What I don’t understand is… is she aware of what’s going on? She’s just sitting there while the men are being super hostile to each other. Or does she not care?
Also Baek Kyung is my character of last week – he really needs a friend and he is coping about as well with the ‘loss’ of Haru as Dan Oh was the previous week. The bromance was intense yet brief…
I’ve written my thoughts out about the “side” characters in ExtraOrdinary You: Nam Ju [control], Ju Da [challenge/growth] and Do Hwa [noble/wise love].
Thread, y’all.
Okay. Nam Ju is our typical male lead in that he seems to personify the very concept of control. He has taken an interest in our lead female and he demonstrates this (to us, the audience) to the way he controls the scenarios (which is why he also has to be rich and influential). He makes sure the school trip is accessible to her; he buys all the strawberry milks because he knows its her favourite flavour. Depending on how the male lead is written, this can go from one extreme of showing their personality to be manipulative to the other of extremely anxious. On the one hand, he manufactures it so that he can be close to the female lead – manipulative. But on the other, he tries to make sure the situations play out for her own good but in the only way he feels he can – anxious.
Uncertainty of her feelings towards him makes the control tight at the beginning of their relationship and it can feel like a leash.
Which is why we get the big romantic set up – a manufactured situation where it is (hopefully) so good she is compelled to say yes to you because you are presented in such a romantic light. It’s your birthday! And you saved her! And you announced in front of EVERYONE you both know that you have feelings and intentions towards her! She looks amazing! There are fire works! Whoooo, gooooo Nam Ju. How both amazing and vulnerable you have made yourself!
Ju Da is the epitome of growth. There is a reason people find Candy characters boring – they’re so good, they’re untrue. In real life, they don’t survive long – hard-working people pleasers become somebody else’s door mats. So the role of the female lead being paired with the male lead is for him to be such an obvious (enamoured) ass that she can stand up to him and grow as a person/character. She learns, through watching him, how protect and stand up for the ones she loves (including herself!), even up against those she should cower against and defer to. I mean, once you’ve made it through Level 100 Makjang Mother-in-Law, what can’t you do? While she softens the spiky male lead, he (in a well balanced drama – often this character development is sacrificed for the male lead’s) sharpens her and gives her a bit of edge. Which is why she chooses him – because she is now at a point where (confident of his feelings for her), she can make a choice. It (quite often) may not be one we approve of (“He’s an ASS!”) but it is hers and she is able to make it assuredly. Unless she is poorly written, in which case the control narrative takes over and she just looks like a doll puppet along for the ride.
Do Hwa. Oh, my sweet, sweet Do Hwa. We claim that the Second Lead suffers from poor timing or bad luck or noble sacrifice when the ultimate reason is that he cannot make the heroine happy. From an outsiders point of view, this love that is gentle and soft is also suffocating. If she accepted Do Hwa’s love, it would blunt and erode Ju Da even more. Note – thought Do Hwa likes Ju Da and admires her and follows her around sweetly, he doesn’t actually do anything for her. He doesn’t protect her from the bullies or video recordings of their classmates when she takes a fall. He pauses before going to look for a lost Ju Da, which is why he is always late(r than Nam Ju, who never needs to even think about taking care of Ju Da’s well-being). He doesn’t make any discernible effort whatsoever to make her life better. He simply…loves her. As she is. In all her humble, down trodden glory.
Which is fine but maybe Ju Da wants (or needs?) more than that. And their relationship to me was summarised in the scene when he tells her:
“You look pretty. But I think you always look pretty.”
Which is fine, Do Hwa my love. But at the same time, maybe once, just once in her Candy-fied life, Ju Da – poor, helpful, looked down upon Ju Da – would like to feel super pretty and to have people stare at her admiringly. And who helped her do that on that night? Nam Ju with the shoes, not Do Hwa (don’t hate me Do Hwa fans, I do love him, I’m just saying).
This love does not stand up for you when the mother in law gives you her (very unwanted and unnecessary opinion) on your life choices.
It doesn’t help you grow.
It doesn’t jump in front of perceived threats and growl threateningly until you learn to do it yourself (or in situations where you can’t do it yourself).
And let’s be honest – that’s what Ju Da needs.
Imagine the future scene:
Nam Ju: I think you should stay home and look after the kids!
Ju Da: That’s nice but actually I wanted to set up a charitable foundation too to help people in socio-economic difficulty. I need to work – it keeps my brain active. We’ll sort the kids out between us – we can afford it!
Do Hwa: It’s going to be so great having a hard working mum look after our beautiful children.
Ju Da: …uh…yeah. Great. Thanks?
Do Hwa’s love is like taffy/chew sweets – it pulls you in and is hard to fight or argue against. Can be suffocating in huge amounts and Taffy + Candy sounds super sweet and like a great idea – but you end up with cavities, nagging pain and some interesting bloodwork results. She’d turn into those quiet married women, having been told for years how lucky she is to marry someone as flawless as Do Hwa.
If she doesn’t want to spend her romantic life being grateful or worshipped, she will choose someone who knows how equally lucky they are to have her
The second lead is usually noble/wise enough to realise that the female lead has chosen someone she feels is good for her and bow out gracefully.
