WARNING: Some spoiler of ep 19 may apply in this article. If you do not want to see, please do not click the link “Read rest of this entry”. We welcome all the comments and please share your thoughts too about Love Rain. Thanks.
Author: Andrea Edelen
——————————————— Thoughts by Andrea ——————————————-
It seems like only yesterday when Love Rain debuted yet it seems like Love Rain has been with me forever. Love Rain has so many special meanings for me… it premiered on my birthday, it is the first drama of my idol I’ve followed from inception till its end, and it’s the first drama I’ve shared with all the wonderful people I have met on this wonderful blog and gotten to know through ECI. One of the most difficult challenges I’ve found in the last couple months is avoiding spoilers every week on the currently running episodes. Although I love spoilers, for Love Rain I wanted to experience every precious moment for the first time personally instead of through second-hand accounts. As a result I probably missed out on a lot of what makes this blog and our group on Facebook so meaningful to me. For that I want to apologize and give a BIG HUG to all my fellow ECI members.
Here begins my thoughts on Episode 19 of Love Rain…
Finally everybody knows about Yoon Hee’s medical condition.
This episode hit a chord in my heart… even more than the usual emotions that most of the episodes of Love Rain have hit. To me, the relationship of mother and daughter is very close to my heart. I had a similar situation as Ha Na just over a decade ago when my own mother was experiencing the reality of going blind. (My own mother was fortunate to get one of the top doctors in the US as a surgeon.) So I understand the emotions she is feeling. My own mother held back her anxiety from me not unlike Yoon Hee keeping her own situation hidden from Ha Na and those that are closest to her.
Ha Na really takes her mother’s condition hard and tries to put on a brave face but in private she’s crying. Joon is so in tune with Ha Na that he is just lying in wait in case she needs him so when she’s crying on the phone he runs to her. Out of all the characters in this series, I feel that Joon has changed the most. The person that he was when he first met Ha Na wouldn’t have taken the time to even listen to her let alone wait outside in his car, call her, and then run to her in order to offer comfort. So Joon really has matured a lot in the time since he met Ha Na.
Even though I have been rooting for the younger generation, I can’t help feel saddened by the distance that has developed between In Ha and Yoon Hee. They were so happy for such a short time. But just as they should be growing closer she is now pushing him further away while he is trying to hold on. This is sad because as they get further apart their children become closer.
I’ve enjoyed the growth of this couple for the moment they met until now. They really have had their ups and downs but have fought through all the obstacles. So I loved it when Ha Na goes to Joon and asks him out using the excuse that they have never really gone on a proper date. When I look back in the last few episodes I don’t ever recall them actually doing anything that could be considered a date. Of course Joon’s assistant, who has the best timing in the world, arrives to interrupt their date plans. I was saddened when one of the worst mothers in the world called not just Joon but Ha Na as well in order to spoil their alone time. (I’m not going to say too much about Hye Jung. I feel that she is a miserable person that has brought on her own misery.)
Throughout this episode we are given glimpses of the closeness these two lovers have developed over the course of their relationship. They are able to be open and honest with each other. They seem to have very few secrets from each other. Joon didn’t seem comfortable with the knowledge of Yoon Hee’s impending blindness and was relieved when everyone found out. I feel that this couple is comfortable with each other and naturally affectionate. So it is sad when the only obstacle remaining between them is Joon’s mother.
This animosity that Hye Jung has toward Ha Na because she is Yoon Hee’s daughter is in sharp contrast with In Ha’s affection for Ha Na. In Ha has already sacrificed what he might consider his last chance at happiness but he is a facilitator for his son retaining his lover while giving up his own.
As a result Joon and In Ha have finally come to an understanding. Joon, even though still hurt from his childhood, is more understanding and gentle with his father which has brought the two of them closer together in a relationship both probably never thought they would achieve.
And even though Joon and his mother haven’t had the closest relationship, their relationship is further broken down by her blindness to Joon’s feeling to the point where he feels compelled to get away from her permanently. This was the first moment I actually felt sorry for her throughout the entire series…
… But I believe with the loving influence of Ha Na he is able to let go of the past and approach his mother. He genuinely wants to work on his relationship with her and no longer wants to fight. I think this is another example of how Joon has changed and grown throughout this entire series. He’s no longer the playboy irresponsible man that he was in the beginning. We have witnessed his evolution into the loving and caring man who no longer thinks of just himself but who takes into account the thoughts and feelings of the people he cares for and who cares for him.
I can’t help feeling that one of the main reasons Joon wants to impove his relationship with his mother is because of the struggle he is going through after getting a job offer in New York. His relationship with his mother has always been volatile. But he also has to consider his relationship with Ha Na. Ha Na can’t follow him.. she has her own worries. Their relationship is still so young.
