Live Recap: Trot Lovers Episode 16

What a night!

Live streaming link –

http://www.kbs.co.kr/player/player_playlist.php?ch=12#kbs

http://www.kodhit.com/kbs2-online

Character Key for live recap shorthand

Leads

 Jang Joon Hyun (JH)- Hot kpop star

 Choi Choon Hee (CH)- loves the unsophisticated trot music

 Park Soo In (SI)- singer in training at Shine Star agency

 Jo Geun Woo (GW)- Shine Star’s CEO

Leads’ families

 Choi Byul (CB)- Choi Choon Hee’s sister

 Choi Myung Shik (MS)- Choi Choon Hee’s dad

 Yang Joo Hee (JH)- Park Soo In’s mom

 Jo Hee Moon (HM)- Jo Geun Woo’s dad

 Shine Star staff

 Na Pil Nyeo (PN)- Shine Star trainee for 10 years

 Director Wang (Wang)- a director (not film, just a title at company) at Shine Star

Other minor characters

 Kim Woo Gab (WG)- Midas CEO

 Team leader Nam (Nam)- Heads planning team at Midas

 Seol Tae Song (TS)- Jang Joon Hyun’s manager

 Lee Chul Man (CM)- loan shark

 Lee Yoo Shik (YS)- loan shark, Lee Chul Man’s cousin

 Bang Ji Sook (JS)- Choi Choon Hee’s marathon coach and mentor

 Shin Ho Yeol (HY)- Jang Joon Hyun’s rival

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I couldn’t believe. Out of all nights for my blog to not load, it had to be today, the day of the finale of Trot Lovers. It was like the drama gods were laughing at me as I frantically reset my computer, tried different browsers, cleared my cache, reset my internet, ask Twitter friends and Softy for help…almost everything I could think of to get my blog to load. It just wouldn’t work and before I burst into tears, Softy suggested that I email her my live recap so she can post it on episode 15 comments. Thank you, Softy, you saved a soul.

After finishing the live recap, I tried the once last thing I could think of, which was to disguise my IP. And here I am, with a proper recap post. The drama gods had mercy on me.

Thank you, everyone, for your patience! Below is the live recap. As usual, I will update and edit as I re-watch the episode in the next hour. Comments and screencaps will follow. Please stay tuned.

Episode 16 

Outside the restaurant where the future in-laws are supposed to have their first meeting, MS has finally caught up with the woman he has been looking for. MS tries to drag HS to the police but HS begs on her knees. She asks MS to stop, for her son, JH; he is a singer and can’t have his mom in and out of the police station. CH overhears the whole conversation. Inside the restaurant, JH waits, wondering why CH is coming back.

It’s nighttime now. JH calls CH, but CH isn’t picking up. She ignores his calls as she sits in front of her house, remembering her mom- her mom not being able to talk, people making fun of her mom, mom looking longingly at a trot singer on TV. CH finally picks up JH’s call. She lies that her dad suddenly became ill and they just decided to come home, but he is fine now. JH asks if her dad is okay, concerned, and CH tells him that dad is fine. She will call him back later.

HS comes home, drunk, and tells JH that she can’t allow the marriage, explaining that she doesn’t want JH to have to take care of CH’s whole family.

JH meets CH the next day at a cafe. He tells CH not to worry about his mom, he will convince her. Then JH asks about her dad- is he not feeling well? Her expression isn’t good. CH just quietly suggests that they go on vacation somewhere.

TS is watching JH pack for his trip and is jealous. He offers to give JH a few pointers. When a woman and a man go on vacation together, make sure to share beer late at night. The woman will become more drunk and start looking expectantly at the man. Right then, all the man has to do is- TS licks his lips in demonstration. The woman won’t be able to hold back and jump the man. That is what that woman did. JH asks which woman did that. TS realizes his slip.

JH and CH go back to their stream. They enjoy the day together and later at night, they cook dinner by the campfire. After  dinner, JH plays the guitar and sings CH a song. CH looks on happily. Later, they huddle under a blanket together. CH quietly says to JH that she asked to come here because she had something to discuss with him. They sit face-to-face, holding both hands. JH asks if it is something serious, and CH confirms. CH starts telling him that on the day of the in-law meeting, she saw MS and HS fight. JH asks if their parents knew each from long ago. CH replies yes. He asks what they fought about. CH says she doesn’t really understand what happened but she thinks JH should know about what happened that day. CH has trouble continuing, which JH notices. JH asks if it is something difficult for her to say. CH tears up and says yes. JH offers to find out for himself then. CH nods, a little relieved. JH cups her face gently.

