If the writer and director want to self-immolate, they can follow the lead of the director of “A Poem Crap a Day” and switch to a repulsive ahjussi-niece pairing at the eleventh hour. I’m pretty sure @strawberynyoung and the rest of the Jinyoung’s crusaders would gladly do the honors of burning them both at the stake.
The writer and director have been pulling the viewers’ strings like puppeteers since the beginning. They knew that viewers were suspicious of Sungmo’s feelings for Jaein ever since Lee Ahn “read” her shadowy figure in Sungmo’s jacket in Episode 2. And their suspicion ratcheted up when the young Jaein became the definition of “pretty” in Episode 7.
Well, you’d have to blind not to think that young Jaein was cute in that scene but I’d insist that the reason Lee Ahn “read” saw Jaein’s shadow in Sungmo’s memory was only because Sungmo felt terrible guilt for her. Not love.
Remember what the young Sungmo told little Lee Ahn? “Noradrenaline in the brain turns bad emotions into memories. So instead of all the good memories in people’s minds, bad memories emerge. Especially because people are bad. Not because you’re a monster. Bad memories stay with people the longest, and you can see them.”
The operative word here is “bad”. The source of the memories are BAD emotions. Like guilt, remorse, blame and burden.
QUESTION OF THE DAY: Why did Lee Ahn NOT see any of Jaein’s memories when they kissed in the rooftop but saw them when she held hands with him in the playground.
Answer: Because she was euphoric in the rooftop but sorry in the playground.
To me, the rooftop kiss was the key. Lee Ahn was unable to read her during their first kiss, NOT BECAUSE he had faulty senses, but BECAUSE she only had GOOD memories of him. He could NOT get a read of her memories because she was thrilled to have escaped the gangster and happy to be with him. But he was able to read those same memories when they held hands in the park because she was feeling guilty when she reflexively moved her foot away when he bent down to tie her shoelaces.
See that? 🙂
Think about this for a minute, too: If Lee Ahn were to see memories every single time he touched things and people, he wouldn’t be able to engage in a sexual encounter EVER. He’d be distracted by the “readings” while doing skinship. hahaha.
Back to Sungmo and Jaein.
The writer and director have tried to stir up the anxiety by giving scenes that could be (mis)interpreted as a sign of Sungmo’s interest in Jaein.
I’ll cite a couple of incidents:
Episode 6. Jisoo told Jaein not to worry about Sungmo being displeased that they’re investigating the suitcase corpse. She said he had the “most sincere smile” she’s ever seen on him since she’s known him.
But let’s go back to their conversation in the elevator, shall we? I think her jealousy was distorting her interpretation.
Jisoo and Sungmo meet awkwardly in the elevator. He says he’s there to check on the sketch of the Kang Hee Sook imposter. She tries to make small talk, “I saw you on TV. Your personality came out,” and she praises him for walking out during the interview. He ignores her flattery (because he doesn’t know how to banter like normal people) and informs her that someone leaked their info. She should warn her colleagues to be more careful. She denies it saying, “It wasn’t from the police. You know how meticulous I am. It’s the prosecutors you should be concerned about.”
He switches topic and asks what she’s doing at that hour in the office. She covers up Dr Hong’s badge and says she misses Dr. Hong. I’m sure he’s TEASING her when he says “I heard Dr. Hong left early today. Tell me where you’re going with our investigation data then, DETECTIVE METICULOUS?”
So she confesses:
JS: Officer Yoon and Ahn are in the autopsy room right now.
SM: I’m assuming Ahn didn’t ask to see the case related evidence. I’m assuming it was Officer Yoon.
JS: Yeah. She said she couldn’t help Ahn with his psychometry without more information.
SM: As I expected.
And he smiles. Jisoo sees that. It’s not even a big smile. It’s like a Mona Lisa smile. To me, he was happy that his plans of getting the two working together was succeeding. But to Jisoo, she thinks it’s a sign of HIS admiration for Jaein because EARLIER she, too, was impressed with Jaein’s expert handling of Ahn.
JS: It’s Officer Yoon, isn’t it?
SM: What is?
JS: The one you want Ahn to do psychometry on.
SM: That’s right.
JS: Why? Why is it her?
SM: (says nothing)
JS: We have such a polar relationship. You know everything I’m thinking and I don’t know anything you’re thinking, if you don’t tell me.
