#jtbc run on spoilers

[dreamctz]

parallel lines: running in run on

I have to applaud how layered and nuanced run on is, not only in terms of character development, but also in terms of cinematography. and one of the most salient examples is how the reoccurring theme of running is used to symbolize the progression and collision of the lives of our two leads.

in the first few minutes of episode 1, mi-joo and seen-gyeom’s activities are shown side by side, two seemingly unrelated lives running in parallel, while they’re also shown literally running, ultimately ending up at the same film festival. this sequence emphasizes how similar, yet different they are: seon-gyeom neatly ties up his white sneakers while mi-joo frantically slips into her worn converse; seon-gyeom leisurely jogs in his neighborhood while mi-joo sprints down the street, clearly pressed for time; seon-gyeom stops to pet a dog while mi-joo is angrily barked at by another; seon-gyeom gets his make-up done by a stylist while mi-joo does her own in the back of a taxi.

they’re going through the same motions of daily life, but the subtle class- and personality-based differences highlight the distance between the two, as if they’re two parallel lines, similar but never crossing (until later). this opening montage is a brilliant introduction the drama, offering a glimpse into seon-gyeom and mi-joo’s characters and orienting the story within the symbolism of physically running to reflect metaphorically running through the course of life.

after their paths finally cross, running is used again to illustrate how they’ve intersected each other’s lives, specifically in the two scenes where mi-joo runs past seon-gyeom to catch the thief in the park and where seon-gyeom runs past mi-joo accidentally when he’s late for their meeting. in the former scene in episode 1, seon-gyeom is preoccupied with his phone call with dan-ah, discussing their upcoming meeting to which he is heading. mi-joo sprints past him and cuts his conversation short, ultimately causing him to miss his meeting.

the latter scene in episode 2 mirrors the former, even down to the camera angles. mi-joo is strolling down the street with her earphones in (ty @strawberry1212​ for pointing this out and discussing this with me), engrossed in the music and observing the foliage and people in the vicinity. she’s simply going about her life, comfortable in her own solitary existence as she takes in the pleasant scenery around her—until seon-gyeom interrupts her thoughts as he literally runs into her life.  

in both scenes, one person runs past the other, furthering the idea that they’re two parallel lines—two separate lives—on two different courses. they’re initially out of sync, set on their own respective paths and absorbed in their own lives, until the other enters the picture and gives them a reason to turn around. the central tension in their relationship seems to stem from this lack of synchronization. mi-joo and seon-gyeom struggle to understand one another throughout the drama, given different living habits and incongruities in expressing their feelings. their class differences also come into play when seon-gyeom’s father disparages mi-joo and repeatedly denounces seon-gyeom and mi-joo’s relationship.

regardless of this dissonance, their meeting drastically alters and entangles their trajectories: seon-gyeom establishes mi-joo’s new “finish line,” signified by knocking the thief down to halt her chase, while mi-joo, as seon-gyeom describes over drinks later, has become his new literal and metaphorical finish line as he rushes to meet her. throughout the drama, they strive to comprehend one another and build their relationship, as different as their lives and perspectives may be, which is illustrated by the scene in episode 7 where seon-gyeom matches his stride with mi-joo’s. he attempts to literally synchronize with her steps, just as he tries to become attuned to her thoughts and way of life. in this way, running motifs are masterfully incorporated into many of the scenes to mirror the coming together of these parallel lives in motion.

there’s a plethora of other mentions of running (there’s an interesting fixation on shoes throughout, but I’ll save that for a different post). I can’t forget the most obvious one: the title itself, which encapsulates the central message of “running on,” striving toward your goals, pushing forward in the face of adversity, and simply going through life.

I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical about the synopsis of the drama and it’s focus on seon-gyeom’s running profession. it came off as gimmicky in a way, as if the writers were trying to pair quirkiest and most random combination of jobs for the main leads in true kdrama fashion. national running athlete + translator? perfect. but the writers have excelled in seamlessly and consistently weaving the theme of running into the storyline. it feels so cohesive and intentional that I can’t imagine seon-gyeom being anything other than a (former) running athlete or the drama being centered around anything other than running. it has become an indispensable part of the narrative, not just a throwaway idea to initially bring the two leads together, never to be referenced again. and it’s the part of the narrative that’s likely to resonate with the viewers the most because it represents universal themes of moving forward and progressing through life, experiences we can relate to even if we can’t relate to the characters’ unique circumstances.

