Thoughts on Love Rain ep 20

Aphrael’s note:

I must express my grateful thanks to Reb for taking on the the last episode and labouring many hours to provide a detailed analysis even when she’s feeling unwell – I’m in her debt!

The fruit of her labour is, once again, beneficial to us readers (especially me as I gain new insights into the drama, which is what I love about Reb’s review cos she picks up all the details that I miss out, lol …mmm what was I looking at? 😀 )

It’s a long review, so take your time to savour it slowly 🙂

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WARNING: Some spoiler of ep 20 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: Reb Doddrell

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Firstly let me just say what a complete honour it is to be writing the very last review on this completely amazing drama. I feel utterly elated with the ending and yet at the same time the sense of finality has hit me hard and I am struck with a deep longing for there to be more. I believe that is a true test of a good drama, it is one where you can’t wait for the ending to know how it will turn out and at the same time you pine for it when it is gone, or maybe that is just how it is for me. Nonetheless I loved this drama and in a lot of ways am grieving that it is over.

It is only now that we have come to the very last page as it were that I truly realise how quickly this has gone by, it seems as if we have been watching these couples for ever. Watching them change and mature, watching their characters develop, and yet it seems like only yesterday as well. But when you look at how they’ve changed, physically at least, doesn’t it seem like the children have changed to look more like their parents were in the 70’s?

The younger generations hair styles have been slowly evolving and getting closer to that of their 70’s counterparts and I wonder if is only me that has noticed this? I am in once again in awe of PD Yoon and the whole Love Rain team because I see so much symbolism in this, almost a loud speaker in fact shouting the message that they are there to step into the shoes of their parents and finish what their parents couldn’t, Joon and Ha Na to finish the relationship, and Sun Ho being the best friend stepping out of the way, despite his feelings, to allow it.

A more obvious message, is that they are becoming more and more like their parents, clearly a nod to them maturing and growing up with the subtler message being that love changes you in everything and everyway. I think that this could very well be the subtext of the entire drama, after all what wouldn’t you do for love? take revenge; feel jealous; push people away, keep quiet about your feelings; tell lies to save them from heartache; break up with your fiancé; accept yours son’s decisions (eventually); nurture a relationship with your mother in law; we all know that I have only named but a few that happened in this drama alone and even then that doesn’t even begin to cover it. What would you do for love? Be it the love of your spouse, your parents, your children or your friends, do you know? Food for thought.

Looking back, even to note the similarities it really strikes me more than ever just what an amazing job these actors did at creating completely different characters, so much so that even when they as the children are moving back in the same style direction that their parents had at the same age, they still appear to be as completely different people, with almost different faces, this is the power of acting that I see within this drama and I can only praise the actors and actresses for it.

Meanwhile, whilst these younger characters have been growing up, In Ha and Yoon Hee have been going through some changes too. To begin with life has treated them roughly and both of them seem, if not old but certainly worn and definitely unhappy with their lot in life. As this drama progresses despite the ups and downs both of these characters start to look generally younger and on the whole happier. It seems like they are going back in time through their memories and makes me feel almost like the two couples are going are going to meet in the middle.
Isn’t that funny how in their beginning they were both declaring their love honestly and had such a good start but couldn’t make it last, whereas Ha Na and Joon had such a terrible start and such a good end? It seems like In Ha and Yoon Hee were always fated to be the beginning, and Joon and Ha Na the end, no wonder they would meet in the middle.

It makes me think of that fantastic line from Yoon Hee when she says “At first I thought we met again through you guys, but right now I think that we met 30 years ago, so that you two could be together.” What lovely reasoning, but then in this sense she is a lot like me, as my friend says, “An old romantic with a capital R”.

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The last episode I gave a review for I talked about umbrellas telling a story, and this episode is no different in that you can find yourself looking at the simple things and seeing a much deeper and more profound meaning. For me the entire love rain team have been amazing in turning every single thing on set into a bigger part of the story, nothing is just part of the set, it is a room where that character lived their life, a garden with a history, a ring bought at a flea market, a much anticipated curry restaurant or phone call, I love the use of the simple things as I’m sure you can tell and this episode didn’t leave me disappointed. As I watched this episode all I could think was I want to spend my life sat next to someone just like that, the use of simple benches in this episode to convey the depth of their relationship is amazing, and I found I wanted more. In past episodes I have seen so many times variations of characters on benches and it always made me smile to see just how much these simple poses echoed their relationships and state of minds. So with an episode full I was clearly in my element. Last time I gave you a story of umbrellas, this time I will give you one of a simple bench, however since it is the last episode I decided to do not just the episode but the whole series (at this point I have already written most of it and realise how mad I am to have attempted this, lol). Unlike my last review however, rather than put the story here I will put it at the end, therefore allowing people the option of reading it, as it is rather long.

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We begin this episode where we left off with the heart breaking scene of Joon telling Ha Na that he is leaving for America, both of them know that the situation now is far too messy for all of them to continue in this way, and I love him and hate him for doing “the right thing” at this moment. Too strong emotions? Probably! but I was feeling so frustrated for them at this point and didn’t want this to be another one of those dramas where they disappeared for so many years and then suddenly so many years later, ta da, everything works out. Thank goodness PD Yoon once again didn’t disappoint me. After watching this drama I have so much respect for this man it’s unreal. (On a side note I am sorry to say I haven’t seen his other works, but I will be doing now!) So they promise each other that they won’t break up and Joon promises to wait, whilst Ha Na promises to follow. But before they leave it seems Ha Na feels the same way I do and asks “Can you just not think about me, and just stay with me?”

Joon reassures her but I wondered a little at this point where his fire was, wasn’t he kicking and screaming that nothing would get in his way? It seems Joon has grown so much and is finally seeing the feelings of others. But doesn’t this scene remind me of something? When In Ha decided to take himself out of the picture for his friends, it seems there is more of In Ha in Joon than we thought. I do love the symmetry between these couples! And I understand that his Dad and Ha Na’s Mother are important to him as well as Ha Na now, and that this is supposed to be a good thing, but I kinda felt that he that had lost a little bit of that conviction that was what made him and Ha Na work. I was yet to see what happened and was sitting on the edge of my seat. Could they have fit much more in this episode? At every second I was thinking they haven’t time to get back on track now!

Across at the university In Ha is making a last ditch attempt to stay in Yoon Hee’s life, “I am only good at looking at you”, he says, “let me at least do what I’m good at”. My heart is breaking at this point, I can understand them both, in the beginning Yoon Hee was happy to remain as friends because she only saw Joon’s unhappiness as the obstacle, this is something that one day could have been resolved, but to remain friends with someone you have loved for 30 years and can never have, that would be hard for anyone, especially when she knows what is coming. But as I sit there I can only see her resolve cracking, when he tells her he wants to be her eyes, she asks such a telling question, “how could I do that to you?” It is clear from where she is and the fact that she is still trying to protect him that she would desperately like him at her side, and this question asked so timidly is crying out for him to answer in a way that would allow her to do just that. And he likewise would give anything just to be beside her; can’t you just feel the love for the young shy In Ha creeping in again?

