1
SunOh
Hell came on the day the rain of lies fell.
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Through its different approach to love, Love Alarm also denounces the excesses of technology.
~ This review covers both seasons ~
There are plenty of spoilers ahead, but if you want to avoid most of them, feel free to skip to the conclusion in the comments.
Thanks in advance for reading!
P.S: I want to clarify that I do not hate Sun Oh (not that my username is related to him). I actually appreciate his character a lot, he's definitely interesting and saying that I didn't feel anything for him would be a lie.
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This conclusion is perfect because it's healthy and realistic. That she should end up with Sun Oh was inconceivable, she loved Hye Yeong, not him. Sun Oh found happiness on his own and moved on, such is life. He wasn't the person Jojo needed, and vice versa.
From the beginning of the story, Sun Oh's character didn't come across as a very nice guy, but he's also somewhat pitiful. Is he a monster? No. He actually has a pure heart but that doesn't change his immaturity which turns into toxicity for the people around him. Yes, we can see that he starts to have genuine feelings for Jojo, even though his initial motives were questionable.
On the whole, the drama focused more on the psychology of the main characters and I love this kind of romance, the transition from high schoolers to young adults really makes the difference with season 1, the tone changes (highlighting the contrast), you can feel the characters coming of age and the fact that we've followed them through several periods of their lives gives way to a nostalgic feeling, the music etc. also plays a big part.
I loved everything : the cinematography, the acting, the writing, the dialogue, narration and quotes, the directing, the music, the sci-fi aspect, the fact that so many things are represented in the form of drawings (even animated ones) and the whole thing around Jojo's drawings and their meanings.
Some viewers blame Jojo for kissing Sun Oh in the beginning. She was on bad terms with Il Sik and eventually she was able to breathe thanks to Sun Oh. It's true that he was forcing, but she ended up accepting the kiss. They were where no one could see them (well, obviously it's a drama, so it doesn't go as planned), and she was tempted. The way he looked at her, the sexual tension, and well he's definitely handsome. When we know that many adults (men and women) have already cheated in their lives, it's not a teenager who lets herself go with this kind of context that shocks. I don't think she felt that way with her ex, far from it. One can argue it was wrong, but what about Il Sik? And Sun Oh? That’s where the complexity lies. Like so much else in the story, it’s not black and white—it’s human. This isn’t a story about perfect people making perfect choices. One can keep saying, "I wouldn’t do that," but in the grand scheme, it doesn’t change anything.
Jojo didn’t initiate her relationship with Sun Oh. He pushed for it, despite knowing she had a boyfriend—something he learned from his best friend, Hye Yeong, who also had feelings for her. Sun Oh knew all of this, yet still chose to pursue her. And they dated for what, less than a month if we remove the time after the accident?
After the breakup, four years passed before she met Hye Yeong. At first, she was emotionally distant, but his persistent efforts eventually paid off, and she gradually began to open up to him.
Anyway, I think that too many people watch from Sun Oh's perspective only, and forget to take a more open-minded, realistic view.
What can we expect from a character whose childhood was so painful, whose youth was full of struggles, a traumatized teenager with burdens so heavy to bear? Yes, you could say she acts in an annoying and selfish way, however, unless you are biased because of Song Kang and that you have a superficial view of the drama and her character, you will feel nothing but empathy. Don't even make me start on the impact that such an event can have on someone... Survivor's guilt, yes, but it was her parents who tried to kill themselves with her.
Sun Oh's behavior can be explained because of his family situation, right, I do get that. But if you think it's all Jojo's fault or that what Sun Oh did at the beginning is right but what happened afterwards isn't, I don't know what to say.
What Deuk Gu says to Hye Yeong, "It was Jojo's will to use the shield and spear. Without it, she would never have gone out with you. It was because of the shield that she broke up with Sun Oh and you appeared on the list of people she could love. The shield being a variable, Jojo's will intervened, and you became a potential love interest. She wanted to ring your Love Alarm, even if it meant using the spear. She was willing to go that far to express her feelings for you. If that's not being sincere, what is?" This sums it up perfectly.
