The thread is now open for spoilers and discussions.
What is a “gamjatang”? It’s known as a “pork bone soup” although, when we go by its name, the highlight of the soup is the “gamja” or potato found in the “tang” or soup. I guess it’s considered the common man’s meal. The potatoes are filling; the bones are inexpensive; the stock is tasty.
source: Tasteatlas.com Gamjatang
Gifs from kimgoeun’s tumblr
Wait! Was that tattoo for real? I thought he was just wearing a shirt. Kinda like a fake six-pack on this shirt.
source: alibaba.express
Enjoy the show!
When we saw MooHak in the shower in episode 1, his chest and abs were not tattooed. He must’ve had a fake tattoo applied for his stunt in the art museum. A real tattoo that big and intricate would require a number of sessions to complete, I believe.
Thanks @pkml3. I find that I’ve some free days, and so picked up this Show. It got me laughing so I’ll hang around.
@Welmaris You’ve made the same comment that was in my mind! I’ve watched up to Episode 2 and a bit and was wondering where that tattoo came from. It must be a fake or a t-shirt.
@Welmaris is correct. I think Dali’s surprised look was because she remembered that he had no tattoos from when he tumbled on her at her house. I thought I saw a collar in at the end of the previous scene. Or somebody had a go on him with a Sharpie, I think. I’m tempted to get my husband that 6 pack shirt.🤔 Wait, maybe not. 😇 Better to use it as a Secret Santa gift.
The gamjatang looks really tasty. Is it spicy as in hot? I need to up my soup recipe collection as cool weather has arrived.
It’s cool that these days the ‘gamja’ in gamjatang has a two-fold meaning. It was originally to refer to the type of pork bones known as ‘gamja’ and now so many people add potatoes to their gamjatang that it’s equally relevant.
@Fern Gamjatang is very yummy and it’s spicy due to the addition of dried chilli flakes and chilli paste. I’d definitely recommend making it if you live close to a Korean store. I’ve found it can be hard to source things live dried radish leaves and perilla leaves.
I love that food is a very meaningful part of this drama. Da Li constantly eats Chupa Chups because Salvador Dali designed the logo. This is a cute link to her father, since he named her after the artist and put all those lollipops in the plastic tube.
The fact that Moo Hak’s dad still regularly eats gamjatang says a lot about his origins and how gaining wealth has (not?) affected him.
@Welmaris I think it’s a t-shirt. Maybe mesh a la Gaultier. The round collar is really visible.
@hotatoes, I didn’t know that about S. Dali and Chupa Chups. Thanks.
I think the tube Dali is keeping is hiding something. That packet that her father found on the painting? Could the cousin have been smuggling drugs or something?
Regarding Gamjatang, I have chili flakes and Korean chilli paste, so I guess I could make the soup. No, I can’t get perilla leaves either. I could dry my own radish leaves, but I’ve never seen the seeds, unless they are called something else. I will research that. Someone was offering 8 grams of perilla leaves for an £6.50; seemed like a lot.
@hotatoes, thanks for filling us in on the connection between our Dali, Chupa Chups lollipops, and Salvador Dalí. Now I understand more about our first sight of Dali in the drama: sitting on the floor, working without sleep or food, but sucking on Chupa Chups. They may not have much nutritional value, but they nourish her spirit. Yes, they’re a connection to her father, who gave her the name Dali and also gave her Chupa Chups as a treat. When emotions overtook Dali in Episode 4, she turned to Chupa Chups for comfort.
Now that I’ve learned Kim Min Jae is a dancer and have watched a few of his videos, I believe the mannerisms he has given MooHak–which I saw as so natural that I assumed they were being done without thought–are because Kim Min Jae, informed by his training as a dancer, is aware of nuances of movement and how they convey stories. For instance, I’ve noticed MooHak frequently standing with his hands in his hips, index fingers tucked into his belt loops, and arms akimbo. The nuance comes with the placement of his index fingers. It’s common for people to express exasperation or try to increase their physical presence by putting hands on hips and arms akimbo. Putting fingers in belt loops while assuming that stance adds a country hick vibe.
I commented after KMJ’s obligatory shower scene in Episode 1 that his torso looked healthy, but not spectacularly developed. Now I know why. Just as sprinters and long distance runners develop muscles differently because if different purposes, body builders and dancers develop their musculature differently. Dancers need flexibility, fluidity, stamina, control. Tight abs, pumped-up pecs, and bulging biceps might limit a dancer’s upper body range of motion. Just think: Male ballet dancers are strong enough to lift and hold their partners over their heads, but you don’t see musclebound male ballet dancers.