Next we move on to another family gathering, I love this as it is in such sharp contrast to the previous ones we’ve seen. Joon shows up with Yoon Hee’s favourite flowers and I can believe he is being attentive for Yoon Hee herself and not just because she is Ha Na’s mother. I love that he intentionally came with the intent of teasing Ha Na as the flowers were in the bag, and it just shows that something’s never change when in response to Ha Na’s question “Were you thinking of me when you picked them?” and he quips “No I was just clearing up”.

But the atmosphere itself was a breath of fresh air; this is what it should be like I found myself feeling. Apart from all the operation tension that is, and if only Yoon Hee would let her guard down a little. Ok, so not quite there yet but a million miles from the way it was and for the first time I was wondering, can they all get a happy ending?

Of course the day comes to an end and once again In Ha is still trying to show his love for Yoon Hee and give her the necklace he had prepared for her when they were planning the wedding. It frustrates me that Yoon Hee keeps throwing these things back in his face and I almost applauded when finally he got angry about it. Yes they couldn’t be how they were but they didn’t have to forget everything either, a point I think she did realise later on, but for now In Ha leaves and Yoon Hee accidently overhears the news that Joon is leaving for New York. Should I really be happy about this? I don’t want him to go, am I hoping Yoon Hee can stop him?

I really love that Yoon Hee broaches this with Ha Na right away with no nonsense in between, she truly loves her daughter, and you can see that love returned in Ha Na’s response as she jokes about Joon is boastful for getting the job to make light of it. So when Yoon Hee pushes after Ha Na’s comment “How could I go?” a response to her asking “Because of me?” Ha Na’s response is not only merely to placate her mum, but in fact she truly means it when she says “I want to be by your side.” This is such a lovely mother, daughter moment, despite or maybe because of the content, I’m not sure. Once again my heart is breaking, gosh the episode has barely started and I’m already a wreck, seriously PD Yoon what are you trying to do to me? Box of tissues anyone? You can just see how much these two women love each other and yet neither can give the other what they truly need, worse still is that they both know that they themselves are standing in the way of the others happiness.

There is truly nothing harder than hurting someone you love and I think we all see the truth of this as Yoon Hee spends the evening lost in thought about just that. I think in those quiet early morning moments she comes to terms with a lot of things. I also think she finally decides to accept In Ha back into her heart realising that love is not something that should be run away from, even if it can only be a platonic love. I think that she knows in her heart that he will follow her and even if he doesn’t she is not going to hide from it anymore.

She puts on the necklace he gave her and once again I am struck with the awesome symmetry between these couples. I stare at this little umbrella and think back to that lovely day when they had their first real conversation, when they made their first date and when they walked in the rain, wasn’t that umbrella what brought them together? In Ha’s line comes back to me now, I put all our memories into it. There is no way this man isn’t going to follow her right? And so I think of another necklace, worn by a girl that, “doesn’t usually wear these things.”

Much like her mother she gave in and put on the necklace, that beautiful flake of diamond snow. It too brings back memories of a first day together, a date of sorts (Rururu) and the beautiful snow that brought them together. The parallels between these couples is wonderful, you are left wondering, is the story about In Ha and Yoon Hee with Joon and Ha Na finishing their love story, or is it about In Ha and Yoon Hee simply being the catalyst in Ha Na and Joon’s love story. I wonder will we ever know, or is it both, depending on your perspective?

So Yoon Hee leaves, after taking the weight of the world on her shoulders, I feel that this character is sometimes a little bit of a martyr, but in this case I think she had the general right idea, she was trying to set her daughter free and of course I love her for that, she has always put Ha Na first 100% of the time. I would only hope that I could be as selfless if and when I am a mother myself. So we come to the goodbye note, I want to hug Ha Na right now, sometimes it is really hard when people do the “right thing”, and though it is for her, and the note was the only way that Ha Na would have let her go, it is hard when you don’t get a real goodbye.

The thing that I loved most about this letter though was not about Ha Na, unless you count Yoon Hee’s bit at the end about her and In Ha meeting so that the kids could be together(I love her line of reasoning), but the bit where she says “Please tell Professor Seo for me. I once left him like this before. Tell him that I’m sorry that I had to do it again.” Finally, she has stopped pushing him away and, to me anyway, this is almost like she is giving him an open invitation to follow her. It feels like life is finally giving these two a second chance to do things right. She has made the same decision to leave and go away for her health only this time in her letter she told the truth. And he also left, but this time it was to go and to be with her. The same decisions but with subtle differences, almost like they were allowed a do over, and this time they got it right, and whereas it won’t allow them to be together in the romantic sense now, I think that this certainly allowed them to heal some of the scars.

Before In Ha could leave for America however there were some things that he needed to do. The first of these is unsurprisingly aimed at Hye Jung when he goes to tell her that he is leaving, and that he is sorry, he clearly still worries about her. It is very telling that before he said anything however she was on the defensive, saying that she was not to blame for Yoon Hee leaving and that she was still not going to accept Ha Na and that he was not going to change her mind. How often must people come and blame her for things that she hasn’t done to condition that response? Remember that this is an act she hasn’t committed, I can fully understand the millions that she has, and the reasons that people jump to the conclusions they do, but still, is it any wonder that she goes overboard some of the time? I have never truly hated Hye Jung throughout this drama but instead have only felt very sorry for her. To me she is a lonely woman who doesn’t know how to deal with people, made worse by the way people, perhaps unintentionally, have treated her. A seed needs water to grow or it will remain a seed. Can you imagine how Joon would have been if not for Ha Na, he could have made a very bitter man. Now that doesn’t mean that I agree with her behaviour or that it excuses it, far from it, only that I knew that there was a sad, child really, hiding inside this woman, and finally we begin to see her. And as the tears roll down her face and we finally see the person that I believed was hiding within her all along, I can’t help but think, if only that hard shell of hers had broken sooner.

I was so moved by this scene and I find myself crying again, remembering the beautiful sweet natured girl I had glimpsed before.

Really when we look back she wasn’t bad as much as she was angry and jealous, but before those feelings set in I really think she had grown to like Yoon Hee and the fact that she told her about In Ha just made it that much worse when the whole thing blew up. I think even now, it wouldn’t occur to her what a difficult position she put Yoon Hee in but I think that in many ways, then and now, Hye Jung is very immature and therefore what may seem complex to us would seem very black and white to her. In this way she would see every friendly gesture from In Ha and convince herself that he loved her, it is no wonder that she couldn’t cope with her world, it made no sense, and all that she was doing was continuously hurting herself again and again and again. In many ways In Ha leaving is the best thing he could ever have done for Hye Jung, and I mean truly leaving, where she could no longer see him or convince herself he was hers in any way, shape or form.

