Since there is much thought on who should or would die. I wanted to quickly discuss the impact each death would have.
Young Ro - There seems to be a lot of belief that she may die in the shows ending. It's certainly possible, since it would line up nicely with the death in Romeo and Juliet. The impact would be moderate, as her death would impact her father, Soo Ho, and most of the hostages. I think writing wise though, although tragic, it wouldn't really change much public discourse. I just don't see what lessons the people around her, or even the audience would garner from her death, other than it being tragic? I am not even sure how it would affect Soo Ho, maybe he would be sad enough and pull a Romeo. Because whether Young Ro dies or not, Soo Ho would still be a fugitive, but he will become a lonely one. In fact, I would argue her death, and the death of the hostages would have a similar impact to the citizens of SK in the drama. And of course her father would be devastated, but we don't really have a personal connection to Eun Chang Su.
Soo Ho - There is also a belief that he would die. It's also possible that he will be the one to martyr himself for Young Ro's sake. The impact would be small, because the only people affected by his death in the show would be his sister, Eun Cheol, his father and maybe Cheong Ya. Writing wise, I think his death may have more impact than Young Ro, since the drama and plot has focused and centered mostly on Soo Ho, seeing the death of the character whose arc we have been following would be more tragic from a viewer's standpoint. The important or message it would send to the audience would be poignant, because it brings up the oft used martyrdom for love trope. It would seem justified as a sort of retribution for the wrong he has committed in the past. And although the magic coffee s meant to absolve his wrongs to Young Ro, in the end, he still has done other wrong things to other people. It has the added option of possibly redeeming Cheong Ya and Lim Ji Rok's character, as they may have a change of ideology due to this. Additionally, I feel a Romeo and Juliet death would be unnecessary, because it is not like SK and NK will stop being at war because these two died.
Kang Moo and Hanna - I lumped them together, because frankly, I feel that the death of both or either of them has not much impact. They don't really have very complex characterization, and actually have often been used as comedic relief in the show. Their death may simply signify the death of satire, and the birth of realism. I don't feel any attachment to them personally. Their deaths will not have any literary significance.
Three Stooges/Joy Luck Club - Because i've felt them to be unnecessary since day 1, their failure and demise will feel like filler scenes when it happens.
Hostages - If they are to meet their demise, since there are so many of them, it's hard to feel anything. I haven't really personally connected with any of them. In fact I feel much of the story building of the many different denizens of Hosu Dorm is wasted, since after the hostage situation there wasn't enough screen time and character development. Their deaths will not have any literary significance.
Boon Ok - Depending on how the writers write it, it could be the most impactful death in the series. It would impact almost everyone in the dorm, because it seems that everyone has a negative opinion on Boon Ok. If my suspicious is correct, if she will die, it would be a redeeming arc type of way. Writing wise, I think it would be more powerful than any other death. Because Boon Ok, given her complex characterization, and antagonistic qualities would impact the hostages, Young Ro, and basically everyone else in the dorm that is able to witness her redemption arc. It would make them live with life lessons on the dangers of a power/social dynamic and how we should learn to sympathize with the downtrodden. It would also be an astute lessons to many viewers who dislike Boon Ok.
Just wanted to give a big thank you to all the people who defended my right to write! And to all the people who enjoy my writing, I will continue to do so!
Much love and appreciation!
And although now, I am in the minority opinion, may we all meet in another comment section where I may or may not join the majority one.
Depending on how the drama will end in the next 5 episodes, I will most likely rate is between an 8/10 to 8.5/10.
Thanks once again! And always try to keep an open mind!
Snowdrop is indicated to use Romeo and Juliet as an allegorical source, and the couple that comes to mind is the main couple romance of Soo Ho and Young Ro. And although understandably, being the main couple, they do have that certain aspect that parallel the Shakespearean tragedy, I feel that they tend to be more of a face value basis rather than an ideological one.
The one couple that I feel more closer portray the ideological portrayal of Romeo and Juliet is actually the relationships of Boon Ok and Gyeok Chan. Let me explain how and why.
The romance between these two starts very late in the drama, and are mostly relegated to minor side glances. But what makes the romance even remotely viable and shippable may be the shared consciousness between the two. Watching their tragic backstory unfold, and intersect, is enough to illicit sympathy. We sense the homegenized suffering of two kindred souls, that can sense each others pain as if it were their own. Even before the episode of their flirtation was showed, they had already become a stronger couple than that of Kang Moo and Hanna (their relationship feels like a very one sided one that is borne out of a stereotypical portrayal of a hysterical jilted ex-lover). One can even argue that they are the true secondary couple pairing, that is only hindered by them being portrayed as antagonist by the show.
