To me, this is underrated;
this is overrated; and
this is exaggerated. lol.
I’ll explain why.
SR: I wonder which one is love? Hoping that you’re worrying about me like I am for you and wishing that you’re pining for me like I do for you. Is this love?
As she narrates, she walks through her greenhouse. If you notice, the plants here are tropical plants. They’re lush, and she looked she was walking through a wild jungle although it’s winter outside.
To me, there’s a statement being made here. She’s similar to these hothouse plants. All her life, she’s been living a pampered lifestyle, like these indoor plants which need specialized care to survive well in a different clime from what they’re used to.
Then, she walks outside, and continues narrating.
Look at the background, the wall art. Tree trunks are sculpted on the wall. I like this shot and I want to commend the drama’s Location Scout for this gem of a find.
(Mental note: Look for this wall when I visit Seoul.)
Not only does it provide a good contrast to the leafy plants earlier but it also reminds me of that time when JungHyuk was in the woods frantically looking for her. Remember those tall tree trunks? He said, “Tell me what you see. I can find you.”
The optics between that scene in Episode 8 and this scene are the same: they’re wandering in search of the other person.
SR: (still brooding) Or, on the other hand, is it wishing that you won’t be worried about me, that you’ll forget about me and all the moments we’ve shared? Is that love? If it’s neither, is it love that I’m willing to go through everything from the very beginning, just so that I can meet you again?
She’s pondering about this whole meaning of love. And I like how her mind thinks; she was making a decision tree or a flowchart. Did you notice that?
Here, I’ll diagram it for you.
Do you see it?
I like that we’re given her thought process unlike JungHyuk, who we last saw agonizing over his actions…
and who suddenly — BOOM! — appears in front of her in the middle of the sidewalk in Gangnam.
And that’s why I call this scene exaggerated. True to this kdrama’s acronym, CLoY, this scene is cloyingly romantic.
I know many of you have this reaction, “It’s so beautiful!”
Or this reaction, “I can die right now.”
But this is me, “I WANT to die right now.”
To me, every aspect of this scene is staged to raise the emotional impact of their reunion. The details are designed to tug at our heartstrings.
Even before JungHyuk starts to move towards her, you and I know that this scene harks back to the scented candle scene in Episode 4. We don’t need to be psychic to see this coming.
The camera shot of his BLACK shoes is the first giveaway.
In Episode 4, we saw her WHITE shoes.
In Episode 4, she saw him in the dark because he was holding up a candle.
Here in Episode 10, Seri spots him in the middle of a busy sidewalk. No candle’s needed because the place is illuminated as they’ve always been by the light from the stores and street lamps.
She can’t believe he’s standing there so she stands motionless and frowns.
Just like in the market place.
Last time, however, she approached him like a moth to a flame.
This time, he walks toward her.
By the way, did you notice those bruises on his face? Those are new scratches. He didn’t have those when he appeared at the military tribunal.
This tells me that JungHyuk had encountered trouble on the way. Just like in Episode 4, when he ran to her side because he was afraid that she was frightened in the marketplace, or in Episode 8, when he left the hospital to rescue her,
he must have rushed to Seoul as soon as he found out that she was in danger, and he fought his way out of North Korea (or into South Korea) to get to her.
lol. If the ahjummas should discover what he did, I’m sure their hearts would palpitate again.
Now, combined with the vision of JungHyuk walking towards her, and the snow lightly falling on them, (remember now, their love would come true because they watched the first snow together), the bokeh lights in the background,
there’s the background music that adds to the schmaltzy feel of this scene.
Back in Episode 4, the background music was the “Flower.” The main idea of that song came from the line “…so I’m worried about you.” I said that this song expressed JungHyuk’s desire to protect her.
Now, in Episode 8, the background music is “Here I am Again.” The song’s main theme, “I’m still, and I’m here” applies to Seri’s feelings at seeing him again. She’s standing still, waiting for him to reach her.
Now, remember, in Episode 8, when he stood in the middle of the misty forest, and he wanted her to give him clues as to her whereabouts? He said, “Tell me what you see. I can find you.”
