Post by ajk on Aug 5, 2017 4:48:08 GMT -5
Most of this one was very good. The beginning and ending, not so much, but most in between. I especially liked the banquet scene. We've had scenes like it in other historicals, banquets with groups that are in conflict with each other, so it wasn't original, but it was well done. It sure did hold your attention, especially the Choe Chunmyong part of it.
The opening scene went on too long and was milked too hard. We had just seen the same thing in the previous episode--a general struggling with the reality of having to open his gates--and this one felt too drawn-out.
Speaking of which, after Jingbirok it's strange watching the guy playing general Putau in this series. In Jingbirok he was Maeda, the calm voice of reason serving Hideyoshi, but here he's the most high-strung and temperamental of the Mongol generals. Actually he's been very good in both of them so he obviously is a talented guy.
The first historical narration, early in the episode.
The second narration:
Park Songbi: "The overlord seems tense." Gee, ya think?
"Something's off, the more I think about it. Making Kim Jun his retainer. Giving him a house." For once I agree with Songi. Even if the war is over, there has to be some better use for KJ's intellect and reconnaissance skills. And especially with the Songi business, it just doesn't sit right that Choe put KJ in that position at this time. Maybe does he feel guilty about how he treated KJ before? That could have something to do with it...
...because wow, swanky digs he gave KJ! And a nice moment there with Gannan at the house. Glad somebody mentioned Wola because I'm still waiting to see what the bigger-picture reason was for putting us through all that Wola stuff. If there is one....
(btw KJ could do a lot worse for himself than Gannan. Just sayin'. Of course Songi would probably have her killed, wouldn't she.)
Good news/bad news. "I can't fill the overlord's shoes." At least Yakson is honest with himself about that. We know he never wanted a position of power, and give him credit for honestly evaluating himself now. So that's the good. But once again, as soon as he started talking about Songi, we get the ominous music like somebody's planning to destroy the Earth. And this time even a nutty laugh. So is he gonna go psycho on us? Is this Chunsim The Sequel? We got weird music before she went psycho too. I hope not, and not just because it was silly with Chunsim. Two people forced into a marriage and both unhappy with it, it's a sad thing and not something to be played for creeps. Especially with young children in the picture.
Would be great to see more of Subeop wandering the countryside. Remember I was asking for more scenes showing what's going on among the ordinary people; Subeop's wanderings are a great way to incorporate that. But wow what a shocker to see the two sons being such dirtbags! They were just sort of self-entitled losers before; now they're aggressively hurting people, quite a change.
That scene in the marketplace, the unrest that Choe U came across, another well-done glimpse of what's happening to the ordinary people.
They brought back that high-angle shot in the council hall. Maybe they mounted a camera up there and left it. Whatever, it's a great shot, very effective. The colors are striking.
That final scene didn't work. It was either the translation or KJ speaking too much in the abstract; either way whatever KJ was trying to explain, it wasn't making sense. Apparently it was KJ saying "military dictatorship" that ticked off Choe U, at least that much seemed clear. Presumably it will clear up when the next episode starts. Too bad the episode ended on that note because otherwise it continued the run of strong episodes we've been on. Hope it keeps up now that hostilities have ceased.
p.s. Hoe Angong: "Twice, thrice, I have wept and keened over this edict." Anybody else stumped by that--"keen" as a verb? Dug into that and turned up three definitions. My Random House print dictionary says "to wail in lamentation for the dead." Something online called the MacMillan Dictionary (open-source) says "to make a long high sound expressing pain or sadness." And my Merriam-Webster dictionary app says "to make a loud and long cry of sorrow." So there's today's Korean historical drama English lesson!
The opening scene went on too long and was milked too hard. We had just seen the same thing in the previous episode--a general struggling with the reality of having to open his gates--and this one felt too drawn-out.
