Ahhh. Miss Ripley
Jul. 18th, 2011 10:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dangermousieAm marathonning it properly with subs and yes, this is the kind of drama that works so much better in one gulp - it really reminds me of one of these 19th-century French novels, maybe by Zola.
It all ends tomorrow and let me take this chance to say that regardless of how it ends (and I honestly have no idea), this is going on the 'favorites of 2011' list - it's smart and dark and complicated, with an antiheroine who could be horrible but who I could not help but root for and a fascinating cast of characters from saints to monsters. And it has also given me a love story that is rather unusual in kdramas - a fragmented, bitterly desperate, almost amoral woman finding hope and salvation in the love of a very good man. How often do kdramas go for that? Pretty much never. I ship that dysfunctional romance like crazy.
When it started, I made a wish that it would be another Something Happened in Bali. It wasn't - Bali still pretty much stands alone with its darkness and complex destructive hothouse of emotion. But even though it wasn't as good as Bali, it still more than satisfied any expectations and cravings I had. Here's to you, Miss Ripley - you were a damn good ride!
As I said earlier, I loved that their relationship is about tenderness and not sex - that is something Miri is desperate for.
And this scene - no wonder she falls for him - this is the first time in her life someone shows her to everyone in the world as someone to be proud of. Someone who wasn't good enough for her own mother, for adopted parents, for almost anyone her whole life.
Seriously, how much do I love that while he's very good, he's also very steely and very set on what he wants - he's about the most unyielding character in this. I love the scene in ep 11 (or any other time) where he puts down his stepmother in the most efficient way. He pretty much hates her which is interesting because that doesn't change his love for Miri when he learns she is her daughter (just as Miri loves him anyway and doesn't resent him for being part of the family who took her mother away).
The scene where they are picking wedding dresses. I just included it because I am always a sucker for "guy smitten and worshipping' thing.
I loved all their scenes after he begins to find out the truth about her - the tension and things unspoken and his giving her outs to tell the truth but her being too scared to face her true self the way she is - she has so much self-hate.
Her begging Hirayama not to tell Yuhyun the truth. I hate seeing her so vulnerable with him and his gloating. Their relationship is physically and emotionally abusive and a total house of horrors - whatever happens to her, I hope she never has to go back to the man she did anything to escape.
This might be my favorite scene - Yuhyun finding out the truth. My favorite part was Hirayama putting that card of Miri is a hostess on the table and Yuhyun closing his eyes and refusing to open them and look at it. Oddly, to me, that didn't feel like a willful denial of reality but refusal to humiliate Miri by looking at this, his last-ditch effort to keep her pure in his mind.
I really loved the break-up scene - I especially loved how quiet it was, none of that drama shouting. And I love that what really is the breaking point for him is not her past (though he acknowledges it is a big deal) but that she lied. And I also love that he tells her he will wait for her until she accepts for her. He'll help her but only if she wants to be helped - which is pretty darn healthy.
And Yuhyun talking how he is prepared to be with Miri even though he knows it will be exhausting. I really loved this bit for some reason.
The scene which ended ep 15. I love it like pie - Miri pretty much proves beyond any possibility of a doubt that she loves him (I love Yuhyun's face when he realizes that). Pls pls pls pls give them a happy ending drama! Also, side note - psycho Hirayama - maybe if a guy still wants Miri after knowing she was an orphan hooker who escaped from an abusive home and lied her way through her job in Korea and first went after him for his $$$, he pretty much wants her, so you better take your toys and go home. No, said toys don't include Miri.
Note: I've seen complaints about Hee Joo and Myung Hoon's roles being reduced as the drama went on, but that did not bother me - for one thing, I was always in this for Miri and Yuhyun. For another, Hirayama and Lee Hwa made much more interesting foils and antagonists being the true monsters of the story (any scene with Hirayama and Miri made me viscerally uncomfortable to watch - I dare you to watch their interactions and still blame Miri for doing anything to get out of his power).
