“49 Days”: Ending thought-provoking
wulijohyunjae | May 21, 2011 | 9:45 am
2011.05.20 Korea Star Daily (English translation by wulijohyunjae)
“Even though human beings know they can’t escape death eventually, they still live like they will never die. Because of your 49 days, we will live every day as if it is the last.”
The SBS Wed./Thu. drama draws to a close on May 19. The plot development takes a dramatic turn at the very end, but the theme it expresses is a little heavy to most viewers.
Ji-Hyun (NGR) falls into a coma as a result of a traffic accident and requires three drops of 100% pure tears from three people who are not blood relatives before she can be revived. The real problem for JH is not life or death but whether there are people who will cry true tears for her. What the scriptwriter So Hyun-Kyung wants to tell us about is “life/living” and not “death”. Although “49 Days” is a fictional work, it also represents the scriptwriter’s personal message. SHK wants us to realize how genuine the most important things in life like friendship and love are.
After she receives her mission, JH thinks it is very easy to complete it. She has her fiance and two best friends. But the surprising thing is no one cries for her. Although they have shed tears, they are actually crying for themselves and not for her，When watching the drama, viewers may be counting on their fingers to see whether there are people who will really cry for them. Or perhaps they are thinking: ”If I were JH, would I be able to live on?” The most compelling thing about this drama is questions like this that lead to the audience’s self-reflection.
What “49 Days” portrays is not death but concentrates on delineating our contemporary life. The appearance of the Scheduler and the person struggling with death may be the focus of the drama, but the key is really the reality of today. Han Kang’s soliloquy about “Everyone is living as if they will never die” is actually what JH sees as she goes to her death.
After she wakes from her coma and realizes she will finally die, JH decides to do two things. One is to love HK who really loves her. The other is to express to her parents that she is blessed to be their daughter. Perhaps the most important moments of JH’s life are those six days before her death when she discovers what she really wants to do. In those six days, JH tries her best to convey her new thoughts and feelings to those around her. Just before her death those who are by her side are those who really love her and whom she loves. Perhaps we have wasted too much time on things that are not really important.
JH’s death tells us the importance of genuine human communication. “49 Days” lets us know that if we can find such people, then every single moment we spend with them is precious. Which is more meaningful: To die like JH in the prime of her life but having heart-to-heart communication with those who love her, or to be enmeshed in the trials and tribulations of life everyday living like one will never die? “49 Days” leaves us with a series of thought-provking questions.
(Credit: Article and photo from http://koreastardaily.com; www.johyunjae.hk. Thanks!)
After I read this article, I realize and I agree with the ending. As human being, we can’t escape from our destiny. Although we have already tried every way to live, GOD still decides whether we still continue to live or not. But in the drama, scriptwriter is GOD because they want happy ending or sad ending ^^
The best things in life are free and it comes from people that surround us – our family, friends and the simple things that make us happy. This drama “49 Days” conveys a strong message of appreciation and genuine love from those we dearly care about. Congratulations to the whole cast and crew of “49 Days” on the successful run of this drama. To Hyunjae, you added another feather in your cap. Keep up the good work and more success.
Just personally, i also think the drama is amazingly creative and thought-provoking in the beginning, but the ending ruined it. And I do not think that JH did what she has always wanted to do in the last 6 days. She was feeling devastatingly hopeless for the 6days, hence all she could do was preparing her exit in a way that the people left behind will feel less pain. This including ensuring her parents and suppressing her love for HK. In the end, JH still didn’t get to do what she has so earnestly hoped to do, to confess her love and to love HK with her life… For the 6days, behind her every forced smile was an aching heart. She was toyed by the unfeeling “people up there” (or the writer), tricked into the 49days fake-hope, but actually has only 4 days left of her life after 49days (she waked on the 47th days + 6). To me, the joke of 4 days left of lifespan messed up the theme of the story, the shocking (or joking) twist divert viewers’ attention away from the theme, and makes one wonder should everyone just resigned to fate when situation calls upon you rather than giving a last shot? That is probably why the writer chucked in the long philo narrative about living everyday as it’s last, because without it, i guess most viewers would just feel as hopeless and JH in the end. I would rather she chose the elevator immediately after the accident, I think she will be happier, as she felt most loved at that time. What’s the point of knowing all the truth and then died sadly? Anyway she won’t remember this life after getting into the elevator. To die is not the crueliest thing in life, but giving hope to a person and crushing it the next minute is. I know i’m getting off the topic, well thanks to such an ending that shifted viewer’s focus away from the main theme of the story. There should be better ways to bring out the theme.
