You From Another Star: A Beautiful Letdown

Maybe I expected too much. They gave me a happy ending. Well . . . a sorta-happy ending. Nobody died. So why do I feel so dissatisfied? I used to worry that the writer would betray me with a tragic, heartrending finale that left me weeping in a puddle. And even though that didn’t happen, I still feel a little let down. I think YFAS is a victim of its own success. The first 20 episodes blew me away so much, that I expected the wrap-up to be this amazing, supercalifragilistic masterpiece of superhero, slapstick, romance, and warm fuzzies. Instead, it was . . . nice. Bittersweet. Like a piece of dark chocolate. Give me a cavity-inducing Resee's Cup any day.

I actually got this joke!

Since I’m still a rookie, who doesn’t even speak Korean, please allow me to pat myself on the back for actually getting this scene. I’ve been a fan of figure skating for years, and I knew of the controversy with the latest Olympics. I didn’t watch the ladies skate, but read that South Korea’s reigning gold medalist, Kim Yuna, turned in a flawless performance. They expected her to take the top spot on the podium again, but the judges placed a young Russian, Adelina Sotnikova, in first place. Apparently, sports commentators and former professionals alike called foul. There was talk of the “Home Advantage” Adelina got by skating in Sochi. Perhaps the crowd’s reaction swayed the marks. Who knows? It doesn’t help that the judges’ scores remain anonymous. No accountability. Who’s to say if the Russian judges didn’t cook the books a little for one of their own. So the fact that the writer alluded to this, and had Song-yi asking Min-joon if he couldn’t do something about it was hilarious.

The teary part, and the really teary part

We spend 20 episodes dreading the return of the mothership, and when the moment arrives, Min-joon just leaves without a word. Poor Song-yi and I both were like, “That’s how you’re gonna do it?” I don’t think I felt weepy at all during the finale. The next-to-last episode delivered the more moving goodbyes. First, with Lawyer Jang’s breakdown, and then Song-yi’s proposal. Speaking of which, would it have killed Min-joon to marry her before Scotty beamed him up? I expected some sort of ceremony after the way episode 20 ended, even if it were only symbolic. We never got that Going-to-the-chapel moment. Call me old fashioned, but I like my happy endings with shoes and rice.

The bromance that never dies

So many little brother moments! Him fighting with Song-yi for who Min-joon belongs to. Sitting with his favorite alien, chocolate milk in hand and promising to be good to his sister in exchange for the prized telescopes. Asking for just one hug and not taking no for an answer. And finally, discovering a planet which he names after his hyung. I just love this relationship. I wish we could have seen the reunion of the brothers-in-law after Do Min-joon’s return.

Pwahahahaha

K-dramas have this infuriating habit of redeeming everyone in the final hour, whether they deserve it or not. I’m so glad this was not the case with Psycho Puppy Killer. Who else enjoyed the satisfying sight of him locked in a dark, tiny cell with no one to talk to except the phantom of Do Min-joon? I expected this character to wreak some last minute havoc by breaking out of jail, or something. But, nope. He’s caught. Punished. That’s all folks.

The big, Hollywood ending

The lights. The cameras. The red carpet and designer gowns. What an appropriate place for a movie star to reunite with her true love. Except he disappeared again. I feel kind of like someone handed me a cookie, then took it back after one bite. “Here’s your happy ending. Just kidding!” But at least we got one sizzling liplock. Someone needs to sit Park Shin-hye down to watch this clip on a loop until the light finally dawns.

In many ways, this drama reminds me of one of my all-time favorites, Queen In-hyun’s Man. The Joseon/Modern juxtaposition. The insurmountable barrier of Time. And even the way they interspersed the heavy moments with bits of humor. But there’s one thing QIM got right, and YFAS didn’t. Song-yi brought the issue up herself. There was nothing she could do for him. Do Min-joon shoulders the burden of returning or staying lost forever. All Song-yi can do is wait. In QIM, the way the hero is able to return to his love is when she defies the fate-induced amnesia, remembers him, and makes a call that connects over centuries. (I wonder who her service provider was?) It took both of them to make their reunion possible. I know some people see this ending as a bit too convenient, but you can’t get more convenient than finding a magic wormhole. At least the cell phone macguffin was hinted at throughout QIM’s story. The wormhole was never even alluded to until the very end. Tah-dah! And I could have used a few more answers to the important questions. Is Do Min-joon still going to look the same when Song-yi is eighty? Will he spend centuries alone after she dies? Was she supposed to be the reincarnation of the original, Joseon widow? Did poor, sweet Hwi-kyung ever get a girl of his own? And, most importantly, was that pesky saliva problem ever solved?!!!!!! (For that last one, they could have showed it so simply by having a baby monitor sitting on the nightstand in that last scene. Just a little present for the eagle-eyed.)

