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An evocative study of individuality and amendment of loss through a queer lens

Pensively crafted and heartbreakingly depthful, "So Long, See You Tomorrow" offers a devastatingly honest reflection on reconciliation, identity and self-acceptance. The cinematography used to capture its interpretative scenes frames the depths of regret, offering an exposition of adulthood and looking back on everything that slips through our fingers. With numerous references to modern-day art, it draws inspiration from significant works in the literary world—notably "So Long, See You Tomorrow" by William Maxwell, "Giovanni’s Room" by James Baldwin, and "When I Think About Myself" by Maya Angelou. It recycles familiar themes that encircle human life, presenting them with a sci-fiesque touch that brings a sense of peculiarity and deep introspection to the ordinary life of the man explored.

The movie adapts a melancholic vibe from the start, presenting the main character’s teenage years through a gloomy atmosphere and embracing them with a nostalgic touch. Stained by the sorrow of tragic events, he is introduced in a way that evokes heartache and sympathy from viewers—he suffers from bullying, loses his Mom, and has a severed relationship with his Father. In a world of grays and sombre colours, the only rays of light that bathe his days in warmth come from the comfort his best friend provides him amidst his struggles. Rebellious and hopeful, Kang Hyun’s words show great contrast to Dong Joon’s, who longs to step out of his comfort zone and self-improve.

Kang Hyun’s goal to live as if always walking on a tightrope on the edge of life without fear of falling suggests a certain desire for recklessness and risk-taking. The hopefulness he emits embed their shared scenes with an optimistic feeling. "I like the idea of parallel universes. It feels dangerous somehow…like the man in the rope photo…" While it may seem as though Kang Hyun is more grounded because Dong Joon is the one who dreams of parallel universes, both are just as unhappy with their lives and have greatly flawed mindsets that bind them to future suffering. His friend is the one who ends up suffering the first great fall because of the amount of hope he had in the world that so quickly let him down. When combined with the rebellious outlook he adopted in a life where he vowed to always "live on the edge," this disillusionment he created quickly broke and fell to pieces. The delicate cinematography foreshadows this downfall of his through a particular scene; a tribute to the importancy that the camera holds on the frames where it chooses to linger.

The start of the movie, where the main character’s teenage years are showcased, branches off into multiple versions, starring him 20 years later in three parallel timelines. The film cleverly differentiates them from each other by changing the setting—from Daegu to Seoul, and lastly Busan. In each timeline, he meets new people who help him reflect on himself through different circumstances and makes realizations that contribute to his journey of affirming his identity while coming to terms with past regrets. Rather than the hardships he faces—whether it be past or present—what changes is his perspective and the way he goes about his life. Each version is built upon his younger self, with each experiencing the loss of touch with a friend due to not going after him. And yet, they all result in such different outcomes depending on his mindset and how he chooses to perceive his past and his own self.

In the first, Dong Joon is consumed by regret, marinating in it. His situation is devoid of hope; he is at a low he believes is the lowest. He mentally isolates himself from the rest of the world, shielding away from all means of contact that would reveal his true self, letting his fear of vulnerability deprive him of happiness. With an addiction to drinking, he is slowly rotting away, and his mental state reflects the deteriorating soul of a person suffocating from depression. He experiences no joy and has a distant look in his eyes, only bathing in old memories. The scenes that follow his uncertain entrance into Giovanni's gay bar—where he claims to have accidentally wandered in when questioned—showcase his efforts in hiding his sexuality. Through his eventual meetup with the online date he was supposed to meet there, viewers are shown the angry and untrusting side of him. His fury in becoming vulnerable and falling for what he perceived as a cruel trick disguised as love in the context of his failed meet-up mirrors the inner turmoil he has regarding his one-sided feelings for his first love.

In opposition to the first arc, the second presents a version of Dong Joon who looks ahead and focuses on his future rather than looking back, staying trapped in the past. Dealing with themes of self-awareness, it uses Maya Angelous’ poem "When I Think About Myself" to convey its message across. This piece of writing uses irony to cover various themes, such as self-awareness and the use of laughter as a way of covering deeper struggles. "I almost laugh myself to death. My life has been one great big joke. A dance that's walked, a song that's spoke. I laugh so hard I almost choke when I think about myself," is the passage most relevant to the film. Its author focuses on juxtaposition between what is expressed and innerly felt, using laughter to mask the pain—mirroring Dong Joon’s avoidance of his past. Unlike the first and last arc, there are no flashbacks to his past or his first love.

Confident, outgoing, social, more accepting of his queerness, and having been on the exchange trip he regretted not taking in the precedent arc, he may come off as more happy. However, the reality is that he is shielding his past away as if forgetting it. In fact, the only time we see a scene from his younger self with his past lover is at the very end, when transitioning into the final arc, but his past trauma is otherwise completely ignored. He has equally completely given up on the idea of parallel timelines, no longer wishing something magical would happen that would make him be him in another world. A strong clip to show this aversion to magic would be when he gets upset when David Copperfield is mentioned among his group and he strictly says that he wasn’t referring to the magician, but instead the one who is the protagonist of "David Copperfield", a novel about the every-day life of an orphan in the late eighteen-hundreds written by Charles Dickens.

In contrast to the first arc, where he attempts to detach himself from his true self using the idea of parallel universes, he is introduced to this concept much differently in the second. Instead of searching to become a different person himself, he bears witness to all the possibilities his life holds, manifesting themselves through those around him. For instance, the tables are turned: instead of being the one who wishes to have studied abroad like in the first, he now meets someone who boasts to him about how lucky he was to have had that experience. In a way, conversing with this particular student was as if he were talking to himself from the first arc—he has a daughter with the same name as Dong Joon’s niece in the precedent arc but struggles to find time to spend with her, just as he did, and he has also someone he's thankful but also sorry for, telling Dong Joon the following; "If I meet her again, i'd like to thank her instead of apologizing. You've once met someone like that too, right? Someone that you’re thankful for, but sorry to…"

The last arc explores the theme of acceptance—acceptance of the present day through Dong Joon’s son, and of the past through his first love. Viewers see him acknowledge his pain and come to terms with his regret. While he used to always wish he had stepped out of his comfort zone, the third arc sees him make the realization that balance is what’s most important. He shows his commitment to becoming an improved version of himself through his devotion to being a better father for his child, visiting his son in prison. This draws parallels to his past lover, whom he had last seen getting taken away by a police car, and who he regretted never making the effort of going after—even if they weren’t taken away for the same reason, they found themselves in similar circumstances. In fact, he reminisced about his past lover on his way to the police station. When he spoke to his son, insisting "it wasn’t a mistake," as if also referring to his love for his friend, his son told him he wanted to write about their father-son relationship.

The scene then cuts to Dong Joon visiting Kang Hyun, now older, who had written about their lost friendship after being inspired by "So Long, See You Tomorrow," a book that tells the story of two friends who could never reunite after having been abruptly separated when one shunned the other. Dong Joon meets Kang Hyun during his presentation of his book "Every Maybe is Pain," suggesting it is inspired by their story—just like how every "maybe" in his life is due to that regretful incident where he never made the effort to stay by Kang Hyun’s side. Instead of doing nothing but bathe in his memories as he does in the first arc, or choosing to completely ignore them in the second, he remembers a certain moment in the third—the most powerful one of all: their first kiss, which was the most painful as it was his happiest moment.

Both polar opposites, neither of the first two versions of himself achieved their happy ending on their own. In the third arc, Dong Joon comes to the realization that one must find a balance between all facets of oneself to avoid falling. Only after reaching this conclusion did he see both of his other selves from the previous arcs smile. "When I couldn’t hold it in anymore, I went up to a high place. I rebelled like he did—I rebelled against the tedium of daily life as if walking on a tightrope. (But) you’re going to fall, Dong-Joon. No. I just need to balance myself once, and I’ll be safe forever…" When they were young, people only regarded Kang Hyun’s mindset of living life as if always on a tightrope—inspired by how Philipe Petit achieved his dream of walking on a tightrope between the Twin Towers—as something that symbolized living on edge without fear. Once Dong Joon grew older, he realized the most important message underscored in this act: it was the balance that made Philippe Petit become that best version of himself and achieve his dream.

