Hospital Playlist 2: Ep 4 On Hubris

4. Did Jang really beat God? 

The Flower Gardeners did a collective gasp when they heard this:

Minha: I congratulated her for beating God.
IJ: (snapping his finger) That’s right! GU beat God.

Jang didn’t say anything to correct them or to play it down. She was proud that she beat God and made JW stay for her sake.

Now, you don’t have to be Catholic, Christian, devout or even faintly religious to be aghast by this congratulatory scene. You just have to like reading books. 🙂

People who like reading books would instantly grasp what was appalling about this scene although they couldn’t put a name to it.

It’s HUBRIS in action.

Hubris is a character FLAW that shows an inflated ego, arrogance, presumption, or excessive pride, which ultimately leads to the character’s downfall. A well-known example of a hubristic character is the hare in the “tortoise and the hare.” The speedy hare was so confident it would win in a race against the slow tortoise that it dared to nap in the middle of the race. Another example is Icarus. His father warned him not to fly too close to the sun because the wax on his makeshift wings would melt. But he ignored the warning, so he fell from the sky and drown in the sea.

The classical definition of hubris connotes a defiance of the deities and their divine order. The word is Greek in origin. In Greek mythology and tragedies, there’s always that one hero who believes himself equal to the gods and gets himself into trouble.

Don’t get me wrong. Having pride and self-confidence is one thing, but having TOO much pride and self-confidence is another thing. Hubris deals with the latter. Because of his hubris, the Greek hero ignores the gods (like Narcissus), opposes the gods (like King Creon in “Antigone”), brags to the gods (like Arachne), or steals from the gods (like Prometheus). In the end, he meets his nemesis or divine retribution and justice. Many people nowadays would call it cosmic karma.

In this sense, Jang is a perfect example of a character with hubris. She believes she offered a better proposition than God and successfully pried JW off of priesthood.

“Please stay by my side instead of God’s.”

credit: BulmaGoku

(By the way, @BulmaGoku, the silly face you added to gif always makes me smile.)

lol. Little did she know that the real reason that JW decided to stay was for the children.

There are already signs that her comeuppance is coming.

Episode 1. On their first date, she had blow-dried her hair and it rained.

Episode 3. Before he picked her up in his vehicle, the wind blew her perfectly coiffed hair.

Not only that, he noticed that the cool air turned her nose red. Like Rudolph’s.

I pointed that the weather didn’t want to cooperate with her. That’s an inside joke. The heavens didn’t like her.

Episode 4. The nurse brought up JW’s “holy” aura; he’s like a patron saint of sick children.

Nurse: Professor Ahn, Bada’s mother is very worried. We told her it’ll be a simple surgery, but she’s worried about the general anesthesia and scarring.
JW: Of course, she’s worried. To a mom, there’s no such thing as a simple surgery.
Nurse: Professor. Do you have a kid?
JW: Me? Yes. Many, in fact. I think of all the kids I’ve treated as my own.
Nurse: He’s really a saint.
Jang: (to herself) I agree.

lol. I don’t think Jang has realized yet that JW infantilizes her like one of his sick children.

Now, that’s the classical definition of hubris; a deity is involved.

But there’s also a more modern interpretation of hubris in which the focus is on blind arrogance and self-aggrandizement of the individual. It’s the over-sized ego that causes the person’s downfall, not divine justice.

IkJun is the prime example of hubris of this contemporary view of hubris. He calls himself “Cupid” because he’s proud to be the architect of JW and Jang’s romance. He doesn’t think his plan will fail. That’s because he only focuses the initial success of his interference, and doesn’t have the foresight to see the disaster awaiting the couple because of their gross incompatibility.

But we’ve already been warned by the director in the form of metas.

Episode 2. Twice, IJ complained twice that nothing was going his way.

Episode 3. JW wondered aloud if IJ was trying to kill them.

Episode 4. To me, his interference in JWan’s lovelife, and the resulting disaster are but a foreshadowing of the havoc he will also generate JW and Jang’s lives, too.

There was a reason he appeared as Darth Vader in Episode 1. There’s a whole lot of good in him, but he also creates the dark force when he imposes his will on other people, supposedly for “good intentions.”

As I said numerous times, he’s certainly a great doctor, but his misguided sense of being “Dr. Romantic” has a deleterious effect on his friends and family.

It is said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Well, let’s add hubristic motives of both Jang and IkJun, as well.

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

One more to go.

59 Comments On “Hospital Playlist 2: Ep 4 On Hubris”

  1. What a great post!
    IJ think himself to be the god of love while in reality he’s the god of destruction. And I can’t wait to see what he’s got to say when the chaos comes.

