EPISODE 3 MINI-RECAP & THOUGHTS:
We see more of Manager Oh and Business and Sales Team 3's struggles at One International. At first, it seems like filler, but later, we see how integral it is to Geu-rae's story. Manager Oh is known for being hard-headed, not your typical sweet-talking, ass-kissing middle manager, but one who wants to do what is right. In fact, in episode 2, Manager Oh rejects a colleague's invitation to play golf with the director, muttering to himself that work is work, play is play, one shouldn't mix the two. This can be a problem when business involves making compromises and being flexible with your pride. As it turns out, it has been a problem for Manager Oh, something that's well recognized by many people at the company including the executive director. This hard-headed pride is put to the test when his team, specifically assistant manager Dong-shik, comes under fire for missing a detail in a huge contract. They're able to avoid crisis last minute, but Dong-shik is put up for review by the disciplinary committee. Essentially, saving Dong-shik's career boils down to Manager Oh and whether or not he's willing to put down his pride to personally ask the director to drop the committee hearing. He's at his wit's end trying to decide when he happens to receive enlightening advice from Geu-rae, of all people (albeit unwittingly on Geu-rae's part):
You told me to get inside the tornado. You said the center is calm. Since I would still get hurt even if I stayed halfway near it, you meant that I should go all the way inside it, if I can't keep my distance from it. Is that not what you said? I'm angry at him, and he's also a cheeky person. But Han Suk-yul is necessary to me. I realized that I had to admit that truth. The point is that the gap between us is something I can't overcome with pride and determination alone. I know that clearly. Although it's embarrassing, for now, I have to survive for "tomorrow."
Interestingly, this is simply Geu-rae throwing back Manager Oh's own advice on how to deal with the flamboyant "original bomb" HAN SUK-YUL (Byun Yo-han) from earlier on in the episode. ("If you're not capable, he will use it to make himself stand out. And even if you're capable, he will use it again to make himself stand out. Such a person is like a tornado, giving difficulty and damage to the people around it. But a tornado's center is calm, you know. You should take possession of the center.") Geu-rae's interpretation of his advice as it applies to his situation inspires Manager Oh to bury his pride and find the courage to beg the director for forgiveness. At the moment, watching episode 3, it seems like an innocent, albeit touching, reversal with student becoming teacher, teacher becoming student. However, we see how crucial this incident becomes for Geu-rae's survival at the company later on.
I honestly liked Geu-rae's decision to partner with Suk-yul from the beginning, because a pairing with Young-yi would've been too easy. It also would've brought the drama into more romantic territories, which I prefer to stay away from just in this drama (please?). I love that Suk-yul is not easy to work with even though he sold himself that way. It's like a double laugh-in-your-face -- life isn't supposed to be easy, like ever. But, what I love more is how the story sets us up for the duo's imminent failure ("which bomb will explode first?"), only to show us up at the last minute. Bromance, yeah!
EPISODE 4 MINI-RECAP & THOUGHTS
We finally get to the epic...intern presentations. As I'm writing this, I realize how good this director-writer combo is at bringing the story to life, instilling so much energy and spark into these scenes that you forget you're getting excited about something so mundane in real life, lol. Anyway, Suk-yul and Geu-rae's presentation starts off badly with Suk-yul succumbing to his stage fright having forgotten to take his medication beforehand and Geu-rae just being bad, as dryly noted by Manager Oh, lol. However, in the 11th hour, Suk-yul finds inspiration from his memories about his father who's a factory worker and is able to overcome his stage fright, delivering a fantabulous presentation in the remaining time. It's an unlikely scenario in real life, but makes for great entertainment.
What's more interesting to me is their 2nd presentation in which they must try to sell a product to their partner from the 1st presentation, with the other partner rejecting or accepting the product at the presentation itself. It's a really clever idea, because not only does it test the interns' creativity and salesmanship, but also their ability to make both themselves and their colleagues look good without sacrificing either. And the partners don't know what the other is going to try to sell them ahead of time, so the acceptances and rejections are all ad-lib. It's a great set-up.