Another thing about the end that I love is that Jojo still doesn't ring Hye Yeong's Love Alarm without the spear and she still has the shield, but they know their love is sincere and it was really beautiful when they confessed their feelings out loud. It reminded me of when Hye Yeong was courting Jojo the traditional way without relying to Love Alarm, and the fact that he wanted to build his relationship with her bit by bit was great. Of course, there's that final scene where we see the key moments when Jojo rang Hye Yeong's Love Alarm, they left before it started working but anyway, it was obvious. Nonetheless, it was perfect as a conclusion, for us viewers.
I transcribed two other dialogues that are important:
(the discussion between the two brothers) - Five years ago, I told you that we shouldn't release 2.0. - You don't realize that the Love Alarm you created makes people feel lonelier. Version 2.0 was created for those lonely people. If they'd known that lots of people would love them, there wouldn't have been any mass suicides, 23 lives would have been spared. - Is that really what you think? People only go out with the app's recommendations. Just like we only read articles from our search portal. Just as we only watch movies recommended by the algorithm. - What's wrong with that? - It eliminates countless possibilities. If there's an error in the suggestions, version 2.0 prevents love from being born. - An error? How are you going to prove it? - Kim Jojo. When she installed the shield, the person she loved changed. - Programming bug. - It wasn't a bug. It was Jojo's will. With the introduction of synchronization and willpower, this little mistake changed her life. Do you understand now?
(Deuk Gu talking to Jojo) "It was obvious you liked Hye Yeong. Do you know why you hesitated so much? You've never seen his Love Alarm ring. That's why. Even though you knew it was because of the shield, you doubted your feelings, because his Love Alarm had never gone off. That's why I wanted to stop the new function. People have become too dependent on technology."
Going back...
Season 1 Episode 5 analysis (accident scene) : Exactly as shown with the narration and the cinematography, it was like a dream of happiness for her. She ignored and escaped reality thanks to Sun Oh. During the trip in Jeju, her trauma was already triggered once, but the accident heavily triggered it as it involved Sun Oh (who became really important for her—so no she didn't "not consider his feelings", it's not that simple). The call from the hospital where is her grandmother, the memories from her childhood if we can even call it that, her memories with Sun Oh, the flashback of Gul Mi threatening her... It was a build-up of different factors until she had to take a decision. She lost her friends, people judged her, she became the center of attention, and because Gul Mi knows her too well, it was also easy for her to use all the guilt that she tried so hard to hide deep inside. Then as if it wasn't enough, Sun Oh was locked up by his family because of her (that being the final trigger, the last straw), and she was also aware of Hye Yeong's feelings. Also, like, you're telling me that's the normal life of a high-schooler? I'm not doing a recap but in case anyone forgot, this person explained it all in her review : https://mydramalist.com/profile/9262161/review/150547—I really like how they ended the Jojo paragraph with "Because she doesn't want any help from anybody, BECAUSE she feels and will feel small. And that's actually one of the reason why she was burdened on being in a relationship with Sun-oh and finally installed the shield."
On a side note, it is known that people can live with the memories of their childhood, but for the people who don't have anything happy to remember, they live their lives trying to heal these scars (I mean Jojo has some good memories with her grandma, but...it's still way too sad, like, her grandma had to fall ill and then all this...?). It's not easy for them to be happy and live a normal life.
Because it still wasn't enough, she literally became someone's target. Sigh.
More observations : At the end of the first episode in season 1, Jojo's narration says "If I had Love Alarm on me, would it have rung? No. They would have both remained silent. Because the desire for a kiss preceded love." It really shows the difference in the building of relationships. At the end, Sun Oh and Yuk Jo are ready to build a healthy and mature relationship together, just like what Jojo and Hye Yeong did, with Jojo eventually developping feelings for him. Love Alarm is not everything, so it shouldn't control them. Their reaction when it didn't ring showed exactly that. Just like Hye Yeong and Jojo leaving before the app's confirmation. Whether Love Alarm rings or not is not the question, what matters in the end is YOU and not the program. Love Alarm doesn't guarantee your happiness. It works when you have a crush and when you are in love, but not for the process of falling in love. We are not so simple. This is why 2.0 was really bad, but honestly, I even wonder if 1.0 would really last. Some will say the ending between Yuk Jo and Sun Oh was forced, but for me it would have been forced only if Sun Oh made Yuk Jo's Love Alarm ring. I liked how he went at her home everyday...it was great. Genuine effort matters, even small moves. Hye Yeong proved that already. And yes, it made sense, it wasn't random either. I could feel the growth in his character and his sincerity so the app was irrelevant. In addition, not all relationships are rooted in passionate love, and intense emotions don’t always lead to healthy relationships. Love Alarm touches on this idea by showing that true connection goes beyond initial attraction or infatuation. It explores how relationships require more than just strong feelings to be stable and healthy, emphasizing the importance of understanding, respect, and emotional compatibility. Passion can fade or become problematic if not supported by a deeper, more meaningful bond.
