I get the title now. I get why it’s called the Tale of Nokdu. It’s because this is the story of how he stole our hearts. Not just Dongju’s heart, but ours as well.

My good friend @lovebangwon fell in love with him faster than I did. She wrote:

I think i slowly fall for nokdu at ep 3

I’m a late-bloomer. I only saw his charms in Episode 4. I’ll list them.

1. “I’m your mother.”

It starts when he rushes to see the Head Gisaeng Haeng Soo, and asks permission to adopt DongJu as her daughter. I was laughing at the absurdity of it all. This is definitely one of the most unique ways I’ve seen yet of a guy asking for a girl’s hand in marriage from her family.

He gives Haeng Soo a frog objet d’art as payment. He’d received this as a gift from the real Widow Kim who was eloping with her slave.

HS: You want to make DongJu your foster daughter? But…when I don’t know you well, Widow. how could I trust you with DongJu:
Nokdu: It’s a reasonable concern. So what if Courtesan DongJu and I live together here at the Widow Village? Close to you, Haeng Soo.

Imagine this scenario as a groom asking to leave in the family compound of his bride. This is unusual because the wife traditionally goes to live with the groom’s family.

She naturally questions his motive.

HS: Why are you doing this?
Nokdu: Well…I guess I’ve become fond of her. I want to keep her from doing at least one thing that she would hate to do.

Remember: DongJu told him that “Life is when you can’t refuse to do something just because you don’t want to.” Nokdu wants her to have a life where she can refuse to do something she hated.

But of course, he isn’t going to divulge all this to DongJu. Ha! He’s going to play cat-and-mouse with her.

That’s why he smiles when she arrives for her meeting with her patron. He wants to see her reaction when she sees him, and he dresses up in an aristocrat’s outfit to fool her completely.

ND: (studying one side of her face) You seem happy to see me. (then gazing at the other side of her face) But then again, you seem to detest me, too.

He sees that she’s confused about his presence… and conflicted. She doesn’t trust him obviously because he deceived her once already by posing as a woman. She slaps away his hand holding her chin.

DJ: How are you here?
ND: I’ve something to tell you.
DJ: Right now? In this situation?
ND: Yes. It’s something that’s appropriate for this occasion.
DJ: What’s that?
ND: That is, from now on, I’m your…(stepping closer) I’m your…mother.
DJ: You’re my what?
ND: (he steps in closer) O…mo…ni.

She snorts.

ND: Are you surprised?
DJ: (swats his chest) How could I not be?
ND: I understand. I look totally handsome wearing an expensive robe, right? It’s crazy, right?

This is a repeat of what he told at the waterfall/dance scene. Back then, he teased her, too. “Why? Am I kind of good-looking? It’s no joke, right?…(no response from DJ)…What? I thought you’d say something back to me.”

He also teases her later on their way home that he’s handsomer than Yoolmo, her suitor. He curious to know if Yoolmo has a high government post or his family is vastly wealthy. He decides it doesn’t matter because Yoolmo can’t hold a candle to him when it comes to looks. He smiles at DongJu then waiting for a retort. She snorts.

I think the more he repeats this joke, the more it becomes ingrained in her head that he IS handsome. It’s the power of suggestion.

But so far, it isn’t working with her. lol.

DJ: Are you sick somewhere? Did you drink? What’s it with “mother” and handsome. My butt. What happened exactly?
ND: Can’t you tell? You don’t have to be a courtesan anymore. You don’t want to anyway. Don’t do it anymore.

Awww. At the waterfall, when she was practicing her fan dance and fell into his arm, he joked that they should find a different job for her. “Hey…I’m being sincere as I say this. Let’s look for something else for you to become.”

This is romantic because he saw how she disliked the thought of becoming a courtesan but she had no choice. So, he DID something about her situation ASAP. He solved it for her.

Unlike Yoolmo.

Yoolmo hangs around the gisaeng’s house for DongJu. He gives her patbingsoo and candies. He bought her house for her and maintains its upkeep. He even confesses to liking her for a long time ever since they were young and he saw how pretty she was. He tells Dongju that he begged his father to move their marriage date earlier.

However, the fact remains that Yoolmo didn’t get her out of the gisaeng’s house. And Nokdu did.

Now, Dongju asks him the same suspicious question that the Head gisaeng did. Why???

DJ: Why are you doing this much for me?
ND: (stammers) That’s because I’ve to keep living at the Widow Village but you keep kicking me out.

hahaha. I find it funny that he’s blaming her.

