InspectorMegre

So right now (after ep 7) she is still kinda La Ik's lawyer and a secret fan and has to stay totally poker faced bc she cannot allow him to use her. He tried, he has been hitting on her while he lived in her house in episodes before ep 7. She gave him an oasis, a safe space in her house, and he relaxed and uncurled, and became the playful lively creative himself.

So the lively alive healthy La Ik is naturally curious about Se Na his angel, and he has been hitting on her and that is like a kid hitting on an adult. He does not really mean it, he is just playing bc he is curious and he unfortunately is vain and entitled. He could significantly harm her by "promising" something he cannot keep. He could easily do one night stand or something like that and really really really hurt her...

He is not aware yet that he is falling in love for real. He needs to grow up. When he does, how long will Se Na be able to pretend she hasnt noticed him... ? So far, bc he is not serious and bc she is his lawyer, she enjoys his attention and never shows it, but you can tell by how much she is smiling that she is totally falling for him. La Ik is a nice guy and has a potential, but right now is a spoiled brat more than anything.

Luckily that death taught La Ik he cannot fool around and throw tantrums... and he ran back home. Fine. I am curious to see what he learnd and how much he changed.

Right now we have a wall breakdown scene. Se Na is holding in her arms her cute crush, totally open and vulnerable in her arms. The stray cat came back, all hurt, and Se Na is comforting him.

I am wondering though what happens after cuddling a cute stray cat and when the stray cat gets into the house, shower, clean clothes and bedtime. If the stray fully recovers and relaxes and comes back to life, it might start pouncing on Se Na and at that point, will she be able to resist?

She has to resist all his charms for now. After holding him to comfort him, the worst thing would be to pounce on him.

BUT ONE DAY, he will be healed enough and it will be ok to pounce on him. Most likely, he will keep pouncing on her, she will play dumb, until ONE DAY she responds. That day has to be when she is not his lawyer, either bc the case is over or bc another lawyer takes over.

Se Na is a very good lawyer so she does not even blink an eye when he hit on her in the past, but .... at what point .. she will forget that she is a lawyer? That is the true test of her love, bc as long as the case is on and she is his lawyer, she has to keep a very strong professional boundary.

Also it is a true test of her growth, that moment when she decides it is ok to trust someone and relax enough and have a relationship. Se Na too is a hurt stray cat, it is just hidden behind a professional facade.

ONE DAY she will have to trust herself and the other person and consent to go on a date, to have some friends and hobbies. That will be her growth, to participate in social events and human interactions.

Bith LaIk and Se Na will gain that trust as they coillaborate in solving this case.

it is for sure La Ik / Se Na ship bc he already deeply loves her and she loves him too... It is just the matter of time when he grows up enough and she melts up enough so that they can continue as a couple. Chasing the crime together builds their trust in the self and each other. It is bringing them very close. I wrote a lot about La Ik, now let us profile Se Na.

Se Na script is so well written, she is a functional adult. Flawed but remarkably strong and honest. Se Na actress is excellent too, she brings Se Na to life, makes Se Na a real person. Without her, ML actor could not shine. This drama is based on deep conversations and a deep relationship.

Se Na never "fixed" LaIk. She provided a safe space at her house and a positive, calm role model. He took the opportunity and did the inner work and became a better person. ON HIS OWN. He chose to use her as a role model. She never pushed him, never expected anything, never wanted him for herself. She talked to him and explained his choices. HE MADE THE CHOICE HE WANTED, ALWAYS. SHE ALWAYS LET HIM BE FREE. That is very remarkable and that is why their relationship is so healthy. They are two equals. They talk to each other, listen, and learn. That is super precious and will make them a couple for a lifetime.

So let us analyze the situation. Se Na has past trauma and was a piece of cement for decades. So hurt, she shut ppl out, and poured herself into work. And was an idol fan bc that was the only safe way to have an inspiring human presence in her life. She never went out much if at all socially and never even went on a date. So we are talking Se Na the nun staying home and/or working only.

LaIk was a totally immature spoled brat, very impulsive, his nervous system collapsed from stress, and his coping mechanism alcohol and pills. Those went away while living with Se Na for a while. And then he did more work on himself BC HE WANTED TO and is becoming an adult man more and more.

So I am looking forward how Se Na and La Ik will grow on their own and then together. They are both a missing piece and they are both a Big O to each other.

He is creative, spontaneous, affectionate, and forthcoming, so he woke up in her trust that there are beautiful moments in life and humans who are worthy of her time and attention and who love her and appreciate her. He made her relax and play and enjoy her life and all the small beautiful moments. He made her MOVE.