  2. IJ complained twice that nothing was going his way. And TWICE sang “I don’t want your love” 😂

    Great post!🍪🍪🍪 Yeah God’s gonna show up. He’s sent warning shots already like you said. Red lights ahead. 🙂

  3. Anyway, she can’t beat Chuck Norris. 🙂

  4. My dear @Packmule3,

    I agree on your article, but I would like to pinpoint that Prometheus didn’t commit Hubris.

    He was punished from the Gods because he gave fire to mankind. That was a gift towards mankind and the reason civilization happened.

    (If you want more information about Prometheus, please check Aeschylus’ tragedy – Prometheus Bound: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Prometheus-Bound-play-by-Aeschylus)

    Also, the greek scheme in Athenian Drama is: Ύβρις Νέμεσις > Τήσις Or Hubris > Ate > Nemesis > Tisis.

    So far Jang is in ate stage. She is blinded by what she has done. Most of the times, Nemesis comes with the form of Erinyes, so after a while we will witness her downfall (tisis).

    Beware Greeks bearing gifts…

  5. Correction: Ύβρις > Άτη > Νέμεσις > Τήσις*

  6. Brilliant post @Packmule.

    @Cleopatra Thanks for the scheme in Athenian Drama and to point Prometheus role.

    @Linnea There is a reason Cupid is portrayed as a young man or boy with his eyes covered…His arrows wreaked havoc in spades according to Roman mythology.

  7. Dear Ori,

    You are welcome. Regarding Έρως / Eros, as greeks call him or Cupid as the Romans call him, Hesiod in his Theogony said that from Chaos / Χάος, Eros was born.

    I like this version so very much. Eros brings havoc with or without his arrow.

    Also Plato in his Symposium said a lot about Eros and the souls.

    So, some get crazy from eros, while others prefer Αγάπη / Agape / Love…

  8. Thank you pm3 ❤❤❤

    Karma from God beat her at ep 1 and ep 3 (odd number pattern). If shinlee keep this pattern, I can’t wait what Karma she deserve at ep 5, 7, 9 and ep 11. LOL. 😹🤪

  9. @Ori so on point!

    And @Cleopatra what a concise yet beautiful summary: some get crazy from Eros while others prefer Agape! It could go as a saying or quotation!

  10. Thank you, @packmule3. I like the reminder that hubris in dramas or literature will call up Nemesis eventually.

    @Cleopatra, I had to look up Erinyes. I have heard of Furies, but not in detail.

    I’m always learning something new here.

  11. Old American Lady

    @packmule3 and @Cleopatra, Love you madly but not in the chaotic sense. You have elevated HPL and the discussion of Jang’s and IJ’s hubris to a classical level. To me, Jang does not deserve to be seen at such a high level, but in her mind she’d be at the top of the Acropolis-the g I dress of Yul Je. One thing we can say for IJ is that he’s a caring doctor who is a skilled surgeon. On that account, the jury is out when it comes to Jang. I think she has more than one fatal flaw. Her hubris, especially in admitting that she beat the Almighty, is phenomenally offensive. And as I will continue to harp on, I think her ultimate downfall will have to do with at least poor patient care and at most, malpractice. I also think that her failure to accept responsibility for her actions, will include f a possible take down of her boyfriend and cupid. My hope is that Songhwa, our “villain” will come to IJ and JW’s rescue. Wouldn’t that be poetic justice.

  12. Great post @pm3
    It is so funny how FG noticed how weird Jang’s confession were when she asked JW to stay with her instead of God, while other viewers celebrate that kiss. But then again and again from ep 1 we are reminded of how God disapproved her lol.

    @cleopatra thanks for the insight. I am amazed with how much i learn in this blog!

  13. I can see how her hubris would keep Jang from developing a healthy EQ. She did admit she’s blunt and has trouble reading the emotions of others, but she doesn’t seem to want to change. Empathizing with patients and guardians only registers with her as necessary if an issue arises.

    Why isn’t anyone shipping Jang with Dr. Cheong? Aren’t they two peas in a pod? (*shudder*)

  14. Ooo thanks for that @Cleopatra. Learn something new every day. 🙂.

  15. Great post and call out in hubris @PM3 and for the hubris-ate-nemesis-tisis worldview @Cleo. BoD discussions really elevate kdrama watching! Can’t say that enough I have nothing more to add but I’m reading up on this more. Vengeance (nemesis) is coming…

  16. Wah, another new knowledge today. Thank you @Cleo and @pm3 😘

    @felix, the agenda in the odd numbers 🤭🤭🤭 I really wonder why in hell she ever existed when writer can just wipe out her character and the story won’t even be affected. Geez… do we really need that plot device🤪

    Iirc, last year someone wrote a thesis on eros, pathos, logos and whatever to justify why this hubris is not selfish with her confession to ask him to leave God and stayed by her side. I forgot who shared/who wrote it as I didn’t bother to read in details. Waste of time.

