Review: White Christmas
Starkly beautiful yet disturbingly dark, White Christmas explores the issue of nature vs. nurture in relation to the human condition.
How much of one's fruit is a result of qualities inherent in one's seed, and how much of it is due to how and with what you water that seed? Throughout its 8 episodes, this psychological thriller relentlessly asks the question, "Are monsters born or made?"
Depending on your preferred answer to that question, your mileage may vary with this one.
Thought-provoking, in either case.
I'll admit upfront that I don't have a preference for dark and edgy. Or suspense thrillers. Or anything scary, for that matter.
There are basically 2 major reasons I checked this out. Firstly, it's got Kim Woo Bin in it (yes, the things I do in the name of fangirl love. *shakes head*)
Secondly, it comes highly recommended by so many other viewers, who, almost as one voice, hail it as a bit of a cult classic. Put those 2 factors together, and White Christmas wormed its way onto my must-watch list, almost against my will.
In a nutshell, I can appreciate the merits of the show: it's beautifully shot, it features some very good-looking people, it's atmospheric and suspenseful, and it asks a compelling question.
At the same time, I do have some issues with where the show chooses to go with that question, which I'll get into later.
The cinematography in White Christmas is deliberate, calculated and quite masterful.
On the one hand, the show makes it a point to show us that our setting is, literally, a white Christmas. The snowy surroundings are captured beautifully. Crisp, clean and almost blindingly white, the snowy mountains provide a pure, unadulterated setting for our dark story.
On the other hand, the school in which our story takes place is all straight lines and geometry; a sharp contrast to our snowy, natural, organic surroundings. A metaphor for the nurture planted within nature, perhaps.
By day, the school's angular, geometric design looks streamlined and clean.
By night, those same geometric lines take on a more sinister, ominous sort of feel, especially when paired with foreboding music and the piecemeal unveiling of the elements of our mystery.
As the plot of our story thickens, interesting camera angles take advantage of our geometric setting to create almost dizzying shots such as these. Perhaps another metaphor, for the convoluted workings of the human mind.
The camera also makes use of reflections and perspective, such as it does here, to show us, quite literally, the different faces of our characters:
The OST is eclectic and varied, ranging from moody trance-like instrumentals, to hard-edged rock anthems, to cheery, bright ditties.
Paired with cinematography that's full of portent, and subject matter that promises to delve into the deep, dark, twisted recesses of the human psyche, the OST itself often takes on an additional layer of irony.
All these elements come together to create a finely textured, heavily atmospheric stage for our story.
For such a short show featuring an ensemble cast, I was pleasantly surprised at how well each character got fleshed out by the time we reached the end of our story.
In the end, I really felt like I'd gotten to know these characters, what they were made of, and what made them tick.
Considering that the details of the story are given to us in a scattered, piecemeal fashion, I consider it no small feat that those pieces actually come together to make each character effectively come alive. Kudos to the writers indeed.
Due to the twisty nature of the story, and also, the jigsaw-esque characterization employed, it's quite impossible to get into character discussions without being spoilery.
If you plan to check out the show, I'd recommend skipping to the end where I've posted a non-spoilery trailer. Then come back later after you're done, so that we can talk ALLLL about it!
Baek Sung Hyun as Park Moo Yul
I really enjoyed Moo Yul as a character. I found him interesting, relatable and likable.
His leadership ambitions clash with his insecurities, and together, those collide with his earnest desire to do the right thing. That all makes for some fascinating inner conflict, as Moo Yul struggles to prove himself in the midst of others more easily inclined towards leadership than he.
More than once, Moo Yul wrestles with his conscience as his ambition faces off with his morals. His moral compass wavers at times, but it is precisely his humanity that makes him a sympathetic character.
Hands-down, my favorite scene with Moo Yul is when he is in the mountains alone with Chi Hoon (Sung Joon).
When the boys realize that Jung Hye (Lee El) is not some random noona but an ally of Dr. Kim (Kim Sang Kyung), and that Moo Yul's left the gun behind with Eun Sung (Esom), Chi Hoon remarks, "Will she feel safe with a gun that has no bullets? I don't understand you or Eun Sung."
Increasingly upset, Moo Yul shouts, "Do you think we all think with our minds and not our hearts?" … "You're treating me like a fool."
The boys soon have each other by the collar, eyes blazing:
Their tussling escalates into an all-out scuffle, and Chi Hoon accidentally steps off the edge of the slope, to Moo Yul's shock:
There's a long moment where Moo Yul considers what to do, and it's clear that the thought of leaving Chi Hoon there crosses his mind.
He comes back with rope that he finds in the trunk of the abandoned police car, and starts to haul Chi Hoon up the slope.
When he's hoisted Chi Hoon about halfway up the slope, Moo Yul's mind floods with memories of all the times that Chi Hoon had outshone him. In a dramatic moment of internal struggle, Moo Yul allows the rope to go lax in his hands, and Chi Hoon slides back down the slope.
We see Moo Yul overcome the moment of hesitation, and steeling himself, he begins to haul Chi Hoon up the slope again. This time, he does it with more determination than ever, roaring with each agonizing pull of the rope.
We can see in his eyes that it's not just the desire to save Chi Hoon that drives him now, but also anger and even a measure of self-loathing; that he needs to save Chi Hoon, to prove to himself that he's not That Guy, who would leave someone else to die for his own gain.
When Chi Hoon has been hauled to safety, Moo Yul collapses, his eyes filled with tears and his face a mix of relief and horror at what he'd almost done.
After a moment, Chi Hoon asks, "Are you all right?"
When Moo Yul answers in the affirmative, Chi Hoon pauses before admitting, "I thought you wouldn't come."
Moo Yul looks at Chi Hoon silently, as remorse colors his gaze.
What an awesome scene, and what a stellar performance by Baek Sung Hyun. So nuanced, so textured, and so real. I believed him completely in the moment, and I was so proud of Moo Yul, for overcoming the temptation to leave Chi Hoon.
I didn't hold it against him, for entertaining the thought for that moment. After all, he's only human. I only felt pride for the decision he made in the end, and I hoped that Moo Yul wouldn't be too hard on himself for that moment of weakness, as we so often are on ourselves.
Sung Joon as Choi Chi Hoon
Chi Hoon is one of my favorite characters in the show. I really love how quietly fierce and intense Sung Joon is as Choi Chi Hoon. And how quietly fearless too.
I love how matter-of-fact Chi Hoon is, about everything.
From analyzing his own sin in the context of the mystery letter, to breaking into the teachers' dorm, to brainstorming ways to solve all their serial-killer related problems, Chi Hoon remains steady, unflinchingly unafraid and quite selfless.
Even when faced with imminent death, Chi Hoon faces it impassively, without betraying any fear:
Certainly, we get a lot more insight into this, in episode 6, when Chi Hoon is revealed to still be alive (How much did I love that the show kept him alive? A WHOLE LOT, that's what!).
As the boys gather around Chi Hoon, who eats as if nothing has happened, Mi Reu (Kim Woo Bin) says incredulously, "You almost died. You should act in a way that reflects that. Cry or bawl."
Pointing to his head, Chi Hoon explains without batting an eye, "I have a problem here. My left brain. The nerves that send emotions are thinner than most."
Mi Reu asks, "What do you mean?"
So Chi Hoon spells it out for them, "I can't feel emotions easily."
I've said it before, but I'll say it again: context means everything.
NOW, knowing this, would anyone blame Chi Hoon for appearing aloof and impassive? I'd guess not. There's something to be said about letting others know your weaknesses. It humanizes you.
At the same time, I'd like to point out that not being able to feel emotions easily does not explain all of Chi Hoon's behavior.
Sure, it might explain why it's easier for him to remain calm and fearless compared to the other kids, but we see in the snow incident in episode 7 when he thought Moo Yul had left him for dead, that Chi Hoon does experience some measure of fear.
Chi Hoon's courage isn't simply a side effect of his nerve problem; he does muster it up too. And I kinda love him for it.
Also, the nerve problem doesn't explain Chi Hoon's general selflessness.
He doesn't ever hesitate to put himself out there, for the benefit of the group, whether it's undertaking the risk of getting into trouble for breaking into the teacher's dormitories (which he offers to do alone, if Moo Yul is uncomfortable joining him), or heading out into freezing temperatures to get a cell phone signal, or dragging himself and his broken leg into the line of fire to save Moo Yul.
Just because he doesn't feel emotion easily doesn't mean that he doesn't feel cold, or pain. And he never hesitates to push through, for the greater good.
I also love Chi Hoon's sense of fairness. From calling Eun Sung out on her mixed messages to Moo Yul, to putting Kang Mo (Kwak Jung Wook) in the detention cell to protect him from Young Jae (Kim Young Kwang), to keeping Jae Kyu's (Hong Jong Hyun) secret in order to protect him from the rest of the group, Chi Hoon is always fair and never plays favorites.
It's no wonder that the group looks to him as their de facto leader.
Aside from the incident in the snow, where Chi Hoon shows shades of vulnerability, another favorite Chi Hoon moment of mine is in episode 8, in a small, almost throwaway moment.
Moo Yul goes to Chi Hoon's hospital room after regaining consciousness, and the other kids all gather around Moo Yul, touching and prodding the big bump he got on the back of his head from falling off the roof.
