JTBC’s latest K-drama Nevertheless, starring Han So-Hee (The World Of The Married) as Nabi and Song Kang (Love Alarm) as Jae-Eon has been trending since its pilot was released on Netflix over a month ago. Contrary to the usual 16-episode K-drama format, however, Nevertheless,’ ending came a little too soon; its 10th and final episode aired last 22 August. And spoiler: Nabi and Jae-Eon ended up together despite the red flags in their relationship.
While it's expected for most stories to have the two leads meet a happy ending, Nevertheless,' finale received mixed reactions. This got us thinking: why did Nabi choose Jae-Eon instead of Do-Hyeok? Our thoughts below.
P.S. Nevertheless,webtoon ending spoilers ahead too!
But first, a recap
Yu Na-Bi is an art major who recently broke up with her boyfriend after she finds out he was cheating. While wallowing in her heartbreak, she meets Park Jae-Eon, an attractive junior from her school whom she immediately gets smitten by. They start flirting but Nabi gets cautious when she hears from friends and acquaintances that Park Jae-Eon doesn’t ‘date’ but rather just sees girls as conquests. Still, her attraction for him grows stronger each time they interact. They soon become ‘friends with benefits’.
Nabi is aware of her ‘label-less’ relationship with Jae-Eon and its implications. She’s okay with it at first despite having reservations. Their setup is consensual and they keep things lowkey especially around their schoolmates. However, when she realises that she wants a real relationship with him but he doesn’t (she also finds out that Jae-Eon is still hanging around his ex Seola despite being with her), she immediately distances herself from him. Things get even more complicated when Nabi’s childhood friend Do-Hyeok (Chae Jong-Hyeop) comes into the picture.
Do-Hyeok is everything that Jae-Eon isn’t. He’s caring, considerate, and has his eyes set only on Nabi. Yet even with a more ideal guy in front of her, Nabi knows in her heart that Jae-Eon is the one she’s yearning for.
In the most recent episode (Episode 9), Jae-Eonasks Nabi to be his girlfriend. However, Nabi finds out that Jae-Eon might’ve only done so because he sees Do-Hyeok as a threat. Nabi finally sees Jae-Eon’s true colours and asks him to never show himself in front of her again.
Jae-Eon, looking dejected, says, “I lost Nabi for good,” as the episode ended.
The webtoon ending
With one more episode to go and that shattering Episode 9 ending, we imagined so many directions where Nabi and Jae-Eon’s story could go — one of which is the Nevertheless,webtoon ending.
In the source material, Nabi and Jae-Eon actually part ways for good, with Nabi surprisingly ending up with Do-Hyeok. It’s one of the very few stories where the protagonist ends up with the second lead, which makes Nevertheless,’ webtoon quite unique. What’s also interesting about this conclusion is Nabi’s change in personality; she becomes more guarded and cautious about relationships in general. She even starts doubting Do-Hyeok every time she sees him talking to other girls despite Do-Hyeok always showing his devotion to her. Ultimately, the webtoon’s ending explores what toxic relationships do to people and how hard it is to recover from brief yet impactful encounters. Nevertheless, the K-drama, diverted from this ending.
Is Park Jae Eon really a walking red flag?
K-dramas with the usual 16 episodes tend to feel dragging. But Nevertheless would’ve been fleshed out better if it had more than 10 episodes. This is because as compared to the webtoon, Jae-Eon’s actions in the drama — or at least some of them — aren’t enough to be considered as red flags, in my opinion. It only seems like it because we tend to watch dramas to get a taste of a pure and idealistic kind of love much like what Do-Hyeok as a second lead offers.
Not a red flag: Jae-Eon not wanting labels in a relationship
Now before you start protesting, hear me out. I keep seeing people calling Jae-Eon a red flag simply because he wants nothing to do with labels. If this was the only basis, I’d say he’s no different than any casual dater in their 20s. Some people around this age range consider exclusivity as part of being in a serious relationship. And maybe for those who are more conservative, there’s no other option than this. But the reality is, there are people who just ‘date and go’. Jae-Eon staying by Nabi’s side, even hanging out with her during her birthday, is more commitment than what others would’ve given considering their label-less relationship.
A red flag: Jae-Eon being condescending towards his past conquests
However, some of Jae-Eon’s actions shouldn’t be tolerated no matter how ‘casual’ your setup is. For one, there was a scene where Jae-Eon and Nabi were approached by a girl who was implied to be one of his past flings. Nabi saw that the girl has a butterfly tattoo on her inner arm (butterflies are Jae-Eon’s ‘thing’), which is in the exact position where Jae-Eon drew the symbol in Nabi’s arm when they first met. But that's not where the red flag comes in. While using the same move over and over towards the girls you’re pursuing isn’t exactly a bad thing, talking about these girls condescendingly when things are over is.
