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REWATCH: Personal Taste - Episode 1
Jeon JinHo
Park GaeIn
Han ChangYul
Kim InHee
Lee YoungSun
Noh SangJoon
Kim TaeHoon
Na HyeMi
Director Choi
President Han
Secretary Kim
JinHo’s Mother
Ok, I’d never intended to do a sketch, reduction or a scene by scene rehash of a kdrama on my blog, and to be honest, I don’t really know if this will be a unique or habit forming event. You see, I was recently reading a blog revisiting Cowboy Bebop by Madeline Ashby on the Tor website and I thought to myself, wow, wow, there is something very enjoyable about reading a written interpretation of a visual program. Maybe it’s because I love the written word, maybe it’s just fun to relive the same thing through a different set of eyes, whatever it was, I couldn’t stop. I had previously read wonderful recaps on other blog sites for various things, including kdramas, and had always been impressed but have never attempted the task myself. I was curious, if I jotted down notes on a show I was watching, will it allow me more understanding? Would I notice things that I would miss as a casual viewer? At the very least, would it improve my Korean? So, I was intrigued enough to try…on Personal Taste, since it is a kdrama I am currently following and enjoying. So that is the reason why I am attempting this, purely for myself really. All I know is, I had a lot of fun writing this, more than I thought I would. Anyway, here I go, a written take on the first episode of Personal Taste. Start!
When it rains, it pours...
We begin with a close up of a doll house with miniature dogs as residents (instead of people), then off we go, the camera slowly takes in a kitchen stacked with dirty dishes, pans over wooden furniture legs hanging in a work shed, and then takes a quick glance at a wall filled with clamps, claws and other furniture-crafting tools. An alarm clock on wheels is trilling for attention and rolling around the work table. Park GaeIn smacks her forehead on the edge of the desk as she jolts awake. She’d fallen asleep on the floor of her workspace. The mere fact that her alarm clock is not in her bedroom but leasing space among wood shavings, nails, hammers ,and various other carving tools indicates that this is a regular habit of hers. She’s overslept (seemingly another common event) and she’s in a panic as she sends wood chips flying in her hurry to get going.
A male voice has left her a message on her machine and is chiding her while she dashes around trying to get dressed: “Hey, Park GaeIn! What are you still doing at home? It’s not like you don’t know how important today is!” This voice knows her well because it makes sure to add, “And dress nicely, don’t just drag yourself out in sneakers and a track suit.” Taking heed, she digs into a closet full of dresses that has long been taped shut. She picks an ill-fitting black dress but is satisfied enough with her reflection. It is at least a step up from her usual drab clothing. She gives herself a mental cheer promising herself that a new chapter in her life is starting today, a brand new future full of personal promise and brightness, like her name. She dashes out of her house, but the overall effect of her little black dress is ruined by the bulky jacket she throws over it and the unsightly band-aid on her forehead. As she leaves the front doors, it’s difficult not to notice the beautiful architectural merging of Hanok and contemporary design that is her home.
Elsewhere, in an environment completely different from the disheveled residence we have just left, we are shown perfectly organized Prismacolor pens, blueprints and sketches of buildings, color-coordinated slacks and jackets hung in the wardrobe, dress shirts meticulously ironed and folded in their place. Instead of a doll house, an impressive house made of Lego is on display and right beside it, an equally impressive model of a building. On the bed stand, a more demure alarm clock announces the time: 8:00.
A handsome young man wakes up and realizes he’s not alone in his bed. Instead of being upset, he’s mostly exasperated. He sighs and taps the huddled form under the blanket, a girl who has crawled in beside him with only a negligee to keep her decent. “Hey, Na HyeMi,” he taps, “get up.” The woman stirs but instead of waking, she cuddles deeper into his side. He scoffs, “It’s obvious you’re not sleeping.” She gets up but she’s put out because he’s not overtaken with lust by her bared flesh. He’s put out because she reeks of late night drinking. She can’t believe he’s not pouncing on her in a fit of desire, to which he counters, “Does taking clothes off make a person sexy?” She counters in a whining voice, “Is it possible you prefer men?” He agrees that he likes men, with a bit of smirk. This, of course, is so ridiculous that it’s her turn to scoff at him as he finishes getting dressed. A moment later, we learn his name is Jeon JinHo because his mother is outside his door calling his name. She wants to give him some morning vitamins. HyeMi is about to announce herself but JinHo obviously can’t have his mother finding a half-naked HyeMi in his bedroom. He rushes out to greet his mother, who asks after HyeMi’s current location. HyeMi apparently also lives in the house with them and most likely has her own bed somewhere else in the abode. JinHo smoothly distracts and guides mom away from his own room.
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