Maids Episode 1

 

It was a dark and snowy night. A woman with bare, bloody feet stumbles along. A mysterious man with a cocked hat offers her a pair of straw shoes. Don't think he's a good Samaritan as he then promptly ties the woman up. Unable to deal with her fallen status in life, the bound woman runs to the edge of a cliff and throws herself into the water to drown herself.

 

We go back now to when the woman, Gook In Yub (played by Jung Yoo Mi) was a Somebody with a fine house, fine clothes and servants to wait on her. She's not about to ride in a sedan chair that's got peeling paint.

 

It's the Defense Minister Heo Eung Cham's birthday and a feast is being prepared. The servants are all running around with their tasks. One maid, Dan Ji (played by Jun So Min), is taking a break so she can roll around in the hay with the boss's son, Heo Yoon Seo. I can't say that I blame her as the guy has very nice shoulders. He gives her an expensive ring he lifted from his sister's room.

 

Upstairs, Lady Yoon (played by Jun Mi Sun) is meeting with a matchmaker to discuss a potential candidate for her daughter, Heo Yoon Ok (played by Lee Shi Ah).

 

Somewhere again, our mysterious guy from the beginning, Moo Young (played by Oh Ji Ho) is having a meeting with Lady Han (played by Jin Hee Kyung). It appears Lady Han is also in the mood for a roll in the hay. Moo Young's honor is saved in the nick of time by the timely interruption of the lady's son, Kim Eun Gi (played by Kim Dong Wook).

 

 

Moo Young is heading back to the Defense Minister's house at the same time that In Yub's sedan chair is being carried through the streets. Suddenly a pair of CGI bulls start stampeding through the streets. It's up to Moo Young to come to In Yub's rescue. She thanks him by slapping him with some daisies and ordering Moo Young to help carry her in her chair.

 

 

While everyone else is heading for the party, it appears that In Sub's father, Gook Yoo (played by Jun Noh Min) is heading for an execution. The story is set during the Strife of Princes and Gook Yoo is having to walk the razor's edge as to which prince he is loyal to.

 

 

Back to the party. The Defense Minister is enjoying the Finance Minister Kim Chi Kwon's birthday present: Ga Hee Ah, the new It Gisaeng in town. Right in the middle of this stag party, In Yub barges her way in. With her dance interrupted, Ga Hee Ah leaves the area. As she passes by Moo Young she stops to give him a look. Does she recognize him from somewhere else? Or does she just want a roll in the hay like everyone else on this show?

 

 

In Yub is here to beg for the Defense Minister's help in getting Gook Yoo back home alive. Later, believing her begging has been successful, In Yub hooks up with her gal pal, Yoon Ok. The girls go to take a look at Yoon Ok's prospective husband. In Yub is shocked to see the guy is Eun Gi as they had made plans from childhood to marry each other.

 

Ga Hee Ah runs into Moo Young again. She did know him from the Before Time. She offers him a business partnership but he turns her down.

 

Yoon Ok shows her dark side as she tells In Yub that Gook Yoo is really dead. Then Lady Yoon comes in to twist the knife even more as she's furious over In Yub interrupting the celebrations.

 

In Yub wraps herself up in what is left of her dignity and tries to leave only to find Dan Ji has been wearing her shoes. In Yub refuses to wear the shoes after they've touched Dan Ji's feet. (I keep wanting to type Jan Di instead of Dan Ji.) The problem is how to get out to where the sedan chair is without walking on the ground. Moo Young offers to give In Yub a piggy back ride out there but In Yub is offended. In jest Moo Young asks if she wants him to roll out a silk carpet for her. In Yub says sure, that'll do.

Surplus Princess Episode 1

Surplus Princess tanked, so naturally I must watch it.

 

 

Kim Ha Ni (played by Jo Bo Ah) is walking alone along the shore and thinking how it has been 100 days since she has arrived here. Well, I thought she was alone until a man's hand reaches out to grasp hers.