So farewell, Miss Ripley. You have been amazingly intense and good.
It all ends tomorrow and let me take this chance to say that regardless of how it ends (and I honestly have no idea), this is going on the 'favorites of 2011' list - it's smart and dark and complicated, with an antiheroine who could be horrible but who I could not help but root for and a fascinating cast of characters from saints to monsters. And it has also given me a love story that is rather unusual in kdramas - a fragmented, bitterly desperate, almost amoral woman finding hope and salvation in the love of a very good man. How often do kdramas go for that? Pretty much never. I ship that dysfunctional romance like crazy.
When it started, I made a wish that it would be another Something Happened in Bali. It wasn't - Bali still pretty much stands alone with its darkness and complex destructive hothouse of emotion. But even though it wasn't as good as Bali, it still more than satisfied any expectations and cravings I had. Here's to you, Miss Ripley - you were a damn good ride!
As I said earlier, I loved that their relationship is about tenderness and not sex - that is something Miri is desperate for.
And this scene - no wonder she falls for him - this is the first time in her life someone shows her to everyone in the world as someone to be proud of. Someone who wasn't good enough for her own mother, for adopted parents, for almost anyone her whole life.
Seriously, how much do I love that while he's very good, he's also very steely and very set on what he wants - he's about the most unyielding character in this. I love the scene in ep 11 (or any other time) where he puts down his stepmother in the most efficient way. He pretty much hates her which is interesting because that doesn't change his love for Miri when he learns she is her daughter (just as Miri loves him anyway and doesn't resent him for being part of the family who took her mother away).
The scene where they are picking wedding dresses. I just included it because I am always a sucker for "guy smitten and worshipping' thing.
I loved all their scenes after he begins to find out the truth about her - the tension and things unspoken and his giving her outs to tell the truth but her being too scared to face her true self the way she is - she has so much self-hate.
Her begging Hirayama not to tell Yuhyun the truth. I hate seeing her so vulnerable with him and his gloating. Their relationship is physically and emotionally abusive and a total house of horrors - whatever happens to her, I hope she never has to go back to the man she did anything to escape.
This might be my favorite scene - Yuhyun finding out the truth. My favorite part was Hirayama putting that card of Miri is a hostess on the table and Yuhyun closing his eyes and refusing to open them and look at it. Oddly, to me, that didn't feel like a willful denial of reality but refusal to humiliate Miri by looking at this, his last-ditch effort to keep her pure in his mind.
I really loved the break-up scene - I especially loved how quiet it was, none of that drama shouting. And I love that what really is the breaking point for him is not her past (though he acknowledges it is a big deal) but that she lied. And I also love that he tells her he will wait for her until she accepts for her. He'll help her but only if she wants to be helped - which is pretty darn healthy.
And Yuhyun talking how he is prepared to be with Miri even though he knows it will be exhausting. I really loved this bit for some reason.
The scene which ended ep 15. I love it like pie - Miri pretty much proves beyond any possibility of a doubt that she loves him (I love Yuhyun's face when he realizes that). Pls pls pls pls give them a happy ending drama! Also, side note - psycho Hirayama - maybe if a guy still wants Miri after knowing she was an orphan hooker who escaped from an abusive home and lied her way through her job in Korea and first went after him for his $$$, he pretty much wants her, so you better take your toys and go home. No, said toys don't include Miri.
Note: I've seen complaints about Hee Joo and Myung Hoon's roles being reduced as the drama went on, but that did not bother me - for one thing, I was always in this for Miri and Yuhyun. For another, Hirayama and Lee Hwa made much more interesting foils and antagonists being the true monsters of the story (any scene with Hirayama and Miri made me viscerally uncomfortable to watch - I dare you to watch their interactions and still blame Miri for doing anything to get out of his power).
So farewell, Miss Ripley. You have been amazingly intense and good.
