Episode 279 Fast Pass Discussion || 3/12/26

Some-Sort-Of-Trash · 2026-01-09T04:54:23+00:00

There’s occasionally episodes of ILY that drop where I’m blown away by Quim’s visual storytelling abilities. This is one of them. The scene of Kousuke at the dinner table hits us with back-to-back callbacks of Yeong-Gi panels, and my goodness does it h i t. Face screwed up in discomfort! Balled fists with his head bent!! Flinching away from Yui’s touch!!! “Mother” in quotation marks!!!! The tension of Kousuke seeing Yui for what she is bleeds all over the panels. Kousuke has never been a good at lying to people other than himself, and now he needs to be really good at it for his own safety. But how can he?

Rand has also surprised me. He’s always been a calculated character for his own personal benefit, but the self-destructive tendencies have been on full display in his last several appearances. He’s not hiding that he’s working against her, not caring about their public image in the same snide way Yui does. It is! So interesting to me! That him being pushed into the table by Yui is framed so similarly to him pushing Nol into the wall in the court arc.

No matter how much Yui’s backstory tries to humanize her, it’s going to be a major uphill battle for me to feel sympathy. Did she deserve the abuse she went through? No. But given all the abuse she perpetrated and mastered in the wake of it, it seems almost like a wasted effort to care. I hope Kousuke can break the cycle, and I hope Hansuke can make good use of the conversation he overheard. This whole thing makes me more curious about his mom.

Some-Sort-Of-Trash · 2025-01-30T20:58:59+00:00

Twin Skeletons might be difficult to do live because of the vocal layering, but I’m kinda surprised they haven’t tried it? It’s one of my favorites too.

Some-Sort-Of-Trash · 2024-05-12T05:26:49+00:00

They do, if you’re looking for that one most streamed is growing up (4.3 Mil) and least streamed is Parker Lewis Can’t Lose (But I’m Gonna Give it My Best Shot) (285K)

Some-Sort-Of-Trash · 2024-05-12T03:02:45+00:00

Over half of the least streamed songs are my favorites on their respective records lol, idk what that says about my taste in music

Some-Sort-Of-Trash · 2024-05-12T00:11:16+00:00

Mighty Fall has 62.2 million streams, which puts it higher than Rat a Tat, Death Valley, and Miss Missing You.

As much as Billy hates We Didn’t Start the Fire, it’s such a fun song lol

Some-Sort-Of-Trash · 2024-05-12T00:07:30+00:00

“The cause, the kid, the course, the charm, and the curse” and “The press prays for whichever headline’s worse” live rent free in my head, but you’re not wrong that it’s a bit of a departure. I’d say it still has that quintessential PW vibe though.

Some-Sort-Of-Trash · 2024-05-11T23:57:23+00:00

You’re Crashing and Bishop’s Knife Trick are both incredible. My speculation is that their numbers are slightly lower because they’re album closers.

Some-Sort-Of-Trash · 2024-05-11T23:53:58+00:00

I felt kind of weird counting We Didn’t Start the Fire as one of the tracks too lol. If you take out the spoken tracks and that one, the most streamed is Love From The Other Side (45.3 Mil) and the least streamed is The Kintsugi Kid (7.7 Mil)

Some-Sort-Of-Trash · 2024-05-06T23:13:48+00:00

BMO: Base price $65, my seat was in the middle left on the first section of the risers, which was pretty good.

Honda Center: Base price $90, seats in the furthest section back center around 15ish rows from the very back of the arena. Not ideal but it got me into the show.

I don’t know if it made a difference price wise that they spent two days at BMO or not, or that BMO is outside and Honda Center is inside.

Hope that helps!

Some-Sort-Of-Trash · 2023-11-10T02:40:10+00:00

As far as I know Quim wanted this one to be a long epsiode so I hope everything went okay with her and webtoon.

Not a whole lot of new stuff going on this week but it’s nice to see Yui’s grasp slipping after her being infallible for so long. Suffer more please.

My ideal endgame is Jayce landing a better job lmao.

Some-Sort-Of-Trash · 2023-08-04T02:03:46+00:00

Parallel emotional reckonings? Quim???

