We start the episode a little before the cliff hanger from last week, with Hye Jin in the stylist’s chair. Stylist is, of course, freaking out about the curls. How did she live all these years with this hair?! Ironically, Stylist’s hair, except for the part around her head, is nearly as curly as Hye Jin’s natural curl. I guess Hye Jin’s hair is just a little too curly… Hye Jin, of course, wants to get rid of her curls – which I’ve grown to like and which make her unique – but nearly balks when she hears that it will cost 400,000 Won. She stares at herself for a moment and agrees, saying she wants a new start.
She heads to a department store and invests in a shirt she likes. She also sneaks in for a voluntary makeover. Then she heads into work, no freckles or redness on her face – and, again, I miss the normal Hye Jin. She’s smiling broadly. Manager and his lackeys spot her and he’s amazed and disbelieving that it’s Hye Jin.
Hye Jin answers the phone at Most. Everyone stops what they’re doing in shock. Shin Hyuk looks like he’s appalled. Shin Hyuk says her name, Jackson, in a voice asking if it’s her. And the voice sounds appalled. Ah Reum says that she thinks it’s Hye Jin because of her “depressing bag.” Hye Jin says, in Hye Jin style, that she’s back and apologizes for worrying them. Joon Woo rushes over and gives her a huge hug, telling his noona that he’s totally missed her! And I crack up because Poong Ho got up to get a huge from her, too. He’s left hanging. Hye Jin happily hugs him. Seol hurries over to pull Joon Woo off her as Shin Hyuk – still appalled – asks what she’s doing right now!
Ah Reum welcomes Hye Jin, saying that she’s glad Hye Jin came back. Seon Min tells her that she’s become so pretty. Hye Jin smiles broadly. Eun Yung practically shrieks that unni is unrecognizable! Lee Kyung agrees. Sung Joon sees her from inside his office and stops. He smiles softly. Joo Young yells at everyone to get back to work. She gives Hye Jin a welcoming smile.
Once Hye Jin sits at her desk, there’s the magic-moment tinkle as Shin Hyuk rolls over to her desk and demands to know what she’s done to her hair. His face is so distressed. No more poodle. She doesn’t say anything. Then he notices that she’s wearing make up and moans that he can’t see her freckles! He protests that a burst of sesame seeds sprinkled on her cheekbones is Jackson's greatest feature! She shakes her head like he’s crazy. Sounding even more distressed – and looking like he wants to cry a little – he declares that her new look doesn’t suit her. It doesn't! The old Jackson is a lot prettier! She rolls her eyes, tells him that everyone's telling her that she’s become prettier, and shoves him back towards his desk. Still annoyed, Shin Hyuk goes back to work. And I knew he wouldn’t be happy.
Seol comes over and mumbles that Hye Jin does look a little better styled up... She looks very uncomfortable. She calls Hye Jin ‘Unni’ – which surprises Hye Jin – and gets annoyed when Hye Jin asks, asking if she should call Hye Jin ‘Oppa.’ Seol starts to go back to her desk but stops and mumbles that she thought Hye Jin got fired because of her. I guess that was her apology. Hye Jin smiles.
Hye Jin notices Onion and is encouraged at how Onionnie's ‘hair’ has gotten longer. Someone must have been changing its water while she’s been gone. She picks it up and notices the sad face on the back, which makes her look over in Sung Joon’s direction. He’s staring at her, but this time he doesn’t look away. She gets up and gives him a big bow. And her hair flips now. I don’t like it. He gives her a bow back… and a smile. Her face says that she’s not used to Sung Joon being nice. Joo Young calls for her. Shin Hyuk is watching her and smiling to himself, but he stops as he contemplates what Sung Joon’s expression means.
Ra Ra is walking down the hall, singing in Italian to herself. And she’s wearing a headband that has two bejeweled bumps that look like cat ears. I guess that’s Most-like. Hye Jin encounters her and gives her a greeting. Ra Ra pulls her hair out of her eyes and asks who Hye Jin is. Hye Jin replies that she’s the lint that came from the management team, Kim Hye Jin. Ra Ra gives a ‘mamma mia’ for her surprise. She tells Hye Jin to go on about her errand.
Ra Ra says ‘mamma mia’ so often, I wondered if this was just the writers being lazy and playing to the stereotype. Web search says it is not. Italians do use ‘mamma mia’ quite often:
Italian Stereotypes. True of False?, an article on the La Dolce Lingua Italiano per Tutti blogShe stops her for a moment to compliment her new look: Very Most-like. Brava, brava. Hye Jin smiles broadly.
8 Things Italian Actually Do, and article on the Shut Up and Go blog
'Mamma mia': A window on language and customs in Italy, an article from ‘The Florentine,’ the English-speaking news magazine in Florence
Stereotypes on… us, an article on the ‘trait d’union: the Journal Scolaire Multimedia International’
Ra Ra walks away and Shin Hyuk hurries up. He asks if he should buy her dinner afterwards? Udong? Yum! Meat? He then decides they should eat some frozen ice and escorts her from the building, ignoring her protests that she’s busy.
Outside, Shin Hyuk gets the scoop on how Hye Jin came back: Deputy Chief Editor came to see her. He doesn’t look too happy. So she came because Deputy Chief Editor wouldn't let her go? She replies that it’s not because of that, but because she has a goal now, that she came back. When Shin Hyuk says that Jackson's goal is to be an long-term employee, she says that it’s more than that. She’s going to get her dad's printing machine replaced. Shin Hyuk nods. And I wonder what he’s thinking. It’s almost like he doesn’t quite believe that she’s not here for Sung Joon.
Hye Jin says that she’s very determined for both herself and her dad. She’s not going to complain anymore and will just work really hard. His face now looking like he’s trying to figure out a plan to help her succeed – and of course, one that includes him – Shin Hyuk says that Hye Jin will need an excellent shooter next to her. She doesn’t know what he means. For example, him. And the emphasis that he does with his eyes/eyebrows as he references himself makes me smile. He laughs, pleased with himself. Hye Jin doesn’t join him.
