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Post by Alexa on Oct 31, 2005 23:45:49 GMT -5
I am going to miss this drama this last episode was so emotional for me, seeing Yi Young Nam die defending YSS and telling YSS that he wanted to be like him. Seeing YSS break down after Yi's death and put his armor on him. Seeing all his men fighting with all their might to finish off the Japanese. Seeing the great Admiral die with that peaceful smile on his face. What really got to me was the last few minutes when they did the flashbacks on the Commanders with YSS. That was so touching, they all came a long way. In the beginning when YSS had taken command of the Navy, nobody got along and the commanders really didn't like YSS. But YSS won their trust and their affection. There was a scene where the narrator said that YSS led them to 23 battles, 23 wins, but those were not the only battles they had to fight. How true that was, YSS spent most of his years having to fight of personal battles, like when the King accused him of being a traitor, when he promoted common soldiers to rank of Commanders and there were those who opposed him, even his own commanders, like when YSS only had 12 ships and nobody thought he could succeed. YSS was a great man, a true warrior, with strong beliefs and morals, and I just admire that so much. I am truly glad that I got to learn about him through this drama, as hard as it is to believe, this drama taught me alot. Oh and Minister Yu, I really liked him too. He always stood by what he believed, even trying to make peace with Minister Yoon for the sake of the country. I was so glad when he told the King that the people who were responsible for the war were sitting in that room, it was about time that somebody said something. Though the King didn't really care. I can't believe the King tried to get YSS arrested. Did he not know YSS was in a battle at that time?
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Ken
Junior Addict
Posts: 197
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Post by Ken on Nov 1, 2005 0:50:40 GMT -5
A lot of good points, Alexa. We learned a lot from the series too. Joanie and I are going to miss this one a lot! There were a lot of weaknesses to the show (the clumsy framing device with the LONG childhood flashback, some irritatingly hammy acting, and the unnecessary fictionalization of some of the history), but overall, YSS got better and better as it went along and had some of the best battle sequences in any of the shows we've seen so far. We also liked that it focused often on the common soldiers and people and had a lot of strong characters. YSS's military genius and his ability to inspire and lead were especially well done. We're going to go through some serious YSS withdrawal - We already experienced it badly with Emperor Wang Guhn, The Great Jang-geum and Age of Warriors. We also just finished watching Emperor of the Sea on DVD yesterday and it's vastly inferior to YSS, except for the presence of Choi Soo Jong and Kim Kapsu and the actor who played Yum Moon. Although the production values of EOTS were very high, thanks to an absolutely ridiculous and drawn-out love triangle complete with song-length flashbacks and major plot holes near the end of the series, EOTS mostly served to make us appreciate how good YSS was. EOTS was entertaining to watch, but because it fantasized the historical elements so extensively, ultimately the series had no real substance and especially near the end, as much subtlety as the average Swartzenegger flick. In contrast, Yi Soon Shin was far better, despite its flaws, because it has historical resonance and did not romanticize the war. YSS was a very good series and we're looking forward to the get-together to watch the specials! Hope something good follows it, but YSS'll be hard to replace!
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Post by Knov1 on Nov 1, 2005 2:49:43 GMT -5
I don't mean to get off topic but thought I should mention that I called KBC to inquire about which drama would be replacing YSS but they couldn't tell me. Apparently, they don't even know yet.
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Post by kathleen34 on Nov 1, 2005 6:58:28 GMT -5
I don't mean to get off topic but thought I should mention that I called KBC to inquire about which drama would be replacing YSS but they couldn't tell me. Apparently, they don't even know yet. Their response is surely another call to Dog's Nose! How could they not know? I just think all the KBC staff needs a crash course in customer service. RE IYSS - I do wish we could have seen the King's reaction to Yi's death AND the fact that he won yet another battle. They could have foregone the flashbacks for 'what happened next'. AND in conclusion, today's 21Century leaders would do well to watch IYSS from beginning to end... or at least the significant battles... and pay careful attention to YSS's non-political-correctness, his integrity, and his consistent doiing the right thing for Chosun, rather than his own glory. Fact is, his glory DID come from serving the people of Chosun. YSS Withdrawl is now in full swing.
