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The songs we feature during the recap:
Childhood Kim Jin ah
I’ll Embrace Your Past by Ahn Bo hyun
Our top K Dramas from 2024.
It’s clear Moon Seo ha has not gotten over the trauma of Yoon Ju won’s death; this saddens and shocks Ban Ji eum and Yoon Cho won.
Moon Seo ha is developing feelings for Ban Ji eum but he’s not sure how to process them because he doesn’t believe he is allowed to feel love or happiness.
The beautiful dance scene at the beach!
Formal vs. informal speech in Korean.
Yoon Cho won’s shock and amazement at Ban Ji eum’s actions at the vacation home. How did Ban Ji eum know about the doll in the grandfather clock and height guide behind the bookcase?
When Moon Seo ha, Ban Ji eum goes after him; he rejects her first confession.
Ban Ji eum’s dream that includes red elements and shaman bells, as well as all the red elements in this episode. Red has many meanings in Korean culture. It can be protective and an omen of bad luck and death.
The mysterious man who took Kim Ae-gyeong to the hospital and is now working at her restaurant.
The mysterious woman Hanna, who seems to know that Ban Ji eum was Yoon Ju won in a past life.
How Moon Seo ha is now on the offensive against CEO Jang, who appears to have mismanaged some money at the hotel.
The reappearance of Ban Ji eum’s brother, who leads the loan sharks to Moon Seo ha.
The loan sharks take Moon Seo ha to a tunnel, but Seo ha manages to fend them off, plus he got help from Ha Do jin and Ban Ji eum.
Yoon Cho won’s call to Ban Ji eum to express her disappointment and sadness at what she thinks is Ban Ji eum’s ulterior motives.
Ban Ji eum’s fateful decision to reveal to Yoon Cho won that she was Yoon Ju won in her past life.
Three potential, new K Drama elements: the lighthouse, the sudden lane change while driving, and coughing into a drink.
What we thought of the title: Am I the Butterly, or is the Butterfly Me?
The life and background of Ha Yoon Kyung, the actress who plays Yoon Cho Won.
References
So much to say after just finishing this week's episode :) Right away rewatching Ep 5 with the extra insights. How did I miss all the red? Also, yes I missed so many more extreme close ups than usual Since I already watched the episode yesterday, I'm not reading the subtitles as much and instead focusing more on their faces. Ah, that dancing scene is so charming. But let me start by saying that Newsweek best list was nothing I credit if they didn't have QoT in the top 10. I watched 66 Kdramas in 2024 (I keep a list) and QoT was Top 5 if for nothing else than the lead actors and the production values. How I hated Hong Hae-in at the start--because Kim Ji-won was doing such a great job of portraying Hong Hae-in. My preference is for dramas with supernatural or mystical elements (e.g. Hotel de Luna, AoS, Tomorrow) and mysteries--not historicals or horror. But I can appreciate the quality of a drama even if it is not my preferred genre.
ReplyDeleteI think I figured out who Ha Na is after your comments. Am I allowed to say? I also have ideas about Kang Min-gi. I think Ha Na is also someone who is reincarnated (I think I know who) and is aware of her past life. Kang Min-gi I think is a shaman guide who is there watching over her and Ji-eum for what they might do with their memories. In the podcast you mentioned that Ae-kyung said she had been ill for a long time but had been better until recently. The reaction on Kang Min-gi's face when she says that. Does it have anything to do with Ji-eum ? Maybe as Ji-eum is interacting with so many people from her 18th life is upsetting some sort of life balance in the energy around her.
I was completely puzzled about what the title meant, so I really appreciated your ideas. One thing that had occurred me, but didn't make sense before listening to you was butterfly as in 'the butterfly effect'. What is going to be the ripple effect of Ji-eum getting involved in the lives of those from her 18th life? While there may be some problems along the way, in Kdramaland I trust it will be 'finding the treasure in their hearts' as in the quote you started the show with. Great job with that pick. It does seem like the theme for the show.
Tina, I love you keep a list. I do the same. Mostly to keep track of how many hours of my life are wasted (wait, that's not the right word!) watching K Dramas. I also give every show a 1-10 rating just to remember what I thought of it. And so I can give recommendations if anybody ever asks me. No one has yet.... :-(
DeleteI loved this episode. I was so tempted to go on and watch the next episode even though I’ve seen this series before! What a cliffhanger. I won’t pretend I don’t know what’s going to happen – unlike certain podcast hosts I know….
ReplyDeleteAs for the title: Am I the Butterly, or is the Butterfly Me. It is from a story by Zhuangzi, an ancient Chinese philosopher. It is about a philosopher who fell asleep and dreamed he was a butterfly and when he woke he did not know whether he was a man who dreamed he was a butterfly or if he was a butterfly now dreaming he was a man. Without getting too philosophical (despite my eagerness to put my undergraduate degree to use for once!) I think it was chosen as the title because Ban Ji eum is not entirely sure who she is. Is she Ban Ji eum or is she Yoon ju? Or is she something entirely different that can’t even be comprehended. I think this is essentially what Sung-hee was saying. For more reading: https://philosophynow.org/issues/76/Zhuangzi_And_That_Bloody_Butterfly#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20Chinese%20philosophical,dreaming%20he%20was%20a%20man.
Why did young Yoon ju hide that doll so high up. There was no way her sister was going to find it up there!
Moon seo still seems like a sad sack. But at least he could dance. I’m just waiting for him to snap out of it and become cool. We will know when that is because he will slick those bangs off his forehead and look dashing, most likely in a suit. (BTW, that is definitely a K Drama element! Let me know if you need examples).
Also, I don’t know who needs to hear this, but SMH would only have to ask me out ONCE!!!
I am loving Ha Yoon Kyung in this SFL role. I’d also point out that the actress who plays the young Yoon ju looks exactly like I would imagine a young Ha Yoon Kyung looked like. So that’s some pretty good casting considering they are sisters.
As for those Korean joint supplements, you can get them online, but they are not cheap! https://ibspot.com/products/korea-biocell-on-sale-korea-biocell-joint-strength-everyday-65ml-x-60-packets-65ml-x-60
However, I think the reason those older Koreans can up off the floor is that they do it every day of their lives. That and the traditional Korean diet. Generally considered one of the healthiest in the world.
I’m not sure if the lighthouse is a full-on K Drama element. But a trip to the seaside or a K Drama set in the seaside is certainly a very common thing. And of course there are going to be lighthouses there. I think there are over 100 lighthouse in South Korea. After all, South Korea is essentially an island due to North Korea. As for the coughing in the drink, its basically a less dramatic spit take. I guess it’s a K Drama element, but its not like its unique to K Dramas.
Another thing you often don’t see in K Dramas is smoking. Sometimes you will see a character pull out a cigarette and go to light it, but not actually smoke it. Look for it, you will see it a lot. I believe you are not allowed to depict smoking in K Dramas on broadcast tv, but that is not the case with Netflix or other platforms.
Finally, because no one asked, here are my top ten K Dramas from 2024:
1. Mary My Husband – What can I say, I’m a sucker for Park Min young
2. No Gain No Love – What can I say, I’m a sucker for Shin Min a
3. Twinkling Watermelon -What can I say…. I think we call get the idea by now
4. Lovely Runner
5. A Virtuous Business
6. The Atypical Family
7. Doctor Slump
8. Family By Choice
9. Dear Hyeri
10. Queen of Tears
As for the worst K Drama I watched in 20204: Kingdom – No contest! ;-P