Serendipity’s Embrace — K-drama Episode 5 Recap & Review

Episode 5 Recap

The recap of Episode 5 of Serendipity’s Embrace (i.e. Is It Fate) starts with a flashback from when Hong-ju and Hu-yeong were younger. After their trip to Seoul, the two had grown closer. However, one day, Hu-yeong is waiting at the bus stop to return home after school. His mother texts him, asking Hu-yeong to come home soon as they are leaving for the USA.

Realising that he is going to leave the country soon, Hu-yeong boards the bus back home before Hong-ju can cross the street.

The episode moves back to where we left off in the present where Hu-yeong kisses Hong-ju. Hu-yeong tells Hong-ju that he likes her and adds that his feelings have been the same since they were in high school. Hong-ju is embarrassed by the kiss and confession. She asks him to go back home and goes to Sang-pil restaurant to avoid thinking about Hu-yeongs’s confession.

Meanwhile, CEO Baek and CEO Bae argue about the parking staff in front of the latter’s staff. They talk amongst themselves about how CEO Baek purchased the building. Bae was also interested in the building and she was trying to get on Baek’s nerves in hopes he would sell the building to her. Baek accuses Bae of being petty because he rejected her feelings.

Hye-ji tries to thank Mr Sohn for lending his sneakers to her at the hospital. Mr Sohn tries to flee from Hye-ji and eventually tells her that her father – Mr Kim – had asked him to plan a trek for the teachers. Hye-ji does not sense anything off but it is clear that Mr Sohn is lying to her.

Hong-ju is at Sang-pil’s restaurant, peeling onions for him as she keeps thinking about Hu-yeong’s confession. Hu-yeong smiles to himself, thinking about his recent interaction with Hong-ju. CEO Baek returns home that night and reminds Hu-yeong about his impending return to the USA.

Hu-yeong was not able to get in touch with his mother but he texts Sang-pil and learns that Hong-ju is at his restaurant. Hu-yeong rushes there. Hong-ju leaves when she finds out that Hu-yeong is arriving. She is sitting at the bus stop when she recalls her memory of trying to cross the street to meet Hu-yeong.

Jun-ho is drunk as he sends texts to Hong-ju telling her how much he misses her. Hong-ju is too busy thinking about her high school memories to pay heed to Jun-ho’s drunk texts.

The next morning, Sang-pil shows at Hong-ju’s house and asks her to get dressed for a trip with Hu-yeong and CEO Baek. When Hong-ju tries to refuse, he claims that Hye-ji and Mr Sohn will be joining them too. Hong-ju tries to tell her friend how things between her and Hu-yeong are awkward but Sang-pil convinces her to join.

As Sang-pil drives, Hu-yeong gets a chance to sit beside Hong-ju. Hong-ju tries to ignore all of Hu-yeongs advances. Hu-yeong is asked to drive and Hong-ju gets stuck in the passenger seat while CEO Baek and Sang-pil nap in the backseat. Hu-yeong asks Hong-ju to feed him some snacks but she refuses, asking him to take the food himself.

Once they make it to their destination, Sang-pil and CEO Baek go fishing. Hong-ju and Hu-yeong decide to set up their things in the place they were renting for the night. The two share a romantic moment but Hong-ju leaves, overwhelmed.

Later that day, Hong-ju sits with CEO Baek as Hu-yeong joins Sang-pil in fishing. Hong-ju gets a text from CEO Bae who tells her that Jun-ho asked for Hong-ju to work with him on the animation project at his house. We see a flashback from CEO Bae’s meeting with Min-woo who claims that Jun-ho wanted to work in the comfort of his home.

CEO Bae unwillingly agrees to the clause and texts Hong-ju, asking her to comply. Hong-ju gets upset and decides to take a walk by the beach. However, since high tide is approaching, Hu-yeong rushes to ask her to go back home.

Hong-ju convinces Hu-yeong to fish for weird creatures like sea cucumbers, oysters and octopus. The two bond and share several romantic moments. Hong-ju is about to kiss Hu-yeong but she stops herself, only to be teased by Hu-yeong after.

Hye-ji and Mr Sohn are driving to the ocean to meet Hye-ji’s friends. On the car ride, Hye-ji tries to talk to Mr Sohn but he avoids her. Her sister calls Hye-ji, asking her to share a photo of Mr Sohn. Hye-ji is heartbroken to learn that Kim has set a blind date for Sohn and her sister.

She asks Mr Sohn if he wants to date her instead but the latter yells out that he does not like her romantically. Hye-ji is upset and at the picnic, Hong-ju notices her friend’s sour mood and takes her out on a walk. Hye-ji comes clean and tells Hong-ju that she was fake-dating Mr Sohn. She has a crush on Sohn now because of his manliness. Despite his rejections, she is going to pursue him. This gives Hong-ju the motivation to accept her feelings for Hu-yeong.

The group has dinner that night and crash after a night of drinks. Hong-ju dreams of her mother, her aunt and Jun-ho walking away from her at different points of her life. Hu-yeong shows up in her dream, asking if she would let him walk away too.

The next morning, Hong-ju awakens to find herself alone in the house they’re renting. She tries to call her friends as well as Hu-yeong but panics when no one answers. Just then, Hu-yeong returns with coffee and breakfast for the two of them.

Mr Sohn drives Hye-ji, CEO Baek and Sang-pil back home. Hye-ji gives Mr Sohn a drink and thanks him for staying up with her friends even when he did not drink any alcohol.

Meanwhile, Hu-yeong starts plating the breakfast for him and Hong-ju. Hong-ju tells Hu-yeong that she does not want him to go back to the USA. Hu-yeong smiles and tells her that he is not going to leave anyway and Hong-ju kisses Hu-yeong.

An epilogue from three years ago shows Jun-ho crying as he boards his flight. He tells himself that he is going to return after writing a successful novel and hopes that Hong-ju waits for him as the episode comes to an end. Now that we are done with the recap of Episode 5 of Serendipity’s Embrace, let’s head on to the review.

The Episode Review

Serendipity’s Embrace is turning into a guilty pleasure every Monday and Tuesday and it is a shame that we only have 3 episodes left with this cute and fluffy rom-com. With the main couple now together, I wonder what will happen once Hong-ju is forced to work with her ex at his house. It is very natural for Hu-yeong to get jealous, considering how Hong-ju is still affected by Jun-ho. 

Meanwhile, the makers are trying their best to redeem Jun-ho’s character by giving us titbits of information about his emotions when he was walking away from Hong-ju. However, what he did was very insensitive and I don’t think any viewer will empathise with him given the childhood that Hong-ju has had.

I wonder what will happen to Mr Sohn and Hye-ji now that he has rejected her? It seems that Mr Sohn does have feelings for Hye-ji but the reason for his refusal could be because he is Hye-ji’s colleague as well as her father’s employee. With 3 episodes remaining in this one, I am so keen on seeing where this romcom goes as Hu-yeong’s mother has returned to South Korea.