We have always been vocal about our forecast that Jeong-won and Gyeo-ul will marry in Season 2. The reason lies on what we believe to be the lovelines' story blueprints...the scenes in front of the Emergency Center. Curiously, WinterGarden has the most EC entrance scenes among all the couples, 1 pair of reversed parallel scenes for how they affect each other professionally, and 1 pair of reversed parallel scenes about their unfolding love story, which is a total of 4 scenes to be exact, with Season 2 completely reversing Season 1. Have you detected them?
PART I:
S1E8 AND S2E1 REVERSED PARALLEL SCENES AND THEIR SIMILAR/OPPOSITE ELEMENTS
Arrows and Lines
The arrows are very significant in that they represent career directions and growth, while the lines represent the hurdles/steps that one overcomes/completes in order to move forward. Alternatively, lines may also represent time or days. Both S1E8 and S2E1 EC Entrance scenes show two arrows as well as a series of lines.
S1E8 - The arrows in this scene represent Jeong-won's career direction. The Emergency Center arrow represents his career as a doctor, and we see him moving away from it and traversing the lines, representing his decision to walk away from his hospital career and taking all the necessary steps (lines) to enter priesthood. Priesthood is likewise represented in the scene by the blue arrow that points to the left. We think that it's actually a very witty choice of orientation, as it basically suggests that the path Jeong-won is walking towards is not right, pun intended. In this scene, Jeong-won is unable to continue beyond the arrow as Gyeo-ul blocks his way. It symbolizes how Gyeo-ul blocks Jeong-won's way towards priesthood, which is a career that is really not "right" for him.
And in relation to the above, we'd like to comment on the following line by Ik-jun when his car stops in front of Jeong-won to fetch him after Gyeo-ul leaves with his brother. Ik-jun asks Jeong-won if he saw an Angel. This is suggestive of how God must have intentionally put Gyeo-ul on Jeong-won's way to stop him from going towards the wrong path. Gyeo-ul here is portrayed as the Angel that God has sent to Jeong-won to make him reflect on the path that he is taking. Isn't that just beautiful? If that isn't a once-in-a-lifetime love, then I don't know what is.
S2E1 - And if Season 1 focuses on Jeong-won's career path and the part that Gyeo-ul plays in it, Season 2 focuses on Gyeo-ul's growth in the hospital as represented by the upward arrows, with the rain signaling some challenges that come her way despite of how much she might prepare to do well. Rain can also represent emotions.
Unlike in Season 1 where Jeong-won and Gyeo-ul stand at a distance from one another and Gyeo-ul blocking Jeong-won's way further into the "not right path" , we see Jeong-won backhugging Gyeo-ul in Season 2 which basically symbolizes how Jeong-won will have her back in times when she will need his support. If you've read our Fairytale Analysis, it should come as no surprise for you if we read the symbol of umbrella here as a sword that Jeong-won uses to protect Gyeo-ul. For us, this is the show continuing with their WinterGarden Fairytale theme, depicting Jeong-won as a Prince Charming.
Instead of traversing the lines alone, we see them under Jeong-won's umbrella. They are journeying together through the rain, and this time, on the "right" path, opposite direction of the S1E8 scene.
Major Themes Within the Episodes
Now, why do we think that these scenes pertain to their careers? It's because of the major themes that play out for WinterGarden in these episodes of interest, which seem to give further context to these blueprints.
S1E8 is when we finally hear progress regarding Jeong-won's application for priesthood.
S2E1, on the other hand, showcases Gyeo-ul's confusion and interactions with Yeon-u's mom as her main story for the first episode. This scene is very beautifully-played out as the camera is positioned outside the window, giving us a view of the rain as foreground of the scene just as Gyeo-ul is asking her work-related question to Jeong-won. It seems to deliberately connect the rain to Gyeo-ul's challenges in the hospital.
The scene pretty much shows us the dynamics between Gyeo-ul and Jeong-won here, where he readily shares his wisdom and guides Gyeo-ul in understanding the challenge she faces. Of course, we know how Gyeo-ul puts his advice to good use. So even if we don't see much of this mentorship on screen, this whole sequence suggests how Jeong-won supports and nurtures Gyeo-ul's growth.
We hope that the above comparisons are enough to establish the parallelism and reversal that happen with the Emergency Center scenes of WinterGarden from both Seasons, as well as the employment of the scenes of interest as foreshadowing of the WinterGarden dynamics in terms of how they affect each other's career choice and growth.
PART II:
Are you ready for Part 2?
The succeeding comparisons get a bit more complicated as we compare not 2, but 3 scenes.
