Prosecutor Princess: Episode 9

Who was expecting a straightforward answer for Hye-ri’s confrontation?

*crickets*

No one.

This episode takes off with In-woo saying that investigating doesn’t suit Hye-ri. But she has evidence. In your face, Stalkie! She shows the photo, expecting some kind of nervous response or an actual excuse, and is deceived. As she lists all the strange coincidences that have put them together in the past – the ski resort, the airport – he doesn’t really listen, instead his mind is busy figuring out what he’ll say to justify himself. At last, when she finishes her monologue, he not only says that he won’t explain anything, but also encourages her to find out what she is curious about, if she is that interested. Hye-ri can’t believe how this guy has the nerve to talk to her like that and is left speechless.

Contrary to that fierce countenance showed in front of Hye-ri, In-woo is in fact worried for being so careless, and when he arrives home, he remembers himself staring at those photos. How could he let this happen? Is Hye-ri making him dumber? He is not liking this; he’s put a hell lot of effort planning this revenge or call for justice, and can’t afford sloppy delays in its achievement.

Meanwhile, Hye-ri is on the phone, talking with Yoo-na and putting all the stuff In-woo bought for her in a box. She sounds super outraged and angry, asking rhetorical questions like who he is and why he is acting this way. Doesn’t he want to explain? That’s unbelievable! She opens the door with her foot (I know, useless detail, but it was so funny!), and goes straightly to In-woo’s apartment with the box.

BUT!

There’s someone watching her! What we know for sure, is that it’s a man. Another creepy man in her life? What is she? A creepy men magnet? Give that girl a break!

Hye-ri rudely throws the box into In-woo’s arms, while shouting like crazy. In-woo is not there, spiritually (?) talking, y’know; he looks at her, still stunned because of the photogate. She says big words about her being a prosecutor and willing to investigate him. Just wait for it, jerk!

Hye-ri returns home, and as she is with her creams and muttering to herself, cameraman shows us a small thingy (keys?) left there. All the mystery cracks me up, she should leave Korea as soon as possible; lots of people are entering her house as if it was a public shelter or something.

Next morning, Hye-ri realizes that she has forgotten to return the gas-bomb-recorder-clock, so In-woo’s voice wakes her up. Why didn’t she return it?

Right at In-woo’s apartment, Jenny inquires about the photogate, being a bit disappointed at his sudden stumbling tendency, which could ruin their case. He tells her not to worry, but she shushes him, saying that he came up with this plan, he should take responsibility for it.

Hye-ri goes and meets Yoo-na, who tells her the story behind the photo (which is different from the one that In-woo had… Uh, editing mistake or did Hye-ri purposely take that pic to confirm the date it was taken?): it was at the café they’re now. Exactly as my partner in crime kaedejun has pointed out, Yoo-na is the audience’s voice, excitingly concluding that it was a Grace’s blessing that those love birds met! Seo In-woo must be in love with Hye-ri, but it’s a one sided love or so she thinks. Hye-ri keeps telling that lots of weird things happened that were related to him, and Yoo-na defends him remembering that she couldn’t make it to the resort, it wasn’t his fault or intention (now we can laugh together, my friends, and imagine the moment in which she’ll recognize Jenny as the wealthy client who made her stay at her job the very same day all of this started). Anyway, Hye-ri won’t admit that she has a fan out there who she called when she was in distress, and blabbers about the airport, the move and the weird clothing. Yoo-na, previously I accused you of being generic and uninteresting, but you’re great at saying what we all think: if Se-joon was so cool for not forgetting about his wife, well, In-woo is really really really cool for being so in love with Hye-ri. What? She doesn’t know the whole story? LALALA I can’t hear you.

At this same moment, Mrs. Ha and his ex are fighting, he wants her to withdraw the accusation but she won’t give up. It appears that the money he gave her to buy the house has a illegal or shady origin, and if the prosecutor finds out, it could be a disaster! Even more, if he goes to jail, does she think that “that man” will let her go? This last threat leaves her troubled and us too… Who is “that man”? She knows that, but we don’t.

Se-joon is now handling a case that involves a former CEO of Brothers Construction Corporation, from the time they started building Nam Woo condominium complex. The man says that they were just subcontractors, so they’re not responsible for any bad construction. Then, who gave them the contract? Former CEO can’t remember, TaeJin or something? With this name, Se-joon investigates all the subcontractors and the winning company which built the Nam Woo complex (could it be Hye-ri’s father be involved? Jenny mentioned Nam Woo condominium while talking to In-woo).

Good news arrives at Hye-ri’s office regarding the car accident. Woo Sung-mi had bought three private insurances for drivers four months before the accident. One would be normal, but three? That’s absolutely strange. Hye-ri does her math: 3 insurances by $ 30.000 each, equals to $ 90.000! Yes! The amount used for the settlement. At first sight, she gains nothing from this; the only winner with the accident was Choi In-sook’s husband, who received $ 1,1 million. The problem is, In-sook’s life insurances were bought 3 and 5 years before, so there’s no abnormality there. Hye-ri asks for the cell phone record and the circumstances in which Sung-mi’s insurances were bought.

Writer In-woo is at his noona’s house, and asking why she withdrew the accusation. She makes up an excuse and implies that there’re hidden motives she can’t share; but he is pushy and will find a good lawyer for her case.

Just as she’s arriving home, Hye-ri sees a man who uses the same shampoo as her. He obviously is the Stalker #2, did he take a shower at her place? Eww. TALKING ABOUT CREEPY. I can handle In-woo because of his unhealthy cuteness, but not another one, who on top of that, belongs to the “sick stalker” category.

In-woo is not in the mood of being cool this night, so when Hye-ri asks him to meet her, he goes with his writer disguise. He is quite serious and hermetic while approaching her. Hye-ri, out of nowhere, wants to know how long he has been liking her secretly, and the reason why he helped her with Se-joon; to which he answers that he did it because she told him not to like her, to be just friends, so she doesn’t have to feel guilty.

Hye-ri: I said those things when I didn’t know anything. I understand how you feel, but this is too harsh and I can’t take it. So, I want to completely clean this mess up.

In-woo: How?

Hye-ri: Move away from here. Although you deny it, I know that you followed me here when I moved, so… Go back.

In-woo: Okay.

Wait… What?

This sudden comply, although it was what she was asking for, leaves her speechless for the second time in the episode. He has that effect on people. She tries to get to her senses, talking about the photo all over again; but he does what he usually does: whatever he wants. Henceforth, he doesn’t explain a thing, and instead, tells her that the famous photo should be his farewell gift, since it’s rightfully his. I love when his motives don’t make sense.

Hye-ri: How is it that it’s yours?

In-woo: You didn’t even know about that picture. So, how could it be yours? Give it to me.

Honestly, that would leave me speechless too. And not in a good way.

Let’s admit that she is disappointed, and while telling to herself that she pities him, she’s denying the fact that she actually doesn’t want him to go.

The following day, Sung-mi’s phone records have arrived, and after some analysis, Hye-ri discovers that there’s a number that was called very often. Who could it be? A lover is the most logical guess; but if they stopped talking four months ago, they must have broken up. Oh, the clues have not stopped coming, though. We learn that the insurance was sold to Sung-mi by an acquaintance of In-sook’s husband, whose number was the repeated one! Everything starts coming clear, and Hye-ri reports her new found data to Se-joon.

The final conclusion, according to Hye-ri, is that Sung-mi and Yoo-chul were lovers who conspired to kill the latter’s wife, and they played the first-time-met people when everyone saw them after the accident. While Se-joon acknowledges that she is pretty good, at the same time wonders where is the evidence. The conspiracy is solid and logical, but they must find the evidence – the phone calls are not enough, as it wouldn’t be an interrogation. She needs his help.

Just as she’s leaving, she has this wonderful idea: what about using the dinner coupon now? He’s startled at first, so she assumes that she’ll be rejected for the bazillionth time with a hysterical giggle. And then…

Se-joon: What would you like to eat?

Mission accomplished, Prosecutor Ma! I feel so happy for her. It was time that she had this date with her prosecutor crush; being treated coldly once more would’ve made her a downright pitiful person.

I’m torn between supporting and condemning what she does next. She goes to Jung-sun’s office and tells her about this change in his behavior, accepting (at last!) her insistent callings for attention. She thinks that she’s doing the right thing, though, being sincere and not hiding all of this from her rival. I understand her reasoning (what’s more,  I like and value her honesty), but I don’t know, Jung-sun’s position is awkward, too; she should have handled this with a little more of tact. Sometimes I forget we’re talking about Hye-ri, after all.

After giving his excuses to Prosecutor Jin, Se-joon goes out with Hye-ri, who is SO HAPPY, that she seems like a kindergarten child on a fieldtrip to a candy store. Se-joon asks about where they’ll eat, and she tells him to just follow her. He misunderstands her intentions, thinking that they’ll go in separate cars. Separate cars? What kind of date is that? Well, to be fair, Se-joon wasn’t prepared for a date, it was more of an “unbelievable promise with a clingy girl who won’t stop until I do what she wants”. Before dinner, they have to go “somewhere”, she informs.

Oh-God. What is this? Reality TV? In-woo is given a real time report about this (he must have a huge amount of friends), but doesn’t want them to be followed. This chat with Jenny, who was by his side, is a bit chilling.

Jenny: Ma Hye-ri must be doing well with Prosecutor Yoon.

In-woo: Is there anything that Seo In-woo can’t do when he puts his mind to it?

His words don’t have a correlation with his face. He’s worried and hurt (jealous, anyone?), even more that he would admit to Jenny or to himself. Jenny can sense he’s hesitating and lying, and for the moment, she can’t do anything but to be concerned.

Back with our “happy” couple, Hye-ri and Se-joon are enjoying a beautiful afternoon out, under the trees. Se-joon seems a bit agoraphobic, so he just wants to get to the point – let’s go eating and end this madness of a date. Hye-ri is tough, though, not wanting to let him leave, and invites him into her dream: walking down a cherry blossom path while holding hands. She tells him that the holding hands part is optional, and a somewhat odd discussion takes place. Se-joon mentions that he had previously done this kind of walking with his wife, thus putting Hye-ri in a difficult situation. In the end, they just avoid her dream and go for some dinner (don’t worry, kiddo, piggybacking with In-woo under the cherry blossoms was far more sweet!).