Here, in Episode 10, the first thing he says to her is, “I’d been looking everywhere for you. You only said you lived around Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. You didn’t tell me the exact address.”
Side note: She mentioned her address to him waaaaaay back in Episode 1. He asked here where she lived, and she replied, “Seoul, Gangnam-gu. Cheong— I can’t give you any further details.” He remembered! Awwww.
So, now in Episode 10, he’s proven to her once again that he can find her anywhere.
It didn’t matter whether she was lost somewhere in the dark marketplace or not. It didn’t matter whether she was hidden in an unmarked location or not. It didn’t matter whether she gave him a description of her whereabouts or not. It didn’t matter whether she gave him her exact address or not. He will find her anywhere, all the time.
And that’s why I find this scene to be the most exaggerated in this episode. All the fine points gave me the “chills” and the “cringe” because I knew they were too romantic.
Love your analysis. Did not notice the trees on the side of the building. You have sharp eyes! Yeah the meeting made me cringe a little. I hope they don’t make captain lee too weak/clingy once they are in the South.
Ha ! Been waiting for this since you mentioned elsewhere that you’d be writing about the reunion because I expected more light to be shed on the “scratches” there.
I noticed them too (of course) although I noticed none of the other details such as the trees or the out–of-geographical-region plants (the reason you write a popular blog on dramas and I don’t 🙊).
To me, the plain reason of such “minor” injuries (that don’t require resuscitation 😝) is to evoke viewer sympathy for the character and increase the romantic quotient. A “plain” and healthy looking JH may not scale up to the “swoon” of the hurt, disheveled and freezing JH (the preview shows him wearing SR scarf which she probably lent after noticing the same) proving that his love was indeed more than life to him. It is probably an extension of the theme of his suicidal missions to save SR as you wrote in another post.
P.S. The hug in the snow or the running in the jungle post kidnap also might not evoke the same effect with a very healthy, just-finished-a-good-breakfast JH. 😅
Thank you for this analysis. I loved the reunion setting; the architecture has such charm. I have also been wondering about his reaction to her apartment and her seeing it through his eyes.
The ‘One step should be okay’. If it was principles, discipline or law that kept him initially on the north side of the line, any or all have been swept aside in favour of him coming to her. First for the kiss that I feel would have had a different effect north of the line, and then for the reunion. I’m sure there’s a ‘road to hell’ saying for this sort of initially slow transgression, but can’t pull it up.
I wonder what was going through her mind when she sees him in Gangnam. It’s too complicated a situation for her to fall into his arms; he is in too much danger here. Funny if she should get mad at him the way he got mad at her when he woke in the hospital.
Hahaha those cringes i had them too but I give 2 brownie points to the writer and crew because if this is what it takes to show that Jeong Hyuk will find her anywhere, they managed to make cringe worthy actions and lines worm their way into my heart!! I really like the 2 actors expression at this scene. She has that I can’t believe this look while he switched to this really gentle gaze when he saw her. I think Jeong Hyuk sometimes thinks he surprises himself that he finds her always. In a way, he never forgave himself for failing to protect his brother and seri is like a substitute, not a bad way substitute- something that he loves that he will not lose a second time.
And the decision tree! Yes and wow “It’s A Great observation!
The connection with the trees/plants! I feel like I in my literature class all over again, finding the connections with the details…and the satisfaction on finding the connection. How many times do you watch to find that?
On the kiss after crossing the border, it was something I could see coming. I wondered when he would have done that goodbye kiss: before or after she crosses the border, so no surprise there.
On him running into her in S.Korea, it was a perfect contrast to the part when she found him after being lost at the market. The situation that they met, however, is what hubby and I will look at each other and roll our eyes and say…做戏做戏 aka “It’s only a drama” because obviously ONLY in a drama will such things happen..you know, coincidences. So yes, I agree it was sooooo exaggerated.
Off piste query for someone who knows about Korean family names: Is Jeong Hyuk’s family name Ri the same as Lee? Confused because in ep. 8, on the Christmas tree Seri’s heart ornament says ‘Merry Christmas Mr. Lee’. Made me curious.
Apologies if this has already been discussed.
