Last Episode

[galacticchick]

Okay, I dare for anyone to say that this episode didn't make you cry.

Best drama I've seen in a long time. In fact I'm tempted to say that it's the best drama I've seen so far.

It was sad yes, but it was sad for a reason. Even though it didn't have your typical happy ending, I think that it was important that it didn't.

I have such respect for the two lead actors, I don't think anyone else could have played their roles any more perfectly.

What did you all think of the ending?

[Carlos]

This series helps you realize the things that are really important in life. I think after watching Rosy Life helps you realize to value more family and humility.

[CaptainVideo]

Hey GC, please don't hate me for being honest, but compared to the rest of the series, I thought the ending was a bit weak. It definitely had it's moments, most notably the phone message and the final goodbye enroute to the countryside but I almost feel that last night had a more tragic feel (or was that due to the fact that I had to keep futzing with the antenna and ended up watching more than half of it standing in the kitchen?). My major complaint was the rampant mendacity that ran through until she died. Not being upfront with the kids really bothered me. During most of the finale, I kept asking, "Don't they have palliative home care in South Korea?" I also thought that she was much too vibrant and energetic at times to be a convincing cancer patient. I really wanted to shoot the both of them as she was writhing in pain screaming for her pain killers; her to end her misery and him for being a dufus on most counts but in this instance, even though he doesn't know "what to do", he can see she's in agony and the best he can come up with is to dance and hopefully distract her from terminal cancer pain?
Don't get me wrong, I loved the series and I was overall quite satisfied with the ending, but I have a feeling I may be in the minority. Before I post this, allow me to possibly redeem myself here. I did notice that contrary to earlier reports of an expanded episode length tonight, it seemed a bit short if anything. I also noticed little things such as the appearance of a wheelchair upon arrival to the coutryside, but never using it. I have a feeling that some very touching moments ended up on the editing room floor which may have made this a more satisfying conclusion for me.
Hey there, it's now Sunday, 10:30am and I just watched an interview with Art Buchwald broadcast on ABC's This Week . Art has come to terms with a terminal illness and is living in a hospice. He felt that this was the best way to unburden the family and everybody else concerned, and he's having the time of his life, so to speak. I just found it serendipitous to see this interview right after viewing the final episode of My Rosy Life (I also found it interesting that it was raining quite heavily out here last night during the show).

[BAE]

I missed the episode, but recorded it and agree with GC. This was a very good show. It really evoked a lot of emotion from me and not just in meager sporadic amounts. I felt that i couldn't get the courage to watch the show sometimes because it made me cry ALL the time. Every character had a role to play and a reason for being there, that's what made this show so interesting. You don't just go away from it thinking, "okay, so what the hell was that bong lady there for?"
The part about not telling the children really didn't bother me because they're sensitive kids. I imagine myself at their age being told that my mom will die soon; I don't think I could take it. I'd go crazy. This way, SI was able to live each day to its potential. It's not fair to take away what little chance she has at happiness. This way, her death won't affect the children too much mentally, it'll be sad, no doubt, but it won't leave them scarred, you know?

[HappyCamper]

Actually I cried during the last couple of episodes but not constantly, which is good I think. I agree that Soonie or someone really should have told the kids the truth. Soonie did exactly what she said she wouldn't: she ran away from them with no explaination and never came back. That was just wrong, no matter how you look at it. It would have been a shock, but in a way knowing the truth might have also been a relief for those mixed up kids. Just like when parents think the kids don't know that the parents are having marital problems, they almost always DO know and hearing the truth usually makes the kids feel better. Then they can come to terms with the situation.

I have to thank Mikey for his recap of the final episode in the spoiler thread because what we saw last night was missing so many scenes. This episode was even shorter than the rest and that's just a disgrace. If anyone hasn't seen Mikey's post, you should go read it now that it's no longer a spoiler. Many things will become clearer, like why Sungmoon was racing around looking for soup while his wife lay dying in that room. I am really glad I had read that post before I saw last night's episode. Thanks again, Mikey. Maybe the Tues morning rebroadcast will be more complete, but if not at least we know what we missed.

One question too... is Golden Apple going to replace Rosy Life? The little segment that keeps airing says it will run new episodes on Wed/Thurs nights, which means it will replace Knocked Out By Love (not yet over with ). Are the posted times a mistake? Otherwise, does anyone know what WILL replace Rosy Life? And if Golden Apple is replacing Rosy Life, then what will replace Knocked Out? Thanks in advance if anyone can shed some light on this confusion.

[Ducky]

happycamper said:

Otherwise, does anyone know what WILL replace Rosy Life? And if Golden Apple is replacing Rosy Life, then what will replace Knocked Out? Thanks in advance if anyone can shed some light on this confusion.

Golden Apple is supposed to replace K.O.'d
Hello God is supposed to repace Rosey Life

But I just checked the schedule and they changed it back to "KO'd by Love" and "Who's My Love"....

