The thread is open.
As I observed earlier, this is a kdrama that’s better with live commentary (e.g., a rewatch) than a review.
Why?
Because the main leads — young as they are — are making so many mistakes that the worrywart in me can’t help but fret, “You’re doomed! You’ll never make it!”
Hahaha. This is an anxiety-inducing kdrama for old moms like me and I enjoy it.
Will spam this thread with my comments. Hopefully, @GB and @Snowflower will drop by.
Awww. How sweet of the girls to take over YeongRye’s hours while she took a leave of absence to care for her mom. They won’t have time off themselves. They’re taking on the burden of helping YeongRye and splitting it among themselves.
That’s loyalty. That’s solidarity. That’s sisterhood. (Glad nobody’s calling it sisromance!)
But there’s a big difference between sharing the workload and sharing a guy. YeongRye and friends can divide the hours equally, fairly. But their colleagues HaeJa and the other girl can hardly divide the affections of that player driver.
Title: One Step Behind
****
Episode 1: Youth, how beautiful
Episode 2: Where will we meet again, and what will have become of us?
Episode 3: Fate
Episode 4: One step behind
SangCheol regretting the failed boxing match.
He asks, “What’s wrong with me? Now that I think it’s over, I feel more regretful and miss her more.”
Well, as a mom of boys, I think there’s nothing *wrong* with him. To feel this way is a normal teen reaction. His prefontal cortal is still developing so emotions can feel more intense (e.g., the world is falling apart), and perceptions of triumphs and defeats are exaggerated.
If I were his mom, I’d:
a. give him credit for trying, for taking a risk, even if the outcome wasn’t what he was expecting.
b. put things in perspective like the girls did earlier when they talked about HaeJa (e.g., there are other fish in the ocean).
c. make him go on another sogaeting.
Where are the adults here?
At the hospital.
The mom clearly favors her son over YeongRye.
I guess it can be argued that there are “traditional gender role biases” in action here.
However, I think there’s something more. The mom loads all the burden on YeongRye because she regards YeongRye as her mini-me. Just like she works hard for the family, takes care of her family, and sacrifices for her family, she expects YeongRye to do the same because YeongRye is *her* daughter. It’s a credit to YeongRye that her mother sees her as the responsible/dependable/mature one.
But yes, it is inherently unfair to YeongRye, no matter the justification.
I think there’s a term for this. “Parentification.” YeongRye is growing up too fast because her mother treats her like an adult/her mini-me.
But I like that YeongRye voiced her resentment instead of keeping to herself to fester.
YR: You’re only worried about Oppa even in this situation?
Mom: Of course. He’s the pillar of our family.
Hmmmm… YeongRye may have it harder at that moment. But in the near future, it’ll be her brother, the PILLAR (and her brother’s wife), who’ll take on the responsibility of supporting the family, especially financially.
YR: Then, what am I?
Mom: Youre… my daughter. My eldest daughter.
Lol. Yes, this sounds tactless. But it tells me that she hadn’t given this much thought as she regarded her daughter as her extension. An appendage of herself. Her adjunct.
If I were the mom, I would have quickly said, “Your brother is the pillar, but you are the roof over our heads.”
YR: Right. I’m the eldest daughter. One who must earn money and look after her younger siblings. Even my mom treats me like this. Who would consider me precious and like me, right?
If her own mother doesn’t appreciate her worth nor hold her dear, then it’s no wonder that other people – or JaePil in particular – treat her like chopped liver. She’s feeling self-pity after JaePil handed his number to her to give to her bestie JongHui (JH).
Mom: Look at this girl. Did you swallow a pickaxe today? Why are your words so spikey?
The subbers in Viki are funny. The word they’re looking for is “barbed.” YeongRye’s comments are barbed.
YR: I don’t know. I can’t help how my words are coming out today.
Her Oppa walked in and she stood up to go.
YR: The pillar is here. I’ll go take care of the kids, do laundry, and make side dishes. You look after mom, Mr. Pillar. Don’t eat the entire can of peaches. Feed mom, too.
Hahaha. So petty. But it’s something I would do. I called my brothers worse name, though.
