Findus

The drums (not to be confused with the drumming) did seem to be the weak part in some sections of 2 of the 10 songs, so I went to listen the whole album on Spotify and let me the same impression. Nevertheless a pretty good concept album for the soundtrack. I am actually very curious if they will release something else, or the marketing strategy was just for this show.

True.

The ones you call dead, Tae Ju was in coma, they are uploaded consciences (not AI), can't be touched and are usually in an exotic place or better said: not in Korea. Egypt in case of Bai Li, space station for Tae Ju, Hawaii for Lee Yong Sik, London for the grandson. Besides that we have Hae Ri's parents which doesn't say where they are but their food is non - traditionally Korean (we also see a picture of her just with the grandparents), the dog of Hyeon Su's mother (from the talk about the companies) and Bai Li's dead husband Seong Jun.
When they explained the details to Lee Yong Sik, we find out that this uploaded consciences can't know they are dead, as it will get errors in the program . And that is why the interaction between Bai Li and her dead husband play as if they are strangers. She can't know she is dead, so she can't speak with a dead husband - not in that way.
At the end Hyeon Su confronts his mother about his dad. Through the interaction between the mother and Lee Yong Sik, we find out that the relation ended with no further communication. Now you can interpret that as: the man is dead and he knew nothing about Hyeon Su and digging what is in the past can't be resolved in the present, or you can give it a more contextual, movie related, meaning - his "fake" past is still something real and he just needs to accept this new reality. All the main characters are facing this dilemma, do they continue with the illusion - a reality synchronized with their desire - or they choose the objective reality.

Everyone is alive, that is how they pushed the boundary of - alive. But to answer what you meant in your question, yes, and the details are there to prove it. Is that man his father? It doesn't matter, as it is about acceptance, and this should also answer the question you wrote below.

You have to look it just in the movie context. In that case the scene is telling us that she choose the flesh and blood (I am purposely not using the word real) Tae Ju over the virtual one. The movie heavily deals with the notion of acceptance, so, through this filter you should look at it.

We tend to like what we know, so Ina might be the only character that they actually understand. This is not really a drama accessible for young people, or for those with a short attention span.
They even used some methods that reminded me of the movie Drive(2011) and it took that movie like half a decade to get recognition from the audience. People simply didn't get it then.

If your comment had been just an innocent post of opinions, my reply wouldn't have triggered you, as my reply wouldn't even have made much sense (like a nut in the wall). But it's not, it's an unsolicited lamentation. What were you even trying to achieve with it? Were you forced in to watch it after you stopped? Is the comment section some sort intimate support group ? So besides telling you to spend your time more meaningfully elsewhere (since the line of the drama won't change much), I called you out on it, by pointing out you are disrespectful, or to better put it, basic respect is not something you value. Pointing out you are rude, doesn't make me rude. It's you that came with an attitude, so show respect before demanding it. If my main intention was to insult you, why should I hide it? Like in this comment, me, directing so many questions towards you is rude and I don't have to hide behind excuses like, you forced me in to it.
It's not your opinions, or your imaginary crazy fan that brought us here. It is the other parts and the belief that your behavior in the comment section is normal for an adult.