  17. The WG crowd tends to forget that basically JWon is similar to a Priest. That means that he feels compelled to go to were he is needed the most instead of where he wants to like a secular person would. It is kind of an Obedience Vow.

    He was needed the most as a Pediatric Surgeon, so he decided to stay beside the children. Since by doing so he gave up his dream to become an actual Priest he decided to embrace life as a laic, that is, the call of having his work as a Pediatrician and to look for someone to settle up and form his very own family which is also a call from God.

    Maggot did not beat God. JWon decided to serve God as a Pediatric Surgeon. His brothers and sisters could serve Him attending the souls of the community while he took care of the most vulnerable. That is worlds away from what Maggot thinks.

    Maggot really crossed me on this DX .

    PS: Lots of love to Ms. Shin Hyun-Bin who plays our most irritating Maggot. It seems that the frequency of her hirings has increased. Kudos for her work and thanks for making us think!!! =D .

  18. Thank you for this well-written post @pm3!

    Whenever Jang goes on a date with JW, we can definitely see that nothing’s going her way 🙂

    Thank you too @Cleopatra for the added knowledge.

  19. @miracle23 😆 jang character just to fill lyric Introduce me a good person (shwa sing that song!). There also mention “winter (gyeoul)” in the lyrics. Omo another corelation shwa and jang.

    like @FGB4877 said, kudos for SHB make Jang character alive!

  20. I found this article on the Web about Hubris>Atis>Nemesis>Tisis. Thanks @Cleo!!! =D

    https://www.greecehighdefinition.com/blog/hubris-atis-nemesis-tisis-ancient-greece

    Well, IJ has a lot of Hubris but he is at the end of the day a well-meaning guy. I guess that his call with IS at the end of Ep4 will be a rude awakening for him. He messed up the beautiful relationship between his two most beloved people and he will be in the middle of its downfall. Hope he takes his mistake bravely and works towards healing these two.

    I am still not in the IS boat. JWan is too good for her thus far. She has many secrets while he has been open and served her wholeheartedly.

  21. As a sidenote, please be aware that these writers, directors and actors are giving us a course on Ethics and Politics (in a Greek sense – or maybe a Neo-Confucian one XD ) disguised as an outstanding Medical Procedural. So many life lessons!!! =D

    Please do not reduce this show to a Ship War D=

    … Even if it is fun!!! 😉

  22. BTW, I might be wrong but… the Doctor Maggot didn’t want to share her piggies is not Ju Jeong, Director Ju’s cousin that is always at Rosa’s home?, one of the people that keeps the secret of their relationship?. If it is so that is a bad, bad move from Maggot!!! =D .

    My Christian Charity suddenly goes low when something is related to her XD XD XD XD XD

  23. Dr Cheon has been a possibility. I was thinking of IJ’s rival down in MokPo as a good future partner. That would be deliciously ironic.

  24. @FGB4877, how we wish there is no shipping war going on cos we are just doing our own thing here but we have been branded as the one causing the war in the other realm. *sigh*

    I have no idea what is going on at the bird app with people asking about fights and such. I only got occasional updates from friends who observed. Why would they even go to that extent for the sake of drama pairing? One answer. Insecurity complex. Fear of losing their sacred ships to other alternative the writer has in mind. Fear of not realising their self-projection on what a life with a prince will taste like. Fear of having to go back to reality where there is no prince in waiting to tend to their every needs. Fear that life has no meaning if they can’t harass others with different opinions. Their herd mentality can’t accept that such differences exist in their narrowed world view, that there are others who dare to defy their POVs/ preferences. FOMO and FOLO combined. *shrug*

    Dramas and movies send various messages to viewers. It’s a learning process of sort. We take the good lessons/knowledge and apply them where we see fit. We need to be able to dissect the negative influences and not fall prey to fantasy that the arts are giving us. Life is not a mere fantasy. It’s the reality that you gotta live with till the end of your days.

    The other day I watch a movie, Ice Road. I never knew it ever existed. It is a very interesting watch and I learn a few things from it including decision making. Some people do make selfish decisions to avoid facing/ resolving the issue at hand even if it means killing people who works for them.

  25. @Miracle – since you mentioned it, I also watched “Ice Road” and when I realized there’s a literal ice road, I was freaking out and they made the journey really suspenseful even though the overall plot was predictable. This is not something that Elsa can flick her hand, create ice and sing let it go. There are real life people doing tha driving jobs in such harsh weather and dangerous conditions.