In the end, each version adapts through what he learned, and they come together to create one facet. He decides that he likes the idea of parallel universes and other timelines existing because he enjoys thinking that, in each one of them, there is another good teacher and father like him, going about his day and taking care of his son and students. He writes to his dad the following: "Think about it. It'll make you feel good." He no longer perceives this concept as a form of escapism as he did in the first arc, nor doesn’t he completely ignore the idea of parallel universes like in the second. Instead, he now uses it to reinforce his confidence and express his love and confidence in himself. No matter the outcome, he always had the same core memories and was put in the same position—all that changed was the outlook he had and how he chose to face life’s hurdles. With powerful acting performance, intricately woven storylines, and serene music, the movie conveys its message with great impact. If one is unhappy with oneself, they should strive to change the way they live and focus on what they do have control over.

The story ends beautifully, with Dong Joon returning to the childhood moment that started it all. However, he runs back as an adult, carrying the realizations and the acceptance that he likes him and wants to follow him. Their meeting, after he reaches the police car, shifts to them as adults—Dong Joon having gone after him with his new lessons learned. It is revealed that Kang Hyun had assured Dong Joon he would see him tomorrow before his eventual departure abroad, showing that both are to blame for their painful parting. A decade later, once they have both read the book "So Long, See You Tomorrow" in the time it took them to process and accept their separation, they reunite. Seeing each other again was like the day’s sun after a long and dark night, both matured and having found their own selves first. Even though it took time, it was the tomorrow they had promised to spend together. "It was as if we just bid each other farewell last night." In each arc; there was unavoidable pain faced by Dong Joon: his mother and his sister’s death. Despite their heartbreaking departure, the one person he felt truly stayed with him, when he felt everyone was abandoning him, was his first love, who shaped him into who he was and whose memory never left his side whether it be through smiles or tears. "No matter the parallel universe, he’d always be there. He is my universe."

2025-03-04

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An ending and new beginning: the final piece to the trilogy of a touching romance between flawed men

‘My Beautiful Man’, or ‘Utsukushii Kare’, is a heavy series that requires deep analysis and empathy to understand the characters’ motives and emotional complexities. Its delicacy in poetic lines brings depth to the leads’ narrations and the beautiful cinematography touches scenes of intimacy with a serene taste of true love. This fragility, combined with the leads’ fiery romance, creates a very intricate yet powerful watch. The plot worked in unison with the characters to bring out their flaws, and doesn’t portray them as bad traits that serve no other purpose other than weakening. Instead, their vulnerability became their source of strength, fueling their chase for each other’s heart and intensifying the push and pull of their attraction.

Two teenagers—whose childhood traumas have distorted their perception of love, and whose lives thrive to satisfy their selfish desires—fall in love. Kyoyi, a famous idol and model, wants to be hidden from someone’s eyes for the first time. Because of his loneliness, he has always wanted to be the center of attention, and wishes to find a space for himself in someone’s world. Through the lens of his camera, Hira, an aspiring photographer, wishes to capture his newfound beauty in life. Kyoyi is the first person he lets into his world, but he keeps putting up walls between them, only wanting to admire him from a distance. Even so, the passion in Hira’s gaze ignites something within Kyoyi: the desire for their bond to transcend the camera that separates them; the desire to truly be discovered instead of just admired.

Their compassionate love for each other goes beyond the surface, and their realistically imperfect relationship defies the norms of typical healthy on-screen representations of couples. Their relationship is shaped by their insecurities that yearn to thrive off of someone strong and understanding enough to hold them close. One of the main messages the series conveys to its audience is that one doesn’t need to be perfect in order to be deserving of love. It also teaches us that flaws aren’t necessarily bad, but are representative of an opportunity for self-improvement. The unwavering care and support Kioyi and Hira provide each other with as they navigate through their struggles in identity leaves room for growth to sprout alongside their romance. This enables their scars from the past and fear for the future to flourish into beautiful and heartfelt moments where both slowly get closer and learn to break the barrier of secrecy between themselves.

When the characters collided with the storyline, everything, from their incessant pure love to their dangerous and obsessive desire to hold each other close, started making sense. It jumped into their unique relationship with a smart approach, using narration from both Kioyi and Hira to slowly unravel their backstories amidst their blossoming growth. The leads were put through many hardships to prove their love for one another, and all throughout the story, their flaws are what pushes their relationship forward instead of restraining them into an ordinary type of love that touches only the surfaces of their struggles and true personalities. Along self-discovery comes doubt, and their uncertainties in their relationship bring out their most vulnerable sides. Despite the fire of chaos they ignite in each other’s lives, their fear of losing each other only grew stronger day by day and laid bare their hidden but overbearing insecurities. Through the time they spent journeying the depths of their love for each other and weighing the possibilities of the future they can make out of their messy romance, one learns what it’s like to be loved rather than just admired, while the other learns how to love instead of just admiring.

There's this scene in the movie that perfectly captures the essence of this beautiful and thought-provoking series. When Anna dances in the rain, it represents something powerful that shines bright in the midst of a downpour. A beautiful outfit that should flow in the wind seems misplaced in the wet, with its color muted by the water's drench. Yet, it was so happy and messy all at once that it was enthralling, and just one look at the unusual scene wasn't enough for those witnessing the photo shoot, mesmerized by the contrast between the lady’s bright smile and the way her beauty bathed in darkness. This is reminiscent of the professional photographer who used the camera to get closer to the world and capture both its beauty, and its darkness. Similarly, Hiro's camera was no longer a shield or place to hide; it was an entryway to the discovery of the individual whose heart was fated to belong to him despite both the tears and the smiles that would accompany their journey to mentally reach each other.

In this series that explores themes of insecurity, the fan/idol industry, and first love, nothing is evident at first glance, and the characters’ aren’t meant for the viewers to like. Instead, their purpose is to bring a greater sense of understanding to the audience regarding stereotypes and insecurities. The series delves deep into the human aspect of vulnerability, using its well-crafted characters to convey the message that sometimes it’s the most vulnerable individuals who seem weak that are the most strong minded and confident in what they want, while those who do seem strong can be the most insecure, wearing only a facade of the strength they appear to have.

This lesson is embodied in the characters, particularly in Hira, who is portrayed as the most timid of all in his class but is secretly the most determined and assertive one. He’s always sure of himself and what it is that he wants, expressing this through his determination to physically protect Kyoyi, whom he deems his only true love. Hira always lessens Kyoyi of emotional burden, bringing him constant reassurance whenever he holds back, and never hesitating to abide by his pleas whenever he makes him promise to forever stay by his side. Something that also supports this ideology is Hira’s ‘top’ role is the intimate aspect of their relationship (which is more explored in the manga/light novel), in which he furthermore asserts his dominance and controlling nature. Additionally, another character whose main purpose is to foster this message through his actions would be the one portrayed as Anna’s utmost fan. He’s initially portrayed as timid and weak, but reveals himself to be brave and determined when driven by his feelings of love and admiration for his idol.

Both leads felt like they didn’t have their place in the world. His whole life, Kyoyi had been surrounded by people who wouldn’t hesitate to leave him in an instant, causing him trust issues. No one truly cared about what he felt or had to say, and weren’t interested in discovering his real self. Hira, on the other hand, felt like no one cared enough to wait and hear what he had to say because of his speech disorder. To summarize this brief overlook at the series’ main leads: both felt unvalued in their world. Hira felt worthless of finding his place in the world whereas Kyoyi felt worthless of being loved. Together, they turned each other's flaws into something beautiful. They came together like missing puzzle pieces, turning their flaws into a reason to love each other. Their flaws caused them to collide and laid the foundation for their strong and passionate romance, where both give and take and feel fully satisfied with what they share.

Their emotions both explain the way they act. One stalks because he feels he can never get close enough, while the other doesn’t have control over his emotions, so he exerts the power of dominance he does have physically. Kyoyi acts bossy and and rather mean, using this harshness to get closer to Hira without being vulnerable, though it is clear from the look in his eyes that he deliberately pushes this personality onto himself. While it may be controversial, without the physical aspect—which was ultimately a fundamental base to their relationship—they wouldn’t have a story. It was needed to show their relationship develop and reveal who truly had the hidden weakness.

