This is an unexceptional drama ratings wise in South Korea - hovering at 4%-5% in a Sat-Sun timeslot on a major…
Interesting...I just read some articles about the hagwon institutions in SK, and the potential to exploit anxiety driven students and families, pretty awful. This theme is not really explored too intensely in this drama. It probably should be. It's more a light weight examination of their internal politics, and the evolving love affair in that context. Although I feel the competitive machinations are about to rev up.
Ahn Pan Seok, is a highly regarded director in SK, In an interview I watched with Jung Ryeo Won, she said when she heard his name she jumped on the chance to be part of MRIH without reading the script. He has that kind of cache. I think his dramas are for a niche audience, I really get that this approach is not for everyone. His drama Secret Love Affair is extraordinary on many levels. You ah In learned to play classical piano for his role, the research that went into the selection of the musical pieces is insane. The depiction of how corrupt that musical institution was, and the complexity of the internal politics was amazing. It was similar to this drama in some respects, although a better and more intriguing story, more dramatic. Better researched I think. But it still showed the love of the art form of music, as this drama does about the love of knowledge and learning, despite all the political issues. I didn't really like SITR, and OSN by him.
It's true that nearly every drama will in some form examine some issue or other, political, social, psychological etc etc, ratings aside, people are just going to be drawn to whatever resonates with them, there are too many variables to even consider, age, gender, intelligence, culture, mood, and so forth. I don't think you'll ever get consensus, and fair enough.
Ratings are a result of a synergy of time of airing, actors, plot, script, some ineffable factor that resonates with a lot of people, money invested, topical issue, savvy distributers and so forth.
I will always check out ratings, but not necessarily go with that assessment. I could not watch Queen of Tears, despite the rave reviews, I tried a few times but was bored blind. Then I landed on Tender Light, with low ratings, I thought it was a masterpiece.
My point here is that all the points you make are interesting, but it probs won't change someones view that loves this show.
This is an unexceptional drama ratings wise in South Korea - hovering at 4%-5% in a Sat-Sun timeslot on a major…
Agree, Queen of Tears would have had a massive budget, and it was marketed to an international audience on Netflix etc. It was total escapism, leads were coiffed and made up to the absolute max, high drama, beautiful locations, and sets it's a different vehicle altogether! The slow paced, reflective attention to detail, and the somewhat slower, conservative narrative of this director would definitely not appeal to mass market.
he’s being blackmailed. he could lose his job, they probably have it engineered that if he told anyone it would…
Agree, but firstly he argued that if he didn't investigate 'no one else would' and also the fact that it's all secretive, withdrawal stuff is driving the plot. It would be fairly mundane without that part of the action tbh!
there's too much of filler here - like she was eating a subway and few mins later as well she was eating it !…
That is typically how this director works, very slow, examination of small things, very atmospheric, subtle nuances, lots of conversation, often set against the dynamics of an institution or business, that's just his thing. And it's not everyones taste.
Episode 5 is very rich in my eyes. Apart from questions of education and education policy, I also find the topics…
I agree, thank you for such an interesting insight. It isn't just empty vacuous, glossy escapism, it's an insightful examination of how an institution functions in all it's aspects, and how you fit an emotional attachment into that context, and still be effective. and keep your act together. The dynamics are surprisingly cutthroat, this drama director also did the same thing in Secret Love Affair, similar examination of a music institution. The politics, corruption, but also the love of creativity, music. You can see some viewers are just wanting a romantic, trope filled story where ML and FL fall into each others arms. That's not necessarily the only focus of this drama, though you can see it coming. Thanks again, I found your comment really interesting.
Really great show. However plot wise, I don't think we as viewers should be guessing why he didn't report the abduction and get drug tested, video or no video.. People are supplying plausible answers, but that's the writers job not the viewer. Of course keeping this under wraps will be the device to push action forward, the bullets in the gun, the psycho behaviour in the hospital etc. but a fugitive has to have a reason to be a fugitive. Surely abduction and being shot up with drugs is something anyone would report to the police. Especially as most of his colleagues seem to adore him. I wonder if the other jealous detective might be involved in the abduction. Just an idea, lol, really enjoying this series though.
Agree with everyone's comments re the ending. Up until mid ep 28 the pacing of this drama, the intricate story telling was phenomenal. Each detail was perfection, mainly of course the flow of the relationship between NY and ZL. Suddenly you get this speeded up, jumpy scenario where Qing Li has been set up to trap NY into confessing. Awful from many perspectives, because you thought as a viewer that she was reconciling with NY, but in fact she was baiting her. Awful to consider NY therefore confessed to a crime she didn't commit just to save ZL. And spends 6 years in jail as a result. Disgusting to consider LFL and the other guy forced this situation, then we get LFL breaking down and confessing he had a similar history, when NY could have been only convicted of self defence. Actually tbh none of this makes sense as a plot, also why the fuck are we getting to know LFL's background right at the end, it's redundant, and he is shown 'the hero' also right at the end, having spent 6 years finding a way to show that she in fact was innocent. Total garbage. Also the written description of what transpired was weird, why did we not see the progression acted out as previously. So much time was taken up with the young female friend at dinner, etc, why was there focus on her??? Actually she was a support character, and I doubt anyone much cares about her situation. He didn't love her, 6 years later get over it!!! Pretty tragic that ZL's life went down the toilet, after his promising future and all the rap and hype about it. So the ending was choppy and weird, and unsatisfactory. I. guess maybe it's more true to life, but this is a drama after all. Having said all that, I really loved this drama and still rate if 10/10!! Agree that it is a masterpiece.
