It’s another good episode, @nrllee.
Episode Title: Don’t be defeated, not by fate nor loneliness
1. In the beginning, I thought the story was going to revolve around the genius artist, Shin Dae Ryuk (SDR). He got in trouble because he followed one of his subjects for his drawing too closely. He creeped out the girl and the boyfriend beat him up.
Ma Eum took him to task for forgetting that people (and their comfort) are also important because of his tunnel-vision for his craft. In Ma Eum’s words, “Yes, your cartoon is important. But it’s not as valuable as people.” Interestingly, they were walking through a tunnel as Ma Eum read him the riot act.
She was so frustrated with him that she walked away and that’s when SDR called out to her and revealed his brand of “god complex.”
SDR: Don’t abandon me! PD, you’re…a god…to me.
Ma Eum: (stunned)
SDR: People don’t like me. They didn’t like my cartoon, either. But you’re the only one who said I’m fine just the way I am. Saying that I’m also valuable. You believe in me.
Ma Eum: Artist Shin, I just…
SDR: I’ll never do anything you tell me not to do. I won’t do things you dislike. So…please don’t discard me. (crying) I’m sorry.
I found this interesting, @nrllee, because in “Alchemy of Souls,” the male lead also has an abandonment issue and clings to the heroine. Not only that. When it comes to his personal advancement in wizardry, he does everything that she commands him to because he regards her as his “Master” and he’s her “pupil.” I guess, the big difference here between Uk (the male lead in AoS) begging not to be abandoned, and Shin Dae Ryuk’s pathetic plea is perspective. Uk is the main character while SDR isn’t.
2. Ostensibly, the title refers to another cartoon artist and his daughter.
This artist Ma Hae Gyu used to be a big-name artist, but he’s fallen on hard times and is now a recluse. The Team Leader, Jang Man Chul, wants a remake of his most famous work, “Please, Time Machine,” so he asks Mr. Ma’s permission to publish it as a webtoon. But Mr. Ma refuses. He insists that comics be read on paper. This is unfortunate because Mr. Ma could use the money.
Mr. Ma lives with his teenaged daughter who calls him trash. She thinks he’s worthless because a) he’s still hung up on his past glory and b) she blames him for her mother’s death. She died, struggling to support their family.
It’s seeing her mother’s hardship to revive his career that she resents most of all. So, once her mother passed away, she threw out all her father’s work.
She continues to speak fondly of her mother and keeps her photograph and favorite quote on her phone.
Since Viki didn’t translate it, I went on Papago to translate her mother’s favorite saying. It goes like this,
“The happy moments of the past
a remembered fragment”
Ma Eum instantly recognizes that line from her father’s famous cartoon. She quotes it in full, “With one fragment of happy memories from the past, a person could be satisfied for the rest of his life. So for your future, I wish you a little bit more of happiness today.”
As the title suggests, the mother didn’t want her daughter to feel defeated, so she tried every day to come up with one good event for her daughter, even if it was a trivial thing.
I think that’s when the daughter made two important discoveries. She realizes that her mother didn’t view her struggles – or sacrifice to support her genius husband – as a burden. And she also realizes that her father’s work was a source of inspiration and wisdom for her mother.
As for the father, our heroine Ma Eum makes him realize that his important masterpiece is not his cartoon but his daughter. This is a rehash of what she told artist Shin Dae Ryuk in the tunnel.
The confrontation scene between Mr. Ma and his daughter is a good one. Although I pretty much spoiled the episode for you, @nrllee, I won’t spoil this scene. 🙂
Of course, I find it a bit unbelievable that she’s able to say all those angry words without getting smacked or belted for showing disrespect to her elder and lacking “filial piety.” But I’m glad that she told him a few home truths.
3. But the title can also apply (or be misapplied) to Ma Eum’s relationship with her dad.
I guess for other people, it’s a good thing that they don’t allow fate or loneliness to defeat them. But in the case of Ma Eum’s dad, it’s actually a BAD thing that he refuses to concede defeat. He continues to expect Ma Eum to return to wrestling, much to her distress. He firmly believes that one day, she’ll thank him for not giving up on her so quickly.