You keep avoiding to understand that your opinions were not challenged or anything.
This is your comment:
a) "I know people won’t agree but"
b) "like it got boring"
c) "I’m hoping to pick it back up"
b+) "but like it got so boring"
d) "and would be better if he puts half the effort he puts in Dohee to his daughter 😔😭even after “curing” his depression there isn’t much improvement with his daughter and stuffs like that"
To which I replied my own.
So what does it shows and tell us:
a) It starts with a form used for false compassion - I know...,but..-
b, b+) unregulated emotion, puberty triggers this emotion but adults know how to regulate it easily, unless they avoided to learn how.
c) You didn't finish watching all of it.
c - b+) Acting like a spoiled person. Can also be exemplified, since is followed by opinions, with interrupting a person when speaking.
d) This is where your opinions are. There is nothing to challenge here, as there is no false statement and they are more preferences than opinions. {No need to read or maybe even comment to what the other person replied to you}
The creators set a different focus range for the main theme and things like their romance (which is quite questionable), or where your opinion/preferences stand, are not meant to be polished. They will shift attention and mess up the composition (paintings can be used as a reference here).
Now, my comment could have been somewhere in the lines of: You are focusing on things that in this case are less important. For receiving well this type of comment, you need a certain type of person, a person that is, at least, comfortable with doubt, as she(he) knows that doubt is a good analytical tool to obtain objectivity. Not only that this type of person would have never written a comment like yours, they would never write it in the first place.
Instead I told you to move on, don't waste your time, what you looking for will not improve by watching it all. Then there is the punctuation remark, the icing on the cake(your comment) which might pass as harsh. Yet it is based on a fact (not my subjective opinion), your actual comment as proof, unless you edit it. Just posting your comment with that content, except for the d) part, shows your attitude and your struggle with the concept of respect. The lack of any punctuation just emphasizes it, making the concept of respect something alien.
Don't act like a scolded spoiled kid, take it as an adult. Also, if you don't like people getting close to your skin, dress up. You are not at home or your chat group. Remind yourself that this is a public multicultural place, the subculture is better to be left out.

Pride will push you to reply with your reproach and that is fine, just bare in mind that the content of your opinions is not challenged here and just bring it up again, as that will be so sad.

Let's see, the content of your comments and up to how they are presented, indicates a young mind (this is not something bad).
If you are actually a teenager, then it can't be helped and some apologies are required along with the explanation that this is a drama who deals with some mature themes. Mature themes implies not only mature concepts but also emotions that are still alien to teenagers and young adults, emotions like nostalgia, for example, which is very present in this drama. Experience that only comes with age is required.
If you are an adult, then you should know better. Things like:
You can't accuse someone of being rude, when she/he is stating a proven fact and not a mistake (yes, the truth hurts).
No one can truly push their opinion to an another adult person. Also there was no debate between us about this drama, so how you came up with this is a puzzle.
It's disrespectful to let the reader organize your words in to sentences trough punctuation. It also shows you don't respect yourself.
Just to mention some.
You started watching it, you couldn't connect, no harm. What you reveal about yourself already shows that it will be hard for you to connect at this moment. So take my advice (your choice, of course), be brave and move on, don't waste your time with it(the drama), or with writing comments and expecting approval.

The lack of any punctuation in your comment already says a lot, so probably this drama will not get better for you, move on and don't waste your time.

Like in the title, this is an atypical drama. Occasionally there are dramas with subtext (as the overwhelming majority is just text), yet they somehow managed to give some metaphorical flavors to this drama. And the music was right there to nuance this flavors.
I wish they would have been bolder, but I guess they had to consider ratings too.
Happy to see the Art Director is featured in the cast&crew list on MDL, as I already wanted to know who is it by the second episode.

This is an artificially constructed story like in comics( it's scratching your left ear with your right hand). The problem with such stories is that they lack the natural flow and are more like a scrapbook, so, when you invest in the story refinement and production, things like those you pointed out are brought to surface. Because forced conections are almost never smooth, the higher the quality the more visible the jointing gets.

It's says mystery at genres, but the series follows the rules so well that the perpetrator is known from the first episode.

For those who don't have a Baek Hyun Woo, they should buy one. You get endless "life saves" for the price of one.

"The flashfoward to Toranaga winning the battle was the show's way of reminding the viewer that this was never about the big battles or political machinations or adventure, it was a show that quietly and beautifully explored the interplay of the meaning of life and the meaning of death, of the subtle difference between having something that is worth living for vs something that you are willing to die for."

You get this from the book too. And even more (not just worth living vs. willing to die for), as it has even more layers about life and death. And this applies to the John Blackthorne / "Anjin" character too.
The loss of depth is visible even in the relation of Anjin with Mariko, relation that is brought more forward in the series (but without gain).

