I can sound like a broken record saying how much Goddess of Fire sucks, but numbers don’t lie. An MBC sageuk in the Mon-Tues slot with this cast, GoF’s ratings have been middling from the get go but it’s now dropped 1-2% an episode for the last 4 episodes straight. Ever since Gwanghaegun got more screen time and Tae Do less, and yes, that is an irrefutable correlation in my book. For an MBC sitcom to be pulling in 8% ratings on average, that is like getting the post-Super Bowl time slot and then getting ratings lower than the Puppy Bowl airing on Animal Planet. It’s a double whammy of shame, and I feel terrible for the truly talented cast who I advocate going on a team strike and refusing to act if the screenwriter isn’t sacked. Episode 16 involved really a really unappealling romantic development with Gwanghaegun falling for Jung Yi in ways that involve telling her to never leave his sight and then getting really turned on by her rosy lips and telling her to cover her mouth while talking. How about she bitch slap you with one hand and cover her mouth with the other, Gwanghaegun? Tae Do tells Jung Yi with a smile that he’ll always be her orabeoni even she has no brain and turned down his proposal for her quest to become a potter extraordinaire.
The pottery competition ends up going to Jung Yi’s team when they create a tea set that isn’t as glazed and slippery hence easier to use, as opposed to when an official picks up team Yook Do’s pretty cup and it slips and breaks. Ooops, and still so obvious in resolving an issue. Jung Yi’s side chooses not to kick Kang Chun and Yook Do out of the pottery department because the more talent the better. Tae Do mans up and tells Hwa Ryung directly that he proposed to Jung Yi but she wants to become a potter first so he’ll patiently wait for her, and apologizes to Hwa Ryung and tells her to give up on him. Tae Do – still the only person who thinks, talks, and acts like a smart rational adult in this drama. Yook Do hates Jung Yi now for beating him, and Hwa Ryung hates Jung Yi for always taking away what she loves (pottery, Tae Do), so she outs Jung Yi’s real identity to Kang Chun. At this point, Jung Yi’s general self-absorption and her stupid Tae Pyung ruse is so pathetic and aggravating I was cheering on Hwa Ryung all the way. I saw more Tae Do in the preview for episode 17, if he gets more screen time I may have no choice but to keep on this mind numbing endeavor to watch and discuss GoF.
I seriously was clapping like a baby seal when Hwa Ryung finally said enough is enough to every single time someone is asked to coddle Jung Yi and protect her and all she ever does is remain ever entitled to keep succeeding without realizing the number of people’s she’s stepping on. In many ways, Jung Yi really is Kang Chun’s daughter, LOL, oh the irony. Even better when the drama says Kang Chun is the villain and Jung Yi the so-called heroine. Ugh. I’m still Team Tae Do in the sense that I want him to get what he wants, even if he wants Jung Yi. But I look at her (mildly mentally challenged) and compare her to Hwa Ryung (whip smart and competent and self-sufficient), and I wonder what the fuck Tae Do sees in Jung Yi.
Tae Do cuts from episode 16:
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Thank you Koala Unni!!! :) In another note, when I post my comment on my iPhone 5. It show it is blocked of spam. Is there a way to fix it or I should post my comments on other devices?
Hi Trina, there is an onslaught of spam bots lately so I increased my spam security. In a few days I'll lighten the firewall and you should be able to post again from any device.
Oh okay. Thank you Koala unni!!! =D
I wonder the same thing too? What does Tae Do sees in Jung Yi? Jung Yi is annoying, she steps on others and dosen't care, she dosen't think about anyone but herself. She acts like a child, she is clueless. She hasn't changed or try to see what she wants.
I gave up after episode 7. Thanks for the recaps.
I cannot bring myself to watch the drama but I do enjoy reading your reviews. It is must more interesting than the Drama.
I agree that for the past couple of episodes, since gwanghae got more screen time and tae do got less screen time, the ratings went down. Aside from the boring plot, if Tae Do is the main male character and Kim Bum is the leading actor instead of lee sang yoon, I think this drama would be better. I don't get why KB is always the second lead. He's been improving his acting skills and now he deserves to be the main lead for future dramas.
One could hope that they are as flexible as people who did Princess Stand-in and reverse the male leads. Make Tae Bo the first lead, OTP and the ratings would go up.
Well at least these episode got more Tae Do than the last one, and I got more GeunBum BTS so I'm ok. Next week begins the 2nd-half of GoF! DRAMA GODS! A MIRACLE PLEASE!!!! Just wishing this won't be a waste of what CAN still be a good drama.
I'm probably the only one but, I like the chemistry between Prince Kwanghae and Jung. I can feel the vibes from Taedo to Jung but not the other way around. Now since episode 14 the proximity game has become fiercer. Taedo did the fireworks thing and it was romantic and all but nothing compared to the atmosphere when Jung had ink on her face from the all-nighter with Kwanghae. I'm having problems suspending my disbelief that the Prince didn't recognize his feelings earlier, that this prince would always let his idiot hyung get the best of him, and a number of other things.
I don't know why I watch anymore honestly...one cup making contest after another. *Sigh* Someone must have owed this screenwriter a favor or something.
