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Navillera: Episode 12 (Final)

This heartwarming tale of two men with a shared passion comes to a close, and though the end is bittersweet, the show never loses sight of its message of hope and love. Our elderly student gets his chance to soar alongside his teacher, and together, they show the world that it is never too late to start something new.

 
EPISODE 12 RECAP

As Hae-nam wakes Deok-chul up, he stares at her in confusion and asks who she is. Seong-gwan overhears his parents from the hall and rushes in. When Deok-chul fails to recognize his son as well, they take him to the hospital for a checkup.

The doctor tells them that Deok-chul may need to increase his medication, but for now, he should be fine since he has not shown other symptoms. Seong-gwan stays behind while his parents leave, and he asks if his dad can still perform. The doctor lets out a sigh since he should know the answer already.

With a heavy heart, Seong-gwan suggests to his parents that they should go back home and tell Chae-rok what happened. However, Hae-nam refuses to give up that easily and takes her husband to the studio to help him remember.

Chae-rok gets ready for the gala and writes a message to Deok-chul on a pair of ballet shoes (“the man who will soar, Shim Deok-chul”). He stops by to see his mom and tells her about his upcoming performance and how Moo-young will be there to watch him.

As soon as Deok-chul enters the studio, the familiar setting jogs his memory, and he remembers doing ballet. The others start to grow hopeful, but Deok-chul still cannot recall what he did or even who was here with him.

His eyes land on the barre, and Deok-chul walks up to it as if in a trance. As soon as he grasps it, he sees himself practicing with another man. The picture slowly comes into focus, and Deok-chul remembers Chae-rok.

Hearing his dad whisper Chae-rok’s name, Seong-gwan grabs his camera and shows him a recording of his practice. One by one his memories return, and Deok-chul recognizes all them. However, their happiness is short-lived as Deok-chul tells them that he has forgotten the entire routine.

Seong-san offers to call Chae-rok and break the news to him, but Hae-nam stops him. She believes Deok-chul should go in person and tell them the truth. She says that he should give them his apology as well as his gratitude, and Deok-chul nods in agreement.

While Chae-rok waits anxiously for Deok-chul’s arrival, the other dancers warm up for the gala. Sori and Seung-joo walk around the hall to check on everything, and she tells Seung-joo that he earned his piano back for becoming a human. He says that he does not need it, and she wonders if he wants a new one, instead.

Seong-gwan calls Chae-rok before they arrive, and once Deok-chul gets to the concert hall, he tells the truth to Seung-joo. He apologizes for not informing him sooner and explains how he only remembers doing ballet and having a performance today.

Seung-joo asks if he can still perform, and Deok-chul admits that he does not remember. His words cut off as he breaks down in tears, and though the others understand his situation, the show must go on. They continue with their rehearsal, and Seung-joo decides to put Chae-rok on stage alone.

Chae-rok interrupts, arguing that he cannot go up by himself, and he turns to Deok-chul. He points out that Deok-chul can recognize him which means his promise still stands—as long as Deok-chul remembers him, Chae-rok will teach him ballet. Chae-rok tells Deok-chul that even if it is not perfect, his body still remembers the moves, so he asks Deok-chul to trust him and move forward.

Seung-joo pulls Chae-rok aside and scolds him for being stubborn. He does not see how Deok-chul can perform, but Chae-rok begs him to trust him. He brings up Seung-joo’s old words about how he hates seeing Chae-rok sit in the audience, and he tells him that he feels the same way about Deok-chul.

Chae-rok refuses to let things end this way and wants Deok-chul to finish on stage. Seung-joo looks over at Deok-chul in the audience and finally relents. As Chae-rok tells Deok-chul the good news, he assures his nervous student that they can do it.

Eun-ho offers to drive her parents to the gala in her car, and Seong-san lets her take the wheel. Meanwhile, Seong-sook and Young-il buy some flowers before the show, and Young-il informs his wife that Deok-chul likes baby’s breath. She wonders how he knows her dad so well, and Young-il points out that Deok-chul is his dad, too.

