Navillera: Episode 11

by lovepark

Our elderly student continues practicing ballet despite his worsening condition because nothing can stop him from striving for his dreams. Now that time is running out, every day feels longer to him, and he cherishes these precious moments even more. All the while, his young teacher holds his hand and guides his along the way, making sure that he stays on the path and does not wander.

 
EPISODE 11 RECAP

Hae-nam and Seong-gwan wait outside the house and greet Deok-chul when he comes back with Seong-san. She helps him inside, and their sons give them some space to talk privately. As Hae-nam gets Deok-chul a warm cup of tea, he apologizes and starts to explain. However, she cuts him off and asks if he remembers the day he retired.

She congratulated him for forty-years of hard work that day, and he thanked her back, crediting half of those years to her. Hearing him recognize her efforts made her feel proud, but Hae-nam points out that if his words were true, then half of his dreams are hers, too. She makes him promise to stay strong by her side while achieving his dreams, and he agrees.

Seong-gwan tells his brother that their mom knows already, but Seong-san has a hard time accepting Deok-chul’s illness. He suggests going to another hospital, but Seong-gwan stops him since he knows the results will not change. With a sigh, Seong-san takes them back to his place, and they break the news to the rest of the family.

Like her brothers, Seong-sook expresses her doubts and demands to see their dad in person. Though overcome with emotions, she sits back down when Seong-san begs her to act like normal for Deok-chul’s sake, and they discuss future plans concerning their dad.

Both Seong-san and Seong-sook offer to take care of Deok-chul, and the spouses support their decisions. While they argue back and forth, Seong-gwan says that they should ask their mom, but Eun-ho interrupts them since Deok-chul should actually get the first say. She asks if being sick means he can no longer think for himself, and the adults look away, acknowledging their mistake.

As they each go their separate ways, they all think about Deok-chul, and Seong-san, in particular, looks crushed as he cries alone on the couch. In her room, Eun-ho stares at her car keys and calls Chae-rok. He realizes from her tone that she knows, and they meet up in person to talk.

Chae-rok apologizes for not telling her sooner, but Eun-ho apologizes instead since she burdened him with her request without knowing anything. She comments on how Deok-chul took care of her even though he was ill, and thanks Chae-rok for everything. He tells her that all he did was stay by Deok-chul’s side, and Deok-chul did the same for him.

Seong-san stays up all night thinking about his dad, and Ae-ran sits with him on the couch before they get ready for work. Meanwhile, Deok-chul goes on his morning jog and mentally lists everything he did yesterday. He forgets a few details and gives himself seventy points.

Deok-chul finds Ho-bum at the park to exercise, and they stretch together and chat. Deok-chul asks if he will try out for a team, and Ho-bum tells him that he isn’t ready yet. From his years of experience, Deok-chul has learned that you never are perfectly ready for anything, and he advises Ho-bum to push forward even if he crashes.

After asking her bosses if she can submit a story to their show, Eun-ho gets her message to Deok-chul read over the radio. She tells her grandpa that she originally dismissed his dream of doing ballet, but seeing him try so hard taught her what it truly means to shine brightly. Now, she cannot wait to see him perform on stage, and Deok-chul smiles as he listens to her encouraging words.

The audition for the gala is tomorrow, and Hae-nam tells her husband to pass since she prepared lunch for him. Seong-gwan grabs the bags as they head out, and Deok-chul teases his son for not waking up in time to join him on his morning jog.

Chae-rok sits next to Deok-chul in the changing room and returns his ballet shoes to him. Since they are resuming lessons, he asks Deok-chul to text him every twenty minutes when going home, and in exchange, he promises to teach Deok-chul ballet as long he recognizes him. He says that even if Deok-chul doesn’t remember him, he will recognize him and will not let go of his hand.

At work, Seong-san’s superior blames him for financial mis-selling, but Seong-san pushes back, arguing that the company pressured them to sell those funds. He points out that the company also holds some responsibility, but his superior tells him to wrap things up on his end (aka, take the fall and resign).

Deok-chul goes over his routine for his upcoming audition, and Chae-rok compliments him for clearly practicing every day. He stops their lesson short since they need to go somewhere, and Chae-rok takes Deok-chul to the audition venue. He rented the place so Deok-chul could get used to the room, and they continue their practice.