JongHui taking care of YeongRye’s siblings.
By the way, those brown bricks hanging from the rafters are called “meju.” They’re made from fermented soybeans and when they’re dried well, they can be made into doenjang paste, soy sauce, etc.
I think JongHui envies YeongRye’s simple family life. She likes the family meals, the little ones, the flower garden, the vegetable garden.
Phew! I’m glad that YeongRye finally gave her JaePil’s phone number.
I also like how JongHui asked YeongRye how she felt. She’s being considerate of her friend’s feelings.
JH: You? Weren’t you interested in him, too?
YR: Me? No. I thought he was interested in me. So I considered giving him a chance. That’s all. I don’t like him. He’s not even my type.
JH: Really?
She giggled, looked down at the paper for a moment, then refolded it to throw it away.
YR: (shocked) Why? You don’t like him?
JH: Like or not. I’m not interested in dating. Nor can I afford to. And he doesn’t know anything about me.
She’s a girl of secrets, for sure.
Two things, though.
1. I like that the two girls are prioritizing their friendship in their own way. YeongRye denied liking JP because JP chose JH over her. And JH confirmed it first with YeongRye that she had no feelings for JP. But two lies don’t make a truth and all that.
2. Once JH threw that piece of paper, it’s fair game. However, if I were YeongRye, I would have picked it up that night and totally trashed it so I wouldn’t be tempted to look for it. No look backs.
The hospital visit
Awwww. I like SangCheol better than JP. He reminds me of a cocker spaniel. It’s cute how he doesn’t want to brag that his family is relatively well-off because they have a store in the market, but he’s low-key bragging anyway.
Oh? So that’s JP’s ulterior motive for suggesting the hospital visit to SangCheol?? He wants to know why JongHui hasn’t called him yet. He couldn’t wait?? Very inconsiderate. I’m glad that SangCheol overheard their whole conversation.
SangCheol making him the butt of his jokes = defending YeongRye’s honor in a verbal duel = karma
YeongRye’s Oppa with JongHui.
JongHui is low-key flirting with him. I can see why she’s attracted to him. For someone who came from an abusive household, she’ll certainly welcome Mr. Pillar.
Sigh. In God’s world, JongHui would end up with the Oppa, and YeongRye would end up the Oppa’s friend. But then only God writes straight with crooked lines. Kdrama screenwriters tend to make doodles that don’t make sense in the end.
If the Oppa hadn’t sent JongHui away, then she wouldn’t have ended up going to Vivaldi’s Music Café, and SangCheon wouldn’t have seen her, and JP wouldn’t have known her hang-out place.
I don’t think JP is the one who’s “one step behind” as the title indicated. It’s YeongRye.
My Lonesome Rewatch caught my eye 😂
Where is this showing?
Also, did Bon Appetite have a happy ending? ☺️
Hahaha, @agdr. Are you feeling sorry for me now? Then, my title worked. 🙂
It’s on viki here in the US. Don’t know about Australia.
Only two more episodes to go with Bon Appetit. I think it’ll have a happy ending but I’m hoping it’s like “Lovers of the Red Sky” (same director) where the couple are shown five years later, happily married with a son, unbothered by politics, and successfully doing what they like to do (the girl continued to paint). I think the ending will be rushed.
Ok let me find it. ☺️ I can’t have you do a lonesome rewatch. Not while we have this blog. ❤️
I’ll try to tune in to Bon Appetit too. I’m almost finished with The Coroner’s Diary. ☺️
At the tutoring session.
Omurice. So it’s considered to be “upper class” food in the 80s? Too funny. Omurice was featured in “Rooftop Prince” and “A Good Day to be a Dog.” I’m told it’s omelette with rice, slathered in ketchup??! I guess I shouldn’t knock it till I’ve tried it.
Awww. The little boy is trying hard to fit in. It must be his first time tasting ketchup. I like how the mother just lets the kids interact by themselves. She doesn’t hover to make sure the “poor” kids mind their manners. She isn’t snob after all.
The dishes? Lol. Are those a copy of the Portmeirion Botanic Garden pattern? I guess they were popular back in the 80s.