Throughout this episode Yoon Hee has been preparing herself for the time when she will no longer be able to see. I couldn’t just let this go without mentioning my own personal experiences with blindness. My own mother is fortunate that she hasn’t gone completely blind (she’s lost the central vision in both eyes) but she is no longer able to do some of the things that she used to like read books and flip through memory albums so I understand what Yoon Hee is going through and I know how hard it is for Ha Na to keep a cheery disposition while inside she is crying for what her mother will be losing.
So it is understandable to me that Yoon Hee would want to visit a place that has a lot of special memories for her. I find it interesting that the place she wants to see the most is where she first met and fell in love with In Ha. It is also pretty telling that In Ha would choose to look at their former university while Ha Na would think to look into her mother’s hometown. I really enjoyed the montage of memories of the young In Ha and Yoon Hee.
One of the things I loved most about the final scene before the finale was that Joon never asks Ha Na to wait for him… he tells her that he will be waiting for her to come to him when she is ready to. It just shows how much he loves her that he understands her need to be with her mother. I found this to be a lot more romantic and loving than any grand gestures. Joon is fighting for their relationship but at the same time he wants to give the people he loves time to work out their own feelings.
I’m really looking forward to the final episode and now that I’m done writing my thought I finally can!
[End]
Lol!! Andrea, no wonder you’ve been so stressed out!
Anyway, words can’t really portray how deeply sorry I feel on your Mom’s loss of sight. I ever questioned myself a long time ago between being blind, mute or deaf, which is the one I would choose not to lose (of course I don’t mean I would want to lose any)… And I chose eyesight. I think to not be able to see the beauty of God’s creation, the myriad of colours, viewing beautiful landscapes and the people whom you love is the greatest loss to anyone.
As Meg has rightly pointed out, I forgot Sukkie for these two or so months that he became In Ha & Seo Jun. He completely embraced the character that you forgot Sukkie exists. In that I feel that it is a great accomplishment for Sukkie and I’m sure he will be happy to hear it. When the time forwarded to 2012, I felt I missed In Ha; and now that LR is over, I miss Joonie so much that I still find difficulty to adapt to seeing Sukkie back to his normal crazy self. Not that I don’t welcome him but I still would like to savour Joonie a little bit longer….
Andrea,
Thanks much for the review of ep 19!
I agree on the character change for Joon – I wouldn’t recognise Joon in ep 5/6 based on his character now in the ending episodes! Like what u said, Joon has become more gentle, considerate and loving, in stark contrast to the earlier episodes when he was more self-centred and going back to my favourite phrase “nothing good comes out of his mouth”.
I have one doubt though, I am not sure really, what is Joon’s character like. I see JKS in Joon (maybe cos I look at JKS every day and see him in his characters), so I am not sure that JKS has brought out Joon’s character when I feel that Joon’s character is not strong and easily distinguishable. Don’t know whether I make sense to anyone … pardon me if I’m wrong, cos I’m not good at analyzing drama and acting!
On the other hand, I like In Ha of the 1970s because I see and feel his shy and reserved character more strongly (how often do we see JKS being shy and reserved? … haha, not even once?), so the character of In Ha is portrayed more strongly (to me) vs JKS’ real-life character, and JKS has done a great job in In Ha.
I’ve also enjoyed our lovely Joon-Hana relationship in LR – they are so natural and cute together!
And I don’t feel sorry at all for Hye Jung – she brought it upon herself. She’s so vindictive and thinks that she is the victim and other people are making her into the “bad woman” when clearly, it’s her own bad behaviour that leads to the consequences. In short, can’t stand her, though I hear that she redeems herself in the last ep which I have not seen yet. So in the end she turns out to be just a lonely woman who needs more attention and love……
Thanks, Andrea, for your beautiful thoughts. Indeed, Love Rain has stirred in us a lot of different emotions. And one way or another, we were able to relate to the characters because they struck a familiar chord in us.
I am really sorry to hear about your mom. I didn’t know… I can’t imagine how tough it must have been for you then. But I’m glad to know that your mom had the best surgeon and that you still get to enjoy precious moments with her.
Same with you, I also felt that Joon was the one who changed the most in the drama. He went full circle. From the insensitive and indifferent Seo Joon at the beginning, we saw him become the warm and gentle person that he is. Actually to me, he is no different from his dad (In Ha) in this aspect. And I remember him saying in one of the last few episodes that after meeting Ha Na, he saw more of his dad in himself. And Hye Jung, I loved how the drama redeemed her character in the end as I guess a lot of viewers have come to hate her. The drama ended leaving a heartwarming feeling in all of us. I felt so happy I was in 7th heaven after watching the final episode.
@aphrael77, I think I understand what you meant when you said that you see JKS in Joon. There were a lot of times in the drama that I was seeing Sukkie instead of Joon. It was like he was never really acting when he was Seo Joon, more like letting his natural self come out. I think he is innately sweet and romantic, more than he is lets on. But it can be seen by the way he talks and by his thoughtful gestures to friends, his employees, co-actors and co-workers on set, that he is all that and more.
