ML's vibes and everything doesn't match with the FL. In my opinion satoh should work with someone who looks compatible…
I agree but more because they don't have any chemistry. I watched this thinking they would make a cute couple but there were many instances were it felt like she was his sister rather than a love interest. Also, her acting wasn't great and the plot was a mess, they went from strangers to madly in love.
I wasn't gonna comment but seeing how far everyone interpretation of what the show is about from mine I felt I had to share my own (despite already sharing it in a different forum). First of all I'm A BIG FAN of the original Life on Mar UK version and the sequel Ashes to Ashes. I honestly watched the show without any expectations of it being similar to the original, afterall the Korean one is a REmake. But oh boy was I wrong, they delivered the exact message and so did the US version. With my prior knowledge of the original and what I had seen in the korea show I will give you my own interpretation of what happened in the end: It seems Han Tae Joo has chosen the dead. For instance, when he woke up from the coma in 2018 and began investigating the members, he discovered they have all died on duty and the people/civilians he met in the past had no recognition of him. Moreover, there was no records of him being in 1988. Yet, he knew personal details about the members that wasn't mentioned in their personnel file. Indicating the dead ones know and have met him, Han Tae Joo is smart and might have realized this. So you might ask so that means he actually went to the past? No. Did he dream of the dead?No. Did he die? Yes. His soul left his body and went to the afterlife. An afterlife especially made for detectives that died on duty or died because of their jobs, spirits that weren't able to move on or find peace. However, rather than an afterlife it's more of a station between life and the afterlife, which settings is in 1988 (I have an theory why this year but gonna be too long). So I will explain what's the hidden message. Since the start we see Han Tae Joo unhappy: the love of his life has left him, all his colleagues hate his guts and the only thing that brought him joy was taken away from him. He subconsciously knew he didn't want to go back to reality, it was too cruel that's why since the coma he regarded anyone who could take him back as enemies. After going to 1988 he finally felt like he belonged, everyone cared for him and for once he felt he had a family. In the beginning, he felt confused, he didn't know what it felt like to be awake or alive but later learns. When he woke up he knew he was depressed and the doctor prescribing him antidepressants confirmed it, but it wasn't clear whether he was depressed because of the surgery or he was depressed long ago. The part where he cut his hand and didn't feel anything was a symptom of depression: feeling numb. Being dead felt more alive to him. Remember there was a scene where he was asked what it felt like to be dead. So that brings the question what makes you happy is your reality but even if it was death? At first glance you assume the show is only about solving crimes but it also addresses depression and whether suicide is the best solution for those suffering from this disorder and because of the plot some might completely overlook this. We wanted Han Tae Joo to jump and be happy, making us believe it's ok because everyone will understand afterall this what will make him happy. His mother told him to do what makes him happy. "reality is fantasy" or "fantasy is reality".
Yet Han Tae Joo has shown us he isnt a reliable narrative he misunderstood many things especially his father. Although he was happy, An Min Seok addressed something very important and that is you don't understand the consequences you have brought to the people around you or something along those lines. This might indicate the loved ones he left behind. His ex was about to discuss sth with Han but was interrupted maybe she was going to suggest to start anew and try dating again or just letting him know she's there for him and would care if sth happened to him. He didn't even try to get to know his new colleagues. The other world should have taught him it is possible to feel and trust others again but he couldn't trust the reality that has made him miserable. In the end Han Tae Joo didn't resolve his internal struggles explaining why he still got a call in the end. He needs to find peace and move on.
I read comments saying he never woke up from the coma. I'm not sure where that came from ????. Hope there will be season 2 to answer the questions. However, if they are following the original it is likely Han Tae Joo did in fact wake up and commit suicide. The second season will be about what happened to Han Tae Joo in 1988. A female detective takes on his case and will be the new arrival to the team in 1988. She will discover he is also dead in 1988 and suspects Kang Dong to have killed him but in reality Han Tae Joo solved his internal struggles, found peace and thus Kang Dong faked his death (for others to accept his sudden disappearance) so he could move on to heaven. Kang Dong is kinda the man in charge of the place, he takes care of all the souls that haven't found peace (he's still there because he didn't find his either).
