Thoughts on Extraordinary Attorney Woo

Fair warning: may still contain spoilers.

Watching Extraordinary Attorney Woo reminded me once again just how amazing it is that Koreans are able to weave such excellent stories that not only keep people eagerly waiting for the next episode, but also showcase characters that simply leap out of the screens and endear themselves to the audience.

Compared to other shows where the people’s actions are mostly dictated by whatever circumstance they are in, Extraordinary Attorney Woo is largely driven by the supporting characters’ behaviour towards the lead.

The show features a person with autism and how she navigates a world that is not all that understanding of people within the autism spectrum. I’m no expert, but I believe that the crew and cast did a wonderful job in this show that tackles a sensitive topic. The time they spent on careful research to get the show to where it is really paid off.

Through simple and straightforward storytelling, it also showcases the fact that Woo Young-woo is still very much human like everyone else. She has her likes and dislikes, a job, family and friends who love her, and very human emotions that needed to be spelled out for her when the need arose. Things did not always go her way even with the best of intentions.

And despite experiencing discrimination in almost every aspect of her life, Young-woo always managed to get through them with her no-nonsense, yet awkward perspective towards living. These combined with Young-woo’s off the charts intelligence and obsession with whales make for a charming and light-hearted show that’s delightful to watch.

And let me just say, Park Eun-bin is simply brilliant as Woo Young-woo. It’s no wonder that she won several awards already this year for the role.

Here are a few of my favourite things about Extraordinary Attorney Woo, listed at random: (Fangirl mode activated)

1. Choi Su-yeon. At the beginning of the series I thought she was going to be the antagonist. Yet as the show went on, she proved this viewer wrong as she is a really kindhearted person who looked out for Young-woo in every way and did not treat her differently.

Su-yeon has no problems in speaking her mind. She scolds Young-woo whenever she needed it, and does not think twice about defending Young-woo like when she was accused of benefiting from nepotism. The disappointment is definitely there when Su-yeon realised that the Hanbada Law Firm cutie Lee Jun-ho liked Young-woo instead of her. She could have been petty towards Young-woo because of it but surprise, surprise, she actually made sure that Jun-ho is not playing around with her friend’s feelings. Su-yeon is the friend that everyone should have.

2. One scene I particularly love with Young-woo and Su-yeon together is in episode 5: Young-woo seeing Su-yeon as something more than how the latter sees herself.

“You’re like the spring sunshine… You’re a bright, warm, kind, and sweet person. You’re Spring Sunshine Su-yeon.” – Woo Young Woo

Ah, my sappy, sentimental heart. We really never know how kindness impacts others unless they verbalise it. Here’s a clip of that scene.

3. Attorney Jung Myung-seok. He is everything that I look for in a boss. Haha. Anyway. While he did not appreciate having Young-woo on his team at the beginning, Attorney Jung eventually had the grace to acknowledge Young-woo as an asset to the team. He knew when to allow Young-woo to unleash her brilliance in court, and when to rein it in when the situation called for it (“Whoa, whoa.”). He is the very mentor that Young-woo needed to succeed in their field, and Young-woo knew that. I could relate a lot to Young-woo’s concern when it was uncertain that Attorney Jung would return to Hanbada after his stomach cancer surgery.

4. Attorney Kwon Min-woo being the guy version of vicious female antagonists. I was quite surprised that this character is the one that really came off as jealous and petty. He saw Young-woo as a rival professionally, but his jealousy had driven him to sabotage Young-woo’s law career through most of the show. This guy however is full of surprises especially towards the end. The second season may be kinder to our favourite (or not) tactician.

5. Han Seon-young and Tae Soo-mi. While not exactly antagonists, they are definitely vicious in an underhanded way when it comes to their rivalry. Having watched shows that have female characters with extreme, nearly unrealistic behaviour, these two are refreshing to watch. Same thing with Kwon Min-woo who is really good at being annoying.

6. Young-woo and Dong Geu-rami’s friendship. They were dubbed as the loser and the psycho back in high school. Geu-rami was quick to defend Young-woo against the bullies even if they weren’t friends then. It’s this act of kindness that drew Young-woo to her against her will at the beginning lol.

7. Young-woo fully trusting Su-yeon and Jun-ho during overwhelming situations that cause her to have panic attacks in episodes 6 and 11, respectively.

8. The Pied Piper case, episode 9. Let’s just say, I’m with Gu-ppong on his quest. Hehehe.

9. The dreamy, serene atmosphere in episodes 13 and 14: The Blue Night of Jeju I and II. It is lovely to see our attorneys in a more relaxed setting despite being in Jeju Island on business. I think I even cheered with the rookies when Atty. Jung told them to stop working and just relax. The episodes are named after the song The Blue Night of Jeju Island by Soyou. It has a nice, groovy beat to it, made even dreamier by Park Eun-bin in the OST version.

