Best Love Episode 10 Recap

Do the Hong Sisters think I’m a robot? Do they think it’s funny to screw with my heart? To reach deep inside and squeeze until I can’t breathe anymore? I’ve just barely been able to stop hurting inside from the last ten minutes of Lie to Me (oops, take that back – I just checked, am still butt hurt and want to inflict bodily pain on a certain hotel president), and then the last ten minutes of Best Love (The Greatest Love) episode 10 happened. It was like pouring acid on an open wound.

Sometimes I rue the day I discovered K-dramas, wondering why I subject myself to this pain and pleasure in equal measures. But then I look around and realize that it’s thrilling, from start-to-finish an exhilarating ride to follow a beloved K-drama live. But I’m steeling myself, because after this, anything can happen in the remaining six episodes of BL. Today Jin learned what love means, and how strong he can be when he finds a love worth protecting. Today the robot became a real boy, and the real boy turned out to be such an incredible man he left me quaking in my boots from worry and happiness.

Episode 10 Recap:

Pil Joo steps into the ring of roses and holds out his hand to Ae Jung. She extends her hand, with a slight hesitation, and puts it in his. She steps into the ring as well, and fireworks go off and light up the night sky. Jin is off to the side and he sees this tableau, leading him to clutch his chest in extreme pain. He asks “Gu Ae Jung, it hurts so much, am I dying?” If the Hong Sisters kill off Jin I am breaking up with them. I mean it.

Back on stage, the production of Couple Making coo over how picture perfect Pil Joo and Ae Jung look standing together. In comparison, they remark that Se Ri clearly doesn’t look happy. They wonder if she’s too tired. Se Ri can’t contain her dismay as she looks at her Ae Jung unni and the man she’s falling in love with standing hand-in-hand together, the publicly acknowledged new celebrity couple.

Ae Jung talks quietly to Pil Joo, telling him that even though he has to keep holding her hand for the show, he should pretend the cameras and production folks aren’t all around them. We see everyone disappear until it’s just Pil Joo and Ae Jung standing in the center of the stage. Pil Joo smiles and tells Ae Jung that this is real to him, and he wants to grab onto her heart. He tells her that he already imagined that it was just the two of them since he saw her on the stage.

As Jung smiles, sorry that Pil Joo has to go through this crazy mess public scrutiny. He doesn’t mind because he made the choice to jump into this industry to hold onto her, and now won’t let go that easily. She asks him to release her hand since filming is done, and he does, only to intertwine his fingers with hers, holding on even more intimately and tightly. O____O By all that is holy, please stop making Pil Joo so utterly amazing, because his upcoming heartbreak will KILL me. Pil Joo tells Ae Jung that since he’s taking this for real, he wants to keep holding her hand.

Jin sits in his car and clutches chest as he looks towards the stage. During the clean up, PD Kim asks Se Ri what she said to Pil Joo that left him looking stunned? Se Ri asks PD Kim to explain how exactly Pil Joo looked on camera, and is told he initially looked stunned, and only perked up once Ae Jung arrived on the set.

Ae Hwan calls Ae Jung, finding out that she’s with Pil Joo, who is driving her home. Ae Hwan makes an excuse that he and their dad won’t be home all night, and Ding Dong is with his Jenny omma. Ae Jung says their excuses are so blatant. Pil Joo says everyone is on Team Pil Joo, so Ae Jung needs to hurry up and come over as well. Ae Jung asks what’s so good about Team Pil Joo, and he answers that its safe, comfortable, unshakeable, and secure for the rest of their lives. Okay, 1, 2, 3……awwwwwwww.

Jenny is feeding Ding Dong and explaining that his dad and grandpa will not be in the house later, and for Ding Dong not to interrupt his aunt’s special date. Jenny walks away and Ding Dong looks at the magnets and decides to go home to change. Ding Dong is clearly Team Jin.

Outside the house, Ding Dong finds Jin in his car waiting for Ae Jung. Jin’s too scared to call Ae Jung. Ding Dong suddenly presses himself against Jin’s car window and freaks him out. Ding Dong asks Jin if he’s sick since Jin has this totally exaggerated hurt expression on his face. Jin turns on his actor charm and acts all gravely in pain.

Ding Dong takes Jin inside the house. Ae Jung comes home and is surprised to find Jin sitting in her living room. Ding Dong explains that ahjusshi was sick so he brought him home. Ae Jung asks how Ding Dong can just let anyone inside, and Jin is a wee bit miffed to hear himself called an “anyone”.