One by one the family members arrive, and the seats are filled with familiar faces—even Ho-bum has come to watch. In the dressing room, Chae-rok hands Deok-chul a present and tells him that he put a spell on them for good luck. Deok-chul cannot take his eyes off the shoes and thanks Chae-rok.

The gala begins, and the first performance goes underway. Seung-joo drops by the dressing room to check on his final performers, and both Chae-rok and Deok-chul tell him that they are ready. In the concert hall, Moo-young arrives a little late and takes his seat.

Soon, the second performance starts, and our duo gets ready behind the stage. Before taking his position, Chae-rok asks if Deok-chul can do it, but Deok-chul forgets to answer, completely absorbed by the others’ dance.

An unease creeps into Chae-rok’s voice as he bombards Deok-chul with a series of questions, asking who he is and what he loves the most. Deok-chul turns his attention back to him and answers everything with conviction.

Chae-rok reminds Deok-chul that he is currently doing what he loves the most and expresses his confidence in Deok-chul’s abilities to pull it off. He goes over to the other side, and they stare at each from across the stage and exchange nods.

The music for Swan Lake fills the hall, and Deok-chul enters the stage with Chae-rok. Their performance captivates the audience, and their family members watch in awe.

All of a sudden, Deok-chul stares into the bright lights and stops dancing. Those who know immediately understand the situation, but Chae-rok does not falter and continues dancing.

In the midst of his confusion, Deok-chul hears Chae-rok’s voice in his head, and all his memories from this past year flash before his eyes. Just as Chae-rok said, Deok-chul’s body remembers, and he recalls his one wish: to do ballet.

Deok-chul’s arms move on their own, and his feet follow. As his body dances, his mind clears, and Deok-chul grabs Chae-rok’s hand. They spin on stage and dance together, showing the audience the culmination of their grueling practices and love for ballet. Holding hands, Deok-chul and Chae-rok stare at each other before taking their final leap, and they soar through the air.

Deok-chul wakes up in his room and sees the bouquet he received from the gala the other day. He sits down at this desk to put away his ballet shoes, and he finally notices the message Chae-rok wrote on the inside. With tears pooling his eyes, he stares into the sky and says that it all feels like a dream.

That evening, the family gathers to celebrate Deok-chul’s successful performance. While everyone is in a good mood, Deok-chul announces his decision to move to a nursing home, and cold wave of reality washes over them.

He tells them that he will eventually forget who they all are and does not want them to see him in such a state. Everyone tries to convince him otherwise, but Deok-chul tells them to think of it as a trip and asks them to respect his last wishes.

Later that night, Seong-sook sits with her dad to talk with him privately. He tells her to hurry home before the roads get icy, and she asks if he will drop her off, then. She mentions how he always picked her up from school when it rained, and she wanted to repay that kindness to her children.

Life turned out differently, though, and Seong-sook says that it was for the best. Rather than pass his love onto her own kids, she wants to return it back to him. Deok-chul grabs his daughter’s hand, and she begs him to let her take care of him the same way he did for her. She cries into his shoulder, and Deok-chul cries as well.

Chae-rok visits his mom with Moo-young, and they place a ticket next to her urn. He says that it would have been nice to have her there, too, but he knows that she is watching over him even now.

Early the next morning, Chae-rok wakes up annoyed when his phone rings, but he bolts up in bed when he hears Deok-chul’s voice: a morning call. Hae-nam wonders where Deok-chul is going since his lessons have ended, and he tells her that he still has one more task to accomplish.

Another change in morning routines occurs at Seong-san’s home as he stays behind and sends his wife and daughter off to work. He looks more comfortable in this new role than before, but from his expression, he clearly longs to leave with them as well.

Chae-rok grumbles about Deok-chul as he arrives at the studio and stops in his tracks when he sees him waiting for him there. Pretending to be grumpy, Chae-rok asks why he came in today, and Deok-chul reminds him that he is his manager. Since he soared already, now it is Chae-rok’s turn, and Deok-chul resumes his duties.

When Seung-joo comes in, he sees the pair working together again and smiles. During practice, he pushes Chae-rok who follows his instructions without a single complaint.