We move on to In Ha’s next task, his son. We all know that In Ha struggles getting out what he wants to say and I feel a little like this time is no different. We see In Ha and Joon sitting together and one after another In Ha tells Joon the things he wants to say, I smile to myself imagining In Ha writing himself a script of the things he wants to say and then reeling them out to Joon on the day. I do love this character even if we have to wait a month for him to get his thoughts in order, he is loyal to the end and he truly does love his son. I love that despite the trouble Hye Jung has caused he still takes ownership of hers and Joons pain. I love that he still cares enough about her to tell Joon to take care of her, and I like the thought that he did have some feelings for the woman he married even if it wasn’t enough. I love most of all that he was clear with Joon, telling him that he and Yoon Hee weren’t going to be having a relationship and that he wanted Joon and Ha Na to be happy, to have left leaving that point uncertain would have been cruel and it is good to know that he doesn’t do this. Then he gives Joon a gift, to which Joon responds in kind. Of course now that he has run out of script he doesn’t know what to say and I watch as Joon spills his heart, “I’ve loved you and I’ve missed you a lot” and I want to jump into the telly and throttle In Ha. When your son tells you that, if you genuinely can’t think of the words to say back, you hug him!!! Ah I was so frustrated, yes I was just saying that I love In Ha’s character, and I do, but seriously, a hand shake? I don’t care how bad the relationship was no parent child relationship should be that, well, sterile is the only word I can think of to describe it. Hmmm, maybe I’m too invested, I think so right?

Still if it had to be a handshake they couldn’t have done a better one. Nicely done boys.

What I do like though is that the minute Joon has said his bit and we see the response in In Ha’s eyes we also hear In Ha’s song start to play. I love the timing of this because for In Ha this song has always signified love and now we see it whilst he is looking at Joon. So even though Joon may not be fully aware of In Ha’s feelings (though I think he has started to understand his father’s understatement actually) we are clued in by the music, which continues when we cut to him, alone, looking at the photos that were his gift from Joon.

I love this gift from Joon, so thoughtful earlier at the meal, when he came specifically to take the picture that his father had asked for before. I guess from Joon’s point it would now seem obvious looking back that In Ha wanted the picture as something to hang onto because he had already cancelled the wedding, but in reality even then the old Joon would probably have still said no. I think that the old Joon would neither have understood why it was important, nor arranged the gift but rather would have waited to be asked. It shows to me the progression of Joon as a character and in the relationship with his father. These photos are beautiful and once again we see the yellow umbrella, a nice touch, but then by this time I am used to all these wonderful details, I am being spoiled. I think the fact that Yoon Hee just happened to be wearing her wedding dress at this point is quite lovely, I am quite convinced that Ha Na knowing Joon would be taking pictures would have been behind this little piece of magic, the pictures line up as a family photo, one that looks like a wedding photo, and one under the umbrella (memories), Joon has given him a lifetimes worth of pictures in just these three, you couldn’t ask for a better gift, it truly show how much Joon has come to understand his father.

And the music continues as we cut seamlessly to Joon, who is opening his gift in the kitchen, I think that the music here is a nod to the fact that In Ha understands the joy and pain of falling in love, showing some understanding for his son. Then we see the painting.

I love the sub text here when you remember not only the scene that this painting represents, but the pain when they went to confess their love and were unable to. Here In Ha is telling them that he knew and that it’s ok. He is also showing them that he saw the pain and that he understands it, because you can’t paint something that you don’t understand. This was the moment where In Ha found out and everything unravelled for him, and yet he chooses this moment as a gift, I find this utterly profound when we take into account the last but most obvious point, he promised he would only ever paint the person that he loved. At that moment when he realised his child was in pain, he realised, as we heard in another episode but clearly echoed here, that his child is everything and there is nothing he won’t do to never see that pain in his eyes again. I feel like finally a bond has been formed between them with this mutual understanding.

I just find it astounding that these two scenes, the photographs and the painting can say so much when the actors themselves are saying nothing at all. The music continues as Joon stands in shock at first and then we cut to Ha Na’s house and them both looking at the painting as the music finally finishes with perfect timing.

In Ha has gone and Joon suggests visiting their parents after Ha Na’s semester is over, but Ha Na needs to move first. Joon tells her to move back to the studio at which point Ha Na asks about New York, Joon tells her he’s not going. The painting has served another purpose, it has reminded him of the pain and hurt of separation, and that passion and conviction I was looking for at the beginning of the episode is back in full force, thank goodness he isn’t In Ha after all, he is definitely Joon, “I don’t ever want to break up with you like that painting there” he says and I cheer my little heart out, but wait, what about Hye Jung?

I guess that answered that question! So it seems that a year has passed and for some reason Joon is being moody and not picked Ha Na up from the airport. Sun Ho is still kind as ever buying groceries to cook for when Ha Na gets home and chastising Joon for not getting her, along with clueing him in to where she was headed after the airport, which it seem is his mother’s house. It looks like Ha Na has been her usual attentive self for the past year and worn even Hye Jung down. In fact I think this is probably the first time Hye Jung has been truly cared for, not that Joon is necessarily a bad son it’s just that Joon has already been hurt badly by Hye Jung and you can’t hold onto something tightly if it has thorns and this is how his relationship with her is. I am glad to see Hye Joon finally getting some attention, and some closure I shouldn’t wonder too since it is Ha Na that is caring for her. Though I love the interaction between the two where Ha Na plays dumb and Hye Jung pretends that she neither needs her nor likes her, though anyone watching can see how fond of her she has become. We find out that Ha Na has been with her mum for the last two months and that her Yoon Hee has just had the surgery that they was talking about earlier in the episode. I wonder at that as she wrote in her note as if she was going to have it right away, but I guess that she decided to postpone it in the end after all. A year is a long time and thus the news is welcome so we know that even now Yoon Hee is not yet blind and will still be able to see the wedding, not that we know that until later but it made me smile nonetheless, why? Because it was one of the things she wanted to see before she went blind.

