Camera Work and Nabi’s Ex (25 January 22)

 Anything that has to do with Nabi's ex is something I wish I never felt the urge to write about after my thread on Nabi's character arc, but I wish to add this observation to the long list of things we continue to admire about my favourite underrated drama of 2021.


Several threads have been written about how they purposely obscured parts of Nabi's ex's face, with some pointing out that this was explicitly done to dehumanise him. But in Ep 4, his face was finally shown to us in full view. How do we make sense of this, then?


They say that the greatest fear of all is the fear of the unknown. For most of their relationship, Nabi felt like walking on eggshells around him. Making his face unknown especially in the fragments of Nabi's memory recounting his abuse highlights Nabi's fear towards him.


However, in Ep 4, Nabi finally had the courage to stomp her feet and talk back at him when he was badmouthing JE based on rumours. At these certain times his face was shown to us in full view, symbolising Nabi overcoming her fear of him.

What's even more satisfying is seeing his dejected stance in full view after Nabi walks out on him, and this whole angle and framing making him look small, powerless, and irrelevant.


mignonxminion

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