After their lesson, Seung-joo asks Sori to come over, and they talk about Deok-chul for a while. She finally asks why he called her, and he places a ring box in her hand. He says that this one is more expensive than their first, but she closes the lid without saying much. He pouts at her lackluster response and takes back his proposal. Pfft.

Eun-ho comes home from work and finds Seong-san’s glove on the couch as well as his job applications. He finds her looking at his stuff, and he tells her that he used to play baseball. She asks if he was happy when he played, and he says that he was.

Seong-san tells his daughter that watching Deok-chul’s performance reminded him of her. He wondered if she might smile if she did what she loved and tells her to do what makes her happy. She nods at her dad, and he smiles back at her.

Seong-gwan calls for a family meeting and dresses up for the premiere of his documentary. He plays the video for everyone, and they smile as they watch Deok-chul practicing ballet. It ends with his audition, and Deok-chul tears up as he sees himself on screen.

Afterwards, Deok-chul sits outside with his youngest and thanks him for capturing his finale. Seong-gwan admits to wanting more time with him after hearing about his illness, but as he was editing, he realized that Deok-chul felt the same way.

He tells his dad that he is returning to the hospital since he now understands what he can do as a doctor: give people more time. He promises to do his best, and Deok-chul supports his decision wholeheartedly.

Chae-rok meets with Eun-ho, and she gives him a copy of the documentary. She tells him that she always thought he was a natural talent which was why she envied him at first. However, seeing the film, she learned that his skills were a result of his hard work, and tells him to do well in his upcoming competition.

Eun-ho says that she found “it” as well, and he congratulates her. Though calling it a dream might be too grand, she says that going to the station every day makes her happy. She thanks him for helping her find what she loves, and he says that he cannot wait to listen to what she will create in the future.

Chae-rok packs up his bags for his trip, and Moo-young appears in the doorway to tell him that they should go. When they arrive at the airport, Chae-rok’s supporters are all there to send him off, including Deok-chul.

Chae-rok introduces his dad to them, and Deok-chul is glad to have finally met him. Deok-chul tells Chae-rok to take care of himself, and he tells Deok-chul to stay healthy, too. He says goodbye to everyone and walks to the gates by himself.

As Chae-rok disappears from view, Deok-chul runs after him for one final hug. With tears streaming down his face, Deok-chul lets him go, and Chae-rok wipes away his own tears as he moves on ahead.

Three years pass by, and Hae-nam is now a professional at tracking down her husband. Now that his illness has progressed, Deok-chul walks around the neighborhood delivering letters which are really just notes telling the random receivers to call Hae-nam if they see him.

After finding Deok-chul, Hae-nam convinces him to come home by promising him ice cream. While Deok-chul eats his cone on the couch, she tells him that Chae-rok is returning and wants to see Deok-chul. He does not register what she says and instead asks when it will snow.

Seung-joo’s studio is filled with dancers, and in his office, he interviews a complete beginner who wants to start ballet. Though the man is hefty and stiff, Seung-joo accepts him without hesitation, and the new student twirls with joy.

Sori brings Seung-joo coffee and criticizes him for taking on another newbie. He tells her to be more supportive as his company coach… and wife. Staring at their dancers, neither of them can believe that they started a ballet company together, and Sori credits Chae-rok and Deok-chul for their success. Seung-joo tells her that Deok-chul no longer recognizes him, and because of that, he misses their Swan Lake performance even more.

At the radio station, a junior writer tells the main PD and writer that their guest might have fallen through. As they scramble for a replacement, Eun-ho offers a solution and solves the problem with calm and poise—no longer the frantic young writer she was before.

As for her parents, Ae-ran is now the head consultant and runs an entire department filled with employees; and Seong-san works for a baseball team and proudly displays his glove from Deok-chul on his shelf. Though a lot has changed, their personalities remain the same as Seong-san sends a text message to the family chatroom, telling them to all come over since Chae-rok is visiting.

Dr. Oh finds someone staring at the poster of Chae-rok outside his clinic and brags about being his doctor. As he demonstrates his ballet knowledge to recruit a new patient, Seung-joo appears and leads his guest away.

