Post by ajk on Sept 30, 2017 15:53:15 GMT -5
Interesting episode. Depending on how KJ responds to Yakson's challenging him at the end, this episode could be KJ's turning point, or at least the start of it. Choe U telling Yakson "If you want, consult with Kim Jun," that was loaded with implications. KJ still has no ambitions of anything beyond the work he's doing now--chewing out Yangbaek when Yangbaek suggested otherwise showed us that--but it sure looks like things will get ugly when Choe dies and KJ will get swept up into the mess whether he likes it or not.
Nice opening scene, with the flashbacks going through Choe's head, well done.
"Overlord...you look terrible." Real smooth, dude. You know what, you're not exactly a thing of beauty yourself.
"It's more than a little fever. You're burning up." Well then it's a good thing he's wearing those thick pajamas and has that heavy blanket over him. Sheesh. Oh, and then: "What kind of illness gets worse every day?" Ummm...really? Choe's new wife isn't an Einstein, is she.
Wow the Anshim angle sure came out of nowhere. I enjoyed that! Don't often get weird surprises like that in historicals but they're fun and they really make you perk up and take notice. And give the writers credit, they went to the trouble of creating and spelling out a solid, plausible backstory for it. They didn't just dump it into the storyline and expect the viewers to accept it like brainless amoebas. And it explains why she acted the way she did earlier--I accused her of being a tease but now we know she had reason to be evasive with KJ. She still should have spelled it all out to him back in Taegu, but obviously it's a difficult thing to talk about so it does make more sense now.
You'd think that Choe U would see that sour look on Yakson's face when he told him to endure as the next overlord, and rethink the whole idea once and for all. It's so obvious Kim doesn't have the heart for it, and his performance so far hasn't exactly dazzled anybody. As much as Choe wants Yakson to succeed, you hope he has backup plan percolating in his mind. He's not a dumb guy and there's nothing to suggest that Yakson will be successful.
"Shall I tell you my life story?" That was kind of snotty. We want to like Anshim but Gannan was just being friendly, no need to look down on her like that.
Gonna say this again--I don't understand the all-or-nothing argument about reconstructing the Tripitaka. It doesn't have to be all or nothing. Start slowly. A smaller effort is smarter than a bigger one right now anyway. "Thousands of workers writing in the same style, all of whom must be trained." There ya go, proves my point. (It's being presented this way because this is true to history and I appreciate that very much; not arguing with the storyline at all, rather with the decision itself. Won't say more because of spoilers.)
"You demand much, they disappoint you, and so you have fallen ill." Can't argue with the fortune-teller on that one; no doubt Choe's stresses are exacerbating his illness.
That teenager looks ridiculous in a general's uniform. Ridiculous.
"We'll put our heads together and come up with something." If you put your head together with Dae Jipsung's head, you have one head. Yours.
Songi: "This Anshim? With my Kim Jun? So that's it. He's still haunted by thoughts of Wola." Even if that's true--and "haunted" may be too strong a word for it--why is she surprised? Carrying a painful torch for someone for a long time, does that sound at all familiar? Ugh.
Uh-oh, drunk Yangbaek! You'd think he'd learn by now...but this actually is a clever thing the writers are doing. Whenever we see him drunk, he says or does something to stir the pot. And they don't overuse it so it's still working. How much he is or isn't envious of KJ, ordinarily it's hard to tell because he doesn't say much, but we got some clarity on it thanks to the alcohol. "Do you know how many people envy you? And I'm one of them!"
The narrated text:
p.s. Tanggu: "It's a disgrace to the Mongols--three invasions?" Ha! Just you wait, pal.
Nice opening scene, with the flashbacks going through Choe's head, well done.
"Overlord...you look terrible." Real smooth, dude. You know what, you're not exactly a thing of beauty yourself.
"It's more than a little fever. You're burning up." Well then it's a good thing he's wearing those thick pajamas and has that heavy blanket over him. Sheesh. Oh, and then: "What kind of illness gets worse every day?" Ummm...really? Choe's new wife isn't an Einstein, is she.