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Post by Alexa on Nov 1, 2005 8:09:18 GMT -5
RE IYSS - I do wish we could have seen the King's reaction to Yi's death AND the fact that he won yet another battle. They could have foregone the flashbacks for 'what happened next'. I was thinking the same thing. I mean what happened to the King? how did he react? how did the people react? I almost sure there was nationwide mourning. and did his commanders get arrested for going to battle even after the Ming Commander forbade it? YSS was a very good series and we're looking forward to the get-together to watch the specials! Hope something good follows it, but YSS'll be hard to replace! be prepared to see me shed some tears
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Post by BungalowDweller on Nov 1, 2005 8:50:43 GMT -5
My daughter wants to know WHY YSS took off his armor! How do I answer? Are there any factual, historical musings about this? Was it to protect Yi Young Nam? Was it to avoid the looming actions of an ungrateful king and plotting court, which surely would have entailed more shame and torture unto death?
I have to say that he disappointed me when he did that. If, indeed, YSS believed that "one life is worth more than a fleet of ships" why did he do what he did? My kid wept at the end--what a great series! And what a man! I look forward to meeting YSS in the afterlife!
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Post by Lovely on Nov 1, 2005 8:56:29 GMT -5
I liked the last minutes of the show where there were the main highlights of Yi Soon-shin's life.
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Choko
Junior Addict
Posts: 191
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Post by Choko on Nov 1, 2005 10:18:06 GMT -5
King Sun-jo (1552~1608) died 10 years after the war. He married a teenage girl after his wife died and she gave him the first and only legitimate son, Prince Young-chang. It was no wonder the little prince would be a threat to Crown prince Gwang-hae who was born of a concubine. That was the beginning of another tragedy. Crown prince Gwang-hae (1575~1641) is known as one of the most excellent diplomats in the history of Korea. He did his best to avoid war with Manchuria and secretly negotiated with them (Later, they founded Ching China) while helping his ally Ming China. However, Gwang-hae murdered his little half brother (the legitimate prince) to avoid political confusion, which provided some conservative ministers who favored Ming China and disliked his secret negotiation with Manchuria a plausible excuse to carry out a coup against him. He was deposed and sent into exile. The coup caused a tragedy not only to him but also to the entire Chosun kingdom---a new war with the Manchuria (1636~1637). Hundreds of thousands of Chosunese people were killed again like the 7-year war, and Chosun finally surrendered to the Manchurians 40 years after the Imjin war. Admiral YSS & Prince Gwang-hae must have shed blood tears in the grave or under confinement. Prime minister Yu Sung-ryong (1542~1607) never returned to the political world after the war even though the king called for him to come back several times. He wrote a book titled "The Book of Corrections" where he recorded the cause, progress, and result of the 7-year war as he saw it. He lived a poor but honest life and is highly regarded as a cleanhanded government officer. Korea's National Treasure #132, Prime Minister Yu Sung-ryong's The Book of Corrections. (English translated version of the "Book of Corrections" in Amazon.com)Left prime minister Yun Du-soo (1533~1601) died 3 years after the war. After the resignation of Yu Sung-ryong, he became a new prime minister but retired from the political life so soon. Unlike the drama, Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536~1598) peacefully died in his bed. At the dying hour, he asked Tokugawa Ieyasu(1542~1616) to look after his little son, Hideyori, as a guardian, but Tokugawa and other samurais betrayed Hideyoshi's last will and fought for supremacy. Tokugawa won the battle of Sekigahara (1600) and became the ruler of Japan. The Tokugawa shogunate lasted for about 250 years while the Toyotomi family was terminated in 1615 by the sucide of Hideyori and his mother, Yodo dono. Wakizaka Yasuharu (1554~1626) returned to Japan after the battle of Noryang. He joined the battle of Sekigahara (1600) as a supporter of his lord's son, but in the middle of the battle, he turned to Tokugawa Ieyasu. He left some records about the battle with YSS, which were used to make this drama. Konish Yukinaga(?~1600), the Christian samurai, took side with his lord's little son and was taken alive after being defeated in the battle of Sekigahara (1600). He stuck to his Christian belief by choosing to be beheaded rather than committing suicide. (It was a shame for a Samurai to be beheaded) so that he was canonized for a saint by the Roman Catholic church. Chen Lin, the Ming Chinese navy admiral, expressed his deepest regret for YSS's death. His funeral oration for YSS still remains. After the downfall of the Ming China, Chen Lin's grandson sought refugee in Chosun. I read a Korean newspaper article saying that their descendants are still living in Korea. Yi Young-nam's death... Admiral YSS's death.... Japan's national treasure #1 "Wooden statue of Maitreya" carved by an anonymous Shilla (ancient Korean) sculptor Koryuji temple, Kyoto, Japan. (7th century) I have no religious intention in talking about the resemblance between YSS's last smile and the wooden statue of Maitreya (Buddha). I just reminded YSS's peaceful smile of the ancient Korean people's faith about Maitreya who was believed to save them (like Messiah to ancient Jewish people). YSS was a mortal human being. Four hundred years have passed since YSS died. However, his life and his never-give-up spirit is still living in the people's soul and vein. They will never vanish. They are immortal. Korea's National Treasure #76, Admiral Yi Sun-shin's War DiaryI love the last scene of this series. The blue sea without any blood... unlike the name of his sword... p. s. I read a Korean newspaper article saying that Kim Myoung-min, the actor who played YSS, is now traveling with wife in New Zealand, Japan, and (I don't know where and when) in the U.S. You guys may come across him in the street if you are lucky. ;D
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Post by skinz on Nov 1, 2005 11:04:57 GMT -5
great info Choko. these pics are very tragic and fantastic. The funniest thing about your post Choko, is that the Japanese look like they were victims of the war when they were actually the aggressors.
