Invisibility

This is like one of the most interesting posts after a long time in the now boring and barren Hospital Playlist's DC Gallery.

Rough translation of the post:

"Our drama (Hospital Playlist) has all of the worst types of confessions according to women ㅋㅋ

I wasn't really agreeing with the repulsion/rejection(?) in this gallery. But if it's up to this extent, isn't this the writer's fault? How come it has all of the points down pat?"

Article shared: "Worst types of confessions according to women"

'1. A playful confession when drinking alcohol. ...one word for this kind of man: just sit there and drink." (Me: Ik Jun to Song Hwa at the NS dinner party?)

"2. A confession when one can't control his feelings (waiting at home etc). Idk if it's romantic in dramas or movies but irl women are scared of it ...one word for this kind of man: confess instead of threatening" (Me: Chi Hong to Song Hwa?)

"4. A confession in front of many people ... one word for this kind of man: just like how you're done with your elementary school, you should've quit a public confession together with it" (Me: Ik Jun to Song Hwa at NS dinner party?)

"5. A confession using the people around me. A man I know named A, spread the fact that he likes girl B to the people around him. Knowing this, people around them tried to connect them whenever they met A and B. This was just a fun game for them, not for the sake of their friends. Finally, A asked his friend to ask B how she felt about him instead. Naturally, the result is a failure. A has never properly confessed to B, confessing only to those around him. One word for this type of man: just confess once, to one person only." (Me: Gyeo Wool to Jeong Won?)

"6. Non-precise confession (tl;dr : confessing vaguely, trying to fish for reaction by the vagueness of words and retracting it to avoid rejection) ...one word for this type of man: they're so worthless/ tiresome that I don't even like to give one word for them" (Me: Ik Jun to Song Hwa at his home?)

I think ep 12 will go like this given how ridiculous Shin Lee can be with their poor and illogical character development ability (yes, I'm still traumatised to this day with how they failed to develop Chilbong as a character on his own and outside the love triangle, and also how they suddenly swerved with Binggeurae's development too)

Based on how ep. 11 went and with the content of the preview for ep. 12, I'm giving up on the hope for Jeong Won to have a consistent, logical and organic character development. It seems like they're pushing the narrative that he likes Gyeo Wool romantically(?) and might even give up his priesthood dream because of her???¿¿?? When they barely have any emotional connection, except for a good mentor-mentee development?

I have no problem if they are romantically developed after his priesthood issue put behind him for good, FIRST. I mean they are now finally comfortable with with each other and it is looking promising for romantic development between them if he no longer pursue his priesthood dream.

But by making him waver because of her, like how Ik Jun is suggesting, it makes Jeong Won to be developed into some inconsistent and stupid alien or something?

If we're to see the previews, it seems like it will focus heavily on GW x JW instead of an exploration on his own personal issues and dilemma so I have no hope left for his character development to be consistent, logical and satisfying to watch.

Because of how Jeong Won's character and personality is already established, I find it hard to believe for him to waver for reasons less than those heavier concerns - leaving his old lonely mother alone, leaving pediatric surgery and his patients that gave him the most joy, leaving Yulje's pediatric surgery department to collapse if he leaves, and not even his love from his 20s and fame in his 30s is as bright as his priesthood dream. And they'd make a crush being able to topple all that and let the hopeless romantic notion of ~love conquers all~ happen?

The only thing I'd believe he'd give it up is his own realisation he truly can't part with pediatric surgery, or an outside force that's totally out of his control over - sickness, accident etc.

Shippers will accept him wavering because of her with open arms no matter how inconsistent his characterisation might be, so long as they get what they wanted.

Hospital Playlist ep. 10 parallel(?) scenes - "poisonous" ship vs "top stock" ship.

Both scenes have so much similarities, yet the first one only has a once in a blue moon one-on-one personal interactions shown on screen, while the latter is the opposite.

