but who will cast a listers for minor roles when the whole story is about the leads
Hi I'm not asking for A listers here. I'm also aware that they can not case chen zheyuan for this.
I was just pointing the differences here, where in HL even extra were casted to the tea. But here we have more normal looking people, and I love that part but given sang zhi and duan jaixu are related to main lead they could have casted different actors and not someone who looks like a random person on subways. Given the fact that Sang Yan and duan jaixu was described as both good looking people in the college.
P.S. I do understand that it's a different story and I do see it as different
I think I’m falling in love with ZRN. I seriously didn’t like her before but omg she’s perfect in here.…
I watch ZRN in My Boss (2024) and actually loved her she is the reason I was excited for this. Cause I was already bumped that a lot of characters will be changed and atmosphere will be different than what the living conditions of Sang Yan was in hidden love
Additionally, the on and off and why the parents didn’t care for their children's mental trauma. They both seem so much in love, but the situation is always against them. I don’t know if anyone ever experienced this, but it is the worst state to be in. When you love each other deeply, but an external force keeps you apart, you might try to distance yourselves from one another. However, you can't do it completely. Often, you end up saying hurtful things in an attempt to make the person you love feel pain and stop loving you. Sounds toxic and horrible in some ways, yes, maybe, but most often, it is not. You crave that love; you want it to happen so badly, but no matter what you do, it is not possible. This explains their on-and-off relationship and her seemingly toxic behavior in the early episodes, as well as her desire for him not to leave.
On the other point, the country they are in, many Asian countries do not take mental health seriously; the time when they were child, and in small towns, no one pays attention to things like this, so it is not weird for their parents to not seek a therapist. On top of that, fl lost a big chunk of her memory because of her trauma; the dad saw this and thought it happened for good; he took all the blame and let her hate him, which in his mind was a better thing than her hating herself. The show focuses on how childhood trauma can affect and change your whole life. It is evident with all four kids out of 5 in that group. Not only that, they never received help for that and still exist in the same town where gossip and the perception of their character are still somewhat the same, so even when they are in their 30s, they are still carrying that trauma and trying hard to cop with it.
Lastly, I understand that some people are not interested in this drama and others have chosen to drop it. I see your perspective, as this is a type of drama not everyone will enjoy.
A few episodes ago, I talked about how this drama may need a different kind of audience and stuck by that statement.
I like the plot. I agree that the screenplay could have been better. This drama requires an understanding of various cultural contexts in Korea to appreciate its different layers. I’m not Korean; my knowledge comes from dramas, true crime cases discussed by Korean YouTubers, and some additional research I conduct after finishing each drama. So, understanding how the townspeople react to this group of kids was relatively easy for me; therefore, I enjoyed this drama from the beginning.
I also love how many scenes are unfolded in this drama. We, as viewers too, act like citizens of Hana-eu with our perception of each character until the drama shows us exclusively the story behind their actions. We, too, flow with what this drama is telling us, mimicking the exact way the people in the village form their decisions according to the gossip. It starts with many different characters; first, Kang-hee seems to red flag until it is revealed what happened to her, and the decision as a viewer wavers then with Yeon su being pushed over by his mother, that changes when we learn why he is like that then his mother then FL’s father even with the friend circle.
Every character in this drama is shades of grey; no one is perfect, not even good or bad. They all have their evil, and they all are trying to hide. Kang-hee seems to take the high road, but no matter what, her words are hurtful, and she can’t forgive or move on from what she experienced. Yeon-su, seemingly sweet, caring, and pushover, is aware of his father’s affair and is taking his mother's BS cause he feels guilty; his mother seems a victim of what his husband did, but instead of that she blames the woman in the situation and was not a responsible adult and a present parent, FL father who is misunderstood but never took the side of his daughter actively and was also missing in her teenage days. Every character goes like this. You can’t see this drama and say, “Oh! She is toxic, or he is not a green flag either,” when they all are beige.