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Post by roxelanahybrida on Nov 1, 2005 13:29:38 GMT -5
It dosen't seem possible for the show to be over already. I hated seeing the words 'the end' instead of 'to be continued' at the end of the credits. It seems so final. I'm disapointed that a new series for the 8-9 Monday-Tuesday time slot has not been announced, but I have to think that part of the problem is that it will be difficult to pick a show that will live up to the legacy of IYSS and AOW before it. The fans have high standards and won't settle for a series that is any less compelling.
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Post by ginnycat5 on Nov 1, 2005 13:43:53 GMT -5
I wouldn't mind seeing the earlier historical dramas again. Especially the one with the one-eyed monk king (around 900AD) that I only caught parts of because it was shown so late at night.
I would have liked to see the reactions of the king and people after YSS's death, also. The king was being so self-centered and paranoid. I hope he was capable of feeling the regret and shame that he deserved, also the sorrow at YSS's loss.
Thanks, Choko, for the end of the story.
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Post by BungalowDweller on Nov 1, 2005 15:30:30 GMT -5
Yes, thanks Choko! Your narrative rounded everything out nicely. Now, if KBS would only release the video/dvd. . .
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Post by Guest1 on Nov 1, 2005 23:02:36 GMT -5
Just searched Yi Soon-Shin "staute" keyword added. Plenty links.
There is a of paragraph here and there and even 2 prior movies. His real name etc etc.
North and South Korea rever him. They have a public statue since 1952.
It is historical w/o the drama's extra input.
Another addictive historical even if too much topping on the cake.
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Post by Soju on Nov 1, 2005 23:11:49 GMT -5
I wouldn't mind seeing the earlier historical dramas again. Especially the one with the one-eyed monk king (around 900AD) that I only caught parts of because it was shown so late at night. 'Emperor Wang Guhn' actually ran twice in Chicago - at the same time. It ran at 8:00 in the evening during the week without subtitles, and around 11:00 PM weekends with subs. The weekend eps were earlier in the plotline by several months. When I saw the subtitled eps, I often ( usually! ) guessed wrong about what was going on when I first saw it sans subs.
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Post by moreshige unlogged on Nov 2, 2005 0:27:33 GMT -5
My daughter wants to know WHY YSS took off his armor! How do I answer? Are there any factual, historical musings about this? Was it to protect Yi Young Nam? Was it to avoid the looming actions of an ungrateful king and plotting court, which surely would have entailed more shame and torture unto death? Well, I don't know whether or not in real history YSS took off his armor, but in the drama when he put the armor on Yi Young Nam, I saw it as a symbolic act. It was YSS's way of saying that Yi Young Nam deserved recognition as a great "admiral"/warrior after never having been appreciated by the likes of Won Kyun and others. In this respect, Yi Young Nam parallels YSS himself. We all know that YSS never got the respect that was due him from the king and the western bureaucrats. I thought this was the reason YSS seemed heartbroken because he knew Yi Young Nam reminded him of himself as a young man. Remember Yi Young Nam was in his early thirties while YSS was approaching 60. I also saw the scene as a father losing a son.
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