To my darling, Bottom of the 9th and 2 Outs
Oh Bottom of the 9th and 2 Outs, sometimes called 2 Outs Bottom of the 9th or more confusingly, 9 end 2 outs, thank you for being in my life. Not since Anne of Green Gables or Season 2 of The Office has a romance had quite such a hold over me. Your beauty, like in the shows/books just mentioned, lies in your simplicity. The way you show a friendship, a real genuine friendship that has the potential and the danger of being so much more. The two leads are charming and well rounded characters who you can love and grow frustrated with in equal measure. You are funny and sweet and oh how you work the slow burn. That's like Good Wife levels of amazing. I'm really, truly, enamored of your story telling ability.
Drama, you spoke to me. Corney, I know. But I really felt you were saying all the important things that I wanted to hear just now. You were fun without being zany and sweet without ever being cloying. Out of all the television I've watched over the past year, you are the only one that I immediately wanted to rewatch from the beginning to the end. I know my love for you is going to go the distance. In the future when I'm sick or when I'm sad, I'll find you seated next to Pride and Prejudice, Anne of Green Gables, and How I Met Your Mother and I will know that you will make me feel better.
Hugs and kisses,
Katie
***
This show isn't about baseball, although there is a character for who is a college player with hopes of becoming a professional, it's just the metaphor for love and life that frames the story of two best friends who may or may not be falling in love with each other. There is no cancer, no comas, no birth secrets, no parental drama, no gender bending, no incidental body swap, no super class differences to overcome, It's a very simple story about how life makes things a bit more complicated than they really are and how it is really possible to over think and over talk love. All the problems, all the obstacles, all the conflict come from character. If this was in English it would be a staple that every woman could point to as one of the all time best. As it's not, I see no option but to buy it and sit you all down so you can watch it with me.
To give you an idea of the experience I've posted a bit of my season long recap, but be warned...
When Nan Hee and Hyung Tae first started interacting, they really didn't seem to have romantic chemistry. There is an extended scene where Nan Hee, feeling depressed about being thirty, living at home, not being
published, and dating a 22 year old boy who she has no future with, has her best friend Hyung Tae ditch the lady he picked up in the bar and meet her so that they can celebrate New Years together. Apparently, three years previously they'd made a reservation at a fancy restaurant since they both would be entering their 30th year and they agreed that
if they were both single, they would get married. Nan Hee basically forces a hug on Hyung Tae and he is not having it. It's cute, but they really don't have an ounce of Romantic chemistry.
But then, as they move in together, and you see the two of them interact, it just sort of grows exponentially. They
are so sweetly supportive of each other, but also know exactly when to get tough. They talk about everything, including their growing attraction to each other. Which is just about the most frustrating thing.
Nan Hee: So, this living together, it's a bit confusing right? I have trouble differentiating my feelings for you with my feelings toward my boyfriend.
Hyun Tae: You too!
Nan Hee: I mean, with the living together and all, I guess that's only to be expected. It's not a big deal unless we make it one.
Hyun Tae: I'm so relieved we've talked about this. I was starting to think it was an issue, but now I clearly see that it is not.
Katie: WHAT!
Later
Nan Hee's exboyfriend from highschool: Do you know why I broke up with Nan Hee
Hyun Tae: Um, no
Exboyfriend: Because I told her not to see you anymore.
Hyun Tae: WHAT
Later
Nan Hee: Truthfully, I feel jealous of your super hot really really awesome younger new girlfriend, it feels like she's stolen my favorite toy.
Hyun Tae: Really?
Nan Hee: But it's just because if you get married it will change our friendship. We won't get to live together, and we won't talk so much. It's our friendship I'll miss. That is why I'm jealous.
Hyun Tae: Makes sense.
Nan Hee: Also, I'm marrying my 22 year old baseball playing boyfriend after all.
Hyun Tae: Wow, it does feel like someone's stolen my favorite toy.
Later:
Hyun Tae: Nan Hee, I like you.
4 Hours Later
Hyun Tae: Okay, so I've been sitting here for four hours, any thoughts?
Nan Hee: Since when?
