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Rowoon & Kim Hye Yoon at the 2019 MBC Drama Awards

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Almost a month post and this instrumental hits me... all the feels are coming back!!

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[Extraordinary You behind] Rowoon, 190cm vs Bug, 0.09 cm 😂

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I completely forgot this but Haru was actually self aware before Dan Oh and has just been attracted to her without understanding why.... and even calling her name when she was unaware.... awww Haru yah... *melts*

- Extraordinary You Episode 9

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Haru being self aware for way longer than Dan Oh expected

- Extraordinary You, Episode 9

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An Extraordinary Haru-Found-by-Chance Day

For a drama I literally found by chance, I’m quite shocked at how invested I was throughout its run. It has been about 2 weeks past its finale but I am still closely following news and interviews of the cast (who seem like such a lovely bunch to be around!)

*spoiler alert*

So how does one become “aware”?

Extraordinary You is primarily about the lives of high-schoolers who are manhwa characters. These characters act with motives (controlled by a writer) while they are on “stage” (the actual storyboard that manhwa readers see, whoever these readers are), and in the “shadow” (their life sans the actual storyboard). Unaware characters do not remember what happen in “shadows” - giving “aware” characters the chance to do whatever they want (e.g., skip school - I wonder why they didn’t do more of that).

But, how do characters become “aware”? I assumed the very first character who became aware in Secret was probably Dried Squid Fairy (Lee Tae Ri), but how did he become aware in the first place? How did Dan Oh become aware beyond just realising randomly one day that she has memory lapses? Is the writer’s intentions for his/her characters to be aware and hence she recycles them on purpose so they have a chance to be aware?? *Mindblown*

It’s great to see Kim Hye Yoon as a less angst teen.

I’ve come to know of Hye Yoon through Sky Castle (which I suppose is where most people know her from) and then found that she was also in Goblin (as an extra... pun intended). I will not lie but I was half expecting Dan Oh to start screaming like Ye Suh as soon as she made her appearance. Still, it did not take long before I believed Dan Oh as a tiny chirpy bubbly princess. 

Although she was an extra in Secret, Dan Oh was in almost every scene there is in Extraordinary You. Hye Yoon probably had such a tight unimaginable schedule (given this is a live-shoot drama), but she delivered over and beyond. She was the cute factor, drama factor and emotional factor. I never needed to guess what Dan Oh was feeling or thinking because Hye Yoon helps me understand Dan Oh’s every move and motive. This. Girl. Can. Act. and we should keep an eye on her (her dimples are also super adorable).

“Haru yah...”

He appears as a nameless and rather clueless extra (who for almost 4 episodes had no face or name to his fuzzy silhouette). The first thing he says is “Eun Dan Oh” (during the summer camp after stacking her fallen rocks); which is really sweet since he muttered her name even before she named him. Interestingly, it is also the last thing he says before disappearing from the Secret manhwa *still collecting my tears*. 

It’s also interesting how the first word Dan Oh actually ever hears Haru say is “sorry” (while being lost in the woods). I felt it was so apt as that would probably be the first thing Haru from the previous manhwa would have wanted to say to Dan Oh after somewhat having a part in killing her *collects more tears*

Rowoon is a new face to me (and to my utter surprise, he was actually in Where Stars Land. Like really?! How did I miss his handsome face?! And Hye Yoon adding to her SF9 collection as she moves along... Hahaha!). It was quite fun to see Haru ver.2 and Rowoon being slightly mean (because how can that face be anything but a cute puppy). 

Haru’s character development was slightly tricky to handle. He transforms from meek to bold, from unnoticeable to in-your-face-Baek-Kyung-back-off mode. Hence I can understand when Rowoon says he gave a lot of thought to Haru’s thoughts, and he definitely made Haru believable. 

While we are on Haru, let’s get this off my chest, Haru’s ending in Secret was just pure cruel. Haru only had a life in school and now he doesn’t even graduate from it?! And I cannot deal with how Dan Oh did not know about this till the last minute. I guess such a cruel ending then makes the meeting in the next manhwa more bittersweet. I loved how they were just extras because that means they can do anything they want in the shadow while being aware. But I also want that manhwa to last forever so we don’t have to go through another separation and another period of unawareness. 

That fluffy fuzzy first love feeling...

*music* “Neon naege maeil cheot sarang...” That feeling is so palpable. Hye Yoon and Rowoon nailed the dating scenes so well. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen another love that is so pure. I have no more words to say. It’s just love in its most basic form.

What’s up with you, Baek Kyung?

Moving on to our other lead. There is such a strong Baek Kyung fandom for reasons I cannot fully understand; maybe it’s because Lee Jae Wook is such a cutie behind the scenes, but Kyung is really kind of a j*rk. Baek Kyung really only redeemed himself in the last few episodes where he was slightly more human, less mean, and more active in taking over his character setup. Jae Wook though does some pretty good emotional scenes for a rookie! 

Those other relationships...

Nam Joo and Joo Da’s relationship was an unconventional one. I actually liked how Nam Joo was never ever self aware. It brings the whole relationship to another level when a self-aware Joo Da decides it is more important for Nam Joo to be happy than for her to follow her true feelings. 

