by: Raine

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Episode 9 came in at 10.6%. This show is really bobbing and weaving in ratings, just like the plot and the character development. After this episode, I have no idea what will happen.

This episode was all about Ga-young for me. Shin Se-kyung seriously stepped up her game.

Special thanks to Hitomiakiko from Akiko’s Morning Coffee for doing some spot translation for me!

“I’ll Be Waiting” –  Instrumental of Seohhyun of SNSD’s song (from the Fashion King OST)

episode 10 recap

We start out with Jae-hyuk prettifying himself. Doesn’t he know that he could crawl out of bed and everyone would drool? But apparently he prettifies himself, not to go to work, but in order to brood over what An-na said – that he’d protect her and that he wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. The image of An-na “kissing” Young-gul in the elevator is seared into his mind.

Even though Jae-hyuk doesn’t love her anymore or even care to be in a relationship with her, I do understand this feeling. The relationship was huge in his life. He once loved her. It’s hard to let go. However, we all know what happens once Jae-hyuk declares something his…

Young-gul, tired and probably hung over, walks home and pauses before the door. He fixes his hair and braces himself.

At least the boy as the sense to know that he did wrong. But maybe that’s worse. He knows and he still does wrong by Ga-young. Is it so hard to say that he had a drink with An-na to listen to her Jae-hyuk woes? I suppose it is.

Inside, he finds Ga-young cleaning up and casually asks what happened last night. She ignores him and he asks if she’s mad. Why should an employee be mad at his lifestyle?

He understands that she’s angry and turns to find the entire staff watching. They quickly resume cleaning.

An-na is late for a meeting in the mall with the president and a slew of other businessmen. Jae-hyuk is uber pissed and the president doesn’t look pleased.

Okay, that is not acceptable. No matter what your personal issues are, please take your work seriously. I know she’s a thief, but at least pretend to have some semblance of professionalism. Or call. She uses her phone for everything else…how come she can’t pick it up now?

She changes into a skirt that shows off Yu-ri’s legs for days. Mr. Drapery_Jae-hyuk storms in demanding to know where she was (drinking with a friend) because this was a planned meeting and she showed up reeking of alcohol. Is she cheating?

When she snarks that he loves as he wishes, he grabs her arm and shoves her against a mirror. Why of all people is it Young-gul? he demands. Furious, she tells him never to touch her again.

I agree. Manhandling just because you’re pissed isn’t good. Now if he did that to kiss her…RAWR.

So now Hyukkie is pissed and he always does something stupid and irrational when he’s pissed. This time he calls and plots the utter demise of Young-gul’s business and wants Assistant Kim to hit the factory, suppliers, and buyers.

At Young Young Apparel, Bong Sook negotiates an order for fifty pieces, which doesn’t thrill the staff. They were hoping for something larger. But she’s excited and runs to tell Young-gul. In a random bout of slapstick, he opens the door on her face and she falls over. No one bats an eyelid save for Il-gook who fusses over her.

Then, Young-gul starts to feel the aftereffects of Jae-hyuk’s rage: rent on the building goes up, loan shark Tae-san wants his “investment” back and the fabrics dealers won’t deliver unless paid cash. As always, Young-gul calls his go-to man, Chil-bok, for some fast cash.

Assistant Kim holds up garments for Jae-hyuk to choose from – the ones that Ga-young designed – and he chooses the destined garment once worn by Michael Jackson himself.

No wait. It just looks like that one. Ga-young, you design thief.

Anyway, Jae-hyuk is happy as a clam when the person on the phone confirms that the Young-gul was indeed screwed over.

On his way out, Assistant Kim bumps into An-na, who is confused by the rack of clothing. However, when a garment falls and she sees the label on the inside, she totally gets it.

She’s not so dumb after all. Honey, get a little smarter, and you’ll leave him, move back to New York and stop being a smirking door matt. No one likes door matts that smirk. It’s just unpleasant.

Young-gul heads out, a bit under the weather, and when he’s gone, they ahjummas asked Ga-young if she has any money.

Um, are they serious? She had to live on the streets before. How much could she have saved with all the shit going down?

AND I forgot to mention this last recap, but when the ahjummas got their cards they asked what they were going to do with them. They’ve never had cards before. Should they use them as toothpicks? The chattiest ahjumma is indeed using one as a toothpick. and they ARE! Finally, some plot followthrough! AMEN and HALLELUJAH! Wait, I’m excited because they followed through on a toothpick

…

…

…

Yay, toothpicks!