When Nabi asks Jae-Eon about the girl, Jae-Eon immediately dismisses it, saying that it might be because the girl wanted to get a reaction out of him. His expression was also filled with spite, like he was proving to Nabi that he was the one being chased after, even if all the other girl did was casually invite him to hang out. The girl didn’t even insist when he said no and just went her merry way. So why was Jae-Eon acting like the girl was such a nuisance?
In another instance, Nabi catches him kissing another girl (prior to when he and Nabi were a ‘thing’). Jae-Eon says it was just a game and that it was the girl who wanted to try it out. He always makes it seem like the girls he’s flirting with were the only ones who liked the interactions and he was not an active participant in the acts.
Not a red flag (sort of): Jae-Eon still hanging out with his ex
While the drama showed Jae-Eon being iffy about his past flings, however, he remains friendly with his ex Seola. This pushes Nabi to her limit, which eventually leads to her distancing herself from Jae-Eon. Even so, the drama doesn’t show whether or not there was still something more going on with Jae-Eon and Seola while Jae-Eon was ‘with’ Nabi. Seola even admits to lying about being with Jae-Eon. Sure, hanging out with your ex is clearly a big no-no for most people, but the fact that Seola and Jae-Eon’s relationship is nothing more than just a friendship of convenience shows that there’s more to Jae-Eon’s feelings about Nabi than what we see from Nabi’s perspective.
A red flag: how Jae-Eon met Nabi
When Jae-Eon and Nabi first met, Jae-Eon also cancels his date with someone without thinking twice since he found Nabi attractive (and finds her name amusing since nabi means 'butterfly' in Korean).
Why we think Nabi chose Jae-Eon in the Nevertheless K-drama ending
Each episode’s label is very telling. We get upfront statements like ‘I Know It Isn’t Love’ followed by, ‘Nevertheless,’. This immediately clues us in on Nabi’s thought process in each episode. It indicates that she’s aware of every single thing that Jae-Eon is doing and how it makes her feel, and yet she’s willing to make it work and take risks despite this awareness.
If we look at Episode 9, the title goes ‘I Know It’s Over. Nevertheless,’ which gave us a clue about the ending. Will Nabi take Jae-Eon back despite saying she doesn’t want to see him again? Will she eventually believe that he sincerely wants to formally go out with her even if she learned that one of the reasons he might’ve done so was Do-Hyeok’s presence? Somehow, all the signs pointed to yes. And as confirmed, Episode 10's title, 'Nevertheless, I Still...' already cued us in to Nabi's finale decision even before we hit play on the episode.
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(Video) Who’s it going to be? Thoughts on the episode? | Nevertheless (알고있지만) REVIEW [EP 8]
Looking at all of Nabi’s romantic relationships, Jae-Eon is the only one that knows the ‘real her’. Her ex was manipulative and insincere. Do-Hyeok, on the other hand, puts her on a pedestal, making hers cared of disappointing him. With Jae-Eon, she's vulnerable yet still in control, she seeks warmth yet understands their boundaries, and she’s a lot more honest with the things she want and don’t want. It doesn’t make their relationship 100% healthy, but Nabi is more in command of her actions with Jae-Eon than her other relationships. She is aware of Jae-Eon’s effect on her and even carefully considers her response knowing that there will be consequences. Her decisions are not always agreeable, but just like the episode titles suggest, she has full agency over her decisions in relationships.
It’s definitely wrong for Jae-Eon to feel provoked after seeing Do-Hyeok as competition. But it did help him finally take his feelings for Nabi seriously. Even Seola, who seems to be the only person who knows Jae-Eon’s true nature, made it clear that Jae-Eon finally found his match in Nabi.
How the series *actually* ended
In the end, both Nabi and Jae-Eon decided that despite all the ups and downs of their relationships, they are finally willing to give it a shot. Nabi said she might get hurt and regret it but she knows the situation better now.
The final scene showed Nabi and Jae-Eon going on a date. Nabi caught a glimpse of Do-Hyeok in a restaurant they passed by and gave Do-Hyeok one last longing look, as if thinking of what might have been if she chose him, before holding on to Jae-Eon and going their merry way.
If it were up to us, we’d prefer it if Nabi ended up choosing herself and moves on to find someone more deserving of her. But as we predicted, the drama deviated from the webtoon’s ending and made Jae-Eon and Nabi find their happy ending in each other, nevertheless.
