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Post by windsor on Sept 23, 2005 18:43:57 GMT -5
Well.. that just about does it for me. The writers of this series have done a terrible job with this storyline. I understand the traditions of family in Korean culture. Ki-joon's apron strings, as written in this show, are just too absurd to be entertaining. As a courtesy to their viewers, the writers should have at least considered the fact that we'd understand that Ki-joon's mother is nuts...They went overboard to *constantly* demonstrate it. As a viewer, I expect that Ki-joon's character would understand this, too.
His "do you want me to live/die like an animal" rant is just terrible writing with no respect to the character development, as little of that as there is, in the previous episodes. Taking a completely western viewpoint, the resolution I am seeking is Ki-joon coming to terms with his mother and becoming an adult. Yet, in this series, Ki-joon avoids the primary conflict the writers have set up for the viewers for over 101 episodes.
The persistent reliance on these shallow character profiles to drive a 150 episode series is really tedious. For example, we are repeatedly told that Ki-joon is a great example of a human being by the other characters in the series. However, the dialog and scenes written for Ki-joon only show us a one-dimensional character that is obsessive and moody. There is a huge disconnect for *me* along Ki-joon's character arc. They could have worked a little bit harder and written a better character for their lead male other than a spoiled mamma's boy.
This was my rant... :-)
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Post by humble on Sept 24, 2005 8:33:09 GMT -5
I totally agree with you on this one. he needs to get a life and run away with the women he loves. his mother controls his life. can't she see how unhappy her son is. this all happened becasue of her and wanting a grand child. hope she never becomes a granmother.
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Post by Lovely on Sept 24, 2005 8:35:40 GMT -5
Ki-joon was really boiling up as he stood in the doorway while his mom yelled at him. She didn't even show any concern whether he's eaten or anything. All she cared to know about was where he was while the Nohs were coming to visit them. I really thought Ki-joon was going to scream, "SHUT YOUR MOUTH!!!" but he just said, "I'm doing everything you want tme to do! Can't you just leave me alone now?!"
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Post by Jackie on Sept 24, 2005 9:37:19 GMT -5
The way I see it, the writers of this drama are playing it safe with the way Kijoon reacts to his mother. In particular, in light of the strong response in Korea to a girl slapping her mother-in-law in another K-drama. While Americans might not be phased by such a scene,a stronger reaction from Kijoon to his mother might have caused an uproar in Korea.
Had the scene where Okjin slapped Inyoung in the hospital been played out on an American TV show,Inyoung would have struck back. But I don't think that would be tolerated by Korean audiences.
I may be wrong about this,but that's my take on it.
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Post by confused on Sept 24, 2005 11:27:35 GMT -5
I may be wrong but the whole animal speech sounded like it lost something in the translation, I really don't know what he meant by that. If you live alone in Korean society you are considered an animal? It must mean something else in english. Maybe someone who speaks korean or is familiar can help me out.
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Post by ovaridedis24 on Sept 24, 2005 12:43:24 GMT -5
Maybe he knew that if he's going to marry Hee-joo, his mother and Hee-joo would be in control of him, sort of like a dog and its master...all he's been doing is obeying what his mother says and with Hee-joo having things her way, maybe he sees that in his future.
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Post by panther on Sept 25, 2005 10:34:37 GMT -5
well i always thought that korean culture was basically still a traditional confusious society. i know that they respect the elders but women are somewhat of a lower rank. im suprised that kijoon lets his mother talk to him like that. i was watching a movie about a chinese family (i know different culture altoghether) and the widowed mom of the son never raised her voice to him, she said whatever she wanted to the dil but she showed the upmost respect for her son.
maybe its different rules from culture to culture but i doubt that in real life men in korea let their mothers boss them around like ki-joon's mom. i doubt that very much.
