Notable Actors/Actresses
Jung Woo-sung: Cha Jin-woo
Shin Hyun-been: Jung Mo-eun
Recapper: FanFanX
Recap Grade: A → B
First Impression: 4/5
First Impression: 4/5
Cast
 |
 |
Cha Jin-woo |
Jung Mo-eun |
 |
Lee Jae-kyoon: Yoon Jo-han Park Jin-joo: Oh Ji-yoo Shin Jae-hwi: Jung Mo-dam Kim Ji-hyun: Song Seo-kyung Heo Jun-seok: Hong Ki-hyun |
Romcom / Romance Checklist
[In Progress]
How much of the plot is angst/romance?
0 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
The ML:
Cold–Lukewarm–Warm / Timid / Tsundere / Depressed / Falls in Love First / Noble Idiot / CEO / General /The FL:
Bold / Cute / Cool & Independent / Depressed / Falls in Love First / Better Than ML / Noble Idiot / Describe the Relationship (the tropes):
Annoying Love (F/M) Rival+++ / Bickering Start / Childhood Connection / Cohabitation / Contract Marriage or Fake Couple / Enemies to Lovers / Friends to Lovers / Harem / Hidden Identity / Love Triangle / Married Couple (Real) / Secretly in Love (F/ML) / School to Adulthood / Star-Crossed Lovers
Relationship Progress (officially together; first (official) kiss; breakup*):
Ep 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 # of CPs (including main CP):
0 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4
0 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4
Ending:
Happy / Sad / Open Happy / Open Sad / Bad / Rushed+++FanFanX: Started this with full recaps but due to physical and time constraints, this will switch over to a shorter format later. Get ready for a slow burn...
Two strangers arrive separately on Jeju Island… and eventually end up at the same beach. When Jung Mo-eun removes her scarf, it flies away and Cha Jin-woo picks it up. She thanks the stranger but he doesn’t say anything in response. They walk away separately in the opposite direction.
At a vending machine, they run into each other again. He doesn't say anything, but later, he looks at the photos he took of her during filming on the beach.
Jung Mo-dam, Mo-eun’s brother, shows up unexpectedly as Mo-eun’s bestie and roommate, Oh Ji-yoo is there trying to desperately make a meal for this guy she is seeing. The guy doesn't show up as he's been in a minor accident. and Mo-dam teases her for always being in love on her own.
Mo-eun finds sees a mural of a man looking at the ocean. She writes on a sticky note and from a distance, Jin-woo stops in the middle of the street to watch her. A car shows up behind him but he can’t hear the noise.
Now Mo-eun is at a cafe and she walks up the rooftop terrace. She notices Jin-woo sitting by himself but he’s dropped his jacket. A woman picks it up and tells him but he can’t hear her. He’s only aware when she taps him on the shoulder. Mo-eun eventually goes to use the restroom but she hears a loud noise. There’s a huge kitchen fire as the newbie dumped water on the burning pot which creates an explosion. She leaves the restroom and notices the smoke coming from downstairs. The kitchen staff run out, shouting for someone to call 112. She starts going down the stairs with everyone else and then stops. She thinks about Jin-woo still being upstairs so she runs upstairs. He grabs his stuff just as she spots him and tells him to hurry up as they need to go. He follows her down and into the smoke. But then he pauses as he’s remembering a past fire. Mo-eun tries to pull on him but she ends up slipping and falling on the stairs. She finally touches his face and he returns back to the present. She tells him it’s okay and says they need to go. Jin-woo continues walking but falters when the smoke thickens. She covers his mouth with her scarf and together they walk out.
The two wake up in the hospital. He writes in a notebook and asks if she’s okay. She says that she is. He points at her wrapped wrist and she says it’s fine. So he thanks her for helping him and being okay. Her stomach suddenly rumbles so she rubs it in embarrassment. He asks if she’s okay, and she writes in smaller print, she’s hungry. He gives a small laugh. They leave the hospital and it’s quite dark and empty out. She asks out loud how there aren’t any convenience stores. He types a message on his phone: he knows of one place that’s open. She asks why he’s just telling her this now. He types that he thought there was something better. She realizes he understood her words. He points at her mouth indicating that he can read lips, and then gestures for her to follow him. He takes her to his camping van on the beach.