Bossing Hira around was Kyoyi's way of getting closer to him without being vulnerable and making his fear of abandonment and need for love evident. This insecurity of Kyoyi's is furthermore explored later on when he is always asking for reassurance and for Hira to stay, begging in a way that doesn’t seem vulnerable or direct. Instead, he tries pulling Hira closer using this method to understand him more and see if his feelings were real before deciding to let him into his heart. Although Kyoyi was wrong for dealing with his frustration and personal insecurity through physical means, Hira was just as much in the wrong regarding habits in their relationship.

He did not give Kyoyi privacy or respect his boundaries, nor did consider his feelings. Instead, Hira only cared about satisfying his own desires without thinking of the consequences his actions and choices would have on Kyoyi. This reasoning stemmed from how highly Hira views him, giving light to the bad among his blind support towards Kyoyi. He never considered he’d influence Kyoyi’s thoughts or actions and would misunderstand whenever Kyoyi would try to inquire about what they were. He'd always just answer that Kyoyi was his favorite, etc., without seeming to have a desire for more. Kyoyi was being emotionally burdened with his ever-growing uncertainty and unreciprocated romantic feelings in contrast to Hira, who seemed content with merely being bossed around by him and satisfied with sharing an unhealthy relationship where only he was benefitting. So even though it seemed like Kyoyi was the one always getting served what he wanted whenever he’d ask for it, Hira was the one taking advantage of the latter.

The barrier Hira places between Kyoyi and himself is representative of problems individuals can experience in the entertainment industry. Although idols receive so much love, they have no one in particular to direct their love towards, out of uncertainty and fear. “Do they really love me for who I am, or just my image?” With these thoughts that separated him from the world around him, which he felt was full of fake people, Kioyi was truly just as lonely as Hira. “Can I truly trust them, or will they leave me in the dirt once my reputation hits rock bottom?” Kioyi asked himself endless questions as he fought to understand whether or not Hira’s feelings for him were genuine. Even once Kyoyi realised he could indeed trust him, Hira's mindset of Kyoyi being so superior compared to himself still separates them.

Despite all of the flaws in their connection—with his loving eyes and overwhelming and seemingly endless amount of support—Hira effortlessly and quickly slipped into Kyoyi’s heart before he even had the chance to notice. Even Kyoyi didn’t understand his own emotions, so not only was he not used to being loved since a young age, but he couldn't believe how spontaneous and sure of himself Hira was in his many confessions. In terms of what allowed someone so sure of his feelings to connect with someone who was hesitant in accepting his own and believing the other's, Hira’s personality was, in a way, a perfect match for Kyoyi, who took a lot of time to realize he truly liked someone. Hira, whose personality stayed constant and steady over the years, made the jump between their high school days and college years only deepen their connection. His certainty in his feelings allowed Kyoyito to fully grasp his own feelings before slowly gaining the courage to make little efforts to deepen their bond. In other words, Hira’s personality made it seem as if he was waiting for Kyoyi to gain the courage and get used to his new feelings so that Kyoyi could eventually be more certain in his confession and love for him.

Hira told his admirer he liked him, but even with his speech deficiency, the words were even harder for Kyoyi—who seemed confident on the outside than Hira—to say aloud. In reality, Kyoyi is weak, vulnerable, scared, and insecure—everything he doesn't seem like he'd be at first glance. These qualities show in his actions to push Hira away, his constant asking if he will stay by his side, and his hesitation in putting his true feelings out in the open. Hiro is selfless, while Kyoyi pays close attention to the way he acts, both in the professional and personal aspects of his life. His lack of confidence is shown when he tells Hira that the reason he doesn't want to understand him is because of his fear in bringing him down, which is more a question of self-esteem than anything else.

However, Hira isn’t any braver, even with his spontaneous words and assertiveness in his actions. He's scared to get closer to Kyoyi because it would elevate him, while on the contrary, he wishes to stay at the bottom of the social class and continue living in his own bubble. As the cameraman in the movie says, Hira sees himself as higher and better than everything else. He expressed how he feels Hira’s selfishness and disgust for the world through his photos; where he erases all people. “You haven’t succeeded at all, but you think you’re so amazing. But instead of showing it outright, you make a shell by belittling yourself. You look down on this world with youth, stupidity, and ambiguity.” On the other hand, Kyoyi is insecure and scared of being so high (in the celebrity world) because he is so lonely up there. Kyoyi's struggle is essentially shared with Hira, who is equally as lonely, but for different reasons—Hira’s loneliness stems from putting himself above everything else and thinking nothing else matters. The poetic lines in their narrations highlight the similarities they share despite their huge difference in popularity and rank in society.

As for the casting of the characters, the lead actors amazingly embodied Hira and Kyoyi, who share such an electrifying chemistry. Yagi Yusei truly stood out to me in terms of acting. Through his role as Kyoyi, he acted so ruthless and mean, yet held a look of intense fondness and love in his gaze that never ceased to linger on Hira. The stunning cinematography and pleasing music only add to the enigmatic and beautiful storytelling, deepening my love for the amazing trilogy that is ‘My Beautiful Man’.

12/16/2024

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A youthful a play of passion, attachment, and courage

The 24-episode novel-adapted youth drama 'When I Fly Towards You' made for a refreshing watch. As it encapsulated the nostalgic firsts we all experienced into a lighthearted coming-of-age romance, its simply constructed narrative and cheery allure gave a new birth to those juvenile emotions that are sunk down to the core of our personalities and of which have created the base of who we are today.

The predominance of viewers who are discontent with their watch seem to center their review around the plot’s fixated trope of middle school puppy love with Su Zaizai catching feelings for a senior student, Zhang Lurang. In her world, the introverted scholar evolves from being a mere crush from afar, to a math tutor and subsequently her whole teenage-hood, adulthood, and wholehearted reason for the smile she always oh-so brightly shines.

"She's a little crazy, but she likes me. Since she likes me, for the time being, I will pretend that she isn't." This excerpted phrase from 'She's a Little Crazy' is a generalized portrayal of their affection towards one another in the direct words of the main male character Zhang Lurang. Rather than his cold demeanour driving Su Zaizai away, his utter indifference drives her all the more crazy for his attention. Rising actors Yiran Zhou and Miao Yi Zhang have brought the short novel to life with a binge-worthy representation of what falling in love with someone truly looks like.

Beyond the undeniable youthful chemistry the main leads share, one can complain the series wasn’t developed into the remarkable production its plot summary promised to the viewers who wanted to enlighten their yearning for more modern-day Chinese dramas following the 2023 chart-topping and heart-conquering hit release ‘Hidden Love’. Although skimming the bland side of television works—'When I Fly Towards You' is nothing short of the reality of a boy-smitten adolescent. It suggests to the audience the journey of trial and error in winning over another's heart. The series' focus revolves around the progress of the main couple's blossoming love, which smoothly incorporates into a fresh imagery with its liveliness.

'When I Fly Towards You' brings a new approach to young love, using a simple plot with adorable feet-kicking clichées to prioritize the structural growth viewers get the chance to witness through the characters. Su Zaizai, Zhang Lurang, Jiang Jia, Gu Ran and Guan Fang share the depths of their high school lives—from struggles to their dearest hopes and dreams—of which, in the end, brew together to perfect the crafting of a true worthwhile friendship. The repetition of filming her beloved times with her lover Zhang Lurang suggests the capturing of Su Zaizai's most precious memories and can serve as reference points in the frequent time-lapsing story-line, furthermore introducing us to the many encounters that brought their special bond as friends to the becoming of a married couple.

"Not everything has to be weighed for its worth in the world" was a phrase shared between the two during a time of hardship. Deliverance isn't the series' forte, but feelings are, and just that solemn aspect enabled the actors to deliver their performance and transmit the desired image of profound affection into a play of passion, attachment, and courage. Although not extravagant, the priceless pieces of memories that seamlessly formed such special moments through the main lead’s romance bloomed with honesty, trust, and such a beautiful love. The admiration Su Zaizai shared for her crush grew from immediate to utterly life-shifting for the latter, his self-worth and confidence piercing through the mold Zhang Lurang framed himself in.

