Before I start my review of Ep 5 (it’s on queue for tomorrow), I have to explain the last scene in Episode 4 because I think this scene goes hand-in-hand with last scene in Episode 5. I’ll keep this short.
Dam: Orishein, I know we accidentally got involved with each other. So I know we don’t need to care about each other, but you know what? I can’t do that. I wish we can be like we used to be. What should I do?
Fox: Miss Dam…
Dam: You said you feel comfortable around me. You said I was okay. You said the Marble wasn’t the only reason why you were nice to me. How could a human change his mind like? Do you think you can just change your mind because you’re not human? You can’t just alienate me when we were doing fine.
I like Dam when she insists on being treated right. She excoriated Tiger Sunbae’s buddies for rating the girls and she rebuked him for tolerating such behavior. Now, she was confronting Mr. Fox for blowing hot and cold with her, and confusing her.
Fox: Miss Dam, I said that because I concluded that it might be better that I stay away from your life. But it looked like it rather concerned you more. I’m sorry.
Dam: If you’re sorry, let’s be like we used to be. I’ll come back and sit, so talk to me, and worry about me like you used to do.
lol! She wanted a do-over. On one hand, this might look childish. But on the other hand, she was teaching him a valuable skill: the ability to start afresh when you make a mistake. He needed to learn this so whenever he’s feeling bored and pointless after endless cycle of the years and centuries, he could break out and begin with a clean slate.
Dam pretended to just arrive at the café. She sat down and stared at him to start the conversation. When he didn’t, she motioned with her lips.
Fox: (playing her game) How was it with your senior?
Dam: (looking like she was about to cry) It was alright.
Fox: What’s wrong? Did he push you again?
Dam: No, he was nice to me. He said he wouldn’t do anything I don’t like.
Fox: I’m sure he did. Because he had special feelings for you.
Yes. He learned that Tiger Sunbae really liked Dam after their “fake” date for her school project.
Dam: Actually, I’m not sure. I doubt this is true, but if, by any chance, he has special feelings for me, I think it’s strange.
Fox: Why is it strange?
Dam: I’m just not sure what it is to like someone. He doesn’t know everything about me, so how could he like me? What if he expects something from me? What if I can’t meet his expectations? Then what should I do?
Fox: “There’s always some madness in love” as Friedrich Nietzsche wrote in “Thus Spoke Zarathustra.”
Actually what Nietzsche said was that acts of love have an element of madness, but that this madness can also make sense and has some reason. In Nietzsche’s own words, “There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness.”
Fox: (continuing) That you like someone means that you are misunderstanding that person in your own way.
I think Mr. Fox meant that to fall madly in love with someone is to see that person with rose-colored glasses. Your view of him can sometimes become unrealistic, idealized, romanticized, irrational, or foolish. If you aren’t seeing that person for what he truly is, you’re “misunderstanding” him all on your own.
Fox: (continuing) So what I’m trying to say is you could be Fermina Daza to someone, and that’s not a misunderstanding.
Thus, despite not knowing a whole lot about her, including her flaws, Tiger Sunbae could have fallen in love with her because he chose to see only the best parts of her and to ignore everything else that was unknown. She had become like a “Fermina Daza” to a besotted admirer, like Tiger Sunbae.
And he meant that “Fermina Daza” metaphor. Comparing her to “Fermina Daza” wasn’t an exaggeration…or madness.
Dam: Fermina Daza?
Fox: She’s a heroine from an old book. “To him she seemed so beautiful, so seductive, so different from ordinary people, that he could not understand why no one was as disturbed as he by the clicking of her heels on the paving stones, why no one else’s heart was wild with the breeze stirred by the sighs of her veils, why everyone did not go mad with the movements of her braid, the flight of her hands, the gold of her laughter.” He couldn’t understand why anyone wouldn’t fall in love with her.
Remember what I said, right? The quote should have ended at “…the gold of her laughter.” He adlibbed the last line, “He couldn’t understand why anyone wouldn’t fall in love with her.”
Now, I know this whole paragraph sounds romantic, but it actually describes the moment when the protagonist, Florentino Ariza, fell madly, insanely, obsessively, and MADLY (whoops, did I repeat myself?) with Fermina Daza. The reason “he couldn’t understand why no one was as disturbed as he” was because he displayed a whole lot more than just “some” madness in his love for her. His obsession for her was like a disease (hence the word “cholera” in the title) which plagued him for decades.