I don’t want to sound ungrateful. You From Another Star provided me with so many moments of laughter and squees, and I thank it for those whole-heartedly. The end may not have been everything I wanted, but the journey sure was fun.

You From Another Star: Brotherly Love

So much good stuff this week that I won’t even try to catalog it all. Instead of focusing on our main couple of deeeessstinnnnyyyy (Is anyone else getting tired of that soundtrack?), let’s take a look at the brothers in the show. From side-splitting to stomach-wrenching, they gave us some of this week’s most memorable moments.

Cain and Abel Korean Style 

He’s been alluded to throughout the show. But they finally introduced Hwi-kyung’s older brother in flashback, and he’s just as sweet and supportive as Jae-kyung is sinister and psycho. As so many suspected, the original heir to S & C group fell prey to his middle brother’s homicidal tendencies. Does Nail Ring Guy practice these little speeches he gives to his victims? I imagine him laying awake nights thinking, “What is the most hateful way I can gloat over their paralyzed bodies as they take their last, dying breath?” It looks like the oldest and youngest brothers got all the kindness genes in the family. They must take after their mother, because it sure ain’t Papa-kyung that passed on any good traits.

Welcome to the family 

Yoon-jae continues to play the man in the family as he gives Do Min-joon his blessing to marry Song-yi. Then he takes him to meet his absentee Dad and gives his best imitation of a turtle as he huddles inside his jacket collar, trying to pretend he isn’t there, all the while soaking in everything his father says about taking care of your loved ones. Did anyone else get the impression that the Dad didn’t even realize this was his son? The fact that he never once looked at him during dinner made me think this. He hasn’t seen Yoon-jae since he was a tiny boy, so he might have thought he was just a friend of Min-joon’s. But later when Song-yi went missing, the Dad sat with Yoon-jae and Mom like it was no big deal. I’d like to see an actual reconciliation scene between father and son. Is that asking too much?

If Baby Brother is Rhett Butler, does that make Min-joon Scarlett O’Hara? 

Did anyone else notice the way Yoon-jae pulled Min-joon’s collar tight to protect him from the cold on their walk home? I just love this relationship. Drunk Do Min-joon is too cute. But what can beat the sight of our 400-year-old alien cramming his baby brother-in-law in a phone booth and teleporting home? How about said baby princess-carrying his hyung off to bed? I bet Kim Soo-hyun never thought he’d be on the receiving end of one of those swept-off-your-feet moments.

E.T., phone home 

You may not believe this, but I have never seen E.T. How did I make it through the 80s without that pleasure, you ask? It just worked out that way. But even I can recognize an extraterrestrial parody when it’s coming. When Yoon-jae held out his finger with that pleading expression. Oh my word! And then they HAD to go and play the E.T. theme music to back it all up. Just priceless. I really love how Min-joon humors his baby brother-in-law. And I don’t think it’s just to earn points with Song-yi, either. The Cheon siblings just have a way of melting a crochety, old alien’s heart.

So much for blood being thicker 

Hwi-kyung stepped up to the plate in a major way these last few episodes. At the beginning, he was a sweet, but empty-headed rich boy who spent what little brain power he had on ways to win over his beloved’s heart. But now you get the feeling romance is waaaaay down the list of his priorities as he orchestrates a plan to catch his scheming brother in the act. I don’t see a way that Nail Ring can get out of this one, with the pen recording of him murdering his older brother, the CCTV footage of him threatening his younger brother, and even his infuriatingly supportive father finally accepting what a monster his son is. I thought it was a plot hole that he would prepare the wine poison for Song-yi in advance. How would he know Min-joon would be there? Then I realized he probably did it as leverage with Hwi-kyung. He knew there was some sort of recording and probably thought he could trade Song-yi’s life for the pen. I guess he didn’t count on a teleporting alien being there to save her.

Only two episodes left and I still heart this show. So. Much. The Romance! The Bromance! One-upping the villain. Then two-upping him. Adding an insurmountable disintegrating alien storyline and leading our couple to a metaphorical cliff of sacrifice. Is the writer capable of building a plausible bridge to the other side where our happy ending awaits? If the first 19 episodes are any indication, we’ve got nothing to worry about.