BUT. The interesting thing here is that by changing the scene, Do Hwa has essentially flipped the whole script. Although it was supposedly impromptu, it was also manufactured. Think about it – when else will they be at a situation as equally important or romantic as Nam Ju’s birthday, as he is announced as the birthday boy and he catches her from the cake he had made specially for her in front of everyone? It’s like planning a proposal over Sydney Harbour on New Years Eve when you happen to be on holiday in Australia. It only happens once. So the timing was really messed up.
*rubs hands gleefully for the narrative potential this creates*
So what happens now? Unable to announce his feelings in a way he feels suitable, as well as finding Do Hwa and Ju Da in that seemingly romantic moment, Nam Ju’s control (and his feeling of possession over Ju Da) slipped. He does not have the nobility or wisdom of our Second Lead. So he’s lashing out and tightening control where he can – over A3, the school, and his behaviour towards Ju Da. She’s normally where he can see her at all times or following him as his errand girl but he’s hurt and doesn’t want to see her as he internally licks his wounded pride.
Stripped of the moment that confirmed Nam Ju’s feelings for her and his protection, Ju Da is adrift. She is not interested in reciprocating Do Hwa’s feelings for her but she doesn’t know if Nam Ju like likes her. We see her trailing after him and then stopping – now that he is not manipulating the situation to be closer to her, she has no excuse or reason to follow him. Because if she does, she’s basically just part of the (screaming) crowd and who wants to feel like that about the guy you (might) like? She has no confirmation that he likes her. The growing seedling of Ju Da’s is going through some pretty frosty conditions at a very tender stage – this is normally when the male lead starts putting in a LOT of effort to convince her he’s not fooling around and is sincere. Plus, he’s being mean mean to her now, instead of the pretend mean and that feels…different. Distant.
Maybe he’s hoping she will try to come to him to confirm her feelings and dispel his doubt but she can’t – the social gap between them is too big and only the male lead has the power (and control) to bridge it.
You can’t expect a Candy to build a bridge over a foaming river of fan girls, disapproving mother-in-law and societal derision (‘gold digger!’) by pure pluck alone, can you? The arrogance, wealth and influence of the male lead has always been integral to that formula and pushing their narrative forward.
But now we just have Ju Da staring longingly after a brooding male lead. *snorrrre*
And if that basically sounds like the plot of a lot of Twilight, you understand why I didn’t watch it.
Thank you for coming to my TEDtalk! 😅😅
To My Writer-nim:
You\’re taking my concept of \’Mama\’ too far.
Can\’t I plan one date without you writing a sudden but non-emergency illness into my story?? 😭
Baby\’s concept – parent\’s 3rd wheel 😂🤣
Also: The warmer the summer, the more profusely the trumpet vine will flower.
Could the rampant flowering be a metaphor for how passionate their love was previously? Feeding into the characters-from-another-(failed)-manwha theory??
That’s what I’ve been thinking as well, that they perhaps two characters from a different manhwa who fell in love but either the manhwa was scrapped or it ended badly for them? Maybe Haru became self-aware in the other manhwa but Danoh didn’t?
Yes!
And the scar on his hand is the only memento of this ‘former life’.
Like how newbie writers reuse characters from older stories or re-write them…and this previously ‘main’ or ‘supporting’ character became a template for an ‘extra’ in this newer, more established story!
And because he was only a ‘template extra’, he can wonder about himself and be filled by his previous story…whereas Dan Oh was completely rewritten with a new concept and that’s why she doesn’t remember anything?
I’m thinking tragic, betrothed princess with loyal and in-love bodyguard…which is why he’s both strong and gentle. And why the flowers mean so much to him especially [flower glade/keychain/ancient trinket].
Writer reusing old landscape references allowed him this prior knowledge? SO MANY THEORY IDEAS!
Yesss, I was thinking some kind of historical setting as well, because the trinket looked like an old hair accessory (maybe Joseon?). Imagine a fusion sageuk manhwa with Baek Kyung as the angry Crown Prince, Danoh as the Crown Princess-to-be and Haru as her guard? 🤣Flowers are a favourite symbol of sageuks as well, so that would check out too.
I’m so curious about who Dried Squid Fairy is supposed to be and why he has such an ominous vibe about him. I almost wish I had resisted watching the drama until it ended, because now I’m desperate for the rest of the episodes to air!
*hi-fives you* That’s basically the sub plot I saw play out in my head. Angry noble son with a manipulative minister father…trying to pimp his son into the royal family (King’s favourite daughter) to gain wealth and power….?
That backstory might explain Haru’s attitude to Baek Kyung too – he’s fairly tolerant of his anger and belligerent tantrums [even when he himself gets hit]….until it’s directed at Dan Oh specifically. Then his protective instinct is activated and he fights back.
Haha, seeing Mi Chae with Haru makes my protective instinct flare up. Stay away from him! It was all fun and games till he saw Haru’s face…and am I the only one that feels like he (constantly) talks to Haru inferring something he feels Haru should know about…? Like a “I Know What You Did Last Manwha” threatening vibe…
Haru means spring in Japanese, also a representation of a new beginning. Wouldn’t the new start be for Haru? Ooor he is just here temporarily for Dano to awaken and get a new start for herself?
Because as a writer, winter time is a good time to kill off characters, with the whole first snow romance thing and everything else being dead/hibernating. ‘Specially a character with as pure a concept as Dan Oh’s.
