Post by ajk on Nov 28, 2017 1:35:51 GMT -5
Sorry this one's late; my dad was in the hospital over the weekend.
It occurred to me during this past week that I may have misunderstood what's been going on between KJ and Anshim. The series hasn't shown us anything more physically intimate than a hug and a kiss between them, and that was before she became Choe's concubine. But are we supposed to understand from what we've been shown that they were in fact having an affair while she was Choe's concubine? According to one of truth's translations that's what happened in real history, but there has never been anything shown since Anshim came to the capital that suggested any such thing was going on. KJ's clear sense of guilt, though, that certainly suggests they were having an affair. Anybody have any insight on this?
Anyway...this was another episode that left me torn between frustration at the lack of progress in KJ's story and not minding it a bit because the episode was so well done. The feeling of devastation that hung over this one, the horrible sense that things have spun completely out of control, it was very well conveyed. And Jung Bo Suk was terrific.
Say what you will about Songi, it was certainly a class gesture to give Gannan that gift. But why didn't Yunshim get one too?
And speaking of Gannan, why is she still single? Seriously! This may be the single most implausible thing in the entire series. She's pretty and kind and has a good heart, and holds an important position. She should have been snatched up by somebody a long time ago.
Choe to KJ: "You have one talent: women seem to die around you." Cracked me up!
"My vanity murdered Kim Yakson." That was a terrific scene. So much unsaid between father and daughter...and then things started being said. Too bad the scene couldn't go on much longer; I was sorry to see it end so quickly.
More of the scenes of the Tripitaka being made, loved those. And it was great to see the common people observing the process. Was just thinking this week about how little we've seen of the commoners lately. It always livens up the series to see the bigger picture. Just one complaint: Again with this stuff about Subeop? Ten years with no sleep and eating only pine needles? Stop it already.
"He's terrifying. I didn't know he had it in him. Poisoning his own daughter? It's appalling." I thought about that as it was happening...but you know what, give Choe a ton of credit for holding true to his principles on that. No matter how painful it is for him, he's not cutting her any slack...and he's not treating her differently because it's a daughter. If a son had done something comparable, there would be no discussion about it. To me this was the most compelling thing about the entire episode, the way Choe felt the pain of everybody who pled for mercy for Songi but still he did what he thought was best for the country. "We're running a country. There is no room for sentiment. If one is punished with a rod and the other with a stick, the law will cease to exist."
Oh for the love of....They did it again. Shoved a pop ballad in there at a terrible moment. Please Songi, if you're not gonna drink the poison then give it to me! Sheesh.
Well it sure was good to see Kim Kyongson back and with the air cleared about his loyalty. Was kind of surprised that he appealed to Choe for mercy for Songi. But she is his sister-in-law so there's a family connection there.
Well at least they didn't end the episode with a pop ballad, thank goodness for that.
After watching this episode I learned that the series was originally set for 50 episodes and got extended. Okay so that's why things are moving so slowly right now. Unfortunately this looks to be yet another instance of the same mistake with every extended series I've seen: dawdling in the middle of the existing storyline rather than adding new material. But fair is fair; let's see what the remaining sixteen episodes bring before judging.
It occurred to me during this past week that I may have misunderstood what's been going on between KJ and Anshim. The series hasn't shown us anything more physically intimate than a hug and a kiss between them, and that was before she became Choe's concubine. But are we supposed to understand from what we've been shown that they were in fact having an affair while she was Choe's concubine? According to one of truth's translations that's what happened in real history, but there has never been anything shown since Anshim came to the capital that suggested any such thing was going on. KJ's clear sense of guilt, though, that certainly suggests they were having an affair. Anybody have any insight on this?
Anyway...this was another episode that left me torn between frustration at the lack of progress in KJ's story and not minding it a bit because the episode was so well done. The feeling of devastation that hung over this one, the horrible sense that things have spun completely out of control, it was very well conveyed. And Jung Bo Suk was terrific.
Say what you will about Songi, it was certainly a class gesture to give Gannan that gift. But why didn't Yunshim get one too?
And speaking of Gannan, why is she still single? Seriously! This may be the single most implausible thing in the entire series. She's pretty and kind and has a good heart, and holds an important position. She should have been snatched up by somebody a long time ago.
Choe to KJ: "You have one talent: women seem to die around you." Cracked me up!
"My vanity murdered Kim Yakson." That was a terrific scene. So much unsaid between father and daughter...and then things started being said. Too bad the scene couldn't go on much longer; I was sorry to see it end so quickly.
More of the scenes of the Tripitaka being made, loved those. And it was great to see the common people observing the process. Was just thinking this week about how little we've seen of the commoners lately. It always livens up the series to see the bigger picture. Just one complaint: Again with this stuff about Subeop? Ten years with no sleep and eating only pine needles? Stop it already.
"He's terrifying. I didn't know he had it in him. Poisoning his own daughter? It's appalling." I thought about that as it was happening...but you know what, give Choe a ton of credit for holding true to his principles on that. No matter how painful it is for him, he's not cutting her any slack...and he's not treating her differently because it's a daughter. If a son had done something comparable, there would be no discussion about it. To me this was the most compelling thing about the entire episode, the way Choe felt the pain of everybody who pled for mercy for Songi but still he did what he thought was best for the country. "We're running a country. There is no room for sentiment. If one is punished with a rod and the other with a stick, the law will cease to exist."
Oh for the love of....They did it again. Shoved a pop ballad in there at a terrible moment. Please Songi, if you're not gonna drink the poison then give it to me! Sheesh.
Well it sure was good to see Kim Kyongson back and with the air cleared about his loyalty. Was kind of surprised that he appealed to Choe for mercy for Songi. But she is his sister-in-law so there's a family connection there.
Well at least they didn't end the episode with a pop ballad, thank goodness for that.
After watching this episode I learned that the series was originally set for 50 episodes and got extended. Okay so that's why things are moving so slowly right now. Unfortunately this looks to be yet another instance of the same mistake with every extended series I've seen: dawdling in the middle of the existing storyline rather than adding new material. But fair is fair; let's see what the remaining sixteen episodes bring before judging.