 

After she turns into bubbles, we go back 100 days to when Ha Ni was a mermaid, the 18th princess in the undersea kingdom, and... she had a waterproof smartphone. Because, yeah, that makes perfect sense.

 

Ha Ni is swimming around the (filthy, I'm sure) Han River because she has the hots for human Kwon Shi Kyung (played by Song Jae Rim, the assassin from Two Weeks.) She finds his ass delicious and wants to take a bite out of it. Shi Kyung is a TV chef who is filming his show by the riverside. Ha Ni may have some competition from Yoon Jin Ah (played by Park Ji Soo) who works behind the camera and gives Shi Kyung longing looks. Gotta watch out for those longing looks.

 

Shi Kyung is taking a break between filming when he slips, knocks himself out, and falls into the water. Ha Ni comes to the rescue of ... his cell phone, then she gets around to rescuing him in the form of a hot makeout session under water. Ha Ni even works in a butt grab. You go, girl! Er, mermaid.

 

Darnit, they're interrupted by Jin Ah diving in herself to rescue her boss/love interest. Ha Ni sinks deeper underwater before she's seen, keeping Shi Kyung's phone.

 

Later that night at Surplus House (what kind of name is that?) we're introduced to Lee Hyun Myung (played by Ohn Joo Wan.) He plays his computer keyboard like a concert pianist as he fills out job application after job application. Jin Ah comes into the room and gets all kissy with him. But, I thought you wanted to get all kissy with Shi Kyung?

 

A roaming band of hippies complete the scene as they serenade Jin Ah who is planning on moving out of the hippie compound. There's Do Ji Yong, law school graduate and hard core gamer; BIG (real name not given at the moment); and the owner of Surplus House, Lee Seon Gyo. Throwing a wet blanket over everything is the last resident to appear: Ahn Hye Young (played by Kim Seul Gi.)

 

Shi Kyung is brooding in his shower (cuz this is a Kdrama after all), thinking about his time underwater today and the specific memory of a butt grab. A delivery guy from an all night dry cleaners returns Shi Kyung's clothes along with what they found while cleaning the suit: a large and sparkly fish scale.

 

Ha Ni has successfully unlocked Shi Kyung's smartphone. On the phone she finds information about a party Shi Kyung and DJ Random White Guy are throwing. Because when you think of high end cuisine, you think of dubstep. Ha Ni would love to go to the party but her fishtail is holding her back.

 

Ha Ni goes to her boozer of a sister, the 17th princess in the undersea kingdom, for advice on how to become human. The barfly sends Ha Ni up a canal to find Witch Ahn Ma Nyeo. (I'm feeling sorry for Jo Bo Ah. I know that canal, just like the river, has to be filthy. I hope the actress didn't pick up any waterborne di--

 

AHHHHHHH! THERE'S A SPIDER ON MY LAPTOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Okay, killed it. Now where was I? Oh yeah. So Ha Ni finds Ahn Ma Nyeo (played by Ahn Kil Kang who will forever be Jilsuk in my heart.) Ma Nyeo is a wanted witch since he stole the secret potion that can turn mermaids into humans. He refuses to help Ha Ni and makes a less than dramatic exit.

 

Jin Ah is unpacking in her new apartment when Hyun Myung stops by hoping for some Moving Day Nookie. Suddenly Jin Ah's mom shows up so Jin Ah shoves Hyun Myung into a cabinet. He gets to overhear Mom constantly putting him down as an unemployed loser.

 

Jin Ah has moved into the same apartment building where Shi Kyung lives and she's doing everything she can to "accidentally" run into him.

 

Hyun Myung has been feeling down in the dumps lately. All those "Thanks but no thanks" texts from his job applications aren't helping any. But wait! One text is positive. He's at least gotten an interview. The hippies work as a team to cobble together a suit for the boy.

 

The morning of his interview, Hyun Myung calls Jin Ah for some moral support. She's easily distracted by Shi Kyung and hangs up on her kinda-sort-almost boyfriend. Shi Kyung comments on Jin Ah's perfume which gives her hope.