And she walks out of the elevator looking disheartened. He stops the elevator.
SM: Officer Yoon’s father is Yoon Tae Ha. The Yungsung apartment case’s criminal. I’ll head to the autopsy room with the sketch.
For Jisoo, her MAIN TAKE from this whole encounter was he smiled because Officer Yoon asked for the papers.
To me, however, she didn’t realize that Sungmo shared information with her THAT HE DIDN’T WANT TO simply because she looked despondent. For an unemotional guy, he was RESPONSIVE to her emotional needs. The fact that he can “read” her mind is actually a good sign that he’s attuned to her because he’s emotionally detached to everyone else.
And his connection with her is displayed several times. Take for instance the scene in Episode 7 when they had asked for police reinforcement which the Commissioner denied.
Dad: I hear the two bodies found by the river were killed by Kim Gap Yong, a member of that group. And he’s the witness in the Hanmin Care Home fire, right?
JS: Who told you that? It’s classified information.
Dad: I’m glad you said that. I’m the Police Commissioner, so why can’t I know about it? I’m the one on the inside, not the outside.
JS: Wowww. You planted a spy on your own daughter?
SM: Detective Eun.
Watch that habit of his. He always restrains her with a “Detective Eun” in meetings when her father is present. At first, I thought he’s just toadying up to the father, but no. He’s protecting her because he knows that with her temper, she and her dad are going to clash publicly.
Dad: Yes, I did. So what?
SM: Sir!!
This time, he protested for her.
Then, as they walked out, Sungmo told her, “Our DETECTIVE METICULOUS should take care of her tail first.”
JS: I know who it is. It’s Detective Lee for certain. This is why he reeked of nepotism.
SM: And I’m hearing this from the Police Commissioner’s daughter?
Now, that’s an uncalled-for jab. He knew how hard she worked at her job so why did he bring up that? Answer: Because he wanted to see her reaction; he anticipated her to get fired up.
JS: I got to this point solely with my own abilities.
SM: Anyway, it’s impossible to make your father understand the relationship between the suitcase murders and Kim Gap Yong for now.
JS: I know. We can’t tell him about Ahn’s psychometry ability either. Ugggh! But that doesn’t mean we can just break into that company without any backup like a fool.
SM: Give me some time. I’ll think of a way.
To me that’s another sign that Sungmo likes her. He always comes to her aid. When she’s displeased or upset about something, he takes it upon himself to find her a solution.
Remember the Hanmin Nursing care home? Episode 3. She was disappointed that they had to close the investigation without solving it,
so he called in Kim Gap Yong for another interview.
After ending his call with Kim Gap Yong, he looked at her, like, “Well? Are you pleased now?”
And he told her that they’d (technically, HE would) push off closing the case.
And she was happy.
After she left, he also smiled in that Mona Lisa smile of his.
He’s a pushover for her. He assumes responsibility when things don’t go her way. Of course, in her mind, he was nice only with Jaein but she overlooked the number of times when he’d been a reliable shoulder for her to lean on.
Then in Episode 8, when she accused him of liking Jaein, he was caught off guard. He didn’t know she felt that way about him and Jaein. But she cleared off before he could process it.
JS: I guess we caught them all. Let’s go.
SM: “I guess.” That doesn’t suit your usual thorough self. (Meaning, she isn’t being meticulous like usual; she would have said something like, “I’m sure we caught them all. Let’s go.”)
JS: Are you better at making jokes or did you learn how to be snarky?
SM: If it was funny, then I succeeded. If you thought I was being snarky, then that’s a plus, too.
JS: Kang Sungmo, you really …
SM: What?
JS: I think you’ve made a change for the better, but why do I feel uneasy about this.
He faces her.
SM: You’ve definitely changed. I wanted to be the one to change you. Now I think it began when you met Yoon Jaein again.
JS: Eun Jisoo —
SM: I’ll look around some more. You can leave first.
To me, this conversation — her uneasiness with this “change” in him — was one of the reason he pointedly told her that she was precious to him later in that Episode 8.
He was warning her about the danger posed by his stalker/dad while, at the same time, correcting her impression that he cared for Jaein in THAT way.
JS: What exactly does this guy want from you?
SM: If you’re not going to back off this case, then remember that you could also be in danger.
JS: Why would I be in danger?
SM: If he doesn’t get what he wants, he’ll ruin everything and everyone precious to me.
She was the only person he warned.
