Wok of Love Episode 19
Sae Woo (Jung Ryeo Won) declares the food they cooked together yummy. Seo Poong (Lee Joon Ho) asks when she got her divorce. Seo Poong tells him when. Seo Poong admits he likes her but likes Chil Seong too. He declares he won’t hurt Chil Seong. He tells Sae Woo not to like him. She’s surprised but agrees. Seo Poong says he wanted her to know in case she liked him. Sae Woo stands and leaves. Seo Poong isn’t totally happy but won’t pursue someone his friend likes too.
Sae Woo sits at the bus stop, bummed out.
The old woman (Lee Mi Sook) tries to retrieve Seo Poong’s shoes. Seo Poong sees her a says a ladder is needed. She says that Sae Woo and he have the same lost and lonely look. She asks if he’s dating Sae Woo. He denies it too quickly. She warns him to tell the truth and go after Sae Woo. He thanks her for helping to retrieve his recipe book. The old woman claims that Sae Woo was weeping when she left the eatery. She says that Sae Woo said she wanted to die. Seo Poong can’t let that alone and he takes off after her.
Walking the hospital grounds at night, Doo Chil Seong (Jang Hyuk) recalls Sae Woo chastising him for getting hurt again. Another patient uses his IV stand. Chil Seong decides to smoke and lets her have it. She returns to him so he can hang his IV.
Seo Poong finds Sae Woo with her head down at the bus top. She’s not crying like the old woman claimed. Sae Woo admits she’s worried about seeing him tomorrow. Seo Poong assures her everything will be okay.
The patient tells Chil Seong she has lung cancer. He stops lighting up.
On the bus, Sae Woo replays Seo Poong’s blow off. As she walks home, Sae Woo isn’t happy at the mixed message that Sae Woo is rejecting her while saying he likes her. She wonders if she should only listen to the part she wants to her (that Seo Poong likes her). She gets irked and tells the fantasy Seo Poong that he hurt her feelings. She orders him gone and he goes. But that isn’t what she wanted.
Chil Seong leaves the hospital in the morning. Seo Poong picks him up. That puts a smile on both their faces. Nice! As they drive Chil Seong spots Sae Woo and wants Seo Poong to give Sae Woo a ride to the eatery. Seo Poong pulls over and after hesitating invites Sae Woo to join them.
Chil Seong tells Seo Poong to be nicer to Sae Woo. He defends Sae Woo limited skills in the kitchen. Seo Poong asks if Chil Seong likes Sae Woo. He confirms it. Chil Seong admits that Sae Woo declared that his criminal past doesn’t scare her. He shares that Sae Woo is beautiful in his eyes. Seo Poong doesn’t agree. Chil Seong smiles and says Sae Woo is beautiful to him.
Sae Woo practices her wok skills. Seo Poong makes a dumpling and tells Sae Woo to get changed for work. She bemoans the awkwardness between them. Seo Poong gives his team a flexible soup dumpling. Seo Poong gives the flexible soup dumpling to Chil Seong and his men. He asks for feedback.
Chief Wang declares to his team that their menu will differ from Seo Poong’s. Chief Wang makes his dumpling dough thin and razor thin. He then fries the dumpling shreds.
The team is impressed with the dumpling. Sae Woo tells Seo Poong he should have sought medical treatment so his wrist heals quicker.
Chil Seong and the men try the soup dumpling. They claim the dumpling soup is good.
Chief Wang gives his team a crispy dim sum. They love it. He recalls CEO Yong Seung Ryong (Kim Sa Kwon) telling him that if he loses to Seo Poong, he’ll be fired.
Seo Poong’s team doesn’t like that taste of the soup dumpling. He can’t believe the differing opinions from Chil Seong and his men. Seo Poong’s team urges Chil Seong’s men to tell the truth. They admit they lied per Chil Seong’s direction. Seo Poong warns them all not to lie to him again. Seo Poong declares if they don’t lie, they can become his delivery men AND he’ll teach them to cook. He warns them in the kitchen, he’s the boss. Chil Seong is pleased. His men are pleased.
Seo Poong’s team tells him they should have worked together to make the soup dumplings. Sae Woo tells him doing it alone created unbalance in the final product.
Sae Woo scolds Chil Seong about lying to Seo Poong. He smiles as she walks away.
