9 Ends 2 Outs

 

 

 

Cast:

Hong Nan-hee – Actress Soo-ae
She learned that Santa Claus wasn't real when she was 8 years old and at the age of 14, she realized that she wasn't the center of the universe that she thought she was. When she turned 17, she had her first date. At the age of 20, she learned the meaning of love and at 27, she found out that nothing lasts forever... Turning 30, her body is telling her that the party is over. Those youthful days were wasted on pursuing fruitless dreams.

 

Byeon Hyeong-tae – Actor Lee Jeong-jin
He learned from Nan-hee that Santa Claus wasn't real at the age of 8 and became curious about what was between the legs of girls at the age of 13. At 17, he learned that he was a handsome-looking guy compared to his peers and then learned the meaning of love at 20. He fell in love when he was 23 and realized that nothing lasts forever at the age of 27. Turning 30, he realizes that he was lying to himself that he had no feelings whatsoever for Nan-hee... He is basically a nice guy. He has a sense of humor, a warm personality, and good manners. He's also a guy who likes to take chances in life. The number and type of girls he has dated is endless. With his charming looks, he is still fit and athletic at the age of thirty. When he sets his eyes on a woman, he'll usually get a date with her. That is how his live has unfolded until...

Kim Jeong-joo – Actor Lee Tae-seong
A college student. He's a pitcher on his college team. Sporting a brown tan, he is an athletically built guy. There is a pure soul within him. A guy with youthful energy! He has his mind set on making Nan-hee his girl. He first met Nan-hee at an English language institute and fell in love with her at first sight but Nan-hee keeps rejecting his overtures. He follows Nan-hee everywhere and although Nan-hee was adamant that she wouldn't date him... Wearing a big smile, Jung-joo runs towards the crowd after striking out the last batter to win the game.
He picks up Nan-hee who was sitting in the stands and carries her on his shoulders around the baseball field like a madman in front of a packed baseball stadium. No girl wouldn't fall for a guy who could do that for a girl...
He is in love with a girl who is 8 years his senior.

 

Yoon Seong-ah – Actress Hwang Ji-hyeon
A classical guitarist.
She lived abroad for most of her childhood, following her diplomat father to the different countries he was stationed at. She learned how to play the guitar in Spain when she was just 5 years old. She is like the burning sun, the wind, the earth, and the sky. She has a smile that is fresh like the morning dew on a grassy field. When she is happy or having a great time, she radiates with joy. Freely expressing her feelings, she is unpredictable at times and makes snap decisions. She's a very self-absorbed person who never shows any consideration to other people.
When she started dating Hyung-tae, she had a promising future ahead of her as a professional guitarist. She and Hyung-tae are a passionate couple.

Credits:  http://content.mbc.co.kr

 

 

Other Titles: Two Outs in the Ninth Inning

 

Official Site: http://imbc.com/broad/tv/drama/2out

 

Synopsis:

In life and in baseball, you need comebacks!
A love story about two characters played by the lovely actress Soo-ae and handsome actor Lee Jung-jin.
A poet once said that the party is over at 30 but "Two Outs, Bottom of the Ninth" counters that with the mantra that the party starts at the age of 30. Hong Nan-hee (actress Soo-ae) has never hit a home run in life, not to mention a single as she reaches 30. She thought she worked hard to get ahead in life but all she has are some small savings in her bank account and a mother nagging her to get married. But she has one thing to be happy about in her life. Her current boyfriend is Jung-joo, a talented baseball pitcher who is aiming to play in the big leagues in America and eight years her junior. But her mother disapproves of her daughter's crazy choice.
One day, a childhood friend of Nan-hee appears in her life. And he's Hyung-tae (actor Lee Jung-jin). Hyung-tae thinks he got over Nan-hee but is that really true? As a friend tells Hyung-tae that life begins at the bottom of the ninth with two outs, we'll see how the game of life unfolds.
Life imitates baseball. You always get a second chance even when you're losing. The 4th batter at the plate could drive in a home run at the bottom of the ninth inning to win the game or the opposing team could make a game-losing mistake and allow the player on third base to score. The game of baseball is full of surprises and comebacks. There are times when you need to step up to the plate and do whatever it takes to pinch-hit a single down the field. Or you have to take a bunt to send a fellow player home. Fly balls... Pitchers intentionally walking the hitter... These are a few of the baseball strategies that are used to sacrifice a play to win the game. The pitcher tries to outsmart the batter and the batter waits for the change-up pitch to smack the ball out of the stadium. In baseball, every player, coach, and benchwarmer has to be on his toes. Because there's no way of knowing when a careless pitch, a wrong swing at bat, or a lousy catch will lose the game for the team. This TV series is for thirtysomething folks. It's a story that they can relate to because most of them are living it right now. When you turn 30, your life starts imitating baseball as you find yourself with two outs at the bottom of the ninth. Of course, there are a few lucky ones who have hit a few singles down the line into left field in the 7th inning to maintain a comfortable lead. But that's not always the case. It's actually very rare. We go through lost opportunities and difficulties in life as the game slowly comes to an end. We get weary from the dating game, betrayed by ex-lovers, and upset over how society gives us the cold shoulder. Our health starts to deteriorate and the mental stress gets unbearable as we glumly watch the game of life reach the bottom of the ninth inning.
At the first-at-bat, you hesitate and get struck out. Then at the second-at-bat, you swing recklessly and get struck out a second time. Now you're losing your breath and your energy levels start to drop precipitously. All the missed chances start to run through your mind over and over again like a slow-mo replay. You get nervous as you edge closer to the strike zone because the last time you did that, the pitcher hit you in the calf. Ouch! But you've got to do what a guy has to do. And that's to never lose hope. In baseball, the game isn't over even when you're losing. In life, it's not over until you die, which could be crueler in several ways. 2 outs at the bottom of the ninth... The next batter on your team trudges towards the plate. Let's see whether the weary player will manage to hit the ball in the last inning. Because you never know... Someone might just hit a home run to save the game. Like they say, it's not over until the fat lady sings...