(Cover photo from: @jtbcdrama)
Looking for a wholesome K-drama couple to cleanse you from Nevertheless? Check out NamLee’s best Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo moments here.
FAQs
Did Nabi and Jae Eon end up together? ›
In the webtoon, Yoo Na Bi (played by Han So Hwee) and Park Jae Eon (played by Song Kang) do not end up with each other. However, these two characters end up falling for each other in the drama. In the last episode, Yoo Na Bi meets Park Jae Eon at her art exhibition again.
What happens to Jae Eon in Nevertheless? ›In the drama, Na-bi ends up with Jae-on, and it's a fairytale-like ending. However, in the original webtoon, Na-bi and Jae-on part ways. Instead, she chooses to be with Do-hyeok. The webtoon is unique because the protagonist gets together with the second lead – something that is not common in K-dramas and webtoons.
Is Park Jae Eon a player? ›While Song Kang and Han So Hee did an exceptional job of bringing those characters to life and adding their own spin to it, the series was slow in the beginning and felt rushed towards the end. Park Jae Eon is clearly a player and does nothing to hide it and Yoo Na Bi is well aware of it.
Who did Nabi end up with Nevertheless drama? ›At last, Na-bi ended up choosing Jae-On. The title of the episode makes sense too because it tells a story. From “there's no such thing as love to nevertheless, I still”, it reels us back to the essence of the drama — Nabi was always going to make a mistake for the one she 'loves'.
Why is Park Jae Eon obsessed with butterflies? ›Na-bi's name means “butterfly” in Korean, while Jae-eon has a pet butterfly and likes butterflies in general because “they're pretty”(ok fine).
Is Nevertheless a love triangle? ›The love triangle between Song Kang, Han So Hee, and Chae Jong Hyeop in “Nevertheless” is about to get more intense!
Who does Won in Jae end up with? ›Having divorced her husband for quitting his job, she ends up marrying the wealthy Won Doo-jung. She is shown to regret leaving Dal-mi and In-jae's dad for Doo-Jung as he cheats on her but she finds it hard to give up the luxurious life which he affords her.
Why is Nevertheless controversial? ›In July 2021, actor Kim Min-gwi was embroiled in a controversy when an article about his personal life was posted on an online community.
Do you want to see butterflies Nevertheless meaning? ›They have a short romantic moment here and he asks, “Do you want to see butterflies?” What he really means is “Do you want to go to my place?”
Is Nevertheless about toxic relationship? ›“Nevertheless” follows two young students of an Art Academy who meet each other and have gone through failed relationships. While the guy wants a relationship that just involves the skin and no expression of emotion, the girl falls for him despite knowing what he wants.
Why is Nevertheless flag red? ›
Park Jae-eon portrayed by Song Kang in the K-drama Nevertheless has earned a bad rap on the internet. The character is described as a walking red flag because of how manipulative he tends to be. People who come to his defense say he's just a misunderstood guy, but we're here to warn you about pretty boys like him.
What does the butterfly tattoo mean in Nevertheless? ›The Secretive Butterfly Tattoo in Nevertheless
Jae-eon has a butterfly tattoo because he likes butterflies and owns butterflies at his place; while Na Bi, whose name means “butterfly” in Korean got a butterfly tattoo drawn by Jae-eon with a water-soluble marker while they were at the bar.
With Jae-Eon, she's vulnerable yet still in control, she seeks warmth yet understands their boundaries, and she's a lot more honest with the things she want and don't want. It doesn't make their relationship 100% healthy, but Nabi is more in command of her actions with Jae-Eon than her other relationships.
Is Nabi a butterfly? ›Nabi means “butterfly” in Korean and just like a butterfly, life is perpetual movement. Not only is it un-rhythmic movement but it is also constant change. After all, things live by moving and gaining strength as they go.
Is Nabi in Korean a butterfly? ›...
Nabi (film)
| Nabi | |
|---|---|
| Language | Korean |
| Budget | US$380,000 |
And because the phrase “butterflies in your stomach” can signify the nervous energy of new love, this emoji can also mean that you have a crush or are falling in love.
Why is Monarch chrysalis green? ›The new skin forms the chrysalis that covers the caterpillar's body. When the skin hardens, it takes on a green color. The color helps the chrysalis blend in with vegetation, which makes it less noticeable to passing birds and other predators.
Who is the girl with Park Jae Eon? ›Yoo Na-Bi is an art student at the same university as Park Jae-Eon. In her past, she broke up with her first love due to his unfaithful ways. After that, decided to become unswayed by love. She then meets Park Jae-Eon and develops feelings for him.
