I was generally enjoying this until episode 6 despite the unrealisticness and the inaccuracies. It has lost me…
It\s kinda become obvious that the writing is headed in the direction of undermining Eve's character in order to uplift Gong Ryong's.
She's spent, what, over a decade training to be a scientist and an astronaut, for operations with redundancies upon redundancies put in place, and yet she's been reduced to someone who needs him to come to the rescue again and again. Can't a girl be allowed to be competent and in charge? Like writers, even if she's in a bind, she's got a crew of equally qualified astronauts!!
As much as he protests, he's got many similarities with Kang Gang Su. Both are cocky ego-driven, and tend to see themselves as above the rules. He's been a constant nuisance since the start of the trip, and consistently disregards the rules. She's reprimanded him when it was needed, but also given him plenty of grace so far.
If I were her, his latest shenanigans would have forever killed whatever budding interest one might have had in him. Eve should have locked him in his room till it was time for his return to Earth.
The whole fertilizing eggs plot gives me the ick. It's an exercise in sheer human hubris. I cheered when Eve did what she did with the eggs - why should one jeopardize the crew and possible contagions being brought back to earth just because some chaebol and his DIL want to continue their bloodline. Haven't they heard of adoption? They've already broken multiple international laws before the child is conceived, put the lives of the space crew and others at risk, disregarded those who helped them, and we're supposed to believe a child raised in such an environment would grow up to be a beneficial member of society???
It's looked down on because of patriarchal Confucian tradition. In South Korean culture there's a mindset that…
Thanks for the context on the marriage registration issue. Didn't know that, and it has added to my understanding of the previous noona dramas I've watched
I rolled my eyes so hard at that scene of the Junho showing her the fox. For every story we get about a teaching who had a "fun" approach to teaching, I can cite many others where teachers tried to bring pop culture into the classroom only to leave many students out (those with strict parents who never allowed tvs in their homes, or new immigrants, or kids with non-mainstream interests).
Are we watching the same Drama?You didn't realise FL fell for him when she was his tutor?They both liked each…
The audiences opinions are very relevant. Those opinions determine the drama's ratings, other people choosing to watch the drama, and the writers/directors/actors ability to get the next project. Moreover, the whole point of having a site like MDL which supports commenting and reviews, is for viewers to have and express an opinion.
Also please actually read my posts before rebutting. "SJ is not competent because she was convinced by this new format" was never my argument
Are we watching the same Drama?You didn't realise FL fell for him when she was his tutor?They both liked each…
You also might need to reexamine how you talk to people. Everyone watches a drama and comes out with a different interpretation. Yours seems to be to buy into something because the writer says so, never mind how realistic or logical their points might be.
First, I understand the point the director is trying to make but I disagree with their POV. It's idealistic at best to think that Junho's approach would fit into the hagwon system. And worse, that they should throw away all the material they've worked on to adopt this new system. Companies may reward those who break the rules and make money but they severely punish those who fail. Especially someone like SYJ who has many people already gunning for her demise.
Second, while change might be frightening to some, SYJ does not seem to have had that problem in the past. Its her adaptability that has kept her in the game for the last 10 years. If she was stagnant, she would have failed long ago. In the past episodes, SYJ was quick to jump on new ideas so the writer should have addressed why she was so against this one.
People might be impressed by Jun Ho's idea, but people are often very swayed by ideals. Characters are made to say they agree with his POV but that's a staple in kdramas when a writer has a POV they wish to hammer across. It's similar to how dramas make everyone gush about the ML's appearance. Audiences should not be convinced by this, it's just lazy writing.
Furthermore, the writers make no effort to show how Junho's approach would work for the majority of students. Remember the hagwon teaches hundreds of kids every year. We know that not everyone learns the same way, nor has the same motivations for studying. And with the hagwon main goal of making money, how will they tailor it to fit those students?
How do we know Junho's approach wouldn't be sabotaged by other academies? The last time he had a big idea (helped by SYJ in the background btw), they fell flat on their faces. Yes, the gained a new student at the end, but the overall mission was a failure and could have cost SYJ hher job!
Overall, I stand by my opinion that Junho's approach to communicating with SYJ has been abysmal. Last episode, his friends called him out on it too. He's always said that once he has his mind set on something, no one can stop him. But that's not a relationship, In a relationship, one tries to work with their partner to meet a compromise, based on what each needs at that time. Not based on only their own ideas or some romanticized idea of what they had in the past, but on each of them are at that current time. Junho hasn't shown any ability to do this. He's constantly waving her concerns away, not listening to her boundaries or respecting her POV.
Lastly, my definition of success does not include buying into hubris just because a show wants me to believe it.
