East of Eden (Song Seung Hun, Lee Da Hae)

carrying his child, a standard soap device. She could have had that abortion, but the point here is that the child plot device is more or less an excuse to bring them together. If it wasn't for that, she would have ended up him anyway. The romantic triangle was already a fatal attraction, and as you go through episode 13+14, the most poignant regret from Dong Wook is that he couldn't save her from Myung-hun's obsessions and dark, dark world. Myung-hung himself is a tragic character, not merely because of the mistake of his birth, but that in almost every scene, we see a character whose decency and humanity was pulverized out of him from his father, and in that stead, we have a young man who's barely, barely comfortable in his own skin. This unrelieved, cruel man who, in almost every moment of his life, acts as if his father is looking over his shoulder, ready to beat him again.

In the beginning it was awfully boring... they started mourning before Lee Gi Chul's death, they cried after he died and after that in every episode. Even now. I'm not that disappointed with acting but I am really disappointed in screenwriting. The plot seems ridiculous, it's too dramatic, too emotional at wrong moments and too boring. For example episode 3 was stupid, nothing actually happened in whole episode <_< that fire thing was absolutely exaggerated. I can't believe Dong Chul's mother's attitude. Ok, so he started the fire so what? Shin Tae Hwan absolutely deserved it. Maybe he did wrong but does she have to start hating him right away and label him as a gangster?!!

What I liked about ep 3 and 4 were Dong Wook and Myung Hun. (Though I didn't like Won Duk Hyun) These little guys absolutely described their father's when they were kids. Dong Wook was fierce and constantly thought about revenge or rather harming Tae Hwan while Myung Hun only wanted to be friends with everyone. Later when they grew up I could see that their parent's propaganda had changed them into what they should be. Yun Jung Hoon is too old for the role, no matter how young they make him look he is just too old. I can see and feel from him that he knows too much about life. Though I really love his gentle aura. He always speaks softly and has that incredibly lovable light in his eyes. He is too nice.

From the very start I didn't respect Tae Hwan as a villain because he just wasn't bad enough, he didn't have that evil look in his eyes. But my hatred toward him grew a bit after I saw how he tried to live trough his son, forcing him do this and that. I pity Myung Hun a lot. He was never strong enough to oppose his father or stand on his own. Later its' so obvious that he just weak and doesn't know which way to turn. Since childhood he had done whatever his father told him so now he becomes bad only because he doesn't know how to go against Tae Hwan. Thanks a lot dude, you just have corrupted your son's life. I really like Park Hae Jin, yeah he looks good and he looks mean. But more than anything I wish he wouldn't have been bad if he only could become good.

Dong Chul getting in the prison and all that stuff was exciting since it was finally time for action (instead of crying). But after he escaped things happened so fast. I didn't have time to get to know other characters. some things that happened were weird. I mean, what's that treasure hunting? Then this guy betrayed everyone and there was another bad guy and then that gangster dude (was his name Wang Geon?) suddenly went to work for Tae Hwan because he had some childish grudge against Dong Chul. At first I thought it was his plot to avenge in Dong Chul's place but then I noticed he was seriously mad at Dong Chul. For what? Yeah, maybe he had to leave in order to protect his family and he was forced to do so anyways. Any sane person would think about these possibilities.

Suddenly Dong Chul was good at fighting? wtf. No the stupidest thing ever was Don Chul's expression when he entered the casino "oh, they are playing with cards. This looks so fun I wanna try it too" he was like a little kid. Then I dunno how and why but suddenly he was soooo good with cards that it was supposed to be amazing. He even changed his hairdo and started looking more gangster... This all just suddenly happened like one scene ended and then he was so amazingly good at playing cards. Man, some ppl have to practise it for years!!

Then let's move on. What else. So he ended up at Macao place and was left all alone. He didn't even know the language. But then there is this time jump, the viewer just has to guess that it's been like about 3 years. How did Dong Chul survive? Suddenly he was working and had "family" and stuff and I was never told how he got friends + the ppl who are supposed to be Vietnamese speak Chinese... That reminded me of his bad ass boss who wears kung fu shirt and uses some stinky rope as a whip and I bet he thinks "I'm a real bad ass, I speak bad Chinese but I can rule all these Vietnamese ppl who for some reason speak Chinese. Yeah, I'm so damn cool." Dong Chul seems to be doing ok. At that time Tae Hwan is acting stupid. He wants too much too soon. He has made all possible mistakes and is still alive. I'm surprised. The man has no shame.

