Playful Kiss Episode 15 Recap

Hello everyone! Let’s get this party started, shall we? The penultimate episode of Playful Kiss (Mischievous Kiss) was part wish fulfillment of every fan wrapped in the worst nightmare of a persnickety drama critic. I shall do my best to recap from the happy fan part of me (who am I to rain on the warm and fuzzy parade), but I feel my inner critic itching to Hulk-out. I’ll try to restrain it.

It turns out that all the episode 15 spoilers I shared were all 100% accurate. Yay for not being the bearer of false information. Boo for it causing me personally to feel a tad let down. Regardless, I enjoyed episode 15 for what it was – the end of the journey of Ha Ni and Seung Jo as individuals, and the beginning of their journey as a couple. Asking anymore of PK for an odd-numbered episode is akin to asking why the editing monkey sucks at editing a scene. It’s the best he can do.

At this point, my enjoyment of PK is likely increased substantially by the euphoria rubbing off from all the various forums and fans that are so rabidly awaiting the grand conclusion of this story which we have so loved. As a stand-alone episode, I probably like it more than it deserves quality wise, but that’s a subjective emotion I’m happy to experience.

Episode 15 recap:

We’re back at the roundtable of wedding bombs, which Mom just dropped on everyone. Seung Jo is rightfully chafing at Mom’s continued manipulation of his life. Mom sees nothing wrong with her busybody ways, didn’t Seung Jo decide himself he wanted to marry Ha Ni? Seung Jo reminds her that he specifically said after graduating.

Mom says that waiting will only prolong it even further – what with Seung Jo then having to do his mandatory army service thereafter. She wants them to get married while they are still young and pretty! Her husband and Eun Jo are about to pipe up with further objections when Mom lays down the law. No more no, buts, if – everyone must comply with her directions about this event. Mom-dictator gets up and walks away, leaving silence in her wake. Seung Jo gives a giant humph of annoyance while Ha Ni tries hard not to bust out in giggles and grins.

Its evening time, and Mom sees Ha Ni’s dad standing outside deep in thought. She asks him whether she overstepped her bounds, scheduling the wedding so soon. Dad disabuses her of that notion, which turns out to be rather well thought out. Since Seung Jo and Ha Ni already live together, Mom thinks that getting married now make their living arrangement more proper. [She’s probably worried the kids are gonna sneak around at home with the easy access, and then she’s stuck planning a shotgun wedding.]

Ha Ni’s dad is worried that he doesn’t know what he needs to do to help plan a wedding. Mom assures him that all he needs to do is buy the wedding ring and the wedding dress. Methinks Dad is sad about marrying off his beloved daughter, a bittersweet tangle of emotions likely every father-of-the-bride experiences when giving his daughter’s hand away becomes a set reality and not just a future event.

Ha Ni is enjoying a meal at the noodle shop with her friends, and reveals that Mom has planned a wedding for next week! The friends commend Mom on her go-getter ability to make things happen. When they find out that Joon Gu has been told of the upcoming wedding by Ha Ni’s dad, it becomes obvious why he’s looming in the kitchen all lethargic and down, not even coming out to say hi to them.

A beautiful foreign girl walks into the shop, which freaks everyone out because no one knows how to talk with her (presuming she doesn’t speak Korean). Dad gets dragged out, and after a Hi and a Thank You, he tugs at Ha Ni to take over. Mwahahaha, we all know how well Ha Ni speaks English (“Shut your mouth”, anyone?).

Turns out the girl speaks perfect Korean, and just wants a bowl of the shop’s famous hand-cut noodles. She slurps it up all, enjoying every delicious bite. She chats with Ha Ni and her friends, explaining that she is half-Korean, from her mother’s side, with a British father. Her name is Christine, and she specifically acknowledges Joon Gu with a compliment on his delicious side dish. Too bad Joon Gu the noodle zombie doesn’t really respond to her, likely still a tad depressed about losing Ha Ni.

Ha Ni goes ring shopping with Seung Jo. He nitpicks at her every selection – this one is too fancy, that one too shiny. Who replaced Seung Jo with Goldilocks? When asked to pick one himself, Seung Jo rants that he doesn’t even see the need for a ring. Why does a circle on your finger symbolize love? He doesn’t want to wear one at all.

