He loved her, he loved so much he didn't want to take advantage of her, mistreat her, or hurt her. He loved her so much he protected her from her own vulnerabilities and desperation. She would have done anything for him and he knew it, so he repressed his physical desires, and emotional hardships, and refused to damage her any further. Also his love was not the unrequited type. It was a kind of pure love where he expected nothing in return. His only price was for her to be happy.
@@rumirumi7424 yeah there are some parallels to parental love. However this is different because he doesn't have a biological connection to her, and there shouldn't be a need to repress physical desires, in a parental situation.
Totally noticed that and also the fact that his bothers noticed it (they knew each other so well) by the character personality and the way he act thru the whole show seems to always think in the others and how will affect them so he rather deny everything (in the last episode he was soooo miserable that didn't happen even when he found about his wife cheating) I feel empty with the last episode :( their relationship was so slowly and well develop that the little details means a lot that I want to see more u.u
@@sarahochoarodriguez6315 Donghoon feeling was ambiguous...but the writer was expressing his feeling from the 3rd party from his brothers who obviously notice that their brother is acting well in love? From his office minions..the tension between them can't be deny..from those directors questioning him what's your relation with this girl..he never even answer one or deny. And there like why are U making that face your making it obvious that you like her And lastly from our villan,remember when Donghoon punch him 3times?he told him.im not they only immoral her what about you both?donghon was like what??? Realising what he said he's thinking..is my relationship with Jian really that bad in other people's eyes .yes darling Donghoon it's obvious your very obvious no matter how hard you resist that feeling we can see and feel them.
Just finished watching this beautiful KDrama last night. Was it love? Heck, YES! We all know she loved him, was touched by his kindness, lived for the sound of him breathing, his footsteps, his voice, was willing to sacrifice her own gains and was fiercely protective of him. Did he love her? Is there really any doubt?? He might have told himself he pitied the kid, but he instinctively protected her each time and would not rest until he knew she was okay. The director gave us big hints, but the biggest give-away for me was how Dong Hoon's eyes followed Ji-an's every move, especially when she wasn't looking. That soft unwavering gaze and his sobbing in the apartment when he felt the big gaping hole in his heart. Loved her beyond any doubt.
OMG YES I know exactly what you mean and I believe he loved her too but that they didn't want physical love to be the focus of the show. A lot of people commented on my reactions that it wasn't love. I get where they're coming from but I choose to believe otherwise 🥰
I always thought that scene after the restaurant one was little random but after listening to you I realize once more that there is no such thing as random scenes in this drama. I Have Little something to add. It's long but I do hope you'll read it and tell me what you think so here's my take on the slippers JA gifts DH. JA notices how worn out and old DH's slippers are. DH can afford new slippers yet he keeps these old ones. The old worn out slippers can be a metaphor for several things. His relationship with his wife. His heart. The him that keeps everything bottled up. JA buys DH a new pair of slippers which he keeps in his drawer. He doesn't wear them but frequently looks at them. He keeps wearing his old ones but reassures himself by looking at the new ones as if just their presence is enough for him. The new pair of slippers can be a metaphor for several things. JA and her feelings, of which DH is aware at this point. A new beginning for DH, the healing of his heart. So while DH has still not decided whether to stay in his marriage or not, he won't throw away his old slippers because that's just who he is. He is an honourable man Then DH goes to his monk friend and has a talk with him, the talk concludes with the monk friend telling him to stop living a life of sacrifice all the time. DH comes back and does two things. Confronts JY and then Confronts JA. What exactly does he say to JA? He asks her about the slippers. Where are they? Why did she throw them? Is he not worthy of them? But while talking about the slippers he also says that he won't fire her. That he'll see her complete her contract and then she'll work at another company. 10 or 20 years later when they meet again, he'll greet her warmly. At the same he mentions how its okay for them to talk and meet because he's met her grandmother. Now this is how I interpret this entire thing: JA gave him the slippers signifying her love. DH keeps the slippers but doesn't wear them. He doesn't throw them away. He keeps them in a drawer close to him where he can sneak looks at them. But he keeps his old ones too. Because he hasn't yet decided what to do about his marriage. What to do with the knowledge that his wife cheated on him. The slippers also represent the him that is all torn and worn out from within because of his way of living. And because of keeping everything within. Once he decides that he's not going to live a life of only sacrifice, he asks JA for the slippers. She threw them away which angers him because its like she threw the feelings she has for him away too. By asking her to buy him new ones and by not agreeing to fire her, he's telling her to wait. If he's worthy of waiting (worthy of slippers he might not wear right now) they'll meet again and he'll greet her 'warmly' (with love). He wants those slippers even though he might not wear them right now. He's asking her not to throw them away just because he's not wearing them right now. He might not be able to pursue a relationship with her right now, even if he does divorce his wife, since it would damage both. But in 10 years time, it won't be that strange. He's telling her that's how long it will have to be before he can pursue something with her. When she's 31 and he's 50 something, no one will bat a lash at them being together. I thought the whole 10-20 years line, topped with him saying 'im begging you meant alot more than simply what he was saying. Because why would her working somewhere else mean that they wont see each other for 10 years? And why say I'm begging you at the end of such an ordinary sentence? Especially for someone as stoic as him. It's because that's the intensity of emotions finally showing. It's also the first selfish thing he does. For a man who lived a life of sacrifice, this is the first moment of selfishness when he tells her that he won't fire her simply because she has feelings for him. He also asks her to wait. Begs her in fact. For someone as emotionally closed off as him, it was pretty intense. Also he could have rejected her feelings. Multiple times in fact. But he never does. Whenever she tells him she likes him, he never belittles her or rejects her. He either looks away or (as he did in the subway) asks her why she likes him. He never tells her to stop and he never says he doesn't like her in that way. He prefers to hide or run away or ask other questions. Why? If a man like him can reject an invite to dinner or golf from chairman of his company, he can tell a girl he doesn't like her just as easily. That he only sees her as a friend. But he never does. This show is not an explicit love story but the subtle signs are there and I love that
You're absolutely right! He never rejects her although he was able to because he was an honest man so he was able to cordially tell her that he did not reciprocate her feelings but he did not. He never formally she rejected.
Reading this explains a whole lot. This show had so much subtleness that people are still trying to interpret what it all means to this day but your comment made that mist of uncertainty a whole lot clear. Thank you for this.
Wow, I like your analysis of the slipper, make perfect sense to me. I also think he didn't love his wife anymore, when his wife came clean about the affair, she asked him if he still loves her, but he didn't answered. In EP 16, toward the end, he was crying in the house when he was eating, why do you think he was crying? I think he was crying because he missed Ji An, what do you think ?
@@schoo2894 I think he was crying because he finally realized that his married life and his marriage was over. It was his emotions finally hitting him all at once. He didn't get the time to fully think about it because something was always happening. It was him finally letting some of his pent up emotions leak through. He the kind of guy who shows very little of his heart to the world. When he finally sat down in front of his family picture, he realized that he can no longer have that back. Because no matter how terrible his wife was, fact is she WAS his wife.
I also think that Park Dong Hoon loved Lee Ji An. But he was still a married man, and plus much older than her. I can imagine he had tons of conflicted thoughts. Also, I think they showed us their love in a very non physical way, because of the bad critics about the age gap. And I think Lee Ji An was in a similar state of mind as Park Dong Hoon, because she is not your typical 21 year old girl, her hard life made her mature much sooner, that's why they get along so well, they understood each other even without words.
I agree with you, i think there were a lot of critics even before the show aired, saying it's "inappropriate" so the show tried to show us that love doesn't have to be inappropriate. it's as simple as two very different people understanding each other!
@@kdramacouple his character was an idiot, staying with his wife who found a way to get away without any kind of repercussions for spring with another man and plotting to destroy him
@@chaboi7 No, I believe it was actually because of his son that he kept the marriage up. If the family separated that would take a huge toll on the mental state of the child tbh. So i think he really only stayed for the son because he looks at the family photo in the apartment in the last episode.
@@chaboi7 Also, she was terrible. I can see her trying redeem herself a little bit but the way she put a hole in this mans heart! And the fact that she would've continued hooking up with his CEO if she hadn't heard the recording from Leejian boils my BLOOD. 😃🌸
I agreed, I think Dong Hoon loves Ji An, may be even deeply. In the whole series, he never looked at his wife the way he looked at Ji An. Even though he and Ji An walked in silence next to each other, it was so intimate, it was like they don't need words. When Ji An was listening to him on the phone doing nothing, just walking and breathing, even that was extremely intimate, Ji An said it herself, she like listening to his footsteps and his breathing. But Dong Hoon couldn't act on his love for her because of several reasons: 1) Age difference: Dong Hoon is a very traditional, kind, principle man, he was 20+ years older than Ji An, that age gap is not acceptable in Korean society. 2) He is married, even though his wife cheated on him and he didn't love his wife anymore, he still wanted to keep his family intact. In EP 16, he was crying in the house after Ji An left, I think he cried because he missed Ji An. Also, the ending, he has a big smile on his face when he met Ji An again, I think the producer created that scene to that viewer can choose the ending of their choice. For the viewers that fancy a relationship between the 2 lead characters, that was an indication of a future between them, they will be meeting for a meal, both were in a much better place now, both were so happy to see each other. I don't think the producer will show an ending that showing a man in the late 40s having a relationship with a woman in the early 20s, that would be a huge turn off for Korean audients. So they will leave it for the imagination of the viewers.
I disagree with your reasoning for why Dong Hoon cried in his apartment. While an argument could be made that the show-runners are hinting at a relationship developing further between the two based on the final scene, the reason why that argument is flawed is because of the last couple shots of the handshake scene. Both times the camera showed Dong Hoon and Ji An looking back at each other, they could only see the other's backs. In fact, Ji An watched Dong Hoon walking away. In television, and cinema in general, no shot is filmed without purpose. The editing of this scene cements the true resolution of these two characters' relationship. They met, impacted each other's lives in a beautiful way, and can now, literally, walk away from each other. Moving on to keep living their own lives. As friends, for sure, but nothing more. Their story has ended.
@@ZionJang I would like to believe their story didn’t end there omg 😭 that’s sad af. But, my take is also they don’t pursue romantic relationships. They will be in each other’s lives as companions/ soulmates/ friends that had a tough and meaningful past together. Like ji ahn will go to his house when there’s occasions and dong hoon will go to her wedding/ be her child’s godfather something like that 🙏🏼🙏🏼✨
@@ZionJang I agree with this one. I think PDH cries in his apartment on ep 16 is bc the words from his little brother. His brother (Gi Hoon) said that he believes that everyone has the power to heal themselves. Ki hoon's words come with a scene where PDH went shopping and eat alone at his apartment, looking at his family picture (him, his wife n kid). I think that at the moment, he realizes that after what he's been through.. He is still alone. Ji An left. His wife left. And he realizes that the one who can heal all the pain is himself (like what Gi Hoon said)
I think in the end, he will divorce his wife for her.. coz its obvious they are both in love with each other.. i hope they show some scenes where they both have a good married life with each other.. he should just forget about his wife and his son for lee ji-an.. this show just made me realize the harsh reality of life and human nature.. i've seen a lot of pictures with pdh and lja without his family so my hope about his family healing disappeared quickly.. harshly sad but i guess their love for each other is more strong.. its heartbreaking for me to see his family disappear but i guess the movie has to promote the romance between them..
I was so amazed by the series, (I have watched it about 6 times now) that I went to blogs about it. And on one of them, they noted the handshake. It was a very very long handshake........ and they noted that when he finally let go, he had the imprint of his fingers on her hand. And this is the guy who never touched her before that. So, in the year since they saw each other last, something big has changed. AND, they both walked away with pep in their steps, because they know there will be more. I personally thing this is the greatest TV show ever, in any language. It is like Nobel prize winning literature, just put on the small screen.
The last episode clearly insinuated that Park Dong Hoon really loved Ji An, to a point he got lovesick and broke out crying in his living room. And when he got to see her again, he lit up and the final episode make us believe they are open for a relationship beyond friends.
Some might have overlooked this specific scene and the little details it portray so hear me out. notice how DH behaved after he learned that JA tapped his phone... get your tissues ready. at the cinema , remember how he's holding his phone, not just holding it but somewhat caressing it with his hands. I interpreted his phone as JA. They didn't have a lot of skinship throughout this drama, no hugs or holding hands (except of those towards the end, but yeaa, not much skinship), but look at how he holds his phone. He's very gentle with it, somewhat showing that he sees JA as a delicate person, he wants to protect her, he cares for her. And before he went and confront DJY at the parking lot, he placed his phone carefully below his chair, DH taught thought that JA is listening already (but she's not) so he wanted to place his phone carefully to not bother JA listening to him. After he confronted DJY, he went back at the cinema, he didn't talk that much with his phone at the previous cinema scene, he reached out for his phone below his chair. Pay attention in how he's holding his phone now, he's gripping on it, and holding it tightly with his two hands. He misses JA and wants her back. He's longing for her, "lee ji an" he said finally, holding the phone still. "lee ji an" "call me". This scene really broke my heart and also warms it, I hope yours too.
Omg I was just trying to remember his name when I saw your comment. Thank you so much. It's already been a year since i watched this, but yes you are right.
There really isn't a moment in this drama that is out of place or unintentional..I've watched it 4 times now and it gets more moving everytime..also ...if she takes him out for dinner and they just relax and get together I'd be super happy...because it's great when two people get together that love each other 20 years difference or not.... at the end she's in a position of strength as signified by her inviting him to dinner...I love the ending...the writing and the direction on this is phenomenal...✊
This was one of the best kdramas I've ever seen. I felt that they both came to deeply love and understand each other. It felt like I was watching two people realize and recognize their soul mate. The fact that the filmmakers kept their love and relationship pure and platonic, kind of raises it to a higher level.
Great review. I really feel like a better person for having watched the show. As to whether PDH loves Li Jee-an, his character arc is the process of falling out of love with his wife Kang Yoon Hee, and falling in love with Li Jee-an. PDH is moral and self sacrificing. He's married and I think committed to that marriage. I know he sees the cracks in their relationship getting bigger but actively avoids talking about it with his wife. This is a cause of her unhappiness and one of the reasons for her affair. Once they finally do talk, PDH let's out his pent up anger by punching a door. It's brilliant how the hole in the door leads to Kang Yoon Hee revealing to Park Gi Hoon (PDH's younger brother) that she's had an affair. As you discussed, their are many symbolic references to structures. A door being used either to close something off or open up something that was locked. We know that Li Jee-an wants to be with PDH, she declares it to both him on the street when he slaps her and to his wife when she she says that she is jealous of her. She wants Kang Yoon Hee to know that she loves her husband and asks her straight up, how she could discard a man like PDH? in the interrogation scene with CEO Do Joon Yeong, when asked if she likes PDH, she asks him what he really knows about liking someone and if it's just cheap. She knows this will hurt Kang Yoon Hee, and even though Kang Yoon Hee is defending her says it anyway. She loves PDH and can't contain her anger at Kang Yoon Hee for the pain she caused him. What I love about Li Jee-an is her fearlessness, she is BRAVE, and is not afraid to call things out or hold back her feelings, even when she gets hurt for it. She is also vulnerable, even fragile at times. IU really blew me away in her portrayal, what a talented lady. I also want to call out Lee Ji Ah's role of Kang Yoon Hee, she had a tough part and I think she played it just right, by not being too sympathetic. My interpretation of the end is that PDH and his wife are in the process of separating, though I've heard the opposite. Kang Yoon Hee leaves for the States after Li Jee-an moves to Busan. I think she realizes that PDH has fallen for Li Jee-an, but that they might be able to keep up the facade of a relationship with a damaged foundation because PDH is self sacrificing. I think she intentionally takes herself out of the picture to focus on their son (who really has been neglected by them both) and to release PDH, knowing he won't really be happy. Alone in his Apt PDH feels the seismic loss of his marriage and realizes how much he misses Li Jee-an. He's finally coming to grips with his feelings. This earthquake rocks him to the point he's breaking down and throwing up in the bathroom (a theme that gets repeated with the aspiring actress). But the integrity of his character's foundation with LJA's added support keeps him from collapsing, even though she's not there. It's also the vision of the founder of the firm he was a part of. To create structures that can withstand these kind of shocks. Li Jee-an was able to rebuild her life with the founder's support and PDH could recover and start his own firm. The founder's vision is a powerful theme in My Mister. Finally, PDH allows himself to be happy. To let go. To fully open the door to Li Jee-an's love. He's loved her, maybe even from their second meal. It's in fate's hands now. When Li Jee-an hears PDH's voice in a Cafe in Seoul, a voice she is so intimate with, look at the lighting of this scene, sound and camera work. The Director of Photography on this show, Choi Yun Man, did so much to amplify the drama here. LJA and PDH shake hands, but this is not really a hand shake. PDH initiates this touch. It's the first time he's asked LJA if he can touch her. He holds her hand for many moments longer than a friend would. She reciprocates by asking him to dinner, he nods yes. When they leave he turns back to look at her, something he has not done before. She then turns to look at him. They long for each other. I wish them much happiness together. What a beautiful love story with not even one kiss.
