It’s one step forward and two steps back for our couple this week, as our heroine struggles with all the gossip and mean-spirited remarks that shake her gentle soul. Even though our hero provides some of the best support possible, she is going to have to be honest with him about her insecurities if they want their precious relationship to last.
EPISODES 11-12 WEECAP
Poor Song-ah really had a rough go this week — and so did we. Indeed, much of Episode 11 consists of Song-ah’s brightness getting tarnished by the rude and/or cold-hearted people around her. Professor Lee, who has yet to offer anything constructive or affirming to Song-ah, really outdoes herself this week. The nonsense with her chamber orchestra continues, with Song-ah doing all the gopher work, and taking all the hits.
Similarly, Simon-on-the-loose is not one to think of other people’s feelings, and while he tries to recruit Song-ah after graduation, he also makes it clear she has no talent as a violinist, started playing too late, and should basically give up once she earns her diploma.
Finally, the third thing (or person) that’s causing Song-ah so much emotional grief is Jung-kyung. No matter how clear Joon-young makes it that he’s playing with Jung-kyung as a friendly favor, Song-ah gets torn up whenever her name is mentioned, whenever they are practicing together, or even mention they are practicing together.
All of these things adding up, little Song-ah seems about to break when she’s sent on Professor Lee’s ridiculous brooch-buying mission. Good thing her boyfriend is heaven-sent. Joon-young, wonderful soul that he is, can pick up on when Song-ah is upset, even when she won’t give words to it. He effectively ditches practice with Jung-kyung (ugh, I can’t believe she was primping for him!) to join Song-ah on her trip to Daejeon.
Daejeon is actually Joon-young’s hometown, and between all the memories that are there for him, and the pair running into his mother and eating in her restaurant (the sweetness!), Joon-young is soon confessing that not only is it his first time bringing someone home, but his first time feeling this way. Swoon!
And so, a noxious errand actually turns out to be a dreamy all-day date with Joon-young, and it’s as swoony as it is the exact bonding experience they both needed. There is such an abundance of meaningful gazes, hand holding, tea drinking, and slow walks together that I thought my heart might not be able to take it. Joon-young is so genuinely, obviously, shamelessly taken with her — whenever he sees her, the smile on his face lights up the room. His umbrella gift, and all the meaning behind it, makes him so, so happy.
Sadly, this is where we get to the “one step forward and two steps back” portion of our story. It’s clear as day that Joon-young has lost his heart to Song-ah, but she’s still getting hit from all sides. Our outside aggressors attack her when her footing is already shaky, and by the end of Episode 12, Song-ah is not in a good place.
Professor Lee chucks Song-ah a compliment to get what she wants, but flatly tells her that the chamber orchestra is for “people with talent” and Song-ah is merely helping on the admin side (what a hellish misunderstanding that was!). Then Simon-on-the-loose circles back to Song-ah and tells her that her relationship with Joon-young is damaging his career. Finally, the Music Department’s group chat is basically full of students poking fun at Joon-young and Song-ah dating, focusing only on how their talent level doesn’t “balance.” What all these fools are neglecting to notice is that Joon-young and Song-ah are magic together. Levels don’t matter.
That might be the lesson that Song-ah has to learn, but for now, it’s haunting her like the cruelest of ghosts. And even though Joon-young is excited to be her accompanist for her grad school admissions performance, Song-ah can’t see past what everyone else is focusing on: she doesn’t deserve him.
When our episodes this week come to a close, Song-ah (on the verge of tears all day) spots Joon-young and Jung-kyung in the back of a taxi together. While I’m sure there is more than a reasonable explanation for this, it’s the final straw in Song-ah’s back-breaking personal struggle of not feeling like she’s good enough.
I’m sad. There is so much life and loveliness between our couple that it’s impossible not to see that they’re made for each other. That being said, I’m glad our story is going exactly where it needs to (even though I hate it), and showing us Song-ah at possibly her lowest point yet. She needs to face her insecurities and build herself back up again. With Joon-young (and all of us) supporting her, I’m sure she’ll make it, and I’ll be damned if I don’t get my swoony, smiley couple back.
Some final words on Jung-kyung before we close. Though we mostly saw her throughout the drama as this antagonist that wouldn’t let go of Joon-young, and cruelly tortured the people around her, I like the other layer we are starting to see. Much like at the master class, Jung-kyung shines this week when she’s teaching other students, and it’s as much a gift of hers as it is personal catharsis. If she gets the professorship, I fully look forward to her stepping all over Professor Lee. Please, have at it.
PS: Is it just me or does Kim Min-jae look genuinely smitten with Park Eun-bin/Song-ah? Ships, a-sail!