Regardless of how this show ends, we have loved taking this Pretty Noona ride with everyone! It’s been a fun recapping frolic through this drama that has had the most realistic stakes and laid back scenes of any drama I have watched. I hope we get more like it.
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER: We’re building our newsletter! Subscribe here to keep in touch!
Shorthand (Shorthand character chart)
Yoon Jin-ah – JA | Seo Joon-hee – JH | Yoon Seung-ho – SH | Seo Kyung-sun – KS | Yoon Sang-ki – Dad | Kim Mi-yeon – Mom | Kim Seung-chul – SC | Lee Gyu-min – GM | Cho Kyung-sik – CEO | Nam Ho-gyun – HG | Jung Young-in – YI | Choi Jung-mo – JM | Gong Chul-gu – CG | Kang Se-young – SY | Gum Bo-ra – BR | Lee Yae-eun – YE | Kim Dong-woo – DW |
Airing Time: May 19th, 23:00 Seoul, tvN
How to Watch: Netflix
Countdown: AIRING! …check twitter for updates.
PRETTY NOONA WHO BUYS ME FOOD LIVE RECAP EPISODE 16 FINAL
—————–
#1
OPENING
A taxi pulls up to a hotel. JH gets out and walks into the hotel. He looks apprehensive as he goes in and walks around the corner. He gets to the stairs and looks up. He sees something familiar. It is JA, he sees he standing next to that guy and looking sad. The man leaves and JA stares off at the wall. JH thinks for a moment then he looks up at her.
JA looks around and sees him standing there, but she turns away immedialtely. JH’s friends show up and they all go up the stairs together. He walks past JA, she doesnt’ not turn araound. JH keeps walking up, stoicly.
JA waits until she is sure that he is gone and then turns to look after him.
Up in the wedding, JH meets SH, they smile at each other and talk about how JH got there. JH says he shouldn’t heare about his wedding from rumors. he tells him anyway, congratulations. He meets with the parents and asks them how they are. He tells them congratultations and they also greet him, though the mother looks embarrassed.
WEDDING
The brother gets married in front of the guests. JA is sitting near the front. JH sees her and watches her.
—————–
#2
Everyone claps and then they go straight to the photos. All the family go to the front to take photos. JH’s friends ask him who that person next to the father is. She is so pretty. Why did he hide that his sister is pretty from us, has she always been this pretty? She is my style. You should know her because you are childhood friends.
JH tries to ignore it.
BR is at the table with YE. They play with the baby and talk about how YE’s husband should be more handsome than the groom (YE says the groom is handsome). They talk about assistant chief JA and how JH is there. But one of them say she shouldnt’ feel anything, they broke up.
It is not time for the friends and coworkers photo. So they all go up.
BR takes JA out of teh wedding at that time. She asks her if she has looke at herself, she looks like her dead boyfriend is back. People will know this if they see you. You said you forgot everything. Don’t cry, it will be a big accident. They say they were surprised that he showed up all fo a sudden. Past love is like that, but it is all a mistake. You will be fine tomorrow. Think about this rationally, it is nothing. It is nothing Yoon Jin-ah, what are you going to do?
Jin-ah tries to keep it together.
Everyone claps as they take the friends and family photo. JH is a little shaken as he stands with them.
JA is still outside talking to someone on the phone while on the stairs. Maybe it is her boyfriend. She says he can just work or talk on the phone, choose one. It is not that I don’t understand you. No…..
JH comes down the stares, JA avoids him again. But she looks at him once he walks away.
He goes outside in a huff and lets out a deep breath. Then he takes the first taxi and leaves.
JA followed him out, but he is already gone. She watches the taxi drive away.
“I feel you know from here…our time is not done yet…your’ve given me your fullest heart….we’ll never be apart.”
—————–
#3
JH gets to his apartment building. He walks to his old place. He opens the door and has a flashback of JA sitting on the floor outside with the green umbrella. He told her at that time to just come in, she said it was raining, spring rain. he wanted her to stand up. But she can’t because the blood is cut in her legs. He laughs and tells her to stop acting, you knew I was angry. But then we see him back to the present. He is trying not to cry as his friend opens the door. SC lives in his place now.
JH goes inside and SC tells him that he didn’t change anything. He asks him why he was in such a hurry. JH says he was late. JH remembers all the good times in his apartment of JA and JH kissing, when he did her hair and then seh did his hair…..when they hugged in the kitchen and drank beer together that spilled everywhere……she cleaned the beer off of him and then kissed him….she flew her airplane style in his bed….~. JH remembers it all and it over whelms him. But he can’t fully sink into his emotions because his friend SC is there.
They go drink at the couch. SC wants to know if JH forgot that noona yet? he knows he didn’t. He never dated anyone more than 3 months while in the U.S. You shouldn’t do that. She has a boyfriend now right? Are you angry? it is an important point. JH tells him that he…..it is a sinful thing to say, but when I was in America, the things I thought about the most were….I hoped JA was not too happy….It sucks…..(why, because she looks so so happy?)….that would be better…..(does she look unhappy?)….(so when you realized your wish, your heart was breaking? so waht are you going to do? Do you want to do it over in Korea? Don’t do that. Now you are settled down, just live in America.)
