Of Swords and Parasols

Short version:  This would have been awesome if it weren't a kdrama.

Before I get started on the show itself, I want to throw something out to maybe get feedback(largely because I'm trying to completely figure it out myself.)  In jdramas(and manga) and kdramas both, it's fairly popular for a pairing to be a manager/commanding officer(or equivalent) and a subordinate.  In jdramas and manga, it never really bothers me, and there are times I really, really like the pairing(Hotaru no Hikari, Fullmetal Alchemist, and even though it's a US show, I'll even throw in Stargate SG-1 as an example, too) but in most kdramas, it causes a kneejerk back away reaction.  Some of it, I can pin down pretty easily:  

In jdramas/manga, one party is typically extremely no nonsense, and one or both(and if it's only one, it's the one in control) has a very clear line drawn that personal concerns are not to enter into the work zone.  In addition, in most cases here, if there's textual pursuit(whether there's resolution or not) it's the subordinate doing the pursuing, and if the pairing is understood but not stated, it still seems to be the subordinate who calls the shots in that area, and it seems understood that, if a move IS made, it'll be the subordinate making the moves.

Kdramas, though, (and mind you, I have a fairly select pool of kdramas I'm looking at here, as I bounce off of 2 our of 3 I try out pretty hard, most of the time) almost always fit into the category of a financially dependent female being in the position of needing to be saved by a well off male.  Usually, the male does the pursuing, and in most cases, the female ends up working for his company, be it briefly, or for an extended period.  And almost always, the "I'm your boss, you have to do what I say" card is used in a non-work context.  Now, while I've seen it in most kdramas I've seen, I've never for one thought that the guy would ever back it up, don't get me wrong there.  But there's the fact that, even though he would never actually carry through on the implied threat, it still occured to him that he could use the threat, and in most cases, the female, very aware that he COULD do it, does what he wants, not being willing to risk it.  Even if it isn't a direct case of manager/subordinate, there's usually still the element of the female and/or her family being dependant on the male's good will, in one way or another.  While there's never anything behind the threat, and it's never used for anything bad, there's still the fact that the possibility has been brought to the table, and that both sides realize who has the power, and who is dependent.

(As a quick aside, for the modern kdramas I've seen that lack this element, I can really only think of Fantasy Couple, 1% of Anything, and Lovers.  And I had to think for a minute to decide if Lovers counted.  One of its appeals is that the heroine is a mature, capable, financially independent and successful woman with a career, but at one point, she is put in the position of having to be finacially rescued by the hero.  However, she was in that position at least partly because of him, and it was resolved in a way where there was no power imbalance, and where it gave him no control or influence over her, so I decided to let it pass.)

And if all that made sense, I think that's part of why the trope works for me in one instance but not the other, but I get the feeling that there's something else to it that I'm missing.  If anyone has any thoughts about that, or about why the pairing type does/doesn't work for you, I'd love to hear them.


I'm also still a bit confused as to the dynamics/reponsibilities/authority of a traditional clan heir in modern Korea, and keep thinking I'm missing something by not understanding it better.  Maybe I'll see what I can find out if I stay on the internet computer at work.

Su Ha, 38th heir to her clan, and maintainer of the clan estate, Hwa Ahn Dang, is barely scraping by making ends meet to maintain the upkeep for her clan's home.  The place is falling apart, the banks won't grant any loans, and the family elders in Seoul don't provide enough money.  Dong Gyu is the heir to a powerful corporation, and his grandfather wants to buy Hwa Ang Dang so he can spend his final days there(he says this in a very dramatic fashion, despite appearing to be very healthy.)  Dong Gyu thinks the answer is simple.  Su Ha thinks hell will freeze over first.  Not helping matters is the fact that, while grandpa claims he wants to buy the estate because he was once a servant there, and he made the family fortune when he seet out for Seoul with his pay of a cow and a sack of rice, the truth is that he STOLE the cow and the rice, a tale that has very much been passed through the family.

There's also Hwa Ran, a model who seems to have a past with Su Ha, and Chan Min, Dong Gyu's playboy cousin who seems to be romantically interested in  both Su Ha and Hwa Ran.

I'll be perfectly honest and say that, if it didn't star Lee Da Hae(Su Ha) I probably wouldn't have checked it out.  While it sounded fun, I haven't heard much about it, and I'm very picky about my kdramas.  However, I really liked LDH in My Girl, so I decided to give it a try, and so far, I really like it.


I will theoretically gift you with screencaps tomorrow.  I spent far too long typing this up.