To me, then, this passage could be interpreted in two ways.
One, Mr. Fox could be referring to Tiger Sunbae. In his mind, Dam had become an unhealthy fixation for her Sunbae, like Fermina was to Florentino.
Two, Mr. Fox was saying that Dam didn’t have to think very hard for a reason why somebody would fall madly in love with her because she was endearing just as she was. Every facet about her, from her gross eating habits to her contagious zest for life, made her a fascinating person.
It came as no surprise to him that Tiger Sunbae was smitten when he himself was captivated by her.
Episode 5 Highlights tomorrow. 🙂
@Packmule3, thank you for the clarification of Nietzsche’s words. It makes more sense. I shall have to re-watch the ending of ep. 5 because the subs weren’t synched yesterday. 🤔
I love your write up. Yes, he was in effect telling Lee Dam he understood the other young man and why he fell in love with her without knowing everything about her.
I wonder if he might ask the same question of Lee Dam after her confession in episode 5 since she doesn’t know of the darker aspects of his life and whether she would still love him knowing that.
Fern,
…at least THAT’s how I understood the quote in context of Dam’s situation and the Fermina Daza passage.
How did you understand it? It’s fine if we’re different.
I’ll start writing the Ep 5 highlights later. I’ve a couple of meetings this morning but my afternoon should be free.
Dear Friends, there is magic in everything. The problem is to be able to be sensitive enough to catch that small event (that little moment) where the Divine resides. To love is in some ways to go out of yourself and fall into Existence (it is harder than it seems). And love is Divine for Existence is the part of the Divine we mere mortals can know to a degree.
For Florentino Ariza that small moment that echoed through all of his existence was the one described in the quote. At the end of the day it doesn’t matter if it was his first encounter with Fermina Daza, the exact moment he fell under her spell or an imaginary scene that plagued his obsession. For both Fox and Player was her smile (Player when incited to run under the rain to get a bus, Fox at the end of their “anti-date” when she imitated the toy’s smile)… and for Dam it was both when he went for her in the rain finished by him (mis)quoting García Márquez for her.
A thing I have learned through life is that when two lovers tell that they will love each other till the end of time they are not speaking about duration but about that encompassing little moment and how thoroughly colors their lives. So they are not lying, just that Eternity has another meaning for them.
I thought it was interesting that both Fox and Player want to be something else. Player’s sister said that he would have to be re-born to change into a ‘nice guy’. Fox needs to retrieve the completely blue marble to become human.
On the other hand, Dam doesn’t know how impressive she is in real life. She looks at herself with the opposite of rose coloured glasses (murky green?). It doesn’t seem that she wants to be otherwise; just that in her life that she perceives with her mind, she is very ordinary. It is part of her charm of course.
@packmule3, I was confused by the subs “That you like someone means you are misunderstanding that person in your own way.” It was an awkward concept. Your ‘rose coloured glasses’ made more sense to me. Fox has been around the block enough times to no longer be wearing the glasses in regard to Dam. I think she is indeed unique in his experience. But it’s not the same for Dam who is very inexperienced. At least (Ep. 5) she is honest about her feelings and he replied in honesty about his feelings for her (Dishonesty can not beat honesty). But at @GB said, he’s not being totally honest about his past. I hope that he will protect her as much as he can.
I wish he could simply and honestly tell her that he is waiting until the right time to act. I know that it wouldn’t follow the kdrama pattern though. 😉 They shall probably have to split. It’s still early in the drama. I want to see Fox get openly angry, sad or upset beyond the flicker of annoyance or pensiveness.
I interpret “madness” mentioned here as something that can’t be explained, can defy logic and hence can be “misunderstood”. It’s like guenyang, just because. However, anything OTT can be unhealthy- when a bout of madness becomes obsession. So I’ll just stop and take the romantic part of the quotes, if nobody minds. 😊
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and so is love. In ep5, Dam says she is not pretty like Hyesun but she is cute. Fox says she is pretty (or did he say prettier?). He quotes you romantic verses and tells you that you’re pretty, and he’s a handsome fox… who wouldn’t fall for that? I’ve melted in a shallow puddle. Hahaha.
