It appears that way, but it's actually a story about a prodical daughter. There were no antagonists and protagonists.…
Actually, we are saying the same thing just using different approaches.
This is what I'm saying, and I'm going to use your approach:
The protagonists here are the 1FL and 2FL. This is their story. Everyone else are secondary characters.
Almost every Korean drama were set up pairing male and female characters, and many even tagged as "romance" when there aren't any. So it's easy to assume that it is a story about the 1FL and 1ML, or there's some "romance genre" in it. They do this because that's how they can get many to watch it.
This show is the same. It was made to appear to be about the 1FL and 1ML, but if you understood the story in the end, you'll realize it is about the 1FL and 2FL. It even ended with the 2FL being touched by a butterfly, and then there was a bonus scene where the 1FL gave a butterfly to a possessed man. The 1ML? LOL, sidelined. He was even standing at the sides doing nothing in the scene where the three shamans were praying.
There were even Korean drama in the past where the 1FL and 1ML didn't end up together, instead the 1FL ended up with the 2ML. Clearly, by your approach, the main characters were the 1FL and 1ML but once the story is over, you'll realize they never were.
It's the same in Head over Heels. By your approach, the main characters are the 1FL and 2FL because this is their story, so by your analysis, the protagonists are the 1FL and 2FL. So, who's the antagonist then? BongSu.
And that's what I'm pointing out. You can't, or rather, should avoid defining the characters by whatever binary classifications you prefer to use. They are all just characters, all important. Head over Heels doesn't fit any binary approach. But again, if you really want to use one, the best option is "protagonist vs antagonist" where the 1FL and 2FL are the protagonists because this is their story.
What for? And what does it have to do with the review?
I asked nicely and you replied with "If you didn't get it first..it's fine..ignore". I could've pointed it all out in my first reply but I did not because I might have misunderstood. But that reply? I wasn't born yesterday.
Just to be sure I understood it correctly—and if I did I would've apologized—I asked neurotypicals and they said the same. They even explained that your comment and reply were an underhanded and indirect way of accusing someone while ensuring if you're wrong, you can easily claim "I haven't said anything that is accusatory.."
> And this is the only time I will reply.So suit yourself.
Sure. Typical.
Next time, if you don't know the person, keep your comments to yourself. Better yet, if they're asking nicely to avoid misunderstanding, reply properly.
Your replies were rude and demeaning. If you clarified it, as expected of any civil human being, this could've ended better. I'll even apologise, if I'm wrong then I'm wrong. But we wouldn't know that anymore, would we? After all you did say, "And this is the only time I will reply.So suit yourself."
The ML was being emotional and confused by it. He thought that he's filling pity to 2FL after what he realized…
Ooh! That's a very good one! Yes, they didn't mention the baby's name, and in many beliefs, human souls already have a name before our parents gave us one.
It appears that way, but it's actually a story about a prodical daughter. There were no antagonists and protagonists.…
I know what an antagonist and protagonist are. 😅
The show is not about classifying people as good or evil, or protagonist or antagonist. This isn't a superhero vs supervillain type of story.
If not, what is it? It is a story about a family. An imperfect family. A mother who had to make a harsh decision knowing that her daughter, in her grief, might take the darker route—which she did.
The characters in this story are not black and white. Of they are, then every single one of them were either dumb or stupid for not killing the 2FL.
But they are not. Why? Because they understood that the 2FL isn't evil. That the 2FL is not a supervillain or an antagonist.
She simply is a lost soul who trapped herself in her past. She is redeemable and that's what they did, they redeemed her.
If we are going to say that the 2FL is an antrgonist, then the 1FL is an antagonist too, after all, she is being in opposition to the 2FL. And in the 2FL's story, she is the protagonist, the heroine.
These two-dimensional labels is always biased. A character or person's stance depends on which lens we are viewing a story or a case.
There are stories where we can apply this black and white approach, and that's because the story was clearly written that way.
However, Head over Heels isn't that type of story. It is colourful. It is rich. It is deep. 😉
If you have access to Viu SG, try to search there too. For most popular Korean shows and dramas, the various Viu regions share the same library. It's the those with less demand that they usually differ (like there was a movie I'm searching in ViuPH but is no longer available but is still in ViuSG, unfortunately, the movie is premiem in ViuSG 😭).
