ToGetHer - Episode 3 recap

[dramasoliloquy]

I'm sure we've all seen the changing dress montages in dramas, where a girl, usually the heroine, tries on many different dresses, before finding the one that will make the hero's jaw drop. Well, today I present ToGetHer's dress change montage, only it's a little different from most, as the dresses aren't so hot and Momo's a very unhappy camper about having to try them on in the first place. Episode 3 start!

(Momo about to discover a toilet seat that's not down, Mars taking out the trash)

Momo shows Mars a list of household rules he needs to follow, which leads Mars to envision himself cleaning floors and taking out the trash in disbelief. The last, but most important rule, toilet seat down!

At school, the annual poetry recital competition will begin soon, so the class picks Mars to represent them. He demurs at first, saying he has to get his company's permission, but gives in immediately when it seems like the teacher will pick someone else. But to Mars' horror, he learns he's supposed to recite an English poem, and English he sucketh at.

Railing to all around him, Mars complains that he doesn't even know the 22 letters of the alphabet (sigh) or that he's in a foreign language class even though he's been attending class for a week now (double sigh). Momo doesn't get what the fuss is about. Can't he just prepare for it like any other performance? But Mars disagrees.

(Mars complaining about the competition, and Mars wanting to pulverize Ben)

So it's off to his company they go, to be happy forever and all. Tony tells them not to worry. The media already knows about the contest! Mars is dumbfounded, especially when Ben comes in to jibe at him, saying he's the one who told Tony to spread the news. Mars wants at him, but is held back by Yi Zhi. He informs them he will enter the competition after all.

Mars starts lessons with a free tutor Yi Zhi found him, but it doesn't work out. So he tries to teach himself, but that gets him nowhere. He pours out his frustrations to Momo, but she tells him he should just memorize it. Memorize it, ha. Mars laughs at her and tells her to try and memorize it. Sigh.

Of course, Momo quickly memorizes a couple of lines and recites it in slurred, but somewhat understandable English as Mars gapes at her. Pointing at him, she accuses him of being immature several times, listing examples. And Mars has to agree.

(A drenched Momo, and it's Mars and Jia Sen to the rescue.)

Meanwhile, Momo is bullied into making all the props for the upcoming competition by herself, thanks to Mars' fan club, who continue to object to her very existence.

On one rainy night, she finds herself drenched after working late on the props and Mars comes to her rescue with an umbrella, so Jia Sen finds Momo gone when he also comes with an umbrella to escort Momo.

That night, Mars comes to Momo to ask her for her help with his recital. Well, actually, he hems and haws at first, wondering why Momo lets his fan club walk all over her and why doesn't she stand up for herself and not do all the prop work by herself?

Oh, I've wondered about that also, but Momo just tells him it's her duty.

(Momo wants Mars to beg, and she helps him get over his nerves. Slap!)

Getting to the point of his visit, Mars asks Momo to help him with the recital. She asks him to beg. Haha, Mars tries to front it, but his imagination sees doom and gloom ahead due to his limited English abilities, so he quickly capitulates and begs Momo for help.

Everyone helps Mars prepare for the recital, his fan club, Yi Zhi and especially Momo.

The day of the recital comes, and with it comes Tony, Yi Zhi, even Ben and reporters in the audience, and a nervous Mars, who's surrounded by his fan club. He asks them to leave him in solitude and seeing Momo, asks her to say something.

He even feeds her lines on what he wants her to say to him, “Mars you look handsome,” and so on, but Momo is unresponsive until he mentions he's nervous. She looks at him them. I guess she didn't know how to respond to his needs for reassurance, but this she can do.

Eyes closed per Momo's instructions, Momo's fingers lightly follow the outline of his face and then she slaps him. Mars protests this treatment, but Momo asks him, is he nervous anymore? And he's not.

(I love moments like this when Yi Zhi or someone directly addresses the camera! A solitary Momo waits for Mars.)

Recital time. Mars breezes through it in pretty deplorable English really, as he thinks back to Momo teaching him the last part. Waves of applause greet him. Mars goes on to thank a particular student, but as he turns to do so, Momo slips away.

Fast forward to Ben talking with reporters, who ask him about Mars' recital. Ben has news of his own, however, a major concert tour which eclipses the news of Mars' recital as Mars, Yi Zhi and Chu Chu find out when they search the papers the next morning.

Once again sunk in the pit of despair, Mars gets a call from Tony and learns it's good news for once! A film he did last year, “The Best Times You've Ever Had” won an award and his performance in the movie was complimented by many critics.

Riding the roller coaster of life, Mars is up again and in a burst of excitement texts Momo to meet him on the roof where he tells her about the movie. He tells her he'll most likely will be moving out soon and gives her VIP tickets to his movie premiere.

Ending with a cheerful warning to Momo that he hates people who get up and leave in the middle of a movie, Mars leaves.

(Momo trying on dresses, reluctantly.)

V.I.P. seat, here we come, but Momo wondering at her feelings when she heard about Mars leaving soon. Surely she can't like him? But no. Chu Chu breaks into Momo's musings and sees the ticket, apprehending it after a bit of scuffle.

Ever the Kasaba fan, Momo plans to wear her favorite Prince Kasaba t-shirt, but that won't do. Dragging a resisting Momo with her, Chu Chu takes her shopping for a dress and high heels. It's like the classic drama clothes changing montage, only in this case, Momo looks embarrassed by the choices. Chu Chu finds the right dress and shoes and Momo goes off to the movie.

(Poor Jia Sen has been stood up by Momo.)

Really enjoy the fact that Momo's appearance before and after the mini makeover is pretty much the same as her new dress is a similar length and style to what she wears on a daily basis anyway. Momo leaves and Chu Chu finds there's a visitor, Jia Sen, who's waiting for Momo since it's his birthday. Uh oh.

Final Thoughts: Ah, no Prince Kasaba quote in this episode, but his presence is still felt..

So yeah, I pretty much love the makeover that's not really a makeover. Basically, it's a new dress that Momo's comfortable in and high heels. No new makeup, new hair do. And no one suggests it.

That's a problem I had with Personal Taste, and the makeover they had in it. It's like we have to change not just the way you look, but your personality as well. In a lot of teen movies as well, you have to change the way you dress to become beautiful and accepted. Here, Momo's already beautiful and accepted and she just slightly alters what she wears anyway on a daily basis to better fit the occasion, which is cool.
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