Oh bless Do Hwa’s heart, he was so adorable. I was a little upset that Do Hwa didn’t get a girl. He was such a reliable friend to everyone (especially when Haru and Dan Oh lost their awareness, he was there for them). And he doesn’t even get a role in the new manhwa?!?! I really wanted to see this threesome again!

Again I have never seen Jung Gun Joo, Kim Young Dae or Lee Na Eun in any of their previous works, which seems to be the running theme of this drama. It is a whole bunch of rookies (probably extras in their previous works) who are brought together to this project and they made it work. I also liked that little last minute story of Dried Squid Fairy and Soo Hyang (thank God he found out she was aware at the very end). There was no purposeless character (though barely scrapping through is Kyung’s brother but since Bae Hyun Sung looks remotely like Park Bo Gum, I’ll let him slide).

Who had that extremely challenging job of framing?

It takes a lot to put together an entire production on film; i.e., actors don’t just turn up to say their lines and leave. Lights, costume, makeup, logistics etc. are all so important in creating the whole viewing experience. It made us believe Extraordinary You was a real alternative world. Its camera work itself deserves a mention. 

The leads (or in fact Hye Yoon with any of her male coactors) are almost a whole 30cm ruler difference in height. While that is extremely adorable for us as viewers, it must have been a nightmare for the camera to frame them. While my finite knowledge limits me, let me try to explain why I am so amazed with the camera work.

Take for example this frame (from episode 21 where Do Hwa finds out about their relationship). These two screenshots were from the same shot that lasted barely 2 seconds. You can see the camera starts framed such that Dan Oh’s necktie is not seen (so as to have a fuller shot of Haru) before it subtly pans downwards which also then results in Haru’s hair being slightly off the shot when it ends. It is such a minute detail but it matters since the last shot properly frames Dan Oh (who is the one speaking at that point). Of course, kudos to the actors too because such a tight frame means in order not to go out of shot, Rowoon and Hye Yoon need to act within a tiny amount of space (not that we are complaining...). And this is just one shot of many shots in one scene of many scenes. *mindblown again*

Besides making Hye Yoon stand or sit on boxes which do not get filmed (e.g., above - there is no way a tip-toed Dan Oh can reach that height), I liked how the planning of the scene involved her going on other random platforms/ chairs/ stairs (which do get filmed) to create a different feel - so she’s not always looking up at them.

As viewers, we obviously don’t see that much details when we are fully engrossed in the actual plot. But yes, behind the scenes work deserves so much more credit than it gets. 

I finally conclude...

I never thought I would like a high school drama that much, but Extraordinary You had it together. It wasn’t perfect, but it was genuine. I’m still a bit on the fence about its ending and whether I like the idea of Dan Oh and Haru being the only ones aware in the next manhwa. But I like that I am left thinking. And I will probably be thinking of this drama for a long time to come.

Verdict: I LOVE IT! To watch again!

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Wow really?!

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smile :)

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Haru: “Dan Oh. You know, this might be a funny story”

Dan Oh: “Okay. I love funny stories!”

Haru: “We may have known each other a long time ago, much longer than we know.” 

Dan Oh: “A long time ago?”

Haru: “Yes. Much longer than what we’re aware of.”

Dan Oh: “What was that? It’s not funny at all.”

Haru: “I will do anything for you. That thing you like, creating your own fate.”

Dan Oh: “I’m not going to change it anymore.”

Haru: “I don’t think we’re doing things only as the writer wants. I think that’s why you found this nameless me. From now on, no matter where you are, I will find you again. I think I know why you were my beginning.”

Dan Oh: “Haru, thank you. Thank you for presenting me with the most gorgeous night sky. And, for remembering my wish.”

- Extraordinary You, Episode 22

P.S. the making of this scene is too precious. Watch it here.

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I’m going to be a great friend to you both. I’m saying this on the honor of A3.

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It would be wonderful if you could change my fate with that handsome face of yours.

- Dan Oh, Extraordinary You, Episode 4-5

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Dan Oh (episode 6): 

“You better remember me next time. My name is Eun Dan Oh!”

Haru (episode 30): 

“Please remember me next time. You gave me my name. It’s Haru.”

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Dan Oh (episode 5): 

“Why wouldn’t you answer me? ‘Okay I’ll help you. Let’s change our fate together.’ Can’t you say that to me? Please?” 

Haru (episode 29): 

“Do you remember this? ...Let’s... change our fate.”

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Dan Oh (episode 6): “Hi! I’m Eun Dan Oh!”

Haru (episode 29): “Hi, my name is Haru.”

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Do you like me? I don’t. 

I love you. Thank you for giving an extra like me the present of first love.

- Dan Oh, Extraordinary You, Episode 32

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Lol this boy needs a home! At least Dan Oh had her family when she didn’t have Haru...

But they both had Do Hwa... who deserves so much more!

oh my god if haru has to be depressed they could've at least given him a house to be depressed in this boy is always sitting all alone in the dark at SCHOOL