SeoulFire

Before I start I just thought I’d mention this awesome video. I was recently “surfin’ the net” (remember when that used to sound cool? Now it just sounds, to use another outdated phrase, “played”) and a blog I was reading brought to my attention this video. Unfortunately, I can’t remember what blog I saw this on (which makes me annoyed with myself) but I can say this video singlehandedly made me a Demi Lovato fan. At least for this one particular song. That’s how truly fantastabexelous it is. Enjoy!!

BTW….I was quickly scolded by my cousin on the last post. It turns out I came off as a “bitchy blogger” (A “BB”. Which coincidentally sounds like “baby” as my cousin also pointed out.) about the comments and trust me when I say that was not my intention. I appreciate all the comments you guys left and I especially appreciate you stopping by to read my ramblings. You guys rock my socks off whether you leave a comment or not. Thanks for your support!!!

This is it, folks. Episode 25. The last episode of this phenomenon called “Boys Over Flowers”. Yes, I know I’ve always called it “Boys Before Flowers” but the literal translation IS “Boys Over Flowers”. I decided to keep it as “Boys Before Flowers” because 1) That’s what I’ve called it since the beginning and I didn’t want to mess with the concurrency of Seoulfire and 2) At the end of the day, both translations mean the same thing, don’t they? Also, BBF sounds so much better than BOF. It feels like something I need to do around the house: “I need to BOF my cabinets today.” But I digress.

It feels surreal to say we finally made it to the end. We all knew we would get here but now that we are I feel like we’ve accomplished something that seemed unreachable at one point. If I was younger (and insane) I would pop in Vitamin C’s “Graduation” just so we had some nostalgia to accompany this celebratory mood. Lucky for us I lost my copy along with my NSYNC concert stub. Holy Bad Taste, SeoulFire Readers…….Thank God the year 2000 is over!!!

 

 

 

 

What is it with Joon Po and his ability to attract seemingly harmless women who instantly turn into overbearing, lying stalkers in less than 24 hours of meeting him? I guess that’s the magic of television.

Through it all Jan Di has always been my choice for Joon Pyo. Not just because she was the character the writers labeled as “the one” but because she didn’t hang all over him just so he would like her. Throughout the entire series she continued to be Jan Di (complete with her misguided decisions) and she was determined to be JUST Jan Di. It would be easy to be known as ”Joon Pyo’s girlfriend”. Many would respect her but not for who she was but for that mere title. And the fear she might sick an irrate Joon Pyo on someone if they treated her unkindly. I would be more afraid of the latter personally.

 

 

 

 

So after F2 (Yi Jung and Woo Bin) come in and do something weird in front of Jan Di and Ga Eul (devouring a bowl of porridge, that is, for you perverts out there) they inform Jan Di that Joon Pyo is being released from the hospital and they have come to pick her up. Luckily, for us Woo Bin’s lines were kept to the traditional short length. If Woo Bin’s lines were longer the writers might have gone overboard (seeing that this is the last of the show) and the nature of their visit would have been said like: “Yo, what’s up, Jan Di. Me and my boy came to take you to see your man who’s gettin’ out of the bighouse.”

You see?! I can’t even pull it off!!! Which is why Kim Joon should have never been asked to either. I love Kim Joon. I love Woo Bin. But every time he dished out another dose of English slang my eye automatically started to twitch. Coincidentally, I have the same reaction to his group’s song “Paradise”.

Meanwhile, Yi Jung came for another reason. He informs Ga Eul that he has to go to Sweden for four years (!) but that she would be the first one he would find when he returned to Korea. I’m assuming by her expression this is a huge gesture. I’m not going to lie, I kind of rolled my eyes at this one. She has to wait four years just so she can be the first one he finds when he gets off the plane? I feel like something should be happening in between that time. Maybe I’m not as romantic as they are (possible). Maybe I’m not that patient (quite possible). Maybe I’m just jealous she has the luxury to expect him to show up after four years (BINGO).

After Jan Di rushes over to Joon Pyo’s house she is greeted with not only a still clueless Joon Pyo but a now annoying Yu Mi accompanying him. They proceed to display a slight type of intimacy complete with shared bites of dessert, words said at the same time, and some minor scolding by Yu Mi when Joon Pyo is rude to Jan Di. It is, quickly frankly, sickening. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After Jan Di walks out on this “touching” scene (who wouldn’t?), Yu Mi follows behind to tell her that not only that she knows Jan Di is the one Joon Pyo forgot but she thinks it would be better if Jan Di would stop visiting him. She then tells Jan Di that he still doesn’t remember her but she will keep trying to remind him of who she is. Yeah. Right.  That’s like telling someone that I’ll watch their steak for them while knowing that I am starving. What can say? I loves me some steak.

