Dream High 2 Recap/Summary: Episode 16

EPISODE SIXTEEN (The Freaking End!)

     Things open with Rian performing again, still no singing… After she finishes she goes backstage to greet her friends. Noting JB’s absence, she asks where he is and as she does he “coincidently” walks in. Yoo-Jin gives him the ol’ threat routine, telling JB that he better not chicken out. He still wants JB to kneel down to him. JB heads out onstage and walks on with a limp. His friends that are watching wonder what’s wrong. I’ll tell you what’s wrong, he RAN AFTER HAE-SUNG WITH A TORN ACL THAT’S WHAT!!!!! He trips during the performance and everyone talks in concern.

     Somewhere dark we find JB sitting all alone. Rian approaches him in tears. She says that he should have mentioned his condition and that she should have been nicer. No shit. JB tells her that he will no longer dance and gives her his shoes as a sort of way to seal the deal. He then tells her to live out her dreams, because she has put in more effort than him. Things cut to her onstage and she blabs about how people view her and her journey and JB and shit. Basically it’s a mini montage of the series. She proceeds by singing a song. I started zoning out.

     Yoo-Jin finds JB and chews him out, in the tough love kind of way. JB just wishes him a good performance, but he says he doesn’t need it because he always does well. Back onstage, Yoo-Jin closes his eyes in preparation and the scene ends in light.

Eight Months Later.

      All the Super Idol kids step out of a bus and a list of fans and reporters await them. Except, Yoo-Jin’s not with them, he is on the sideline. Things flashback, just about a minute into the flash forward, and it shows Yoo-Jin purposely screwing up his audition. He plays a few strings/chords/whatever and says nothing but “G-Minor”. He ends his performance by saying that that is all he is right now and that he will go out on his own. Backstage Rian lightly scolds him and somehow manages to get her arms around him in the process. He he. Shin Jae-In (the guy in charge of these damn competitions) tells Yoo-Jin that he is making a mistake, but Yoo-Jin replies that he isn’t. He walks away, Rian follows in glee, and Jae-In smiles. 

       In the now present, as in back to eight months later, Rian and Yoo-Jin are seen talking. They start off with some friendly small talk, but soon Yoo-Jin questions her about why she didn’t decide to go solo. Apparently she had won the random last minute competition. Rian replies that it’s all because of her friends. Yoo-Jin smiles at her sincerity, begins to make fun of her, and gets his hands on her face. Just as they semi-kind of share a moment JB walks in and asks if they are really going out. Yoo-Jin dodges this by asking if Hae-Sung is coming and JB says that he shouldn’t ask. Yoo-Jin complains that he can think of her if he wants. JB says that Hae-Sung was the one who liked him, as in not Yoo-Jin. The two bicker and Rian breaks it up by saying Hae-Sung liked her most. She dangles the famed pendent in front of the two. 

     The whole flash forward thing has brought us to graduation day. Some people give speeches, the students clap. Rian is brought to the stage and announces that she will be reading a letter in Hae-Sung’s place. Lame. A montage of Hae-Sung and everyone’s journey soon ensues. Again, lame. Another mini montage of their graduation plays.

Eight Years Later. Really?!

     JB is now in charge of making music and is sporting a really ugly perm. Why can’t we go back to the days when JB had the really hot bleached hair?? Someone is purposely sabotaging his looks, I just know it. Ui-Bong now instructs a dance class. Some of his students chatter about his looks. Just as he calls them out for a lecture, Lee Seul comes in and tells him to stop, they are a couple. 

     In a dressing room Teacher Yang (JYP) starts complaining about his outfit and dance moves, but his fellow teachers encourage him. The whole thing is teasing JYP (the real-life person) and his old style. To add to the funny, Teacher Yang is auditioning for a show that he is moonlighting for in real life. Meaning, JYP plays himself judging Teacher Yang. Okay, so I’m not the best at explaining this scene. In short, JYP is playing two roles, Teacher Yang and himself. The whole thing is supposed to be a joke (a very dumb one).  

     The Nana, Ji-Woo, and Hong Joo triangle continues and Ji-Woo is still at a loss. 

     Yoo-Jin is now a teacher of rock music and thank our lucky stars, he has a decent hairdo.

     Rian and Hae-Sung run into each other on a plane and the two have a small chat about what they are up to. Of course, they are both successful. During their talk they both discover that they have been called by Yoo-Jin. Getting to school they are happily surprised to see the new students dancing and singing to the “B Song”. 

      Somehow Hae-Sung ends up in charge of directing a play and she tells Rian that she must audition. The two end up laughing after some small bickering. JB and Yoo-Jin walk in and things start to get campy. Rian looks at JB and gestures toward Hae-Sung with her head, he just smiles.

