As kisses go, I thought there was nothing exceptional about the technique of their first kiss.

source: junghaesin’s tumblr

In truth, when I watched the behind-the-scene clip, I smiled at the actors fine-tuning their kiss because of a couple of mishaps. Ha Ram would slide down when he turned to face CheongKi for their kiss. The riverbank had a steep slope, and the material of his hanbok was probably too silky. lol. Also, his gat got in the way. Either the brim of the gat bumped her as he leaned in for the kiss or the beads of the gat covered their kiss.

But I understood why @Cleopatra was very enthusiastic about this episode. She mentioned the mirror scene.

Also, the mirror scene where the adults HaRam and Cheon Gi said the exact lines in reverse in comparison with the children’s one, was beautiful filmed and executed.

I agree. The mirroring was the primary reason the kiss worked for me, although it lacked the usual torrid passion I’m used to in Hollywood films. It was a great kiss because even before the lips connected, their minds were already attuned to each other.

Ha Ram overheard the Annoying One and Long Face talk about CheongKi. She’d gone missing.

Long Face: Did she sink into the ground or rise to the sky? Where did she go?
Annoying One: CheongGi needs to talk to our master or she won’t get to enter tomorrow’s round.
Long Face: (sighing) The tiny thing must feel so frustrated. I’m her friend and just watching makes me feel sorry for her.
Annoying One: Be quiet and follow me.
Long Face: I don’t care. I’ll drink myself to death tonight.

From this conversation, I get that Ha Ram wasn’t originally planning on contacting CheongKi that night. His mind had been focused on his revenge scheme. He just ordered his bodyguard to deliver the communication they’d intercepted to the Prince2. But upon hearing that CheongKi had gone hiding because she was upset about the competition, he spurred into action. It was striking that her friends had given up searching for her, but he was determined to find her and see if she was okay.

Didn’t I tell you that I find the cane adornment interesting?

I don’t know how much of CheungKi’s monologue he overheard but he wasn’t pleased that she was giving up on her dream easily.

CK: The prince knows I copy paintings and is angry with me. Master Choi keeps yelling at me because he thinks I’ll become like my dad if I become famous. But if I quit the contest what about my dad’s medicine? No matter how hard I think about this, I need to win this contest.
Ram: If that’s what you decided, shouldn’t you just do as you please? Just do as you please. Why are you moping here? That’s not like you.

CK: That’s easy to say. It’s not easy to do.
Ram: Then will you live like this forever? Swayed by a reed by whatever other people say? Considering yourself a reed?
CK: (protesting) Sir!

To me, Ram spoke out of turn. He had no right to say such things especially when he supposedly didn’t know much about her. But his remark revealed a bit of his personality to us. He was strong-willed and determined. He wasn’t easily swayed by other people’s opinions once he made up his mind.

CK: (continuing) Never mind. I should get going.
Ram: I’m disappointed. You bet your future and life-long wish and you give up like this?
CK: (indignant) What do you know about me to say this? I just…entered this contest to win to be able to afford medicine for my sick dad. This time, I didn’t want to burden my master and my friends, the Baekyu painters, who took in my father and me. I didn’t want to ask for help again. I entered this contest to make it on my own. My master wants me to give up. The prince said he’s ashamed of me. What am I to do? If you were me, what would you do?

I don’t know if she could hear herself, but she sounded just like she did 19 years ago. Back then, she bewailed that people called her a cursed child because her mother died at childbirth, she was born blind, and her father was mentally ill. He was about to ask her why she was crying about it, but she retorted that he knew nothing.

However, back then, her complaints had a touch of self-pity to it. This time, however, her complaints sounded defensive.

Ram: I don’t know. But what happened to you is out of our control. It’s not your fault. Or rather don’t blame yourself over what wasn’t your fault.

I like that Ram didn’t pretend to know the right answer. This showed humility. He repeated what he said before. He said he was only certain of one thing: that none of these were her fault.

His words were reassuring on three levels.

