This is one of those kdramas where reviews don’t work as well as a live commentary (that is, making observations in real-time). I wish someone would be here to rewatch it with me but since I know all of you are busy, I’ll post my comments.
Feel free @snowflower or @GB to post your thoughts after mine.
Let me see if this blogsite will ban me for “spamming” my own thread.
Opening scene.
I really can’t hate on bestie JongHui because she has YeongRye’s back. She’s loyal, supportive, and dependable. I hope that her sass and confidence will rub off on YeongRye.
JongHui hands YeongRye gum and cheers her up with “Bring it on, World”
In contrast YeongRye recites a quote from Alan Watts, “No amount of anxiety makes any difference to anything that is going to happen.” Interesting. I don’t think she realizes that their remarks are opposite each other.
JongHui’s cheer is defiant. She’s daring, challenging fate. She’s saying that she’s ready for anything and everything and she won’t be intimidated so fate can do its worst.
Nowadays, the kids say, “Come at me, bro!”
On the other hand, YeongRye’s quote suggests that she’s resigned to whatever fate will dole out to her. She won’t worry about what will happen as she can’t control it. She’ll just accept it.
Challenge/Defiance doesn’t equal Resignation/Acceptance.
Oh no! Their group blind date or “sogaeting”
It’s weird that YeongRye’s first reaction is to take a step back. If I believe in superstitions, I’d say it’s her animal instincts warning her to back away since he wasn’t meant to be hers.
Her monologue:
“Jong Hui. Sometimes I regret that day. What if we hadn’t gone to the meeting that day? If three coincidences happen, they call it fate. What if I hadn’t held on to my trembling heart, believing that perhaps this person might be my destiny?”
Oh dear. This all sounds ominous, doesn’t it? It sounds like she was the disloyal friend who stole the guy whom her bestie loved.
But wait a second. There’s no such thing as “stealing” a boy without the boy’s complicity and participation.
Ma Sang Cheol. Awwww…he’s the pretty boy?? And in charge of visuals? Does he think this is a girls’ group/band?
Han Jae Pil. In charge of charisma? He’s the least charismatic high school student there. The term should be “brooding.” He could be Heathcliff.
Lol. YeongRye’s “I go all in, no matter what!” What? I thought she felt so nervous, she felt motion sickness earlier?
Did she just feign self-confidence and copy JongHui’s early “Bring it on, World”? Oh no!
Jong Hui’s self-introduction: “I’ll drop honorifics since we’re all the same age.”
Huh? No, they definitely aren’t! Such brazenness!
She said she was the year of the rabbit like YeongRye. For now, I’ll take her word for it. 1963 was the Year of the Rabbit. If the current year is 1982 (year printed on the hand towel), then they’re 19 years old (in international age.
Typical 12th grader in South Korea would be 18 years old.
So JP is 19 years old because he was delayed a year.
JP and YeongRye are the same age. YeongRye could be the same age, too, if she’s telling the truth.
Sang Cheol’s joke fell flat. How awkward. But I like that he’s trying to be entertaining.
Fate certainly played a cruel joke on the four kids.
YeongRye’s gum actually belonged to JongHui.
And JongHui’s pen was a gift from YeongRye. JongHui didn’t think it would be useful to her.
Sang Cheol picked the pen. He guessed correctly that it was something YeongRye would carry around, and that JongHui chewed gum all day like a rebellious kid. Yes, during that time, chewing gum was a universal symbol of teenage rebellion and bravado.
That’s why I don’t believe in fate.
Wait, who narrated this?
“If fate’s arrow had ultimately left a scar on me that day, and if I had realized that it would cast me into an unexpected storm, then how might things have unfolded?”
I originally thought it sounded like BF JongHui’s voice but it must YeongRye’s.
“If fate’s arrow had ultimately left a scar on me that day”
Meaning, if YeongRye had felt embarrassment or mortification at any point during their encounter that day, she would’ve buried her feelings for JP and moved on from her infatuation. But her memories of that day were happy: she was praised (by Sang Cheol in particular) for her bravery; they were treated out to pork buns by the guys. She believed she made a favorable impression so she continued crushing on JP.
“If I had realized that it would cast me into an unexpected storm”
Meaning, if YeongRye could have foreseen the emotional angst, she would have cut her loss immediately and walked away.
Title of the episode: Fate.
No originality. (shaking my head)
Oh, gosh! Sang Cheol just won me over with his comment.
SC: Pil, she scares me! She’s too fierce, just like my mom.
JP: You said your ideal type was someone like your mom. That she’s resilient and awesome.
SC: That’s what I thought. But she beats up my dad. I’m the witness.