Ha Ni insists that he wear a ring, to show the entire world that he’s married (i.e. off-limits to the grabby hands of other females). Seung Jo throws it back at her that the ring clearly isn’t a declaration of love, it’s meant as a symbolic handcuff. He steps back from the ring display and walks out the store, leaving Ha Ni wistfully looking at another couple modeling wedding rings with a fully participating man.

Seung Jo is still uncooperative, refusing to even enter a bridal salon with Ha Ni. He says he already owns a suit and doesn’t want to buy one just to wear once. He tells Ha Ni to go pick her dress and he’ll wait for her elsewhere. I would be more upset at Seung Jo, except this is behavior I’ve seen from plenty of impatient bridegrooms disdaining the wedding preparation fervor and geegaws that go along with it.

When Ha Ni suggests a change of plans and they go take wedding pictures, Seung Jo gets even more recalcitrant.To Seung Jo, taking wedding pictures is ridiculous – what with the “look over here, bridegroom; smile widely, bride” – and he won’t go. Ha Ni gets frustrated with his lack of cooperation, he won’t pick out a ring, he won’t take wedding pictures. Why did Seung Jo even come out with her then?

Seung Jo replies that he couldn’t stay in the house any longer, so he came out. Ha Ni wants him to just start participating in his own wedding preparation. Ha Ni raises her voice at him, for being so difficult, and Seung Jo reminds her that arguing in public is embarrassing. But Seung Jo’s behavior is what is embarrassing Ha Ni.

She wonders how the people in the ring store think about her, what with Seung Jo’s attitude in the store. She’s tired of accommodating him, and he tells her to stop then. Seung Jo drops the cavalier response that its no wonder some couples planning weddings end up breaking up. He walks away leaving Ha Ni rather stunned at his response.

Ha Ni and Seung Jo are sitting in his car. He tells her that she can’t get married alone, and just because they are getting married doesn’t mean Seung Jo will cater to her. Ha Ni wonders if Seung Jo has ever made concessions to her. Seung Jo sighs that it’s because of his Mom’s meddling that things are turning out like this.

Ha Ni says it’s not his Mom, why did Seung Jo mention that he wanted to marry Ha Ni in the first place. Seung Jo agrees with that question – why does he want to marry Ha Ni. He tells her it’s not too late to reassess the situation and reconsider their options. This is the first time the 16-episode length of PK feels like a negative factor to the development of their relationship in the drama.

Episode-wise it feels like Seung Jo and Ha Ni literally just got together as a couple. So to accept rationally the sudden wedding, their bickering about the preparations, everything – feels so rushed and creates an emotional disconnect with me. I accept (based on knowing the story) that this development is entirely consistent, but I think people coming into this story without any knowledge of the source material will feel this wedding sequence forced and unnatural to the flow of the relationship.

Ha Ni confides in her friends that she’s got a reluctant bridegroom on her hands. Seung Jo won’t even talk to her at home these past few days. Said reluctant bridegroom goes to visit his future father-in-law, who is flipping through books to help him compose a speech on the wedding day. Seung Jo tells Ha Ni’s dad that he has something to say. Mom is admiring wedding China with Ha Ni, who tries to be excited but can’t hide her real mood from Mom. She gets a call from her dad, and arrives at the noodle shop to find Seung Jo there as well.

Seung Jo is driving Ha Ni and her dad, and tells her that she’ll know where they are going when they get there. It turns out Seung Jo is driving them to visit the graves of Ha Ni’s grandmother and mother. When they arrive at the hillside grave, Seung Jo lays a bouquet of flowers at the site. Ha Ni’s dad reveals that it was Seung Jo who wanted to come visit her mom and grandmother.

Seung Jo talks directly to Ha Ni’s grandmother – announcing that her grand son-in-law is here, is she pleased with him? He continues by saying that Ha Ni is already causing trouble, but he will take good care of her. Ha Ni says she doesn’t like it, but then revises her assessment by saying thank you to Seung Jo. She tells her mom and grandmother that she is getting married.