He makes her some ramyeon. But she asks for two packages, which makes him smile again. She struggles to eat the noodles with the camping chopsticks so she asks for a fork. He smiles at her before writing a message: "It feels lively for the first time in a long time." He then hands her a fork. He asks her if she’s here for the shoot. She asks if he saw her and he nods. Then he signs something - his hands in a strumming motion and then his hands closed into fists, next to each other except with his thumbs and pinkies extended and then he moves his hands apart. She asks what that means. He gives a mysterious smile before typing his answer, “Actress.” He signs the word against and now she chuckles softly. She returns to eating her noodles but then it starts raining. They quickly move to get under the canopy and wait it out. Later, he walks her back to her place and she thanks him for today. When she turns to leave, he reaches out to stop her and signs to ask her something. She says that she’s okay and heads to her room.
Back in her room, she looks up how to sign “I’m sorry” and other things. Back at his van, he’s thinking about her telling him that it’s okay while surrounded by smoke.
The next morning, Mo-eun pauses to look at her scarf before packing up the rest of her stuff. When goes to check out, the owner brings her a sketchbook from Jin-woo. She flips through it and finds a drawing of herself with the scarf, and he’d written “To Ms. Actress.” She takes the bus to return back to Seoul.
3 Weeks Later.
They’re living their lives in Seoul. Jin-woo moves into a new place and one of the neighbors, an old lady, Soo-ok comes by with her grandson, Joon. She just prattles on and on with lots of body movement until Jin-woo finally pulls out his phone and shows her in writing that he's deaf. She becomes frightened by this fact, as if his condition was contagious. Joon asks what deaf is and she says that it means his ears are dumb. She then quickly leaves with her grandson.
At the theatre company, Mo-eun rehearses her lines. Meanwhile, Jin-woo looks at the photos from his trip and pauses on the one of Mo-eun. He then deletes the file and sighs. Mo-eun is at home looking at the drawing and practicing sign language.
Later, Mo-eun works at a cafe across from the art center…that Jin-woo works at. But they don’t see each other. Mo-eun notices a magazine cover with a photo of the mural she’d been admiring before, with the text “Who is Dino, the anonymous graffiti artist.” She comments that maybe she should’ve taken more photos and then returns to work.
Jin-woo goes to his classroom where there are three students waiting. They’ve brought a coffee for him which he drinks enthusiastically. He then signs that he was thirsty and thanks them for it. They sign in response to him.
After her audition, the directors tell that she’s good at reciting lines but doesn’t act enough. She gathers her stuff to leave and the men talk about how she was a former flight attendant, so she could have worn a tight uniform to stand out. Ick.
On the bus, Jin-woo reads a note that says “I leave after briefly staying by a stranger on the street.” Flashback to the island, it’s the note that Mo-eun had left on the mural. Back in the present, he smiles at it. Mo-eun rides the train and thinks back to that night on the beach with Jin-woo. “No one’s ever called me an actress. A supporting role, a minor role, and an extra. People always call me those.” When she’s back on the street, she sees the bus with Jin-woo inside and to get his attention but the bus pulls away. She sighs. But then she turns and sees him standing across the street from her. (~59:40)
The two politely bow at each other, and then she starts signing to him. He gives his customary little smile, and she, in turn, beams at him.
↓ ↓ ↓
TL;DR [Snippet]
Scarf, ramyeon, mural, a note and an actress.
CJW: I always thought I was the one who should make an effort to live in harmony with others. Because in this world, there are a lot more people who can hear than those who can’t. But out of all those people, someone came to me and said hi first. She said she was glad to see me again. And after saying what she prepared to say, she smiled. As if she was saying, “I’m just saying hi. Stop thinking too much.” And she was smiling.
While on the train, Mo-eun thinks back to her conversation with the kind man on Jeju Island. She signs the word actress and then asks if that’s what this meant. He nods. She smiles and says that no one’s ever called her an actress. She’s been called a background actor, a minor role, or an extra. But never an actress. He types into his phone and then shows her: “But aren’t they all actors?” She chuckles in agreement. She then says that earlier the director gave her hell in front of everyone. But she guesses he didn’t see that. He replies that it doesn’t affect him no matter how loud their voices are which makes her laugh. She tells him that it was very hard for her to get the scarf and they asked her to leave it and go home. She asks how they could make her come all the way to Jeju and then send her away. Back in the present, she mutters to herself that it’s so noisy in Seoul.
When she gets back to the street level, she sees this same man on the bus and tries to get his attention, but the bus pulls away. A fellow passenger leans over to look which makes Jin-woo take notice. He then pushes the button to get off at the next stop. He offboards and he sees her standing there.
