by: Raine

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This episode is the pivotal point of the drama. The end is in sight and I have a few ideas about what that ending holds.

Episode 6 came in at 4.2% according to AGB Nielsen Nationwide.

Episode 11 – Gu Mi-jin begins!

“Only You” –  Instrumental of the song sung by Goo Ja-myung  (from the The Thousandth Man OST)

episode 6 recap

A class of young gumihos learn the best ways to choose livers. While young Mi-mo excels in concocting schemes to steal men’s livers, Mi-jin is concerned with making the men fall in love with her. Teacher says: FAIL! Mi-jin must bring out her tails to be beaten by a bamboo stick; then teacher wants to tell mom how bad her kid is. Mi-jin cries and begs for forgiveness.

Present day: Mi-jin begs her mother for forgiveness because once a trouble maker, always a trouble maker! Mi-sun thinks her daughter screwed up in choosing to date Eung-suk (who Mi-sun calls “Beanpole”) for love rather than for his liver. Mi-mo wants Eung-suk to live and wants her sister to pick a different liver donor love interest.

Still harping on choosing murder over love, eh mommy dearest?

Chef Seo slides a white envelope over the single dining table in Last. He thought he was more than just a chef to Eung-suk; he thought he was a hyung. Eung-suk, of course, is horrified by this apparent resignation. He knows he hasn’t been paying enough attention to Seo, but still, “this” is wrong.

Seo points out that Eung-suk has been leaving the restaurant all the time, staying out late and being overall girl crazy. He wonders if Eung-suk likes “the bold one” or someone else. Eung-suk isn’t quite ready to divulge his crush and asks his hyung to be patient. With reluctance, Seo agrees and rises. Eung-suk offers him the white envelope back, which Seo scoffs at. It’s the receipts for the cabbages.

BWAHAHAHA! Nice play, Chef Seo.

Mi-sun sits in her office worrying over what to do about her daughter who has fifteen days to live. She remembers watching the 2002 World Cup semi-finals between Korea and Spain. She is alone, excitedly banging a pot and spoon as Korea wins the game. Just then, Mi-mo calls. She has become human. Overwhelmed with relief and pride for her country, Mi-sun cries.

A little while later, Mi-jin comes home, excited about Korea’s win but Mi-sun is now sober. Although Mi-jin has ten years to find her last liver, Mi-sun still worries. Each time she sees Mi-jin’s tails come out every full moon or each time she sees her daughter consume raw meat, she is deeply troubled. Mi-jin reminds her mother that what is important to her is not that she become human, but HOW she becomes human.

She promises her mom she will become human and be a good daughter to her.

Why does this promise give me a feeling of dread?

In the present, Mi-sun assures herself that the decision she made was the right one. Secretary Park enters and questions the decision, but immediately scurries away at her orders.

What. A. Pussy.

Mi-jin comes to work only to find that everyone, including her mother and sister, is ignoring her. Why? Mi-sun’s plan is to pretend that she doesn’t have a daughter like Mi-jin – Mi-jin shouldn’t appear before them again. Then she and Mi-mo leave her shocked and alone in the office.

Secretary Park carries out Mi-sun’s plan by brining all of Mi-jin’s things to Last. Eung-suk and Chef Seo are surprised and Park is purposefully vague as to whose belongings these are. But the Last staff guesses that its Mi-jin’s.

When Park leaves, Seo wonders if Eung-suk has done something he should take responsibility for. Kekekekeke! But Eung-suk shushes him so that he can think.

Mi-jin goes home and sees her room has been cleared out. Mi-sun has gone all out to bring her daughter to her senses.

For once, I don’t absolutely detest a mother’s interference. This is literally a life and death situation and Mi-sun is doing what she believes will push Mi-jin towards her last liver.

Eung-suk calls Mi-jin and they meet. Instead of being hurt, however, Mi-jin is furious. She rants in an embarrassingly loud voice that Mi-sun has nothing to be angry over. They didn’t sleep together; in fact, Mi-jin wouldn’t be as upset if they did. They Mi-sun would have a reason for her anger and her actions.

Well, she does, just not one that you see clearly, Mi-jin.

Eung-suk promises to meet with her mother and when he does, Mi-sun coolly says that he can take Mi-jin with him. He assures her that nothing happened but Mi-sun won’t have it. As long as Mi-jin sees him, she won’t become human.

The language that she uses incites Eung-suk. Mi-jin is one of the most human people he knows. But Mi-sun literally refers to Mi-jin as a biological human and Eung-suk assumes that she means Mi-jin doesn’t act like a human.

