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(via Review: ‘Teach You a Lesson’ K-drama (2026)

"If a doctor is afraid of their patients, they can't treat them properly. If a lawyer is afraid of their clients, they can't defend them properly. So, if a teacher is afraid of their students, can they teach them properly? If adults become afraid of children…the world is doomed." - Na Hwa Jin

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Finally!! The corruption loop made by the basketball team’s coach is finished. There’s a lot going on in my mind when I watched this episode tho (lol). I think about how il kwon was broken because of his father. How he can succeed as a coach, I mean in my opinion he does LOVE basketball. But his father is the one who made him like that, corrupted.

I'm still extremely sad cuz the fact that il kwon's father, until the very end, until he see HIS OWN SON, behind the bars, looking hopeless but his father still label him as a failure. I mean, il kwon becomes like that because of YOU, dear il kwon's father. He wouldn't be like this if you don't start or join the corruption loop that has been going on there. Yeah, il kwon is a pain in the ass sometimes, but still, he didn't deserve that.

Unto the next, scary event, where Woo young got (or almost?) in a car accident. I don't why, though its not my place too judge, but i wonder. WHY THE HECK HE JUST STAY THERE :") Well though in real life it will happen pretty fast tho so maybe he don't really have the choice to run away or anything, so he can only thinks to at least minimize the danger for the little kid. But still! it's not as heart wrecking as most accident scene that i've seen.

THEORY OF LOVE 

Everyone who is into Thai BL dramas knows one of the most famous pairings: Off and Gun. After seeing them in Puppy Honey, everyone just ended up wanting more of them including me. So, when I heard that they were going to be paired together again in another series called “Theory of Love” I immediately placed it in my waiting list! The good news is that the first episode is already out (two actually) and I was not disappointed at all. 

If you aren’t familiar with the series, here is the synopsis: 

“Third is a filmology major and a member of the Savage Team along with his best friends Two, Bone, and Khai, but he has a secret. Third has been secretly in love with his Khai for years. For three years he has kept his secret love in his heart, silently supporting and loving Khai while knowing there is absolutely no future between them since Khai is as straight as a streetlight pole and also an absolute player.” 

Show: Mask

Starring: Soo Ae, Ju Ji-hoon, Yeon Jung-hoon, Yoo In-young

Genre: Mystery, Melodrama, Romance

Language: Korean

Availability: Viki

Episodes: 20

Synopsis: Byeon Ji-sook is a sales clerk at a department store where she suddenly meets her doppelgänger, Seo Eun Ha. While Ji-sook is stuck in crippling debt along with her family, Eun Ha is the daughter of a congressman and the fiancée of chaebol heir Choi Min Woo. Min Woo and Eun Ha are engaged to be arrange married and neither of them holds any affection for the other. Min Woo is a patient seeking treatment for his mental illness, but hopes to be named successor of his father’s company. After an unpleasant argument between the two, Eun Ha suddenly hangs between life and, to save her family, Ji-sook decides to put on a dangerous mask.

Review: This drama was really one of a kind. I’ve never watched such an intense drama with such amazing actors. They each conveyed their role in such a unique way that I found it difficult not to feel hatred for the villainous characters and affection for the protagonists. This is an incredibly intense drama that takes a lot of energy to binge-watch. It may be triggering to those with severe depression or anxiety, so please be wary before you watch this! Though it is classified as a “Romance” on Viki, I would really rate it more as a Mystery. There are things that you don’t find out (but probably suspect) until the last few episodes. With all the twists and turns in this drama, it gave me a new appreciation for KMystery Dramas.

Rate: 7.5/10

***SPOILERS AHEAD***

***If this is your first time browsing the Drama Files, please read The Rules on how our Memo-style reviews work***

***This song and music video  really resonated with us and we felt compelled to share our theories about what they could possibly signify, as there has been some speculation as to what it could mean. Our views are simply theories.***

Memo

Dear Reader,

There have been some questions regarding the recent release of BTS’s latest album, Wings: You Never Walk Alone, particularly:

(1) Whether BTS’s two songs, “Spring Day” and “Supplemental Story: You Never Walk Alone”, had personal references; and

(2) Whether the four new songs were cohesive.

Conclusion

(1) BTS’s two songs, “Spring Day” and “Supplemental Story: You Never Walk Alone”, very likely are very personal and very likely involve a death of a friend.

(2) There is a sense of cohesiveness between the four songs. However, the two songs, Not Today and Outro: Wings, seem more related to each other and the other two songs, Spring Day and Supplemental Story: You Never Walk Alone, seem more connected to one another content-wise.

Analysis

(1) BTS’s two songs, “Spring Day” and “Supplemental Story: You Never Walk Alone”, very likely are very personal and very likely involve a death of a friend.

“Spring Day” and its music video (MV) likely mean a death of a friend, possibly from suicide. The lyrics, themselves, hint that a friend passed away or committed suicide: “Yeah I hate you. You left but there was not a day I ever forgot about you.” Why would you hate a person who passed away? Likely because the person chose to end his/her life or somehow experiencing an unfair death.This reaction is quite plausible because anyone who has experienced the untimely passing of a loved one, experiences anger as a stage of grief.  Other verses include: “You know it all. You’re my best friend. Morning will come again” and “Will you stay a little longer?” 