And, of course, Ji Hoo just happens to be stopping by Joon Pyo’s house (because this is BBF) as Jan Di is running out. Does he have a Bat signal or something that is raised whenever Jan Di is upset about something? How is it that he has perfect timing all the time? Makes me wonder what it will be like if Jan Di does marry Joon Pyo? Will that stop all together or will he be brought out for special occasions?

Anyhoo, when Ji Hoo( aka “Captain Save-A- “……I’ll stop there) brings her back to Joon Pyo’s room to confront him and his amnesiac madness they come upon another sickening scene (above). My blood pressure is slowly but surely rising just looking at it. Let’s move on amicably.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This may sound sick but I still get excited to see Jan Di so devastated and determined to have Joon Pyo back. Remember the days where she was still hung up on Ji Hoo and even when Joon Pyo was giving his heart to her on a silver platter she almost completely ignored him? So glad those days are over. We know she is in this for the long haul. Many fans are annoyed with the fact that she never expressed her true feelings to Joon Pyo the way Joon Pyo does to her. If you think about it this actually follows the personalities of each character. Joon Pyo says what he means while Jan Di buries her feelings in order to have the strength to get back up again. I’ve developed some respect for Goo Hye Sun in this series just because with this particular character all of her emotion has to come from her eyes and she pulls it off quite convincingly.

This being said I am, also, not a fan of Jan Di’s weakness in the “love proclamation” category. Which explains my affinity in appreciating the pain she displays when Joon Pyo is snatched from her in some way, shape, or form. So maybe that’s not really sick on my part but a desperate need to know they will end up together. Which may be sick on my part, still, considering I’ve been down this road before and I already know what’s going to happen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I felt a slight tinge of deja vu during this scene. You know how you can watch someone make something that looks really good and SO easy that when you actually make it it comes out looking and tasting completely different from what it looked like on television? That’s kind of what happened here. The only difference is I never claimed to be Rachel Ray when I did that. And the people who tasted those cookies knew that. Which is why Yu Mi shouldn’t have tried to trick Joon Pyo into believing she made the lunchbox Jan Di left for him while he was at the hospital. Even though Joon Pyo knew something was amiss he instantly apologized for hollering at Yu Mi as soon as she started crying. 

It would have been good for Yu Mi to take the hint that Joon Pyo knew something was off then and there. Just like I quickly learned the difference between baking powder and baking soda the day I make those “cookies”. What?! Yes, I made that mistake!! Hey, at least I didn’t cry. Much.

 

 

 

 

 

 

One thing I won’t miss about BBF? The way Shinhwa High turns into a gaggle of Jonas Brothers concert attendees every time F4 is on the premises. It got old in at least episode……one. The other thing I won’t miss is Jan Di getting invited to ridiculous events like a pool party hosted by Joon Pyo and Yu Mi. All I have to say to that is…..WTH?!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The day of the pool party (Who has pool parties anymore? I’m pretty sure the last time I went to a pool party all I needed to wear were the swimsuit bottoms because I had nothing to  warrant wearing a top. Can’t say I have much to cover up now though.) we come to find out that not only does Yu Mi clean up nicely (I know we hate her but she really did look nice) but she apparently plays the harp (because this IS BBF).Yu Mi follows Jan Di after she sneaks away from an admiring crowd (who wouldn’t?) to inform her that she has found that she likes Joon Pyo and they have an announcement to make so Jan Di might want to come back inside soon.

Did anyone else think this was another ploy by Joon Pyo’s mother? Yu Mi is seemingly harmless but when you scratch the surface she’s conniving, manipulative, and calculating. All without breaking a sweat. She sounds suspiciously like Mini Mama Kang and what better time to take advantage of your son than when he has forgotten the girl he fought so hard to love? Also, Joon Pyo would have to be a little off kilter to show any interest in a girl who’s just like his mother. His family would be thankful for all the money they have when they find out how much counseling he would need later on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We come to find that Joon Pyo and Yu Mi have planned to study in America together. And again my blood pressure is rising so let’s move on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know Jan Di is hurting in this scene and I know this is all fictional but I felt like I was hurting just as much as she was when Joon Pyo didn’t recognize the necklace he gave her. It seems like we’ve been on the roller coaster with her so we can sympathize with her when she cannot give up on restoring his memory of her. It’s the same way I felt while watching the video I posted above. I’m sorry to mention it again but it baffles me at how perfect it was!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most. Heartstopping. Moment. EVER. I love Jan Di’s determination. I love Joon Pyo’s memory returning just in the nick of time. Most importantly I love how Jisun’s song “What Do I Do” fit this scene so perfectly. I was already a fan of her music but she is on her way to being a soundtrack regular as a solo artist and I am not mad at that. 

