Introduction
In the midst of heartbreak, angst and the unfulfilled happily-ever-after grew a ship that interpreted and believed a different story. One where even in the darkest of times, there was still hope, beauty and this intangible and palpable connection with this couple.
Their scenes, though limited, have all been narratively essential and emotionally resonant, their story told through parallels with artistry supported by beautiful musical scores and cinematography that were rare throughout the rest of the drama.
Though there are 77+ reasons, why this is a special couple, the main one is that they are the best versions of themselves with one another. Their demeanors and personalities are the perfect complements to each other, and yet, they possess the same unyielding, determined spirit in fighting for their love, matching each other in terms of passion and unwavering devotion.
Passion is fleeting, and reality is quick to set in to couples who are blinded by passion without having reasons to stay together. What lasts longer is the relationship that starts off as a slow burn, getting hotter and larger with time, effort and mutual respect. In ChilBong and NaJeong, they are the Yin’s to each other’s Yang’s. What one lacks the other makes up for. Put their skills together - along with his quiet determination and her loudmouthed will these two could have really gone places - a Power Couple.
Na Jeong
She has shown each of these sides to her around him because she is his equal. With no pretenses, she is comfortable to be herself and he has had the opportunity to see her in so many settings outside of the boarding house so she isn’t confined to one role in his life. She doesn’t question her self-worth with him or measure her value on how he sees her – something incredibly important for all women to heed by and a sign that she can be a mature, considerate, strong, self-assured, confident woman with Chilbongie.
Chilbong both blatantly awakened and affirmed NaJeong's fierceness by openly adoring her temper, intelligence, her sexiness - making her feel attractive, and perhaps made her see that his love embraced her flaws as their own perfection.
Chilbong
She is his grounding force and accepts him for who he is beneath the celebrity and status: a guy who is considerate, attentive, genuinely friendly and nice, one with a good heart but not without flaws. He is simple and consistent – some say boring - but perhaps with all the conflict growing up, that’s what he strived to be. He can be confident in knowing that she grew to like him and treasure his presence and his friendship because of HIM – not for his baseball and popularity, but just because he is Bongah to her.
Most importantly, she has shown him that he is worthy of being treasured and loved for simply being himself. And for a lonely boy who was abandoned by his family -that is truly a gift from above.
By the end of it all, he became more than just Joon – he himself was a gift from the heavens for always watching over her, her best friend and landlord.
Why we love them
The Chilbong& Najeong couple is a miracle in that they are neither supported by a canonical endgame or reciprocated relationship and yet have elicited some of the most insightful and thought-provoking discussion on what it means to love, the nature of human relationships and the gut-wrenching painful transitional years of growing into adulthood.
In Chilbong and NaJeong we saw the possibility of what the best relationship would look like: accepting, kind, empowering and always based on respect. In these two characters we were able to see and imagine how two very imperfect people can enable each other to become the absolute versions of themselves and grow up feeling safe that they are, and will always be loved. In a world where true love is so rare, they gave us a glimpse of what forever may look like, giving all of us hope that there is such a thing in this ever-uncertain life.
Their potential as a couple and their chemistry was too enormous and beautiful to ignore. Cider is for the gut-wrenching, heart-shaking splendor of the things that could've been and the things that never were. For all the unanswered questions, for the ending that we never got, this is where this ship thrives on.
Together, we analyzed this couple from literally every angle possible: life lessons, real life relationships, thematic resonance, character development, narrative structure, metaphors, symbolism, and parallel imagery. We discussed not only Chilbong and Najung, but also what it meant to love and to separate, to give and to receive, to mature and to dream, to strive and to surrender, and to find your own identity.
We celebrate all the wonderful alternatives, the virtuality that equips us to go out into the world, create the reality we want and find the miraculous amidst the ruin.
Contributors: @PBJayism, @Lunagal, @mrs_d, @luluponyazn, @blurgrrl13
graphic by @ladyfriday
FANFICTION
A Moment's Choice by @mrs_d (writer) & @JunnieZa (PD)
Answer Me 1994: Take 2 by @ladyfriday (writer) & @candid59 (PD)
Enough by @ladyfriday (writer) & @candid59 (PD)
TO ALL THE MEMBERS, TAKE A MOMENT TO READ THE SOOMPI RULES
[Post edited by @lyrayoo. Please don't take out information, translations, photos, informations without permission . Give credit where the credit is due]
[Post edited by @lyrayoo. Please don't take out information, translations, photos, informations without permission . Give credit where the credit is due]
Previously all the discussion used to happen in Yoo Yeon Seok thread in Actors&Actresses forum.For more information about past episodes.Check it out.