Post by ajk on Dec 31, 2008 13:49:27 GMT -5
Nighttime: Lamps are being lit around the palace. Sejong sits in an empty throne room. We see the inside light dim to almost nothing--how could this be? But it's not the lamps; it's his eyes failing. He walks into the Hall of Worthies, counting his steps as he goes (he's memorized how many steps to take in each direction to get through the room). But he runs into a chair. "I didn't know they had a new desk," he tells Jachi. Jachi encourages him to simply tell everyone the truth about his blindness, but Sejong doesn't want to and tries to fluff it off with a smile: "I've been groping in the dark for nearly thirty years even with my eyes wide open." Then, from the side, "Because that is politics and the king's path." Hwang Hee has just entered. Sejong tells Hwang, "I promise you I will not lose this fight, prime minister."
The Ming/Joseon border at the Yalu river: We see Ming army units amassed on the Ming side. Sejong is informed of this by Choi Yundeok and Gim Jongsuh, who assure him that a countermeasure is in place.
Yi Chun tells Youngsil he's headed for the Ming border; it's a serious situation, obviously, but he comments that it might be an opportunity to demonstrate the improved rocket launcher. We see that Youngsil has been working on a version of the gunpowder weapons manual in the new alphabet.
At the Hall of Worthies: Choi Manli is rabble-rousing. "Nay to the new writing system! This is the official position of the Hall of Worthies. The first reason of course, is to stop cultural corrosion. But that is not the only reason. It is also to stop Joseon from driving itself into a war!" It's too dangerous of a risk, he says, and could sacrifice people for the sake of the policy. "Hence this is not opposition for opposition's sake. It is our final recourse to protect the people!" As he speaks, he's waving a petition around in his hand. "Now I ask you to sign your name to this petition." He puts it on the table. One scholar steps forward, then a second, then a third....
Jeong Inji has brought the petition to Sejong. (Assumedly it was his responsibility to do so; I doubt that he signed it.) "I guess it's time to start the battle," Sejong tells him.
Ministers are informed that Wang Zhen has come to Joseon--again--and is at the Hall of Great Peace. Hwang Hee smiles and says almost whimsically, "Give them a little scare and they come running."
At the Hall of Worthies: The scholars ask Choi what the chances are that Sejong will accede to the petition and give up the writing system. "None." But that wasn't Choi answering; the king has entered. The scholars bow. "I have absolutely no intention to give up the new writing system," he tells them. He steps into the room, silently counting his steps again and adjusting for the new desk. He get it right, reaches for the desk's chair and sits down. "But there is a way to oppose me. Fight me and win. You can take as long as you want. I might give up the new writing system if you win." Choi is up for that: "I will not lose," he says. Sejong isn't worried: "Then it will be an interesting fight."
Wang Zhen is complaining to Joseon ministers about Sejong's "insolent behavior" for committing to the new writing system. But Hwang Hee tells him that Sejong is a great man and that this will be his greatest achievement.
Back at the Hall of Worthies: Choi Manli is complaining that the writing system is so easy to learn that people won't make the effort to learn Chinese. Sejong tells them, I'd expect you of all people would have the insight to see the advantages of using this simple system to both increase literacy and teach culture. Then he tells Yi Sunji he wants him and the other young scholars to prepare a text of the "Conduct of the Three Bonds" in the new alphabet. Sunji is enthusiastic about the idea of teaching the people both the alphabet and civility together. But then Jeong Changson speaks up, refusing the assignment. And he explains why, in an almost angry tone of voice: "People are not lowly because they don't know how to read and write. Education cannot change one's lowly nature." That went too far for Sejong; he reacts as angrily as we thought he would. He slaps the desk and stands up: "How dare you speak of my people with contempt! If the people cannot be enlightened, then why are you in government service? Simply to dominate the people and enjoy power over them?" Then he turns to Choi: "What are your thoughts. Do you oppose the writing system distribution for the same reason? I want to know what you think about the people." It's an explosive question and Choi tries to tiptoe around it. "They should not be slighted, but I don't believe they should be completely trusted either." They might exploit literacy for personal gain, Choi says, and then the country will descend into "greater confusion." Sejong doesn't buy this and tells them, "It all boils down to this: you don't want to use the same language that the common people use...You want to hold onto the difficult writing that they can't learn and act as if that gives you special rights! Do you want to contest that?" Silence from Choi (and Jeong and Gim Mun too). "Those without the will to understand the people, those without the will to serve the people, leave the Hall of Worthies! I will not accept you as a scholar or as an official of this government." And he leaves, pounding the door open on his way out. (Great scene.)