Wow the Anshim angle sure came out of nowhere. I enjoyed that! Don't often get weird surprises like that in historicals but they're fun and they really make you perk up and take notice. And give the writers credit, they went to the trouble of creating and spelling out a solid, plausible backstory for it. They didn't just dump it into the storyline and expect the viewers to accept it like brainless amoebas. And it explains why she acted the way she did earlier--I accused her of being a tease but now we know she had reason to be evasive with KJ. She still should have spelled it all out to him back in Taegu, but obviously it's a difficult thing to talk about so it does make more sense now.
You'd think that Choe U would see that sour look on Yakson's face when he told him to endure as the next overlord, and rethink the whole idea once and for all. It's so obvious Kim doesn't have the heart for it, and his performance so far hasn't exactly dazzled anybody. As much as Choe wants Yakson to succeed, you hope he has backup plan percolating in his mind. He's not a dumb guy and there's nothing to suggest that Yakson will be successful.
"Shall I tell you my life story?" That was kind of snotty. We want to like Anshim but Gannan was just being friendly, no need to look down on her like that.
Gonna say this again--I don't understand the all-or-nothing argument about reconstructing the Tripitaka. It doesn't have to be all or nothing. Start slowly. A smaller effort is smarter than a bigger one right now anyway. "Thousands of workers writing in the same style, all of whom must be trained." There ya go, proves my point. (It's being presented this way because this is true to history and I appreciate that very much; not arguing with the storyline at all, rather with the decision itself. Won't say more because of spoilers.)
"You demand much, they disappoint you, and so you have fallen ill." Can't argue with the fortune-teller on that one; no doubt Choe's stresses are exacerbating his illness.
That teenager looks ridiculous in a general's uniform. Ridiculous.
"We'll put our heads together and come up with something." If you put your head together with Dae Jipsung's head, you have one head. Yours.
Songi: "This Anshim? With my Kim Jun? So that's it. He's still haunted by thoughts of Wola." Even if that's true--and "haunted" may be too strong a word for it--why is she surprised? Carrying a painful torch for someone for a long time, does that sound at all familiar? Ugh.
Uh-oh, drunk Yangbaek! You'd think he'd learn by now...but this actually is a clever thing the writers are doing. Whenever we see him drunk, he says or does something to stir the pot. And they don't overuse it so it's still working. How much he is or isn't envious of KJ, ordinarily it's hard to tell because he doesn't say much, but we got some clarity on it thanks to the alcohol. "Do you know how many people envy you? And I'm one of them!"
The narrated text:
June, 1235. The Crown Prince married the daughter of Kim Yakson. Just one month later, in July of that year, Tanggu led his Mongol hordes across the border, guided by Hong Bogwon. The Third Mongol Invasion. But Koryo did not try to stop them. Since moving to Kanghwa, they focused on defense and guerilla tactics. What's more, the Guard Corps were still plagued by rebellion on the peninsula.Going forward I hope Anshim doesn't end up turning into a ping-pong ball once Choe dies and the power struggles start. Not sure that would be enjoyable at all to watch. Actually right now I'm wondering why KJ wouldn't just go to Choe and ask for her release? He's been loyal and never asks for anything, so if he asks for something just this once and asks the right way, it couldn't do any harm...could it? Yes she's here to be a concubine and you don't mess with the boss's concubines, but she only just now showed up and she's not his concubine yet. And remember that Choe himself told KJ to find a wife. Especially with Songi infuriating him by asking for a divorce and still wanting KJ, Choe would probably be tickled pink to give Anshim to KJ and get him married. I just don't want to see KJ pining pathetically for her for a long time like we saw in EOS with Jang Bogo pining pathetically for Jang-hwa.
p.s. Tanggu: "It's a disgrace to the Mongols--three invasions?" Ha! Just you wait, pal.