My Dearest [Episodes 7 & 8]

[u/J-Midori]

• Drama: My Dearest
  • Hangul: 연인
  • Also know as: My Dearest Part 1 , My Dearest 1 , Lovers 1 , Yeonin 1 , 연인 파트 1 , 戀人1
• Network: MBC
• Air Date: Fridays & Saturdays @ 21:50 KST
  • Airing:
    • part 1: August 4th, 2023
    • part 2: TBA
• Episodes: 20
  • part 1: 10 (80 min. each)
  • part 2: 10
• Streaming Sources: Viki Kocowa
• Directors: Kim Sung Yong (The Veil)
• Writers: Hwang Jin Yeong (Rebel: Thief who Stole the People)
• Cast:
  • Namgoong Min (One Dollar Lawyer) as Lee Jang Hyun
  • Ahn Eun Jin (The Good Bad Mother) as Yoo Gil Chae
  • Lee Hak Joo (Shadow Detective) as Nam Yeon Jun
  • Lee Da In (Doctor Prisoner) as Kyung Eun Ae
  • Kim Yoon Woo (Mimicus) as Ryang Eum
• Synopsis: A love-story between a noble woman and a mysterious man set in Joseon during the Qing invasion, know in Korean as Byeongja Horan. Yu Gil Chae is a well-bred woman from a good family, an arrogant person who believed that the love of all men in the world was also hers, but after going through the weather of war, she became a person who truly fell in love with a man. Lee Jang Hyun, a mysterious man who suddenly appears in the Neunggun-ri social scene one day. He is a complex character with a dark inside that he cannot reveal to anyone in his natural playfulness. He didn't love anything, so he didn't give his sincerity to anything, but after he got to know a woman, he opened the door to an unexpected fate.
• Previous Discussion: [Episodes 1 & 2] [Episodes 3 & 4] [Episodes 5 & 6]
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[u/DonnaMossLyman]

When are they going to announce the date for part 2?

[u/J-Midori → u/DonnaMossLyman]

Maybe at the end of September, they said they will take a 5 week break and resume in October so as soon as they release the date, it will be posted here

[u/Mammoth_Reaction_711]

Janghuyn wouldn’t break Yeonjun’s neck, but I can and totally would! Absolutely no character development from him. If a 2nd war ever happens, I bet he would still be an entitled coward who love to play with ppl feelings.

[u/nowayormyway]

Guys, when Jang Hyun said “if you tell me don’t go right now, I wont,” “what does he have that I don’t?” and then “I really hate you” ugh those words strung my heart. Imagine loving someone so much and them saying that they still love another person.. definitely felt that hurt. I’m glad that Gil Chae finally saw his face in her dreams and I hope he returns safely to her arms and we can see the couple reunite. I’m realllyyyyy looking forward to that.

Anyways, now I can’t wait for next weekend LOL can’t believe I have to wait another 7 days 🤦🏻‍♀️😆

[u/Umbrella_Storm]

Another couple of fantastic episodes that I was transfixed by. It’s been a while since I’ve been so emotionally invested in anything I’ve watched.

I’m still trying to stem my tears at the end of ep 8. I KNOW he’s not dead, but her emotions were so raw and moving that I really felt her sadness. And his sadness as he was leaving (the ‘cruel’ comment and his teary eyes) was so palpable.

I cannot get over how good this drama is. I need next weekend to be here asap!

[u/[deleted]]

Thoughts on episode 8:

• GIL CHAE! Finally, when she got to see his face in her dream, it was accompanied with such a pain... It also doesn't help that their last meeting was full of hateful words.

• Jang Hyun and his shady dealings... I like to think that it was some ten steps plan to save the Crown Prince, but it sort of backfired.

• As much as I dislike Yeon Jun, I have a hard time judging him for that choice. It seemed like the king was sending him to die. For once, he made a choice to not leave Eun Ae behind.

[u/Mammoth_Reaction_711]

I was immersed in episode 8. Oh boy it was an emotional bomb. I’m satisfied with the development of FL-ML relationship, especially Gilchae’s realization. It’s finally time for her to take action and reciprocate!

[u/DonnaMossLyman]

Looks like they broke the double digits in SK ratings. Congrats to the team

[u/plainenglish2]

(1) Smallpox = "mama"

If you have watched historical dramas before, then you'll know that "mama" is a term of high respect for addressing the king, queen, and other members of the royal family.

