Awkwardly Zooms in on Contestants Butt Over and Over Again

THE Brusque VERDICT:

Fun, breezy, and so heartfelt, that it's still considered a classic in Dramaland today.

At that place are lot of things to dear almost this show: a drama globe that feels real and lived-in; leads with crackling, warm chemistry whether they're bickering, stealing wistful glances at each other, or getting upward-close-and-personal touchy-feely; an excellent ensemble cast that all experience like they vest in their characters' skins; a well-executed OST.

On the downside, some folks find the humor a lilliputian gross, so fair alarm, I judge? I personally don't enjoy gross sense of humour, just I didn't find the humor in this much of a deterrent, to be honest.

The ending can feel a little underwhelming in spots, but overall, this 1 is well worth a long-term spot in your drama-loving centre.

THE LONG VERDICT:

So here's the thing. I have owed the earth at large this Java Prince review, for literal years, now. I can't remember exactly when I made that promise, but it wouldn't be a stretch to peg that at a ballpark 5 years. Yikes.

That fact alone makes me look similar a master procrastinator, doesn't it? Eep. In my feeble defense force, I've been distracted by all the shiny, newer shows that I have reviewed..? 😛

And so, why now? Well, in my 2018 Year In Review mail service, my dear friend Sunny (Sunny does fantastic translations of k-ent interviews, do check her out and give her some honey!) reminded me of this promise, which I've conveniently tucked abroad in the back of my caput each fourth dimension a patient, expert-natured soul teased me most it.

With 2019 brand new and shiny on my doorstep, I figured this was a practiced time to start the yr off right – fulfilling a long-made hope, even if it'due south (terribly, terribly) late.

To all of you who've been patiently waiting for this, I'm pitiful, and cheers. I don't know if I can make this worth the await (coz v years is a long time to wait!), only I'll practise my very best. <three

OST ALBUM: FOR YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE

Hither's the OST anthology, in example you lot'd like to listen to it while you read the review.

SOME THOUGHTS Well-nigh THIS DRAMA WORLD

I call back one of the things that makes this show special, is that it's got a unique blend of fairytale and everyday. The unassuming everyday beats brand this world feel real and accessible and relatable, while the fairytale merely makes the fantasy feel that much more than possible.

Show sets upwardly its world very effectively and efficiently, and by episode 2, we basically get all the major pieces that will push Eun Chan and Han Gyul (Yoon Eun Hye and Gong Yoo) into the coffee shop and firmly into each other'due south orbits. It'due south all very breezy and fun, with tropes regularly dotting the journey.

And yet, because of the way Show makes these characters feel like real people with real lives and real mundane everyday moments, the entire drama earth feels existent, quirky lashings and all.

One of the quirky things I noticed on my latest rewatch, is how cool Han Gyul's apartment is. Information technology's an apartment, yet has a front yard. How cool.

These kinds of quirky details, forth with Show's brilliant Spring palette, helped to add together some extra fairy grit to our drama globe, and I liked that a lot.

CHARACTERS

One of the things that sets this drama apart, is how real these characters experience. Perhaps that's why and then many of us have been unable to forget them, so many years later.

Our characters are flawed, and sometimes they do things that we don't hold with, but yet, writer-nim manages to endear them to the states anyway, while helping us to understand why these characters might deport the fashion they do, in the showtime identify.

Very thoughtfully and nicely done.

Here'due south a quickish spotlight on our 4 principal players.

Gong Yoo as Choi Han Gyul

Hither'southward the weird affair. The start time I watched Coffee Prince, I didn't immediately find Gong Yoo all that sexy. I know. What was wrong with me?

Happily, I've long fixed that, and I now take Gong Yoo-appreciating eyes that work very well, thank you very much. 😉 (Said Gong Yoo-appreciating optics have helped craft several Gong Yoo-appreciating posts, which you tin can find hither, hither, and here. Just in case yous didn't know, heh.)

Also, with or without the Gong Yoo-appreciating eyes, I enjoyed Han Gyul as a character, each time I watched this show.

At first glance, Han Gyul looks like a fairly typical playboy rich guy, with his flirtatious interactions with a random daughter (cameo past Yoon Seung Ah, in her early interim days) within the first few minutes of episode 1, while on his mode abode (in first grade, no less), to pacify his CEO grandmother (Kim Young Ok).

[Pocket-size SPOILERS]

Even so, for all of Han Gyul's flirty bluster, smooth-talking rebellion and pride, nosotros before long run into that he'south a softie at heart, who cares about his mom and his grandma, fifty-fifty though he doesn't intendance and then much for the company they want him to run.

He'south also good-hearted plenty, to trust Eun Chan enough, to requite her the chance to earn the money she needs, in spite of his very poor beginning impression of her. Then even though we see that he tin exist pretty brusque when he wants to be, he's not a typical cold, rich jerk of a male lead.