In sign language, she thanks him for the drawings. He replies that her sign language is pretty good but she doesn't understand. He signs again slowly and now she understands. She asks if he knows what the first word she ever learned in sign language was. He shakes his head and she signs “actress”. They both laugh at this and he signs “actress” again. The two continue walking side by side. She now has his contact information saved in her phone.
Back at home, Ji-yoo teases her for being so proactive suddenly as she’s quit her job to be an actress and asked a guy for his number. Mo-eun replies that they exchanged numbers as she ran into him in Jeju Island. Ji-yoo wants to know more details but she’s told to go to sleep. Back at home, Jin-woo thinks about Mo-eun signing that it was good to see him again, and he smiles at the memory.
Mo-eun visits her family and congratulates her brother on being discharged from military service. Her father mentions that she quit her job to study for the civil servant exam. Mo-dam mentions that she went on a trip to Jeju Island recently. She tries to get him to shut up but it’s too late, so she says that she went to clear her mind. Mo-dam asks why she quit a perfectly good job to waste her time. Her parents tell him to shush. Mo-eun tries to tell her parents but her father ends their conversation. After dinner, Mo-dam asks her how Jo-han is doing. She says she doesn’t know as she hasn’t been in touch with him for a while. Her brother says to check on him as she’s all that he has, and he heard that he collapsed from overworking a while ago which could’ve been bad.
Later, she goes to Jo-han’s place but there’s no answer at his place. She punches in the passcode and enters his messy place that has boxes everywhere, open containers of food, and all sorts of trash. She knocks on his bedroom door and announces that she’s coming in even though there’s no answer. She finds him slumped over in his chair but he’s not responding and she sees what looks like a puddle of blood under where his right arm is dangling over. So she calls for emergency services but when asked what the address is, she’s so panicked that she doesn’t remember. Yoon Jo-han sleepily gives the address which she repeats to the operator but then she realizes he was just asleep. ㅋㅋ He asks her when she got here and pulls out the wine bottle that he fell asleep on.
Later she asks Jo-han what the deal is with his girlfriend as she posted a photo of every nice purse he’d gotten her but never visited him in the hospital. He cries and admits that he and Mi-so broke up. She gasps congratulations and he tells her to stop joking. She says that she’s serious. ㅋㅋㅋㅋ I like her. Jo-han starts composing a song as a breakup helps with his creative process. Back at home, Mo-eun drinks with Ji-yoo. Later when the rain reminds her of Jin-woo, she looks at the sketchbook.
Meanwhile, Jin-woo has a nightmare involving a fire and wakes up unable to return to sleep. He ends up dropping by Hong Ki-hyun's restaurant. His friend lets him in even though he's cleaning up for the night. The two men talk about Ki-hyun’s family, as Ki-hyun’s daughter, Sol, has grown quite a bit since they last talked. Jin Woo says that he’s envious of him with his family. Ki-hyun says and signs that he should date, and then asks if there’s someone he likes. Jin-woo shakes his head no and then signs that he’s more comfortable alone. Afterwards, Jin-woo stumbles upon an orange cat in a box with a sign that reads “Please take this cat and raise it with care.” So he takes it to the vet who says it’s very healthy and in great condition.
Jin-woo returns home and is greeted by Joon who is curious about the cat, who asks how one says “cat.” Jin-woo signs with a clenched fist and raised thumb moving in a clockwise motion. Soo-ok finds them together and quickly pulls Joon away as she barely acknowledges Jin-woo. Her grandson excitedly shows her the sign for “cat” and she tells him to stop doing that. He continues showing her and she asks if he’s an idiot. Joon yells that he isn’t an idiot. She pulls him away and tells him to not do that again, as he has a mouth, which is for more than eating candy.
Jin-woo later meets with Jae-hyuk who gives him a music album, and a pair of tickets for the Ryu Bobi solo concert for the album’s release. Jin-woo accepts them. He later looks at them and recalls Mo-eun humming a song on their walk in Jeju Island but he couldn’t hear it. She had typed out the singer’s name on her phone and showed it to him and asked if he knew who that was. It was Ryu Bobi, which he had smiled and nodded at. She then told him that this was her favorite singer.
