Polo749

Hi, I think I've wrapped my head around it now. Please see my above response to ItsV.

From what I can tell the writer is trying to show HJP as someone who has really strong feelings for someone but is determined to think that he doesn't. I'm not saying that it's an impossible phenomena but.. literally as I'm writing this I'm starting to comprehend. I think what she's going for is that he is fighting his feelings because he doesn't want his life to be complicated in that way (okay this seems painfully obvious now). He could get rejected and NDS could be chosen over him. He's also shot himself in the foot by handing NDS to her. I can utterly comprehend not wanting to have feelings for someone in a situation where you're likely to get hurt by it but I think the writer is overdoing it. Having said that, it's a kdrama and I guess I should expect everything to be exaggerated. I'm not going to look at this as denial because denial is subconscious. The sufferers don't know they have it and they certainly don't know why they have it. HJP is aware, hence why he's acting the way he is. Why else would the plant bother him so much if he didn't consciously believe it had some power over him? I think I was just overthinking before. It's as simple as he doesn't want to feel that way so he's pretending not to but he can't ultimately lie to himself.

So HJP didn't want to leave it to NDS to tell her but he's okay with no one telling her. I guess that makes sense. He can't make the decision on his own, especially now that she's closer to NDS than to him and she's obviously closer to Grandma. I guess his hands are tied and he's got to leave it for them to decide. In that case it is kind of NDS' fault that the lie is continuing but then it's also Grandma's. This drama could have been so much more than a plot that hinges on a lie being drawn out by the nonsensical motives of NDS and Grandma to protect DM.

When NDS was planning to tell DM before he met Grandma and changed his mind, did HJP try to talk him out of it? I can't remember what HJP's latest stance is on this. I get the impression that he feels it's out of his hands now.

I don't even get everyone's motives for maintaining this lie anymore. NDS has a good motive to reveal it as it's going to blow up in his face otherwise. HJP should also want it revealed because he doesn't like that NDS is taking the credit anymore. Grandma should want it revealed for DM's sake. What are the motives for not revealing it? Grandma has none, HJP has none, NDS has a motive but it's not good and I don't think it's fitting with his character. The only motive I can think of is the usual kdrama motive- to "protect" her. I guess that's what it is but *sigh*. Seriously though can someone break down for me why they haven't come clean because I don't feel like that's clear. Maybe I'm just a moron.

I'm an HJP fan and I see his flaws. I don't think I'm guilty of overly blaming NDS. I guess people are feeling frustrated but I too wish people would stop antagonising each other. Everyone can have their ship and neither of these character are either evil or saint-like. Basically I agree with you but I don't think it's HJP fans who are spoiling the vibe of the drama (maybe the comment section but NDS fans are putting down HJP as well so I think both sides are guilty of that). It's the writers who are spoiling the vibe of the drama by making it too steeped in the love triangle. It started off so strong.

Genuine question, what do you find realistic about him not understanding his feelings? It's common in kdramas but I've never been able to believe it. By his age he should recognise what he's feeling. Even when people first start getting feelings for someone else they know what it is, whether because we instinctively know or because we expect it to happen one day I don't think it's a confusing experience. Do you think he just doesn't want to believe it for some reason so he's in denial or do you think he just doesn't recognise the feelings? Either way I find that hard to fathom.

Yes the slow burn romances are the best. Romance either requires a gradual build up or a dramatic event that is keeping the couple apart. I know some people like it but watching a couple be all cutesy is not solid entertainment in my opinion.

Okay, I feel like I'm leaving way too many comments but I have a lot of thoughts about this drama.

Both NDS and HJP have their flaws, although not all of their flaws are necessarily “bad”. NDS is awkward and doesn’t think for himself enough but that doesn’t make him a bad person. Equally, HJP is very reserved when it comes to his feelings and is prone to holding back but that could be seen as a positive even though it’s being portrayed as a negative in this drama. I personally quite like that he holds back. The trope that he’s holding back because he’s not properly in touch with his feelings is tired and I never find it believable. It’s not that it can’t be done right, I’ve just never seen it. I myself struggle to know what I want a lot of time and regret decisions I do or don’t make and yet I’ve never related to that when I see it in a kdrama because I don’t think it’s portrayed properly. I think it stems from self doubt and I’m sorry but HJP is far too successful and confident for me to believe that he suffers in that way. It’s not that people like him can’t have insecurities but really they’re highly unlikely to suffer those insecurities in such a way that it affects their actions. If that were the case they wouldn’t be where they are. Yet, so many successful, confident, good looking male leads in kdramas seem to have a problem with knowing themselves, what they want and what they should do. I find it a little more believable in the case of HJP because of his difficult upbringing but it’s still executed wrong in my opinion. If you like someone that much you’re not confused about it. Denial is probably a very strong psychological phenomena and I would hazard a guess that it requires very exceptional circumstances to come into play. I don’t want to start psychological arguments as I doubt any of us are qualified to talk about that but I doubt denial is anything like it’s portrayed in kdramas. I often have to suspend my disbelief in kdramas, as I'm sure most of us do but it does complicate things when trying to analyse/discuss the characters.