Ha Ri enters her office. She looks a little distressed. Probably from the whole ‘I’m lying to the man I love and can’t bring myself to confess.’ Her phone rings and it’s Sung Joon. She sounds really unexcited to talk to him. Why is he calling her? Sung Joon sighs with relief, adding that *now* she picks up. Why is it so hard to get her on the phone? Relief? Why is he relieved? Didn’t he realize that she’s not his Hye Jin? But Hye Jin is his Hye Jin? His voice is a little scolding, too. What is going on? Did he figure it out or not? Ha Ri doesn’t say anything.
Sung Joon says that he was going to come find her at the hotel if she didn't pick up today either. He tells her to, no matter what, make time for him today. If she’s busy, he'll come to the hotel. She immediately tells him not to come. Don't ever come to the hotel! Not suspicious at all. This gets an eyebrow raise from Sung Joon. Why would that surprise him? Did he hit his head off screen and forget that he figured out who Hye Jin really is?
Ha Ri realizes how weird that sounds and awkwardly – her voice sounding a little guilty – says that she’s been at the hotel so much that she’s tired of this place. Yeah, that’s believable. Sung Joon agrees. As she hangs up, she grabs her stomach and winces with the pain. Of her impending ulcers.
Staff meeting for the 20th Anniversary Celebration Event. Hye Jin is taking notes. Joo Young says that since it's the 20th anniversary celebration event, representatives from each of The Most's foreign editions will take part in it as well as foreign artists and many of our country's prominent figures in the fashion, beauty, and cultural industry. She asks if they shouldn’t set aside a bigger budget and make it more dramatic? Ah Reum agrees. They should at the very least have a boat party and make it as luxurious and glamorous as possible.
Poong Ho adds that they should get some of the most popular singers these days… like Super Junior. And I crack up. Ah, the meta. And we get treated to an ear twitch and small smile from Choi Siwon aka Shin Hyuk. I love when they throw in Super Junior references in his dramas. The women gasp with excitement and cover there mouths, including *Joo Young* – who seriously looks like she’s a teenage girl right now about to see her favorite group. I wonder who her bias is… Choi Siwon, maybe? Heh. Poong Ho says that they should invite a group like that and they can do an amazing celebratory performance. Yes, please!!! They could do ‘Sorry, Sorry’ or ‘Devil’ or ‘Magic’ (the last 2 are from their most recent album)! Or if they want the girls to really swoon: ‘Evanesce’ or ‘This is Love.’ Most of SS501 performed in ‘Boys Over Flowers’ and Kim Hyun Joong was Ji Hoo, so they could do that here! Or at least some of them, since Shindong, Sungmin enlisted in March and Donghae and Eunhyuk enlisted the week this episode aired. Yes, Super Junior is one of my favorite groups, which is how I know. Poong Ho also suggests tons of fireworks ! Sung Joon sighs.
Shin Hyuk suggests that they borrow a whole resort in Jeju-do. Not jumping on inviting Super Junior? Wae? The group *really* likes that idea. Maybe they’re thinking exclusive resort *and* Super Junior. Sung Joon sighs loudly. Joo Young asks what’s wrong. And then she asks Hye Jin about her expression – it looks like it always does when she’s concentrating on taking those minutes…
Everyone looks at Hye Jin. Hye Jin awkwardly says that she thinks that doing something impressive seems too obvious. It doesn't compliment the concept for the 20th anniversary event. Sung Joon says that this was his thoughts exactly. So, no Super Junior? The concept for the 20th anniversary edition is about how different the world looks if you change your view, so focusing on doing something impressive doesn't seem right. Doesn’t the group think they need to do something different?
Hye Jin suggests doing something opposite to take away the brilliance. And I’m not necessarily agreeing. They can do something impressive and still highlight a different world view. Sung Joon snaps his fingers and suggests spotlighting the flip side of brilliance? The group and me are going ‘hunh?’ Sung Joon gives examples: in order to put a beautiful model on the runway at a fashion show, there are artists and event personnel. Or an exclusive masseuse for a world-famous sports figure. Put the spotlight on those kind of people is what he’s saying. Hye Jin nods because she likes that idea. Why would that be interesting, though? For a fashion magazine?
Joo Young points out that now that he mentions it, they’re all one of those people. A magazine looks glamorous but in order to get it published, a lot of people lose sleep for it and don't even have time for showers. Most of the group starts nodding. And the triumphant music is playing. Seol moans that they seriously work like dogs. Poong Ho – sounds like he’s quoting Shakespeare as he – says that stars shine the brightest in the darkness... So the point is to put the spotlight not on the stars but on the darkness. Like that?
Then Shin Hyuk says something that Viki didn’t bother to translate. Shin Hyuk add that if they must know the title, it's 'The Beauty of Shadows'. I hate it when they do that. And Dramafever subs aren’t out yet, so I have no idea what he said. Joo Young is impressed with his title and he chuckles, pleased with himself. Sung Joon is for the idea and the group enthusiastically agrees. Shin Hyuk asks whose idea it was in the first place. Wasn't it Jakson? Jackson? He looks at Hye Jin, gives her a thumb’s up and tells her that she’s the best. Then he asks if it doesn’t get a round of applause. The group cheers and claps for her. And this is why I love Shin Hyuk. He wants her awesomeness acknowledged and does it an a very smooth way. Hye Jin is a little uncomfortable as she bows her thanks for the praise. And her hair flips all over the place. I’m really not liking it. Sung Joon looks at her and smiles softly.
Later, Hye Jin brings Sung Joon the meeting minutes. He thanks her and then stops her before she leaves his office. He asks what he should do. Should her buy a lotto ticket? She’s confused. And so am I. He’s trying to be all smooth. He reaches over and gets her notebook, saying that it says inside that if he returns this after it's lost, he'll receive a ton of luck. He holds it out to her. She chuckles and takes it, looking at the notebook fondly. He adds that although he knew it was impolite, he read it from front to back and added some ideas to it that he got while reading it. So they’re friends now?
