|
Post by BungalowDweller on Apr 29, 2005 22:11:28 GMT -5
In Episode 17 (fri) Goeun's mother was so fearful for how Goeun would be treated by H's family. I thought that it was sad to see the deep shame of Goeun's father as we watched G and Yoon get into the car with Hyunsik driven by the grandfather Dukjin.
G's father comes across as a total jerk but I think that the disgrace must be overwhelming for him. Low income people really have nothing to comfort them but their dignity--what a heartbreak that his daughter was abused in the first marriage. In his mind it must have tormented him all the more knowing that G married the guy because he (son-in-law) was going to provide $$$. He probably feels like a real failure in life that his daughter got into that mess on his behalf. The fact that he apologised to G as she was getting ready to go to her new home says it all.
"Great Aunt" comes off pretty well, too. Look at all the stuff she bought for baby Joon. I think that she'll turn out to be o.k.--crotchety but with a heart of gold!
I wish I had in-laws like these people!
|
|
|
Post by TheBo on Apr 30, 2005 7:22:19 GMT -5
You must be an extremely kind and fair person, BD. That is a very good analysis--I happen to agree with you (but I'm not trying to look kind and fair, lol). I think the father has been played on a bit of a one-note, but since we come from a culture where fathers are more connected with their daughters, maybe we just don't understand him immediately as a Korean audience might. I like great-aunt, but she's a pistol, ain't she. She's done some kinda bad things so far, but I find her comprehensible. Spoiled, pretty (yes, they believe her gorgeous), a wonderful singer ( )--I think she was disappointed in her husband, who probably was a lot like Aunt Kyung-ju in personality (that's just a feeling I picked up), and that's why she's so abnormally bothered by her brother's relationship with his wife. (Again, my theory.) Bo
|
|
|
Post by BungalowDweller on Apr 30, 2005 14:16:42 GMT -5
I like great-aunt, but she's a pistol, ain't she. She's done some kinda bad things so far, but I find her comprehensible. I really Like that lady,even though she doesn't have the most positive personality. I think that she's sharp and she's looking at her life with a keen eye--raising those two girls wasn't easy--and she's not about to see her daughters taken advantage of. On the one hand she wants them out and married, on the other she shares an intimacy with them,(she and them against the world kind of thing) and cannot imagine life "alone". Of course she knows she's not alone--she understands well that she has it made with the strength of a family which is well off. Note her comment about the poor and how she plans to leave her estate to charity. But she has no husband--no mate to squabble with, no one to hug at night..it's difficult being a widow and there is no one in the household who really understands that. There's more to this lady than sighs and complaints--she's gutsy, blunt,and generous. She's a traditionalist--I enjoyed her insistence on receiving obseisance from the newlyweds,but she wasn't ugly to them. Her comments about Joon were telling too. And I don't think that much gets past her. Her daughters will never be able to pull the wool over her eyes about anything. She's lived too long and wisely for that.
|
|
|
Post by Soju on May 1, 2005 19:07:44 GMT -5
During the first run of the show, Duk-ja became possibly my favorite character, for the reasons you all have given. Even in the beginning, she was so abrasive, yet she still took in younger grandpa 'til they could soften up Duk-bae a little.
I think Goeun and her family provide a good counterpoint to the successful and slightly self-centered families of the third-floor ladies.
|
|
|
Post by Lucy on May 2, 2005 10:16:18 GMT -5
Spoiled, pretty (yes, they believe her gorgeous), a wonderful singer ( )-- Bo, where're you getting this? I don't remember these qualities/perceptions coming out. Is it in something only sunbaes have seen yet?
|
|
|
Post by galacticchick on May 3, 2005 9:16:45 GMT -5
Bo, where're you getting this? I don't remember these qualities/perceptions coming out. Is it in something only sunbaes have seen yet? I guess the singing part was a mini-spoiler. I like that even though she said she'd give everything to the poor, she was still looking out for Cafe Aunt because she told Kyunwa (sp?) that the villa would go to Kyunju (I'm guessing because she thinks she will never get married). I like the part about the obseisance too. I thought that it was funny. It seems that she's the only one with the guts to answer back to Grandpa. My favorite one-liners always come from the older folks of the villa. I liked when Grandpa told Grandma: You're not here to look at a monkey in a zoo, carry the baby!
|
|
|
Post by TheBo on May 3, 2005 10:07:23 GMT -5
Well, no, the singing part was not a spoiler at all. Don't you remember when she and Duk-jin were singing in her apartment, and Hana and Ji-eun (in their own apartment) were going on about how wonderful her voice was? And did you see the delighted look on Kwang-ju's face while she sat listening to them? And her whole family encourages her to sing all the time; I picked up immediately the first time I watched it that she was considered a wonderful singer.