Jin continues with the super sick performance and thanks Ding Dong for the warm tea. When Ae Jung presses Jin to leave after finishing the tea, Ding Dong reminds his aunt that Jin always lets him play at his house, and he wants to let Jin stay because Jin is his friend.

Jin concurs that he’s super buddy buddy with Ding Dong, and even gave out autographs to his friends. Ding Dong says that because of Jin, he’s been selected as team leader for their upcoming school picnic. Ae Jung relents and allows Jin to stay, reminding Ding Dong he can play until 10 pm. When Ae Jung goes inside, Jin breaks into a giant grin and tells Ding Dong that the kid did well, and Jin will give him 100 DVDs to pass out at school.

Jin is sitting in Ding Dong’s room and thinking about how to talk with Ae Jung. Ding Dong, likely the most mature person in the house right now, asks Jin why he’s always in trouble with Ae Jung? Jin explains that he did something wrong to Ding Dong’s aunt. When Ding Dong tells him to apologize, Jin says it’s not that easy for a 37 year old to just apologize the way a 7 year old can just apologize.

Ding Dong thinks otherwise, his dad is always apologizing to his aunt. But Jin says he’s Dokko Jin, a special man. Ding Dong wonders if that means Jin needn’t apologize, and Jin concedes he does need to apologize. Ding Dong gives Jin his diary with a special block for writing down the mistake of the day. Jin thinks its brilliant.

Ae Jung considers whether Jin is really sick, and why it’s so quiet out there. Jin is writing an apology on Ding Dong’s notebook. He writes that he did wrong today, but then erases it and starts over. Jin puts it away and pretends that he’s playing with Ding Dong when Ae Jung walks into the room to put the kid to bed. Ding Dong stalls for time and runs off to prepare for tomorrow’s picnic while Ae Jung makes kimbap.

Jin checks out Ae Jung making the kimbap and wants to eat some because he didn’t eat since he’s hurting. He notices that she puts cucumbers in and says that he doesn’t like it, which makes Ae Jung throw a couple more slices in. Ding Dong comes out wearing a Spiderman outfit. Jin laughs at Ding Dong’s get up, which embarrasses the kid and he decides he doesn’t want to wear it.

Ae Jung yells at Jin, who looks contrite when Ding Dong looks sad and says he won’t wear the costume anymore. Jin fixes his faux pas by telling Ding Dong he needs to stand up straight and be a proud Spiderman. Jin explains that he’s always wanted to be Ironman since he was a kid, because Ironman has a powerful man-made heart, and Jin wanted that to become a superhero.

Ae Jung looks at Jin, and he tells her not to feel sorry for him. Ae Jung tells Jin to eat the kimbap, but Jin complains he can’t since Ae Jung threw in so many cucumbers. Ding Dong gets tired and wants to go to bed, but Jin wants him to stay up longer so he can speak with Ae Jung. Ding Dong passes out at the table.

Jin says it’s better for kids to tire oneself out before a picnic. He sadly notes that he never went on any field trips as a kid because he was so sick. He makes Ae Jung agree to go on a field trip with him tomorrow. Jin wants a miracle so that Ae Jung will go on a picnic with him, it’ll be like she made the dream of a weak teenage Jin come true. He asks her to please forgive him, just this once. She won’t agree, saying that it’ll keep raining between them. Jin says he’ll wait until the rain stops between them, and then a rainbow will emerge.

The next morning dawns and its pouring rain outside. Both Ae Jung and Ding Dong are disappointed the rain is ruining the picnic and field trip plans. There’s a knock on the door and Ae Jung assumes it’s Jin again. She opens the door abruptly and hits Pil Joo, who is there to deliver the camera present he bought for Ae Jung.

Ae Jung looks at the camera and remarks that it would be perfect for a picnic. Ding Dong asks Pil Joo if he liked superheroes when Pil Joo was a kid, clearly trying to compare the two ahjusshis who like his aunt. Pil Joo likes detective stories more, and Ding Dong thinks Pil Joo looks just like Sherlock Holmes.

Pil Joo spies the lunchbox of kimbap and deducts that Ding Dong’s aunt made it? He then offers to buy Ding Dong something better in exchange for it. We see Ding Dong staring at a display tray of donuts, and Pil Joo telling him to put as many donuts into the bucket as Ding Dong wants. Poor boy shuts his eyes and hilariously apologizes to Ironman, before proceeding to load up the tub.

