let me just add my two cents about why ppl hate(ed) or liked SJ and not SH. I don't think it's about misogyny or feminism, I think it's about the narrative.
SJ was generally portrayed as a good or good trying character, that obviously did something really, really wrong and it is not clear as to why she did it, why she didn't ask any questions. because it is that unreasonable for the viewer, she is hated because it's seems hypocritical and two-faced. it's seems like the writer didn't put much thought into her personality and just lets her act however it fits the scene. however, those types of characters have a lot of room for development, improvement and revelation; perfectly shown in ep 9+10, that's why people start to like her now. (though SJ not necessarily being dependent on anybody else and being able to speak for and defend herself, would make her a feminist character in most eyes. personally, I wouldn't say that it's enough to give her that title, but it's definitely better than some other female characters)
on the other hand, we have SH who was this pitiful boy that knowingly, willingly ruined his friend's life and education. The difference is that we know he knows he did wrong. We know he is the villain of the story. There is not much to argue about the obvious. While we wonder why he did it, we don't question that he knew he was wrong, even if he is pretending, even if he himself might think he was in the right.
We have two completely different narratives of characters: the villain and a hero that acts like a villain. the last one giving much more space to talk and complain about, since there are much more interesting questions. especially, since she is the love interest of a very endearing characters, which foreshadows that she'll be forgiven at the end, the viewer, however, hasn't yet and it's frustrating and hurtful to see the loved main character trying to go for someone that already has been toxic to their lives.
If someone liked SJ before, I'd guess it's because most could tell that she was put up for character development, or because they like having a female character that, for a change, isn't the purest innocence found on earth. I'd also like to add, that in K-drama romances/comedies, it is not that common to have a female lead that isn't apologetic and perfectly nice, which could feel fresh for some and disturbing for others. With male leads, we really are used to it now, it's basically something you have to learn to accept if you watch K-dramas. as for the love for SH, I guess it's just the actor's mesmerizing acting, or just generally because, like I sad, it's obvious that he is the villain in this fictional story and at least in fiction, when the wrongdoings are not dismissed or romanticized, I'd say there is no problem with rooting or liking the bad ones.
ofc this is all based on my own opinions and feelings, for someone this might be still completely different.
Soo Jung really saved herself in this ep, because I really hated her until now. However, seeing that she indeed truly cares for her students redeemed her a little bit for me, she was less annoying and more reasonable in this ep. As for Bok Soo, I love him so much, he is so precious. I love him with all his faults. I would love if they would reveal something about Se Ho, that would make me understand his actions and motives, but for now, that "I grew up with pressure, but without love" is not enough for me, actually it's no reason for me at all to betray the only person that wholeheartedly cared for and loved you as a friend. I really like that all characters, even the minor ones, seem to have depth and a story behind them. everybody has a distinguishable personality and it just shows that the characters are created with care and thought and not only for the development of the main roles but for the development of the story.
There is a reason why he waited....he wasn't that much older than her. If you remember in the flashback he was…
well, since they never elaborate how old he is, I am gonna assume he is quite a bit older since a psychology degree isn't just three years and he has to have worked some few years to earn himself the reputation that he has now. but it's not the age difference that I dislike, it's the nonsense insta-love. who falls in love in 30 secs over a smile, watches them (stalks) and keeps those feelings for 6 years? he is not Romeo. it's the trope I hate the most in any kind of romance plot. I am not just gonna excuse those things that I dislike about it with the fact that it's a rom-com or that the writers didn't think much about it. actually, that makes the whole drama even worse for me since they then apparently didn't put much effort into it. Also, how was he was he teasing her? bc in the end, even if he had worded it less creepy, it'll still be fact that he moved in there to be close to her, lying about it would've been worse.
Rooftop became creepy real quick. It's as if the writers are scared peaple liked him more than the main guy so they trying their best to make Choi Gun the most unprofessional psychologist that oversteps quite a few boundaries that he should know not to cross. (When she asked him if he moved knowing that it was her house ... creepy much. And he was like: Is it bad to be near the one you like? .... stalker much? Generally falling in love with a teenage girl without talking to her and watching out for her for 6 years. ugh I am sick.)
