The title of this episode is Second Chance: Mint.

I see why the theme is about second chances because all the characters had a do-over. Let’s go over them.

1. Lee Soo

The obvious one was the King. The cliffhanger showed Lee Soo pounding on the door and interrupting a critical moment between Hoon and Gaedong.

Thanks to his laundry maid who not only pushed him to get him out of the palace but also provided him cover, he finally dared to leave the palace again. The maid told him, “I let him go (meaning, her betrothed), but you shouldn’t give up on her. I will distract Eunuch Jang for a while, so you should leave for a bit.”

Sigh. Too bad that her assistance most likely signed her death warrant.

So, Soo went back to Hoon’s residence looking for Gaedong. He had a second chance to establish contact with the love of his life.

2. Crew #2

Young Soo felt jealous and insecure that his spot in the “family” had been usurped by Gaedong. Crew #3 DoJoon recognized it and told Hoon so Hoon found a way to appease YoungSoo.

#2: (sulking in his room) The flying stone dislodges the stone that was there. That’s exactly my situation. It’s the rolling stone.
Hoon: (entering the room and handing him a sachet) The previous one, the scent was too strong, you said. Because it was difficult to get, I ordered it ahead at the Mapo dock.

#2: (liking the scent but…) I don’t need it. You two get along so well. Why don’t you two just do it all? (handing it back)
Hoon: We may get along, but how could I get along better with her than I do with you?
#2: (appeased with Hoon’s reassurance) Do you really think that?
Hoon: Yeong Soo, I just wanted to give her another opportunity, too. Just like with you. So you don’t have to worry. Nothing has changed.

#2: Who said anything? (smiling happily at his present from Hoon)

Their friendship had a second chance.

Moreover, this whole scene seemed to be a foreshadowing that Crew #2 also had a sad past.

In one of his outbursts, he reminded Hoon to be aware of who his real family was. By “real,” I thought he was distinguishing between the “original” family members, and the recent addition, aka Gaedong. To me, his hyper-sensitivity to being toppled from his “favored spot” would suggested that he (and/or his family) had been once the favored one, until somebody new came along and he was demoted to second place.

3. The vice-premier Kang’s daughter, JiHwa

She too had her second chance, that is, a second chance to meet privately with Crew #3 DoJoon. She had a tryst with him.

Like Lee Soo, it was her maid who gave her the excuse to DoJoon. She had gone to visit him to hire him to seek info on the King. Now, she was back to request him to get info on Gaedong because she was suspicious of Gaedong.

But as it happened, she never got to asking his services to spy on Gaedong because the piano distracted her. DoJoon entered while she was trying it out. He showed her how to play it and she allowed the skinship to happen. When he told her that she was beautiful, she came to her senses and realized how compromising their closeness was. Thus, she verbally attacked him.

JiHwa: Leisurely playing such a strange instrument in a courtesan house? Aren’t you ashamed of yourself as a man?

She considered him shameless for meeting his clients at a courtesan’s house instead of his own place of work. She had no idea that DoJoon had his official office at the Flower Crew’s place. But he was doing this “investigation” on his own, without Hoon’s knowledge, at his other workplace, the gisaeng’s house where the ministers gathered and secrets flowed copiously like the wine.

DoJoon: (retorting) And are you proud of yourself for investigating the king?
JiHwa: (couldn’t answer at first) I only wanted to know about the choice I was offered.
DoJoon: (leaning in) Then what about this choice?

JiHwa’s heart was thumping but she pushed him away.

JiHwa: It’s certainly the worst choice. It’s not worth looking into. (fleeing)
DoJoon: What a relief! I was about to fall for you.

In sum then, JiHwa had a second chance at meeting DoJoon but she dissed him and ruined any chance with him.

A note on JiHwa and her father’s aspiration to be the future father-in-law of the King. To be considered a candidate for queen, the lady must:

1. have both parents alive
2. be from a scandal-free family
3. be virtuous and decorous
4. be beautiful

We learned these requirements from Hoon’s father, Prime Minister. He didn’t have a daughter, so he plotted to arrange a marriage alliance between his older brother’s granddaughter and the King. He went to see his sister-in-law to inform her of his plan. His sister-in-law had lost a son but his wife lived with her.