They end up in a restaurant on a boat, and Se-joon doesn’t hide his discomfort. Hye-ri says that he can’t have gone there with his wife, since she was there when it opened not long ago. Talking about his wife is not the most convenient tactic, Hye-ri. She had mentioned previously that she had 33 things to do with an eventual boyfriend, so Se-joon asks if this is one of them. “No!” she says, she eats at this kind of restaurants so often that it’s kinda sickening now. The question is, why is she taking him to a sickening place? It was an ex-boyfriend’s favorite. She says that she had many boyfriends, lots of them, so he doesn’t have to feel burdened by her; she has experience in the dating field (yeah, sure). Is this her way of catching a man’s attention? Finally, Hye-ri re assures that her relationship with In-woo is not real, they’re just friends that sometimes, if they’re bored, kiss. It’s-so-disturbing. She’s not eating, she’s just swallowing, nervously talking too-friggin’-much.

Well, that nervousness of her, added to the fact that they’re in a boat, makes her feel seasick, so she rushes out to throw up. Prosecutor Yoon follows her and pats her back gently. Suddenly, he shows us that he knows how to be touched and lovely, and smiles at her for choosing a boat when she is so delicate with the sea movement. She defends herself saying that, back then with her ex, she wasn’t this weak.

Night has come! And they return to the cherry blossoms path, but this time he chose it for her sake. It was her dream to be there, and he’ll help her, so he grabs her hand and goes for it (perhaps he’s having a weird “She is my wife” delusion? I don’t know, I liked this change in his attitude, but I’m afraid that it could be for the wrong reasons).

After this romantic evening (even the vomit had its share of romanticism!), they return home. While at the car, Hye-ri confirms that he hasn’t have to pick her up next morning, to which he teasingly answers that it wasn’t his intention to do it so. Before leaving, Hye-ri updates him, saying that In-woo is not a bad person or using her, as he had implied, it’s just that he liked her. In-woo might not be a bad person, but an omnipotent neighbor sure is, since he’s watching from his balcony, patiently and in the shadows.

Next morning, Hye-ri’s about to have breakfast when she finds out that some vegetables are missing. Stalker #2 must have had a healthy breakfast, too!

At work, Prosecutor Jin is totally uncomfortable around Hye-ri and Se-joon, who behave as if they had done some illegal thing. They just went out, for God’s sake! However, Min-suk, being as cool as always, tells Hye-ri that if two prosecutors date, one must get transferred. They’re so gossipy!

Regarding the Nam Woo complex case, there is a bankrupted company involved, but there’s something more, so Se-joon keeps on investigating it. The first step is to interrogate the CEO of said company, Go Man-chul. He’s contacted by the prosecutor’s office and what he does next is calling the person at whom every path is heading: Mr. Ma. The meeting between Man-chul and Prosecutor Yoon is settled for Monday.

The lawyer that In-woo offered Ha Jung-ran, was Jenny, who cancelled the lawsuit. She says that the two cases must get combined, because otherwise, Hye-ri will settle it with a fine. What’s more important is that if Jung-ran’s case is resolved by Hye-ri, Man-chul’s case won’t end up in her hands. In-woo tells her to wait until Man-chul surfaces.

Now, we get to a nice moment sharing a bit of Prosecutor Jin’s life. The recent developments in Se-joon and Hye-ri’s thriving relationship destroyed her self-confidence; so she leaves work early to take a look at her wardrobe (she’s already transforming herself into Hye-ri!). Her clothing collection consists on lots of suits and… A white informal dress. She puts it on, changes her hairstyle, takes her glasses off and looks cuter than ever. That cherry blossom path is her next stop, showing the world that she can be feminine without betraying her essence! I liked her previous style, though, but I also have to admit that compared to Hye-ri, she was justabit unattractive and dull.

Suspense kills us at Hye-ri’s house. She enters and feels that something’s off. Things are out of their places, the TV channel has changed, and A CREEPY MAN IS INSIDE HER UNDER COUNTER CABINET. She does what every woman would do: call In-woo. He comes to her rescue, and finds the guy.

In-woo and Hye-ri go with Stalker #2 to the police station, where he explains that he lived there while she was out, performing a weird redistribution of wealth by himself. He also states that it’s the 21^st century’s way, to share the living space, leaving the love birds and us startled. I mean, what the hell? Please, writers, I don’t understand the need for this ridiculous sub-sub-sub-plot. Perhaps making it clear that Hye-ri still thinks of In-woo as her benefactor and caretaker? Or that when she’s in need, she forgets about Se-joon and wants her cute neighbor to help her?

Thanks to Stalker #2, Hye-ri and In-woo have a chat at the kiss spot. He urges her to leave that apartment, she doesn’t carpool or date, what’s the point? There’s a point, one that has proven to be a total success. Hye-ri dated Se-joon; and after hearing this report, In-woo plays the surprised non-omnipotent guy part and confirms that he’ll move, since she doesn’t need him anymore. He is about to leave but she stops him – maybe… he hired creepy guy??? It’s surprising how she’s becoming more and more aware of his real character, even if it’s just unconsciously. In-woo feels offended and storms out. Is he upset because of the distorted image she has of him? Or because he’s also stalking and using her and is becoming disgusted at the reflection the mirror is giving?

As long as the status quo is mantained (or “until In-woo’s real intentions come clear”), Hye-ri can’t bear being in bad terms with In-woo, he’s always been there for her and she’s starting to like him. So, she’s been thinking about her request, and bumps into In-woo to tell him that it is not so necessary for him to move – it’s enough liking someone, making him move is too harsh. He quickly takes this chance to abandon his cold position, stating that he won’t move. As she’s leaving, he looks at her, feeling guilty for betraying her trust in such a way.

Upon hearing this piece of news, Jenny is surprised at Hye-ri’s innocence, believing In-woo and letting him off. He’s really mastered his ability to read her mind, too. Why could it be that she’s so different from her father?

In-woo: All children are a different face of their parents. They only appear different. Ma Hye-ri is Ma Sang-tae’s father.

You broke my heart, In-woo, you broke my heart. Tell me you don’t mean what you’re saying, so I can forget that evil glance of yours while talking about Hye-ri.

Cut to Sang-tae’s home. He’s having a tense discussion with Ae-ja. They look worried as he explains that he wanted to marry their daughter earlier, so they could have strong family ties which could’ve helped them at hard times like these. Sang-tae knew that this crucial day would come, and didn’t prepare himself accordingly. He even tells her that she should take responsibility now, since they’ve raised an independent woman who is single. What’s happening here? Hye-ri’s mum reaction is scarier that her husband’s, since she seems really shaky.

Se-joon’s investigation has turned on every party involved’s yellow lights, and Man-chul is shown packing to run away.

While all these events are unfolding, Hye-ri is questioning In-sook’s husband. He affirms that the first time he met Sung-mi, was the day of the accident. PLOP! Lier! Hye-ri is burning with indignation as she throws the phone calls record on the table. He justifies himself saying that he covered that info up because it would sound too coincidental that his ex had an accident, killing his wife. What’s more, they broke up four months ago. Hye-ri starts guessing and her final conclusion is that he killed her wife at home and framed it as a car accident (If she was already dead, there wouldn’t be that much blood on the road, would it?). He keeps on denying it. She has to continue her investigation; her evidence is not enough.

It’s the turn for the evil ex to be questioned. It’s at least curious that she moved the injured person by herself, not calling an ambulance or the police, even when she claims that it was the fastest thing to do. She goes all cynical, laughing at the accusations being made, and Hye-ri takes this as a personal offense to her position. She pushes the suspect a bit more, but Sung-mi won’t talk. Once again, she needs stronger evidence than what her guts are suggesting.

After talking to this upsetting pair of criminals, Hye-ri meets Se-joon at that room where they always chat about cases. He’s smiling at her anger, as in “She’s growing up” (aaawww, really, his smile is charming here). Discussing the case, they share an eureka moment: although the accident occurred in a CCTV free zone, she can check the ones from the stores on that road, to confirm that they were together in the car. Oh, Se-joon, you’re so proud of her! So, she has to watch every single CD from those stores, and it’s not an easy task, but she’ll do it for the sake of justice!

The vast chain of contacts of In-woo informs him where Man-chul is hiding; consequently he orders Jenny a careful control over his movements, nothing more. While he was still on the phone, he notices a seemingly dizzy, swaying Hye-ri arriving home. He attempts to call her by her name, but remembers that Jenny’s still listening, so he hangs up and goes to her rescue. She’s sleeping at the entrance of the apartment building, so he wonders if she’s sick. She asks about the photo, saying that if he doesn’t explain, he should stop acting as if he knew her. In-woo offers no answer, just a question – should he move? She can’t stand on her feet so, after catching her when she nearly fell, he accompanies Hye-ri on her way to her apartment.

Surprise! Mum’s at home. At first, she tries to hide, but when she hears that In-woo calls Hye-ri “sweetheart”, she can’t help it and faces them. In-woo you’re meeting your in-laws! Too bad they’re the people you hate the most in the world…

Hye-ri tries to explain that they’re not a couple (this is becoming a habit, huh?). He absolutely loves her attempts at being serious and conflicted about this usual misunderstanding. Ae-ja has scheduled a date for her daughter, and the wedding is already settled too! What??? Hye-ri doesn’t want it, she has two gorgeous men flying around her! So, mommy changes her focus, interrogating In-woo, who is delightful and very polite, putting her in his pocket when he addresses her as “mother”. He sure knows how to manipulate a feminine opponent! She holds his hands, being truly sorry about his motherless life.

This misunderstanding has become a real situation in mommy’s mind.

Ae-ja: Why do you like Mr. Seo?

Hye-ri: Mom, he… Seems like a Superman.

That sentence added to his adorable face while waiting for her answer, are just delicious.

Seeing her mother’s confusion, she explains. He always appears and helps her, he’s there when she needs him… Her mum is so excited about their story! More, more! Okay, he’s  entertaining and comfortable; he’s a great person (isn’t this a bit pitiful? Her future deception troubles me a lot).

