Two more episodes to go! I’m going to miss this. Just a reminder. I’m not doing my madcaps tomorrow Wednesday. I’ve a brunch office party. It’s mandatory. lol
Let’s get started with my heart-fluttering moments of Ep 14.
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1. Their connection explained
For almost all viewers Episodes 11 and 12 (or week 6 ) were wasted episodes because we didn’t have any fluttering moments but I believe they served a purpose. They laid out the reasons why WooHyun and YooJung were mistaken in their perceptions of their fathers and understanding of their respective accidents. They aren’t the impossibly flawless hero and heroine of typical kdramas.
What I like about this particular screenshot is their body language. The father was standing in the middle because he was the hinge that connected the couple. His head was bowed down, his hands were clasped together, and his body faced away from YJ. As usual, he cowered in fear and guilt.
WH’s head was also bowed down, but his hands were resting on his knees and his shoulders were hunched over. He looked like a man burdened by the weight of his past. He couldn’t escape the tragedy of fire.
Meanwhile, YJ sat straight across from him with her hands folded together. She was the one asking all the questions. She was visibly shaken and far from being tolerant and receptive. I like this staging because although their body language screamed tension, nobody was raging. That was a good sign for their future together.
There are three sides in this story: his, hers and their father’s story which links them. To me this is a heart-fluttering moment because they’re going to find that the “fates” have been forged by fire a long time ago.
As YJ would ask her mom’s portrait later, “Mom, did you send WooHyun to me? So that he could treasure and protect me in your place? Is that why you sent him?” Unnie would later add, “Your father saved your destined man, and your mom sent you your destined man to your side. It looks like you too have to get married.”
The time when YJ’s and WH’s “stars” realigned and re-set their course happened precisely this moment when they sat together at the restaurant and pieced their separate stories together.
2. Being responsible for her
Feminazis might take issue with her father assigning somebody else to take care of her when she’s a grown woman who can take care of herself but sooo what? I like it.
Father: Go and console her. She was probably really shocked.
WH: Don’t worry too much
I like that WH will make a lovely son-in-law. He even returned to the shop later to comfort her dad.
3. Revealing her survivor’s guilt
I hate to crow but… we saw this coming. Her mental state was correctly diagnosed here:
I bet none of those silly Viki haters got that part right because they were too busy typing their oh-so-insightful comments on Yoon EunHye’s appearance and zingers on “boring” plots (those keyboard warriors!) instead of thinking with their brains. Did I tell you how glad I am that intelligence is NOT acquired by reading? Otherwise, we’d become dumb as rocks just from reading their fake news….
I like this scene because he chose to console her by grasping her hands. Personally, I wouldn’t have minded a kiss on the forehead. But I know that would look a bit paternalistic, like a father-consoling-a-child, at this moment so I’d settle for a bit of hand-holding instead. Hand-holding meant he was giving her space to come to terms to her own conflicted feelings.
A brief note on her father’s survivor’s guilt
We should also be mindful of her father’s emotional burden. Her father felt guilty twice over.
First, he’d been prepared to die because of the risky nature of being a firefighter. To make sure that his family would have a proper goodbye from him, he prepared and changed his will periodically and left it with his wife.
It was ironic then that his wife would precede him in death from a fire he could have saved her from, AND without a last farewell for him. At least with their daughter YJ, his wife was able to say her last words. But in his case, he wasn’t able to say goodbye to his beloved wife and have closure.
Thus, his biggest regret wasn’t being unable to protect the person he loved.
He wanted reassurance that WooHyun could protect YooJung “no matter what happens” so 1) he wouldn’t worry about leaving his daughter safely in WH’s care, and 2) he wouldn’t also worry that WH would suffer the same guilt and regrets he had. He didn’t want history repeating itself with his daughter and future son-in-law.
Second, he was so immersed in his grief that he couldn’t take care of his children properly. He felt guilty for failing as a dad and could only support them from a distance.