On the serious side.
Were all parents spouse-beaters during that time? It seemed like it: JP’s dad beat up his mom. SC’s mom beat up his dad.
What’s up with that, screenwriter?
The bus ride.
She’s about to puke because of motion sickness. And he gallantly opened the bus window for her. Any teenager’s heart would definitely flutter by that move.
But remembering and naming all the bus stops on Bus Route 100 in order? Yeah. That’s a giveaway.
My complaint about the female lead? She hasn’t a lot of “noonchi” or social awareness like her bestie.
At least, Sang Cheol is impressed with her.
Nice save by JongHui!
But YeongRye continues to dig a hole for herself when she blurts out an obscure quote from “The Hunminjeongeum Haeryebon.”
At the roller-skating rink.
Of course, JP saves her from falling on her butt. Another heart-fluttering moment for YeongRye. He ties her shoelaces to boot.
He thinks she looks familiar, but she denies having met each other. She can hardly tell him about meeting him twice before (in the alley when he rescued her and in the movie theater when he was fleeing the cops) because she’ll give away the truth about their ages and enrollment in GED school. In the alley, she was working as a bus attendant. Then, in the movie theater, they were about to watch a film for older audience.
The disparity in YeongRye and JongHui’s roller-skating skill level seems straight out of a Taylor Swift pop song, “You Belong with Me.”
“But she wears short skirts, I wear T-shirts
She’s Cheer Captain, and I’m on the bleachers
Dreaming about the day when you wake up and find
That what you’re looking for has been here the whole time”
I guess that’s why I’m inclined to root for YeongRye instead of JongHui. I’ve been conditioned by kdramas to root for the underdog/plain Janes.
Though JongHui’s skills and visuals are enough to make any girl green with envy, it’s still hard to hate her because she’s genuinely kind to YeongRye.
Too funny. YeongRye rescues JongHui by lobbing that pin marked “Killer.”
At the dumpling café
When JH apologized for causing the incident, it was JP who spoke and addressed her, dismissing her apology as unnecessary.
Meanwhile, Sang Cheol praised YeongRye’s quick thinking and bravery.
Oh goodness! Was I this clueless back then? It’s clear that Sang Cheol was more into her than JP because he was chatting her up and was comfortable with her. His cheeks must hurt from grinning so widely at her. He couldn’t stop looking at her. Plus, his offer of extra dumpling was more enthusiastic than JP’s gestures early (opening the bus window and tying her shoelaces).
JP’s actions = any gentleman would do the same
Sang Cheol’s actions = making more effort.
YeongRye looked like a chipmunk with her cheeks filled with the dumpling.
I like that Sang Cheol called dibs on YeongRye as soon as the boys were left on their own. There a boys’ code somewhere that friends don’t compete for the same girl as soon as one boy “call dibs.” I don’t feel guilty then liking him over JP. He’s better.
JP calls YeongRye “quirky and cute.” Ugh! That’s the kiss of death! From my experience, being viewed as “quirky and cute” is tantamount to being friend-zoned. If JP and YeongRye will be the endgame, the screenwriter must work hard to convince me after this not-so-impressive/no-sparks-flew sogaeting.
Ewwww. The bus attendant Hae Ja and the driver making out in the bus is icky to watch. He’s “love-bombing” her but the poor girl can’t see. Isn’t she 23, 24 years old? Old enough to tell a player from an honest suitor.
In fairness, JP wasn’t love-bombing YeongRye with his gestures earlier. He was just being gallant as usual.
The invitation to the boxing match.
The schoolgirl got it all wrong!! Ugh! She thought (incorrectly!) JP was interested in YeongRye but was too taciturn to say anything, so he took his chatty friend, Sang Cheol, to act as his wingman.
Hence, the quote “You can’t be your own barber.” Meaning, a guy needs intervention/assistance from a fellow because he can’t do it alone.
Mr. Daddy Long Legs aka the wealthy friend of YeongRye’s oppa is there at her mother’s market stall. (Is he hanging around expecting to encounter YeongRye???)
Oh, dear. Why can’t it be him?
My order of preference for YeongRye’s endgame
1. Mr. Daddy Long Legs (played by Kim Jung Hyun of “Mr Queen”)
2. SangCheol
.
.
.
.
(n-1). JP
I think my list tells more about me than the screenwriter. I like mature, dependable guys who can make me laugh. Wit is my kryptonite.
Also, Mr. Daddy Long Legs and YeongRye can spend nights, exchanging quotes.
Be still, my heart. lol.
@pkml3 LOL you’re spamming your own thread.
