[Drama 2018-2019] Encounter / Boyfriend, 남자친구

[selen4ever]

@jma030201 I also wondered where her child was and why no one mentioned it in the first 2 episodes. So I looked at the character description on TvN's webpage for the drama and it says nothing about her being a mother - it seems they changed it.

 

Quote

 

차수현 (송혜교)
동화호텔 대표

정치인 아버지를 둔 딸은 자유롭지 못하다. 아버지 선거운동 때마다 띠를 두르고 인사를 하고 노래를 했다. 똑똑하고 예쁜 수현은 곧 연예인만큼 유명해졌다. 그렇게 국회의원의 딸에서 서울 시장의 딸로. 이제는 당 대표의 딸이다.

아버지를 청와대에 입성시키고 싶어 하는 엄마의 빅피쳐에 맞춰 대학 졸업 후 태경그룹 아들의 아내가 되었고 지금은 재벌가에서 이혼당한 여자가 되었다.

이혼하던 날, 수현은 웃었던 것 같다. 살 것 같아서. 위자료로 다 죽어가는 사업 ‘동화호텔’을 받았고 미친 듯이 매달렸다. 그리고 4년 만에 업계 1위를 만들었다.

태경그룹 전 며느리보다 동화호텔 대표로 살고 싶은데 이혼 후에도 전 시댁의 그림자가 목줄처럼 그녀를 조여 온다. “태경그룹 이미지에 결점을 남기는 불상사가 발생할 시 동화호텔은 태경그룹으로 반환된다. 이 모든 결정은 이사 회의를 통해 결정한다.”

그 ‘불상사’가 뭘까. 어찌 되었건 아직 그 ‘불상사’는 없다.

 

Source: http://program.tving.com/tvn/encounter/11/Contents/Html

 

Google translation:

Cha Soo Hyun (Song Hye Kyo)
Donghua Hotel representative

The daughter of a politician father is not free. Every time during my father 's election campaign, I wore a belt and greeted and sang. Soo-hyun, who is smart and beautiful, soon became famous as an entertainer. So from the daughter of a lawmaker to the daughter of Seoul's Mayor. It is now the daughter of the party leader.

After graduating from college she became the wife of the Taekyung group's son to help her father enter the Blue House, and is now a divorced woman.

On the day of divorce, Suhyun seems to have laughed. It seems she will get to live. She received the 'Donghwa Hotel', a business that was dying with alimony, and worked like crazy. And in four years, the hotel is now at the top of the industry.

She wants to live as the CEO of Donghwa Hotel rather than the  former daughter-in-law of Tae Kyung group. But even after the divorce, the shadow of her ex-family is like a collar. "If there is a misfortune that damages the image of Taekyung Group, Donghwa Hotel will be returned to Taekyung Group. All of these decisions are made through a meeting of the board of directors. "

What is that "misfortune"? In any case, there is no such thing.

 

(Also I find it adorable that Donghua/Donghwa Hotel can be translated as Fairy Tale Hotel )

[bebebisous33]

1 hour ago, guinearoyal said:

 

I agree with your analysis of the ex-husband and JH. Also, something additional that I think the ex-husband had going against him was his mother. from what I was able to gather from the two episodes is that his mother was rather controlling with SH, even more so than her parents as suggested by her outburst with her mother. 

And while the ex-husband apparently loved her, I am wondering if he was subtle in controlling her as well before the ex-husband let her go. Since she apparently never opened up to him or relaxed in his presence.

JH on the other hand, never seemed to control SH and listened to what she wanted to do...which everyone around her seems to discourage her from. To me a very telling scene was when they stopped at the rest stop in the first episode, SH clearly wanted to have ramen at the stop. But it was shot down and since SH has been controlled most of her life, she let them get their way. So she has expressed her desires and wants before, but it appears that they get constantly shot down or shoved aside because it does not fit in with that everyone else thinks should be done. JH doesn't seem to do that, from the time that he met SH, he has not stopped her from doing what she wants, in fact he does encourage her and gets her to do even more. That is why she invited him to do the ramen stop with her, she knew that he would be someone who would not prevent her from doing it and would enjoy the experience with her. Though he won't let her do extravagant things for him...which is good because it shows him as independent from her and not dependent on her to take care of him. It makes him manly and demonstrates how he can be a pillar she can lean on. A theme that was suggested when he saved her from falling and she fell asleep on him. 

