Kachiiing

But he does change! A person with Autism (which I'm convinced he doesn't have - if he does, it's not portrayed very well) - has a neurodevelopmental disorder with no known cure. It can be managed - but doesn't ever vanish. The main reason why I'm convinced Naoki doesn't have autism, and is mean for the hell of it - is because when they get married? He's a pretty swell husband.

You don't see any signs of his autism being managed, or him reverting back to exactly how he was before. Also his meanness is more or less directed at one person - he isn't the same level of mean to anyone else. And I'm pretty sure autism doesn't have an on/off switch button - if the writer wanted to to portray an autistic character I would have liked more research and an active display of management techniques. And if Naoki was not diagnosed - then I'm even more surprised he is able to be a different character altogether after getting married, because it would be virtually unheard of. Maybe he had mild autism? Even then, I would expect it to continue till death and not just disappear. Basically more research needed all round. (And I agree with you - there needs to be a National Awareness Month!)

You raise a good point in your 2nd paragraph. Does it make me happy? No. But I s'ppose it's all in relation. If a doctor went home and knocked six rounds out of his wife, and she lay dying on the floor as he tried to save her, she might think more of his motivations and not be as happy he's saving her. But if the next day, he saved a stranger on the operating table, that stranger would be very happy and wouldn't care about his motivation. I'm not going to be a hypocrite - if that stranger on the operating table was me, I would be that person that wouldn't care less about motivation. It's human nature. We are all egocentric at a certain level. Do I still think it's an appalling message to be packed in a romance drama geared at young girls? Yes. Might be more interesting themes to be used in a drama, which doesn't idealize or romanticize the notion - a drama that shows repercussions as well as the rewards. They are out there, and they are the best ones! :)

Well yes. Everybody deserves to be treated like a queen. If you aren't, let the guy know his behavior is unacceptable and maybe he can work on that. That's the main thing. If she had done that, especially in the beginning where it mattered - I wouldn't have called her a doormat. I would applaud her. Since you're putting words into my mouth, should I put some in yours? "But based on what you're saying...(that's the line you used)...it's okay to be in a mean relationship if it's a high-achieving one professionally or academically. I'm not saying she should stay dumb. She should study for reasons that belong to her ALONE, rather than insisting on becoming a nurse just because her future husband is gonna be a doc. That is such a selfish reason. You want to become a nurse, because you wanna help people ONLY. Not for the money. Not because your friend is doing it. Not because your hubby is gonna be in the next ward. People's lives are at stake here and if I was appalled watching it at 14, then it must've been an appalling message..

Sorry the above comment is mine. Something went wrong, my user name isn't showing up. Also I admit he's guiding her in his own way - but what I've been saying from the very beginning is vulnerable people don't need to be degraded or humiliated as part of that "guidance."

I don't get your first question. She lacks self-esteem, because she links her worth directly to a guy. A person with healthy self-esteem, will view them-self as a separate entity and when they enter a relationship, should bring their own interests and thoughts, instead of changing them to revolve around another person's interests and thoughts. That is harmful pathological behavior, because it makes you less likely to go against them if they're doing something wrong. And which is why I use words like doormat etc etc....

I admit, by the end, they are quite a couple - but it's a fairytale ending. In the real world, characters should build their own self-esteem, not rely on someone else to do it. What if that person ups and leaves? You should never be that dependent on anybody, unless you're fragile and it can't be helped (in that case, you have no business being in a romance at all.) In fiction, it makes love intense and shit, but I'm quite the cynical realist, and I know exactly how fiction glamorizes and romanticizes some terrible behavior - by saying "it's all right, he becomes a better man by the end, because she stuck by him and believed in him"

...I don't know if I can trust your fangirling, Ceki :) I mean you clearly stated you were drawn to him for his looks, but feel his acting's getting there....so you might be pushing this drama because your bias is there. I'm trusting you, when you say the main girl gives him shit back.

I heard in Noble, my love he is possessively mean, and forbids the lead female from being around other guys/from leaving the house/and from going out to do her job....apparently he has to know where she is all the time, and if she doesn't answer the phone, shit hits the fan...is this all true? I'll be interested in hearing the perspective on a person who has been vocal about abuse in dramas in the past, but makes no mention of it here???