Noteworthy things about these episodes:

• The way the meat noodles served at Haengbok Noodles are described that it made my mouth water. (I’m happy to note that meat noodles is really a specialty on the island called Gogi Guksu.)
• Tactician Kwon Min-woo and Spring Sunshine Su-yeon’s budding romance (?)
• Su-yeon’s “Christian name”, Saint Jennie of BLACKPINK.
• The great lengths Young-woo had gone to find the son of Haengbok Noodles’ owner so that Atty. Jung would be able to eat a bowl of the noodles once more. (She really, really loves her boss. Ah, there goes my sappy, sentimental heart again.)
• The way Young-woo tried her best to make a good impression on Jun-ho’s family and the consequences thereafter.

10. Inevitable by Bae Suzy. This song for me is the best among all the songs in the OST. Suzy’s warm, soothing vocals and the sweet melody combined give an innocent quality to the song. It is very much like a cosy, fuzzy blanket on a rainy day. A creamy, comforting cup of hot chocolate topped with just the right amount of marshmallows. Or, a pair of arms slowly wrapping around you lovingly just because.

If the English lyrics translated by Google is at least ninety percent accurate, I’d say it perfectly describes Young-woo and Jun-ho’s romance: the hesitation at the beginning, and then finally finding the courage to reach out despite the challenges. Inevitable is the perfect accompaniment to Young-woo and Jun-ho’s scenes in episodes 7 (“Can I touch you?”), 10 (their first kiss), and 11 (Jun-ho’s declaration that he’ll be her personal hug chair, and their second kiss).

It’s great that a second season for Extraordinary Attorney Woo is announced. Here’s to hoping that all the characters will still be in the show in 2024.

Twenty Five Twenty One : An Alternate Ending

As she walked away from that tunnel with her diary in tow and a smile on her face, she rode her car and started the engine. She was meaning to go home but suddenly like her impulsive youth, she knew she had to be somewhere. She drove off swiftly.

She arrived at the lobby of a building. She asked the receptionist, “Excuse me, is Mr. Baek Yi-jin here?”

He was surprised at the call of a guest downstairs. As he approached the lobby, he woman whose body is turned away from him. He felt a familiar air of someone he knew from the past.

“Na Hee Do?”, he said.

The woman turned and faced him.

“Hi Baek Yi-jin.”, she answered.

They started a conversation.

NHD : I’m sorry for coming here without prior notice. Are you busy?

BYJ: I have to start preparing for the live news in one hour. But I have some time to spare. What brings you here?

Na Hee Do scrummaged through her bag and brought out the red diary.

NHD : I only got this today and thought I should thank you personally.

BYJ: Wait, I left it at the comic book store. You mean the owner only gave it to you now?

NHD : Yes, I guess he forgot.

BYJ: Really? He’s so forgetful.

Then he started chuckling.

NHD : What is funny?

BYJ: It’s funny because just awhile ago I had to recover a password and wrote your name as the answer.

NHD : What? (looking puzzled)

BYJ: Never mind. It’s good you finally got your diary back. I got it in the mail because my ID was on it. Thank you too for the things you wrote on it. It gave me peace before I went back to the US.

NHD : I was wondering, why didn’t you return it personally?

BYJ: I didn’t want us to fight again. Seeing you might have made it harder for me to go back to New York. But here I am again. I did not expect your mom would suggest me as her replacement.

NHD : She really believed you were a good reporter.

BYJ: I am honored. Please send her my regards. I got to thank her personally when I saw her last in the company party with other past employees. (There was a few seconds of silence). I asked her about you and learned you were divorced. I’m sorry to hear that.

NHD : Why are you sorry, it’s not your fault. It was tough but at least I have my daughter. She is now living with mom at the moment.

BYJ: Really? Your mom still leaves at the same house, am I right?

NHD : Yes the same house.

BYJ: So many memories at that house.

(There was an awkward silence)

NHD : Ah, that was too long ago. We moved on – I got more golds and got married then divorced. You are now a successful reporter. How come you never married?

BYJ: I am married… to my job. (He chuckled) It’s so hard to date with this job.

NHD : I know I remembered.

BYJ: I thought you didn’t want to bring up the past?

NHD : Well here I am to thank you for a longtime diary entry. (She paused) It is nice to see you again.

BYJ: Same here. I meant all I wrote in that diary. I wished I did some things differently.

NHD: Wow, you’re different. You are more honest and open.

BYJ: My therapist told me I should not let my emotions be bottled up inside me.

NHD : It is good you really went to a therapist. Like I said before, I understood and supported you. I too had my regrets like rushing getting married. I thought it would solve all my problems and live happily ever after. But he was a busy businessman who barely had time for family.

BYJ: Men always put providing for the family first before their personal lives.

NHD : Yes, I understand that now better.

BYJ: (Touched Heedo’s hair) You are really grown up now.

