It’s here. The incipient achy breaky heart parts of the drama we knew was coming has arrived and made itself known. Da Ran is in love with Kyung Joon, but doesn’t know how to deal with it since he’s still Kyung Jae at this stage and she’s still got some unfinished matters with Yoon Jae that makes moving on seem crazy and impossible. Forget the age difference, which Da Ran ought to be fine with if anyone is fine with it since her dad married his younger by sixteen years student. What we’re dealing with is the maelstrom of identity that seems to put up a wall between two people who have feelings for each other.
I’m glad episode 10 of Big focused on Da Ran figuring out her true feelings (about time), because she’s going to have to step up and fight for a chance to be with Kyung Joon pretty soon. Whether or not we get a soul switch back, it’s not an easy path for the couple to navigate, what with stalking crushes, married to the older brother legality, and some donor baby consequences mucking up the pool. This drama is going to pile on the guilt soon, Da Ran for going from loving one brother to the other, Kyung Joon for stealing his brother’s girl if it turns out Yoon Jae did love Da Ran, the Seo family dealing with the ethics of having one kid to save another, and the Gil family maybe having to swap out one Seo son-in-law for another. This would be hilariously awkward if I weren’t so emotionally involved. I love this drama to distraction.
Episode 10 recap:
Kyung Jae listens to the walkman while Da Ran asks quizzically why she’s strangely this happy that he’s here. I dunno, maybe cuz you lurve him? Sometimes the correct answer is the mot straightforward answer. Studying for all those standardized tests in my lifetime taught me that.
Kyung Jae notices her staring and takes off his ear buds to ask what she said, since obviously he can’t be allowed to hear her pseudo confession just yet. Boo. Da Ran snaps out of her daze and quickly lies that she was asking if he wanted to drink some water? She hurries to the movie theater to get water, but then wonders why she lied? She calls herself an idiot. I think we’ve establish you are, Da Ran, but a well intentioned and thoughtful one, so I’ll let this pass. Turns out Kyung Jae did hear her! Hallelujah, and he wonders to himself why she lied about what she said. Da Ran runs back to Kyung Jae and both of them are slightly awkward.
They go see the movie, which seems like a horror or slasher flick, I can’t tell. Da Ran watches the screen while Kyung Jae watches Da Ran. No, I’m serious, he keeps starting at her THE ENTIRE TIME without blinking or turning away. Swoon, my knees got weak just watching that onscreen. She asks if he doesn’t like the movie and admits that Choong Shik doesn’t have the best taste.
Kyung suddenly asks “Gil Teacher, do you like me?”, but his question happens to be delivered at the same time the movie hits a spot where a character lets out a blood curdling scream, so it appears Da Ran might not have heard his question.
After the movie ends, Da Ran and Kyung Jae walk out and she’s happy. Turns out she did hear his question and is trying to avoid it. He directly asks what she meant by being happy that he came? Da Ran makes the excuse that she was happy not to be all alone. He points out her expression while staring at him outside was all sorts of odd.
Da Ran piles on the ridiculous excuses, like she was thinking of what to eat and drink at the movies. Kyung Jae makes the “yeah, right” face and points to his face, asking if what she was thinking about was “this”. She admits she’s confused lately and it was nice that he showed up. Kyung Jae notices her wedding ring and that sends him crashing down to reality.
He mentions his vow not to like her and cause her confusion, which he still intends to adhere to. He asks her not to like him, because if she does, he doesn’t have the confidence he can keep at her bay. Why! Why babies you need not love each other? Yoon Jae? Whatever, I’ll push the virtual him off a cliff for you guys.
Kyung Jae says he’s hungry and wants to go eat. He walks off and a bickering couple walks pass Da Ran where the man is pleading with the woman. She wonders if she’s clingy and causing Kyung Jae distress? She imagines the scene outside the movie theater but this time she’s grabs Kyung Jae’s arms and strokes his cheeks, while Kyung Jae is all “Jesus” and disgusted with her. Da Ran snaps out of it and vows not to be that way.
Choong Shik finds Mari at Kyung Joon’s bedside instead of at the movies. Mari wonders if a person must really like another if he is willing to see a show he wasn’t interested in? Choong Shik thinks the person at least likes the other person 80%. Mari wonders if she at least has the remaining 20%. This conversation leads dim witted Choong Shik to wonder if Mari likes someone new these days.
Se Young meets up with Yoon Jae’s mom to give her a farewell gift. Yoon Jae’s mom asks to be kept apprised of Kyung Joon’s situation, making the lame excuse that she’s interested because this was the patient Yoon Jae saved. When Yoon Jae’s mom walks away, Se Young grabs a strand of hair from her hairbrush.
Kyung Jae and Da Ran are dining at Kyung Joon’s uncle restaurant. Kyung Jae reveals that Yoon Jae’s mom said Yoon Jae was searching for someone before the accident, but she hoped Yoon Jae would never meet that person. Kyung Jae thinks maybe it’s yet another woman, maybe someone Yoon Jae secretly had a matseon with. Da Ran laughs it off, but she’s not even the slightest bit hurt at the possibility.
They discuss the restaurant, which Da Ran finds really cool. Kyung Jae reveals his uncle modeled it after his mom’s restaurant in LA, but the food here sucks. Kyung Joon’s uncle comes by and recognizes Da Ran as Kyung Joon’s teacher, and here with the man who saved Kyung Joon. He thanks Kyung Jae for the chef’s phone number and directly asks if he was sent here by Kyung Joon’s dad to help.
