Sorry that this is delayed. I've been busy with work. 
Our BOD regulars are great at spotting the themes! Here's an excerpt from @Old American Lady's post. (@OAL, I edited the typos.)
Hi Everyone, is it only me, but did anyone else see the overwhelming theme of mothers and their relationships to their children. I just finished watching the subbed episode on Netflix, and from the beginning to practically the end there were mother issues. Songhwa's mother's call, showing reflected pride and nosiness. There were all the patients' moms, SH's mom's smothering attitude, the baby's mother, IJ's mother figure to Uju (disappointing to the kid), the seizure kid's mom, the security guard's mom, the motorcycle victim's mom, Jang's mother's accident (how does a fellow get all that time off?), and of course Rosa, PaBo's mom -- the latter two moms being the key to the endgame. It may seem abrupt but so is life.. The unexpected happens.. parents age and become ill.. We sometimes are blind to their needs because of our busy life. So we have the set up for the end of the Winter Garden.
Now let's get to Jang's claim that she beat God. Not so fast -- JW is set to propose to her in the Cathedral, and the shot was set up to show what I think was a statue that reminded me of the Pieta. JW has not taken off his rosary bracelet. If he were to marry Jang, it seems that she would have to share him with God; That is the significance of the place he chose for the proposal. And to prove that God is still in the picture, Jang was unable to meet PaBo because God intervened with her mom's auto accident. Lesson-You should not have the hubris to mess with God.
Yes, mothers' love is a theme of this episode. Thanks, @OAL, for listing them.
To me, the giveaway was the background music. It's called the "March of the Toy Soldiers" and it's from Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker Suite." This is played in the opening act of "The Nutcracker Suite" when the family and guests gather for a lavish Christmas party. This music selection is perfect background music for the busy day about to unfold in the hospital, just like the Haydn's "Trumpet Concerto" was the classical piece in Episode 3.
With the classical music softly playing in the background, Minha asked the twin brother if he had washed his hair. He'd been so busy he had no time to observe personal hygiene. This scene segued into Jang's stringy wet hair. She and the rest of her team still had 10 to 15 minutes before Ikjun's rounds began. A male nurse suggested having coffee but the twin sister nixed that idea because there wasn't enough time.
Then, like the geezer that she was, Jang bragged that 15 minutes was enough for her to grab a meal and a dessert. The head nurse chimed in, saying that she could even brush her teeth within that period. Jang volunteered to get coffee for them all, but the male nurse and the twin sister hastily offered to do it. Before another word was said, the staff nurse came in with the coffee.
"Perfect timing!"
They began drinking coffee like a corps de ballet waiting for the big act.
I'll stop here for a second and comment on a few things:
1. Perfect timing
This is another subtheme in this drama. Perfect timing is about having the good intuition (some would attribute it to luck, though) to make the right move in the right situation at the right time.
In this opening scene, the nurse was shown to have perfect timing. Unwittingly, she arrived just when they were discussing who was going to get coffee. At the end of this episode, the gods were shown to have perfect timing, too. Knowingly, they intervened when JW was about to propose to Jang.
Moreover, I think this "perfect timing" is also in the minds of the director and writer. They're keenly aware of the countdown – only 5 more episodes to go till the finale – and they must feel the pressure of running everything like clockwork in order to finish strong. Perfect timing is critical for them, too.
2. Filler Shots
Jang crunching on ice (this sound is so annoying) and receiving another coffee were filler shots. If the director edited these out, he could have more screentime to give to the main casts, SH and JWan.
3. The Hair joke
It began in Episode 1, when she complained about blowdrying her hair on a rainy day. Later, she was gifted with hairclips by a grieving mom. I thought it funny that her untidy hair made a lasting impression on the mom. Next, in Episode 3, her perfectly coiffed hair was disheveled by the wind. Here in Episode 7, her hair looked washed by she didn't seem to have combed it.
To top everything, just when she was dabbing the finishing touch of makeup for her date with JW, she was called away to attend to her mother.
I think the director's been making a joke of Jang's slovenliness.
To continue…
I like how the director focused on a certain object to transition from scene to another. He made it looked seamless.