First, we'll compare S1E9 and S1E12 for similarities to prove a point that the former foreshadows the latter. By establishing that this kind of foreshadowing happens in Season 1, it will be easier to assume that the same will be true for Season 2.
Second, we'll compare S2E3 with S1E9 for similarities, and point out how the former (S2E3) reverses the latter (S1E9). If the comparison is successful and you, as a reader, finds the analysis for the first point stated above to be sufficient, then we can agree that S2E3 also serves to foreshadow another major event for WinterGarden in Season 2.
Third, we'll point out a possible connection between S2E3 and S1E12, and relate it to the Return Trip Theory.
Let's begin!
A. S1E9 AND HOW IT POSSIBLY PARALLELS AND THUS FORESHADOWS S1E12 WINTERGARDEN CONFESSION SCENE
Stopped On His Tracks
In S1E9, just as Jeong-won is about to leave, Gyeo-ul happens to arrive at the entrance and stops him on his tracks on a rainy day.
We find the above scenario to be pretty similar to S1E12 where Gyeo-ul knocks on Jeong-won's office just as he is about to leave.
Element That Foretells A Season
Both S1E9 and S1E12 scenes happen to occur during a downpour. We theorize here that the rain signals the time or season where the foreshadowed scene will happen, in this case, with raining being used to signify Winter snow.
We got this idea because in S2E3 EC entrance scene, the show uses another element, which is the wind, and we suppose that it also represents a time or season when a foreshadowed event will happen. We roughly assume that the wind is representative of either Spring or Autumn. We are not sure which one would be a closer guess since we don't experience 4 seasons in our country.
Cupids
Anyway, going back to the S1E9 and S1E12 parallelism, we look at what/who bring them both in each scene where they meet during a downpour of rain (S1E9) and snow (S1E12). The answer to this are their cupids, Ik-Jun and Mama Rosa, who have both based the relevance and necessity of their efforts to bring Jeong-won and Gyeo-ul together on Jeong-won's face and how he reacts to Gyeo-ul.
In S1E9, Ik-Jun orchestrates the meeting in front of the Emergency Center by intentionally tricking and delaying Jeong-won with the help of Dr. Bong who seems to have fed Ik-Jun some information about Gyeo-ul's tendency to arrive at that particular time and about his seemingly rich boyfriend, all in exchange for 10,000 won.
Mama Rosa, on her part, takes the honest approach when she decides to talk to Gyeo-ul, telling her about what she observed about Jeong-won and Gyeo-ul's interaction as his mother, which leads to Gyeo-ul making her confession in S1E12.
Curiosity and Revelation
Another possible parallel that may seem contentious to some but we think is worth mentioning, is that the Jang siblings, in both scenes, brings a revelation to Jeong-won that moves the WinterGarden story forward.
In S1E9, Gyeo-ul's brother indirectly reveals that he is in fact a kin and not a boyfriend.
Jeong-won understands this, judging by the expression on his face that shows a kind of realization and the smile that follows. There is actually a breakdown of his reaction during this scene in twitter, which we think is on point. We have forgotten who made it, but whoever you are, you have a very good eye! We will update this part when we find the video/gif again, to give proper credit to the one who has come up with the face analysis.
In S1E12, Gyeo-ul finally confesses her feelings in no uncertain terms and this unbottles all of Jeong-won's repressed emotions towards her. His immediate reaction just like in S1E9, again, seems to be that of surprise and realization.
His curiosity in both scenes before the revelations happen are also pretty similar scenarios.
B: PARALLELISM BETWEEN S2E3 AND S1E9 AND REVERSALS THAT WEAVE THE TWO SEPARATE SCENES INTO A CONTINUOUS SEQUENCE OF FORESHADOWING
Okay, this has been quite long so far. Are you still with us? This time, let's look at how S2E3 parallels and reverses S1E9, and how they actually seem to connect together as one continuous sequence that possibly forms a marriage foreshadowing.
Element of Weather
We've pointed this out earlier in this article. It rains in Season 1 while it gets windy in Season 2. We believe that the elements are indicative or symbolic of the season or time when the foreshadowed scene will happen. Rain which parallels the snow of Winter, and Wind signifying the weather of either Spring or Autumn. Alternatively, rain may signify an outpour of emotions, while wind blowing Gyeo-ul's hair thus covering her face may be indicative of the beach, or a place where it is windy, or maybe even a veil.
