Lisa, of BLACKPINK fame, recently released Rockstar, a J-hip-hop track produced and written by people from multiple nations. This raises the question: "Is BLACKPINK Lisa’s ‘Rockstar’ K-pop or T-pop?" (from The Korea Times by Dong Sun-hwa). Logically and ethically, the answer is simple: It is Thai-pop (T-pop). ## Understanding the X-pop Labels In my article, "What is the difference between P-pop and OPM?", I defined P-pop as: > P-pop, or _**P** inoy **Pop** ular music_, is all music composed _**or**_ performed by a Filipino. What is the difference between P-pop and OPM?, YourOnly.One This definition can be applied to other X-pop labels, such as J-pop, K-pop, M-pop, and T-pop. Therefore, > K-pop, or _**K** orean **Pop** ular music_, is all music composed _**or**_ performed by a Korean. and > Thai-pop / T-pop, or _**T** hai **Pop** ular music_, is all music composed _**or**_ performed by a Thai. By this standard, Lisa’s Rockstar is undeniably T-pop (Thai-pop). ## Addressing the comments > What a legend you are. A truly perfect K-pop idol. Is BLACKPINK Lisa’s ‘Rockstar’ K-pop or T-pop?, A YouTube user No one can argue that Lisa is a K-pop idol. > Lee Gyu-tag, a professor of cultural studies at George Mason University Korea, also believes that “Rockstar” is quite far from being T-pop. > > “Lisa is from Thailand, but she is predominantly recognized as a K-pop singer on the global stage,” Lee told The Korea Times, stressing that K-pop is not just about the nationalities of the singers. Is BLACKPINK Lisa’s ‘Rockstar’ K-pop or T-pop?, Lee Gyutag Lee Gyutag, a professor of cultural studies at George Mason University Korea, believes Rockstar is not T-pop because Lisa is predominantly recognized as a K-pop singer on the global stage. However, I disagree. Lisa’s work should not be disqualified as T-pop simply because she is recognized as a K-pop singer. > K-pop tunes also involve creators from different countries, but we still regard them as K-pop because it has other noteworthy characteristics such as business models, emphasis on music videos and the singers’ close interactions with their followers. In Lisa’s case, she neither announced she would give up her identity as a K-pop star nor changed the way of promoting her new offering. Is BLACKPINK Lisa’s ‘Rockstar’ K-pop or T-pop?, Lee Gyutag Again, I respectfully disagree with the esteemed professor. K-pop itself, or more accurately, the idol industry of K-pop, originated from the idol industry of J-pop. If we follow this logic, we could argue that the K-pop industry is simply an extension of J-pop. In addition, Lisa has not announced she would give up her K-pop identity, but that doesn’t mean her new song isn’t T-pop. Expecting artists to announce their transition between industries is unreasonable. Moreover, promotional methods do not define the genre. Using Lee Sooman’s method does not define an artist as automatically K-pop [only]. > “Rockstar” does not seem to contain the elements of Thai music, he added. Is BLACKPINK Lisa’s ‘Rockstar’ K-pop or T-pop?, Lee Gyutag This is subjective. What is Thai music? What defines a Thai music? Who should define what is Thai music and what Thai musical elements are? > “It is a hip-hop track, so musically speaking, it does not appear to be Thai style,” he explained. “Its lyrics are mostly written in English as well … If Lisa, who already has an identity as a K-pop singer, craves a change in her career, I think she should come up with completely different music with more Thai elements, such as Thai lyrics.” Is BLACKPINK Lisa’s ‘Rockstar’ K-pop or T-pop?, Lee Gyutag Hip-hop is not exclusive to K-pop. Thai hip-hop has existed since 1985, predating the K-pop idol formula and industry. Meanwhile, the Philippines is well-established as the first (1980) hip-hop music scene in Asia, 1 a decade before hip-hop entered the K-pop scene, and two decades before the K-pop idol industry was born. Language should also not be used to determine a song’s identity. There were and will be K-pop songs predominantly written in English, yet they remain K-pop. Similarly, there are countless of Filipino music written in English yet are still officially considered OPM (Original Pilipino Music). > “SB19 defines itself as a Philippine pop (P-pop) group and sings a lot in its language,” he said. “But on a global scale, even a group like this often falls into the category of K-pop. This shows that it is not a walk in the park to build a new identity.” Is BLACKPINK Lisa’s ‘Rockstar’ K-pop or T-pop?, Lee Gyutag Categorizing SB19 as K-pop despite their Filipino lyrics only proves that language isn’t a definitive factor. What about Bini? Is Bini K-pop or P-pop? > However, Kim Jin-woo, head researcher at Circle Chart, which collates data to rank music releases, believes that “Rockstar” is more closely associated with T-pop. Is BLACKPINK Lisa’s ‘Rockstar’ K-pop or T-pop?, Kim Jin-woo I totally agree. > “At the crux of K-pop is its own system of training idols, creating music videos and making songs through ‘songwriting camps’ that bring together composers from around the world,” Kim said. “If we use this system as a yardstick to define K-pop, we can get a much clearer picture. In Lisa’s case, although she did receive K-pop training at YG Entertainment as a member of BLACKPINK, that’s about it. That is why I think her new solo release is not K-pop.” Is BLACKPINK Lisa’s ‘Rockstar’ K-pop or T-pop?, Kim Jin-woo Absolutely. ## Conclusion Here’s what we learned: 1. People naturally identify with their origins first. 2. It is unusual for artists to announce their transition between industries. 3. The language of a song does not determine its category. 4. Music genres are not exclusive to one country. 5. Music is a universal language. It transcends labels like K-pop, Thai-Pop, J-pop, M-pop, P-pop. Here are the key takeaways: > P-pop, or _**P** inoy **Pop** ular music_, is all music composed _**or**_ performed by a Filipino. What is the difference between P-pop and OPM?, YourOnly.One > Thai-pop / T-pop, or _**T** hai **Pop** ular music_, is all music composed _**or**_ performed by a Thai. > K-pop, or _**K** orean **Pop** ular music_, is all music composed _**or**_ performed by a Korean. Lisa’s Rockstar is undeniably Thai-pop (T-pop). * * * * Note: "T-pop" can mean "Taiwanese-pop" or "Thai-pop"; just as "M-pop" can mean "Malaysian-pop" or "Mandarin-pop" ("Mando-pop"). * * * ・ Cover image: The cover image used in this article is Copyrighted to Lloud. * * * 1. Global Oneness: Music of the Philippines ↩︎

Uncover the hidden gem in a K-drama disguised by its title the Missing Crown Prince. Follow the poignant romance between the Queen Dowager and her secret lover, and see why this series stands out for its unique narrative and captivating acting. ## Story ### A mistitled drama Despite its title, the story isn’t about the Missing Crown Prince (Kim Junmyeon). He was missing for just about five episodes. ### Main or support characters? Officially, three young actors are billed as the main characters, but they are actually supporting characters. The true leads are the two actors listed as supporting roles, namely: Myeong Sebin as Taebi Minssi; and Kim Joheon as Choe Sangrok. ### A tragic love story The narrative centres on the tragic romance between the Taebi Minssi and her ex-betrothed turned secret lover, Choe Sangrok. Their relationship drives the emotional core of the series. The love story of I Geon and Choe Myeongyun was straightforward and clearly secondary from the start. ## Performance The acting is impressive, particularly from the actual main actors—Myeong Sebin and Kim Joheon—showcasing their veteran skills. The younger actors—Hong Yeji and Kim Junmyeon—also performed well, learning from their senior counterparts and creating great on-screen synergy. ## Verdict If you catch the early hints that the show isn’t about the Missing Crown Prince, it deserves a perfect 10 stars. This series demands the right mindset to be truly appreciated and rated accurately. ## Official trailer **[1차 티저] MBN 주말 미니시리즈 ＜세자가 사라졌다＞ l 흔적도 없이 사라진 세자.. 과연 어디로..? MBN 240413 방송** _왕세자가 세자빈이 될 여인에게 보쌈을 당하며 벌어지는, 두 청춘 남녀의 파란만장 대환장 끝장 도주기를 다룬 조선판 로맨틱 코미디! MBN 주말 미니시리즈 ＜세자가 사라졌다＞ 4월 13일 토요일 밤 9시 40분 첫 방송_ The work shown above is Copyrighted to MBN Entertainment. **[2차 티저] MBN 주말 미니시리즈 ＜세자가 사라졌다＞ l 세자가 실종되는 전대미문의 사건! MBN 240413 방송** _세자가 실종되는 전대미문의 사건!? 위기에 빠진 세자와 왕실의 운명. 과연 그는 살아서 돌아올 수 있을 것인가..! MBN 주말 미니시리즈 ＜세자가 사라졌다＞ 4월 13일 토요일 밤 9시 40분 첫 방송_ The work shown above is Copyrighted to MBN Entertainment. **[3차 티저] MBN 주말 미니시리즈 ＜세자가 사라졌다＞ l 실종된 세자, 엇갈린 세 사람의 운명! MBN 240413 방송** _실종된 세자, 엇갈린 세 사람의 운명! 돌아온 세자가 마주한 진실은 과연..? MBN 주말 미니시리즈 ＜세자가 사라졌다＞ 4월 13일 토요일 밤 9시 40분 첫 방송_ The work shown above is Copyrighted to MBN Entertainment. **세자빈에게 보쌈 당한 왕세자의 운명은..? MBN 주말 미니시리즈 ＜세자가 사라졌다＞ 5분 하이라이트 MBN 240413 방송** _숨겨진 비밀, 사라진 세자! 휘몰아치는 운명의 소용돌이, 그 결말은? MBN 주말 미니시리즈 ＜세자가 사라졌다＞ 4월 13일 토요일 밤 9시 40분 첫 방송_ The work shown above is Copyrighted to MBN Entertainment. * * * ・ Cover image: The cover image used in this article is Copyrighted to MBN Entertainment.

