"Boy and Girl From the 20th Century" Episodes 25-26 recap

Jeong-eun (played by Shin Dong-mi) is So-ni's manager who has something most of the other characters in "Boy and Girl From the 20th Century" do not- clearly defined motivation. Jeong-eun wants everything involving So-ni's career to run smoothly. She's constantly acting as a mediary between So-ni and producers. Jeong-eun is frequently stressed because of this, but trusts So-ni's good intentions, and So-ni, for his part, does his best to reassure her that nothing is going to go wrong.
While Jeong-eun is a fairly peripheral character, So-ni's relationship with her is much better defined than his relationship with Jin-jin. So "Boy and Girl From the 20th Century" sort of implies that it was really for Jeong-eun's sake that So-ni made such a big effort to prevent footage of Jin-jin and Ji-won from being released. Or at least, his actions feel a lot more meaningful to me when interpreted that way.
Jin-jin, after all, is a grown woman with her own management team who can take care of herself. I don't feel particularly invested in the sanctity of the fake marriage program. The real-life version of it has actually gone through "scandals" like this before yet still manages to air in the present day. That no one is even aware of So-ni's sacrifice further cements the idea in my head that his actions were intended for the benefit of the only character with whom we ever see him have normal conversations.
...That's what's really lacking from this drama. Normal conversations. There's a scene here where Woo-seong and Kyeong-seok meet each other. My first thought was, oh cool, we've never seen these guys talk to each other. Kyeong-seok in particular never talks to anyone aside from Yeong-sim. I wonder what their personalities are like in a different context? Then, right when something interesting is about to happen, the scene ends and everyone goes home.
There's a very haphazard quality to the writing in "Boy and Girl From the 20th Century" at this point. The lack of even the effort at worthwhile content is such I'm not even sure if the next story is the last one or not. "Two Cops" is slated to start a week from now in this timeslot, yet "Boy and Girl From the 20th Century" is still labeled as having a thirty-two episode run. Well I, for one, don't know what this drama would even do with another week. Extended weepiness over Jin-jin's mother needing eye surgery?
Review by William Schwartz
"Boy and Girl From the 20th Century" is directed by Lee Dong-yoon , written by Lee Seon-hye and features Han Ye-seul, Kim Ji-suk, Lee Sang-woo, Lee Sang-hee-II, and Ryu Hyun-kyung.

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"This Life Is Our First Life" Episode 13 recap

For now, Se-hee and Ji-ho's life is mostly pleasant and domestic. In more dramatic news, it turns out that Won-seok's suggestion of breaking up with Ho-rang was not, as had been previously implied, simply the natural result of their communication breakdown being revealed in full focus by their watching an obscure art house play. That was definitely a part of it, but Won-seok had also discovered Ho-rang's horrible secret.
Pay special note to which part of Ho-rang's secret offends Won-seok. The problem is less that Ho-rang was flirting with another man in a romantic context, but more that they were openly talking about getting married. In Korean culture, it's not unusual for people to talk so forwardly. The problem for Won-seok is, this confession of motive on Ho-rang's part implies that she was looking for anyone- and that her pushing the marriage issue on Won-seok right now is mainly a matter of convenience.
Elsewhere, we find out why it is that Soo-ji hates talking about her mother. This too, at first misleading glance, sounds like a cultural criticism. She hates about Korean people talk so forwardly on subjects like family. But the sharper Soo-ji gets with Song-goo, the more obvious it is that Soo-ji's entire life philosophy is rooted in her non-traditional family background. There's the implication here that even Ji-ho and Ho-rang don't know that much about Soo-ji's family. That's pretty harsh.
It's also suitably ironic because everything we see of Soo-ji's mother indicates that she's as much of a traditionalist as anyone else. It's just bad circumstance that has forced her to raise Soo-ji the way she did. Soo-ji's whole notion of shame is derived from what she thinks society should think of her, and who knows, Soo-ji may well be completely right about that. But this is why it's touching for Song-goo to keep engaging Soo-ji as a person, even when he finds her personality to be mildly frightening.
This is all very effectively subtle social criticism, with its implication that even when society does limit us, ultimately, the real barriers are in our own minds. Consider how Ji-ho quit drama writing because of sexism, and immediately assumed it would be impossible to return to that field. But why? Ji-ho is overqualified to be a waitress. It's why no one wanted to hire her. Won-seok is right about one thing, even if it was cruel to say it in that context- there are other possible partners.
Review by William Schwartz
"This Life Is Our First Life" is directed by Park Joon-hwa, written by Yoon Nan-joong and features Lee Min-ki, Jung So-min, Esom, Park Byung-eun, Kim Ga-eun-I, and Kim Min-seok.