12/28/2023

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A thought-provoking series that critiques society and delves deep into self-discovery

‘Hierarchy’ is a hidden gem that requires analysis to understand its message and appreciate how it’s presented on screen. The characters are presented to viewers the same, stereotypical way they are perceived by others in the series. Jae-i is portrayed as someone who doesn’t easily get influenced or bothered by others as she leads a perfect life. Kang Ha, as someone who’s so optimistic and new to the school that he’s naive to its dark truths. When pushed to their limits by the vulnerability of their regrets from the past and fear for the future, the main leads slowly unravel their facades. They reveal themselves to be the total opposite of how they seem at first glance. Viewers can only guess what they’re thinking, which adds to the intrigue and plays a big part in capturing the audience’s attention. This is an engaging series that’ll pull one in with just enough information to make them want to see where it's going and understand the leads’ motives behind their actions.

The show follows the story of two individuals who are both victims of the harsh world, regardless of their differences in social class. Despite having problems that seem contradictory, Jung Jae-i and Kang Ha provide each other with strength and solace. Their shared support enable them to overcome their struggles, even though they're on opposite sides of the conflict. By prioritizing understanding, they use past tensions to become stronger than the problem and move on from what once held them back.

It shines light on the important aspects people often neglect in life, such as letting go and its impact on both ourselves and those around us. The female lead’s mindset is split in two parts parallel to the plot and highlights the changes that letting go can make. She becomes a better version of herself after she is shown reflecting on her thoughts with the only source of light being a strike of colour. Rainbows signify hope and new beginnings. It's following this scene where she reconciles with the lost part of herself and lets go of her unnecessary burden, represented through her lost baby, that the events take a turn for the better.

Eight teenagers are under a crushing pressure to stay fit into the roles society and their own families cast them in. They want to break free, but their fierce desire to escape their predetermined futures remains confined between the walls of Jooshin highschool. Run by two of the country’s most influential chaebol families, its goal is to provide the heirs of the top conglomerates with the best education. With important reputations to adopt from their rich and demanding parents, the successors of these groups have grown in hiding. Jung Jae-i and Kim Ri-an’s true, imperfect selves are locked behind flawless facades that push them to become people they don’t want to be and blind them from the real world and its injustices.

Jooshin’s recent death was driven by the desire to keep concealed what they wanted to hide the most within the school’s walls; which is the importance of fame and influence rather than the focus on actual studies and the well-being of students. When someone of lesser importance in society brings light to the case the school tried to cover, the students whose reputations are at risk of being tainted try to push him out and stop him from discovering the truth. Because at the stem of the reasoning behind the student’s death lies the school’s dark reality.

When the scandal threatens to reveal the truth among their concealed lives, all the top scholars struggle to find a place to stand ground, aware that only one can remain at the top of the hierarchy.

With the support of other scholarship students who have been victims of disrespect, Kang Ha orchestrates a scheme to destroy the school’s unjust and toxic hierarchy. He believes that change is necessary because the students of today are those who will determine society’s future. Kang Ha predicts that the social classes will limit those who are of less wealthy families. By stringing together clues from the past, he plots to bring down the school and give justice to those who have been wronged. Wanting to be the hero in the story, Kang Ha fights to differentiate the good from the bad and balance the consequences in a way that’ll only hurt those responsible for it. But with the close and conflicted bonds within the school, achieving that goal proves to be more complicated than anticipated. He’s forced to step back and reflect on what it is he truly wants.

Jung Jae-i and Kim Ri-an’s love for each other is stronger than anything else. It’s only a matter of time until the two leaders of the school will be forced to sacrifice their secrets to a case that threatens their reputation and the school’s. Even with the possibility of losing each other’s hand down the road of lies, secrets, and rivalry; they continue caring for each other with the same love they wish they could give their own selves. This dependency they shared with one another formed the base of their relationship and proved to be unhealthy. It ends up serving to Jung Jae-i as evidence of how unfit her current life was for her, resulting in their break-up and eventually prompting the start of her new life. It was only after letting go of the opportunity of what they could be together by giving up their future as parents that Jung Jae-i not only managed to see what was right for her own self, but also gained the maturity to set things right with those around her whom she caused harm.

What He-ra and Kang Ha have in common is that they both are in positions that set them up to seek revenge on Jae-i. However, the growth they underwent through the friendship she provided them with enabled them to realize the true source of their problems. For He-ra, it was her selfishness and greed. She wanted to have Ri-an by her side to give disillusion to her family’s monetary problems and assert her power as it progressively grew uncertain. Her numerous attempts fell flat and ultimately led to her disliking Jae-i; whom Ri-an claimed was the only one he had an eye for, even though those feelings of his remained unreciprocated following their break-up. It took Woojin, someone equally selfish and greedy, to make He-ra realize it was her own selfishness that caused her hatred for Jae-i. She came to the realization that it was her own self that held her back from coming to a resolution to her problem—a problem that could only be resolved with Jae-i’s help. By only caring about gaining enough money to stabilize her family’s financial state and wanting revenge on Jae-i for taking away that possibility, He-ra was blinded by her own pride. Had she overlooked her own problems and favoured understanding between friendships and societal classes, she would have had the opportunity to solve her worries. Before her family’s financial crisis, the only things He-ra possessed was money and power. She ended up going from being chased after for her power to being the one doing the chasing. Somewhere along the journey she took to get through her highest and lowest point in life, she gained a trustful and understanding personality.

As for Kang Ha’s situation—his strong desire to find the reason for his brother’s death—its cause was actually the teacher that was initially portrayed as a good and caring individual. What led to In-han’s death was her selfish desire to become part of the ones of more importance and authority, by dating Woojin. When the killed scholar had posed a threat to her reputation, her desire to stop him drove her insane and she chose her chance at being at the top of the hierarchy over his chance at life. This highlighted a greater problem within the school, because it meant that the teachers, who are supposed to be guardians for the students and protect them, were influenced by the hierarchy. So in the end, the problem for Kang Ha and He-ra was the hierarchy and it was by succeeding in bringing it down that Kang Ha got the revenge he wished for.

Kang Ha loves to care for those who are victims to the cruelty of the world. Thus, him going to Jooshin high to get justice for his bullied brother and consequently falling for Jae-i, who was struggling to carry the weight of her regret and guilt. This is the reason why, in the end, he's simply content with knowing that she shared the same feelings for him as he did for her. Seeing her give him one of her happiest of smiles, which he wanted to see all along, was the only closure he needed to their relationship. Kang Ha sees In-han, his deceased brother, through Jae-i because of how they share the commonality of being treated unfairly and feeling hurt. So through the smile he put on Jae-i’s face, it was as if he was also able to make his brother feel better and see his smile. As for Jae-i, who felt that she failed to protect In-han in the past, she sees him through Kang Ha. So although she let In-han down by not standing up for what was right or being by his side like she was for him, she ended up protecting Kang Ha. This happened following Kang Ha’s sentence that she started living by, which was to protect, no matter what, who you care about and love the most. This allows viewers to make the realization that between both male leads, it was clearly Kang Ha who had won over her heart; bringing an end to their love triangle. In the end, it was Kang Ha who got what he wanted most, which was seeing Jae-i smile at him and getting closure to In-han’s struggle through her, as well as ensuring the school a better future and having the bullies acknowledge their wrongdoings.

The series closed off Jae-i’s path to self-discovery, which she paved with her own sweat and tears, by leading her to her mother. This reunion showcased her immense character growth since Jae-i grew up in fear of her father throwing her away like he did with her mother; whom he deemed worthless. She let that fear control her life and hold her back from living the life she actually wanted, feeling obliged to live by his expectations. In the end, she made decisions based on her own will and was able to face her new life with a smile because she was no longer scared of being a failure in the eyes of those around her.