NHD : Hey, what do you mean? Stop teasing me. I am already 42 years old.

BYJ : (Laughs) I know. I am an old man myself. I found the success in my career and in bringing my parents back together. But now I have no one to share my success with so I am thinking of retiring in a few years.

NHD : Success is subjective. I won many gold medals but I did not get so lucky in love. I guess love is different than fencing. Giving your best does not always equate to winning.

BYJ: Don’t be so quick to give up on love. You coming here today means it’s the perfect time…

NHD : What? (looked with shyness and disbelief)

BYJ: The perfect time for us to become friends again. (He smiled then asked.) I don’t have work tomorrow. May I invite you for coffee?

(Na Hee Do was silent and was thinking. Finally she answered.)

NHD : Yes. I think I have some spare time tomorrow for coffee.

BYJ: Ok, let me get your number. (He hands her his phone and Hee Do types her number).

I will see you tomorrow, Hee Do. Drive safely.

(As Hee Do walks away, she suddenly smiled. The diary she unexpectedly received today made her go to this place and thank Yijin. He was different yet the same. Tomorrow is a new beginning. She was looking forward to it.)

Moving Mountains, Chasing Stars by Back YiJin

Warning : SPOILERS AHEAD for the Kdrama “Twenty Five Twenty One”

This is the second poem I wrote, the first one was Letting You Go by Na Heedo.

I just finished watching the finale of the Kdrama “Twenty Five Twenty One” and was so heartbroken. Not sure why but it felt like I had broken up with somebody as well. The love story of Na Heedo and Back Yijin was so special and to see them part ways was just painful. I am affected until now, two days after I watched it.  I figured I needed to say goodbye through writing and though of writing a poem of each of their perspectives. So here is the poem I wrote from Back YiJin’s perspective. I used some dialogue from the English subtitle and what I think he thought. This is just my interpretation and I just wrote down the scenes from memory so some sequence may not be accurate.

Back YiJin was a character with a very sad backstory but he became so happy while with Na Heedo. He was caring, gentle, responsible, but was burdened with his family problems and the things he had to do in order to be a good reporter. Nam JooHyuk was great as Back YiJin. One of the reason I watched “Twenty Five Twenty One” was because of him. I liked his character Nam DoSan in “Start-Up”.

I hope I represented what he really thought as I man thinks differently from a woman.

Disclaimer: I am not a professional poet so this poem does not adhere to any literary standard of poems.

MOVING MOUNTAINS, CHASING STARS
by Back YiJin

My youth was happy
I was young, looking forward
To a bright future ahead
I wanted to chase stars
Working at NASA was a dream

But the times were harsh
1998 took away all I had
My dreams, my family, our money
My world was upside down

Who can I turn to?
Why has this happened?
Everyday is a struggle
Making ends meet, being lonely

I grabbed every job available
I had no degree, what can I be?
A comic book store attendant
And a newspaper boy is what I am now

Fate played me a game
I broke a water fountain
A girl called me out
That was weird and awkward

I kept seeing that girl
She seemed lost but brave
I had to save her from that bar
At least a soul less miserable

This girl broke down over a comic book
I thought it was funny
I learned she wanted to be a fencer
It seems she was having a hard time

I always see her and her aura draws me
Reminds me of my youth
When I dared to dream
When my worries were nothing
To what real life really is

Then she saw it, the way they shouted
And blamed me and my family
I was ashamed, embarrassed
But she was nice, showed me somewhere

It was a school faucet
She said it made her happy
And for a moment I was
Forgot my worries, was problem-free

On that tunnel that day
She was my star
Shining so brightly on my life
I never felt that way about anyone

But she was young and I was an adult
I had to be cautious
But to my surprise I became bolder
I wanted to show her my support

We shared happy moments
As we promised we would
One day they attacked my brother
And reality set it again

I chose to run, to stay away
I left our happy bubble
Worked hard away from trouble
Still, I missed her

Checking my voicemails,
I was surprised to hear her voice
My star shining bright
Giving me hope and light

I needed to move on
Find a better opportunity for us
I loved broadcasting class
Could I be a reporter?

Found an ad of UBS
Studied hard to pass that test
Moved back to the city
Could I see her again?