Another thing I want to discuss, remember when Hye Yeong saw Jojo disappearing from the list of the people who *could* love him. That was after the kiss, which made it all the more blurry. Because of her strong feelings towards Sun Oh (normal considering their past history), it was hard to know, even for the audience. But in fact, the reason why she disappeared from Hye Yeong's Love Alarm was that she *really* was in love with him : the first thing she thought about was Hye Yeong.
Even if Love Alarm is indeed an opportunity for them to experience love, it lacks in terms of free will and timing.
Last ending observation : The final season being Spring symbolizes renewal, which I found to be a beautiful touch. I loved how the drama used the changing seasons throughout, adding a layer of poetry to the storytelling.
Here's an example of brilliant writing : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipKOv4RG11Y
It mirrors everything so well. Like in Season 1, Sun Oh could not respect Jojo's protective barriers.
Fun fact : Before I started watching, I had such high and unrealistic expectations regarding Sun Oh's character because of how much people loved him. What I got in return was...not what I expected. I thought he would have a tragic background and be similar to a tormented character like Su Ho in True Beauty (chef's kiss), turns out that was Jojo lol. And worse even, considering her "life"...
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Conclusion under
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Bonus links that I recommend to save :
- https://www.mentmagazine.com/issue001/sensus
- https://mydramalist.com/profile/imanirine/review/155009
- https://mydramalist.com/profile/Claraamorim/review/133999
There are plenty of spoilers ahead, but if you want to avoid most of them, feel free to skip to the conclusion in the comments.
Thanks in advance for reading!
P.S: I want to clarify that I do not hate Sun Oh (not that my username is related to him). I actually appreciate his character a lot, he's definitely interesting and saying that I didn't feel anything for him would be a lie.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
This conclusion is perfect because it's healthy and realistic. That she should end up with Sun Oh was inconceivable, she loved Hye Yeong, not him. Sun Oh found happiness on his own and moved on, such is life. He wasn't the person Jojo needed, and vice versa.
From the beginning of the story, Sun Oh's character didn't come across as a very nice guy, but he's also somewhat pitiful. Is he a monster? No. He actually has a pure heart but that doesn't change his immaturity which turns into toxicity for the people around him. Yes, we can see that he starts to have genuine feelings for Jojo, even though his initial motives were questionable.
On the whole, the drama focused more on the psychology of the main characters and I love this kind of romance, the transition from high schoolers to young adults really makes the difference with season 1, the tone changes (highlighting the contrast), you can feel the characters coming of age and the fact that we've followed them through several periods of their lives gives way to a nostalgic feeling, the music etc. also plays a big part.
I loved everything : the cinematography, the acting, the writing, the dialogue, narration and quotes, the directing, the music, the sci-fi aspect, the fact that so many things are represented in the form of drawings (even animated ones) and the whole thing around Jojo's drawings and their meanings.
Some viewers blame Jojo for kissing Sun Oh in the beginning. She was on bad terms with Il Sik and eventually she was able to breathe thanks to Sun Oh. It's true that he was forcing, but she ended up accepting the kiss. They were where no one could see them (well, obviously it's a drama, so it doesn't go as planned), and she was tempted. The way he looked at her, the sexual tension, and well he's definitely handsome. When we know that many adults (men and women) have already cheated in their lives, it's not a teenager who lets herself go with this kind of context that shocks. I don't think she felt that way with her ex, far from it. One can argue it was wrong, but what about Il Sik? And Sun Oh? That’s where the complexity lies. Like so much else in the story, it’s not black and white—it’s human. This isn’t a story about perfect people making perfect choices. One can keep saying, "I wouldn’t do that," but in the grand scheme, it doesn’t change anything.
