IM YourOnlyOne

Speaking of, if you have Bluesky, tag your posts with #Kdrama and/or #MDL so we can find each other too. If there are many users of the MDL hashtag, I'll create a special feed only displaying posts with #MDL later.

Ahh! I thought they just added that because there were constant fan wars (which was another commoe thing these days).

I hope they set up a moderation team. I really miss the years when we had good discussions here. These days, the complaints are filling up pages of comments. 😭

Yep. Good thing you mentioned the fast-forward. I've also noticed an uptick to questions which were answered by the exact same episode they just watched. Like, don't fast-forward it's all there! 😅

True! The producers, network, investors, sponsors, will cater to what they see in ratings and comments because that's what makes them money (as much as they want to tell good stories, at the ind of the day, they have to recoup the expenses and pay the actors and staff).

E03 is where the charm's at, and I'm not evee talking about the romance, I'm talking about the moral lesson and the beautiful way the writer has woven it.

You see, E01 and E02 made it appear that it's all about the supernatural. That human beings are subject to forces we barely understand. However, in E03, the message was clear: the supernatural is there to support us so we wouldn't completely crash down, it is up to us to learn to stand on our own.

This is true. In the Filipino culture we have a proverb that goes something like this in English, "Mercy is from G-d but action is for the mortals". Meaning, G-d is merciful to mortals but at the end of the day, it is for mortals to take action to achieve changes and their goals in life.

Here's an example situation:

Two students prayed that they pass the most important exams of their life.
- Student A is a genius. A prayed but did not study. A is even the son of a highly respected and well-known pastor who do miracles.
- Student B is your regular student. Far from being a genius but not a fool. B prayed earnestly as her classmate A, but B also studied as if it is her last chance and a matter of life and death.

The exam results arrived and A failed. However, B was in the Top 5 in the entire country.

G-d was merciful to both A and B. G-d granted them the focus, intelligence, mental prowess, and stamina to ensure they'll survive on exam day. However, A did not study and the questions were not the usual questions. While B burned lamps and so she was ready for any questions.

In E03, it was exactly what the writer wants to tell the audience. No matter what our belief is, our religion, our faith, it can only do so much if we ourselves are sabotaging it.

The FL did everything, even to become a human amulet, and practically became a stalker. But it didn't do much to the suicide spirit lingering around the ML.

What pushed away the suicide spirit was the ML rediscovering the joy of living.

The FL realised it later, so she changed her approach. Instead of relying on her being a human amulet, she learned that the most powerful way to shoo away the suicide spirit is, well, ourselves. She guided the ML to that conclusion and she let the ML do the rest.

And that brings us to the final point, we cannot force people to change or see the joy of life. A person who is depressed has a reason (or reasons) why they are depressed. Identifying and addressing those reasons is the best way to help a depressed person, never ever tell them, "You are so selfish!" Or "Think about the people you will leave behind!" Or, "It is sin! You will go to hell!"

Identify the reasons.
Address the reasons.
Guide them to the solution.
And let them arrive to it and do the rest.

Exactly what the FL learnt and did. Exactly how the ML rediscovered the joy of being alive.

LOL. What happened to MDL? The comments this year is primarily about complaints about the actors, or how the writer is supposedly dumb and stupid and should be arrested for writing stories.

Seriously, stop watching and leaving comments here every week if you only see the negatives about the actors and writers. If you only want to see your fave actor, watch their previous works or stare at their photos. Or, if you think the writer should be banned from the industry, why don't you write stories yourself and pitch it to production companies?

No, it is not constructive criticism to say that the writer is dumb and shouldn't be allowed to write stories ever again. Or, how you hate this and that actor, digging up their past, and replying to every single thread about it (you have too much time, find a better hobby).

🤣

He remembers it of course.

As to why he's pretending, it depends on the guy.

If I place myself in his shoes, I won't admit it either because:
1. I don't know what exactly we were. This was made obvious when they both were feeling each other out on what they were.
2. I'd be considerate on her and let her drive the story however she wants.

I'm suspecting he was the one who "broke up", if it was so, then all the more reason to let her weave her own story for her dignity. I'm fine with being the "evil guy".

If she was the one who left, what I would do is to feel her out. If it was years ago, there's absolutely no reason to straighten the record unness truly necessary. This one actually happened to me. One of my ex-gf happened to be in the same gaming community as I am. During one event she did something everyone in our communities noticed.

The result? Everyone started asking questions.