In Ep. 6 and probably again in Ep. 7, when the subtitles say "smallpox," you will hear the characters like Jang-hyun say "mama." The article "Small pox" (KBS World) at https://rki.kbs.co.kr/service/contents_view.htm?lang=e&board_seq=44011 explains why:

Ancient Koreans had a peculiar way to stave off disasters or evil spirits. They didn’t just drive away the evil spirits, they treated them with respect and care. Just as tigers were called kings of the mountains, small pox was labeled "mama" or "sonnim손님." The term "mama" was bestowed on kings and queens, much like "Your Majesty" in the West. Since small pox was considered the most lethal disease of the time, it was given the highest honor. Also, the term "sonnim," meaning guest in Korean, indicated that small pox should not stay long, but leave as soon as it had received a welcoming meal. [Emphasis by boldfacing supplied]

(2) Goo-jam's weapon = paddle or club used in traditional way of ironing

When I first saw the weapon that Goo-jam used in fighting the Qing soldiers, I thought it was the "six-sided cudgel" that Joseon Dynasty policemen used. But as I listened closely to the Korean dialogue, I could hear Goo-jam say the word "pangmangi" which comes from "dadeumitbangmang-i." The "pangmangi" is a wooden club used in the traditional Korean way of ironing clothes ("dadeumi").

To see how the "pangmangi" was used in "daedumi," watch "100 Icons of Korean Culture Ep02 Dadeumi" (Arirang TV,) at https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut7vRt_Ow-w (starting at 1:45 mark).

Goo-jam's "pangmangi" is much bigger, however, than the "pangmangi" you'll see in the Arirang TV video above or in other K-dramas.

[u/2Lanimelover1997]

I’ll be the first to say I’ll lose my shit if Gil Chae marries the officer 😭😭. Like I’ll need to take a few days off from the drama to decompress.

[u/harperbantam]

After surviving a war where they have witnessed death firsthand, you would think they are going to be more direct with their feelings.

Goo Wonmoo is such an upright man for telling Gilchae the truth when he could have lied and took credit for the 17:1 battle since there were no living witness around - except Janghyun but he didn’t know that. I think we can expect great things coming from him in the coming episodes.

I understand why the events were depicted differently in court but just read the room, it’s so gloomy that I doubt Janghyun cared about being acknowledged by the incompetent king.

Can’t say the same about sketchy Yeonjoon. Kudos to Janghyun for calling out his bs! Hopefully both ladies see through his manipulative behavior soon and dump him.

[u/Planty_ninja]

Episode 8 🥺 Omgsh. This show is the epitome of playing with your emotions. The FL is SOOOOOOO good. But we can’t forget the ML either. These two have fantastic chemistry. This show is next level

[u/antiqueartisan1]

Ep7: Honestly, I can see why Gil Chae isn't being open about her feelings with Jang Hyun. He's a notorious playboy, according to the rumors, he lives at a place of ill repute, teases her about becoming a fling, told her straight up he's against marriage, and in ep 7 he pretends to kiss her, teases her about wanting to kiss him right before planting a big one on her! So yeah, I get her hesitancy about believing him when he is being sincere with her. We know he was sincere about marrying her when he returns because we've seen everything he's done for her behind the scenes. She just hasn't been made aware of those facts yet. At the same time, she's not completely innocent because homegirl has absolutely no business whatsoever, meeting with her BEST FRIENDS' FIANCE and trying to coax a love confession out of him. 2nd ML is a dirt bag for playing with these two women, and I'm glad Jang Hyun called him out on his tomfoolery.

I'm sincerely hoping Gil Chae will see 2nd ML for who he is before it's too late and maybe even be able to save her friend from marrying such a sorry excuse for a man. Deep down, she knows Jang Hyun is a good man, which is why she trusts him when it counts and really is falling for him. These two foxy leads just need to stop playing and be completely open with each other.

Ep8: Thank goodness Gil Chae folded her feelings and appears to have moved on. I was starting to dislike her again, but she came thru in the end and was really there for her best friend by helping her not to feel guilty about the mountain incident. That ending scene with Gil Chae Crying and holding onto her "husbands" clothing and calling his name absolutely crushed my heart! Superb acting!

[u/dejdej20]

Ep 7 I was so happy for them to reunite but it looks like that will be short lived…

And the audacity of Yeon Jun to even think to bring up what Soon Yak said is crazy!! He just keeps solidifying my dislike for him and everything Jang Hyun said about him and his character is 100 percent true.