  26. Good morning every one. The discussion session here is really mind blowing. A lot of new knowledge about culture that going deeper. Thanks for the post @pml3 and @cleo, i wouldn’t make the connection with HP if I am not part of this group.

    @FGB as usual, you are wise. True that we should not reduce this drama into ship wars.

    @WEnchanteur my goodness, Chuck Norris 🤣🤣🤣 I was having a hard laugh here. My father is a big fan of him and I had to watch every Chuck Nortis movies ever made when i was a kid until teenager… 🤣🤣🤣

  27. Kalimera Everyone!

    I am glad that I added some data to the Hubris part. I have read and studied theatrical plays for my major, so I can share some of my knowledge with all of you.

    @Linnea,
    It is true though, right? I had in mind Jang vs SongHwa when I was writing that, but it applies to everyone.

    Some get crazy from Eros, while others prefer Agape…

    @Fern,
    Erinyes is the Greek word for Furies. In mythology, when Kronos cut the genitals of his father Uranus, from the blood that fell in the sea, Aphrodite was born, while the blood that fell on the ground Erinyes were born.

    If you want to learn more about how they work, you can read the ancient trilogy Oresteia / Ορέστεια written by Aeschylus (Αγαμέμων – Χοηφόροι – Ευμενίδες / Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, The Eumenides). This trilogy uses what happened to Orestis after he killed his mother as Apollo told him so, as allegory for the transformation in the Athenian Democracy with the founding of the first court house Areopagus / Άρειος Πάγος.

    Whoever wants a list of plays that has to do with Hubris, @packmule3 mentions Antigone, which is one of my favorite plays, just tell me and I will write it down for you.

    @OAL,
    Your feelings for me are reciprocated! You give us insight for an era I wasn’t even born and I admire you for that! I salute you, my Lady!

    Jang is blinding by Ate / Άτη, she hasn’t realized yet her Hubris. So, when the downfall (Tisis) will come for her, it would be bad…

    IkJun is blinded as well, but it is from his boosted ego. He hasn’t committed any Hubris, but he is not suitable to be Cupid.
    I would say that he spreads chaos as well, but that comes as his default setting. He is not a bad person, but this time around, he will learn a valuable lesson from what happened with his sister and JWan. It is time for him to mature.

    @Welmaris,
    Doctor Cheong is gross, but I don’t think they could be a pair those too…
    That guy is too toxic, even for Jang!

    @FGB,
    I have found that link too. I am trying to give you valid information and I was looking links from Encyclopedia but I couldn’t find it last night.

    I like how you linked Ethics and Politics in a Greek sense. If you have read Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle, I would like to suggest another link for JWon. He is the Ευδαίμων / Eydaimon / Prosperous one.

    As for that Professor, he was not Director’s Ju cousin who asked her about the Piggy, but a Professor from her GS department.

    @Sasa13 @nrllee @Janey @Miracle23 @Jwave @BulmaGoku I am glad you all enjoyed it!

  28. Dear all, I’ve finally found time to sit through the latest ep in it’s entirety, and that one particular line about Jang beating God ticked me off too. I wonder what Jeong Won would think about this if he heard it, because if he is still the Ahn Jeong Won I knew in Season 1, I don’t think he would stand for this (but this season is making me face-palm so hard with regards to his character development) but his character has been frustrating me since the start of this season.

  29. I had to look up Eydaimon. It seems apt for JWon but for Song-hwa as well.
    “The eudaemon, eudaimon, or eudemon (Greek: εὐδαίμων) in Greek mythology was a type of daemon or genius (deity), which in turn was a kind of spirit. A eudaemon was regarded as a good spirit or angel.”

    “The word eudaimon in Greek means having a good attendant spirit, and consequently being happy. It is composed of the words εὖ eu, which means “well” or “good” and δαίμων daimon, which means “divinity, spirit, divine power, fate, or god.” Also daimon is the Greek derivative for the term demon, in which case “demon” means “replete with knowledge”.”

    “Eudaemons in Greek mythology included deified heroes. They were regarded intermediary spirits between gods and the men. Eudaemons, the good daemons, were understood as guardian spirits, bestowing protection and guidance to ones they watched over.”

    “As a counselor, the eudaemon whispered advice and opinions in one’s ear. Such person escorted by the eudaemon was considered fortunate.”

    From Wikipedia. Thank you, @Cleopatra.

  30. My darling @Fern,

    I am glad you looked it up! I am trying to narrow down the endless information.

    In Aristotle’s Philosophy Eudaimon is the truly happy / blissed one. If you know Maslow’s Pyramid, what he says is basically what Aristotle said in Nicomacheian Ethics.

    JWon and SHwa are in the same page. So, you are right! *winks*

  31. My pleasure, @Cleopatra. Thank you for introducing the name and context to me.

  32. Wow, what a great post! Thanks PackMule3, @Cleopatra, and everyone else.

    Pride goes before a fall…humble yourself and God will raise you up.

    Jang is proud she “beat God” while Songhwa is humble and reveres God…the outcome?

    Will go back and read about Greek and Roman gods/goddesses…so much food for thought!

  33. Sneaking few minutes to read some posts here, and as usual, I am not disappointed. Thank you, @packmule3 and @Cleopatra for the insights and the crash course on Greek mythology! 🙂

    My answer to whether Jang beat God is a big NO. Here’s why:

    (1) The camera shots of JWon always focuses on his rosary bracelet. I’m no film major nor knowledgeable in cinematography, but I think Shin-Lee wanted to make it so obvious that he is still a devout Catholic and that God still has a big role in his life. Another thing is he uses a lot of his time and resources to help others, an alternative act of service that SHwa pointed out. If “Jang really beat God”, then all of JWon’s time and resources should have been directed to her (e.g. going on dates, buying her gifts, etc). But Shin-Lee made it clear that it was not the case.

    (2) From a Catholic perspective, I really hated Jang’s “stay by my side instead of God’s” proposal. As a devout Catholic, we know that when God calls, you answer. You leave everything and everyone behind because God’s call is the highest calling. To offer yourself as a better and more worthy alternative to God’s call is idk maybe blasphemy? As @packmule3 puts is, she has too much pride and self-confidence.

    In contrast, SHwa’s “stay here and save more lives” proposal is a more worthy alternative. It’s another way to answer God’s call. It is an act of service and sacrifice. And I think this is what happened to JWon. Perhaps Jang was only a catalyst for him to stay, but really his heart belongs to serving people. It his is ultimate dream. That is what makes SHwa a better partner to JWon – she sees his true and bigger purpose. She is not blinded by ego and fangirl antics. She sees the bigger picture, stands by him, and helps him achieve his goal.

  34. @Yoga Unni, I agree with what your wrote. I think his elder brother understood that as well, which is why he kept asking JW to wait another year. There are many ways to serve and I think he believed JW’s gifts as a doctor outweighed what he might bring to the priesthood. I don’t think he was doing that just to placate Rosa, although he knew she would prefer the secular route.

  35. @Cleopatra and others thank you for additional insightful input! So much food for thought.

    @jwave I just had a good laugh picturing Jang repeating IJ’s words Nothing seems to go may way LOL

    @FGB4877 I agree on your description of JW. Similar to a priest answering his vocation, he stayed where he was most needed, ie. with children.
    I fact, this thought gets confirmed once again in the very same tteokbokki lunch conversation. Firs, we have IJ and Jang enjoying her success in supposedly beating God but when JW comes, IJ is scolding him saying: are you the only one performing surgeries at the pediatric departament/ or are you performing all surgeries there? – sorry I cannot remeber exactly. And right away, IJ confirms it: yes, you are indeed. So it was a rhetoric question only. But here we see how invalid Jang’s conviction about beating God is. JW was the only one to take care of the children there so he decided to stay.

  36. @yoga i love your point! I also realized how JW keeps wearing rosary and it always shows on his date with Jang. The director wanted to remind us to Jang’s selfish request for him to stay beside her instead of God, and JW didn’t drop anything just to be with her.

    I am intrigued to why JW lied and told the 99ers that Jang’s his biggest reason to stay. Songhwa already knows that he’d stay on the first day of snow to save more lives, and he didn’t really hide his final goal to make a pediatric hospital to songhwa and ikjun too. Is he fooling himself? Lol

  37. thanks @pm3 and everyone for your valuable insights. glad i found this fun-loving and knowledge-discussion-loving blog.

  38. Old American Lady

    #Janey, There is actually a reality tv show called Ice Road Truckers showing real people hauling cargo. It is much better than the movie. If you Google it you’ll get the details. The truckers have a small window of time to drive before the ice road starts melting.It is like the Deadliest Catch. We take our goods for granted but getting the and transporting them are a dangerous job.Since I watched this show I look at crab legs very differently.

  39. Off topic

    @Old American Lady, we had that show on TV in England. It was wild. I really had no idea such things were done in the far north.

  40. Dear @Cleo and you all, this is a link to a webpage called “Ethics Explained” where Eudaimonia is explained:

    https://ethics.org.au/ethics-explainer-eudaimonia/

    @Yoga, for believers God is everywhere and in everything. JWon taking the slow route in his relationship with Maggot shows his CHASTITY.

