Skip Beat Episode 12 and 13 - Sort of Recap

Although Episode 11's sort-of-recap went differently than expected I'll continue to attempt explaining what happened in the episode with the screen shots I saved.

I think this might be the set of Dark Moon (one of the gigs that Lian and Gong Xi are working on). I don't know why he's dressed like a student, but there he is.

Gong Xi just found out that she's adopted!! ... kidding, she's obviously upset about something. Perhaps she's thinking, 'Why is Lian not looking at me, even though I could never ever like him. He's still not looking. Maybe he'll look now? Now? Well he can go to hell!'

Episode 13

"I'm only doing this because it's my job....wouldn't do this otherwise...nope...never....wouldn't happen."

"Just breathe. Everyone loves me. Everyone loves me. Everyone loves me...."

"We all know I'm the true main character. YUP!"


Summing episodes 12 and 13: shenanigans between Lian and Gong Xi, Shang pouts , and the manager steals the show in adorableness.

-Alyssa

Skip Beat Episode 11 - Sort of Recap

Remember when I said that I had pictures for the remaining episodes of the drama, remember? Well I'm bringing them out now and will give comments on what I think happened!

Gong Xi is straight up tripping as she sees her fairy companion "Corn" from years ago. She's either dreaming or recovering from a head injury.

When you're a wealthy actor with a nice pad, being shirtless and drinking a bottle of water like everyone's looking is a must..

Maybe someone told Gong Xi she's acting a little too crazy?

Probably one of the many scenes where the two have misunderstood each other. Maybe Lian saw the previous picture?

I totally forgot that I saved these. I thought it was something odd and slightly humorous for Gong Xi to say, "I want Qin to feed me a hotdog too." while spying on her in the bushes.


And that's Episode 11! I thought for sure that I'd have some idea of what went down this episode from the pictures. All I got was that Gong Xi is still up to her usual shenanigans while Lian broods.

Glamorous (Extravagant) Challenge a.k.a "Skip Beat!" Episodes 9 and 10 Recap

EPISODE NINE:

      After seeing Gong Xi getting kicked out for going ballistic at the sight of Shang’s poster, Lian reprimands her. And from here on out a cycle of them getting along, Gong Xi screwing up, and Lian scolding her ensues. One of their nicer moments is at restaurant, where Lian amusingly watches Gong Xi chow down. At some point Lian gets sick and Gong Xi steps up to the plate and does everything within her power to remedy situation. Unfortunately he still has to work and one of his scenes requires a prolonged amount of time in the “rain”. When things wrap up, he collapses onto Gong Xi. To her surprise, she learns that he only responds to lines from the drama and in order to get him back home she has to utilize it. As she puts him to bed he calls her “dear” (or something close to it) and she is left confused; she had always assumed he hated her. Lian wakes up the next morning surprised to find that he is all comfy in bed. He walks to his kitchen, notices Gong Xi cooking away, and ponders why she is putting so much effort into things. With a few more scenes that showcase Gong Xi’s earnestness and sincerity he concludes that that is just who she is; revenge on Shang doesn’t define her. Oh, yeah, by this time it is pretty much established that Lian knew Gong Xi as a child. He was “Corn” (Episode Six).  

     Later, Gong Xi learns that she and Moko have been asked to perform in an upcoming music video; their commercial had tons of success. However, when she learns that Shang will be the singer she becomes apprehensive. While she is pondering over accepting the part, Moko approaches her, concerned as well. Apparently she had been asked to do a small part in a drama special, but she feels guilty because the part had been given to someone else previously. Gong Xi tells her not to worry about it; after all she got it fair and square. Moko brightens up by the support and accepts that she will sometimes have to step over people to get to where she wants. Upon hearing this, Gong Xi realizes that she should do the same with Shang. In order to improve she will use Shang as a springboard. She runs to tell her manager that she will take the part. Meanwhile Shang is looking at the commercial with Moko and Gong Xi, pondering if it really is Gong Xi. In his eyes (definitely not mine) she looks way different.

Favorite Moment (s):

I liked when Lian falls on top of Gong Xi, because…well…because Choi Si-Won (Lian) is just hot; ah, if only I were Gong Xi.

Yeah I know, kind of flimsy, but this episode wasn’t particularly a favorite of mine.

EPISODE TEN:

     When Gong Xi and Shang finally meet, he is still uncertain of her identity. She decides that in order to move forward it would be best to take on an alias and act as if she is big fan of his. Yeah, okay, that makes sense…Her new name? Come on, guess….Gigi! I don’t know why I find it funny, but I do. I think it’s just the whole situation. He knew her since childhood and all of sudden he can’t recognize who she is; lame. Somehow she manages to fool him for some time, but screws up when she gives him salt to help his food taste better; only something she would know. He of course picks this up, lamenting on how she is the only one who knows his likes and dislikes. It’s a miracle he hasn’t realized that he is in love with her though…For some reason Shang is still not satisfied with his deduction and decides to test her by pulling out something she had showed enthusiasm for, when they were together. She responds as he expects, and he becomes certain on his conclusion. Before anything is done though, she is called in for makeup. 