Speaking of which, after Jingbirok it's strange watching the guy playing general Putau in this series. In Jingbirok he was Maeda, the calm voice of reason serving Hideyoshi, but here he's the most high-strung and temperamental of the Mongol generals. Actually he's been very good in both of them so he obviously is a talented guy.
The first historical narration, early in the episode.
Fort Jaju and Choe Chunmyong. It stands with Fort Kwiju as an icon of heroism in the first Koryo-Mongol war. He refused to surrender despite repeated entreaties from General Dae. But faced with Hoe Angong's death, he had no choice but to open the gates. It is said that Sartai's forces dared not enter Jaju until the day they left Koryo.We're told at one point that Choe U is meeting with his "chancellors." That was surprising; I thought there was always only one chancellor. Anybody know what the story is on that?
The second narration:
The first Koryo-Mongol war, so history has named it. The wars began in 1231, the 18th year of Kojong's reign, lasting 30 years, until 1259. Including the Three Elite Patrols internal struggles, Koryo was beset with unrest for 40 years. The first war's treaty was, in effect, a total surrender.Yeah it did say 30 years and not 28. Oh well, it's a historical drama, not a math class.
Park Songbi: "The overlord seems tense." Gee, ya think?
"Something's off, the more I think about it. Making Kim Jun his retainer. Giving him a house." For once I agree with Songi. Even if the war is over, there has to be some better use for KJ's intellect and reconnaissance skills. And especially with the Songi business, it just doesn't sit right that Choe put KJ in that position at this time. Maybe does he feel guilty about how he treated KJ before? That could have something to do with it...
...because wow, swanky digs he gave KJ! And a nice moment there with Gannan at the house. Glad somebody mentioned Wola because I'm still waiting to see what the bigger-picture reason was for putting us through all that Wola stuff. If there is one....
(btw KJ could do a lot worse for himself than Gannan. Just sayin'. Of course Songi would probably have her killed, wouldn't she.)
Good news/bad news. "I can't fill the overlord's shoes." At least Yakson is honest with himself about that. We know he never wanted a position of power, and give him credit for honestly evaluating himself now. So that's the good. But once again, as soon as he started talking about Songi, we get the ominous music like somebody's planning to destroy the Earth. And this time even a nutty laugh. So is he gonna go psycho on us? Is this Chunsim The Sequel? We got weird music before she went psycho too. I hope not, and not just because it was silly with Chunsim. Two people forced into a marriage and both unhappy with it, it's a sad thing and not something to be played for creeps. Especially with young children in the picture.
Would be great to see more of Subeop wandering the countryside. Remember I was asking for more scenes showing what's going on among the ordinary people; Subeop's wanderings are a great way to incorporate that. But wow what a shocker to see the two sons being such dirtbags! They were just sort of self-entitled losers before; now they're aggressively hurting people, quite a change.
That scene in the marketplace, the unrest that Choe U came across, another well-done glimpse of what's happening to the ordinary people.
They brought back that high-angle shot in the council hall. Maybe they mounted a camera up there and left it. Whatever, it's a great shot, very effective. The colors are striking.
That final scene didn't work. It was either the translation or KJ speaking too much in the abstract; either way whatever KJ was trying to explain, it wasn't making sense. Apparently it was KJ saying "military dictatorship" that ticked off Choe U, at least that much seemed clear. Presumably it will clear up when the next episode starts. Too bad the episode ended on that note because otherwise it continued the run of strong episodes we've been on. Hope it keeps up now that hostilities have ceased.
p.s. Hoe Angong: "Twice, thrice, I have wept and keened over this edict." Anybody else stumped by that--"keen" as a verb? Dug into that and turned up three definitions. My Random House print dictionary says "to wail in lamentation for the dead." Something online called the MacMillan Dictionary (open-source) says "to make a long high sound expressing pain or sadness." And my Merriam-Webster dictionary app says "to make a loud and long cry of sorrow." So there's today's Korean historical drama English lesson!