Maz’s Musing..Her love for Heartstrings… What did I see in this drama…One of The best ever K drama. Just my amateurish views…
What brought them together is what holds them together….
Music
GW is a musical protégé who has lost some of her interest in the traditional piece as she goes through life…but as she said herself even gayageum is interesting again now that she can share it with somebody she loves…performing with the band ..etc
LS who has always been told that he is that good, a protégé in his own right…has been detached frm his feelings far too long, until he met somebody who does not think he is anything special…(Initially)...he finally met somebody who he can respect and as good or not better than him playing a similar instrument that is centuries apart. This we can observe in ep 2…when he looked at GW differently during the competition.
One person claimed the other has no soul and heart in his music while the other claimed she does not comprehend what she does not understand.
Single parent
LS and GW both shares the same fate by being a child of single parent…but while GW is doted on by father and GP...LS has a dad that he does not know and an added responsibility of a sister to take care of…this protectiveness and need to take care of the love ones steam from him looking after his sister and some way his mom as well. However, this responsibility is also what makes LS look cold and emotionless ( on the outside at least)
Secret
LS’s infatuation for the professor is only known by GW…and GW shows her trustworthiness by keeping it quiet and steadfastly trying to make LS see the truth while continuing to like him from the sideline. Even in her pain, she still tries to protect LS from hurt…and is always there for him in his time of need.
MY Observation…
LS was smitten early on , frm episode 2 itself…when he heard her play the gayageum alone…and realize how good she is contrary to what he said in ep 1..that it puts him to sleep well…the subsequent conversation they had was the beginning of the relationship…for one thing..No girl have ever spoken to LS that waybefore…this is the guy who hears the confession of girls 900 times in a day… so, it was refreshing for LS not to have a girl who bows and scrap at his feet… GW has spunk…she defies him…a product of living alone without parents to guide only a grandfather more interested in her musical skills.
If you don’t care for someone you don’t bother with that person…you act like that person is invisible…but GW managed to get under LS ‘s skin from the start…as what LS band member said…you are normally a cool guy…why were you fooled so easily? Referring to the BET… What made LS so angry?…because there is this girl that does not seem to be affected by his charisma…he finds that refreshing and at the same time infuriating.
Again, you can actually see his interest in GW during then competition. He was nodding along to the traditional music enjoying himself…and the stunned and horror looked when the string snapped…secretly LS wants GW to win...Absolving him of his guilt and thus he will not feel like he owns anything to her.
That nite he wanted to send GW back home back but was refused…as they have an ongoing cold war of course he has to live up on his end and so he acted indifferently.
He was stealing glances at GW…very much in awe of her…and he also showed his vulnerability by explaining and apologizing the reason why he could not make it…even though he looks hard on the outside and indifference but some childlike attitude still exist…this is confirm when he said…its ok of you don’t believe me…He is distancing himself from being hurt in case she did not.
But, he yet can’t face the fact that he is interested in another girl…coz his heart is full of the professor which I think happens to be his 1st love.
Blinded by his one sided love he continues to ignore what his heart is saying to him but it’s getting more difficult with each passing day.
For Lee GW…she finally saw the soul and heart of LS’s music when he sang I miss you for the 1st time in ep 2…she saw something other than the narcissistic prince…THIS is the moment that she fell in love with LS…more than anybody else she understood the loneliness and sadness of not having one parent and also the father that she wants cannot be there with her. She didn’t know what were the circumstances that made LS sang the way he did that nite…but she understood the music and the heart and soul that LS poured into the song.
Spunky all the way..in ep 3, she just threw his bicycle key to him not bothered about showing him any care at all…in turn LS just said I would like to hear you play the gayageum again…what is there to say…when LS turns on the charm everybody melts… SMITTEN HE IS…
YES, love was blossoming and slowly but surely the roots was taking hold of his heart with a firmness that will solidify as time goes by…we saw in episode 4 how LS had the most beautiful and romantic smile on his face when he saw GW up above from his tower…full of tenderness but yet mischievous…Again that devastating smile surface the nite GW was practicing her dancing with the professor… what made this encounter unique is because LS didn’t see the professor but saw GW…he smiled because he saw how cute GW is and how she persevered.