I've seen recent behind the scenes photos of Kim Bum back hugging Angelababy in the upcoming Detective Dee movie. It's so romantic! The firework scene in GOF when he hugged MGY is no match at all. Kim Bum looks way better with angelababy than with MGY. A really handsome and hot guy like Kim Bum deserves to be paired with a really pretty and hot girl like angelababy. They have chemistry and would make a perfect couple. Many fans think they should eventually go out in real life.
Even though Moon is not beautiful like Angelababy at least she's real. Have you seen how Angelababy looked before all the plastic surgery she did.
It's not completely certain whether or not she had plastic surgery. I'm glad Kim Bum is natural. He is BEAUTIFUL and drop dead gorgeous. On Facebook, American girls said that he is better looking than so many Asian guys and white guys.
MGY is beautiful but angelababy is drop dead gorgeous (weather natural or plastic) and even though KB and AB look good together I feel far more quemistry explosion with MGY. And while Tae Do is a one-sided love, his and Angela's love line in Detective Dee is reciprocal.
Doesn't really matter if she is real or not. She makes tons of money with her drop dead gorgeous look. She is not committing a crime or hurting anybody. Attitudes wise, she is okay to me. At least she never afraid to publicized her love and to be love with Huang Siao Ming.
.... and still AB look so good with Kim Bum.
This is NOT my opinion, but based on A LOT of comments from other people on Facebook, they said that MGY is not pretty because she looks like a 12 year old and she's not a hottie. On the contrary, everyone thinks Kim Bum is (very) handsome and hot. Even though he's a flower boy, he is "getting" manly as he gets older. A lot of people commented online that Kim Bum has more chemistry with Angelababy than MGY because KB and AB are both gorgeous hotties.
*howforwardsale, i do agree with your comment i feel that the prince and jung do have chemistry. i wish that kim bum has more scenes with moon geun young, the drama is starting to get a bit boring however i am watching it mainly cus of the cast. kim bum and moon geun young would make a lovely couple, i just hope moon geun young's next drama is better :)
They all make me mad. Hwa Ryung used to be one of my favorites, but now she just seems desperate. I agree Tae Do is much better matched with her, but if he's already turned her down, she needs to grow up a little and accept it...it's annoying when a character can't do anything for herself, but it's also frustrating when a character just doesn't know hoe to quit.
how* D: oops
@ ockoala
Episode 16 is pretty good...surprisingly. It's about time GOF starts to get A LITTLE BIT better. Hwa Ryung betrays Jung Yi and Lee Yook Do hates her. The love triangle is getting more serious. I just wish the next 16 episodes will have more suspense and the 2nd half of the drama will be good...hopefully. Have you noticed there has not been any Tae Do fight scenes lately? I can't wait until he finds the assassin and takes revenge for Yoo Eul dam.
OMG! Thanks Ms. Koala for this recap. I am so sad to say that this drama sucks.... I hope my Bummie gets the better of prince charming and slap some common sense to moons character. I love how great they both are but this is killing me! My bummie deserves better. I still will cheer him on because I love him. Pretty soon this agony will end.......
@cristabel
OMG...Kim Bum is SSOOOO HANDSOME!!!!! For Korean actors and other Asian guys I've seen, Kim Bum is the most flawless from head to toe. Among Asian guys, no one is better looking than KB. I can't help but agree with other girls that he is beautiful, hot, and very cute. Since the day I watched boys over flowers, I became a huge fan of Kim Bum.
I know right, he has this vibe that makes your heart melt i starting not to care about this plot but as long as I can see Bummie I am more than happy ;)
yeah quite a few people around me noticed that..my cousin and my bro loves kim bum in bof while my focus in on LMH..haha how can i not realise that sooner:O
Me too. The main reason why I'm watching GOF is because of Kim Bum! Besides being very handsome, he is talented because he is a good singer with a nice, strong voice. I've heard him sing live. He's good! I'm frustrated that he's always the second lead for his dramas. Everyone knows that Kim Bum CAN act, but he just needs to keep working hard and keep improving. Eventually, he will be the leading actor for his next dramas.
@cristabel
The comment that I just posted is for you.
@Lia
Few people around you notice what?? Despite your opinion, Kim Bum was voted most handsome F4. Even Kim Hyun Joong said that KB is the best looking among them.
@cristabel @mylove
I've been reading the news...The media is spreading rumors that Angelababy likes Kim Bum and wants to break up with Huang Xiao Ming.
I'm not sure if that's true. It's possible that she's starting to have feelings for Kim Bum...I'm not surprised.
@mylove Oh I meant to say alot of people around me(my cousin, my brother) preferred Kim Bum among the other flower boys..
@lia
My cousin and friends like Kim Bum more than the other three F4 members too. Even though KB was the supporting actor, he gets so much attention. He is very handsome and he can act. KB keeps working hard and tries to improve his acting skills. In GOF, even though he's the second lead, he's getting more praise and more attention than the main leading actor, lee sang yoon.
Whoa...a lot of people hate hwa ryung now! Based on her character description, after she gets money and power, she tries to grasp whatever she wants. I knew since the beginning that her character is a "good girl gone bad".