Life goes on by carrying the burdens of every tiny bit of moments crafted by the living creatures on Earth. Nonetheless, no moments live for eternity as they are meant to be forgotten and replaced by another one. Sometimes those moments become a memory we hold onto in life for carrying a special meaning, but those memories are also bound to vanish as time passes by.
When I first encountered with the premise of this drama, I found it difficult to relate to the illness of being unable to forget things. Isn’t remembering some vivid details of your life supposedly be considered a hidden talent? Why is it such a big deal?
I looked up the term “hyperthymesia” in order to delve deeply on this matter. According to the Healthline, while also being known as highly superior autobiographical memory (HSAM), it refers to a specific condition where one remembers specific details of their life effortlessly. It’s an extremely rare case whose causes still require further research. On top of that, I went as far as reading a journal article titled “A Case of Unusual Autobiographical Remembering” (2006) that examined the first case of hyperthymesia in 2005 and found out that memory-recollections go on automatically with “unstoppable” manner, when supported with a particular linked trigger. Feelings-wise, it’s indeed an exhausting reminiscence for having to recall past events with vivid details that emerge the same emotions as if they are happening at present. I mean, we all have that one or two past memories that we’d wish to fade away forever, don’t we?
Hence, let’s begin the journey of this interesting story.
FIND ME IN YOUR MEMORY / 그남자의 기억법 (2020)
It basically tells about the burgeoning romance between Lee Jung Hoon (Kim Dong Wook), a talented anchor at a broadcasting station who suffers from hyperthymesia and Yeo Ha Jin (Moon Ga Young), a rising actress who had once forgotten her past. Side story is about Lee Jung Hoon’s past love Jung Seo Yeon (Lee Ju Bin) who died tragically because of a stalker, a moment which stains his memory bank forever. The story goes longer because Ha Jin turns out to be intertwined with Seo Yeon and the following consequences lead her to a great danger.
Anyway, please note that 32 episodes are actually 16 episodes split into two parts each, so I’m going to write my review and episode spoilers based on the 16-episode format.
INITIAL IMPRESSION
I didn’t have much expectation when I first clicked the first episode as I just happened to browse for Kdramas to watch and came across the title only to find interest in watching Kim Dong Wook. It was my first time seeing him in a lead role. He was mesmerizing in the superb movie Along with the Gods and I was looking forward to seeing him again. Both are not the super popular Hallyu actors like Song Joong Ki, Lee Jong Suk or Park Seo Joon, but it’s easy to grow my attachment to this drama because of the plot, cinematography and Kim Dong Wook’s breezy sexy voice, don’t fight me on this one. In the end, I definitely become head over heels with the low-key honest relationship depicted by this lovely couple.
Lee Jung Hoon (Kim Dong Wook), or more commonly referred to as Anchor-nim, works at HBN broadcasting station as a highly competent anchorman for an evening live news program. Due to his hyperthymesia, Jung Hoon remembers vivid details of the moments from his past, including the time when he directly witnessed his ex’s death. His overall impression is clever and an eloquent speaker that might come off as cocky at times, but he manages to wrap himself in polite manner regardless of the circumstances. It only suggests the amount of effort he puts into respecting his counterpart, putting aside his personal feelings. Watching his character seriously raises the bar on the ideal Kdrama male lead type, as well as my personal ideal type.
Acting-wise, Kim Dong Wook is solid and flawless, enough said.
Yeo Ha Jin (Moon Ga Young) is a rising actress who is prominent for her antagonist roles in dramas, but turns out to have a bubbly and optimistic personality in real life. Sometimes she appears quite dim-witted for her age, and it doesn’t help that Moon Ga Young’s voice is originally light and soft, and the good thing is that everyone around her realizes her lackluster trait and tries to make up for that. I feel that her gullible character resembles Chun Song Yi (Jun Ji Hyun) from My Love from Another Star, but less haughty and annoying. However, I still find her character likeable since her behavior screams genuine kindness from the beginning of the story. Moon Ga Young is such a beauty that gives off a true celebrity vibe on screen and her acting has gotten much better after years of experiences.
Yeo Ha Kyung (Kim Seul Gi) is Ha Jin’s sister who becomes her personal manager that takes care of Ha Jin’s business schedules. Despite his seemingly rough personality, she actually cares a lot for Ha Jin and tries to protect her sister at all cost, especially making up for Ha Jin’s frivolousness. I’m not sure if all of her comical stunts were part of the script or her own self-made ad-libs, but they were stunts only Kim Seul Gi could pull off well. I liked her in Oh My Ghost and glad she’s given a loveline in this drama, albeit still a rather meh one.
