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walkwithheroesGloria, a fifty-episode Korean drama is entering its final arc this week. It airs on Saturday and Sunday, a day that is usually filled with family-centric romantic dramas. Gloria itself is marketed as a drama; or rather a "an intense tale of people who are fiercely devoted to surviving their rough lives".
The show itself focuses strongly on four characters:
- Na Jin Jin, a thirty year old woman whose spent the last twenty years caring for a mentally disabled older sister. She has had a rough life, but is determined to become a singer and make a good life for her older sister.
- Ha Dong Ah is Jin Jin's best friend. He's a a third-rate gangster that is nicknamed 'loser punk' by the people in their neighborhood; Dong Ah cares for his nephew, and while Dong Ah is truly loyal with a heart of gold, he's also able to keep up in a fight.
- Lee Kang Suk is the illegitimate son of a businessman and a singer. He tries his hardest to be accepted by his father, stepmother, and half-brother, but at the same time he knows he'll never belong is their world. Kang Suk will never be a true Chaebol because of his illegitimate status, nor will he ever be truly apart of his mother's world because of his half-Chaebol roots.
- Jung Yoon Seo is the illegitimate daughter of a businessman and a ladder-climber. She's been depressed for years and tried to commit suicide numerous times throughout the last twenty years. Yoon Seo tried to escape her world via ballet, but after an injury, she's forced to return home. Like Kang Suk, Yoon Seo is stuck between two worlds: she'll never be a true Chaebol, because of her mother nor is she on the same level as a middle or lower class person.
Other important characters in the drama include: Lee Ji Suk, who is Kang Suk's older brother. Fans know him as Creepy because he's, well, Creepy. Na Jin-Joo, Jin Jin's older sister, who was once an up-and-coming singer, before her accident. Yeo Jung-Nan, Kang Suk's beyond awesome mother. Lee Jun-Ho, Kang Suk and Ji Suk's cowardly and selfish father. President Jung, Yoon Seo's evil father. Jung Woo-Hyeon, an old friend of Jung-Nan's and owner of the club that she and Jin Jin sing at. Ha Man-Seok, Dong Ah's dad, who has a past with Ji Suk. Among others.
The thing that I really love about this drama (though some people don't love it, and are rather angry about it) is the realism of it. In most Sat/Sun dramas, the class difference comes into play a bit. There may be an issue with a bitchy mother-in-law or a slightly evil/spoiled rich girl/guy trying to get in the way of true love. BUT, at the end of the series (or by episode 34 or so) it's all more or less resolved. Sure, the mother-in-law may be bitchy, but its played for laughs more than anything else by the half-way point of the drama.
Korean dramas are rarely (if ever) totally realistic in the way prejudice and the real world works. Chaebols rarely marry anyone that isn't also a Chaebol or some sort of celeb in the real world, but it drama world they often marry middle-class or the poorest of the poor. And, it is all alright. There is no scandal and no one breaks ties with the family. It's all good. Except in a few dramas, like What Happened In Bali? and Gloria.
During the early episodes, all four of the main characters discussed the hopelessness of being poor and/or the unfairness of being labeled as the illegitimate child of a Chaebol family. In fact, Dong Ah tries desperately to stay away from Yoon Seo because of their class difference; even going so far as to call their realtionship a "festival" that's fun and magical as it happens, but that must end. I liked that realism. That characters had worries and doubts. That people discussed keeping love interests as a mistress or kept man, instead of a wife or husband. That a drama was willing to be so forward and even slightly dark. A trend that has gone on as the drama has progressed. Yes, their is comedy and romance, but also drama and a realism and darkness that is lacking in other dramas of late.
While I understand why some viewers are become frustrated with the show - forty episodes in, and no true happy ending yet -I don't feel the same way. I find the realistic way the writer is portraying the class system in Korea and the way the rich get away with things rather refreshing. The angst does make me sad, but it also makes me nervous and excited. I keep tuning in to see what will happen to these characters. Never before have I been so unsure and uneasy about the endings of the main characters;
there is possibly that Yoon Seo and/or Dong Ah might die, either by suicide or murder. There is a possibly that Kang Suk and Jin Jin might never be married. Or that Jin Jin could end up the way Kang Suk's mother did. That Jin Joo may be killed. Or that Creepy could get away with it all. All of these things are possible. It worries and excites me, and that is why I watch. I love these characters and I also hate some of them. I love that the writer gave these people layers, that she allowed them to grow and change. I'm so happy with the writing and the pacing, it's perfect.
Gloria, may, at times, be dark and gritty, but it's also a marvelously done drama. The writing, pacing, actors - the characters themselves - are perfect. The story stays with you long after it is over. I look forward to the last ten episodes; and even, the realistic ending that is surely coming my way.
The show itself focuses strongly on four characters:
- Na Jin Jin, a thirty year old woman whose spent the last twenty years caring for a mentally disabled older sister. She has had a rough life, but is determined to become a singer and make a good life for her older sister.
- Ha Dong Ah is Jin Jin's best friend. He's a a third-rate gangster that is nicknamed 'loser punk' by the people in their neighborhood; Dong Ah cares for his nephew, and while Dong Ah is truly loyal with a heart of gold, he's also able to keep up in a fight.