He specifically said that his killer would target the people he CHERISHED. However, she rejected the possibility that he was referring to HER, and instead immediately concluded that he solely worried about Jaein. She told Dr. Hong, “Dr. Hong, if someone dear to Kang Sungmo is in danger, it’s not me. I think I understand why he asked Constable Yoon to take care of Ahn. The person that Prosecutor wants to protect was that kid.”
Certainly, he wanted Jaein protected. Jaein lost her dad because of the crime his dad/stalker committed 13 years ago. Sungmo didn’t want her to lose her life too because his dad/stalker was going after the people he cherished. And he was shocked and enraged to discover from the burner phone that his dad/stalker had stalked Jaein two years ago…and he’d been unaware of it. That’s why his hand shook when looking at the photo album.
But Jaein wasn’t the person whom he openly called “precious” to him. He didn’t warn her and Lee Ahn in the same fashion. Although he knew that Jaein was in danger, given that her CCTVs were being tampered with, he didn’t go to her before he left and explained things. If Jaein hadn’t seen him lurking that morning and chased after him, he would have left without her knowledge.
As far as he was concerned, Jaein was Lee Ahn’s responsibility. He tasked Ahn with the responsibility of protecting her because he was the boyfriend.
In Episode 10, “Don’t you know that a boyfriend should be responsible for his girlfriend’s safety?”
Having teased Lee Ahn about his love life, I don’t think Sungmo would go and steal his girlfriend right under his nose, do you? I can almost hear Jisoo scolding us just like she scolded her sidekick for doubting Sungmo’s motives. Her sidekick suggested that Sungmo greedily wanted to take all the credit of the solving the investigation to himself. She said, “How can you think like this?”
lol. I wish SHE’ll ask herself that question, too, next time she suspects Sungmo of liking Jaein romantically.
Sungmo left the maps for Lee Ahn to use. He reminded Ahn to take care of Jaein and he told Jaein to stick with Ahn. To me, that’s enough sign that he acknowledges that the two belong with each other.
Gotta run.
I think the word cherish includes a lot of different emotions, love as in romance, love as in friends, guilt, responsibility. Seongmo definitely cares for both Jaein and Jisoo. While he does more things for Jaein and do give her more cares, regardless which reason.
I never doubted one day that Seongmo would ever sought after Jaein romantically tho. He just won’t. No matter he likes her as a sister or romantically, it’s just crazy to me that he would think he’s a good candidate for her to be happy. He would not bring happiness for Jaein simply because of his guilt and his burden in the past. He would never fight with Ahn for Jaein even if he does love her. He wouldn’t even want Ahn or Jaein to know that.
I am not leaning towards Seongmo liking Jisoo romantically as of this moment. I think he for sure cares for her and feels guilty that he pushed her away all this years. He wants to open up to her, right now, as a friend in my gut feeling and from the actor’s facial expression when he say things to her. He did say he knows for sure he will regret about letting her getting deeper into the case but it means that he is ready to include her into his past. That’s why he opens up to her in the elevator.
(However – this feels like another hint that Jisoo will die since he said he will regret…. =____=)
When i saw Ahn read Seongmo the first time h he saw Jaein, that’s what I think too. Didn’t he say it’s the bad memories the easiest to be read? Then seeing Jaein is not a “happy” moment. But we could also interpret it as it’s the first time Seongmo ever feels so strongly about someone.
Honestly the only person I don’t think he cherish that much is actually Ahn. Lol of course he is now under his responsibility. And he trusts Ahn to save him from being the monster and he depends on Ahn. But that’s because of Ahn’s ability, and it’s valuable to him because of what Ahn can do for him. But, Lee Ahn was stabbed once. Does he not worry that Ahn will got killed this time while protecting Jaein?
He knows how hard it is for Ahn now, it’s the time Ahn needed him the most, yet he said nothing to Ahn but ask him to take care of Jaein and left. All he told Jaein is, just give him time and he will come back.
Why are they so entitled? They expect Ahn should just figure it all out by himself, heals himself like he always has been while they don’t need to do anything to comfort him or help him. I don’t even need them to actually do anything because how sensitive this timing is. Ahn might not be ready to see any of them. But at least the drama didn’t show me they are thinking of Ahn’s pain and suffering and worries about him.