Second leads are mostly unnecessary in any plot. Just a lazy tool to create some conflict to drag the plot out…
I agree but they're not even acting like it's possible for the main girl to end up with the second male lead, u know? they're not even pretending as if we didn't already knew without the childhood flashback
they meet on a trip to Cuba. His backpacking trip, her business trip. She gets her purse stolen. He helps her.…
thank you, I finally have a image for it. I was scared that it would be only them in Cuba wasting time. I am scared that it could be anthing like Something in the Rain, it is not or is it?
why have ep 7 end with Rooftop's confession, if they they gonna show us the leads' (unnecessary) childhood connection to remind us that Rooftops is only the second lead and she will definitely end up with the main guy? That's really not a good storytelling technique, it takes out all the possible suspense, makes Choi Gun absolutely unnecessary for the actual plot and it really doesn't tell or show us more about the characters.
can someone please give me a short view over the plot? the discription doesn't really tell you much about it. just give me a quick look over how they met, why they keep meeting and the conflict, but only if all those informations aren't too spoilery.
this is one of those dramas that I love sooo much but I'd be lying if I said that it was perfect. it has many flaws, but then again it has so much charm as well. the ending could've been executed much better, it felt quite rushed but overall I really loved it and I was enjoying it so much, never was bored and really fell in love with most of the characters.
I don't think it's about misogyny or feminism, I think it's about the narrative.
SJ was generally portrayed as a good or good trying character, that obviously did something really, really wrong and it is not clear as to why she did it, why she didn't ask any questions. because it is that unreasonable for the viewer, she is hated because it's seems hypocritical and two-faced. it's seems like the writer didn't put much thought into her personality and just lets her act however it fits the scene.
however, those types of characters have a lot of room for development, improvement and revelation; perfectly shown in ep 9+10, that's why people start to like her now.
(though SJ not necessarily being dependent on anybody else and being able to speak for and defend herself, would make her a feminist character in most eyes. personally, I wouldn't say that it's enough to give her that title, but it's definitely better than some other female characters)
on the other hand, we have SH who was this pitiful boy that knowingly, willingly ruined his friend's life and education. The difference is that we know he knows he did wrong. We know he is the villain of the story. There is not much to argue about the obvious. While we wonder why he did it, we don't question that he knew he was wrong, even if he is pretending, even if he himself might think he was in the right.
We have two completely different narratives of characters: the villain and a hero that acts like a villain. the last one giving much more space to talk and complain about, since there are much more interesting questions. especially, since she is the love interest of a very endearing characters, which foreshadows that she'll be forgiven at the end, the viewer, however, hasn't yet and it's frustrating and hurtful to see the loved main character trying to go for someone that already has been toxic to their lives.
If someone liked SJ before, I'd guess it's because most could tell that she was put up for character development, or because they like having a female character that, for a change, isn't the purest innocence found on earth. I'd also like to add, that in K-drama romances/comedies, it is not that common to have a female lead that isn't apologetic and perfectly nice, which could feel fresh for some and disturbing for others. With male leads, we really are used to it now, it's basically something you have to learn to accept if you watch K-dramas.
as for the love for SH, I guess it's just the actor's mesmerizing acting, or just generally because, like I sad, it's obvious that he is the villain in this fictional story and at least in fiction, when the wrongdoings are not dismissed or romanticized, I'd say there is no problem with rooting or liking the bad ones.
ofc this is all based on my own opinions and feelings, for someone this might be still completely different.
As for Bok Soo, I love him so much, he is so precious. I love him with all his faults.
I would love if they would reveal something about Se Ho, that would make me understand his actions and motives, but for now, that "I grew up with pressure, but without love" is not enough for me, actually it's no reason for me at all to betray the only person that wholeheartedly cared for and loved you as a friend.
I really like that all characters, even the minor ones, seem to have depth and a story behind them. everybody has a distinguishable personality and it just shows that the characters are created with care and thought and not only for the development of the main roles but for the development of the story.
the most in any kind of romance plot.
I am not just gonna excuse those things that I dislike about it with the fact that it's a rom-com or that the writers didn't think much about it. actually, that makes the whole drama even worse for me since they then apparently didn't put much effort into it.
Also, how was he was he teasing her? bc in the end, even if he had worded it less creepy, it'll still be fact that he moved in there to be close to her, lying about it would've been worse.
It's as if the writers are scared peaple liked him more than the main guy so they trying their best to make Choi Gun the most unprofessional psychologist that oversteps quite a few boundaries that he should know not to cross.
(When she asked him if he moved knowing that it was her house ... creepy much. And he was like: Is it bad to be near the one you like? .... stalker much? Generally falling in love with a teenage girl without talking to her and watching out for her for 6 years. ugh I am sick.)
I am scared that it could be anthing like Something in the Rain, it is not or is it?
That's really not a good storytelling technique, it takes out all the possible suspense, makes Choi Gun absolutely unnecessary for the actual plot and it really doesn't tell or show us more about the characters.
just give me a quick look over how they met, why they keep meeting and the conflict, but only if all those informations aren't too spoilery.
but I'd be lying if I said that it was perfect. it has many flaws, but then again it has so much charm as well. the ending could've been executed much better, it felt quite rushed but overall I really loved it and I was enjoying it so much, never was bored and really fell in love with most of the characters.