Arriving Cars
A car arrives in each of these scenes. In S1E9, Gyeo-ul's brother rides a white sedan (which may seem similar to a bridal car) while in S2E3, Jeong-won arrives with a black SUV (which is usually a family car). The kinds of cars used may signify that Gyeo-ul and Jeong-won will be building a family together after marriage. It's very interesting to note as well that both scenes are done according to Jeong-won's POV. In S1E9, he witnesses the arrival of the white car in front of him thus being a passive participant in the scene, whereas in S2E3, he is the driver of the car, thus the active doer in the scene. S1E9 seems to foreshadow him as a groom who waits for his bride, while S2E3 foreshadows him as a family man.
Additionally, Jeong-won having a car in S2E3 is definitely a stark contrast to Jeong-won who takes a taxi in S1E9 and even sells his car later on for a perceived lack of necessity to have one. It is pretty much symbolic of his lack of interest in dating. An SUV, however, is not merely a car that signifies him being interested in dating, but in fact, symbolizes his desire to build a family. It is made even more meaningful by the fact that Song-hwa is the person who gives the SUV to Jeong-won, as she is the one friend that tells him to get married and have a baby. If we look at the SUV as the one thing that represents Song-hwa's advice to get married and have a baby, Jeong-won accepting the SUV symbolizes his intent to act on the advice.
Gyeo-ul's Movement In Relation To Cars
In S1E9, Gyeo-ul gets out of his brother's car while in S2E3, Jeong-won leads her into his car. This may signify Gyeo-ul moving out from her family and Jeong-won taking her under his care. In Season 1, we know that Gyeo-ul's brother gives her a ride to the hospital and expects to see her home later, but in Season 2, it's Jeong-won's turn to give her a ride home. This seems to suggest a shift of "home" for Gyeo-ul.
Witnesses and Misconceptions
Both scenes in each season has witnesses, both groups misunderstanding what they see of Gyeo-ul's interaction with the two men involved in the scene that precedes.
Whereas the two know-it-all doctors mistake Gyeo-ul's brother as her boyfriend, the hospital staff fail to recognize that Jeong-won is actually Gyeo-ul's boyfriend. These scenes provide comic relief but we think that another parallel will occur later on where witnesses will no longer misunderstand what they see. Where else might there be witnesses too but at a wedding, and there, for sure it will be clear who is family and who is the groom.
Asking of Hand and Offering Warmth
There is good reason to believe that the car scene that follows is still part of the long sequence that foreshadows a wedding for WinterGarden in Season 2. Jeong-won asking for Gyeo-ul's hand so he can provide her warmth is suggestive of a wedding proposal, which of course, as we know, is the very storyline that is being suggested and developed for the second half of Season 2.
The holding hands and the Wedding and Parties reflection that follow has been a popular topic of discussion among WinterGarden fans. Of course we know that this is deliberately edited into the scene. Some would doubt if it really hints at a wedding. We expect it as such, not merely because of the words and the way that Jeong-won and Gyeo-ul hold hands, but more importantly because of how they are placed within a long sequence of blueprint scenes/foreshadowing for WinterGarden love story that spans from Season 1 to Season 2 through S1E9 and S2E3.
Additionally, the fact that the S1E9 EC entrance scene leads to Ik-Jun staging a fake proposal in S1E10 is highly suggestive of the scene's connection to a wedding/marriage.
Now, remember that Ik-jun is only one cupid. There is another WinterGarden cupid, and that is Mama Rosa. If Ik-jun is the trickster cupid, Mama Rosa is the cupid that bears truth. Now, the trickster cupid has made his fake proposal move in Season 1, and of course in Season 2, everyone anticipates the real proposal, and we suspect that if the show further plays with the parallel, Mama Rosa might play a role as the bringer of truth. In any case, as Jeong-won's mother, it's a given that she'll be involved. Regardless, what matters here is where a trick has been played, it will eventually be paralleled with truth. And that is what we think is the parallelism that Ik-jun / Mama Rosa cupids offer in the WinterGarden storyline = trick vs truth. We wonder if this will play out similarly with the actual families, but we'll see. For now, that is not our concern.
Possible Interruption or Obstacle to Plan / Conflict
Yes, we bring up this scene again. We feel that cutting the marriage foreshadowing sequence is really significant. We don't know exactly what it is, but we think it is pretty normal to expect that things might not always be as smooth at they seem right now. In Season 1, the problem set by the series for Jeong-won is how to get him to stay in the hospital and how to make him admit his feelings for Gyeo-ul. In Season 2, especially in the second half, it is pretty obvious that the road now is pretty much towards marriage, a reversal of Season 1 wherein Jeong-won's goal is priesthood. And as we know based on the symbols, priesthood is not his "right" path, so maybe marriage really is it. But while we think that it will definitely happen, we anticipate some things coming up to interrupt or challenge Jeong-won and Gyeo-ul's relationship. Nonetheless, we know what happens and how the whole sequence ends, right?