I did my best to keep things quiet but things got so ridiculous and epicly twisted, it started to affect our communities, so I straightened the facts. I had so many witnesses that all the stories she spead were lies. Like "He's probably telling everyone about us and I'm the evil ex-gf". I never did, I avoided it as much as possible. 🤣 "He can't move on, he followed me in this game." I joined the game since closed beta, I didn't even know she's playing the same game. 🤷🏽

Things like that. You feel each other. See how far they'll go. How they'll the story. And only straighten things if truly needed. After all, the past is the past. You'll know who can't move on by simply listening to whoever keeps bringing it up or hinting at it.

LOL. Yujin's agency noticed about her S03 seriousness. 😝😭 I noticed it as well but I didn't say anything because young fans today are one-dimensional and they'll attack me for it (our generation are honest and won't attack someone just because they noticed something we did not). But since Yujin herself shared it publicly, yeah, she was indeed a bit too serious and harsh in some scenes, like what her agency's powers-that-be noticed.

However, I'm glad that the Earth Arcade staff defended her and assured her that there were no hard feelings, it was nothing personal, and it was all for the work. After all, it is work, and you have to play roles. Half being you, half being fictional.

In any case, to Yujin, it was in your expressions. Your face, especially your eyes and mouth. You were indeed more serious in S03. Think of it this way, you four have become too close, you are comfortable showing more of your regular self and making jokes that other people will likely misunderstood. We all experience that. Only you and your friends understand each other.

But, in a variety show, it translates differently to audiences who are not close to you ladies, yes, even your agency powers-that-be. You shared how you had to think about it, so I guess you were a little bit bothered by it. Don't think too much about it. It was just that, you ladies are very comfortable with each other already, you were showing reactions and making jokes that you know is understood by the other three.

You don't have to adjust anything. As far as Filipino culture and variety show is concerned, you were perfect in S03. You were more natural than in S01 and S02. But of course, you're catering to the Korean culture and audience, so it's up to your agency and your Korean fans if you have to tone down or not. LOL, here in the Philippines, you can tone it up further! 😝 What you showed in S03 is nothing for us Filipinos. Bring it on!

But again, whatever your decision will be will ultimately be based on your agency and the Korean culture and sensitivities. If they will indeed ask that you tone down, just know that your global fans were fine with your S03 performance. Cater to your fellow Koreans because they are your largest market. Just don't overthink it, you're doing great. This is just how showbiz is. Just part of the job.

See you in the spin-off!

I think the 2FL is suddenly aware that she was supposed to be the 1FL. 😝 (There was a similar Kdrama adaptation about this, I can't recall the title.)

Another possible reason, the 2FL is also in isekai mode, and she probably realized the 1FL is in isekai mode as well, so she's thinking she can kill her in the isekai world so no one would know in the real world. 😝

So, you see. Mimi is correct.

No matter what, the answer should always be "no". Think about it, once you're married it's going to be far more common and it's going to hurt far more as well. There will always be people whispering on your ears, "I saw him/her with another guy/girl", "They're so close, I saw them a few days ago at a café / havieg dinner just the two of them", blah blah blah.

If you can't trust each other while still at bf/gf stage, what do you think will happen once you're married? And you have children, who's going to suffer most?

But if you both know that you both answer "no" in these situations, or ask for permission if your peers are pressuring you, then you build a very strong foundation.

So if someone whispers, "I saw them" blah blah blah, you cae just shrug and smile because you know your partner well.

In addition, if you always tell your partner everything, it's awesome. Let's say you saw your ex. Civilized people will greet and catch up and all that social stuff. You are after all matured people already.

Tell your partner right there and then. Send an SMS (not a twofie in SNS). "Love, my ex's company is having an event in Mall A and we crossed paths. We're here at Café B, drop by if you're near, I'll introduce you."

That's better than your partner accidentally seeing you together. Or, someone tells your partner about it later, embellishing it with sh*t, "they looked so happy, they connect well" (me: duh, obviously).

Q: Oh come on, that's unrealistic. It only happens in fiction.
A: GTFO. It is realistic. It's my principle. It served me well. It happened multiple times for me because my first ex's industry happens to overlap with my industry. I even introduced my then girlfriend to my first ex when my first ex happened to be eating at a McDo branch just across from our (me and my then gf) office.

I don't hide nothing with my partner because nothing good will come from it. Even my stupid and dumk decisions and mistakes, I tell it to my partner so they can make the best decision for their life. If they don't like my past, or anything else, they can end oer relationship early before it becomes far more hurtful later on.

E10 Love Square

Case №2. Mimi said a lot of points and I'll focus on two:

Point 1: The guy's initial reaction should have been "no", especially if his girlfriend doesn't know the other parties, women in this case. It doesn't matter if he knows them personally, a classmate perhaps, or if those women are married already and even have children.