Back to Wang Zhen and Hwang Hee: "If Joseon insists on having its own alphabet, Ming will stop the investiture of its kings." "I guess this is severance of diplomatic relations." Wang cautions that there will be punitive military action as well. "This is frightening," Hwang says, but says it so casually he obviously doesn't think it's frightening. Everyone present knows the military situation, and both sides remind each other of the numbers: the Ming army has 300,000 soldiers ready for deployment, and Joseon can only muster 100,000. But then Gim Jongsuh mentions Joseon's advanced weapons, and tells Wang that they now have newer and deadlier ones--launchers that can easily kill 3,000 soldiers in one firing. "Is this a declaration of war?", Wang asks. Hwang reminds him that Ming is the one threatening Joseon's borders.
Later, we see Wang meeting with Sejong. "I hope what I heard from your ministers does not reflect your will." "I'm quite confident they would not misrepresent our will." Wang warns Sejong not to promulgate the alphabet. But Sejong has already made his position on that quite clear: "If anyone attempts to stop the promulgation, I will fight them to the end." Wang tells him, "Joseon could never defeat great Ming, your majesty." "We will not go down easily," Sejong says matter-of-factly. "Even if we are defeated, our fight will serve as a lesson to neighboring states. Our unmistakable reprisal against Ming's unjustified and excessive interference in domestic affairs will be remembered. And those states will gain courage and strength to stand up to Ming's hegemony and fight." It's a dangerous game Sejong is playing, but he speaks in a relaxed and comfortable manner. "Mark my words: If Joseon falls, Ming will not be standing in one piece either." Wang says, "I see there is no room for negotiation." Not on this, Sejong confirms. Then to the attendants: "Our guest is leaving. See him out courteously." He smiles politely and an aggravated Wang walks away.
Choi Manli is writing his resignation. He tells his two troublemaking friends, "I'm drawing a definite line between the king and myself for the new fight."
Wang Zhen asks Choi Manli, "Did you deliver the secret letter to prince Jinyang?" Choi says he did.
Jinyang is reading the letter, which Gim Mun has brought to him. "All you need to do," Gim says, "is deny the new writing. Then Ming will choose you instead of the crown prince as Joseon's next king."
Wang tells Choi and Jeong Changson, "To have a new king, the old king has got to go. Once he's gone, the threat of war will be gone. Wouldn't that be a good thing for Joseon?" (He acts and talks like he's playing them, and they don't seem to realize it.)
Evening: Jinyang is pacing in a courtyard, thinking. Then the queen arrives and asks what's troubling him. But she surely knows. "Go to the Hall of Worthies," she tells him. "You'll find someone waiting for you."
So he goes...and Sejong is there. His back to the prince (not like it would matter), he asks, "is that you, Jinyang? No, I shall call you Suyang from now on. It's your new title. Su meaning 'leader' and yang meaning 'bright.' You are to become the leader of the royal house in the future. As the head of the royal house, I hope you will give your brother the future king your help and support." All of this, it shows Jinyang that his father knows exactly what's been going on. "You've known...about my vain ambitions." Sejong is understanding: "Anyone could harbor such thoughts. But harbor them for too long...." Jinyang notices an envelope. "Is that Choi Manli's resignation?" "I can't accept it." Jinyang is surprised: "He opposed you on every issue." But he's done much good, Sejong says, and is uniquely talented; he's "responsible for half the achievements of the Hall of Worthies. I intend to leave his position open until he returns."
The king and queen are eating together. Sejong tells her that he's going back to Jingwan Temple to clean out the materials that he left behind in the research room.
Choi fins out about this.
So does Wang Zhen: "Is this what you call a sign from God?" Uh-oh; that doesn't sound good.
Prince Jinyang has summoned Choi Manli. "You won't be serving me, so I'm asking you to remain in my father's service." He's holding Choi's resignation letter. "'Politics is not fighting for higher position or greater power, but working together and studying how to make the world a better place.' That's what my father always said. But I guess I had forgotten for a while. I'm giving up all the vain ambition I had. I'm letting it all go, and leaving on a long trip with my mother. The king still holds you in high regard and wants you back. So please don't keep him waiting for too long." Choi listens but doesn't react.
