Scene by Scene
Today’s post has been prompted by a TikTok video I came across from the Kdrama One Spring Night. The fan video made me revisit the show and I ended up watching it again. When I watched it the first time I did not like it too much, perhaps it was the bitter aftertaste left after Something in the Rain (both the shows share the same writer and director). But after watching One Spring Night again, I realised the show has its merits and the subject matter is rather mature. However, I digress and there will be another post about the drama in itself. I particularly want to focus on a beautiful scene that caught my attention in Episode 14.
In brief, One Spring Night depicts the development of a relationship between a single father from a humble background and a woman who has never been married before and is from an affluent family. Naturally, such a relationship is met with surprise and outrage. When the mother of the female protagonist is left wondering how to best support her daughter, and she happenstance comes across the male protagonists’ mother. The incidental rendezvous between the two is one of the most touching and heartfelt scenes.
The male protagonist’s mother is worried if her son’s fiancee will be able to handle the responsibility of a child immediately, especially since the child had never seen his birth mother. The female protagonist’s mother accidentally hears the concerns of the other mother and is able to relate since her eldest daughter is pregnant but will soon get a divorce. And in that moment an intangible, unsaid bond develops between the two as both just sit next to each other. Both are unable to utter many words, but look at each other, smiling hesitantly, often with tears in their eyes that are tinged with happiness, relief and sadness.
Some of the most powerful scenes are those that do not contain any explicit dialogues. I can only imagine that scripting and filming such a scene is quite a tall task. While thinking about this, I was reminded of another wordless scene, but a rather playful and flirtatious one. In the Kdrama Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, in early episodes that build up the slow and cautious romance between Hae-Soo and 8th Prince, there is a particularly famous scene which never fails to leave me in wonder about the scriptwriter’s creativity.
Hae-Soo is quietly following the 8th Prince in heavy snow, when the viewer slowly realises she is stepping on footmarks left on the snow by the 8th Prince. When the 8th Prince realises what she is doing, without looking back, he starts walking in wider strides to make it difficult for Hae-Soo. The scene made me laugh, but also made my heart go awww. Again, no words had to be spoken, both are aware of their feelings for each other and the mischief that comes with wanting to tease someone you like. It took me back to my school days when my crush would be forever teasing me!!
I personally feel Kdramas are replete with thoughtful scenes and meaningful dialogues. And there are plenty of scenes worth writing and reminiscing about. But for the moment these are the top two that come to my mind, and in time I will have to start adding to the list of memorable scenes that touched my heart. Until then, I do recommend watching both One Spring Night and Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo.