Discussion: Cinematography, Characterisation, Perspective (25 July 21)

I really am curious how people who watch Nevertheless, process the show. Beyond the aesthetics of Song Kang and Han So Hee, there is this rich storytelling, intentful photography and cinematography, and great writing of these very flawed characters.


Ahh agreed! Even though the general discourse seems to have gotten stuck on the red flag label that the Jae Eon character carries from the source material, I've had some really thoughtful conversations about the show's themes and inspired directorial choices. So good!


Yes! I've always seen "the red flags''

as part of a bigger narrative and

intentful characterisation of Jae-Eon.

I guess it really depends on the lens

you use to evaluate this series. If you

watch it with a third-party lens prying

into the lives of Na-Bi and Jae-Eon, then

you'll get sucked into that perspective:

Jae Eon as trouble for Na-Bi. But if you

look at it using Na-Bi's lens, as I feel like

the director intended it to be, you'll see

it through the rose-colored lenses of young, careless

attraction?


It actually ties really well with how the

visuals are treated in this drama. In

episodes 1-3, you'll see super close up shots

that are super hazy and intentionally

blurred -- Na-Bi's infatuation and

limerence for Jae--Eon is carefully translated

in these cinematographic choices.


Their interactions are always dark and

broody. But as the show progressed, the

shots became wider and less tight; the

haze also slowly disappeared. This

parallels Na-Bi "waking up" from the

Jae-Eon trance, now seeing his problematic

approach to relationships.


So much more to talk about these visual

themes with other characters! Also how

Na-Bi is as equally problematic as Jae-Eon.

People seem to identify with her, even when

she herself is a walking "red flag."


Yes! Amazing use of an unreliable narrator. Fascinating how this (+ the preconceived notions because of the webtoon) has made the story's themes on gossip/assumptions manifest in the audience discourse. 


I'm watching from a non-amatonormative lens so Na-bi's "red flags" appear so much clearer to me. One moment she seems agreeable to their setup and is the one setting the boundaries, the next she's demanding sincerity then giving him the cold shoulder. Very hot and cold.


Na-Bi as a character is as problematic

as Jae-Eon and I’m living for that. The

audience don’t seem to see it prolly

because 1) they need attach to at least

one lead character and Na-Bi seems to

be the more obvious choice over the overt

assholery of Jae-Eon, and 2) the lens

most people use to look at this piece of work

is romantic.


If they just remove this and look at it

beyond amatonormativity, imagine the

conversations this could elicit. 


paulocetamol_ and agelbltzr


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