It is an OK drama. I dont understand the end scene. Anybody can give hint?
No one has responded, but you might have read peoples thoughts elswhere....
However, much like most of the show...it depends on you, the viewer, and who you BELIEVE the characters to be and if you believe the magic shown is real or not.
People who think the two leads were truly in love, destined to be, and the love spell doesn't truly matter, because he would have fallen for her anyway, seem to think that the final scene is Rowoon's past life character protecting the spell book and moving it to his family's land so they would posses it forever instead of the queen. Thus it keeps the story in fluffy love land with a noble male lead and lets them swoon over the romance.
The main problem here is that the spellbook was sealed with magic and is unable to be opened by anyone except the true owner (Jo Bo Ah) which was the whole premace of the first half of the show...so how was Rowoon opening the box, what did he take out of it cause he seemed to have a piece of paper as he walked away...and what was the look on his face?
The second idea hinges heavily on the magic, which if true, doesn't ultimately tell a love story. Rowoon's character had been shown to be dishonest, self-centered, and a low key cheater. He was arrogant and the heir to a fortune who dated other eletes...He also had no interest in love at all...
However, the love spell worked and the feelings that exist between the leads are one sided. She fell for him while magic created his feelings. This excuses his behavior as he is not logically acting while under the spell and this also fullfills the prophecy.
This alludes that ultimately in the past Rowoons character did betray Jo Ba Ho and chose to save himself and his family, thus the final scene is him securing the spells for the queen as instructed. Support here, is that for some reason he and his family eludes punishment in the past securing more wealth and power. Also, he went on to marry and have children passing on the curse and massive influence up into modern day. That is until Jo Ba Ho reincarnated has her revenge, turning his spirit into a reincarnated love puppy slave that ultimatley allows her to live this life in wealth and power.
The only problem with this theory is that he was still able to open the box which was supposed to be magically sealed in that final scene, again negating the opening premace of the show.
Lastly there is the logical response. That is, there was never magic at all. This erases most of the plot holes in the show. As such, Rowoons character really did fall head-over-heels with the Jo Ba Oh in modern times and they have true love, even though it didn't come about in the best way. (Ie gaslighting, two timing, and powerplays).
Support here, is there is no proof that any of the spells worked. The show leaves that fully up to the viewer and even Jo Ba Oh is asked by the second male lead in the last episode if she still believes in the curse and magic spells. This is also, indirectly, asking us if we believed it. Nothing cast in the present works right. Maybe the skin spell, or was it simply she was happy and in love so she looked healthier? The modern day old lady shaman gets mutliple interpretations and predictions wrong and is herself upset by the mistakes.
Even in the past the killing spell is claimed by Jo Ba Oh to never have been cast even tho the victim dies and she is blamed. Etc and so on.
This also explains why Rowoon could freely open the box in the last scene...because the magic wasnt real and the box could always be opened. It was just it was now 300 years old in present day and had been buried, thus the lock was aged and not working properly as well as the hinges. Until it just popped open becuase it had been messed with enough to make it dislodge.
Again tho, this does allude to Rowoons past life character still betraying Jo Ba Oh and doing the Queens bidding to save himself and his family, which is why he got into the box....however, with Jo Bo Ahs character dead...what else could he do but save his family?
It is an open ending...thus there is no definitive answer to your question. It is up to you and how you feel about what you saw and what you want to take from the show.
This was actually one of the things I liked...
With that said, the writing wasnt tight enough and there are still holes in the plot no matter which way you decide.
I mean past Rowoon supposedly defied the royal family and released a prisoner punished for death, then had an out right battle killing a large swath of the Kingsgaurd trying to protect her. How his family wasnt annihilated, and wiped from Joseon and their wealth split to others, is beyond me. UNLESS he was always an agent working for the royal family and was there for the spells from the get go. Thus, he had turned his back on Jo Ba Ah...she did spurn him and choose her family over him already, why wasnt he allowed to do the same. Her life was over at this point no matter which way you sliced it.
When he killed her, mercy killing or not, she asked him, "Was he there for the spells all along?" To which he never answers. This is telling. And when paired with the last scene and him removing something from the box...it seems to hint that yes, he was after them. He also had tried to take them already the night before their fatefull last day together.
The show only makes 1 concrete truth. They were the reincarnated souls of these past lovers. Everything else is up to you to decide.
Were they simply lost souls finding their way together to finally have happiness in this life? Was this an ancient curse of a lover betrayed that was now fruiting the promised revenge? Or was this a past betrayal of unfortunate circumstances playing out for a second time in this life, with the characters making better choices and this time beating the odds and ending in happiness?
It changes the show depending on the mindset you have, as well as the meaning of that final cut scene.
It is def something like this. He showed up after that black car with a driver in a black suit got out and knew…
Strong point...but, Im also curious about his families origins. His grandmother seemed well dressed and put together. And his mother is off in canada with apparently a seemingly well to do family...or at least life...he aslo craves family. Could his family have been rich as well...is the car from his mom who was trying to get a hold of him. Will bringing down the company for his family be beneficial...as in yes, maybe he is a love child of the patriarch and his mother was forced out of country by that family and his grandmother hid him and required he had no contact so he wouldnt be found out...meaning he was for a short while in foster care so they wouldnt know. Etc. So forth. So he is now a mole trying to avenge his childhood and family...
I don’t think JU is back just because he missed HY. My guess is he found out he’s the illegitimate son of…
It is def something like this. He showed up after that black car with a driver in a black suit got out and knew his name....in Kdramas that is always sus. It means there is information that we will learn later and that info has promted his return...and it def has to do with either the company, the ceo family, or hes been hired by a competitor as a mole...ie sorta like he was doing when we first met him in the interview at the begining of episode 1...I mean they introduced his character like that for a reason right?