     Backstage the girl playing Hae-Sung applies makeup, preparing herself for her role. Rian comes in and starts dabbing off the makeup, telling her that she must be “average, average, Average!” Hae-Sung enters and chuckles. Rian pulls out a ugly duck sweater and asks that the girl playing Hae-Sung wear it. The two laugh some more. Hae-Sung then proceeds to check out the props. At one point someone asks her about chopsticks and a spoon. Hae-Sung had forgotten, but thankfully she stills carries the chopsticks that JB got her.

     The play, that I’m guessing is a regurgitation of the drama, opens with Rian telling everyone that they are B. Things continue with the rest of the team giving heartfelt words and blah blah blah. A new rendition of the Dream High theme song is performed. I’m not a big fan of this version, the spark is gone. The drama ends with some parting words from the group. Something like, our dreams have changed, but perhaps we will become someone else’s dream. 

QUICK SUMMARY:

A bunch of montages, flash forwards, Yoo-Jin exits the idol world, JB can no longer perform, and everyone ends up happy. 

EPISODE REMARKS:

As an ending, this episode sucked ass. It was montages and happy scenes strung together. Yeah, it’s good that we aren’t left with some stupid last minute cancer or whatnot, but still…What I freaking HATED was that no one really got together, in terms of the main characters. It wouldn’t have been bad, had romance never been hinted at. However it was and I was pissed. Then there is the whole Rian and Hae-Sung thing. Good for them, they are all chummy, but why the hell didn’t the show play on that earlier?! It’s nice to not have a bitch character, especially ones that do 180 personality changes out of the blue. Although the show gave little answers and a big fat bow wrapped on everyone’s problems, the ending could have been worse. So…good for them I guess.

SERIES REMARKS:

I know I shouldn’t relate this drama to the first, but they gave me no other choice. What the hell am I supposed to think when I see the new kids singing the first Dream High’s theme song? On the acting scale, both had some wooden actors, though JB managed to double the damage. As for story, Dream High 2 managed to take a good concept and burn it to the ground; taking it to random music videos, lack of direction, and stupid plotlines. Oh, and the damn clichés. But if for some reason you disagree, let me know why. Maybe you liked them both?

Despite it all, I kind of liked some moments that the show had, RIAN AND YOO-JIN FOR THE WIN! 

COMMENTS AS THE WRITER:

I kind of rue the day I decided to recap the series, bad idea. But, I figure that it’s all about improving. It let me know how much time goes into this and how it kind of takes some of the joy out of just watching. I know I had a brief hiatus from the last recap, but life kind of took over and to be frank, I really didn’t mind not getting to the last episode. I can’t stress this enough, but PLEASE comment. It would brighten my day to know that at least one person is reading this, because site views are unreliable.  

Sorry for the long ass post, but hey it’s the finale. I did it!

-Alyssa

Swing Girls (2004) Review

Normally I have a format to how I review things, though I haven't really shown it. It's usually broken up into acting, story, impact, and production. This time I have decided to just write down some of my key thoughts and run with it. Please let me know your thoughts on this matter and suggest ways in which I can improve!!

Thoughts:

I am not very cultured in music; give me a music sheet and my eyes will glaze over. Meaning, I am basically limited to my opinion; does it sound good or not. There’s no science and it is definitely subjective. That being said the statement made in the final half hour, “There are two types of people in this world; people who swing and those who don’t.” worked for the movie and had me almost nodding my head in agreement. Of course it’s not true and is as cliché as it gets, but the movie succeeded in drawing its viewers into that world.

I’ll admit it, I’m a sucker for romance; making the small storyline between the two main characters, Tomoko and Takuo, an excellent treat. What I loved was that it was underplayed and subtle in a non-subtle way. There was one scene, and I hope I’m not spoiling too much, where the two are chasing each other in the midst of a snow ball fight. Tomoko trips and Takuo hovers over her; armed and ready for his target. He stops when he sees her looking straight at him, becoming aware of her for the first time. Now one would think that he is in the dominating position, but it is Tomoko who has him wrapped around her finger. Shown when he decides to drop the snowball and offer to help her up, only for her to make an escape. The whole scene is about two minutes long and despite the two never discussing their feelings, the movie was able to convey emotion almost on par with a romantic genre.

If I had to order the things that I loved in this movie, the romance between Tomoko and Takuo would be put on the backburner because the chemistry of the “Swing Girls” group whole would be first. The dedication that the school kids had was amazing, even though it was all fiction. One person following their passion is one thing, but a group? It takes a lot of trust and cooperation. Think about it, if you decided to start a business how many of your friends could you persuade to join in with you? Not many. It was refreshing and a bit envy worthy to watch the group of kids find their own way. From saving up money, realizing they suck ass, to becoming a crowd moving band. It’s the classic underdog story without the competitiveness. These kids are doing it all out of pure pleasure. Which made things endearing and the few shifts from realism bearable.

Now, I did skip some parts, both fault to the pacing of the movie and my personal agenda (which includes writing reviews, recaps, and art).  However, it made sense and there were few (if any) scenes that weren’t necessary to creating the illusion of reality. The movie did manage to counter this by having a good sense of humor and dialogue, especially when the group was just starting out.

