Bride in Sneakers: Drama Special

Every so often, I watch a drama special. This is a drama which is usually only one episode long, and usually four episodes at the most. Most of them deal with controversial topics or unique storylines, and I don't always love the ones I watch. Bride in Sneakers was an exception. Jesus, this drama was cute. So, since it's not a long-term commitment I wouldn't normally have time for, I've decided to recap the special and then gave a few thoughts.

BRIDE IN SNEAKERS

A girl desperately runs away from my boyfriend, who chases after her. He eventually corners her, and he demands that she tell him why she's leaving him. Suddenly she starts coughing, and bleakly admits to him that she has cancer.

  Someone asks, 'Why is this not interesting?' We cut to the subway, where Jang Hui-sun (Kim Jin-woo) attempts to sell his new webtoon idea to someone over the phone. He insists that the story will become more and more interesting, but the person thinks it's predictable. Hui-sun huffs that interesting ideas don't fall from the sky.

  That's when a woman boards the train, in red trainers... and a wedding dress. This is Park Bo-kyung (Lee Chung-ah). Hui-sun gapes, muttering to himself one did fall. Bo-kyung sits down, and Hui-sun discreetly snaps a picture of her and uploads it online. It immediately recieves all kinds of comments.

  Hui-sun draws up another quick sketch of the same characters and once again, the man asks why his girlfriend is leaving him. This time, she's wearing a wedding dress. The fantasy stops as Hui-sun hits a dead end. He wonders why on earth this girl would have left her own wedding. Elopement? Cancer?
  The girl in question recieves a text. It turns out her friend has seen the picture Hui-sun took, and the friend asks where she is and what she's doing. Bo-kyung is dumbfounded, and eventually spies Hui-sun, staring at her, sketching her. 

  He awkwardly looks away, and when he glances up at her again, she's started to cry. The train stops and she hurries off and sits down on a nearby bench. Hui-sun follows her off and sheepishly approaches her.

 He explains that he's a webtoon artist and apologises for drawing her without her permission, offering to rip it up. She's more concerned about the photo, and before he can give an excuse, she asks if he can just ride in a different section when the next train comes. 

  Hui-sun agrees, but then realises the train they just left was the last one. The next thing they know, the two of them are standing awkardly outside, waiting for a taxi to pass. Hui-sun shuffles over to her, and they both start to speak at the same time. 

  It turns out all Bo-kyung has is her phone. She forgot her purse and she wants to borrow some money from him for the taxi fee. He's happy enough to share with her, since he wants some inspiration his next story, and they ride together. She thanks him, and he begins to ask about her situation when she interrupts, wondering how the picture of her spread so fast.

  He beams that he has over 200,000 followers on SNS, and ha, she doesn't seem to believe that he's a popular person. All of a sudden, the taxi driver pipes up, 'You weren't newlyweds?' Bo-kyung denies this, saying they just met, and now the driver is curious about her wedding dress too.

  He asks if she ran away in the middle of the ceremony, laughing that it happens all teh time in movies, and Bo-kyung softly corrects him. 'He ran away. The groom,' she says. Without any tact, Hui-sun answers, 'Wow! That's fantastic!', evidently thinking more about his story than her feelings.

  He realises that she probably left the wedding in sneakers so she could catch him. She confirms this, saying he run away when they were exchanging vows, and she couldn't run after him in heels. Hui-sun asks why he ran, but Bo-kyung doesn't have the time to answer. 

  The driver isn't focusing on the road, and quickly swerves when they almost hit a person, straight into a lamppost. He gets out to observe the damage, and when he deems it okay the bonnet practically falls off. HAHAHA.

  So he drives off, leaving Bo-kyung and Hui-sun behind. Bo-kyung trudges across a bridge in the rain, using her veil to keep her head dry, and Hui-sun trots behind, bombarding her with questions. Why do you think the groom ran away? Did he have a secret lover? A hidden child? 

