[Drama 2018-2019] Encounter / Boyfriend, 남자친구

[yonaomi123]

Friends... I just want to say how fun it is to just read this thread sometimes.   First we talk about The Notebook and the drama being a re-telling of their love story,  but now suddenly we are talking about the whole drama having been Cha SooHyun's dream.  How often is it that when watching a drama you don't know what the next stage will be and your imagination runs wild like this!  I love it!! 

[nikir]

16 minutes ago, roshzanna said:

I remember photos of them posted before where Sh is wearing shorts and rubber shoes. That is suited for summer. 

Didn't someone say in this forum that CSH will wear sneakers that she endorses .. maybe that will happen in Cuba 

[shyguitar]

please stay positive.. the drama is conveying to the public that this kind of romance is possible and wonderful. Age and social status difference cannot hinder love. So I am positive for a happy ending. 

[ahdrianaa]

6 minutes ago, nikir said:

Didn't someone say in this forum that CSH will wear sneakers that she endorses .. maybe that will happen in Cuba 

 

She was wearing those sneakers when they were on the swings.

 

 

[Plummpychan]

9 minutes ago, winter spring summer said:

I wish Bogummy sings an OST for this drama. A new one or a male version of the recently released OST by Baek A Yeon. Like an answer since that song is from Cha Soohyun's perspective.

OMG I would love that!! I love the OST from Baek A Yeon but Bogum's voice will suit the song perfectly too + imagine how amazing the feels would be!!! Damn, now I want it so bad, how can we get one? TT

[rosiepeonie188]

The absent of next ep preview make our imagination running wild..

 

I trust the writer, looking back into her works, i think she's the kind of writer who write from what message(s) she wants to deliver then choosing character to deliver the message(s). From there she build the storyline. 

 

So far we've been picking up many messages from each episode. Love, courage, hardwork, trust, destiny.. 

 

So i don't think the writer will take that direction (assuming everything is just dream/imagination). And also i trust SHK and PBG, they wont coming out from their small screen hiatus and doing drama that don't carry messages to the viewers, moreover to their fans. 

 

And also,

I'd like to give a shout out to Boyfriend production team. Whoever reading this forum, whether you're one of the production team, or family or friends with the team, or part of Tvn, casts, agencies, tell them that they're doing great job! Thank you for giving us a massive joy, hope, excitement and the nervousness of waiting for wednesday to come. Stay safe and warm. We're waiting for JinSoo happy ending!!

[Smudger]

ctto

 

They deserve a happy ending..

[rabbit0901]

12 minutes ago, Plummpychan said:

OMG I would love that!! I love the OST from Baek A Yeon but Bogum's voice will suit the song perfectly too + imagine how amazing the feels would be!!! Damn, now I want it so bad, how can we get one? TT

Yesss imagine the impact on the scene when it's his voice playing on the background singing that song. If he doesn't record an official one, I think we would still hear him sing an Encounter OST soon in his fanmeeting. He has a lot of upcoming fanmeetings this year. First one will be on January 26. :) 

[NongpeeP]

5 hours ago, winter spring summer said:

Hello. I've been lurking here and finally decided to log in. Did you guys notice that the broadcast date of the drama replacing Encounter is February 6, but Encounter ends on January 24? Maybe they're planning to air special episodes or commentary with SHK and PBG on January 30-31? I'm still hoping for an extension but I doubt because if they were planning for an extension they would have announced it by now. So hopefully we get at least special episodes. 

 

Thank you to everyone keeping this thread alive, it's such a delight to read your insights.

@winter spring summer

I really hope that there would be anything related to Encounter but not any live sport programme. 

 

====================================

By the way, I am rewatching as usual. I found out the KJH's dad and CSH's dad act wisely to their child's girlfriend/boyfriend.

 

KJH's dad:

Even KJH is in love and has tried to accept whatever CSH will do.

However, from what KJH's dad discussed with CSH might make her think more about her action as she asked KJH's dad to watch KJH&CSH. That meant CSH might have to show her sincerity with action.

(The end of Ep.12 might probably&partially be the consequence from this conversation) 

 

CSH's dad and Mr.Nam indirectly as CSH's dad representative: 

CSH's dad has not known KJH as CSH, Mr.Nam, and audiences knows; therefore, CSH's dad expressed amiable gesture to KJH with observation act when they firstly met might show no objection but wanna observe KJH with this own eyes. 

 

 

When KJH and CSH are Boyfriend/Girlfriend, KJH&CSH's gestures and conversation here and there looks naturally equal. 

 

[thistle]

I believe in a happy ending

 

and I wish

Spoiler

that all the negative people, the doom seekers, and the naysayers would belt up.

 

[yonaomi123]

I have to say, I actually really like this theory that the whole drama is a dream.  I don't think there's any evidence to support it, but it's a really fun idea!