Anyway, the ahjummas want to know why the rich guy doesn’t come ’round no more and then, lo and behold, he calls.

He invites her to his personal theatre, decked out with plush love seats, where a French film starts to play. (Which film is this? Does anyone know?)

Jae-hyuk is super nervous for this date of sorts and Ga-young is completely out of her element as he watches her fondly.

Now for my Jae-hyuk spiel. I’m assuming that he never worked this hard for An-na. Sure, he probably romanced her, spouted pretty words and gave her a good roll in the sack, but I don’t think that she affected change in his worldview as Ga-young has. Ga-young is more than a new toy for him, but someone he actually respects and *gasp* apologizes to.  With An-na he makes excuses or covers his guilt with anger.

That said, just because he’s changing in one area, doesn’t mean he’s a good man for Ga-young even though they look ridiculously cute together. He needs a 360 personality makeover. He’s started with the whole shy-school-boy-in-love bit, but it has yet to pervade his being. In the end, despite my hankering for Lee Je-hoon, I hope he learns to be a better person from Ga-young.

Back to Jae-hyuk and Ga-young in a dark theatre. Jae-hyuk cries during the film and dabs at his eyes with his hanky. Teehee. Ga-young…falls asleep. When she wakes, the film has ended and she’s horrified that she fell asleep and quickly turns away to wipe away any possible drool. He smiles ‘cause she’s cute.

I smile because it’s another plot consistency. She drooled in an earlier episode. Heehee. Toothpicks and drool comprise the total plot consistency! w00t!

They head off to a lunch of pork and lettuce wrap where he hands her a bag. It’s Michael Jackson’s jacket! Production on the line is finished and it will be delivered to stores next week. He has her check the label and she’s stunned to see her name. It’s to pay her back for the shirt she made him, he says.

WOW! Some pay back. That’s what happens when you date a hot chaebol. I’m a musician. I’ve resigned myself to a life of poverty, but if you could hook me up with one of those…

Ga-young blusters that he didn’t have to do this and he replies that it should be under her label next time. This is a souvenir for her first project. Also, does she ever want to work with J Fashion again? He’ll even let Young-gul tag along.

She, as are we, doesn’t think Young-gul will go for it.

Then Jae-hyuk digs a little about the state of business and she evasively replies that the president is taking care of it. Jae-hyuk catches on and says that they won’t receive a proper order unless the buyer checks out the factory and financial situation.

O_O You naughty, naughty puppy. BAD PUPPY!

But Karma’s a bitch. The food comes and he drops a splotch of sauce onto his lapel. He’s mortified and makes all sorts of ridiculous faces as he tries to scrub it off. Then he calls for an extra jacket to be brought from his car. Ga-young is surprised, but Jae-hyuk is in the fashion business.

He then asks her what she, as a designer, thinks of his style and she thinks it’s plain.

She makes Michael Jackson jackets and things with sequins. Of course she thinks he’s plain.

Although affronted, he quickly turns the situation around and asks her to help make him less plain.

Slick dude. Super slick.

Next we get a role reversal. The woman is, for once, dressing the man. It’s still on the chaebol’s dime, but I’ll take what I can get.

She’s in heaven dressing him up and he’s completely shy and awkward as she passes all personal space barriers in order to fix collars, handkerchiefs and ties.

Come on, Jae-hyuk, you know you like it.

Ga-young, of course, doesn’t notice their proximity until they accidentally come face to face. The way he looks at her is so cute. Just break up with An-na so I can feel good about your crush on her. PLEASE!

Oh yeah, he looks delicious in a black suit. DELICIOUS!

Back at the factory, Young-gul is waiting impatiently for Ga-young and immediately attacks when he finds out she was with Jae-hyuk. There’s a limit to pretending not to know how he feels, Young-gul comments bitterly.

In an attempt to stand up for herself, she tells him not to get angry. It was a business meeting. But Young-gul won’t hear it. Does she have any pride as she comes and goes at Jae-hyuk’s bidding? When he spies her bag, he tells her to stop hanging around “outside” because orders came in.

