The song featured during the recap: My Love by My Side by Isaac Hong, a gorgeous acoustic ballad performed with only guitar, piano and voice.
The full-circle moment when Ae-sun and Gwan-sik’s past kindness saves their daughter Geum Myeong from a false accusation nearly 20 years later.
Guilt and obligation between parents and children, especially how Geum Myeong's guilt leads to emotional distance from her loving parents.
Geum Myeong’s awful experience at the police station, reminiscent of her mother’s experience at the Busan police station 20 years earlier.
Gwan-sik’s efforts to connect with his daughter, waiting all day to see her in Seoul and facing her rejection with grace.
Ae-sun’s sacrifice: abandoning her dream of opening a café so Geum Myeong can study abroad in Japan.
The museum that Gwan sik visited, which is probably the Independence Hall of Korea and the historical context of the 1987 democratic elections in Korea.
The heartbreaking memory of little Geum Myeong waving to her father, and how a grown-up Geum Myeong’s wave brings Gwan-sik to tears.
How Gwang Rye, in Ae sun’s dream, is still giving Ae sun advice how to discuss the death of Dong Myeong with Gwan sik.
Ae-sun finally winning the poetry contest after years of longing, thanks to the haenyeos’ secret submission of her poem.
The mysterious wedding scene where Geum Myeong is sobbing—who is she marrying and why is she so sad?
Reflections on “gaman,” a Japanese concept of enduring hardship with grace, and how it defines both Ae-sun and Gwan-sik’s character.
Park Hae-joon’s transformation from the "nation’s adulterer" to the "nation’s romantic lead," and how playing Gwan-sik changed his personal outlook on his marriage and life with his wife.
References
Hi everyone!
ReplyDeleteA few things :
In My Mister, Park Hae-Joon plays the main character’s boyhood friend who became a Buddhist monk, that’s why he’s hard to recognize in this show. For anyone who hasn’t yet seen it, it’s a masterpiece.
On Joanna’s word, the Japanese term gaman, that steadfast grace under pressure has a practical side! If you stay on a steady course despite the turbulence you’re experiencing, you are less likely to make impulsive errors to compound the trouble you’re already in. My psychologist during my scary time likened it to a captain steering a ship through a heavy storm. And we will all encounter our share of storms!
I think you guys are giving Geum Myeong’s overshadowed younger brother too much benefit of the doubt. He may have genuine reasons to be resentful, but stealing is stealing, another thing entirely. I haven’t watched ahead, but he’s looking like a bad kid to me, hope I’m wrong!
Ellen, you might be right about Eun Myeong. Stealing is stealing!
DeleteAnd yes, gammon is such a great word and a value. My husband still says it to my boys when they're whiny.
Kudos to Sung hee for podcasting through a cold! Take a week off?! Never! Of course, if this were a K Drama, Joanna would have had to rush her to a hospital.
ReplyDeleteJoanna got her connection to the past K Drama Element in this episode! What’s next? White truck of death? Regarding the discussion about whether there are too many K Drama elements - to be clear, I don’t think there are too many. I just think some need to be recognized as the most common or important K Drama elements – or “core” elements as Seven Seas put it. I think its fun that there are so many recurring elements you recognize once you have watched a lot of K Dramas. And to Sung hee’s point, I do think sometimes there is a blurring of the lines between what is a K Drama Element and just reflecting actual Korean society. For example, bowing could be considered an element, but it is obviously just an accurate depiction of life in Korea.
As for the practice of addressing someone as the someone’s mom, my sister still to this day referrers to our mother as “my mom” when speaking to me, as if she is not “our mother.” And she’s not joking or playing with words. I think she has real issues with sharing…. But that’s for another podcast.
We all miss Park Bo gum in this series. At least Joanna is getting a fix watching Reply 19888. It was a bit of a surprise that he was nominated in the Best Actor category for the Baeksang Awards, as he is really more of a supporting actor over the course of the whole show. And speaking of the Baeksangs, WLGYT did win for Best Drama (no surprise), but IU did not win for (Best Actress (bit of a surprise). Yoem Hye-ran won for Best Supporting Actress (thus averting my planned protest trip) and Choi Dae-hoon won Best Supporting Actor. So a pretty good night for WLGYT. And speaking of Choi Dae-hoon, I really want to watch World of the Married, but it is impossible to find anywhere. Let me know if you have any leads.
What else am I watching? I thought you’d never ask.
Resident Playbook – This show is amazing! Best thing on TV right now. I think it is even better than its predecessor Hospital Playlist. I’m not necessarily a huge fan of dramas set in hospitals, but this one really works. My favorite part? The anesthesiologists are the villains of the hospital! LOL
The Divorce Insurance – Just finished the last episode. This show…. was not good. I really wanted to like this show based on the cast, but for a rom-com it was not particularly romantic or comedic. Frankly, it was a bit depressing. Cannot recommend.
The Haunted Palace – This is still ok. Not really my thing, but I’m still watching.
Crushology 101 – This is another show that is just OK. If you are into handsome but emotionally unintelligent men and the woman they are in love with but cannot communicate with, this is show is for you….
