Post by ajk on Feb 19, 2018 4:01:54 GMT -5
For the most part another very good episode. That somber feeling that started to show up recently, it’s moving in and blanketing the whole country now, you can really feel it. Everything has a sort of resigned sadness about it, which you have to think was the mood that must have prevailed at that time.
“You suspect me then?” What a fast nod that was from Yangbaek. It was surprising how KJ let that conversation get so frank and forward so quickly, and then create such a huge rift between them. I thought he’d have a more clever cover story ready and not just evasiveness. I did like the part about “There’s loyalty and then there’s moral duty. Blind obedience is for slaves and dogs” and it's too bad the discussion didn't get more into that...but Yangbaek isn’t exactly a rocket scientist, is he. KJ probably wouldn’t get anywhere even if he tried.
“I brought this on myself for the people I killed.” The deathbed scenes were excellent; Choe Hang talking about seeing all of the people he wronged coming at him and then his facing his flaws and mistakes. Great writing; showed more of that inner conflict that’s made him an interesting character. And let’s hear it for that actor—Baek Do-bin is his name; he was one of the Hwarang in QSD but he’s much more of a movie actor, has only done a few TV series. Did a terrific job playing Choe Hang.
And how about the shocker before CH died; said he knew that KJ had caused the illness! Sure didn’t expect that.
The first narrated text:
I'm having a hard time buying this stuff about how dangerous the Personal Guard is. The regular army and the Guard Corps dwarf them, and especially if not all of the men in the PG support its leadership, how big of a danger can they be? This is the one thing in the episode that I really didn’t care for.
That...and the evil laughter from the Mongols. Enough already!
Wow could that kid Choe Ui look any less comfortable taking the overlord job?
The second narrated text:
“The real power lies with Lord Son and Lord Ryu.” It seemed sort of unusual in the last episode when they showed Song Kilyu being so tough with that local population to get them out of harm’s way. Now we know why they showed it: because he was censured for it and that was the last straw that spurred KJ and the Guard Corps leaders to action.
The civil war’s about to happen...and we get the pop music. Good grief. At least it was left for the closing credit, but ugh. In any event the story is getting very intense right now and it looks like we may even see KJ as overlord before the series ends. Hooray!
“You suspect me then?” What a fast nod that was from Yangbaek. It was surprising how KJ let that conversation get so frank and forward so quickly, and then create such a huge rift between them. I thought he’d have a more clever cover story ready and not just evasiveness. I did like the part about “There’s loyalty and then there’s moral duty. Blind obedience is for slaves and dogs” and it's too bad the discussion didn't get more into that...but Yangbaek isn’t exactly a rocket scientist, is he. KJ probably wouldn’t get anywhere even if he tried.
“I brought this on myself for the people I killed.” The deathbed scenes were excellent; Choe Hang talking about seeing all of the people he wronged coming at him and then his facing his flaws and mistakes. Great writing; showed more of that inner conflict that’s made him an interesting character. And let’s hear it for that actor—Baek Do-bin is his name; he was one of the Hwarang in QSD but he’s much more of a movie actor, has only done a few TV series. Did a terrific job playing Choe Hang.
And how about the shocker before CH died; said he knew that KJ had caused the illness! Sure didn’t expect that.
The first narrated text:
July 22, 1254, just six months after Yeku withdrew his troops the Mongols crossed the Yalu again. This was the Mongols’ sixth invasion, led by Jalairtai, the cruelest of all Mongol commanders. The reson for the invasion was the death of their commissioner, Yi Hyon. The Koryo emperor was ordered to return to Kaegyeong. And the people of Koryo were ordered to shave their heads. They reached Kaegyeong within a month. And immediately prepared to launch an attack on Kanghwa. They cut off the capital, razed the peninsula, and demanded total surrender.Now Kim Yunhu is in the high council? Come on already, give the guy his own series. Right after Kim Kyongson’s!
I'm having a hard time buying this stuff about how dangerous the Personal Guard is. The regular army and the Guard Corps dwarf them, and especially if not all of the men in the PG support its leadership, how big of a danger can they be? This is the one thing in the episode that I really didn’t care for.
That...and the evil laughter from the Mongols. Enough already!
Wow could that kid Choe Ui look any less comfortable taking the overlord job?
The second narrated text:
In 1257 Choe Hang dies. He enjoyed a brief truce with the Mongols during his eight years as overlord. Choe Hang was a tyrant. He ignored national affairs and murdered court officials. Just prior to Choe Hang’s death, Jalairtai captured 208,600 Koryo citizens. Within a year of Choe Ui taking office, the House of Choe would fall.I had never heard that before, so many citizens hauled away into slavery. Wow what an incredibly enormous tragedy.
“The real power lies with Lord Son and Lord Ryu.” It seemed sort of unusual in the last episode when they showed Song Kilyu being so tough with that local population to get them out of harm’s way. Now we know why they showed it: because he was censured for it and that was the last straw that spurred KJ and the Guard Corps leaders to action.
The civil war’s about to happen...and we get the pop music. Good grief. At least it was left for the closing credit, but ugh. In any event the story is getting very intense right now and it looks like we may even see KJ as overlord before the series ends. Hooray!