Watching the bus conductor girls, I find it a bit strange that only Jong Hui among all of them, seems more street smart. The others are so naive it’s painful to watch them being played by that Driver Kim. They are supposed to be adults but I guess being in their early 20s does not mean they had much experience with guys.
Hahaha. I AM spamming my own thread.
I have to space out my posts since I don’t know what will trigger this blog to lock me out. (See? I really don’t know how this site works.)
The girls and JaePil are 19 years old. The girls and JaePil would have been freshmen in college.
@pkml3 By Daddy-long-legs I presume you’re referringto Jeong Hyun, the BFF of Ko Yeong Sik (the oppa). Yes, any guy who calls a girl ‘ugly’ is obviously trying to deny that he’s smitten by her, while trying to rile her up to get her attention. Unfortunately it backfired on him.
Yes, I’m with you there… I’d prefer Jong Hyeon for Yeong Rye too. Mainly because he’s rich and he bothered about her family, enough to want to give them the money to buy another cart. And also because Sang Cheol has eyes more for Jong Hui and is younger and yet to come up in the world.
I felt that Jong Hui is a dangerous friend to have, since she can lie easily and drags Yeong Ry into the lie with her. YR will have quite a task trying to undo the lie of her actual age with Jae Pil.
Still, I’d like to know if the one who abused JH and who probably caused her to run and hide, will get outed so that JH can live in peace.
It took a while but the Show is slowly getting me a bit more invested in the interests of our various protagonists.
I’ve watched I think until Ep 6. Will see if I can continue.
The boxing event
Oof! I laughed at SangCheol’s defeat. He shouldn’t have suggested this boxing match to show off his skills. When did he ever box in the ring? He was always courtside, just giving instructions to JP.
“O, what a tangled web we weave….”
Oh nooooo. JP is going to fall for JH after she stopped the match.
JH stopping the match = YR stopping the bullies at the rink
It parallels what YeongRye did at the rink, when she threw the pin at the thugs to rescue JH. The big difference is SangCheol was impressed with YeongRye’s bravery, and JaePil was moved by JH’s “rescue.”
The downside? JaePil will think that JH is concerned about him, when actually she’s just PROJECTING her fears/trauma on him.
They suffered the same abuse so they feel like kindred spirits.
But is this feeling of being kindred spirits true love or emotional support?
This scene outside the boxing club clinches it for me: JaePil and JongHui can belong with each other for all I care.
I want YeongRye to leave them alone. There are other fish in the ocean.
@pkml3, apologies… I mean Ep 3-4. I just realised I stopped at Ep 3 and jumping into the middle of Ep 4 I see that JH may have rejected JP while it’s likely oppa Yeong Sik who’ll be interested in JH as well!!
Much tangled web indeed! OK I’ve to head off now. Will catch more later.
Yes, I’ll just call YeongRye’s oppa’s best friend Daddy Long Legs. (Have you read that novelette? It should be available free online.)
Yes, he calls her “ugly” but he feeds her, steals glances at her, etc. I’m also rooting for him because he reminds me of the guys my brothers brought home when we were young. I wasn’t called “ugly” but they had unusual names for bugging me, like “Quiche Lorraine” and “T-Rex.”
The preview for Ep 5 reveals that JH’s abuser was her older brother.
@pkml3 Seems we have all kinds of older brothers here.
In ‘Twelve Letters’ it was the father who was the loathsome abuser, hitting his daughter to get her money, accusing her and her mother without proof, and saying she was crazy, so that no one believed that he abused her.
Interesting set-up.
JH made JP’s heart flutter because of WORDS.
They’ll bond because they suffered physical abuse.
But YeongRye would have made JP’s heart flutter, too, with her ointment and bandage. But it’s all speculative since YeongRye didn’t actually give him the first aid things she bought for him.
There’s a moral lesson here. Something like “80% of success is just showing up.” YeongRye showed that she wasn’t committed when she didn’t hand him the first aid supplies she bought for him.
***
Re. the two bus attendants fighting over the driver
It’s a foreshadowing, right? Two best friends fighting over a guy.
@GB,
If I were writing this drama, I would have the 2 girls end up with the 2 college boys instead of the high school boys.
YeongRye with Mr. Daddy Long Legs/oppa YeongSik’s friend
Bestie JongHui with oppa YeongSik
That way, YeongRye and JongHui can be BFF or “best friends forever.”
JP’s cute half-sister
He has no problem hugging his little sister.
But I noticed that he backed away when his stepmom tried to put ointment on the gash on his brow. Good move.
At the hospital.
YeongRye is crying. But she doesn’t want to be seen by her young siblings because it will only scare them more.