But why was he hiding out in the town of the mother and visiting her in the home? Is he really the first foster child from the flash backs...as it was a boy and no one talks about him anymore...they just follow the girls who now act like.sisters to each other.
Highly disagree, but to each their own.The first 2 episodes of this drama where unexpectedly fun, funny, and fast…
Hey there,
I see you've posted multiple threads on this same topic. I am sorry I haven't responded until now, I was just going through these responses now.
As to your statement it is actually very interesting on this switch.
That is, this deals with the Female Gaze vs the Male Gaze. Or at least the Female Gaze as it has been formed under the control and oppression of the Male Gaze. But that is a whole gender politics convo and study that I am not wanting to entertain here.
For simplicity is is simply that most romance dramas, in general, are written to appeal to the female audience. Even more, they are written with the females of the shows as the main leads.
As such you ALWAYS learn the most about the MAIN LEAD. Their history, their trauma, their families, their careers, their troubles, their dreams, their hopes...on and on it goes. Thus, not knowing everything about the Male Lead is because in all honesty, it is not important to the stories being told. Unless their is trauma of which the show uses as a plot point or just enough backstory to make a character feel a bit fleshed out and 3 dimensional.
Even more, television and movies have historically been criticized as appealing solely to the male gaze and as such females are written as props and or prizes and not as real people. The females roles created in the program only for the plot progression of the Main male lead and to used for his characters needs and be the love interest.
This is in turn how most of the Male leads in Kdramas are created. They are the final prize of the Female Lead (a wedding). The show has no other true ambition than to partner him up with her no matter the story-line. As such, the male leads are written to be ideal men. Or AN IDEAL of what is perceived to be what women want. Wealthy, attractive, attentive, with eyes only for her that is fated and his whole life has been designed to be what she the main female leads character wants, needs, desires and deserves.
They are all Prince Charmings for our female damsels. Just now normally there aren't dragons.
As such who dreams of a player, a womanizer, a poor slob who lives with his parents and sleeps around with a new girl every weekend while unable to hold a job? No one.
So instead they are what they are.
It is the opposite of most all other genres where the woman is written as a virgin who has double d breasts with a size 2 waist and whose clothing preference is skin tight jeans and miniskirts with stiletto ed shoes. She can cook every meal under the sun, and her life is waiting around for what the guy needs.
Neither is really healthy. And every now and then you get characters that are real people and not these perfect ideas...but they are far and between and normally general audiences do not like them as much...as my closing original paragraph was about this. That is you get a lot of the guy is a red flag and toxic who is not good enough or the female lead is a whore and bitc* who doesn't treat the man right. The drama is awful. Who wants to be with any of these people type comments and the drama is slapped with low ratings.
So instead they keep writing the male and female leads as ideal archetypes that make the audience happy and unchallenged.
Highly disagree, but to each their own.The first 2 episodes of this drama where unexpectedly fun, funny, and fast…
Hey, just going through your responses now. As per the point made in this comment;
My initial response was divided into 2 sections. The first 6 paragraphs gave my counter opinion on your stance including a point by point breakdown of the issues you found in the episodes and what you disliked. I gave rebuttal to these points and then what I perceived to be the intention of the writer in using the plot points in the way they do.
You then ended your initial dissection with a statement that this was poor writing or that it lacks anything that would be found in good writing.
My last 3 paragraphs deal with this aforementioned blanket statement and why I do not agree with you on this point. As none of what I wrote was a review or "critique"of the show but counterpoints to your statements.
As for compare and contrast; this is a hallmark of essaying and or rebuttal. That is, most written arguments, retorts, and or essays are built upon this principal. For example, in an English course being asked to compare and contrast (famously) 1984 to A Brave New World. In art class being able to reason through the techniques and affect of Rembrandt vs Pecaso. In history the prowess of ancient structures of Egyptians vs Mexica (Aztecs) in pyramid building. In Physics the strength and weaknesses of String Theory vs Loop Quantum Gravity. Etc....so on and so forth. Hell, even in things such as law, lawyers and judges sight rulings of other "like"cases to bolster their rulings and/or case strategies.
It is unequivocally a necessity in generating a base line from which to argue or take a stance and create a relatable, measurable, and understandable schema.
Have you ever heard of "No man is an Island?"
That is just like any human, no piece of art stands alone, it is in a diaspora of content to which it can be compared and contrasted to equivocate its relative-ness and or effectiveness (worth) in its field or genre.
Now if I had pulled from works that do not relate such as Squid Game or Devil Judge and said those are 10s. Or possibly a Sageuk like Under the Queens Umbrella etc....then an argument could be made as they are works that are completely unrelated to the one of which we are speaking.
However, I did not do that. I chose works in the same genre and scope, even chronological time to make comparisons. As such, it was completely warranted.
I don't mind the age difference at all as long as they are both adults. I dated a guy 5 years younger than me…
While there are and should be some strict age limitations in the world of love (mainly with minors and predetors) I feel like age gaps really only matter in youth. That is the younger you are the closer in age your lover needs to be...becuase of as you stated mental age. Ie shared experiences, life milestones, maturity...ect. when young so much is happening mentally and physically that being with someone older, stable, developed and already have gone through it is not morally just or even practical for an equal relationship.
But once at the latest 25 age realm hits, I feel this no longer applies. Or at least not as strictly. Biologically all humans are at physical maturity before age 25. Brain development takes longer and is developmentally complete by age 25. Also MOST...not all but most people have experienced love and loss by this age, and possibly true loss of loved ones. Most have worked for years, or finished multiple degrees, in some cases like Korea, even military duty by this age. That is life experience has began to pile ontop of development and thus age stops being as limiting of a factor.
