Author: Ormkwan Sanasen from ECI
Photo Credit as tagged
WARNING: If you haven’t watched this episode, please be aware of spoiler from reading this article.
As we were kept holding on to our breath from the last scene in episode 11, we wondered what exactly has just happened. Dokgo Ma Te denying the secret code that he has been working so hard for, didn’t only took Hong Yoo Ra by surprised but also us, the viewers. Ma Te was obviously curious of why Hong Yoo Ra has given up the secret code so easily upon David Choi’s request.
What does David Choi has that Ma Te doesn’t? But why did he suddenly rejected what he has been yearning for all these time? Right there, in front of him, with a click of a button, he will get everything he was hoping for but he chose not to. The answer was simple and straight from the heart, how could he possibly live with himself knowing that the code he wanted so much was traded with the love of two people.
I believe what Ma Te is trying so hard to protect is none other than his own heart, Bo Tong. From the beginning of the series, Dokgo Ma Te’s character has been one arrogant, self-absorb, and icy cold, especially toward Bo Tong. The poor girl was subjected to all sort of humiliations and harsh words by Ma Te. But no matter how nasty he was toward her, she has always been there for him. For Dokgo Ma Te, this simple girl is family, the only constant and true thing in his life, something he has been keeping so close to his heart. For Ma Te, he has always been safe because Bo Tong has always been there. But his heart is now being challenged by David Choi. If Choi can give up his own life for Bo Tong, Ma Te has to give up something equally important, the secret code.
For Ma Te, love never really existed except the love he has for his late mother. I don’t think he realises how much he actually loves Bo tong and the invisible thread that binds them together is undeniable. Right at this very moment, Bo Tong has always been his and he would not give her to anyone so easily. Telling Bo Tong that he loves her, then said that he actually lied might have saddened poor little Bo Tong but I believe that there is some underlying truth in what was being said.
Maybe he is too shy to say it straight perhaps? Or maybe too arrogant to accept his true feelings. You never truly knows the value of the things you possess until you lose them, my dear Dogko Ma Te. Still, one thing is for sure, once Ma Te has found out what true love is, the only person he wanted by his side is Bo Tong.
As the plot heated up, David Choi is not only revealed as Ma Te’s rival in love but also in search of his true identity as MG’s heir. The secret of what is David Choi has been kept so well even from the sharp eagle eyes of Na Hong Ran who has been plotting to strike down Park Moon Soo from the MG’s board. By giving up his identity, Choi has saved his half-brother’s position in the company and severely shook Na Hong Ran’s plan.
So who really is this David Choi? This sweet, innocent man who always wears his heart on his sleeves has not only managed to sway Bo Tong’s heart, but also won over us the audience. The son of Park Ki Suk from his earlier marriage, his true identity has been kept from the world for his own protection but forced him to live a bitter and lonely life. His love for Bo Tong is direct and without any pretence, the total opposite of Dogko Ma Te. Could he really change Bo Tong’s faithful heart?
Should Bo Tong choose David Choi over our Dogko Ma Te? “Stay with the one who loves you”, that’s mama’s advice to Bo Tong, “and you’ll wake up with a smile every day of your life.” The right choice perhaps, but as you know, life is a funny thing. Sometimes, you know exactly what you have to do but you follow your own heart and ended up in the opposite direction. Although choosing David Choi may seem like the right choice but personally, I hope that Bo Tong will never change. I grew to love this character so much…..she’s so sweet, cute, honest, sincere, loyal, innocent and pure. Dogko Ma Te would be a fool to give her up!
This is why I like this series so much. The credit, of course, must be given to the author of the original Manhwa and a huge round of applause to the script writers who managed to squeeze everything into just 16 episodes. Normally, it is very difficult to make an adaptation out of a successful book, as so many details can be lost in translation/transition. In this case, however, I am glad that I cannot read Korean, and that the original Manhwa has not been translated into English. Even so, I believe that I would have enjoyed the series as much as the original Manhwa as each actors were perfectly cast to represent each character. Attention to details were given to give this series a little something special. The funny little moments, the unexpected awkwardness, all adds up to make this one of the most wonderful series of the year, in my opinion – without bias.
I also love the fact that each character has their own side of the story, just like what Ma Te said to little Wi Ji, there are always two pages to everyone’s life story. One side is for everyone else in the world to see and another one is the story you slowly write for yourself. Whether it’s Wi Ji or Na Hong Ran, they all play their part in the society.