Fortunately, he had WH there to stop him from flogging himself with this survivor’s guilt. WH’s advice was the same as the advice he gave YJ earlier. To make-up for the past failures, he should change in the future. “Pour all of the love that you couldn’t give them back then now” WooHyun advised him.
Sigh… I wish WH would heed his own advice, too.
4. Mentioning YJ’s parents’ ages
I know the whole exercise is to point that they, too, are at marriageable ages. YJ first brought this up in Episode 10 when she talked to her tree. And now, she’s doing it again. YJ recalled her mom’s last words that she was sorry she’d miss all the important moments when she’d become an adult, a woman and a mother. She was her age back then.
YJ: I’m wandering around and not able to handle my own life right now. But my mom was (already) a mother of two and a wife. She really had a hard life.
WH: Now, you have to be happy enough for your mother, too. Think of me as someone that your mother sent to you.
He was telling her to live her future happily if she wanted to compensate for her mother’s early death.
Later that night when WH returned to her dad’s restaurant, the dad also mentioned his age at the time of the fire.
Dad: I was the same age as you back then.
Okay, show. Stop hinting that they should marry already. We get it.
5. Not denying that he’s so crazy over her
Mom: You! I heard that you’re dating YooJung again. (he smiles bashfully) I saw the articles. That’s good.
WH: Mom, do you remember the fireman that saved me?
Mom: Of course, you followed him around calling him your father.
WH: That person is YooJung’s father.
Mom: Really? Wow! So that’s why you’re so crazy about YooJung.
WH: No, I dated her before I knew about it.
In other words, he was crazy about YooJung when he dated her; her dad had nothing to do with this.
Mom: My goodness gracious. So the heavens sent you YJ to you.
He nodded his head in agreement.
6. Paying his respect to YJ’s mom and their couple tree
lol. I was too focused on the couple scarf that I forgot about this!
I really like that he talks easily to YJ’s mom.
Did she have her atrium renovated while she was staying with her Unnie? lol. Was she planning to convert her condo into a family home?
And I like that he bought them a couple tree.
YJ: Mom, WooHyun brought a gift for you. (WH lifts up the plant) How did you come up with an idea like this?
WH: If we put our tree next to your mom, the two of them won’t be lonely.
YJ: Thank you, really. This is a special event I’ll never forget. (addressing her mom) Mom, you like your present too, right? (addressing WH) You don’t know this but hawthorns were my mom’s favorite tree. Did you know there are meanings for trees too? Hawthorn means “one and only love.”
WH: That’s why I chose a hawthorn as our tree.
Go ahead and pat yourself on the back, WH. We all know that you hit a home run here.
YJ: Mom, I met a really good guy, right?
lol. NOOOOooo! Not that kind of grin, silly!
7. The scarf moment
I talked about this already.
I don’t know how that happened. One second, he was liking the way she fussed over his new scarf then the next second, he wanted to kiss her.
It reminded me of their kiss at the beach. At first, they were laughing and joking. Then the next thing she knew, she was being tugged around for a kiss.
8. Her teatime with WooHyun’s Stepmother
SM: I’m going to stop KHY from being able to harass SeHyun and WooHyun from now on. Of course, I’ll protect you too.
YJ: What? I’m thankful for the words. But why would you protect me?
SM: Because WooHyun is legally my son. If you two get married, then you’ll be my daughter-in-law.
YJ: (stunned but doesn’t deny it) Yes.
SM: Please convince WooHyun to accept what should be accepted and to enjoy his life to the fullest.
YJ: That’s something that WH should choose and decide on his own. I don’t think it’s something for me to meddle in.
SM: Isn’t it better to have a chaebol as your partner instead of just a doctor? And one from Choego Group, on top of that.
YJ: I’m not interested in what family WH is from or how much he possesses. I don’t think about it, either.
SM: Really?
YJ: Yes. I liked him because he’s a good person. I’ll leave the choice up to WH.
SM: I see why WH likes you. Your hearts are similar.
Anytime two imperfect but pretty decent people meet and fall in love with each other is heart-fluttering.