Mi-sun won’t be moved. Mi-jin won’t become human while with him; it’s wrong that they’re seeing each other. Mi-jin rises and grabs Eung-suk. She declares that she won’t ever come back, leaving a very, very sad mommy.

Mi-mo and Woo-hyun are drinking at a restaurant. Well, Mi-mo is drinking and absolutely miserable and heartbroken. She wants to know why he likes her and the answer is simple – because it’s her. He understands that she’s drowning her sorrows in alcohol. It begins to rain and she sobs anew. The moon is out and it’s raining on the fox’s wedding day.

As Mi-jin sleeps peacefully in Eung-suk’s bed, her tails lazily waving in front of her face, Eung-suk lies restlessly on the sofa downstairs. He recalls everyone’s very different and very strong opinions about them being together; especially Mi-sun’s.

The next morning, it is drizzling outside when Eung-suk and Mi-jin wake. He had trouble sleeping because there was “some beauty” in his bed. Mi-jin  muses that it means a beautiful person and Eung-suk wonders if he said something wrong. She has a lot on her mind and Eung-suk wraps a comforting arm around her…

…and then pulls away when Chef Seo catches them in the act! Ooh lala!

Mi-sun is picking photos of Mi-jin to present to a fortune teller than Mi-mo found. He goes by the name “Hip Sin.” In English, “Hip God”. As they speak, Secretary Park is waiting in a hallway watching two guys spout some West Coast style rap.

Chef Seo sits Eung-suk and Mi-jin down like a parent would and lays down some ground rules.

1. They cannot share a room.
2. Mi-jin needs permission to enter the kitchen.
3. When they are alone in a room, the door must be open.

Mi-jin nods agreeably to all of the rules, but Eung-suk thinks the third condition is ridiculous.

Heehee. Your hyung is blocking your mojo, I know.

The real reason behind Seo’s conditions are to stay in Mi-sun’s good graces. He encourages Mi-jin to consider him as a “dad” and to trust him. Mi-jin is more intrigued by Seo’s interest in her mother – he is adorably self-conscious about it.

Mi-jin worries about what to do during the full moon – her tails pop out.

.

Secretary Park is addresses the rapping kids and I seriouly crack up when one says “Yo, wassup, man?!” Seriously, I said that crap in middle school. Pfffft. And then he proceeds to talk in the strangest Korean I’ve ever heard – again, I laughed my ass off.

Anyway, Park gets called to see Hip Sin and he calls in Mi-sun to meet the fortune teller.  Mi-sun looks properly awkward while Mi-mo is totally into it. I, however, can’t take him seriously; he is totally ghetto like fo’ real Miami-style.

Hip Sin has one of his men lay this horrendous beat down and he starts free-stylin’. Basically, he hates being considered a quack and tries to rouse the gumihos. At first Mi-sun hesitates, but then joins in.

He begins the fortune:

Korea is south and north

Hip hop is east and west

You’re human and you’re human

But this one can’t tell life and death

Like a fox who’s hiding her tails

Someone who’s not human loves a human

Like a fox

The gumihos are shocked by his accuracy and wonder, “Will she get what she wants or not?”

Hip Sin continues:

Miracle of love that lasted 1,000 years.

It comes true after 1,000 times.

But the truth changes.

Reality changes before love.

A girl like a fox.

A fox like a girl.

can feel her love.

Her last love.

Okay.

She’s pure before love.

But reality allows no love.

Somebody has to die for her to live.

Somebody she passionately loves.

Miracle of love that lasted 1,000 years.

It comes true after 1,000 times.

But the truth changes.

Reality changes before love.

A girl like a fox.

A fox like a girl.

I can feel her love.

Her last love.

As he raps, a real beat takes over the terrible beat-boxer’s and the rap starts to really groove. We see Mi-jin spending time with Eung-suk. He treats her tenderly and she looks hopelessly sad.

When Hip Sin finishes, they ask if Mi-jin will meet someone she loves or not. Then Hip Sin passes out. Mi-sun seems pleased enough. This fortune teller saw further than most. Besides, Mi-jin’s spirit is too strong.

Okay, this just gives me the willies. I want my happy ending! This does not foreshadow anything good.

And in one of the best scenes of the episode, Mi-jin is suffering under the effects of the full moon. Her eyes start to gumi-fy and her tails come out. Eung-suk hears her restless movements and goes upstairs to check on her. She begs the excuse that it’s “one of those days.” Although he looks semi-mollified and intimidated, her condition really worries him. He approaches her with the intention of taking her to the hospital and she FREAKS out.