DJ: That’s all? The reason for spending that much money on me?
ND: (stammering still) Then what other reason would there be? (avoiding her eyes) I’ve to meet my Madam no matter what. That’s why. (she eyes his suspiciously) What is it now? I mean, are you still worried that I might really be the kind of man that harasses women? (his feelings are really hurt that she thinks of him as a pervert.)
DJ: (rethinking this) If that were the case, it would have been better to live as a courtesan house wastrel with that kind of money.
ND: Then, are you worried that I might get caught and that something might happen to me?

He looks hopeful. lol.

DJ: I’m worried.
ND: Huh? (lol. His heart must be fluttering then in expectation of her deep concern for him.)
DJ: I’m really worried – What will they think of me if you get caught? Everyone will see me as a crazy woman who sympathized with a perverted bum.

lol. She’s concerned about her reputation. Not his welfare.

ND: I won’t get caught. And I’ll leave as soon as possible. So relax!
DJ: I can’t relax. There are too many things that I still find strange and can’t understand. (sighing) But you spared me from being a courtesan so I’ll help you not get caught. That’s enough, right?

He reaches for her hand and holds it.

No. There’s one more thing.
DJ: (nervous) What is it?

Before she realizes what’s going on, he wets her thumb with ink and stamps her thumbprint on a contract. It’s an IOU to pay the full amount with 7% interest. She protests that it’s usury but he tells her that she should have read it before signing the promissory note. She begins to beat him up and he teases her that she’s being rude to her mother. lol.

And this is one reason to fall in love with Nokdu. Battling wits with him is exhilarating.

2. Going to the market

They’re stuck in a small room together, each one facing a corner.

Nokdu tries to make light of their cramped situation, saying that it’ll be easy for her to say her daily greetings, as a daughter, since all she has to do is turn her head. Dongju complains but Nokdu tells her to just bear with it a little longer because they’re not going to live like that forever.

DJ: It’s only until Madam comes?

lol. I think at first, she’s only curious about this Madam. But as time progresses, she becomes jealous of this unknown lady in Nokdu’s life. She’ll follow him to Hanyang later to see this Madam.

ND: Right. That’s the case for me. But what about you? You said you don’t have a place to go?
DJ: Why don’t I? I do! I’m going to leave here, too, when it’s time.

This is funny, too. They don’t know yet that their paths are actually bound to cross…because she’s intent on killing the King whom she blamed for her family’s massacre. And he’s the King’s son.

ND: (spinning around to face her) Where to?
DJ: Don’t worry. I’ll pay everything back to you before I go.
ND: That’s a given. Where are you going?
DJ: Why would you need to know? It’s a secret.
ND: (sighing) They say it’s not use raising a child. It’s useless even before starting to raise one. I saved you, but all you do is keep a secret from me. (standing to go to the door)
DJ: Where are you going?

This is cute; they’re both curious about each other’s movements. They’re gradually being accustomed to being together that — like a newly-married couple — the person left behind wants to tag along, too.

ND: If we’re to eat and live, we need some dishes at least! And we only have one blanket!

Swoon! Many husbands hate shopping so I’m impressed that Nokdu took it for granted that he was going to the market and look for food for both of them.

DJ: Let me come with you.
ND: Never mind.
DJ: Hey, let me come with you.

ND: (tapping her and changing his voice) Daughter! What if someone hears you say, “Yah!” to me? You have to say, “Mother.”

lol. I like that he notices her language right away but doesn’t scold her. He corrects her jokingly.

DJ: Really? Do you really want me to call you “mother”?

A rooster crows and they both squeal, “Oh it gives me goosebumps.” lol.

I interpreted the rooster crowing as a wake-up call that neither one of them actually think of their relationship as a filial mother-daughter relationship. Who are they kidding?

At the market, they decide to divvy up the household chores.

ND: Right. You take care of the household, I’ll do the rest.
DJ: I don’t want to do the dishes.
ND: (looking at her) You cook, and I’ll do the dishes. You do the wash, and I’ll clean.
DJ: Fine.

Right! Another reason to fall in love with this guy. Not only is he domesticated, he doesn’t make a fuss when she said she doesn’t want to do the dishes.

Hahaha. He’s really fulfilling what he told the Head Gisaeng. He’s truly keeping DongJu from doing whatever she hates to do. He’s not forcing her to wash the dishes if she doesn’t want to do it.

BTW, does anybody know what this block of wood is for?