Silently, almost surreptitiously, Chi Hoon gets off his bed and drags his IV stand with him, to try to touch Moo Yul's head too. HA.
Moo Yul turns around, twisting out of Chi Hoon's reach, saying, "What, even you??"
Blankly, Chi Hoon answers, "I can't touch it?"… "I've never felt a bump before." Giggle. How cute!
I LOVE this little moment, so much.
Not only does it show us an innocent, child-like side to super-smart, knows-everything Chi Hoon, it shows us how these two boys have bonded.
From seeing each other as mere competition, then to becoming allies, they've now become friends. Friends who gape at each other and poke each other's heads. And I love that.
Kim Woo Bin as Kang Mi Reu
I also really enjoyed Mi Reu as a character.
Wait, I need a fangirl moment to squee: Woobie!! Eeeee!! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Alright, *shakes self* – back to business.
I found Mi Reu as a character quite compelling and rather heady.
First of all, when we meet him, we just know right away, that he's completely badass and one hundred percent comfortable in his own skin.
From the way he stands, to the way he walks (even in just his briefs, for a brief (hur) moment), to the way he cracks his jaw in front of the mirror, we know that this character is a force to be reckoned with.
I also kinda love that whenever Mi Reu appears, rock music plays in the background. It's like he brings the rock wherever he goes. Ha.
In episode 2, Mi Reu remarks to Moo Yul, "Park Moo Yul. You're not as innocent as you look."
How apt, that it is Mi Reu who points out one of the themes of the show, that appearances can be deceiving.
Because, beyond his shock of flaming red hair and bad-boy attitude and looks, Mi Reu is wayyy up there on the intelligence scale, having been scouted from middle school and outranking even Chi Hoon during their first year.
A bad boy who's brazen AND brilliant?? How does one not keel over from all that awesome?
We find out fairly quickly that Mi Reu is on a vengeance trail, intent on finding out who was responsible for the explosion of the school statue that got him wrongly expelled.
He narrows it down to Yoon Su (Lee Soo Hyuk) and tackles Yoon Su to the ground in the school yard.
Later, Yoon Su explains with uncharacteristic bitterness and passion, how Mi Reu's bungy-jumping stunt had ruined his carefully planned single shot at leaving his miserable existence in the school.
Mi Reu drops the cool arrogant act, and quietly apologizes, "I'm sorry about what happened. Maybe it's too late, but I'm really sorry."
I was really taken with how Mi Reu's apology to Yoon Su is refreshingly sincere. I love that Mi Reu's ego isn't too big for him to humble himself and admit his mistake.
Perhaps my favorite Mi Reu scene of all, is when he pieces together the serial-killer situation based on the SOS-via-toast that Moo Yul sends him, and proceeds to save the day, wearing a confident, almost delighted smirk.
I love how he swaggers fearlessly along the school corridor, making his way to the staircase outside the infirmary:
And I LOVE how he uses his smarts to set the trap.
Mi Reu's weapons of destruction: the surveillance system that he's hacked into, enough electrical current to fell a horse, and.. a flower pot. LOVE. IT.
Dr. Kim falls headlong into Mi Reu's trap, and is quickly overcome and cuffed to the bed:
Afterwards, I love how the rest of the group throw themselves on top of Mi Reu, tackling him to the ground in the biggest show of group affection in the entire show:
When Mi Reu realizes that Chi Hoon is "dead" though, his disbelief is poignant.
While the rest of the group hangs back, Mi Reu approaches Dr. Kim and asks him the question we're all thinking, "Oy, Ahjusshi. Did you really kill Choi Chi Hoon? What the heck is wrong with you? What does someone have to do to become like you?"
I love how frank and fearless Mi Reu is. It's no wonder that he is one of the alpha males of the group, and effortlessly so.
Another of my favorite Mi Reu scenes is later in the episode, when, after a somber conversation with Moo Yul, Mi Reu takes off running, roaring out loud all the way.
One by one, the other boys join in, running and roaring alongside him, even though they have no clue what he's doing or why:
Talk about leading by charisma.
I also really, really love how all that roaring and running lands them horsing around in the snow, all shirtless and giddy with glee.
What a fantastic, spontaneous moment for the boys, and how apt, that it is "Mad Mi Reu" who sparks it off.
All in all, Mi Reu is a huge breath of fresh air, amid the more conventionally smart types in the group. And I don't say that just because he's played by Kim Woo Bin. Although, I really can't think of anyone else who would've done Mi Reu justice.
Hong Jong Hyun as Lee Jae Kyu
While Jae Kyu isn't one of my favorite characters, I certainly found him intriguing.
For most of the show, Jae Kyu is subdued, timid, and basically blends into the background. He is cooperative and follows orders from whichever alpha male is taking charge in the moment, whether it's Moo Yul, Chi Hoon or Dr. Kim.
Which, really, is what makes his moment of transformation in episode 7 all the more fascinating.
In episode 7, Dr. Kim, holding Eun Sung hostage, instructs Jae Kyu to bring him Young Jae within the next 30 minutes.
Jae Kyu's attempt to lure Young Jae with a lie fails, and he resorts to force instead. His attempt to hit Young Jae with a stick is unsuccessful, and sends Young Jae scuttling into hiding.
Jae Kyu then goes on the prowl, taunting Young Jae, "Where are you, Jo Young Jae? The doctor wants to see you. [sneers] I heard everything.. You told him that you sent the letter? Really, Jo Young Jae?.. Jo Young Jae, you surprise me."
While it's interesting that he would resort to violence, I think what's most chilling is the pleasure he derives from the hunt. I mean, just check out at that look on his face.
Young Jae manages to get the upper hand for a while and beats Jae Kyu bad and bloody, telling him, "Don't criticize me. You would let someone else die in your stead, too."
When the tables are turned again, and Jae Kyu goes into a blind rage, beating Young Jae repeatedly – and vehemently – with a stick, all the while yelling, "Not me.. I wouldn't!.. I'm not you.. I wouldn't do that.. Not me!"
Jae Kyu even goes so far as to look for a heavier object to bash Young Jae with, and picks up a metal canister. He's all ready to throw it at Young Jae, and is only stopped by the fact that the metal canister is anchored by its wire.
It's only at this point, that Jae Kyu catches sight of his now bloody, messed up and quite monstrous-looking face in the mirror.
That seems to finally snap him out of his blind rage and he slumps to the floor in shock.
What is perhaps even more fascinating than this moment of transformation, is that afterwards, Jae Kyu seems to still savor the sensation of being in possession of power.
Later, as Dr. Kim locks up the group for the night, he asks Jae Kyu, "Will you be all right?"
Evenly, Jae Kyu replies, "What do you mean? You think the other will harm me? [turns to the others] You can attack me. But when you do, you'd better be prepared to kill me. Otherwise, I'll point you out as the most sinful."
Wow. Strong words, from the one in the group who had been, up to that point, arguably the most timid. And spoken with such sardonic calm.
In the dorm, Eun Sung asks Jae Kyu what he plans to do, and he says simply that once Moo Yul and Chi Hoon return, he will point out someone as the most sinful.
Almost to himself, Jae Kyu muses, "I dreamt about this situation. Everyone listening to me and watching my every move. The moment I became the center of attention."
Jae Kyu's brush with monster-hood is perhaps the most startling because it is the most extreme, the most literal and the most in-yo-face.
I mean, you probably can't get any more extreme than the meekest member of the group going on a bludgeoning rampage while sporting a blazing gaze set squarely in a messed up bloody face.
It's interesting to know that at the bottom of it, Jae Kyu basically wanted – was starved of, perhaps – the same attention that the other alpha males were getting, and disturbing to see that he would relish that attention even if it was for all the wrong reasons.
Equally disconcerting, is how violent Jae Kyu gets, once that attention and power is in his grasp.
It really does make us wonder if Jae Kyu is the first real monster of the group, and whether it's because he always had that inclination innate in him, or if it's because keeping secrets is tiring, and keeping his wore him out.
The show doesn't offer us answers to those questions, but it certainly provokes thought in the asking.
Lee Soo Hyuk as Yoon Su
Yoon Su is the most overtly strange member of the group, and Lee Soo Hyuk is the perfect person to play him, really.
With his deep, languid voice and matching languorous limbs, Lee Soo Hyuk expresses Yoon Su's sluggish apathy perfectly.
I found Yoon Su as a character quite fascinating, really. Most of the time, Yoon Su is like a drugged-out cat. He moves with feline grace, likes to keep to himself and hangs out in high places.
Despite his agility, though, we quickly get the sense that he's a prisoner in his own mind, which I find quite eloquently expressed in this screenshot:
In his mind, Yoon Su is tormented by the monster in the corner, whom no one else sees, and who freaks him out tremendously.
Probably in an attempt to deal with that distress, Yoon Su also uses drugs, which in turn adds to his unstable mental circus:
Despite his spacey-ness, however, Yoon Su sometimes says the most insightful things.
For example, of Young Jae's shouting and brandishing of his weapon in episode 4, Yoon Su remarks almost off-handedly, "He's just scared. The cowards are usually the most violent." It sounds like an almost throwaway comment, but it's so spot on that it's quite startling.