😭 Now I'm crying and shipping them all over again. That's the version I tend to believe too. the story is a morality story so if PDH gave in to the temptation of LJA within the shows story arc he would have become a bad guy like Do Joon Yeong. So by leaving that out of it and just hinting at it in the end he can remain a hero and their relationship feels more pure
@@kdramacouple Like LJA's grandmother said. A precious love like the kind you have with a soul mate. However that love gets expressed between the two of them is not really the point of the show. But being men and women, there is the drive for physical intimacy. I think the writer and Director gave many signals that both characters desired that intimacy. In the end LJA expressed her love both physically and emotionally to her grandmother so fiercely, holding nothing back. But in the beginning of the show LJA was very distant emotionally to her grand mother. As her heart opened from PDH's showing her kindness and support, she was able to share that love with her grand ma. Grand ma felt this love and was so grateful to PDH that she gave him her hand to hold in the nursing home. PDH then took LJA's hand in the same way at the end. So carrying this forward we can imagine LJA loving PDH physically with the same fierceness that she expressed to her grand mother, holding nothing back now that PDH's heart is ready to accept it.
In the very first episode his brother says of him, “whenever HD has a choice between desire and conscience, he chooses the latter”. That’s a foreshadowing that he’ll soon desire something but keep a clear conscience. He desires her.
There was also that scene where sanghoon was talking about a movie scenario about an ajusi who got back sprain and later on fight back on life and all those who mistreat him..then Donghoon said something is missing..a woman..then brothers said yeah right..how she gonna enter the story then the next scene is Jian working in Resto..all those convo was a foreshadow about Donghoon and Jian..:)
That exactly what I thought. Throughout the whole drama even though they confide in each other he keeps a distance from her. He doesn’t want to have any physical contact. Then he gets angry when she tries to kiss him. After or before that scene they replayed what his brother said. Seems like he was afraid he was starting to like her.
can we all just day dream that there is an episode 17 where finally there will be the slightest hope that these 2 will end up together? to hell with the 20 yrs or even 30 yrs old gap! age is just a number!!
I definitely agree. He loves her but he wants to do the right thing which he always has. He keeps everything to himself for the sake of everyone around him even though he is in emotional pain. It’s his nature to be kind, reserve, quiet but at he same time you can feel the weight of his deep emotions by his silence and subtle nuances. He knows he is married with a son, he has a traditional mother whom he loves dearly at the same time he didn’t want to hurt and burden, he knows she is young, subordinate and he didn’t want her to think he loves her out of pity. In his mind, it’s inappropriate to fall in love with her because of all those reasons. Im hoping for season 2. I wanted to see how the writer will continue to lay out the story and how the director and actors execute. This is one of my most UNEXPECTED favorite kdrama of all time. I cried for days. It still lingers in my mind up to this day. My heart aches whenever I hear the soundtrack. It is a painfully beautiful story. What a masterpiece. Kudos to everyone who made this series. #mymister#iu#iumymister#leesungyun#❤️❤️❤️👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I love the tension that was creaated between characters. You'll feel the pull and push of emotions of them both esp Park Dong Hoon. I love those small glances that he gives her that his brothers would catch on sometimes. I guess there is really that "man code" that they just know it you know. I love how the writer played around the character of Dong Hoon esp when he was asked (i forgot who) what his name meant. He said that it means power so true to his name, he was able to hold it powerfully inside him so he didnt act on his emption. Remember, he was known to be the man who would do things the right way all the time so eventhough he knew he had those feelings for her already (you can see it all over his face and man, through his eyes), but he held it. I love how the series ended that because Lee JiAn had been listening to his voice all the time, I know that she would recognize his voice even from afar. That's one of the many scenes I cried at because if you really love someone, regardless how many years it had been, you would recognize him. And did you also notice how he spoke to her before they parted ways? He was really holding it in and being all formal, his eyes showed how much he admired and missed her so much. The production outift picked the best actors to portray their characters other than them.
Ye's that last scene he was holding it in he really wants to pull her to embrace but gush it's public area..so maybe just a handshake for now..and that last line .Jian have U found comfort..how Jian sounds like when he says it just ohh Lord I'm melting .and Jian gave him 2 yeses..yes I found all the physical comfort .and yes I found my home here in your arms.
I do think it was love but I stand by the fact it was not necessarily a romantic one. I think I read somewhere the cast and crew had said there wouldn't be any romance (at least in your typical kind of way). But it was still love, just not one we are used to be shown. A love that is profound and based on respect and trust and understanding. The show focuses a lot on human relationships : professional ones, how to "behave" at work, what is expected of you, etc, a tight-knit relationship between brothers, between a whole neighborhood, akin to a community (that part really struck me). And one of the focus is the different kind of love : a mother's love (DH's mother), brotherly love (between the Park brothers), a faded love (Dong Hoon and Yun-Hee), a lost love (Jung-Hee and Gyum-duk), "adopted" love (Dh's mother and Jung-Hee, they act almost like mother and daughter), a secret/shameful love (Yun-Hee and Joon-young), romantic love (Gi-Hoon and Yoo-ra). There are A LOT of different types of relationships and different kinds of love shown in the show and I do believe Dong-Hoon and Ji-An was one kind as well just. I see it more in a kindred spirit form of love ? Despite having clear different (almost opposite) goals, they are a lot alike in the sense they are both completely lost and trapped in their life. I think it's the fact they understand each other so well (and especially in their silence) that makes them need one another a lot because it's a bit like a life jacket, they can finally breathe with each other because they understand, they know how it feels. Of course the directing and the cinematography makes things ambiguous but when you talked about the scene at subway station filmed from Ji-an's POV ? That's why I think the show's ambiguous. Because it's clear Ji-an loves him, in a more romantic kind of way (at least for some time). She mistakes it for romantic love because in a life of abuse he's the first person to show her decency, kindness and support. But since many scenes are shot from Ji-an's POV, the cinematography reflects that aspect and how Ji-an feels. I had not thought about the metaphor of the building and the restaurant being Dong-Hoon's mind which is pretty amazing and I don't have a lot to say about that except that the incline of the pointy thing might also be a representation of how Dong-Hoon is conflicted (just generally) and how, just like the building, he could finally move and "break". A scene that struck me and still makes me go more towards the kindred spirit type of love is the fight with Kwang-il. Bear in mind I don't speak Korean so I'm only basing my assumption on translations and thus I might be mistaken on that and the Korean words say more/something else. But when Kwang-il reveals Ji-an killed his father, Dong-Hoon says he would have done the same. If someone had beaten up his /family/ he would have killed them too. I felt that in that moment Dong Hoon was not just talking about his mother, his brothers or his son but he also talked about Ji-an. I think in that moment, he considered her family. Because just as he says that he launches himself against Kwang-il (again) to resume the fight. It was a key scene for me to help highlight just how their relationship had progressed but also helped define it. Dong Hoon feels Ji An is his family. The format and genre are clearly following a romance story format however if we play on words a romance story can also be called a "love story" and love come in all shapes and forms. Anyway, that's a very interesting discussion and you had good arguments. It's just that the age gap is really too much for me and that I think it's also important to see different type of love being shown and developped on TV, one that is not commonly talked about. Have a good day :) !
The best take home message was Grandma Bong Ae's last words to JA about how every relationship is precious and special. Like the kind of relationship that JA and DH has. Not romance nor kinship but something this world needs more of.
Facts! Even though I think they would be great as romantic partners. I'm half & half, the idea of an Romantic relationship between them is literally so great. But my other half is like I think the point of the show was to show us a kind of relationship that's deep, pure & actually meaningful. It didn't need romance. They're legitimately soulmates, but they don't have to be the romantic kind to have a good relationship with each other. This is a kinda relationship that doesn't have a name & gives you an unknown feeling.
@RangaRoo. 👍. Yup. Grandma has the best message and that was what the drama was really about. This K Drama was amazing with all the supporting cast and their issues and flaws and scars and how we must all learn to handle them and to be positive and work through them despite all of our flaws. Just accept we are imperfect. It’s interesting too how Grandma did her best to stay alive despite living in such cold and lonely conditions. She didn’t want to leave JA all alone despite being a burden. Once she was put in the comfortable care facility and she knew JA would be fine and had somebody to look after JA she quietly passed on. The funeral was great and had lot of meaning too. I think a big part of DH’s love and attraction and admiration of JA was that despite her having such a difficult life she was kind to her grandmother.
Yes, they were in love. It was love in the purest form. They wanted you to accept the love between an older man and a younger woman without biases. Which most people have when they see an older man and younger woman in a relationship without knowing their life stories. She states this in a sense when she tell you that once people find out she has killed a person without knowing any facts stop being a friend to her. The grandmother, his wife, younger brother, bar owner and older man have all given their relationship a “green light.”
Its self evident that they both live each other in a deep abiding sense of the term. The whole debate of romance or not is besides the point - how romance is expressed varies across cultures and also individual personalities. To me the first pivotal scene is when Dong Hoon are when he asks for the slippers. The slippers are a symbol of what he sees as his intimate connection to Lee Jian, hence his initial hesitancy to wear them but his sense of loss when she takes them back. The ask for the slippers is basically an expression of his asking for her love, and an admission of his. The second key scene is when Lee Jian, at the hospital, wonders why he doesn't hate her inspite of her prying in to his intimate life. He says that when you truly know someone, you can't hate them and he truly knows her. Here, the word "know" is again a substitute for love. Fact of the matter is that understanding doesn't always eliminate a negative reaction. One can know and yet despise. But in Dong Hoon's telling, knowledge can only lead to understanding and acceptance. He isn't making a universal point here, he is simply acknowledging his truth as it relates to Lee Jian. He knows her, accepts and embraces her motivation, and thanks her. That's true love.
Oh god, thanks so much for this video. I was afraid to see the reactions of the audience about this drama. My Mister is absolutely a beautiful and realistic story. And I definitely think that he loved her, it's just that he was a very correct man and he never wanted to give up his family customs, however he loved her. We can see him in the silence of the scenes, when they are talking on the phone, he sighs so much without saying anything and his eyes look so sad and about to cry because he may never see her again, and that's why he runs to look for her Because he is desperate and refuses to lose her, I think it is very obvious that he feels more than a friendship for her. They both saved each other and in the end when they say goodbye he looks so sad, but when they meet again he smiles like he never did before. Sorry because my comment is misspelled. I do not speak English but I loved your video, I practically translated word for word to understand you and I loved your analysis of the relationship between Doon-Hoon and Ji-an. They love each other! I like to think that after their last meeting they started a romantic relationship.
Well this will be long comment. I think it was definitely love on both sides. Something like platonic love. The show showed more than enough hints that he actually loves her as a woman. Like the ones you talked about in this video. From the beginning it was shown that she is different from others, she don't trust people easily and she had that ,,aura" that he was familiar with himself. That loneliness, emptiness. Also I think Ji An's ability to uderstand Dong Hoon on like spiritual level also made a huge impact on how he saw her. Maybe before he knew her he was like ,,she could be like a daughter to me or etc", but after knowing her everything changes because she is more wise and mature than she could look at first. I don't think we even need to prove Ji An's love for him because it was obvious. He was first person apart her grandmother who showed her that her life can be different. That you can be happy. That things get better. It was so touching to see how she cares for him and want protect those relationships he has with his family, friends and her. I personally believe they reached the highest level of love. They both wish each other to be happy no matter if they are together or not. I loved this drama. It is one of my favorite dramas ever. The cast and story were amazing. There was a lot of scenes that made me cry. It was filmed in such a beautiful ways. That call scene you talked about was really hard to watch. You could feel the pain itself like it was yours. It was more than enough to understand how they feel about each other. I still have the song that Dong Hoon sang in bar in my phone. I don't know, the way he sings and how it sounds when she listen, just makes me understand that longing feeling and I want to keep listening to it. Also I can't forget the scene when he finally found her in last episodes and she was so scared that he may hate her for listening him all the time. The acting was no joke in that scene. And my most favourite scene is on ep 5. There is whole clip on YT called Park Dong Hoon's sense of snow. I loved the music, how it was portrayed, how it was built. Those sighs and breaths. That short comment about how he ,,can't die because he's not wearing fancy underwear" was somehow very touching and realistic at the same time. I made whole clip into mp3 and I listen when I can't sleep. It actually helps me to hear both of their breaths and that pain. And music suited well. Her running to him, him - falling down and geting up. I don't know. I just can watch that whole scene like hundreds of times and still be astonished how well it was made. So yeah. Whole drama made huge impact for me. It was amazing in every aspect and I hope both writer and director will work together on something again.
Park doong hoon loves her. He always get stuck deeply to think of her. He wants to protect her with all of his power. He tries to hide this feeling because of the situation that he live. But in four or three the last episodes , he shows this feeling with out control. He decided not to care the others opinion. He always wants to protect her even from far away. I love this kind of love. They were so emotional. Even with all of the hard situations that they live♥️
Just watched all your My Mister reactions I enjoyed them, mirrored my own when I watched it when it aired. I was obsessed with this drama it was so well written, directed and acted (and the music!) what was I gonna say got sidetracked gushing... oh yeah just gonna add one subtle cue of the "love" line was that ep where Dong Hoon and the gang played soccer and he won a match for them there was a scene where one of the guys in the truck did a heart sign at him then the truck moves and it reveals Ji An and he sees her and his eyes go large. another is most of the scene with his monk friend advising him to go for what he "wants" in the forums too, ppl keep mentioning how the term he uses for his wife in the cafe scene in the last ep changed implying they are divorced or separated. oh and how the director added that detail of Ji An's hand getting red from Donghoon's tightgrip and the long contact, he was holding her hand pretty long... we know how he is with initiating contact so what can we conclude from that long hold ;) (ok this got long haha)
btw this post at soompi gives an amazing insight to how the director tells a story through "windows/mirrors" forums.soompi.com/topic/408082-drama-2018-my-mister-%EB%82%98%EC%9D%98-%EC%95%84%EC%A0%80%EC%94%A8-best-drama-at-2019-55th-baeksang-arts-awards/?do=findComment&comment=21294719
Hi dear! Thank you so much for this comment and information! I think I saw the same blog post talking about her hand being squeezed by him ahhaha. Thanks for watching it with me and fangirling along :)
As a 65 year old American woman, I thought the entire show was about romantic love! Romantic love between main characters, his brother and the actress, and the childhood friends. Heartbreaking. When I read the director and the lead character said it was not romantic, I thought what??? I frankly was surprised. If it had been just friendship, then 1. he would probably been in a happy marriage, no slow running, gazing, standing close, romantic music ,and 2. he might have been older and she might have been younger (he in his 60's and she around 15). lShe was of age, and he was so unhappy with a wife who did not understand him. His brother's knew that he cared for her and not as a daughter, and they are ok with it because they ultimately loved him and knew that his wife was so wrong for him, The tension between the two, in a physical sense, was not just friendship, in my opinion. One of his co-workers even says that she is sexy and he does not contradict him. To me, while it was not sealed with a long lingering kiss, it was left with a hug, a handshake, and a future meeting. The age difference did not bother me. Of course I am viewing this from an American cultural lens. Any opinions? Loved it!
