dropthedemiurge - Tumblr blog

dropthedemiurge · 7 days ago

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Please don't explain yourself why you missed stuff because I'm already amazed at how many details and correct messages you did pick up! I only know all these details and author intentions because I rewatched this show an ungodly amount of times (and it does get better with every rematch, I swear) and also watched all the following Canon fanmeetings/director and actors interviews :D

That 14 days or 100 days decision went over many heads tbh, because the show doesn't really explain much or stay on this scene enough to let it sink in, and weird translation shown for a couple of seconds definitely doesn't help. Just like with the medals, I wish they would put a tiny bit more time to highlight the meaning so it can be picked up on the first watch.

Your interpretation is interesting too, and I can now see why you could think like this! Again, the subs aren't the best in some times for sure...

Oh we didn't have phrases and quites in schools, so I thought that was unique for Koreans :D

Wow, I actually didn't stop to think about grandma being gone won't result in Myungha's happiness. I was fixed on the original world, that she was already gone and Myungha went through grief and was even able to fix his regrets in this world, so I was thinking objectively that he could deal with it better now (when game wanted him to not choose her) but you're right, Myungha considered at this point this world as a real one, as the one where he gets to love sincerely and have hope and find his solace too, so it would be painful to lose grandma even if already did it once - especially if it's tied to him actively deciding for the mission, you're right, it'd be worse. I am sure that he'll be able to deal with it much better in the future with such a strong support group as Yeowoon and friends.

Yes, I fully encourage you to rewatch it! If you want to, I can also send the link to the fanmeeting or interviews (the actors talk about this show in such loving ways, and there are post-canon novel-based fanservice talks :D) Maybe that would push me to add proper subtitles to the video finally lol But first, let me talk about episode 8...

Catching Up: Love for Love's Sake (Ep 7)

Other Reacts: Ep 1 Ep 2 Ep 3 Ep 4 Ep 5 Ep 6

(As a reminder, I have the tags blocked to try and prevent spoilers.)

So the last episode decided to be RUDE and end on the impossible choice of saving Yeowoon or Grandma. Which left me choosing to forego sleep so I could at least see how that panned out.

But first I had to stretch. And while I stretched and snacked, my mind wandered to my latest fixation -> Moon and Dust and all of the Little Prince references/parallels in it. And that prompted me thinking even more about the Little Prince quote in episode 6.

"If you come at four in the afternoon, I'll begin to be happy by three."

On the surface, it feels very appropriate to the feelings of joy in early dating. But as I have sat here snacking, I'm wondering....is this also predictive? This show is chock full of symbolic details so it just feels like there could be more to the quote.

Could they end up having to wait on each other at some point?

Not sure. I'm still trying to figure out exactly how that would work with my clown car that Myung-ha is in the water in the middle of a suicide attempt.

And I still haven't figured out how they're going to resolve the multiple worlds although I'm confident we're staying here in the end. But in The Little Prince, you could argue that the Little Prince sacrifices his physical body/being in one world so his spirit can rejoin his Rose in the other. Is that what Myung-ha ends up doing? That would support the idea of them being apart for a while. In that scenario, Yeowoon would have to wait on Myungha to return.

Note: It's quite possible that this is transference of my obsession with Moon & Dust and my recent re-read of The Little Prince. That has occupied a huge portion of my brain in recent weeks. I don't want my imp (in Moon & Dust) to die!

So stretch and snack break over, it's time to see how Myungha handles this choice. The timer is ticking.

We're also right back into symbolism. Grandma wants to go pick apricots. Fruits, like flowers, often contain a lot of symbolism.

Apricots have a wild amount of meanings, and they are very culturally specific. Generally positive, but it varies a lot. Also depends on if you are talking about the flower or the fruit. The flower has a ton of meaning in Korea. Like many of the other symbols in this show, they can be associated with resilience and new beginnings (spring). Don't hold me to this, but I think the fruit itself may be associated with longevity and used in medicine in Korea. I'll have to look it up later to confirm. But if that's the case, then it's interesting that Myungha's next line says "They've all fallen off the trees because of the rain." Because that implies time running out without picking the fruit. Similar to the fig tree story in The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, but in this case it's due to outside circumstances rather than indecisiveness.