On k-internet drama discussion platforms, there are these slangs when it comes to shipping fictional couples:

1) 주식 매수 (jusik maesu) / 주식을 사다 (jusik-eul sanda)

= lit. stock purchase / buying stock

- in drama couples shipping context, it means kind of like choosing or investing in a top stock - very promising and full of potential ship? Aka choosing a ship that will most likely to sail 🚢

2) 사약을 마시다 (sayak-eul mashida)

= lit. drinking poison

- in drama couples shipping context, it's like shipping a couple that is most likely not happening, despite the potential(?)

3) 사약 커플 (sayak keopeul)

= lit. poisonous couple

- same as above, aka a couple that is most likely not the endgame, despite the potential(?)

On k-comms as I observed, Ik Jun x Song Hwa & Gyeo Wool x Jeong Won are considered as the two major HP ships and have the most potential to sail given the screentimes allocated to them, with so many shippers shipping them aka them "buying their stocks". While Jeong Won x Song Hwa are considered as a "poisonous" ship - least likely to sail (very minimal together screentime despite the existence of their potential) and only shipped by a few outliers, who were often jumped on by the major shippers for being "delusional".

Now,

despite all those, /MY/ main ship is Jeong Won x the Lord 🤷‍♀️ Because I don't think Jeong Won is into romance at the moment. I might be wrong but there seems to be so many other things weighing on his mind and romance is totally not his main concern. If he ever decide on his own to let go of pursuing priesthood, only then we can talk romance with him.

And I am feeling sad for my boy because everyone is imposing their assumptions on him and selfishly wants to decide on his behalf on what course should he be taking. They never take his words seriously nor respect his own wishes.

Well, earlier I didn't think I'd ever write paragraphs for Hospital Playlist as I am already too jaded with the writer and director duo's evil game of stringing the viewers along, making them invested and feeling lulled with their feelings and ships only to break them later. But tonight... yeah I have this urge to write paragraphs of things because at episode 10, I think they have made things more clearer and obvious so I just want to document my finding, lol. So yeah, excuse me. *insert Marge Simpson embarrassed gif*

(Caution: these are purely my own observation and personal interpretations. They are of course prone to be wrong and may be interpreted so differently than others)

HOSPITAL PLAYLIST EPISODE 10 THEME: ONE SIDED LOVES AND CONFESSIONS.

Seeing how the episode panned out and the song they performed - Confession is Not Flashy, I think the theme of the episode is one sided loves and confessions.

The writer director duo has regarded the song "Confession is Not Flashy" as a one-sided love song, based on their usage of the song in Reply 1994, episode 8 when the lights was out because of the rain and the kids were listening to the radio at the living room. The DJ narrated:

"Everyone, this is your chance. If by chance the person you love is next to you and if you are in a one-sided love, you should take advantage of this darkness and stare at the person you love as much as you can. I'll play a song for you. So until the electricity comes back, feel free to imagine being in a relationship with that person. Does it even matter? It's a one-sided love after all. That person doesn't know about it. Although you are in a one-sided love relationship, I hope you'll have a happy date during the 3 minutes of this song. This is a gift for those who are in a one-sided relationship and those who are lonely yet happy. It's 'Confession is Not Flashy' by Lee Seung Hwan. Everyone, end your one-sided love today. When the rain stops tomorrow, confess your love like said in the song. You never know, that person might be in love with you too."

I know this drama and Reply 1994 are totally different dramas, but I believe the writer-director's view on the songs they have chosen must still be the same. So when they use the same song in Hospital Playlist, their view on the song and what they represent should still be the same.

And true to their view about the song, this episode really is filled with one-sided loves and confessions (directly or indirectly) :

1. Chi Hong's one sided love towards Song Hwa, and his indirect confession despite her earlier rejection.

He was enjoying the few minutes alone time with Song Hwa during the NS lunch date and a little bit displeased when Dr. Yong turned up on time, lol. From picking up the strand of hair on her shoulder (which made her uncomfortable), to saying "I'll stay right by your side, Professor".