Kyung Jae asks who Kyung Joon’s dad is? All Uncle knows is that his sister referred to the man as a doctor. His wife comes and drags him off, chiding him for talking to Kyung Jae and Da Ran. Uncle thinks Kyung Jae is a good person. Da Ran wonders why Kyung Jae isn’t looking for his dad, but he points out that he can’t do anything while Kyung Joon’s body is lying in the hospital. His mom mentioned some things to him before and he did try looking in the past.
Yoon Jae’s dad looks at a picture of Yoon Jae with him mom. He turns the picture frame around and opens the back, revealing a picture of a younger looking Kyung Joon’s mom. Se Young grabs a hair from sleeping Kyung Joon’s head and hands both hairs to another doctor to run a DNA test. She wonders if the two men are brothers?
On the drive home, Da Ran looks at the Miracle picture in Kyung Joon’s wallet and asks if this is a connection to his dad? Kyung Jae says yes, but he doesn’t know where to start looking for his dad. The picture seems familiar to Da Ran somehow (she found Yoon Jae’s plane ticket in the book in episode 5) but she doesn’t remember where.
Kyung Jae confirms he’s had the picture since he was a kid and there is only one since his dad drew it. Da Ran insists she’s seen this picture before. Da Ran promises to help him find his dad. Kyung Jae asks for the wallet back and she puts it in his palm and folds his hand over it. He teases that she’s coming on to him again by holding his hand for so long, which flusters her.
Da Ran does her patented bang her head against a hard surface routine. Kyung Jae asks what she wants to do since this is the last night of her vacation?
They end up at a convenience store to try and buy Made in China gifts for her colleagues. Da Ran looks through various knick knacks, until they discuss pandas. Yoon Jae finds some all-white teddy bears and has the brilliant idea to convert them into pandas as the perfect gift. They start arguing over the black and white pattern of a panda, whether pandas have black arms or black legs.
Operation panda-coloring showdown begins! This scene is so amazingly sweet I got cavities. Kyung Jae and Da Ran make faces at each other and begin to use black marker to color their respective bears.
When completed, they present their “pandas” to each other. Kyung Jae’s panda has black around its collar, while Da Ran’s has black legs and belly. Kyung Jae bursts out laughing at Da Ran’s panda. Da Ran really needs to stop competing with Kyung Jae on anything requiring some use of intelligence, because she’s losing big time. Da Ran asks her smartphone to pull up a panda picture. Lo and behold, pandas look like Kyung Jae’s version.
Their panda-coloring contest winner gets to live like a panda, lazy and carefree, just eating and sleeping. Kyung Jae immediately collects by saying his shoulders are sore from all the painting. Da Ran has to give him a back massage. Then he says he’s thirsty, and Da Ran goes to grab him some water. He laughs because he’s enjoying this immensely.
Da Ran and Kyung Jae sit at the table and wrap all the colored pandas into gift bags. The camera pulls back and we see his panda and her panda hanging on strings from the ceiling, facing each other with their noses touching. I think I just melted.
Boundary-deficient teenage stalker Mari continues her tour of denial by heading to Kyung Jae’s house in the morning, declaring to Choong Shik her plan to come every morning. Oh good lord. Choong Shik is naturally not kosher with that and points out his sister and brother-in-law are newlyweds. Mari turns into a peeping tom and stands outside the window looking at Da Ran and Kyung Jae at the breakfast table.
Da Ran is insisting Kyung Jae eat his beans, but he refuses and picks all of them out. This makes Mari happy, knowing Kyung Joon hates beans and still refuses to eat them. Da Ran warns him to eat it all and leaves to go see her mom. After she walks away, Kyung Jae grabs a glass of water and eats all the beans like pills washed down with water. Choong Shik is pleased, pointing out that his brother-in-law must really love his sister.
This shocks and depresses Mari, and she asks how much a person must like another to eat food he hates? Choong Shik says 90% like, which leaves Mari with only 10%. Choong Shik now wonders if Mari likes his brother-in-law? He wants to tell Mari that he likes her to the extent he can give his life for her.
Da Ran goes home and finds her mom packing a gift for Da Ran to bring to her mother-in-law as a farewell present before she goes back to the US. Da Ran is reminded that to the world, she is married to Seo Yoon Jae. Mari asks Da Ran not to like Kyung Jae since she must be wanting Yoon Jae to come back. So if Kyung Jae does anything, Mari wants Da Ran to put him in his place. After Mari leaves, Da Ran looks at her ring as a reminder that she can’t like Kyung Jae because his soul will be going back to Kyung Joon one day.
Da Ran comes home and sees Kyung Jae sitting on the sofa staring at the Miracle picture in his wallet. She asks if he wants to find his father? Kyung Jae says that if the other side comes to find him, then he will meet with them. Otherwise he won’t go searching for his father. He and his mom lived well just the two of them.
Kyung Jae and Da Ran are sitting at the table discussing Yoon Jae’s parents. Kyung Jae knows they live apart, and when he was in the US he met Yoon Jae’s dad once on 6-24, which was also the code to Yoon Jae’s phone. Clueless Da Ran wonders what that date symbolizes, maybe an anniversary of sorts? Kyung Jae is angry Da Ran forgot his birthday and huffs back to his room.
