It was a great story, amazing cast, great 90's details, but why do all South Korean dramas always end with the…
It is an Asian thing to forgive, especially in cultures where family and clans are very important like in the Philippines, Japan, Korea, and China.
But at the same time, it doesn't mean you can get away from the law. The part that you've forgotten to mention: the father forgave his son but did not excuse him from paying for his crimes.
There is a limit to Asian forgiveness, even with family and clan members. To this day, there are still families and clans who still disown their own children. They'll protect them from the law, because it will affect the family and/or clan name, but they'll be disowned.
And disownment in Asian context is a huge thing. You will face blockage everywhere. It's like signing an NDA. No relatives with associate and talk to you and at the same time, they're all working to keep you from entering the same market and industry as them. That's what an Asian disownment really is.
In addition, not related to being Asian, people are often confuse about forgiveness. As I've always explained: 1. Forgiveness is for the benefit of the person who was wronged, not for the person who did you wrong. It is the only way that you can move on and be at peace.
Let's use your example, the father. He forgave his son not for the benefit of his son but for his own benefit. It was not exactly his son he was forgiving, it was himself. Remembered what he said? "It was my fault." Basically, he was saying, "You grew up that way because I failed."
He was actually forgiving himself, if not, he'll slowly go down in self-blaming, then self-pity, and then bitterness (at himself), and then depression, and ultimately death.
Forgiveness is about the person who was wronged. To free them from the burden. It is not about the person who did you wrong.
2. Forgiving is personal, not a get out of jail free card.
People always refuse to forgive because they have this incorrect notion that the person who did them wrong won't face the rule of law. That is entirely and absolutely false.
You can forgive but the person who did you wrong still has to face the national law. And again, forgiving is for the person who was wronged.
That is exactly what happened with the father, again, using the example you cited. You only looked at "forgiveness" but did not understand what forgiveness really is and how his son was still imprisoned.
Combine that with Asian forgiveness, and now you have a complete picture of why it is common in shows. The son actually got a lesser punishment, his father could've disowned him there and then, but he did not (when we disown someone, we literally say it to their face). He was still hopeful his son will change and finally listen to him.
That's what being an Asian is, in particular Pacific-Asian. And that's what forgiveness is really about.
I love historical shows, especially during crises like the Asian Financial Crisis because I lived through it and we're affected by it. Yet, this one failed to impress me. That's a telling sign they executed it poorly.
The story was there, the premise was good, the backdrop was perfect. I appreciated the many easter eggs they dropped here and there, which many likely didn't notice. So, there's also a nostalgic effect that most viewers no doubt missed. But again, I wasn't impressed with half of it. They started strong and then dropped fast. If you know the nagging feeling that something is missing but you can't put your finger on it, this is a prime example.
If a writer and/or director with experience in this type of genre.and premise is given the same script, they'll know how to maintain that strong start. They'll be able to execute it properly. To identify the right ingredients and the process in mixing them.
But maybe, just maybe, the target audienceof this show are the late Gen Zs and the Gen Alphas. They are the generation who never experienced the Asian Financial Crisis (and the dot com bubble for that matter). The generations who have no memories of that time.
Maybe, just maybe, those "missing ingredients" or execution I'm referring to were intentionally left out because the younger generation hates it. Which of course means it wouldn't sit well with many, if not all, of the generations who lived through it.
Which again brings us back to my earlier statement, another writer and/or director would have found ways to make it appeal for all generations, instead of a select few.
Hehehe. But it's about time that the return. So far, it's predictable because they're following the standard flow…
Although, I'm thinking it should end with them not going switching back. It's going to be a very interesting plot twist, andin the body swap genre, it's an ending that is rarely explored.
Hehehe. But it's about time that the return. So far, it's predictable because they're following the standard flow…
Ooh, I haven't seen that video.
But hopefully there'll be another switch to complete the trope. Hehe. And with the political intrigue, the two of them will get even closer what with they have to protect each other's body.
Btw, if you can understand Filipino, read that version as Filipino is more expressive.
Otherwise, the English version provided by the author is geared more toward American, Australian, and British English speakers and cultures. (The title is "The Only Girl of Class E" instead of "The Jewel/Muse of Section E" (the latter is Philippine English and culture).)
Those saying the body swap didn't do anything, are we watching the same show or??? Also, those that complain about…
Hahaha. True. Many expected they won't return until the final episode. But it's about body switching and so far, they're following the standard flow of the genre. I wasn't even surprised they switched back by the end of E07, I was expecting it. "Anytime now, anytime now, anytime now. Nooo, don't tell me during that scene!!!". 😆
psychological help is still considered sort of a taboo in Korea. mental illness is frowned upon. It's not that…
Yeah, it's really sad. Deeply rooted traditions and views is blocking some good practices and proposals from passing, especially in their Labour Code.
Hopefully they'll start with Child Labour and Protection Laws at least. They should find a Confucian reason for it if needed since their culture is still deeply Confucian even though the major religions today are Buddhism and Catholicism.
