polothesecond

I'm struck by how much of the BGM is about HJP. I already knew he had his own theme, but there are so many tracks that are associated with his scenes. The BGM really does tell a different story to the drama.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8I2Yb8KHhuw

I've found this version of the BGM. The photo here is much more tolerable than the photos in the version I was listening to yesterday.

I wasn't expecting such a long and detailed response, but I love it!

Did anyone really love it though? Even if you didn't get SLS, or MLGWS, I can't imagine anyone loving it. I feel like some people exaggerate because they love NJH, and they want to pretend this was really good. That's my assumption with TKEM as well.

One of the tracks is called "A Small Postbox of Hope". Lmao. It's nice though. I just realised it's the music that's playing while the camera is focused on HJP walking towards Halmoni to meet her again for the first time since he left (the petal scene).

Okay, so I clicked on the full OST (inc. BGM), and going by the comments the music playing during HJP's confession is missing. My brain is in full conspiracy theory mode right now (lol).

Ugh, I just tried looking up the Startup BGM on youtube, and all the videos have Dodal plastered all over them.

Like I said further down, these days I'm commenting anything. Even bitter comments like this (not that my other comments haven't been bitter). I can't even enjoy the BGM.

I haven't been this negatively affected by a work of fiction since I read Noughts and Crosses over a decade ago.

I can temporarily distract myself with other dramas, but as soon as I finish or lose interest all the bad memories come back.

LMAO

I had to look up those references even though I've seen both those shows.

Once again I'm feeling sad about NDS' character regression. NDS at the beginning was actually a good match for SDM. He was a better match for SDM than SDM was for HJP. His hilarious Money epilogue kept him in my good graces long after his character declined beyond recognition. I can't remember which episode it was that made me finally start to hate him but it was late in the game. His sudden character regression is one of the reasons I think he was meant to be second lead. Second leads often change suddenly and drastically if the writer thinks it will benefit the plot. It's lazy writing, but it happens all the time. I understand something similar has happened to one of the secondary characters in True Beauty, although I haven't seen it so I can't comment on how similar that character's case is.

LOL

You're right. NDS is more important than I'm giving him credit for. His poor characterisation is probably why I'm dismissing him. That and I'm biased (I've become an HJP simp). However, I think the most important storyline in the first half was the mistaken identity. The business storyline wasn't anywhere near as important as I would've liked it to be. The fact that NDS provided SDM with a shortcut proves to me how unimportant it was to the writer. I would've liked to see SDM start a business from scratch like she originally intended to.

Basically, I shipped her more with HJP in the first half because a) he seemed more important to the main storyline, b) he was the better character (although I do see your point about SDM not being a match for him), and c) I loved their dynamic as mentor-mentee. I think that would've been a good foundation for a romance. I'm trying to think why I find it romantic. Maybe because he's taking care of her. I first started shipping them in the episode in which he intervenes at the party and lends NDS his car to take her home. I also find it very romantic that he yearns for her. I love a good yearning.

This drama and these characters aside, can you see why a romance that starts out as mentor-mentee might be appealing?

Feel free to ignore this until tomorrow or all together if you like. We've probably exhausted you here on MDL. :)

Exactly.

Why do you call him SDS? At first I thought it was a typo, but I've seen you do that a few times so I'm wondering if there's some meaning behind it. Or is it actually just a typo (a repeat offender)?

I guess I just don't really see how NDS is more relevant than HJP in the first 9 or 10 episodes. When he does eventually become more relevant it feels really forced. No matter how handsome, well written, or likeable the second lead is, I usually don't get second lead syndrome. This is because I generally go with the narrative and who I think makes the most sense for the plot. As her mentor and the co-writer of the letters, HJP seems more relevant to me than NDS.

Regarding hopes and dreams vs reality, I'd say it's a balance. I wasn't saying hopes and dreams aren't okay, but since the story was partly about SDM getting over her 'dream', that means she was meant to replace it with something real. I think it made more sense for that to be HJP. Not by the end though. I'm saying I think it should've developed differently, considering what was built up in the first half.