3. The chicks

He sees her petting baby chicks and he asks her if she wants him to buy a chick for her.

She says no but she picks one up.  They smile at each other.

He tells her to get two of them. She says no again. This time, she explains that she’ll become attach to them and that will be hard to fix.

She can’t tell him that when she goes off to assassinate the king, she’ll be imprisoned and executed, leaving the chicks to fend for themselves.

Later, Nokdu receives his mission from the Muwoldan to go to Hangyan.

This is a beautiful screenshot. The bower of leaves frames the two of them like in a painting. Nokdu is centered in the frame, and our eyes are pulled to that box he’s hiding behind his back. The artistic director of this romcom is doing a splendid job.

Before leaving for Hangyan, Nokdu surprises her with a gift of two baby chicks. He tells her, “Who cares if you get attached? If you want to raise them, you should. Take them.”

She’s touched by his present but to hide her feelings, she scolds him, “I told you to get my permission when you buy something.” He ignores her.

ND: I gave them names.
DJ: What are they?
ND: This one is Dong Dong, and this one is Dong Joo.

lol. He named one after her?

She scolds him again, thinking that he’s nuts. The chicks share her same last name, Dong. Once again, he ignores her scolding.

ND: While I’m not around, get along well, the three of you.
DJ: Are you going somewhere?
ND: Ohhh… to Hanyang to see Madam. I’ve an opportunity to see her from afar. Tell the others that I went to see my family.
DJ: What a romantic. Where in Hanyang are you going to see her?

She thinks he’s being romantic (or foolish) because he’s travelling very far for the mere chance of getting a glimpse of his Madam from afar. Methinks that she’s feeling a tinge of jealousy, too.

ND: There’s a tavern next to the police bureau in Hanyang. There.

He sounds like he doesn’t want to leave her.

She looks sad, though. lol. Kim So Hyun looks adorable!

What I find sweet about this scene is that while she thinks he’s romantic for traveling a distance to see his lady love, she totally misses that he’s romantic, too, for giving her a gift BEFORE he goes off on a trip.

Even before he leaves her, he’s already thinking of her, and how lonely she might be, while he’s gone. That’s why I think he tells her to take care of the chicks well.

4. The swing

On the way home from the market, they pass by a swing. She stops to stare at it and smile.

He asks her if she wants to go on the swing. She replies, “It’s okay. Who cares about the swing?”

Later in Hanyang, while out walking together, she spots another swing and she stops again and smiles. Nokdu observes her.

NJ: You’ll have to get on the swing.
DJ: I said no. I don’t want to ride it. (walks away)
ND: (running toward the swing) But I like it. I want to ride it.

lol. He’s leading her by example.

DJ: A boy with no shame…
ND: (shouting) This is really cool!

He gets off and then pushes DongJu toward it.

ND: You do it, too! I’ll push you.
DJ: Hey! I told you I don’t want to do it!
ND: Why are you like that? You keep saying, “You don’t want to do it. Don’t want it. Don’t need it,” when deep inside, you don’t feel that way.

He understands her well. This is the reason she didn’t want the baby chick and she can’t learn to dance.

To me, she’s stopping herself from enjoying life because she’s suffering from survivor’s guilt. She was the only one in her family who survived the massacre. She survived because her wounded mother covered her up in her blood to conceal that she was alive.

DJ: What are you saying? You don’t even know!
ND: I do know.
DJ: What do you know?
ND: That you’ll get sick if you keep fighting how you feel. Also that swing is really exciting.

Then, she remembers her happy family.

ND: Just ride it. No one will die just because you do. The world won’t collapse. (he pushes her) Sit down. Now. I’m going to push you.

And she swings. She’s transported back in time when she was young and surrounded by her family at the swing. She tears up a bit but she smiles. After a few pushes from Nokdu, she stands on the swing and swings herself. In time, she’s lifting herself way up high, and she’s leaving her problems behind.

Thanks to Nokdu she’s learning to leave her worries behind and enjoy a carefree life. This is similar to when he danced for her and showed her how to be in the moment.

Although he doesn’t know about her tragedy, his presence is helping her heal. Just like when he stepped in to help her when she panicked during the prison interrogation,

and when he applied balm to her hand and talked about her mom,

and when he wiped away her tears,

he doesn’t know the reason for her sadness, but he’s willing to be there by her side, for her. That is what makes Nokdu lovable.

He teases her non-stop to annoy her, but he’s a perfect match for her.