Is Nevertheless a flop? ›6/6 Nevertheless (2021)
Even though Nevertheless had a lot of international audiences enjoying the show and found the storyline endearing, it did not do too well in South Korea. This show received an overall rating of 2.2%. This was because fans lost the excitement of the show because of the plot.
- The Great Gatsby: Jay Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan, and Tom Buchanan. ...
- The Princess Bride: Westley, Buttercup, and Prince Humperdinck. ...
- Twilight: Bella Swan, Edward Cullen, and Jacob Black. ...
- Pride and Prejudice: Elizabeth Bennet, George Wickham, and Fitzwilliam Darcy.
Why is Nevertheless so popular? ›
The drama has caught the attention of viewers with its realistic and unfiltered story and friends-with-benefits relationship. It tells the romance of NaBi (Han SoHee) who doesn't trust love but who wants to date and of JaeEon (Song Kang) who is tired of dating but who wants to flirt.
Why did Dalmi choose dosan? ›As rookies in the Start-up world, the two of them were inexperienced but foresighted and hardworking. Dreaming big and sharing similar struggles was what made them connect with each other. Dal Mi even forgave Do San for lying about being wealthy and successful as she could relate with him.
Does Dal Mi find out about the letters? ›Dal-mi asks Do-san if he knows the place where they used to leave their letters 15 years ago. He doesn't know how to answer that question, and Dal-mi starts crying, asking why Han Ji-pyeong is in the location of the letters. She puts the phone down on him. The truth is out.
Do Yoon Jae and Shi Won end up together? ›Meanwhile in the last episode of “Answer Me 1997,” Yoon Yoon Je was revealed as Shi Won's husband while Yoon Tae Woong (played by Song Jong Ho) and Jun Hee (played by Hoya of Infinite) also found different loves after their heartbreaks, reaching a happy ending as all viewers and fans expected.
What was the question in Nevertheless? ›As Do-Hyeok leaves to head off down to the beach, Do-Yeon asks Jae-Eon a question. He immediately answers Na-Bi. As we later find out, that question was regarding who he wants to kiss that evening. Not long after, he openly admits that a girl has captured his heart – but won't reveal who.
Who is SOL A in Nevertheless? ›Lee Ho Jung starred in the drama as Yoon Sol, an art student who explored the process of transforming her friendship with Ji Wan (Yoon Seo Ah) into something deeper.
How old are they in Nevertheless? ›Nevertheless, like many other recent dramas, was adapted from a webtoon titled I Know But. The drama, billed as a "hyperrealistic romance," revolves around two 22-year-olds, Yoo Na Bi and Park Jae Uhn.
What does a butterfly symbolize in Korea? ›In a number of cultures, the butterfly was believed to be a reincarnated soul of a dead person. Especially, in Korea, people believed that a butterfly itself is the soul of a dead person and they depended on it fortelling fortunes.
What does the little butterfly symbolize? ›Butterflies are beautiful and have mystery, symbolism, and meaning and are a metaphor representing spiritual rebirth, transformation, change, hope, and life. The magnificent, yet short life of the butterfly closely mirrors the process of spiritual transformation and serves to remind us that life is short.
What does a butterfly symbolize in a person? ›A powerful beacon of growth and new beginnings, the butterfly signifies the power of transformation and the incredible feats we can achieve when we trust ourselves.
What is the highest rated Kdrama on Netflix? ›
- Extracurricular. An intelligent high school student turns to a life of crime to ensure he can pay for college and escape his dead-end life. ...
- My Name. ...
- The King's Affection. ...
- Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.
- Lying. Yes, we all tell the occasional white lie to our partners and others — but lying habitually is bad for any relationship. ...
- Cheating. ...
- Emotional Abuse. ...
- Being Treated Like Their Maid/Cook/Bank. ...
- Bad Sex. ...
- Ultimatums. ...
- Refusing To Discuss The Tough Stuff. ...
- Unreasonable Anger.
Professor Q explains to his class why purple was omitted on country flags. The real reason was that for thousands of years purple dye was far too expensive. It was possible the most expensive product available being worth more than gold, jewels, castles, ships, silk, spices, and silver.
Why is there no flag that is purple? ›The reason for purple's regal reputation comes down to a simple case of supply and demand. Tyrian purple (aka Royal purple or Imperial purple) is a dye extracted from the murex shellfish which was first produced by the Phoenician city of Tyre in the Bronze Age.
Which country flag has no red? ›The flag of Jamaica is the only national flag without red, white or blue.