Hyun Tae: Really couldn't say.
Nan Hee: Can we do this, you realize I'm still in love with my 22 year old ex-fiance?
Hyun Tae: Yep.
Nan Hee: And that doesn't bother you?
Hyun Tae: Oh, it really really does. But I still like you.
Nan Hee: And I know you're still hung up on your ex-girlfriend
Hyung Tae: Yep.
Nan Hee: Well crap.
Later
Hyun Tae: Remember that time I was on leave from the army and you stood me up?
Nan Hee: Oh do I.
Hyun Tae: I was going to tell you I loved you.
Nan Hee: WHAT!
Hyun Tae: And then you came and told me how you'd just lost your virginity to that ridiculous classmate of yours.
Nan Hee: ....yeah.
Later:
Nan Hee: Right, so you are my best friend who I cannot live without. Let's not date after today, so that we don't destroy the most important relationship in both our lives.
Hyun Tae: That's cool. I just felt I had to say something or lose my chance forever. From now on, I will pretend this never happened. You will be so impressed by how cool I can be. I will be so cool, you'll know that my heart is in no way broken.
Nan Hee: You're the best. And my heart, totally not broken either.
Later:
Hyun Tae: So, you remember that time you stood me up to go get laid?
Nan Hee: Yeah
Hyun Tae: I found tickets to the exact same movie. DO NOT STAND ME UP.
Nan Hee: What should I wear!
Later:
Hyun Tae's Ex Girlfriend: I'm back from Spain, and I want to see you Hyung Tae, just like you asked me to six months ago.
Hyun Tae: SHIT
Nan Hee: SHIT
Hyun Tae: Nan Hee, I still want to date you.
Nan Hee: Nope
Hyun Tae: It doesn't matter that she's back
Nan Hee:Unfortunately, you are my best friend, so I know it matters. I know more than anyone else in the world how very very very much it matters.
Hyun Tae; SAYS THE MOST ROMANTIC SPEECH IN THE WORLD ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO FINALLY BE DATING HIS BEST FRIEND
Nan Hee: Yeah, but you really can't date anyone till you get closure with your ex. It wouldn't be fair to ANYONE.
Hyun Tae: Fuck
Nan Hee: I never got the chance to say how I felt, and now I can't say anything at all. Also, we are still living together! My life is the worst.
Katie: GD WHY ARE YOU SO GOOD TO EACH OTHER.
Drama, you spoke to me. Corney, I know. But I really felt you were saying all the important things that I wanted to hear just now. You were fun without being zany and sweet without ever being cloying. Out of all the television I've watched over the past year, you are the only one that I immediately wanted to rewatch from the beginning to the end. I know my love for you is going to go the distance. In the future when I'm sick or when I'm sad, I'll find you seated next to Pride and Prejudice, Anne of Green Gables, and How I Met Your Mother and I will know that you will make me feel better.
Hugs and kisses,
Katie
***
This show isn't about baseball, although there is a character for who is a college player with hopes of becoming a professional, it's just the metaphor for love and life that frames the story of two best friends who may or may not be falling in love with each other. There is no cancer, no comas, no birth secrets, no parental drama, no gender bending, no incidental body swap, no super class differences to overcome, It's a very simple story about how life makes things a bit more complicated than they really are and how it is really possible to over think and over talk love. All the problems, all the obstacles, all the conflict come from character. If this was in English it would be a staple that every woman could point to as one of the all time best. As it's not, I see no option but to buy it and sit you all down so you can watch it with me.
To give you an idea of the experience I've posted a bit of my season long recap, but be warned...
When Nan Hee and Hyung Tae first started interacting, they really didn't seem to have romantic chemistry. There is an extended scene where Nan Hee, feeling depressed about being thirty, living at home, not being
published, and dating a 22 year old boy who she has no future with, has her best friend Hyung Tae ditch the lady he picked up in the bar and meet her so that they can celebrate New Years together. Apparently, three years previously they'd made a reservation at a fancy restaurant since they both would be entering their 30th year and they agreed that
if they were both single, they would get married. Nan Hee basically forces a hug on Hyung Tae and he is not having it. It's cute, but they really don't have an ounce of Romantic chemistry.
