the cinematography,acting and cast TOP NOTCH but idk at first I was hooked but then it became a bit boring. and…
I think I can comment on the song part:
What helped Yae regain her memory was her own CD in what used to be her CD player that Harumichi had (remember the scene where her uni friend returned her CDs and said one CD was missing?) Perhaps it's the subtle disturbances from that particular CD (from years of replaying the same song; a CD tendency) that helped bring it all back. If we take a look at this scene from a Japanese Romanticism lens, her son, 綴 tsuzuru, is the necessary catalyst for this memory regain. Why? Because the word tsuzuru means to record something or to bind something (remember the scene where she explained that the moment she saw her son's face, the name just came to her, because she believes names find their rightful owners.) Basically, life HAD to turn out this way. Had her mom given her the letters and she and Harumichi got to know each other again back then, their story likely would have not been the happy ending that it was today. While tough, every twists and turns and 'roundabouts' taken, every steps they have taken away from their once pure selves, were very necessary for Harumichi and Yae's love story.
This is an extremely patchy story-line, has questionable editing choices and strange character interactions. However, the chemistry is what is gluing it all together. Without the chemistry between the leads, this show would be a 4.5/10.
The scene when YJ was dreaming of HD and woke up crying💔💔💔I can’t watch it without pausing to cry
I realized something! The phone booth represents his dream, career, long-term goal, "bitter," motivation; beach day Heedo represents innocence, youth, healing, "sweet."
What that dream sequence signifies is Yijin's reluctance to let go of his "youth" (his period of healing, his youth, his Heedo) and grow-up. He is grabbing onto it desperately (his tight hug). But the dramatic irony here is that in reality he chose the phone booth. So he was consoling himself in his dream.
This is what happens when I apply my Psychology degree into everything ahaha, wishing you a happy day/night wherever you are!
Do you have any J -Judicial dramas you would recommend?
The actual excellent ones are produced by NHK and WOWOW and they do not have English subs most of the times; among subbed content, on the top of my mind, Innocence (2019?) and The Good Wife (2019?) were memorable.
As an avid J-drama watcher, I find this drama to be VERY similar to the format of J-Judicial dramas, not the average ones, the best of the best ones. Which is why I explains my enjoyment of the show. Granted, I am watching ep 6 right now. But I have a fairly good feeling about the show. This isn't the "take your life over" kind of drama. It's the "re-question your morality and philosophy" kind of drama. Kind of like an herbal medicine for our consciousness, formulated very elegantly and delivered in pristine state.
Before I write this, let me preface this: that this show was a masterpiece! I actually loved the ending, it hurt in a good way. It will stick with me for as long as I wish forever to be.
Now here's the real comment. I think some of the character dissonance that others here are seeing between adult Heedo, 29 Heedo, 21 Heedo and youth Heedo could have been fixed by the costume department. Hear me out!
Youth Heedo didn't care about fashion, she had wavy unruly hair, wore her favourite scrunchie, loved baggy clothes and was often sweaty or drenched. Her clothing colour palette was basically revolving around the blues, reds and accents of white. Her choice of shoes are her slippers or runners.
21 Heedo's costume seemed like a good step up from youth Heedo. She still preferred looser clothes, but has somewhat awakened to her feminine side. You see her with a pretty necklace that she repeats instead of her scrunchie. You see her hair looks like it's being taken care of (as in, in good shine. Not saying wavy isn't healthy), she seems to carry a purse instead of wearing extremely baggy pants with big pockets. There is a semblance of the 1/3 on 2/3 rule of fashion being applied. Her colour palette has more darker tones and washes instead of before, maybe as a way to demonstrate her emotional state. Her choice of shoes are still runners, albeit a more fashionable style.
29 Heedo was shown briefly, so we don't have too much to work with but she sported a side part hairstyle and enjoyed creating volume with her bangs instead of wearing them as baby bangs. She liked delicate makeup applied (was comfortable with it). I won't comment on shoes and colour palette as we were shown an interview scene and a funeral scene. None of them are fashion moments. However a linear progress from youth --> 21 --> 29 is properly demonstrated here. This is all good....
And yet Adult Heedo looks like she's ready to give an interview any minute. Perfect chignon at all point in time. Tailored dresses and set up suits with waist emphasis, really high heels, all grey toned colours. She looks like an announcer herself! What I would have done, had I been a stylist for adult Heedo, was to continue to build from the 29 timeline but don't change it much. Overall, Heedo was not ever that fussy about fashion. I understand we must abide a standard around 40's fashion look that trending in South Korea right now.
With all that in mind, A classic Ralph Lauren look seems perfect. What I mean here is a good, light cable knit sweater in light greys and powder blues. Think, a muted version of her youth colour palette. A pair of pearl earrings worn everyday, to replace the scrunchies and necklace looks; this way she still stays in character from her youth days. Straight pants, chino pants, slacks would be lovely. Update her bag of choice to a nice classic handbag to show us that she has grown up. When shown doing wood works, she could sport a dirty looking apron over these comfortable outfits. Instead of high heels, some fashionable walking shoes would have been age appropriate and character appropriate. Her hair could just be tied in a low ponytail with a hairtie, nothing fancy, and style the bangs side ways as an ode to her 29 look. Lastly, finish her off with some light skin makeup and deeper lip makeup. I think what I am proposing would have eased the character dissonance that happened a bit.