 

Lastly we get Hong Myung Hee (played by Jin Hee Kyung), CEO of JH Food Corporation. There's also Jin Ah's boss who is frighteningly awesome but I haven't got a name. (I had to look up Attack on Titan's theme song.)

 

Ha Ni hasn't given up on the witch and has been hanging around that filthy canal for days now. She attempts to bribe Ma Nyeo with pearls and stuff. When that doesn't work she simply drags the former mermaid into the water and threatens to drown him if he doesn't hand the potion over. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

 

Animation and Xanadu-worthy special effects show us how the potion give Ha Ni legs. And then promptly throws her down hard on the ground. OMG, now we're getting Terminator music as a naked Ha Ni starts her life as a human.

 

Well, that wasn't so bad. It was kind of cute and funny. Don't know why the show didn't do so well.

Temptation Episode 20

Alright, let's get this baby wrapped up.

 

Suk Hoon considers releasing the bribery recording to the press. Let public opinion hold court over Min Woo.

 

Min Woo is trying to get a large loan from Suk Hoon's bank so he can take over Se Young's company.

 

 

Se Young asks Hong Joo to stay at least for one day at the summer house. They need to have a long talk. The sparkly shoes make a return appearance as Se Young returns them to Hong Joo. Hong Joo refuses the shoes as they (symbolizing Suk Hoon) are more suited for Se Young.

 

The next morning Hong Joo is preparing to leave the summer house. This is when Suk Hoon arrives. He offers to give her a lift to the nearest bus stop. During the uncomfortable ride Suk Hoon gives Hong Joo the heads up about the upcoming bribery scandal involving Min Woo.

 

Once back in town Hong Joo goes to Min Woo to try and warn him but he's too big of an ass to listen to her. The media reports the bribery scandal. Min Woo's company's stock takes a hit. And what if that huge loan from the bank is called in?

 

Min Woo tries to take it out on Lawyer Choi but before he can get adequately worked up, Choi calmly hands in a resignation letter. As a final shot, Choi brings out the Foreshadowing Hammer and hits Min Woo with a "We all pay for our sins in the end" speech.

 

Suk Hoon moves out to the summer house to take care of Se Young and help her work on jigsaw puzzles.

 

The board of directors has removed Min Woo from office. Min Woo is drowning his sorrows in alcohol. Mama Im has taken Roy to Boston and Ji Sun is taking the girls to her mother's house. He's all alone.

 

Se Young's follow-up exam isn't good. Her cancer has spread. Myung Hwa prescribes chemotherapy but Se Young refuses it. Myung Hwa enlists Suk Hoon into talking Se Young into changing her mind.

 

(As someone who recently lost a very good friend to cancer, this is kind of making me mad that Se Young isn't fighting her disease with everything she has. And the excuses the writers have given Se Young are all rather weak.)

 

It's time for the re-opening of the hotel in Hong Kong. Young Chul asks Suk Hoon if he can get the boss there for the gala. Rumors are already spreading that Se Young has some kind of fatal disease but an appearance by her would put all of it to rest.

 

Min Woo tries to get Se Young's woe-is-me ass out of bed and on a plane to Hong Kong but in the end he takes the trip by himself. Min Woo is also going there and asks Hong Joo if she'd like to come along. Hong Joo politely declines. That ship has sailed, Min Woo. Let it go.

 

Se Young discovers Suk Hoon has completed her jigsaw puzzle except for one piece. He's left a note telling her the only way she can get the last piece is to come to Hong Kong and get it from him.

 

And so we come full circle, back to the scene of the crime, as everyone (well, except for Hong Joo) is in Hong Kong. Yes, you knew Se Young would put on her best dress and show up for the grand reopening. She demands her puzzle piece back. Suk Hoon won't return it until she declares her love for him.