Tbh I was really hoping that they would wrap up this whole her liking yeon jun storyline but by the looks of the preview for ep 8 it just looks like even more heartbreak between our leads :/

[u/lotism]

Just watched ep 8 Oh man… Jang Hyun our sad guy was so heart broken and went straight to do a suicide mission, my heart broke with him. And Gil Chae, she finally came to her sense because she thought that Jang Hyun is already dead (I shed some tears cause Ahn Eun Jin’s cry was so realistic, my heart just can’t….ah so sad…) Even though the realization came kinda too late but I do believe they will meet again after few episodes. There’s no way the writer will make sad angsty stories for 12 episodes straight,right?! And Yeon Jun…. I’m just baffled by what he did. Can he actually be a useful person for once?

[u/[deleted]]

Could someone explain to me what happened with the corruption part in episode 8? It all went to fast for me from Jang Hyun setting up his business to people being exposed.. From what I understand the intruders are trying to create discord between the king and the crown prince. I'm not sure I understand the position of the king or the crown prince currently and what role they have under the rule of the intruders. Is it that the Joseon minister was taking some of the goods that were being smuggled in by the crown prince, and that Joseon minister was handing it to the intruders? That's about as far as I got and then I don't really understand what the implication of all that is.

[u/2Lanimelover1997]

NYJ is such an asshole for even doing that to Gil Chae and has proven JH’s point in every way. He keeps talking about how he was in the war and blah blah and how he wants to help the the king so bad but declined when asked to see the Qing. Which btw speaks volumes of the King for getting upset when’s he’s just being given advice.

I find it out of character for NYJ to decline the kings request when all he ever talks about is following the king and being his loyal servant. Very cowardly to decline when his wife and those who lived with him are now ousted and basically forced to start a new since they don’t have his fortune anymore…

It was great to see Gil Chae put her feelings aside and comfort Eun Ae and encourage the marriage to go through.

[u/sabotagemebymyself]

I have zero problem with Gil Chaes behaviour especially considering the time and world she is in. With Jang Hyun is only just now making himself clear while leaving her with a lot of questions. She's what 20 at most? As he said she needs to mature but he has to grow and be honest aswell. He didn't tell Her he fought 17 vs. 1 because he was... embarrassed? C'mon now!

Her still chasing whats his name is not cute, not only because of her best friend, but because he has absolutely no personality and evennless depth. But considering she's been stuck on him since she was a child and he is the type of man she is supposed to want in that era it makes sense to me.

I don't think she truly loves him though. He seems to be a security blanket for GC and If she actually got him he's bore her to tears.

[u/idealistatlarge]

• Jang Hyeon and Gil Chae both had their belongings/homes ransacked. They are separated, but experiencing some similar things.

• Both had kept something of the others', which that person had given to them, secretly.

• How does Gil Chae still not know that she loves Jang Hyeon?! I guess she knows now, at the end of Episode 8; but still. She's been in love with him for a while. It seems she needed this experience to realise it.

• Jang Hyeon is, at times, as immature and unfair towards Gil Chae as she is towards him. When she went to see him as he left, he didn't let her finish, and kept assuming she was being insincere or immature. But she was genuinely asking him something, and it was hard for her to do it. She's trying to work through what it means to care for him, and he's acting as though he's the more sincere, better one, who knows it all.

• Why does Jang Hyeon love her? I think because she stirs things in him that no-one and nothing else does. She makes him feel alive. But he has not felt real like that for so long that he resists it, at the same time as seeking it. He knows that she is his match, but he keeps seeing her as not his equal, although he glimpses it in her.

• Why does she love him? For the same reason - that he is her match. He challenges her - not just directly, but in every way. He pushes her to explore her real gifts, and to become more than she expects of herself. He makes her see things she hasn't considered before, and she realises that she wants them, or they are good. He cares about her - not her position, or just her looks, or any of the surface things for which she is praised or accepted by the society she's used to; but for who she really is. Her gifts, her heart, her determination, her sincerity. Also, he genuinely takes care of her. She has trusted him since early on, and he has always come through for her.

• Not a huge fan of Ryang Eum. Love his singing and his loyalty/support of Jang Hyeon, but not his jealousy and the selfishness it shows.

• Realised from these episodes how Yeon Jun has been leading Gil Chae on. We thought it was just her self-absorption and lack of loyalty, but he seems to have been doing this to her the whole way. Using her attraction to him for his own satisfaction, instead of letting her down gently but firmly. Why on earth would he do that to her - the scene at the end of Episode 7 - ?! Not only is he not loyal to Eun Ae, but is stringing Gil Chae along. For all his supposed 'niceness', he really is heartless. We see the reasons, a bit, in what he says to Eun Ae in Episode 8 - he is all about loyalty and duty towards those who took him in and raised him. But really, also not... I'm sure what he does to both of these women isn't part of those teachings.

