In the webtoon field, aspiring artists and passionate producers alike have lofty dreams. However, it takes more than just optimism and hard work to achieve success, and it’s all too easy to fall into disillusionment or overwork.
EPISODES 5-6 WEECAP
Aw, Dae-ryuk is a bundle of nerves on his first day. Head assistant IM DONG-HEE (Baek Seok-kwang) kindly lends Dae-ryuk a tablet to replace his old and scuffed one, and assigns him his first task of practicing how to draw circles freehand.
Dae-ryuk can’t differentiate people’s faces well, so Ma-eum goes the extra mile. She gets Joon-young to take photos of her making different facial expressions and wearing various outfits, so that Dae-ryuk can have reference images. HAHAHA omg, she makes Joon-young do it too, and before long they’re laughing their hearts out and having fun.
Ma-eum invites her father to the dojo for a sparring match, and it’s almost like a swan song. Afterwards, she admits that she’s gotten a job, catching her father entirely off guard.
He accuses Ma-eum of giving up on judo, but she corrects him — she’s not running away, she’s making a choice for herself. Ma-eum once cherished her dream of becoming an Olympic gold medalist, but she has a new dream now.
Pointing out that they’re two very different people, Ma-eum tells him that this is her life to experience, to learn from, and to take responsibility for. Gosh, I love how the dialogue in this show is written — it’s so raw and genuine, the words alone make me tear up.
I love our rookie pair so much, and how good of an influence they are on each other. Ma-eum’s kindness and tenacity inspire Joon-young to regain a little faith in the world, and Joon-young’s perceptiveness teaches Ma-eum how to be a little more sensitive to other people’s feelings.
Their conversation about still having much to learn about the world was particularly poignant, and it’s nice that they have each other’s backs on this journey. It’s clear they both carry baggage; Ma-eum’s still trying to find an identity outside of judo, and we keep seeing glimpses of a mysterious lady in Joon-young’s house who seems to hover around him like a specter.
Still, I have faith that they’ll grow and heal, and it’s why I’m so fond of this pair — they may feel discouraged by their own shortcomings, but they notice each other’s strengths. They motivate each other to keep going, and with a little guidance from Ji-hyung, I’m sure they’ll go far.