It’s absolutely hysterical. Poor Eung-suk is starting to realize that he’s dating a very, very bizarre woman.

Mi-jin’s gumiho-ness passes and she heads to the kitchen to explain that she is peculiar and her condition changes quickly. Sweetie pie Eung-suk has made her steak and salad to boost her energy. All he needs to do is clean up. He carefully wipes his chef’s knife and this brings back memories of Mi-jin’s Goryeo Dynasty husband cleaning his sword.

It occurs to me that Mi-jin looks a bit petrified of the sword that could potentially kill her. The husband is a gumiho hunter, so that’s easy to understand.

Her husband asks what she means when she says she is a woman who lives on death.

In the present day, Eung-suk glances up and asks her the same question.

Episode 12 – A very strange woman

Mi-jin recalls telling Eung-suk that she lived on death in episode two on the bench. Then Eung-suk quietly explain that he thinks he knows what she means. Being with her taught him that foxes hide themselves when they’re in pain. Mi-jin must be in terrible pain if she says she lives on death. And she’s never taken any medicine. He takes her hand and tells her she’s not alone anymore. Even if it’s not long, he’ll be with her. He knows how she feels better than anyone

Dagnabbit he’s so sweet!

Mi-jin announces that she’s hungry, ruining the mood. I don’t think she knew how to respond to such an insightful comment. His words are true in the figurative sense, but he doesn’t know that they are true in the literal sense as well.

Although she sent Mi-jin away, Mi-sun is still a mother at heart and packs Mi-jin’s favorite foods. She has Mi-mo deliver it.

Outside, Mi-mo’s knight-in-shining-armor awaits to take her wherever she fancies. Well, he kinda orders her to get on the bike and she’s so overwhelmed by his take charge ‘tude that she jumps right on!

On the way to Last, Mi-mo’s hair gets in her face so Woo-hyun stops the bike and braids her hair. She is completely flummoxed and is definitely wavering.

Good going, Woo-hyun!

Mi-mo delivers the package and Chef Seo tells her not to worry, he will protect Mi-jin like a father. She’s a bit weirded out by that and mutters that he was in diapers when she was in Vietnam.

BWAHAHA! LOVE IT!

Chef Seo is curious as to what Mi-sun packed and opens the lunch box – he gasps in horror.

Mi-jin and Eung-suk and he needs a break – not everyone has gumiho stamina. When he cools off with water from the stream, he reminds her again of her general husband. She says this out loud and he wonders when she knew him.

Ooooh, buddy that’s a loaded question.

She hesitates to tell him, knowing that people never believe her. But he assures her that even when others won’t believe her, he will. His words give her courage and she admits that it was during the reign of King Gong Min (on the throne from 1351 to 1374.) Despite his promise, Eung-suk laughs aloud and cannot believe how outrageously she lied. Mi-jin is hurt and Eung-suk grumbles that he shouldn’t ask a woman about her past.

Although she just wanted to be honest with him, Mi-jin figures she’ll need more proof to convince him. She whips out her phone and shows him pictures of important historical pictures she knew. Eung-suk laughs at these as well. She grows quiet and says that if someone lived a thousand years she could’ve met many famous and many normal people. Eung-suk snarks that she looks as though she’s lived a thousand years.

Mi-jin stalks away in annoyance.

Eung-suk confides his woman troubles to Chef Seo who determines that Mi-jin has histrionic personality disorder and only lies to garner attention.

Way to stereotype a woman, pal.

Then Seo brings up Mi-jin’s strange taste in food. He brings out the packed lunch and reveals clotted blood, cow liver, raw intestines, chicken brains, raw liver and the highlight: cow tongue.

Eung-suk cries out in abject horror. they wonder if these foods are really her favorite and decide to ask her.

Upstairs, Mi-jin searches for the knife her general husband gave her to prove to Eung-suk that she is not lying. But the knife is missing. She leaps off the balcony to find it. So when Seo heads upstairs to ask her about the meat, she’s not there. He finds the letters and journals from her box laid out on the table, finding them quite curious.

Mi-sun cradles Mi-jin’s knife in her arms, missing her daughter when suddenly Mi-jin appears, scaring the crap out of her mother. Why did Mi-sun take the knife that belonged to her husband? You know, the one who looked exactly like Eung-suk.

