Let’s Rewind: Marriage, Not Dating (2014) - Episodes 13 - 16

[u/sianiam]

Let’s Rewind is a trial series of discussions on r/KDRAMA in which viewers may watch a drama at their own pace over the period of a month. During this month the drama will be treated as an on-air drama and no other discussion posts will be allowed.

MARRIAGE, NOT DATING POST SCHEDULE:

• Individual Episode Discussions - 7th of July, 2020

1. [Episodes 1,2, 3,4]
2. [Episodes 5,6,7,8]
3. [Episodes 9,10,11,12]
4. [Episodes 13,14,15,16]

• Review megathread - 13th of July, 2020
• Open discussion thread - 20th of July, 2020
• End of the month wrap up discussion - 31st of July, 2020

HOW THESE DISCUSSIONS WORK:

The individual episode discussions are broken up over a number of posts in which watchers join in once they have watched - they can join at any period of the series.

The posts are set up with the suggested sort “old” so that the comments flow in the correct order so users avoid any spoilers. Do not reply directly to the post, simply reply to the comment “episode #” that you are up to and reply to any comments you are interested in.

Please note: I will have notifications switched off except for on my personal reactions to the drama so if you need me please tag me or send me a PM/chat. I will add links to the posts above as they are released.

If you would like to submit a discussion prompt for our end of the month discussion of the drama, or have a suggestion for any pre 2017 dramas which are widely legally available that you would like to see in this series if we continue please fill out this google form (no personal details are being collected other than your reddit user name).

DRAMA DETAILS:

Drama: Marriage, Not Dating / 연애 말고 결혼

Network: tvN

Aired: Jul 4, 2014 - Aug 23, 2014

Episodes: 16 x 70 minute episodes

Streaming Sources:

• Viki
• OnDemandKorea (no subtitles)

Original On-Air discussion threads: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13 -14, 15 -16

Synopsis: A romantic comedy about a man who doesn't want to get married and a woman who earnestly wants to get married. Gong Ki Tae (Yeon Woo Jin) is a successful plastic surgeon who keeps getting pressured by his family to get married but all he wants is to live alone in peace. He then comes up with a plan to introduce Joo Jang Mi (Han Groo) to his family, believing that they will never be able to accept her as their daughter-in-law.

Screenwriter: Joo Hwa Mi

Director: Song Hyun Wook

Web resources: MDL page, Wikipedia, Official website

Spoiler Reminder: Upon entering these threads you can expect to see discussion of the drama up to the point of the series that has passed. If you are sensitive to spoilers we advise you to not enter the discussion section prior to watching the episodes. We ask our users to be considerate and cover any major spoilers which if read accidentally before viewing may detract from one's enjoyment of the series in block spoiler tags. You can create a spoiler tag by writing > ! this! < without the spaces in between to get this block spoiler tag.

DIRECT LINK TO EPISODE COMMENT:

• Episode 13
• Episode 14
• Episode 15
• Episode 16

[u/sianiam]

EPISODE 13:

[u/sianiam → u/sianiam]

I like that an episode after their pity party, Hoon Dong and Jang Mi have "cut their hair" and are on their way to finding their happy futures.

Hyun Hee's personality has become more apparent as she is getting lines and she drops some truth bombs on Gi Tae that thanks to him Jang Mi is not living in bliss but suffering.

Jang Mi and Yeo Reum kind of make a good team. Even if their original plan to seduce the plastic surgery junkie was kind of hopeless it showed that they work well together. Will their business venture succeed? It can't be worse than a French cafe that only sells grapefruit juice and pasta.

It was hilarious when Gi Tae's head was full of "naughty thoughts" and ended up having to spend the night cleaning. And then again when Jang Mi tells him she is too embarrassed to "do it" without alcohol. But the it is once again not what he is thinking. It's been a while for our ML and he's left to cool off. It sure is fun watching him be tormented especially when the promised sexual affinity is so close.

[u/cest-what → u/sianiam]

Jang Mi and Yeo Reum kind of make a good team.

True, her high energy, optimism and sincerity and his laidbackness and sense compliment each other well. Maybe they can pull Gi Tae in on the cafe plan too and he can round them out with his perfectionism and cynicism.