Likewise, despite Han Gyul'southward vehement protests at Gran's didactics to turn the java store around (or else), information technology really isn't long before he'southward busily delivering java beans, with a happy, satisfied sort of expression on his face, from the sense of achievement he's feeling.

Aw. I couldn't help but similar him pretty quickly into my lookout.

[END SPOILER]

Of course, nosotros learn a lot more about Han Gyul's character every bit nosotros journey through this story with him.

I'll touch on more on the details of his character when we go to the OTP section.

In the meantime, I only want to say that Gong Yoo imbues his delivery with so much nuance and 18-carat heart, that I honestly believed that he simply was Han Gyul, slowly but surely losing his middle to Eun Chan.

Gong Yoo absolutely played a meaning role in lifting this drama to experience like it was more than a drama, but an actual fly-on-the-wall peek at a person named Han Gyul falling in love.

As a shallow plus, Gong Yoo'southward bod is lovely in HD, *coughing* and Show capitalizes on it by serving upwardly shirtless Gong Yoo right away, in episode one – and and so some, through the residuum of the show. I tin't complain about that. 😉

Yoon Eun Hye as Go Eun Chan

My introduction to Yoon Eun Hye was in my gateway drama Goong, where she played a girly-cutesy girl, so her very adolescent plow here basically blew my socks off.

It only boggled my mind, that this boyish, completely unladylike character, complete with short hair, boy'south clothes and a boyish gait, was played past the same person. It boggled my mind even more, that Yoon Eun Hye pulls it off with aplomb.

There is no hint of self-conscious vanity nigh the way she plays Eun Chan. She just is Eun Chan, boyish mannerisms and all. Very impressive indeed.

While Yoon Eun Hye is a piddling small-boned and pretty for a male child, Testify works around this in a very smart style, by introducing Eun Chan equally a character who gets mistaken for a boy on the regular.

[Minor SPOILER]

First, she gets mistaken for a boy past all the women in the bathhouse in episode i, and fifty-fifty when she tells them she's a daughter, no one believes her.

That makes the whole idea of Eun Chan passing off as a guy at the coffeeshop much more believable in this earth. Later in the same episode, the fact that Eun Chan can hurt Min Yeop (Lee Eon) AND out-swallow him also adds to our conventionalities that she tin and does laissez passer for a boy.

[END SPOILER]

On newspaper, Eun Chan does appear to exist quite the Candy: she's the main breadwinner in her family, and she works a multitude of part-time jobs in guild to pay the bills.

On top of that, she's good-natured, doesn't appear to concur grudges, and loves her female parent and sister even when they regularly give her trouble.

But, unlike your typical Candy character, Eun Chan is strong and tough, and in add-on to more typical Candy jobs like waiting tables, takes on jobs that are traditionally more associated with males: delivering food and teaching Taekwondo.

Non only that, she capably unclogs toilets, helps her Mom with sewing on doll'south eyes, and gets up extra early to deliver milk and yogurt. The fact that she does all of this with zest and cheer, but makes her all the more endearing.

Of form, a lot of credit goes to Yoon Eun Hye'southward personal amuse as well. She makes Eun Chan so pure, actually. Clear-eyed and innocent, even with the strong lashings of street savvy, Eun Chan but feels like an untainted soul.

Add on Yoon Eun Hye's excellent ability to ugly-cry in degrees, and every time Eun Chan got tears sheening in her eyes, my heart just went out to her, wherever and whenever.

[SPOILER Alarm]

One thing I really appreciate most Eun Chan as our heroine, is that she remains stubbornly independent, even after falling head over heels in love.

In episode 13, Eun Chan's refusal to stand in Han Gyul's way of a career in designing toys, and her refusal to only let him take care of the financial stuff and pay her style to the Us, even if it means being separated from him, says a lot well-nigh her independent spirit and her treat him.

I also very much like that even though Han Gyul is older, and comes from money, Eun Chan always comes beyond as treating him as her equal.

She never is tempted to mooch off his money, even though her sister Eun Sae (Yoon Ji Yoo) feels that they should. At the same time, Eun Chan is ever warning to how and when Han Gyul needs her, and she readily gives him what he needs.

In the same episode, when Han Gyul tells Eun Chan near the birth secret bombshell that Gran had dropped earlier that 24-hour interval, she knows immediately how he must feel, and moves in to hold him and pat his shoulder comfortingly.

To my eyes, this tells me a lot about how Eun Chan sees herself and Han Gyul as equals, at that place to support and give to each other, as the need arises. I liked that.

[END SPOILER]

Lee Dominicus Gyun as Choi Han Seong

I confess that I merely really came to appreciate Lee Sun Gyun's appeal in dramas that came out afterward Coffee Prince. I enjoyed him very well in Pasta and Miss Korea, and absolutely loved him in My Mister.

In Coffee Prince, though, I mostly felt quite indifferent about him and his graphic symbol Han Seong. I will say that in my most contempo rewatch for this review, that I liked Lee Sun Gyun more in the office than I start did, but I also disliked Han Seong every bit a grapheme, more than I first did.

