[Raine's Recap] Fashion King: Episode 1
By Lisa Espinosa | Published on | Source
By: Raine
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So it wasn't really what I expected it to be although it was predictable. I can say that it was a fun opener after the first fifteen minutes. They certainly laid down quite a few tropes. But you know what, that's cool. Just don't throw the other half of the book at us later.
Yoo Ah-in...bravo!
"Fashion King" features Yoo Ah-in, Shin Se-kyung and Lee Je-hoon.
episode 1 recap
We begin with Kang Young-gul at a runway show drawing sketch notes of the latest fashion and being generally adorable. He faxes his notes back to his shop and they get cracking on replicas. Rip-offs of the runway show show up everywhere.
Fashion designer Tory Burch makes a cameo as part of an acceptance committee for a New York University. They go gaga over an applicant's work. Who is she? Female lead, Lee Ga-young .
Ga-young is working quietly at a boutique and preparing for a show amongst a gaggle of gossiping ladies. She peers out the window and spots the mailman speeding away. Racing down the stairs, she arrives moments after a black-gloved hand has taken the mail.
A rather snooty-looking woman is opening the mail, Madam Jo , and spots Ga-young's letter. She uses a magnifying glass to read it. (Seriously? That's hysterical, Cruella. Yes, she's Cruella. She has black gloves, holds her monocle like a cigarette and has gaudy make-up. Oh yeah, she's illegally opening other people's mail. She's bound to be evil.)
Madam Jo hides the letter when Ga-young comes in and replies coolly when Ga-young inquires after the mail. She is waiting for a letter from a university in the U.S. and if she gets in, she would like to borrow the money for the plane and the first semester - she will repay Madam Jo no matter what.
The admission incites Madam Jo who thinks Ga-young is only after money and that she kept her application a secret. If she gives Ga-young the money and she fails, what then? When Ga-young leaves, Madam Jo rips up the letter.
Wow, angry much?
A group of six saunters into Madam Jo's boutique lead by Madam Jo's daughter, Shin Jung-ah. She doesn't really care if her mother catches her and the kids get to partying. (Oh, I sense mommy issues...but who wouldn't have them with Cruella for a mother?)
There's some alcohol and Madam Jo's daughter is in the mood for some kissing, which eventually leads to some hot and heavy making out and a desperate search for somewhere private. Meanwhile, unsuspecting Ga-young is sleeping on her desk after a long day. The horny couple haphazardly discard a lit cigarette into a container holding several bolts of cloth and they catch fire.
The smoke wakes Ga-young up and she tries to put out the fire, to no avail.
Of COURSE, her boss shows up, and Madam Jo is pissed. She slaps Ga-young across the face and accuses her of setting the fire as revenge for refusing to loan her money. Another employee, Miss Go, tries to defend Ga-young, but is reprimanded. Ga-young denies setting the fire and Madam Jo kicks her out. She fed her, clothed her and sent her to school. She's done enough. If Ga-young wants to go abroad to avoid her, then she should leave.
Ga-young agrees to leave, but thinks she deserves to have a part of the business since her parents started it. Madam Jo is shocked and replies that she should've just reported Ga-young to the police for arson. Besides, Ga-young's parents owed her money so SHE should be the one asking for money.
Alright, she is Evil Boss. Ga-young needs to stand up to Evil Boss now. Oh no, she can't. It's only episode one and the tenacious heroine never learns to be tenacious a little faster until about...oh...episode 19.
Ga-young wanders around Seoul and ends up in the Dongdaemun Market where she sees a sign advertising for a sewing professional. She heads on over to the shop, named Young Girl and knocks on the garage door. A buxom woman, the head seamstress crawls out beneath the garage door. BWAHAHA!
Journalist, drama lover, and foodie, Lisa enjoys exploring Korea, speaking the language, and soaking in all that dramaland has to offer. Her Korean husband laughs that she knows more than he ever will about dramas and K-pop. Lisa Espinosa can be contacted via lisa@hancinema.net.