And she provided a safe space for him where he can just BE, relax, be himself, and play and be creative and have fun, and be affectionate and caring and sensitive and gentle and exploring. He is a very lively fun cat. She is the grounding and calming presence for him, a solid rock he can lean on, a grounding rod that prevents him from "flying out into the outer space."
. She is a lot more rational and quiet and "put" than him and he needs that to prevent him from burning out in hugely intense social interactions... he is more right brained but has business and logic, and she is more left brained but has creative artsy sensitive streak.

They are a great pair. Becoming two Os rolling together https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af-jZUR3ua0

I wrote a detailed analysis in the spoiler.

LOL she has a lot of personality and flaunts it at work and hides it at home :)

you need to sharpen your eyes and ears :)

yeah the immature brat La Ik grew up a little bit :) that is Se Na's positive influence on him. She never "fixed him" she was just THERE providing a safe space for him - and luckily, he took the opportunity and grew from it.

nonononono honey get out of that trap, it is deadly. Never ever ever try to fix anyone

Head over Heals is a very dangerous dark evil drama and I would suggest not using it as a measuring stick

Se Na never fixed LaIk. She just provided a safe space for him, and he did all the work himself.

She did NOT fix him LOL She just provided a safe space. It was up to him to use it any way he wanted. Luckily he used it properly for self healing and made lots of progress. SHE NEVER DID ANYTHING BUT PROVIDE THE SAFE OASIS. AND HE DID ALL THE WORK ON HIMSELF :)

Luckily he is a healthy good guy - he responds to love and care with affection, and he responds to abuse with running away. So he was ready to use this chance to heal.

Head Over Heels is a scary dark drama about a woman who meddles into the life of a very confused guy and keeps pushing him forward bc she wants him for herself.

This drama is about good boundaries and collaboration.

Yeah both dramas are about the woman helping the man, but the feel and nature of that help is very different. Se Na never expected anything of La Ik.

I think Idol I ML in episodes 1-8 of is worthy of a star.

Now the drama will get into the deep love between ML and FL in the midst of legal battles and crime, so it will be necessary to act deep feeling of love care and vulnerability. So far, the drama didnt need that bc LaIk is immature, but LaIk has to grow. So if the actor can show it, the actor will be exhibiting skillZ of a superstar.

How can a young person know those feelings and able to express them? An easy way is to carry a fake baby around for a few days and take care of it, the kind of doll taht new parents get to practice on :) or ... babysitting for a cat or dog or even a gold fish or bird... for a few days... or a child LOL or elderly ... or soup kitchen.. all great ways to learn about deep real feelings... anyways, if he can show that, he has acted everything there is to act and will earn a reputatuin for master actor abilities.

As I said, I have never seen this actor before, so I just checked out his previous The Judge from Hell ML role and that role just does not allow him to schine as much as here, bc that drama showcases the FL a lot more, and ML script is written to be too ... ordinary, flat, dull person,without any deep conversations and sophisticated plot. He is just an ordinary small kind detective. Nothing flashy. The quiet serious type. And the drama is makjang very often....
THe actor aced acting that role - as is was written - but the role does not show everything this actor CAN ACT.

ML detective from Judge from Hell is an ordinary guy, nothing special, just cute face. Kinda like .. .neighbor next door .... His thinking and reactions are not made very unique. He is there in the drama but is not very vivid. The script made it so. The script relies on special effects and the unique Judge to do the show.

Laik from Idol I is a *person* that is very present, by the script, and made alive on the screen by the actor. A very powerful role bc it is about deep life and inner life of a person.

This is getting too long of a post bc I am still thinking aloud about exactly what I am seeing and experiencing and trying to put it into words. I will probably be able to say it in less words later LOL
Anyways:
I saw this actor only in ep 1-2 of judge from hell and Idol 1 ep 1-8, so I cannot speak of other roles, but this actor is capable of acting a super wide range of "real life" roles and even makjang or mix, and is perfect for acting smart and lively alive roles, roles that very few ppl CAN do for the simple reason they are not very intelligent :) There are so many pretty boys who are totally poker faced on the screen bc there is not much behind their face. They cannot even smile!!!!! As simple as that. This actor has gray matter behind his face and it comes out of his eyes and he can act COMPLEX roles. The actor has finesse and range.

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This struck me when I rewatched 2016 Hong Kong movie The Mermaid by Stephen Chow. The ML there is an actor from Mainland China. He is totally 1000% hillarious in The Mermaid. You would never know that if you watched him in Chinese dramas, where he is a little bit of fun at most. They just do not let him express bc the script is limiting. Stephen Chow let that actor go wild and free and he did - and the performance is AMAZING.