Agree with you, Jhcwhite. I don’t know how to express my feeling in English. You just read my mind. Thank you.
I have finished watching ep 20 and I still feel the same way I did the day the last ep aired. My head understands the message, but my heart cannot accept it. Like jhcwhite says, there are less harsh ways to deliver the same message.
For the first 18 eps of this drama I thought I have finally met a scriptwriter who’d be willing to ignore the kdrama rule of # 1 actress should end up with # 1 actor. I didn’t realize there is another kdrama rule that if #1 actress cannot end up with #1 actor, then no one else WILL BE ALLOWED to end with #1 actor – message and viewers be damned. It’s all just business in the end. Poor #1 actor and #2 actress – sacrificial lambs to these kdrama rules.
By the way, came across an article about on-screen kdrama couples to real life. I’m surprised that Eugene and Ki Tae Young of “Creating Destiny” are getting married on July this year.
I added something to my previous comment:
……. I didn’t realize there is another kdrama rule that if #1 actress cannot end up with #1 actor, then no one else WILL BE ALLOWED to end with #1 actor (because #1 actor’s character is so in love with #2 actress’ character and just ignores #1 actress) – message and viewers be damned. It’s all just business in the end. Poor #1 actor and #2 actress – sacrificial lambs to these kdrama rules.
Marise, we mentioned this news some time ago.
Yes, prissymom, this appears to be the new rule, sadly. LYW’s fans were already attacking NGR from all sides on many sites (her man-made face, etc.) when it did not look likely that JHJ would end up with LYW. If the scriptwriter had dared to let NGR and JHJ live happily ever after, LYW fans would resort to more drastic measures. Maybe these are the rules of the game, but we don’t like it one bit!
After watching Sign and the leading actor died I can now accept any ending in any Korean drama. I wonder if there will be a press conference with the scriptwriter why she chose this kind of ending? We can speculate that having to get 3 pure tear drops she will then have a chance to continue with her life. But to die after 6 days is a little bit to harsh ending.
I also agree that if the casting for the 2 leading actress were of equal value meaning #1 actress to be paired with JHJ, and if the scriptwriter dared to pair to either one for a happy ending, the scriptwriter will still be in trouble with their fans.
JHJ did a marvelous job in performing his role. He should not be questioned why he chose this drama because he would not have control in the development of the drama. He would have just been given the theme or plot of the drama to accept or reject the role. He must have been intrigue himself so he chose this drama. A successful one because he was given a chance to shine again as well as show his singing talent.
After watching this 49 Days drama I chose to watch Untold Scandal. He is so young, naive and so cute in this movie.
Dear Jhcwhite and dear flowervase 100 thanks for your comment.you wrote what ich would writen.Perfect
and I think scriptwriter had big mistake.I ‘d wonder too why this drama must so sad ending ??? ..but our opinion is not important and cheng not the ending for our favorit drama:-((((
I like 49 days but for me only 18 episod
Hello everyone… I am a new fan so please do not delete me
I am also one of the people not happy with the ending
wulijohyunjae – and that might be the reason why this was cut from episode 19
http://www.youtube.com/user/SBS49days#p/u/21/n43T3Nq0feI
P.S. I hope it is okay to post link in here. If not, please remove them. Thanks!
From the point of life, it can be considered as a happy ending.
Everybody begins their new life and looks much better. Because of the ’49 days’ tour, HK and YK see the love in life. They get their strength and live happily again .
dnkt, welcome to our blog! No bona fide JHJ fans will be deleted, just those false subcribers who want to use our blog to sell things and post unsavoury messages.
wulijohyunjae – thank you for created this site for us – non-Korean speaker fans. Finally found a place where I can read all about JHJ without scatching my head
Again, thank you and keep up the good works!!!
hi guys..just finished watching 49 days and i can say that it’s a good story..a diffrent one i must say..i was actually thinking if there’s really a 49 days given to someone who died (anyway it’s just me and my imagination)..a different ending also..a person given another chance & subsequently taken it back from her..i thought it’s a happy ending between HK & JH..i’m expecting that YK will died..but overall i like it a lot..nice to see JHJ acting again and in a good k-drama..he really knows how to get a good one..
hope to see JHJ again in a good drama soon..