Through his decision to attend Jooshin and get revenge on those responsible for his brother’s death, Kang Ha used the traits he shared with his brother (caring and understanding) to carry on his brother's legacy. Not only did he solve the school's mysteries and get it punished for its insensitivity towards scholarship students (something In-han always wanted to achieve but did not have the chance), but he also transformed the ruthless students into better people. It was through Kang Ha that Jae-i was able to gain the courage to face her problems instead of running away, like she had done in the past after discovering her pregnancy. By caring for her and providing her with assistance, she ended up facing her struggles head-on and setting things right. She embraced her struggles as part of who she is, permitting her to move on from the many things that had been holding her back (her guilt of In-han’s death, feeling like she wasn’t able to tell Ri-An about their baby, her unhealthy relationship with her boyfriend) and lead her life with the best version of herself that she found through Kang Ha’s love for her.

Though Kang Ha got his revenge in the way where the school itself had to acknowledge its mistakes, the ending scene sets up an enthralling conclusion to his journey in uncovering Jooshin’s wrongdoings by implicating the others. An immobile student (suspected to be Jae-i’s brother who caused her much torment) is laying on the ground and yet the focus is placed on the top students, highlighting how someone is a killer. Just like how Jae-i ends up facing her fear, they all might have to relive the torment of a student’s death and face it with a better approach.

07/14/2024

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The forgotten night—a psychological thriller that serves as a profound exploration of jealousy

‘Black Out’ is more than just a suspenseful thriller–it’s an introspection of human behaviour, exploring the unsettling extremes of envy, selfishness and obsession. It simultaneously addresses more delicate themes such as passionate love and the innocence of grief, adding complexity to the depthful characters brought to life with top-notch acting. With its various storylines that intertwine into a gripping game of blame concerning the ones at fault for the killing of two young girls, it takes the innocence out of pure feelings, blurring the line between love and selfishness.

In the small Korean village of Muchon Town, everyone is a suspect, and no one is to be trusted. When No Sang-Cheol, an unbiased and unapologetic detective who has no ties with anyone in the area moves to this place, his strong sense of justice and personal values are tested. He’s faced with a seemingly ordinary case whose answers lie somewhere hidden in a particularly messy double murder incident from eleven years ago. Its peculiarities leave him questioning not only each and every individual in his everyday surroundings, but also gives him great doubt in the innocence of the police department itself. Acting as if he has nothing to lose, he shows no hesitance in putting all on the line by diving straight into the pit of that sombre night that the town’s community tries so hard to forget, even going so far as to putting his own principles aside. Could standing on the same ground as a supposed criminal, not looking at him from above as an authoritative figure, be the key to solving this grandiose mystery? And would he still be willing to do it, if it meant having to be apprehensive and empathetic towards the person he despised?

The gripping novel-inspired series ‘Black Out’ heavily relies on its characters’ to drive its story forward as it constantly revolves around the consequences of their actions and their memories are the only fragments of time that are left from a dark night from long ago. Through the many leads, not only does the series showcase character growth, but it also explores the grievance of those who’ve lost a loved one, the motives behind the crimes, and the suffering of those accused of murderer, and their families. The series surfaces many sensitive topics, and is grounded in different variations of anger, using this scary and strong emotion to drive its characters to maddening lengths, whether it be for good or for bad. ‘Black Out’ is a psychological thriller that doesn't rely on gore to bring scare to the viewers, but instead brings them discomfort with depictions of emotional manipulation and other unsettling elements such as gaslighting, blackmail, threats, r@pe, bullying, emotional and physical abuse, domestic violence, psychotic behaviour, obsession, su!c!de, extreme selfishness, and corrupt police investigation.

Following the death of two young girls, sophomore-year highschool student Goh Jeong Woo, boyfriend to one victim and best friend of the other, is pleaded guilty of murder and accused of disposal of their bodies—crimes he claims to have no memory of committing. Even when convinced he isn’t the one responsible, all traces point to the opposite, and since the crimes were committed while Goh Jeong Woo was drunk and experiencing a black out, he can’t do anything but accept to serve his years in prison. As it turns out, this didn’t conclude the case, but actually just put it on pause, since the investigation was suspiciously hastily conducted, and doomed to re-open many years later. When Goh Jeong Woo is released from prison, his name is legally cleared, and he’s presented with the opportunity to start his life anew. He refuses, wishing to seek justice for his two beloved deceased friends by finding their abandoned bodies and uncovering the true murderer. His tiresome effort to conclude the investigation using the right path proves to be more difficult than expected, but he tries his best against all odds, even if it means losing those closest to him in the process, and putting himself back in the difficult circumstances he faced eleven years ago. In his strive to remember and gather clues from that fateful night, he’s torn apart between two versions of himself; the evil person everyone labels him as, and his self who is a victim instead of a murderer.

Though it starts with heavy focus on Goh Jeong Woo, the aspiring medical student from a wealthy family, as the story progresses, the focus is shifted to the other individuals that have been in his surroundings since a young age. As he progressively moves forward in his investigation of the case alongside detective Noh Sang Cheol, he parallelly relives his high school senior year through his memories. This allows him to reconsider his relationships and see his happiest memories from a new perspective, draining them from their joyous and youthful innocence and enabling him to notice how his friend group was slowly ripping apart, tampered with feelings of intense jealousy. He sees the influence that his popularity, his wealth, and his family’s economic and social status had on others, notably his and his parents’ friends. This tactic of narrating a compelling story by weaving together past and present events greatly enhances the viewers’ ability to connect with the characters.

The unravelling of the mystery also sheds light on problems concerning social dynamics. The motives behind the different crimes committed and the ignorance that follows them are rooted out of self-pity, despair and jealousy from those who believe they have been living unfairly in comparison to their shared accaintence; Goh Jeong-Woo. Those involved in the murders, even those who loved him, decided to selfishly prioritise their own selves, framing him and making him suffer the consequences of their actions without feeling remorse because they felt that they had equally suffered from him. Their way of compensating for their insecurities was to frame him for their crimes, as they would benefit from this both monetarily–since they made his wealthy father compensate for their ‘sufferings’ with land–and morally, since it helped them convince themselves he was the true problem. The element that was key to their jealousy was mentioned to be the car Goh Sang-Chu bought his son Goh Jeong-Woo as a gift. This item, which represents the family’s wealth, is not only what ends up leading one of the girls’ murders, but also plays a key role in the unfair blame put on Goh Jeong-Woo, leading to his and his family’s social and economical downfall. The series concludes the lesson that in the end, those with less moral power can appear to be at the top, while their actions and decisions reveal otherwise, opposing the values of their glorified role and image in society. Those who have wronged others will do anything they can to exerce their power to hide the flaws and mistakes of theirs that they’re too scared to reveal.

‘Black Out’ successfully blurs the line between both extremes of a crime, which is the grief and innocence of the supposed victims, and the strong loss of control and of hatred found in murderers, abusers, and rap!sts. By exploring the true identities and values of the characters, it also shines light on more emotionally sensitive themes like grief, acceptance, and regret. The series uses emotions found in both innocent grieving victims and the ones with dirt on their hands to shape its characters into realistic and depthful individuals, making viewers question their true intentions and not trust any word they speak. Its storytelling shows how grief can bring out strong feelings of regret which can affect even those who are the monsters in the story. With convincing acting, it touches the complex elements surrounding grief, showcasing that even those who aren't to blame can feel just as wrongful and remorseful as those who actually are responsible.

The ending puts forward a conclusion that highlights that even though falling and hitting the ground of the gruesome reality is surely inevitable on both sides of a crime, it highlights that the one who chooses to prioritise and believe the truth will always have a path in front of them to move on, no matter their circumstances. Because, acknowledgement and pride in oneself is truly the strongest thing there is, and is especially a crucial way of living a truthful life in modern society, where those who are the highest are those who conceal the most.

The unsettling music, gloomy aesthetic, and choice of setting in a quiet, subdued part of town all contribute to its overall eerie atmosphere, drawing in both fans of the genre and newcomers alike. Many factors render it a truly memorable watch, such as the convincing acting, and its steady rhythm of suspense, both of which provide the audience with the opportunity to get a good scare out of the psychological thriller. The series’ horrific elements, graphic scenes, and mystery lets it reach a bigger audience, further broadening its appeal to those who are fans of the horror genre. Laid bare on screen, the many themes presented are raw and sometimes hard to digest. Its honesty in presenting the dark truths in life is like an inspection of the human mind, showing much more than a simple exploration of its determined and loving side. Instead, it focuses on bringing attention to the dark things passionate emotions can bring out of even the most pure and innocent feelings. With relentless thrill, it highlights the power that holds the mind’s rawest of feelings such as anger, jealousy, and selfishness. What especially makes this series so scary are the polar opposite traits that create the lead characters. The simple motivation behind the characters’ crimes is common and experienced by all, and yet they lack the fundamental aspect of what makes us human, which is guilt.