Interesting about his name! It’s one that Dan Oh chose for him…seemingly at random. But maybe it was an unconscious desire for them to see the spring that they never seem to get to? *sob* So I like the idea of his name now being Haru meaning Dan Oh’s choice to start something new (her spring before a hot summer) outside of the writer’s choice (of the autumnal fresh start before the winter), as well as enjoying her days now (haru).
I wonder if his name (Haru) being translated as July in the manwha also alludes to Dan Oh’s unconscious season longing? He is her new start – initially, just so she can make her own choices and try to live…though she starts developing feelings for him too!
HI-FIVE! I’m laughing to myself in class (oops) at I Know What You Did Last Manwha!! The sinister vibe coming from JMC gives me the creeps. You’re right, I want to get Haru outta there whenever those ominous scenes come up. Something I always think about is whether or not he has any control over what’s happening in the world. He seems sentient in a way the other characters are not.
We could definitely look at Kyung’s like the essential scheming Prime Minister trying to increase his sphere of influence within the court and cosy up to the King. Maybe you and I should go write this manhwa 😂
I seriously can’t wait for Kyung to become fully self-aware. He’s on the brink, and I’m very interested to see how he’s going to cope when he grasps the reality of his situation. I like that Haru hasn’t been letting Kyung act out to the point of getting himself hurt, but at the same time has drawn a clear line: lashing out at Danoh is not cool, and he won’t stand for it. I wonder how Kyung will respond to that once he’s fully self-aware. I’d much rather have him and Haru on the same side, rather than at each other’s throats all the time.
*bows* It’s both weird how tense it gets when those two are in the same area and it’s been building since Mi Chae spotted Haru’s drawings but it’s so one-sided I can’t help but feel like I’m watching some sort of unbalanced thriller! Mi Chae seems to know a lot and maybe that’s why he acts that way towards Haru – he know that Haru truly does have the ability to change things.
Haha, an unstoppable manwha producing duo. I’m ready to provide snacks and buckets full of tropes! And we would know when to switch from the political boring stuff to the cutesy princess and her clueless (but deadly) puppy bodyguard.
Kyung is so introverted – you can see the confusion when they use words he doesn’t get and skip around him so ladidah (“Scene?” “Shadow?”) and seeing Eun Oh being happy with someone else when his concept is telling him she should be unnecessarily besotted with him despite his rage-inducing indifference and sneering at her…phew, there’s going to a lot of bruised pride before we get to the good stuff methinks! But Haru has always treated him with a level of respect I admire and, more importantly, treated him like a person as opposed to a character whose thoughts and feelings don’t matter.
Don’t do that because it will hurt you. Yes, momentarily, no you won’t remember but it’s still not necessary, so please don’t hurt yourself.
Sigh.
I’m hoping Baek Kyung is going to fall for Haru too in a way *waves intense bromance flag*
And it hurts me as much as it hurt both of them when they resorted to call each other by their common name.
But then he smiled that sad little smile, knowing that he’d rather face Wangji’s disapproval than divulge that little secret.
But I only saw a young, scared, lonely guy trying to stop himself from regretting his own choice. I saw it as Wuxian promising himself that no matter what happened, he won’t hate his brother.
*tears hair out* HOW CAN I NOT BE INTRIGUED WHEN YOU WRITE TANTALIZING SNIPPETS LIKE THAT?! 😅😅
When I wrote the same thing about The Untamed – someone wrote “resistance is futile” – so I took that as kind of a challenge. After 3 episodes I couldn’t stop. now on my second watch
I know @saner – tell me about it. This is nuts! But the production value and acting are all so good that I’m enjoying watching even as I know what is going to happen.
Well, okay the extreme eye candy helps too.
Pegasus Market? LOVE it but HATE that it’s only one episode a week. Imagine a show that combines “The Hulk” aka Jessie Ventura having a fighting match against Maori warriors. Or a dance between a pretend Sultan and a real Sultan while the whole set of employees play the music in black suites and ties. I kid you not they have not shied away from anything at this point.
Right, I’m definitely starting/catching up with Pegasus Market this weekend (and then inevitably coming back here to complain about the once a week format).
Maybe Untamed will have to wait until…er…Christmas? Is it rude to ignore your family in favour of your first C-drama? 😅 Christmas…drama?
Ooh… somewhere along the line of “I am leaving. Don’t look for me.” But then you will go to a place that is meaningful for the both of us (like DB) ? Just so you know, if we meet each other again by chance, you are stranger to me. I will absolutely NOT talking to you. 😉😋
Congratulations 🎊. I experienced the same myself recently & I was like how? Is db trying to make sure I rant here? It’ll get terribly boring for ppl…. I don’t put in gifs, it’s just pure text 😂😂😂
Thank you! 💖 Dramabeans is enabling our squealing and emotional ranting, I agree! There’s nothing wrong with using pure text – I’m not a great writer, so I rely more on gifs and screenshots😅
I feel like finding appropriate gifs & conveying your feelings through them is such a cool skill! Half the time I can’t find any that exactly express my emotions, & the other half of the time they won’t show up even when I insert them properly 😆
That ‘teehee’ face when you told your friend “I think that’s a bad idea” and they didn’t listen and now you’re being smug over the completely expected consequences.
Saner
November 4, 2019 at 2:35 PM
Aw, that lasted all of 30 seconds (literally – I went back and counted it) and Noble (Idiot) Dong Joo returned.
Saner
November 4, 2019 at 2:33 PM
My 1st thought was Dong Joo shouldn’t get involved.
