Cinderella’s Sister – Episode 5: A TV Series Review

Episode 5.

Cast
Moon Geun Young as Song Eun Jo
Seo Woo as Goo Hyo Sun
Chun Jung Myung as Hong Ki Hoon
Taecyeon as Han Jung Woo
Moon Suk Hwan as Jung Woo (adolescent)
Lee Mi Sook as Song Kang Sook
Kim Gab Soo as Goo Dae Sung
Kang Sung Jin as Yang Hae Jin
Choi Il Hwa as Chairman Hong
Yun Woo Jin as Dong Soo
Go Se Won as Hong Ki Jung
Seo Hyun Chul as Kang Sook’s true love
Kim Chung as Ki Hoon’s mother

Warning: I will be posting spoilers so if you want to watch it first, you might want to stop reading now.

I felt so devastated for Eun Jo when she closed away her heart from Ki Hoon. And it’s all Hyo Sun’s fault and I hate her right now. Not only she’s a spoiled selfish brat, but she can’t take responsibility of her actions. Add to the fact that she continually takes revenge on Eun Jo . DAMN IT, GIVE THE LETTER ALREADY! IT’S BEEN EIGHT (8) YEARS AND YOU CAN’T READ IT ANYWAY!

*takes a deep breath*

Now, on to episode 5 — which starts off with what really occurred before Hyo Sun and Eun Jo’s meeting in the museum. Apparently, Hyo Sun lied about knowing the display and of course her relationship with Ki Hoon. Fortunately for Eun Jo, she has a very stoic face that hides what she feels inside. Oh, Eun Jo, I feel your pain.

As they drive towards their house, Hyo Sun asked her stepsister to cover for her. She was spending far too much and maxing her credit card earning their father’s ire. Eun Jo didn’t agree to it and they got into a verbal fight. Eun Jo pointed out that Hyo Sun is living in a bubble with no dreams and aspirations. Hah, truth hurts doesn’t it?

Upon returning home, Hyo Sun is whipped by their father but was saved by Kang Sook after one hit. Lying some more to get Dae Sung’s attention to her instead of Hyo Sun, she successfully calmed his husband down. In exchange of her intervening with her stepdaughter’s punishment, Hyo Sun bought her designer bags (which explains what she bought with her credit card). Kang Sook is really a conniving bitch, even taking Hyo Sun’s bag and telling her that it’s more suited for her.

Eun Jo in the other hand reminisce about a time when she tried moving out of the house but was stopped by Dae Sung. This was after Ki Hoon left the brewery and she was left alone. It was the first time she shown any emotion other than anger to anyone.

And the story goes on with Jung Woo popping up in the brewery and becoming a hired help. He noticed Eun Jo but she didn’t recognized him. Well, who would’ve known that the fat chubby adolescent Jung Woo from before will grow up to be a muscular, handsome and yummy man.

Ki Hoon on the other hand came back home from America and went to meet with his father. Apparently, Dae Sung’s brewery business is booming with the help of Eun Jo. Chairman Hong even shown him an article about them and gave a mission to infiltrate the business. Ki Hoon hesitated using his connection with Dae Sung to undermine the business from the inside but still did it. I assumed that it’s because he wanted to know what happened to Eun Jo and why didn’t she stopped him from taking the train.

And I can answer him: Because you’re stupid enough to give the freaking letter intended to Eun Jo to Hyo Sun! God, this is frustrating.

In the factory, Eun Jo told Dae Sung that after expanding the business, she finally had paid her debts to the house and she can finally be released. Dae Sung was shocked that Eun Jo views their home that way.

A couple candidates for the marketing position is open in the factory. This is one of the milestones Eun Jo needs to accomplish before going away. As Jung Woo follows Eun Jo around like a puppy, they saw Ki Hoon and Hyo Sun walking arm on arm towards them. Eun Jo’s must be hurt seeing them and didn’t acknowledge Ki Hoon right away. For her, this solidifies the lie Hyo Sun told her in the museum.

Eventually, Ki Hoon is hired as the marketing position and Eun Jo is forced to accept it for the time being. Most of the time, Eun Jo acknowledges Ki Hoon when it’s related to work, but otherwise, she ignores him. Ki Hoon is hurt with the way Eun Jo interacts with him and constantly asks her if she does have something to say to him.

I was surprised that Ki Hoon also can’t take the responsibility of his own actions, like Hyo Sun. He’s guilty of giving false hope to Hyo Sun despite the obvious signs of affection coming from the girl. But it is also possible that Ki Hoon thinks of Hyo Sun as a little sister and still sees her as that playful girl years ago.

Another thing that surprised me is that Ki Hoon is also proud. Maybe years in the military and America, with the constant struggle in his family took its toll and manifested in some way. Instead of asking Eun Jo about what happened 8 years ago, he asked her over and over again if she needs to say something to him. One question is enough but twice or thrice is too much.

Despite Eun Jo’s change of heart, she still is as cold as before, but there are snippets of warmth along the way. Like one scene where she tucked in Hyo Sun in bed, after picking her in a bar where she passed out. And another time when she told Hyo Sun that she’s really pretty, which Hyo Sun seemed surprised as this was the first time she was complimented by Eun Jo.

Honestly, Eun Jo reminded me of Severus Snape of Harry Potter novels. Or maybe I’m reading too much HP fanfic nowadays. Don’t ask my OTP please.

Now back to Eun Jo.

Despite her being cruel to Hyo Sun, if you think about it, she’s really doing her a favor and looking after her: Telling her to grow up, telling Ki Hoon (in less words as possible) to not play with her feelings, boosting her confidence in herself. But childish Hyo Sun thinks it’s all revenge so she makes it up to Eun Jo with malicious acts and lies.

Eun Jo is a martyr. She does things for other people and her actions might not be the best way to deal with the situation but we can see that her intentions are good.

Favorite Scene: When Ki Hoon dragged Eun Jo away from her sister’s room to talk to her as to why she doesn’t acknowledge him as someone special. The conversation went like this:

Ki Hoon: Don’t you have anything to say to me? You rascal.

Eun Jo: I don’t understand what you are saying.

Ki Hoon: Why do you pretend that you don’t know me?

Eun Jo: Do I have to act that I know you?

Ki Hoon: Do you know how much I….

Eun Jo: Shut up.

Ki Hoon: What?

Eun Jo: You’re a jerk.

Ki Hoon: What?

Eun Jo: You already have Hyo Sun. What the hell is this? I didn’t know that you are a jerk.

Ki Hoon: No. It’s not true. We’re not together.

Eun Jo: No?

Ki Hoon: It’s not true.

Eun Jo: Does Hyo Sun know that?

Ki Hoon: It’s not true. I’m telling you it’s not true!

Eun Jo: Who do you think you are? You’re fired. Don’t show your face in this house ever again.

With that Eun Jo walked away without so much as a glance behind her. She held her emotions in check until Ki Hoon called her name again. She stopped and cried but didn’t glance back.