In any case Joon arrives and they end up having dinner with Hye Jung who not only pulls it out of them why they are sulking at each other but scolds them for being childish and tells them to work it out. This is so far removed from the old Hye Jung that I can’t help but grin, not only is she doing the right thing but she is actually making sense. Isn’t it amazing what a little bit of love can do for a person. So Ha Na and Joon head home and typically Joon leaves Ha Na to drag her own luggage up the stairs and into the flat. Ha Na however is glad to be home and heaves a sigh of relief until she turns round and spots their painting upon which point she says “He says he never wants to break up again. It’s our 4th time already.” (In a year? I am assuming she is talking about 5 minute fights like this one) Joon tells her to explain herself at least, and it is obvious he wants the fight to be over already and there is just something so cute about this guy when he’s sulking it’s criminal, it’s no wonder she can’t stay mad for long. But this time I get his point, 2 months is a long time when it was supposed to be 2 weeks and I understand it was for work but should a job have that much power over your life? I don’t know, there has to be a limit I think but the question is, where do you set that limit? In any case she knows his weakness, his ego, and plays the, “it’s not as if I’m as good as you” card, which I love, and of course he caves but I think it is more because he misses her than anything else. You’ve got to love this couple; even fighting they are super cute. I especially love that when they are done fighting and Joon comes to kiss Ha Na, she doesn’t just fall into his arms but instead teases him, “I thought you wanted to break up?” before finally giving in and allowing him to kiss her. The way they have portrayed this couple throughout this drama has been excellent, they are such a well-balanced couple. If Ha Na had really been that sweet innocent girl with no zest or fire to her it would have been totally unbelievable, it is the mere fact that Ha Na gives as good as she gets and that she constantly challenges him that makes it so real, nobody has ever treated him that way before and he almost doesn’t know how to handle it. I love the chemistry of this couple; they make such a good match. So we cut to dinner and Joon has cooked for her again, how perfect is this character anyway? And we hear him narrating again, that as their lives spin by they get to watch each other grow but they also get to watch somebody leave at which point we cut to Jo Soo and the comedy duo playing on the piano.

Jo Soo is feeling very sorry for himself and complaining that he can’t do anything. I laugh, don’t we all have self-deprecating days like this? His reasoning makes me laugh even more; I’ve learnt to be the biggest asshole from the best asshole. After all we have been through with Joon this is just what we needed to lighten the mood. And of course I love the way he just takes these two completely in his stride as they calmly state and agree respectively that he is dampening his good looking face. Of course Charles and In Sung decide that the best course of action here is to cheer him up with an upbeat song until an unlikely heroine in the shape of Mi Ho comes and saves him. So once again we see Mi Ho in action, and I have to hand it to her, until now as a character, she may have been young and naive in the emotional department, but as a model, she stands out well and does her job professionally. This is where she breaks the news that she is leaving for Paris, and I think that finally she has started to mature emotionally too, not only does she understand that she should take time away to get over Joon, but she has acted sensibly in leaving it to the last minute to tell them to avoid any fuss or any possibly being talked out of it. I can only admire Joon here as he sees what it is costing her and tells her it’s enough, leaving her with her dignity as he tells her, “You were the best.” But poor Jo Soo as if he wasn’t already having a bad day, at least she tells him to come see her in Paris too.

We find ourselves back with Ha Na in her usual spot in the garden when she ends up overhearing a telephone conversation between Sun Ho and his Mother, and for a while at least, the tables are turned with these two friends as they sit to talk, and Ha Na gives him a taste of his own medicine, so to speak. (Yes I know terrible pun but I couldn’t help it!) ”Just say it Sun Ho. Think of me as a wall.” If nothing else at least she got a laugh which I think was at least partly where she was heading. I feel so bad for Sun Ho, I adore this character. A lot of people have said he wasn’t a sturdy enough love rival or that his character was a bit wish washy, but I disagree totally, I think this character was pitched just right. Had he been too strong a love rival, we would just be repeating the story we had just watched with Yoon Hee, In Ha and Dong Wook, besides the fact that we already had another love rival in Tae Sung, plus all the other stuff that was going on with their parents, any more and it would have been far too over the top. Besides I think that one of the main points of this character is that he sees that these two love each other, and because of that knowledge he steps aside, almost in an echo of what his father should have done, had he known, and what he did do in the end, but only after it was too late. I think Sun Ho is there to complete that story like Ha Na and Joon are there to complete Yoon Hee and In Ha’s. And in the end this character is just kind beyond words, he is not stepping back out of cowardice or fear but out of love and friendship, he is a willing ear and sounding board for both Joon and Ha Na, and despite his feelings helps them make it work because he knows it is what they both want.

The shear love and strength of this man is unfathomable and yet not everyone sees it because he is just quietly sitting there in the background working on the foundations. I was so moved by this character as time after time he covered for them with Hye Jung, he warned Joon about In Ha, he held Ha Na together when she had no idea why Joon broke it off with her and at the same time he was a willing ear for Joon, and in all that time he never once thought to use any of these situations to his advantage. It broke my heart the time when Ha Na admonished him, “you only call but you never come” and he responded, “it isn’t fair if only I get to see you”. So I really loved this sweet natured fool with such a wonderful and generous nature who gave only a gentle subtle love and would truly do anything for his closest friend and the girl he loved. I think he was the bravest and most selfless of them all. And so when Ha Na asks what is going on he can only respond to her with the fact that when he sees the girl he liked it still hurts a bit. This of course coupled with the earlier knowledge that the girl he went on a blind date with is also in love with someone else leads Ha Na to tell him furiously, “Absolutely not then, didn’t you say that you fall for someone that is hurt”, clearly this hits a little close to home and he tries to turn the conversation back to Ha Na, by asking her “Don’t you have worries nowadays?” to which she shook her head, at last I thought, she and Joon at least were happy. And then his next question clear broke me in two, “Are you not going to get married with Joon?” what it must have taken for him to utter those words and though he mostly hid it, I was crying for him, as Ha Na totally unaware replied “Can we get married?” at this point he turns cajoling, I guess even the strongest person can only take so much, he softly utters the words “I don’t want to be hurt anymore” but holds back once again and smiles for Ha Na though you can see what it is costing him. My tears are falling in buckets now and I just want to take hold of this amazing guy and tell him it’s ok, even though we both know it’s not.

I dry my eyes and realise we have skipped onto the next day and Ha Na is grumbling that Joon didn’t make her a coffee, despite the fact that according to Joon she doesn’t like it. It doesn’t surprise me anymore to see this lovely gesture of his when he offers her his and once again I am smiling. Everything is right with the world and these two are getting on great, Joon starts narrating again, I can’t help but feel swept back in time to when In Ha would do this, and I realise that it is no coincidence that they have chosen to do this in the last episode in perfect reflection of the beginning, I find myself grinning again at the details. Will this rollercoaster of emotions ever end? I am seriously out of tissues and I desperately need a glass of water but I shall carry on.

Joon says this “even then, at the corner of our hearts, we always had fear and guilt” having watched the full episode now I wonder who this was aimed at, In Ha and Yoon Hee or Hye Jung? And if the former as I initially felt, I wonder, did this ever get resolved?

And finally we come to my bench, can that be me sat there, just for a moment? PD Yoon fulfills my wish as I share this wonderful intimate moment and then the spell is broken with a witty “Did you drink?” I am giggling now and as that subsides, we move into another day. To be honest my head is spinning a little with how much they are trying to fit into this last episode, it doesn’t feel rushed as such, but the change in pace is so dramatic that I find myself, for what I am sure are only completely irrational reasons, longing for the longer, slower more detailed scenes, but clearly they are not really necessary at this point, and I guess it must just be the grief setting in.