[booasaur]

Nevertheless (2021) - 1x07

[jihuxblog]

Run on (2020)

[aousboom]

listen it doesn’t even bother me that the kiss can very much be categorized as a “fish kiss” because it just fits them and the moment so well??? like it has the hesitance of them still trying to confirm that the other actually likes them in a romantic way and the air of innocence that’s permeated through all of their interactions thus far. and seongyeom who is kid-like in so many ways just kind of sitting and blinking through it almost as if he’s trying to process if it’s actually really happening. it’s just so fitting for what we’ve seen from seongyeom and mijoo so far and it makes me excited to see how they’ll grow more confident and comfortable in their relationship over the next couple episodes. ahhhhhh only this pairing could make my heart flutter so much from a tiny little peck... their power is just next level

[safiraerklare]

like or reblogue if you save/use.

[badbreakng]

the exact moment that I completely fell in love with this man

[theadusa]

Netflix’s Run On

I tend to wait after the drama is finished to say something about it, but Netflix’s Run On is so good. I started this show slightly late, I only picked it up a couple of weeks ago and caught up in 4 days. I am ashamed to say that I was hesitant to watch this drama due to the lead actress Shin Se Kyung who I haven’t been the biggest fan of. However, I am grateful to the user @fyeahfandomtrash​ for recommending it and giving me a push to watch it. It is so good, the characters feel like real multi-layered people with contradictions, insecurities, and motives outside of romance. And I love all the characters, even the smaller roles feel alive and their own person outside the main characters’ lives. The main romance between Seon Gyeom and Mi Joo is adorable, sweet, and realistic. I enjoyed how they actively wanted to date and had to actively meet to further their relationship, unlike many other K-drama couples where fate and chance kept them together. I thought it very refreshing. I also like the cinematography and the writing of the drama, and it is a shame that Netflix’s subtitles suck. I actively seek out outside translations, and the writing is so smart, the wordplay and references, the repetition of words. I just think everything about this show is wonderful, deliberate, and smart. I would also die for almost every single character, I love each and every one of them so much. I can’t wait to see more of this show in the upcoming weeks!

[woo-do-hwan]

young hwa is such a babie

[grandpoetrynerd]

I have so much to say about Run On and what they did so great with this drama. But words to come later because I am emotional that it's over.

[myfavoriteskdramas]

I love the ending of run on, what a great way of ending with all of them on the cinema, the only thing I didn't like is that Dan Ah and Yeong Hwa broke up :(((

[cup-ah-jho]

I can’t believe it took 12 episodes.

And I can’t believe that’s the scene that made me sob my eyes out.

Thanks, Run On. Took you a while, yet here we are.

[dreamctz]

thoughts on jtbc’s run on: mi-joo’s past (spoilers ahead)

wow, I haven’t been this obsessed with a kdrama in a LONG time. I binged all the released episodes a few days ago and OH BABY this drama got me good. the cinematography, the writing, the script, the depth and nuance of the characters, the acting WHEW I’m here for it. I’m a little anxious about the coming episodes bc the midway point is usually when I see promising kdrama storylines start to go downhill, but I have yet to be disappointed *fingers crossed*

I rarely ever comment on kdramas (or on anything online, for that matter), but I just really appreciate how run on is unraveling and handling mi-joo’s past experiences and traumas. tidbits of and clues to her youth and past are sprinkled throughout, but it’s not really forced down the viewers’ throats in the form of endless flashbacks (as in other kdramas). episode 3 exemplifies this—when seon-gyeom runs to catch up to her during her nighttime stroll, she gets really startled and starts crying. it’s pretty clear she has experienced some kind of trauma that triggers this response, but it’s not really elaborated on beyond what she wants to reveal to seon-gyeom in that moment. I like that mi-joo’s character isn’t defined by her past struggles and impoverished background and is focused more on her present self, even though her past still obviously manifests itself in some ways. it’s a refreshing departure from the “poor but plucky and headstrong heroine” narrative that’s present in a lot of other dramas, where the female lead’s disadvantaged situation is emphasized to the max to evoke audience sympathy. run on instead gives more opportunities for the viewer to relate to mi-joo in ways that stem more from her actions and personality rather than her circumstances. and I really like how the drama handled that scene as whole, especially with seon-gyeom’s apology and comforting response. it treats mi-joo’s trauma with the gravity that it deserves, not writing it off as a “funny” moment and giving her the space to process and talk about it. 