I will surely miss Love Rain. There will be no more rushing home for me on Mondays and Tuesday nights to catch the live streaming. 😉 To me, it is the best drama ever, beautifully written and creatively rendered. It felt like I was watching a painting come to life. 🙂
Love Rain – the lovestory is great, the locations were very well chosen, Jang keun suk and Im yoona really portrayed and was able to internalized the characters in the story, I also admired the directing skills of director yoon, the layout of the story is superb. I will never forget this love story, its mellow and touching at the same time. I wish there is a sequel, we will surely miss Love rain. I consider this story a classic and definitely worth recommending to watch even for teenagers. Congratulations to the staff of love rain, specially director yoon, the producers and of course all the actors and actresses who made this love story come to life…….
Seo Joon is definitely my FAVOURITE character in the entire Love Rain! And I am so totally FAIR, IMPARTIAL and NOT BIASED:)
In ep 19, Joon showed amazing strength as he fully shouldered the weight of everything that went on between Inha, Yoon Hee, Hye Jung, Hana and himself.
First, he managed Hye Jung (unlike Inha) by telling her that he will sleepover on the weekends, talk to her and bring her out for meals. That serves to calm her down somewhat and cause her consider reining in her outrageous and uncontrollable behaviors.
Second, he allayed the difficulties of both couples (Inha and Yoon Hee, Hana and Joon) coexisting in the same space by deciding to move to New York. Of course it is not for ”career” advancement that he is moving to NY. He has his own highly successful and in demand photography studio, staff that he has to consider and the woman that he loves in Korea, there is no reason for him to go back to being another company’s employee. However, for the sake of allowing Inha to look after and stay by Hoon Yee’s side without constraint, Joon made the sacrifice to leave the scene for the moment – so that the two of them can have more time and space to be comforted and more settled with each other.
Finally, with the greatest longing and regret he undertook the burden of “waiting”, asking Hana to support her mother at this difficult period and then come to him when Yoon Hee’s condition stablized. I too love it that Joon states that he will be the one waiting rather than tell Hana to wait for his return. For the person who is doing the waiting will carry the greater suffering as he will always be there, missing her and not going anywhere with anyone – simply waiting for only her. Love that is so deep and sweet!
Seo Joon and Keun Suk – men whose shoulder is so broad that they could carry the world (at least the world around them).
Episode 19 is one of my favorite LR’s ep. This episode shows what love is all about, may it called true love between lovers or simple love between family and friends, and family loyalty and love do exist in real life. This drama might have simple plots, but it’s so beautiful without words, simply beautiful fairytale love story. This drama garnered so much emotion in everyone one way or another.
As an eel stand point, JKS paying character is the essence for Love Rain. Even though, Love Rain beautifully made by PD Yoon and has beautiful love story lines, but I feel like without JKS as Seo Joon, I don’t know if I would love Love Rain as much I should. JKS did a GREAT job portraying Seo Joon, one of most challenging roles for him because JKS must cease to exist while playing Seo Joon, who happen to have similar character as the REAL JKS and to some extents as HTK also. Even with some of those similarities among them, but when Love Rain screen are rolling, I can only see the real Seo Joon, the bossy, the ego-centric, the hot temper, the bad boy, the matured loving, the undeniable charismatic and handsome Seo Joon. JKS is so into his Seo Joon character that I feel like I watch the real life Seo Joon and watch his love story with Hana, and love story of InHa with Yoonhee in the 70s. JKS acts so naturally in LOVE RAIN. I’m so proud of him.
For non-eels, Love Rain is not sooo special (many called it’s boring) because they did not watch this drama by loving hearts as eels do. Love Rain is not fast-plot like many typical dramas. Watching Love Rain requires love and effort of the person who are watching it. It’s required a person to think deep and read the story between the lines. Most of people just want to watch drama without having to think too much about it.
Awww…forgot to thanks Andrea for this beautiful and very emotional write up. Thank you so much my dear sister for baring your soul and sharing your heart broken story with us. I wish your mom the best of health at least, if I can’t ask or wish for her sights to get better.
Andrea.. I almost miss out your sharing of ep19 here as the thread is moving so fast.. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and own experience… I’m really touched when I watched Love Rain especially when it comes to ep19.. I got the feeling it is going to be a good ending but never expect the ending is that good.. (sorry I fast forward as the ending is so unexpected as all turn out well in a manner that I don’t feel it is done in a rush.. everything is falling in place just for one simple reason – LOVE ) ^_^ back to ep 19.. when it comes to this ep, I realise how Joon & Hana has grown up in the process of going through thick & thin.. with the natural acting by both.. sometimes, I forget they are just acting as what they have been through is just like many couples in real life.. their display of various emotions really is superb in this drama, one of the best drama I have seen for many years.