this, two or three and even 24, people who have multiple personalities have DID, Dissociative Identity Disorder. Also called multiple personality disorder.Dr. Kang leave the lecture – she’s identified by a poster that reads: “Department of Psychiatry, Special Lecture, Dr. Kang Hee Ae. DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder).” She checks her messages and hears Seo Jin’s ‘code blue’ message. She immediately makes a call.
Switch to Seo Jin in his office. He asks if Young Chan has heard from Dr. Kang. Young Chan hasn’t. So who did she just call? He asks if the Chairman has called. No, not yet. Phone call from Dr. Kang. She asks what happened. Seo Jin answers by saying that he just came back from the dead. He asks where she is. He’ll leave now to see her. She says that she has something to tell him. She’s reached her office and enters. And man! It’s huge! With lots of books and papers. It really reminds me of a Chairman’s office, with how the furniture and chairs are arranged. She sits at her desk and takes off her glasses. She tells Seo Jin to listen carefully. But her face looks almost happy, like this is going to be good news.
We don’t hear what she says. All we see is Seo Jin stop putting on his jacket and asking if it’s true. Just like five years ago, dangerous?
Back to Dr. Kang, who sounds downright hopeful as she tells him that it’s not the case at all. It's not dangerous nor will he die. He needs to trust her. She opens her laptop and opens folder CASE 101484. She smiles – so it is good news – and says that she’s found the safest and most effective treatment. Now his sickness will totally be healed. And he’ll be free. Inspirational music plays.
Seo Jin has to catch himself on his desk at her words. He looks like he’s about to cry. He tells her that he’ll come now.
Ha Na arrives at Wonder Land headquarters. One of the guards stops her from entering, asking what her business is. Does she have an appointment with Seo Jin? She, of course, doesn’t, but she replies that the Managing Director would also have business with her. The guards aren’t sure what to do. Seo Jin exits the building. She immediately calls out to him. He tells Young Chan to handle it and climbs into his waiting car. Young Chan tries to run interference, but Ha Na sidesteps and steps in the car’s path.
Staring contest. Seo Jin rolls down his window and tells her to get in to talk. As she starts to climb in the car, Seo Jin tells Suk Won to take off. Which he does. And I laugh. She really should know better after he erased the video. Young Chan tries to smooth the waters, but Ha Na hails a cab and takes off after Seo Jin.
Seo Jin is sitting in his car with a frown on his face as he drives to Dr. Kang’s office.
Dr. Kang begins doing some dictation on Case 101484. The letterhead says Out Patient Clinic of Psychiatry. She says that if today's treatment is successful, this might be the last record. She looks misty at the thought of finally curing Seo Jin. If he’s such a jerk, why would she care? He must not be a jerk then. We see a photo and get a glimpse of his other personality: Robin, who is smiling and looks rather kind.
In her taxi, she tells the driver that she’ll pay him double if he doesn’t lose Seo Jin’s car.
Dr. Kang dictates that eleven years ago was the first time that the first personality, Robin, appeared. Does that mean that Seo Jin has more than *one* personality, if she’s calling Robin the 1st? She says that Robin first appeared 15 years ago. Normally DID patients have a violent Hyde, but Goo Seo Jin and Robin are the opposite.
Man in all black (including trench coat) whose face we don’t see gets off the elevator. He’s carrying a book. He arrives at Dr. Kang’s door and knocks. She pauses her dictation and tells him to enter. When he does, she seems to recognize him. She quickly closes Seo Jin’s file and tries to fake like she’s pleased to see the person.
Seo Jin arrives at the hospital. So does Ha Na. She asks to talk but Seo Jin motions at Suk Won to not be bothered. Suk Won runs interference, body blocking her and telling her that she can't go in. She asks if this is his land, to order her not to go in. Suk Won responds that it is: it’s Wonder Group's University Hospital. Ha Na takes a look around like she’s up to something.