However, I will admit that the part about her being gorgeous was a mini-spoiler. I did not find that out until way at the end of the show, and it explained so much to me. And I was so shocked by it, because I don't think many of us would find her especially beautiful, even as an older woman. But it seemed that the people on the show thought it was an obvious fact, and I remember wishing, "Geez. I wish I'd figured that out sooner." me sorry
Bo
|
|
|
Post by Lucy on May 3, 2005 10:11:48 GMT -5
Well, no, the singing part was not a spoiler at all. Don't you remember when she and Duk-jin were singing in her apartment, and Hana and Ji-eun (in their own apartment) were going on about how wonderful her voice was? And did you see the delighted look on Kwang-ju's face while she sat listening to them? And her whole family encourages her to sing all the time; I picked up immediately the first time I watched it that she was considered a wonderful singer. Nope, I've never noticed any of this, though I do sort of remember the brother and sister singing together. I didn't think it was big moment and didn't notice what they were saying about her singing voice. Yes, it's very hard to believe they think she's beautiful. She has small, mean eyes, enhanced by her perpetually sour expression.
|
|
|
Post by BungalowDweller on May 3, 2005 22:17:14 GMT -5
During the first run of the show, Duk-ja became possibly my favorite character. I think Goeun and her family provide a good counterpoint to the successful and slightly self-centered families of the third-floor ladies. Dukja is very enjoyable because she is so unpredictable. I loved it when she accepted Cha's documentation about his finances and health and then told him that he could go. She dismissed him like he was some door-to-door salesman. She is enjoyable to me because she can be so outrageous! I agree about Goeun's family. They represent a segment of Korean society that isn't glamorous or particularly attractive. They are not the "beautiful people" but, just as in the good 'ole U.S. of A. they are the working class and the backbone of the nation. It would be so easy to sentimentalize them or stereotype them and I am SO glad to see that that is not the case here. Goeun's mother brings genuine depth to her role as the anguished mom--the eternal peacekeeper trying to placate a raging, bitter,beaten-down husband. And her father is outstanding,too. He may not be likeable yet but he is certainly believable as a character. Frankly,I get tired of the lack of authentic working class characterizations on conventional American tv. The working class are depicted as morons, buffoons, druggies or other criminals. It's so refreshing to see realistic portrayals of everyday people!
|
|
|
Post by TheBo on May 4, 2005 12:31:23 GMT -5
I remember what I wanted to ask! Does anyone know why the 3d-floor grandma has the nickname "Buk-ja"? Remember, her brother called her that and she said, "why bring up that old nickname?" He calls her that a lot, I think. I guess it must mean something, but I can't figure out what.
Bo
|
|
|
Post by galacticchick on May 4, 2005 13:08:01 GMT -5
I'm thinking it's probably like Malbong (Ji-euns sp? mother from OMR) who's name sounded like Maldong or something like that which meant horse's poop. Quoting bungalowdweller: "They represent a segment of Korean society that isn't glamorous or particularly attractive. They are not the "beautiful people" You are so right bungalowdweller, I didn't really stop to think about how bad their economic situation was until 3rd floor Grandma mentioned the fact that they couldn't even afford a baby carriage. (and the amount they said was $230 , I wonder if that was USD or Won?) When I saw my recording of Monday's re-airing a piece got chopped off. Hyunsik and Goeun had just received all the presents that Yoonsik bought for Yoon, they called him in and then it went into commercials. Does anybody know what they told him? Did they end up accepting the gifts?
|
|
|
Post by TheBo on May 4, 2005 13:14:56 GMT -5
I'm thinking it's probably like Malbong (Ji-euns sp? mother from OMR) who's name sounded like Maldong or something like that which meant horse's poop. Yes, I thought so too, I was just wondering if anyone knew exactly what it was. Do you mean for Joon? The son? Or presents for Yoon, short for Yoon-sik? I did not see the episode yet--just want to clarify. Bo
|
|
|
Post by Lucy on May 4, 2005 13:27:01 GMT -5
You are so right bungalowdweller, I didn't really stop to think about how bad their economic situation was until 3rd floor Grandma mentioned the fact that they couldn't even afford a baby carriage. (and the amount they said was $230 , I wonder if that was USD or Won?) When I saw my recording of Monday's re-airing a piece got chopped off. Hyunsik and Goeun had just received all the presents that Yoonsik bought for Yoon, they called him in and then it went into commercials. Does anybody know what they told him? Did they end up accepting the gifts? I was thinking about what Grandma said, about how she forgets how hard some people have it. A lot of characters on K-dramas talk about the economic situation in Korea. As for the presents, well, they asked Yoon-sik why he bought so much. "Too many toys!" etc. They were sort of grateful but also sort of annoyed. He saw their point, and they all decided that Hyunsik and Goeun would keep some of it and return some. I think they also said they would give away some of it to people who needed it, though I'm not too sure about that. I love that Yoon-sik; he's such a kid. He has some cute "business" in the scenes where the baby is. In one of the last two episodes, he is in the background with Joon, and he when he doesn't have any lines, he cuddles and kisses him, clearly delighted to have a babe in the house. I hope he and Ji-eun get married and have some babies soon. Especially as she says her goal is "wise mother to children." (Yes, the [translated] grammar is hers.)
|
|
|
Post by Soju on May 4, 2005 21:24:07 GMT -5
My medium-strength Korean-English dictionary says "buk" means North or drum, and "ja" means leader, so buk-ja could mean 'Leader of the North' (Kim Il-sung?) or 'Drum Major'. Or maybe (probably ) something else.
|
|
|
Post by TheBo on May 5, 2005 9:29:55 GMT -5
My medium-strength Korean-English dictionary says "buk" means North or drum, and "ja" means leader, so buk-ja could mean 'Leader of the North' (Kim Il-sung?) or 'Drum Major'. Or maybe (probably ) something else. Ahh, haaaah, hahh, haaaaah! I like that. We can call her the Majorette. Bo
|
|