the significance of the hamin/pureum parallels and what it means for jaemin's character
hamin and pureum both let go of art because of the perceived "burden" it has on others but letting go of their passion only leaves them to sacrifice themselves. art is what allows them to breathe, and giving it up is an act of trapping themselves like a fish out of water.
somang showed hamin a new world, and now jaemin is showing pureum a new world too. they may feel like they're originally from different worlds, but by being together they're able to find the true freedom of mutual understanding.
both of these worlds are built on the beautiful fleeting moments of life that they share together, which is what allowed hamin to feel any sense of spark in his banal existence. jaemin is also drawing a pond to help pureum find the freedom to breathe again, and through this, he is ultimately allowing himself to breathe again too. as someone who hated the rain because it always reminded him of hamin's passing, jaemin being able to find enjoyment in the rain with pureum is also a sign of him beginning to move forward into the future.
finding beauty in the fleeting moments is significant for jaemin and pureum who both grapple with the fear of loss and wish they could hold onto something eternal, as this yearning for eternity while neglecting themselves leaves them stuck in time. being able to enjoy these moments together ultimately allows them to realise the present moment. the past can't be changed, but the future can always be painted to preserve the precious moments they're experiencing right now.
pureum: it’s as fleeting as it is pretty. what a shame. time goes by too fast…
ujin: maybe that’s what makes it more valuable. we cherish beautiful things because they don’t last, like fireworks or this moment. that’s why we try to capture them in art or photos.
art preserves these fleeting moments and memories for eternity which encourages pureum to pick up her brush again. pureum isn't the only one experiencing character growth, because this is also a representation of jaemin moving forward into the future too. as the subject of hamin’s self-sacrifice, jaemin has dealt with severe guilt over his loss, thinking of himself as a burden.
but seasons of lovesome is explicitly showing jaemin that he was never a burden to his brother. through the hope he incites in pureum, we can see that he represents everything that brought hamin the most happiness. everything that hamin was trying to protect. everything that hamin found the most precious. jaemin embodies the sense of hope that hamin treasured the most, and moving forward for himself is honouring everything that hamin wished for.
