Goong. In which I analyze excessively.
Aug. 21st, 2006 10:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dangermousieSo, after finishing with Majo No Jouken, I really couldn't face the angst of A Love to Kill right away, so decided to watch Goong instead. This time with good subtitles. It's amazing what a difference that makes. It went from 'why do people like this?' to 'adorable and funny.' I am only four eps in, and I really like.
In case you want to know what it's about, just click the 'goong' tag in this post, and posts that will come up will have pics and summaries.
Of course, this dorama, like a lot of doramas, ends up hitting another one of my kinks. This time it's the whole 'icy, very controlled guy thawing and falling in love with a hyper, cheerful woman.'
And that the thing. It's a good thing Shin didn't end up with Hyo-Rin and that she turned his marriage proposal down. HR is a lot like Shin actually. They are very similar: both incredibly well-bred, elegant, reserved and cold. If they got married, it would have been a very passionless and joyless match, whatever they may think. But CG isn't like Hyo-Rin at all. She is not poised or elegant. But she is fun and cheerful and, most importantly, open and warm. And oh boy does Shin need someone like that. Shin is incredibly reserved, controlled and icy. It's understandable: he has always had to do the correct thing and everyone watches him all the time and it's completely bred into him. But he never has any fun doing any of this. How can he? All his activities are picked for him. He does archery and fencing and attends classical Korean music recitations not because he picked them for himself, but because he is supposed to. I don't think he ever does anything he really thinks fun for himself. It won't occur to him. (Which is actually a big reason why he is OK with marrying a girl he has no interest in. He's never had a part of his life that was overwhelmingly fun so why should marriage be any different and why on earth would it matter, he would probably think). But CG certainly comes across as someone who can make others have fun. She's already broken through his reserve and made him mad. And heck, she amuses him a lot. He actually acts his age with her around, sometimes. And I do hope he falls in love with her, for her sake, because she needs someone to take care of her (she can be quite scatter-brained and impulsive) but also someone to really emotionally rely on: unlike Shin and his distant and proper family, she is used to a warm, caring family unit.
It's also interesting to me, the contrast between Shin and CG's families. Doramas love to do the 'happy poor family' and 'distant rich family' contrast thing (e.g. in HYD where the Domyouji's dreadful distant family dinner is contrasted with Tsukushi's fun one) but here it's more complex. We do get the shot of happy CG family squabbling over BBQ but what we get on Shin's end is the family, impeccably attired and formal listening to a recital. It's not dreadful or anything (Shin leans over to his grandmother and says something amusing and she smiles) but it is very stiff and proper. I prefer the BBQ myself :P
I must admit so far I adore Yul (Shin's cousin). I can see why people were Yul/CG shippers early on. I am not, because I know how this ends so that would be futile and because of the aformentioned love for the 'icy guy melting' cliche, but otherwise, Yul is totally sweet and adorable. Though it's clear he is also scheming about something, aka getting his position back. Still, even if he is (please, let him! I want some angst later on!), he and Queen Mother are the only likeable royal family members. I can't stand Shin's mother whose nickname should be Icicle. Not that Shin is the most huggable guy you ever met, but she treats him as an employee, not a son. All formality, no feeling or affection. Heck, with a mother like that, actually I am not even sure if Shin knows how to relate to a person on a caring level :P When he tells CG that he can't put himself into shoes of others (though I think he will learn, with CG at least), it's clearly a result of his upbringing, and I love that he is upfront about it. He is not the most wonderful guy ever, but he is no hypocrite. A lot of people like to delude themselves.
So many wonderful scenes. I love the one where he comes to see her when she is 'training' and gives her candy and tells her about little things to make it better for her (aka inviting her parents to visit) and then tells her it's all what Yul told him to say and the candy is from Yul too. The boy is honest. And also doesn't care enough about her to want to impress her. But I love that none of those things make CG feel better and he tells her that all that other stuff was from Yul, but the one thing he, Shin, can offer, is a divorce when they reach of age. I also love when he offers to shake hands with her post wedding and she bites him. Heeeeee.