Wok of Love Episode 22
Sae Woo urges Seo Poong to go to the hospital. He walks away. She follows. She says its better if they go together. She talks his hand and they go. But it’s Sae Woo who ends up being treated by the doctor. After adjusting her shoulder and wrist she scolds her for not coming sooner.
The old woman visits Chil Seong in his office and declares when he lifted her out of harms way her heart fluttered. Chil Seong chuckles. The old woman tells him about Seo Poong flip flopping about Sae Woo. She asks if they are involved. Chil Seong scoffs at the idea…or does he?
As Seo Poong and Sae Woo receive treatment they stare into each other’s eyes. Sae Woo is surprised she needed medical attention. She vows to work both the wok and ladle. They both declare they can separate their profession activities from their personal. Seo Poong tells Sae Woo her description of his subpar soup dumplings was a bit harsh. She asks if he wants her to sugar coat her words. He denies that. She promises to say what she thinks and wants from now on. She vows she’s done with men telling her what to do. She stares at Seo Poong and smiles. He smiles too.
Nice moment. I want Sae Woo to go for what and who she wants. Stop being obtuse, start being clear.
When they arrive at the eatery, Chil Seong asks to speak with Sae Woo. He asks if she’s married. Sae Woo states she’s divorced. He congratulates her. He walks away. He exits and breathes a sigh. Chil Seong goes outside to speak with Seo Poong. He smiles and asks if Seo Poong broke up with his wife. Seo Poong confirms this. Chil Seong notices his ring is gone. He congratulates him. He tells him to meet a better woman next time. Seo Poong declares he won’t date, he’ll work. Chil Seong chuckles.
Is Chil Seong wondering if Seo Poong and Sae Woo like each other?
Seo Poong works on his soup dumplings. It doesn’t go as planned. He gives up. As he exits the eatery he spies a kitten. He tells the kitten he can’t get the dough balloon right. He sighs things aren’t going his way.
He continues his quest to get the soup dumpling right. He even sleeps at the eatery. He announces to his team that the dim sum festival starts tomorrow. Everyone works together. Chae Seol Ja (Park Ji Young) corrects Chil Seong’s men and Jin Jeong Hae (Lee Mi Sook) as they prep the food. Later Seol Ja apologizes to Jeong Hae. She shares that Seo Poong and Chil Seong’s men aren’t always complimentary. Jeong Hae says she knows Seol Ja went to a hotel with Maeng Dal. Seol Ja denies anything is going on between them. Jeong Hae thinks Maeng Dal is cute.
Everyone takes a snack break. Chil Seong directs everyone to call Seo Poong chef when they talk to him.
Seol Ja gets a call from Chief Wang as she exits the eatery. He invites her to work with him. She hangs up on him.
Seo Poong finds Sae Woo cooking a meal. Seo Poong declares he won’t eat it. She urges him to try her food. He critiques her dish. He says even though it isn’t perfect he’ll finish it. Sae Woo likes her food. Seo Poong asks for a piece of bubble gum. They chew. Seo Poong considers his soup dumpling dough. He decides to tweak the recipe. They make the dough together. It still does not hold when he blows. They try another variation of the dough. It doesn’t expand enough when he blows. They try another variation of the dough. It holds when he blows. Excited Sae Woo kisses Seo Poong on the cheek.
Chil Seong sits outside the eatery. He thinks about Sae Woo confirm she’s divorced. He thinks about Seo Poong’s declaration that he won’t date. Chil Seong goes in the eatery.
My Thoughts
Another fluffy episode with plenty of cooking filler. Did we really need to see that many iterations of the soup dumpling dough? What happened with our trio? Sae Woo decided to pursue who she wants. Seo Poong decides not to pursue Sae Woo. Chil Seong gets confirmation from both Sae Woo and Seo Poong that they have ended their marriages. In other words, not much happened this episode. Writer SEO put the episode in “hover” mode.
Chef Seo Poong (Lee Joon Ho) was reunited with his recipe book. finally got the soup dumpling dough to the right consistency. The teamwork between Seo Poong and Sae Woo is good although not riveting TV. Seo Poong didn’t mind Sae Woo admiring him. In fact, he enjoyed it. But his bros first internal pledge to Chil Seong kept him from acting on his feelings for Sae Woo.