Back at Ae Jung’s house, they’ve set up a tent in the living room. Ding Dong plays with the camera inside the tent with Pil Joo. Ae Jung’s phone rings and it’s from Jin. She hesitates before answering. Jin tells her to come down, he’s here for the picnic and is all prepared. He wants to take Ding Dong, who must be disappointed he can’t go to a picnic. She tells him that she’s having the picnic now in her living room, and everyone is happy.

Jin says he’s outside and wants to come up. Ae Jung says no, she has a guest. Pil Joo overhears her talking and can guess who is calling. Jin’s face falls and he asks if Pil Joo is there? Ae Jung confirms it, and tells Jin that even if Jin hurts so much and dies, she won’t be paying him any attention anymore. She says sorry and hangs up the phone. Jin sits in his car outside in the rain, looking up at Ae Jung’s house. Ae Jung eats ramyun with Pil Joo and Ding Dong.

The latest episode of Couple Making Season 3 airs, and everyone is watching it. The nurses at the clinic ask Pil Joo if he was nervous? Pil Joo’s mom is utterly miserable. Se Ri watches the episode in her car. Ae Jung sits in the living room and watches it with her family. Jin watches it on his TV and quickly turns it off, clutching his chest in pain afterwards.

In a production meeting, Se Ri brings up public comments that Ae Jung and Pil Joo don’t look good together. Se Ri grumbles that all she does is provide the introduction and closing remarks, and the new format leaves her with nothing more to do.

Se Ri tells her stylist that she regrets allowing Ae Jung on the show, she doesn’t want a repeat of ten years ago when she lost everything to Ae Jung. Pil Joo walks towards Se Ri, who sees him and tells herself that she doesn’t to lose Pil Joo to Ae Jung. Pil Joo asks to speak with Se Ri, and proceeds to construe her confession as a joke intended to upset him.

The way Pil Joo sees it, if Se Ri was sincere in her confession that she liked him, then she wouldn’t have told him at that very critical moment to confuse him. His assumption upsets Se Ri and she goes with it, claiming she did it because she doesn’t like Ae Jung. Pil Joo tells Se Ri to stop behaving so poorly, telling her that she’s beautiful on the outside but ugly on the inside. He asks her never to joke like that again.

Se Ri sits in the bathroom and cries, berating Pil Joo for having no sense to differentiate between truth and a joke. Se Ri hears a girl group member in another stall talking to a boy against agency rules, and flashes back to ten years ago when Se Ri had a crush on popstar Brian Joo.

Ae Jung helped her plant a note in a vending machine hoping Brian would pick it up. Instead it was picked up by their manager, so Ae Jung grabbed it out of his hand and ate it before it could be read, so that Se Ri wouldn’t get into trouble.

Se Ri comes out of the bathroom to see her former manager confiscating the phone of one of his current girl group entertainers, who is getting too close to a boy bander. The manager thinks Se Ri was so well behaved back then, but Se Ri says that she was just never discovered.

The manager says dating was Mina specialty – she dated one of the most famous popstars back then and incurred the wrath of fangirls who mailed razor blades to the agency. The manager thinks Ae Jung was also annoying, accusing the agency of failing to protect the girls. Se Ri wonders if Ae Jung also helped Mina with her romance.

Pil Joo’s mom goes to Ae Jung’s house and this time goes inside to talk with the entire family. She finds out everyone lives here with Ae Jung, including Ae Hwan and Ding Dong. She asks about the rent, and finds out its month-to-month. Ae Hwan introduces himself as Ae Jung’s manager and Ding Dong as his son. Pil Joo’s mom determines that Ae Jung is the responsible breadwinner for the entire family. She’s even more upset that Ae Jung comes with a pack of beggar family members.

Jin gets new from Agent Moon that he’s been considered for a superhero character in a Hollywood movie. Jae Seok shares the news with Ae Jung and Jenny. Ae Jung thinks Jin would be perfect to play a character like Ironman (uh, not if RDJ has anything to say about it, LOL).

Ding Dong goes to Jin’s house and confesses his donut betrayal, but Jin’s not angry and tells Ding Dong he didn’t nothing wrong. Ding Dong brought to donuts for Jin to eat, but Jin declines and tells the darling boy to eat as much as he wants, and just work out afterwards.

Jin says he can’t eat the donuts because it was purchased by his enemy and is used as a wicked lure. Jin remarks that the next time he sees Ding Dong, the boy will have grown this much. Ding Dong wonders where Jin is going, and is told Jin’s off to play a superhero.

