Chapter 266
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 266
Chapter Title: Dissecting The Mirror
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From 0-Years-Old to Superstar Chapter 266
“Schizophrenia. You’ve probably heard of it, right? Symptoms of schizophrenia include delusions, hallucinations, and auditory hallucinations. Sufferers become obsessed with the fantasy that someone is trying to kill or monitor them. The problem is, most schizophrenic patients are not aware that they have a disease.”
-To think that was the beginning of *The Mirror*.
-I had a mental breakdown just reading it lol.
“First, let’s talk about the novel. The novel *The Mirror* is composed of three stories and a final story that connects them, making four parts in total. The protagonist is Jeong Chaewon. After watching the play, I thought Kim Jinwoo, the character played by actor Lee Seojun, was the protagonist, but he wasn’t.”
-That's why I was so surprised lol.
“The three stories unfold from Jeong Chaewon’s perspective, and the final story is told from the author’s point of view.”
-Jeong Chaewon…!
-To think you'd betray us like that ;;
“I never imagined the plot would take such a turn. I think I trusted Jeong Chaewon too much because she was the protagonist.”
-I know, right? Why didn't I ever think the protagonist was strange? lol.
-222 I think it's because the setting was a psychiatric hospital.
“The three stories told from Jeong Chaewon’s perspective are ordinary. They are very mundane tales of a psychiatrist, Jeong Chaewon, meeting three patients. The first patient had an eating disorder, the second patient, played by actor Lee Seojun, had a split personality, and the third patient had a personality disorder, a sociopath.”
-lol Reading the book, I thought being a psychiatrist must be so tough.
-Me too. But it wasn't like that, was it? haha.
-I can't believe the real patient was the protagonist, Jeong Chaewon!
-That twist hit me like a ton of bricks!
The Film Critic, fully empathizing with the viewers’ sentiments, nodded his head.
“Yes. The final episode. The three stories viewed from the author’s perspective were completely different.”
-Turns out, the patient was the doctor, and the doctor was the patient ;;
“Yes, that’s right. The three stories were actually about Jeong Chaewon’s visit to the first psychiatric hospital, her visit to the second, and her visit to the third. In the end, Jeong Chaewon’s true identity was revealed when she was finally admitted due to her violent tendencies.”
-The delusions were terrifying.
-And the hallucinations and auditory hallucinations ;;;
-If you reread the beginning after finishing the novel, you can see just how solid ‘Jeong Chaewon’s world’ is.
-Because that's her 'daily life'.
“The first patient with the eating disorder, or rather, the first doctor who treated Jeong Chaewon, collapses after drinking the tea she offers.”
-I was seriously shocked.
-And in Jeong Chaewon's world, that turned into a patient with an eating disorder who was vomiting ;;;
“As for the second doctor, Doctor Kim Jinwoo, played by actor Lee Seojun, I’ll explain in a bit. Let’s talk about the third doctor, the ‘sociopath’ patient.”
-Jeong Chaewon turned him into a patient with a personality disorder just because he wouldn't listen to her. ;;;
-Well, the first doctor was in big trouble after drinking what she gave him, and the second doctor had hot water thrown in his face. If it were me, I’d be cold too.
-Extreme job!
The Film Critic let out a hollow laugh as the viewers analyzed everything on their own, as always.
“Yes. Thanks to that doctor’s cool-headed judgment, Jeong Chaewon was finally admitted at the third hospital. The novel ends with the third doctor watching Jeong Chaewon’s back as she heads to the ward. It was a book with a chilling twist.”
-Seriously.
-I literally got goosebumps while reading it!
-Okay, now for the play!! The clues from the play!!
“Yes. Now, let’s talk about the play, ‘The Mirror.’ As I explained earlier, the play ‘The Mirror’ was adapted and directed by actor Lee Seojun himself. It’s the second story from the novel *The Mirror*. I’ll review the second story of *The Mirror* along with it.”
-What was with the nurse at the very beginning?
-Yeah. You couldn't hear her voice.
-This wasn't in the book. Did Seojun add it?
“Yes. It seems Seojun Lee added it to give the audience a sense of ‘dissonance,’ since just including the second story would end without connecting to the novel's twist.”
-True. If you only see the second story, it’s just a simple tale about a patient with a split personality.
-The twist made the novel and the play more interesting.
-What do you think, Film Critic?
“After watching the play and reading the novel repeatedly, I think I figured it out. It was probably the first psychiatric hospital or Jeong Chaewon’s family informing them of her visit.”
-Oh. So they were explaining about Jeong Chaewon.
