That post I'd been postponing forever

[clairiere]

on the romantic relationships on this show is going to be written, because this episode (ep. 15) was just what I needed for everything to gel and there's no way I can't talk about it without talking about love. And I need to talk about it because nothing has happened yet, but I've already teared up three times, and tomorrow's going to be even worse

Comments

[clairiere]

I'm not sure understanding Korean would make much of a difference :) because it's a frequent topic of discussion on DCgall and we couldn't quite agree on what it was. I think the ambiguity is intentional, in the sense that his feelings are complicated, evolving and he hasn't sorted them out for himself either.

My own interpretation is that:

* emotionally, he's not at the same place that Wol-A is, because she's loved him much longer as a man, even when there was no hope for them back in the mountains, whereas he didn't allow himself to see her as a woman for a very long time and is opening himself to their changed circumstances only recently. That leaves room for the possibility (very high probability) that he'll come to love her the same way she loves him because that connection was there from the beginning. (That they came to be raised together at the temple is as much destiny as his fateful encounter with Song-Yi.)

* there's a mixture of sibling-like feelings, life-long bonding (from having been raised together) and the urge to protect her innocence (not just from men like Manjong, but life in general) that plays significantly into what he feels for her. I don't think many dispute that. Where I disagree with some is that I don't think that makes his feelings for Wol-A less about "love". It actually matters very, very much because that's something he could never share with anyone else, not Song-Yi, nor anyone else he might meet afterwards. Wol-A (and the father who raised them) represents the happiest, most innocent times he's known in his life, it's what drove him to risk his life to save her. It's a powerful connection and once they were allowed to marry (b/c he was no longer a monk and all that), I had no problem believing that connection would serve as a rock-solid foundation for a very happy marriage full of love. So no, I don't believe he was marrying her purely out of duty. She makes him happy, she's always made him happy, and regardless of his complicated, uncertain feelings for Song-Yi, I have no doubt if they had the chance, Wol-A would continue to be the light and source of happiness for the rest of his life.

[clairiere]

Thank you so much for sharing your insight. I had similar notions as you, but then got somewhat confused when taking in other opinions that were drastically against what I had presumed.

I don't know what to say after today's episode. I still feel numb. Can't wait to read what you have to say. :)

[clairiere]

I ended up not saying much, didn't I. :) It was a tough episode to watch, and I think we (the characters incl.) are all still reeling from Wol-A's death, as we should.