I'm not sure if you need to register first, but it's free. The only one that is premium is the latest episode (and usually stays premium for 4 to 5 days after it was released). Viu PH have RM from E01 onwards.
Well said! I honestly haven't been able to sit down and watch the episode because the hate comments on the preview…
Yep! They need to be more vocal and explain things. They're making her famous, so it should follow that they also help her if things are getting out of control. (And the same for the other regular guests they made famous.)
Either way, her detractors are illogical. The members defended her choice and appreciated her explaining things. YeEun was worried too but the members reassured her that people nas no reason to react negatively.
There was even a scene in the episode how YeEun said that maybe she can give the gift to her mom. She didn't want to accept it. I think it was SukJin, he liked her idea and he even said—because YeEun is having second thoughts—paraphrasing, "If you received a gift, it's all up to you what you want to do with it".
The oldest member understood it and was happy about how his gift will be given to her mom.
YeEun's detractors, they just want to say something negative. 🤷🏽
She's practical and honest instead of being a fake pretending she liked the gifts and then just storing it elsewhere or throwing it out. It's a progressive mindset.
Aed what difference does it make compared to wedding gifts where the couple notes in the invitations "cash is preferred"? It's just the same. Newlyweds want to avoid receiving 10 rice cookers; 10 irons; 20 curtains; 5 TV sets. 🤣 YeEun simply applied the same logic.
(Paraphrased) ML: "What's your real name?" FL: "Your reaction when I tried to touch you speaks that you still hate me. No, I won't give my real name." FL: *she leaves and a butterfly landed on her*
It was a hint to him that her name is 나비 (NaBi).
Why didn't she just tell him? Because names have powers. This ia very common belief in many cultures around the world since the ancient times and to this very day. Even the penname/stagename one chooses has powers.
But, if you don't give your name (ie vocalizing it or handing out your ID), there is almost no power to it.
Since he still hates her, he might accidentally or intentionally curse her.
Now, even if the ML figured out the butterfly clue, it won't have any power. And his doubt if he guessed right guarantees there's zero power (doubt = 0 power).
So, no harm done.
Option 2: 2FL is now free of her burden
Someone asked about the connection between the 2FL's butterfly and the bonus scene butterfly, and this gave me an idea.
The butterfly landing on the 2FL's shoulder is a symbolic meaning that her child's coffin she's carrying on her back has been lifted. The 2FL is now free of her past, burden, and bitterness that controlled her life.
To explain that scene, they added the bonus scene.
In the bonus scene, we saw she FL hand a butterfly to the spirit possessing a man, then the spirit left.
In many cultures around the world, a butterfly is a bridge or channel to help souls move on to their next destination.
The evil spirit was refusing to leave but after he was handed a butterfly, it finally decided to move on.
Which explains the butterfly scene for the 2FL. What did the butterfly help to move on? None other than the child in the coffin on the 2FL's back. Her child she wouldn't let go.
She finally let go of her past, so a butterfly picked the child to help it move on.
I'm just guessing here based on the sequence:He asked for her real name but she didn't tell him because he still…
Someone suggested there's a connection to the 2FL butterfly and the butterfly in the bonus scene.
This gave me another possibility.
In many cultures, butterflies symbolizes a soul moving on. It serves as a channel or conduit to cross over.
When a butterfly landed on the 2FL, it symbolizes that her child in a coffin behind her back finally moved on. She's now free of her burden and her past.
To explain that butterfly, they added a bonus scene, the butterfly exorcism scene.
In ending. why did ML ask Yeomhwa for her real name? any special reasons? and why does she have another name..…
The ML was being emotional and confused by it. He thought that he's filling pity to 2FL after what he realized with BongSu's real name. He though, "if someone calls her by her real name, she'll become a good person".
But when she was going to touch his face, he flinched. He fears her. He wasn't feeling pity. The 2FL refused because she understood that once the ML gets his thoughts and emotions sorted, he might accidentally curse her.
Real names are powerful. It is tied to your soul. This is a very common belief in so many cultures around the world, from the ancient to this day.
Q2: Why does she have another name?
Because she knows the power of real names. Her mother also no doubt gave it to her when she adopted her.
Q3: Butterfly on shoulder
I'm guessing here only. Since she refused to give her real name, the 2FL kind of like gave him a parting clue, the butterfly.
Her real name is more likely 나비 (NaBi).
