SunOh
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This review may contain spoilers
Through its different approach to love, Love Alarm also denounces the excesses of technology.
P.S: My username wasn't taken because I'm team Sun Oh (not that I don't appreciate the character or the actor, on the contrary) but because I wanted to change my username after a long time and it happened when me and my friend named ourselves Jojo and SunOh in a game for fun (I also had a character named Hye Yeong lol), at the time I hadn't even watched Love Alarm but I really liked the name so I kept it. Note that Jung Ga Ram also has a character named Sun Ho (such a close one) in another drama called Mistress and he's now my favorite underrated actor.
If you want to avoid major spoilers, you can skip to the conclusion. (which I will post in the comments section because MDL reduced the characters limit)
This review of Love Alarm was written as the episodes progressed (I binge-watched both seasons in a few days) and I'd like to say that everything I wanted came true and everything I understood about the characters' feelings was confirmed in the end, so I can only be satisfied.
This conclusion is perfect because it's healthy and realistic. That she should end up with Sun Oh was inconceivable, she loved Hye Yeong, not him. Sun Oh found happiness on his own and moved on, such is life.
From the beginning of the story, Sun Oh's character didn't come across as a very nice guy, but he's also somewhat pitiful. He wasn't the person Jojo needed, and vice versa. Is he a monster? No. He actually has a pure heart but that doesn't change his immaturity which turns into toxicity for the people around him. Yes, we can see that he starts to have genuine feelings for Jojo, even though his initial motives were questionable.
On the whole, the drama focused more on the psychology of the main characters and I love this kind of romance, the transition from high schoolers to young adults really makes the difference with season 1, the tone changes (highlighting the contrast), you can feel the characters coming of age and the fact that we've followed them through several periods of their lives gives way to a nostalgic feeling, the music etc. also plays a big part.
Apart from all that there were so many good things, from the cinematography, the music, the sci-fi aspect, to the fact that so many things are represented in the form of drawings (even animated ones) and the whole thing around Jojo's drawings and their meanings.
To the people saying Jojo did not consider Sun Oh's feelings : First, stop watching from his perspective only. You are the one blinded by your biases, only caring about what Sun Oh feels instead of Jojo, Hye Yeong and even Yuk Jo. So blinded that you failed to see his character development. Since you didn't even understand his character and the drama, you couldn't appreciate the perfect ending he was given or anything. Second, https://www.tumblr.com/lucymontero/646944171870109696/love-alarm-lovestruck-in-the-city-and-a-womans this article should be enough.
To the people who blame Jojo for kissing Sun Oh in the beginning : She was on bad terms with her boyfriend and eventually she was able to breathe thanks to Sun Oh. It's true that he was forcing, but she ended up accepting the kiss. They were where no one could see them (well, obviously it's a drama, so it doesn't go as planned), and she was tempted... the way he looked at her, the sexual tension, and it is a real handsome guy, we can't lie to ourselves. When we know that many adults (men and women) have already cheated in their lives, it's not a teenager who lets herself go with this kind of context that shocks. I don't think she felt that way with her ex, far from it. In short, she is not to blame. If you want to blame someone SO much, blame Sun Oh.
What can we expect from a character whose childhood was so painful, whose youth was full of struggles, a traumatized teenager with burdens so heavy to bear? Yes, you could say she acts in an annoying and selfish way, however, unless you are completely biased because of Song Kang and that you have a very superficial view of the drama and her character (did people throw their brain in the bin while watching season 1 or did they forget it all? or maybe they skipped through it because all they cared about was Sun Oh and seeing him end up with Jojo. being offensive here, but that's nothing compared to what I've seen), you will feel nothing but empathy. Don't even make me start on the impact that such an event can have on someone... Survivor's guilt, yes, but it was her parents who tried to kill themselves with her.
Sun Oh's behavior can be explained because of his family situation, right, I do understand that. But if you think it's all Jojo's fault or that what Sun Oh did at the beginning is right but what happened afterwards isn't, there's something wrong with you. Viewing lens, I guess. This drama is not for everyone and I've learned to accept it.