- Lee Kang Suk is the illegitimate son of a businessman and a singer. He tries his hardest to be accepted by his father, stepmother, and half-brother, but at the same time he knows he'll never belong is their world. Kang Suk will never be a true Chaebol because of his illegitimate status, nor will he ever be truly apart of his mother's world because of his half-Chaebol roots.
- Jung Yoon Seo is the illegitimate daughter of a businessman and a ladder-climber. She's been depressed for years and tried to commit suicide numerous times throughout the last twenty years. Yoon Seo tried to escape her world via ballet, but after an injury, she's forced to return home. Like Kang Suk, Yoon Seo is stuck between two worlds: she'll never be a true Chaebol, because of her mother nor is she on the same level as a middle or lower class person.
Other important characters in the drama include: Lee Ji Suk, who is Kang Suk's older brother. Fans know him as Creepy because he's, well, Creepy. Na Jin-Joo, Jin Jin's older sister, who was once an up-and-coming singer, before her accident. Yeo Jung-Nan, Kang Suk's beyond awesome mother. Lee Jun-Ho, Kang Suk and Ji Suk's cowardly and selfish father. President Jung, Yoon Seo's evil father. Jung Woo-Hyeon, an old friend of Jung-Nan's and owner of the club that she and Jin Jin sing at. Ha Man-Seok, Dong Ah's dad, who has a past with Ji Suk. Among others.
The thing that I really love about this drama (though some people don't love it, and are rather angry about it) is the realism of it. In most Sat/Sun dramas, the class difference comes into play a bit. There may be an issue with a bitchy mother-in-law or a slightly evil/spoiled rich girl/guy trying to get in the way of true love. BUT, at the end of the series (or by episode 34 or so) it's all more or less resolved. Sure, the mother-in-law may be bitchy, but its played for laughs more than anything else by the half-way point of the drama.
Korean dramas are rarely (if ever) totally realistic in the way prejudice and the real world works. Chaebols rarely marry anyone that isn't also a Chaebol or some sort of celeb in the real world, but it drama world they often marry middle-class or the poorest of the poor. And, it is all alright. There is no scandal and no one breaks ties with the family. It's all good. Except in a few dramas, like What Happened In Bali? and Gloria.
During the early episodes, all four of the main characters discussed the hopelessness of being poor and/or the unfairness of being labeled as the illegitimate child of a Chaebol family. In fact, Dong Ah tries desperately to stay away from Yoon Seo because of their class difference; even going so far as to call their realtionship a "festival" that's fun and magical as it happens, but that must end. I liked that realism. That characters had worries and doubts. That people discussed keeping love interests as a mistress or kept man, instead of a wife or husband. That a drama was willing to be so forward and even slightly dark. A trend that has gone on as the drama has progressed. Yes, their is comedy and romance, but also drama and a realism and darkness that is lacking in other dramas of late.
While I understand why some viewers are become frustrated with the show - forty episodes in, and no true happy ending yet -I don't feel the same way. I find the realistic way the writer is portraying the class system in Korea and the way the rich get away with things rather refreshing. The angst does make me sad, but it also makes me nervous and excited. I keep tuning in to see what will happen to these characters. Never before have I been so unsure and uneasy about the endings of the main characters;
there is possibly that Yoon Seo and/or Dong Ah might die, either by suicide or murder. There is a possibly that Kang Suk and Jin Jin might never be married. Or that Jin Jin could end up the way Kang Suk's mother did. That Jin Joo may be killed. Or that Creepy could get away with it all. All of these things are possible. It worries and excites me, and that is why I watch. I love these characters and I also hate some of them. I love that the writer gave these people layers, that she allowed them to grow and change. I'm so happy with the writing and the pacing, it's perfect.
Gloria, may, at times, be dark and gritty, but it's also a marvelously done drama. The writing, pacing, actors - the characters themselves - are perfect. The story stays with you long after it is over. I look forward to the last ten episodes; and even, the realistic ending that is surely coming my way.
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no subject
Date: 2010-12-28 04:07 pm (UTC)I really like your points about the uncertinty of our OTPs futures. It makes the situation more real. In life we can't just assume that we'll get a happy ending. And so the writers portray the instability of life. However the show ends I can confidently trust the writers to make something real and not a last minute cop out to get the ending that I want.
no subject
Date: 2010-12-28 09:03 pm (UTC)However the show ends I can confidently trust the writers to make something real and not a last minute cop out to get the ending that I want.
I agree. With the preview for episode 41, it seems that things are going to get even darker. JJ and Jin-Joo seem very intent to get revenge for their parents, and it doing so become a bit harder and mean toward people they love. I'm actually really looking forward to that. Meanwhile, it seems that DA starts working as a hired gangster for Grandmother; again, that's exciting. I love that this show is so very real and not afraid to be a bit dark.
no subject
Date: 2010-12-28 10:00 pm (UTC)That does sound very very interesting. But I totally could understand why that would happen. I would expect the girls to be vengeful. Who wouldn't be?
I'm really going to miss the show when its all over. I'm not gonna lie, there will be some withdrawl!! I'll be rabidly waiting for the next projects of our OTP4!
no subject
Date: 2010-12-28 10:55 pm (UTC)