The first half:

Main focus- the letters, the mistaken identity, SDM learning to be a CEO, NDS trying to figure himself out, HJP's debt, the love triangle. HJP is more important than NDS in at least 4 out of 6 of those things. HJP pretty much ties everything together. I mean I've never seen a second lead so out of balance with the male lead. That's why some people here are calling it 'male lead gone wrong syndrome', rather than SLS.

The second half:

Main focus- Dodal, the love triangle, the project SDM is working on.
It seemed like a major shift to me.

A long conversation has made me want to clarify something. The reason why the letters count in favour of Jidal is not because SDM is really in love with HJP. SDM is in love with a fantasy that was partly created by Halmoni and HJP, and partly built up in her own mind. No, it's because the story is centred around the letters and HJP is the real writer, thereby making him more plot-relevant than NDS. I find it hard to ship SDM with NDS because he just never seemed that important to the story I was watching unfold. That's not just because of the letters (far from it), but that's one of the reasons, and that's why I keep bringing up the letters when talking about why Jidal would've made more sense. Both HJP and NDS pretend to be the NDS from the letters, but HJP started it along with Halmoni, thereby making him more important to the plot. At least that's my take on it.

Edit: a continuation of the conversation I mentioned has made me change my mind about something. The reason why I think HJP is more important than NDS is mainly because of the letters and mistaken identity storyline (I said above that it was far from the only reason). I think that was the most important storyline in the first half.

Okay, I know I said bye but I'd like to clarify something.

I understand what you're saying. I've actually made the same point myself in the past about the NDS from the letters just being a fantasy. I'm just doing a poor job of explaining myself so let me try again.

Both HJP and NDS pretend to be the NDS from the letters. But when they all meet, HJP and SDM establish a mentor-mentee relationship, while NDS and SDM establish a relationship that only exists because she believes he's someone else. NDS' relationship with SDM is based on a lie, while HJP's new relationship with SDM is based on something more real: him helping her come into her own as a CEO.

As I already said, the story is partly about SDM's journey as a CEO. Her mentor is therefore more important plot-wise than her boyfriend. I find it hard to ship the FL with a character who I don't think seems that relevant to the main storyline. Moreover, it's more in keeping with the themes for SDM to end up with HJP. Throughout the drama it was always HJP who represented reality, while NDS represented hopes and dreams. It's ironic but true.

That last sentence. I remember thinking when it ended, well if that's not perfectly in keeping with this entire fecking year.

I think the reason it feels so strange is because the time jump got brought forward. That's why we can't put our finger on it more precisely. We're missing a chunk of the plot.

Here's my problem. If I suspend reality, I think up until around where you said, and possibly a little further, it makes more sense to ship her with HJP. If I don't suspend reality, the whole thing falls to pieces and I can't ship her with anyone. I just start imagining what this drama would've been if nothing totally implausible or unrealistic had happened.

I would've been content with HJP having a totally different storyline. But since we got a love triangle, I think the plot should've continued to cater to Jidal, rather than veering off around episode 7. I don't think it veered off suddenly either. It was a slow and painful death.

Anyway, it's been nice talking to you. I think I've run out of things to say. I basically agree with most of what you pointed out.

My point isn't that people are closer to their mentors, it's that in a story about the female lead's journey as a CEO, the viewers are going to be more interested and invested in her relationship with her mentor than her co-worker. You have to at least admit it's a romantic notion. Mentor-mentee to friends to lovers. That would've been a good love story in my opinion.

The letters storyline is such a headache (we got mixed messages about what they meant to HJP), and the whole mistaken identity thing is so unrealistic. Nevertheless, it was the premise to the entire plot. I don't think it should be confusing as to why the viewers wanted her to be with the real person behind the letters, over a person pretending to be behind the letters.

"The drama never was about HJP and DM building a relationship. It was about struggles of personal and professional life for people like DS and DM."
I disagree with the first sentence, but I agree with the second. It was about lots of things, but the biggest storyline was the case of mistaken identity. If this drama had developed post episode 9 to be more about SDM and HJP, then it all would've made a lot more sense. By no means total sense, but more sense.

I personally think there was a plot change. The narrative is odd, but the biggest giveaway is all the production details that contradict the plot.

As a side, I'm enjoying reading your thoughts. I hope you aren't too affronted by mine. So far everything's been polite which makes a nice change.