Hello everybody!
I hope you loved my episode 1-2 notes on Love Scout! At this time I’m sharing my episode 1-2 notes on Motel California, as a result of I’m having fun with it fairly a bit greater than I’d anticipated to, and I used to be questioning in case you’d like to hitch me? 🤗
These are my episode 1-2 notes, precisely as they seem on Patreon, ie, with out screenshots (I’m saving these for the precise overview).
I hope you all take pleasure in, and I hope you’ll think about becoming a member of us over on Patreon, for the remainder of the discussions! ❤️
Episode notes:
E1-2. You already know, I hadn’t been certain what to anticipate of this present, based mostly on its promo materials.
I preferred the concept of childhood buddies ultimately being reunited as lovers, and felt like Present may give me what Love Subsequent Door had not managed to.
As I come away from these first two episodes, my fundamental thought is that that is touchdown rather more as a therapeutic drama, for me – regardless that I’m certain Present will nonetheless serve up romance as a powerful central arc.
Actually, I feel that reactions to this present will fluctuate, relying on the way you reply to our feminine lead Kang Hee.
I’ve seen some individuals describe her as robust and unbiased, and I’ve additionally seen individuals say that she’s only a b*tch, and that if this had been a male lead appearing this fashion, everybody could be saying that he’s a crimson flag.
I don’t know if that is writer-nim’s intention, however my private takeaway, from these preliminary episodes, is that Kang Hee is rather more complicated than that.
In reality, I’d even go as far as to say that my need to grasp Kang Hee is driving my watch greater than the concept of the central loveline; in that sense, it’s somewhat bit just like how I’d felt in regards to the characters in The Trunk?
On the similar time, this drama could be very totally different in tone and really feel, than The Trunk.
If I needed to decide a drama to check it to, possibly it might a moodier, extra unvarnished cousin of Our Beloved Summer season? At the least, that’s my impression, from these first couple of episodes.
When it comes to the central concept that I’m taking away, about Kang Hee, it’s that she’s an individual who carries a whole lot of emotional wounds, and likewise, I get the sense that she struggles to like herself.
In reality, at factors, I even discovered myself considering that she may even carry a measure of self-hatred, that I feel is coloring among the issues we see her do.
I don’t know how one can clarify it; I really feel like she hates being on this scenario, however that a part of her hates herself for being this fashion, such that she would even be in such a scenario, if that is smart?
And likewise, I really feel like a part of her hates that she would even need the acceptance and acknowledgement of individuals whom she doesn’t even actually care about?
Importantly, I do assume that she’s making an attempt to like herself, and I’m rooting for her on that entrance.
As for what I’ve seen individuals say, that she’s a b*tch and that if a male character have been to do comparable issues, individuals would flag that as problematic conduct, as a substitute of claiming that the character’s being robust.
To that, I’d say that I don’t see it as being so simple as that, as a result of it’s true that Kang Hee lives in a really patriarchal world, the place girls must struggle that a lot more durable, to show themselves.
And so, if you flip it round, a male character wouldn’t have to do these similar issues, as a result of they aren’t deprived the identical approach.
Even when a male character is bullied, they wouldn’t be bullied the identical approach, or harassed the identical approach – like how that male supervisor on the comfort retailer insinuates that she’s prostituting herself and will go to a motel room with him.
And so, in that approach, I perceive why Kang Hee’s created this armor for herself.
Talking of the armor, I wished to say that I do like that the armor is fierce smoky-eyed make-up; I discover that very relatable and plausible, as a result of it’s true {that a} sure sort of make-up could make you’re feeling a sure approach.
And I’d purchase that fierce make-up would make Kang Hee really feel extra fierce and subsequently extra empowered to behave a sure approach.
I discover it poignant that we see that Kang Hee wants the armor within the first place; because of this she doesn’t see herself on this area naturally – she wants the armor to bolster her, to behave in the way in which she desires to.
That is very relatable, definitely, however I simply wished to level out that there’s a disconnect between the form of individual Kang Hee seems like she is on the within, and the form of individual she desires to current herself as, to the world.
I actually do respect the illustration of the armor in the way in which of make-up, as a result of I discovered the scene on the finish of episode 1 additional highly effective, due to it.
Within the pure, we see Kang Hee strolling in direction of the funeral corridor, she appears to be like drawn and pale; she is, in any case, returning to a spot and a those who she’d sworn by no means to return to, and her exhibiting up, is making her the focus and gossip.
On the similar time, we see that in her thoughts’s eye, she’s utterly decked out in armor, from fierce make-up to fierce outfit, and that’s the factor that’s giving her the energy and drive to press in, on this second.
That tells me that Kang Hee is able to being robust, sure, however it additionally tells me that on the coronary heart of it, she does really feel weak and weak – and that’s why she wants the armor within the first place, if that is smart?
