[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Nevertheless" Episode 2

The previous episode of "Nevertheless" ended with our lead couple about to engage in a highly romantic kiss under the backdrop of cherry blossoms. This tone persists throughout the second episode. And yet both Na-bi and Jae-eon insist to their friends that they are not dating. What would seem like bashful modesty in another drama takes on cryptic proportions here. Is Jae-eon actually trying to protect Na-bi's feelings, or is he just giving himself cover for shameless flirtation?

Advertisement

Na-bi herself makes this same logical deduction, and it's all too easy to empathize with her frustration. It feels like she's being overly paranoid. But at the same time, Na-bi's own desire to overcome this paranoia due to a bad past relationship feels like a desperate rationalization on her part to ignore the red flags Jae-eon sets off. Observe how one chance meeting at a nightclub leads to Na-bi feeling distinctly uncomfortable, as Jae-eon defies the trend for the rest of the episode by attaching himself to her more aggressively in front of another person.

Is Jae-eon's more demure attitude in later scenes an attempt to put Na-bi at ease, or to lull her into a false sense of security? As unreasonably pessimistic as the latter argument sounds, it has merits. I was surprised by how Min-sang (played by Son Bo-seung) actually makes some good points in his brief conversation with Jae-eon regarding the latter's seductive technique. That Min-sang is an obnoxious boor whose weird misogyny repels Na-bi far more than Jae-eon's diffidence doesn't retract from the logic of his argument.

Jae-eon looks and acts like a serious player. Where Na-bi can only just barely engage in conversation with her friends at the art department, Jae-eon has a wide group of acquaintances and it's clearly implied they do a lot more than just hang out. Though we and Na-bi only get brief glimpses of Jae-eon out and about, what few glimpses we do get are quite consistent with the theory that he likes all women and loves none of them.

This is despite the fact that he consistently makes her feel special. Or rather, maybe this is all because he makes her feel special. "Nevertheless" is pure character study. The story can be fascinating like this, but it also requires extraordinary patience. In that way the tone isn't that different from the romance it depicts. There's the urge to speed things up, coupled with the desire for more soberly considered information.

Review by William Schwartz

___________

"Nevertheless" is directed by Jang Ji-yeon, Kim Ga-ram, written by Jung Won, and features Han So-hee, Song Kang, Chae Jong-hyeop, Lee Yul-eum, Yang Hye-ji, Kim Min-gwi. Broadcasting information in Korea: 2021/06/19~Now airing, Sat 23:00 on jTBC.