Hold me, I’m scared. Monday started off with a bang when extended video previews for Nice Guy episodes 9 and 10 were leaked. Trust me when I say I watched it with my jaw open. Aside from the major character twist we’ve been told about since the plot synopsis was released months ago, with Eun Gi losing her memory, everything else that went along with it is a doozy for me. I suppose this is cool because the trajectory wasn’t what I expected, but perhaps I was expecting magical happy unicorns when really everyone in this drama is still in a deep dark twisted place and can’t possibly be happy this early in the game when the drama hasn’t even hit the halfway mark yet. I think my affection for Eun Gi, her crazy candor, her painful cold environment growing up, her instant connection with Maru, all of that really speaks to me and perhaps I want her to find happiness even to the point of sacrificing narrative coherence to get there. Which is to say, if she and Maru eloped and the rest of the drama was them making babies and being happy, I would still declare NG a rousing success! Heh. Anyhoo, looks like that pipe dream of mine isn’t happening anytime soon, so check out the spoilers pictures and summary below at your election.
Eun Gi and Maru are at the beach laying out all the cards between them. Maru still insists everything he did towards Eun Gi was calculated in his quest to get close to Jae Hee. Eun Gi pokes through his bullshit, reminding him that he risked death to save her doll, and why would he do that? It’s clear Maru will not budge from her grilling to admit that he has genuine feelings for Eun Gi that developed during the course of using her. They part and she drives back to Seoul. Jae Hee goes to bargain with the Chairman but he suffers a heart attack and dies. She wanted to call for help but lawyer Ahn stops her. Joon Ha calls Eun Gi to tell her that her dad has died. Eun Gi makes a U-turn and she and Maru’s car drive towards each other in a tunnel.
After the car accident, an unknown period of time has passed. Eun Gi has lost her memory and has to re-learn some cognitive functions such as reading and math. Her personality is also very gentle and calm. Her company secretary has been taking care of her, and her condition is kept a secret from the public so she won’t get kicked out of Tae San. Eun Gi is visiting Maru because she saw a picture of them together and thinks he’s someone important to her in the past. Maru is cold and cruel towards her, telling her they are nothing to each other and merely took a picture together. Eun Gi walks through the courtyard and the house, hoping things here will help jar her memory.
Jae Hee, looking stunning with her new short hair, but clearly still a viper. Jae Hee is now head of Tae San Group, and is wondering if her lackey lawyer Ahn can help her find a way to remove Eun Gi from the company permanently.
Now even Jae Gil looks pissed with Maru. Turns out Choco moved out and cut off all use of funds from her brother. She’s not taking another penny from him, not after he goes from selling himself to being a financial swindler.
I hope this drama doesn’t jump the shark. I’m being sincere and not snarky, because I really don’t know how the amnesia twist will all shake out. Will it derail what has been a taut building narrative? Will it breathe new life into the story when the original arc couldn’t be sustained for much longer? Will even more hot and much-less-nice Maru and memory-less Eun Gi be as combustible together? Can Koala get some love story shippiness between the OTP before the Lee Kyung Hee mallet of doom descends once again? So many questions, so few answers. All I can do is hope for the best and be patient.
[Credit: all screencaps from DC Nice Guy Gallery]
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I hate Jae Hae so much, now she even wants to remove Eungi from her father's company.
Not only a bitch but a thief too!!!
Mr. Koalaaaa why do you do this to me! I'm supposed to be writing my thesis not going crazy waiting for Wednesday! Dramaland is conspiring against me!
Totally that's my case!
Daaang. Maru continuing to be a prickly little husk of a man, I think I can take. It makes sense, sorta. As long as he's not still obsessed with Jae Hee (SERIOUSLY). But I'm really not sure how I feel about Eun Gi's personality transplant post-amnesia. I just loved her sharp-as-knives personality combined with her unapologetic sincerity.
I really don't know where these new developments will take the show. I'm guessing that somehow Maru will end up protecting Eun Gi from Jae Hee's machinations. At least, that's what I hope for.
This show is simultaneously frustrating and amazing in how many little mysteries are woven into it. And it looks like there are more and more that will continue to emerge. I have no idea if all/any of them will be answered, but I sure am enjoying the ride.
Show, please don't disappoint us!