Da Ran remembers something Yoon Jae said and runs to Kyung Jae’s room, which gets his hopes up thinking she’s here about his birthday. Da Ran says 6-24 was the day Yoon Jae decided to become a doctor. She hands him a book that has an article about Yoon Jae. When Yoon Jae was 18 years old, he decided to become a doctor. He wanted to become someone with warm hands who would heal others. Yoon Jae held someone’s hand and made that decision
Kyung Jae asks Da Ran to be that person to him, to help him decide what to do with his life. He mentions 6-24 again before walking out, asking her to think about his future. Which is when Da Ran finally remembers that its Kyung Joon’s birthday, and that it was today. Which means Kyung Jae is now 20 years old. Throws confetti! Da Ran looks at Kyung Jae’s back and smiles as she thinks about his future.
Se Young gets the results of the DNA test and turns out Kyung Joon’s biological mom is Yoon Jae’s mom. JAW DROP! I thought at most half-brothers, but turns out they are full brothers and Kyung Joon was likely born to his mom who carried him as a surrogate. This is all sorts of screwed up.
Se Young is pretending to check on Kyung Joon but is really trying to get more information from Kyung Joon’s aunt. She asks if Kyung Joon’s mom is really his birth mom? Kyung Joon’s aunt says yes, she saw Kyung Joon’s mom pregnant. Se Young comes to the very logical conclusion that Kyung Joon was born via a surrogacy. Yoon Jae’s mom stares at her Miracle book and wonders what to do.
Kyung Joon’s uncle and the Vice Principal are back at the mandoo restaurant being all sorts of wistful and pathetic about their thwarted youthful loves. Turns out they were each late for a meeting with their crush, and think that was the reason why their love didn’t come to fruition.
Da Ran walks with Ae Kyung brainstorming birthday presents. Ae Kyung thinks its Choong Shik’s birthday, but Da Ran wants a present that makes a person’s heart move. Mari comes to find her and asks about finding Kyung Joon’s dad. In her itty bitty brain, she thinks that finding Kyung Joon’s dad is a great excuse for Da Ran to not need to take care of Kyung Jae. Da Ran says she doesn’t dislike staying by Kyung Jae’s side. Mari refuses to back down, she’s determined to find Kyung Joon’s dad to preserve her own future with Kyung Joon.
Mari finds Kyung Jae and brings up looking for his dad. He doesn’t care to, nor does he have the money to hire an investigator. Mari says Da Ran will pay for it, she would be for it since it alleviates her responsibility to take care of Kyung Jae. Oh shut the hell up, Mari!
Kyung Jae is hanging out in the pediatric playroom with Teddy Bear and Rabbit. As usual, Rabbit wants to play with Teddy but he’s having none of that. Kyung Jae wonders if he really is a burden on Da Ran?
Da Ran reminds herself that she should be thinking of Yoon Jae instead of picking out a birthday present for Kyung Jae and wondering about his future. She tries to remember what she did for Yoon Jae’s birthday. They were supposed to go bike riding and she was waiting for him for two hours that day in the cold. Good one, Yoon Jae. He didn’t show so she left, but during her wait she drew hearts on the park bench. Da Ran is cheering herself up to stay focused on Yoon Jae when Kyung Jae sees her, and he wonders again if she’s feeling stressed out.
Kyung Jae stares at Da Ran as she cleans the living room. His piercing gaze (my Shin baby totally brung it in episode 1 with the staring already) makes her uncomfortable, because she sees Kyung Joon and not Yoon Jae staring at her. Yesyesyes, trust your gut, girlfriend. She makes a big deal of cleaning, so Kyung Jae makes the effort to clean thinking he’s taking a load off her shoulders. This makes Da Ran think that Kyung Jae is self-sufficient without her.
Da Ran goes back to her room and tells herself to stop thinking about Kyung Jae. She decides to go out and he offers to go with her. She asks him to stay put, she’s off to find the version of herself who knows how to patiently wait. He tells her to go and not feel any pressure, he’ll cook and clean and wait for her.
Da Ran rides her bike back to the bench where she waited for Yoon Jae but she can’t find it, she thinks it all looks the same. Kyung Jae has thoroughly cleaned the house and he compliments himself on doing a great job when he sets his mind to it. Oh yes sirree. Mari comes barging in, as usual, this time declaring that she’s located Kyung Joon’s dad.
She shows Kyung Jae a magazine of a famed professor. She remembers her dad taking Kyung Joon’s mom to an exhibition of this professor’s work once, and Mari has found the connection where this professor was teaching at the university where Kyung Joon’s mom went to school.
Yoon Jae’s dad returns to Korea, and instead of going to see Yoon Jae’s mom, he asks the driver to take him to go see a professor. Yoon Jae’s dad goes to the meet Professor Bang from the magazine Mari was holding. Professor Bang reveals that Yoon Jae came to see him last year asking about Hee Seok and her son. When asked if the son has been found, Yoon Jae’s dad says not yet.
Kyung Jae doesn’t want to look for him, because a dad is someone who will be by his side in the future. He also doesn’t want to proactively seek out someone, but he’s willing to respond if approached. He wants to rely on himself.