After the grave site visit, the happy-again couple are strolling in a park-like area. Seung Jo says that tennis sunbae can be their wedding announcer. Ha Ni wonders where they are going for their honeymoon? Seung Jo wonders if they have to go at all, since they don’t have much time on their hands. When Ha Ni starts grumbling, he says fine, and asks her if there is a place she’s been wanting to go? Ha Ni says Italy, maybe Rome? Seung Jo shoots it down, and Ha Ni concedes it’s rather far-fetched.

How about some place with a beach? Maybe an island? [Like, maybe, New Caledonia?] Seung Jo says if she wants an island, they should go to Yeoui Island (which is in the middle of the Han River in Seoul). Mwahahaha. Ha Ni is rightly horrified. Seung Jo then proposes an even smaller island (I’d suggest they go to Dokdo Island). He can’t stop teasing her, can he? He suggests that he shakes his cellphone, and if the three icons that pop up are the same, then she can pick their honeymoon destination.

Ha Ni agrees, but wonders if there is a slim chance of that happening. During the shake, Ha Ni is chanting “Jeju Island” while Seung Jo is repeating “Yeoui Island.” Voila, the three icons turn out to be the same, and Ha Ni hops around Seung Jo in glee. Seung Jo smiles and shakes the cellphone again, it once again it pops up three icons that are identical. Oh Seung Jo, you just like playing with your Ha Ni, don’t you?

Ha Ni is in her room with her best friends, and they’ve come to spend the final night hanging out with her and bearing presents. The present turns out to be, no surprise, a lacy pink underwear set and pink pajamas, plus a sultry perfume. One friend hops up and demonstrates to Ha Ni what she is supposed to do on her wedding night: shower, put on sexy lingerie, spritz on some perfume, seduce her Seung Jo oppa/husband.

Back in the room of the Baek brothers, Eun Jo tells his hyung that he’s really going to end up with Oh Ha Ni. Seung Jo smiles and queries whether Eun Jo isn’t happy about it. Eun Jo’s resigned to it – she’s not smart, she’s rather slow on the uptake, no matter which way you slice it Ha Ni’s a dunderhead. However, she’s willing to jump into the water to save Eun Jo even when she can’t swim, and she continues to like Seung Jo even after being treated so poorly by him.

Eun Jo says that compared to an Oh Ha Ni, he wants to marry a smart and beautiful woman. But he’s happy that Seung Jo is marrying Ha Ni. Eun Jo confesses that as much as he loves and adores his hyung, Seung Jo has got some personality issues. With that in mind, Seung Jo is much better suited to marry Ha Ni. Eun Jo concludes by announcing that they will definitely be happy together, and wishes Seung Jo a big congratulations on his upcoming nuptials.

Outside the Baek house, on the eve of the wedding, is a man that I immediately burst into tears when I see. It’s Joon Gu, leaning against a wall, there to wish Ha Ni well for a life journey she is not taking with him. He talks to the Ha Ni behind the window in her room, telling Ha Ni that he’s very happy right now, because she is happy. And when she is happy, then he is happy. He wishes her sweet dreams, and that he will see her tomorrow.

Ha Ni’s dad is drinking alone in the kitchen, and a sleepless Ha Ni finds him and shares a lovely father-daughter moment. She grasps his hand, and thanks him for raising her to be such a great person. Her face starts to crumble, and her dad reminds her not to cry, lest people say she’s not pretty tomorrow with her puffy face.

Too bad her dad’s face starts to crack as he says this, leading him to wonder why there are tears on such a happy occasion? He laughs at himself for crying – he raised a daughter as a single parent, so he should be happy that he’s giving her away tomorrow. They get up to practice their walk down the aisle, and its such a poignant moment between a single father and his only child. Their hitherto duo-existence changing irrevocably tomorrow, the beats and rhythms of their relationship adding new characters and textures – a son-in-law, a husband, an extended family.

And……it’s the wedding day! Omo, I think I’m more excited about this wedding than my own. Well, not really, but it’s up there in excitement level. The Baek parents and the little bride groom are welcoming the arriving guests. Ha Ni is in the bridal waiting room taking pictures with her friends. Who arrives to congratulate the snail bride but her teacher from Class 3-7. And she brought along her date, Seung Jo’s teacher from Class 3-1!