Being rich does not always mean happiness and certainly doesn’t mean that they can get everything or get away with everything they want in life. As the little princess Wi ji found out in this episode that there are things that cannot be bought with money and there are people who will not yield to her silly power game.
On that note we say good bye to little miss Wi Ji, who is being packed up by her father to study abroad. Kicking and screaming won’t do her any good as one of these days, she has to play the part in her society as the sole heiress of SS Group. Her father has made a deal with Ma Te, ignoring her request to marry him.
Ma Te has taken on a mission to win over something that even money, no matter how huge the amount, cannot be bought….woman number six in Ma Te’s life, the woman with power, aka Chaebol killer, prosecutor Lee Kim.
As the deal goes, Ma Te has to win over Lee Kim, and somehow make her drop all charges against Wi Ji’s father in return for SS Home Shopping. But she’s not easy. This woman does not believe in corruption. She lives her life being faithful to what is right. She lives in a small apartment alone, and seems content. What can Ma Te possibly do to convince this woman? Using his good looks perhaps? But following her home in the bus and trying to impress her didn’t seem to work.
Lee Kim is on a different level and way ahead of him. She seems to know exactly what Ma Te wants and invited him for a drink. He got drunk and fell asleep not knowing that Lee Kim has taken some of his hair, most probably to get DNA test to proof his identity. She definitely knows a lot more than we think. Could Ma Te be just a decoy after all?
Failing to impress, Ma Te is determine more than ever to win over Lee Kim. But he has to approach this particular woman from a different angel, she is different from other women he met prior. If his good looks doesn’t work what does? She lives alone, eats alone…..perhaps she is lonely? Lonely people sometimes build up wall and make other people believe that they are tough, and they don’t need anyone help. They go through life depending on themselves maybe because they do not have anyone in their life that they can depend upon.
So Dogko Ma Te did the unexpected and bought her a big doll. He knows that to win her over is not to negotiate a deal but to gain her trust, by being caring. For this tough and independent woman, maybe all she needs is someone to care for her, the real and vulnerable woman on the other side of the page, not Lee Kim the tough prosecutor. No deal was to be made but honest attention to the person should be given.
He left a pair of his own shoes on her doorstep. For a woman living alone, there is a sense of comfort, having a pair of men shoes as though there is a man in the house. It might seem like childish and silly for Lee Kim, but she did not deny his gifts. I think Ma Te’s charm is working and this iceberg is slowly melting.
Back to Na Hong Ran. The truth about the true identity of David Choi has been revealed by Park Ki Suk’s own lips. It must have been like a sharp knife stabbing her right in the heart. Is Dokgo Ma Te, only a decoy? But most importantly, how many illegitimate sons does her husband has?!!! She seemed genuinely hurt and upset by the truth.
“Serve her right!!!” I am sure many people must have been saying, but Imagine how you would react if your husband kept popping up with news of illegitimate children. I would be livid!! Could this be the reason why this woman is so scornful? There must be some sort of explanation why she ended up being the way she is. After all, we all know that she also has her own little secret, her son.
The question is, could her son be our Dogko Ma Te? Little clues were given at the end of the episode connected two identical pocket watches. One which is now in the possession of Bo Tong and another one which is owned by Na Hong Ran.
If this is the truth, how heartbroken would Ma Te be? The poor and pitiful Dogko Ma Te, my heart goes out for him. It will be like a big blow. I really do feel for his character. Actually, reflecting back, I feel sorry for every single characters in the series. They all bear scars and wounds in different ways. They all have their fair share of loneliness and unhappiness. I never thought that one would find something meaningful from a TV series. It is not something you expected, cos after all, it is purely for entertainment. But I can’t deny the fact that there have always been something for me to think about in every episode. Nothing so deeply profound but the simple truth about little things in life. I will truly miss this series once it is over but for the mean time, I will be holding on to my breath until the next episode!
[END]
Thank you Ormkwan for sharing with us your thoughts on this episode. I enjoyed reading I 🙂
Sis, thank you to create this excellent, awesome, and creative recapping style. One of a kind, I must say.
The last paragraph, word.
