If I were to name this episode, I’d call it “Geunyang” or “Just Because.”
Thanks, @Cleopatra, for writing the subs from Viki. This made my work a lot easier.
A. Opening Scene: The introduction of “Geunyang”
MM: I told you that you won’t be able to love me. Everyone either resents me or wants me. Or fear me.
She reached out to touch the blood splatters on his face, but he stopped her. So she began yelling at him out of concern.
DK: Are you crazy?! Why would you with your bare hand? (She checked his palm and the wound had already healed) It sure healed fast.
MM: (swatting her hand away) What are you? I am asking you, what are you?
This brief moment revealed three things to me:
1. Myeolmang was down on himself. Without question, people feared him and resented him. But they also “loved” him because they could exploit him for their own purpose. He wasn’t stating something false.
However, his insistence that he was right, i.e., “I told you so…” sounded like his unvoiced desire to be proven wrong. He wanted DK to contradict him and say that she could love him, and that he wasn’t a monster people imagined him to be.
2. Their emotional outbursts were a sign of poor coping skills. For instance, when DK shouted, “Are you crazy?” she did it out of fear that he was hurt. She was angry with him because he grabbed the knife with his bare hand, without thinking.
In the same vein, MM was furious that she blocked the knife with her own body, and risked her own life. However, for me, the line “What are you?” sounded awkward, and I’m not sure if this was the subber’s or the screenwriter’s fault. I thought it would have been better if MM had yelled at her, “Who do you think you are?” “What the heck are you doing?” “Did you think you were superwoman?”
3. Both of them were shouting because the other person had put themselves in harm’s way, and they thought the move was a stupid thing to do.
MM: You said you wish I would die, didn’t you?
DK: You said you can’t die, didn’t you?
Since DK was mad at him for grabbing the knife with his bare hands, MM pointed out that she should have been happy if he had died, since she had wished him dead. Again, to my ears, these one-liners failed to emphasize the frustration these two people were feeling. It would have been better, for instance, had MM said sarcastically, “Why are you yelling at me for? I thought you wanted me to die. I was just obliging you.”
DK’s calm response that he wouldn’t die anyway only aggravated MM. To him, it was crazy that she’d risked her mortal life when she already knew that he was immortal and couldn’t be killed. She was foolishly reckless.
MM: Knowing that (I wouldn’t die), I’m asking you then why did you do that? Have you no fear? Should I have just let you get stabbed? Would that have been better and taught you a lesson? You will die, if you get involved not knowing your place, something like that?!
His yelling was a sign that he felt that he’d lost control over the situation. His anxiety level was up because he felt powerless. Remember in Episode 3 when he pretended to sleep on the sofa because he wanted to watch over her? He wanted her to quit working and just stay home. This was after he saw the Girl Deity at the bus stop with DK.
His fear that she would die if she was out of his sight or because he could act quickly enough, caused him to be over-protective. But I find his anxiety over her death paradoxical because he was Doom, and his primary function is to put her to death.
DK ignored his ranting, and went to rant about his recklessness, too. Ha! They both needed to calm down in order to see that their emotional outbursts were triggered by their concern for each other. Instead of clashing, they could have been patting or hugging each other.
DK: So what if you can’t die when blood is gushing out like this? (sighing) Every day, with a facial expression that looks like you are dying of pain. If you asked me why I did that, what am I supposed to do? I did it because you might get hurt, that you might be hurting even more. Why?
DK was saying that being indestructible was irrelevant. Although he was physically invulnerable, she knew that he was emotionally vulnerable, and mentally exhausted by his task. She knew that the perpetual sight of destruction and blood distressed him.
Remember in Episode 1 when he met up with the Girl Deity and she told him that she should have changed out of his bloody clothes? He answered that he didn’t change so he could show her. In my opinion, he wanted to show her that that doom and bloodshed were taking a toll on him.