Lol. The little boy is “falling in crush” with JaePil’s sister because of her material wealth.
JaePil asks the Oppa, “What in the world do girls look for in a guy? Do they have to be smart like you?”
I would answer that intelligence is just the baseline. Character, drive, wit, piety, leadership, honesty, kindness, maturity, ambition, humor, wisdom, patience, dependability, compassion, integrity, etc., are also nice qualities to have.
The oily bus driver.
I’m glad Haechon and ex-best friend became friends again. The guy wasn’t worth it.
Also glad that Ms. Choi, the friend of YeongRye, didn’t fall for his sickening and unctuous talk.
Oppa’s buddy!
I was waiting for this moment. I was worried that Kim Jung Hyun would have no more scene as he was only billed as a “cameo” in the drama. His scene is so simple and brief, but I’m grinning the whole time.
He rode the motorcycle in Episode 1. Now, he’s driving this beat-up Mercedes (the props guy did remove the trademark logo on the hood, though).
He times his arrival well. He pulls up just as the Oppa is coming down the steps. He invites him to ride with him.
Oppa: What’s with the car? Didn’t you ride a motorcycle?
Buddy: My mom’s car. Her trash. My treasure.
How cool is he?! That’s the sort of self-deprecating humor that girls like.
Buddy: By the way, how’s your mother? I should pay her a visit.
Oppa: Forget it. It’s a six-person room so there’s barely any space.
Buddy: Is the hospital bill covered?
Oppa: I told my student’s family my situation and they gave me a three-month advance.
Buddy: That’s good. Are you going to the hospital then?
We all know that he’s going to offer to help with the bill, but discreetly. And we all know that he’s trying to find out where YeongRye is, discreetly of course.
Oppa: No. I slept at the hospital last night so it’s Yeong Rye’s turn today. I need to go home to look after the kids.
Buddy: Is that so?
Then, the next thing we know he’s depositing his buddy somewhere and telling him to get off. The Oppa is confused. The Buddy says he should take the bus home because he has somewhere to be.
So the Oppa gets out and stares at the departing car. He wonders, “What the heck! Telling mem to get in and get off. He’s such a character.”
Too funny. That’s the guy I like for YeongRye: he doesn’t waste his time shilly-shallying.
Public service announcement: Has anybody here on this blog NOT read “Daddy Long Legs”? Just google it and there should be free e-book somewhere. If you like the idea of the Oppa’s friend being secretly in love with YeongRye, then you’ll like DDL. It’s a quick read.
@pkml3 I applauded Ms Choi for being able to see Driver Kim as the player that he is, however he certainly knows how to appear gallant.
I can’t bear that he uses the same line about each girl’s bright eyes every time. Total lack of originality. To him its: if the line works, use it to death!!!
@pkml3 I have read Daddy-long-legs. Yes, it’s a pretty good description for Jeong Hyun, however I callhim Jeong Hyun because it’s shorter!
I laughed when he jettisoned his good friend Yeong Sik for the sister. Pity she didn’t hang around to really spend time with him. He regrets giving her advice to seize what makes her happy. But I like his rueful grin at himself, while knowing that she’s got another guy on her mind.
Hi @agdr! Great if you can join us. I’m always going to be hours behind @pkml’s watch. I’m 12 clock hours away!!! However sometimes a Saturday morning – like now – is okay for me.
I’m watching this on kisskh.co
There’s this thing about being the oldest child – it comes up in the conversation between Driver Kim and Miss Choi. In poor families, it seems to be their duty to stop their education and go to work to earn for the family. However in Yeong Rye’s case, she’s the one sacrificing her education to earn so that her older brother can continue his studies.
It’s cute how we hear ‘Close to You’ each time Yeong Rye takes some steps towards Jae Pil.
She finally has his telephone number,… now will she have the courage to speak to the person on the other line. These are the old days when the calls go to the house and not directly to the person… could be quite frustrating LOL.
So JP runs out of school early and YR comes a few moments too late. But it’s good that she’s running after her happiness. Ironically it’s at the same time that JP is running after his happiness.