Afterwards, Deok-chul sits down to rest, and Chae-rok comments on his bruised feet, calling him a proper ballerino. Deok-chul says that the pain tells him that he worked hard today, and Chae-rok agrees since he feels the same way.

When he thinks that he is not making progress, Chae-rok looks at his feet and his worn shoes to remind himself of the sweat and time he invested into ballet. Deok-chul starts to contemplate on his life and sighs since every day feels long when there are not a lot of them left.

Walking home with Seong-gwan, Deok-chul keeps his promise with Chae-rok and texts him his location. Later that evening, he sits down at his desk to record today’s events and notes the progression of his illness. Despite that, he wants to pass his audition and writes that he will.

On his morning jog, Deok-chul recalls yesterday’s activities and remembers a lot more than the other day. He silently cheers for himself, but his mood dampens when he comes back home and reads the front page of the newspaper bashing Seong-san’s bank.

Seong-san’s family reads the news as well, but he tells them that he is fine. However, he does not answer his phone, and Deok-chul grows worried when he cannot reach his son.

Deok-chul arrives at the ballet company for the audition, but not long after they arrive, he grabs his coat and heads out again. He passes by Seong-san’s workplace and notices the protestors outside. By the time Chae-rok comes in, Deok-chul is still gone, and none of them know his whereabouts since he left behind his phone.

After stopping by a sports shop, Deok-chul returns to Seong-san’s workplace and meets him on the roof. He came by to give him a baseball glove, and it immediately takes Seong-san back to his middle school years.

After he quit baseball, his teacher scolded him for having no dream or future, but Deok-chul came to his defense. He told the teacher that Seong-san was a good kid and did not deserve to be treated this way since he was still young and capable of anything.

On their walk home, Seong-san doubted his dad’s words and cried since he thought the teacher was right. He said that he had nothing, but Deok-chul stopped him and told him that he has a dad who will always be his fielder. He promised to stand behind Seong-san and catch all the batted balls as long as he did not give up.

Back in the present, Deok-chul reminds Seong-san that he is still his fielder and tells him to throw the ball however he wants.

With only ten minutes before the audition, Chae-rok asks the organizers if they could postpone it for a little bit, but they cannot bend the rules for him: if Deok-chul does not show up, then he will be disqualified. The auditions go on as scheduled, and luckily, Deok-chul arrives just in time.

As Deok-chul performs in front of the judges, they all look impressed, and Chae-rok gauges their reaction. After he finishes, Deok-chul looks over at Chae-rok, and he gives him an encouraging smile.

Sitting in his office, Seong-san stares at the baseball glove and remembers his dad’s words. Ae-ran pops in to check on him, and he tells her that he always wanted a new glove but ended up quitting baseball because it was too expensive. Though he wanted to play, he hated see his family suffer in order for him to achieve his dream.

Recognizing his pain, Ae-ran tells her husband to do what he wants and stop pretending to be fine. She says that she will support him from now on. Seong-san apologizes, but Ae-ran tells him that he has nothing to apologize for since he has worked hard.

The judges announce the winner, and the special gala spot goes to Deok-chul. The others congratulate him, and Deok-chul returns to the studio to practice some more. He also texts Hae-nam the good news, and she tells him that he did a good job—which also means she is going to buy a nice pot. Heh.

Seung-joo’s friend comments on Deok-chul’s performance and marvels at his improvement over such a short period. He says that he understands why Seung-joo recommended him, and he admits to hearing about his secret pick from Sori.

Seong-san visits his superior to tender his resignation. He takes partial responsibility for the loss, but he makes it clear that he will not accept the fall for the company. His superior screams at him, but Seong-san walks away without looking back.

Deok-chul joins the ballet company’s practice, and Chae-rok makes sure that he will be okay by himself. He wonders if he should inform Seung-joo, but Deok-chul tells him that he will try his best. Once practice starts, Chae-rok watches from the doorway for a while before going back to the studio.

Se-jong tries out for the third division, and while there, he sees Ho-bum taking the test, too. He tells the news to Chae-rok during lunch, and he accidentally lets slip that Moo-young visited him. He confesses to telling Moo-young everything that happened and says that he also received an apology from him.