Her behavior would make sense if she was a teen but her character is 32 years old in the drama. Instead of trying…
I somewhat agree to this. But I don't think any of them have moved on from their past. The educated till middle school guys still has underlying issue, a-rheum is still having problems so is the ml and fl. They are all avoiding as best as they can cause even now people in town as still same spreading rumour and they are just adjusting according to them. Yes! fl does make other miserable but when you are way to hurt and you think if you don't think about it you can move on. That's not how it works cause the way you word thing will always be hurtful cause you are not healed at all.
Am i the only who understands the FL like she has so many bad memories with the place and shes contantly fighting…
You are not alone. Not only she is fighting with them she thought if she didn't care it wont hurt her which is clearly not working. Instead of healing she is actively avoiding them which is causing more trauma
I genuinely think that all 4 of them (except the one who came back) should permanently move out of that town. The town is a prime example of how prejudiced people can be and how differentiation daily can affect your life, even if you are well in your 30s.
It doesn't take long for people to point fingers at you & call you an outcast. So much so even a person (who was kissing in the lift) is bad still lives comfortably cause he comes from an okay family (both mother and father alive). Sounds weird right? But from a traditional korean viewpoint having both parents even if you are bad is far better than being okay and having either one parent or an orphan. Rumors are easily made and often said out loud since you don't have guidance/parental figure around you and maybe that’s why rumors are true cause that's how you turn out to be if you don't have them.
It's not something new, if you see through different dramas this theme is present, but very subtly touched in different shows. Like in Marry My Husband it was there or a different show where the remaining parents marry just so their children don't suffer, it was even in Glory. It's just acting as the main subject in this show.
Also, the motel is often seen as bad places in South Korea places like motels or love motel are often visited for explicit intimate activities or cheating. This adds a layer to why the entire town sees them as outcasts and spreads and believes those rumors
I'm really loving how this drama is shot. Such an eye candy. The pacing is also beautiful. I'm really enjoying it. Sadly it is having hard time with rating I guess. But I to think this drama deserve a better audience
I don't understand are they supporting isreal though? Or are we mistaking this part because I thought Koreans…
i know what an argan tree is, what im saying is argan is a woodland region in southwest of morocco where argan tree is grown and oil is produced. what what google told me when i was serching for 604 country code. Search Argan Region and you will see why said I that
This series seriously glossed over the Baek family news empire. Who inherited and/or controlled it after Grandfather…
Omg no, the Baek family doesn't have a family empire like our normal CEOs they were family active in politics and have been a part of the presidential candidate for the upcoming election. It is the Hong family who has an empire that includes multiple news/media channels that’s why the arranged marriage was done to receive help to mend the Baek family's tainted reputation so that in the coming future they can stand in an election which is where the drama started.
As much as I have seen dramas and heard true crime, the presidential candidate often comes from a background in Law, like a prosecutors. We see Mrs.Baek was a negotiator and had worked in the field during her days. The grandfather who we didn’t know/see much is the one who made the Baek family eligible for the Presidential candidate. Mr. Baek (dad) said in the end episode that the presidential candidate Beak Jang Ho(grandpa) they knew and loved was a fake.
Now a surprising fun fact, in South Korea jobs that end with “sa” are on a higher social level. For example, people in law, like pansa (judge), geomsa (prosecutor), and byeonhosa (attorney/lawyer) are on top then comes Uisa (doctor) then the news anchors which is a very respectable Job in Korea and very preferred when it comes to marriages. Surprisingly companies Ceo’s come after this. Why I'm saying this ML chose to be a new anchor which is a respectable job for a family of politics he also worked as a negotiator like his adoptive mother and then he became a spokesperson in the current presidential office for which his father is standing in coming years so he is working for the current president
Ngl his reason for running away was really childish like be mature talk it out with your spouse instead of running…
That's the huge reason it felt like the dialogue is not written for /delivered by the beak Sa-eon and Hong Hee-Joo we know from the start that poon of the story.
I was just pointing the differences here, where in HL even extra were casted to the tea. But here we have more normal looking people, and I love that part but given sang zhi and duan jaixu are related to main lead they could have casted different actors and not someone who looks like a random person on subways. Given the fact that Sang Yan and duan jaixu was described as both good looking people in the college.