BA, with its own flaws, is worth watching drama.
sis OrmKwan, Wowww…..awesome review!!! I love your style of writing becoz it’s reflecting of your thoughts, not just recapping of what going on in this drama. You are such a profound writer who can express your thoughts out very nicely.
Agree with your views!!! Super love this write up!!! Well done!!!
P.S. Though, I like and do enjoy reading normal style recaps……but I prefer personal thoughts styles like this more. (Your style reminded me of sis Rika’s style of writing in her blog….whose style I love reading too.:)
Yes agree with you Kailey…thanks OmKwan for your recap with your personal views…I can find myself fine in those..
Matae only had the love of his mother, therefor he depends more on older women to look after him…the pampering and care was I think what he asociated with “love” plus the fact he got things easily from others his whole life because of his looks..
Bo Tong is the only female that comes close to the feeling he has for his mother yet because of the age difference he has never seen her as a woman…but he sure is comfortable with her.
From one of the links send by an eel I read they think Matae en BoTong (JKS & IU) have no chemistry together but BT and CD has…they go as far to say JKS has no chemistry with all his female co-stars…
I would say BS…
They played their parts just fine up till now..and I’m sure if MT & BT are ment to be very romantically involved in this drama they will have plenty of chemistry..
BT & CD acts more like a twin to me than a man ardently in love with a woman.
I really don’t trust CD…for he lives a life with such secrets and acting he has nothing to do with it at all; yet he regrets his father because of what he did to his mother..
I guess the president might turn out to be the bad guy..he is manipulating so many people…even his sons are only pawns in his strategy.
His elder/eldest son is known to NHR, but his second son who he abandoned when he left his wife is a secret to her?…. and Matae is also a son of him by another woman who was kept out of sight of NHR.. But what is the role of the watches…hmmm
Is Matae maybe NHR son who was taken away after birth and kept in hiding by the president so his wife would not be able to find her son
Is that why she became bitter for she has no other children while the president is popping up children left and right…so his family becomes the heirs
I’m so curious what the DNA will prove
This drama is soooooo good.
I love it
You see how the characters are developing and growing each episode.
Matae is really becoming a sensible, conscious and caring man, one that is using his IQ and EQ to do the right things…a man started with one clear goal…to finally find his father…to find himself in the end
Helping the procecutor to reach her goal, he might free himself forever.
I love it that he is already conscious of the fact he always has Bo Tong on his mind with every breath he takes…wow..
and by deleting the password he trew off the shackles that kept him down and started to trust and be confident in himself..
Go Go Matae!!!
Mamacri,
I don’t know how people see chemistry (I assume romantic chemistry here) between Botong and David. Just becoz Botong and David have MORE scene together….people assume, there is more romantic chemistry between this two characters. Botong and David Choi are like TWIN sister and brother. How can two people who are soooo alike in emotions and actions attract to each other in a romantic ways?
Ohh-yahhh…. The most sincere scene I see about David feeling and Botong’s feeling is when David is hugging Botong and said sorry for loving her….and Botong feels sorry for overlook his love. Even though, it’s romantic scene, but I feel like friends confessing one’s feelings to each other. As far as I can see, The chemistry I see between this two is loving and caring for friends, called BEST friends since David seems to be glued to Botong everywhere. These two are very comfortable with each other as friends should be……never even fight with each other. This type of relationship is just too perfect to be real couple relationship any way, in drama world or real world. I didn’t see romantic loving and yearning Botong’s eyes when she looks at David.
With Dokgo Mate, Botong always looks at him with yearning or longing…I don’t know the right words for this expression… even when Dokgo Mate is sleeping. As for Mate, a simple action of touching (pinching) her face is a symbolic of bonding and closeness between these two odd couple. The chemistry between Mate and Botong is thru their interactions with each other, either by their communication styles, understanding each other needs even without asking, or even fighting with each other sometimes. That’s how the real relationship works. That’s how chemistry starts….it’s called opposite attraction.
Here are my opinions and imaginations of the relationships…..between Botong and David vs. Botong and Dokgo Mate………
Botong with David……. she will live her life with “half” emotion, even though, David seems perfect Man to most women, for he is sooo sweet, giving and catering to his woman in every aspect of her life, even spoon feed her if needed, and a man won’t never broke her heart or say “NO” to her …….awwwww so sweet man!!! But BIG question is…… can Botong find happiness thru out her life time with this type of man..? Will Botong be calm and happy enough just to settle for 2nd BEST..?? Worst of all, to settle with a man becoz she has guilty feeling, therefore, she must pay him back for his kindness by doing righteous things to be with him or marry him…..T.T. Sure…in real life, many women probably are happy repaying for a guy’s kindness by marrying him or be with him..….like repaying debt of emotions….something like that. Gossh…. life can be simplier if any women should never be put in this situation.!