YFAS: Not ready to let go

How does this show mix so much light and dark into one hour without setting off the eye-roll alarms? It should seem manic the way it swings from pain to punchline and back again. But I'm buying every minute. And wishing I could get my hands on the recipe, 'cause this angsty, alien fruitcake is too good to only enjoy once.

The thing I love about this show 

No matter how hopeless the future looks, the script never forgets to mix in a heaping spoonful of humor. After a heartbreaking scene where Song-yi abandons Min-joon in the woods because she can't handle the one month expiration date on their relationship, we're treated to a sobfest sing-a-long in Se-mi's van. I credit the writer for inserting such a scene at the right moment to relieve the tension. And I double credit Jeon Ji-hyun for her ability to sell any situation and make it seem sincere, no matter how farcical the premise.

Keeping the in-laws happy 

I dub this scene “Do Min-joon babysits Song-yi’s brother”. The way he humored an irate Yoon-jae like he was entertaining a five-year-old, and then bribed him with an offer of chocolate milk delighted me to no end. And the fact that this milk came in a juice box with a straw just added to my glee. All it took was one selfie with his fancy, high-powered telescope to turn “Stay away from my sister!” into “Hyung, she doesn’t deserve you”. I hope this isn’t the last we see of this duo because I can imagine all sorts of brother-sister squabbles as they fight over who gets to play with Do Min-joon today.

Petty superpowers for the win

I’ve already devoted an entire post to how awesome the superhero vibe of this show is. But how much fun was it to see Min-joon use his abilities to be the best Alien Boyfriend ever? Someone needed to teach that spiteful director a lesson as he made a woman WHO JUST GOT OUT OF THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT ON HIS OWN FILM SET dive down a hill for take after take. I wish that mound our hero mind-pushed him off of had been a little taller, but at least his sadistic sidekick went tumbling down with him. And then the hilarious scene with Song-yi taking everyone to the cleaners in Go-Stop. Talk about a sore-winner. I wonder if she knew her superpowered boyfriend was stacking the deck? But the best part may have been the adoring smile on his face as he watched her enjoy her lucky streak. I’d trade in the flying, teleporting, time stopping extras any day, for a guy who would look at me like that, even when I'm being ridiculous.

The Sides are stepping up 

I understand the necessity of giving extra screen time to the side characters as the story nears the finish. The stars must be exhausted from their copious scenes, and need someone else to share the burden. In so many other dramas, it feels shoehorned in, like a sudden romance for a co-worker that we don't even remember the name of. But I'm really enjoying the deeper storylines for Star's side characters. The little brother hijinks are totally floating my boat. And I am loving the new and improved Hwi-kyung. I'd actually be satisfied to watch him take down his brother, instead of our alien hero. I don't know why they refuse to flesh out Se-mi's character more. After Queen In-hyun's Man, we know Yoo In-na is totally capable of winning us over. I'd like redemption and a happy pairing for her and her longtime crush.

The most revealing epilogue, yet

So now we know that Song-yi makes it out of this show alive. I had my suspicions that we might be headed for some sort of double-death Romeo and Juliet climax mixed with a reincarnation They-Can-Be-Together-In-The-Next-Life cop out. But this epilogue showed us a hale and hearty Song-yi 100 days later. So that’s a little over two months after Min-joon’s scheduled departure. And she’s sitting in Namsan Tower waiting for someone. The obvious question is “Who?” I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a fake-out with her comic-book store friend arriving to keep her company as she sits there remembering her lost love from the stars. I really have no idea where this show is heading. Well, I have lots of ideas, but which one do I really want? If Min-joon misses the spaceship for the second time and chooses to remain on earth, he will still look like a baby-faced twenty-something when his significant other is a tottering senior citizen (a fact that was hilariously realized this week by a panicking Song-yi as she tried to slow down the aging process with face masks and hula hoops). As our age-obsessed actress so aptly put it, “That’s not a happy ending!” What if Song-yi decides to return to his planet with him? That somehow seems unlikely. Or our alien explorer could leave for home, find a magic pill that turns him human, catch the next new and improved comet back, and come walking into that restaurant as easy as pie. Yeah, that’s a total cop-out. I must have my happy ending! I just don’t know what it is.

Two weeks and still plenty of story left. But even if there wasn't, I imagine Jeon Ji-hyun could make a phone book sound brilliant, so I'm looking forward to our remaining time together. But when all is said and done, will I be able to let go?