While Chae-rok practices, Seong-san drops by to talk to him. He thanks him for helping them the other day and asks him for another favor. Chae-rok understands without him having to say it and promises to watch over Deok-chul while he is in his care.

During their break, Seung-joo checks on Deok-chul and learns that he plans to perform Swan Lake by himself. Afterwards, Seung-joo asks Sori for advice and tells her that something feels missing. He says that he has only seen Deok-chul dance with Chae-rok, and pauses since he just found his answer.

He tells Sori that seeing the pair taught him that people can support each other, but he was never able to do that and ignored even her. He recognizes now that he did not overcome his dark period by himself and thanks her for staying by his side. Sori wipes a tear from her cheek and comments that he finally became a human. He looks over at her and agrees.

Seung-joo calls the others to a café and suggests a duet for Deok-chul’s performance. He points out that it is before Chae-rok’s competition, and Chae-rok immediately accepts. However, Deok-chul refuses since it would be a burden to Chae-rok and tells Seung-joo that he will try his best on his own.

Seung-joo makes it clear that he is not doubting Deok-chul’s skill, but rather, suggesting the best stage for him. He says that they worked hard together for a year and should showcase their efforts together. Seung-joo leaves the two of them to discuss it amongst themselves, and Chae-rok convinces Deok-chul to dance with him.

With the days dwindling down, Deok-chul practices the performance with Chae-rok as well as by himself. With ballet taking over his life once again, Deok-chul forgets about the nursing home until they call him back and ask about his admittance. He tells them that he would like to postpone it since he needs to finish something first.

The performers receive their allotted free tickets, and Chae-rok hands his to Deok-chul since he has no one to invite. However, Deok-chul returns them to him since Chae-rok needs it, too. Heeding his advice, Chae-rok takes the bus to visit his dad.

Chae-rok gives Moo-young a ticket and tells him to come if he has the time. He starts to make up excuses for him to not show up, but Chae-rok changes his mind and tells him that he wants him there.

As Chae-rok gets up to leave, Moo-young hands him an envelope and mentions how his mom would have taken care of these things if she was still around. He apologizes for being absent, but Chae-rok cuts him off and tells him to be by his side, then. Moo-young promises that he will, and Chae-rok thanks him for the money.

Deok-chul hands out the tickets to his family and even sends one to Dr. Oh (who saved him as “Best Friend-nim” on his phone). He continues practicing with Chae-rok, and during their break, he thanks him for helping him make it this far. Chae-rok thanks him as well since he could not have done it without Deok-chul.

With only a day left until their performance, Deok-chul tells Chae-rok that he will probably be lacking on stage. Chae-rok advises him to just concentrate on their previous practices and assures him that they can make it.

Chae-rok asks Ho-bum to meet and tells him that he heard about his tryouts. He hands him a package from Moo-young and genuinely wishes Ho-bum will do well. Once Chae-rok leaves, Ho-bum checks the bag and finds new soccer cleats as well as a gala ticket.

Deok-chul practices late into the night and sighs in satisfaction after he finishes. On his way home, he texts Chae-rok that he reached the gate, but the streetlight flickers and turns off. The sudden flash disorients Deok-chul, and the once familiar streets becomes blurry and strange.

The patrol officers spot Deok-chul on the road and ask if he is alright. Noticing the police lights, Hae-nam steps out and gasps when she finds her husband sitting on the ground. He tells her that he is lost, but seeing her now helps his memory return.

Hae-nam escorts Deok-chul inside their house, and they sit on the couch together. Deok-chul finally says the words out loud and tells his wife that he is ill. He says that he will get worse and apologizes. Holding back her tears, Hae-nam tells him that it is alright, and they cry together.

The day of the gala arrives, and Hae-nam wakes up her husband who is uncharacteristically sleeping in. She helps him sit up, but Deok-chul looks up in confusion and asks who she is.

 
COMMENTS

While I really want to see Deok-chul perform, I found it a little irresponsible of him to not inform the organizers of his condition. In this case, Deok-chul’s illness does not only affect him but the entire show, as well. If he suddenly forgets who he is (as the last scene suggests), then there is the possibility of him being unable to perform. It feels unnecessarily dramatic of the show to have Deok-chul hide his illness for so long, especially since this conflict never explicitly arises in the source material. It’s a minor change when considering the big picture, but it’s the little details that make the characters come across as selfish rather than selfless at times. However, my complaints towards the show are few and far between, and on the whole, I believe its strengths outweigh its shortcomings.