  Bo-kyung ignores him, irritated, and he whines that she should just sell him her story since he's cold and wet and tired. She finally turns to him and frowns that she feels very unlucky, so he'll probably get into an accident if he keeps following her.

  He replies with a grin that he's a very lucky person. As if the heavens are agreeing with him, the rain stops, and he just laughs while she blinks with disbelief.

  Her phone starts ringing. It's Bo-kyung's friend Mi-jeong, and Bo-kyung blubbers that she's going to go to their new house and wait for her runaway fiancee to show up. But something Mi-jeong says makes her eyes widen. and Bo-kyung asks her where she is. Ha, by the time Bo-kyung has hung up, Hui-sun has already hailed another taxi for them, ready to follow her to the end of the earth.

  They wind up in a little restaurant, where Mi-jeong is already very drunk. She takes one look at Hui-sun and marvels that Bo-kyung already has a new groom. Bo-kyung tries to ask her about her about Gyu-cheol (the runaway fiancee), but she's so tipsy she can't focus.

  So Bo-kyung turns to one of Gyu-cheol's friends, Jae-shik, who is sitting across the table from them. He slurs that he doesn't know a thing, and Mi-jeong is too busy fighting with the guy to listen. Bo-kyung looks like she's about to cry as she persistently asks over and over where Gyu-cheol is.

  Mi-jeong starts getting lary, and picks up a pot of kimchi stew to throw in Jae-shik's face. Bo-kyung has to wrestle her to try and keep it on the table. Meanwhile, Hui-sun picks up Jae-shik's phone and reads the messages he and Gyu-cheol had sent back and forth. In the texts, Jae-shik had asked why he would do this when he liked Bo-kyung so much, and Gyu-cheol mysteriously replied that this is the best option.

  Then they all lose grip of the pot, and Bo-kyung cries out as in flies in slow motion towards Hui-sun. The four of them leave the restaurant, most likely kicked out. Jae-shik's covering in stew, Mi-jeon's covered in stew, and Hui-sun's... absolutely fine. HAHAHA. He has good reflexes, so he hit the pot right back at them.

  Mi-jeong whines that it's all Jae-shik's fault, since he said he knew where Gyu-cheol is and why he left. He tries to deny it all, and Bo-kyung earnestly pleads with him to tell her the truth, He eventually sighs, and asks her what kind of reason would there be. He implies that it's all her fault.

  Mi-jeong tells Bo-kyung to just go home. After she went through so much, why does she still want to find him. Like a good friend should, Mi-jeong curses him. But Bo-kyung blubbers that he was the first man to like back, and that he's all she has.

  Jae-shik just comments that she's veeery unlucky, so Mi-jeong pulls him away by the ear. Bo-kyung walks off, and Hui-sun trails after. He tries to convince her that they should keep looking, but she says she doesn't want to and she's not curious about where he is.

  Gyu-cheol couldn't answer when the officiant asked if he could love her forever. Then he said sorry, and ran. Bo-kyung drops to the ground and breaks down as she says that he left because he couldn't live forever with a woman like her.

  Hui-sun doesn't really know what to do, so he sits down opposite her and says that she should confront him so she won't have regrets later. Also, he could have had a good reason for leaving - she needs to go right to the end to find the truth. She admits she wants to find out what happened, so Hui-sun gets up and informs her that they're leaving.

  She asks where, and he replies that she'll need a change of clothes. He gives her a jacket of his to wear and leads the way, with Bo-kyung walking behind and adorably sobbing that it's warm. Aw.

  He takes her to his girlfriend Ji-yeon's apartment. He's all cheerful and bubbly, assuring her that his girlfriend is really nice as he makes his way through the dark room. He tuts about how messy she is as he heads up the staircase, picking up clothes along the way. Uh-oh. He reaches the bed, and his smile completely dissapears when he finds two pairs of legs tangled up together. And then he screams bloody-murder.

  He confronts Ji-yeon once she's clothed, demanding to know who the guy in her bed is. She mutters that she's known him long before she met Hui-sun. Meanwhile, Bo-kyung cowers in the staircase, and the man in the bed asks her to bring his clothes, which makes her even more uncomfortable.