Its captivating production qualities, topped off with the numerous potential suspects that the plot follows, altogether enhances its suspense as well as its impact on viewers, leaving them at the edge of their seats all throughout the 14 episodes. Its engaging storyline—where a fusion of passion and love meets the depths of remorse and neglect—is brought to life by complex and unreliable protagonists, inviting interpretation and suspicion to arise in viewers. The mystery unfolds fast enough yet very intricately with its many subplots and storylines detouring the truth and giving the audience the chance to come up with their own theories as it simultaneously guides them down the line of its perfectly developed plot.

Overall, all of its aspects created the formula for a truly outstanding watch. ‘Black Out’ is ultimately a must-watch for anyone looking for a release that has mastered the art of balancing out elements of suspense, mystery, crime, self-reflection, growth, and most of all, reconciliation with the past, those around us, and our own selves.

11/02/2024

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Beyond crazy: when the best revenge against your rival & partner is to always be one step ahead

You don’t want to stoop that low—but you might just have to. You don’t want to get blood on your hands—but perhaps you already have. You don’t want to be a monster—but it’s actually all you’ve ever been. If there is a line to be crossed, something that separates the good from the bad—could there ever be an effort worked against cruelty good enough to justify crossing it? ‘Beyond Evil’ is a gripping series that has imagined these concepts in a way that is so deep and beyond electrifying, turning viewers into detectives with its thrill and inviting them to juxtapose their own judgements and morals to discern the good from the bad. Not only will it put one’s detective skills to the test, but it also permits exploration of morality, questioning how to label what rests in between both extremes of a crime: all those who are witnesses but choose to turn a blind eye. It is as much an uncomfortable watch as it is heartbreaking—but it is these very qualities that qualify the series as a well-produced thriller that has succeeded in its performance.

These themes are all tackled with great strategic pacing in the unravelling of crimes and brought to scene with its award-winning actors who have greatly succeeded in giving goosebump-raising performances. Its ever-present suspense is amazingly developed and gradually built using play on perceptions between both the characters themselves, and how the viewers perceive them. The buildup to the true culprit is impeccable—the series will shine a spotlight on even the faintest of suspicions just to clear certain individuals out of the portrait of possibilities in being the murderer only to make them targets of investigation again later on when more clues arise. Jam-packed with extremely spine-chilling scenes and revelations, the show’s execution of its promising premise did not let hopes down and instead surpassed the lines of constraints it set.

Twenty years after a gruesome killing spree that targeted illegal women immigrants, citizens of the small town Manyang are pulled into yet another detective case to catch the culprit that no one ever worked thoroughly enough to find 20 years back. Son to an extremely high-ranking father, Han Joo-won is a Seoul-originated detective from the illegal-immigrants department, who is strangely committed to discovering the truth behind the string of serial-murder cases despite initial orders from his father to cease in his investigation. Lee Dong-sik, brother to the successful yet modest 20-year-old girl who was first to cause ruckus in the small town 20 years prior to the present day with her disappearance, was convicted guilty to her abduction and possible disposal of body and now finds himself wound up in the Manyang police department after being demoted following his former partner’s death.

Against their own will, Han Joo-won and Lee Dong-sik are partnered, with their own suspicions of each other’s involvement in the case only growing after another disappearance occurs and seems to have the same MO as the cases prior to it. Both equally determined and eager to catch the murderer, they secretly decide to tackle the case on their own. However, it soon embodies greater issues and becomes something big that may concern the police department itself, leaving other officers and investigators no choice but to get involved. There are those who join the case for personal gain, such as promotions or a raise in status, those who wish to frame a culprit to end things quickly, some who just want to find the peace of mind of catching a killer on-the-loose, and others who get involved to create fake alibis and protect their own interests.

But among them all, only a certain individual, or perhaps more than one person, can be given the label of a murderer, even though everyone is guilty of something and has a role to play in the impending question: who is the serial killer? This is ultimately the question that torments Lee Dong-sik the most, fueling his strive to always remain one step ahead of everyone else so that he can orchestrate the murderer’s perfect demise and revelation. He deliberately makes the murderer's investigation unfold slowly and only publicly points fingers at the killer when a body is found to be careful in the steps he takes before fully closing in on the murderer’s arrest. More than anything, he wants to ensure that the culprit has no way of defending himself because he doesn’t want any wrongdoings on their own side as police being revealed in his capture when so many have been hurt by the murderer. Personally being the brother of one of the victims himself, and partner to an officer that made a mistake by committing a crime against a murderer, Dong-sik emotionally connects with the struggle of not wanting a criminal to turn into a victim. He believes that their acquaintances don't deserve that extra baggage and betrayal of causing the criminal to have something to be sympathized and victimized for.

Lee Dong-sik knows Han Joo-won already has his eyes set on him being the killer and makes this work in his favour, using his suspected culpability to ensure Joo-won’s role in working on the case since he’s convinced he is the only person capable of taking on such a big role in a case that requires everyone in the police station to be suspected. By encouraging Han Joo-won to invite more suspicion on himself, he teases the clear possibility of there being a murderer and that it is still possible for that individual to get caught, making the 20-year-old case still relevant to be investigated. Lee Dong-sik’s goal in doing this is so that he can use Han Joo-won to investigate the case all whilst gathering new information through him, since Lee Dong-sik’s role in its investigation would otherwise be illegal considering he is family to the victim and had previously been declared guilty of the murder.

With Lee Dong-sik scared to frame the wrong person in fear of taking away from the victim’s injustice, and Han Joo-won narrow-minded and set on his own suspicions, they speak in riddles, manipulate each other into helping one another in their investigations, and intricately fabricate their own facades to draw out what they want from one another. They build frames of storytelling to shed light on clues, trying to draw attention to a bigger picture. Both leads pull each other in by raising suspicion to one another, building a sense of mutual mistrust. However, this eerie sense of mysteriousness in their relationship gradually grows into a unique and strong bond that is built on a strong reciprocal trust that both pretend don’t exist. Between them sizzles an intense rivalry and chemistry—they go from pointing guns to each other’s throats in one scene to working side-by-side against everyone else in the next.

‘‘There are times where you’re not sure. If you pull out too soon, you’ll chase away the fish. And if you take too long, the fish will get away. Should I reel in? Or not?" With such an endless array of possibilities of things that could go wrong, Lee Dong-sik and Han Joo-won have to feign ignorance, resist acting on impulse, and accept doing the unimaginable in order to find the perfect proof that would immediately prove the murderer guilty before reeling in so that there would be no space for doubt to be raised during the official investigation—and no chance for the killer to slip away from their grasp. This goal of the main leads' explains the importance and focus that the show places on a certain conversation both investigators shared—where Lee Dong-sik wanted to be sure that Han Joo-won understood that even against any accusations, it is juridically impossible for a murderer in South Korea to be convicted guilty for their crime if there is no body found.

Twisted and dark, from the first episode to the very last, it’s a timeless masterpiece of a detective series that'll pull viewers into its game of show and tell—but only show, and then tell in a few more episodes just to keep them guessing. It’ll propose ideas, make the audience believe them, and just when they think they're on the brink of coming up with a conclusion, it turns out that everything they believed is wrong, and viewers have been tricked so well that they’ve swapped the innocent for the guilty. The hefty plot heavily relies on the narrative that no one is free of suspicion or can be trusted to embark viewers on a journey that’ll leave them desperate for answers and relentlessly searching episodes for hidden meaning or new clues. There is no other thriller that does it better in building suspense, delivering acting performances, character intricacy, offering a top-tier OST, unmatched tension, and showing remarkable storyline complexity.

Overall, ‘Beyond Evil’ has beautifully mastered the art that is storytelling—from its intricate little details to the bigger picture it creates and everything that stretched in between its many mysteries’ unraveling, exceeding the precedents of its genre with its unexpected, thrilling, and flawlessly executed plot.