Then they held hands (SWEET CONFIRMATION OF FEELS), I squeed and the smile slipped off Yul-moo’s face and I decided I was ok with her interference.
Saner
November 4, 2019 at 2:25 PM
Tale of Nokdu – I\’m convinced Aeng Du can sniff out heirs/riches/royal blood in her prospective crushes.
She\’s like a \’Feed me forever\’ bloodhound. Heaven forbid she ever bump into the king himself..
librarianerin
November 4, 2019 at 8:21 PM
Oh she’s bound to. I’m being she introduces herself as his future daughter in law.
Saner
November 5, 2019 at 7:59 AM
Either way, she’s eyeing up the role of Queen to be…
BdxPelik
November 4, 2019 at 8:37 PM
What I don’t understand is… is she aware of what’s going on? She’s just sitting there while the men are being super hostile to each other. Or does she not care?
Saner
November 5, 2019 at 1:05 AM
She doesn’t care. I mean, her dad and Danoh were about to start a broomstick/sword fight. She stopped it because it would have disturbed the food.
In the dictionary under one track mind, she is there with her lil gappy grin.
Saner
November 4, 2019 at 7:06 AM
Also Baek Kyung is my character of last week – he really needs a friend and he is coping about as well with the ‘loss’ of Haru as Dan Oh was the previous week. The bromance was intense yet brief…
protect junwoo
November 9, 2019 at 4:04 AM
I would like to formally welcome you to the Baek Kyung Apologist Society… I wonder what we’ll look like when the drama ends 😂
Saner
November 9, 2019 at 6:03 AM
I don’t know but I’m stocking up on hankies because, one way or another, someone is gonna need them….
Saner
November 4, 2019 at 7:04 AM
ExtraOrdinary You…
#CalledIt #WhySheNeedsNamJu #GonnaDoADoctorateInCandyResearch #CandyWhisperer #JuDaIsALIIIIVE!
JiaYou
November 4, 2019 at 8:31 AM
Rise Ju Da, riiiisssseeee!!!
Saner
October 23, 2019 at 2:16 PM
Trying to watch ExtraOrdinary You and the subs are from the wrong show….so ended up with a [subtitle] spoiler for Camellia Blooms instead…😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣
Ms. Rabbit 🐇
October 23, 2019 at 2:24 PM
Hahaha. Can’t imagine how that works. This tops what some other beanie experienced yesterday, watching Nokdu ep 13-14 in reverse order. LOL.
Karolina 🤖😼
October 23, 2019 at 2:30 PM
Omg 😄😄😄
Lord Cobol (Kdramas, like water, flow downhill)
October 23, 2019 at 2:40 PM
Yep, it’s weird watching Extraordinary You and seeing them talk about Hyang-mi & Pil-gu.
“Extraordinary Subtitles” 🙂
Or did some characters leak over from Camellia to E.Y. and not lose their memories ??
Saner
October 23, 2019 at 2:24 AM
So, I’ve just watched episode 12 (end of hour 6) of Tale of Nokdu and basically…
Writer-nim, I applaud you. WHAT a twist! Stakes instantly upped across all storylines. Amazing.
Saner
October 18, 2019 at 11:32 PM
I’ve written my thoughts out about the “side” characters in ExtraOrdinary You: Nam Ju [control], Ju Da [challenge/growth] and Do Hwa [noble/wise love].
Thread, y’all.
Saner
October 18, 2019 at 11:33 PM
Okay. Nam Ju is our typical male lead in that he seems to personify the very concept of control. He has taken an interest in our lead female and he demonstrates this (to us, the audience) to the way he controls the scenarios (which is why he also has to be rich and influential). He makes sure the school trip is accessible to her; he buys all the strawberry milks because he knows its her favourite flavour. Depending on how the male lead is written, this can go from one extreme of showing their personality to be manipulative to the other of extremely anxious. On the one hand, he manufactures it so that he can be close to the female lead – manipulative. But on the other, he tries to make sure the situations play out for her own good but in the only way he feels he can – anxious.
Uncertainty of her feelings towards him makes the control tight at the beginning of their relationship and it can feel like a leash.
Which is why we get the big romantic set up – a manufactured situation where it is (hopefully) so good she is compelled to say yes to you because you are presented in such a romantic light. It’s your birthday! And you saved her! And you announced in front of EVERYONE you both know that you have feelings and intentions towards her! She looks amazing! There are fire works! Whoooo, gooooo Nam Ju. How both amazing and vulnerable you have made yourself!
Saner
October 18, 2019 at 11:34 PM
Ju Da is the epitome of growth. There is a reason people find Candy characters boring – they’re so good, they’re untrue. In real life, they don’t survive long – hard-working people pleasers become somebody else’s door mats. So the role of the female lead being paired with the male lead is for him to be such an obvious (enamoured) ass that she can stand up to him and grow as a person/character. She learns, through watching him, how protect and stand up for the ones she loves (including herself!), even up against those she should cower against and defer to. I mean, once you’ve made it through Level 100 Makjang Mother-in-Law, what can’t you do? While she softens the spiky male lead, he (in a well balanced drama – often this character development is sacrificed for the male lead’s) sharpens her and gives her a bit of edge. Which is why she chooses him – because she is now at a point where (confident of his feelings for her), she can make a choice. It (quite often) may not be one we approve of (“He’s an ASS!”) but it is hers and she is able to make it assuredly. Unless she is poorly written, in which case the control narrative takes over and she just looks like a doll puppet along for the ride.