 

Temptation Episode 19

We start with the scene where Se Young, knocked out and already cut open, begins to internally bleed. Myung Hwa and the surgical team start to act panicky. (That's not a good thing. You don't want your surgeons to panic easily. You want them to calmly order a blood transfusion while they take care of the problem.)

 

Meanwhile, back at the office, things are going to Hell in a handbasket. The company could be facing bankruptcy. The boardroom panics. Lots of panicking in this episode.

 

 

After nearly shitting her pants, Myung Hwa comes out to inform Suk Hoon and Se Jin that the surgery went well. You call that going well?

 

Min Woo revels in the news concerning Dong Sung's troubles. They'll probably have to sell off some of their subsidiaries and Min Woo is in the mood for some shopping. Lawyer Choi recommends caution instead. Surely you don't think Min Woo is going to listen to him.

 

 

A whole day has passed and Se Young still hasn't awakened. Suk Hoon is naturally worried about this. To add to his woes, Young Chul informs Suk Hoon about the company troubles and Min Woo circling like a shark. Turns out before she went into surgery, Se Young wrote out the necessary papers to give Suk Hoon the powers he would need in case the company hit any rough spots. I would consider bankruptcy a rough spot.

 

Ji Sun and Mama Im are now thick as thieves. Min Woo isn't jumping on this bandwagon, though. At least not yet. He's still hung up on Hong Joo and promotes the new Samsung phone as he shows Roy the pictures of his wife he still has. Hong Joo is having her own flashbacks to good times with Min Woo and the kids.

 

Daddy Yoo hears how the family company is about to collapse. He plans to head down to headquarters, which is also at the same time that Suk Hoon rides in on his white horse to save the day. Surprisingly, Daddy Yoo throws his full support behind his daughter's gigolo.

 

Min Woo arranges to have a meeting with Hong Joo. He tells her all about Se Young's company being on the verge of collapse and wonders why Hong Joo isn't happy about it. Isn't this what she wanted? Hong Joo has had a change of heart and now asks Min Woo to stop what he's doing. Min Woo declines and then orders her to come back to him. How dare she leave him before he has a chance to throw her away. Things are starting to turn ugly when luckily Hong Gyu happens by and is able to spirit his sister away.

 

Suk Hoon does business stuff and saves the company. Just in time for Se Young to finally wake up. (Miraculously, she doesn't have Kdrama Amnesia.) She's planning to go to the family's summer house to recuperate but Myung Hwa insists Se Young have a professional to take care of her. Se Young asks if she can have former nurse Na Hong Joo for the job. Oh yeah, that makes total sense having your boyfriend's ex-wife tend to your delicate health.

 

After learning from big mouth Park Han Soo that Min Woo was having an affair with his ex-wife, Hong Gyu swears revenge. He and Han Soo get pictures of bags of money being unloaded from Min Woo's car into another man's vehicle. It's bribe money to pay an insider to help scuttle Suk Hoon's plans for saving the company.

 

Ji Sun continues the foreshadowing in this episode by being the umpteenth person to warn Min Woo to stop going after Se Young's company or he'll end up hurting himself. Min Woo continues to ignore all these warnings. We've got another episode to go, after all.

 

Min Woo's bodyguard strongarms Han Soo's camera away but don't worry, Lawyer Choi was recording the illicit meeting between Min Woo and the insider. Choi gives the recording over to Suk Hoon. He also gives his blessing to Suk Hoon's relationship with Se Young.

 

Hong Joo accepts the nursing assignment although she hasn't been told who her patient is. When she gets out to the summer house and discovers Se Young is there, Hong Joo demands to be taken back to the city. Se Young fakes a pain attack which causes Hong Joo to go into automatic nursing mode.

Temptation Episode 18

Se Young breaks up with Suk Hoon.

 

Hong Joo has just about reached the end of her rope with the Kang clan.

 

Ji Sun admits she's still in love with her manwhore of an ex-husband.

