Frankly Speaking - Episode 5-6 Recap
Filming for Woo-joo’s variety show has kicked off, bringing a fresh batch of characters into the mix. With competition and romance heating up, our truth-bombing news anchor finds himself hilariously out of his depth. Can Ki-baek’s unfiltered honesty win over his castmates, charm the audience, and most crucially, capture Woo-joo’s heart? Tune in to find out!
If the suspense of discovering Woo-joo’s new variety show concept has been killing you, the wait is over. Her previously ambiguous idea is now revealed as, wait for it, a dating reality show. Hear that? That’s the sound of my enthusiasm deflating like a popped balloon. Even when you exclude all the real dating shows that exist in the world and are left with only dating shows within K-dramas, Woo-joo’s idea is not as original as she made it out to be. It’s certainly not a, race-through-the-city-to-find-Ki-baek-because-she-must-tell-him-immediately, levels of excitement.
Then again, her excitement for the new concept might be less about the dating backdrop and more about her lead stars: Jung-heon and Ki-baek. Sensing the unresolved tension between these former high school classmates, she’s ready to exploit their drama for maximum on-screen fireworks. To get Ki-baek on board with her plan, Woo-joo agrees to become his switch flipper, sweetening the deal with the promise of jumpstarting his career through his variety show debut. Ki-baek's often exasperated doctor (guest star Kwon Yul) reluctantly witnesses their agreement, sealed with an unexpected pinky-promise.
And so, filming of the not-so-original dating show kicks off with the cast arriving (in a carefully scripted fashion) one by one at the charming pension where they’ll be living for the duration of the show. Joining Ki-baek and Jung-heon on Team Testosterone are a French cuisine chef who falls short of Chef John’s flair and a men's clothing designer with a sharp eye for style. These four men will be competing for the hearts of three captivating women: a swimmer-turned-TV-personality, a talented graphic designer, and a sharp-witted lawyer. Let the games begin!
As you may have noticed, the numbers are imbalanced, leaving one man as the odd one out. Initially, that man is the awkward Ki-baek, who, on a good day, can’t charm the ladies or the PD crew. Forced to navigate this real-world dating sim on expert mode, Ki-baek is all truth and no lies. Woo-joo assures him that his quirkiness will be a refreshing twist for the camera. Is honesty refreshing? Absolutely. But when you can't fudge the truth about your current unemployment status, it can really diminish your appeal in the dating market—especially when your competition is everyone's favorite son-in-law, Jung-heon.
Ki-baek is immediately at a disadvantage against the other men, who are not only gainfully employed but also masters at charming the audience. Behind the scenes, however, Woo-joo steps in as his secret weapon, giving him a crash course in winning hearts. It all boils down to three key traits: victory (dominating challenges), loyalty (choosing one lady and staying true), and "yutori" (a flexible personality and relaxed mindset). With this new strategy, can Ki-baek turn the tide and become the unexpected star of the show?
Armed with these three traits, Ki-baek dives into the first challenge: a mud wrestling match. While the concept isn't groundbreaking, it ignites the men’s fierce competitive streaks. As the four contestants are whittled down to three for the next round, where they’ll team up with a woman, their competitiveness transforms into a protective instinct, forging natural bonds between the men and women, or so Woo-joo theorizes. The protectiveness Woo-joo mentioned seems absent, but after Ki-baek loses to Jung-heon in the final round, he and his mud-wrestling partner, the former swimmer, forge an unexpected alliance. Their partnership isn't born from instinctive responses but rather from Ki-baek overhearing her tearful breakup with her boyfriend over the phone.
With this alliance, Ki-baek checks off another reality TV trait (loyalty) from Woo-joo’s list, but his true loyalty lies with Woo-joo. When he overhears crew members gossiping that he's only on the show because he's sleeping with Woo-joo, his protective instincts kick in. Determined to shield her from the hurtful rumors, Ki-baek takes decisive action to ensure she never hears the slander. He grabs her hand, places it on his chest, and flips off his truth-telling switch, determined to put on an act that they are mere casual acquaintances to protect her reputation. This act of chivalry is a stark contrast to the times he's awkwardly endured telling the truth, taking hits to his own reputation. It’s only now, with Woo-joo’s honor on the line, that he takes the initiative to regain his ability to lie.