Oh, you so jealous ‘cause you thought she got a present from Richy Rich. And, you do the SAME EXACT THING to her. Get off your pedestal.

Deflated after his angry lecture, Ga-young can’t sleep and pulls out the MJ jacket. It makes her smile.

After Jae-hyuk got dissed, he’s really starting to treat her right. Save for that fact that…y’know, he’s still in some kind of…relationship?…with An-na.

Jae-hyuk is dressing for work and finally decides on a crazy suit that looks like the designer ran out of cloth and patched it together

At J Fashion, he runs into Young-gul who is more than annoyed that they have to meet again. He’s discovered that Jae-hyuk caused all the problems for Young Young Apparel and Young-gul is livid. Jae-hyuk has just cut off the livelihood of the people depending on him. How could he do that?

Hrm, he’s got a point Hyukkie.

But uri chaebol is still stuck in the throes of vengance. He declares Young-gul hateful for not knowing his place and chasing “any girl” and making the same mistakes. That’s why he’s trash.

Ah ha, he stole the woman you declared yours, did he now Jae-hyuk? Um, just by the way. We’re not property. He doesn’t treat Ga-young like property anymore…why is he only growing up in bits and pieces?

Anyway, Young-gul will not let it go and pauses on his way out, “You really don’t look good in anything.”

HAHAHAHA BURN!

(The director really does have a sense of character placement, but those neon green chairs are giving me a headache.)

Jae-hyuk chaebol struts into a design meeting and is complimented on his dress. Director Kim and An-na notice as well. She asks for a chat.

In her office, Jae-hyuk turns a chair away from her to sit down and refuses to look at her. An-na declares they’ve reached the point of no return. With a cold smirk, Jae-hyuk tells her that the issue lies with her. He’s still willing to go forward.

Then she declares that she doesn’t love him anymore and wants to end it.

Good for you! Finally, finally, finally.

Jae-hyuk rises, pissed, and tells her it’s not that easy. Everything she has is because of him. An-na wants everything to stay the same save for their relationship. He, however, is on a power trip and tells her that it’s his decision.

……………………………………

I can’t process that comment. Warning. Warning. Malfunction.

Jae-hyuk storms out and An-na looks deflated. She obviously still loves him and was trying a new tactic. Boo, I wish she’d been serious, especially after that chauvinistic move.

Ga-young gives Young-gul her bank book and her savings (around $1,000) and he feels guilty and half-heartedly refuses her. She tells him to pay her back later and finally he asks for her pin.

Before she can give it to him, a reporter comes to interview him. She was referred by An-na and is curious about the partnership between him and Michael J. Young-gul weaves a little yarn in and out of the truth about his meeting with Michael and the ahjummas watch with some surprise mixed with admiration.

Jung-ah is meeting with mom who is not happy. Apparently, Evil Spawn has been kicked out of school for low grades, which mortifies mommy Dragon Lady. Evil Spawn wants to lie that she graduated with honors since she’ll take over the business anyway. The Dragon has to stop herself from smacking her spawn and demands water from poor Miss Go.

Then the Dragon asks to find the whereabouts of Ga-young and hears that she went to America for business. An-na shows up.

So the Dragon heads to Young Young Apparel and Ga-young is extremely unhappy to see her. The woman is simpering and so falsely sweet that it’s disgusting.

In Young-gul’s office, Madam Jo makes a show of taking care of “uri” Ga-young. Then she drops the bomb: how about partnering with me?

Why should we? Ga-young snaps and I cheer. The Dragon tells her to butt out but Young-gul says that Ga-young is the chief designer and vice-president.

OMG, this woman is so vile. I prefer men who don’t know that they’re being idiots.

Anyway, vile Dragon Lady explains that she’s a top domestic figure and has been preparing for the international market for quite some time. She wants Young Young Apparel to be her influence overseas. If they work together, they’d get an astounding result.

Ga-young thinks the Dragon is shameless and the Dragon replies that she would benefit from it, too. Then she slides a manila envelope with her blueprint to a “fashion empire”.

Is it possible that this blueprint could’ve been what Ga-young’s mother created before Madam Jo stole/took over the business?

While Madam Dragon tells Ga-young “Fighting” as she departs, Ga-young pointedly ignores her, then glares at Young-gul.