But since she didn't tell him (as in spoken), even if he figured it out, it won't have any power. And his doubt if he got it right guarantees there's no power to knowing her name.
Q4: Bonus scene butterfly.
I can't remember this one properly, so you may have to dig this one to untangle the potential mess.
Butterflies are culturally known as a conduit to the spirit world. They transport human souls to their final destination, be it in paradise or damnation.
She handed a toy butterfly to that overstaying spirit as a symbolic gesture of helping him move on. Because if he doesn't, he'll soon turn into a demon and there's no saving him after that.
Q5: You line the bonus scene butterfly with 2FL's butterfly.
You are correct in linking them, and I for one didn't notice it. However, the meaning is that 2FL butterfly finally moved on. Her child's coffin behind her back that's been weighing her down, finally moved on. Her child she won't let go was carried over by the butterfly.
I really hated that yeomhwa didn't get any consequences for all the evil she did. It would have been satisfactory…
The 2FL isn't evil. She's a prodigal daughter consumed by her child's death. She's living in the past. She wants to resurrect her child at the expense of her life. But her mother stopped her because it's a violation of the order of the universe and the divine.
Then she found a way. She found a lost human soul that is already in the "evil spirit" stage. She tricked BongSu that she will help him become a deity, but all she wants is to turn him into a Demonic Spirit so she can use him.
But BongSu has different plans. He doesn't want to be a demonic spirit, and him reaching the "evil spirit" stage was probably a mistake on his part or because he hasn't moved on he eventually did.
In Korean spirit mythology, when a human who wants to stay in the living world doesn't move on, they eventually become an "evil sipirt". Or, if they died with deep resentment and hatred.
In the "evil spirit" stage, they are still human spirits. They just have access to demonic powers.
The final conversion is becoming a "demonic spirit". As a demonic spirit, they are no longer a human spirit and thus they'll go to eternal damnation. But as an "evil spirit" they can still be saved.
BongSu isone such human spirit. He simply reached the "evil spirit" stage but still is a human spirit.
The 2FL wants to use him and turn him into a demonic spirit "deity" (more like bound to her) but BongSu doesn't want it.
also I did not see bongsu as evil at all. like... what exactly did he do that was evil... he was just a lost ghost…
In Korean shamanism, spirits have different stages.
When a person dies, if they feel they have an unfinished business, their spirit lingers on the living world.
If they died with strong resentment, hatred, they start doing evil things but they still have control. Eventually, they become an evil spirit with evil powers.
They can still be saved.
But once they become a demonic spirit, that's it. They can never be saved. Their destination is eternal damnation.
BongSu is already an evil spirit. What the 2FL was trying to help him about was to turn him into a demonic spirit so she can use him.
But BongSu has different plans. He wants to be saved, not turn into a demonic spirit.
"Evil spirit" is a stage. They are still human spirits (ie not demons) but can already harness demonic powers. Their final stage is becoming a demonic spirit, in which case, they are no longer a human spirit.
"Evil" does not necessarily mean "evil" the way it is understood in English.
1 
This is what I'm saying, and I'm going to use your approach:
The protagonists here are the 1FL and 2FL. This is their story. Everyone else are secondary characters.
Almost every Korean drama were set up pairing male and female characters, and many even tagged as "romance" when there aren't any. So it's easy to assume that it is a story about the 1FL and 1ML, or there's some "romance genre" in it. They do this because that's how they can get many to watch it.
This show is the same. It was made to appear to be about the 1FL and 1ML, but if you understood the story in the end, you'll realize it is about the 1FL and 2FL. It even ended with the 2FL being touched by a butterfly, and then there was a bonus scene where the 1FL gave a butterfly to a possessed man. The 1ML? LOL, sidelined. He was even standing at the sides doing nothing in the scene where the three shamans were praying.
There were even Korean drama in the past where the 1FL and 1ML didn't end up together, instead the 1FL ended up with the 2ML. Clearly, by your approach, the main characters were the 1FL and 1ML but once the story is over, you'll realize they never were.
It's the same in Head over Heels. By your approach, the main characters are the 1FL and 2FL because this is their story, so by your analysis, the protagonists are the 1FL and 2FL. So, who's the antagonist then? BongSu.
And that's what I'm pointing out. You can't, or rather, should avoid defining the characters by whatever binary classifications you prefer to use. They are all just characters, all important. Head over Heels doesn't fit any binary approach. But again, if you really want to use one, the best option is "protagonist vs antagonist" where the 1FL and 2FL are the protagonists because this is their story.