Saner
October 18, 2019 at 11:55 PM
Do Hwa. Oh, my sweet, sweet Do Hwa. We claim that the Second Lead suffers from poor timing or bad luck or noble sacrifice when the ultimate reason is that he cannot make the heroine happy. From an outsiders point of view, this love that is gentle and soft is also suffocating. If she accepted Do Hwa’s love, it would blunt and erode Ju Da even more. Note – thought Do Hwa likes Ju Da and admires her and follows her around sweetly, he doesn’t actually do anything for her. He doesn’t protect her from the bullies or video recordings of their classmates when she takes a fall. He pauses before going to look for a lost Ju Da, which is why he is always late(r than Nam Ju, who never needs to even think about taking care of Ju Da’s well-being). He doesn’t make any discernible effort whatsoever to make her life better. He simply…loves her. As she is. In all her humble, down trodden glory.
Which is fine but maybe Ju Da wants (or needs?) more than that. And their relationship to me was summarised in the scene when he tells her:
“You look pretty. But I think you always look pretty.”
Which is fine, Do Hwa my love. But at the same time, maybe once, just once in her Candy-fied life, Ju Da – poor, helpful, looked down upon Ju Da – would like to feel super pretty and to have people stare at her admiringly. And who helped her do that on that night? Nam Ju with the shoes, not Do Hwa (don’t hate me Do Hwa fans, I do love him, I’m just saying).
This love does not stand up for you when the mother in law gives you her (very unwanted and unnecessary opinion) on your life choices.
It doesn’t help you grow.
It doesn’t jump in front of perceived threats and growl threateningly until you learn to do it yourself (or in situations where you can’t do it yourself).
And let’s be honest – that’s what Ju Da needs.
Imagine the future scene:
Nam Ju: I think you should stay home and look after the kids!
Ju Da: That’s nice but actually I wanted to set up a charitable foundation too to help people in socio-economic difficulty. I need to work – it keeps my brain active. We’ll sort the kids out between us – we can afford it!
Do Hwa: It’s going to be so great having a hard working mum look after our beautiful children.
Ju Da: …uh…yeah. Great. Thanks?
Do Hwa’s love is like taffy/chew sweets – it pulls you in and is hard to fight or argue against. Can be suffocating in huge amounts and Taffy + Candy sounds super sweet and like a great idea – but you end up with cavities, nagging pain and some interesting bloodwork results. She’d turn into those quiet married women, having been told for years how lucky she is to marry someone as flawless as Do Hwa.
If she doesn’t want to spend her romantic life being grateful or worshipped, she will choose someone who knows how equally lucky they are to have her
The second lead is usually noble/wise enough to realise that the female lead has chosen someone she feels is good for her and bow out gracefully.
Saner
October 18, 2019 at 11:56 PM
BUT. The interesting thing here is that by changing the scene, Do Hwa has essentially flipped the whole script. Although it was supposedly impromptu, it was also manufactured. Think about it – when else will they be at a situation as equally important or romantic as Nam Ju’s birthday, as he is announced as the birthday boy and he catches her from the cake he had made specially for her in front of everyone? It’s like planning a proposal over Sydney Harbour on New Years Eve when you happen to be on holiday in Australia. It only happens once. So the timing was really messed up.
*rubs hands gleefully for the narrative potential this creates*
Saner
October 19, 2019 at 12:00 AM
So what happens now? Unable to announce his feelings in a way he feels suitable, as well as finding Do Hwa and Ju Da in that seemingly romantic moment, Nam Ju’s control (and his feeling of possession over Ju Da) slipped. He does not have the nobility or wisdom of our Second Lead. So he’s lashing out and tightening control where he can – over A3, the school, and his behaviour towards Ju Da. She’s normally where he can see her at all times or following him as his errand girl but he’s hurt and doesn’t want to see her as he internally licks his wounded pride.
Stripped of the moment that confirmed Nam Ju’s feelings for her and his protection, Ju Da is adrift. She is not interested in reciprocating Do Hwa’s feelings for her but she doesn’t know if Nam Ju like likes her. We see her trailing after him and then stopping – now that he is not manipulating the situation to be closer to her, she has no excuse or reason to follow him. Because if she does, she’s basically just part of the (screaming) crowd and who wants to feel like that about the guy you (might) like? She has no confirmation that he likes her. The growing seedling of Ju Da’s is going through some pretty frosty conditions at a very tender stage – this is normally when the male lead starts putting in a LOT of effort to convince her he’s not fooling around and is sincere. Plus, he’s being mean mean to her now, instead of the pretend mean and that feels…different. Distant.
Maybe he’s hoping she will try to come to him to confirm her feelings and dispel his doubt but she can’t – the social gap between them is too big and only the male lead has the power (and control) to bridge it.
You can’t expect a Candy to build a bridge over a foaming river of fan girls, disapproving mother-in-law and societal derision (‘gold digger!’) by pure pluck alone, can you? The arrogance, wealth and influence of the male lead has always been integral to that formula and pushing their narrative forward.
But now we just have Ju Da staring longingly after a brooding male lead. *snorrrre*
And if that basically sounds like the plot of a lot of Twilight, you understand why I didn’t watch it.