I just logged in to like your comment. I'm happy that I'm not the only one feeling this way about him and their…
He’s so sure that his (unproved) methods will work based on a sample size of 2 students (himself included)! His last big swing ended with them falling flat on their face but he’s unfazed!
It’s like he’s mad at her for not living up to his ideal image that he had of her. Which is deeply immature and not her fault.
I really don't understand what SYJ sees romantically in Lee Jun Ho. This episode took the cake for his rudeness, pushiness and lack of respect for her wants and needs. He's been at the academy for less than 3 months but believes he has all the answers to fix her life. And she keeps on letting him walk all over her. Even the fact that he liked her first is used as a weapon to bully her whenever he doesn't get his way.
Isn't he supposed to be someone she can lean on? Wasn't their romance supposed to be based on mutual understanding and respect? I am yet to see any of this. He could support her in many ways, but instead chooses to force himself into her life, undermine her authority, and tell her what to do. Even between a senior and her junior at work, his actions are rude AF. The way he unilaterally destroyed those textbooks and then badged in on her conversation with Mr. Pyo, apologized to Mr. Pyo but not her, then forced her to take a trip to the beach. He's simply overbearing and cocky.
While his idea for revamping their teaching style is interesting, its success is based on a series of what-ifs. What if students are interested in actually loving literature? What if his new style of teaching matches how they learn? What if that teaching style helps students improve their grade within a short time? What if the parents agree with a radical new way of teaching? Talk less of the fact that the academies main mission is to help students pass standardized tests that have a specific way to get to the right question.
Lee Junho brings back all the bad memories of MLs in dramas that have disrepected their love interest but are not called out on it, and instead have the FL bend into pretzels to follow them. Why are we still writing men like this in 2024?
I also haven't warmed up to Mr. Pyo. He felt humiliated and lashed out, yes. But he also had a big part to play in that humiliation. Like Jun Ho, he treats everyone disrespectfully and then expects them to apologize to him when his feelings get hurt.
I felt the same! I felt so stressed in ep. 7 and 8 because he kept pushing and insisting they talk about his feelings…
Junho's main characteristic has been his cockiness. So far, it has not seemed to register to him that SYJ might have her own - very valid - wants and motivations.
His behaviour reminds me of how teenagers can be when they think about the authority figures (especially teachers) in their lives. To them, it can be hard to imagine those authority figures as fully realized people outside of the classroom setting.
I wish the show had given it a couple of episodes for them to transition from student/teacher into a relationship. Then Junho might have had to come to terms with SYJ the person instead of as the ideal.
I agree with both of your points. Their dynamic is still firmly teacher/student, especially with the fact that…
Like you said, A lot of SYJ's willingness to enter this relationship seems rooted in nostalgia and a longing. But I'll add one more reason. The last time she was this hungry for life, was when she was teaching Junho.
Her motivations then might have been survival, but now that she's regained her hunger for change, it feels like she's become swept up in the feeling of taking a chance on many things she wouldn't have before.
Episode 7 and 8 emphasized how much SYJ was having a change of heart in terms of the motivations towards her work. She wants a more human connection with her student, wants to motivate them to love the subject instead of rote memorization. And her conversation with her friend suggested that she was taking the same hard look at her personal life.
I felt the same! I felt so stressed in ep. 7 and 8 because he kept pushing and insisting they talk about his feelings…
I felt the same way. He comes off as overly cocky, and pushy. Most of their romance--related conversations are about what he wants. For all his persistence, it's like he never thinks of what she wants/needs. His energy could have been directed towards making her life easier instead.
I might be alone in this so pls be kind but I didn’t like the way the story handled the lead up to the main…
I agree with both of your points. Their dynamic is still firmly teacher/student, especially with the fact that she's been showing him the ropes since he joined Daiche Chase.
I've felt since episode 1 that Junho is hella pushy. All of his declarations and confessions are self-centred. Persuading her to do that joint campaign. Asking her to stay instead of chasing the new job. Confessing his feelings while they're at work, and not even giving her the chance to think it over but insisting that she give him the reaction he expects. Even when he confessed, he followed it up by mentioned that he had been asked out by the hottest girl in school. IDK, he's so pushy!
SYJ tho needs to take off her rose-colored glasses when it comes to him. He's a lot more clueless (or doesn't care) than his bravado shows. She knows what's at stake, and how much she's worked to get where she is. I wish she'll put her foot down. She's always worrying about Junho's future - which makes sense as she's his former teacher - but perphaps she should consider if he does the same for her. The last time Junho talked a big game, they fell flat on their face.