JH – hey, jashik, are you afraid of me taking over this place again?
SC – Well you said I can pay you the deposit slowly, I am not saying this because of….after you broke up with her, did you forget how bad you were?
JH – Don’t worry, it won’t happen anymore.
they keeps drinking in the living room.
JA meets with BR in her place. they are also drinking. BR tells her that she looks ten years older than before. Why is she pretending to be strong when you broke up with him. Everything he planned for you didnt’ work out at all, anyone would be sick and tired of it.
JA – that is why I didn’t see him.
BR – You didnt’ see him because he didn’t want to see you.
JA – that is all past, this is just…this-that…it is all mixed.
BR – This will sound like I have another purpose, but your boyfriend, I have to
JA – He works hard and I think he likes me and my family welcomes him a lot so I shouldn’t let him go…..
BR – JH is…..ah, maybe I am drunk.
—————–
#4
They are quiet for a moment
JA – I though I forgot everything but, when I saw him today I felt like I dated him until yesterday. If I am a little looser, I could have just hugged him right away.
BR – Well to me, your boyfriend will figure this out at anytime
JA – No, I have nothing so he will figure out nothing
BR – your mind is nowhere else
JA – My heart…it is all a misunderstanding, tomorrow I will forget everything.
BR – Hey, why don’t you just stay with me? It is a good place to live and not think of anything
JA – Go with you togehter? I will jstu get old here by myself.
APPA AND UMMA
They talk about how JH came to the wedding. Umma says not to say anything to JA. She finally meta nice guy. Appa says he thinks they shouldn’t matter in their kids lives too much. Umma thinks they need to matter otherwise they aren’t parents, it was a good decision. Appa doesn’t think so and says to just turn off teh light. She tells him to turn it off since he turned it on. Appa sits up and looks at his family photo. he turns off the light, but he still looks at the photo in the dark.
—————–
#5
COMPANY
JA has to go to a meeting that she is very late for. Once she gets there, she also did nt’ prepare the report that she has. She forgot to brng it. The leader asks her if something is wrong, is there a family issue? She says she will make sure she doesnt’ make any more mistakes.
She goes to her desk and sighs. her boyfriend wants to eat with her, he will make some room in his schedule. She just puts her phone down. While at dinner, the boyfriend talks business on the phone all throughout the dinner. he ignores JA. In the car he also talks business and ignores JA. he jokes and says he forgot JA’s present, it was in his locker, guess what it is. But then he gets another business phone call. he wants to hide all the details in their contract until the customer signs it. (Very shady guy)
JA just looks like a shell as she stares blankly ahead.
then she unbuckles and gets out of the car. She walks off. She walks across the street and walks down the same street that JH and JA used to walk down al the time. The hugs herslef as she walks.
Elsewhere, JH is at a bookstore. His sister is there and prepares cake and a drink for him. It looks like this is her new place. He asks her if she can make a living there, it is so empty. She says she makes a living. They talk about JH living in America for good. He says he wants to travel and sketch, he doesnt’ want to stay at SC’s place long. KS basically says she has a room for him. Why did you go to the wedding? No one welcomes you.
JH says it was his friend, why are you telling me this? Everyone is poking me. She sighs and says that JH gives them room. JH wonders if he should just forget about everything then? KS says he always thinks about her. He thinks that is nonsense but she thinks he is nonsense. then a customer comes in and KS has to go talk to them.
Cut to JA drinking coffee by herself. JH is also drinking coffee by himself. It looks like they are at the same restaurant? it is the place they used to eat at a lot. But they are separate as they drink their coffee’s and think. A gorgeous new song plays that is very bluesy. “I got to be somebodies love….I want to be the first one that you see…..”
It looksl ike there are there at different times. It also looks like they might be there on more than one day as they sit at their table together, but at different times.
JA walks to the same place that they met for the first time again. She sees a guy on a bicycle and turns. But it isn’t JH. She puts her head down and then keeps walking.
—————–
#6
“We can take on the world if you just get here soon….I got to be somebodies love, somebodies love….”
JH is on the rooftop thinking as the song keeps playing. he goes back down to the main floor and walks out. The music cuts.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
—————–
#7
JA goes back to the main branch company. JM asks her what the occassion is, he smiles as he talks to her. he says it is the same here, because of her he does dishes all the time, but it is the same.
SY comes up and talks to JA. She asks her if she is really there to quit? She thought BR was bluffing. JA smiles at her and says that they had a lot of things happen between them. SY asks her why she isn’t keeping this job, are you getting married? JA tells her that she always thinks about love, why are you still single? SY mutters playfully that guys are crazy. She asks again what the reason is. JA says there isn’t a reason, seh will see teh director.
