Thoughts on Cinderella Unni eps 7-8

[dangermousie]

I had some time this weekend so I ended up watching ep 7 and half of ep 8 of Cinderella Unni and it's official - these people should be lining up for a shrink yesterday.

It's an excellently written, acted, and filmed drama whose characters are sinking into quiet miserable dysfunction at a great rate of speed. They are all understandable and fascinating but the only one I actually find sympathetic and likeable is Jung Woo which is sort of a problem as none of the three main characters are called Jung Woo :P

Eun Jo, Hyo Sun and Ki Hoon are all complex, layered and beautifully acted. And I want to smack the hell out of all of them. Or, even better, send them to therapy and leave them there for about five years. They are miserable themselves, they are making each other miserable, and just I want them to snap out of it already or go their separate ways.

Eun Jo's ability to emotionally express herself or to allow herself to be loved is equal that of a plank. Hyo Sun is weak, immature, and frighteningly self-centered. Ki Hoon is taking out his issues on everyone and is so sunk in self-loathing that he's ready to get his deep-sea-diving certificate. It all makes 100% sense and it's all very dreary to watch. They all need to be on different continents from each other.

I am pretty sure this will have a happy ending (all of the writer's previous works do) but I cannot even ship Eun Jo/Ki Hoon for now because these individuals should not be inflicted on each other (or any other romantic partner), not without a heck of a lot of healing and change. I cannot imagine them as a functional entity right now, at ALL.

I am curious how much more screwed up they will all get before it gets better. If it ever will.

When Eun Jo was the only main character who was broken, I could cope. I didn't realize how much I'd miss Hyo Sun's clueless sunniness and Ki Hoon's steady warmth before they were gone, to be replaced by more and more misery.

Comments

[robotmatsuri.livejournal.com]

...it's official - these people should be lining up for a shrink yesterday.
True, but I think Eun Jo's behavior is justified. The way I see it, she is just so messed up by those years of being on the run (thanks to mommy dearest) that she is mentally incapable of opening up to people. Well, she did start opening to Ki Hoon, but then he left so, back to square one.

The other two I really, really want to smack. Especially Ki Hoon. I want Ki Hoon to tell Hyo Sun that if he has no interest in her, which I believe is the case, to do it already before she gets stabby. :x

I cannot imagine them as a functional entity right now, at ALL.
Same here, I can't imagine how the writer is going to get them back together.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Oh, I agree it's justified - I feel some pity for her. Just wouldn't want to hang around her at all :)

Ki Hoon and HS are much more to blame for their predicaments.

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

Eun Jo's ability to emotionally express herself or to allow herself to be loved is equal that of a plank

I actually feel really badly for her. She wants to call DS 'father' and can't. What I found interesting was the way she told KH that she'd hurt him if he hurt HS. It's almost like she's not a daughter or sister in the house, but more of a guard dog. She cares, she just can't express it. But - I loved that she was able to easily smile with JW.

Hyo Sun is weak, immature, and frighteningly self-centered.

Yup. Yup. Yup. She cries at everything, blames everyone else (re: EJ) for her own issues, and she gets by solely on her looks. She's become very similar to EJ's mom in a lot of ways. Again, my mine issue with her is that she wanted everything, but did nothing to get it. Now that she is working, I can't help but feel that she's just working to get her father's attention and to push EJ out of the company.


Ki Hoon is taking out his issues on everyone and is so sunk in self-loathing that he's ready to get his deep-sea-diving certificate.

Oh Ki Hoon! When he was 22, he was adorable. Now, he's depressing and harsh. Sending mixed messages to everyone. And, full of self-loathing and angst. It's like - he just has to say something to DS and/or EJ, but he's in such a tight spot with his father, that he can't do anything.

I kind of wonder if/when the drunken kiss will happen - at least that would be less miserable for the characters. Because, the written preview for episode nine? Oh, things are about to get worse. I guess that's why the first four episodes were so full of OTPness and lightness - they have to last we viewers for a while.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yes, she cannot express affection, just do practical things - try to run the winery, warn KH to be good to HS etc. (Like she used to cook for fat kid).

Ki Hoon needs to fix whatever is bugging him yesterday, before I lose all patience with him.

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

I agree. For EJ doing practical things is how she shows her affection for people. I seriously think she needs years of therapy before she'll be able to truly express her emotions freely. The only times she lets herself feel is when she cries, and she always does that alone.