In-woo’s guilt is disturbing him; Hye-ri tells him that she didn’t mention Se-joon because of what he’d told her about the responsibility of handling a man and his scares. Did she take his words that earnestly? He has that influence on her?

He can’t think in anything else, not even in his so much planned maneuvers. Jenny notices it when they’re at a bar, drinking, and urges him to delve deeper into their main object, Hye-ri. Manipulating too much? Jenny wonders why today he is so troubled, did something happen?

In-woo: Jenny, I want to stop.

Jenny: What?

In-woo: I don’t think I can do it anymore.

Jenny: Are you talking about Hye-ri?

In-woo: Ma Hye-ri is so… so bird brained. I can’t do it because she’s too easy.

Jenny: What are you talking about?

In-woo: I keep fooling her, yet she keeps on trusting me. She discerns the sincere words I’ve said at times amongst everything else. She keeps on picking out my sincerity. I’m going crazy, Jenny.

Jenny is blind with anger and beyond shocked. What is it that he wants to do with Hye-ri?

In-woo: I… want to do absolutely nothing.

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Cinderella’s Sister: Episode 11

Eun-jo breaks down in tears as she makes her wine offering to Dae-sung, finally using the word “appa” (Dad) and begging for his forgiveness.

Just outside the room, Ki-hoon hears her sobs, her emotion stirring his. So loud is her grief — finally given an outlet — that Jung-woo is able to hear her cries from outside, and it brings tears to both of their eyes.

Hyo-sun sits in the dark cellar, recalling Eun-jo’s taunt that she has succeeded with the yeast and therefore swooped in as savior.

She walks through the house slowly, surveying the surroundings. I suspect she is thinking how this all may be taken away if Eun-jo’s warnings come to pass and she is ejected by her mother.

Late that night, Jung-woo calls Eun-jo out — he’s leaving temporarily to train with the reserve forces. He figures this is a good time to go, since there’s no work for him at the factory anyway. Eun-jo tells him to be careful, and turns to go back inside.

Hilariously, Jung-woo hurriedly detains her — he’s been fumbling for an opening and jumps to say his piece before she leaves. He whips out a jewelry box and opens it to offer her the decorative pin inside, shaped like a crown, which he fastens on her shirt.

Jung-woo tells her to wear it while he’s gone, calling the pin “bread,” which is an offbeat and random comparison. He explains that wearing it will keep her from starving, which he means in a metaphorical sense as the pin will “protect” her.

Eun-jo lets out a small smile, and tells him, “Strangely, I want to believe those ridiculous, stupid words.” He tells her to take care, then heads out.

That softer attitude is still in evidence the next morning, when Eun-jo asks Hyo-sun if she knows where all the former workers live. Eun-jo is ready to reach out to them, and she waits while Hyo-sun goes in to speak with each of the ajusshis. Unfortunately, Hyo-sun reports that they are so affronted with Eun-jo’s behavior that they refuse to come back.

Here I’ll diverge from girlfriday’s comment in the previous recap about cutting Eun-jo some slack for her outburst to the men in light of her grief; I suppose you can label me the less sympathetic one, although I don’t think my comments have been unreasonably hard on Eun-jo. I think anybody who has suffered a huge trauma or is undergoing severe stress gets a general pass for temporary awful behavior, because pain and grief can spur us to some ugly places. But these men are not reacting to her momentary outburst — at least, not the words alone. They’re offended at what they have suspected all along, that Eun-jo views them as price tags, as animals to boss around and sneer upon. Yes, she is grieving, but her words wouldn’t have such a sting if that dictatorial tirade weren’t in line with the high-handed way has always treated them. And that lack of basic human respect is why they refuse to come back. (Note: I don’t mean that this is actually how Eun-jo sees them, but these men have no reason to cut her slack as Dae-sung or Ki-hoon do, and are judging based on what they see.) Until she can prove to them that she DOESN’T think of them in such a demeaning way, they see no reason to return.

Hyo-sun agrees with me, and calls Eun-jo out for only seeing those men as yeast-makers: “Do you know that the ajusshi who lives here is the father of our high school classmate Dong-soo?” We can see from Eun-jo’s reaction that she didn’t know, nor did she know that his grandmother is ill, and that his father always struggled financially to buy her medicine. Or that Dae-sung had given him extra work and paid him more because of his situation. Hyo-sun wonders how horrible Eun-jo’s actions must have been for that man — who needs money so badly — to refuse to return.

Eun-jo bears Hyo-sun’s reproof surprisingly well, keeping her head down and feeling some of the shame she hadn’t felt before. Hyo-sun tells her to give up thoughts of threatening the man into returning; she’ll ask her uncle to persuade them, as he is friendly with them. And if he can’t, Hyo-sun suggests gently that they handle the business as best they can among themselves.

I don’t think Hyo-sun expects Eun-jo to bend very much, but on the contrary, Eun-jo asks Hyo-sun to fill her in on everybody’s backgrounds. With that information, Eun-jo goes around offering small tokens according to the men’s preferences (sweets for one man, beef for another, tonic for the grandmother). Rather than trying to persuade them to come back to work, she simply gives her gifts, says she was wrong, and bows respectfully.

Ah, now this is an example of supplicating the Korean way. Humility toward her elders does more to mollify them than anything else she could have tried.

It’s a HUGE relief to see these sisters interacting without glaring, spitting, and hissing. On their way home, Hyo-sun has one thing to ask: What is she to Eun-jo? She wants to know for sure what Eun-jo thinks of her. Eun-jo eyes her warily, and returns the question by asking what Hyo-sun thinks of her.

Hyo-sun asks, a little scared, “Are you going to leave me?” Eun-jo isn’t the type to open herself up to possible hurt without first seeing if it’s worth the risk, so she asks, “Are you worried I’ll leave?”

But Hyo-sun would rather have her question answered first, and asks it again. All this constant fighting is exhausting, and she asks her sister if they can just act, however briefly, like they’re on good terms. Can’t she promise she won’t leave?

    Hyo-sun: “I wish someone would hold me, but Mom has changed and I’m so lonely. I think it’s because the shock was really big for Mom, and things will improve with time. If I don’t think that, I’ll go crazy.”

Hyo-sun says pleadingly that she wants her relationship with Eun-jo to be warmer, for them not to clash all the time. For once, Eun-jo’s prickliness doesn’t get in the way of her true intentions, and she offers to give it a try. She clarifies that she’s not promising to be warm, but she will at least try not to oppose her.

Even that much is a huge gesture, and Hyo-sun is moved. It’s enough encouragement for Hyo-sun to link arms with her sister, and although Eun-jo quickly unlinks them, she doesn’t do it meanly.

Ki-hoon goes to the temple to beg for salvation, burdened by his sin against Dae-sung and the two sisters. The monk advises him to bow in prayer, and so he does — over and over, in endless repetition.

As he does, he thinks back to the day Dae-sung collapsed, when Ki-hoon had cried in the ambulance on the way to the hospital, begging Dae-sung not to die. His narration tells us, “However…”

“…even in that moment, I came first. I was begging that I wouldn’t commit a sin. The worry wasn’t for the man who was leaving.”

Briefly, Dae-sung had opened his eyes, and eked out his last words. Ki-hoon recalls in an anguished voice, “And even then — good lord — he said that it was okay.”

Now, Ki-hoon falls heavily, sweating and exhausted. He’s in pain from the hours of repetition, and with shaking limbs he gets back up and brings his hands back together in prayer. He asks bitterly, “How could he say it was okay? How?”

At night, Hyo-sun and Eun-jo brush their teeth in the bathroom, a bit uncertain with their tentative truce hanging in the air. Even when they accidentally bump heads when they both try to use the sink at the same time, they just eye each other warily, not wanting to break the peace.

Eun-jo looks in on the room shared by the two men; since she knows Jung-woo is gone, she’s clearly looking for Ki-hoon. Her face betrays her disappointment to find it empty (though I wonder what she would have said if he were there!).

At the moment he is slowly making his way home, his muscles rebelling from his day of repentance. He stumbles along, leaning heavily against the wall for support, when the sound of the creaking gate gets his attention. When he turns his head toward the noise, it’s the teenaged Eun-jo he sees. He envisions her as she did that long-ago night when he’d come home drunk and she had waited for him.

Again these two are on the same wavelength; her eyes likewise see the younger Ki-hoon, smiling at her just like he did on that night. She thinks (as she did back then), “He’s here. He’s smiling.” And Ki-hoon thinks, “She came out.”

His mouth upturns in the barest of smiles, and although he can’t quite wave to her as he did years ago, his fingers curl as though wanting to. Both his smile and wave are smaller gestures now than they were then, tempered by time and experience and pain, but no less meaningful.

While previously he had gestured her toward himself, now he only thinks, “Come here.” But she can’t hear his thoughts and turns to go back inside, so he blurts, “Come here,” stopping her.

He reaches out a hand to her, but that upsets his balance and he topples to the ground. Eun-jo races to him and helps him halfway up, though she removes her hand quickly.

As they crouch there together, kneeling on the ground, he says, “Eun-jo ya.” The words haven’t lost their effect on her, and bring tears to her eyes. With a pained expression, Ki-hoon tells her, “Now, I really can’t go to you. Things have made it so I can’t go to you.” Ah, finally a confession, and it comes by way of a rejection — how like this drama!

He continues: “I can’t go to you, but… but if you allow it, I… I’ll look after you two, as though bowing to you several thousand times a day. Like ajusshi. In his place.”

Eun-jo feels pain at his admission, her voice soft as she answers, “I never asked you to come to me. Because I never told you to come, I won’t ask why you can’t. I can’t understand why you would try to act in his place, but I won’t ask.”

She tells him not to do that for her, but to do so for Hyo-sun. She confesses that she has decided to stop being so mean to her sister, even though it’s not because she cares for her (so she says): “If I treat her warmly, I may be able to receive forgiveness, even just a little. If it’s possible, I want to give it a try. I really want to be forgiven.”

He thinks, “Yes, me too.”

As usual, Eun-jo keeps her composure until she retreats to her room, where she sobs alone.

Ki-hoon narrates, “And so that day, that awful girl cried for us for the last time.” And he does the same. (Why do I find this hard to believe? Just one episode without every main character crying — is that too much to ask?)