    @Cleo, love your insights. I have a very nice collection of Philosophy books that belonged to Dad, but the books on Ethics and Politics I did read were “Ética para Amador” [Ethics for Amador] and “Política para Amador” [Politics for Amador] both by Fernando Savater. There he explained the Art of good living (as how to have good, deep and meaningful relationships not only with ourselves but with the people around us) to his then teenager son so it was a very nice read =D .

    Yes, JWon and SHwa have the means to achieve a well-lived life, one that also include working for the well-being of other people.

    Now that I think @Cleo, Maggot has been pampered by the whole General Surgery Department. Maggot ignoring so rudely her superior (she could say to him that both were a gift by someone she liked with a big smile, and the Professor would have been happy for her 😉 ) with the supposed call and the look on her Professor’s eyes strikes me as the moment when you realize someone you have been caring so much does not like you nearly as much. This will probably start the decline in Maggot’s good graces with the rest of the team.

    Remember Children, sharing is caring!!! 😉 , that is: we are not alone in our struggles. That is why it is so important to take care of the people around us… not only because it is the correct thing to do but also we do not know when we will need someone.

    @WE, the Chuck Norris jokes!!! XD XD XD XD XD

    @Miracle23, I wrote what I really thought of the people that were so firmly onto Maggot’s ship. But my malevolent imagination just created a scenario where a girl like Maggot arrives to a Christmas/Thanksgiving dinner with their most beloved son and proceeds to behave like in this tteobokki dinner =D

  41. Old American Lady

    @FGB4877, When is Chuseok? Would love to see Maggot diss Rosa. In all of our K Dramas Korean mothers-inzlaw are fierce.

    Re:those stuffed piggies animals- wonder if JW mentioned that he got them for free. I think Maggot is mercenary and would, Ike to see people spend money on her.I don’t think she’s an it ‘s the thought that counts kind of gal…

    This show gives us lots of ships, but so far, none have set permanent sail. Shin/Lee are great teasers. My joy in this is the enduring friendship of the fab five. They make beautiful music together when they don’t let Songhwa sing(the inside joke being Jekn Mi-Do’s gorgeous real musical star singing voice). the friendship is presented realistically, with all holding back for certain reasons, but teasing one another and coming together to help. So the ultimate ship here is the friendSHIP of our five protaganists-one lovely thing.

  42. Dear @OAL, Chuseok was from September 30 to October 2 of 2020 (We are watching what happened in 2020 I believe) =D . This 2021 is from September 20 to September 22.

    Next my black humor will be on display, please be warned…

    ********

    I have a physical description on how a Chuseok between asfixiating Rosa and Piggie Gyeo-Ul would go, but is was part o a documentary on an Anaconda snake feeding on a poor piglet. The cheerful documentary-stile speech imagining Rosa as the anaconda and Maggot as the piglet made sense in an odd, fun and miserable way XD …

    Hell, even the captions on how the team looks for experts when handling dangerous animals makes me think of Director Ju 🤣 . NEVER APPROACH OR ATTEMPT TO HANDLE [a] LARGE OR WILD [*cough* Rosa *cough*] ON YOUR OWN 🤣.

    This is the link. BEWARE because it is graphical (even if the pigglet was already dead):

    Anaconda Enters Pig Pen–Eats Pig

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpdprhPMo14

    BTW: the part were a description of the dislocating jaw of the anaconda can be interpreted as Rosa’s aggressive ways, and the caption of “hiding in a nice spot, the anaconda will digest the pig in about two weeks” used as a metaphor of Rosa laying low from JWon after chewing Maggot was also comedy gold =D .

    ********

    Sorry, I am not a nice person when referred to Maggot 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 .

    And yes, the close friendship of the Lacking Five is at the center. A good life is based not in how much do you have, but in the quality of your relationSHIPS =D .

  43. I thought that Rosa approached Jang as a last resort, to confess to JW in order to distract him from going to Naples to study for the priesthood? So why would Rosa now back-pedal and why would Jang diss Rosa since they were in league together? I must be missing some information.

  44. @Fern, Maggot was a desperate movement from Rosa for JWon to stay. Back then it was that or losing her last son to Priesthood. Now that peril has passed well… she will have to deal with the actual person she brought in.

    Personally I call it “Karma” =D

  45. And yes dear @Fern, all of this is an hypothetical scenario were Rosa has to deal with Maggot =D . So it is more akin of a fanfiction (or an anti-fan fiction XD ).

    You did not miss any information, it is me playing scenarios in my head (and letting our friends have fun with them 😉 ).