Just to be sure I understood it correctly—and if I did I would've apologized—I asked neurotypicals and they said the same. They even explained that your comment and reply were an underhanded and indirect way of accusing someone while ensuring if you're wrong, you can easily claim "I haven't said anything that is accusatory.."
> And this is the only time I will reply.So suit yourself.
Sure. Typical.
Next time, if you don't know the person, keep your comments to yourself. Better yet, if they're asking nicely to avoid misunderstanding, reply properly.
Your replies were rude and demeaning. If you clarified it, as expected of any civil human being, this could've ended better. I'll even apologise, if I'm wrong then I'm wrong. But we wouldn't know that anymore, would we? After all you did say, "And this is the only time I will reply.So suit yourself."
🤷🏽
The show is not about classifying people as good or evil, or protagonist or antagonist. This isn't a superhero vs supervillain type of story.
If not, what is it? It is a story about a family. An imperfect family. A mother who had to make a harsh decision knowing that her daughter, in her grief, might take the darker route—which she did.
The characters in this story are not black and white. Of they are, then every single one of them were either dumb or stupid for not killing the 2FL.
But they are not. Why? Because they understood that the 2FL isn't evil. That the 2FL is not a supervillain or an antagonist.
She simply is a lost soul who trapped herself in her past. She is redeemable and that's what they did, they redeemed her.
If we are going to say that the 2FL is an antrgonist, then the 1FL is an antagonist too, after all, she is being in opposition to the 2FL. And in the 2FL's story, she is the protagonist, the heroine.
These two-dimensional labels is always biased. A character or person's stance depends on which lens we are viewing a story or a case.
There are stories where we can apply this black and white approach, and that's because the story was clearly written that way.
However, Head over Heels isn't that type of story. It is colourful. It is rich. It is deep. 😉
If you have access to Viu SG, try to search there too. For most popular Korean shows and dramas, the various Viu regions share the same library. It's the those with less demand that they usually differ (like there was a movie I'm searching in ViuPH but is no longer available but is still in ViuSG, unfortunately, the movie is premiem in ViuSG 😭).
I'm not sure if you need to register first, but it's free. The only one that is premium is the latest episode (and usually stays premium for 4 to 5 days after it was released). Viu PH have RM from E01 onwards.
Either way, her detractors are illogical. The members defended her choice and appreciated her explaining things. YeEun was worried too but the members reassured her that people nas no reason to react negatively.
There was even a scene in the episode how YeEun said that maybe she can give the gift to her mom. She didn't want to accept it. I think it was SukJin, he liked her idea and he even said—because YeEun is having second thoughts—paraphrasing, "If you received a gift, it's all up to you what you want to do with it".
The oldest member understood it and was happy about how his gift will be given to her mom.
YeEun's detractors, they just want to say something negative. 🤷🏽
She's practical and honest instead of being a fake pretending she liked the gifts and then just storing it elsewhere or throwing it out. It's a progressive mindset.
Aed what difference does it make compared to wedding gifts where the couple notes in the invitations "cash is preferred"? It's just the same. Newlyweds want to avoid receiving 10 rice cookers; 10 irons; 20 curtains; 5 TV sets. 🤣 YeEun simply applied the same logic.
🖖🏽
The Butterfly Explained https://kisskh.at/discussions/736965-gyeon-woo-and-fairy/143750-the-butterfly-explained
Option 1: It is the 2FL's real name: 나비 (NaBi)
The sequence was this:
(Paraphrased)
ML: "What's your real name?"
FL: "Your reaction when I tried to touch you speaks that you still hate me. No, I won't give my real name."
FL: *she leaves and a butterfly landed on her*
It was a hint to him that her name is 나비 (NaBi).
Why didn't she just tell him? Because names have powers. This ia very common belief in many cultures around the world since the ancient times and to this very day. Even the penname/stagename one chooses has powers.
But, if you don't give your name (ie vocalizing it or handing out your ID), there is almost no power to it.
Since he still hates her, he might accidentally or intentionally curse her.
Now, even if the ML figured out the butterfly clue, it won't have any power. And his doubt if he guessed right guarantees there's zero power (doubt = 0 power).
So, no harm done.
Option 2: 2FL is now free of her burden
Someone asked about the connection between the 2FL's butterfly and the bonus scene butterfly, and this gave me an idea.
