Nevertheless Writings

  Nevertheless introduced Nabi and Jaeeon’s first meet from a really intimate perspective through its camera work. With extreme close-up shots and blurred background, it creates the right mood. How in a room full of people, it felt like they were the only ones there. It’s so immersive and reflective of the emotions felt between the two.  Also, I think it emphasises how their story was only meant for them two to share. Just like any other relationship, it’s best to go about it together first, but of course, sometimes the noise around us has its impact.  Thinking about what I love about nevertheless made me reminisce again over how beautiful the cinematography is especially paired with the soundtrack. It’s just so entrancing and completely draws you in every shot. mooonabi

  Ep1 JE POV through the lyrics. We're conditioned to view things within Nabi's perspective, hence Jaeeon's POV is often overlooked. Especially because we're not privy to his thoughts. But listening & watching again, the lyrics and the shots also represent JE's POV. When the night at the bar was almost over, NB and JE went outside to the alley for a smoke. "How's this night going to end?" is the question that's hanging in the air for both of them, and for us viewers too. But then, RIO - Sweetbitter starts playing in the background when NB is trying to light up the cigarette. The camera then points down from the higher angle showing NB's face and their hands, to JE's gaze, then an over-the-shoulder shot. All from JE's side. The shoulder shot is often used to show another character's perspective and the level of intimacy. That sequence establishes JE's POV towards NB at that moment. Right after that, the lyrics begin "Wil...

  "The moon is beautiful, isn't it?" is a translation for "I love you" coined by Natsume Sōseki. As we follow NB's journey, we share her skepticism of JE's intentions and feelings for her. Ep.1 is a great depiction of just how strange and nerve-wracking meeting someone new can be. It depicts the nervousness, sweaty palms and stolen glances that come with the unknowns of your heart racing for someone new. JE has his intentions with NB, but neither of them can truly being to understand or fathom the extent to which their feelings may grow, and how complicated and messy their path towards discovering them will be. Neither of them can ever imagine that this will be love.   This sort of foreshadowing makes so much sense with Sōseki's translation because of how difficult it is for these two to be honest about their feelings, both with themselves or the other, but those feelings are still there, nevertheless. thisjieuns

  I spoke before about how the camera work in Nevertheless shows how Nabi gets attracted to questionable men, by highlighting the physicality of her interactions with Jaeeon, Ep 1 also gives us further insight into our protagonists, ways that I think set her up pretty well.  The show makes it clear that NB meets JE the day of her break up, and though she realises that she shouldn’t be drawn to him, she still allows him to spend time with her. Her vulnerability is highlighted by her confusion, and we see this in the context of her recent breakup.  She doesn’t seem to have the will to enforce boundaries. Soon she learns that he uses touch to get get near women and even sees him kissing someone.  From NB's discomfort, we can infer that the show does not condone such behaviors, neither does it shy away from portraying them.   To an extent, it does make me want to reach into the screen and save NB. But the reality is that if you’re caught in such a situation, people ...

In the webtoon Jaeeon doesn’t really change, the emphasis is not on him changing, but on Nabi growing and leaving him. And, that’s true to life, not everybody changes or even necessarily has to. But rather, we need to make the healthiest choices for ourselves. In the drama though, I do get a sense that they’ll have both NB and JE set in the direction of positive growth. The egg scene to me seems to be a scene that was framed in a positive light. It shows that what makes JE so successful in luring girls, his attention to detail, is something that can be used both negatively or positively. This kind of consideration wasn’t something shown to NB by her ex, which is also something that draws her to him.  And I also think this was framed in a positive moment because unlike other times when he does things and clearly waits for her reaction to gauge his next word or move, this time he asks for the egg, puts it down, and looks away. This could be the show’s way of hinting that he is capabl...