DK understood his torment. To me, she blocked the madman because:
a. she wanted to protect MM from physical injury,
b. she didn’t want MM to take the brunt of the madman’s rage, and confirm his belief that people hated him, and
c. she wanted to spare him from the emotional hurt.
Remember when they first met and she wondered, “What kind of face—?” MM thought she was about to rave about his handsomeness.
I think that even back then, she had an uncanny ability to read his face. She could see his turmoil. He must have looked pained because he was on his way to mete out punishment and death. The never-ending doom was exhausting him. And that’s why she wondered “What kind of face…”
And here, she was again sensitive to his emotions.
But MM reminded DK that he wasn’t the type to feel pain because he had no emotions.
MM: The one who’s in pain is not me but–
DK: That’s right. It’s me. You know it well. So, stop yelling at me. You are not supposed to get upset at a sick person, which is why I’m trying not to get angry at you.
MM: Are you seriously telling me that you’re not angry right now? (sighing) Never mind. Let’s just drop it. What am I doing playing with words with you now?
She changed tactic. She played her “Don’t shout at me because I’m sick” card. And it worked on him. He was about to argue some more but he dropped it.
But as he was about to leave, DK called him back. Ha! DK knew how to get under his skin.
DK: I just did it. I said I just did it.
This is where the concept of “just because” comes in. In Korean, she actually said “geunyang” which is translated as “just.” She was saying that she rescued him without any specific reason. She did it “just because.”
Now, for MM, the concept of doing something for no specific reason, and simply because she felt like it must have been an ALIEN concept.
Why?
There’s no “just because” for him because everything he did was for a reason, i.e., death. His “feelings” weren’t given much consideration. He had no choice in the matter. Remember in Episode 1, he cursed humans because even his birthday was to serve them. He couldn’t do things “simply because.”
MM: So, why did you just do it?
DK: You asked me why do I have to live, didn’t you? I thought about it but there is no reason. I just want to live. It’s the same as that. There is no reason. Without thinking, when I came to my senses, I was in front of you. That’s right. I got involved, to knowing my place. Sorry.
MM: (dismissive) If you know, that’s good.
DK: I don’t regret it. So, you should just thank me as well.
Upon hearing this, MM got upset again. He got the wrong impression that DK wanted him to repay her saving action by sparing the madman’s life. So he approached her to tell her that he was determined to kill the madman. He wasn’t going to be swayed by her.
MM: He will die, that guy. You saw me killing him, too, didn’t you? So, I am not worthy of you doing something just because.
DK: There must be a reason. Since you are that kind of being.
Have I told you that I detest this screenwriter’s style? Many of the dialogues read like those trashy romance books with lots of ellipses. There’s plenty of needless ambiguity because MM and DK (or rather the writer) don’t use precise words to express their thoughts.
To me, MM was telling her that if she protected him “just because” she followed her instincts or “just because” she wanted to save him or “just because” there was other motive, then she should stop it. He wasn’t worthy of any of her sacrifice, benevolence, kind instincts, or good motives. She wouldn’t be able to persuade him to save the madman because he wasn’t a lovable sort of fellow. He fully expected her to resent, fear, or merely avail of him like everybody else.
Surprisingly, DK contradicted him. She replied that a reason existed why he should be saved. She believed that he was someone worth saving.
When she said that he was that kind of person who must have a reason, she understood that, because he was Doom personified, he couldn’t be lax, negligent or irresponsible with the tremendous power he had at his command.
B. Conversation with the Girl Diety: Just Because
DK’s response disturbed MM. He wanted to know what she meant by “geunyang” so he went back in time, and replayed the attack. The Girl Deity popped up.
GD: Why did you do that?
MM: (ignoring her) Why are you here?
GD: I’m asking you why you did that.
MM: What?
GD: Why did you protect her?
MM: She did it first.
GD: (scoffing) Since when did you care?
MM: Just because! If she dies there, I can’t end the world.
Pffft. He used the word “geunyang” again.
We all know that he protected DK because he cared for her. But since he was in denial, he ascribed his protective instinct to vested interest. That is, he had to keep her alive because he planned to use her to end the world.