I ve been reading some of the comments. And I felt as if the scene in ep 16 where dong hoon cries is misinterpreted into thinking he misses ji an. I think that the scene before where his brother was talking about a movie about a abused child was very important , and which allows us to understand this scene .His brother said the children had ability to heal after the hardship the child faces. He said that purposely because he wanted dong hoon to realise that breaking up the marriage with his wife would be ok. He should not feel caged into the marriage because of the child they have. He wanted dong hoon to realise that breaking up the marriage meant a little pain for his son but he ll get over it. And dong hoon realised that and I felt like he cried because that’s his goodbye and this is emphasised by him starting to cry after seeing the family picture. He was leaving a part of him behind the one which he saw the picture. A person who sacrifices. So I think dong hoon and his wife broke up because we see her living in America with her son
For me that scene Donghoon has pretty lost everything he has now...no job,his wife gone to America(divorce) and Jian is gone .he's pretty much in rock bottom...He's brother is trying to comfort him don't worry you will be okay if those child in the movie survive you too will Jian will,he's brother also ask him about Jian and that's makes me feel lonely more and worried if she's okay.
This is the real definition of LOVE - TO WILL THE GOOD OF THE OTHER. So, was it love? Definitely! While many of the characters love one another in different ways and levels, the love of Dong-hoon and Jo-Ann was the extreme...they went beyond and over and above the expected. It was inspiring to see them offer their lives to save each other from "death." Their love brought them back to life. In the end, their love brought much fruit - they are now fully human and fully alive. What a magnificent love story for humanity.
I think he kept his distance while trying to salvage his relationship with his wife showing again and again his noble decency, but when they meet again in the restaurant there is such openness, health, happiness, and warmth from both...you can tell there is love and the possibility for a beautiful love
“It’s not a love story, but a human story.” This was the way the producer convinced IU to take the role.Think of the words Lee Ji Grandma says befor she dies. Precious relationships, not mentioning which type of relationship...
I agree .. he was so in love but he couldn't let his feelings control him. he kept denying it because he is a "good man" he always try to do only the right things. he is so selfless but one thing for sure.. she loved him even more. there's this gratitude feelings between them that are even stronger than love. IT'S COMPLICATED hahaha
The last scene pretty much confirmed it for me. I thought at the time that due to the age difference they left it a little open as so many people get huffy about such things.
He surely loved Jian but because he was a married man and a good man that he suppressed his feelings. Although it's an open ending I tend to believe that Dong Hoon had divorced or separated with his wife and it's a new chapter for him and Jian
The show give many hints about divorce the bar man.hes brother sanghoon when he advice him just divorce your wife for peace of mind That marriage can't be fix..the affair was laid open.she cause humalation to Donghoon and who knows if these gang already know the news.if she ask for forgiveness she needs to ask forgiveness to all the hugye gang.
I personally think that he loves her. His reaction after seeing her is a give away as well as when she was leaving. Same thoughts here. I wish they showed that they were together, for my own peace of mind. Haha
Of course he loves her. If the writers/director did not want to infer they would end up together there would have been a mention of her having someone in her life. There was none, not even a clue she had been dating.
The fact that I came here without even finishing the drama, started crying on epd 11, I really believe DH love JA, but because of the age it was not that simple. It's a love you don't need words, that represents what a soulmate would be.
i love this drama. Thanks for reviewing it. i really admired Dong Hoon's character. He wasn't perfect, but he tried his very best to live a righteous life. I just feel sad that he felt sad inspite of his always choosing to do what is right.. He probably loved Jian more than as a friend, but because of his principles, he would not go beyond that.. and like his character, it was the right thing to do. It protected him from harm. it made him the admirable, noble and reliable family member and friend Dong hoon. it made life less complicated. He just had to focus on the success of his career and the well-being of his colleagues, his family abroad, his friends. and in the end, it made him happy. JIan helped him think differently. Actually, the circumstances in their lives enabled them to help each other.. the story focused on them, but really, that neigborhood and those people there, who were family and friends--they are such lovable people.. the drama showed the bad things that happened in their lives, but they did not become bad people. they remained to be family and friend to others, helping each other, making each other's life worth living... we need more dramas like these that will make us want to become better persons after watching them
Absolutely, I want to be a better person after watching this drama. If I can live in a community with the kind of support and love shown in the series, I think I could get through anything.
I just finished watching this kdrama tonight and my heart is happy. Indeed, it was a heart- wrenching drama (I swear it made me cry every single episodes) but it will really leave an impact of how you might see things as an adult. That learning never really just stop at a certain age. But most of all, this drama has the purest kind of love withstanding limitations unconditionally. The kind of love worth keeping even without having a 'formal' relationship.
I like the scene where Park Dong Hoon and his brother are driving home from the soccer game and Park is miserable. They come to a red light and one of his teammates pulls up next to him and looks at him and makes a heart with his hands, then pulls away and Lee Ji An is standing there. It is scenes like this the writer is really saying it's love. Lee Ji An's stares say it all. SHE is in love with him, no doubt. With him, he is such a good guy, that the age gap keeps things at a length which is why, the first time, he turns down the hug. Later when he has finally admitted to himself that he loved her he, like you said, initiates the hug. The director used scenes and pauses to give you hints to what is being felt, not words. He wants us to agonize over this and try to figure out the answers!LOL!
They will be together. The hi contast from his saddest scene to smiling like its the best day of your life which only comes from kids and spouses and true loves. His family left to the states for at least a decade which means his wife and him never repaired. Also near the end when he without any time on screen does not care that she knows everything about him and is never upset with her about lying. That type of thing is impossible for most couples or people at any point in their relationship. To have the that with someone beyond lies and face value and to know what they think and feel, is not something that will ever happen to them again.
If Donghoon is not married and younger, then he would definitely fall in love with Jian. That's his mind. But there are many reality issues that keep him from expressing his love for her. Donghoon loves Jina by heart.
Donghoon very much in love with Jian.. At first it was attraction the vibes connect them. He can't help but getting drawn more to her. The man must forgotten the feeling being in love but Jian stir him..Hes becoming not himself anymore..destructed when she's there..and even when he's not looking at her but feels so relieved just having her around in the office. Her kissing him left him shaky its been a while he feel this excitjng feeling he scared because he knows he's not meant to feel like it and it's shaking him what should I do I can't stop it Dong hoon was no longer in love not motivated that's why when that feeling stir inside he's lost. Ohh God that feeling when you have a crush and she keep hitting on you but you have no idea how to deal with it .it must so hard for him he tried his best..calculating but he failed it's too late Jian already under his skin.
So sad to hear the news of Lee Sun-kyun who played Park Song-Hoon's death today 27 December 2023. He was such a wonderful actor, my favourite Korean actor by far.
From my point of view, Park Dong Hoon is a men with integrity that cares mores about other feelings than his own. The fact about his marriage and family is way up from his personal feelings, he deeply loves Lee JiAn so much that make him cry alone. His thoughts are always carrying for her, wishing her happiness and wellness i think that kind of love comes from the soul.
So much was communicated through a breath, a glance, a touch, a smile. To me PDH's smiling and happy eyes while looking at LJA and holding her hand at the end said it all.
I felt that they also had an attraction to one another. He always referred to her as a kid...because she was younger but that also gave him cover....she's a kid...He was drawn to her and she to him.. It happens people can find someone that they are really drawn too and they don't know why....Maybe Karma. ha ha. But they were both looking for something to hold on too. This relationship broke through for both of them. She didn't even know him that well...had no child with him yet she always took his side. She couldn't help herself. Yes she wanted the money to survive but in spite of it all she always found a way to work both angles and still protect him. She loved him. She was drawn to him...she respected him and the way he always took the high road. Then when she could hear him on the phone he became her whole world. She could hear him breath, walk and think and discuss things and who would do that except that you love them and can't get enough. It was like being with him physically. He was good to her and Grandma. She saw what a great person he was and no one was like that in her world except Grandma and her school friend . When he asked his wife do you need anything this meant so much to her. To have someone call to see if you needed anything. It made her feel how lucky his wife was to have this in a man. The wife was irritated by it. She was curt to him when he said that. She had taken him for granted. The girl loved him for it. People change over time and maybe he and his wife lost their way and really didn't communicate any more....The girl and he were needing someone by their side and it hit both of them at the same time. They were both desperate to connect. my feelings only. pat
one that makes a lot of sense remember his wife was cheating on him so he didn't wanted to do what his wife did, that is why he compressed his feelings for her
전 박동훈은 무의식적으로 이지안을 사랑했다고는 생각합니다. 다만 그의 도덕성은 그 사랑을 절대로 용납하지 않았을 거에요. 그 이유는 그는 유부남이고 직장에서나 남편으로서나 어떠한 불이익을 겪어도 그의 자리에서 벗어나지 않고 최선을 다하는 인생관을 지녔기 때문입니다. 그런 사람은 자신의 룰을 잘 깨지 않죠. 깨도 죄책감에 시달릴 것입니다. 저 개인적인 생각으로는 드라마 작가님이 대본을 쓰실 때 이성으로서의 결말을 지을 것인지 플라토닉으로서 결말을 지을 것인지 결정을 하지 않은 채로 진행을 해서 그렇게 애매모호하게 진행 했다고 생각합니다. 한국 드라마에 그런 경우 많거든요. 열린 결말로 시작을 했다가 나중에 시청자들의 반응을 보며 최종적인 결말을 결정하는... 그래서 드라마엔 이성으로 느끼고 있다는 암시를 두기는 하지만 결정적인 장면은 결코 안 나온다고 생각합니다. 어느 쪽으로든 결말을 지을 수 있게 복선을 넣어 놓은 것입니다. 그런데 당시 포털 사이트의 댓글에 둘의 인간적인 관계에 대해 긍정적인 댓글들이 많았습니다. 둘이 이성으로 완전히 만나버리면 그 시청자들의 후폭풍이 두려웠을 것입니다. 또 여성들의 댓글 중엔 주인공 둘의 나이 차이가 많이 나서 이성으로서 몰입이 안된다는 댓글들도 많았습니다. 아마 작가님이 이런 반응들을 종합해서 결말을 지었을 겁니다. 결론적으론 작가님의 전개대로만 보면 주인공들은 이성적인 감정도 있었고 인간적인 감정도 있었지만 인간적인 감정이 더 컸다는 결말이죠.
I just finished this drama yesterday. I love their chemistry in this drama. It is not a typical romantic drama that I always see, but in each episode you know that the love is there. But some things are just not for everybody. I love that they both love each other in a way that no one is ever hurt or aggravated. JA still respects DH marriage although the wife cheated on DH. She heard every heart ache of DH and if it is a typical woman that wants the man to be hers and makes him happy, she can do anything just to steal him. But she didn't. She know her place and she knows that he is someone that will never do something that will make his family uncomfortable or be dragged into controversies that is why she chose to run away to protect DH. Such a heart ache i felt for JA and DH but still a good choice for the both of them to show their love for each other on helping each other out of situations that are messy and at the end chose to be happy. Can't move on from these 2. Haha
There is definitely love between both of them because of all the times they showed care and concern for each other, and they missed each other (JA outwardly admits it, while DH looks for her to walk by Jung-hee's bar and in other subtle ways). But it's a love that doesn't fit into one category - it can't, it's not supposed to. We as humans try to fit it into a label, but this is impossible and it works. During the ending when time has passed and we see DH as a CEO at a new company and JA working in an office, I thought for a second that he hired her to work for him. But I remembered JA did express how she wanted to be someone new, have a new life as she accepted the chairman's offer to work in Busan, and DH respected that even though it tore him up inside. He probably didn't contact her to ask her to work with him because he wanted her to be happy. In turn (before), JA respected his marriage and knew that it could heal, as per her last meeting with Kang Yoon-hee, and telling her how DH always asked if she wanted anything at the store. They wanted each other to be happy - something they verbally expressed to each other a couple times - and that is love. This show wrecked me in the most wonderful way. It's the only thing I've ever watched that made me feel like I wish I wrote it lol Acting, cinematography, just everything was extremely well done. I don't know how I'll ever move on.
I'm imaging then end up together in the end ..this time no longer boring marriage..Donghoon was always passive he's ex-wife was also seems passive..? But Jian is different she is vocal about her feeling and direct.. imagine how fun his life now with Jian to drink with to walk with run with and they always have intimacy even just sitting together . Can I Hug you? I missed you...Will you buy me food? How'd you like the kiss? Hahahaha imagine what more can she do
Now I am watching 10th ep I cried a lot I loved the story I think he also loved her but he keeps distance because of society and he is always live in his principles that's the reason he keep distance they're deeply connected. I am in love with this drama and the cast.
Yes in my opinion too he did like and love her but he is not the type who will take advantage of the situation..that makes me think and hope that all Misters should be like him..just like when Lee Jiam told the wife that she is so envious of her because Park Do Hoon always asks her if she want something he would buy for her on his way home... This story is so amazing and excellent performance by all the actors and actresses...
우정이었든 사랑이었든 두사람은 마음깊은 곳에 서로를 아끼는 애틋함이 있었겠죠. 그래서 사랑으로 발전했든 서로를 응원하는 우정으로 남았든..사실, 사랑으로 마무리가 맞을거같아요. 확실히 드라마가 남달랐나 보네요. 오랜 시간이 지났는데도 다시 후기 비슷한 글을 올리는걸 보면요. 그런데, 처음 안 사실이..작가셨군요. 어쩐지 드라마를 해석하는 능력이 남다르다고 느꼈었는데...
I just watch this drama this year via Telegram sharing. Repeat many times. It’s amazing how the drama can make us feel the love without any intimate touching. I must say its a brilliant masterpiece. He is in love with Ji An but trying hard denies it. If you notice people around him hints him to be happy and don’t make excuse to sacrifiy your happiness for other’s sake. He deserve to be happy. I really love this drama.
With Donghoon so much going on his life and mind amidst of it all Jian never leave his mind..even his drinking at the bar with loud people and drinks He keeps thinking of her..even finding out the affair he was more concern when Jian ignore him..my heart though please help my heart it's drowning of my love for these two.
Everyone wants a happy ending right, not everyone is lucky enough to have even an ending let alone a happy one in any relationship, but you have to wish that for them, even if they are fictional, it was so well played I would not of accepted anything short of happiness and if they could attain love and happiness through all the drama then there is hope for even a loser like me. Well I'm not holding my breath the odds are better for me winning the lottery. Just finished watching for the second time and thinking of moving to Korea ( South).
지안은 세속적인 틀 에서 벗어난 사람이고 동훈은 그 안에서 발버둥치는 사람이에요.서로의 영혼을 들여다보고 보듬어 주며 사랑을 하게 되지만 여러번 자신의 마음을 솔직히 드러낸 지안과는 달리 동훈은 그러지 못하죠.사람들은 백년도 못살면서 온갖 틀 속에 갖혀서 산다고 생각해요.지안은 처절한 삶 을 살면서 자신이 한 삼만살 정도는 됐을거라 말하는 장면이 있는데 전 그부분에서 그런 생각이 들었어요.삼만살이 되는동안 처음으로 사람을 발견하고 그 사람을 사랑하게 되면 그 사랑은 도대체 얼마나 절대적인 사랑일까 하고요~. 우리가 나중에 모두 죽어서 영혼으로 남고 영혼끼리도 사랑을 할수있게 된다면 그때도 우린 온갖 잣대를 들이대며 따지면서 된다 안된다 다른 종류의 사랑이다 이러고 있을까요?아 그냥 왠지 우스운 생각이 들어서요.사람이 평생을 외로워 하는건 지안과 동훈처럼 서로의 영혼을 알아봐주고 이해해주는 짝을 못만나서 일까요?아~나의 아저씨 후유증이 크네요.주절거리는거 읽어주셔서 감사합니다.
Im no expert at all on this, and maybe my mind wants to just believe he had romantic feelings for her, but throughout the drama I felt there was so many clues to him being in love but was completely avoided due to the age gap. I really believe that was the only thing keeping them from being together romantically. Im almost sure after he divorced his wife, of Ji An was closer to his age he would have ended up with her and even possibly remarried. But the age gap was there unfortunately. Hence why he kept referring to her as “kid” when clearly she was too mature to be a kid lol I feel like that was his way of reminding himself how young she is. I think the director wanted to keep it open ended for a possibility to romance, but knew it would be controversial and that’s why they never directly say theyll be together. Either way the love between was beautiful. It still makes my eyes wet just thinking about it.
I completely agree with you. They both found solace in each other. N The director/writer actually denied any love relationship btw these characters I think it's probably because the general public was criticizing their age gap.
Thanks Amanda for this video. I finished the series on Netflix yesterday and I must say it’s the best drama series that I have seen. Outstanding music, awesome performances and the most beautiful, heart warming/wrenching story. Confession - I was desperately looking for an explanation for the ending. You and one other commentator in the thread have helped me with plausible ending where PDH intends to meet LA and confess his love when she is older and he is gotten over his divorce.
Have only just finished watching this crown jewel of a master piece for the first time, there will be more times though, that's for certain. Anyway, I digress. This is maybe the most beautifully portrayed relationship I have ever seen unfold on screen. The level this drama lives on is mindblowingly brilliant. So much detail, so much character development, so much love of all kinds being displayed. This drama brings my heart a lot of joy and hope and beauty and this analysis and all the comments below really added to my experience so thank youfor posting this and to everyone who shared their thoughts in the comments.
저는 둘의 관계를 이성적으로 생각하는 사람들이 많다는것에 놀랐어요.. 제 눈에 둘은 서로 의지하는 유사가족 관계로 보였고 따라서 저에겐 이 드라마는 잘 만들어진 가족 드라마라고 생각이 들었거든요 ㅎㅎ 무튼 사람마다 바라보는 시각이 다르니 같은 작품을 보더라도 다양한 시각이 나오는것 같네요! 그래서 이 드라마가 이렇게도 매력적인 걸까요? ㅎ
I am Korean and same age as DH. I like to share my understanding of this show. DH`s ethic is one of main subject in this show. Korean generation is distinguished from decade to decade, it is very different. Because of fast growing economic and changing society. Out upper generation literally sacrifice there life to our generation. It was only way to survive from ash of japanese occupation and war. When we was in school, mandatory subject was 'moral ethics'. It contains confusianism and western philosophy. Outside of school society requires more strict ethics. In other hand capitalism and individualism is crashing traditional Korean thing. It effects more on later generation. So I can say DH is base on that Koran generation environment. Some of my friends sacrifice there life to there family as there parents as DH. And others live individualism life. This show title 'Naeui Ajesi' has bit different felling to translate 'My Mister'. For exsample you can say Mister to your boss. But you can not say Ajesi. It contains meaning of old man but that words originally from family who is same generation as father but not father`s brother. So it is more like uncle. Korean usally use family title to other. These day many psychologist says Korean sees society as extended family. That is one of big reason why Korean united when we facing big trouble.
deep down they're both depressed because they see the world and the people in a different light then the other characters. I remember in two different scenes DH says "lets be happy". for both of them it´s difficult to be happy. they're similar but act differently in the same situation. they comfort each other and that's what their relationship is about, and don't think that it was romantic. the ending scene also shows that DH is impressed by JA ´s growth it looks like he is proud of her like a mentor or a good friend
just finished this series and loved it. I was not sure whether he was really falling for her or is it just his personality since he's "too good to be true" person throughout the entire series. But everything unfolded in the last season where he was eating snacks alone in his apartment and suddenly started to cry and sob. To me it is explained as he can't bear the idea of not having her around anymore. And also the ending showed where the two are finally meeting again and he looked ready for it. It was a love story to me.
i felt like he did'nt want to lose her respect. . The fact that he did not approach in a sexual way is one of the things she respected him the most for. I also think he gave her a father fiquire and a sense of famly that she had never had but desperatly wanted. Yes, he loved her on many levels. A very beatiful story.
I just think that he loves lee ji an in an almost romatic way but was not pushed enough to go bynd that. You're right it's platonic love they are intimate but not that Romantic i think he loves lee ji an in a away he saw himself how life is so pitiful and that somebody like lee ji an also go through tough times. Wether he loves her romantically or not we can all agree that they were at some point soulmate who save each others lives. They were the healing they needed. And i can truly say this is onebof the best kdrama I've seen. deep hearfelt
I think the point I knew it was when he was crying alone at home in the last episode, and at first he tried to wipe his own tears away and control his sadness, but he’s so devastated by the situation that he cries anyway. It’s the first time you can actually see that he misses her.
Yes it was love just not in the way that most people are used to seeing which is with all the kissing and intimate scenes but through other ways like how they treat each other and care for one another without having to show it through physical contact which is great because more shows and movies need to do that more often especially here in America that’s all you see is kissing and making out which is so annoying to me but I do have to say that if the story was written differently where if dong hoon had gotten divorced and tried having a relationship ji an I wouldn’t mind seeing more of hugging and kisses on the cheeks but also holding hands because all that is normal and not explicit. I just hope in the near future if this genre of romance is slowly becoming a thing in Korea where the main characters have a big age gap between them wether it’s the man or the woman people just need to be able to separate the two and see the show or movie for what it is it’s entertainment and it’s fictional and they’re just acting once they can do that I think things will go a lot more smoothly because I’m pretty sure that the writer and director definitely had to change the script from how they originally had it and the director probably had to change the way he was going to direct from how he originally wanted to direct it to accommodate the the uncomfortableness surrounding the main characters. IU was 25 and lee sun kyun was 43 when they filmed the show and that should not be a problem because at least she’s an adult and not an under age teenager of 15 or 17 and I honestly think the writer and director didn’t see anything wrong with it until the uproar happened which caused them to change the story to make people happy which is a shame because while it worked out in this case and the story did not suffer from the changes I think it unfortunate that writers and directors truly can’t be themselves in taking out the stories they want to because they’re always gonna have to worry about what people are gonna think and say about it
동훈 역시 지안을 사랑한다 네 저 역시 그렇게 생각합니다 그 두사람은 서로가 서로의 상처를 보듬고 치유하며 다시 세상을 살게하는 특별하고도 소중한 인연이 되었으니까요....저에겐 그것이 인간이 인간에게 느끼는 사랑과 존경과 우정, 그것으로만 마무리하기엔 뭔가 좀 부족해보였습니다 단순히 자신과 닮은 고달픈 삶을 사는 여자 아이를 세상앞에 당당히 서게한 착한 어른 그 지점에서 끝내기엔 뭔가 설명하기 어려운 그 무언가가 있는 것 같은거죠 도덕적인 삶을 살아왔던 동훈이기에 또 도덕적인 삶을 강요하는 우리 사회에서 티낼수도 티내서도 안되는 감정 그 복잡 미묘한 감정이 드라마 전반에 깔려있기에 드라마를 보는 우리가 설레기도하고 가슴 아프기도 하고 그 두사람이 밥한끼먹는 장면, 술 한잔 마시는 장면에서도 그리 애틋하고 안쓰러운것이 아니였나 생각해봅니다 여러모로 나의 아저씨는 많은 생각을 하게 하는 작품인것 같습니다 진정한 어른이란? 진정한 사랑이란? 고단한 삶이 고단한 다른 삶을 치유하는 과정 그 모든 것이 이 드라마가 좋은 작품임을 말하고 있는 것 같습니다 저에게도 나의 아저씨는 내내 인생작으로 남을것 같습니다
I've just watched My Mister for the first time, and it is now my favourite drama of all time. It's the only drama I've ever scored 10/10 over on MDL (out of about 150 dramas). Lee Ji-An repeatedly made it clear that she was attracted to Park Dong-Hun, so her love was romantic love (for want of a better tierm). However, Park Dong-Hun's love for Ji-An was platonic, almost like a father daughter type of love. I would have been fine if the writers did put them in a relationship, but I actually think the decision they made to not do this was the best thing for the drama.
I love the fact that you defined the love the two protagonists' had for each other was platonic love. Usually, when people refer to love, they imply romantic love. I think people need to widen their perceptions of what love means. It is not only romantic feelings.
Was it just me who gave NO CARES about the “age gap”? (Yes, I know it’s real; the quotes were to be sassy) If Bella Swan can be with a 100+yr old vampire, then Dong-hoon and Ji-an could have been together. I genuinely don’t understand the criticism/backlash as long as the actors were comfortable. I actually often kept forgetting about the gap lol. By episode 2, they were just people. I really respected Dong-hoon (and found him 10x more attractive) for sticking it out with his wife. He’s the only principled man I’ve seen in Kdramas, and it takes a heck of a lot of maturity and compassion to make a decision like that. However, I’m pretty sure he loved Ji-an romantically, but even if he did get a divorce it would have been hard to justify it due to his characterization. He’s not one to turn on people so quickly just because he was betrayed. Would I have loved to see him take Ji-an in his arms and run off into the sunset? HECK YES!! More importantly, did I feel that they told an amazing story and did his character justice? Absolutely. They didn’t have to end up together to be #GOALS.
jumbeaux1 Really?! I’ve never heard that before. That’s so strange considering all of the nuna romances I’ve watched😂. I’ve never heard of an ajhusshi romance though. Wonder if this double standard is why🤔
Let's not forget he set aside some of his "characters" because of Ji An. Fighting and getting hurt, speaking loudly and may sound disrespectful to Director Yoon. Which is all so amazing because it shows what he can do if its about Ji An.
사랑이라는건 어떤 모양인지 아는사람이 없다고 그랬어요.. 누구는 양탄자 같고, 누구는 밧줄같고, 누구는 통나무 같은 장님이 보는 코끼리의 모습이라고.. 사람이 사람을 사랑하는 것이 그주체가 남녀라고 해서 꼭 육체적 끌림만을 말하는건 아니잖아요.. 저 가시돋힌 아이는 다괜찮다 라고 안아줄 엄마를 원한거고, 내동생 누가 때렸냐고 싸워주는 형제들이 부러웠던 거고, 머리 쓰다듬어 주면서 착하다 말해줄 아빠를 그리워한거고, 늦은밤 전화해 뭐사갈까 물어봐줄 가족을 꿈꿨던것 뿐이잖아요 작은바람에도 떨어질것 같은 할머니라는 가느다란 가족을 붙잡고 매일같이 눈물로짠 외로움을 마셨겠죠.. 때로는 사람의 온기가 그리워서, 때로는 길가 비맞은 새끼고양이 같은 처지가 서러워서 무릎을 끌어안고 발등에 눈물만 떨구던 날도 많았을 거예요.. 세상 모든 딸의 첫사랑이 아빠이듯이 저아이 에게 아저씨는 그림자만도 온기를 느끼고, 발자국 소리만 듣고 있어도 평온을 주는.. 품에안겨 세상살며 억울했던일 일러주고 펑펑 울고 싶은.. 닮고싶고 자랑하고 싶은 아는사람 중에 가장 멋진 사람 아닐까요? 일찍 어른이 되어버린 껍데기만 어른인 저아이에겐 차가운 어른의 세상에서 유일하게 이해하고 안아준 사람 이었고, 가시투성이 인 자신의 삶속에도 장미꽃이 있다는걸 알게해준 아저씨니까
지안은 나쁜(?) 혹은 나쁘게 살 수밖에없던 캐릭터여서 극 초반 착하기만한 동훈을 가식이라고 생각해왔는데, 도청과 일련의 사건들을 겪으면서 '좋은 사람'이라는 걸 깨닫죠. 동훈은 착하고 완벽한 인성과 인간관계를 유지하는 것처럼 보였지만 아내입장에서는 그러지 못하였고, 후반에 망가지는 모습을 보여줌으로 지안과 별반 다를것이 없었죠. 이로인해 우리 모두는 나쁜짓도하고 이기적이기도 하지만 그래도 '좋은 사람' 이다. 라고 서로에게 말해주는것 같았어요. 이것으로 볼 때 둘의 관계는 큰 틀로는 사랑이지만. 사랑이라는 범주안에 있는 '동질감'과, 서로에게 위로가 되는 '고마움'에 가깝다고 생각해요
저도 사랑이 맞다고 봐요. 인간 대 인간적인 사랑이 크게 부각됐지만 그 안에 이성적인 감정도 분명 있어요. 인류애적인 사랑이라고만 보는 건 박동훈을 기계로 생각하는 것과 같아요. 박동훈이라는 인물은 늘 도덕성을 두고 내적 갈등을 합니다. 지안이를 두고도 마찬가지죠. 모든 절제된 행동이 치열한 내적 갈등의 결과입니다. 이성적인 감정이 없다면 지안이에게 선 긋고 밀어낼 필요가 없겠죠. 왜 고맙다는 문자를 보내지 못했을까요, 왜 지안이가 온 후로 정희네를 못 갔을까요. 마음이 있어서 참은 겁니다. 원래 도덕적인 인간은 없어요, 내적인 씨름을 하는 사람이냐, 도덕적으로 살려고 노력하는 사람이냐의 차이입니다. 그래서 동훈이 끝까지 지안에게 선을 지키는 어른으로 남은 거구요.
저는 이 드라마가 "사랑보다 중요한 건 사람이다"라는 걸 보여준다고 생각해요. 화학적 감정의 사랑은 누구나 할 수 있지만, 사람을 구렁텅이에서 구해내고 절망을 희망으로 바꾸는 진짜 사랑은 "좋은(선한) 사람이 사랑할 때" 뿐이죠. 이걸 깨달은 후로는, 바람둥이나 가벼운 사람이 저를 좋아한다고 해서 들뜨지 않고 나만큼 혹은 나보다 더 선한 사람인가를 보려 했던 것같아요. 그래서 저는 두 사람이 남녀로서 좋아했든 그렇지 않든, 아름답다고 생각할 수 있어요.
there was def love from ahjussi but i guess the writers stands by their korean moral which is self control they give so much attention of what will the audience think or else they get a backlash from them. this drama was overall a winner.
He loved her, he loved so much he didn't want to take advantage of her, mistreat her, or hurt her.
He loved her so much he protected her from her own vulnerabilities and desperation.
She would have done anything for him and he knew it, so he repressed his physical desires, and emotional hardships, and refused to damage her any further.
Also his love was not the unrequited type. It was a kind of pure love where he expected nothing in return. His only price was for her to be happy.
Damn bruh.
@@Thesusoperator 🤣🤣🤣
Isn't that literally "parental love"
Exactly!!! Couldn't have said it better!
@@rumirumi7424 yeah there are some parallels to parental love. However this is different because he doesn't have a biological connection to her, and there shouldn't be a need to repress physical desires, in a parental situation.
He walks faster whenever he feels himself falling for her.
Totally noticed that and also the fact that his bothers noticed it (they knew each other so well) by the character personality and the way he act thru the whole show seems to always think in the others and how will affect them so he rather deny everything (in the last episode he was soooo miserable that didn't happen even when he found about his wife cheating) I feel empty with the last episode :( their relationship was so slowly and well develop that the little details means a lot that I want to see more u.u
@@sarahochoarodriguez6315 Donghoon feeling was ambiguous...but the writer was expressing his feeling from the 3rd party from his brothers who obviously notice that their brother is acting well in love?
From his office minions..the tension between them can't be deny..from those directors questioning him what's your relation with this girl..he never even answer one or deny. And there like why are U making that face your making it obvious that you like her
And lastly from our villan,remember when Donghoon punch him 3times?he told him.im not they only immoral her what about you both?donghon was like what??? Realising what he said he's thinking..is my relationship with Jian really that bad in other people's eyes .yes darling Donghoon it's obvious your very obvious no matter how hard you resist that feeling we can see and feel them.
Only understood this by now. Im crying. I thought he was really embarassed to be walking with a young colleague 😭😭😭
@@ladyloubation4871 why would he?he enjoys her company..that episode 9 he waited for her outside the train station :)
i just finished watching this drama on Netflix. I didn't expect it to be so good. It left a longing unexplainable feeling in my chest.
H David yes!!!!! Totally
The best kdrama I have seen in 15 yrs I have been watching Kdrama
@@poptalkdubai8273 same her the best drama and everything about it.
I know exactly what you mean...
Yes.. same. It's a different sad feeling.
Just finished watching this beautiful KDrama last night. Was it love? Heck, YES! We all know she loved him, was touched by his kindness, lived for the sound of him breathing, his footsteps, his voice, was willing to sacrifice her own gains and was fiercely protective of him. Did he love her? Is there really any doubt?? He might have told himself he pitied the kid, but he instinctively protected her each time and would not rest until he knew she was okay. The director gave us big hints, but the biggest give-away for me was how Dong Hoon's eyes followed Ji-an's every move, especially when she wasn't looking. That soft unwavering gaze and his sobbing in the apartment when he felt the big gaping hole in his heart. Loved her beyond any doubt.
OMG YES I know exactly what you mean and I believe he loved her too but that they didn't want physical love to be the focus of the show. A lot of people commented on my reactions that it wasn't love. I get where they're coming from but I choose to believe otherwise 🥰
I always thought that scene after the restaurant one was little random but after listening to you I realize once more that there is no such thing as random scenes in this drama. I Have Little something to add. It's long but I do hope you'll read it and tell me what you think so here's my take on the slippers JA gifts DH.
JA notices how worn out and old DH's slippers are. DH can afford new slippers yet he keeps these old ones. The old worn out slippers can be a metaphor for several things. His relationship with his wife. His heart. The him that keeps everything bottled up. JA buys DH a new pair of slippers which he keeps in his drawer. He doesn't wear them but frequently looks at them. He keeps wearing his old ones but reassures himself by looking at the new ones as if just their presence is enough for him.
The new pair of slippers can be a metaphor for several things. JA and her feelings, of which DH is aware at this point. A new beginning for DH, the healing of his heart. So while DH has still not decided whether to stay in his marriage or not, he won't throw away his old slippers because that's just who he is. He is an honourable man
Then DH goes to his monk friend and has a talk with him, the talk concludes
with the monk friend telling him to stop living a life of sacrifice all the time. DH comes back and does two things. Confronts JY and then Confronts JA.
What exactly does he say to JA? He asks her about the slippers. Where are they? Why did she throw them? Is he not worthy of them? But while talking about the slippers he also says that he won't fire her. That he'll see her complete her contract and then she'll work at another company. 10 or 20 years later when they meet again, he'll greet her warmly. At the same he mentions how its okay for them to talk and meet because he's met her grandmother. Now this is how I interpret this entire thing:
JA gave him the slippers signifying her love. DH keeps the slippers but doesn't wear them. He doesn't throw them away. He keeps them in a drawer close to him where he can sneak looks at them. But he keeps his old ones too. Because he hasn't yet decided what to do about his marriage. What to do with the knowledge that his wife cheated on him. The slippers also represent the him that is all torn and worn out from within because of his way of living. And because of keeping everything within. Once he decides that he's not going to live a life of only sacrifice, he asks JA for the slippers. She threw them away which angers him because its like she threw the feelings she has for him away too. By asking her to buy him new ones and by not agreeing to fire her, he's telling her to wait. If he's worthy of waiting (worthy of slippers he might not wear right now) they'll meet again and he'll greet her 'warmly' (with love). He wants those slippers even though he might not wear them right now. He's asking her not to throw them away just because he's not wearing them right now. He might not be able to pursue a relationship with her right now, even if he does divorce his wife, since it would damage both. But in 10 years time, it won't be that strange. He's telling her that's how long it will have to be before he can pursue something with her. When she's 31 and he's 50 something, no one will bat a lash at them being together. I thought the whole 10-20 years line, topped with him saying 'im begging you meant alot more than simply what he was saying. Because why would her working somewhere else mean that they wont see each other for 10 years? And why say I'm begging you at the end of such an ordinary sentence? Especially for someone as stoic as him. It's because that's the intensity of emotions finally showing. It's also the first selfish thing he does. For a man who lived a life of sacrifice, this is the first moment of selfishness when he tells her that he won't fire her simply because she has feelings for him. He also asks her to wait. Begs her in fact. For someone as emotionally closed off as him, it was pretty intense.
Also he could have rejected her feelings. Multiple times in fact. But he never does. Whenever she tells him she likes him, he never belittles her or rejects her. He either looks away or (as he did in the subway) asks her why she likes him. He never tells her to stop and he never says he doesn't like her in that way. He prefers to hide or run away or ask other questions. Why? If a man like him can reject an invite to dinner or golf from chairman of his company, he can tell a girl he doesn't like her just as easily. That he only sees her as a friend. But he never does. This show is not an explicit love story but the subtle signs are there and I love that
You're absolutely right!
He never rejects her although he was able to because he was an honest man so he was able to cordially tell her that he did not reciprocate her feelings but he did not. He never formally she rejected.
Reading this explains a whole lot. This show had so much subtleness that people are still trying to interpret what it all means to this day but your comment made that mist of uncertainty a whole lot clear. Thank you for this.
Wow, I like your analysis of the slipper, make perfect sense to me. I also think he didn't love his wife anymore, when his wife came clean about the affair, she asked him if he still loves her, but he didn't answered. In EP 16, toward the end, he was crying in the house when he was eating, why do you think he was crying? I think he was crying because he missed Ji An, what do you think ?
@@schoo2894 I think he was crying because he finally realized that his married life and his marriage was over. It was his emotions finally hitting him all at once. He didn't get the time to fully think about it because something was always happening. It was him finally letting some of his pent up emotions leak through. He the kind of guy who shows very little of his heart to the world. When he finally sat down in front of his family picture, he realized that he can no longer have that back. Because no matter how terrible his wife was, fact is she WAS his wife.
What an incredible analysis of the slippers. I think you are spot on.
I also think that Park Dong Hoon loved Lee Ji An. But he was still a married man, and plus much older than her. I can imagine he had tons of conflicted thoughts. Also, I think they showed us their love in a very non physical way, because of the bad critics about the age gap. And I think Lee Ji An was in a similar state of mind as Park Dong Hoon, because she is not your typical 21 year old girl, her hard life made her mature much sooner, that's why they get along so well, they understood each other even without words.
I agree with you, i think there were a lot of critics even before the show aired, saying it's "inappropriate" so the show tried to show us that love doesn't have to be inappropriate. it's as simple as two very different people understanding each other!
@@kdramacouple his character was an idiot, staying with his wife who found a way to get away without any kind of repercussions for spring with another man and plotting to destroy him
@@chaboi7
No, I believe it was actually because of his son that he kept the marriage up. If the family separated that would take a huge toll on the mental state of the child tbh. So i think he really only stayed for the son because he looks at the family photo in the apartment in the last episode.
@@chaboi7 Also, she was terrible. I can see her trying redeem herself a little bit but the way she put a hole in this mans heart! And the fact that she would've continued hooking up with his CEO if she hadn't heard the recording from Leejian boils my BLOOD. 😃🌸
Remember she's actually 30,000 years old, so the age gap is much more extreme.
I agreed, I think Dong Hoon loves Ji An, may be even deeply. In the whole series, he never looked at his wife the way he looked at Ji An. Even though he and Ji An walked in silence next to each other, it was so intimate, it was like they don't need words. When Ji An was listening to him on the phone doing nothing, just walking and breathing, even that was extremely intimate, Ji An said it herself, she like listening to his footsteps and his breathing. But Dong Hoon couldn't act on his love for her because of several reasons:
1) Age difference: Dong Hoon is a very traditional, kind, principle man, he was 20+ years older than Ji An, that age gap is not acceptable in Korean society.
2) He is married, even though his wife cheated on him and he didn't love his wife anymore, he still wanted to keep his family intact.
In EP 16, he was crying in the house after Ji An left, I think he cried because he missed Ji An.
Also, the ending, he has a big smile on his face when he met Ji An again, I think the producer created that scene to that viewer can choose the ending of their choice. For the viewers that fancy a relationship between the 2 lead characters, that was an indication of a future between them, they will be meeting for a meal, both were in a much better place now, both were so happy to see each other. I don't think the producer will show an ending that showing a man in the late 40s having a relationship with a woman in the early 20s, that would be a huge turn off for Korean audients. So they will leave it for the imagination of the viewers.
I wanted a relationship between those two so hard
I disagree with your reasoning for why Dong Hoon cried in his apartment.
While an argument could be made that the show-runners are hinting at a relationship developing further between the two based on the final scene, the reason why that argument is flawed is because of the last couple shots of the handshake scene. Both times the camera showed Dong Hoon and Ji An looking back at each other, they could only see the other's backs. In fact, Ji An watched Dong Hoon walking away. In television, and cinema in general, no shot is filmed without purpose. The editing of this scene cements the true resolution of these two characters' relationship. They met, impacted each other's lives in a beautiful way, and can now, literally, walk away from each other. Moving on to keep living their own lives. As friends, for sure, but nothing more. Their story has ended.
@@ZionJang I would like to believe their story didn’t end there omg 😭 that’s sad af. But, my take is also they don’t pursue romantic relationships. They will be in each other’s lives as companions/ soulmates/ friends that had a tough and meaningful past together. Like ji ahn will go to his house when there’s occasions and dong hoon will go to her wedding/ be her child’s godfather something like that 🙏🏼🙏🏼✨
@@ZionJang I agree with this one. I think PDH cries in his apartment on ep 16 is bc the words from his little brother. His brother (Gi Hoon) said that he believes that everyone has the power to heal themselves. Ki hoon's words come with a scene where PDH went shopping and eat alone at his apartment, looking at his family picture (him, his wife n kid). I think that at the moment, he realizes that after what he's been through.. He is still alone. Ji An left. His wife left. And he realizes that the one who can heal all the pain is himself (like what Gi Hoon said)
I think in the end, he will divorce his wife for her.. coz its obvious they are both in love with each other.. i hope they show some scenes where they both have a good married life with each other.. he should just forget about his wife and his son for lee ji-an.. this show just made me realize the harsh reality of life and human nature.. i've seen a lot of pictures with pdh and lja without his family so my hope about his family healing disappeared quickly.. harshly sad but i guess their love for each other is more strong.. its heartbreaking for me to see his family disappear but i guess the movie has to promote the romance between them..
I was so amazed by the series, (I have watched it about 6 times now) that I went to blogs about it. And on one of them, they noted the handshake. It was a very very long handshake........ and they noted that when he finally let go, he had the imprint of his fingers on her hand. And this is the guy who never touched her before that. So, in the year since they saw each other last, something big has changed. AND, they both walked away with pep in their steps, because they know there will be more. I personally thing this is the greatest TV show ever, in any language. It is like Nobel prize winning literature, just put on the small screen.
The last episode clearly insinuated that Park Dong Hoon really loved Ji An, to a point he got lovesick and broke out crying in his living room. And when he got to see her again, he lit up and the final episode make us believe they are open for a relationship beyond friends.
Some might have overlooked this specific scene and the little details it portray so hear me out.
notice how DH behaved after he learned that JA tapped his phone... get your tissues ready.
at the cinema , remember how he's holding his phone, not just holding it but somewhat caressing it with his hands. I interpreted his phone as JA. They didn't have a lot of skinship throughout this drama, no hugs or holding hands (except of those towards the end, but yeaa, not much skinship), but look at how he holds his phone. He's very gentle with it, somewhat showing that he sees JA as a delicate person, he wants to protect her, he cares for her. And before he went and confront DJY at the parking lot, he placed his phone carefully below his chair, DH taught thought that JA is listening already (but she's not) so he wanted to place his phone carefully to not bother JA listening to him.
After he confronted DJY, he went back at the cinema, he didn't talk that much with his phone at the previous cinema scene, he reached out for his phone below his chair. Pay attention in how he's holding his phone now, he's gripping on it, and holding it tightly with his two hands. He misses JA and wants her back. He's longing for her, "lee ji an" he said finally, holding the phone still. "lee ji an" "call me".
This scene really broke my heart and also warms it, I hope yours too.
People like Park dong hoon is rare in this world....
Omg I was just trying to remember his name when I saw your comment. Thank you so much. It's already been a year since i watched this, but yes you are right.
I completely agree.
There really isn't a moment in this drama that is out of place or unintentional..I've watched it 4 times now and it gets more moving everytime..also ...if she takes him out for dinner and they just relax and get together I'd be super happy...because it's great when two people get together that love each other 20 years difference or not.... at the end she's in a position of strength as signified by her inviting him to dinner...I love the ending...the writing and the direction on this is phenomenal...✊
This was one of the best kdramas I've ever seen. I felt that they both came to deeply love and understand each other. It felt like I was watching two people realize and recognize their soul mate.
The fact that the filmmakers kept their love and relationship pure and platonic, kind of raises it to a higher level.
Great review. I really feel like a better person for having watched the show. As to whether PDH loves Li Jee-an, his character arc is the process of falling out of love with his wife Kang Yoon Hee, and falling in love with Li Jee-an. PDH is moral and self sacrificing. He's married and I think committed to that marriage. I know he sees the cracks in their relationship getting bigger but actively avoids talking about it with his wife. This is a cause of her unhappiness and one of the reasons for her affair. Once they finally do talk, PDH let's out his pent up anger by punching a door. It's brilliant how the hole in the door leads to Kang Yoon Hee revealing to Park Gi Hoon (PDH's younger brother) that she's had an affair. As you discussed, their are many symbolic references to structures. A door being used either to close something off or open up something that was locked.
We know that Li Jee-an wants to be with PDH, she declares it to both him on the street when he slaps her and to his wife when she she says that she is jealous of her. She wants Kang Yoon Hee to know that she loves her husband and asks her straight up, how she could discard a man like PDH? in the interrogation scene with CEO Do Joon Yeong, when asked if she likes PDH, she asks him what he really knows about liking someone and if it's just cheap. She knows this will hurt Kang Yoon Hee, and even though Kang Yoon Hee is defending her says it anyway. She loves PDH and can't contain her anger at Kang Yoon Hee for the pain she caused him. What I love about Li Jee-an is her fearlessness, she is BRAVE, and is not afraid to call things out or hold back her feelings, even when she gets hurt for it. She is also vulnerable, even fragile at times. IU really blew me away in her portrayal, what a talented lady. I also want to call out Lee Ji Ah's role of Kang Yoon Hee, she had a tough part and I think she played it just right, by not being too sympathetic.
My interpretation of the end is that PDH and his wife are in the process of separating, though I've heard the opposite. Kang Yoon Hee leaves for the States after Li Jee-an moves to Busan. I think she realizes that PDH has fallen for Li Jee-an, but that they might be able to keep up the facade of a relationship with a damaged foundation because PDH is self sacrificing. I think she intentionally takes herself out of the picture to focus on their son (who really has been neglected by them both) and to release PDH, knowing he won't really be happy.
Alone in his Apt PDH feels the seismic loss of his marriage and realizes how much he misses Li Jee-an. He's finally coming to grips with his feelings. This earthquake rocks him to the point he's breaking down and throwing up in the bathroom (a theme that gets repeated with the aspiring actress). But the integrity of his character's foundation with LJA's added support keeps him from collapsing, even though she's not there. It's also the vision of the founder of the firm he was a part of. To create structures that can withstand these kind of shocks. Li Jee-an was able to rebuild her life with the founder's support and PDH could recover and start his own firm. The founder's vision is a powerful theme in My Mister.
Finally, PDH allows himself to be happy. To let go. To fully open the door to Li Jee-an's love. He's loved her, maybe even from their second meal. It's in fate's hands now.
When Li Jee-an hears PDH's voice in a Cafe in Seoul, a voice she is so intimate with, look at the lighting of this scene, sound and camera work. The Director of Photography on this show, Choi Yun Man, did so much to amplify the drama here. LJA and PDH shake hands, but this is not really a hand shake. PDH initiates this touch. It's the first time he's asked LJA if he can touch her. He holds her hand for many moments longer than a friend would. She reciprocates by asking him to dinner, he nods yes. When they leave he turns back to look at her, something he has not done before. She then turns to look at him. They long for each other. I wish them much happiness together. What a beautiful love story with not even one kiss.
😭 Now I'm crying and shipping them all over again. That's the version I tend to believe too. the story is a morality story so if PDH gave in to the temptation of LJA within the shows story arc he would have become a bad guy like Do Joon Yeong. So by leaving that out of it and just hinting at it in the end he can remain a hero and their relationship feels more pure
@@kdramacouple Like LJA's grandmother said. A precious love like the kind you have with a soul mate. However that love gets expressed between the two of them is not really the point of the show. But being men and women, there is the drive for physical intimacy. I think the writer and Director gave many signals that both characters desired that intimacy. In the end LJA expressed her love both physically and emotionally to her grandmother so fiercely, holding nothing back. But in the beginning of the show LJA was very distant emotionally to her grand mother. As her heart opened from PDH's showing her kindness and support, she was able to share that love with her grand ma. Grand ma felt this love and was so grateful to PDH that she gave him her hand to hold in the nursing home. PDH then took LJA's hand in the same way at the end. So carrying this forward we can imagine LJA loving PDH physically with the same fierceness that she expressed to her grand mother, holding nothing back now that PDH's heart is ready to accept it.