This conversation between Myungha and his grandmother is simultaneously so sweet and sad.

Grandma knows her grandson. I always admire how BL grandmas give great advice on the spot. My brain wouldn't think of the right thing to say until 10 hours later. For better or worse, my children are very used to me saying "let me think about that".

I still don't have a good theory for who these messages are from. At one point I thought senior, but we get his messages in the "Error Reports". Messages from Myungha himself is still my best bet.

No surprise here. Myungha is now having to make choices. It's the whole reason I'm watching this episode instead of sleeping. 😅

It really is an impossible choice.

We pick up with Yeowoon and Myungha talking about the stalker incident. Yeowoon insists that he can handle his own affairs. It's critical to their relationship that they be on equal ground and care for each other so I love that Yeowoon keeps insisting that Myungha takes him seriously and treats him as an equal. I also love that Yeowoon now has additional people on his side like the company rep. For both of them, their network and support systems have expanded.

But I do not love the closing elevator doors as the choice interface prompts back up. Deleting the changes you made does NOT sound like a positive thing. Myungha isn't going to want things to return to how they were at any previous point really. There are no good previous save files here.

Remember when I said that the frame from the movie theater seemed like a hospital scene? This is it. This is also the reason that I don't trust any of the fluffy moments in this show. This show delights in bringing them back with a dose of pain. Things have went sideways, but we still have Myungha slumped over on a bench with the "coming soon" on the wall to his right. Time keeps ticking down.

Oooh. Interesting. The apricots are back. I really need to look up and confirm what they symbolize. But even without knowing specific meaning, it's telling that Myungha said they had fallen. He wasn't seeing hope or a chance to gather fruit. But Yeowoon still had "hope" of sorts. He was still able to gather fruit. With the dialogue of how he can handle things followed by things like this, I'm really beginning to think Yeowoon and his hope are going to be critical in solving the impending problems. Myungha tends to think more negatively.

We're down to less than a minute. No way that Myungha can choose between them. I'd be disappointed if he did. I really think it's an extra bit of cruel that he can see each of them dead. Like those are not the visions you want in your brain.

"I choose both."

But unfortunately, that's not how most games work. They're programmed. Unlike life, choices are set. Both wasn't an option.

So he incurs the consequence. His time is being deducted. And it's showing him what would've happened in that time? Is that what is occurring? What kind of hellish date montage is this.

From 247 days to 15?!?!

That's one heck of a penalty. But...both Yeowoon and Grandma are alive right? I can't say I'm upset about that part.

But we still have a system error? That can't be good, but the doors are green. Optimizing can be a positive thing. Although it typically means removing unnecessary components or streamlining processes. What's considered unnecessary here? We've already lost days. I'm going to be thinking on that....as I sleep. Sleep is very necessary, and I'm going to rest in the knowledge that both Yeowoon and Grandma are safe.

(Pause)

So I was told in the comments on the last post to make sure I watched episode 7 and 8 together. Between vacation and my big work project, that meant I had to wait almost a month before coming back to this show. I just haven't had a big enough chunk of time.

But here we are, with Myungha now running through the green doors. This hallway isn't pleasant looking though. Are we back in a maze? There is red again. He's in a stairwell with someone approaching. Do we go up or down?

Apparently neither. We're going back through the water. This conversation is interesting. Do you choose to break up and save yourself the pain or stay together longer even if it involves pain?

Country music song entered my head. "I could have missed the pain, but I'd had to miss the dance." And I'll be honest, I'm not going to dwell on this dialogue much at the moment. It would get way too personal too fast. But it doesn't surprise me that Myungha chooses to "break up". We've seen before that he tries to avoid pain. In some ways, he runs from it. He had started running towards Yeowoon instead of running away, but old habits and mindsets are hard to break.

I find it interesting that he's focused on "didn't you say we get to part on good terms?" I like how senior isn't making the choice for Myungha. He's saying things like "is it?" Making sure Myungha thinks about it, but he's not necessarily leading him in a particular direction.