The butterfly landing on the 2FL's shoulder is a symbolic meaning that her child's coffin she's carrying on her back has been lifted. The 2FL is now free of her past, burden, and bitterness that controlled her life.
To explain that scene, they added the bonus scene.
In the bonus scene, we saw she FL hand a butterfly to the spirit possessing a man, then the spirit left.
In many cultures around the world, a butterfly is a bridge or channel to help souls move on to their next destination.
The evil spirit was refusing to leave but after he was handed a butterfly, it finally decided to move on.
Which explains the butterfly scene for the 2FL. What did the butterfly help to move on? None other than the child in the coffin on the 2FL's back. Her child she wouldn't let go.
She finally let go of her past, so a butterfly picked the child to help it move on.
This gave me another possibility.
In many cultures, butterflies symbolizes a soul moving on. It serves as a channel or conduit to cross over.
When a butterfly landed on the 2FL, it symbolizes that her child in a coffin behind her back finally moved on. She's now free of her burden and her past.
To explain that butterfly, they added a bonus scene, the butterfly exorcism scene.
But when she was going to touch his face, he flinched. He fears her. He wasn't feeling pity. The 2FL refused because she understood that once the ML gets his thoughts and emotions sorted, he might accidentally curse her.
Real names are powerful. It is tied to your soul. This is a very common belief in so many cultures around the world, from the ancient to this day.
Q2: Why does she have another name?
Because she knows the power of real names. Her mother also no doubt gave it to her when she adopted her.
Q3: Butterfly on shoulder
I'm guessing here only. Since she refused to give her real name, the 2FL kind of like gave him a parting clue, the butterfly.
Her real name is more likely 나비 (NaBi).
But since she didn't tell him (as in spoken), even if he figured it out, it won't have any power. And his doubt if he got it right guarantees there's no power to knowing her name.
Q4: Bonus scene butterfly.
I can't remember this one properly, so you may have to dig this one to untangle the potential mess.
Butterflies are culturally known as a conduit to the spirit world. They transport human souls to their final destination, be it in paradise or damnation.
She handed a toy butterfly to that overstaying spirit as a symbolic gesture of helping him move on. Because if he doesn't, he'll soon turn into a demon and there's no saving him after that.
Q5: You line the bonus scene butterfly with 2FL's butterfly.
You are correct in linking them, and I for one didn't notice it. However, the meaning is that 2FL butterfly finally moved on. Her child's coffin behind her back that's been weighing her down, finally moved on. Her child she won't let go was carried over by the butterfly.
To help explain it, they added a bonus scene.
Then she found a way. She found a lost human soul that is already in the "evil spirit" stage. She tricked BongSu that she will help him become a deity, but all she wants is to turn him into a Demonic Spirit so she can use him.
But BongSu has different plans. He doesn't want to be a demonic spirit, and him reaching the "evil spirit" stage was probably a mistake on his part or because he hasn't moved on he eventually did.
In Korean spirit mythology, when a human who wants to stay in the living world doesn't move on, they eventually become an "evil sipirt". Or, if they died with deep resentment and hatred.
In the "evil spirit" stage, they are still human spirits. They just have access to demonic powers.
The final conversion is becoming a "demonic spirit". As a demonic spirit, they are no longer a human spirit and thus they'll go to eternal damnation. But as an "evil spirit" they can still be saved.
BongSu isone such human spirit. He simply reached the "evil spirit" stage but still is a human spirit.
The 2FL wants to use him and turn him into a demonic spirit "deity" (more like bound to her) but BongSu doesn't want it.
When a person dies, if they feel they have an unfinished business, their spirit lingers on the living world.
If they died with strong resentment, hatred, they start doing evil things but they still have control. Eventually, they become an evil spirit with evil powers.
They can still be saved.
But once they become a demonic spirit, that's it. They can never be saved. Their destination is eternal damnation.
BongSu is already an evil spirit. What the 2FL was trying to help him about was to turn him into a demonic spirit so she can use him.
But BongSu has different plans. He wants to be saved, not turn into a demonic spirit.
"Evil spirit" is a stage. They are still human spirits (ie not demons) but can already harness demonic powers. Their final stage is becoming a demonic spirit, in which case, they are no longer a human spirit.
"Evil" does not necessarily mean "evil" the way it is understood in English.