Dance Scene Analysis (11 February 22)

This dance scene in Nevertheless contains much detail. The camera and lighting choices, lyrics and music, pull audiences deeper into NB’s thoughts. The theme of drawing closer yet being unsure ties into the greater context of NB’s feelings. 

As I’ve mentioned before, the hyper-sensuality in Nevertheless coupled with NB's narrations make the audience really feel what she goes through. This is “feeling seeing” camera that often constitutes the female gaze, you empathise with the subject, and resist objectification.

Here, we know that JE makes her feel excited, all she sees is him, and she wonders if he feels the same way. This is something that she had been wondering from the start, JE is a mystery to her, and for the audience too, as we never get to hear his thoughts.

But it’s a question that JE also asks at the end of ep 2. He thought she felt the same way, a hint that while NB was trying to figure him out, he was trying to do the same. The kisses that don’t happen at the start, happen at the end. The ep starts and ends in a full circle.

Besides narration, the camera work also brings us into NB’s world. It creates a sense of intimacy, first, through the use of arc shots. The arc shot is when the camera moves in a circle/semicircle around the subject. 

In this context, two arc shots serve to “close” NB and JE off from the rest of the people. In between these 2 arc shots, one to the right of NB, and one to the left, is a close-up shot of NB linking her hands together, locking her arms around JE.

It’s clever, because this shows NB is the one that completes the visual circle and closes them from everyone else. As the elements in the sequence will show, while NB is irresistibly attracted to JE, she is also unwilling to run. She does have autonomy.

Here there is a dramatic change of lighting – A spotlight on the two, while other dancers are dim. Visually we're taken closer and closer in intimacy. First, the two are in slow motion, closed off, and already you can see they are in their own world.

But with this lighting change, you seem to be pulled into a place that’s not just closed off, but separated from reality. To me, it’s like we’re stepping into NB’s mind the moment she says “All I see is Jae-eon”. It’s a visual emphasis.

Note also the obvious cuts, almost like there are skips in time – It’s unclear how much real time passes, and it matters little to NB in that moment.

The next shot offers us a glimpse of how NB and JE look like to “outsiders”. This kind of voyeuristic shot where we are partially hidden by an object, peeking in on the two, is quite common in this show.

The upwards boom movement also mimics a person creeping up to peep in. The audience is always engaged. It may be a reason why this show incites such strong emotions. Other camera choices allow us to remain passive, but not in Nevertheless.

Notice also that each set of shots are anchored by this long shot of the two, standing right in the middle of the crowd. They serve as a visual marker, creating a sense of balance and continuity, even with all the changes in lighting. There is an overall sense of peace to this sequence. Even though NB is wondering, she’s enjoying herself, captivated and not perturbed.

We then get a close-up of JE’s fingers clutching her waist. Again, this is sensory, and the senses are again heightened with the extreme close-up of their eyes. It is intimate, it is also searching. Watch NB’s gaze especially as she stares at him.

Also how the camera lowers from eyes to lips, for JE then NB, before they kiss. We see them thinking about kissing, before the actual kiss. Again, this is something Nevertheless excels in – connecting us to the inner world of the characters.

As NB searches with her eyes, we also hear her wonder if he feels the same. She is searching for answers, even as she is falling for him. It’s no coincidence that it is Rio’s "Map on Your Face" that plays –

If you listen to the song the chorus actually goes “You make me wanna trace, the map on your face” as if the answers can be found in one’s expressions. Again, we'll see this happening at the end of the ep, in a parallel.

The lyrics we hear are equally fitting of the relationship. The many nights they will soon spend together, tangled up together. The music is perfectly timed because NB locks her fingers the moment that the line “We’re tangled up in my dreams” is sung.

And of course ep 2 is also when she dreams of sleeping with JE, of being "tangled" with him. This episode is about her attraction to him and yes, she's unsure of whether to stay or run, but at that moment, she doesn’t want her time with JE to end.

The lyrics are few, they don’t distract from NB’s inner thoughts, but the guitar riffs are that of a rock ballad – sensuous and romantic. So while you’re getting all this visual and audio information, the mood is also established.

All these elements engage multiple senses and are brought together to give insight into the inner world of the protagonist in a way that is deep and coherent to the entire story. All, in less than 1 minute 30 seconds.

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