The filming of this scene is fascinating to me. Yes, I will focus on that for now. We're seeing the silhouettes. This is an abstract conversation that's providing the outline. But it's an outline where Myungha can't see all of the details of what that really means. Senior's line "is it?" takes on more meaning in that context. Is that really the best option?

Holy hell. Of course he'll choose to sacrifice himself. I have strong feelings. I'm not sure exactly what they are at the moment. But they are strong. As in I want to smash all the keys on my keyboard level strong. It makes sense that Myungha would choose Yeowoon. He already tried to make a third option, and the game didn't allow it. I'm just going to hope that Yeowoon comes through with his apricots somehow and finds the magic door. He wouldn't want Myungha to sacrifice himself.

Myungha really didn't take a lot of time to make that decision. That one was easy for him.

Yeowoon is happily planning the future, and this feels like a more serious version of the vibe when Myungha and Kyunghoon were talking about college. Myungha knows he doesn't have time.

So you're telling me that the GIF I discounted as a spoiler because it's likely he was going to say "I love you" at some point was made when YEOWOON COULDN'T HEAR IT!!!! 😭😭😭 And Yeowoon has no clue what's going on. I'm having keyboard smashing feelings again.

I do wonder if he'll start to pick up on Myungha's mood though.

Lol. Yeowoon is pouting. "I wanted to be alone with you." Sorry, you're having a party with our friends...complete with the video game music. It feels like a while since we heard that music, but let's be real -> I've spread this watch out over so many months at this point that I have no idea which episode I heard it in last.

The bickering kills me every time though. "That's why Myungha likes me (and not you)."

OMG. Complete with sticking the tongue out! I love this relationship, and the pettiness between them. I'll fully admit that I got in a lot of trouble on more than one occasion when I was younger for sticking my tongue out at people. Is this also when I admit though that I'd have no idea how to grill the meat? It's the reason I've never ordered anything with a tabletop grill at a Korean/Asian restaurant.

While I love that our quad is having another shared meal together, I don't love that this feels like Myungha saying goodbye to them.

LOL. Sangwon stole the lettuce wrap.

Aww. We're at the picture from the intro. But unlike the intro, Myungha is staring at Yeowoon instead of the camera. His face isn't shown. That's interesting.

Cha Yeowoon is getting popular which means Myungha has earned a reward. He can change something. Intriguing. That feels powerful.

Yeowoon is precious, and Myungha has to be having big feels. Because Yeowoon is basically saying bad things always happen to those around him. If Myungha dies, where does that leave Yeowoon. "Good terms" doesn't necessarily mean they're both happy afterwards. Actually, it could mean Yeowoon is still devastated.

"But I only have you. Never leave my side." 😭😭😭

This conversation got deep. Yeowoon doesn't think Myungha likes him, because he still doesn't rely on him. These conversations have to be ripping Myungha apart. The tears in his eyes are going to rip me apart. Yeowoon won't be having an easy time either though. It has to feel like Myungha is putting walls up.

Yeowoon saying "I Love You" triggers another system error. Why? It's possible the system errors are related somehow to Myungha and his emotions. But I'd have to go back and track when each of them happened. It'd work for the two in this episode at least.

This is a great shot. Myungha sitting underneath the label of the high school. Arrows pointing in two opposite directions. One of them with water.

Myungha is granted a magic pen. I thought there may be writing on it, but I can't see it clearly.

Myungha has a fever. Sangwon helps him. Meanwhile, Yeowoon is meeting with the company rep. He agrees to be the brand model. Anyone know what the neon sign in the back says? I'm assuming it's just the name of a place, but neon signs always make me curious. This one has the window bar blocking it though so I can't translate.

Yeowoon is learning that Myungha is playing a role in this agreement. And...that's got to feel in some ways like Myungha going behind his back and not letting him take care of his own business. The business he specifically asked to be allowed to take care of himself.

Yeowoon is going to join a competition on August 14. That definitely seems like it's after Myungha would "die". (Note: I'm not accepting that currently.) Giving the competition a date feels purposeful.

