W - Two Worlds Ep 16 (Final) Discussion Post

[keytfelt.livejournal.com]

Synopsis:
Oh Yeon Joo is a surgeon whose father is a famous comic book creator. One day, her father goes missing and she rushes to his workshop to look for him, and instead finds a strange man, Kang Chul bathed in blood. She is kidnapped by him and taken to a different dimension.

Cast: Lee Jong-Suk, Han Hyo-Joo, Jung Yoo-Jin, Lee Tae-Hwan, Lee Si-Eon, Kang Ki-Young
Director: Jung Dae-Yoon
Writer: Song Jae-Jung
Network: MBC
Episodes: 16
Release Date: July 20 - September 14, 2016
Runtime: Wednesdays & Thursdays 22:00

Watch here: Viki

sources: MyDramaList, AsianWiki

Well, that finale was anticlimactic. The last half of the drama was disappointing to me. Bring on the new Seo In Guk drama next week!

Comments

[goshipgurl.livejournal.com]

the drama started off good but midway lost some of its hype. still one of the best dramas ive ever watched.

[pippopippo.livejournal.com]

The last half of the drama was disappointing to me.

Same. I kind of wish they'd made this a mini series because the first six episode were so exciting and tight, I would've been fine if they'd ended it when Kang Chul died jumping off the bridge (maybe?? it's easier to say in hindsight, that's for sure). Not all the questions about the W world would've been answered, but idk, it's not like they did a better job of answering those questions in the second half. Like, we got answers, but they came with a lot of plot twists for the sake of plot twists (and cliffhangers), plot holes, deus ex machinas, rules of convenience, over-reliance on flashbacks and exposition...

I missed the focus on world-building and character/relationship development of the first third. It got particularly villain-heavy in the last few eps; even the way they went out didn't have as much to do with Chul/Yeon Joo working or making decisions together (which I was really looking forward to) since it was pm contained between OSM/HCH.

I wanted a bit of Soo Bong at the end and to know more about what happens to the W world. Did it freeze again once Kang Chul leaves to be human? What happens to So Hee, hot security hyung, etc.?

Overall, it's not a bad ending though, and I'd still rate this as a one of my favorite dramas.

[ryais.livejournal.com]

Did it freeze again once Kang Chul leaves to be human? What happens to So Hee, hot security hyung, etc.?

I don't think so, when So Hee was in the prison with him he mentioned how she could survive without him now so I assume that So Hee and Do Yoon are fine. Chul signed everything over to Do Yoon so he'll carry on with the whole W business.

The first 7 or so episodes were pre-produced and I feel like you can really tell. The first 6-8 episodes were well paced but the rest seemed like a lot of ideas and not that much time for them all. So much happened in one episode, you hadn't even taken in the first plot twist when they threw a new one at you.

I did love the show though. I thought the ending was a pretty good one, I'm glad they didn't throw another variable and manage to save both the dad and Chul after saying for a couple of episodes that it wasn't possible. I wish Chul or Yeon Joo had something to do with the villains deaths though, seemed a bit anticlimactic for them to have nothing to do with it.

[infj23.livejournal.com]

The first 7 or so episodes were pre-produced and I feel like you can really tell.

The one explanation that makes sense.

[fibuarymarch.livejournal.com]

I kind of wish they'd made this a mini series because the first six episode were so exciting and tight

this is how i feel too. i'd still recommend people to watch it for those beginning eps alone

[miyozari.livejournal.com]

Well, that's an underwhelming ending. Once again, it was a plot driven episode and the main characters just reacted to the events. Oh Seung Moo's sacrifice to make his daughter happy is almost cathartic. Kang Chul's self-awareness became useless and he was a mere bystander.

The ending barely answers any of the fundamental questions, which were raised. Didn't Yeon Joo originally create Kang Chul? What caused Kang Chul to become self-aware in the first place etc. ?

The romantic scenes were uninteresting to me and I don't know... I guess something bugs me about dating a fictional character, when you're his creator.

Overall, I like W, but I guess my expectations were too high. The PD and the staff deserve an award for the gorgeous visuals and great transitions between the two worlds.

[tsuyoi-hikari.livejournal.com]

I think Dad is still the original creator of KC. He just inspired to create KC after seeing YJ's drawing. That's one of the thing that pissed me off as not only you steal your daughter's idea yet you are also incapable of writing a good manhwa. It was infuriating to see how bad the Dad as a writer as his writing is really all over the place. His manhwa only got interesting when it moves on it own instead of relying on his storytelling.