Thank you for coming to my TEDtalk! 😅😅
Saner
October 18, 2019 at 7:52 AM
For those of you who’ve finished watching this week’s ExtraOrdinary You episodes and need something to help you believe in Baek Kyung again….
[Lee Jae Wook and Roswoon are so cute!]
protect junwoo
October 18, 2019 at 10:39 AM
I love how we’re all so committed to calling him Roswoon 😂
Saner
October 19, 2019 at 12:10 AM
Well, if he continues to play Haru to Dan Oh in a manner that is both dreamy and adorable AND be a cutie pie hyung/oppa, then we have no choice! 😂 🤣
Saner
October 17, 2019 at 1:26 AM
To My Writer-nim:
You\’re taking my concept of \’Mama\’ too far.
Can\’t I plan one date without you writing a sudden but non-emergency illness into my story?? 😭
Baby\’s concept – parent\’s 3rd wheel 😂🤣
Saner
October 16, 2019 at 11:44 PM
Someone said that the flowers in ExtraOrdinary You might be Trumpet Vine:
The trumpet vine…represents ‘a fresh start’, referring to the beginning of autumn.
But fresh start for who?!
Saner
October 16, 2019 at 11:45 PM
Also: The warmer the summer, the more profusely the trumpet vine will flower.
Could the rampant flowering be a metaphor for how passionate their love was previously? Feeding into the characters-from-another-(failed)-manwha theory??
protect junwoo
October 17, 2019 at 12:21 AM
That’s what I’ve been thinking as well, that they perhaps two characters from a different manhwa who fell in love but either the manhwa was scrapped or it ended badly for them? Maybe Haru became self-aware in the other manhwa but Danoh didn’t?
Saner
October 17, 2019 at 12:28 AM
Yes!
And the scar on his hand is the only memento of this ‘former life’.
Like how newbie writers reuse characters from older stories or re-write them…and this previously ‘main’ or ‘supporting’ character became a template for an ‘extra’ in this newer, more established story!
And because he was only a ‘template extra’, he can wonder about himself and be filled by his previous story…whereas Dan Oh was completely rewritten with a new concept and that’s why she doesn’t remember anything?
I’m thinking tragic, betrothed princess with loyal and in-love bodyguard…which is why he’s both strong and gentle. And why the flowers mean so much to him especially [flower glade/keychain/ancient trinket].
Writer reusing old landscape references allowed him this prior knowledge? SO MANY THEORY IDEAS!
protect junwoo
October 17, 2019 at 12:46 AM
Yesss, I was thinking some kind of historical setting as well, because the trinket looked like an old hair accessory (maybe Joseon?). Imagine a fusion sageuk manhwa with Baek Kyung as the angry Crown Prince, Danoh as the Crown Princess-to-be and Haru as her guard? 🤣Flowers are a favourite symbol of sageuks as well, so that would check out too.
I’m so curious about who Dried Squid Fairy is supposed to be and why he has such an ominous vibe about him. I almost wish I had resisted watching the drama until it ended, because now I’m desperate for the rest of the episodes to air!
Saner
October 17, 2019 at 1:19 AM
*hi-fives you* That’s basically the sub plot I saw play out in my head. Angry noble son with a manipulative minister father…trying to pimp his son into the royal family (King’s favourite daughter) to gain wealth and power….?
That backstory might explain Haru’s attitude to Baek Kyung too – he’s fairly tolerant of his anger and belligerent tantrums [even when he himself gets hit]….until it’s directed at Dan Oh specifically. Then his protective instinct is activated and he fights back.
Haha, seeing Mi Chae with Haru makes my protective instinct flare up. Stay away from him! It was all fun and games till he saw Haru’s face…and am I the only one that feels like he (constantly) talks to Haru inferring something he feels Haru should know about…? Like a “I Know What You Did Last Manwha” threatening vibe…
Rumi~
October 17, 2019 at 3:46 AM
Lmao I know what you did last manhwa 🤣🤣🤣
Brilliant!
I agree with all the theories here.
Fairy
October 17, 2019 at 12:45 AM
Haru means spring in Japanese, also a representation of a new beginning. Wouldn’t the new start be for Haru? Ooor he is just here temporarily for Dano to awaken and get a new start for herself?
Saner
October 17, 2019 at 1:00 AM
Because as a writer, winter time is a good time to kill off characters, with the whole first snow romance thing and everything else being dead/hibernating. ‘Specially a character with as pure a concept as Dan Oh’s.
Interesting about his name! It’s one that Dan Oh chose for him…seemingly at random. But maybe it was an unconscious desire for them to see the spring that they never seem to get to? *sob* So I like the idea of his name now being Haru meaning Dan Oh’s choice to start something new (her spring before a hot summer) outside of the writer’s choice (of the autumnal fresh start before the winter), as well as enjoying her days now (haru).
I wonder if his name (Haru) being translated as July in the manwha also alludes to Dan Oh’s unconscious season longing? He is her new start – initially, just so she can make her own choices and try to live…though she starts developing feelings for him too!
protect junwoo
October 17, 2019 at 2:24 AM
(continuing from our previous thread)
HI-FIVE! I’m laughing to myself in class (oops) at I Know What You Did Last Manwha!! The sinister vibe coming from JMC gives me the creeps. You’re right, I want to get Haru outta there whenever those ominous scenes come up. Something I always think about is whether or not he has any control over what’s happening in the world. He seems sentient in a way the other characters are not.