Ae Jung is cleaning the living room and comes across Jin’s apology note written to her. In it, Jin apologizes for mistaking that his rapidly beating heart wasn’t beating so fast because of her, and admits that his heart beats faster because he likes her. Ae Jung doesn’t want Jin to come back and confuse her, and hopes that he instead goes to Hollywood to further his career. Jin sits in his house and stares at the potato, noting sadly that it’ll die if no one is around to look after it.

The production of Couple Making visit Pil Joo’s house and think it’s perfect to shoot a housewarming date episode here (OT: hmmmm, housewarming…..after LTM I now expect all housewarmings to end with a sizzling make out session). They will use Jenny’s restaurant to stand in for Ae Jung’s place.

Jae Seok is at Jin’s house with him, explaining that they need to leave now because the director wants to meet Jin. Jin is watching a program showing kids on a field trip. Suddenly Jin clutches his heart and doubles over in pain, asking Jae Seok to take him to the hospital. His heart rate is at 135.

At the hospital, Jae Seok cries and asks the medical staff to work faster to help Jin. Jin tells Jae Seok to inform Agent Moon to ask that the meeting with the director be pushed back, and not to make a big deal about this situation. Jin asks the doctor what is happening, and the doctor asks that Jin undergo some tests.

Ae Jung is at Pil Joo’s house waiting for the taping to commence for the show. She remarks that is so nice. He tells her to come over and hang out with him here. If she’s not comfortable being alone with him, she can bring along her Spiderman to accompany her.

Jin is informed that his pacemaker is broken, and he’s going to need open heart surgery to fix it. RAGE, KOALA RAGE. No. Just no. Jin asks if this is the same situation as ten years ago, and is told that it’s so severe Jin could have collapsed and died any moment. Thanks to the song, it allowed Jin to recognize his heart was acting up.

The doctor tells Jin this surgery has a 50-50 chance of success. Jin says this was what the doctor told him last time, except after Jin survived that surgery, the doctor then confessed the surgery had only a 5% chance of success and it was a miracle Jin survived. The doctor refuses to admit he said that, only wanting to discuss this surgery as a life or death result.

We see the potato begin to wither and die. Jin sits in the lobby and thinks back to what the doctor said – his heart really is broken. Oh the damn symbolic irony, you Hong Sisters! He grabs his heart and looks as weary as he must be feeling inside. Suddenly he’s surrounded by fans asking him to sign autographs, which reminds him that he is Dokko Jin. Jae Seok wants to get him out of there, but Jin puts on his sunglasses and just stays and signs.

Pil Joo and Ae Jung are filming a cooking scene at Pil Joo’s house for the show. Ae Jung reaches into the vegetable bowl and picks up a potato. She looks at it a little too long, leading Pil Joo to ask if she likes potatoes. Ae Jung says it’s the opposite, she hates potatoes. Pil Joo takes the potato from her and puts it in a separate bowl.

Jin meets with the Hollywood director and agrees to do the movie. The director says Jin is the man he wants for the role, and it will make him an international star. Agent Moon tells Jin to leave now and she’ll handle things in Korea. Jin wants to accept his award (at the Korean Movie Awards) before he leaves, so that he’s left the coolest image behind.

Agent Moon meets with the production of Couple Making and is told that they got Ae Jung a presenter slot on the upcoming movie awards. Agent Moon agrees to prepare Ae Jung’s outfit for the award. The production wants Ae Jung and Pil Joo to start using couple phones, and the model selected is the one Jin and Se Ri endorse.

At the designer boutique, Jin is putting on a tux in the changing area. Ae Jung is there to try on her own formal dress, and she sees Jin modeling his tux in front of a mirror. Their eyes meet in the mirror, and Ae Jung turns and hurries away. Jin follows her and asks if she liked sneaking a peek back there? Ae Jung says she wasn’t sneaking a peek.

Jin compliments her on looking so pretty in her dress, and finds out she’s presenting at the Movie Awards. He asks if she’s not by chance presenting the Best Actor award, is she? Ae Jung shakes her head, confessing that her heels are so high she’s worried she might trip on the red carpet. Jin advises Ae Jung to keep her head held high with confidence, believing she is the best celebrity in this world.

Ae Jung thinks that since she’s back in high demand, she will maintain her confidence and perhaps even brag a little. She asks Jin if she looks less cheap now wearing this dress? Jin confesses that even when Ae Jung wore a frog costume she never looked cheap, she was the most luxurious frog he’d ever seen. Ae Jung thanks Jin for his compliment, and Jin tells her to work hard.

