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The ML was being emotional and confused by it. He thought that he's filling pity to 2FL after what he realized with BongSu's real name. He though, "if someone calls her by her real name, she'll become a good person".

But when she was going to touch his face, he flinched. He fears her. He wasn't feeling pity. The 2FL refused because she understood that once the ML gets his thoughts and emotions sorted, he might accidentally curse her.

Real names are powerful. It is tied to your soul. This is a very common belief in so many cultures around the world, from the ancient to this day.

Q2: Why does she have another name?

Because she knows the power of real names. Her mother also no doubt gave it to her when she adopted her.

Q3: Butterfly on shoulder

I'm guessing here only. Since she refused to give her real name, the 2FL kind of like gave him a parting clue, the butterfly.

Her real name is more likely 나비 (NaBi).

But since she didn't tell him (as in spoken), even if he figured it out, it won't have any power. And his doubt if he got it right guarantees there's no power to knowing her name.

Q4: Bonus scene butterfly.

I can't remember this one properly, so you may have to dig this one to untangle the potential mess.

Butterflies are culturally known as a conduit to the spirit world. They transport human souls to their final destination, be it in paradise or damnation.

She handed a toy butterfly to that overstaying spirit as a symbolic gesture of helping him move on. Because if he doesn't, he'll soon turn into a demon and there's no saving him after that.

Q5: You line the bonus scene butterfly with 2FL's butterfly.

You are correct in linking them, and I for one didn't notice it. However, the meaning is that 2FL butterfly finally moved on. Her child's coffin behind her back that's been weighing her down, finally moved on. Her child she won't let go was carried over by the butterfly.

To help explain it, they added a bonus scene.

The 2FL isn't evil. She's a prodigal daughter consumed by her child's death. She's living in the past. She wants to resurrect her child at the expense of her life. But her mother stopped her because it's a violation of the order of the universe and the divine.

Then she found a way. She found a lost human soul that is already in the "evil spirit" stage. She tricked BongSu that she will help him become a deity, but all she wants is to turn him into a Demonic Spirit so she can use him.

But BongSu has different plans. He doesn't want to be a demonic spirit, and him reaching the "evil spirit" stage was probably a mistake on his part or because he hasn't moved on he eventually did.

In Korean spirit mythology, when a human who wants to stay in the living world doesn't move on, they eventually become an "evil sipirt". Or, if they died with deep resentment and hatred.

In the "evil spirit" stage, they are still human spirits. They just have access to demonic powers.

The final conversion is becoming a "demonic spirit". As a demonic spirit, they are no longer a human spirit and thus they'll go to eternal damnation. But as an "evil spirit" they can still be saved.

BongSu isone such human spirit. He simply reached the "evil spirit" stage but still is a human spirit.

The 2FL wants to use him and turn him into a demonic spirit "deity" (more like bound to her) but BongSu doesn't want it.

In Korean shamanism, spirits have different stages.

When a person dies, if they feel they have an unfinished business, their spirit lingers on the living world.

If they died with strong resentment, hatred, they start doing evil things but they still have control. Eventually, they become an evil spirit with evil powers.

They can still be saved.

But once they become a demonic spirit, that's it. They can never be saved. Their destination is eternal damnation.

BongSu is already an evil spirit. What the 2FL was trying to help him about was to turn him into a demonic spirit so she can use him.

But BongSu has different plans. He wants to be saved, not turn into a demonic spirit.

"Evil spirit" is a stage. They are still human spirits (ie not demons) but can already harness demonic powers. Their final stage is becoming a demonic spirit, in which case, they are no longer a human spirit.

"Evil" does not necessarily mean "evil" the way it is understood in English.

That girl was just a literary device to give him some background on why he is the way he is. You can just ignore her, there's nothing to it.

BongSu's real name is YeongBu. He is the shorter kid.

The taller kid was BongSu's imagination that got stuck when he died, so his memories retained the imaginary friend.

BongSu the spirit, overtime, confused his identity. He thought he is the taller kid and is looking for his name so he can move on. When actually, he knew his name from the beginning. His problem is, he thought he is not YeongBu.

So, when he finally reconciled his memories, he realised that he is the kid and his name is YeongBu. He knew all this time, probably since he became a spirit with an unfinished business.

It appears that way, but it's actually a story about a prodical daughter. There were no antagonists and protagonists. They're just a family with a complex strings of fate.

The 2FL isn't evil or anything. She lost her way because of her extreme desire to resurrect her child but her mother stopped her because it's against the law of the universe and the divine, and it also means she has to pay with her life (law of equivalence). In her desperation, she called upon a lost soul with an unfinish business.

That is why they are all fine with having the 2FL in the same house. She isn't completly "turned", in fact, the demons are not turning her, it is her who is violating the laws. So, she isn't an evil witch or anything. Just a prodigal daughter who can't let go of the past.

BongSu got trapped in FL's body because that was her plan all along.

Remember the scene where she kissed the ML and threw salt? She absorbed BongSu.

