[Discussion] Padam Padam

What a pleasant surprise! Based on the synopsis, I didn't expect this drama to be so... different. I thought it would be yet again another mushy melodrama but it turns out quite dark, realistic and eerie at the same time (other good surprise this week was "What's Up?"... waiting for a topic to be created!). I just watched the pilot so far, but if the acting, writing and cinematography keep up with this quality until the end, I can already say we've got here one real gem. I'll be watching the 3 other episodes tomorrow and will come back for more insights.

LisNoir wrote: Jejeje, don't worry I always read your posts. :p

Awww..Thanks Lis-ssi. Watch it! it's good! I came back and everyone had left...But probably a good thing since I want to watch dramas...lol

LOL...I know how you feel. I have too many on my plate as well. But whenever do you get around to it..it's worth it. Very well done so far. and...Up and subbed at Dramafever! ...little download queen.

jeanie65jh wrote: 4 episodes down. Still loving it. Is anyone out there watching this as well?

I am! :D I just finished watching Episodes 1 and 2. I do like it so far, and the whole mysteriousness of everything has me really intrigued. By the way, I did read your really long post and it has helped me understand so much more of this drama, so thank you for writing that. (I'm a bit slow when it comes to comprehending characters and their motives and whatnot in dramas. xP)



So what I can gather from these two episodes is this (spoilers ahead; writing out what I understand from something helps me understand it more so don't mind me if I start to just recap the episodes): Kang Chil was framed for a murder because the person who really committed the crime just placed the weapon in his hand and left the scene. After he served 12 years in prison, a prosecutor (or some other high paying profession that gives you a lot of privileges) named Chang Gul (who I'm pretty sure is the guy who committed the murder, someone please correct me if I'm wrong) framed him again for another crime he didn't do, which put Kang Chil in jail for another 4 years. Kang Chil has just finished serving those four years and expects Chang Gul to frame him again and keep him in jail because he knows Chang Gul can - the thing is, Chang Gul lets him go. The question Kang Chil (and I) really want to know is why?

What I can tell from Jung Ji Na's story (more spoilers): When someone murdered her uncle (her dad's little brother who he raised like a son), her mom defended him and actually found him a lawyer. This angered her dad and caused him to yell at her while they were driving in the summer. Because of her mom's asthma and the stress from the situation, she ended up not being able to breathe and therefore, died. Ji Na now blames her dad for her mom's death and treats him like a stranger.

I have a feeling that Min Ho (Ji Na's dead uncle) was the person who Chang Gul killed. Or am I just looking too much into this whole "our fates are entwined" thing going on between Kang Chil and Ji Na? I do admit a lot relies on fate in this drama, but I'm just going to go with the flow and ignore it.

Oh and before I finish up this post, I do love how "raw" this drama is. Raw may not be the most accurate word to use, but I cannot find another suitable word in my vocabulary. For example, when Kang Chil gets hit by Ji Na's car in Episode 1? I loved it. So. Much. The whole thing was just so sudden and I swear, if you blinked you would've missed it. I played that part over so many times because it just seemed so real and well, raw. There were no added special effects to make it seem any less real, and that's what I loved about it.

Anyways, I'm done rambling here. Writing this has helped me understand the drama more and so now I'm off to watch Episode 3.

I just finished watching episode 2 but I had to write this down before I go on and forget!

Something finally stroke me about this drama being "different": the "hero" of our story is a man. If I'm not mistaken, this is hard to come by in the drama world. Most of the time, stories are told from a female point of view, so the female (main) audience can identify better. "Padam Padam" thinks out of the box and gives you an ex-convict as a main character, way over his 30s, borderline psycho with a terrible haircut and average face (I won't talk about his 6-pack, that's a standard with Korean males, ah ah) - but if you think it's going to be hard to relate, wait for it! This is definitely the type of character that grows on you, with all its qualities and flaws. At times, he looks simple, almost "raw" (and someone pointed that out about the general tone of the drama) but by his gestures and behaviour you realize he's actually like a 10 years old socially awkward boy rediscovering the world with the strength and needs of a man. I find that to be endearing, attaching and if you didn't guess by now, I'm totally on board with him to destination "live again".

The way the story is written is the other point that makes the drama stand out. Despite the fantastic twist, nothing strangely feels out of place or exaggerated. It looks real and it's partly due to the characters performance: they haven't failed to convey the right looks and emotions at the right time. For example, Guk Soo's look is perfectly eerie... or, even if I know Kang Chil isn't a bad person, I felt very uncomfortable when Ji Na found herself alone with him in the shelter under the rain. Kang Chil was creepy and looked like the "big bad wolf" inviting the "little red riding hood" into his lair, ah ah.

All these elements so far make you care and eager to know more, to go further. I am pretty sure we'll get an excellent emotional performance when love will make its entrance. Kang Chil looks like a man who, once he finds the right woman, could literally die for her and love with no restraint and I think that's going to be beautiful to watch.

Is there some place where ep. 5 is already subbed I don't know of? D:

Boohoo... not available for my country!