So this means that Xu Yi really killed himself, he was well and truly finished, and his only thought was to take NY down with him, I don't really get why she said she killed him as he obviously stabbed himself repeatedly. Really one of the most psychotic, evil psychopaths I've seen in a drama. Only equalled by her step mother. Amazing how ZL kept his cool and worked out a plan of action. It's depressing how LFL and the other sunflower chewing detective are so obsessively fixated on convicting NY or ZL, and as it turns out they are wrong. Both have their motives, it's horrendous to watch NY being pummelled over and over, I really am disgusted by both those policemen. It's also hard to watch as even the people who supported her before, are now also becoming hysterical and abusive. That scene, where after the glorious wishes for New Year were over and faded out, and each character is shown as miserable and defeated was priceless. The shots of the village, the streets, the countryside, the markets, the houses and their detail, the incredible, fantastic Millennium celebration, with the atmosphere, lights, lanterns and dragons, are phenomenal. The narrative is brilliant, complex. It's impossible not to be caught up in the plot, and react to the characters. Who are all so credible and brilliantly portrayed. I really hope this drama gets the recognition it deserves, and wins an award.
Honestly from every point of view, story, acting, cinematography this is the one of the best things I have watched in ages. It really is a masterpiece!!
LFL is starting to annoy me. He interrogates those kids in inappropriate settings and going into someone's room…
Yes it's such a load of bullshit how LFL is pretending to carry out the most scrupulous investigation, while everyone else's disgusting, corrupt behaviour is conveniently overlooked. He doesn't seem to see what's driving him, or his own delusional motives.
LFL is starting to annoy me. He interrogates those kids in inappropriate settings and going into someone's room…
Yes it's such a load of bullshit how LFL is pretending to carry out the most scrupulous investigation, while everyone else's disgusting, corrupt behaviour is conveniently overlooked. He doesn't seem to see what's driving him, or his own delusional motives.
1 
Ahn Pan Seok, is a highly regarded director in SK, In an interview I watched with Jung Ryeo Won, she said when she heard his name she jumped on the chance to be part of MRIH without reading the script. He has that kind of cache. I think his dramas are for a niche audience, I really get that this approach is not for everyone. His drama Secret Love Affair is extraordinary on many levels. You ah In learned to play classical piano for his role, the research that went into the selection of the musical pieces is insane. The depiction of how corrupt that musical institution was, and the complexity of the internal politics was amazing. It was similar to this drama in some respects, although a better and more intriguing story, more dramatic. Better researched I think. But it still showed the love of the art form of music, as this drama does about the love of knowledge and learning, despite all the political issues. I didn't really like SITR, and OSN by him.
It's true that nearly every drama will in some form examine some issue or other, political, social, psychological etc etc, ratings aside, people are just going to be drawn to whatever resonates with them, there are too many variables to even consider, age, gender, intelligence, culture, mood, and so forth. I don't think you'll ever get consensus, and fair enough.
Ratings are a result of a synergy of time of airing, actors, plot, script, some ineffable factor that resonates with a lot of people, money invested, topical issue, savvy distributers and so forth.
I will always check out ratings, but not necessarily go with that assessment. I could not watch Queen of Tears, despite the rave reviews, I tried a few times but was bored blind. Then I landed on Tender Light, with low ratings, I thought it was a masterpiece.
My point here is that all the points you make are interesting, but it probs won't change someones view that loves this show.
Having said all that, I really loved this drama and still rate if 10/10!! Agree that it is a masterpiece.
It's depressing how LFL and the other sunflower chewing detective are so obsessively fixated on convicting NY or ZL, and as it turns out they are wrong. Both have their motives, it's horrendous to watch NY being pummelled over and over, I really am disgusted by both those policemen. It's also hard to watch as even the people who supported her before, are now also becoming hysterical and abusive.
That scene, where after the glorious wishes for New Year were over and faded out, and each character is shown as miserable and defeated was priceless.
The shots of the village, the streets, the countryside, the markets, the houses and their detail, the incredible, fantastic Millennium celebration, with the atmosphere, lights, lanterns and dragons, are phenomenal.
The narrative is brilliant, complex. It's impossible not to be caught up in the plot, and react to the characters. Who are all so credible and brilliantly portrayed.
I really hope this drama gets the recognition it deserves, and wins an award.