Okay, it will be four episodes head. The previous episodes had KC dealing with his infatuation to Mira, and we’ll see if recovering KC 1.0’s memories will help him overcome it.

Episode 33 Commentary

#3 I can’t help but think of how W’s world stopped when a truck was supposed to hit KC in episode 2. KC wasn’t hurt but Mira does. I know these events are unrelated, but it’s some random thought.

#8 facepalm….you survived death, yet all you could think about is your death? Geez.

I can’t recall if ever I had thought that she is not actually in love but manipulating KC. But just in case she ever had this thought, she’s a victim of her own game.

Also, come to think of it, I’m not sure if I’ve ever understood it. At the end of this frame, Mira transformed into the Queen of Darkness, and you provided what seems like a masked figure. I suppose she looks like that in real life. After all, whenever Wangshin sees the Queen of Darkness, as represented by her icon, he does not see Chan Yusun but a masked figure or just an entity that doesn’t look like Kim Taehee.

#11 This frame is confusing because you are using Mira’s icon. As I understand it, as Mira, her spine is injured in the accident. But she was only able to get up once she transformed into the Queen of Darkness.

But here we are, seeing Mira’s icon with Mira putting on make-up. Am I supposed to assume that as Queen of Darkness, she has the power to heal Mira’s body? If that is the case, then there’s no actual inconsistency if she transforms back to Mira, put-on make-up and meet Kangchul.

#13 Since it’s been a while when I had read Episode 32, it seems I had to go back and check which icon represents KC 1.0 and which is KC 2.0. I was preparing to do just that when a few lines later, KC 2.0 is referred to by KC 1.0

‘Until you've experienced it, it's worthless.’

This line is worth pondering and opens up some can of worms regarding theoretical v experiential knowledge. Any rational person, like KC previously, who hasn’t been in love can conjure all sorts of scenarios on what you ought to do. Sometimes he’ll laugh and be confused as to why his friend is acting so irrationally when the solution is so obvious. But if you’re in love and being triggered by your irrational brain, the rational part of you is being by-passed, your emotions are out of control, and you cannot think straight.

Another example would be the often admonition of learning from other people’s mistakes, which you can gain from talking to that person or reading their books. Sure, upon knowing that, you can choose to follow that person’s wisdom and avoid their mistakes or choose to ignore it. Either way, you probably won’t value it as much as the knowledge you’ve gained from committing your own mistakes and being hurt by it.

Anyway, this exchange is marked as recall, meaning it took place some time before his date with Mira. I interpret this as KC 2.0 trying to forge a more stable identity as it seems that KC 2.0 has been playing safe. (Is that it?) Situations may come where he cannot be calculating and where he cannot read about it or may be inconsistent with his hypothesis and where it may require that he display courage at that moment. I am trying to make sense on why KC 2.0 still thinks he is inferior to KC 1.0

#17

KC’s interaction with his son can potentially come across as confusing. Chulmoo’s icon is a baby. I can’t remember his age, but from the icon, he’s probably 1 or two years old.

Either he’s a prodigy that he could speak at that age and hold complex conversations with Kang-chul, or he’s just uttering statements that seem to make sense with the dialogue (if the latter, this is supposed to be funny)

Of course, the latter is probably the correct interpretation. I almost missed this line: ‘... He talks to his son, who probably can't understand.’ (emphasis mine)

#18 I can’t remember the actress’s name you used. I was thinking that you used Jun Jihyun’s younger picture, but she may be from one of the newest dramas I haven’t watched.

Anyway, she may be playing a bit role here, but I can’t help but speculate that her role might be significant later.

#21

KC 1.0 asked KC 2.0 to rate the emotion he felt in the prison scene in Episode 8 IIRC. KC 2.0 blurted out 10 just to say to KC 1.0 to fuck off.

