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Post by pabomandu on Jun 11, 2008 22:59:10 GMT -5
I just saw the finale tonight and my impression is that the father did not die or at least they left the ending open because of the surgeon talking to the other doctor about the father (can't remember his name right now) having the surgery and the potential results which seemed to give the father a chance and Plus when they showed the video to San everyone seemed pretty happy to me.....not as if someone just dropped dead..any thoughts?..I will miss the show a great deal...
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Post by soapygrams on Jun 11, 2008 23:28:16 GMT -5
Wow - this was a 3 boxes of tissues ending. Pungho made that video when he and Hari went to the island. She had the video cam and took a lot of footage of him doing exercises etc for San to watch as if Pungho was in training. Did you notice the tears in Hari's eyes as she was smiling both at the video and at San's reactions. It wasn't really clear to me if he did decide to have the surgery or not ... In previous episodes he and the doctor discussed the outcome' then thought to himself that he couldn't take the chance that he would survive but not be able to take care of himself and San; so he wouldn't have the surgery -- but in the final episode we were not told or even clued in to what he had decided to do -- I don't expect a sequel either LOL It was a good show and I'm glad I did watch it even though I tuned in about the middle and missed some of the opening episodes. But that ending had me feeling really sad ... glad for some of the people but sad for Single Daddy -
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Post by HappyCamper on Jun 11, 2008 23:50:03 GMT -5
I thought the ending should have been clearer and I really disagree with them all lying to San about his father's condition. Imagine how angry and betrayed he will feel when his dad dies and he finds out the truth. An intelligent 7 yr old like San would have been able to handle the truth now, and it would be better for him too. Otherwise I thought the series was good and very touching.
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Post by gpaul on Jun 12, 2008 8:25:30 GMT -5
I loved this drama including the last episode, but the ending was not what I expected. The writers have given the viewers the power to complete the ending as they want it to end rather than letting us know how it really ends. I choose to believe that Pungho survives the surgery because as pabomandu stated everyone was smiling as they watched the video, also if Pungho had died they would have had to tell San the truth (after all there would be a funeral and San would be expected to go). Watching the video with everyone around gives Pungho a chance to recuperate without letting San know that he was sick.
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Post by Lucy on Jun 12, 2008 12:49:26 GMT -5
I thought it was for sure that Pungho had decided to get the surgery. Wasn't that what he was planning to do when he told the doctor he would have the surgery "next week" and then made the plan for San to go stay with Soi? So how did he end up going away with Hari? Was this even discussed among the characters or shown to the audience? About whether he survives or not, I don't think there were any clues given either way. Personally, I believe he does. Korean dramas have often ended with these "you decide" endings, and most times I get the feeling that we're supposed to think the main character dies. But not in this case, for some reason. I got the impression that we are meant to believe that with everyone pulling for him and since he's so energetic and positive, that he does live after all. But we'll never know! And, in conclusion, DEAR KOREAN DRAMA WRITERS, PLEASE STOP GIVING CHARACTERS CANCER. IT IS A LAZY WAY TO MAKE YOUR STORY DRAMATIC AND WE ARE ALL GETTING SICK OF IT. Thank you!
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Lila
Junior Addict
Posts: 80
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Post by Lila on Jun 12, 2008 13:28:55 GMT -5
My feeling was that, even though this was titled "Single Daddy in Love", it was really about the little boy, San. The ending shot showed all of the people who loved San gathered together as one, an indication that no matter what did or didn't happen to his father, he'd ultimately be OK and the people would work together to raise him, if necessary. As far as Pungho's trip with Hari to the island, I thought that was mainly to provide a backdrop to the video that San would be able to identify as being far away, to underpin the story he was being told, rather than as a romantic getaway.
I agree that it was kind of "off" for them to pretend to San that his father was merely going away for training since, were he to either die or be in a prolonged coma, that fairytale couldn't be sustainable. The little kid expected phone calls, at least. That one video wouldn't exactly be sufficient to carry off the pretense for a few years. Besides which, San was pretty precocious and some of his lines were as if they were written for a grown-up. And I doubt very much if Pungho and San would've engaged in all of that hugging and crying if San believed that his father was merely going to be away for a few days/weeks.
Which leads me to wonder if much/all of this drama wasn't geared less for realism than for opportunities to blatantly rather than subtly wring tears out of viewers. The Korean culture is still foreign to me, and I wouldn't want people from other cultures to assume that our television programs portray actual America and Americans -- but the k-dramas aside, judging from the interview shows and even some of their documentaries, crying seems to be extremely important. Interview questions are posed that are geared specifically to touch a nerve, and then there's silence while the camera closes in on the person's face in anticipation of catching tears. Once the person sheds a few, all seems right with that world and they move on to something else. On some shows, the people actually walk onto the stage with hankies already in-hand! People on various programs will often talk about how much they cried, or the moderator will say, "You must have cried a lot, right?" This drama seemed to encapsulate that to me.