JH enters his building. Yang is waiting for him. She confronts JH, saying he deceived them. JH corrects her- she and SI are the ones who deceived him. Yang blames JH for making SI like this. JH says it is Yang’s fault that SI is that way. Yang claims she did this all for SI, living only for her daughter. She starts saying bad things about CH and JH tells her to stop, CH is the woman he is marrying. Yang scoffs and says they can’t marry. She tells him that CH’s mom was hit by HS. JH doesn’t believe her, though, and tells her to watch her mouth. Yang tells him to go ask his mom then.

JH storms into his house. He asks HS if she knows CH’s parents. She lies no. JH asks her to tell  him the truth- did she do something bad to CH’s mom? Did she hit CH’s mom with the car? HS starts stuttering, saying it wasn’t like that, that she wanted to take SJ to the hospital. JH can’t believe what he just heard and storms out of his house.

JH has arrived in front of CH’s house. He starts typing, “Are you sleeping?”, but he deletes it and just texts, “Shall we meet tomorrow?”

Next day, CH and JH sit together at a cafe. Before CH can say anything, JH says to her, “Shall we take some time off to think?” CHS is surprised. JH explains, “I heard from mom yesterday. In this situation, we won’t be happy even if we are together.” Tears fill CH’s eyes. JH continues, “This is hard to say. You must have had a difficult time.” He tells her, “Don’t try so hard. I will do all the difficult things. Leave it to me.” JH leaves, and CH cries silently.

At coach’s restaurant, PN finds TS’s phone by chance, and curious, calls the contact titled “Oh My Goddess.” She thinks that ID is referring to her, except the call goes to coach’s phone. PN also finds out her number is saved under the ID “Bucket of Nonsense.” PN calls TS over and tries to choke him in anger. She gets a call, however, from an agency that wants to sign TS and PN. TS is happy, saying things have been going well for him since he met PN. PN demands to know why he calls her “Bucket of Nonsense,” then.

GW and Jo  (GW’s dad) talk. Jo says he met with Congressman Pyo, Yang will have to watch out now. Jo brings up the fact that CH made it to the final round of “Voice of Trot.” GW informs him that Shine Star decided to sponsor the show’s concert. Jo teases GW, asking if GW is doing that to get CH’s attention. GW replies no, it wouldn’t work on CH anyway. He just thought it would be good for Shine Star. Jo laughs. GW says more seriously, “The problem these days is Jang Joon Hyun.”

TS is on the phone, apologizing for JH canceling his appearance again. “He is sick,” TS explains. It looks like JH is really sick, in the heart, because he just keeps playing his guitar and singing, “I’m going crazy.” TS pleas with JH to get a hold of himself.

CH comes home and sees that her dad is sleeping. She sits next to him and tells him that tomorrow is the final round of the audition show. She is nervous, and at times like this, JH was always there. She asks for dad to cheer her on tomorrow. “But dad…what can I do? I really miss JH.” Dad is actually awake and he has heard everything she said.

Next day at the recording of the final round of “Voice of Trot,” CH sings the song “Life.” She has picked the song because there has been many happy, sad, joyful, and difficult moments in her life after starting to sing trot. The song expresses all of that.  CH sing the song beautifully.

JH and TS listen to the radio in their car. TS thinks it is someone who sounds like CH, but JH can recognize it is CH. He smiles to himself.

The results of the final round are out. The final winner of the “Voice of Trot” is MJ! CH wins! The radio host reveals to the listeners that MJ is actually CH. CH thanks the viewers. She promises to continue to work hard. The host also reads listeners’ support message for CH and they are from people that helped her or was helped by her in the past with her trot song. JH continues to listen in his car with a smile on his face.

CH runs into the composer from before, the one who had the wife with Alzheimer’s. He encourages her and CH is grateful. CH asks about his wife and he tells her that his wife has been doing better after she met with CH. The composer gives a gift to CH because he is grateful. CH accepts happily. She sits on the bus and hears on the radio news about her winning the survival audition show and how the song she sang is being replayed over and over again. CH can’t contain her happiness.