Funny how that worked out, eh?

Considering of my upgraded Lee Dominicus Gyun-affectionate eyes, I found Han Seong more than charming and appealing than I did back in 2007, when I start laid eyes on him.

Yet, with more drama miles under my belt and a more critical eye, I also found some of Han Seong's behavior more than problematic than I'd start noticed.

[SPOILER ALERT]

A neat case is how Han Seong works to get closer to Eun Chan, and gives her his phone number, and finds her endearing. This all happens in episode 3, when he's already started seeing Yoo Joo (Chae Jung Ahn) over again.

This was definitely a secret friendship that he was nursing on the side, and his attitude towards Eun Chan isn't firmly ideal either, so I plant this all quite inappropriate and rather dysfunctional.

Add on the fact that he was probably doing this to spite Yoo Joo, and punish her for running away with DK (Kim Jung Min) before, and that just makes information technology all the more disturbing and wrong.

Of course, Evidence rights all of this past the time the finale rolls around, and so I didn't dislike Han Seong for too long.

The fashion that Han Seong reaches out to help clarify things for Han Gyul in episode 12, fifty-fifty in the midst of his ain confusion and heartbreak, did a lot to make up for his by mistakes, in my optics.

[END SPOILER]

Chae Jung Ahn as Han Yoo Joo

Imma be honest; the more I watched this bear witness, the more I disliked Yoo Joo, as a character. I found her entitled, self-centered and manipulative.

Through it all, Yoo Joo often seems blithely unrepentant for her bad beliefs, and seems to think that she tin can just proceed on coasting on her looks, artistic talent, and personal amuse.

Yes, Show does redeem past the end of our story, but I can't deny that I spent a large portion of our story feeling a distinct distaste for Yoo Joo.

[SPOILER ALERT]

Here'south a quickish run-down of why I disliked Yoo Joo, during my spotter. I'll touch on her redemption in a later section of this review, when I talk near her relationship with Han Seong.

E2. I kinda hate Yoo Joo, for having the gall to attempt coming back to Han Seong, after dumping him for DK. There's something entitled virtually her attitude. She doesn't evidence herself to be very sorry, and I don't like her very much coz of that.

E3. Yoo Joo is a very insensitive person. Starting time, in assuasive Han Gyul to go over to her business firm when Han Seong was there, knowing that Han Gyul nurses a crush on her. And when Han Gyul shows unhappiness, she pretty much tells him to get over his daddy issues already.

Ugh.Besides, her casual interaction with DK, given how big of a part her relationship with DK played in hurting Han Seong, merely screams insensitive to me.

E11. Yoo Joo is definitely ane of those pretty, complicated, self-centered women. Having run off and lived with DK before, she won't requite Han Seong the fourth dimension and space to sort out his feelings properly.

Certain, she rationalizes it, and says that considering she's done that to him in the past, she doesn't warrant him sorting out his feelings, but I don't know if I purchase it.

And so, afterward, knowing that DK notwithstanding likes her, to and so employ him to brand Han Seong feel bad?

That's terribly insensitive, and she subsequently casually asks him to exist agreement of her. She'southward an exceedingly annoying character that manner.

I suppose information technology's to Chae Jung Ahn's credit that Yoo Joo is fifty-fifty marginally likable at all. It besides helps that I experience like Yoo Joo doesn't really like herself all that much, most of the fourth dimension.

E12. I don't appreciate Yoo Joo's actions, choosing to become with DK in order to protect herself, and then ditching DK at the airport without even saying anything, and then disappearing without a give-and-take to anyone. Just, so very irresponsible.

[Cease SPOILER]

RELATIONSHIPS

Han Gyul and Eun Chan

No holds barred, the human relationship between Han Gyul and Eun Chan is THE affair that makes this evidence every bit memorable and cracktastic equally it is.

Yes, everything else plays a role; the writing, directing, supporting characters, everything plays a part in making up the magic that is Coffee Prince. But if you asked me to single out 1 driving force that keeps me coming back to this drama, even later on so many years, it is this OTP.

I dearest that we go to witness the many stages of our OTP relationship. Yes, we run into their bickering first, followed by their reluctant meshing of worlds, followed by burgeoning feelings.

But, Show gives this OTP a stage that endures beyond the happy meeting as a couple.

Across that, we besides become to see how this couple learns to be a couple; learns to fit their human relationship into the globe that they share with their coffee princes and friends; learns how to make a niche for themselves – together also as individually – that fits comfortably into both their worlds.

That's something quite rare, I think, in the rom-com trendies that tend to grace Dramaland. This extended glimpse into what happens with my OTP beyond the 'I love you too'due south made this couple experience all the more than real, to me.

And then, THE thing that makes this earth-shaking OTP connection work so well, is the chemistry that Gong Yoo and Yoon Eun Hye share.

It just feels so natural, so warm and and so organic, that I often felt that I was a voyeur, peeping at existent-life lovers. They requite Han Gyul and Eun Chan such an easy, natural skinship.