My favorite character was Dr. Jeun, Hari's father and Soi's fiance. I only saw the last half of this drama, but unless something he did in the first half contradicts my impression, he was quite a man!
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Post by Lucy on Jun 12, 2008 18:06:31 GMT -5
Yes, Lila, Dr. Jeon was a good guy throughout. Always pleasant and supportive of Hari and Soi. You're also right about this: "Which leads me to wonder if much/all of this drama wasn't geared less for realism than for opportunities to blatantly rather than subtly wring tears out of viewers." This drama, at the end, bore no resemblance to what it was like at the beginning. Hari had receded way into the background, as had her difficulties with the return of her father, Pungho's boxing career, the secondary romance story, and everything. It's like the whole thing was just a setup to get to the part where Pungho gets a brain tumor and makes us all cry. LAZY.
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Post by zorro on Jun 13, 2008 9:00:31 GMT -5
I'm late to the party, so some of this has already been said by others, but since I spent all evening thinking and writing about this, I'm posting anyway. Some of your posts help me understand and/or underscore some of my questions. Thank you. Maybe if I didn't have my pre conceived American ideas of how these dramas should end, I wouldn't be so bothered with how they often do. The story was moving along well enough for me when it centered around the relationship quadrangle. There was plenty of room for complications to keep my interest without this seemingly inevitable preoccupation to once again throw cancer in our faces, thereby changing the whole focus and direction of the plot. Why do so many of these dramas have to promote what is now becoming a terminal illness cliche? How many young men in recent dramas have been subject to this agenda…? Just off the top of my head… Flowers for my Life, Cruel Love, Invisible Mr.Choi, Mr. Goodbye, and now possibly this one as well. It makes me wonder if the Korean audience is really that fascinated with this "creative" formula, and if so, why? Do Korean production companies all copy success the way Americans do? It almost seems so. As to the ending itself, it took me by surprise somewhat. I was hoping to see Pungho admitted to surgery and, in my mind's eye, fully recover to everyone's relief and gratitude. When the time started running short, I thought there must be another episode to go that would wrap these issues up and give us some closure one way or another. I found myself getting pretty impatient with Hari taking him to the island when he belonged in the hospital. I also didn't understand the lack of urgency on everyone's part when the doctor had warned Pungho that treating him immediately was critical for a better chance at a successful outcome. So after all my ranting, I have to presume Pungho kept his word, admitted himself in the hospital, survived a successful surgery, and lived happily with Hari and San, while Soi and the doctor reconnected and stayed part of San's life as well. That's the only logical conclusion given the whole cast's demeanor at the video viewing. And I also agree with the idea that San deserved an honest explanation. At times he showed more maturity than some of the adults, and should have been treated as such. And on a side note, I loved the opening theme song. I haven't heard anything that screamed that loud and hard since Buffy the Vampire Slayer…
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Lila
Junior Addict
Posts: 80
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Post by Lila on Jun 13, 2008 16:37:55 GMT -5
I know this is an oversimplification, Zorro, but maybe this just wasn't a very good drama, period, and didn't live up to its promise for some reason. But, for those who love a good tear-jerker, it may have hit the spot.
You touched on something crucial, I think: Your American viewpoint. And maybe there are some people on this board qualified to speak to it. These dramas are written for a (South) Korean audience. And, as much as South Koreans, especially the young, seem to enjoy adopting or mimicking things Western or American or Caucasian, it's mostly surface stuff; and once the surfaces are scratched, that culture and Western culture are very, very different. Our histories are very different. Our values are largely different. What we're willing to sacrifice, and for what reasons, are different. While that's part of what makes the dramas kind of fascinating to a non-Asian audience, it's also the source of much puzzlement.
By the same token, I think some of their own present-day culture is also a puzzlement to many S. Koreans. Torn between the deeply traditional and tightly circumscribed, bound by history and victimhood; and the modern, forward-looking, less traditional -- my impression is that S. Korea is kind of schizoid right now.
I wonder who makes up the S. Korean audience. Is it primarily the rural/provincial community, or the more sophisticated urban community, or is it even-steven? From the dramas that I've seen, my guess is that the former community makes up the largest segment of in-country viewership. Does anybody reading this happen to know the statistics?
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Post by Liliana on Jun 13, 2008 20:49:03 GMT -5
This is my first chance to read your reactions to the last show. And I'm glad I did. Since I programmed my vcr wrong, I missed the last portion of what turned out to be the last ep. But under Spoiler Thread, Jungnam (sp?) had already posted Pungho would die at the end, and I remembered right after Pungho's diagnosis, San dreamt his dad 'became a bird and flew away.'