JA meets with YI and has her resignation letter. YI is pretty sad about it. She asks if she has been scouted by somewhere else. JA asks if she is knows for being that good? YI says she is famous. JA says she can’t move to the same field ever. YI tellsher that she knows she is probably very tired about the incident, she can accept a one year hiatus, just take a break and come back. JA jokes, ten years and then only one year off? that is not enough.
YI looks at her for a long time. JA says not to look at her like that. YI says she knows she likes her. You look prettier when you are courageous. JA tells her that she will keep that in mind. Then JA meets with the CEO and they talk about having dinner together. When seh leaves, she runs into CG. He greets her and asks what is going on. JA tells him to have a good life, as now.
At the elevator, the CEO tells JA that CG is the same. The decision was made a long time ago and he still says he is a victim. You can laugh as the winner and let it go.
JA goes to KS’s store. She says she is there to say hello. They sit and drink, but it is quiet and awkward. KS closes the store and then goes back to sit with JA, she brings two beers with her.
Why is everyone around me all running away? Is it because I am so scary, is that why you made me think about your feelings? JA apologizes and says she avoided her. They talk about if she saw JH. JA asks her to open the drink. KS says that JH avoids the topic as well. JA says she feels uneasy because she made them like this. KS says that is BS, but JA thinks that it still hurts her conciounce. She wants to know if they can every go back to before when they were friends, seh missed them back then.
JH comes in at that moment and sees the two of them. KS asks why he didn’t call her. JH stutters that he brought something for her. JA wants to leave but KS tells them that they are not strangers, this is my brother, this is my friend, say hi to each other. KS leaves them there and walks around outside. She mutters to herself that they are not little kids, this is there life.
JH and JA sits at the table, not talking. he drinks the beer and looks away. She tries to think of something to say.
JA – I am happy that you look like you are doing okay.
JH – How are you doing?
JA – Yes…
JH – Okay, you are doing okay
JA – thank you for coming to the wedding, I was surprised because you came
JH – you shouldnt’ have been
JA – You are still angry
JH – I dont’ have anything like that
JA – Then you are you speaking like that?
Jh -Maybe it is just because we haven’t seen each other for a long time
JA – I know you are dissapointed in me, but that is all in the past isn’t it?
JH – I didnt’ say anything
JA – It is not easy but, before we dated, can we just live like that?
JH – Do you think it is possible?
JA – I am just saying that it is nice
JH – For whom?
JA – I shouldn’t have started, if you took it uncomfortably, I am sorry. I will leave first.
JA leaves. JH still sits at the table looking upset. KS goes up to JA and asks her if seh is leaving already? Did you fight? It is because he is nervous, it isnt’ the right time. he was alone somewhere where he knew no one. JA apologizes and says this is all her fault, bye-bye.
KS goes inside. JH is still sitting in the exact same way. She sits at the table and says he is a narrow minded guy with a long grudge. Because of SH, we will see each other a lot. JH says, so waht. KS mentions that it still seems like he has feelings for her. He says he still has feelings, he realizes it clearly when he sees her.
KS – she is dating someone, will you get back with her?
JH – I would have already done it if I wanted to, I know it is not right. I am not like you, I don’t want to be like before so don’t force me to do that. I can never ever do it.
—————–
#8
JA’S APARTMENT
JA packs up her apartment. She sees the red umbrella and throws it in the trashbag. Then seh looks at it. She gets a ding dong at her door just at that moment. Then someone bangs on it. JA opens the door and is confronted by a drunk JH.
Why are you here
JH – Are you sure, you want to go back to before, noona-dongsang, that is what you want? As if nothing happened? Can you live like that?….I…..do you want me to be a dongsang that you buy a meal for?
Why are you ding this
I am talking to you. I am asking you!
The neightbor comes out.
JA pulls JH away.
JH – Noona!….noona!….
She pulls him outside and tells him he is too drunk. Tell me when you are sober.
JH – I am drunk, but it will be the same later, I want to hear the answer, tell me. Go back like nothing happened? Can you see me with no feelings? Can you?
that is the best
For whom? Not the best for me. Even If you kill me, I can’t be like that
I can do that. It will be uncomfortable at first. But we will be okay, we will get used to it.
You are a bad woman. You are a super bad woman.
He walks past her and leaves. She is left outside taking in what he said.
JH goes to his old place, he is still super drunk. SC helps him in. JH finds the alcohol and goes to drink some more. SC is a little concerned about that, you are going to drink some mroe?
JA is in her apartment thinking. But then she hops up and puts on her coat. She comes out of the elevator and is at JH’s building. She walks over to his room and rings the bell assuredly.
She waits.
SC opens the door, JA asks him, JH is there right? Can you excuse me for a moment? She goes inside and talks to JH.
JA – SJH, stand up. Wake up! Wake up!
JH is in bed and rolls over.
JA – yes, I told you something stupid. I wasn’t sure but I told it to you. Why? Like SH’s wedding, we will see each other somewhere. In those moments, I don’t want to be nervous or have my heart drop anymore. It is difficult but I want to see each other a little more relaxed, that will make it a little less painful, is that that bad? Is it bad enough for you to tell me I am a bad woman?