By 30 anyone can date any age they choose and no one has any right to say anything about it. As long as again not going for minors are those overly young as per the same argument given above.
Workplaces reinforce this, as unlike school, you will sit in desks and work right next to people with large varying ages. That is, life milestones became widely applicable at this point. And people of many different ages live the same life...unlike youth and school.
Thus, I feel age gap stories are dismayed and unliked and recieve alot of negativity from youthful audiences...as they are in an age where age is very important becyase of maturity, school, legality, mental and physical development, and societal standards. And since we are on a social internet site, the larger population, especially those that rate and comment, fall in this catagory.
While adults and older people do not have these same gripes and complaints again for the reasons stated above.
Imma keep it real. This show is boring af, and focusing on the wrong things and trying to answer all the wrong…
Highly disagree, but to each their own.
The first 2 episodes of this drama where unexpectedly fun, funny, and fast paced. It set the story up efficiently while not dragging out plot points. I laughed many times while getting to know the world of the characters and I like both leads for their contrasting flaws as well as their undertones of similarities.
The mother aspect of the story is very significant, not only in being the catalyst for the acceptance of the proposal by the male lead but also one of the factors in the fl deciding on an improptu wedding. This is one of their underlying similarities that will lead them to each other. A soft spot if you will in both of their armor.
Also the sister fights are extremely important in building the FL personality. The way she sees herself, makes her decisions, and relates to the world around herself. It also directly links into the relationship our FL has with her mother which is again a catalyst for the wedding. This also is giving a second LINK between FL and ML. They both are outsiders that feel alone and abandoned by those around them. This directly influinces their decisions.
The ex boyfriends are simply establishing the FL history in the realm of love, which is done by almost all romance shows. FL are always pictured as never-been-touched virgins even though in their effing 30s or complete distaters with a string of failed dead-end lovers most of whom have moved on to wife up elswhere. This part of the show is by-the- numbers kdrama backstory love set-up our FL is simply the 2nd option of the aforementioned two. That she works with her most recent lover, and he was 2 timing her, and him being a morally bankrupt snake, is just to create more catalytic fuel for the FL improtu wedding decision while also establishing an antagonist and hurtle for the FL.
This show has wit, saracasm, and has already made mutliple social statements about modern day Korean society all in a a tightly plotted fast paced, quite funny, 2 episodes. As for writing it is quite strong and though enemy to lovers isnt anything new, the current shows approach is very fresh and fun.
I was quite shocked by how much I enjoyed this. Compared to currently airing Love Next Door this is a powerhouse. I've fallen asleep in 3 out of the 4 episodes that have currenlty aired of LND. I love the stars of that drama but the drama itself is stale, run-of-the-mill, expected, and sluggish. It is a rehash of Doctor Slump from earlier this year with only minor changes and removal of a the kinda exciting who-done-it medical mishap/murder. Doctor Slump was more fun though and in itself is a.rehash of other dramas. Yet LND has an 8.8 compared to this shows 8.2 and laundry list of negative comments...We could also compare this to the just ended Serendipities Embrace which again had a great cast and only 8 episodes but was still slow, shallow, compeltely expected and paint-by-numbers.making it slog through its runtime and offering not a single new or fresh moment of entertainment...and yet it still manages to hold an 8.1 rating.
While also Romance in the House and Bad Memory Eraser are airing against this show and both of those shows are being thrown under the bus by viewers. While BME does have some glaring flaws, the show at least feels original while watching and keeps veiwers guessing on how the story will end and who really will end up with whom. RitH on-the-other-hand showcases some strong female leads and interesting plot points with a mix of mystery and love stories that are messy and imperfect. Yet like this show, both of these shows are being rated low with a lot of negativity and lower rated 7.8 and 7.7 vs again the 8.8 of the very mundane Love Next Door.
It reinforces yet again that most people dont want something diffrent, fresh, new, well written, or unique with interesting complicated anf flawed characters. They simply want their favorite stars in comfortable packaged same ol run-of-the-meal stories that dont challenge their veiws, mindset, experience or expected outcomes in anyway. And when dramas give them that they say well acted, well written, perfect 10 out of 10. And when shows don't adhere to this formula we get, poorly wrttien, bad acted, awful characters...etc... While interestingly and critically the opposite is factually true.
So he stops her from seeing that the doctor is kissing someone else and then in the same sene gets mad at her for taking the dr side and doing what the dr asks...if he had just let her see what was going on...it would have remedied the problem, and kept the male dr from taking advantage her.
The plot tries to create some tense, taunt, and turbluent murder mystery drug mayhem...and it's bad.
It really just becomes nonsensical and ridiculous close to the end. Our main FL comes off severly dense and inneffective. She has to have so much spelled out for her, lead by the hand, and is unnable to connect any dots. The mystery the entire first 2/3rd of the show was setting up is just fully solved and told to us out of left field in a 15 minute flashback connecting 20 years worth of murders and revealing the murderer in the most anticlimatic of fashions.
The characters on screen didn't earn the resolution or case solve...but thats the point, its all just to have a 2nd kidnapping take place...and the killer decided not to end the character because of plot armor so instead they can have conversations and ya know be saved. Not to mention that one of the main side characters suddenly just conviently shows up with a connection to the killer at just the right time in an astoundingly lazy plot point to move the story forward.
It was fun that became a lazy, poorly designed, crime caper mess.
Oh and why did the main character act so distraught over showing her parents or prosecutor the truth...everyone else that found out the truth handled it just fine and they are supposedly the ones that love and care for her the most...it would have been an easy evening meal in the kitchen and called it a day. But instead we get a whole lot of angsty drama and resignations...
