Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 10 of When Life Gives You Tangerines , the hit K Drama on Netflix starring IU as Oh Ae-sun and Park Bo-gum as Yang Gwan-sik as young adults, then Moon So-ri as Oh Ae-sun and Park Hae-joon as Yang Gwan-sik as older adults. We discuss: The featured song during the recap: “Theme of Ae-sun” by Park Sung-il, the musician who also wrote “Theme of Gwan-sik,” “Spring in a Heartbeat,” and “Two Faced Summer” from this OST. The Baeksang Awards wins for this show—Best Drama, Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Supporting Actor—and how validating it feels to have picked a gem for Season 11 of our podcast! How this episode focuses on three mothers and their powerful love for their children: Ae-sun, Yeong-ran, and Chung-seop’s mom. The symbolic and cultural significance of white rice, and how Bu Sang-gil uses it as a weapon in his drunken tirade. Oh Seong’s boiling anger against his father and sister, and his tragic learned behavior from witnessin...
I am Team Nam Do San this time. I used to be Team Good Boy, but as I rewatch I have a change of heart. It’s more clear now why Nam Do San deserves to be the one for Seo Dal Mi.
ReplyDeleteI've always been Team NDS, and I've spent plenty of time here explaining why. So I'll just say that after everything HJP has learned during the course of Start-up, there had better be some girl out there in the mystical kdrama ether who appreciates his personal growth (along with the dimples, the edgy fashion sense and the business acumen).
ReplyDeleteJust not SDM, because (IMO) she should be with the tall, straightforward tech genius in the classic turtleneck who will *never* let her down.
I root for NDS. There are several reasons, why I think he is SDM perfect match:1. They have a lot in common. They admire each other, share the same childlike optimism, dream big and they believe in each others capabilities.2.When faced with workrelated challenges they support each other and become a real power couple.3.NDS really falls for SDM and leaves his comfort zone to help her. He recognizes his feelings early and acts accordingly. Through her he opens up emotionally.He is socially awkward, but also very reliable,forgiving, tender and thoughtful.4.SDM is very clearly in love with him.Even after the painful realisation, that he wasn' t the letter boy, she keeps getting drawn to him.5.SDM relationship with HJP is more of a mentor - mentee relationship, characterized by trust, respect and friendship (on her side)
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I sided with NDS very early in the show, even before he first met SDM. It was in the scene in Episode 2 (underscored by the beautiful ' Day and Night' song) where we can shortly see HJP sitting in his expensive apartment listening to the mentioned song.Then the camera shifts and the viewer watches NDS and SDM first in the underground, then entering small houses, where both find a sleeping loved person and a special gift ( shoes, dress, newspaper clipping) ..and it hit me, that those two were meant for each other, because of the similarities.
ReplyDeleteI was on Team Han Ji Pyeong for the first episodes, but at this point, with Start-Up soon wrapping up, it's clear the man hasn't put in enough effort to deserve any romantic consideration from Seo Dal Mi (jealousy towards a rival does not equal effort). The triangle collapsed before it actually came together.
ReplyDeleteBut I have a related question for each of you -- would Start-Up have been a stronger and better show if they DID build up that triangle a bit more?
HJP wrote those sweet, original letters that meant so much to Seo Dal Mi. I would've loved to see even ONE conversation between these two, now adults, with SDM relating just how much the letters touched her heart, and how impressed she was with his willingness to express his vulnerabilities at that time (something he's clearly been unable to do since).
Just one scene like that might allow us to imagine the possibility of these two together -- although she's attracted to NDS, she has seen inside Han Ji Pyeong's soul via the letters, and no one has reached her on that level since. So at least he's got that going for him.
In the absence of any such scenes, it's unclear why she should have any romantic feelings towards HJP. He's been a friend and a mentor (and I did love the scenes of him celebrating the holiday with her family), but that's about it. As has been said, dude had THREE YEARS to make even the tiniest, most respectful move, but apparently did nothing.
Do you think the show would've benefited from a stronger triangle -- where the audience might wonder "which one will she pick?" Or do you feel they got it just right?
Agreed Jeff. It would have been so nice if they had let SDM & HJP have some conversations about those letters.
DeleteInstead they filled the time with so much non-sense imo.
"In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man is king"
ReplyDeleteI believe this is an apt description of this series. In a drama landscape where 99% of triangles are utter and complete waste of time (that is why it is my most disliked trope), here we have a series that has a reasonable doubt. I still think that NDS was a clear favourite, but at least HJP had a lot going on for him, but most crucially and more importantly than any logical or artistic reasons, the two male actors are more or less of similar status.
As I stated before, I don’t have allegiance to one, or another. But, I think NDS is more suitable for SDM. To me, it is all intellectual. I care only little bit for SDM, and I am indifferent to her choice.
But, I will say this. Unlike everyone here, I actually understand HJP reluctance and hesitancy. I might not agree with it, but I fully understand it, and I feel compassion for him.
I think deep down he doesn’t believe his love is reciprocated. He confessed, but didn’t get an answer. That in itself is an answer tbh. So, rather than bring things to a head, he keeps the tinniest of hope. This is not a unique behaviour imo.
What is utterly unrealistic is that he is single without even casual relationships. I mean, to tweak Ms Austen lines “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a young, rich, and handsome man doesn’t spend his nights alone” lol.
But, they need to keep the fantasy.
I went to see “No Other Choice” again! I am so looking forward to the discussion of it. Not watching any Kdrama atm. I am afraid after almost 75 series, the honeymoon period is over lol. I have started to be much more picky, and find it harder to let things go. I am probably going to drift a bit from romances, unless they have unusual couples/situations. And hopefully without any triangles
I saw "No Other Choice" in the theatre with my friend who, like many/most Americans, has never seen a K-drama (although he did see and enjoy the 2019 Korean film "Parasite"). It was easily my favorite film of the year (I'm STILL thinking about it, which is the very best sign), and I'm happy to say my friend loved it. The direction is truly top-notch, the story is somehow both absurd and relatable, the performances are terrific...this is filmmaking at its very best.
DeleteI stopped caring about Oscars, Emmys and Grammys long ago, but I was shocked No Other Choice did not receive even ONE Academy Award nomination! Ridiculous.
Hey Seven Seas, good point about HJP. We used to call it "orbiting" - guy likes a woman and it didn't work but still hangs on. And I thought he didn't just like her because she looks like Bae Suzy. He must have had lots of women approach him and still single. Better for dramatic effect. But not to despair - Go Youn Jung is in his future and she's more fun anyway.
DeleteI also saw "No Other Choice" in the theater. It was great but a tough watch (I don't do well with some violence). But thematically it was also tough - satire yes but so effective because it really captured the existential despair in a changing economy. Great performances from top to bottom and final scene was brilliant.
Gradually making my way through "My Love from the Star". Hard to overstate how charismatic Jun Ji-Hyun is. It's long though - 21 episodes!
SDguy, yes that final scene of the movie -- brilliant. I still haven't gotten it out of my head.
DeleteI just want to acknowledge the comments, but I am restraining myself from replying, because there will be a special episode about the film in few weeks.
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