Kyung Jae wants Mari to leave and not mess up the clean house, which he intends to show Da Ran. Mari makes the excuse of a headache and goes up to the room she commandeered. She tells herself that if she stays here and leaves all her things here, then this will become her room one day. Dream on, kiddo.
Da Ran finds the bench and tries to think about Yoon Jae, willing those feelings of her heart racing while waiting for someone to come back. But she feels nothing. She gets a call from Kyung Jae, who asks where she is. When she says that she’s at the park, he’s also there and will come find her.
After hanging up, Da Ran’s heart starts to race and she wonders why her heart is beating so fast when she’s waiting for Kyung Jae? She remembers back to when her heart faced while waiting for Yoon Jae, and now she’s feeling the same way as she waits for Kyung Jae.
When she sees him, she hides behind a tree and calls him to lie that she’s not at the park anymore. Da Ran lies that the person she’s waiting for isn’t him, so he shouldn’t come find her. He sees her hiding and tells her he will leave and not burden her anymore. After he leaves, Da Ran cries behind the tree, asking why her heart is breaking?
Professor Bang reads the Miracle book, confirming that the two angels in the picture are both sons of Yoon Jae’s father. Kyung Jae goes home and opens the fridge to get a drink, which is when he suddenly has another attack like when he was at the airport. His head spins and his body buckles, sliding down on the floor. In the hospital, Kyung Joon’s body once again jerks upward.
Mari is at the hospital and hears the nurses talking about Kyung Joon moving his hand. She runs into the room with Se Young and the nurses. Da Ran finally locates the bench where she drew her hearts, but she touches her heart and wonders why she her heart is completely unmoved? She wonders why she can’t recollect the feelings of the past?
Mari calls Da Ran and says Kyung Joon’s body moved in the hospital. Da Ran hangs up and wonders if Kyung Joon’s soul went back to his body? Da Ran runs home, her anxiety and worry for Kyung Jae splashed all over her face.
She rushes into the house and finds Kyung Jae lying prone on the sofa. His eyes are closed. She kneels down and asks if he’s alright. He slowly opens his eyes and says “Gil Teacher, it’s me”, confirming it’s still Kyung Joon’s soul inside.
She sags in relief and starts to cry, but he thinks she’s sad that Yoon Jae didn’t come back. He tells her that his soul seemed to have gone back to his body, this time for longer, and then apologizes that Yoon Jae didn’t come back. He starts to cry, and OMG I’m crying here, too. So. Much. Imminent. Pain. Coming.
Kyung Jae talks with Mari and confirms there was a momentary switch, which has left his body completely weak. Mari asks about Da Ran and Kyung Jae thinks she’s disappointed there wasn’t a switch to bring Yoon Jae back so she’s crying in her room.
Da Ran goes to her room and continues crying, berating herself for being crazy. She asks why she can’t control these feelings? Kyung Jae listens to her crying from outside and he cries as well. He tells Seo Yoon Jae to hurry up and return. Ae Kyung asks for a day off for Da Ran, saying to the VP that Da Ran is not feeling well.
The next morning, Da Ran is laying in bed and Kyung Jae comes into her room and sits down beside her. He’s asks if she’s disappointed about the non switch, but she starts to say she’s disappointed about….but doesn’t finish her sentence. He offers to take her to the hospital if she’s not feeling well, but she doesn’t want to. He reassures her that the change seemed to be longer this time, so it’s a sign that Yoon Jae is coming back.
Da Ran asks Kyung Jae, when he’s back in his own body, how she will deal with it? He thinks she’s worried about the burden and tells her not to worry about it. In fact, his disappear right now to give her some peace. After he leaves, she keeps crying.
Se Young gives Yoon Jae’s mom the medical update on Kyung Joon, finally coming out and asking if that boy isn’t also her son and Yoon Jae’s younger brother? Mom finally admits that the two guys are brothers. Because she couldn’t carry a baby, her husband has the child with another woman.
Professor Bang reads from the Miracle book “one child saves another” by reaching out his hand. Se Young mentions that Yoon Jae saved Kyung Joon in the accident. Professor Bang says the boys are fated to save one another. Since the story is about saving a life, one needs love to do so.
That child was Kyung Joon, and his blood was used to save Yoon Jae. Because of Kyung Joon, Yoon Jae was able to survive. Se Young thinks the two guys met during the accident is astonishing, but Yoon Jae’s mom doesn’t think they ever need to meet. In fact, as long as Yoon Jae doesn’t get sick again, she never intended to see that child again. Ugh, you hateful witch!
Se Young goes to Kyung Joon’s hospital room and wonders if she should tell Yoon Jae what she learned. Kyung Jae goes to Da Ran’s room and finds it empty. He goes outside and finds Da Ran at the park sitting on the park bench.
Kyung Jae asks if she’s fine, and she says she is. She asks how he’s feeling. He’s fine as well, but if there is another switch, he knows it’ll be painful but he’ll endure it. Kyung Jae tells Da Ran that if she’s feeling burdened and in pain, she doesn’t need to worry about it. He will stay by her side and when he switches back, he’ll leave so she doesn’t ever need to see him again. They stare at each other. OMG, if post-swap Kyung Joon leaves Da Ran, I’ll break his legs so he can’t take a single step. Drama, you better not separate my OTP, hear me?