P.S. I do understand that it's a different story and I do see it as different
On the other point, the country they are in, many Asian countries do not take mental health seriously; the time when they were child, and in small towns, no one pays attention to things like this, so it is not weird for their parents to not seek a therapist. On top of that, fl lost a big chunk of her memory because of her trauma; the dad saw this and thought it happened for good; he took all the blame and let her hate him, which in his mind was a better thing than her hating herself.
The show focuses on how childhood trauma can affect and change your whole life. It is evident with all four kids out of 5 in that group. Not only that, they never received help for that and still exist in the same town where gossip and the perception of their character are still somewhat the same, so even when they are in their 30s, they are still carrying that trauma and trying hard to cop with it.
Lastly, I understand that some people are not interested in this drama and others have chosen to drop it. I see your perspective, as this is a type of drama not everyone will enjoy.
I like the plot. I agree that the screenplay could have been better. This drama requires an understanding of various cultural contexts in Korea to appreciate its different layers. I’m not Korean; my knowledge comes from dramas, true crime cases discussed by Korean YouTubers, and some additional research I conduct after finishing each drama. So, understanding how the townspeople react to this group of kids was relatively easy for me; therefore, I enjoyed this drama from the beginning.
I also love how many scenes are unfolded in this drama. We, as viewers too, act like citizens of Hana-eu with our perception of each character until the drama shows us exclusively the story behind their actions. We, too, flow with what this drama is telling us, mimicking the exact way the people in the village form their decisions according to the gossip. It starts with many different characters; first, Kang-hee seems to red flag until it is revealed what happened to her, and the decision as a viewer wavers then with Yeon su being pushed over by his mother, that changes when we learn why he is like that then his mother then FL’s father even with the friend circle.
Every character in this drama is shades of grey; no one is perfect, not even good or bad. They all have their evil, and they all are trying to hide. Kang-hee seems to take the high road, but no matter what, her words are hurtful, and she can’t forgive or move on from what she experienced. Yeon-su, seemingly sweet, caring, and pushover, is aware of his father’s affair and is taking his mother's BS cause he feels guilty; his mother seems a victim of what his husband did, but instead of that she blames the woman in the situation and was not a responsible adult and a present parent, FL father who is misunderstood but never took the side of his daughter actively and was also missing in her teenage days. Every character goes like this. You can’t see this drama and say, “Oh! She is toxic, or he is not a green flag either,” when they all are beige.
It doesn't take long for people to point fingers at you & call you an outcast. So much so even a person (who was kissing in the lift) is bad still lives comfortably cause he comes from an okay family (both mother and father alive). Sounds weird right? But from a traditional korean viewpoint having both parents even if you are bad is far better than being okay and having either one parent or an orphan. Rumors are easily made and often said out loud since you don't have guidance/parental figure around you and maybe that’s why rumors are true cause that's how you turn out to be if you don't have them.
It's not something new, if you see through different dramas this theme is present, but very subtly touched in different shows. Like in Marry My Husband it was there or a different show where the remaining parents marry just so their children don't suffer, it was even in Glory. It's just acting as the main subject in this show.
Also, the motel is often seen as bad places in South Korea places like motels or love motel are often visited for explicit intimate activities or cheating. This adds a layer to why the entire town sees them as outcasts and spreads and believes those rumors
As much as I have seen dramas and heard true crime, the presidential candidate often comes from a background in Law, like a prosecutors. We see Mrs.Baek was a negotiator and had worked in the field during her days. The grandfather who we didn’t know/see much is the one who made the Baek family eligible for the Presidential candidate. Mr. Baek (dad) said in the end episode that the presidential candidate Beak Jang Ho(grandpa) they knew and loved was a fake.
Now a surprising fun fact, in South Korea jobs that end with “sa” are on a higher social level. For example, people in law, like pansa (judge), geomsa (prosecutor), and byeonhosa (attorney/lawyer) are on top then comes Uisa (doctor) then the news anchors which is a very respectable Job in Korea and very preferred when it comes to marriages. Surprisingly companies Ceo’s come after this. Why I'm saying this ML chose to be a new anchor which is a respectable job for a family of politics he also worked as a negotiator like his adoptive mother and then he became a spokesperson in the current presidential office for which his father is standing in coming years so he is working for the current president