Even though Woo-joo doesn’t know Ki-baek came to her rescue, she’s clearly starting to fall for our awkward hero. She feels both sympathy for him when Jung-heon tries to sabotage his alliance with Ms. Former Swimmer and jealousy when Ki-baek gives the last of his parents’ rice drink to Ms. Former Swimmer instead of her. In the editing room, she lingers on footage of him, a sign so obvious that even her bestie coworker, Chae Yeon (Kim Sae-byuk), calls her out on it.
As much as Woo-joo denies the truth, her feelings reach a boiling point when Ki-baek goes missing, and possibly injured, during the latest bonding activity for the contestants: a suspenseful horror-themed walk through the forest. Woo-joo doesn't hesitate to dash into the woods after him, and her overwhelming relief at finding him unharmed leads to an unplanned confession: he makes her heart flutter. (Omo!) However, realizing her feelings could jeopardize both the show and her career, Woo-joo quickly retracts her words and places her hand on Ki-baek's chest, ensuring he can't reveal his own feelings and sway her. The show remains her priority.
Speaking of the show, it's time for a surprise twist. From the beginning, the cast has been aware that all members of Team Testosterone share a mysterious connection. The ongoing challenge has been to uncover this secret. Winners of various tasks receive hints as prizes, and Jung-heon is the first to solve the puzzle: all the men on the show share the same first love, MIN CHO-HUI (Han Dong-hee). And just when you think the surprises are over, she’s joining the show to round out the numbers.
If you, like me, thought Woo-joo's dating show concept was lame and unoriginal, it's time to eat humble pie because this twist is actually brilliant, both for our K-drama and the dating show within it. As soon as Cho-hui walks on set, the dynamics shift dramatically. The atmosphere electrifies as Cho-hui makes her grand entrance, sending shockwaves through the cast. The women, sensing their new rival, brace for impact as Mr. French Chef and Mr. Clothing Designer eagerly shower Cho-hui with attention, proving the ladies' fears true. But it’s Ki-baek and Jung-heon who steal the show, their faces clouded with tension, the remnants of a bitter high school love triangle that shattered their friendship. Despite the drama, their focus remains solely on Woo-joo, intensifying the simmering rivalry.
With Cho-hui now a key player in the show, the stakes are higher than ever. Her first date is set with Jung-heon, the man who cracked the show's mystery. But just when you think it’s all set, a shocking twist threatens to upend everything…stay tuned for the unexpected! In a jaw-dropping turn of events, Cho-hui gets to choose a third wheel for her date with Jung-heon and, predictably, she picks Ki-baek. As Woo-joo’s colleagues cheer her for her cunning strategy, she can barely conceal her guilt. Her mind races with the heavy weight of her decision to use Ki-baek’s private journal to orchestrate this dramatic twist.
With the show’s success hanging in the balance, Woo-joo hurries to apologize to Ki-baek, who claims he's fine, though it's clear he's anything but. The cast and crew then head to a theme park for the next big scene. But as the cameras roll, the date veers wildly off-script, unraveling into an unexpected, thrilling chaos. Things spiral quickly when the writing team joins Ki-baek, Jung-heon, and Cho-hui on a ride to fill the frame. Amidst the chaos, Woo-joo loses her grip on the safety railing, and Ki-baek leaps to her rescue in a dramatic, albeit unnecessary, gesture. The result? A mountain of unusable footage that turns the planned date into a behind-the-scenes fiasco.
The chaos escalates when Jung-heon is mobbed by a swarm of fans demanding selfies and autographs. As the throng of theme park goers tightens around him, his panic mounts, and his fight-or-flight instinct kicks in, but he’s paralyzed by his own reputation as the beloved star. Just when things look bleak, a well-timed sneeze triggers Ki-baek’s truth-telling power. With unfiltered honesty and newfound bravery, Ki-baek leaps to Jung-heon’s defense, turning the tide and rescuing him from the frenzied crowd.