Translators of Pacific-Asian (not Asian-Pacific which includes AU and NZ) and Austronesian body switch stories…
If English is your first language and you're wondering why they haven't figured out the body switch when the English translation is using gendered pronouns, this is the reason why. In the native language, it's either genderless or gender neutral or both (usually both).
Translators of Pacific-Asian (not Asian-Pacific which includes AU and NZ) and Austronesian body switch stories should refrain from using English pronouns because it is confusing.
Pacific-Asian and Austronesian languages are genderless (no gendered sentences) and gender neutral (gendered pronouns, if any, are rarely used). It is much better to construct the sentences using the name of the characters.
This is ironic because in non-body switch stories, translators use the name of the characters instead of using English. But in a body switch genre, they use English pronouns instead of character names. 🤦🏽
1 
But at the same time, it doesn't mean you can get away from the law. The part that you've forgotten to mention: the father forgave his son but did not excuse him from paying for his crimes.
There is a limit to Asian forgiveness, even with family and clan members. To this day, there are still families and clans who still disown their own children. They'll protect them from the law, because it will affect the family and/or clan name, but they'll be disowned.
And disownment in Asian context is a huge thing. You will face blockage everywhere. It's like signing an NDA. No relatives with associate and talk to you and at the same time, they're all working to keep you from entering the same market and industry as them. That's what an Asian disownment really is.
In addition, not related to being Asian, people are often confuse about forgiveness. As I've always explained:
1. Forgiveness is for the benefit of the person who was wronged, not for the person who did you wrong. It is the only way that you can move on and be at peace.
Let's use your example, the father. He forgave his son not for the benefit of his son but for his own benefit. It was not exactly his son he was forgiving, it was himself. Remembered what he said? "It was my fault." Basically, he was saying, "You grew up that way because I failed."
He was actually forgiving himself, if not, he'll slowly go down in self-blaming, then self-pity, and then bitterness (at himself), and then depression, and ultimately death.
Forgiveness is about the person who was wronged. To free them from the burden. It is not about the person who did you wrong.
2. Forgiving is personal, not a get out of jail free card.
People always refuse to forgive because they have this incorrect notion that the person who did them wrong won't face the rule of law. That is entirely and absolutely false.
You can forgive but the person who did you wrong still has to face the national law. And again, forgiving is for the person who was wronged.
That is exactly what happened with the father, again, using the example you cited. You only looked at "forgiveness" but did not understand what forgiveness really is and how his son was still imprisoned.
Combine that with Asian forgiveness, and now you have a complete picture of why it is common in shows. The son actually got a lesser punishment, his father could've disowned him there and then, but he did not (when we disown someone, we literally say it to their face). He was still hopeful his son will change and finally listen to him.
That's what being an Asian is, in particular Pacific-Asian. And that's what forgiveness is really about.
The story was there, the premise was good, the backdrop was perfect. I appreciated the many easter eggs they dropped here and there, which many likely didn't notice. So, there's also a nostalgic effect that most viewers no doubt missed. But again, I wasn't impressed with half of it. They started strong and then dropped fast. If you know the nagging feeling that something is missing but you can't put your finger on it, this is a prime example.
If a writer and/or director with experience in this type of genre.and premise is given the same script, they'll know how to maintain that strong start. They'll be able to execute it properly. To identify the right ingredients and the process in mixing them.
But maybe, just maybe, the target audienceof this show are the late Gen Zs and the Gen Alphas. They are the generation who never experienced the Asian Financial Crisis (and the dot com bubble for that matter). The generations who have no memories of that time.
Maybe, just maybe, those "missing ingredients" or execution I'm referring to were intentionally left out because the younger generation hates it. Which of course means it wouldn't sit well with many, if not all, of the generations who lived through it.
Which again brings us back to my earlier statement, another writer and/or director would have found ways to make it appeal for all generations, instead of a select few.
In a way, her style does give a villain aura, she will definitely pull this off amazingly.
But hopefully there'll be another switch to complete the trope. Hehe. And with the political intrigue, the two of them will get even closer what with they have to protect each other's body.
Otherwise, the English version provided by the author is geared more toward American, Australian, and British English speakers and cultures. (The title is "The Only Girl of Class E" instead of "The Jewel/Muse of Section E" (the latter is Philippine English and culture).)
Let's manifest smooth sailing!
They'll switch again. Maybe in E09 or E10?
Hopefully they'll start with Child Labour and Protection Laws at least. They should find a Confucian reason for it if needed since their culture is still deeply Confucian even though the major religions today are Buddhism and Catholicism.
Pacific-Asian and Austronesian languages are genderless (no gendered sentences) and gender neutral (gendered pronouns, if any, are rarely used). It is much better to construct the sentences using the name of the characters.
This is ironic because in non-body switch stories, translators use the name of the characters instead of using English. But in a body switch genre, they use English pronouns instead of character names. 🤦🏽
She almost did with grandma but … the accident. And now that new crazy guy came into the picture too. She's totally losing herself now.