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Anyone else suffering from #CrashLandingOnYou withdrawal? I’ve not been able to do anything productive in the 36 hours after I watched the last episode.
#CLOY
#CLOY
#CrashLandingOnYou analysis thread, as a way to process all my thoughts about the show. #CLOY
LOVE LETTER. Over and over, while watching the show, I felt like this is a love letter from South Korea to North Korea. This is not to say that the show writers love the North, however.
LOVE LETTER. Over and over, while watching the show, I felt like this is a love letter from South Korea to North Korea. This is not to say that the show writers love the North, however.
What I meant is that #CrashLandingOnYou distills personal feelings of longing among South Koreans for their family members and relatives in the North. Remember when Seri and Jeong Hyeok exchange names on the boat? #CLOY
Seri notes the irony that the Ri and Yoon clans trace their origins in the South and North, respectively. KimSooHanMoo explains better (below).
This highlights how much S Koreans remember their ancestral roots and familial ties in the North. #CrashLandingOnYou #CLOY
This highlights how much S Koreans remember their ancestral roots and familial ties in the North. #CrashLandingOnYou #CLOY
The fully-fleshed out, humanized portrayal of the North Korean villages in #CrashLandingOnYou reflects S Koreans’ yearning for their long-lost family. #CLOY
Here’s a 2018 article that really drives home the geopolitical divide and personal wounds: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/20/world/asia/north-south-korea-family-reunions.html
Here’s a 2018 article that really drives home the geopolitical divide and personal wounds: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/20/world/asia/north-south-korea-family-reunions.html
Yoon Seri even verbalizes this yearning several times in #CrashLandingOnYou, everytime she talks about the eventual unification of the Korean peninsula. #CLOY
I think Jeong Hyeok’s and Seri’s desire to overcome their political situation mirrors the desire to unite families.
I think Jeong Hyeok’s and Seri’s desire to overcome their political situation mirrors the desire to unite families.
This gives details, like the prayer bowl left outside the house in the little village at the border, a historical gravitas.
We know #CrashLandingOnYou lovebirds Seri and Jeong Hyeok are praying and waiting to be reunited. But other families pray and wait, too. #CLOY
We know #CrashLandingOnYou lovebirds Seri and Jeong Hyeok are praying and waiting to be reunited. But other families pray and wait, too. #CLOY
Meanwhile, us viewers are like the mother who set out the prayer bowl. We pray, w/ our eyes glued to Netflix, that fate finds a way for Seri and Jeong Hyeok. Meanwhile, here’s a beautiful blog about “han” that permeates the series. #CrashLandingOnYou #CLOY https://bitchesoverdramas.com/2020/02/06/crash-landing-on-you-on-han-not-love/
BACK! Part 2 of this #CrashLandingOnYou analysis is on POWER DYNAMICS.
Generally, in most KDramas involving two human leads, #power (authority, money, position) often lies in the male lead, which the female lead manages to balance with soft power (charm, kindness, etc). #CLOY
Generally, in most KDramas involving two human leads, #power (authority, money, position) often lies in the male lead, which the female lead manages to balance with soft power (charm, kindness, etc). #CLOY
#CrashLandingOnYou subverts the KDrama formula of power dynamics.
Sure, in North Korea, Jeong Hyeok enjoys some power over Seri given his military position, his training, his being in his home turf, and (we later find out) his family’s political capital. #CLOY
Sure, in North Korea, Jeong Hyeok enjoys some power over Seri given his military position, his training, his being in his home turf, and (we later find out) his family’s political capital. #CLOY
Even then, we see Seri confident of her financial power and cultural influence. Her products make its way into N Korea, as we see in the smuggled Seri’s Choice products we see in the village market. She talks casually about her money, matter of fact, in the way the old rich does.
We see Seri assert her physical power. She drives a truck—a rugged, military one—& makes a choice to save Jeong Hyeok’s + another soldier’s lives. They may have position, authority & physical prowess—heroes’ trademarks—but Seri is no damsel in distress! #CrashLandingOnYou #CLOY
Seri even repeats the feat, saving Jeong Hyeok again when he got caught in a snowstorm.
Note that no other female in #CrashLandingOnYou ever drives a car. Even the rich, Western-educated, independent Seo Dan never seem to drive her own car.
