Presentation
Korean Title: 화양연화
Aired in: 2020 (16 episodes)
Channel: tvN
Grade: 10/10
Actors: Lee Bo Young, Yu Ji Tae, Park Jin Young and Jeon So Nee
For more…
Yoo Ji Tae:
– Mad Dog
– Different Dreams
– Healer
– The Good Wife
Lee Bo Young:
– God’s Gift: 14 Days
– My Sweetheart My Darling
– Save the Last Dance for Me
– Man from the Equator
Drama with a past / present narrative:
– Love Rain
Analysis
Synopsis
Han Jae Hyun and Yoon Ji Su met in the 1990s, when they were both in college. Jae Hyun studied law and Ji Su was majoring in piano. They both started to fall in love with each other because they shared common beliefs and were demonstrating for people’s rights. However, they had to take different paths because of their own life circumstances. 20 years later, they meet again and realize they still love each other.
My Opinion (No Spoilers)
This drama is such as gem! I definitely loved it. It is the perfect depiction of a love story between two people, who have to deal with the ups and downs of life. I thought that the romance, the tenderness and devotion of the relationship, were really beautifully played and depicted. The two timelines adjust perfectly and we understand the reasons, motivations and realizations of characters.
This drama was like a poetic piece, in which the characters came closer to each other again slowly but radiantly.
Really recommend that drama! It will make you melt inside!
Analysis (Spoiler Alert)
Two timelines perfectly aligning: The drama is actually split in 2 main parts: the one in the 1990s and the one in 2020 (20 years later). In 1993/1994, Han Jae Hyun (Yu Ji Tae/Park Jin Young) met Yoon Ji Su (Lee Bo Young/Jeon So Nee) during a student protest. She is simply crossing the street, when the police starts throwing tear gas at students present for the demonstration. As she is struggling to run away from the protest, Han Jae Hyun grabs her hand and leads her out of the crowd.
Yoon Ji Su falls immediately in love with Han Jae Hyun and she spends some weeks following him and trying to seduce him. He doesn’t seem to fall for her at first but eventually gives in. They start a strong and passionate relationship, but are unfortunately separated because of their own family issues. They both go their own way, convinced that they lost the love of their lives. Han Jae Hyun then gets married to a rich conglomerate’s daughter and together have a son. Yoon Ji Su gets married to a lawyer and has a son of her own too.
When the second timeline starts, Yoon Ji Su has divorced from Lee Se Hun (Kim Young Hoon) and has taken full custody of her boy in exchange for not getting alimony. Han Jae Hyun is also going through a rough time, he assumes the responsibilities for his father-in-law’s bad deeds and has just spent four years in prison. When he is released, he intends to take over the company and divorce his actual wife Jang Seo Kyung (Park Si Yeon).
An unexpected turn of event – Jae Hyun’s son and Ji Su’s sons go to the same school – makes them meet again. Realizing that they still have feelings for each other, they keep in touch, while trying to cut ties with their past to start anew.
Briefly explained, this is the linear timeline. However, the specificity of the drama is that the timeline is constructed in a way that the events in our characters’ current life match those from the past. There is an impression of echo between the two set of couples; allowing viewers to understand their reservations and affection too towards each other. Indeed, the encounter scene, the break-up scene, the hospital scene, the scene with the mall crumbling and the protest scenes all seem to reflect each other. I found it so clever to actually write a love story, in which life events are actually cyclical and mirror each other. Meaning in reality, that our characters just need to make a different decision to change the destination of their relationship.
This echoing effect is also really efficient to give us a real understand of our characters’ personalities. Han Jae Hyun used to be a dreamer, idealist and rebellious young man, fighting to make a better world. That side of him is actually one of the reasons why Ji Su fell in love with him. He then became corrupted by society and capitalism, a cynical willing to crush people to get what he wants; so almost his exact opposite and what he was fighting for as a student.
Yoon Ji Su’s character also evolved: she used to be a cheerful and joyful woman, who discovered herself a passion for justice and rightfulness. She became and uptight person and kept going with her battles (she still does protests against Jae Hyun’s company for example). However, because she had to go through grave life events (her mother and sister died in an accident; she divorced from her child’s father with great difficulties), she has lost joy. She became a cold and sad shell, living day-by-day and struggling to find meaning in her life. Just like Jae Hyun, she became her exact opposite.