After work, Mo-eun meets up with Ji-yoo who talks about the new guy at the gallery, who can’t hear at all. Mo-eun asks if he gives lectures, and Ji-yoo says yes as he teaches Western painting to students with hearing loss. Mo-eun asks if he’s a painter. Ji-yoo says yes, and he’s sophisticated. Mo-eun scoffs before asking if he’s tall. Ji-yoo says he’s so tall, at least 3 meters. She then says his name is Cha Jin-woo. Mo-eun says that’s impossible. But when her friend asks which part is impossible, she says it’s nothing as she’s just tired. Her friend leaves and Mo-eun walks around the gallery.
Jin-woo happens to see her and knocks on the glass window to get her attention and invites her into his studio. She tells him that her friend works here while she works at the cafe across the street. She asks if she can look around and he nods. She looks around the room and he asks if she likes paintings. She admits that she doesn’t know much about them as she wasn’t really interested. He then asks what she likes and he reaches over to grab the Ryu Bobi album and tickets. He tells her that she said she likes the singer. She doesn’t understand one of the words and signs “ugly” at him which makes him laugh. She doesn’t understand but he continues laughing before he writes on the chalkboard: “I got them as gifts. I’ll give them to you.” She gasps and asks who gave it to him. So he points at the album cover, and says that he drew it. He then writes on the board that he can’t hear but he can enjoy music. She asks him but how? He writes “sheet music, lyrics, memories of sound, vibration, chord.” She suggests that they should go together then. He shakes his head and she asks why. He says it won’t be fun if she goes with him. She laughs and repeats that they should go together, and hands him one of the tickets.
After work, Jin-woo walks by a crowd who are listening to a street performance: a guitarist and a singer. He can’t hear them now but he remembers being a child while playing the piano.
CJW’s voiceover: The vibration I felt when I put my ear on the piano… I thought I was broken. I think that was the moment I realized… that the world was still loud… and I just couldn’t hear it.
Back in the present a man bumps into Jin-woo as the performance is now over.
The next day, Jin-woo gives his students an assignment: Put on eye masks and touch whatever is on the table in front of them. The two girls, ponytailed girl and Ki-joo are a bit scared while the boy, Kang Si-hoo is very excited and thinks it’ll be fun. Jin-woo gives them each something different: deflated balloons, a fabric bag, and some pinecones. Ponytailed girl [she doesn't have a name] figures out what the item is after touching and pulling on it – balloons as she starts blowing them up. Ki-joo hesitantly touches her item again but eventually holds the bag in her hands. Si-hoo touches the pinecones and then tastes a piece of it before spitting it back out. Jin-woo just chuckles at them.
When Jin-woo leaves work, he looks over at the cafe and Mo-eun signs for him to not forget about tomorrow. He signs back that he won’t, in front of the concert hall at 6:30.
Mo-dam tells his parents that he’s moving out and going to Seoul. His parents ask if he has a place to stay at and he says he can think of one. His father tells him if he’s thinking about staying at his sister’s, he can forget it as he’ll only bother her and disturb her studies. Mo-dam says that he’s not going to stay there as it’s too noisy.
Jo-han wakes up to a clean place, and there’s even food on the table.Thinking his ex has returned, he goes to the kitchen and finds Mo-dam. Jo-han asks him what’s going on. Mo-dam says that he told him that he could come over anytime and even gave him his passcode. He then says that this food was packed by his mother for his sister but he can have it all. Jo-han asks how long he’s planning to stay here – and Mo-dam says he doesn’t have to worry about that at all. Later, Mo-dam shows him what he did with his closet, his fridge, bathroom, etc. Jo-han still kicks him out. But then Mo-dam says that he needs someone to take care of him. Jo-han lets him stay.
On the day of the concert, Jin-woo is busy working outside his place. Soo-ok and Joon return home but Soo-ok stops to talk to one of the neighbors. She sends her grandson home first but he sees and hears Jin-woo working outside and yells “hello” from behind him. Of course Jin-woo can’t hear him. Then the boy is distracted by sounds of the cat, which he follows inside, into Jin-woo’s bathroom. Soon Jin-woo brings in the large canvas he has just assembled and unknowingly pushes the boy’s shoes behind it. He then leaves to buy a new stapler and Joon wanders around looking for the cat. When Jin-woo returns, he tries to figure out what to wear. Mo-eun drops off her portfolio for acting gigs and eventually returns home to get ready for the concert.