I am amused again, this time at the role reversal between Ha Na and Seo Joon, it seems that it is her now that is keeping him waiting, but what I love about this scene is what comes next. Ha Na complains “you’re not going to say that you want to read together are you?” and Joon casually responds “why you don’t want to?” so of course then there is the usual bickering and teasing each other about what they should do, and what they would have done for each other in the beginning. The part, however, that I really like, and that I think is really telling, is that they make time to meet up, just to spend time together, whatever it is that they are doing. How many people do you truly make time for in your life? I want a love like that… constant. With its boredom and its excitement, with its fights and the making up afterward, bickering and teasing, laughter and tears but throughout it all, facing it together. After getting all dreamy about the perfect relationship I had to laugh when in the next breath Joon just totally made my day.

Finally, he wasn’t perfect at everything; he is a man that doesn’t like babies, though I suspect he does this mainly to annoy Ha Na,

but still I can’t help thinking back to a certain journey on a train and I think I definitely prefer In Ha’s response to Joon’s, are these two couples opposite in everything?

And yet despite that Joon still is a lot more in tune with his partners feelings than In Ha ever was, to be fair Joon and Ha Na have had a lot more time together but still I give him credit for this. We see them both shopping, and in a weird juxtaposition to the average couple it is they guy that is dragging the girl around the shops, and Ha Na is starting to tire, Joon notices and instead of carrying on, he brings her a pair of shoes to treat her with. I just love these sweet gestures of Joons, they are just so attentive and show the deep love that he has for Ha Na even when he often hides it behind jokes.

So the next thing we see is just that, Ha Na is happy with her new shoes and Joon is making Jokes again, “What are you so happy about? Haven’t you heard the superstition of breaking up when someone buys shoes for you?” and Ha Na cracks me up as she easily responds “it’s going to be me who will be leaving so it’s fine” and looking ahead now I realise that she did indeed run away from him, even if it was only as far as to water the flowers.

In any case these two continue to talk and their chat turns to dates and where they should go after eating, Ha Na reels off the usual suspects, eating, watching a movie, going to a theme park, and she doesn’t want this she wants to do something special, she suggests seeing something like the diamond snow or the wet fog together again because just being together is special and he suggests taking her to Hokkaido but of course then Hye Jung calls and their plans go down the drain. But not before it sets me thinking back to a certain Cupids Arrow, where In Ha hit it, first for Hye Jung (his first wife), and then again for Yoon Hee, but I also noticed that it rebounded off the back board before hitting the apple for Yoon Hee, and I remember thinking at the time, is this an outline of the relationships to come? It seems for them they can only have a half love, a round about love.

The children however saw both the diamond snow and the wet fog together and only with each other, it was like they were choosing each other each time and doing it time and time again.

This was the message that Joon gave to Ha Na when they were standing in the fog and this is the message she was giving him back now, regardless of whether they saw it again now or later, was clear they would stay together because they would look for each other every time and that was what was special.

So of course they go running round to Hye Jung and at this point, as usual, I give her the benefit of the doubt and, despite her obvious misuse of a headache, she finally doesn’t disappoint me, I smile. At this point I realise that the spoilers that I had tried to avoid but had been inflicted on me anyway were definitely not part of some dream sequence, Ha Na and Joon were getting married. I didn’t know whether to be mad at the spoilers or happy at the news, I settled for happy and moved on. But that then created a whole new set of emotions, we next see Joon sitting on a bench thinking furiously and I’m quite sure the emotion at this point should have been, is he going to marry her? What if he doesn’t want to? What if he’s not ready? But knowing as I did that they were going to get married my questions were, are they going to be forced to get married? Surely the drama won’t end like this? What is happening, why all the thinking? How are they even going to have time for a wedding at this rate? All I can say is, spoilers or not, my nerves are shot. So when at this point they decide to take a nice little relaxed, “time out”, for a trip down memory lane, oh and a reinforcement that Yoon Hee had the surgery and it went well, in case you didn’t catch it the first time. I was practically screaming at my screen in frustration. So after that not so brief interlude about how In Ha and Yoon Hee were doing well, how they looked good together and how friendship was more important at that age, they continued on to the not so secret torch that Chang Mo is still clearly carrying for Hye Jung and then continued on further to discuss change and how sometimes it is good and sometimes it is bad, yada yada yada. Minutes ago I was crying out for a scene like this, but why put it here? Why now? To torture me right?

Ok, I did love this scene, once I had calmed down and knew the ending I was finally free to enjoy it. I loved this reminiscing and the school boy charm that has never left Chang Mo. I loved the thoughts that change is needed for things to come, but some things should always remain the same and I loved the teasing, the kind you would only take from someone you really cared about, when Dong Wook says you’re the one that’s not changing everyone changes but you. And most of all I love the toast, “let’s have a toast for something that changes and something that doesn’t.” Referring to the two of them. I wonder which one I will be that many years down the line?

So we moved on next to Ha Na sitting with Tae Sung and my first thought was that this can only be bad news. Clearly she too is thinking that Joon isn’t ready for marriage and is trying to buy him some time but I can’t help but wonder why she didn’t consult him on this first? The things we do in the spur of the moment and then look back at with disbelief, all things are easier with hindsight I suppose and drama characters must be the same or it would not be believable, that and there would be no story. At this point I can’t help but wonder what my reaction wound have been sans spoilers, I think I would definitely have been worrying now, the episode is almost over, Joon looks to be having second thoughts and Ha Na is planning to go away again, suddenly I feel a dread come over me as the thought occurs to me that what I was dreading at the beginning may still become a reality. Is Ha Na going to go away and come back in so many years and magically everything is going to be fine? No I tell myself, I have found a fond respect for this director and I don’t think he will disappoint me like that with such an unsatisfactory ending. So Ha Na arranges with Tae Sung the option of her going with work back to America, and this also allows us to get a bit of closure on this character, the bit I love is that we learn that he is still not fully over Ha Na but is coping through the medium of another previously thrown aside character, with this director nothing is wasted, except for Jeon Sul, because for the life of me, other than mild comic relief, a prop to pass information to people that shouldn’t know it and a part time punch bag for Mi Ho, I fail to see his purpose at all, maybe that is my lack, but I am welcome to suggestions. In any case Tae Sung tells Ha Na that Jang Soo is getting married and when Ha Na replies that he is the first one of them to get married Tae Sung can’t help himself as he tells her seriously “I always thought we would get married first” and then after a few awkward moments continues with “nothing goes as planned in life” but he doesn’t know how close to the mark he has hit and Ha Na warily agrees and then heads home to finally talk to Joon about it. Of course when she arrives home she finds Joon ready to leave, waiting only so he could see her for a moment before leaving. Of course we realise that he was probably preparing the proposal slides but at the time it looks like he is still not ready to talk, however I still applauded him for the gesture of waiting for her before he leaving, though did anyone else find it suspicious how fast he shut his laptop and work before he did? At this point I was pretty sure covert behaviour could only mean one thing, so maybe I wasn’t mistaken, I was sure I saw a smile on his face when Hye Jung told them to get married.