 

To me, SooHyun is this sort of Sleeping Beauty-type character.  She falls asleep/is put to sleep because of the machinations of an evil force that no one in her life can win against, except for one person-- Prince Charming.  Of course, with the way this drama turns our expectations upside down, Prince Charming isn't really the one who slays the dragon and wakes the princess, instead the princess does all that herself.  Prince Charming is just the catalyst; the reason SooHyun wakes up at all (instead of falling to her death from the wall at Moro Cabana).  

 

The idea that SooHyun dreams something as daring as living life on her own terms, when for the entirety of her existence, she's been little more than a pawn is exciting to me.  Because when she awakens, she has a choice to make.  She can return to being a human vegetable, with no agency and no exit or she can dare to follow her dream and see where it takes her.  Essentially, she can choose to be free, and that's a message I can really appreciate. 

[msbae81]

@thistle

 

Spoiler

hope you’re not referring to people like me who believe this drama will have a sad ending.  Because I love this drama as much as you do and I think it’s unfair for me not to voice out what I think just because it’s different from what you think.

 

[ahdrianaa]

Overwhelming number of women getting the SHK/CSH haircut, if you do a search on Instagram there is upwards of 2000 posts 

 

[BogummyNoona]

27 minutes ago, msbae81 said:

@thistle

 

  Hide contents

hope you’re not referring to people like me who believe this drama will have a sad ending.  Because I love this drama as much as you do and I think it’s unfair for me not to voice out what I think just because it’s different from what you think.

 

let us all hope for a happy ending...love and peace everyone!

[NongpeeP]

Agreed with this comment about realistic acting and directing. 

 

 

 

 

[bebebisous33]

The sea : CSH's true nature

 

Nature plays a huge part in this drama. JH is actually a representative of nature, either in the form of the wind, the sun or the tree. Striking is that the sea is represented in two drawings:

Spoiler

 

One might say that the sea is illustrated here because in these two episodes, JH and CSH were close to the sea: Cuba and Sokcho. Yet, this doesn't explain everything because in the episode 10, JH and CSH were in Cuba, yet the garden of Grandfather Samuel was the main topic of the drawing. As you can observe, the location as such doesn't explain the presence of the sea in the drawings. Moreover, in the second drawing the sea is here dangerous due to the waves, the latter are referring to the people trying to stop them from getting close to each other. 

Therefore we need to examine when the sea is shown in this drama. The first episode starts with CSH standing in front of a window looking at the sea. She is in Sokcho and the manager is briefing her about the reservations and the future opening. Interesting is although CSH's face is expressionless, the viewer can sense that for her, looking at the sea is relaxing. In the episode 6, she explains why this hotel was so built (view to the sea and the mountain in order to relax and get closer to nature). It becomes clear that she has been missing nature and especially the sea. Yet, in this scene the sea looks so far away and the window serves as a shield. It was as if CSH was forced to admire nature, here the ocean, from far away, behind the window . She looks like trapped in that hotel which reminds us of  a prison, so in order to feel better, the big view gives her the impression that she is not dead. However, if you take a closer look at the window, you'll see the bars... so the form of the window reinforces the idea of a prison but in a bigger dimension. The sea appears again, when JH is listening to music and relaxing.

Spoiler

The ocean has the same effect on him, nonetheless he is above the sea and doesn't touch it at all. He is not really looking at it, he is rather dreaming. Both are in a similar position in reality,  yet CSH is further away from the sea than JH and CSH seems to be more longing. For our main progatonist, it is a matter of his own choice, he is not that interested. We saw him taking more pictures of the city and people than the sea at such. Arrived in Cuba, CSH seizes the opportunity to see the sunset at Malecon beach, however the manager recommends her to go to Morro Cabana because the view is more spectacular. So her decision shows that she is attracted to the sea and nature as such. Nonetheless, she has to climb that mountain in order to enjoy the spectacle.

Spoiler

If we compare her position to the first scene, then we notice that she is still far away from the ocean. However, she has been able to escape from her prison. For the first time, she feels free. But her freedom is just temporal. I had described before that the view of the sunset at Malecon beach had a magical moment: this marks CSH's awakening.

Spoiler

I couldn't help myself, while watching this scene, thinking about two stories. The first is the legend of Aphrodite's birth and the second is the sleeping beauty. The legend of Aphrodite says that blood coming from the sky (Uranus genitalia) fell into the sea, creating white foam... and the goddess of love and sex was born. The sleeping beauty is awakened by the prince's kiss. In both stories, we have something in common: birth and awakening which are quite similar. Since the sun often embodies JH, the sunset in the ocean can be seen as JH kissing CSH and bringing her back to life. The person is like reborn, she symbolizes love for JH who for the first time is attracted by a woman. I mean, she caught his attention earlier but her reaction at the sunset had a huge effect on him. Nevertheless, CSH is still far away from the ocean. For me, the sea embodies CSH's true personality. 