Ugh...it ust plummeted by episode 12.
6.0 = C, 3-Stars. Average in every way. 50/50 shot of liking it due to viewer taste.
The FL is the only actual character I liked. That doesnt mean she was perfect, it was just that her motivations and humanity made sense. She isn't the kindest but she catches herself and feels remorse for her bad actions and at least tries to fix her mistakes. Also, she seems to have a bad memory that she wants to erase herself....which we havent yet been privy...likely why she in psychiatry in the first place.
The ML was too much one way at the start and is now too much the otherway. If it hadn't been for the test surgery I would have said this show is just about a Manic Depressive. Started out in the depressed phase and now we are in the manic phase... it was alot to get through. And it isn't that his life wasn't crap, it was, but I still wanted to distance myself from his antics. And why is his personality just as bad in narcissism when he's "fixed" after the surgery. Is he just destined to have a horrible personality in one extreme or the other.
The family is unrealistically bad. I mean I get there are horrible people and bad parents, but come on. The entire family loves and adores the ML and then he breaks his wrist trying to save his brother and now the entire family treats him like trash....again far too extreme. Its like a stage play where there is no middle ground or grey area and everything is amped up to 11 out of 10 in either the good or bad traits of everybody. Its too over-the-top.
But, I like the set-up...the possible mystery that is teased for future episodes, and the aesthetic or overall feel of the show. I did laugh a few times and I do want to see more or where we are headed...which means it has a decent draw to its story. I can see some of cliches being set up like bowling pins that we will knock into later...but there is at least some tease of the unkown to the story. It feels mostly fresh when watching, which is great.
And yes, I hope I get to like Jong Won...I am a fan of his beauty.
SK law allows manslaughter for basically any situation in which a person dies and there is any form of negligence.…
Logic and understanding.
Considering the build up to this reveal, the only character in the house we were getting backstory and flashbacks of their life before now (outside our 2 leads) as well as multiple run-ins with the brother of the victim that ended in panic attacks, and the reveal multiple episodes back that he MURDERED a person...which is a severely big deal...and then everyone kneeling and apologizing and taking blame in front of the family after years, upon years, and an entire served prison sentence, etc.etc.etc....
It was made into a very very big deal.
But it ends up being this, which was by all stretches of the imagination a motorbike accident. An accident you've seen played out in countless other shows with no murder charges. (Korean, Thai, Taiwanese, and yes American shows) An accident that by all means was just a severely sad and sobering event that would likely leave some deep emotional scars and yes feelings of self-blame etc.
But murder charges, his life stripped from him. The aftermath of what we were witnessing and the blame and the humiliation everyone felt was warranted on his part....
It made no sense.
And as I said above, someone saying maybe he drove without a license, but the show didn't do the job of explaining this, or as others said, a writing flaw...etc....makes it hold water or make sense...because what was shown on screen didn't compute as a viable reason for his life to be this way or the show to be treating him in this manner...
And the truck wasn't parked in the road. It pulled out in front of him and he didn't have enough time to stop because his head was turned. I just went back and watched the scene again just to make sure I was remembering the scene correctly.
That's why I asked.
But I kinda feel like it was a cop-out. To make a mountain out of a mole hill for the story, and to try to give a crime in a way to make the audience not hate him and feel sorry for him. Except, they didn't actually create a crime but an accident that he is know persecuted for the rest of his life over, and it kinda turns the 2nd ML into a bit of an ahole.
SK law allows manslaughter for basically any situation in which a person dies and there is any form of negligence.…
Yes, reckless driving would be at least manslaughter in the US as well. However, his driving wasn't being reckless. He wasn't swerving, not following traffic laws, or speeding (again as far as we were shown). The female passenger was being much much more reckless, I.E. not holding on to him, waving her arms and screaming. And if I recall the reason he wasn't at that exact moment looking forward was because he was trying to calm his passenger down and get her to hold on to him....Also helmets were worn.
Meaning reckless endangerment equaling manslaughter also doesn't seem to apply.
The only reason we knew he turned his head anyway is because we had a godlike eye to the incident via a tv camera showing us since it was a tv show and flashback...if CTTV cameras happened to be right there where the accident happened giving a good view...they would also show the behavior if his passenger, and the driver trying to control her while also driving.
Showing that this was just that. An accident in the purest sense of the word.
Meaning it would have been our 2nd ML Prosecutors fault for choosing to prosecute the case and deciding to try and pin the worst punishment he could muster on a basically great kid who got in a tragic motor accident.
The driving without a license idea that was thrown out above, seems to be the only reasonable explanation. Two kids being stupid kids and breaking the law in not having a license and out joyriding that ultimately killed one and ruined the life of the other. That makes sense with how the scene played out and the punishments given...but the show doesn't explain or show this...its all just conjecture at this point. Meaning yes a failure in the writing...
7.0 = B-, 3 1/2-Stars. Flawed and imperfect, but still worthy of a watch.
Begining was much stronger than the ending. Female character became unimportant and just someone who sits on the sidelines worrying her man isnt gunna come back....main charachter's final big conflict is 2 conversations with his dad and his father showing up at his work and he basically gives up on his life and everyone around him thinking hes not good enough for anything.
Most side characters storylines arent developed and don't go anywhere in the end. Our 2nd female lead is a waste of screenspace and was there only to create conflict in the 1st half and then become background noise to ultimately be forgotten about by the end. We dont learn about the backstories of the men in the house except for our young secretary, and his backstory isnt a crime yet he is a convicted criminal for an accident..
Anyway, it was cute, and funny at times, I liked the set-up, the actors were all likelable and strong in their roles, and all the characters had chemistry romantic and/or friendship. It had a nice level of fun. But I probably won't ever rewatch iton my own, maybe if I was doing a watch party with someone who wanted to see it.