President Gok is so cool. At first I thought his character was too weird, in fact, I still think so. He is like from some other era. Or maybe he became crazy after he noticed how rich he actually is? I dunno... So far he seems like a good character and I'd like him to stay so. I'm looking forward to his cooperation with Dong Chul.

No surprises so far. Everything going on as I expected. Some Chinese speaking Vietnamese guys wanted to blow up the restaurant for an unknown reason and suddenly Mike has to sign some contract... but luckily Dong Chul saves him and Grace because those stupid gangsters mentioned their blowing up plan because they were so mad about losing at the casino. yeah... really intelligent screenwriting...

Now I have one question. Why the h*ll is Dong Chul so sweaty all the time? He's always so wet as if he had just come from a shower. That does not make him more sexy at all, more like disgusting.

I understand Dong Chul was proud of his brother but... that phone call was over the top. He called his brother and instead of asking "how are you" he just shouts "DONG WOOK" what's to make Dong Wook deaf. Dong Wook is only able to whisper "Hyung..." They act like some lame lovers with that overly tragic music on the background. The scene was just too much!

I know that it was a big deal for Lee family that Dong Wook got into the Uni but was it really so big that he had to be interviewed in tv? Really? Every year someone gets in the Uni as the best so do they make that big commotion every year? I don't think so. A magazine interview should have been enough and not as the first page article. and what's with in the middle of the night? How did reporters find out before Dong Wook?! I guess ppl were happy in the willage too so a party was something I would have expected. But just a party... instead they made it look like some illegal gathering.

I think Myung Hun looks like his mother. I feel like he definitely got his mother's nature. Not giving up. Unfortunatley he seems to have gotten his father's stupidity He is kinda stupid and rash with his actons. Again, thanks to Tae Hwan.

I'm kind of sick of Lee family hatred. They keep saying "Tae Hwan killed my dad/husband". They just keep repeating it everywhere they go. Its' about the time to do something... I remember in ep 3 or 4 when Myung Hun came to say hello to Dong Chul, Dong Wook and the mother they were really mean to him. Why do they blame Myung hun? He is just a son, he has nothing to do with it. Of course he wants to believe his own father more than some strangers. I also remember Chun Hee saying "the one who loses his temper first, loses" and then she immediately snapped at Myung Hun and his mother. I was like... okay. So you just admitted you lost? if I were Myung Hun I would slap every single member in the family. From the very start he only wanted to be friends but they kept badmouthing him. No wonder he hates them now!

I think that Grace and dong Chul have good chemistry. I'm totally rooting for them more than anything. But based on some posters it really looks like love triangle between Dong Chul, Hye Rin and Dong Wook... eh, I don't wanna see that. I just hope it only looks like it.

I never expected seeing nurse here and now. I was just wondering what happened to her and there she was before my eyes. I'm dying to know how she managed to climb so high. It's a pity that ATe Hwan jerk didn't meet her. I hope she will soon find out about Dong Chul's identity. Actually I was thinking about the truth. What would it do to Chun Hee? Her character is so strongly against Tae Hwan's family. I think the truth would break her into pieces. Maybe in the worst case she would die or something.

Another thing put of the blue. So Dong Wook went to school and there was suddenly a strike. WHT?! Why? I have no words for this. They just add strike without explaining why? Without showing who's involved, who's the leader, hwo was it planned etc. And finally Lee Dan Hee appeared. She totally seems like a character who's strong outside but weak inside. I'm waiting for her burst in teras any moment. Her acting was ok, I like her attitude so far.

Suddenly there was a marriage meeting. WHT?! I thought President Guk didn't like Tae Hwan... So why even hold some pointless marriage meeting then? And what happened after the meeting... It's like raping Myung Hun. It was SO mean from Tae Hwan and I really don't understand why he had to do it?!!! I think it's time for Myung Hun to wake up and finally understand that his father is not a nice guy.

I really don't get what's the big deal about using connections. They were talking about it whole episode. Since when did Dong Wook become so righteous? He if someone should know that in the world it's not possible to live abiding to the law because ugly bastards who only think about themselves make the law. When in ep 2 or 3 Chun Hee went to receive the money from Tae Hwan she burned it. WHAT?! She could have used it and made Dong Chul and Dong Wook into outstanding men and who would then avenge their father. Then they could say "It's your dirty money that made you into nothing"

The whoel kidnapping situation was so stupid. Why did they kidnap her? Tae Hwan is really childish. Let's make Dong Chul into a murdered. Then what?! I think Garce and Dong Chul have great chemistry but I really can't tell what he is thinking, at all.