I was so confident at this point that it wasn’t nerves that had been keeping him thinking but simply ideas, and sure enough we didn’t have to wait long to find out, Ha Na’s phone bleeps, it’s a text from Joon telling her to come out to the garden. Of course before she even gets that far she sees the café, the garden and path all filled with lights, she follows them out and there is Joon on the other side of the garden. I love how he does this, gesturing her to the bench and them meeting in the middle.

Joon turns on the projector and sets the scene as he talks he through the slides, my heart is in my throat and I watch through tear blinkered eyes, (I guess I really am an old Romantic) ”Let’s watch it together. – They say you will live happily ever after with the person you see this with. – Back then… I think I was already in love. – Wow… You were so beautiful back then. – Did I lose it back there? – That was a really happy morning. – On this day it was really sad for me too.” He finally told her it all, everything that he had had in his heart from the beginning. I can’t imagine anything more beautiful than giving the entirety of yourself to someone, and this is what he gave her, “I want to see you change. – I want to see us change. – I want to watch together. – What about you?” He has given his past and now he is offering his future, and eventually he utters those four beautiful words, “Will you marry me?” my heart just about gave out, the tears in their eyes as she nodded were just so completely on the mark, after all these two have been through to finally get to this point, I could feel the emotion with them, as myself and I’m sure every other viewer with me, shouted out yes to their screens in unison. And as we slowly come down from that high we realise we are not quite done yet. We see Ha Na and Joon on the bench again looking at postcards from In Ha with wedding themes, just to clarify, if you weren’t already sure, he was always thinking of marriage, and so Ha Na doesn’t get too big headed it is only because he can’t realistically run off and follow his girlfriend when she decides to make an extended stay abroad, of course this makes the perfect timing for Ha Na to drop her latest job offer into the conversation, I laugh, Chang Mo is right, some things will never change. And as if on cue we come back full circle and In Ha starts to narrate again, words for Ha Na and Joon. He tells them that they are thought of and that they are loved, that they are talked about, their past reminisced over and what their future wondered about, he apologises for not giving the love that they may have wanted in the past, but urges them to remember that they have the chance to love the person that they want to, and finally he tells them to love each other and live happily.

Cut to runaway bride, this amuses me somewhat as I wonder, are we supposed to just for a moment, think she has cold feet? Annoyingly the spoiler true to its name, means I will never know, one of the pictures I saw was Ha Na watering the flowers in her wedding dress. Well it saved me a heart attack at least, but I can’t help think what a wicked sense of humour PD Yoon has as they play out this last scene, and Joon tricks Ha Na into one last cute kiss under the roses.

…..

Of course if you are still interested and your heart hasn’t just completely stopped at this point, hang around for just a little bit longer and you will find out that Jeon Sul finally decides to leave the white garden, but for some strange reason his rather crazy personality seems to have finally won over the gang, and they all laugh rather indulgingly, as he leaves shouting, I’ll be back, in a rather Chang Mo like fashion. It seems everyone is smiling in the end after all.

The End!

~

Benches

We start with the first bench, Yoon Hee is seen through a crack in the window by In Ha, I love this scene as it depicts the serene character of Yoon Hee, showing her by herself, as is to be often the case for this character throughout her life, and also it is showing her to be in almost a different world than In Ha, one that he can only gaze into from a distance, wishing he could be a part of. This proves to be the case many times for In Ha, first when he is over come with shyness and is unable to speak to return the diary and thus ends up looking on with his friends as Yoon Hee tries to reject Shin Ji Ho’s character, then later again as he is forced to watch as Dong Wook begins to court her, it doesn’t end there but starts again when they meet and he finds out that she is a widow and starts to try and win her heart again when he simply comes and watches her live, and when we finally think that is enough he is left to do it again when she find out about the children and pushes him aside, this one is the hardest, when he finds out she is going blind and he can only watch from the side-lines as she prepares herself for the inevitable. At the end despite being together they are going to eventually live in separate worlds, one visual and one lived through every other sense. In the end I still see this picture, Yoon Hee in her own world while In Ha is still looking on an ever present spectator to her life.

We get to see a few more close up scenes of Yoon Hee here, and then again in the flashback as In Ha reads her diary, and it is telling that she is sat there reading her favourite book and writing in her diary. She is not connected with the world in these scenes, she is set apart, not only by sitting alone but by taking her mind out of the world too. It is no surprise then to find out that she is sick and that this withdrawal could very well be deliberate. It certainly suggests that there is something setting her apart, regardless of intention, but at this stage we would have had no notion as to what that truly was.

I smile as I recall what she was writing here, “The bench in the art school right before the autumn is my favourite place” she writes as In Ha paints, both of them yearning for the other though they don’t truly realise it yet, “this day makes my heart flutter for some reason” I like the fact that they suggested that she could feel In Ha watching her but couldn’t see him, this is something that she will need to be able to do when she finally loses her sight and yet who would have thought that we would have gotten an inkling of it right here at the beginning.

We pan round from the back this time and as we see her from yet another angle and it seems like she is almost reluctant to leave, as if she is simply biding time, is she just looking at the scenery waiting for death, which is a very real possibility to her at this moment? Isn’t it strange that she came here when struggling over her eye surgery too? I think there was more than just one undercurrent going on here on that day.

And as we pan out and see a wider shot I am struck once again by how completely alone she is. I think it sends a message for the rest of the drama, even to the end she is determined to sit and work through it on her own before asking someone else in. Not that her reasons are always wrong, but I shed a tear for this lonely girl, that even now, is destined to spend her life entire life in often self-imposed, later situation-imposed and later still health-imposed isolation.

I think these benches are the saddest, these benches tell a tale of In Ha looking for Yoon Hee and her not being there, I cried when he told her of the story where he looked for her after he heard that she was dead, because he couldn’t believe it, but after he couldn’t find her he ended up accepting it as truth and married Hye Jung. If only he had stared at those empty benches just a little bit longer she would have come back to him.

This couple have quite a number of bench scenes throughout this drama and you can see the common themes, always their heads end up looking down toward the ground, and at some point you always get a feeling of discomfort somehow. But this is their first bench scene, I find it quite significant that there is already something between them, even if it is only in the form of books and kimbap, this and the ever-present space that these two always seem to keep between themselves, well at least in their later years anyway, is this a preview of what’s to come?

If we stay with this scene it portrays so well the character of In Ha. At first he just carries on sitting doing nothing whilst everyone around him is taking action, and then because he is so slow, he is, for want of a better word, left on the bench. (Sorry I couldn’t help it, lol, but still it is a valid point!)

Then we watch as In Ha let’s Yoon Hee just walk away, a nod to how easily he gave her up to Dong Wook. (I know, not long afterward in this scene, he does actually go and get her, but as I am doing bench symbolism, and he was off it by then, I think this one still counts.)