JH – Good job, good job.
JA – what did I do that was so wrong, what did you do better! What should I do when you told me to leave! You just didn’t want to face everything! That was your excuse! if that wasn’t it, then what was it! You left like that, do you think I had a happy life? I was standing on the edge of a cliff alone. How people looked at me. It drove me crazy and I really hated it, but I still hung there. I hated myself. I was hatting myself every day, that is how I survived. I thought that was the prize for the pain I gave you and KS. I cursed myself and I deserved it. Do you even understand how hellish that was? Do you understand?
She storms out.
JH – Why should I understand it! How you live your life, I dont’care! It is none of my business!
JA looks back at him and then leaves the apartment in the rain.
SC chases after her with the green umbrella. He wants her to take it. She says she is okay. he says it is better than getting wet.
She keeps it and walks off. We see her leaving the building and walking to the street. She looks at the rain and then looks at the umbrella. But she doesnt’ open the umbrella. She jsut stands there for a moment as seh looks at a cab. then seh hops in the cab.
—————–
#9
The cab takes her all the way to her place. She leaves the umbrella in the car but the cabbie tells her to take it. She reluctantly takes it from him then seh goes upstairs to her place.
She looks at the umbrella and takes a few steps into her apartment. Then seh looks at it again and puts it in the trash with the red one.
JH is still at his place smoldering in his rage.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
—————–
#10
PARENTS
JA tells her parents that she is going to live at Jeju island. Umma hates the idea. You are this old, why are you doing this kind of thing? You quit your job and are going to Jeju?
She tells them that she doesnt’ want to get married. Umma is so upset. Appa tells her to just stop.
Appa asks her about her boyfriend. JA says they broke up. Umma tsks and tries to ask her to tell her the truth. this is because of me right? it is because I opposed you and JH?
JA – you want me to tell you honestly, it is lying if my hatred toward you is all gone. JH and KS still have pain that I can’t repay. I can’t even say sorry until now because I don’t deserve it.
Umma – that is all in the past, should I say I am sorry.
JA – I am not blaming you, that is why I am sitting in front of you. You always say that I am not young, that is why I am going to live well. Dont’ worry. My life is also important to me.
Appa – yes, your life is on the line, think a bit and decide later.
JA – I will not change my mind, bye-bye. Appa, dont’ come out. Umma, I will call you.
Umma is left holding in her dissapointment/sadness as JA and Appa leave the couch.
JA walks out of her parents building and turns to look back at it for a moment. Then she walks down the street.
But then umma chases after her. JA wants to know what is going on.
Umma – I am sorry.
JA – It’s not like you, why?
Umma – I have a duty as a mom, I can’t just let my kids do whatever.
JA – I understand because I wasn’t a perfect daughter for you. So why are you doing this today, just do whatever you did before.
Umma – I don’t want to see you, leave (sarcastically)
JA – Umma, lets have a hug.
They hug it out.
—————–
#11
JA – Umma, I am okay now.
Umma – when you have a hard time, just come back anytime.
JA – With you, we dont’ have good fortune together, so we should live separate (jokingly). I will stop by when I have time. Go in, I will call you.
Umma – you will be late for your airplane.
JA – Bye-bye
JA walks away and Umma cries as she watches her go. JA doesn’t turn back.
JEJU
Someone is riding their bicycle on the coast. It looks like it might be JA. We cut to BR’s coffee shop and see JA and BR both working. JA serves coffee to the patrons with a smile.
Then she waters their plants outside. BR goes outside and asks her what she is doing. JA waters BR with the hose and they laugh about that and play with the water.
Elsewhere, JH packs up his things again. He is listening to music, but then JA’s love recording starts playing.
JA – I was holding your cellphone and I just had something to tell you. Thank you for adoring me and loving me. I never knew that someone would lvoe me this much. You never know how much I am thankful for that and how happy of a time I am having. I learned a lot. Love is endlessly for someone, it is a heart that gives everything for one person. So when we love, we should love like Seo Joon-hee. Joon-hee, I love you a lot a lot a lot for a long long long time.
JH goes to JA’s old apartment with a quickness. he is looking for J, but she isn’t there anymore, no one lives there now. He runs up to the apartment and sees that no one is there. The owner is showing the room to somone else.
JH rests his hands on his knees as he thinks for a moment. then he goes outside and calls SH. He asks her where his noona is. Where is JA!
Cut to JA in Jeju. She is happily putting the coffee shop back in order after a long day.
BR says that she is enjoying this moment of relaxing, that is why she quit her job and went to Jeju. JA sits with her and they drink wine together. JA is still wearing the necklace that JH gave her. BR asks about it. JA says she just found it, that is why she is wearing it.
BR says it dosent’ have its own will (?). JA says she can do this because she has no feeling and no regret. BR says seh doesnt’ want to make her upset, but really, do you ahve no feelings? Nothing? You know, when you hear the name and your heart pokes you. is there a better explanation for it?
