Liz

It's thanks to you that I've started leaving some notes on the dramas I've watched. It's a good way to remember them and the way I felt after watching them (so thank you!!). Reading yours are so entertaining haha. I'm setting up my camp under your 2025 watchlist right now!!

The drama did a really good job at adapting the novel. I'd say Go Young's personality is slightly toned down though. I can send you the epub if you want :) (it's quite a depressing read so maybe not the best one to start the year ><)

Thank you very much!

I'm sorry for asking but would you happen to have a link to that video? Thanks so much!

Thank you so much!

I see how my comment might have misled you but I don't have anything against dark romance. And I am very well-aware that fiction is fiction. What bothers me is how people romanticise assault. Was that "kiss" assault? Definitely. Did it make sense narrative-wise? Yes it did. The preview to this ep showed the build-up to this scene and Xie Wei was always portrayed as a kind of time bomb: always stifling his emotions, distancing himself, until he can no longer do so. His feelings for Xue Ning confuse him and the fact that she is such a free spirit unsettles him because he cannot control her. Now that he is fully aware of his feelings for her, he cannot bear to lose her but he is also painfully aware that if she really wants to leave him he'll have no choice but to let her go. That scene in the cave encapsulates all these conflicting feelings and is in keeping with his character. As other people pointed out that scene was not meant to be romantic and it wasn't.
I regret that that scene was the one moment that made Xue Ning realise her feelings for Xie Wei. Even character-wise, she doesn't like being told what do to nor does she like being forced into things so it would have been understandable if she acted cold towards him the next day. Xie Wei have apologised on several occasions (or maybe it was just once I don't remember) when he was rude and cruel towards her. He could have done the same the next day after their night in the cave.

On a side-note, I am allowed to find flaws and criticise a show I enjoy watching. Yes I didn't like that scene and yes I think it could have been handled better. The "don't like don't watch" is such a pointless comment and doesn't lead anywhere. Of course no one's forcing me to watch this show and I didn't blame anyone because I didn't like this specific scene.
In the same vein, I am allowed to be disappointed. Doesn't mean I'm asking you to feel that way too. If you've enjoyed the scene then that's great. I didn't and it's not the end of the world.

Your feelings are completely valid

I'm at a loss for words. Don't get me wrong I love this drama but that cave scene cannot be referred to as a kiss scene. That so-called kiss was plain assault and I cannot comprehend the arguments put forward to justify it. Someone mentioned how Xue Ning might have liked the kiss and I'm just baffled. Look at her and her body movements! Look at her eyes that are filled with tears! Look at her tensed shoulders! What do you mean she might have liked the kiss? No she was terrified. I don't care that Xie Wei was in a bad mental state. He assaulted her and the fact that he had the nerve to tell her that despite his sickness he was conscious when he forced her into a "kiss"... Unbelievable. I was waiting for a proper apology but it never came.
She kept hitting him and trying to push him away although the hold he had on her neck prevented her from moving much. He had his hands all around her neck???? Hello??? And the way he looked at her when she finally broke off the "kiss"... That was such a scary expression.
Really disappointed that the drama just brushed off how problematic and violent that scene was and proceeded to use it as a means to trigger Xue Ning's epiphany when it comes to her feelings for Xie Wei.

Hats off to Bai Lu and Zhang Ling He for their performances. Must have been quite a tiring scene to film.

Thank you for the link!

Oh! Do you mind telling me where I could watch this mini series?

Can't believe the only review about this series was written by someone who dropped it on the first ep and rated it 4.5. It's fine if you don't like it but this series was phenomenal. I feel the need to write a review now. I might. This series will stay with me for a long time, that's certain.
Give it a try. You may or may not like it but damn it's worth your time.

Hi! I apologise for bothering you but would you mind telling me where you watched this movie? I can't seem to find it anywhere :(

What a gem!
The first few episodes of the series might be misleading — in the sense that they don't do the series justice — but it gets so much better as the story progresses and if you like diverse characterisation, then you've found the right series for you ^^
No cringe moments, no fetishising gay relationships, just an accurate portrayal of people growing up and falling in love.