Verdict:

Despite its positives, this movie may not be for everyone; in the sense that it should be watched on a lazy Sunday or with ease of mind. In addition there is the whole Jazz/Swing thing that isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. In short, it’s worth a watch, but it’s not a “must see now!” thing. 

Rating: 7.5-8/10         

Glamorous Challenge (Skip Beat!) Episodes 5 and 6 Recap

EPISODE FIVE:

There is one scene that has Gong Xi upset about having to take off her makeup, Lian's manager offers his assistance. 

     Although Liu has gotten a second wind and is willing to act the part, Gong Xi is still in the spotlight. During one of Gong Xi’s performances she becomes surprised at Lian’s acting capabilities which end up guiding her performance. She realizes her limits as an actress. Adding to it, Gong Xi’s existing injury doesn’t allow her to perform 100%, causing her to eventually step down. In result Liu and Gong Xi make amends.

     Back at LME Gong Xi runs into Moko and discovers that she is a new member of the “Love Me Section”, she takes the opportunity to become comrades but Moko declines. In truth Moko is embarrassed as hell to have failed the auditions and thus placed into the current situation. However Gong Xi takes no heed and relentlessly pushes their alliance. During their chat they are both told to watch after the President’s granddaughter (Marie) while helping the production of an acting class’ play. 

     They arrive on scene and Moko does her best to fight off the snickers of girls (she is now clad in the infamous pink jumpsuit), showing off her skills in result. Meanwhile Gong Xi is given some background on Marie. The little girl in episode two. She has become a fan of Gong Xi's and LME's president is her grandfather. He believes Gong Xi can help her resolve some long held issues, such as her mother's death. The group then decides to rehearse lines, to which Marie comes out and comments on how the play is wrong. Gong Xi agrees. The main girls’ mother had died giving birth to her sister yet she shows no resentment, the two believe that it is unnatural for there not to be any. The girls (the same ones teasing Moko) suggest that Gong Xi act out her version if she thinks she is so right.  Gong Xi is forced to agree and the episode ends with her about to get on stage.

Favorite Moment:

Gong Xi does a little beat boxing as she repeats “Love Me Section” in an attempt to make it sound cool.

EPISODE SIX:

     Last episode Gong Xi agreed to act out her own version of a play that a theatre group had been working on. It was about a young girl that believes her father hates her, because her mother died while giving birth to her. The scene is when her older sister, played by Gong Xi, reassures her that that is not the case. The whole play is synonymous to the life of Marie, the President’s Granddaughter, because her mother died on a trip to see her. 

     Backstage, Gong Xi is seen freaking out because she has no plan for her performance. After all writing scripts on the spot is not her forte. She pleads for Moko to help her, but Moko tells her that she doesn’t know either because actors always stick to the script; no matter what. Hearing this gives Gong Xi a boost of energy and she thanks Moko for the idea, although Moko is confused on how she helped. Gong Xi then goes onstage and begins to recite the lines in the script. However she does so with a different context. Rather than playing a supportive older sister she acts bitter and cynical. Furthering everyone’s surprise she begins to recite the sister’s lines as well. Not knowing what to do, the actress playing the sister begins to say Gong Xi’s lines and in essence they switch roles. As Gong Xi barrages the sister with talk about their father not loving her, Marie heads toward the stage, moved. She interrupts the play, saying that Gong Xi is lying, her father does love her. Gong Xi switches her attentions to Marie, who has become the real life version of the younger sister, and continues her onslaught. Eventually Marie breaks down, realizing how cruel she had been to her father. Gong Xi smiles and gives her a hug. I actually enjoyed this scene; it was heartwarming, although Marie’s acting slightly got on my nerves.

     Later Marie approaches Gong Xi, asking about her parents and for a second Gong Xi is at a loss for words.  The president is also there, acknowledging her turmoil, but he decides not to get into it. Gong Xi switches the subject and goes to the staircase afterwards for some alone time, holding a purple stone for comfort. During which her manager surprises her; she drops the stone and subsequently begins to freak out. After rushing downstairs to retrieve it she notices Lian and asks if he has seen it. He says he hasn’t and she goes off about its importance. Long story short, when she was younger a boy (“Corn”) gave it to her and she had kept it ever since. After she finishes Lian looks at her with a puzzled expression, obviously connecting him to her story, but he says nothing. He does however give her the stone, for he had been pulling her leg when she initially asked.

     The girls are now enrolled at an acting school, but on their first day they get into trouble. Since Gong Xi’s performance Moko has decided the two are destined to be rivals but Gong Xi disagrees. The two argue, both verbally and physically, about it.  As punishment they are forced to hug each other (yeah, I know, weird. But I find it funny all the same). Gong Xi takes the opportunity to further their friendship, admitting that she has never really had a real friend. Moko softens up a bit upon hearing this, though she doesn’t give in. 