Sign reads “Hankyeol University, Department of Psychiatry.” Seo Jin walks down the hall with purpose. His fist is clenched.
Ha Na is still standing outside the hospital looking at all the buildings. At least she got rid of the head-swallowing scarf. She smiles and says that she won't take a single step on Seo Jin’s land. He’s annoyed her the wrong way. She *is* up to something!
Seo Jin’s made a detour into the bathroom, where he’s washing his face. Dr. Kang’s words that he’ll be free are ringing in his ears. He tells himself not to look forward, not to anticipate, Goo Seo Jin. Impatiently, nervously, he rides the elevator and tries to control his hand wringing. As he’s walking towards Dr. Kang’s office, he just happens to see Ha Na zip line across the courtyard. He mutters that Ha Na’s totally crazy. She lands and climbs in over a balcony. Seo Jin takes off to catch her.
The balcony’s door is locked, but the window is not, so she climbs in, apologizing to the office owner for causing a shock. She declares that she’s in a rush. Then she notices that the office owner – Dr. Kang – is lying unconscious on the floor, with a blood pool underneath her head. Her glass coffee table has been smashed. Man in Black (who is now wearing black gloves) walks up behind Ha Na. She turns around and sees his face.
Seo Jin hears a scream. Ha Na runs from Dr. Kang’s office, towards him. Man in Black (who also now has a mask over his face) exits the office, holding his left arm. Seo Jin starts running, too. Man, Hyun Bin can run fast! Way to rescue the girl, Seo Jin. Seo Jin reaches the elevator and tries to get it to leave before Ha Na reaches it. His MSP is 141 and rising. Seo Jin starts to choke.
Ha Na reaches the elevator and stops its doors from closing. She begs Seo Jin to help her. Seo Jin grabs her arm and shoves her out of the car. His MSP is still rising. Ha Na screams and falls onto the ground. Man in Black reaches her. Hyun Bin struggling in an elevator again. I’m getting flashbacks to ‘Secret Garden.’ Seo Jin’s head looks like it’s about to explode. He can’t breathe. He grunts, ‘No!’ and his left hand goes limp.
Man in Black has dragged Ha Na to the roof’s edge and has her by the throat, dangling her over the side. Seo Jin sits on the floor, as if unconscious. He’s strangling her. Ha Na thinks, begging someone to save her. Seo Jin awakes and stands, momentous music playing in the background. He sheds his jacket, tie, glasses and monitoring equipment. He also rolls up his shirt sleeves. He exits the elevator and there’s a slow pan up. And I want to swoon again. His necklace shimmers briefly.
Seo Jin – or should I say, Robin, since that’s probably who this is – walks with purpose. He catches sight of Ha Na and MIB on the roof and takes off in a run to save her. He grabs MIB and throws him off of Ha Na. Ha Na has fallen unconscious and falls over the edge. Seo Jin jumps off the roof after her and cradles her to him as they sink into the water. Ha Na briefly wakes up and sees his face before going unconscious again.
Ha Na wakes up in the hospital. Unni and Eun Chang are there with her. And the humidifier’s going. Of course. Eun Chang looks really upset, like he's been crying. He asks why she went to Hankyeol University. It takes her a moment to remember why she was at Hankyeol University, but then she remembers unconscious Dr. Kang. She immediately tries to get out of bed to do something, but Eun Chang stops her. She mentions seeing someone unconscious and Unni says that the police have been all over the place. Eun Chang asks how Ha Na fell into the lake in front of the building. Ha Na’s fuzzy on the lake. She remembers sinking in the water, and since they’re asking about it, it must not be a dream.
Seo Jin sits in a fetal position, trembling. Still not wearing his glasses. He’s in a hospital bed with Young Chan at his bedside. He doesn’t remember the last 6 hours. He can remember Ha Na begging him for help, but that’s it. Seo Jin said his MSP hit 150 and then he must have lost consciousness. But it couldn’t be… Robin… Young Chan is quick to dismiss this idea. For fear of Seo Jin’s freakout. Although Robin seems like a pretty big stud, the way he took the MIB down.