I'm finding it hard to enjoy the romance when there are so many people hoping for her downfall and SYJ lets him convince her to rush into things.
What is with healing dramas and Gals that are all heart no brains? They have no point of view of their own, zero self reflection and rely on the ML to heal them
After 8 episodes, all I’ve seen so far is 1 Annoying AF characters. 2. FL has no backbone and excuses the same red-flag behaviour . Her previous boyfriend lies to her, love bombs her, steps over any boundaries she tries to draw… and is a potential serial killer. Yet all she cries about is how she can’t mourn him. His doppleganger is rude, aggressive and nearly chokes her to death. But when they meet again she tells him not to worry and shares a trite childhood story to comfort him. The ML himself tends to tell her how to feel, but she reads that as heartwarming. 3. SFL( the actress) is obnoxious, self obsessed and manipulative. She’s supposed to be the comic relief but she has a habit of foisting herself on others without giving anything back. 4. ML has a saviour complex and tho we’re supposed to find his actions caring, it just comes across as controlling as well 5. Writer does not allow characters to reflect on themselves and their impact on those around them. Just because they’re in pain we’re supposed to root for them.
It's trauma, plain and simple. She has and is dealing with an immense amount of trauma surrounding trusting her…
👏👏. Exactly this! Viewers need to remember how many shitty and manipulative people Jiwon has been surrounded by all her life. Jiwon is slowly starting to trust herself and her instincts, but it will take more than a wardrobe change and couple declarations of love for her to get over her trauma.
If you look at how her former-bf and ex-fiancee manipulated her: it wasn't with violence. But insidious "niceness", with them preying on her willingness to give them the benefit of doubt. Who would ever be able to fully trust anyone after that.
She's spent, what, over a decade training to be a scientist and an astronaut, for operations with redundancies upon redundancies put in place, and yet she's been reduced to someone who needs him to come to the rescue again and again. Can't a girl be allowed to be competent and in charge? Like writers, even if she's in a bind, she's got a crew of equally qualified astronauts!!
As much as he protests, he's got many similarities with Kang Gang Su. Both are cocky ego-driven, and tend to see themselves as above the rules. He's been a constant nuisance since the start of the trip, and consistently disregards the rules. She's reprimanded him when it was needed, but also given him plenty of grace so far.
If I were her, his latest shenanigans would have forever killed whatever budding interest one might have had in him. Eve should have locked him in his room till it was time for his return to Earth.
The whole fertilizing eggs plot gives me the ick. It's an exercise in sheer human hubris. I cheered when Eve did what she did with the eggs - why should one jeopardize the crew and possible contagions being brought back to earth just because some chaebol and his DIL want to continue their bloodline. Haven't they heard of adoption? They've already broken multiple international laws before the child is conceived, put the lives of the space crew and others at risk, disregarded those who helped them, and we're supposed to believe a child raised in such an environment would grow up to be a beneficial member of society???
You should take your own advice. The irony of many of your points seem lost on you.
Also please actually read my posts before rebutting. "SJ is not competent because she was convinced by this new format" was never my argument
Like you said, most companies severely punish workers who "fail". Even more so, if they broke the rules of the game.
First, I understand the point the director is trying to make but I disagree with their POV. It's idealistic at best to think that Junho's approach would fit into the hagwon system. And worse, that they should throw away all the material they've worked on to adopt this new system. Companies may reward those who break the rules and make money but they severely punish those who fail. Especially someone like SYJ who has many people already gunning for her demise.
Second, while change might be frightening to some, SYJ does not seem to have had that problem in the past. Its her adaptability that has kept her in the game for the last 10 years. If she was stagnant, she would have failed long ago. In the past episodes, SYJ was quick to jump on new ideas so the writer should have addressed why she was so against this one.
People might be impressed by Jun Ho's idea, but people are often very swayed by ideals. Characters are made to say they agree with his POV but that's a staple in kdramas when a writer has a POV they wish to hammer across. It's similar to how dramas make everyone gush about the ML's appearance. Audiences should not be convinced by this, it's just lazy writing.
Furthermore, the writers make no effort to show how Junho's approach would work for the majority of students. Remember the hagwon teaches hundreds of kids every year. We know that not everyone learns the same way, nor has the same motivations for studying. And with the hagwon main goal of making money, how will they tailor it to fit those students?
How do we know Junho's approach wouldn't be sabotaged by other academies? The last time he had a big idea (helped by SYJ in the background btw), they fell flat on their faces. Yes, the gained a new student at the end, but the overall mission was a failure and could have cost SYJ hher job!