     Somehow Gong Xi ends up on a variety show as a Chicken Mascot. At first she is determined to succeed, but upon hearing that Shang will be on it she once again fills her head with revenge. There is even a point to which she grabs a baseball bat while thinking, “Even if a rooster kills someone, it probably won’t have to go to jail.” Ha!! She ultimately decides to tamper with some of the questions that Shang will be asked, mentioning his real name and some of his embarrassing habits. However to her dismay he easily overcomes her obstacles and gains more fans in result. Somehow they end up fighting onstage, but the hosts manage to make it seem like it is all part of the act. She is fired afterwards. The chicken suit, by the way, is hilarious.

Favorite Moment(s):

Any scene with Moko and Gong Xi, they make a comedic, awkward, duo.

REMARKS:

It’s funny to see the play within the play (loosely worded of course); because they talk about marvelous acting when in reality everyone in the series has average acting skills at best.

So what is the equivalent to “bromance” in terms of girls? I love seeing Moko and Gong Xi together, they are polar opposites. It’s especially funny when Moko declares Gong Xi her number one rival while Gong Xi is frolicking about, oblivious to the whole ordeal.

Plot wise, things are picking up, especially since the characters are being fleshed out (which explains the longer posts). I am happy to say that I am progressively anticipating each upcoming episode.  

Glamorous Challenge (Skip Beat!) Episodes 3 and 4 Recap/Summary

EPISODE THREE:  

     Last episode left of with Gong Xi on the phone with someone similar to Shang. Because she is still pissed at the whole situation, she goes off into a full blown fit. In result she is cut and told that she lacks heart. Since she can’t argue on that part she decides to quit her pursuit of fame and re-enter the work force. While working at a gas station she notices the arrival of Shang and contemplates whether she should approach him, playing out different scenarios in her head. After mulling it over some she accidently reveals herself, but to her surprise Shang doesn’t recognize her. That night she cries, realizing that she has given her whole life to him and he forgot her within weeks. Yay, a bit of depth as reality seeps in! Hitting the bottom she gains strength and decides to once again go after showbiz.

 

     When she reaches LME headquarters someone asks her to carry luggage going off about points and whatnot. Confused Gong Xi does as she is told and it isn’t until later that she discovers that she has been given a position at LME’s “Love Me Section”. In a nutshell she must cater to anyone’s demand in order to obtain points. Once she shows that she has grown and starts to truly care for people, she will be offered a chance to debut. She reluctantly agrees, but knows that she has a bit of humility in store for her, especially after being given her uniform; a pink jumpsuit. Sparkly too! Off on Shang’s front, he is busy basking in the limelight, only to have it taken by Lian entering the same building. Finally able to confront his rival, Shang runs through what he thinks will happen. When Lian comes near Shang knocks over a vase to get his attention and the two meet eyes.  

EPISODE FOUR: 
 

     Lian stops to look at the fallen vase, subtly chides Shang for his childish manner, and walks around it. His manager takes note at Lian’s abnormal hostility. Meanwhile, Gong Xi is asked to help out an idol turned actress (Liu Li Er) during one her filming shoots and she agrees. Coincidentally the production also includes Lian. During their travel to the location Liu’s van breaks down and Gong Xi is forced to walk with her the rest of the way. However Liu turns out to be a brat and demands that Gong Xi carry her instead. Gong Xi agrees, but near the end of the journey sprains her ankle. Liu could care less and continues on her merry way. Eventually Lian finds Gong Xi and carries her to the shoot. Liu notices Gong Xi getting extra attention, throws a fit, and ends up quitting. Somehow Gong Xi ends up being her replacement and she blows everyone away with her performance as a noble woman. In the background Liu watches, realizing how much of a diva she has been. After some encouragement from Lian she decides to get her act together. 

 

REMARKS:

Things are still going by the book and while it is nice to see it reenacted it also makes it nothing more than a hollow vessel. If there is anyone who hasn’t read the manga before viewing, what do you think?  I have yet to fall for the actress playing Gong Xi, but she is kind of growing on me; cm by cm. Lian on the other hand is nothing more than a pretty boy (man?) that basically stands and smiles; nothing more.

Glamorous Challenge (Skip Beat!) Episode 2 Recap

EPISODE TWO:

     Gong Xi barges into LME insisting that she meet with the person that can make her a star, and eventually a manager agrees to hear her out. However her lack of direction leads him to believe that she is nothing more than fan obsessed girl and he consequently ushers her out. He Lian takes note of the situation all the while. Unfazed Gong Xi begins to stalk the manager until he compromises by giving her a spot in the upcoming audition, and within a heartbeat she takes it.  