Turns out she’s got a bun in the oven, courtesy of her now hubby smarty-pants teacher! Totally predictable, but oh so cute nonetheless. Ha Ni’s teacher is way too excited about her former student snagging Baek Seung Jo, stud of the high school. She gets gently dragged out of there by her hubby. Now it’s the perfect place to digress and tell you that Ha Ni’s looks like a meringue confection in her flouncy monstrosity of a wedding dress. But she’s glowing, and gorgeous. Someone restrain me from reaching in there and slicing off half her dress with my scissors.

The next to arrive to visit the bride is her former rival-in-love, Hye Ra, who immediately compliments the bride as being beautiful. Hye Ra admits that she’s satisfied. When asked about what, Hye Ra graciously says that she’s glad the reason Seung Jo didn’t pick her was because of Ha Ni. When Ha Ni doesn’t quite understand, Hye Ra explains that she’s complimenting Seung Jo’s taste in women. See, a lady can remain classy until the very end, I highly approve. She congratulates Ha Ni, and tells her to be happy in marriage that it makes her so jealous she’ll want to get married herself.

Over in the other corner of tying up loose ends, Joon Gu has found Seung Jo and is delivering a final message. Joon Gu warns Seung Jo to be wary of him. He might take Ha Ni and run away before the end of the ceremony. Joon Gu-yahh, were you up late last night watching The Graduate?

MC tennis sunbae prepares to start the ceremony. Ha Ni hears the narration from her waiting chamber, with Eun Jo keeping her calm. He reminds her not to commit any faux pas – like putting on the wrong ring, or tripping on her skirt. Eun Jo the little squirt suddenly tells his future sister-in-law that he has a wedding present for her. He whispers something in her ear, and Ha Ni’s eyes widen in shock.

Ha Ni is walked down the aisle by her dad, to the applause of everyone and the direct gaze of one person. Seung Jo is stoic as he stands waiting for her at the altar. What? Like the robot will suddenly start spazzing just because he’s getting married. His gaze softens as he steps down to take Ha Ni from her father’s arm. Going without someone officiating the wedding, the bride and groom stand alone at the altar and exchange their vows

The dad gives successive speeches, and we get a glimpse into their long-standing friendship. Seung Jo’s dad goes first – he confesses to growing up with Ha Ni’s dad, practically living at his house until junior high. He continues by saying that there is no one in the world as kind and gentle as his good friend, and now they are becoming in-laws. He concludes by giving thanks for raising such a lovely daughter and giving her to their family.

Ha Ni’s dad begins his speech by reminiscing about his very own too-short marriage. How it snowed on their wedding day. How they ate left over noodles for Christmas. How soon thereafter Ha Ni lost her mom, and they held each other and cried. But today, Ha Ni has beside her such a responsible and admirable husband, as a dad he can finally take a load off his shoulders. He finishes by thanking Seung Jo for taking care of Ha Ni.

The couple exchange rings. Ha Ni’s is placed gently on her hand by her husband, whereas Seung Jo’s ring flies out of Ha Ni’s hand. Everyone gasps and looks around for it. Seung Jo’s dad thankfully finds it immediately, and the wedding ceremony wraps up without another hitch. Everyone laughs at the gaffe, except Seung Jo who just doesn’t know when to loosen up.

Thank god his new wife has got a sparkling personality! When Seung Jo grumbles that she’s so clumsy, Ha Ni tells him to quit it. She knews Seung Jo really really likes her. When Seung Jo looks confused at her assertion, Ha Ni reveals that she knows their second kiss was not in the rain but instead on the resort bench when she was asleep. Seung Jo whips his head around to glare at Eun Jo, who looks every which way but at his brother.

Ha Ni grabs Seung Jo and pulls in him for a big giant kiss! The audience goes wild with the female show of affection. Seung Jo’s struggles a tad and pulls free at the end, staring at Ha Ni like he suddenly realized he is going to be married to this crazy adorable girl for the rest of his life. Yes you are, Seung Jo, yes you are. And I think you may have gotten the better end of the bargain.