Overall, I stand by my opinion that Junho's approach to communicating with SYJ has been abysmal. Last episode, his friends called him out on it too. He's always said that once he has his mind set on something, no one can stop him. But that's not a relationship, In a relationship, one tries to work with their partner to meet a compromise, based on what each needs at that time. Not based on only their own ideas or some romanticized idea of what they had in the past, but on each of them are at that current time. Junho hasn't shown any ability to do this. He's constantly waving her concerns away, not listening to her boundaries or respecting her POV.
Lastly, my definition of success does not include buying into hubris just because a show wants me to believe it.
It’s like he’s mad at her for not living up to his ideal image that he had of her. Which is deeply immature and not her fault.
Isn't he supposed to be someone she can lean on? Wasn't their romance supposed to be based on mutual understanding and respect? I am yet to see any of this. He could support her in many ways, but instead chooses to force himself into her life, undermine her authority, and tell her what to do. Even between a senior and her junior at work, his actions are rude AF. The way he unilaterally destroyed those textbooks and then badged in on her conversation with Mr. Pyo, apologized to Mr. Pyo but not her, then forced her to take a trip to the beach. He's simply overbearing and cocky.
While his idea for revamping their teaching style is interesting, its success is based on a series of what-ifs. What if students are interested in actually loving literature? What if his new style of teaching matches how they learn? What if that teaching style helps students improve their grade within a short time? What if the parents agree with a radical new way of teaching? Talk less of the fact that the academies main mission is to help students pass standardized tests that have a specific way to get to the right question.
Lee Junho brings back all the bad memories of MLs in dramas that have disrepected their love interest but are not called out on it, and instead have the FL bend into pretzels to follow them. Why are we still writing men like this in 2024?
I also haven't warmed up to Mr. Pyo. He felt humiliated and lashed out, yes. But he also had a big part to play in that humiliation. Like Jun Ho, he treats everyone disrespectfully and then expects them to apologize to him when his feelings get hurt.
His behaviour reminds me of how teenagers can be when they think about the authority figures (especially teachers) in their lives. To them, it can be hard to imagine those authority figures as fully realized people outside of the classroom setting.
I wish the show had given it a couple of episodes for them to transition from student/teacher into a relationship. Then Junho might have had to come to terms with SYJ the person instead of as the ideal.
Her motivations then might have been survival, but now that she's regained her hunger for change, it feels like she's become swept up in the feeling of taking a chance on many things she wouldn't have before.
Episode 7 and 8 emphasized how much SYJ was having a change of heart in terms of the motivations towards her work. She wants a more human connection with her student, wants to motivate them to love the subject instead of rote memorization. And her conversation with her friend suggested that she was taking the same hard look at her personal life.
I've felt since episode 1 that Junho is hella pushy. All of his declarations and confessions are self-centred. Persuading her to do that joint campaign. Asking her to stay instead of chasing the new job. Confessing his feelings while they're at work, and not even giving her the chance to think it over but insisting that she give him the reaction he expects. Even when he confessed, he followed it up by mentioned that he had been asked out by the hottest girl in school. IDK, he's so pushy!
SYJ tho needs to take off her rose-colored glasses when it comes to him. He's a lot more clueless (or doesn't care) than his bravado shows. She knows what's at stake, and how much she's worked to get where she is. I wish she'll put her foot down. She's always worrying about Junho's future - which makes sense as she's his former teacher - but perphaps she should consider if he does the same for her. The last time Junho talked a big game, they fell flat on their face.
I'm finding it hard to enjoy the romance when there are so many people hoping for her downfall and SYJ lets him convince her to rush into things.
After 8 episodes, all I’ve seen so far is
1 Annoying AF characters.
2. FL has no backbone and excuses the same red-flag behaviour . Her previous boyfriend lies to her, love bombs her, steps over any boundaries she tries to draw… and is a potential serial killer. Yet all she cries about is how she can’t mourn him. His doppleganger is rude, aggressive and nearly chokes her to death. But when they meet again she tells him not to worry and shares a trite childhood story to comfort him. The ML himself tends to tell her how to feel, but she reads that as heartwarming.
3. SFL( the actress) is obnoxious, self obsessed and manipulative. She’s supposed to be the comic relief but she has a habit of foisting herself on others without giving anything back.
4. ML has a saviour complex and tho we’re supposed to find his actions caring, it just comes across as controlling as well
5. Writer does not allow characters to reflect on themselves and their impact on those around them. Just because they’re in pain we’re supposed to root for them.
If you look at how her former-bf and ex-fiancee manipulated her: it wasn't with violence. But insidious "niceness", with them preying on her willingness to give them the benefit of doubt. Who would ever be able to fully trust anyone after that.