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Gamechanger.
I think there are two gamechangers in this drama: the actors, Kim GoEun and Wi HaJoon. They’re the reason I’ve stuck with this drama although most of the time I’m “hate-watching” it. No matter how dumb Kim GoEun’s character is or how shady Wi HaJoon’s character is, it’s been a delight watching the actors perform.
Get that? We may despise the characters, but love the actors. I trust that the readers on this blog are smart enough to distinguish between the performers and their roles.
Gifs from kimgoeun’s tumblr
He said, “Gamechanger” but of course it wasn’t subbed because he said it in English.
I remember a drama site (starts with an “s” and ends with an “i”) where “bashing” a CHARACTER is not allowed. The conundrum is what constitutes “bashing.” In that site, a critical analysis is quickly branded as bashing whenever a group of fangirls (usually young and unaccustomed to debate) bellyache that their feelings are hurt and their oppa, idol, OTP and/or “ship” has been criticized. In response, the moderators — many of whom aren’t deep-thinkers themselves — will move to ban the poster and post to preserve the peace in the forum.
Never mind that in literary circles, critical analysis entails:
critiquing the characters,
finding character flaws,
holding up their values to the light,
comparing and contrasting personalities,
scrutinizing motives, and
judging their actions.
In that drama site, a poster has to tread carefully when holding up the characters to the light because he/she may be considered “bashing” the characters.
In this blog, it’s given that I bash and BITCH over characters.
There are characters that evoke a strong reaction from me, and I won’t hesitate to tell you why. For instance, I can’t watch “Othello” and not want to kick the titular character in his butt. His jealousy, insecurity and naivety made him too easy to manipulate by his enemy. I also can’t read “Gone With the Wind” and not want to wring Scarlett O’Hara’s neck. Frankly, my dear, she’s selfish to the core. I can’t watch “Little Women” and not feel bitter about Amy marrying Laurie, and Jo settling for that German professor. Jo was shortchanged of a happy ending while Amy didn’t deserve hers.
And I can’t watch this Korean adaptation of “Little Women” and not be exasperated with the stupidity of the sisters, especially InJoo. As I said before, they don’t require assistance from the Park family to ruin their lives because they’re doing a fine job of sabotaging their happiness on their own.
Oh well. Four more episodes still remain for their rehabilitation. Meanwhile, I’ll indulge in the guilty pleasure of ogling at the hotness that is Wi HaJoon.
Gifs from seawherethesunsets’ tumblr
Let’s enjoy the show!
@pkml3 although I’ve not watched Little Women and do not intend to start, I wanted to just say that I’m extremely grateful that over here we can critique the characters, point out character flaws, and hold up to the light their values.
What is the fun of watching if we cannot compare and contrast personalities/moments/actions, scrutinize motives, and judge anything or everything about a show. In the process we learn more about ourselves, about psychology and our amazing world.
For me, half the fun is analysing what we watch, and sharing thoughts with others. Thanks for this space to share, vent and just be.
🤓 😤 😫 😡 😳 🤔 🥱 😬 😒 😁
@ packmule3, Agree with you about watching the actors. I like WI Hajoon and recommend a rewatch of Romance is A Bonus Book where he is charming and intriguing.
He is the Second Male Lead in that drama. There is something quite attractive about him.. He is also a good actor.. Am also happy he isn’t a flower boy.
I am watching this show for two reasons:
1. Morbid curiosity
2. Orchids
I have never seen Wi Ha Joon in anything before, but now I want to check other dramas with him. Should I watch Squid Game?
Hello!
I am also staying in this drama because of KGE and the Wi Hajoon and just like @snowflower – the orchids. I’ve watched Squid Game quite late because I was just curious why is it that popular. I am not happy watching SG, all I know is that it’s about money and huge debt. Thanks to SG, I have discovered another actor Wi Hajoon. This actor is really pleasing to my eyes, most of his facial angles are different, very manly by sight and there is this unique confidence in him whenever he acts.
I’m not watching this, but thank you for the gifs, @packmule3. (cough, shallow island here)
It looks like there will be no geriatric romance for In Kyung, and that’s not a bad thing!
@SnowFlower Squid Game is filmed with maximum shock value. Hyperbole. It’s graphic and aimed to jolt the audience out of its apathy. I watched the first episode and then the final episode. My daughter binged it (and was taken on a roller coaster of emotions right through). It took the world by storm. Especially amongst the younger folk. I liked the message at the end. I really felt that the writer/PD had done their job in delivering what was needed…BUT due to the public acclaim, for some bizarre reason, they decided to do a second season. 😑 I think they should’ve just left it as is. I can’t see how they can possibly spin another worthwhile message from where they left off. I think because I only watched the 1st ep and then the final ep, I didn’t realize WHJ was in it. So for me, Little Women was the first time I laid eyes on him and watched him flex his acting chops. And it was impressive. I like that he uses the “less is more” approach to his acting. That walk into the room in the gifs above? You could tell that he was totally conscious that all eyes were on this power couple that just waltzed into the room. KGE was self conscious and awkward, but he strode in there like he belonged there. He swaggered, knowing full well heads were turning and then in one suave move, pulled out her chair for her, making sure everyone knew to look at IJ before he calmly took his seat beside her. I need to find time tonight to watch Ep9.