Interestingly though, their encounter 20 years later show them that they still influence each other for the better. We witness their personal evolution and development to become those they once were proud to be. The drama describes a self-oriented journey for each character, highlighting the power of their love on their determination to change. They were hurt by life, when separated, but get back at it together.
The finale is just the best finally I have seen: in terms of closure and construction especially. At the end, the four main leads find each other at a time when the two timelines adjust and are intertwined. Yoon Ji Su and Han Jae Hyun embrace each other but also their old self, congratulated them for surviving up to now. I believe that this scene is also a wonderful representation of acceptance of one self. Despite the hurdles on their way, they never gave up on their love and managed to be together. Plus, they got back hope and meaning in their life.
Seeing all the characters walking side by side and finally being happy made me tear up a bit. After all they’ve been through they can finally live their love.
The passing of the seasons: The title “When My Love Blooms” is a first indication regarding the passing of the seasons that is present throughout the drama. Just like the timelines have an echoing structure, the present love story in 2020 follows a linear structure: that of the seasons. Indeed, Jae Hyun and Ji Su met again in winter (it snows at that time and they also got together while it snowed) and fulfill their love story by being together in spring, as they advance in a forest. Snow gave place to flowers blooming in that forest/park.
This connotation to nature is actually very poetic in my opinion and is a great depiction of life, that goes on and on.
Ode to love: The drama is to me a poem, that is in reality a real ode to love. It presents all sorts of different loves (either between family members, friendship, romantic relationship) at different stages.
Obsessive love: The supporting characters Se Hun and Jae Hyun are the perfect depiction of that obsessive love. I can’t tell you how much I wanted to punch them! They were selfish characters, who couldn’t let go and accept that their relationship was over. Is it a question of pride? Of fear? Of both? I don’t know, but their self-centered behavior really made our main couple go through serious issues. For example, Se Hun influenced the old man at the end into stabbing Jae Hyun. Incredible, I was so shocked that he could do such as thing and not feel more remorse. Lucky for him he was forgiven by the two others, because I never would’ve. Still, I think that Lee Se Hun was a very complex and complicated character, at the limit between the ex-husband who understood that his wife was unhappy with him and wishes to become a better person and the jealous and overly present ex-husband, who considers that if he can’t have Yoon Ji Su, no one can. I liked the fact that it was a gray character, fighting inside himself to find ways to let go. Another important point to note I think, Ji Su has a sort of of healing power. She is so upright and constant in her beliefs that others find it necessary for them to better to match her. Lee Se Hun in the end found redemption only because of Ji Su’s capacity of bettering others (like she did for Jae Hyun).
Seo Kyung is also the depiction of obsessive love. I could understand the fact that she didn’t want to be abandoned again (like her mother did) and fears solitude. Nevertheless, I couldn’t really empathize with her character, not because she was a constant pain for Jae Hyun (who by the way was so open-minded, tolerant and patient), but because she never showed any respect for Jae Hyun whatsoever. From the very beginning, she knew her father was using Jae Hyun to do his bad deeds and taking the blame after. Yet, she never tried to protect her husband from her father or to stand up for Jae Hyun. She even let her father call her husband his “hound man” or “his dog”! This is crazy for me! How can you expect someone to love and respect you, if you let your family members treat him like a dog! This lack of respect and consideration for her husband really made me incapable of sympathizing with her; her actions worsening her case.
When there should be love: The Chairman checks all the boxes in that category. He is only thinking about himself, his power, his money and even admits he would sacrifice his own daughter, if it meant avoiding jail. Even with his grandson he doesn’t show an ounce of affection and becomes protective only when he has an interest behind. Ji Su’s father is also a great pick for that category. I really couldn’t understand how a father could hate only one of his children that much and be willing to ruin his/her life because of that. I despised that character greatly, especially when I saw all of the efforts Ji Su made (until his death) to be accepted.
Family love: Apart from being hated by her father, Ji Su still had the chance to be close to her mother and sister. Unfortunately, they died in an accident and Ji Su never really forgave herself for that. Every time, she would dream of leaving her family, turning back to them and being unable to tell them goodbye. The most beautiful and heart-warming moment was at the end, in my opinion, when Ji Su finally forgives herself and is able to say goodbye to bother her mother and sister.