KC becomes self aware as W is just another world that exist on its own (different dimension). Dad only control the lives of the main characters through his tablet but despite that, they still have their own free will to control their own lives.

[miyozari.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your explanation. I'm not completely satisfied, but I guess I have to accept that.

Oh Seung Moo is a mediocre storyteller, but I guess he served the script writer as a vehicle to show the viewers, how writers are forced to use cheap ideas, when they lose creativity and motivation.

[keytfelt.livejournal.com]

I agree with basically all your thoughts. I didn't really care about the romance and actually would have been fine if it didn't end up as a happy ending for the two of them (I still don't exactly get how he came back at the end?). Queen In Hyun's Man is one of my favorite dramas so I had huge expectations (though I didn't like Nine as much as most people) and the first half of the drama met the expectations but then it was just too complicated/confusing for me. There were some amazing visuals, like when Kang Chul first became self aware and crossed into the other world and when the water rose up around Yeon Joo in ep 6.

(...I saw your initial comment before your edit--I'm super excited for The K2!)

[miyozari.livejournal.com]

Queen In-Hyun's man is one of my favourite dramas, too. I never watched Nine. I've only read about it on dramabeans. A happy ending is nice for the fans, but I would appreciate good endings, which can be either unhappy or happy.

The problem w/ the second half was that it became illogical and there were too many plot twists w/o any real purpose. I don't mind dramas, which force me to think (e.g. Liar Game), but there should be a framework, some rules.

YES! I'm really looking forward to JCW's new drama and his abs. The veteran cast is stellar and I don't mind Yoona. I'm more worried about the fact that it is written by Yong Pal's script writer, but tvn must've seen some potential.

[cagallisakura.livejournal.com]

My mom got so angry watching this drama because all the world switching got so confusing and unnecessary. Listening to her rant about this drama was enough for me to never watch it lmao

[keyutie.livejournal.com]

This drama was soooo good in the beginning but then it became chaos towards the end. Which sucked because I wanted this to stay good :(

The ending was not satisfying and nothing was explained. What happened to her dad? Did he die? Is he stuck in the other world? How is Kang Chul living in the real world w/o identification or money? Why were there two worlds? Was it a parallel universe? magic? I have so many questions!

[tsuyoi-hikari.livejournal.com]

The Dad died/disappear as KC is the one who survive the end. It is the last chapter, so one of them needs to die for the manhwa to end. He supposed to kill KC for him to survive (noticed how the Dad's hands stop disappearing when KC was shot) but since he killed the congressman and let KC survive, he will cease to exist because of that.

KC was basically no one in the real world lol. The concept of this drama is that there are 2 worlds that exist on its own; the real world and the W world (manhwa world). Its different dimension that exist on its own. The W world will still moving even though KC no longer there since the world just exist as it is. The Dad's tablet and drawings are the one that connect them together. So Dad only control the lives of the main characters, but even so, as you can see, these characters have their own free will as witnessed by KC's determination to survive despite how many times the Dad tries to kill him.

[keyutie.livejournal.com]

Thanks for explaining! I thought the Dad was just stuck in the other world in exchange for Kang Chul coming into the 'real' world.

The tablet connecting the two worlds made sense. I'm still confused how the other world became connected through the tablet though since the world began as a manhwa.

But what you said would clarify some things! :)

[lostintheechoes.livejournal.com]

it was a great concept, that failed to deliver. it got too blah when they started to go back and forth all the time.

[jinkiestabi.livejournal.com]

I think I'm still far too confused to make criticisms regarding a couple of things, but for the most part I got very annoyed with YJ and the way she dealt with having to lose KC. I chalk that up to me just not being able to register sacrificing everything for love. She spent more time in the hospital than actually being at work, and that grinds my gears, lol.

Even with the issues I had, this still goes down as one of the best dramas I've seen so far.

[musicnkisses.livejournal.com]

Been waiting for this post..
How was Doo Yoon fine after getting tortured like that, he was in worse shape than Chul.

Don't get me wrong, I hated Dad's stupid old ass, but I wanted him to die in the real world, because I KNEW they'd have to say that nigga went missing. I was worried about how they'd explain that. However, I agree w/ the netizens who said that Kim Eui-Sung should win at the end of the year award show, he killed it.