Yoo Tae Eun (Yoon Jong Hoon) is Jung Hoon’s childhood friend who has been treating his hyperthymesia through regular check-ups. His father is a neurology professor who once treated Jung Hoon when he was a child, and now the duty has been transferred to his son. Unlike his ambitious father, Tae Eun is satisfied with opening a psychiatric clinic in a rather small neighborhood. He is reliable and genuine as a person, and I could feel some warmth upon seeing his gaze.
Yoon Jong Hoon has played numerous side characters as far as I knew, and his acting is decent, Versatile or not, I still need to see him playing more diverse roles before making a judgement.
ALLURING STUFFS
First of all, the overall tone of the drama is warm and quite relaxing despite the thrilling suspense parts. I like that the drama explores different genres all at once and keeps me on the edge of my seat. The scenes during the first episode set a solid background for the conflicts ahead, none of which felt too rushed or sluggish.
Ha Jin’s subtly smooth revenge
EP1. Countless Kdramas have taught me that seniority level does exist in South Korea, unexceptionally in the filming industry as well. It usually involves abuses, be it verbally or physically. [SPOILERS ALERT] There’s this aggravating scene when Go Yu Ra, Ha Jin’s co-actress who was older and, probably, more senior than her, acted so arrogantly in front of her. During their filming scene in which Yu Ra was supposed to splash water to Ha Jin’s face, she purposely slapped her face and disguised it as an improvisation, to which Ha Ri reluctantly smiled in order to stay professional.
EP2. However, things took a turn around in the next episode when Yu Ra asked to exchange their sponsored clothes, to which Ha Jin replied that she was afraid that Yu Ra’s sponsor would want to sponsor her instead after she wore the clothes. A simple but memorable revenge, isn’t it? [END OF SPOILERS]
Lee Jung Hoon & Jung Seo Yeon’s flashbacks
One of the best features of this drama is the flashback parts of Lee Jung Hoon with Jung Seo Yeon, his late first love. The tone is warm and pretty, the cinematography is even better and Lee Ju Bin is remarkably pretty and makes a great couple with Kim Dong Wook. Her appearance was so short yet she built a great chemistry with both Jung Hoon and Ha Jin.
Mature communication
This is the core reason why I LOVE this drama: maturity without mind game. If you want to say something, say it. Ain’t nobody a sixth-sensed mind reader who’s got enough time to decipher the meaning behind your silent actions.
EP3. After a long day of working without replying to Ha Jin’s message, Jung Hoon called her and apologized that he didn’t reply any sooner. I found it adorable that he treated Ha Jin with respect no matter his feelings were at that time despite the circumstances between the two.
EP5. After a long encounter and trouble, Ha Jin told Jung Hoon to text her when he got home, which he did obediently.
EP8. When Ha Jin came to support Jung Hoon’s comeback to the newsroom, Jung Hoon asked her if it she didn’t mind waiting for him until the news ended so that he could take her home. I like that their communication was politely direct without any power exertion.
EP9. Both parties are showing consideration towards each other with they way their calls sounded. When Ha Jin called Jung Hoon, the first thing she said was “Is it okay for me to talk to you now?”
Now that I work regular office hours, I feel that non-urgent personal calls and texts can be put aside till later since the workload is piling up mercilessly. Some calls and texts might come off as annoying at times, so it’s admirable that Ha jin asked Jung Hoon’s permission to spare a moment before anything, in case Jung Hoon was too occupied with work at that moment.
EP13. This is one of the most major spoilers of the drama, but Ha Jin asked to meet Jung Hoon in order to bid a farewell. Their conversation was precisely short but painful, about Ha Jin feeling sorry for Jung Hoon and pushing him away, also about Jung Hoon asking her to stop self-blaming and practically begging her to stay. No clinging into each other and making things more difficult to bear, no power exertion and refusing a “no” from the counterpart. Their farewell was sorrowful but clean, because a relationship is supposedly about respecting each other’s choices.
Ha Jin’s comical endeavors
If you’re familiar with Cheon Song Yi from My Love from Another Star, it’s easy to laugh off Ha Jin’s dopiness in her daily life.
EP4. It’s sweet that Ha Jin attempted to do a great fan service by cooking 100 lunchboxes prior to her outdoor fan meeting, but Ha Kyung’s reaction never failed to crack me up. In the end, Ha Jin somehow managed to finish the boxes with the help of Ha Kyung and her agency CEO. But then, the lunchboxes easily evolved into a huge mess.