Nothing wrong with liking his character, yet pointing out the rebellious ones in the comment section, but also stating that you have no insight on the book, seems ...... strange, as the series is an adaptation(no more seasons) and not just something based upon the book, where you can have just an interpretation.

Tang Wei's character choice at the end was not for us to think about romance. There is a lot of details throughout the movie that signals the subtext who gives cause to her decision and it is about her (not him and not them). The sex scenes become such a distraction (and a lot of screen time), that is hard for the big picture to be clear enough.

Ah, they went with the fictional love. In the final episode when Hijiri admits that , he will stagnate, I was : Aww she gets it now. And then the final scene came, on the beach ... she didn't get it.
Also, what is with this 15 age? What aspects are they trying to cover with it? Boys develop more slowly and over a longer period of time (one of the reasons of why they are taller), so a 15 years old boy, will still pretty much look like a child. With no incursion in Hijiri's past, she falling for him is just a rabbit pulled from the hat.
And also, since this is adapted from a Manga, which will be the demographics for this type of romance?

I can not be offended, since I was mirroring you. You just caught a glimpse of your behavior, from the first comment you made, and it turns out you didn't liked it. Your last comment showed your emotional maturity level, so everything at this point will just antagonize you. But maybe in time you can reflect upon yourself, use this as a learning experience and grow up.

Please allow me to be amused and mirror you a little, because by now this has become tedious.
The word is "exercise" and not "exorcise", like in the lyric "when I exercise (flex) my demons I take them to the gym".
Does the phrase have the same meaning to you? Doesn't it go, like, in the opposite direction?
"Lee went into too much "detail?"
How much do you know about balance in a composition?
You can have as much detail as you want, but you are also going to change the viewer's distance to the canvas.
My comment was on the overall VALUE of the path he chose. By using caps, is it clear to you, that the key word is value? And value translates here as: the better option to convey the message.
He choose this path and so the sex scenes (with all the graphics) were necessary. But this scenes, also made him work with something unstable and volatile. And unstable and volatile, translates to something that can easily change meaning or can be overall misinterpreted.
Did he go to far? or He didn't go far enough?
"But when you overexpose the body and this is just a carrier for a different message, ambivalence is going to happen"
The key word is not overexposed ( as in to much spotlight), but ambivalence.
Also, do you think that, because is sex and not surgery, makes it more ok?
Do you know that actors can not really control the camera or how much is edited?
Do you think that the actors have a clear image of the outcome ( how the movie is going to look like when completed)?
Do you think that is always super transparent and it just comes down to an actor rational decision?
Do you even know that your comment about it, carries implicit offense?
Was she the first Asian actress with sex scenes?
I am convinced that the reaction ( to her ) would have had a different intensity if they actually manage to kill Leung's character. Yet Tang Wei character decision is essential to the movie.
Do you know why she choose that way? Hint: It is not because she loved him or that she fell for him.

That is my issue, Ang Lee wanted to tell his message through this story, he could have choose another one, or at least another approach. People will just see this movie as an erotic thriller. Meanwhile Tang Wei had to pay a price. Kubrik, for ex., in FMJ tells most of the same message as Ang Lee just by using the death of the preadolescent girl who is left behind by the Viet Cong.
I don't have a problem with directors exercising their erotic demons on screen if that is the main intention. But when you overexpose the body and this is just a carrier for a different message, ambivalence is going to happen. As an extreme example, even if I take by heart the intentions of that french director ... Catherine Breillat, in her "nonpornografic" movies, I struggle to find any value to her productions. People will chose (want) the romanced version, because they already know the other one.
So even if he did a good movie( with a lot of effort), Lee fell in a trap set by himself when he went in such detail. It takes quite a lot of steps back to see the background.
And I do believe that the outcome of the story carries most of the backlash that happened after the movie was released.