I love your interpretation of the ending, esp that it's a few of you thinking Pungho might have survived the surgery, and not 1 or 2 wishful thinkers. I expected Pungho to die, but found myself demoralized that Hari seem to be left holding an empty bag by the time my vcr shut off (San is calling Soi mom, Soi, not Hari, is given San during Pungho's surgery, Pungho seems to push Hari away before their vacation, etc.) Again, Jungnam (I think) posted that in photos/videos shown at the end, while it might look like Pungho and Hari were together, they were instead photographed separately.
(Hope I can view the last few minutes at mysoju.)
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Post by Liliana on Jun 13, 2008 22:33:52 GMT -5
I just viewed the last 20 min of the final, and I'm glad I was (mis)led to believe Pungho died. (But throwing the med school student with a crush on Hari back into the last ep did confuse things.)
This was the upbeat ending I didn't even hope for. Yes, Pungho stays on at that island (was that some pre-honeymoon for them?) where he told Hari he loves her (finally).
While watching Pungho's video solo, Hari is radiant as Pungho tells San he's got a great coach there, but his face is a little thinner (after the surgery). San says he's completely cured. Soi, standing next to a serene Dr. Jeon, is not even remotely tearful, watching Pungho's video. Instead they both look happy. And it goes out with that expression, Victorious.
I think he did live on.
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Lila
Junior Addict
Posts: 80
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Post by Lila on Jun 14, 2008 17:53:12 GMT -5
Well, Pungho is either dead or alive or somewhere in-between. Take your pick.
My take on it is that Pungho had died and the final scene was of a gathering, perhaps marking the anniversary of his death, when enough time had passed so that people were composed enough to be able to smile at the video of him looking happy, healthy, and alive. San would be expected to be crying if he were a normal kid, but some of the dialogue they wrote for him was more suited to an adult than even a mature child, so who knows how the writers saw San. And don’t forget that Pungho had told San that men don’t cry, and that if you don’t cry it makes you stronger. It’s not hard to imagine that the little guy was trying to put that into practice in honor of his father's memory, no?
If he had undergone and survived surgery and this video was new, well, why would somebody that fit still need to be recuperating on some island? Wouldn’t Pungho insist on being home with his son once he was that fit, or at least having San with him on the island?
The fact that the tall, lanky young guy who was interested in Hari was included in that gathering strongly suggests, at least to me, that some time has passed since Pungho’s unfortunate death, giving everybody some time to sort out their feelings and relationships, and Hari is receiving a lot of support from her admirer. She’s able to smile through her tears, indicating that she’s moved on despite her sorrow.
As far as why so many major characters in these dramas get terminal illnesses (or get smooshed in the street by enormous trucks, don’t forget that one), it’s for the melodrama. Most of these dramas include several predictable clichés, and this is just one of them. And don’t forget that it’s mandatory that each drama except the comedies or bodyguard stuff contain adequate opportunities for viewers from their target demographic with pent-up stress to weep copiously and get it out of their systems. (I have a [non-Asian] friend whose aunt goes into her bathroom away from her family and the rest of the world once a week without fail, and just cries for 20 minutes. She says that it helps her get through whatever the week ahead might bring. Not the worst form of proactive stress management, eh?)
Question: If the writers are too disinterested to write a measly scene or two that would end a story properly and give the viewers some satisfaction or closure, why should we bother watching at all and helping them earn money? Once you become involved in a story, what keeps you watching is the assumption that you’re eventually going to learn how everything comes out. These aren’t some deeply intellectual, existential writings that only 6 people in any generation could hope to understand, and which therefore don’t follow any standard format. Leaving no ending or dropping a few contradictory clues so it’s anybody’s guess how things came out seems to me to be lazy and disrespectful of the viewers. It’s one of the reasons I only watch about a third as much as I did a couple of years ago.
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Post by zorro on Jun 15, 2008 9:52:13 GMT -5
Lila, your analysis is interesting and just as plausible, since none of us really knows the outcome for sure. I didn't really notice her schoolmate present at the very end, so that does add a question or two.
However, another cliche that these dramas are fond of is jumping ahead 1 to 5 years. In every case I can remember, the amount of time passed is identified with a subtitle just before the scene, but this wasn't shown in Single Daddy. That's why I still think the video was made just before he was admitted.
As for your observation on the "crying game" so many of these programs present, it reminds me of "More Tears" the follow up satire to "The Newsroom" by the great Ken Finkelman. His critical take on the news extorting people's grief on camera for better ratings was a biting social commentary done in a humorous way. Unfortunately his show was on PBS in an obscure time slot, and never caught on. I think it may have run three or four times, and then poof…
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