People have come to CH’s house with gifts. They are her fans, here to support her. They are all ahjusshis and ahjummas. They are really sweet to CH, and CH sings for them happily. JH watches her from afar. She sees him and they share a look. JH leaves. CH lets him go.

Farther away, JH says to himself, “CH, you are living your life the way you want. I will try to do that for myself too.” He is proud that CH succeed by herself, in her own way.

At home, JH suggest to HS that they go back to America together. A major label had asked before to work with him.

MS sits with Jo. MS informs Jo that he meet HS. Jo says he should have investigated into SJ’s accident properly at that time. He regrets not doing so. He has been wondering these day if there is more to that story than they know. He tells MS all about what Yang did to CH.

Yang yells at Wang (finally we see him!) for not being able to find SI.  They need to find her before the police do. Wang asks they can call any of SI’s close friends- who are they? Yang, realizing she doesn’t know any or know if SI has anyone like that, replies that she doesn’t know. Wang is surprised. Then, they need to file a missing person’s report with the police but Yang doesn’t want that. Wang asks if Yang has checked SI’s credit card records. Nope, Yang didn’t.

SI is somewhere, alone, relaxing and enjoying the summer night. She texts GW to ask if he has time tomorrow.

The next day, SI meets up with GW and they go eat tteokbokki at a street vendor. GW notices that SI is really enjoying the food and she tells him that she never got to eat it while she was going to school but really wanted to. Lady comments that the two look like a couple. GW asks her if he and SI look good together. SI tells the lady that he is just her boss. GW is about to pay but the lady doesn’t take credit card so SI has to buy the tteokbokki.

Walking together, GW asks what SI did away from Seoul. SI said she did all that she wanted- sleep in, eat everything, read comics- but it only filled up two days. She is surprised that all the things she denied herself for so long only took two days- what has she been living for until now? GW replies that this is life.

SI tells GW that she will go herself now. GW offers to go with her. SI declines. GW says. “When you return, let’s eat tteokbokki together. I will buy this time.” SI nods and assuredly walks away.

Wang calls Yang to tell her that that he found SI’s credit card used for a hostel in Gangwondo. Right then, SI texts her mom to say she is turning herself in right now. Yang runs out to go to SI, but MS is there in front of her car, waiting, and he demands to know, “Were you there with HS in that car that day? You’re the one who left SJ there, right?!” Yang denies it at first but as MS pushes, she confesses. Yes, she is the one who left SJ there. She did it because, at that moment, she thought it would be good if SJ disappeared. She sang as much as SJ, but she was always behind her. It’s already been 20 years, and it’s not like SJ died. MS yells that taking the voice of singer is like murder. Yang pushes MS hard and he falls, in pain. Yang leaves MS on the floor, like the way she must have left CH’s mom.

Yang is now at the police station and begs SI to stop, to say her mom did it. SI gently clasps her mom’s hand and says, “It’s all over now.” SI goes off with the police.

JH goes to CH’s waiting room at TV station. People around them say something about them being couple, teases them, asks them to take picture. They just calmly along.

It’s the day of the concert for “Voice of Trot.” CH is in the waiting room getting ready when JH walks in. He is there to perform as a guest at the concert. Other people there tease them about being a couple and asks for the to take a picture together. They oblige, even though things are a little awkward between them right now.

Right before the concert starts, CH gets a call from the hospital saying that her dad need to go into surgery now. CH starts running and JH chases after her.

CH and JH arrive at the hospital. MS asks CH why she is here, her concert is today. A few minutes later, the nurse says MS will go into surgery soon. CH starts apologizing. She has to leave right now to perform and can’t see him go into surgery later. MS tells her to go. She asks, “Since you are a strong person, you will be able to endure this well, right?” She makes him promise to not give up till the end, as she will perform well till the very end.

Coach, TS, and PN come in. CH asks coach to take care of her dad. TS and PN says they will be here, too, and encourages CH to focus on her singing. JH tells CH to go first, he will see MS go into surgery. Since JH is only the guest singer at the concert, he has time till he has to perform.