throughout the drama, we’ve been given a lot information on seon-gyeom’s background, which is fitting, given his famous family and his status as a national athlete, where his personal life and relationships are always under scrutiny—but we’ve only been offered rare glimpses of mi-joo’s past. it feels more subtle and organic this way, as if we’re discovering mi-joo at the same time seon-gyeom is, only learning more about her on her own terms and as seon-gyeom spends more time with her. she definitely seems more guarded about her past, like when she worries whether seon-gyeom overhears her friends talking about her parents in the hotel restaurant, and it’s consistent with her discussion of “walls” in episode 7 (”then you shouldn’t have climbed over the wall I had put up. you act as if you don’t have walls and then climb over mine so easily”). she seems apprehensive to bare herself when she perceives that seon-gyeom isn’t reciprocating to the same degree; she doesn’t want to be vulnerable with him if she thinks that she risks being disappointed by him later on. 

[macaknight]

My mom earlier in the episode: are you gonna cry?

Me: no ☺️

Me: *at the end of the episode* *in tears*

We’ll probably never fully understand each other, right? Yes. We’re different after all. You have your world, and I have mine. But we could align our worlds next to each other, couldn’t we? So let’s not be disappointed even if we can’t understand each other. That’s impossible to do. Instead, we’ll stick to whatever’s possible.

Standing at the end of a meaningless day, I used to hope tomorrow wouldn’t come. In that moment, in my world, your dream shined a light. Right now, run to you.

RUN ON (런온) | 2020 - 2021

[jihuxblog]

Ki Seongyeom:

When you run, you don't think about what's behind you. The only thing that matters is what's right in front of you. Normally, it's the finish line. But today, it was you.

[thepersona]

5 K-drama supporting actresses who deserve more love

The title speaks for itself. "No small roles, only small actors" they say. Here are some of my favorite actresses known for playing supporting / guest roles and where you might have seen them. List created in no particular order. Gifs not mine!

Potential spoilers for the following series: Extraordinary Attorney Woo; Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha; and Hotel Del Luna.

Lee Bong-ryun

I was inspired to write this post because of her recent stint as feminist-activist Attorney Ryu in Extraordinary Attorney Woo (ep. 12), but I first noticed her in Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, where she plays the warm but no-nonsense zone chief Yeo Hwa Jeong.

Other incredible work can be seen in Sweet Home (her eerie-vibe in the trailer alone was enough to make me give it a shot) and Run On.

Yeom Hye-ran

With her recent Best Supporting Actress win at this year's Baeksang Awards for The Uncanny Counter, offers should be pouring in for Yeom Hye-ran. I'm not even surprised anymore when I see her in a show since she can fit in practically anywhere. From the annoying aunt in Goblin and the battered wife in Dear My Friends, to the ruler of the underworld in Mystic Pop-Up bar and the superpowered healer from The Uncanny Counter, she definitely has the range.

Jin Kyung

I always mix up Jin Kyung with Lee El (whom I also love) because they carry a certain elegance and mystery that make them stand out no matter how little screen time they have. Currently featured as Tae Su-mi in Extraordinary Attorney Woo, she has been effective in making viewers speculate, sympathize, admire, and dislike her with the brief appearances she has made.

I've also enjoyed her work in Melancholia as Noh Jung-ah, Dr. Romantic as Nurse Oh Myung-shim, and Pinocchio as Song Cha-ok.

Seo Yi-sook

I paid more attention to Hotel Del Luna because I was constantly on the lookout for the next Mago shin sister. She plays six of them in this drama and they are so distinct from each other that you may forget they're played by the same person. Due to her charisma, gravelly voice, and amazing diction, she often gets cast as the CEO's antagonistic wife or a competent authority figure whom you're not too sure whose side she's on. Whatever it may be, she always makes it count. One hell of a singing voice too (watch her sing on JTBC's Hot Singers).

