delaGarza9
-
Posts
63 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Posts posted by delaGarza9
-
-
I do not know if someone pointed this out earlier, but today I was re-viewing earlier episodes and I had a sudden epiphany about MH's use of the title Substitute for YJ. LIterally, it refers to her first appearance as a substitute driver; but figuratively she becomes the substitute for his feelings for JH. It is striking that his true love for her becomes apparent when he stops using the title Substitute and starts calling her by name.
-
Episode 1 is the most critical episode in the drama. Everything is introduced and there is a tremendous amount of foreshadowing.
YJ – The ambivalence of the relationship betweeh DH And YJ is clearly presented. She is trying too hard, in spite of clear messages by DH’s mother, that she will never be accepted. She is giving, without receiving. She needs to be with someone who will also give – MH.
DH – His duplicity and ambivalence about YJ is made clear. He is going out on blind dates. In theory, he wants to be a ‘good’ person – a prosecutor that will defend the poor and innocent, a man that will be good to his women. But, in practice, when push to comes to shove he looks out only for himself.
MH – He is looking for love, but at present is doing so in an immature manner. The interactions between him and JH are very childish, coltish. He gives way to his father and to SY. He meets YJ and there is an immediate connection, which he subconsciously acknowledges by tossing her an engagement ring. He has a blind spot about SY.
SY – clueless and self-absorbed. Thinks she understands MH, but totally misses his core. She thinks that MH is just like her, totally missing the fact that MH has a heart that needs love and affection more than power and money. Engages with MH’s father at the dinner table to marry MH, after telling MH she wouldn’t indicating an inability to communicate frankly with MH. Demonstrates anger issues. Overly absorbed with matters of social class. Wants to dictate the nature of her relationship to MH, as illustrated by the her nasty comments with regard to the saltiness of her soup, and her statement that she will change the nature of the soup over time. She wants to bend MH to her will. This is not love, this is the need to possess. When asked by MH whether she likes him, SY responds by saying that she wants him. There is no offer of love. SY is a selfish woman who has a distorted sense of reality and a tremendous sense of self-entitlement.
Perhaps the most telling feature of episode one is the tale of the two engagement rings. One, offered by DH to YJ, is small, plain, ugly, and pitiful. It looks like it came out of a Cracker Jack box. It illustrates the smallness of DH’s heart and his inability to appreciate or acknowledge the true worth of YJ. After all, what is the size of an engagement ring but the outward demonstration of the value placed by the prospective groom on his bride? Surely now that DH has a job as a prosecutor he could borrow enough money to buy her a decent ring. DH is trying to get what he wants on the cheap, without suffering or without making a significant effort. Anyone looking at this ring would immediately appreciate the poverty of the groom – both financially and in spirit. He offers the ring to YJ with reference to the debt that he owes her, not to the love that he has for her.
The second ring, given by MH’s step-mother to be offered by MH to SY, is bold, brilliant, and enormous. It illustrates MH’s great heart. It is offered by MH to SY in a joking manner, but there is an underlying serious point to this offer that SY misses completely. This turns out to be her last chance at MH’s love, and she totally does not see it. Having been spurned by SY, MH offers it to YJ. Again, it is done in a joking manner, but it foreshadows the romance that is to come. Tellingly, MH’s ring fits her hand perfectly.
Compare and contrast. DH – will marry YJ because of his debt, which he then finds a way to squirm out of. The look on DH’s face when he offers the ring to YJ is telling. It is not a look of love, it is a look of forcing himself to do the right thing, even though he really doesn't want to. MH – wants YJ because he loves her and takes joy in just being with her. Small heart, small ring: large heart, large ring. It couldn't be plainer.
-
Prophetic lines from early episodes:
Episode 1, 26:40, MH to SY: "Your anger level is sure different from other people" -
I think I could spend days, if not weeks, seeing something new in each episode of Secret.
Today I was re-viewing episode 13. Specifically the scene in the bathroom where MH tells YJ to stop taking the blame. That is his responsibility. And then there is the fingers caress. What I did not appreciate before this re-review is where her fingers have just been. He comes into the Ladies room just when she is cleaning the toilet bowel. Not only is she willing to clean up the sh!t figuratively, she has her fingers in it literally. And then he takes her hand and is effectively signalling that he is more than willing to touch the hand that has been in the toilet, he is willing to wipe it clean with his own hand.
Powerful, powerful imagery. -
This is my first post. I must admit that, along with many others on this forum, I have become obsessed with this drama. In large part this reflects the outstanding writing, acting, music production, and directing. The character development is amazing.
I know that SY is viewed very unfavorably on this forum. At first I felt sympathy for her, and then anger. But the more that I watch the more that I feel that she is one of the main victims of D'ung' H'eap's machinations. Given all that we know, SY comes across as vindictive and mean. But, if one looks at the situation from her perspective, she is a victim of her long term desire for MH and of a lack of information. Here is a woman trapped by her family and social class who is told she can only marry someone of her standing. MH is the one that she picks. As a callow young man, he picks JH. She has to stand around helplessly hoping that something breaks these two apart. Then, providentially (I hope), JH dies. Now she calmly waits for JH memory to go away. Instead, however, MH becomes obsessed with YJ. And, YJ keeps on popping up in the most unexpected circumstances. So, SY tries to get MH's attention through his business. But he keeps going back to his obsession with YJ. It is her impression, aided and abetted by DH, that YJ is a murderer who now is trying to insinuate herself into MH's life. So SY keeps on trying to point out to MH the unsuitability of YJ. What she doesn't know is that YJ is innocent, that MH is increasingly coming to value YJ, and that hatred is turning into love. Moreover, YJ is everything that SY is not. YJ has passed through the crucible, discarding the dross and leaving only battle hardened steel behind. SY is still a hot house flower. YJ does everything that MH wants (men like that). SY keeps challenging him. YJ allows MH to behave chivalrously. SY keeps belittling MH. Such a fundamental misunderstanding. And, to add insult to injury, she keeps trying to use DH as a counterfoil, no realizing that DH is actually the type of character that SY believes YJ is. All the reasons that MH should despise YJ actully apply to DH instead. It is pitiable. It is laughable. It is a true tragedy. The last scene is especially heart wrenching for SY. She refers to DH as YJ's former lover, not appreciating that DH has utterly betrayed her. She refers to MH as her torturer, not appreciating that he has become her shield and savior. A total misreading. She is starting to catch a glimmer of the truth by just realizing that MH loves YJ, but she will be totally devastated when she learns the rest of the awful truth.
[Drama 2013] ★ Secret | Secret Love 비밀 ★
in k-dramas & movies
Posted
There is a reason that people refer to American films as having 'Hollywood' endings. Americans like happy endings. I am thus curious at the typical Korean endings of K-dramas. There is the time-jump. There is the requisite 'I have to go to Paris or New York for x years before I am worthy'. And, there is the typical ambiguous ending where the OTP have struggled to be together for many episodes, yet at the end cannot commit or are not shown to commit. Is this part of the Korean psyche? Or is this a commercial convention demanded by the 'suits' in the executive offices? The k-dramas with a happy ending. and especially those that show the aftermath - a happy home - are definitely in the minority. It is getting to the point that I want to stop watching one or two episodes before the end in order to maintain my illusions. Better to wonder whether the OTP will be happy forever rather than to know that they are not.