#CLOY #girlpower
Note that no other female in #CrashLandingOnYou ever drives a car. Even the rich, Western-educated, independent Seo Dan never seem to drive her own car.
#CLOY #girlpower
Meanwhile, in Pyongyang, where geopolitics, gender, money all seem to put Seri at a disadvantage, she goes head-to-head against Director Ri, Jeong Hyeok’s dad. She asserts her will and intellect, eventually winning them over. She backs down only for Jeong Hyeok’s benefit. #CLOY
Of course, this attitude shouldn’t surprise us. Seri had gone head-to-head against another powerful male figure: her very own dad.
Here’s a shot of her striding into their family home in #CrashLandingOnYoi episode one: arms crossed like an armor, smirking at her idiot brothers.
Here’s a shot of her striding into their family home in #CrashLandingOnYoi episode one: arms crossed like an armor, smirking at her idiot brothers.
And like the BOSS GIRL she is, gets appointed as her dad’s heir. She accepts it, despite her disdain for he entire family!
Unlike many female KDrama leads, Seri has created her own empire, leading a life independent of her family’s money. Her power is her own. #CrashLandingOnYou
Unlike many female KDrama leads, Seri has created her own empire, leading a life independent of her family’s money. Her power is her own. #CrashLandingOnYou
In Seoul, we see her exert this power. She has an army of loyal staff that mobilizes for her business interests. She flexes her dating life for profit. She buys an apartment complex to use as leverage to protect her love interest. Just like a KDrama hero! #CrashLandingOnYou #CLOY
I truly enjoyed seeing the female lead flaunting her wealth in #CrashLandingOnYou. Seri gives the (socialist!) N Korean soldiers carte blanche on her credit card, and gets disappointed they are not spending enough. She takes Sgt Pyo’s threats to bankrupt her with a laugh! #CLOY
The scene that really drove home to me the subversion of power dynamics in #CrashLandingOnYou is this scene. The female lead taking the male lead in a fun shopping/transformation outing. Which means we viewers also enjoyed the eye candy: Hyun Bin.
#CLOY
#CLOY
Lastly, the two ultimate power flexes here for Seri: dismissing the entire Seri’s Choice board from a meeting, then getting two weeks off-work for a Swiss vacation, annually.
Even male leads answer to board members, y’all! #CrashLandingOnYou #CLOY
Even male leads answer to board members, y’all! #CrashLandingOnYou #CLOY
Third part of this #CrashLandingOnYou thread: #CLOY DISMANTLES TOXIC MASCULINITY.
I grew up with KDrama where males seem to get a pass for grabbing women, drag them to and fro, and call it romantic. In truth, that is #abusive behavior! That’s performative of masculine #tropes!
I grew up with KDrama where males seem to get a pass for grabbing women, drag them to and fro, and call it romantic. In truth, that is #abusive behavior! That’s performative of masculine #tropes!
I’m using #MemoriesofBali here because I can still seem the many, many, MANY times Ha Ji Won got literally dragged and hurt everywhere by both the “good” and “bad” boyfriends. If you get what I mean, I’m sure you’ve seen a LOT of abusive behaviors in KDrama. #CrashLandingOnYou
Now consider the setting for #CrashLandingOnYou and the majority of its male characters. Authoritarian North Korea, within a military outpost, inhabited by soldiers hardened by duty, drills, & poverty. And this is how these men are:
In a context where hypermasculinity is encouraged/arguably essential for survival, we see honorable family men who openly like S. Korean dramas, finger
, fragrant shampoo, & classical music. We see them grapple w/ their conscience and emotions, but never judged for them. #CLOY
, fragrant shampoo, & classical music. We see them grapple w/ their conscience and emotions, but never judged for them. #CLOY
We see red-blooded men in close proximity w/ a woman yet we never see them harrassing or making sexually charged jokes about her. They spar w/ her—especially Sgt. Pyo, but that’s to be expected of two ideologically different people. Seri never had any #metoo 
moments here! #CLOY
moments here! #CLOY
We have two military generals in Pyongyang—General Ri and Seo Dan’s uncle—who show that powerful men need not be abusive. The uncle shows fondness for his sister and niece, and allows them to rough him up. #CrashLandingOnYou #CLOY
Jeong Hyeok’s dad, meanwhile, openly cries at his elder son’s funeral, protects his youngest son from prosecution, and eventually allows him to return to his love: the piano and Seri. (You know that ending wouldn’t have happened w/o his influence.) #CrashLandingOnYou #CLOY
This N Korean patriarch didn’t allow Seri to be tortured or abused under his roof, even if she were from the South and he could argue that he is protecting the interests of the North.