2. Min Ha's one-sided love towards Seok Hyeong and her direct confession in his car.

Girl got some gusto I like their scene so much I was squealing the whole time ajdjfjf. Her confession and what she said after to him was so cool, my heart fluttered!

3. Gyeo Wool's one-sided love towards Jeong Won and her indirect confession to him via her manager, Ik Jun. Haha.

Ik Jun is campaigning for Jeong Won to accept Gyeo Wool so hard. Why? Not really because of Jeong Won, but because of Gyeo Wool. He adores her as a doctor and as a person that he wants her to be happy and he said this himself. He knows that the thing that would make Gyeo Wool happy is by being with the person she likes, Jeong Won. As how it is, Jeong Won denied Ik Jun's assumption that he likes Gyeo Wool. As Jeong Won was looking at Ik Jun bemusedly for his suggestion, he was probably recalling his conversation with Jun Wan about Ik Jun being a nutcase and how he and Ik Jun are not seeing eye to eye (the Korean phrase can also be translated as "not like minded") and he can't figure Ik Jun's mind at all sometimes.

4. Ik Jun's one-sided love towards Song Hwa and his very smooth indirect confession.

The reason why I see it as one-sided from was because Song Hwa doesn't seem to view him romantically. Most of the time, the affection from her towards him seems to be purely platonic. She always hit him, threatening to punch him and chided him for behaving like a kid. She even refused skinship(?) from his end by kicking him when his feet were touching hers under the cafeteria table. The scene where they look domesticated at his house really is heart fluttering, but when he (so smoothly) indirectly confessed to her, she was startled and looked away. She seems wanting to avoid it, turned her face away, pretending to look outside and then change the subject, asking him to continue eating. It doesn't look like a positive reaction after a confession. But I might be wrong though.

5. Song Hwa's one-sided love(?) towards Jeong Won and her proposal as an indirect confession

(This one is actually so weak and I don't really think it's feasible but somehow there seems to be something, especially from Song Hwa's end that leaves some nagging feeling and suspicions)

Song Hwa doesn't come off as someone who would freely intiate affectionate and excessive skinships with the boys. She would just give them either some friendly touches on their arms, friendly or consolation pats (to Seok Hyeong and Jun Wan) or hitting and kicking them (to Ik Jun). But with Jeong Won, she seems to take the opportunity(?) to lean on his shoulder when he put his arms around her when supporting her purchase decision. But, this could also mean that they're so close that there's no personal boundaries between them. However, both of them were not portrayed to have that kind of dynamic. Song Hwa is a lot closer to the other 3 boys than Jeong Won but she was never shown to initiate such an intimate skinship with them.

After witnessing Jeong Won being so lovable with the little boy (look at how she looks at him) and enthusiastically talking about him and his brother, she proposed to him "Jeong Won, let's get married / marry me" (the right literal translation). He was startled, looking directly at her in surprise and then she backtracked(?), telling him to find a great woman and make babies as she imagined how cute it would be if he has his own children. Her random "proposal" might be brushed off as a joke, but Song Hwa doesn't seem like a person who would freely joke on such a matter either. If her proposal actually wasn't a joke as how she covered it to be, then it can be regarded as a type of confession too, no?

6. Jeong Won's non-romantic one-sided intention towards Song Hwa and his direct confession and proposal.

Jeong Won has one-sidedly intended for Song Hwa to take over his Daddy Long Legs project since spring. He confessed to her than he is in fact Daddy Long Legs (Grandpa Long Legs to her, lol). He proposed for her to take it over, and she accepted it.

Now,

I know Hospital Playlist is not the same as the Reply series as there is no 'who is the husband game' mystery. And it actually has a more similar vibe to Prison Playbook imo. But at the same time, Hospital Playlist is made to share the same formula as the Reply series: apart from the heartwarming small daily stories, the writer and director duo also deliberately hide and witheld certain POVs, make them opague and opening them up for interpretations which leads to people starting guessing games. Then they filled the show with small details and nuances to corroborate the interpretations and fuelling the guessing game.