His most believable flaw is that he can be too harsh when he’s dropping truth bombs. I think some people have exaggerated but he doesn’t respond the way he should when it’s obvious he’s really upset NDS. It’s not that I think he should sugar coat it but he should at least be a tad less aggressive. He raises his voice too much and too soon. I put it down to him finding NDS frustrating but it’s a flaw nonetheless. In contrast, when he’s criticising DM he’s a lot less hurtful. He still says it like it is but he doesn’t raise his voice.

NDS’ biggest flaw is not really a character trait but the decision he makes to pursue DM under those circumstances. Because it’s a bad decision and not really to do with his character I can chalk this up to a mistake.

Both NDS and HJP act jealous at times and this is either played for humour or to stir things up dramatically. Either way, for me that’s the writer showing their hand too much and I find it hard to hold it against either of them.

Yes and I can't help feeling it's an injustice to him. I don't understand what the point is. There's a fan theory further down the comment section that suggests he is being used by the writer to prevent HJP and DM getting together too early in the plot. If they just pick up where they left off there will be no story. I'm still not sure I believe that but why else drag the lie on and do NDS dirty like that? Even if that is the case, I'm still not sure it's necessary and it's certainly a cheap trick. I think it's all just a bit messy.

People are hating on him because they ship HJP with DM and they feel like he stole all the good will created by the letters. That's not strictly true as it was basically handed to him on a platter by HJP but it's also not true to say that NDS did nothing wrong. He shouldn't have pursued DM when he knew she thought he was someone else. I'm trying to defend NDS because I think he's being unfairly blamed for too much but I don't think he's completely innocent in all of this.

I think the main problem with NDS is that he pursued DM while she thought he was the guy who wrote the letters. I really don't think it's fair to say the lie is his fault but since he did go along with it he definitely shouldn't have started anything with DM.

Hating NDS is not going to make our ship sail. There are scenes where I don't like him but it's one of those things where I blame the writer more than the character. His unlikeable scenes aren't believable enough to influence my opinion of the character. They are too clearly set up by the writer for the sake of the love triangle. I've said it before and I'll say it again, NDS is getting screwed over by this love triangle. Not in the sense that he'll lose the girl but in the sense that it's damaging his character. I thought it would be HJP who suffered from the triangle but so far it's NDS. His best scenes are when he's having ideas relating to his work, when he's with his parents and sometimes when he's with his friends (although I don't always like their scenes as they're sometimes too silly for my taste). He also has some good scenes with HJP.

The problem is he did ask NDS to take the credit. However, he obviously didn't anticipate either falling for her or NDS falling for her. He didn't plan for this to be drawn out so long. Still, although I'm team HJP I can see how some people would think he laid his bed.

Okay, I believe that DM should be with HJP but if that happens I will feel so bad for NDS. That being said, I can see a happy ending for NDS even without DM but I can't say the same for HJP. NDS will resolve things with his parents and become a huge success but HJP will just stay where he is. No resolution to his story line because his is so strongly entangled with DM's story line. When NDS gets the girl HJP will just be left there hanging.

Okay, just to make sure, you know I'm joking right? Please don't try this. If you do try this and it works after all please let me know. I might use it after my ship officially sinks and my heart is crushed.

I know someone who swears by it. She owns a couple of shops in my area. One's a pet shop and the other sells costumes.

If that didn't work then you're beyond help.

Ask a silly question, get a silly answer. xD

There is a way. You'll need one chia seed, one turtle, a horse costume and a dead plant. You'll also need access to a bathtub. Stand in the bathtub with all ingredients wearing only the horse costume. Say "with this chia seed I swear, turtles and horses are my only friends, I swear to the Turtle Horse King, Kim Seon Ho is a dead plant." Say this six times while jumping up and down (careful not to step on the turtle). This must be done at the crescent moon and it has to be on a Thursday unless you do this in the month of March in which case it can also be on a Tuesday.

Edit: This method doesn't have 100% success rate.