Hmmm…I may have to revisit that Episode 1 shower scene, now that I’ve gained a new perspective.
Thanks @Hotatoes for the chupa chups logo trivia designed by Salvador Dali. These kdrama writers don’t miss these things! What a way to connect Dali (FL) with her namesake. BTW, I love this lollipop brand and my favorite is the cola flavor.
@Fern I wasn’t sure at first, but after that close up of the plastic tube in Episode 5… something’s up. I think it might have something to do with family seals – I can’t imagine this drama taking a drug smuggling spin (or rather, I hope it doesn’t go down that road).
Perilla leaves are really light, so I’m not sure what 8 g would look like. The shops I go to sell them in handfuls of about 20 leaves. For radish leaves, I normally just keep any leftover radish tops and draw out the moisture with salt overnight. It’s not the same as the dried leaves but still super yummy.
@Welmaris I’ll be paying more attention to Moo Hak’s movements now that you’ve pointed out how his dancing background might influence his acting. It does explain his figure, as I find it’s more common for dancers to be lean and wiry, rather than bulky.
@Janey I also love the cola flavour! They were a fun treat when I was a kid, but now I care too much about my teeth 😅
@hotatoes, Chupa Chups can be bought in sugar-free here. 😊 They are good.
About the smuggled/hidden thing, I hadn’t watched the last episode when I wrote. When Dali’s nasty cousin was grilling the intern Gong-Joo, she says “…look for those documents or stamps yourself.”
Gong-Joo also said, “What’s the point of working here now that Director Kim is gone?” Was she another of the foundlings from the orphanage he sponsored, like Won-tak, who had been in some sort of trouble with the police?
Hi @Fern, I only just managed to watch the last bit of Ep 5 (watched as odd segments in the course of the day) and I had the same impression as you. Gong Joo might have been a child of the orphanage under the patronage of Dali’s dad, and that’s why she holds him in high regard. Pity her regard for the dad does not extend to his daughter.
The tube of ‘art’ or chupa chupps probably do hide the documents and the stamp that are needed by the horrid nephew.
We know that he’s behind the news leak about the Gallery going bust, we just need to know how that helps him.
In the meantime, Moo Hak’s half brother, Ki Cheol, is out to fleece their dad over supposed land for construction.
A clue was dropped that Dali’s dad was killed, and we can guess by whom. It was video recorded by Ki Cheol. It’s strange that it was not reported as a homicide. Perhaps Ki Cheol reported is as a natural death to fit his own agenda, but it’s strange that nothing outwardly showed to cause suspicion about how Dali’s dad died.
@Growing Beautifully, although Dali is the heir, the nephew may be looking to sell the land, which he possibly may be able to do by himself with the documents/stamps that he is looking for. I wonder if he is in alliance with Ki Cheol or will be later? Ki Cheol probably didn’t report the murder because he would want to keep the evidence as blackmail. I don’t recall Moo-hak meeting the nephew before, so he overheard that the nephew is a relative and now knows his face and that he is up to no good as far as the museum is concerned.
@Fern Ooh I’ll have the try them! It’ll be so nostalgic.
Based on the bulky shape of the secret package in Ep 1? 2? (can’t remember) I wonder if there were family seals or something inside. That would be a nice intersection with the whole construction subplot that’s going on.
I can imagine that Da Li’s dad has developed personal relationships with many of the children from the orphanages that he’s helped. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s how he became acquainted with Gong Joo. But it sounds like people at the gallery didn’t know about her past, so I wonder if Da Li’s dad did?
I spent so much time speculating about HCCC that it’s nice to watch a show like this. There’s mystery and hijinks, but I’m not pressed to predict the plot for once. It’s just fun and chaotic whenever Moo Hak is around.
Episode 6 – Dali seems to have 3 saviours, whether she wants them or not. At first I was aggrieved that she didn’t turn to Won Tak for help, and glad that he managed to step in, but I do agree that not accepting help from people like Tae Jin, if she could possibly have avoided it, was wiser.
Won Tak seems the least likely to make the 4th corner of a love quadrangle, but he might. I rather hope he likes her more like a brother and friend.
We are in no doubt over Jang Tae Jin’s interest in Dali, while Moo Hak remains clueless about his liking for Dali, about his step-brother’s machinations and about art. LOL. He’s another kind of anti-hero. Not entirely a good guy, but crude and dumb with a warm heart?