Thoughts of Mine:
I want to start off by explaining why I really love the pace of Big. Compared to the chipmunks on acid pace of the Hong Sisters previous works, this one has a sweet calmness I’ve not yet seen from them before. It’s also rare in recent K-drama rom-coms, which always skews towards a hoppy rather than mellow vibe. Ten episodes in, Big still feels more than a J-dorama than a K-drama, despite all the makjangy elements now floating to the surface. The drama focuses on the characters rather than the situational narrative, so what comes off as boring for some viewers is the very thing that owns my heart. I get to spend time with Da Ran and Kyung Jae spending time with each other. It’s the very experience of watching two people fall in love that is so special to me. It’s not a bickering their way to love pas de deux, but rather a tentative attraction that is allowed to grow into something because of a situation beyond their control.
Once I watched Big episode 1 and realized that all my preconceived expectations were off, such as thinking Yoon Jae was the male lead when in truth it was Kyung Joon, and being taken off guard with the pacing, I’ve grown to appreciate and treasure how Big is choosing to tell this story. Very rarely do we see the experience of a female lead falling in love with both male leads, but we saw Da Ran fall for Yoon Jae through flashbacks and we have lived through Da Ran falling for Kyung Joon in the present. I still am fine with the end game being Da Ran with either Kyung Jae or Kyung Joon, because Gong Yoo and Lee Min Jung are beyond perfect in their roles, but Shin Won Ho also sold the mature Kyung Joon from episode 1 as completely a viable love interest for Da Ran. I have no problem with his baby face, the boy’s eyes scream “I’m a man.”
But my gut tells me………and don’t quote me here……..the end game is Kyung Jae. I think there is a reason why Kyung Joon’s body has lain in a coma while Yoon Jae’s body is up and about. I wonder if Kyung Joon was not meant to survive that accident but Yoon Jae gave his life for Kyung Joon, just like Kyung Joon was born to save Yoon Jae. It’s not exactly a life for a life, but it was Yoon Jae’s way to pay back his brother for being born to save him, and then given up by the family. It’s not like Kyung Joon’s surrogate mom didn’t love him, but oomph it’s gonna break Kyung Joon to pieces when he learns the truth. I think Yoon Jae has turned out to be the classic second male lead – sacrificing, decent, honorable, and ultimately, suffering in silence – so if he dies in the end while in Kyung Joon’s body, I wouldn’t be surprised.
It was a stunner to discover that the brothers are full blooded siblings. That just makes Yoon Jae’s mom even more loathsome, what with giving up her own blood son just because she didn’t carry the boy. I don’t see the huge ethical considerations for donor babies, as long as the babies are loved and won’t die in the donation procedure. Some bone marrow or cord blood never hurt anyone. What I find abhorrent is giving up Kyung Joon and never having any contact with him. That boggles the mind, and while it appears Yoon Jae’s mom does have a heart when she went to visit Kyung Joon and looked really sad, she’s still a Grade-A heartless beyotch in my eyes.
Se Young has turned out to be surprisingly useful. Her sleuthing out the connection between the two guys was nicely done, and renders her character less like useless filler and more integral to the narrative. Mari I continue to want to truss up and ship her off somewhere far far away. I don’t even need her to be a third wheel and push Da Ran and Kyung Jae forward, because they are doing so well on their own trying to suss out their feelings. What kills me is how Kyung Jae misreads every emotion from Da Ran these days, because of the belief that she’s still fixated on Yoon Jae. That ship sailed a long time ago, and everyone would be better off admitting it and dealing with the inevitable aftermath.
While I just said that I think the end game is Kyung Jae, the Hong Sisters can easily switch it up. Kyung Joon just turned twenty in the drama, and that’s not a coincidence. He’s legally of age now, and that just throws out any underage concerns. I think he’s matured far more than any boy his age, and his emotional journey has been undertaken with Da Ran by his side in all the important ways. Because of being in Yoon Jae’s body, he’s had to learn to sleep on other beds, he’s had to learn to do and eat things he doesn’t like, he has had to hold his feelings inside for the sake of another. I think he’s getting closer to being as Big on the inside as he is on the outside at this point, and it’s time for the OTP to confess their feelings for they have each other to weather the impending storm of many unknowns laying in wait for them.
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View Comments
LSG ended up with fox, don't see problem for KJ and DR.., and if it ends like Cha Chi-soo rescue it's bonus for me...hehehhe
Hug him, hug him, don't let go....what a moment!
Those kids are adorable, I melt every time I see them...awwww
There is probably a twist to the parent´s story. I think YoonJae´s mum had to give up KyungJoon. It would be cruel to KyungJoon´s mother to give up the child she gave birth to, just because it is not her biological child. Maybe the parents did a deal in that way. Maybe KyungJoon´s mother was not able to get own children and they agreed, that she would surrogate the child from YoonJae´s mom and after YoonJae´s therapy that she could leave with that child. And YoonJae´s had to forget KyungJoon.
I don´t know, she may be a witch, but she doesn´t seem like a that horrible mother to me. she told YoonJae the truth, she didn´t deny KyungJoon´s existence, but she probably had to forget her second son, to be able to live on.