Kang-sook has difficulty sleeping, thumping her chest in annoyance at the suffocated feeling that keeps her awake. Perchance it is her conscience, but Kang-sook would never entertain that idea, and thinks it’s something physical.

Hyo-sun wakes up crying out for her father, and makes her way to Kang-sook’s room. She approaches quietly and lies down beside her, then tentatively lifts her arm to lay it across her mother’s stomach. For a moment you think Kang-sook will allow it, but she tells Hyo-sun to take her hand away, calling it disgusting. Understanding that she has been rejected, Hyo-sun gets up and leaves the room without a word.

At breakfast, Eun-jo wonders why her mother has only set the table for three places, appalled to hear that Hyo-sun has been told to eat by herself. Kang-sook blames her suffocated feeling on the aggravation of sharing her table with Hyo-sun, defending her choice by saying she’s not starving the girl. She just doesn’t want to eat with her.

Eun-jo asks her mother, “How many more sins do you want to commit?” Trying to get through to Kang-sook, she says she’s afraid that in a next life, she’ll be born as Hyo-sun’s mother — it’ll be her punishment for sinning so much in this life.

Leaving the table without eating, Eun-jo runs into Ki-hoon outside, who smiles at her, a touch of his old warmth back. She tells him to find Hyo-sun and make sure she eats breakfast, and to bring her to the winery.

There’s an aww moment when we next see the three sitting together in the winery as the former kitchen ajummas serve them breakfast. Kang-sook has driven them from her presence (either literally as with Hyo-sun, or indirectly as with Eun-jo), but it’s touching to see them come together, even if it’s ostensibly for work reasons.

They discuss business matters such as the problem of how to repay their elders. Ki-hoon instructs Hyo-sun to meet with them again, and tells her to be sure to tell them that her sister was able to reproduce her father’s makgulli exactly. Perhaps he’s not purposely being diplomatic (the decision is a logical one, regardless of diplomacy), but a nice effect of this is that both sisters are necessary components to the plan, and both contribute their strengths while the other makes up for what they lack. This is an example of what I think we’ve always wanted to see from these two — they can so easily bring out the worst in each other, but there is the potential for them to be complementary if they wanted to be.

With that decided, Eun-jo suggests they all eat breakfast. Hyo-sun proposes that they make bibimbap — which is, on a superficial level, a tasty thing to do with side dishes, but also a symbolic gesture. Bibimbap is a way of sharing their breakfast equally, since they mix all the ingredients together and then eat out of the same bowl.

When Ki-hoon moves to add more gochujang (hot paste), Eun-jo blocks him. (Ah, there IS that drawback of sharing bibimbap — everyone’s spiciness levels must be in accord!) Hyo-sun shoves his spoon in Ki-hoon’s mouth (eliciting a smile from Eun-jo), then moves to feed Eun-jo the next spoonful. It seems Eun-jo won’t eat it so Hyo-sun starts to take the spoon away, but Eun-jo grabs the spoon back and takes the bite. She even moves to wipe some food from Hyo-sun’s chin, although she doesn’t actually make contact because their attention is diverted by the sound of men’s voices outside.

The three look out in surprise; the noise comes from the chatter of the factory ajusshis on their way back to work. One of the men eats one of the candies Eun-jo had given him and smiles at her; she bows to them in return. Hyo-sun is more expressive, and thanks her uncle in particular, who had a key role in convincing them to come back. The leader tells Eun-jo gruffly that this isn’t the result of her bribe; they’re not people to be so easily bought. They returned because she apologized. Eun-jo nods respectfully, grateful and relieved.

This is the thing about Korean ajusshis and ajummas (many of them, not all) — if you disrespect them they will bear that grudge for ages and teach it to their children and their children’s children. But if you humble yourself and earn that respect back, that’s all water under the bridge.

Ki-hoon puts a hand on her shoulder in approval. Hyo-sun turns back to see this moment, but rather than making a big fuss, she takes a moment to gather herself and puts on a rueful smile. She approaches them to get back to business — now they can start making yeast again, but who will preside over the ceremonial rites?

Ki-jung visits his father to discuss Ki-hoon’s lack of response regarding the scam with the Japanese exports. President Hong asks sardonically, “Do you think we’re on the same side?” Ki-jung answers that Ki-hoon probably thinks he can’t reveal the truth to Eun-jo and Hyo-sun when he’s the half-brother of the culprit. Although Ki-jung had prepared for a legal battle, he may not need to now.

President Hong hints that Ki-jung must have come for a different reason, and Ki-jung’s expression darkens as he glares. He says, “Father, you’re a truly bad person.” And then, betraying the first hint of emotion we’ve seen from him, he says that he had felt anguished when Ki-hoon’s mother chased him and collapsed, and later died. But Hong used that to provoke Ki-hoon? With an edge in his voice, he tells his father darkly, “I respect you. I’ll become bad, too. I’m curious to see how bad I can become.” Aie, I’m not! Also: Does this mean that Papa Hong is the ultimate baddie after all, and not Ki-jung? Also again: If only dads weren’t such assholes to their children, so many Korean dramas would lose their raison d’être.

The workers gather to discuss who will take Dae-sung’s place in the ceremonial rites. Ki-hoon makes a few suggestions which seem more diplomatic than anything, as both the leader and Hyo-sun’s uncle are flattered to come up as possibilities. He asks Hyo-sun to name the person, feeling she is the most appropriate person to decide, and gives her a day to think about it.

Hyo-sun is ready now, and after gaining everyone’s agreement to abide by her decision, she names Eun-jo.

Eun-jo protests, arguing that she can’t dare take Dae-sung’s place in this, the winery’s most important activity.

Hyo-sun agrees that she doesn’t like the idea of somebody taking her father’s place, but she thinks her father would want Eun-jo to do it. She adds ruefully, “Saying this makes me feel wronged too, you know — why it’s you and not me.”

Ki-hoon applauds the selection, and the others join in.

Hyo-sun’s uncle waits till afterward to talk to Eun-jo, beating around the bush before getting to his point. He reminds her that he was quite important in bringing the workers back, as though to defend his worth. Her mother keeps pressuring him to leave, but he has nowhere to go and has lived here his whole life.

Eun-jo hadn’t known this and tells him he doesn’t have to leave, which surprises him — he’d been preparing to argue his point. She says she’ll have a talk with her mother, and even corrects herself by using the polite version of “I” (she starts by using the casual form, then switches to the polite, as she did back with Dae-sung when he had admonished her to respect her elders).

Entering the house, Eun-jo hears a crash of dishware and her mother yelling. In her mother’s bedroom, Kang-sook berates Hyo-sun, who kneels to pick up the broken cup. Trying not to act upset (but clearly shaken), Hyo-sun explains that since Mom has been complaining of feeling suffocated, she’d brought her some tea. As she picks up the pieces, Kang-sook yells shrilly, “Get out right now! I can’t stand the sight of you!”

Eun-jo glares at her mother, then orders Hyo-sun to stand and follow her out. She calls Ki-hoon to instruct him not to go to sleep yet, as she’ll be sending Hyo-sun to him. She tells him to wait outside and be ready to comfort her.

Eun-jo asks why Hyo-sun keeps going to Mom foolishly. Hyo-sun says that she misses her, and thinks of how Mom used to pat her hair and comfort her in the past: “Mom’s being like that because she’s lonely, and I’m lonely too. So I think it would be good to be together, and even if she hates me for a while right now, I think maybe if she keeps seeing me, she’ll start treating me well.”

Sick with pity, Eun-jo asks, “Are you dumb?” She tells Hyo-sun to avoid Kang-sook for “a little while.” Hyo-sun can eat breakfast with Eun-jo at the winery and come home late, and “soon, things might get better.” Of course, Eun-jo knows they probably won’t, but she also knows that’s not the way to convince Hyo-sun.

But Hyo-sun doesn’t believe that and asks, “Am I a child?” To Eun-jo’s shock, Hyo-sun tells her that se started to catch on years ago — she could tell Kang-sook was different when Dae-sung wasn’t around. “I knew, but it didn’t matter… If I like her, it doesn’t matter.”

The words hit Eun-jo hard, because not only is Hyo-sun not the silly idiot she’d pegged her for, her words are exactly the same as Dae-sung’s when he’d told her he knew the truth of Kang-sook’s character. Hyo-sun adds that it’s okay if things never improve — it’s okay if she’s hated forever: “It’s okay as long as you don’t kick me out, or run away with Mom. Without you, Mom, or Jun-su, I’d really be alone.”

Eun-jo looks lost, tears streaming down her face. Hyo-sun approaches her and requests, “Just don’t leave me.” Which is, of course, another direct echo of her father.

Throughout this conversation, Hyo-sun has maintained a calm demeanor — it’s Eun-jo who is badly shaken — and she leaves the room calmly. But once outside, she starts to breathe heavily, falling to the ground and beating her hurting heart.

Eun-jo goes to her mother to ask — beg, even — that she treat Hyo-sun better. Her tone is imploring, but Mom neither notices nor cares, assuming that Hyo-sun asked Eun-jo to say that.

Eun-jo tells her they wouldn’t be good enough even if they bowed at Hyo-sun’s feet every day, begging her to understand: “Hyo-sun is her father. Do you really think he didn’t know anything?” He knew she was acting the whole time — and he loved her anyway, even though Kang-sook is someone for whom “hell would be too good.” And just like her father, Hyo-sun also said that it’s okay if Kang-sook doesn’t love her back.

Kang-sook goes about her toilette coolly, not even caring. When Eun-jo bursts out that you can’t find people like them in the world (meaning that they’re exceptionally good people), Kang-sook retorts, “I know, how stupid are they?”

Eun-jo sobs, “Mom, we can’t be like this! If we are, we’re not even human! I beg you, change your heart. If we don’t, I really think we’ll be struck by lightning!” Kang-sook yells back that they wouldn’t — who are they to send punishment their way? She mutters that she’s just holding out to send Hyo-sun off in marriage, when she can be rid of her.

Her mother’s callousness drives Eun-jo to desperation, and she starts pulling clothes out of her mother’s dresser. They’re only going to bring ruin to this house and must run away: “We can’t be in this house.”

