The Romantic and the Idol Season 2 Episode 7

Photo:theromanticandidol.blogspot.com

Ahhhh....the last episode!  They finally get to pick their final selection.

Before they show where they left off in the previous episode, the start of this episode shows all the idols leaving Jeju Island.  You really can't tell who is paired up with who and they are looking friendly and playful.  Well, the ones that they filmed leaving: G.Na, N, Eunyeoung, Yewon and Kevin.

So, after the Truth Room, the PD tells all of them that tomorrow they can have a free date with anyone they want and do whatever they wish.

Jonghoon and Yewon spends the day together bike riding and going to a cafe to eat.  They even spent some time taking pictures together.   I got irritated with JH because even though he waited impatiently for her, when she asked if he waited long, he told he waited an hour.  Then he complained that he had the day planned but won't be able to do all of it since she took too long to get ready.  Hmmm...not a way to impress a girl, making her feel bad.

N gets to go out with both G.Na and Eunyeoung.  Kevin had to go back to Seoul to do a schedule but should be back for the final selections, so he didn't have a free date.  So I'm guessing N didn't want to leave someone without a date, he took both of them.  They go to a cafe to eat.

Jiwon goes out with Min Hyuk.  This is the first time they got to spend some time alone together on a date.  They go to a stable.  They took pictures together.  They sit around and just talk.  Jiwon even says that she still feels awkward around him.  It's like they are each others' ideals but they are not comfortable around each other and they want to be.

When it's time to go and do their final selection, they show everyone being driven to the location of the final selection.  While in the van, Min Hyuk confesses that he is still unsure of his choice.  Jonghoon voices his surprise.

Now, the final selection.  Each girl is standing in a designated location, apart from each other so they can't see the other person.  The 4 guys will walk together to each girl, meet her then, after the PD counts to ten, if the guy(s) picks the girl as their selection, they stay.  If not, then the guy(s) should walk away.   Then after another count to 10, if the girl selects the guy, she will hug him. If she doesn't select him, she shakes his hand.  Ahhh...this seems so cruel.

The first girl the guys walk up to is G.Na.  You can tell, all the guys are relaxed except Jonghoon.  He looks so tense.  She is so nervous and wants to turn around and not watch.  As the PD counts, Jonghoon bows is head.  At the end, N and Min Hyuk are the first leave, then Kevin.  There is a pause and as G.Na looks up as Jonghoon turns to leave as well.  G.Na explains that she would have picked JH because she been on the most dates with him, she's comfortable with him and he treats her well. Even on their last date to the cafe (the song selection) he was really nice to her when she expected it to be awkward.  She said that she expected it but it still feels weird.  Then she starts to cry and said she doesn't know why.  I think even though she expected it, there is always a tiny bit of hope that he would stay.

The second location had Eunyeoung.  Eunyeoung is nervous and jumping around.  As she sees N, she's really happy.  When it's time for the boys to select, Eunyeoung looks down.  Jonghoon then Min Hyuk leaves, as expected.  N, who Eunyeong selected, turns to leave as well. He seemed really regretful knowing that Eunyeoung likes him but she wasn't his final selection.  Kevin, who had the most dates with Eunyeoung, hesitates then walks up to her and hugs her.  He then tells her "I'm sorry" then leaves.  She crouches on the ground and still with a smile on her face but you know she's hurt.  In the end she ends up saying, that hope they all don't get picked.

Next is Yewon.  As the boys walk towards her you see Jonghoon is all nervous, as well as Min Hyuk. As they approach her, she is surprised that all 4 boys are standing in front of her and she wonders why.  As the count down ends both N and Kevin leaves.  As they look back N is surprised that both Jonghoon and Min Hyuk are staying.  I think they believe that Min Hyuk would go to Jiwon as well.  Jonghoon looks upset that Min Hyuk stayed as well.  Yewon asks if she could ask a question.  "What's the reason that they picked her?" JongHoon says that since the first time they met, he had his eyes set on her and felt closer to her as they went on their dates.  Min Hyuk says me too, that he was confused for a while but decided to go with his feelings.  He wanted to go on dates with the others to see how he feels but he always selected her on the dates. As Min Hyuk talks you can see Jonghoon is upset and as the countdown proceeds, he is looking really upset and can't look at Yewon.

