Recap: "A Pink's Showtime" Ep 8 – A Gift for Someone Special

Previously on back to the future, we got a glimpse back to A Pink’s pre debut days. We also had some random circus performances but lets not talk about that again. This week, in the final episode of A Pink’s Showtime, the members will be emptying their wallets and their tear glands as they exchange presents and gifts with each other.

Chapter 1 – The Art of Gifting

Today in A Pink Tower (actually CUBE HQ but we don’t care about anyone else right? /Eunji snigger), the members have all been asked to gather in separate rooms. The question of the week is whether the A Pink members have ever been moved to tears. The immediate answer to that appears to be…umm…not really. Well to be extremely honest, Nam Joo and Eunji does say that thinking about the other members makes them emotional on occasions but bawling their eyes out? Hasn’t happened.

Well then! In that case, lets change that! (Not sure why we want to move them to tears but just go along with it) Each of the members are asked to pick a random soul mate. They then have to get their soul mate a special something that is guaranteed to touch their hearts. Ha Young’s soul mate for today is her trusty room mate Naeun. Naeun, on the other hand, will be touching the heart of our dear leader Chorong. Leader Rong will pass down her leader-y gifts to Nam Joo. Nam Joo gets the toughest challenge, having to get something for Bomi (Previous viewers of A Pink News will know that Bomi has promised not to cry too much on TV). Bomi’s soul mate happens to be her close friend Eunji, which should make things easy for her. Finally, Eunji is tasked with taking care of their giant junior, Ha Young.

The members have known each other for over 4 years so this should be easy right? If anyone tells me that picking out gifts are easy, I will slap them over the head with some grade B salmon for being either a lying weasel or just thoughtless. Thankfully, I won’t be slapping A Pink heads with some priceless salmon since they all struggle to think of something to get, Eunji expressing her pains on the piano. Naeun, on the other hand, tears up just thinking about Chorong. (Too early!). So what is Chorong doing at this time? She has also started crying while trying to record a message to Nam Joo. At this rate, we’re going to have a flooding issue in A Pink Towers before the end of this episode.

No point sitting around just thinking about it, time to get your feet sweaty and give their wallets a bit of an exercise. The members all head out to various places to buy some gifts. The members continue to pour over what each of their soul mates would like. Eunji, in particular, seems to be deep in thought, busily searching for stuff on her phone. After some thought, Eunji starts to talk about how Ha Young craves affection and loves being around people. Eunji thinks it might be because she lived away from her family at an early age and so Eunji wants to be like a mother for our little junior.

Nam Joo is also raking her brains, she knows how hard it is to make Bomi cry. She decides to get out the nuclear weapon of the gift world, a hand written letter. Nam Joo says she loves writing and that Bomi loves reading great writing/quotes, so this is hopefully going to be a sure fire way to get those tear glands chugging along. The other members are also busy picking out their gifts (Making sure to check the price as well). How will their soul mates respond to their gifts?

Chapter 2 – They came, they saw, they cried, others bemused.

A while later, the members have gathered again in a cute looking cafe. The members begin to talk about their mission, calling this the hardest question so far. The members then discuss what places they went to. Eunji tells them she went to a traditional market. The other members are slightly bewildered by her choice of shopping locale given the topic at hand but I’m sure she’s thought it through. Ha Young, on the other hand, went to nearby Hongdae.

Nam Joo then starts to talk about how she was getting all emotional while selecting her gifts. Unfortunately she ruins some of the surprise by accidentally leaking the fact that she also wrote a letter. Chorong then claims that she probably bought the most expensive gift, a statement that is received with sniggers from Eunji. Bomi, however, repeatedly claims that price is meaningless (Looks like someone is engaging in some damage control). If Bomi was on the damage control then Eunji is a tactical money missile, boasting about the large amount of money she spent. It appears that Eunji and Chorong’s gifts are going to be quite something.

The order in which they exchange gifts will be in age order and each person will give a song hint that leads to their soul mate. Up to now, it’s always been oldest to youngest. This time, the group generously(?) decides to go from youngest to oldest starting with Ha Young. As the old saying goes, better to get it done and over with.

Ha Young begins and she starts to sing Ra.D’s “I’m in Love” as her soul mate hint. Naeun immediately bursts out laughing, followed by the rest of the group singing along as well. For those unaware, this was the song that Naeun sang to Taemin during their WGM days. Funnily enough, that episode was the ONLY We Got Married recap I did. Fate? Or just maybe, I’m a mythical wizard that predicted this very moment. I think I’ll go with the wizard thing.