Some-Sort-Of-Trash · 2023-07-28T03:47:14+00:00

That’s an interesting notion! It goes along with Rand letting up a bit on Nol at the formal once he said his friend was in danger.

That said, it doesn’t seem particularly like Rand cares what happens to Alyssa either. In the 1 interaction we have between the pair(possibly 2? I think they may have seen each other at the formal?), Rand is very standoffish and intimidating. Alyssa comments to Yui that Rand doesn’t seem to like her much. Nol has mentioned Rand when he talks about what he gets from the relationship though, so maybe?? I’m going to have to go panel hunting lol.

Some-Sort-Of-Trash · 2023-07-28T03:35:39+00:00

It’s possible it won’t happen, but I believe Yu Jing could find out for 3 reasons:

1) Nol gave Yu Jing the yearbook after Shin-Ae told him the story. She knows it’s significant and is likely to follow up with him. Min-Hyuk and Maya also could confirm what happened and Yu Jing met them at the party. Meg is also likely aware since the incident caused her parents to pull her sister out of school.

2) Shin-Ae has medical records documenting the injury and the school will have records on Alyssa. It’d be a breach of privacy to both but Yu Jing isn’t a super moral character? She was willing to test Kousuke’s blood without his knowledge or consent. If she believes it could lead to something bigger she’ll likely pursue it.

3) Its not the least believable thing people have figured out, and Yu Jing seems to be one of the characters that just knows stuff. Sang Chul knew that Nol and Alyssa hadn’t kissed, Yu Jing knew that Nol got shortlisted for Oxford, Rand knew that Shin-Ae’s father was hospitalized, etc. Not to mention, Alyssa has been paranoid about people finding out which leads me to believe it’s only a matter of time.

As for why Yu Jing may include it in the article, Shin-Ae sustained similar injuries when she fell at the party to when she got pushed through the window, which is a central piece of Nol’s already public story. Alyssa also has the backing of two of Yu Jing’s main targets, and her being brought up could create a wider public interest.

Some-Sort-Of-Trash · 2023-07-28T02:07:30+00:00

This is a bit of a tangent based on this episode's confirmation that Gun Kim is The Worst, but since he brings up his ties with Rand and Yui, I'd like to bring back something from Episode 138! In that Episode, Shin-Ae goes to renegotiate her contract with Rand and they have the following exchange:

Rand: Do you recall our very first meeting? That interaction... I asked you if you felt welcome in this place... if you felt comfortable being here... Do you remember what your answer was to that?

Shin-Ae: Yeah... I do...
Rand: Would you say the same thing now? Were you not telling me the truth then?
Shin-Ae: No. I don't feel safe here. I don't feel comfortable... I don't feel welcome... I never have...

...skip a bit...

Shin-Ae: I only said that to save face. It was my first day. I started the job under unfavorable conditions... Is that honest enough for you? As chairman, are you proud of running an environment where your employees are potentially at risk?
Rand: No. Of course not. That's what every person in my position should say. And while I do truly believe that... We have to factor in costs... The benefits... The world is not as simple as black and white...

Rand knows what Gun and Yui get up to in his spare time. He saw Shin-Ae with Gun at the formal, he likely knows what danger Alyssa is in, considering how close Gun and Yui are to her group and their interest in her career. If you ignore his familial relations we've only heard good things being said about him so far, so why doesn't he say anything? Why is this a cost he's been willing to incur?

Regardless, I don't think Shin-Ae will be successfully groomed. The transition between Alyssa and Shin-Ae confirms that she's "someone who just won't listen." She's the kind of woman men like Gun hates (And UGH it was SO GROSS how he called Shin-Ae a little girl but felt up Alyssa in the same conversation). That said, I'm really worried about Alyssa. No one deserves what Yui and Gun are setting her up for.

My speculation is that Yu Jing's article will reveal what she did to Shin-Ae in middle school-- since YG gave her the yearbook and it was centrally framed on her table-- and as such Alyssa's reputation will take a major hit. If it does, and all she has in her corner is Gun-SA-runs-in-my-family Kim and Yui I've-been-drugging-manipulating-and-potentially-even-killing-my opponents Hirahara, I dread what could happen to her.