 

I think it is funny how people have been commenting about the awkwardness and disliking it. Mostly because the awkwardness fits perfectly in the context of the story and particularly with the korean social structure.

Firstly while it is obvious that JH likes SH in Cuba, he is aware that she is much older than him, even though she never told him her age. So while he would like to be more casual with her, he can't, not so much because of them still being strangers, but also because of the fact she is older. Which is why he apologized when he kept forgetting and was was treating her more like someone his own age. 

This conflict increases for him when he gets hired and finds out she is his boss, but the CEO. Again, social structures dictate that he acts a certain way to her... but again he clearly likes her...ALOT. And since he likes her, he wants her to like him back...but she is older, his boss, and amazing CEO...

 So how exactly is he supposed to behave with her when he has all of those social barriers that are clearly viewed as very important in Asian countries? That is where I see his awkwardness stemming from. 

SH on the other had, has a bit of an advantage since social structures actually allow her to be more casual with him and as her boss she can get him to do things. But then again, she is VERY aware of the same social structures that separate them. So she can't quite be as open with him...yet.

I think that however, as they spend more time with each other and get to know one another better, those social barriers will come down. 

Which I am greatly looking forward to!  

I really enjoyed reading your analysis. Yes, the mother-in-law seems to be controlling SH even much more than SH's mother. And this is the reason why SH resents her mother so much. CSH was already suffocating even before getting married and once she became the daughter-in-law, she had to deal with a person that was way worse than her own mother. So her golden cage got even smaller, she had less freedom than before. Thus in her eyes, her own mother made her suffer even more. Your comment also made me realize why in the preview, CSH dares to defy her mother with her reply: "I won't let you sell off your daughter one more time." On the other hand, she seems to "listen" to her ex-mother-in-law in distancing herself from JH. The ex-mother-in-law will threaten her with JH. However, in the long run, I think that CSH will become more courageous and will dare to defy her ex-mother-in-law. 

Striking is that her mother blames her for the divorce... and I sense that the ex-mother-in-law might have told her something similar. 

[gumtaek]

 

[Carmarie]

I have watched the first two episodes and I am loving this drama.  I found myself wishing that I had waited to watch it because this is a drama that I would love to marathon.

 

I think complete strangers first meeting (especially under her circumstances, stolen pocketbook, no money) would be a little awkward towards each other.  Therefore, their reaction towards each other and their awkwardness were spot on.  Some have stated that this drama reminds them of a movie, and I have to agree.  I think both actors are doing a fantastic job and their emotions are realistic and fit the situation.                   

[beebeep]

Hello everyone, I typically stayed away from melodrama since I only like rom com. However, PBG and this drama has drawn me in. I have watched ep 2 and I love it. I think it makes sense for the 2 leads interaction to be awkward due to their huge difference in age and social status. Hope the drama continues to be good!! 

[krisan]

@bebebisous33 and @guinearoyal love your both analysis and those make me think it is complicated character for both our lead and how difficult it will be for them to be togehter in the future.

[ahdrianaa]

Enjoyed reading everyone’s posts! 

 

I’m probably not the first one who noticed the many references to the movie Roman Holiday. There were so very many! As if it weren’t enough that KJH actually refers to her as his Roman Holiday Princess. 

 

The movie began with a broadcaster reporting on the princess, the drama begins with a broadcaster reporting on CSH.

 

The princess loses her shoe, CSH loses her shoe. 

 

The princess complains about her nightgowns and her attendant tries to placate her by saying that she owns lovely things! CSH complains about the outfit she has to wear to the party and her secretary tells her that the buttons on the outfit are quite lovely.

 

The princess is made to take something that will make her sleep better after she has an argument with her attendant , CSH takes a sleeping pill after she gets into a small argument with her secretary. Despite knowing that they’ve taken said medicine both of them set out on an adventure. 

 

The first time the male leads in the movie and drama meet the Princess and CSH they’re both sleepy thanks to the effect of the medicine. The princess leans on Joe’s shoulder, CSH sleeps for hours on KJH’s shoulder. 

 

The princess asks for Champagne and other things when to the viewers it’s obvious Joe is  tight on money, CSH asks for beer, food, more coffee and salsa tickets and our male lead KJH is literally left counting his last savings! 

