SG ending - A++++

[dangermousie]

Yes, have caps and thoughts on eps 19 and 20 of Secret Garden but caps need winnowing down and thoughts are incoherent.

Still, a brief coherent something

I really loved the ending - I don't mean the ending scene (though I did and about it more below) but the ending fates of everyone proper. I wish they didn't drop Director/JW's sis so abruptly and like a ton of bricks (did the actress quit or something? She didn't appear at all in the second half of the drama) but it's a minor complaint.

More importantly, I liked the vibe - yes, the good guys are happy but it's not static, perfect, frozen in time happiness - it is part of 'ife goes on' happy existence with all sorts of possibilities. RI and JW are happy with their three kids (side note - 3? My God, how many makeouts did they do? Cute), but JW's mom has not forgiven them (even if she likes the grandkids) and so they never had a proper wedding. JW is still CEO of LOEL due to his sheer ability and brains and they are very well off but I don't think he's a super-chaebol any more. RI now runs an action school but she never became a big star nor quit doing action herself entirely. It's not perfect fairytale ending, but they are very happy together.

Oska and Seul continue their sexy push-and-pull within a relationship this time. They ended up dating for 5 yrs though, before getting hitched, perhaps not surprising for the couple who *gasp* kept knocking boots long before they thought of marriage. She gets jealous and he will never fully be a soberly grown up person, but they are happy and it works for them. What will his family and fanbase then think? Will they have kids? Is he going to shift into managing talent? Etc? It's just as much all in the air as whether JW will ever inherit or the mother ever forgive him. But they are happy together and that is what matters.

And yes, the very last scene - flashing back to 21-yr-old JW and 17-yr-old RI and the frowny lines and "I am sorry I am sorry I am sorry." So many things are explained - his long-term resistance to apologies, his fixation with her frown lines and her weeping, even how his ineffable connection to RI started. I've seen some comments that this flashback ending mirrors City Hall, and it does. But here, it is even more necessary than it was in CH, imo

Comments

[iheartkleenex.livejournal.com]

So no director and sister? I was hoping they would do it at last minute or something.

I loved the drama anyhow and I think after this and watching Lovers, Kim Eun Sook became my favourite kdrama writer so far.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yay!

Enjoy Lovers!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I can't get beyond "body swap" premise with this drama, for some reason this and time travel are my least favourite sci-fi things.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

It plays a fairly minor part in the story but yes, if it bothers you, you better stay away from this one :)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I think I am in a mood to start this (it seems that the body swap is temporary and doesn't last all that long, i can deal with this), and as I usually do, I checked the ending in the episode 20. Hmm, for me the last scene was as if the two of them were dying somewhere on some floor and all that happy stuff was just a dream? Please tell me it is not true and this is the drama with 3 happy OTPs.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Nope, it's actually a flashback to their first meeting - one she didn't know about and he forgot about when he blanked out that whole time period. She fell asleep there and he basically sort of fainted from still having injuries from a prior event.

Happy ending all around actually - 3 kids and all :P.

In case you don't believe me, that's what the writer said too :P

[puion.livejournal.com]

I didn't have high hopes for the Director & JW sis when I heard the news about SYJ making a cameo. But that doesn't mean I wasn't disappointed. All I want is just a glimpse of them...that's all.

But maybe something went wrong with the actress playing JW's sis...she totally disappeared in the last half of the drama. *sigh*

Well, that's the only imperfection for me in SG. I just wish Writer-nim never brought this character in.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the sister thing was really odd - I didn't care much one way or another about that storyline but it was kinda sloppy.

[itshelene.livejournal.com]

Man, I've LOVED this drama and I loved the finale. It was loaded with fan service, but I kept smiling throughout because it felt so natural anyhow. I think I've replayed the situp-scene like 20 times.

It looked like HB and HJW enjoyed themselves even though they both look so exhausted. Very very memorable drama. Will miss HB lots for the next 2 years, but at least he went out with a bang and an almost 40% ratings for Seoul.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

The fanservice was delicious and I gobbled up every bit.