We met again unexpectedly
Then she introduced me to her boyfriend
I laughed it off but deep inside
Jealousy was killing me

Being a sports reporter
Made me always see her
I cheered her from up close
Witnessed her brilliance, see her shine

She called our relationship a rainbow
For a lack of a better word
I had to always protect her
From the harshness of this world

I learned she yearned for an outing
She had never been to one
I set out a plan to make it come true
I gave that summer for you

I never shared my thoughts
But one day I had to say it
It was not rainbow but love
A word too big for her then

A new millennium was on its way
Things were changing and so was she
She was blossoming into a woman
She was bolder than I thought

I saw her lips, I didn't move
She kissed me, it felt good
But I was afraid if I could give her
What she wanted and deserved

I avoided her against my will
Listened to the world's advice
She kept coming to my door
It's so hard to fight myself

When she cried and called my name
I could no longer fight it
Had to kiss her to let her know
She was the most precious girl

I said let's try this kind of love
But what love can I offer?
What promises could I give her?
Maybe it could work, I would give it all

I never thought about hurting people
And it was painful to do so 
My job required me to
A hard pill to swallow

I had hurt Yu-rim
Would Hee-do be next?
I changed departments to protect her
But finding time for her was tougher

I kept breaking my promises
I tried to avoid giving her trouble
And I felt she hated my absence
It gave me pain to see her hurt

I thought work was getting better
But a reporter's job was tough
Seeing other people's misery
Making news out of it

I planned a vacation
To make up for lost time and celebrate
But again the times were fickle
It hurled stones at me once more

The horrors in New York
Gave me nightmares, made me weak
I wanted to keep it together
I wanted us to be together

But how can I?
I am only human
If only I could fly to see her
If only I had another job opportunity

I felt stuck between two mountains
I could neither move any of them
Maybe if I stayed silent
She would hate me and move on

I tried to avoid her still
Avoid her gaze, not to see her pain
That couple luggage was switched
Forcing me to face what I avoided

She wanted to break up
Why on this place I met her?
Again on that special tunnel
She said words that were true

My star, how can I reach you?
You were shining for the world 
I can only see your light from afar
And that may be enough for now

I saw you again with my luggage
Could I take it to say goodbye?
But I had to, we had to
I had hurt you so much

Thank you my love
You were my shining star
In my darkest nights
I was lucky to have your light

If only I had my riches
If only I can give you all you want
My time, my affection, 
But my hands are tied

I knew I could only have you for a while
But I still tried knowing it's futile
I had the privilege of knowing 
A great woman in my life, my starlight.


----------

Please read "Letting you go", Na HeeDo's perspective here.

Letting you go by Na Heedo

• Warning : SPOILERS AHEAD for the Kdrama “Twenty Five Twenty One”

I just finished watching the finale of the Kdrama “Twenty Five Twenty One” and was so heartbroken. Not sure why but it felt like I had broken up with somebody as well. The love story of Na Heedo and Back Yijin was so special and to see them part ways was just painful. I am affected until now, two days after I watched it. I figured I needed to say goodbye through writing and though of writing a poem of each of their perspectives. So here is the poem I wrote from Na Heedo’s perspective. I used some dialogue from the English subtitle and what I think she thought. This is just my interpretation and I just wrote down the scenes from memory so some sequence may not be accurate.

Na Heedo was a really lovable character – bubbly, spirited, strong-willed and Kim Taeri gave a brilliant performance. It thought she was in her early 20s but she is 31 years old, so it was pure genius how she gave life to an 18 year old girl.

Disclaimer: I am not a professional poet so this poem does not adhere to any literary standard of poems.

LETTING YOU GO by Na Heedo

You broke our water fountain
But you saved me on that bar
Our paths always crossing
Until you saw me cry over that comic book

Then I saw you that night
Your tears pierced my heart
You said you will never be happy
But why? You were young

I know that feeling
Of having no one 
Of being alone
Of wanting to cry 
But having to be strong

So I decided on that day
To put a smile on your face
That maybe we can be allies
In our loneliness

It was great to experience
That first faucet waterfalls with you
To share my simple joys 
To shed some light

Day by day our friendship grew
I found myself always wanting to see you
You made an effort to see me too
Suddenly the world was better

My dream was coming true
You say the nicest words
One day you disappeared
But I knew you had to take care of things

I sent a voice message
And so did you
Glad to know my support has reached you
You promised you'd be back
And I held on to that

Then it happened
We met again unexpectedly 
It was funny you met my boyfriend
I wanted to experience love
But I was not ready

I was confused when you reappeared
So I broke up with him
Our friendship resumed
I became friends with Yu-rim

Life became fuller as I had more friends
Our group adventures were funny
I found people to lean on
So did you or so I thought

Your new job was stressful
But you never shared it
I guess you thought I was too young
To even understand it

I won a prize but people questioned
You found me and found a way
To redeem my reputation
Thanks to you I had a rainbow
My ray of light after a storm

We worked together
On a documentary show
It was nice of you to think
Of an outing for us all

That summer was special
One of the best days of my life
We were young, life was joyful
We claimed that summer was ours

I was surprised when you told me
What we had was not a rainbow
It was love for you
But was it love for me too?

Times were changing
A new millennium on its way
Seungwan and Yeji moved on
I felt I had to do the same

I thought about what I wanted
To do on that New Year
I saw your face and knew
It was you I wanted

You avoided me and it hurts
I kept coming to your door
Your were afraid to hurt me
But why don't we try to make it work?