On her way back to the TV station, CH has to transfer from a taxi to motorcycle because there is horrible traffic. She arrives just in time. Meanwhile, the loan sharks, now her “uncles,” have been trying to get the concert people to understand that CH’s dad was rushed to the hospital. CH rushes in and goes on stage. CH introduces herself to the audience. CH sings the same song from before, “Life.”

As CH sings, everyone else is at the hospital, waiting in front of surgery room.  We see flashbacks of CH’s eventful life as we hear CH sing her heart out. When she finishes, the crowd gives her a standing ovations.

CH rushes back to the hospital. Her dad is out of surgery, awake and recovering. CH cries, thanking him for surviving.

Yang visits SI in jail. Yang tells her not to lose hope, she will make sure SI gets out of here. SI looks at her mom softly. She says, “I thought till now that you had ruined my life, but it wasn’t that. I think I ruined your life. I am not 14 years old anymore and needed to take care of my issues on my own. I made your life difficult. Im sorry.” Yang cries along with her daughter.

Yang walks out the prison and Wang is there waiting for her. He informs her that Congressman Pyo is suing her for defamation. There will also be investigation into all of Yang’s wrongdoings. Yangs says weakly that those things aren’t important to her now, her daughter is in jail. Police approach Yang with a warrant.

MS sits with CH and tells her he has something to say, “What happened in your mom’s and my generation is in the past. I think the happiness of you guys, living in the present, is more important.” MS says he should have told her this before but he was only human and couldn’t. He apologizes. He says he thought about this as he was going into surgery. CH takes his hand.

MS returns to his hospital room with CH. HS is there. She gets on her knees. She apologizes, “I did something terrible to you and SJ. Thank you for surviving. I’m sorry.” She cries hard. MS walks over to her and gently puts his hand on her shoulder.

CH walks out of the room and sees JH sitting in the hallway. He gets up and asks if she has been doing well. She nods and asks the same of him. JH replies of course. He came with his mom because she was scared. CH says it is good that those two, HS and MS, resolved their issue now. JH holds his breath before he says, “Between us, I suppose we need more time.” JH tells CH that he is going to the US. CH is surprised- how long? JH says casually, “I don’t know, might just live there.” CH asks worriedly, “Why, because of me?” JH says with a mocking tone, “I am the music god! Lots of major labels want to work with me.” JH warns CH to work hard- in order to date the “Music god,” she at least needs to be the “Queen of Trot.” “You’re not the one waiting for me, I am the one waiting for you. You gum patch.” They smile together.

A year later. PN and TS’ CD has come out. It seems the loan sharks are their managers now. TS is now PN’s husband? We find out that PN is expecting.

GW and CH shop for food at the market. He is still as strange as ever, a grown made riding the shopping cart. In the parking lot of the market, GW thanks CH for helping him shop. He promises to send a gift to the homeless center in return for her help.

Byul and MS see on the news that JH has returned, successfully debuting in the US market. We heard the reporter saying there are rumors of a relationship between JH and his female manager. Right then, the doorbell rings. MS opens the door and is surprised to see who it is. We don’t see that person.

CH finds SI waiting for her in the ready room at the station. SI asks if CH has been doing well. CH offers her hand but SI doesn’t it take it. She says she really didn’t like CH before, and truthfully, still doesn’t like her that much right now. CHis about to drop her hand in disappointment when SI grabs it. She says, “However, I admit that I really did terrible things. I am sorry.” She asks CH to also forgive Yang. She will apologize in her stead. SI tells CH that she will start from the beginning again and work hard to become CH’s rival. CH says she will wait. They both wish each other hwaiting.

JH has come to GW’s office and JH is acting all coy, saying he will have to see what Shine Star will offer to sign with them again. GW reminds JH that he owes him. He asks JH to go someplace with him.

Byul and CH play the story telling relay game again. Byul gives her line- “And Dad became all better.” CH tries to explain that Dad is not all better, but Byul interrupts her, saying her story will come true. Byul adds another line- “The ahjusshi who went to the US came back home again!” CH’s face turns serious as she sighs. By herself in the bathroom, she softly complains, “Jang Joon Hyun, how could you not call for a year?”

