I Speak Korean Dramas

One of my least favorite tropes: misunderstanding that could be cleared up with one short conversation or voicemail but they invent a reason they can’t explain

I’m on episode 10. I feel like I need a break from this genre. Even having trouble finishing the last few episodes of Against the Current. I loved Pursuit of Jade but still had to FF some of the later episodes about all the intrigue and fighting. So far, the plot twists in WtME have been interesting but not enough to get me really invested. I don’t feel a connection to the characters and wish there was more humor/wit in it. I can appreciate how well done it is, it’s more about the mood I’m in these days. Convince me to keep watching or is it ok to let it go?

I didn’t realize that about the writer. Well, I’m sure they will learn a lot from this experience. I’d say the director/editor are equally responsible. Even the casting director. I usually like this FL actress and I agree the 2ML is intriguing, but their performances didn’t help either.

My feelings for this drama are as mixed as the main lead’s for each other. On one hand, I feel like there are some good characters with depth and development…and grappling with what it is like to decide what to do in a situation like this is worth exploring. On the other hand, the way they structured the story undermines all the potential of that, making most of the audience lose interest. The FL is the other big problem. Many people have already explained that so I’ll just say I agree. My biggest takeaway for her is that this is what can happen long-term if you repress a secret along with guilt and shame. If she can’t ever be truly honest with him, it’s not good for anyone. That’s why she likes being with the 2ML because she feels like they are both pathetic and she can open up to him - it’s created a comfort for her and a bond between them. As for the ML, he deserves better and the 2ML is lovely…but I do not mean that he should be with someone else who has a more positive personality because this is clearly depicting our FL during a time of crisis and depression. The flashbacks show they used to be a lovely couple too. As someone who deals with it a lot, if someone can’t live with you when you are depressed they aren’t the one for you to live with. And if you lash out at your partner when you are depressed, that’s a sign too. But it comes down to this, which is very realistic of many relationship, are you willing to lose the family/life you’ve built together because you are no longer good for each other romantically? With or without kids in the picture, their situation makes it so his only family/friends are her family. So, is their platonic love for each other strong enough for them to breakup, date other people, and still be family/friends? I think we all know the answer is no, even if only for the sake of their future partners. So they are facing a kind of double breakup situation. Man, I wish they had executed it better.

I like the time travel body swapping between siblings. Could imagine another drama based on that premise with a different plot that centers on some kind of family issue instead of another third character. Imagine how helpful it could be to go back in time and see a huge conflict or trauma from your siblings POV.

She’s blown up her life on purpose and almost got herself killed. There’s a term for “losing your spark” and feeling like your whole life is dark…depression. Always be concerned when someone you know well is clearly not acting like themself. And it doesn’t have to due to some particular event, it is a medical condition that effects some people even when they have a good relationship and career.

Go to that guy? No, I’m taking you back to the hospital because you harmed yourself and you need help.

I really like the ML’s performance, shows potential for real range of emotion in something more substantive. The FL is always good, but like with WTPR I feel like her acting potential and character get overshadowed by the plot. I would have liked to see it stay more focused on the scenes she was writing and how the tropes get changed by her real experience. The 2ML was sweet but probably unnecessary. The 2FL was bitchy per usual and the family drama very over the top. Having said all that, it is a fun rom-com to binge.

oh I see how dirty that sounds now my bad

Yes. Even making Catholism a theme didn’t make sense to me at first but then when you think about it most major classical works were written for or even commissioned by the Church. And then Jeong-yo living as a monk without Pi-o. And Pi-o “walking down the aisle” along to Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring. ❤️

I made a playlist on Apple Music using the Classical app recommended versions of the pieces (with listening guides). If they add the Classic Collection, I replace those with the drama versions. You can open it Apple Music or Apple Classical apps. https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/four-hands-two-sonatas-%ED%8F%AC%ED%95%B8%EC%A6%88-ost-classical/pl.u-xlyNAKVsJ7G1rER

I thought for sure we were going to get a Two Hand performance! (Jeong-yo) ✋🤚(Pi-o). I guess we’ll just have to use our imaginations for that…

Any news on if they are going to release the other classical songs as played by the real pianists? Right now the OST just has Danse Macabre and Nemesis.

Plus he was his grandson. Before you even care about his choice of following music just treat him like family and show him love. Even though his mom was horrible too, imagine how much pain that caused her too. I feel like there is a trend of “redeeming” the male characters more than the female characters that I find troubling.

I didn’t notice that!

I see your point. Out of curiosity, to understand further…does it have to be explicit or would you be okay if they had still made it implied but didn’t have him ever date Jae-in? I do agree that that was kind of like “bearding” if that’s a term, but still kinda progress for mainstream East Asian entertainment?

It just occurred to me that in addition to putting them in black and white tux jackets twice, in the last scene it ends with Pi-o literally walking down the aisle to Jeong-yo. Maybe that has already been pointed out but I haven’t been following it.

What a gorgeous drama. Kudos to the music and art directors. And the director for the acting performances. I’m sure we all have some complaints or wishes that weren’t fulfilled but in the spirit of the writer’s message, art is flawed because humans are flawed. It is a romance in the pure sense - the romance of music and human connections in many forms. Happy they didn’t spoil it for the shippers even though it doesn’t have to be interpreted that way. That wasn’t the point. But I personally think they gave us as close to a mainstream same-sex love story as possible in the current industry. Look back at the camera editing event in the final montage. Very romantic. ❤️🎹

Wow. Such a powerful episode but there’s still a lot left to resolve with just one episode left. Grandpa needs to get on his knees before he dies, Pi-o needs to get mad at Mom and Grandpa, and most importantly Jeong-yo needs to process a whole bunch of grief related to his lost mom, dad, years, piano, and friendship. Let’s hope that’s where they devote more time.

It is interested how we all (myself included) seem to hate the mom worse than the grandfather. She definitely has committed more sins against him, and had more responsibility to care for him properly, but the root of the evil was the grandfather’s cruelty and withholding affection and support. Imagine what he was like as a father even before he was a grandfather. The writers are messing with our perception of him by giving him such high EQ when it comes to music so we forget he has been emotionally abusive to his family this whole time. I don’t quite understand why they indicated his wife moved out but they still seem quite close working together.