Hye Jin looks inside and he’s put a bunch of sticky notes – so his additions aren’t permanent if she doesn’t like them. That was nice. He says that her ideas at the business trip, for our 20th anniversary edition, and in the scrapbook… Is it because he was seeing her with amateur eyes – yes – or is it because Kim Hye Jin has eyes that see things differently… that her views are... cozy? Aww, ‘Ttottot.’ She doesn’t answer. He says that, anyway, her views were refreshing. He hopes she can show them more in the future. Wow. He’s being really nice. He smiles.
She smiles and agrees to and start to leave again. He stops her again – and the way that he just rubbed his nose says that he’s feeling a little awkward, uncomfortable… kind of the way a boy who likes a girl acts. She turns around and he presents her with a present. Inside the box is a fancy name badge holder, with another copy of her badge inside it. How is she supposed to get through the security turnstile if it’s in that case? Not that it’s not an extremely thoughtful gift, since he knows how precious her badge is to her. Just the practicality…
As Hye Jin is touched, Sung Joon covers his nice gesture by saying that he’s saying not to lose her employment ID, and wear it for a long time. He says that it’s a welcome present from him as her colleague. Don’t think I ‘like’ you, even though I do. It’s just a present I would give anybody, not just a girl I like. Really. She smiles slightly and says “As a colleague?” He chuckles and smiles at her. She puts her new badge on and asks how it looks. He gives her a thumbs up and they share a smile. She says that she will wear it well and bows her thanks.
She starts to leave again. And again Sung Joon stops her. Another nose rub of awkwardness. He says that it seems that he forgot to say the most important thing: It's great that she’s back. Welcome. And welcome in Korean is ‘welcome.’ He chuckles at little at his awkwardness and gives her a big smile. She smiles back – I think a little surprised at the thaw in his behavior.
That night, Sung Joon waits in a coffee shop. He is, of course, by the big window, so that Ha Ri can see him from outside. Ha Ri gazes up at him, a sad look on her face. He glances at his watch. She must have been standing there a while. She sighs sadly. She calls him and – sounding upset – because she’s trying not to cry – says that something urgent suddenly came up. She says that she’s going have to travel overseas. Really? Sung Joon doesn’t sound too crushed when he notes that she seems really busy.He says that it’s too bad and tells her to give him a call when her schedule clears up. She hangs up and sadly walks away.
Shin Hyuk is outside a convenience store – the one that he and Ha Ri both frequent. He yawns widely as he starts to peel back the label on his ramen bowl. Ha Ri is inside. As she reaches for a drink, her stomach strikes again and this time she collapses. Shin Hyuk is enjoying his ramen but he spots her and takes her to the hospital. Doctor tells him that she was suffering from gastrospasm due to mental stress. She must have been in a lot of pain. Was he not aware of it? Shin Hyuk looks down at her and remembers the other time he’s seen her clutching her stomach. Doctor says that there are signs of dehydration and lack of nutrition, so she must have not been eating or sleeping for the past few days. She must have been under extreme stress. And Shin Hyuk knows exactly why. I hope he doesn’t feel responsible, because he told her to confess or he would. It’s not his fault that she didn’t confess. He didn’t drive her to this; her guilty conscience did.
Eventually Ha Ri wakes up. Shin Hyuk is sitting at the end of her bed, waiting for her to regain consciousness. He asks if she remembers what happened. She starts to sit up. He tells her to stop. He sighs and says that she couldn't handle it and ended up getting sick. He tsks at her and says that by the looks of it, she’s not the kind of person who can do something like that and deal with the consequences. Heh. He knows she’s a good person making stupid decisions. He adds, with a sigh, that the longer she waits, she’s only hurting herself. It’s like he’s seen it before.
Ha Ri won’t look at him as she says that she thought it'll be over after a day. Just one more day. She became greedy. So many times… a hundred times she tried to stop but– Shin Hyuk interrupts with what they both know is the truth: She’s Hye Jin's closest friend. She knew very well that the two of them were each other's first love. Ha Ri looks at him as she protests, voice breaking, that it’s the same for her, too. He’s her first love. Aw, that’s a little sad. She starts to sob. Liking someone this much, it's the first time for her, too. Shin Hyuk sighs, hating this situation for all of them.
Back at home, Ha Ri can’t sleep. Hye Jin is cooking something and burns her fingers. At least she wiped the makeup off her face at home. The red cheeks are back! Ha Ri gets her attention and Hye Jin immediately hurries over to mother her. The concern is evident in her voice. Hye Jin says that she looked at Ha Ri’s medicine and it’s for stomachache. Did she get lots of stress? When she’s stressed, she gets stomachaches. And Ha Ri looks at her, shaken by the realization that Hye Jin remembers even that.
Flashback, with Ha Ri as a teen. She’s in pain in bed. With black hair, not blonde. That Witch coldly tells her to go buy some medicine and take it. She leaves her 100,000 won. If her stomach keeps hurting, go to the hospital or something. She leaves Ha Ri alone and in pain. Hye Jin, on the other hand, arrives with some nice porridge and gently tells Ha Ri to get up and eat it. And, with her curly hair, she looks really pretty right now. Cute school uniform, too! Ha Ri is surprised that Hye Jin is there. She says that Ha Ri hasn’t eaten. When she was sick and had no appetite, she’d still eat the porridge that her mom cooked for her. She tried her best to make it similar. Hye Jin feeds her and Ha Ri cries.
Ha Ri quietly thanks Hye Jin and hugs her. And she starts to make me cry as: Ha Ri thanks her for being around her. She sobs even harder as she says that she will live with Hye Jin for the rest of her life and treat her well.
Back in the present, Ha Ri starts to cry as she remembers just how much Hye Jin has always been there for her. Hye Jin is back cooking. Ha Ri walks over and gives her a back hug, resting her chin on Hye Jin’s shoulder. Hye Jin asks why the back hug. Voice cracking, Ha Ri says that Hye Jin is the medicine, so it doesn't hurt at all. Hye Jin smiles and says that she’s the human elixir. There’s a pause, with Ha Ri still hugging her. Ha Ri asks if she told Hye Jin already… that she really likes her with her whole heart.
This makes Hye Jin turn around and look at her. What's the matter? Did she have an argument with her boyfriend? Or, did something happen at the hotel? Ha Ri hugs her some more and, crying, says that nope, nothing happened. She is totally fine. Sniffing, she says that she is really, really fine.