I'm also unsure as to what happened to Min Ha. I believe that he has either transferred to another school or he has killed himself. As much as I wish the latter would prove to be wrong, Min Ha's suicide is plausible given his current state of mind. The fresh scars he bears on his wrist and his vision of life seem to reinforce that possibility. In addition, Sang Bum's strong emotional reaction to Min Ha's uniform — at the end — undermine the possibility of Min Ha's transfer. His outburst of tears seem to imply that he will never be able to see Min Ha again. I wanted to answer your question but I ended up giving you my take on this short-film's open ending. I hope you don't mind :(

@ all the people who are assuming that Beom Seok is gay : what makes you think that? Because he got jealous of Young Yi? Because he craved Soo Ho’s attention and respect? Guys can feel jealousy. Guys can have genuine friendships and feel hurt when their friends seem to pay more attention to someone else. That doesn’t make them gay. Obviously I don’t care about Beom Seok’s sexuality but people should stop assuming that he is gay just because he used to value his friendship with Soo Ho in such a way that he felt upset when, for instance, Soo Ho didn't follow him back on Insta although he followed Young Yi's account.

On a side-note, people should never assume someone's sexuality. Even if Beom Seok is a fictional character, his sexuality is his business only.

I saw many comments saying that he was gay on other platforms and on this website as well so I felt like I had to write this comment. Please don't make me say what I didn't say. I just wished people could appreciate genuine friendships when they see one. (Sure theirs didn't end well but I hope you got my point).

Although I agree with some of the points you've made, I do believe that the aim of this drama is to highlight how never-ending the cycle of violence is and how complex bullying really is. Many people think that if someone's bullied, they should "just" call for help and make their situation known to the persons who have a recognised authority. However, this drama tragically shows how pointless it is because revenge will take its course and, given how reckless people are once their ego is bruised, it will be never-ending. The tragedy of this drama is that it painfully demonstrate how violence only creates a vicious circle which, by definition, has no end.

Thank you for explaining!

I'm not surprised people are quick to judge Beom Seok. He did do terrible and unforgivable things but he is someone deeply traumatised and scarred. From where I'm standing, I don't find the strength in me to judge him. I obviously don't agree with any of his decisions but I do not have his past nor was I the one who had to go through all the violence he had to go through. Again, his past doesn't excuse what he has done but it keeps me from being judgmental.
Things slip out of his control and he is too blinded by his anger, his insecurities and his inferiority complex to be reasonable. I feel like Beom Seok is the tragic embodiment of the human condition, with all its sickening flaws.

I don't think the drama ever used the word "psycho" to describe Shi Eun, preferring the word "weirdo" which Soo Ho uses several times to tease Shi Eun. However, as I don't speak Korean, I trust you if you say that Soo Ho used a word that could be translated to "psycho".
I don't think you meant it that way but Shi Eun needing therapy or even psychiatry does not mean he is a "psycho". You said that your opinion was different on that matter so I'm relieved. I am truly shocked if people call Shi Eun a "psycho" just because he has mental health issues.

As for "elegy", your explanation makes sense although I still don't think you can use the poetic form "elegy" as a figurative word but it doesn't really matter since your point got across.

Again, thank you for taking the time to answer my comment.

I hope you won't mind my comment but I'd like to comment on a few points you made.

I feel like calling Beom Seok a "nutcase" and Shi Eun a "psycho" is pretty insensitive and doesn't quite encapsulate the complexity of both characters.
Calling WHC1 an "elogy of youth fragility" makes me also wonder. The series is so brutal and raw and full of violence, I don't quite see where the poetry lies. There is nothing nostalgic nor reminiscent in this series so I don't quite comprehend the comparison with an elegy.

Anyhow, I hope I didn't come off as rude — I apologise if I did. I just wanted to express my opinion on your article.

Such a well-produced and well-directed drama! This must have been a pretty tough drama to film and act out but everyone involved did a brilliant job!
The musical score of this drama was just as amazing as the overall production. I could never skip the opening.

Thank you for taking the time to read my lengthy comments >< It means a lot!