I got Netflix a couple of years ago and quickly gravitated to watching Asian dramas. Something to remove myself from what was going on in the USA and the pandemic. It was an escape. And the more you watch the more you realize how amazing the South Korean entertainment scene is. Kdramas aren't some fad. They are popular because they are so excellent across the board. My Mister would never pass in Hollywood. Too slow. No crashing cars. No nude scenes. There is character and plot development. There are roughly 80 scripted new dramas every single year being put out for South Korean TV. Hollywood can barely manage a 10th of that in a year. And how many of those are really good and worth watching? But most Americans will watch those instead of a kdrama because of the subtitles. It's sad. But the tide is turning and more people are catching on to how good they are.
Such a beautiful scene. So much emotion. In the blurred background if you look closely you see Dong Hoon wipe tears away as Ji An is saying goodbye to Grandma.
It's been several years since it aired. But every year when the days get colder, I think of this drama again. I can't forget her eyes. Every time I saw your review, I cried again. I really want to say thank you.
For me every thing here revolves around LSK's character- his supreme kindness dignity and humility and even beauty-he's so deeply loved by his family friends and juniors and sadly he isn't even aware of it. I certainly am deely touched and moved by him- I'd love to know if the real man LSK in real life is similar to the character he portraits.
best drama reaction video ever!!!! There's an information about IU(main actress Ji-an) about this scene. Now one of the best singer in Korea, she actually has a poor childhood memory. In one interview she told about her story of growing up as a little kid, raised by her grandmother like Ji-an. She told that this memory of her childhood made her fully fall into Ji-an's sad moments. Thank you for enjoying korean drama :)
Thanks Stephen for another insightful breakdown of our favorite scenes. I loved the way you mentioned how from a directorial point-of-view, the scene at the steps gave each character a chance to have a brief talk and bonding moment with Ji An -- from Jung Hee to DH to even grandma, through JA’s thoughts. And it also reminded me just now that Sang Hoon and Ki Hoon never had any conversations with JA, other than thank you’s and bye’s (and Sang Hoon telling her sorry for saying it was the best day of his life.) In the same way that DH also never had any meaningful conversations with Yu Ra. It’s like the brothers have this unwritten code to lay off each other’s love interest, in the same manner DH gave Manager Song that look after Song mentioned he would like to give a hug to JA. 😁
Yes, great points...yet another interesting aspect one almost misses with everything else going on...they treat her with a lot of reverence and care ...not at the beginning when DH suspects her of stealing ...but then later on...because they know how much she means to him then....it's very pronounced in their behaviour the change...so interesting to note more consciously👍🙂
You put it beautifully Stephen.. and pretty much most of the characters in the show had these behavior changes towards JA because of her growing importance to DH -- the brothers, Jung Hee, and even Yung Hee. I'd throw in the chairman as well, with the office rumors I'm sure he knew the real score between the two, which partly influenced his willingness to help JA. Even Gwang Il's transformation was brought about to some extent not only by how JA acknowledged his past kindness to her, but also how he witnessed through the recordings the beautiful relationship between DH and JA.
@@ManVsDrama So interesting, Stephan! So true that they treated her with so much care because of how much she means to him. I think my a-ha moment was when DH was going down the steps to play soccer, and they all shouted, "Ace! Our ace is coming!" - and it really was fortunate that JA met the ace, the best man, in Hugye.
@@SC-rw6ce your comment made me think it maybe wasn't just because of dong hoon...she also became a different person which people recognised...for example the chairman...and his brothers...so they could also start seeing her potential to "come out of the dark" ...👍😉
Thanks Stephan, your analysis again is wonderful. Seeing this I picked up on something I had not before, Grandma telling Ji An to pay PDH by being happy. It struck me this is what PDH says to Ji An after he finds her, "watch how happy I become". It's a promise they make for each other, and to each other. And one that is kept. The grandma scene also show how much Ji An and PDH have opened their hearts to each other. I think the gesture of PDH first patting Ji An to comfort her and then moving to holding and supporting her, shows how he finally opens his heart to her. To give her the emotional support she needed to get through saying good bye. One of the most beautiful scenes I've seen.
yeah...I think one of the things that makes this drama so effective is that the themes it focuses on regularly reverberate through the dialogue even from different characters...there's a lot of call back from other scenes quite regularly...Yes, it's quite something this scene! :-)
@@ManVsDrama I have a tough time watching it, having gone through it myself. But, it conveys that experience truthfully, holding nothing back. It's a masterpiece IMHO.
Love this insight, that DH finally allows himself to touch and support JA when she most needs it. Also, in the background during this morgue scene, we can see Dong Hoon wiping his eyes because he feels so sad for JA. As Ki Hoon says, when DH cries it means something really bad is happening. He empathizes with JA so much as she grieves for halmeoni...another way his heart has opened to her.
Very glad to see that you finally got to the finish line through the hazzle from the copyright police with this video. I've already said before a mouthful about the scenes you mentioned and loathe the idea of repeating myself excessively. I truly enjoy your note about setting up the scene of Ji-an's final farewell at the morgue to highlight the deftness and sensitivity of the direction here for enhanced dramatic impact. This is a major reason the emotional flow, however stirring, remained consistently natural and credible, through the superb acting by the actors in the show. I can't even begin to describe my appreciation for IU's acting in this drama with a plethora of worthy moments but two scenes are carved into my memory so vividly that I will likely keep them for life. One is her breakdown in wailing by the roadside when Dong-hoon fought the loan shark guy, and the other one is her final meeting with her grandma here. Although she didn't say anything upon arrival, each look and each facial contortion thundered her mental state, revealing her feelings so strikingly to us. We saw her go through the stages of panic, denial, acceptance and eventually reached the moment of intense grief of losing the only real emotional connection she had from her past. This scene made me relive my personal experience when my mother passed away. It's hard for me to describe how powerfully this scene came across to me. I must also applaud you in setting up the scene at the funeral home as IU talked with one person after another. Each face she looked at confirmed the wise words from her grandmother about relationship. Here is the grand and glorious payoff of the show through Ji-an's transformation. Many kudos to you. I can't help but learn to be thankful for my own life and ponder how much I paid attention to safeguarding the relationships I've encountered in my time. Thanks again for the great work on the breakdown.