Then it cuts to Jiwon's location.  She says she is torn between Min Hyuk and N. Then the 2 boys final guys show up, Kevin and N. As the countdown proceeds she starts walking towards them then turns around.  The PD tells her she can wait until she's done counting.  When it's done, Jiwon hesitantly walks up to both of them.  She shakes Kevin's hand.  He then smiles as she turns to N. N also smiles. Then Jiwon also sticks her hand out to shake N's hand.  Her final selection was not either of them.  In the last interview, she said she came to a final conclusion when they walked up and her thought was "Ahhh...he didn't come."  She wanted Min Hyuk.

Then it cuts back to Yewon's location and her final selection.  As she walks up to the 2 guys, she says that at the moment she is going with her feelings.  She knows if they had more time, it might have been different but now she's just going with her feelings.  Then she hugs Min Hyuk. He smiles. You can see Jonghoon is upset.  When she turns to shakes Jonghoons hand, he shakes her hand then turns his head.  He can't even look at her.

My thoughts:  As I was waiting for the last couple of episodes to be subbed, I had started watching the first season of The Romantic and the Idol.  The second season participants seemed to take this show a bit too seriously.  Based on the comments I've read, people were hating on Min Hyuk because it seemed like he was playing around with Yewon and Jiwon's feelings and focusing on one person, like Jonghoon.  In the end, I understand why he did that and can't fault him.  In a couple of days, how can you seriously fall for someone and just decide this is the person you want to be with.  I like how he just want to meet everyone first before deciding who he likes the best.

For JongHoon, I wish he had looked around instead of being stuck on Yewon once he saw her at the airport.  I don't think he endeared himself to Yewon on one of their dates, I believed he kind of irritated her.  He even got irritated when she was late for their free date.  I think he should have  tried harder to get to know Jiwon and Eunyeong.

I think Kevin may have been good with either G.Na or Eunyeong and N with Jiwon.  Yewon and Min Hyuk are a good match because they seems to act the same way.

Well, that's it.  If you haven't, watch the first season.  I like that season better than Season 2.

The Romantic and The Idol Season 2, Episode 6

Well, I've been very behind on my Episodes.

This episode starts with the couples, Min Hyuk/Yewon, JongHoon/G.Na and N/Jiwon on their mini-song selection date.  It's a moonlight date with no crew but their own handicam.

Min Hyuk and Yewon seemed very comfortable together at a cafe.  On a side note: they do seem to be very concerned with how they look, ie. constantly fixing their hair, looking at their reflection, etc. when they are together.  They seem to have a very comfortable skinship, Yewon touching Min Hyuk's face when he pointed out something on his face.  He also touches her face.

On Jonghoon and G.Na's date at a ramen-like cafe, it looks like Jonghoon is trying to be a good date.  Very attentive.  It seems like he's giving G.Na mixed messages on this date.  At first you can see he's disappointed and wanted to hangout with Yewon as they walk from the cabin. At this restaurant, he's being really nice, like he wants to please G.Na.  It's kind of like what he told Min Hyuk not to do on one of the earlier episode.  Do not confuse the girl by being really nice.

N and Jiwon's date at a restaurant, this is where N tells Jiwon when he started liking her.  At one point they turn off the handicam to just talk privately. Hmmm...

Then they showed Kevin and Eunyeoung at a restaurant since they were not "coupled" with anyone.  Eunyeoung was telling Kevin her feelings and Kevin trying to comfort her.  Personally, I wish she would open her eyes and look at Kevin.  I think they would be good together.  Ok, I'm switching my opinon now that I see Kevin and Eunyeong together.  Kevin looks like he would be very attentive to Eunyeoung if they got together.

Then the moonlight  mission: the piggyback.

G.Na is so against this.  She even suggests she piggybacks Jonghoon and doubt that he can carry her.  In the end, Jonghoon gives G.Na a piggyback.  She even looks like she's enjoying it.

