We do a short recap of the show, and then we dive deep into the episode. We discuss:
- This week’s featured song from the Hotel Del Luna OST - So Long by Paul Kim, a South Korean singer and songwriter.
- The firefly and the green, shadowy character from last week’s episode.
- Whether or not we would make the choice to eat the medicine that would allow us to stop seeing ghosts.
- The love triangle between Man Wol, Koo Chan Sung and the Chairman’s granddaughter.
- Joanna’s grandmother’s visit to her in a dream when she was little.
- The cameo by Sulli, the famous singer/actress and IU’s best friend; she committed suicie in 2019 after filming the cameo.
- How Man Wol accepts that Chan Sung is there to take care of her, and that she will bloom beautifully and then die, like the Moon Tree.
- The side story with Koo Chan Sung’s mom and how we both felt shortchanged by this story, we wanted to know more about his mom and the relationship to develop between them more.
- The side story with the serial killer, and how he knows Sanchez and Koo Chan Sung.
- Our favorite Man Wol outfits.
- How food comes up a lot in this episode, especially how Koo Chan Sung used food to save Sanchez’s life.
- Our favorite lines from the episode.
- Why we think K Dramas make us so emotional, from the music, to the beautiful dialogues, pacing, and character development.
References:
- Sulli made a cameo in Episode 10. She played the granddaughter of the Chairman. Sulli is a singer, actor and model. She is a friend of IU. She was found dead in October 2019.
- Goo Hara committed suicide
- The last phone booth in America
- Secrets of K Drama and K Pop Success
- Why do people get so emotional when watching K Dramas?
- Experts explain why K Dramas are so addictive
- In memory of the living; discussion about Koo Chan Sung’s mom
I just finished the episode and I was intrigued by the final question about why K-dramas have such an emotional hold on us. I think it's because they speak of unrequited longing and deep feelings that are often unfulfilled, which most of us can relate to in our own lives. In Western stories and fairy tales, you can usually know that the good guy will get ahead and the bad guy will get deserved punishment, that the girl and the guy will end up together. This is not always the case in K-dramas, and if it is, it's only after a very long drawn out period of overcoming obstacles and dealing with setbacks. I think it's because, in spite of the fact that Korea is modern and prosperous today, there is a deep well of sadness and tragedy in Korean history and cultural memory, which is not that far away. My own parents lived through the Japanese occupation, the Korean war, the division of Korea into North and South, and the poverty of the postwar era. Many families were torn apart and never saw each other again.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, since many feelings are often not expressed in words, but are seen in the characters expressions and actions, you get a deeper sense of what they're going through. The tension builds over time, to the point that even touching a loved one's hand is a monumental development. I think the writers are very good at building tension and keeping you there. It's not like two people are attracted to each other and then in the next scene they're jumping into bed together.
So I think the combination of the underlying sadness and the tension in the plot lines turns me into emotional junkie, who keeps looking for more.
What amazing insight, thank you! We agree with you that K Dramas are often so compelling because you can't always expect a happy ending. And even the happy endings can be ambiguous. We also agree with you that a sense of sadness and melancholy are often key elements in K Dramas, which adds to the richness to the shows. Thank you for listening and please keep the comments coming!
ReplyDelete