K-DRAMA RECAP: “Serendipity’s Embrace” Episodes 5 and 6

August 9, 2024
K-DRAMA RECAPS

Having gotten together after so long, our leads are relishing in the sweetness of the beginnings. But unluckily, their happiness is cut short by the sudden arrival of an unwelcome guest.

The question now is whether our male lead will stand his ground this time and walk down the path he really wants. Or will he just succumb to external pressure like in the past and let others determine his future?

Bunny S. watches Serendipity’s Embrace on Viu

Episode Recaps: 01 & 02 | 03 & 04 |

Serendipity’s Embrace Episodes 5 and 6 Highlights

“Come home quickly. I have important news.”

This week, we get more insight into why Hu-young suddenly traveled abroad during high school. Back then, it was Hu-young’s mother (cameo by Kim Jung-nan) who decided on the whole thing without discussing it with Hu-young. If it were up to him, Hu-young would have stayed in Korea and pursued Hong-ju. Yet Hu-young’s mother never changes her mind once she decides to do something.

In the present, Hu-young’s mother’s bossy attitude pretty much remains the same, basically ordering Hu-young to return back to the US, wholly dismissing what he wants to do. But this time is different. Hu-young has already confessed to Hong-ju after their awkward kiss that he liked her back in high school, and his feelings are still the same, telling her to give it some serious thought. But the question is whether Hu-young will remain resolute till the end or his mother will get her way as usual.

On her end, Hong-ju tries to avoid thinking about Hu-young or the kiss. And she has a valid reason for doing this. Back when they were stuck in the pit, Hu-young told Hong-ju that his dream was to become an animation director, yet unluckily, he couldn’t pursue this dream. So, Hong-ju, who hadn’t yet decided what to do in her life, settled to take on that dream and become an animation director herself. Yet, when Hong-ju went to see Hu-young to complete the career application together, she learned that he moved to the US without even a word for goodbye.

Now, Hong-ju is worried that Hu-young might leave her side again without a word. Add to this, how Hong-ju grew up on her own after getting abandoned multiple times and her tragic breakup with Joon-ho. Hence, Hong-ju settles to steer clear of romance. Why start a relationship when it is bound to end, anyway?

“I am having more fun now. I am on your mind now.”

Enlisting Sang-pil and Hye-ji’s help, Hu-young ropes Hong-ju into going on a group trip to the sea. Kyung-taek is also coming because the more, the merrier. Despite Hong-ju’s protests that they should pretend nothing happened, Hu-young keeps pushing forward. At least, he is now on her mind, unlike before.

Our leads have fun catching cockles and other sea creatures. And Hong-ju looks really happy. But in the process of grabbing a long-legged octopus, our leads trip and fall over each other. The close vicinity intensifies the situation, and Hong-ju almost gives in to her feelings and kisses Hu-young. Yet she pulls back and covers Hu-young’s mouth at the last minute. Not that Hu-young didn’t catch on to her real intention. Thus, getting excited that Hong-ju is starting to think of him as a man.

One conversation with Hye-ji later and Hong-ju slowly starts to muster up the courage. Though scared, Hong-ju decides to act on it, telling Hu-young to stay in Korea and not go back to the US. And when he assures her he won’t go, Hong-ju takes the lead and kisses Hu-young. Our ship is sailing.

For all this wait, Hu-young wants to stay stuck to Hong-ju. But when he calls her for breakfast, Hong-ju is already out shopping with Hye-ji, getting Hu-young childishly jealous. Yesterday’s ally is now today’s enemy. At least Hu-young is delighted after spotting Hong-ju’s hair perm and figuring she wants to look good to him on their next date.

“You won’t get enough of me by glancing like that.”

Our leads are excited about their first date, both dressed up, only to get disappointed after stumbling across Hye-ji sitting outside Hong-ju’s place. It seems like after moving on from her delusional crush on Hu-young, Hye-ji started to notice how good of a catch Kyung-taek is. But the thing is when Hye-ji suggests going out together, Kyung-taek turns her down. This is a bit confusing since Kyung-taek likes Hye-ji too.

Anyway, Hu-young and Hong-ju talk Hye-ji into visiting a sick Kyung-taek to check on him and ask him why he rejected her. But what is the use when Kyung-taek shuts down Hye-ji’s attempts to take care of him and makes her think he dislikes her? Funnily enough, when Kyung-taek tries to apologize to Hye-ji at work the next day, he utters the wrong words, asking if she is sorry. Hence, hurting Hye-ji more.

Back to our leads, having dropped Hye-ji off, they resume their date. But their sweet time together gets interrupted by the news of Hu-young’s mother’s sudden arrival in Korea. Earlier, Hu-young turned in his resignation from his job in the US. But that move didn’t sit well with his mother, who is also CEO of the company where Hu-young works. So, she came back to Korea with no intention of going back without him. And seeing how Hu-young’s mother recognized Hong-ju at a glace, it makes me worried about what is yet to come.

Meanwhile, Hong-ju has some issues to deal with as well. With Joon-ho acting clingy and drunk-messaging her, Hong-ju decides to hand over the notes she took while working on adapting the novel into an animation movie and pull out of the project. But just as she breaks the news to Joon-ho, he starts to get into a panic.

A worried Hong-ju asks if he is sick. And a clingy and annoying Joon-ho asks if she is willing to get back to him if his illness is the reason why he left her and went abroad. It seems like Joon-ho has no intention of taking responsibility for his past choices and admitting to his defeat. Yet even if he was crying alone at the airport after parting ways with Hong-ju, that wouldn’t make us sympathize with him because he was the one who prioritized his pride over his love for Hong-ju. How pathetic!

Serendipity’s Embrace Episodes 5 and 6 Musings

I understand that drama needs a source of tension to spice things up and help us understand what is at stake here for our leads. But the obsessive/bossy mother controlling the life of her child under the pretext of knowing what is best for him is really one of my least favorite tropes in Kdrama-land. Still, instead of getting annoyed by this turn of events, I will try to think of the situation differently.

Hu-young needs to show some growth to regain control over his life and make us root for him to be with Hong-ju. After getting hurt in the past by Joon-ho, Hong-ju deserves better than a man who drops his resignation letter without a plan on what to do next rather than facing the situation head-on and telling his mother outright that he doesn’t want to continue living like that. Hu-young is a grown-up man now, so what is stopping him?

On the other hand, we need Joon-ho to pull himself together and accept that he no longer stands a chance. For the sake of their memories together, Joon-ho needs to apologize to Hong-ju and get out of her life once and for all. That is the least he can do after hurting someone who loved him with all her heart and supported him to get where he is today. The drama’s leading men are both a mess.

Photos and Videos: tvN Drama

 

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Bunny Sonaki

I am Bunny. Just like you, I am smitten with Kdramas and look forward to watching every Kdrama out there, but is that dream ever possible since they keep showering us with new dramas every day? For me, Kdramas are my comfort zone and a warm hug that makes it possible to face up to whatever life throws my way.

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