The Eighth Sense: In Depth Analysis Of The Main Characters And The Message They Convey

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Earlier this year was released the BL drama "The Eighth Sense" and it made quite a sensation among BL fans. The acting was great, the sceneries and cinematography were also on point, and the love story was exiting, "The Eighth Sense" was a full package. But another reason why this drama was greatly appreciated is because of the relatability of the main characters. Many fans mentioned how they could relate to JaeWon (Lim JiSub) or JiHyun (Oh JunTaek) for various reasons. That is because the two characters were well developed and had each a personal background story that allowed a depth of character rarely seen before in BL dramas.

The main point of a BL drama is of course the romantic relationship between the main characters, but if those are well characterized, it allows a better experience for the viewers. And that is exactly what happened for "The Eighth Sense". The storyline itself doesn't seem so complicated, but the feelings of the characters and their evolution throughout the drama is what made this drama so special and outstanding to many fans. So let's dive into the wave of "The Eighth sense" and its main characters JaeWon and JiHyun to see which message each of them carries along the drama.

JaeWon, a conflicted character who is hand tied by the system, representing early adulthood struggles

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JaeWon is a very interesting character and he is a representation of many things at various times of the show. When we first encounter his character, he seems to be the cliché character, the popular guy that everybody ships with the prettiest girl on campus, and it's really all there seems to be at the beginning. But soon enough we discover that he has a hidden side, one that only the viewers are aware of, as per the psychologist session he attends without anybody knowing. Early on in the drama, we get to understand that JaeWon has family issues, which is a very serious topic addressed multiple times in the drama, and in different forms. But even to that extend, JaeWon seems to be living a good life. It's only further in the drama, when he gets closer to JiHyun and opens up about his past, his trauma, and feelings, that we get to know the entirety of this character.

When the two characters are in a period of tension, after their trip to the beach, this is when JaeWon is the most conflicted. The past seems to repeat itself and he looses himself in the process. He doesn't know what's right anymore and decides to simply follow what people expect from him, which is dating the pretty girl on campus, being a good student and a good friend. JaeWon, due his family's status is someone who have been taken for granted by many, and he is expected to stay in the norm, follow a regular path and not make waves. But his encounter with JiHyun showed him that there is more to life than following people's expectation, and living is actually about experimenting and finding oneself.

JaeWon incarnates the society's pressure and expectation on younger generation, he also represents sadness, depression and loss. Not only the loss of close ones but the loss of oneself in critical situation. Many times, he is at loss of words, he is confused about the situation and his own actions, showing that a university student's life isn't always fun and easy to live like adults think. JaeWon is also a good symbol of teenager and adult opposition as he tries to go against what others want him to do, which is not right for him. JaeWon's journey throughout the drama, is this of many teenagers who are confused in their life and career paths and who loses control at times. Overall JaeWon is a very interesting character for his evolution along drama, from someone who denies the truth and stays still to not create waves to someone who assumes himself and accepts to live differently than what was planed for him.

JiHyun, a strong and reliable character, representing freedom and self-affirmation

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JiHyun is first presented as a very innocent and confused character, he just arrived at the capital and is a bit lost, but soon enough he shows confidence and keeps it together. He finds a place to work part-time, he attend university and makes friends easily. He also take a step forward and join the surfing club where he meets JaeWon. JiHyun was supposed to be the character to be at loss, but he quickly turns into a different character. JiHyun discovers himself throughout the drama, just like JaeWon, but unlike him, he recognize and accepts himself as he is. JiHyun does not have as much pressure as JaeWon, and that is also part of why he can assume himself more easily, yet JiHyun has other personal issues to deal with.

JaeWon family issue was mentioned earlier, but JiHyun also has several family-related problems to handle. First of all, he lives alone in the capital, so he doesn't have any family with him, and his relationship with the restaurant's owner where he works part-time is similar to one a family would have. This shows that there is our biological family, and the family that we choose, those that makes us feel like home, like we're family despite not being related by blood. And considering JiHyun's mother attitude, she doesn't feel like a mother as much as the restaurant's owner, which enhance this idea that biological family is not always the family we want around us. This is one point in which both characters are similar. Because for the rest, both of them are perfect opposites. If JiHyun assumes who he is and is free to do and love who he wants, it is harder on JaeWon's side who doesn't know what is right or wrong.

Because JiHyun is so confident in himself and his feelings, it is also why he is able to help JaeWon in the process of figuring things out. Even if JiHyun is younger than JaeWon, he is the most reliable character between the two, and that is also a lesson to be learned from the show. Maturity and reliability is not about age but mindset. JiHyun's mind is clear and certain that's why he can land a hand to JaeWon, on the contrary, JaeWon is not here for JiHyun because he himself is having a hard time figuring out what is going on in his own life. Eventually, it is thanks to JiHyun's strength and confidence that JaeWon is able to assume himself and choose his own path by the end of the drama.

Overall the two characters are opposite to each other but they complete each other in a sense. It is because JaeWon has JiHyun by his side that he finds himself and assumes who he is. And it is because JiHyun meets JaeWon that he tries new things and discover himself as well. The two are very deep and full of meanings, and they only made the drama better thanks to tis.