Summary
Welcome to Samdal-ri progresses the central relationship in a big way which will delight fans, though there are surely more roadblocks to follow.
The fans really seem to be getting what they’ve been waiting for in Episodes 9 and 10 of Welcome to Samdal-ri Season 1. There’s not just the long-awaited kiss between the leads, but the fleshing out of the reasons why it is so difficult for them to be together. However, it does seem like they’re real soulmates, and the developing drama has fans on tenterhooks to see what will happen in each new installment.
Welcome to Samdal-ri Season 1 Episode 9 Recap
Episode 9 opens with a tale of two Mi-jas. Firm friends, one from Jeju Island and one from the city, Bu Mi-ja and Ko Mi-ja were tragically and permanently separated when the latter insisted on diving even when the currents weren’t favorable for it. This explains Sang-tae’s resentment for Mi-ja, and thus for Sam-dal.
Sang-tae himself watches Mi-ja being carried into an ambulance after the events of Episode 8, and history seems to be repeating itself. Yong-pil heads to the hospital, calling Sam-dal on the way.
Everyone convenes there, where Yong-pil has to disclose to the doctor Mi-ja’s arrhythmia and the various medications she’s taking for it, all of which have been kept a secret from the family. Naturally, Sam-dal is subsequently annoyed with Yong-pil for his part in this longstanding deception. Mi-ja had sworn him to secrecy, and of course, if Sam-dal had been home in the last few years, she’d have found out herself.
This is another tough pill for Sam-dal to swallow in a season that has fed her new ones every episode. Quietly, she blames Yong-pil for her inability to return. Elsewhere, Sang-do is dissuaded from heading to the hospital by his friends who imply his presence would be burdensome since Yong-pil is already there, which selfishly angers Sang-do.
Mi-ja leaves the hospital the next day. Sam-dal tries to apologize to Yong-pil for directing her anger at him, but he apologizes to her first. As it turns out, Yong-pil remained in Samdal-ri purely to look after Mi-ja, keeping an eye on her while diving and wrapping her buoy in a floral cloth.
When Sang-tae sees this cloth on the buoy, he recognizes it from Yong-pil’s room and confronts his son about it. He finally unloads his feelings about Mi-ja and Sam-dal on his father, and he refuses to blame Mi-ja for what happened to his mother, even if he also feels the pain of her loss all the time.
How does Welcome to Samdal-ri Season 1 Episode 9 End?
When Sam-dal hears about Yong-pil giving up his dreams to look after her mother, she’s shocked and retreats into drink. Yong-pil eventually finds her and takes her home, but she confesses to him that he was the reason she didn’t return to Jeju Island for eight years.
Sam-dal tried to keep her distance from Yong-pil and forget him but was unable to. Now she’s back and wants to lean on him once again, but the inability of them to be together seems like an insurmountable obstacle. Finally, after almost nine whole episodes, they kiss.
Welcome to Samdal-ri Season 1 Episode 10 Recap
In a flashback, we see how Sam-dal broke up with Yong-pil at his father’s request, and how Yong-pil subsequently broke up with Sam-dal since he had found out about Mi-ja’s condition and knew he couldn’t leave Jeju Island. It’s a tragic story.
And it’s repeating the present day. Sang-tae still harbors an indescribable amount of resentment over the situation, and unfortunately, Sam-dal, who was liquored up at the time of the previous episode’s climax, can’t remember initiating the long-awaited kiss.
Sam-dal and her sisters busy themselves with trying to prevent Mi-ji from diving by hiding her gear, while Gyeong-tae realizes that Sang-do has feelings for Sam-dal. Da-young, meanwhile, plans to relocate the amusement park to Samdal-ri, and Yong-pil is punished at work for his unauthorized absence after hurrying to the hospital (a bit harsh given the circumstances.)
Since Sam-dal has been selected to photograph the beauty of Jeju Island, Yong-pil is appointed her designated driver to ferry her around. However, Sam-dal still can’t seem to remember anything from the night before. Sang-do is also adamant that he won’t give up on Sam-dal this time, which threatens to complicate matters even further.
The photography excursion forces Yong-pil and Sam-dal to spend more time together – even though the latter tries to swerve it – and the two lament how much the place has changed over the years, with even Sam-dal’s secret spots becoming tourist traps.
How does Welcome to Samdal-ri Season 1 Episode 10 End?
This popularity ends up benefitting Sam-dal, who enjoys a day taking pictures for people who recognize her. With Sang-do lurking, trying to finesse a way into Sam-dal’s good books while quietly fuming about her continuing to spend time with Yong-pil, Sam-dal finds a perfect spot for her pictures and uses a disposable camera to take them, reminding Yong-pil of the past.
The episode ends with Yong-pil confessing that he likes Sam-dal too as the memories of the kiss they shared flood back to her.
What did you think of Welcome to Samdal-ri Season 1 Episodes 9 and 10? Let us know in the comments.