I thought about that but it doesn't make sense. If Yoon Jae's mom had to give up Kyung Joon to Kyung Joon's mom as payment/recompense for carrying the surrogate baby, then she ought to be sad about losing her second son to save the first. She ought to feel guilt but longing to see her son since she didn't want Kyung Joon's mom to raise her. If I had to give up my child, I wouldn't elect to forget the child, I would miss him very much. Plus Yoon Jae's mom keeps talking as if that child wasn't hers, she wants nothing to do with him. Since Kyung Joon's mom is dead, if she wanted Kyung Joon, she would be trying to get him back rather than avoiding him. Also, if Yoon Jae was twelve (middle school) when the donor surgery happened, he would already be in the know. His mom can't even keep it from him. I think she was angry about her husband using a surrogacy for the child, but had no choice since she was unable to carry the baby herself, plus felt guilt for having a donor child, hence she's using avoidance of Kyung Joon's existence to avoid dealing with her own emotional issues.
I feel YJ's father could have been in love with KJ's mom and this is why she consented to having KJ, hence YJ's mom's resentment. It would justify her cold attitude towards her husband and her biological child. On another note, I think we're going to lose YJ in the end and KJ will remain. This whole one child saves another's life scorecard reads: 1) KJ saved YJ, 2) YJ "died" yet his body came back to life to save KJ's soul, 3) we have a comatose KJ and are unaware as to if YJ's soul resides in this body. In order for KJ to be happy, he needs his soul back and YJ's body just might return it so that 4) he can save KJ once again. It would be totally awkward if both brothers survived this ordeal because one was declared legally dead on the scene and then "oh, wait a minute I'm still alive but it's not really me". The Hong Sisters have outdone themselves and I love the mellow pace.
YJ's mom said somewhere that the dad was "in love" with the surrogate mom, thus the source of her hate.
BUT does it even make sense for a couple to choose someone with past issues as a surrogate mom?
I think YJ's dad *maybe* fell in love with KY's surrogate mom only AFTER they started the pregnancy.
Maybe the dad was always meeting up with the surro-mom, trying to take care of her (because she WAS carrying the baby that will save Yoon Jae). It could also be that the dad was caring for the baby, and Beyotch-mom mistook it as feelings for surro-mom.
Either way, I don't believe that they contracted an ex-love just to carry a baby, because that right there screams IDIOT CONFLICT FOR THE SAKE OF CONFLICT ALERT! -- and the Hong Sisters know better than to manufacture conflict that way. I think... I hope.
Thank you Koala! I've been reading a lot of whacked out thoughts and opinions lately, which reminds me once again why I usually stay away from the masses.
Everything is turning out exactly how I thought and I'm not sure how to take that. But either way, I'm loving the show immensely.
My only issue is I'm tired of KJ getting hurt. And I think it's pretty evident he's in for much more substantial pain but I am not in the mood to watch him go through it.
Thanks again for the recap and bringing intelligent thought to a wonderful story.
You're welcome! I think some complaints stem from Big not being what people expected, including lovelines and tone. I still hear people talking about Da Ran and Yoon Jae, or how Yoon Jae the first lead is put in the coma. Buh? I saw in episode 1 clearly that THS have set up Kyung Joon as the male lead, we are only "seeing" Kyung Joon in Yoon Jae's body. Honestly, Yoon Jae isn't even the second male lead IMO, that would be dim witted little Choong Shik, whose character has gotten way more screen time. I find Big quite well written, it has plenty of flaws, but a narrative sureness that tells me a lot of thought was put into it. If it upended expectations, then so be it. I rolled with the punches and am happy as a panda about it. I never thought THS could do such a sweet and tender love story. I want to cuddle in a blanket with Big.
Absolutely! I'm a strong believer that if you don't buy the premise, you won't like the story, no matter what. The first few mins of the first ep gave me pause but once SWH came onscreen I understood where my priorities should lay. And I feel THS were very clear about that.
I've always felt YJ was sweet but never the endgame. No matter what happens. Personally, I've just always thought the man was dead. A part of me hopes he isn't but I don't see a real future for him and honestly, I think that's purposeful.
THS have surprised me and I'm glad for how they've expanded their view and story approach or at least the way they desire to be viewed as artists. It's just sad others aren't appreciating their endeavor as much.
I thought that they were going to be whole brothers. That's the impression I got from the last episode. What I don't understand is why she had to give Kyung Joon up? Just because he had to be born from a surrogate? I don't get that part at all. Of course when I watched it it wasn't totally subbed in English yet, so maybe I missed an important part that explained that, I dunno. The panda scene was really freaking adorable. Now that he is 20 years old the whole age thing doesn't bother me at all (I had a hard time stomaching it in Flower Boy Ramyun Shop because he was like 17 *shudder*), and you are right, he is a very mature 20 at this point. Now I am curious as to how they will end up as well, will he be in Yoon Jae's body or his own? Poor girl, never should have married him before Yoon Jae came back, she's going to be in a world of mess if they return to their own bodies (which is why I agree with you and I'm not so sure they will). I really like the pace of this drama too, lots of time to build up characters, relationships, and suspense. The sign of a well thought out and well written drama if you ask me...
Hmmmm, FBRS, we never had that focus on age, didn't really mention as often as in Big in crucial times, in the end Chi-soo ended up in army (time jump, no years)..how old you have to be?
“Other things don’t really matter. Ramyun just tastes best when it’s eaten at the moment it’s boiling over.”