Young-gul goes for another think session with Chil-bok and Il-gook over a meal. Il-gook is again dreaming of Bong Sook while Chil-bok, the shrewd businessman, tells Young-gul to go for it. Madam Jo can help Young Young Apparel accomplish a luxury image. She funds; they design and sell.

But how did she know about their situation, Young-gul muses.

Hrm, An-na showing up right before Madam Jo gives us just a little hint.

Later that night, Ga-young is brooding on a workbench with her knees to her chest and crying. She remembers how the Dragon smacked her then cruelly kicked her out.

This is how Young-gul finds her when he returns and his face is suffused with guilt. Ga-young tells him that she doesn’t like Madam Jo. He knows what kind of woman the Dragon is but his experience tells him that there are no friends or enemies forever. So why not work with Jae-hyuk? Ga-young asks.

It’s impossible to work with him and…he HATES him.

Hrm, this is a twisty argument, don’t you think?

Anyway, Ga-young reiterates that she hates “that woman” and Young-gul pulls rank. To soften the blow he mentions that maybe they could get her mother’s factory back.

Wait, he knows that this woman jacked the factory and is still doing this to her? Did he not promise to care for her? He’s doing the same thing to her as Jae-hyuk is to An-na.

In the morning, after some agonized thinking and a perusal of the impressive business plan, Young-gul goes to Jo Boutique for a public contract signing. The Dragon is insufferably pleasant.

Ick. I wanna throw up.

Jae-hyuk and his daddy find out the news through the papers and daddy is more than disappointed. He thought Jae-hyuk had been aggressively working to stop this guy from partnering up. Although Jae-hyuk is great, he always has problems. He was watching movies and running around shopping.

Nothing escapes evil daddies.

Daddy gives son a little lesson on business: minimum input for maximum output. When you mess up, we have to put in maximum input. Madam Jo beat us to this so now more people are going to try to hold her hand – we just became one of those people.

By the way, An-na is good at golf.

Just rub a little salt into the wound why don’t ya? Actually, please do. A kick in the ass always seems to help Jae-hyuk.

Young-gul gives a completely lethargic, apathetic and depressed Ga-young a phone as compensation for signing a contract with the devil. She’ll need it for their international business and trips.

Yes, because a shiny new PINK phone rights all wrongs.

He makes a show of calling her and she reluctantly answers and he tells her, “Let’s work hard!” Then he slings an arm around her and brings her to the workroom where everyone toasts to their good fortune. While they eat, Ga-young drinks.

After the meal they head to a noraebang where everyone has fun save for Ga-young, who has some more to drink.

Young-gul sees her and grabs her hand, pulling her up and hugging her tightly to him. Although she tries to escape his drunken embrace, he won’t let her go.

We can all see how much he cares and how sorry he is. It’s written all over his face. Dude, stop letting jealousy make your decisions and be rational. You love the girl, so TREAT her like you do. Jae-hyuk the temperamental learned to do it. So should you.

Ga-young and Young-gul drunkenly walk home and he tries to speed her up by grabbing her hand, but she won’t budge. Does she want a piggy back?

Nope, she wants to tell him that she’ll quit if he partners with that woman. He gets frustrated and tells Ga-young that she doesn’t have to meet with her. Her history with the dragon is in the past and she should learn from it. They have to look to the future.

Okay, my issue is this. It may be in the past, and leaving the past in the past is GREAT. IF that past stays in the past. Confusing? Let’s put it another way. The dragon from the past is coming to mess up Ga-young’s future. It’s not staying in the past where it belongs. I can’t blame Ga-young for wanting to quit. I think she should.

She tries to explain she lived with that woman for ten years feeling like that. He counters that it was the reason he ran away from his aunt’s house. Everyone has scars. She’s not the only one in pain.

Um, his aunt isn’t there. The dragon is now her boss again. Jus’ sayin’.

He takes her hand and croons, “Don’t cry. Don’t cry.”

An-na is waiting at the door for them and wants to go somewhere else to talk. Ga-young asks nastily what An-na thinks is wrong with this place. Young-gul tells her to go inside and leads An-na away. She comments that “[Ga-young] has a temper.”

WENCH!!!!!!!! Okay, fine. I’ll say it. BITCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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‬Ga-young: You’re not coming back today are you?

Young-gul: What does that have to do with you? Are you my wife?

Wait, is this the same guy who was hugging her so tightly that she couldn’t push herself away?

