27

Kolorful Palette: The senses that work [Girl Who Sees Smells]

Love is in the air! And murder…but mostly love (at least for this episode). I’m digging the vibe of Girl Who Sees Smells, which is a pleasant combo of mysteriousness and rom-commy goodness. What makes it really work is that it’s all so well balanced, and there’s not too much of one or the other for any long stretch of time. What’s even better is that both aspects of the show are more character-driven than plot-driven, and I think that always ends up making for the stronger story in the long run.

Earlier this week I was hanging out with my mom and we saw a guy on some TV show creating a pretty cool sidewalk chalk drawing. My mom said, “Hey, you could do that!” and although I agree with her on a hypothetical level, it wouldn’t be my preference to squat on the street all day just to have my hard work washed away by the rain. Instead I sat my lazy butt on a comfy computer chair and tried to mimic the process digitally.

One fun aspect to Corel Painter is that besides choosing a medium, you can also change what kind of surface you want to draw on. This then dictates how the medium will manifest itself and what textures will be picked up. Usually I choose something fairly traditional (like watercolor paper or canvas) but this week I tried out “pavement” for the first time. I think concrete is definitely better suited to actual sidewalks, but I do particularly like how the texture lends itself to backgrounds (you can probably only really see it by clicking through to the larger version of the drawing).

This scene (as if it needs introduction!) is from when Cho-rim comes over to cook for Mu-gak after he’s stabbed, and when she wipes a bit of food off his face (because no one in drama can keep food off their face) he grabs her hand and smooches her! That’s all well and good, but I think the execution of this scene is stronger than the norm. When she initially leaned away it seemed like the whole set-up had been a fake-out and like nothing would actually happen (I fell for it) but then Mu-gak pulled her in like a champ. I also expected this to be the classic deer-in-headlights K-drama kiss (ugh) but instead Cho-rim actually kissed him back! When compared to North American TV it seems silly to make note of such a thing, but I consider every such moment as serious progress for women in Korean television, and it works wonders for us viewers when it comes to maintaining our suspension of disbelief.

This romance has progressed surprisingly quickly, but it feels right because it’s been an organic process and there haven’t really been any impediments to slow things down. I think I like this couple because their relationship is so innocent and honest, and they’ve come to like each other without any sort of outside pressure or love-hate complications. They’re just two lonely souls that feel like outcasts, and they’re happy to have found one another without even trying to deny their feelings.

Of course the other shoe has to drop and I can’t help but wonder what it is that will tear them apart. The most obvious bomb to be dropped is that Mu-gak’s sister died in Cho-rim’s place, but I would feel a little cheated if that was enough to break them up since they’re both just victims and both ultimately want the same thing.

Although this drawing is focused on the rom-com side of things, I do briefly have to mention how much I’m enjoying the psychological aspect to this drama, and the turn that the mystery has taken. There’s something to be said for a classic whodunit, but I think I prefer knowing who the murderer is and instead getting to guess who is going to outplay who, and how. Shows like Death Note and Liar Game operate similarly, and I think that’s why they were so popular. In the case of Girl Who Sees Smells there’s the added mystery of why. What is the deal with Jae-hee’s book-journals, and how is he choosing his victims? Is his prosopagnosia tied into his murderous motivations, or is just a plot device to keep him from recognizing Cho-rim as the witness?

Of course, there are decent number of plot holes (mostly involving the investigation) but since I already know everything as a viewer, those plots holes don’t really impede my enjoyment since I’m 99% focused on the characters. That being said, I can’t stop wondering why Cho-rim didn’t just go to the scene of the stabbing and track the murderer (the same goes for Bae-kyung’s murder scene). I’m hoping that she does discover Jae-hee’s identity soon, and it instead becomes a matter of finding tangible evidence and both sides trying to outsmart one another. As far as wiliness goes, it certainly seems like Jae-hee has the edge so far! Good luck Team Mu-gak.

The ending cliffhangers for this show aren’t really cliffhangers (it’s pretty obvious what the outcome will be, or at least what it won’t be) but I’m still always impatient for the next episode since there are still so many unknowns, not to mention the adorable romance.

RELATED POSTS

Tags: ,

27

Required fields are marked *

Awwww... One of my favorite scenes. Thank you!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Very well said.