C. S1E12 AND S2E3 CONNECTION AND THE RETURN TRIP THEORY
WinterGarden Kiss
Where the long sequence of WinterGarden scenes ends is where we will proceed with the third section of Part II. We'll start it with a kiss...and another kiss. Of course, by now we all know what they did here, right? S1E12 gives us the winter kiss and S2E3 gives us the garden kiss. Together, they form the WinteGarden kiss! Why is it significant? The connection gives us something to interpret through the lens of our Return Trip Theory. If you haven't read it yet and you want to, the article is also available in this blog. But while in the previous article, we focused on its implications on Gyeo-ul's character, we think that as a whole, it might provide a clue on the current trajectory of the WinterGarden story. How so?
Where are we really getting at with this? The Winter kiss marks the end to a period of avoidance and the Garden kiss marks the start to a period of commitment. There is contrast between the two kisses, yet they complete the WinterGarden kiss. It is both the end and the beginning. Now, with the train being symbolically placed in the frame during the Garden kiss, there are a lot of possible interpretations, but for this analysis, we will look at a possible reversal and borrow from our Return Trip Theory as reiterated below:
"Now, what do trains remind us of? They remind us of a line that goes from Point A to Point B. The route is basically a straight line, figuratively, because the starting station, the end station, and even the stations in between are predetermined. Why is it important to point this out? Because the writer uses the train as [representation] for what has been the WinterGarden journey so far, particularly in Season 1. And that journey is the map that we will be following for Season 2 [...] [Whereas Season 1 saw the WinterGarden follow the path from Point A to Point B,] We will now go from Point B to Point A, hinting at upcoming reversals."
What exactly are the possible implications? If we are going to attribute three train stations to Season 1 WinterGarden story, we suppose that they would be 1) Death (of Jeong-won's father), 2) Priesthood, and 3) Fake Proposal, and the end station which is the starting point of reversal is the WinterGarden kiss. There may still be other "stations" in between but we think that the three listed here are the most eventful. The death of Jeong-won's father is eventful because it is what reveals to us that he is a chaebol. Priesthood is important because it provided the main conflict. The fake proposal is significant as well because although Jeong-won was not really duped, it did provide a break from Jeong-won's cold disposition, and also because of the cupid connections.
To go back the similar path, this time from the end/starting station to Station 3 to Station 2 and then Station 1 and all the while reversing the events, it will signify that: the fake proposal will become a real proposal, priesthood will be reversed by marriage, and the death of a father will be contrasted by the birth of a new one. This is another way that we make sense of the train and the mention of a return trip in Episode 6, with the end and starting points of the journey being marked by the kisses while at the same time being welded together, so that the end and starting points are blurred.
PART III
OTHER INTERESTING DETAILS AND POSSIBLE SYMBOLISMS
Jeong-won's Hands on Gyeo-ul's Hair
Jeong-won has some kind of soft spot for Gyeo-ul's hair. We see him touch her hair in both Winter kiss and Garden kiss. Doesn't it remind you of a groom who unveils his bride? This action, especially before a kiss in these 2 scenes, definitely holds some meaning and not just a random act of cuteness.
White Clothes = Angel / Bride
We theorize that Gyeo-ul's white clothes in the Winter kiss depict her in two ways. She is Jeong-won's Angel who stops him from taking the wrong path.
She is also Jeong-won's bride.
White Car = Angel Sent from Heaven / Bride Ushered by Family to Her Groom
We make a similar case for the white car that drops off Gyeo-ul at the EC entrance. The scene depicts her in two ways. One, she is the Angel who stops Jeong-won from leaving the hospital. And second, she is his bride.
We say pay attention to vehicles in relation to WinterGarden because they each have a statement to make: Sold Car <> Gifted SUV; White Sedan Car <> SUV; train <> ambulance.
This is a longer read than all our other articles so we thank you for sticking around until the end. We hope it makes sense but if it doesn't and you have questions left in your mind, feel free to engage us in a discussion. We promised this article to you as the Reversed Gear Theory in Twitter, but we decided that it is best to address the pressing question directly instead of limiting the arguments under a fancy name.
Although people have commended us a lot for our theories, as of this writing, there's barely any evidence yet of us being correct with most of them and we have in fact committed some errors here and there. With that said, we are considerably confident about our prediction that WinterGarden will marry, especially since Hospital Playlist is a healing drama. Imagine if they suddenly give us a tragic WinterGarden ending in Season 2, that won't be healing at all. It will wound people. So Shin PD, be careful with our hearts please.
Still, take all this with a grain of salt, and let us know your thoughts through twitter or through the comments section below.
Happy Thirstday! Let's enjoy Episode 7 tonight!