I'm only on episode 13....but we just found the truth of Park Jae Chan's character's background...
I don't understand how what happened is considered a crime. It was an unfortunate accident...but he wasnt under the influence of drugs or alcohol l. It is super sad and there was loss. And he must take that with him for forever...but there wasnt a crime. I mean likely 1/2 the world would be locked up if a motor accident can be considered murder....
This is a decent show for Great, Thor, and Drake. Fluke is neutral. Inn and Pod do not come off well here, and I'd say are the losers of the show.
It starts off decent. Has some sex appeal. But by episode 4 you've seen everything this has to offer. The plot just spins in place on repeat after this...and the stuff you liked in the first 4 epis becomes annoying because it is so repetitive...by episode 8 I had lost interest. Episode 10 I was ffwding.
Great has the strongest acting here, he's also arguably the hottest which is nice to have him not just be window dressing. Drake is memorable with his scenes and character.
Inn, who I really liked in Teddybear, comes off dull, one note, and I don't know if its how his make up is done or he has just had eye, nose, and lip plastic surgery...but his features no longer fit his face except from certain angles, his lips always seem pursed....and his character who is supposed to be a lovelorn introvert doctor whose never been kissed...comes off as a brat, who is self centered, sassy, and not nearly the catch the writers and show try to make him out to be.
10....naa....Since epi 8 its been kinda pointless....just starting 10 and I've ffwd through half of 9. The show has been on repeat since episode 4....and by 8 I'm bored crazy and sick of it it. Now I don't really know what story they even have left for episodes 10,11, and 12....considering everything by the end of 9
1 
2 
However, much like most of the show...it depends on you, the viewer, and who you BELIEVE the characters to be and if you believe the magic shown is real or not.
People who think the two leads were truly in love, destined to be, and the love spell doesn't truly matter, because he would have fallen for her anyway, seem to think that the final scene is Rowoon's past life character protecting the spell book and moving it to his family's land so they would posses it forever instead of the queen. Thus it keeps the story in fluffy love land with a noble male lead and lets them swoon over the romance.
The main problem here is that the spellbook was sealed with magic and is unable to be opened by anyone except the true owner (Jo Bo Ah) which was the whole premace of the first half of the show...so how was Rowoon opening the box, what did he take out of it cause he seemed to have a piece of paper as he walked away...and what was the look on his face?
The second idea hinges heavily on the magic, which if true, doesn't ultimately tell a love story. Rowoon's character had been shown to be dishonest, self-centered, and a low key cheater. He was arrogant and the heir to a fortune who dated other eletes...He also had no interest in love at all...
However, the love spell worked and the feelings that exist between the leads are one sided. She fell for him while magic created his feelings. This excuses his behavior as he is not logically acting while under the spell and this also fullfills the prophecy.
This alludes that ultimately in the past Rowoons character did betray Jo Ba Ho and chose to save himself and his family, thus the final scene is him securing the spells for the queen as instructed. Support here, is that for some reason he and his family eludes punishment in the past securing more wealth and power. Also, he went on to marry and have children passing on the curse and massive influence up into modern day. That is until Jo Ba Ho reincarnated has her revenge, turning his spirit into a reincarnated love puppy slave that ultimatley allows her to live this life in wealth and power.
The only problem with this theory is that he was still able to open the box which was supposed to be magically sealed in that final scene, again negating the opening premace of the show.
Lastly there is the logical response. That is, there was never magic at all. This erases most of the plot holes in the show. As such, Rowoons character really did fall head-over-heels with the Jo Ba Oh in modern times and they have true love, even though it didn't come about in the best way. (Ie gaslighting, two timing, and powerplays).
Support here, is there is no proof that any of the spells worked. The show leaves that fully up to the viewer and even Jo Ba Oh is asked by the second male lead in the last episode if she still believes in the curse and magic spells. This is also, indirectly, asking us if we believed it. Nothing cast in the present works right. Maybe the skin spell, or was it simply she was happy and in love so she looked healthier? The modern day old lady shaman gets mutliple interpretations and predictions wrong and is herself upset by the mistakes.
Even in the past the killing spell is claimed by Jo Ba Oh to never have been cast even tho the victim dies and she is blamed. Etc and so on.
This also explains why Rowoon could freely open the box in the last scene...because the magic wasnt real and the box could always be opened. It was just it was now 300 years old in present day and had been buried, thus the lock was aged and not working properly as well as the hinges. Until it just popped open becuase it had been messed with enough to make it dislodge.
Again tho, this does allude to Rowoons past life character still betraying Jo Ba Oh and doing the Queens bidding to save himself and his family, which is why he got into the box....however, with Jo Bo Ahs character dead...what else could he do but save his family?
It is an open ending...thus there is no definitive answer to your question. It is up to you and how you feel about what you saw and what you want to take from the show.
This was actually one of the things I liked...
With that said, the writing wasnt tight enough and there are still holes in the plot no matter which way you decide.
I mean past Rowoon supposedly defied the royal family and released a prisoner punished for death, then had an out right battle killing a large swath of the Kingsgaurd trying to protect her. How his family wasnt annihilated, and wiped from Joseon and their wealth split to others, is beyond me. UNLESS he was always an agent working for the royal family and was there for the spells from the get go. Thus, he had turned his back on Jo Ba Ah...she did spurn him and choose her family over him already, why wasnt he allowed to do the same. Her life was over at this point no matter which way you sliced it.
When he killed her, mercy killing or not, she asked him, "Was he there for the spells all along?" To which he never answers. This is telling. And when paired with the last scene and him removing something from the box...it seems to hint that yes, he was after them. He also had tried to take them already the night before their fatefull last day together.