Next day, Hye Jin goes to work. Poong Ho tells her that she dressed normally for today as well. Her taste has improved a lot. She chuckles and says that they weren’t expensive. She’s stayed in this team for so long that she got this much of good eyes for taste. Joo Young agrees that fashion is not a matter of money. It's about paying more attention. Seol wonders why she lived the other way for so long, when she could have lived like this? She’s so skilled at the backhanded compliments… Hye Jin says that she had to pay off her student loans. I hear that one! Awkwardness for the group. She tells them to please accept her determination to look more Most-like. They give her a round of applause.
Morning meeting. Joo Young asks about the opening speech and they’re worried about Ra Ra doing it. And shouldn't it be in English? Sung Joon tells him that he will do it. They’re grateful for that idea. Sung Joon is about to leave the meeting when Ah Reum hurries in and apologizes for being late. Her car suddenly stopped on her way here. Shin Hyuk tells her that she can get into a huge accident that way. Joon Woo asks if she left her car at the repair shop, but she drove it to work instead. Sung Joon asks what’s most important out of A, B, C, D; isn't it A? Ah Reum echoes my confusion as Sung Joon continues by admonishing her that it's the basic of basics. He doesn’t know how others operate, but please be punctual. As Ah Reum mutters an apology, Sung Joon leaves. Way to be compassionate. It’s not like she can control her car breaking down.
With Sung Joon gone, Ah Reum stomps her foot and moans that she didn't do it intentionally. Poong Ho tells her not to drive her car to the repair shop but to call a towing company. She could get into a terrible accident. Aren’t they laying on the idea of a car accident pretty thick there? My car’s broken down before and unless her brakes go out or her electrical system goes out to where her steering wheel locks, you’re not going to get into an accident when the engine stops.
As everyone files out, Shin Hyuk asks Jackson, what she’s doing. Now she even has a case for the employment ID? And Korean for case is ‘case.’ He moans as he asks where the old Jackson is. Why is she always changing? She smiles as she says that she received this from the Deputy Chief Editor. Shin Hyuk doesn’t like that. What? Why did he give it to her? She replies that it was a "welcome" present and that she thinks they can really be like actual colleagues, so she accepted it coolly.
Shin Hyuk starts to laugh. But it’s not his normal ‘I-love-life-and-Jackson-is-amusing’ laugh. It’s more the flabbergasted laugh that jealous people make when they’re trying not to act jealous. Even though he already confessed, so pretending that you’re not jealous is pointless. A "welcome" present? He convulses as he huffs “Ah, really. I'm getting goose bumps. Ah, really! What nonsense. Ah, really!” He exits the conference room… and quickly returns to grab the notebook he left behind, huffing and protesting as he goes: “Ah, really. "Welcome" present, my butt! Really. Nonsense. Really.” His face as he huffs has me cracking up. He leaves again and Hye Jin says that he’s not normal.
Hye Jin is riding the bus home and there’s a commotion with the passengers muttering about some crazy guy outside the bus. Hye Jin looks and it’s Shin Hyuk on his motorcycle. He’s yelling at her to pullover. And he does his crazy laugh. Heh. I love him so.
Hye Jin gets off the bus and yells at him for being dangerous. He grabs his "welcome" present: an expensive designer purse. It’s a nice purse, too. He looks a little pleased with himself, as he should. It’s a nice purse. Hye Jin shoves it back at him and asks why she would accept something like this. He replies that it's a welcome present. He is warmly welcoming her back. So, accept it. Coolly. He gives a charming smile. I love that he's turning her words back on her. He adds that he bought it at a 90% off sale. Which I don’t believe for a second, but he has to keep up the ruse of being poor.
Then he grabs her new badge holder and holds it in comparison with his fancy bag. Look at how many times bigger this is. The bag he gave her is a hundred times bigger than the teeny tiny case that Deputy Chief Editor gave her. He is such a dork when he’s jealous. She shoves it back at him again and tells him to go and return it. Shin Hyuk says that if Jackson isn’t going to take it, he’s just going to throw it away. She calls his bluff and he actually tries to give it to a passing sheepdog. Hye Jin gasps at the thought. He tells the dog that the purse matches with its dog hair perfectly! Fantastic! Heh. Hye Jin has poodle hair which he loves. Heh.
His ruse works and Hye Jin puts on the bag, which makes Shin Hyuk smile broadly. Is he happy now? He is and says that the bag really suits her. She has to use it every day. Every day, so that she’s using it as much as, no, more than, her badge holder. Heh. Then he grabs her and says that they should go eat udon. Yum. She yanks her arms free and says that she doesn’t want to. But of course, he gets her to go.
Next morning, Sung Joon gets dressed in a very nice suit and looks over his speech for the night’s 20th Anniversary event. Everyone is at the event fervently working. And I *hate* Hye Jin’s Hyun Bin track-suit inspired shirt. Everyone else looks so nice, very sleek and stylish. Hye Jin looks like she escaped from ‘Dynasty.’ If you're not sure what I mean, go here (IMDB.com) and here, a blog post in tribute to the costume designer.
Event red carpet. I thought they were going for understated. Celebrities that arrive include: UEE, Seo In Guk, Lee Jun Ki and Park Hyung Shik. How did they get these people to cameo? Inside, everything is going smoothly. And they have some token white and black people to show that this is truly an international event. Hye Jin and Seon Min are greeting everyone and handing out programs.
Inside, Shin Hyuk scampers up to a table where Seol, Ah Reum and Poong Ho are standing. I love his checked suit! He’s taken a photo with Karl Lagerfeld. They’re jealous. I had to look up the name. It’s the head designer and creative director of Chanel and Fendi. Oi! That is a coup! He shows them other picks with Giselle Bunchen, John Cusack and even Liu Wen! We get to see selfies of him with Bunchen and Cusack and I’m wondering if it’s Photoshop or real, since he’s wearing the same suit.