Dan Sae Woo (Jung Ryeo Won) decided to follow her heart. She did not like being zapped in the friend zone. She only wanted to concentrate on Seo Poong’s admission that he liked her. She told Seo Poong she was going to like who she likes and not let any man tell her how to act. I like that. She stood firm and took Seo Poong to the hospital. I liked that. She wouldn’t leave his side and acted as his cooking partner. I liked that. All this is good, but it wasn’t exciting, and seemed to move the story forward a snail’s pace.
Doo Chil Seong (Jang Hyuk) wondered if Seo Poong and Sae Woo liked each other. Chil Seong couldn’t get the old woman’s suggestion that Seo Poong cares for Sae Woo out of his head. Does he suspect they like each other or is he turning a blind eye? At least Seo Poong agreed to teach his men cooking basics. I liked when Seo Poong emphasized in the kitchen he was the boss and Chil Seong backed him up on that.
I rank these episodes (on a scale from 1-10) as good. My episode ranking chart is below.
Asian drama fan. I watch and blog dramas on https://kjtamusings.wordpress.com/.
amusings 
I like I.V.Lady and hope she and Chil seung cross paths again (and I hope he’s not still blinded by his feelings for what’s-her-name when that happens).
I agree with kjt that the dough iterations were definitely not riveting tv. I coulda used a quick montage right about then. 🙂
I’m thinking back to all Jang Hyuk’s past shows, and I think this is the first time he’s playing the third wheel in a triangle and first time he won’t be the guy who gets the girl. 😦
LikeLike
I liked IV lady too.
I am ready for Writer Seo to inject more plot points in each episode. These are getting as thin as the dumplings.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😁
LikeLike
hahaha! So true. This was another snoozer about dumpling balloons. All i could think was – heck no they aren’t blowing into the dumplings like that before they serve them?? LOL Then I realized they were just testing the strength. Although…a dumpling is full of solid food, don’t know how filling it with air compares in weight. Anyway. I hope Chil Seong moves on, and I really like IV lady. Hope to meet her again, and she comes around the restaurant.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jang Hyuk as third wheel? Well there was CHUNO! 🤣 Yessss I did it again!
LikeLike
Never forget – CHUNO!🇺🇸🇰🇷📯📣🚩🤸
CHUNO FOREVER!!!😅🤣😂
So good there’s tears.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL! I wouldn’t call Dae Gil a 3rd Wheel. But If you’re referring to those ‘trio’ scenes then yeah, I guess he was 3rd wheel. I still get sad thinking of Seol Hwa left all alone to bury him. I’m glad he had someone by his side.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He ended up as 3rd wheel and poor Seol Hwa was the 4th 😢
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just thinking about it and how “out of air” je became makes me want to eat boil eggs and holler. 😣😢😭
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dae gil was NOT the third wheel, IMO. The General- I’m-not-a-slave-in-spite- of-this-big-tattoo-on-my-forehead-that-says-otherwise (Oh Ji-oh) was the third wheel.
I hate the scene where Daegil assumes that what’s-her-face (Lee Dae-hae) has been married with a kid for years but if Daegil had only approached them then, the day before they decided to get married out of convenience… excuse me while I go off and really eat eggs with my mouth open while sobbing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
But Onion, I mean Unnyun did fall for TaeHa (I was meh on the chemistry front but story wise I think that’s what happened) although I think you are right about Daegil’s timing. It was all tragic!
LikeLike
Onion (lol) married Tae ha because, like most people in hardship (think frontier couples) it just made sense when you consider 1) a woman could not make it alone back then; 2) she was a woman on the road that is dangerous even for men; 3) she had no plan with nowhere to go; 4) she could’ve done a lot worse (Taeha was clean (relatively for the times), he wasn’t cruel or an abuser of his power over her (he didn’t take without permission) and she could respect him for that; 5) Oh Ji ho is easy on the eyes; 6) Almost forgot the most unimportant part: Onion believed Dae gil was dead.