There are three points on which I slightly disagree, though:

(1) I don't think "character-driven" is the right term here, but the show is definitely character-centric.

(2) The kiss scene was, as you pointed out, very delicately handled. The most important implication, however, is that Mu-gak, as has been speculated before, really "comes back to his senses" in that scene. Which also helps to cut it short.

(3) I don't think "Death Note" and "Liar Game" are the best examples of the kind of crime solving genre where we, the audience, already know "who has done it". "Death Note" especially is a villain protagonist story, the audience is not meant to be overly interested in the villain to get caught in the first place.
For a more paradigmatic example (excuse the redundancy), how about "Columbo"?

0
10
reply

Required fields are marked *

@ Jon G.,

What would be the difference(s) between “character-driven” and character-centric, please?

Also, I have not watched "Columbo" in a very long time. However, I was wondering, did the audience always know "who had done it" in Columbo? I don't remember always knowing who the culprit was, when watching that show (though I could be wrong).

0
5
reply

Required fields are marked *

I haven't watched it either, for a few decades.
But in every single episode I've watched, the crime and almost always the culprit are disclosed very early on, often in the introduction.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Oh I see... Since this happens, "the crime and almost always the culprit are disclosed very early on, often in the introduction," the ep. is about how Columbo finds the clues, and uses them to get to the culprit, I think? I did love that show, when I watched it.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Character-centric means that, well, the characters are what the show is about, while the story being told is a secondary aspect (the whole romance genre is usually rather character oriented, and sometimes character-centric).

Character-driven means that the story evolves along the decisions and actions of the main characters.

That sounds somewhat similar, of course. But the first dimension is about the relationship between the audience and the narrative, the second about the author and the narrative.

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

Oh I see... Thank you for explaining. Would you mind mentioning a drama(s) (or US TV series, popular ones) that have been or are "Character-driven" and ones that would be considered "Character-centric" please? Thanks!

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Sorry for butting in, I just want to make sure. Character-driven is like Linklater's movies, right? Before series, Boyhood.
And for dramas I don't know, but I have a guess.....Punch?

0

Wooah! Grammar and Vocabulary lessons!

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

@ Indya, I know right? :-)

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

When it comes to English grammar, well, I'm way out of my depths. I only started to learn English as an adult, as my 4th foreign language, and I'm very well aware of the fact that I suck at this language.

It's just that I care about this stuff on a semantic level. Sorry for that.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Unfortunately I can't reference shows I've never watched :P

I also wasn't likening this drama to Death Note and Liar game as a whole, since they obviously vary hugely in both story and tone. I was simply demonstrating that the identity of an a criminal (or antagonist force) doesn't have to be unknown by the audience for the the viewer to feel a great deal of suspense. In all 3 examples there is extremely compelling mystery to be found in the details, or within the characters' motivations themselves.

I'd also argue that this drama is both character-driven and character-centric, especially for its genre. Of course there are other stories out there that are much more character-driven from the ground up, but I am comparing GWSS to my expectation of GWSS, not the literary world as a whole.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I love this one!! Sidewalk chalk drawings have always been my favorite since Mary Poppins ;)

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Funny, the deer-in-the-headlights kisses were one of the things that first captured my heart for kdrama. Sadly now I'm finding myself more and more disturbed by the frequency that male characters use physical strength to overpower their OTP's reluctance re skinship and kisses. So whilst mutual engagement during liplocking is a positive change my fingers are crossed for a shift to healthy consent as well. You can do it South Korea, I know you can!

0
8
reply

Required fields are marked *

@ Helenya,

Good food for thought. Although I originally liked the kiss scene that followed that image, I have found myself having some mixed feelings about that kiss scene (its execution, that is).

0
3
reply

Required fields are marked *

"Mixed feelings"? Why? Mu Gak in no way was overly agressive. From what I've come to understand of Korean culture (at least as Kdrama purports the innocent girl thing), choRim has made it obvious she cares for MuGak romantically but she has been taught that good girls are shy and pull back. If MuGak had not directed her forward - we'd have no kiss!

This sweet and gentle kiss left plenty of room (lack of force) for ChoRim to pull away had she wished to do so. Thus was by no means the oft disturbing "'no sometimes means 'yes'" of a lot of kdramas.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Though I feel it's worse in Taiwanese dramas...