In the very first episode his brother says of him, “whenever HD has a choice between desire and conscience, he chooses the latter”. That’s a foreshadowing that he’ll soon desire something but keep a clear conscience. He desires her.
There was also that scene where sanghoon was talking about a movie scenario about an ajusi who got back sprain and later on fight back on life and all those who mistreat him..then Donghoon said something is missing..a woman..then brothers said yeah right..how she gonna enter the story then the next scene is Jian working in Resto..all those convo was a foreshadow about Donghoon and Jian..:)
That exactly what I thought. Throughout the whole drama even though they confide in each other he keeps a distance from her. He doesn’t want to have any physical contact. Then he gets angry when she tries to kiss him. After or before that scene they replayed what his brother said. Seems like he was afraid he was starting to like her.
can we all just day dream that there is an episode 17 where finally there will be the slightest hope that these 2 will end up together? to hell with the 20 yrs or even 30 yrs old gap! age is just a number!!
I definitely agree. He loves her but he wants to do the right thing which he always has. He keeps everything to himself for the sake of everyone around him even though he is in emotional pain. It’s his nature to be kind, reserve, quiet but at he same time you can feel the weight of his deep emotions by his silence and subtle nuances. He knows he is married with a son, he has a traditional mother whom he loves dearly at the same time he didn’t want to hurt and burden, he knows she is young, subordinate and he didn’t want her to think he loves her out of pity. In his mind, it’s inappropriate to fall in love with her because of all those reasons.
Im hoping for season 2. I wanted to see how the writer will continue to lay out the story and how the director and actors execute.
This is one of my most UNEXPECTED favorite kdrama of all time. I cried for days. It still lingers in my mind up to this day. My heart aches whenever I hear the soundtrack. It is a painfully beautiful story. What a masterpiece. Kudos to everyone who made this series. #mymister#iu#iumymister#leesungyun#❤️❤️❤️👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I love the tension that was creaated between characters. You'll feel the pull and push of emotions of them both esp Park Dong Hoon. I love those small glances that he gives her that his brothers would catch on sometimes. I guess there is really that "man code" that they just know it you know. I love how the writer played around the character of Dong Hoon esp when he was asked (i forgot who) what his name meant. He said that it means power so true to his name, he was able to hold it powerfully inside him so he didnt act on his emption. Remember, he was known to be the man who would do things the right way all the time so eventhough he knew he had those feelings for her already (you can see it all over his face and man, through his eyes), but he held it. I love how the series ended that because Lee JiAn had been listening to his voice all the time, I know that she would recognize his voice even from afar. That's one of the many scenes I cried at because if you really love someone, regardless how many years it had been, you would recognize him. And did you also notice how he spoke to her before they parted ways? He was really holding it in and being all formal, his eyes showed how much he admired and missed her so much. The production outift picked the best actors to portray their characters other than them.
Ye's that last scene he was holding it in he really wants to pull her to embrace but gush it's public area..so maybe just a handshake for now..and that last line .Jian have U found comfort..how Jian sounds like when he says it just ohh Lord I'm melting .and Jian gave him 2 yeses..yes I found all the physical comfort .and yes I found my home here in your arms.
I do think it was love but I stand by the fact it was not necessarily a romantic one. I think I read somewhere the cast and crew had said there wouldn't be any romance (at least in your typical kind of way). But it was still love, just not one we are used to be shown. A love that is profound and based on respect and trust and understanding.
The show focuses a lot on human relationships : professional ones, how to "behave" at work, what is expected of you, etc, a tight-knit relationship between brothers, between a whole neighborhood, akin to a community (that part really struck me). And one of the focus is the different kind of love : a mother's love (DH's mother), brotherly love (between the Park brothers), a faded love (Dong Hoon and Yun-Hee), a lost love (Jung-Hee and Gyum-duk), "adopted" love (Dh's mother and Jung-Hee, they act almost like mother and daughter), a secret/shameful love (Yun-Hee and Joon-young), romantic love (Gi-Hoon and Yoo-ra). There are A LOT of different types of relationships and different kinds of love shown in the show and I do believe Dong-Hoon and Ji-An was one kind as well just. I see it more in a kindred spirit form of love ? Despite having clear different (almost opposite) goals, they are a lot alike in the sense they are both completely lost and trapped in their life. I think it's the fact they understand each other so well (and especially in their silence) that makes them need one another a lot because it's a bit like a life jacket, they can finally breathe with each other because they understand, they know how it feels.
Of course the directing and the cinematography makes things ambiguous but when you talked about the scene at subway station filmed from Ji-an's POV ? That's why I think the show's ambiguous. Because it's clear Ji-an loves him, in a more romantic kind of way (at least for some time). She mistakes it for romantic love because in a life of abuse he's the first person to show her decency, kindness and support. But since many scenes are shot from Ji-an's POV, the cinematography reflects that aspect and how Ji-an feels.
I had not thought about the metaphor of the building and the restaurant being Dong-Hoon's mind which is pretty amazing and I don't have a lot to say about that except that the incline of the pointy thing might also be a representation of how Dong-Hoon is conflicted (just generally) and how, just like the building, he could finally move and "break".
A scene that struck me and still makes me go more towards the kindred spirit type of love is the fight with Kwang-il. Bear in mind I don't speak Korean so I'm only basing my assumption on translations and thus I might be mistaken on that and the Korean words say more/something else. But when Kwang-il reveals Ji-an killed his father, Dong-Hoon says he would have done the same. If someone had beaten up his /family/ he would have killed them too. I felt that in that moment Dong Hoon was not just talking about his mother, his brothers or his son but he also talked about Ji-an. I think in that moment, he considered her family. Because just as he says that he launches himself against Kwang-il (again) to resume the fight. It was a key scene for me to help highlight just how their relationship had progressed but also helped define it. Dong Hoon feels Ji An is his family.
The format and genre are clearly following a romance story format however if we play on words a romance story can also be called a "love story" and love come in all shapes and forms.
Anyway, that's a very interesting discussion and you had good arguments. It's just that the age gap is really too much for me and that I think it's also important to see different type of love being shown and developped on TV, one that is not commonly talked about.
Have a good day :) !
Nice! I love how you pointed out on the different kinds of love shown throughout the story indeed, love is powerful. Thank you
Totally agree with you,, I think it's surely love but just not in romantic kind of love.
The best take home message was Grandma Bong Ae's last words to JA about how every relationship is precious and special. Like the kind of relationship that JA and DH has. Not romance nor kinship but something this world needs more of.
It was one of my favorite part of the drama
❤️❤️❤️ yesss like soulmates/ companions
Facts! Even though I think they would be great as romantic partners. I'm half & half, the idea of an Romantic relationship between them is literally so great. But my other half is like I think the point of the show was to show us a kind of relationship that's deep, pure & actually meaningful. It didn't need romance. They're legitimately soulmates, but they don't have to be the romantic kind to have a good relationship with each other. This is a kinda relationship that doesn't have a name & gives you an unknown feeling.
@RangaRoo. 👍. Yup. Grandma has the best message and that was what the drama was really about.
This K Drama was amazing with all the supporting cast and their issues and flaws and scars and how we must all learn to handle them and to be positive and work through them despite all of our flaws. Just accept we are imperfect.
It’s interesting too how Grandma did her best to stay alive despite living in such cold and lonely conditions. She didn’t want to leave JA all alone despite being a burden.
Once she was put in the comfortable care facility and she knew JA would be fine and had somebody to look after JA she quietly passed on.
The funeral was great and had lot of meaning too.
I think a big part of DH’s love and attraction and admiration of JA was that despite her having such a difficult life she was kind to her grandmother.
I really love this too and agree so much! Their relationship is so precious and one in a zillion.
Yes, they were in love. It was love in the purest form. They wanted you to accept the love between an older man and a younger woman without biases. Which most people have when they see an older man and younger woman in a relationship without knowing their life stories. She states this in a sense when she tell you that once people find out she has killed a person without knowing any facts stop being a friend to her. The grandmother, his wife, younger brother, bar owner and older man have all given their relationship a “green light.”
Its self evident that they both live each other in a deep abiding sense of the term. The whole debate of romance or not is besides the point - how romance is expressed varies across cultures and also individual personalities.
To me the first pivotal scene is when Dong Hoon are when he asks for the slippers. The slippers are a symbol of what he sees as his intimate connection to Lee Jian, hence his initial hesitancy to wear them but his sense of loss when she takes them back. The ask for the slippers is basically an expression of his asking for her love, and an admission of his.
The second key scene is when Lee Jian, at the hospital, wonders why he doesn't hate her inspite of her prying in to his intimate life. He says that when you truly know someone, you can't hate them and he truly knows her. Here, the word "know" is again a substitute for love. Fact of the matter is that understanding doesn't always eliminate a negative reaction. One can know and yet despise. But in Dong Hoon's telling, knowledge can only lead to understanding and acceptance. He isn't making a universal point here, he is simply acknowledging his truth as it relates to Lee Jian. He knows her, accepts and embraces her motivation, and thanks her. That's true love.
Oh god, thanks so much for this video. I was afraid to see the reactions of the audience about this drama. My Mister is absolutely a beautiful and realistic story. And I definitely think that he loved her, it's just that he was a very correct man and he never wanted to give up his family customs, however he loved her. We can see him in the silence of the scenes, when they are talking on the phone, he sighs so much without saying anything and his eyes look so sad and about to cry because he may never see her again, and that's why he runs to look for her Because he is desperate and refuses to lose her, I think it is very obvious that he feels more than a friendship for her. They both saved each other and in the end when they say goodbye he looks so sad, but when they meet again he smiles like he never did before.
Sorry because my comment is misspelled. I do not speak English but I loved your video, I practically translated word for word to understand you and I loved your analysis of the relationship between Doon-Hoon and Ji-an.
They love each other!
I like to think that after their last meeting they started a romantic relationship.
Well this will be long comment.
I think it was definitely love on both sides. Something like platonic love. The show showed more than enough hints that he actually loves her as a woman. Like the ones you talked about in this video. From the beginning it was shown that she is different from others, she don't trust people easily and she had that ,,aura" that he was familiar with himself. That loneliness, emptiness. Also I think Ji An's ability to uderstand Dong Hoon on like spiritual level also made a huge impact on how he saw her. Maybe before he knew her he was like ,,she could be like a daughter to me or etc", but after knowing her everything changes because she is more wise and mature than she could look at first.
I don't think we even need to prove Ji An's love for him because it was obvious. He was first person apart her grandmother who showed her that her life can be different. That you can be happy. That things get better. It was so touching to see how she cares for him and want protect those relationships he has with his family, friends and her.
I personally believe they reached the highest level of love. They both wish each other to be happy no matter if they are together or not.
I loved this drama. It is one of my favorite dramas ever. The cast and story were amazing.
There was a lot of scenes that made me cry. It was filmed in such a beautiful ways.
That call scene you talked about was really hard to watch. You could feel the pain itself like it was yours. It was more than enough to understand how they feel about each other.
I still have the song that Dong Hoon sang in bar in my phone. I don't know, the way he sings and how it sounds when she listen, just makes me understand that longing feeling and I want to keep listening to it.
Also I can't forget the scene when he finally found her in last episodes and she was so scared that he may hate her for listening him all the time. The acting was no joke in that scene.
And my most favourite scene is on ep 5. There is whole clip on YT called Park Dong Hoon's sense of snow. I loved the music, how it was portrayed, how it was built. Those sighs and breaths. That short comment about how he ,,can't die because he's not wearing fancy underwear" was somehow very touching and realistic at the same time. I made whole clip into mp3 and I listen when I can't sleep. It actually helps me to hear both of their breaths and that pain. And music suited well. Her running to him, him - falling down and geting up. I don't know. I just can watch that whole scene like hundreds of times and still be astonished how well it was made.
So yeah. Whole drama made huge impact for me. It was amazing in every aspect and I hope both writer and director will work together on something again.
Bravo! Your comment is so correct. I totally agree with you. He loves her without a doubt.
"They reached the highest level of love"
ON POINT!! ❤
YES to everything you said 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼
Park doong hoon loves her. He always get stuck deeply to think of her. He wants to protect her with all of his power. He tries to hide this feeling because of the situation that he live. But in four or three the last episodes , he shows this feeling with out control. He decided not to care the others opinion. He always wants to protect her even from far away.
I love this kind of love. They were so emotional. Even with all of the hard situations that they live♥️
Just watched all your My Mister reactions I enjoyed them, mirrored my own when I watched it when it aired. I was obsessed with this drama it was so well written, directed and acted (and the music!)
what was I gonna say got sidetracked gushing... oh yeah just gonna add one subtle cue of the "love" line was that ep where Dong Hoon and the gang played soccer and he won a match for them there was a scene where one of the guys in the truck did a heart sign at him then the truck moves and it reveals Ji An and he sees her and his eyes go large.
another is most of the scene with his monk friend advising him to go for what he "wants"
in the forums too, ppl keep mentioning how the term he uses for his wife in the cafe scene in the last ep changed implying they are divorced or separated. oh and how the director added that detail of Ji An's hand getting red from Donghoon's tightgrip and the long contact, he was holding her hand pretty long... we know how he is with initiating contact so what can we conclude from that long hold ;) (ok this got long haha)
btw this post at soompi gives an amazing insight to how the director tells a story through "windows/mirrors" forums.soompi.com/topic/408082-drama-2018-my-mister-%EB%82%98%EC%9D%98-%EC%95%84%EC%A0%80%EC%94%A8-best-drama-at-2019-55th-baeksang-arts-awards/?do=findComment&comment=21294719
Hi dear! Thank you so much for this comment and information! I think I saw the same blog post talking about her hand being squeezed by him ahhaha. Thanks for watching it with me and fangirling along :)
@@tatekane Thanks for that link! The frame of the candle between the actors was brilliant symbolism.
As a 65 year old American woman, I thought the entire show was about romantic love! Romantic love between main characters, his brother and the actress, and the childhood friends. Heartbreaking. When I read the director and the lead character said it was not romantic, I thought what??? I frankly was surprised. If it had been just friendship, then 1. he would probably been in a happy marriage, no slow running, gazing, standing close, romantic music ,and 2. he might have been older and she might have been younger (he in his 60's and she around 15). lShe was of age, and he was so unhappy with a wife who did not understand him. His brother's knew that he cared for her and not as a daughter, and they are ok with it because they ultimately loved him and knew that his wife was so wrong for him, The tension between the two, in a physical sense, was not just friendship, in my opinion. One of his co-workers even says that she is sexy and he does not contradict him. To me, while it was not sealed with a long lingering kiss, it was left with a hug, a handshake, and a future meeting. The age difference did not bother me. Of course I am viewing this from an American cultural lens. Any opinions? Loved it!
Completely agree with you Susan. It was romantic love between the two.
I ve been reading some of the comments. And I felt as if the scene in ep 16 where dong hoon cries is misinterpreted into thinking he misses ji an. I think that the scene before where his brother was talking about a movie about a abused child was very important , and which allows us to understand this scene .His brother said the children had ability to heal after the hardship the child faces. He said that purposely because he wanted dong hoon to realise that breaking up the marriage with his wife would be ok. He should not feel caged into the marriage because of the child they have. He wanted dong hoon to realise that breaking up the marriage meant a little pain for his son but he ll get over it. And dong hoon realised that and I felt like he cried because that’s his goodbye and this is emphasised by him starting to cry after seeing the family picture. He was leaving a part of him behind the one which he saw the picture. A person who sacrifices. So I think dong hoon and his wife broke up because we see her living in America with her son
For me that scene Donghoon has pretty lost everything he has now...no job,his wife gone to America(divorce) and Jian is gone .he's pretty much in rock bottom...He's brother is trying to comfort him don't worry you will be okay if those child in the movie survive you too will Jian will,he's brother also ask him about Jian and that's makes me feel lonely more and worried if she's okay.
@@misshaz1331 same here I also interpreted it that way
This is the real definition of LOVE - TO WILL THE GOOD OF THE OTHER. So, was it love? Definitely! While many of the characters love one another in different ways and levels, the love of Dong-hoon and Jo-Ann was the extreme...they went beyond and over and above the expected. It was inspiring to see them offer their lives to save each other from "death." Their love brought them back to life. In the end, their love brought much fruit - they are now fully human and fully alive. What a magnificent love story for humanity.
This is unconditional and pure love. T___T ;___;
'여러분 각자가 생각하시는게 맞습니다' 라고 감독님이 말씀하셨어요.