According to the gossiping servants, the daughter-in-law suffered a lot. Not only did her husband die 10 months after their wedding, she had to take care of her mother-in-law for 18 years alone while raising a daughter on her own. This 18-year-old daughter, and niece of the Prime Minister, was going to be matched with the King. Hence, the Prime Minister’s visit to the house

Sister-in-law: Is it true that you will submit my granddaughter as a candidate for the queen? But the candidate must have both parents who are alive.
Prime Minister: That’s why this matter (i.e., the Virtuous Wife/Widow award) is more important than ever. I’m the Prime Minister, and if our family receives the “three virtues gate of honor,” who would dare to disqualify our family? So we must not cause any sort of disturbance. Do you understand?
Sister-in-law: What sort of disturbance would happen, in a quiet household like this?

See that?  On paper, JiHwa met all the necessary requirements of the queen. Except for #3. She wasn’t virtuous.  From the way this kdrama looks, a scandal with Crew #3 DoJoon would be her downfall.

This is a foreshadowing. Why should an unescorted lady of gentle upbringing meet with a man inside his quarters?

4. The Virtuous Widow

The widow, Hoon’s cousin-in-law, arrived at his doorstep supposedly to seek his assistance in her remarriage. According to her, she wants a “second chance” (as the title implied) at happiness.

But I think there’s something more. She observed the manner the Prime Minister took interest in her daughter, and she pulled her away from him.

Promptly after that encounter, she fled her mother-in-law’s residence leaving a note. She wrote, “It’s been 18 years since I married into the Ma family. Although I suffered the misfortune of losing my husband after only ten months due to an illness, thanks to the favor of my benevolent elders, I’ve even been considered to the honor of Virtuous Woman.

Although I’m simple and lacking, I want to meet a husband who I can laugh and cry with, and spend my life with. So, as I do not deserve such honor, I hope that you’ll expel me from your household.”

It’s obvious that the mother deliberately created a disturbance to protect her daughter. She wanted a scandal BIG enough that her daughter would be eliminated from the candidate list of future queens and freed from the her uncle-in-law’s machinations. She was sacrificing her reputation for her daughter’s happiness.

5. DoJoon

For DoJoon, we have to pay attention that he mentioned the importance of a woman protecting her fidelity, not once, but TWICE in this episode.

The first time was when he and Gaedong argued about a widow receiving an honor for staying faithful to the memory of her husband. It’s called a “virtuous woman” award. I googled this and, according to the book, “Women in Korean History,” a red spiked gate was erected before the home of an awardee. Additionally, the family of the awardee will receive a supply of rice and an exemption from labor. This award was then a BIG thing. Thus, the widows were pressured by their husbands’ families not to remarry. (Remember Lady Kim in “Tale of Nokdu”? lol) The widows had to pay the price for such “honor” and “prestige.”

DoJoon and Gaedong argued about the benefits of such recognition. DoJoon wanted Hoon’s family to receive the award. On the other side, Gaedong thought the award was bullshit. She sided with the widows because she was — kinda like a widow herself, wasn’t she? She was in a limbo waiting for Soo to return.

DJ: So far, only two families have achieved all three virtues. (loyalty, filial duty, and virtue). So if they do receive it, it’s a great honor for sure.
GD: To erect a useless gate, the daughter-in-law of this family has to live alone for the rest of her life? What kind of honor is that?
DJ: A woman is protecting her fidelity. How is that a useless thing?
GD: Then, is it right for her to remain alone for the rest of her life for the sake of honor to her family?

The second time DoJoon mentioned this was at the Flower Crew meeting. They were deciding on whether or not to take the job of matchmaking this Virtuous Widow. Gaedong voted that they should accept the job. Crew #2 and #3 were against it.