N was really nice and gave Jiwon the piggyback saying she's not heavy after she apologies to N as he was giving her a piggyback.  They looked like they were enjoying this mission.  Real cute together.  I think they would make a nice couple.

Min Hyuk made it like a drama.  Yewon looking for someone to give her a piggyback and "spots" Min Hyuk.  Poor thing, you can hear Min Hyuk panting and see him having a hard time carrying her.

As they return to the cabin, they have another mission.  It's the midnight confession in the Truth Room.  They all gather in front of a room at a distance, so that everyone can see in but they can't hear what the couples are talking about.  Each person gets to select someone to bring into the room and discuss anything and the answer has to be the Truth.

First up is Min Hyuk who selectes Jiwon.  Yewon looked upset.  He asks Jiwon why she selected him in the mid-selection. She tells him he's her ideal but feels awkward around him when they are together.

Next is Kevin, who also picks Jiwon.  He tells her how he feels and how inexperience he is at dating.  He's so shy and awkward.  Jiwon didn't say anything since Kevin didn't ask her anything. He just confesses to her.  Poor thing, Jiwon is interested in N or Min Hyuk.

When it's N's turn he picks G.Na.  Eunyeoung and Jiwon looked surprised.  G.Na got all excited when N asked her about Jiwon, since he's interested in Jiwon.

First girl to pick is Jiwon and she picked Min Hyuk. She bluntly asked Min Hyuk who he likes and why was he interested in her.  If his opinon changed from before.  He told her he was still confused and these talks are making him more confused.  They do confess to each other that they still feel awkward around each other. Hmmm...why pick someone if you feel awkward around them?  They seem to like each other just because of the other person's image and they look like their ideal.

Next is G.Na and of course she picks Jonghoon.  Here she confesses her feelings to Jonghoon.  She keeps on talking and doesn't let him speak.  Although I don't know what he can say other than   saying sorry for being too focused on Yewon and not interested in her.  =P

Jonghoon then picks Yewon and basically complains to her that she didn't pick his song in the song shuffle and she should have waited and not pick the first song.  At least Yewon got to talk a little to Jonghoon.  He told her that he hasn't changed his mind.  Wow, a lot of pressure on Yewon.

Yewon picks Min Hyuk for the Truth room, to the disappointment of Jonghoon and Jiwon.  In the room,  Yewon bluntly asked Min Hyuk his feelings.  He still says he's confused.  Yewon was disappointed but says now she not confused anymore, since his feeling may have changed.

Next,  Eunyeoung picks N. She clarifies her feelings to N.  N, so uncomfortable since his feeling for her has changed.

The session ends with them gathered together to talk.  Everyone was gathered at the table except for Kevin.  I wish Kevin participated with everyone.


I know there were comments about how Minhyuk was flirting with Eunyeoung but I don't think so.  It just looked like he was playing with her and tried to make her relax.  She was always quiet around everyone because she's the youngest the the most rookie.  She was always more relaxed in the interviews and one on one with a person.

The end of the episode shows them in the car traveling to where they must pick their final selection.  MinHyuk still unsure and Jonghoon flabbergasted that he hasn't decided yet.

Romantic and The Idol Season 2 Episode 4

Episode 3 ended with the start of the mid-selections.  Everyone sitting to watch the videos they shot at the aquarium which would show who they like so far.  They only showed Jiwon's selection... Minhyuk.

The start of the 4th episode, sheesh...showed the dinner before the mid-selection.  What a way to prolong the selection. Darn PD.  hahaha.  Then they showed each video.

Jiwon, who was sitting next to Yewon, picked Minhyuk, who looked surprised.  How awkward for Yewon to see that especially when Jiwon started to lean on her giggling and embarrassed.

Eunyeong, picked N. Her video was cute because it looked like she was trying to video behind her and focusing on either Jonghoon then maybe Kevin then N.  Finally it stops at N. He looked really happy.

G.Na picked, of course, Jonghoon.  And Yewon picked Minhyuk.  Jonghoon looked disappointed but he said he wasn't, just flustered.

The guys picks were:

First, Kevin picked Jiwon.  Then N picked Eunyeong  Yea! A real couple who chose each other. Next is Jonghoon who picked, who else? Yewon.  Finally, Minhyuk picked Yewon.