KI Hoon needs to at least show us, the viewer why he's acting this way.I need a real, solid, reason. Not just a 'My dad told me.' type thing.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yes, I can buy KH deciding to ditch everything for revenge but a little fleshing-out would be nice.

[biases.livejournal.com]

Yes to everything! I was writing my responses to each ep and I got to the end of ep 8 and realised that the only people I didn't want to punch were Jung Woo and Daesung.

If Jung Woo doesn't get a happy ending, I am going to be so bitter. :/

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I hope JW does get a happy ending - he doesn't seem to want much. I am so pleasantly surprised with Taec in the role.

[thinking-lotus.livejournal.com]

me too! Even his near-pinheadedness has ceased to bother me.

[boginje.livejournal.com]

Have you seen Dr. Kkang?
Once I read the spoilers about KH damaging the factory`s business I knew CU was turning to be another Dr. Kkang . The only reason I watched episodes 5-8 is Jung Woo (I wanted to see episode 5 in order to see how bad TaecYeon is- but he turned out to be really good for an idol turned actor which is awesome -I watched episode 6 because of TaecYeon and episode 7 and 8 because of how awesome TaecYeon`s character is ) . Even if I wasn`t moving into a new apartment this week, I don`t think I would have continued with CU right now .
This writer is great, but he kinda writes for himself(without regard for the viewers opinions).
I don`t know why did he switch OTPs in Spring Day cuz I didn`t watch the drama when it aired- I am sure the viewers wanted Ko Hyun Jung and Jo In Sung to be together at the end of the drama , but I don`t think the writer decided to swith the OTPs because of the viewers- It seems to me that he was biased towards JIS`s character from the beginning even though he shouldn`t have been cuz Spring day is an adaptation of jdrama(in jdrama version the OTP was different- JIS`s character was also very different).

Dr. Kkang- this is the first drama ever to get me MAD- I mean our leading lady choose "a lazy bum who disguises himself as a doctor" over "an ADORABLE , AWESOME, HOT AND SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTOR " WT*?????
Robber was no better- Robber should have been OTP-less drama :
LDH`S CHARACTER DESERVED SOMEONE A LOT BETTER THAN JH`S CHARACTER ( I mean, she is a widow with a child - the last thing she needs is a husband with NO FUTURE and a horrible past).
OK, I am going to rephrase that:
OTP-less drama wouldn`t work(it would work in Japan but it would not in Korea) so I guess pairing LDH`s character and JH`s character was inevitable(cuz KIM JIN GOO SHOULD HAVE STAYED GIRLFRIEND-LESS AT THE END OF THE DRAMA)but the thing is : I think something went horribly wrong in the process -I think it was a combination of JH being very believable as a bad guy and a sudden and instant transition to a good guy (and adding the illness is so 2003-like!!!)
I understand you(dangermousie)could enjoy the OTP and the storyline cuz you never had any contact with the kind of people JH`s character was(I mean -in real life none of your or your husband`s relatives is that kind of a person, right? And you never had to work on the streets and interact with such individuals on the daily basis.Also,you aren`t working in a federal prison, right?) - on the other hand I HATE WHEN THAT KIND OF PEOPLE ARE ROMANTICIZED cuz until 6 years ago I used to interact with that kind of people on the daily basis.I can`t feel any empathy towards those people. I don`t care why they became criminals-there is no good excuse for such things.I just can`t stand it (just like you can`t understand why the rapist married his victim in EOE) - the only "screwed up criminal with a good heart ?!LOL " characters (in a kdrama) that I actually felt something for were: Lee Wan`s character in Tree of Heaven and Lee Wan`s(Hm, that`s interesting?!) character in In-Soon is Pretty - BUT it wasn`t because I am Lee Wan biased - IT IS BECAUSE BOTH CHARACTERS DIED AT THE END!!!! LOL

In other words :I think LDH and JH looked good as a couple, but the plot of the drama was :WT*?! and WHYYYYYYYYYYY??????- I HATE that LDH`s character ended up with a person like JH`s character(she could have done a lot better!!!)

Anyway(sorry I digressed too much), when I get my internet connection back I am going to take a sneak peek at the ending of CU and the drama discussions threads before making a decision about continuing cuz if CU turns to be another Dr. Kkang I will not watch the rest of the drama.

BTW I completely agree with everything robotmatsuri,walkwithheroes, princess_dexter and yourself wrote above.

"If Jung Woo doesn't get a happy ending, I am going to be so bitter. :/"

ME TOO!!!!!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Nope, haven't seen Dr Kang. Probably saw the Dr in the title and assumed it was a medical drama, something I normally don't watch.

