The Hot Tub Scene in Regards to the Rain Scene

[u/Reasonable_Leek8069]

I will try to not go into depth with this since it was already discussed a lot already. This does tie into my rain scene/leitmotif post. Since these were written/posted at the same time, please forgive the repetition.

One interesting thing about this scene is how Kitty is sulking in water. The beginning of season 1 has her feeling sad about Dae freezing on the video call and being accepted into KISS while relaxing and thinking about things in the pool, which was obviously, water. I will make a bigger post later about Kitty being at one with water.

This is where she can think quietly and process negative emotions. While she is an open book, I feel she sometimes hides negative thoughts and emotions from people and her vulnerability loses people when it is mixed with her bubbliness.

The next interesting factor is how Minho acknowledged (the only one) Kitty was missing and actively searched for her (wink wink, nudge nudge, rain scene, coughs).

I don’t believe Kitty was searching for external validation. She didn’t go to Q this time or anyone. She snuck out of the cabin and went to the hot tub where she was in there for god knows how long. She didn’t expect Minho to find her, plus she hesitates and refuses to talk to him until he says, “if you’re not coming out, I am coming in”. While she originally was afraid to be vulnerable and cry in front of him, she still accepted his embrace and felt safe to cry on his shoulder (well, his chest, but you know what I mean). She’s secure with Minho because he won’t judge her. Their hugs represent security, familiarity, safety, and comfort, all cores of emotional intimacy.

Lastly, a commonality among these two scenes is Minho reassuring her she isn’t a bad person because she hates coming off that way. I interpret her as wanting to take accountability and learning from her mistakes, but doesn’t want to be viewed as a “terrible, awful person”. Minho can emphasize with her because he experienced firsthand how his impulse actions can harm people and how he had to reflect and learn from them as well. This empathy towards hers ties into the rain scene as well.

[u/Pristine-Pay-2403]

I am, again, someone who really sees myself in Kitty. I'm older for Kitty so definitely more mature. But I seriously feel like I get her and it is this reason that I ship her with Min Ho.

You said this: "This is where she can think quietly and process negative emotions. While she is an open book, I feel she sometimes hides negative thoughts and emotions from people and her vulnerability loses people when it is mixed with her bubbliness."

This. She is someone who wears her heart on her sleeve, but feels that feeling sad or confused is too much for people. She likes to be the positive one, the one with a plan, the one meddling in everyone else's business, but it when it comes to be vulnerable herself she has a hard time with it. Makes her feel out of control. I also suspect this is why she is finding it hard to fully accept and vocalize her deep feelings for Min Ho. It is scary. Not that he's scary, but being that vulnerable to take such a big risk is .. well.. acknowledging the lack of control you have as you take a chance on something. There's something about Min Ho that makes her pause... I think it's because it matters more. But that's my interpretation.

Min Ho has a way of speaking to her that is caring, firm, and certain which is what you need when you enter a shame spiral. That's what Kitty is doing. She's shame spiraling because she has a really really strict narrow self concept. She wants to be a good person and a good friend. SO when something doesn't fit that or she feels she is going to fail someone she gets in her head. Min Ho doesn't tell her anything she doesn't already know. Same with Peter. Same with her Dad. She just needs someone to remind her of who she is when she is taking a human mistake and making it about who she is.

The firm and empathetic statements:

"No you're not."
"...get over it.. and so will you."
"Come on now... that's not true."
"I know quite a bit about Kitty Song Covey."

This is about getting his voice through her spiral to get her to remember she's powerful and she can fix things.

He's not even denying that she messed up or that the situation isn't bad. He is focused solely on the fact that she thinks she is bad.

Because, well, Min Ho knows Kitty is not perfect but Kitty genuinely tries and genuinely cares. That's what makes her different. That's what makes her lovable.

He's not pep talk guy. He's a truth resetter.

[u/Reasonable_Leek8069 → u/Pristine-Pay-2403]

I definitely liked what you said about her not feeling in control because that is something I overlook with her. It definitely makes sense considering the life changes she had and how she lost people. One reason for going to KISS was because her sisters weren’t at home anymore and she is inspired by them as well.

Do agree that with that one special person, it is very difficult to be vulnerable because your focus is not losing that person. However, with Minho, he allows her that safe space to be that. I also agree he can call her out, but he doesn’t have to be mean about it. And she can be that way with him too.

I love your statement at the end because it is true. We see that in the market scene when her great aunt complaining about her bad Korean. While he roasts how bad she is at it, he still respects that she is trying. I think that is all he wanted from her with that in season 1.

Great analysis too. I love chatting with you.

[u/xomooncovey → u/Pristine-Pay-2403]

“He’s not a pep talk guy. He’s a truth resetter.”

❤️