Best part is when Ha Ni throws the same phrase he used when he gave her that first kiss against the wall – just messing with you – back at him. She seals the moment by sticking her tongue out at him. And I fall into a puddle of smiles and bliss. I am sososososo happy to see the return of confident, playful, and charming Oh Ha Ni.

Joon Gu watches the conclusion of the ceremony from outside the wedding hall, a view of his achy back more than enough to convey his bittersweet emotions – happy that his Ha Ni is happy and in good hands, sad that it’s not in his hands. He wipes away his lingering tears. Don’t cry anymore, Joon Gu. If loving Ha Ni meant that you pursued a life full of purpose and accomplishment, then your love was not in vain. You’ve truly made yourself a worthy man not just for Ha Ni, but for any woman out there!

A quick shot of an airplane in flight, and we cut to Ha Ni and Seung Jo driving a convertible down a highway in Jeju Island. Ha Ni is more than excited enough for the both of them, asking Seung Jo to stop the car so she can step outside and admire the view. By the way, they are totally wearing couples outfit, likely all purchased by coordi Mom.

Ha Ni notices that Seung Jo doesn’t get out of the car, instead sitting silently with a surly expression. Turns out Seung Jo is still pissed that his embarrassing baby pictures got shown during the reception. When Ha Ni laughs at his expense, he tries to drive off without her. Heh. Back in Seoul, tennis sunbae is not-so-surreptitiously following Hye Ra after the wedding. She wants to shake him, but in the end elects to spend time with him.

The newlyweds arrive at their resort, and run into another couple, who apparently were on the same flight as our Ha Ni and Seung Jo. The husband is lugging about 12 bags, and his princess of a wife is directing him to check-in. The shrewish wife comments that Seung Jo sure is handsome, he could be an actor! Ha Ni drags Seung Jo off in a jiffy. Thank god Ha Ni’s bitch-dar is working perfectly.

Tennis sunbae and Hye Ra are having a quick meal at a hot dog store, leading Hye Ra to remark that tennis sunbae really does like hot dogs. He tries to tell her a joke, which leads to him pointing out that she has an eye booger. He does make her laugh when he tries to practice eating a hot dog in 20 seconds, so he can try out for a food eating contest that can take him to New York. Tennis sunbae also accidentally reveals that he watched Hye Ra for the four whole hours she practiced tennis the day she got dumped by Seung Jo.

Ha Ni turns on the faucet in the plush bathtub in their swanky hotel room, playing with the posh accoutrements. Tell me now hasn’t played around in a fancy hotel room before? Not I. She goes out to their adjoining patio where Seung Jo is sitting on the bench. Ha Ni tells Seung Jo that she knows she has flaws and shortcomings, but she will continuously work on them. She will do her best to be a good wife.

She puts her head on his shoulder and is luxuriating in the romantic moment when the other couple walks by and announces that they are in the room next door. Just great. Ha Ni and Seung Jo talk with the hotel concierge. They end up booking the same fancy newlywed meal as the other couple, who are clearly the least happy and in love newlyweds on the planet.

During dinner, the slap-worthy wife makes pointed remarks – such as whether they got married so young because Ha Ni got pregnant – which lead Ha Ni to gulp down all her wine to endure the interminable meal. Turns out that chick is the same age as Ha Ni and Seung Jo, twenty-one, and her new husband is eleven years older than her. Ha Ni’s drinking that night makes her sick the next morning on the side of the road.

Detour back to Seoul again, where Christine as taken to eating at the noodle restaurant and doing her version of the Ha Ni stalking. Joon Gu brings out her bowl of noodles, and schools her on the correct way to hold and utilize a chopstick. Christine is clearly savoring the tutelage immensely.

Ha Ni and Seung Jo are sightseeing when they are tracked down by the other wife. Shameless Hussy is actually her other name, which I will use henceforth. Who knows where the submissive husband went, but Shameless Hussy drags Seung Jo around the museum leaving Ha Ni following sadly in their wake. The sad-sack husband shows up to complain about his wife to Ha Ni.

Shameless Hussy points out Ha Ni talking with her husband, and is about the do the Oppa Pout Wiggle on Seung Jo when suddenly a be-wigged lady comes barreling between them. The incognito lady is none other than Mom, here to ensure her kids have the best most “fruitful” honeymoon ever. Seung Jo’s Mom-dar goes off, and he’s immediately annoyed she’s come to interfere again.