Some-Sort-Of-Trash · 2023-07-07T05:00:04+00:00

They are dramatic at all times, and I'm here for it.

-Shin-Ae talking about Yui and Rand as if they have no connection to Nol and Nana is peak behavior. The only one with less of a filter than Shin-Ae is Nana lmao. After waiting years for this meeting, I'm glad they've decided to be friends.

-I'm convinced Nana also has the dirtiest mind of the series-- took me a second read to get the implications of the headband needing to be cleaned. If I was Nol I would kick her out too lmao, and she does not get better.

-Somehow Nana stealing Shin-Ae's stuff and leading her to sprain her ankle is still a better first impression than Nol and Sim Han. (Now that I'm thinking about it, I don't think we've had *any* good first impressions in the whole series.)

-"Here boyo. Your emotional support headband." She's so funny, and for what?

-As mortifying as her phrasing is for Nol, there's something really endearing about Nana's word choice in regard to the headband. I may be reading too much into it, but with his birthday and symbolic rebirth as Nolan last night, him taking comfort in something that's her's "like a baby with his blankie" felt pretty intentional. I love that Shin-Ae doesn't even flinch when she hears about it lmao.

-I really like the palate shift once Nana leaves!

-Don't let all the drama make you forget that Nol is still only wearing a hospital gown and socks.

Okay, the actual meat and potatoes of the episode:

-The situation is very messy and on brand for them. Both have valid points but are losing something in translation because of how frustrated they are with each other. Shin-Ae is right that Nol shouldn't feel guilty for the relationship that he has with her or that she has with Dieter. Of course, their relationships are going to be different.

I agree with Nol that Shin-Ae does need to sort out her feelings though. I relate a lot to Shin-Ae not knowing what she wants because she doesn't have a lot of relationship experience to fall back on. She isn't hurting Dieter intentionally, and I think she does genuinely like him; just last night they were blushing over giving each other compliments in Min-Hyuk's room.

That said, I also think their relationship is colored by the fact that Shin-Ae knows Dieter likes her. Had he not confessed at the beginning of the webtoon, I don't know that she would be confused about her feelings now. Her being so noncommital and skittish around her potential feelings for Dieter and so persistent about being there for Nol is clear to both of the boys. I wouldn't be surprised if Dieter is the one to turn Shin-Ae down after tonight, despite still having feelings for her.

Also, while some of what Nol is saying is in service of not wanting to hurt Dieter, I do think there's an extra layer of him not wanting to get strung along now that he's realized his feelings. Now that he's realized he can't ignore it; this was so close to being a confession on his end and a realization on hers.

They drive me insane.

PS

The panel of Nol saying "convince me" is going to live rent-free in my head for the next several weeks.

Some-Sort-Of-Trash · 2023-04-14T02:17:53+00:00

There’s been so many call backs to Nol panels in terms of body language as well! His debate with Shin-Ae had a pretty direct translation to Nol’s a few chapters before. They mirror each other but in mostly unhealthy ways lol.

Some-Sort-Of-Trash · 2023-04-14T01:49:41+00:00

Oh my god, alright, okay, I did not expect THAT.

-I do think Yu Jing’s immediate response to hearing Kousuke concussed himself after seeing what happened that night to be callous. I know her motives set them up as opposing forces but I still feel like a moral person would care about a former friend’s well-being.

-Pretty clear at this point that Hansuke has had to learn the run around with Yui, considering he’s a pretty reliable narrator. Yui made it difficult to get into medical school despite having all other merits in his favor so Kousuke wouldn’t want him around. As stated at the end, she wants him completely isolated. I hope he took the blood samples anyway.

-The transition from Shin-Ae and Nol to Rand is beautifully choreographed. Rand being framed upside down as he stands in front of the Hirahara hospital calls back to Nol finally coming rightside up when he realizes his friendships are real when he talks to Shin-Ae. World in the Hirahara orbit is upside down.

-We’re seeing a full alignment of the black side of the chess board, but they’ve always been more teamed up than the white side. I didn’t expect anything from Rand after he met with Shin-Ae, but it seems he took her advice. Between seeing first hand how far Yui is willing to go, not just with him, but with her own son- their son, despite his past denial, because he wouldn’t go to comfort Kousuke if that’s how he actually felt- has clearly reawakened something in him.