Heavenly Ever After – On Netflix. I watched one episode and decided its not for me, despite the promise that my girl Han Ji-min is in it at some point.
Malcolm, I'm glad you don't think we have too many K Drama elements. I'm like an gastronomist, always looking for new elements, or evidence of them!
DeleteI'm surprised that we aren't seeing much of Park Bo gum lately. He definitely feels like a supporting character at this point. And yes, a great night at the Baeksang awards for WLGYT! Best drama! We picked a good one for Season 11!
Thanks for the show recommendations. I'm stalled on The Divorce Insurance, slowly making my way through Reply 1988, and enjoying The Great British Baking Show in between. I can't wait to dive into Resident Playbook. Do they sing as well?
" Of course, if this were a K Drama, Joanna would have had to rush her to a hospital."
ReplyDeleteBut, she did.
..and I have an exclusive to the whole story.
Joanna rushed SungHee to the hospital, and wanted to stay with her, but doctors assured her that she is fine and resting. Joanna reluctantly went home.
Few hours later, SungHee woke up. Checked the clock, and realised she has only about an hour to the podcast. She removed the IV from her hand, and groggily dashed to the entrance ignoring all the nurses.
It was raining outside. So, SungHee grabbed an umbrella and headed outside. But, she was unsteady on her feet and the pavement is slippery. She slipped, but, luckily, she was caught by a handsome doctor, who she went to elementary school with, and was just passing by.
There was no time to reminisce though as the clock was ticking.
SungHee saw the bus, and managed to catch it.
Then got out of the bus, which was close to her house, but she was really tired.
Her husband spotted her, and gave her a piggyback to her room.
Just in time to log in and join Joanna in the podcast.
* Ok! All jokes aside! We really appreciate your dedication SungHee.
And Malcolm your comment made me laugh a lot, and inspired me to expand it lol.
*I liked E08. It is a beautiful episode about the dreams getting passed from one generation to another. The writer is treating her characters gently and sympathetically here. She is making a case for parents and children.
I also loved IU in the phone booth. Or, maybe I am just nostalgic to her iconic phone call in E14 of “My Mister” (The one with split screen. One of my favourite scenes in the whole show)
My only complaint is this whole ring business. Or, more precisely its resolution. I am sorry, but that was such a cop out, and very convenient resolution. The way that housekeeper behaved was utterly, and completely unbelievable. What servant behave this way in a very hierarchial society? I think they knew each other, or their scenes together would be even more ridiculous.
The whole ring line seemed to me as a way to force parallel between Ae Sun and her daughter (both arrested), and to tie things from the past.
* Baeksang: I haven’t watched the other series (dropped Lovely Runner), so it is hard for me to judge. But, I think WLGYT is a worthy winner. Despite all my criticism, it is a really good drama. But, I must stress again very strongly that I don’t consider these awards ( or Oscars, or Emmys) as confirmation of quality, even if I agree with some of their choices.
But, these awards (just like Oscars and Emmys) are important, so I am happy for the individuals. And this year I am certainly very happy for Yoem Hye-ran. I absolutely loved her. But, even in “The Glory” I thought she was excellent. She stole the show for me.
I have already said that I think Moon So-ri was a more worthy pick than IU. That said, I wouldn’t have been upset if she won. I think she did a good job, especially as the daughter and pre-marriage Ae Sun(I didn’t buy her a lot as a wife and mother).
However, I don’t have very high opinion about Park Bo-gum acting. I find him to be goodish, but he didn't impress me. Not in Reply 1988, and not here. I am well aware this is very unpopular opinion.
He has a very charming smile though, and he can swim lol.
Seven Seas, I dropped Lovely Runner about five times, but then rushed to finish it after I saw the Baeksong nominations. Lots to throw me off the track, but the final two episodes were great and was glad I finished it, plus some great humor in the last episode, making fun of itself. It went awry with the multiple time jumps and erasures of the past, but wrapped up nicely. When you’re looking for another show bur too tired to start a new one, recommend finishing it.
DeleteSeven Seas! I love this! You wrote a K Drama script! And a good one at that!
DeleteSung Hee and were confused about the housekeeper and the ring and spent quite a bit of time talking about who she was. The translation and closed captions did not match. We ultimately think she used to be the boss lady at a bar where Jenny's mom worked, which is why she feels like she can act the way she does. We were going to talk about it and then it slipped our minds once we got to talking!
I think you're right that they're trying to tie Ae Sun and Geum Myeong but I think it mostly works. The ring thing may be a little forced but I actually liked that a kindness from 20 years earlier came back to save Geum Myeong.
I think we all love Yeom Hye ran and boy did she look glamorous at the Baeksang Awards! I am a huge Kim Tae ri fan, maybe even more than IU, so for me, Kim Tae ri winning was great. A Star is Born is on the list!
Ellen, I agree with you about Lovely Runner. It was a sweet romance that was easy to watch and easy to binge. Some of the time travel got to be a bit too much and it made me nuts that she was so mean to him, but I loved the ending. I loved this couple and I ADORED the grandmother!
You may not see this but so agree on the Grandma. Seemingly dim and confused, she saw more clearly than anyone!
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