YFAS: You sure know how to sweep a girl off her feet

I just got out of a bad relationship. You see there was this show called The Prime Minister and I. We spent 17 whole hours together and then it went and ended everything with a HANDSHAKE. But I’m an optimist at heart. Surely love would come again. Wednesday followed Tuesday, as it always does. And You From Another Star arrived to wash away any traces of the bad writing left over from PM&I. Thank you, show. Thank you for being so consistently awesome week after week. Even if you betray me at the finish with a sad, weepy ending, I think I can still forgive you because of all the many moments that left me grinning like a loon. Moments like this:

 Yes, YES, YEEEEEEEESSSSSSS!!!

This scene kept one-upping itself. Min-joon mind-flipping the desk before the evil baddie can press the emergency button. Then slamming him into the blinds, and lifting him off the ground. Of course, the raging psychopath smiles as if he still has the upper hand. So let’s sweep him to the roof and dangle him off the building. I bet there was a whole chorus of viewers chanting, “Drop him! Drop him!” We knew Min-joon wouldn’t kill the villain this early in the show, but I wanted the satisfaction of watching that perma-smirk wiped off his face. So what does our accommodating hero do? Drops him. Just a teeny-tiny bit. Mr. Puppy Killer falters, but still tries to play it cool and so our Joseon Superman mind-bends him back in slow motion and then . . . he let’s go. The bad guy screams all the way down until he brakes right above the pavement and hits just hard enough to scratch up that sneering face. I could have stopped right there and gone to bed happy. But I’m glad I didn’t.

Mystery Solved: Hwi-kyung has a brain and he’s not afraid to use it!

Hwi-kyung drew ever closer to unmasking his psycho brother, as he tracked down the missing sister-in-law to the mental hospital where she’s held captive. How hot was he when he gave Nurse Pants-on-fire the third degree? Not only was his IQ alive and well, but his EQ proved strong and steady when he brought a caravan of fancy, food trucks to Song-yi’s movie set. Just to make her look good. Plus it wiped the self-satisfied serenity right off the face of our second lead, Miss Aspertame (she looks like sugar, but just might kill you). Then he tops it all off by throwing himself under a falling Song-yi to save her life. In that moment, he was almost awesome enough to make me forget Min-joon. Almost.

Did Jun Ji-hyun need a vacation?

I read an article on Soompi that poor Kim Soo-hyun gets maybe one hour of sleep a night during filming. It makes me wonder if Ji-hyun arranged for extra rest as part of her contract, because between Min-joon pulling an Edward Cullen while she slumbered, to her ambulance ride, to her extended hospital scenes, her character spent most of Episode 14 flat on her back. (Has anyone else seen the dvd bloopers from Secret Garden where a tearful Ha Ji-won stands at the sick bed of the comatose Hyun-bin, and you suddenly hear him snoring? Hilarious.) Although I’m all for well-rested actors, I felt the absence of Song-yi’s sparkle. She injects her scenes with an energy which is all the more noticeable when it’s missing. Thank goodness she woke up at the end of Episode 14 in that brief but squeeable epilogue.

Can you blame her?

Song-yi put on her big girl designer pants this week and showed Min-joon he couldn’t toss her around like his own personal Barbie doll. She didn’t swoon at the sight of him appearing in her hospital room. She switched to formal speech to keep him at a distance (not that she always remembered to keep it up). And the sight of her cheerfully stomping her feet in the cold as she waited to film her tiny scene somehow got to me. I respect her for taking charge of her own life. After spending her entire adulthood in a pampered famous fishbowl, she’s finally learning how the other half lives. She could take the easy way out, and accept the help of her hot, manager-neighbor, but she’s got more pride than that. I feel for our poor, misunderstood hero. He’s only trying to do what’s best for her. But don’t we all hate to see him go down the noble idiot route?

Can you blame him?

Thankfully, Min-joon seems to be taking a detour into Selfishville. And I applaud the move. Especially if it will give us more kisses like this week. *Swoon* His overactive imagination gave him a much needed push toward Song-yi as he continuously pictured a romantic future between her and Hwi-kyung. Looking at it objectively, he should be pushing for her to get over him. He’s still a 400-year-old alien who’s leaving the planet in a month. How is this relationship a good idea? But he’s past caring, and so am I. We’ve both decided to enjoy the warm, fuzzies while we may. The future can go throw itself off a building.