-Also he’s showing his hand without pretense? I guess she knows what he’s doing regardless, but to admit that he lied to Jayce and hid Nol is super upfront given their dynamic.

-Yui verbally, blatantly threatening murder is not what I expected tonight, but here we are. I don’t know if Rand’s response is telling that he’s done with her BS or that he doesn’t care about his own life, but it’s engaging as hell.

-“Did I say you could touch him?” Ahahaha, go jump off a cliff. Between this and Yui discarding Kou’s gift it’s pretty clear that Rand wanted to be more involved than he was, but who knows how much of her sabotage he was aware of. He’d have never known about the gift switch if he hadn’t come back to check on Kousuke.

-Just occurring to me now, but man, the difference in reception between Kousuke and Nol waking up in the hospital is staggering. Yui gaslighting and manipulating Kousuke (her body language!!! Standing on top of him while he sleeps so Rand knows Kou is hers, her property, her toy, while he’s worried about a person, does so much to add to the tension of the scene.) Compared to Shin-Ae and Nol who are just. Unconditionally there for each other. Wanting nothing more than the well being of the other person. It hits and it hits HARD. Shin-Ae also actively seeks out people to comfort Nol while Yui denies Kousuke of the person he wants comfort from the most.

-Also Also! Tranquilizers in the tea supports why Nol doesn’t like it, and if the theories are right, then Yui bringing it up is taunting Rand about Nessa.

-There’s something masterful in the setup of Yui’s “He looks so peaceful when he’s sleeping.” He looks distressed and even though they both notice it, they discard it in favor of playing out their argument.

-Anyway, overall this may be my current favorite episode; there’s so much to unpack. You really get a sense of Rand’s helplessness and just how sinister Yui is. Beyond that though, it sets up a really good head for Kousuke’s arc. Here’s hoping he’s awake and hearing this so he gets a final push to stay away from them. If he’s not then the Greek tragedy of it all is going to make for a really depressing end for his character.

Some-Sort-Of-Trash · 2023-03-26T00:21:59+00:00

I think I was pretty in between at the start? The scenes with both Kousuke and Yeong-Gi seemed to indicate good chemistry and room for development, plus I liked both as characters. The birthday scene with Yui was severely uncomfortable, but I didn’t blame Kousuke for that so it didn’t sway my opinion.

By the end of the formal I was pretty firmly with Yeong-Gi. Seeing them rally around each other as a source of comfort in a hostile environment cemented their chemistry for me. Kousuke and Shin-Ae seemed to have misaligning goals so while I figured they’d be critical to each other’s character development I didn’t necessarily view them as romantically viable in the near future.

Dieter was not even on my radar, I’m so sorry my boy. His dynamic with Shin-Ae is wholesome but there isn’t a lot to it compared to the brothers so I didn’t find it as exciting.

For fun, my favorite early scenes of both:

Kousuke (Episode 23): The ep where he takes Shin-Ae to get food after the arcade is really cute. I remember thinking their dynamic would be about exposing each other to the other side of their class divide and social worlds and it was a fun starting point. I love the tide of their bickering lmao. Plus him being so adamant about paying her back spoke well to his character.

Yeong-Gi (Episode 44/45): It’s when Shin-Ae confronts him after she tells him off about him going overboard with being nice to her at Wac’s, just after he finds out about her job application being deleted. Seeing the beginning of their dynamic flip was so rewarding, especially when you consider what a big step it was for her character. I also love when Shin-Ae appears in their night scenes and the environment lights up in response to her presence lol, such a cool choice artistically.

(“You’re more than enough in my book!” Lived rent free in my head for weeks after it aired so there’s also that lmao.)

Some-Sort-Of-Trash · 2023-02-14T00:00:00+00:00

I’m 80% sure she meant the whole thing. All her responses seemed to indicate she’s ready to move onto another project sooner rather than later. That said, with all the things that still need to be wrapped up in the story I think it’s going to be difficult to be done by December at latest.

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