Ahn Chak Hee is a force to be reckoned with. Her agenda is to get Tae Jin paired off with Da Li so that she (Chak Hee) can have Moo Hak for herself. I always wonder why it’s not patently obvious that if A prefers B over C, then A still will not like C, just because B goes away.
Moo Hak really ups the comedy. His grumbles over the noise of the phone not being answered in the apartment above him, when he is the one making the call, was one of the best funny scenes I’ve seen in a long time.
I both cringed and laughed at his destruction of that horrible ‘trash’ art installment. I kind of agree that, that piece of ‘art’ had to go!
One thing that does bother me is that Dali’s wishes are constantly being negated/denied. She has repeatedly expressed her desire to take care of things herself, but one guy or another (Moo Hak being the worst perpetrator) will still insist to be there, to drive her around, to insert themselves into her business and generally ignore her wishes.
I was happy that Dali made the decision to stem the tide of public opinion by initiating the press conference, but again, she needed Tae Jin’s help to pull this off successfully. I hope Show gives her a chance to really be able to take care of herself fully, from feeding herself at meal times (something she failed to do from Ep 1) to being able to run the Gallery without help from any of the ‘saviours’.
Good points, @GB! I noticed the same thing when I skimmed through Ep 5. She was beaten up? I disliked that Mohawk grabbed her bruised wrist, and shouted at her. I get that he was angry and worried and frustrated bec she almost got herself killed, but come on now, would shouting really help HER? Sure, he relieved himself of his stress when he yelled at her. But then, he transferred his stress to her with his emotional outburst. 🙅🏼♀️
@pkml3, in actual fact, if there could be a bit of interest in either party, I’d prefer Dali to end up with Won Tak, if she has to end up with anyone. I’m waiting for a fluffy kdrama to dare to have no end OTP, but to have both parties being quite fulfilled without each other.
Unfortunately, Show’s poster and plot movements have set up already that Dali will end up with Moo Hak, so I hope he improves tremendously in sincerely wanting to be more gentle and genteel, (and informed!) not just out of love, and not just for Dali, but because it’s growth overall.
I do not ask that he becomes smart, and if show suddenly makes him too clever, my eyes will roll. However I expect him to have street smarts and enough sense to save himself from his dastardly step-brother and Dali’s cousin. Better still, I’d like Dali to be the one to save him LOL.
Yes, Moo-hak’s reaction to her being beaten, although not uncommon, was out of line. Not only shouting at her but the comment about how her father would be feeling about it – that would make the victim feel guilty. I suppose that is the sort of sympathy he has received in his life. But I liked her reaction, to say that it is indeed all about money and her saying this let him understand how she pictured him in her life. I think his reaction helped spur her to act proactively. I wish she didn’t have to ask for help from her 3 knights, but she is in a bind.
I was worried when Dali accepted Tae Jin’s help. But she was clever to get her interview outfit from Tae Jin’s family’s store and she limited it to that. It resulted in great publicity for them, so he has been paid back in a way.
It was ironic that she ended up gorging on Gamjatang with Won Tak. She slept well that night and it was Moo-hak who stayed up, only to fall asleep on her white work sofa with his shoes on! 😱
I had to laugh about the art installation mistake. The first thing I thought of was Tracee Emin’s “My Bed” and what would have happened if a museum cleaner had tidied it up.
I don’t find Moo-hak so much stupid as ignorant, blustering and proud. I would have liked him to ask, ‘If this is art, tell me why?’ rather than digging himself in deeper. The cctv footage of him is another wasted opportunity to make more of the artwork. Someone mentioned that Dali should have pretended that the thug demonstration in episode 2 was performance art. Likewise the cctv footage may be able to be shown in conjunction with the artwork, with the artist’s permission.
I think that he and Dali will help each other bit by bit to change. It would be great if she were able to help herself, but I think the script shows that although smart, she has to accept that she needs help. Moo-hak needs to work WITH her and not dictate to her in order to help out. His ideas for helping won’t work without her input.
@Fern, I, too was most distressed to see him sleeping on her nice, white sofa with shoes on!!! What the heck!
I like those ideas on converting those thug demonstrations into art, and of the deconstruction of the art installation by Moo Hak LOL.
Yes, Moo Hak is too proud, too full of himself, as if he knows it all and can lord it over all who owe him money or a job. He seems to think that by virtue of being rich, he has the right to dictate.