Outside of Jin-woo’s place, Soo-ok is wondering where her grandson went. Jin-woo is has just discovered the boy’s shoes behind his canvas, and then finds the boy asleep under his desk.. He wakes him up and Joon starts signing “cat” at him. They two laugh but they’re interrupted by a knock, as the police are ordering him to open the door. Joon understands and starts crying so Jin-woo hugs him. The police finally push the doorbell, which makes all the lights come on inside his place and Jin-woo finally notices that there are people outside his door. He opens the door and the police barge inside while making Jin-woo stay outside.
CJW’s voiceover: I read sound with my eyes. I hear countless voices from people’s facial expressions. I often encounter faces filled with hostility.
Jin-woo notices all of the angry and concerned people outside his place but he can't hear anything. The police come out with a crying Joon who runs to hug his grandmother. The police arrest Jin-woo for kidnapping a child.
CJW’s voiceover: I try to listen to what they say without looking away. Because only then will they try to listen to what I say.
The police grab onto him but he doesn’t understand and looks around in confusion as the neighbors and spectators make comments about the kidnapping. Jin-woo notices the time and can only look out the police car window. Mo-eun waits outside the concert hall and looks questioningly at her phone.
At the police station, Jin-woo demands attention from the officer. He writes in the notebook, asking how long he needs to wait. The officer loudly says they’re waiting for an interpreter. Jin-woo says that they can communicate by writing. The officer starts yelling, but he’s interrupted by another officer who needs his held, so he just walks off. Jin-woo notices that it’s after 7 p.m. now. Mo-eun texts him but Jin-woo has left his phone at home. Jin-woo starts pounding on the desk demanding attention from the officers. A woman walks in and apologizes for being late.
Jin-woo tells the interpreter that he had no idea that the kid was in his house. The officer says he was there for five hours and he didn’t know? So was the kid hiding after he hid his bag and shoes. The interpreter relays these questions to Jin-woo. Jin-woo explains that he couldn’t see the shoes because they were behind his wood frames.
Mo-eun sends a text asking Jin-woo if something happened. She then writes “I can’t wait anymore. I’m leaving” but ends up erasing it. Instead, she calls Ji-yoo. Much later, Jin-woo runs to the concert hall but they’re now closing up for the night. He walks around to look for Mo-eun but he doesn’t see her. She’s actually waiting at the bus stop. When the bus arrives, she doesn’t board. Outside the concert hall, Jin-woo sits with his head in his hands as he sighs heavily. But then a pair of shoes appear below him and he looks up to see Mo-eun’s smiling face. He slowly stands up. She says she wasn’t sure if he’d be here but he is. He blinks at her. She asks why did he come so late?
CJW’s voiceover: I wanted to say anything. I knew it’d be just as pointless as any other sound to my ears, no matter how loud I tried to speak my language.
He gives a small smile and then signs, “I’m sorry I couldn’t keep my promise.” She nods. He continues signing, “No, I think I shouldn’t have made the promise in the first place. Because even if we went to the concert together, I wouldn’t have been able to truly feel what you felt.” She says that she doesn’t understand everything that he said, but he’s saying that he’s sorry that they missed the concert, right? She then says since they missed it, would he like to hear her sing? He looks at her with questions in his eyes. She tells him to give her his hand. He offers her his right hand and she places it on the right side of her neck. She starts singing and he looks intensely at her as he feels her voice vibrating through his hand. (~58:16)
CJW’s voiceover: I read sounds with my eyes. It means every time I blink, for a brief moment, I get disconnected from the world.
She stops singing and then lets go of his hand. He slowly drops his hand and looks at her. She looks at him and waits.
CJW’s voiceover: Every few seconds during that brief moment I get disconnected and reconnect again. I could feel her singing from my fingers. It felt as if she was telling me I could keep my eyes closed without worrying until the song ended.
He watches her with a small smile on his face. She breaks eye contact with him and smiles. She tells him, “Just now, this thought came to my mind.” She continues saying, “Maybe… there are a lot of things we could do together.” He looks at her with curiosity.
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TL;DR [Snippet]
Bus, “ugly”, cat, missed concert, and a song.
JME: [After 8 years as a flight attendant]... The problem is the turbulence my life is experiencing. The direction and speed of my life is totally unpredictable. I have decided to become an actress but I keep faltering in my resolve and getting anxious. Am I safe right now? A 33-year-old woman without any manual for life. My life is still experiencing turbulence.