Taking all that under consideration, I do need to give props to Kang Hee, for pushing herself into an uncomfortable scenario, regardless that she wanted armor reinforcement to do it; it makes me assume she’s going to do the uncomfortable factor if it’s what she values, even when she doesn’t prefer it.
Talking of which, I did come away very impressed with the way in which Kang Hee opts to not be re-hired by Moments (“the luxurious to not work with individuals I don’t like” – HA! Cherished that!), and the way in which she opted to not settle for the hefty designer price that Geum Seok Gyeong was providing – as a result of he and Esther had given her one thing rather more valuable: her shallowness as a designer.
This, regardless that she might actually use the cash, being unemployed and residing in a tiny gosiwon room the place there at present isn’t any heating or sizzling water, forcing her to huddle below her blanket for heat.
She’s a lady of precept, who dares to stroll the discuss, and I can’t assist however admire that, y’know?
And I’m glad that her standing by this precept ultimately pays off, when Director Hwang decides to give up Moments too, to go unbiased – and principally provides Kang Hee a job.
YAY for a brand new, cool alternative, away from that terrible dude in Moments!
Having stated all that, I suppose I ought to discuss a bit about the place we begin our story, with Kang Hee selecting to depart for Seoul, at age 20, and declaring that she would by no means come again.
The way in which Present units it up, we will see that Kang Hee is of combined race, and subsequently has some unique touches to her look, like curly hair, freckles and light-weight greenish eyes.
I’ve seen some people dismiss this as inconsequential (it’s “simply” freckles and light-weight eyes) or inconceivable (inexperienced eyes are most unlikely as a result of brown eyes are rather more dominant), and I’ve to say, I don’t agree with both stance.
The factor with Korea (and Japan too) is that it’s a really homogenous nation, and somebody’s “other-ness” will not be appreciated as stunning or unique, notably in a small city, just like the one the place Kang Hee grows up.
That’s why she’s the topic of a lot derision, bullying and gossip, whereas she’s rising up there.
As for the inexperienced eyes, regardless of brown eyes being extra dominant, I don’t even know why persons are saying that; simply because it’s not going doesn’t imply it’s not attainable. And so long as it’s attainable, I’m superb with it.
And I’d imagine that this distinction in how she appears to be like, had made everybody in that small city shun her, and discuss her, and principally make her really feel unaccepted and totally different from everybody else.
That’s not one thing a child (and even an grownup, for that matter) desires to really feel, in their very own hometown.
And there’s additionally the factor that Kang Hee states, that she’d been an undesirable youngster.
She has her father (whom I used to be fairly shocked to appreciate is none apart from Choi Min Soo, who’d performed the scene-stealing Chun / Sky Lord in Warrior Baek Dong Soo!), who appears nice sufficient, however who clearly would favor to not be a father, and doesn’t actually need to pursue a deeper relationship together with her.
Via these episodes, we see that he does do some issues for Kang Hee, however would fairly restrict his relationship together with her, to that one assembly at Christmas, for his or her birthday celebration, and a few chit chat about motion pictures and such, and nothing extra.
He paints it as one thing romantic and funky, however on the coronary heart of it, the factor that speaks to me loudest, is the truth that he doesn’t need to see Kang Hee greater than that one time per yr. 💔
We additionally do hear Kang Hee discuss how he hadn’t wished to be a father, and that, to my ears, does translate right into a deep-seated sense of rejection, that goes again to the very core of her existence.
Her father hadn’t wished her to exist.
That’s a really heavy thought to form your life, and it is a key thought that’s formed Kang Hee, and I do really feel like this contributes so much to her battle to like herself; as a result of, if your personal father hadn’t wished you to exist and doesn’t appear to actually need to be round you, and has been that approach from the time you have been born, that does one thing to you at a basic degree, doesn’t it? 💔
I do assume that this lack of father-daughter relationship is why Kang Hee addresses him by title – Chun Pil-sshi – as a substitute of Dad.
Via all of it, I get the sense that Yeon Su had been Kang Hee’s single supply of heat, acceptance and love, and that in his love, she’d been ready to attract sufficient energy to maintain going, till maturity.
On the similar time, I imagine that Kang Hee acknowledged that she couldn’t simply rely on Yeon Su without end, to be that supply of acceptance and love; I do assume that she’d believed that she could be extra accepted in Seoul.
In spite of everything, Seoul, as a giant metropolis, is much more numerous and cosmopolitan than the small city the place she’d grown up, sure?
My take is that Kang Hee knew that she couldn’t preserve residing on this small city, with Yeon Su as her solely supply of acceptance, and he or she believed that she would discover a extra accepting atmosphere in Seoul, and that’s why she was adamant about going.