What does a butterfly on the wrist symbolize? ›The self-harmer will have someone they care about draw a butterfly on their wrist and name it after someone they love. If they burn, cut etc. to the butterfly, it dies, like killing who ever's name it was. It helps them resist the urge to self-harm in a healthy way.
What does it mean if a girl has a butterfly tattoo? ›Therefore, butterflies' tattoos often connote a romantic meaning because they can also represent young love; as butterflies fly among flowers, so do young people with their social lives. In Chinese culture, butterflies are also emblematic of immortality, joy, grace, and summer.
What does a butterfly with a semicolon represent? ›The semicolon tattoo is a sign for those who battling suicidal thoughts and depression. The symbol is often etched into butterfly ink design.
Why did he become Bulgasal? ›According to Korean folklore, the monster Bulgasari came to life because of a woman's blood and died because of it as well. The folklore monster feasted on iron, but here, Bulgasal feasts on blood, much like a vampire.
Does love alarm have a happy ending? ›At the end of the course, she's met by a happy Hye-Young. The two guys also get closure for their friendship. They come to the bittersweet conclusion that though they can never be as good friends as they were once before, there isn't any ill will between them. Now, they can move forward with their lives.
Which Nabi had a beautiful voice? ›
Prophet Dawud (as): Dawud (as) had a soft, beautiful and melodious voice which was given to him by Allah (swt). When he used to recite the Zabur using this beautiful voice, all of the people, animals and birds used to gather around him, to listen and learn the words of Allah (swt).
Is Nabi a boy or girl? ›Name Nabi is of Urdu origin and is a Boy name.
Which Nabi spoke after death? ›A friend of his from the angels visited and Idris said to him: 'Allah has revealed to me such and such, so could you please speak to the angel of death, so I could increase my deeds. ' The angel carried him on his wings and went up into the heavens.
Why do Koreans call cats Nabi? ›In South Korea, the most common name for a cat of either gender is Nabi which translates to "Butterfly" in English. This name is even used for cats in Korean cartoons such as There She Is!!.
What do white butterflies symbolize in Korean culture? ›White: The symbolism behind this color is of spiritual change, good luck, and overall fruitful life. Black: Associated with this color is death.
What is Nabi called in English? ›The word Nabi, 'prophet,' was in use in the time of Moses, or Abraham.
Does Soo Ah and Saeroyi end up together? ›That is why the only redemption this television show could obtain from me is the fact that Oh Soo-ah got her happy ending in the end — much to the satisfaction of me and many others who supported Oh Soo-ah. She gracefully let go of her love for Park Saeroyi, opened her own business and met a new possible love interest.
Is run on a happy ending? ›And for a start, it has a happy ending for everyone. I highly recommend watching this drama! Run On portraits real emotions and everyday struggles when it comes to being in a relationship and how to manage yourself in the working life.
Do shinwoo and Taekyung end up together? ›Tae Kyung and Shin Woo finally become a couple in Episode 16.
What does Saeroyi mean in Korean? ›Saeroyi (새로이) means 새롭고 슬기롭고 아름답게 which translates to newly, wisely, beautifully.
Who is the villain in Itaewon Class? ›
Yoo Jae Myung in “Itaewon Class”
After getting out of jail, Sae Roy swears that he will get revenge and decides to open up his own restaurant called Dan Bam. The bone-chilling villain in this series is Jang Dae Hee (Yoo Jae Myung), the CEO and owner of Jangga.
People were quick to find out that there is also an official "Love Alarm" app available. It was actually created from the story by Cheon KyeYoung, the author of "Love Alarm". Though it does not work like shown in the drama it was created for fans to enjoy events in relation to the webtoon as well as the drama.
Who is the villain in Love Alarm? ›I'm a Song Kang fan but Sun-oh, an affluent model who seems hell-bent on stealing his (former?) best friend's girlfriend, made questionable decisions that made it hard to root for him.
Which K drama has the saddest ending? ›- “Scarlet Heart: Goryeo” Hae Soo (IU) is transported from modern times to the Goryeo era where she falls in love with a bad boy prince. ...
- “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes” ...
- “Snowdrop” ...
- “Vincenzo” ...
- “Beyond Evil” ...
- “What Happened in Bali” ...
- “Lovers in Paris”
- Crash Landing On You.
- Happy endings.
- hometown chachacha.
- korb.
- Korean binge.
- Korean drama.
- Korean series.
- Our Beloved Summer.
Happy endings leave most readers feeling content. You feel a warm, happy glow surround you as you close the book. Sad endings, on the other hand, haunt us. They may even keep us awake long into the night – filled with rage, desperation, or frustration.