Later, Choi is eating by himself...We see a series of flashbacks of Choi's interactions with Sejong throughout the series...Clearly, the king has meant a great deal to Choi, even as they've butted heads over the years. He's so torn about what to do that he picks up a cup and throws it at a wall. (It bounces off and doesn't even break! Those walls may be lousy at preventing eavesdropping, but they certainly conserve pottery.) He sits staring ahead...staring, thinking...as day turns into night...Finally, Gim Mun enters. "I am Choi Manli," Choi tells Gim. "Once I start a fight, I never back down." But he speaks softly and almost shakily, like he feels he may be in over his head this time.
Wang Zhen enters a room full of Dongchang agents (including Poongae). "In exactly half an hour, you are to infiltrate Jingwan Temple and kill the king." Yikes!
Sejong goes into his research room and starts to take down some of the post-it papers from the wall.
Outside, the Dongchang squad runs towards the temple...Shuqing, we learn, has gone ahead alone. This greatly concerns Poongae, who's leading the squad.
"Is that you, royal attendant?" Someone has entered the research room. Sejong looks at him but can only see a hazy blur. Who is it?
"What brings you?" Wang Zhen has been visited by Jo Malseng and other ministers.
We see an odd flashback: Choi Manli saying (presumably to Gim Mun, after we left the two of them), "Deliver my message to the prime minister that the time has come. That now is the time to bring me down with his own hands."
Sejong approaches the figure. We see that it's not Jachi, and thank heavens it's not Shuqing...it's Choi Manli. Choi stands silently, looking at Sejong, who thinks it's Jachi in front of him. "No one listens to me. I know this room like the back of my hand, so don't treat me like a blind man when I'm in here. I told you to get some rest for that cough, but here you are again." Choi's eyes widen; he's absolutely stunned. He had no idea of Sejong's loss of vision.
Back to Jo Malseng: "How do you wish to be punished for making an attempt on the king's life?" Wang Zhen asks, "Do you have proof?" Jo smiles and calmly sits down. "I will get it soon enough."
The Dongchang squad is surrounded by Joseon soldiers in the woods, led by Gim Jongsuh. Poongae steps forward and, concerned enough that he's willing to blow his cover right there in front of the other agents, tells Gim Jongsuh, "His majesty is in danger!" Gim calmly smiles at him. "You underestimate our intelligence capability."
Gang Hui is standing guard outside of Jingwan temple. Shuqing approaches, and they spot each other. And it's game on--a one-on-one sword battle in the glow of the moonlight. It's over more quickly than we thought. Gang drops to his knees and Shuqing walks away. But then we see blood running down Shuqing's foot, and he falls to the ground dead.
Choi, mouth agape, watches Sejong feeling his way around trying to find something. He finds it and, still believing it's Jachi in the room with him, hand it to him. "Don't just stand there. Take it. The physician left it. It works wonders for coughs." Then he says with a smile, "I need you to be healthy so you can be with me for a long time. Those heartless subjects keep leaving me one by one. If I have to see you off first, you'll get a whipping from me. You hear?" He feels for his chair and sits down. Choi is quivering, he's so overwhelmed. Then he starts to cry. Choi Manli starts to cry. But silently.
Jachi and Gang Hui run to check on the king.
Jachi is before Sejong. "It wasn't you?", the king asks.
Choi Manli walks into the woods, leaving the temple complex. As he walks, we hear his thoughts. "Times are always troublous. You and I have weathered the troublous times each in our own way. But I still cannot back the writing system you've created." Behind him, Sejong and Jachi have come outside and see him leaving. "However, I do acknowledge your dedication and sacrifice. Even if history should prove me right and you wrong tomorrow, I bow down to you today. Devotion that knew no end through infirmity and ultimately loss of eyesight. I surrender to that earnest devotion for Joseon."
"I think this puts us at a distinct advantage." Jo Malseng is showing Wang Zhen the captured Dongchang squad. "No deal," Wang insists. "You have quite a few political enemies in Ming," Jo reminds him. "When they find out about this, they'll use this against you to render you powerless." But Wang isn't worried, and in fact is supremely confident: "No one can lay a finger on me in Ming. Because the emperor is in the palm of my hand!"