On the similar time, I really feel that Kang Hee knew that Seoul wasn’t for Yeon Su, and subsequently, regardless that Yeon Su was actually vital to her, she felt that she couldn’t take him up on his supply to go to Seoul together with her.
In that sense, I really feel that she was doing what she believed was the fitting factor, for every of them.
As for why she’d requested Yeon Su to sleep together with her, earlier than saying goodbye to him for what she’d believed was without end, I feel it was as a lot for Yeon Su because it was for herself.
We hear her inform Yeon Su that the primary time is the purest, and he or she wished to be his first. I’d enterprise to say that she felt the identical approach for herself; that she’d wished Yeon Su to be her first as nicely.
To my eyes, she’d felt like this was the perfect she might do for the each of them, provided that she felt compelled to depart, and compelled to let him proceed residing of their hometown; to have a second to like unreservedly, as a result of to have beloved and misplaced, is healthier to have by no means beloved in any respect – is how my mind is processing it.
Kang Hee acts nonchalant about it, however I do assume that it means extra to her than she’s letting on, and that’s why she does look unhappy, as she leaves Yeon Su behind, because the bus rolls away.
Via all of it, Yeon Su stays the house in her coronary heart, similar to she’d drawn on that grape soda can, and I do imagine that that’s why she retains imagining Yeon Su ready for her on the crosswalk, whereas going about her life in Seoul.
It’s not offered in so many phrases, however it’s clear that she places the whole lot into perspective by means of the lens of “What would Yeon Su say, or assume?”
She doesn’t search him out the way in which he searches for her, however it’s clear that she’s by no means forgotten him, nor stopped loving him, in all of the years that she spends away from him, in Seoul.
Talking of which, I’ve to say, Yeon Su is such a sweetly steadfast character, that I don’t even thoughts an excessive amount of, that they put Na In Woo in that ridiculous fats go well with for a bit of those episodes.
It’s a really melty thought, that Yeon Su’s by no means stopped loving Kang Hee, all these years, and that he takes common weekend journeys into Seoul, simply to seek for her, regardless that the endeavor is actually like looking for a needle in a haystack.
It’s very endearing that simply the thought that he’s trying on the similar moon as Kang Hee, makes him smile, regardless that he hasn’t heard from her in years. 🥲
The way in which he simply grabs onto Kang Hee, so tearfully, when she exhibits up at Grandpa’s funeral wake, is so visceral; I really feel like each cell in his physique has been ready for the second when he’d be capable of see Kang Hee once more. 🥲
This doesn’t show to be the reunion that he’d hoped for, however in fact drama logic guarantees that their paths will cross in a extra significant approach, and shortly.
Within the meantime, of course there are second leads who’re exhibiting in each our female and male leads respectively.
I can perceive that lady having hearts in her eyes for her cool sunbae, and it’s true that Yeon Su’s glowed up fairly properly since his fats go well with days. 😁
As for second male lead Seok Gyeong, the factor that strikes me most, is that his options do have a little bit of a combined blood vibe to them, which makes him seem like a probably good match for Kang Hee – a minimum of visually.
I don’t know if that was the intent, however that’s what my eyes are seeing anyway. 😅
I do like that he appears to understand Kang Hee, regardless that, by the point we finish episode 2, he’s already seen her let unfastened whereas utterly drunk.
I fairly like the concept that he’s not delay by her being totally different, and is, in actual fact, drawn to her.
I additionally like that he’s gentlemanly sufficient to again off when he thinks she’s telling him that she has a date together with her boyfriend.
So I’m by no means stunned, when he agrees to assist Kang Hee, on the finish of episode 2, and poses as her boyfriend.
It’s simply too unhealthy that Dad Chun Pil is savvy sufficient to grasp that Yeon Su is the one who’s actually particular to Kang Hee, and arranges for Yeon Su to be the one within the resort room, for his annual meetup with Kang Hee.
I do know it’s a misunderstanding that Kang Hee can simply clear up, however given how she’s been studiously protecting a distance from Yeon Su, I’m involved that she received’t clear it up – and I really feel pre-emptively unhealthy for Yeon Su. Don’t harm steadfast Yeon Su!! 🙈
All in all, these have been, for me, a thought-provoking pair of episodes, and I already really feel fairly invested in Kang Hee’s journey to therapeutic and wholeness. 🥲
*This present is being coated on the Early Entry Plus (US$10) Tier on Patreon*
To view episode 1-2 notes in Patreon, together with everybody’s feedback, you possibly can go right here!
Yow will discover my Patreon web page right here, and for all future episode notes for this present you possibly can click on right here.
Episodes 3-4 notes might be out quickly! I hope you’ll think about becoming a member of us!
It’ll be a solution to have enjoyable, and assist me on the similar time? 🥲❤️
PS: For extra data on what the Patreon expertise is like, you may like to take a look at my Patreon replace publish for January, which you will discover right here!
Associated