[kathleen34]

Regarding the last episode... I believe this was the most extraordinarily acted hour. It was almost like looking in an an actual...a REAL family torn by the horrific life experience ... of dying. I too read Mickey's recap and he nailed all of it. I'm so sorry that the bathing scene was cut ... I was absolutely clueles about the frantic driving and returning with soup... we never saw that request. So thanks on many counts, Mickey.

I loved this story very much and in reading the sadness that the actress who played Soonie went thru in real life... man, she did an outstanding portrail of a woman torn in so many directions.... and while her husband was very mean to her, he surely redeemed his marriage vows 'in sickness and in health' ... if not in health, certainly in sickness. Outstanding acting skills.

I, along with all of you, remained teary-eyed through this hour.

Now then ... regarding Golden Apple and Yes God... usually Koreanwiz gives a brief overview of the story line.... on these two, however no such overview is given.

Is there a site that provides a storyline to these two?

[qwert]

This is one drama that I waited anxiously every week to watch the next epsd.i thought I wouldn't be able to sit thru some scenes cause it was just so sad.But I did.I sort of congratulated myself for holding back the tears up to the funeral,expecting the drama to end with Soonie's death...but then sungmoon listened to her message on the phone,and the tears just came.
i think I will take a break from sad dramas and wait for Lee Tae Ran's next project which should be quite interesting called 'The 7 princesses' about 4 sisters with the letter 7 in their names.

[mikey]

kathleen34 said:

Now then ... regarding Golden Apple and Yes God... usually Koreanwiz gives a brief overview of the story line.... on these two, however no such overview is given.

Is there a site that provides a storyline to these two?

I wrote up a short intro to “Golden Apple,” and posted it in the thread here:

Golden Apple intro

I’ll try to get an intro to “Hello, God” written up in a day or two.

[alanna]

In Korea, after airing the Rosy Life, there were other dramas that also featured cancer and death.

One drama was about cancer patient recovering from the death, its motive was to give hope to cancer patients out there.

Other dramas used cancer as for melodramtic effect, which I found is repetitive and annoying.

None of the dramas made good ratings - partly because Rosy Life has done such good job that viewers became desensitized by anything less.

I'm really grateful for Rosy Life in that respect. That should keep TV producers away from 'sudden' leukemias and cancers for a while at least.

p.s. Choi Jin-sil, or Soonie used to be teenage idol, a real princess in Korean Entertainment during the 90s. But after her disastrous marriage and the bad rumors she was advised to let go of her 'pretty little me' image in exchange of success in Rosy Life. It's a good thing she took that advice. (And she was getting kinda old, anyway.) There are plenty of TV dramas with her starring in various happy Cinderella roles except that those are really old, shooting style and everything needs improvement. Better wait for her next drama.

[xelaevoli un]

alanna said:

(And she was getting kinda old, anyway.)

Really?

Isn't she in her mid-thirties? Or is that old age nowadays?

;D

I missed the final episode but am eternally grateful to mikey for giving a GREAT synopsis. (I cried reading it because I could imagine every scene.)

Melissa

[CaptainVideo]

Hey Happy Camper, thanks for the advice to go and read Mikey's recap of the last episode (thanks for the accurate description Mikey); I never realized how many of you go into that section and how early, how do you not manage to have it ruin the show for you? It did seem to answer a couple of questions, although I'm still not quite clear on the function of Chulsu; he never appears, yet he is mentioned all the way to the final episode. I guess it was cheaper than having to pay an actor.

[BAE]

mikey said:

kathleen34 said:

Now then ... regarding Golden Apple and Yes God... usually Koreanwiz gives a brief overview of the story line.... on these two, however no such overview is given.

Is there a site that provides a storyline to these two?

I wrote up a short intro to “Golden Apple,” and posted it in the thread here:

deiner.proboards48.com/index.cgi?board=generalmsgs&action=display&thread=1141857401&page=2

I’ll try to get an intro to “Hello, God” written up in a day or two.

Thanks, Mikey. What a change between the two dramas. This should be quite interesting to watch.

[alanna]

xelaevoli said:

alanna said:

(And she was getting kinda old, anyway.)

Really?

Isn't she in her mid-thirties? Or is that old age nowadays?



Melissa

I meant 'too old' to play the happy, care-free, delightful girl image. In Rosy Life she showed that she is perfectly capable of taking the role of mature woman.

[xelaevoli un]

alanna said:

xelaevoli said:

Really?

Isn't she in her mid-thirties? Or is that old age nowadays?



Melissa

I meant 'too old' to play the happy, care-free, delightful girl image. In Rosy Life she showed that she is perfectly capable of taking the role of mature woman.

I was j/k about the age bit, I figured that was what you meant but had to tease a little bit....(it hit a little too close to home since we're close to the same age (mid-30's). ;D )

Melissa