-So that's why they played along with Jeong Chaewon, who thinks she's a 'psychiatrist'!
“Yes, that’s right. I didn’t realize it at first, but after reading the book, there were more than a few strange things. First, a patient who is already in the consultation room before the doctor arrives.”
-I really didn't think that was strange at all lol.
-I just figured he was already inside because it was a play lol.
-222 To think even that was part of the direction.
“It turns out this patient, Kim Jinwoo, was the real ‘doctor.’ It’s not strange for a doctor to be waiting alone in his office for a patient to arrive.”
-The pure white sweater too lol. It was probably supposed to be a doctor’s coat.
-At first, I thought he was the pure, real Jinwoo. I thought he wore white because he looked like an angel lol.
-That’s also a correct interpretation in ‘Jeong Chaewon’s world’ lol.
-The problem is that it’s all a hallucination lol.
“The patient, Jeong Chaewon, familiarly greets the nurse and enters the consultation room to put on a doctor’s coat. And the light blue striped shirt she wears. Doesn’t it look just like a patient’s gown?”
The Film Critic displayed a picture of Jeong Chaewon and an image of a patient’s gown on the monitor. There were slight differences, but they were similar.
-It seems that way now that I know, but if you don't know, it just looks like a pretty outfit.
-I don't think I can wear a light blue striped shirt anymore lol.
“And then, Jeong Chaewon and Kim Jinwoo talk. The ‘truth’ is probably that Doctor Kim Jinwoo is observing the nonsense Jeong Chaewon is spouting. And here, another noticeable prop appears.”
-[But do psychiatrists in Korea use stethoscopes?]
-222 I got chills when I saw this comment. Looking back, he really was wearing a stethoscope the whole time ;;;
-That was genuinely scary. It's not even a horror movie…!
“Yes. Now then, let's unravel the mystery of the stethoscope… no, the stethoscope clue.”
The Film Critic chuckled softly and continued.
“Why would a psychiatrist be wearing a stethoscope? It wouldn’t be strange to see a stethoscope with a white doctor’s coat, but if the doctor is a psychiatrist, it becomes strange.”
-I really didn't feel like anything was off at all ;;;
-But after reading the novel and the comments, my eyes are constantly drawn to it when I watch the play ;;;
“Like the nurse’s ‘inaudible voice’ earlier, the ‘stethoscope’ is another element that actor Lee Seojun added. It’s a clue that doesn’t exist in the novel, a visual foreshadowing that can only be used in a play. The stethoscope. This is the device that most clearly tells us that the world of the play is not reality. Once you notice the stethoscope, you start to question the doctor, the patient, and the play itself.”
-But why did no one notice?
“Because it’s familiar. A stethoscope with a white doctor’s coat. From children to adults, isn’t that the first image that comes to mind when you think of a doctor? If the play’s setting hadn’t been a psychiatric ward, it would have been the most ordinary attire.”
-Now all I see is the stethoscope lol.
-It's amazing how I didn't notice it even though it was hanging right there on his neck.
“Let’s put the stethoscope story aside for now and move on. What you need to know here is that Kim Jinwoo is the real doctor, and Jeong Chaewon is the patient.”
[Kim Jinwoo = Psychiatrist]
[Jeong Chaewon = Patient]
An explanation of the two appeared on the monitor.
“After Doctor Kim Jinwoo leaves, the nurse turns off the light. Jeong Chaewon remains in the hospital. I believe this signifies her admission. She was likely admitted for a day or two for observation.”
-Whoa…!
-I didn't know that ;;;
“Actor Lee Seojun did a fantastic job with the stage direction. I can’t say it enough. Since it was a school event, they probably couldn’t build an elaborate set for *The Mirror*. They likely made the most of a fixed set and scattered various clues like this.”
-Seojun…!
-Our Seojun!!
“Next, let’s look at the color of Doctor Kim Jinwoo’s clothes. In Jeong Chaewon’s world, it was seen as the encroachment of the fake Kim, but it probably signifies something else. From white to gray, and from gray to black. It could represent Doctor Kim Jinwoo’s condition, or it could represent patient Jeong Chaewon’s condition.”
-Whoa. So it was getting more and more serious!
-The worst-case scenario!
-Jeong Chaewon's symptoms are getting so severe that Doctor Kim Jinwoo can't handle her anymore!
“Yes. That’s why Doctor Kim Jinwoo, the nurse, and two other people appeared. In Jeong Chaewon’s world, they were another psychiatrist and a detective. But their real identities in the novel were different. They were people who came to transfer patient Jeong Chaewon to the third hospital.”