Ha Ni finally steps up and grabs her husband back from the clutches of Shameless Hussy, and they walk away to enjoy the rest of the sightseeing. The camera pans away to reveal a second mini-be-wigged individual lurking around – Eun Jo is here, too! Shameless Hussy keeps getting restrained by her husband from interrupting Ha Ni and Seung Jo. I hope someone is drawing up divorce papers for him.

Seung Jo and Ha Ni are back in their hotel room, and Ha Ni finally takes out her lingerie presents and works up the courage to don them. Too bad Shameless Hussy and her husband bust in with champagne and snacks wanting to enjoy a night cap together. No one restrain me, imma going to go sharpen my cleaver now, if you hear shrieking turn the other ear, okay? Actually, I love Seung Jo’s reaction – he steps back from the door with the same freaked out look as when he encountered chicken head hoodie Ha Ni at the mini-mart (“please take 8,800 won from here”).

In the morning, Ha Ni again hopes for an entire day to enjoy with Seung Jo, when suddenly there is a pounding at their door. Shameless Hussy’ husband tells Seung Jo that his wife is writhing in pain (omo, perchance from that cleaver embedded in her skull courtesy of me?) and needs help. Why doesn’t he go straight to the resort doctor requires a suspension of logic so great I might as well announce that the earth is flat. But I’m in a forgiving mood, and have already given PK so many passes might as well keep the streak alive.

Seung Jo goes to help her, and is touching her for where she hurts. Ha Ni gets upset, and Seung Jo is infuriated that she would be upset when he is training to be a doctor and that is something he will be doing in the future. No, Seung Jo, she is upset because any monkey, much less human being, could tell that the witch is faking it to get your attention.

After Ha Ni storms out, and the husband follows her, Shameless Hussy promptly stops writhing (I knew I should have just beheaded her, it’s cleaner and she can’t resurrect herself), sits up, and gently caresses Seung Jo’s hand. Shameless Hussy states that Seung Jo must not like Ha Ni, and doesn’t want to touch her. Too bad he couldn’t have met her earlier…..at which point Seung Jo shakes her hand off him and stands up to school her.

He tells her if he met her anywhere but here he would never spare her a passing glance. Because they met here, as married couples, he deigned to speak with her. He tells her never to compare herself to his Ha Ni. Seung Jo walks out of the room, leaving her fuming at the rejection. He goes to find Ha Ni sitting on a bench watching the waves, and they make up, tickling each other.

 

We switch over to them sitting in their hotel room in matching pajamas. Ha Ni apologizes for behaving irrationally, and getting jealous over such a little thing. It’s clear Seung Jo is more nervous than he lets on, because he suddenly doesn’t sound so smooth. He says Ha Ni is cute, sometimes. She is pretty, on occasion. Seung Jo puts his arms around her, and asks why does he like her so much?

He pushes her back into the sofa, and questions what she has done to him that makes him think about her all the time? Seung Jo leans over to kiss Ha Ni (and all you hear is me screaming “HIS HEAD, WHY IS THE CAMERA SHOOTING THIS SCENE FROM THE ANGLE WHERE HIS HEAD OBSCURES ALL THE LIP SUCKING!?!?”), then he picks her up and carries her to bed. [I made the screencap extra large so everyone can see exactly why I am breaking up with the PK camera immediately after episode 16 airs.]

They are kissing on the bed when Ha Ni stops Seung Jo mid-make out, telling him she needs to go prepare. He asks for what? She replies the stuff a woman needs to prepare for. He silences her with a kiss that is preceded by the confession that he can’t wait any longer. They proceed to really make out (and all you hear is me screaming “THE WALL, WHY IS THE CAMERA PANNING OVER TO A FRICKIN’ WALL!?!”).

Even more bizarre than a camera that appears to enjoy filming a wall rather than steamy sexing between newlyweds, the morning dawns and Ha Ni wakes up in her own bedroom. Koala go wut? That was a combination time-jump and teleportation going on there. She looks at a framed honeymoon picture of her and Seung Jo and smiles blissfully.