So I did a little investigating. Choi Siwon hung out/got photographed with Lagerfeld and Bunchen at a Chanel event in Seoul. G-Dragon and Taeyang were also in attendance: An article from UK's Daily Mail newspaper and an article from the KpopFighting.com website. Also, Siwon recently worked on the movie ‘Dragon Blade’ – with John Cusack and he starred in the Chinese version of ‘We Got Married’ with Liu Wen. Love the meta! I wonder if they’re going to post any pictures to keep up the illusion…
The event is about to start. Joo Young hurries up, worried because Sung Joon hasn’t arrived yet. Uh-oh. We saw him so much earlier, dressed and ready. What’s the hold up? Hye Jin notices. Joon Woo asks her to go greet the emcee. I know he looks familiar, but I have no idea who the emcee is. He explains that he’s late because it's pouring outside and his car got held up in traffic. Uh-oh. It’s raining out. Hye Jin knows that’s bad news.
Everyone frets because it’s 3 minutes from the opening speech. Joo Young tells Joon Woo to ask the sound crew to delay the opening speech. Emcee is so confident that he turns down the script that’s offered to him. Joon Woo tells the sound guy who passes it onto Emcee, who completely misunderstands when Guy says ‘delay, delay’ – and Korean for ‘delay’ is ‘delay.’ So Emcee starts. Most staff freak out. Joo Young grabs her forehead and declares that she’s seriously losing her mind. Emcee, who introduces himself – Kim Jae Dong – and greets everyone. Interesting stuff about him getting blackballed because of his politics.
Hye Jin looks outside at the pouring rain and remembers Sung Joon says that his Oma died when he was 12 and since then he has trouble riding in cars when it rained. She looks outside nervously.
The Most video presentation: The Beauty of Shadows. Scenes of them working behind the scenes to make The Most, the Most. Screen flashes that “You are the H.E.R.O.” and lots of clapping. Still no Sung Joon so Joo Young wants Shin Hyuk to do it, since he can speak English and is thick-skinned. Video ends and there’s a horrible pause and then…
Ra Ra appears. The staff cringes in terror at what Ra Ra is going to do. She speaks English and says that what they have right now is a total disaster. Some laughs. She declares that right now, her eyeballs are decaying just looking at it. Everything here is so dull. Ugly! Ungreatly! Unbeautiful! It is not Most at all. Absolutamente! More pained cringing. Shin Hyuk looks particularly pathetic.
She asks what on earth have they done to it? This shit. Her team is crazy. She starts speaking Korean and declares, back in English, that she has spent all of her English for today. The crowd laughs. She requests English subtitles, please!
Now we see Sung Joon. He is huddled over his steering wheel, having a panic attack, as the rain pours. It’s obvious that he’s crying. Aw, I feel bad for him. Hye Jin is really worried. She gets a text from Joo Young telling her to come and take care of the guests. When she enters the ballroom, Ra Ra declares that even the editing team members are all shit. Especially during the deadline. Their hair becomes all greasy and what about their dark circles? Wow! They are all absent-minded and they are like human zombies. Ra Ra says that looking at their appearances like that, she thinks that the ugliest living organisms in this whole world are gathered here and having a retreat. Crowd laughs.
Ra Ra says that it's strange. In her eyes, they look beautiful. Aw, she’s making me get misty. I’m not the only one. They are the ones who are in hidden places and act as the beautiful darkness for the stars, just as the main characters in this video they have shown them. Every deadline period, the Editorial Team who works hard, risking their lives... She tells them she loves them. Crowd loudly cheers and claps. She makes a heart with her arms. She gets some hearts back as people whistle and clap.
She says, in English, “Most editors, Most assistants, and Most staff of the world, I love you all. Thanks to you all, Most has become most glittering. Thanks. I love you!” Sung Joon arrives for the last part – and looks terrible – and is pained that he failed what he was supposed to do. He doesn’t stay. Lots of cheering, whistling and clapping and the crew is happy.
As Ra Ra leaves the ballroom, she comes across Sung Joon. Rather than explaining, all he does is apologize and not meet her eyes.
Ra Ra: Was our Deputy Chief Editor such an irresponsible person?It’s clear that Ra Ra isn’t angry. She straightens out his tie and says that they should talk again later. Then she leaves, singing in Italian.
Sung Joon: I'm sorry.
Ra Ra: You aren't usually a person like this. What happened?
Sung Joon: I'm sorry.
Ra Ra: So you are not even going to make any excuses?
Sung Joon: I'm sorry.
Hye Jin has observed everything and feels bad for Sung Joon. She approaches him as he sits, dejected and drained, on a bench.
♫ Next to me, there is a person who is not you ♫
♫ Who always looks at me ♫
♫ But the way you talk, the way you look feels so familiar. ♫
Not saying anything, she sits down on the other end of the bench and just sits there so he isn’t alone.
♫ The one I've been waiting for. ♫
♫ Maybe I, I don't know how to love. ♫
♫ So I couldn't say anything. ♫
♫ I've been with you the whole time. I'm still looking at you. ♫
♫ But you still don't know me. ♫
Very fitting song.
♫ I don't know. I don't know anything else but you. ♫
♫ I can't help but love you.. ♫
♫ Your voice calling me, your eyes watching me (Calling you, watching you) ♫
♫ You must be in love with me too. ♫
♫ You don't know anything else but me. ♫
The next day at work, everyone is annoyed that Sung Joon didn’t show up, especially since he nagged them all about it. Sung Joon proposes they do the ladder game for morning coffee but the group won’t be dissuaded from wondering what the deal is. But why won't he say anything when he almost messed up the important event? Is he being surly or is he being rebellious? Seol declares that he’s such a huge jerk. They have to change his nickname from Crazy Joon to Shameless Joon.
Hye Jin gets annoyed and starts to say something. Isn't it too harsh to talk like that when they don't even know anything about him? They want to know what she’s talking about. She starts to answer, but Sung Joon stops her and tells her to come see him.