Re: SD. haven't seen far enough to judge (that drama is looooong) but as a JIS fangirl, glad she picked him.

Yeah, never been around lowlives - in RL I'd warn LDH away from the guy but in fiction I like the most bizarre things I'd never tolerate in rl.

[(Anonymous)]

Sorry I think people will hate for what I will say but You are too too too funny. I mean one week ago Dangermousie told how she loved CU because of the quality (and now she still say the drama is excellently written and brillantly acted...) and everyone was "yeah, yeah ! I agree ! the drama is good..." and she put down a drama as PT (and sorry, but now to me this show did not really improved qualitywise, it is still cliche with the lead characters suddendly in love and "kiss" just because they want to draw audiences...) and everyone was agree with her. But now because the main characters fit the theme of the drama in CS (plus they are layered) Dangermousie makes a rant on the drama by saying how the only person she like here is Taec's character and she watch the drama only because of him and here too people go "yeah ! yeah! yeah ! I agree can't stand the drama anymore ! I only watch it because of JW...". CS is a melodrama show but it still has its funny, romantic, brotherly, quietly sides ! What did you expect ? there is a saying which says "human beings are forever displeased people". Beside since CS was announced and since the first teasers aired people here criticized it even before they watched the first episode !

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I know it's a shocking concept but opinions can change as story progresses. *gasp*

I know - what a horrible rant I went on - commenting that CU is well-written and well-acted and has flawed and issue-laden main chracters who are complex and layered. OMG, I was so so so harsh!

Reading comprehension issues btw - I hardly say I am watching the drama for Jung Woo. He is the only character I like but here's an odd concept - I can watch the dramas for characters I don't necessarily like as people as long as I find them interesting. I don't think I have ever watched a drama I otherwise didn't care for because a sole character and am not about to start.

I am, so far, watching the drama, because I find the characters interesting. I don't have to like or dislike them - as long as they interest me, I am in. (See Que Sera Sera for another drama full of interesting but dislikeable characters). As soon as they don't, no matter how likeable they are, I am out (see Sweet 18 - full of likeable, sweet-natured characters. Never finished because they didn't interest me).

Anyway, have fun feeling superior, Anon!

[(Anonymous)]

Why "feeling superior" ? If saying what is happening is feeling superior so I accept that. CU is a melodrama show which was criticized here even before it aired ! That's true !

[boginje.livejournal.com]

Oops, I think I was the one who basically said "I am watching the drama for Jung Woo"- but still if you wanted to use my words in your comment you should have read all my previous comments-yes I was agreeing with dangermousie about JW being the most likable at this point, but my reasons differ greatly.
If you read my previous comments you would have realized that the only character I dislike here is KH .
I can relate to EJ in so many ways you can`t even imagine(but that is normal cuz my life has been even more screwed up until 6 years ago) and her character is really well written .
I basically have nothing in common with HS but I like how realistically she was done- people experience jealousy towards their sibling all the time and you can think whatever you want but I think only a really small number of 24 year-olds knows exactly who they are and what they really want.The fact that HS is still searching for her identity is the thing I like the most about her character.
But I think this writer is using KH`s character as a tool. I think he is sacrificing KH`s character in order to stay as real as possible in the portrayal of EJ, her mom and HS. This writer was biased towards certain characters in his 5 other dramas and he is doing it again!
JW character is really interesting and lovable- I am not a JW-EJ shipper and never will be , I just want him to have a happy ending.

Also, if you read my previous comments you would have know that despite great acting on everyone's part I feel very uncomfortable watching Moon Geun Young and Seo Woo on screen.
MGY has always been an amazing actress and a great person in real life(the fact that she didn`t use her celebrity status to enter university is really admirable)BUT ever since 2007 there is no doubt in my mind - she has an eating problem. When she was 15 she weighted 44kg- nowadays she weights 38 or 39 on a good day (she is 163 cm tall)- which means that statistically (I had medical statistic for 2 years on university)57 % of Somalia`s population has a higher body mass index (compared to her). I am constantly distracted by thoughts of feeding MGY- that is the reason I can`t enjoy her character- Thus far I`ve mentioned this in at least 3 other comments.
I have a similar problem with Seo Woo- Her face is incredibly plastic and she is 25-ish (even Uhm Jung Hwa didn`t look that plastic at 25- Uhm Jung Hwa started looking scarily plastic when she was 35). It is really difficult to concentrate on her acting and her character when her face looks like that.