Point 2: The guy probably asked because for him, if his girlfriend says "no" then he'll respect it and won't have an issue with it, he won't even "count" and say later, "you said 'no' to me before, so I'll say 'no' this time". Which is petty, and the guy isn't a petty type.

I agree with Mimi's two points wholeheartedly. Why? Because I've been in both situations and both as the receiver and giver.

---

Real-life examples from my own experiences:

a. An elementary classmate, a woman, asked me once if we can go have a trip to Korea. I asked questions, and it will be just the two of us.

I really want to go to Korea too, but I had to turn her down. It was so hard to say "no" because I don't want to sound rude or assuming. I know her, there's nothing malicious about it. And in our culture, it's common for classmates, friends, colleagues, to go on trips with the opposite sex without any malicious intent. So imagine.

But, I still said "no" because as far as I'm concerned, even if nothing will happen between us, I know my then girlfriend wouldn't like even if she agrees. And I know it can become an issue later.

My then girlfriend didn't know about it until a few years later. See "b."

b. My then girlfriend went with her colleagues, two guys, one married and with a daughter, and another single but with a girlfriend.

If you think that's worse, here's the kicker, I never knew about it until they were already in the airport. And that's not all. I only knew about it because someone tagged her SNS account with their photo in the departure area.

My reaction was obviously MAD. As in literally, "Mutually Agreed Destruction" type of MAD.

It was then that I told her about my elementary classmate who asked me to go with her to Korea and how I turned her down because she (my then gf) won't like it and how it can only become a bullet later on even if she agreed I can go with my classmate.

As an INFP, what she did never ever sit well with me. Forget about being "fair", it doesn't matter. What mattered was it shouldn't have happened in the first place.

Why? I don't know her colleagues. I know she trusts them but I don't know them, period.

c. In one of my previous works, my colleagues love to drink after work. I always refused and just drink regular juice. One night, the group was larger because we had a positive result in one of our major projects. It's kind of an impromptu celebration.

As usual I refused to drink but they won't stop nagging this time.

So, I did them a favour, I asked my then girlfriend. I explained the situation and asked her if I can drink just one bottle.

She said, "no". So I showed it to them.

Here's the context. When we started dating, we both agreed no one will drink anymore. It was actually my idea because before we started dating, during my birthday, I saw her drunk and that night I vowed I'll never want her to drink again.

When she's drunk, she mixes people's faces and names. And she starts speaking as a native American when she can't even speak straight English normally. Even oyr colleagues who are used to speaking English as primary language, were surprised.

We both respect that agreement (until she broke it herself years later 🤷🏽 her colleagues are really demons whispering on her ears).

---

E10 Love Square

Case №1. As an INFP myself, I agree that many, if not all, of us will be having a silent internal battle about the missing ring. We will remember it. It will bother us. A dramatic apology is often, not always, a sure way to get us out of that overthinking mode.

If you do that to me (dramatic apology), my reaction will definitely be: Hayys. It's fine. Nothing can be done with it. Things happen, let's buy a new one, this time let's pick together.

While the English title is "Our Unwritten Seoul", the Korean title is more meaningful and also explains the ending "My Seoul".

In Hangeul, the title is 미지의 서울. In Revised Romanization it is written as Mijiui Seoul.

Here's how to properly translate it:
- The character 의 is a possessive particle like "'s" or "of".
- 미지 (Miji) means "unknown".
- 서울 is literally Seoul.

Here are the translations:
1. Miji's Seoul
2. Unknown Seoul
3. Miji of Seoul

In the finale episode, the title card changed from «미지의 서울» «나의 서울» or «Unknown Seoul» «My Seoul».

In addition, in Miji's album, she wrote the title card like so «미지. 서울!» (Miji. Seoul!) when she labeled the new chapter of her life.

How does it all play together?

I. The title

The title is about Seoul itself. How Seoul is "unknown". How the Seoul can be the "land of dreams" or not. One can make or break it.

Like in many countries, there is always this one particular region or Metropolitan or City that people sees as the place for their future. Miji's twin 미래 (Mirae) being in Seoul is symbolic here. For Miji, Seoul is the "future" and Mirae's name means "future".

But as we all know, Miji's life had a hard turn and for years it appeared that her Seoul dream is out-of-reach and will remain an "unknown".

The title is actually about Miji's "Unknown Seoul". Her childhood dream that became "unknown". And as if fate is mocking her, her twin whose name means "future" is living in Seoul.

II. The final scene: My Seoul

Unbeknownst to Miji, she just wasn't ready. And her twin, Mirae, whose name means "future" in Seoul was a sign for her that her future is indeed in Seoul. Just wait for the right time.