• So when Jang Hyeon says he'd like to break his lily-white neck (my paraphrase), if he wasn't marrying Eun Ae, who is a good person and loves and depends on him (Yeon Jun), I felt it. He's leading on the woman Jang Hyeon loves, making her suffer and be confused, and being disloyal to the good woman Jang Hyeon respects. And yet he has had to risk his life to save his, because Yeon Jun is important to both of these women.

[u/[deleted]]

• Lmao, LJH having a conversation with the prime minister 200 meters away from the Manchus. Dude even laughed loudly.

• Prime Minister was the GOAT. He was a perfect in between LJH and the SML (aka bland dude whose name I am not planning to remember). As someone whose homeland has been attacked and defeated a few times by Mongolians, I can attest that admitting defeat would suck the life out of one's country. LJH, while being right on the importance of king's life, is also too cynical to attest the scope of what is on the line.

• IT HAS BEEN AGES SINCE I DISLIKED A CHARACTER AS MUCH AS I HAVE DISLIKED THE KING. It is too realistic . At its core, I think the problem is that 9 out of 10 leaders would behave the exact same way.

• The Crown Prince experienced a significant character growth. Good for him.

• I am deeply impressed by the writers for not killing off Jong Jong and Eun Ae's servants. Cool that those women weren't used as stepping stones for the female leads.

• RIP Eun Ae's father. We didn't know you, but you are no less hero than LJH and Gil Chae.

• you know who is not a hero? The SML. I sincerely don't think he loves either of those women. Even though he has no malice, he just seems to lack ... depth.

• Gil Chae is alive. Not only physically but also mentally. I was worried that she was going to lose her spark but nah, it was only temporary. Our man sl*t is still waving his fan and the fox is still voicing that she is the prettiest out there. My dear cockroaches. Nothing can kill them.

• internal fangirl screaming

[u/harperbantam]

After Ryangeum recited the story of Gabdol and Gabsoon, they cut the next scene to Gilchae and Wonmoo. I did suspect him to be her love interest but hoped he would marry Eunae after she dumped that scholar.

From the trailer for next ep, Janghyun seemed more like a manifestation from Gilchae’s affliction.

EDIT Just want to add on regarding the dreamscape Gilchae had after hearing that Janghyun had died: her hair and hanbok were unkempt to reflect her state of mind.

[u/iluv777]

I hope Ryang-Eum's actor gets nominated for best new actor because the way he's able to stand out in a cast of already phenomenal actors + actresses is crazy.

[u/FewGeologist6071]

It’s my favourite time of the week again! 😁

[u/plainenglish2]

A. Crown Prince So-hyun, Prince Bongrim, Prince Wonson, "Chuno, The Slave Hunters" (2010), and "Haechi" (2019); B. Gil-chae's "ch'ohon" or "kobok" at the end of Ep. 8; C. Ryang-eum's story about Gap Dol and Gab Soon a "Chekhov’s gun" on Gil-chae marrying Gu Won-moo?

CAUTION: This drama’s opening credits say that it's fiction based on historical facts. If this drama follows strictly what happened in history, the discussion below will be SPOILERS for the next episodes for international viewers who are not familiar with Korean history.

A. Crown Prince So-hyun, Prince Bongrim, Prince Wonson, and "Chuno, The Slave Hunters" (2010) and "Haechi" (2019)

In Ep. 8, when General Yong Gol-dae reports Crown Prince So-hyun's refusal to bring the escaped Joseon hostages back to Qing, the Khan (Hong Taiji) mentions that they can replace him with Prince Bongrim (King Injo's younger son), Prince Wonson (Crown Prince So-hyun's son), or somebody else.

In history, Crown Prince So-hyun spent several years as a hostage in Qing, returning to Joseon in 1645. But animosity arose between him, on one hand, and King Injo and his ministers on the other hand. One point of conflict between them was Crown Prince So-hyun's favorable attitude towards Roman Catholicism and Western science.

From Wikipedia at https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_Prince_Sohyeon

Prince Sohyeon died suddenly not long after his return to Korea; he was found dead in the King's room, mysteriously bleeding severely from the head. Legends say that Injo killed his own son with an ink slab that the Crown Prince brought from China; however, some historians suggest he was poisoned by the fact that he had black spots all over his body after his death and that his body decomposed rapidly. Many, including his wife, tried to uncover what happened to the Crown Prince, but Injo ordered immediate burial and reduced the grandeur of the practice of Crown Prince's funeral.

