Recap Korean Drama "The Golden Spoon (2022)" Episode 13-14

Our spoon boys are forcibly swapped back by the whims of the universe, which naturally sets forth a new wave of chaos. Some good things do come out of it — Tae-yong finally finds the courage to stand up to CEO Hwang, and it’s clear his time as “Seung-cheon” has allowed him to mature into a better person.

At a board meeting filled with elitist snobs, Tae-yong puts them in their place by declaring that the company doesn’t belong to him or the executives, but the common citizens protesting outside. It’s a sharp contrast to Seung-cheon, who sneers to his friends that fickle shareholders don’t own any rights to the company.

Talking about Seung-cheon, he goes home to a birthday spread that’s extravagant by the Lee family’s standards, painstakingly prepared by Mom. Except his birthday wish (which only we are privy to) is to return to being “Tae-yong.” Well, there goes any shred of sympathy I had left for Seung-cheon, right out the window.

Yeo-jin catches on pretty quickly to the fact that “Tae-yong” is now, well, Tae-yong, and she immediately begins formulating plans to get her favorite puppet Seung-cheon back. Meanwhile, Joo-hee has also learned about the swap, having overheard one of Yeo-jin’s very loud phone conversations.

In order to confirm her suspicions, Joo-hee takes Seung-cheon on a drive to the beach and mentions prior travel plans. Seung-cheon plays along, thinking that Tae-yong must have said those things — except Joo-hee made it all up, so he’s just revealed that he’s back in his original place.

Sincerely, Joo-hee tells Seung-cheon that his background and status may be important, but what matters most is his character. She means to reassure Seung-cheon that she still likes him, but he reacts by harshly rebuffing her, ashamed that he abandoned her and his family.

Instead of calling him out for his abrasive behavior, or reproaching him for leaving her alone on the beach till the sun’s nearly setting, she hugs him when he finally returns and confesses that she missed him. In response, Seung-cheon kisses her.

Okay, I get that Joo-hee is kind-hearted and all, but she’s beginning to come off as a bit of a doormat. Plus, it feels somewhat abrupt and unbelievable that she accepted this fantastical premise so easily, since she spent over a decade being unaware of the swap. I don’t know about you, but I’m not really feeling this romance.

In any case, the pair are now blissfully in love, snuggling up to each other and sharing kisses. One of which, of course, has to be witnessed by Yeo-jin, since this show loves its drama. Hurt that Seung-cheon loves a girl that isn’t her, Yeo-jin impulsively takes revenge by treating Dad to a meal — with Seung-cheon’s golden spoon, of course.

The story is outlandish even to a manhwa author’s ears, but the seed of doubt takes root in Dad’s heart, and he eventually caves and eats with the spoon. All of Seung-cheon’s spoon-related memories flash through his mind, and by the end, he’s wracked with guilt towards his real son.

 

At this point, the T in Tae-yong stands for trauma, which resurfaces again this week. A bottle of spilled wine evokes an image of CEO Na’s blood staining the floor, and with that comes a barrage of memories.

Not only does Tae-yong remember that Joon-tae was the true school shooter (phew, he finally knows!), but he also recalls important details from the night of CEO Na’s death. After arguing with CEO Na, Tae-yong had stormed out of the house, then returned to find him dead. He’d collapsed from the traumatic shock, and who should approach to check up on him but CEO Hwang himself.

Talking about CEO Hwang, we finally learn more about our bad papa. He wasn’t always Hwang Hyun-do — turns out he used a golden spoon too, way back in the past. Back then, his name was Kwon Yo-han, Hyun-do’s more capable business partner. He had smarted at how Hyun-do looked down on him and disregarded his advice, except he’s now become the very person he once despised. Literally and figuratively.

Case in point: remember when CEO Hwang coerced Joon-tae to turn himself in? As usual, CEO Hwang was just treating people like his pawns. He’d threatened Joon-tae with evidence of his shooting spree in the States, forcing him to falsely confess to CEO Na’s murder. After which, he’d double-crossed him, leaving him to rot in jail instead of making good on his promise to get him released.