But then, as they move in together, and you see the two of them interact, it just sort of grows exponentially. They
are so sweetly supportive of each other, but also know exactly when to get tough. They talk about everything, including their growing attraction to each other. Which is just about the most frustrating thing.
Nan Hee: So, this living together, it's a bit confusing right? I have trouble differentiating my feelings for you with my feelings toward my boyfriend.
Hyun Tae: You too!
Nan Hee: I mean, with the living together and all, I guess that's only to be expected. It's not a big deal unless we make it one.
Hyun Tae: I'm so relieved we've talked about this. I was starting to think it was an issue, but now I clearly see that it is not.
Katie: WHAT!
Later
Nan Hee's exboyfriend from highschool: Do you know why I broke up with Nan Hee
Hyun Tae: Um, no
Exboyfriend: Because I told her not to see you anymore.
Hyun Tae: WHAT
Later
Nan Hee: Truthfully, I feel jealous of your super hot really really awesome younger new girlfriend, it feels like she's stolen my favorite toy.
Hyun Tae: Really?
Nan Hee: But it's just because if you get married it will change our friendship. We won't get to live together, and we won't talk so much. It's our friendship I'll miss. That is why I'm jealous.
Hyun Tae: Makes sense.
Nan Hee: Also, I'm marrying my 22 year old baseball playing boyfriend after all.
Hyun Tae: Wow, it does feel like someone's stolen my favorite toy.
Later:
Hyun Tae: Nan Hee, I like you.
4 Hours Later
Hyun Tae: Okay, so I've been sitting here for four hours, any thoughts?
Nan Hee: Since when?
Hyun Tae: Really couldn't say.
Nan Hee: Can we do this, you realize I'm still in love with my 22 year old ex-fiance?
Hyun Tae: Yep.
Nan Hee: And that doesn't bother you?
Hyun Tae: Oh, it really really does. But I still like you.
Nan Hee: And I know you're still hung up on your ex-girlfriend
Hyung Tae: Yep.
Nan Hee: Well crap.
Later
Hyun Tae: Remember that time I was on leave from the army and you stood me up?
Nan Hee: Oh do I.
Hyun Tae: I was going to tell you I loved you.
Nan Hee: WHAT!
Hyun Tae: And then you came and told me how you'd just lost your virginity to that ridiculous classmate of yours.
Nan Hee: ....yeah.
Later:
Nan Hee: Right, so you are my best friend who I cannot live without. Let's not date after today, so that we don't destroy the most important relationship in both our lives.
Hyun Tae: That's cool. I just felt I had to say something or lose my chance forever. From now on, I will pretend this never happened. You will be so impressed by how cool I can be. I will be so cool, you'll know that my heart is in no way broken.
Nan Hee: You're the best. And my heart, totally not broken either.
Later:
Hyun Tae: So, you remember that time you stood me up to go get laid?
Nan Hee: Yeah
Hyun Tae: I found tickets to the exact same movie. DO NOT STAND ME UP.
Nan Hee: What should I wear!
Later:
Hyun Tae's Ex Girlfriend: I'm back from Spain, and I want to see you Hyung Tae, just like you asked me to six months ago.
Hyun Tae: SHIT
Nan Hee: SHIT
Hyun Tae: Nan Hee, I still want to date you.
Nan Hee: Nope
Hyun Tae: It doesn't matter that she's back
Nan Hee:Unfortunately, you are my best friend, so I know it matters. I know more than anyone else in the world how very very very much it matters.
Hyun Tae; SAYS THE MOST ROMANTIC SPEECH IN THE WORLD ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO FINALLY BE DATING HIS BEST FRIEND
Nan Hee: Yeah, but you really can't date anyone till you get closure with your ex. It wouldn't be fair to ANYONE.
Hyun Tae: Fuck
Nan Hee: I never got the chance to say how I felt, and now I can't say anything at all. Also, we are still living together! My life is the worst.
Katie: GD WHY ARE YOU SO GOOD TO EACH OTHER.