  All of Ji-yeon's excuses are all paper thin, and she says she has no idea how it all happened. Hui-sun yells at her not to cry, he's the one who should be crying. And ha, he storms out, leaving Bo-kyung behind. She tries to slip around Ji-yeon unnoticed and fails. When Ji-yeon asks how she knows Hui-sun, Bo-kyung is hearing the name for the first time. She apologises and tries to leave with some dignity, but her dress gets caught in the doorway.

  Hui-sun looks done now, completely wiped out, because this adventure isn't anywhere near as fun now that he's part of the story. He gives her some money for a taxi and says a monotone goodbye. Although she leaves, she comes back a few minutes and gives the taxi to him.

  She believes that he got so unlucky because he was mixed up with her. Before she leaves for good, she calls out his name and assures him that tomorrow will be different, because he won't be near her then. Aw, he looks touched by her concern. 

  She goes, and heads down to the subway. It's dark, cold, and only drunk men are wandering through now. One grabs her by the wrist, scaring her and making her scream for help. Luckily, Hui-sun arrives in time to help her. 

  When the man is gone, Bo-kyung cowers on the floor crying. Hui-sun tells her the reason she's so unlucky is that she gives all of her best opportunities to other people. He covers her with his coat and asks if he can be involved in her search again, because he might go crazy if he doesn't occupy himself somehow. Bo-kyung nods, and Hui-sun remarks once again how lucky he is.

  They end up in another taxi, and this driver remarks how rotten Gyu-cheol is as Hui-sun stares blankly out the window. Mi-jeong calls again, and this time she actually has some information on Gyu-cheol. When Hui-sun asks, Bo-kyung cries that Gyu-cheol is leaving Seoul.

  Suddenly she doubles over in pain, and hurriedly tells the driver to hurry - to a bathroom. They stop at a gas station, and Bo-kyung runs to the toilets, where she overhears a girl arguing with someone on the phone in the stall over. She drops a piece of paper, which Bo-kyung picks up. She doesn't have the chance to return it, because the girl storms out in a rage. 

  Hui-sun is waiting outside, thinking about Ji-yeon, when the girl from the stall clings to his arm. She asks if she can sleep at his house since she has nowhere else to go. He isn't swayed for a second and just pushes her away. She signals to someone that it won't work, but whoever it is ushers her on. She changes tactics, asking for Hui-sun for money for a ride home.

  He sighs, getting out his wallet. No, it's a trap! She snatches a fistful of notes out of his hand and quickly hides behind a man who asks him what he's doing to a student. More men appear, ganging up on poor Hui-sun.

  The taxi driver is having an argument with a gas station employee when he notices the conflict, and they agree that it would be best to call the police.

  By the time Bo-kyung is done the police have already arrived and Hui-sun is trying to defend himself. The girl says that he gave her money to sleep with him, so he looks guilty. They're about to take them both to the police station when Bo-kyung intervenes.

  She says that Hui-sun is a wonderful person who can't ignore someone in need. She insists on going to the police station with them, but Hui-sun tells her not to get involved and climbs into the police car without her. He knows that Gyu-cheol will be leaving Seoul soon and doesn't want her to miss her chance, but she still looks upset. 

  While Hui-sun sits in the police station, Bo-kyung returns to the gas station and starts tearing through the waste paper basket in the toilets. She later shows the police the piece of paper the girl had thrown away, which had an acount number on it, and so Hui-sun was able to leave innocent.