Ahn hurt Jaein too by giving her false promise, but he is deeply sorry for that and he reflected his own attitude to her since day 1. He took “helping her” too lightly. While the drama never showed us what Jaein think about Ahn’s pain. She thought about him promising her and hurting her. But she didn’t show any concerns for his well being or that she feels sorry for him.
She lighted up the candles every year and felt sorry for the families even she thinks her dad didn’t do it. I can’t believe she wouldn’t feel sorry for him especially she used him for this long. But the director and writer didn’t give us that scene but only scenes about how he hurt her. It’s about her suffering.
She’s right that she’s been only seeing her own suffering but not her aunt’s. I wish she could even just say one sentence about Ahn’s pain.
I really don’t mind who Seongmo loves lol He can love Jaein all the way but his character just wont ever pursuit her. I just mind he doesn’t cherish Ahn if it’s not because of his ability and that he can help him. I feel so unfair for Lee Ahn’s character lol (And normally I never sympathize with the male leads cos most dramas always make the girls suffer more and being more unfair to the female leads)
You know just wanna say im glad im not the only one who thinks seung mo doesnt like Jae In romantically. Though im not quite sure about his feelings towards jisoo i know she is important to him. I remember a conversation he had with LeeAhn i think episode 8 or 9. I cant remember the full convo but I remember lee ahn saying something like its the first time ive seen you smile talking about jisoo noona. He definitely cherishes her only she dont see it. And honestly as much as i dont want it to happen i feel like in the end someone will lose their life. And after reading your reviews i have a strong feelings its jisoo. I guess we just have to wait and see.
You know what. Im glad im not the only one who doesnt think seong mo has romantic feelings for JaeIn. He does want to protect her but i feel its because of guilt not because he likes her romantically. I dont think (or at least i hope) the director will give us a love triangle (honestly tired of them) As for jisoo im not sure about his feelings towards her. There are times I feel like he is starting to like her. Like how u mentioned when she told him he changed because of JaeIn then he said “Eun Jisoo” (in fact that is the first time i heard him call her by her name in the drama). Also in one of the episode LeeAhn and Seong Mo were talking about Jisoo and Seung mo laughed after. Then lee ahn was like to him its the first time you smiled whilst talking about jisoo noona. Honestly seong mo character is so confusing. But after reading your reviews i have a bad feeling (and i really hope this doesnt actually happen) someone will lose their life and im starting to get scared for jisoo too.
Also after reading @peachietime comment i agree with how he/she says The drama ignores the suffering of LeeAhn. I feel like a lot of the focus is on JaeIn and Seong Mo but Jisoo and LeeAhn are also suffering but that is being ignored. I honestly feel like these two characters are too good. Both Seong Mo and JaeIn seem to want to use LeeAhn for their own benefits without thinking about the impact on LeeAhn. But LeeAhn does it not for himself but for those two. He wants to stay with his hyung forever and protect JaeIn. Even when he finds out who her dad is he still wants to protect her. Because once his anger resided the first thing that came into his mind was that JaeIn is suffering. That she is hurt. So he wanted to stay by her side even if it was quietly.
But Im loving the pace of the drama and how refreshing it is to watch. I havent watched anything like this in so long and im really loving it even if it frustrates me in time. And tbh i just need our 사탕 커플 to get back together already. I need to see some happy moments again. In ep 10 there was one scene which made me smile and that was with daebong and the baby.
Also daebong and so yeon look so good together. I hope those two get together too. Daebong is a really good guy
Thank you once again for this post. 💚💚
Yes! Exactly!!!!!!
Wow, you explain it in words the way how i can’t express it in words, i also think SM is not viewing Jaein as his love interests. ofc she has special part in his heart beside the fact that he is indeed feels guilty towards her, but Jaein is probably the first person that unconsciously made him smile, bcs he somehow can understand the words “beautiful” when he looked at her that exact time (under the Christmas tree).
Ian also can feel the emotion of SM when he reads the map, i think what he feels is SM’s guilt towards Jaein, not love, because he knows what it feels to love (esp to Jaein), but he asked himself “what is this?”.