Kang-sook grabs Eun-jo’s hands and gives her a fierce no — why should they leave? The three of them put together outweigh Hyo-sun’s inheritance. They will stay put and grab what they can!

Just as she had done when Kang-sook had been so flippant about “ripping off” Dae-sung, Eun-jo lets out a terrible, frustrated scream. Kang-sook tries to muffle her and warns her to come to her senses.

Eun-jo walks out into the courtyard a dull daze, sobbing. Ki-hoon is outside waiting as instructed; told to comfort Hyo-sun, he is here to comfort her instead.

Concerned, he asks what’s wrong. Between sobs, Eun-jo begs him to take her somewhere far so she can run away. It’s okay if she doesn’t get her forgiveness. No — forgiveness is out of her reach. “So let’s run away. Run away with me.”

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Prosecutor Princess: Episode 8

The insanely long, at-least-10-seconds-to-seal-one’s-love-forever kiss finally ends when In Woo sees Se Joon leave, and Hye Ri manages to pull herself away. (Note: even though Se Joon already leaves, In Woo still holds on to her as though he doesn’t want to end the kiss!)

She asks him what is going on through that crazy mind of his, and he explains he did it all for her and Se Joon – if Se Joon doesn’t respond to the kiss then he really is not interested. Hye Ri freaks that Se Joon could have misunderstood and starts running after him. But he is nowhere to be found.

To give Se Joon some credit, he is a bit shocked at the sight of Hye Ri kissing another man. (But it might just be because Hye Ri looks like his wife and it’s weird to see his “wife” kiss someone else.)

Hye Ri barges into In Woo’s apartment and demands to know why he did what he did. Se Joon wasn’t around, so was In Woo lying to her just to kiss her?! In Woo inverts that as justification for his action: if Se Joon ran away, then it means he really was jealous. His only motive is to help Hye Ri snag Se Joon for herself, so he has no hidden agenda. (Yeah right. If I were Hye Ri, I’d wonder, why are you working so hard to help me get Se Joon!? But I’m not her, so I just enjoy it…)

Hye Ri is mad at him, but she can’t really forget the kiss. In Woo is conflicted and mutters to himself, “Crazy.” He’s slowly realizing that he’s becoming more irrational around her.

The next morning, Hye Ri wakes early, and she bumps into a cool-looking In Woo in the elevator. She initially wants to take another elevator, but he grabs her hand and forces her to ride with him. He teases her for being super eager to know Se Joon’s reaction, so she exits and stomps down the stairs.

During the morning carpooling, Jung Sun comments that Bin looked pretty glum after her weekend with Papa, and Se Joon looked pretty stern. But he says he always looks mean. Jung Sun says he’s cuter when he smiles, which confuses Se Joon because she rarely talks like that. And this is how Hye Ri is rubbing off on Jung Sun…

They arrive together at work, and see Hye Ri snooping Se Joon’s office to see if he’s arrived yet. She covers her tracks and says she’s really looking for Jung Sun, covering for herself by asking about the autopsy case. (Turns out the woman died from foul play since her rib damaged her lung. Suspect #1: her fiance).

Se Joon’s non-reaction to her makes Hye Ri think that he didn’t see the kiss. However, it frustrates her even more because she gave him the Superman coupon and can’t figure out whether or not he saw it. She vents her anger towards her new case about a car accident, questioning why the perpetrator and the husband of the victim settled so quickly. Asking more questions shows her growth as a prosecutor because she is no longer just taking in the facts. She wants to know more about the circumstances surrounding the case and questions every detail so that she can get it right.

Meanwhile, Jenny and In Woo work on their case with the defective apartment buildings. The lady who brought the case to him is extremely thankful. On the side of his store-owner-unni Ha Jung Nan, she is selling off her liquor store when she finds out that her abusive (ex?) husband put her house up for sale without her knowledge. She calls up In Woo right away, who changes into his “writer-disguise” in the back of his car, and rushes over right away. He tells her to make a clean break and bring up a lawsuit against him. If she doesn’t, she’ll be stuck in a vicious cycle.

Hye Ri mopes to Yoon Ah, who becomes the voice of the audience. Yoon Ah asks if the lawyer really likes her because he kissed her. Hye Ri doesn’t believe it. Yoon Ah then asks how the kiss went – even if it was forced, the feeling is different depending on who it was… unless Hye Ri’s just freaking out over a peck. (Oh no my dear, it was SO NOT a peck). She points out that if Hye Ri really hated it, she would rather think of it as a peck than a kiss. GOTCHA!

Yoon Ah points out that all she has to do is visit Se Joon’s mailbox to see if he really saw the coupon or not. So Hye Ri goes to the mailbox and sees that the mail was taken out; Se Joon definitely saw the coupon. She confronts him the next day and he is forced to admit that he saw the coupon too late. Therefore, he did see the kiss. Hye Ri freaks and tells him that In Woo is just a friend, but Se Joon doesn’t care. He does give Hye Ri another chance to use the Superman coupon though (aww – he’s not completely cold-hearted)

Now it’s time for her new case: the car accident. The woman who was driving the car, Woo Sung Mi, was getting off her night shift, and because she was tired, she sped home. She didn’t see Choi In Sook come out and jaywalk until it was too late. Woo Sung Mi struck Choi In Sook, and immediately brought the bloodied woman into the hospital. However, by then, Choi died. Choi’s husband was distraught, but Woo settled the case with $100,000 just three short days after the funeral was held. Hye Ri questions whether Woo was being unobservant on the road because of her exhaustion, and wonders why they settled the case so quickly. In addition, Woo had procured the funds pretty quickly by using her own savings and insurance money.

Investigator Cha and Jung Hee think that Woo might be telling the truth because she’s so calm. However, Hye Ri is intent on being suspicious.

When she arrives home, In Woo is waiting for her and asks if she confronted Se Joon yet. She says that no matter what, what In Woo did was wrong. He could have kissed her anywhere else, or faked the kiss. In Woo says, “In order to fool a person, you need to do it for real. It was a real kiss but it’s not really a real kiss.” OOOOOOOOOK – if that excuse to kiss Hye Ri makes you happy…!!!

Hye Ri announces that Se Joon wasn’t jealous at all, and so In Woo inverts it again: she knows way too little about men – outward jealousy is not everything. He promises to help her pack another lunch if she treats him to a meal. He suggests Thursday, but she has something else to do…

Thursday, she has to go investigate the locations where the victim Choi visited and was struck. In Woo catches her at the parking lot and tells her to go in his car. *Warning: In Woo’s logic made no sense at all, and I don’t think it’s really supposed to*

    In Woo: Let’s take my car. That person might also have a grudge. What if she follows you again?
    Hye Ri: I won’t fall for that again.
    In Woo: You’re exactly a ghost’s ideal type.
    Hye Ri: But…why?
    In Woo: You’re pretty. You’re fancy. You’re absent-minded and naive. You have everything that ghosts like. We have to go by my car so that the ghost would follow me to my house.
    Kaedejun: HUH!?
    Hye Ri: Really?
    In Woo: Really…what do you mean by ‘really’? Do you know how secluded that place of the accident is? You said you’re also going to a temple. It’s not ghosts we should be afraid of, but people. You have no fears.
    Hye Ri: What is he talking about?
    Kaedejun: DITTO.
    In Woo: Let’s go!

They arrive at the scene of the crime and In Woo helps mark out the spots where the victim was standing, where the car braked, etc. Hye Ri wants to do a test-drive to see how Woo would have reacted, and they can’t figure out why she was driving so fast in the first place. In addition, it looks like Choi may have not just “popped out,” but that Woo was really at fault. To test out this theory, they must reenact the scene.

In Woo yells, “NO!” He’d rather wait for her to get a dummy doll for the reenactment, or wait for the accident report. But Hye Ri doesn’t want to wait that long – besides, it’s not like she’s asking him to hit her. She quickly scrambles out of the car and In Woo has no choice but to follow…

However, as he drives towards Hye Ri, he gets a flash of a vision of a bloodied woman on the ground. Before he even reaches Hye Ri, he brakes suddenly.

In Woo gets out of the car, ready to yell at her, but she talks over him. In Woo braked way before he even got near her, while Woo had braked only when she hit Choi. Therefore Woo was speeding, and it was not solely Choi’s fault for jaywalking. She’s so excited that In Woo can only threaten her, “Do that one more time…!”

They head over to the temple to speak to a monk, who says that Choi visited twice a week because she had marital problems. Her husband had a mistress and wanted a divorce. The husband settled it with Woo so quickly because now one of his problems had been eliminated. While this has nothing to do with Woo, at least Hye Ri knows that the husband lied.

As they walk back towards the car through the woods, Hye Ri breaks her heel. In Woo graciously offers his shoes to her, and if she doesn’t want it, he’ll give her a piggy back ride. Of course, she chooses the shoes. But later on, In Woo steps on a small wood splinter and hurts his bare feet. He wraps it with his handkerchief, so Hye Ri gives him back the shoes instead, and rides piggy back.

The walk is long, and In Woo says it’s because he expanded the road. She wants to get back more quickly; he tells her to shut up so that he’ll move faster. (AWWW – so this is how you kids flirt huh?)

At home, Hye Ri is excited to figure out the order of the investigation, but In Woo wants to eat first. He goes to her bathroom to wash his feet, leaving behind bloody footprints that do not escape Hye Ri’s attention. When he checks her fridge however, all she has are tomatoes and melons and salad. Time to go grocery shopping!

He purchases actual kitchen supplies, to Hye Ri’s surprise, because he reasons, “They’re things needed in a place where a human lives, not rabbits.” She notices his limp becoming more pronounced, and sneaks off to purchase medicine.

When they return home, she presents the band-aids and ointment. He’s surprised, and looks at her completely startled and touched.

    Hye Ri: Why are you looking at me like that?
    In Woo: Ma Hye Ri bought it.
    Hye Ri: If you’re going to cook while standing you should at least put on a band-aid…Why do you keep looking at me like that!?
    In Woo: It’s surprising. Without me saying anything, you knew that I was hurt.

Hye Ri brushes off this moment and plops herself on the couch to wait for the food to be made. In Woo takes the opportunity to complain about his foot and asks that she cook instead. She doesn’t know how to cook – ok, how about ramen? – she doesn’t know how to make ramen.