A reliable sister
Not only being lovey-dovey with Jung Hoon, Ha Jin knows how to get along with her sister. Ha Kyung understands Ha Jin inside out and knows exactly how to encourage her with support and affection, which I find soo adorable.
EP9. During Ha Jin’s birthday euphoria, Ha Kyung asked her if she told Jung Hoon about her birthday, to which Ha Jin casually replied that he must’ve known, isn’t it? But nope, Ha Kyung insisted that Ha Jin should be the one to tell him if she wasn’t sure of it. After all, being direct saves so much energy rather than expecting somebody to understand your inner thoughts and desires.
EP11. Fierce Ha Kyung inevitably enjoys messing with Ha Jin’s adorable doltishness from time to time. I laughed hard during Ha Jin’s attempt to video call Jung Hoon, who had never done such a thing before. We saw Ha Jin’s makeup, hair accessories and elegant blouse from the screen, only to witness Jung Hoon’s inability to pose a good angle.
STUFFS THAT IRKED ME
Nonetheless, there are several things I find unbearable to overlook throughout the drama.
Ha Jin’s one-sided confessions
As lovable as Ha Jin is, I have to admit that I was put off with her initial behavior. [SPOILERS ALERT] Even though her first encounter with Jung Hoon wasn’t so pleasant to remember, it still bugged me that Ha Jin chose to acknowledge the dating scandal to the media between the two before talking it out him first, leaving him flustered and angry. [END OF SPOILERS] If it were me, I would have thrown a tantrum and called the media to call it off right away and express my outrage. Thankfully, Jung Hoon put a lot of consideration in his thoughts before making a decision.
EP4. [SPOILERS ALERT] Another occasion that irked me was when another misunderstanding occurred on the night Jung Hoon went to see Ha Jin’s movie by himself. Ha Jin overexcited with that fact and called him only to say that she wanted to keep misunderstanding him, just in case it would turn out into a reality. [END OF SPOILERS] Watching this part over and over again, I only saw Ha Jin as a clingy kiddo that didn’t know how to draw a line between what is proper and not.
Professor Yoo’s excessive ambition and apathy
Yoo Sung Hyuk (Kim Chang Wan). Yoo Tae Eun’s father, is a university professor who has been observing Lee Jung Hoon’s illness in order to write a thesis on hyperthymesia. I think he’s too absorbed with the thoughts of succeeding as a researcher that he didn’t care about Jung Hoon’s development as a person, not merely his patient. He views It was despicable that he went as far as abandoning Tae Eun’s feelings for the sake of his thesis. I hate that he seemed that skeptical about Jung Hoon being able to love again after losing a dear one, and that he played a major role in the last few episodes’ arising conflicts.
Stalking thrills
I used to think that ghosts make a horror movie scary, but nope. Human beings are the scariest creatures on Earth, I suppose. Watching the stalker suspects gave me different chills upon watching the scenes. I wanted to talk more about it, but I would refrain myself since I didn’t have any background in human psychology.
Nevertheless, obsession is toxic no matter how you look at it. One who is entangled in a toxic relationship is bound to end it the bad way with a traumatic wound. These people usually have a misguided perception on people and treat them merely as objects without ever taking their feelings into account, or even refusing to believe the truth.
Consequently, things were getting out of hand in the last two episodes, too many complicated hassles, I’d say. However, I’m glad that the ordeals weren’t there for no reason. The writer only tried to unravel every tangled mess and allowed the characters to bear through the worst scenarios so that they might come back stronger.
LOVELINES ALERT
Lee Jung Hoon & Yeo Ha Jin
The first encounter between the two main leads is rather cliche for me; a coincidental meeting that doesn’t give a good impression to the counterpart, love at the first sight, annoying behaviors, quarreling and conflicts that lead to further interactions with each other, and the typical love-and-hate relationship. Thankfully, the scenes following their meeting made up for the cliches.
[SPOILERS ALERT] It’s a bit perplexing to describe the development of feelings exchanged between the two. It was a one-sided interest that turned into annoyance after a number of misunderstandings. Soon after Jung Hoon recognized Ha Jin as Seo Yeon’s best friend, he began singing a different tune and purposely cut ties with her so that she wouldn’t regret anything in the future.
“I did it to spare her from getting hurt, but I’m afraid I did the opposite.”
Things changed Jung Hoon received a threatening letter from someone who was obsessed with Ha Jin. It essentially triggered Jung Hoon’s protective traits for he knew how painful it was to lose someone who meant the world because of failing to protect her from a dangerous stalker. From that time, Jung Hoon began opening up, albeit I’m not quite certain if it was resulted from his respectfulness or if he already cared for Ha Jin at that time.