  46. @FGB4877 your anaconda eating a pig reminds me of this little gem from The Little Prince 🤴

    https://i.ibb.co/2cXCRNZ/811-E09-AA-3-D4-D-4-D37-8359-905-D17-B15-FD8.jpg

    And you could use it as an illustration for our experiences of watching this drama Vs the others (WGrs and IkSong shippers). They see the hat, we see the boa constrictor with the elephant inside 😂. They keep telling us that they are the adults and we’re children for being delusional and therefore disrespectful towards the writer. But truth is, it is as he said so famously,

    “And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

    We’re looking at it with the heart.

  47. @FGB4877, If it’s anti-fan fiction, what about Jang falling for IJ’s rival/friend in MokPo? IJ would get his comeuppance for meddling and a blow to his ego for certain; Jang would be distant and the way would be clear for FG. I think Rosa would be much less fierce if Song-hwa is in the picture; Rosa would be able to relax.

    Actually, remembering JW’s brother eating chicken, I can’t vouch for the table manners of Rosa’s children except for JW. But I think he would have shared with JW.

  48. Old American Lady

    Oh boy, fan and/or antifan fiction! so much fun and based on the c,ues that our writer has screwed throug h out the series. That’s the ticket…

    The difference between FG and WG/IJ-Shwa shippers is rea,ity.

  49. Dear @Fern, the thing is that I would love to see Maggot grow as a person. Everyone caters too much to her tastes, her being the only GS resident and everyone trying to get her to scrub their surgeries.

    I hope that JWon breaks her heart in a way she can mature from (sorry to bring something from other Drama, but in “My Roommate is a Gumiho” I saw this: the second male lead was a pampered rich and handsome man that did not take anything seriously since everything came so easy for him… then enter Dam who has a character, opinions and know both who she is and what she wants. She broke his heart but the way it happened made him think that he was the one to destroy their relationship in the bud so we see him becoming more careful with other people’s feelings). I also hope that the GS Department start to give her less attention due to her own actions.

    I want to see both the carrot (JWon) taken from her and the stick becoming more prominent, not because I want to see her suffer but because I want her to see the errors in her ways… and how the way she interacts with others delays what she ultimately wants to achieve.

    I want to see Maggot heading to a better direction, not necessarily happier but wiser.

  50. Old American Lady

    @FGB4877, You are too kind. I want to see Maggot come close to losing her position. She may have fechnica, skills, but to me, she’s just a bad doctor. She is the female version of that professor who gave his patient and their guardian very little useful information at the beginning of one episode who was then compared to our five friends who were textbook examples of how to glitterati with patients and their families. Her interaction with the grieving mother was mechanical, se,she, and insincere. If anything, I think she has more potential to break JW’s heart. She didn’t even order food Herold eat at that ,unch when she had a week to prepare. And it seems that she uses people to do her work for her. I hate to say this but she could kill someone with her inattention, short cuts, manipulation and laziness. Nope, the potential for meaningful change in this character 8s so minimal that it would take massive p.ot changes to make it remotely seem real. Let’s give the lion’s share of story time to our main leads, U-ju, IJ’s sister, Minha,Rosaand boyfriend,Seobin, the resident getting the apartment loan.there are plenty of great characters who deserve more and better screen time. I am just plain tired of Jang. The actress who plays her is doing a great job as she’s become a polarizing figure.

    @FGB4877, I am sorry to be so blunt. I don’t want to be mean. I think that because this show aims to heal, it’s time we spent more quality time with the characters that actually do the job.

  51. Fair enough @OAL, part of me wanting to see her becoming wiser is to answer a little question that piqued my interest:

    What process can go such a person through that will make her wiser?.

    She is very dense, and does not understand (or just care) the consequence of her actions. The look in the eyes of the Professor she denied the piggie plush is that of someone that have cared for her a lot but suddenly realizes she does not give a damn for him.

    That could have been avoided two ways:

    1.- Why you bring children toys to your workplace?. Generally speaking you cease to bring something you could fear to lose to any place unless it is something you need to accomplish a task after you pass elementary school, and don’t want or need to impress your friends anymore.

    2.- “Professor, they were a gift from someone I really like” with a big smile. He would have had an explanation and probably understood he overstepped (he overstepped indeed).

    She is stupid indeed. Does not think ahead nor focus on what is important. MinAh wants not only to improve her technique (to be a better Doctor) but also wants to grasp the set of values, the principles that guides the people she yearns to be like.

    MinAh by not putting pressure on SH and by striving to become a better Doctor and person have been gaining ground in the esteem and respect of the nurses, doctors and SH. Scriptwise it is logical that she will end with SH, but in real life she would become a beloved and respected person in her field at the very least. Birth of a second SHwa?. Eudaymonia 😀 . Unlike Maggot or the Fox doctor (the one that by having a “crisis” made MinAh overwork to compensate her absense in S1 – she was shown in this episode but no one noticed… why?, because she does not matter).