Yeowoon is looking in on Myungha's desk. I'm having flashbacks of episode 1. Where Myungha was looking for Yeowoon initially but Yeowoon wasn't there. That resulted in Myungha running to save Yeowoon. But apparently the reverse isn't happening...yet. Boo. I still think it will at some point. It just makes narrative sense.

Sangwon isn't at school. LOL. Yeowoon still didn't have Sangwon's number. I make no judgment there.

We're running! It did happen. But he didn't find Myungha.

Yeowoon only found bars. He is definitely being kept out of the loop and blocked out of Myungha's decision making. I'm distracted by the fruit tree in the garden.

Myungha is at Yeowoon's? With a gift? After Yeowoon has been searching for him all day and couldn't get a hold of him? I'm not sure that I'd be angry in Yeowoon's position, but it feels like something that a lot of people would be angry about. And Yeowoon is angry.

Oh. I hadn't thought about that implication. That's enough to make Yeowoon angry for sure. Because it's been the one thing he's wanted all along. And for it to seem like Myungha chose Sangwon over him? That's going to hurt.

Why do you always deal with everything on your own?

Yeah. I'm not touching this dialogue right now either. But it's powerful. Emotions are complex. Relationships are complex. There's often layers and multiple things can be true at once. As a side note, I know it's not important, but the neon sign in the back apparently says "mountain church" according to my translation app.

Yeowoon: "I think I'm really unhappy."

Ooof. That was Myungha's mission. That's WHY he made his choice was because it was supposed to mean Yeowoon's happiness. But he had only seen the outline. The silhouette. And Myungha didn't see everything that was within those lines when he made that choice.

There are so many great shots and frames within this show. The way Yeowoon is trapped here while Myungha can't be seen at all as he's behind the wall.

Side note: The heart flower on the gift bag is really cute.

Myungha is back at Sangwon's. We see Myungha get the text about the competition. We've now seen it twice. It's important for some reason. Oh, this was a flashback. He bought him medals.

But I'm more focused on the clocks that all show different times. Same place, but different times. Is this like The Little Prince quote? Hmm. It doesn't look like any of them show 3 or 4. Reinforces my thought that one of them may have to wait on the other. Unless, it's really just time ticking down. But in that case, there would be no need for the multiple clocks. I'll keep thinking on this one.

Myungha is stewing. Yeowoon is stewing.

Myungha is spiraling really. "Who am I to think I could make you happy?" Oh boy. Um. Red alarm. Red alarm. That phrase has all kinds of self-loathing in it.

Days are ticking down. Yeowoon is still running. He's no longer in the blue shoes. He had them on a minute ago as Myungha looked at him through the window, but no longer. No! Yeowoon is crying too. I hate it here.

SENIOR! How is this parting on good terms?!?! HOW?!

Yeowoon specifically asks Myungha to leave him alone and lets go of his hand. "I'm in agony" 😭😭😭

Myungha: "It's my fault." "Let's break up."

I'm weeping. Both of them are hurting so much.

Myungha has a lot on his mind, and his choices aren't easy. But Yeowoon is devastating me in this scene. He's begging to be loved. That was Yeowoon's dream. His drawing. To be loved by the people he loves. And he doesn't think Myungha loves him in the same way. He doesn't feel like he's enough for Myungha. But he's begging Myungha to let him love him anyways.

Ok, his voice breaking and lip quivering may have made me ugly sob. Him promising to not doing anything that Myungha doesn't want. I'm going to have to pause a minute.

(Pause)

Yeowoon saying I love you causes a system error again. Myungha walks away. 😭😭😭

Myungha is devastated too. Really, both of them were in a place where they didn't think they could make the other one happy. But so much of that had to do with the fact that they weren't communicating about the problems. I can't imagine how that conversation could possibly have went from Myungha's perspective. "So...I'm from a different world...." But it is true that he was not trusting Yeowoon.

Time left: 3 days; And a close up of the magic pen that is going to have to be put into use soon.

HOW DO WE RESOLVE THIS? What change could Myungha make that would "fix" things per se? I hesitate asking that, because I'm sure from Myungha's perspective it's something self sacrificial. As grandma said, he doesn't do a good job of thinking about himself.

Pen is opening, and that's an interesting transition.