First, her misfortunes didn’t define her. Since they weren’t her fault, she was free to choose how to react to the situation. She wasn’t obligated to rectify or atone for her misfortunes.

Second, he spoke the words that Samshin would have wanted CheongKi to hear. CheongKi wasn’t at fault because the “gods” were using her to effect change and capture Mawang. If Samshin could comfort her, she would have CheongKi to know that she wasn’t cursed, but favored by the “gods.”

And third, his words confirmed his identity to CheongKi. With those words, she recognized him as the boy she met a long time ago.

Then, he asked her to go riding with him. Of course, this was symbolic; they were going on a trip down memory lane. We also now that they were reenacting the piggyback ride, except that he didn’t have to carry her on his back since they had his horse at their disposal.

She was curious to know why he came to the stables this late at night. He replied that he went to see the horse. He didn’t want to reveal that he went out to look for her because he was worried when she went missing.

CK: Is that really true?
Ram: Why do you ask?
CK: Because I’m happy. I’m happy I got to see you again.

There’s a double meaning. On the surface, she meant that she was happy to see him again after they took leave of each at the start of the competition. But secretly, she meant that she was happy to have found him after 19 years.

Once they reached their destination, she was surprised.

Although she couldn’t be 100% sure, she sensed that they were back at the same place they were 19 years ago. If she could, she would have voiced out the thought running through her head. She was missing him all these years because she hadn’t forgotten him.

She must have wanted to find out if he’d missed her too because she asked him if he visited that place often.

CK: By any chance, do you come here often?
Ram: SoMa sometimes comes here to take a rest. I’m not so sure where we are. Why do you ask?
CK: There was this boy whom I met 20 years ago. This is a place where I made memories with him.
Ram: Is there a reason why you couldn’t forget him?
CK: It’s perhaps because of those stars.

lol. She was segueing to their stars conversation. I thought it was funny that she persisted, despite Ram’s attempt to stop her from reminiscing about their first encounter. He “blamed” his horse for bringing them to that very same spot; he denied knowing exactly where they were.

Ram: Those stars in the sky?
CK: Yes. Those stars in the sky. There are quite many of them today. (glancing at him) I see the Big Dipper, too.
Ram: How many…stars are there?

CK: About… About one hundred million?

Ram: How many is one hundred million?
CK: Lots and lots.

I don’t really think she asked, “Ha Ram. It’s you, isn’t it?” to hear his answer. She said it to make sure that he knew that she knew who he was. 🙂

Like @Cleopatra said the mirroring was “beautifully filmed and executed.” I also liked it that in both instances, it was CheungKi who took the initiative. She was the one who reached out and touched him first. She wasn’t fearful with him.

As for the touch here,

and the touch here,

we  know what this meant. Right? This is akin to the “brush stroke” of a painter.

It means a single stroke is all it takes. It also means you cannot undo what you have drawn. When you can put your energy, will, and virtue into one stroke, that is when your painting will show life.

Obviously, painting here doesn’t simply mean the things drawn on paper, but images, memories, thoughts and feelings drawn on a person’s very soul.

So why do I think the mirroring and flashback enhanced the kissing scene? For a couple of reasons:

For one, it sounded like Ha Ram and CheongKi were exchanging vows in a wedding ceremony. There’s a solemnity to their act of saying the exact words they said to each other almost two decades ago which echoes the solemnity found in the marital vows.

For another, remembering the words meant that the moment 19 years ago was imprinted on their hearts. Neither of them expected the other to dwell upon their first meeting, but the fact that they did indicated that their fates were intertwined from that time on.

Some viewers complained about the use of flashbacks in this drama. But in my opinion, the flashbacks in this particular scene were carefully curated to allow the viewers to connect with the characters and to imagine the emotions running deep — without bosoms being exposed and groped, or a single drop of saliva exchanged. lol.

I say, great effort! The director impressed me.

gifs from belmultifandommess’ tumblr

source: belmultinadommess’ tumbrl