Sage In The Meadow

Welcome back to the final installment of the K-drama story analysis and break-down series. The series, where we looked at two of my favorite K-dramas, and used classic writing formulas to view them as a writer would. In the first two parts of this series, we looked at the show Doom at Your Service, where we focused on the creative usage of the Three Act Story Structure. For the second show, we are taking a closer look at the Character Arcs, and journeys of the two main characters, from the series Link. In the previous part of this series, we saw a glimpse of each of our main characters’ run-in with their Ghost, and some of their deepest inner struggles. Today, we are going to wrap up this series with the conclusion, and ultimate realizations of our characters. Before we jump back in with Dah Hyun, and Gyehoon, I want to first discuss…

Location, Location, Location

Whether it be on screen or in books, the location in which our stories take place play a key role in establishing the kind of story we are entering. Many times, when I think back on my favorite books and movies, I remember them by the sights and sounds of their settings, nearly as much as the characters who live in them. In the world of Link, the location of the small town on the outskirts of Seoul, is a unique, and distinguished character all on its own. Fish markets, convenience stores, and neighborhood restaurants all played important roles within the story. They not only set an iconic backdrop for the story, but later on, played directly into the plot. In many ways, the story couldn’t have taken place anywhere else. As with all fiction, it’s important to give your readers/viewers a sense of place. They want to know their way around your world, and become familiar with its most important locations. The series Link, had only a handful of locations that were consistently used throughout the story, but they were used well, with each one full of life, and vibrancy.

Side-Stories & Sub Plots

In order to bring the town to life even more, the show held a small spot-light on some key characters within the town as well. While several characters and their subsequent backstories were touched on briefly, there was a distinct focus on two of them. The first, being Dah Hyun’s mother. Her mother’s past, and what brought her to the small town had always been a mystery to Dah Hyun. Throughout the series we are given small pieces of her full story, and by the end the most relevant pieces are finally revealed, contributing to a more dramatic climax and offering a deeper understanding of Dah Hyun and her mother.

Secondly, we were introduced to a rookie police officer early in the series, named Ji Won Tak. He’s a new face in town, and in many ways, an outsider. But from the moment he enters the screen, it is apparent there is much more to his story. We learn that he actually has a long history with the town, and those who live in it. I can’t say much more without revealing too many spoilers, but suffice to say, although Won Tak’s story is relatively short, it carries great emotional depth, and his sub-plot became one of my favorite aspects of the show.

This series did a great job of weaving alternating story lines with various threads, and blending them seamlessly into the bigger picture. In any story, on the page, or the screen, sub-plots provide endless opportunities to explore new themes, or express the main theme in new, or unexpected ways. If done well, sub-plots can stand on their own and deliver a lasting impression to readers. The importance of sub-plots is numerous, and in some cases, the main story may be intense, whereas, sub-plots can be a welcome break from the main story, preventing a feeling of fatigue when things become heavy. Get creative, and you can brainstorm some amazing sub-plots that act as chocolate syrup to your already delicious story-sundae.

Resolutions and the Climax

In the last installment, we left off just as our main characters were headed for a very difficult, and painful realization about each of their worlds. For Dah Hyun, memories long buried have resurfaced, bringing a major shift in her understanding, and causing a rift in her relationship with Gyehoon. All of her worst fears are realized, as the shadows she had been running from loom up behind her, bigger, and worse than she’d ever dreamed of. Ultimately, she is left with a choice— confront the darkness and use the Truth she is now realizing, by facing up to her past, or continuing to run from it. Throughout the series, Dah Hyun grows, and matures greatly from the girl at the start of the series. Insurmountable struggles threaten to break her, yet each time she is compelled to overcome those moments. Eventually, she is lead to a final climactic moment when all of the work she had previously put in is put to the test. And while it seems that she is pushed to her limit, and cracks begin to form, she does not break. In the end, she realizes how powerful her Truth is, and though it comes with heartbreak, and difficult consequences, that Truth is more important to her than the temporary comfort that believing in the Lie could ever bring.

As for Gyehoon, that ultimate decision is a bit more out of reach. When a major piece of the puzzle related to his sister’s disappearance is discovered, many of the people he had grown to trust are implicated. The progress he’d made to open up to those around him seems to backfire, sending him reeling, back into the dark isolated place he’d been before. His pain is so great that it blinds him to the Truth of his situation, and of those around him. Lashing out in harsh words and actions, it seems as if Gyehoon is headed for an even worse end than before this journey began. But when the very last piece of information is uncovered, and Dah Hyun is in placed in danger, he is drawn out from that darkness, no longer able to deny the Truth. In a final act of courage, Gyehoon realizes that love, and caring for others is worth the possible hurt that accompanies them, as he risks everything to save Dah Hyun. Life is filled with hurts, wrongs, and disappointments, but without love, and having others in your life to share in that love–life isn’t worth living at all.

The End

The series ends with each of the characters completely different versions of themselves from when the series began. For most of them, although the secrets they had fought so hard to keep buried were revealed, uncovering them brings immense relief, and healing to all. For Gyehoon, it is a bitter ending, since nothing was able to change the tragic fate of his family, the bitterness is softened by the people in his life that care for him, and by having Dah Hyun by his side.

For the viewer, the ending is bittersweet as well, but it’s ultimately a satisfying end to a suspenseful series that brought a strong story line, and memorable viewing experience. This series dealt with many difficult topics, and didn’t shy away from showing the consequences of selfishness, sin, and human-error. There were many subtle scenes and moments to make you love the story, along with unique plot devices, and showed new and creative ways to form deeper layers to your own stories.

This concludes the final installment of the four-part story examination series. If you enjoy these types of posts be sure to let me know, and I can do more in the future. Thank you for taking the time to read this post, and visit my blog.

Now I’m curious, what’s a series you love, that you think is a good display of the intricacies of the Truth vs. the Lie? Or a character with a compelling Ghost? Let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear from you!

Thanks for reading,

Lady S