Ho-bum and Se-jong have made the roster for the same third division team and are teammates again. They bicker like friends and talk about Chae-rok with smiles on their faces, both of them clearly happy for his success.

Also returning to soccer is Moo-young who now works for a school club and lives back in his old house. Like a proud parent, he collects newspaper clippings of his son which chronicle his success as a top ballerino.

Deok-chul sits outside, waiting for the snow, and when it finally does, he gets up. He leaves the house and walks to the rail crossing in his neighborhood. As the train passes, Chae-rok suddenly appears on the other side, and he calls Deok-chul’s name.

Chae-rok spreads his arm and takes a bow towards Deok-chul, and his old student calls out to him, asking if he soared. Chae-rok nods his head, and Deok-chul returns the gesture, bowing to him from across the tracks. They smile at each other as the snow falls all around them.

Epilogue. Back when Deok-chul was still practicing ballet, he sat down to leave behind a message to himself. Even if he might forget everything in the future, he wanted to remember that he did ballet and had a dream.

Chae-rok called Deok-chul back to practice, and Deok-chul gave the camera a quick finger heart before rushing back to his teacher’s side. The scene ends with our lovable pair practicing ballet, and a message from the creators: “It is still not too late. Just as Deok-chul did it at seventy, you can do it, too!”

 
COMMENTS

The show was warm and tender to the end. Though it was bittersweet at times, the core message was one of hope, and Deok-chul’s life was and still is filled with love and joy. He achieved his dream of soaring on stage, and I cannot think of a more fitting conclusion to his ballet journey than sharing the spotlight with his teacher and showing the world the outcome of their efforts from the past year together. Meeting Chae-rok changed Deok-chul’s life, and meeting Deok-chul changed Chae-rok’s as well. They found one another when they needed them the most, but after that final stage, it became clear that it was time to let each other go. As Deok-chul said, it was Chae-rok’s turn to soar, and in order to do so, he needed to go on ahead by himself. The Chae-rok from a year ago might have floundered, questioning his own deservedness, but now, he knows that he is allowed to soar and be happy.

At the end, we see Deok-chul after three years and his illness has progressed. He no longer recognizes Hae-nam, and it seems that he has forgotten all about ballet and Chae-rok. At the same time, though, something inside Deok-chul still holds onto that period of his life as he looks towards the sky and waits for the snow. Back when Deok-chul was still training, he told Chae-rok that he likes the snow again because of the wonderment it brings. It seems what Deok-chul is really waiting for is that emotion than actual snow falling from the sky, and so, when he asks about the snow, it comes across as Deok-chul thinking about Chae-rok who brings that same feeling of awe. In light of all that has happened, the final scene was poignant and altogether a perfect farewell to our pair. It’s a happy moment tinged with sadness as Deok-chul hears about Chae-rok’s success—the final task on his checklist—and the two of them take their last bow. Both of them danced for the other in the snow once before, and their bows acted as both an acknowledgment of their shared history as well as a signal to the audience that the show is truly over. Their dance and story have come to a conclusion, and while this might not be the end for our characters, this is where we, the audience, must leave them.

I know some viewers were dissatisfied with the Alzheimer’s disease plotline, but seeing the creators’ final message, it became even more clear to me that Deok-chul’s illness was never meant to wring tears out from the viewers or to make the audience pity him. Rather, it was the catalyst that helped Deok-chul start anew, and the message of the show takes an entirely different route from most stories concerning dementia patients, the terminally ill, or the elderly. Navillera is not a show about accepting one’s end or even embracing life’s ultimate finality. It is not even about living every day to its fullest like so many shows portraying similar themes often choose. Surprisingly, the show is about beginnings rather than endings, and through Deok-chul, the creators are able to tell the audience that it is never too late to start. After hearing about his condition, Deok-chul does the unthinkable: he goes after his dream and starts something new. Though he faces a disease that will strip him of his memories, Deok-chul does not let it stop him, and instead, it pushes him to ignore all his previous doubts and be true to himself. Whereas so many stories about the elderly and Alzheimer’s patients revolve around the past or simply enjoying the here and now, Navillera wants its audience to know that hope always exists. It may not be in the shape or form you want it to be, but it is there, motivating people to pursue their happiness. Thus, Deok-chul’s illness is not about his end, but signals a new beginning and the start of his journey to soar through the air.