But I suspect that in truth, it’s only a 7 or 8. After all, he is mostly rational, and I don’t think he experiences the same intensity of emotions as other people. To put it another way, in reaction to a romantic scenario, another person’s 10 might not elicit the same intensity in KC.

#22 I had to recheck Episode 32. So far, I can only recall that Mira had a car accident but I forgot that KC had one too. Upon checking, KC didn’t seem to have one. Then her accusation of ‘you’re lying’ must be the plausible explanation.

As to why he had to lie, there must be the traffic jam he was stuck with at the end of Episode 32 but probably includes his internal dialogue with KC 1.0

Near the end of #24:

KC is slowly realizing that love isn’t mainly driven by the rational faculty, which is why it is not a choice. This is true in real life.

But in the context of this story, a thought dawned on him that he might be being manipulated by the Correspondent. I previously thought that Mira herself was manipulating Kangchul, but this is an interesting hypothesis because to achieve whatever ends the Correspondent envisions, he is willing to violate Mira’s agency. Thus, if KC’s hypothesis is correct, Mira is nothing more than a pawn to the Correspondent.

#26

‘The atmosphere is volcanic, and Kang Chul is panting too, sniffing her alluring scent. He makes superhuman efforts to resist the erotic impulse.’

In other words, KC is playing with fire. If the Correspondent had a hand on this, he better be careful.

#27 ‘Something evil in her ulterior motive, which Kang Chul doesn't notice...’

I’ve only noticed the lines under this and the previous lines also. I’m glad you were explicit in the subtext that you intend to include with each line. Of course, in a kdrama, you couldn’t be this explicit. These are implied, and you have to infer this.

#29 In the line ‘The Queen of Darkness is conditioning you to the role of villain?! (worried) Has your arm become transparent? You—’

KC seems to be suggesting that as Queen of Darkness, Mira getting giddy over KC is out of character, which would lead to her becoming transparent and eventually ceasing to exist. If so, whatever outward affection of being in love with KC seems to be consistent with her character, either she has an ulterior motive or she is playing the role of pawn to the Correspondent without her knowledge. Either way, it would be detrimental for KC.

#30            (Arabodji = Old man, grandfather.)

In my casual watching of kdramas, I’ve always thought it is just sounds like abodji.

 I checked Google for the Korean word grandpa, and it turns out to be hal-abeoji (할아버지) with the L here can sometimes be heard as R depending on the speaker. L and R being almost identical is what Korean shares with Japanese, but Korean seems to have more of these as its phonology is more complex than Japanese. E.g. ch and j – Hachiman can sometimes sound like hajiman; B and M – issseubnikka can sound like issseumnikka

Finally, the Korean word for grandfather has an H in Google’s romanised spelling. In the audio, I can hear the /h/ sound. In this case, word initial H is not silent as in the case of words starting in H in Spanish, French, and Italian.

Anyway, this frame ends in a funny way. 

#31

When Mira collapsed in the middle of this frame, I thought something unexpected happened. But it ended as though it’s something normal and expected upon being kissed by your lover.

#32

C#11. PRESENT.

I don’t know if the dizziness YJ experiences has something to do with what’s happening with KC and Mira. But this seems to much of a coincidence to happen so randomly.

C#13….okay, perhaps a trope to make it dramatic; or perhaps that’s what you call woman’s intuition

#33

(Mi-Ra and Kang Chul, theme music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pfbxOPOrws)

I think this is the first time you’ve used this where you insert a YouTube link for background music. Are you into Italian music?

Anyway, this is the first time I heard of this and I’m ambivalent as I wasn’t exposed to it. The next several lines in slow motion suggest that it should be a sad scene. But my initial impression is that this music appears to be upbeat.

Researching for a bit, yes, ‘La luna e i falò’ is a sad song. And if this is the lyrics, https://www.flashlyrics.com/lyrics/pippo-pollina/la-luna-e-i-falo-29, as per Google translate, it’s sad but ironically, the music accompanying it appears to be upbeat.