For instance, Minha's comment on the hair of the twin brother segued into the shot of Jang's hair. Jang's coffee moment segued into SH's coffee scene. While he was drinking coffee in in his car, he cranked up the volume of "The Nutcracker Suite." Then, he sped up with the music blaring.
To me, the director was implicitly connecting driving skills and the ballet music. As Songhwa entered the garage, the image of her skillfully parking her car reminded me of a ballerina finishing her pirouettes with grace and confidence. I knew knew that Songhwa was a dab hand at parking.
This was perfect timing again. The director synchronized the music's ending with Songhwa's arrival. The crash of cymbals was in time with the breaking of her vehicle.
Immediately, her phone rang. Her mom was calling. Note how there was no background music while she was on the phone with her mom. This told us that the director wanted us to pay attention to this conversation
Songhwa: Hi, Mom. What's up? It's so early.
Mom: (defensively) Can I only call you when something's up? Are you at work?
Songhwa: I just got here.
Mom: (gossiping) Hey, my friend's daughter is joining Internal Medicine. No. I think it's Cardiology. She's joining that department at Yulje. She was going to work at the Jongno branch after becoming board-certified, but she'll actually work at your branch for a few months. Will you see her often at work?
Songhwa: No, I rarely work with cardiologists.
Mom: (chuckling then changing topics) By the way, I read another article that mentioned your name. Yoo Gyeongjin thanked you again during your interview.
Songhwa: (glances at watch)
Mom: She said she was doing great without any postoperative complications even though it was a difficult surgery. Was her surgery that difficult? Did it take long? How many hours?
Songhwa: No, it didn't take long. I have to go do rounds, Mom. I'll call you later.
Mom: All right. Okay.
After she hung up, the music played again as she lined up for the elevator.
My comments:
1. Songhwa's mom and Jang's mom
Her phone conversation with her mom was being contrasted to Jang's phone conversation with her mom in Episode 5.
Jang's mom called up at an ungodly hour of 4:00 am. She said she was missing Jang. Jang however sensed that something was amiss. To me, Jang should have followed this up with phone call later after her surgery to check on her mother. Nobody calls at 4:00 am.
Jang: Are you still up? Did something happen? Why are you calling so late?
Mom: Nothing happened. I just missed you.
Jang: It's 4 a.m. right now. You should be asleep.
Mom: I'll go to sleep now that I've heard your voice. Everything's okay with you, right?
Jang: I'm doing fine. Mom, did you fight with Dad?
Mom: Of course not.
Jang: You're sure, right?
Mom: Yes. GU, you're out of side dishes, right? Do you want me to send you some?
Jang: No, I still have a lot left. Mom, you're sure everything's okay, right?
Mom: Of course, everything's fine.
Jang: I'm getting a call. I'm going into surgery now.
Mom: Okay, go ahead. Don't push yourself too hard. I love you.
Jang: Me too.
Note: when Songhwa cuts short her phone conversation with her mom, she often promises to call back at a more convenient time.
2. Proud mom = reflected glory
Anybody can see through Songhwa's mom.
First, she wanted bragging rights. Songhwa was already a professor, and was more senior than her friend's daughter. I doubt that Songhwa's mom was really concerned about the welfare of her friend's daughter. If she was, she would have insisted that Songhwa befriend that newbie and make her feel welcome.
Second, the violinist's surgery took place over a year ago, but Songhwa's mom was still basking in the reflected glory of her daughter's accomplishment...which is pretty normal. The mom was a proud parent. On the other hand, Songhwa undoubtedly saved more lives after that surgery, but she wasn't the type to crow over her successes.
Her irritation with her mom's curiosity about her work is normal, too. It's obvious that whenever her mom inquires about her work, she also fusses about her successes. Given Songhwa's low-key personality, she would certainly loathe her mom making a big deal. She would be embarrassed.
These feelings are relatable because no adult wants that kind of adoration or pressure from their parents. If I were in her shoes, I would want to tone down my mom's expectation that I was perfect at my job.
3. Songhwa is close to her mom.
However, let there be no mistake: Songhwa's closeness to her mom has been established since last season.