He has the money to spend on more than one expensive coffee, hoping to meet Jong Hui. The cafe owner loves him LOL.
Thanks so much @GB 😘 I hope you and the family are well. ❤️
I will join you definitely. I’m good with a Saturday morning rewatch too if ever. ☺️
So now BF Sang Cheol has a chance to spend a bit of time with YR. In a reverse trope, she saves him from a speeding bike.
So JH does come and JP is more tongue tied than he should be. He’s tying himself up in little lies like that he’s a regular at the cafe, and that he likes the music etc but he knows little about the group that they are listening too LOL.
Then the big lie… he wants to have a meal with her and lies that it’s his birthday!
@agdr, thanks for asking, we’re all good. I trust you and granny and all your family are well too.
Saturday morning rewatches – that would be great! Just let us know in the What are We Watching thread what you’re watching currently and we’ll see if we can synchronise and coincide with show and time. 🙂
I like the juxtaposition of meals … Sang Cheol’s easy going meal with YR as opposed to Jae Pil’s awkward meal with JH.
Poor SC asks if YR isn’t curious about him. All she can ask about is JP. However when SC gets a chance to speak about himself, he’s selling himself as ‘good husband material’ LOLOL. If a guy sold himself like that, I’d be interested. Yeah… let the husband do the housework!!
Meanwhile, JH can only talk about her BF YR to JP, and he also wonders if she’s not curious about him.
I like that he sees she’s not comfortable eating with knife and fork and joins in eating the pork chop like she does without cutting it up first.
JH starts to bond more with HP because they have stuff in common like no mum. Later on they discover they have other similarities.
LOL she brings him to Dongjin Departmental Store to buy him a birthday gift, but it’s his dad’s store LOL. He ducks down to hide when dad comes by… so JP and JH get to chat a lot more and she finds out it’s not his birthday.
Quick thinking girl realises that she should have gotten a gift from him instead of trying to give him one.
She’s shocked that the CEO hits JP, his own son. JP says his father was always quick tempered but his self-control seems to have gone after his mum’s death. So JP gets beaten a lot.
JH has good advice for JP. She notes that he’s in denial when he says he’s used to being beaten and its okay… She speaks from her own experience when she says to not hold it in/act tough, if you always pretend you’re fine, you’ll just fall apart all at once.
So the bond deepens.
I admire JP for trying again. He gives her his number again and admits tha she’d shot him down once so a 2nd time wouldn’t shock him. He admits to her directly that he wants to be with her. Nothing ambiguous about that. Perhaps our Jeong Hyun should take a leaf from his book and stop calling YR ‘Ugly’ as well as introduce a conversation where they could find out what they have in common. It’s only after that then it makes sense to tell her he likes her. If he tries now without the preliminaries, she’d probably bolt.
I love the mother-daughter scene. Mum finally has ‘heard’ YR a bit and shows some motherly care.
LOL the kiddy brother and sister… I laughed so much when they stared at the pumpkins as the means to get admission when they caged another omurice meal from JP’s mum.
So the side thread of Jong Hui’s past developing now. Her violent brother is close.
Now the important conversation between YR and Jong Hui. I like very much that JH tells YR about meeting JP and their conversation, and about who JP’s father is, etc. She notes that even with money he’s not happy.
YR hears that JP had given his number to JH again and checks on JH’s feelings about him again. This time JH admits that he does get into her mind and feels for him that he’s lonely. However she acknowledges that she’s not being honest with him.
In another great act of sacrifice, YR noting that JH’s feelings for JP have grown, decides to take over her shift so that JH can meet JP on Sunday. Immediately JH makes the call to set up an appointment with JP. She wants to come clean, but it’s his rude dad who answers the phone and she’s tongue-tied. Might be a foreshadowing? It’s not going to be so smooth sailing.
Second try and she reaches JP. I kind of wish that they could talk about serious stuff on the phone too, rather than wait to meet face-to-face. So much could have been accomplished if not for the delay in communication… but it’s a drama so … we have suspense building up.
I saw what happened next, @GB.