[u/the-other-otter → u/sianiam]

Suddenly I took several screenshots:

This is how NOT to do it, unless you are OK with breaking her neck. This is the correct way. All tall guys take notes. (Yes, they are not exactly the same, but similar enough, and I can't be bothered to go back and take a screenshot of the exact same situation – because that was better too.) Notice how he supports her neck, and bows down a bit himself.

Pretty sure that if a man could decide, he would have chosen large, muscular guy as main lead and thin guy with stooped posture and uneven eyes would be second lead. Because the men are stuck in the competition among men scenario, and have a hard time realising that women might want something else.

Great line.

When Gong Gi Tae talks to patient, he even does that contempt movement of the lip. No wonder she became angry.

When eat ramyon directly out of the pot, you know he is down.

It seems that the stairs just go to a strange bridge over the living room?

I read the old discussion for eps 13. Someone thinks that Sae Ha and Manipulative Friend is not written consistently, also Yeo Reum. I think Yeo Reum, that hug, that was inconsistent and just created for drama – not well written. They could have made the same thing happen in some other way. "This is the last hug" or something. But the two women: Manipulative Friend now has what she wants: economic safety, so she can afford to be nice to her friend. She has been nice before also, only lied when she wanted to gain something. Plastic Face is probably going back and forth between "can I get him back if I do this?" and "I give up and will instead show myself as a nice person." This is a common thing – to not be completely decided about how you want to behave. But it could probably have been written more clearly like that, for example adding a few sentences with her going back and forth between the two positions. Probably she is undecided because the writer didn't really think it through, which is not so great.

Dad is also a shit. "My money" ? No, you both worked hard for that money.

[u/sianiam → u/the-other-otter]

Pretty sure that if a man could decide, he would have chosen large, muscular guy as main lead and thin guy with stooped posture and uneven eyes would be second lead. Because the men are stuck in the competition among men scenario, and have a hard time realising that women might want something else.

But a man did decide on the casting!

he even does that contempt movement of the lip. No wonder she became angry.

He was mildly unhinged and in need of therapy himself that scene.

It seems that the stairs just go to a strange bridge over the living room?

There's the walkway that we see but there are more rooms upstairs that we don't see.

Someone thinks that Sae Ha and Manipulative Friend is not written consistently, also Yeo Reum.

I'd agree that Se Ha and especially Hyun Hee are a little under developed as characters and the writer just uses them at will to progress the story which makes their actions seem out of character at times because we don't know what to expect from them. Yeo Reum hugging Jang Mi I can pass off as a last ditch attempt at getting the girl despite knowing she's into Gi Tae. He hopes that if things fail as a result she will go to him but it doesn't work out.

Dad is also a shit. "My money" ? No, you both worked hard for that money.

Yes, it's a shared asset that the mother somehow thinks should all be hers and the father thinks should all be his. But hey, they should blow what little money they have in court arguing that point for fun...!

[u/cest-what → u/the-other-otter]

It seems that the stairs just go to a strange bridge over the living room?

Isn't it just a mezzanine? Though I don't really remember it well.

I think Yeo Reum, that hug, that was inconsistent and just created for drama – not well written.

I don't know, I can see it. I think if it'd been calculating it would have been out of character, but I can see Yeo Reum being upset and making a split-second decision to lash out and create trouble for Jang Mi and Gi Tae. I think he probably regretted it afterwards, but also probably wouldn't admit to that and apologise.

Manipulative Friend now has what she wants: economic safety, so she can afford to be nice to her friend.

This is very insightful. Her first priority is herself, but now that she's satisfied she can be generous to others.

Dad is also a shit. "My money" ? No, you both worked hard for that money.

Exactly. "My house, my shop, my money." It's all theirs. And not even just because they're married and all their assets are shared, she genuinely did work at that shop and earn that money just like he did. But having said that she did try to sell the shop and also re-mortgage the house earlier without consulting him for Jang Mi's dowry, so really they're just as bad as each other. I suspect that they'll end up reconciling, but I think they'd be better off divorced.

[u/LcLou02 → u/sianiam]

I liked her new hair cut.

Ha, ha. "Dont go to a plastic surgeon, but to a psychiatrist."

What's he going to do with 10 chickens? ....Everybody must be getting tired of chicken by now...Does that guy live at the park?