So he puts his cap on her, saying. “You can cry now.”
I’m in two minds about this.
It’s definitely a thoughtful gesture.
But I wish he didn’t because she’ll conflate his thoughtfulness for affection.
Is this part of her 100 memories? She now has two mementos of him: the Giant towel and now this baseball cap. Stop giving her more, danggit! She’ll just have to burn them all in a pile when he ends up with her bestie.
Voiceover:
“Jonghui, that was the third time. Not once. Not twice….Crossing paths with him three times. I suppose I wanted to believe it was fate. Or perhaps even destiny. Since I always dreamed of a love destined by fate.”
Huh? Can this girl count? This is the fourth fateful meeting.
1. the alley first meeting. He rescued her from the fare jumper then took the money for her.
2. the movie theater meeting. He was running away from the cops and she was there with JongHui to watch an adult film
3. the blind date with high school kids in Vivaldi Café. She was forced to go to a “sogaeting” with JongHui.
4. this emergency in the rain. He appeared out of the blue to bring her and her mom to the hospital.
Wait, what’s her state of mind during these voiceovers? Is she in her right mind? Is she on drugs?
The awkward questions about her BF JongHui.
How come it didn’t even enter her head that he wasn’t interested in her, but in her friend?
I would have been suspicious when he asked about JongHui.
YeongRui keeps looking for signs, but when she finds them, she MISinterprets them anyway. Poor child.
Another voiceover again:
“So for a brief moment, I was elated. So I tried to muster up courage I didn’t even have.”
Chasing after JaePil.
She runs after him and catches up in the parking lot. He gives her his phone number and asks her to deliver it to JongHui.
Okayyyy. Let’s call it a wrap, girl. Just. leave. him. for. your. bestie.
Final voiceover.
“If I hadn’t urged him to speak first. If I had handed him the medicine that held my feelings. Would our story have been a bit different? Do you think so Jong Hui? My one and only friend?”
Oh dear.
One, it sounded like she was looking back on her memories and regretting her indecisiveness. She rued holding back and being too timid. But why was she even airing out her regret. Things like this are best kept to herself, so her best friend wouldn’t be hurt.
Two, this sounds like an “apostrophe”, e.g., “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” I doubt she was actually talking to JongHui. Her bestie could be absent or deceased or have been reduced to a figment of her imagination or a ghost of a best friend that only now existed in her memories.
Three, the way she stressed that JongHui was her “my one and only friend,” sounded like she and JongHui parted ways because of this boy. It sounded ironic.
What’s the point of this extra scene “The Untold Story” after the post-credits?
He’s shown being driven to his father’s event when he spotted YeongRye carrying her mom on her back, and getting drenched in the rain. He had the driver turn around. He said, “I’ll take responsibility.” He’d lie and tell his dad that he ran away so the driver wouldn’t get in trouble.
Is this a foreshadowing?
I hope he doesn’t end up with YeongRye, out of a sense of responsibility or duty because YeongRye needed him.
The bestie JH may appear stronger and more independent than YeongRye but her traumatic secrets will bound to make her even needier than YeongRye when her emotional “dam” overflows and collapses.
Does JaePil have some sort of messiah complex?
The end.
That’s how I rewatched this show by myself. Lol.
I am rooting for the college boys (Daddy Long Legs and JR’s Oppa) to be the endgame for JR and JH. But I am not sure what writernim has in mind.
I think we aren’t alone in preferring the college boys to the high school boys. I doubt the love polygon will produce raging fanwars like in the Reply series (or Start-Up) because nobody’s really gungho about a Jae Pil endgame with either girl. 😂😂
I wonder if it has something to do with the actor himself. He’s hardly a heartthrob, is he? His squarish face and wide and flat cheekbones are features I associate with peasant farmers, not pretty boys. 🤷♀️
There are plenty of single bus attendant girls for Jae Pil to choose from! Just not the two FLs.😂
I have a soft spot for actor Kim Jung Hyun, so I want to see more of his character. I am still upset about what happened to the character he played in “Crash Landing On You.”
🌹🌿🧀🍷🍐🍊🍋🍒🍱🍣🍛🍲🍜🍝🫕🥘🥗🌈
Hi @pkml3, this is just a gentle reminder to open the next thread for our Rewatch Party! Thank you!
🌹🌿🧀🍷🍐🍊🍋🍒🍱🍣🍛🍲🍜🍝🫕🥘🥗🌈
Done, @GB!
Thanks for the reminder. 🙂
I didn’t like the actor’s character in “Mr Queen” (Nothing personal. I just didn’t like the story itself) but yes, I was annoyed with the way his character was written off in CLOY, too.