After that, you could expect awkward moments together afterwards. What really struck me as kind of disappointing was a brief interview with Jonghoon.  The PD asked what if he never gets Yewon as a partner. He said that he would stay solo, he doesn't have a second choice.  I hope he has a change of heart later in the show or he'll lose his opportunity in dating different girls, which is the point of the show.

Next morning, Date#4, the sweater selection. The girls selected sweaters and the guys had to choose which style that they liked. Jonghoon, Minhyuk and N all picked the same sweater and had to do rock-paper-scissors to choose the sweater.

N got Jiwon, Kevin got Eunyeong, Minhyuk got G.Na and Jonghoon got Yewon.

The sweater selection finally got the couples all mixed up and they got to experience going out with other people.

G.Na, who had her pride hurt since JH didn't pick her as his mid-selection, wanted to date someone else.  Yewon, said she wanted to date Jonghoon since she liked both Minhyuk and Jonghoon evenly and wanted to date JH once.  Also, I think, her pride was a little hurt because Minhyuk treated Jiwon the same as her.

Minhyuk said that he wanted to try and date all the girls to get to know them more.  I think he has the right idea.  I wish Jonghoon would be less focused on Yewon and be more opened to the other girls.  At one point he even told Minhyuk that he should not be acting so nice and close to each girl or they would get the wrong idea.  It almost sounded like Jonghoon was also telling Minhyuk to pick one now and not lead the others on.  Aish! Isn't this a dating show, where you're suppose to date others and then have a final choice?  Hopefully, the guy and girl pick the same person?

I am getting frustrated with Jonghoon but I can understand where he's coming from.  Hopefully his date with Yewon will get him less obsessed and open up to the other girls.

Kevin, sigh... I hope he learns to date here.  He said that he wasn't disappointed by not being picked by anyone for the mid-selection but I think anyone would be just a little bit disappointed.  It looks like he knows that he needs to improve on his dating skills since he never dated before and he's using this show to learn how.

Well, looks like the raw footage for Episode 5 is out.  I hope the English sub will be out soon too.    Cross your fingers!

Photo source: maniackorea.com

FT Island to Release New Japanese Album November 28th

Yay! First, their 4th full length Korean album, "Five Treasure Box" and now their 9th Japanese album, "Polar Star", which will come out on November 28th.

I am very happy when I see a group that I like being productive. Not only do you see more of them during promotions, but if you're like me and live for new music, you get to listen to something different!

A teaser for their music video, "Polar Star", has already been released. And there's been articles saying that this is another album the members themselves have composed the tracks. Artists actually writing and making the music, how awesome is that? No wonder I love these guys!

The song "Fallin' For You" is composed by bassist Lee Jae Jin, who wrote about a man who wants to be close to his love. Hmm, is this a hint to the girl that dropped him because she couldn't trust him?

Another song, "Beautiful World" is composed by leader and lead guitarist, Choi Jong Hun, who wrote about a man who looks on lovingly at his love. Ah, perhaps another hint towards the ex-girlfriend who suddenly went MIA (missing in action).

These two...I have to say that heartbreak agrees with them. It must have been hard for the both of them, but it looks like they found creative outlets for their emotions.

I can't wait to hear the full album. The sneak preview that they currently have online is not enough!

Source: Yahoo (I do not own the video, credit to Warner Music Japan)

FT Island's Jong Hoon Gets Outdoors

I wanted to share this because I absolutely fell in love with this photo of FT Island's Leader, Choi Jong Hoon.

He tweeted from his personal Twitter today that he was out "climbing". Not sure if this is the direct translation or an English equivalent because he definitely does not look like he's breaking a sweat. Lol!

Courtesy Choi Jong Hoon's Personal Twitter

He looks so stylish as he's adjusting his hat in the sunlight. But what is up with the jacket? Is the weather that cool in South Korea now that he needs to keep warmer? He's wearing long pants too!

FT Island's cool leader pretty much looks good in everything he puts on. So it's no surprise he looks good even while he is outdoors.

What a cutie!

Chai out...