Oh dear.
4. Last, the title can also refer to Goo Jun Yeong’s growing feelings for Ma Eum.
Although I said before that Daniel Choi’s character is the OTP for Ma Eum, in this episode, it’s hard not to be swayed by Goo Joon Young’s steadfastness.
In this episode, he accompanies her to the perfume store to help her pick a gift for her dad, and then he walks her to her father’s dojo (or wrestling studio).
MaEum: Thanks for coming here with me. I feel a bit more courageous.
JunYeong: So you do get afraid, too.
MaEum: Of course, I get afraid. But I still go for it.
JunYeong: Convey your ma-eum to him.
MaEum: Okay.
It’s a word play on her name. According to Viki, “ma-eum” means heart. So, all this time, her name means heart?!
But he hangs back to watch over her and witnesses her sadness when her father wouldn’t accept her gift. Later, as she puts the gift away, he appears out of nowhere.
JunYeong: Can you give that to me?
MaEum: (surprised) How did you get here, JunYeong?
JunYeong: (sitting down beside her) That gift. Give it to me.
MaEum: (stares at him)
Lol. This must be one of the most awkward love revelations I’ve seen in kdrama. I know the writer and director have been building up the romance since that “mirroring” scene at the table in Episode 8.
Edited 9/10/2022 to add the gifs from kdramashii’s tumblr
But it’s hard to believe they’re the endgame because from all appearances, MaEum has friend-zoned him. I’ll feel sorry for this guy because, he really did change his attitude after he got to know and like her. But I hope if he gets rejected, he isn’t going to do anything stupid like sabotage the webtoon team or give a damaging report to the Big Boss.
I’m looking forward to see MaEum’s response. I wonder whether she’ll view his request as a love confession or just his way of encouraging her, so she doesn’t feel defeated by her father’s obstinance.
As for Daniel Choi’s character, all I can report about his romantic pursuit is he doesn’t look excited when their Team Leader assigned MaEum and JunYeong as his two assistants to help him with recruiting Mr. Ma back as webtoon artist.
The Team Leader even gives the couple a name: PD On-Gu.
Also, when MaEum and JunYeong congratulate each other for the successful launch of their artists’ webtoon, he observes them sadly? Gloomily? I really can’t tell with this actor’s facial expression.
I’m relieved that there’s no Team Daniel Choi vs Team Goo Joon Young shipping war going on in this drama like it did in “Start Up.” It’s probably because a) Daniel Choi’s character is so bland that it’s hard to root for him, b) Ma Eum treats everybody equally like he (or she) is the apple of her eyes, and c) I’m having fun learning about the behind-the-scene process of developing webtoons.
Let’s enjoy the show.
@Packmule3, I loved what Oh Ma Eum said to her father before giving him her gift. Her recognition of her father’s steadfast role and hard work as head of their household is priceless. He did listen to her in some measure, because he remarked that she’d matured. But he only heard the parts he wanted to hear. It is sad he believes he’d be giving up on her if he stopped pushing her in her judo career. Giving up? He’s only accepting as valid his version of his daughter, not the person she has become with his help.
Thanks @pkml3. I waded with difficulty into Episodes 7-9 to get here. I agree with what you said in the other post. This show is much more heavy going than expected. However, Episode 9 was better than 7 and 8 which I felt tired me out.
I do like human interest stories, therefore what happened to Assistant Artist Im, Artist Sin and Artist Ma was quite riveting.
I wonder how Artist Sin is going to find or make balance in his life. He really should not take his drawings as his identity. He’ll end up like Artist Ma who felt he was nobody without his drawings.
Yes, it was wise that Im Dong Hee knew finally when to call it quits and I wish OME’s dad knew as well. Like I mentioned before, it’s very hard for coaches to ‘give up’ on someone with talent. They feel that they are being remiss in their job, if they don’t push or encourage. I trust it won’t take too many months (and not 10 years!) for dad to accept OME’s decision.