-This is how scary delusions are!
-Shocking ;;;
“It’s a frightening situation for Jeong Chaewon. Doctor Kim Jinwoo informs her about the transfer and introduces the two men. The two men move to take her away. Panicked, Jeong Chaewon struggles. Then, Doctor Kim Jinwoo gets hit by her hand, and Jeong Chaewon, acting like a doctor again, turns the two men into enemies.”
-Wow…….
-??? : Jinwoo! Are you okay?! Jinwoo! What do you think you're doing!
-Whoa.
“And despite his injury, Doctor Kim Jinwoo tries to make her understand, but in Jeong Chaewon’s world, he has already become a traitor. That sense of betrayal manifested externally as the second personality, the fake Kim.”
-So that’s why she threw the water!
“Yes. Gripped by fear, Jeong Chaewon throws the water from the teacup at Doctor Kim Jinwoo. And Doctor Kim Jinwoo screams from the hot tea.”
-The scream gave me chills.
-Seojun's acting was so good ;;
“And here, another ‘strangeness’ appears. There was one part of the nurse’s dialogue that stood out, wasn’t there?”
-Yeah, "Sir!"
-There was a subtle pause, like she wasn't just calling for "Doctor Jeong Chaewon!"
-It felt like a round speech bubble had suddenly turned into a square one.
-222 It was the only line that felt out of place.
“That was probably the nurse calling for ‘Doctor Kim Jinwoo.’ It was a sense of ‘dissonance’ you could only notice in a play, where you hear it with your ears, not read it with your eyes. The performance by Park Siyoung, the student who played the nurse, was excellent.”
-So that's why the nurse's voice sounded off!
-She wasn't calling for Jeong Chaewon, she was calling for the real doctor!
-Oh my god!
The Film Critic displayed a captured photo from the play on the monitor. It showed the nurse and the two men approaching Kim Jinwoo, who had collapsed after having tea thrown in his face.
“If you look closely here too, you can see they are surrounding ‘Doctor Kim Jinwoo’ as if to protect him, not ‘Jeong Chaewon.’ The man who had turned into a detective is constantly wary of Jeong Chaewon. I think this is another form of expression unique to a play, something difficult to convey in a novel.”
-It's really strange. When I first watched the play, I thought they were protecting Jeong Chaewon, but looking at it this way, it seems like they're on guard against her.
-222 To think he created it with all this in mind… amazing!
“And finally, the play ended with the two men trying to get Doctor Kim Jinwoo to the emergency room as quickly as possible, the patient who is stunned by the sudden change of events, and the nurse informing the third hospital of the patient’s aggressive behavior.”
-??? : Yes. Yes. Her aggressive tendencies are too strong. I think she needs to be admitted.
-…So the aggressive tendency the nurse was talking about was Jeong Chaewon, not the fake Kim.
-I was so sure she was talking about the fake Kim ;;;
-She threw a cup of tea at him right in front of them… but I never even considered it could be Jeong Chaewon.
“In this way, the play was filled with clues that connected to the novel. If you watch the play without reading the novel, you miss out on all these brilliant hints.”
-I need to watch it again.
-Now that I've seen the review, I have to rewatch the play!
-Film Critic! Was Kim Jinwoo constantly refusing to drink the tea also a clue?
-222 Jeong Chaewon keeps offering him tea, but the fake Kim doesn't drink it.
-Watching that reminded me of the myth of Persephone.
-Oh! The goddess who ate the food of the underworld and had to stay there for three months a year?
-Ooh. So if he drinks it, does he get trapped in Jeong Chaewon's world?
-Wouldn't he just die for real?
-That's in the book!
“Yes. As you’ll know if you read the novel, the doctor at the first psychiatric hospital collapsed after drinking the tea Jeong Chaewon gave him.”
-Did he die?
“He didn’t die. Doctor Kim Jinwoo, knowing this, refused to drink it.”
-After reading that, Jeong Chaewon constantly offering the tea became so creepy.
-Isn't that why Doctor Kim Jinwoo was trembling, too?
-! I think so!
“It was a fun and chilling play with twists until the very end. The synergy with the book made it even better. The actors’ performances were also excellent. It was an acting ability unthinkable for third-year middle school students.”
The Film Critic calmly continued.
“To Yang Juhee as Jeong Chaewon, Lee Seojun as Kim Jinwoo, Park Siyoung as the nurse, Kang Jaehan as Doctor Oh Jeonghwan, Jeon Seongmin as the detective, and to all the students of the *Mirror* team who prepared the music, background, and props. Thank you so much for showing us such a wonderful play.”
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