I recently began watching the Tagalog-dubbed version of Do You Like Brahms? (브람스를 좋아하세요?) on Viu OTT after missing its original 2020 airing due to the deep pain caused by the end of my 15-year relationship. As I watch the series now, I find it surprisingly painful. Apart from the intricate relationships depicted in the show, I’m captivated by the exceptional performances of Park Eun Bin (박은빈) and Kim Min Jae (김민재). In my opinion, this is the first time Kim Min Jae (김민재) seems perfectly matched with his on-screen partner, and in this case it’s Park Eun Bin (박은빈), to the point where I envision them being a perfect couple in real life. While the show’s storyline reminds me of my recent breakup, it’s not just the narrative that stirs my emotions; it’s the underlying pain within it. Even though I’ve moved on, memories can still be haunting when there’s nothing to replace them. Moreover, the pain experienced by the main male character, portrayed by Kim Min Jae (김민재), in his relationship with his mother resonates deeply with me. My own mother is currently ill, and the financial struggle to afford her necessary medical treatment leaves me feeling helpless and despondent. She has sacrificed so much to raise us and overcome various family challenges. Balancing my personal happiness and responsibilities towards her well-being becomes a profound dilemma. Regardless of the challenges, disagreements, and ups and downs one may have with their parents, especially their mother, witnessing them endure hardships and illness is an unbearable burden. Though difficult to express, this sentiment runs deep within us. I find a connection with Kim Min Jae (김민재)’s character, not one-to-one, but in the underlying essence of his struggle. While Do You Like Brahms? (브람스를 좋아하세요?) primarily focuses on romantic relationships, it also touches on the love within families—how we navigate our connections with our parents and the impact it has on our personal lives. It compels us to contemplate whether our lives should solely revolve around our individual aspirations or also extend to supporting the parents who raised us. In summary, Do You Like Brahms? (브람스를 좋아하세요?) is a compelling drama that delves into the complexities of human relationships, both romantic and familial, resonating with viewers on profound emotional levels. **DO YOU LIKE BRAHMS? Trailer | Kim Min Jae, Park Eun Bin | Now on Viu** _Watch Kim Min Jae and Park Eun Bin in Do You Like Brahms? with with english subs on Viu._ The work shown above is Copyrighted to Viu Singapore. * * * ・ Cover image: The cover image used in this article is Copyrighted to SBS.

If you’re feeling confused about the ending of Pandora: Beneath the Paradise (판도라: 조작된 낙원), don’t worry, you’re not alone. Let’s delve deeper into the story and see if we can make sense of it together. _**From this point: SPOILER warning**_ ## Recap of the ending scenes In one of the final scenes, we sa Pyo Jae Hyun (표재현) take his own life, having come to the realisation that living a life not of his choosing was unbearable. Perhaps he was consumed by regret or too prideful to admit defeat. A few years later, in Switzerland, Jang Gyo Jin (장교진) arrived at Hong Tae Ra (홍태라)’s home ahead of the others. As he was changing to fresh clothes, it was revealedd that Gyo Jin had the sasme distinctive lightning marks as Jae Hyun. The camera then pans to hiss face, and it was the face of Jae Hyun. ## Seven possible explanations ### Option #1: Identity Switch In the scene where Jae Hyun wakes up, it initially appears that he simply left after attempting to attack Gyo Jin. However, it’s plausible that Jae Hyun returned and launched a surprise attack on Gyo Jin, who was attempting to wake up his mother. Jae Hyun used this opportunity to implant false memories and new commands in Gyo Jin’s mind. There is also a possibility that Gyo Jin was in the process of creating a new face to conceal his burned skin. Jae Hyun saw it, and created his own face which he then placed on the unconscious Gyo Jin. When Jang Do Jin (장도진) arrived later, the person sitting there was actually Jae Hyun wearing the face of Gyo Jin. Also noticed how Gyo Jin’s mother was supposedly taken by her assistant and was never heard from again? It might be posssible Jae Hyun hid her body and told a fake story toDo Jin. ### Option #2: Early programming This option takes us back to when Gyo Jin was first brought into Hatch’s laboratory. It is possible that Jae Hyun implanted commands into Gyo Jin’s brain, which would only be triggered by specific words spoken by Jae Hyun. Jae Hyun was established as a character who was always several steps ahead of everyone else, making him a formidable opponent. It is quite possible then, that when he woke up in Gyo Jin’s hideout, he spoke the trigger words which caused the false memories and new commands he had implanted to take hold of Gyo Jin mind. ### Option #3: Hong Tae Ra never woke up It is possible that Hong Tae Ra (홍태라) is still asleep and dreaming, much like ho they trapped Jae Hyun in an endless dream. However, this could only have occurred when Tae Ra was first captured. In this scenario, everything we witnessed from that episode until the last was simply the dreams she was having, as the story was from Tae Ra vantage point. ### Option #4: They were all implanted by a chip Unbeknownst to them, all of them had been implanted with a chip by Jae Hyun at some point. This chip allowed him to manipulate their memories, issue commands, and even alter their perception of people’s faces. Similar to the previous possibile twists, the person who committed suicide was actually Gyo Jin, who had been reprogrammed by Jae Hyun. The rest of them at the scene were only seeing an illusion of Jae Hyun’s face. Years later, Jae Hyun visited Tae Ra at her home in Switzerland, and the sight of his lightning scars caused Tae Ra’s memories to correct itself, revealing Jae Hyun’s true identity. ### Option #5: Jang Gyo Jin is the real mastermind In this scenario, Gyo Jin has been assuming the identity of Jae Hyun by using implanted chips to manipulate people’s memories, appearance, and actions. He went as far as to murder Tae Ra fake sister and was struck by lightning as a result. When Tae Ra later saw the lightning marks on Gyo Jin’s back, it triggered the false face that was implanted in her mind, causing her to perceive Gyo Jin as Jae Hyun once again. While the chip was supposedly already removed, both true and false memories are already a part of her. ### Option #6: Hong Tae Ra is a test subject The entire story of Pandora: Beneath the Paradise (판도라: 조작된 낙원) appeared to be a collection of memories or a dream by test subject Hong Tae Ra (홍태라). In the final scene where Tae Ra saw the lightning marks, it was only a programming designed to test how the human brain would react to something unexplainable. ### Option #7: Hong Tae Ra was in a virtual world Have you watched the movie “Total Recall”? It is possible that Tae Ra was simply playing a game, testing a military technology, or even on a vacation here she chose to play the role of a former assassin. Perhaps Tae Ra was simply experiencing her own version of a memory implant or a simulated reality. ## In closing Personally, I am not a fan of dream-like endings, but this story employs advanced technology to make it possible. The ending is definitive, and there are no alternate versions. The character who committed suicide stays dead. What we are left wondering is what actually transpired between the firsst scene of episode 1 and the final scene of episode 16. We may never know the answer, but it is worth noting that the literal translation of the Korean title is Pandora: A Fabricated Paradise which itself provides us with hints. 1. Hong Tae Ra (홍태라) embodies the modern version of Pandora. 2. Pandora’s box represents the chip and mind manipulation technologies used in the show. 3. The show’s depiction of the horrific consequences that arise from opening Pandora’s box highlights the potential for such technologies to be abused to control people. 4. The notion of a fabricated paradise suggests that Hong Tae Ra (홍태라)’s life was a fabrication. If this last item is the case, then it is highly likely that either Option #6 or Option #7 represents what actually occurred. What do you think? Which scenario likely actually occurred? Or, maybe, you have a different idea? * * * ・ Cover image: The cover image used in this article is Copyrighted to tvN.

