|
Post by petirrojo on Oct 13, 2003 10:40:23 GMT -5
Seriously! Every time someone goes out to meet another person in a cafe or restaurant, the place is deserted!
And how about these cozy alcoves that can seat 10 but are conveniently available for a tete a tete at the drop of a hat?
I have to say, whenever a scene like this comes up I am so distracted with noticing the 'Ghost Town' effect that for a few moments I can't do anything but laugh! I'm wondering if they're too cheap to pay extras (depriving WK of his livelihood <g>).
What other little details like that have you noticed?
|
|
|
Post by galacticchick on Oct 13, 2003 11:21:37 GMT -5
LOL, petirrojo! ;D I wonder if they make their money from the water they serve them. Maybe they charge $5 a glass and since that's usually all everyone has in their meetings with each other, they might even make a profit. Seriously, it is extremely rare to see someone order anything other than beverages in these shows. One of the characters usually always storms out. Those orange carts on the other hands, always crowded. Another observation that I always have in the back of my mind is how they shake their head up and down (which to us means yes) and then they proceed to say "No" Other times I'm thinking they are going to say no because they kind of smile and move their head side to side and then it turns out it means "yes" Aiguuuuu
|
|
|
Post by petirrojo on Oct 13, 2003 17:01:31 GMT -5
How about those food/booze stalls enclosed in plastic sheeting (an elegant touch, that)? They're the ones making all the money!
And, another little note -- not unique to duramas by any means -- is that in a city full of people and cars no one ever has a hard time getting that perfect parking place in front of the desired establishment ;-) The only exception seems to be Ja-Young's family home which is tucked back in a warren of alleyways too narrow for a car to enter.
|
|
|
Post by HumbleStudent on Oct 13, 2003 17:12:31 GMT -5
Before you feel too sorry for the cafés, bear in mind that they benefit from the Seoul Café Ordinance which says that any time someone calls you up on the phone, or comes into your office and slaps you, or has any kind of encounter with you at all, then, no matter how much you hate the idea or whether you have work to do, you have to go to a café with him or her.
The ordinance also stipulates a $5 'hostile encounter rate' payable in advance by credit card, which entitles you to sit in the café with your uncomfortable other for a maximum of 5 minutes. The coffee is just for show. It's colored water and they use it over and over.
Anyway (more seriously), GC: are you taking into account the fact that a lot of the time when the subtitle says "No", the character actually said "Nei" meaning "Yes"? And vice versa? This is because the "Nei" or "Ani" response in Korean is more responsive to the wording of the question than in English usage, thus:
"Ja-Young, aren't you going to America?"
"Nei." (Meaning, "That's right, I'm not going to America") (Subtitled "No, I'm not.")
|
|
|
Post by Soju on Oct 13, 2003 19:54:54 GMT -5
Another thing I've noticed is when people go to a café to work out their problems, they order tea or juice, don't touch it, and leave without paying.
|
|
|
Post by galacticchick on Oct 14, 2003 9:57:37 GMT -5
HumbleStudent, you are too funny! ;D About the explanation of "Yes" and "No"--one thousand thanks. That makes much more sense. See everyone? Ask your question, no matter how dumb you think it might be, and you'll probably get a satisfactory answer.
|
|
|
Post by JadeEyes on Oct 14, 2003 13:01:26 GMT -5
Yes, that's hilarious Humble Student! This is something I've come up w/ too...there's either some indefiable social rule that any time a Korean is confronted by another Korean demanding a meeting, the other person MUST meet w/ that person in a cafe, no matter how unpleasant, tense, hostile or awkward it is...or it's just a handy contrivance of duramas to achieve the scene. Even back when Min-joo hunted Ja-young down at her hideout in Chuncheon, Ja-young let her into the house and the next scene showed the two sitting in the bedroom together, two teacups, untouched, on a tiny table off to the side.
If I was JY, I can envision no circumstances under which I'd volunteer to have coffee or tea w/ her, unless it would afford me the opportunity to poison her drink. Same goes for drinks w/ Sang-min or Woon-kyu at this point.
Pretty funny too about the mandatory $5 fee. It would be used to cover not only the cost of beverages of patrons who exit hastily or storm out w/o paying, but also to cover damages of that occasionally overturned table in a fit of rage. ;D
Seriously though, I was so delighted yesterday when Ja-young actually refused to meet w/ Sang-min when he demanded she give him a minute just because he happened to run into her accidentally. And she hung up on him when he called her on her cell a minute later. Finally! She seems to be getting a spine!
I also was happy when she decided to leave when her co-workers told her Woon-kyu was waiting for her at the cafe across the hall. But then I was disappointed when she got roped into it afterall when he ambushed her on her way out.
I think the dialogue they had in the next scene should've taken place in the hallway. At this point, she's so fed up w/ and insulted by these people, I cannot accept she'd agree to sit down in a cafe and give him audience. Maybe he could force a conversation w/ her in the hallway...but no one would go to a cafe w/ this guy at this point. I can't believe even a Korean, no matter how polite he/she may be, would do this under the circumstances facing Ja-young.
I'm sorry to see, based on yesterday's previews, that JY regresses to old behavior by meeting w/ SM. Maybe there'll be a good explanation for it that will make it more understandable. I was hoping this newfound assertiveness of hers might become a permanent part of her dealing w/ SM and his creepy dad.
Jade
|
|
|
Post by TheBo on Oct 14, 2003 13:09:35 GMT -5
You guys. The bars are deserted, as well. And everyone seems to drink pink drinks in Martini glasses, but I don't think they're Cosmopolitans. Maybe it's that tinted water. The new Fearsome Foursome (Mi-Ryung, Tae-Young, Sun-Joo and her new/old boytoy) all appeared to be drinking flat beer. And do you notice they feed the kids like invalids? Even ice cream. Especially that little Yuna. She probably doesn't know how to pick up eating utensils because everyone is always sticking food into her mouth. And they stuff the kids' little faces, too. "Eat! Eat!" That's the rallying cry. Maybe Korea is populated by Italian grandmothers. Bo
|
|
|
Post by ShoNuff on Oct 18, 2003 3:04:02 GMT -5
I would like to say that if I was the owner of the cafe where Ja-Young broke the glass table I would beg her to take her violent encounters elsewhere. She seems to make a scene in that empty place at least twice a week. Ki-hoon(recent-idiot) did try to finish his shake when he was with NY ShoNuff Recovering [glow=red,2,300]cub[/glow] fan
|
|