Praise the Lord that the Congressman died, couldn't stand his dusty ass so much that I didn't bother to learn his name. I thought it was clutch how they had Dad draw him committing suicide, probably my favorite moment artwise in the second half of the series.

How is Chul suppose to survive in the real world, he has no ID, no money, no job. I hope he gives Soo Bong his grand back too. I wonder if he can withdraw money from his world and bring it to Yeon Joo's.

Yeon Joo was annoying and I won't miss her. I'm SHOCKED she still has a job, I swear she was in the hospital more than she was working. I wonder if they ever addressed how she was shot and dying in the hospital one day but checked herself in voluntarily from exhaustion like, 3 days later.

I felt sooo bad for Soo Bong (the yung God 🙌) in the last episode, I got the feeling losing Dad hurt him more than it hurt Yeon Joo.

I thought Dramabeans said this show was getting a special? Cuz the station needs to fill the Thursday tieslot with something? I didn't see it posted anywhere.

[musicnkisses.livejournal.com]

This is still like, top 3 dramas I've seen tho. I'd only rank the Good Wife, and maybe From Another Star above it.

[jaeslurpy.livejournal.com]

i loved this drama. the world switching was starting to get confusing along with the time jumps going back and forth but i really loved this drama. atleast it kept me guessing and to me it wasn't so predictable like a lot of dramas.

i really didn't understand the whole 'both the dad and chul can't live in the real world'....that didn't make sense to me.

[tsuyoi-hikari.livejournal.com]

I love it too since I cant predict it. You keep guessing and the plot just make you keep guessing. As Kdramas are very predictable in general, this one is a breath of fresh air for me. Though the plot/concept pretty much throw some people off the drama lol which is completely understandable.

As for both Dad and KC cant live in real world, it got to do with the fact that it is the last chapter. Remember the Dad and KC was stuck for 1 year and couldn't leave W no matter how many times KC tried? Since it is the last chapter, one of them needs to die for it to end. And since the Dad killed the bad guy, he made KC the one who survived so he is cease to exist since he supposed to kill KC and not helping him. You must wondering why one of them need to die. I think the got to do with the fact that they keep disappearing when they are not doing anything -- it indicates they need to end it properly for one of them to survive.

[tsuyoi-hikari.livejournal.com]

Unlike everyone, I love this drama particularly the concept was great -- in and out of the 2 worlds and the readers of the manhwa actually seeing how they dealt with the fact that they are manhwa characters and how they come to term with it, how the writer paint himself with the killer's face and the consequences of it and how they tried to end it (you literally can read from the manhwa how KC discussed of the ending lol). Its pretty cool if you think about it. How exciting to read that kind of manhwa in real life. So I ended up really like it a lot. I want to be entertained while watching a drama so I ended up enjoying lots of the plot twists -- it was enjoyable when you cant predict it. And I understand all the rules and concepts of the manhwa world so I pretty much understand why this and that happened so I didnt end up hating the plot.

I thought the scene when KC was waiting at the Bus Stop was particularly sad -- how he kept calling YJ since he knew he's running out of time and when YJ come back to the real world before reaching him was brilliant as well.

As someone who have been watching KDramas for more than a decade, I'm really tired of watching sad or plateau endings in Kdramas. I'm glad that this is not the case for this one. Its a happy ending and a deserved one at that considering the main character has suffers so much -- being shot, beaten, prisoned, family killed, realization that he is just a character and etc. He's just very pitiful and I'm glad they give KC a happy ending. :D

[rosemary.livejournal.com]

i totally agree, i loved this as well for the concept alone. it was very refreshing. obviously things could have been differently in many different ways, but with the time they had allotted to them, i think they did wonderfully and it's still so joyfully different. i also agree that after the initial shock to the readers re: the manhwa, i think by the end we're supposed to know that the readers probably got attached to the weirdness and enjoyed it.

[soyymilk.livejournal.com]

ok off topic but i've never watched a korean drama before (ik ik)

any recommendations? is this drama a good place to begin?

[keytfelt.livejournal.com]

This was a pretty good drama, lots of twists, but also super frustrating and confusing at times. I love giving drama recommendations, what genres/kinds of shows do you like?

[soyymilk.livejournal.com]

i enjoy anything really. thriller, romantic comedy, sci-fi etc. im p easy to please.