Yeah, for anyone who has been through losing someone, this scene expresses all those emotions. Beautifully acted and hard to watch, yet up lifting. Sorry about your mom.
Thank you for your thoughts here...it's true...it's incredibly hard to make scenes like this work in such a way that viewers live through it with the characters...that's what makes this drama my favourite yet...because I can relate to so many scenes and moments..thank you again...next video is on the way! :-)
Stephan.....thank you....beautiful review... Agree with you that the slow motion shoot while they play football is very nice...with the nice song, and happy faces they have....and also how LJA see them all with deep meaning, it was great...thank you💐👍
Such a good few scenes to breakdown. I like how Ji An felt assured to have Dong Hoon's support and during the funeral the assurance extended to other people and you can see her mindset changing to accept others in her life.
Thanks for the breakdown as always! (Well, glad *you* are not breaking down, but you're breaking down the episode 😆.) Appreciated your comment about the contrast in atmosphere when Ji An calls DH to tell him about halmeoni's passing. Also, when I think about it in context, JA and DH haven't had any contact for a while since he's been avoiding Jung Hee's bar. So for her to call him means that there's something important going on. It's sad that it's because of halmeoni :( . I love how readily he answers the phone, though, even though he's avoiding her. The funeral scene is really so beautiful. Ji An has been the outsider, both to Saman and to Hugye. Even having a decent funeral for halmeoni is special, but the outpouring she receives from Sang Hoon, and from everyone who attends, is such a blessing that she never could have expected or looked for. Her connection to Dong Hoon really has changed her life - he is the linchpin that connects her to good people at Saman (Team Three) as well as the good people in Hugye. They welcomed her in and supported her because they love DH. It's so moving! And yes! Jung Hee is the perfect foil to JA, always upbeat. I love that Jung Hee always acts like Ji An is doing *her* a favor by being her roommate, giving her a reason to take a long walk after the bar closes, and meeting up for Chuseok and New Year's. She's such a sweetheart.
Hello FW, and Stefan. I agree that Junghee is a redemptive character for Jian, but i see Jian also being redemptive to Jung Hee. Before Jian starts to come into the orbit of the Hugye friends, Junghee is too distraught about the loss of her boyfriend Gyum-Duk to the monastery, and she can't see anything beyond the loss of that relationship, and her personal pain. Junghee is the center of a drinking community, but has little personal intimacy from the 3 Park Hoon brothers, or any of her regulars, who are all men. As Jian comes into the Hugye world, Jung Hee has a younger sister to care about and nurture, and Jian accepts and reciprocates the kindness directed toward her. Junghee repeatedly gives Jian unconditional kindness and attention: when Jian is escorted home with the other regular drinkers; when Junghee accepts Jian into her home with no questions or conditions, including not asking about the nature of Jian's relationship with Dong-Hoon (which is clear to her); at the grandmother's funeral, and; finally as the single 'chaperone' in Jian's street goodbye with Donghoon. Jian reciprocates by speaking with Junghee on the street in front of the bar before running away, and by accepting JH's Thanksgiving/New Year's invitation. This friendship is not a replacement of Junghee's lost romantic love, but it is sustaining nonetheless. These scenes give me more hope about Junghee's future. What do you think?
@@bergencountyguy Yes I agree! Ji An and Jung Hee fill a role in each other's lives that they each needed. I like how you said Jung Hee was the single "chaperone" when DH and JA say goodbye. I hadn't thought of that, that she was the only one who got to witness that intimate moment between them. And JA was also vulnerable with her, in saying that DH wasn't coming to the bar anymore, and in saying she was quitting and moving. JA was open with JH in a way she wasn't with others. And JA is a companion to JH that JH desperately needs. It's interesting she wasn't hanging out with Sang Hoon's wife Ae Ryun, and had never formed a true friendship with Yoon Hee. All these ladies her age were not her friends. But JA, being an old soul, could give her friendship and make plans with her for the future.
Hello @@fw3765.. It just dawned on me now how Jung Hee, outside of halmeoni, was practically the only female character JA befriended and even interacted with in a pleasant manner in the show. (The interactions with the office lady who JA always shared a stare down with and with Yoon Hee were all confrontations prior to ep 16.) Before Jung Hee, there was only Gwang Il, the gamer boy, the janitor guardian, Joon Young, and then DH in JA's life. So it was indeed refreshing to see Jung Hee doting on JA.
@@SC-rw6ce Oh, nice insight. What you said just made me think that even with Jung Hee, there was an age gap, but JA and JH got along and became intimate friends. The show broke age gap barriers everywhere.