I had to stop watching "Fall in love with me" because I got very very annoyed at how the heroine was always yanked around by her on-off love interest.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thanks Fanderay for another great art piece! Since you chose this scene which is already shown as the main scene of the recap, I was happy to be able to compare both and I find yours equally alive and that you've even given Cho Rim more expression than the photo!

@ Helenya and Ivoire

About that kiss again, yes, this thing about consensual or being forced... a very narrow line. What I meant in the recap about her demurring ie pulling away once, seemed to be a sign that she might not want the kiss, but it can also mean (in Asian context) that she is being a good girl, with proper upbringing and not at all cheap. However, he (as the man is expected to do, after a fashion) asserts his objectives by pulling her towards him (at first he went towards her... notice the difference) and she has a few seconds when she can still protest. So far, so good... it is all acceptable in the push and pull of relationships.

But ... If she had protested and he had continued to pull her anyway, I'd have said it was non-consensual and he was using his strength against her. Since she did not (and reciprocated, but even if she had not), it was consensual and we are thoroughly able to enjoy that kiss. What a narrow line indeed!!! :D

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

there is no physical strength to overpower OCR from MG, obviously there was no resistance when he pulled her in. and he was like asking for permission by his eyes, she was surprised because she always thought it was her one sided love, that is why she pulled away. Even though he initiated the kiss, she kissed him back soon after, and quite a passionate one.
Unlike deer in front of a headlight kiss, which is more a forcefull one, because if u freeze when a man kiss u, then it means u don't want it but is forced to do it.

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

Mea culpa, I was talking about dramas in particular not this particular kiss - I haven't watched TGWSS yet, I am (barely) holding on to my plan of waiting it out then marathoning the whole series, but dang it the recaps are soooo enticing!

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

oh if so i also hate those kisses as well, especially vacuum kiss that so many young actors r using while kissing nowadays... so much force like u r mouth raping them...i think kiss that shows love should be gentle... ofcoz unless mean u only want to get on bed with her.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I certainly agree with you about disliking kisses without consent! Especially when a girl is dragged around or aggressively grabbed.

I certainly didn't see this particular kiss as any sort of forceful act however. It's been clear for quite some time that Cho-rim has strong feelings for Mu-gak, and she knows it. I interpreted her hesitation as nervousness, and perhaps not being 100% certain that he was in fact going for a kiss.

Mu-gak on the other hand just gently tugged her inwards. Her arm was bent and it would have been easy for her to keep her distance despite her wrist being pulled. To my eyes it was him sending her a signal of encouragement which she readily accepted. She even kisses him back, which I don't think she would do if she was remotely reluctant.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I like the way you described them individually and as a couple thus far esp this, 'two lonely souls that feels like outcasts'. Cuteness aside, this must be the reason why they naturally creeped in to my heart. Theirs is a bittersweet, ironic relationship brought together by fate. I just want them to find love & happiness after that unimaginable biggest tragedies in their lives. I realized just how emotionally invested I am to them when I was crying the whole time along with Cho rim from the park to the hospital, haha!

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

You betcha! Hahaha. Totally agree with you! I fell in love with their characters first, individually. Then finding each other. I mean, why not? I loooooooove them! Best OTP ♡♡♡♡

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Amazing job once again. The larger version is much more beautiful.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thanks for the drawings and the commentary Fanderay. I always enjoy them though I don't write often.

"The most obvious bomb to be dropped is that Mu-gak’s sister died in Cho-rim’s place, but I would feel a little cheated if that was enough to break them up since they’re both just victims and both ultimately want the same thing."

I think the fact that Mu Gak now knows why his sister was killed (which was once half of his torment) took the wind out of the sails of that one a bit. If he learnt the whole truth at once maybe it would unsettle him a bit but he never showed any sign that he was disturbed because his sister was killed in someone else's place.

His problem is that his sister is killed period. The why would torment him until he learns but there is never a good or better reason that would soothe him.

At this point, my expectation of the reaction of the Mu Gak we know to that knowledge would be the instinct to protect Cho Rim at all costs.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Lovely drawing!
However you couldn't get those thin precise black outlines with chalk, it kinda ruins the illusion.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *