Although this show is pretty self-explanatory, there are a few things I’d like to highlight.
Edited: Sorry. I packed this with gifs. Couldn’t resist. I felt like a kid in a candy store. I’ll do better next time.
1. The quotation mark sculptures
I know you’re probably thinking right now, “What quotation sculptures?” “There were quotation sculptures?” “What’s packmule3 talking about?”
I mean these quotation sculptures.
You must have noticed that both Mr. Fox and Dam had a lot of things to say that popped in their heads but never got to say directly to each other. I thought that the director purposely posed them by the quotation mark sculptures – Dam stood in front of the open quotation mark, while Mr. Fox stood in front of the close quotation mark.
In effect, they were both standing inside the quotation marks.
To me, it was a creative way of indicating that they had thoughts in their mind that no one else can see or hear except for them.
They wished they could speak their words aloud, but they didn’t dare to.
2. The fox rain
If you’ve watched the Hong Sisters’ “My Girlfriend is a Gumiho,” then you know all about the fox rain. A fox rain is the Korean term for sunshower. According to their folklore, the cloud is weeping because a fox is getting married to a tiger.
In this drama, however, the fox rain acquires another meaning because Mr. Fox used it as a metaphor for Dam.
Miss Dam, you are special to me, too. Do you remember? Everything feels like a season that passes by after living for a long period just as I have. At first, you were like that too. You were just a passing shower. But I’m still standing in the rain.
Meaning, his encounter with Dam should have been a brief inconvenience. But because it was Dam, he didn’t mind standing in the rain. One evening when she was late coming home from her date, he went out to fetch her at the bus stop. He was worried that she would get wet without umbrella.
gifs from belsmultifandommess’ tumblr
Then, as if this wasn’t enough, Mr. Fox made it rain so he could meet her again.
Dam: (sighing) I’m like an actress in a tragic movie.
She was about to walk on when an umbrella appeared over her. It was Mr. Fox with the umbrella.
This moment is such a cliché in kdramas that I’ve to include a gif set here for future reference. Gifs from mostlyfate’s tumblr.
She was like an actress in a tragic movie, alright. lol.
Frankly, I prefer kdrama umbrella tropes than Hollywood’s rain smooches.
The core messages are polar opposites.
With the kdrama umbrella trope, the message is “I’ll protect you. I’ll shelter you.” With the Hollywood rain smooch, the message is “We don’t care about the f@#king storm. Our raging passion is the storm.” The kdrama trope is sweet and romantic. The Hollywood trope is like an assault to my senses.
Dam: (thinking) I’m a dreaming?
Fox: It’s suddenly raining.
Dam: (thinking) Is this really Orishein?
Fox: Where are you headed? I’ll share with you until your destination.
Dam: (coming to her senses) I’m headed to the Department of Humanities.
They began walking. They were stealing glances at each other; too bad that they could synchronized their timing.
Fox: She doesn’t look well. Did something really happen to her?
Dam: If he ended everything without making an excuse, it means he was never going to see me again. In the end, that’s how little I meant in his life like a sudden shower.
She was referring of course to that time when he told her that she was like a passing shower. She didn’t know that he conjured up the rain shower so he could walk in it with her.
Dam: I think I’m good now. I saw a friend over there.
Fox: I see.
Dam: Thank you.
I’m not Korean, but I think she used the formal language here. She just ahjussi-zoned him. No…worse than that. She stranger-zoned him.
Dam: This must be the end.
Fox: Excuse me!
He chased after her. I think he called out “Hagsaeng!” which means “student” not “excuse me.”
Fox: Don’t walk in the rain, and take this.
Dam: Why should I take your umbrella?
Whoa! That was cold. All she had to say was, “No, thank you.” But yeah, I guess, she was furious with him.
She ran to SooKyung who shared her umbrella with her. Then, he stopped the rain
SK: Hey, it stopped raining. Was that a sun shower? It was sunny, then it suddenly rained.
Dam must have realized that Mr. Fox sent the rain.
Fox: Her kind voice. Her face. And playing a baby. All those things were perhaps a privilege. I have now become a nobody to her.
He meant that for a short time, he had been given the opportunity to enjoy hearing her kind voice, listening to her pretty voice, and taking care of her like she was a helpless baby. But now that special moment was gone because he was back to being a stranger to her.
She moved on like the passing shower. But why did it seem like the sunny day wasn’t a welcome prospect for him?
3. Jealousy
He must remember JaeJin as that guy who came with Dam’s brother to protect her honor.
gifs from kateknowsdramas’ tumblr
But he obviously has forgotten what Dam told him about JaeJin in Ep 5.
Dam had been shouting at JaeJin over the phone and walked out to cool herself down by crushing on ice. When he asked if she was alright, she wailed that “JaeJin is angry at me, but I don’t know why. I wanted to talk, but he avoids me. He ignores my texts and hung up on me, too.”
Fox: You two looked very close. That must be disconcerting.
Dam: Yes. As you know, I have a younger brother. Ever since I met him, though, I felt like I had two younger brothers. We were so close like real siblings. Why is he doing this to me?
So he knew what JJ meant to her, but seeing him up-close and friendly with Dam at school bothered him.
He told himself that he was only watching her for a while.
Hyesun reminded him that the clock was ticking.
She had a point there.
He was wasting time just watching Dam when he should be thinking of a way to transform into a human asap. He already knew what would happen to him if he stayed a gumiho past his expiration date, so why was he still thinking of Dam instead focusing on his dire situation.
Fox: I cared…
Hyesun: If you cared about her so much, why did you erase her memories first?
Fox: (thinking) Because I thought if she wouldn’t look at me the same way as she did, I wouldn’t be able to stand it.
Huh? What fresh idiocy is this? Didn’t he realize that by removing the marble early, he only hastened precisely what he didn’t want to happen?
Next Hyesun asked if he was sure he could let go back to her normal life, and he answered yes.
Gifs from liveasbutterflies’ tumblr
This reminded me of that time when he confidently said that he could quit smoking. Compared to a 400-year-old habit, Dam was just a passing shower to him, so maybe he’d be lucky this time. I’d cut him some slack since he didn’t understand what it meant to be jealous.
He had to share an elevator with Tiger Sunbae Sunwoo.
Sunwoo: Why aren’t you asking me why I didn’t call you?
Dam: Pardon?
Sunwoo: I said I would call you because we’re having dinner together.
Dam: Uhhh…
Sunwoo: Are you free today?
Dam: Today, I can’t..
The elevator shook. Ha! I suspect Mr. Fox did that. To interrupt their conversation, he make the elevator shake.
He and Sunwoo grabbed Dam at the same time. Dam glared at him and shook his hand off. Then, she pointedly thanked Sunwoo, and ignored him.
Cold.
When they got off the elevator, SunWoo invited her out again when she felt better. He started to say that she cried a lot the other day, and Dam stopped him because she didn’t want Mr. Fox to overhear him. She dragged him out to eat together.
Mr. Fox watched them running away.
When she returned to campus, Mr. Fox followed her, and eavesdropped on her conversation with Tiger Sunbae Sunwoo. He heard her confessed that she liked someone else.
I think that’s the reason he was with Hyesun that night. He was probably discussing with her what to do next. Since Dam liked somebody – and he assumed that it couldn’t be him because he erased her memory – he could move on.
4. Drunk JJ again
Hyesun: What are you doing here?
Dam: I didn’t know it was your car. JaeJin got so drunk so…
The car door opened, and Mr. Fox came out.
Dam: (thinking) What were they doing together?
JJ: Dam. Dam. Dam. I feel sick and the ground is too soft. I can’t walk.
Fox: (eyes shifting from JJ to JJ’s hand on Dam’s shoulder)
Dam: (grabbing JJ’s hand) Come on. Goodness.
Fox: (stepping in to grab JJ from Dam) Let me help.
Dam: (pulling JJ away) It’s okay. We can take a taxi.
Poor JaeJin! They were both tugging on him.
Dam: (addressing HS) What do we do about your car?