[modestgoddess79.livejournal.com]

Tree with deep roots
Coffee prince
Signal
Dream high
Master's sun
White Christmas
Reply 1997, (1994 and 1988 are also good if you ignore the shipping)
I remember you
Age of youth
I hear your voice
School 2013
You who came from the stars
Secret love affair
Six flying dragons
queen seon deok

[keytfelt.livejournal.com]

I agree with many of the recommendations people have already given you:
Signal (detectives from present time and in the past communicate with a radio that helps them solve crimes together, amazing)
Healer (main guy is an "errand boy"-will do any sort of job as long as it's not murder. He ends up going undercover to protect a girl and together they figure out mysteries from the past. One of my all time favorite dramas--I can never describe it well in a short description, so don't skip it!)
Age of Youth (slice of life drama with excellent female characters and friendships, one of my new favorites)
I Remember You (criminal profiler returns to Korea after a childhood trauma, starts working with the female lead (a detective) to solve that case from his past, light on the romance but really enjoyable. Lots of awkward dinners/tea parties)
Master's Sun (girl can see ghosts, if she touches the guy she won't see them, super fun)
Queen In Hyun's Man (man from the 1700s time travels to present day, one of my favorite kdrama romances)
Reply 1997 (set, of course, in 1997, really fun)
Kill Me Heal Me (man has multiple personalities, super funny and well acted)
City Hunter (revenge drama with lots of fun action and a cute romance)

If you want to try something short to start out with, Page Turner (3 eps) and Splash Splash Love (2 eps) are both great.

[3677.livejournal.com]

Aside from the ones mentioned above I recommend -
• Angry Mom (the name and the promo made it seem like it was going to be a comedy, but it is intense af lol, my #1 drama, it's been more than a year and I still can't get over it The story, the music, the acting, the cinematography, everything is perfect).
• The King 2 Hearts
• Fated To Love You
• Please Come Back, Mister
• Another Oh Hae Young
• Oh My Ghostess
• Pinocchio

[cagallisakura.livejournal.com]

i definitely recommend 20 Again! such an excellent mix of humour and gut-wrenching feels

[soyymilk.livejournal.com]

tysm bb!

[soyymilk.livejournal.com]

tysm bb!

[fibuarymarch.livejournal.com]

the plot never completely squandered all the goodwill i have for this show based on its first amazing 4 eps. it had enough going for it (the overall concept, the reveals, the visuals, the soundtrack) to keep me interested throughout its run.

this was always a show about meta for me - down to its ending when the writer of the drama lived out her own anxieties about plotholes and (some?) audience dissatisfaction - a creator’s cautionary tale within a cautionary tale about losing track of your story. just the meta alone made the show worth watching for me.

[jinkiestabi.livejournal.com]

OH and that girl in the preview of In Guk's new drama looks SO much like Park Bo Gum.

[takaki.livejournal.com]

I LOVED this drama and it's probably one of my favorites of all time. I'm glad Chul got his happy ending after all the shit he had to endure because of the manhwa and dad's shitty writing.

I will agree that the drama lost its steam in the second half but I still enjoyed the hell out of this show because the concept was so different and interesting. I found the drama's explanation for the rules of both worlds adequate and easy to follow but I do have some questions like 1) how did dad's tablet manage to connect both worlds? 2) how did Chul manage to save himself from the bridge the first time? Having seen the writers previous works like Queen In Hyun's Man and Nine, I was expecting for not everything to be answered tho lol. I remember those having plot holes and Queen In Hyun's Man ended with a deus ex machina so I'm not sure where everyone's super high expectations came from but I guess that's just HOW amazing the first few episodes were. :')

[dorawa.livejournal.com]

Listen, if I were the manhwa readers I would be SOOOO MAD. Like 6 years into a damn manhwa, all of a sudden you get this strange meta shit and your dude DIES at the end? I get that he's got a real happy ending but man if I were a reader like the hospital head, I'd be so livid lmao.


This drama was eh for me. There were a lot of questions left unanswered and the Romance was really strange for me (I mean she made him really and knew all about him as a manhwa character for like 6 years, creepy much?) and the last half of the drama, all she did was cry literally.

My husband loved it though so who knows.

[rosemary.livejournal.com]

i see it like jack dying from lost, total ~redemption arc~~ so powerful for the reader, so maybe it's like soo-bong said and the public accepted it

[lechuza-yoya.livejournal.com]

this drama when circles . the femele lead kinda get lots and the that wax worst