Duty After School recently concluded and it received a lot of negative feedback due to the way the live-action adaptation ended the series. But, are you aware that there are potential alternate endings to Duty After School? DikshaG went through five different alternate endings. 1. The Webtoon ending I haven’t read the webtoon, in the original ending, most of the main characters survived instead of the brutal and senseless ending the live-adaptation presented. 2. It’s all a dream This is an ending which was hinted by the adaptation, an one that truly hate in any live-action fiction. I mean, why waste the audience’s time when it was all nothing but a dream? This route only works in novels. 3. Gook Yeong Soo’s suicide 4. The War Continues 5. Killed by the Spheres The other three potential endings? I invite you over to read "Duty After School: Exploring Alternate Endings for the Heart-Wrenching K-Drama" by DikshaG. You would probably pick one of those three other potential endings. * * * ・ Cover image: The cover image used in this article is Copyrighted to TVING.

Taxi Driver (모범택시) revolves around a group of people who are dissatisfied with the justice system and take on cases that have been ignored or overlooked by the authorities. They help ordinary people who have been left behind by the law. Taxi Driver (모범택시) features a star-studded cast, including Lee Je Hoon (이제훈) as Kim do Gi (김도기), Pyo Ye Jin (표예진) as Ahn Go Eun (안고은), and Kim Eui Sung (김의성) as Jang Sung Chul (장성철). Alongside them are regular and familiar actors such as Jang Hyuk Jin (장혁진) as Choi Kyung Goo (최경구) and Bae Yoo Ram (배유람) as 박진언 (Park Jin Eon). ## Synopsis Despite disbanding after Kim do Gi (김도기)’s successful revenge, the Rainbow Deluxe Taxi (레인보우 디럭스 택시) crew, including Jang Sung Chul (장성철), Ahn Go Eun (안고은), Choi Kyung Goo (최경구), and Park Jin Eon (박진언), can’t resist the call to reunite with their former leader. Though each attempts to live a regular life with a typical job, their innate desire to fight against injustice draws them back to one another. 1 Now fighting for more clients than ever before, the crew continues to battle on behalf of those wronged by an unequal society. However, their work draws the attention of a mysterious organisation. As they try to uncover the organisation’s identity and motives, the Rainbow Deluxe Taxi (레인보우 디럭스 택시) crew faces their toughest challenge yet. 1 ## Story The narrative structure of Season 2 took on a more ‘serial’ approach, featuring an overarching storyline that developed with each episode leading to the finale. This was a shift from Season 1’s episodic structure, where each episode or two were standalone stories with little connection to an overarching plot. This change in storytelling style left many viewers feeling conflicted about Season 2 during its first four episodes, as they had come in with expectations based on the previous season. However, the season ultimately proved to be a success, with each individual case presented in a way that could stand alone as a captivating story, while still maintaining a common thread that tied everything together. In Season 2, just as in the previous season, many of the cases presented were inspired by real-life events in South Korea. However, the showrunners masterfully wove the fictionalized overarching storyline into these cases, creating a beautifully seamless blend of reality and fiction. ## A true standalone sequel Season 2 of Taxi Driver (모범택시) is a self-contained story that can be enjoyed by both new and returning viewers. Any references to the previous season were used sparingly as flashbacks to add depth to the characters and enrich the drama. It’s like watching a new show where some references to the past are used to help viewers understand the characters and their motivations. ## Performance The actors in Taxi Driver (모범택시) Season 2 delivered superb performances, demonstrating the same level of skill and commitment to their roles as in Season 1. Their acting was neither underwhelming nor over-the-top, striking a perfect balance that kept viewers engaged and invested in the story. While there is always pressure to surpass the previous season, this can sometimes lead to overacting. However, the actors in Season 2 avoided this trap and remained true to their characters, bringing them to life with nuance and depth. Season 2 is more focused on the story arc than the individual characters, but the actors still managed to give their roles with the necessary emotions and complexity to make the show a success. Overall, their performances were outstanding, contributing to the overall quality of the show. ## Production Similar to the actors, the production team behind Taxi Driver (모범택시) Season 2 maintained the same level of quality and consistency as in Season 1. This decision to maintain a similar level of production was a wise one, as it ensured that Season 2 remained on par with the previous season. Rather than attempting to introduce new elements for the sake of being different or innovative, the production team focused on delivering the same high-quality visuals, sound, and overall presentation that made Season 1 such a success. As a result, Season 2 of Taxi Driver (모범택시) was able to stand on its own as a powerful and engaging season, while still staying true to the look and feel of the franchise. It allowed the show to build on the success of the first season while still offering something fresh and new for audiences to enjoy. ## Verdict Taxi Driver (모범택시) is an outstanding season deserving nine (9) out of ten (10) stars. It was thoroughly enjoyable, and I am eagerly looking forward to Seasons 3 and 4! Did I mention that there is a potential for a spin-off? One possible spin-off could be an eight-episode prequel, exploring the story of Ms. Driver, the first Deluxe Taxi driver. ## Official trailer **[Trailer 2] Viu Original, Taxi Driver 2** _Are those wedding bells that we will hear this season between Lee Je Hoon and Pyo Ye Jin or is it just part of their disguise?_ The work shown above is Copyrighted to Viu Singapore. * * * ・ Cover image: The cover image used in this article is Copyrighted to Viu Singapore. * * * 1. Edited by CK Warrior from MyDramaList, based on Viu. ↩︎ ↩︎

The Last of Us premiered on HBO Max this week. This new TV series is an adaptation of a game of the same name developed by Naughty Dog. It is rare to see a good live-action adaptation of a game franchise. Produced and written by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, I can say that The Last of Us is counted in those rare adaptations. 1 ## Synopsis In 2003, a fungal virus that turns its victims bloodthirsty and infects those they attack sparks a global pandemic. Joel (played by actor Pedro Pascal) flees with his daughter as the virus starts to spread, but was killed by a soldier. Twenty years later, the fungal virus has ravaged the world, and Joel was tasked with escorting the teenage Ellie (played by actress Bella Ramsey) across a post-apocalyptic United States. ## Episode 01 Review * **Part 1: 1968** It was a very good introduction. Straightforward. It saved the show from explaining it later. I do not know if this was how it went in the original material, if not, it was a good decision to get it out of the way. * **Part 2: 2003** This is the part that I wish they spent more time on. They could have built deeper the daughter-dad relationship, and their relationship with their neighbours. It was lacking in this area. I did not feel anything when his daughter died. The Koreans are good at this, they could take a tip or two from them. The devastation and destruction were also limited. If all hell was breaking loose, I want to feel and see that. The urgency. The fear. Adrenalin kicking in. Survival instincts playing a major role. But, okay, it was 2003, the population were not yet into zombies, so everyone’s reactions were “he’s gone crazy”. If the outbreak happened in 2023, the reaction would be different. * **Part 3: 2023** Too much time was spent on this. It could’ve been shorter, since they are going to leave the Boston QZ (quarantine zone) anyway, and it is the typical post-apocalyptic QZ. The time gained from it could have been used for Part 2 (see above feedback). Since I have not played the game, it would be interesting to see aerial shots. How big was the QZ? What’s the surrounding area look like? It does not have to be grand, just there to help the audience immerse in this post-apocalyptic 2023. ## Verdict Overall, it was a good premiere episode. 1. It set the tone of the series. 2. It explained the important details, like what was the underlying cause of the outbreak. 3. Introduced the main and support characters, and what kind of persons they are. HBO Max only ordered ten episodes for Season 1. The three points I mentioned are key into keeping the focus of this season on the main plot. I love it, 8 out of 10 stars! Now, where is episode 02? ## Official trailer **The Last of Us | Official Trailer | HBO Max** _The official The Last Of Us trailer is here. From the Emmy award-winning creator of Chernobyl and the creator of the acclaimed video game, the new HBO Original series premieres Jan 15 on hbomax._ The work shown above is Copyrighted to HBO Max. * * * ・ Cover image: The cover image used in this article is Copyrighted to HBO Max. * * * 1. Wikipedia: The Last of Us (TV series) ↩︎

Happy Gregorian New Year 2023! Another year has gone by in the Gregorian Calendar, 2022. Here is a list of some of the articles which were popular (and still are). ## OPM, P-pop, and Idols * "What is the difference between P-pop and OPM?" > P-pop, or _**P** inoy **Pop** ular music_, encompasses all music composed or performed by a Filipino. It is not the successor to OPM. It is not a subgenre of OPM. P-pop is simply another term for the entirety of Pinoy music regardless if the music is mainstream, indie, underground, from Filipinos abroad, or was performed by a foreigner. OPM versus Ppop, I’M YourOnly.One > If P-pop is all music composed or performed by a Filipino, OPM is an _**Original** Pilipino Music_ composed by a Filipino. We can say that all OPM are P-pop but not all P-pop are OPM. A music composition or performance by a Filipino is P-pop, but for a music to be considered OPM it must be composed by a Filipino. OPM versus Ppop, I’M YourOnly.One * "All P-pop are idols, not" Are the labels P-pop and Idols the same? No, not at all. In this article, we dived into these two terminologies and clearly defined P-pop and Idols. * "P-pop idols, when did it all start?" The trillion-₱eso questions: When did the P-pop Idol industry actually started? And who was the first P-pop idol? ## Autism * "What is autism acceptance?" It started with _autism awareness_ , and then _autism acceptance_. But what exactly is _autism acceptance_? Are the people around us, autistics, have truly accepted us, or only tolerating us? * "Autistics on «Extraordinary Attorney Woo»" Extraordinary Attorney Woo (이상한 변호사 우영우) was generally received by real-life autistic persons. The show and the team, in particular the lead actor Park Eun Bin (박은빈), positive reactions from both autistics and neurotypicals. I am autistic myself and my opinions about the show only represents my own, this prompted me to contact autistic people and asked them some questions about the show and autism. * "Whale couple Filipino memes" Funny and witty Filipino memes about the Whale Couple from Extraordinary Attorney Woo (이상한 변호사 우영우). ## Explained * "(Updated) «All Of Us Are Dead» explained" There were a lot of questions about this popular series. In this _explained_ article, I tried to answer each question and explained why it was so. * "(Updated) «Grid (그리드)» explained" This Disney+ series gained a lot of attention in Korea and overseas. As with any complex time travel stories, most of its audience were confused. In this _explained_ article, I answered and explained each and every question from an **in-universe** perspective. * "«Reborn Rich» (2022) explained" Confused about the ending of Reborn Rich (재벌집 막내아들)? Who was Yoon Hyun Woo (윤현우) and Jin Do Jun (진도준) exactly? Are they one person or two? Were there two timelines or only one? But Yoon Hyun Woo (윤현우) said he did not time travel, right? * "What is in the name, Le Sserafim?" HYBE and Source Music first teased about their new girl group with their motto "IM Fearless" on March 25, 2022. On March 28, 2022, they revealed that their motto is an anagram of the group’s name: Le Sserafim. But, what is Le Sserafim? ## And cool ones * "«The Law Cafe» episode 4: Child Abuse" Episode 04 of this show tackled the issue of child abuse. They did not shy away from showing the truth and the intense pain a child goes through from abusive adults. * "Bioman, Maskman, & Shaider full theme songs in Tagalog" Tagalog theme songs are not easy to find. In this blog post, there are six Tagalog theme songs from three tokusatsu series. Check it out! * "Most coherent list of K-pop generations" A more logical approach on defining the generations of K-pop. * * * ・ Cover image: 2023 Happy New Year by Vector4Free is licensed under Standard License.

Have you recently finished watching Disney Plus’s Grid (그리드)? Confused? Worry not! In this article, I answered as many questions as I know the answers to and explained the reasons behind it. Just remember, Grid (그리드) is a soft sci-fi show. A soft science fiction concerns itself on soft or social sciences (psychology, sociology), which means, there should be no expectations on any explanation of the show’s hard sciences. This is where this article comes in, as fans of the show, we will explain those which were not touched on the story. ## Guidelines Before we begin we need to be on the same page on how to approach the questions and how to find the answers. 1. **Approach from an in-universe perspective.** We need to think as someone who lives in the world of the characters. We need to unlock what was in the author’s mind. 2. Remember these two important rules in creative writing / fiction: * **Show, don’t tell.** If the storytelling style is to tell then we are reading a scientific paper or watching a documentary. We need to watch to find the answers. * **If a scene will not move the story forward, delete it.** An experienced writer makes sure every scene is important to the story. This means that we can not assume that some scenes were insignificant. All scenes are important and a potential clue. 3. **Everything shown is canon.** We can not dismiss something shown as false. If an information was included in the show then it is official. 4. **The story is about Kwon Saeha / Kim Saeha.** The vantage point of the story is from the perspective of Saeha. All time is relative to him. The plot is relative to him. 5. **There is only one timeline/universe.** Forget about the _many-worlds interpretation_ (MWI), or more commonly known as _multiple timelines_ and _parallel universes_. There is only one timeline and one universe in the Grid (그리드). ### Temporal Mechanics 1. **Static Theory of Spacetime**. "Time is like space, and there is no such thing as the passage of time" 1, or as explained in Grid (그리드) "time does not flow". All possibilities in all times simultaneously exist. * **Growing Block Universe Theory**. All possibilities in the past and the present simultaneously exist, and the future is yet to be. Both the past and the present are simply **now**. What we perceive as the past is as much as what we call the present. There is only **now** and the future—which is yet to be. I originally chose the Block Universe Theory because the Ghost exists and she is from the future, it did not make sense from a Growing Block Universe Theory standpoint—where the future is yet to be. However, after @jenss, from MyDramaList, pointed out that Saeha said he can not go to a time beyond his origin point, it suddenly all fitted together. Add Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity, and voila, perfect fit—the future that is yet to be is relative to the origin time of the time traveler. * **Spacetime is relative.** As explained by Albert Einstein in his Special Theory of Relativity, time (or more accurately, spacetime) is relative to the observer or the person. 2. **Time travelers can not travel beyond their origin and relative times.** This is the result of rule number 1. This is a very important rule which we will encounter later. * **Travel beyond one’s origin time is not possible.** This is because the world of Grid (그리드) is based on the Growing Block Universe Theory. The future is yet to come into existence. * **Travel beyond one’s relative time is not possible.** This is because of both the Growing Block Universe Theory and Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity. It does not matter if the traveler is in the past (relative to their origin time), from their relative time (as an observer) the future is yet to come into existence. 3. **Person replacement.** If time travelers enter a time period where there is a native or earlier version of themselves, they replace it. The best example was in episode 07 when the Captured Ghost saved Saeha and Saebyeok from the door explosion (2021-10-10). She returned them back to 2021-10-08 and both Saeha and Saebyeok replaced their versions on that day. * 2021-10-08 First Version (episode 04) * Saeha was on the corridor of the Secretariat talking to Saebyeok on the phone. * Saebyeok visited the construction site where Kim Manok last worked and was talking to Saeha on the phone. * 2021-10-08 Second Version (episode 07) * Saeha was on the ground with a bloodied face and clothes. * Saebyeok was on the ground with her gun. Saeha’s return was also captured in CCTV which Director Choi reviewed. In one frame, Saeha was standing talking on his phone. In the next frame, Saeha was on the floor. * **Age matters.** When time travelers enter a time period where there is a younger or older version of themselves, they do not replace it. A good example is in episode 08 when Saeha traveled to the year 2000 and talked to his 9-year-old self. No doubt it applies to teenage and senior versions. There are no clues available to determine the age gap. * **Proximity applies.** When time travelers enter a time period in a location far from their native or earlier version, they will not replace it. An example of this was when the Founder/Ghost appeared in the Institute of Radio Research from 12:02:00–12:05:59 UTC (21:02:00–21:05:59 KST). Yet at that same time, she was captured on CCTV in the USA, Australia, and Spain. See At a glance: The Ghost for a list of times. 4. **Time period replacement.** When time travelers enter a time period, it is instantly replaced by the version of their time incursion. The earlier version no longer exist. There is no better example than what Saeha noticed himself in 1997-05-18. 1997-05-18 First Version * This is original version where the Grid never existed and time travel was not yet developed. 1997-05-18 Second Version * This is the first time a time traveler entered this time period and installed the Grid. It was not the Ghost who did it since she does not exist yet at this point. * Doctor Kwon Sukeun * was killed for his ID; or * he was accidentally killed because he tried to stop the time traveler. * Lee Janghyeok (janitor) * saw Doctor Kwon’s body, entered Lab 1 to call 119, saw the first time traveler and confronted him/her, which led to his death; or * entered Lab 1 because of the noise, saw Doctor Kwon’s dead body, and the time traveler had to kill him. * These chain of events led to the birth of the Ghost. 1997-05-18 Third Version (episode 03 IRR CCTV) * This is the version where the Ghost was the one who installed the Grid. * This is also the version shown in the first CCTV footage of this day. * Doctor Kwon was killed for his ID (scar at the back of his neck). * Lee Janghyeok was killed by the Ghost before he left the Institute of Radio Research (IRR). 1997-05-18 Fourth Version * This is the first time Saeha traveled to 1997. * Doctor Kwon Sukeun was killed for his ID (hit at the back of his neck with the device). * Lee Janghyeok saw his body, entered Lab 1 to call 119, saw the Ghost, and confronted her, which led to his death. * When the Ghost picked up her time device, she felt the existence of another time traveler. Before she was able to act, Saeha reset time. 1997-05-18 Fifth Version * This is Saeha’s first attempt to change the events of 1997. * Saeha stole Doctor Kwon’s ID. * The Ghost appeared but Doctor Kwon was not where she expected him to be. * The door of Lab 1 opened. The Ghost was taken aback. * Saeha was standing and handed her Doctor Kwon’s ID. * The Ghost does not know Saeha yet. * The Ghost stopped installing the Grid because of Saeha’s accusations and dramatic speech. * The Ghost started feeling very weak. * The moment Lee Janghyeok (janitor; and stepfather of Kim Manok) stepped outside the IRR building, the Ghost was erased from existence. * It is time critical to finish the Grid within a time frame (this is the reason why the Ghost was in various labs around the world). Since this failed, the Grid program failed entirely. * We will call this the “Fifth Version Reality” or “1997 No Grid Reality”. 1997-05-18 Sixth Version * After witnessing the world without the Grid, Saeha returned to 1997-05-18. * He stole the coat lab of Doctor Kwon (with the ID). * Doctor Kwon still went to Lab 1. * Saeha finished the Grid within the required time frame. * Doctor Kwon saw him and fought him. * Saeha accidentally killed his own father. * Lee Janghyeok saw them and ran. 1997-05-18 Seventh Version * After chasing the Ghost throughout 2021 to confront her about the murders and how to change the events, Saeha returned to 1997-05-18 again. * Saeha observed as the events unfold. * Saeha noticed the events unfolded differently (CCTV timestamp: 21:02:48). * The Ghost pulled the body of Doctor Kwon inside Lab 1. * Lee Janghyeok left his room, together with Kim Manok, far earlier than he should have. * Saeha entered Lab 1 and saw the Ghost getting weaker. * Saeha made the connection and intervened by teleporting in front of Janghyeok and Manok (CCTV timestamp: 21:05:37) * Having delayed Lee Janghyeok, the Ghost was able to finish the Grid and teleport to the lobby but Janghyeok hit her with a fire extinguisher. (CCTV timestamp: 21:05:44) * The inaction of Saeha made the Ghost grow weaker again. The possibility for Janghyeok and Manok to leave the building started to increase. * Saeha teleported (CCTV timestamp: 21:05:53) and appeared in front of Janghyeok (CCTV timestamp: 21:05:54) * Saeha was about to kill him but hesitated. * Since Janghyeok and Manok leaving is no longer a probability, the Ghost recovered and teleported (CCTV timestamp: 21:05:58) and appeared (CCTV timestamp: 21:05:59) behind Janghyeok and killed him herself. * Saeha returned to Lab 1. * Saeha was tempted to try saving his father. * The Security Guard, Han Wihan, saw Saeha in front of the window in Lab 1. * Han Wihan ran to Lab 1, upon entering, he was assaulted by the Ghost. * Saeha stopped her from killing him. * This is the first time the 1997 Ghost knew who Saeha is. Later, they had a conversion in Lab 1 where she said, "We’ve repeated this dozens of times to find another way." * This Seventh Version of 1997-05-18 is the Reality from this point onwards (latter part of episode 8 to episode 10). From Saeha’s observation, it was established that whenever a time traveler enters a time period they do not belong into, their incursion version replaces the earlier version. The earlier version is gone forever. In a way, it is similar to the idea in other time travel fiction: the moment time travel is invented and used, it will erase the original reality where the technology was not yet developed. Once opened, it can never be closed. 5. **Time travel device.** The time travel device can only be controlled by a person with a chip implanted in their arm. The chip is the bridge between a person’s brain and the device. **Grid (그리드)** _The Ghost’s time travel device_ The work shown above is Copyrighted to Disney Plus. If the device is used as a blunt weapon, it will electrocute a person from inside out. A very strong output will result in combustion of the target. The device can also be used to create a localised timeshield around the user and another person. This allows the user to revert time for a specific person. However, it appears to be limited and consumes a lot of energy. (episode 10) 6. **Fixed point in time.** A fixed point in time is a trope wherein an event, or a moment, will always happen. A fixed point can be changed but with dire consequences beyond anyone can ever calculate. Examples are the deaths of Doctor Kwon Suk Eun (father of Saeha), Lee Janghyeok (janitor; stepfather of Kim Manok), and Kwon Saeha / Kim Saeha. ### Realities Since there is only one timeline and one universe in the Grid (그리드), we will not use the terms _[alternate] timelines_ and _parallel worlds_ , instead, we will use: _realities_. * **Pre-travel Reality.** This is the reality before Saeha became a time traveler. (episodes 01 to 06) * **1997 No Grid Reality** / **Fifth Version Reality.** This is the reality based on the 1997-05-18 Fifth Version (see Temporal Mechanics #4: Time period replacement) where Saeha distracted the Ghost which prevented her from finishing the Grid, and to be erased from existence. (episode 07) * **MIW (mother-is-well) Reality.** Based on the Seventh Version of 1997-05-18 (see Temporal Mechanics #4: Time period replacement) and the simple change Saeha did in the year 2000 which saved her mother from her depression. (episode 08) * **Door Explosion Reality.** This reality is based on MIW (mother-is-well) Reality but only refers to the time period from 2021-10-08 to 2021-10-10. In this Reality, Director Choi was shot by a friendly fire and Song Eojin died because of the door explosion set by the Major of the Special Investigation Bureau. (latter part of episode 08) * **Post-Captured Ghost Reality.** This reality is the replacement version of the time beginning on 2021-10-08; after the Captured Ghost saved Saeha and Jung Saebyeok from the door explosion. (episodes 09 and 10) In this reality, there are two versions of 2021-10-09. * **2021-10-09 First Version.** (episode 10) * The Ghost blocked the side mirror view of Saebyeok while Manok escaped. * Saeha was stabbed by Manok. * **2021-10-09 Second Version.** (episode 10) * Saebyeok saw Manok escaping through her side mirror and chased him. * The Ghost and the Foe Blue Time Traveler fought. * Saeha was hit by Manok, with a blunt instrument, when he protected Saebyeok. * Saebyeok shot Manok in defense. Realities and versions are technically the same. _Reality_ is used to refer to changes affecting multiple time periods; while _version_ only refers to a single day. ## Kwon Saeha / Kim Saeha ### At a glance: Saeha * 1997: Saeha was 6 years old * 2000: Saeha was 9 years old * 2005-06 when the solar wind hit Earth directly * Saeha was 14. * Saeha’s mother was working at a factory (episode 01) * 2021: Saeha was 30 in 2021. ### FAQ: Saeha Did Saeha die? 100% did not. Here are the reasons why: **Grid (그리드)** _Saeha dies_ The work shown above is Copyrighted to Disney Plus. 1. In episode 10 Saeha said, "I don’t know why but I couldn’t move past the point in time where I came from." 2. The existence of Storehouse Saeha in 2022. If it is not possible to visit the future beyond a time traveler’s origin time, the Storehouse Saeha in 2022 should not exist if he died on 2021-10-09. The Ghost, herself, is another clue. **Grid (그리드)** _The Ghost remembering Saeha_ The work shown above is Copyrighted to Disney Plus. * When the Ghost returned to the crime scene she intentionally stepped on a pool of blood as if it was nothing. * While she herself admitted that she does not care what happens to them, because they are her distant past, her emotions throughout the series tells otherwise. * They did try to find another way. If she truly does not care, she would not even bother, as she herself said, "I can always turn back time." * When the Friendly Blue Time Traveler was about to do something to the dying Saeha, the Ghost tried to stop him. The Ghost does care, and she is as human as any of us. She stepped on the pool of blood because she knew it was fake! She visited the crime scene as a closure and as proof to herself that there is always another way—they just have to find it. Originally, my interpretation was Saeha traveled with the Ghost before he returned the device and then died on 2021-10-09. Why did the Ghost not know there is a way if she can travel to the future? To borrow her own words, she tried _dozens of times_ , to change fixed points but found no other way. She gave up. As far as she is aware, Saeha will die sometime in 2021-10 by the hands of Manok. It did not occur to her that events that should happen will still happen as long as Saeha was recorded to have died. The Friendly Blue Time Traveler figured this out and put things into action to create a new reality. How did the Friendly Blue Time Traveler saved Saeha? Here is how it happened: **Grid (그리드)** _The Ghost versus Foe Blue Time Traveler_ The work shown above is Copyrighted to Disney Plus. 1. The Friendly Blue Time Traveler bumped Manok to remove the tracker. He needs him to hide. 2. He then observed if his plan to position Saeha and Manok in an area of his choosing worked. It did. Saeha was stabbed by Manok. 3. When the Ghost was standing on an open field, sad and surrendered, the Friendly Blue Time Traveler froze time and reversed it back. 4. The Ghost was caught unawares because nothing like it ever happened in her previous attempts to change the fixed point. 5. Because the Ghost was not in position to block Saebyeok’s side mirror view, she saw Manok escaping and chased him. 6. Similar to the 2021-10-09 First Version, Saeha stopped at the location where Manok was hiding, only this time with Saebyeok. 7. Manok was instead enraged against Saebyeok and decided to kill her. The Ghost intervened. * The Ghost struggled to stop Manok. * Time is juggling between two conflicting possibilities * the Ghost is erased * the Ghost still is This was similar to the incident in 1997-05-18 Seventh Version. Because there was another time traveler (Saeha), anything can happen. This time the traveler who was to be erased was the one who intervened. * She was can not decide how much she should intervene. 8. When the Ghost decided to stop Manok, the Foe Blue Time Traveler attacked her. He looked up. He probably saw the Grid flickers. * Whenever something happens that may put the existence of the Grid in jeopardy, the Grid flickers. This is why they looked up, even the Ghost did it several times. * This was also in episode 02. When Manok stole the salary of a worker, the Ghost reversed time. But he still stole the money repeatedly, the Ghost teleported the envelope back to the owner’s pocket instead. This was not a useless, random scene, it means something. * Later in the episode, Eojin said, "I saw the Grid breaking again on our way back." * Stealing the salary of that man changed the path of Manok. The Grid did not disappear instantly because the Ghost was watching, time is juggling between two possibilities. 9. The Ghost was enraged, she chased the Foe Blue Time Traveler. The Foe Blue Time Traveler tried to lose her. When the Ghost got better with her strategy, the Foe Blue Time Traveler had no choice but to confront her. 10. The Foe Blue Time Traveler was on the defense. He even dropped his device to make her think twice. 11. The Ghost returned to the scene. Standing on her left is the Friendly Blue Time Traveler. They both watched as Saeha slowly dies. She looked up and watched the Grid gets restored. 12. The Friendly Blue Time Traveler and the Ghost teleported to Saeha. 13. The Ghost tried to stopped the Friendly Blue Time Traveler, and he said in English, "It’s not me. Can’t you see it?" while looking down at his device. * He was telling her that his device is of a different model than the one who attacked her. 14. The Friendly Blue Time Traveler created a localised timeshield around him and Saeha. At first he almost failed (clue: Saeha’s blood flowed again) because Jung Saebyeok was holding Saeha and his timeshield did not include her. 15. The Ghost noticed this so she created a timeshield with Jung Saebyeok in it. Once Saebyeok moved, the Ghost pulled her to herself—maybe to align her at the same state as her (notice that they do not touch the frozen person outside the timeshield but she did inside). 16. The Friendly Blue Time Traveler was then able to completely place the timeshield around Saeha. Based on what the Ghost did with Saebyeok, the Friendly Blue Time Traveler probably switched Saeha’s body with a faux one (or someone else did since he is maintaining his timeshield). 17. Afterwards both time travelers left. Possibly to save Saeha because he was about to breath his last. What is the relation of Saeha’s death to the Ghost and the Grid? His death, by the hands of Kim Manok, is the catalyst for these important events: 1. Former husband and wife, Jung Saebyeok and Song Eojin, comforted each other and slept together. Nine months later, sometime in July 2022, Byeori was born. 2. Director Choi Seonwool’s reputation increased and she got more authority. Her department, the Secretariat, received a major increase in funding and much needed personnel. 3. As South Korea realized there is more than one time traveler, they increased their support for the Administration Bureau and their time travel R&D.; The country became even more powerful. This question was asked by @Gizmobear on MyDramaList. Is not the death of Saeha meaningless since the Grid was destroyed anyway? It is a case of "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few". Saeha saw what a world without the Grid is. Two-thirds of the world population died and many more suffer from various degenerative diseases caused by the solar wind radiation. He also found Jung Saebyeok with an irreparable damage on her face and her vocal chords. This was what broke his heart the most. Saeha made a choice to die because they found no other way to alter events without erasing the Grid from existence. He had no idea he would be saved by another time traveler. Who is the Storehouse Saeha? He is the Saeha the Friendly Blue Time Traveler saved. However, he can not reveal himself, otherwise they would risk changing recorded history. **Grid (그리드)** _Saeha in a storehouse in 2022_ The work shown above is Copyrighted to Disney Plus. As explained in "Did Saeha die?", it is not possible for Storehouse Saeha to be Saeha before he returned the time travel device. The Storehouse Saeha is in 2022, it is not possible for 2021 Saeha to travel to 2022. ## Kim Manok / Lee Siwon ### At a glance: Manok / Siwon * 1992: Manok was adopted by Lee Janghyeok (janitor) when he was only one year old. * Lee Janghyeok registered him as Lee Siwon. * 1997: Manok was 5 years old. * 1997-05-18: His father was murdered. * The Nature Orphanage re-registered him as Kim Manok because he was not speaking and they can not find information about him at the time (1997). * 2021: Manok was 29. ### FAQ: Manok / Siwon Why did the Ghost kill Kim Manok’s father? Because Kim Manok would not become a loose cannon. For Manok to become unstable, he needs to witness the brutal murder of his father. They need a crazy Manok who will end up killing Saeha in 2021-10-09. It is a case of "the end justifies the means". Is Kim Manok the ancestor of the Ghost? I highly doubt it. While Kim Manok does have a 13% DNA match with the Ghost, and they both have the rarest blood type which is cis-AB, it is not enough as proof that he is the Ghost’s direct ancestor. This tells us that he is a distant relative of the Ghost. The highest possibility of their blood relation is Manok is the Ghost’s paternal great grand uncle (baseline relatedness of 12.5%). 2 There is a possibility that Kim Manok have a sibling from his original family. This question was asked by @Bai Ying Hua on MyDramaList. Then why did the Ghost protect him? Because Kim Manok should be the one to murder Saeha. This is the only way for events, mentioned in "What is the relation of Saeha’s death to the Ghost and the Grid?", to happen. ## The Ghost **Grid (그리드)** _The Ghost versus Foe Blue Time Traveler_ The work shown above is Copyrighted to Disney Plus. ### At a glance: The Ghost * 1997-05-18: CCTV footages in seven laboratories around the world The Ghost appeared in the first six labs in sequence. But when she appeared in the IRR, she overlapped her presence in the USA, Australia, and Spain. (see Temporal Mechanics #3.b: Proximity) * DEU: 11:58:22–11:58:31 UTC (13:58:22–13:58:31 CEST) * RUS: 11:58:32–11:58:33 UTC (15:58:32–15:58:33 MSD) * HKG: 12:01:24–12:01:26 UTC (20:01:24–20:01:26 HKT) * USA: 12:04:11–12:04:13 UTC (08:04:11–08:04:13 EDT) * AUS: 12:04:59–12:05:01 UTC (22:04:59–22:05:01 AEST) * ESP: 12:05:21–12:05:24 UTC (14:05:21–14:05:24 CEST) * KOR (Seventh Version) * 12:02:00–12:05:59 UTC (21:02:00–21:05:59 KST) * reappeared in IRR Lab 1 to have a conversation with Saeha * 2091: The Ghost was born. * She is the Founder of the Grid beginning on 1997-05-18 Third Version. ### FAQ: The Ghost If Kim Manok is not a direct ancestor of the Ghost, then who is? My suspicion is Assemblyman Kim Hanseok of the Democratic Union Party that the Ghost saved from a bribery scandal. This was in episode 02. * The date was 2021-10-06. * The Ghost was eating a lot of cakes. * She checked her phone and saw a news article from 2022-06-19 11:50. * She became worried briefly but went back to enjoying her cakes. * She jumped forward in time to 2022-06-18 23:00 and stole the briefcase with the bribe money. * She went back to 2021-10-07 and checked-in at an expensive hotel. * She also bought a new phone which alarmed with a message: You have a scheduled task to do in ten hours (episode 03 train chase which will happen in the evening). Remember Guidelines #2.b and #3? An experienced writer will not include a scene which serves no purpose in the story; and everything shown is canon. This short subplot is a good example. Kim Hanseok and Kim Manok sharing the same family name is a coincidence. _Kim_ is the number one most common surname in South Korea. If they are long-lost brothers, it is Kim Manok’s fate to be given the name Kim. (And may be a clue hidden by the writer.) What is the origin year of the Ghost? This was not revealed. However, if the Ghost is the same age as the actress, then she came from 2131. Is there more than one Ghost? There is only one Ghost, great granddaughter of Jung Saebyeok and granddaughter of Byeori. The label Ghost was coined by the Administration Bureau, in particular by Director Choi’s Secretariat department. It only refers to the Ghost played by actress, Lee Siyoung. If all time travelers are _ghosts_ , then the answer is yes, but not _the Ghost_. Maybe there is a Ghost from another timeline or parallel universe? This is only possible if the show did not establish that it is based on the Static Theory of Spacetime. Since the show established that "time does not flow" and later gave more clues that the show is specifically based on the Growing Block Universe theory, it is not possible for alternate timelines and parallel universes to exist. There can only be one timeline and one universe. To borrow from Highlander: "There Can Be Only One!" Why did the Ghost appear in various labs around the world? More likely for computing power. Since the Grid was installed in 1997, there was still not enough computing power to handle the Grid code and its compilation. Installing the Grid later than 1997 would not give Earth a chance to deploy it properly. Installing it earlier would mean an even more primitive system. If one laboratory already had the computing power needed to run the entire Grid software, then there is no need to install it in various laborities. In the end, in 2005, the Grid system was located in one place. This was why sometime in the latter half of 2022, only the AB and IRR buildings were attacked to bring down the entire Grid network. This is a very good example of why a decentralised, distributed, federated, and open network is better than a centralised and closed network (or monopoly). The only way to bring down a DDFON-based system is by exploding an EMP on the entire world. Why was the Ghost’s DNA better and even thanked Saeha? The most probable is Saeha probably gave the Ghost a medicine to her DNA problem (the knowledge came from the 1997 No Grid Reality). This question was asked by @Zainaaa08 on MyDramaList. ## The Blue Time Traveler ### FAQ: The Blue Time Traveler Who is the Blue Time Traveler? Good question! Unfortunately there is no way to know who is the Blue Time Traveler. However, there are two of them! 1. Friendly Blue Time Traveler * He was the one who bumped into Manok to remove the tracker. * He was the one who saved Saeha. * His time device is slimmer and pointed. **Grid (그리드)** _Time travel device of the Friendly Blue Time Traveler_ The work shown above is Copyrighted to Disney Plus. 2. Foe Blue Time Traveler * He was the one who attacked the Ghost. * His time device is wider and rounded **Grid (그리드)** _Time travel device of the Foe Blue Time Traveler_ The work shown above is Copyrighted to Disney Plus. **Grid (그리드)** _Time travel device of the Foe Blue Time Traveler_ The work shown above is Copyrighted to Disney Plus. **Grid (그리드)** _Time travel device of the Foe Blue Time Traveler_ The work shown above is Copyrighted to Disney Plus. Maybe they are twins or clones or one is an earlier version of the other. Regardless, what matters at this point is the Foe Blue Time Traveler is not the same as the Friendly Blue Time Traveler. As the Friendly Blue Time Traveler said in English, "It’s not me. Can’t you see it?" while he was pointing with his eyes to look at his time device (he was also aware someone who looked exactly like him fought her). Upon realising this, the Ghost let him do what he was about to. **Grid (그리드)** _It’s not me. Can’t you see it?_ The work shown above is Copyrighted to Disney Plus. ## Administration Bureau ### At a glance: Administration Bureau * Formed after the 1997-05-18 Institute of Radio Research (IRR) incident. * Composed of two departments: * The Grid Control Team. Led by Director Jo Heung Shik * The Secretariat. Led by Director Choi Seonwool since formation. * Destroyed sometime in the latter half of 2022 (possibly in October). ### FAQ: Administration Bureau What does the Administration Bureau want with the Ghost? The Administration Bureau wants to steal the time travel technology used by the Ghost since it is far advanced than the one they are developing. They believe in helping mankind as well as to propel South Korea to be leaps ahead of everyone. This question was asked by @LydiaDaniel on MyDramaList. ## Others ### At a glance * Song Eojin * 1997: 9 years old. * 2021: 33 years old. * Jung Saebyeok * 2005-06: Was on her Physical Education class on the school field when the solar wind hit. * In the 1997 No Grid Reality, she became a librarian. Her face and vocal cords were damaged. * 2021 story: started on 2021-10-05 and ended on 2021-10-10 ### FAQ How come Eojin said it was Saebyeok who told him the name of her daughter? Two possible answers. 1. Future Saebyeok traveled back in time and talked to 2022 Eojin to pick up the 2022 Saebyeok. 2. Future Saebyeok talked to Future Eojin to travel back in time to pick up the 2022 Saebyeok. In both instances, Future Saebyeok probably revealed to him that her daughter is his and her name is Byeori. This convinced him since a newly born is in danger, his daughter at that. This question was asked by @Eliza M on MyDramaList. In the end, the Grid was still destroyed. The Grid that was destroyed is in 2022, not the 1997 Grid. **Grid (그리드)** _Institute of Radio Research destroyed from space in 2022_ The work shown above is Copyrighted to Disney Plus. In episode 10, the IRR and the AB buildings were destroyed by an attack from outer space. The AB did not exist yet in 1997. In addition, if they did destroy the 1997 Grid, the faction which destroyed it would not benefit from the 1997 No Grid Reality. What do you mean by "faction" and "would not benefit"? In episode 10, it was revealed that there is a group or faction watching over the events and the time travelers. The scene where a man and his assistant were talking is one such faction. (They seem to be in outer space.) It is not possible to determine if they are for or against the Grid. Regardless, the message of that scene was to reveal there are groups who are changing events, either for the benefit of the people or for the benefit of their own pockets. In other words, whoever destroyed the Grid in 2022, they need the 1997 Grid to exist. Consider the following: * In the 1997 No Grid Reality, the number one R&D; and pharmaceutical company in the world was owned by Saeha’s parents. Which in turn means South Korea is the leading nation on Earth. Whoever destroyed the Grid in 2022, it is to their benefit that the 1997 Grid exists where Saeha’s family did not build an R&D; empire. * In the MIW Reality, South Korea forced the other labs to keep their mouths shut about South Korea’s claim that Saeha’s father was the brain behind the Grid. They showed the other nations and labs the footage of two time travelers who killed a janitor, making them believe that South Korea have time travel capabilities. World superpowers no doubt loathed South Korea because of it and triggered a race to develop time travel. In Star Trek terminoloy, there is a temporal [cold] war. Who were the two men guarding the body of the Ghost in a white room? The man who appears to be the subordinate could be the Friendly Blue Time Traveler or the Foe Blue Time Traveler