It's not just the kisses and hugs, it's in how they touch each other; it all feels and so assuredly natural. At that place is no unease virtually it, you tin can tell that they are very comfy with each other.

[MINOR SPOILER]

This is especially clear in Han Gyul'southward fantasy in episode 15, where he and Eun Chan wrestle and play in bed.

It's fun, sparky and sexy, and their ease with each other but leaps off the screen.

[END SPOILER]

Kudos to Gong Yoo and Yoon Eun Hye. Later then many years of kdrama-watching, this still counts among my top picks, when it comes to OTP chemistry. <3

[SPOILER Alarm]

It was a pleasure to picket this OTP all over once more, for this review, and I tin can't assist but desire to share the entire range of thoughts and observations I had, equally I watched.

Map of a burgeoning connectedness

E1. Tee hee. Eun Chan'south knees all weak from seeing Han Gyul glistening in zip but a towel. I never noticed that before. And then cute.

E2. Despite the less than ideal ancestry, Han Gyul is clearly quite charmed by Eun Chan's enthusiasm and general zest for life.

E2. Eun Chan and Han Gyul interim equally fake lovers is super cute, even though I've seen it and then many times before. They take a natural chemistry that is very nice, and Han Gyul obviously is growing to like Eun Chan a lot.

I love that Han Gyul respects Eun Chan'southward hardworking arroyo to life and loans her the money that she needs.

E3. I'd forgotten that Eun Chan is the 1 who convinces Han Gyul to endeavor running the coffee store.

She'southward the only 1 who actually got through to him. Which is bear witness that she understands him – her words about showing a different side to Gran and to Yoo Joo were a big part of Han Gyul's turning point.

E3. Eun Chan really seems to be Han Gyul'southward simply friend – well, the only friend that actually hangs out at his house and talks with him about more personal stuff.

The special-ness of their friendship is clear, in how they treat each other and regard each other, which makes the whole explosion over the incorrect java social club that much more raw and hurtful.

E4. There are glimmers of Han Gyul developing a special soft spot for Eun Chan. When Ha Rim says Eun Chan is his, Han Gyul immediately says Eun Chan's his.

It's as well in the way he looks at her. And now he respects her resilience also, since she stuck out the basketball ane-hour challenge while everyone else surrendered in defeat.

E5. Han Gyul'south soft spot for Eun Chan is showing more and more, and it'due south addictive, brand-me-grin-like-an-idiot stuff. Likey.

E6. The hug. Played to such nuanced perfection by them both. The uncertainty and defoliation in Han Gyul, and the confusion & anxiety in Eun Chan, followed past the release of sinking into the hug. Oof. So good.

Han Gyul'southward struggle between his eye and his head, trying to make sense of his emotions, is very amusing, and so much fun to watch. Gong Yoo's smitten faces are surfacing also, and information technology'southward ambrosial. <3

E7. The friction between Eun Chan and Han Gyul is believable. They are close enough that they know each other's hot buttons, and they hit where it hurts the most. And then, Han Gyul'due south happy faces at Eun Chan after they make up are downright addictive.

I feel like he'southward about to explode on the within, and that'due south how his happy faces make me feel likewise. His eyes are so bright that he literally looks similar he's got stars in his eyes looking at her.

E8. Han Gyul sharing the story of his birth and adoption with Eun Chan – it's such a personal moment.

I totally get the feeling that he's never spoken of this to anyone like this before.

The decision to go sworn brothers – it shows how much they care for each other, that they would be happy to just be most each other, even if it means a bail of brotherhood instead of the romantic inclinations that they both feel.

There's something sacrificial in that decision, and the moment feels sweetly poignant.

E9. Han Gyul taking so much pleasure in cooking breakfast for his new lil brother, information technology'southward really sweet. Both of them tentatively trying out their new brotherhood over brekkie.

It'south so cute. Eun Chan practicing and ribbing at the aforementioned fourth dimension, with the repeated singsong "hyung" and Han Gyul giving Eun Chan food to show that he'due south being a skilful hyung.

OTP Highlights

Hither'due south a slightly more lingering expect at some of my favorite OTP moments.

The deep, undeniable connection

E9. One matter that strikes me almost the connexion between Han Gyul and Eun Chan, is that they are each so deeply afflicted by the presence of the other.

If Han Gyul is happy, so is Eun Chan, and if Eun Chan is happy, then is Han Gyul. Han Gyul, gravitating towards Eun Chan, despite his conviction that he's not gay. Eun Chan, crying in desperation when Han Gyul withdraws from their friendship.

The aftermath, when Han Gyul tries to cut Eun Chan out of his life, is his last-ditch effort to regain normalcy and equilibrium in his life. But it's so difficult.

He isolates himself from her by holing himself up in his apartment, and vacillates between cleaning information technology and trashing information technology, merely ultimately, information technology's as difficult on him as information technology is on her. It's tearing them both upwards inside, being apart.