Many of my friends who know about my love affair with Asian entertainment always ask me if I ever miss American television since I watch so much Asian television. The list is short of the things I miss about American television but I’ve always enjoyed how it incorporates new music that fits the atmosphere of the scene. Let’s face it, many KDramas, especially BBF, have the tendency to place pop songs in scenes where the atmosphere is anything but upbeat. I’m mostly speaking, of course, of the first half of BBF. I swear, they would’ve played “Paradise” if a tsunami broke out as part of the storyline. In other words, they played it a lot.

 

 

 

 

Joon Pyo’s memory returns just in time for Jan Di’s graduation. At least I’m assuming it did since they jumped to the scene where Jan Di apologizes to her mother for not having a plan after graduation and  she explains that she must take a test in order to get a scholarship to be able to attend medical school. I kind of forgot she was still in school. If I was her I’d forget too. Who has time to think about school when you’re surrounded by all this drama?! Again, the magic of BBF.

Another sign we’ve reached the end? New scenes that echo old scenes that remind us of why we fell in love with the series in the first place. Another JoonDi moment next to Joon Pyo’s “conspicuous” ride and another request made by Joon Pyo drowned out by a motorcycle engine with the worst timing. My only question is: What’s so hard about Jan Di saying, “What? I didn’t hear you!”? Is it a cultural thing or simply a plot mechanism invented to annoy the crap out of us? Let me know in the comment cellar.

 

 

 

 

F4 sends a limo to pick up Jan Di who had planned to skip the graduation festivities by helping at Ji Hoo’s grandfather’s clinic. Did you see the way limo driver just showed up and opened the day for her without saying a word? Jan Di’s parents apparently skipped the lesson on not getting into a stranger’s car. Although, the argument could be made that they should have taught her not to take pictures with strange men in kinkified warehouses for money first.

Jan Di then proceeded to have individual dances with each member of F3. I would post screencaps but you should have seen this by now and this doesn’t need any more commentary than that. If you’re picking up on an aspiration to move past this scene then you are right on the money. They did this in the other versions also (Believe it or not, I’m not sure about Meteor Garden. If you have the answer, let me know). Every time they do this the cheese factor was raised just a little more. Sweet cheese…..but cheese nonetheless.

 

 

 

 Eventually Jan Di figures out what Joon Pyo wanted her to do which was to meet him at their meeting place in front of the Nam San Tower.  She finds him there (looking at the tux he wore he apparently thought he was an matador that night) and he proceeds to recreate their first date. Again, signs that we’ve reached the end.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was online today taking my Korean class (I use Edufire.com. It’s cheap and all around awesome.) and one of the students in the class mentioned that they were upset that Jan Di refused Joon Pyo’s proposal in this scene. I quickly told them that she didn’t say no she just said she was too young to get married at that point and time. Their response was, “Well, she didn’t say yes.” I completely understand where they were coming from. While Jan Di didn’t say no to Joon Pyo she never did provide any indication that it would happen after the four years it would take Joon Pyo to return to Korea. While I do agree that they are young and have a lot to accomplish I also agree with Joon Pyo earlier when he asked Jan Di, “Who else are you going to marry?” No really, who else would she marry at this point?! It’s not abnormal for us to expect something a little more concrete but at least we know they are back together on a more permanent status. In other words, if they were on Facebook they would be ” In a Relationship”. And that’s serious.

You may not know this about me but I ADORE epilogues. I live for them. I’m that person who reads the endings of books before I actually buy them. Basically, I’m that person you hate in the bookstore. So it is my privilege to be able to write one here. Boys Before Flowers Epilogue: Four years later…..

Joon Pyo returns to Korea as Shinhwa Group’s Managing Director who has managed to pull Shinhwa together while in America by entering the software industry and has managed to make his way onto “three international economic magazines”. In other words, HOORAY FOR KOREA!! (We are watching a Korean drama after all.) When asked about his love life on what looks like his appearance on the Korean Oprah (KOprah?) he mentions that while he felt lonely from time to time he found comfort in a promise he made “someone”.