I especially liked the scene with Dad, WH and YJ because in the end their Dad was still protecting them. It’s not that he didn’t want to say the connection but he said it so truthfully that it is the most hurtful memory for both of them so he was cautious.
I don’t care about the feminazis because as a Father you would want for your daughter to be in good hands, taken care off, loved by a good person.
Yes, you were right about YJ’s guilt over her Mother. She knew it all along too but didn’t have the courage to face it and face Dad. Oh so true about those Viki comments focusing on YEH’s appearance and the flow of the show. They should have left the show ages ago but they still hang around. Wonder why? LOL!
WH will have to heed his own advice because time is of the essence now with the Chairman having health issues. I would like to be touched by their reconciliation. Hopefully the drama delivers that too.
It was another sign isn’t it, their marrying age? 🙂
Look at that super happy smile on his face while talking about YJ to his Mom 😍
That tree will pretty much answer YJ’s question to WH about getting married 🙂 I love it! It was so nice that WH thought of that tree specifically not only for them but for YJ’s Mom to not be lonely too. Perfect!
I’m still praying we get kisses and kisses for the last 2 episodes. Doesn’t the PD know YEH’s expertise in kissing? LOL!
That’s what our milk couple really are isn’t it? Both two decent and good people.
Yes, I love the tree🌲 idea although I did wonder what happened to the leaves. It looked bald.
I guess we aren’t going to get a torrid kiss scene. 🤪 Maybe YEH or CMJ has a kiss clause (that’s a tongue twister!) in the contract.
I don’t want a long-distance relationship due to her work commitments. I don’t want a reunion with her brother (please! It will just eat up the minute). I don’t want anymore scenes with the two reporters. I noticed the director cut out the filler scenes involving the two chattering fans but now the two reporters are given more screen times. Pleaseeee! They’re irrelevant too.
If the writer and director were to focus on WH and YJ for 3/5th of the remaining shows, I couldn’t be more excited and eager.
I don’t have a green thumb so I can’t answer why the tree was bare heheheh
I watched the last episode of one of YEH’s drama last night while wrapping pressies and it had a kiss at the airport, a kiss while his head was laying on her leg (they were discussing things), a kiss for dropping her off work and the final kiss scene! It was swoon worthy! LOL!
I’m not asking for torrid at all. I want about 4 kisses and a long sweet one. That’s not too much to ask is it? 🤔 I guess it’s not good coming off from another drama that had a lot. 😀
I couldn’t agree more that if we get mostly our milk couple for the remaining episodes then I would be ecstatic! I would watch it over and over again!
Tongue twister! 🤣
Thanks for the fluttering moments! Enjoy your brunch!
I agree with the two of you on having more YJ and WH time and also having more kisses wouldn’t hurt.. Their characters are in their 30s so I guess we can expect more… 😉
I was also wondering if they had a kiss clause in their contract… Hehe….
The very fact that I’m writing right now is a testament to the quality of your blog. I can’t keep away even though I SHOULD be working on a design brief that’s due in 27 hours. I love all the fluttery moments you posted and have a couple others I clocked:
Ep. 14 (6:09): While driving home, Yoo-Jung and Woo-Hyun are both looking at their matching dog tags from YJ’s dad. Director doesn’t waste time with discovery or questions. You just see it.
Woo-Hyun: I saw this when we went to the seaside, but I thought maybe Father had the same one because your father is also a fireman. (Ha! My foggy memory wondered if YJ mentioned her pops was a fireman but I can’t remember the episode!)
Yoo-Jung: My mom hung her wedding ring on this necklace and kept it with her all the time. Before she took her last breath, she pressed it into my hands and apologized that she would be leaving first and for not being able to be with me for the important moments when I’d become an adult, a woman, and a mother. For YJ, the dog tag is more of a remembrance of her mother</strong, not her father.