It felt right when you kissed me
We were happy and free
The world knew our love
And I was also winning games

It was sad when Yu-rim left
I hated you for exposing her
But it was what you had to do too
You never told me anything about work

Yu-rim was far away and you were near
Physically close but sparsely there
The waiting game was killing me
I felt like that child waiting for mom

Longing for time, seeking attention
Mom had to ask it, if it was okay
If the man I would marry be like her too
I said yes, but was it true?

New Year came and I was glad
To see you work and be together
You led me to that city view
You turned 25, I turned 21
We were so in love

I held on to your promise that new year
That we would at least be there
Together every year
I tried to believe it, to hold on to it

We planned a trip 
Maybe it would make us closer
But there was a shattering event 
There was news you needed to cover

It reminded me of when mom
Missed dad's funeral again
Though you left a cake and letter
Maybe our destiny would be different

I missed you and saw you on tv
Days turned into months
You were barely responding
Did I still have a boyfriend?

That new year promise
Was not fulfilled
There alone I stood wondering
What became of your love

My games kept me busy
Then my mom had to say me
You applied for New York
Was it too hard to tell me?

We were barely talking
Until you said it yourself
That you will work in New York
I was numb at that point

You said you will be back
To wrap up things in Korea
Was I part of that plan?
Would our schedules meet?

You grabbed my luggage by mistake
I thought it was ironic
That couple luggage made us meet again
But you just left it outside our door

Why couldn't you even come inside to see me?
Were you too busy or was I a stranger?
So I fumed and asked for a breakup
Even if it was half-meant

When could we talk about it?
Why do you avoid it?
I brought things out on that tunnel
Thoughts in my mind though it hurts

I love you and what we had
Yet we are no longer the same
I want an honest conversation
I no longer know your situation

I knew you needed that job
I was busy and so are you
Our love was good while it lasted
It was hard to say goodbye

I ran fast as I learned you were leaving
I had to at least see you go
To see your face, to touch your hand
I was lucky to get an embrace

Goodbye my first love
I didn't know it would hurt this bad
When I still want you
But I cannot have you
Maybe a fleeting moment was all we really had.

P.S.

Also created a poem on Back YiJin’s perspective “Moving Mountain, Chasing Stars”

Review: Crash Landing on You

Missris24 and I just realised that we’re about to post our review of CLOY on this very day that Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin are to be married. Congratulations guys, and we wish you all the best!

*Warning: Contains a lot of spoilers

First episode, first impressions

Missris24 : A bratty, rich woman (Yoon Se-ri) flies over to accidentally to North Korea and chased by funny NK soldiers sure is interesting.

Misstranger: I read the synopsis first before watching so that I would already know what to expect. Call me a spoiler lover hehehe. That said, I found the first episode too hilarious for words, loved the show then and there.

What got you hooked?

Missris24 : When she lived with the quiet but thoughtful Capt. Ri Jeong Hyeok and was involved with the lives of the village people, and the scary villain who plots against Capt. Ri, you can’t help but get hooked.

Misstranger: Reading first about the premise which is all about a woman accidentally landing in North Korea and subsequently finds herself in situations she never expected to happen to her.

Favorite scenes

Missris24 : The discourse with the NK soldiers with different personalities – a Kdrama fan, a bickering one who feels handsome, a young innocent lad, a good-looking quiet type, makes for a great laugh and interesting scenes.

When Yoon Se-ri fixes the head village woman’s dress and gains the admiration of most. This starts their friendship.

All the kilig scenes of Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin especially in North Korea – the candle in the market, the bicycle in the dark, their kiss on the boat, the hospital scenes.

Misstranger: There are so many favourites but if I were to choose, they would be the following:

All the scenes of Yoon Se-ri with the village ajummas—especially the scenes where the ajummas read Se-ri’s letter to them when she finally succeeded going home to South Korea, and when Seo Dan’s mum gave them Seri’s Choice limited edition products for spring. My heart just about broke when they saw the boxes with their portraits and names on each, which assured all of them of Seri’s safe return. And then it shattered to a zillion more when I found the meaning of the product’s line name: 그리움/geurium/ (Saudade in Netflix translation)

All the scenes of Yoon Se-ri with Captain Ri’s soldiers—especially those in Seoul when they tried their best to fit in and then those heart-rending million farewells.

When Ju-meok (the soldier who loves Kdramas particularly Stairway to Heaven) finally met Choi Ji-woo in person.

The investigation at NIS where all the agents could find were purchases to game items, Kdrama downloads, and other ordinary stuff. These scenes provided such comic relief towards the end of the series.

Scenes where Captain Ri looks like a lost little boy whenever something bad happens to Se-ri. Especially those in the hospital. It just makes me want to fluff his soft and fluffy-looking hair. (Sorry Pyo Chi-su, you may have the most fragrant hair award but Captain Ri’s looks fluffy AND fragrant.)

