#eaw episode 9

[world-smitten]

2022 Kdrama End of Year Roundup

I wasn't going to do an end of year round up because I didn't finish anything this year (🙃), but reading everyone's 2022 roundups was so fun and inspiring that I thought I'd throw my hat in the ring. This is less a review of anything and more a series of rambling thoughts about the different dramas I bounced around this year.

My Name is Kim Sam Soon (2005): Kim Sun-ah is one of my favourite actresses and after watching her amazing turn in Children of Nobody, I hopped onto her starmaking drama, My Name is Kim Sam Soon. The first episode is perfect - razor sharp writing and comedic performances, and the most endearing heroine in Sam Soon. She's a hot mess but a very adult hot mess, with a strange dignity about her even as she rushes from one humiliating situation to another. Her chemistry with Hyun Bin is charming, although the character himself was not quite as nice. Kim Sam Soon is a character who still feels novel, but pairing her with Hyun Bin's grouchy, aloof, grabby love interest felt regressive, like the writers wanted to have their cake and eat it. I dropped it not just because I was lazy, but because the relationship didn't seem like a fun journey. But man, that first episode really is so good.

2521: Kim Tae-ri's performance as Na Hee-do has to be seen to be believed. Na hee-do is an animated character and I mean this in every complimentary sense of the word. Animation is a medium where the artist has exacting control over every image the audience sees, and so the best pieces of character animation will transform even the act of walking - from one imaginary point to another - into something transcendent; Kim Tae-ri's physicality is so finetuned and precise that every gesture she makes feels like something whole and wonderful in itself - she's so good that she elevates every scene into a more vivid, exciting reality. She really didn't need to carry this drama - the cast is solid - but somehow it ended up being that way. She's so good in this that everytime it jumped to the present, I felt lost and even upset at how little of her I could see in Kim So-hyun's Hee-do. Maybe that was the point, but it still hurt lol. I liked looking at Nam Joo-hyuk - he's very pretty and has nice arms. That's really all I can say about him here. I dropped the drama before he and Hee-do got together, but to be honest, watching Hee-do and Yu-rim finally become "friends" felt more rewarding. It's always fun to see Kim Hye-eun - she brings a certain malicious edge to even the most innocuous characters. And the show's art direction was gorgeous. Can't see myself going back to it but I had a great time.

My Liberation Notes: before I knew about kdrama screenwriters and their creative powers, and that it was possible to learn these writers' names and follow their works and idiosyncracies, I knew of Park Hae-young from her terrifying Another Miss Oh which made me wish desperately to never fall in love if being in love meant endless humiliation. I've already talked about how painful it is to watch PHY's shows and My Liberation Notes was no different. I'm sure it's a show that rewards patience; I'm sadly a deeply impatient person. Another Miss Oh had some very good humour to keep me going for 7 episodes; My Mister propelled me through all 16 episodes with its tight storyline and captivating interpersonal drama. My Liberation Notes didn't have any sugar to help the bitter pill go down easier - the pill being a claustrophobic, feverish depiction of adulthood. Setting the story in an autumn where summer has lingered too long meant I could feel the humidity in the back of my throat. I guess I dropped it because it was a little too good. But I might go back to it - all those gifs of Kim Ji-Won and Son Suk-ku look very tantalising.

Extraordinary Attorney Woo: this one is tricky to talk about because I was certain I was going to finish it and love it forever. Episode 1-9 of EAW are practically perfect. I can't speak for the accuracy of its representation, but it's wonderful to hear that Park Eun-bin's performance hit the right chord with many autistic viewers. This really was an excellent ensemble cast - seeing Kang Ki-young in such a measured performance after watching him all these years in comedic supporting, then second lead roles was oddly touching (and this is also the last time I'll ever compliment him, since he might be doing brownface in his next movie in the year of our lord 2023, hope he's proud of himself). Favourite moments: the “Children’s Liberation Army”; "Spring Sunshine" Soo-yeon; Young-woo eating breakfast with Geurami after running away from home; Young-woo's meeting with her mother, played by the immensely gifted Jin Kyung. The series was poised to become my new favourite thing, but episode 11 happened and was so embarassing I dropped the show off the face of the earth. Episode 11 is so baffling, so unexpected, so utterly juvenile compared to what had come before. Listen to this - Young-woo takes on a case of a couple contesting lottery winnings with the husband's friends. She wins but the husband might be a crook. But - uh oh! - he's also abusive. But - uh oh! - he's also cheating on his wife. But - uh oh! - he gets run over by a truck before anyone can bring him to any kind of justice. Even typing this out I'm laughing because it’s just so strange. After previously thoughtful, organic writing, to see the show suddenly fall back into what was comfortable and safe was disappointing to say the least. And the worst part was that it no longer felt like Young-woo's story - as if the narrative had been wrenched out of her hands, which had been carrying the story beautifully all this time. But I think it was unfair of me to judge an episodic show so harshly for one dud, which is why I plan on finishing it. I think 2022 was the year I discovered that I'm a very judgemental viewer.