Maybe I've got it all wrong, please correct me! I will not watch this drama if the lead does all of the above.

T.O.P looked a little creepy, when he was gazing at the girl who claimed not to believe in love :P

It's not him being cold that's the problem. It's how his personality type brings the worse out of her personality type. He would insult her/ignore her...then throw her a bone. Which would cruelly keep her hopes up and make her come back...he knew just enough what to dangle. And isn't that classic signs of abuse? Oh, I'll treat her wrong, but the moment I sense she's drifting away, I'll smile at her or something, and then this cycle continues at least 5 times. When a person degrades themselves, and the other person just insults them or encourages the behaviour by ignoring, then showing affection for like 2 seconds, it really does mess with one's mind. Ergo, the title "mental abuse." If you don't consider it to be mental abuse, then fine.

But she is a person that lacks self-esteem. Her type of character is vulnerable and needs help not ridicule from prospective love interests.

C'mon you cannot deny they portrayed her dumb as a box of rocks...allowing herself to be a doormat, so he could wipe his feet all over her...begging for his icy attention...he just ignored her most of the time. But the escalation of how much she degraded herself, pointed to signs of low self-esteem and he certainly didn't help her raise it....instead he just ignored (she just saw that as progress), or actively insulting her....though I admit. I watched ISWAK from beginning to the end. There were sweet moments. And her persistence won her a husband. But the first fifteen to twenty episodes were painful to watch....I was young then. I thought something was wrong with me, for not liking the plot and demanding more as a female viewer about female characterization. I told myself to suck it up and keep going...

And although I don't regret watching it, because it had many good points, it's major major negative point was how it portrayed the female lead. The ultimate doormat victim. Still I gave the drama a 7, which is pretty generous in my view.

Thank God? The original story glorified mental abuse.

When I saw there was a stalker's guide published for Inoue Mao, the first person that came to mind to who could've written it was you :P Liked!

They reached the denouement too early - that is, they solved the primary problem, without inserting a good secondary problem in place. For me, it would've been perfect if Seong Joon hadn't been accepting about the deceit - all the groundwork for feeling betrayed was there. But he finds out about the real Hye Jin and pffft.....he's just happy? He's unwittingly sealed the climax. I would've preferred more drama at this point -

:D :D :D

Taliw is already miles smarter than previous reincarnations before her. I was actually shocked (and surprised!) by how cunning and devious she could be. Blackmailing TenTen by unbuttoning the top of her shirt, and showing him her....haha, watch it suckers!!!!! (Ep 6)

http://kissasian.com/Drama/Rak-Lon-Jai-Nai-Klaeng-Joob/Episode-6?id=18647

It's all Freudian psychology - both men and women are intimidated by burgeoning female sexuality, as for centuries women were considered properties of men, and historically marriage was all about transferring property from man to man (Woman has nothing to her name, because it's Father who has control of her assets, he marries her off, and all assets tranfer to the husband). People are threatened by females who make independent choices, the world over. Asian dramas are a case in point, because most of the dramas portray the woman as submissive, of lower class and lower intelligence to the male.

It's bad enough men do it, but fellow women! I can argue that they too are threatened. Centuries of being treated as objects, has ingrained into them viewing other women as competition for men. If a female is dressed overtly sexually, other females will feel compelled to attack, because they feel the overtly dressed female is detracting attention away from them. A non-threatened female would have the opposite concern. They would worry the female is cold etc etc, or be indifferent.

I am not a fan of the word retarded.
Especially used in this context.
The real criminal act is how you're abusing the English Language.
Do you even know what mellow means?
*sighs*

....She just makes wise choices.

I do try with the viki comments. Some of them are good, but quite a few of them are slut-shamers (aka, they have no problems calling a woman, slut/whore etc etc.) What's poor Ha Ri ever done? Some people love their chastity a little too much. BARF.

When I first started watching k-drama:
"Everyone looks the same."
"The guys look like girls."
"The names are complicated. I can only tell difference between actors through hairstyle or clothing."
"This is a niche viewing choice."
"But I LIKE that niche!"

They don't have much of a budget. They can't afford fancy CGI effects, so they're making do with stuff you can knock up on a Windows Vista. So although it's weird - I just put more onus on the acting/plot changes etc etc