Jojo didn’t initiate her relationship with Sun Oh. He pushed for it, despite knowing she had a boyfriend—something he learned from his best friend, Hye Yeong, who also had feelings for her. Sun Oh knew all of this, yet still chose to pursue her. And they dated for what, less than a month if we remove the time after the accident?
After the breakup, four years passed before she met Hye Yeong. At first, she was emotionally distant, but his persistent efforts eventually paid off, and she gradually began to open up to him.
Anyway, I think that too many people watch from Sun Oh's perspective only, and forget to take a more open-minded, realistic view.
What can we expect from a character whose childhood was so painful, whose youth was full of struggles, a traumatized teenager with burdens so heavy to bear? Yes, you could say she acts in an annoying and selfish way, however, unless you are biased because of Song Kang and that you have a superficial view of the drama and her character, you will feel nothing but empathy. Don't even make me start on the impact that such an event can have on someone... Survivor's guilt, yes, but it was her parents who tried to kill themselves with her.
Sun Oh's behavior can be explained because of his family situation, right, I do get that. But if you think it's all Jojo's fault or that what Sun Oh did at the beginning is right but what happened afterwards isn't, I don't know what to say.
What Deuk Gu says to Hye Yeong, "It was Jojo's will to use the shield and spear. Without it, she would never have gone out with you. It was because of the shield that she broke up with Sun Oh and you appeared on the list of people she could love. The shield being a variable, Jojo's will intervened, and you became a potential love interest. She wanted to ring your Love Alarm, even if it meant using the spear. She was willing to go that far to express her feelings for you. If that's not being sincere, what is?" This sums it up perfectly.
Another thing about the end that I love is that Jojo still doesn't ring Hye Yeong's Love Alarm without the spear and she still has the shield, but they know their love is sincere and it was really beautiful when they confessed their feelings out loud. It reminded me of when Hye Yeong was courting Jojo the traditional way without relying to Love Alarm, and the fact that he wanted to build his relationship with her bit by bit was great. Of course, there's that final scene where we see the key moments when Jojo rang Hye Yeong's Love Alarm, they left before it started working but anyway, it was obvious. Nonetheless, it was perfect as a conclusion, for us viewers.
I transcribed two other dialogues that are important:
(the discussion between the two brothers) - Five years ago, I told you that we shouldn't release 2.0. - You don't realize that the Love Alarm you created makes people feel lonelier. Version 2.0 was created for those lonely people. If they'd known that lots of people would love them, there wouldn't have been any mass suicides, 23 lives would have been spared. - Is that really what you think? People only go out with the app's recommendations. Just like we only read articles from our search portal. Just as we only watch movies recommended by the algorithm. - What's wrong with that? - It eliminates countless possibilities. If there's an error in the suggestions, version 2.0 prevents love from being born. - An error? How are you going to prove it? - Kim Jojo. When she installed the shield, the person she loved changed. - Programming bug. - It wasn't a bug. It was Jojo's will. With the introduction of synchronization and willpower, this little mistake changed her life. Do you understand now?
(Deuk Gu talking to Jojo) "It was obvious you liked Hye Yeong. Do you know why you hesitated so much? You've never seen his Love Alarm ring. That's why. Even though you knew it was because of the shield, you doubted your feelings, because his Love Alarm had never gone off. That's why I wanted to stop the new function. People have become too dependent on technology."
Going back...