 

Se Young's medical condition grows worse and she's rushed to the hospital. Myung Hwa again urges her friend to go ahead and have the surgery.

 

Hong Joo goes to the hospital to make a tentative peace with Ji Sun. As she's leaving, Hong Joo spies another patient, Se Young. She tries to make some sort of peace with Se Young as well but it doesn't work out.

 

Hong Joo takes her one suitcase and leaves Min Woo.

 

Suk Hoon accepts the business offer to go work at the main bank branch in New York City.

 

Se Young puts out the story that she's overseas on business while she's in the hospital. She finally breaks down and tells at least Se Jin about the surgery.

 

Hong Gyu, angry over his sister's second failed marriage, goes out and gets drunk. It's up to Suk Hoon to see the young man home. This gives Hong Joo and Suk Hoon the opportunity to have a "Where did it all go wrong?" talk. She breaks down and tells Suk Hoon about Se Young being in the hospital.

 

Suk Hoon rushes to be by Se Young's side.

 

Everybody is eating Hello Kitty ice cream cakes.

 

There's a crisis going on at Se Young's company. Sensing their weakness, Min Woo decides to attack. All this while Se Young is going into surgery. And just to put some frosting on that ice cream cake, while under the knife Se Young suddenly takes a turn for the worse.

Temptation Episode 17

Suk Hoon realizes Se Young has seen him and Hong Joo talking. Se Young drives off in embarrassment. After a short search, Suk Hoon finds her down at the Han River and explains the situation to her. So, that little drama is taken care of pretty quickly.

 

Se Young is preparing herself for surgery.

 

Myung Hwa, the only OB/GYN in Seoul, confirms Ji Sun is pregnant and advises this could be very dangerous for the woman's health. Ji Sun is determined to risk her life for her ex-husband.

 

Speaking of which, Min Woo drops by Suk Hoon's office for some smiling and threatening. Suk Hoon explains it was Ji Sun, not Hong Joo, who tipped them off about the secret files at the summer house. Min Woo promises Suk Hoon he'll have revenge. Suk Hoon graciously offers to send Min Woo cigarettes while he's serving time in jail.

 

Min Woo tries to end things with Ji Sun. She tells him about her pregnancy. He has his doubts the child is his.

 

Myung Hwa tells Se Young that the tumor has spread. Instead of taking out the tumor, they need to scoop out the entire reproductive organs and need Se Young's permission to do this. She asks for some time to think about things.

 

Hong Joo returns to the mansion and her marriage.

 

Ji Sun tells Mama Im about the new baby which she is sure will be a boy this time. She asks her former mother-in-law for help in getting Min Woo back. (I don't understand why Min Woo is worth all this. Ji Sun was so miserable with her marriage and his cheating. What makes her think he'll be any different the second time around?)

 

 

(Once again I feel the overwhelming need to comment on Min Woo's style. Take a close look at this picture. He's wearing a polka-dotted tie, a deep blue blazer, and what appears to be checked pajama pants.)

 

Anyway, Min Woo is trying to pressure the bank into firing Suk Hoon. The boss comes up with an alternative and asks Suk Hoon if he'll transfer to the New York branch for a year or so until Min Woo calms down. Suk Hoon asks for some time to think about things.

 

Suk Hoon and Se Young have a drink together but neither one talks about what is weighing on their minds.

 

Se Jin gets to leave the ice cream parlor job and come work for Se Young.

 

Mama Im, with a little help from Yoon Ah, the girl who hates everything and everyone, begins her campaign to push Hong Joo out of the family.

 

Ji Sun gleefully informs Hong Joo about the baby. She suggests the two women simply go back to their original husbands. Hong Joo tries to slap Ji Sun but the other woman deftly intercepts the blow. But, ick, blood starts running down Ji Sun's legs. No need to show a close up of that, Show.

 

Se Young learns from another source about Suk Hoon's offer to go to New York and his reluctance to accept it. Thinking it would be better for him to leave the country, and knowing she is the primary reason he's staying, Se Young takes on the role of Noble Idiot and starts giving Suk Hoon the cold shoulder.