We could definitely look at Kyung’s like the essential scheming Prime Minister trying to increase his sphere of influence within the court and cosy up to the King. Maybe you and I should go write this manhwa 😂
I seriously can’t wait for Kyung to become fully self-aware. He’s on the brink, and I’m very interested to see how he’s going to cope when he grasps the reality of his situation. I like that Haru hasn’t been letting Kyung act out to the point of getting himself hurt, but at the same time has drawn a clear line: lashing out at Danoh is not cool, and he won’t stand for it. I wonder how Kyung will respond to that once he’s fully self-aware. I’d much rather have him and Haru on the same side, rather than at each other’s throats all the time.
Saner
October 17, 2019 at 8:15 AM
*bows* It’s both weird how tense it gets when those two are in the same area and it’s been building since Mi Chae spotted Haru’s drawings but it’s so one-sided I can’t help but feel like I’m watching some sort of unbalanced thriller! Mi Chae seems to know a lot and maybe that’s why he acts that way towards Haru – he know that Haru truly does have the ability to change things.
Haha, an unstoppable manwha producing duo. I’m ready to provide snacks and buckets full of tropes! And we would know when to switch from the political boring stuff to the cutesy princess and her clueless (but deadly) puppy bodyguard.
Kyung is so introverted – you can see the confusion when they use words he doesn’t get and skip around him so ladidah (“Scene?” “Shadow?”) and seeing Eun Oh being happy with someone else when his concept is telling him she should be unnecessarily besotted with him despite his rage-inducing indifference and sneering at her…phew, there’s going to a lot of bruised pride before we get to the good stuff methinks! But Haru has always treated him with a level of respect I admire and, more importantly, treated him like a person as opposed to a character whose thoughts and feelings don’t matter.
Don’t do that because it will hurt you. Yes, momentarily, no you won’t remember but it’s still not necessary, so please don’t hurt yourself.
Sigh.
I’m hoping Baek Kyung is going to fall for Haru too in a way *waves intense bromance flag*
Saner
October 15, 2019 at 1:10 AM
No new episode of Tale of Nokdu?! Why??😥 😓
Also, all the gifs/book excerpts/videos/show analysis on the Fan Wall are making me want to start The Untamed.
You know who you are! 😂
gadis
October 15, 2019 at 3:51 AM
Guilty as charged 😆
But we are always happy to welcome a new Untamed beanies.
Saner
October 15, 2019 at 11:58 AM
And it hurts me as much as it hurt both of them when they resorted to call each other by their common name.
But then he smiled that sad little smile, knowing that he’d rather face Wangji’s disapproval than divulge that little secret.
But I only saw a young, scared, lonely guy trying to stop himself from regretting his own choice. I saw it as Wuxian promising himself that no matter what happened, he won’t hate his brother.
*tears hair out* HOW CAN I NOT BE INTRIGUED WHEN YOU WRITE TANTALIZING SNIPPETS LIKE THAT?! 😅😅
stpauligurl
October 15, 2019 at 5:10 AM
When I wrote the same thing about The Untamed – someone wrote “resistance is futile” – so I took that as kind of a challenge. After 3 episodes I couldn’t stop.
now on my second watch
Truly it is worth all the hype.
Saner
October 15, 2019 at 11:51 AM
Agh, help! Second watch of 50 episodes?! Madness!!
Also, Pegasus market – you’re pushing me to nearly watch that too. *sings Post Malone Sunflower*
stpauligurl
October 15, 2019 at 11:59 AM
I know @saner – tell me about it. This is nuts! But the production value and acting are all so good that I’m enjoying watching even as I know what is going to happen.
Well, okay the extreme eye candy helps too.
Pegasus Market? LOVE it but HATE that it’s only one episode a week. Imagine a show that combines “The Hulk” aka Jessie Ventura having a fighting match against Maori warriors. Or a dance between a pretend Sultan and a real Sultan while the whole set of employees play the music in black suites and ties. I kid you not they have not shied away from anything at this point.
And my favorite – the flower masks are epic.
Saner
October 15, 2019 at 12:02 PM
Right, I’m definitely starting/catching up with Pegasus Market this weekend (and then inevitably coming back here to complain about the once a week format).
Maybe Untamed will have to wait until…er…Christmas? Is it rude to ignore your family in favour of your first C-drama? 😅 Christmas…drama?
stpauligurl
October 15, 2019 at 5:07 PM
No it isn’t rude. Invite your family to join you! And if they say no then you will say “okay I’ll watch it myself”
stpauligurl
October 15, 2019 at 5:07 PM
Oh and I can’t wait to see what you think of PM!
Trinity 🍆
October 15, 2019 at 8:50 AM
We’ll be waiting for you on the other side 😈
Saner
October 15, 2019 at 11:49 AM
Your wall is so full of temptation! 🙈 Gah, why are they all so cute in the BTS clips!?
stpauligurl
October 15, 2019 at 11:54 AM
Because they are all so cute in real life too!!!
Trinity 🍆
October 15, 2019 at 12:00 PM
I couldn’t have said it better myself 😆
Saner
October 15, 2019 at 12:07 PM
You are doing a fab job of being a great fan ambassador for Wei WuXian!