Botong with Dokgo MaTe…….Botong will live a life with vivid loving, full of colors and excitements life. With Dokgo Mate, who will not cater to her in every in all the ways she wants; who can be strong and NOT afraid to hurt her feeling now and then by yelling at her or even punishing her when she is in misbehave…loll. Based on Botong’s nature and character…she always got herself in trouble.. and always needed bail out by someone.. (most times by Bad Mate Oppa indirectly…kkk), and Botong can, too, do the same thing to her man, yelling at him, fighting with him, and scoring him if neede……and most importance of all, DogKo Mate can braze Fire in her heart every day of her life, will treat her like a “queen” when he is in his charming shelf. Surely, life with Dokgo Mate will NEVER be boring….LOLL. Yeahhhh….how can any woman refuse this type of guy? Not me.!!! Heck-yahhh…that how much I want Botong to be with Dokgo Mate at the end…..lol.
With this Episode, I can see how much Dokgo Mate’ growth with more Biz senes and in touch of his feeling about Botong more…..I love Mate did not show his “obsessive” feelings for Botong and that he did not used Botong’s feeling to be by his side. Based on Botong feeling for him, Dokgo MaTe can have Botong at any given time. Botong is totally his. But no….instead of showing his immature feeling about love to Botong, he let’s her go to experience and learn about life, learn about what really True love thru David Choi. David Choi is very very sweet man, too sweet man by the way…….would any girl goes for sweet man who loves you…..or goes for a man your heart desire the most.?
David is a key for Botong to finalize what she feels for Mate Oppa is not totally a fantasy crush or fansgirling feeling, but feeling with substances, deep root feeling that can’t live without that person… my friends, that’s called “TRUE LOVE”.
Thanks sis Ormkwan, this is such a nicely written recap. At first I didn’t understand about the meaning behind MaTe’s act of giving her the ‘daddy shoes’. Later I realised that in most asian countries, being single in that age might not be that ‘safe’ for women- despite the loneliness aspect, of course. MaTe is indeed improving himself and i’m so proud of this young man. Not only does he learn from the interactions with the women he met, but also he gave them lessons in return :). I will miss this drama so much when it ends… and same as you, I’ll cherish it as much as I can in the mean time 🙂
Great job sis! This is much more than just a recap. You analyse every single important detail and thanks to your analysis , people would be able to understand more about the story. About mate’s deleting the code it was explained by mate himself that he just could not receive something that involved dire sacrifice from a friend, but it would be more plausible just to explain that twas jealousy or love for bt that refrained him from doing so. Daebak sis!4
Thanks for the recap, nice personal touches. Good to see character development with David and Ma Te. I like how Ma Te did not did not hold onto that shame he experienced after the party and was able to move past it and acknowledge his own behavior. He is also thinking of others much more and basing his decisions on that.
I love the “innocent” prosecutor that keeps rufies behind the counter at the store. When you use a straw like that you can look like you are drinking something when you are not. Ma Te is lucky he did not wake up in leather restraints, the REAL other side of the page for a woman like that. lol
The plot here is getting more twisted and I am hoping that his “education” was not just a ruse to disgrace him to begin with. You know, if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck….
Thank you Ormkwan for this outstanding recap. It is so well written and the question that you brought up are so valid to be analyst. Really enjoying reading your recap so much.
Thanks a lot Ormkwan. You did a wonderful job. Happy New Year!
Ormkwan sis, Thanks for the recap.. I love ep12 very much as Mate has started to break away from the control of Yura and we can see how Mate using his own thinking and past lessons learn to also influence the people around him… he has taken control of many things now…and I’m looking forward for him to brave facing the truth of own background. (This episode reminds me very well of Sukkie himself.. in certain stage of his life, he started to take control and make his own decision… it is like moving up the next level and building a stronger inner self.. just like the quote he shared recently)
thank you for the recap sis Ormkwan
yes you’re perfectly right, we could learn alot from the story even each episode has something new we learn or we think about.