All the characters embody the show’s core theme, sending a message to the audience that it is okay to start whenever. Some people may be in a place like Eun-ho where they do not even know where to look, while others are like Seong-san and need to leave their current path to start over. There are also individuals like Seong-gwan who may be going back to something they left behind, or those like Seong-sook who are finding something they have forgotten. It’s also a message to the Ho-bum’s and Se-jong’s of the world, telling them that they can move on from their past and pursue their dreams or whatever makes them happy. It’s for the Seung-joo’s and Sori’s who may think that they already failed but in reality, life has so many second chances. Lastly, it’s a love letter to the people lost like Chae-rok, struggling every day for their dreams but losing sight of what they want, as well as for the people like Deok-chul who may be running out of time and think only the end remains for them. No matter the case, the creators made it clear that wherever you are in life and whatever your situation might be, there is still hope in the world, and it is never too late to start.

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I don't have words to describe how beautiful and human this drama is. Watching this, I cried like a baby, but I'm grateful that I stick to this till the end. It may end in a bittersweet note, but in the end, the message this drama tried to deliver left me with a warm feeling; never lose your hopes and dreams.

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You've summed this up beautifully @lovepark It's all about beginnings and it's never too late. I loved seeing all of the different characters come to terms with their lives and find the courage to change course and even begin doing what they really longed to do. The two stand out moments for me were at the airport when Deok-chul races after Chae-rok to farewell him, and then the beauty of that scene across the train tracks in the snow. I loved too that Sori and Seung-joo rediscovered each other with a new level of awareness. Everyone developed and much of it was precipitated by Deok-chul's stubborn insistence that he wanted to dance, to soar, just once. Everyone grew and changed because he was such a giving, generously spirited person. I particularly loved his relationship with Ho- bum. I also loved how he was a grandfather to Eun-ho. Personally I found Deok-chul's story inspiring. He made the world a better place.

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"He made the world a better place." He did indeed make the world a better place ♥

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If there is a sentence leading to the opening scene of this show, it would be ‘It all began with a little kindness..’

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Kindness is a very powerful thing.

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Nothing but rivers of cleansing tears

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A drama that I started on a whim ended up being my most treasured drama of the year. A bittersweet and poignant ending. A wonderful closure of a very beautiful drama.

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I'm suffering the second-hand lead syndrome. Please give Park In-Hwan an award already! He's undoubtedly the star of the show and amazing to watch. I haven't cried so much in a while since Start Up.

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thank you for stating the last line “It is still not too late. Just as Deok-chul did it at seventy, you can do it, too!”

this wasn't included in the Netflix subtitles. I just knew about this now that you'be said it.

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@lovepark thanks for your recap to help us conclude this nice and unforgettable journey with Deok-chul and Chae-rok as well as those around them.

I particular appreciate your last two paragraphs about the Alzheimer’s plot line. It is this plot line that elevates the whole narrative and gives meaning to haraboji’s determination and its chain effect on everyone. The growth journey of EACH and EVERY character in this story is a joy to behold. It’s so rare to have a drama that you would love all the characters and cheer them on.

I totally agree with others the scenes of DC running to hug CR and the two meeting up again in their own bowing language three years later are the best in the finale. And, in fact, among the best dramatic expressions of finales I’ve seen.

Thanks, Naveillera, for sharing with us the message about kindness and generosity of spirit - the premise for anyone to soar.

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totally loved this drama, the actors and the theme. i need somewhere to start again. i am free from some things and need to find something to motivate me into doing and being more than a lump of clay on a chair.

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12 episodes of warm hugs! Thank you Navillera~~~~

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Thank you for stating the last line “It is still not too late. Just as Deok-chul did it at seventy, you can do it, too!"

This wasn't included in the Netflix subtitles. Just knew about this now that you've said it.

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Yay for registering! Welcome Beanie! 🥳

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I thought the finale was a perfect end to an absolutely beautiful drama. The scene where they met again in the snow was so poignant. I loved what you wrote about the Alzheimer's plot line @lovepark, especially how the drama was about beginnings rather than endings.