EP6. After kissing Jung Hoon abruptly in a semi-drunk state, Ha Jin was pushed away instantly. Jung Hoon insisted that she would come to regret this decision later on because he knew her past already. Up to this moment, I think Jung Hoon already grew fond of her, not as Seo Yeon’s best friend but as a woman.
Still in the same episode, there was Ha Jin with her genuine heart to understand Jung Hoon better. Slapping his supervisor on his behalf, accompanying his mother for a dinner, buying her poetry book, and even writing down what he usually does because she sincerely wanted to remember all things about him. It must have taken Jung Hoon by surprise, but in a way that he actually appreciated. He lost his consciousness for a while during the mourning period of his mother’s death, but soon returned with stronger feelings of affection and desire to protect her from the stalker.
Once the culprit had been arrested, there was Ha Jin who was overwhelmed with anxiety in case Jung Hoon left her again after things had been under control. But then, there was also Jung Hoon who had finally made up his mind to stay with her and to love her with all his heart. Conflicts kept emerging from here and there and separated them multiple times, but they eventually bounced back to each other and found their love much stronger than before. [END OF SPOILERS]
Jo Il Kwon & Yeo Ha Kyung
Their relationship is the typical not-so-fresh rom-com in Kdramaland, but not a boring one either. Ha Kyung and Il Kwon (Lee Jin Hyuk) encountered with each other several times and grew attachment naturally. Jo Il Kwon is a friendly and positive person without ulterior motives in mind, which makes him appear as clumsy and childish at times. I have nothing to oppose this couple because they really make a great pair and Ha Kyung’s savage character is one of my favorites from this drama. Lee Jin Hyuk acted well enough, mainly because Jo Il Kwon is still rather a two-dimensional character here. Kim Seul Gi, as usual, nailed every role she’s been given and masters comical acting.
That being said, this is such a fortunate relationship for her. [SPOILERS ALERT] Unlike Ha Jin with her outspoken trait, Ha Kyung often becomes Ha Jin’s catalyst in different circumstances. Ha Kyung always tries to keep Ha Jin safe since she knows her sister definitely needs to be protected. That being said, Ha Kyung keeps all emotions only to herself. It’s great that witty Il Kwon keeps digging about her and triggers Ha Kyung to tell more stories about herself, and not to restrain her emotions. Despite his child-like behavior, Il Kwon showers her with endless support, love and affection albeit he didn’t seem like the type to do such things at first. [END OF SPOILERS]
FINAL THOUGHTS
At the end of the day, memories fade away in a blink of the eye as day passes. There’s no such thing as freezing the time and enjoying things for eternity, so I believe that people ought to be honest with their feelings instead of hiding things and creating lingering regrets ahead. As simple as life is supposed to be, I like the narrative quoted by Jung Seo Yeon and Yeo Ha Jin, taken from Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862), an American poet and philosopher, from his book “Walden” that tells about a reflection upon living a simple life in natural surroundings.
“I just want to be that complicated when it comes to my feelings. Regardless of making complicated reasons or calculations, I just want to live simply counting up to about 5 or 6 so that I can finish calculating only by using my two thumbs.”
By the end of this drama, I managed to get a grasp of how hyperthymesia might be feeling inside. As if getting constantly reminded of the wounds in the past isn’t exhausting enough, they remember the feelings and emotions as well. A life with perpetual emotional drain is not something everyone is able to get through. Not other option but to accept the reality and move on with one’s life, I guess.
Also, an insightful conversation was uttered just as Jung Hoon came to his senses after mourning for his mother’s death. That one should live by carrying good thoughts and memories in order to live a good life.
“Ever since Seo Yeon’s death, I only had this thought on mind, that I will never make another painful memory with another person. That was the only goal I had. Didn’t I sound like a fool? Why didn’t I want to make more good memories? My mother lived her life trying to give me only good memories.”
In the end, we make decisions whether to get buried in the woeful past, or to embrace the scar and make an effort to live a happy life. Instead of leaving one foot in a mud of misery, one only needs to live this moment beautifully and makes the most of it.
GRADE
8.5/10
Post-review: Sung Shi Kyung never disappoints with his songs, and the drama has made me love his song “Two People” so much. The remake version is just as soothing as the original one. Enjoy!
Never has it crossed my mind that I would eat up journal article for the sake of completing a freakin’ Kdrama review, but here is the source.
Reference:
Parker, E. S., Cahill, L. &McGaugh, J. L. (2006). A Case of Unusual Autobiographical Remembering. Neurocase, 12, 35-49. DOI: 10.1080/13554790500473680
The Scorching Heaven 