In Episode 2, she wasn't embarrassed to tell her mom that she and her boyfriend broke up because he cheated on her. Later in the episode, her mom greeted her on her birthday, and she thanked her mom for bringing her into this world. Her mom said that if she had known it was this lovely to have a daughter, she would've had another one. She then teased her mom that she wouldn't mind having another sibling 40 years her junior. The mom jokingly said that her father would flee.
In Episode 10, when Uju got sick, she called her mom up to ask for advice. She was amazed that her mom was better than a doctor. She said that she had respect for all moms.
This episode, despite showing a typical mother-daughter friction, she was patient with her mom's health complaints. Her mother, like JW's mother Rosa, was anxious about her health. While Rosa took care of her health because she didn't want to be a burden on her kids, Songhwa's mother worried about her health because she was a bit hypochondriac.
Songhwa: What can I do though? I booked an appointment for her with a neurologist. I think what she needs now is reassurance, not a diagnosis.
In sum, she kept regularly in touch with mom. She was the one her mother relied on to deal with her health concerns. She'd been filial daughter.
To continue…
As soon as the classical music was turned back on, the audience was treated to a smooth camera relay. After Songhwa lined up to get on the elevator, JW was filmed getting off the elevator on the other side.
He was accosted by his #1 admirer, Jaehak whose white coat he borrowed. He walked into a hall and on the other side, SH came out of the hall, fixing his own white coat. Trailing behind him are Minha and the twin brother.
Minha informed him that his appointment was delayed. SH said he skipped his breakfast, and Minha promptly invited him to have a quick breakfast with them. SH agreed and they made a U-turn to the cafeteria. As they turned a corner, IkJun appeared around a corner, ready for his rounds.
He was surprised at the number of people joining him in his rounds, and Jang explained who his supporting cast were.
The "Nutcracker suite" continued to play nonstop in the background.
Then, the camera tracked IJ leading his small retinue to a room. But instead of showing IJ's patient inside the room, the camera shifted to the pediatric room of JW.
His nurse was prepping him for their next patient. Note: JW's day started earlier than his other four friends.
Nurse: Next is Hanjun.
JW: Is he here with his mom again?
Nurse: Yes.
Soon after the nurse spoke, the music ended with the same crash of cymbals that we heard in Songhwa's scene earlier.
JW: Hi, Hanjunie. How have you been?
HJ: Good.
Mom: (at the same time) He's been well. But he didn't exercise, so he's gained quite a bit of weight.
JW: Well, but everything looks pretty good. HJ, does your stomach ever feel tight? Do you ever feel dizzy?
Note how JW would address the question to the child, not the mother.
HJ: Well…
Mom: (answering first) No, never. No dizziness, but he occasionally gets headaches. But it goes away as soon as he takes his medication.
JW: I see. The ultrasound results look good too. HJ, you need to lose a bit of weight though. You don't like to exercise? Do you play any sports?
HJ: (opening his mouth)
Mom: (beating him to the answer) He likes baseball. Watching baseball, not playing it.
JW: Excuse me, mom. HJ can answer these questions, too, you know. HJ, you're in sixth grade now, right?
HJ: Yes.
JW: Mom, he's certainly old enough to tell me how he's been doing and describe his condition.
Mom: Gosh, no. He may look like a big boy, but he's still a kid.
HJ: I'm not a kid.
Mom: What?
Then, the boy and JW devised a plan to help him lose weight. They agreed to schedule another appointment in three months. The mother wanted a monthly consultation, but JW vetoed it. It wasn't a good thing, he said. He asked the child if it was okay with him to see him in three months.
Note: the background music restarted. But this time the "Nutcracker Suite" was exchanged for a light-hearted piano piece.
HJ: Of course, Not having to come in often is a good sign because it means that I'm recovering optimally. Don't get me wrong. I like you very much, but I'm happy that I don't have to come in so often.
JW: All right. Let's make sure we don't have to see each other so often.
HJ: Okay.
Comments:
1. Perfect timing
As you can see then, the perfect timing was related to the background music. The scenes were edited so that the end of the music would synchronize with the start of Songhwa's conversation with her mom as well as the start of JW's conversation with his patient and his mother.
That's how I knew that mothers would be the main topic of this drama.
2. On mothers
Both Songhwa and JW were irritated by the mothers. It appeared as if they found motherly love overpowering and burdensome.