@nrllee, I have not read much about SG in order to avoid spoilers. I expect something with a dystopian vibe, a cross between The Long Walk and They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?
I agree that WHJ leaves a big impression with his “less is more” approach to acting. I like KGE’s acting too, although I want to scream at her character for doing stupid things.
@nrllee,
Thanks. I’ll repost your madcap and make it a separate thread with my commentary tonight. Entertaining guests today.
Spoiler for Ep 10
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Body Count in this episode
2
@packmule3 With that last death, I am starting to wonder if Ms Go (Mean Lady) will be the one to take out Mrs P? If Mr P was “disposed of” by Mrs P or driven to suicide by her, I think Ms Go wouldn’t let it slide. She’s extremely devoted to Mr P. She seems more excited with the poll results that he is? And she has a known violent streak. She doesn’t seem to like Mrs P all that much either. It wouldn’t surprise me if she ends up being the one to “end it” for Mrs P. Nobody really cares much for Ms Go. If 2 baddies/meanies end up finishing each other off, the audience isn’t left with a moral dilemma to grapple with.
I posted a similar thought on the Nrllee ep 9 Recap – tongue in cheek – the two evil women end up killing each other in some bizarre makjang way. Mean Lady is one person that Mrs P hasn’t put into her manipulations and Mrs P may have underestimated Mean Lady’s attachment to her husband because she is so narcissistic.
@Fern, We have great women villains hete.. it would be great fun to see them kill each other. I will admit that I like a good makjang to watch in the midst of quality viewing. I have also watched my fair share of soap operas. While growing up in New York, my senior year high school English teacher brought his friend, the lead actor in the soap opera, Another world to perform Shakespeare for us. I was so happy and spent the period blushing. Lesson learned, actors have to work. The soap opera actors were also theater actors and damned good at that. It is unfortunate that so many never get the chance to show their talents or gain fame. So when we get good actors and material that isn’t up to their t strengths it is fun to see how they elevate what they’re given. Our leads are making the best of what they have, although I think the director is getting in their way.
Apart from this, I think Mrs.P and the henchman have fun roles. I still am having trouble thinking Mr. P offer himself. It seems to be out of character, although I can also believe, Mrs. P, the power behind the throne(red herring) may have drugged and pushed him.
If this is a makjang, as a frequent visitor to Shallow Island, pretty please give us a kiss scene with KGE and WI Ha Joon. I want KGE to add to her list of hot men with whom she’s shared screen kisses. She has had enough adjusting time, so it is nice to see her with actors closer to her age before she ends up in noona dramas.
@Fern @OAL yes to the kiss and yes to the 2 evil women killing each other. Very melodramatic and artsy. Thing is though, if it was Mrs P, why would she knock Mr P off? The polls have him in the lead despite all the videos? Unless it was all part of the grand plan and Mr P was prepared to “die for the cause”? And Mrs P steps into the role of running for Seoul President? The grieving widow sympathy vote? Or is it the old man that was featured in Ep10 who killed him – the camera kept panning on him as the videos were played? The one who is supposedly Gen Won’s greatest supporter? Who was “gifted” a singular blue orchid? Why wasn’t his orchid grafted onto the Father Tree? 🤔. Then it would really be “Et Tu Brute”. 😂
@nrllee, I also wondered why he ‘killed himself’ if he was in the lead in the polls. –Even if it was a narrower lead than he wished. It seemed that Mrs P indicated that it was part of an agreement and he had failed somehow? She certainly didn’t act grieved or even mildly dismayed. I was waiting for IK in the newsroom after watching the suicide video to say, “But hasn’t he won the election? Why would he kill himself? Has some other information come out?”
Regarding the amazing, deluded gullibility of voting supporters, we’ve seen this repeatedly in rl world politics. Here I was left to wonder what use is an actual video or photographic evidence if someone can always say it was fabricated and people would believe it? Could such a video be fabricated? Maybe, if someone is that skilled at special effects. Your idea of the grieving widow running for office is really good.
Ummm, wouldn’t there be immediate blood tests to help determine contributing factors to suicide and a mandatory autopsy or is that too much like real life? Wouldn’t it show the presence of the blue drug? Why does Mrs P seem to favour roof-top suicides? Surely it would be hard to drag or carry a semi-conscious person up to the roof without attracting some attention?
Regarding the video by the priest as he’s being killed, it reminded me of a rl political murder where the victim had supposedly taken the precaution of setting his smart watch to record. I don’t know the ins and outs of how the recording was transmitted, but it was made public so it’s not impossible.