My favorite thing about this show is the relationships between the characters. Deok-chul and Chae-rok both get touching scenes with each other, their families, as well as other side characters like Ho-bum. However, the creators also spend time on the supporting roles and their relationships to each other. In particular, this episode highlighted how two other couples in the show have grown—Seong-san with Ae-ran and Seung-joo with Sori. In Seong-san’s case, he was originally against his wife working at the company and saw himself as the main breadwinner. But with things taking a turn for the worse with his dad’s illness and work problems happening all at once, Seong-san reaches a breaking point, and Ae-ran steps up to support him. It’s a reverse of roles, but one that does not degrade Seong-san nor treat him as lesser than his wife. It’s a short scene, but the show did a great job building up to this moment so it feels neither rushed nor undeserved despite the limited screen time. I found it particularly poignant that Ae-ran thanks Seong-san for working so hard all these years and tells him to do what he wants, and afterwards, the camera moves out to show them sitting together, seeing eye to eye both literally and figuratively. Seong-san is also holding his new glove in this moment as if symbolizing that he can finally stop sacrificing and go after his dream. He realizes that his family is stronger than he believed, and now, he also has Ae-ran acting as his fielder, ready to catch all the batted balls.

The other couple that got a quick but touching scene this episode was Seung-joo and Sori. For the most part, they come across as a functional ex-couple who still support each other, but clearly, she is the bedrock of their relationship. Sori was the one who constantly helped Seung-joo in the past and knew everything about him. On the other hand, Seung-joo might be caring, but he is inattentive because his world revolves around himself. He took her sacrifices for granted, and we saw glimpses of this behavior in their previous conversations. However, Seung-joo changes, and Sori notices, as well. In a prior episode, Sori teases Seung-joo for becoming human, and in that scene, Seung-joo disagrees. When Sori repeats the same joke again this episode, Seung-joo accepts her comment. It might not seem like much, but this small change elevates Seung-joo’s confession of failing Sori during their marriage because he now understands what being a “human” really means because of her. His words imply that it was not just seeing Deok-chul that made him grow as a person, but Sori and their years together that helped him move past his own ego and learn to be a caring human.

With only one more episode left, the show is wrapping up its loose ends and giving a lot of its characters closure before the final hour. Chae-rok meets with his dad again, and we see them grow closer as Chae-rok decides to be honest about his feelings. At first, he gives Moo-young an excuse to run away, but he changes his mind and tells his dad that he wants him to come see his performance. Chae-rok realizes that he wants Moo-young back in his life even if his feelings towards his dad are mixed, and in return, Moo-young recognizes his son’s efforts to fix their relationship and understands that the best way to show his repentance is by being present in his life rather than keeping his distance. As Moo-young starts to make amends, he also apologizes to Se-jong and Ho-bum. As a result, both men are able to let go of some of their resentment as well, and hopefully, they can enjoy soccer again without their past dragging them down.

Deok-chul and Hae-nam are an adorable couple who have gone through a lot together. They might not always do or say the right thing, but their love and respect for each other is evident in their actions. Because of their history together, I think it took Hae-nam the longest out of everyone in the family to truly accept her husband’s illness. Though she knew the truth and prepared herself for it, she still tried to avoid the topic and stopped Deok-chul from telling her the first time. However, when she sees him sitting outside their house, unable to come home, she fully accepts their situation and lets him say those dreaded words out loud. They are no longer able to pretend with each other that everything will be the same. The couple is devasted in this moment, but they also don’t shy away from their feelings or hide. Instead, they sit their together and cry. It’s painful for Hae-nam to hear that her lifelong partner is slowly losing his memories, but she holds back her tears long enough to tell him that it’s alright. While her comment is a response to his apology, it also feels like a general statement about his condition and their future. The show packs in so much meaning in such few words, and the actors capture the nuances of their characters, making even simple lines feel imbued with restrained emotions and pain. While Park In-hwan is great as Deok-chul, I absolutely love Na Mun-hee as Hae-nam, and above all else, it’s a pleasure to watch these two actors not just as someone’s parents or grandparents but as individuals with their own stories, including life’s joys and sorrows.

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