Out on the terrace, he asks what she was doing. She’s indignant because they don't know anything! He starts to laugh and she asks how he can smile when people said bad things about him. He says that it's not so bad. It’s a bit of an overreaction, but it feels pretty nice to have one person taking his side. Aw, just like when they were kids. She tells him to stop joking and he replies that it’s his own fault so it’s right for them to say bad things about him. A company isn't a place where they can listen to your personal issues. If he created a problem due to his personal issues, whatever the reason it was, it is 100% his fault and his responsibility. Hye Jin protests but Sung Joon thanks her instead.
Back inside, Joo Young calls Hye Jin over and asks if she wants to try writing an article. The storybook concept came from her idea; she can try writing an article on fairytales. Whether it's in Feature, Fashion, or Beauty depends on how she wants to explore it. Shin Hyuk is, of course, listening, since his desk is right next to Joo Young’s. Hye Jin says that she couldn’t possibly do that. Joo Young assures her that they won’t use if it's below standard. Hye Jin still doesn’t want to.
Sung Joon passes by as Hye Jin is protesting that she couldn’t and hears it. He walks away. And something about his body language tells me that he’s going to help her to have the confidence and believe in herself. Hye Jin says that she’ll just work hard in supporting everyone. Joo Young isn’t going to beg, so she tells Hye Jin to go back to her desk. Before she does, Hye Jin thanks Joo Young for worrying about her.
Once Hye Jin’s back at her desk, Shin Hyuk rolls over and asks her why she doesn’t try it. Nobody's good in the beginning. She says he’s not making sense. Shin Hyuk sighs, frustrated. He glances over at Joo Young and raises Hye Jin’s arm for her, yelling over that Jackson says she'll do it! Hye Jin asks why he’s being like this! Shin Hyuk tells her to just try going for it! Then he raises her arm again and says, all aegyo, that Jackson says she'll do it! Joo Young makes a face and asks when Kim Shin Hyuk is going to grow up. He replies, still giving lots of aegyo, that he’ll do it tomorrow. But Jackson says she'll do it.
Later that night, Shin Hyuk is leaving the convenience store with some kimbap and spots Ha Ri heading into the store. He asks how she’s feeling. She definitely looks like she feels better. She smiles slightly and says that she’s feeling better. He replies that it’s a relief. Aw, he was concerned. He gives her a thumbs up as he starts to go but Ha Ri stops him. She asks him for favor…
Next thing we see is the pair riding on Shin Hyuk’s motorcycle. She moans at him about going so slow. He replies that it'll be scary for her since it's her first time. She scoffs at that idea. Scary? What is that? Is it something to eat? He laughs heartily and tells her not to blame him if you start crying. As they drive faster, Ha Ri happily cries that it feels awesome! Shin Hyuk enthusiastically joins in.
Hye Jin has left work and gone to the bus stop. There she spot a poster for a Renoir exhibit. Their puzzle is the image on the poster. She smiles as she looks at it. Sung Joon walks up and looks at it. As he starts to walk away he realizes that Hye Jin is standing there. She’s surprised to see him, too. I guess they were both lost in their thoughts… They smile at each other.
She asks about the coffee he’s drinking, since it’s so late. He says he has some work left to do. And she’s getting off work. Ah, the small talk. There’s a pause and he asks if she likes him. She looks at him, shocked at the question, even though she tries to hide it. He looks at the poster and says, “Renoir.” Trying to recover, she says that she doesn't know much about Renoir. She just feels good when she looks at this painting. Sung Joon says that Renoir’s his favorite artist.
He mentions the puzzle from his apartment, that it’s where she saw the painting in the poster. She lies and says that’s when she saw it. As he smiles her, she pictures the young Sung Joon wearing today’s Sung Joon’s clothes and says that Renoir apparently only drew happy moments. Renoir said because there are so many unhappy things happening in the world, he wanted to treasure the happy moments through art. That's probably why people feel happy when they look at his art.
Thinking of this young Sung Joon makes Hye Jin laugh. Sung Joon asks why she’s suddenly laughing. She says that it’s nothing. A little more small talk and Sung Joon walks away while Hye Jin waits for the bus. She sits on the bench and watches for the bus. Sung Joon comes back and sits down next to her, not saying anything. When she notices him, he says that he’s just going to wait with her until the bus comes. Since the night breeze is nice, he doesn't want to go straight back in. He’s just getting some air. Yeah, that’s it. Air.
Long pause. Then Sung Joon asks if Hye Jin’s perhaps heard of the god of opportunity (Caerus)? She says that she hasn’t. He pulls out his phone and shows her a picture. The first thing she notices is the naked man’s genitals and after the word ‘penis’ escapes her lips, she corrects herself and says that he’s quite exposed. Sung Joon moves his thumb so that it covers the man’s nakedness. He tells her to look at the man’s face. His face. The guy only has one lock of hair at the front, right? With a bald back of his head.
Sung Joon explains that since the god of opportunity only has hair at the front, when it comes up close it's easy to grab ahold of it, but when you let go it's impossible to grab it again. That's the reason why it's not possible to grab an opportunity that has already gone by. This makes Hye Jin think – either about writing that article or about her reunion with Sung Joon; probably the latter and he means it to be about the former – and she looks at him. He says that he’s just saying. It just popped into his head. He notes that her bus is here and quickly bids her goodbye. After she’s on the bus, she wonders how he knew that she takes that bus. Because he likes you.
Ha Ri and Shin Hyuk arrive back at the convenience store. Ha Ri declares that the ride was daebak. So this is why people ride the motorcycle. Should she go out and buy one? He tells her that she’s become filled with hot air and says she should a drink before she leaves. She declines, saying that she needs to return to where she was. But, thanks to him, she was able to get the load off her chest. She holds up her hand for a high five and says ‘thank you’ in English. Shin Hyuk doesn’t leave her hanging.
As she starts to walk away, Shin Hyuk stops her and asks if Ha Ri wouldn’t talk to Hye Jin about him for the time being. He’s in a bit of a pickle. He laugh-cries, sighs heavily; and whimpers that he really doesn’t want her to know he lives in a hotel. She understands. As a hotelier, she’s inclined to protect the personal information of her clients. They say goodbye again and Ha Ri looks very cute as she walks away, walking backward so that she’s facing him, waving her arms widely.
She gets back to her room and decides to write a letter to Sung Joon.