Favorite characters

Missris24 : Yoon Se-ri, Capt. Ri Jeong Hyeok, all the NK soldiers, the military villain (coz he was so damn good at being the antagonist), the village ahjummas, Seo Dan’s mom

Misstranger: Yoon Se-ri, Capt. Ri Jeong Hyeok, all the NK soldiers, the village ajummas, Se-ri’s staff Hong Chang-sik and insurance agent Park Su-chan.

Things you can relate to

Missris24 :

Reminiscing kilig with my husband during our dating stage. I actually watched this series with him which makes it the more special 😊

Being in a different place makes you scared as you don’t know who to turn to or trust so you learn to make friends.

Feeling like an outsider at times in the family. I too am the youngest in the family and my siblings are a decade older so sometimes they “boss” it over me.

Misstranger:

Su-chan’s tenacity in finding the truth about what happened to Se-ri.

Saying “I’m ok” when things are not ok like Captain Ri.

Being a lone wolf like Se-ri.

Saudade.

Lessons

Missris24 :

 Love conquers all. (Or at least they made us believe so)

 Power is nothing when you are outside your comfort zone.

 Sometimes, strangers can feel more like family.

To succeed in business, know and promote your own products (like Yoon Se-ri)

Misstranger:

Sometimes, you’ll just have to go with your instincts when you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place.

The most unlikely people will make for the best of friends.

Favorite songs in the soundtrack

Missris24 :

Like You by So Soo Bin (played in the scene where they first drank soju and grilled clams in NK)

Let Us Go by Crush (played when Capt Ri hugged Se-ri when she wept on her birthday; and, when they drank soju and he poured out his dreams and wishes about building a life with her)

Give Me Your Heart by IU (played when they exchanged couple rings)

Flower by Yoon Mirae (played on multiple scenes and the tune that most stuck with me)

Misstranger:

Photo of My Mind by Song Ga In. Usually played during NK scenes with the ajummas and the soldiers. If saudade were to be a song, Photo of My Mind would be it.

Seri’s Choice. Upbeat, and describes Yoon Se-ri perfectly in a song: confident, focused, sassy, poised. This instrumental also perfectly balances out the melancholic vibes that Photo of My Mind exudes.

Picnic. The last few bars of this instrumental is mostly used just after the recap of the previous episode which made me notice it. Love how the full song gives the listener such warm fuzzies. Could totally picture Ri Jeong Hyeok and Yoon Se-ri waltzing in the Swiss mountains to this.

Runners-up (songs):

Missris24 :

The Photo of my Mind by Song Ga In and The Hill of Yearning by April 2^nd – These are actually sad songs so I did not include them in my favorites but they have this melancholic feels of the scenes in North Korea.

Misstranger:

Sigriswil – Opening Title Version.

The Hill of Yearning by April 2^nd. First few lines and melody are practically the same with Photo of My Mind. Also played in NK village scenes.

Summary Review

Missris24 :

Crash Landing on You is not your typical Kdrama romcom as first, the characters are in their 30s (most romcom Kdramas are teens or 20-somethings), and the setting is very different and controversial – a South Korean going to North Korea and falling in love with a North Korean soldier. Both the protagonists are mature enough to marry but the boundary of North and South Korea keeps them apart.

The electrifying chemistry of Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin was the best element that made this a hit. (Their Behind the scenes gave a lot of hints that this chemistry transcends even off-screen).

It also ended in January 2020 and made a buzz, afterwards, the global pandemic hit and this became a comfort show for most as no new shows were shown from March to May 2020 due to lockdowns.

The show gained more following when Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin announced they were officially dating, and when they announced their engagement. I actually rewatched the romantic scenes when they announced their engagement.

The issue of separation of North and South Korea also gained interest from the viewers and understood more of the sadness of this separation of Koreans in a way.

The scenic settings of Mongolia, Switzerland, the camaraderie in the NK village, the soldiers who became Seri’s brothers, and the love that would dodge a bullet, all make up the elements that made this show a super hit and highly recommended Kdrama.

The second love team’s story was also interesting but I felt their chemistry was not as powerful as those of the main stars so I did not really write about them. But their acting was good and their story had a sad ending so better to leave it at that.

Misstranger:

I let two years pass before making up my mind to watch Crash Landing on You. A different Kdrama however actually made me decide to finally look it up on Google just a couple of weeks ago: Thirty Nine, which also stars Son Ye Jin.

Now, if I loved Son Ye Jin’s character in Thirty Nine, what are the odds that I would also love her character in CLOY? Definitely a thousand and more. Couple that with the fact that she’s partnered up with Hyun Bin who I last watched on My Lovely Sam Soon. I’m not much on love teams but I could see how those who have watched CLOY before could love the pair so much. Their chemistry is just so amazing and real which contributed greatly to the show’s success.