Hands-down, the most striking thing about Yoon Su, is how he responded, in the end, to Dr. Kim's therapy, which "unlocks the monster within."
Throughout the show, Yoon Su grapples with the corner monster, and Dr. Kim offers to help him discover who that corner monster is.
Yoon Su declines at first, but eventually, he manages to unlock a key memory, of hiding in his ex-nanny Miss Seon Hee's closet when policemen came to rescue him from having been "kidnapped."
Notably, little Yoon Su looks disappointed when Miss Seon Hee runs to embrace the corner monster in the scene, thus informing us that the corner monster is really Seon Hee's own son.
In episode 8, after a final call from Dr. Kim, Yoon Su is shown speaking with the corner monster saying, "Why did I lie? Because she hugged you instead of me. I must've wanted to be you."
Soon Yu then walks away from the corner monster and, significantly, closes the door on him:
Yoon Su then takes his own life, after having painted his face blue, to resemble the face of the corner monster that he'd always wanted to be.
The short suicide note that he leaves reads: "The egg's about the crack."
When the group hears of the suicide note's contents, it is Young Jae who first articulates the reference: "The monster's egg."
Later, Dr. Kim admits to the group that during the phone call to Yoon Su, he had spoken the final keyword to unlock Yoon Su's monster.
Putting together the pieces, it's safe to conclude that Yoon Su, upon becoming aware of the awakening monster within, chose to take his own life rather than allow the monster to have free reign.
What a drastic, firm, yet forceful response to the monster within, from the person in the group who had appeared the most laid-back and non-committal. Appearances can really be deceiving.
While I was saddened and horrified by Yoon Su's suicide, I have to respect the strength of Yoon Su's retaliation towards the monster that he perceived was awakening within himself.
Kim Young Kwang as Jo Young Jae
Young Jae is easily the most aggravating of all the characters. He's impatient, loud-mouthed, self-centered and a total coward. It's easy to be completely annoyed with him, given his awful behavior.
As the show progresses, though, his layers do peel back a bit to reveal more of the person beneath, and he becomes – just a tiny bit – more sympathetic.
Right off the bat, in episode 1, we see Young Jae's rash, tyrannical streak come to the fore, when he hunts down Kang Mo in the snow, jumping to the conclusion that Kang Mo is the person who sent him the letter.
Advancing on Kang Mo, Young Jae's tone switches from overly saccharine to suddenly menacing, "Forgive me, please? Please… I'd forgive me if I were you."
Confused, and backing away, Kang Mo asks, "What do you want?"
Young Jae raises his voice with each stride and with each phrase that leaves his mouth,
"As you live life, some things displease you from time to time. I may just be joking, but you may get hurt. Then all we have to do is say sorry and forgive each other. We can use words. How dare you send this?!!"
Young Jae wrestles Kang Mo to the ground and is about to punch him, when Moo Yul comes upon them and stops him.
Dislike. Right away.
What makes Young Jae even more annoying – and even a little bit despicable – is how he taunts Kang Mo, but is clearly terrified of Mi Reu. Clearly, he's the sort who bullies others when he can, but cowers, sniveling, before someone stronger and more powerful than he.
In episode 2, Dr. Kim remarks, "What interests me is you students. Your faces when alone and the faces you show to others are different."
I thought that very apt, in describing Young Jae in particular.
We see a hint in episode 4, when Young Jae, after hunting Kang Mo all day in bully mode, stares at his hands in private, appearing to experience doubt and perhaps even a hint of regret:
As the episodes progress, we more examples of this duality in Young Jae.
One key instance is in episode 6, after Mi Reu successfully traps Dr. Kim.
As the kids pile on top of Mi Reu in celebration and delight, Dr. Kim eyes Young Jae knowingly, and Young Jae's smiling expression turns to one of troubled guilt.
Later that evening, we see the layers peel back a little more as Young Jae broods in the dark hallway and has a short exchange with Eun Sung who passes by him.
Young Jae taunts Eun Sung about what she might have done with Moo Yul when she was alone with Moo Yul the night before, and Eun Sung shoots back, "Young Jae, Jo Young Jae. What can I do to make you lose interest in me? What should I do?"
As Young Jae replies, he seems to experience a myriad of emotions. He begins,
"Lose it. A lot more than now. [he walks almost threateningly towards her] Become twisted enough for a twisted boy like me to like you. [he pauses and deflates] But that's all over now too.
I'm so twisted now that I can't do it. [pauses and starts to tear up] I said my name. I said my name."
We aren't told what exactly he means when he says "I said my name" but it possibly alludes to him naming himself as the most sinful of the group. Which would have been hugely redemptive, if that were the case.
But, the show later tells us that he names Eun Sung in that conversation with Dr. Kim. So.. I find this inconclusive.
Nevertheless, this moment with Young Jae definitely shows us hints of his self-loathing.
Soon afterwards, wielding the gun, Young Jae goes to the detention cell where Dr. Kim is being held.
When Dr. Kim asks whether Young Jae is sad about betraying his friends, Young Jae's answer is telling,
"If betrayal is turning your back on trust, I never betrayed anyone. No one trusted me anyway. Don't you agree? Lying, stealing. Soon, murder. I'm guilty of every crime. But not betrayal. I'm innocent about that, your Honor."
His eyes fill with tears as he rests his head on the wall of the cell:
That Young Jae tears up because no one has ever trusted him, is telling.
Dr. Kim continues, "So why do you want to kill me? Because I may tell the others that you confessed?" … "If I tell, are you afraid that they will hate you? You're used to being hated."
Young Jae, with rising emotion, spits back,
"That's right. I'm used to it. So used to it that I feel scared if people don't hate me. So I do things on purpose to be hated by others. But people hating me… and me hating myself is different. You made me hate myself!"
And he levels the gun at Dr. Kim, ready to actually kill him.
While Young Jae's self-loathing doesn't absolve him of the rest of his really, really awful behavior, it does make him a little more sympathetic.
I feel that Dr. Kim's "therapy" has forced Young Jae to confront his self-loathing in a way that is much more head-on and direct than he has ever allowed himself, and that the confrontation triggers his self-loathing to an extent where he feels completely stuck and helpless.
I believe that Young Jae wants things – himself – to be different, but genuinely doesn't know how to dig himself out of the messy pit that he's created. Seeing no other option, he decides that killing Dr. Kim is the only way forward.
Certainly, he wasn't successful because the gun wasn't loaded, and it's debatable that if it had been loaded, whether Young Jae would have had the guts to go through with it.
Nonetheless, the fact that he experienced this degree of desperation is significant, and tells us a lot about the inner workings of his character.
Like I said before, there's something to be said about letting others know your weaknesses. It humanizes you.
When Young Jae asks Dr. Kim, "What's wrong with me? What's bad about me?" Dr. Kim sums it quite nicely, "You're not bad. You're just weak. If people knew how weak you are, no one would hate you."
Kwak Jung Wook as Yang Kang Mo
As a character, Kang Mo is one of the more understated ones in the drama. He stays on the fringe of the group for almost the entire show, and there is an air, not of secrecy, but of obscurity about him.
Over the course of the show, we do get to understand Kang Mo in a more concrete manner, and he does eventually come out of his shell, at least a little.
In episode 2, Kang Mo is asked why he didn't attempt to stop Mi Reu from going ahead with his dangerous bungy-jumping stunt, but instead simply prepared numerous cameras to capture the event.
By way of explanation, Kang Mo says, "…I'm just the camera. I watch only. It's cheating if I stop or provoke them."
That, in a nutshell, encapsulates Kang Mo's outsider-observer sort of approach to everything.
Kang Mo has a deep-seated insecurity due to his hearing impairment, and overcompensates by being over-sensitive to other people's treatment of him in relation to it.
In episode 3, we find out that the boy who'd died, Kim Jin Soo, had named Kang Mo as his closest friend, but that Kang Mo, in turn, had named Jin Soo as the person he hated the most.
Kang Mo's explanation to Young Jae is heavy with bitterness, "Friends are those who have been close for years. Equal with no feelings of sympathy or pity."
Because he perceived that Jin Soo had been acting out of pity, Kang Mo aggressively rejected his friendship.
Piecing the clues together, I feel that because Kang Mo believes that he is treated as an outsider, that is why he makes himself an observer instead of an active participant in his surroundings. As a self-defense mechanism, perhaps.
And perhaps that's how it translates into his stance with photography, where he only allows himself to be an observer and a bystander, regardless of the danger or gravity of the event.
We find out in episode 4 that Kang Mo nurses a crush on Eun Sung, and that is why he had effectively been stalking her and taking photographs of her.
When Moo Yul questions Kang Mo on why he hadn't ever made his feelings known to Eun Sung, Kang Mo's response is, "Why didn't I ever confess my feelings for her? The Eun Sung that I like best… Is the Eun Sung that's with you."
On the surface, that statement sounds selfless, keeping Eun Sung's happiness as the central focus. But I do feel like there's more going on beneath the surface.
On the one hand, I feel like that statement speaks of his lack of confidence in himself, in bringing Eun Sung – or perhaps anyone else, for that matter – happiness.
On the other hand, I believe that Kang Mo is again detaching himself from being any kind of active participant in his surroundings.