The Ming royal villa, Liaodong: We see maybe the most startling image of the entire series: Queen Soheon kneeling before the Ming emperor!! Jinyang/Suyang and two of her other sons have accompanied her. "Liaodong is a thousand miles from Joseon," the young emperor observes. "What bring you on such a long journey?" She's brought a garment for him. She was told that he'll soon be leaving for Mongolia on a military campaign. "A cold winter is approaching. I just wanted to deliver a cotton-stuffed garment that I've sown myself." The garment is placed before him. "You came a thousand miles to deliver a garment? You expect me to believe that?" "I am not much of a seamstress," she tells him, "but I put a mother's love into every stitch. I pray for your health and longevity, my emperor." With that, the four bow and stand up to leave. "Wait," Yingzong says; "The emperor does not receive a gift and send off his guest empty-handed. I will grant you a wish." Soheon smiles and replies, "I have nothing more to wish for. My husband has already given me a gift that I wouldn't change for the world." She again bows, and the four leave. The emperor doesn't even know how to react. He examines the garment. "A mother's love...Has my mother even sewn a garment for me?" And it looks like there's emotion stirring inside of him.
Soheon and Suyang are standing on the Ming side of the Yalu river border. "You must be exhausted from the trip," the prince tells her. But apparently not. "It was nice because you were there with me. You made a thousand miles feel like a single step." Then, as the sun shines down on them, she raises a touchy subject: "The long and endless future will not always be easy for you. But like today, won't you look after your father the king and your brother the crown prince like the way you so attentively looked after me today?" She takes his hand. "Promise me that you will." "I promise you. I promise you I won't disappoint you, mother." She smiles, tears in her eyes. "Look how swiftly the water flows down the river. I feel like my heart has reached Joseon already." She seems at peace and happy, reassured that her sons will never go through what her mother-in-law Wongyeong's sons did.
October 1446: Sejong is sitting alone in the throne room. Before are blocks of movable type, bearing his alphabet characters. He's feeling them with his hands and sounding out letters. Then Jachi enters to announce the arrival of Wang Zhen. Wang enters and bows. "Your majesty, I come in dismay. The emperor expresses deepest condolences for the queen's passing." (So the scene by the Yalu was the last we'll see of her, sadly.) Sejong appreciates the sentiment: "My departed wife will be grateful." Then Wang drops a bomb (on us): "He also hopes the Joseonese alphabet held so dear by the departed queen will be distributed widely and put to valuable use." (Well, it didn't really happen that way, but it makes a wonderful story, the idea that the queen knew just how to reach out to the Ming emperor and accomplished something so effectively to help her husband's cause.) "The emperor's kindness will always be remembered," Sejong replies. And interestingly, the Wang we see isn't the same old Wang. He seems calmer and more respectful in Sejong's presence. He bows, even though Sejong can't see it, and he leaves.
The crown prince is outside of the throne room. As Wang leaves, he tells Hyang, "One blind man opened the eyes of all men." For a moment he seems to search for more to say, but then decides he's captured it all, and he leaves silently.
Back inside the throne room, Jachi reminds Sejong that it's time for the ceremony. As Sejong leaves, we see the type characters he's left behind. They spell out "anhae," an archaic Korean word for "wife."
Outside, everyone--EVERYONE--is present, in their fanciest formal robes and hats. This is quite an important ceremony. Sejong enters the yard, wearing one of those hats with a mortarboard and hanging bead ornaments.
On a hillside: Youngsil unwraps the Hangul version of the weapons manual. He's brought it to Choi Haesan's grave, to share it with him. A nice moment.
Back in the courtyard, Sejong sits and an official proclamation is read by Jeong Inji (although we hear most of it in Sejong's voice): "Hunminjeongeum. Because the speech of the country is different from that of China, Chinese characters are incapable of capturing uniquely Joseonese meanings. Therefore, many common people have no way to express their thoughts and feelings. Out of my sympathy for their difficulties, I have created a set of twenty-eight letters. The letters are easy to learn, and it is my fervent hope that they improve the quality of life of all people." Proud smiles are seen all around the yard.
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A brief epilogue: A bunch of little girls are outside near the top of a hill, playing games. One is even tracing Hangul letters in the dirt. Sejong and Youngsil arrive, and the girls run to them excitedly. (From their reaction the girls certainly seem to know one or the other very well, or at least most of them do, and we see that Sejong knows at least one of them.) Sejong holds out his hand and one girl, Makdong, traces Hangul letters into his hand. Unfortunately, in her writing she's calling another of the girls, Darlae, a "pug nose" and it sets Darlae crying. Sejong feels for Darlae's hand, holds it and traces into it, "Darlae is a beautiful girl." And she understands it. Her tears vanish and she smiles, beaming. Sejong stands and wanders over to the top of the hillside and stares out at the countryside (which he presumably can't see too well by now), and suddenly we recognize the place. It's the same overlook where he stood with Yi Su as a little boy at the end of Ep3. A nice tie-in that brings Sejong's amazing story full circle. (Unfortunately, as he walks we can't escape one final obnoxious intrusion of that stupid pop ballad, sullying an otherwise beautiful image.) Behind him, Darlae asks Youngsil, "Who is that nice old man?" Youngsil tells her, "He is the most exalted man on this land...and the most humble. Every one of us are his heaven, his earth and his universe." Then he walks over to Sejong, who tells him, "The world is still vast from up here."
The Ming/Joseon border at the Yalu river: We see Ming army units amassed on the Ming side. Sejong is informed of this by Choi Yundeok and Gim Jongsuh, who assure him that a countermeasure is in place.
Yi Chun tells Youngsil he's headed for the Ming border; it's a serious situation, obviously, but he comments that it might be an opportunity to demonstrate the improved rocket launcher. We see that Youngsil has been working on a version of the gunpowder weapons manual in the new alphabet.
At the Hall of Worthies: Choi Manli is rabble-rousing. "Nay to the new writing system! This is the official position of the Hall of Worthies. The first reason of course, is to stop cultural corrosion. But that is not the only reason. It is also to stop Joseon from driving itself into a war!" It's too dangerous of a risk, he says, and could sacrifice people for the sake of the policy. "Hence this is not opposition for opposition's sake. It is our final recourse to protect the people!" As he speaks, he's waving a petition around in his hand. "Now I ask you to sign your name to this petition." He puts it on the table. One scholar steps forward, then a second, then a third....
Jeong Inji has brought the petition to Sejong. (Assumedly it was his responsibility to do so; I doubt that he signed it.) "I guess it's time to start the battle," Sejong tells him.
Ministers are informed that Wang Zhen has come to Joseon--again--and is at the Hall of Great Peace. Hwang Hee smiles and says almost whimsically, "Give them a little scare and they come running."
At the Hall of Worthies: The scholars ask Choi what the chances are that Sejong will accede to the petition and give up the writing system. "None." But that wasn't Choi answering; the king has entered. The scholars bow. "I have absolutely no intention to give up the new writing system," he tells them. He steps into the room, silently counting his steps again and adjusting for the new desk. He get it right, reaches for the desk's chair and sits down. "But there is a way to oppose me. Fight me and win. You can take as long as you want. I might give up the new writing system if you win." Choi is up for that: "I will not lose," he says. Sejong isn't worried: "Then it will be an interesting fight."
Wang Zhen is complaining to Joseon ministers about Sejong's "insolent behavior" for committing to the new writing system. But Hwang Hee tells him that Sejong is a great man and that this will be his greatest achievement.
Back at the Hall of Worthies: Choi Manli is complaining that the writing system is so easy to learn that people won't make the effort to learn Chinese. Sejong tells them, I'd expect you of all people would have the insight to see the advantages of using this simple system to both increase literacy and teach culture. Then he tells Yi Sunji he wants him and the other young scholars to prepare a text of the "Conduct of the Three Bonds" in the new alphabet. Sunji is enthusiastic about the idea of teaching the people both the alphabet and civility together. But then Jeong Changson speaks up, refusing the assignment. And he explains why, in an almost angry tone of voice: "People are not lowly because they don't know how to read and write. Education cannot change one's lowly nature." That went too far for Sejong; he reacts as angrily as we thought he would. He slaps the desk and stands up: "How dare you speak of my people with contempt! If the people cannot be enlightened, then why are you in government service? Simply to dominate the people and enjoy power over them?" Then he turns to Choi: "What are your thoughts. Do you oppose the writing system distribution for the same reason? I want to know what you think about the people." It's an explosive question and Choi tries to tiptoe around it. "They should not be slighted, but I don't believe they should be completely trusted either." They might exploit literacy for personal gain, Choi says, and then the country will descend into "greater confusion." Sejong doesn't buy this and tells them, "It all boils down to this: you don't want to use the same language that the common people use...You want to hold onto the difficult writing that they can't learn and act as if that gives you special rights! Do you want to contest that?" Silence from Choi (and Jeong and Gim Mun too). "Those without the will to understand the people, those without the will to serve the people, leave the Hall of Worthies! I will not accept you as a scholar or as an official of this government." And he leaves, pounding the door open on his way out. (Great scene.)