Beautifully reviewed!! Thank you for your hard work and congratulations! A couple thoughts re the conversation between Jian and Dong Hoon. Jian's asking why he is so nice to her and if he will stop now does harken back to an earlier conversation they had had and does reflect her usual mindset. However, what prompts that is that after he found her and then got her legal problems on the way to resolution by handing her off to his wife, he had disappeared until grandma died. She misses him and especially because of his recent avoidance she doesn't believe she has any reason to expect he will be part of her life in the future. Once again, thank you for all you have done and congratulations
yeah... true...and as well they've reached a sort of overfamiliar tone with each other...where she's making a comment like that "will he stop now" and he's half admonishing and half sort of laughing it off...I love that subtle "We know each other" vibe they have now......well...I've still got more to come on Ep16 so hopefully this will get past the censors more easily!thanks for your comments!
As always, you make each episode better by offering your insight and commentary. I consider it required viewing along with the show itself. I hope you continue to do this for more drama. So glad you are doing another video for this episode! 🙂
Hey Stephen, before everything else, congratulations and thank you for finishing this long journey of breakdowns. Like I commented on earlier episodes, your complete series of analysis will carry so much value to all fans of this series as time goes on. Wish you best luck with all other contents on your channel.
Lovely breakdown of those scenes once again! At the risk of bigging up IU on a day when she again won Songwriter of the Year, Artist of the Year, and Album of the Year, as you say, giving the actors time is critical - but they have to use that time to make us believe the scene. LJA doesn't just avert her head when the mortician moves the sheet, but it's a whole process in the way her eyes are cast down and to the left as she walks in the door, and slowly progresses through to when Dong Hoon helps walk her over to her grandma but she is still trying to avoid the reality. Then she keeps moving her gaze when she is first standing by her grandma, her face starts to express her personal grief but without really acknowledging her grandma, then she hugs her and bit by bit tucks her head against her grandma's chin. And only after all that does she start signing to her grandma, and her face becomes animated as though she is holding a real conversation with her grandma and she can imagine her grandma responding. Can't watch that scene without crying!
yeah...great detailed description there...you're right....her instincts in this scene were all on show here...clearly heartfelt from the moment she stepped into the room! All we know is we're truly moved because it feels like we're watching a real person dealing with the situation!
The words choosed by LJA was un expected, yet very touchful.....thank you...and will meet again.... with the true and genuine sad face... I believe LJA did it beutifully because we know in real life IU also raised and very close with her grandma....the one who strugle for her and love her a lot ! But don't forget, expression by Dong Hoon during this scene also stunning...👏👏👏 Well said by Stephan....thank you again Stephan 👍👏
And another good evaluation of this special Kdrama, thank you and I’m looking forward to your next video. I love this Kdrama and I can see myself watching it again even after so many previous views. I like the fact with your background you can point out the little nuances the average viewer wouldn’t know to look for in the various scenes.
Thank you Stephan for terrific breakdown and hard work to release this. Wow I am really realize how powerful this part of the final episode is. You really showcased how perfect this Drama is, writing, directing, editing etc . And the acting, also blows me away. I also love how Korean dramas will do a partial flashback and then at another point they will reveal more of the flashback. Loved all the comments also, we have very articulate My Mister fans here.
Almost at the end now. The first scene was so poignant. Especially in how art imitates life. IU came from a poor background and had to live with her grandma and brother in a small cockroach infested single room as her parents couldn't take care of her. Seeing this scene always brings to mind how close she was with her real grandma and how it inspired her to write and sing her masterpiece "Knees".
Thanks, thanks, thanks! I have no further thoughts to add to the first scene, since you have said everything. It only left the usual sea of tears... I also think the scene with the grandmother's flashback is a nice turning point in the drama. It's a scene that has completely expanded my interpretation of the whole story. I know that there are always debates about the love/friendship relationship between the protagonists. I initially leaned towards a non-romantic relationship because, even if they "save" each other, Ji An seemed to me in a slightly "inferior" position, a bit in debt (it's hard to explain). She only had him. But with this scene the role of all the characters in her life changes, the network widens, he is no longer a "savior". From this point on, I can completely accept the romance 🥰
Exactly my thoughts...romance before the end of the drama would have felt exploitative...however...(we'll discuss more in ep 16 part 2) I believe Ji-an gets empowered through the funeral and afterwards...so when they meet again they're feel equal and boom...who knows what can happen! :-)
If there is any doubt Ji An loves PDH, after visiting grandma for the last time, I would say she absolutely does. Seeing JiAn so vulnerable, kneeling, I think something breaks inside PDH's heart, he reaches down to pat her, but this is not enough. She needs more from him and he holds and supports her. This is the moment he dully opens himself to her.
That guy from the bar who you mentioned played the boss of Lee Sun-kyun's character in the series preceding this one, "My Wife is having an affair this week" (alt title 'Listen to Love'), just a year earlier,
He's such a fun actor! I loved "My Wife is Having an Affair This Week". This actor is also in Pinocchio as the helpful police detective. He provides some comic relief there, too. One other overlap that I noticed the last time I watched My Wife is Having An Affair is the actor who plays Managing Director Yoon in My Mister! (He's at the big gathering of LSK's character's supporters that meet at the restaurant at the end). I was surprised to see him. :)
@@ManVsDrama Hmm ... not sure. It just showed up in the Best Scenes Revisited playlist. However it was not showing up in the overall list of videos when I go to your channel. I have no idea why it showed up in one place and not the other.
@@ManVsDrama you tube's algorithm seems to be able to analyze a pixel sequence or audio waveform and match it to back to it's source. I think the fact we are watching at an angle might help to get around this. You could also try running your audio output (netflix) through some filters. This is fair use of copywritten material and legal in the US.