What are my favorite scenes…..? All scenes of the Dooley Couple are my favorite, but some of the more memorable ones:
I LOVE the rain scene between LS and GW…when GW said even I would dump you…LS answered I know that, that’s why I’m going to stop ….in passing it looks quite ordinary the conversation…but…it goes deeper. LS knows he has some feelings for GW but he just was confused, not knowing what to do…he does not like being seen like this , like a weakling, not in control especially in front of GW…when he said he decided not to be like that anymore…he was also directing it to GW and GW realizes it…and when he took the gayageum frm GW is the beginning of his care and loving towards GW …LS starts to recognize his feelings towards GW…the LS that does not bother if you eat or live, is concern about her carrying the gayageum ,,,being protective of GW. Stepping up and being the MAN that he is.
When they stood side by side while the rain came down is symbolic of LS shedding his feelings for the professor...perhaps he didn’t know it yet…but he was cleansing himself, throwing away all of the old feelings and starting anew…and GW was right there next to him lending her shoulder and supporting him in her own unique way.
I LOVE the scene where LS drank the one day old coffee. To me it symbolizes the beginning of his sacrifices for GW. Even way back than …there was something about the girl that made him just does things out of his comfort zone. I also love the scene where LS came out from the professor’s office holding the necklace and he saw the coffee GW left him. The look on LS’s face at that moment was priceless. As I said, PD made great effort to show LS’s inner battle between his feelings for these two ladies. One lady sparkles like a diamond while the other is as comforting and warm as a cup of cappuccino regular size…. Even holding the cup makes you happy and sipping the brew will bring a smile on your face. I think he made his choice here when he drank the cappuccino… LOVE IT TO BITS…
I LOVE the ending scene of ep 5 when LS saw the director and professor hugging and GW tried to show him support. WHY Do I love this scene? Because I hated LS so much at this time I feel like slapping him. In his narcissistic way he said…’do you like me too’? like he is saying you don’t deserve to like me, you are not good enough to like me…’so just stop caring about me’…Do you think by acting this way, I’ll give up on the professor and come to like you? –LS’s wall was up and he wanted to hurt somebody while he was hurting too. Well, he is eating his words now…
The whole scene was just heart rendering to watch…LS crying and screaming while GW’s words echoes’ in his mind tormented him…WHY was he bothered with what GW said…because deep down he knows she was telling him the truth and that she was just trying to help him…again just being there to give him support in her own unique way. Both were crying for something lost yet do not quite understand what was lost…
ONE OF YONG HWA BEST ACTING I HAVE EVER SCENE…BEAUTIFUL!!! (Maybe Yong Hwa broke up with his own girlfriend and that’s why he could act the scene so well…LOL)
I JUST LOVE seeing Shin Hye’s acting here, the camera did a close up and we could see the hurt and sadness in her eyes, face and body expression. Truly a very gifted actress…she made the scene so sad and hurtful…felt like I was the one being rejected by Lee Shin.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the reenactment scene of LS helping GW with her begs in episode 12…just full of love and understanding. Just one sentence and it sent everybody into a tizzy…
“I REMEMBER YOU”…the look of pure love from LS and pure JOY from GW…beautiful…….of course then next scene…Hilarious!!...you started chasing me first….just what I expect a spunky Lee Gyu Won would say…note to GW: for god sake when a drop dead gorgeous NAMJA lean in for a kiss…do not shrink away….stand your ground and except your punishment !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It may just be a short scene but clearly very important because again this is a turning point in their relationship as both now sees it as their fate, destiny to be together and nothing will ever get in the way of their relationship…I believe LS will never allow anybody or anything come in between them.