HS: (looks at JJ) It must be tough.
HS meant that JJ must still be feeling sad over his ex-girlfriend. Surprisingly, HS knew what JJ was going through because JJ told her that he dated sincerely. He told her, “I didn’t play a game. I didn’t want to win either. I just liked her a lot.”
Dam: What?
HS: Tell him to call me up when he sobers up. I want to talk to the perpetrator.
JJ: (muttering) Let’s go have another round. Choo-choo.
Dam: Yah! I’m going to throw you into the recycling bin. Another round, my foot.
Fox: (eyeing JJ with suppressed temper)
HS: Do you think you can handle him? I can drive him home.
Dam: It’s okay. I can take him to my place. I live near here.
Fox: (stepping in) You don’t need to. We’ll drive him home.
HS: Let’s do that. Where does JaeJin live?
Dam: It’s really okay. If he goes home now, his brothers might undress him, and kick him out.
Fox: (stepping closer) But it’s late and dangerous. You should go home first.
I found this exchange funny. Even with the two of them trying to convince her to let go of JJ, Dam still had her way in the end.
Dam: (thinking) I want to ask him why he sounds so sweet as if he worries about me. I want to ask him why he’s with her. And why he’s always around me, keeping me from recovering. There are so many things I want to ask him, but…
This is what I meant by the “quotation marks” thoughts, earlier. It would have been better if she expressed her thoughts instead of keeping them to herself.
Dam: (aloud) It’s really okay. HyeSun. I’m sorry. I’ll text you tomorrow. Bye!
HS: Okay. Bye!
Looking after them, Mr. Fox said, “I should go. I’m worried.”
Following the two of them, Mr. Fox wondered if they were a couple. From the back they certainly looked like a couple; even their steps synchronized.
Fox: (thinking) Is he the person she likes? Why do I keep…No way. Do I like her in a different way?
Gifs from belsmultifandommess’ tumblr
I think he realized that he was interested in knowing about her private life, especially, the identity of the person she liked.
Just then a cab stopped in front of Dam and JJ. Dam tried to stop JJ from getting in all by himself and ended up getting pushed aside. Mr. Fox caught her.
I’m sorry. But to me, Mr. Fox should have caught her like a freaking football. hahaha.
Fox: See? I said you might fall.
Sigh…This was a mental lapse. The other time he said this was just before they went on their memory-erasing trip. He forgot that Dam wouldn’t remember anymore that he’d warned her to be careful.
I’m gif-happy today so here are more gifs from mostlyfate’s tumblr.
He warned to be careful.
There! He repeated himself.
Fox: (thinking) How dare I? She’s so young and young. Since when and how?
Dam: I can take care of him. You can go, Professor. Hyesun must be waiting.
Fox: (thinking) Why now?
Flashback to Hyesun asking him if he could handle it. “Are you sure you want this, even if she meets other people, dates others, loves others, and eventually, stays out of your life forever?”
Fox: (aloud) No. I’m not sure.
Good cliffhanger.
5. HyeSun and JaeJin
I’ve to admit that I laughed more than I should when JJ had her in a headlock.
Gifs from dramaintherain’s tumblr
I thought this was funny because she was tapping his arm. That’s a wrestling move to signal to a referee that the player can’t escape the hold. Here, HS was signaling that she was in so much pain that he should let go.
But I think this is payback for what she did to him in the previous episode.
6. Tiger Sunbae Sunwoo
I know he’s the second lead. As second leads go, I like him better than that scrawny kid in “True Beauty.”
Dam: The text message wasn’t sent by me. It was my brother. He had this crazy idea that you’re interested in me.
SW: I know. I figured it wasn’t from you. I thought you would never talk so sweetly to me nor send me such emojis.
lol. And the emoji was FOX emoji, too.
SW: In fact that’s the reason why I hesitated to call you. I was afraid you would cancel this thing at all.
Dam: Sunbae, you don’t have to do this.
SW: What?
Dam: If this is because you feel bad about the bet–
SW: I do feel bad about it, but that’s not the reason.
