The featured song during the recap: “Theme of Ae-sun” by Park Sung-il, the musician who also wrote “Theme of Gwan-sik,” “Spring in a Heartbeat,” and “Two Faced Summer” from this OST.
The Baeksang Awards wins for this show—Best Drama, Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Supporting Actor—and how validating it feels to have picked a gem for Season 11 of our podcast!
How this episode focuses on three mothers and their powerful love for their children: Ae-sun, Yeong-ran, and Chung-seop’s mom.
The symbolic and cultural significance of white rice, and how Bu Sang-gil uses it as a weapon in his drunken tirade.
Oh Seong’s boiling anger against his father and sister, and his tragic learned behavior from witnessing his father's abuse.
Hyeon-suk’s origami cranes and how they parallel Geum Myeong’s cranes from Japan—symbols of hope, wishes, and emotional solace.
How the village haenyeos serve as the Greek chorus, offering wisdom, gossip, and commentary with humor and truth.
Eun Myeong’s cigarette-selling side hustle and his rebellion against his parents.
The painful disparity in how Yeong Beom’s mother treats Geum Myeong and Eun Myeong.
Chung-seop’s shy but grateful reaction to Geum Myeong’s kindness to his mother, and their growing closeness.
Cultural and cinematic references throughout the episode: Cinema Paradiso, Lambada, Choi Jin-sil, and the long-running radio show Two O’Clock Date.
The origin story of Ae-sun’s deep anxiety about her daughter, which probably stems from an attempted kidnapping during her childhood.
Ae-sun’s and Geum Myeong’s mirrored dreams and trauma over the day Dong Myeong died, and how regret is a recurring theme in this show.
Ae sun’s dramatic save of Geum Myeong from carbon monoxide poisoning; we see that Ae-sun’s intuition leads her to save her daughter.
What we’re watching now, including The Match, Big Mouth, and Reply 1988, plus a shoutout to Lee Soo-kyung, the actress who plays Bu Hyeon-suk, as a rising star to watch.
References
Hi Joanna and Sunghee,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the recap of Episode 10. I can always count on you two to pick up on the details that stood out to me as well—the paper cranes, the news report at the time, and the painting on the wall of Chung Seop’s mom’s store.
Regarding the locked door to Geum Myeong’s small room, it was shown in an earlier episode that the door had always been faulty, and her landlord had tried to fix it. Yes, it’s strange that the lock is on the outside. In this episode, after Geum Myeong’s phone call with Ae Sun, Gwan Sik gave Ae Sun a new set of lock and encouraged her to visit their daughter and install it herself.
I’ve seen The Match too and really enjoyed it. I’m glad to see Yoo Ah In again—he’s an excellent actor, despite the controversies surrounding him.
Hi Irma, thanks for your comment. We try to go through the episode with a fine tooth comb. We don't get everything, but we do try.
DeleteI agree with you about the Match. Yoo Ah In is a great actor and I was sad to hear about the troubles he's going through. I don't agree with the path that he chose, but I do feel for him that he, as well as other prominent figures in the Korean entertainment industry, must deal with overwhelming stress and pressure.
This episode was definitely about mothers – and just in time for Mother’s Day! I think this is one of the best written episodes of the show.
ReplyDeleteIt’s true that children remember everything . I just spent a week with my mother and sister and my sister would not stop about all the slights and injustices she suffered as a child! I guess mothers – and to some extent fathers – do have to have eyes on the back of their heads. Although I’m not sure Geum-myeong was any more to a troublemaker than most kids. I thought all kids had multiple near-death experiences as children. Or maybe I just think that since I grew up in the 70s!
I agree that Chung-seob’s mother loaded Geum-Myeong up with those English books as an excuse to have him walk her home. Smart lady!
Geum-Myeong’s near death experience from carbon monoxide poisoning was apparently quite common in Korea from the 50’s up to the 90’s. This was on account of the charcoal briquettes that were used to heat homes. You see these quite a bit in Reply 1988. It looks like the carbon monoxide came up through a hole in the floor that was previously covered by that wardrobe that was moved. The briquettes were used to heat the floors of houses, and the risk was so significant that Koreans would keep their windows open in the winter to avoid the poisoning. Apparently, thousands of people died this way. According to this article, natural gas and water based heating replaced the briquettes in the 90’s, but seeing as that house was in the older and poorer part of town, they were probably still using the briquettes to heat the house.