Back to Wang Zhen and Hwang Hee: "If Joseon insists on having its own alphabet, Ming will stop the investiture of its kings." "I guess this is severance of diplomatic relations." Wang cautions that there will be punitive military action as well. "This is frightening," Hwang says, but says it so casually he obviously doesn't think it's frightening. Everyone present knows the military situation, and both sides remind each other of the numbers: the Ming army has 300,000 soldiers ready for deployment, and Joseon can only muster 100,000. But then Gim Jongsuh mentions Joseon's advanced weapons, and tells Wang that they now have newer and deadlier ones--launchers that can easily kill 3,000 soldiers in one firing. "Is this a declaration of war?", Wang asks. Hwang reminds him that Ming is the one threatening Joseon's borders.
Later, we see Wang meeting with Sejong. "I hope what I heard from your ministers does not reflect your will." "I'm quite confident they would not misrepresent our will." Wang warns Sejong not to promulgate the alphabet. But Sejong has already made his position on that quite clear: "If anyone attempts to stop the promulgation, I will fight them to the end." Wang tells him, "Joseon could never defeat great Ming, your majesty." "We will not go down easily," Sejong says matter-of-factly. "Even if we are defeated, our fight will serve as a lesson to neighboring states. Our unmistakable reprisal against Ming's unjustified and excessive interference in domestic affairs will be remembered. And those states will gain courage and strength to stand up to Ming's hegemony and fight." It's a dangerous game Sejong is playing, but he speaks in a relaxed and comfortable manner. "Mark my words: If Joseon falls, Ming will not be standing in one piece either." Wang says, "I see there is no room for negotiation." Not on this, Sejong confirms. Then to the attendants: "Our guest is leaving. See him out courteously." He smiles politely and an aggravated Wang walks away.
Choi Manli is writing his resignation. He tells his two troublemaking friends, "I'm drawing a definite line between the king and myself for the new fight."
Wang Zhen asks Choi Manli, "Did you deliver the secret letter to prince Jinyang?" Choi says he did.
Jinyang is reading the letter, which Gim Mun has brought to him. "All you need to do," Gim says, "is deny the new writing. Then Ming will choose you instead of the crown prince as Joseon's next king."
Wang tells Choi and Jeong Changson, "To have a new king, the old king has got to go. Once he's gone, the threat of war will be gone. Wouldn't that be a good thing for Joseon?" (He acts and talks like he's playing them, and they don't seem to realize it.)
Evening: Jinyang is pacing in a courtyard, thinking. Then the queen arrives and asks what's troubling him. But she surely knows. "Go to the Hall of Worthies," she tells him. "You'll find someone waiting for you."
So he goes...and Sejong is there. His back to the prince (not like it would matter), he asks, "is that you, Jinyang? No, I shall call you Suyang from now on. It's your new title. Su meaning 'leader' and yang meaning 'bright.' You are to become the leader of the royal house in the future. As the head of the royal house, I hope you will give your brother the future king your help and support." All of this, it shows Jinyang that his father knows exactly what's been going on. "You've known...about my vain ambitions." Sejong is understanding: "Anyone could harbor such thoughts. But harbor them for too long...." Jinyang notices an envelope. "Is that Choi Manli's resignation?" "I can't accept it." Jinyang is surprised: "He opposed you on every issue." But he's done much good, Sejong says, and is uniquely talented; he's "responsible for half the achievements of the Hall of Worthies. I intend to leave his position open until he returns."
The king and queen are eating together. Sejong tells her that he's going back to Jingwan Temple to clean out the materials that he left behind in the research room.
Choi fins out about this.
So does Wang Zhen: "Is this what you call a sign from God?" Uh-oh; that doesn't sound good.
Prince Jinyang has summoned Choi Manli. "You won't be serving me, so I'm asking you to remain in my father's service." He's holding Choi's resignation letter. "'Politics is not fighting for higher position or greater power, but working together and studying how to make the world a better place.' That's what my father always said. But I guess I had forgotten for a while. I'm giving up all the vain ambition I had. I'm letting it all go, and leaving on a long trip with my mother. The king still holds you in high regard and wants you back. So please don't keep him waiting for too long." Choi listens but doesn't react.
Later, Choi is eating by himself...We see a series of flashbacks of Choi's interactions with Sejong throughout the series...Clearly, the king has meant a great deal to Choi, even as they've butted heads over the years. He's so torn about what to do that he picks up a cup and throws it at a wall. (It bounces off and doesn't even break! Those walls may be lousy at preventing eavesdropping, but they certainly conserve pottery.) He sits staring ahead...staring, thinking...as day turns into night...Finally, Gim Mun enters. "I am Choi Manli," Choi tells Gim. "Once I start a fight, I never back down." But he speaks softly and almost shakily, like he feels he may be in over his head this time.
Wang Zhen enters a room full of Dongchang agents (including Poongae). "In exactly half an hour, you are to infiltrate Jingwan Temple and kill the king." Yikes!
Sejong goes into his research room and starts to take down some of the post-it papers from the wall.
Outside, the Dongchang squad runs towards the temple...Shuqing, we learn, has gone ahead alone. This greatly concerns Poongae, who's leading the squad.
"Is that you, royal attendant?" Someone has entered the research room. Sejong looks at him but can only see a hazy blur. Who is it?
"What brings you?" Wang Zhen has been visited by Jo Malseng and other ministers.
We see an odd flashback: Choi Manli saying (presumably to Gim Mun, after we left the two of them), "Deliver my message to the prime minister that the time has come. That now is the time to bring me down with his own hands."
Sejong approaches the figure. We see that it's not Jachi, and thank heavens it's not Shuqing...it's Choi Manli. Choi stands silently, looking at Sejong, who thinks it's Jachi in front of him. "No one listens to me. I know this room like the back of my hand, so don't treat me like a blind man when I'm in here. I told you to get some rest for that cough, but here you are again." Choi's eyes widen; he's absolutely stunned. He had no idea of Sejong's loss of vision.
Back to Jo Malseng: "How do you wish to be punished for making an attempt on the king's life?" Wang Zhen asks, "Do you have proof?" Jo smiles and calmly sits down. "I will get it soon enough."
The Dongchang squad is surrounded by Joseon soldiers in the woods, led by Gim Jongsuh. Poongae steps forward and, concerned enough that he's willing to blow his cover right there in front of the other agents, tells Gim Jongsuh, "His majesty is in danger!" Gim calmly smiles at him. "You underestimate our intelligence capability."
Gang Hui is standing guard outside of Jingwan temple. Shuqing approaches, and they spot each other. And it's game on--a one-on-one sword battle in the glow of the moonlight. It's over more quickly than we thought. Gang drops to his knees and Shuqing walks away. But then we see blood running down Shuqing's foot, and he falls to the ground dead.
Choi, mouth agape, watches Sejong feeling his way around trying to find something. He finds it and, still believing it's Jachi in the room with him, hand it to him. "Don't just stand there. Take it. The physician left it. It works wonders for coughs." Then he says with a smile, "I need you to be healthy so you can be with me for a long time. Those heartless subjects keep leaving me one by one. If I have to see you off first, you'll get a whipping from me. You hear?" He feels for his chair and sits down. Choi is quivering, he's so overwhelmed. Then he starts to cry. Choi Manli starts to cry. But silently.
Jachi and Gang Hui run to check on the king.
Jachi is before Sejong. "It wasn't you?", the king asks.
Choi Manli walks into the woods, leaving the temple complex. As he walks, we hear his thoughts. "Times are always troublous. You and I have weathered the troublous times each in our own way. But I still cannot back the writing system you've created." Behind him, Sejong and Jachi have come outside and see him leaving. "However, I do acknowledge your dedication and sacrifice. Even if history should prove me right and you wrong tomorrow, I bow down to you today. Devotion that knew no end through infirmity and ultimately loss of eyesight. I surrender to that earnest devotion for Joseon."
"I think this puts us at a distinct advantage." Jo Malseng is showing Wang Zhen the captured Dongchang squad. "No deal," Wang insists. "You have quite a few political enemies in Ming," Jo reminds him. "When they find out about this, they'll use this against you to render you powerless." But Wang isn't worried, and in fact is supremely confident: "No one can lay a finger on me in Ming. Because the emperor is in the palm of my hand!"
The Ming royal villa, Liaodong: We see maybe the most startling image of the entire series: Queen Soheon kneeling before the Ming emperor!! Jinyang/Suyang and two of her other sons have accompanied her. "Liaodong is a thousand miles from Joseon," the young emperor observes. "What bring you on such a long journey?" She's brought a garment for him. She was told that he'll soon be leaving for Mongolia on a military campaign. "A cold winter is approaching. I just wanted to deliver a cotton-stuffed garment that I've sown myself." The garment is placed before him. "You came a thousand miles to deliver a garment? You expect me to believe that?" "I am not much of a seamstress," she tells him, "but I put a mother's love into every stitch. I pray for your health and longevity, my emperor." With that, the four bow and stand up to leave. "Wait," Yingzong says; "The emperor does not receive a gift and send off his guest empty-handed. I will grant you a wish." Soheon smiles and replies, "I have nothing more to wish for. My husband has already given me a gift that I wouldn't change for the world." She again bows, and the four leave. The emperor doesn't even know how to react. He examines the garment. "A mother's love...Has my mother even sewn a garment for me?" And it looks like there's emotion stirring inside of him.
Soheon and Suyang are standing on the Ming side of the Yalu river border. "You must be exhausted from the trip," the prince tells her. But apparently not. "It was nice because you were there with me. You made a thousand miles feel like a single step." Then, as the sun shines down on them, she raises a touchy subject: "The long and endless future will not always be easy for you. But like today, won't you look after your father the king and your brother the crown prince like the way you so attentively looked after me today?" She takes his hand. "Promise me that you will." "I promise you. I promise you I won't disappoint you, mother." She smiles, tears in her eyes. "Look how swiftly the water flows down the river. I feel like my heart has reached Joseon already." She seems at peace and happy, reassured that her sons will never go through what her mother-in-law Wongyeong's sons did.
October 1446: Sejong is sitting alone in the throne room. Before are blocks of movable type, bearing his alphabet characters. He's feeling them with his hands and sounding out letters. Then Jachi enters to announce the arrival of Wang Zhen. Wang enters and bows. "Your majesty, I come in dismay. The emperor expresses deepest condolences for the queen's passing." (So the scene by the Yalu was the last we'll see of her, sadly.) Sejong appreciates the sentiment: "My departed wife will be grateful." Then Wang drops a bomb (on us): "He also hopes the Joseonese alphabet held so dear by the departed queen will be distributed widely and put to valuable use." (Well, it didn't really happen that way, but it makes a wonderful story, the idea that the queen knew just how to reach out to the Ming emperor and accomplished something so effectively to help her husband's cause.) "The emperor's kindness will always be remembered," Sejong replies. And interestingly, the Wang we see isn't the same old Wang. He seems calmer and more respectful in Sejong's presence. He bows, even though Sejong can't see it, and he leaves.
The crown prince is outside of the throne room. As Wang leaves, he tells Hyang, "One blind man opened the eyes of all men." For a moment he seems to search for more to say, but then decides he's captured it all, and he leaves silently.
Back inside the throne room, Jachi reminds Sejong that it's time for the ceremony. As Sejong leaves, we see the type characters he's left behind. They spell out "anhae," an archaic Korean word for "wife."
Outside, everyone--EVERYONE--is present, in their fanciest formal robes and hats. This is quite an important ceremony. Sejong enters the yard, wearing one of those hats with a mortarboard and hanging bead ornaments.
On a hillside: Youngsil unwraps the Hangul version of the weapons manual. He's brought it to Choi Haesan's grave, to share it with him. A nice moment.
Back in the courtyard, Sejong sits and an official proclamation is read by Jeong Inji (although we hear most of it in Sejong's voice): "Hunminjeongeum. Because the speech of the country is different from that of China, Chinese characters are incapable of capturing uniquely Joseonese meanings. Therefore, many common people have no way to express their thoughts and feelings. Out of my sympathy for their difficulties, I have created a set of twenty-eight letters. The letters are easy to learn, and it is my fervent hope that they improve the quality of life of all people." Proud smiles are seen all around the yard.
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A brief epilogue: A bunch of little girls are outside near the top of a hill, playing games. One is even tracing Hangul letters in the dirt. Sejong and Youngsil arrive, and the girls run to them excitedly. (From their reaction the girls certainly seem to know one or the other very well, or at least most of them do, and we see that Sejong knows at least one of them.) Sejong holds out his hand and one girl, Makdong, traces Hangul letters into his hand. Unfortunately, in her writing she's calling another of the girls, Darlae, a "pug nose" and it sets Darlae crying. Sejong feels for Darlae's hand, holds it and traces into it, "Darlae is a beautiful girl." And she understands it. Her tears vanish and she smiles, beaming. Sejong stands and wanders over to the top of the hillside and stares out at the countryside (which he presumably can't see too well by now), and suddenly we recognize the place. It's the same overlook where he stood with Yi Su as a little boy at the end of Ep3. A nice tie-in that brings Sejong's amazing story full circle. (Unfortunately, as he walks we can't escape one final obnoxious intrusion of that stupid pop ballad, sullying an otherwise beautiful image.) Behind him, Darlae asks Youngsil, "Who is that nice old man?" Youngsil tells her, "He is the most exalted man on this land...and the most humble. Every one of us are his heaven, his earth and his universe." Then he walks over to Sejong, who tells him, "The world is still vast from up here."
The end.
Great summaries.