He respects his wife’s opinions.
He also dislikes trialless executions—human rights yay! #CLOY
He respects his wife’s opinions.
He also dislikes trialless executions—human rights yay! #CLOY
Of course, we have bad apples like Cho Cheol Gang and his cronies, as well as Seri’s younger brother and dad, but we certainly have a lot of hood examples from north and south of the border.
Now, I’d like to talk about the ideal— #CrashLandingOnYou’s male lead Ri Jeong Hyeok.
Now, I’d like to talk about the ideal— #CrashLandingOnYou’s male lead Ri Jeong Hyeok.
Jeong Hyeok rarely lies; doesn’t subscribe to the “boys will be boys” mentality. He drinks but never to excess. He seeks justice as he mourns for his brother, but he isn’t vengeful. He is strict but fair, almost never uses his family’s influence for himself. #CrashLandingOnYou
He doesn’t expect a woman to stay in the kitchen, serving him and his men food. Instead, he cooks for Seri, makes coffee for her, and then teaches her how to do it for herself. He doesn’t shy away from learning womanly things just because he’s a man. #CLOY #CrashLandingOnYou
He is in touch w/ his emotions and is comfortable expressing them. He is proud of Seri’s success once he sees her empire, and he does not feel threatened. He adjusts the pantry contents for Seri’s height! Wouldn’t we all want to have a man like Capt. Ri?
#CrashLandingOnYou #CLOY
#CrashLandingOnYou #CLOY
The only real criticism I have of Jeong Hyeok is that he let his engagement with Seo Dan linger, allowing himself to lie about his feelings even when Seri came into the picture. His saving grace was that he didn’t lie or make any excuses for his actions.
#CrashLandingOnYou #CLOY
#CrashLandingOnYou #CLOY
Personally, as a woman, I hope we can all just live in a world where toxic masculinity doesn’t exist. I wish we can let men get in touch and express their feelings, raise our boys to be accepting of things normally associated with women & be respectful. #CrashLandingOnYou #CLOY
12:13 am. Tulog muna ako mga ka- #CLOY. Meron pa akong isa pang analysis item. I’m still trying to structure this in my head. Baka maaayos habang natutulog ako. #CrashLandingOnYou
Before another analysis though, naisip ko na bakit hindi pa ako ganoon ka-baliw kay Capt. Ri kahit ampogi niya. KASI ‘YUNG ASAWA KO LEVEL!!! Tangkad, talino, bait. Pinanggagawa niya ako ng kape, pinagluluto, pinaglilinis ng bahay. Living KDrama fantasies, except ‘di siya singkit!
#CrashLandingOnYou #CLOY tweet time!!!!!
Possibly the best part of the show for me is its TAKE ON FAMILIAL LOVE. We know that Asian films make love of family such a huge thing, but I still loved how it was tackled here.
Possibly the best part of the show for me is its TAKE ON FAMILIAL LOVE. We know that Asian films make love of family such a huge thing, but I still loved how it was tackled here.
Here we have Baby Boy Geum Eun Dong, sole provider of his family. HOW CAN ANYONE SEND HIM OFF TO WAR?!?!?! Huhuhu.