Similar tone to the shot that stressed me out in episode 6. Reflection shot again. Can't see his feet at all. He's not grounded at the moment.

Will you use the "Original Author's Pen" on the character you chose? I'm confused. I'm assuming that means the pen is senior's. But this means he changes something about a character?

Yeah. The next frame says it's a "characterization" being changed and they'll be charged with your accumulated affection level. This feels like riddles. Because this was the reward. But it's the ability to do it that is the reward. The choice he makes still has a cost, but what exactly would "being charged" mean? Reduced health? The day count is already pretty low. Couldn't he just write down "Make Yeowoon happy"? I mean, I know that undermines the entirety of the show. But....it feels like an option here.

He starts to write "Cha Yeowoon" and then it cuts out and we see him close the pen.

Error/Settings Error. He's back in his room.

😒

I'm having not nice thoughts at the moment. What did our self-sacrificing hero do? I'm guessing that's why we didn't see him finish the sentence. Because writing "Make Yeowoon happy" or similar would not delete Myungha. Unless that was the cost? Hmm.

This feels like it goes back to that line of "Who am I to think I could make him happy?" I again don't know for sure what feeling I am experiencing, but it's one that makes me want to smash my keyboard. I'm probably supposed to feel sad right now, but I want to reach through the screen and wring Myungha's neck. He did something. SOMETHING STUPID AND SELF-SACRIFICING.

The question I guess will come down to...what did he actually write?

I find it interesting that his bowl is still left there. In both this scene and the one with his grandma/Yeowoon, his place setting is still there. So even if he's being deleted himself, the evidence of him existing remains? That feels important. I can't see the full quote on the bowl. It does look like a penguin on the cup. They typically symbolize love and loyalty. Resilience yet again. Actually, it's a really good symbol for Myungha as they also evoke selflessness and they are often associated with parenthood.

Myungha runs out of the room, and we see both globes within the narrow space that's left ajar. The door closes. Interesting. The door has closed on the two worlds?

I would be panicking, but I'm now fully latching on to the symbols. Penguins go on long journeys. They come back. The Little Prince came back. Plus, there's a whole episode left and I know there's at least one gif I haven't seen yet lol. That's cheating. I don't care.

No one can see Myungha. The server is damaged.

He remembers the buff from running into Yeowoon, but Yeowoon isn't answering calls.

Ok. So what did Myungha write? Because if he had wrote something like "make me disappear", it shouldn't be surprising to him that it happened. This feels like the being careful of your words thing all over again.

We're running. Always running in this show. He's trying to run towards Yeowoon. He asks where Yeowoon is. I find it interesting that Yeowoon can hear him even when no one else could.

Uh...........

The world is falling apart. I've ran out of screenshots. For the record, those two sentences are not connected.

The signs on the stairs are interesting. "Stay hungry, stay foolish". "If you can dream it...". Doesn't really matter....the entire floor and walls are cracking.

Myungha said to come to the rooftop. Yeowoon is running.

The sky is ripping itself apart into a night sky. There are no stairs down anymore. Yeowoon trips coming up and is bleeding.

Penguins. It'll be okay. Myungha is a penguin.

But this feels like an apocalypse. 🫣

"Cause of error is being deleted".

Myungha yells Yeowoon's name, but we end up with a splashing sound and Myungha falling while reaching. Presumably, Yeowoon didn't make it in time.

End episode.

Yeah, I can see why you said I need to watch both 7 and 8 together. My heart rate is up and I feel stressed.

WHAT DID HE WRITE?!?!?

#love for love's sake #lfls

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dropthedemiurge · 8 days ago

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[rolls up my sleeves] And I'm back with my regular corner of yelling how you got everything right and sharing all the unnecessary tiny details about this amazing show~ I'll try to mostly add things you didn't point out - in case you haven't noticed or thought too much about them - so I won't end up repeating everything you said and making this post twice as long lol

Could they end up having to wait on each other at some point?

I have no idea how you got this from the Little Prince quote (I probably need to read the book) but you latched onto this question and kept repeating it and damn, if this is intentional by authors - that's incredible, because that's exactly what happens!