As I said, Songhwa didn't want her mom too inquisitive about her work. She found her mother's interest in her job annoying. Likewise, JW didn't want HJ's mom to interfere in his doctor-patient consultation. He found the mother's presence intrusive. Both Songhwa and JW would like the mothers to be less involved in their children's lives.
I find it interesting that the writer connected these two characters' interactions with their mothers in the opening act.
Speaking from experience, though, when my sons hit puberty, I was asked to leave the exam room for a portion of the well-child check-up. Their pediatrician would first go over any physical, mental, and psychological concerns together with me and my son. Then, I'd step out of the room, while my son and the pediatrician had their own private consultation. After they were done, I'd go back in. As a parent, I was never made to feel like I didn't have a voice in the health decisions of my adolescent child.
That's why I bristled at JW's medical approach -- or rather Writer Lee's perspective on what constitutes an adolescent check-up.
Sure, a teenager was old enough to describe his condition, but the pediatrician wouldn't know which condition to focus on, if the parent didn't raise specific issues of concern, e.g., suicidal thoughts, eating disorders, weight problems, drugs, school bullying, alcohol, sex, etc.
I found JW's medical approach runs counter to the old adage that "mothers know best." At the very least, mothers should be heard. What JW should have done was to get both the parent's and the child's perspectives and then ask the mother for permission to speak with the child in private.
3. Speaking of mothers…
There was one mother who remained silent throughout this episode, but whose impact was most supreme. Did you see her?
JWan: What's the song for this week?
JW: "To You"
JWan: Darn it. It's a love song.
JW: Ha! What are you doing this Sunday?
JWan: (perking up) Why? Are you going to hang out with me this Sunday?
JW: No, I have prior engagements. If you're staying home again…
JWan: Then, what?
JW: Can you get some groceries?
JWan: (No comment)
JW: I'll do it if you don't want to.
JWan: I've got plans. A school reunion.
There! On the table. She knew what JW was planning to do on Sunday but she kept silent.
She was there, too, when JW was suddenly left at the altar…errr… at the portico of the cathedral. She was silent, too.
But just because a mother is silent doesn't mean she isn't working behind-the-scene....
I don't know if ShinLee are going to kowtow to the WG and IkSonger fanclubs, and change the endgame to suit these ships. But I do know these:
1. Jang asked JW to ditch his Catholic faith on Christmas Day. Of all days!
2. Jang said not a word to correct Minha and IJ when they congratulated her on beating God.
Minha: I congratulated her for beating God.
IJ: (snapping his finger) That's right! GU beat God.
Jang: (crickets)
If I were Jang, I would have told them to shush.
3. No matter how hard the writer tries to rehabilitate her character, I won't forget Jang's lack of pity for that distraught mom in S 1, Ep 2. She was a THIRD-year resident then; Hardly a newbie.
Jang: It's highly likely that he's having hemorrhagic shock.
Mom: Then, what should we do?
Jang: His pulse is weak. We believe he may have a thoracic and brain injury. We took him up for CT.
JW: (stops to listen to her)
Jang: But we're not sure if he will last. There's a slim chance we can save him. There's no hope for him.
Mom: (begging her) Doctor, please save JuHwan. If he's gone, I won't be able to live.
Jang: Did you perform CPR?
Mom: Pardon?
Jang: Did you do chest compressions?
Mom: No.
Jang: He could have lived if you had done that.
Mom: What?!
She exhibited neither compassion nor pity when she blamed the mom for not saving her own child.
Now, the statue behind JW in the Cathedral is a replica of the famous "Pieta" by Michelangelo. (If you haven't been living under the rock all these years, you should know what "Pieta" means and what it stands for.)
Try to imagine Jang asking Mary, the Mother of God, those same shameful questions she asked that mom in the ER.
"Did you perform CPR? Did you do chest compressions? He could have lived if you had done that."
Do you see what I'm saying?
Jang has been an abominable character to me ever since that moment, and nothing she has done in all these episodes has convinced me to change my mind. I would have overlooked her unkempt hair, protruding ears, sullen face, and her 101 other faults, had she displayed even just a smidgen of "pieta" for that mother.
Next up, a post on schematics.
No comments:
Post a Comment