Note: This will be an ongoing piece. I can't be bothered writing about all the episodes in one go.
Episode titles taken from subtitles/dramabeans.
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OLD GADGETS I FIND.
EPISODE o1 - Eighteen.
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| To introduce the main characters, from left to right. B: Yoon Jae, Joon Hee, Hak Chan, Sung Jae F: Yoo Jung, Shi Won |
For Yoon Jae's birthday, Shi Won presents him with a coupon booklet. Apparently, this is a tradition that dates back to when they were kids. In a flashback, we see Yoon Jae using his coupons throughout childhood - when he requests Shi Won to make him laugh after his parent's death and when he borrowed her parents for his graduation (which meant she was parent-less during hers). The theme of this coupon booklet this year is "Must do.../No matter what..."
This scene warms my heart because of the way it's told. It's told in a very simple and low key way; Shi Won has been by Yoon Jae's side through all the ups and downs. Of course, it's assumed that this companionship is reciprocated.
They're very comfortable with each other and it's shown through various "skinship". Whilst Yoon Jae is offered food from a number of his friends, it's Shi Won's drink that he takes and shares (the same straw). In another scene, while he accepts his friend's drink, he removes her straw. It also seems like he's very mindful over Shi Won, regularly noticing if there's dirt/food on her face and isn't shy to (essentially) lick it off.
This is our first introduction of Tae Woong, a teacher at their school. In this particular scene, Shi Won is trying to ditch school to attend a H.O.T concert. Her excuse? She's got her period. Tae Woong is understandably very uncomfortable and allows her to go. What I appreciate about this show is how they slowly give us information.
Tae Woong is later revealed to be Yoon Jae's older brother. Obviously, Shi Won would know this. Which makes this scene so much funnier when I rewatch it. At first, I thought it was only awkward for him because he's listening to a girl talk about their period... but when it's from Shi Won? A girl who's like a sister to him? FREAKING HILARIOUS.
Yoo Jung confesses to Yoon Jae about her crush on him. She mentions this to Shi Won, praising him for his good looks, for being good at sports and smart. Shi Won, on the other hand, hasn't really noticed those traits in her childhood friend. As she arrives home, Yoon Jae asks her what he should do with Yoo Jung's confession. Should he date her? After asking multiple times, without generating the response he wanted, he pulls out the coupon booklet and uses one. The coupon selected is fulfill a wish - "Tell me not to date her."
It's obvious from this episode that Yoon Jae has feelings for Shi Won. Despite growing up together, he has never seen her like a sister; but a girl. Shi Won, on the other hand, hasn't thought much about it. This is one of the conflicts I love in a best-friend drama. While one person is attracted to the other, they are also unfortunately friend-zoned. Or in some cases, both parties may be attracted to each other, but the timing is never right (hello there, 9 End 2 Outs!).
Yoon Jae is trying to clue Shi Won in on his crush, but she remains clueless about his affections. Stuff like skinship will probably go unnoticed by her since they're so familiar with each other. But when he asks her to tell him not to go out with another girl? That's gotta be enough!
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EPISODE o2 - Becoming More and More Different.
Another example of how close they are and how easily skinship is initiated. However, Yoon Jae throws Shi Won off because he's in pain. He's just been circumcised.
Without success, Yoon Jae is looking for something in Shi Won's room. Eventually, Shi Won decides to help and passes items from her bag to him, one by one. They don't realise until it's too late that both are holding onto a pad. Awkward~~
Something that I want to note is how comfortable Yoon Jae is in Shi Won's room. I probably won't be surprised if he considers it his own room. After all, they're childhood friends and spend so much time with each other.
One day, Shi Won forgets to do her homework. She lies that she couldn't complete it because Yoon Jae had her book. Unfortunately, he denies it and she gets punished by kneeling outside in the hallway. Later on, to get her revenge, she finds the only creature Yoon Jae is afraid of and presents it to him; a frog. Whilst he tries to run away, she runs after him with the frog in her hand. During their struggle, he accidentally touches her breasts. And his hands stay there, for a while...
Our second growth had already been underway for a long time. We had already become very different. And I wanted to confirm one thing. The excited molecules that are soaring now.. is it due to having your childhood companion discover how you've changed, or is it because I've entered into my first love with my friend?
The law of human growth. A boy becomes a man, and a girl becomes a woman. But the boy that becomes that person with a mischievous girl who hasn't grown up... The problem of them not being at the same speed will occur.
- Yoon Jae
Even at their class reunion in 2012, Yoon Jae is looking out for Shi Won by covering up her bra strap.
I love it when an episode really goes through and explores the title its been given. An important storyline that the title explores is the friendship between Shi Won and Yoo Jung. They were both H.O.T fangirls in the first episode, but by the second one, Yoo Jung is found to be (or become) a Sechkies fan. Whilst there isn't really a problem with liking both groups, it's completely different when your friend is a hardcore H.O.T fan. But that's only on the surface. Underlying it is Yoo Jung's inability to confine in Shi Won. I'm pretty sure she wouldn't have a problem with Yoo Jung changing groups, if she told her.
The obvious theme in this episode is the differences between a female and a male. Yoon Jae and Shi Won are understandably quite awkward/uncomfortable after the pad and touching breast incident. They're forced to the realisation that they've changed since their childhood where their gender didn't really matter. But despite the physical changes, they're still in the same person. Just that, you know, she's a girl and he's a boy, which could lead to a romantic relationship.
We also learn in this episode that Shi Won's parents naturally assume that Shi Won will always end up with Yoon Jae when she's out. Because of this assumption, they never worry over her and lets her do as she pleases. It's this trust in Yoon Jae that I find so adorable and sweet. It shows that her parents really do love and trust him like a son. Not only that, but they fully trust him with their daughter's life. To me, that pretty much means they have her parents permission to marry.
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