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Thankyou Lovepark for the recap and your final comments.

I was one of those who hated the Alzheimer's storyline but perhaps there is a lesson in this for us all: Just because a writer is not telling you the story you wanted to hear does not mean that the writer is not telling a good story. This was a good story and one that was able to show us things that we could not have seen without the story line.

One thing we got to see was seeing Chae-rok cross the line between excellence and true greatness. That is the moment when Chae-rok stands up for Deok-chul and insists that he should indeed go onstage and perform. Chae-rok has become a man of courage, integrity and vision. He has become a great man and, as a result, a great dancer- as we can see from the huge banner draped across the Performing Arts Center three years later.

Another example is Seong-sook returning to medicine- now that he understands why he is doing it. He already had the integrity to acknowledge that the path he had previously been on as a doctor was simply somehow wrong. That time spent in the wilderness was ultimately put to good use and now he has grown in understanding. This has not only transformed his attitude but will also make him much more effective and understanding as a physician. In short, while he was a competent doctor before now he will be a great one.

Had the story been written without the Alzheimer's element we could not have had this exploration of how a person can step over that line between good and great.

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"Chae-rok has become a man of courage, integrity and vision."
100% agree. He grows tremendously throughout the drama.

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Truer words could not be said: just because a writer is not telling the story you wanted to hear, does not mean the writer is not telling a good story.

That applies to many dramas that get dropped after a couple of episodes. They deserve more patience and in the process we see (and maybe even learn) something different to what we'd expected.

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This drama is wonderful and so beautiful. Beanies, if you haven't watched it then I recommend that you do, you will not be disappointed. This drama provides viewers with a tremendous sense of hope. Hope that it is never too late to achieve your dreams. Just because you may have experienced set backs, it does not mean that your life is over, that you cannot overcome them and accomplish your goals. Every person is meant to soar.

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I loved Navillera until they introduced the Alzheimer storyline. My father passed away after suffering from Alzheimer for 17 years and that memory is still painful to me so I stopped watching the drama.

Reading your comments about why having Deok-chul have Alzheimer and that "No matter the case, the creators made it clear that wherever you are in life and whatever your situation might be, there is still hope in the world, and it is never too late to start." made me change my mind.

Watching your loved one slowly forget you is one of the cruelest parts of this disease. Hoping that deep down he still knows you and feels the love you have for him is a comforting thought. I'll watch the rest of this drama not with a heavy heart but with fond memories of my own.

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I'm sorry to hear that you and your family member had to go through such experience PChun. I don't know anything, tbh, about this disease, but I'd love to believe that deep down, very deep down, your father remembered you; his physical self might not, but I'm sure in his mind he always remembered you.

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@tastiger I am sorry that you and your family had to experience this. I do hope that this drama brings you some comfort.

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My family went through this with my Grandmother so I completely understand your feelings.

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It was a good drama.

I don't think that Alzheimer's plot elevated the story because I don't think the story needed to be elevated in the first place. It rushed the story for me. But there were a lot of touching moments.

I really loved Deok-Chul character. He was an upright man, who worked hard all his life but was belittled by his children. It was kinda sad to watch, but fortunately his daughter and son-in-law could see how caring but discret he was. His dream changed a lot of people around him, his will and his strength, but overall his way to care for people, just to be there. His own children finally could see how exceptionnal their father was in his own way and change as well.
He could break the shell that Chae-Rok built and they build a cute relationship, depending on each other in their own way.
But his relationship with his wife was the most beautiful, their love was really strong and when Hae-Nam accepted his dream, she fully embrassed it without concession, the same way with his illness.

Sadly, I didn't like as much Chae-Rok character. It wasn't as well written as Deok-Chul. All his past about bully, his father, Ho-Bum, football wasn't very clear... I was missing the click that made him love ballet. If in the scenes, we could see his evolution, I didn't feel it. Song Kang did really well with the dance scenes but I couldn't feel the difference in his feelings for dance between the beginning or the end of drama, I would have liked to see him more happy about the dance even if I understand that the illness was heavy for him.