So to see what an actor can do, you give them a good script. A good actor makes a good script into an excellent script.
A bad actor ruins a good script..
A bad script cannot be saved even by good actors.

I am not a film major or anything trained or official like that, and I am not a paid or a rabid fan of anyone, I am just a nerd art lover and this is what I SEE when I watch dramas...

I think for the ML actor from Idol I, that drama is A GREAT CHANCE to show what he can do.

In year 2025 I spotted Bon Appettit Your Majesty ML actor - he started as a newbie, they gave him a few simple lines and a few seconds on the screen at first.. then more and more until he was on the screen, often only his face, for long periods of time. He was so enthusiastic and had so much fun with his role, had so much energy, and was incredibly infectiously catchy and fun to watch.

Idol I ML actor is different bc he STARTED with an amazing skillset as a phenomenally great actor already in ep 1 of Idol I.... .... and if he nails the deeper parts of love care vulnerability, then ... he will be extra super skilled top star.

So last year we watched a new star being made
Right now we are watching a new star becoming visible and possibly becoming a superstar

how exciting!!!! we can say we were there for the history in the making :)

I have never seen ML actor before, had no idea he existed... and now I am sure we are already watching him as a new shining star, and it might turn out to be a new superstar! A complex sophisticated one. Wow it is so amazing to witness that!

The ML character in Idol I is deep and very complex, and this actor really made it come out alive and vitrantly REAL. Thus Idol I is an amazing showcase of ML actor's abilities., and should get him some acting award and more interesting roles later.

I just checked his older drama Judge from Hell and that ML role is written in a way that is too simple and never gave a real chance to showcase what this actor can do. I will put my thoughts into the spoiler to keep this post short.

I think for the ML actor, Idol I is A GREAT CHANCE to show what he can do and reach new levels of acting skillZ and really really really schine. Idol I is "reality" drama, everyting is as if in real life. This actor can do makjang scenes too, bc they are often good for comedy, I am sure, but since he has a great expressivity, he - unlike many others - CAN DO complex roles with a very wide range of things to express.

So last year we watched a new star being made (Bon Apettit ML)
Right now we are watching a new star (Idol I ML) becoming visible - he started the drama with skillZ worthy of a star - and possibly is becoming a superstar

how exciting!!!! we can say we were there for the history in the making :)

Ji Sung has a style of comedic acting where he exaggerates normal human behavior, to show HOW the human feels. So he always overdoes stuff and that is comical. Take it for granted that he will overdo and enjoy the ride. He shows emotion "over the top" so that you can CLEARLY see how the character feels. Just watch him in small stuff, like sitting on the sofa next to his evil in-law in ep 1, fidgeting and rolling his eyes anxiously in fear, waiting for the verdict. He ROOOOOLLLLLSSSS his eyes lmao

Now for this particular case of time travel redo, YOU cannot say what is fast and what is slow :) unless you died and came back. So try to IMAGINE.

Or google "testimonies of ppl who died and came back" and you will see they INSTANTLY transform super fast. If they had not, they would have not been allowed to come back :)

You can have that same instant transformation experience if you meditate and pray very deeply. You will "faint" into the other side and come back totally different.

If you want to go even further, read stories who DID NOT come back, who stayed unalive, but came back in 3D to tell what it is like. Read something like Elizabeth Kubler Ross books and articles. She was a real life hospice worker who had many patients die and come back to tell her death does not exist. For real.

So good luck. I dont have time to talk to you anymore.

That sounds like a super cheesy excuse ... Ppl just hate murder, not the murderer.... Are YOU a cheater???? or is your parent or spouse? or entire culture? Why do you defend them... ? I am not expecting an answer LOL Please do NOT answer here.

OK if you think cheaters are not bad ppl, it is YOUR choice, and that will welcome cheaters into your life. As I said, everything is relative, so what I call cheating could be totally legit in your world. But it doesnt seem like it, you still call it a "sin" .....

Everyone is free to live the way they want :) and then bear the consequences :)

I said what I think, and that's that, we disagree and that's it. At this point, any further discussion is a waste of time. Bye :)

Gosh. You need to die and come back to really get the feel? For right now, use your imagination a lot more. What you are saying is super stuck....