What I Think:

This one is ranked 1 in my must-watch series of 2007 and it sure does suit up to it! I like it because it was just different, different storyline and all, a bit fast-paced.

Soo Ae she was never on my favorite k-actresses list, I don't know there was just something of in her acting. To me, she was always the frail, goody-goody two shoes kind of girl plus her eyes make me droopy…but all my perceptions of her changed when I saw her act in this series. She can be different, she can be offbeat and perky and can be all-around awesome if she wants too.  Chemistry with Lee Jung Jin was never a problem, they rock each other out. She is a good actress, can cry on cue---she cries in a blink of an eye.

Lee Jung Jin, what's there not to like about Jung Jin oppa? I love him! Long before he did "Love Story in Harvard" and this series, I have already loved him!! He is a great actor, he definitely looks so handsome, great chemistry with Soo Ae,they should go out for real already! They were so spontaneous together, maybe because they've worked with each other before in "April Kiss." Heck he looks hotter than the younger guy! Loads, loads sexier too.

Lee Tae-seong as Jung Soo was holding his own. I cannot seem to place this guy, I like him because he is so in love with Nan-hee even if people keep on telling him she is so older than him and that their relationship would never work out. They are so affectionate and playful when they're with each other. He is full of dreams and hopes...he should have stayed on track. I would have rooted for him.

I just love the storyline, so so love it. Soo-Ae's dresses when she dolls up. Yoonha of Super Girls I want to crush her face in this series…but yeah she looks so pretty and prettier when she is NOT smiling. The soundtrack is awesome! You should check out track 2 and 3.

 

My fave scenes:

**Does your arm hurt?

When I see you Noona, it does not hurt anymore, got me laughing on the floor!

Hilarious! The guy looks so cheeky! Grrr but I was really laughing! Yeah right! He looks like rain in a few angles.

 

**Soo ae is so pretty she looks pretty with short hair, this hairstyle than before with long hair..

 

**Yoonha of super girls of smtown is a stalker of  jung joo! She looks pretty in a way, esp pretty when she does not smile. But she is scary here.

 

**When Nan-hee (SooAe)  saw Hyung-tae (LJJ) and girl leave, she said she is so pretty, jung joo told her no, you are prettier…then Hyung-Tae (LJJ) just watched her and jung joo from his car's side mirror. Jung joo is so childish…acts childish sometimes too.

 

**Lee Jung Jin basking in the spa…with washboard abs, nice one. I have to always mention this showing of my washboard abs moments. Jung Jin has one of the nicest bod in kpop kingdom.

** When Byung Tae was trying to reach out his fingers so so crapping slowly until it reacher Nan-hee's fingertips and they held hands…holy corrupt rainbow!! It was 100 years for their fingers to clasp! I almost died doodle-faced!

 

**THAT kiss at the apartment…ahh…

 

 

Rating: 10 Korean Kimchi out of 10

 

Other Stuff:

 

**Here is the track listing for the series ost.. If you want recommendations, I'd say my fave ones are track 2 by Byul/Star again (from the Full House OST fame)that is the opening theme song and track 3 by Moses awesome song, played when Soo ae and LJJ where in this room, and they were slowly trying to hold each others fingers!

 

9 Ends 2 Outs OST Track List:

 

01.9 end 2 outs (Title Theme)
02.Fly Again - star (Star)
03.The right time for love - Moses
04.Because of U
05.Can you see - Ji Ho
06.Stay - Jung Jae Wook
07.The words of thirties 1 - Empty (Tango)
08.Summer Love
09.Stolen base
10.If this is really love...
11.The words of thirties 2 - Loneliness (Whistle)
12.Friendship & Love
13.Your fragrance
14.Bunt
15.The words of thirties 3 - Waiting (Bossanova)
16.White memory
17.Cheju-Do reminiscence
18.Travel of 180 days

 

** This series has 16 episodes produced by MBC.

** This is the second series that Soo Ae and Lee Jung Jin will be pairing of…they were together in "April Kiss" god they should date for real.

 

Other Pictures:

 

Soo-Ae and Lee Jung Jin in "April Kiss", they were younger then.

Now a few years after they're back in each others arms with

"9 Ends 2 Outs"

credits: official site, soompi, spcnet, leejungjin.com