Recap Korean Drama "Once Upon a Small Town" Episode 8

Sep 27, 2022

Once Upon a Small Town episode 8 starts with Ja-young walking down the road looking rather happy and peppier than usual. There also seems to be some anticipation and nostalgia involved because she’s thinking about Ji-yul and his confession from the other night.

Plus, the bicycle she is clinging to, as it turns out, belongs to Ji-yul who gave it to her that night so that she could go home comfortably. Ja-young’s face is telling of the feelings that she is feeling and considering the way Ji-yul was looking last night, it seems like he shares her feelings!

But in the present, Ji-yul is rather heartbroken after learning that Mal-geum had called Ja-young horrible names. Right outside work, however, Ji-yul finds Mal-geum, who begs him to take a look at her mother’s dog, who is extremely sick. He isn’t really interested to go to another village to treat a dog, but Ja-young convinces him that the dog is innocent and he should do this for her.

On the way there, there talk about how to address each other, and funnily enough, Ja-young refuses to call Ji-yul ‘Oppa’ even though he is older. However, they do take care of Doldol, but their problems don’t end quickly because they realise that their tyre is flat. That, in turn, turns out to be a blessing for the two as they spend a rather fun and interesting day together without any interruptions.

Still From Once Upon a Small Town Episode 8

Good times, however, only last as long. And after coming back to Huidong, he finds out that his girlfriend has come to visit him. It’s an awkward moment since Ja-young is there with him and Ji-yul is clearly uncomfortable with the surprise guest. Also, it seems like a romance is about to brew between Yeong-suk and Yun-hyeong.

Anyway, as it turns out, his girlfriend Choi Min is actually his ex-girlfriend who really wants to get back together with him. Ji-yul is clearly not interested and asks Min to go back home. However, she tells him that she’s staying in the village for a week and has found a place already. She promises to try her hardest to win him over and that she will get him back as her boyfriend.

And as if things couldn’t get weirder, it turns out that Min will be staying with Ja-young, which no one is happy about. The Women’s Association women continue to pester and say unnecessary things about Min and Ji-yul in front of Ja-young, which clearly makes both of them super uncomfortable. But, when Sang-hyeon gets there and starts to act like Ja-young’s boyfriend, it just becomes worse.

Once Upon a Small Town Episode 8 Ending

In the end, Ja-young and Ji-yul are left to look at each other awkwardly. Afterwards, Sang-hyeon stops Ji-yul and Ja-young from talking to each other while an annoyed Ji-yul can only at them as they walk away. Back at home, Ji-yul wonders what to do about Min and gets a rather interesting idea.

He goes to where Ja-young and Sang-hyeon are walking and tells her that Min isn’t his girlfriend – he doesn’t have one. Sang-hyeon looks rather miffed.

Once Upon a Small Town Episode 8 Review

Still From Once Upon a Small Town Episode 8

Once Upon a Small Town, in order to introduce humour into its storyline, has introduced some of the most annoying characters that you can find. In typical K-drama fashion, these characters are loud, obnoxious and have no sense of boundaries and simply cannot take a hint. The Women’s Association women are simply so distracting and frankly anger-inducing that you’d want to skip through the scenes where they are there.

For example, the scene between Ja-young, Ji-yul and Min could’ve organically become awkward and weird without the unnecessary commentary from the women. It would’ve been a much better watch had they just let it play out instead of droning on and on about how Ji-yul looks great with Min and whatnot.

Anyway, Min seems totally unnecessary as well, as if we didn’t get enough drama, thanks to Sang-hyeon trying to take on the reigns in Ja-young’s life without her consent. However, you need drama and what better way to add it than to introduce an ex.

Either way, the scenes between Ja-young and Ji-yul are rather nice and sweet and make for an entertaining watch. Plus, I find Ji-yul to be a rather calming character who has a good head on his shoulders. I wish they would’ve continued with the storyline instead of adding absolutely inane plot devices that don’t bring about the desired results.