@@JWPanimation hey John, thanks for chiming in..The main thing I've learned is that I can't get away with any continuous sequence over 20 seconds..so that's why I try to always stay under 20 seconds...it's just sometimes so wrong to interrupt when they're taking long pauses haha...I've tried other things...hiding parts of it (with logo) etc..having a lower volume of the sound seems to help keep the sound a bit more under the radar...because otherwise the music gets claimed...sometimes then I can still show but can't monetise. (not that that makes a big difference right now)...filters is an interesting idea...I'll do a little more research...thanks
Whenever I see her sign language, I can see that she practiced very much. The hand movement is clear and the timing of a pause at the point is perfect. I have seen Western funeral culture through dramas and movies, so I don't know what the actual funeral atmosphere is like in Europe or America. Usually, they remain quiet in front of the cemetery, or later relatives gathered at the deceased's house separately talk in memory of the deceased. So I wonder how you feel about the buzzing atmosphere of Korean funerals. Even if you can guess the intention of it or don't feel very strange through the context of the drama. In Korea, if it's not a really sad funeral, to comfort the family's sadness, people who attend the funeral eat and drink as loudly as they do at a drinking party, or even play card games (of course, if it goes too far, the families of the dead get angry. Also, they don't laugh and talk like that at all funerals. It's like a tradition that's disappearing). Of course, there are no funerals that are not sad, so the expression "not very sad" may be strange, but for example, if a child who is young or young died earlier than his or her parents, They cannot act like this. Usually, if an elderly person dies at a fairly old age, or if he or she doesn't die after suffering from a long illness, it seems to be considered a "not so bad death." There is a "daily life continues" nuance of drinking, eating, laughing, and chatting. I think we do so in the worldview that the rest of our lives continue, and that death can be a new beginning. In the old traditional funeral culture, strangely, there was even a scene where funerals and festivals seemed to overlap. From the perspective of foreigners, this may seem like a cultural anthropological research subject (?). Apart from this, there is a scene where Dong-hoon gets angry when Dong-hoon's subordinate hits the soju bottle with his elbow, which was a little out of the blue. It was strange that a person who was quite old and had a social life acted very inappropriately for a funeral home. In other words, I felt that it was a scene that was inserted to show Dong-hoon's character as a principleist.
yes, good point..I believe that's one of those moments that highlight character and insert a moment of drama and conflict into an otherwise mellow scene....you can see in the drama there are all these little moments where we as the audience get reengaged through a mini conflict or reversal.....thanks for your illuminating comments about korean funeral culture..
In the States, African Americans have more of a Korean way of sending off their loved ones, having a party after the fineral. Northern Europeans are more taciturn, where public displays of emotion are suppressed. Italians on the other hand will jump on the coffin after it's been lowered into the earth and wail.
Watching your evaluation of these scenes confirmed my impression the first time I watched this Kdrama. I had mixed feelings of how this couple really felt about each other. I would search different reviews & most reviews stated this couple were just platonic friends. Maybe that’s why I rewatched the Kdrama so much trying to come to a more accurate conclusion. I’m looking forward to your next review. And once again pointing out the details of their facial expressions by this couple.
@@ManVsDrama Of course this couple were more than just friends. Obvious from his breakdown then followed by their meeting again at the coffee shop. Their smiles at seeing each other again. I liked how the director directed the scene we only see Ji-an from her back until she hears Dong-Hoon’s voice and walks toward him for their meeting. The smiles on their faces says it all.
@@carolshibuya5935 yeah actually we meet the new ji an thru donghoon's eyes ,we only see ji an's face after donghoon look at her !!!!and you can tell that donghoon migth choose her this time, that smile after seeing her again say it all !!!!
This Drama it’s beautiful and touching! I cried a lot .... I Love K Dramas and movies which show us cultural differences ..The scene in the morgue I was screaming SHE NEED A HUG 😭😭😭But I guess Hugging it’s not a common thing. ( Remember the scene of promotion celebration ? I was also shouting HUG HIM , HUG HER ! 😭😭... nop no hugs ! But they looked to each other in a touching way ... even though lack of hugs love it love it love it! We 🇵🇷 are “Huggers” 🙃
Honestly i always check my notification just to know if you aploaded a new review for this masterpiece!!!!!another great review and happy that theirs a part 3!!!!!
I got Netflix a couple of years ago and quickly gravitated to watching Asian dramas. Something to remove myself from what was going on in the USA and the pandemic. It was an escape. And the more you watch the more you realize how amazing the South Korean entertainment scene is. Kdramas aren't some fad. They are popular because they are so excellent across the board. My Mister would never pass in Hollywood. Too slow. No crashing cars. No nude scenes. There is character and plot development. There are roughly 80 scripted new dramas every single year being put out for South Korean TV. Hollywood can barely manage a 10th of that in a year. And how many of those are really good and worth watching? But most Americans will watch those instead of a kdrama because of the subtitles. It's sad. But the tide is turning and more people are catching on to how good they are.
I wanna make many people to watch this drama. and make them know there are tons of Korean drama that more awesome than squid game..
Such a beautiful scene. So much emotion. In the blurred background if you look closely you see Dong Hoon wipe tears away as Ji An is saying goodbye to Grandma.
It's been several years since it aired. But every year when the days get colder, I think of this drama again. I can't forget her eyes. Every time I saw your review, I cried again. I really want to say thank you.
thank you for watching and taking the time to thank me too! 👍😀
For me every thing here revolves around LSK's character- his supreme kindness dignity and humility and even beauty-he's so deeply loved by his family friends and juniors and sadly he isn't even aware of it.
I certainly am deely touched and moved by him-
I'd love to know if the real man LSK in real life is similar to the character he portraits.
While the focus was on Ji-an (IU) @10:46 I do believe that in the background Dong-hoon (Lee Sun-kyun) is wiping away some tears from his face.
