Reading a friend’s take on Encounter:
“You know, Encounter is amazing not because of mood or acting (even though they are great) but because it takes one of the often done narratives – our protagonist experiencing mid life crisis/feeling about meaninglessness of life until they meet someone exciting and rediscover themselves – and makes it new by switching out the genders.
How many stories are there about powerful middle-aged women, with past relationship baggage, high social standing and constant ennui who meet free-spirited and poor young men who make them see the world anew through their manic pixie dreamboy qualities?
Yeah, I will wait.
Still waiting.
It’s also perfectly acted and shot, but what stays with me is the melancholy yet hopeful mood and the story set-up.
As someone who has neither a douchy ex nor a CEO position, I still found myself relating deeply to Song Hye Kyo’s burned-out character. The regrets are relatable, the possibility of an emotional miracle inspiring. But I am a lot closer to her age than the average kdrama watcher. I wonder if this drama works for someone who is a teen or in their early twenties or if it just appears a lot of fuss over nothing”.
I just had a bit of an epiphany: minus the chaebol ex and CEO position, I am her – mid thirties a successful career woman, who is single and used to it, but who hasn’t completely abandoned the possibility of happiness and wonder. Scary stakes.