So many shows have let me down this year. Marry Him If You Dare, The Prime Minister and I, Pretty Man. Is it any wonder I’m feeling a little hesitant to embrace something new? But I’m taking a page out of Min-joon’s book. Let’s see how selfish I can be as I relish every pratfall, superhero save, and toe-tingling smooch that this story will give me. It might hurt down the road, but I’d rather live in the moment.

You From Another Star: You remind me of someone

I got a snow day this week, thanks to the Head Weatherman Upstairs, and spent part of it re-watching Miss Congeniality. Anyone else remember, “I’m GLIDING here!”? When I later watched You From Another Star, it struck me how Sandra Bullock-like Song-yi can be. The girl has a gift for comedy. I never got around to posting about last week’s episodes. (Well, technically, I got around to the screencaps and typing out a few words on the computer. It was the finishing that never happened.) So I thought I’d pull from last week and this week to showcase several moments where our lovable egomaniac was the most Sandra-esque.

Roly-poly Princess 

This bit went on and on. But it never got old! The way she shuffled around in her vinyl cocoon. Min-joon flipping her over his shoulder and dumping her on the couch. And who could hate her doing a ninety-degree new year’s bow to her host’s “father”. I hope Jeon Ji-hyun isn’t claustrophobic. She probably spent hours wrapped in that full body straightjacket to get all those shots. For which I am ever so grateful!

I’d like to be a fly on the wall 

Let’s just ignore the fact that her outfit is lemon yellow. That might be the latest trend in South Korea, and I have never been what you would call a fashionista. But this posture! Watching Jeon Ji-hyun play this role makes me realize how prissy a lot of the K-drama actresses are. If they kick off their designer heels to chase after the guy, that’s a big action scene. But JJH climbs on furniture and sticks to the wall like a piece of silly putty. She hobbles around in sleeping bags, and careens across the ice like a five-year old. I wonder if she runs marathons or something? Where does she get all that energy?

Nutty as a fashionable fruitcake 

Again, let’s ignore the fact she’s wearing a primary color, striped poncho. Maybe it’s supposed to represent the bars on the cell they’re going to toss her into when she’s declared legally insane. Cause Song-yi is giving new meaning to the phrase “crazy love”. Her eyes bug out as she compares love to chicken legs and designer handbags. And the doctor wastes no time in upping her meds. I admit this scene felt a little over the top to me. But I’ll take over-the-top slapstick over unbelievable-amnesia-twist-makjang any day of the week.

Lock up the liquor cabinet 

On second thought, please don’t! Cause drunk Song-yi guarantees all sorts of funny-bone-tickling good times. Props to the writer for revealing her descent into Plasteredville bit by hilarious bit. I love the little things, like the way her body went straight as a board as she slid off the couch. Or the giant clip just dangling from the ends of her hair. And I REALLY love the big things. Like her screaming DO MANAGEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRR over and over. And Song-yi trying to buy Min-joon’s love with her sparkly heels. Remember, he has super-hearing. Did he have to listen to her drunken ramblings all night? Pfffft. Serves him right!

A little goes a long way 

You could feel the heavy in episode 12 as our leads spent most of the time unconscious or apart. Min-joon pushes Song-yi away knowing that every card in the universe seems stacked against them. But there’s always that glimmer of frenetic funny that our heroine brings, no matter how dire the situation. How about her faking tuberculosis as she hobbled to her front door, in an attempt to keep someone from buying Min-joon’s apartment? And who didn’t guess what was in her head the moment she glanced at the giant flower box separating her balcony from his? It was only a matter of time before she’d be scrambling up there. Thank goodness he called when he did, or he might have had to pull another Superman when she fell off the skyscraper, screaming DO MANAGEEEEERRRRRRR all the way down.

I saw Jeon Ji-hyun in The Thieves, but this drama has opened my eyes to what a well-rounded actress she is. She rips your heart out one minute as she faces her former “best friend” telling her their relationship was a fake from the beginning. Then she’s pure comedy gold as she flops around in a t-shirt and shorts with mascara streaks running down her face. If she ever gets together with Sandra Bullock for a movie, that is one ticket I will be lining up to buy.

You From Another Star: Hero Supersized

 

I must not be the only one noticing the Superman resemblance. Apparently, SBS ran a mock poster contest and the Boyscout in Blue made several appearances. Not that I'm complaining. I love the superhero vibe permeating this show. The swoony, save-the-day moments keep piling up, and this week only added to the ever-growing list. Let's check-off our snobby alien's other-worldy attributes, shall we?