     At the auditions another young lady is introduced (Moko) and she is pissed at the presence of a child. She pushes the little girl on to bystander Gong Xi and storms off. The girl begins to cry and Gong Xi begins to squeeze her cheek; telling her that one should not be dependent on tears, because people won’t always come running to help. Something like that… Before the first round of the auditions LME’s president parades into the joint and gives a small opening speech. The applicants are then allowed to showcase one of their talents in an attempt to move the judges.  On Moko’s turn she memorizes a script instantly and acts on par to an already videotaped actor; she impresses everyone. Gong Xi is the last to go on stage and she wows everyone with her ability to cut a radish into something that looks like a flower. Needless to say, they both pass. The next round involves instantaneous acting. Each applicant is given a phone to which they must effectively respond to what is said. Moko passes with flying colors. When Gong Xi gets on stage, she listens and hears a man beg for forgiveness. Apparently he had mistreated her while acting like a Grade A jerk and because everything he says is synonymous to Shang she is at a loss for words.

REMARKS:

Like I said last time, the biggest downfall of this drama is the acting. It’s just not there. However I can sympathize, the manga is known for its zany antics and putting that into a live action is one hell of a challenge. They do make some amends by inserting animations and wacky music. Out of curiosity, does anyone else think that Shang and He Lian are dubbed over? 

This happens as a tangent, showcasing He Lian's professionalism and acting chops.

Glamorous Challenge (Skip Beat!) Episode One Recap

I have been an on and off reader of Skip Beat for years, and was a bit elated to find that a Taiwanese version was in production. So with the conclusion of Dream High 2, I have decided to give this drama a little bit of spotlight. 

EPISODE ONE: 

    Just like the book, things start with Gong Xi (Kyoko) running to and from jobs. In the midst of things she hears some girls talking about Bu Puo Shang (Sho Fuwa) and his new CD, and one even pulls out a near life-size poster of him. Gong Xi goes off about not having received one and flies out the door on her bike to demand hers. The show then exhibits her bicycling at superhuman speed to emphasize her earnestness while playing the opening theme song. By the looks of the quirkiness and awfully cheesy shots, it’s apparent that this isn’t the top of line drama and should be taken as fluff.

     She reaches her destination, scares the shit out of the employees, and walks out elated as she carries a life-size cutout of Puo Shang. She then scurries to her next job, where we are introduced to a friend and older couple that are her employers. Groundwork on Gong Xi is then laid; she has been living with Puo Shang since running away with him as a teenager and she works three jobs to ensure that he maintains the best lifestyle. Of course, no one except her knows this. Later she arrives home and practically jumps for joy when she spots Puo Shang sitting on her sofa. He however ignores her, and it becomes obvious that life isn’t as sugarcoated as Gong Xi believes it to be. As they watch TV, Shang’s rival appears (Dun He Lian - Ren) and he huffs and puffs. Eventually he gets agitated and leaves the condo.

     The following day Gong Xi sneaks into his agency to make amends, only to stumble onto a conversation with Shang and his manager. She learns that she has been used the whole time and is basically a maid to him. In result she goes crazy and declares that she will have her revenge by becoming a star that is ten times better than him; he laughs. True to her word Gong Xi goes off to get a make-over, buying overpriced heels and getting a new do. However the final result is not so pretty…I don’t know what the thought process for her new hairstyle was. She then relays to the older couple that she is going make it as a star and after a lot of hesitation they agree to support her; giving her a room to stay in.

     Later Gong Xi paces up and down the streets in a totally ridiculous outfit, one that screams prostitute, while her friend encourages her that that is how people get discovered. Yeah, pace back in forth on a street in a flashy get up. That will make you a star all right. Eventually figuring that things aren’t working she decides to run around with a poster promising that she will make a successful star. Say, what?!! Eventually she realizes it isn’t working either, but cheers up when she discovers that big talent agency LME is holding auditions. Once again determined she pronounces to the world that she will defeat Shang, but first she must get another haircut. 

     Some development on He Lian was given in the show, but I was kind of too lazy to write about it. Basically, he is loved by everyone however he can be a tight ass when it comes to work. 

REMARKS:

So far, the drama has been sticking pretty close to the manga. This is both good and bad. Good, because I liked the story the first time around and I think the whole setup makes for some good laughs and entertainment. Bad, because there is really nothing new, well, it does deviate now and the (the awful hairstyle) but nothing noteworthy. I think I was a tad bit hooked in the beginning because of the downright slapstick humor, but eventually the lackluster acting started seeping in. So if things keep going at this rate, this might just be a skip-to-the-good-parts drama.

On another note, I find the boys of Super Junior headlining this drama a bit odd. 

COMMENTS AS THE WRITER:

Please comment.

-Alyssa

Dream High 2 Recap/Summary: Episode 15

EPISODE FIFTEEN (loose ends start to get tied, kind of)

     Rian and JB finish their song and Hae-Sung smiles at the two. Back stage Ji-Woo pouts as he sees Nana approach Hong-Joo to help him get ready to go onstage. Rian approaches Hae-Sung (I guess she can warp to and from places as well…) and says that she takes back her lack of faith in her. She also suggests that Hae-Sung get out there and meet up with JB. When Hae-Sung finds him he pretends to pout, because she didn’t tell him Rian was going to sing instead of her. He says to make it up to him she should buy him a meal. Things switch back to Hong-Joo who sings about being sunflower (?) and the show has an animation to accompany it. I normally don’t mind his voice, but here it was just ordinary, there was no hook really. 