Ha Na arrives. Seo Jin looks at her entering like she’s got a disease. She asks if it was him. Did he really save her? Seo Jin swallows deeply at the thought. He can’t believe what she’s saying – and his poor face clearly shows how afraid he is – that he jumped into the water. Did he save her?
Dr. Kang narrates that Goo Seo Jin's Hyde, Robin, is a personality born out of Seo Jin’s guilt and that he saves and protects. Shot of Robin tenderly cradling Ha Na in the water. He smiles as he saves her.
Back in the hospital, Seo Jin looks like he wants to throw up as he asks if *he* saved her. She nods. He looks away and thinks that Robin has appeared. Episode ends with the words: Have you ever been faced with a different side of yourself?
Thoughts
All right! Hyun Bin is back and as good as ever. Even with the really lame gorilla scene – Come on, people! That gorilla was so obviously a person in a suit, even if the makeup was done well. If you’ve ever watched a nature program on gorillas, you’d know that they don’t act like that gorilla was acting. But I digress. Even with the lame gorilla scene, it’s a good start.
Here’s the breakdown:
The Good. 1) Hyun Bin and Han Ji Min have done a good job of making me like the leads. 2) Hyun Bin is as engaging and swoon-worthy as ever. Anyone who reads my recaps knows that I’m not one of those people who drools over the pretty boys and cheers when they have the gratuitous shower scene. I might comment and roll my eyes, but I don’t like an actor or a drama simply because if find the lead dreamy. That being said, there were some definite moments where I though Hyun Bin was quite dreamy and had to fan myself to keep from keeling over. The man can smolder. But even with that, if Hyun Bin also wasn’t very accessible/vulnerable in his portrayal of Seo Jin, all that smoldering wouldn’t mean a thing to me. Even as he’s playing a man who is closed off to everyone, for self-preservation’s sake, he still has glimmers of someone who desperately wants to connect with others. Even as he’s a man who is a stone wall, those times where he lets the wall down, you really feel for the guy. I can think of other actors that wouldn’t be up to the task. 3) Han Ji Min has done a great job of making Ha Na someone that I can relate to and like because she’s substance personified. She’s a nice person who cares about others – but not in that unrelatable, Candy way that you see in things like ‘High School Musical 2.’ At the same time, she’s not afraid to stand up for herself and work for what she wants. I love that Ha Na isn’t ready to just swoon over a guy because he’s got a nice butt. (Side note: I’ve surprised that that conversation made it past the censors, especially with the air squeeze.) I love that she cares about character and not just whether the guy is cute or has money. 4) The show has set up an interesting premise: Robin is Seo Jin’s good alter-ego. It’s interesting that Seo Jin sees Robin as a jerk and something to be feared. I wonder why that is? There are glimpses of Seo Jin that show that he’s not a selfish jerk. He’s just someone who has isolated himself – much like Do Min Joon in ‘You Who Came from the Stars’ – for self-preservation’s sake. And those around him – Dr. Kang, Young Chan and Suk Won – seem to genuinely care about Seo Jin. So why is his kind alter ego so hated and feared? And given the idea that alters emerge because of abuse, what exactly *did* happen to Seo Jin that caused Robin to emerge? And are there other alters in there? 5) Man In Black – why exactly did he attack Dr. Kang? What’s with the book that he’s carrying? Is he another patient with an alter? Or someone what Seo Jin knows who doesn’t want Seo Jin cured?
The Bad
1) Not much bad, but… where was Sung Joon?!! The entire first episode and he was nowhere to be found!!! 2) Cheesy gorilla moment to establish that seeing Ha Na in danger is what really gets Seo Jin’s MSP climbing. The MIB could have established that too, but then we wouldn’t have the moment in the office where Seo Jin was 3 inches from Ha Na’s face and I swooned a little.
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