I rest my case. If Dae gil had made himself known at the garden scene, I don’t think there can be any doubt that Taeha would’ve been the odd man out.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Let me add that I do think Onion grew to care for Tae ha and accepted that she’d made a choice and would grow old and have children with Tae ha because back then, there was no option to leave a marriage and still be accepted in society. Now what Tae ha’s plan was when he married Onion, I’ve never thought about before. Because he always knew he would fight for his exiled king (and the king’s bloodline) so if you (or anyone) knows what Tae hee’s thoughts were, please tell me. I’m assuming he would go about this marriage the same way he did his first – going off to battle, hoping everything would be okay at the homefront whenever he had time off to go home and plant another baby.
LikeLike
Yay! I just read on Facebook that Jang Hyuk will be starring in a drama (or maybe it’s a movie) called Bad Papa and the most exciting part is he’ll play a MMA fighter! That means lots of quick hands action!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, he hasn’t confirmed but the premise sounds interesting!
LikeLike
Really? Because I saw it on his own FB page (at least I think that “anjicome” is really him?
LikeLiked by 1 person
He only uses Instagram 😊 he is Ajincome over there, but in other sites, it’s his fans.
LikeLike
Ahhhh. Thanks DramaFan.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yuuup, Chuno … that’s two recaps in a row …
It’s a classic❗
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gum Lady🍬 called Poong 👨🍳 a liar and then she turned around and lied to him about Sae Woo🤺 . HA❗ Early on some of wondered if Gum Lady 🍬 and Jeong Hae were related, but they’ve interaction one-on-one several times and don’t seem to have any recognition of each other other than rich lady 💲 and gum lady 🍬. I think Mi Sook must be having a blast playing two diverse parts in one drama.
I had to laugh at Sae Woo 🤺 called Poong 👨🍳 mean as she imagined Poong 👨🍳 saying over and over again “I like you” and then him saying he give her up and to not start liking her. She is having a hard time swallowing the same thing that she dished 🍽️ out to Chil Seung 🕶️ (we didn’t see him whine). ✳️ Sae Woo 🤺, would you like a little 🧀 with that 🍷❓⁉️ ✳️
I’m with the rest of you about liking the tall and strikingly beautiful I.V. lady as a potential match for Chil Seung 🕶️. She had a sense of humor and exhibited some concern for him, that’s better than a smile and a wink 😉. Our favorite gangsta with a heart of gold 💛 deserves better.
I concur with KJT, some of the plot points ARE getting as thin as the dumpling skin. A montage of the dumplings would have been a better use of episode time 🐌. I thought Hungry Wok was making the 🦐 dim sum with an egg skin as the wrapper. Did I miss something about why Poong 👨🍳 is making the giant soup 🦐 dumplings, which are currently a dud❓⁉️ I hate to admit it but right now Chef Wang’s crispy 🦐 dim sum looks tastier.
It makes me happy to see the Big Dipper 🌌 boys back in the kitchen. I 💗 Chil Seung 🕶️ and Poong’s 👨🍳 people coalescing … will they be strong enough to triumph over Giant Hotel 🏨❓⁉️
Chil Seung 🕶️ confirmed that Poong’s 👨🍳 and Sae Woo’s marriages are over and wondered if thise two like each other. I wouldn’t be 🚫 🎊surprised🎉 to see Chil Seung 🕶️ be all noble step aside. While I like Sae Woo 🤺 taking charge of her life and doing what she wants, I have conflicted feelings about her continuing to pursue Poong 👨🍳 … after all, he just got rid 🚫💍 of his cheating wife 🐡 and has a supportive hyung 🕶️ who rescued his recipe 📓 notebook from the thieving chefs. Life is good❗
Let the bromance 💙 reign❗
LikeLike
I agree with Jane Tilly about Lee Mi Sook’s characters. I thought the one backflash scene to the past indicated they were twin sisters but like JT said, they have no recognition of each other.
But this is Kdrama after all so I still don’t think a hidden birth secret/ twins both having amnesia is completely out of the rhelm of possible. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha ha, so true❗
LikeLike
She is having a hard time swallowing the same thing that she dished 🍽 out to Chil Seung 🕶 (we didn’t see him whine). ✳ Sae Woo 🤺, would you like a little 🧀 with that 🍷❓⁉ ✳
There was a certain amount of satisfaction in that moment.
why Poong 👨🍳 is making the giant soup 🦐 dumplings, which are currently a dud❓⁉ I hate to admit it but right now Chef Wang’s crispy 🦐 dim sum looks tastier.
