J100
This review may contain spoilers
A Harsh Look at SKorean Society: Struggling with Love and Tradition
Story 10/10
Beautiful
Two people find themselves falling in love on a spring day, drawn to each other like magnets despite the obstacles in their way. One is in an unhealthy relationship, and the guy is a single father. It turns out that this is a kind of stigma in SKorea.SK is a very conservative and patriarchal country that upholds family values, while in the background, it struggles to Westernize, to become more free and feminist.
Although I knew this and appreciated it, there is also a very negative aspect to it. When you live it up close, it makes you despise it to some extent. It's very hard to balance between normative family values and liberal freedom values. I was surprised that even couples who aren't married have the same status as married couples. The resistance from the family, the environment, the annoying and intrusive interference, are very frustrating issues that are hard for a Westerner to understand. On the other hand, this is why the conservative and religious world loves Asian series and expects this.
If it were a funny romantic series, I suppose it would go down more easily. But when you're shown the realism and the ugly sides of Korean society, it's hard to digest. I suppose through the series, one can understand more about Korean women who suffer a lot, as well as single parents.
The disdain shown towards the single father was unbearable.
They treated him like garbage, as if he had no value, and he also saw himself that way until he couldn't take it anymore. I guess it's supposed to serve as some sort of re-education series for Korean viewers. Look at yourselves up close. That's why you see all the seemingly boring conversations between the couple's friends and between the couple and their families, and even at work with colleagues and managers. Every conversation has the significance of the weight of separation, the desire to feel valuable in a very closed and conservative society. Even though I knew this, I didn't imagine how hard it could be for these people who choose to deviate from the path.
Music 1/10
The music is horrible, unbearable, and ruined a lot of the viewing experience for me. I skipped many scenes just because of it, especially romantic scenes that I would have loved to watch if not for that dreadful music. They remind me of Chinese songs in their nature—uninspired and repetitive. Usually, indie films use folk music as if it were some elite and unique style, but the opposite is true. If it were Korean folk music, it might be forgivable. Here, you are watching a hardcore Korean movie and expecting to hear Korean music in the background, and then they bring you uninspired American music.
Actors 10/10
The two actors are beautiful and talented, and there was great chemistry between them. The lead actor has a baby face. He's not the manly type, but he's definitely charming, romantic, and cute. You can see the process of them growing closer to a relationship, and it's very heartwarming. They are convincing. All the other actors are excellent.
Rewatch Value 9/10
If not for the music, I suppose I would watch it again. I skipped episodes 14 and 15 because people wrote that these episodes are depressing. Maybe I'll watch them later.
Beautiful
Two people find themselves falling in love on a spring day, drawn to each other like magnets despite the obstacles in their way. One is in an unhealthy relationship, and the guy is a single father. It turns out that this is a kind of stigma in SKorea.SK is a very conservative and patriarchal country that upholds family values, while in the background, it struggles to Westernize, to become more free and feminist.
Although I knew this and appreciated it, there is also a very negative aspect to it. When you live it up close, it makes you despise it to some extent. It's very hard to balance between normative family values and liberal freedom values. I was surprised that even couples who aren't married have the same status as married couples. The resistance from the family, the environment, the annoying and intrusive interference, are very frustrating issues that are hard for a Westerner to understand. On the other hand, this is why the conservative and religious world loves Asian series and expects this.
If it were a funny romantic series, I suppose it would go down more easily. But when you're shown the realism and the ugly sides of Korean society, it's hard to digest. I suppose through the series, one can understand more about Korean women who suffer a lot, as well as single parents.
The disdain shown towards the single father was unbearable.
They treated him like garbage, as if he had no value, and he also saw himself that way until he couldn't take it anymore. I guess it's supposed to serve as some sort of re-education series for Korean viewers. Look at yourselves up close. That's why you see all the seemingly boring conversations between the couple's friends and between the couple and their families, and even at work with colleagues and managers. Every conversation has the significance of the weight of separation, the desire to feel valuable in a very closed and conservative society. Even though I knew this, I didn't imagine how hard it could be for these people who choose to deviate from the path.
Music 1/10
The music is horrible, unbearable, and ruined a lot of the viewing experience for me. I skipped many scenes just because of it, especially romantic scenes that I would have loved to watch if not for that dreadful music. They remind me of Chinese songs in their nature—uninspired and repetitive. Usually, indie films use folk music as if it were some elite and unique style, but the opposite is true. If it were Korean folk music, it might be forgivable. Here, you are watching a hardcore Korean movie and expecting to hear Korean music in the background, and then they bring you uninspired American music.
Actors 10/10
The two actors are beautiful and talented, and there was great chemistry between them. The lead actor has a baby face. He's not the manly type, but he's definitely charming, romantic, and cute. You can see the process of them growing closer to a relationship, and it's very heartwarming. They are convincing. All the other actors are excellent.
Rewatch Value 9/10
If not for the music, I suppose I would watch it again. I skipped episodes 14 and 15 because people wrote that these episodes are depressing. Maybe I'll watch them later.
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