To Sung Joon,Hye Jin is in her bed, thinking about that conversation with Sung Joon and what he said about grabbing onto opportunity. Think about how excited you were to see your name in print. Imagine what it would be to be an *article.* She sits up and then pulls out a memento box. Inside, she looks at awards she has saved for exceptional writing ability. She sighs deeply and decides that she’ll do it.
How should I begin? I feel like I won't be able to express everything by speaking to you, so I'm writing this letter to you.
The next morning, she tells Joo Young that she’ll try. A children’s fairy tale article. Joo Young doesn’t say anything and Sung Joon walks by, realizing that his plan to encourage her worked. Small smile. Joo Young reaches into her desk drawer and pulls out an envelope. Without looking at Hye Jin, she says that it will help her develop a sketch of the item she’s writing about. She supposes that it was worth compiling these since she had a feeling that Hye Jin were going to say that she would do it.
Hye Jin is touched and starts to say so, but Joo Young holds up a hand to stop her, declaring that she refuses to hear any cheesy, gooey language. She adds that if it's not good enough, she will relentlessly throw it into the trash, so Hye Jin should brace herself. She starts to walk away and Hye Jin tells Fashion Director Cha, ‘thank you.’ Joo Young calls back that Hye Jin should call her Cha Sunbae. Daebak. Hye Jin’s got herself a mentor.
She sits at her desk and notices Sung Joon looking her direction. She mimes grabbing onto the hair of opportunity and Sung Joon mimes it back. They share a smile.
Later, Hye Jin has checked a huge stack of books out of the Most’s library. Shin Hyuk runs up and grabs some off the top and tells her that it’s good thinking, deciding to try doing the article. She says that it was a good opportunity so she took it. I only wish that she had done it because Shin Hyuk encouraged her and not because of that talk with Sung Joon. Shin Hyuk tells her that if she has trouble or needs help, to ask this God Shin Hyuk anytime she wants. Eee! Even though he seem clumsy and all over the place, he’s a professional with true quality fully stacked up within him.
Shin Hyuk adds that so many competing magazines are trying so hard to scout him that there's a huge commotion– at which point he trips and falls awkwardly to the floor. Hye Jin sighs that this sure is a commotion. Smiling at her, he says that he did that on purpose. Because if he looks too perfect, he might seem like a jerk. He adds a wink and cracks me up.
Hye Jin replies that it's funny that there are in fact many people who are both jerks and clumsily imperfect. Pretending to be hurt, Shin Hyuk whines that Jackson has really changed! She’s become more eloquent too! Like a completely different person. She tells him to stop being bitter and just go. She has a lot to do. He gives her back the books.
Hye Jin is hard at work on her article.
Shin Hyuk rolls over, leans in and asks if they should go out and eat spicy rice cakes? Not looking up she replies that she’s busy. He pesters her, saying that it’ll just take ten minutes. They should go eat. He pokes her as he says, “Huh? Huh?” She whines at him not to bother her. Shin Hyuk responds that they can eat pig intestines and the lungs too, but Hye Jin isn’t paying attention. As she goes over to consult with Cha Sunbae, Shin Hyuk mutters that she’s really changed. She isn't fun anymore. As he looks at her, he sighs and says that his Jackson is really quite cool. He smiles to himself.
Hye Jin works and works late into the evening… to the point that she falls asleep at her desk. She jerks herself awake – with a sticky note stuck to her cheek – and notices an energy drink. In the background, Sung Joon is walking away. She doesn’t see him and decides to drink it. Off in the distance, Sung Joon watches her and smiles.
The next day, Joo Young asks how it’s going. Hye Jin says that she’s going off to collect report materials for the article. There's a famous author who reinterpreted iconic children's fairy stories and she’s going to be interviewing him today. She's going to Paju… Yadong town. They laugh over the name (because it sounds a lot like the Korean word for porn).
Sung Joon arrives as Hye Jin leaves. He asks if she bought a car. She laughs and says that she’s driving Joo Young lent her car. Sung Joon realizes that this is her first assignment as a reporter. He steps closer and offers her his hand, wishing her luck. She takes it and declares that she’ll do her best. He watches her find the car and gives her a ‘fighting’ when she looks back.
Ha Ri calls him and he asks if she’s sorted out everything that she’s been busy with. He definitely seems less love-sick invested and more like they’re friends now. She proposes that they meet tonight. He agrees. After she hangs up, she looks at herself in the mirror and wills herself to do it.
As Hye Jin drives, she practices what she’s going to say during her interview. She doesn’t notice the smoke. Did she take Ah Reum’s car? The one where everyone told her that she could get in a horrible accident if she drove it?
Back at The Most, work is winding down. Ah Reum is hunting for her keys. Shin Hyuk notices and tsks at her as he says that she must have clumsily dropped them somewhere again. Ah Reum responds that she’s hasn’t used it since the car problem and left it in the garage for the past three days. Joo Young comes up, wondering what’s going on and then sees her keys. She wonders why her keys are still there, since Hye Jin should have taken them.
Everyone puts the pieces together that Hye Jin took the Car of Death. Shin Hyuk immediately tries to call Hye Jin. He’s not smiling anymore. She doesn’t hear her phone buzzing but now notices the huge amount of smoke pouring from the car because she can't see all of a sudden? She wonders if she has night blindness. Really?
Hye Jin is driving the Car of Death!
Shin Hyuk is getting more and more concerned because Hye Jin’s not answering. Joon Woo asks if something might have happened. She took the freeway after all. Poong Ho says that if the engine turns off, then the steering won’t work and neither will the break. What kind of car problem is this? This freaks everyone out and Poong Ho doesn’t help things so Joo Young hits him on the head with his scratching stick. Shin Hyuk runs out of the room to save her.
Sung Joon is waiting at the coffee shop for Ha Ri. He remembers something he needs to check at the office and calls. As he starts to talk to Joo Young, he hears the worried whining in the background about Hye Jin. He asks what’s wrong and when he finds out that Hye Jin could be in danger, he looks down at his tablet. There’s breaking news: A car accident in the city of Paju, Yadong Town. Woman assumed to be in late 20s injured. The picture with the article is a flipped car – just like his Oma’s accident. He immediately runs out of the restaurant, not even noticing Ha Ri.