It seems like Ms. Choi will actually fall in love with him after:
seeing him play ball with the kids,
realizing that they have something in common: they have younger siblings,
and being protected by his jacket from the fumigation (??? like what is THAT?!).
The way he twirled his jacket before covering her with it is so over-the-top that I had to burst out laughing.
YR tries to wash away the balsam stain on her nails, taking back her right to pursue happiness!! As if to wash away all hopes with JP…. and as if he’s the only fish LOL. I guess it feels that way when a person is young and in the first flush of ‘lurve’.
@pkml3 … Yes, it’s interesting that her voiceovers are a one-sided conversation with Jong Hui. She says the 2nd person after herself whom she wants to be happy is her (JH). This does sound ominous.
She is looking back at her hundred memories of her past with Jong Hui and speaking with her as an absent friend in the future. So unlike the Reply series, we are not asking who the husband will be, but what happened to their friendship. Did JH die? This voiceover coming soon after we ‘meet’ the violent brother suggests that he might have something to do with JH’s disappearance in the time (not sure if it’s the present time or when that might be even) that YR is remembering her past.
@pkml3 Driver Kim is a sleazebag with the ladies, but he may have met his match with Ms Choi. Only she stood up to him and walked away. He’ll be more taken with her because she didn’t just give in coyly but told him where to get off. Yeah, I want to watch the developments between Driver Kim and Ms Choi.
@agdr03 and @GB,
It’s also on hitv.co but I don’t suggest using your laptop for opening that site because I don’t know how safe it is.
I use my ipad (or what I call my K-pad) for watching kdramas and cdramas.
Only Netflix and youtube are on my personal phone; iqiyi and viki aren’t downloaded on my personal phone for data privacy and security issues.
Ah, the Cinderella Pumpkin saga. Oh dear. Poor Sae Ri. I guess another foreshadowing of how our childhood dreams and romances may crumble.
And now the great cliff hanger ending … it begins so innocently and sweetly with YR admiring her friend JH for being so pretty. I noticed at once that JH didn’t wear her cap. So of course YR will bring her the cap and there will be a meeting or a seeing of something ‘by chance’.
Yes, I think this is especially true in Asian culture: the oldest child stops to earn for the rest of the family. Here, in the US, the kids are “on their own” once they reach 18. There’s no obligation or expectation to support the family. It’s up to them if they want to help out if there’s financial difficulties.
So, they may pursue postsecondary education (i.e., 2-year or 4-year college), find employment, learn a trade, join the military, become an apprentice, or bum around.
Yes, the Asian expectations of the eldest child … fortunately for my husband, he was able to complete his studies before supporting his sister for her overseas studies. Pity that didn’t land her a job though. In a drama, the eldest might never let it go that after spending all those savings on the younger ones, the younger sibling(s) still didn’t make good or having made good, never paid back. LOL.
@pkml3 About being one step behind… several characters are a step behind.
At the end we see that by delaying telling JP the truth on the phone, Jong Hui is one step behind – ie JP finds out her secret before she can come clean. In the preview she says that it’s different when one is found out from one having confessed, even though the information given would have been the same.
Yeong Rye is definitely behind… maybe by more than one step, since she’s often hesitant and then regretful. If she had not waited until hearing Jeong Hyun’s advice to seize her happiness, she could have telephoned JP’s home earlier and run to the school sooner to catch him. Then he’d probably not have been at the Cafe and would not have met Jong Hui.
Sang Cheol was a step behind from the get go because YR had met JP first, when he’d saved her. (@pkml3, yes I think he has a messiah complex. Bound to be be misunderstood by all impressionable females).
Jeong Hyun is definitely behind because he’ll insist on calling YR ‘Ugly’ for far too long. It’s old and she dismisses him because he’s just oppa’s friend who’s eating at their family’s expense far too often. He should have asked her out long ago and given the family more gifts and stuff since he’s more well off. She might have looked more favourably upon him if he’d changed his tack.
Yeong Sik, brother of YR probably finds JH attractive, but as he’s not making any moves, he’s nowhere in the offing. As for with his sister, he’s way behind figuring out why she was sarcastic with him.