Jin turns to leave, but then turns back and asks Ae Jung if he looks cool today? He wants to look the coolest he’s ever looked. Ae Jung says he does. In fact, even when Jin was Dongko Jin, he always looked cool. Jin says that of course he always looked cool, and reminds Ae Jung to remember him like that. Watching him walk away, Ae Jung shakes her head, reminding herself that no matter how cool Jin looks, she needs to forget him.

Jin arrives at the Awards and walks down the red carpet, posing for pictures. He goes into the dressing room to see Se Ri, who dismisses everyone. Jin informs Se Ri that he’s headed to Hollywood, and he wanted her to know so she wouldn’t look surprised. Jin says that today he needs to look the coolest he’s ever looked in his entire life.

Ae Jung is a ball of nerves before the show, with Jenny and Pil Joo keeping her company. Pil Joo suggests that she hold her wrist down with a finger to calm herself. Ae Jung is the first presenter so she needs to go get ready. She heads out and runs into her old manager, who is with his entertainer, the other girl who was on Couple Making Season 3.

Ae Jung says hello, and tells the other girls to work hard and do well. The manager is in a snit, and asks Ae Jung if she really wants to tell the girl who was cut from the show because of Ae Jung to do well? Ae Jung tries to explain it wasn’t because of her, so why is she being faulted for this? The manager doesn’t take kindly to Ae Jung speaking back him, thinking she’s uppity because she’s all dressed up today.

The manager doesn’t think that Ae Jung is at a level where she can be forgiven for everything, even if she’s all dressed up today. Ae Jung refuses to be cowed, saying that she has no reason to hold her head down today. She moves to leave, and we see the manager shaking his extremely hot cup of coffee. He tosses the cup of coffee on Ae Jung’s dress, immediately exclaiming that it was an accident. He snarks that her clean white dress is back to being dirty, which suits Ae Jung much better. Oh god, I want to take a spoon and stabbity him in his manparts.

Se Ri is asked to pinch hit for a presenter who can’t present because a situation arose. She was supposed to be in the audience only, so she scrambles to find her stylist and a dress. Jin overhears this and asks the production member if the award was supposed to have been presented by Gu Ae Jung.

Jin heads to the lobby and sees Jenny accusing the manager of spilling the coffee on Ae Jung intentionally. The manager is unrepentant and keeps insisting that it was just an accident. Jenny asks why the manager is doing this to Ae Jung, to which the guy keeps proclaiming that he has no reason to do this to Ae Jung.

Jin goes searching for Ae Jung, and finds her sitting at the bottom of a set of stairs, bathed in the soft light of the setting sun outside the window. He walks down and she looks up at him.

Jin notices that her arm is burned. He looks at it intently, saying in a quiet voice “you’re burned.” Ae Jung tries to downplay it as not serious, put on some cold water and it’ll be fine. Ae Jung thinks it’s not her place to life to wear a dress like this and be here putting on airs. She’s more suited to wear frog costumes and perform pratfalls. As Ae Jung talks, Jin never takes his eyes away from her burned arm.

Jin finally looks up and tells Ae Jung to hurry and put medicine on the burn so it won’t leave a scar. He then stands up with a scary determined look on his face. The awards show starts but Jin is instead looking for the manager. Jin finds him on the phone laughing about what he did. Jin stalks the man as he walks away.

Finally Jin calls out to him, and when the manager turns around, Jin decks him in the face. God, this was so overdue, but I am in tears knowing what Jin’s is giving up to protect his Ae Jung and stand up for the mistreatment she has endured at the hands of this cretin.

Pil Joo is tending to Ae Jung’s burn, telling her it’ll blister and sting, but won’t leave a scar. She apologizes that he has to miss the show because of her, but he would rather see her. Jenny wonders why their old manager has it out for Ae Jung. Pil Joo asks if Ae Jung is at fault for the Treasure Girls disbanding? Jenny is about to discuss how Se Ri and Mina both share some responsibility, but Ae Jung shushes her and tells her not to say anymore.

As Jenny and Pil Joo are about the leave Ae Jung’s house, Ae Jung’s dad tells everyone that Jin’s on the news. Everyone looks at the news report about Jin’s sudden no-show at the awards ceremony, and could it be related to rumors that there was discord between Jin and the director of Fighter. Reporters have swarmed the agency, and Jae Seok is telling everyone that Jin is not here.