Faster than a speeding fishbowl

Why the motorcycle stalker chose to throw a giant fishbowl at our heroine I'll never know. Wasn't it uncomfortable lugging that thing down the street? Didn't he get any weird looks? Anyway, Min-joon swooped in to pull Song-yi out of the way and then carried her off to safety, like a good hero should. And our leading lady wasn't too shook up to notice that he was in the car, and then he wasn't. Deny it all he wants. She's on to him.

More powerful than a runaway sports car

Did they rip this moment out of a DC comic? It was classic, damsel-in-distress being pushed off a cliff. But I don't mind. Him flying in from the sky and slamming his hands on the car as it screeched to a halt. *Sigh* So good. But how heartbreaking was poor, disoriented Song-yi crying for him to come back? Left all alone in the middle of nowhere. I understand why he had to protect his identity, but it was still a little cold.

Able to leap over the moon in a single bound

I suppose this answers the "Can he fly or just levitate?" question. If he can take his Joseon horse on a drunken joy ride across the sky, I think he can support his own weight just fine. I wish we could see more uninhibited smiles like that from our prickly professor. Is a full-on Superman-cradling-Lois-Lane-as-he-rises-above-the-clouds moment in our OTP's future? A girl can dream.

Standard Superhero Equipment: X-ray vision, Super-hearing, etc.

The superpowers keep piling up. He scanned Song-yi's teddy bear, no problem. And picked up on her cries for help from across the city. But there's one thing that's even sexier than super-hearing. Super-listening. She tells him to buy a cell phone, and he asks the salesman for the one with the best reception and saves her in his call list as #1. She mentions Udon, and he buys two servings. Because she previously said she doesn't like to eat alone. He pretends he doesn't hear her, but his ears are tuned to only one channel and it's all Song-yi Show, all the time.

You're my Kryptonite

Talk about an important epilogue. What could possibly top the kiss? How about Min-joon's confession that he regrets how he spent the last 400 years. He finally sees the value in a human life well lived: eating meals with another person, sharing your days with someone you love, and being remembered when you're gone. And it's the 15 Second Fairy that led him to this revelation. His heart is no longer invincible. But what can he do about it when he only has two months left on the planet?

What other superhero tropes await in the second half of the show? I'm hoping a cape will somehow make an appearance. I'll probably clap my hands together in glee if that happens.


*Thanks to Soompi for the top picture and their article on the poster competition. If you want to check it out, just cut and past the following address: http://www.soompi.com/2014/01/08/its-a-bird-its-a-plane-its-kim-soo-hyun/#.Us8SoMu9KSN

You From Another Star: And he's down for the count

After a round of kisses, co-habitation, and fake eyelash shopping, our touch-me-not teacher is finding it hard to stay on his feet when love keeps knocking him for a loop. Let’s count the chinks in his emotional armor, shall we?

Mr. Passive-Regressive 

Is it jealousy season already? This week the green-eyed crop was in full bloom. Never has a purple hair tie caused so much conflict. Min-joon just HAD to mention that Song-yi left it when she slept at his place. And he just HAD to mention that she was stone, cold sober at the time. This sequence played all the better intercut with the lecture our Passionless Professor gave on how childish and regressive the emotion of jealousy is and how he’s NEVER felt it. Welcome to the human world, Sir. It’s petty, but amusing.

So what’s the deal with Saliva, anyway? 

Has spit ever caused so much discussion with a drama before? Our strange visitor from another planet made one mention that he couldn’t mix blood or saliva and our imaginations ran wild. Was it poison? Could he get drunk off it? What was the deal? But then came the kiss. And now a shared meal. Seeing Song-yi grab his food with her own cootie-laden chopsticks kind of puts the final nail in the speculation coffin. Is it possible that there are no evil aftereffects at all? Maybe he just has a serious case of Extraterrestrial OCD.

400 year-old issues

Now we know why Min-joon feels sorry to the girl from so long ago. She traded her life for his. Whoever this young actress is, she’s just killing it. She makes you forget the age difference. And there’s already ample evidence that Kim Soo-hyun is an excellent crier. But that didn’t lessen the impact when he sobbed like it was the first time in his life. It looks like Min-joon truly loved Yi-hwa, even if his future self tries to deny it.