Age is just an issue for me personally. I'm a 24 year old teacher who teaches some 16 and 17 year olds and the thought of it just freaks me out personally. I realize it's all for entertainment purposes but it's weird to me. And in FBRS they go together before he went to the army and he was like 17, and it was just awkward for me to watch.
Julie -
Definitely understand how real life intrudes sometimes.
I had a really hard time buying that JIW was 18 in that show.
I think I even guessed at one point they were going to tell his parents lied about his age, and he really was 23!
I also think that is why Big is being very careful here that the love develops over time, and while DR will always be older, nothing will happen until KJ is a legal adult.
IW always looked older, so everyone was fine with it, none never thought about him as 17-18 years old, but Shin does not, that's the problem.
I also don't think we will see more of cutie Shin than we have seen in the beginning, because he too unexperienced as an actor to make the ending of a drama? And also because he is not on any poster of this drama?
Oh, my baby Shin is totally on the group poster for Big!
You know who is not on the poster? Yoon Jae. The version of Gong Yoo on the poster is Kyung Jae. That's telling to me.
Koala, you made my day with this post recape and this reply Thank you so, so much. I too never saw Yoon Jae on this poster and I certainly never saw him as the one Da Ran will love when I first got a look at the correlation chart I saw on Viki. How some people are confused about this is beyond me. Gong Yoo is the male co-star who's playing a dude who's soul has been replaced by another dude's soul and that dude is the male lead who is Kyung Joon.
kekeke....sorry, my bad.....thanks for the reminder
Do you really think GY will do this drama as second lead...
Confusing as it may be, Gong Yoo the actor is the lead. But character-wise Kyung Joon is lead [though played by lead actor Gong Yoo] and Yoon Jae is the catalyst - though not doing much [played by Gong Yoo as supporting actor?] LOL!!!!! And Shin is supporting actor though his character is lead character.
LOL even more!!!
Yeah I agree Gong Yoo is still the lead. I mean Shin has pretty much just laid on a bed for over half the drama...
Basically Big is pulling another 49 Days where the main actor's character is technically the second character, but the soul switching thing makes them the lead actor as the other character. Gong Yoo's real role is Kyung Jae, not Yoon Jae.
I would love for us to be able to see Shin as KJ again.
I am going with the blurry dream shot between KJ and YJ as they hold hands for the last time as YJ passes out of this world.
Speaking of warm hands - very excited here - YJ, at 18, held someone's warm hands that inspired him to be a doctor.
Who else thinks those hands belonged to a 6 year old KJ?
Which meeeeeeeans the warm hands that DR treasures ALSO belong to KJ.
oh nice thought, jomo!! that would be a great tie up, and I won't put that past the Hong sisters. =) They are v good at drawing links.
I'm liking what i've read of Big so far and i agree with koala unni that the pace is nicely mellow. I'm glad the Hong sisters are trying something different from their usual repetoire, and i like the results so far. (haven't watched Big, only downloaded cos' waiting to pass for the TK2H virus to finally pass so i can sit down and marathon this baby - I'm almost there hehe). hope the rest of the story doesn't disappoint.
I love this episode. It made me cry. I think they did a great job of showing Da Ran trying to deal with her confusion, feelings, emotions about Kyung Joon,
Im loving this drama SO.MUCH. Im not fuss about the criticisim of some for this drama. I think it has a strong cast, great story. Everyone is entitle to their own views. If they cant appreciate something good like this, why bother? ha!
It is amazing watching LMJ, isn't it?
I cried with her in BOF, so I knew that she could bring it.
I totally believe the turmoil her love is causing, poor thing.
Of course, having GY looking at her with THAT face helps. Sob sob sob
While I am waiting for Big, I also check out "Smile, You" where LMJ played the female lead for the first time since thundie recommended it back in 2009. OMG. LMJ was indeed a revelation in that show and she infused so much energy and vitality in that wonderful character of Jung-il. Also,her chemistry with Jung Kyung Ho was off the chart. It's interesting that GY and JKH are best friends in real life and LMJ have great chemistry with both!
However, I think LMJ's acting in big is even better than in Smile you. DR is a much more difficult and unfavorable role and she manages to bring different facets. I don't care how people criticize her because they favor GY or Suzy. For me, DR is the most realistic character with her flaws and blindness, which is why in many other regards, it's a much challenging role to play. Anyway. I am rooting for GY and LMJ!
I will add it to my list.
I love Jung Kyung Ho, too.
45 episodes!
LMJ is doing a good job playing the ditzy pretty school teacher. ( though watching the BTS, she seems to be quite cute and ditzy in real life too ) For me I think GY's portray of KJ wins hands down. I really felt he played out the insecurity, eagerness and inexperience of the 19 year old KJ so well . Every reaction, every expression. Gong Yoo must have thought through the emotions of KJ through and through to be able to do that.
Of course Im biased.
Oh man, what is D, going to do and how can she think about confessing her love to a person she thinks is too young for her. I wonder if she will just keep her mouth shut and live with the lost love.
That is why we have drunken confessions, discovered unsent letters and texts, overheard conversations, and what I am looking forward to:
heart doodles that she leaves around somewhere that KJ will find.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Am thinking that pic of him kissing her at their wedding shoot is going to turn up at some crucial moment.. At least some proof that she thought of him enough to keep it
I think yoon jae's soul is dead and yj has given his body to kyung joon. That's what I want for kyung joon anyway. No guilt cos kj gave him life before.