Unfortunately, I am also a sucker for sweet, tender moments…and I LOVE and I CRY for the scene in ep 12 when LS threw the necklace away...finally everything is as it should be…
How sweet it was when LS asked uncertainly, worriedly..Don’t we get along really well? still unsure if GW likes him …sighhhh
What made this scene so beautiful to watch was the fact that it look so normal, comfortable for Yong Hwa to hug Shin Hye…the hand gesture was so natural…none of the woodenness that quite frankly I expected from Yong Hwa. And adding to the magical moment was the beautiful song accompanying the scene….just as Yong Hwa put his arms around Shin Hye, the song :
the love that I've always dreamed of
I know that it is you
please be with me forever
even if years go by
I hope you will always be here, shining brightly
my heart, forever will be yours
I know this is a drama and everything was plan to the last T, but my heart just won’t stop screaming at how beautiful this scene was captured by the PD and acted perfectly by Yong Hwa and Shin Hye.
I lOVE the ending scene of ep 6, when LS hugged the professor, why is this scene memorable to me? Because it is not coincident that LS went to the same place that he and GW ended up when he decided that he was going make the change, no more pining for a lost love…subconsciously he was looking for that one support that has always been there…he wanted and needed GW…he passed the place and looked and remembered and he stopped. Waiting…but GW was one step too late, the Professor was there and as someone who is hurting, he just reached out for the nearest human that he could get comfort from. That’s the reason why after that he was happy to return the umbrella and moved on with his life as he finally realize that he is over the professor and he wanted GW…( MEN CAN BE VERY DENSE sometimes)
Their first tender looks for each other? How can we forget…in ep 7…windflower and stupid’s first practice together… One is trying to look like she does not care but yet love blazes in her eyes…while the other just realizing the new feelings he has for this girl….and keep glancing over and catching her eyes…
IF I have to chose one scene that is to me the best and most powerful to watch …than I would have to go with the scene on top of the hill in ep 7 when GW return the necklace that she found.
Just amazing how SHIn Hye could transport me right there on that hill and feel what she was feeling at that moment. Her whole acting was just mesmerizing…you could really feel her hurt and pain and her dejection and ultimately her surrender.
When she said, I don’t like you anymore…it broke my heart and I cried and no matter how many times I watch that scene tears still comes to me…
YES, many have said GW was pathetic to do what she did for LS and how she seems to follow him a round. I don’t really think she was following him around rather she was actually trying to help him see the light and catch him when he falls…but to have her actions and her words thrown back to her face was just the wakeup call she needed. She will go through fire for her love ones but she also has her pride and she will not in any circumstance grovel. So, she made the decision to finally end her feelings for Lee Shin. And when Lee shin hears this, he was sad, dejected…again back to the original theory that no other lady has ever treated him the way GW has. Yes, she likes him and YES, she did try to appear cute and adorable for him but when the time came for her to stand up and be strong, that’s exactly what she did. She will not bow down to LS. LS realize that she has a spine made of steel and that’s where GW’s charms lies.
Finally, LS ‘SEES’ her…finally really look at her, a woman with guts and spunk and cute to boot. And LS made the first step, by calling her ‘LEE GYU WON’ which he has never done before….and thanking her courteously. GW saw it too and she remark on it…but she felt sad that only at the end did he finally see her…when she decided to close the book on him.
When she walked away, she had every intention to forget about LS, she had every intention to leave behind her feelings for LS on that hilltop and never look back. But now the table is turn. LS finally sees her and he has shifted gear and is now in pursuing mode. And the rest is history!!!
Shin Hye lives up to her reputation as a crying actress…it was poetry in motion…beautiful..!!! and Props to Yong Hwa as well..he did good.. it was really touching to see him struggling with his feelings…
At first look, all u wanted to do was just get mad at the little sister for interrupting, no matter how painful it was for me, it was actually a very lovely moment..again perfectly captured by the PD…
NOW I GET IT!!!.. Seeing them in ep 14 with the near kiss…a light bulb when off….