The mother is slowly turning into one loud and annoying ahjumma. It's as if she hasn't changed a bit since the beginning.

[QUOTE}Now I have one question. Why the h*ll is Dong Chul so sweaty all the time? He's always so wet as if he had just come from a shower. That does not make him more sexy at all, more like disgusting.[/QUOTE]

Macao is really, really humid. Hot tropic storms and al lthat. You sweat ALL the time there (and in Taiwan, Japan, etc. in the summer time. Y-uck-y)

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They act like some lame lovers with that overly tragic music on the background. The scene was just too much!

HYUN!! DONG WOOK!! HYUN!! DONG WOOK!!

Yup, it was awesome(ly bad.) Not since the Three Bears dance has a performance brought me to tears like that!

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I know that it was a big deal for Lee family that Dong Wook got into the Uni but was it really so big that he had to be interviewed in tv? Really?

Absolutely. Seoul Uni is the Harvard of Korea. It's not unreasonable for the local school to celebrate if "their kid" gets in, especially in a bleak mining village like theirs. It's a big, big deal. In the context of the drama, it's a HUGE deal in their village because Dong Wook is the son of their working class hero, and that it's hoped that Dong Wook would eventually come back and become their advocate against The Man/The Corporation.

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I think Myung Hun looks like his mother. I feel like he definitely got his mother's nature. Not giving up. Unfortunatley he seems to have gotten his father's stupidity He is kinda stupid and rash with his actons. Again, thanks to Tae Hwan.

Absolutely. Dong Wook's grimace is much like his biological father. Myung Hun's hysteria and stare is much like his biological mother. Later in the show, you start to pick up that Myung Hun's mother (who in her ineffectuality has enabled her to remain neutral in show) has an instinctive concern for Dong Wook.

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I think that Grace and dong Chul have good chemistry. I'm totally rooting for them more than anything. But based on some posters it really looks like love triangle between Dong Chul, Hye Rin and Dong Wook... eh, I don't wanna see that. I just hope it only looks like it.

Yeah, the promoted triangle will be between the Lee brothers over Hye Rin, that's the setup of the show. Most Netizens are hostile to Grace's slap-slap brattiness (Grace is also well acquainted with Hye Rin due to their fathers being friends) especially with Dong Chul. However, to me, it makes them interesting. Also, it gives them a beginning where their relationship (i.e. Grace's maturation) can develop in an interesting way. Up through episode 15, it looks like the feelings have become mutual (and Dong Chul's loneliness becomes more palpable), but her father forbids their relationship.

[QUOTE}I never expected seeing nurse here and now. I was just wondering what happened to her and there she was before my eyes. I'm dying to know how she managed to climb so high.[/QUOTE]

I still can't believe she didn't die after being left in a field after a caesarean. But are we sure the baby's really dead?

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. So Dong Wook went to school and there was suddenly a strike. WHT?! Why? I have no words for this. They just add strike without explaining why?

That was the Gwang-ju Uprising, which occured in 1981. I thought it was well done.

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So why even hold some pointless marriage meeting then? And what happened after the meeting... It's like raping Myung Hun.

It's the Chaebol life though, and it's not unusual even today. Tae Hwan and his married wife probably because her father wanted to secure the company to his best employee.

[QUOTE} Since when did Dong Wook become so righteous? He if someone should know that in the world it's not possible to live abiding to the law because ugly bastards who only think about themselves make the law. [/QUOTE]

But that is the difference between Dong Chul and Dong Wook. Dong Chul would go into the absolute gutter for the sake of his family, and yet he has a deep conscience (like his father) where he cannot find it in him to directly kill his most hated enemy. Dong Wook is intensely idealistic, and yet it is his rage (inherited from his biological father) that led to Dong Chul having to bail him out anyway. The characterization so far has held up.

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The mother is slowly turning into one loud and annoying ahjumma. It's as if she hasn't changed a bit since the beginning.

By Episode 13-14, it becomes a sadder experience watching the mother. At that point, the story has moved onto the mid-80s and she looks frail and despairing (for good reason, you'll see what I mean when you get to that point.) What happens to her son Dong Wook is just brutal and sad.

Also, by episode 14-15, Ji Hyun becomes also a darker, sad character in her own right. Exceptional as a hostess at business functions and looking properly gorgeous in the latest clothes, she has been remade into the Perfect Chaebol Wife (which BTW plays to Han Ji Hye's status as a fashion template) . . . and exceptionally bitter. You can feel the hatred in her own heart for Dong Wook's mother and feel real, real sadness when she sees tragic, tragic Dong Wook in the newspaper.

There's a nicely executed scene at the end of episode 15, where Dong Chul and Ji Hyun (with her child) meet at the hospital. You can tell that Ji Hyun still sees Dong Chul as oppa and her eyes are a mix of shame and regret. At the same time, SSH nicely plays Dong Chul -- who at this point is powerful enough to be a legitimate threat to Tae Ran -- still warm (and bittersweet) regard for her. Old memories of old times, so to speak.

I really enjoy the scenes between SSH and Han Ji Hye. There was a lot of bad behind-the-scenes drama between them during the shooting of Summer Scent, but all the same, they would make a stunning couple onscreen.

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I can understand the village but whole Seoul with TV intervievs and such. It just seemed so over the top.

Perhaps now, but for a mining village, this was a big deal. I didn't think it was completely inplausible given that the majority of Korea was very, very poor and that Seoul Univerisity was a fairytale dream for most of them. Even now, getting into Seoul university from a small town would get you published in your local newspaper.

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I know this very well but why did they have to hold that marriage meeting when it was obvious President Guk wouldn't hand his daughter over? It's not like they discussed anything important over there at all.

That's actually not all that not unusual even in real life among elite Asian families though. I didn't think otherwise, I guess, especially since this is when Korea had a very small wealthy class. It obviously would go nowhere but doing such was a social move to perhaps do business. It's not unusual for children to be used as such, and cynically I wonder whether most famous Korean actresses today enter marraiges with chaebols under similar circumstances.

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I see, so these are dramas for only Korean people after all. I really know nothing about Korean history at all. At least I learned something.

Actually I thiink I was wrong about it covering the Gwang-ju massacre. I just assumed it was because the story took place in 1981, and student uprisings were cracked down extremely violentl by the military dictatordship. Just this incident was not tied to Gwang-ju. BTW, if you're interested in this piece of history, I recommend checking out the movie May 18th or the series Sandglass.

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I was like <_< just die already and get over with the funerals.

Your compassion for children is truly worthy of Mother Theresa. But, yeah, you could tell the kid was going to be used to create more tears. This show is else nothing but a tear machine.

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"That's my love" he says and orders men to imprison the woman he loves and torment her. "I love her" he still dares to say.

I thought it made sense given the history between the two boys and Ji Hyun. From his point of view, his feelings for her (what he qualifies as "love") is the only decent aspect left in his soul, which had been viciously beaten into a monster by his father. However, from our point of view, his feelings for Ji Hyun (what we see only as "obsession") reflect perhaps the most monstrous, evil aspect of his personality. From their childhood, Myung Hun had sought to please Ji Hyun, not only due to his feelings for her, but presumably because he truly believed -- due to their common birthdates -- that there is a substantial (blessed? cursed?) bond between him and her. And, well, between him and Dong Wook. As Myung Hun matured into the monster that his father created, this constant cycle of pleasing and being rejected between him and Ji Hyun naturally evolved as well into a dark, fatal attraction. That attraction motiviated him to become more cruel, more petty, more willing to make pacts with the devil to get what he covets, all along he blames his father or his circumstances for "forcing" him to do this. Ji Hyun's spirit was largely invested in trying to push him away even though he would never stop until he possessed her. Eventually she had to give up. Eventually, she would have to be pulled into his hell. I suppose the reasoning still seem farfetched, but it's within the tropes of melodrama.

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So what if he becomes president Guk's dog? I'm very satisfied in fact, I like president Guk. At least he has power and together with Dong Chul's wrath toward Tae Hwan they can achieve quite a bit. I also enjoy quite a bit President Guk's and Garce's father-daughter relationship.

