Post by ajk on Nov 3, 2019 22:32:17 GMT -5
“We must seek another route if the end is evident....Power and honor are trivial.” Wow, who would have bet on Goongyae giving up his leadership like he did. But in the big picture it did end up making perfect sense. One thing’s for sure, this series is being written at a higher level than a lot of what’s been written more recently. Nothing for kids or shippers.
Also surprised by the first impression of Yangil. After seeing all of these other local rebel lords and what scoundrels they are, Yangil seems almost statesmanlike—older than maybe we expected, and certainly more thoughtful and even-tempered. But then later we had Bok Jikyum’s observations about Yangil being sort of a simpleton and too tempted by greed to be a truly effective leader. Great sign that they created such a full character profile in a single episode.
Jongahn: “I learned Yukdo-samrak and Sonja strategies.” Sorry guys, I tried...no idea what he’s talking about here.
“Why do you laugh?” Well come on, it’s awfully funny that the head honcho is trying to marry his daughter off to a monk. This helped make Bok Jikyum’s subsequent observations more believable, how he so badly wanted to lock Goongyae into the fold that he’d do something so drastic and seemingly silly.
Goongyae to his new wife: “I will call you nun from now on.” Ooooh talk dirty to me big boy!
“One must cauterize your arm to become a disciple of Buddha.” That is a real thing. If you Google “Buddhism arm burning” you find some information about Buddhists burning themselves, including one academic article that says it was a routine part of the ordination of Buddhist monks and nuns in Korea. I won’t bother summarizing it all but yes apparently this scene is absolutely historically accurate. I’m glad we didn’t see it happen (although from not showing any of it, you wonder if it might suddenly emerge later for shock value).
“Mornings are wonderful. It is the time of day when your head is clearest.” Blecch, he’s a morning person. A pox on him.
The first narrated text (with a screenshot; click on it to see the full size):
Wow I didn’t even recognize KH in that red robe. It’s almost disappointing, isn’t it? He’s so good as a military commander, seeing him sitting there in that robe, it feels like he’s lost some of what made him special. And the way he sort of gave the brushoff to those regional chieftans who had been waiting for days to see him, that was sort of rude and unwise—something you wouldn’t expect KH to do. Hope this isn’t a permanent turn.
The second narrated text:
Also surprised by the first impression of Yangil. After seeing all of these other local rebel lords and what scoundrels they are, Yangil seems almost statesmanlike—older than maybe we expected, and certainly more thoughtful and even-tempered. But then later we had Bok Jikyum’s observations about Yangil being sort of a simpleton and too tempted by greed to be a truly effective leader. Great sign that they created such a full character profile in a single episode.
Jongahn: “I learned Yukdo-samrak and Sonja strategies.” Sorry guys, I tried...no idea what he’s talking about here.
“Why do you laugh?” Well come on, it’s awfully funny that the head honcho is trying to marry his daughter off to a monk. This helped make Bok Jikyum’s subsequent observations more believable, how he so badly wanted to lock Goongyae into the fold that he’d do something so drastic and seemingly silly.
Goongyae to his new wife: “I will call you nun from now on.” Ooooh talk dirty to me big boy!
“One must cauterize your arm to become a disciple of Buddha.” That is a real thing. If you Google “Buddhism arm burning” you find some information about Buddhists burning themselves, including one academic article that says it was a routine part of the ordination of Buddhist monks and nuns in Korea. I won’t bother summarizing it all but yes apparently this scene is absolutely historically accurate. I’m glad we didn’t see it happen (although from not showing any of it, you wonder if it might suddenly emerge later for shock value).
“Mornings are wonderful. It is the time of day when your head is clearest.” Blecch, he’s a morning person. A pox on him.
The first narrated text (with a screenshot; click on it to see the full size):
Bekdu Mountain Range...It is a chain of mountains that divides Korea by east and west. It flows from Mt. Bekdu along the eastern coast and veers west at Mt. Taebek to Mt. Jiri. Myungju was a fort in present-day Kangwon-do region, situated east of Bekdu Mountain Range. Because of its geographic advantage, this region remained relatively peaceful during this time of national turmoil. Yangil began to cast his eyes on this region after listening to Goongyae.
Wow I didn’t even recognize KH in that red robe. It’s almost disappointing, isn’t it? He’s so good as a military commander, seeing him sitting there in that robe, it feels like he’s lost some of what made him special. And the way he sort of gave the brushoff to those regional chieftans who had been waiting for days to see him, that was sort of rude and unwise—something you wouldn’t expect KH to do. Hope this isn’t a permanent turn.
The second narrated text:
Goongyae at Suknam Temple...He finally began carrying out his mission as he settled here. But he started with chilling discipline. Asserting equality and detachment to possessions, he finally began taking steps toward the land of Buddha.So it looks like we’re moving more into the Goongyae story now. Which is fine, because it certainly has become much more substantial.