On the other hand TaecYeon really surprised me - I don`t think his character is too difficult to play but I can totally see raw talent- when I see him in CU I see TaecYeon "the rookie actor" not "the 2pm`s rapper" TaecYeon. And I have to compliment his stylists- they did a great job with the wardrobe and the haircut-putting the emphasis on TaecYeon`s ears has benefited his character a lot.

WHAT I AM TRYING TO SAY IS: YOU SHOULD READ ALL THE COMMENTS IN ORDER TO AVOID MISINTERPRETING A PERSON.
I AM NOT FOLLOWING AND WILL NEVER FOLLOW ANYONE’S OPINIONS.
For example: I don`t care for how long someone tries to pimp Chuno I WILL NOT WATCH IT. I think OJH is on the same level as SSH acting wise and he is definitely better than Daniel Henney BUT I still enjoy SSH and Daniel Henney 10 thousand times better. Also LDH is pretty but one dimensional.Also I don`t like period dramas.AND I LOVE family dramas.
I could spend days talking about all the things I`ve read on dramabeans and/or here that I don`t agree with but I don`t see the point because I TRULY BELIEVE THE GREATEST THING ABOUT HUMANITY IS THE DIVERSENESS(HETEROGENEITY) OF OPINIONS AND PERSONALITIES.
Debating should be left for important social issues for example world hunger and gay rights-THERE IS NO REASON WHY ANYONE SHOULD TAKE KDRAMA BIASES TOO SERIOUSLY!!!
That is the reason I don`t comment (or rarely comment) when I don`t agree with people. Check my comments and you will see I have not made a single positive comment about PT ever since it started airing (some people changed their mind about PT- I didn`t)- I don`t think I`ve commented on PT at all!!!

[(Anonymous)]

Don't get me wrong but if you cannot concentrate on a drama because the actor's look I think it's better not to watch it. Because hate it or love it but they are the lead ! I know you don't mean bad but lately I am a little tired and annoyed by the way people trash SW through her look (I think this the mean reason people hate on her personally and her character in the drama). I think there are too many "plastic" discussions online concerning SW. Yes she maybe did "plastic surgery" but as far as she portrays her character well and expresses the different sides of her character effectively I have no problem against her. I watched her in "tamra the island" and "Paju" (plus the promos vids and pics) and lookwise I don't see any difference compared to her look in CS (big eyes, thick lips, her nose...). The style is different, the make up is different... But the former cases people did not complained about or talked crap about her.
About people following automatically Dangermousie's opinions. I didn't mean you but this a trend I noticed here (Maybe I overract). The best example is "CS before airing time"

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Much as I would be flattered to think people follow my opinion, I think what it really is, is the fact that my LJ attracts people with similar tastes to mine. That makes sense - if they disagreed with most of what I post, why would they want to hang around? (LJ especially facilitates this - most of people reading/posting here are on my friendslist which by definition means we read each other's entries on a regular basis, for years - so shared tastes are a must).

You will also note that most of my flist are in love with CU (it's by far the most-watched drama). So am I - I reiterate that my not liking characters as people (and you must admit they are pretty unhappy individuals) has nothing to do with the drama itself (which I do like a lot) or with the fact that I find their characters interesting, which is all I require in my watching.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I am loving this drama to bits, I think my fondness for Russian classics, and in particular, Dostoyevsky, is the reason why I always love this type f dramas, when it is well-done and make sense, like in CU. I love EJ in particular, because I identify heavily with her, as well. HS - I love to hate, KH - I find very fascinating and attractive, if somewhat damaged (but not irreparably).

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I can't identify with anyone in this drama (EJ is too harsh, emotionally stunted, and introverted; HS is too weak and clingy, KH is just a mess) but I do enjoy it a lot - last time I saw characters that screwed up was A Love to Kill :)

[orangebreeze.livejournal.com]

I'm still loving Cinderella Unni very much, although I can't identify with a lot of the characters. But somehow I want to watch them heal and become whole again, if that makes any sense.
Still, it's a very intensive drama which is why I need a break from it once in a while and watch some fluff instead (sea PT and OML ^^).
I'm also having the feeling that watching CU and PP at the same time will turn me into a wreck (so much tension!!), but whatever. Can't resist XD

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I can't ID with them any either but they are so fascinating - I agree.

[thinking-lotus.livejournal.com]

I watched those eps and thought "the plot gears have started grinding these poor characters to pulp."