Loan sharks and coach are serving the food to the homeless. CM asks coach if coach met her old first love that he found for her before. She says no. He asks if she will soon. Coach says, maybe, depending on what CM does. CM is ecstatic to hear this and works even harder serving the people.

CH continues the story telling game by herself-  “And Jang Joon Hyun returned.” Right then, JH comes up and hugs her from the back. “I’m back,” he whispers. CH turns around quickly in surprise. Tears fill her eyes as she looks at JH in disbelief.  JH smiles and CH does the same. He cups her face, a familiar gesture of this couple that he hasn’t been to do for a year. They stand, CH’s arms around his waist, his hands caressing her face, happy, whole, and complete.

GW and Byul are outside the room, behind the door, smiling. GW leaves with a smile and cool wave. Byul ends the fairytale, “And like this, Dad, unnie, Ahjusshi, and Byul all lived happily ever after.”

Credits roll as we see CH and JH sing trot together in front of the homeless. It is our CH-JH trot duet. They sing the last line of the song, “With the person I love, I want to live a hundred years.”

Comments:

And thus our fairytale ends. It is happily every after with everyone learning their lesson, receiving redemption (even if they don’t deserve it), surviving cancer, remaining as the awesome Daddy-long-legs, becoming superstars, and finding happiness with the person they love.

It was a strange fairytale, part Cinderella story, part Little Mermaid, and part Romeo and Juliet. The story never went beyond expectations, and even fell below for some viewers. I didn’t expect or want this drama to be innovative. I just wanted a simple and traditional K-drama, but “Trot Lovers” contained too many contrived plot points to keep me as a happy and engaged viewer. In many instances throughout the drama, I was aggravated, especially with the amnesia and hit-and-run secret. The drama became less about music and CH’s growth as a singer and more about the romance. In the beginning, we had Joon Hyun and Choon Hee learn about music and trot, and what it means to be a real singer, but those lessons where left behind as the drama focused on the romance. Also to increase the romantic conflict for Joon Hyun and Choon Hee,  Soo In was made into an unforgivable villain instead of leaving her as the confused, vulnerable, yet hard working young woman she was in the beginning.

“Trot Lovers” suffers from the same problems that so many K-drama face – the haphazard writing, the contrived conflicts, and the subtlety sacrificed for ratings. These issues run rampant in the industry, and I have basically trained myself to focus on the few moments of good and on what the writer was trying to convey, even if they failed.

“Trot Lovers” was trying to tell a good story, to deliver a heart-warming message of encouragement and love to its viewers. The drama had moments of clarity in its intention- we saw it when Joon Hyun was with Byul, when Choon Hee sang for the homeless, and when SI finally found her peace. I try to enjoy these types of moments as much as I can, before I am thrust back in the cynical world of amnesia-ridden music gods.

And no, I don’t believe Soo In and Geun Woo will end up together. He is just trying to be the best boss he can when he says he will wait for her., recognizing Soo In’s potential.

Maybe it was because the drama didn’t have time for the nonsense, but the way Choon Hee and Joon Hyun’s separation was handled was quite painlessly. Choon Hee didn’t pull the “noble idiocy” act of running away from Joon Hyun without telling him why. Instead, she was honest with him, and they both came to the conclusion that they needed time to work through this. It was a mutual and drama-free separation with no wall-jumping to avoid each other, hurtful runs-in, or blatant lies. While Joon Hyun has his initial period of mourning after saying they needed to separate, when he saw how hard Choon Hee was working, he shaped up in order to pursue his own goals.

Did Joon Hyun and Choon Hee really have to separate for year? Did Joon Hyun really have to go the US? No, and that is where the drama proved to be so predictable. But it was unpredictable that his departure would be backed by the mutual understanding between Joon Hyun and Choon Hee that they have a future together after the separation. I don’t remember any other separation/time jumps that were so tear-free and didn’t include the dramatic “running to the airport” scene. Can you guys name any others?

Simply put, I was happy to watch Jung Eunji, Ji Hyun Woo, and Shin Sung Rok play their roles the best they can. I also learned more about trot music and I am really happy that I can walk away from the drama having heard the song “Life” by Ryu Kye young. It really does have moving lyrics- “Did fate carry me, or did I live carrying fate…..Love calls me to come back, but life becomes tears and pushes me away.”