Cooking Lessons with Seo In Woo begins! He guides her step by step in making ramen, and I think In Woo just enjoys bossing her around. Having been a success, she eats her salad and watches enviously as he slurps up the ramen. In Woo takes note and offers it to her. Hye Ri says, “Only a bite.” But we all know that when a girl says “one bite,” she doesn’t really mean one bite…well, I don’t…

Meal done, they discuss the case, and In Woo falls asleep fairly quickly on the couch. Hye Ri is so engrossed with insurance laws that it’s very late before she finally notices that he’s asleep. She tries to wake him up to make him go home, but he is completely passed out. Knowing that it’s partially her fault because he had to carry her, she lets him catch some z’s.

Soon enough though, he starts shaking and has a nightmare. Images of the bloody, dead woman on the ground reappear, and In Woo tosses around like mad. Hye Ri tries to calm him down and tell him that it’s just a dream. She grasps his hand, and he holds on to her tightly like a child. He doesn’t let go of Hye Ri’s hand, and she has to gently pry herself away, noting that he’s not as cool as he really seems.

The next morning, In Woo’s alarm clock wakes her up, and next to it is a prepared breakfast of sweet potatoes, salad, and a smoothie for her. They bump into each other at the front of the apartment and she thanks him. Devilishly, he jumps into her convertible and asks/demands that she drive him to the courthouse. As they drive up to Hye Ri’s building, who should see them but Se Joon, Jung Sun, and Min Suk. Se Joon watches suspiciously as In Woo leaves in the opposite direction. He realizes later that In Woo was fighting in the fields along with him during the gambling case.

The Fraudulent Ajumma Hwang Soo Ja returns for another round of questioning – another lawsuit has been filed against her. But Hye Ri notices the clip that Hwang Soo Ja is wearing in her hair. She asks where she got it, and Hwang Soo Ja says she bought it cheaply at Dongdaemun Market last summer. However, Hye Ri points out that it’s a limited edition Gioberni – only seven of them exist and they were sold out the day it was released – which was in February. How does Hye Ri know this? because she missed out on buying them – she had gone to the shoe auction instead.

Hwang Soo Ja immediately changes her tune and says that ‘Bang Unni’ bought it and gave it to her as an appeasement. But Hye Ri just smiles and tells her team to call up the department store and get the list of names of the people who bought the clip. Then we’ll see if Hwang Soo Ja’s story really holds.

GO LEGALLY BLONDE MOMENT!

Hye Ri takes out all the other prosecutors to a nice Korean restaurant for lunch to celebrate her success. Prosecutor Chae laments that it must be so nice to be able to afford to treat the entire team every time she wins. Jung Sun asks how it happened, and Hye Ri unabashedly praises herself for knowing about fashion – isn’t she impressive? And since she’s treating, doesn’t the food taste better?!

Se Joon agrees that it does, and Jung Sun smiles at Hye Ri’s achievement. She’s probably thinking, Hye Ri’s like a child…so harmless…

After lunch, Se Joon requests a private coffee break with Hye Ri, and he takes her outside. Everyone becomes curious about their relationship. The Chief notes Jung Sun’s expression and says that it’s not really what it seems – it can’t be.

True enough – it isn’t. Se Joon just wants to point out to Hye Ri that In Woo isn’t who he says he is. He asks if they’re really just friends, and if so, did Hye Ri know he came from America? She says she doesn’t pry into others’ lives unless they say something. Se Joon also asks why In Woo helped her so much with the gambling case, going to the extent of fighting the hoodlums? He warns her that In Woo is the type to use people so he can win his cases – he’s even bribed a witness before. “I don’t think he is someone who would be good to you for no special reason.”

DUN DUN DUN. The seeds of doubt are planted in Hye Ri’s head.

Hye Ri drives home and sees In Woo changing into his disguise at the back of the car. She wonders why he dresses so differently.

In Woo meets Ha Jung Nan and she confides that she’s thinking of dropping the lawsuit – her husband is giving her a hard time. In Woo tells her that if she thinks it’s best, then do so – he only wants her to be happy and find a man who really loves her. However, he also grips his hands tightly, as though hoping his unni won’t drop the lawsuit just yet.

At that moment Hye Ri calls him up to check on him. He asks, “Why are you acting like my wife? We’re not in a relationship to ask and answer that.” She makes up an excuse about wanting a favor and then camps outside waiting for him to return. But she misses him driving back in, and so she cannot confirm her weird suspicions.

Instead, Hye Ri goes up to his apartment and begins her interrogation:

    Hye Ri: Lawyer Seo, you came from America?
    In Woo: You didn’t know that?
    Hye Ri: You didn’t tell me that.
    In Woo: You must not have asked me. I don’t talk about myself unless someone asks me.
    Hye Ri: Since when did you start living in America?
    In Woo: I went to the U.S. in 6th grade. Four months after moving there my mother was killed in a car accident. I lived with my father.

Slowly – In Woo is becoming clearer…

Hye Ri asks why he took the bar exam in Korea, and he sidesteps it by saying, “Someone I know who hazily went to the fashion school and the law school here also passed the bar exam.” Hye Ri defends herself by saying she didn’t sleep for more than 2 hours studying before the exam; In Woo says he must be smarter since he slept 4 hours!

She keeps asking why he returned to Korea – without his father too – and he wonders why she’s so curious all of a sudden. Hye Ri reasons that he knows far more about her than she thought, and he tells her that she knows all his important aspects: his personality, face, and temper. Oh but there is SO. MUCH. MORE to a person!

In Woo figures out that Se Joon must have put doubts on her mind and he shrugs it off – Se Joon isn’t supposed to like him anyway.

While Hye Ri mulls over In Woo’s responses, In Woo takes out a bunch of photographs. Most are of people who are probably witnesses for that big, mysterious case he’s working on, and the others are of Ma Hye Ri throughout her adult life. He puts them away, but misses one picture stuck underneath the rug…

The next day, Hye Ri meets with Ha Jung Nan. The woman’s husband Go Man Chul is also present for questioning. They are at her office in regards to the apartment contract, but Ha and Go can’t stop bickering amongst themselves over who really owns the land. Ha accuses Go of not buying the land with his own money in the first place.

Cut to Hye Ri’s father (who reprimands his wife for eating so much) – and it looks suspiciously as though he is involved…

Hye Ri goes up to In Woo’s apartment that night to pick up a law book to borrow, and she spots the photo of her under the rug. She doesn’t say anything because she wonders why he has her photo, when Jenny enters the apartment. Hye Ri is shocked to see another woman, while Jenny is wondering why Hye Ri is there. Hye Ri rushes out, taking the photo with her. (Turns out – the photo was taken during the time of Yoon Ah’s birthday, when she didn’t even know In Woo yet. This puts a suspicious light on all their interactions.)

Jenny notes that In Woo is hiding a lot of things from her now, and he says it’s only because a lot of unexpected things started to happen – including being neighbors. Jenny knows that there’s more to it – that he might be falling for Hye Ri – but she hadn’t told him anything. In Woo wants to keep it that way – and he can deal with it. Jenny leaves him with a couple of warnings: 1) he doesn’t have much time left, and 2) it’s Ma Hye Ri! (The way she says it makes it sound like Hye Ri is forbidden territory).

He walks her out, and Hye Ri follows him outside. He’s surprised to see her out so late.

    In Woo: You were startled because of Jenny earlier, right?
    Hye Ri: Mr. Seo In Woo. Exactly who are you?

Yes – who are you In Woo!? aberdeen_angus will enlighten us!!
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Cinderella’s Sister: Episode 10

Eun-jo is busy fielding work calls, even in her mourning clothes. She’s got the thousand-yard stare going on, grasping at anything work-related to keep her busy, and her mind off of reality. Jung-woo tries to get her back in touch with the present—they’ve got a funeral to attend, but she’s clearly not mentally with us.

At the funeral, Jun-su and Kang-sook stand vigil, as Jun-su bows to all the mourners. (In Korea the patriarchal system is very rigid for ceremonies like funerals. The eldest son is the chief mourner, who stands by the deceased night and day for three days, while daughters are relegated to the background, which is why neither daughter is standing here.)

Jun-su is confused, as a child of his age should be, while Kang-sook is genuinely upset. That is, until Auntie Shaman/Priest shows up, out-mourning her, and oh my goodness, are we really going this route for the funeral? To the funny place? I did not expect to be laughing…

But here we are. Kang-sook throws herself onto Dae-sung’s aunt, not to be outdone at her own husband’s funeral. She flails about, half-choking the poor woman, who in return can’t get free from Kang-sook fast enough. They wail side by side, still hating each other, and it’s funny because the whole funeral’s got this dark comedy bent to it, with the wife who’s more concerned with keeping up appearances, and the son who just looks at everyone quizzically.

In Hyo-sun’s room, things aren’t quite so light. She drinks straight out of a large makgulli jar, trying desperately to get drunk. Ki-hoon watches her from a distance, then finally intervenes to try and stop her from drinking anymore. She spits out: “You won’t let me lean on you! Why are you taking away my liquor?!” Damn straight!

Hyo-sun tells him to get out and take Eun-jo with him, blaming her for pushing the deal and causing Dae-sung’s heart attack. Ki-hoon’s heart breaks as he thinks to himself in voiceover: “It wasn’t Eun-jo. It was me. I did that.” But he can’t bring himself to say it, of course. Hyo-sun lashes her hurt towards Eun-jo, as Ki-hoon embraces her, saying, “Let’s send ajusshi off well.” She cries out: “I can’t do that. How? To where? How can you send him off, oppa?” Oouff. I feel like someone punched me in the gut.

Eun-jo and Jung-woo make their way to the funeral, but she can’t bring herself to face it. She turns back around, making excuses about work…but Jung-woo grabs her by the arm, saying, “Noona, get it together!” Love this kid. And here their dynamic has a pronounced shift, if even for a tiny moment. Eun-jo is the vulnerable child, not knowing how to deal, and Jung-woo tells her what she needs to do, every step of the way.

He appeals to her family pride, saying that Gu Dae-sung’s funeral is a mess, which works to give her something to focus on (she’s a taskmaster at heart) and keep her tethered to reality. It also forces her to say the words: “Gu Dae-sung” and “funeral,” letting the truth sink in.