Which is just how deep their connectedness runs. Whether equally friends or brothers, but being able to be around each other soothes and comforts them, and gives them security and strength.

Testing boundaries

E9. Han Gyul's birth clandestine revelation drives him to seek out Eun Chan. At the embankment, when he admits his newfound knowledge of the day to her, it's such a clear indication of how much he trusts her, and how close he holds her in his heart.

It's highly personal, secretive sort of stuff, and information technology's poignantly sweet how he admits it then freely to her.

It's a quick beat, but her eyes vehement up in response, also shows how deeply she feels for him. His pain is her pain.

Han Gyul testing the boundaries of their human relationship, is partly considering of all the emotions that accept been building up in him, and besides, partly timing.

He's feeling vulnerable in the wake of his conversation with his dad, and the identify is so fitting and so deserted. His tentative testing is and then full of bittersweet pathos, mixed with burgeoning emotion that eventually overwhelms him; from the handholding, to the intertwining of fingers.

Eun Chan tests the boundaries too, past lying on his lap.

Han Gyul's tentative blithesome implosion from the proximity and intimacy fills the moment, so much.

Information technology'due south really Han Gyul'southward scene, coz he's the 1 who's struggling through the confusion and uncertainty of what he feels when he allows himself nearness to Eun Chan, versus what he thinks he should feel.

The conflict that he feels, is written and so clearly in his eyes.

And so in that location's the cuddling. Han Gyul's halting, hesitant movements, each bringing himself closer to Eun Chan, until he's lying down spooning her, is sweetly painful to picket.

You tin can feel the uncertainty in Han Gyul, equally his eyes brim with tears with each pace of increasing closeness.

That he even allows himself to nestle his face up in Eun Chan's hair, as a single tear falls, shows the states just how much he's feeling for Eun Chan. Information technology overwhelms him to the betoken that he realizes he can no longer keep upwards the brotherhood ruse. Augh. My heart.

The alien kiss

E10. Han Gyul, angsting equally he drives, unable to stop thinking near Eun Chan, finally goes back to the shop and finds her in that location, working on the mural.

Eun Chan starts to explain how she's not ruining the mural, just trying to gear up it; without a word, his optics stock-still on her the whole time, he hones in on her, and kisses her, once, twice. Her optics sheen with tears; she never imagined this moment would e'er happen.

He steps dorsum; "I'm only going to say this in one case, then listen advisedly. Whether y'all're a man, or an alien, I'm not going to care anymore. I tried getting rid of my feelings, but I couldn't… Then let's go, as far every bit nosotros tin can go."

Augh. The feels. That tentative wonder equally he kisses her; her teary wonder; the expect on his face, of teary relief, tinged with a scrap of pain. My eye.

The tentative, nervous, gentle sort of way Han Gyul talks on the phone with Eun Chan, mail service-kiss, is so perfect. Things have shifted between them, with his declaration of his feelings, and this is him treading uncertainly. Such a thoughtful touch by the writers.

And such a lovely interpretation past Gong Yoo. The tender look in his eyes is simply so lovely. <3

Dear confessions

E12. The dear confessions over the phone at the finish of the episode are cute. Eun Chan blurts it out when she's run out of things to say in her defence force: "I love you. I love you! I really love y'all!"

Afterward blustering dorsum with accusations of her beingness a player , Han Gyul tells her definitively, "Heed to me carefully. I dear you more." And so he falls downwards on the couch with the most adorable smitten confront ever. Love.

Honestly, one of the all-time things about this show, is Han Gyul's happy, smitten, super-pleased-with-himself faces when he's all-out in beloved with Eun Chan.

He flashes variations of the smitten face up throughout episode xiii, whenever the feels overflow, and it's gloriously fun to watch.

Han Gyul's smitten faces are so fabulous, because nosotros tin actually experience how light-headed and happy he is, at being in love with Eun Chan. It feels like he'due south thisclose to exploding from happiness, which is super adorable. <iii

"I'yard not leaving"

E16. Fifty-fifty on my nth viewing, I can't say I empathise the scene when Eun Chan plonks herself in Han Gyul'southward apartment and grasps at straws so that she doesn't have to exit. This scene simply feels broad to me, in its execution. I feel bemused and awkward watching it.

BUT. The skinship that follows feels truly real. Her hands in his pilus, his mitt on her neck, her legs effectually his waist, his face up buried in hers, her mitt pulling his shirt upward to reveal taut muscle, his trunk on hers as they fall on the bed, her legs wrapped around him. Rawr.

"Do you retrieve I want to transport you away?"

E16. At start, Han Gyul's refusal to permit Eun Chan get abroad feels similar a lack of understanding and empathy, simply when he explains in another scene that he tin can't acquit to not see her for fifty-fifty a solar day, how can he last two whole years, I tin't help but melt at him.

The way he eventually comes effectually is sweet too, when he gently tells her that she should go.

"Thinking of this buffet without you makes me non want to come up here every day. It makes me non want to work.

