The new six-episode psychological thriller series on Netflix, Notes from the Last Row, makes tension its fundamental pillar. At the center of the plot is Heo Mun Oh (played by Choi Min Sik), a professor whose unhealthy obsession with the texts written by one of his students spirals out of control. But although the plot is rich in cinematic twists, it is a specific intimate scene in the season finale that has monopolized the audience’s attention, literally splitting the viewers in two.
Let’s analyze in detail why this single sequence is causing so much discussion in the community.
An age difference of as much as 30 years
The only real kiss in the drama happens in episode six, when Lee Kang (Choi Hyun Wook) and Jo Hyeon Suk (Jin Kyung) share an unexpected moment before spending the nite together. Immediately, the generational gap between the two actors in real life made fans gasp: Choi Hyun Wook was born in 2002, while Jin Kyung was born in 1972. Thirty exact years of difference. For part of the audience, such an imposing gap was disturbing and woodenly out of place on screen; for others, considering they are two adult and vaccinated actors, the criticisms on the web were definitely exaggerated.
The dynamic issues between the characters
It’s not just the actors’ identities that are causing a stir, but also the toxicity of the on-screen dynamic. Jo Hyeon Suk is indeed married to Heo Mun Oh — who is, coincidentally, Lee Kang’s professor — which turns the nite of passion into a blatant act of adultery. It must be said, however, that the show spends a lot of time showing how unhappy Hyeon Suk is after decades spent alongside a selfish and manipulative husband. Precisely because of this toxic background, a segment of viewers almost “cheered” for her rebellion, even if it meant crossing a decidedly heavy moral line by sleeping with her partner’s student.
What if it were all fake? The web theory
However, there is a macro-theory that is circulating insistently on social media: And what if that relationship never happened? Considering how the series loves to continuously play with the perception of reality, many fans are convinced that the scene is just the product of Heo Mun Oh’s delirious mind.
The clues scattered by the direction are, after all, there:
- First and foremost, Hyeon Suk openly accuses her husband of being delusional and making up stories out of thin air.
- Furthermore, the sequence is shot with the exact same cinematography and visual esthetic used in the early episodes for Mun Oh’s hallucinations while reading Lee Kang’s essays.
Considering how many times the professor’s theories have turned out to be wild goose chases throughout history, it is highly likely that the clandestine relationship existed only in his head.
Ultimately, the scene between Lee Kang and Jo Hyeon Suk remains undoubtedly the most polarizing element of the entire Korean production. Whether it was a brilliant narrative plot twist or mere shock value to get people talking, it entirely depends on how you choose to interpret the ending.
What do you think? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!
