lnicole

this is kind of what mean when I say that maybe the writer isn't doing a good job of making us care. I know there's some level of reading between the lines involved that's expected, but even when you read between the lines and find out people's feelings and intentions you're still like.... and?

from my understanding, Hyejin felt like the gray witch was using him for controversy following her conflict with him, taking him away from "where he belongs" (which is at school, shown by her own academy students telling her that his class was fun + remembering his passion for teaching a certain way), and that he won't be as successful in academies because he's new and inexperienced in that particular field. (if there's more I forgot, someone please feel free to add it!)

there's a lot about her ego and pride, wanting to get through to the students in an authentic way vs. just preparing them for The Big Exams etc., etc., that's assumed but even then this is the main part of the drama I'm struggling to connect to as well.

fr I feel like the issue is the screenwriter here for the most part. the direction is good but he can only do so much lmao

I gotta say the most interesting and gripping parts of episodes 11 and 12 were Hyejin's and Junho's arguments with each other. I'm feeling /eh/ about how easily they were resolved + Hyejin first giving in and "allowing" Junho to teach how he wants and then admitting that he "won," but whatever. I liked seeing them argue lol

Mostly everything else was a snoozefest, (like, you know it's bad when you fast forward and missed nothing of note) and not because of the actual content but because of the pacing, I think. Like last week, I felt like some of the scenes went on wayyyyy too long to explain very little. I feel as though what's coming next week could have been explored in episode 8 if the screenplay was stronger. Again, there's such great dialogue here and such great dynamics to explore but I feel like I'm digging for it more and more as the episodes go on.

Overall, I don't think the screenwriter is doing a good job of making us care about everything??? Maybe it's just me?? Meaning I'm not necessarily feeling or believing the stakes are as high as the writer wants to make them seem. I know those who live in Korea or have experienced academies might feel differently.

ANYWAY, love the second couple and wish they had more screen time.

I was thinking the same thing about the women! I'm struggling to understand why they're so set on ruining her career. Maybe it's because I truly don't think the stakes are as dire as the show is presenting them? That could be a cultural thing but even then I believe it's just poorly explained.

anyone have any updates about this or nah lol

I was thinking watching the 10th episode in particular, that some of the writing was a little confusing and required me to rewind a few times to understand the intentions and I can see a lot of people felt the same. Also, because of this I kept tuning out and then being dragged back in when I was met with great dialogue or characterization. I do love both of those things but my main issue is they take so lonnnnnnggggg to get to. Some moments are better than others but in the latest episode in particular, I found myself being like "why is this even important" and then being like intrigued again after a few minutes. Too much inconsistency.

I'd say my biggest pet peeve is how the antagonist characters are written. Despite them being pretty much 100 percent correct about Hyejin's attitude and behavior, they're so one-dimensional. Like Mr. Pyo deadass talks like a comic book villain making a long-winded speech and the Gray Witch is even worse. The stoicism, etc. etc. of her makes her such a caricature of a person. Even the writers dubbing her the Gray Witch before we even really met her doesn't give her any room for the viewer to make any informed decisions about her.

ANYWAY loved that they addressed the flaws in both Hyejin and Junho like I expected they would.

funnily enough, I wouldn't classify this as a melodrama? I know it's tagged as one but it feels too understated so far imo to call it one. probably doesn't change your feelings at all, but maybe something to think about lol

while the script does have its faults in pacing a bit (regarding some slower moments in the earlier episodes), I think that the leads aren't that far removed from where they've started. I feel like because it's so dialogue heavy (which I personally love), I was able to get little glimpses of who they are and how they might change. I could tell that Hyejin was reserved in some ways and used her tenacity in her career to get by because it's all she knows. I could also tell a bit about Junho's devotion and borderline impulsivity at times (which to me definitely shows his age a bit! he's young and a little cocky, and for sure has tunnel vision!) the characters have flaws too but because of the tone and execution, I believe they're intentional- I don't think we're meant to gloss over them as Totally Normal, rather we're to see them as hints as to what things might come next. regardless, I like that they've found comfort in each other, even if his love is idealized and hers if more a tentative affection, but there's still eight episodes left!

what intrigued me so much are those few conversations with them where they were in conflict with each other and I'm interested to see more, especially with how the hagwon drama is gonna come into play.

(also, of course I swooned a bit at the kiss scenes, which is to be expected lmao)

I really love this take so much because while he's more confident and straight-forward about his feelings instead of being shy about them (because he's run out of patience, which I guess rubbed people the wrong way), I spent the last few episodes being like "wow this man is down BAD." like a true simp actually, going out of his way to text he via his laptop, making sure she has food in her fridge, showing her that he kept all the notes she gave him years ago. like ???? to me it's miles away from the cold, domineering male leads and the flat "sweet" male leads that sit around and do nothing.

(edit: when I say "simp" I mean that in the most loving way)

that's wild to me hahaha I can't imagine sitting for that many episodes. sometimes even 16 is too many tbh. i personally love fast burn because I like the conflict that comes after. I think the seemingly hasty kiss is intentional as an antithesis for how understated the romance between them has been and honestly I feel we might get more in flashbacks I think. to me what happened is more complex writing wise than a typical "getting to know you/getting closer" type plot line that directors usually drag on via montages lmao now I'm not waiting ten episodes for them to kiss, I'm anticipating the complexities of their relationship.

[rubs grubby little hands together] I loved this episode so much. I personally love dialogue heavy shows and I felt like episode six was an extremely natural progression to everything. the scene in which he asked her if she's read between the lines?? shook me lol and it makes me wonder if some of the people who dislike how "slow" the show is and those who wonder if the kiss was too rushed have been reading between the lines too. I think everything has been slow but set up really well. Of course I would love more romance and less about the hagwons but that's where the conflict lies. It does reminds me of One spring night, in which both characters knew of the others feelings but outside things kept them from being together and I love those sort of tropes so much. And of course I love a deep, teary love confession but I'm more excited for more conflict to come afterwards.

(also, am I the only one that likes the music?)

hahah he did Inception, I'm not being funny when I say this but I so respect that you care so little about those prolific directors that you're like "idc to Google, they're all weirdos to me"

do you mean quentin tarantino lol

I'm ready for this to ruin me I'm ngl. One Spring Night and Something in the Rain are two of my favorites, something about the tone this director achieves is so satisfying to me. So far it seems like one of those "we're gonna be together no matter what the people say!" kinda deals and that's my jam lmao