Sister and brother "in-love"

[FlowerLady]

TheBo said:

Personally, I hate that the writers are doing this, because I don't see any reason they cannot form a deep friendship and "brotherly" camaraderie and then find out they are siblings, and it all would still be good. Why does every single male/female relationship have to have sexual overtones? Even if you think that they're always there, every deep relationship does not develop into "love."
Bo

Bo, you make a great point. A relationship between two siblings can be a very powerful, loyal and caring connection. The bond can bring unconditional love, lasting security and endure a lifetime. Actually, genetically, siblings are the most closely similar human beings in our lives, because of our DNA. So, technically, a brother and a sister could have the potential to be very strongly attached (non-romantically, non-physically, etc., of course). It could have been a very interesting storyline to pursue, but you're right, a romantic love triangle is (unfortunately) a too-common, recurring theme in many dramas.

[Knov1]

TheBo said:

I also think it's a lazy way to do it.

Bo

I don't know if I would call it them being lazy. I mean, that's just how Korean dramas are. They all have a love triangle (or square). In how many dramas that you've watched have a male & female been able to be "just friends", without any sort of misunderstanding or trouble of any kind? Unless they're related (by blood or marriage), they're always romantically tied together. Apparently, in Korea, they feel it's impossible for a man & a woman to simply be just friends.

Also, you could say that one of the reasons why Chae Ok & Sung Baek are so drawn to each other is because of the brother & sister bond between them. And that led to them falling in love.

[TheBo]

Knov1 said:

..that's just how Korean dramas are. They all have a love triangle (or square)....

...you could say that one of the reasons why Chae Ok & Sung Baek are so drawn to each other is because of the brother & sister bond between them. And that led to them falling in love.

Yes. I agree with all that. It's just this particular drama has so much potential to be otherwise. I mean, how many other dramas do we see where the female is on such an equal, in fact in some ways superior, footing with the males? I guess I was just dreaming of a better dramaworld.

But I still think it's a marvelous show.

Bo

[Knov1]

TheBo said:

I mean, how many other dramas do we see where the female is on such an equal, in fact in some ways superior, footing with the males?

Bo

Well, there are other dramas where the story is based around a strong female character. Actually, there are other dramas (like Damo) where the female lead IS the main character. However, those dramas just haven't been given here. You do make a good point though.

[Alexa]

Well about this whole sister/brother being "in love" thing, I think I understand now. I think SungBaek felt "love" for her because there was a bond there, a bond that exists between siblings. Same for Chae-ok, she couldn't explain why she loved SungBaek but she did. I don't think they were "in love" they just "loved" each other. They couldn't explain, didn't know why, but they had feelings for each other. And it was because they were related.

[ID]

Knov1 said:

I don't know if I would call it them being lazy. I mean, that's just how Korean dramas are. They all have a love triangle (or square).

You see, this is a real problem with these shows. These "love triangles", other than being boring, are bad becuase they never lead anywere. Like in AOW, you can cleary see that Su-An, and Soran, who are both beautiful women, are in love with KDS but he never accepts them, which of course, led me to believe that he is..... well you get the point. It had no effect on the story, so it was probably them just trying to make it more "modern" which is dumb, since it is mostly men who watch shows like AOW. {I'm nto stereotyping or anything. I'm sure many, many women enjoyed just as much as I did. I'm just saying, that it is usually guys like me, who are crazy about the fighting, and the politics}

[hachiue]

ID -

I actually didn't think it was a bad thing that they were falling for each other because they didn't know. And I agree with Bo - that it would've been better for the characters' mental health (though that obviously wasn't the point here) if they were just friends. However, I think that for the purpose of the story line, this love triangle actually had a purpose (unlike the others that were mentioned in this thread).

I think the writers wanted the viewers to feel frustrated that they were falling in love with each other and that they were related. They seem perfect for each other ... but, wait, they're related ... but, wait, they don't know that! It was entirely about bringing out the emotions of the audience.

And, if they weren't related, would the ending (as they showed it) have had as much impact? No. If they knew they were related, would that ending have come to pass? Maybe. Family is a very important aspect in Korean life, as shown in these dramas, but some people have managed to forsake it - at least for a little while (Eric) - in order to do what they believe is right - or to follow some other emotion/wish of theirs. But would the viewers like Chae-ok as much if she knew he was her brother and did it anyway? No. I think that this gives a very positive image of the characters, actually, and made the ending more emotionally evocative for the viewers.