My Cloytober

Prompt - Growth

An analysis of how Ri Jeong-hyeok's character grows, inspired by the tomato plant scene. And a bit about Hyun Bin's acting too!

I find the scene where he talks to the tomato plant powerful and poignant. You suddenly see this tall, strong, army officer as small and vulnerable and you just want to give him a hug!

You know without a shadow of a doubt that this man has some hidden pain or trauma.

Squatting down to the plant is genius! Whether it was the writer's, director's idea or Hyun Bin's own doesn't matter. He does it brilliantly. A perfect example of what a great actor he is - conveying what is going on underneath the surface.

That pain is why his relationship with Seri means so much. He needs someone to give him love, to take him by the hand and lead him out of the dark hole he has placed himself in.

Because that is what he has done. He has internalised all the grief of his brother's death and blames himself.

This might seem odd - he played no part in the circumstances that led to Mu's death so why should Jeong-hyeok feel responsible?

I think it's because he knows he was given a fantastic opportunity to leave North Korea, live abroad, study music and pursue his dream. And because of that Mu had to join the army.

His reasoning is that if he hadn't pursued music, then Mu might not have been where he was and been killed. And that is why he turns his back on the piano - which was perhaps his principal outlet for emotional expression.

So if he can't play anymore where does he express the emotion and grief he feels over Mu? He internalises it and punishes himself.

He joins the army to follow Mu's path. Not because he wants to be a soldier, but because he hates himself and is forcing himself to do the opposite of what he really wants.

He has cut himself off from family and friends too. The snatches we see of him as a boy at school and as a student - Dan's memories - show him laughing, having fun with friends, arm in arm. His mother talks about how he used to be a kind boy.

Contrast that with the Jeong-hyeok Seri meets. Aloof, unemotional, no apparent close friends, not matey with his squad. Maybe a bit of a stuffed shirt. A reader of dark and difficult books. Still obsessed with the circumstances of his brother's death.

So this is the growth he makes in the series. Back to the person he used to be - warm, loving, kind. Able to express his feelings at last.

And that is the brilliance of Hyun Bin's acting. That you can see that there is so much more to this man than just a dutiful soldier.

His love for Seri means he changes in other ways. Less detached, more comfortable in a group. Still reserved perhaps, but he now has genuine relationships with other people too. Maybe there is still some progress he can still make as a person and his love and life with Seri is essential for that.

So this is the Jeong-hyeok I try to bring out in my novel The Gift when he is free to explore his full potential as a musician. His new life with Seri helps him break down the final protective barriers to fully express his emotions in the music.