     As Hong-Joo finishes Yoo-Jin spots his mom in the crowd, but she gets embarrassed and heads out to leave. He catches up to her and tells her that she must listen to his song first. On stage, he explains to everyone that he was the one who left (making him a runaway) and that he would basically like to make amends by dedicating his performance to his mom. What his reasons for leaving were, I do not know. Everyone applauds, including his mom. Afterwards Rian tells him that he did well, squeezing his cheeks as she does (there is hope for them yet!!).

     Hae-Sung and JB are out sharing a meal and JB admits that he is not ready to give up on their relationship; at least till his leg heals. She eventually agrees.  On stage Jae-In announces the winners of the competition; Ui-Bong, Hong-Doo, Ji-Woo, Ailee, Yoo-Jin, and Rian. So basically everyone…He also says that since Nana and JB are not well at the moment, they can try again when they are. He continues with the promise that he will choose one of the new Super Idols to headline some tour at a later date.

     Later, Jae-In approaches Hae-Sung about her abilities as a composer and offers her an internship along with a college application. However, she must act within the month. She begins to show doubt, but he tells her that she shouldn’t kick down the opportunity now that she has found her calling. 

     On a tangent, director Lee Kang-Chul starts questioning his daughter (Lee Seul) about colleges, to which she replies that she wants to be an idol manager and that doesn’t require college. That kind of came out of nowhere. Like any normal parent, he objects, but eventually comes up with a compromise. She can manage the newly selected Super Idols and within that time she must book at least one event. Meanwhile, at class, the students are purposely finding faults with each other, while looking for the good that comes out of them. Everyone has something for Yoo-Jin and when it comes to Rian, they call her out for being a jerk. Ha! She huffs in response. And to further her slight annoyance, they conclude that there is no bright side to that. And I find it refreshing, that the show is willing to have her to admit her obvious personality flaw. As they continue Lee Seul runs into the room, announcing her new position.

     At the hospital the doctor tells JB that he will have problems with his foot for a long time. Hae-Sung overhears some of the conversation, beginning to worry because she has to leave him soon. To make things worse JB overdramatizes the condition of his foot, hoping to make her feel bad and stay by him in result. The two head to school where Rian sets up a mock interview with JB, in order to prepare the group for ones they may have in the future. She pokes fun at him by asking about the truth in some fake rumors; is Ui-Bong a better dancer, did Rian  break up with him, and is Hae-Sung really dating Yoo-Jin. JB jumps up at the last one (yes, even with a torn ACL), getting ready to fight Yoo-Jin but Hae-Sung waves her arms out in protest. Everyone chuckles. During Yoo-Jin’s interview, JB toys with him as well and asks if he really got rejected by Hae-Sung after confessing his love. Flustered, Yoo-Jin immediately gets after Hae-Sung for sharing that story, however JB didn’t know that really happened. Thus JB once again gets defensive. Again everyone laughs. Overall the scene was pretty campy, which I liked.

     Alone, Hae-Sung holds up an admission letter and is both elated and shocked to find out that she has been accepted into the university. As she continues to stare at it, Yoo-Jin comes in, finds out the news, and congratulates her (while teasing). However she says she isn’t going. He calls her out for sounding forced and tells her that she should just go for it. 

    Things switch to a dressing room back stage, where the Super Idols are preparing for a performance. Rian walks near Yoo-Jin and begins to poke and tease him. As she does Hae-Sung and JB come in and he asks if the two are dating. They both look at him in shock, Rian says they are just friends, but Yoo-Jin takes the opportunity to potentially make JB jealous and says that they are closer than that. He teases him further by demanding that JB kneel down (they had made a bet in previous episodes) but he then remembers that JB is injured. He lightheartedly declares that JB had planned it all, in order to get out of it. Finally the group gets on stage and the track for “Touch” (by Miss A) plays in the background, however before they start to sing the scene ends. Way to leave me hanging…

     Jae-In calls JB and tells him about Hae-Sung’s admittance into Berkley, and tells him that he believes she is doing it for him. JB later approaches her and begins by saying that his foot is all healed (well that didn’t take long) and it is okay for them to break up. He then goes about a metaphor of a kite, and wishes that he would send off in a similar fashion. She tears up a bit and he hands her a rubixs cube (the one she had given him when his mother had died). And just like that the two are no longer a couple.