DoJoon’s downvote surprised everyone. He explained his opposition.

DJ: Lacking fidelity and integrity, leave that for the courtesans! A woman who abandons her home and her child, so she can live well? I’m not interested in that.

He believed that the virtuous widow abandoned her daughter, like his mother did to him, to have a marriage. He knew that the daughter would be ruined and the Ma family laughed at, after this scandal of a runaway widow.

He added, almost like an afterthought, that he feared the trouble that powerful people, like Hoon’s father, could cause.

Hoon saw through that lame excuse right away. He pointed out that DoJoon had never been bothered about such people before. He asked, “Wasn’t it your principle to live only for today?” DoJoon countered, “Principles can always change.”

Later, Hoon asked him again if he really was going to opt of his cousin’s marriage.

DJ: It’s not fun and I’m busy, too.
Hoon: Please forget already. How long will you be dragged around by your past?
DJ: Am I the only one dragged around by the past?
Hoon: (sighing) You and me, why are we both like this?

In a flashback, we see him as a young aristocratic child begging his mother not to leave. His mother was running away with another man. She told him that she wouldn’t return, ever.

His assistance at the wedding would have been his chance, his second chance to make peace with his past and to forgive his unvirtuous mother.

6. Gaedong

Gaedong, too, had a second chance. She finally discovered her brother, only to find out that he was mentally ill and couldn’t recognize her. On her way home that evening, she was conned by a street merchant to play a game of luck. Believing that she possessed Hoon’s good luck, she tried her hand at the game. After losing twice, she broke down in the middle of the street and wailed at the cruelty of  her fate.

That night, to cover her swollen, red eyes, she wore sunglasses. Hoon spotted them and wondered why she was wearing them.

Hoon: What’s with the sunglasses in the middle of the night?
GD: Were you surprised?
Hoon: Not surprised. It just looks unpleasant. (peering at her)

GD: Why are you staring at me like that?
Hoon: (removing her shades) Who made you cry?

Awww. I liked the way he said that. He sounded like he was willing to go to battle with whomever caused her to cry.

GD: No one made me cry. (but he looked unconvinced so…) It just felt unfair, that’s all. I gave 5 poons for this, and they were all losers. (showing him 5 sticks) I think I used up all the luck that you gave me.

Hoon: (sighing) Then I must give you something else.

He took all sticks from her and broke them in half. He then fanned them for her.

So meticulous, he broke them in the exact place.

HD: Pick one.

She looked at her oddly. But she did as she was asked. She picked one and looked at it cursorily.

GD: (pouting) Are you joking with me?
Hoon: What does it say?
GD: I can read some Korean. It says, “You lost. Try again.” Look at that. I’m so unlucky. I lost again.
Hoon: Where does it say, “You lost?”

She opened her hand again and said, “Try again.”

GD: Are you making fun of me?
Hoon: I’m giving you another opportunity.

He closed her hand over the halved stick.

Hoon: If you feel like your life is so unlucky, use this. I’ll give that new opportunity to you.

They looked at each other.

I love this scene because there are different ways of interpreting it. The first, of course, is that the sticks literally showed the theme of the episode, “Second chance.” The stick said she should try again.

But to me, this scene reminded me of the children’s fable, “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.”

Hoon was like the boy who habitually lied that a wolf was coming that the villagers no longer believe him even when a wolf actually came.

Hoon “misspoke” a couple of times already.

In Episode 1, he said, “I have a marriage proposal for you.” In Episode 4, he told her, “Stay by my side.” Both times, Gaedong presumed that he meant something else. She thought that he was declaring his feelings for her, and her heart FLUTTERED.

So she’d learned her lesson. She didn’t assume that he meant anything romantic by those words. He thought he was being business-like as usual, that is, he was protecting his investment with her. Right? She often groused about Hoon seeing her as a failed investment and he had to get his money back.

However, in my opinion, Hoon was open to something more personal and less business-like. Something more…hmmm…shall we say something more INVOLVED? He wasn’t offering her a job to clean the house or to pick up books from the library, that’s for sure. That’s why he held her hand and didn’t let go, and he looked at her intently for a long time.