I don't even want to think nearly not existence able to see you. When I was planning to leave for New York, there were times I idea I couldn't because I'd be haunted past your retention. Exercise you call back I want to send you abroad? Just I want to testify you a bigger world."

Aw.

[END SPOILERS]

Special shout-out: Evidence's handling of the emotional journey

I of the things that I truly capeesh about this show, is how nosotros are taken along on our primal characters' emotional journeys. Because we are allowed on the journey, it's so much easier to empathize our characters and how they feel, and why they feel that manner.

Not merely does this add to how engaged I felt with our characters and their journeys, this also fabricated our characters feel and then much more existent, to me.

[SPOILER Warning]

Show does this particularly well, in the aftermath of Han Gyul learning the truth about Eun Chan'southward gender.

E11. When Han Gyul comes back home at night subsequently a twenty-four hours of raging, he looks so tired, and.. broken. I feel like I tin can actually see in his eyes that something bankrupt inside that 24-hour interval.

The sense of betrayal, not only by Eun Chan, but by Han Seong and Yoo Joo as well, is really deep, and it's what's cut him up inside.

Han Gyul's hurt and anger is explained really well. That Eun Chan had lied to him, not but for a day or two, but for months. And this, when at to the lowest degree some of the time, she'd known how he'd felt about her.

His point, that she calculated all this, and did it in the way that would keep herself from getting hurt, while not caring about him, makes sense. And too, the betoken that while he'd been thinking virtually how to keep her with him, she'd been thinking about sending him abroad.

All that is actually truthful, fifty-fifty though she hadn't been malicious or selfish intentionally. His anger makes a lot of sense. But it still wasn't cool, how he kissed her like that. That was assault.

E12. Credit to the bear witness, for working through Han Gyul's hurt and acrimony, and bringing him and Eun Chan to reconciliation, in a style that feels organic and believable.

The turnaround isn't sudden, but very gradual, as Han Gyul takes fourth dimension to think, and equally dissimilar people talk to him, nudging his perspective in tedious degrees.

The trouble with many other dramas, is that nosotros're oft shown the character simply brooding solitary, and then suddenly having a modify of heart. That's so much less believable than what we become here, where we are taken on Han Gyul's emotional journey.

Gong Yoo does and then well this episode. We see and so much in his expression, and in his eyes. From pensive thoughtfulness, to wistful longing, tentative awkwardness, to relief, gratefulness and full-on smitten-ness.

Of class, not to overlook Yoon Eun Hye, who does a very solid job of Eun Chan this episode. From puffy-eyed deep grief, to shy uncertainty, to unadulterated wonder and joy.

[END SPOILER]

Han Seong and Yoo Joo

To be honest, I wasn't super taken with this secondary loveline when I first watched this show, and I'k still not really into it, even now.

More often than not speaking, I found that in that location was a lot of dysfunction in this relationship, and more than than once, I establish myself thinking that these ii actually did deserve each other; they were both so problematic.

Prove does give these two a happy catastrophe, and even though I wasn't all that invested in their relationship to begin with, I must say Bear witness did a pretty good job of wrapping up this arc with a warm, happy sheen that I wasn't opposed to buying, despite my initial distaste for this couple.

That's skillz.

[SPOILER ALERT]

Here'south a collection of my well-nigh contempo thoughts near this couple'due south journey.

E2. Han Seong sleeping with Yoo Joo – I tin't decide whether he planned to punish her or not. I used to recollect and so, simply at present I remember he really did want to exist with her. And the whole breaking upwardly matter in the forenoon was him testing her, him wanting her to stay, even when he told her to go.

E3. The complicated fragility of Yoo Joo's and Han Seong's relationship is realistic. How tin you lot expect to just sweep all that stuff under the carpet? Well ok. People do exercise that, merely it still doesn't mean it'south going to work.

E5. Han Seong not calling Yoo Joo, and Yoo Joo non calling him either – this couple is complicated, which is not a skillful thing.

E9. There are spots of honesty in the relationship between Han Seong and Yoo Joo. When he asks if she'due south avoiding him, she says that she can't say she isn't. It's a mixture though. When he asks to meet for lunch, she says she has an appointment.

Merely the fact that the honesty is where the chat ends, is worth something.

E9. Han Seong and Yoo Joo talking information technology out in their own way, while on vacation. It's interesting how they seem to be able to talk so freely well-nigh how they each wavered on the other.

It feels bittersweet, somehow. Like their relationship is tainted with so much baggage. But it'southward mature of them, to endeavor to work through it, instead of giving upward.

E13. Yoo Joo's self-sensation and caption this episode does help to brand upwardly for her disappointing behavior in previous episodes.

I'm not a big fan of the couple dynamic betwixt Yoo Joo and Han Seong – it's a bit too dramatic diva for my taste – but I practise think they lucifer each other and deserve each other.

E14. While I don't like the false-bickering scene, I exercise like the scene where Han Seong and Yoo Joo lie effectually in bed and talk about her pregnancy and the future. It feels attainable and real and cozy.