The MV supports the notion that the friend has chosen to end his life. The MV opens with the “friend” who is portrayed by Jungkook in a white turtle neck sweater with black striped sleeves on one train, and Rapmonster on a different train. This could be symbolizing that they are on two different paths.

Jungkook playing the “friend”

Rapmonster on a different train

Rapmonster then heads out of his train and to a place called “Omelas”. Omelas is very likely alluding to the short story written by Ursula K Le Guin; “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas“. In brief, the story is about a place that’s like paradise, but to achieve that paradise, one child has to be subject to suffering and darkness. Later the citizens find out the truth about the suffering child, but some are afraid of change and choose to stay in Omelas while a few choose to leave. (That’s important for later)  After Rapmonster arrives at Omelas and meets a few other BTS members, we see Rapmonster walking by the “friend” who is still on his train. The lyrics also match because Rapmonster sings that he wants to “get to the other side of the earth holding your hand” but obviously he can’t because they’re on different paths.

See the shadow? That’s Rapmonster walking by the “friend”.

After walking past Rapmonster’s friend and heading out of a train, Rapmonster has a crown which could symbolize success. Everything is great because everyone is having fun at Omelas. You see the boys throwing cake and partying hard. However, to have this sort of paradise, there must be some sacrifice per the Omelas ideal. Hence, again we see Jin acting as the “friend” who seems trapped at the bottom of the stairwell and can only watch as the boys walk around him and climb up the stairs to more success.

If you notice carefully, Jin is wearing the same type shirt with the same design as Jungkook who acted as the friend on the train. None of the other boys wear the exact same design with the black stripes on the sleeves on a white sweater. This likely alludes to the idea that Jin must also be playing the part of the “friend.” The “friend” is also stuck in a barren place all by himself (See Jungkook by the blue rundown carousel), while the other boys are missing him and still in Omelas.

The boys continue their mundane, everyday life like brushing their teeth, getting their ears pierced, doing laundry, etc. Life goes on, but the “friend” is still on the train and all by himself heading somewhere else.

Life moves on again as we see more everyday scenes, but there’s always a hint of sadness. You see Rapmonster and V laughing, but you can tell that there’s some forced laughter. There’s a birthday celebration with Jungkook (not playing the friend anymore), and he is not very happy either. (In this MV, Jungkook seems to play two roles: one as himself and the other as the ‘friend’. When Jungkook is not wearing the white turtleneck, he plays himself.)

At the laundromat, we see that there are mountains behind Jin. Mountains in this MV likely symbolize “death”. (In an interview with Christian Boltanski, the artist of the mountain of clothes piece, he revealed that the mountain of clothes represented death)

Sad Jin looking to the mountains

Then the mountains lead to the scene with Suga being on a pile of clothes which is probably a reference to Christian Boltanski’s “No Man’s Land” which features a mountain of clothes and a crane beside it. (The link explains more in detail; there’s also this interview that gives more details about this.) The pile of clothes represents “an eternal afterlife of sorts”.

At this point, it’s likely symbolizing that the “friend” has actually passed away. Suga raps that he missed the friend, but he’ll erase him because it hurts less than to blame them. That also seems to suggest that the friend committed suicide (arguably because there’s no point in blaming someone who died unless he/she chose to die. At least that’s our take on it).

We see that the boys keep trying to find this “friend”. J-Hope is on top of the train, but obviously he can’t get inside. The boys are circulating around the “friend” who notices them and moves away to follow the boys. Notice how this scene is where the “friend” is in perpetual darkness with only the lights being behind him. An alternative theory that a friend pointed out is that the yellow ribbons likely signify the Sewol ferry tragedy. Alternatively, then it could be inferred that the “friend” may have unfortunately passed away from that tragedy (which moves away from our possible suicide approach, but i’s an alternative proposition). It’s more likely that the friend has joined the dead which includes those that passed away from the Sewol ferry tragedy.

It’s only after the “friend” joins the boys does the scene cut to Jungkook looking frantically for the other boys as if he has suddenly realized the truth about the suffering child/friend and wants to break free from this “paradise” in Omelas. The other BTS members walk out with Jungkook and they all have genuine smiles on their faces. (Notice how Jungkook is dressed in different clothing and has a more boyish haircut. He looks a bit older with the turtleneck as he is acting as the “friend”.)

All of BTS is set to find the “friend”. They’re running out of Omelas and towards the train that the “friend” has been on trying to get to him. (This is why I also say Jungkook is playing 2 roles in this MV because Jungkook sees the “friend”.)

But the friend is on a path that they cannot get to, as the train whizzes past them. The sad scenes that follow likely showcase mourning with the passing of the friend. Rapmonster is sadly staring on his train going in another direction from the friend’s. All the guys are sitting in the dark room and are watching as the match they light really doesn’t really light up the darkness they’re in. That action seems to symbolize their attempt to possibly understand their friend’s plight of having been the suffering child, or maybe even their own feelings of grief and loss.