The show only makes 1 concrete truth. They were the reincarnated souls of these past lovers. Everything else is up to you to decide.
Were they simply lost souls finding their way together to finally have happiness in this life?
Was this an ancient curse of a lover betrayed that was now fruiting the promised revenge?
Or was this a past betrayal of unfortunate circumstances playing out for a second time in this life, with the characters making better choices and this time beating the odds and ending in happiness?
It changes the show depending on the mindset you have, as well as the meaning of that final cut scene.
Hahaha so much drama!!! Possibly
But why was he hiding out in the town of the mother and visiting her in the home? Is he really the first foster child from the flash backs...as it was a boy and no one talks about him anymore...they just follow the girls who now act like.sisters to each other.
I see you've posted multiple threads on this same topic. I am sorry I haven't responded until now, I was just going through these responses now.
As to your statement it is actually very interesting on this switch.
That is, this deals with the Female Gaze vs the Male Gaze. Or at least the Female Gaze as it has been formed under the control and oppression of the Male Gaze. But that is a whole gender politics convo and study that I am not wanting to entertain here.
For simplicity is is simply that most romance dramas, in general, are written to appeal to the female audience. Even more, they are written with the females of the shows as the main leads.
As such you ALWAYS learn the most about the MAIN LEAD. Their history, their trauma, their families, their careers, their troubles, their dreams, their hopes...on and on it goes. Thus, not knowing everything about the Male Lead is because in all honesty, it is not important to the stories being told. Unless their is trauma of which the show uses as a plot point or just enough backstory to make a character feel a bit fleshed out and 3 dimensional.
Even more, television and movies have historically been criticized as appealing solely to the male gaze and as such females are written as props and or prizes and not as real people. The females roles created in the program only for the plot progression of the Main male lead and to used for his characters needs and be the love interest.
This is in turn how most of the Male leads in Kdramas are created. They are the final prize of the Female Lead (a wedding). The show has no other true ambition than to partner him up with her no matter the story-line. As such, the male leads are written to be ideal men. Or AN IDEAL of what is perceived to be what women want. Wealthy, attractive, attentive, with eyes only for her that is fated and his whole life has been designed to be what she the main female leads character wants, needs, desires and deserves.
They are all Prince Charmings for our female damsels. Just now normally there aren't dragons.
As such who dreams of a player, a womanizer, a poor slob who lives with his parents and sleeps around with a new girl every weekend while unable to hold a job? No one.
So instead they are what they are.
It is the opposite of most all other genres where the woman is written as a virgin who has double d breasts with a size 2 waist and whose clothing preference is skin tight jeans and miniskirts with stiletto ed shoes. She can cook every meal under the sun, and her life is waiting around for what the guy needs.
Neither is really healthy. And every now and then you get characters that are real people and not these perfect ideas...but they are far and between and normally general audiences do not like them as much...as my closing original paragraph was about this. That is you get a lot of the guy is a red flag and toxic who is not good enough or the female lead is a whore and bitc* who doesn't treat the man right. The drama is awful. Who wants to be with any of these people type comments and the drama is slapped with low ratings.
So instead they keep writing the male and female leads as ideal archetypes that make the audience happy and unchallenged.
My initial response was divided into 2 sections. The first 6 paragraphs gave my counter opinion on your stance including a point by point breakdown of the issues you found in the episodes and what you disliked. I gave rebuttal to these points and then what I perceived to be the intention of the writer in using the plot points in the way they do.
You then ended your initial dissection with a statement that this was poor writing or that it lacks anything that would be found in good writing.
My last 3 paragraphs deal with this aforementioned blanket statement and why I do not agree with you on this point. As none of what I wrote was a review or "critique"of the show but counterpoints to your statements.
As for compare and contrast; this is a hallmark of essaying and or rebuttal. That is, most written arguments, retorts, and or essays are built upon this principal. For example, in an English course being asked to compare and contrast (famously) 1984 to A Brave New World. In art class being able to reason through the techniques and affect of Rembrandt vs Pecaso. In history the prowess of ancient structures of Egyptians vs Mexica (Aztecs) in pyramid building. In Physics the strength and weaknesses of String Theory vs Loop Quantum Gravity. Etc....so on and so forth. Hell, even in things such as law, lawyers and judges sight rulings of other "like"cases to bolster their rulings and/or case strategies.
It is unequivocally a necessity in generating a base line from which to argue or take a stance and create a relatable, measurable, and understandable schema.
Have you ever heard of "No man is an Island?"
That is just like any human, no piece of art stands alone, it is in a diaspora of content to which it can be compared and contrasted to equivocate its relative-ness and or effectiveness (worth) in its field or genre.
Now if I had pulled from works that do not relate such as Squid Game or Devil Judge and said those are 10s. Or possibly a Sageuk like Under the Queens Umbrella etc....then an argument could be made as they are works that are completely unrelated to the one of which we are speaking.
However, I did not do that. I chose works in the same genre and scope, even chronological time to make comparisons. As such, it was completely warranted.
But once at the latest 25 age realm hits, I feel this no longer applies. Or at least not as strictly. Biologically all humans are at physical maturity before age 25. Brain development takes longer and is developmentally complete by age 25. Also MOST...not all but most people have experienced love and loss by this age, and possibly true loss of loved ones. Most have worked for years, or finished multiple degrees, in some cases like Korea, even military duty by this age. That is life experience has began to pile ontop of development and thus age stops being as limiting of a factor.
By 30 anyone can date any age they choose and no one has any right to say anything about it. As long as again not going for minors are those overly young as per the same argument given above.