E15. Yoo Joo proposing to Han Seong, admitting her flaws and promising to endeavor hard, merely melts away any residual dislike I accept for her character.

[END SPOILER]

Han Gyul and Yoo Joo [SPOILERS]

When we begin our story, Han Gyul and Yoo Joo are shown to have a complicated friendship. She's his cousin's girlfriend, she's the girl that he likes, and they desire to be close friends, in spite of the first ii things.

I detect it so inappropriate in episode three, that she'southward singing him to slumber while dating his cousin. Or possibly that'southward just me. Only at least she called to apologize.

To my optics, Yoo Joo'southward fashion of being touchy-feely with Han Gyul is thoughtless and insensitive. She holds his hand, gives him the earliest birthday present, touches his shoulders, his face etc, all while knowing that he likes her while she doesn't like him dorsum.

She's just basking in the attending, equally she leads him on, not caring that he gets hurt in the process. That makes me angry.

I was pleased when Han Gyul shows Yoo Joo in episode 5, that he isn't comfy with her mixed signals, merely I guess old habits die difficult, because in episode 8, I felt distinctly uncomfortable with Han Gyul'south and Yoo Joo'southward skinship boundaries, when he puts his head on her lap at the hospital. That's inappropriate, at to the lowest degree in my books.

The whole matter is pretty unhealthy to my optics, and it's no wonder this is a raw nerve between Han Gyul, Han Seong and Yoo Joo. I'm glad Show sorted it all out eventually, of form. Phew.

The Coffee Princes

Aside from the OTP, the Coffee Prince crew was my next favorite affair in this show.

I loved watching the initial guardedness and suspicion eventually requite way to sincere intendance and true bromance, and I loved that Bear witness gave u.s. the adventure to get to know each of the Coffee Princes.

[SPOILER ALERT]

I loved dim Min Yeop, whom I found very amusing and endearing all the style through, from his stubborn love for Eun Sae, to his all-consuming loyalty to Eun Chan, to his simple joy at working hard.

He is possibly my favorite Coffee Prince, and I was gutted when I learned that Lee Eon had passed away in a tragic motorcycle crash the year after making this testify. Sob. T.T

I will always recall Min Yeop working out his jealousy past carrying a fridge. Then ridiculous, so he-man, and and then endearing.

I institute Sun Ki (Kim Jae Wook) suitably cool and edgy every bit the waffle guy of few words, just it was his one-sided true-blue beloved for a noona with a child that really tugged at my heartstrings. Additionally, underneath the reserved absurd exterior, Sun Ki's really really nice.

Like how he's defended Eun Chan multiple times, and how he advises Eun Chan in episode 13, to hold onto Han Gyul, who liked her even when he thought she was a guy.

Of course, how could I forget Ha Rim (Kim Dong Wook), with his bright and sunny personality, his loyalty to Han Gyul, and his repeated cheerful exclamations of "My Channnn!!" Cutie.

Terminal but definitely non least, I loved Director Hong. For all of his gross lack of hygienic practice, he remained the rock property the store together, looking over everyone like he's their affectionate uncle.

At first, it was just informal and fun to watch this crew together, coz you feel like you're hanging out with these guys and just having fun with them. Simply eventually, it's their sincere intendance for one another that really gets me in the center.

By episode fifteen, the princes are talking virtually their personal stuff while working and hanging out at the java shop together, which I honey. Information technology actually feels like they're close and sharing lives, beyond just working together.

What a long style they've come up, considering they didn't like one another all that much when they first started working together. <3

[Finish SPOILER]

Special shout-out: Han Gyul and his mom

I really loved the relationship between Han Gyul and his mom (Kim Ja Ok). He'due south e'er so playful and flirty with his mom, and she literally lights up and blossoms in response, which is the nigh adorable thing. I honey how genuinely happy they await, when they hug.

[SPOILER Alarm]

Han Gyul's mom is also a true sweetheart, beingness grateful to her son's bio mom, instead of feeling threatened by her memory.

I found that very moving indeed, and I was so glad for both her and Han Gyul, that they had each other.

[END SPOILER]

I besides wanted to say, this rewatch was specially bittersweet, now that Kim Ja Ok has passed on. 🙁 She volition ever be i of my favorite drama moms. <iii

MINOR QUIBBLES

In a body of water of goodies, singling out things that didn't piece of work feels rather nitpicky, but for the tape, here are a few minor things that I think Show could've handled better.

E8. How the kiss was resolved also doesn't feel quite organic to me. Why would Eun Chan buss Han Gyul, given how uncertain she feels about his feelings for her?

E8. What happened to Han Gyul's propensity to go knocked out common cold after one shot? Here, he'south had 1 shot with his dad, and then (at to the lowest degree) another glass of wine with Eun Chan, and he's still able to chase her around the business firm. That doesn't match up?