Anyway, his purpose for survival: to get back to his mother and his siblings, to continue providing for his family. #CrashLandingOnYou #CLOY
Anyway, his purpose for survival: to get back to his mother and his siblings, to continue providing for his family. #CrashLandingOnYou #CLOY
We have Man Bok, whose desire to save his mom and provide a better education for his son led him to betray Jeong Hyeok’s brother then wiretap Jeong Hyeok and Seri. He indeed caused pain, paying for being The Rat with his conscience and sleepless nights. #CrashLandingOnYou #CLOY
These ajumma, despite their poverty, care for their kids in a communal way. They’re gossipy and judgmental like any proper #tita, but we see them try to protect their spouses. Some even have genuine affection for their husbands. #CrashLandingOnYou
This Gu Seong Joon dude—whose arrogance I really hated at first—was driven to his diabolical design by a twisted love for his parents and a desire to avenge their family. #CrashLandingOnYou #CLOY
And let’s talk about Seo Dan and her mom (and uncle). I think one of the best surprises for me in this story was that this seemingly mahadera, nouveau riche mom decided to break off Dan’s engagement to the powerful Ri family for her daughter’s sake. #CrashLandingOnYou #CLOY
Anyone have a copy of #DanSeo’s mom’s quote about her daughter’s happiness? She’s very anti-Mommy Divine, don’t you think? #CrashLandingOnYou #CLOY #SeoDan
But we were surprised by the warmth of their family. Jeong Hyeok loves his brother so much he chose to be stationed at the border to get a shot at catching his murderer. The patriarch, we saw crying at the elder son’s funeral. #CrashLandingOnYou #CLOY
The Ri parents are actually great at parenting! They raised two upright sons, for one. Mommy Ri was worried about Jeong Hyeok’s emotional distance post his bro’s death. Daddy Ri was all blustery but protective (supportive?) of his son’s love. He shot a man dead for Capt Ri! #CLOY
And yes, it’s surprising to me that the writers refused to succumb to geopolitical realities. The parents up North are good people who care for their children, standing up for them even against the threat of death or execution. MAY BLESSING ANG LOVEBIRDS! #CrashLandingOnYou #CLOY
Contrast this to the parents in the South. In the beginning of #CrashLandingOnYou, we get firsthand look at a family that does not seem to have any warmth around each other. Seri blocks her brother’s mobile number. Her brothers dine at their parents’ house to secure their mana.
We know that there is not much love lost between Seri’s dad and mom, especially because the dad had an affair that resulted in Seri, who got foisted on his (understandably) bitter wife. #CrashLandingOnYou
Seri spent her entire stay up North believing everyone wishes her dead.
Seri spent her entire stay up North believing everyone wishes her dead.
For the most part, she’s right. Her dad is reluctant to declare her dead because he will lose his heir. Her second brother and his wife actively plots to keep her in N Korea (and eventually to kill her). Her first brother’s wife prays for her to never be found. #CrashLandingOnYou
Yoon Seri’s family is so emotionally constipated, none of them ever truly delighted in her safe return—not outwardly. Her dad himself commented at how awful they all are.
Which is heartbreaking, because we know from Seri’s relationships up north that she is a warm, caring woman.
Which is heartbreaking, because we know from Seri’s relationships up north that she is a warm, caring woman.
We knew Seri loved her Omma so much—and longed for her affection—she called out “Omma” when she stumbled while fleeing the N Korean squad at the beginning of #CLOY. It is heartbreaking to see how she grew up so devoid of warmth that she armored herself w/ ambition and sarcasm.
We knew Seri was lonely. We also discovered that, like her Omma, she became suicidal. Both women had been hurt too much; they coped by pushing each other away. Ironic: if they only allowed themselves to reach out and be vulnerable, they would have found joy in each other. #CLOY
Patterns of loneliness are reinforced within families. #CrashLandingOnYou #CLOY http://theconversation.com/why-addressing-loneliness-in-children-can-prevent-a-lifetime-of-loneliness-in-adults-76248
Yoon Seri and Ri Jeong Hyeok is beautiful because they helped each other break out of the loneliness within their own families. Especially that Capt. Ri helped Seri slowly mend her relationship with her mother & that her Omma recognized in him the key to Seri’s happiness.
that Capt. Ri helped Seri slowly mend her relationship with her mother & that her Omma recognized in him the key to Seri’s happiness.
Circling back, both Seri and Jeong Hyeok helped each other reveal their true selves to their families. That allowed them to both grow and grasp for happiness. It also helped them fix their familial links—Seri’s especially.
Isn’t that what we all hope to have w/ our life partner?
Isn’t that what we all hope to have w/ our life partner?
Ending this believing that in the #CrashLandingOnYou universe, North and Sourh Korea agrees to open their borders to each other, that Seri and Jeong Hyeok married and started their family & they live happily ever after.
In this universe, I’m praying for the #BinJin wedding news.
In this universe, I’m praying for the #BinJin wedding news.
@threadreaderapp unroll