Thank you for bringing your thoughts that I so admire. You always talk me off that ledge as it were. I mean I was angry at the end because KJ DOES keep getting hurt and will probably get more hurt before it is all said and done. How unfair for this person to get stuck in another man's skin for the rest of his life. That would do me in as far as this drama goes. Also I used to hate and detest Hong Gil Dong the character more than anyone in all the dramas I have watched but he just got shot down one peg by Mari. I read somewhere that they feel sorry for her. She is the most detestable character ever and that includes all the bitchy second love interests and bitchy mother-in-laws and bad guys like the one in City Hunter. I was waiting for you to post so that I could calm down cause no one says it better than you. I am glad that there is a love story here but it isn't going to end well. IMO.
And Koala, you have been right on the whole time so i think we may really see YJ dying in KJ's body. KJ has given a life to YJ for the past 18 years.. maybe now, YJ will give KJ his body along with a family, love and heck even his career!
Hong Sisters have definitely put in much thoughts in the scenes, from the two weddings we have seen ( D didnt even noticed YJ in the first, yet D recognised that it was KJ at first look even if she was abit confused -would be strange if she wasnt) How KJ had always done more in every similar situation for D compare to YJ ( meet the mother scenes) I was hoping YJ will have a fair go at D but the story has actually progressed such that Im very ok for D to be with KJ even if YJ never wakes up. Thats skillful writing.
Big feels almost like Da Ran getting a do-over in her love life.
Hear me out - almost every scene I've seen of Da Ran and Yoon Jae, I've seen Da Ran and Kyung Jae do again and do it right.
1. Hands - YJ misses grabbing hers, KJ grabs hers.
2. Wedding - DR completely does not notice YJ, DR totally notices KJ
3. Bike riding - DR waits for YJ and he's a no show, KJ manages to track her down at the park.
4. Kiss - DR was asleep for the first kiss and YJ snuck one, KJ tells her to remember their kiss bc it's KJ's first kiss.
5. Proposal - YJ's weaksauce "I'll take responsibility for you", to KJ proposal "I'm a sad little bait that just wants one fish". DR just accepted YJ's proposal without thinking about it much, but she really put in a lot of thought into KJ's proposal, and she asks him to marry her in the end.
6. Growing up - DR always was playing catch up with YJ, thinking she wasn't good enough for him, studying harder to match up to him. With KJ, she doesn't ever need to feel inferior, and he's the one who needs to mature emotionally, but intellectually he's also at or above her level. They match.
7. Bed - DR goes looking for a bed and YJ doesn't join her. She runs into KJ sleeping on the exact bed.
I can go on and on and on. But sometimes I wonder if the Big body swap isn't also a chance for Da Ran's do-over. Who cares if Yoon Jae loved her, because ultimately I don't think he's a good fit for her. She'll always feel insecure around him, always meekly waiting for him. That sucks in a relationship. KJ and DR are on equal playing field, neither one shields away from expressing their thoughts.
Love your observations - it brings so much added depth and enjoyment to the drama! Thanks for your speedy recaps - it's always the first thing I check out in the morning in my time zone.
Elementary my dear Watson, your observations are so keen!
I didn't think back that far, but I did notice it with the park scene. I thought "Yoon Jae was too busy, but Kyung Joong will show up!" KJ is more thoughtful and has his priorities straight.
I love your analysis, makes me happy even more because I'm KJ/DR shipper.
I noticed the kiss, hands and bike riding too! :) Another pretty significant situation that KJ shines above YJ is how he was so upfront with Marie from the beginning and time and time again that the person he likes/love is Da Ran. Whereas YJ seemed to ( at least from what it seems) have misled Se Young with regard to where he stand with Da Ran. And because of that, I have grown to respect him and of course for always trying to put Da Ran's well being above himself despite not having any other support in his life.
I have to add, its easy for a person to give and be generous when they have alot. KJ has no one. ( minus marie here ) Thats why to me its even more heartbreaking for KJ to be so willing to give up and help Da Ran be with YJ thinking that is what she wants.
Man! The tears are back.
You are right! Making this even sadder. ☹
hahaha it almost seemed like the Hong sisters heard my plea or something but hey hey~ we got what i was looking for: a delving into the heart of D as it changes~ =] in turn, some things had to give, like the pacing of overarching story points like KJ's body waking up, which i mind less than not having D's perspective fleshed out... because ok... it's a bit slowed down now but I got the necessary story to latch my heart back with that of the essential characters. As much as we need to understand KJ, we need to understand what the heck is going on in D's head too!! and in that sense, the whole shifty dancing-around between KJ and D for them to recognize their own emotions AND those of the other person now are no where near as frustrating as they could otherwise have been (the hated noble-idiocy cliches)
KJ and D HAS tried communicating on their need to understand themselves and not get "confused" by the circumstances-- when they feel confused, they tell the other person; when they decide to "back off" because they're afraid of screwing things up for the both of them, they tell the other person (and MAJOR props to KJ for taking the lead and setting that relational foundation up from the get-go, and from D's admittance that she was feeling confused in ep 10, i'd say she's being a good student=/ GRRRR the second time it happened here, I can see the significance of it, but using it 3-4 times is OVERKILL and dumb that you can't think of better catalysts to move the plot along =P