The Reincarnation Wrinkle 

In the real world – past lives? Give me a break. But in the drama world, it adds up to all sorts of interesting twists. I doubt it was accidental that they kept emphasizing Yi-hwa’s wish for her protector to see her all grown up. It’s like her dream is finally coming true in the person of Song-yi. But do they just look alike, or are they the same person? The scene in the museum points toward the latter. When Song-yi stared at the ancient hairpin, I expected them to turn it into a joke. Like when she got so nostalgic at the first snowfall, then she says she’s craving chicken and beer. But not this time. Out of all the exhibits in the room, she zeroes in on the pin. And then admits it makes her feel sad. Poor Min-joon’s frozen heart doesn’t know what to make of it, as it melts like a polar icecap.

Every centimeter counts

The epilogues are like a box of those mixed candies where you never know what you’re going to get. One moment it’s a good-natured nougat with Song-yi biting her manager on the head, then they suddenly drop the bitter, dark chocolate that she refuses any Sageuks because she hates the Joseon period. Even though she doesn’t know why. And I loved the sweet, cherry cordial extension of the balcony scene where Min-joon orders his reluctant houseguest to stay at least a meter away, then silently steps closer because she went too far. The poor guy tries so hard to keep his guard up, but fails every time.

I feel a little like Min-joon when I watch this drama. I know I should keep it at arm’s length because there’s a strong chance I could be huddled in a weepy little ball at the end. And then I take one step closer, because it’s just too beautiful to ignore. Whatever the ending, happy or sad, I'm in too deep to turn back now.

You From Another Star: The Alien. In the Library. With the Candlestick.

Remember the debate about whether this was a rom-com or a star-crossed lovers tragedy? Turns out we have another hat to throw in the genre ring. Murder mystery. This episode moved our characters around like the pieces on a game of Clue. So please allow me to pull out my metaphorical magnifying glass and examine the evidence.

Mystery #1: Who’s wearing the sparkly shoes?
Status: Solved

Kudos to the writer, who plotted this episode like an Agatha Christie novel. Feeding us a little information at a time. Jumping ahead 60 hours, then back to the cruise ship, and fast forward again. Yet, nothing felt rushed or confusing. I think we all knew it wasn’t Song-yi in those shoes. There’s still 16 episodes left, after all. But it didn’t lessen the enjoyment of finding out how she survived the Worst Wedding Reception Ever. I wonder if anyone asked for their gift back?

Mystery #2: Will Yura make it out of the show alive? 
Status: Solved 

Talk about an obvious NO. She was a goner the moment she tried to blackmail Smiling Psycho to the altar. At least she got to have an epic vogue-off with her rival before she slept with the fishes. And having Song-yi witness the hallway conversation between Yura and Evil Oppa, and then unknowingly carry off the hard drive with the incriminating evidence adds a delightful layer of suspense. Will she be the next victim on his hit list? Talk about an obvious YES.

Mystery #3: How many people want to kill this girl? 
Status: Under Investigation 

So far we have her careening off a cliff, kidnapped and tied up in the woods, shot at with arrows, and choked by her own mother. It’s been a rough two weeks for our child widow. Even with an alien superhero as her protector, it’s little wonder that she doesn’t make it. The only mystery remaining is how. Min-joon once referred to it as an “accident”, which makes it sound like it wasn’t one of the murdering horde that are lining up to off this poor girl. And he still feels sorry to her four hundred years later. Is this because he failed to rescue her again, or because the accident was his fault? We last saw the sageuk savior poisoned, tied up, and surrounded, so I don’t think this mystery will be solved anytime soon.

Mystery #4: Does Hwi-kyung really have a brain? 
Status: Under Investigation 

Well, looky here. Even Mr. Clueless can recognize a perv when he sees one. How much did I love his swooping in to save Se-mi from the clutches of the lecherous director? I’m glad he knows she’s alive. There was some doubt up until now. And, later, he knew enough not to out himself in front of the reporters camped outside Song-yi’s door. So there’s hope for him, yet. Now if he can just figure out that he’s wasting his time chasing Ms. Never-Gonna-Happen, and refocus on Miss Longsuffering Sweetheart. Is there really grey matter in that well-meaning blockhead of his? More clues must be collected.

Mystery #5: Was Casablanca right? Is a kiss really just a kiss? 
Status: Solved 

Lip contact achieved! What a relief. And they only made us wait four episodes. This bodes well for things to come. *Everyone does a little happy dance* Saliva doesn’t kill Min-joon or the other person, since they’re both alive and well the next morning. Then what does it do? Were there any after-effects from the cruise ship liplock that we still haven’t seen, yet? He interviewed that this was his first, so he must have learned the saliva rule from something else. Sharing food, perhaps? (That whole communal soup bowl thing they do in Korea took me awhile to get used to.) But who cares! We got a kiss. *Another little, happy dance*

So this Alien-Sageuk-Romcom-Murder Mystery show is really floating my boat. It’s smart. Tight. And gorgeous as all get out, both actor-wise and camera-wise. It may be the best thing I’ve seen all year. I’m still collecting evidence, and will let you know when the case is solved.