Gyeok Chan and Boon Ok portray the role of star crossed lovers, because their love story is tragic and impossible. They not only belong to conflicting sides, but neither of them have destinies that they can control. While Boon Ok is the only person who can care for her ailing father and thus must survive; Gyeok Chan on the other hand is stuck in a hole of indoctrination of which escape is difficult. In a way, both of them are stuck in their destiny, there is no nepotism or great family name that can help them escape their predicament or elevate their status. In fact this is a defining feature of the two, they both at different times, lament the deficiency of their poor birth, and the difficulty they both are experiencing in life. Both of them also have to defer to people who are given a more higher status due to the statuses of their family, namely Young Ro and Soo Ho.
Tragically, the only way for Boon Ok and Gyeok Chan to escape their forced destinies is to perish. Gyeok Chan seems to value his death as the greatest honor, it seems to be a noble thing for his ideology, but it seems more to me, to Gyeok Chan, it seems to be the one thing he can fully control. Throughout the drama, Soo Ho neuters Gyeok Chan's intentions. He can nary do a thing without Soo Ho's permission. Boon Ok on the other hand, even in a hostage situation where the power balance should be neutralized, she is still made to feel like the lowest rung in society. Which is why, when given the chance to escape her destiny presents itself by way of Cheong Ya, it was not a tough decision for Boon Ok to make. Boon Ok and Gyeok Chan represent two people trying to escape their forced destinies in their own ways. And in doing so, they have found each other, and made them realized that maybe they can find a way to both escape their destinies, and re-write their future. Their love bloomed behind a harsh environment of a plot and setting that would rejoice the star crosses lovers, failures, and would rather see both characters follow their paths to their own demise.
We see that both Boon Ok and Gyeok Chan are actually quite loyal. Although both may look traitorous to the viewers, it's actually quite the contrary. Gyeok Chan's loyalty never lay with Soo Ho, but rather Ms. Choi and the ideology of the NK government, which is why we never see his characterization sway. In Boon Ok's case on the other hand, the viewers and the people of Hosu Dorm expects her to be loyal to them, even considering their mistreatment of her. This is akin to a husband who cheats on her wife constantly, being outraged when her wife ends up sleeping with someone else. But when Boon Ok, eventually let's her guard down, and accept the NK's as her new "family", we see her be quite loyal to them, and find ways to help them.
In a way, the warring families that wants to keep Gyeok Chan and Boon Ok from forming a romance is the audience of the show, who majority seem to believe that both of these character deserves nothing but sadness and bad karma. While in comparison, there is really no such hindrance for Young Ro and Soo ho, who have their happy ending begged and carpeted by viewers expectation. While the romance of Young Ro is paved by dialogue and magic coffee, Gyeok Chan and Boon Ok faced much more insurmountable odds.
But it's interesting, even with a complete lack of screen time, dialogue or plot devices. There is that genuine sense of connection. Although the two of them do not talk much, they allow their actions to pave the path for the romance. Just like a true romantic couple, Gyeok Chan does thing for Boon Ok without asking, as she does things for him without his prodding. We see that even though their relationship is relegated to nods, side glances, and fleeting eye contact, the fire has never burned brighter between these two star crossed lovers.
And although tragedy is most likely in the path of Boon Ok and Gyeok Chan; it will at least allow them to escape the destiny forced upon them, and hopefully find redemption from the audience somehow, someway.
Young ro dying doesn't serve much of a purpose since soo ho has already turned his back on NK, and doesn't need…
I don't think they will force a romeo and Juliet ending.
Gyeok Chan said nk will chase soo ho no matter where he goes. This implies NK has spies everywhere. But keep in mind, nobody in NK knows about soo hos betrayal yet. Soi don't see why the sister would get hurt. If soo ho "dies" he actually dies a hero. So to protect the sister, gyeok Chan and Cheong ya have to be convinced or die to hide soo hos betrayal.
I think soo hoo will fake die. And it will be convincing enough that even young ro will believe it. Cheong ya and Kang moo will help cover this up.
And then both eventually meet somewhere.
An ending where one of them dies or both is possible, I just don't feel there is enough emotional build up for it to hit home.
Romeo and Juliet were dating for a while and had sex even.
Another thought. I just revisited the kiss scene and something came to my mind. Before the kiss, Sooho had told…
Young ro dying doesn't serve much of a purpose since soo ho has already turned his back on NK, and doesn't need her martyrdom. Her death would only benefit her father, who would feel guilty and possibly sabotage the whole thing and cause the ruling party to lose.
Soo ho dying on the other hand would serve the same reason as young ro death in the sense that the corruption could also be unearthed this way. But it has the added bonus of advancing young ros character growth. But the thing is, young ro doesn't seem to have much character growth thus far, so it wouldn't be a very strong moment.
Which is why I feel both of them will survive and meet somewhere where they won't be chased.