It is the same as the Reply series where people were made to guess whom did the female lead like, whom would the female lead choose and ends up with.

But this time, the persons whose POV were hidden and making people keep on guessing are not only the female lead Song Hwa, but also Jeong Won. Will he really quit and becomes a priest? Does he like Gyeo Wool or not? Will he end up with Gyeo Wool or not? As for Song Hwa, it's the question of whom does she like? Does she have feelings for Ik Jun or not? Will she change her mind and consider Chi Hong or not?

Dong Mae saw the gorgeous Hina in a bathtub but not at all affected at such sight and then proceed on talking while having thoughts of the other woman, the one whom he longs for - if that's not a blaring platonic sign from his end towards Hina then idk what is. But people still be crying that he has feelings for her but just not yet realizing it ajskfkfkg. Ridiculous thing is when shippers be deliberately reaching and misconstrue scenes to suit their wishful narrative and then gets mad at Dong Mae for not thinking of Hina when he was dying when they know Dong Mae longs for no one else but Ae Shin. 

On Mr. Sunshine's Dong Mae x Hina, and Dong Mae's heart being dedicated to Ae Shin only

For the record, I love Dong Mae and Hina's relationship as best friends and I also think they'd be the most powerful couple ever if they do come to love each other. 

However, for that to happen, the writer needed to develop a very convincing story where Dong Mae getting to overcome his feelings for Ae Shin, which is something truly out of his element on who he is, first. Then if that ever happen, only then he could possibly see Hina in a new, romantic, light. But that is not how the story is developed here in Mr. Sunshine. 

While Hina's gaze towards him lingers (it was already shown in ep. 2 when he left her room and told to put on ointment for her hand), and while he truly cares for her, it was obvious that Dong Mae didn't see her romantically through and through. He loves her, as his bestfriend. It was a platonic love and he harbors his romantic feelings towards Ae Shin only. 

That was what Dong Mae is made to be in this drama. We were introduced to him as 'crazy in love, crazy because of love (for Ae Shin)'. And to make him leave this very element of his, the embodiment of who he is, would require a very tough job to make it to be convincing. And also require a loooot of screentime for this which is hardly possible since they are merely second leads.

Thus come to this point that I am personally puzzled: 

ㅡ why are some so adamant that Dong Mae MUST love Hina romantically when the show has firmly established that he is that kind of character who would dedicate his heart to one woman only through and through? A confession from Hina, while it was heartbreaking and shook him with surprise, would never change his heart. And people get mad when he thought of only Ae Shin at his last moments and not Hina? Are you sure you are seeing Dong Mae as a character properly as how he is presented to be throughout the drama and not as how you want it to be?

 ㅡ Dong Mae and his unrequited love for Ae Shin will never change the things that have been set in stone that Ae Shin loves Eugene only. Even Dong Mae knows that and still chose to love her unrequitedly. So I don't get the fuss when main couple fans are so unhappy with Dong Mae as if he's a threat and focusing much of their time hating him, more than appreciating their faves. He's never a formidable threat. He's not gonna change anything. He has never forced her to be with him either. Just let him have his arc of suffering and torturing himself as he himself wishes for. So he loves her unrequitedly. What is wrong with that and why some people are so jumpy and want it to change? His unrequited love story is an achingly sad, bleak and bittersweet story on its own that could be appreciated by those who love it. It provides more drama and tension, making the story and reactions all the more rich and exciting. 

Mr. Sunshine's finale episodes' ending is so good. I feel so satisfied watching. 

Though I did cry buckets. Though two of my ultimate queens (yes, aside from Hina, Dong Mae is a queen as well because he's such a drama queen) in the show died, but their endings were fitting and I fully accept.

And I am truly satisfied that the writer made her main characters to stay consistent in their characterisations yet at the same time have evolved a whole lot as well.

And this kind of ending should be expected given the show's theme and mood, though. From the start as you went into the show, like Eugene said,