  Hui-sun isn't happy that she came back, hoping she would have looked after herself for a change. She doesn't understand why he's angry, thinking it was her fault that he was put in that position in the first place. If he hadn't met her, e wouldn't have suffered so much tonight. That stuns him silent, and he mutters that she has a serious problem.
  She thinks he's talking about how unlucky she is, but he clarifies that her hair is a complete mess. HA. The taxi driver, who is also in this adventure for the long-haul at this point, interrupts them so they can get going.
  In the car, Hui-sun tries to rip hair pins from Bo-kyung's hair without hurting her too seriously. He finally gets the last one out and her hair tumbles loose. Aww, she's so pretty, Hui-sun looks enchanted.
  They finally arrive at an apartment, and Bo-kyung asks if Hui-sun will wait outside for her. She gathers up the courage to step inside, but Hui-sun stops her, asking her if she has to go inside. He doesn't want her to. Hui-sun, if you keep being this cute I'll die!
  Bo-kyung is pretty confused, since Hui-sun has been tagging along with her because he was so curious. Hui-sun says seriously that he isn't interested anymore, not at all. Bo-kyung finally realises that he's trying to protect her. She tells him that she doesn't believe she'll come out of this experience with a happy ending, she just wants the truth now. You've really grown up, Bo-kyung.
  And so, she heads in. Just as Hui-sun begins to walk away, thinking his job is finally done, a man in a bright blue tracksuit jumps from the upstairs window. Well, finally - this is Gyu-cheol (Lee Yi-kyung). He falls, and Bo-kyung appears at the window, yelling for Hui-sun to catch him. He doesn't though, since Bo-kyung then lauches herself from the window and he rushes to catch her instead.
  They end up in a heap on the pavement. When Hui-sun asks if she's okay, Bo-kyung moans that he ran away again. They go inside for some answers, but Gyu-cheol's friend is honestly just as clueless and frustrated as they are. He excuses himself for some water (sneakily watching them from the kitchen), and Bo-kyung notices Gyu-cheol's wedding suit in a heap on the floor among empty beer cans.
  Hui-sun tries to comfort her, assuring her that Gyu-cheol will call later, but first she should shower and eat; but Bo-kyung isn't the heartbroken mess she was at the beginning of the night. Now she's angry. She attacks the skirt of her own wedding dress, and insists that she will catch him. Hui-sun asks what she'll do next, and she answers that she'll kill him.
  They grab a hamburger as Hui-sun draws up a quick sketch of Gyu-cheol to upload online. Bo-kyung doubts anyone will care enough help to find him, so Hui-sun reads out the dozens of comments posted on the photo he took of her earlier. Most of the commenters sympthathised with her, rooting for her, which gives Bo-kyung new hope.
  Ha, Gyu-cheol looks exactly the way he did in Hui-sun's drawing as he calls the friend from earlier while waiting for his train. They're talking about Hui-sun, and Gyu-cheol sighs that he feels more comfortable knowing Bo-kyung has a new man. The two of them happen to be standing behind him - and Bo-kyung is understandably furious.
  They corner the rat, and Bo-kyung snatches his train ticket from him. He's going to Busan, and she just can't comprehend why. She's willing to listen to him, but he just apologises and runs.
  Thus a hilarious chase scene ensues. Up and down escalators, in and out of elavators, round and round and round in circles. Hui-sun finally grabs him on his way down an up-escalator, and refuses to let go of him, even when it means pulling his trousers down. Gyu-cheol finally wrestles free, but stops dead when he realises that Hui-sun has his bag.
  Hui-sun figures out that something important must be in the bag, and tosses it over to Bo-kyung when she catches up. Gyu-cheol finally faces her, begging her to hand his bag over. She opens it up and finds a thickbook. He says he borrowed it because it's useful, but Bo-kyung doesn't believe he would stop for just a book.
  Hui-sun takes it before Gyu-cheol can grab it and flee. He flips through, and finds a winning lottery ticket right in the middle. Nooooo. Gyu-cheol blusters that it definitely isn't the one Bo-kyung bought. She turns it over, and finds the loving message she wrote on the back.
  She thinks back to when she wrote it, when they were shopping for beds probably just a few days ago. She gave it to him to scratch since she's unlucky. and asked what he'd do with the money if he won. He smiled, pulling her down onto the mattress with him and resting his head ontop of hers, and he told her she's all he needs.
  He looks like a different person now, desperate and pathetic. She gets teary-eyed as she figures out that future he was imagining with his money didn't have room for her. He pleads with her to give it back to him because he has so much he wants to do.
  She starts crying as she screws up the ticket and puts it in her mouth. Gyu-cheol falls to his knees, begging and begging, and she eventually takes the half-chewed ticket out of her mouth and tosses it away, done with him for good now. He scuttles off like the rodent he is.
  Bo-kyung cries over how stupid she was as she and Hui-sun leave, and he can only watch over her quietly. It's morning now, and things are starting to look better already.
The two take the subway home, and Bo-kyung is calmer. She explains to Hui-sun that she's comforted when she thinks that some of the people there may have rooted for her. They all feel familar, even though they're all strangers. Hui-sun comments that Bo-kyung has changed.
  She asks how a person can change overnight, and he says that a night can be quuite a long time. Damn right.
  Someone breaks the silence to point out it's snowing, and everyone turns to their windows. Bo-kyung watches in awe as Hui-sun smiles at her.