Ha Young brings out a whole bunch of gift bags of various sizes. Ha Young then proceeds to open the gifts herself before Nam Joo stops her. Inside the first big bag is an array of black clothes. We all know Naeun likes black but it still seems like a rather weird gift choice. Ah! But you see, there is a good reason for it. A Pink’s stylist claims that Naeun wears nothing but training clothes most of the week. Ha Young, being the thoughtful person she is, decided to buy Naeun a bunch of different pants, including the skirt that Minki didn’t buy on a previous episode. She also bought a set of aprons, mainly because Naeun keeps spilling food and also because she couldn’t find a bib in Naeun’s size.

Ha Young the proceeds to open the next gift as well before Eunji stops her. The next gift is a set of couple necklaces, the important point is that they must put it on for each other.

Lastly, there is a letter. Might as well just translate the whole thing eh? “Dear Naeun, (With Bomi being Bomi in the background), I’m Ha Young, your soul mate. The two of us are now so close we don’t have to say anything to express each other. We can tell just by looking at each other’s eyes when you are having it tough and want to cry by yourself. Frankly, it was hard to say thanks all the time but I was extremely thankful when your name came up. You have become indispensable and I think you’re more precious than my actual sister. Lets be A Pink sisters and family so that you may lean on me till you die, I love you, Ha Young.” While Naeun thanks Ha Young, Chorong begins to tear up quite profusely. The rest of the members look on in a rather bemused manner.

Naeun begins to talk about her gift but has to stop thanks to Chorong talking about how proud she is of them. Naeun continues and talks about how Ha Young seems much more mature than herself. The tears then begin to flow from both Ha Young and Naeun. Nam Joo, besides them, keeps busy by supplying them with an endless amount of tissues.

Naeun is next and her song hint is A Pink’s “April 19th,” a song that was written by Chorong. Yes, I’m sure you can guess who Naeun’s soul mate is now. Chorong gets out some tissues and prepares to bawl out her eyes. Naeun begins to talk about her first gift, a religious gift. The soul mates are both Catholic and were disappointed by the fact that they could not see Pope Francis during his recent visit. To make up for that, Naeun has prepared…drum rolls please…Pope Francis’s book! Chorong lets out a rather timid exclamation, all the while looking like she dropped her phone in a puddle. Chorong also puts her tissues in her pocket.

But! There is one more gift! Naeun hands her phone to Chorong and reveals that she arranged a video message from Chorong’s father. As Nam Joo bawls her eyes out, Chorong’s father tells Chorong about how the good days will come once she endures all her schedules and hardship. He also tells her to take care of the other members, to take care of herself,  to always be dignified and strong. Looks like the tissues will have to come out again. Naeun gets a lump in her throat while talking about how Chorong is the oldest in the group and how she tries to be strong in front of the other members. Naeun, however, knows that Chorong is also weak and tender-hearted at times. Naeun ends by hoping that Chorong becomes stronger.

With the rest of the members in tears, Bomi reassures everyone by saying that no one will cry during her gifts. Before then, Chorong has to give out her gifts and her hint song is “The Smurfs” theme song. Initially everyone thinks it’s Naeun because the melody sounds like her name on repeat. Chorong gives one last song hint and this time it’s the theme song for “Dooly the baby dinosaur.” So who is Chorong’s soul mate? It’s Nam Joo (Dooly’s girlfriend looks like her, not sure about the Smurfs thou.)

Chorong has prepared some herbal medicine for Nam Joo. Before she can even bring it out, Nam Joo is already in full eye flooding mode. Chorong tries to explain what her gift is but has a hard time getting any words in over Nam Joo’s anguished crying. Chorong finally explains that Nam Joo has been very stressed recently. Nam Joo used to be known as the healthy kid back in the days but Chorong has noticed that she doesn’t seem as healthy as she used to be. Chorong had then memorised all of the symptoms that Nam Joo had and got some medicine that will hopefully make her all better.

So all good right? Not quite, Chorong then admits that the actual medicine won’t be ready till Monday and that the big box she has brought along is just a sample.  I love how we can always depend on someone in this group to create laughs in the weirdest of situations. The reason for Nam Joo crying up a flood is as such. She has recently lost her appetite for the first time in her life and was just shocked to see how Chorong memorised all her symptoms. Chorong ends by hoping that Nam Joo returns to her healthy self.