Would you do that??? you die and come back to life .. WOULD YOU behave like your old self???? you just died and came back to life, there is no way you could even resemble your old self..... First, WOULDN'T YOU be very happy to be alive and have a chance to redo everything properly and stay happy????
WOULDN'T YOU make some smarter decisions and moves and in general, be a lot more careful and considerate person?
If not then you are lack big vision.
If yes, then this is a lesson that it is rather immature to say things that do NOT take into account at all the position of the other person. Before you open your mouth, try to think like him. Put yourself in his shoes and THINK... what is it like?

Ah I get it now why ppl said that this drama reminds them of The Devil Judge - bc Ji Sung was ML there too. I just learned today that he was ML in Devil Judge.
So there is that tendency to typecast actors to make the drama financially safer, if you know their one role "worked" then you just keep going. That is .. well....

a lot of it is happening since Netflix, lots of "season 2" type of stuff.
This explains some of it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1_j6izmEX4

FYI I watched entire Again My Life, Lawless Lawyer, now Judge Returns, and I read about Devil Judge. So in the past I wrote a long post explaining how all those 4 dramas are totally different except that they have a lawyer/judge as the ML.

typecasting is to assign (an actor or actress) repeatedly to the same type of role, as a result of the appropriateness of their appearance or previous success in such roles.

I am utterly amazed how incompetent CEO Hwa is - she cannot run a hotel... She wants to fire a chef who made her restaurant double the sales... just bc he has attitude that irks her.
What is more important - making money at the hotel, or kissing her as@ ??? CEO Hwa has her priorities like losers do, not like a business person. She is fit to run some cheap 1-star decrepid motel... She is **** completely **** unsuitable to run one nice hotel, and **** completely **** out of league to be the chairperson of the Dream group

I 100% agree with paragraph 2. I myself thought of #3 and concluded that it would be a less likely and rather unusually weird situation but possible. I disagree with #1.
Imo If he is cheating on his wife, he *IS* a bad person, period, not much different than an animal freely mating around.
Different cultures have different takes on that, there are plenty legally polygamous cultures (Africa and diaspora, Arabia, etc) and plenty cultures where having a mistress is normal (entire Asia, entire S America, France, Italy, and all catholic countries basically) so I can see why YOU could think he is not a bad person,
I come from a strictly-one-mate belief system and meandering is considered cheap, and I can totally see why.

That cheating dad is about to start spreading some STDs of unknown origins LOL
Not to mention that he is LYING to his wife and kids and just THAT makes him a bad person. Whatever "good" he had, he spent it :)

Ah yes! from google: For a name like Ra Ik (라익), the first syllable 'Ra' would likely lean toward an 'La' sound.. How to say Ra Ik (라익): https://www.howtopronounce.com/korean/%EB%9D%BC%EC%9D%B5 and lesson on that R/L sound: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TBjoHjFldg

Thank you, this is a great a learning moment!
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Further research:
R-L sound is what makes the "korean accent" for native Koreans speaking english as a quick pick second language - often unable to say R in american or german or spanish style bc R sound doesnt exist in Korean at the start of a word, seems like. It is inside words, like sarang.

But there are LOTS of free and cheap Korean language classes online and the add is to help understand kdramas. I am all for it, i would love to learn some Korean so that I can understand the dramas better :) By now, I learned quite a few of the cuss words, soapy words, eat/sit down/come in/ words.... love words, appologies, and connectives like .. what, why, because, omg, etc.. LOL I could get by in a suuuuuper simple conversation :) Yeah, let's learn Korean :) and not depend on the subtitles :)

Overarching concept: the path of householder (a householder does not have to be married. Marriage yoga is a more specific path within the path of householder). Every spiritual practice expects the foundation of a "proper householder" - and to some degree even if you are a monastic LOL The idea of respnsible and dilligent living, caring in the physical world
Have fun, now I have to get back to work :)

Oh then I misunderstood bc it was written at the end of what looked like a list of complaints, so I assumed that too was a complaint :) So many ppl complain about actor's age and age difference so I thought that was that
Of course, let's all look a lot younger :) We are all on the same page on that :)

Ah makes sense! Thank you!

indeed it will not bunk, as new slop kdramas are STILL a lot better than even the top hollywood, so ppl will watch, so at the end we will get something which is not as trashy as current hollywood but getting close to it. We will get a Dynamite Kiss kind of production - a lot more s.x, a lot more violence, a lot less content, AI-genrated plot with all tropes possible, and NO messages and meanings that make sense.

But it will still be more pleasant and meaningful than the current Hollywood.

HOWEVER, it will destroy Korean culture :) and cultural and business etc independence and identity.... and that is the goal :)
to make everyone a copy of the usa and to have a generic "global" culture dictated by the usa and controlled by these big companies

It is like mixing black and white, we are going to end with a shade of gray that will not be pretty