Joon Pyo’s parents watch his guest spot as Mama Kang takes care of Joon Pyo’s father. I don’t really understand how Mama Kang is suddenly this satisfied person while watching Joon Pyo on television. She never struck me as the type of character who was content with sitting around nursing her husband back to health. They did the same thing to the mother in “Hana Yori Dango: The Final”. After all the hell she put Makino and Domyoji through she was suddenly walking around with this huge smile as if they gave her an incomplete lobotomy.

Also, what a waste of coma awakening!! I was really looking forward to Joon Pyo’s father waking up and cleaning house. What did we get instead? Nothing!! Maybe they were saving that just in case they got that 6 episode extension KBS  had considered. If that’s the case, I’ll take the purposeless excitement buildup. I’ll find some way to deal with it.

Hello President of Shinhwa Group, Goo Jun Hee!!! The way it should be. Period.

 

 

 

 

Yi Jung returns from Sweden and keeps his promise to find Ga Eul first who is a kindergarten teacher (?). One of the children in her classroom ask him if he is the boyfriend Ga Eul mentioned who was living far away. Ge Eul weakly hushes the child telling her that she was not supposed to say anything to him. I’m assuming this means they are official. Can we consider this a closed ending or an open ending? I say it’s an ajar ending. What’s sad is that this is the farthest this couple has gone in the entire franchise. Rumor has it that a Chinese BBF is coming out soon. Maybe they can give us that closed ending we’ve all been wanting.

Jan Di is now in her third year of medical school after attempting the admittance test multiple times. She is scolded by her teachers but being the “weed” that she is she continues to work hard. 

Ji Hoo continues to perfect his stalking abilities by also joining medial school but since he was admitted on time he is now in the graduating class. Apparently, everyone who sees him still falls at his feet like the “second coming” they’ve made him out to be. From the way Jan Di was speaking it sounds as if his plan is to reopen his grandfather’s clinic once he becomes a doctor (grandfather was MIA at the time of this epilogue). But don’t worry, Ji Hoo’s not-so-unwillingness to repeat medical school just to stay with Jan Di proves that his thinly veiled love for her is still there.

Luckily, Joon Pyo arrives in a helicopter (because a car would be over the top) to not only break up the one sided love fest but to tell an unsuspecting Jan Di to meet him on the beach.

 

 

 

 

 

So glad Joon Pyo is back!! I’ve read that some were upset that Jan Di never said that she missed Joon Pyo but did we really need her to say it? Again, Goo Hye Sun’s Jan Di is all about the eyes. There was so much emotion there that the words were unnecessary and I think Joon Pyo noticed it too.

And just when Joon Pyo pops the not so unexpected big question to Jan Di……

F3 shows up joking that Jan Di and Joon Pyo must get permission from them before she even gives an answer. If you were annoyed with their “impeccable” timing, don’t worry, so was I. But remember it’s all about Jan Di’s eyes. As far as I’m concerned the answer was in her eyes and what was she going to say? No? Seriously?

What a picturesque last scene, don’t you think? What a way to end the show. What a relief to know the madness is over. What a smartass thing for the production to do by playing “Parrrrradissssse…” just one more time.

Am I the only one who thought the writers held back a little A LOT. Some writers want us to interpret our own ending in order to make it feel like the show was somehow ours but the way they ended things was in a way that they were almost saying we already know how the story ends so we should just fill in the blanks. Yes, BBF writers, I know how this story ends but you can’t placate the fangirl within just to give me some peace of mind in return for hell you put us through for the majority of the show? You know, selfishness IS one of the seven deadly sins. I’m just saying.

So what did you think?! Did it meet all of your expectations? Yeah, me neither. Wow. Deja vu. I’m pretty sure I started the first Aftermath like this also. I guess I’m cashing in (not really) on some nostalgia like BBF did. Who says you can’t learn anything from television?

I gotta say…..this wasn’t my favorite. Believe it or not I’m sticking with the classic; Meteor Garden stays as my first pick in the franchise if only for the permanent space it holds in my heart. Second, comes “Hana Yori Dango” because the chemistry between Inoue Mao and Matsumoto Jun was undeniable. Also the Japanese version tied up many loose ends. While BBF comes in third I still respect it for what it was and it has hollowed out its own place in the “Hana Yori Dango” franchise. Thoughts? Comment cellar is calling.

GOODBYE BBF………HELLO CINDERELLA MAN!! PLEASE…..DON’T SUCK.