Post by ajk on May 28, 2017 0:03:22 GMT -5
This one was a bell curve episode. Started out sort of flat, then it took off and the middle was fantastic, and then it crashed and burned.
Some of the opening was disappointing, especially the cliffhanger. So the smarter general got overruled by the dumber one. That's it? Yawn. And okay, they dismissed the regular army...but they weren't very far away so I kept wondering whether or not they'd just charge back in. And Kim Deokhyong just sort of whimpering when they first suspected him, somebody with his experience would have had a much more eloquent answer ready.
But it got better quickly. The execution scene was good, and I especially liked when Choe U's subordinates stepped forward to beg him to spare Choe Chunmyong and Yi Jangyong. You genuinely didn't know what would happen. And he ended up putting them to work for him, sure hope that doesn't backfire but it's impressive that he would put the good of the country before his personal differences.
The banquet hall scene was terrific, and I liked that the old man was able to see his son one last time after all, and see his succession hopes realized. A more convincing-looking death would have been nice, something other than him just freezing up like a statue, but there was a lot of drama in the room and the whole thing was beautifully put together, the setting, acting, music all of it. And come on, who doesn't love heads in a box?
I did like the way they presented Choe Hyang. He was never entirely at peace with the idea of wiping out his brother to take power, even down to the very end when he ordered it but didn't appear to have any heart for it. Made him more interesting, less one-dimensional. And the actor did a nice job with it. Third time I've seen him in a historical and he's done well in all three.
And speaking of good acting, the actor playing Choe U really shined in the scene that followed, the first staff meeting. He was terrific. That was another excellent scene. When there's a transfer of power in one of these historicals, the scenes that spell out who gets what, they can be pretty bland and monotonous. But this one was written very well and wasn't the least bit boring. I had said I wasn't sure whether or not he was the right actor for the part, but he's much better suited for the top-guy kind of rule he has now that Choe U is overlord.
Here's the text from the two narration interludes:
"I notice you have a certain coldness towards her." Ha! Oh how I laughed at that one. Mrs. Choe scores again.
"She's pathetic. He doesn't want her. It's disgusting."
"He must go his own way. Why is my heart pierced straight through?" Well okay, finally Songi gets this out in the open. It doesn't make her look all that good, certainly not very likeable, but it makes her more real. She's stuck in the hoity-toity class and not the kind of person for it at all, as forward as she is about everything, and suddenly this rugged fighter guy comes into her life and she's smitten with him. And she's blaming KJ for not being smitten with her right back...but of course she knows she'd never be allowed to marry him even if he wanted to. So she gets difficult and ugly about it, spoiled little rich girl. At least now we've moved past her being only uptight and snotty.
"No one stays a child forever." Wola said that? Really? Seriously? Wola? Really? Anybody see any irony there?
But look at this, now KJ seems to be okay with marrying Wola. When did this happen? That was a surprise, considering we had no idea his feelings were changing.
The silliness at the end, blecch. Yangbaek's subordinates trying to poison his heart by trashing KJ, yeah that kind of thing is very real but please let's not get into small human pettiness when there's a huge story to tell. And the whole thing with Yangbaek and Chunsim, are you kidding me? Even drunk I didn't buy that he would insult her, especially not comparing her to Wola. He's not like that. And Chunsim the psycho killer? Stop it. Okay she's hurt and angry but stop it. Nobody cares about this stuff. Get rid of it.
It's too bad about the last few scenes because most of this episode was great.
p.s. "We hold our positions to serve the people, not for personal glory." Hmmm...all of the credit that this episode gave to the two Choes for being such successful leaders, is that a legitimate assessment or is it just spin for the series?
Some of the opening was disappointing, especially the cliffhanger. So the smarter general got overruled by the dumber one. That's it? Yawn. And okay, they dismissed the regular army...but they weren't very far away so I kept wondering whether or not they'd just charge back in. And Kim Deokhyong just sort of whimpering when they first suspected him, somebody with his experience would have had a much more eloquent answer ready.