Crash Landing on You is about a woman literally crash landing on a guy due to a paragliding accident. Plot twist: she landed in North Korea. Thank the heavens, the main characters in this romcom are in their 30s as Missris24 said, so there really weren’t any mushy or cringey scenes that are quite prevalent in any love story that involves younger characters.

In short, there’s very minimal drama when it came to tackling the budding romance of a stoic North Korean soldier and a confidently fierce chaebol heiress from the South. Less is more, as a popular saying goes. This cannot be more true than in CLOY.

The show is comprised of an ensemble of characters with complex themes and elements involved. It took exceptionally skillful writers, researchers, and crew to interweave each storyline to go where they are supposed to. It really draws the viewer into Captain Ri and Se-ri’s world without any thought that the show is getting longer by the episode.

One main element tackled in the show would be the separation of North and South Korea, and how it affects their respective citizens. A layer of this particular element was explored throughout the show: geurium or saudade.

Defined as an extreme longing for the familiar or for what could have been, geurium could be seen plainly in the divide that kept Captain Ri and Se-ri apart despite their obvious love for each other. It could also be seen in how the word “reunification” was mentioned several times throughout the series. Lastly, it could be especially felt in all the other characters’ imaginings about what life is like on both sides of the DMZ; in all the wonderings if Se-ri made it home safely; how the ajummas, the soldiers, and Captain Ri are doing back in NK; and in all the goodbyes that were said.

The storytelling is excellent, with subplots about the other characters tying up seamlessly with the main storyline. There are no questions left unanswered because the writers laid bare the reality of Captain Ri and Se-ri’s situation. It is also nice that they did not sugarcoat their relationship despite the fantastical coincidences that occurred in Switzerland before Se-ri’s fateful landing on the other side of the DMZ.

That Korean Drama fix

It’s been a really long while since I wrote on this blog.

Missstranger and I have been chatting about our Korean drama (kdrama) fanaticism and she recommended we revive this blog to express our love (and sometimes dismay) over our favorite Kdramas.

I have been a fan of kdramas since the early 2000s, the early hallyu wave and it was shown in major networks in the afternoon and even primetime. Since it was then only shown on television, I never got to watch a kdrama from beginning to end as I missed episodes due to work schedules. I do remember watching episodes of “Autumn in my Heart” (my first kdrama crush being Won Bin) and “Jewel in the Palace”. There were other popular ones but I only got to watch an episode or two of those like “Full House”, “Winter Sonata”, “Kim Sam Soon”, and many others.

Back then, if you want to binge watch, you had to buy a DVD and the ones sold for cheap obviously were of less quality and had really bad subtitles. The first one I completed was “Princess Hours” and had to endure some headaching translations to complete but yes, it was a really nice and kilig love story of a prince and his arranged marriage princess set in an alternate world of modern South Korea that still has a monarchy. This show is now available on the viu site.

The second one that I got to watch with just one or two episodes missed is “49 Days” where missstranger was a dubber for the TV version. It was a fantasy set in a modern world with the girl able to live in another woman’s body for 49 days. This particular kdrama and many other Korean dramas where actually remade by major networks, though I rarely watch those.

Thankfully, because of advancement in internet bandwidth and technology, Korean dramas are now available on most major streaming websites so I was able to watch more. At 12 to 20 episodes, kdramas are long enough to tell different angles of a theme or social issue but short enough to binge watch for 3 days to a week. The stories make us laugh, cry, reminisce, dream, and understand different characters who we can love, relate to, or hate. Add to that, songs that are catchy and add so much color to the story, and transport us back to our favorite scenes when we hear them.

Currently, I am watching the ongoing kdramas “Twenty Five Twenty One”, “Business Proposal”, and “Thirty Nine” on Netflix.

Missstranger and I will try to write our own mini-reviews on our favorites.

For now, we’ll get our tissues ready for the last two episodes of “Thirty Nine”.

Hello Again

Misstranger here.

It’s been almost six years since any of us posted in here and what do you know, the world right now as we know it is in the middle of a pandemic thanks to a teeny-weeny virus called COVID-19. Add to that a splash of local troubles to taste. Troubles that make one just want to bang their head on the wall every time a news bit comes out. Not going to enumerate them here since we all have other sources to get them from, real or fake. How sad.

What a time to be alive, yeah?

Exciting times indeed.

Sharing here a video of the early days of the lockdown in Metro Manila. This is just one of the many similarly-created videos during the time that the world shut down earlier this year. And just like the others, this has a sombre, yet powerful quality to it.

As of now, Metro Manila is in extended General Community Quarantine or GCQ. Which to me only means that everything just went back to the old normal in terms of volume of vehicles plying the streets of the metro.

Stay safe, y’all. Wear your masks and wash your hands. Not too hard to do, anyone can do these with their eyes closed.

No need to overthink that.

I Miss “Got To Believe”

It has been a week since the TV series “Got to Believe” ended.