What Deuk Gu says to Hye Yeong, "It was Jojo's will to use the shield and spear. Without it, she would never have gone out with you. It was because of the shield that she broke up with Sun Oh and you appeared on the list of people she could love. The shield being a variable, Jojo's will intervened, and you became a potential love interest. She wanted to ring your Love Alarm, even if it meant using the spear. She was willing to go that far to express her feelings for you. If that's not being sincere, what is?" This moment sums it up perfectly.
What's also nice about the end is that Jojo still doesn't ring Hye Yeong's Love Alarm without the spear and she still has the shield, but they know their love is sincere and it was really beautiful when they confessed their feelings out loud. It reminded me of when Hye Yeong was courting Jojo the traditional way without relying to Love Alarm, and the fact that he wanted to build his relationship with her bit by bit was great. Of course, there's that final scene where we see the moments when Jojo rang Hye Yeong's Love Alarm, they left before it started working but anyway, it was obvious. Nonetheless, it was perfect as a conclusion, for us viewers.
I transcribed two other dialogues that are important:
(the discussion between the two brothers) - Five years ago, I told you that we shouldn't release 2.0. - You don't realize that the Love Alarm you created makes people feel lonelier. Version 2.0 was created for those lonely people. If they'd known that lots of people would love them, there wouldn't have been any mass suicides, 23 lives would have been spared. - Is that really what you think? People only go out with the app's recommendations. Just like we only read articles from our search portal. Just as we only watch movies recommended by the algorithm. - What's wrong with that? - It eliminates countless possibilities. If there's an error in the suggestions, version 2.0 prevents love from being born. - An error? How are you going to prove it? - Kim Jojo. When she installed the shield, the person she loved changed. - Programming bug. - It wasn't a bug. It was Jojo's will. With the introduction of synchronization and willpower, this little mistake changed her life. Do you understand now?
(Deuk Gu talking to Jojo) "It was obvious you liked Hye Yeong. Do you know why you hesitated so much? You've never seen his Love Alarm ring. That's why. Even though you knew it was because of the shield, you doubted your feelings, because his Love Alarm had never gone off. That's why I wanted to stop the new function. People have become too dependent on technology."
Conclusion + quotes from the last episode in the comments section
Thank you for taking the time to read !
Because I felt the need to share this awesome review with a more sci-fi perspective: https://mydramalist.com/profile/imanirine/review/155009
If you want to avoid major spoilers, you can skip to the conclusion. (which I will post in the comments section because MDL reduced the characters limit)
This review of Love Alarm was written as the episodes progressed (I binge-watched both seasons in a few days) and I'd like to say that everything I wanted came true and everything I understood about the characters' feelings was confirmed in the end, so I can only be satisfied.
This conclusion is perfect because it's healthy and realistic. That she should end up with Sun Oh was inconceivable, she loved Hye Yeong, not him. Sun Oh found happiness on his own and moved on, such is life.
From the beginning of the story, Sun Oh's character didn't come across as a very nice guy, but he's also somewhat pitiful. He wasn't the person Jojo needed, and vice versa. Is he a monster? No. He actually has a pure heart but that doesn't change his immaturity which turns into toxicity for the people around him. Yes, we can see that he starts to have genuine feelings for Jojo, even though his initial motives were questionable.
On the whole, the drama focused more on the psychology of the main characters and I love this kind of romance, the transition from high schoolers to young adults really makes the difference with season 1, the tone changes (highlighting the contrast), you can feel the characters coming of age and the fact that we've followed them through several periods of their lives gives way to a nostalgic feeling, the music etc. also plays a big part.
Apart from all that there were so many good things, from the cinematography, the music, the sci-fi aspect, to the fact that so many things are represented in the form of drawings (even animated ones) and the whole thing around Jojo's drawings and their meanings.
To the people saying Jojo did not consider Sun Oh's feelings : First, stop watching from his perspective only. You are the one blinded by your biases, only caring about what Sun Oh feels instead of Jojo, Hye Yeong and even Yuk Jo. So blinded that you failed to see his character development. Since you didn't even understand his character and the drama, you couldn't appreciate the perfect ending he was given or anything. Second, https://www.tumblr.com/lucymontero/646944171870109696/love-alarm-lovestruck-in-the-city-and-a-womans this article should be enough.