Little Women: a gothic modern day retelling of Little Women was the last thing I expected to watch this year. Starting the story post-mortem was an interesting choice - "Beth" is already dead and her memory haunts her sisters who can't even remember her name. And her death distorts the characters, as if to challenge the original novel's thesis, to say that poverty breaks rather than builds character. "Marmee" does not pull herself together, but is permanently damaged from the loss and abandons her surviving daughters at the first instance. There's a sense of disturbed girlhood - I'll forever be struck by the image of a corpse wearing a pair of red shoes, and hidden in the wardrobe of a girl's dollhouse. This combination of gothicism with otherwise hardnosed suspense made for a very thrilling, heady watch in places. Ms Go beating up In-joo was easily one of the best things I've seen all year. This woman wears clean sharp lines with her hair in a neat bun, and the moment a vulnerable, desperate young woman offers herself up for punishment, the facade flakes away to reveal an obscene love of cruelty. I was terrified for In-joo, delighted to see a woman who actually delivered on her promise of violence. Park Bo-kyung is a star. If I see another comment talking about how "oh, In-joo and Do-il should've gotten together, they had such great chemistry," I'm going to scream. I'm sure Wi Ha-joon has been wonderful elsewhere, but here, next to Kim Go-eun, who was acting, he was painfully flat. I will finish this one, partly because I’m really intrigued to see how it resolves itself, but also to get another glimpse of my favourite violent woman Ms Go. 

Into the Ring (2020): checked this one out at the very tail end of 2022, and honestly, best decision I made last year. This drama is, on a scene to scene, frame to frame level, the funniest show I've ever watched. It’s full of delightful little quirks from its eccentric cast of characters that it mines for every giggle. Our heroine Goo Se-ra isn’t weird in a cute way, not weird in a quirky way, not weird in a sexy way - just weird. She’s unhinged but also scarily competent, as if all those short-term jobs have accumulated into latent superpowers. Her and Gong-myung are the rare drama couple that actually delight in each other’s company - there were brief moments of intimacy where I was taken aback by how completely I believed in this fictional relationship. It’s a show that needs its brevity and its indestructible heroine, because its world of local politics can be incredibly defeatist. The underdog rarely wins - she’s at least 15 years too late, without connections, wealth or the time to build a strong base within the system. I appreciated the narrative’s bluntness about what it meant to be an effective politician, and at some point, even though she really vexed me in places, I came to understand councilwoman Yoon Hee-soo’s world-weary pragmatism (played by Yoo Da-in who I’ve not seen since Weightlfting Fairy, and who, in hindsight, was wasted there). Also Ahn Nae-sang was hot in this. Yeah, I don’t know either. I’ve only got 2 episodes left and I can’t wait to get back once I’ve finished all my essays.

Offhand, I checked out episode 1 of Why Her? while doing schoolwork, and I love me a morally ambiguous girlboss but when that morally ambiguous girlboss physically assaults a worker - who is both significantly younger than her AND her student - and the show carries on as if nothing is wrong (and even ensures that the student is already emotionally attached to her, meaning that he is never appropriately angry at her for assault...), eyebrows start to rise. Of course there’s an interesting story in there about power imbalances and how powerful women uphold abusive power structures, but I don’t think Why Her? is that story. Oh well. Seo Hyun-jin’s hair is beautiful in this though, the stylists should get a raise.

And that’s it for 2022! Wishing you guys a belated, but very happy new year, and good things in 2023! 🥰🥰

[aylinaliens]

definitely curious about 16. popular drama you’ve never watched of this year 2022 🤔

oooh very interesting question anon. i have been in a terrible slump for the past 9-ish months so i’ve missed a ton!

here are a few popular dramas that i have yet to watch (or, alternatively, i’ve watched like one episode and never picked it back up 😬): blueming, semantic error, kinnporsche (i’m watching this now though), vice versa, alchemy of souls, little women, big mouth, love like the galaxy (okay!! i finished part 1 but never part 2), reset, enchanté, tomorrow, old fashion cupcake…yeah the list just keeps on going and going.

i don’t even have a legit reason for why i never watched those dramas. drama slumps have a way of sucking the joy out of stuff (+ it didn’t help that eaw had me in its grasp for two straight months).

that being said now that i’m out of my slump my asks are always open if anyone has recs. i’ve missed so many dramas in the past few months and idk what to watch or avoid

the one i’m most shameful over is kinnporsche 🫣 i’ve watched every single episode vicariously through my mutuals the whole time it was on air so idk why it took me this long to start actually watching it

Drama Asks

[becomingabeing]

So valid of Choi Su-Yeon to give Jun-Ho a full existential crisis with her shovel talk.

[xuefangfei]

Young Woo and her whales pt. 2.1

pt.2 pt.1

[willievermakeithome]

🥺🥺🥺

[books-over-flowers]

I want a guy like Jun-Ho si so badly that now I feel sick inside😭😭😭

[sincerelywithheart]

Thoughts on EAW episode 9:

The case was somewhat interesting and the protagonist of the case, the leader of the children’s army, had good intentions but he still committed a crime nonetheless. I can understand the parents concerns about an adult taking 12 children to a secluded location and thinking about if sexual abuse or molesting happened. It’s a natural thought process. And I’m aware that In Asian countries, there is such a pressure to do really well in school so you can go to a good high school, which leads you to a good university and then a good job. Education is really important but the kids were basically elementary students. They should have play time after school and be able to participate in extracurricular activities. So it was sad to see that aspect of Korean culture but it’s been going on for so long that I doubt it’s gonna change.