As the story progresses, we can observe how CSH and JH gets closer to each other and the sea is also getting closer to CSH as well. In the episode 3, we have three scenes where the ocean is in the background.

Spoiler

First, due to the painting affair, CSH has to travel to Sokcho and for the first time, we see her wandering around the hotel, walking on docks looking at the sea. Striking is in the first picture, JH is taking pictures of the sea and CSH is walking downstairs. She is still above the sea. So JH's attitude towards the sea seems to have changed and their encounter has an effect on CSH. She didn't expect him there. What caught my attention is the closer they are to the water, the happier and the more relieved CSH feels. In the evening, she can even smile and play happily without any worries and shackles. Another observation is the effect of the sea on both of them: in the second picture above, JH confides to her and she listens. In the episode 4, CSH is confiding to him, while she thinks, he is sleeping.

Spoiler

She shows more her true feelings and personality. She is revealing herself little by little. It looks like the sea helps them to open up.  In this scene, JH was reading a book and this sentence about the sea attracted his attention: "If the sea's job is to make waves, mine is to think of you". When JH was living in Sokcho, separated from CSH, he visited the places they had been in order to seek comfort. He had the impression that CSH was close to him. Due to all these events, he had already linked the sea to CSH. Moreover, when CSH appears in this scene, JH is again reading and not looking at the ocean. I sense that it must be somehow painful for him to look at the sea after their last phone call ("no news, good news"). In this picture, we see the wind moving the book pages, however we see the waves in the background moved by the wind. We could interpret, JH as wind brings in CSH's heart emotions to life. He makes waves, something that CSH has no control over. This explains why in the first picture above, we see the sea and the waves... CSH as sea and JH as wind are visible there. However, the difference between the waves is huge... CSH is in the first picture of my post really back to life, while in the episode 9, she has finally admitted that she couldn't live without him. She is not entirely true to herself, she is definitely restraining herself.

The climax is shown in the episode 11:

Spoiler

CSH and JH have their feet in the ocean, they are enjoying the beach and the waves. There is no distance between CSH and the sea any longer, which means CSH has found back her real personality and she is enjoying her new found freedom. She is outside, running freely and there is no window or dock separating her from the sea.    

And if we look back at the drawing from the episode 6, the waves are here the enemies because JH has forced them to react. The presence of JH as wind created waves, since the wind is the cause of waves.  

   @lolipop86gorgeous

@dukesa1122@celebrianna@dreaminsince1998@larrysouth@yonaomi123@NongpeeP @rosschienta17@nubianlegalmind@shyguitar @roshzanna@twtwb@Tasia@rosiepeonie188 @xu_lyfe@nikir@guinearoyal@icyphoenix @stroppyse @philosophie @thistle@Yongzura@thadora@jl08

[DSHK]

[emmafaye]

Thank you a lot to all the chingus commenting on this thread. I don't comment to much because I am a slow reader, and I want to read everything before I answer, but whenever I want to say something or answer a post, someone has said it before, and better than me! LOL 

But it is ok. 

Thank you @bebebisous33 a lot, a lot, for your analysis. It is really a pleasure to appreciate the beauty of this drama, explained so well those symbolic elements that we feel, but we cannot described very well if we were asked to. 

I also studied literature in the university, but my major is basically applied linguistic, I only had literature workgroups, workshops, seminars and extra classes. I was so passionate about it, I even wrote a novel (although it is not good), and I won a couple of contests, but boy, you are great writer!!!!!!!! Congratulations! 

 

I have a disadvantage with English because it is not my mother language. Whenever I would have to write a paper about any topic in English, I can do it but with big effort. So, I appreciate reading somebody else saying what I would like to say. 

I am enjoying this drama a lot because of this website, and although I am in another k-drama forum, I like it here better. 

So... Just a small words of appreciation. I am still on page 244 (out of 277 up to this point), so... I am still behind. But having fun also with the comments, so thank you. 

Thank you all!

 

[shyguitar]

The drunk scene is really my favorite. I love how CSH repeatedly expressed how happy she is now that JH is by her side as well as her fear of losing him. CSH almost always expresses her feelings through her eyes, whenever JH would profess his feelings, you’d rather see the gratitude in her eyes more than hearing her reciprocate his words.. And KJH has complained to her before that she needs to express more what’s on her mind. This time hearing her say it out loud made it clear how JH really means to her. And with that being said, JH gained more courage and strength to endure their current predicaments knowing that it’s what she wants. She wants him to stick with her and stay rooted in their relationship despite all the negative forces and turmoil. I also appreciate KJH’s attentiveness and sincerity upon hearing her deepest feelings— he’s just sitting next to her- listening and reassuring her that he’ll always be there for her. 

 

i just love this drama. I am going to enjoy every bit of it.. and i’m happy that i enjoy it with you. I love reading your thoughts. Thank you so much. 

[Smudger]

ctto