This news surprises Mi-sun who didn’t know that the two men were somehow linked. She wants to know if the general gave her his liver.

No, he didn’t.

This is interesting. Of all the livers she’s eaten, this was one of the easiest to take. He was dying anyway, she could’ve just taken it – and he died to save her because he loved her. But she didn’t take the liver. So the general, and therefore Eung-suk, are very important to her. Oh, more ominous signs.

Now for something completely different.

Secretary Park has heard about Chef Seo referring to himself as the girls’ father and has come to challenge Seo to a duel. They go to a dock where Park gravely asks if Seo referred to himself as Mi-jin’s father. Seo flippantly answers, “So what?”

And then Park strips off his jacket and prepares to fight. He lets out a primal scream and charges Seo. Leaping into the air, Seo looks done for, until he steps aside and Park careens right past him into the dark waters of the harbor.

Park rises, soaking wet, spits out a stream of water and forgives an exasperated Seo.

When Seo returns utterly bewildered, he passes by Mi-jin and Eung-suk. Mi-jin quickly covers her absence in her room by saying she was in the bathroom and too embarrassed to come out.

Eung-suk finally asks her about the meat and she explains the nutritional value of everything, but he’s still disgusted. He also jokingly wonders if she learned cooking from Jang Geum, the famous female chef. Jang Geum unni? Mi-jin queries, much to Eung-suk’s exasperation. First Hwang Jin Yi was an unni and now Jang Geum?

Anyway, Mi-jin says she learned to cook from them in the royal kitchen and Eung-suk chalks it up to her lively imagination. So Mi-jin promises to cook him a dish she made for the king.

(In this scene, Mi-jin is sleeping in front of Eung-suk’s projected wall clock as though it were timing her last fifteen days…*gulp*)

That night, Eung-suk tosses and turns, remembering everything that has happened. He finds her strange and tries to guess what she is if she’s telling the truth. Vampire? Dracula? Gumiho.

DING! DING! DING!

Of course, he thinks he’s nuts for even contemplating such things.

Mi-jin can’t sleep either, feeling horribly injusticed by the fact that he won’t believe her. She tries to remember the dish that Jang Geum taught her.

In the 14th-century, Mi-mo and Mi-jin sit peeling vegetables. Mi-mo complains that there are no men around, but Mi-jin assures her that they just haven’t encountered them yet. She also teases Mi-jin for sucking at peeling vegetables.

Then a mysterious woman comes and says, “Mind your business.”

 Comments:

Okay, this ending left me hanging, and not in a good way. Perhaps it was lost in translation and I missed something because I don’t speak Korean. But I seriously have no idea what it could mean. Is it their mom telling them to focus on livers? Is it Jang Geum telling them to focus on preparing ingredients? Was Jang Geum a gumiho?

I wonder what Mi-sun hopes to gain from kicking Mi-jin out. Does she want Mi-jin to be discovered by Eung-suk, rejected and thus forced to move on? Does she hope Mi-jin will quickly come clean to him so that she can reunite with her family? In any case, Mi-sun’s desperation is making me nervous. Really, really nervous.

I mean, first Mi-jin promised her mother the day of the World Cup semi-finals that she’d become human. But now that there are fifteen days left, I feel a strange sense of foreboding. Not to mention that we have the rapping fortune teller who passed out when asked Mi-jin’s fate; Mi-jin laying in bed in front of the ticking, projected wall clock instead of Eung-suk; the fact that she didn’t take the Goryeo Dynasty husband’s liver; AND this is a melodrama.

I think she’s gonna die. He’s got cancer; he’ll probably die. But as I mentioned in an earlier recap, it would be nice if she could sacrifice to save his life. It’ll show full growth on her part. If she wants to become human in the proper way, then giving her laugh for a loved one seems to be a fitting end.

Also, what’s up with Eung-suk keeping his illness from Seo. Not cool. I’ve been meaning to mention that. But being left in the dark is a good plot mover, no? That should be fun when he finds out. AND, he’s already creeped out by the meat thing with Mi-jin and thinks she’s strange…hrm…

Even though this show is about Mi-jin and the liver, this episode really was about Mi-sun for me. A mother who loves her daughter and fears for her death. Mi-jin really doesn’t get it an it’s heartbreaking.

In conclusions! (heehee) Episodes one through five were a bit episode with the men that flitted in and out of Mi-jin’s life. I’m guessing that six through eight will unravel the mystery of the gumiho and reveal who lives and dies!

Episodes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Character introductions.

The Thousandth Man Episode 6 Screencaps.