MEDIA

How "revival" was interpreted in this set (contains spoilers):

To me, "Way Back Love" is, at its core, a story about symbolic rebirth. Ram Woo's death cannot be undone and the drama doesn't let you think otherwise. However, Hee Wan's death is said to happen in a near future. But how can Hee Wan's death occurs when time has stopped for her the moment Ram Woo disappeared? Ram Woo coming back to life so to speak, as the Grim Reaper, paradoxically brings Hee Wan back to life, to a flowing time that allows her to mourn and acknowledge the complicated feelings she has bottled up: love, guilt, despair, longing, fear, etc.

The set opens with white chrysanthemums used during Korean funerals and ends with yellow daffodils symbolising renewal and new beginnings. The yellow daffodils are found in Hee Wan's room and contrasts with the dead plant visible at the same place in episode 1.

This set can be seen through both Ram Woo's and Hee Wan's point of view. Hee Wan's rebirth is at the centre of the drama whereas Ram Woo's is more subtle. When Hee Wan starts living again, Ram Woo is gone for good. Physically that is. He will, however, remain in everyone's hearts. Hee Wan will keep on seeing him in everything she does. Hong Seok will save lives as a firefighter and not a day will go by where he will not think of Ram Woo, his best friend he couldn't save. Jeong Sook will keep on painting, remembering fondly the love her son had for her paintings and how it allowed her to start tutoring Hee Wan. The week Ram Woo spent with Hee Wan gave him the opportunity to let go of his regrets and, most importantly, to say goodbye. Something he was robbed of, along with his life, the night of the explosion.