Yes, from what I heard it had a really hard time keeping it together in that scene!
best drama reaction video ever!!!!
There's an information about IU(main actress Ji-an) about this scene. Now one of the best singer in Korea, she actually has a poor childhood memory. In one interview she told about her story of growing up as a little kid, raised by her grandmother like Ji-an. She told that this memory of her childhood made her fully fall into Ji-an's sad moments.
Thank you for enjoying korean drama :)
thank you! this was a labor of love for me over the last year...and it's true...I can watch and rewatch this and always find something new!
정말 내 인생 최고의 드라마예요. 디테일한 분석 소감 고맙습니다🙂
Mine also
Thanks Stephen for another insightful breakdown of our favorite scenes. I loved the way you mentioned how from a directorial point-of-view, the scene at the steps gave each character a chance to have a brief talk and bonding moment with Ji An -- from Jung Hee to DH to even grandma, through JA’s thoughts.
And it also reminded me just now that Sang Hoon and Ki Hoon never had any conversations with JA, other than thank you’s and bye’s (and Sang Hoon telling her sorry for saying it was the best day of his life.) In the same way that DH also never had any meaningful conversations with Yu Ra. It’s like the brothers have this unwritten code to lay off each other’s love interest, in the same manner DH gave Manager Song that look after Song mentioned he would like to give a hug to JA. 😁
Yes, great points...yet another interesting aspect one almost misses with everything else going on...they treat her with a lot of reverence and care ...not at the beginning when DH suspects her of stealing ...but then later on...because they know how much she means to him then....it's very pronounced in their behaviour the change...so interesting to note more consciously👍🙂
You put it beautifully Stephen.. and pretty much most of the characters in the show had these behavior changes towards JA because of her growing importance to DH -- the brothers, Jung Hee, and even Yung Hee. I'd throw in the chairman as well, with the office rumors I'm sure he knew the real score between the two, which partly influenced his willingness to help JA. Even Gwang Il's transformation was brought about to some extent not only by how JA acknowledged his past kindness to her, but also how he witnessed through the recordings the beautiful relationship between DH and JA.
@@ManVsDrama So interesting, Stephan! So true that they treated her with so much care because of how much she means to him. I think my a-ha moment was when DH was going down the steps to play soccer, and they all shouted, "Ace! Our ace is coming!" - and it really was fortunate that JA met the ace, the best man, in Hugye.
@@SC-rw6ce your comment made me think it maybe wasn't just because of dong hoon...she also became a different person which people recognised...for example the chairman...and his brothers...so they could also start seeing her potential to "come out of the dark" ...👍😉
Thanks Stephan, your analysis again is wonderful. Seeing this I picked up on something I had not before, Grandma telling Ji An to pay PDH by being happy. It struck me this is what PDH says to Ji An after he finds her, "watch how happy I become". It's a promise they make for each other, and to each other. And one that is kept. The grandma scene also show how much Ji An and PDH have opened their hearts to each other. I think the gesture of PDH first patting Ji An to comfort her and then moving to holding and supporting her, shows how he finally opens his heart to her. To give her the emotional support she needed to get through saying good bye. One of the most beautiful scenes I've seen.
yeah...I think one of the things that makes this drama so effective is that the themes it focuses on regularly reverberate through the dialogue even from different characters...there's a lot of call back from other scenes quite regularly...Yes, it's quite something this scene! :-)
@@ManVsDrama I have a tough time watching it, having gone through it myself. But, it conveys that experience truthfully, holding nothing back. It's a masterpiece IMHO.
Love this insight, that DH finally allows himself to touch and support JA when she most needs it. Also, in the background during this morgue scene, we can see Dong Hoon wiping his eyes because he feels so sad for JA. As Ki Hoon says, when DH cries it means something really bad is happening. He empathizes with JA so much as she grieves for halmeoni...another way his heart has opened to her.
Very glad to see that you finally got to the finish line through the hazzle from the copyright police with this video.
I've already said before a mouthful about the scenes you mentioned and loathe the idea of repeating myself excessively. I truly enjoy your note about setting up the scene of Ji-an's final farewell at the morgue to highlight the deftness and sensitivity of the direction here for enhanced dramatic impact. This is a major reason the emotional flow, however stirring, remained consistently natural and credible, through the superb acting by the actors in the show.
I can't even begin to describe my appreciation for IU's acting in this drama with a plethora of worthy moments but two scenes are carved into my memory so vividly that I will likely keep them for life. One is her breakdown in wailing by the roadside when Dong-hoon fought the loan shark guy, and the other one is her final meeting with her grandma here. Although she didn't say anything upon arrival, each look and each facial contortion thundered her mental state, revealing her feelings so strikingly to us. We saw her go through the stages of panic, denial, acceptance and eventually reached the moment of intense grief of losing the only real emotional connection she had from her past. This scene made me relive my personal experience when my mother passed away. It's hard for me to describe how powerfully this scene came across to me.
I must also applaud you in setting up the scene at the funeral home as IU talked with one person after another. Each face she looked at confirmed the wise words from her grandmother about relationship. Here is the grand and glorious payoff of the show through Ji-an's transformation. Many kudos to you. I can't help but learn to be thankful for my own life and ponder how much I paid attention to safeguarding the relationships I've encountered in my time.
Thanks again for the great work on the breakdown.
Yeah, for anyone who has been through losing someone, this scene expresses all those emotions. Beautifully acted and hard to watch, yet up lifting. Sorry about your mom.
Thank you for your thoughts here...it's true...it's incredibly hard to make scenes like this work in such a way that viewers live through it with the characters...that's what makes this drama my favourite yet...because I can relate to so many scenes and moments..thank you again...next video is on the way! :-)
@@JWPanimation Appreciate your emphatic words and glad you included the word "uplifting" here.