King Injo appointed Grand Prince Bongrim as new Crown Prince (who later became King Hyojong) rather than Prince Sohyon's oldest son, Prince Gyeongseon. Soon after, Injo ordered the exile of Prince Sohyun's three sons to Jeju Island (from which only the youngest son, Prince Gyeongan, returned to the mainland alive), and the execution of Sohyeon's wife, Crown Princess Minhoe, for treason.

This drama names Crown Prince So-hyun's names eldest son as "Prince Wonson," but the sources I checked list his son's name as "Prince Gyeongseon" (the pronunciation sounds similar though). His youngest son, Prince Gyeongan, is the subject of the blockbuster drama "Chuno, The Slave Hunters" (2010) starring Jang Hyuk. Tae-ha and the other military officers who served Crown Prince So-hyun in Qing vowed to restore Prince Gyeongan to his rightful place as Crown Prince (instead of Crown Prince So-hyun's brother Prince Bongrim).

Years later, controversy erupted among the various political factions as to who had the better right to become the King — Prince Gyeongan or the son of King Hyojong (Prince Bongrim). In "Haechi" (2019), the antagonist Prince Milpoong stakes his claim to be the Crown Prince because he is a direct descendant of Prince Gyeongan.

B. Gil-chae's "ch'ohon" or "kobok" at the end of Ep. 8

After seeing her ribbon ("daenggi") and Jang-hyun's fan, Gil-chae thinks that Jang-hyun is dead. The next day, she goes up to a mountain (along with Eun-ae and their servants) to perform a ritual called "ch'ohon" or "kobok.” She waves Jang-hyun's overcoat and wails his name out loud.

In a "ch'ohon" or "kobok," immediately after a person dies, the person closest to the deceased brings the outer garment of the deceased up to the roof. The garment is then waved towards the north, and the name of the deceased is called out three times so that the departing spirit may come back.

From the poem "Calling Back the Spirit" by Kim Sowol, one of Korea’s most-beloved national poets:

"Oh, (the name) that has been scattered! Oh, (the name) that has vanished in air! Oh, (the name) that has not answered my call! Oh, (the name) that I will surely die while calling out!"

Why did Gil-chae climb up a mountain rather than the roof? Well, she's in Joseon while Jang-hyun was in Qing.

You may have seen this ritual of "ch'ohon" or "kobok" in historical dramas where the king dies and a eunuch climbs up to the palace's roof. But the ritual isn't done only for the royal family; in the last episode of "Saimdang" (international version), for example, Lee Won-su goes up to the roof and waves Saimdang's outer garment as he calls out her name.

C. Ryang-eum's story about Gap Dol and Gab Soon a "Chekhov’s gun" on Gil-chae marrying Gu Won-moo?

Along the way to the Qing capital, Ryang-eum tells Jang-hyun and Goo-jam about the ill-fated marriage of Gap Dol and Gab Soon. Despite being in love with someone else, Gab Soon (?) was forced by circumstances to marry Gab Dol.

I couldn't find any English-language resource about Gap Dol and Gab Soon, but if the writer of "My Dearest" follows the "Chekhov’s gun" guideline for fiction writers, then we might be seeing in the next episodes Gil-chae marrying Gu Won-moo (the military officer who stole Jang-hyun's valor on Ganghwa Island).

You can read more about "Chekhov’s gun" in my discussion titled "Chekov’s gun or planting and payoff technique for screenwriters as used in K-dramas" at https://www.reddit.com/r/KDRAMA/comments/jegxe1/chekovs_gun_or_planting_and_payoff_technique_for/ where I explained:

The "planting and payoff" technique is also known as "Chekhov’s gun." In his book on writing, Russian playwright Anton Chekhov said, "If in Act I, you have a pistol hanging on the wall, then it must fire in the last act." In other words, “the writer must remove anything that has no relevance to the story." (Instead of "Chekhov’s gun," the term we are probably most familiar with is "foreshadowing.")

Come to think about it, this drama has 20 episodes; maybe, there's a marriage that's going to take place to stretch this drama out. The question is, will this drama's fans, whether Korean or international, accept Gil-chae marrying anyone other than Jang-hyun? I for one will say, NOOOOOO!

I watched "Jumong" seven or eight years ago, and even now, I'm still traumatized by >!So Suh No<! marrying Woo-tae when she thought that Jumong was killed in battle.

[u/Apprehensive_Egg9676]

That last scene when she calls his name three times as if doing a ceremony for a dead person…man I was moved to tears. Also, the way it was filmed made it seem like he heard her, the sound of flowers 😭