GD: That’s a good excuse.
MM: I want to know too. If it’s really “just because.” Or what her thoughts are.
His curiosity about her motive was a giveaway. He wanted to know if her reason for saving him was really all that simple (or “geunyang”) or there was something more. Not being human, he didn’t know that “geunyang” could also be an answer when the speaker wanted to evade a direct response or hide a secret.
GD: Then ask. If it’s really “just” or not. I’m curious, too.
Voiceover: If it’s “just” for you or not.
The GD also wanted to know whether MM had already begun to care for one of the flowers in the garden.
He waited for DK to wake up so he could ask him what she meant by “guenyang.” (I’m switching the Viki translation a bit here).
MM: What did you mean by “just because”?
DK: What?
MM: You said you saved me “just because”. So what does that “just because” mean?
DK: “Just because” is “just because”. What meaning would it have?
MM: It’s because if I disappear, you die, right?
He wanted to know if she saved him “just because” she’d die if he disappeared. He wanted to know if her “just because” signified a self-centered motive or an altruistic reason or something deeper like love.
DK: Maybe?
MM: As expected.
I think he sounded a little bit disappointed.
DK: (turning the tables on him) What do you think?
MM: How would I know? Because of our contract, I can’t hear your thoughts.
DK got him to work on his observation skills. Since he lost his superpower to read her mind, she wanted him to detect her feelings and thoughts by observing her facial expressions, and reactions. She wanted him to anticipate her needs. She wanted him to learn “empathic accuracy” — which is a skill every husband (and wife) should know.
DK demonstrated how “Observe and Think” was done.
DK: Observe and think. (squinting) “Why would she do that?”
MM: Why do I have to do that?
DK: I do it often. (squinting) “Why the heck is he like that?” Ahhhh. “That’s why!” It’s an ability a human must have. Oh! Maybe you can’t do it because you aren’t human.
That’s why DK and MM went shopping together, and why he joined her at her workplace. He wanted to learn how to read her mind.
He finally demonstrated his skill when they were on the train. He read another passenger’s mind and found out that the lady was getting off the train. He positioned DK in front of the passenger so she could take over her seat. DK looked up at him with adoring eyes.
DK: This is the first time ever I’m going home sitting down since I started working.
MM: I observed and thought. You looked tired, and I thought you’d want to sit.
DK: (Sigh) That’s so touching. You’re really almost a human.
C. Accompanying MM to work: Just Because
DK: Are you going somewhere?
MM: Yeah, to work.
DK: (holding his wrist) Wait.
MM: Why?
DK: Let’s go together. (gripping his cuff)
Awwww… she was accompanying him on his doomsday mission “just because.” She didn’t need to inform him that she was going with him for emotional and moral support. She didn’t want him to feel distressed all by himself because he was spreading doom.
DK: (excitedly) I never saw people selling haam. This tradition still exists. I only saw it on TV.
MM: He’s heading towards doom. Not breathing is not the only form of dying. That’s also dying. You can’t see things that you were able to see every day. It’s my job to watch over that as well.
lol. Was he saying that marriage in general was a form of doom? Or did he mean that the 50+ year-old man was going to find himself in a tough marriage with a controlling wife?
DK: It’s pretty, and sad.
MM: Transient things are generally beautiful.
I don’t think he only meant physical beauty. The fact that a transient thing would never come back again also makes it captivating, special, and unforgettable. In this sense, if they’re going to fall in love with each other, their love will be beautiful because it expires on March 2.
DK: Do you know what a supernova is? (he looks at her) At the moment a star dies, it shines very brightly as it disappears. But that becomes energy for a new star to be born. And it becomes a star again. Isn’t it like that? That, and you.
She was telling him that death brings new life.
MM: Don’t comfort me. It doesn’t help. I thought that I picked wrong. (she looks at him) I thought I made the wrong choice of picking you.
DK: Do you still think that?