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Post by ginnycat5 on Sept 25, 2005 13:27:40 GMT -5
I think by live like an animal, KJ meant that he would go thru the motions of living, but withdrawn, closed off, not bother thinking about anything or feeling-just do what the accursed mother wants, with only the barest minimum involvement. His feelings are with IY, and if she isn't allowed, what's the point of it all? So now on Friday he was stunned to find out he's expected to marry HJ soon, but will he cause embarrassment? Noooo, he'll be a good boy, and marry her. Hope he surprises me, tho. (Then HJ's father would beat him up, I guess. Probably all three of HJ's family would beat on him. He should say, sorry, I'm overtired from not sleeping because I was so busy with IY last night. )
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sandy
Senior Addict
Posts: 334
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Post by sandy on Sept 26, 2005 21:28:13 GMT -5
With all that his mother has done to In-young, I can't believe that he's blaming her for his new lot in life. IY is just trying to return to a normal life without him, but KJ won't leave her alone. He's becoming emotionally abusive with her. For a few minutes during his "animal rant", I was afraid that he might strangle her.
I think most of us are getting tired of KJ with his perpetual pathetic looks and despair. He's acting just like a boy child who can't become a man. His resentment is building up so much that maybe he'll strangle his mother in a fit of rage. I mean, he's really becoming mentally disturbed. If he marries Hee-joo, he's going to be controlled by her as well while poor IY will be dragged into this mess.
From the beginning, I couldn't understand why KJ, an obviously successful man with a good job, just didn't take IY and run far away.
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Post by panther unlogged on Sept 27, 2005 10:53:00 GMT -5
ki joon looks like the type that would kill in young and himself in a jeouleus rage...he's starting to worry me
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Post by galacticchick on Sept 27, 2005 12:53:47 GMT -5
Windsor, you read my mind and expressed all the points that I feel. I stopped watching this one (although I occassionally catch an ep. every couple of weeks) and it just seems like every time I tune in the same thing is happening over and over. So frustrating.
p.s. When KJ asked IY if he wanted her to live like an animal she should have told him "Nope, but you sure do smell like one!" LOL!
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Post by windsor on Sept 27, 2005 15:12:19 GMT -5
galacticchick... It is interesting that we are watching this series in the USA. I wonder how South Korean viewers responded to it. I don't think the actors are doing a bad job, but they have very little to work with day in and day out The writers need to read 20 Master Plots and how to build them by Ronald B. Tobias. Its a good book. In my opinion, it transcends cultural norms and speaks directly to creating interesting story lines. I wouldn't suggest that writing plots, character arcs, and dialog is easy at any time. On the other hand, it is also the case that there are LOTS of good references on how to do it well. I was hooked with The Great Jang Geum and I think my expectations are still pretty high. I have just started watching a feature film titled Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance directed by Chan-wook Park. For a 2002 release, this film seems pretty gritty for a Korean production. It deals with the organ trade, kidneys in this case, in the Korean blackmarket. You can see more here: www.imdb.com/title/tt0310775/So far the cinematography in this film is sharp and graphic. If this is characteristic of the film-making skills in Korea, then I am also interested in seeing more of them.
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Raven
Junior Addict
Every cloud has a silver lining.
Posts: 160
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Post by Raven on Oct 2, 2005 21:29:25 GMT -5
It is getting a little redundant, the same thing always. I also think that the actors are doing a good job but the writers are ruining the plot. I'm also getting tired of Ki-joon not having a back bone. so that's why I see the drama ones in a while. I hope it gets better.
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Post by xelaevoli on Oct 3, 2005 15:24:55 GMT -5
It is getting a little redundant, the same thing always. I also think that the actors are doing a good job but the writers are ruining the plot. I'm also getting tired of Ki-joon not having a back bone. so that's why I see the drama ones in a while. I hope it gets better. Me, too. The only thing I can say about the writer (who also wrote YH, right?) is that you can only write so much before it starts getting redundant. Maybe she/he should stick to the short dramas (20 episodes). :-) Melissa
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mercy
New Addict
Posts: 22
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Post by mercy on Oct 3, 2005 19:18:26 GMT -5
With regard to KJ's lack of a backbone.....it must have taken a lot of self-control for him to leave IY in the middle of the street with her films looking verklempt!?!
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