By now, I’m pretty sure the rules of the golden spoon could fill up an entire page and then some, but there’s one more to add. As usual, the spoon grandma didn’t give us the full story — and our spoon boys find out first-hand. The clock ticks twelve midnight, marking the end of their birthday, and all of a sudden they’ve swapped again. Oh, so you’re telling me all that fuss was for a temporary 24-hour switch???

On one hand, I’m relieved that they’re back in their swapped places (because swapped Tae-yong is an absolute gem), but on the other hand, I’m frustrated that the drama keeps undercutting its own stakes. The world-building doesn’t feel consistent because new rules keep getting added in on a whim to suit the plot’s needs, which just feels awfully convenient instead of being compelling.

Anyway, back to the story. Dad’s still reeling from the revelation that “Seung-cheon” is not the son he once knew, but that doesn’t stop him from loving him all the same. Having seen all his memories, Dad’s moved by Tae-yong’s sincere declaration to Seung-cheon that he chooses Mom and Dad over all the money the spoon could offer, and he resolves to cherish Tae-yong like his own son.

Furthermore, Dad may be hurt that Seung-cheon chose to leave his family behind, but he has a big heart, and he can’t stay mad at his son. He asks Seung-cheon out for a humble dinner, wanting to share one last meal together before he lets go of his real son for good. Handing his son a poem that Seung-cheon once wrote as a child, about all the little things in life that people can enjoy for free, Dad reminds “Tae-yong” to always remember the warm heart Seung-cheon had.

Of course, in this show, no good things can last. Seung-cheon gets a call from Joon-tae, and when he steps out to answer it, he gets attacked by a beer bottle to the back of the head. Furious that CEO Hwang betrayed him, Joon-tae’s escaped from prison, and he’s thirsty for revenge. He pulls a switchblade on Seung-cheon, but Dad intervenes and takes the knife for his son.

Bleeding out, Dad weakly calls Seung-cheon’s name, apologizing for not recognizing him all this while. He reassures Seung-cheon that he’ll always love him no matter what his name is, and that he’ll always be his son. And with that, Dad dies in his son’s arms.

Whyyyyyyyy. The good-natured Lee family are one of the best parts of this show, and I’m heartbroken that we’ve just lost one of the kindest characters. Dad will definitely be dearly missed, along with his unconditional love for his family and his resilience in staying true to his values.

Mom had a great moment this episode, when she stood up for her husband after CEO Hwang demeaned him with that artist toolkit. I love that she was simultaneously empathetic towards Stepmom’s pain, but also drew the line and refused to continue delivering side dishes to a family that belittles their hard work and character on the sole basis of their poverty.

I’m dreading the aftermath next week, when the rest of the Lee family find out about Dad’s tragic passing. Dad just wanted the best for both his sons, always going the extra mile to treat them to whatever small luxuries he could afford. It’s telling that he used the pocket money Mom gave him to buy Tae-yong a new suit, only for Tae-yong to notice that Dad’s still wearing the same old tattered clothes.

Seung-cheon also noticed the run-down state of the Lee house, full of reused and rickety furniture, but at this point it feels like too little, too late. Still, I’m glad that our spoon boys are both on the same page at long last, and that they’re finally working together to sort out their identity crises.

It seems like the drama is trying to lead towards Seung-cheon returning to his place, as per Joo-hee’s wishes, but I’m honestly not too keen on that outcome. As more birth secrets come to light, I’m hoping that the found families will win out over blood ties. Tae-yong deserves a family that loves him for who he is, not who they want him to be.

Still, I can’t fault Tae-yong for being curious about his birth mother, and I just hope that the revelation of CEO Hwang’s swap will push Tae-yong into leaving that abusive household and joining the warm Lee family. (Hey, a girl can dream!) I’m expecting Dad’s death to be the catalyst that finally shakes up Seung-cheon’s greedy resolve, and as we enter the finale week, I’m bracing myself for a lot more turmoil.