Temptation Episode 16

Hearing about the huge tax audit, Suk Hoon goes running to Se Young's side. She assures him she's not a bit worried about handling the audit. What she is more worried about is whether Suk Hoon is still in love with his ex-wife. She asks about the wedding ring she saw at his apartment. Suk Hoon convinces Se Young that the only person he cares and worries about right now is Se Young.

 

Daddy Yoo presses his daughter to meet with Kang Min Woo and plead for mercy. Se Young would rather eat dirt.

 

Hong Joo takes the kids (well, minus Yoon Ah the hater of everyone and everything) to the summer house. She stumbles upon evidence that Ji Sun has been here.

 

Min Woo tries to bond with his young brother-in-law by offering a job. Hong Gyu says thanks but no thanks. As he's leaving the office building Hong Gyu spies Se Jin arriving. She's come to meet with Min Woo and do what Se Young was too proud to do: beg. Min Woo refuses to have the audit called off. Se Jin has no choice but to kick him in the shin.

 

Downstairs in the lobby she runs into her boyfriend. Se Jin asks Hong Gyu to use his hacker skills to bring Min Woo down a notch.

 

Suk Hoon meets with Go Dong Shik, a former prosecutor who had previously tried to investigate Min Woo's secret slush fund. Note Go is now a "former" prosecutor, thanks to trying to tangle with Min Woo. Suk Hoon offers Go a second chance at the case.

 

Hong Joo goes to Ji Sun's department store to give her rival a good bitch slap.

 

Se Young finally swallows her pride and goes to Min Woo. He won't use his influence to get the fines reduced unless Se Young gets her ice cream out of China. That's too much to ask and Se Young refuses.

 

The writers have realized Suk Hoon and Ji Sun have had very little screen time together. Time to rectify that before the end of the show. Suk Hoon has a meeting with Ji Sun to ask for her help in bringing her ex-husband down.

 

Se Young's medical problems are getting worse. Myung Hwa fusses at her friend that the surgery can no longer be put off. Se Young still holds back. She doesn't want to be out of the game at this critical moment with the company.

 

Mama Im is back on the You Should Have A Baby wagon with Hong Joo.

 

As usual for her, Ji Sun immediately reports to Min Woo about her meeting with Suk Hoon. Min Woo wonders how Suk Hoon knew the summer house is where the slush fund files are hidden. To cover her own ass, Ji Sun points the finger at Hong Joo as the culprit.

 

Se Young continues to worry that Suk Hoon is spending time with Hong Joo when really he's stalking Min Woo. Min Woo goes to the summer house to empty the safe of all the incriminating evidence. Before he can get away, Min Woo is cut off by Suk Hoon, who demands all the documents. Min Woo realizes now Ji Sun was used in order to force him into action.

 

Oh yeah, fist fight! Oh no, why are we not shown?! Hey, Show, go back to the action!

 

The investigation begins. Min Woo is taken in for questioning. Now that her enemy has been dealt with, Se Young calls a meeting to have her staff start to prepare for her absence. Naturally Young Chul has to tell his friend, Suk Hoon, about this. Suk Hoon goes to ask Se Young what she's up to, where is she going. She won't tell him about the surgery, brushing it all off as simply her need to take a vacation after the stress of the audit. Suk Hoon buys her story.

 

Min Woo, released from custody, returns home. Totally believing his ex-wife, Min Woo accuses his current wife of being the one who betrayed him to the authorities.

 

Despite the risks to her own health, Ji Sun is pregnant again. Gosh, Min Woo's swimmers are da bomb!

 

Hong Joo moves back home. (I don't know if this was her choice or if Min Woo threw her out.) She stops by Suk Hoon's apartment building to talk about all the drama. Suk Hoon is rather cold with her, saying nothing is going to be solved by them meeting like this.

 

And of course this is when Se Young drives up and sees them together.