Post by ajk on Feb 11, 2018 22:54:20 GMT -5
After the fantastic cliffhanger they left us with, this episode was very disappointing. It wasn’t bad, and there were some very good moments, but there was a big disconnect between the previous episode and this one and they totally squandered the cliffhanger. What made the suspense so good was the secrecy of it all: the nighttime meeting, just KJ and the servant woman, the two of them surreptitiously plotting to change the course of history. Well, they start this episode and Gannan has already let the younger servant woman Puni in on it, and KJ is telling Park Songbi and Yi Kongju as well. No. Just no.
The kitchen scenes, trying to get the poison into Choe Hang’s food, they could have been so much better. And why did they leave the poisoned soy sauce in the jar long after it was needed? It was at least a day later and the stuff was still sitting there on that counter? No way would Gannan have let that happen. Anyway, Gannan didn’t need anybody else’s help to get the poison in there so it made no sense that she would have told Puni about it at all.
And then KJ, he wouldn’t have told anybody what he was up to either, not even trusted comrades. Park and Yi didn’t need to know, and the discussion they had about succession could certainly have waited until after Choe died. Another scene that didn’t make sense. The whole thing was all a huge letdown, at least to me.
Now the positives. The very first scene, showing the desperation among the common people, don’t mean to beat this to death but you need those scenes for context. Was glad to get one.
Then the Chungju stuff. It’s a great story and this episode presented it very well just like the previous one did. Forgot to mention the burning of the slave rosters last time; that was an emotional moment and gave so much meaning and significance to what followed. Excellent battle sequences in both episodes. A couple of momentary problems in this one: we got back to some rubber boulder bouncing, unfortunately; and the bamboo spear that propelled the guy off his feet and flying through the air, definitely could have done without that one. But the rest of it was beautifully done, and with more great stunt work, especially the riders and horses.
The scenes with the physicians were intriguing, and we got a great surprise after their first visit with the little flashback conversation with Yi Jangyong. “Sometimes a doctor heals best, who heals the nation.” What made it even better was realizing that when the royal physician was summoned to visit Choe Hang, Yi must have realized that KJ had put something in motion—which is why he went right to the physician and talked to him. Cleverly written and presented.
One other thing that I liked a lot was the feeling of defeat and helplessness that started to emerge in the scenes with the emperor. This was something that the Shin Don series did extremely well: right from the beginning you had the suffocating feeling of a huge weight hanging over the country and slowly draining it of life. That series followed in history from this one so it was fitting that the same feeling was taking root here.
“We can’t give the Overlord’s position to his son. Choe Ui is a moron.” Well isn’t that special.
“They’re too fond of their homes. Burn them all!” Wow you feel for Song Kilyu having to do that. Tough medicine.
What was the deal with that shaman who was dancing all around Yeku? Why would they bring in a local seer and not use one of their own like Amukan suggested? Especially after the guy told Yeku he was in great peril and needed to withdraw the army—wouldn’t you expect an enemy citizen to tell you that? That scene made no sense; should have been cut out.
The two passages of narrated text:
p.s. Kim Yunhu is another historical figure who’d make for a great series, at least based on what this series has shown of him. Yeku said “Not unlike Kim Kyongson back in the day.” Exactly what I was thinking. Plus he has a sense of humor here too, which is always welcome relief in these dark storyline. Looks at Yi Hyon getting taken away for execution and laughs and says “Maybe you’ll be a Mongol in the next life.” A little cold but you had to laugh. Maybe they can give him a series after Kim gets one. Which of course will be never, sigh.
The kitchen scenes, trying to get the poison into Choe Hang’s food, they could have been so much better. And why did they leave the poisoned soy sauce in the jar long after it was needed? It was at least a day later and the stuff was still sitting there on that counter? No way would Gannan have let that happen. Anyway, Gannan didn’t need anybody else’s help to get the poison in there so it made no sense that she would have told Puni about it at all.
And then KJ, he wouldn’t have told anybody what he was up to either, not even trusted comrades. Park and Yi didn’t need to know, and the discussion they had about succession could certainly have waited until after Choe died. Another scene that didn’t make sense. The whole thing was all a huge letdown, at least to me.
Now the positives. The very first scene, showing the desperation among the common people, don’t mean to beat this to death but you need those scenes for context. Was glad to get one.
Then the Chungju stuff. It’s a great story and this episode presented it very well just like the previous one did. Forgot to mention the burning of the slave rosters last time; that was an emotional moment and gave so much meaning and significance to what followed. Excellent battle sequences in both episodes. A couple of momentary problems in this one: we got back to some rubber boulder bouncing, unfortunately; and the bamboo spear that propelled the guy off his feet and flying through the air, definitely could have done without that one. But the rest of it was beautifully done, and with more great stunt work, especially the riders and horses.
The scenes with the physicians were intriguing, and we got a great surprise after their first visit with the little flashback conversation with Yi Jangyong. “Sometimes a doctor heals best, who heals the nation.” What made it even better was realizing that when the royal physician was summoned to visit Choe Hang, Yi must have realized that KJ had put something in motion—which is why he went right to the physician and talked to him. Cleverly written and presented.
One other thing that I liked a lot was the feeling of defeat and helplessness that started to emerge in the scenes with the emperor. This was something that the Shin Don series did extremely well: right from the beginning you had the suffocating feeling of a huge weight hanging over the country and slowly draining it of life. That series followed in history from this one so it was fitting that the same feeling was taking root here.
“We can’t give the Overlord’s position to his son. Choe Ui is a moron.” Well isn’t that special.
“They’re too fond of their homes. Burn them all!” Wow you feel for Song Kilyu having to do that. Tough medicine.
What was the deal with that shaman who was dancing all around Yeku? Why would they bring in a local seer and not use one of their own like Amukan suggested? Especially after the guy told Yeku he was in great peril and needed to withdraw the army—wouldn’t you expect an enemy citizen to tell you that? That scene made no sense; should have been cut out.
The two passages of narrated text:
The obeisance of Kojong and the Duke of Angyong. Yeku led his troops to Koryo and achieved his goal. But there was more to it. Weak from an old illness, Yeku heeded the shaman’s warning and withdrew. Most of all, he was weary from 70 days of siege at Fort Chungju. In any case, the fifth Mongol invasion withdrew across the Yalu.
Yeku left with Hong Bokwon, leaving Yi Hyon behind. A traitor who fought against Koryo, Yi Hyon served as resident commissioner. Something Choe Hang could not forgive. Within six months, the Mongols had another excuse to invade.Aw, why close the episode with the pop music? Blecch, and we hadn’t heard any of it in quite a while. Rats. Well we’re down to the final five episodes and they’ve used it much less frequently lately so we really can’t complain.
p.s. Kim Yunhu is another historical figure who’d make for a great series, at least based on what this series has shown of him. Yeku said “Not unlike Kim Kyongson back in the day.” Exactly what I was thinking. Plus he has a sense of humor here too, which is always welcome relief in these dark storyline. Looks at Yi Hyon getting taken away for execution and laughs and says “Maybe you’ll be a Mongol in the next life.” A little cold but you had to laugh. Maybe they can give him a series after Kim gets one. Which of course will be never, sigh.