First of all I'm A BIG FAN of the original Life on Mar UK version and the sequel Ashes to Ashes.
I honestly watched the show without any expectations of it being similar to the original, afterall the Korean one is a REmake. But oh boy was I wrong, they delivered the exact message and so did the US version.
With my prior knowledge of the original and what I had seen in the korea show I will give you my own interpretation of what happened in the end:
It seems Han Tae Joo has chosen the dead.
For instance, when he woke up from the coma in 2018 and began investigating the members, he discovered they have all died on duty and the people/civilians he met in the past had no recognition of him. Moreover, there was no records of him being in 1988. Yet, he knew personal details about the members that wasn't mentioned in their personnel file. Indicating the dead ones know and have met him, Han Tae Joo is smart and might have realized this. So you might ask so that means he actually went to the past? No. Did he dream of the dead?No. Did he die? Yes. His soul left his body and went to the afterlife. An afterlife especially made for detectives that died on duty or died because of their jobs, spirits that weren't able to move on or find peace. However, rather than an afterlife it's more of a station between life and the afterlife, which settings is in 1988 (I have an theory why this year but gonna be too long). So I will explain what's the hidden message. Since the start we see Han Tae Joo unhappy: the love of his life has left him, all his colleagues hate his guts and the only thing that brought him joy was taken away from him. He subconsciously knew he didn't want to go back to reality, it was too cruel that's why since the coma he regarded anyone who could take him back as enemies. After going to 1988 he finally felt like he belonged, everyone cared for him and for once he felt he had a family. In the beginning, he felt confused, he didn't know what it felt like to be awake or alive but later learns. When he woke up he knew he was depressed and the doctor prescribing him antidepressants confirmed it, but it wasn't clear whether he was depressed because of the surgery or he was depressed long ago. The part where he cut his hand and didn't feel anything was a symptom of depression: feeling numb. Being dead felt more alive to him.
Remember there was a scene where he was asked what it felt like to be dead. So that brings the question what makes you happy is your reality but even if it was death? At first glance you assume the show is only about solving crimes but it also addresses depression and whether suicide is the best solution for those suffering from this disorder and because of the plot some might completely overlook this. We wanted Han Tae Joo to jump and be happy, making us believe it's ok because everyone will understand afterall this what will make him happy. His mother told him to do what makes him happy.
"reality is fantasy" or "fantasy is reality".
Yet Han Tae Joo has shown us he isnt a reliable narrative he misunderstood many things especially his father. Although he was happy, An Min Seok addressed something very important and that is you don't understand the consequences you have brought to the people around you or something along those lines. This might indicate the loved ones he left behind. His ex was about to discuss sth with Han but was interrupted maybe she was going to suggest to start anew and try dating again or just letting him know she's there for him and would care if sth happened to him. He didn't even try to get to know his new colleagues. The other world should have taught him it is possible to feel and trust others again but he couldn't trust the reality that has made him miserable. In the end Han Tae Joo didn't resolve his internal struggles explaining why he still got a call in the end. He needs to find peace and move on.
I read comments saying he never woke up from the coma. I'm not sure where that came from ????. Hope there will be season 2 to answer the questions. However, if they are following the original it is likely Han Tae Joo did in fact wake up and commit suicide. The second season will be about what happened to Han Tae Joo in 1988. A female detective takes on his case and will be the new arrival to the team in 1988. She will discover he is also dead in 1988 and suspects Kang Dong to have killed him but in reality Han Tae Joo solved his internal struggles, found peace and thus Kang Dong faked his death (for others to accept his sudden disappearance) so he could move on to heaven. Kang Dong is kinda the man in charge of the place, he takes care of all the souls that haven't found peace (he's still there because he didn't find his either).