Shin Hyuk furiously drives on his motorcycle and Sung Joon desperately speeds to Yadong Town. It starts to rain. Neither of them stop, although the rain is making it difficult for Shin Hyuk to see. Sung Joon thinks of when he and Hye Jin were at the beach. Her taking care of him, bringing him food. It’s a go! Hye Jin enjoying the beach. Him bandaging her finger. Catching her from falling off her chair, asleep, at her desk. Them both looking at the clouds while making a frame with their fingers after they shoveled all the manure. Her sheltering her with her coat in the rain. He thinks of how Shin Hyuk asked him if he really has no feelings for Hye Jin. He drives faster.
Finally Sung Joon arrives at the accident site. The instrumental part of Keane’s ‘Somewhere Only We Know’ begins to play. How did Shin Hyuk not get there first? I hope *he* didn’t have an accident. Sung Joon frantically asks the responders about the driver. Where is the driver? What is the condition of the driver? It’s like he doesn’t even notice all the rain that’s falling on him. Policeman asks who he is and Sung Joon screams at him, asking if who he is important right now?! The driver! He’s asking what the state of the driver is right now?!
Suddenly, Hye Jin’s voice says, “Deputy Chief Editor? Sung Joon turns around and there’s Hye Jin, soot on her nose, standing under an umbrella. Wordlessly, he immediately grabs her into a big hug. She’s so surprised she drops the umbrella. There goes her hair. Yay! His face looks drained. In the distance, Shin Hyuk has arrived and sees the hug. Episode ends.
Thoughts
So, Hye Jin got that makeover. While she looks very pretty, I don’t think I like it. Or her without her freckles. I am firmly fixed in Shin Hyuk’s camp as far as Hye Jin’s appearance is concerned: she was much prettier before.
After last week’s episode, I was sure that Sung Joon had finally put the pieces together. After all, he spun her around and looked pained as it sunk in that she’s calling the green light “it’s a go!’ And then he was absolutely vicious at the photo shoot, like he was agitated over the betrayal, but then this episode happened and I still think he’s confused. I don’t think he’s totally, fully acknowledged to himself that Ha Ri is not his Hye Jin and Hye Jin is his Hye Jin, but in this episode, it felt much less like he was desperately trying for this connection with Ha Ri and instead was now just a friend. At the same time, he’s doing things that say that he’s finally letting himself like Hye Jin. Even the ending monumental hug doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s hugging his Hye Jin. It just means that he realized the extent to which he truly does like her.
And this is going to impact his relationship with Ha Ri – even though she’s about to confess. I have a feeling that she’s not actually going to get around to it before it comes out. This episode delved more into Ha Ri’s background and her evil That Witch of a step-mother, which illustrated just how much these two women love each other. I think the realization of just how much Hye Jin loves her helped her to finally wake up about confessing. The scene with the back hug made me cry and I attribute that to how it was acted.
I also cried during Ra Ra’s speech at the 20th Anniversary Party. I *hated* Hye Jin’s Joan Collins’ inspired outfit, but I love the meta-ness involved with the planning. But I loved that Ra Ra didn’t chew Sung Joon a new one for not being late but knew there was something else going on. It would be nice if Sung Joon would finally say what’s going on: his PTSD over rain and cars and that The Most might be folded. (And I hope that when it comes out, the writers don’t milk it for some fake tension between the leads.)
There was development in Ha Ri and Shin Hyuk’s relationship and I liked that liberated moment on his bike where Ha Ri was able to forget about her problems for a moment. I can see them being crazy goofy together, like he’d just love her for her and not for being pretty, since he already knows the worst things she’s done, and she wouldn’t have to live with that specter of having to be pretty to be loved. That’s what makes her love Hye Jin (and I think Sung Joon) so much: they value her not because of being pretty but because of who she is (or in Sung Joon’s case, who he *thinks* she is). And once she gets Shin Hyuk to clean up a little, they can be pretty together, because, come on, we all know that Choi Siwon is ‘pretty.’ He’s not the ‘face’ of Super Junior for nothing.
And while I like this image of a Ha Ri and Shin Hyuk pairing, I also like the idea of a Hye Jin and Shin Hyuk pairing. Unlike Sung Joon, who allowed prejudices to cloud his image of her, Shin Hyuk always saw Hye Jin as beautiful. In fact, when she starts to be a clone of everyone else, he hates it. He also pushes her to do the things that she needs. While Sung Joon is now starting to do it, too, another thing I like about their dynamic is that he helps her not be so serious all the time. The same with the Ha Ri-Sung Joon pairing. What I think I would love to see – but probably will never happen, because Sung Joon was clearly established as the lead in the first episode (although they did have us meet both of them at the same time…) and k-dramas are predictable this way – is Hye Jin and Sung Joon realize that they are just friends who were each other’s first love and then the pair choosing Shin Hyuk and Ha Ri. Because I can see the four of them hanging out and having a daebak time together. I can even see them cohabitating and Shin Hyuk enjoying getting on Sung Joon’s nerves, because he pesters the ones that he loves (when appropriate).
I secretly hold out hope that this *will* happen, because they did it in ‘Substitute Princess,’ (aka King Flower) a Taiwanese drama that I’ve reviewed on this blog. With that drama, the second lead, played by Chris Wu, was so charismatic that he overshone the lead, James Wen. By the end of the series, everyone was rooting for Da Hua to pick Terry and in the end the fly off into the sunset together. So I’m hoping, with how much they’ve invested and developed Shin Hyuk’s character and how well-rounded Ha Ri’s second lead character is, that the writers are going to surprise us and have the second leads get the leads. I really kind of feel like that connection between Hye Jin and Sung Joon isn’t destiny but affection and they’re really meant for someone else.
I also have to add that Shin Hyuk jealous is gold. “Ah, really. I'm getting goose bumps. Ah, really! What nonsense. Ah, really!.. Ah, really. "Welcome" present, my butt! Really. Nonsense. Really.”
No comments:
Post a Comment