JA – people say that there is no fate (it is not fate). I couldnt’ eat, I couldnt’ sleep. I couldnt’ breath everyday. I want to avoid that situation, people say, without that person they will die. But they actually want to survive, I thought about one thing. that was the end of our fate. Only that much fate.
She looks out the window and then miles and says the wine tastes so good.
JEJU AIRPORT
JH has arrived! he walks out of the airport and looks at the rain in front of him.
JA closes all the window due to the rain. Then she gets a yellow umbrella and goes outside to take the board inside. She runs withthe baord to the front and then turns back around.
She sees JH come in!
They stare at each other. He doesn’t have an umbrella.
She puts the umbrella aover his head.
JA – What, again? Do you still have something more to say? Are you here to argue? Just tellme, what?
JH – Where is my umbrella? You gave it to me.
JA – I didn’t take it, SC gave it to me.
I don’t have an umbrella, just take this one and leave.
JH – This one is not mine. Did you throw it away. Nonsense.
JA – Hey, you are the one that is making no sense, finny guy, why do you come all the way out here and talks nonsense?
They stare at each other. JA turns to leave. But JH pulls her into a big hug. he is happy.
JH – You are still tiny.
He hugs her very tightly
JH – It was all my fault, I am sorry…..I can’t live without Yoon Jiin-ah.
He looks at her and softly touches her hair.
JH – Can you jsut give me a break, just once?
JA starts hitting him. F-you! Give you a break! Nothing!
She pushes him and he laughs. He tells her she is not laughing, why are you saying it is funny?
He picks her up and spins her around. BR is happy as she watches from the window.
JH puts JA down and looks at her in the rain. they look at each other and he hugs her again. She starts crying and hugs him back.
he kisses her many many times.
SUNSET
JA and JH are still together as they watch the sun set on the beach. They walk hand in hand over the rocks. He hugs her and she laughs and they turn to watch the sun completely set.
THE END
Thank you for recapping this drama with us!
COMMENTS
Loved that ending. Love this drama. There is so much love in the world today. Happy Royal Wedding day everyone! I feel full of so many feelings. Kisses to you all!
Popped in here to check out how the show turned out. Hmm, so much drama!
😑 just felt the airtime of their reconciliation that’s coming is way tooooooooooooo short.
They could have spent less time on mother angst and more on the reconciliation
That is so trueee… !!!
She just quit her job and moved to Jeju to live with Bo Ra. He apparently quit his job designing games. I have NO IDEA what they’re apparently going to do now, and neither do they – I really, really liked this show, but man did they screw up the last two episodes. Yikes.
For a show that was immersed in detailed right through, and left nothing to our imagination, it ended abruptly. The detail throughout the 15 episodes was refreshing. As if we were watching a documentary. But the ending was well short of the high standard this show set.
A second season is a must!!
He didn’t quit his job he was on vacation after returning from the states.
Please someone can tell the list of song playing in this lovely drama
The soompi forums has all the music, but you would have to dig through the earlier thread posts. We also have some of the songs in the bottom of the first several episodes. But I think the best bet is to just go to YouTube and search Pretty Noona Who Buys Me Food or Something in the Rain OST.
What happen to #11?
posting right after #10… hm… not too sure what to expect of the ending. definitely not how i imagined it would have played out. pretty disappointed thus far. even more if the ending is gonna be super rushed like they reconcile and then that’s it: -fin-
TOTALLY … seriously, why introduce so much angst that cannot be resolved anyways? And nothing much is really resolved, is it … moving forward – their problem solving coping mechanisms are very diff.
Challenges in life are not going to go away.
I left off 2 wks ago. Grateful and appreciative for the recaps to keep me in the loop … and prob will check out last episode bec it has less stressful needless angst.
MUCH THANKS for faithfully recapping, for better or worse … all these 16 episodes of the Pretty Noona ride!
What a strange…..end???
It was a quick end, but I liked it because this drama has been movie like thus far, and that is a typical movie romance ending.
I love how JA was basically just like F-it, F everyone, I am going to Jeju with my friend and will just live happily with my memories.
But then JH shows up like the drama lead he is and whisked her off her feet once again. Who knows what will happen now. But JA is living an F-it life right now as a true woman on her own who doesn’t care what others are thinking about her.
Now their relationship will have a chance to truly survive and thrive.
glad I remembered I bookmarked this site. I was a bit salty when I viewed episode 15 but the writers came through at the end.
Somehow the ending is very underwhwlming. Did they even settle their issues? Seems like your typical band aid ending
I think in many cultures people just don’t work out their issues they just learn to live with them. I have friends and a ex husband from other countries who just never deal with their issues and just push on.