Kang Mo's detachment extends to disturbing lengths, as we see from his clinical response to Eun Sung's suicide attempt. Instead of being at all emotionally affected by it, he takes photographs. Which, shudder.
Clearly, Kang Mo has shut off that part of himself that invests emotionally to a very large extent, to be able to take such photographs of the girl that he likes:
We also learn that Kang Mo is made of more steely stuff than he appears.
In episode 3, while Kang Mo is the object of everyone's suspicion, Young Jae remarks, "If we hit him a few times, we'll find out the truth."
Chi Hoon's response is revealing: "You don't know much about Kang Mo." … "I've seen Kang Mi Reu smash his camera in the past. He fought back against Mi Reu then, although he got beaten afterwards. Anyways, Jo Young Jae. You can't even look at Kang Mi Reu in the eye."
Ironic, that Kang Mo, who is the regular target of Young Jae's bully tendencies, is actually the one who's made of stronger stuff.
I like how, by slow degrees, Kang Mo begins to engage with the group, over the course of the show.
In episode 6, when the group realizes that Chi Hoon is alive after all, I love that Kang Mo takes a private moment to cry a little. I thought that was a very nice indication of Kang Mo beginning to engage emotionally with the group.
While Kang Mo remains largely reclusive through stretches of the show, he rises to the occasion at key points.
In episode 7, while isolated from the group, he sets a trap for Jung Hye, and manages to lock her in the detention cell, effectively closing off one major source of danger to the group.
In episode 8, Kang Mo undertakes the most risk that we ever see from him, when he even crawls near Dr. Kim in the broadcast room, and screens the surveillance feed to the police surrounding the compound.
While not exposited in great detail, the very fact that Kang Mo does this, shows us how much his character has shifted.
From only allowing himself to be an observer on the fringe, he is now able to be an active participant in the thick of his surroundings. And that's significant growth, any way you look at it.
Esom as Yoon Eun Sung
When we first meet Eun Sung, she gives off only a cold, caustic, distant sort of vibe. She doesn't seem to like speaking much, and when words do leave her mouth, they are typically sharp, bitter and abrasive.
When Young Jae makes a joke in poor taste at dinner, Eun Sung doesn't hesitate to shoot him down, "Shouldn't the audience be entertained rather than the comedian?"
By the end of episode 1, we see her make a suicide attempt, and we also soon find out that she once used to be cheerful and warm:
But that certain events in her life caused her to withdraw into her shell, and become cold, pensive and distant:
We also find out that before the suicide attempt, she had been slashing herself:
Clearly, the traumatic event in her life had unlocked some serious destructive tendencies in Eun Sung.
Over the course of the show, we see tension between these 2 sides to Eun Sung: on one side, the girl who wants to detach herself from life, and on the other, the girl who wants to live.
We get our first hint at the girl who treasures life, in episode 3, when Eun Sung tends to a feverish Dr. Kim in the infirmary.
I was genuinely surprised to see Eun Sung so concerned about Dr. Kim's well-being. When she hears him falling down, she rushes to him and looks way more worried than I expected her to be, given her usual distant sort of air.
She even summons the boys and frantically mashes up medicine into a paste, to feed Dr. Kim.
Clearly, there is a side to Eun Sung that treasures life, even if it's of someone whom she doesn't know.
Another instance where the 2 sides to Eun Sung come into play, is in episode 4, when Moo Yul brings her the album of photographs taken by Kang Mo.
This time, she flips through the album thoughtfully, and by the time she is done, she has tears in her eyes, some which fall onto the pages of the album in her hands.
In response to Moo Yul's concern, Eun Sung explains her tears, "It's just… I think I was happy back then. I didn't know anything. I smiled. I don't know if I'll ever be able to smile like that again. Thank you. Tell Yang Kang Mo that I said thanks."
While Eun Sung's words indicate a longing for life and happiness, it's stark how jaded, lifeless and empty she looks as she says them.
She feels old, even though she's only 18.
It is only in episode 7 that Eun Sung breaks through her depression and realizes that she wants to live. Of course, that is while at gunpoint, but we'll talk about Dr. Kim's methods later.
The one moment in the entire show, where Eun Sung's steely calm is most ruffled, is in episode 8, when Dr. Kim asks Eun Sung's mother to confess her greatest sin over the broadcast system. Eun Sung immediately screams and lunges at Dr. Kim, in a futile attempt to stop him.
With her head held down forcibly to the table, Eun Sung screams, "You devil! [Dr. Kim: "See how far your mom goes to save you."] I'm going to kill you! I will!"
Clearly, her mother's greatest sin (the affair that Eun Sung talks about while under hypnosis), along with any related shame, hits close to Eun Sung's heart, to provoke such an extreme response from her.
I see Eun Sung's dogged attempt to protect her mother's reputation as also a desire to protect her own dignity. To me, that is another indication of Eun Sung's desire to live. Because if she doesn't care and doesn't want to live, of what use is reputation and dignity?
In the end, we do see Eun Sung re-engaging with her emotions to some extent.
At the end of the show, when the group confronts Dr. Kim on the roof-top, Eun Sung has tears in her eyes when she speaks of Yoon Su's death.
Considering how she was far from being on close terms with Yoon Su when he was alive, this is a clear indication of empathy. Which is significant, coming from Eun Sung, who had been so distant and cold when we met her.
From trailing on the edges of death, Eun Sung has now made the turnaround towards life.
Kim Sang Kyung as Dr. Kim Yo Han
In a nutshell, Dr. Kim is a self-righteous psycho who has no regard for human life and plays his game by his own twisted set of rules. His big mission: to determine the answer to the question of whether monsters are born or created.
In episode 5, during the question and answer session, Eun Sung asks, "Why did you kill the high school girls from Chuncheon?"
Dr. Kim answers,
"They were impolite. So ill-mannered and offensive. They laughed and were so loud. They swore too. [pauses] I can bet you this. I bet the people on the bus that day felt the same way I did. "I wish those girls would disappear if only they'd go."
So I thought about it. Those girls being there… Living on with their lives… Is that beneficial or not?"
From the serious expression on Dr. Kim's face, we can see that he's given the question considerable thought and is telling the truth. He genuinely believes that he was doing the world a favor, killing those schoolgirls who were so "ill-mannered and offensive."
At the same time, we realize one key thing about Dr. Kim. He's playing God.
Basically, where does he get off, deciding if someone's life is worthy? In order to have that thought, he has to be extremely self-righteous.
It makes me wonder about why Dr. Kim chose to let Chi Hoon live, when in episode 5 he had given the impression to the group that Chi Hoon had to die.
Is it because he, in his self-righteousness, deems Chi Hoon worthy of taking up space on the planet? Vs the girls that he'd murdered previously, who he had deemed unfit? Because Chi Hoon is brilliant, well-mannered and UN-offensive?
Dr. Kim obviously operates on a different set of principles than, well, pretty much everyone else on the planet. Except maybe other serial killers.
One of the things we learn about him fairly early on, is that gratitude and indebtedness do not have a part in his operating principles.
Despite the fact that the kids literally save him from the brink of death (or at least, more brain damage than he already has), he is quick to point the gun at the very people who saved him.
Not only that, Dr. Kim believes that circumstances have forced his hand.
Because the kids' teacher (Jung Suk Won) happened to have a TV in his room, and because Dr. Kim's photo had been broadcast, Dr. Kim believed he had no choice but to kill Teach.
And then, because the kids (1) discover the body, and (2) raise the monster question, Dr. Kim decides that he must hold them at gunpoint and experiment with them, until he finds his answer.
Sick. In the head. For sure.
What's weirdly fascinating about Dr. Kim, is that at times, he does seem to genuinely want to help the kids achieve psychological breakthroughs.
His methods are completely unethical and very dangerous, but he does help Eun Sung overcome her desire to die, Yoon Su to identify the corner monster, and forces Young Jae to confront his self-loathing.
All at gunpoint, of course.
As twisted as Dr. Kim's rules are, he plays by them.
In episode 6, when Mi Reu asks if Dr. Kim will plead insanity in court, Dr. Kim answers in all seriousness,
"I don't feel shame at what I have done. It's not pride, but I do feel a sense of responsibility. Murder is quite a difficult process. You can't do it without a sense of duty. So why would I lie about it?"
It's a twisted logic for sure, but we can see Dr. Kim is serious about it.
Also, he keeps his word and begins to release the kids to their parents, one by one, in episode 8. He proves that he is a man of his twisted word.
In that, I don't see Dr. Kim as innately evil for evil's sake. Rather, he's a man with very unorthodox ways of thinking, and perhaps, a missing moral compass.
To Dr. Kim, his experiment is the thing that is of paramount importance.
In the end, he survives the episodes at the school not for the simple sake of living, but for the sake of seeing the results of his experiment.
After the kids flip him over the edge of the roof, Dr. Kim, while hanging onto the ledge, smiles and says, "I won." And it is with that satisfied, gleeful smile that he lets go of the ledge and falls to his death.
Eventually, I feel like Dr. Kim was genuinely satisfied with the outcome of his experiment, and that he had no regrets dying.
Did he win?
I'm gonna have to say that I think he kind of did. We'll talk more about that in a bit.
WRITING & EXECUTION
I'll be honest and say that while I thought the writing and execution was quite excellent in many ways, there were also weaknesses that took away from that excellence.
I'll touch on them in sections.
Immediately, in episode 1, we get our set-up in Moo Yul's voiceover, "December 24th, Christmas Eve. The only vacation of the year… The 8 days of break have begun. And… the story I'm about to tell is about my fight with a monster. I had to become a monster myself for 8 days to fight it."
It is immediately intriguing, and we also soon get our introduction to the mysterious letter that started it all:
"You tainted me, made me pitiful. You made me a monster in the corner. You silenced me. You ridiculed my false hopes. You took the only thing I had and put it around your neck. I held out my hand and you let go.
You deleted me from your eyes. Finally, you overtook me. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. After 8 days, walk up the path by the zelkova tree. Under the clock tower, you will see someone dead. The night that Jesus was born, I curse you."
Right away, we get 2 things that continue to recur throughout the story.
(1) Comparisons and references to the Christmas Story, and (2) the question about monsters being born or made.
The show often handles this using contrasts between dark and light, and often with some symbolism thrown in.
In episode 1, we get a whole lot of dark talk among our group, peppered with scary music, not forgetting the symbolism of having Teach seated with the students in a scene reminiscent of the Last Supper.
Immediately after this stretch of dark, we get a pop of perky light, with a scene of the kids having a snow fight with happy, peppy music in the background.
Overall, I thought this was quite nicely done.
Those recurring motifs of light and dark, Christmas and monsters, continue to consistently pepper the show.
Voiceovers are employed regularly from the very beginning of episode 1, and continue throughout.
Most of them are voiced by Moo Yul, who is our main narrator. At times, though, the show allows Dr. Kim to do the voice-over, which I found interesting, because it allows us access to his thoughts, such as in episode 5, where he narrates:
"2,000 years ago, 3 wise men followed a star to find baby Jesus. Today, that light led me to them. I realized that all the coincidences that had occurred, were part of a destiny that had been determined long ago. Are monsters born or created?"
At the same time, there were occasions where the voiceovers sound cool, but honestly make no sense. In episode 4, Moo Yul narrates:
"Now that time has passed, I'm trying to explain what happened. In a weird twist of fate, everything changed for the worse. Even the person who started it all had no control over it. It's because two mirrors were stood face to face.
Darkness shines on darkness to create another darkness. A monster appears from the two facing mirrors. And another uncontrollable darkness is formed."
Um. That last bit about darkness shining on darkness to create another darkness? And all the rest of it? I really don't understand what those sentences are trying to say. Even on hindsight, after finishing the show, I still don't understand what those words really mean. Do you?
In line with the twisty nature of the show, the writers employ a number of decoys, ie, they keep giving hints, then negating them.
In and of itself, I have no issue with the method, but I think the execution could have been better.
In general, what I mean is, the scenes which hint at each person as the possible writer of the letters, are obviously skewed towards fanning our suspicions.
When re-examined after the fact, the scenes all feel kind of "off," pointing to the fact that the scenes were built to manipulate our suspicions, but can't be explained easily on hindsight.
Let me highlight a few examples to show you what I mean.
In episode 4, the group discovers Teach's body in the snow and begin to suspect Kang Mo because he is not with them. When the group comes to the cafeteria, they find Kang Mo chopping vegetables.
There are several instances where Kang Mo's expression is darker than it needs to be, and he even twists the knife in his hand, almost with a bit of pleasure. Afterwards, he starts to leave the cafeteria with his food in one hand, and the knife in the other.
In the moment, all of these details point towards Kang Mo being a prime suspect in Teach's murder. We know on hindsight, though, that it was Dr. Kim who killed Teach.
Once we know that Kang Mo is innocent, all these details of him caressing the knife with a dark expression on his face, and moving to bring the knife with him to his room become glaringly dissonant and don't make a lot of sense.
Another example, again involving Kang Mo, has to do with Kang Mo printing a photo of Eun Sung bleeding out into the snow after her suicide attempt.
The scene of Kang Mo is interspliced with a conversation among the other boys about Kang Mo having been Jin Soo's best friend and therefore how it would make sense if he were taking revenge on Jin Soo's behalf: "Revenge for a friend's death. It makes sense."
When we see Kang Mo printing the photo, his expression is dark, colored with shades of anger, and that totally turns our suspicions on him.
Later, though, we are shown that Kang Mo not only wasn't best friends with Jin Soo, but he's taking photos of Eun Sung because he's nursing a crush on her.
While that's all good, what are we supposed to make of that dark expression that we were shown? Coz try as I might, to see that expression as a neutral one, it doesn't ring true to me.
A third instance of what I call the manipulative decoy, is in episode 3, when Jae Kyu goes with Moo Yul to the security room to investigate what Kang Mo might have done in there.
As Moo Yul fiddles with the panels and switches, Jae Kyu starts fidgeting in the background, tugging at his own collar, looking extremely ill-at-ease.
Given the context of everyone looking for a perpetrator, Jae Kyu looks very guilty in this moment.
We find out later, though, that Jae Kyu had nothing to do with cutting off their phone and internet lines. And there is nothing to explain his odd behavior in the security room.
This is why I feel like the show is not as well thought-out as it might like to be.
It doesn't feel like someone thought through all these scenes and then planted decoys which would later make sense. Rather, it feels like the scenes that we are shown are designed to lead us on, but then, they later do not jive with the version of the truth that the writers reveal.
And that disappoints me.
Round-Robin Roles
A technique that the writers use throughout the show is alternating between characters to maintain key roles.
When the letter writer is no longer a perceived threat, enter serial killer.
In episode 6, once serial killer Dr. Kim is locked away, Jung Hye comes to the fore to be the new psycho among them. In the same episode, with Chi Hoon "dead," Mi Reu re-enters the building to become the de facto Smart Boy leader of the group.
While the device effectively kept up the tension within our story, it did get kind of obvious after a while. Perhaps the writers might have explored other ways of maintaining dramatic tension in our story?
One technique that the show does use nicely, is that of parallels in order to magnify a point.
Of similar:
For example, Moo Yul narrates in episode 1: "things that seem unrelated come together to form one, and unimportant moments all feel like destiny."
With this narration, we see that all moments which had hurt Jin Soo so deeply, had been throwaway moments of our lead characters.
Very quickly into the show, we see this paralleled, where the act that had angered Yoon Su so deeply – Mi Reu's bungy-jump – had been simply a fun stunt in Mi Reu's eyes, of no harm to anyone else.
Of opposites:
Sometimes, opposites are shown in parallel, and the contrast magnifies each opposing element.
In episode 7, we see scenes of a monster uprising (Jae Kyu's bludgeoning of Young Jae) interspliced with scenes of a monster overcome (Moo Yul choosing to save Chi Hoon instead of leaving him for dead).
I thought that it made for an interesting tension between the two, while magnifying each element. Nicely done.
Plot Hole
There is a gaping plot hole in episode 8 which is really hard to ignore.
Essentially, Dr. Kim switches Teach's body for his own, and I get that this is to create a situation where Dr. Kim can have a final face-off with the group.
BUT. There are so many problems with that plot device.
It is alluded to, that Dr. Kim shot Teach in the face in order to make him unrecognizable (Chi Hoon mentions in episode 8, that the police officer had stated that "Dr. Kim" had shot himself in the mouth).
Firstly, I strongly suspect that a body frozen for 8 whole days would respond differently to a gun shot than a body that was alive at the point of shooting.
Secondly, Teach's body would have also had a gunshot wound in the torso, since that is how Dr. Kim killed him. How would the police have reconciled the second wound, which, obviously would look completely different than a fresh gunshot wound?
Thirdly, even without these issues, the police should have been able to use other means to identify Teach's body, like through the use of fingerprinting, for example.
Even if Teach didn't have registered fingerprints because he wasn't a felon, the police should have had records of Dr. Kim's fingerprints.
Fourthly, disregarding even all of these inconsistencies, the show explicitly tells us that the police had broadcast photos of Dr. Kim and that is what prompted Dr. Kim to kill Teach in the first place.
Surely the police would have been able to see that the "teacher" who survived had, well, the same face as the serial killer whose photo they had publicized?
That the police would have overlooked so many things is just So. Implausible.
I get that the fact that Dr. Kim found a way to survive was meant to be a clever twist to the story, but instead it came off really lame.
Basically, the show is raising the question: when everything is stripped away, do humans behave like monsters? We see it even in the poster, with all our lead characters standing in a uniform line, with everything stripped away.
The show persistently asks the question, "Are monsters born or created?" and as the show progresses, we see our lead characters engaging in behavior that is increasingly dark.
I don't like the show's idea, though, that we are all monsters, deep down. It's a dark, edgy sort of idea, but one that I tend to think is being popularized for the sake of sounding cool and philosophical.
One major question that gets posed is: what is a monster?
Dr. Kim is a monster, yes. He kills people and feels justified in doing so, in his self-righteousness.
Are the kids monsters? I can't say that they aren't. The moment they felt it was justified for them to kill Dr. Kim, they moved in the same, disturbing self-righteousness that Dr. Kim did. And once you go there, the question is, will you go there again?
Did they plan to kill Dr Kim? My answer would be: yes. Sure, they only started planning it after finding out about Yoon Su's suicide, but it's pretty clear that they lured him to the roof to get rid of him.
Personally, I get the dark tone that the makers of this show are trying to achieve by having the kids kill Dr. Kim in the end. But really, is that the message that you want to give?
That driven hard enough, good kids who would risk their lives for one another would find it justifiable to kill someone? Even if that person were a serial killer who had killed one of their own? That human beings are, at heart, monsters if only you dig deep and hard enough?
Some viewers feel that the final face-off had to be between Dr. Kim and the students. I can buy that. But what defines victory? Why is victory defined as killing the opponent?
Why can't victory be putting him behind bars for life? Just because the police force is inept, does it justify you taking the law into your own hands and ending another human life?
To that end, I can't say that Dr. Kim is wrong, in pronouncing his own victory over the kids.
He wanted to lure out their inner monsters. And he succeeded in bringing them to that point, of taking grave, sinister, deliberate action in that monster mental space.
The question isn't whether they ever return to that point for the rest of their lives. The key here is that they got to that point and took action AND felt justified in doing so.
The only person who doesn't allow himself to get to that point of monsterhood, ironically, is Yoon Su. He felt his inner monster rising and snuffed it out with his own hands.
But again, that still alludes to the show's disturbing message: that a monster exists in each person.
I feel like from this point forward, the kids will live life similar to this picture: they can play and laugh, but behind each of them, is a stark, dark shadow that they will never be rid of. And that makes me sad.
I grew to really like these kids, and all I want to do is watch them live regular lives, dealing with regular-sized problems. That, for me, would be the show that I want to watch.
For those who'd like to embrace the dark side for a little bit. Or, y'know, who at least want to poke a stick at it from a distance. Just to see what's in there.
This entry was posted in Review and tagged 2011, Baek Sung Hyun, Esom, Hong Jong Hyun, Jung Suk Won, Kim Sang Kyung, Kim Woo Bin, Kim Young Kwang, korean drama special, Kwak Jung Wook, Lee El, Lee Soo Hyuk, Monster, Review, Sung Joon, W, White Christmas on August 12, 2013 by kfangurl.
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Aura the Explorer
"It's because two mirrors were stood face to face. Darkness shines on darkness to create another darkness. A monster appears from the two facing mirrors. And another uncontrollable darkness is formed."
I notice you said this didn't make sense to you, My understanding is that this is essentially equivalent to the saying: "fighting fire with fire only makes more fire." Just in a more concrete context of fighting darkness (aka monsters) with darkness ( aka more monsters) creates a pit of dark monstrosity that even the monster cannot control or escape from. A monster appearing from 2 facing mirrors reminds me of what you stated about Young Jae. The doctor forced him to face himself on an extremely deep level that he had never encountered before. It was like he was surrounded by mirrors with nowhere to hide from his own reflection, and therefore, a monster formed. When one cannot escape their own dark crevices of the mind and are forced to look reality in the eye with no care and love, and in such an intense and abrupt manner, i believe he felt almost like a caged animal, and the only way to survive is the kill the captor.
Also, your comment at the very end about whether or not the doctor won, I don't think he did.
In my mind, a monster either does bad things with a sense of indifference, excitement or supposed joy. Dr. Kim himself had spoken briefly about the fact that the "thrill" was gone (the episode in which he introduces himself as a serial killer), fitting into the second of these categories.
The kids however, where running on pure survival instinct that had completely taken over. The death of Yoon Su i believe was the catalyst in all this. The thought that this man had essentially killed one of them off without laying a finger on him, and could do the same to them no matter where he may be, must have been beyond terrifying. In my mind, it reminds me of a mouse and lion. Imagine hiding, running and almost being eaten by this lion day after day, eventually finding out that it had eaten one of your own. The only way to truly feel safe (after countless false alarms of safety) is if the lion is annihilated completely, because even if it is captured by hunters, it can come back. Therefore, i didn't see a hint of monstrosity rather than survival instinct.
I think the reason many of us may see these instances as monstrous relates to Carl Jung's theory of the ID (raw, intense survival instinct) Ego (reality and rational thinking) and superego (Morality). Our superego tells us we're a "good person" and we shouldn't do those things, but faced with those situation the ID takes over in order to ensure self preservation. Our ego mediates the 2, the best example of all of this happening is when Mu Yul has to save Chi Hoon when his leg breaks. This was so interesting to see because i believe his first instinct was superego: "I need to be a good person and make sure everyone believes I'm good and also not feel guilty, so i must save him" (of course empathy played a part as well). Next as he begins to let go of the rope, came ID: "He's always stealing my spotlight, if he is gone, I'm the best, I'm finally the greatest, I'm finally at the top." The end when he pulls him up was the ego, the rationale between the two extremes: "I can't let the monster best me, i need to save him to prove to myself and everyone else that that I'm not who I and they thought I was."
I believe we don't 'like to believe our ID exists because our superego (which is most at play in today's society) deems it wrong, and makes us unlikable because it proves that self-preservation is our number one priority, we even see this play out with Eun Sung's mother's refusal to tell her biggest sin to save her daughter, she displayed self-preservation, and her relationship with her daughter has suffered because of it. The superego lets us like ourselves by being liked by others, the ID saves us by being disliked by others, the ego lets us save ourselves while being liked by others, to some extent.
Apologies for my rambling, this was just really fascinating to me and you really helped shed light on many parts of the drama that i would've never noticed, like the amazingly nuanced use of the architecture and how beautifully it set the scene and often mirrored the on going events. Also the use of Round-robin techniques and parallels which truly made the drama worth watching. I only wish we got to dig deeper into Young Jae, Mu Yul and Chi Hoon's psyche's the way we did with Yoon Su, Kang Mo and Eun Sung (even Jae Kyu to some extent, i freaking adored his monster scene, i think it shed light on the dark side of each of our desires no matter how pure.) I did like Mi Reu being a bit more simple because it made him easy to digest amidst all the philosophical questions and skewed morals.
Thank you so much for this review and attaching all these resources, it must have taken a lot of time and i truly appreciate it, definitely makes me think a lot.
Reply to Aura the Explorer
Hi there Aura! Thanks so much for enjoying this White Christmas review, and thanks for sharing your thoughts and insights as well. It's been years since I watched this, so my memories are rather hazy, I have to confess. However, I really enjoyed reading your sharing on monsters vs. human instincts, and your explanation of Carl Jung's theory, applied to these characters, makes a lot of sense as well. As someone who wasn't very familiar with his theory of the ID, your explanation was simple to understand, yet comprehensive enough to offer actual insight. Thank you for sharing! I learned something new today thanks to you! <3 It looks like we managed to give each other some food for thought, and I think that's pretty darn awesome! 😀
Snow Flower
Hi Kfangurl,
I had never heart of this show until last week when I read a spoiler-free article about it on Dramabeans. I thought that the premise was interesting. So, when my streaming service informed me that I had to wait one more day for the final two episodes of SKY Castle, I needed a short drama to keep me occupied, and watching White Christmas was the logical choice. I found it very well written and very well acted psychological thriller. The premise does require suspension of disbelief, but it makes sense (well. most of the time) . I thought that the first 4 episodes were a little slow moving. However, things started picking up at the end of Episode 4. The tension build up was great until the last episode. The whole thing about involving the parents felt way far fetched and forced. The police not being able to tell that the body found was not Dr. Kim's but the teacher's? Come on!!! I felt that a showdown between the kids and the Dr. Kim would have been more effective before the police arrived, and it would have been a good ending too. Overall, I think that the kids' lives will be forever changed, but they will have each other to deal with their own shadows.
Reply to Snow Flower
Hi Snow Flower! Glad you managed to check this one out, it's considered a bit of a cult classic in Dramaland, and lots of viewers loved it when it aired. I personally have problems with Show's plot holes and logic stretches, but it did have a dark, atmospheric sort of charm that had a visceral appeal. I prefer your ending to the one Show served up – a showdown between the kids and Dr. Kim would've made a much more exciting and logical ending!
Wow. This review is wonderful. You really went into detail and didn't gloss over anything. I haven't read it completely yet because it actually lead me to wanting to rewatch the drama first, but I certainly will when I'm done and post more about my thoughts.
I actually got led here by first reading your review of Wild Romance. I had wanted to know whether to watch that show because, despite the fact that I hadn't really heard anything particularly good about it, it was actually written by, if you can believe it, one of my all-time favorite writers. I wonder, did you know that the writer of Wild Romance is the one that penned White Christmas? I initially checked out this review to see if you had taken note of that, and what your thoughts on that were (and, I admit, to see whether I could trust your review of WR in the first place, which I now know I can do lol).
This writer wrote Mixed-up Investigative Agency and Alone in Love, two of my all-time favorites. She builds her characters so wonderfully and manages to make me laugh just as much as she manages to make me cry. Her storytelling is original and devoid of the usual cliches and she somehow makes her characters feel as if they live and breath outside of the drama. This is why I was initially shocked to find out that writing was the biggest problem with Wild Romance. It's such a shame that she couldn't accomplish there what she does so wonderfully here and, in my opinion, even more wonderfully in Alone in Love and Mixed-up Investigative Agency. I wonder if the directing could have partly been to blame for this because this writer's style is unconventional and I think it takes a skilled director to know how to let the writing speak for itself. At the very least, I know from what little I saw of it before pausing to check reviews that the directing wasn't very impressive. Then again, I haven't watched it through so perhaps it really is just a flop and I'll opt for rewatching White Christmas instead. I love this writer and hope that she learned from whatever mistakes she made with Wild Romance. I always have a hard time going back to other dramas after rewatching one of her. They simply have this special quality to them that even some of the best dramas lack.