Also this:
“To me, the rooftop kiss was the key. Lee Ahn was unable to read her during their first kiss, NOT BECAUSE he had faulty senses, but BECAUSE she only had GOOD memories of him. He could NOT get a read of her memories because she was thrilled to have escaped the gangster and happy to be with him. But he was able to read those same memories when they held hands in the park because she was feeling guilty when she reflexively moved her foot away when he bent down to tie her shoelaces.”
all these time i thought because in the playground kiss, he holds her hands, thats why he can read her. ahahahaha, your interpretation is mindblowing as always~
anyway, YES i am a Jinyoung’s crusader, ahahahahaha, thanks for remembering me tho, jajajajaja.. 😀
OH! and you know, since you’re talking about their kiss here,, i have a theory of why Ian saw those panoramic views about him in Jaein’s mind. It could also be because earlier that day, he said the exact same thing to her, so she kept thinking about it or denying it, thats why its the only things he sees when she first touched his hands, Ian actually leads her to compile all memories of him into one beautiful panoramic views (haha). And then later when they kissed, he sees other things, her sadness, her pain, her wounds (just like what he said to Daebong), thats her bad memories which usually Ian’s sees from others too.
Actually i think its the first time he sees a good memories of someone.
@strawberynyoung actually, Lee An didn’t see anything in the first kiss so he bluffed to get a reaction out of her. Like what this post mentioned, the memories he sees are usually bad memories, secrets, thing they want to hide/repress (like from the hit-and-run to Jisoo’s embarrassing confession).
@alfalfa
I know he’s bluffing, haha, i was saying that his bluffing could messes up Jaein’s mind thus makes her kept thinking about it and turn out Ian really saw it from her mind. Psychology theory when human deny something their brain will continuously think about it instead. But this post made more sense bcs at rooftop Jaein was in a happy state, thus makes Ian couldnt read her..
@strawberynyoung ack I’m sorry, my comprehension skills were nowhere to be found at 3am when I commented.
I’m glad someone actually points this all out. I have finished watching this drama only several weeks ago and I realized that I’m still attached to the plot twist and devastated fact that Jisoo is dead.
I agree that Seungmo actually had feeling for Jisoo and I think exactly like what you have written. The strong reason that finally convinced me to the conclusion that Seungmo actually also loved Jisoo is how he reacted everytime someone mentioned or he himself talked about her after her death.
Take that episode 14 when he paid her visit to her grave, he shed tears after memories of her shown related to the necklace. He said he now wants to come back simply because Jisoo asked him to in her very last breath. “LIKE WHAT YOU SAID, it’s time to come back now”.
Second is when Seungmo comes to the police office that he is willing to be investigated. When he said that Jisoo was the only one who questioned the case regarding to Hanmin hospital when everyone including Seungmo believed Kim Gab Yong’s confession, he shed a tear after mentioning her name. He said she is the only one. Oh this I hope he meant that she is the only one that he loves 🙁
Other conversation is when Seungmo and his mother have a talk after the investigation. Seungmo himself said that a person who was dear to him is dead. He then said that he kept pushing her away but she stayed by his side until the end and she’s dead. I think this is clear enough to clarify that he loved her 🙁
Other scene is when Jaein is asked to take care of Seungmo’s mother while he is about to have a conversation with Ahn outside the apartment building. When Seungmo comes back to his room, he meets Jaein in the door and Jaein clearly said that Seungmo should have asked for Jisoo’s help when he acknowledged Geun Taek’s whereabouts. Then Jaein said that Jisoo is the only one who cares about Seungmo the most than everyone else. In that moment you can see that Seungmo once again shed a tear. His eyes look shaky everytime Jisoo is mentioned 🙁 once again I think that Seungmo clearly loved her.
Remember that final episode when Ahn visits Seungmo in the jail. Ahn said that he hopes someone could’ve told them to stop and forget the pain, guilt and revenge for their good. Idk but I think he refers it to Jisoo. Cz from all the four people, only Jisoo who wasn’t related directly to the Yeongsang apartment case. So Ahn knew that Jisoo would have been able to stop them and to remind them that it’s only the past; that they have to move forward. Unfortunately, Jisoo has never been there to tell them that. And Seungmo shed a tear once again. I’m sure Ahn was referring to Jisoo.
Okay that’s all I want to say. I know it’s kinda late to make a response or comment of this drama but I really love this drama tho it wasn’t going like what I expected. But okay at least I know that Seungmo loved Jisoo. That’s all I need to know. I hope they reunite in a new drama as a main lead couple with a happy ending ❤
Anw, I like your writing. Thanks.
Good points, Vinita.
It’s never too late to respond to old posts here. I only close a thread when the drama is more than a year old or when it’s receiving a lot of spam.