He asks one last time if she’s got it together, and then smoothes the hair out of her face. It’s a touching gesture because he’s calling her noona, but acting like the oppa here, and he’s looking for nothing in return but the chance to be there for her. She looks up at him, but says nothing. She braces herself, and walks inside.

Presumably days after the funeral, Ki-hoon goes to see big brother, and in turn doles out some of the blame onto him. Not all of it, mind you—he still feels very much the one responsible for Dae-sung’s death, but he’s come to tell Ki-jung that his plan was just to stop Ki-jung from acquiring Dae-sung Co., not take it for himself. He knows no one will believe him now, but his plan was to give it back once he had gotten it. Uh…then what’s all that with your father? And does that mean you’re not in hostile takeover mode anymore? Because I don’t think that’s the case…

Ki-hoon then switches gears to blame Ki-jung for his own mother’s death. Wait. Daddy Hong told you that Ki-jung, who at the time was also just a child, made your mother run (when she wasn’t supposed to), causing her to die? Who would blame a child for that? Not that Ki-jung isn’t a baddie now, but how can you hold him responsible when he was just a child? Daddy Hong might be the devil.

But now Ki-hoon knows what that feels like—because in trying to keep Ki-jung from getting what he wanted, he caused the death of a man. He says that he won’t forgive Ki-jung or himself: “Now I really can’t ever go back to who I was before.” Oh dear. I know I’m not the only one who was hoping you’d drop the corporate espionage and black suits and go back to the flannel-shirt-wearing oppa who used to jabber on about your favorite artists. Is he dead now?

Ki-hoon challenges his brother that Dae-sung Co. won’t die like this—it’ll survive, and he’ll ensure that Ki-jung never gets his hands on it. It’s basically like, thank you for the wake-up call; now you’ve awoken a monster. Ki-jung asks what he’ll do if he doesn’t lay off. Ki-hoon: “I’ll take you down with me…and we’ll die together.”

At home, Kang-sook is in the throes of schizophrenic grief. One second she’s rifling through her bank statements and marriage papers, in fear that it’ll all disappear, and then the next second she’s in tears thinking of Dae-sung and feeling all alone.

Eun-jo meets with the town elders who had lent money, and tells them that half the shipment to Japan was sold to another buyer, while the rest got shipped back, and half of that turned into rice wine vinegar, while the rest…she drank. Haha! No one laughs at her joke, not knowing that she’s ever said a humorous thing in her life (this may be the first).

They get upset when she tells them they won’t be paid back right away. She tries to assure them it won’t be too much longer, but they worry what Dae-sung Co. will be without Dae-sung, especially since the whole brand’s distinction is its particular taste, which is something only Dae-sung could produce. Eun-jo tells them that they’ve graduated from lenders to shareholders—now they’ll own a part of the company and reap profits when the company turns back around.

Jun-su has been running from room to room, looking for someone to play with him, and wakes up Hyo-sun. She’s not in the mood to play with him either, until he says: “Big noona doesn’t play with Jun-su. Little noona plays with Jun-su a little. Mommy doesn’t play with Jun-su a little. Daddy plays with Jun-su a lot. When’s Daddy coming home? Why isn’t Daddy coming home?” Aaaack! I think that kid just sporked my heart out. Is there anything sadder? Hyo-sun hugs him close, and agrees to play with him.

On their way out, they run into Eun-jo, and the three of them go down to the river together. Hyo-sun sits down next to Eun-jo and says: “I was under the impression that you honestly liked my dad. But you didn’t cry. Everyone from the cooks to the day laborers…there wasn’t one of them who didn’t cry.” She asks again whether she ever had true feelings towards her father. Eun-jo of course doesn’t answer, aggravating Hyo-sun even more.

Hyo-sun basically blames her for Dad’s death, while Eun-jo goes on the defensive, asking what she’s supposed to do about it. Hyo-sun cries out: “Bring my Dad back!” She slumps down in tears, and Eun-jo’s cold façade starts to crack, as she tears up.

And then Hyo-sun reaches out to her halfway. She gets down in front of Eun-jo, leaning her head on Eun-jo’s knees, saying: “I’m scared, unni ya. I’m scared to death. I feel like I’m standing outside with no clothes on. I’m cold, and I’m scared.” Eun-jo reaches out her hand…oh, she’s not going to do it. There’s no way. No way. Oh my god, she does it!

She pets Hyo-sun on the head, sweetly telling her that it’s going to be okay. She calls her by name, “Hyo-sun ah,” which we know is something she almost never does. She holds her, gently comforting her, and letting her own tears fall as she tells her not to cry. It’s heartbreaking, earth-shattering, and such a tiny ripple too.

I can’t believe it. A breakthrough of monumental proportions…

…and then? They take it all away. NO! I KNEW IT! Gah, why so cruel, Show? Must thou see me dead and bloodied to be satisfied?

It’s all in Eun-jo’s mind, as her hand stops above Hyo-sun’s head, hovering there in the vast space between two sisters, at once an ocean and an inch.

She gathers herself, then pushes Hyo-sun off of her, screaming at her to stop her crying. And here’s where I’ll be in the minority: my heart breaks for Eun-jo in this moment, because it’s such a tragic juxtaposition between what she could be, and what she is. I sort of hate you, Show, for making me experience it, but I love it nonetheless. Like I’ve said before, I’m kind of a tv masochist.

Eun-jo rips into Hyo-sun for crying all day, every day, when there’s so much that needs to be done to try and save the company. Hyo-sun, still on the ground, asks quietly, “Can’t you comfort me, just once? I’m so scared and lonely. Couldn’t you show me a little affection? I think I’d be less frightened.” Oh, you poor lonely girl. I wish that for you so much.

She looks up at Eun-jo, desperate for a tiny morsel of love and affection. But Eun-jo already has her needles raised, in full-porcupine mode. She shouts: “I’m sick and tired of your childish whining! Stop it!” And she turns and walks away.

Little Jun-su, who sees this interaction, runs up behind Eun-jo and throws a rock at her, shouting, “Evil hag-witch! I’m gonna tell Daddy on you!” Eun-jo pauses at the mention of Dad, but keeps on walking.

Eun-jo goes to check on the workers at the winery and finds them all sitting around. She asks them why they’re not working, to which they pretty much say: what’s the point? Eun-jo lays into them, saying that they’ve always been paid, even in the hardest of times, and that they need to keep working. She overreacts, as she usually does, shouting at them to quit if they’re going to be like this. But in the middle of her rant, Dae-sung’s hand comes to rest on her shoulder, calming her down. In that one gesture, she remembers all the times he comforted her all these years, and what his hand on her shoulder meant to such a girl who never had a home or a father.

Out of her reverie, Eun-jo turns around, and sees that it’s Ki-hoon’s hand. Oh, I sincerely hope this is symbolic of the place he will start to take in Eun-jo’s heart because I’m over the petty letter-lying and such.

In her office, Ki-hoon tells her calmly that she needs to take a different approach with the workers. (And with people in general, ha.) He also offers another company’s story as a model for their company’s problems, and assigns Eun-jo to do a write-up about it as a contributing article, for a magazine, I’m assuming. Oh, he’s assigning her homework! Are we going back to the tutoring days?

The winery workers interrupt them, saying they quit, mainly because their egos are wounded by Eun-jo’s lack of respect and all that. Yeah, I know she’s not a people-person and I’d be pissed if my boss yelled at me like that, but be a grown-ass man and consider she’s a young woman who just lost her father. Were your tiny feelings hurt, wittle guy?

Hyo-sun and Jun-su come home, and Mom has a freak out at Hyo-sun for not telling her where they went, and keeping Jun-su out when he has a cold. Hyo-sun doesn’t understand why she’s suddenly being treated so coldly, while we all know—Kang-sook has finally dropped the nicey-nice mom act. And this? Can I tell you…is the ONLY major plot point in the entire episode. Mythology-wise, this is a biggie, as Kang-sook becomes the evil stepmother and Hyo-sun becomes Cinderella, as it were. But it’s kind of the only thing that happens, which you’ll hear me gripe about below.

Kang-sook has her own gripe session with the gods (or as we might find out later, her other personalities) about ending up a widow with but a hundred thousand dollars to her name. Well eight years ago that would’ve meant a whole lot more, before you became the wife of someone with status. Hyo-sun interrupts her to apologize, desperately trying to get back in Mom’s good graces. Her only mode of relating to people is: to be loved, or not to be loved, and this is vexing her sorely.

Mom shakes her off violently, saying she hates her sticky pawing. It dawns on Hyo-sun that Mom might not be mad at her…that this is just how she really feels. She’s been so blinded by her desire for a mother and Kang-sook’s well-honed act, that this is actually a revelation for her. She realizes that she’s all alone in the world. Now that Dad’s gone no one’s in her corner, and her home just became foreign soil.

She lingers in Eun-jo’s doorway for a moment, wishing that her sister would reach out to her, just once. But she’s been hurt too many times to try going down that road again, especially in one day. She looks next for Ki-hoon, who is busy trying to win back the workers with a little drink.

The next morning solidifies what she’s been feeling: Mom dotes on Jun-su and gives pieces of fish to him and Eun-jo, Eun-jo buries her head in work, and Hyo-sun gets squarely ignored.

Ki-hoon looks over Eun-jo’s article, criticizing it openly. But that’s good, because it gives them something else to be mad about than just being mad at each other over their broken hearts…FOREVER. Ki-hoon tells her to rewrite it and to apologize to the winery workers, which she of course refuses to do. She says they can just quit then, while Ki-hoon challenges her to try and find anyone else who’s devoted twenty years to Dae-sung Co. and has as much experience.

Ki-hoon goes to the winery to find Daddy Hong in the cellar, looking over the battlefield thinking he’s won the spoils. Ki-hoon is quick to tell him it’s not his place to be here. Au contraire, son. Daddy Hong fronted Daesung Co. all the money it needed to get back on its feet, so now it belongs to him. He’d like his money back, or he’ll be taking over, thank you very much. Ki-hoon is taken aback by his father’s brazenness (what, are we surprised?) and realizes that now Daddy Hong is as much the enemy.