Then when BongSu-FL was discovered, he kissed the ML and 2ML. BongSu wants to leave the FL's body but the FL is holding on to him, that is why the kissing isn't working.

The ML figured out how to let the FL's guard down. He talked to her in her dream world, making her wish the life she missed and she want. When her guard was down and caught up reminiscing and dreaming WhatIfs, the ML kissed her in the dream and in real life.

The ML then absorbed BongSu.

So, when FL woke up, she was confused. She didn't expect it, less so for the ML to know how to do the soulkiss absorption method.

She was quick to react but the ML stopped her, "I worked so hard to get him back". He was referring to how hard it was to get her guard down, because the FL is wise and attentive. It will never happen again if she re-absorb BongSu.

The FL isn't hiding or anything. She trapped BongSu in her body intentionally to save everyone. If she didn't, BongSu's presence will kill everyone including the host. In an earlier episode, it was mentioned that anyone near a the evil spirit eventually dies if they stay near.

The FL was secluded herself because the evil spirit is in her. Anyone close to the evil spirit will die. For the FL, it's better for her to die than let anyone else die.

I'm just guessing here based on the sequence:

He asked for her real name but she didn't tell him because he still hates her and might curse her.

As she left, she left him a hint about her name, the butterfly.

Her name is 나비 (NaBi), which is butterfly in Korean.

Yep.

The real villainy were:
1. Discarding human beings (and using kidnapping to cover it up, and only requiring one parent)
2. Forced sperm and egg farming if the subject doesn't want to volunteer and they have good genes
3. Forced surrogacy
4. Selling lab babies

If all of those are removed, it appears that everything else are fine for today's audience.

1. Genetic manipulation
2. Mixing the best genes
3. Surrogacy, if say, you can't carry the baby for whatever reason
4. Donating or selling your sperm/egg

The show does touch on heavy topics. Surrogacy. Genetic engineering. Discarding humans. Lab babies. Selling lab babies.

And we're only in E04.

I guess Koreans can breath. 😅

But of course, MDL comments is not a good sample. It's minuscule and it's easy to create multiple accounts.

The real challenge are the conservatives/traditionalists who only wants the natural way. No lab babies. No genetic manipulations. No rDNA bioengineering. No surrogacy. No IVF.

Based on the comments from non-Koreans here on MDL, the main issues are selling babies and discarding them.

I haven't seen a comment that disagrees with lab babies.

Surrogacy seems to be more on the neutral side. I guess that reflects reality too, it's illegal in many countries but legal in equally many countries. With only some without any law about it's legality or otherwise.

No issues I've read about DNA bioengineering. It appears that MDL commenters are open to this technology.

I wonder if the lab is also using rDNA (Recombinant DNA). It's not illegal either. There were also babies born with rDNA "fixes" and/or "enhancements" (mainly to increase survivability, not create a super power like in The Witch and The Tyrant).

So many stuff in this show that's actually touching on scientific advances since the 70s that many people assume to be illegal. They're really engaging people to make decision if these should be illegal or if these should be regulated through ethics laws.

A good question here, are the AhYeon subjects clones (as in "genetic copy") or not? But since their DNA are changed by mixing other good DNA, then are they still clones? That certainly puts it outside of the ban on human cloning and ethics.

I think they're tackling this mainly in the Korean context: declining population of native/pure Koreans due to low birth rates.

They are exploring options and they want to know how people will react with such ideas. If it's positive, someone can draft proposals and plans. If it is negative, they can avoid a fallout.

No worries. Similarly, I got sour because I often see it worded similarly. Definitely nothing personal.

Yeah, predicitons on population for Korea is really dark. If they don't resolve their low birth rate, Korean-blood might disappear in less than a century.

I read a news, I think last year, one plan was to invite more migrants into Korea. But I was like, "they still won't be Koreans, and that will mean eventually South Korea will be dominated by non-Koreans or half-Koreans". 😅 Sure, they'll save the existence of the State, but it's no longer a Korean Nation. 😅😅

True that, workaholism. To add, education. So many Koreans are moving to other countries because they don't want their children to experience the hardships they went through. And oftentimes, since their children grew elsewhere, they don't go back to Korea. 😅

You're right, there's an increase theme about women and children. We rarely see corruption dramas these days.

If you have Viu, it's all for free.

Exactly!

She's aware of the potential generation and culture clash, she had to explain it to hopefully avoid misunderstanding.

And yes, the other members were excellent too because they were supportive of her stance.

Hopefully, no one will edit the clips to make it appear she was rude. People these days will do anything if something doesn't align with their personal beliefs and standards.

Hooray for YeEun! People are standing up leaving no room for detractors and anti-fans . 🎉

True! 80 is "old", and even that is slipping to "young". I heard in some countries, 90 is the new "old".

A very excellent point!

Indeed, when it's reversed, suddenly it's a huge issue and "disgusting".

Ahh! That's a good point. It's easier to find them here.

She does look older than 14.

Even the FL, there were scenes where the actor's age (34) shines more than the character's early to mid 20s.