It was one of those shows that was light-hearted, funny, and loveable. One where after every episode, you catch yourself smiling.

I was meaning to write about it, but did not find the time. So here it is, though late, here are the reasons I found the series endearing.

1) The great cast. Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo are certainly getting better in acting, and they have this rare ability to be funny without much trying. Add to that their great chemistry. Supporting casts are all great especially Manilyn Reynes and Benjie Paras (who has great comedic timing). Up to the teens of Malaya University, the house helpers, Beverly Salviejo and the woman who played Ethel. It was like an orchestra where every role was well played.

2) Great director, writers, and crew. Of course a great cast is useless if the story was not good, so hats off to the writers. Direk Cathy Garcia-Molina, a blockbuster director, brought out the best in the cast and made sure every night had a kilig moment.

3) It had a fun family. The “perya” family was fun, and I think every person wanted that kind of bonded, fun, family. That is why Joaquin loved Chichay more, because of her fun, united family. And in many ways, Filipino families have so much laughter together that is why everyone can relate.

4) The setting was relatable. Joaquin came out of his shell when he went to university. Malaya University, the name itself represented freedom. University life for many was a time of self-discovery, of exploration, of falling in love.

5) Each character represented us or someone we knew.

• Chichay is the girl who loves her family, who will fight for love, is passionate and expressive. Painting is her form of self-expression and she does it well. It is what she does best.
• Joaquin is the lost boy with an unhappy family, sheltered. But once he got his chance to be free, he became courageous and was ready to stand for what is right and true.
• Betchay was the girl who sacrificed a lot, gave it her all, but lost love. But because she was loveable and kind, she found true love again.
• Chito represented a second chance at love, which was true and lasting. He was a great father, who kept a secret to protect his family.
• Lolo Isko was the ideal grandfather, full of wisdom, a loving grandfather who made us all believe in magic.
• Tatay Poro and Nanay Puring were the surrogate parents who taught Joaquin things his parents should have taught him, and loved him like he was their own son.
• Juliana was the woman who felt unloved by his father, and was guilty of something (her brother’s accident and her accidental shooting of her son). Due to her guilt, she was unable to forgive herself and was also angry at others leading to so much hatred.
• The Zaragosa family was the kind and rich folks who knew how to have fun and mingle with all kinds of people.
• Dominic, Patricia, Pedro and Alex represented young, unrequited love.
• The mean girls represented the gossipers around us.

6) It made us believe in love again. It made us remember how magical love is, that wounds heal, that love is good.

Like all those who watched the show, I hope there will be a Part 2 (or book 3), or even a movie.

Musings of a New Migrant

It’s my second month in a new country. It was my dream to go here since childhood, as I have heard good things about it from my relatives who migrated here. Clean surroundings, good benefits. Yes it’s all true. But it’s not all there is.

First, why I am here? Like everyone else, I dream of a better future. It’s not just for me but I am thinking of helping my relatives go here if I become a citizen. I am also thinking about the future of my kids, if and when I have them. I am currently single but taken. I left my heart at my home country and as of this moment, I am in a long distance relationship. That’s the one thing that truly pains my heart, to be away from the one I love. But we are both hoping and praying that we will be together again. His profession is also one that is in-demand in the country where I am in now.

My first few weeks was a breeze. I was living the dream! I now live with my relatives who told good things about this country. And now I can really see that they are reaping the rewards – they have a nice house, cars, and their kids studied here so they have good jobs too.

I started applying for jobs. I went for an interview with the recruiter, but oh, the rules here are so different. I am not in demand as I was in my home country.

Yes, this is the reality of being a migrant. I am in a different world. Now, my biggest dilemma is finding a job. My faith is being tested. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions – being homesick, sad, anxious, afraid.

But God never leaves us. He sends us people. My friend who is in another country is not a migrant, she is on work visa. She reminded me that I won half the battle, I am here, I got a legitimate visa to work, something others only dream about.

I also got people to cheer me up – people who grew up here who belongs to the same organization. They are citizens here but we have the same cultural roots.

I met a woman on the train who told me of how she started out, not also in her field but is now enjoying her work and she is attending trainings to enhance her skills. She said “Wherever you are, you can progress. It is up to you to make the move.” Such wisdom and eye-opener.

I also met a classmate who told his struggles on finding himself after their family migrated. But he said, after all the struggles, all in all he is happy that their parents decided to migrate, as they now live a more comfortable life. And when his mom got sick, the government also took care of the medical bills – something that our home country cannot provide.

Of course, I am truly grateful that my relatives here are very good people who provide my basic needs. I don’t know how to repay them really. But hopefully in time, I can pay it back (and pay it forward to others) in any way.

So after hearing these stories, I am inspired to move forward in job hunting. There are still fears, uncertainties. But whether I succeed here or not, the lessons I am learning about myself are priceless.

aww!