To the people who blame Jojo for kissing Sun Oh in the beginning : She was on bad terms with her boyfriend and eventually she was able to breathe thanks to Sun Oh. It's true that he was forcing, but she ended up accepting the kiss. They were where no one could see them (well, obviously it's a drama, so it doesn't go as planned), and she was tempted... the way he looked at her, the sexual tension, and it is a real handsome guy, we can't lie to ourselves. When we know that many adults (men and women) have already cheated in their lives, it's not a teenager who lets herself go with this kind of context that shocks. I don't think she felt that way with her ex, far from it. In short, she is not to blame. If you want to blame someone SO much, blame Sun Oh.
What can we expect from a character whose childhood was so painful, whose youth was full of struggles, a traumatized teenager with burdens so heavy to bear? Yes, you could say she acts in an annoying and selfish way, however, unless you are completely biased because of Song Kang and that you have a very superficial view of the drama and her character (did people throw their brain in the bin while watching season 1 or did they forget it all? or maybe they skipped through it because all they cared about was Sun Oh and seeing him end up with Jojo. being offensive here, but that's nothing compared to what I've seen), you will feel nothing but empathy. Don't even make me start on the impact that such an event can have on someone... Survivor's guilt, yes, but it was her parents who tried to kill themselves with her.
Sun Oh's behavior can be explained because of his family situation, right, I do understand that. But if you think it's all Jojo's fault or that what Sun Oh did at the beginning is right but what happened afterwards isn't, there's something wrong with you. Viewing lens, I guess. This drama is not for everyone and I've learned to accept it.
What Deuk Gu says to Hye Yeong, "It was Jojo's will to use the shield and spear. Without it, she would never have gone out with you. It was because of the shield that she broke up with Sun Oh and you appeared on the list of people she could love. The shield being a variable, Jojo's will intervened, and you became a potential love interest. She wanted to ring your Love Alarm, even if it meant using the spear. She was willing to go that far to express her feelings for you. If that's not being sincere, what is?" This moment sums it up perfectly.
What's also nice about the end is that Jojo still doesn't ring Hye Yeong's Love Alarm without the spear and she still has the shield, but they know their love is sincere and it was really beautiful when they confessed their feelings out loud. It reminded me of when Hye Yeong was courting Jojo the traditional way without relying to Love Alarm, and the fact that he wanted to build his relationship with her bit by bit was great. Of course, there's that final scene where we see the moments when Jojo rang Hye Yeong's Love Alarm, they left before it started working but anyway, it was obvious. Nonetheless, it was perfect as a conclusion, for us viewers.
I transcribed two other dialogues that are important:
(the discussion between the two brothers) - Five years ago, I told you that we shouldn't release 2.0. - You don't realize that the Love Alarm you created makes people feel lonelier. Version 2.0 was created for those lonely people. If they'd known that lots of people would love them, there wouldn't have been any mass suicides, 23 lives would have been spared. - Is that really what you think? People only go out with the app's recommendations. Just like we only read articles from our search portal. Just as we only watch movies recommended by the algorithm. - What's wrong with that? - It eliminates countless possibilities. If there's an error in the suggestions, version 2.0 prevents love from being born. - An error? How are you going to prove it? - Kim Jojo. When she installed the shield, the person she loved changed. - Programming bug. - It wasn't a bug. It was Jojo's will. With the introduction of synchronization and willpower, this little mistake changed her life. Do you understand now?
(Deuk Gu talking to Jojo) "It was obvious you liked Hye Yeong. Do you know why you hesitated so much? You've never seen his Love Alarm ring. That's why. Even though you knew it was because of the shield, you doubted your feelings, because his Love Alarm had never gone off. That's why I wanted to stop the new function. People have become too dependent on technology."
Conclusion + quotes from the last episode in the comments section
Thank you for taking the time to read !
Because I felt the need to share this awesome review with a more sci-fi perspective: https://mydramalist.com/profile/imanirine/review/155009
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