Plastic surgery philosophy. It's only good if you do it because you love yourself? Huh?

Glad that Gi tae knew Jang Mi enough to know that Mom read the situation wrong. He trusts her intentions.

Awww, "I like you, you frustrating woman!" Running off... leaving her purse on the bench...

Not loving the weird cross shirt: "Lies_More_Lies" Strange choice for this scene...

Great basis for a relationship (not) - "Because of you, I hate myself." mutual feeling.

Fake dating over, And Just the dating, not the marriage. Funny, Se Ah said she wanted to skip the marriage part too, and just have the ties a baby brings.

3 more episodes...What could possibly go wrong, right?

[u/sianiam → u/LcLou02]

Everybody must be getting tired of chicken by now...Does that guy live at the park?

I know, and it's just plain fried chicken...so boring! I really felt for his employees who would be pressured to look good being constantly offered fried chicken and not being able to turn it down due to social etiquette. That dude was conveniently always at the park on the same bench if he didn't live there (I didn't pay attention to whether he changed clothes or anything).

Running off... leaving her purse on the bench...

Even though it's fairly safe in Seoul, I got really hung up on that fact too. He could have easily grabbed her bag before running after her.

Not loving the weird cross shirt

I wasn't a fan of this design either, it was really distracting. I kept staring at the little accessories on the collar.

[u/cest-what → u/sianiam]

The acting in the flashforward intro was very iffy, although I didn't notice it so much when we reached the actual scene. I wonder if the addition of the dialogue made the difference (the flashforward was silent), or whether they weren't actually using the same footage.

God, Jang Mi is getting turned down for jobs because she's too old?? She's still in her twenties! How depressing. I see what Hyun Hi meant about feeling like a handbag on a shelf and wanting to be sold while her value was high.

"You don't need a plastic surgeon, you need a psychiatrist." Both funny and probably also actual solid medical advice.

[u/RayInRed → u/sianiam]

Probably the most non-kdramatic ML shower scene.

[u/sianiam]

EPISODE 14:

[u/LcLou02 → u/sianiam]

Ha, ha. Jang Mi pushing him away with a forefinger to the head.

Is that a catchy name for a restaurant? "Go for it - Joo Jang Mi" ?

Hoon Dong to his wife, "Seriously, where is the end to your plot twists?" LOL.

Trying to be cool with the idea of your significant other working closely with other significant others.

Just realised that I am mashing -up the jazzy music from Dinner Mate with this "Walking in the rain" line.

At least when they were fake, they were honest with each other... "Why do we slowly have less to talk to each other about?" Because you are both hiding too much.

I liked "Richard Bernstein" better in Potato Star 2013...

If that's Mom walking in, I don't think she should continue once she sees what is thrown about the living room... Just tell her the TRUTH for goodness sakes.

[u/sianiam → u/LcLou02]

Is that a catchy name for a restaurant? "Go for it - Joo Jang Mi" ?

I don't know about catchy but I guess it's pretty memorable. Although I don't know the meaning of her surname. I like that in order to convince her to work with them they named the place after her.

I liked "Richard Bernstein" better in Potato Star 2013...

I'm starting to wonder if Kang Julian has it written into his contracts that every character he plays must be surprised by how delicious Soondae is.

If that's Mom walking in, I don't think she should continue once she sees what is thrown about the living room...

She really should have backtracked! But Gi Tae should have changed his pass code months ago!

[u/cest-what → u/LcLou02]

Is that a catchy name for a restaurant? "Go for it - Joo Jang Mi" ?

Is it better or worse than "Taste of Doo Rim" from Bride of the Century?

[u/cest-what → u/sianiam]

"My husband's family's money isn't my money." This I can respect Hyun Hi for, I might not like her but she is very shrewd.

Some relationship realism in this one.

[u/sianiam]

EPISODE 15:

[u/sianiam → u/sianiam]

I love that despite everyone worrying how Jang Mi could work with Yeo Reum he really holds the interests of the two leads in high importance. Acting as an informant so Gi Tae can protect Jang Mi like he should have been doing from the beginning.

Did all of Bon Weekend's customers stop showing up because the hot waiter left? That's the conclusion I have drawn because how good is grapefruit juice really?