I disagree. The ending said it all… Love prevails. Unsettled issue is why are we not together and in the end he realized that he couldn’t allow himself to suffer anymore by not being with her. This was a beautiful story line and well written. I’m still feeling emotional after having watched and the music soundtrack was phenomenal.
wow that ending was… disappointing i mean yea sure i wasnt expecting something big or whateve but like??? thats it???????? yikes idk how to feel bout the whole thing :-/
Kind of reminds me of the drama Witch’s Romance where the female lead basically says I will see where this leads. That made more sense since they had a huge age gap. With this one I would have liked a bit more romance at the end and a wedding. But maybe the ending is suppose to show the journey or they ran out of time having to end it at episode 16. This is one of these dramas that it would have been nice if they added a few more episodes. Five Children add at least 2 because the whole drama was good and that was a 50 episode drama.
Thanks for the recap 🙂
I agree. The ending makes no sense. They still blame each other for their break up. They have not spoken in three years. They have dated other people. Then they see each other and have strong regrets, but they have not discussed or come to terms on why they can build a lasting life together.
They are back to their beginning infatuation stage. The initial attraction was pure escapism. JA to escape from her abusive ex-bf. JH to escape the possible loneliness of being in the US for 3 years. The secret romance led to instant hot chemistry but the infatuation with did not lead to deeper feelings being developed between the characters.
SH warned JA about JH. JH wants to control the relationship and when he cannot, he gets angry then he leaves. I don’t think JH wanted to be with an independent woman as an equal partner. Perhaps that is why he never settled down. On his second USA tour, he never dated more than for 3 months. He keeps repeating his same mistakes or is really bad at dating.
JA is also really bad at dating and choosing men to date. JA was conditioned to gravitate toward men who “like” her and are approved by her mother rather than finding “true love” in a partner. She has been conditioned to repress becoming serious with men who treat her like her mother or her male work superiors. That is why JA could never settle down. She dreamed of herself as being a strong, independent, equal partner in a lasting relationship, but she inherited traits of her selfish and manipulative mother. This causes constant internal struggles which sabotages her relationships.
Both JA and JH wanted to be in control of their relationship, but neither one wanted to share it. There was an illusion of love between them, but it lacked the serious discussion of mutual goals, commitment, future plans, and family as to develop deep bonding feelings of wanting to be together forever. They loved being together but it lacked all the elements of being in love with each other.
I hate when writers give characters lobotomies for the sake of creating an unrealistic “happy ending.” JH giving JA several hugs and asking to be with her does not solve any of their problems. Why would she fall back into him without first addressing the things that need to be changed so they can have a healthy relationship?
Now, they have just started their destructive cycle over again: JH has gone to Jeju to “save” JA from her loneliness and sad life. He will want to take her away with him back to Seoul or America where he has a good job.He will provide and protect her, all she has to do is be with him. JA will balk at JH’s selfish idea since she is determined to live a life where she is in control, and not dependent on a man for everything. Do you believe JA will give up everything she wanted in her personal growth to blindly follow JH because he is nice to her? The ending tells me that they are doomed to repeat their same mistakes over again.
Maybe being apart has made them realize that the grass is not greener. The sad reality is too many fictional and real life couples don’t deal with the tough stuff to get to the deeper relationship. If we had less mom angst there might have been more time to have those kinds of discussions. I feel like a I really liked the playfulness of their relationship but I like the drama Because This Is My First Life’s conclusion that certain things need to be come to an agreement so that two people can enjoy each other’s company without having to disagree on their individual differences all the time. So in the best of all worlds a little bit of Something in the Rain and a little bit of Because This Is My First Life.
I agree with you that many fictional and real life couples do not deal with the touch stuff. This drama offered the perfect opportunity for the couple to act mature and resolve their issues instead of running away and at the very end get together. Had they come to terms with their issues, it would have made the walk on the beach and all the kisses more poignant. In the real world, how long will that relationship last without addressing the issues that forced them apart? I think the reason why I really enjoyed Because This is My First Life is that after the day in bed, they did talk and resolve their issues. As a matter of, all of the couples resolved their issues by talking and coming to a resolution.
I have enjoyed your thoughtful observations immensely especially when I was reacting so emotionally to the plot. I found your words always empathetic as well as rational. Thank you. On a wishful note, I believe they have learned from the past. JA and JH will be quicker to recognize when they are not saying something important, given how in the course of events they did speak with more self awareness – for example JH’s feelings about his father and JA’s behavior, or JA’s assertion that she is ok despite hard things happening. The communication is imperfect but present. Practice makes perfect. The seeds are there.
I also find the writing and staging of the story remarkable in the intensity of feeling we felt as viewers. The use of the non verbal acting and repetitious music was like an escalator to similar emotional memories for me and from my reading of comments here, on soompi, and YouTube very common. That is remarkable writing and stage craft and hope will affect future writer/production teams. I find Son Ye-Jin’s statement that this is a new type (or permutation) of female role in a romance is true. Generally female tv roles in romances end in idealized perfection without too many many character flaws to start with. Go team.