This is why I find this guy likeable: his sincerity. He doesn’t care about his bad boy image anymore.
Dam: Then is it because our deadline is near?
SW: I really don’t care about assignments.
Dam: Then why?
SW: Lee Dam. You’re just acting like you don’t know, aren’t you?
The problem with him is he’s used to girls like his young sister: manipulative. So when he comes across a girl like Dam, he’s confused.
Dam: Don’t know what?
SW: That I like you.
Good job, Hyeri! Her expression is on point. I can feel the guy’s exasperation because he’s never met a girl like her. She isn’t faking her cluelessness.
SW: You’re the only one who doesn’t know that I like you. Literally, you’re the only one.
Yes, I get why he’s baffled by her behavior.
SW: You said even your brother thought so. But how can you not realize it?
Dam: (thinking) Is he messing with me again?
SW: (berating himself) You call that a love confession?
Dam: (thinking) Even if he isn’t, this is weird.
SW: (probably wanting to stab himself with the butter knife) I wish I could turn back time.
I expected this character to be jerk. I’m glad to be wrong.
Last note: One common trait of three male characters, Mr. Fox, JaeJin, and Tiger Sunbae, is their unworldliness. They seem to be more naïve and gullible than the women. They aren’t the typical Alpha Male in kdramas. They appear to take the back seat to the women.
That’s it for this episode. I’ll have to edit this later. I’m too tired now.
Thanks @pkml3. I noticed the quotation marks but did not register that they were within them, or what they were saying in their minds. So much fun to pick up on stuff like that.
I totally missed the quotation marks sculptures! So true that they had a lot of thought bubble 💭 in this show. You’re always spot on @PM3!!!
Ahjussi-zoned is a notch higher than fossil-zoned. More zones for Fox: stranger-zoned as you mentioned and professor-zoned. Her question during the meet-and-greet was about grades!
I hope when he realizes that Dam had retained her memories, he may just be the someone she likes… If he’s not too dense. I agree, I like that the guys here are nice (or reforming to be nice). No bad eggs so far, other than that bad maegu.
The umbrella message is so spot on!
I tend to put attention when ML and FL share the same umbrella in kdrama. Usually ML will tilt the umbrella to FL side then his shoulder will be completely soaked (sometimes it’s just so obvious it’ll make you cringe).
Fox, however, didn’t tilt the umbrella for Dam. He just gave her the bigger “portion” of umbrella. I find the subtle gesture so sweet and pleasing to watch.
Thank you packmule for this post.. a lot of gifs I’m so happy.. !
Wow, the quotation sculpture. I didn’t realize that before. I agree that in this drama the main couple had a loot of thoughts in their mind. Good job for their creator team to find this sculpture and shoot that scenes there.
About JJ – HS : super thanks for the gifs.. looking at their gifs even made me laugh again. Haha.
And the tiger sunbae Sunwoo, I’m also glad that he looks sincere to Dam here. And I thought in earlier episodes that he would be like a typical alpha male but you’re right packmule. He’s actually not.
Thank you, @packmule3. I love the gifs.
feel like rewatching episode 8 after reading the highlights!
i see the sculpture but didn’t aware is quotation mark?!
cant wait for moreeee
I hope Tiger Sunbae continues to be good after Dam confessed to liking somebody else.
The JJ-HS gifs were too funny to exclude. I was chuckling when she complained that he wrung her head like she was a chicken. 😂 Speaking as an ex-Fox, she was definitely insulted by his manhandling of her precious face.
☂️@idungkulitayam,
Yes, that umbrella tilt was what @Good Twin mentioned in the other thread Eps 9 and 10. There’s a slope formed when the umbrella is tilted towards the girlfriend so she wouldn’t get wet.
Then the guy is supposed to block off the rain with his broad shoulders. Mind you, the shoulders always have to be broad so the actor has to be wearing a thick, oversized jacket or coat.