Workplaces reinforce this, as unlike school, you will sit in desks and work right next to people with large varying ages. That is, life milestones became widely applicable at this point. And people of many different ages live the same life...unlike youth and school.
Thus, I feel age gap stories are dismayed and unliked and recieve alot of negativity from youthful audiences...as they are in an age where age is very important becyase of maturity, school, legality, mental and physical development, and societal standards. And since we are on a social internet site, the larger population, especially those that rate and comment, fall in this catagory.
While adults and older people do not have these same gripes and complaints again for the reasons stated above.
The first 2 episodes of this drama where unexpectedly fun, funny, and fast paced. It set the story up efficiently while not dragging out plot points. I laughed many times while getting to know the world of the characters and I like both leads for their contrasting flaws as well as their undertones of similarities.
The mother aspect of the story is very significant, not only in being the catalyst for the acceptance of the proposal by the male lead but also one of the factors in the fl deciding on an improptu wedding. This is one of their underlying similarities that will lead them to each other. A soft spot if you will in both of their armor.
Also the sister fights are extremely important in building the FL personality. The way she sees herself, makes her decisions, and relates to the world around herself. It also directly links into the relationship our FL has with her mother which is again a catalyst for the wedding. This also is giving a second LINK between FL and ML. They both are outsiders that feel alone and abandoned by those around them. This directly influinces their decisions.
The ex boyfriends are simply establishing the FL history in the realm of love, which is done by almost all romance shows. FL are always pictured as never-been-touched virgins even though in their effing 30s or complete distaters with a string of failed dead-end lovers most of whom have moved on to wife up elswhere. This part of the show is by-the- numbers kdrama backstory love set-up our FL is simply the 2nd option of the aforementioned two. That she works with her most recent lover, and he was 2 timing her, and him being a morally bankrupt snake, is just to create more catalytic fuel for the FL improtu wedding decision while also establishing an antagonist and hurtle for the FL.
This show has wit, saracasm, and has already made mutliple social statements about modern day Korean society all in a a tightly plotted fast paced, quite funny, 2 episodes. As for writing it is quite strong and though enemy to lovers isnt anything new, the current shows approach is very fresh and fun.
I was quite shocked by how much I enjoyed this. Compared to currently airing Love Next Door this is a powerhouse. I've fallen asleep in 3 out of the 4 episodes that have currenlty aired of LND. I love the stars of that drama but the drama itself is stale, run-of-the-mill, expected, and sluggish. It is a rehash of Doctor Slump from earlier this year with only minor changes and removal of a the kinda exciting who-done-it medical mishap/murder. Doctor Slump was more fun though and in itself is a.rehash of other dramas. Yet LND has an 8.8 compared to this shows 8.2 and laundry list of negative comments...We could also compare this to the just ended Serendipities Embrace which again had a great cast and only 8 episodes but was still slow, shallow, compeltely expected and paint-by-numbers.making it slog through its runtime and offering not a single new or fresh moment of entertainment...and yet it still manages to hold an 8.1 rating.
While also Romance in the House and Bad Memory Eraser are airing against this show and both of those shows are being thrown under the bus by viewers. While BME does have some glaring flaws, the show at least feels original while watching and keeps veiwers guessing on how the story will end and who really will end up with whom. RitH on-the-other-hand showcases some strong female leads and interesting plot points with a mix of mystery and love stories that are messy and imperfect. Yet like this show, both of these shows are being rated low with a lot of negativity and lower rated 7.8 and 7.7 vs again the 8.8 of the very mundane Love Next Door.
It reinforces yet again that most people dont want something diffrent, fresh, new, well written, or unique with interesting complicated anf flawed characters. They simply want their favorite stars in comfortable packaged same ol run-of-the-meal stories that dont challenge their veiws, mindset, experience or expected outcomes in anyway. And when dramas give them that they say well acted, well written, perfect 10 out of 10. And when shows don't adhere to this formula we get, poorly wrttien, bad acted, awful characters...etc... While interestingly and critically the opposite is factually true.
I simply dont understand.
BUT
The plot tries to create some tense, taunt, and turbluent murder mystery drug mayhem...and it's bad.
It really just becomes nonsensical and ridiculous close to the end. Our main FL comes off severly dense and inneffective. She has to have so much spelled out for her, lead by the hand, and is unnable to connect any dots. The mystery the entire first 2/3rd of the show was setting up is just fully solved and told to us out of left field in a 15 minute flashback connecting 20 years worth of murders and revealing the murderer in the most anticlimatic of fashions.
The characters on screen didn't earn the resolution or case solve...but thats the point, its all just to have a 2nd kidnapping take place...and the killer decided not to end the character because of plot armor so instead they can have conversations and ya know be saved. Not to mention that one of the main side characters suddenly just conviently shows up with a connection to the killer at just the right time in an astoundingly lazy plot point to move the story forward.
It was fun that became a lazy, poorly designed, crime caper mess.
Oh and why did the main character act so distraught over showing her parents or prosecutor the truth...everyone else that found out the truth handled it just fine and they are supposedly the ones that love and care for her the most...it would have been an easy evening meal in the kitchen and called it a day. But instead we get a whole lot of angsty drama and resignations...
Ugh...it ust plummeted by episode 12.
6.0 = C, 3-Stars. Average in every way. 50/50 shot of liking it due to viewer taste.
The FL is the only actual character I liked. That doesnt mean she was perfect, it was just that her motivations and humanity made sense. She isn't the kindest but she catches herself and feels remorse for her bad actions and at least tries to fix her mistakes. Also, she seems to have a bad memory that she wants to erase herself....which we havent yet been privy...likely why she in psychiatry in the first place.