Stephan.....thank you....beautiful review... Agree with you that the slow motion shoot while they play football is very nice...with the nice song, and happy faces they have....and also how LJA see them all with deep meaning, it was great...thank you💐👍
yeah...that scene is very poetic isn't it?
I cry everytime I watch the scene where she signs to her dead grandmother.
Such a good few scenes to breakdown. I like how Ji An felt assured to have Dong Hoon's support and during the funeral the assurance extended to other people and you can see her mindset changing to accept others in her life.
totally! Thanks for sharing
Part2가 있나요? 다음 영상도 기대할거에요~
같은 드라마를 좋아하는 시청자로써 항상 감사합니다.
Thanks for the breakdown as always! (Well, glad *you* are not breaking down, but you're breaking down the episode 😆.) Appreciated your comment about the contrast in atmosphere when Ji An calls DH to tell him about halmeoni's passing. Also, when I think about it in context, JA and DH haven't had any contact for a while since he's been avoiding Jung Hee's bar. So for her to call him means that there's something important going on. It's sad that it's because of halmeoni :( . I love how readily he answers the phone, though, even though he's avoiding her.
The funeral scene is really so beautiful. Ji An has been the outsider, both to Saman and to Hugye. Even having a decent funeral for halmeoni is special, but the outpouring she receives from Sang Hoon, and from everyone who attends, is such a blessing that she never could have expected or looked for. Her connection to Dong Hoon really has changed her life - he is the linchpin that connects her to good people at Saman (Team Three) as well as the good people in Hugye. They welcomed her in and supported her because they love DH. It's so moving!
And yes! Jung Hee is the perfect foil to JA, always upbeat. I love that Jung Hee always acts like Ji An is doing *her* a favor by being her roommate, giving her a reason to take a long walk after the bar closes, and meeting up for Chuseok and New Year's. She's such a sweetheart.
totally agree! thanks for sharing!
Hello FW, and Stefan. I agree that Junghee is a redemptive character for Jian, but i see Jian also being redemptive to Jung Hee. Before Jian starts to come into the orbit of the Hugye friends, Junghee is too distraught about the loss of her boyfriend Gyum-Duk to the monastery, and she can't see anything beyond the loss of that relationship, and her personal pain. Junghee is the center of a drinking community, but has little personal intimacy from the 3 Park Hoon brothers, or any of her regulars, who are all men. As Jian comes into the Hugye world, Jung Hee has a younger sister to care about and nurture, and Jian accepts and reciprocates the kindness directed toward her. Junghee repeatedly gives Jian unconditional kindness and attention: when Jian is escorted home with the other regular drinkers; when Junghee accepts Jian into her home with no questions or conditions, including not asking about the nature of Jian's relationship with Dong-Hoon (which is clear to her); at the grandmother's funeral, and; finally as the single 'chaperone' in Jian's street goodbye with Donghoon. Jian reciprocates by speaking with Junghee on the street in front of the bar before running away, and by accepting JH's Thanksgiving/New Year's invitation. This friendship is not a replacement of Junghee's lost romantic love, but it is sustaining nonetheless. These scenes give me more hope about Junghee's future. What do you think?
@@bergencountyguy Yes I agree! Ji An and Jung Hee fill a role in each other's lives that they each needed. I like how you said Jung Hee was the single "chaperone" when DH and JA say goodbye. I hadn't thought of that, that she was the only one who got to witness that intimate moment between them. And JA was also vulnerable with her, in saying that DH wasn't coming to the bar anymore, and in saying she was quitting and moving. JA was open with JH in a way she wasn't with others. And JA is a companion to JH that JH desperately needs. It's interesting she wasn't hanging out with Sang Hoon's wife Ae Ryun, and had never formed a true friendship with Yoon Hee. All these ladies her age were not her friends. But JA, being an old soul, could give her friendship and make plans with her for the future.
Hello @@fw3765.. It just dawned on me now how Jung Hee, outside of halmeoni, was practically the only female character JA befriended and even interacted with in a pleasant manner in the show. (The interactions with the office lady who JA always shared a stare down with and with Yoon Hee were all confrontations prior to ep 16.) Before Jung Hee, there was only Gwang Il, the gamer boy, the janitor guardian, Joon Young, and then DH in JA's life. So it was indeed refreshing to see Jung Hee doting on JA.
@@SC-rw6ce Oh, nice insight. What you said just made me think that even with Jung Hee, there was an age gap, but JA and JH got along and became intimate friends. The show broke age gap barriers everywhere.
Beautifully reviewed!! Thank you for your hard work and congratulations!
A couple thoughts re the conversation between Jian and Dong Hoon. Jian's asking why he is so nice to her and if he will stop now does harken back to an earlier conversation they had had and does reflect her usual mindset. However, what prompts that is that after he found her and then got her legal problems on the way to resolution by handing her off to his wife, he had disappeared until grandma died. She misses him and especially because of his recent avoidance she doesn't believe she has any reason to expect he will be part of her life in the future.
Once again, thank you for all you have done and congratulations
yeah... true...and as well they've reached a sort of overfamiliar tone with each other...where she's making a comment like that "will he stop now" and he's half admonishing and half sort of laughing it off...I love that subtle "We know each other" vibe they have now......well...I've still got more to come on Ep16 so hopefully this will get past the censors more easily!thanks for your comments!
As always, you make each episode better by offering your insight and commentary. I consider it required viewing along with the show itself. I hope you continue to do this for more drama. So glad you are doing another video for this episode! 🙂
thanks...looking forward to the conversation under the next one already!