They kissed
But yes, they have to show her redemption arcs first before her demise so it's more impactful.
Cheong ya dying is possible but doesn't have much impact plot wide imo, other than her repaying a favor.
Why not have Jung Hae In and Jisoo just play different characters and manifest that as it's spiritual successor.
Young Ro - There seems to be a lot of belief that she may die in the shows ending. It's certainly possible, since it would line up nicely with the death in Romeo and Juliet. The impact would be moderate, as her death would impact her father, Soo Ho, and most of the hostages. I think writing wise though, although tragic, it wouldn't really change much public discourse. I just don't see what lessons the people around her, or even the audience would garner from her death, other than it being tragic? I am not even sure how it would affect Soo Ho, maybe he would be sad enough and pull a Romeo. Because whether Young Ro dies or not, Soo Ho would still be a fugitive, but he will become a lonely one. In fact, I would argue her death, and the death of the hostages would have a similar impact to the citizens of SK in the drama. And of course her father would be devastated, but we don't really have a personal connection to Eun Chang Su.
Soo Ho - There is also a belief that he would die. It's also possible that he will be the one to martyr himself for Young Ro's sake. The impact would be small, because the only people affected by his death in the show would be his sister, Eun Cheol, his father and maybe Cheong Ya. Writing wise, I think his death may have more impact than Young Ro, since the drama and plot has focused and centered mostly on Soo Ho, seeing the death of the character whose arc we have been following would be more tragic from a viewer's standpoint. The important or message it would send to the audience would be poignant, because it brings up the oft used martyrdom for love trope. It would seem justified as a sort of retribution for the wrong he has committed in the past. And although the magic coffee s meant to absolve his wrongs to Young Ro, in the end, he still has done other wrong things to other people. It has the added option of possibly redeeming Cheong Ya and Lim Ji Rok's character, as they may have a change of ideology due to this. Additionally, I feel a Romeo and Juliet death would be unnecessary, because it is not like SK and NK will stop being at war because these two died.
Kang Moo and Hanna - I lumped them together, because frankly, I feel that the death of both or either of them has not much impact. They don't really have very complex characterization, and actually have often been used as comedic relief in the show. Their death may simply signify the death of satire, and the birth of realism. I don't feel any attachment to them personally. Their deaths will not have any literary significance.
Three Stooges/Joy Luck Club - Because i've felt them to be unnecessary since day 1, their failure and demise will feel like filler scenes when it happens.
Hostages - If they are to meet their demise, since there are so many of them, it's hard to feel anything. I haven't really personally connected with any of them. In fact I feel much of the story building of the many different denizens of Hosu Dorm is wasted, since after the hostage situation there wasn't enough screen time and character development. Their deaths will not have any literary significance.
Boon Ok - Depending on how the writers write it, it could be the most impactful death in the series. It would impact almost everyone in the dorm, because it seems that everyone has a negative opinion on Boon Ok. If my suspicious is correct, if she will die, it would be a redeeming arc type of way. Writing wise, I think it would be more powerful than any other death. Because Boon Ok, given her complex characterization, and antagonistic qualities would impact the hostages, Young Ro, and basically everyone else in the dorm that is able to witness her redemption arc. It would make them live with life lessons on the dangers of a power/social dynamic and how we should learn to sympathize with the downtrodden. It would also be an astute lessons to many viewers who dislike Boon Ok.
And to all the people who enjoy my writing, I will continue to do so!
Much love and appreciation!
And although now, I am in the minority opinion, may we all meet in another comment section where I may or may not join the majority one.
Depending on how the drama will end in the next 5 episodes, I will most likely rate is between an 8/10 to 8.5/10.
Thanks once again! And always try to keep an open mind!
But we will see.
Snowdrop is indicated to use Romeo and Juliet as an allegorical source, and the couple that comes to mind is the main couple romance of Soo Ho and Young Ro. And although understandably, being the main couple, they do have that certain aspect that parallel the Shakespearean tragedy, I feel that they tend to be more of a face value basis rather than an ideological one.
The one couple that I feel more closer portray the ideological portrayal of Romeo and Juliet is actually the relationships of Boon Ok and Gyeok Chan. Let me explain how and why.
The romance between these two starts very late in the drama, and are mostly relegated to minor side glances. But what makes the romance even remotely viable and shippable may be the shared consciousness between the two. Watching their tragic backstory unfold, and intersect, is enough to illicit sympathy. We sense the homegenized suffering of two kindred souls, that can sense each others pain as if it were their own. Even before the episode of their flirtation was showed, they had already become a stronger couple than that of Kang Moo and Hanna (their relationship feels like a very one sided one that is borne out of a stereotypical portrayal of a hysterical jilted ex-lover). One can even argue that they are the true secondary couple pairing, that is only hindered by them being portrayed as antagonist by the show.