Jin-woo has memories of hearing the sounds of his own voice and young Ki-hyun’s. One day, he had woken up from what felt like a deep sleep, and the world was totally silent. He had lost hearing in both ears due to a sudden high fever. He couldn’t hear at all, but in return he learned to develop observing eyes and find four-leaf clovers without being disturbed by noise. His eyes were drawn to them. Being the only different one among countless three-leaf clovers bothered him.
Outside the concert hall, Jin-woo types out what happened and shows Eun-mo. She finishes reading and then tells him that it must have been so hard for him. She also thanks him for coming even after all of that. She asks what it feels like to not hear anything at all. She then says never mind. He tries typing but then the screen goes out as his phone battery is dead. He tries signing something to her but she doesn’t understand. So he starts writing on her palm with his index finger. His answer is “a very deep sea.” He walks her home and signs that he’ll leave after she goes in but she doesn’t understand. So he gestures for her to go inside.
Jin-woo quietly sneaks up behind Ki-hyun, who is busy locking up the restaurant for the night. Ki-hyun is quite startled, which makes Jin-woo's fill with delight at his reaction. When asked why he’s here, and Jin-woo asks for soju. Ki-hyun chides him for not coming 20 minutes earlier.
While drinking, Ki-hyun tells him to date, to be more warm-hearted, to give and receive. He can’t be this clear cut with people. One doesn’t have to be perfect. He goes on that when he and his wife, So-hee can’t understand what the other is saying, they just hold each other. It’s enough to stay together. Words are not everything. (~7:10)
The next morning, Jin-woo checks around his place before leaving for work because he doesn’t want to make the same mistake again. On his walk to work, he looks over at the cafe and then he’s so distracted by thoughts of her, and a bicyclist almost crashes into him. Mo-eun notices and comes out to ask if he’s okay. He says that he is. She asks if he’d like some coffee but he makes the excuse that he needs to be somewhere. He’s purposely keeping his distance so no one can get hurt. Jin-woo and his students are being photographed today for the center’s magazine.
At work, Jo-han runs for the elevator and asks the man inside to hold open for him. Jin-woo can’t hear him and presses the button, so Jo-han sticks his foot in between the closing doors. Jin-woo is quite startled by him and Jo-han glares at him to apologize.
Later, Jo-han calls Mo-eun and asks if she’s interested in going to a concert next week. She says yes and then asks him if she could have two tickets. He says of course, as he’ll pick up her and Ji-yoo. She tells him that she has someone else to go with other than Ji-yoo. He asks who and she says someone. She then tells him to count himself out and then hangs up. When he returns to the studio, Jae-hyuk waves him over. He wants to introduce him to Jin-woo who drew Ryu Bobi’s album covers. Jo-han says hi and the two men nod at each other. Jo-han looks a bit miffed that Jin-woo hasn’t said anything. With big hand gestures, Jae-hyuk tells Jin-woo that he’s a composer. Jo-han belatedly realizes that he’s the deaf painter that he had talked about last time. Jo-han now introduces himself loudly to Jin-woo, who pulls out his phone and types that’s he’s sorry about what happened in the elevator as people misunderstand him because he can’t hear. After Jin-woo leaves, Jo-han lets out huge sighs of frustration and Jae-hyuk asks what he did.
Jin-woo looks at the items in his computer’s trash can and restores a file – his first photo of Mo-eun at the beach. He looks at it until he notices the vibrations and lights for an incoming call from his mother. He answers the video call, and it’s a nun (“Mother”) from the orphanage with a little girl wearing a pink ballet outfit. He grins at the sight, and the little girl asks if she looks good. The nun says and signs that she loves the tutu he sent. She then encourages the little girl to show him what she’s been practicing. The little girl slowly signs “Thank you for the birthday present.” He laughs and signs back, “Listen to your doctor. You remember we promised to meet on Children’s Day, right?”
Mo-eun delivers coffee to the gallery and notices the magazine open to the page with a photo of Jin-woo and his students, “Cha Jin-woo’s Quiet Western Paintings Class.” She asks to take one of these and then walks while reading the article. It’s about his childhood in an orphanage, and then losing his hearing at age 7 as a result of having a high fever. He learned sign language from the orphanage director [the nun]. She stops when she notices someone has stopped in front of her, it’s Jin-woo. She explains that she was reading this, and then points at the magazine. She asks if he can spare a moment. He looks at his watch before nodding yes and suggests using the practice room.