Suk-yul shows off his knowledge of textiles and factory work by trying to sell Geu-rae high quality fabrics, which explains that his flirtatious moves on girls from the previous episode really was to get his hands on these fabrics. Although Geu-rae and I, and I'm sure everyone else, believe he probably enjoyed the process a little too much. As for Geu-rae, he shockingly tries to sell Suk-yul slippers for the office as a metaphor for the importance of the office vs. factory, holding up Manager Oh's as a prototype, hehe. As he tries to convince Suk-yul, we are wowed by how well Geu-rae got to know Suk-yul, weaving that into his sales pitch along with some baduk lessons (shown in flashback as Geu-rae presents). I think what he says can be applied to many other situations in life:
Baduk Teacher (in flashback): On the baduk board, there is no such thing as a meaningless stone.
Geu-rae: Of the products that are born from the company, none exist without a reason.
BT: When a stone is lonely, or has fallen into a state where it is difficult to save, it happens when it lacks basis or when you fail to read the opponent's move.
GR: If a product fails, or is lackluster, it probably means your prediction analysis or plan design has failed.
BT: A stone that is difficult to save is left there to die. However, you use it to your advantage.
GR: We let failed products remain as failed products. However, we should plan better products based on failure.Needless to say, Geu-rae and Suk-yul's second presentation impresses the judges. At the end of this episode, we find out that 5 interns were accepted as contract employees including JANG BAEK-KI (Kang Haneul), Young-yi, Suk-yul, and of course Geu-rae. I just have to say - I'm really starting to dislike Baek-ki. He's so smarmy. Can you not be disappointed every time our puppy Geu-rae succeeds at something? And can you not snicker secretively to yourself when puppy fails at something only to turn around pretending to be all concerned? So fake. I can't wait for him to epically fail at something, like losing Young-yi to Geu-rae, which is the one romantic storyline I will allow in this drama. Yup, only if it involves Baek-ki's downfall. I guess that's saying a lot about Kang Haneul's acting chops and versatility.
We find out that the executive director most likely picked Geu-rae to stay because of his unwitting effect on Manager Oh in the disciplinary committee incident. I think it's pretty keen of the exec director to pick up on that. Although it may seem like something that only happens in dramas/movies, I think this situation is pretty true to life. You can try and work as hard as you can, but sometimes, what they see in you, what makes them take a leap of faith to take you on is not something you stayed up all night studying for. It's never what you expect, but it is an essential part of who you are. Life is funny. As such, I don't know how much Geu-rae's presentations helped his hiring decision. His decision may already have been decided before he even picked up his mic.
In the closing scene, Manager Oh gives some heartfelt advice to Geu-rae on the company's rooftop, giving the drama its title.
Since you're already here, hang in there no matter what. Here, the one who endures until the end is the winner. To endure...means that, by whatever means, you move towards wansaeng.* We are still misaeng.***Baduk term referring to a move that can survive any counter-attack, or in this drama's context, a "complete life."
**Baduk term referring to an incomplete move, or in this drama's context, an "incomplete life."
It speaks volumes about Manager Oh's character that he includes himself among the misaeng. This also makes me wonder if Manager Oh is much more similar to Geu-rae than we thought. (Failed) professional baduk player in the past, too, dare I say? They do say that failures are life's best teachers.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Honestly, I was a little disappointed with Im Siwan's performance this week. Don't get me wrong, his character portrayal of Geu-rae is still spot on - most of the time. In a couple spots this week, I'm starting to see the limits of his acting. He definitely doesn't over-act like other idol-actors, which is a relief, but rather under-acts falling a little flat at times. This greenness peaks through at the most unexpected times, like he forgot he was supposed to be Geu-rae for a beat, not Siwan pretending to be Geu-rae. Bottom line though, he's still an idol-actor starting to hone his craft, and my expectations were too high for him. I'm still rooting for him to develop into a top-notch actor, and I'm confident he's capable of doing that.
I'm continuing to love the show's directing and editing. The directing/editing hand is soft enough that you aren't being hit over the head with the meaning of a scene, but it's not too subtle and you see enough of it to marvel at its artistry. For example, during the interns' presentations, Manager Oh sits in the back with a female manager from another team who's more vocal about her opinions. The camera focuses on her reactions, with Manager Oh visible but conspicuously silent and out of focus in the background. Because of this juxtaposition, we get that Manager Oh is experiencing the same reactions on the inside, but he is hiding it under his gruff, prideful demeanor. At the same time, she is also a bridge to us, the audience, sympathizing with our awe as well as our cringing embarrassment as we watch the presentations together. It helped to bring to life what could've been a boring scene. I hope this thoughtful, impactful directing and editing will continue throughout the rest of the series. What a delight for the eyes and ears.
English translation credits: Viki.com
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