Perhaps it comes from the rough and ready kind of upbringing he had. He needs a lot sharp edges to be smoothed off. We have 10 more episodes and I look forward to seeing Dali and Moo Hak rub off on each other to bring about each other’s growth.
In the USA it seems I’m having to wait a full day after an episode is released by Viki for the English subs to be complete. Are they available sooner in other countries or on other streaming services?
This show has a lot of physicality, sometimes violent. Yes, MooHak grabbing Dali’s wrist bothered me. He’s bigger and stronger, and using such force is bullying. I also am uncomfortable with Won Tak’s desire for vengeance making him unhinged. A police detective beating up the perp would not help Dali’s case.
I suppose these men’s reactions are meant to contrast with Dali’s and each other’s, so we get more of a sense of who they are as people. Dali, under duress, speaks in a controlled manner and tries to be non-confrontational while still getting her point across. MooHak is unschooled but clever in practical ways, getting frustrated when he can’t comprehend things using his “Everyman” sensibilities. Won Tak wants to be more than a charity case, able to give back to–and be depended on–by the family that took him in. I’m still not certain about Tae Jin, if he loves Dali or sees winning her heart back as a challenge to be achieved to assuage guilt and “come out on top.” If Tae Jin did achieve his goal, I wonder if he’d quickly lose interest in Dali.
This show is full of sharp contrasts. Most of the characters aren’t nuanced. The bad are especially bad: the greedy so greedy, the morally corrupt so corrupt. We know who we’re supposed to boo, and Show even adds sound effects to highlight their evil words and doings. It will be fun to see all these baddies get their just desserts in the end.
Poor Dali. Every time we viewers think “How much worse can it get?” something else goes wrong for her. The situational tension in the plot is being developed well. I like how we also get a look into Dali’s emotional tension, either during her conversations with others or when she’s alone and her defenses come down.
I’ll add my voice to the outcry: shoes on the white couch?! (Or any couch, for that matter.) Bad MooHak! Bad!
Annyeong,
i have a lot of feels after watching these episodes… where to begin?
ep 5 title: does rain seem different from a hotel than a motel?
ep 7 can garbage become art?
i would gather the answer to both questions are YES.
i love the rain… and rain is the same wherever you are. BUT in dali’s case… rain was different… instead of enjoying the rain with a view of the city… the rain depicted her sad circumstance as she looked out the sad looking motel. if she stayed in the luxury hotel, she would’ve been safe… her self and her money. ahhh life.
like Dali admitted, when she thought she has reached bottom, apparently NOT. my heart ached for poor Dali… as she really has not reached rock bottom yet.
instead of driving her to the fancy hotel twice, it would have been better for moohak to offer her lodging at his place. instead, she ends up lodging above him, unbeknownst to them both. ironic?
Dali was able to turn her bad experience (which has traumatized her also) to good by holding the press conference. but now she got help from her ex? which thanks to Chak Hee is now a “green light” for Tae Jin. eeeks.
the garbage art was tragic. i had a feeling it wasn’t garbage really. omg. Moohak thought he was cleaning up trash and added salt to the wound when he stood his ground. so Moohak thing to do. right?
@GB,
i agree that Moohak is an anti-hero. but a hero, nonetheless. and i like him and his character. so loco. when he was calling Dali and was hearing the buzz above him, i was hoping he would go out or go up and find Dali. oh well. instead, Dali never responded and he ended up staying awake.
Dali is too nice, even though she saw his shoes on the couch, she didn’t yell at him. i tell my husband off when he puts his shoes on top of our bed. aughghg. why???
that Chak Hee is a sly one. i think she’s a demanding one. can’t stand her. but gotta have a rival huh? i agree with your thought that minus B, doesn’t mean A will go for C. sigh. besides, can’t take Dali out of the equation as Dali’s his love at first sight.
@welmaris,
i also enjoy the extra sound effects of the show. it adds to the comedy.
i like that Dali can be emotional and reaches breaking point… but stays demure/lady like. even after Moohak was screaming at her. she stood her ground and shut him up, haha. i like his points. but her point shut him down. Moohak left with his tails between his legs. hmmm.
i liked how she she tried to stop Moohak from hitting the assailant by back-hugging him LOL. bold and tender at the same time. daebak! can’t wait for that episode. when will Moohak find out that she just lives upstairs???
Could somebody please explain the typo in episode 6 to me?
There seem to be connections between the words
“sushi” – “sochi” (?) and “you” since he wants to write “Do you like sushi” and accidentally writes “I like you”.
Thank you for your help! 🙂