Mo-eun tells him that she’s sad that they missed the concert last time, and then points to the Maisie concert ticket on her phone. He gets up and grabs a notebook and a pencil and then starts writing, “When I said I can enjoy music, I meant that I can feel music. I didn’t mean that I like it.” She reads it and then asks if he wants to go see paintings together. He looks at her a moment before writing, “Not being able to hear doesn’t bother me anymore. But there are still moments when I need other people’s help.” She nod at this, and so he continues writing. “For example, I can’t knock because I can’t hear people answering the door. I can only either open the door without permission and be a rude person or just wait until someone comes out.” He has her look at this and then continues writing, “Mo-eun, you reached out to me when I wasn’t aware that there was a fire so if something happens and you need my help, let me know whatever it is, and whenever you need me, I will come to you.” She reads this and smiles. She looks up at him, and he starts writing again. “But you should enjoy good things with someone else. Someone that you don’t have to be so considerate towards. Someone comfortable to be with and who’s a good match for you.” She focuses on the words “Someone comfortable to be with.” She says that this feels like a letter. (~24:00)
Back at home, she recounts his words, “Someone to be comfortable with.” While at Ki-hyun’s restaurant, Jin-woo receives her text message, “Don’t feel pressured because of what happened in Jeju. Thank you for saying you’ll come help me anytime.” He sends a response, “I don’t. What happened in Jeju are good memories to me.” A drunk man, Kwon Do-hun comes in and Ki-hyun tells him that he should maybe go home as he seems too drunk. Jin-woo smiles at Do-hun, who replies that he should actually drink more since he met Jin-woo. Do-hun then orders whatever Jin-woo is having and Ki-hyun gives him a non-alcoholic drink. Do-hun mentions that he read his interview. Ki-hyun asks and signs “what interview?” Do-hun says that one can’t read it without tearing up and then pulls out the magazine. Do-hun says he was reminded of old days, when Jin-woo was quiet and aloof, but then it turned out he’s an orphan and can’t hear. He goes on about how every girl was wanting to protect him, and how he was the superstar of the orphanage. Ki-hyun replies that he used to live there too and he misses Mother. Do-hun realizes that’s how these two know each other but then dozes off at the bar.
Jin-woo hails a cab and goes to open the door for Do-hun who refuses. He asks Jin-woo if he’s heard from Seo-kyung. Jin-woo doesn’t respond, and Do-hun says there he goes again, looking clueless, when he could say no. He then says that he has a place to hide and points at his ear. Ki-hyun runs out with Do-hun’s briefcase and helps him load Do-hun into the cab.
At home, Jin-woo is recounting what Do-hun said, but his words are now “You know who made Seo-kyung end up that way.” Jin-woo has a nightmare: a teenaged Jin-woo’s face is covered with soot as a girl screams his name while they’re surrounded by a raging fire. He wakes and then his phone starts vibrating and flashing lights. He takes off in his car.
From her colleagues, Ji-yoo hears about a new and hot personal trainer, Jaden, and the rumor is that after taking one class, they fall in love. Her colleague claims dibs on him, but Ji-yoo tries to get a session with him and finds out that he’s all booked up. Ji-yoo starts walking away, but the woman at the counter comments that he’s quite popular and people come looking for him. Ji-yoo walks backwards and continues chatting with the woman and talks about his smile, charisma, and how funny he is. She pulls out the tablet to look at his full schedule - but there’s one spot left. Later, she returns home and goes on about this Jaden, who she has yet to meet. She’s signed up for 30 sessions. And when Mo-eun asks how much it is, Ji-yoo says she thinks God is telling her to work out. xD She admits that she hates to move but maybe this Jaden will train her to make her feel like winning a gold medal. Mo-eun says if she can’t pay for the living expenses because of that, then she can’t have any meals here. Mo-eun receives a text from her brother who says he’s in Seoul and staying with Jo-han. Ji-yoo complains about Mo-dam lecturing and nagging her every chance he can. Mo-eun is worried about him finding out that she’s not studying for the civil exam. Later, the two drink beers and Mo-eun wonders why she can’t be honest with her parents about her dream. Ji-yoo says she’s accepted that she’s an office worker even though she majored in art. She envies Mo-eun as she’s being honest with herself and pursuing her dream.
The next morning, Mo-eun receives a call that she got casted for a role with a few lines. Ji-yoo is ecstatic for her. Later, she looks over at the gallery, and drafts a text to Jin-woo saying she passed her audition. But she deletes it and gets on with her day. When she delivers coffee to the gallery staff, she looks at Jin-woo’s empty classroom and texts him that she heard he took off a few personal days and hopes that nothing bad happened.