Oh, I’m so sorry, @Welmaris. I forgot that you were watching this show with me and @nrllee.
I think the father needs to see MaEum at work with the writers.
I can understand why he wants her to give judo one final shot. She’s great at it. And the timing’s perfect for her to try out for Olympic team.
But if he could only see how she shines at being PD, maybe he would see what this new world fits her better. Judo is pretty much an individual sports, and she’s a people-person. To win at an individual sport entails a lonely journey, but she’s the type to thrive on company, friendship, camaraderie. And beating other people isn’t her. She’s a born helper, cheerleader, and giver.
@GB,
I too liked Artist Im’s story — was it in Episode 7?
Yes. Just checked. It was Episode 7, Title: You’re just like my long running dream.
He had a long running dream and it was time to let go. But maybe he’ll go on a new direction. He was taking pictures when MaEum chanced upon him that morning. He might not become a cartoonist but he could find that photography is his ticket.
I must add —
It’s also NOT a good thing for a parent to coach his/her child. I’m speaking from experience.
My husband coached my sons’ sports teams only until they were in 4th? 5th? grade. Soccer, flag football, Little League, swimming, basketball, tennis, golf. Name the sports, and he most likely volunteered to be coach, team dad, team driver, or something.
By the time the boys were in middle school, he was hands off, and we became mere spectators on the bench.
I also had to impose a strict “NO COACHING from the bench” rule so the actual coaches can do their job without parents overruling them. I’ve seen so many kids (my brothers’ for instance) get confused and conflicted when their dads tell them to do one thing and their coaches another.
My hubby’s generally a calm person but sports is his thing. He’s super-competitive.
@pkml3, for a person who’s super competitive, it’s admirable then, that your husband agreed to move to hands-off position with your boys.
Even in the area of ‘teaching’, I find it better if parents are not present or the ones assisting/teaching. Parents tend to be impatient with their own children more than with other people’s. We have kids constantly doing stuff to get approval from their parents, or looking to them for permission before doing something or being jealous if their parents pay attention to another kid. Most of the time we manage to keep parents out, but some parents are catechists … and there’s no one else to stand in for the session, so…
@Packmule3, no offense imagined, much less taken. I’m currently watching too many shows at once, which makes it difficult to dive deeply into any one of them. My hubby is traveling a lot on business these days (as he did before the pandemic), so I’m alone most of the time; I can watch dramas as long and as late as I like.
@packmule3 I thought in “KDrama speak” this is what seals the deal when it comes to pairing? 😂
https://i.ibb.co/zZ6NfTq/5366007-F-524-F-4-C03-87-DD-0-B6847820444.jpg
As for that scene when Daniel Choi looks at the rookies congratulating each other, initially I did think it was jealousy. This actor makes me guess so I am not particularly enthused about his facial expressions. But when you follow the camera, you see the camera panning over ALL the employees and the boss (as if he’s looking at everyone in the room, not just the pair of them). So he’s supposed to be wistful about leaving them ALL, not specifically jealous about the pairing. And yes I am relieved that there’s no big fighting over the girl.
If nothing at all, I think the pairing is between the rookie pair (Goo and ME) and Daniel Choi and his boss (?). They keep having trysts in the storage room. 😂 And they dine out together often. Brothers in arms. And that’s why I thought the last scene has the cliffhangers between the 2 pairings.
https://i.ibb.co/6JJkDkd/DEB675-E2-4484-4675-A7-A7-7-A20-BA066-A7-D.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/j84Nw7Z/30862269-40-A3-44-CB-96-A0-DA9-F35-ABC8-F8.jpg
I actually liked how Goo none so subtly expressed his liking of ME by requesting that she gift him the cologne (?) that was supposed to be for her dad (which he turned down). Let me be the man in your life? That’s how I interpreted his request. 😂
@nrllee Nice assessment of the relationships.