*I don’t speak Korean.*
The letter ㄹ is sometimes pronounced like a R, sometimes like an L. 😂 Noooo. Don’t make a joke about Fried rice/flied lice. 😆
The Americanized version says Lee but it’s spelled as ㄹㅣin Korean.
Howdy! 🙂
Thanks for this. I really love your honesty, directness and your side comments, most especially your gifs! They’re so funny! 😅
I’m so glad you pointed those scratches in JH’s face. I did wonder about them so I forgot that he didn’t have them when he was in the courtroom.
OT, are you watching any cdramas? Or finishing up on other cdramas? I’m into King’s Avatar now. hehehe I’m on episode 14. But I saw a couple of new ones – Three Lives, Three Worlds:The Pillow Book and Dr Cutie. I wonder if any of them are any good?
I started “Boss and me.” It’s written by Gu Man, the writer for Love O2O. I’m on episode 2.
Are these new cdramas you mentioned on YT?
Morning! ☺️
Yes it is on youtube.
How come your still up?
Good morning. 😂
Have a big case today so I woke up earlier than usual.
Ah sorry, GOOD morning! 😉😂
Hopefully you’d still have a great day besides the big case. 😬
Is the Boss and Me on Netflix too? I thought it sounded familiar.
Oh and FIGHTING! 😉🙌🏻
I’ve just finished preparations for my youngest whose starting high school tomorrow. 😀
Thank you for this explanation @packmule3 – “The letter ㄹ is sometimes pronounced like a R, sometimes like an L.” The subs I see called him Ri, so perhaps my mind made me hear the R where it doesn’t exist. One YouTuber said that the name Lee is pronounced “i” or “ee” so I shall have to listen again to learn more about this.
Hmmm. I had rather liked that his family name was a bit like her given name.
Best wishes on your case today.
🙂
Re. the trees/plants. For me, a *good* drama, play, movie, and script allow the viewers to derive as much meaning as they can based on their imagination and interpretation. I saw her houseplants and immediately thought, “Awww. I don’t think there’s going to be a tomato plant here.” 🙂 The tomato plant was for JungHyuk.
Yes, I agree. Finding her in that marketplace was more probable than finding her in the middle of Gangnam. But you know, if you calculate something well, anything’s possible. But it’s not going to be coincidental anymore. A long, long, long time ago, when I was in high school, my classmates went to Italy for the spring break. I wanted to join them but my parents didn’t permit me because they’d already made plans for us to vacation in Rome as a family. So…I got my friends’ itinerary and on the day that they were supposed to visit Rome, I hung around Pantheon.
Now, remember this was before cellphones were invented so I had no way of contacting them. But I knew that a) Pantheon was a “must-see” tourist site, and b) unlike other tourist sites, there was only one entrance/exit. So, armed with books, my father’s camera, and notepad to entertain myself, and sandwiches so I didn’t have to leave my spot, I waited for them to arrive.
They didn’t come till late afternoon.
They thought it was a shocking “coincidence.” What were the chances of meeting friends vacationing in another continent?
But really, it was just good old-fashioned stubbornness. I was deprived of their company so I wasn’t going back to my family’s apartment till I met them.
So yes. I could see him meeting her in Gangnam. It was plausible. But I wouldn’t be just *standing* there the whole day. lol. That would have driven me nuts.
Thank you! But I shouldn’t be doing any real fighting. If there’s actual fisticuffs, I’ll probably lose because the other side is all men. 🙂
Oooh. Another high schooler! Time flies, doesn’t it?
I’ll post something today on JH’s and Seri’s houses. I’ve already dictated it on my phone but I need to look for screenshots. 🙂
Ooohh the other side is all men. I’m sure you’ll be wearing your stilettos right? 😂
Yes, time definitely flies. It’s another chapter for us. Tomorrow he will catch the bus on his own because his older brother doesn’t have school till the next day. I’m sure everyone in Year 7 will probably be dropped off but I didn’t do it for the eldest one so he needs to learn it from the start. I might have a tear. 😆
Ok, I’ll wait for your post on JH and Seri’s house. I do like the plants on Seri’s house.
You going for a jog? 😊
Hi there, Stardust. Do I know you from soompi?
I’ll answer on the blog.
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