No. I don’t think he was offering her love at that moment (he didn’t believe in love, right) but he was offering himself to her. Should she need HIM, he’d be there for her. No matter what.

But when Gaedong didn’t get his meaning, he didn’t force the issue. His attitude: Oh well. If she didn’t get it, then she didn’t get it. She wasn’t ready.

He thought there was plenty of time for them anyway since Lee Soo wasn’t coming back for her anymore.

8. Hoon’s second chance

Well, to me, this one is as obvious as Lee Soo’s second chance.

He’d already offered himself to Gaedong once. Remember this?

Hoon: I will share my lucky fate with you so give me some of your unfortunate fate.
GD: What kind of Gaedong (dog crap) is that? (he glances at her)
Hoon: I have so much luck that my life is boring, and you have so much misfortune, so your life is always tough. So let’s share our fortune and misfortune with each other. You took my luck so nothing bad will happen. As I told you, I’m disgustingly lucky, you see.

And he offered himself again when he said this:

Hoon: If you feel like your life is so unlucky, use this. I’ll give that new opportunity to you.

But as I said, Gaedong didn’t respond because she didn’t get it. She missed the point.

That’s why Hoon was confused when she asked him for another opportunity then she demanded to be made into a NOBLE LADY. THAT wasn’t the request he was expecting from her.

Did you see that? 🙂

This was their conversation:

Hoon: (waiting for her) Rock-head, what will I do with you?

He was talking to her portrait which, in kdramas, means that the hero is lovesick. She walked in and he bellowed at her. This was his typical reaction. Remember? When he’s worried about her whereabouts, he shouts at her. He wasn’t really angry that she wasn’t working. He was anxious about her safety, especially since he knew that assassins were looking after her.

Hoon: What are you doing out so late, not even working? Before the sun sets, make sure to return…

He wanted her to be by his side.

GD: (interrupting him) Another opportunity. Did you mean it when you said you would give it to me?
Hoon: Do you already suspect otherwise? (meaning did she doubt him already?)
GD: I want to use it now.

His reaction? Silence.

To me, he was wondering a) whether they were on the same wavelengths. That is, if she was asking him to be her side, and b) what made her think that she was unlucky again that she asked for this opportunity.

GD: (handing him the stick “Try again”) Please give it to me. Another opportunity.

GD: (continuing) I want to become a noble lady. Mr. Matchmaker, can you make me a noble lady.

See that frown? That was NOT at all the request he expected to hear from her. When he told her that he was giving her a “new opportunity,” he meant an opportunity to be *with him.*

Kinda like this:

Siggggh! But could we really blame her? She misinterpreted his declarations to her before and embarrassed herself.

So LIKE the boy who cried wolf, when he needed her to believe in him, she didn’t.

And then he remembered Crew #3’s words that GD should pretend to be a lady first for her protection. He became suspicious then and asked her for her motive.

Hoon: Why?
GD: There’s someone I really want to meet.
Hoon: Who?
GD: That…

And he looked more worried now.

Lee Soo came pounding at the gate. The wolf had arrived.

lol.

Now, I haven’t watched Episode 8 so I’m taking a stab here. He was expecting her to ask to be transformed into lady and he would probably be unwilling to change her. You see, he was already willing to accept her the way she was. He sat with her on the doorstep, remember? And this was a guy who liked pouffy pillows on his chairs and dainty movements when sipping tea.

Then, remember when he said, “Yes. You’re Gaedong. How could you become a lady of a noble family?” That wasn’t meant to be insulting. It means she already was special the way she was. And becoming a noblewoman would ruin her.

So, no, I don’t think he’d be willing to help her get a second chance at becoming a “noblewoman” — and for Lee Soo, of all people!

**************

I’m watching Episode 8 tonight, and hopefully get my write-up before Episode 9 airs tomorrow. I’m playing catch-up all week long.