    Maggot by not putting the effort will lose that precious thing that is JWon’s affection (she is not at his level nor wants to work in her growth as a person) at the very least.

    What process can make such a person change?

    But to be honest my black heart wants to focus only on the good people of Yulje 😀 .

  52. The real illustration of Jang beating God is if her relationship with JW works (that is, it ends in marriage or at least a serious relationship). I agree with pm3 that Jang has too much hubris; they have only been dating for 1 month. Their relationship has not survived long enough to be thought of as successful. People who view WG as the end game seem to have an immature view of what a mature relationship is. Not caring about your partner’s friends; not caring about what your partner likes and dislikes; not contributing to your partner’s well-being; not being a rock for your partner are all signs that you are not really in the relationship for the long haul. So far, the relationship has been one-sided – JW is doing all the work.

  53. @Whykay91, your answer is so simple and elegant it must be true 😀 . Now this is another point against the WinterGardeners 😉

  54. @FGB4877 Thanks, Chingu 🙂

  55. great points.

  56. I’m just catching up on ep.4-5. LOL yes!! @packmule3 the weather deities are surely against Jang, like every time she do her hair I think she could spare that effort cos it will be mess up eventually- wahahaha… N I rolled eyes every time the Jang beat God notion came up, choose her over God woah, that’s too much!
    I went Eww… Eck! at those JW n Jang “lovey-dovey” moments in these two episodes. God will you quickly heal Andrea’s blindness… my eyes are hurting

    So then, IJ at best is a good doctor n dad, a little more empathetic than Jang, but as a boyfriend or husband he sucks. His ex marriage was a good example, how could he not detect when things goes cold… was he truly surprised when his wife wanted divorce- he don’t seem too surprise to me atm. N think I said before IJ thought that SHwa could be a good mother to Uju was a turnoff to begin with- for me it showed his love for SHwa was this shallow.

    I couldn’t exactly find the word for these flaws in Jang n IJ character, now I know— it’s hubris 🙂 Thank you for this repost! (I couldn’t have search that from the archives hehe)

  57. Ouch, another rolled eyes moment in ep.5 when JW brought Jang snow crab from SHwa, Jang actually ask JW to promise that “Just once a day, do something to express your affection” lol right after she ate the snow crabs peeled by an allergic JW ?? Throughout the scenes, JW was always the thoughtful n attentive one, why she can’t feel that? N before that, neither has she done the same in expressing her affection, that’s why she blew a kiss on JW before her promise request. LOL

  58. Old American Lady

    @2uke, that was one excellent comment. One would hope that the “relationship”would have some degree of reciprocity but you’ve shown, once again, how it is mainly one-sided. I once had a “friend” who viewed friendship as an exchange of services-HUGE RED FLAG. Shin/Lee has hoisted these red flags all along and some have been either, either/or unwilling or unable to see it.

    Our Jang Maggot is one big user. Will be interested to see when and wny her “friendship” with Minha ends. Given what we have seen, I believe that is inevitable.

    So far it appears that PaBo has been his gentlemanly self and confined his affection to kissing. My take on Jang Maggot is that she is a tease and would be more interested that his daily display of affection would be something material. My
    aforementioned”friend”/”frenemy”kept a number of men on the line who took her to expensive restaurants, top rated Broadway shows and bought her expensive gifts like designer handbags and jewelry. She used her female friends to borrow household appliances (she held my vacuum cleaner and iron hostage) and to borrow money, interest free, t h at she took a long time paying back. Our “friendship” ended when I told her I could no longer afford her.Jung Maggot reminds me of her. I think part of her interest in PaBo is that he’s her senior and the other is that he is reputed to be a chaebol. And Maggot is a good name for her, not because of her removal of maggots, but because she feeds off things.

    Personal note-In my youth I learned hard lessons about the nature of true friendships and toxic relationships. Those lessons did not come without pain. PaBo, of all of the fab 5, does not seem to have the same experience with the pain of unhappy relationships as his friends. To be honest, he is a novice (religious reference). I think this is purposeful by Shin/Lee. That’s why he will probably not get out of his infatuation with Jang/Maggot unscathed. So be brave FGers. It is just a matter of time. The season it occurs is anyone’s guess.

  59. Thanks @Old American Lady Yes! I thought Jang is a tease too lol n exactly as you said it she is only interested in Pabo becos he is senior and a chaebol. Whichever way the story goes, I just hope SHwa would not get hurt

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