An-na glares and the two leave Ga-young sobbing.

Young-gul goes to drink EVEN MORE with An-na. She asks if Ga-young was angry because she came.

Oh, don’t pretend like you don’t know.

Turns out An-na was the one who gave Young-gul the heads up about Jae-hyuk’s nefarious dealings. Young-gul doesn’t want the help and wonders why she gave it. She just wanted to.

Uh-huh. Sure.

She mentions that she broke up with Jae-hyuk and that’s why he’s acting like that. Why didn’t An-na introduce Young-gul to someone who doesn’t have a relationship with Ga-young? An-na is pleased that Young-gul sees things as she does; he reads his employee well. He has to – she makes money for him.

I’m stopping now. No more analysis of this psycho, psycho character. Young-gul, you’re fired. From Life.

An-na broke up with Jae-hyuk and wants to change her goal. She eyes Young-gul pointedly. And then who should call but Jae-hyuk. She asks Young-gul if she should take it.

Seriously? Make your own damn decision.

She decides to ignore the call and Jae-hyuk immediately calls Young-gul who is fed-up with the whole situation. An-na answers and says she’s not drunk, she’s sober. Yes, she knows what she is doing. And she hangs up on him.

Jae-hyuk is practically giving off steam, he’s so furious and he storms out, tears in his eyes.

Here’s a taste of your own medicine. Bitter, isn’t it?

Then An-na apologizes for using him and he smirks at her admission.

At least she admitted it.

Ga-young is sobbing, drinking and writing Young-gul a letter:

‬To a president who is like my family, Sorry for writing to you like this. You don’t know my relationship with that woman but, I would rather die than partner with someone like her. If you knew what I’ve suffered in her hands, I think you would understand my decision. However, I can’t block your bright future ahead. So I’m leaving. I don’t have anyplace to go but I’m sure we will meet again. Thank you for everything. Sincerely, Lee Ga-young

Jae-hyuk storms in and she quickly shoves the letter in her pocket. Is she alone? Why is she crying? He asks permission before downing some soju and cup ramyun.

Did she tell Young-gul about the offer? Yes, and he refused it. He demands if she really wants to live in a place like this, eating crap like cup ramyun. He slaps the cup the the floor and she immediately jumps up to clean it.

Jae-hyuk’s jaw works and he forces her up by the wrist. He’s going to offer one last time: leave with me or stay with Kang Young-gul until she dies?

A furious Young-gul has seen everything. Why is Jae-hyuk always hitting on and bothering his worker?

 Comments:

I’m annoyed at this show.

Jae-hyuk and An-na: From the beginning of this second start, it’s been about him using her and her loving him. She has been slighted despite the fact that she coulda said no. The man she loves and who supposedly loves her should be taking care of her, verbal promise or not. It’s just getting worse between them as the truth of his intentions are coming clear. She needs to cleanly leave him and stop this revenge business. It’s the only way she’s gonna heal and he’ll get over his possessiveness…I hope.

The Dragon: She made her move and I think she and her spawn will probably make Ga-young’s life even more miserable, which was her goal. Seriously woman, you have everything. She has nothing. Get over it.

Ga-young: I pity her. I really do. But in the end, she needs to really give Young-gul that letter and walk away. She needs to refuse Jae-hyuk and she needs to make a decision. I understand that it’s hard for her to refuse the man she loves and Jae-hyuk, who has given her a lot and who she is probably fond of. Who wouldn’t be fond of someone who treats you like a treasure? (At least, now he does…) And also, she keeps going to Jae-hyuk when she knows Young-gul hates it. That IS kinda annoying although I know she has a hard time saying “no”. The only time she said “no” was when Jae-hyuk wasn’t there in person.

Young-gul: The man is so confusing. It is true to form that he signs the contract with the Dragon and Ga-young should know this. He’ll do ANYTHING to better his position. He’s a scavanger who takes what he can get. And that was a pretty big offering. At the same time, he knows he’s hurting Ga-young and should just tell her what he’s doing with An-na. But then again, he knows she likes Jae-hyuk….O_o

Ga-young and Young-gul: This relationship is fraught with silence-based misunderstandings. They may like each other, but right now, none of the leads are good for each other…despite their sexual chemistry.

Episodes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

Character introductions.

Fashion King Episode 10 Screencaps.