EMERGENCY COUPLE EPISODE 16

So we find out�Tae Seok is alive! That's what I get for assuming. When he lost consciousness in the last episode, I figured that was it. Sung Sook and Sung Gil arrive and predictably, Sung Sook makes things worse. Sung Gil compliments Chang Min�while Sung Sook takes him to task for missing the dinner. In addition, it's funny because the other doctors (and Sung Sook) think that because Tae Seok is a doctor, he should also keep himself healthy. Doctors never self-diagnose and some of them abuse their bodies as much as everyone else. Some smoke, others drink, and quite a few need some serious dieting. "Physician, heal thyself" indeed! I also didn't quite know whether Tae Seok approved of Chang Min and Jin Hee being together. I knew he had a soft spot for Jin Hee, but still... Now we know for sure that they have his blessing.

Because Tae Seok is a VIP, the specialists are lining up to treat him. Dr. Guk is chastised because he chooses to save a life rather than wait for a specialist. Guk is kind of an enigma because on one hand, he doesn't care a bit about protocol when lives are at stake, but on the other hand, he's also a control freak who demands that the interns follow protocol as well as his lead. You really can't expect your interns to respect the rules if you don't follow them yourself.

Attitudes toward our Emergency Couple's divorce are brought into sharp focus this episode. Sang Hyuk and his wife gossip about it, Dr. Guk doesn't care about it, the nurses spread further rumors regarding it, Professor Ahn exploits it, Ah Reum is curious about it. As much as they build up that it's a bad thing, a shameful thing, something to be kept secret, and then reveal that no, it's not so terrible a thing as they make it out to be, it's still vital to the plot. However, I can now see why they initially kept it quiet. Rumors, gossip, and people's attitudes toward them -- they wanted none of these to come about or change. Professor Ahn is particularly out of line by referring to it, but for an intern to call him out on it might mean her job.� �

And we find more about Dr. Guk here. He is very protective of Jin Hee. You see Chang Min get angry, but Dr. Guk comes out of nowhere and clocks Ahn when he harasses Jin Hee. Also loved the fantasy sequence in which he kisses her and then shakes it off when she actually arrives in his office. However, assaulting a superior? What kind of trouble does this place Guk in? He's in double jeopardy because he did not wait for a specialist to treat Tae Seok, but took matters into his own hands -- twice. And how does he get past this? Since Chang Min saved Jin Hee's job, could he be similarly motivated to save Dr. Guk's?

Ah Reum sees the bow tied around the plant and remembers Yong Gyu fondly. She meets him at the venue he invited her to. Apparently Yong Gyu has not been at work; he does not want to make another mistake. I feel like this might blossom into something more. She looks wistfully at the plant that is now known as a gift from Yong Gyu. She hasn't thrown it out, she's kept it. Yong Gyu is a hyper-nice guy, far too hard on himself, and I think Ah Reum might be able to re-instill some confidence. She keeps her date with him, as well, which is laudable. I think in some ways his absence prods her to realize that she does like him and maybe as more than a friend. I can't wait to see how this develops.

In the end, Tae Seok�does die and throughout this episode,�Jin Hee seems to be the one they rely on a lot. Last episode she is the first one Chang Min calls to help his father. Here, she is the rock to steady Chang Min's emotions -- and yes, I know they call her that at the hospital. Chang Min relies on her love for comfort and it works well. They don't quarrel, there's no tug of war between them, just grieving together. Jin Hee is also the one Sung Sook goes to, begging her to save Tae Seok, even as it is too late for anything to be done. Guk needs her and tries to express his love even as he blurts out clumsily that her divorce means nothing to him. Jin Hee seems to handle all this with quiet grace, lending a gravitas to these moments that might otherwise have been risible.

There are some very touching scenes in this installment. When they watch the OR doors close, when they wait for news of Chang Min's father, when he finally dies at the end, and Sung Sook loses all composure. Sung Sook appears to have nothing but regret at how their lives have played out and remembers the times she yelled at Tae Seok rather than loved him. We see some genuine, tender feelings from the woman this time rather than the evil harridan we've seen in every episode thus far. The ending had me choked up as well.

Questions? Thoughts? Leave 'em below!�

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