LOL, I was drawn to the fried dim sum over the massive soup dumpling too!
I wouldn’t be 🚫 🎊surprised🎉 to see Chil Seung 🕶 be all noble step aside.
Agreed.
LikeLike
I have to say, this drama gives me massive dumpling cravings! It’s tough!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hear you Drama Fan, I’ve craving dumplings so much I considered making some, but the I got a hold on reality and bought the Thai shrimp 🦐 potstickers from the freezer section of Trader Joe’s … DELISH
Oh … I’m going to have to go steam some RIGHT NOW❗
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’ve read some interesting analysis at Dramabeans that has made me “understand” DSW a little more. I guess I was too mad and frustrated at her that I couldn’t get her at all. It has to do with her not wanting to be over protected (like DCS did) as it is a repetition of what all men did in her life, starting with her father. That sheltering made her vulnerable and unprepared to face the world on her own. Poong on the other hand treats her as he treats everyone else, expects her to rise up to the occasion. His being harsh with her is what she seeks and needs at the moment, because she wants to become an adult, she wants to be stronger. Basically she likes it when he yells at her 😜 ok that sounds terrible but you know what I mean? She is also into being brutally honest and not sugar coating things so I think her Poong are compatible in that sense.
On the other hand DCS tends to overprotect everyone he loves and sugar coat things (he never told his men their cooking was bad until the restaurant was about to close and he was going to do the same about Poong’s giant dumpling) ! Now that I think of it, he is conversely very honest when it comes to acknowledge his feelings and vulnerability. I wonder if this will affect his future relationship with the IV lady. Is his softness supposed to be a flaw he needs to “correct”? 😢 Unless she is already mature and doesn’t have the issues DSW has at the moment so she can take DCS as he is?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good! Poong and Seo woo together! I want Chil Wil to have someone worthy of all that sweetness. If this show had done nothing else, it may have cured me of my bad boy fetish (which I hate but can’t help). To have a guy like Chil seung who think’s everything I do is cute, including my poots (ugh) is the ultimate! lol I’ve seen nice guys before but it must be because it’s in the form of Jang Hyuk that it’s effective.
Now…let… me… see… who do I choose: Kwon O-Joon (Robber) or Chil seung? *got to go meditate*
LikeLiked by 1 person
Poots? Ahahahahaha you killed me! 🤣
LikeLike
Hey! I was being classy! lololol
LikeLiked by 2 people
🚫 Meditation needed for me … Chil Seung 🕶️ ALL THE WAY❗❗❗
LikeLiked by 2 people
But os that a blind choice you’re making, JT? Have you SEEN Kwon O-Joon?
When another man showed up to see Lee Dae hee and he told her that he would be out there in 15 minutes. Thus giving her time to handle getting rid of her would be suitor on her own but making it known he would not be tolerating another man thinking he could mark his territory. *swoon*
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’ve seen Robbers and I would prefer Chil Seung!
LikeLike
Smart girl! My head agrees but my loins say something else. 😶
LikeLiked by 1 person
i’m not saying Oh Joon was without charms, he was very smexy!
LikeLike
I think I know why you like Chilsung! (Jang Hyuk body and beauty aside) He is a good boy wrapped in a bad boy persona ha! He is a ex thug, has a cocky demeanor (even though we know he is not) and he is badass. Poong is not quite bad boy as he is grumpy boy. Grumpy is not what makes a “bad boy” sexy right? Oh Joon btw, so bad! And so sexy 😍
LikeLiked by 1 person
🎯, DramaFan
LikeLike
Oh Drama Fan, you are getting to know me …
I ❤ Chil Seung AND Poong in different ways. If they were both pursuing me (in my WILDEST dreams) I would have a tough time deciding … oooh … if I only had such a dilemma…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for the perspective DF, it helps to understand DSW 🤺 is trying to become less vulnerable.
I recall a couple of weeks ago DSW 🤺 asked DCS 🕶️ to mad and yell at her.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes hahaha she has been consistent in this regard. And she has mentioned on many occasions that she doesn’t need or want men to tell her what to do, etc. There is a constant rebellion against men in general. I think she is going through a possibly needed phase.
LikeLiked by 1 person