I also love the thing with the teddy-bears (at the end of each ep they have teddy bears dressed as characters re-enact the scene). My favorite is the shot of Shin turned away from the TV announcement of his impending marriage while nearby the camera cuts to a teddy bear with his face in his paws :P And there is the totally to die for moment when Shin is explaining his plan to CG (about the fact that the grand walk-out he did about not being allowed to move was for effect to get what he wanted. The boy is really bright) and he picks up a teddy bear and does a little bite movement at it and it's GUH. That's the moment I decided Shin is hot.
And of course, both CG and Shin are very young emotionally. Too young, perhaps. Shin's reasons for marrying are untenable in long term: yes, having all those guards around you all day is frustrating and you want them lessened, and yes, having your proposal of marriage turned down by the girl you love sucks in any event, and especially when you are 19 and have just found out you might have an arranged marriage. But these are really bad reasons to marry someone you don't care for one bit. The whole 'this will punish everyone who thinks it's a good idea if I bring a classless girl into the palace' is likewise not a bright idea. And CG, I know you want to save your family from creditors, but marriage is a huge thing and if you asked for money in return for breaking the engagement, the Queen would be delighted to get rid of you.
Of course, Shin tells CG that when he comes of age (I assume 21), he will give her a divorce and they both will be satisfied, but it sounds like an impractical solution to me (besides, haven't they watched 'Full House?')
Well, well, well. We shall see how it turns out. I look forward to seeing CG turn Shin into a 'real boy.' And CG getting some maturity.
P.S. I totally like Shin. In RL I'd smack him, but in fiction? Love.
In case you want to know what it's about, just click the 'goong' tag in this post, and posts that will come up will have pics and summaries.
Of course, this dorama, like a lot of doramas, ends up hitting another one of my kinks. This time it's the whole 'icy, very controlled guy thawing and falling in love with a hyper, cheerful woman.'
And that the thing. It's a good thing Shin didn't end up with Hyo-Rin and that she turned his marriage proposal down. HR is a lot like Shin actually. They are very similar: both incredibly well-bred, elegant, reserved and cold. If they got married, it would have been a very passionless and joyless match, whatever they may think. But CG isn't like Hyo-Rin at all. She is not poised or elegant. But she is fun and cheerful and, most importantly, open and warm. And oh boy does Shin need someone like that. Shin is incredibly reserved, controlled and icy. It's understandable: he has always had to do the correct thing and everyone watches him all the time and it's completely bred into him. But he never has any fun doing any of this. How can he? All his activities are picked for him. He does archery and fencing and attends classical Korean music recitations not because he picked them for himself, but because he is supposed to. I don't think he ever does anything he really thinks fun for himself. It won't occur to him. (Which is actually a big reason why he is OK with marrying a girl he has no interest in. He's never had a part of his life that was overwhelmingly fun so why should marriage be any different and why on earth would it matter, he would probably think). But CG certainly comes across as someone who can make others have fun. She's already broken through his reserve and made him mad. And heck, she amuses him a lot. He actually acts his age with her around, sometimes. And I do hope he falls in love with her, for her sake, because she needs someone to take care of her (she can be quite scatter-brained and impulsive) but also someone to really emotionally rely on: unlike Shin and his distant and proper family, she is used to a warm, caring family unit.