2025/02/14

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All over the place yet still not enough—an interesting premise that fell short of its potential

Melodramas are typically renditions of people's lives—if you will; a slice-of-life styled series with a little more spice. They tend to showcase the true originalities of their characters with pronounced character arcs, strong emotion, and heavy plotlines. At first, 'Melo Movie' is no different—it sets viewers for expectation that it’ll embody these characterizations with grand depth, originality, and a peculiar sense of artisticness, that in this case, would lay bare within its setting of a cinematographic world where two individuals who are trying to redeem themselves of their lost time meet each other before recognition. However, despite its strong start, the show’s mature feel quickly died down, leaving room for empty and whiplash-giving characters, lackluster performance in acting, and predictable plot.

When two unachieved individuals meet while in the time of their life where they are either in constant wait or pursuit for their desires—what kind of fate will their destiny bind them to? Ko Gyeom’s life is shaped by film, as it is within this realm that his dreams take flight and find breath, while Kim Mu-bi’s life revolves around the industry in the sense that her name and her father tie her down to it like a label. Together, their screen time just falls short of what could’ve been a testament to a bittersweet love story. Only the strongest sides to themselves are shared, while their vulnerable sides stay in hiding, pushed away all whilst secretly yearning to be let shine through. Romantic and swoony, its set-up and premise promised ideas that the show did not further develop, and refrained from steeping in themes that were believed to eventually be explored. What had so much potential production-wise quickly lost its grasp on the actual storyline, that winded up on the common ground of typical rom-com territory.

There are many nuances in the characters themselves that stopped the show from curating an immersive vibe. ‘Melo Movie’ felt empty as a whole in consequence to the mismatch between characters’ behaviours and the storyline. The two leads have faced tragic experiences and are yet very emotionally immature, showing only facades of their true selves to the word—Ko Gyeom, forcing himself to play an overly ecstatic role, and Kim Mu-bi an indifferent and unfazed one. It seems like they are living their lives with little effort, and yet things fall so easily into their hands. They have good friends despite not reciprocating smiles or equal amounts of attention, have grand opportunities come their way, and are constantly reluctant to take them despite it supposedly aligning with their goals. Overall, the leads have the allure of dissatisfaction with their lives which is unfitting to the genre and plays no greater role in the story. Additionally, the actors were poorly chosen and cast, and the otherwise renowned actors barely just fit into the characters’ shoes.

‘Melo Movie’ undeniably struggled to find perfect balance in its blend of rom-com and melodrama. The clash between the two genres the show embodied tore its entirety apart into something not bad enough to render it unwatchable, but certainly unmemorable. Melodramas tend to incorporate elements of slowburn, personal growth, and maturity, with elements borrowed from the slice-of-life genre. As for rom-coms, they encompass silliness, unrealistically planned reunions and set ups between characters, and are typically categorized by their overall lighthearted feel. Despite the big, evident differences between both, ‘Melo Movie’ doesn’t recognize itself in either of these categories alone—instead, it binds both together, alternately varying its penchant in genres depending on the different episodes or storylines presented. Since both ideally bring out different emotions and behaviours from the characters, to have a continuous shift between them not only alienates viewers, but also reveals a lack of depth in especially the leads.

The female lead in particular was very frustrating to watch—Kim Mu-bi fell into a constant habit of contradicting herself. Her motives remained unclear and her personality was in constant shift. Mu-bi would always push Gyeom away but became upset when he actually kept his distance or left, as if he owed her any acts of service or explanation for his leave when she had never put any effort at all into the maintenance of their strange, love-hate relationship. Even though she was bothered enough by his abrupt absence to block him from her contacts, she never thought to reach out and ask if he was alright during his leave. When he did come back, she claimed to be very angered and yet her world quickly resumed its revolving of him, and she even took on some rather unhealthily obsessive qualities.

As if there weren’t already enough neglected aspects in the series, to add to the pile of absurdities, viewers are made to believe both leads truly care and have a liking for one another despite putting no effort whatsoever into their relationship. For example, they spent five years without contact even though they had each other’s phone number and knew where to find one other. They seem to have no chemistry, no interest in each other, no problem with separation or keeping things to themselves—the only thing pulling them together is the simple, hollow, and predictable plot. Given the little actual interaction between the leads, it seems that the show’s intent was for the audience to analyze the individuals presented and their behaviours. However, the leads embody an emptiness that renders character analysis impossible to achieve. It seems fair to say the romance has undeniably missed its mark, veering the rest of the show off of course and resulting in an unwatchable mess.

2025-02-20

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The strive to unlock the code to one’s smile and define love in early adulthood

In an underwhelming world, where the sky is sometimes too cloudy to make out the stars, and where you can’t reach the top without falling, a group of individuals come together, find the good through the bad, and attempt to strive in a big and unfamiliar world that constantly tries to push them away.

If not to be praised for its lengthy and heavy plot, the series’ memorable cinematography and beautiful soundtrack will surely leave an everlasting impression on viewers. Humoristique, heartfelt, and a critique of today’s workaholic society—’Smile Code’ succeeds with satisfying ease in balancing out aspects that lean into the slice-of-life genre with elements of silliness and fun. The drama presents a refreshing twist on falling in love, with characters who fill the space in each other’s arms as though they are destined to come together despite their differences in lifestyle, personality, and outlook on life.

Simply put, 'Smile Code' is truly inspiring and doesn't shy away from uncomfortable truths in life—instead, it develops its beautifully crafted storyline using them to propel the show forward. With equally remarkable focus on familial relationships, work life in the modern day world, and matters regarding both physical and mental disabilities, it mainly follows the compelling story of two individuals who try to navigate their relationship around the emotional distance that separates them, proving that love knows no barriers and that it presents itself in different variations. It is not a set feeling, but something abstract that is hard to understand and fully grasp the concept of without experiencing it firsthand.

Gu Yi, passionate and full of determination, is searching for her own definition of love. By getting closer to the one causing her the feeling, she gains a better understanding of herself and the concept of love. As the distance between them slowly closes on her end, Liang Dai Wen is experiencing this same exploration of oneself, but is forced to deal with trying to understand the entirety of his feelings—for the world and the girl he loves. The male lead will be forced to face his trauma head-on if he’s willing to understand not just his own feelings, but also those of the people around him. Together, he and Gu Yi serve as a perfect portrayal of the devotion, compassion, and effort that is required to keep and build a healthy relationship. The reasons behind their eventual separation, along with Gu Yi’s belief that "love is precious only when it's a little bit; otherwise, it's a disaster", resonate with the idea that these qualities can equally destroy a relationship as much as they can create one.

Lin Yi effectively embodied his cold role as Liang Dai Wen in a way that made his character feel heavy, with a smile dragged down by the weight of the world. This is fitting for the series, considering its overall message, which is to find a guide, or a code to unlock a smile. Due to his trouble in identifying, processing and expressing emotion, his creativity is overlooked as it is not regarded as ‘creative’ in a typical way. Rather than representing his empathic and artistic outlook of life in his art using music or painting, it is expressed through his feeling of needing to help others. His character is creative and artistic in an innovative way, capable of thinking from the perspective of others to create something that'll reflect them and their needs in everyday life, whereas music or art is more individualistic, with the artist creating based on their own perspective and experiences.

The side characters are all equally as enriching to the series. Remarkably, its second female lead, Guan Xing Xin, indirectly addresses the burden of the misogynistic, suppressive, conservative, and close-minded aspects of Chinese society. This is explored through modern-day problems concerning celebrity images and cyberbullying, as well as the public unwilling to understand her side of the story in a scandal. Her outlook on life differs from others as she was born visually impaired; completely blind. The unique perspective that she presents through her telling of her experience of gaining sight gives viewers unique remarks on life itself and of the human being’s ingrained and innate fear of being observed, perceived, judged, and critiqued.