But it got better quickly. The execution scene was good, and I especially liked when Choe U's subordinates stepped forward to beg him to spare Choe Chunmyong and Yi Jangyong. You genuinely didn't know what would happen. And he ended up putting them to work for him, sure hope that doesn't backfire but it's impressive that he would put the good of the country before his personal differences.
The banquet hall scene was terrific, and I liked that the old man was able to see his son one last time after all, and see his succession hopes realized. A more convincing-looking death would have been nice, something other than him just freezing up like a statue, but there was a lot of drama in the room and the whole thing was beautifully put together, the setting, acting, music all of it. And come on, who doesn't love heads in a box?
I did like the way they presented Choe Hyang. He was never entirely at peace with the idea of wiping out his brother to take power, even down to the very end when he ordered it but didn't appear to have any heart for it. Made him more interesting, less one-dimensional. And the actor did a nice job with it. Third time I've seen him in a historical and he's done well in all three.
And speaking of good acting, the actor playing Choe U really shined in the scene that followed, the first staff meeting. He was terrific. That was another excellent scene. When there's a transfer of power in one of these historicals, the scenes that spell out who gets what, they can be pretty bland and monotonous. But this one was written very well and wasn't the least bit boring. I had said I wasn't sure whether or not he was the right actor for the part, but he's much better suited for the top-guy kind of rule he has now that Choe U is overlord.
Here's the text from the two narration interludes:
Choe Chungheong, of the Ubong Choe clan, also known as Nan. In 1196, he and his brother Chongsu overthrew the dictator Yi Uimin. Choe was overlord for 25 years. Choe held the true power as military ruler. He saw the abdication of four emperors. His Ten Injunctions to the throne called for reforms and elimination of corruption. History records that he was feasting and drinking to the end. It would be difficult to find a greater man in all Korean history.
And so Choe U took his father's place and continued his work for Koryo. First he exiled Choe Hyang and all his brother's followers. Then he consolidated all other political offices under the Guard Corps, calling it the Personnel Authority. In this way he maintained the dignity of the Royal House as nominal figureheads. Choe U's era exceeded that of his father. History records that the Directorate of Chancellors dared not lift their heads before him."You two brothers have done well. Get ready to leave for the front." Heck of a thank-you!
"I notice you have a certain coldness towards her." Ha! Oh how I laughed at that one. Mrs. Choe scores again.
"She's pathetic. He doesn't want her. It's disgusting."
"He must go his own way. Why is my heart pierced straight through?" Well okay, finally Songi gets this out in the open. It doesn't make her look all that good, certainly not very likeable, but it makes her more real. She's stuck in the hoity-toity class and not the kind of person for it at all, as forward as she is about everything, and suddenly this rugged fighter guy comes into her life and she's smitten with him. And she's blaming KJ for not being smitten with her right back...but of course she knows she'd never be allowed to marry him even if he wanted to. So she gets difficult and ugly about it, spoiled little rich girl. At least now we've moved past her being only uptight and snotty.
"No one stays a child forever." Wola said that? Really? Seriously? Wola? Really? Anybody see any irony there?
But look at this, now KJ seems to be okay with marrying Wola. When did this happen? That was a surprise, considering we had no idea his feelings were changing.
The silliness at the end, blecch. Yangbaek's subordinates trying to poison his heart by trashing KJ, yeah that kind of thing is very real but please let's not get into small human pettiness when there's a huge story to tell. And the whole thing with Yangbaek and Chunsim, are you kidding me? Even drunk I didn't buy that he would insult her, especially not comparing her to Wola. He's not like that. And Chunsim the psycho killer? Stop it. Okay she's hurt and angry but stop it. Nobody cares about this stuff. Get rid of it.
It's too bad about the last few scenes because most of this episode was great.
p.s. "We hold our positions to serve the people, not for personal glory." Hmmm...all of the credit that this episode gave to the two Choes for being such successful leaders, is that a legitimate assessment or is it just spin for the series?