What a masterpiece. From the story writing, cinematography, and the character development it was so well put together. The story from start to end is different from the usual kdrama plot so it's refreshing to watch. The drama has triggered my emotions from my high school days. I don't cry that often in these type of shows, but this one brought me to tears! (especially at the shoe tying scene)
You need to change your perspective on the ending to see that it's really a happy ending. Yes, they did not end up together, but it was never going to work out. Hee-do wanted someone that could share all their happiness, pain, laughter, ect. Yi-Jin however kept treating her like a younger sister, shielding her from all the sadness that he was experiencing. In fact so much his life was filled with hardship that he learned to only rely on himself. As Hee-Do said, they were only lovers when times were great. The times where her encouragement were easy to reach. People think that it was 9/11 event that broke them up, no it was eventually going to happen anyways on any other events. They weren't meant for each other. Even with time, she's going to be continued to be disappointed in him.
But that's what's first love is. You are so filled with emotions that you cannot see anything else except for your love. It's not until you start becoming an adult and start experiencing hardship that you figure out who you really should be with. First love, however, is not all sadness. There are great memories and lifelong friends that are made. You are going to keep looking back at when you were younger and remember all the happy moments. All these moments are part of your youth, part of your growth that made the adult version of you. The ending captured perfectly that sentiment while the adult Hee-Do looked back at the tunnel. It represents a connection from her past and her present. The way she smiles anytime the daughter brings up the memory from the past shows that the same connection is very endearing to her - not something she wants to forget about.
You need to change your perspective on the ending to see that it's really a happy ending. Yes, they did not end up together, but it was never going to work out. Hee-do wanted someone that could share all their happiness, pain, laughter, ect. Yi-Jin however kept treating her like a younger sister, shielding her from all the sadness that he was experiencing. In fact so much his life was filled with hardship that he learned to only rely on himself. As Hee-Do said, they were only lovers when times were great. The times where her encouragement were easy to reach. People think that it was 9/11 event that broke them up, no it was eventually going to happen anyways on any other events. They weren't meant for each other. Even with time, she's going to be continued to be disappointed in him.
But that's what's first love is. You are so filled with emotions that you cannot see anything else except for your love. It's not until you start becoming an adult and start experiencing hardship that you figure out who you really should be with. First love, however, is not all sadness. There are great memories and lifelong friends that are made. You are going to keep looking back at when you were younger and remember all the happy moments. All these moments are part of your youth, part of your growth that made the adult version of you. The ending captured perfectly that sentiment while the adult Hee-Do looked back at the tunnel. It represents a connection from her past and her present. The way she smiles anytime the daughter brings up the memory from the past shows that the same connection is very endearing to her - not something she wants to forget about.