She hurries downstairs where Mom is setting down breakfast for Seung Jo and Eun Jo. God knows how much time has passed since that wedding consummation scene, I’ll not even attempt to make heads or tails of the PK-time lapse logic. Seung Jo tells her the alarm went off at 5 am, leading him to wonder what breakfast she was planning to make this morning.

Turn out she slept right through it. Eun Jo pipes up that his brother can still reconsider. Ergh, Eun Jo, not after what your brother did to her in Jeju Island. Don’t think he can refund this wife anymore. Ha Ni wants to go to the library with Seung Jo to study, confessing to Mom that she needs to be prepared to take the nursing exam to be admitted to the program.

Mom reminds Seung Jo to go register their wedding certificate, and Seung Jo says he’ll have to think about it. Mom is horrified (that her son got some and then won’t do right by the girl, yeah, that’s about it), and Ha Ni is flabbergasted. Why is Seung Jo suddenly reluctant to make their marriage legal under the law?

Seung Jo says that he’ll get the marriage registered when Ha Ni passes the nursing exam and gets accepted to the program. Ha Ni says that’s not right, and Seung Jo wonders if she has so little faith in herself. Where’d all her determination and grit gone? Probably the same place her virginity went – into your pocket. Ooops, did I just say that? Sorry!

A happy Ha Ni is a complacent Ha Ni, and Seung Jo knows it. He just dug up the same motivation that got Ha Ni to test into the top-50 that one time in high school – to prove something to Seung Jo and get him to do something she wants. Seung Jo saunters away with a sly grin, knowing he’s got his Ha Ni right where he wants her – ready and anxious to accomplish a meaningful goal in her professional development.

Thoughts of Mine:

This episode wasn’t just poorly edited. If there was an editing Razzie in the K-drama award, this episode would sweep the awards. In fact, as a drama PK would probably be nominated as a whole, because having half its episodes awkwardly structured really takes the viewer out of any scene and back to reality with the herky jerky cuts. With that said – I’m satisfied with the substance of what happened in this episode, regardless of how it was delivered.

This was the first episode where it felt like too much plot was crammed into too little time. Perhaps an 18-episode drama would really allow the conclusion of Ha Ni and Seung Jo’s story to develop with more subtlety. A slice-of-life drama doesn’t work so well if the story doesn’t flow at its natural pace, whether that pace is fast or slow. PK has been a slow drama, and suddenly it’s barreling down an expressway going 90 mph. The viewer was forced to re-adjust our expectations in this episode.

While we know Ha Ni and Seung Jo get married young, the build-up to the wedding in PK was awkward and not terribly convincing. PK can no longer coast on the cute or the sweet to elicit awwws from me. I want more substance in showing how the couple express their love for each other. Luckily, we get that later in the episode. It also manifested itself in the wedding, which was built upon the relationship we’ve watched develop between Ha Ni and Seung Jo for 14 episodes now, so the ceremony felt natural and satisfying to watch.

There were a lot of poignant moments, and my favorites in this episode were Ha Ni and her dad’s quiet moments together the night before the wedding, Joon Gu’s various ways of letting Ha Ni go and wishing her well, and Ha Ni surprising Seung Jo with a kiss of her own. What can I say – our couple getting married and consummating their wedding made me feel like I was marrying my own baby off. I wanted to pat myself on the head and say “you did it” to those two kids.

This episode hammered home the point that only Oh Ha Ni can put up with Seung Jo’s rather staid and chilly personality, making it a marriage where they truly understand and can put up with each other. You’ll never get a conversation between them whereby one person accuses the other of being totally different than before they were married. These two know what they are getting into, and love being with each other regardless.

There is a lot of story to wrap up in one short hour, so I hope the final episode tomorrow mixes all the elements together and surprises us with a delightful confection of an ending that leaves everyone satisfied that we’ve spent the last 16 hours with PK. It goes without saying that those who love the story and this iteration are happy with its existence, and those who feel otherwise have their own opinions. I look forward to hearing everyone’s thoughts, and sharing my own when the drama wraps up tomorrow.

[Credits: screencaps from Baidu Playful Kiss Bar, MBC official stills, and soompi.com]