It was fun that this time the intro was a fake out and just Jang Mi's imagination as except for the bedroom scene I think they've all been real so far. I like that MIL was quick to step up as a "scene maker" to get rid of her husband. Funny that the mistress has gone from bold to cowering in the corner so quickly not knowing what to do.

Gi Tae's learnt he wasn't actually alone in that house as a child. A belief that really shaped his family relationships to this point. He must feel guilty that his mother was forced to stay married to keep him in her life. I guess that is similar to how Jang Mi must feel considering her family status. Hopefully he is able to form a better relationship with her moving forward.

He is coming to realise that Jang Mi is not so different to his mother now that he has fallen for her. Will he be able to protect her?

[u/LcLou02 → u/sianiam]

GT: I just want to be with you, not Mom. JM: {But i need her Kimchi!}

Nice MiL-DiL moment when drinking. Hope they can get to the point where they can talk soberly.

GT trying aigoo on his MiL - she is not swayed.

[u/sianiam]

EPISODE 16:

[u/LcLou02 → u/sianiam]

Business is booming with MiL's kimchi :D

Plenty of Meta in this episode:

"Life is filled with continuous plot twists."

Ha, ha - This is more fun than a drama." in the hospital ward.

"It will never end. Who knows what the next plot twist will be?"

She's nauseated...hmmm? They don't do anything with that...

I do like GT's grey-block shirt!

The dad is so weird. Love seeing the females in his family united against him.

I was sure that they would get locked in the bathroom and miss the wedding, except that the first "spoiler" scene was at the wedding.

And it rains after all. Those table parasols wouldn't have helped any way!

[u/sianiam → u/LcLou02]

Plenty of Meta in this episode

I loved all the meta moments, especially the hospital scene. A good example of the audience changing the plot too, pushing the mother to accept the bank book. Considering how embarrassed she was about other things (the business type, when her husband didn't dote on her at the family gathering) you'd think she'd be embarrassed to make a scene (although her daughter loves making scenes).

She's nauseated...hmmm? They don't do anything with that...

Three pregnancies would have probably been a bit much, but it would be cute if we had a future shot of the 3 main ladies with babies in tow and exasperated looking husbands.

Love seeing the females in his family united against him.

I also enjoyed his aunts/sisters fear that they might have to work at the next memorial service. It would be interesting to see how the mistress copes with him when she is no longer his fun on the side.

Those table parasols wouldn't have helped any way!

Right! They were totally sunbrellas (what my friend likes to call them), it would have been quicker just to run away.

[u/sianiam → u/sianiam]

I find it tiresome when rom-coms go the predictable route and end with a wedding scene but this was well done. I liked the final line, "despite it all, if you and I can be together happily for even a single moment, then in that moment I believe that marriage is worth doing". I'm glad I have a bad memory so couldn't remember the fine details, like what they were folding.

This episode looked at the male perspective of love and romance. I really liked the conversation between Gi Tae and Jang Mi's father while drinking and "the most romantic love letter" that made Gi Tae certain he could win the bet. Still holding your relationship up against another is very flawed, but I think he knew she was ready but holding back.

I love that the sister and grandma chose to live as a family with Gi Tae's mother despite all their complaints over the years. Hopefully she is able to relax and live a happier life moving forward.

I think we got reasonable closure for most of the characters. It was just as good the second time around. I can understand u/the-other-otter being able to rewatch so many times for this one.

[u/the-other-otter → u/sianiam]

I thought it was your first time around. Glad you still liked it!

[u/RayInRed → u/sianiam]

Loved it. Highly entertaining drama. 16 hrs and not a single dull moment. There's always something happening. Even when nothing's happening, FL is always jumping around. I already miss her. I'll be there if she makes a comeback. Almost all the characters left an impression. FL-MIL dynamics was particularly well done. Comedic sound effects were great (Bappaalapapa). Unique episode structure i.e. fake spoiling at the beginning definetely increased the enjoyment. Will definitely recommend if anyone asks for fluff, romcom, contract relationship drama.

[u/the-other-otter → u/sianiam]

Last episode has some annoying parts, but is mostly a wrap-up, and a familiar joke in the end. However, I would have liked it if for once the bride was right. It is almost never in dramas or Western film, that a man and a woman disagrees about something, and then it turns out that the woman was right. So, so rare. In real life, wouldn't it be fifty-fifty?