The next scene we come to is the railway station scene, In Ha and Yoon Hee are finally sat close together but they couldn’t look unhappier, their faces staring at the ground and their bodies straight ahead. These two are still so separate that you could draw a box around them and considering that this is the scene where they have finally decided to get together, I can only see separation in the future for this couple and we don’t even have to wait very long for it to happen.

The next scene we see is when this random lady is trying to convince them to buy a room from her. This bit speaks volumes to me. Isn’t there always just someone else interfering with this relationship? Dong Wook, Hye Jung, Joon, Ha Na, clearly this couple are never going to break free of that third person looking over their shoulder.

And like I said it is not like we had to wait long for them to be separated, In Ha goes off to check the train times but just leaves Yoon Hee with this crazy women all by herself. This to me seems to sum up perfectly the life of Yoon Hee, being left alone by the ones she loved and suffering in silence with something bad lurking over her shoulder.

How many times has Yoon Hee been left to fight all the battles by herself, clearly we were being prepared right from the beginning that this is what was going to happen.

So we come to the next scene of the two of them and once again they still manage to find that sad look amongst the smiles of finally being together. It is as if in their heart they know it isn’t going to last and I suppose at least for Yoon Hee she does have this excuse for most of the Drama.

So we come to the part where they make a promise to each other never to say sorry, even as they do this I can’t help but notice that their bodies are moving away from the other, and then there are still the untold lies between. If In Ha’s earlier statement is to be believed, that you can understand people’s hearts when you know them so well, then these two have a long way to go before making this promise. In Ha is still holding the diary and Yoon Hee is still withholding the knowledge of her illness. In addition to this, and this is just my opinion, but however romantic an idea it is, a relationship without apologies isn’t going to last the distance. So this scene says to me, that despite its happy exterior, there is a dark future in store for these two.

Dong Wook. I felt so sorry for this guy, he got such a bad rap and yet he only acted the way he did out of sheer ignorance but I give credit to this character, upset and heart sore he still came out to give his friend the benefit of the doubt. This scene, to me shows a dear friend waiting for the other, and throughout the entire drama, Dong Wook has remained that steadfast friend that would sit and wait on a bench for his friend to arrive. I liked this scene.

The next bench we see is with Joon and Ha Na, amusingly it offers music but both of them refuse to sit just yet and speed off in their own different directions.

And we find ourselves next looking at Yoon Hee as she is grown, but some things don’t change, once again she is alone and despite the beauty of the scene it somehow seems a little tragic. It seems once again Yoon Hee has her back to the world, literally and figuratively speaking, so it doesn’t surprise me at all to learn that she is sick again and completely bent on dealing with it by herself.

I think in someways this scene is simply to show how little she has changed, I can only see the young girl sitting in the courtyard, writing in her diary in an attempt to make sense of the world. And the woman she grew into, is just the same, reserved and quiet, and still just as solitary.

But as we see a close up of Yoon Hee looking fondly at her diary I realise that in actual fact this scene represents just how dear she holds her memories and I realise that it is showing us here that this is really all she will be left with in the end.

As we move onto our next couple the difference is instantly clear, though they are sat on different benches, all their body language is pointing directly one 100% at each other. You can see instantly the dividing line on the floor that shows that they live in two completely different kinds of worlds, with them firmly ensconced on either side, but that doesn’t matter, the line is already starting to unravel, and they are too focused on each other to notice. I also like the fact that these two are so far apart here, where as in the beginning for Yoon Hee and In Ha, they were really close at the beginning, only getting further apart later on, whilst these two only got closer. The two relationships contrast perfectly taking the exact opposite course, almost like the first two had got it backward and now these two have come to step in and finally finish what their parents had started, as I have mentioned before I think of it like the parents getting the beginning and the children getting the end.

But before Ha Na can have anything she needs to deal with the metaphorical elephant in the room, and so we find ourselves here. Can I just make the obvious metaphor? Ha Na is sat with a giant sized bag and a ringing phone with Tae Sung on the other end. She clearly comes with baggage in the shape or a very tall CEO who just doesn’t seem to take no as an answer.

I love that they included the loyal friendship between these two men, especially after the troubles they went through in the beginning. It makes the gestures that they made for each other in the past seem that much more honest and real. After all you can only truly hurt the people you love and that love you back, and yet in the same breath you would give up anything for them. I am glad these two stood the test of time at least.

Need I say anymore? I love the relationship these two have, despite the heartbreak I feel for Sun Ho, they truly do make good friends, and Ha Na truly does care about him. So what does this scene say about them? I guess they are going to be drinking buddies, a cute relationship if ever I saw one.

And back to Joon and Ha Na. He goes to tell her that he thinks that he likes her and manages to back her into a bench. Of course Ha Na being Ha Na manages to fall over it, leaving Joon rushing to the rescue and catching her. I have to confess the corny thought passes through my mind, “he will be there to catch her when she falls”, and in actual fact this is not the only time in the drama that he does this. But I liked the thought so however corny it is now also part of the story.

After this we move on to Ha Na and In Ha. I love how this is so much like a father daughter scene, and adore the sweetness and the rapport between these two. I think the tone of their relationship throughout the drama is crystal clear here and I am glad. I think that although there are many relationships vying for attention on screen, this one has simply quietly flourished in the background, and I think that despite it’s quiet nature, it is a very important part of both Ha Na’s and In Na’s life.

Speaking of flourishing relationships, I don’t really think that this can be classed as a bench, but I just really wanted to put it in there anyway. Take what meanings you want, I just loved this kiss. They look a little like a heart don’t you think? Use their hands as the bottom, and then follow up their arms over their shoulders past their necks, and then down again on the other side of their shoulders until they meet in the middle. Ok so I’m a little odd, but I amuse myself so I guess that’s all that really counts in the end.

Once again we find ourselves with Yoon Hee, sitting with her back to the camera she is staring at a steep slope in front of her. This of course is just after Hye Jung has been to visit and told her to leave In Ha. I get the feeling of insurmountable obstacles from this scene, though it does have the one redeeming long winding path that leads up over the hill. It seems like it is going to be a long journey for Yoon Hee at least to get to a place where she can rest.

Following on to the rest of this scene shows Yoon Hee talking with her friend, but even here you can see through the body language the differences in seniority between the two, and Yoon Hee was never one to put her problems onto other people. In a way this scene just leaves me seeing her as aloof and lonely, it saddens me that circumstance has conditioned her to be this way.

And whilst we talk about the topic of friends, the next scene comes as Tae Sung brings Ha Na home after sorting out the mess Hye Jung made when she got Yoon Hee fired. I am happy to note here that not only is Tae Sung on a completely different bench than Ha Na but her mum is in between the two of them as well. A clear sign that he is now relegated to simply, a friend of the family.

And as the camera moves to the left we catch Ha Na looking towards her mum. This is a very real indication of Ha Na’s actions and feelings throughout the drama, looking out for and after her mum Ha Na would have let happiness pass her by. Thank goodness that fate or God or just simply family, stepped in to stop that happening.

And moving on finally to the adult versions of In Ha and Yoon Hee, we see that even after the proposal there is still a space and a wariness between these two. I find myself think back to that bench at the train station and wonder if they are still trying to keep to their little boxes, not trusting that this will last. Once again we are left with the knowledge that things are not likely to work out for this endearing couple.

And this is the point at which Ha Na appears, and I love the fact that the scene suddenly has a completely different feel to it. We are now watching this scene through Ha Na’s eyes, suddenly everything is rose tinted, and this couple are laughing happily together with not a care in the world. Seen from a distance and through the eyes of the other character these two do seem truly destined for each other. Alas the double edged sword here is that not only is that not the case, as we find out when we know they can’t be together, but in fact it is Ha Na herself that is destined to have their happy ever after and cause the end in theirs. But in the meantime this is how Ha Na views their love, is it any wonder that she steps aside?

We can soon see though that she can’t step aside for long before the feelings start to take their toll, and she sits down for another heart to heart with Sun Ho. Apart from the obvious drinking buddy theme that these too have going on I think that the secondary message from this scene is clear. In this one rather than beer Sun Ho is giving Ha Na a hot beverage and even without his little speech about temperature I am already thinking that he is there to provide warmth for Ha Na. What a fantastic character he is.

These two have finally got together and already we can see In Ha’s body language as he leans out and away from Yoon Hee. A preview of the journey he starts just moments later when he sees Joon and Ha Na stood there in pain, and he begins the process of distancing himself from Yoon Hee. And of course the gap is now wider than ever.

In this scene the two of them seem so small against the world and so insignificant, but at the same time they look so lovely watching the world go by together, even with that space between them. I think that this scene allows us to believe that In Ha will truly one day be Yoon Hee’s eyes and it allows us to see that they could have a comfortable life still, even just as friends.

We get to the next point, at which they have already called off the wedding and you can see that reflected in Yoon Hee’s body language. Both of them are leaning away now and we know now that finally that part of the fantasy is gone. I feel so sad for these two people, In Ha who is doing what is right for the children, and Yoon Hee who is stepping aside because she truly thinks that it is the best thing to do, because of Joon, and because of her health.

And so, once again we see Yoon Hee sitting by herself, this time as she reads the goodbye letter from In Ha. I think that letters are genuinely the only way In Ha truly manages to communicate. And the fact that she is sitting by herself, with her response to her letter thirty years later, also shows a lot about In Ha’s character. Slow to respond but genuine when he does. However in the time in between they have missed their chance, and like once before, In Ha has left Yoon Hee to deal with her burdens alone.

Looking forward to Joon and Ha Na again, we find them sitting on one of those swinging benches. The couple themselves are facing forward looking off into their future, and they couldn’t get any closer to each other if they tried. I think that they have finally come to lean on each other and we can see the strength in their relationship as well, but the swaying swing tells us that there is still much more to avoid before they will be completely stable, if they are going to ever manage that at all.

Despite the obstacles though I can’t help but notice how even amongst the mess Joon still finds the time for sweet gestures, like showing up at Ha Na’s home with chocolate because she wanted it, and he wanted to see her. In this scene even though there are physical things between them, their body language is all totally focused on the point at which they meet, much like their relationship, as they make their promise to stay together whatever, their focus is on the point at which they come together all the other relationships in their lives may still be between, them but they will no longer keep them apart.

Ha Na’s life is her gardening so I think that she really was giving In Ha something precious in this scene. I love that this scene and the next are the first time we see their new hair styles, the ones that resemble their parents so much, and that we see this when they actually take it upon themselves to go and see each other’s respective parent, whilst suddenly resembling of course that persons first love. I do like the rapport between these characters though; In Ha is genuinely fond of Ha Na clasping the gift like a proud parent whilst Ha Na plays the attentive daughter.

Joon ends up cultivating a relationship with Yoon Hee, who I believe he is genuinely fond of, in this scene when he accidently discovers her failing eyesight and she begs him not to tell Ha Na. Finally it seems that Yoon Hee is no longer alone in the wilderness, she is comforted from an unexpected source in Joon as he turns into the dutiful son his own mother never allowed him the chance to be.

This scene was when the mother was trying to break them up and they had just fought, even when there was space between them they clung to each other and lent on each other to get through it. All their body language is still completely focused on the other one. I can only think this couple will stay together because they want to and they will work at it, not because fate had decided it, I find myself agreeing with Joon.

I love In Ha at this moment, for probably the first time ever he sees a situation, the confusion in his son’s eyes, and moves to clear up the understandings straight away before anyone gets hurt. Though there is a space between them their bodies are angled toward each other in this scene and it is clear that they are going to be father and son again despite the distance between them here and later when In Ha moves to America.

But Yoon Hee is still resisting, and we see her once again through the window, the little square that implied that she lived in a completely different world, and maybe she did, as this is the place she chooses to return to when faced with the possibility of never being able to see again. But gladly I don’t have to wait long before In Ha steps into this scene.

The implication is that he has stepped into her world with her, just so that he can be with her, and this is echoed in the drama when he follows her to America. I think also this shows a new kind of relationship for these two, one with him watching over her, I like the picture that this scene paints. And can imagine them happy in America because of it.

So In Ha joins Yoon Hee but not before the camera pans past all the empty seats first, once again I feel like this scene is setting the stage for what is in store for these two, reflecting all the empty spaces as they leave everyone they love behind. It is a sad but significant scene I think.

And one that they are not really ready to deal with yet I think. As I watch them, watching all those empty seats, I realise once again how often these two spend looking at other people (or in this case the empty seats) rather than themselves, once again you can see that their actions come far too often from them trying to do the right thing because they are so focused on the people around them. In many ways I think Yoon Hee’s blindness is a metaphor that she needs to start looking within and for In Ha who is asking to be her eyes in this scene, he needs to start looking out.

Here I feel that we finally see that they will be content just to sit together watching the world go by and cherishing the memories that they had.

Whilst Joon and Ha Na clearly lean heavily on each other and spend much time together as a couple, this picture is of a happy one that will continue to flourish because they care for each othe, and neither one leaves the other wanting.

Which is why seeing this scene made me so sad, it just felt so wrong at this point to see Joon by himself, and without Ha Na he looked bereft and lost. This scene speaks volumes in that it shows exactly what wouldn’t be right for Joon.

And so, we finally come to the bit that I have been waiting for, the proposal. I just love Joon for this, if how you sit on a bench is going to determine the way your relationship is going to last, what better thing to do but to propose from one! We see the two of them watching the slides here, and as Joon tells Ha Na all the feelings he had for her throughout their relationship, and I can’t help but feel that if honesty and togetherness are the foundation of a marriage, then we can be certain that these two will turn out well.

And to hammer the point home we see them once again, sharing talking and laughing, this is a truly beautiful couple and as I bid them goodbye I wonder if I will ever sit on a bench one day and accidentally find my Joon?

[END]