 

On the first night both the male leads don’t know the identity of women. Joe doesn’t know the Princess’s identity. When KJH meets CSH he wonders if she’s a celebrity because she looks familiar but he can’t place her.

 

Joe finds out the next morning via a newspaper article . KJH sees CSH leaving the airport with her secretary and looks for the business card that the secretary had given him because he wants to return her shoes. When he sees a familiar name - Donghwa hotel , he learns of CSH’s identity via news articles. 

 

Joe takes the princess to the wall of tiles full of stories of people whose wishes came true and tells her to read a few of the inscriptions but she can’t get herself to read them because she thinks her wishes are too impossible to come true , KJH writes a message and posts it on the notice board at the cafe where she is supposed to meet him. CSH lands up at the cafe after he has left but never gets to read the message he’s left her. 

 

The princess wants to go dancing and they do,  CSH and KJH also go salsa dancing.

 

The princess is taken on a horse driven carriage, from the spoiler picture taken by fans we know CSH and KJH take a chauffeur driven ride in that classic red convertible.

 

In the movie they fall in the water, in the spoilers for the next episode CSH seems to have lost the game on the beach and KJH is urging her to enter the water. 

 

The pictures taken of the Princess are returned to her during the end of the movie which were taken without her knowledge, KJH is giving CSH the pictures he took of her without her knowledge.

 

The princess addresses the journalists and media and is surprised to see Joe Bradley in the crowd - this is the first she knows of his real identity and profession. He had told her he was in the agriculture business. CSH sees KJH in the crowd of new entrants in Donghwa hotel, he had told her he was in the fruit selling business! 

 

The princess when addressing the media addresses Joe personally but only to his knowledge and CSH does the same when she sees KJH. 

 

When the princess is reprimanded by her entourage for her behavior, she flares up and says she knows her responsibilities towards her family,country and has always honored them. CSH gets angry with her mother in the second episode and tells her that she has always done what was expected of her. 

 

But there are some differences in the movie and the drama. 

 

The princess’s entourage is unhappy because she’s too willful to be an appropriate princess, they would like her to be more measured. CSH’s mother and husband are unhappy because CSH is too cold and unfeeling,  they wish she would be more expressive and warm. 

 

Joe grabs onto the Princess’s hand as if by instinct several times in the movie and she lets him. KJH grabs CSH’s hand in similar fashion on two occasions and she pulls her hand away. 

 

The paparazzi taken shots of the princess are returned to her by Irving the photographer, it’s a final closing of that chapter of her life but CSH’s shots are revealed by the paparazzi, which looks like it’s going to be the start of a whole lot of problems. 

 

The public meeting in the ballroom is supposed to signify the end of magical “holiday” for the princess and Joe. The speech by CSH in the conference hall is supposed to mark the beginning of KJH’s stay at Donghwa. 

 

In the movie Joe gets to know the princess’s identity and lies to her about his own. In the drama CSH knows KJH from the accident but doesn’t tell him and later apologizes for not being truthful.

 

In the movie Joe obviously has ulterior motives to spending time with the princess, KJH has none even refuses to give her his number in case she thinks he did all the things he did just to get her number. 

 

In the movie the Princess gets a short haircut as a sign of rebellion , CSH’s short hair like the rest of her outwardly appearance is probably controlled either by mother or her mother in law. 

 

The princess loses her shoe because she’s uncomfortable while receiving the foreign dignitaries, her entourage are aghast and embarrassed by her behavior, CSH ends up removing her shoe after being convinced by KJH furthermore he joins her by removing his own shoes and shares her embarrassment.

 

The princess refers to herself as Cinderella and talks about glass slippers. Now glass slippers are bound to be uncomfortable and a girl might take them off. CSH calls herself Cinderella when her secretary asks her what’s with her leather slippers. CSH laughs and says maybe she’s Cinderella - but those slippers look awfully comfortable and probably aren’t prone to causing aches and pains. 

 

Hopefully unlike the movie where the ending moral is that not all romantic encounters have a happy ending and stay a memory our drama will have a happily ever after!!!!

 

I’ve probably missed loads of other moments because I haven’t seen the movie in a while, I hope someone collects them all and makes a side by side reel of the movie and drama. There will probably be more as the drama continues. 