You From Another Star: Forgive me, for forgetting

I admit it. I forgot this show is Alien Awesomesauce, spread on top of a six-layer cake of sexy, smart and funny that leaves me shaking my head in admiration. Please forgive me, show. How could I even debate whether or not to turn you on? You reminded me quickly of all the reasons I want to be watching YFAS. Here are just a few:

Let’s go together.

Sageuks aren’t my thing. But the flashbacks could be a separate drama and I’d still be hooked. Nevermind the gorgeous scenery (I don’t think I’ve ever seen Korea look better. And Kim Soo-hyun may be one of the only men alive that can pull off those crazy tophats). The little girl who says she wants to grow up faster so she can capture her hero’s heart and then plays it off as a “first snow lie” just got me. I know she’s not going to make it, but it’s the “why” that’s still to be answered. And I have to give the show a big shoutout for assuming its audience has a brain. It never bothered to explain that our alien explorer can’t understand Human. It didn’t need to. Min-jung's smiling, slightly baffled expression conveyed it quite well. And we didn’t need any voiceovers clarifying how he suddenly started speaking fluent Korean. The guy’s a physical and mental powerhouse. He picks things up quick. We get it. Thanks for having faith in us.

You’ve heard my personality is bad, right? It’s not just a rumor. 

This sassy superstar with a soft, mushy inside is really growing on me. She’s seriously self-centered, but I like how attuned she is to her friend’s feelings. Her lecture to the fawning juniors solidified how smart she is with the social stuff. Don’t ask her to spell Propolis or write an intelligible book report. But if you need someone to read a room, or come up with a razor-sharp zinger on the spot, she’s your girl.

No one knows I’m your brother. 

If Song-yi embodies street smart, then Hwi-kyung must have a permanent seat reserved on the Clueless Bus. His ignorance of the social taboos in his undercover office job tickles my funny bone. (Mini-rant: If a co-worker spoke to me the way his senior lambasted him, I don’t know what I’d do. This is hardly the first drama I’ve seen this in, so I assume it’s a common thing in Korea. The newbie gets the crumb jobs. The newbie stays later than everybody. The newbie makes the coffee run. I understand it all centers around seniority and respect, but why do the seniors assert their authority by showing such DIS-respect? It makes me thankful for the people I work with, who speak to me in a normal tone of voice, and ask politely when they need me to do something. Okay. Rant over.) Hwi-kyung’s willingness to please only exacerbates the situation when he follows Mr. Meanie's advice by putting his family photo on the computer and everyone realizes he’s the boss’ son. Although I’m enjoying his current harmless but hilarious persona, it doesn’t line up with the flashback we saw of him in high school. Back then, he oozed harsh and haughty when Song-yi rejected him. I wonder if he’s mellowed over the years, or if he’s going to take a future turn for the dark side.

Always the bridesmaid 

They’re not giving Yoo Inna much to do, but I think she’s making the most of what she’s got. With her, it has to be all about the eyes as she reacts to being treated like The Invisible Woman by her junior actresses, reporters, and the man she’s loved for years. I hope that Hwi-kyung stops chasing after his unreachable star and recognizes the sweet, lovely woman in fabulous vintage-styled clothes right beside him. (Seriously, does anyone know where I can buy her wardrobe?)

If my appendix is removed, does my weight drop a little? 

Who knew appendicitis could be so fun? Min-joon can shout from the rooftops that he doesn’t care about Song-yi, but his actions drown him out. Spending all night at the hospital, surrendering your precious beeper number, and taking a stroll with the girl so she can pass gas isn’t exactly a declaration of love. But it’s a far cry from indifference. And what about the fact that this Prince Charming stole Cinderella’s shoes! That’s a new twist. The vibes between the two aren’t quite romantic, yet. But I love the one-on-one scenes. Every sweet gesture is wrapped in a verbal barb. The emotional armor is ten-feet thick with these two, and I look forward to the day when they finally lay their hearts bare.

Don’t worry show, I won’t forget how awesome you are before tonight. You can trust that I’ll be watching later, after I leave my quiet workplace where no one expects me to fetch them beverages or keep my head tucked between my shoulders.