Hey Stephen, before everything else, congratulations and thank you for finishing this long journey of breakdowns. Like I commented on earlier episodes, your complete series of analysis will carry so much value to all fans of this series as time goes on. Wish you best luck with all other contents on your channel.
Well, this isn't over quite yet...this is part 1 of Ep 16 haha...but thank you....it's been a labour of love...wish I had more time though :-)
Lovely breakdown of those scenes once again! At the risk of bigging up IU on a day when she again won Songwriter of the Year, Artist of the Year, and Album of the Year, as you say, giving the actors time is critical - but they have to use that time to make us believe the scene. LJA doesn't just avert her head when the mortician moves the sheet, but it's a whole process in the way her eyes are cast down and to the left as she walks in the door, and slowly progresses through to when Dong Hoon helps walk her over to her grandma but she is still trying to avoid the reality. Then she keeps moving her gaze when she is first standing by her grandma, her face starts to express her personal grief but without really acknowledging her grandma, then she hugs her and bit by bit tucks her head against her grandma's chin. And only after all that does she start signing to her grandma, and her face becomes animated as though she is holding a real conversation with her grandma and she can imagine her grandma responding. Can't watch that scene without crying!
Thanks for comment so beautiful. I didn't know about her winning the awards. She so talented and seems so humble.
yeah...great detailed description there...you're right....her instincts in this scene were all on show here...clearly heartfelt from the moment she stepped into the room! All we know is we're truly moved because it feels like we're watching a real person dealing with the situation!
The words choosed by LJA was un expected, yet very touchful.....thank you...and will meet again.... with the true and genuine sad face...
I believe LJA did it beutifully because we know in real life IU also raised and very close with her grandma....the one who strugle for her and love her a lot !
But don't forget, expression by Dong Hoon during this scene also stunning...👏👏👏
Well said by Stephan....thank you again Stephan 👍👏
And another good evaluation of this special Kdrama, thank you and I’m looking forward to your next video. I love this Kdrama and I can see myself watching it again even after so many previous views. I like the fact with your background you can point out the little nuances the average viewer wouldn’t know to look for in the various scenes.
best drama.. in my life
Thank you Stephan for terrific breakdown and hard work to release this. Wow I am really realize how powerful this part of the final episode is. You really showcased how perfect this Drama is, writing, directing, editing etc . And the acting, also blows me away. I also love how Korean dramas will do a partial flashback and then at another point they will reveal more of the flashback. Loved all the comments also, we have very articulate My Mister fans here.
yes we do...I am always looking forward to reading the comments here and learning from others!Thanks and see you in the next one :-)
Almost at the end now. The first scene was so poignant. Especially in how art imitates life. IU came from a poor background and had to live with her grandma and brother in a small cockroach infested single room as her parents couldn't take care of her. Seeing this scene always brings to mind how close she was with her real grandma and how it inspired her to write and sing her masterpiece "Knees".
yes, she seemed to have used all her personal experiences in this scene...for sure! 👍😉
Thank you mister.
You're welcome!
Thanks, thanks, thanks!
I have no further thoughts to add to the first scene, since you have said everything. It only left the usual sea of tears...
I also think the scene with the grandmother's flashback is a nice turning point in the drama. It's a scene that has completely expanded my interpretation of the whole story. I know that there are always debates about the love/friendship relationship between the protagonists. I initially leaned towards a non-romantic relationship because, even if they "save" each other, Ji An seemed to me in a slightly "inferior" position, a bit in debt (it's hard to explain). She only had him. But with this scene the role of all the characters in her life changes, the network widens, he is no longer a "savior". From this point on, I can completely accept the romance 🥰
Exactly my thoughts...romance before the end of the drama would have felt exploitative...however...(we'll discuss more in ep 16 part 2) I believe Ji-an gets empowered through the funeral and afterwards...so when they meet again they're feel equal and boom...who knows what can happen! :-)
@@ManVsDrama yes, this is exactly what I meant! Thank you! 😊
I can't wait for the next video 🤩
If there is any doubt Ji An loves PDH, after visiting grandma for the last time, I would say she absolutely does. Seeing JiAn so vulnerable, kneeling, I think something breaks inside PDH's heart, he reaches down to pat her, but this is not enough. She needs more from him and he holds and supports her. This is the moment he dully opens himself to her.
That guy from the bar who you mentioned played the boss of Lee Sun-kyun's character in the series preceding this one, "My Wife is having an affair this week" (alt title 'Listen to Love'), just a year earlier,
He's such a fun actor! I loved "My Wife is Having an Affair This Week". This actor is also in Pinocchio as the helpful police detective. He provides some comic relief there, too.
One other overlap that I noticed the last time I watched My Wife is Having An Affair is the actor who plays Managing Director Yoon in My Mister! (He's at the big gathering of LSK's character's supporters that meet at the restaurant at the end). I was surprised to see him. :)
Beautiful breakdown! Thanks so much.
how did you even already find it? It was unlisted last night! 🤔 anyway.thanks!
@@ManVsDrama Hmm ... not sure. It just showed up in the Best Scenes Revisited playlist. However it was not showing up in the overall list of videos when I go to your channel. I have no idea why it showed up in one place and not the other.
What happened? It was blocked hours ago. Happy that copyright problem was solved.
I had to reedit and reupload! This one seems to be ok! :-)
@@ManVsDrama you tube's algorithm seems to be able to analyze a pixel sequence or audio waveform and match it to back to it's source. I think the fact we are watching at an angle might help to get around this. You could also try running your audio output (netflix) through some filters. This is fair use of copywritten material and legal in the US.
