Chun-Hui and Eun-Gi 1
In the 16th episode of Our Blues, Chun-Hui is clearing out her belongings in the fields. Eun-Hui, who has been watching from a distance, approaches her. It’s not just clothes that Chun-Hui is burning; she’s also burning photos and even burns her skirt! However, Chun-Hui’s nonchalant attitude and subsequent blood dripping from her mouth makes Eun-Hui realize that the old woman is not doing well. ..
We follow Eun-Gi and her father Man-Su as they cross the country to visit Eun-Gi’s grandmother, Chun-Hui. Although things with Dong-Seok aren’t going too well right now, could this be just what she needs to find purpose in her life again?
Eun-Gi is inconsolable when her father leaves for work. She cries and is beside herself when he drives away in his truck. Unfortunately, he ends up in a car accident and is clinging on for dear life.
Eun-gi is trying to keep up with his schoolwork and take care of his mother, but it’s hard when he has to leave home for two weeks at a time. Hae-Seon is struggling to make ends meet and Eun-gi knows that he can’t do anything to help.
Chun-Hui has a variety of pain relief patches on her back, which the other divers comment on when they finish their dive. It’s nice to see Yeong-Ok part of the group now, as they all laugh and joke around together without the same hostility we saw earlier in the season. ..
With everyone now aware of Yeong-Hui, it would appear that her paintings have actually drawn (no pun intended) everyone together. As a nice little titbit, earlier in the episode Chun-Hui actually had one of the drawings up on her wall.
When Chun-Hui returns home, she finds Eun-Gi there. Eun-Gi is to look after her granddaughter for 14 days. Hae-Seon lies to her mother in law, claiming Man-Su is off logging. When she leaves, Chun-Hui hands over an envelope of money. ..
Jeju Island is a beautiful place, but for Eun-Gi and Chun-Hui, it’s also a dangerous one. They’re talking about the island as they turn in for the night, both of them eager to learn more about it and its dangers.
There is drama during lunch too, as Eun-Gi isn’t a fan of the fish. In fact, she wants it grilled…and not burnt either. This dynamic is actually strangely cathartic, with Chun-Hui finding her purpose in looking after Eun-Gi, who’s relying on her but also missing her mum.
There’s a really nice moment in the market, where I implore anyone to watch this and not have a smile plastered on their face. In-Gwon, Ho-Sik and Jeong-Jun each carry Eun-hi on their shoulders, with the latter even joking about having his baby.
Chun-Hui is worried about her friend Man-Su, who hasn’t contacted her in over a month. She suspects something is wrong and decides to call him, but he doesn’t answer his phone. We see that Man-Su is getting surgery on the mainland and Chun-Hui is worried about him. ..
It has been revealed that Chun-Hui was wrong about Hae-Seon being working. She quit several days ago without much of an explanation. In the dark and fearing for the worst, Chun-Hui is worried that Eun-Gi has been abandoned.
The Episode Review
Our Blues returns with another strong episode, one that switches gears and allows us to explore a slightly different dynamic, this time for a grandmother/granddaughter dynamic. This episode is packed with action and suspense, as we follow the progress of a grandmother/granddaughter relationship that is on the brink of breaking apart.
Chun-Hui and her daughter-in-law play off each other well in this difficult time. Chun-Hui has given up on herself and her life at the start of the episode, but having her daughter-in-law around helps reframe her struggles. ..
This whole incident has given both characters a chance to grow, although I can imagine that if Man-Su passes away, there will be a very somber tone hanging over this one. Would Hae-Seon really leave her daughter on Jeju Island if that happens? It seems unlikely but at the same time, it’s definitely been hinted at. We’ll have to wait and see.