Though she may seem misplaced at first, among the others in the series who are perhaps more visibly struggling, with debt to pay off, and no place to call home, she still draws many parallels to them despite her wealth and fame. Guan Xing Xin is actually just as morally lost as the other individuals presented are, searching for her place in the world. Even though her life seems simple and already set up for her by those in her surroundings, she rather feels suffocated and constrained by these expectations, and stolen of freedom. Despite being certain that her current life is not fit for her, she struggles to break free from it and pursue a new direction in life, not yet truly knowing her own self, her limits, and what she wants. Her similarity with those around her who are less wealthy showcases how everyone has their own battles to fight no matter their circumstances, and that one should not be so quick to judge. Altogether, the characters form a realistic portrait of people who feel like they don’t live up to society’s standards for one reason or another, enhancing the series’ underlying theme of struggling urban youths.

Gu Yi, the female lead, catches the male lead’s eye first with her positive attitude. Liang Dai Wen feels entranced by the bright smile she chooses to wear despite her day-to-day struggles. At night, her smile radiates a sense of freeness under the stars like a twinkle amidst the busy streets of the bustling city. In the day, he sees her face morph into more stoic expressions, and witnesses how hard she works to carry the weight of her daily struggles. This contributes to Liang Dai Wen finding her smile's beauty more admirable and brighter than ever, furthermore drawing him into her strong pull. The contrast between her life in the day and during the night is something Liang Dai Wen struggles to understand. Because of his emotional condition, he can’t experience the duality of being practical in the day, and free, exasperated, and relieved at night. His lack of understanding intrigues him to give her a space in his life, because he has always been told that feelings can truly be felt only once they have been observed. Though he yearns to be observant and understanding of Gu Yi, his encounters with her brings him down and gives him the unconscious realization that there's something missing in his life.

"A human soul only weighs one ounce" is the quote of the comedy night club where Gu Yi works. This is probably in reference to an experiment led by a believer that a soul holds a physical weight, and who strived to determine if this was true or not, before coming to the conclusion that a soul weighed almost an ounce because that was the weight that left their body when they died. Of course, this theory has never been scientifically proven, but in the context of this series that explores the struggles faced by urban youths, this ideology can be interpreted that the human soul is light, and so it is easy to push around into a spiral of turmoil or hardship, as it is simple to alleviate this weight by wearing a smile. It highlights the human’s sole insignificance in the world, and how adapting this outlook on life that we are so little and overall insignificant can make us feel more free and weightless. Not only can this shift one’s perspective, but it can also allow one to embody their feelings better and wear them with great pride for the little joys experienced. When Liang Dai Wen says he’s searching for his ounce of a soul, he’s perhaps looking for the lively part of him that he’ll lose once he dies, as he is already a detached and cold-hearted person.

In the middle of the series, Liang Dai Wen has a breakthrough, reflecting deeply on his own self for the first time. These realizations are crucial for his character development and the choices he makes later on. He notices that whenever he sees Gu Yi smile, his wrist hurts, recalling how her smile never ceased to shine brightly in his memory. This wrist pain of his is ultimately a physical manifestation of his emotional incapacity to have feeling. Whenever the pain flares up, he is deprived from the opportunity to experience mundane human things, such as driving. This builds on the series’ main theme, which is alexithymia, and strengthens the focus on his inability to differentiate between physical and emotional pain.

At some point, Gu Yi mirrors his own behaviour in the way she decides to interact with him. She approaches the matters that bother her head-on, hoping that he will understand her better. The physical pain she causes him in the moment where she squeezes his hurt hand, telling him to remember how he feels in the moment, mirrors the internal pain he feels when she gives him back the pain he caused her. He pushes her away, shifting back into the cold and detached version of himself he has been stuck in since years ago, retreating into his old habit of using emotional numbness as a shield. His departure with Gu Yi only adds to his pile of regrets, alongside those he feels regarding his past and his Mom. His obsession with clinging on to the memory of things he has abandoned hints at his desire to stay in the past. Instead of trying to let go or welcome back into his life the things he misses, he just floats in the middle of these two options, numbing himself to emotion. But now, with Gu Yi, he has to make a move, make decisions based on what he wants—not just out of practicality like he usually does. He has to allow himself to be guided by his own emotions, because he can’t expect Gu Yi to wait for him forever.

The rollercoaster of emotion intensifies following the leads’ separation. Gu Yi, once full of innocent smiles and laughter, gains a new perspective on life through this experience and starts to understand Liang Dai Wen’s dissociation from all forms of emotion. She offers a unique interpretation to what she feels was a one-sided romance, explaining that the break up didn’t exactly happen between them, since their feelings for one another haven’t changed. Instead, it can be found in every moment they spent together—shifting from sweet memories to times they now wished to forget. Their bittersweet separation offers a taste of the series’ overall hopeful yet realistic portrayal of life in early adulthood. And their eventual coming-together is beautiful, heartwarming, and a perfect example of healthy relationship should look like. Filled with scenes that will tug at your heart and draw tears, 'Smile Code' undeniably captures life from an interesting angle.

The series’ visual aspect beautifully mirrors its essence, enhancing the emotional delivery to viewers. The cinematography is especially visually pleasing, and its nightly setting highlights the little but bright beauty that light holds when it peeks through the darkness. Something about the mostly dark city setting causes feelings of excitement, bringing more intimacy to the leads’ interactions and allowing their love to shine amidst the night’s darkness. The soundtrack is diverse and beautiful, reliant on piano keys to bring its melodies afloat, allowing the songs to convey a light but determined touch to the series. This enhances the series’ overall vibe, a heaviness coupled with little bits of hope—because beauty can not exist without deep and heavy feelings such as despair and sadness.

With noteworthy lines, thought-provoking quotes, and metaphorical comparisons, ‘Smile Code’ outshines its ‘rom-com’ genre by fueling its romance and bits of comedy using everyday happenings and aspects that moreover resemble those of the slice-of-life genre. "Isn't it sad that we operate like machines?" is a line shared to Gu Yi by Xu Guan Rui, someone who pursues an opposite life to hers—one with artistic and metaphorical value. It was said in the context of humans overworking without the acknowledgement of how much their drive for money and place in society is shielding away typical human creative expression and search for meaning in life. It compares this dehumanizing nature of overwork and the way people oftenly get so obsessed with practicality, routines, or survival to a robot, void of freedom, expression of oneself, and emotion. Gu Yi makes a reflection on these words, perhaps comparing it to Liang Dai Wen, who she considers robot-like because of his neurological disorder that limits his range of emotion and gives him the inability to feel or process feelings or seek true human connections. Since the show's focus is struggling youths in Shanghai—a very big, fast-moving, and competitive city—this is fitting because it is easy to learn to suppress our emotions in order to thrive. One can easily get swept up in only living in the goal of surviving to abide by the mold societal pressure tries to fit them into, making it easy to turn a blind eye to the human need for connections.

In the same train of thought, Xu Guan Rui also encourages Gu Yi to take a pause on what’s truly worth pursuing, and to question herself on why she is living her life in this rushed way that doesn’t make her happy or give her a particular sense of fulfillment in terms of her emotional needs, implying that she orient her goals to something more self-fulfilling. Her lacking response suggests that she hasn’t given it much thought, drawing a parallel between her character and people living under similarly current societal pressures and letting their need for money dictate their way of living. The comparison gives her a better sense of understanding of Liang Dai Wen, who she once thought so different. It enables her to see how she also embodies some of the qualities she thought were robot-like and depressing, such as following the cycle of routines, and acting based on practicality rather than emotions. And since she attributes these struggles of hers to pain, and relies on the creative expression of laughter as a painkiller, she feels for the male leads’ burdens in life since he has no resort that frees him from his struggles.

However, her newfound perceptiveness of Liang Dai Wen is only part of the greater picture that the series has meticulously crafted with emotion that reaches even beyond the screen. By stringing together the lives of many different individuals living in the big city, each facing their own struggles, it created proof of empathy's power; delivering a message that there is no greater strength than empathy in forming bonds and surpassing life's hurdles. In the end, the story essentially conveys the idea that a love that grows slowly is more special than a spontaneous type of love. Its spark never dies because the memories continue to grow on each other, instead of leaving behind something beautiful that is only worth reminiscing about. To conclude, 'Smile Code' a must-watch series that is heartbreaking as much as it is healing and refreshing to the soul.

12/10/2024

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