      While waiting, Shang’s costar (another girl, Mei Sun) tries to put the moves on him. He doesn’t pay her mind, because at the moment Gong Xi enters the scene decked out in full angel garb. She stuns everyone with her beauty and Mei looks on pissed. I would be too, if someone put a white cotton ball atop my head. The theme for the video is Angels and Demons. Mei’s character falls in love with Shang (a demon) and Gong Xi ends up killing him, in order to save her from her eventual demise. Unfortunately Gong Xi gets a little too excited when the time comes and almost ends up actually murdering Shang. After a bit of pep talk from Moko (on the phone) and time for her temper to settle, she tries again with much success. As she kills him however, Shang looks at her with love and everyone notices. They redo it though and call it a day. Mei finds Shang and complains about a fever, he comforts her while Gong Xi watches in the background.

Favorite Moment(s):

I loved the whole concept of the video. The moment Gong Xi (the angel) kills Shang (Mei's lover) she in essence ends her friendship with Mei, while losing her Angel status as well. I am sucker for the whole scenario.

Comments as the Author: Okay! This is the last recap I have for the series. After this I breezed through them, skipping half the fluff. I did take screenshots for each episode. I might post those along with my interpretation of what happened. Or not.

-Alyssa

I've gotten me a tumblr account now, follow if you want...no expectations or anything....it's whatever....yeah...

 

 To think this was made in 2011...

Glamorous (Extravagant) Challenge a.k.a "Skip Beat!" Episodes 7 and 8 Recap

 EPISODE SEVEN: 

 

     Because the person behind the chicken suit had intimate knowledge of himself, Shang concludes that he/she could be no other than Gong Xi. He puffs his chest due to her low pole position and is happy to hear that she has been fired. Meanwhile Gong Xi walks about, depressed. She bumps into Lian who also is. Not knowing her identity (she is still in the chicken suit) he asks to borrow her phone. She responds that she doesn’t have one, deducts that he needs it in order to do a web search on a confusing term that he stumbled upon reading his script, and offers her assistance instead. He agrees and they sort things out. Later they talk about her being fired, and he cheers her up by saying that he had been fired too many to times to count. He sees them as positives because they contributed to his growth. The pair part on good terms and he even deems her his friend.

     That night she has a nightmare about Lian, Moko, and Shang ganging up on her and the following day she runs into Lian who teases her a bit. Apparently this is a minor revenge for when she had flicked him off (?), but I can’t seem to recall/find when this had happened. During which he notices that she is not wearing her uniform and he tells her that standing out, in any way, is vital to a budding career in showbiz. She acknowledges his words and heads off.

     Gong Xi meets up with her manager to discuss an upcoming commercial audition. Sometime during their talk she learns that she has been rehired as the chicken, though she opts to keep it off her resume. Later at the audition, Gong Xi clings to Moko and as usual she tries to maintain a distance. During the initial round Moko spots a rival of hers (Fei Li Hua) and uncharacteristically begins to waiver. Gong Xi puts an end to it by revving up her spirits with a nice motivational speech.

     At the commercial audition a partner skit is called into play, where teams of two are given 20 minutes to come up with a performance; two friends have a quarrel about loving the same guy. Gong Xi and Moko are randomly put together and Fei demands that they not be allowed to rehearse, because they are from the same agency. The director suggests a redraw instead, but Moko, with loaded confidence, accepts the challenge. Gong Xi freaks out about it during the waiting time, but on their turn Moko calms her down and tells her to just act accordingly. Their time starts and the two begin to exchange intense looks and amidst it all Moko slaps Gong Xi; completely shocking everyone.

Favorite Moment(s):

 Lian (Choi Si-Won) flicking Gong Xi off with a cleaver in hand; priceless!!

EPISODE EIGHT:

     Before Gong Xi is able to react to being slapped, Moko breaks down into tears. Seeing her friend in turmoil, Gong Xi apologizes, winning over the audience. Things aren’t over yet though, because another skit is issued. This time Gong Xi must come up with the idea. Alone she mulls over what to do, eventually deciding to use a beverage (the item being advertised in the commercial). However Fei observes in the background and decides to one up the duo by using the idea first. After Fei’s performance Gong Xi comes up with a quick fix that leads that wins over the crowd.

     Learning that they have received the parts, Gong Xi decides to go out and celebrate with Moko. The two walk around a bit and over time Moko warms up to her and the notion of friendship. At the end of the day, while Gong Xi is napping, she thanks Gong Xi by giving her some points (the ones exclusive to the Love Me Section).

     Lian’s manager gets sick and in result Gong Xi becomes a temporary replacement. Unfortunately she sucks, making things more difficult for him. At one point she even gives out his schedule to the press, exposing stuff that was meant to be secret; like upcoming projects. She cries in defeat when she realizes the gravity of her mistake, but the ever-so-charming Lian cheers her up by letting her start afresh. He gives her the simple task of finding refreshments, but on her way she spots a poster of Shang and goes nuts. The episode ends when Lian notices her being escorted out for misconduct.

Favorite Moment(s):

The skit thought up by Gong Xi; it was one of my favorite parts in the manga so seeing it live was enjoyable.

REMARKS:

And just like that the plot has pretty much come to a screeching halt, as we are left to amuse ourselves with morals and life lessons…

I keep calling Gong Xi’s “Love Me Section” partner Moko, but it really is Qin. I started calling her that because that is her name in the manga and at the time I was too lazy to figure out what was being used in the drama. Let me know if you want me to correct this.

I am having a hard time commenting on the show. Its fluff, nothing really to analyze, you know?

NOTE: 
This has been written for months, never got around to posting it till now. I think I might have a few more episodes, but after that I don't plan on continuing. I saw the whole series, just stopped writing about it. I'll probably comment on the remaining episodes to finish things off. 

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