Nam Joo’s gift is next and her hint song is the famous(?) Bomi theme song, “Hello Goodbye.” Before she gets her gift, Nam Joo tells Bomi to not judge her present by its size but instead on how much thought was put into it. Nam Joo then presents Bomi with a single notebook, which is met by a rather delayed response by Bomi. It’s a letter written by Nam Joo and Bomi tries to seem amazed with difficult. The notebook is actually a guitar tab book so that Bomi can practice with her guitar. Slight problem thou, Bomi doesn’t actually have a guitar. That pink guitar that Bomi always uses actually happens to be Eunji’s. Nam Joo is shocked to find this out.

Nam Joo confidently claims that Bomi will cry once she reads the letter. Bomi opposes such claims but stops once she meets the glaring eyes of Nam Joo. The letter reads “Hi, it’s Nam Joo. ‘I love you, Sunday, Monday (Bomi’s Song).’ Now that I’m actually writing this letter, there is a ton of things I want to say but it’s also embarrassing. A Pink’s happy virus Bomi, thanks to you I can laugh and cheer up even when I’m depressed. However, I know very well that you feel a sense of burden about this trait.” At this point, Bomi also begins to cry and has a hard time reading the rest of the letter.

The rest of the members find this sight both sad and amusing at the same time. The rest of the letter goes “I’m well aware of the stress you receive on variety shows. Every time you seem stressed out or tired, I try to think of ways to make you feel better. This is why I joke around and laugh a lot more, you didn’t know this right? We were room mates often and it seems like we’re always together, whether that be through singing, dancing or eating. That’s why I can’t help but think about you. You’re my family and someone I want to be around forever so lets cheer up even more and do well. We are one, I love you, lets cheer up.”

Nam Joo, however, has one last surprise. Nam Joo has gotten her a brand new pink guitar, which finally gets Bomi smiling again. Bomi plays a “thank you” song as her way of showing her appreciation.

It’s now Bomi’s turn to hand down her gift. She vows to make everyone laugh. Her hint song is BIGBANG & No Brain’s “Oh My Friend.” The two 93-ers do a little dance of happiness before the official gift handing ceremony. Bomi has promised big laughs with her gift so lets see what she has brought along.

Eunji is elated to be receiving her gifts and opens it up right away. The first item is a talking alarm clock, particularly needed for Eunji since she has a hard time getting up. Eunji instead remarks that she could buy a 100 of them and she still wouldn’t get up.

The next gift is a monkey and banana ear ring. Bomi wanted something to symbolize their friendship so she bought the matching earring set. Next is a set of couple mobile phone accessories, at which point Eunji pretty much assumes that Bomi just got a bunch of trinkets that she wanted for herself.

Last of all, there is a letter. “To Eunji, Hi Eunji, it’s Bomi. Your body and mind would have been exhausted during your recordings, it’s time to get healed. We didn’t have a lot of time to talk to each other while each of us were busy. I wanted to see you and we haven’t been on a date. I want to ask you out on a date. This voucher must be used even after Showtime ends. Thanks and I love you. The Bomi Voucher. 1) Making food when you’re hungry, 2) Going shopping together, 3) Calling you when you’re having a tough time and want to relieve stress, 4) Reacting to Eunji’s gags for a day, 5) Getting a kiss from Bomi. Bonus, giving you a massage and being your dance teacher. I love you.” Bomi wrote these things down because she is sorry about how she used to reject Eunji’s requests due to tiredness.

Last but not least, it’s Eunji’s gift and her hint song is Shin Bora’s “Frozen.” Not that it was really necessary since Ha Young is the only one left. Still an appropriate song since Ha Young appeared in the MV. Eunji’s gift is a full bedding set, something that Ha Young had previously said she wanted. Eunji has also bought gifts for the other members to give to their parents. When she said she spent big, she really did mean it.

Eunji talks about how Ha Young and Naeun’s room is especially cold. Eunji also remembers that Ha Young complained about having really cold hands and feet when she woke up. Ha Young talks about how Eunji would tell her that she wants to be a mother-like figure to her. Bomi breaks up the tears by noting that Eunji might have to starve for a few days because of this.

The group ends their time on Showtime with one last hug and a montage of all they’ve done over the last 8 weeks.  It’s been great the last couple weeks and I’m going miss them….ahahah you thought it was over? Not quite.

Epilogue – Going out with a flood of gifs!

A Pink Showtime ends the way it started, by providing us with plenty of gif-able material.

They are so generous in fact that they’ve made an actual member-specific gif video.

Wow~ Such Generosity~ Many Gifs~ Much thanks~

Here is the video in question.

That’s good enough right? Nah~ lets get some actual Gifs in here as well.

Now finally! We can post the final farewell gif. Thanks to everyone that has followed along for the last 8 weeks. When duty calls, we shall return again like a Panda on a scooter. Until then, have fun!