 

Wondering when is she finally going to ask him what the question was that he was going to ask her at the cafe during breakfast. For someone who is so curious about KJH she’s forgotten the most important thing that she’s meant to ask him.

 

The shoes are obviously a Cinderella metaphor and in the fairytale the story like the pair is incomplete until they find their way back to the owner but here we have a complete set of shoes that he buys for her which she were for temporary use till she reaches the hotel but she’s actually gone ahead and added them with the rest of her expensive designer shoes. Then we have her shoes which are with him, where he’s almost built a small little shrine dedicated to her with  her shoes and the soft toy that she won for him. CSH even wonders what happened to her shoes, she obviously doesn’t know they’re sitting on prime property in his room where he even steals glances at them while on his work table.. haha and KJH is under the impression that she didn’t really value the leather slippers, little does he know! 

 

Many things to look forward to, can’t wait for next week!

 

 

Edited November 30, 2018 by ahdrianaa

[beebeep]

@ahdrianaa - spot on analysis on Roman Holiday. I have not watched that movie but I googled and read about it yesterday due to this drama. I hope this drama doesn't follow the ending of Roman Holiday though. 

 

This drama is heart fluttering and I feel embarrassed for SH when she suddenly stopped in the middle of her speech in ep 2. I'm like "OMG SH, you're making it too obvious!"  However, I do feel that JH is a bit too green for SH and typically, you would be in a very different stage of life if you have a 10 year age gap. I hope this drama will convince us that JH is compatible and a suitable match for SH despite his young age and lack of experience in life. I also wonder if there's going to be a time jump in the drama in order to address this issue....                                                                       

Edited November 30, 2018 by beebeep

[gumtaek]

 

[YongZura⁷]

 

Spoiler

 

I am happy to see that they put the problem earlier on, so that we are able to see how both characters handle it on their own or maybe together.  If it is not, some viewers would have been in a dream like state, heart fluttering moment and forget the reality based on the first episode (I was..  )

 

Quote

“Drama is anticipation mingled with uncertainty.” by William Archer

 

It really makes me want to know what will happen next... 

[icyphoenix]

@ahdrianaa wow ur analysis n comparisons from the movie scenes r just soo perfect!! Grt observation!! 

As everyone mentioned abt CSH's ex hubby loving her.. I guess he loves her but his love is confined to his mother's commands, his status n etc!! I don't think he dared to express his love for her freely like KJH can do in future as I believe!! He finally thought him getting a new lover would trigger something from CSH,, but she remained passive n asked for alimony instead.. I guess he wanted some kind of expression from her when she sees him but he sees none!! I found his love by his statement "will you be happy to See Me? If I resolved it? ".. I guess her ex too had to learn to love beyond boundaries.. Hope he sees KJH n CSH n discovers his newself!! 

From the preview, it looks he will be disheartened more, I feel pity for CSH.. Her character is surely a curious one.. She likes to explore n ask questions n roam around.. But she is confined coz of her status.. As the start of the show showed her as her father's daughter n a chaebol's wife n a celebrity.. She was just like a dead person suffocating in her status!! But when she met KJH, she met what was she longing for.. A person who is willing to let her explore without stopping.. A person who was willing to explore it with her n be happy abt it with her!! That's y she is hesitant to leave KJH after their day is over!! 

KJH while is the person who saw her interior beyond her status n finds her adorable for her true self that is curious in nature.. During the speech, he was clearly embarrassed to see her but still her speech made him proud n happy!! His happiness clearly shows that he doesn't care abt status, age or being divorced etc!!.. He just wants to show her the sweetness of life which she has missed!! 

But it seems CSH will leave him as he is being slandered coz of her.. Hope KJH grabs her!!

P.s. guys have anyone noticed that the friend of KJH also has this tiny crush on him?..  She looked at KJH when she saw the news.. Did she notice that it was him even though the face of him was blurred!! 

[dydrawer]

Alright now I've watched episode 2 (at a time other than 4 AM, no less), I have a better formed opinion.

 

Song Hye-kyo is absolutely amazing. Performance was perfectly on point, measured and disciplined. Also her beauty... Song Joong-ki goes home to this? Lucky bastard.

