Pasta Episode 3-4

Alright, my entry last week probably made Professor Kim think nobody was enjoying Pasta, so I will try to blog more positively.

While the first two episodes of Pasta were used to establish basic setting and characters, episodes 3 and 4 fill in the gaps and answer a lot of questions I had. First, we get a few flashbacks that explain a few things for us. We learn how Yoo-Kyung initially got her job at La Sfera with some clever scheming, and we also find out how Yoo-Kyung and San are connected. We also learn a little bit about Yoo-Kyung's past and why she is so obsessed with working at La Sfera - and throughout the episodes we see her persevere and return to work everyday even though she was technically fired... which turns out for the better for her, at the end of these episodes.

We get some insight into Hyun-Wook and Sae-Young's past relationship as well. We see that in episode 3, Hyun-Wook does not look at Sae-Young pleasantly when he encounters her at San's office. He kind of looks at her like he hates her. In episode 4, her filming crew come in and film at La Sfera, which enrages Hyun-Wook. From the first two episodes, I thought that she might have been the victim in the two's relationship, with Hyun-Wook now feeling guilty for leaving her (or something like that), but now my impression has changed. It's a little weird for someone like Sae-Young, who is portrayed as a quite sophisticated, successful woman, to be scheming and wiggling her way into Hyun-Wook's world... Now she sounds like a typical, Korean drama bitter ex-girlfriend to me. As I watch the episodes, I can hear myself thinking, "just go away" every time Sae-Young smirks when things work out in her way. Perhaps the character will be redeemed in further episodes.

It's interesting that the cool, supreme chefs from Italy (fondly referred to as Team Italy) are a trio of pretty boys, and the original chefs are, for the most part, goofy looking. At first these two teams are pretty much at each other's throats all day, but then they finally get through a working day together and share a drink. It's nice to see that both Team Italy and the original chefs are supportive of Yoo-Kyung as well.

We see the cast go through difficulties at the restaurant - sales are dropping and changes must be made! However, some of these changes throw me off. Foie gras is the first item to go - except, wait. I understand that these days, most restaurants are fusion restaurants and cross cultural boundaries, but what are they doing selling foie gras in an Italian restaurant? It's interesting that a French specialty is their number one selling dish (and also interesting that Hyun-Wook decides to cut out the bestselling dish). Something else to go is spoons, as well as pickles. Now, I've never really had pickles when I've eaten in an Italian restaurant... but I guess it's a must for an Italian restaurant in Korea? Or maybe I'm just not eating at the right restaurants. Anyways, Yoo-Kyung is blackmailed into continuing to make the pickles, by the President... who apparently got the egg money back from Chef Totti, but kept it himself?

At the end of episode 4, we see that Hyun-Wook has figured out about the egg money and Yoo-Kyung's being blackmailed, and he is holding Yoo-Kyung at the end of the episode. This isn't that big of a cliffhanger, but it leaves us to guess what will happen next.

I'd like to take back what I said about Yoo-Kyung's fashion sense. I guess the first two episodes were frumpier than the rest. I still find it interesting that the more important, better chefs tend to be played by prettier and better dressed actors. Other than that, I don't really have many questions for these episodes. The plot isn't that complicated so it's a relaxing one to watch... so far. I wonder if there will be any tear-jerking or heart-wrenching scenes to come? It also feels like we saw a lot more food, but yes, the cooking still consists of shaking pans. And all that pasta that Yoo-Kyung wasted while practicing!