And I’m intrigued as to why the writers didn’t include a final verdict for the case, maybe to leave it vague.

And as for how Youngwoo handled the case, I think she got swept up in the emotions and the defendant’s ideology. (She is also trying to be more than just an attorney who wins in court, as she decided that after the case in ep 5) The guy wasn’t helping the lawsuit and his defense by being honest and speaking out of turn so Youngwoo had to adjust the strategy of the case

I know that Minwoo is irritating and has said and done some mean things but honestly, but was right about Youngwoo’s actions during the final part of the trial. She did her own thing and her own plea with a disregard to the team’s strategy and efforts. She almost derailed their defense and their attempt to get a reduced sentence. She does have her bright moments and it’s amazing to see but if she wants to survive, especially in a tough world like the legal world and also just a working environment, then she has to be more a team player and not throw away her colleague’s work.

NOW ON TO THE FLUFF:

Youngwoo and Junho were adorable this episode and the romance has been ramped up in the drama!!!!!!! Especially with a few minutes into the episode, Junho takes a few minutes to take an eyelash off Youngwoo’s face and uses that moment to be in her personal space AHHHHH

Also Junho getting all pouty and jealous when she just talks about the case during lunch and not whales.

It was very cute to see Youngwoo try to woo Junho by doing things that men would typically do. I knew as soon as Geurami’s boss said those suggestions, she was gonna take it to heart and do those exact things.

Also, our lovely Junho who had a heavy heart and was very worried about how the relationship would as their feelings develop. He took Suyeon’s words to heart about his feelings not being temporary and was worried ever since. But he is very intentional with his feelings.

AND THEIR CONFESSIONS! Well, Youngwoo’s second time and Junho’s official declaration at the end of the episode. AAHHHHHH. It made my heart flutter and it was SO ADORABLE.

I CANT WAIT TO SEE MORE MOMENTS BETWEEN OUR WHALE COUPLE AND HOW THEIR RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPS.

[springxsunshine]

re-watching eaw episode 9 preview and...why does this man look like he's half in love with youngwoo? 🧐

[abnormalpi]

Kwon Min Woo always makes sense

Really.

Not only his understanding of Junho’s feeling makes sense, his thoughts and belief make sense in the sexist, ableist society he’s growing up. 

Even in the episode 9, when Kwon Min Woo asked Atty. Jung Myungseok about the penalties, it makes sense in the context of an education system operating solely based on grading system (including the prize and penalties). Like if the kid can’t resolve the questions in their math homework on time, he gets penalties. If they ask to go to the toilet too many times, they get a remark: “Have no will/weak will in learning”, that’s a penalty. The parents even sign on the agreement with the cram school about punishments when their kids didn’t want to study. It’s the grading system of prize (which we can’t see it yet) and penalties. Min Woo through 9 episodes, indeed, acts like this, for a prize (his labor contract with Hanbada).

Also, Min Woo’s competitive behavior makes sense if you know about the extreme grading system in South Korea. It’s the letter grade, but with a limitation of how many student in one class/semester can get a certain grade. For example, a score from 90 to 100 is A+, only 10% can get the A+, then if a class/semester has 30 students, there are 3 students who got 95 points and 1 student who got 94, then the student who got 94 will have a A instead of A+. It’s that extreme, and unfair. 

So in this scene:

I find that Myungseok is truly a great mentor, and also Min Woo is a result of such education system that we have a glimpse at thanks to EAW. And I wonder what was Min Woo thinking after receiving the words from his senior/superior, who directly guide and advise him at work.

[pagesofkenna]

re: EAW episode 9, I was really expecting a scene where Minwoo argues with Youngwoo about the 'fairness' of the locked room academies, where it's revealed that he went to one as a kid, and he says something stupid like 'they work because see how good I turned out'

it seems in character for him, but also in that 'anonymous' comment didn't he say something like 'the job I gave up my childhood for'??

as much as I might dislike him as a person I can't hate Minwoo, and I actually kinda like him as a character? even after that first nepotism comment (before the anonymous forum post) I just wanted to laugh, because it felt like he had outsmarted himself into seeing a problem where there wasn't one. and I really wanna see him eventually come around, that's the route I expect this show to take and I'm curious to see how they do it

[willievermakeithome]

I AM SQUEALING

JUNHO’S face when Youngwoo said she was being nice because she liked him!!!!!

IT WAS THE DEFINITION OF 🥺

[books-over-flowers]

Everybody is obsessed with Kang Tae-Oh but here I'm wishing a happy ending for this guy.

This scene broke my heart💔

[willievermakeithome]

This is so fucking adorable

And completely unrealistic

But fucking adorable

[willievermakeithome]

OMG THE ORCA MOMENT 😭😭😭 BEAUTIFUL

[willievermakeithome]

THE SIDEWALK SCENE 😂😂😂