@@JWPanimation hey John, thanks for chiming in..The main thing I've learned is that I can't get away with any continuous sequence over 20 seconds..so that's why I try to always stay under 20 seconds...it's just sometimes so wrong to interrupt when they're taking long pauses haha...I've tried other things...hiding parts of it (with logo) etc..having a lower volume of the sound seems to help keep the sound a bit more under the radar...because otherwise the music gets claimed...sometimes then I can still show but can't monetise. (not that that makes a big difference right now)...filters is an interesting idea...I'll do a little more research...thanks
Whenever I see her sign language, I can see that she practiced very much. The hand movement is clear and the timing of a pause at the point is perfect.
I have seen Western funeral culture through dramas and movies, so I don't know what the actual funeral atmosphere is like in Europe or America. Usually, they remain quiet in front of the cemetery, or later relatives gathered at the deceased's house separately talk in memory of the deceased. So I wonder how you feel about the buzzing atmosphere of Korean funerals. Even if you can guess the intention of it or don't feel very strange through the context of the drama. In Korea, if it's not a really sad funeral, to comfort the family's sadness, people who attend the funeral eat and drink as loudly as they do at a drinking party, or even play card games (of course, if it goes too far, the families of the dead get angry. Also, they don't laugh and talk like that at all funerals. It's like a tradition that's disappearing). Of course, there are no funerals that are not sad, so the expression "not very sad" may be strange, but for example, if a child who is young or young died earlier than his or her parents, They cannot act like this. Usually, if an elderly person dies at a fairly old age, or if he or she doesn't die after suffering from a long illness, it seems to be considered a "not so bad death." There is a "daily life continues" nuance of drinking, eating, laughing, and chatting. I think we do so in the worldview that the rest of our lives continue, and that death can be a new beginning. In the old traditional funeral culture, strangely, there was even a scene where funerals and festivals seemed to overlap. From the perspective of foreigners, this may seem like a cultural anthropological research subject (?).
Apart from this, there is a scene where Dong-hoon gets angry when Dong-hoon's subordinate hits the soju bottle with his elbow, which was a little out of the blue. It was strange that a person who was quite old and had a social life acted very inappropriately for a funeral home. In other words, I felt that it was a scene that was inserted to show Dong-hoon's character as a principleist.
yes, good point..I believe that's one of those moments that highlight character and insert a moment of drama and conflict into an otherwise mellow scene....you can see in the drama there are all these little moments where we as the audience get reengaged through a mini conflict or reversal.....thanks for your illuminating comments about korean funeral culture..
In the States, African Americans have more of a Korean way of sending off their loved ones, having a party after the fineral. Northern Europeans are more taciturn, where public displays of emotion are suppressed. Italians on the other hand will jump on the coffin after it's been lowered into the earth and wail.
my 아저씨는 나의 life 드라마 중 one 이다
Please do the other part ASAP... if possible do a full analysis of this episode. Would love to hear your interpretation
Next one is live already..👍😉
Watching your evaluation of these scenes confirmed my impression the first time I watched this Kdrama. I had mixed feelings of how this couple really felt about each other. I would search different reviews & most reviews stated this couple were just platonic friends. Maybe that’s why I rewatched the Kdrama so much trying to come to a more accurate conclusion. I’m looking forward to your next review. And once again pointing out the details of their facial expressions by this couple.
and what did you conclude? :-)
@@ManVsDrama Of course this couple were more than just friends. Obvious from his breakdown then followed by their meeting again at the coffee shop. Their smiles at seeing each other again. I liked how the director directed the scene we only see Ji-an from her back until she hears Dong-Hoon’s voice and walks toward him for their meeting. The smiles on their faces says it all.
@@carolshibuya5935 yeah actually we meet the new ji an thru donghoon's eyes ,we only see ji an's face after donghoon look at her !!!!and you can tell that donghoon migth choose her this time, that smile after seeing her again say it all !!!!
they just hate the age gap thing, but idc we all know it's more than just a platonic friendship, it transcends that
Great!!!!
리뷰 감사합니다~♡
I wonder if IU will ever do another serious role …. It’s hard to think that Ji An and Man Wol are the same person.
I think she's working on a film with japanese director Koreeda at the moment...he doesn't do romcom's...so she might be working on one right now! :-)
@@ManVsDrama IU was the best I've seen her in this scene.
This Drama it’s beautiful and touching! I cried a lot .... I Love K Dramas and movies which show us cultural differences ..The scene in the morgue I was screaming SHE NEED A HUG 😭😭😭But I guess Hugging it’s not a common thing. ( Remember the scene of promotion celebration ? I was also shouting HUG HIM , HUG HER ! 😭😭... nop no hugs ! But they looked to each other in a touching way ... even though lack of hugs love it love it love it!
We 🇵🇷 are “Huggers” 🙃
you're so right....and the less they do it the more we want them to! :-)
많은 사람들이 이 드라마를 보고 조금이나마 한국 정서 따뜻함을 깨달았으면 합니다 이런 관심에 기쁜 감정을 느낍니다
Same here 👍😎
Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!
it wasn't live yet but glad you enjoyed it!
Honestly i always check my notification just to know if you aploaded a new review for this masterpiece!!!!!another great review and happy that theirs a part 3!!!!!
제일 처량한게... 부모 장례식에.... 사람 하나도 없는거임... 외국은.. 모로겠음 이 감정 이 느낌을 표현할. 단어가없음...아무리 생각해도....서글프다.. 이 단어가없음...
외국인이 한국어 감성을 이해하는것이 쉽지는 않았을듯....언어에는 많은것이 함축되어있으니깐....