MM: No. I think I picked well.
MM: (continuing) So that led me to conclude this. Love me. If you can love me, do so. I thought that will be a good method. So…become the first human to ever love me.
For comparison, here’s the version from a non-Viki drama site.
Gifs from deokmis’ tumblr.
Staring contest:
I like that this episode came full circle.
In the beginning, he warned her that she wouldn’t be able to love him because he was complicated. But now that she’d humanized him, he wanted to repay her “just because” action of protecting him from the madman. He decided he was going to show his gratitude by dying in her place. He wanted her to love him.
*****************
Next up: Ep 6 Highlights. 🙂
Thanks @pkml3.
Here’s another translation of the ‘selling haam’ ceremony that gives insight. The transient thing was the traditional cerememony.
So I took this to mean that MM was not referring to marriage as a form of doom or that it was going to be a tough marriage, but that the traditions of the country people were going the way of the Dodo.
Thanks, @GB. That makes sense. Lol. How on earth did Viki get “Not breathing isn’t the only form of dying.”
My sense is that the Viki subbers were more literal, hence, “Not breathing isn’t the only form of dying.”
while your source (it’s Kissasian, right?) took the gist, and translated it as “Inanimate things end, too.”
Not breathing = inanimate things
isn’t the only form of dying = end, too.
DK: I never saw people selling haam. This tradition still exists. I only saw it on TV.
Doom: He’s heading towards doom. Not breathing is not the only form of dying. That’s also dying. You can’t see things that you were able to see every day. It’s my job to watch over that as well.
lol. This is another example why I detest the writer’s writing style. It’s so vague that even the subbers themselves have are hard time getting what the characters are saying.
It bugs me that DK and MM’s conversations sound stilted and fragmented especially during the critical moments. They don’t seem to be on the same page. He’s talking about one thing, while she’s talking about another.
@pkml3
POSTED IN “On Guenyang”
I agree that DK humanised MM, and he allowed himself to become more human. I said in that post that he might have resented humans for having more say than himself, in his own life/birthday wish and death, (such an irony!) and that he might have wanted to be human. I’m editing a portion of what I wrote that ties in with what you’ve said above.
This is mostly what I posted in the Ep 5 and 6 Open Thread (Pt 1, I think it was).
In Episode 5, MM whether he engineered it or not, became more and more human. It actually started from the time he made the deal with DK and was no longer able to hear her thoughts.
After the scalpel attack, MM shifts himself and DK away from the crowd at the hospital entrance. He wants reasons for her actions, and meaningful ones at that. What we can guess he really wants is an assurance that she didn’t do it just because/guenyang or for no good reason, but because she really cared about him.
MM : “What’s with you. What’s wrong with you?” … “I thought you wanted me to die.”
(He should have interpreted her actions as, ‘She has changed her mind’. She no longer wants me dead.’ But because he worded it this way, the argument starts.)
DK : “But you said you can’t die.” (This is the kind of answer one gives in the heat of the argument, just to retort. Usually one regrets it later. What she should have said. ‘I no longer want you to die.)
MM : “If you knew that, why did you jump in front of me? Maybe I should have left you to get stabbed? That would have taught you a lesson. It would have taught you that you could die by getting involved.”
(I agree that he’s incensed that she values her mortal life so little, that she was ready to throw it away to save his immortal life. A great paradox that he does not understand.
This also shows that he does not want her to die or get hurt. It should ironically occur to him that if she’s involved with Doom, then death and getting hurt would be par for the course!)
DK : “So what if you can’t die? You’re still bleeding like crazy. (She means that he can still get hurt at least physically)
… What am I supposed to say when you ask me why I did that, with that heartbroken face of yours?” (I agree that she acknowledges that he can also get hurt emotionally.)
“I was worried it might hurt you even more.”
DK : “I did it because I wanted to. That’s all.”
MM : “I want to know why.”
