The opening scene shows a billboard with this Virtual Paradise on the screen, before we get a close-up on CL saying “One two three, You left me, But I hear your breath from somewhere“. This relates with the guy lying in bed, surviving on life support that’s not for humans. It shows that the guy of their dreams was taken away to join this Virtual Paradise and is no longer human, thus leaving them.
We get a gist of what’s going on with the scene where the guy lies in the arms of Dara and the TV screen shows a shot of the Virtual Paradise. The guy stirs up, and looks at the screen in interest. Could he have originated from the Virtual Paradise and now is going back to his home, but the 2NE1 girls feel that his home should be in Dara’s arms? The lyrics at this moment reads “You said this was all for me. Like a lie, you coldly turned around Why? Why? You’re gone away“. Could the guy have probably gone back to the Virtual Paradise to ask for permission to stay with the Dara, but never came back?
We get a gist of what’s going on with the scene where the guy lies in the arms of Dara and the TV screen shows a shot of the Virtual Paradise. The guy stirs up, and looks at the screen in interest. Could he have originated from the Virtual Paradise and now is going back to his home, but the 2NE1 girls feel that his home should be in Dara’s arms? The lyrics at this moment reads “You said this was all for me. Like a lie, you coldly turned around Why? Why? You’re gone away“. Could the guy have probably gone back to the Virtual Paradise to ask for permission to stay with the Dara, but never came back?
The chorus comes with a scene that is strikingly similar to SNSD’s Mr. Mr. MV with all the drips and endless medical equipment. Bom and Minzy works on trying to create something, perhaps medicine to save the guy? But wait a minute – is that a creepy robotic person from the Virtual Paradise? So Bom and Minzy have already hacked into the Virtual Paradise, because indeed how else will they be able to save the guy their best friend so love without medication from Virtual Paradise itself?
We get a flashback to Dara crying at the guy shaving his head; probably preparing to return to Virtual City. CL finally stops walking, and smashes her bat into a power box. Oh, so is that how you get transported into Virtual Paradise? CL and Dara then floats through a whole passage of CGI, coupled with a simple rap of “Come baby baby come come baby. Come Come baby baby come come“. As much as I personally did not like the CGI and worried whether the MV will be awkward with the song when I first listened to it, putting this simple rap with CGI couldn’t be more fitting. They are travelling to Virtual Paradise and without the girls on-screen, it feels very devoid of emotions and that is the exact tone the rap took, making it a very “warm” welcome into Virtual Paraidse. When they arrive at Virtual Paradise, CL continues rapping, but with an acoustic sound to it as she walks through the laboratory, noting the addition of Dara working at the medication. Is this the fate of the lovers? With three quarters of 2NE1 working silently and continuously at trying to save a guy? CL’s rap mimics that environment – monotonous. YG’s use of music to bring the storyline out is really, really clever. Lyrics of CL’s rap also reflects what the girls feel at this point of time, “I hate you for not answering. I wonder if you’ll miss me sometimes too yeah. I’m trapped in a time without you. I can’t see ahead, I’m so scared.”
The music resumes and we see Minzy cruising along a highway… carrying explosives…? Of course, no 2NE1 MV is complete without creating some sort of wreckage because they are cool like that. The girls then put on the gizmo headset that the guy is also wearing, trying a last-ditch attempt at communicating with the guy to “come back home”, but obviously fails. Dara looks solemnly after relieving happier times with the guy, while the guy is still in slumber, soul long gone. She pulls out his live support out of frustration, signifying the end of their relationship. The lyric goes, “The many days that are unfinished. It seems like they’ll be waiting for us. Where are you? Where? Too far away.” Indeed, the guy has been gone too far away for them to rescue him back. Their efforts are now worthless, and Dara finally sees no point in trying to save something that is no longer hers.
We finally reach the climax of the MV – the destruction. The robotic people of Virtual Paradise are having a meal with white cutleries in a white room too, emphasising the purity in contrast to what is coming next. We see Minzy pushing a trolley full of fire-lit bottles and CL throwing one in another scene, setting fire to the ground and leaving the Virtual Paradise to burn. Even Dara firms up her heart and joins in with the destruction. The passage of transport returns, but this time, 2NE1 returns with their gang of rebels, just like any other 2NE1 MV. They go around creating mess and chaos and eventually turning the Virtual Paradise into ruins. But why, you ask? Why are they destroying Virtual Paradise when the lyrics are still going “come back home”? We saw two meanings in this ending.
1) The destruction symbolises the end of a relationship and they are moving on, and going home. Dara is back to being single and free and leading the rebels to come back home. The last three lines of lyrics shows a contrast, with the third and second last lines talking about their pain, “I’m pushing back all the pain, I’m still waiting for you like this” but the last line being, “Now you gotta do what you gotta do”. It could be Dara telling the guy, yes, I was in pain waiting for you, but now, I am not. The last few scenes of Dara shows that she has clearly liberated herself from the pain of waiting, and now she has to do what she got to do – moving on.
2) This second ending will see us backtracking a little. Instead of Dara pulling out the guy’s headset out of frustration, it could be Dara’s way of breaking the guy’s connection with Virtual Paradise to get him to “come back home”. The destruction that follows could be her wanting to destroy the cause of their relationship breakdown, because without Virtual Paradise pulling the guy away from her, they will be free to be together again. Thus she destroys Virtual Paradise thoroughly, all so that the guy will return, and come back home, to her.
2) This second ending will see us backtracking a little. Instead of Dara pulling out the guy’s headset out of frustration, it could be Dara’s way of breaking the guy’s connection with Virtual Paradise to get him to “come back home”. The destruction that follows could be her wanting to destroy the cause of their relationship breakdown, because without Virtual Paradise pulling the guy away from her, they will be free to be together again. Thus she destroys Virtual Paradise thoroughly, all so that the guy will return, and come back home, to her.
So do you agree with how we saw the MV as? Are any details you picked out that we missed, or perhaps do you have another whole new story different from ours? Comment away and we are excited to see what you have to say! Overall, I wouldn’t agree to say that this is the best MV YG has created for 2NE1, but not exactly very lacking, anyway.
Stay tuned as we compare Girls’ Generation’s Mr.Mr. MV with 2NE1’s Come Back Home MV where we will also discuss the odds of this impending war that has finally, dropped its first bomb with the release of both MVs.
Stay tuned as we compare Girls’ Generation’s Mr.Mr. MV with 2NE1’s Come Back Home MV where we will also discuss the odds of this impending war that has finally, dropped its first bomb with the release of both MVs.