Fun fact: I don't remember the novel specifically when it comes to picking apricots - we might have to ask @sid-the-sandwich - but in the novel, Myungha and Yeowoon do go to pick apricots at some point, and it's an illegal thing in Korea that local grandmas do for community and fun (and because apricots are just there and no one's eating them!!) and Myungha and Yeowoon had to run away from police lol Not sure if it has specific symbolism and meaning, or it was chosen by authors as an activity that would be assumed important for a grandma (and it could mean Yeowoon actually went to steal some apricots to make Myungha's grandma happy like a big independent boy he was)

I actually didn't think that it had also a subtle message of Myungha thinking negatively out of them all (he's always the one so brave and looks nonchalant, ready to tackle on any problem, stubborn his way into the thickest walls, but surprisingly he cries easier than you'd think and tends to think negatively, especially when it comes to himself. My heart hurts when I think of Myungha, for real...) Thanks for pointing this out!

But here we are, with Myungha now running through the green doors. This hallway isn't pleasant looking though. Are we back in a maze?

There was one moment that I really love that makes his running after the system error feel more unsettling - Myungha stops quickly in front of the hospital mirror - and you can't see him. He can't see himself. This was already hinting at him being/causing the "error" and disappearing from this world for a short time. Just like there was a deliberate camera choice in Episode 8 when Myungha wrote the change with the pen and ran out of his room after "being deleted", with only door being slammed and sounds heard, but the actor wasn't seen at all. Adding all the dutch angles and cuts - the camera director and editors really knew what they were doing.

(hiding further comments under read more)

Offtop to talk about Myungha being forced to choose between Yeowoon and grandma: I wonder what theory you have, why Sunbae made him go through this? I personally have two theories which contradict each other but it's still fun to think over any of them.

(kind of a dark one, you can skip if you don't feel like thinking about death in gaming terms) Myungha was currently in the middle of drowning, and when the brain fights for the life, maybe it behaves just like a PC when it's lacking resources - it would glitch, and ask for more memory, and you just need to delete something in order to stabilize the system, actually - maybe the remains of Myungha's consciousness couldn't focus on all the things the more time (and episodes) went on so the system errors started, and him refusing to let go made his dying brain overwork even more, hence reducing to only 15 days possible to "live" through.

Sunbae asked Myungha to write down questions to the answers, and all the missions so far have been connected to making Myungha happy, to make him discover and learn how to love himself and get unstuck from the depressive live he's been stuck in for the past years and past world. Maybe a forced choice to pick between grandma and Yeowoon to Myungha would mean "choosing to keep latching onto someone that was already gone/was connected to grief" (Grandma, Myungha's past) and "choosing to let go of the past and move on to live a new life" (Yeowoon, Myungha's future). Yes, it was brutal, and I'm glad Myungha didn't choose, but this theory would make sense why kind yet strict Sunbae would make him go through this.

About conversation in the water with Sunbae - I love your thoughts about silhouettes and why they matter! I just noticed you keep asking about 'not parting on good terms' when Myungha broke up with Yeowoon, and this game mechanic was kind of confusing, so:

(Flashback of Myungha talking with Sunbae before) Between "be together until the very end, but suffer" and 'amicable early break up' Myungha used to choose the last one. Because he didn't really love or felt love, he avoided suffering, he couldn't imagine suffering in the name of love. If you part on good terms then that's the best choice, right? (just like Myungha in the original world parted with Choi Jinjo - who is Yeowoon's company rep as well btw, yes ;))

But now, when facing the same choice - only falling deeply in love with Yeowoon, Myungha immediately changed his answer to 180. Be together with Yeowoon until the very end (for 14 remaining days) and then die and disappear, making them both suffer. Or break up right now, part on good terms, restore 100 days but Yeowoon will become cold and distant again (and he'd be the only one alone and sad). Of course, now Myungha chose the "Yeowoon's happiness and my death" (and our love) option. So the game still only gave him 14 days. Parting on good terms and restoring from the last savepoint with 100 days wasn't an option anymore! Myungha already made his decision and game accepted it.