Reply to Chandler
Aw, thanks Chandler! I'm glad you liked what you did read of the review! 🙂 And I totally get that feeling, of wanting to revisit a drama once you start reading and thinking about it.
You know, I had no idea that the same writer wrote Wild Romance! I watched that show quite a long time back, way before I started paying attention to who penned which drama. The dramas you listed are so varied in nature that I find it really interesting that they were written by the same person! It makes me feel like she's not afraid to experiment and try new things with her stories and her characters, which in itself is a really great quality. As with all experiments, however, there will always be those that turn out better than others. Wild Romance is probably just one of those experiments that didn't turn out so well. That's my thought anyway.
Wild Romance was a very average watch for me, but I know that there are some viewers who actually liked it. If you're a big fan of the writer's, it might be worth your while to check it out and see for yourself how you respond to it? 🙂
Thanks 🙂 The thing is I totally get what you mean about it being average even without watching it because, you're right, all the dramas from this writer are so varied and interesting in their own way that they ALL drew me in separately. Meaning that, at the time, I had no idea they were written by the same writer and I just happened to adore them all for what they were. A few years back I gave Wild Romance a try just for kicks and it totally wasn't my thing either, but then when I realized the writer had written my two favorites, I thought, how could it not be secretly awesome? Haha. I've heard other people say that it does actually have some merits to it too and perhaps one day I will check it out for myself, but I can't seem to work up the desire to, especially since her others are ones that I could rewatch over and over again without ever feeling bored 🙂 Plus, I just discovered she penned a drama way back in 2004 so I can always check that out instead!
Hee. I know what you mean. It's like, if she's usually turning out awesome stuff, surely WR must be awesome in some way?? It's just that people haven't picked up on the brilliance yet? XD That's how I feel sometimes, when I really want a favorite actor to excel and have a fantastic drama. Like, after loving Joo Won in Gaksital and Ojakgyo Brothers, I really, really hoped that L7 Civil Servant would be good. But it was not to be.. everyone I know shakes their heads when L7 is mentioned. 😛
There is some cute in Wild Romance, to be sure. I thought the OTP was pretty cute for a good stretch, and the secondary Robot Couple was side-splittingly hilarious. One day when you're in the right mood, you can finally check it out and see for yourself 🙂
Ah, retro dramas. I do have a soft spot for those. I looked it up, and Miss Kim's Million Dollar Quest looks pretty cute! I realize I actually have it in my collection and haven't gotten around to it. If you do check it out and find that it's awesome, do shout! 😉
ShinNeko
After I finished watching this,I was left with a little question…and in search for an answer I came to your post..which I have to say is brilliant!I love how in depth you went and I totally agree with all of your points and the character descriptions were on point!
One thing though that I felt the need to mention..is that the narration in the beginning and throughout most of the eps was done by Jae Kyu 🙂 I know his voice by heart,and also if you take note of what he is saying at times..u can tell it's him…which kind of gave it off for me..regarding the letter..it made me have my eye on him through all the eps..and I was always suspicious of him being the one behind the whole thing xD nevertheless the story had enough plot twists to make me wonder at times.
Now back to the reason that made me come across your review…the question I was left with..
It might have been obvious and I might have just missed it..but… when Yoonsu was talking to the blue faced boy before shooting himself.. he said to him "why did I lie?..Because she hugged you instead of me" ..what lie was he talking about?..
Was it that the nanny didn't kidnap him but because he was jealous he told everyone she did?..this part was a bit unclear to me and made me question a bit why he was becoming a monster…
Hope you can help me figure it out 🙂
My favorite characters were MiReu and Yoonsu and I just love the way you described them…especially one part about Yoonsu: "Most of the time, Yoon Su is like a drugged-out cat. He moves with feline grace, likes to keep to himself and hangs out in high places."
The drugged-out cat part made me chuckle but it was on point xD hah
Very well done on the review,I will most definitely be reading more from you lady ^^
(about the Style Log Playboyz…I had a mental orgasm when I saw that Woobin was gonna join Hyuksoo and Jong in filming for the show..as I love them 3..and added the other 2..it was such a sweet little happening..I love that they're friends IRL ^^ )
Reply to ShinNeko
Heyya ShinNeko!! Welcome to the blog!! 😀 I'm super glad that you enjoyed the review!!
Wow. Thanks for the insight, that the narration was mostly done by Jae Kyu! I hadn't spotted that, I'd assumed (mistakenly, of course) that it was Moo Yul, since the story started with a focus on his character. Now that I revisited it, I realize that the narrator's voice is distinctly higher in quality than Baek Sung Hyun's bass-ish voice. Great spotting!! 😀
You're right, the lie that Yoon Su was talking about was his claim that the nanny had kidnapped him. She didn't actually kidnap him, and he'd said that out of jealousy for the nanny's affection for her own son, who was the blue-faced boy.
And yes, I couldn't stop the goofy grin that plastered itself on my face throughout the Style Log vids.. Like, seriously, HOW CUTE ARE THEY?!??? Really, my one big wish after watching White Christmas was to see the kids that I'd grown fond of, live normal lives and continue being friends. The Style Log Playboyz ep was JUST that thing! LOVED every minute of it! 😀
YAY that you'll be hanging around the blog – we're always happy to have more fellow fans to chat with! ^^
Yay,thanks for clearing that out for me ^_^
Poor Yoonsu…as messed up as he was…I somehow loved his character,and I can't think of a better actor to play his part :3
Oh,them boys all together are beyond cute and goofy!it's really a sight to be seen hahah
Thanks for having me *hugs* ^_^
Aw, of course! We always welcome more people to chat, spazz and squee with around here 😉
And I so agree about Yoon Su! Lee Soo Hyuk's super deep, languid voice is perfect. And he gives Yoon Su that perfectly drugged out vibe. He really made Yoon Su his own character. If anyone else had played Yoon Su, it would've been quite a different character.
And YES the cute and goofy!! Made me grin like a happy loon, I tell ya. SO ADORABLE. ❤
How did this sneaked in into my now showing drama list?! I thought I wanted more rom-com. It's a good breather, though. Oh well I was done with ep 2 when I read your review. Very well done, kfangurl! The painstakingly detailed blow by blow review, just awesome.
I thought it said suspense thriller, but for the life of me, I wasn't thrilled at all. However, I was gripped. I found each student character interesting that I wanted to find out more. Each one was very well written and defined. And the
great acting made them so real. I love how you discussed each one in-depth. I couldn't say so for the serial killer. I found him lacking in many ways.
My favorites are Choi Chi Hoon and Jo Young Jae. Truly Sung Joon's Choi Chi Hoon is fierce, intense and fearless. You nailed it, kfangirl. I love that confidence in him. How can one be so cool, collected and calm at gunpoint? Probably aside from that lack of feelings resulting from his nerve problem, his stability comes from his rationality. It is a fact that logical minds show less emotions. I think its the same rationality that makes him selfless. Though one may interpret acts of kindness as emotionally driven, these same acts could be done as they could be the most rational thing to do given the circumstances. He charged the phone to be able to make a call, right? So its only logical that he goes whereever it takes him to make that call. As for saving Moo Yul, I think he was just returning the favor. Do
I make sense?
On the other side of the fence is Jo Young Jae. If Choi Chi Hoon is the silent water running deep, Jo Young Jae is the empty can making the loudest noise. Yes, so loud I could tell his kind as soon as he entered that dining hall. Kim Young Kwang is very effective. He was irritating, bothersome, confusing, pitiful. You can't help but feel for him.
I'm glad I endured this to the end. It's good that I have no bias and was able to look at the acting objectively. These ensemble is really promising. The future of kdrama looks bright! yay!
Aw, thanks kaiaraia!! I'm so glad you enjoyed the review!! ^^ Yes, this is pretty far from rom-com territory, but definitely worth the detour.. I really grew to like most of the student characters by the end of the show, and I wouldn't have minded watching a second drama with them in it – minus the serial killer bit.
I LOVED Chi Hoon, seriously. I think he was my favorite character. I also loved Mi Reu, coz he's so different and quite awesome. Plus, Kim Woo Bin, y'know 😉 And Moo Yul was so earnest that I couldn't help but like him too. Young Jae I found aggravating from the beginning too, but in the end, I did pity him as well.
You bring up an interesting point of view, about Chi Hoon's kindness being driven by logic rather than emotion.. I kinda see how that might be a possible interpretation, and perhaps that could be part of the equation. I do feel that Chi Hoon is still admirable though, in his selflessness. He pushes through in spite of a great deal of physical pain, and that's no small deal. Also, that last little bit in the hospital where he wants to touch the bump on Moo Yul's head totally endeared him to me.. Super-smart boy isn't all-knowing after all, and I loved the blank look of surprise on his face when Moo Yul wouldn't let him. CUTE!! 😀
And yes, lots of promising young actors in this one, and I'm definitely looking forward to more from each of them! ^^
jandoe
Until now, drama blogposphere just seems to LOVE this show. I… Don't get it. In all honesty – and I'll happily and bravely stand in the minority on this one – I didn't like it, was hardly impressed frankly. I did like the thematic question plaguing and defining the show's plot – "are monsters born or raised?" – and did enjoy the ending, which I thought was well done, but I simply wasn't sold on the plot line. I enjoyed what I did (like Kim Woo Bin's arc as Mi Reu, I thought he was the best of the lot here) and appreciated that the show went philosophical and had me thinking for a bit, but… I don't know, something just didn't stick, nor resonate. I'm glad I did watch it though, cos it introduced us to these set of actors who're now obviously on their way up the A-list.