관객의 깊이만큼 보이고
많은 생각을 하게 되는 것. 그것이 명작이죠.
I think he kept his distance while trying to salvage his relationship with his wife showing again and again his noble decency, but when they meet again in the restaurant there is such openness, health, happiness, and warmth from both...you can tell there is love and the possibility for a beautiful love
That is such a beautiful interpretation...
I hope so 😃
“It’s not a love story, but a human story.” This was the way the producer convinced IU to take the role.Think of the words Lee Ji Grandma says befor she dies. Precious relationships, not mentioning which type of relationship...
I agree .. he was so in love but he couldn't let his feelings control him. he kept denying it because he is a "good man" he always try to do only the right things. he is so selfless but one thing for sure.. she loved him even more. there's this gratitude feelings between them that are even stronger than love. IT'S COMPLICATED hahaha
The last scene pretty much confirmed it for me. I thought at the time that due to the age difference they left it a little open as so many people get huffy about such things.
He surely loved Jian but because he was a married man and a good man that he suppressed his feelings. Although it's an open ending I tend to believe that Dong Hoon had divorced or separated with his wife and it's a new chapter for him and Jian
I agree with you
The show give many hints about divorce the bar man.hes brother sanghoon when he advice him just divorce your wife for peace of mind
That marriage can't be fix..the affair was laid open.she cause humalation to Donghoon and who knows if these gang already know the news.if she ask for forgiveness she needs to ask forgiveness to all the hugye gang.
@@misshaz1331 Why would she need to ask "the gang" for forgiveness? She is not married to them and they're not part of the in-laws family.
I personally think that he loves her. His reaction after seeing her is a give away as well as when she was leaving. Same thoughts here. I wish they showed that they were together, for my own peace of mind. Haha
Anna Nimus they for sure end up together
Of course he loves her. If the writers/director did not want to infer they would end up together there would have been a mention of her having someone in her life. There was none, not even a clue she had been dating.
Yes, I wished the same. It was unsettling when they parted again though it may be for a short-while >.
The fact that I came here without even finishing the drama, started crying on epd 11, I really believe DH love JA, but because of the age it was not that simple. It's a love you don't need words, that represents what a soulmate would be.
i love this drama. Thanks for reviewing it. i really admired Dong Hoon's character. He wasn't perfect, but he tried his very best to live a righteous life. I just feel sad that he felt sad inspite of his always choosing to do what is right.. He probably loved Jian more than as a friend, but because of his principles, he would not go beyond that.. and like his character, it was the right thing to do. It protected him from harm. it made him the admirable, noble and reliable family member and friend Dong hoon. it made life less complicated. He just had to focus on the success of his career and the well-being of his colleagues, his family abroad, his friends. and in the end, it made him happy. JIan helped him think differently. Actually, the circumstances in their lives enabled them to help each other.. the story focused on them, but really, that neigborhood and those people there, who were family and friends--they are such lovable people.. the drama showed the bad things that happened in their lives, but they did not become bad people. they remained to be family and friend to others, helping each other, making each other's life worth living... we need more dramas like these that will make us want to become better persons after watching them
Absolutely, I want to be a better person after watching this drama. If I can live in a community with the kind of support and love shown in the series, I think I could get through anything.
I just finished watching this kdrama tonight and my heart is happy. Indeed, it was a heart- wrenching drama (I swear it made me cry every single episodes) but it will really leave an impact of how you might see things as an adult. That learning never really just stop at a certain age. But most of all, this drama has the purest kind of love withstanding limitations unconditionally. The kind of love worth keeping even without having a 'formal' relationship.
I like the scene where Park Dong Hoon and his brother are driving home from the soccer game and Park is miserable. They come to a red light and one of his teammates pulls up next to him and looks at him and makes a heart with his hands, then pulls away and Lee Ji An is standing there. It is scenes like this the writer is really saying it's love. Lee Ji An's stares say it all. SHE is in love with him, no doubt. With him, he is such a good guy, that the age gap keeps things at a length which is why, the first time, he turns down the hug. Later when he has finally admitted to himself that he loved her he, like you said, initiates the hug. The director used scenes and pauses to give you hints to what is being felt, not words. He wants us to agonize over this and try to figure out the answers!LOL!
The best drama ever in my opinion. I love IU's acting.
They will be together. The hi contast from his saddest scene to smiling like its the best day of your life which only comes from kids and spouses and true loves. His family left to the states for at least a decade which means his wife and him never repaired. Also near the end when he without any time on screen does not care that she knows everything about him and is never upset with her about lying. That type of thing is impossible for most couples or people at any point in their relationship. To have the that with someone beyond lies and face value and to know what they think and feel, is not something that will ever happen to them again.
If Donghoon is not married and younger, then he would definitely fall in love with Jian. That's his mind. But there are many reality issues that keep him from expressing his love for her. Donghoon loves Jina by heart.
I agree!
Donghoon very much in love with Jian..
At first it was attraction the vibes connect them.
He can't help but getting drawn more to her.
The man must forgotten the feeling being in love but Jian stir him..Hes becoming not himself anymore..destructed when she's there..and even when he's not looking at her but feels so relieved just having her around in the office.
Her kissing him left him shaky its been a while he feel this excitjng feeling he scared because he knows he's not meant to feel like it and it's shaking him what should I do I can't stop it
Dong hoon was no longer in love not motivated that's why when that feeling stir inside he's lost.
Ohh God that feeling when you have a crush and she keep hitting on you but you have no idea how to deal with it .it must so hard for him he tried his best..calculating but he failed it's too late Jian already under his skin.
So sad to hear the news of Lee Sun-kyun who played Park Song-Hoon's death today 27 December 2023. He was such a wonderful actor, my favourite Korean actor by far.
From my point of view, Park Dong Hoon is a men with integrity that cares mores about other feelings than his own. The fact about his marriage and family is way up from his personal feelings, he deeply loves Lee JiAn so much that make him cry alone. His thoughts are always carrying for her, wishing her happiness and wellness i think that kind of love comes from the soul.
This is that kind of drama you think a lot about after watching because it's equally important what is said and what is left unsaid. I love it. 🖤
So much was communicated through a breath, a glance, a touch, a smile. To me PDH's smiling and happy eyes while looking at LJA and holding her hand at the end said it all.
I felt that they also had an attraction to one another. He always referred to her as a kid...because she was younger but that also gave him cover....she's a kid...He was drawn to her and she to him.. It happens people can find someone that they are really drawn too and they don't know why....Maybe Karma. ha ha. But they were both looking for something to hold on too. This relationship broke through for both of them. She didn't even know him that well...had no child with him yet she always took his side. She couldn't help herself. Yes she wanted the money to survive but in spite of it all she always found a way to work both angles and still protect him. She loved him. She was drawn to him...she respected him and the way he always took the high road. Then when she could hear him on the phone he became her whole world. She could hear him breath, walk and think and discuss things and who would do that except that you love them and can't get enough. It was like being with him physically. He was good to her and Grandma. She saw what a great person he was and no one was like that in her world except Grandma and her school friend . When he asked his wife do you need anything this meant so much to her. To have someone call to see if you needed anything. It made her feel how lucky his wife was to have this in a man. The wife was irritated by it. She was curt to him when he said that.
She had taken him for granted. The girl loved him for it. People change over time and maybe he and his wife lost their way and really didn't communicate any more....The girl and he were needing someone by their side and it hit both of them at the same time.
They were both desperate to connect. my feelings only. pat
Hi Pat! Thank you so much for watching and sharing your reviews with us!
one that makes a lot of sense remember his wife was cheating on him so he didn't wanted to do what his wife did, that is why he compressed his feelings for her
전 박동훈은 무의식적으로 이지안을 사랑했다고는 생각합니다. 다만 그의 도덕성은 그 사랑을 절대로 용납하지 않았을 거에요. 그 이유는 그는 유부남이고 직장에서나 남편으로서나 어떠한 불이익을 겪어도 그의 자리에서 벗어나지 않고 최선을 다하는 인생관을 지녔기 때문입니다. 그런 사람은 자신의 룰을 잘 깨지 않죠. 깨도 죄책감에 시달릴 것입니다.
저 개인적인 생각으로는 드라마 작가님이 대본을 쓰실 때 이성으로서의 결말을 지을 것인지 플라토닉으로서 결말을 지을 것인지 결정을 하지 않은 채로 진행을 해서 그렇게 애매모호하게 진행 했다고 생각합니다. 한국 드라마에 그런 경우 많거든요. 열린 결말로 시작을 했다가 나중에 시청자들의 반응을 보며 최종적인 결말을 결정하는... 그래서 드라마엔 이성으로 느끼고 있다는 암시를 두기는 하지만 결정적인 장면은 결코 안 나온다고 생각합니다. 어느 쪽으로든 결말을 지을 수 있게 복선을 넣어 놓은 것입니다. 그런데 당시 포털 사이트의 댓글에 둘의 인간적인 관계에 대해 긍정적인 댓글들이 많았습니다. 둘이 이성으로 완전히 만나버리면 그 시청자들의 후폭풍이 두려웠을 것입니다. 또 여성들의 댓글 중엔 주인공 둘의 나이 차이가 많이 나서 이성으로서 몰입이 안된다는 댓글들도 많았습니다. 아마 작가님이 이런 반응들을 종합해서 결말을 지었을 겁니다.
결론적으론 작가님의 전개대로만 보면 주인공들은 이성적인 감정도 있었고 인간적인 감정도 있었지만 인간적인 감정이 더 컸다는 결말이죠.
I just finished this drama yesterday. I love their chemistry in this drama.
It is not a typical romantic drama that I always see, but in each episode you know that the love is there. But some things are just not for everybody. I love that they both love each other in a way that no one is ever hurt or aggravated. JA still respects DH marriage although the wife cheated on DH. She heard every heart ache of DH and if it is a typical woman that wants the man to be hers and makes him happy, she can do anything just to steal him. But she didn't. She know her place and she knows that he is someone that will never do something that will make his family uncomfortable or be dragged into controversies that is why she chose to run away to protect DH. Such a heart ache i felt for JA and DH but still a good choice for the both of them to show their love for each other on helping each other out of situations that are messy and at the end chose to be happy. Can't move on from these 2. Haha
There is definitely love between both of them because of all the times they showed care and concern for each other, and they missed each other (JA outwardly admits it, while DH looks for her to walk by Jung-hee's bar and in other subtle ways). But it's a love that doesn't fit into one category - it can't, it's not supposed to. We as humans try to fit it into a label, but this is impossible and it works.
During the ending when time has passed and we see DH as a CEO at a new company and JA working in an office, I thought for a second that he hired her to work for him. But I remembered JA did express how she wanted to be someone new, have a new life as she accepted the chairman's offer to work in Busan, and DH respected that even though it tore him up inside. He probably didn't contact her to ask her to work with him because he wanted her to be happy. In turn (before), JA respected his marriage and knew that it could heal, as per her last meeting with Kang Yoon-hee, and telling her how DH always asked if she wanted anything at the store.
They wanted each other to be happy - something they verbally expressed to each other a couple times - and that is love. This show wrecked me in the most wonderful way. It's the only thing I've ever watched that made me feel like I wish I wrote it lol Acting, cinematography, just everything was extremely well done. I don't know how I'll ever move on.
I'm imaging then end up together in the end ..this time no longer boring marriage..Donghoon was always passive he's ex-wife was also seems passive..?
But Jian is different she is vocal about her feeling and direct.. imagine how fun his life now with Jian to drink with to walk with run with and they always have intimacy even just sitting together .
Can I Hug you? I missed you...Will you buy me food? How'd you like the kiss?
Hahahaha imagine what more can she do
Now I am watching 10th ep I cried a lot I loved the story I think he also loved her but he keeps distance because of society and he is always live in his principles that's the reason he keep distance they're deeply connected. I am in love with this drama and the cast.
Yes in my opinion too he did like and love her but he is not the type who will take advantage of the situation..that makes me think and hope that all Misters should be like him..just like when Lee Jiam told the wife that she is so envious of her because Park Do Hoon always asks her if she want something he would buy for her on his way home...
This story is so amazing and excellent performance by all the actors and actresses...
우정이었든 사랑이었든 두사람은 마음깊은 곳에 서로를 아끼는 애틋함이 있었겠죠.
그래서 사랑으로 발전했든 서로를 응원하는 우정으로 남았든..사실, 사랑으로 마무리가 맞을거같아요.
확실히 드라마가 남달랐나 보네요. 오랜 시간이 지났는데도 다시 후기 비슷한 글을 올리는걸 보면요.
그런데, 처음 안 사실이..작가셨군요. 어쩐지 드라마를 해석하는 능력이 남다르다고 느꼈었는데...
I just watch this drama this year via Telegram sharing. Repeat many times. It’s amazing how the drama can make us feel the love without any intimate touching. I must say its a brilliant masterpiece. He is in love with Ji An but trying hard denies it. If you notice people around him hints him to be happy and don’t make excuse to sacrifiy your happiness for other’s sake. He deserve to be happy. I really love this drama.
With Donghoon so much going on his life and mind amidst of it all Jian never leave his mind..even his drinking at the bar with loud people and drinks He keeps thinking of her..even finding out the affair he was more concern when Jian ignore him..my heart though please help my heart it's drowning of my love for these two.
Everyone wants a happy ending right, not everyone is lucky enough to have even an ending let alone a happy one in any relationship, but you have to wish that for them, even if they are fictional, it was so well played I would not of accepted anything short of happiness and if they could attain love and happiness through all the drama then there is hope for even a loser like me. Well I'm not holding my breath the odds are better for me winning the lottery. Just finished watching for the second time and thinking of moving to Korea ( South).
그리고 후반될수록 박동훈도 이지안을 사랑한다고보이는장면들이 나옴 특히 박동훈이 이혼했다는 떡밥도 있었고 엔딩장면에서 둘이 웃으면서 인사하고 서로 뒤를돌아보는데 약간 열린결말이라고 생각했음 둘이 연인으로 이어질거같은 분위기에서 끝났다고봐요
지안은 세속적인 틀 에서 벗어난 사람이고 동훈은 그 안에서 발버둥치는 사람이에요.서로의 영혼을 들여다보고 보듬어 주며 사랑을 하게 되지만 여러번 자신의 마음을 솔직히 드러낸 지안과는 달리 동훈은 그러지 못하죠.사람들은 백년도 못살면서 온갖 틀 속에 갖혀서 산다고 생각해요.지안은 처절한 삶 을 살면서 자신이 한 삼만살 정도는 됐을거라 말하는 장면이 있는데 전 그부분에서 그런 생각이 들었어요.삼만살이 되는동안 처음으로 사람을 발견하고 그 사람을 사랑하게 되면 그 사랑은 도대체 얼마나 절대적인 사랑일까 하고요~. 우리가 나중에 모두 죽어서 영혼으로 남고 영혼끼리도 사랑을 할수있게 된다면 그때도 우린 온갖 잣대를 들이대며 따지면서 된다 안된다 다른 종류의 사랑이다 이러고 있을까요?아 그냥 왠지 우스운 생각이 들어서요.사람이 평생을 외로워 하는건 지안과 동훈처럼 서로의 영혼을 알아봐주고 이해해주는 짝을 못만나서 일까요?아~나의 아저씨 후유증이 크네요.주절거리는거 읽어주셔서 감사합니다.
저는 후반부 어딘가에서 동훈이 정희네에서 친구들과 나온뒤 어두운 골목을 훑어보는 장면에서도 감독이 힌트를 남겼다고 생각했어요.
일상속에서 늘 지안이가 한말을 기억하는것처럼 혹시 오늘은 지나가지 않나 지안이를 그리워한거에요.
꼭 남녀로 발전할 가능성?이 없어도 사랑하는 사람이 생기면 247 그 사람이 어디서 뭐하나 생각하게 되지요.
Im no expert at all on this, and maybe my mind wants to just believe he had romantic feelings for her, but throughout the drama I felt there was so many clues to him being in love but was completely avoided due to the age gap. I really believe that was the only thing keeping them from being together romantically. Im almost sure after he divorced his wife, of Ji An was closer to his age he would have ended up with her and even possibly remarried. But the age gap was there unfortunately. Hence why he kept referring to her as “kid” when clearly she was too mature to be a kid lol I feel like that was his way of reminding himself how young she is. I think the director wanted to keep it open ended for a possibility to romance, but knew it would be controversial and that’s why they never directly say theyll be together. Either way the love between was beautiful. It still makes my eyes wet just thinking about it.