It's also interesting to me, the contrast between Shin and CG's families. Doramas love to do the 'happy poor family' and 'distant rich family' contrast thing (e.g. in HYD where the Domyouji's dreadful distant family dinner is contrasted with Tsukushi's fun one) but here it's more complex. We do get the shot of happy CG family squabbling over BBQ but what we get on Shin's end is the family, impeccably attired and formal listening to a recital. It's not dreadful or anything (Shin leans over to his grandmother and says something amusing and she smiles) but it is very stiff and proper. I prefer the BBQ myself :P
I must admit so far I adore Yul (Shin's cousin). I can see why people were Yul/CG shippers early on. I am not, because I know how this ends so that would be futile and because of the aformentioned love for the 'icy guy melting' cliche, but otherwise, Yul is totally sweet and adorable. Though it's clear he is also scheming about something, aka getting his position back. Still, even if he is (please, let him! I want some angst later on!), he and Queen Mother are the only likeable royal family members. I can't stand Shin's mother whose nickname should be Icicle. Not that Shin is the most huggable guy you ever met, but she treats him as an employee, not a son. All formality, no feeling or affection. Heck, with a mother like that, actually I am not even sure if Shin knows how to relate to a person on a caring level :P When he tells CG that he can't put himself into shoes of others (though I think he will learn, with CG at least), it's clearly a result of his upbringing, and I love that he is upfront about it. He is not the most wonderful guy ever, but he is no hypocrite. A lot of people like to delude themselves.
So many wonderful scenes. I love the one where he comes to see her when she is 'training' and gives her candy and tells her about little things to make it better for her (aka inviting her parents to visit) and then tells her it's all what Yul told him to say and the candy is from Yul too. The boy is honest. And also doesn't care enough about her to want to impress her. But I love that none of those things make CG feel better and he tells her that all that other stuff was from Yul, but the one thing he, Shin, can offer, is a divorce when they reach of age. I also love when he offers to shake hands with her post wedding and she bites him. Heeeeee.
I also love the thing with the teddy-bears (at the end of each ep they have teddy bears dressed as characters re-enact the scene). My favorite is the shot of Shin turned away from the TV announcement of his impending marriage while nearby the camera cuts to a teddy bear with his face in his paws :P And there is the totally to die for moment when Shin is explaining his plan to CG (about the fact that the grand walk-out he did about not being allowed to move was for effect to get what he wanted. The boy is really bright) and he picks up a teddy bear and does a little bite movement at it and it's GUH. That's the moment I decided Shin is hot.
And of course, both CG and Shin are very young emotionally. Too young, perhaps. Shin's reasons for marrying are untenable in long term: yes, having all those guards around you all day is frustrating and you want them lessened, and yes, having your proposal of marriage turned down by the girl you love sucks in any event, and especially when you are 19 and have just found out you might have an arranged marriage. But these are really bad reasons to marry someone you don't care for one bit. The whole 'this will punish everyone who thinks it's a good idea if I bring a classless girl into the palace' is likewise not a bright idea. And CG, I know you want to save your family from creditors, but marriage is a huge thing and if you asked for money in return for breaking the engagement, the Queen would be delighted to get rid of you.
Of course, Shin tells CG that when he comes of age (I assume 21), he will give her a divorce and they both will be satisfied, but it sounds like an impractical solution to me (besides, haven't they watched 'Full House?')
Well, well, well. We shall see how it turns out. I look forward to seeing CG turn Shin into a 'real boy.' And CG getting some maturity.
P.S. I totally like Shin. In RL I'd smack him, but in fiction? Love.
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no subject
Date: 2006-08-22 02:41 am (UTC)and...icy guy/cheerful girl is one of my big things, too. I think ES wil be the same...unless they end up hating each other *just read it and is on a high*
no subject
Date: 2006-08-22 02:45 am (UTC)icy guy/cheerful girl is one of my big things, too.
Yup, so much fun. The thing with Goong, it's startling when he smiles. I am in ep 4 and this is the first time he really grinned (as opposed to polite smile or similar) and it makes him so attractive. GUH. (That's because he is all relaxed about not having guards around any more and actually being allowed to get a scrape on his arm. Gleeeeeeeee).
no subject
Date: 2006-08-22 02:55 am (UTC)And fake-Ryosuke and Mine are quite shippable.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-22 07:45 am (UTC)btw i have such hate for other girl !!! oooh!
no subject
Date: 2006-08-22 03:58 pm (UTC)And yeah, I like Shin. He should smile more often though, he looks hotter that way :)