Anyway, moving to this line: ‘I won't let anyone come between us.’ (…and the lines following this)

It seems that he is being ambiguous here. He may or may not genuinely feel this. Yes, he is in love with Mira, but at the back of his mind, there’s this possibility that the Correspondent might be involved. So it also leaves open the possibility that he is feigning affection with these lines.

….but the line ‘All desire for Yeon-Joo was gone. Our separation was close because I refuse to live a lie.’ and the one ending #33)

This seems to be a downer if you’re shipping KC and YJ. I’m still hoping that KC can untangle himself out of this.

#38 one of the duo is here! Yay!

Mira has this sharp tongue that’s entertaining in fiction. She could be the female lead in a different kdrama.

Re: Frankenstein

Too bad I haven’t read it.

#39

Hmmm, I don’t know Asterix but I probably came across that term. I’m somewhat more familiar with the smurfs but I haven’t watched it.

I watched Iznogoud cartoons in my childhood.

Re: Franco-Belgian school

If you simply Google the term, it refers to a school of playing the violin. But in the context of W4, it’s a catch-all term for the comics Mira considers high quality.

Re: end of this frame / cliffhanger

I like this cliffhanger. It suddenly became intense after all the flirting between KC and Mira.

Again, who or what is the Correspondent? I forgot what were my other guesses in previous posts, but I shudder to think that my current guess is Mr Oh Seongmoo, only this time, his consciousness is so corrupted to the point that he is irredeemable. Perhaps right now, he doesn’t approve of the KC-YJ pairing.

Conclusion

I hope what I wrote is not too long, considering I spent much more time than planned reading and writing this. I had hoped to speed run this, but considering the possibilities meant I have to slow down.

Overall, it’s a great episode packed with so much meat.

• • Enchanteur

    Saturday 22nd July 2023 at 21:19
    

    #3.

    oh! shit! it's an involuntary correlation. But it does illustrate how the creative process works, producing details in connection with others, unbeknownst to the writer. In many cases, I can analyze it and, if useful, enhance it. But here, I didn't realize it.

     

    The appearance of the Queen of Darkness: I'm not sure I understood your comment. But since episode 1, we've seen 3 different appearances. Moon Mi-Ra, Cha Yu-Sun who looks exactly like Mi-Ra (except she has Joseon clothes and her hair tied back), and of course the Queen of Darkness, who is a shadowy figure hijacked by shadow dust. As Mi-Ra transforms into the Queen of Darkness in this scene, that's how she looks at the end. She needs it to summon the shadow arm and gain access to the ambulance cockpit.

     

    #11.

    This is an ellipsis. We can guess that the Queen of Darkness has become Mi-Ra again in the meantime. If this is confusing, perhaps I should make a note of it.

    In this scene (or the next), we see that Mi-Ra can use healing power in any incarnation. We already saw evidence of this in episode 30-31, when she was in the VIP room. She puts her luminous hand on her leg. And when Kang Chul arrives, he sees that her other wounds are healed.

     

    #13.

    This is a thematic line. So anyone can make sense of it. I don't give solutions. But you can still feel that KC 1.0 has pointed out something true. What hasn't been felt doesn't have the same value as something theorized. This applies particularly to Kang Chul.

    I wrote this because I've often been wrong about things that I thought were right by analysis or extrapolation. But which I later found to be wrong by experimenting with them. So I'm not writing this from a "brain" or "chemical" point of view, but rather from the reality of the soul. Something that escapes us.

    And also, regarding the rational aspect: just read the books of H.P. Lovecraft, the famous horror writer from "beyond space". His characters are often rational, and this only makes them more vulnerable and terrified when they realize that terrible entities exist. They go practically mad.

    For the sake of the story, and Kang Chul's fundamental ignorance of relationships with women, I chose an uncompromising direction. But I believe that by reading books, we can find and re-live the human experience. However, it's often an experience we already feel within ourselves. But after all, isn't that what all human experience is about?