An amazing drama! Watched this 6 times already .Love this ❤️❤️❤️ #mymister #parkdongoon #eejian
6 times!? Wow! I've watched it 2 times and hope to watch it again
I completely agree with you. They both found solace in each other. N The director/writer actually denied any love relationship btw these characters I think it's probably because the general public was criticizing their age gap.
둘은 사랑한게 맞습니다 사랑이라고해서 오직 남녀간의 애정 애인같은 사랑만 있는건 아니니까요 가족끼리 사랑하고 친구들이 사랑하듯 그 둘은 서로 이해하고 공감하고 아끼며 사랑한게 맞습니다
신뢰는 가장 강력한 사랑이죠
Thanks Amanda for this video. I finished the series on Netflix yesterday and I must say it’s the best drama series that I have seen. Outstanding music, awesome performances and the most beautiful, heart warming/wrenching story.
Confession - I was desperately looking for an explanation for the ending. You and one other commentator in the thread have helped me with plausible ending where PDH intends to meet LA and confess his love when she is older and he is gotten over his divorce.
That handshake was electric..and I know both did felt it
Have only just finished watching this crown jewel of a master piece for the first time, there will be more times though, that's for certain. Anyway, I digress. This is maybe the most beautifully portrayed relationship I have ever seen unfold on screen. The level this drama lives on is mindblowingly brilliant. So much detail, so much character development, so much love of all kinds being displayed. This drama brings my heart a lot of joy and hope and beauty and this analysis and all the comments below really added to my experience so thank youfor posting this and to everyone who shared their thoughts in the comments.
저는 둘의 관계를 이성적으로 생각하는 사람들이 많다는것에 놀랐어요.. 제 눈에 둘은 서로 의지하는 유사가족 관계로 보였고 따라서 저에겐 이 드라마는 잘 만들어진 가족 드라마라고 생각이 들었거든요 ㅎㅎ 무튼 사람마다 바라보는 시각이 다르니 같은 작품을 보더라도 다양한 시각이 나오는것 같네요! 그래서 이 드라마가 이렇게도 매력적인 걸까요? ㅎ
안쓰러움
Soooooo gooood! One of the best drama I’ve ever watched peridot! Aiishhh!
hahaha me too
Totally agree with you! One of the best K Dramas I've seen - Fabulous cast !
but I can't deny the fact that it was still beautiful even when they didn't end up together, well actually that was what made it beautiful. damn
I am Korean and same age as DH. I like to share my understanding of this show.
DH`s ethic is one of main subject in this show. Korean generation is distinguished from decade to decade, it is very different. Because of fast growing economic and changing society. Out upper generation literally sacrifice there life to our generation. It was only way to survive from ash of japanese occupation and war. When we was in school, mandatory subject was 'moral ethics'. It contains confusianism and western philosophy. Outside of school society requires more strict ethics. In other hand capitalism and individualism is crashing traditional Korean thing. It effects more on later generation. So I can say DH is base on that Koran generation environment. Some of my friends sacrifice there life to there family as there parents as DH. And others live individualism life.
This show title 'Naeui Ajesi' has bit different felling to translate 'My Mister'. For exsample you can say Mister to your boss. But you can not say Ajesi. It contains meaning of old man but that words originally from family who is same generation as father but not father`s brother. So it is more like uncle. Korean usally use family title to other. These day many psychologist says Korean sees society as extended family. That is one of big reason why Korean united when we facing big trouble.
So,please...what do you think about Dong hoon? He loves Ji An?
@@lauracasartelli3233 x2
I like what you said. I think it shows a high chakra love that is not dependent on selfish needs.
deep down they're both depressed because they see the world and the people in a different light then the other characters. I remember in two different scenes DH says "lets be happy". for both of them it´s difficult to be happy. they're similar but act differently in the same situation. they comfort each other and that's what their relationship is about, and don't think that it was romantic. the ending scene also shows that DH is impressed by JA ´s growth it looks like he is proud of her like a mentor or a good friend
side note: who else thinks that all the foods they ate throughout the series looked delicious?
I think so too!!
just finished this series and loved it. I was not sure whether he was really falling for her or is it just his personality since he's "too good to be true" person throughout the entire series. But everything unfolded in the last season where he was eating snacks alone in his apartment and suddenly started to cry and sob. To me it is explained as he can't bear the idea of not having her around anymore. And also the ending showed where the two are finally meeting again and he looked ready for it. It was a love story to me.
i felt like he did'nt want to lose her respect. . The fact that he did not approach in a sexual way is one of the things she respected him the most for. I also think he gave her a father fiquire and a sense of famly that she had never had but desperatly wanted. Yes, he loved her on many levels. A very beatiful story.
I just think that he loves lee ji an in an almost romatic way but was not pushed enough to go bynd that. You're right it's platonic love they are intimate but not that Romantic i think he loves lee ji an in a away he saw himself how life is so pitiful and that somebody like lee ji an also go through tough times. Wether he loves her romantically or not we can all agree that they were at some point soulmate who save each others lives. They were the healing they needed. And i can truly say this is onebof the best kdrama I've seen. deep hearfelt
I think the point I knew it was when he was crying alone at home in the last episode, and at first he tried to wipe his own tears away and control his sadness, but he’s so devastated by the situation that he cries anyway. It’s the first time you can actually see that he misses her.
i finish watching this drama yesterday, its the best drama ive ever watched 💯.
Yes it was love just not in the way that most people are used to seeing which is with all the kissing and intimate scenes but through other ways like how they treat each other and care for one another without having to show it through physical contact which is great because more shows and movies need to do that more often especially here in America that’s all you see is kissing and making out which is so annoying to me but I do have to say that if the story was written differently where if dong hoon had gotten divorced and tried having a relationship ji an I wouldn’t mind seeing more of hugging and kisses on the cheeks but also holding hands because all that is normal and not explicit. I just hope in the near future if this genre of romance is slowly becoming a thing in Korea where the main characters have a big age gap between them wether it’s the man or the woman people just need to be able to separate the two and see the show or movie for what it is it’s entertainment and it’s fictional and they’re just acting once they can do that I think things will go a lot more smoothly because I’m pretty sure that the writer and director definitely had to change the script from how they originally had it and the director probably had to change the way he was going to direct from how he originally wanted to direct it to accommodate the the uncomfortableness surrounding the main characters. IU was 25 and lee sun kyun was 43 when they filmed the show and that should not be a problem because at least she’s an adult and not an under age teenager of 15 or 17 and I honestly think the writer and director didn’t see anything wrong with it until the uproar happened which caused them to change the story to make people happy which is a shame because while it worked out in this case and the story did not suffer from the changes I think it unfortunate that writers and directors truly can’t be themselves in taking out the stories they want to because they’re always gonna have to worry about what people are gonna think and say about it
De todos los kdramas este me ha marcado muchísimo y lo he podido ver 4 veces porque me encantó, muy acertado tu análisis
I love this drama, love Dong Hoon. Great actors.💖
In last episode, he cried alot as he missed her so much! So ofcourse he loved her more then anyone! But due do his family, he stayed clam🤦 plz noooo
동훈 역시 지안을 사랑한다 네 저 역시 그렇게 생각합니다 그 두사람은 서로가 서로의 상처를 보듬고 치유하며 다시 세상을 살게하는 특별하고도 소중한 인연이 되었으니까요....저에겐 그것이 인간이 인간에게 느끼는 사랑과 존경과 우정, 그것으로만 마무리하기엔 뭔가 좀 부족해보였습니다 단순히 자신과 닮은 고달픈 삶을 사는 여자 아이를 세상앞에 당당히 서게한 착한 어른 그 지점에서 끝내기엔 뭔가 설명하기 어려운 그 무언가가 있는 것 같은거죠 도덕적인 삶을 살아왔던 동훈이기에 또 도덕적인 삶을 강요하는 우리 사회에서 티낼수도 티내서도 안되는 감정 그 복잡 미묘한 감정이 드라마 전반에 깔려있기에 드라마를 보는 우리가 설레기도하고 가슴 아프기도 하고 그 두사람이 밥한끼먹는 장면, 술 한잔 마시는 장면에서도 그리 애틋하고 안쓰러운것이 아니였나 생각해봅니다 여러모로 나의 아저씨는 많은 생각을 하게 하는 작품인것 같습니다 진정한 어른이란? 진정한 사랑이란? 고단한 삶이 고단한 다른 삶을 치유하는 과정 그 모든 것이 이 드라마가 좋은 작품임을 말하고 있는 것 같습니다 저에게도 나의 아저씨는 내내 인생작으로 남을것 같습니다
I've just watched My Mister for the first time, and it is now my favourite drama of all time. It's the only drama I've ever scored 10/10 over on MDL (out of about 150 dramas).
Lee Ji-An repeatedly made it clear that she was attracted to Park Dong-Hun, so her love was romantic love (for want of a better tierm). However, Park Dong-Hun's love for Ji-An was platonic, almost like a father daughter type of love. I would have been fine if the writers did put them in a relationship, but I actually think the decision they made to not do this was the best thing for the drama.
When he realized Lee Ji An was listening to him through his phone 🥺and he said to his phone “Lee ji an, call me” 😭😭😭🫀🫀🫀
I love the fact that you defined the love the two protagonists' had for each other was platonic love.
Usually, when people refer to love, they imply romantic love.
I think people need to widen their perceptions of what love means. It is not only romantic feelings.
둘이 깊이 사랑했다고 생각됩니다.
그러나 그 사랑은 우리가 생각하는 그런 사랑의 종류는 아닌듯 합니다.
사랑엔 종류가 많습니다.
제가 알고 있던 사랑의 개념 보다는 더욱 계산적이지 않았고 고귀했고 애틋했고 아팠던 감정
Was it just me who gave NO CARES about the “age gap”? (Yes, I know it’s real; the quotes were to be sassy)
If Bella Swan can be with a 100+yr old vampire, then Dong-hoon and Ji-an could have been together. I genuinely don’t understand the criticism/backlash as long as the actors were comfortable. I actually often kept forgetting about the gap lol. By episode 2, they were just people.
I really respected Dong-hoon (and found him 10x more attractive) for sticking it out with his wife. He’s the only principled man I’ve seen in Kdramas, and it takes a heck of a lot of maturity and compassion to make a decision like that. However, I’m pretty sure he loved Ji-an romantically, but even if he did get a divorce it would have been hard to justify it due to his characterization. He’s not one to turn on people so quickly just because he was betrayed.
Would I have loved to see him take Ji-an in his arms and run off into the sunset? HECK YES!! More importantly, did I feel that they told an amazing story and did his character justice? Absolutely. They didn’t have to end up together to be #GOALS.
From what I have been told, in Korea, old-young love is a taboo. Which is a shame, they looked perfect together.
jumbeaux1 Really?! I’ve never heard that before. That’s so strange considering all of the nuna romances I’ve watched😂. I’ve never heard of an ajhusshi romance though. Wonder if this double standard is why🤔
Let's not forget he set aside some of his "characters" because of Ji An. Fighting and getting hurt, speaking loudly and may sound disrespectful to Director Yoon. Which is all so amazing because it shows what he can do if its about Ji An.
Remember LJA is 30000 years old, so she's actually a cougar going for a much younger man.
사랑이라는건 어떤 모양인지 아는사람이 없다고 그랬어요.. 누구는 양탄자 같고, 누구는 밧줄같고, 누구는 통나무 같은 장님이 보는 코끼리의 모습이라고.. 사람이 사람을 사랑하는 것이 그주체가 남녀라고 해서 꼭 육체적 끌림만을 말하는건 아니잖아요..
저 가시돋힌 아이는 다괜찮다 라고 안아줄 엄마를 원한거고, 내동생 누가 때렸냐고 싸워주는 형제들이 부러웠던 거고, 머리 쓰다듬어 주면서 착하다 말해줄 아빠를 그리워한거고, 늦은밤 전화해 뭐사갈까 물어봐줄 가족을 꿈꿨던것 뿐이잖아요
작은바람에도 떨어질것 같은 할머니라는 가느다란 가족을 붙잡고 매일같이 눈물로짠 외로움을 마셨겠죠.. 때로는 사람의 온기가 그리워서, 때로는 길가 비맞은 새끼고양이 같은 처지가 서러워서 무릎을 끌어안고 발등에 눈물만 떨구던 날도 많았을 거예요..
세상 모든 딸의 첫사랑이 아빠이듯이 저아이 에게 아저씨는 그림자만도 온기를 느끼고, 발자국 소리만 듣고 있어도 평온을 주는..
품에안겨 세상살며 억울했던일 일러주고 펑펑 울고 싶은..
닮고싶고 자랑하고 싶은 아는사람 중에 가장 멋진 사람 아닐까요?
일찍 어른이 되어버린 껍데기만 어른인 저아이에겐 차가운 어른의 세상에서 유일하게 이해하고 안아준 사람 이었고, 가시투성이 인 자신의 삶속에도 장미꽃이 있다는걸 알게해준 아저씨니까
I wish Park dong hoon and Lee Ji Ann ended up together and live happily ever after. Waiting for Season 2 please... ❤️❤️❤️
상황은 다르지만 서로의 안타까움에 대한 동질감이 커진거 같아요.
남녀의 사랑이라기 보다는 인간과 인간으로서의 사랑이 아닐까 싶어요.
공감
지안은 나쁜(?) 혹은 나쁘게 살 수밖에없던 캐릭터여서 극 초반 착하기만한 동훈을 가식이라고 생각해왔는데, 도청과 일련의 사건들을 겪으면서 '좋은 사람'이라는 걸 깨닫죠. 동훈은 착하고 완벽한 인성과 인간관계를 유지하는 것처럼 보였지만 아내입장에서는 그러지 못하였고, 후반에 망가지는 모습을 보여줌으로 지안과 별반 다를것이 없었죠. 이로인해 우리 모두는 나쁜짓도하고 이기적이기도 하지만 그래도 '좋은 사람' 이다. 라고 서로에게 말해주는것 같았어요. 이것으로 볼 때 둘의 관계는 큰 틀로는 사랑이지만. 사랑이라는 범주안에 있는 '동질감'과, 서로에게 위로가 되는 '고마움'에 가깝다고 생각해요
He definitely loves her but he’s not willing to do anything about it
저도 사랑이 맞다고 봐요. 인간 대 인간적인 사랑이 크게 부각됐지만 그 안에 이성적인 감정도 분명 있어요. 인류애적인 사랑이라고만 보는 건 박동훈을 기계로 생각하는 것과 같아요. 박동훈이라는 인물은 늘 도덕성을 두고 내적 갈등을 합니다. 지안이를 두고도 마찬가지죠. 모든 절제된 행동이 치열한 내적 갈등의 결과입니다. 이성적인 감정이 없다면 지안이에게 선 긋고 밀어낼 필요가 없겠죠. 왜 고맙다는 문자를 보내지 못했을까요, 왜 지안이가 온 후로 정희네를 못 갔을까요. 마음이 있어서 참은 겁니다. 원래 도덕적인 인간은 없어요, 내적인 씨름을 하는 사람이냐, 도덕적으로 살려고 노력하는 사람이냐의 차이입니다. 그래서 동훈이 끝까지 지안에게 선을 지키는 어른으로 남은 거구요.
저는 이 드라마가 "사랑보다 중요한 건 사람이다"라는 걸 보여준다고 생각해요. 화학적 감정의 사랑은 누구나 할 수 있지만, 사람을 구렁텅이에서 구해내고 절망을 희망으로 바꾸는 진짜 사랑은 "좋은(선한) 사람이 사랑할 때" 뿐이죠. 이걸 깨달은 후로는, 바람둥이나 가벼운 사람이 저를 좋아한다고 해서 들뜨지 않고 나만큼 혹은 나보다 더 선한 사람인가를 보려 했던 것같아요.
그래서 저는 두 사람이 남녀로서 좋아했든 그렇지 않든, 아름답다고 생각할 수 있어요.
there was def love from ahjussi but i guess the writers stands by their korean moral which is self control they give so much attention of what will the audience think or else they get a backlash from them. this drama was overall a winner.