since it was played by the same actor. It is also possible it is a different character altogether, the actor probably played three characters. He made this report to who appears to be his superior, "The Grid is all gone. From all the times and layers." **Grid (그리드)** _An unknown faction with a body of the Ghost_ The work shown above is Copyrighted to Disney Plus. His superior replied in English, "You never know." Which he followed up with, in Korean, "No one knows. Is there really an end?" Like his subordinate, this man is also an unknown. In the room with them is what appears to be the [dead] body of the Ghost. If there is no Grid in the Ghost’s time, should she not exist at all? Correct. However, the Grid that was destroyed was in late 2022 not the 1997 Grid. As long as the 1997 Grid exists, and Saeha died at the hands of Manok on 2021-10, the Ghost’s mother and herself will be born. What happens after that, like the destruction of the Grid in 2022, is of no consequence to her existence. It could very well be the reason why she decided to become a time traveler … to find a way to stop the destruction of the Grid in 2022 or to setup backups those who are against it are not aware of. However, before she can concentrate on her main objective, she had to make sure she exists because Saeha was trying to change two fixed points in time. All of them, including those who are against the existence of the Grid (from 2022 onwards), would not exist if Saeha will have his way. This is why the Ghost told Saeha, "Don’t try to change anything", and "You’re the one ruining everything. Stay out of this." This question was asked by @LydiaDaniel on MyDramaList. If in the 1997 No Grid Reality the Ghost was never born, how did the Grid exist? The first Grid Founder, whoever that person was. Even without the Grid there is always a possibility that time travel technology will be developed in the far future. They would no doubt be very eager to unlock the secrets of time travel especially when two-thirds of the global population were wiped out and the remaining are suffering from degenerative diseases. Temporal Mechanics #4 stated that a time period is replaced whenever a time traveler enters that time. The earlier version no longer exist, and even if one stops the time traveler from traveling, the original version of time will never return. It will only be replaced by yet another version. This was explained in "Temporal Mechanics #4: Time period replacement". Who is the father of Byeori? The clue in episode 10 points to Song Eojin. Is Byeori the mother of the Ghost? Maybe, maybe not. Since the Ghost said she was born in 2091, Byeori would be 69 years old by then. **Grid (그리드)** _The Grid destroyed in 2022_ The work shown above is Copyrighted to Disney Plus. However, the Grid was destroyed sometime the latter half of 2022. Between 2022 and 2091, Earth was hit by another solar wind (as confirmed by the 1997 Ghost). The traditional way of having babies is probably not advisable due to the radiation, and the damage in their DNAs. Because of it In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) is probably very common to ensure babies will develop without the risk of radiation exposure. Or, through surrogacy from healthy mothers living inside protected domes. This would make it possible for anyone to have a healthy baby regardless of age. That considered, Byeori may be the Ghost’s mother after all. Especially after the scene wherein the Ghost carried Byeori on her arms. (Daughter taking care of her baby mother? Yeah, time travel! That is lovely and sweet too.) What did they mean by "layers" in episode 10? A very good question! This one requires a lengthy explanation. In the Block Universe and Growing Block Universe theories a reality or the universe is viewed as one giant block (or cube if you will). * Think of a cube. That cube is the entirety of reality or the universe. * Add dots from Point A to Point B horizontally until it is filled. * Looking at it, there are now lines of dots horizontally (Y axis), vertically (Z axis), and across (X axis). * The X axis is the length of the cube. In space dimension, it means moving forward and backward in space, like riding a car. * The Y axis is the width. In spatial dimension, it means moving left and right, as one wold sidestep to the left or right. * The Z axis is the height. In spatial dimension, it means moving up and down, like when flying or riding an elevator. If this is applied in the time dimension, what does it mean? * The X axis, or length, in time dimension means moving forward or backward in time. To put it another way: traveling to one’s relative future or past. * The Y axis, or width, means moving left and right in time. In the many-worlds interpretation of spacetime, this is moving to alternate timelines or parallel universes. In the Static Theory of Spacetime, unfortunately I can not think of an analogy (if you can, do share in the comments below). * The Z axis, or height, is moving up and down in time. Let’s discuss this further. The Z axis, or height, or moving up and down, is what I call "planes of existence". This is what the layers in Grid (그리드) was referring to. It can be best described as what we see glimpses of. In the space/spatial dimension it can be explained in this way: * You and me, we exist in our own layer or plane of existence. * Paradise exist on a layer on top of our own. * Damnation exist on a layer below our own. Stories about seeing ghosts, souls, monsters, and other fantastical creatures, are glimpses of another layer or plane of existence. They are moving around us but we normally do not see them just as they should not normally see us. (Although in most fiction, they do see us.) How this is applied in the time dimension, as the Grid (그리드) used it, and within the context of the Static Theory of Spacetime, is beyond me. Simply put, there is a layer of time on top of and below of another layer. When the assistant said, "The Grid is all gone. From all the times and layers", it means the Grid was destroyed in 2022 in all possible times, in all possible layers or planes of existence. Another way of saying it is: the Grid was destroyed in 2022 in all of spacetime. Maybe the way Grid (그리드) used it is as a reference to the different realities. If this is the case, then this particular faction found a way to access realities which should no longer exist. This question was asked by @Bai Ying Hua on MyDramaList. They measured Saeha and the result was 106 something, what is it? It is microtesla (µT). A microtesla is an SI unit of magnetic flux density equal to 10-6 teslas. 3 Okay, I do not know what it means either. Basically, microtesla is a unit of measurement used for magnetic fields. Grid (그리드) was correct that a human being should only have a very low—0.3 or less—microtesla reading. Humans who live near high-tension power poles usually have a reading of 0.4 µT. 4 If one is very near, or under power lines, magnetic fields is around 20 µT. 5 For a human being to produce over 100 µT meant they were exposed to extremely powerful magnetic fields, which in the show’s case, time travel technology (and that level is not healthy). Here are the confirmed readings of time travelers: * The Ghost: 408 µT * The Friendly Blue Time Traveler: 230 µT before Saeha’s death; 237 µT after Saeha’s death * Saeha: 106 µT **Grid (그리드)** _Friendly Blue Time Traveler µT_ The work shown above is Copyrighted to Disney Plus. **Grid (그리드)** _Friendly Blue Time Traveler µT_ The work shown above is Copyrighted to Disney Plus. **Grid (그리드)** _µT of the Ghost and Friendly Blue Time Traveler_ The work shown above is Copyrighted to Disney Plus. Why did 2021 Saeha said the walk signal is blue light? It is a Korean cultural tradition wherein adults tell the kids walk signal is blue. The National Institute of Korea Language also explained, "The reason why the green light of the traffic lights is not called the green light but the blue light seems to be because the people perceive the blue light as a relative color concept to the red light." 6 7 This answer was provided by @27Aprile on MyDramaList. ## Class dismissed Time travel cadets, as for your assignment be sure to share this article in your social media accounts and online groups. Or, support my efforts by sending a gift. If you have additional questions or not-so-violent reactions, you can also leave a comment below. Thank you for listening (or reading in this case). **Grid (그리드)** _How time travelers disappear into thin air_ The work shown above is Copyrighted to Disney Plus. * * * ・ Cover image: The cover image used in this article is Copyrighted to Disney Plus. * * * 1. Emery, Nina, Ned Markosian, and Meghan Sullivan, “Time”, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2020 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.) ↩︎ 2. How much genetic similarity is considered baseline relatedness? ↩︎ 3. Wiktionary: microtesla ↩︎ 4. Tnuda: Electromagnetic Radiation from the Electricity Grid and Leukemia in Children ↩︎ 5. WHO: Electromagnetic fields and public health ↩︎ 6. National Institute of Korean Language ↩︎ 7. Why Some Koreans Call Green Traffic Light as ‘Blue Light’? ↩︎