    Thanks for your advice, I've made some clarifying "notes" in the script. We know it's in episode 32, after Kang Chul dreams of Mi-Ra and goes into "W". The scene with 1.0 ends with him saying something in his ear, but we didn't know what. This is when we find out.

    Is KC 2.0 inferior to 1.0? He thinks the opposite, but the illusion comes back to haunt him regularly and this illusion is very annoying: always saying things that seem to prove the contrary. A tough inner conflict for 2.O.

     

    #17.

    Chul-Moo is less than a year old, but he's gifted (cf ep28). Yes, he's a prodigy!

    However, in this scene, he says things a bit at random. It's just that it fits in quite well with what Kang Chul is wondering. Irony. As you say, it fits well with a deeper meaning in the dialogue, but Chul-Moo doesn't understand it.

    But you could figure it out by seeing the infilmable line: "who probably can't understand". I'm glad I added that. If I go by what screenwriters usually do, they would have eliminated the line. And yet, you can see how useful it is. There's also Kang Chul's line: "You understand nothing, right?".

     

    #18.

    I needed a quick image, and re-used the young woman from Yeon-Joo's class (ep01). I'm not sure this makes sense, as she might recognize Kang Chul. Anyway, I needed a young woman, and she was perfect for this, without causing me any trouble in finding an image.

     

    #24.

    If you look closely, Kang Chul and Mi-Ra say exactly what prevented them from being on time for the appointment, but in reverse!!!

    Mi-Ra says "I was hesitating to come", when it was Kang Chul who was hesitating to come.

    Kang Chul says "I had a car accident", when it's Mi-Ra who had a car accident.

    Ironic! ^^

     

    #27.

    There's so much subtext everywhere, I went all out. Might as well explain it all. Your reaction proves me right. But I've thought about this a lot. And after reading lots of incomprehensible screenplay, I chose to be comprehensible!

     

    #30.

    I'm confused. If you have the correct word for "grandfather," let me know. I'll correct it. I've certainly done a search, or looked in the subtitles of a drama, but I'm no expert.

     

    #31.

    It was such a great feeling that her legs gave out, ahah.

     

    #32.

    Some kind of intuition. Not exactly supernatural. But like people who have a strong premonition. It happens in real life. But of course, in a kdrama, it happens much more often! ^^

     

    #33.

    I've used music before. Ren-Bo "psytrance", with a link. Because the music gave the idea of having butterflies in the mind. Here, it's more dramatic.

    There are many other scenes where I could have put a link to the music, but I refrained. Here, it was a coincidence. I discovered this piece a week before and found it magnificent. While I was suffering a lot to rewrite the lines full of subtext and deep feelings. I listened to the music as I wrote, and it fitted in perfectly with the emotion I had in mind.

    Otherwise, I'm not into Italian music, but jazz-fusion in general. And a lot of other styles too.

     

    #38.

    She's the female lead in this one, it's enough!! ^^

    This character is miraculous, always triggers crazy things, and funny lines and situations, like this one.

     

    #39.

    "Franco-Belgian school": this is the exact word we use when referring to all the comic strips produced by France and Belgium, from the famous newspapers "Pilote", "Tintin" and "Spirou". Often characters with big noses, but some comics are a little more realistic.

    The cliffhanger: Moon Mi-Ra has unwittingly helped Kang Chul better than he intended... And now he knows the truth! This cliffhanger was the one in the previous version of the draft, and I struggled to keep it, despite the many rewrites.

     

    Conclusion:

    No, your comment wasn't too long. I like lots of detail.

    I'm glad you liked it. I can never be sure. This is an episode that took me ten times longer than ordinary, because there are many situations with deep feelings and subtext. And that takes a lot more effort than action. Lots of doubts about lines. Interactions between characters beyond their simple awareness, but connected to unconscious goals and meanings. It was hell to rewrite this!