Woo-joo, seeing the chaos spiral out of control, pulls Ki-baek away from the crowd of onlookers documenting the scene with their phones. When they’re finally alone, Ki-baek unleashes his truth-telling abilities on Woo-joo, his eyes blazing with hurt and betrayal. With raw honesty, he confronts her, voicing his pain over her choice to exploit his personal life for the sake of her show. At the same time, Ki-baek grapples with the fact that he did give Woo-joo his private journal as a source of inspiration, acknowledging that he can’t fully blame her for her choices. His honest confrontation reveals a surprising depth, as his struggle with truth-telling exposes the intricate layers of human emotion, how one can simultaneously feel both betrayed and understanding. This complexity is beautifully portrayed, and I have to admit, this drama is slowly winning me over.
I’m not alone in developing a newfound admiration for Ki-baek. His heroics at the theme park have earned him not just the crew’s praise but also Cho-hui’s favor. Just when you thought the love triangle between Ki-baek and Jung-heon was the only thing linking Cho-hui and Woo-joo, a surprise twist reveals they share the same birthday…awkward! But that’s nothing compared to the shock on Cho-hui’s face when she confesses her feelings for Ki-baek, only to watch him dash off to celebrate Woo-joo’s birthday instead.
Ki-baek’s spontaneous surprise birthday bash for Woo-joo is undeniably a confession, though neither of them will utter the words that would make it official. With Woo-joo’s career teetering on the success of the dating show, speaking their feelings out loud would only complicate things. So instead, they dive into spicy food, marvel at fireworks, and playact as if their hearts aren’t racing for each other. The night is charged with unspoken emotions, even as they try to mask their undeniable crush.
Sounds like a perfect end to Woo-joo’s birthday, doesn’t it? Not quite. In true reality TV fashion, the drama is far from over. When Woo-joo returns to the pension, she’s greeted with utter chaos: Ms. Former Swimmer has abruptly exited the show, leaving a glaring gap in the lineup. With no time to waste, the show must continue, and in a shocking twist, Woo-joo finds herself thrust into the spotlight as the new female contestant. The stakes are higher than ever, and the drama is just heating up.
DramaZen's Opinion
Overall, this drama has won me over with the same irresistible charm that defines Woo-joo and Ki-baek’s blossoming romance. And let’s be honest, there’s something electrifying about seeing Woo-joo step into the spotlight herself. I don’t know about you, but I’m all in for the fresh dynamics and thrilling twists this new development brings!
Woo-joo and Ki-baek might have agreed to keep their feelings in check for the sake of the show, but now that they’re both cast members, those unspoken emotions are about to break free. The dating show’s premise, once teetering on the edge of predictability, is set to explode with excitement as Ki-baek and Jung-heon’s second love enters the fray. With romance at the heart of the game, things are about to get seriously intense!
Sure, Jung-heon and Cho-hui are still in the mix, ready to stir up trouble, but Jung-heon’s villain status has taken a nosedive from threat to mere irritant. Buckle up, because while he might not be the big bad wolf, he’s definitely still a wildcard in this tangled web of emotions. Cho-hui, on the other hand, is giving off some seriously suspicious vibes. Maybe it’s just me craving a little drama, but so far, she’s been pretty bland. Here’s hoping she’s the spark behind Ms. Former Swimmer’s dramatic exit and that she brings the much-needed spice to the show!
Also, I’m totally hooked on the OTP’s journey this week, but the real show-stealer is Yeon and Ki-baek’s brother, Song Eon-baek (Hwang Sung-bin). This guy made a dramatic entrance on a boat, bringing rice drinks for the crew, and then quietly became the unsung hero of the set. His love language? Acts of service. Watching him tackle menial tasks with dedication, especially when he stormed into the woods to rescue Ki-baek, has won him a special place in my heart!