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"Money Bouquet" episode 4 recap

"Money Bouquet" is a drama about people who are manipulated by money that centers around Kang Pil-joo (Jang Hyeok), the key man of a major enterprise called Chungae Group.
On the last few episodes of "Money Bouquet", Kang Pil-joo managed to get his revenge as the hidden heir of Chungah Group who was raised in unfortunate circumstances. He was determined to make Jeong Mal-ran (Lee Mi-sook), the eldest daughter-in-law of Chungah Group, pay
At the start, revenge was easy. He hooked up Chungah Group's grandson, Jang Boo-cheon (Jang Seung-jo), and his first love who was daughter of a presidential candidate, Na Mo-hyeon (Park Se-young).
Kang Pil-joo's scenario was carefully thought out. For the perfect love story, Pil-joo reversed his and Boo-cheon's stories. Just like he planned, Mo-hyeon fell in love with Jang Boo-cheon.
Kang Pil-joo was acknowledged within the company and gained the trust of Jeong Mal-ran and the founder Jang Gook-hwan (Lee Soon-jae). The same held true for Mo-hyeon's father and presidential candidate Na Ki-cheol.
However, there was a flaw in his plan. Na Mo-hyeon found out about Kang Pil-jo o and Jang Boo-cheon who also realized how Pil-joo felt about Mo-hyeon. However, fate was on PIl-joo's side as Na Mo-hyeon and Jang Boo-cheon ended up getting married. But, Jang Boo-cheon's ex-girlfriend Yoon Seo-won (Han So-hee) was pregnant.

Source : sports.mk.co.kr/view....
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"Revolutionary Love" episode 12 recap

Byeon Hyeok (Choi Si-won) was framed for bribery and Baek Joon (Kang So-ra) set out to clear his name. She investigated and questioned someone on behalf of "Someone Special" and discovered where the picture originated. Thanks to her help, Byeon Hyeok was able to prove his innocence to his father.
This helped to make their relationship deeper and Yeo-jin liked Baek Joon as her daughter-in-law.
Meanwhile, Baek Joon and Byeon Hyeok set out to help Je-hoon (Gong Myung) and Yeon-hee (Kim Ye-won). Baek Joon asked Je-hoon out and he seemed very excited. However, after realizing their plan he was greatly angry.
Yeon-hee didn't know this and asked Je-hoon out but he told her, "I think Joon and Hyeok have wasted their time. I like someone else". Yeon-hee seemed hurt.
Je-hoon stayed in that building was because of Baek Joon who he had once dumped, but currently liked.

Source : www.tvreport.co.kr/?c...
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"Man Who Lays the Table" episode 22 recap

On the latest episode of the MBC drama "Man Who Lays the Table", Kevin Miller (Lee Jae-ryong) found out that Jeong Tae-yang (On Joo-wan) was his son and Lee Sin-mo (Kim Kap-soo) found out that his daughter Lee Roo-ri (Choi Soo-young) was seeing him.
Kevin heard that Jeong Hwa-yeong (Lee Il-hwa) had a son and had wanted to find out who he was. In the end, both he and his adopted daughter Joo Ae-ri (Han Ga-rim) he learns that Jeong Tae-yang is his son.
Sin-mo was outraged when he found out Roo-ri was seeing Tae-yang. Roo-ri, Sin-mo, Tae-yang and Kevin all run into each other and Sin-mo slapped Tae-yang, angering Kevin.
Previously, Tae-yang had explained himself to Roo-ri and proposed to her. They were about to get married when their fathers counterattacked.