Violent Brother is just a step away from finding JH. From the Preview, next episode he’ll catch JH by the hair (Of course. That lovely long hair is just waiting to be pulled!) So what will be the reason for his ill-treatment of her: you’re my younger sister and will have to do what I tell you, you’ll have to earn money and give it to me,… stuff like that?
I like that although YR’s mum was a step behind in figuring out why YR had started behaving like a difficult teenager, she did listen and she did take action to show that YR was not just the eldest daughter.
I chuckled when Ms. Choi did not fall for the cheesy line of Mr. Kim. Bonding over similar life circumstances felt genuine.
Just stopping by to mention that there were many new developments in Episode 5, and also a cliffhanger ending!
My favorite scene is actually the scene with Daddy Long Legs (DLL) aka The Oppa’s friend aka what’s his name?
I have to write out their conversation…even if they don’t end up together.
****
Oppa’s buddy’s visit at the hospital
I’ll always forget his name, @GB! JeongHyun. JeongHyun. JeongHyun.
The mom discovers the first aid packet that YeongRye bought for JaePil after the boxing match. She also discovers the dry, reddened palms of YeongRye from doing laundry. So she puts two and two together, and applies the ointment on YeongRye.
YeongRye gets upset.
Maybe because her mom rifled through her things.
Maybe because her mom’s display of concern was “too little, too late.”
Or maybe because she didn’t want to be reminded of her foolishness in buying JP the ointment and bandage.
She snaps at her mom and runs off. But she meets JeongHyun at the door and he greets her in his usual way.
I really do think he’s funny. Because I grew up with boys/men, I can relate to his teasing. His banter doesn’t get my hackles up. On the contrary, I find it familiar and comforting.
JH: (beaming at her) Hey, Ugly!
YR: Oh, you came. Mom’s over there.
And she scurries away.
Oh, noooooooo! He came to see you, sweetie! Can’t you tell by his big smile on his face??
I like that he could read her mood in a nanosecond.
He hangs out with her mother for a while then goes in search of her in the waiting room. He hands her a blanket.
JH: Hey Ugly! Aren’t you cold? What are you doing? Is something wrong?
YR: No. Nothing in particular.
I think she said, “geunyang” which means “Nothing” or “For no reason at all.” It has the same energy as “I’m sad but don’t mind me.”
He just stares at her; he obviously can tell that she’s upset and is waiting for her to open up. She sees his look and begins talking.
YR: I…don’t like myself.
JH: Huh? Why don’t you? You’re nice and good at your job. You take good care of your siblings and treat your mother well. Wow! There’s not a single thing to dislike about you, from what I see.
See that? That’s what she’s been waiting to hear from her mom, and her brother. A bit of recognition, acknowledgement, appreciation, and praise all rolled in one.
JH: (adding) Except your face.
He snickers, and she pouts a bit. But you can tell that she isn’t hurt by his words.
Grrrrr. Why can’t it be this guy? Why???? He’s great for her.
To me, he calls her ugly for three possible reasons.
1. He likes her, and by calling her “ugly,” he attracts her attention. Negative attention is still attention; it’s preferable to being ignored.
2. He likes her, but he doesn’t want her to suspect it. He knows that, given their ages, it isn’t the right time and the right thing to do to show affection. So, he annoys her as a cover up.
3. He likes her, and the word “ugly” is like a dog whistle. He, and only he, can ever call her “ugly.” And whenever he does it, she responds to him. The word has lost its sting as it has become a secret code for just the two of them.
He continues….
JH: Ugly.
YR: (looks at him)
JH: If you read the Statues of the Republic of Korea, there’s an article in the first chapter. “All citizens shall have the right to pursue happiness.” But that article isn’t a promise made by the nation to ensure the happiness of the citizens.
YR: Then?
JH: Happiness is subjective. However happiness is defined by the citizens, the nation will help them in their pursuit of it. And that’s why it’s not “happiness” but “the pursuit of happiness.” What I’m saying is that the happiness is something you have to pursue yourself. If there’s something you want to do, do it. If there’s something you want, then do your best to attain it. With courage.
