I think it's safe to say this is more of a slice of life drama with a focus on human relationships in trying times…
Yeah, having watched all episodes, I agree. This is why I do not consider it exceptional so far. I really like the messages it conveys and the writing is pretty good but it tackles many issues at once that it feels too packed and not fleshed out. But I still think the story is engaging and I'm rooting for the characters.
I have said it before but Nam Mo and Mi Ho's relationship is so cute and underrated. I know that since they're supporting characters we won't get too many scenes between them but even the brief interactions we have gotten have showcased their chemistry. Granted, compared to Tae Poong and Mi Seon, their development was more rapid but it makes sense considering they are young people. They felt attracted towards each other, they went on a couple of dates and started dating. It would have been nice if we had seen more of this development but I'm okay with what we have gotten.
Today's episode demostrated their bond even more and it was a nice change of character for both of them. Nam Mo reached his breaking point and he didn't want to burden his girlfriend with his misery. He was usually the most chearful one but now he is in a difficult situation and feels helpless. On the other hand, Mi Ho, who was used to receiving care and support from her family, steps up and assures Nam Mo that he doesn't need to carry this burden alone. I hope we'll get to see more of them in the next episodes!
why doesn’t miso accept tae poong s confession???😭😭
She's focused on the business and she doesn't prioritize her personal feelings for now. We have seen that she is the type of person who puts her own needs away in order to help those around her so I think that she's not ready to reciprocate Taepoong's affection yet.
I want to talk about a scene from episode 2 because it has really affected me.
While Jin Pyo was beating Hui Su with his shoe, the noises start to fade and a ringing can be heard. It was as if we were the ones who had gotten beaten up. When you get hit repeateadly on your head, you start to lose your hearing for some brief moments and you can hear something akin to ringing - just like in the scene. I cannot praise enough the editing team and the director, this scene was so realistic and horrific.
After reading this article (https://m.koreaherald.com/article/10609563) I want to pay my respects to the writer and director for the way they have handled the domestic violence scenes so far. I haven't watched the rest of the episoded yet but the first two have been gripping and very emotional.
“From the start, we were aware that visually depicting violent scenes could be quite disturbing. I had a lot of discussions with the director and we decided to include only the necessary montages. When you watch it, you’ll notice there’s barely any physical contact shown between bodies,” she said. "We tried to express the brutality of the situation by showing what happens before and after, instead."
These words of the director make it clear how much caution was put into depicting a serious topic like domestic abuse. I applaud them for not going extremely graphic and choosing another way, one that does not rely on shock value. I have realised that when movies and series portray violence scenes very graphically, the emotional impact is not the same. Sure, the first times it's disturbing but after a while you kinda become immune to it. Thus, the emotional impact is lost.
But that's not the case with As You Stood By. Violence is always present, even when it's not depicted. The before and after sequences made my stomach turn. Hui Su's bruises after the implied beating and her distress are more than evident. I flinched every time the husband made a move at her, the series did a great job igniting fear and anxiety.
I am so eager to finish the drama in order to see how the emotional conflict of our heroines has been handled.
The rating is back to 8.0 thankfully. The first four episodes are gripping and well-directed. All actors were top notch, especially Ji Chang Wook and Yang Dong Eun. There were moments that made me sweaty, anxious, angry, sad, hopeful. I have already sympathized with Tae Joong and I'm rooting for him very hard.
The only minor complaints I have are that the main villain isn't that convincing so far, the other villains in prison seem more intriguing. But I can definitely understand that we are only talking about the first four episodes so I am willing to wait and see how this character will be utilized.
Additionally, I hope to see more exploration regarding Tae Joong's psychology and his dynamic with his former friends. The first two episoded handled this matter very well and I'm curious to see more of his progress.
Just finished watching the first episode. So far I am immersed to the story and I'm already rooting for Tae Jung to take revenge against the ones who wronged him. The episodes are short so I will most likely binge watch the rest.
I really like the way Choi Sung Eun and Lee Jae Wook use their eyes. You can see the yearning and love they hold for each other, especially from Do Ha.
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Today's episode demostrated their bond even more and it was a nice change of character for both of them. Nam Mo reached his breaking point and he didn't want to burden his girlfriend with his misery. He was usually the most chearful one but now he is in a difficult situation and feels helpless. On the other hand, Mi Ho, who was used to receiving care and support from her family, steps up and assures Nam Mo that he doesn't need to carry this burden alone. I hope we'll get to see more of them in the next episodes!
While Jin Pyo was beating Hui Su with his shoe, the noises start to fade and a ringing can be heard. It was as if we were the ones who had gotten beaten up. When you get hit repeateadly on your head, you start to lose your hearing for some brief moments and you can hear something akin to ringing - just like in the scene. I cannot praise enough the editing team and the director, this scene was so realistic and horrific.
“From the start, we were aware that visually depicting violent scenes could be quite disturbing. I had a lot of discussions with the director and we decided to include only the necessary montages. When you watch it, you’ll notice there’s barely any physical contact shown between bodies,” she said. "We tried to express the brutality of the situation by showing what happens before and after, instead."
These words of the director make it clear how much caution was put into depicting a serious topic like domestic abuse. I applaud them for not going extremely graphic and choosing another way, one that does not rely on shock value. I have realised that when movies and series portray violence scenes very graphically, the emotional impact is not the same. Sure, the first times it's disturbing but after a while you kinda become immune to it. Thus, the emotional impact is lost.
But that's not the case with As You Stood By. Violence is always present, even when it's not depicted. The before and after sequences made my stomach turn. Hui Su's bruises after the implied beating and her distress are more than evident. I flinched every time the husband made a move at her, the series did a great job igniting fear and anxiety.
I am so eager to finish the drama in order to see how the emotional conflict of our heroines has been handled.
The only minor complaints I have are that the main villain isn't that convincing so far, the other villains in prison seem more intriguing. But I can definitely understand that we are only talking about the first four episodes so I am willing to wait and see how this character will be utilized.
Additionally, I hope to see more exploration regarding Tae Joong's psychology and his dynamic with his former friends. The first two episoded handled this matter very well and I'm curious to see more of his progress.