DK : “You asked me why I need to live. I thought about it, and I couldn’t think of a reason. I just want to live. … It’s similar to that. There was no specific reason. I just instantly found myself standing in front of you. You’re right. I should have known better. I’m sorry.”
(Her denial kicks in and she probably believes what she is saying here, but it is not true. Her specific reason is because he has become special to her. Not a deity per se, but a person with feelings whom she cares for.)
MM : “I’m glad you know that.”
He walks away, when he thinks she understood the situation
DK : “But I don’t regret it. So just thank me for what I did.”
He walks back to her, when it seems she does NOT understand the situation. He bothers to come back, look her in the eye and communicate.
MM : “The guy is going to die. (I didn’t think of this as – he wouldn’t thank her by keeping the guy alive – but yes, that’s possible. I felt he still wants to see if she finds him repugnant for killing someone).
You saw how I killed him. So don’t sacrifice yourself for me for no specific reason. (But conversely this means he’s agreeable to her making a sacrifice for a reason that was specific? Like because she loved him?) I’m just not worth it.”
(I agree that at this stage if not for her denial, she should have said, ‘That’s not true: you’re worth it.’ Instead it comes out in a roundabout way below.)
DK : “I’m sure you did it for a reason. You’re that kind of being.”
(My subs made me interpret this to say that when he kills, he has a reason for it. He does not kill for no good reason or ‘guenyang’. And by saying that he is that kind of a being, she means that he too was worth being sacrificed for. He was a being with feelings and almost human to her, therefore she may have meant that any sacrifice she made for him, was not meaningless after all.)
The wonderful irony of this show is that human beings when faced with their doom, will strive to survive against Doom who will take their lives away. But the total opposite plays out in this show when the human being throws herself in the way of being killed, and Doom repeatedly saves her for reasons he is trying to figure out for himself as well!
@pkml3 LOL Yes. I have difficulty with the subs I have as well. They are similar to Kissasian subs as far as I can tell. Taken from the same source and subbing team.
Sorry an error above… I meant “POSTED in the Ep 5 and 6 Open Thread”.
I’ve given you the other translation and my interpretation of the stilted script. I feel between us both or including any other script versions, we’ll decipher what the characters are supposed to be meaning!!!
~ヾ(＾∇＾)
@packmule3 😂 I agree about the writing style. It’s put many off already and they’ve bailed. I think she’s making it indeterminate “Geun yang” 😂. It’s complicated enough trying to work out this DramaVerse she’s trying to construct, it doesn’t help that her characters seem to have circular arguments without actually getting to the point straight up. I don’t think I could have conversations with these individuals in real life. I would lose my patience with them very quickly.
It seems the nuances of the language seem very difficult to translate in this drama. I don’t normally see many differences between the subs. I think it was @Cleopatra who pointed out that the language was very important to this writer.
I think the subs I see on Dramacool are similar to those seen by @Growing Beautifully, so I interpreted the meanings much as she does.
What MM says about the traditions like Haam dying makes sense if you know that the poetry he was reading, “The Black Leaf In My Mouth”, explored ideas of decadence in modern society, the pain of farewells and a search for meaning whilst not being able to escape.
@Fern, thanks for looking up what “The Black Leaf in My Mouth” was. I noted that the book title was displayed, but didn’t know if or how it was linked to the show. The way you put it is so poignant and on point for MM’s situation in his dramaverse.
I believe it’s a well known book in Korea so I wonder how much it inspired the screenwriter. I haven’t read it myself, but looked at the descriptions I could find online.
Thanks for that tidbit @Fern
Also…this just popped up…so we were right in guessing that it is a love triangle? Just like the real life threesome?
https://www.soompi.com/article/1471969wpp/seo-in-guk-is-ice-cold-in-front-of-jung-ji-so-in-doom-at-your-service
I saw that article this morning as well. Yellow tulips just like those MM gave to DK. Is she mocking him, or emulating him? If he thinks of the Deity as ‘kind of a mother’ isn’t that a bit Oedipal on GD’s part?