LOL the men and their trysts. Yes to the tension between the pairings. Which will get together and which will part ways? I’m veering more towards Daniel’s character deciding to be loyal to his friend and boss.
I have seen no romantic interest in OME for anyone so far. I wish show would just leave her happily single.
Still no clue about how poor, traumatised Sin will be helped to heal. Just having his webtoon becoming popular does not really help him personally, except maybe contributes to his sense of being acknowledged.
Show is having a hard time convincing me of any romance. But it does well with the human interest stories that have OME stepping up to help in any way she can.
@GB I agree about the romance angle for OME. I see the interest from Goo but nothing from her end 😂. She just treats him like a good friend. But I said before that I don’t actually mind if she stays single by the end of Ep16. She seems happy and fulfilled. Always willing to lend a helping hand to those around her. I credit her supportive family for that. Even dad who is yet to come round when it comes to her quitting judo. I like that they can talk. They have differences but they keep talking. And the relationship stays solid in spite of their differences. They can agree to disagree.
SDL needs professional help. I can understand why he would need to go around using real people to draw but the way he goes about it is creepy. Couldn’t he watch TV or something instead? And base his character and their expressions from the people on screen? Instead of stalking people? 🤷🏻♀️ I guess for him ME is the mother figure that he never had. I get the feeling his morbid fear of women touching him (and relating to him) has something to do with his mother abusing him when he was young?
Lastly, I noticed that the other older lady in the webtoon team wrote a message to someone who passed on the same day that Goo wished his sister happy birthday. She must know his sister somehow. Was Goo’s sister also an aspiring webtoon artist? Or a classmate?
I will watch Ep10 now.
😂 Yes, @nrllee, Goo was irresistible when he asked for that cologne. Irresistible because I didn’t think MaEum would have the heart to turn that request. Irresistible because I like guys who’d throw caution to the wind, and just plunge in.
For a guy who’s good at data analyses, he didn’t care about risk management.
The ramen scene was cute, too. How did he end up there? I want to shake MaEum because she’s not reading the signs that he likes her. It’s just like what he told her when they had the lunch with the artists in an earlier room. Goo had to pull her out before she put her foot in her mouth. — wait, I’ll write more about this.
If you ask me, the reason I like Goo for MaEum more than I like Daniel Choi’s character for her, it’s because Goo actually takes the time to get to KNOW her while Daniel Choi’s character still sees her like a bright, amusing, and precocious niece.
Goo sees her as a human being with all her cuteness, her flaws, her baggage, her struggles, her courage. Meanwhile, Daniel Cho’s character treats her like an ideal, and inspirational goodness. Lol. I’ve to write more in Ep 10.
Ooh Ep 10. I like the metaphors for what it means to be a full fledged PD.
And we get a twist or two. Well I expected 1 and not the other.
Otherwise the show seems to be rather heavy going still. I’m looking for something lighter to balance it out.
I like Goo. He wasn’t daunted by ME’s “brawn”. He has a scrawny frame and puny arms 😂. He just worked with his strengths instead. His ability to read the room. His business acumen. He was willing to learn. I like that he has a tendency to pause (and think) before he jumps into things. Thank goodness he didn’t succumb to lame pick up lines like “you’re pretty”. I think he was contemplating texting that to her in one scene in Ep9? After Weapon Feeb was a roaring success.
There’s something creepy about Pomme’s male assistant artist? Who is now drawing in her apartment with the other female assistant artist? Could he be the one who is stalking her and watching her with cameras? He crushed Goo’s business card and had daggers in his eyes when he was looking at Goo.
Ep10 answered the mystery surrounding Goo’s sister. And his dysfunctional extended family. So he looks like he’s got money (lives in that expensive home) but in reality he’s got a debt to pay off (due to his Uncle). Will this revelation about Jang (the chief editor at Neon) tip Goo over to the dark side? He seems to be dodging the issue for a while now.