Watching GW and LS was parallel to watching PSH and JYH shedding some of their inhabitations towards each other all through the filming of the drama. They maybe friends, good friends but somehow there are some feelings there that are buried deep down …proofs -SH was so awkward with YH doing the romantic scenes… Normally SH is very professional abt all this. YH awkward coz afraid to show to much of himself fearing all would notice how he actually feels ( he does have feelings for SH..don’t u think so?)
Last but not least KISSING SCENE..Shin Hye..OPEN MOUTH..YONG HWA CARESSSES SHIN HYE’S ARMS…Involuntary action...the heart was directing Yong Hwa…he was giving Shin Hye more by that caress than the kiss…HE’S IN LOVE (In reality)… Finally, all inhabitations washed away by just one powerful hugged by LS… there’s no more pretending to be shy and awkward...I LOVE THIS MAN.. and I’m going to show it..HUGGGGGG!!! OMG..I was clapping my hands..LOL
THAT WAS A DREAM COME TRUE FOR YONG HWA..I’m sure he has wanted to kiss Shin Hye from way back than!!
After rewatching episode 14...I have to add one more scene that I believe just sums up everything about LEE GYU WON and LEE SHIN's relationship...
...' I'm Fine even if we see each other once a year, i'll be ok with that
I won't change
Do your best, show me your best
THAT WAY U CAN QUALIFY AS MY GIRLFRIEND..."
My point...When LOVES decides to come calling...it does not sent out an invitation..it either comes in quietly like a thief through the back door and before you know it ..LOVE has already stole everything that you think was important to you before LOVE came or LOVE comes crashing through the front door startling you and bite you in the A@# and once that door is crashed there's no defense against the onslaught of emotions, feelings that rushes through that doorway.
With LS, its obvious...it came at nite like a thief..and stole all that was him which leaves him no alternative but to build a new HIM..and that new him is the most understanding, kind, loving and totally devoted to GW.
Was he devastated by the news that he was not good enough, YES..but he was also happy for GW and that's no mean fit for narcissistic Prince like LS.
Always one to challenge, he again gave an ultimatum to GW, show me your best than you will qualify as my GF.. And GW raise up to the challenge once again, happy that LS is supporting her in his own way.
As I said, Both are proteges..both are geniuses in their own rights...They came together as a challenge and they continue to challenge each other throughout their relationship but always supportive and understanding of each others feelings and needs.
Both compliment each other and yet both are the biggest rivals of each other...
LS knows GW better than anyone else..he understands the thirst that was in GW and the only way was to let her go because if he was in her shoes..what would he have done? LS himself has a dream of studying overseas...
No regrets...he did what should have been done..and he fully expects to get back together with GW in the future..but not before he gets better and able to stand once again stand next to GW, shoulder to shoulder..like long ago under a canopy while rain fell, washing them with new feelings and devotions.
Was it a perfectly executed drama? I would say…very near to it..Perhaps because of the time restrictions, some things felt rushed!!!
Was there Chemistry? You could cut the tension with a bread knife!!!
Was the PD good? I have never seen anything like this before and I never will again until PD Pyo decides to do another drama!!
Was it a good drama?....YOU BET YOUR LAST DOLLAR IT WAS!!!!
My heart goes out to Shin Hye and Yong Hwa because knowing them…they would think it’s because of them that the rating is so low…
However, If anybody from the Management Co or the Staff and crew of Heartstrings is lurking here…Please tell them that, internationally they are SUPERSTARS…will wait patiently for their next project together. DAEBAK HEARTSTRINGS!!!
To my fellow Hearties…sorry for the long musing...See you all real soon…in K – DRAMALAND!!!:wub:
..yes the same one. 2 times read the same review..i want more...