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Generally speaking, it’s intriguing how everyone reacted the same way to Milk Couple’s fated connection through YJ’s dad. Most of them framed this fate within the framework of YJ’s mother (or the heavens, as WH’s mom put it) sent Woo-Hyun to Yoo-Jung. The fated connection also repairs YJ’s fractured friendship with Sung Hoon.
And I love that WH’s people—his step-brother and sister-in-law— also recognize the opportunity for WH to heal from “all the scars he had from that accident and finally feel at ease because of this.” (13:58). Yoo-Jung is as much a gift to WH as he is to her.
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I enjoyed the prickly, smirky office golf putting exchange between Chairman Cha and WW which ended, “Hye-Joo, avoiding a fight that you can’t win is also a good strategy. I have an appointment, so it would be nice if you left.” (19:13) Good day, sir!
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Hwang Jae-Min’s last-minute redemption was a delicious moment. I was content to dismiss him as a gigolo (to borrow @packmule3’s term) so it’s nice to see him not turn out to be completely trashy. Best of all, YJ still called him out for being a dick and kept her dignity. (56:31)
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WH used his BMW’s bluetooth. Finally. (55:47)
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And top it off, I was delighted by Yoo-Jung’s straight-forward marriage proposal in the conservatory, in front of Tree Mom. Whaaaat? In general, all their moments in the conservatory are special and just seeing those two chairs together is so meaningful. That she’s got the severely angular chair he made for her and he’s in her blood corpuscle-shaped chair is a hoot. They’ll probably conceive their baby in that room.
Also, my eyes moistened a bit when Yoo-Jung gave her pops the scarf she knitted. I assume she made that in a week without any sleep. (36:36).
How long does it take to knit a scarf that long? I worked on one for years because I just wasn’t very motivated. It drove my mom crazy that she had to keep reteaching me how to purl. *shrugs* I prefer the immediacy of sewing.
Aha! @tsutsuloo That’s why they re-arranged it as @packmule3 noticed coz it looks more spacious, so they might put another furniture in there like a bed maybe? 🤣 And so we can have some adult smootching per @Anna Tan
We are set! 🙂
I think CMJ has a no-shower scene in his contract. hahaha. 😉
(because of the nipple problem…)
When the Ex JaeMin and WooHyun met each other on the sidewalk, I feared the story would suddenly turn makjang and WH would hit him. Phew! Good thing he didn’t.
Yes, JaeMin redeemed himself, didn’t he? I guess he couldn’t have been 100% all bad boy if YJ liked and dated him. She must have seen something nice in him, too.
I agree: this director doesn’t waste time with exposition. I would have loved to see that scene when WH noticed that he and YJ were wearing matching dogtags but we didn’t. The director just skipped over it. Also, I would have liked to be shown how WH caught up with YJ after YJ left the restaurant. Instead, we just saw them walking together.
I didn’t notice WH using his bluetooth. Will have to check it out.
lololol. What do you mean “conceive their baby in that room”?!! Both chairs look uncomfy and there’s absolutely no space for them to roll around on the ground. And heaven forbid that there’s cactus or prickly plant somewhere.
Plus, if I were YJ, I would be inhibited to… you know… “go at it like rabbits”…with Tree Mom standing guard over us. Tree Mom will definitely kill my mojo or any sexy vibes I have.
@packmule3 + @agdr03 + @Anna Tan
😂😂😂
Okay… if there’s a canopy bed with drapes…then fine! But I’m telling you, that Mom Tree is killing the mood. We have to cover it up or something.
@agdr03, how can you smooch when your mom is watching over you??
Hahaha I burst out laughing in my office when I read about the mother tree!! 😂😂
My personal view… Mum has seen so many things happening that she probably wouldn’t mind..we are still in the dark as to whether they did smooch or not during the truth and dare conversation..but mum knows… hahaha
We can just either turn Mommy tree the other way round, cover her up and or put the canopy bed further on the side 😂
OMG! I’m getting desperate 😂
Exactly! 🙌🏻 😄
Mom knows so I’m sure she’s all cool with it 😂 I know in my heart they did kiss after that truth or dare scene 😉