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/globalcommunity/20190312/korea-encounters-yeontan-briquettes-opened-windows-while-warming-homes
And now for What’s Malcolm Watching!
Resident Playbook – Just watched the last episode and am sad it is over! I think it may top Love Scout as my favorite K Drama of 2025! If I had to guess, this show seems likely to get another season, just like Hospital Playlist.
Second Shot at Love on Viki – This is a new one and it seems promising! Sort of a combo of Welcome to Sam Dal Ri and Hometown Cha Cha Cha. This show has it all: Big city girl returns to small hometown, hometown friends to enemies to lovers (I’m guessing), an old Korean man signing karaoke in a rainbow wig and Hitler mustache, a second lead couple of a Tae Kwon Do instructor and single mom, and Miss Korea 1988! What else could you ask for?!
Tastefully Yours on Netflix – Just finished the first episode. Seems promising but its one of those shows where the FML is initially a complete a-hole and we will have to wait for him to soften up and become a good person. Sort of my least favorite trope. But I’ll probably continue watching.
Goblin on Viki – I started watching this with my non-K Drama loving sister. The biggest surprise is I did not think it would be as funny as it is. Very good chemistry between the two male leads. But we both agree it does tend to drag on in parts. We are halfway through and generally enjoying it.
Malcolm, thanks for your comment. I am positive I had numerous near death experiences as a child. We were free range, especially when we lived on Guam! I KNOW that both of my boys have had near death experiences. Thank goodness for guardian angels.
DeleteThanks for the reference about the carbon monoxide poisoning In Korea back in the day. Wow, didn't realize it was such a problem. And yes, I see lots of references to those charcoal briquettes on Reply 1988.
You're only NOW watching Goblin? When I first started watching K Dramas, I read a blog post that listed the top 10 shows that every K Drama lover had to watch. Goblin was on the list. Back in 2020, Goblin was not on Viki, so I watched on some illegal site. I loved it, fell in love with both characters, and found it deep, heartfelt, funny and meaningful. The ending is just wow AND both the first and second couples are amazing. I love this show and have watched it many times. I know that Sung Hee couldn't get past the first few episodes for a long time because of the Ji Eun tak character, but she finally got over it and really enjoyed the show. If Goblin were on Netflix, we'd review it for sure. Have you watched Doom At Your Service? There are many parallels and I wanted to do a comparison and discussion of the themes.
I'm slowly making my way through Reply 1988. At this rate, it will be Christmas before I'm done but I'm really loving it. It might even be a candidate for a future season! Thank you, as always, for your comments.
Joanna, you're only NOW watching Reply 1988?! Don't K Drama shame me! LOL. I agree Reply would be a good candidate for a future season. I think someone has suggested it multiple times. Who was that......?
DeleteCurious what Sung Hee's issue with Ji Eun tak in Goblin?
Goblin would make a good candidate for a future season if it ever comes to Netflix. My sister kept asking me "What does the podcast say about this?" whenever we couldn't understand something!
Yes I agree, Goblin would be an excellent series to talk about for your next season. In my part of the world, Southeast Asia, Goblin is available on Netflix.
DeleteHi Malcolm, it took me a long time to get past the first several episodes of Goblin because I found Ji Eun Tak SO annoying!
DeleteMalcolm, yeah, I know, it's embarrassing that I'm only now watching Reply 1988. I couldn't get past episode 1 but everyone kept asking me to push through and I'm SO GLAD I did! I just finished episode 7, a masterpiece of an episode.
DeleteI wish Goblin would come to Netflix. It's iconic, it's magical, it's got a grim reaper, it's got a great love story, it's got a long wait for love, it's funny - it's got everything!
Hello! I really enjoy listening to your podcast. Thank you for all your efforts. I sometimes find listening to your podcast more inspiring than the dramas themselves.
ReplyDeletePersonally I really would like to hear a serie about "Pinocchio" drama or a darker one: "Flower of Evil". Both of them broach very interesting topics that can give some food for thought. Unfortunately they aren't on Netflix, but they can be watched on Viki.
Thanks again for your work. :)