Season 1 Episode 5 analysis (accident scene) : Exactly as shown with the narration and the cinematography, it was like a dream of happiness for her. She ignored and escaped reality thanks to Sun Oh. During the trip in Jeju, her trauma was already triggered once, but the accident heavily triggered it as it involved Sun Oh (who became really important for her—so no she didn't "not consider his feelings", it's not that simple). The call from the hospital where is her grandmother, the memories from her childhood if we can even call it that, her memories with Sun Oh, the flashback of Gul Mi threatening her... It was a build-up of different factors until she had to take a decision. She lost her friends, people judged her, she became the center of attention, and because Gul Mi knows her too well, it was also easy for her to use all the guilt that she tried so hard to hide deep inside. Then as if it wasn't enough, Sun Oh was locked up by his family because of her (that being the final trigger, the last straw), and she was also aware of Hye Yeong's feelings. Also, like, you're telling me that's the normal life of a high-schooler? I'm not doing a recap but in case anyone forgot, this person explained it all in her review : https://mydramalist.com/profile/9262161/review/150547—I really like how they ended the Jojo paragraph with "Because she doesn't want any help from anybody, BECAUSE she feels and will feel small. And that's actually one of the reason why she was burdened on being in a relationship with Sun-oh and finally installed the shield."
On a side note, it is known that people can live with the memories of their childhood, but for the people who don't have anything happy to remember, they live their lives trying to heal these scars (I mean Jojo has some good memories with her grandma, but...it's still way too sad, like, her grandma had to fall ill and then all this...?). It's not easy for them to be happy and live a normal life.
Because it still wasn't enough, she literally became someone's target. Sigh.
More observations : At the end of the first episode in season 1, Jojo's narration says "If I had Love Alarm on me, would it have rung? No. They would have both remained silent. Because the desire for a kiss preceded love." It really shows the difference in the building of relationships. At the end, Sun Oh and Yuk Jo are ready to build a healthy and mature relationship together, just like what Jojo and Hye Yeong did, with Jojo eventually developping feelings for him. Love Alarm is not everything, so it shouldn't control them. Their reaction when it didn't ring showed exactly that. Just like Hye Yeong and Jojo leaving before the app's confirmation. Whether Love Alarm rings or not is not the question, what matters in the end is YOU and not the program. Love Alarm doesn't guarantee your happiness. It works when you have a crush and when you are in love, but not for the process of falling in love. We are not so simple. This is why 2.0 was really bad, but honestly, I even wonder if 1.0 would really last. Some will say the ending between Yuk Jo and Sun Oh was forced, but for me it would have been forced only if Sun Oh made Yuk Jo's Love Alarm ring. I liked how he went at her home everyday...it was great. Genuine effort matters, even small moves. Hye Yeong proved that already. And yes, it made sense, it wasn't random either. I could feel the growth in his character and his sincerity so the app was irrelevant. In addition, not all relationships are rooted in passionate love, and intense emotions don’t always lead to healthy relationships. Love Alarm touches on this idea by showing that true connection goes beyond initial attraction or infatuation. It explores how relationships require more than just strong feelings to be stable and healthy, emphasizing the importance of understanding, respect, and emotional compatibility. Passion can fade or become problematic if not supported by a deeper, more meaningful bond.
Another thing I want to discuss, remember when Hye Yeong saw Jojo disappearing from the list of the people who *could* love him. That was after the kiss, which made it all the more blurry. Because of her strong feelings towards Sun Oh (normal considering their past history), it was hard to know, even for the audience. But in fact, the reason why she disappeared from Hye Yeong's Love Alarm was that she *really* was in love with him : the first thing she thought about was Hye Yeong.
Even if Love Alarm is indeed an opportunity for them to experience love, it lacks in terms of free will and timing.
Last ending observation : The final season being Spring symbolizes renewal, which I found to be a beautiful touch. I loved how the drama used the changing seasons throughout, adding a layer of poetry to the storytelling.
Here's an example of brilliant writing : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipKOv4RG11Y
It mirrors everything so well. Like in Season 1, Sun Oh could not respect Jojo's protective barriers.
Fun fact : Before I started watching, I had such high and unrealistic expectations regarding Sun Oh's character because of how much people loved him. What I got in return was...not what I expected. I thought he would have a tragic background and be similar to a tormented character like Su Ho in True Beauty (chef's kiss), turns out that was Jojo lol. And worse even, considering her "life"...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Conclusion under
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bonus links that I recommend to save :
- https://www.mentmagazine.com/issue001/sensus
- https://mydramalist.com/profile/imanirine/review/155009
- https://mydramalist.com/profile/Claraamorim/review/133999
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