This is why the final scene was from 미지의 서울 (Unknown Seoul) to 나의 서울 (My Soul). It means that Miji's Seoul is no longer "unknown", she took ownership of it and finally fulfilled her dream: My Seoul.

The hardship she went through was all a preparation for her so she can face the "unknown" that is Seoul and own it. Let's admit it, when we dream of migrating to a new place we see as "better life", it is totally unknown. Some succeed. Some buckles under the pressure.

If Miji went to Seoul earlier, she probably won't be matured enough to handle it. And we've seen that with Mirae. Miji will more likely ended up as Mirae, struggling, taking things on even if it was wrong, just to survive. With the difference that, she gets angry fast and often fights for justice. Imagine where it could've landed her if she's rlways in trouble.

III. The album's new chapter: 미지. 서울! (Miji. Seoul!)

Instead of writing it as «미지의 서울» she wrote it as «미지. 서울!» While, yes, it can simply be simplification since the possessive particle 의 can be omitted in this case, I think they inadvertedly created a deeper meaning. (That is, if it wasn't intentional.)

The title card 미지의 서울 refers to Seoul being an "unknown" and at the same time as "Miji's Seoul". We already talked about "Unknown Seoul", this time let's tackle "Miji's Seoul".

The meaning as "Miji's Seoul" tells us two things:
1. The dream of Miji to go and live in Seoul.
2. Miji still sees it as a dream, not taking ownership of it. Not manifesting.

And that's what the entire show was about. From a dream to reality. From being "Miji's Seoul" to being "My Seoul".

The album label 미지. 서울! now makes more sense. She has taken owneship. She is living her dream. She has now recognized that she's living a new chapter of her life.

And hence right after that scene, we saw the title scene changed from "Unknown Seoul"/"Miji's Seoul" to "My Seoul". That was the message.

---

The English title "Our Unwritten Seoul" did not do it justice and misled the non-Korean audiences to assume it is about the twins. But in reality, it is the story of Miji.

In fact, even if we play the word "Seoul" as "Soul" in English, it still pertains and makes more sense if it is: "Miji's Soul" and "Unknown Soul" which later becomes as "Miji. Seoul!" (album new chapter label) and the new title card "My Soul".

Whichever way we want to spin it, it's Miji's journey into reaching her dream.

The English title practically rewrote the messrge of the story to mean "Our Unwritten Soul". Where did "our" came from? "An Unwritten Seoul" is more accurate. Because of this, most non-Koreans had a different expectation. And then the final scene changed "Our Unwritten Seoul" to "My Seoul", or playing with it "Our Unwritten Soul" to "My Soul", it doesn't make any sense. From "Our" to "My"?

Well, okay, it still is possible to explain it. But the original title is still better. 😝

Regardless, "Our Unwritten Seoul" is still better than many of the English titles chosen by foreign OTT services. We've seen worse. 🖖🏽

Anyway. Let's hope we can all achieve our dreams, turn it from being 미지 (Miji) and simply 미래 (future) to a reality.

🖖🏽🖖🏽👍🏽👍🏽

박보영 deserves to win all awards. I hope the producers will nominate her in multiple categories and in multiple awards bodies.

She deserves it after her unforgettable performance as 유미지 and 유미래.

박보영 deserves to win all awards. I hope the producers will nominate her in multiple categories and in multiple awards bodies.

She deserves it after her unforgettable performance as 유미지 and 유미래.

I can't even imagine what mental gymnastics PBY did to ensure Miji and Mirae retain their unique characters in the entire series.

- It can be confusing.
- It can be draining.

If she used "method acting", even moreso she needed a total break. Let's admit it, many directors and producers around the world are not fans of that technique because of the mental strain it does on the actors. If PBY used that, gaah, two characters!

She had to channel their grandmother dying multiple times and cry. It wasn't a rookie, amateur cry, it was controlled.

1. Hospital
2. Her dream
3. When she woke up as Miji
4. In that same scene as №3 but as Mirae

She had to ensure they cry differently and feel emotions differently because Miji is the closest to their grandmother, not because of favouritism but because of what Miji went through when she locked herself and all the self-blame she had to go through when their grandma went to the hospital.

She had to cry differently as Mirae. She had to control that. Mirae can't cry like Miji in that same scene.

In a recent interview/promotion, PBY shared how she told her agency not to bother her for 1 week. She also turned-off her handyphone and just spent time for herself.

The finale episode is the final reason for that.

It was too good I wish they added another case or two (1 episode each, simple cases but very common and important, like office and sales cases). They created a show that is fit to be a channel to express and expose the issues in labour, which is common in many countries.