Mmm see that's the thing. As the show progresses, it's pretty clear that Dong Chul is one powerful guy within President Guk's organization. In effect, he is the one who actuall runs the casinos. Grace says that, naturally and hatefully, because she knows that as long as Dong Chul serves her father, she cannot be with him. It is forbidden. I do like how the writing enables Grace to lash out against him again and again for those reasons (because, by proxy, Dong Chul would also be Grace's dog as well.) Most people don't like them but I really enjoy their scenes together. She's a brat, but it's done on fairly realistic terms. What else can she do since she basically sees him all the time?

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I don't mean they should have fallen in love woth each other or anything but it was absolutley neutral. There was nothing!

Oh I LOVED LOVED the awkwardness! Typically, in "first meet" K-drama scenes, you expect the strangers to immediately annoy or hate each other (much like Dong Chul and Grace's first meeting.) But here, they're exceedingly formal with each other, and they seem vaguely embarassed or shy around each other. This continues in the later episodes as well. The studied awkwardness between the two actors is awesome, it's as if to tell the audience that if they were to have just one real conversation, they would fall madly in love with each other, as their mutual presences are like two suns in the sky.

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"You did this and that and you dare to come back to me" That's more than rude, that's heartless.

That scene played pretty well to a traditional Asian family though. From his mother's point of view, Dong Chul was her prodigal son who threw away his responsibility as the eldest. Yes, he did this to save his younger brother. Yes, deep inside, she knows that he tried his best to reconnect with and send money to his family. But, again, the act of shucking his responsibility as the eldest is DEEPLY DISGRACEFUL in traditional Asian family values. She doesn't say it, but if it mean sacrificing the younger brother, that's what he should have done because he is the man in the house. Also, from her point of view, both her sons have failed miserably to live up to her husband's example. But the failure is naturally greatest with the eldest. When early in the show, Dong Chul talks about dropping out in order to provide for Dong Wook, this sentiment was viewed as deeply disgraceful to his mother as well. Why? Because from her point of view, it is merely an excuse to shuck away his responsibility as the Man in the house, even though Dong Chul was probably right about the bleak circumstances. All of it is consistent with traditional Asian family values.

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When did she have sex with Myung Hun? She cries and makes a big scen eout of everything.

Myung Hun is Korean Zeus? J/K. He forced himself on her. And at that time (actually in present Korea as well), that was not considered rape. We would interpret it as such.

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Well, no matter what the bald guy should get in trouble soon. He is disgusting and annoying and President Guk should do something about him.

Oh I love baldy. That dude was GREAT in Jumong!!

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Perhaps now, but for a mining village, this was a big deal. I didn't think it was completely inplausible given that the majority of Korea was very, very poor and that Seoul Univerisity was a fairytale dream for most of them. Even now, getting into Seoul university from a small town would get you published in your local newspaper.

Yeah but he was interviewed in the news so it went nationwide or am I wrong? And they published it in country's newspaper on the first page. And reporters were so excited. Particularly that's what's eating me. But dunno, maybe at that time they were so excited every year or something.

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That's actually not all that not unusual even in real life among elite Asian families though. I didn't think otherwise, I guess, especially since this is when Korea had a very small wealthy class. It obviously would go nowhere but doing such was a social move to perhaps do business. It's not unusual for children to be used as such, and cynically I wonder whether most famous Korean actresses today enter marraiges with chaebols under similar circumstances.

Yea, but n EoE their meeting wasn't important at all so I felt like it was just a miserable way of passing some time. We all knew very well that President Guk and Tae Hwan were enemies so ...

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Most people don't like them but I really enjoy their scenes together. She's a brat, but it's done on fairly realistic terms. What else can she do since she basically sees him all the time?

Me too. I love their scenes and I like Grace the character and the actress.

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Actually I thiink I was wrong about it covering the Gwang-ju massacre. I just assumed it was because the story took place in 1981, and student uprisings were cracked down extremely violentl by the military dictatordship. Just this incident was not tied to Gwang-ju. BTW, if you're interested in this piece of history, I recommend checking out the movie May 18th or the series Sandglass.

That's why I would have preferred some info before the thing happened so we could be sure what actually happened and didn't need to guess was it this or that.

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This continues in the later episodes as well. The studied awkwardness between the two actors is awesome, it's as if to tell the audience that if they were to have just one real conversation, they would fall madly in love with each other, as their mutual presences are like two suns in the sky.

Maybe that's why I didn't like it. I don't like that madly falling in love from first sight thing at all.

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Your compassion for children is truly worthy of Mother Theresa. But, yeah, you could tell the kid was going to be used to create more tears. This show is else nothing but a tear machine.