I’m often shocked when I see these actors in T-shirts. Many of them have narrow shoulders and they’re skinny! 😂
Howdy! I noticed those sculptures too but as usual it didn’t register to me what they are. So smart, not! 😂 But I do like the voice overs here even though as you said if only it’s said outright. ☺️
If, a lockdown is announced tomorrow for me, do you want a rewatch of episode 9? I can do Thursday night or Friday night. 😂
We’re supposed to have a mini break in the city, from Thursday till Sunday but covid looms. 😩
I’m waiting in the car for eldest to finish his anime movie. I have shanklish manoosh and triple cheese pide for snacks. 😂
Let me check my schedule for tomorrow. I’ll confirm with my asst. I believe I’ve a couple of meetings and zoom. But nothing till 11am, so if we’re done by 10am (my time), that’ll be fine.
Your Thursday night, my Thursday morning. Like last week. 👍
Your son is spoiled!!! He gets to watch anime and mom has snack ready for him? Take a pic so you can blackmail him to visit you when you’re 75 years old. 😂😂
Darn you, @agdr03. I just finished lunch but you have re-booted my appetite. I wish I could get those around here.
Oh, possibly back to lockdown! 😟😢 But whatever it takes to keep the most people safe is good.
Rewatch sounds nice.
Sounds like a plan! Thanks ☺️
I’ll confirm tomorrow, ok?
If no lockdown, we will go ahead but obviously we can’t do most of what we’d like to do.
Yes, I agree, son is spoiled. But I thought his two friends might like it as well. 😁
Sorry @Fern. Next time I’ll ask you if it’s lunch or dinner your time so I won’t say anything. 😂
Yeah, sigh. Health is wealth! 👍🏻
No worried, @agdr03. If you wrote that before I ate, I’d want to try it. After and during, I’d still want it. I consoled myself with fennel tarallini dipped in Moroccan spiced hummus. That was after left over stir fry wrapped in a tortilla. Crossing all sorts of lines there.
Yes, when you wake up, there should be a rewatch thread posted if I’m available. It should be fine, but I’ve to confirm with my assistant. I told you she’s my gatekeeper, and she’s a dragon. 😂
Lockdowns are a new normal now.
I’ll leave it up to the Gods if it’s the mini break or the rewatch. 🙏🏼
But I’ll be able to watch it before/if we go anyway so I’ll make sure to get some notes down. ☺️
Oh I’m a dragon too. This thread has become an animal kingdom. 😂
@Fern, yours is so socy. 🤩 I only usually have cucumber with my hummus. 😂
Dear Friends, how are you? =D . @PackMule3 loved your quote marks analysis and this thread in general. Please let me add:
1.- About the Umbrella and the Fox Rain: Mr. Fox and Dam’s actual first meeting was literally a sh*tty one. JJ vomited on his expensive car and due to Dam’s clumsiness they all ended on the floor like dog excrement (couldn’t find the photo). So when he used that Fox Rain as an excuse to contact her again he didn’t realize that he was trying to “meet cute” her in this do-over. To start with the best foot possible.
2.- It has come to my attention that JJ is their “Cupid”: he “introduces” them to each other and he creates situations that forces both of them to take actions based in their true selves. It is interesting that yes, he is pure, yes, he has her back, and yes, he is steadfast… but what does it means that he misunderstands all situations so much and that he is a “Cupid” with girl problems? XD . At the end of the day “Cupid” is a personification of Eros. And in top of that he is the comedic relief O_OU … does it have implications in our theory of Love and Misunderstandings going hand-in-hand or am I reading too much?. Does it expresses the Writer’s philosophy of love?.
And dear @Agdr03, a good parent-offspring relationship is based on love but could use some blackmail from time to time… that is why our parents kept a lot of our photos when we were children XD XD XD XD . So keep @PM3’s advice in mind XD XD XD XD .
Hope to read all of you soon!!! =D
Oh, can I join the rewatch of ep9? This may fit before my workday starts. You know me and rewatches, it’s like click-bait! MRIAG is light and fun fare. I just have to relegate HPL S2 ep2 to an evening watch.
🍪 🍪 🍪 for @PM3
🥒 🥒 for @agdr03 to dip in your hummus