Some time later, Bo-kyung is at work, assuring herself that all the hard times are going to pass but not really believing it, when she gets a text. Hui-sun and Bo-kyung must have exchanged numbers that night, because he's sent her the link to his newest webtoon. Aw, it's their story. She reads the end, and discovers more about how that morning on the train.
  The two were nodding off, but Hui-sun bolted upright when he realised that they just missed their stop. His worry completely dissolved, however, when he saw Bo-kyung sleeping so peacefully, and he sat back down, positioning her head on her shoulder and falling asleep next to her.
  She smiles to herself when she realises that's the reason the two of them went all the way to the last stop. Hui-sun sends her another text, asking if she's curious about what happens next. She knows exactly what he means, and replies that they hardly know eachother. He says he knows what a great person she is.
  She says that they've only known eachother a night, and he mentions that alot happened that night. It's too risky, she says, and he counters that it's all an adventure. She says, 'I'm scared...' and he answers with a grin, 'Look forward to it.' She also points out it hasn't been long since the two of them broke up with their respective partners, and Hui-sun laughs that at least it isn't an affair.
  He sends a final text, asking if she wants to have a meal with him. She thinks to herself for a moment, and he waits. She replies.

THOUGHTS

Beautiful. I choose to believe that the ending was a happy one. Two people so in tune with each other deserve to find happiness together. They both looked so hopeful in that final scene, I think Bo-kyung and Hui-sun realised that the future could still be bright for them, even though things had looked bleak for a while. It's a new day, after all. Not only was this drama beautifully shot - that last scene where the two of them were bathed in light was gorgeous - but the story was lovely.
  I was so impressed with the character development in Bride in Sneakers, especially Hui-sun's. He began completely detached from Bo-kyung and unable to sympathise with her. He was actually quite insensitive, finding joy in the drama of her situation. But once he became pulled into the story himself, it lost all of it's novelty. Once he and Bo-kyung were experiencing the same kind of heartbreak and pain, only then was he able to genuinely support and care for her, because he knew how she felt.
  I'm not surprised that he fell for her, Bo-kyung's concern over him was touching. He was right about her, she's definitely 'unlucky' because she gives everything she has to other people. She's innocent and generous, which makes her easy to take advantage of. This was best shown when Gyu-cheol decided to take her lottery ticket, and although that was a disgusting thing to do and he deserves to burn in the fire of a thousand suns, at least Bo-kyung has learnt from the experience. I'd like to think that she'll see things with clearer eyes now. At least she'll have Hui-sun by her side.
  I like that these two offer eachother things their previous partners couldn't. Ji-yeon had no sincerity, Hui-sun couldn't put his faith in her, and we know that everything Bo-kyung says is honest and considerate of him. There isn't anything sly, secretive or cruel in her. Gyu-cheol was a weasel who abandoned Bo-kyung for money, and Hui-sun tackled him for it. We know that they'll have a much healthier relationship than the ones they've had before. If it's this couple, they'll make it.

Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTnsbQE_Iv0