Tying 3 Storylines Together (16 July 21)

Nevertheless threads the 3 plotlines of NB/JE, S/JW, BN/KH together through the narrative, parallels and clever camera work and editing. It's not excessive, enough to keep group interactions organic and unite all plotlines under the greater theme of fumbling youthful love. 

The first instance is when NB thinks to herself that if she was drunk she would at least have an excuse for sleeping with JE, but right after the credits we cut to BN, who is frustrated at herself for doing just that - sleeping with KH because she was drunk. 

This interesting contrast shows that neither are preferable situations. Both girls make what they perceive to be a mistake, and one is no less embarrassed than the other. But it also highlights how their circumstances are unique to themselves. 

Their scenes are inter-cut once again, with JE saying he is going to have breakfast alone, but seems somewhat disappointed when NB tells him to go ahead. Contrasted BN who actually has breakfast on her own and is startled with KH reappears .

KH and NB are also contrasted, NB thinks JE doesn't want to date her, KH makes clear that he wants to date BN. BN/KH are less ambiguous in their interactions than JE/NB, but it's obvious that all of them are stumbling through this change in status quo. 

Then there's one of my favourite scenes from Ep 4, a seamless transition linking previous day(s)' events to the present day and gives us further insight into each character. That is, the short meeting of NB and JW at the staircase. 

The previous day, we heard NB's inner monologue about how she has friends, but no one to spend her birthday with. Upon meeting JW, we get some sense of continuity when JW apologises to NB for not contacting her. 

It's also where S/JW's story converges with NB's story, catching the audience up on JW who hasn't been eating well. This is done organically, while also building the NB/JW friendship. They may not be the closest, but they're affectionate and caring.

Their stories then diverge again in the classroom. Note how both of them have a lot of silent communication going on, JW with S, NB with JE. Again, their stories are unique, but such techniques maintain some sense of larger unity. 

All this culminates at the end of the ep, S waits for JW at the staircase because she wants to have a talk to get some clarity on what's going on. Note that immediately the camera is shaky, a technique to show the uneasiness the characters feel inside. 

This technique carries on to the next scene where NB finds JE to have a talk too. Not only are the scenes similar in content, but the camera work carries over that sense of uneasiness seamlessly, heightening it (camera gets more shaky) in NB's case. 

The show is doing a great job of weaving NB's story with the other plotlines to paint a greater picture. Uncertainty, awkwardness, lack of proper communication that runs through all of them, and the resolving of that will be the basis of episodes to come. 

doramaticbites

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