Other notable credits: Terius Behind Me; The World of the Married; Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol.

Cha Chung-hwa

Known to many fans as Court Lady Choi in Mr. Queen and one of the North Korean ahjummas in Crash Landing On You, I've come to appreciate not only Cha Chung-hwa's comedic timing but also her immense talent in subtle dramatic acting. While I initially wasn't the biggest fan of Nam-suk the town gossip in Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, I was impressed by her heartfelt portrayal of a grieving mother who uses gossip and humor as therapy. Other wonderful roles and guest appearances include: Hospital Playlist 2; Hotel Del Luna; and On the Verge of Insanity.

[ikneeieewrites]

Underrated Korean Dramas  (2019-2020 edition)

(This post may or may not contain spoilers.)

Chocolate | JTBC | 2019-2020 

Rate: 9/10 

- I watched this because of the main cast but I ended up loving it. I loved their take on healing and overcoming painful past. The casts were great. And the "inside stories" were tackled deeply and beautifully.

Arthdal Chronicles | TvN | 2019

Rate: 10/10 

 - I watched this because of the cast but I got hooked immediately. If I'm not mistaken, TvN was the first to take on this kind of genre and they did a great job. The actors, setting, the plot, the dialogues, everything is TOP TIER.

Kill It | OCN | 2019

Rate: 9/10 

- The usual OCN thriller but the execution was great. I liked the intriguing back story and the consistency of the main leads' character. The chemistry was also great even if there were no romantic scenes. And I loved the ending even if it made me cry.

The Lies Within | OCN | 2019 

Rate: 8/10 

 - It's literally, THE LIES WITHIN. The lines/casts/acting were good. I loved the conspiracy plot of the drama. Although, the ending was somehow predictable, I still liked how they executed it.

The Watcher | OCN | 2019

Rate: 8.5/10

- I love how they can make the scene and plot look predictable but still intriguing. Also, the characters were strong and bold. They all have strengths and weaknesses. And you will definitely love their give-and-take, trust-and-distrust relationship.

Tell Me What You Saw | OCN | 2020

Rate: 9/10

 - What I loved most was the strong character arc of the drama. The connection of the characters was also interesting and intriguing. I also love how they were not afraid to kill off characters if necessary. And the villain was undeniably smart.

Team Bulldog: Off Duty Investigation | OCN | 2020

Rate: 9/10 

- This drama had a different take on solving crimes. I enjoyed its whole run because of the intense scenes that were accompanied by funny scenes. 

Nobody Knows | KBS | 2020

Rate: 8/10 

 - The main protagonist and the supporting actors were adept. The villain was predictable but he was undeniably great in portraying his character. The back story was somehow expected but the way they delivered it gave me chills.

When The Weather Is Fine | JTBC | 2020

Rate: 8.5/10 

- Light drama. This doesn't have a heavy plot but you'll definitely learn a lot from it. What I loved most were the "book gathering/club" and Eun Seob's blog posts. I liked the healing touch and warm feeling this drama offered.

Be Melodramatic | JTBC | 2019

 Rate: 9.5/10

- Light drama but with impact. If you liked Reply series and Age of Youth, you'll probably like this too. Their take on friendship/family/career/mental health/goals/dreams/determination and etc. is definitely a must watch in this drama.

Stove League | SBS | 2020

Rate: 9.5/10

 -This is probably underrated in international broadcast only. But to those who haven't watched this, you should start watching it. There were no romantic scenes but you always look forward for the next episodes. Even if you're not a fan of sports, you'll still love Stove League. The consistency and strong-willed character of the main leads were one of the reasons why I enjoyed this drama. 

When My Love Blooms | TvN | 2020

Rate: 7/10

- There were dull and boring scenes. But what kept me going was the back story. I fell in love with their love story when they were still college students. I also love how the female lead has brave and bold yet soft character.

Romance Is A Bonus Book | TvN | 2019

Rate: 8.5/10

- If you're a sucker for "noona tropes", this drama is for you. Lee Jong Suk's role here was a fresh breath of air. It also reminded me of his drama “I Can Hear Your Voice". This is a light and refreshing drama. I also loved their take on "mature relationships".