I do think that this drama has advanced kdramas. While it still had its flaws I enjoyed the sweet free love story part. I found the open sensuality quite refreshing while not being gratuitous. The cinematography was quite good and the interaction between the two actors was quite natural. I realized at the end there was no second lead to play off which was quite nice. I think it got a bit bogged down trying not to stray too far from the average kdrama story line. Overall I think the actors did a good job with the script they were working with.
You made many valid points there, but they don’t call blind love for no reason. Sometimes it’s just a feeling. Their feelings for each other grew after their meals together, they talked and got to know each other better. She’s pretty, he’s cute. They made love. They’re attracted to each other. There’s love between them, that’s why there are heart aches. They’re all reasons why despite the issues they couldn’t resolve, they could look past them and still ended up together.
Am sobbing so hard right now..at least a happy ending..not abdrawn out happy ending but I’ll take it nevertheless..when I rewatch all the episodes I’ll be sure to avoid at least from episode 10-15.. I hate to see Jun Hee suffer so with Jin Ah’s antics..
My husband’s appalled at my sobbing…can’t help it!
When I first started watching drama I had to warn my daughter when I was going to watch a sad drama like Scent of a Woman. She would walk in to see me crying from dramas so I had to explain myself since it was very recent at the time that I had left my ex husband and my mom had died. She’d walk in and I’d say just the tv show.
I cried so hard when JA confronted JH. Now i finally understand all her actions in the last episode. The ending was perfect!
When I first started watching drama I had to warn my daughter when I was going to watch a sad drama like Scent of a Woman. She would walk in to see me crying from dramas so I had to explain myself since it was very recent at the time that I had left my ex husband and my mom had died. She’d walk in and I’d say just the tv show.
Sincerest and most grateful thanks to the Drama Milk team for the wonderful recaps..I found your website by pure coincidence and I thank heavens for it..
What a ride with this drama. Still sobbing..
Thank you so much admin for the recaps! God bless u😍
Yay! I can finally sleep with full of happiness ♥️Because of the happy ending! Although, it would be nicer if we see them getting married 😀, anyways, I’m satisfied with the ending! 💓
I lost my love today but found it again in Jeju and London instead. Thank you from Hue, Vietnam! <3
Good enough ending. Thanks for the fast recap too.
I’m Still hoping for bonus episode 😊 though i dont think it’d be happening… I actually kinda expecting JA and JH to be a stronger couple, especially in front of JA’s umma…longing to see them grow in each other… The reconciliation a bit too short, in reality, i dont think i would resolved that much feelings on my own… Well, it’s just a drama..
I think they’ll talk about the serious stuff later, I mean three years is a long time for someone to change @welh
and thanks to dramamilk for the great recaps♡♡
ah that is a good way of looking at it. Three years can make a big difference. I separated from my ex husband 4 years ago and divorced for 2 years. Slowly processing I am at the point that when we need to be together I can talk to him like a human being and while I don’t think we can be friends because it would draw us back into an unhealthy situation at least I feel like that I can treat him with some decency as someone who I loved deeply in the past. Relationships can not be salvaged unless both people are in a healthy place or trying to get to a healthy place. 4 years feel like a lifetime and like someone else’s story.
Thank you so much for recapping this beautiful drama with us
god bless you ..
I agree years can change people if they have learned from their mistakes. I wish the writer would have given us some ending dialog instead of hugs to explain why JA and JH are now different, why they ghosted each other for years, why they missed each other, and why this time around it will be better. JH is still impulsive (he crashed SH wedding). He is still thinking for the moment. I expect after a 3 day island fling, he will ask her to move back to Seoul with him. I could see that not sitting well with JA. Her value of herself now sits on being independent. She finally cut ties with her past Seoul life (mother and any rekindling of friendship with KS) to move to Jeju. JA inherited stubbornness from her mother and weakness from her father. She is now 40 and fully on her own for the first time.
Attraction was a big part of their relationship. Seeing each other in Jeju can rekindle the passion and help erase some regrets on how they broke up, but it more likely temporary. Those same issues are present and unresolved. That is why this ending is ambiguous. It serves those viewers who wanted to see them back together again. It also serves those viewers who think they should not get back together because one or both do not deserve the other. The story ends with a second chance but we don’t know how that will turn out.
One final ironic question: does anyone recall whether JA actually bought JH a meal?
Yes, JA brought JH a meal.
I think the ending was very promising. We know she left because of heartache. Was it really in seeking independence? I think she needed an escape route and her friend offered one so she took it to out everything behind her.
Same note he did the same. We see him packing at the end. He’s heading somewhere as a means to escape his feelings as well, but he hears her voice on the recording. His expression at that moment spoke volumes.
Maybe I’m a romantic, because I think the ending was well written and left room for imagination. Beautiful love story to want to be together despite the odds against them.
I wished for a great ending for SeoJunHee. I couldn’t be any happier ❤️. I love Jung Haein. God bless. 🙏🏻
Thanks Bah-doo for recapping this amazing drama. In my opinion it’s fate that brought them back together. If you are meant to be, you are meant to be with each other, no matter what happened in the past and you will still be together because one thing that bind JA & JH is their deep love for each other, and that is called DESTINY !