E10. The mini-concert is even so weird, many watches after. Information technology requires too much interruption of disbelief, that they'd successfully make music, with and so niggling prep, and sucking bad, only two days prior. Plus, the whole thing was merely really awkward to scout.

THEMES / IDEAS

I'thousand certain if you were to dig a little deeper, that yous'd find many themes and ideas that Show touches on over the form of its 17 episodes.

Like, loyalty, brotherhood, and found family, for example. Only, the one thing that actually hits me hardest in the middle, is Show's presentation of the theme of love without conditions or borders.

Never listen well-nigh different social classes or backgrounds; Han Gyul was sincere in loving Eun Chan, fifty-fifty when he idea she was a boy.

Yes, in this story globe, Eun Chan isn't a male child, merely in episode x, Bear witness has Sunday Ki say that even if Eun Chan was a guy, it would withal not exist a trouble.

That, plus the alien scene, basically crystalizes Show's stance on dear: that love is love; no atmospheric condition, no borders. A powerful bulletin indeed.

THOUGHTS ON THE ENDING [SPOILERS]

Y'know, I'm non so hot on the way Show handles the fourth dimension skip in our finale, but I'll admit that there's a lot of stuff to like in this final hour, in spite of it.

So showtime, the good stuff.

The morning-after touchy-feeliness and the ease with which Han Gyul and Eun Chan touch each other, is very believable. There is no stiffness or awkwardness in their touches.

The ease and loving nature of their touches believably feel similar spillover from a night of love-making and tenderness. The bashful wonder and glee of their morning-after also feels very organic and believable.

And it's awfully infectious besides, coz I tin't assist grin at their happiness. Little beats similar Eun Chan playing with Han Gyul's fingers equally he drives, and playfully biting his hand, simply to have him seize with teeth on hers right back, makes information technology totally feel similar we're spying on their intimacy.

In fact, that's true of near all their couply interactions. The telephone conversation while she'southward lying in her bed and he's lying in his, all curled upwards and mumbling sleepily at each other, feels completely true-to-life.

Information technology's not a major romantic scene, but it'southward the accumulation of minor moments like these, that shape our mental picture of this couple, and information technology all adds up to a very loving, very natural and very real OTP indeed.

Han Gyul's smitten, I'k-fix-to-explode face as he serenades Eun Chan in the morning over the telephone, is so squee-worthy also. But seeing his happy face makes me want to explode with happy squee.

The shell, where the coffee princes all line up to take turns saying their goodbyes to Eun Chan, is so sweetly sorry. As everyone braces for goodbye, information technology echoes how I'grand bracing for goodbye, to this drama earth. In that sense, the impending sadness feels existent.

The tearful cheerio between Eun Chan and Han Gyul really tugs at my heartstrings. Both of their sadness at parting, feels so real. The tears feel real. The heartache feels real likewise. I totally teared upward when Han Gyul broke down crying as he drove, after maxim goodbye to Eun Chan. Blubber.

On the downside, one affair that does confuse me virtually Eun Chan going abroad, is that it seems that she really doesn't encounter Han Gyul for two years.

After all that talk about daily phone calls and frequent visits, why is information technology portrayed as if they haven't seen each other at all, all the time that Eun Chan is abroad?

I hateful, I get that information technology's to amp up the anticipation of her return, and to intensify Han Gyul's angst at Eun Chan's fakeout "I desire to stay for some other yr" thing, just it does strike me equally very odd and takes me out of the moment, somewhat.

Also, I'm on Han Gyul'due south side on this one. After putting him through the agony of making the decision to back up Eun Chan's want to stay, it feels rather insensitive of Eun Chan to wait him to just be all, "Oh you're here, I'm so happy!" about information technology.

Information technology makes sense that he feels at least a little peeved about information technology.

In the end, though, we practice go happy bows all around; Eun Sae supporting Min Yeop's career as a model, Ha Rim finally meeting his match in Byul, Lord's day Ki coming together a potential honey interest, Han Seong and Yoo Joo happily married, and Eun Chan and Han Gyul happily together again, surrounded by friends and java.

Information technology'southward non a big-bang ending, simply it does experience similar our characters volition continue to bicker and exist rowdy together, making memories together, and sharing their entwined lives, for a long, happy future.

And I tin get behind that. <3

THE Last VERDICT:

Happy, cracky, relatable goodness in a java cup.

FINAL GRADE: A

EXCERPTS:

I couldn't find a good Hard disk drive trailer for this evidence, and I couldn't discover any good HD MVs either.

But! I did observe that MBCClassic'due south got a nice number of clips from the show. So here are a couple of my favorites, from the ones available.

Of pilus-blows, drunken water fountain antics, and Chinese food

The pivotal beach scene

The conflicting kiss

WHERE TO WATCH:

You can bank check out this prove on Viki here. It'south also available on Kocowa.

GETTING Effectually GEO-RESTRICTIONS

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I personally use NordVPN. You tin can notice my review of NordVPN here.

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Source: https://thefangirlverdict.com/2019/01/03/review-coffee-prince/

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