Ki-hoon tries to reason with him and ask for more time, but Daddy Hong feels like Ki-hoon’s turned his back on him, so he’ll collect the money and cut his losses, or just take over Dae-sung Co. in his stead. Ki-hoon fills the girls in on the issue (without mentioning that it’s his own father, of course), and tells them he’ll figure out a way around it. Eun-jo digs a knife in: “Why would you care? What are you, to us?” She’s basically challenging what his loyalty is to the family, now that Dae-sung is gone. It’s a question I’d like to know the answer to, but only because I know of his backdoor family dealings, and Dae-sung Co.’s place as the pawn in all of it. But Eun-jo is pretty much out of line here, and Hyo-sun tells her as much.

Eun-jo goes straight to Mom, demanding all of the money that she’s squirreled away all these years. Mom denies having any, which Eun-jo knows is a damn lie. There’s no way in Hades she hasn’t got a small fortune to her name, what with all that Dae-sung had, and she shouts at her to hand it over. Mom tells her she’s crazy: even if she had any money, she’s got to think of how to feed herself, Eun-jo, and Jun-su in the future, not hand it over to a failing company. “It’s the money I traded for my dirty fate in life. What right do you have to tell me to hand it over? I won’t give it. I can’t!” She shakes Eun-jo off and storms out…

…Running right into Hyo-sun, who’s been listening the whole time. Kang-sook betrays a moment of shock, but then realizes that she’s got nothing to be afraid of anymore. It’s a nice little beat that plays across her face in an instant.

Hyo-sun looks hurt and utterly betrayed. This is a truth we, even Dae-sung, have all known about Kang-sook, but she has not been privy to. She comes in to ask Eun-jo, even still with a little hope wavering in her voice: “Is that how it was? Mom…is that how she was? It’s a lie, right? I heard it wrong, right?” So sad that she just wants someone to lie to her and keep her worldview from shattering.

Kang-sook kicks it into high gear and begins her tirade as evil stepmother. She fires the kitchen staff, the two nice ajummas who have been working for the family their entire lives. They quiver in fear and plead, but she kicks them out of the house without an ounce of sympathy.

Hyo-sun chases after them in tears, and Eun-jo sees what her mother has done. Hyo-sun kneels before Mom and pleads with her that the ajummas aren’t just workers; they’re family to her. Kang-sook just looks down at her coldly, saying: “Then follow them. You say she’s like your mom; then go follow your mom.” Damn. Ice, ice, baby.

Hyo-sun asks why Mom is being like this all of a sudden. Mom’s like, time to grow up, princess. She yells at her to get out, and Hyo-sun cries her heart out down the halls of the empty house.

Eun-jo comes into her room to give her the only kind of comfort she knows how: she’s moved the ajummas over to the winery, since she needs workers there. Aw. Are you really just a marshmallow? I sense something soft and fluffy under the glaciers! Eun-jo even makes a small fist with her hand, mimicking her movement to try and comfort Hyo-sun earlier, but again she just pulls back and walks away.

Hyo-sun asks her unni why Mom is like this, all of a sudden. Eun-jo disabuses her of any delusions she might have about her mother.

    Eun-jo: You are not the princess of this house anymore. If you make a wrong move, you might get kicked out on your bare feet. My mom? Can do that and then some. You think she won’t? My mother? Get it together, Gu Hyo-sun. I’m begging you. Get it together and be smart, for god sakes. Stop crying like an idiot. Find a way to live by your wits in this house where no one will take your side! You got it?

I know it’s no hugs or teddy bears, but it’s a heartfelt plea from Eun-jo, who wants to see her sister be a stronger person and fend for herself. Obviously, it’s like the blind leading the blind as far as her own emotional growth is concerned, but hey, she’s not wrong about her mom here. She yells at Hyo-sun to get up.

Kang-sook continues her reign of terror, kicking out Hyo-sun’s uncle next. Who didn’t see THAT coming? She tells him he’s got balls, living off of her when he’s the one who killed Dae-sung, and when he goes, “What?” She answers with her own hilarious version of: what’s what in the what now? Ha.

Jung-woo is eager to give Eun-jo a shiny bauble that he bought for her, but she’s too busy with Hyo-sun to notice him. Ki-hoon calls his father because he’s come up with a solution: he’ll just sell his stock in Hong Ju to repay the loan; how ’bout that? Well played, Ki-hoon. Daddy Hong freaks out, and Ki-hoon knows he’s won this round.

But now there’s another kink, as Jung-woo has heard the conversation. He asks if Ki-hoon is affiliated with Hong Ju, which Ki-hoon denies vehemently. But Jung-woo’s antennae are up and he knows there’s something not right here.

Eun-jo leads Hyo-sun to the makgulli cellar, asking her to taste from a jar. Hyo-sun does, not knowing what this is all about. Eun-jo asks her whose liquor that is, and Hyo-sun replies that it’s Dad’s, of course. And Eun-jo, stunned, asks if she’s sure. Turns out she’s made it, and she was able to faithfully recreate the taste.

Both sisters are stunned. Eun-jo turns to the jar, repeating over and over: “I…I did it. I didn’t think I could…I thought I wouldn’t be able to…” She shakes, tears brimming in her eyes. Okay, I suppose this is the one other thing that happens in this episode. But did anyone doubt this would come to pass?

Eun-jo, rather than sharing a nice moment with her sister, uses it to challenge her in her usual bristly manner. She says this is going to be the new hope for Dae-sung Co. What will Hyo-sun do to stake her claim and keep Eun-jo from taking it all? Would it kill you to show her ONE tear? Just one teensy one? I know, it would. Gah.

She lays down the gauntlet: “My mother is no joke, and I’m my mother’s daughter. I might even surpass her. I’m a lot smarter than her, you see. Don’t get burned. Even if you do, I won’t save you. You’ve been warned.” Oh, snap. It’s ON, bitch!

Eun-jo hugs the makgulli jar tight and walks out. Jung-woo tries to tell her about Ki-hoon, but she tells him not to follow her. And in a nice lyrical moment, Eun-jo walks through the compound with the jar, going from empty space to empty space, sending Dae-sung off in her own way.

She ends up in his office, placing his picture next to the jar, and putting a bowl of makgulli in front of him. (Offering alcohol to the deceased is a common practice in Korea, but here the meaning is twofold because it’s also an offering of the makgulli she’s made to save the company.) She tells him that she’s gone over it a thousand times, how she could have done things differently for it to not end up this way. Suffice it to say, she blames herself as much as Hyo-sun blames her.

She offers the makgulli to him, saying that she made it. “Hyo-sun said it tastes the same, but I want to be praised by you…” And then, she strains with the first few syllables of “Father,” the thing she couldn’t bring herself to call him when he was alive: “Ah….Ah…Ah…beo…” Tears fall as she searches for the word, and then it comes out: “Daddy.” Ack! Stab. (Appa can be Dad or Daddy, but coming out of Eun-jo’s mouth, consider it the difference between calling your dad “sir,” and then “daddy.”) I knew she would never say “Father” when Dae-sung was alive, and I knew she’d finally say it when it was too late, but I did NOT expect “Daddy” to come out of her blackened heart. She cries, pouring out her regret, asking for forgiveness, calling out: “Daddy, Daddy!” Dae-sung’s death didn’t move me very much, until this moment. Sniff.

The thing I’m struggling with in this episode and the last two, is that I saw all of the narrative elements coming, so the wind was already knocked out of them. This episode, while containing beautiful moments of reverie and sadness, are not at this show’s height of narrative tension, while, let’s be frank, at ten episodes in, it should be.

In response to javabeans’ comments on Episode 9: In general, as I mentioned above, I agree with her frustration in relation to the story, while disagreeing that it comes from the lack of finding anyone to root for. Does Eun-jo frustrate me? Hell yes, she does. When she lied about the letter I wanted to smack her to high heaven. Do I feel like the characters are stunted adolescents who need to grow up? Uh-huh. Do I hate the weenie that Ki-hoon has become? Yup.

But call it the power of the dark side, or whatever, but I’ve always been interested in villains. And in their own way, EVERYONE—Eun-jo, Hyo-sun, Ki-hoon, Kang-sook—is on the road to hell, paved with all manner of self-important good intentions. And while that makes for a much grayer scale on the wheel of morality, it also makes for delicious drama.

The problem? There’s so much drama to be mined that they’re not doing, because we’re still mired in the same one-two conflict between the sisters, and the as-yet-to-be-executed hostile takeover. Just do it already. I want things to move faster—twenty episodes is not an excuse to languish in pace. If I had to fill twenty episodes, I’d cram it full of so much story that moved so fast people got whiplash from it.

Because I feel like the current love story is between the two sisters, I don’t find too much fault with all of the tension and the snowballing angst between them. But just because Ki-hoon/Eun-jo/Jung-woo are the secondary romance, as it were, doesn’t mean that we should just let all the love fizzle out. Why hasn’t anyone been caught making out yet? I mean this in a narrative tension way, not that I don’t mind some smoochies, as you might know. I just want someone to DO SOMETHING. Something crazy. Involving lips would be better, but whatever.

I get why everyone’s guarding their hearts and being all, “I DON’T love you! Really!” But too much of that leads to…people staring at each other meaningfully…which is boring the seventieth time around. If we get one more episode where there is only ONE major plot point the entire hour…I’m going to start writing letters. Because just as javabeans gets angry about characters—I’m a plot-monger. If I feel like the train is at a standstill, I will get my ass off and walk home.

So put me down for both agree and disagree, because I think this show is doing something very interesting tonally (like the funeral, and other moments of oddball hilarity), and something awesome with characterization. The problem for me is that it’s moving at the pace of “It’s a Small World” when I want to be on “Space Mountain.”

As for all of the love/hate of Eun-jo out there…maybe for me, it comes down to this: I’ve been her, or some shade of her, in my youth. And while people say things like, “Eight years…get over it,” this kind of darkness isn’t something that gets washed clean with time—you have to learn to dig yourself up out of it. I think we’ve picked up with Eun-jo as she’s learning this, and for better or worse, she kind of stinks at it. But I love that she’s on this journey, as flawed and twisted as she is, and I would have been sorely disappointed if we had picked up with her eight years later and she was already a perfectly well-adjusted adult. Where’s the fun in that?

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