Thank you so much for this, I'm so hooked up with this drama. My feelings are very close to yours, I'm perhaps fearing more & more after reading your post. I was pretty hooked up too with : Will it snow for christmas. I really love the first episodes, love it so much, but then things became weird and the plot became weak and nonsensical and my disappointment grew up. I ended up quite disappointed, so I really hope this time, things will be different: the amnesia twist at episode 10, why not. I'm ok, right now, with a cold MR. MR coldness is linked to : his guilt conscious (guilt concious in many ways and for several reasons) to : his need to feel afar from everything who could warm his heart, self punishment... Of course, I'm anticipating Lawyer Park and EG relationship, MR "awakening", MR & Lawyer Park confrontation, MR & JH new "relationship", EG's reaction when she regains her memories could be thrilling... Ok, need to breathe and stop thinking (too much) about NG till wenesday :)
Oh my, first May Queen and now this. I need some lovey dovey moments bet my fav OTP's. sigh....where to watch what?
Due to time constraints I've only seen bits and pieces of this show so am definitely THE last person who should be critiquing it. I do feel the writing seems to be a little weak...there are character inconsistencies and Maru got very frustrating around E5&6 (I got frustrated just by reading your recaps...am sure it would've been worse for those watching). This week will be kind of a turning point of sorts and how it paves the way for the second half of the show. Hope the writing catches up to the stellar acting & directing.
And I find it really frustrating but from your post JH seems to have become the typical female antagonist. mehhhh...
Just keep watching MR and OG, Mrs Koala. That's the only safe way for a safe, happy and peaceful heart.
Btw I had completely forgotten!!! Seeing that pic of SJK and LKS together reminded me that the former used to be a Running Man regular when the latter belatedly showed up in the show. Imagine what could have been had he stayed amongst the cast to welcome MGY. :D
I hate where this drama is going. I hope they snap EG out her amnesia quickly and not let it be dragged on and on and on.
I have really got to stop trying to predict where this show is going next. I'm usually only about 1/2 right.
Narratively, EG does not speak to me at all. Her character is not gripping and we've seen her do nothing...Why is there this affection toward her character apart from the actress? The drama has not shown us too much of anything about for me to even care. I wish her no ill will, but her and MR together is just blech! Dullsville.
Dressing her up in white is REALLY significant. *Hits us over the head*
LOL!
I don't know about anyone else, but I like Eun Gi apart from her being played by Moon Chae Won, who I really don't have a strong feeling for one way or another. She was blergh for me in The Princess's Man but totally adorable and charming in My Fair Lady.
For me, Eun Gi is the most interesting character in this drama. She's broken but that doesn't dictate her decisions and she is the only one who consistently surprises me with her behavior and reaction. Park Shi Yeon is fantastic as Jae Hee, but Jae Hee is like a very colorful scorpion I see on the ground. I might look in curiosity but there will never be any way I can relate to it. I don't feel any sympathy for her, because all her nasty vile acts have cancelled out any reserve one might have for her poor childhood. She's the serial killer in court tearfully recounting a horrific abused childhood. One does not justify the other.
Eun Gi is like a broken bird trying to fly. I'm mesmerized and can feel myself in her shoes, how the desire to find release propels her even if its beyond her limitations.
Maru is all over the place, both likeable and hateable, and only interests me because Eun Gi loves him. Frankly I can write Maru and Jae Hee off the show and just spend it watching Eun Gi and Joon Ha run Tae San together.
oh wow, I really loved MCW on princess' man, her acting was so good in the second half....
but her first episodes acting cute was bad, I admit, and her josean speak skills wasn't the best... but Se Ryung was my favorite man gil from 2011.
Tbh, I cannot see your interpretation of her character. Nothing presented so far has shown how broken and wounded the character actually is let allowing being mesmerized by her. Apart from scenes where she's mistreating herself and others or talking to a doll, she is really has not done anything except try to get a guy to love her back.
She does not even show love for herself, so why am I supposed to believe she is the best companion for gigolo MR, who is a douche? I do not consider the EG character nice or kind so I'm questioning her transformative capabilities at this point.
Wow, we are really different in many of views of K-drama.
She is excellent and gripping in TPM. As her first saeguk she captured hearts of many and gripping in her character.
However, in Nice Guy, I thought the amnesia plot can go and they should develop her character as you mentioned like a bird want to fly in her owl/old self. Well, THAT will be much more compelling and interesting.
I'm reading only the recaps now.
Thanks.
Ooops. Where's the edit function when you need one. Oh well...
*let alone....