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thanks to all the re-cappers of this gem of a drama. just reading this last re-cap brought tears to my eyes. what a love story this was too, or should I say love stories. between teachers & students, husbands & wivies, parents & children, friends & fremines, & the love of ballet.

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I've silently read all your Navillera recaps... But I can't be silent anymore.
Thank you so much for recaping this beautiful drama. Thank you for the comments at the end... and thanks TVn, the crew and the cast for making Navillera.
I think I've never seen a drama so beautiful as this one. Loved every character to pieces, loved the ballet scenes and the OST and everything
I think I cried nonstop since episode 7. I'm still crying while I'm writing.
Harabojji and Chae Rok will always be in my heart. They're so perfect together

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This drama has made me bawl throughout and I still love it!

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Welcome aboard @cafefrappe! It is always a thrill when I give a first thumbs up.

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Thanks a lot for the recap, @lovepark! I marathoned this drama in Netflix the day after the last episode was shown - and I didn't want to stop. Deok-chul and Chae-rok are very lucky to have so many people to support them on their journey of enlightenment.

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Thank you @lovepark for the recap and beautiful essay in the "Comments" section. I think you highlight what was so special about NAVILLERA and a great deal of credit goes to Writer Lee Eun-mi.

My mind is jumping around so I will have to go with some random thoughts:
1. Park In-hwan and Song Kang should be very proud of their work in this drama.
Song Kang looked stunning in costume in episode 12. He reminded me of several performances of the ABT at Lincoln Center in NY I have been fortunate to attend. Deok-chul looked pretty good also. We usually only saw Chae-rok and Deok-chul in their sort of ratty work out/rehearsal clothes. The payoff is performing on stage in costume. Their performance at the gala was beautiful.
2. Hae-nam. What can I say about Na Moon-hee's performance. That scene early on where she berated oldest son Seong-san for criticizing his father was outstanding. NMH gave a wonderful performance;
3. The three 'snow' scenes. All great but the ending of episode 8 is in a class of its own. Outstanding performance by Song Kang;
4. Ho-beom. I will always remember Kim Kwon with that blonde hair. At age 31 he did a great job portraying a 23 year old (and 18 year old in flashback). It took until episode 10 but when he finally got his big scene (the confrontation with Coach Lee) he nailed it; and
5. Oddball thought. One thing that was in the back of my mind the whole drama that might sound strange was that I kept thinking, "Chae-rok, you are not eating enough". I based that only on the fact that I have a young friend in the professional dance world (not ballet but contemporary) who I have known from age 23 to now almost 30 and about Chae-rok's size and my friend eats like a horse. He burns the calories between rehearsal, the gym and performance.
Thank you cast and crew of NAVILLERA!

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Thank you for the recap, lovepark.
I teared up while reading this recap and my heart is filled with warmth and joy whenever I think of this drama. I just love all of them so much.

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As much as the premise of "70yo retiree decides to learn ballet from up-and-coming ballerino" initially caught my eye, I was totally not expecting the huge feels this show ended up delivering. I enjoyed watching it start to finish, thought all the actors/characters were great and the story incredibly touching and uplifting. As a dancer myself (not anything close to ballet, but still), the whole idea of movement and its ties to memory felt very spot on. Huge claps for this! And thanks for an ending that actually made sense, time jump and all.

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Thanks so much for the wonderful recaps and comments.

I loved the drama ending, although I had some issues with it when the whole Alzheimer's plot was revealed, I'm happy how it ended and the lessons it taught us. You've explained it wonderfully and I don't think I can't add anything more.

I loved how every character found their path and grew. I said from the beginning that this drama was about second chances and I truly believe it. My heart was specially happy to see how HoBum and SeJong were together again playing football (adorable kids!), as well as SoRi and SeungJoo being together again.

A final word to thank my Navi family. Group watching and group crying was as healing as watching the drama. You are the best.

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I enjoyed this serial very much, how upright it was, Deok Chul and his wife's human quality, Chaerok and Deok sul's friendship. Altogether very satisfying. I was struck by the absence of any relation with God, although I think human virtue is often accompanied by a relationship with God. Full marks for Navillera

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