Agent Moon is at the hospital with the injured manager, who is totally beaten up and it wasn’t just one punch. She asks Jae Seok to tell the media that there is a personal reason and they won’t be discussing this incident at this time. She’s told Jin’s at home but not answering his phone. She tells Jae Seok to reach him no matter what and tell him to lay low until everything blows over and is resolved.

Ae Hwan gets dressed and tells Ae Jung that Jae Seok asked Ae Hwan to go to Jin’s house and get him out of the house before the media descends. Ae Hwan tells Ae Jung that Jin beat someone up. Ae Hwan doesn’t think Jin will listen to him, but Ae Jung asks to go in his place. She wants to confirm something. Ae Jung goes to Jin’s house and enters using the same 6090 code.

Jin is still wearing his tux. He looks exhausted and is drinking a Vitamin Water. Ae Jung asks what happened and who Jin hit? He begs exhaustion and doesn’t want to discuss it right now. Ae Jung wishes he didn’t cause an incident like this, especially when he needs to go to Hollywood and become a superhero, protecting his life and career in the coolest way possible.

Jin tells Ae Jung that he’s not going anymore. Instead of his career, which will continue with needing him to protect it, there is something here MORE IMPORTANT (emphasis mine) that he needs to protect right here. O.M.G. I am sobbing like a baby right now. He tells Ae Jung that in being so cool and protecting it today, he’s completely wiped out.

Jin leans in and hugs Ae Jung, who asks what he is doing? Jin tells her to be still for a moment. He needs to recharge and rest so that he can continue to be cool (and protect what he wants to protect from now on). He hugs her tighter, saying he needs to recharge.

Thoughts of Mine:

Wow. What a brilliant episode, the most painstakingly substantive one yet. It takes every emotional thread and plot narrative and runs with it until it reaches a crisis point that keeps us unable to look away. Everything converged today: Jin’s diagnoses that he needs surgery to survive with only 50-50 odds of making it out alive and Jin understanding fully that he loves Ae Jung and the lengths he’s willing to go to love someone.

The hug at the end of this episode was a billion times more impactful for me than the kiss in episode 9. The kiss was lovely, we all know Cha Seung Won can make even a simple lip press so sexy. But the hug, just one more hug in the handful of hugs between the OTP so far, was accompanied by so much heart ache in both the physical and emotional sense of the word.

Jin’s heart hurts, because he exerted so much energy to beat up that scuzzy manager. Jin’s heart hurts, because he loves Ae Jung, and she’s not yet at the realization that she loves him back to the extent he loves her. Jin’s life hurts, because he’s put his career, formerly the most important thing to him, on the line to stand up for Ae Jung.

It wasn’t like he saw her in the process of getting hurt and in the heat of the moment punched out the manager. Jin thoughtfully, deliberately, and knowingly tracked the guy down to kick his ass. It was insanely awesome, if I didn’t scream noooooo because I knew what was at stake for Jin. He kissed Hollywood goodbye, and probably his popularity along with it. But he doesn’t care, because the stakes were higher in his heart if his Ae Jung were hurt again.

Jin beat up the manager not just for what he did to Ae Jung, it was also a warning never to mess with her again. In essence, Jin traded his career for hers. Pil Joo has nothing at stake in choosing Ae Jung, whereas Jin has everything at stake. We laugh at Jin for fighting his attraction to Ae Jung, for discounting the truth that he was falling in love with her. But he had a good reason for fighting against his heart, and today he faced the reality and chose to follow his heart rather than his uber-logical mind.

Pil Joo just has no chance, no matter how everything he does (seriously, every single thing he does) makes my knees weak and I want to grab him and tell him to please don’t hurt when it all shakes out and Ae Jung chooses Jin. His sincerity and openness in love is a stark contrast to Jin’s fakeness and struggle against love. But in the end, Ae Jung has fallen for Jin, and not Pil Joo. Because in the end, Jin needs Ae Jung more than he needs anything else in his life, including fame and fortune.

The Hong Sisters didn’t just randomly construct an OTP, they put thought into it. Jin and Ae Jung are the end game not because Cha Seung Won and Gong Hyo Jin are the leads. They are meant to be together, because only they understand each other’s struggles in the entertainment life they have chosen to live, and have the werewithal to walk the rest of their careers together. Ae Jung picking Pil Joo means leaving the industry (and I think she likes being an entertainer, albeit not a hated one), but Ae Jung picking Jin meaning they can turn this industry upside down and hopefully emerge stronger by each other’s side.