YR: (looks at the ointment and bandage in her hand)
JH: I don’t know what’s making you dislike yourself. But what are you pursuing—
YR: (standing up suddenly) Oppa. I…I have to go somewhere. Thanks for the talk.
JH: Hey, wait. Ugly! Ko YeongRye!!
YR: (running away)
JH: Gosh. The genre sounds like a romance. (suddenly thinking) Did I give unnecessary advice?
He obviously did. He just pushed her toward the Other Guy.
The reverse trope!
I chuckled when YeongRye grabbed SangCheol out of the way of the speeding motorbike and he said, “You’re my lifesaver.” All he needed to say was “Take responsibility of me!”
But he was smart enough to sense that YeongRye was more curious about his buddy than him, so he asked her directly if she had any questions for him. So she asked him about his siblings.
SC: I’m an only son. But my father is the youngest of four siblings. So we don’t have to worry about ancestral rites or anything like that. And in our household, the woman doesn’t lift a finger. The men do everything.
Lol. He was definitely getting ahead of himself. They were only sharing a meal together, but he was already planning marriage to her. He wanted her to know that she wouldn’t be mistreated by the in-laws or be burdened by his family’s expectations.
YeongRye was upset about being treated like a slave by her family. If she married into SangCheol’s family, she’d be treated like a queen. I think that’s a fair exchange of living situation.
As for JaePil’s lies…
I don’t like his character much so I felt secondhand embarrassment when he kept lying to impress YH.
Yes, I was grinning when SangCheol gave his “husband material” pitch. They weren’t EVEN dating!!
He should have added that his mother could beat up his father. Lol. That would definitely convince YR who generally wore the pants in his family.
Yes, it was nice of JaePil to eat the schnitzel (we had an episode about pork cutlets in “Bon Appetit”) in the same way as JH, instead of correcting her in public.
Yes, they forged a bond because of shared trauma: physical abuse.
Realistically speaking, however, a “trauma bond” isn’t viewed as an healthy foundation for a relationship, unless one of them gets therapy (both is better) in order to break the cycle/pattern of abuse. Sure, JH and JP can empathize with each other, comfort each other, and rely on each other but it will be like two people hanging on to the other person’s neck while drowning together.
yes, I burst out laughing (I shouldn’t have, though) when the half-sister found out that the pumpkin had been cooked into pumpkin soup. I could never eat rabbit stew because we kept rabbits and hamsters as pets when we were kids. It was like cannibalism.
This is great analysis of “One Step Behind,” @GB. You covered all the bases. Thank you!
Yes, the birth order also came up when SangCheol mentioned that his father, being the youngest of four siblings, didn’t have to bother about ancestral rites.
I guess, it’s the duty of the eldest son (or the eldest daughter is there’s no son?) to lead it as an act of filial piety.
Hmmm…I guess this is something I can ask my son’s father-in-law at Thanksgiving. He’s also the youngest in a family of 6. But I have to act nonchalant….
Thanks for the heads-up, @Snowflower. I’ll open the thread soon.
@pkm3 your son’s father in law is Asian? You want to act nonchalant so that he does not catch on that you’re checking up as research for your drama watching? LOLOL.
@pkml3 that pumpkin soup fiasco … poor Sae Ri must have been horrified and aghast that she was eating her own Cinderella pumpkin… what a betrayal by her mum!
Yes, it would have been far harder when we come to animals that used to be pets. So for our peace of mind, we must not keep cute chicks that grow into hens as pets!!!
In contrast to the way the relationship of Bully Bus Conductor and her BF blew up over a shallow flirtation, Yeong Rye’s and Jong Hui’s relationship strengthens over their shared liking of Jae Pil. The big difference was that they talked about how they felt with each other, and although not entirely honest, it was out of consideration for the other’s feelings. They also reported truthfully on their conversations.
Despite this, it remains to be seen if they could ever weather the storm that’s been repeatedly prophesied in voiceovers, should one of them end up with Jae Pil.
I have to agree that at this stage, other than being the one to save someone in need, JP has not revealed himself to have much of a personality, and is not convincing as a great catch. His only claim to it is that the girls like him. *sigh*