 

I'm gong to have to echo a comment I saw earlier about Park Bo-gum overacting a little with the cuteness. It's not a huge issue, but it's definitely there. However, I also agree with a sentiment from above that there is no other actor that I see in his place. I cannot think of anyone else that mixes boyish charm, positivity and gentleness.

 

The cinematography was some of the best I've ever seen in a K-drama. In fact, it was so good, it almost felt like a movie at times (especially the scenes in Cuba). Whoever was behind that camera had great eyes for beauty. The sunset scene, with the most perfect music in the world -- simply seraphic.

 

Speaking of music, the OST was also noteworthy, not just in the high quality, but also how it transcends K-pop genre conventions. Thanks to the scenes Cuba, you do hear Latin and folk music elements. There were also distinctly classical elements. Combined with the usual genre tropes, and you get this strangely original and organic body of OST.

 

Two episodes in and I'm impressed. Keep up the good work, and they will be in good shape.

 

BTW: was CSH's mother played by the same actress that played Song Hye-kyo's mother in DOTS?

[gumtaek]

 

[ardently]

11 hours ago, Yenung Joa said:

Does any of you guys found him "overacting" when he tries to be cute or during nervous moments??

 

Also, check out the Recap of episode 2

https://www.asiandrama4u.com/encounter-episode-2-recap/

 

No, he's not.  That's how you act when you feel giddy and nervous in front of your crush.  Girls are like that and it's not different with boys, too.  

To add, they can even talk and look silly, or lose focus, become absent-minded, rattled.  Many of us experienced that, even I. 

[gumtaek]

 

[gumtaek]

Kim Jin Hyuk looking at Cha Soo Hyun

credit: bogum_seojoon_love IG

[marykarmelina]

Hello everyone!

Page 1 updated with correct translations for main characters

 

Thank you

@jma030201

For reminding me to update it

 

[caileysmiley]

 

NEWS

Posted by yckim124   12 hours ago

'Boyfriend' is the fastest tvN drama to reach double-digit viewer ratings

 

New tvN drama 'Boyfriend' had a very successful first week. 

 

According to Nielsen Korea, the second episode of 'Boyfriend' aired on November 29th recorded an average viewer rating of 10.3%. This is a 1.6% increase from the first episode. 

 

This also makes 'Boyfriend' the fastest tvN drama to reach double-digit viewer ratings. 'Boyfriend' also recorded the second-highest viewer ratings for a premiere episode. 

 

 

The heart fluttering romance between Song Hye Kyo (Cha Soo Hyun) and Park Bo Gum (Kim Jin Hyuk), as well as the beautiful cinematography, are gaining much love and compliments from viewers. 

 

Episode 3 will be airing next Wednesday, December 5. 

 

 

 

 

https://www.allkpop.com/article/2018/11/boyfriend-is-the-fastest-tvn-drama-to-reach-double-digit-viewer-ratings

[gakE]

 

dc

[bohmi]

I enjoyed reading all posts here. Thank you all 

 

8 hours ago, icyphoenix said:

P.s. guys have anyone noticed that the friend of KJH also has this tiny crush on him?..  She looked at KJH when she saw the news.. Did she notice that it was him even though the face of him was blurred!! 

She has a crush on him. In her character description,

"She’s a childhood friend of Kim Jin Hyuk, and has developed feelings for him. She has always felt that Kim Jin Hyuk has led a busy life and hopes that once he gets a job and settles down, he’ll have the time to finally see who she is and fall in love with her."

https://www.soompi.com/article/1268647wpp/tvns-encounter-shares-detailed-descriptions-interesting-cast-characters

 

I think she noticed it, because she and Jinhyuk had a conversation about their CEO (CSH) in playground before.

 

 

8 hours ago, dydrawer said:

Also her beauty... Song Joong-ki goes home to this? Lucky bastard.

Bo Gum's drunk scene made me laugh so hard and now this 

Actually netizen also said,

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

8 hours ago, dydrawer said:

BTW: was CSH's mother played by the same actress that played Song Hye-kyo's mother in DOTS?

Yes, she was the same actress, Nam Ki Ae

 

 

On 11/28/2018 at 8:48 PM, gumtaek said:

Sorry @bohmi! It worked perfectly for me! And it was soooo hard to stop watching! I just loved watching Song Hye Kyo and Park Bo Gum's faces.....so pretty and handsome! Will start posting now...

I'll try again next week. Thank you  and please get some rest..