     While packing up, Hae-Sung reminisces about her time with JB. During which she finds the “K” pendant. I don’t know if I mentioned its existence, but yes, it is the same one from the previous season. It just seems meaningless at this point. She then goes to Rian and offers it to her along with her friendship. Rian accepts both, and takes the opportunity to ask Hae-Sung about what she has that made JB flock to her. Hae-Sung simply replies that Rian comes off as perfect, leaving little room for another person to fill her up. She basically tells her to get the stick out of her ass, nicely of course.

    The day has come for which Hae-Sung leaves school to go home, and Yoo-Jin watches in the distance as she leaves with her dad and sister. When they get to her house she is gloom. Back at school, Yoo-Jin approaches JB and calls him out for not properly sending her off.  He gets the message and runs off to do so. 

     Apparently there is a new competition among the Super Idols, this time for the chance to headline a tour and produce an album. Backstage, Ji-Soo asks where JB is, but no one has a clue. It is then discovered that this day also happens to be the same one in which Hae-Sung departs to the states. Her dad gives her some parting words, saying that she has accomplished enough by just being her daughter. Things go back to the performance, with Rian in the spotlight as she dances (no singing?) Meanwhile JB thinks over the parting letter that Hae-Sung left him as he heads towards the airport. Hae-Sung looks around, expecting, and JB arrives, running to find her. All the while Hae-Sung’s voice plays, where she talks about God leaving out something in human’s lives that they must find as they go along. She wonders if JB is that thing. Just as the dialogue finishes he finally reaches her and says she no longer has to worry about him. The two hug and tear up, but part smiling and the episode ends. 

QUICK SUMMARY:

Pretty much everyone makes the Super Idol team, even JB and Nana, who are given an extended deadline due to injuries. Hae-Sung gets offered to go to college, in order to pursue a career as a lyricist, and accepts it. Things lightly simmer between Yoo-Jin and Rian, while Hae-Sung and JB finally call it quits. 

REMARKS:

I have pretty much given up on any sort of coherent plot or anything good for the matter. But the shoddiness of their timeline really gets on my nerves. For goodness sake, JB just tore his ACL and a month later he is seen running and dancing again. Then there is the whole send off, didn’t JB go off to say his goodbyes before the day of the new competition, when Yoo-Jin told him to? Where did that day go?! Speaking of which, it seemed like they had said pretty much the same thing when JB agreed to break up with her. Sigh. Another thing that bothered me, was Hae-Sung going to college in the states, it just seemed random, you know? Perhaps if they set it up in a way that made it seem like something she had always wanted to do. The good points about this episode surprisingly came from Rian and Yoo-Jin, whom are adorable together. I especially loved the scene where he jokingly uses her to make JB jealous, it was cute and a bit petty (in a good way). 

COMMENTS AS THE WRITER:

Like always PLEASE COMMENT. I have recently received another spike in page views and it would absolutely delight me to know that there isn’t some robot repeatedly refreshing the page, or that it is getting up due to image views on Google.

-Alyssa

Dream High 2 Recap: Episode 14

EPISODE FOURTEEN (nothing happens…seriously):

     In the last installment of We-can’t-make-up-our-mind-EVER-resulting-in-dumb-choices-on-our-part, or Dream High 2, Hae-Sung breaks up with JB. However he is against it and on his way to change her mind gets hit (or nearly hit) by a truck.  Hae-Sung sees the whole thing and at the hospital sobs her eyes out while holding onto their spoon.

     Meanwhile Rian approaches her mom, assuming that the whole scandal with the counterfeit goods was just a misunderstanding. Her mom says nothing and the police take her away. Just as a flock of reporters run to approach her, she gets a message about JB being hospitalized. At the hospital, Rian runs up to Hae-Sung yelling that Hae-Sung promised that she would protect him. So, it is her fault…? Hae-Sung says nothing and Yoo-Jin comes to her rescue, saying Rian knows that Hae-Sung isn’t to blame. The doctors eventually come out, stating that JB has torn his ACL, which would thus hinder him from difficult activities. But, isn’t that something from sports injuries, not getting slammed by a truck?! It just seems dumb…

     Back in the head honchos domain, Jae-In declares that the competition will go on, and Ji-Soo tries to refute. But like always, Jae-In gets his way. Off on a wild tangent, Hong Joo and Nana are seen singing a duet, reminiscing on old memories. Ji-Woo walks in on the two; shocked. He even discovers that they now don matching couple bags.

     Yoo-Jin enters Hae-Sung’s room in an attempt to cheer her up, but she will hear nothing of it. He reminds her that JB is fine and offers to visit him with her. At the least, she could cry, he says. She replies that she has no right, although she was doing so a couple of scenes ago... Yoo-Jin picks her up from under the desk (where he found her) and takes her out into the hall.  He tells her they should just do what they can at the moment, but she looks away. 