Ji-yoo goes to her first session, not looking at all like she’s there to work out. When she turns around to meet her trainer, she comes face-to-face with Mo-dam. She asks if he goes to this gym, too, and tries to look around him. She waves her hands dismissively at him, like he’s a gnat, but he keeps this passive smile on his face. She even pushes him away from her, and then asks the woman at the counter where her trainer is. She’s told that she’s looking at him. Shocked, she sputters out that he was just discharged and arrived here and… Mo-dam introduces himself as Jaden, her personal trainer as he gives her a professional little smile. She looks at the poor woman behind the counter who is saved by someone else who asks for help so quickly leaves. Ji-yoo calls him by his full name and asks how he could be Jaden. He raises a hand to stop her and says that he’ll do his best to turn her worries to relief, her distrust to trust and her rage to joy. He then says they should go measure her fitness level, and gestures at the gym area. She says no, but he puts an arm around her and guides drags her along. xD She clings to his arm and loudly asks where Jaden is. Mo-dam answers that he’s here, and she starts yelling about wanting a refund. xD (~47:00, this scene is enhanced by the ballet-like music.)
Jo-han visits Mo-eun’s parents and brings presents which her mother fusses about. He then calls Mo-eun who is at the filming site, and tells her where he is and chides her for not calling her father more often. She says she’ll tell her parents whenever this airs, plus she has one line in it. The call ends and she finds out that she’s one of two actresses for a server role. They needed two people as alcohol gets dumped on this character, so one of them will need to be ready to go and continue the scene after the other. Each woman has a turn in this role – drenched with alcohol and getting slapped by the lead actress. At the end of the day, the lead actress tells her that she did a good, but wonders what she’ll do if the other actress’ scene is chosen. With a smile, Mo-eun says that it can’t be helped and she’s learned a lot. The actress winces at her red cheek and comments how hard it must be to stay around all day, while getting dumped on and slapped. She then tells her that this shall pass and gives her an empathetic / patronizing pat on the arm.
Mo-eun leaves and continues worrying about not having heard from Jin-woo all day, even as she’s pressing a cold compress [a can] to her cheek. She texts him, asking if everything was all right. And right after that, she sends one that says he told her to tell him when she was having a hard time. She sighs and then gets on the bus.
As she walks home, she receives a call from her mother, who asks if she’s had dinner. Her mother then tells her that Jo-han is staying over and has told them that she is well and will do really well. Her mother tells her that she should come home when she’s having a hard time, as that is what parents are for. The call ends and Mo-eun sees Jin-woo crossing the street and then stopping next to his car. She tears up and slowly walks towards him. When she reaches him, she puts a hand on his back, and when he tries to turn, she stays hidden behind him. She stays behind him and sobs. He turns his head and sees her reflection on his car and stays where he is. (~57:50)
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TL;DR [Snippet]
Elevator, comfortable, slaps, and hug.CJW: Since I can’t hear people’s footsteps approaching me, I must always keep a safe distance from them. So that no one gets hurt.
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Remarks
by FanFanX
[First Impression (Ep1-4)] In every sense, a true slow burn romance where you invest in the depth and breadth of the characters' humanity and flaws first and foremost. After watching Shin Hyun-been in Hospital Playlist, I knew I'd enjoy her in a melomance. Jung Woo-sung reminds me of Ryu Soo-young.
[Cast&Crew]
→ Jung Woo-sung: Cha Jin-woo
→ Shin Hyun-been: Jung Mo-eun→ Lee Jae-kyoon: Yoon Jo-han→ Park Jin-joo: Oh Ji-yoo [Mo-eun's bestie]→ Shin Jae-hwi: Jung Mo-dam [Mo-eun's brother]→ Kim Ji-hyun: Song Seo-kyung→ Heo Jun-seok: Hong Ji-hyun [Jin-woo's bestie]→ Jung Sae-byul: Eun So-hee [Ki-hyun's wife]→ Kang Shin-il: Jung Ji-pyung [Mo-eun's father]→ Kim Mi-kyung: Na Ae-sook [Mo-eun's mother]→ Baek Sung-chul: Cha Jin-woo [Young]→ Park Jae-joon: Cha Jin-woo [Child]
Directed by Kim Yoon-Jin, whose previous work includes Our Beloved Summer.
[Behind the Scenes]
[OST] This OST soothes... and breaks my heart.