For Dam, her authenticity shines through. Her smile and laugh and enjoyment during those moments were contagious. That stirs the heart of Fox who has been numbed by many years of the sameness. This wakes up Tiger from seeing same type of women pandering for his attention. Dam stands out, in her own way.
Thanks @pkml3 @Fern @FGB4877 @Sandi @Janey for your thoughts.
I really like the sentiment and the truth that you have shared @FGB about ‘Love is Divine’ and being loving/in love is the closest we get to being like the Divine.
You know this reminds me of Start Up when Dosan asked Dalmi, in the end episode “Why do you like me?”.
Dalmi answers, “I just like you, I don’t need a reason to like you. Because it is you. You are the reason. That’s all there is to it.”
That’s the madness in love part but also there is something that draws each of them to each other…the reasons.
Gumiho loves Dam’s honesty.
I think Tiger Sunbae was attracted to Dam because she is not like the other girls, and it seems like the more she avoided him, the more he wanted her. But she still shone through for him to the point that he is willing to change for her. THAT is powerful.
What does Dam like about Gumiho? Because he is historical? or he is really nice…actually he really is from the things he does for her out of concern.
I have yet to watch episode 6 at this point.
Yes @Fern, ep 5 subs was not in sync. But we were desperate so I opened two screens and played the subs in one, the video in the other.
I’ve watched through episode 4 but never felt invested until Dam’s “do over”. I might have fallen a little in love with her myself. I even think Hyeri did a great job here.
I’m so curious to know where this is going. Will there be creepy “madly in love” or just sweet “crazy in love” About to watch episode 5 and 6–will report back on thoughts.
Actually a few things:
1. Are we wholly convinced that the other fox is actually human? Or perhaps just pretending?
2. Does fox only want to be human so he can die or is there some other reason I missed?
3. Is tiger considered SL here?? He doesn’t bother me actually and I wouldn’t mind if she ended up with him.
4. I’d really like to know more about tiger’s sister. I hope she has more involvement. She’s so striking. Actually more fox-like than the other girl who says she’s human now. Sorry, bad with names.
Ok, I think that’s all for now.
@FGB4877, you were right about Dam’s smile. In Ep. 6, Fox actually mentions when he saw it for the first time. 😊
@birdie007, yes, I wondered if Hye-sun really is human or if she’s pretending. She has retained Gumiho characteristics, right? You will see in Ep. 6 when she protects Dam.
I think Fox will cease to exist when he hits his 1000th year mark if he doesn’t get a blue marble. If he gets the blue marble he can become human and live out a human life span.
We’ll see if Tiger Sun-woo is good for Dam or not. I’m on the fence right now, as I think he could be a Gumiho – that might account for his sister being fox-like. He had to ask her what being a nice guy means. (gumiho lack of human emotional knowledge?) ON the other hand, she seems to be a pretty normal teenager and the two seem to have a standard sibling relationship.
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@Fern, I think Tiger is human. They did that exposition on him in an earlier episode and the aspirational name his parents gave him hoping it would shape his character (it still might under Dam’s influence)
Aside from Fox’s physical beauty – he has a beautiful voice. It is mesmerizing in the Fermina Daza scene – and perfectly delivered in rhythm and timing.
I like the Tiger’s little sister too. When she did that rap think when she made a rhyme – pretty cute and teenagery. Also, taking his money out of his wallet – again very nuisance little sister thing to do. I bet he would do anything for if she were ever in danger/troubled. They have a snarkier version of Dam and Dan’s relationship
Howdy! Thanks for explaining it better. ☺️ I’m just watching episode 5 now and I like this scene. Mr Fox telling Dam about being a Fermina Daza to someone. He was looking straight at her and I can tell already, she was trying to take it all in and it’s affected her already. ☺️ Yes, I can see that the passage can be both from Fox and Tiger. ☺️
Thank you for explaining it! Do you know the title of the song/instrumental playing in the background during the Fermina Daza quote? I’ve been searching everywhere for it and it doesn’t seem to be part of the current released ost of this drama. I’m starting to think it might not be part of the ost…maybe it’s a popular song I don’t know about?
Welcome to the blog, @Jennie.
I don’t know the name of the instrumental music played during the Fermina Daza passage. I thought the pop song released for this episode was Jeong Sewoon’s “Door”/“Your Moon.”And since typically, only one OST is released per week, maybe the instrumental will be released in the future.