The ML was too much one way at the start and is now too much the otherway. If it hadn't been for the test surgery I would have said this show is just about a Manic Depressive. Started out in the depressed phase and now we are in the manic phase... it was alot to get through. And it isn't that his life wasn't crap, it was, but I still wanted to distance myself from his antics. And why is his personality just as bad in narcissism when he's "fixed" after the surgery. Is he just destined to have a horrible personality in one extreme or the other.
The family is unrealistically bad. I mean I get there are horrible people and bad parents, but come on. The entire family loves and adores the ML and then he breaks his wrist trying to save his brother and now the entire family treats him like trash....again far too extreme. Its like a stage play where there is no middle ground or grey area and everything is amped up to 11 out of 10 in either the good or bad traits of everybody. Its too over-the-top.
But, I like the set-up...the possible mystery that is teased for future episodes, and the aesthetic or overall feel of the show. I did laugh a few times and I do want to see more or where we are headed...which means it has a decent draw to its story. I can see some of cliches being set up like bowling pins that we will knock into later...but there is at least some tease of the unkown to the story. It feels mostly fresh when watching, which is great.
And yes, I hope I get to like Jong Won...I am a fan of his beauty.
Considering the build up to this reveal, the only character in the house we were getting backstory and flashbacks of their life before now (outside our 2 leads) as well as multiple run-ins with the brother of the victim that ended in panic attacks, and the reveal multiple episodes back that he MURDERED a person...which is a severely big deal...and then everyone kneeling and apologizing and taking blame in front of the family after years, upon years, and an entire served prison sentence, etc.etc.etc....
It was made into a very very big deal.
But it ends up being this, which was by all stretches of the imagination a motorbike accident. An accident you've seen played out in countless other shows with no murder charges. (Korean, Thai, Taiwanese, and yes American shows) An accident that by all means was just a severely sad and sobering event that would likely leave some deep emotional scars and yes feelings of self-blame etc.
But murder charges, his life stripped from him. The aftermath of what we were witnessing and the blame and the humiliation everyone felt was warranted on his part....
It made no sense.
And as I said above, someone saying maybe he drove without a license, but the show didn't do the job of explaining this, or as others said, a writing flaw...etc....makes it hold water or make sense...because what was shown on screen didn't compute as a viable reason for his life to be this way or the show to be treating him in this manner...
And the truck wasn't parked in the road. It pulled out in front of him and he didn't have enough time to stop because his head was turned. I just went back and watched the scene again just to make sure I was remembering the scene correctly.
That's why I asked.
But I kinda feel like it was a cop-out. To make a mountain out of a mole hill for the story, and to try to give a crime in a way to make the audience not hate him and feel sorry for him. Except, they didn't actually create a crime but an accident that he is know persecuted for the rest of his life over, and it kinda turns the 2nd ML into a bit of an ahole.
Meaning reckless endangerment equaling manslaughter also doesn't seem to apply.
The only reason we knew he turned his head anyway is because we had a godlike eye to the incident via a tv camera showing us since it was a tv show and flashback...if CTTV cameras happened to be right there where the accident happened giving a good view...they would also show the behavior if his passenger, and the driver trying to control her while also driving.
Showing that this was just that. An accident in the purest sense of the word.
Meaning it would have been our 2nd ML Prosecutors fault for choosing to prosecute the case and deciding to try and pin the worst punishment he could muster on a basically great kid who got in a tragic motor accident.
The driving without a license idea that was thrown out above, seems to be the only reasonable explanation. Two kids being stupid kids and breaking the law in not having a license and out joyriding that ultimately killed one and ruined the life of the other. That makes sense with how the scene played out and the punishments given...but the show doesn't explain or show this...its all just conjecture at this point. Meaning yes a failure in the writing...
Begining was much stronger than the ending. Female character became unimportant and just someone who sits on the sidelines worrying her man isnt gunna come back....main charachter's final big conflict is 2 conversations with his dad and his father showing up at his work and he basically gives up on his life and everyone around him thinking hes not good enough for anything.
Most side characters storylines arent developed and don't go anywhere in the end. Our 2nd female lead is a waste of screenspace and was there only to create conflict in the 1st half and then become background noise to ultimately be forgotten about by the end. We dont learn about the backstories of the men in the house except for our young secretary, and his backstory isnt a crime yet he is a convicted criminal for an accident..
Anyway, it was cute, and funny at times, I liked the set-up, the actors were all likelable and strong in their roles, and all the characters had chemistry romantic and/or friendship. It had a nice level of fun. But I probably won't ever rewatch iton my own, maybe if I was doing a watch party with someone who wanted to see it.
I don't understand how what happened is considered a crime. It was an unfortunate accident...but he wasnt under the influence of drugs or alcohol l. It is super sad and there was loss. And he must take that with him for forever...but there wasnt a crime. I mean likely 1/2 the world would be locked up if a motor accident can be considered murder....
Did I miss something?
It starts off decent. Has some sex appeal. But by episode 4 you've seen everything this has to offer. The plot just spins in place on repeat after this...and the stuff you liked in the first 4 epis becomes annoying because it is so repetitive...by episode 8 I had lost interest. Episode 10 I was ffwding.
Great has the strongest acting here, he's also arguably the hottest which is nice to have him not just be window dressing. Drake is memorable with his scenes and character.
Inn, who I really liked in Teddybear, comes off dull, one note, and I don't know if its how his make up is done or he has just had eye, nose, and lip plastic surgery...but his features no longer fit his face except from certain angles, his lips always seem pursed....and his character who is supposed to be a lovelorn introvert doctor whose never been kissed...comes off as a brat, who is self centered, sassy, and not nearly the catch the writers and show try to make him out to be.
6 from me.....