     As Rian leaves the hospital she is again surrounded by reporters, however this time she agrees to make a statement. She starts by saying that she is the breadwinner of the family and that although singing is fun, it is a job. She continues that her mom was under financial strain and in some ways a victim. Regarding JB, she says that everything about their relationship is nothing but a rumor and that they are only good friends.  One reporter thanks her, while slipping in a question about JB’s ability to perform. She leaves the reporter hanging, gets lost in thought, and after a few seconds runs back into the hospital. She gets to JB’s room and begins to lightly hit him, telling him to put on his shoes and try to run away from her again (I think I recall something about shoes in earlier episodes, so I am guessing this is a continuation?). She starts to cry and admits that she was wrong for hating on him; he starts to tear up as well. Things zoom out, and we find that Hae-Sung is watching the two, though she leaves before she is noticed. That same night Rian comes up with lyrics while watching JB sleep, after which a montage of nice moments ensues.

     At class, the teacher asks the students about the progress with their songs. The two love struck fools (Ji-Woo and Hong-Joo ) simultaneously declare that they will sing for Nana. The rest say what they have chosen as well. On Hae-Sung’s turn she says she will sing a song for JB, immediately sparking fire with Rian, because she intends to do the same. Afterwards, she approaches Hae-Sung stating that she assumed Hae-Sung had gotten the point; stay away from JB. Hae-Sung just smiles, and says stuff about fate and Rian singing twice. Hae-Sung then heads to Jae-In’s office and tells him that she doesn’t belong on stage and that she would like to give it back. So basically, she intends to drop out and give her position to a certain someone…it’s kind of obvious but they are trying to make it out like it’s not, which just confuses people (ME!!). Sigh.

     In another scene Yoo-Jin visits his mom (only two episodes or so after his first attempt, no biggie…) and Rian is there for moral support. His mom recognizes him instantly but the two don’t say much. As they leave Rian tells him that he needs to be nice to his mom, because there is no one in the world who doesn’t need a mother’s love.  Since when did she become such a softie?

     It’s now the day of the competition. For some reason, Rian decides to wish Hae-Sung good luck and she does the same. Now they are friends?!  Back at the hospital JB begins to eat a meal, only to notice the chopsticks and a spoon; and almost by fate Hae-Sung enters the room. Teary eyed she hands him sheet music and says she has a favor to ask him. What could it possibly be…Meanwhile Yoo-Jin goes to his mom’s shop to drop off a ticket for the performance; she looks at it pondering what to do.  

     Lee Seul and her love interest Ui-Bong (sorry for not mentioning him, this show has many small characters) are the first to go on stage. I thought this was a solo thing?! The two perform a very upbeat song and I can’t help but roll my eyes. The whole performance is for her dad (Director Lee Kang-Chul), who she wishes to see eye to eye with. She even gets off stage and hands him a balloon, finally revealing to everyone that she is his daughter. People are in awe, but are mostly captivated by the performance. The two end with an arm heart. Okay…it’s kind of cute!

     Backstage the teachers look for the students, as they do Hae-Sung asks if it is okay if she goes onstage now.  Damn, she just poofs around, hospital one moment school the next.  She gets on stage, making a heart-felt speech, eventually spilling the beans. She is giving up her spot to JB.  No way. At her cue a screen that connects to the hospital is dropped down and JB prepares to take the stage or in this case hospital floor. He begins to sing and Rian joins in. I will admit, it sounds good. Why, oh why, didn’t we have more of this?! The two exchange glances throughout. Somehow Rian’s mom has gotten out of jail, and she smiles at the scene. Hae-Sung tears up a little. All the while Jae-In looks on, impressed. Thinking that they had been clever all along, the show goes ahead and explains what Hae-Sung had to do to make things happen. She had told Rian the whole thing beforehand, explaining their friendly encounter off stage. Also she had told JB that she was going to sing with him, playing the switcheroo at the last minute.

QUICK SUMMARY:

Despite the accident, Hae-Sung is still the noble idiot and eventually relinquishes her spot to JB…yup that’s it. 

REMARKS:

I don’t know if it was obvious as I had made it out to be, but the secrecy revolving Hae-Sung and her plan was just stupid. We know what’s going to happen, why pretend to hide it? What really bugged me is realizing that this show has opted to focus more on JB and Rian, when it has so much potential with Yoo-Jin and Hae-Sung. And when I say “focus”, I mean they just have more scenes. In truth this show focuses on nothing, it jumps around like a candy induced child in a toy store; and in result I feel little connection to anyone. Just look at Yoo-Jin, who is meeting his mom after years of her absence; that should stir me but it doesn’t! At this point I just want to finish things and move on with my life, and it might seem like I am hating or trolling; but I am sorry, it’s just how I feel.

COMMENTS AS THE WRITER:

I don’t know if anyone is reading this, but for some reason my page view counter has gone up a little recently, by which I mean two or three a day…Anyways, if you are out there, please comment. Just say ‘hey, I exist’; you know? And if you like what I write please spread the word.

On another note, I have two episodes left, if there is any dramas that you would like covered (doesn’t matter the country, I am pretty much open) let me know.

Thanks,

Alyssa