@Packmule3,
You are welcome! I am glad I helped! As @Fern said, I realized after watching the first episodes that what was being said had meaning.
That’s why I have rewatched several times those scenes in order first to understand what is being said and then write down the important parts that interests us to analyze more.
I am pretty sure since we don’t understand Korean that we miss things from the dialogues and the subbers might translate differently.
Still, I have asked one of my friends that knows Korean, to start watching DAYS, if she does I will ask her if the subs are giving the essence of being said.
Thanks @Fern for letting us know the title of book Doom was reading!
Also, about that soompi article, if “mommy dearest” is jealous then she feels like a third wheel and it certainly validates What I wrote about the second love triangle echoes the first.
@nrllee we are good, aren’t we? *smiles*
@Cleo yes of course we are? I don’t offend easily. If I sounded offended it’s not my intent. I am receiving the email updates piecemeal and I may be responding to questions raised that have already been answered by others. 😂. And I may not be following the line of discussion chronologically. So don’t mind me.
I have rewatched the second couple’s scenes as well to see if there are crossovers (and if their relationship dynamic can shed light on our meta thropulent 😂) because they are definitely a parallel couple to our main couple/throuple.
I’ve finally caught up and finished ep6 and also read most of the posts (whew!) and let me just say that the discussions and insights are more compelling than the drama itself.
I am sometimes lost in the dialogue (glad that I was not the only one who was struggles ) and where DK and Doom stand. I feel like they going 2 steps forward and then 2 steps back. Who is asking who to love him/her? Does it matter now that both are falling for each other? Just because… And in ep6 ending, there is a foreshadowing of a reset. Is it a reset influenced by deity girl or another 2 step backward by Doom?
I do like certain aspects of the drama. I often say “be careful what you wish for, you might get it” as a joke to my staff and even my kids but it has a ring of truth to it. So I’m piqued that this is a premise of this drama. Always make good wishes!
I also like the use of holding hands (team big hands, remember?) to signify recharging, supporting, healing, being present and connected. It has helped fast track their intimacy and closeness.
The OST is nice, “Love Sight” by TxT gives me the “Beautiful” vibes in Goblin OST which is one of my favorites. And the only English word in the TxT song is “beautiful”, too.
My random thoughts so far.
Dear @nrllee,
I read twice your message, since it was early in the morning over here, in order to understand that you were indeed joking.
I want to clarify that I didn’t want to offend anyone. I was just happy that we = aka the DAYS’ commentantors, are pretty good finding out what is being said or implied.
I am really grateful that I have @GB, @Fern, you commenting more daily, then all the others like @Packmule3, @Welmaris, @Viva, @qqq, @moonstar512 – forgive me if I forgotten someone, but I am just typing the names I remember at this time.
I think we are valid in our thoughts / theories / analyses, mostly because everyone give us insights and things to ponder about.
I have rewatched the first 5 episodes twice and I have rewatched episode 6’s several scenes in order to understand more for our main OTP. I keep revisiting the most important scenes, in order to connect the dots and answer to what we are discussing at that time.
As for the second triangle. I have to check again, If I missed something. 🙂
@Cleo. The second love triangle must be there for a reason. It can’t just be as a filler. Already there are many in other forums who think they are superfluous. But they can’t be? The writer has built their story up for a reason. We will find out what happened with the reset and possibly why GD thought it was necessary.
As an aside, has anyone watched Beauty Inside? That’s this writer’s only other drama.
@nrllee,
I agree with you. I don’t think it is for filler only.
For instance, we have seen that Director Cha told to DK about the “crazily love” part that she later on told to MM.
Or that Na Ji Na answered to DK to “how to fall in love”.
Or the kindness Lee Hyun-Kyu showed to DK’s little brother.
There are interactions between all the characters that reveal or mirrors / echoes the first triangle. If were psychology majors we should have more intel, but I think that it shows, how people are affecting others with their words, choices or example!
So, I have to rewatch the whole 6 episodes, in order to spot them and then write them down here.
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