I hope HB gets some rest before the Marines :)

[(Anonymous)]

This ending was just down perfect. In a way very "real" life (as real as a drama can be at least...) Two very happy couple with their own problems...

The way JW's mum reacted was down right perfect for the character, I think (I would have been disappointed by any other ending in their --JW and his mum-- relationship.)

I loved RI stayed a stuntwoman... also JW is a real grown up now, owning his position because of his talent and not because of his family... His a real man and she's a real woman...

And the last scene was PERFECT ending with loads of keys!!!! I was close to tears for those two poor kids lost in their own misery...for the next 13 years.

I think SG is perhaps the only drama I saw that is complete and full and where the last episode is NOT rushed or crammed with answers dropping from the sky... I really appreciate that! We could see that the writers knew what they were doing form the beginning!

All in all maybe not a perfect drama but close to it (and very very "grown up"). Now I just hope Hyun Bin will rest before the Marines... He jus looked exhausted!!!!

Emma

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yes, for her to mellow would have been unrealistic. Maybe on her deathbed or something.

The last scene got me near tears - those two hurt kids. But my favorite was the one with the three kids and them falling asleep and then JW taking RI out of there - just everyday, grown-up happiness of it - the realness of it, really got me.

[dante-levine.livejournal.com]

Not to be too technical or anything but.... did JW lose his memory of the elevator/fire/RI dad dying/RI crying at the funeral AFTER his 21 year old self woke up in the memorial room? I know he remembers everything in ep 19 but from 1-18 he doesn't and that's a big plot point.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yes, I bet he woke up in memorial hall with the memory gone.

[outof-focus.livejournal.com]

I watched the last ep raw first, then panicked slightly when I saw the very last scene. I immediately downloaded subs (not perfect, i think it's directly translated from chinese subs) & was relieved to find out it was a flashback. Whew.I initially thought the whole story could have been imagined or an alternate story only. Sheesh.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Heh ::)

Wasn't it perfect though?

[seven-trees.livejournal.com]

IT'S JUST RAINING ON MY FACE, K?

Oh that last scene, that lovely, fantastic last scene. I loved it dearly.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I know - it just made the drama perfect.

[chromequartet.livejournal.com]

I really love the last scene. The part where JW was watching RI crying and didn't have the courage to go to her, not until she fell asleep.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yes, so beautiful

[(Anonymous)]

I love every minute (minus the mom's ones) of the last episode. Yup it's total fan service but it makes the JW-Ri shippers like me very happy. My favorite scene is the part where they put the kids to sleep and then JW carried RI out and they walked together as it was snowing. It's such a beautiful scene and they look so happy together that I almost cried. Kinda makes up for all the angst and frustrations of the previous episodes.

Love that Oska and Seul has their own happy ending as well. Although I can't help thinking, urgggh why does it take him so long to propose? His cousin is younger than him and already the father of three kids. Sigh. But at least they do end up together.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yes, that was my favorite scene too - it was just so quietly happy and mature. I loved loved loved.

I think Oska and Seul just enjoyed 'living in sin' - if they don't want kids, no reason to hurry?

[puion.livejournal.com]

How I wish we get to see some of their sinful action on screen heheheheh *wink*

If you know what I mean...if only they have one more kiss scene after they got back together! *sigh*

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

LOLOL *joins you in the gutter*

[rectherapyfreak.livejournal.com]

Loved this drama!! So sad that it is over! I like how it didn't end with everything being perfect, but as you said they are happy! So sad HB is going into the army! boo! I totally forgot about the sister until they were showing the scene with the director.

I expected it to have more scences with them switcing bodies, but I was very happy with how it turned out!

Great drama!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

It was so lovely. It's going on a favorites list.

[(Anonymous)]

Their kids are adorable xDD
Most importantly, the way Ra Im acts towards her kid (which really much like JW) is like how she normally act in the beginning of the story towards JW.

But she become braver in her work though. It is adorable xD

-lonewalker

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yup, it was awesome

[ladysaotome.livejournal.com]

I'm glad we got a happy ending for all - and their walk, always in sync, now together instead of side by side.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I know - the last ep was basically perfect.