Saner
October 15, 2019 at 12:03 PM
I feel the BTS appeal doubles the actual watching time to, like, 100 hours…
stpauligurl
October 15, 2019 at 12:19 PM
To be honest, I didn’t understand the appeal of watching all the BTS – until I started watching the show.
okay, NOW I get it!
ship-happens
October 15, 2019 at 5:39 PM
I was also pulled in after seeing many, many posts about the drama (and knowing it was BL)
Saner
October 15, 2019 at 11:59 PM
I’m definitely being pulled in – into what feels like most charismatic black hole 🙈 🙈
Saner
October 13, 2019 at 5:15 AM
!!!!! I just got promoted from Water Maid to Noble Idiot!
But….how?
I\’m going to go abroad for a year in a different continent to try and work it out as befits my new role 😂😂 🤣🤣
mugyuljoie is preciousss
October 13, 2019 at 6:45 AM
Congratulations!
Saner
October 13, 2019 at 7:43 AM
Thank you! 🤗
outofthisworld 不愧是我 🏍
October 13, 2019 at 7:56 AM
Congrats!
Saner
October 13, 2019 at 9:56 AM
Thank you! 💖
RaOnAh loves Jay B 💚
October 13, 2019 at 8:43 AM
Congrats!
Saner
October 13, 2019 at 9:59 AM
Thank you so much! 💖
Maybe one day I too will be an entertainer-in-training…after I finish moodily mooching about my long lost love…! 😂
bam 🐢🐌💖~
October 13, 2019 at 9:05 AM
Congratulations!!
Saner
October 13, 2019 at 10:01 AM
Thank you! 💖
Oh, and here’s only a part payment of what I owe you Bammsie-nim 😬😂
bam 🐢🐌💖~
October 13, 2019 at 10:11 AM
Hahaha, the loan is covered. I’m feeling generous today!
Ms. Rabbit 🐇
October 13, 2019 at 9:13 AM
Congrats! Let me know where you are going so we don’t run into each other. Noble Idiocy comes with loneliness, you see. 😉
Saner
October 13, 2019 at 11:58 AM
Oh, but that sounds like effective communication and planning!
How about I send you a generic but heartfelt email when I get there before we fatefully run into each other 5 minutes later?😄 😁 😂
Ms. Rabbit 🐇
October 13, 2019 at 7:20 PM
Ooh… somewhere along the line of “I am leaving. Don’t look for me.” But then you will go to a place that is meaningful for the both of us (like DB) ? Just so you know, if we meet each other again by chance, you are stranger to me. I will absolutely NOT talking to you. 😉😋
Rumi~
October 13, 2019 at 11:46 AM
Congratulations 🎊. I experienced the same myself recently & I was like how? Is db trying to make sure I rant here? It’ll get terribly boring for ppl…. I don’t put in gifs, it’s just pure text 😂😂😂
Saner
October 14, 2019 at 5:10 AM
Thank you! 💖 Dramabeans is enabling our squealing and emotional ranting, I agree! There’s nothing wrong with using pure text – I’m not a great writer, so I rely more on gifs and screenshots😅
Rumi~
October 14, 2019 at 8:07 AM
I feel like finding appropriate gifs & conveying your feelings through them is such a cool skill! Half the time I can’t find any that exactly express my emotions, & the other half of the time they won’t show up even when I insert them properly 😆
Ayan
October 13, 2019 at 12:13 PM
Congratulations!!
Saner
October 14, 2019 at 5:08 AM
Thank you! 💖
*squints* Hey…Go-sam….is your moustache…smudged?
korfan
October 14, 2019 at 12:00 AM
Congratulations!
Saner
October 14, 2019 at 4:49 AM
Thank you! 💖
Hey, do you need a roommate? I need to stay away from some people…😂
Saner
October 12, 2019 at 4:18 AM
That ‘teehee’ face when you told your friend “I think that’s a bad idea” and they didn’t listen and now you’re being smug over the completely expected consequences.
Saner
October 12, 2019 at 4:16 AM
ExtraOrdinary You Ep 4 (7/8): “Just stay smitten with me the way you always have!”
*insert Eun Dan Oh eye roll here*
Eurrrrgh, Baek Kyung, you’re the absolute worrrrrrrst 😫😫😫
Saner
October 9, 2019 at 8:11 AM
ExtraOrdinary You – Ep 3, sans subs.
Dan Oh\’s comment on seeing RoWoon\’s face: Same girl, same.
Do Hwa looks like he is the exact same empathetic, emotional heart-tugging sweetie as in the manwha 💗
13infamyss
October 9, 2019 at 10:34 AM
Awww hearts to Do Hwa 💖💖
Saner
October 8, 2019 at 5:36 PM
The hand (very reminiscent of the Titanic car scene) against the palanquin screen is KILLING me! 😂😂😂🤣🤣
The misunderstandings this is going to set up for next week looks hilarious! Can’t wait!
loveblossom🌸
October 8, 2019 at 9:32 PM
LMAO!! Nice catch! 😂😂😂
Saner
October 8, 2019 at 5:32 PM
Further proof that Aeng Du is the second female lead we all truly needed
Saner
October 8, 2019 at 4:37 PM
Tale of Nok Du: I have never seen someone look so blimmin’ cute whilst forlonly munching cucumber!
Aeng Du, why so adorable?!
Saner
October 8, 2019 at 4:02 PM
It is midnight here. Nearly a full day with baby tomorrow so sleep is important.
Tale of Nokdu episode 7 is 99% translated.
We all know what\’s going to happen here.