Fatherly/Motherly love: As adults, Seo Kyung and Ji Su are doing everything they can to protect their own father and take care of them, even though they don’t appreciate the effort. They are a great epitome of the love that children have for their parents. Han Jae Hyun is also a good representation. His father was a worker who led an union and committed suicide, when the company he was working for, turned the entire union against him. After that event, Jae Hyun has wanted to get revenge and honor his father’s memory. What he does by overthrowing Chairman Jang, the CEO of the company his father and he work for.
The drama is intergenerational (3 generations); that’s why motherly/fatherly love is also embodied by Han Jae Hyun and Yoon Ji Su (and their respective spouses)’s children. Both are really devoted to their kids, they are trying to live their love without hurting them in the process. Moreover, they are really open and understanding (Yoon Ji Su lets her son decides what he wants). They are also really just in their decisions and I believe they are excellent role models for them.
Plus, the children were so cute and mature, I was really impressed, especially Ji Su’s son.
The old man is also an epitome of fatherly love: destroyed by the death of his son because of the company, he wants to avenge him.
One-sided love: Jo Young Woo (Lee Tae Sang) is the second possible lover in the drama, even though his spot is actually shadowed by the ex-spouses. Still, I was a bit afraid at first that he would be pushy and try to separate our two main leads, but he happened to be an excellent supporting friend, accepting the fact that he can’t come between Ji Su and Jae Hyun. Instead of resenting them for that, he prefers treasuring their friendship.
Friendship: Either in the 1990s or in 2020, the group of friends from college is still very solid and supportive. The bright personalities of the circle’s members also give place to a more light-hearted mood, when subjects are really grave.
Unconditional love: I don’t need to explain that much, just Ji Su and Jae Hyun’s compatibility is amazing and the characters’ chemistry (in both timelines) incredible!
Saying goodbye: The drama is intricately constructed. On the one side, it is an ode to all sorts of love (actual and passed), giving a romantic and feel-good vibe to it. On the other side, it deals with very strong and grave subjects and puts forward the importance of saying goodbye. Grief, pain, suffering, mourning are recurrent themes in the drama (suicides, bullying at school, divorce, separation, prison, Ji Su’s birthday being the same day as her family’s death anniversary…). In fact, I thought that the drama wanted to show viewers that at some point we have to move on; we can’t dwell on the past and be in pain forever. Well-knitted with the passing of seasons, we go from a painful winter to a blooming spring, opening to new possibilities and opportunities.
Saying goodbye to the loved ones and grieving are important, but time passes by and we also get to start fresh, even when the world seems to crumble around else.
The ending also brings this kind of closure and willingness to advance in life and to confront it with all our might.
Political background: Well I couldn’t do a review on that drama without evoking the political background. Student demonstrations in the 1990s, protests for decent working conditions, fights against corruption, failures in the system are all topics pointed at in the drama. Imprinting the drama, I think that this insertion of real-life events (in 1995 Sampoong mall really collapsed in Seoul cc Reply 1994) gave a patriotic vibe to the story, subliming the poetic intent (let’s think about committed poetry).
The fateful ending: What better ending than one that is determined by destiny. The story (the first episode) starts in 1993, when Jae Hyun rescues Ji Su from a protest. At the time, it seems like Ji Su is the one falling immediately in love with Jae Hyun and pursuing him. However, the ending tells otherwise. Indeed, in 1991, while they were in high school, Jae Hyun and Ji Su met also during a protest. This time, Ji Su protected Jae Hyun from police officers. He fell in love with her. Then in 1993, fate entered in the game: Jae Hyun spotted Ji Su at the crosswalk during the protest. Pure destiny! The drama ends with Park Jin Young staring at Ji Su, he recognizes from two years ago.
The realization: One specific detail to point out in the direction is the focus that is made on feet. I loved these scenes, when feet were the center of the story, depicting memories, characters’ hesitation and resolution. I also couldn’t stop thinking about the underlying message that your feet are those leading you where you want to go; towards a goal or a person. If steps were reluctant and static at the beginning, they are assertive and strong at the end, illustrating characters’ evolution as well.
P.S.: The writing on the wall (the title!)
P.S.2: The music and the piano were also such poetic themes!
Once Upon a Drama 