The scenes following also show them on a mountain of clothes, which again, symbolizes death based on the art installation of Christian Boltanski, possibly reiterating the friend’s passing. The scene changes to Jungkook back to playing the “friend” again (he’s in the turtleneck sweater again), but this time he’s surrounded by all the guys on this train. This part was confusing. However, it’s likely that this is the deceased “friend” dreaming that his friends are actually with him on this journey. There is also the possibility that this scene represents how the BTS members feel. They would want the “friend” to feel that they are with him on this journey.

After getting off the train, they walk through a wintery expanse to a tree. It’s possible at this point that the two story lines are concurrent as we see that Jungkook is still wearing that sweater. This implies that he is the “friend” who is walking with them towards the tree. Another explanation is that they want to memorialize the “friend” and are hoping that he would be walking with them in that instance.

Jimin placing the shoes (tied shoes being strung on objects in urban mythology can have a range of meanings, some meaning death) on the tree probably symbolizes the finality of the friend’s journey and their coming to terms with his passing as the tree with the shoes stands in memory of their lost friend.

(2) The four new songs were generally cohesive.

It seems that there is more cohesiveness between “Not Today” and “Outro: Wings”. The two songs are about underdogs trying to prove to the world that they will succeed. On the other hand, the other two songs, “Spring Day” and “Supplemental Story: You Never Walk Alone” seem more linked together. “Spring Day” speaks to missing a deceased friend and wanting to see the friend again. “Supplemental Story” talks about sacrificing a friend to gain success and believing that the friend is also behind their success.

It seems like “Not Today” and “Outro: Wings” were written much earlier than the other two songs. Its quite possible that the incident with the deceased friend happened after these two songs were written. Plus, Rapmonster did reveal in the V Live Preview Show that “Spring Day” was written based on his and Suga’s personal experiences, and that the lyrics express their feelings. This is possibly a big hint that this song really was personal.

BTS did do a decent job trying to tie “Spring Day” and “Supplementary Story: You Never Walk Alone” with “Not Today” and “Outro: Wings”. There’s a reference to “wings” within the lyrics of “Supplementary Story: You Never Walk Alone”. It’s as if the friend is helping BTS fight to be successful. The friend has helped BTS have “wings”. Though we aren’t music experts, we did feel like there were traces of “Outro: Wings” in “Supplemental Story: You Never Walk Alone”. It was as if the latter song was an extension/remix of “Outro: Wings” in some ways. Moreover, the two have a faster tempo and a more upbeat/pop vibe.

Finally, the order of the songs in this album helped tie everything together. “Spring Day” plays before “Not Today”. Then, “Outro: Wings” plays and the album finishes with “Supplementary Story: You Never Walk Alone”. There’s sadness that comes with “Spring Day”, but “Not Today” reminds us to keep going and fighting. “Outro: Wings” continues that message of a fighting spirit. Finally, the “Supplementary Story: You Never Walk Alone” reminds us that we are all not alone and that the friend is also with them.

Here are some lyrics from “Supplementary Story: You Never Walk Alone”: (Credits goes to here for the translation)

At the end of this road you walk alone ….. That’s okay, I am by your side If you and I could be together I can smile

It’s as if BTS is telling the “friend” that even though the “friend” is alone, BTS will always be by the friend’s side.

I want to fly but I don’t have wings BUT your hand Becomes my wing

Your hand seems to reference the “friend”. The friend has helped BTS fly to success.

This is a sin I committed Even if all the lives Are the price of My punishment

We feel like this might also be a personal reference that goes back to the death of the “friend”.

Ayy I never walk alone If you and I can be together, I can laugh Ayy You never walk alone If you and I can be together, I can laugh If you and I can be together, I can laugh

In BTS’ mind, the friend and they are not alone anymore. BTS will be there.

The songs, although they seem to have been written at different at different points in time, do blend well together to create an overall cohesiveness with the themes of life, loss, temptation, and success.

Alternatively, this whole song could also be directed at fans supporting them. (LOL!)

BTS have really been stellar at creating music away from the traditional love song route by focusing on issues that people in different stages in their lives experience. Its because their music is so relatable that makes it amazing!

(via Review: ‘The WONDERfools’ K-drama (2026)

The WONDERfools!

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(via Review: ‘Happiness’ K-drama (2021)

“For you, it’s money. For me, it’s Sae-bom.” – Yi-Hyun.

“If I lose Hyun, I might lose everything.” – Sae-bom.

(via Review: ‘Descendants of the Sun’ K-drama (2016)

"Don't feel embarrassed just because I found out that you like me. Even so, it doesn't change the fact that I like you more..." - Yoo Shin-jin to Kang Mo-yeon. (Descendants of the Sun)

"Say it's just a strategic retreat. Tell me to wait for you, tell me you'll do whatever it takes to come back to me." - Yoon Myeong-Joo. (Descendants of the Sun)