What do you guys think? Sorry for the long comment. I am physically unable to write short comments ahaha.
Why do you dislike the ending......I think people forgot how yijin had sacrifice his love or his work because…
I wished they stayed acquainted too, I'm not even asking for a friendship. Something as simple as her preferring to watch his news over others would have been a lovely way to demonstrate her "sending support from afar" situation. But I guess due to their regrets, they were never able to be anything more than strangers to one another. Wouldn't it have been neat if Baek Yijin was shown to reach for his drawer (where the pencil case is) after he typed in his security question?
What helped Yae regain her memory was her own CD in what used to be her CD player that Harumichi had (remember the scene where her uni friend returned her CDs and said one CD was missing?) Perhaps it's the subtle disturbances from that particular CD (from years of replaying the same song; a CD tendency) that helped bring it all back. If we take a look at this scene from a Japanese Romanticism lens, her son, 綴 tsuzuru, is the necessary catalyst for this memory regain. Why? Because the word tsuzuru means to record something or to bind something (remember the scene where she explained that the moment she saw her son's face, the name just came to her, because she believes names find their rightful owners.) Basically, life HAD to turn out this way. Had her mom given her the letters and she and Harumichi got to know each other again back then, their story likely would have not been the happy ending that it was today. While tough, every twists and turns and 'roundabouts' taken, every steps they have taken away from their once pure selves, were very necessary for Harumichi and Yae's love story.
What that dream sequence signifies is Yijin's reluctance to let go of his "youth" (his period of healing, his youth, his Heedo) and grow-up. He is grabbing onto it desperately (his tight hug). But the dramatic irony here is that in reality he chose the phone booth. So he was consoling himself in his dream.
This is what happens when I apply my Psychology degree into everything ahaha, wishing you a happy day/night wherever you are!
Now here's the real comment.
I think some of the character dissonance that others here are seeing between adult Heedo, 29 Heedo, 21 Heedo and youth Heedo could have been fixed by the costume department. Hear me out!
Youth Heedo didn't care about fashion, she had wavy unruly hair, wore her favourite scrunchie, loved baggy clothes and was often sweaty or drenched. Her clothing colour palette was basically revolving around the blues, reds and accents of white. Her choice of shoes are her slippers or runners.
21 Heedo's costume seemed like a good step up from youth Heedo. She still preferred looser clothes, but has somewhat awakened to her feminine side. You see her with a pretty necklace that she repeats instead of her scrunchie. You see her hair looks like it's being taken care of (as in, in good shine. Not saying wavy isn't healthy), she seems to carry a purse instead of wearing extremely baggy pants with big pockets. There is a semblance of the 1/3 on 2/3 rule of fashion being applied. Her colour palette has more darker tones and washes instead of before, maybe as a way to demonstrate her emotional state. Her choice of shoes are still runners, albeit a more fashionable style.
29 Heedo was shown briefly, so we don't have too much to work with but she sported a side part hairstyle and enjoyed creating volume with her bangs instead of wearing them as baby bangs. She liked delicate makeup applied (was comfortable with it). I won't comment on shoes and colour palette as we were shown an interview scene and a funeral scene. None of them are fashion moments. However a linear progress from youth --> 21 --> 29 is properly demonstrated here.
This is all good....
And yet Adult Heedo looks like she's ready to give an interview any minute. Perfect chignon at all point in time. Tailored dresses and set up suits with waist emphasis, really high heels, all grey toned colours. She looks like an announcer herself! What I would have done, had I been a stylist for adult Heedo, was to continue to build from the 29 timeline but don't change it much. Overall, Heedo was not ever that fussy about fashion. I understand we must abide a standard around 40's fashion look that trending in South Korea right now.
With all that in mind, A classic Ralph Lauren look seems perfect. What I mean here is a good, light cable knit sweater in light greys and powder blues. Think, a muted version of her youth colour palette. A pair of pearl earrings worn everyday, to replace the scrunchies and necklace looks; this way she still stays in character from her youth days. Straight pants, chino pants, slacks would be lovely. Update her bag of choice to a nice classic handbag to show us that she has grown up. When shown doing wood works, she could sport a dirty looking apron over these comfortable outfits. Instead of high heels, some fashionable walking shoes would have been age appropriate and character appropriate. Her hair could just be tied in a low ponytail with a hairtie, nothing fancy, and style the bangs side ways as an ode to her 29 look. Lastly, finish her off with some light skin makeup and deeper lip makeup.
I think what I am proposing would have eased the character dissonance that happened a bit.
What do you guys think? Sorry for the long comment. I am physically unable to write short comments ahaha.