Myungha only decided to break up with Yeowoon later, like 3 days before the deadline, because everything kept being doomed and Yeowoon said he was unhappy, and Myungha ran out of options and any hope, and instead of communicating and relying on Yeowoon, he resorted to the last possible attempt he could imagine (but it already was not a game option to bring any positive effect or let them stay in good terms because Myungha didn't sacrifice Yeowoon's feelings). And now I made myself sad again.

So you're telling me that the GIF I discounted as a spoiler because it's likely he was going to say "I love you" at some point was made when YEOWOON COULDN'T HEAR IT!!!!

Lol I feel so bad that this was the spoiler you got!! Yeah, definitely wouldn't expect this gif to have such an angsty context, right?:'))

Yeah, here on tumblr we had the same theory!! I think the first system errors don't really track, but for this episode definitely System Error is triggered every time Yeowoon said "I love you" to Myungha (and we also got Myungha's pov camera!), as if game system is tightly connected to Myungha (it is) and his conscience simply could not believe each time this is possible. Someone says they love you, and your world glitches and threatens to break apart because that's surely not real - how freaking devastating this is? Myungha's depression state is just. Sob. Let's not think too hard about this.

Arrows pointing in two opposite directions. One of them with water.

I DID NOT NOTICE THIS OH MY GOD, not the water poster?? ohhh

Hmm, I went back to see Yeowoon talk with company rep but neon sign can't really be seen fully. I think it says something about beauty, maybe a beauty shop? Anyway, doesn't feel relevant (although the girl is pretty xD)

As a side note, I know it's not important, but the neon sign in the back apparently says "mountain church" according to my translation app.

It definitely is a church. Korea has sooo many churches everywhere (I have 3 churches right next to my house for no reason??) and funny thing is, big churches like in Seoul usually have huge neon signs. Like NEON RED CROSS. Feels hellish when you walk at night, tbh.

Myungha is at Yeowoon's? With a gift?

Just to clarify this a little bit - you probably just didn't focus on it, but let me gather everything in this post anyway: Remember when dad yelled at Yeowoon about money and broke his piggy bank and left? He left with Yeowoon's sport medals in hands (that he won over the years in competitions) to exchange them for some alcohol money. And Myungha "saw this" so he used the money he earned (I think because of one mission) so he went back to the pawn shop and got Yeowoon's medals back, which he brought in that bag.

That's why Myungha says his confused 'Yeowoon, this is your effort, your achievements (I thought you'd be happy if I brought them to you, I sacrificed myself)' and Yeowoon answers angrily "Did I ask you to?" (why do you do everything on your own, why don't you rely on me) Yeowoon's medals is like a physical proof, or a reason for them to have this very needed conversation that's been brewing over the last few episodes. I don't know why the show didn't point Myungha specifically buying back Yeowoon's medals that his dad stole more clearly but many people miss that.

Couldn't he just write down "Make Yeowoon happy"? I mean, I know that undermines the entirety of the show.

I honestly laughed out loud when I read this at my work, ngl xDD

Well... It kind of does undermine everything, right? Which leads to another punishment by the game when Myungha refuses to choose himself, and his love, and Yeowoon, and decides to give everything up. Make Yeowoon happy because I don't think I can, I don't think I'm worthy.

Just like he gave up on his life once, this is his second time giving up and 'dying' and regretting it again. That's why, I think, writing 'Make Yeowoon happy' makes him disappear, and not because in game point of view, Myungha disappearing would make Yeowoon happy. Because game was never logical and objective, it was always there to help, guide Myungha and teach him a lesson.

I kept laughing when reading about Myungha being a penguin xD Because honestly, I never noticed any penguins in this show but this is so adorable.

The signs on the stairs are interesting. "Stay hungry, stay foolish". "If you can dream it...". Doesn't really matter....the entire floor and walls are cracking.

This is actually typical to Korean schools, they have encouraging quotes on the stairs - just wise sayings, or quotes from famous people, etc. So I don't know how deliberate was this placing, or did the authors just film with the existing stairs quotes. I wrote about them here (and it has other details that you probably should read in the post so I won't have to write about them all again in my comments about Episode 8 and annoy everyone any longer :D)

Phew. That was fun. See you in the next post :D