Gyeok Chan and Boon Ok portray the role of star crossed lovers, because their love story is tragic and impossible. They not only belong to conflicting sides, but neither of them have destinies that they can control. While Boon Ok is the only person who can care for her ailing father and thus must survive; Gyeok Chan on the other hand is stuck in a hole of indoctrination of which escape is difficult. In a way, both of them are stuck in their destiny, there is no nepotism or great family name that can help them escape their predicament or elevate their status. In fact this is a defining feature of the two, they both at different times, lament the deficiency of their poor birth, and the difficulty they both are experiencing in life. Both of them also have to defer to people who are given a more higher status due to the statuses of their family, namely Young Ro and Soo Ho.
Tragically, the only way for Boon Ok and Gyeok Chan to escape their forced destinies is to perish. Gyeok Chan seems to value his death as the greatest honor, it seems to be a noble thing for his ideology, but it seems more to me, to Gyeok Chan, it seems to be the one thing he can fully control. Throughout the drama, Soo Ho neuters Gyeok Chan's intentions. He can nary do a thing without Soo Ho's permission. Boon Ok on the other hand, even in a hostage situation where the power balance should be neutralized, she is still made to feel like the lowest rung in society. Which is why, when given the chance to escape her destiny presents itself by way of Cheong Ya, it was not a tough decision for Boon Ok to make. Boon Ok and Gyeok Chan represent two people trying to escape their forced destinies in their own ways. And in doing so, they have found each other, and made them realized that maybe they can find a way to both escape their destinies, and re-write their future. Their love bloomed behind a harsh environment of a plot and setting that would rejoice the star crosses lovers, failures, and would rather see both characters follow their paths to their own demise.
We see that both Boon Ok and Gyeok Chan are actually quite loyal. Although both may look traitorous to the viewers, it's actually quite the contrary. Gyeok Chan's loyalty never lay with Soo Ho, but rather Ms. Choi and the ideology of the NK government, which is why we never see his characterization sway. In Boon Ok's case on the other hand, the viewers and the people of Hosu Dorm expects her to be loyal to them, even considering their mistreatment of her. This is akin to a husband who cheats on her wife constantly, being outraged when her wife ends up sleeping with someone else. But when Boon Ok, eventually let's her guard down, and accept the NK's as her new "family", we see her be quite loyal to them, and find ways to help them.
In a way, the warring families that wants to keep Gyeok Chan and Boon Ok from forming a romance is the audience of the show, who majority seem to believe that both of these character deserves nothing but sadness and bad karma. While in comparison, there is really no such hindrance for Young Ro and Soo ho, who have their happy ending begged and carpeted by viewers expectation. While the romance of Young Ro is paved by dialogue and magic coffee, Gyeok Chan and Boon Ok faced much more insurmountable odds.
But it's interesting, even with a complete lack of screen time, dialogue or plot devices. There is that genuine sense of connection. Although the two of them do not talk much, they allow their actions to pave the path for the romance. Just like a true romantic couple, Gyeok Chan does thing for Boon Ok without asking, as she does things for him without his prodding. We see that even though their relationship is relegated to nods, side glances, and fleeting eye contact, the fire has never burned brighter between these two star crossed lovers.
And although tragedy is most likely in the path of Boon Ok and Gyeok Chan; it will at least allow them to escape the destiny forced upon them, and hopefully find redemption from the audience somehow, someway.
The most we can hope for are probably some side glances.
Comrade Joo and boon ok are the true Romeo and Juliet.
He accepts because if his betrayal he will be on the run. And he knows that he cannot ask young ro to be a fugitive like him.
Note that Kang moo never offers soo ho a chance to defect only Cheong ya
Gyeok Chan said nk will chase soo ho no matter where he goes. This implies NK has spies everywhere. But keep in mind, nobody in NK knows about soo hos betrayal yet. Soi don't see why the sister would get hurt. If soo ho "dies" he actually dies a hero. So to protect the sister, gyeok Chan and Cheong ya have to be convinced or die to hide soo hos betrayal.
I think soo hoo will fake die. And it will be convincing enough that even young ro will believe it. Cheong ya and Kang moo will help cover this up.
And then both eventually meet somewhere.
An ending where one of them dies or both is possible, I just don't feel there is enough emotional build up for it to hit home.
Romeo and Juliet were dating for a while and had sex even.
Soo ho dying on the other hand would serve the same reason as young ro death in the sense that the corruption could also be unearthed this way. But it has the added bonus of advancing young ros character growth. But the thing is, young ro doesn't seem to have much character growth thus far, so it wouldn't be a very strong moment.
Which is why I feel both of them will survive and meet somewhere where they won't be chased.