Source : www.osen.co.kr/articl...
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"My Golden Life" episode 24 recap

On the latest episode of the KBS weekend drama "My Golden Life", Woo-hyeok (Lee Tae-hwan) endeavored to change Ji-an's (Shin Hye-sun) mind. Ji-an tried to run away from him when night fell, but he caught her and said, "If you do this, I'll call him". She thought he was talking about Do-kyeong (Park Si-hoo) and Woo-hyeok said, "He's not what you think. He's your brother".
The next day, Woo-hyeok returned to Ji-an and became friendly with the local workers. He helped them with their work and when Ji-an said his behavior wouldn't change her mind, he said, "Just work".
Ji-an kept trying to get him to leave, but Woo-hyeok said, "You changed my life when I was in school. My life changed when you complimented me. How could I just leave you here? You're only pretending to be dead because you want to live. If you wanted to die you should have jumped in the water".
Finally, Ji-an changed her mind and returned to Seoul with him. Do-kyeong traced Ji-an's cell phone to Incheon. He found out where she was and met the people she used to work with.
Just then, he ran into her in the car going to Seoul and stopped her. He angrily ordered her out of the car.

Source : www.osen.co.kr/articl...
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"Black" Episode 11 recap

New chapters are opening in "Black", but none are leading to good places. Man-soo is no longer a CEO and he finds a use I welcome, but also fear. Ha-ram has to face Soo-wan's desperate advances at who she thinks is Moo-gang, but our heroine has much bigger things to worry about right around the corner. I have a lot of questions, but my anticipation is intact and the will to wait for possible answers strong.
Ask and you shall receive, because "Black" knows just what I need at times. Just as I began giving up on Man-soo (Kim Dong-jun) making an impact, the young man decides to use his previously teased skills and Moo-gang's (Song Seung-heon) basement to possibly crack this case, or at least to discover his own brother's connection to it. It is highly satisfying seeing Man-soo finally becoming connected to the main story.

"Black" is mostly great with following through, but I am still waiting on some things. For example, how is Ha-ram's (Go Ara) meddling being experienced by the other side? Can capsules be mistaken and if not, how come no one is panicking over their targets surviving? Also, did no Reapers before 444 (Kim Tae-woo) feel or see Ha-ram notice them? That being said, Clara's (Cha Chung-hwa) appearance not raising a flag is now nicely explained. It seems the Underworld lies a lot about pre-retirement changes.
Another current big one on my list of "whats" is Ji-dong (Park Doo-sik). If Black did not maintain Moo-gang's skills, how can our Runaway Reaper be practicing medicine like nobody's business? Was the man who was working a lousy job catering to an idol's whims somehow a graduate of medicine? Given his family's portrayed poverty, it does not feel likely and his magical chameleon act is therefore something glaring enough to warrant an explanation, especially since he appears to be a pivotal end-game character.

Coming back to the latest good things, unless you are Ha-ram or anyone else in "Black", the blind man introduced carries an ominous message. We have already known that dire consequences follow the changing of human fate, but hearing it from someone who was clearly like our heroine before being blinded or perhaps blinding himself to escape just makes it feel all the more real and approaching. The universe will not let bygones be bygones.
Speaking of bygones, it is time to tackle the topic of our scarred killer (Woo Hyun) and perhaps Leo's (Kim Jae-young) past very soon as well. As for the currently teased love square, I am not worried at this point. With about one third of the drama to go and characters stuck in childhood figuratively or literally, these flings are not going anywhere. The bond is there, however and it will hurt badly.
"Black" is directed by Kim Hong-seon-I, written by Choi Ran-I and features Song Seung-heon, Go Ara, Lee El and Kim Dong-jun.
Written by: Orion from 'Orion's Ramblings'

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