Thanks Bah-Doo for recapping this amazing drama. In my opinion it’s fate that brought them back together. If you are meant to be, you are meant to be with each other, no matter what happened in the past and you will still be together because one thing that bind JA & JH is their deep love for each other, and that is called DESTINY !
Thank you for the recap.
I am still devastated by the shortness of their reunion/rekindling of their love…it just seems hastily patched up. Sigh, I cannot seem to move on. I have an ache in my heart. I will miss this couple so very very much…
I need a new drama with a surefire happy ending!
You could always rewatch Coffee Prince. That is my go to.
It’s amazing how I thought of rewatching Coffee Prince too just a while ago before reading your comment! 😀 Now that ending although they were apart for a while was truly satisfying. Also Gong Yoo is the only other actor that elicits the same heart fluttering for me as Jung Hae In.
I’ve just marathon-watched “You drive me crazy” two hours ago. The first two episodes made me laugh and that’s exactly what I needed. My Pretty Noona experience is just way too intense and I need to shake it off a bit…
Even re watching Pretty Noona’s first few lovely episodes made me just sadder!this afternoon. So Coffee Prince marathon it is.. Thanks again for the heads up.
The first 11 episodes of Eulachacha Waikiki (or Guest House Waikiki or Laughter in Waikiki) is very light and amazingly hilarious. I can’t comment on the rest of the episodes because i ran out of time to watch them, but I heard those episodes were good as well. Warning, there is toilet humor and other body fluid humor that is amazingly gross.
Even re watching Pretty Noona’s first few lovely episodes made me just sadder!this afternoon. So Coffee Prince marathon it is.. Thanks again for the heads up.
why does a lot of Korean dramas, when it comes to relationship, there is a very big problem if the parents are against it? some problems with the bridal gifts, expecting to give a more and receive more and most cases they loan a large amount just to satisfy their in-laws. It is really annoying, unlike other countries drama, as long as the couple agree and they are not minors, its ok.
why does a lot of Korean dramas, when it comes to relationship, there is a very big problem if the parents are against it? some problems with the bridal gifts, expecting to give a more and receive more and most cases they loan a large amount just to satisfy their in-laws. It is really annoying, unlike other countries drama, as long as the couple agree and they are not minors, its ok.
After reviewing comments on various sites, I have come to the conclusion that the ending episodes were changed by the network’s intervention. Because of social media, many producers and networks change their dramas to match the real time expectations of their viewers, especially in highly rated shows.
After the first few episodes, viewer expectations for the couple were very high. They wanted them to stay together against all odds. The reason the show started off so well was the bait: two attractive leads and SYJ returning to television after a long time (and in the midst great box office for her latest movie). The PD recruited SYJ and told her that he could help her with this role which would be different than a usual TV drama. He had a notebook of romantic and dating scenes that he wanted to incorporate into a drama. SYJ had heard good things from her friends about the PD and how he worked with actresses. SYJ also stated she was drawn to the show because of the script’s real depiction of relationships. The hook was the chemistry in the scenes between JA and JH. If you look at the BTS films, the discussions were about setting up the scenes and character’s movements between each other. SYJ seemed to stress what her character would do in such a situation, often changing what the PD had planned. The back and forth in professionalism on the set created a very good working relationship between the actors and staff. Finally, it was the realism in their touching was more important than their dialog.
The show was filmed more like a movie than a TV drama. The lightning, the use of rain and key props. We will remember scenes like the first meeting with the bicycle chase, the helicopter kiss and running under the umbrellas more than any piece of dialog. The script dialog was at best, choppy. It may have been intentional as both lead characters had difficulty communicating with each other which would naturally lead to conflict and mistrust.
The chemistry scenes took up much of the first half of the series as fan service, but it was a disservice to rush an ending to wrap up complex issues with little or no explanation. I think SYJ took the position that JA liked the naive puppy love aspects of the early part of the JH relationship, but was scared about commitment because she had been burned so badly in the past. JH’s character continued to be a head-strong, selfish and immature kid who did not think ahead before acting impulsively. The plot was heading for a possible short meeting to reconcile their regrets but with a bittersweet ending of their final parting (like many true spring-summer romances). The surprise wedding and Jeju scenes seemed rushed like they were shot to fit the climax of a different show.
I love the ending even though I expect that they will get married. I love how Jin Ah’s mom and Jin Ah hugged each other, good job to the writer and director. Family is still very important to all of us. Jin Ah bff Kyubg Sun is the best noona. And pretty business partner turn to be also Jin Ahn bff, Geum Bora is the best supporting girlfriend in jEju Island. I love everything about this drama. Job well done for all the cast and everyone working for this dram. Keep it up 😘👏
I am very confused. Could someone explain to me why JH was apologizing at the end?
I think you didn’t watched full drama
I am loving the chemistry between this 2. I wish to see the together in another series. Sorry Hyun Bin.