Enjoyed reading this – great to kinda walk down memory lane! Thanks as always 🙂
Reply to jandoe
I get what you mean, jandoe.. I was able to appreciate a number of technical merits of the show, and I did genuinely like some characters and their character & relationship developments. And while I found a lot of meat to dig into, in terms of analysis and interpretation, there was something about this show that didn't fully resonate with me, nor stick with me. While I did like this to some degree, I'm pretty sure I enjoyed it a lot less than a lot of other viewers.
By the end, I liked most of the kids and would've liked to know more about them and their lives, but I didn't enjoy where the show went, with the philosophical conclusion it alluded to. And that gaping plot hole to get our twist at the end didn't sit well with me, for the reasons I detailed in my review. It just came off as really lame, like the writers knew *where* they wanted to be, and then just *forced* all the necessary plot points into place, in order to get us there, never mind if it didn't make any sense. That didn't do much for my regard for the writers, to be honest.
Still, I found it a worthwhile watch, for the thought that it provoked, and the parts that the show did well 🙂
Mawiie
:O How did I miss this post?? I've been away from the blogosphere for too long 🙁 But Yay! I love you (even more!) for doing this review! I love to read recaps & review of White Christmas. It was such a complex and deep series. I don't remember having my brain work that hard while watching any other dramas in my life 😛
Reply to Mawiie
Aw, it's great to have you back in the blogosphere, Mawiie! I've missed you! ❤ Considering your love for White Christmas, I really hope you enjoyed this review.. This show was really meaty, for 8 short episodes!
Great review! I think I might have an answer to your mystery about the two mirrors facing each other, darkness facing darkness to create more darkness. I saw it another drama. The myth is this: face two mirrors together. At midnight face one mirror and look at your reflection from the other mirror. You are supposed to see the moment of your death.
Reply to Midori
Thanks Midori, I'm glad you enjoyed the review!! And thanks for sharing the myth regarding the 2 mirrors. It does help to give the voiceover some context, though I STILL find the meaning of the voiceover very vague. I honestly think it's trying to sound poetic and mysterious, more than anything else. Coz, even with the added context that you've provided, the sentences don't make a lot of sense to me. And that's even with my best literary hat on. 😛
KaeKae
Great review. It made me want to rewatch. But I won't because that is just too dark (and watching it once was difficult because i had to get it from multiple sites).
However, I can't let a review of White Christmas go by without saying "My Vampire Idols!!!" 😀
WooBin, Soo Hyuk, Jong Hyun were 3 of the 4 alien vampires on Vampire Idol – Woobin's was the best.
Such a change; well, Soo Hyuk's character was kinda similar.
Back to White Christmas – the drama made me think, but didn't really give any answers.
Reply to KaeKae
Glad you liked the review, Kae! 😀 Yeah, this show is thought-provoking whether you agree with it or not. Worth the watch, but I totally feel you if it's hard to get hold of and you need to work different sites to get it – That would certainly dampen any motivation to re-watch!
And yes, I LOVE that our vampire idols are in this together! I'm still slowly working my way through that one. Great for a laugh when I'm in the mood for campy fun! ^^
pinkblossom
i had to skim this lovely one bc i fear my to-watch list has just gotten a new entry!!
so many soon-to-be big names in this one! (for seriously, though, i think these boys are the next generation of big names in the k-ent world.) and yay kim sang-kyung! ^^
i usually don't do dark or edgy, but… i may hafta take a poke at this one! 😉
Reply to pinkblossom
Oh, I am totally with you – I believe many of the boys are the next wave of big names in their generation. Such a treat, to see them all together, even if it means braving dark & murky waters! I don't usually do dark or edgy either, but I was able to poke at this one, so I'm sure you'll do just fine ^^ If it really bothers you, don't watch it all alone when it's late at night 😉
POPSMISSION
Wow, fantastic and in-depth review! I really loved this drama and found it to be very affecting, and think your review is in keeping with the deep emotional questioning the drama causes from the viewer.
Also, I think in the case of that conversation that Young-jae has with Eun-soo in the dark hallway, I believe Young-jae begins to cry when he tells her he said his own name because he wants so badly for that to be true, when in actual fact he did the worst thing imaginable and named the girl he likes just as a sort of revenge for the fact that she finds him abhorrent.
And in making that decision to name Eun-soo he has begun to realise just how abhorrent he truly is, thus he is desperately grasping at straws to try and pretend for just a moment, even to himself, that he was brave enough to name himself as the sinner.
Well that is what I took away from it anyway 🙂
Reply to POPSMISSION
Also, yes you are right…. those Police are really dumb. I just sort of ignored that rather unrealistic plot twist at the end even though it was pretty silly. But in Kdramas I do often find the need to just plain ignore certain aspects of plot and character traits just in order to keep on loving a show (I am thinking about slightly physically violent male leads right now and how I just happily ignore that sexism so I can keep on being invested in a couple's romantic developments nonetheless…..).
I'm glad you enjoyed the review!! And that's a great interpretation to reconcile Young Jae's conversation with Eun Sung in the hallway. I scratched my head over that one, but your explanation makes a lot of sense! Thanks!
I completely agree that we often are required to suspend disbelief in order to appreciate a show.. But that twist really stretched it. Especially since it's a key twist in the story and not something on the side. I was shocked, frankly, but how dumb that twist was! I kinda need to know that the writers are smarter than that. Or, believe us to be smarter than that.
Still, they managed to put out a good show despite that huge miss-step, and they made me really like our group of characters. I particularly love Moo Yul, Chi Hoon & Mi Reu ^^
sigh…. I heart Mi Reu!
Aw me too!! And not just coz it's Kim Woo Bin, though that doesn't hurt! ❤❤❤
missienelly
Aaaaah I feel better I'm not the only that keep asking all these questions. I kept telling myself to shut it but the decoy part in this series were bothersome to me. But I'm happy with this show. It keeps me guessing and all the characters are strong in they are! I remember that when I watched it, I can't do anything else. The clues are everywhere and I had to listen (or rather read) every single thing… It is a mind-twisted drama. Yes, there is a monster in all of us too! What a question though…
Reply to missienelly
Oh yay that you felt the same way! Those decoys felt really OFF to me, and it bothered me too. I wish that could have been handled with more finesse. Like in Nine, where the decoys worked much better. Still, it managed to make us think, so the show gets points for that! Well, that, and the very pretty cast of course 😉 So. Much. Pretty. Plus, Woobie! <3 <3 <3
I do love the characters too, honestly. I wish I could see them in a regular drama, bickering & laughing & angsting through high school. And then maybe college. I like 'em that much <3
I stealthily skimmed through after the initial short verdict to the end – but looked at every screen shot. May put on my list because it is not long and looks interesting!! But will most definitely do School with you first – after IMY (that is, if we both can hang in there until the end of IMY)!! Stellar work! <3
Reply to Michele
Aw, you sweet ninja, you! ;D Thanks for the sweet encouragement, even though you had to go through this in stealth mode! <3
It IS interesting, and not a huge commitment. Worth a watch if you have 8 hours to spare. But yes, School 2013 & more Woobie!!! I am SO looking forward to that with ya! <3
Excellent review, as per usual. How do you do it? 🙂
I had a few issues with the drama too but they were mostly to do with the directing. The odd thing is that even though I really, really disliked some of director Kim Yong Soo's artistic and cinematic choices in both White Christmas and in The Equator Man, I love his style in The Bride and Petal. Go figure.
Do we all have inner monsters? As someone who's faced the 'darkness within', as brief a moment as it was, I'd say the capability to turn into one is there. That scared the bejesus out of me. I don't think I've ever been as shaken, before or after. I still don't like to think about it, even after all these years.
"The Bride….??" What was I thinking? Really. LOL!
Well, The Bride and Petal sounds like a good title too.. Maybe they'll make that one too, sometime? ;D
On the directing.. I guess on the upside, he experiments & doesn't get stuck in a rut? All 3 shows you mentioned are completely different creatures, which makes it interesting that they were all helmed by the same person. Another upside.. his latest work is blowing you away, so maybe.. more to come? 😀
It's a thought-provoking question, on inner monsters.. I can buy the idea that the show is selling, that if you dig deep or hard enough, that many people have inner monsters. Over the course of Dr. Kim's psychotic experiment, almost all the kids had brushes with their inner monster. Like when they all took out weapons and hunted down Kang Mo, thinking him the murderer. I would've preferred, though, an ending where the kids didn't give in to their inner monster. Not that I'd want all of them to commit suicide like Yoon Su, but I would've liked them to redefine victory in a way that didn't require them to be monstrous.